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L  l-B  R_ARY 

OF   THE 

UN  IVERSITY 

or    ILLl  NOIS 

920c077383 

B524 


\mm  HISTORICAL  suwn 


BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


THIS  VOLUME   CONTAINS 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


OF 


LEADING   CITIZENS 


OF 


MACOUPIN  COUNTY 


ILLINOIS 


"Biography  is  the  only  true  history." — Emerson 


RICHMOND  <S.  ARNOLD 

CHICAGO.  ILLINOIS 

1904 


Preface. 


Having  brought  to  a  successful  termination  our  labors  in  Macoupin 
County  in  compiling  and  editing  the  sketches  herein  contained,  we  desire, 
in  presenting  this  Biographical  Record  to  our  patrons,  to  make  a  few  re- 
marks, necessarily  brief,  in  regard  to  the  value  and  importance  of  local  works 
of  this  nature.  \\q  agree  witli  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  that  "Biography  is 
the  only  True  History",  and  also  are  of  the  opinion  that  a  collection  of 
biographies  of  the  leading  men  of  a  nation  would  give  a  more  interesting, 
as  well  as  authentic,  history  of  their  country  than  any  other  that  could  be 
written. 

The  value  of  such  a  production  as  this  cannot  be  too  highly  estimated. 
With  each  succeeding  year  the  haze  of  Obscurity  removes  more  and  more 
from  our  view  the  fast  disappearing  landmarks  of  the  past.  Oblivion 
■  sprinkles  her  dust  of  forgetfulness  on  men  and  their  deeds,  effectually  con- 
'  cealing  them  from  the  public  eye,  and  because  of  the  many  living  objects 
tliat  claim  our  attention,  few  of  those  who  have  been  removed  from  the  busy 
world  remain  long  in  our  memory.  Even  the  glorious  achievements  of  the 
present  age  may  not  insure  it  from  being  lost  in  the  glare  of  greater  things 
to  come,  and  so  it  is  manifestly  a  duty  to  posterity  for  the  men  of  the  present 
time  to  preserve  a  record  of  their  lives  and  a  story  of  their  progress  from  low 
and  humble  beginnings  to  great  and  noble  deeds,  in  order  that  future  genera- 
tions may  read  the  account  of  their  successful  struggles,  and  profit  by  their 
example. 

A  local  history  affords  the  best  means  of  preserving  ancestral  history, 
and  it  also  becomes,  immediately  upon  its  publication,  a  ready  book  of  refer- 
ence for  those  who  have  occasion  to  seek  biographical  data  of  the  leading  and 
earlv  settled  families.     Names,  dates  and  events  are  not  easilv  remembered 


4  PREFACE. 

by  the  average  man,  so  it  behooves  the  generations  now  hving,  who  wish  to 
Hve  in  tlie  memor}'  of  their  descendants,  to  write  their  own  records,  making 
them  full  and  broad  in  scope,  and  minute  in  detail,  and  insure  their  preserva- 
tion by  having  them  put  in  printed  form.  ^Ve  firmly  believe  that  in  these 
collated  memoirs  will  Ije  found  as  faithful  a  record  of  RIacoupin  County  as 
may  be  obtained  anywhere,  for  the  very  sufficient  reason  that  its  growth  and 
development  are  identified  with  that  of  the  men  who  have  made  it  what  it  is 
to-day — the  representative,  leading  men,  whose  personal  sketches  it  has  been 
a  pleasure  to  us  to  write  and  give  a  place  in  this  volume.  From  the  time 
when  the  hand  of  civilized  man  had  not  yet  violated  the  virgin  soil  with 
desecrating  plough,  nor  with  the  ever-ready  frontiersman's  ax  felled  the 
noble,  almost  limitless,  forests,  to  the  present  period  of  activity  in  all  branches 
of  industry,  we  may  read  in  the  histories  of  the  county's  leading  men.  and  of 
their  ancestors,  the  steady  growth  and  development  that  has  been  going  on 
here  for  nearly  a  century  and  bids  fair  to  continue  for  centuries  to  come. 
A  hundred  years  from  now  whatever  records  of  the  present  time  arc  then 
extant,  having  withstood  the  ravages  of  time  and  the  ceaseless  war  of  the 
elements,  will  be  viewed,  with  an  absorbing  interest,  equaling,  if  not  sur- 
passing, that  which  is  taken  to-day  in  the  history  of  the  early  settlements  of 
America.  ' 

It  has  been  our  purpose  in  the  preparation  of  this  work  to  pass  over  no 
phase  or  portion  of  it  slightlv.  but  to  give  attention  to  the  smallest  points, 
and  thus  invest  it  with  an  air  of  accuracy,  to  be  obtained  in  no  other  way. 
The  result  has  amply  justified  the  care  that  has  been  taken,  for  it  is  our  honest 
belief  that  no  more  reliable  production,  under  the  circumstances,  could  have 
been  compiled. 

One  feature  of  this  work,  to  which  we  have  given  special  prominence, 
and  which  we  are  sure  will  prove  of  extraordinarv  interest,  is  the  collection 
of  portraits  of  the  representative  and  leading  citizens  which  appear  through- 
nut  the  volume.  We  have  tried  to  represent  the  difTcrcnt  spheres  of  in- 
dustrial nnd  professional  activity  as  well  as  we  might.  To  those  who  have 
been  so  uniformlv  oblifring  and  ha;-c  kindlv  interested  themselves  in  the 
success  of  this  work,  voluntccrine  information  and  'data  which  have  been 
verv  helnful  to  us  in  prennrinrr  this  volume,  we  desire  to  express  our  grate- 
ful and  profound  acknowledgment  of  their  valued  services. 
Chicago.  Illinois.  Mav.  1904.  THE  PUBLISHERS. 


,.  ? 


Note. 

All  the  biographical  sketches  published  in  this  volume  were  submitted 
to  their  respective  subjects  or  to  the  subscribers,  from  whom  the  facts  were 
primarily  obtained,  for  their  approval  or  correction  before  going  to  press; 
and  a  reasonable  time  was  allowed  in  each  case  for  the  return  of  the  type- 
written copies.  Most  of  them  were  returned  to  us  within  the  time  allotted, 
or  before  the  work  was  printed,  after  being  corrected  or  revised ;  and  these 
may  therefore  be  regarded  as  reasonably  accurate. 

A  few,  however,  were  not  returned  to  us ;  and,  as  we  have  no  means  of 
knowing  whether  they  contain  errors  or  not,  we  cannot  vouch  for  their 
accuracy.  In  justice  to  our  readers,  and  to  render  this  work  more  valuable 
for  reference  purposes,  we  have  indicated  these  uncorrected  sketches  by  a 
small  asterisk  (*),  placed  immediately  after  the  name  of  the  stibject. 

They  will  all  be  found  on  the  last  pages  of  the  book. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


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BIOGRAPHICAL   RECOUD 

OF 

Macovipirv  Covinty, 

Illinois. 


GEN.  JOHN  I.  RINAKER 


Blograpbical  Record 

MACOVPIN  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


GEN.  JOHN  1.  RINAKER. 

This  eminent  patriot  and  jurist,  whose  portrait  is  shown  on  the  opposite 
page,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  ilarjland,  in  1830,  and  by  the  death  of  his 
parents  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at  a  very  early  age.  In  1836  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  lived  with  John  T.  Alden  in  Sangamon  County  until 
1840,  after  which  he  was  employed  on  a  farm  near  Franklin  in  ^lorgan 
County,  attending  the  common  schools  a  part  of  each  winter.  For  a  time 
he  was  a  student  at  Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville  and  in  1850  he  began  a 
scientific  course  at  McKendree  College  at  Lebanon  this  State,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  185 1.  In  order  to  defray  his  expenses  in  obtaining  this  higher 
education,  he  earned  the  means  by  his  work  on  the  farm  and  by  teaching 
school  at  inter\-als.  In  the  winter  of  1852  he  became  a  resident  of  Carlin- 
ville  and  a  student  of  law  in  the  office  of  John  M.  Palmer.  In  1854  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
in  which  he  continued  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War.  In  1862  he 
raised  a  regiment  which  was  organized  in  August  at  Camp  Palmer  at  Car- 
linville,  Illinois,  being  the  I22d  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.  He  was  elected  and 
commissioned  colonel.  The  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  September  4,  and  Colonel  Rinaker  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Parker's  Cross  Roads,  December  31,  1862. 
He  was  appointed  brigadier-general  by  brevet  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
service  in  the  field  to  take  rank  from  the  13th  of  March,  1865. 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  General  Rinaker  resumed  the  practice  of  the 
law.  He  earl)'  rose  to  prominence  in  his  profession  which  he  has  ever  since 
maintained.  He  established  an  enviable  reputation  as  an  effective  speaker 
both  before  court  and  jury  and  came  to  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  best 
political  speakers  in  the  State.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  until  1858 
when  he  united  with  the  Republican  party,  although  the  new  party  was  in  the 
minority  in  the  State  and  had  in  its  ranks  less  than  one-third  of  the  voters  of 
Macoupin  County,  in  which  he  resided;  in  fact,  it  was  in  the  minority  in  all 
of  the  counties  south  of  Springfield.  At  that  time  it  seemed  evident  in  his 
mind  that  the  Democratic  party  was  being  used  simply  a  a  bulwark  of  slav- 
ery :  that  the  principles  of  Jefferson  and  Jackson  were  no  longer  respected 
bv  the  party  leaders  and  that  the  party  organization  was  controlled  by  the 
advocates  of  nullification  and  secession.  Therefore  he  did  not  hesitate  to 
abandon  the  dominant  party.  He  has  long  been  honored  with  offices  of  trust 
and  responsibility  in  his  locality  and  also  in  the  service  of  the  State  and  has 
declined  others  that  have  been  tendered  him.  among  which  was  that  of  United 
States  district  attorney  for  the  Southern  District  of  Illinois.  In  1872  he 
was  presidential  elector  on  the  Republican  ticket  for  the  district  in  which  he 
lives,  and  in  1876  he  was  chosen  as  elector  at  large  from  the  state.  In  1874 
he  accepted  the  Republican  nomination  for  Congress  in  a  district  hopelessly 
Democratic  and  was  defeated.  It  may  be  mentioned  in  this  connection  as  an 
evidence  of  his  popularity  in  the  section  where  he  is  best  known,  that  in 
opposition  to  the  candindacy  of  William  R.  Morrison  he  ran  several  hundred 
votes  ahead  of  his  ticket.  In  Macoupin  County  in  1880  he  was  the  choice 
of  a  very  large  following  in  the  Republican  party  for  the  office  of  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  in  the  nominating  convention  after  a  prolonged 
contest  was  defeated  for  the  nomination  by  the  thoroughly  organized  force 
of  Governor  Culloni,  then  the  chief  executive.  In  1885  (without  solicita- 
tion) he  accepted  at  the  hands  of  Governor  Oglesby  the  position  of  railroad 
and  warehouse  commissioner  and  served  as  such  for  a  period  of  nearly  four 
years.  In  1894  General  Rinaker  was  elected  to  the  54th  Congress  as  a 
Republican  from  the  Sixteenth  Congressional  District  of  Illlinois. 

On  October  16.  1855.  General  Rinaker  was  married  to  Clarissa  Kep- 
linger  of  Frankllin,  ]\Iorgan  County,  Illinois  and  they  have  four  sons  living : 
Thomas,  Samuel,  John  I.,  Jr.,  and  Lewis.  These  are  all  graduates  of  Black- 
burn University.     Thomas  and  Lewis  are  graduates  of  the  law  department 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  13 

of  the  University  of  Michigan.  Samuel  attended  the  law  department  of 
Yale  University  and  John  I.  graduated  from  the  architectural  department  of 
the  University  of  Illinois. 

General  Rinaker  is  a  member  of  Dan  Messick  Post,  Xo.  339,  G.  A.  R., 
and  has  served  as  its  commander.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Military 
Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  L'nited  States.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in 
Mount  Nebo  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  ^L  of  Carlinville  in  1862,  is  a  member  of  the 
chapter  and  commander}%  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  L  O.  O.  F. 


CAPT.  W.  B.  DUGGER. 

Capt.  W.  B.  Dugger,  who  has  been  prominently  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  and  loan  business  for  som.e  years,  is  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of 
Carlinville,  Macoupin  County.  He  was  bom  in  this  city  July  26,  1835,  and 
is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Phcebe  A.  (Barton)  Dugger,  the  former  a  native  of 
Tennessee,  and  the  latter  of  Xorth  Carolina. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  Lebanon.  St.  Clair  County, 
Illinois,  in  1833,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  removed  to  ilacoupin  County. 
Here  Joseph  Dugger  entered  a  tract  of  land  which  he  improved  and  farmed 
until  1849,  when  he  sold  out  to  engage  in  the  mercantile  business,  in  which 
he  continued  until  1865.  One  year  later  he  died  at  the  age  of  56  years.  He 
and  his  worthy  wife  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living.  Mrs.  Dugger  died  in  1870,  aged  58  years.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Capt.  W.  B.  Dugger  received  a  common  school  education,  which  was 
supplemented  by  a  course  of  study  in  McKendree  College  at  Lebanon,  Illi- 
nois. When  a  young  man  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  mercantile 
establishment  and  in  1856  went  into  business  on  his  account,  and  so  con- 
tinued until  the  Civil  war  was  in  progress.  On  August  9,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  the  I22d  Reg.,  Illinois  ^'ol.  Inf..  and  was  chosen  captain  of  Company  .\.  In 
October  of  that  year  he  went  South  with  his  company,  the  regiment  being 
assigned  to  the  i6th  Army  Corps.     In  June.   1864.  he  was  mode  provost- 


14  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

marshal.  He  served  throughout  the  entire  war  and  made  an  honorable 
record.  His  record  of  service  is  given  in  detail  in  the  "History  of  the  I22d 
Regiment."  He  was  dicharged  at  the  close  of  the  war,  on  August  8,  1865, 
and  returned  to  his  home  in  Carlinville.  Here  he  erected  a  three-story  brick 
building  and  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  with  great  success  until  1872. 
In  that  year  he  purchased  a  small  tract  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Carlinville, 
and  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  Jersey  cattle  and  Poland-China  hogs.  In 
1886  he  was  elected  county  clerk  of  Macoupin  County,  and  discharged  the 
duties  of  that  office  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner  until  1891.  He  has  since 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business  with  a  high  degree  of  success, 
and  is  at  the  present  time  one  of  the  most  active  and  enterprising  men  of 
the  city. 

In  political  belief.  Captain  Dugger  has  always  been  an  enthusiastic  Re- 
publican and  has  frequently  been  called  upon  to  serve  in  an  official  capacity. 
He  was  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  before  the  town  of  Carlinville  was 
chartered  as  a  city,  and  has  since  served  twice  as  mayor  of  the  city.  He 
was  supervisor  of  the  township  four  terms,  city  alderman  six  terms,  and  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  one  term.  He  has  been  a  notary  public 
since  1891.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Mount  Nebo  Lodge,  No.  76,  F. 
&  A.  M. ;  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Daniel  Messick  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  been  its  com- 
mander five  times.  He  is  a  very  public  spirited  man,  and  many  of  the  public 
improvements  enjoyed  by  Carlinville  to-day  are  the  results  of  his  efforts. 


CHARLES   H.  SAWTELL 

Among  the  distinguished  and  progressive  farmers  who  have  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  agriculture  in  Macoupin  County  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  these  lines.  He  resides  on  his  well  tilled  farm 
of  100  acres,  situated  in  section  i,  Polk  township.  He  was  born  at  Jackson- 
ville, Morgan  County,  Illinois,  in  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Deborah 
(Palmer)  Sawtell. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  15 

George  Sawtell,  who  was  born  in  England,  came  to  America  in  1857  and 
located  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  by  the  month. 
In  1863  he  purchased  a  farm  in  section  35,  Bird  township,  Macoupin 
County,  where  he  and  his  wife  still  reside.  He  and  his  wife  were  married  in 
England  in  1S51,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  Mary 
Ann,  who  married  William  J.  Barrows,  now  deceased,  and  has  reared  two 
children. — Elmer  A.  and  Roy;  Charles  H.,  whose  name  heads  these  lines; 
and  Sidney  who  resides  on  the  homestead  farm  with  his  parents. 

Charles  H.  Sawtell  began  an  independent  career  as  an  agriculturist  on 
a  farm  of  100  acres  in  section  i,  Polk  township,  which  was  given  to  him  by 
his  father,  and  he  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  that 
property.  The  success  that  has  uniformly  attended  his  labors  is  in  every  way 
well  deserved. 

In  1886  Mr.  Sawtell  married  Birdie  M.  Skinner,  a  daughter  of  Saxton 
and  Malinda  (Hodge)  Skinner,  the  former  of  Chautauqua  County,  New 
York.  Mr.  Skinner  died  in  1893,  and  his  wife  died  in  1898  in  Macoupin 
County.  Illinois.  They  were  survived  by  three  children,  namely :  Clifford 
H. ;  Frank  G.,  who  resides  in  Girard,  Illinois:  and  Birdie  ■\I.,  our  subject's 
wife.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sawtell  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely :  Ostrom, 
bom  November  5,  1887;  Nelson,  born  May  24,  1890;  Rosa  May,  born  June 
9,  1892;  Olive  Deborah,  born  August  19,  1894,  and  Clarence,  born  May  7, 
1901. 

Politically  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  but  does  not  take  an  active  in- 
terest in  political  afifairs.  In  fraternal  circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America. 


THOMAS  CAIN. 


Thomas  Caix,  formerly  deputy  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  citizens  of  Carlinville, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  for  some  years  past.  He  was  born  in  Greene 
County,  Illinois,  August  19,  1S61,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Ann  (Winn) 
Cain. 

John  Cain  was  born  in  Countv  Down,  Ireland,  and  came  to  America 


i6  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

in  1844,  locating  in  New  York  City,  where  he  remained  a  short  time  and 
then  remo\ed  to  another  section  of  New  York  State,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick,  having  learned  the  art  of  brick  making  and  brick 
laying  in  former  years.  Two  years  later  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri; after  a  stay  of  two  years  in  that  city,  he  removed  to  Greene  County, 
Illinois,  locating  on  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased  just  north  of  Greenfield. 
Not  liking  that  section  of  the  State,  however,  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed 
to  Macoupin  County,  where  he  purchased  another  farm  in  Western  IMound 
township,  and  there  lived  and  followed  farming  throughout  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life.  He  died  in  1895,  the  same  year  in  which  his  wife's  death 
also  occurred.  His  wife,  Ann  Winn,  was  a  native  of  County  Galway,  Ire- 
land. They  were  blessed  with  six  children,  namely :  Catherine  and  Edward 
(twins),  now  deceased;  Thomas  and  Joseph  (also  twins)  ;  Agnes  and  ]\Iary. 

Thomas  Cain  received  his  preliminary  educational  training  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Macoupin  County,  and  later  attended  the  Greenfield  High 
School.  After  completing  his  education  there  he  returned  to  IMacoupin 
County,  and  purchased  a  handsome  farm,  where  he  was  actively  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising  until  1900,  when  he  removed  to  Carlinville. 
In  December,  1902,  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  by  Sheriff'  Dickerson, 
and  proved  himself  to  be  well  qualified  to  fill  the  position.  He  has  studied 
law,  but  has  never  applied  for  admission  to  the  bar. 

In  1887  Mr.  Cain  was  married  to  Catherine  Flannigan.  In  pollitical  be- 
lief our  svibject  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  is  prominently  identified  with  that 
party  in  this  section.  As  a  public  speaker,  he  has  been  in  demand  since  reach- 
ing his  majority,  and  is  well  spoken  of  as  a  campaign  orator.  In  fraternal 
circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America. 


JOHN  PITT  MATTHEWS,  M.  D. 

John  Pitt  Matthews,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent 
practitioners  of  medicine  in  Macoupin  County,  is  a  resident  of  Carlinville. 
He  has  attained  high  distinction  in  medical  circles,  and  is  widely  knovv'n 
throughout  the  county.     Dr.  Matthews  was  born  at  "Hampton  Court"  farm 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  17 

in  Herefordshire,  England,  September  2,  1835.  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Caroline  Myra  (Cooper)  Matthews.  He  with  his  father  migrated  to 
America  in  1844  and  soon  after  located  in  Mercer  Count}-,  Pennsylvania, 
later  removing  to  Sharon,  where  he  was  living  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1864.    His  wife  died  in  1863. 

John  Pitt  Matthews  spent  the  first  18  years  of  his  life  living  upon  the 
farm,  during  which  time  he  spent  the  winter  months  in  study  and  attend- 
ing district  schools,  the  summer  months  being  devoted  to  work  about  the 
farm.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he  attended  Sharon  Academy  and  the  following 
year  entered  Duff's  ilercantile  College  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  pur- 
sued a  mathematical  course.  He  then  taught  school  for  one  year,  and  during 
the  two  succeeding  years  was  in  attendance  at  Allegheny  College  at  ilead- 
ville,  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  then  removed  to  Greene  County, 
Illinois,  and  taught  school  at  Saulsbury  one  term  and  at  Kane  one  term.  He 
was  principal  of  Greenfield  Academy  one  and  a  half  years.  Having  decided 
to  enter  the  medical  profession,  he  began  preparation  by  reading  under  the 
instruction  of  Dr.  P.  Fenity  of  Kane,  Illinois,  and  afterward  took  a  course  of 
study  in  the  medical  department  in  the  University  of  Iowa  at  Keokuk.  He 
then  b^^  practicing  in  Scott\nlle,  ^lacoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  continued 
there  until  1862  when  he  passed  the  examination  before  the  State  Examining 
Board  and  entered  the  United  States  Army  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  i22d 
Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.  He  remained  in  active  service  one  year,  then  resigned 
because  of  ill  health  and  returned  to  Carlinville  in  the  fall  of  1863.  He  re- 
sumed practice,  associating  himself  with  Dr.  E.  E.  Webster  in  Carlinville, 
Illinois,  in  1863,  and  subsequently  attended  a  course  of  lectures  and  was 
graduated  from  Long  Island  College  Hospital,  New  York.  Returning  to 
Illinois,  he  engaged  in  practice  at  Carlinville,  where  he  has  since  continued 
with  uninterrupted  success.  He  is  a  thorough  student  and  believes  in  keeping 
abreast  of  the  rapid  advance  being  made  in  medical  science.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  cotint}'.  State,  national  and  international  medical  associations,  and  has 
had  his  share  in  raising  the  standard  of  the  profession.  He  was  elected  ist 
vice-president  of  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  in  1890  and  president  in 
1 89 1,  and  in  1890  spent  three  months  abroad,  attending  the  International 
Medical  Congress  at  Berlin,  Germany,  and  the  British  Medical  Association 
at  Birmingham,  England,  and  visiting  at  the  same  time  many  of  the  leading 
hospitals  in  Europe.    WTiile  abroad,  he  visited  the  place  of  his  birth. 


i8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

In  1865,  Dr.  Matthews  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Miss  Betty  Pahner, 
a  daughter  of  Ex-Governor  John  M.  Palmer  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  to 
this  union  have  been  born  the  following  children :  John  Palmer,  a  prominent 
young  physician  and  surgeon  who  is  associated  in  practice  with  his  father; 
Lucy  Myra  (Mrs.  Haydon  S.  Gaines)  ;  and  F.  Webster,  an  electrical  demon- 
strator who  is  now  in  England  and  is  connected  with  the  Thomas  A.  Edison 
Phonograph  Indestructible  Record  Company.  In  1858  Dr.  Matthews  was 
made  a  Mason,  joining  King  Solomon  Lodge,  of  Kane,  Illinois.  He  served 
one  term  as  alderman  in  the  city  of  Carlinville  and  has  served  on  the  Board  of 
Education.  In  1903  ]\Irs.  Matthews  spent  five  months  in  London,  England, 
the  guest  of  her  son,  F.  Webster  Matthews ;  being  a  lady  of  refinement  and  a 
talented  writer,  her  letters  were  most  interesting  and  have  been  sought  for 
publication  by  a  number  of  the  leading  papers.  She  has  devoted  much  of  her 
energies  to  literature  and  is  at  present  employed  by  a  number  of  the  leading 
periodicals  of  the  country.  She  is  now  preparing  a  work  which  promises  to 
gain  much  favor  in  the  world  of  literature.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Matthews  have 
many  friends  throughout  this  section  of  the  State  who  hold  them  in  highest 
esteem. 


HENRY  WOLF. 


Henry  Wolf  is  one  of  the  best  known  representative  farmers  of  Polk 
township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  resides  on  his  handsome  farm  of  100 
acres,  situated  in  section  i.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1848,  and  is  a  son 
of  Anthony  and  Caroline  (Heinemeyer)  Wolf. 

Anthony  Wolf  and  his  wife  always  lived  in  Germany,  where  they  suc- 
cessfully followed  general  farming.  Besides  our  subject,  they  had  one  other 
son,  William,  who  came  to  America  in  1866,  locating  in  Polk  township, 
^lacoupin  County,  Illinois.  Here  he  began  the  occupation  of  farming,  and 
proved  himself  to  be  a  capable  agriculturist  in  every  respect.  He  now  lives 
in  Honey  Point  township. 

Henry  Wolf  came  to  America  in  1869,  and  engaged  in  work  on  the  L. 
B.  Corbin  farm  in  Carlinville  township.  Macoupin  County,  where  he  re- 
mained four  years  and  three  months.    After  spending  one  year  at  Somerville 


W.  E.  P.  ANDERSON. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  21 

he  then  worked  for  B.  F.  Silsby  for  four  years.  He  then  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  John  Cape,  and  began  what  has  proved  to  be  a  most  successful 
career. 

In  1877  Mr.  Wolf  married  Josephine  Christen,  a  daughter  of  Louis  and 
Elizabeth  (Swanberger)  Christen.  Mr.  Christen,  who  was  born  in  Switzer- 
land, came  to  America  in  his  early  youth  in  company  with  his  brother.  He 
engaged  at  work  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  for  a  number  of 
years.  After  accumulating  sufficient  money,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Polk 
township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  remained  until  1882,  when  he  retired 
from  farming  and  removed  to  St.  Louis  to  spend  his  remaining  days  in 
peace  and  quiet.  He  died  in  1896  while  in  his  70th  year.  His  widow,  who  is 
in  her  66th  year,  is  now  living  at  Carlinville,  Illinois.  Our  subject  and  wife 
are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely:  Fred,  born  in  1880,  now  residing 
on  the  homestead  farm  with  his  parents;  Louis,  born  in  1882,  who  lives  at 
home;  Minnie,  born  in  1885,  who  continues  to  be  a  member  of  the  home 
circle;  Charles,  born  in  1887,  who  lives  at  home;  Christopher,  born  in  1889; 
Irene,  who  died  in  infancy:  and  Ernest,  who  was  born  in  1896.  Our  subject 
and  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


W.  E.  P.  ANDERSON. 

^^^  E.  p.  Anderson,  a  prominent  attorney-at-law  and  a  representative 
citizen  of  Carlinville,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Shaw's  Point  Township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  May  31,  1850,  and  is 
a  son  of  Erasmus  and  Mary  E.  (Hogan)  Anderson. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  natives  of  Kentucky  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1835,  settling  in  Macoupin  County.  The  grandfather,  Col.  James 
C.  Anderson,  also  came  to  this  county  and  became  one  of  its  most  prosperous 
farmers.  Erasmus  and  Mary  E.  Anderson  were  both  taken  to  their  eternal 
reward  during  the  prevalence  of  the  cholera  plague  in  185 1,  both  being  com- 
paratively young. 


22  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

W.  E.  P.  Anderson,  the  only  child  born  to  his  parents,  was  deprived 
of  their  care  at  the  early  age  of  15  months,  and  was  thereafter  a  memljer  of 
the  family  of  his  uncle,  Crittenden  H.  C.  Anderson,  from  whom  he  received 
a  father's  care.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and  in  the  meantime  did 
work  upon  the  farm,  herding  cattle  on  the  prairie  and  also  working  out  by  the 
month.  During  the  Civil  War  when  the  supply  of  men  at  home  was  greatly 
depleted  by  the  call  to  arms,  the  young  men  and  youths  were  called  upon 
to  do  the  full  work  of  a  man.  After  completing  the  prescribed  course  of 
study  in  the  common  schools,  our  subject  attended  Blackburn  University 
two  years,  and  later  entered  Western  University  at  Bloomington,  Illinois. 
He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Gen.  John  M.  Palmer  of  Carlinville  in  1870,  and 
took  a  special  course  in  Philadelphia  in  the  spring  of  1871.  He  then  con- 
tinued his  studies  under  the  direction  of  the  late  Judge  William  R.  Welch, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Macoupin  County,  August  31,  1871.  How- 
ever, he  continued  reading  law  until  he  moved  to  his  present  location  in 
Carlinville  in  1872,  and  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  this  city  ever  since.  He  has  established  a  large  and  well  paying  prac- 
tice, making  a  specialty  of  commercial  collections,  and  probate  and  chancery 
law.  He  has  been  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party 
since  reaching  his  majority,  and  served  as  city  attorney  in  1874  and  1875. 
In  1877  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Macoupin 
County  and  took  an  active  part  in  funding  the  Court  House  debt,  his  efforts 
in  this  capacity  meeting  with  the  hearty  approval  of  the  public  whose  inter- 
ests he  had  looked  after  with  such  zeal.  He  was  master  in  chancery  from 
1885  to  1897,  receiving  the  appointment  from  Judges  Welch,  Phillips,  Fouk 
and  Shirley.  In  1884  he  was  a  memljer  of  the  Democratic  State  Central 
Committee  from  his  congressional  district.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  for  a  period  of  10  years,  during  one  year  of  which  time 
he  served  as  president  of  the  board. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  joined  in  marriage,  October  23,  1873,  to  Nellie  D. 
Hamilton  of  Bloomington,  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Rebecca  Ham- 
ilton, prominent  citizens  of  McLain  County,  Illinois.  By  this  union,  Mr. 
Anderson  became  the  father  of  three  children,  namely:  William  H.,  an  attor- 
ney-at-law,  located  in  Chicago,  who  is  general  attorney  and  superintendent 
of  the  Anti-Saloon  League  of  Illinois;  Crittenden  H.  C,  manager  of  the 
Fairview  Stock  Farm;  and  Walter  S.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  United 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  23 

States  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis,  and  is  now  aboard  the  flag-ship  "Brook- 
lyn," making  a  European  cruise.  Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a  member  of 
Carlinville  Lodge,  Xo.  107,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Orient  Lodge,  No.  95,  Knights  of 
Pythias;  Court  of  Honor;  and  Knights  of  the  Globe.  Religiously,  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


WILLIAM  H.  STEINMEYER. 

William  H.  Steinmeyer,  one  of  the  pioneer  citizens  of  Carlinville, 
Macoupin  County,  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile 
business  in  this  city,  but  has  been  leading  a  retired  life  since  1884,  when  his 
son  Henry  succeeded  in  the  business.  He  was  born  in  Salder.  Duchy  of  Bruns- 
wick, Germany,  on  April  15,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Von 
Bocatius)   Steinmeyer. 

Christian  Steinmeyer  was  born  in  Foenmalse,  Duchy  of  Brunswick, 
August  24.  1792,  and  was  an  extensive  merchant  for  many  years  in  his  na- 
tive country.  He  came  to  this  country  with  his  family  in  1857,  three  years 
after  the  arrival  of  our  subject,  and  during  the  remainder  of  his  life  lived  in 
retirement  at  Carlinville.  Two  of  his  daughters  now  live  in  Carlinville.  He 
was  married  in  1821  to  i\Iary  Von  Bocatius,  and  to  them  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  William  H. ;  Henrietta;  Mary  (Gieseking)  ;  Sophia;  and 
Amelia  (Wolf).  Religiously,  as  far  back  as  is  known,  the  family  have 
been  German  Lutherans.  Mr.  Steinmeyer  died  March  29,  1862;  and  Mrs. 
Steinmeyer  died  on  February  29  of  the  same  year. 

William  H.  Steinmeyer  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  parish  in 
which  he  lived,  and  while  still  a  boy  in  his  "teens"  learned  the  tailoring  trade, 
which  he  followed  with  success  until  1854  in  his  native  country.  On  Sep- 
tember I,  1854,  he  embarked  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  from  Bremen, 
Germany,  on  the  sailing  vessel  "America"  and  landed  at  New  Orleans  on 
November  i.  1854.  He  then  took  a  steamer  up  the  Mississippi  Ri\er  to 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1856.  In  that  year 
he  moved  to  Carlinville,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  followed  the  tniloring 


24  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

trade  here  until  1868,  then  embarked  in  the  general  mercantile  business  which 
he  followed  with  uninterrupted  success  until  1884.  in  which  year  he  sold  out 
to  his  son.  He  has  since  lived  a  retired  life,  but  has  always  taken  a  deep  and 
active  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  city.  In  1884  he  visited  his  native  land 
for  a  period  of  three  months. 

Mr.  Steinmeyer  was  first  married  in  Germany,  on  September  10,  1848, 
his  wife  having  been  born  in  that  country  on  February  23,  1827.  Mrs. 
Steinmeyer  died  March  3.  1865.  having  given  birth  to  the  following  children, 
the  three  first  named  being  natives  of  Germany :  Herman ;  Otto ;  Amelia,  de- 
ceased; Henry;  Mary  (Klein);  Anna,  deceased;  Johannes;  Mena,  deceased; 
and  Martin,  who  died  at  the  age  of  14  days.  Our  subject  formed  a  second 
union  with  Augusta  Hauer,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Arthur,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  one  and  a  half  years.  Mrs.  Steinmeyer  died  on  March  2,  1869, 
and  he  formed  a  third  union  on  May  22,  1871,  with  Katherine  Klauenberg, 
who  died  September  3,  1887.  Politically,  Mr.  Steinmeyer  has  always  been 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  been  a  seeker  after 
political  honors.  He  is  a  devout  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
as  were  his  parents  before  him.  He  has  many  warm  friends  throughout 
Macoupin  County,  and  is  held  in  highest  esteem. 


JOHN  H.  TIETJEN. 

John  H.  Tietjex,  an  enterprising  and  successful  farmer  of  Macoupin 
County,  is  engaged  in  cultivating  his  farm  of  140  acres  situated  in  section  17, 
Shaw's  Point  township.  He  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, March  17,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Annie  (Harms)  Tietjen, 
and  a  grandson  of  Peter  Tietjen. 

Peter  Tietjen  spent  his  entire  life  in  Germany,  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children,  namely;  John  H.,  our  sub- 
ject's father;  Claus;  Peter;  Henry;  Annie;  Engel  and  Hammon. 

John  H.  Tietjen,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  also  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Germany,  pursuing  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  and  merchant. 


MACOL'PIX    COUNTY.  25 

Although  he  began  in  a  somewhat  lowly  station  in  life,  he  became  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  of  his  community  and  was  considered  verj-  well-to-do  at  his 
death.  As  a  business  man  he  was  a  leading  figure  in  his  section.  In  the 
War  of  1848,  he  was  a  private  infantryman,  and  saw  service  in  the  field. 
He  married  .\nnie  Harms,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  and  three  children  were 
bom  to  them,  namely:  John  H.,  our  subject;  and  Annie  (Pope)  and  Sophia, 
(Ring)  who  are  well-to-do  residents  of  Germany.  Both  parents  died  in 
their  native  land. 

John  H.  Tietjen,  the  subject  of  this  article,  immigrated  to  America  when 
26  years  of  age,  and  came  at  once  to  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County.  Upon 
his  arrival,  he  engaged  in  work  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month,  continuing  for 
two  years  until  1878  when  he  rented  land  which  he  cultivated  for  17  years. 
During  that  time  he  accimiulated  sufficient  funds  to  purchase  his  present 
farm,  which  is  one  of  the  best  cultivated  in  his  township.  He  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  also  raises  horses,  mules,  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  Three 
acres  of  the  property  are  devoted  to  an  orchard  of  apple,  peach  and  plum 
trees.  Our  subject's  political  views  adhere  to  Republicanism,  and  he  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 

On  March  22,  1879,  Mr.  Tietjen  was  married  to  Emma  Pepper,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  and  three  children  were  bom  to  them,  namely :  Annie, 
Emma  and  John.  Religiously,  Mr.  Tietjen  and  family  are  members  of  St. 
Paul's  German  Evangelical  Church. 


WILLI.AM   H.  SELLS. 

WnxiAM  H.  Sells,  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  South 
Otter  township,  Macoupin  Count}-,  Ilinois,  and  a  successful  farmer,  resides 
upon  a  verj-  fine  property-  of  no  acres,  situated  in  section  15.  He  was  bom 
in  1852  in  Macoupin  County  on  a  farm  nine  miles  west  of  Carlinville,  and  is 
a  son  of  Michael  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Sells. 

The  Sells  family  originated  in  Germany,  and  the  first  of  the  name  to 
locate  in  America  settled  first  in  Virginia  and  then  removed  as  a  pioneer  to 


26  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Indiana.  There  IMichael  Sells  was  born  and  in  tnrn  he  became  a  pioneer  in 
Illinois,  locating  among  the  early  settlers  of  Macoupin  County.  He  died  on 
his  homestead  farm,  aged  70  years,  and  his  widow  died  in  1898,  aged  81 
years.  Six  of  their  nine  children  survived  them,  \Villiam  H.,  being  the 
seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

William  H.  Sells  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  at  Blackburn 
University  at  Carlinville.  He  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  pre- 
pared to  establish  a  home  of  his  own.  Thoroughly  understanding  the  science 
of  farming,  Mr.  Sells  has  been  very  successful  in  his  operations.  In  1888  he 
purchased  his  present  excellent  farm  which  is  admirably  situated  both  for  the 
raising  of  stock  and  for  general  farming,  and  tlie  substantial  improvements 
which  he  has  continued  to  make  have  given  him  a  property  of  great  value. 
While  not  in  the  market,  its  many  advantages  would  make  it  command  a  very 
high  price.  Mr.  Sells  deals  quite  a  little  in  the  best  grades  of  horses  of  which 
he  is  a  fine  judge  and  keeps  nothing  but  good  animals  on  his  place. 

In  October,  1871,  Mr.  Sells  married  Caroline  Wright,  second  child  of 
Basil  and  Rachel  Wright,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  the  spring  of  1S82, 
aged  69  years.  The  former  is  a  substantial  retired  farmer  of  Bird  township 
now  living  at  Girard.  Of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sells'  family  of  nine  children,  the 
eldest,  Josephine,  born  in  1872,  died  in  infancy  as  did  Albert,  born  in  1881. 
The  others  were:  Joseph  Franklin,  born  October  7,  1873,  who  married  Adella 
Baker;  Luella,  born  in  1876,  who  married  Frank  Whittaker  and  they  have 
tliree  children, — Loy,  Fern  and  Fay;  John  Michael,  born  in  1879,  who  mar- 
ried Carrie  Welton  and  have  two  children, — Carrie  Helen  and  Harold; 
Elmer,  born  April  22,  1882;  and  W.  Edgar,  born  in  1885  and  deceased  in 
1902;  Walter  Harrison,  born  September  21,  1889;  and  Earnest  Earl,  born 
October  21,  1897. 

No  biography  of  the  Sells  family  and  in  fact  no  full  record  of  South 
Otter  township  could  be  written  without  extended  notice  of  the  late  W. 
Edgar  Sells,  who,  although  he  passed  out  of  life  before  he  had  fairly 
emerged  from  boyhood,  left  such  an  impress  on  the  spiritual  life  of  the 
neighborhood  that  its  effect  will  remain  long  after  his  body  has  passed  into 
its  original  elements.  Both  in  Holy  \\'rit  and  in  profane  history  are  we  told 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  working  through  childish  lips  for  the  benefit  of  others 
and  surely  this  was  the  case  in  the  present  instance.  Frail  from  childhood, 
of  a  highly  strung  temperament,  the  religious  teachings  of  his  parents  fell 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  27 

on  fallow  ground.  To  him  there  was  no  doubt  about  the  answer  to  prayer 
and  it  is  told  that  a  great  baptism  of  the  spirit  and  conviction  of  conversion 
was  bestowed  upon  him  while,  in  perfect  faith,  he  was  praying  at  the  bed- 
side of  his  sick  mother,  for  her  restoration.  At  this  time  he  was  but  a  child 
of  seven  years,  and  from  that  time,  through  years  of  pain  and  suffering,  his 
faith  never  wavered.  The  touching  sight  is  recalled  of  the  brave  young  spirit, 
on  his  bed  of  pain,  telling  of  the  joys  of  self  renunciation  and  begging  his 
young  companions  to  use  their  youth  and  the  strength  denied  him,  for  good 
purposes.  This  pure,  unsullied  soul  passed  to  its  great  reward  in  November, 
1902,  after  six  weeks  of  unusual  suffering,  at  the  age  of  17  years.  For  seven 
years  he  had  been  a  consistent  member  of  the  Hickory  Point  Baptist  Church. 

This  church  is  one  of  the  old  organizations  of  South  Otter  township, 
having  been  founded  February  24,  1855,  by  Elder  S.  B.  Culp,  S.  B.  Redman 
and  John  Etter.  William  H.  Sells  is  a  deacon  in  this  body  and  one  of  the 
trustees,  the  whole  family  being  members. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Sells  is  a  member  of  the  INIodern  \\'oodmen  of  America 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Court  of  Honor.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican.    The  family  is  one  that  is  respected  wherever  known. 


W.  C.  SEEHAUSEN. 

W.  C.  Seehausen,  county  clerk  of  [Macoupin  County  and  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Carlinville,  was  born  in  Will  County,  Illinois,  ]\Iarch  8,  1859.  and 
is  a  son  of  Christopher  and  Ellen  (Heintze)  Seehausen.  His  parents,  who 
were  natives  of  Germany,  came  to  America  in  1856;  his  father  followed  the 
trade  of  a  shoemaker  throughout  his  entire  life.  They  were  parents  of  the 
following  children :  Sophia  (Forbes)  ;  W.  C,  subject  of  this  biography;  Ella; 
Gustavus  C. ;  Mary;  August  H. ;  and  Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
vears.     In  religious  belief  the  family  were  Lutherans. 

W.  C.  Seehausen  attended  the  public  schools  for  a  time,  and  then  learned 
the  trade  of  a  shoemaker  which  he  followed  successfully  until  1899.  In 
that  year  he  was  appointed  deputy  county  clerk  and  served  with  such  satis- 


28  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

faction  that  in  the  fall  of  1902  he  was  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  Democratic 
party  for  county  clerk,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  1121  votes.  He  is  a 
man  of  upright  character  and  sterling  principles,  and  is  worthy  of  the  hearty 
support  of  the  people.  He  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  local  issues 
and  educational  matters  in  particular.  While  living  in  Staunton,  Macoupin 
County,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  for  three  succes- 
sive terms  was  elected  to  the  office  of  tax  collector.  He  served  one  term  as 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  representing  Staunton  township.  He 
has  always  been  an  enthusiastic  Democrat  and  works  hard  for  his  party's 
success.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  Carlinville  and  Macoupin 
County,  throughout  which  he  is  well  known. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Seehausen  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Hassett, 
a  native  of  Indiana,  and  they  are  parents  of  the  following  children :  Helen ; 
Laura ;  Minnie,  deceased ;  Walter  A. ;  Agnes,  deceased ;  and  Nora.  Relig- 
iously, our  subject  and  his  wife  are  devout  members  of  the  German  Luth- 
eran Church. 


THEODORE  MORSE. 

Theodore  Morse^  deceased,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  dealer  in 
agricultural  implements  at  Carlinville,  and  was  a  well  known  resident  of 
Macoupin  County,  where  he  settled  at  an  early  date.  He  was  a  native  of 
Hubbardston,  Massachusetts,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Stone)  Morse.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Massachusetts,  and  Will- 
iam Morse  was  a  prosperous  merchant  of  Hubbardston. 

Theodore  Morse  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Massachusetts 
and  at  an  early  age  learned  the  trade  of  a  tinner.  He  came  to  Carlinville, 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1861,  and  for  a  short  period  followed  his 
trade  here.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Rourke  and  engaged  in 
the  hardware  and  implement  business.  This  partnership  continued  with  some 
success  for  a  few  years,  and  upon  its  dissolution  Mr.  Morse  continued  in  the 
implement  business.  He  was  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  and  the  strictest 
integrity,  and  the  success  which  attended  his  efforts  was  well  merited.  He 
continued  at  this  line  of  business  until  his  death  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  45 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  29 

years.  He  had  stanch  friends  throughout  everj-  part  of  the  county,  and  his 
death  was  mourned  as  a  great  personal  loss  by  them.  Although  not  a  man 
of  religious  tendencies,  he  took  an  earnest  interest  in  all  worthy  causes  and 
gave  them  his  financial  support  and  moral  encouragement.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  was  deeply  interested  in  his  party's  success,  but  his  busi- 
ness cares  were  too  engrossing  to  permit  of  his  taking  an  active  part  in 
politics. 

In  1870,  Mr.  ^Morse  was  united  in  marriage  with  Emma  Welton,  who 
was  born  in  Macoupin  Countj^  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Emeline 
(Stoddard)  Welton,  her  father  being  an  early  settler  of  the  county,  coming 
here  as  early  as  1839.  She  has  a  brother,  Samuel  Welton,  and  had  one  sister, 
Anna  M.,  who  died  in  infancy.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  became  the  parents 
of  two  children :  Theodore  S. ;  and  Alice  May,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years.  Theodore  S.  Morse  is  a  civil  engineer  and  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Company.  He  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Grace  Munhall  of  Champaign,  Illinois,  and  they  have  four  children,  as 
follows:  Alice  Edna;  Fred  Theodore;  Marion  Grace;  and  David  Samuel. 
Religiously,  Mrs.  Morse  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  devotes  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  church  work.  She  united  with  the 
church  when  15  years  of  age,  and  has  been  an  active  member  since.  She 
is  a  woman  of  pleasing  personality,  and  many  fine  traits  of  character,  which 
have  endeared  her  to  her  many  acquaintances  throughout  the  county. 


L.  W.  GARDNER. 


L.  \\'.  Gardner,  manager  of  the  Spot  Cash  Store  of  Carlinville,  has 
displaved  unusual  business  ability  and,  although  he  has  resided  but  a  short 
time  in  Carlinville,  has  gained  recognition  as  one  of  the  most  able  men  of 
the  city. 

Mr.  Gardner  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Illinois,  October  21,  1879,  and  is 
a  son  of  T.  F.  and  Lavinia  (Woodruff)  Gardner,  his  father  being  a  native  of 
Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  and  his  mother  of  Manchester,  England.     He  was 


30  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Gibson  City,  IlHnois,  and  during  a  part 
of  his  time  in  school  was  also  a  clerk  in  the  post  office  of  that  town.  After 
leaving  school  he  became  clerk  in  the  extensive  department  store  of  Frank 
H.  Barber,  there  learning  the  rudiments  of  a  business  education.  He  bcame 
a  first-class  salesman  and  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business  in 
its  minute  details.  His  ability  impressed  itself  upon  his  employer,  who  is 
himself  a  man  of  great  business  sagacity,  and  resulted  in  Mr.  Barber  placing 
our  subject  in  charge  of  a  branch  store  at  Carlinville,  in  April,  1902.  This 
store  was  established  in  the  St.  George  Hotel  Building,  but  under  capable 
management  the  business  grew  with  such  rapidity  it  became  apparent  that 
more  commodious  quarters  must  be  secured.  This  was  done  in  September, 
1902,  the  store  being  moved  to  its  present  location  in  the  Burgdorff  Building. 
The  dimensions  of  the  store  are  108  by  25  feet;  it  is  well  lighted  and  ventil- 
ated and  provided  with  modern  conveniences.  They  carry  a  very  complete 
line  of  general  dry  goods  and  notions,  carpets,  ladies'  furnishings,  crockery 
and  light  hardware.  Four  clerks  are  constantly  employed  to  look  after  the 
wants  of  the  customers,  and  during  the  holidays  as  many  as  16  clerks  are  on 
the  pay-rolls.  Mr.  Gardner  has  made  a  name  for  fair  and  honest  dealing, 
and  the  patronage  of  the  Spot  Cash  Store  extends  throughout  Macoupin  and 
adjoining  counties.  He  has  made  many  friends  since  locating  here,  and  is 
firmly  established  in  the  good  will  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Religiously,  he  was 
formerly  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of  Gibson  City, 
but  since  moving  to  Carlinville  has  become  identified  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


JOHN  CAVENY. 


John  Caveny,  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Macoupin  County,  is 
superintendent  of  the  County  Poor  Farm,  a  position  he  has  filled  in  a  manner 
to  gain  the  commendation  of  the  people  throughout  the  county.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  a  greater  part  of  his  active 
business  life,  and  owns  a  fine  farm  of  120  acres  in  South  Otter  township. 
He  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  having  been  born  in  the  town  of  Dover, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  31 

August  8,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Ann  (Coan)  Caveny,  both 
natives  of  Ireland. 

Michael  Caveny  came  from  his  native  land  to  the  United  States  and 
first  located  in  New  Hampshire,  where  he  engaged  in  railroad  contracting 
as  foreman.  He  was  living  in  Nebraska  at  the  time  of  his  death,  dying  at 
the  advanced  age  of  86  years.  His  widow  still  resides  in  that  State  and, 
although  she  has  passed  the  84th  milestone  is  hale  and  hearty,  enjoying  the 
best  of  health.  The  following  children  blessed  their  home:  John;  James; 
Catherine:  Mary;  Michael;  Thomas;  Ellen;  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 
Religiously,  the  members  of  the  family  are  Catholics.  Mr.  Caveny  was  a 
strong  supporter  of  Democracy  but  was  never  a  seeker  for  political  perfer- 
nient. 

John  Caveny,  subject  of  this  biography,  was  but  two  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  moved  from  New  Hampshire  to  seek  a  home  and  fortune  in  the 
West.  They  located  in  Missouri  and  in  1853  removed  to  Sangamon  County, 
Illinois,  where  John  Caveny  received  his  intellectual  training  in  the  common 
schools.  His  first  experience  in  the  business  world  was  as  a  farm  hand  work- 
ing by  the  month,  and  after  following  that  a  few  years  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship to  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  plasterer.  This  trade  he  followed  a 
short  time  then  returned  to  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  has  followed 
with  uninterrupted  success  up  to  the  present  time.  He  has  engaged  in  diver- 
sified farming,  and  bought  and  sold  cattle  extensively.  A  man  of  good  moral 
character,  he  has  always  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow 
men,  and  it  was  not  surprising  that  they  should  recognize  his  fitness  for  so 
responsible  a  position  as  superintendent 'of  the  County  Poor  Farm.  He  was 
nominated  by  the  Democratic  party  in  1902,  and  his  election  followed.  One 
has  but  to  visit  this  institution  to  ascertain  what  can  be  done  to  relieve  suf- 
fering humanity,  and  never  in  its  history  has  the  administration  of  its  affairs 
met  with  such  hearty  comm.endation  at  the  hands  of  the  public.  Many  in- 
novations have  marked  the  management  of  Superintendent  Caveny,  one  of  the 
inost  important  being  the  freedom  given  those  inmates  who  are  not  violent. 
He  encourages  them  to  walk  about  the  farm  and  take  plenty  of  exercise, 
which  makes  them  rest  well  at  night  and  benefits  their  health.  The  wards 
are  kept  scrupulously  neat  and  clean,  and  the  food  is  carefully  prepared  by 
Mrs.  Caveny  and  their  daughter,  to  both  of  whom  much  credit  is  given. 

Mr.  Caveny  was  united  in  marriage  August  10,  1875,  with  ^largaret  A. 


32  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Carmody,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following 
offspring :  Thomas ;  Margaret  M. ;  John  F. ;  Theresa ;  Peter ;  Malicha ;  Law- 
rence; and  Annie  and  James,  deceased.  In  religious  attachment,  the  family 
are  Catholics.  Mr.  Caveny  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  for  a  period  of  nine 
years  served  as  school  director  and  as  commissioner  of  highways. 


MANNING  M.  KESSINGER. 

Manning  M.  Kessinger^  who  has  attained  prominence  by  the  able 
manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  his  duties  as  superintendent  of  the 
schools  of  Macoupin  County,  is  a  resident  of  Carlinville.  He  was  born  in  this 
county  February  7,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Adams)  Kess- 
inger.  The  Kessinger  family  is  of  German  extraction  and  was  established  in 
this  country  by  two  brothers  who  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  One  of  these 
brothers  later  moved  to  Kentucky  where  Lynn  Kessinger,  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born. 

Lynn  Kessinger  moved  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day  and 
became  a  prominent  agriculturist  of  Macoupin  County.  He  died  in  1895  '^^ 
the  age  of  93  years.  He  married  Betsy  Peebles,  by  whom  he  had  the  following 
children:  Wilmith  (Huskey)  ;  Ann  (Logsdon)  ;  Elizabeth  (McKain)  ; 
Mary  (Henry);  Frank;  Alexander;  John;  and  Bird.  Religiously,  the  fam- 
ily were  Methodists. 

John  Kessinger,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  reared  and  lived  until  he  reached  the  age  of  19  years.  Leaving  his 
native  State,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  upon  a  tract  of  800  acres  of  land 
in  Bird  township,  Macoupin  County,  becoming  one  of  the  county's  most 
prosperous  farmers  and  stock  dealers.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Eliza  (Adams)  Peebles,  who  by  her  union  with  Mr.  Peebles,  had  one  son, 
Horatio  Peebles.  She  died  in  1879,  aged  54  years  and  was  survived  by  her 
husband  and  the  following  children:  Preston  W. ;  Charles  E. ;  Harriet  (Sol- 
omon) ;  Manford  H. ;  William  S. ;  Cythia  (Sells);  Loretta  (Wills);  J.  P.; 
and  Manning  M.,  subject  of  this  biography.     John  Kessinger,  the  father, 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  33 

died  in  December,  1890,  aged  67  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  a  loyal  Democrat  in  politics,  and  held  a  number  of  township  offices  at 
different  times,  taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  county. 

Manning  AI.  Kessinger  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Macou- 
pin County  and  attended  Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville.  Soon  after 
completing  his  studies  he  taught  school  until  1898  when  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  county  superintendent  of  schools  of  Macoupin  County.  He  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  54  votes  and  served  out  the  term  in  most  creditable 
style.  He  was  recognized  as  the  man  for  the  office  and  was  the  unanimous 
choice  of  his  party  for  a  nomination  for  a  second  term ;  in  the  election  which 
followed  he  was  re-elected  by  a  handsome  majority  of  441  votes.  He  is  the 
first  county  superintendent  of  schools  in  the  history  of  the  county  to  succeed 
himself  by  a  re-election  to  that  office.  He  is  well  qualified  for  the  office  and 
has  given  it  his  best  efforts,  gaining  the  hearty  support  and  cooperation  of 
all  citizens. 

In  July,  1891,  Mr.  Kessinger  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth 
Edwards,  a  daughter  of  Charles  M.  Edwards  of  Scottville,  Macoupin  County, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Mary  Lazell.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kessinger  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pjiihias. 


BENJAMIN  WOODS. 

Benjamin  Woods,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Polk  township, 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  owns  a  well  cultivated  farm  of  123 
acres,  situated  in  section  4,  was  born  March  30.  1850,  in  Bird  township, 
Macoupin  County.    He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Janett  (Hughes)  Woods. 

William  Woods  was  born  in  1810  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  was  a  son 
of  a  sea  captain,  who  was  drowned  when  the  son  was  still  young.  In  1830 
the  widow  came  to  America  with  her  children,  of  whom  William  was  the 
eldest,  and  they  settled  near  Whitehall,  Greene  County,  Illinois,  where  they 
purchased  land.  Prior  to  this,  Mr.  Woods  had  prepared  himself  for  the 
practice  of  veterinan.'  surgen,'  and  this  he  followed,  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing.    He  died  in  Bird  township,  on  the  homestead  farm,  in  1876,  aged  66 


34  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

years,  leaving  a  widow  and  seven  children,  as  follows :  Isaac,  deceased ;  Marj', 
of  Whitehall;  Abram  H.,  of  Bird  township;  Benjamin  of  this  sketch;  Agnes, 
wife  of  William  D.  Goodell.  of  Iowa,  William  E.  and  Paul.  Seven  children 
are  deceased  of  whom  Peter,  John  and  Olive,  who  died  previous  to  the  father, 
were  all  grown  to  maturity.  The  others  died  in  infancy.  Isaac,  Mary,  John 
and  Olive  were  children  by  his  first  marriage  to  Matilda  \\'right. 

Benjamin  Woods  was  educated  in  Bird  township  and  was  engaged  in 
assisting  on  the  home  farm  until  his  majority.  He  now  owns  a  very  fine 
farm  of  123  acres,  as  noted  above,  which  he  has  proved  to  be  well  adapted 
to  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  has  one  of  the  very  comfortable 
country  homes  of  the  locality,  which  is  in  touch  with  Carlinville  by  means  of 
the  Rural  Free  Delivery  Route  No.  i. 

In  187S  Mr.  Woods  married  Laura  A.  Goodell,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Calista  (Holmes)  Goodell,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  Polk  township.  ^Mrs.  \Voods  died  March  17.  1902,  leaving 
five  children,  as  follows:  Lola  A.,  bom  June  15.  1880;  Freddie  A.,  bom 
Januarj'  31,  1882;  Paul  O.,  born  October  10,  1883;  Leonard  B.,  bom  No- 
vember 10,  1885;  and  George,  born  September  30,  1887. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Woods  is  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Modem  Wood- 
men of  America.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  Mr.  Woods  is  known  as 
a  good  and  useful  citizen,  one  whose  many  excellent  traits  of  character  have 
won  him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire  community.  His  whole  life 
has  been  passed  in  the  one  locality,  he  has  been  the  witness  of  many  changes 
and  has  been  closely  identified  with  its  agricultural  development. 


ROBERT  WHITELEY,  Sr. 

Robert  Whiteley,  Sr.,  a  prominent  retired  farmer  of  Macoupin 
Count^•,  Illinois,  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  725  acres,  and  now  a  most  highly 
esteemed  resident  of  Carlinville,  was  born  on  the  river  Ouse,  within  15  miles 
of  the  city  of  York,  Yorkshire,  England,  in  August,  1819,  and  is  a  son  of 
Robert  Whiteley. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  35 

The  Whiteley  family  is  one  of  age  and  prominence  in  Yorkshire.  The 
old  homestead  there  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  for  the  past 
500  years.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  thrice  married,  Mr.  Whiteley  and  a 
sister  being  the  children  of  the  first  marriage.  The  latter,  Ann,  married 
William  Thompson,  and  resides  at  Maryville,  California. 

Robert  Whiteley  came  to  America  in  1844,  when  25  years  of  age,  land- 
ing at  New  Orleans  and  coming  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  St.  Louis,  thence 
to  Alton,  Illinois,  and  later  reached  Chesterfield,  where  he  was  employed  first 
by  Captain  Gelder  and  then  by  a  Mr.  Rocklington,  remaining  with  the  latter 
employer  two  years,  at  a  salary  of  $100  per  annum.  ^Ir.  Whiteley  then  re- 
turned to  New  Orleans  where  he  secured  very  lucrative  employment  at  dray- 
ing,  during  the  winter  months,  returning  to  Illinois  for  farm  work  during 
the  summers.  Thus  alternating,  he  spent  seven  years.  In  1852  he  located  on 
a  farm  in  section  9,  Bird  township,  which  he  had  previously  operated  on 
shares,  and  in  1857  he  purchased  the  property.  It  contained  265  acres,  to 
which  Mr.  Whiteley  later  added  200  acres.  This  farm  under  his  capable 
management  improved  year  by  year  and  when  he  retired  from  its  active  oper- 
ation, in  1 89 1,  was  considered  one  of  the  very  best  farms  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Whiteley  rents  the  property  and  since  1891  has  resided  in  a  very  handsome 
home  at  Carlinville. 

In  the  spring  of  1852,  Mr.  Whiteley  was  married  to  Adelaide  Morris, 
who  was  born  in  Macoupin  County,  of  English  parentage.  Her  death  took 
place  in  December,  1869,  three  of  the  family  of  10  children  still  surviving, 
namely :  Mary,  who  married  G.  C.  Tunison,  a  farmer  near  Whitehall,  Greene 
County,  Illinois,  and  they  have  one  child,  Ennis;  Oello,  who  married  J.  E. 
McAliney,  a  farmer  near  Donaldson,  Bond  County,  Illinois,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Emmett;  and  Robert,  Jr.,  who,  since  1899,  has  been  engaged  in  an 
agricultural  implement  business  at  Carlinville, — in  1891  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Laura  Denby,  who  is  a  daughter  of  P.  L.  and  Margaret 
(Trible)  Denby,  the  former  of  whom  is  a  retired  farmer  residing  at  Carlin- 
ville. 

In  politics  Mr.  Whiteley  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  In 
religious  faith  he  is  an  Episcopalian. 

Few  citizens  of  Carlinville  are  held  in  more  esteem  than  is  iMr.  White- 
ley,  whose  hearty  friendliness  and  pleasant,  genial  manner  makes  even  the 
stranger  appreciate  his  hospitality.     For  many  years  after  becoming  a  resi- 


36  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

dent  of  the  United  States,  he  found  continued  industry  a  necessity,  but  this 
he  never  regarded  in  the  Hght  of  a  hardship.  In  the  evening  of  Hfe  he  finds 
himself  surrounded  with  all  that  makes  life  desirable, — large  means  of  his 
own  gaining,  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  which  he  has  earned  through  up- 
right living,  and  the  care  and  affection  of  his  kindred. 


W.  H.  UTT. 


W.  H.  Utt,  a  gentleman  widely  known  throughout  Macoupin  County, 
has  followed  the  vocation  of  an  auctioneer  for  a  period  of  more  than  35  years, 
and  has  made  more  sales  of  personal  property  than  any  other  man  in  the 
county.  He  was  born  in  Scioto  County,  Ohio,  July  18,  1837,  and  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Hibbs)  Utt,  the  former  a  native  of  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter,  of  Ohio. 

Henry  Utt  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  followed  that  line  of  work  in 
his  native  State  during  boyhood.  At  an  early  day  he  settled  in  Ohio,  first 
purchasing  a  farm  in  Scioto  County,  where  he  lived  some  years.  He  later 
sold  this  property  and  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Jersey  County,  eight 
miles  south  of  Jerseyville.  He  purchased  a  farm  which  he  cultivated  for 
some  years,  then  sold  the  property  and  removed  to  Christian  County,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  which  he  cultivated  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  1862.  Mrs.  Utt  lived  until  1878.  To  them 
were  born  the  following  children :  Priscilla ;  Catherine ;  N.  B. ;  George ; 
Mary;  Aaron;  and  W.  H.  Religiously,  they  were  members  of  the  Mission- 
ary Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Utt  was  a  strong  Republican  in  politics  and  for 
some  years  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  besides  serving  in  several 
township  ofifices. 

W.  H.  Utt  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  State  of  Illinois 
and  upon  reaching  man's  estate  worked  upon  the  farm  for  his  father.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  War  he  purchased  horses  and  mules  for  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment, and  upon  the  close  of  that  memorable  struggle  returned  to  farming. 
He  also  took  up  the  work  of  auctioneering,  work  for  whicli  he  displayed 


HON.  J.  B.  VAUGHN. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  39 

great  aptitude,  and  he  has  continued  it  ever  since.  He  has  an  average  of 
four  sales  a  week,  has  sold  more  personal  property  than  any  other  man  in  the 
county,  and  is  widely  known  throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties.  He 
followed  farming  until  some  15  years  ago  when  he  gave  it  up  in  order  to 
devote  his  entire  attention  to  auctioneering.  He  now  owns  a  small  tract  of 
land  one  and  one-half  miles  southeast  of  Carlinville,  where  he  resides. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Utt  was  married  to  IMartha  Jane  Lantz,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  to  them  were  born  six  children,  as  follows :  Ella ;  Alary ;  Jose- 
phina ;  Edward;  William;  and  George.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, but  his  business  duties  have  been  too  confining  to  permit  him  to  give 
much  attention  to  political  affairs.  He  is  a  man  of  good  character,  a  repre- 
sentative citizen,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  fellow  citizens. 


4 » » 


HON.  J.  B.  VAUGHN. 

Hox.  J.  B.  Vaughn,  County  Judge  of  Macoupin  County,  and  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Carlinville,  was  born  in  Jerseyville,  Jersey  County,  Illinois, 
in  March,  1864.  He  is  a  son  of  Erastus  and  Catherine  (Hill)  Vaughn,  his 
father  being  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  his  mother  coming  of  old  New  Eng- 
land stock.  Erastus  Vaughn  has  been  a  resident  of  Macoupin  County  since 
1 87 1,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  and  butchering  near  Nilwood.  He  is  a  good 
substantial  citizen  and  business  man,  and  is  highly  thought  of  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  resides.  Nine  children  were  born  to  Erastus  and  Catherine 
Vaughn,  our  subject  being  the  oldest  child. 

J.  B.  Vaughn,  having  completed  his  preliminary  education,  entered  upon 
the  study  of  the  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Barnes  of  Jacksonville,  and  later 
under  the  direction  of  Judge  A.  N.  Yancey.  He  took  a  course  of  lectures 
in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  .Ann  Arbor.  Ever 
since  his  arrival  at  manhood,  he  has  taken  an  enthusiastic  interest  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Democratic  party  in  politics,  and  from  1890  to  1894  served  effic- 
iently in  the  capacity  of  county  clerk.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  January 
14,  1895,  3rid  immediately  thereafter  opened  up  an  office  for  the  practice  of 


40  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

his  profession  in  Carlinville,  wliere  he  has  successfully  continued  up  to  the 
present  time.  He  formed  a  partnership  with  Andrew  J.  Duggan  in  1896, 
and  this  firm  continued  until  1898.  In  1896  he  was  elected  State's  attorney. 
He  filled  this  office  for  four  years  and  by  his  efficient  discharge  of  its  duties 
did  much  toward  extending  his  reputation  as  a  careful  and  painstaking 
lawyer.  In  the  trial  of  cases  he  gave  evidence  of  brilliancy,  and  in  his  prep- 
arations for  trials  showed  himself  to  be  well  grounded  in  the  law.  He 
possesses  a  keen,  discriminating  mind,  and  a  high  sense  of  justice,  and  it 
was  but  natural  that  in  1902  he  should  become  his  party's  candidate  for  the 
office  of  county  judge.  He  was  elected  in  November  of  that  year  by  a 
flattering  majority  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  has  since  discharged  the 
duties  of  that  office.  He  is  a  very  popular  man  and  has  gained  the  con- 
fidence and  good  will  of  his  fellow  citizens,  irrespective  of  their  party  affili- 
ations. 

In  1890  Judge  Vaughn  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  L.  Drake,  a 
native  of  Macoupin  County,  and  they  have  one  child,  Margaret  L.,  born  in 
1897.  Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a  member  of  Mount  Nelx)  Lodge,  No.  76, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Macoupin  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ;  Ascalon  Commandery,  K.  T., 
of  St.  Louis;  Mulah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. ;  and  Orient  Lodge  No.  95, 
K.  P.,  of  which  he  served  as  chancellor  commander  two  terms.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  luember  and  past  matron. 
Religiously  Mrs.  Vaughn  is  a  conscientious  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
A  portrait  of  Judge  Vaughn  accompanies  this  sketch. 


W.   R.  HULSE. 


W.  R.  HuLSE,  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Carlinville,  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  real  estate,  abstract  and  insur- 
ance business,  which  he  has  followed  successfully  for  many  years.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  energetic  and  enterprising  men  of  the  city,  and  has  done 
much  to  aid  its  development  and  progress.  He  was  born  in  Palmyra,  Macou- 
pin County,  December  2,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of  Capt.  Abraham  C.  and  Martha 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  41 

A.  (Ross)  Hulse,  and  grandson  of  W.  K.  and  Hannah  (Cox)  Hulse,  both 
of  the  last  named  being  natives  of  Tennessee.  His  maternal  great-grand- 
father was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

W.  K.  Hulse,  the  grandfatlier,  was  a  mechanic  and  spent  many  years  in 
constructing  flat-boats  which  were  piloted  down  the  ri\er  laden  with  produce 
for  city  markets.  He  served  in  the  Confederate  Army,  was  taken  prisoner 
and  sent  to  Sandusk}',  Ohio,  where  he  was  confined  in  military  prison.  He 
and  bis  w-ife  were  parents  of  the  following  children :  Sarah ;  John  W. ;  W.  A., 
a  physician  and  surgeon :  Caroline ;  Capt.  Abraham  C. ;  Polly  A. ;  Thomas,  a 
soldier  in  the  Confederate  Army,  who  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run 
and  died  from  the  effects  of  his  injur}- :  Elizabeth ;  Louisa ;  and  Elvira. 

Capt.  Abraham  C.  Hulse  was  born  in  Eastern  Tennessee,  September  23, 
1835,  and  there  passed  his  boyhood  days.  In  1853,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
followed  his  trade  as  a  blacksmith  until  the  Civil  War  was  in  progress,  when 
in  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  I22d  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf., 
as  a  private.  He  was  promoted  to  2d  lieutenant,  and  later  for  meritorious 
conduct  on  the  field  of  battle  was  commissioned  a  captain.  He  was  serving 
with  that  rank  when  the  war  closed  in  1865,  participating  in  the  last  engage- 
ment of  the  war  at  Fort  Blakely,  Alabama.  He  again  returned  to  Carlin- 
ville  where  he  opened  his  blacksmith  shop  and  carried  on  business  until  1882. 
In  that  year  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County  on  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  served  efficiently  for  a  period  of  four  years.  After  the  expiration 
of  his  term,  he  turned  his  attention  to  raising  standard  bred  horses,  and  this 
he  has  followed  successfully  up  to  the  present  time.  He  is  a  man  repre- 
sentative of  the  best  type  of  citizenship,  and  has  many  friends  throughout  the 
county.  He  and  his  wife  reared  the  following  children :  Rosella,  Catherine, 
W.  R.  and  R.  S. 

W.  R.  Hulse,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  this  county  and  at  Blackburn  University  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1884.  Prior  to  entering  college,  he  taught  school 
one  term,  and  upon  leaving  served  as  deputy  sheriff  under  his  father  during 
1885  and  1886.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  C.  A.  Walker  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1887.     One  year  later  he  formed  a  partnership  with 

B.  M.  Burke  in  the  real  estate,  abstract  and  insurance  business,  which  con- 
tinued until  1890.  when  our  subject  purchased  his  partner's  interest  in  the 
business.     He  has  since  carried  on  this  business  bv  himself,  and  has  attained 


42  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

a  high  degree  of  success,  particularly  in  the  real  estate  branch  of  the  business. 
He  has  won  the  title  of  "Hulse  the  Hustler,"  and  well  may  the  term  be  ap- 
plied, for  no  man  in  Macoupin  County  puts  more  energy  in  his  work  than  he. 
He  is  well  known  for  his  business  integrity  and  the  straightforward  methods 
which  characterize  his  every  transaction.  He  represents  seven  fire  insurance 
companies. 

On  January  26,  1888,  Mr.  Hulse  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Mattie 
L.  Mayfield,  a  daughter  of  Alfred  S.  Mayfield,  formerly  clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court  for  eight  years.  Mrs.  Hulse  graduated  from  the  Illinois  Female  Col- 
lege at  Jacksonville,  now  known  as  the  Illinois  Woman's  College.  She  also 
received  a  degree  from  the  University  of  Chicago,  for  a  course  in  English 
that  she  completed.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hulse  were  born  two  children :  Sid- 
ney D.,  deceased ;  and  William  M.  Religiously,  the  family  are  of  the  Metho- 
dist faith.  Our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  during  the  last  campaign  was 
president  of  the  Carlinville  Democratic  Club.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
Mount  Nebo  Lodge,  No.  76,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 


JOHN    C.  ANDERSON. 

John  C.  Anderson,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  Carlinville's  enter- 
prising and  public  spirited  citizens,  is  at  the  head  of  the  soundest  banking 
institution  of  Macoupin  County,  an  establishment  founded  by  his  father.  He 
was  born  in  this  county,  August  31,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  C.  H.  C.  and  Mary 
E.  (Cole)  Anderson. 

John  C.  Anderson  received  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools 
after  which  he  pursued  a  classical  course  of  study  in  Blackburn  University. 
After  his  schools  days  were  over,  he  entered  the  banking  house  conducted  by 
his  father,  and  has  been  identified  with  this  business  almost  continuously 
since.  He  succeeded  his  father  in  the  business  upon  the  latter's  death,  and 
its  affairs  have  been  conducted  in  the  same  able  and  honorable  manner  that 
marked  the  course  pursued  by  his  father.  This  bank  is  not  only  recognized 
as  a  safe  institution  but  is  also  patronized  because  of  the  tried  honesty  and 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  43 

uprightness  of  its  officers,  and  the  courtesy  with  which  its  patrons  are  treated. 
Mr.  Anderson  is  also  engaged  in  various  other  enterprises,  and  has  been 
foremost  among  those  who  have  worked  for  the  development  and  betterment 
of  the  cit)'  and  county.  He  is  interested  in  the  Carlinville  Coal  Company, 
and  has  large  real  estate  holdings  in  the  county.  He  is  representative  of  the 
highest  type  of  manhood  and  his  chief  aim  has  been  to  gain  and  retain  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens,  in  which  respect  he  has  succeeded 
to  a  marked  degree. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  in  18S0  to  Lucy  W.  Boddie,  who  was  born  in 
Christian  County,  Kentucky,  and  comes  of  a  very  prominent  family  of  that 
State.  They  have  reared  the  following  children :  Jessie  C,  John  M.,  Martha 
R.,  Rivers  M.,  Lucile  D.,  Perry  B.,  James  C,  and  Mary.  Religiously,  Mrs. 
Anderson  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Our  subject  has 
always  been  an  unswerving  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never 
had  the  time  nor  the  inclination  to  engage  in  practical  politics. 


WILLIAM  W.  HOUNSLEY. 

\\'iLLiAM  W'.  HouNSLEYj  One  of  the  representative  farmers  of  Macou- 
pin County,  Illinois,  residing  in  section  7,  Polk  township,  \vas  born  in  1858, 
on  the  homestead  farm  which  he  now  occupies.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Winson)  Hounsley. 

John  Hounsley  was  born  in  1830,  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  came  to 
America  in  1851.  His  parents  were  William  and  Ann  (Simpson)  Hounsley, 
both  of  whom  died  in  England.  John  Housley  came  to  Illinois  and  in  1855 
made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  consisting  of  50  acres  in  Polk  township, 
Macoupin  County.  He  prospered  and  at  different  times  added  other  con- 
necting tracts,  finally  coming  to  own,  in  addition  to  his  early  purchase,  400 
more  acres  and  320  acres  in  Chesterfield  township.  His  wife,  Sarah  Winson, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Winson,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1857,  died  in 
January,  1866,  in  her  29th  year.  To  them  were  born  four  children,  of  whom 
the  two  survivors  are :  William  W.,  of  this  sketch,  and  Mar}',  who  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Duckels,  a  farmer  of  Chesterfield  township. 


44  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

William  W.  Hounsley  was  reared  on  the  homestead  farm  where  all  the 
children  were  born,  and  has  devoted  his  life  to  farming.  He  was  educated  in 
the  district  school  of  his  neighborhood  and  Blackburn  University  at  Carlin- 
ville.  He  owns  350  acres  which  join  his  father's  land  on  the  west,  116  acres 
lying  in  Chesterfield  township,  and  the  remainder  in  Polk  township.  This 
is  all  good  land,  producing  large  crops  and  is  well  adapted  to  the  cultivation 
of  the  grains  and  products  which  have  made  Illinois  a  noted  agricultural 
State. 

In  1881  Mr.  Hounsley  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna  Killam,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  Killam.  Samuel  Killam  was  born  in 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  came  to  Illinois,  with  his  parents,  in  1829.  They 
settled  four  miles  west  of  Jacksonville,  where  the  family  took  up  400  acres 
of  government  land,  his  portion  being  over  98  acres,  and  to  this  he  added  160 
acres.  One  of  the  early  pioneers,  Mr.  Killam  was  an  important  factor  in  the 
agricultural  and  educational  development  of  his  section,  and  he  spent  a  long 
and  useful  life.  His  death  occurred  on  his  farm  in  Morgan  County,  in  1891, 
in  his  82d  year.  He  married  Margaret  Haxby,  who  was  also  of  Yorkshire, 
and  came  in  1834  to  America,  with  her  parents,  who  located  in  Scott  County, 
Illinois.  She  married  Samuel  Killam  on  April  13,  1837,  and  died  January 
II,  1901,  in  her  82d  year,  survived  by  seven  of  her  nine  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hounsley  have  six  children  living,  namely :  John,  Charles, 
Adelaide,  W.  Leslie,  Thomas  K.  and  Clara  A.,  all  of  whom  are  at  home. 
Another  child,  Harold  L.,  died  in  infancy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hounsley  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 
In  religious  views  he  is  an  Episcopalian.  He  is  a  man  of  upright  character 
and  commands  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  many  of  these 
having  been  his  neighbors  all  his  life. 


# « » 


RICHARD  T.  ROBLEY. 

Richard  T.  Robley,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Macoupin  County,  who 
resides  upon  his  well  improved  farm  of  120  acres,  situated  in  section  8, 
Shaw's  Point  township,  was  born  March  28,  1847,  i"  Greene  County,  Illi- 
nois.    He  is  a  son  of  Henry  G.  and  Caroline  (Griswold)  Robley. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  45 

Henry  G.  Robley  was  born  May  2,  181 7,  at  Vergennes,  Addison  County, 
Vermont,  and  was  a  son  of  Richard  Robley,  who  was  born  near  Keene,  New 
Hampshire.  His  grandfather  was  Richard  Robley,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land and  settled  in  New  Hampshire  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War,  in 
which  he  took  part.  His  family  consisted  of  four  children,  namely:  Mrs. 
Mary  Tucker;  Mrs.  Angeline  Fessenden;  Richard  and  Henry.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  the  second  Richard  Robley,  was  thrice  married,  but  his 
children  were  all  born  to  his  first  marriage  and  were  the  following:  Eliza 
(Brown),  Henry,  George,  Charles,  Villeroy,  Mrs.  Emily  Twitchell  and  !^Irs. 
Mary  Brace.  Grandfather  Richard  Robley  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of 
18  years,  and  with  a  brother  removed  from  Keene,  New  Hampshire,  to  Ad- 
dison County,  Vermont.  In  1820  he  went  to  Missouri,  which  was  then  very 
far  West,  but  remained  there  only  one  year,  then  joined  his  relatives  who  had 
settled  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  to  be  almost  90  years  of 
age. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  only  three  years  old  when  his  parents  came 
to  Illinois.  He  came  to  this  place  in  1855,  where  his  death  occurred  IMarch 
26,  1900.  He  was  a  man  of  much  industry  and  accumulated,  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  an  ample  fortune,  leaving  at  death  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres.  In 
political  sentiment  he  was  a  Republican.  Although  he  had  enjoyed  only  the 
advantages  of  the  district  schools,  he  was  a  man  of  great  intelligence,  fond 
of  reading  and  considered  of  much  consequence  in  his  locality.  In  1840  he 
married  Caroline  Griswold,  who  was  also  born  at  Vergennes,  Vermont,  J^Iay 
8,  1817,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  (Peck)  Griswold,  natives  of 
\^emiont,  of  English  extraction.  She  still  survives,  at  the  age  of  86,  in  the 
possession  of  all  her  faculties,  a  beloved  member  of  our  subject's  household. 
She  became  the  mother  of  three  children,  namely:  William  V.,  deceased; 
Richard  T.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Mrs.  Helen  Z.  Welton  of  ^lacoupin  County. 

Richard  T.  Robley  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  all  his  life,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  eight  years  spent  in  Grundy  County,  Missouri.  He  has  always 
been  engaged  in  farming  and  came  to  his  present  place  in  1856.  Here,  for 
almost  a  half  century,  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  farming,  stock 
raising  and  dairying,  the  products  of  the  latter  industry  being  shipped  to 
Granite  City,  Illinois.  His  land  is  a  great  corn  producer,  averaging  2,500 
bushels,  and  he  has  made  the  growing  of  this  cereal  and  the  raising  of  hogs 
his  leading  features.     His  cattle  are  high  bred  Jerseys  and  are  satisfactory 


46  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

in  every  way.  Mr.  Robley  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  public  spirited  citi- 
zens of  his  township  and  served  most  efficiently  from  1896  to  1899  as  higli- 
way  commissioner.     Politically,  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 

On  June  i,  1874,  Mr.  Robley  was  married  to  Olive  Beebe,  who  was 
born  in  Calhoun  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Aurora  and  Betty 
Beebe.  Two  sons, — Lee  and  Ward, — have  been  born  to  this  marriage.  Lee 
is  a  promising  young  man  of  19  years,  who  is  his  father's  valuable  assistant 
on  the  farm.     Ward  is  deceased. 


FRANK  R.  DENBY. 

FR.A.NK  R.  Denby,  a  prominent  young  agriculturist  of  Carlinville  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  is  a  native  of  this  county,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
May  26,  1870.  He  is  a  son  of  William  A.  and  Narcissa  N.  (Solomon) 
Denby,  a  grandson  of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Quarton)  Denby,  and  great-grand- 
son of  Robert  Denby  of  Yorkshire,  England. 

Peter  Denby,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  England  and 
came  to  America  in  1835,  settling  four  miles  southwest  of  Jacksonville,  Illi- 
nois, near  the  Killam  Mound.  There  he  remained  about  one  year,  moving  in 
1836  to  Macoupin  County,  where  he  lived  thereafter  until  his  death.  He 
became  owner  of  some  900  acres  of  land  and  was  a  practical  farmer  and 
upright  citizen.  He  and  his  wife  were  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows : 
William  A.,  father  of  our  subject;  Peter  L. ;  Thomas  R. ;  Jonathan;  and 
John,  In  religious  faith,  the  family  were  Methodists.  Peter  Denby  died  in 
November,  1863,  and  his  wife  in  1849. 

William  A.  Denby  was  born  in  South  Palmyra  township,  Macoupin 
County,  I^Iarch  17,  1837,  and  was  reared  upon  the  old  Denby  homestead 
where  he  remained  until  1859.  In  that  year  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Carlin- 
ville township,  which  is  still  owned  by  him,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits very  successfully  until  he  retired  from  active  business  life  and  moved  to 
the  city  of  Carlinville.  Mr.  Denby  was  first  married  in  1858  to  Narcissa  N. 
Solomon,  a  native  of  Macoupin  County,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  15 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  47 

children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely:  Sarah  E. ;  William  E. ; 
May;  Frank  R. ;  Jennie;  Henry;  and  Maud.  Mrs.  Denby  died  June  14, 
1890,  at  the  age  of  42  years,  and  in  1892  Mr.  Denby  formed  a  second  union, 
with  Sarah  Margaret  Maze,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Lillie.  Frater- 
nally, he  is  a  member  of  Mount  Nebo  Lodge,  No.  76,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
Carlinville. 

Frank  R.  Denby  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
has  always  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  May,  1903,  he  took  charge 
of  the  Denby  farm,  which  is  owned  by  his  father.  The  farm,  one  of  435 
acres,  consists  of  the  east  half  of  fractional  section  6  and  the  west  half  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  5,  in  township  10  north,  range  7  west,  and  is 
all  devoted  to  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  At  the  present  time,  he 
has  106  head  of  cattle,  eight  head  of  horses,  and  35  head  of  hogs,  and 
formerly  engaged  in  sheep  raising  with  some  success.  He  is  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent character  and  good  business  ability,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
fellow  citizens. 

On  December  31,  1896,  Mr.  Denby  was  united  in  marriage  with  Maude 
Allen,  a  daughter  of  \V.  T.  Allen,  who  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  old  settlers 
of  the  county.  Three  children  bless  this  union :  Frank,  Clarence,  and  Eva- 
line.  In  political  belief,  he  is  a  strong  Democrat ;  although  he  has  never 
aspired  to  office,  he  consented  to  serA-e  as  school  director  in  his  township,  tak- 
ing a  deep  interest  in  all  educational  matters.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Court  of  Honor.    His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


C.  J.  C.  FISCHER,  M.  D. 

C.  J.  C.  Fischer,  M.  D.,  a  prominent  physician  and  surgeon  of  Carlin- 
ville, Macoupin  County,  has  been  engaged  in  practice  in  this  city  throughout 
his  professional  career.  He  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  January 
28,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Catherine  (Furch)  Fischer,  both  natives 
of  Germany. 

Dr.  Fischer  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county 
3 


48  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

and  pursued  a  higher  course  of  study  under  private  tutorage.  Having  de- 
cided to  enter  upon  a  professional  career,  he  read  medicine  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Dr.  A.  M.  Powell  for  a  period  of  live  years,  then  entered  the  St.  Louis 
Medical  College,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1877,  with  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  He  immediately  thereafter  opened  an  office  in  Carlinville, 
where  he  has  practiced  with  uninterrupted  success  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  taken  several  post-graduate  courses  of  study,  and  is  abreast  of  the  great 
advancement  made  in  medical  science  in  recent  years.  He  has  evidenced  his 
skill  and  ability  in  many  complicated  cases,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  to  a  marked  degree.  He  is  a  menil>er  of  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  and  the  American  Medical  Association  and 
has  been  president  of  the  Macoupin  County  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  Fischer  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock  with  Sopha 
Schuricht,  a  native  of  Missouri,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
namely:  C.  Eleanor;  Elfriede  and  Otilie.  Politically,  the  Doctor  is  prom- 
inent in  the  Democratic  party,  and  a  number  of  times  has  been  called  to  ofiice. 
He  served  in  the  City  Council,  was  mayor  of  Carlinville,  and  during  Presi- 
dent Cleveland's  administration  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  pension  ex- 
aminers. 


BENJAMIN  H.  BROWN. 

Benjamin  H.  Brown,  one  of  the  prominent  agriculturists  of  Polk 
township,  Macoupin  County,  who  resides  upon  his  well  cultivated  farm  of 
Sy/z  acres,  situated  in  section  4,  was  born  December  17,  1857,  in  Jersey 
County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Rhoda  L.  E.  (Bassham)  Brown. 

William  Brown  was  born  January  8,  1829,  in  Jackson  County,  Ten- 
nessee, and  is  a  son  of  Plenderson  and  Sarah  (Birdwell)  Brown.  Henderson 
Brown  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1802,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Brown,  who 
moved  to  Tennesee  when  Henderson  was  six  months  old.  Thomas  Brown, 
our  subject's  great-grandfather  was  a  large  planter,  but  it  is  related  of  him 
that  he  never  bought  but  one  slave,  th.at  being  his  housekeeper.  The  family 
is  a  notable  one  for  longe\'ity,  Thomas  Brown  living  tothe  age  of  96  years, 
his  son  Henderson  dying  August  15,  1898,  aged  97  years,  and  tl^e  father  of 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  49 

our  subject,  still  liale  and  hearty  at  the  age  of  75  years.  WilHam  Brown 
came  from  Tennessee  to  IIHnois  in  1856,  prior  to  this  (in  1852)  having  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Meredith  A.  Bassham,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Jackson 
County,  Tennessee.  She  died  November  6,  1886,  aged  53  years,  leaving 
three  children,  namely:  Curtis  M.,  born  in  Tennessee,  who  married  Rebecca 
Shane  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Greene  County,  Illinois;  Benjamin, 
of  this  sketch;  and  John  M.,  residing  in  Colorado,  who  married  Bella  Stultz 
and  has  four  children.  After  coming  to  this  State,  William  Brown  engaged 
in  farming  until  1882,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Kansas,  which  he  sold  at 
a  later  date  and  returned  to  Illinois. 

Benjamin  H.  Brown  received  his  education  in  Macoupin  County  and 
he  has  passed  his  life  here,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  has  occu- 
pied his  present  farm  since  1900,  it  being  one  well  adapted  to  farming  and 
stock  raising,  and  here  Mr.  Brown  has  met  with  deserved  success. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  to  IMaud  M.  Jackson,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Mary  (Morris)  Jackson.  They  have  one  daughter,  Minnie,  who 
was  born  October  5,  1879,  and  is  the  wife  of  George  Nixon,  who  is  a  son  of 
George  Nixon,  a  very  prominent  farmer  of  Bird  township,  Macoupin  County. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Brown  belongs  to  the  Mutual  Protective  League.  In 
politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Democratifc  party.  In  religious  views  he  is  a 
Baptist.  Mr.  Brown  is  an  honest,  upright  citizen  and  a  good  farmer,  and  he 
commands  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


ALFRED   C.   WOOD. 

Alfred  C.  Wood,  proprietor  of  Wood  Mound  Farm,  a  fine  estate  of 
177  acres,  situated  in  section  30,  Bunker  Hill  township,  Macoupin  County, 
was  born  on  this  farm,  March  4,  1S49,  and  is  a  son  of  David  B.  and  Mary  A. 
(Clan. ton)  Wood. 

The  ancestry  of  Mr.  Wood  can  be  traced  as  far  back  as  his  great-great- 
grandfather, Richard  Wood,  a  man  of  great  wealth  in  England,  who  was  the 
father  of  seven  sons,  two  of  whom  settled  in  America.     One  of  these.  Samuel 


50  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Wood,  born  in  Leicestershire,  England,  came  to  the  Colonies  in  1750,  and 
later  served  under  ^^'ashington  in  the  Continental  Army,  and  also 
as  the  great  leader's  private  secretary.  James  Wood,  son  of  Samuel,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina,  went  thence  to  Kentucky,  and  took  part  in  the  \\'ar 
of  1812,  came  to  Illinois  in  1832  and  died  in  1850.  His  seven  children  were: 
Sarah,  John  T.,  Samuel,  Thomas,  James,  David  B.  and  Naomi. 

David  B.  Wood,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  May  11,  1814.  in 
Cumberland  (now  Clinton)  County,  Kentucky,  and  in  1832  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  where  his  life  was  spent  and  his  death  occurred  January 
9,  1898.  He  first  entered  120  acres  of  land  and  at  a  later  date  added  to  this 
until  he  at  one  time  owned  350  acres,  and  still  possessed  235  acres  at  time 
of  his  death.  He  built  the  log  cabin  in  which  our  subject  was  born.  All  his 
farm  cultivation  was  done  with  ox  teams  and  these  also  carried  his  produce 
to  and  brought  back  supplies  from  the  nearest  markets — St.  Louis  and  Alton. 
Like  other  pioneers  he  engaged  in  huntng,  the  abundance  of  game  for  a  long 
time  beng  a  constant  encouragement  to  sportsmen.  In  his  earlier  years  he 
was  a  member  of  the  local  rifle  corps,  under  Simeon  Jones,  and  held  a  com- 
mission prior  to  the  Mexican  War.  Although  deficient  in  book  knowledge,  he 
was  a  man  of  great  natural  intelligence  and,  although  suffering  from  blindness 
himself,  for  some  years  was  able  to  heal  others  afflicted  in  this  way.  This 
gift  of  nature,  his  son,  our  subject,  has  inherited  and,  through  study,  has 
perfected  and  is  known  as  a  successful  oculist  in  his  neighborhood.  In 
politics  David  B.  Wood  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  a  man  of  decided  convic- 
tions and  unswerving  integrity.  He  served  as  highway  commissioner  and 
was  a  good  official.  For  more  than  40  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  He  married  Mary  A.  Clanton,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Clanton.  Three  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  viz.:  Alfred  C,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Emily  J.  Hillyard,  of 
Woodburn,  Macoupin  County;  and  George  W.,  of  Bunker  Hill  township. 

Alfred  C.  Wood  has  been  engaged  in  farming  for  many  years  and  has 
also  been  an  extensive  raiser  of  fine  stock,  particularly  Poland-China  hogs. 
His  fine  place  is  known  as  W^ood  Mound  Farm,  and  is  situated  one  and  a  hilf 
miles  south  of  Woodburn,  on  the  Alton  road.  He  here  raises  the  finest 
]\Iambrino  colts  in  the  county.  He  makes  corn  and  hay  his  leading  crops, 
but  has  devoted  much  of  his  land  to  fruit  culture,  having  1,200  peach.  50 
pear  and  many  other  trees  in  bearing.     For  pleasant  location,  productiveness 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  51 

of  soil  or  excellence  of  management,  this  farm  can  scarcely  be  equaled  in  the 
count}-. 

Mr.  Wood  was  married  in  1872  to  Famiie  D.  Littell,  who  was  bom  in 
Virginia,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Rebecca  Littell.  They  had  these  chil- 
dren: Mrs.  Annie  D.  Phillips,  of  Woodbum.  who  has  two  children,  ilyrtle 
E.  and  Nellie;  Samuel  J.,  of  Brookings,  South  Dakota;  Mary  M. ;  William 
B..  of  South  Dakota;  and  Alfred  Clarence,  who  died  July  20,  1902.  ilr. 
\\'ood  married  as  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  Stodavell,  who  was  bom  Jime  9, 
1861,  in  Bunker  Hill.  Macoupin  County.  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Jane  Stockwell.  natives  of  Warwickshire.  England.  The  three 
children  of  this  union  are:  Cecil  \'aughn,  David  Benjamin  and  Dean  \\'ar- 
wnck,  all  living  at  home. 

^Ir.  Wood  has  been  prominent  in  political  circles,  a  Populist  in  politi- 
cal sentiment,  and  was  honored  by  his  party  with  a  nomination  for  Congress. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  associated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  is  an  active  member  of  Charter  Oak  Lodge,  No.  258,  of  Bunker 
Hill. 

Mr.  Wood  traveled  as  an  oculist  during  1869  and  1870  and  has 
continued  to  practice.  The  fame  of  Iiis  father's  cures  reached  over  many 
States  and  Mr.  ^^■ood  has  met  with  equal  success. 


JOSEPH   MONTGOMERY,  Jr. 

Joseph  ^loxxdOMERY,  Jr..  deceased,  was  actively  engaged  in  the  pur- 
suits of  general  farming  in  Macoupin  Count}-  from  1872  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  June  2^.  1898.  He  was  bom  in  1815,  near  Wheeling,  Virginia 
(now  West  Virginia),  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Gray)  Mont- 
gomery-. 

Joseph  Montgomery  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  -\merica  with 
his  wife  about  1810;  having  followed  farming  in  his  native  countr}',  he 
again  engaged  at  that  independent  calling.  He  and  his  wife,  who  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  died  in  the  seventies. 


UefWRY 

UNivEftsnY  Of  imwocs 


52  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Joseph  jMontgomery,  Jr.,  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  \'ir- 
ginia,  and  remained  on  the  homestead  farnit  while  in  the  early  years  of 
manhood.  Later  he  learned  the  millwright's  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
some  time;  however,  it  was  not  to  his  liking  and  he  again  engag'ed  in  the 
pursuits  of  general  farming.  In  1S37  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  near 
Scottville,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  which  he  culti- 
vated until  within  a  few  years  of  his  death.  He  was  possessed  of  more  than 
ordinary  energy  and  good  judgment.  He  was  well  known  and  most  highly 
esteemed  by  his  fellow  citizens.  Politically,  our  subject  was  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat, using  his  utmost  influence  in  the  promotion  of  that  party's  interests, 
although  he  never  aspired  to  any  political  office. 

In  1839  our  subject  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Sharp,  who  was  born  in 
Tennessee,  October  23.  1820;  to  them  14  children  were  born,  two  of  whom 
are  still  living,  namely:  Henry  H.,  an  attorney  of  Carrollton,  Illinois,  and 
Winnie  (Hicks),  widow  of  William  Hicks,  who  now  resides  near  Nihvood, 
Illinois.  Mrs.  jMontgomery,  our  subject's  widow,  is  a  member  of  the  ]\Iis- 
sionary  Baptist  Church,  of  which  her  husband  was  also  a  member.  She  is 
still  an  active  woman  and  undertakes  remarkable  tasks  for  one  of  her  age. 


W.  H.  BEHRENS. 


W.  H.  Behrens,  mayor  of  the  city  of  Carlinville,  is  secretary  of  the 
Carlinville  Coal  Company  and  one  of  the  city's  most  influential  citizens.  He 
was  born  in  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County,  December  30,  1861,  and  is  a  son 
of  Wilhelm  and  Henrietta  (Liekefett)  Behrens,  both  natives  of  the  Kingdom 
of  Hanover,  Germany. 

Wilhelm  Behrens  followed  the  trade  of  a  miller  in  his  native  country 
but  after  coming  to  the  United  States  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at 
Carlinville  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  and  his  estimable  wife  were  par- 
ents of  two  children:  W.  H.,  our  subject;  and  Anna  W.  Mrs.  Henrietta 
Behrens  is  now  living  at  an  advanced  age  and  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Evangelical   Church.     Wilhelm  Behrens  was  a  Repul^lican  in  politics,  and 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  53 

took  an  interest  in  all  that  pertained  to  the  welfare  and  development  of 
Carlinville. 

W.  H.  Behrens  was  educated  in  the  parochial  and  puljlic  schools  in 
Macoupin  County,  and  later  received  a  university  training.  This  was  sup- 
plemented by  a  course  of  study  at  Braunschweig,  Province  of  Brunswick, 
Germany.  He  then  served  five  years  as  clerk  in  the  Post  Office  at  Carlinville, 
after  which  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  the  office  of  city  clerk 
of  Carlinville.  He  held  the  office  during  the  years  1886,  1887  and  1888.  In 
the  meantime  he  became  proprietor  and  editor  of  the  Carlinville  Republican, 
a  publication  which  appeared  weekly,  and  conducted  its  affairs  until  i8go. 
The  Carlinville  Coal  Company  was  incorporated  in  1891  with  W.  G.  Bartles 
as  president;  William  L.  Mounts,  secretary;  and  John  C.  Anderson,  treasurer. 
In  1894,  Mr.  Mounts  resigned  as  secretary  and  was  succeeded  to  the  office  by 
Mr.  Behrens,  who  has  since  served  in  that  capacity.  He  is  a  first-class  busi- 
ness man  in  every  repect,  and  has  attained  a  high  degree  of  success.  In  1903, 
he  was  elected  mayor  of  Carlinville  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  in  the 
handling  of  the  city's  affairs  has  displayed  marked  ability.  His  administra- 
tion is  meeting  with  the  heartiest  approval  of  the  citizens.  He  has  for  six 
years  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  served  two  years  as 
president  of  that  body.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Republican  Central 
Committee  of  Macoupin  County  for  several  years,  and  is  very  active  in  party 
politics. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Behrens  was  united  in  marriage  with  Jeanette  B.  Floyd, 
who  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  to  their  union  were  born  two  children :  Henri- 
etta, deceased;  and  W'ill  Floyd.  Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a  member  of 
Mount  Nebo  Lodge,  No.  76,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ;  Orient 
Lodge,  No.  95,  K.  P.;  Knights  of  the  Globe;  Royal  Circle;  A.  O.  U.  W. ; 
and  Royal  Arcanum. 


ELIJAH  F.  WOODMAN. 

Elijah  F.  Woodm.\n,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  and  extensive 
farmers  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  now  residing  on  a  farm  of  405  acres, 
situated  in  sections  15,  21  and  22,  Bird  township,  was  born  near  Carrollton, 


54  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Illinois,  January  8,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Nelson  and  Zerelda  (Boiles)  Wood- 
man. 

Xelson  \\'oodman  was  bom  in  \'ermont,  July  12,  1S15,  and  removed  to 
Greene  County,  Illinois,  in  182 1,  being  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  that 
section.  He  married  Zerelda  Boiles,  who  was  born  in  1825,  near  Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky,  and  they  reared  a  family  of  12  children,  our  subject  being 
the  second  member  of  the  family.     Nelson  Woodman  died  in  1884. 

In  the  fall  of  1852,  Elijah  F.  Woodman  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  and  remained  with  them  until  he  was  17  years 
of  age,  when  he  left  home  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  His  educa- 
tional opportunities  had  been  few,  but  after  he  began  to  earn  money  for  him- 
self by  teaming  and  breaking  up  prairie  land  he  used  a  portion  of  it  to  educate 
himself.  In  1859  he  rented  a  farm  of  40  acres  and  in  i860  made  a  purchase 
of  40  acres,  this  being  the  nucleus  of  his  present  large  land  possessions.  Mr. 
Woodman  now  owns  1,200  acres  of  land  in  Montgomery,  Greene  and  Ma- 
coupin counties.  In  1864  he  secured  the  position  of  government  auctioneer 
and  made  the  trip  to  Nebraska,  from  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  by  coach.  During  this 
trip,  to  reach  Fort  McPherson,  now  North  Platte  Junction,  teams  of  cattle 
were  driven.  He  located  there  for  three  years  and  during  the  13  months 
he  was  in  the  government  employ  he  sold  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of 
condemned  government  property.  While  there  he  dealt  also  in  real  estate, 
carried  on  a  mercantile  and  contracting  business  and  returned  to  Illinois  well 
pleased  with  his  financial  success. 

On  December  28.  1871,  Mr.  Woodman  was  married  at  Litchfield,  Illi- 
nois, to  Annie  Shaw,  who  was  born  at  Lyons,  New  York,  February  15, 
1854,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Betty  M.  (Woodrufif)  Shaw.  Two 
children  were  born  to  this  union :  Loy  Legrand,  now  living  near  Los 
Angeles,  California;  and  Commodore  Beecher,  now  manager  of  the  "Comer 
Store"  at  Comer,  in  Bird  township.  Mrs.  Woodman  died  April  2-j,  1881. 
In  November,  1886,  Mr.  Woodman  was  married  to  Rejena  M.  Adams,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Austin  and  Maria  (Anderson)  Adams.  Austin  Adams, 
who  was  born  in  Kentucla',  was  a  large  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  died  in 
1891  in  his  66th  year,  his  wife  having  passed  away  in  the  preceding  year. 
The  children  of  the  second  marriage  are:  Elijah  F.,  Jr.,  born  September  6, 
1887:  Josie  M.,  bom   August  4,    18S9;  Annie  Lena,  born  June  4,   1891  ; 


EDWARD  G.  DUCKLES. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  57 

Lolah  Tena,  born  February  3.  1895;  Gratia  Pauline,  born  April  10,  1897; 
and  Jessie  M.,  born  March  lo,  1900. 

In  March,  1887,  Mr.  Woodman  removed  to  Macoupin  County  and 
located  on  his  wife's  farm  of  190  acres,  to  which  he  has  added  200  acres. 
Here  he  has  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming,  but  is  preparing  to 
retire  from  active  labor  in  order  to  enjoy  the  ease  and  comfort  which  a  long 
and  industrious  career  has  entitled  him  to. 

Mr.  Woodman  is  a  school  director  in  his  district  and  is  active  in  demand- 
ing many  reforms  for  the  present  school  system.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Master 
Mason  and  Knight  Templar  and  a  representative  member  of  those  bodies. 
Mrs.  Woodman  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


EDWARD   G.  DUCKLES. 

Edward  G.  Duckles,  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  farmers  of 
Polk  Township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm  situated  in 
section  4,  was  born  in  1842  in  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Frances  (Garlick)  Duckies. 

William  Duckies  was  born  January  19,  1805,  in  the  West  Riding  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Duckies  wdio  was  a  pros- 
perous tenant  farmer  of  the  Southern  family  of  that  locality.  William 
received  fair  educational  training  and  assisted  his  father  in  farming  until  he 
decided  to  find  a  new  home  in  America.  With  his  wife  and  infant  daughter, 
he  left  England  on  May  20,  1834,  taking  passage  in  a  sailing  ship  bound  for 
Quebec,  Canada.  His  objective  point  was  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  but 
after  reaching  his  destination  he  did  not  feel  entirely  satisfied,  and  in  Febru- 
ary, 1835,  removed  to  Macoupin  County  and  settled  in  Chesterfield  township, 
in  section  14.  Here  he  first  entered  160  acres  of  land.  80  of  this  being  in 
timber,  and  on  the  other  80  he  erected  his  first  home.  Although  Mr.  Duckies 
was  much  more  fortunate  than  many  of  the  early  settlers,  having  brought 
means  with  him  from  England,  it  required  much  of  the  perserving  industry, 
for  which  his  race  is  noted,  to  bring  this  wild  prairie  land  under  cultivation. 


58  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

This  he  gradually  accomplished  and  added  largely  to  his  first  purchase,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1891,  he  owned  700  acres  of  land  in  Macoupin 
County,  part  of  it  lying  in  Polk  township  and  part  in  Chesterfield.  All  is 
arable,  well  watered,  finely  located  land,  and  this  farm  is  included  among  the 
best  in  the  county.  Mr.  Duckies  was  a  man  of  robust  physique  and  was 
endowed  by  Nature  with  those  qualities  which  commanded  the  respect  of 
those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  making  him  a  natural  leader  in  his 
locality,  and  much  of  the  educational  development  of  his  section  as  well  as 
its  agricultural  may  be  attributed  to  his  influence.  In  early  life  a  Whig,  his 
opposition  to  slavery  made  him  a  strong  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  when  it  was  organized. 

In  September,  1830,  in  his  native  village,  Mr.  Duckies  married  Frances 
Garlick,  and  a  family  of  10  children  were  born  to  them,  the  surviving  mem- 
bers being  the  following:  Sarah  Ann,  born  in  England,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Judge  T.  L.  Loomis,  of  Carlinville ;  Thomas,  who  resides  at  Jacksonville, 
^vlorgan  County;  Edward  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Eliza,  who  married 
John  W.  Armstrong  of  Polk  township ;  Victoria,  who  married  John  Simms, 
now  of  Colorado  Springs;  and  Joseph  R.,  who  resides  in  Chesterfield  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County.  William,  the  eldest  child,  and  Grace  (Carter)  are 
deceased. 

Edward  G.  Duckies  attended  the  local  schools  and  found  plenty  of  work 
on  his  father's  farm  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  In  1862  he  offered 
his  services  to  his  country,  enlisting  in  the  I22d  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
served  faithfully  until  mustered  out  at  Springfield,  in  1865.  He  participated 
in  innumerable  skirmishes  and  the  following  serious  engagements :  Parker's 
Cross  Roads ;  Tupelo ;  Town  Creek ;  Nashville ;  and  the  last  engagement  of 
the  war,  which  took  place  at  Fort  Blakely.  At  Parker's  Cross  Roads  he  was 
slightly  wounded. 

After  his  return  from  the  army,  Mr.  Duckies  resumed  work  on  his 
father's  farm  and  continued  there  until  1869,  in  which  year  he  was  married 
to  Emma  L.  Lawson,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Z.  B.  and  Louisa  (Williams) 
Lawson.  The  Lawson  family  is  an  old  settled  one  in  Herkimer  County,  New- 
York,  from  which  section  the  father  of  Mrs.  Duckies  came  to  Illinois,  a 
pioneer,  and  located  first  at  White  Hall,  later  in  Polk  township,  and  died  in 
1877  in  Chesterfield  township,  aged  63  years.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Lawson  had  a 
family  of  six  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.     Edwin,  the  eldest  son, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  59 

died  in  1869,  from  the  effects  of  a  wound  received  in  the  army.  William, 
another  son,  became  a  civil  engineer,  located  at  Denver,  Colorado,  and  died 
there  in  1900,  survived  by  two  children.  Mrs.  Duckies  has  one  sister,  Lu- 
cetla,  who  resides  with  her.  For  20  years  Miss  Lucetta  Lawson  had  charge 
of  the  orphans'  home  located  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  and  at  Atlanta, 
Georgia. 

Mr.  and  i\Irs.  Duckies  have  these  children :  Emma  Fay,  who  married 
W.  A.  Hoblit,  now  resides  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois;  Willliam  L.,  the  cashier 
of  the  Bank  of  Chesterfield,  who  married  Cora  Snell,  a  daughter  of  Silas 
and  Annie  Snell  of  Polk  township;  Myron  E.,  formerly  engaged  in  teaching 
in  the  city  of  Mexico,  but  now  an  assayer,  who  married  Grace  Murdcck, 
formerly  of  Jacksonville,  but  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Mexico  with  her 
parents;  Perry,  who  served  in  the  5th  Illinois  Regiment,  in  the  Spanish 
War, — he  married  Kitty  Phelps,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Phelps  of  Chester- 
field, and  resides  at  home;  and  Frederick,  who  is  attending  school  at  Jack- 
sonville.    Lewis  L.  died  in  infanc3% 

In  politics,  ]\Ir.  Duckies  is  a  Republican.  In  religious  views  he  is  a  Con- 
gregationalist.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  ^lodern 
Woodmen  of  America. 

Mr.  Duckies  is  a  man  of  sterling  business  qualities,  a  factor  in  shaping 
political  and  public  movements  in  his  locality,  and  one  who  is  active  in  pro- 
moting the  general  prosperity  of  the  community.  His  portrait  accompanies 
this  sketch. 


ANDREW  COSTLEY. 

Andrew  Costley,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Macoupin  County, 
owning  a  farm  of  90  acres  situated  in  section  5,  Polk  township,  and  10  acres 
in  Western  Mound  township,  was  born  in  1853,  in  Jersey  County,  Illinois, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Neeley)  Costley. 

John  Costley  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death,  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  30  years,  leaving  a  widow 
and  two  children,  our  subject,  then  a  babe  of  six  months,  and  his  older  sister 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Richard  Henson  and  now  resides  at  East  St.  Louis, 


6o  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henson  have  five  children,  namely:  Fanny,  Emma, 
John,  Sarah  and  Bessie. 

To  his  great-uncle,  Joshua  Neeley,  Mr.  Coslley  is  indebted  for  his  rear- 
ing, education  and  the  fine  farm  he  owns.  This  uncle  ne\er  married,  but 
gave  a  father's  care  to  21  children,  belonging  to  his  relatives.  At  the  age  of 
19  years  he  came  to  Illinois  from  North  Carolina,  driving  a  four-horse  team, 
and  settled  in  Jersey  County.  Scarcely  had  he  located  when  he  learned  of 
the  death  of  his  brother,  Richard  Neeley,  and  immediately  the  heads  of  his 
horses  were  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  Old  North  State.  The  return 
journey  was  made  with  the  seven  fatherless  children  of  his  brother,  one  of 
whom  was  the  mother  of  our  subject.  When  her  son  was  left  fatherless,  it 
was  this  kind  uncle  who  again  extended  the  helping  liand  and  reared  him  as 
one  of  his  own.  The  death  of  Joshua  Neeley  took  place  January  20,  1887, 
at  which  time  he  was  one  of  the  richest  men  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He 
owned  2,004  acres  of  finely  improved  farm  land  located  in  Jersey,  Macoupin 
and  Montgomery  counties,  and  land  in  the  limits  of  Jerseyville,  estimated  to 
be  worth  $80,000.  Mr.  Neeley  not  only  provided  a  home  for  his.  nephews 
and  nieces,  but  made  a  will  leaving  his  property  to  them.  It  w'as  slightly 
contested,  but  stood  the  test.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  traits  of  character, 
of  quiet,  unobstrusive  W'ays,  and  was  well  and  widely  known  through  this 
section. 

Mr.  Costley  received  his  farm  of  100  acres  from  this  kind  and  generous 
uncle,  to  whom  he  gave  the  assistance  and  obedience  of  a  son.  Here  he 
has  been  engaged  in  general  and  successful  farming  ever  since.  He  also 
devotes  considerable  attention  to  stock  raising,  in  which  branch  of  agriculture 
he  has  met  with  much  success. 

In  1873  I\Ir.  Costley  was  married  to  Fanny  Cope,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Nathan  Cope,  of  English  township,  Jersey  County,  and  to  this  marriage  these 
children  have  been  born:  Maggie,  born  November  26,  1877,  who  married 
Leonard  Walton  and  lives  in  Chesterfield — they  have  two  children,  Claude 
and  Byron;  Daisy,  born  July  14.  1878,  who  married  Frank  Goodell,  a  farmer 
of  Iowa,  and  they  have  one  child.  Clarence;  John  M.,  born  November  i, 
1880.  who  is  a  school  teacher  in  Polk  township;  William  Clay,  born  August 
4,  1882,  who  follows  the  barbering  business;  Ernest  C,  born  April  13,  1884; 
Nathan  Timothy,  born   April   17,    1886,   who  lives  in  Iowa;   Gladys,  born 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  6i 


March  26,  1S8S;  Una,  born  February  2-j,  1894;  and  George,  born  }^lay  30, 
1S95. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Costley  is  a  member  of  the  Yeomen  of  America.     In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat.    In  his  religious  connection  he  is  a  Baptist. 


EUGENE  MARTIN. 

Eugene  M.\rtix,  for  many  years  one  of  the  best  known  and  most 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County,  died  at  his  home 
in  this  city  on  March  6,  1902,  his  death  being  mourned  sincerely  as  a  loss  to 
the  community.  He  was  born  near  Leon,  France,  February  14,  1834,  and 
was  a  son  of  Epolite  and  Julia  ^Martin.  His  father  was  a  mill  owner  in  that 
country  and  a  prosperous  man,  although  his  death  occurred  at  a  very  early 
age. 

Eugene  Martin  was  but  seven  years  of  age  when  his  father  died.  He 
obtained  his  intellectual  training  in  the  schools  of  Paris,  then  learned  the 
trade  of  a  miller  which  he  followed  in  his  native  country  until  1S54.  In 
that  year  he  came  to  the  United  States,  being  the  only  member  of  his  family 
to  locate  in  this  country.  He  landed  in  Xew  Orleans,  then  came  up  the 
river  by  boat  to  St.  Louis,  ^lissouri.  On  account  of  ill  health  he  returned 
to  France,  but  again  came  to  this  country  during  the  Civil  War.  As  trans- 
ports v.ere  not  allowed  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Martin  was 
compelled  to  remain  in  Xew  Orleans.  He  obtained  employment  as  an  en- 
gineer and  continued  at  that  work  until  the  war  was  at  an  end,  then  immedi- 
ately came  up  the  river  to  St.  Louis.  There  he  met  and  married  Amelia 
Forney,  and  they  continued  to  reside  in  that  city  for  two  and  a  half  years, 
Mr.  Martin  during  this  time  following  engineering.  They  later  moved  to 
Trenton,  Illinois,  where  they  lived  little  more  than  a  year,  and  in  1868  came 
to  Carlinville,  where  he  thereafter  lived  until  his  death.  For  a  period  of  20 
years  he  was  engaged  as  engineer  for  the  Weir  Milling  Company,  the  plant 
being  later  acquired  by  tJie  firm  of  Yeager  &  Cupless.  It  was  while  in  the 
employ  of  the  last-named  firm  he  met  with  an  accident,,  which  was  ultimately 


62  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

the  cause  of  his  death.  He  was  a  man  much  respected  by  all  who  knew  him, 
and  was  highly  skilled  in  his  line  of  business,  always  having  the  confidence 
and  good  will  of  those  who  employed  him  and  were  associated  with  him.  Al- 
though a  Republican  in  politics,  he  was  broad  and  liberal  minded,  and  in 
local  politics  was  free  to  vote  for  the  man  best  qualified  for  the  particular 
office,  irrespective  of  politics. 

Mr.  Martin  was  a  prominent  member  of  Mount  Nebo  Lodge,  No.  76, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  his  last  wishes  were  that  he  be  buried  under  the  auspices 
of  that  order.  His  relict  who  now  resides  in  her  pleasant  home  on  West 
Main  street  is  a  woman  of  many  virtues  and  is  well  loved  by  her  many  friends 
in  Carlinville.  She  is  a  devout  member  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church.  To 
j\Ir.  and  Mrs.  ALirtin  was  born  one  son,  Oscar  E.  S.,  who  died  while  his 
parents  were  living  at  Trenton.  Illinois.  They  adopted  a  son,  George  Len- 
hart,  who  now  bears  the  name  of  Martin.  He  married  Minnie  Clark,  a  native 
of  Macoupin  County.  He  is  a  traveling  salesman  and  is  also  manager  of 
the  Carlinville  Opera  House,  and  is  a  young  man  who  has  many  friends  in 
this  section  of  the  State. 


WILLIAM  M.  HUSON. 

William  M.  Huson,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  South  Otter 
township,  Macoupin  County,  who  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of  120 
acres  in  section  16,  was  born  in  1838,  in  Eastern  Tennessee,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  B.  and  Margaret  (Riddle)  Huson. 

John  B.  Huson  was  a  farmer  in  Tennessee  and  prior  to  his  early  death, 
in  1840,  at  the  age  of  35  years,  was  a  large  slave-owner.  His  widow  survived 
him  many  years,  dying  in  1892,  aged  83  years.  In  1852,  with  her  si.x 
children,  she  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Palmyra,  in  Macoupin  County. 
Here  her  son  William  M.  was  reared  and  educated.  His  business  has  been 
agricultural  all  his  life  and  although  approaching  the  time  when  many  men 
retire  from  activity,  he  is  still  hale  and  hearty  enough  to  continue  his  interest 
in  and  his  successful  operation  of  his  large  and  well  improved  farm. 

In  1859  Mr.  Huson  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Jane  Hollingsworth,  who 
died   in    1862.   leaving  one  daughter,   Effie.  who   married   George   Shutt,  a 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  63 

farmer  located  two  and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  Virden,  and  has  five 
children — William,  Audrey,  Milton,  Ruth  and  Beulah.  On  October  22,  1863, 
Mr.  Huson  married  Parmelia  Braden,  who  died  in  1876,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren :  Sarah,  who  married  Edgar  Stephens,  of  Joplin,  Missouri,  and  has 
two  children,  Claudia  and  Eva;  Burdella,  who  married  Peter  Marie,  of 
Peoria,  Illinois,  and  has  two  children — Louis  and  Clara;  Ida,  who  married 
George  Phillips  of  Denver,  Colorado,  and  has  one  child — George;  and 
\'iola,  who  married  Joseph  Le  Marr  of  Colorado,  and  has  three  children, 
Paul,  Beulah  and  Mildred.  The  third  union  of  Mr.  Huson  took  place 
March  6,  1878,  to  Julia  Bradley,  who  died  November  23,  1893,  leaving  two 
children;  Lauretta,  who  married  Asa  Surber,  and  has  one  son — Clarence; 
and  William  Milton,  who  remains  on  the  homestead  farm,  assisting  his 
father.  Mr.  Huson's  present  wife  was  formerly  jMrs.  Jane  (Crawford) 
Surber,  widow  of  Levi  Surber,  who  at  death  in  1893  left  these  children: 
Noah,  Rebecca,  George,  Asa,  Alexander,  Burton  and  Henry. 

In  politics  Mr.  Huson  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.     Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  valued  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 


SAMUEL  M.  WELTON. 

Samuel  M.  Welton,  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Macoupin 
County,  and  a  prominent  farmer  and  successful  stock  raiser  of  South  Otter 
township,  owns  a  fine  farm  of  more  than  150  acres  which  is  located  in  sec- 
tion 21.  Mr.  Welton  was  born  in  1845  in  Bird  township,  Macoupin  County, 
Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  Samuel  and  Emeline  (Stoddard)  Welton. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Welton  were  both  born  in  Connecticut,  and  came  to 
Illinois  at  an  early  date,  locating  in  Bird  township  with  the  pioneers.  Here 
their  worthy  lives  were  spent,  both  attaining  great  age,  the  father  dying  in 
1898,  aged  93  years,  and  his  widow  one  month  later,  aged  85  years.  Some 
years  previous  to  1898,  they  continued  farming  and  moved  to  Carlinville, 
where  they  led  a  retired  life.  They  were  survived  by  two  chiklren :  Emma, 
who  is  the  widow  of  Theodore  Morse  of  Carlinville,  and  the  mother  of  one 
son,  Theodore;  and  Samuel  M..  of  this  sketch. 


64  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Samuel  M.  Welton  attended  the  schools  of  Carlinville  township  and 
through  work  on  his  father's  farm  grew  up  to  be  a  practical  agriculturist. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  loyally  offered  his  young  life  in  defense 
of  his  country  and  two  years  later,  in  1863,  although  still  but  a  youth,  he  was 
accepted  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  133d  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
which  regiment  he  served  until  mustered  out  in  1865.  After  these  years  of 
faithful  and  arduous  service,  followed  by  an  honorable  discharge,  he  returned 
to  the  homestead  farm.  Atout  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  bought  a  tract  of 
80  acres  in  section  16,  to  which  he  added  80  acres  more  in  1873.  I"  1883 
he  purchased  his  present  fine  farm  in  South  Otter  township,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  extensive  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  has  proved  himself  as 
capable  an  agriculturist  as  he  was  a  faithful  soldier. 

In  1869  Mr.  Welton  married  Helen  Robley,  who  is  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Henry  Robley  who  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  Shaw's  Point  township, 
Macoupin  County,  and  eight  children  have  been  born  to  this  marriage.  The 
family  record  is  as  follows :  Neva,  who  married  William  Johnston,  has  three 
children, — Theodore,  Perry  and  Luke  M., — and  lives  in  Oregon;  Charles, 
who  married  Mary  Ford  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  South  Otter  township; 
Frederick,  who  resides  in  Rockford,  Illinois;  Carrie,  who  married  John  Sells, 
a  farmer  of  South  Otter  township,  and  has  two  children ;  Samuel,  who  is  still 
attending  school;  and  William,  Grace  and  an  infant,  who  are  deceased. 

In  his  political  attitude,  Mr.  Welton  is. a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  although  in  no  sense  a  politician.  In  his  religious  belief  he  is  a 
Baptist.  Mr.  Welton  is  a  man  of  exceptionally  good  business  ability  and 
his  judicious  investments  have  made  him  one  of  the  capitalists  of  his  part  of 
the  county.  As  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  Macou- 
pin County,  as  well  as  a  survivor  of  that  noble  body  of  men  who  were  heroes 
in  the  greatest  strife  the  world  has  ever  known,  who  fought  for  principle  and 
not  for  conquest,  his  name  should  be  included  among  the  leading  ones  of  this 
portion  of  Illinois. 

HENRY  STAATS. 

Henry  Staats,  deceased,  was  one  of  the  most  popular,  energetic  and 
progressive  business  men  of  Macoupin  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick.     He  was  born  in  Braunswick,  Germany. 


HON.  ROBERT  B.  SHIRLEY 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  67 

Our  subject  came  to  the  United  States  when  but  13  years  of  age,  in 
company  with  his  parents,  who  located  in  Carlinville,  IlHnois,  where  he  en- 
tered the  pubhc  schools.  After  completing  his  education  he  learned  the  brick- 
maker's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  some  time.  He  w'as  engaged  in  various 
occupations  and  spent  a  short  time  working  in  a  coal  mine.  In  1874  he 
married  Anna  Schmidt,  who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1854,  and  to  them  three 
children  were  born,  namely :  Henr}%  Anna  and  George  H.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily were  members  of  the  German  Evangelical  Church.  Our  subject  met  his 
death  while  engaged  in  a  coal  mine,  having  worked  about  three  months  when 
the  accident  occurred  by  the  falling  of  the  mine  roof.  After  the  death  of  her 
first  husband,  Mrs.  Staats  married  John  Staats,  who  died  in  1901. 

George  H.  Staats  the  youngest  child  born  to  our  subject,  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  county,  being  the  owner  of  a 
90-acre  farm  which  he  devotes  to  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  This 
farm  was  left  by  will  to  our  subject  by  his  step-father,  John  Staats.  Although 
young  in  years,  he  has  established  a  reputation  for  ability  and  business  integ- 
rity and  enjoys  the  full  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  neighbors. 

George  H.  Staats  married  Anna  Burger,  a  native  of  Macoupin  County, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  a  daughter,  Nellie,  born  February  8,  1903,  who 
is  the  pride  of  the  household. 


HON.  ROBERT  B.  SHIRLEY. 

Hon.  Robert  B.  Shirley,  a  prominent  resident  of  Carlinville,  Macou- 
pin County,  and  judge  of  the  Seventh  Judicial  District  of  the  State,  whose 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  Oc- 
tober 9,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Hon.  William  C.  and  Mary  J.  (Hoxsey)  Shir- 
ley.    His  family  has  long  been  one  of  prominence  in  Southern  Illlinois. 

William  C.  Shirley  was  born  in  White  County,  Tennessee,  November 
20,  1823,  and  at  an  early  day  removed  to  Illinois,  where  he  located  in  Madi- 
son County  and  engaged  in  farming  for  some  years,  and  was  there  married. 
He  later  moved  to  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  and  there  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business  for  a  period  of  years.  He  also  engaged  in  government  con- 
tracting in  1861,  and  was  a  prosperous  business  man.  He  was  a  member  of 
4 


68  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD  ' 

the  Illinois  State  Legislature  in  1858  and  voted  for  Judge  Douglas  in  the 
celebrated  Lincoln-Douglas  contest  for  United  States  Senator.  In  1867  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  a  very  active  par- 
ticipant in  the  actions  of  that  body.  He  procured  the  passage  of  an  act 
chartering  the  Decatur  &  East  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company,  now  the  St. 
Louis  Division  of  the  Wabash,  and  afterward  built  the  road.  His  wife, 
Mary  J.  Hoxsey,  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Illlinois,  August  17,  1825, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Archibald  Hoxsey,  who  was  born  in  Christian 
County,  Kentucky,  and  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  southern  Illinois,  locating  on 
Silver  Creek  in  Madison  County  in  181 7. 

Robert  B.  Shirley  attended  the  common  schools  of  Madison  and 
Macoupin  Counties,  and  received  a  good  common  school  education.  In  1873, 
he  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  William  R.  Welch  at  Carlin- 
ville,  Macoupin  County,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  July  4,  1876.  In  1878 
he  entered  into  partnership  with  Hon.  S.  T.  Corn,  now  chief  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Wyoming,  and  they  continued  together  with  success  until 
1885,  when  our  subject  began  practicing  alone.  He  has  always  been  an 
active  worker  for  the  success  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  frequently 
been  called  to  offices  of  public  trust.  He  has  served  as  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  Central  Committee,  held  the  office  of  city  attorney  of  Carlinville 
three  terms,  was  master  of  chancery  from  1885  to  1887,  and  was  a  delegate 
to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  held  at  Kansas  City  in  1900.  In 
1893  he  was  his  party's  nominee  for  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  the  Fifth 
Judicial  District  to  succeed  Hon.  Jesse  J.  Phillips,  who  had  been  elected  to 
the  Supreme  bench,  and  he  was  elected  the  following  July  without  opposi- 
tion. He  was  nominated  by  acclamation  in  the  same  district  in  1897,  and  when 
the  districts  were  changed  and  Macoupin  County  was  placed  in  the  Se\enth 
Judicial  District,  he  was  nominated  as  judge  of  the  Seventh  District  and 
elected  by  a  large  majority.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  office  in  1903  for  a  term 
of  six  years  and  now  serves  in  that  capacity.  In  1900  he  was  a  leading  candi- 
date for  the  Supreme  bench  of  the  State  but  failed  to  receive  the  nomination. 
Judge  Shirley's  record  on  the  bench  is  above  reproach  and  redounds  greatly 
to  his  credit.  Possessing  essentially  a  judicial  mind,  his  many  years  of  ex- 
perience in  practice  before  the  courts  have  well  fitted  him  for  so  important 
an  office,  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  he  has  gained  not  only  the 
good  will  of  the  entire  bar  but  of  the  citizens  of  the  Seventh  Judicial  District 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  69 

as  well.  Of  keen,  discriminating  and  impartial  mind,  he  knows  no  parties  to 
the  actions  brought  before  him  and  adjudicates  all  matters  according  to  their 
legal  light,  tempered  with  a  high  sense  of  justice. 

On  October  16,  1879,  Judge  Shirley  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Etta 
W.  Burton,  a  daughter  of  Henry  W.  Burton,  an  honored  resident  of  Carlin- 
ville.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason  and  Knight  Templar,  and  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 


ATISON    BATES. 


Among  the  prosperous  and  well-to-do  citizens  of  Macoupin  County,  the 
subject  of  this  brief  notice  occupies  a  prominent  position  as  an  esteemed  and 
successful  agriculturist.  He  is  president  of  the  Macoupin  County  Agricul- 
tural Association,  a  position  which  he  efficiently  fills.  He  resides  on  his  well 
cultivated  220-acre  farm  in  Bird  township,  not  a  foot  of  which  is  not  tillable. 
He  was  born  in  Macoupin  County  July  i,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  William  J. 
and  Martha  Jane  (Mays)  Bates,  and  a  grandson  of  Hampton  Bates,  who 
was  named  after  Wade  Hampton. 

William  J.  Bates,  who  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  came  to  Illinois  in 
1819,  locating  in  Greene  County,  where  he  remained  for  some  time  and  then 
removed  to  Macoupin  County,  where  he  rented  land  from  the  government 
and  cultivated  it  until  1852.  In  1852  he  removed  to  Bird  township,  where 
he  owned  1,000  acres  of  land  which  was  later  divided  among  his  children. 
He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  leading  stockmen  of  southern  Illi- 
nois, having  bought  as  high  as  three  car-loads  a  year  of  feeding  stock. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  never  took  an  active  part  in  any  political 
affairs,  devoting  his  time  to  his  business.  He  attained  a  high  position  in  his 
community  and  his  word  was  considered  as  good  as  his  bond.  He  married 
Martha  Jane  Mays  by  whom  six  children  were  born,  namely :  George  W. ; 
Sarah  J.,  who  married  John  Morris;  John  H. ;  James  C. ;  Francis  M.,  and 
Atison.  She  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  Religiously  they  were  members  of 
tlie  United  Baptist  Church  of  which  church  he  was  a  de.icon.     The  father  was 


70  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

in  his  73d  year  at  the  time  of  liis  death ;  tlie  mother  was  in  lier  82d  year  when 
she  was  called  to  her  reward. 

Atison  Bates  received  his  education  in  the  common  sciiools  of  Macoupin 
County,  and  after  reacliing  the  years  of  manhood  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of 
general  farming  and  has  continued  in  tiiat  independent  calling  all  his  life. 
He  now  owns  a  well  cultivated  and  well  watered  farm,  and  takes  pride  in 
keeping  his  property  in  the  best  condition  possible.  Mr.  Bates  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  has  served  as  a  school  director. 

On  November  26,  1873,  Mr.  Bates  was  married  to  Ella  B.  Carr,  a 
daughter  of  Abram  and  Nancy  (Keller)  Carr,  natives  of  Greene  County, 
Illinois,  and  Grayson  County,  Kentucky,  respectively.  Mrs.  Carr  came  to 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1834  with  her  parents,  who  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Western  Mound  township.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Levina 
(Davis)  Keller,  and  a  granddaughter  of  George  and  Sarah  (Hedges)  Keller, 
the  former  a  native  of  Switzerland  and  the  latter  of  English  descent.  George 
Keller  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  being  recruited  in  the  Con- 
tinental service  from  Cecil  County,  Maryland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bates  are  the 
parents  of  two  children,  namely:  Flora  A.,  who  is  a  successful  music  teacher; 
and  Leroy  C. 


EDGAR  W.  HAYES. 

Edgar  W.  Hayes,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Macoupin  County  bar,  a 
surviving  hero  of  the  Civil  War,  and  a  leading  business  citizen  of  Bunker 
Hill,  was  born  in  1837  in  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  son  of 
David  and  Nancy    (Col well)    Hayes. 

The  Hayes  family  was  founded  in  1728  in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, by  Patrick  Hayes,  who  came  from  the  North  of  Ireland.  His  son 
David  was  born  there  and  served  as  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
Wilson  Hayes,  son  of  David  Hayes  and  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  also 
born  in  Pennsylvania  where  he  reared  his  family.  His  son,  David,  the  father 
of  Edgar  W.,  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  where  he  died  in  1877,  aged  67 
years,  leaving  a  large  estate.  In  his  early  political  life  he  was  a  Whig  and 
later  became  a   Republican.     Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  71 

Presbyterian  Church.  His  marriage  to  Nancy  Cohvell,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Nancy  Cohvell,  allied  him  with  an  old  and  prominent  Cumberland 
County  family,  whose  ancestry  and  religious  leanings  were  the  same  as  his 
own.  Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  his  parents'  family,  as  follows :  Edgar  W. ; 
Mrs.  Martha  Orr  of  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania;  John  C,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Litchfield,  Illinois;  James  Hamilton,  who  died  in  1868  in  Madison  County; 
David  D.,  a  physician  of  Shippensburg,  Pennsylvania;  Robert  A.,  who  died 
in  July,  1889,  at  that  time  being  principal  of  a  school ;  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Benjamin  M.  Need,  a  lawyer  of  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania;  and  Joseph 
S..  a  farmer  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Edgar  W.  Hayes  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  given  ex- 
cellent educational  advantages,  including  an  academic  course  at  Shippens- 
burg and  a  classical  course  at  Lafayette  College,  at  Easton,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1858.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  In  May,  1861,  he  enlisted  for  the  service  of  his  country,  and 
was  connected  with  Company  A,  7th  Pennsylvania  Reserve,  of  which  Colonel 
Harvey  of  Wilkesbarre  was  the  first  colonel.  It  was  his  fortune  to  be  asso- 
ciated with  that  branch  of  the  army  upon  which  fell  much  of  the  hard  work 
and  danger  of  the  great  struggle,  and  he  participated  in  the  battles  of  York- 
town,  the  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain,  Antietam  and  Fred- 
ericksburg. His  regiment  was  with  General  McClellan  in  the  Peninsular 
campaign.  An  attack  of  typhoid  fever  closed  his  army  career  and  he  was 
discharged  for  disability,  after  a  most  arduous  and  faithful  service  of  two 
and  a  half  years. 

After  regaining  his  health,  I\Ir.  Hayes  entered  upon  the  reading  of  law 
with  Caldwell  &  McClure,  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  fall  of  1865 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  After  two  years  of  practice  in  Missouri,  he  removed 
in  1867  to  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  has  been  identified  with 
a  number  of  business  enterprises.  He  was  one  of  the  directors  in  the  nail 
factory,  which  at  one  time  was  one  of  the  important  industries  of  the  place, 
and  was  also  a  director  of  the  cemetery  association,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  president  of  the  School  Board.  He  is  a  man  of  great  public  spirit 
and  the  town  owes  much  to  his  activity  in  advancing  its  interests.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican,  which  party  would  be  glad  to  honor  him  with  ofiice, 
were  it  not  in  the  minority. 

In  1870  Mr.  Hayes  married  Margaret  F.  Heck,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 


72  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Margaret  (Sturgeon)  Heck,  and  they  have  had  six  cliildren,  of  whom  five 
survive:  Edgar  H.,  of  Bunker  Hill,  who  is  heing  educated  in  the  law  school 
at  Valparaiso,  Indiana ;  Mrs.  Margaret  G.  Grant  of  Staunton,  Illinois,  who 
has  three  children, — Charles,  Margaret  and  Ralph  H. ;  Mrs.  Bertha  Sanford, 
who  has  one  child,  Edgar  Noble;  Ralph  H.,  who  is  clerking  in  Bunker  Hill; 
and  Joseph  A.,  who  is  still  in  high  school.  Mr.  Hayes  and  family  belong  to 
the  Congregational  Church. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Hayes  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  belonging  to  J.  M.  Hubbard  Post,  No.  721,  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  is 
a  man  of  acknowledged  ability,  with  mind  enlarged  and  broadened  by 
travel.  His  vacations  have  been  spent  in  various  parts  of  the  Union,  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  one  interesting  trip  took  him  to  Panama,  Central 
America.  He  is  held  in  very  high  esteem  in  Bunker  Hill  and  is  considered 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  this  progressive  little  city. 


ALEXANDER  B.  LOVELESS. 

Alexander  B.  Loveless,  a  prosperous  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser 
of  South  Otter  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  owns  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  his  section  of  the  county,  consisting  of  80  acres  in  section  29  and 
80  acres  in  section  28,  was  born  in  i860  in  Bird  township,  Macoupin  County. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  J.  and  Mary  E.  (Sells)  Loveless,  and  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  one  of  the  honored  old  pioneers  of  Bird  township. 

William  Loveless,  the  grandfather  of  Alexander  B.  died  at  the  village 
of  Reader  on  Thursday  morning,  July  28,  1900,  his  death  removing  one  of 
the  two  remaining  pioneers  of  the  western  section  of  Macoupin  County. 
"Uncle  Billy  Loveless,"  as  he  was  familiarly  and  affectionately  called,  was 
born  in  1804  in  Blount  County,  Tennessee,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1832. 
The  hard  conditions  and  great  deprivations  met  with  in  the  wilderness  into 
which  they  had  come,  produced  a  sort  of  homesickness,  and  after  trying  for 
a  time  to  overcome  it  the  family  returned  to  Tennessee,  living  in  the  old 
neighborhood  until   1843,  when  Mr.  Loveless  returned  to  Illinois,  came  to 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  -ji 

Macoupin  County  and  settled  in  Bird  township,  which  was  his  continuous 
home  thenceforward  until  his  death.  Prior  to  coming  to  Illinois  on  the  first 
occasion,  he  had  married  Jennie  Bell  and  1 1  children  were  born  to  them, 
eight  sons,  and  three  daughters :  John  H.,  Samuel  L.,  Hugh  F.  and  Marion 
F.,  who  are  residents  of  this  county;  William  J.,  of  Morgan  County;  Charles 
M.,  of  Fayette  County ;  George  W.,  of  Missouri ;  ^Irs.  Mary  E.  Bumgarner 
of  Nebraska;  Zadock;  and  Matilda  and  Elizabeth,  who  have  been  dead  many 
years.  After  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1880,  the  grandfather  made  his  home 
with  his  children,  his  descendants  numbering  more  than  those  of  any  other 
pioneer  of  the  county.  A  grandson.  Prof.  Milo  J.  Loveless,  has  compiled  an 
interesting  record  which  shows  182  direct  descendants,  132  of  whom  still 
survive.  IMr.  Loveless  believed  in  slavery  all  his  life,  according  to  his  early 
teaching,  although  during  the  Civil  War  his  sons  William  J.,  Samuel  L.  and 
Zadock  as  well  as  his  elder  brother,  were  not  only  Union  men  but  were  also 
abolitionists. 

William  J.  Loveless,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  I\Iarch  10,  1836,  in 
Tennessee,  and  remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained  his  majority  w'hen 
he  married  Mary  E.  Sells,  who  was  born  August  16,  1842,  and  died  October 
8,  1891,  aged  49  years.  They  had  these  children:  Gabriella,  born  September 
23,  1859,  deceased  September  9,  1866;  Alexander  B. ;  Horace  Monroe,  born 
September  2,  1862;  S.  Everett,  born  July  30,  1864,  deceased;  Emerson  and 
Emeroi  (twins),  born  March  8,  1866,  both  deceased;  Maurice,  born  Novem- 
ber II,  1868;  Alvin  Ira,  born  December  22,  1870;  Viola,  bom  September  27, 
1876;  and  Truman  Landon,  born  October  12,  1881.  Mr.  Loveless  still 
resides  in  North  Otter  township,  Macoupin  County. 

Alexander  B.  Loveless  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bird  and  South 
Otter  townships,  and  at  Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville.  Until  he  came 
of  age,  he  assisted  on  the  home  farm  and  then  began  to  teach  school,  a  pro- 
fession he  followed  for  12  years  in  South  Otter  township,  farming  during  the 
school  vacations.  In  1895  '''^  purchased  a  tract  of  30  acres  and  soon  after 
another  of  50  acres,  in  section  29,  South  Otter,  to  which  he  added  in  July, 
1902,  80  acres  in  section  28,  all  of  which  he  devotes  to  farming  and  the  rais- 
ing of  stock,  in  which  he  has  been  eminently  successful. 

In  1889  Mr.  Loveless  was  married  to  Laura  D.  Adcock,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Martha  (Swift)  Adcock.  Henry  Adcock,  who  was  born 
in  Tennessee,  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  is  now  engaged  in 


74  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

farming  in  section  8,  South  Otter  township.  His  family  consists  of  il 
children,  Mrs.  Loveless  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth. 

IMr.  and  Mrs.  Loveless  have  had  these  children:  Otis,  born  in  1890, 
deceased  in  1892;  Mary,  bom  May  28,  1893;  Ireda,  born  July  3,  1896;  Her- 
bert Alexander,  born  ]\Iay  20,  1898;  and  Ernest,  born  May  10,  1902. 

In  politics  Mr.  Loveless  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  For  a 
long  time  he  has  been  a  leading  member  of  the  Hickory  Point  Baptist  Church. 
He  is  a  man  who  stands  well  with  all  who  know  him,  is  honest  and  fair  in  all 
his  dealings  and  can  always  be  depended  upon  in  any  emergency  that  arises 
in  his  township,  which  requires  the  exercise  of  good  judgment. 


ELMO   ETTER. 


Elmo  Etter,  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Macoupin 
County,  is  a  representative  citizen  of  Western  Mound  township,  where  he  has 
lived  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  entire  life.  He 
was  born  August  21,  1875.  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  (McCoy)  Etter. 
He  is  a  grandson  of  Henry  and  Asbereen  Elizabeth  (Davidson)  Etter  and 
great-grandson  of  Henry  Etter. 

Henry  Etter,  Sr.,  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  was  born  in  Wythe 
County,  Virginia,  and  at  the  age  of  23  years  moved  to  Eastern  Tennessee 
where  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Parks,  a  native  of  that  State  but  of  New 
England  ancestry.  Twelve  children  were  born  to  them.  About  1826  they 
removed  to  Greene  County,  Illinois,  settling  three  miles  southeast  of  Green- 
field, at  a  time  when  that  section  was  sparsely  settled. 

Henry  Etter,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Andrew  County, 
Tennessee,  May  14,  1820,  and  was  six  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  here  receiving  a  meagre  educational  training  in  the  public 
schools.  He  lived  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage  on  November  14,  1844, 
to  Asbereen  Elizabeth  Davidson.  She  was  born  in  Barren  County,  Ken- 
tucky. May  12,  1824,  and  was  a  daughter  of  E.  Davidson  and  IMargaret 
\\''right.  and  granddaughter  of  John  Davidson,  who  emigrated  from  Scot- 


CAPT.   GEORGE  J.  CASTLE. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  ^^ 

land  to  America.  Henry  Etter  began  farming  in  Western  ]Mound  town- 
ship on  a  farm  adjoining  tliat  of  his  father,  and  in  1845  moved  to  a  farm  in 
section  16,  South  Palmyra  township,  where  he  acquired  480  acres  of  land 
(all  of  which  went  to  his  children),  and  where  he  still  resides.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  as  was  his  father  before  him,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Polk  in  1844.  Four  children  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife:  George,  James, 
Smith  and  Elijah. 

George  Etter  was  bom  in  South  Palmyra  township,  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  county.  With  the  exception  of  four  years 
spent  in  teaching  school,  he  has  always  farmed,  and  at  the  present  time 
owns  160  acres  in  Western  Mound  township,  and  40  acres  in  Bird  township. 
He  married  Mary  C.  McCoy,  who  was  born  in  Missouri  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  her  parents.  They  have  four  children  :  Elmo ;  Horace ;  ^lyrtle  and  Her- 
bert. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  township  supervisor  and 
township  assessor  several  terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America. 

Elmo  Etter  received  the  rudiments  of  an  education  in  the  common 
schools,  after  which  he  completed  a  course  in  Blackburn  University  at  Car- 
linville.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  period  of  six  years,  since  which 
time  he  has  followed  farming  with  a  high  degree  of  success.  He  has  always 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  politics,  and  is  enthusiastic  in  his  support  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  was  elected  assessor  of  his  township  in  1900,  and 
supervisor  of  Western  Mound  township  in  1901  and  again  in  1903,  being 
made  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Suupervisors  in  June  of  that  year.  Although 
young  in  years,  Mr.  Etter  has  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people 
to  a  marked  degree  and  his  future  is  an  exceedingly  bright  one.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  M.  P.  L. 


CAPT.  GEORGE  J.  CASTLE. 

Capt.  George  J.  Castle,  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  Macoupin  County, 
the  present  postmaster  of  Carlinville,  was  born  in  Watertown.  Litchfield 
County,  Connecticut,  ]\Iarch  22,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Clarinda 
(Welton)  Castle,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Connecticut. 


78  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Capt.  Isaac  Castle,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut of  Scotch  parentage,  and  was  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  1812.  John 
Castle,  our  subject's  father,  died  in  1847.  George  J.  Castle  was  the  only 
child  born  to  his  parents.  His  mother  formed  a  second  union  with  Samuel 
Holt  and  is  now  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  85  years,  her  home  being  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

George  J.  Castle  was  reared  in  Litchfield  County  and  attended  the 
public  schools  there  until  he  reached  the  age  of  13  years  when  he  came  west 
to  Illinois  to  live  with  an  uncle,  Samuel  Welton.  He  continued  here  until 
1859,  during  most  of  which  time  he  attended  public  school,  then  returned  to 
his  Eastern  home,  where  he  attended  Watertown  Academy  during  the  winter 
months  for  two  years. 

On  August  22,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  D,  Connec- 
ticut Squadron.  The  regiment  to  which  he  belonged,  known  as  the  2d 
Reg.,  New  York  Vol.  Cav.,  or  Harris  Light  Cavalry,  and  commanded  by  that 
dashing  cavalry  officer  Kilpatrick,  was  composed  of  companies  from  Con- 
necticut, Indiana,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey  and  New  York.  The  Harris 
Light  Cavalry  was  known  for  its  dash  and  won  for  its  colonel,  Kilpatrick,  a 
general's  star.  It  was  in  every  raid  of  importance  in  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac and  stands  third  in  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded.  In  the  fall  of  1863, 
when  he  had  attained  the  rank  of  orderly  sergeant,  he  was  transferred  to 
Company  A,  13th  Reg.,  New  York  Vol.  Cav.,  and  promoted  to  ist  lieuten- 
ant, and  was  active  in  organizing  and  drilling  it  for  active  service.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  he  was  promoted  to  be  captain  of  Company  H.  The  13th  Reg- 
iment was  engaged  with  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley;  during  that 
fighting  Company  H  and  three  other  companies  under  Captain  Castle  cap- 
tured Mosby's  artillery  on  Little  Cobbler  Mountain ;  and  with  the  same  com- 
panies he  escorted  General  Sheridan  through  the  mountains  to  Piedmont 
three  days  before  the  latter's  great  ride.  In  February,  1865,  he  resigned  on 
a  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability.  He  then  returned  east  and  remained 
home  one  month,  after  which  he  came  west  to  Carlinville,  Illinois.  He 
engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of  J.  D.  Weaver,  a  grocer,  and  continued 
with  him  for  one  year,  when  he  engaged  in  farming  on  account  of  poor 
health.  He  followed  that  line  of  work  until  1873  in  Carlinville  and  Brushy 
Mound  townships,  then  returned  to  the  city  of  Carlinville  where  he  engaged 
in  the  livery  business  and  breeding  of  standard  bred  trotters  until  1890.     In 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  79 

the  latter  year  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Cariinville  by  President 
Harrison,  and  served  as  such  until  the  beginning  of  President  Cleveland's  ad- 
ministration. He  was  reappointed  by  President  McKinley  on  May  28,  1898, 
and  has  served  in  that  office  continuously  since  that  time.  He  is  a  stanch 
Republican  and  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  principles  of  his  party.  He  served 
a  term  as  mayor  of  the  city  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  .\lder- 
men.  In  1884,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  34th  General  Assembly  of 
Illinois,  and  was  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  Logan  during  that  spirited  con- 
test. Since  1873  he  has  been  verj-  active  as  a  member  of  the  Macoupin 
Count)'  Fair  Association,  of  which  he  was  president  for  a  time  and  is  now 
secretan,\  He  has  for  several  years  been  a  member  of  the  Macoupin  County 
Republican  Central  Committee,  and  president  of  the  Republican  Club  of 
Cariinville. 

In  September,  1868,  Mr.  Castle  was  united  in  marriage  with  Emma  B. 
Fishback,  daughter  of  William  H.  Fishback,  a  prominent  farmer  and  former 
sheriff  of  this  count}'.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows : 
^^'illiam  H. ;  Louise  R. ;  George  J. ;  and  Claribel,  who  died  in  November, 
1888,  aged  seven  years.  Religiously,  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  was  vestr\-man  for  some  years.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Castle  is  a  member  of  Mount  Nebo  Lodge.  No.  76,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Orient 
Lodge,  No.  95.  K.  of  P.,  of  Cariinville;  and  is  venerable  consul  of  Camp  No. 
125,  Modem  Woodmen  of  America.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  the  cit}'  of  Cariinville.  and  is  one  of  the  city's  best  known 
business  men.    His  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch. 


FORREST    D.  GORE. 

Forrest  D.  Gore^  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  farmers 
of  Macoupin  County,  is  living  on  the  old  Gore  homestead  in  Cariinville 
township.  He  was  born  October  i,  1854,  in  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin 
County,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Cinderella  (Keller)  Gore. 


8o  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Michael  Gore,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  South  CaroHna, 
but  early  in  life  moved  to  Kentucky.  He  was  a  farmer,  race  horse  breeder 
and  cattle  dealer.  He  removed  to  Madison  County,  Illinois,  in  1830,  and 
entered  land  which  he  improved  and  farmed  until  his  death  in  1843.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Mitchell,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  five  children  were 
born  to  bless  their  union,  namely:  Zerilla ;  Eliza;  David;  Michael  and  James. 
In  religious  belief,  the  grandfather  was  a  Methodist,  and  his  wife  a  Baptist. 
She  died  in  1851. 

David  Gore  was  born  in  Trigg  County,  Kentucky,  April  5,  1827,  and 
moved  to  Madison  County,  Illinois,  in  1833,  his  father  not  bringing  the 
family  to  the  new  home  until  that  year.  During  his  youth,  he  attended  the 
old  log  school  house  in  his  district,  and  labored  on  the  home  acres,  his  parents 
dying  before  he  became  of  age.  He  enlisted  for  service  in  the  United  States 
Army  during  the  war  witli  Mexico,  and  served  one  year  in  the  quartermas- 
ter's department,  until  the  war  closed.  He  then  returned  to  Madison  County, 
and  later  located  at  Plainview,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  at  different  times 
purchased  large  tracts  of  land,  improving,  in  all,  four  farms.  In  1850,  he 
laid  out  the  town  of  Plainview,  and  served  as  postmaster  of  that  village  dur- 
ing the  administration  of  President  Buchanan.  He  left  Plainview  in  the 
spring  of  1861  and  located  three  miles  north  of  Carlinville,  in  Carlinville 
township,  buying  three-quarters  of  a  section  of  improved  farm  land,  in  addi- 
tion to  an  80-acre  timber  tract.  He  was  at  one  time  owner  of  800  acres  of 
land  and  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  of  the  county.  He  remained 
upon  the  home  property  until  the  fall  of  1889,  when  he  retired  from  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  moved  to  Carlinville  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  a 
strong  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been  an  important  figure  in  local  and 
State  politics.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  of  Illinois  for  two 
terms,  and  was  State  Auditor  from  1892  to  1896.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture  for  20  years,  and  was  president  of  that  body  at 
the  time  when  Carlinville  was  chosen  as  the  location  for  holding  the  State 
Fair.  It  was  largely  due  to  his  efforts  that  Carlinville  secured  this  attrac- 
tion, in  the  face  of  petitions  from  many  larger  cities  in  the  State,  including 
Chicago,  Peoria  and  Bloomington.  Although  well  along  in  years,  Mr.  Gore 
is  a  very  active  man  and  is  a  credit  to  the  community  in  which  he  has  labored 
so  long  and  with  beneficial  results.  In  1853.  Mr.  Gore  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage with  Cinderella  Keller,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  they  became  the 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  8i 

parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows :  Forrest  D. ;  Truman  K. ;  \'ictor  M. ; 
Adelia;  Thaddeus  V.,  deceased;  Edward  E. ;  and  Cinderella,  deceased. 

Forrest  D.  Gore  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Macoupin 
County,  and  in  Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville.  He  then  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  which  he  has  followed  throughout  his  entire  career.  He 
purchased  a  farm  of  120  acres  in  Xilwood  township,  which  he  owned  and 
conducted  for  12  years,  selling  it  in  1897.  In  that  year  he  took  possession  of 
the  old  homestead,  which  consists  of  320  acres  located  in  section  9,  Carlin- 
ville township.  He  has  met  with  a  high  degree  of  success  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising,  in  1902  his  farm  producing  3.500  bushels  of  wheat,  4.000 
bushels  of  corn,  i.ooo  bushels  of  oats,  and  150  tons  of  hay.  At  the  present 
time  he  has  60  head  of  cattle,  and  also  a  tract  of  five  acres  devoted  to  the 
raising  of  fruits  of  all  kinds. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Gore  was  married  to  Carrie  I.  Bird,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Bird,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Macoupin  County.  Six  children  have  blessed 
this  union,  namely :  Forrest  B. ;  \'ictor  M. ;  Joseph  H. ;  Gladys  I. ;  Hazel 
L. :  and  Hugh  Lee.  Our  subject  is  a  Democrat  in  political  affiliation,  and  has 
filled  a  number  of  local  offices,  among  them  that  of  school  director.  He  and 
his  family  are  active  church  members,  and  his  eldest  son  is  preparing  to  enter 
the  ministr}-.  attending  Shurtliff  College  at  the  present  time. 


JOHN    T.  COLE. 


John  T.  Cole,  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of  South  Otter 
township,  Macoupin  County,  o\vning  some  of  the  best  farming  land  in  the 
township,  200  acres  in  section  15  and  160  acres  in  section  22, — was  born 
in  August,  1S20,  in  Tennessee.  He  is  a  son  of  \\'illiam  and  Susan  (Brown) 
Cole. 

The  Cole  family  is  an  old  and  honorable  one  in  Tennessee,  where  it  has 
grown  and  prospered  for  generations.  William  Cole  was  a  son  of  William 
Cole,  and  was  bom  in  Sullivan  County,  Tennessee,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing as  had  his  father  and  grandfather  before  him.  He  married  Susan  Brown, 
a  member  of  an  equally  prominent  family  of  Washington  County,  Tennessee. 


82  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

The  venerable  subject  of  this  biography  attended  the  schools  in  his  neigh- 
borhood during  his  boyhood  days  and  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  1850.  On  November  14,  1845,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Baird,  who  also  still  survives,  through  all  these  years  having  been  a  cheerful, 
helpful  companion.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Hall)  Baird, 
also  natives  of  Tennessee.  With  his  wife  and  young  children,  Mr.  Cole  came 
to  Macoupin  County  in  1850  and  located  in  Barr  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm,  upon  which  he  lived  for  15  years.  In  1865  he  disposed  of  that 
property  and  came  to  his  present  farm  which  is  advantageously  situated 
within  three  and  a  half  miles  of  the  bustling  little  village  of  Nilwood.  Mr. 
Cole,  during  his  years  of  active  life,  devoted  himself  to  general  farming  and 
stock  raising,  attaining  great  success,  raising  some  of  the  finest  crops  and 
the  best  horses  and  cattle  in  the  county.  For  some  years  he  has  delegated  the 
active  labor  of  the  farm  to  younger  hands  but  still  enjoys  looking  over  the 
fertile  lands  he  so  long  cultivated,  and  in  noting  the  development  of  the  fine 
stock  in  which  he  has  always  taken  an  interest. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  became  the  parents  of  1 1  children,  all  of  whom  but 
two  have  been  spared  to  them,  and  now  they  are  the  center  of  a  large  circle  of 
loving  and  obedient  grandchildren.  The  family  record  is  as  follows :  Jane, 
who  married  John  Whittaker,  and  had  two  children,  Frank  and  Albert, — 
her  second  marriage  with  John  Johnson,  resulted  in  a  daughter,  Dora ;  Sam- 
uel, who  lives  in  Carlinville,  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  married,  as  his 
first  wife,  Julia  Olljert  and  they  had  four  children,  Emma,  Cora,  Frank  and 
Dollie, — his  second  marriage  was  contracted  with  Belle  Hayes  of  Carlinville; 
Thomas,  who  is  a  farmer  on  his  father's  land  in  section  22,  married  Sarah 
Ross,  and  they  have  these  children, — Harry,  Oscar,  Charles,  Truman,  Clyde, 
Grace,  Fred,  Blanche,  Opal,  Howard  and  John ;  Oscar,  who  farms  his 
father's  land  in  section  15,  married  Susie  Ross  and  they  have  two  children, 
Bernard  and  Marie;  Ruth,  who  married  Ballard  H.  Woods,  resides  on  the 
home  farm;  Wesley,  who  farms  in  section  22,  married  Minnie  Caynor;  Lulu, 
married,  first,  W.  Conley,  and  second,  R.  C.  Adams,  and  had  one  child,  Lois 
who  is  deceased ;  Everett,  who  farms  in  section  22,  married  Ida  Bates  and 
they  have  four  children.  Birdie,  Coy,  Lola  and  Lela;  and  Ida,  who  married 
Frank  Hul>er,  a  grain  dealer  of  Nilwood.  The  two  deceased  were  Emaline 
and  Christina. 

Mr.  Cole  has  been  a  life  long  Democrat  of  the  old  school.    He  has  lived 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  83 

to  see  many  wonderful  changes  in  governmental  affairs  and  in  his  earlier 
years  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaigns.  For  a  long  period  he  has  been  a 
valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Time  has  touched  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cole  with  a  gentle  hand  and  even  in  ad\anced  age  they  are  blessed  with 
health  as  well  as  the  affection  of  kindred  and  the  esteem  of  the  community. 


AUGUSTUS   ZAEPFFEL. 

Among  the  well-to-do  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Carlinville,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  brief  notice  occupies  a  prominent  position  as  an  esteemed  and 
worthy  member  of  the  community.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  manufacturers 
of  Carlinville,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  carbonated  bever- 
ages of  various  kinds.  He  was  born  in  Alsace,  France,  May  14,  1839,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Mary  Ann  (Blumstein)  Zaepffel. 

John  Zaepffel  was  among  the  leading  wine  merchants  of  France,  where 
he  owned  large  vineyards. 

Augustus  Zaepffel  received  his  education  in  his  native  country,  and  after 
completing  his  education  engaged  in  work  in  the  vineyards  of  his  father, 
where  he  continued  until  1857,  when  he  left  his  native  country  and  came  to 
America,  landing  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  remained  three  years,  after 
which  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  After  living  in  the  Mound  City  a 
short  time,  he  removed  to  Brighton,  Illinois.  In  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  service  in  Company  D,  2d  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Cav.,  under 
Colonel  Marsh,  this  regiment  being  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 
At  the  end  of  the  term  of  his  enlistment,  he  was  discharged  at  Columbus, 
Ohio.  He  then  returned  to  Brighton,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  from  1866 
till  1869,  and  then  removed  to  an  80-acre  farm  that  he  had  purchased,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  one  year.  He  then  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to 
Carlinville  and  engaged  in  a  business,  which  he  sold  several  years  later,  and 
in  1874  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  carbonated  beverages  of  various  kinds. 
He  has  the  reputation  of  being  an  excellent  business  man,  and  of  manufactur- 
ing carbonated  beverages  of  a  very  superior  quality.     He  has  in  past  years 


84  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

greatly  enlarged  his  business  and  is  constantly  improving  the  methods  of  his 
works.  Besides  operating  this  plant  he  has  represented  several  large  brew- 
ing companies  as  agent  and  collector  and  has  proved  himself  to  be  a  man  of 
much  ability.  At  the  present  time  he  is  a  wholesale  dealer  in  the  keg  and 
bottled  beers  of  the  Reisch  Brewing  Company,  of  Springfield. 

Mr.  Zaepffel  was  united  in  marriage  December  28,  1870,  to  Sophia 
Mack,  a  native  of  France,  and  they  are  the  happy  parents  of  six  children, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Westmeyer; 
Gus  J.;  Clara,  who  married  Julius  Barrick;  Adelaide;  Louisa;  and  John, 
who  died  in  infancy.  Our  subject  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  active  in  politics; 
he  has  served  in  the  City  Council  of  Carlinville  and  at  present  is  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Education.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Orient  Lodge, 
No.  95,  Knights  of  Pythias. 


ROBERT  :E.  BLEY,  M.  D. 

Robert  E.  Bley,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Bunker  Hill, 
Macoupin  County,  and  a  prominent  and  representative  citizen,  was  born  on 
a  farm  in  Scott  County,  Iowa,  December  2,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  George 
and  Elizabeth  W.  (Lavis)  Bley. 

Dr.  George  Bley  was  born  in  1821  at  Dettingen,  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
and  died  at  Staunton,  Illinois,  in  August,  1887.  At  the  age  of  seven  years 
he  accompanied  his  parents,  John  George  and  Sophia  (Miller)  Bley,  to 
America.  John  George  Bley  had  been  a  farmer  and  wine  grower  in  Ger- 
many, and  he  settled  in  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  to  the 
age  of  96  years.  Dr.  George  Bley  was  the  eldest  of  his  five  children.  When 
the  latter  had  finished  his  local  schooling,  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  drug 
business  in  Philadelphia  for  five  years  and  then  became  a  student  and  a 
graduate  of  the  old  Philadelphia  College  of  Medicine,  which  now,  as  an 
institution,  has  passed  out  of  existence.  Dr.  Bley  practiced  all  his  life,  some- 
times combining  with  it  a  little  farming  and  frequently  operating  a  drug  store 
in  connection.  He  was  a  very  successful  physician.  His  knowledge  of 
drugs  was  thorough  and  his  handling  ei  them  careful  and  scientific.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  Lavis,  the  former  of  whom  was 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  85 

bom  in  England,  and  the  latter  in  New  Jersey.  They  had  six  children :  Mrs. 
Ellen  Wurtz,  of  Jerseyville,  Illinois;  ■Mrs.  Elizabeth  W.  Blair,  who  died  at 
Staunton  in  1901 ;  Dr.  George,  of  Beardstown,  Illinois;  Dr.  David  L.,  of 
Staunton ;  Dr.  Robert  E.,  of  this  sketch ;  and  Mrs.  ^lary  L.  Dripps,  widow  of 
Dr.  Calvin  T.  Dripps  of  Staunton,  Illinois. 

Dr.  Robert  E.  Bley  accompanied  his  parents  in  childhood  from  the  Scott 
Count}-  farm  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  thence  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois  and  from 
there  to  Randolph  County,  Illinois,  where  his  father  was  located  for  three 
3-ears,  finally  settling  at  Staunton,  Illinois,  in  October,  1S61.  Here  our 
subject  was  educated  and  began  his  study  of  drugs  in  his  father's  store,  the 
careful  supervision  of  the  elder  physician  being  of  the  greatest  advantage  to 
him.  From  the  age  of  16  years  until  1875,  when  he  was  prepared  for  en 
trance  into  Jefferson  ^ledical  College  at  Philadelphia,  Dr.  Robert  applied 
himself  closely.  He  was  graduated  at  that  fine  old  medical  school  which  has 
sent  out  some  of  the  most  eminent  men  in  the  profession,  in  March,  1877, 
receiving  his  degree  of  M.  D.  His  practice  was  inaugurated  at  Staunton,  a 
partnership  being  formed  with  his  father,  under  the  firm  name  of  George 
Bley  &  Sons,  and  he  continued  there  for  the  succeeding  12  years.  In  1888 
he  located  in  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  has  continuously  practiced  to  the  present 
time. 

Dr.  Bley  was  married,  first,  December  2,  1886,  to  Mary  L.  Hall  of  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  who  died  in  August,  1894,  leaving  a  son,  Robert  E.  In 
December,  1897,  he  was  married  to  Jessie  A.  Boswell,  of  Madison  County, 
Illinois. 

Dr.  Bley  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  as  was  his  father.  He 
takes  an  interest  in  local  matters  and  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education. 


AUGUST  HACKE. 

August  Hacke,  who  resides  in  section  20,  Brushy  !Mound  township, 
Macoupin  Covuity,  is  an  extensive  agriculturist  and  one  of  the  influential 
men  of  the  township.     He  was  born  in  Braunschweig,  Germany,  October  9, 
1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Hartwig  and  Augusta  (Burgdorff)  Hacke. 
5 


86  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Hartwig  Hacke  and  his  wife  left  Germany  on  October  9,  1852,  and 
arrived  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  in  November  of  that  year,  having  with 
them  their  three  children :  August,  Henry  and  Harmon.  They  arrived  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  on  January  i,  1853.  Two  weeks  later  Hartwig  Hacke 
moved  with  his  family  to  Carlinville  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois. 
He  purchased  a  farm  north  of  the  Litchfield,  Carrollton  &  Western  railway 
station,  which  property  is  now  included  in  the  city  limits.  He  lived  upon  it 
for  four  years,  then  sold  out  and  purchased  a  tract  of  200  acres,  one-half 
mile  east  of  Carlinville  in  the  same  township.  He  had  followed  the  trade  of  a 
cabinet-maker  in  his  native  country,  but  after  coming  to  the  United  States 
always  engaged  in  farming.  He  died  in  1856,  at  the  age  of  57  years;  his 
wife  survived  him  many  years,  dying  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  "jz  years.  Two 
children  were  born  to  them  after  coming  to  this  country,  namely :  Gustav 
and  Joanna.  Religiously,  they  were  members  of  the  German  Evangelical 
Church.  Mr.  Hacke  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  although  deeply  inter- 
ested in  its  success  was  never  an  active  party  worker. 

August  Hacke  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native  country,  and 
of  Illinois  after  his  arrival  in  this  country.  He  continued  to  live  on  the  home 
farm  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company 
A,  I22d  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  on  August  9,  1861.  He  was  in  the  service 
for  a  period  of  three  years,  and  during  that  time  was  never  absent  from  roll 
call  except  when  duty  required  him  to  be  away.  He  served  in  all  the  engage- 
ments in  which  his  regiment  and  company  participated  in  a  most  creditable 
manner,  and  was  discharged  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  and  mustered  out  at 
Springlield,  Illinois.  He  now  receives  a  pension  of  $8  per  month.  After  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  his  home  and  again  took  up  the  pursuits  of 
farming.  When  the  home  estate  was  divided,  he  sold  his  interest  to  his 
brother  Henry,  and  in  1871  purchased  his  present  property  of  120  acres. 
Fortune  has  smiled  upon  him  in  a  business  way,  and  at  the  present  time  he  is 
the  owner  of  more  than  640  acres  of  fine  farm  and  grazing  land.  He  follows 
general  farming  but  makes  a  specialty  of  stock  raising,  feeding  on  an  average 
01  one  carload  per  year.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive  men  of  the  township, 
and  is  held  in  highest  esteem  by  his  fellow  men. 

In  May,  1866,  Mr.  Hacke  was  united  in  marriage  with  Margaret 
Drew,  who  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  with  the 
exception  of  one  brother  was  the  only  member  of  her  family  to  come  to  the 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  87 

United  States.  The  following  children  were  born  to  bless  this  union :  Ed- 
ward, deceased;  Amelia;  William;  Adolph;  Charles;  Fred;  Bertha;  Arthur; 
Theodore;  Dorothy,  deceased;  and  Harrison,  deceased,  ilr.  Hacke  is  a 
member  of  Dan  Messick  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  served  as  its  commander. 
He  attended  the  National  Encampment  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  188S.  In 
politics,  our  subject  is  a  Republican  and  has  ser\-ed  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
school  trustee,  and  super%-isor,  having  held  the  latter  office  at  intervals  since 
1882.  He  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  edu- 
cation and  the  betterment  of  our  public  schools. 


GEORGE    W.  WILLSON. 

George  W.  Willson,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Brushy  Mound  township, 
Macoupin  County,  resides  upon  the  old  \\'illson  homestead  in  section  19, 
where  he  was  bom  April  12,  1862.  He  is  a  son  of  John  M.  and  Catherine 
(Wheeler)  Willson,  and  grandson  of  Isaac  and  Rebecca  Willson,  who  were 
natives  of  Kentucky. 

Jolm  M.  Willson  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1819,  and  came  to  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  with  his  parents  when  about  14  years  of  age.  Isaac  Willson, 
his  father,  purchased  and  received  a  patent  from  the  government  for  the  land 
known  as  the  Willson  homestead,  which  is  now  owned  by  our  subject.  Here 
John  M.  Willson  resided  until  his  death  on  October  10,  1880.  His  wife  died 
in  1862.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  never  held  any  office  except  that 
of  school  director.  He  and  his  wife  were  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows : 
Virginia,  deceased;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Frank  Rice,  whose  only  child  living 
at  the  time, — Clarence — was  killed  in  a  cyclone  which  swept  down  upon  this 
community  in  1883,  leaving  devastation  and  death  in  its  wake;  Clarence;  and 
George  W.,  our  subject.  Mr.  \\'illson  also  reared  Frank  Wadsworth  from  the 
time  he  was  three  weeks  old  until  his  marriage  at  the  age  of  2^  years.  He  was 
a  kind  and  liberal  hearted  man,  and  many  were  his  quiet  benefactions  which 
never  became  known. 

Georgfe  W.  Willson  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 


88  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Macoupin  County,  and  has  always  lived  upon  the  home  place.  Upon  the 
death  of  his  father,  he  became  possessed  of  one-half  of  the  home  estate, 
which  consisted  of  600  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  has  followed  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  raises  large  crops  of  corn,  oats  and  wheat, 
and  feeds  on  an  average  100  head  of  hogs  and  a  large  number  of  cattle. 
He  has  displayed  good  judgment  in  business  affairs,  and  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  reliable  business  men  of  Brushy  Mound  township. 

In  18S3,  Mr.  Willson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Cora  B.  Clark,  a 
daughter  of  John  Clark,  an  early  settler  of  Macoupin  County,  by  whom  he 
has  one  daughter,  Clara  M.,  who  is  attending  Monticello  Seminary  at  God- 
frey, Illinois.  Religiously,  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and  served  for  several  years  as  a 
school  director.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  tlie  ^Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 


JOHN    W.  JOHNSTON. 

John  W.  Johnston,  deceased,  who  was  one  of  the  most  highly  re- 
spected citizens  and  good  farmers  of  South  Otter  township,  Macoupin 
County,  was  born  September  12,  1830,  in  Kentucky,  and  was  a  son  of  Isaac 
B.  and  Elizabeth  (King)  Johnston. 

The  parents  of  the  late  Mr.  Johnston  moved  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois 
in  1836,  settling  first  on  a  property  at  American  Bottoms.  On  account  of 
malarial  conditions  superinduced  by  the  low  location  of  the  land,  they  left 
this  fertile  locality  and  removed  to  North  Palmyra  township,  where  they  pur- 
chased a  farm,  but  later  removed  from  that  to  the  one  in  North  Otter  town- 
ship, where  our  subject's  mother  died.  The  father  married  again  and  also 
died  on  this  farm. 

The  late  John  W.  Johnston  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  in  his 
neighborhood,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  he  began  to  materially 
assist  his  father  in  farming.  This  occupation  he  followed  all  his  life  with 
much  success.  In  1859  he  married  Samantha  M.  Etter,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Etter,  who  was  a  prominent  farmer  located  within  one  mile  of  the  farm, 
operated  by  Mr.  Johnson.    William  Etter  was  born  in  Virginia  and  came  to 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  89 

Illinois  in  1837  and  died  in  1879,  aged  within  a  few  months  of  80  years.  He 
was  survived  by  his  widow  until  March,  1899,  when  she  died,  aged  85  years. 

The  death  of  ilr.  Johnston  occurred  April  8,  1901.  He  is  survived  by 
his  widow  and  seven  children,  named  as  follows :  James  Franklin,  now  a 
resident  of  ilissouri,  who  married  Susan  Stanley  of  Nebraska,  and  has  one 
son,  John  Emen,-;  Nancy  Ellen  and  Elizabeth  Helen  (twins),  the  former  of 
whom  married  Charles  Barnes,  a  farmer  of  South  Otter  township;  Francis 
Ne\\1:on,  a  resident  of  Nilwood,  who  first  married  EHzabeth  W'eller  and  they 
had  these  children — ^Jessie,  ilyrtle,  ilan,',  Roy,  Coy  and  George, — his  second 
marriage  was  with  Minnie  Campbell ;  \\'illiam  B.,  a  resident  of  Oregan,  who 
married  Neva  \\*elton,  and  they  ha\e  three  children, — Theodore,  Perry-  and 
Luke  M. ;  Katie,  who  married  William  Barnes  and  at  death  left  two  chil- 
dren,— Gertrude,  now  deceased,  and  William,  who  is  living  with  his  grand- 
mother; and  Wesley  C.  who  married  Daisy  McRejTiolds,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren,— \\'illiam  and  Ada. 

Mr.  Johnston  was  a  verj-  intelligent  man  and  was  thoroughly  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him,  while  in  his  family  he  was  much  beloved  and  looked 
up  to.  In  politics  he  took  only  a  good  citizen's  interest,  voting  the  Republican 
ticket,  but  he  would  never  listen  to  any  suggestions  of  ofHce  holding.  The 
only  office  he  was  willing  to  accept  was  that  of  deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
which  honorable  position  he  held  for  a  long  period.  He  was  a  good  man,  one 
who  will  long  be  missed.  His  estimable  widow  ver\-  capably  manages  the 
large  farm  in  section  22,  and  is  also  verj'  much  esteemed  in  the  localitj-. 


WILLIAM  T.  BARNETT. 

William  T.  Barxett,  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  and  successful 
farmers  of  ^Macoupin  County,  resides  on  his  farm  of  80  acres,  situated  in 
sections  36  and  26,  in  Shaw"s  Point  township.  Mr.  Barnett  was  bom  in  that 
township,  and  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Lucinda  (Nichols)  Barnett,  and  a 
grandson  of  the  late  William  Barnett. 

William  Barnett  was  born  in  Kentuckv  and  imtil  advanced  in  life  made 


90  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

that  State  his  home.  His  death  took  place  in  Shaw's  Point  township,  after 
so  exemplary  a  life  as  to  call  forth  the  assertion  by  his  friends  and  neigh- 
bors that  he  had  been  one  of  the  best  men  who  ever  lived.  His  children,  who 
have  also  all  passed  away,  were :  Abner,  Mrs.  Delilah  Nichols,  George  W., 
Mrs.  Candace  Grovers,  Stephen  B.,  Thaddeus  C,  Temple  W.  and  William 
Thomas  R. 

George  W.  Barnett  was  born  in  Christian  County,  Kentucky,  and  died 
in  Macoupin  County  at  the  age  of  71  years.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1835 
and  settled  in  Shaw's  Point  township,  Macoupin  County,  in  1837,  becoming 
one  of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  its  political  and  public  life.  Although 
but  poorly  educated,  his  natural  ability  brought  him  success  in  business  and  a 
leadership  in  public  affairs.  In  politics  a  Whig,  he  supported  the  Republican 
party  at  a  later  date  and  during  the  Civil  War  made  many  speeches  in  behalf 
of  the  government.  He  was  elected  to  almost  all  the  local  offices  and  after 
the  erection  of  the  present  Court  House  served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors.  Opposed  to  the  tax  imposed,  he  was  one  of  17  who  resisted  it 
and  was  fined  $1,000  for  contempt  of  court.  Many  times  elected  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  he  was  a  stern  and  impartial  judge,  doing  his  whole  duty  to  every 
one  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  winning  even  from  those  who  opposed  him 
politically,  the  respect  accorded  an  upright  character.  He  took  a  deep  inter- 
est in  education  and  religion  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Shaw's  Point 
Christian  Ciiurch.  He  married  Lucinda  Nichols,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
and  they  had  15  children  born  to  them,  eight  of  whom  lived  to  maturity, 
viz:  Mrs.  Ulrica  Cramer,  deceased;  George  W.,  of  Montgomery  County;  B. 
Stuart,  of  Shaw's  Point  township;  William  T.,  of  this  sketch;  James  A.,  a 
Civil  War  soldier,  who  died  in  a  rebel  prison  in  Texas;  C.  Gertrude,  wife  of 
Capt.  H.  T.  Richardson  of  Carlinville;  Mrs.  Lucinda  E.  Wilson  of  Carlin- 
ville;  and  Mrs.  Marcella  A.  Wilson,  a  widow,  of  Carlinville. 

Ous  subject  has  spent  his  whole  life  in  Shaw's  Point  township  with  the 
exception  of  three  and  a  half  years  in  Eureka,  to  which  place  he  removed  for 
a  time  for  the  better  education  of  his  children.  He  has  followed  farming 
and  made  a  specialty  of  stock  raising.  The  family  own  nearly  300  acres  of 
land,  Mr.  Barnett  having  given  his  sons  208  acres,  80  acres  being  reserved 
for  himself.  He  has  filled  a  number  of  the  prominent  local  offices  in  the 
gift  of  the  Republican  party,  having  been  twice  highway  commissioner,  and 
at  present  is  a  member  of  the  School  Board.  ^ 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  91 

On  September  29,  1867,  Mr.  Barnett  was  married  to  Elvira  J.  Johnson, 
who  was  bom  in  White  County,  IlHnois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Edward  W. 
and  Sarah  (Crabtree)  Johnson.  The  two  sons  of  this  marriage  who  are  now 
living  are:  William  C,  who  was  educated  at  Eureka  College,  married  Bertha 
C.  Wagner  and  is  a  farmer  of  Shaw's  Point  township;  and  Charles  E.,  Who 
was  also  educated  at  the  above  mentioned  college,  married  Bertha  E.  Stude- 
baker,  has  one  son,  Neville  Everett,  and  lives  on  the  homestead.  Those  de- 
ceased are :  Thomas  Edgar,  Walter  Floyd.  Lolah  Mae  and  Alva  Leon.  The 
religious  connection  of  the  family  is  with  the  Christian  Church  in  which  Mr. 
Barnett  was  formerly  an  elder.  His  fraternal  connections  have  been  with  the 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Farmers'  Benefit  Association  of  which  he  has  been 
president. 


HENRY  C.  LOTT. 


Among  the  men  who  have  begun  life  in  a  lowly  station  and  by  free  and 
careful  use  of  the  talents  with  which  they  were  endowed  by  the  hand  of 
Nature,  have  won  their  way  to  the  top  ranks  in  the  business  circles  of 
Macoupin  Countj-,  we  may  mention  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  these 
lines,  and  who  resides  on  his  farm  situated  in  section  15,  Carlinville  town- 
ship, consisting  of  160  acres  of  finely  tilled  soil.  He  was  born  in  Baden, 
Germany,  September  29,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Theresa  (Heisler) 
Lott. 

George  Lott  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  there  was  very  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  and  wine  making.  In  1853  ^e  came  to  America  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  which  occupation  he  con- 
tinued for  many  years.  After  a  long  life  of  unceasing  activity,  he  retired 
and  passed  the  sunset  years  of  his  life  in  ease,  dying  in  1889  at  the  age  of  68 
years.  He  served  one  year  in  the  L^nion  Army  in  the  war  between  the  sec- 
tions. Previous  to  the  war,  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  after  the  war  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Republican  party.  He  married  Theresa  Heisler,  who  died 
in  1866  at  the  age  of  43  years,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
four  of  whom  are  now  living.    He  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Henrj-  C.  Lott  came  to  America  in  1853  in  company  with  his  parents, 


92  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

and  he  attended  the  common  schools  of  Macoupin  County,  but  his  educational 
advantages  were  limited.  At  an  early  period  in  his  life,  he  was  compelled  to 
assist  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  has  since  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  left  the  home  farm  finally  in  1864  to  work  by  the  month  for  David  Gore, 
and  receiving  $22  a  month  for  his  services,  his  wages  being  later  raised  to  $28 
per  month ;  after  six  years  of  hard  work,  he  was  in  a  position  to  purchase  a 
team  and  wagon  and  to  engage  in  what  proved  to  be  a  most  successful 
career.  Besides  farming,  our  subject  is  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  mixed 
breeds  of  cattle,  in  which  enterprise  the  results  have  been  very  satisfactory. 
Politically  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never 
taken  any  active  interest  in  political  affairs. 

In  1873  Mr.  Lott  was  married  to  Lena  Wundle,  who  died  two  years 
later,  leaving  one  daughter,  Theresa  Delia,  who  married  Peter  Leritz, — Mrs. 
Leritz  died  in  1899.  leaving  one  son,  Ralph.  In  1875  Mr.  Lott  was  married 
to  Mary  Meyer,  and  to  them  were  born  13  children,  as  follows:  Albert,  who 
married  Bessie  Morris;  Elizabeth;  Anna,  wife  of  William  Dunn,  Jr.;  Sophia; 
Edward,  who  married  Florence  Karnes;  Joseph;  Lewis,  dectosed;  Rose; 
Robert;  Leonard;  Lucile;  Janette,  deceased;  and  an  infant,  deceased.  Our 
subject  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


GABRIEL  WILLARD  JOHNSON. 

Gabriel  Willard  Johnson,  a  well  known  farmer  residing  in  Carlin- 
ville  township,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  July  31,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of 
K.  Z.  and  Rebecca  (Wilson)  Johnson,  natives  of  Clark  and  Sullivan  Coun- 
ties, Indiana,  respectively 

After  his  marriage,  R.  Z.  Johnson  came  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
in  the  spring  of  1855,  locating  on  a  farm  in  South  Otter  township,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death.  He  was  a  very  successful  farmer  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  valuable  farming  land.  He  was  one 
of  the  county's  substantial  citizens,  and  his  death  was  a  loss  to  the  commun- 
ity in  which  he  lived.     He  took  an  active  part  in  local  politics,  and  held  a 


CHRISTOPHER  RIEHER. 


MRS.  LENA  S.  RIEHER. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY. 


97. 


number  of  township  oflfices.  He  and  his  wife  were  parents  of  eight  children, 
as  follows :  Gabriel  Williard,  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Isabel,  who  married 
N.  G.  Wiggins  and  has  four  children, — Truman,  Frank,  Estella  and  Roy; 
Lafayette,  who  married  Emma  Marco  and  has  the  following  children, — 
Grover,  Nellie,  Maude,  Alma  and  Florence;  Alice,  who  married  James  R. 
Richie  and  has  two  children, — ]\Iarvel  and  Gail ;  Zepheniah,  who  married 
Annie  Marco;  Walter,  who  married  Ida  Conlee  and  has  two  children, — 
Mamie  and  Edna;  and  Minnie,  who  married  James  R.  Richie,  and  has  one 
son, — Jay.  Religiously  R.  Z.  Johnson  was  a  Universalist,  and  his  wife  a 
Methodist.  He  died  February  15,  1901,  and  her  death  occurred  December 
28,  1902. 

Gabriel  ^^'illard  Johnson  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Macou- 
pin County,  and  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  24 
years.  He  now  owns  the  home  farm,  and  is  successfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  At  the  present  time  he  has  about  50  head  of 
cattle,  and  about  20  head  of  horses,  and  also  raises  considerable  fruit. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Johnson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Julia  C.  Conlee,  and 
they  are  parents  of  eight  children :  Oscar,  Oliver,  Charles,  Nettie,  Susan, 
Ada,  Alden  and  Carl.  Fraternall}-,  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  ]\Iodern 
Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  but  has  never  sought 
for  political  honors.  He  is  a  representative  of  the  highest  type  of  man- 
hood, and  his  sterling  qualities  have  gained  him  friends  wherever  he  is 
known. 


CHRISTOPHER    RIEHER. 

\Ye  take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  the  readers  of  this  biography  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  substantial  agriculturists  of  Macoupin  County, 
Illinois,  who  has  for  the  past  40  yeaers  been  actively  engaged  here  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  soil,  and  as  a  reward  for  his  unceasing  toil  has  become  the  owner 
of  a  handsome  farm,  consisting  of  436  acres,  situated  in  section  19.  He 
was  born  in  Marnitz,  ]\Iecklenburg-Schwerin.  Germany,  ]\Iarch  2,  1840.  and 
is  a  son  of  Voohim  and  Sophia  (Galof)  Richer. 

Voohim  and  Sophia  (Galof)  Richer  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  and 
remained  in  the  fatherland  all  their  lives.     They  were  the  parents  of  five 


98  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

children  besides  our  subject,  namely;  William,  Frederick,  Lena,  Sophia  and 
Henry.  In  religious  belief  they  were  members  of  the  German  Evangelical 
church. 

Christopher  Richer  came  to  America  in  1865,  landing  in  New  York 
City  on  October  loth,  and  immediately  came  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  locating 
at  Macoupin  Station.  He  then  engaged  in  work  with  his  half-brother,  Will- 
iam, who  had  been  in  this  country  since  1849,  ^nd  after  a  few  years  rented 
a  farm  and  began  what  has  proved  to  be  a  most  successful  career.  After  nine 
years  of  industrious  work  on  the  farm  which  he  had  rented,  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  80  acres  that  is  now  included  in  his  present  farm,  16  acres  of  the 
property  being  cleared.  On  this  pioneer  farm  he  engaged  successfully  in 
agricultural  pursuits  and  in  a  few  years  purchased  another  piece  of  land,  con- 
sisting of  60  acres.  Gradually  he  has  continued  to  increase  his  real  estate 
holdings  until  he  now  owns  436  acres,  which  he  has  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  raises  some  of  the  finest  corn,  oats,  and  wheat  to  be  seen 
in  his  county,  producing  annually  from  3,000  to  4,000  bushels  of  corn  and 
about  2,000  bushels  of  wheat.  Our  subject  also  devotes  much  time  to  raising 
stock,  and  in  former  years  raised  large  droves  of  sheep  each  year.  He  is 
widely  known  for  the  skilled  manner  in  which  he  conducts  his  farm. 

Mr.  Richer  was  married  September  15,  1865,  to  Lena  Shultz,  who  is 
like  himself  a  native  of  Germany,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children, 
namely :  Henry,  Mary,  Augusta  and  William.  Mr.  Richer  and  family  are 
members  of  the  German  Evangelical  Church.  He  is  a  Republican  and  quite 
active  in  the  politics  of  his  township.  He  held  the  office  of  township  com- 
missioner for  three  terms  and  served  as  school  trustee  for  three  years.  Por- 
traits of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richer  accompany  this  sketch. 


WILLIAM  H.  PERRINE. 

William  H.  Perrine,  an  honored  resident  of  Brushy  Mound  town- 
ship and  an  early  settler  of  Macoupin  County,  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
August  12,  1835.     He  is  a  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Lydia  (Thompson)   Perrine, 


I 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  99 

and  a  grandson  of  Henry  Perrine,  a  French  Huguenot  who  fled  from  France 
to  the  United  States  because  of  religious  persecution  and  settled  in  New  Jer- 
sey. He  was  a  farmer  by  calling  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits  through- 
out his  entire  life. 

Ezekiel  Perrine,  father  of  our  subject,  was  also  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  a  prominent  man  of  his  day.  He  farmed  in  New  Jersey  until  1846,  then 
moved  to  Indiana  where  he  lived  during  the  succeeding  five  years.  He  then 
sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  Greene  County,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  one  sea- 
son. Upon  coming  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1852,  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  170  acres  of  farm  land  in  Brushy  Mound  township,  upon  which  he 
lived  for  some  years.  He  then  sold  this  property  and  moved  to  Montgomery 
County,  Illinois,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  270  acres  and  followed  farming 
there  for  10  or  12  years,  after  which  he  made  his  home  in  Girard  until  his 
death  in  1895.  He  was  a  verj'  influential  man  and  was  known  for  his  strict 
integrity  and  upright  character.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  until  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  he  was  thereafter  affiliated.  He 
married  Lydia  Thompson,  and  their  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  the 
following  children  :  Zelphia ;  ^larj'  A. ;  Susan ;  Eliza ;  Georgiana ;  William 
H. ;  Enoch;  Charles;  Washington;  and  Ezekiel.  Mrs.  Perrine  was  of  the 
Presbyterian  faith  and  was  an  active  church  worker.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1853. 

William  H.  Perrine  was  about  16  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Macou- 
pin County,  Illinois,  and  here  he  attended  the  common  schools  of  Brushy 
Mound  township.  His  education  in  the  schools  was  ver}-  limited,  but  by 
contact  with  the  world  it  became  extended  and  practical.  He  took  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  at  an  early  age,  and  began  by  working  at  the  meagre  salary 
of  $10  per  month.  He  worked  hard  and  lived  frugally  and  year  by  year 
his  financial  condition  became  better  until  he  came  to  be  considered  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  his  community  and  of  the  county.  He  has  some  700  acres 
of  land,  two-thirds  of  which  he  cultivates  and  the  remainder  he  devotes  to 
pasture.  He  raises  a  yearly  average  of  150  head  of  cattle  and  150  liogs,  and 
is  said  to  have  never  sold  a  bushel  of  grain  or  a  ton  of  hay,  feeding  it  to  his 
own  stock.  He  is  a  man  of  ability,  foresight  and  good  judgment,  and  the 
success  which  has  come  to  him  is  due  solely  to  his  many  years  of  steady  in- 
dustry and  capable  management  of  his  affairs. 

In  1857  Mr.  Perrine  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  J.  Anderson,  a 


100  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

daughter  of  Silas  Anderson,  and  the  following  children  were  born  to  them : 
Ellen;  Anna;  Ada;  Frank;  William;  and  John.  Politically,  Mr.  Perrine 
v\-as  a  Republican  for  some  30  years,  but  is  now  a  Democrat,  having  sup- 
ported Grover  Cleveland  and,  later,  William  Jennings  Bryan  for  the  presi- 
dency. 


ROBERT  JARMAN. 

Robert  Jarman^  a  prominent  and  substantial  farmer  of  Shaw's  Point 
township,  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  magnificent  farm  of  400  acres,  sit- 
uated in  sections  2^,  24  and  27,  has  long  been  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
his  section  of  the  county.  Mr.  Jarman  was  born  May  2,  1833,  in  Devonshire, 
England,  and  is  a  son  of  Phillip  and  Elizabeth  (Sloman)  Jarman. 

Phillip  Jarman  was  born  in  England  and  spent  his  whole  life  in  that 
country.  He  learned  the  mason's  trade  and  was  employed  almost  all  his  life 
on  one  of  the  big  Devonshire  estates.  He  was  almost  90  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  demise  and  had  been  for  years  a  consistent  member  of  the  Church 
of  England.  He  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  namely:  William,  of 
Alton,  Illinois;  Phillip,  of  Devonshire,  England;  Mary,  who  died  in  England 
in  youth;  Margaret  (i)  and  Margaret  (2),  both  of  whom  died  young; 
Robert,  of  this  sketch;  John,  who  died  at  Pana,  Illinois;  and  Isaac,  who  died 
at  Carlinville. 

Robert  Jarman  was  reared  in  what  is  probably  the  most  beautiful  part 
of  England,  but  it  did  not  ofifer  sufiScient  business  opportunities  for  such  a 
young  man  as  was  our  subject  at  the  age  of  20  years,  and  he  decided  to  cross 
the  ocean  in  search  of  better  conditions.  Taking  passage  in  the  sailing  ship 
"Rose  of  Plymouth,"  bound  from  Plymouth  to  Quebec,  he  finally  reached  his 
destination  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  and  two  days,  being  detained  on 
the  shores  of  Newfoundland  for  21  days  by  dense  fogs.  Before  finally 
settling  in  Macoupin  County,  Mr.  Jarman  visited  a  number  of  places  and 
engaged  in  various  employments.  From  Quebec  he  went  to  Montreal,  thence 
to  Ogdensburg,  New  York,  thence  in  turn  to  Buffalo.  Detroit  and  Chicago. 
When  he  landed  at  the  last  named  town,  at  that  time  rather  uninviting,  he 
possessed  $15.     He  soon  secured  farm  work  at  Waukegan.  Illinois,  and  then 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  loi 

pressed  on  as  far  into  the  agricultural  regions  as  Alton.  There  he  was 
engaged  in  a  butcher  shop  for  two  years  and  then  engaged  again  in  farming, 
passing  lo  years  in  Jersey  County.  In  i860  Mr.  Jarman  came  first  to  IMa- 
coupin  County  and  bought  a  farm  in  Honey  Point  township,  but  four  years 
later  purchased  120  acres  in  Shaw's  Point  township,  to  which  he  has  added 
until  it  now  aggreg-ates  400  acres.  This  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  county  and  all  its  valuable  improvements  have  been  placed  here 
by  ISIr.  Jarman.  It  is  known  as  the  Hill  Stock  Farm  and  its  products  are 
known  over  a  wide  extent.  j\Ir.  Jarman  has  been  much  interested  in  the 
breeding  of  fine  horses  and  at  one  time  kept  three  thorough-bred  stallions. 
Recently  he  has  made  an  addition  to  his  stables  of  a  fine  stallion  for  which  he 
paid  $500,  although  it  is  but  11  months  old.  His  present  stable  includes  13 
head  of  horses  and  two  mules.  He  keeps  from  80  to  100  head  of  Shorthorn 
cattle,  100  head  of  Berkshire  hogs  and  many  Oxford-Down  and  Cotswold 
sheep.  He  feeds  all  his  own  stock  and  cultivates  100  acres  of  corn,  40  acres 
of  wheat  and  25  of  oats.  Mr.  Jarman  farms  in  a  scientific  manner  and 
thoroughly  imderstands  agriculture  in  all  its  branches.  With  intelligent, 
successful  agriculturists  like  Mr.  Jarman,  farming  is  much  more  than  the 
holding  of  the  plow,  planting,  and  reaping,  and  his  wonderful  success  may  in 
part  be  attributed  to  tlie  close  study  he  has  given  to  soil,  drainage,  climate 
and  the  kindred  subjects,  included  in  prosperous  agricultural  operations. 

In  the  fall  of  1864,  Mr.  Jarman  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  War, 
in  Company  K,  144th  Reg.,  Illinois  \^ol.  Inf.,  under  Captain  Usted,  and  vmtil 
ill  and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  St.  Louis,  he  did  guard  duty  at  Alton  and  St. 
Louis,  being  mustered  out  May  24,  1865. 

On  March  4,  1861,  Mr.  Jarman  was  married  to  Selinda  McDow,  who 
was  born  April  28,  1835,  in  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  ilarj'  (Lindsey)  McDow,  natives  of  North  Carolina  and  Ken- 
tucky, respectively.  Nine  children  were  bom  to  this  union,  of  whom  the 
following  have  been  reared:  ^Maggie  ]M.,  who  married  ^^'illiam  Rose,  of 
Shaw's  Point  township,  and  has  two  children,  i\Iar>-  E.  and  Robert  R. ; 
Elmer  E..  a  resident  of  California,  who  married  Emma  Ebert  and  has  three 
children,  Eddie.  Fred  and  Flossie;  Carrie  Eliza,  who  died  at  the  age  of  20 
years  in  1888;  Laura,  who  married  William  Heifer,  of  Jacksonville,  Illinois; 
Charles  O.,  who  married  Sophia  Heifer,  and  has  four  children — Blanche, 
Fern,  Robert  E.  and  Dale;  and  ilyrtle,  who  married  Hurley  Herselman  and 


I02  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

resides  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Jarman  is  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  of  Shaw's  Point  and  is  a  lady  very  generally 
esteemed. 

Mr.  Jarman  is  a  member  of  the  Shaw's  Point  H.  T.  D.  S.  and  the 
Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association.  He  belongs  to  the  local  G.  A.  R. 
Post  and  attended  the  late  National  Encampment  held  at  San  Francisco, 
California.  During  his  absence  from  home  Mr.  Jarman  took  occasion  to 
travel  extensively  through  the  West,  and  visited  many  points  of  interest. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  valued  citizens  of  Macoupin  County, 
and  sustains  the  reputation  of  being  at  all  times  ready  to  aid,  financially  or 
otherwise,  the  benevolent  or  public  spirited  enterprises  of  his  community. 


JOHN    REICHMANN. 

Among  the  distinguished  and  progressive  farmers  who  have  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  agriculture  in  Macoupin  County,  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  personal  sketch,  who  resides  on  his  hand- 
some farm  of  70  acres  in  section  30,  Carlinville  townhip.  He  was  born  No- 
vember 18,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Hoffman)  Reich- 
mann. 

John  Reichmann,  Sr.,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  Illinois 
about  1850,  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Carlinville  township,  where  he  farmed 
for  many  years,  and  finally  accumulated  a  competency,  enabling  him  to  pass 
the  remaining  days  of  his  life  in  retirement.  He  then  removed  to  Carlinville, 
where  he  died  in  September,  1898.  He  was  married  to  Catherine  Hoff- 
man, who  was  also  a  native  of  Germany,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  namely:  Jacob,  deceased;  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Maggie; 
Charles;  Edward;  Henry,  and  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  In  his  political 
belief  he  favored  the  Democratic  party,  and  at  one  time  held  the  office  of 
school  trustee.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  member  of  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Church. 

John  Reichmann  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Ma- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  103 

coupin  County,  and  has  led  the  Hfe  of  a  farmer.  After  reaching  the  years  of 
manhood,  he  rented  a  farm  and  began  what  has  proved  to  be  a  most  success- 
ful career.  Having  operated  the  rented  farm  for  some  years,  he  was  enabled 
to  purchase  his  present  farm,  which  he  has  successfully  tilled  since  1901.  He 
also  devotes  considerable  attention  to  stock  raising,  and  is  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  stock  raisers  of  his  community.  Politically  our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  at  present  serving  as  school  trustee. 
In  fraternal  circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

In  1889  Mr.  Reichmann  married  Mary  Silvertson,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  two  children, — Frederick  and  Theodore.  Our  subject  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  German  Evangelical  Church. 


JACKSON  HALL. 


Jackson  Hall^  a  prominent  farmer  of  Shaw's  Point  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  who  owns  a  well  improved  farm  of  90  acres,  situated  in 
section  28,  was  born  in  1827,  in  Washington  County,  Tennessee,  and  is  a 
son  of  Thomas  and  Peggy  (Hall)  Hall. 

Thomas  Hall  was  a  son  of  James  Hall,  who  had  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, namely :  James,  Thomas,  Than,  Peggie,  Eliza  and  Samuel.  His  an- 
cestors were  from  North  Carolina.  The  family  was  a  prominent  agricul- 
tural one  of  Eastern  Tennessee  and  there  Thomas  Hall  followed  farming  all 
his  life,  at  Baker's  Falls,  dying  at  the  age  of  80  years.  He  married  a  distant 
relative,  also  a  native  of  Washington  County,  Tennessee,  and  they  reared 
these  children:  John,  James,  Jackson,  Polly  and  Betsy  (twins),  Sarah 
Alexander,  Amos,  David,  Martha,  Eliza,  Emaline  and  Samuel.  In  politics 
Mr.  Hall  supported  the  Democratic  party.  For  many  years  he  was  a  leading 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  his  locality.  About  1858  the  mother 
of  our  subject  was  killed  and  several  of  the  family  were  injured  in  a  tornado 
that  destroyed  their  house. 

Jackson  Hall  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  in  his  native  place  and 
was  a  young  man  of  23  years  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  first  in 


I04  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Greene  County,  at  a  later  date,  settling  on  his  present  farm  in  Macoupin 
County.  Through  energy,  industry  and  enterprise,  Mr.  Hall  has  made  his 
property  very  productive  and  valuable  and  has  improved  it  with  two  dwell- 
ings and  suitable  barns  and  outbuildings  for  both.  He  has  given  attention  to 
a  general  line  of  farming,  raises  about  2,000  bushels  of  corn  annually  and  has 
30  acres  devoted  to  wheat,  sometimes  renting  land  for  the  cultivation  of 
the  latter  grain.  Mr.  Hall  has  found  it  profitable  to  raise  swine  and  keeps 
about  50  head,  and  also  raises  a  number  of  good  horses  and  mules. 

Mr.  Hall's  first  marriage  was  to  Martha  Sullens,  who  was  born  in 
Tennessee,  and  who  at  death  left  one  child, — Margaret,  wife  of  Robert  Gar- 
rison, who  lives  in  Macoupin  County.  Mr.  Hall's  second  marriage  was  to 
Mary  Millhorn  who  was  born  September  2,  1844,  in  Sullivan  County,  Ten- 
nessee, and  is  a  daughter  of  Jackson  and  Ann  Millhorn,  who  passed  their 
lives  in  Sullivan  County.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  this  union, 
namely:  John,  born  May  9,  1884,  and  Susie,  born  October  19,  1885,  both 
of  whom  are  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hall  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  taken  no  very  active  part  in 
public  affairs,  having  no  desire  to  hold  office.  The  prosperous  condition  of 
his  farm  shows  that  he  has  given  it  careful  and  intelligent  attention,  and  he 
is  ranked  with  the  substantial  men  of  his  township. 


RANDOLPH  P.  ANDERSON. 

Randolph  P.  Anderson,  a  well  known  and  honored  citizen  of  Carlin- 
ville,  Macoupin  County,  now  living  retired  from  active  business,  comes  of 
Irish  and  Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  born  February  25,  1832,  on  a  farm  near 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  the  son  of  Robert  and  Nancy   (Moore)    Anderson. 

Robert  Anderson  was  born  in  Ireland,  of  which  country,  so  far  as 
known,  his  father,  James  Anderson,  was  also  a  native  and  a  lifelong  resident. 
Robert  Anderson  was  reared  in  his  native  land,  and  when  a  young  man, 
with  three  of  his  brothers,  came  to  America,  locating  in  New  Jersey,  while 
his  brothers  settled  in  the  Southern  States.  He  was  a  brick  molder  by 
trade  and   followed  that  business  in   New  Jersey   for   15  years.     He  then 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  105 

bought  a  farm  near  Newark  upon  which  he  resided  until  1838  when  he 
removed  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Randolph  County  where  he  was  a  pioneer. 
He  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land  near  the  Ohio  State  line  and  built  a  log 
house  on  the  place.  He  split  boards  for  the  roof  and  puncheons  for  the  floor ; 
the  chimney  was  built  of  earth  and  sticks.  At  that  early  day  there  was  an 
abundance  of  game — deer  and  turkeys  were  very  plentiful.  For  some  years 
there  were  no  railways  and  Piqua,  37  miles  distant,  was  the  nearest 
market.  The  merchants  would  pay  for  grain  and  hay  in  merchandise  only. 
At  that  time  but  little  value  was  placed  upon  lumber,  and  when  clearing  land 
huge  logs  were  rolled  together  in  heaps  and  burned.  The  father  of  our 
subject  developed  a  farm  from  the  wilderness,  which  he  sold  at  an  advance, 
and  bought  another  tract  of  timber  land,  a  mile  distant  from  his  first  pur- 
chase. This  he  also  built  upon  and  cleared  the  land  but  finally  sold  it.  He 
then  purchased  a  small  piece  of  land,  erected  a  comfortable  home  and  there 
dwelt  until  his  death.  His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  came  to  this 
countr}'  with  her  father,  Isaac  ]Moore.  Her  death  took  place  upon  the  home 
place  in  Randolph  County.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were  devoted 
Christians  and  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  They  reared  a  family  of  13 
children  to  useful  lives. 

Randolph  P.  Anderson  was  but  six  years  old  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Indiana,  and  in  that  State  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  early  attended 
school  in  a  primitive  log  school  house,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  able  commenced 
to  assist  in  the  duties  of  the  farm,  residing  with  his  parents  imtil  he  was  14 
years  old,  when  he  began  to  do  farm  work  by  the  day  or  month  for  others. 
He  received  10  cents  a  day  for  his  labor,  and  by  the  month  was  paid  $4  or 
$5,  and  had  to  work  hard  from  daylight  until  dark.  He  continued  working 
out  until  he  w-as  17,  and  then  served  three  and  one-half  years  in  Union  City, 
Indiana,  to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  After  that  he  did  "jour"  work  in 
that  State  until  1855,  when  he  came  to  Carlinville,  ]\Iacoupin  County,  com- 
mencing here  as  a  journeyman  and  finally  opening  a  carriage  and  general 
blacksmith  shop,  in  which  he  continued  until  1884,  when  he  retired  from 
active  business.  He  was  ver\'  much  prospered,  and  succeeded  in  accumu- 
lating a  valuable  property,  the  possession  of  which  places  him  among  the 
moneyed  men  of  ^Macoupin  County.  He  has  purchased  farm  land  from  time 
to  time,  some  of  w^hich  he  has  sold  but  he  still  owns  upward  of  500  acres, 
all  of  which  is  located  within  a  convenient  distance  of  Carlinville. 

On   October  30,    1862,   Mr.   Anderson  w^as  united  in  marriage  to  L. 

6 


io6  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Helena  McGinnis.  She  was  born  in  North  Otter  township,  Macoupin 
County,  and  is  a  daughter  of  G.  Martin  McGinnis,  who  was  born  in  Wayne 
County,  Missouri.  Mrs.  Anderson's  great-grandfather  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, and  immigrated  to  this  country.  His  son  James,  the  next  in  line  of 
descent,  was  a  pioneer  farmer  of  Missouri ;  from  that  State  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  his  death  took  place  in  Madison  County.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Anderson  was  quite  young  when  his  parents  took  up  their  residence  in  this 
State.  After  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  B.  Haines,  a  daughter  of  James 
Haines,  he  located  in  Macoupin  County  and  was  an  active  pioneer  of  Bird 
township.  He  purchased  a  tract  of  land,  partially  improved,  and  engaged 
in  agriculture,  and  there  he  spent  his  last  days,  his  death  taking  place  Au- 
gust 19,  1895.  His  wife's  death  took  place  April  26,  1852.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Anderson  are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Anna  A.  Anderson,  the  daugh- 
ter, married  Lee  Dusenberry,  and  has  three  children — Earl  R.,  Fenton  E. 
and  Myrtle  H.  Robert  R.  Anderson,  the  son,  who  is  a  prominent  farmer 
of  Macoupin  County,  married  Nettie  Hunter,  who  waa  born  in  Greene 
County,  Illinois,  and  they  have  one  child,  Martha  E.,  who  was  born  in 
February,  1900.  The  term  "self-made"  may  most  properly  lie  applied  to 
Mr.  Anderson,  for  through  life  he  has  had  to  depend  entirely  on  his  own 
exertions,  but  with  a  determination  to  succeed  he  worked  earnestly  and  con- 
stantly, and  now  at  his  advanced  age  can  rest  from  all  care  and  anxiety,  with 
the  consciousness  that  his  present  prosperity  is  due  to  his  own  industry  and 
ability,  ably  seconded  by  the  cooperation  of  his  faithful  wife. 


WILLIAM  RONKSLEY. 

William  Ronksley,  deceased,  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, in  1S29,  and  died  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1890,  leaving  a  farm 
of  240  acres  in  section  35,  and  one  of  78  acres  in  section  26,  Western 
Mound   township. 

The  father  of  the  late  William  Ronksley  was  James  Ronksley,  who 
came  vritli  his  family  to  America  in  1844.  They  remained  in  Illinois  a  few 
years,  but  finally  returned  to  England,  where  James  Ronksley  died.     In  1855 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  107 

our  subject  returned  to  Illinois  and  located  for  one  year  in  Morgan  County, 
but  in  i860  he  removed  to  Macoupin  County  and  settled  in  Chesterfield  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  until  1869,  when  he  purchased  the  valuable  farms 
in  Western  Mound  township,  of  which  he  was  the  owner  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  followed  an  agricultural  life  and  took  a  prominent  place  among 
the  farmers  of  this  section  of  the  State. 

In  1856,  at  Jacksonville,  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  Mr.  Ronksley  mar- 
ried Mary  Roberts,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Richard  Roberts,  who  came  to 
Illinois  from  England  as  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Morgan  County. 
She  died  in  1897,  aged  71  years,  leaving  four  children,  viz:  Fanny,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  dressmaking  business  in  the  village  of  Chesterfield ;  George, 
a  resident  of  Kansas  City,  engaged  in  postoffice  cabinet  work,  who  married 
Sarah  Albin,  daughter  of  William  Albin,  a  farmer  of  Missouri,  and  has  one 
child — Ona  Mildred ;  Hannah,  who  married  Oliver  Carter,  foreman  of  the 
chair  department  of  the  Joliet  State  Penitentiary,  and  has  three  children — 
William  Robert,  George  Oliver  and  Ethel  Fay;  and  Nellie,  who  married 
James  O.  Bates  and  has  one  child — Evelyn  Ruth.  James  O.  Bates  rents 
and  operates  the  homestead  farm. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ronksley  was  a  Republican.  He  was  a  quiet  man,  a 
kind  husband  and  father  and  good  neighbor,  and  was  always  held  in  esteem 
for  his  high  character.  He  did  his  part  in  building  up  the  various  enter- 
prises which  have  developed  this  section,  and  he  left  a  family  that  is  every- 
where respected. 


WILLIAM  J.  HART. 

\\'iLLiAM  J.  Hart,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Honey  Point  township, 
Macoupin  County,  owning  a  fine  farm  of  160  acres,  situated  in  section  29, 
was  born  August  31,  1832,  in  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Capt. 
Washington  and  Mary  (McDonald)  Hart. 

Capt.  Washington  Hart,  so  called  on  account  of  his  rank  in  the  Illinois 
State  militia,  was  born  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  was  the  sixth  son  of 
David  Hart,  the  other  sons  bearing  the  names  of :  Solomon,  David,  Charles, 
Anderson,  Nathan,  Daniel  and  Caleb.     Of  this  family  nil  came  to  Illinois 


io8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

except  one  who  remained  in  Tennessee  and  one  who  settled  in  Missouri.  The 
Hart  brothers  settled  on  the  prairie  near  Jacksonville,  giving  the  name  of 
Hart's  Prairie  to  that  locality.  There  Washington  Hart  was  reared  and  in 
his  younger  days  was  a  drover  and  stock  dealer,  later  becoming  a  merchant 
at  Hornsby  where  he  built  the  first  house,  locating  there  in  our  subject's  child- 
hood. He  was  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in  politics  and  was  widely 
known  on  account  of  his  connection  with  the  militia.  His  death  took  place  in 
1865,  at  the  age  of  54  years.  In  religious  connection  he  was  a  member  and 
liberal  supporter  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  married  Mary  McDonald,  who 
was  born  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  a  daughter  of  John  McDonald,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely:  William  J.;  John,  who  is  in  a 
real  estate  business  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska ;  and  Mahala  and  Martha,  both  of 
whom  died  young. 

William  J.  Hart  attended  the  local  schools  during  boyhood,  and  has 
resided  in  Macoupin  County  since  he  w-as  six  years  of  age.  His  vocation 
has  always  been  farming  and  the  raising  of  stock,  and  he  is  one  who  has  met 
with  much  success.  He  has  made  a  leading  feature  the  raising  of  high 
grade  cattle  and  stock,  favoring  Poland-China  and  Chester  White  swine,  on 
several  occasions  having  animals  of  the  latter  breed  that  weighed  800  pounds. 
Formerly  Mr.  Hart  raised  much  wheat  but  has  entirely  given  up  wheat  grow- 
ing, raising  now  more  corn  and  oats  than  any  other  products.  He  is  com- 
fortably and  conveniently  located  and  well  situated  to  enjoy  all  the  blessings 
w'hich  attend  the  independent  life  of  the  Illinois  farmer. 

On  September  30,  1851,  Mr.  Hart  was  married  to  Sarah  J.  Mitchell, 
who  was  born  November  16,  1831,  in  Kentucky,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Elisha 
and  Elizabeth  (Cofifee)  Mitchell,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Blue 
Grass  State.  Five  children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely :  Mahlon  E., 
who  at  death  left  a  widow  and  two  children, — Bessie  and  Ora;  Sylvester,  a 
resident  of  Honey  Point  township,  who  has  eight  children, — Samuel,  Syl- 
vester, Verne,  Orvil,  Vergie,  Icy,  Myrtie  and  Ross;  Walter  C,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Honey  Point  township,  who  has  six  children, — Larkin,  Myrtle,  Ger- 
trude, Hattie,  Washington  and  Daisy;  William  W.,  a  resident  of  Hilyard 
township,  who  has  one  son, — Edward ;  and  Ida  J.,  who  resides  at  home.  JMr. 
Hart  has  also  one  great-grandchild,  little  Sybil  Hart,  daughter  of  Larkin. 
Hart. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hart,  like  his  ancestors,  has  always  supported  the  Demo- 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  109 

cratic  part)-,  but  has  never  accepted  anj'  public  oflSce  except  that  he  ser\-ed  as 
a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  12  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife  have  been 
consistent  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  more  than  50  years.  They 
are  well  known  all  through  Honey  Point  township  and  are  among  its  most 
respected  residents. 


JOSEPH  PENNINGTON. 

-\niong  the  self  made  men  of  Macoupin  County,  farmers  by  vocation, 
who  have  succeeded  through  their  own  energy  and  perseverance,  and  to-day 
are  proprietors  of  fine  and  productive  farms,  who  are  able  to  pass  the  sunset 
of  life  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  competency  obtained  through  years  of  honest 
toil  and  economy,  is  our  subject  whose  name  heads  this  notice.  He  is  pleasantly 
located  on  his  farm  of  160  acres,  situated  in  sections  4  and  9,  Bunker  Hill 
township.  He  was  bom  on  his  present  farm,  August  12.  1851,  and  is  a  son 
of  James  T.  and  Cj-nthia  (Bullman)  Pennington.  The  Penningtons  are  of 
Scotch  descent. 

James  T.  Pennington  was  born  at  Liberty  Comer,  Somerset  Count\', 
Xew  Jersey,  May  26,  1818,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1839.  taking  up  from  the 
government  the  farm  now  belonging  to  our  subject.  When  he  located  in 
this  count}-  the  countrj-  was  yet  unsettled  and  he  built  his  house  by  splitting 
out  logs.  James  T.  Pennington  passed  through  the  toils  and  hardships  of 
pioneer  life  but  finally  succeeded  in  attaining  a  high  position  among  the  pros- 
perous business  men  of  his  locality.  He  was  also  a  skilled  hand  at  the  car- 
penter's trade,  ha^■ing  been  an  apprentice  to  that  trade  when  17  years  of  age. 
In  political  circles,  ^Ir.  Pennington  was  an  active  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  was  the  choice  of  that  party  many  times  for  various  offices.  He 
first  served  in  the  capacity-  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  one  year.  In  1S71  he 
w^as  chosen  the  first  supervisor  of  Bunker  Hill  township,  and  in  1872  was 
chosen  as  county  sheriff,  being  later  reelected  to  that  office,  serving  two  terms. 
Previous  to  that  time,  in  i860,  he  had  been  elected  a  member  of  the  State 
House  of  Representatives,  and  had  helped  to  pass  many  bills  in  support  of  the 
war.  Mr.  Pennington  was  also  interested  in  the  mercantile  business.  Fra- 
temally  he  was  a  member  of  the  Masons.     Mr.  Pennington  was  married  to 


no  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Cynthia  Bullman,  who  was  a  natitve  of  New  Jersey,  and  five  children  were 
born  to  them,  namely :  Elias,  a  resident  of  New  Mexico,  where  he  is  inter- 
ested in  stock  raising;  Idel  (Ament),  a  resident  of  Texas;  James  W.,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Bunker  Hill  township;  Joseph,  our  subject,  and  Law- 
rence, who  died  at  the  age  of  27  years.  Mr.  Pennington  died  on  the  home- 
stead farm  in  Bunker  Hill  township  in   1894. 

Joseph  Pennington  has  always  resided  on  his  present  farm,  and  has  con- 
tinually cultivated  the  place.  He  devotes  his  farm  to  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  and  has  proved  himself  to  be  a  skilled  hand  at  both.  He  also 
owns  114  acres  in  Hilyard  township.  Politically,  Mr.  Pennington  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party,  but  takes  only  a  citizen's  interest  in  pollitical 
affairs. 

On  February  24,  1879.  Mr.  Pennington  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Ament, 
who  is  a  native  of  Missouri,  and  the  estimable  daughter  of  James  E.  and 
Emily  Ament,  natives  of  Tennessee  and  Illinois,  respectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pennington  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Chester,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Bunker  Hill  High  School. 


HENRY   SCHOENEMANN. 

Henry  Schoenemann,  who  is  an  esteemed  resident  of  Bunker  Hill, 
is  a  well  known  retired  farmer  of  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County, 
where  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of  156  acres,  situated  in  sections  3,  4  and  5,  and 
is  also  a  survivor  of  the  great  Civil  War,  in  which  he  served  as  a  faithful 
soldier  for  three  long  years.  Mr.  Schoenemann  was  born  in  Brunswick, 
Germany,  June  23,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Charlotta  (Long) 
Schoenemann. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  born  in  Germany.  In  1870  they 
came  to  America  and  joined  their  son  Henry.  Here  the  father  died,  two 
years  later,  aged  63  years.  The  mother  survived  until  1900,  dying  at  the 
age  of  82  years.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  and  two  of  the  daugh- 
ters and  three  of  the  sons  found  homes  in  the  United  States. 

Henry  Schoenemann  was  19  years  old  when  he  left  the  port  of  Bremen, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  iii 

on  a  slow  sailing  vessel,  for  the  United  States.  After  a  long  voyage  of 
two  and  a  half  months,  the  craft  cast  anchor  at  New  Orleans  in  December, 
1859,  and  as  Illinois  was  the  State  in  which  our  subject  desired  to  settle 
he  came  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  and  proceeded  thence  to  Madison 
County,  where  he  immediately  found  farm  work,  by  the  month,  and  was 
making  fair  wages  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  On  Au- 
gust 15,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  I.  8th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol. 
Inf.,  under  Col.  Richard  Oglesby,  afterward  Governor  of  the  State.  This 
regiment  under  its  gallant  commander  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  cam- 
paigns of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  starting  from  Carlo,  Illinois,  taking 
in  all  the  movements  at  different  points  in  Missouri,  participating  in  the 
terrific  battles  at  Fort  Henr}%  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh  and  Corinth.  The 
regiment  won  distinction  wherever  its  fighting  quality  was  tested.  It  then 
went  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  thence  to  Meaton  Station,  to  Bolivar  and  La 
Grange,  to  Hollow  Springs  and  Oxford,  Mississippi,  and  other  points  where 
the  railroads  required  watching  and  guarding,  then  to  ^lemphis,  Lake 
Providence  and  Milliken's  Bend,  Louisiana,  and  then  to  \"icksburg,  meeting 
the  fleet  of  Admiral  Farragut  and  acting  in  conjunction  with  it.  The  whole 
history  of  this  regiment  of  gallant  men  includes  the  battles  which  did  much 
to  preserve  the  nation's  life  at  that  critical  juncture.  Every  day  from  May 
18  to  July  4,  1863,  the  notable  day  of  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  Mr. 
Schoenemann,  with  his  brave  companions,  was  under  fire,  his  last  work 
prior  to  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  being  an  expedition  to  destroy 
bridges  and  to  prevent  the  advance  of  the  enemy's  army.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  in  August,  1864,  having  escaped  both  wounds  and  capture,  al- 
though his  clothing  was  riddled  with  bullets. 

Upon  his  return  to  civil  life,  Mr.  Schoenemann  came  to  Macoupin 
County  and  after  working  for  three  years  on  a  farm,  by  the  month,  he 
bought  85  acres  in  Shelby  County,  which  he  operated  for  three  and  a  half 
years.  He  then  came  to  his  present  excellent  property  in  Dorchester  town- 
ship, and  engaged  in  its  cultivation  and  improvement  until  1891,  when  he 
retired  to  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  and  his  wife  reside  in  great  comfort. 

On  February  23,  1868,  Mr.  Schoenemann  was  married  to  Georgiana 
Wohlert,  who  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  and  accompanied  her  parents 
to  America  in   1866. 

Mr.   Schoenemann  is  not  a  pensioner  of  the  Civil   War,  but  he  is  a 


112  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

valued  member  of  J.  M.  Hubbard  Post,  No.  721,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Bunker 
Hill,  and  also  of  the  Harugari,  a  German  order.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


CHARLES  W.  YORK 

Charles  W.  York,  the  present  supervisor  of  Honey  Point  township, 
Macoupin  County,  and  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres,  situated  in  sec- 
tions 9  and  16,  was  born  in  this  township  on  September  i,  1866,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  C.  and  Mary   (Wallace)   York. 

Joel  York,  the  grandfather  of  Charles  W.  York,  was  a  native  of 
Tennessee,  and  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  who  joined  the  movement  to 
Illinois  when  the  latter  State  began  to  offer  lands  to  those  who  wished  to 
better  their  condition  through  honest  industry.  He  settled  in  Morgan 
County,  but  died  soon  after,  leaving  five  children,  namely:  Joseph,  Nimrod, 
William,  Wesley  and  Mrs.   Nancy  Scott. 

William  C.  York  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  accompanied  his  father 
to  Illinois.  He  began  life  with  very  limited  means,  but  when  he  settled  in 
Honey  Point  township,  Macoupin  County,  he  began  to  accumulate  land  and 
at  his  death  in  1873  he  left  a  well  cultivated  and  improved  farm  of  270 
acres.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in  his  section,  holding 
many  of  the  local  offices  within  the  gift  of  the  Democratic  party,  serving  at 
one  time  as  a  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  char- 
acter and  his  name  is  remembered  with  expressions  of  respect.  Fraternally 
he  w-as  a  Mason.  Religiously  he  was  a  Baptist.  William  C.  York  married 
Mary  Wallace,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  and  nine  children  were  born  to 
them,  three  of  whom  were  living  when  the  parents  both  died  within  a  few 
days  of  each  other,  and  but  two  of  whom  survived  to  maturity.  W^alter  lived 
to  be  18  years  old.  Lucetta  died  at  the  age  of  24  years,  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Hutton,  to  whom  she  left  two  children — Charles  and  Eugene. 

Charles  W.  York,  the  only  survivor  of  the  above  mentioned  family, 
has  alw'ays  made  his  home  in  Honey  Point  township.  His  large  farm  is 
devoted  to  stock  raising  and  to  the  production  of  wheat,  oats,  corn  and  hay. 
High  grade  Durham  cattle  are  raised  here,  Poland  China  hogs  and  many 
fine  horses. 


HON.  W.  L    MOUNTS. 


MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  115 

In  1887  Mr.  York  married  Mary  E.  Nimmons,  who  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Alaria  Nimmons. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely:  Mabel  C,  Ernest  John,  and 
Oren  C. 

Air.  York  has  always  been  more  or  less  interested  in  politics,  is  a  stanch 
Democrat,  and  is  serving  his  second  term  as  township  supervisor.  He  has 
most  efficiently  filled  other  offices  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  party  in  his  section.  He  is  not  only  one  of  the  township's  best 
farmers,  but  he  is  also  one  of  its  most  wide-awake  and  public  spirited 
citizens. 


HON.  W.  L.  MOUNTS. 

Hon.  W.  L.  Mounts^  one  of  the  most  prominent  public  men  of  Macou- 
pin County,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  is  a  member  of  the 
legal  profession  and  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Carlinville.  He  was 
born  August  31,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Leander  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Davis) 
Mounts. 

Mr.  Mounts  is  descended  from  French  Huguenot  stock.  His  great- 
grandfather, \\'illiam  Mounts,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  removed  to 
Warren  County,  Ohio,  as  early  as  1792.  There  Watson  Mounts,  our  sub- 
ject's grandfather,  was  born,  being  the  first  white  child  born  in  that  county. 
Leander  \\'.  Mounts  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  November  30,  1829, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1856,  locating  at  Fayette,  Greene  County.  He  re- 
moved to  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County,  in  1857,  following  his  trade  as  a 
carpenter  there  for  some  years,  but  having  earned  a  competency  retired  in 
early  life.  His  death  occurred  February  8.  1900;  he  was  survived  by  his 
widow  who  lived  in  Carlinville  until  her  death,  January  13,  1904.  Leander 
W.  Mounts  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Davis,  who  was  born  in 
Grayson  County,  Kentucky,  February  i,  1825.  and  to  tliis  union  were  born 
the  following  children:  Emma,  who  died  at  the  age  of  14  years;  Flora  G., 
wife  of  A.  H.  Bell  of  Carlinville;  Nannie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  14  months; 
W.  L.,  the  subject  of  this  biography:  and  Walter  S.,  who  died  in  1896,  aged 
2-j  years.     Mrs.  Mounts  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  for  many 


ii6  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

years.  Mr.  Mounts  was  a  Christian  in  every  sense  of  the  word  but  was  a 
member  of  no  church  organization.     Politically  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat. 

W.  L.  Mounts,  the  fourth  child  born  to  his  parents,  received  a  pre- 
liminary educational  training  in  the  publilc  schools,  after  which  he  attended 
Blackburn  University,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1881.  He  taught 
school  from  the  time  of  his  graduation  until  1884,  then  read  law  for  two 
j'ears  with  the  firm  of  Anderson  &  Bell  of  Carlinville,  and  on  August  25, 
1885,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  engaged  actively  in  practice  for  some 
years  and  numbered  many  of  the  leading  citizens  and  business  firms  of  the 
community  among  his  clients.  He  was  frequently  elected  by  the  Democratic 
party  to  positions  of  public  trust,  serving  from  1886  to  1887  as  city  treasurer. 
He  served  efficiently  in  the  capacity  of  city  attorney  and  in  1890  was  elected 
mayor  of  Carlinville  by  the  largest  majority  ever  given  a  candidate  for  that 
ofifice,  also  being  the  youngest  executive  the  city  has  ever  had.  He  was  elected 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1892,  was  renominated  by 
acclamation  and  elected  in  1894.  and  in  1896  was  nominated  and  elected 
State  Senator.  In  1898  he  received  the  unanimous  instruction  of  the  Macou- 
pin County  delegation  for  member  of  Congress,  and  lost  the  nomination  by 
only  one  vote.  In  1900  his  name  was  again  placed  in  nomination  for  member 
of  Congress,  and  it  was  only  after  the  hardest  fight  ever  made  in  a  conven- 
tion in  this  district  that  he  was  defeated.  There  were  2,555  balllots  taken, 
and  the  session  lasted  for  two  weeks.  In  1898  he  was  selected  as  member  at 
large  of  the  State  Democratic  Central  Committee,  and  on  its  organization  was 
elected  secretary,  in  which  capacity  he  now  serves.  He  was  also  chairman  of 
the  State  committee  on  speakers  during  the  campaign  of  1900,  with  head- 
quarters in  Chicago.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Yates  as  one  of  the 
Democratic  members  of  the  St.  Louis  World's  Fair  Commission  to  represent 
the  State  of  Illinois.  He  has  always  been  enthusiastic  in  his  support  of 
Democratic  principles,  and  is  a  power  in  his  party. 

On  June  18,  1884,  Mr.  Mounts  was  united  in  marriage  with  Efiie  M. 
Anderson,  a  daughter  of  C.  H.  C.  Anderson  of  Carlinville,  and  they  have 
three  children:  Bruce  H.,  ]\Iarion  E.,  and  William  W.  Mrs.  Mounts  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  he  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  various 
churches  and  enterprises.  He  is  a  member  of  Mount  Nebo  Lodge,  No.  76, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Carlinville  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ;  St.  Omar  Commandery,  K.  T., 
of  Litchfield;  Moolah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. ;  Orient  Lodge  No.  95, 
K.  of  P.;  and  the  Lodge  No.  654,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  of  Litchfield,  Illinois. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  117 

Mr.  Mounts  has  been  practically  retired  from  the  practice  of  law  since 
1890,  and  has  devoted  his  attention  to  looking  after  his  extensive  and  varied 
business  interests.  He  is  interested  in  the  banking  house  of  C.  H.  C.  Ander- 
son, has  extensive  farming  interests,  and  is  president  of  the  Carlinville  Gas  & 
Electric  Light  Company.  He  is  a  most  enterprising  and  public  spirited  citizen, 
and  has  lent  his  hearty  support  to  all  measures  calculated  to  benefit  and 
develop  the  city. 


WILLIAM  E.  TAYLOR. 

William  E.  Taylor,  a  prosperous  farmer  residing  in  section  22, 
Brushy  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born 
in  Gillespie  township,  on  July  26,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  Arthur  and  Sarah 
A.  (Rose)  Taylor,  and  grandson  of  William  Taylor,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina.  The  Taylor  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  and 
was  established  in  North  Carolina  in  the  colonial  days. 

Arthur  Taylor,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and 
was  there  reared  to  manhood,  working  as  a  farm  laborer  when  a  boy.  In 
1832  he  came  to  the  State  of  Illinois  and  received  a  patent  to  a  tract  of  land 
in  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  lived  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  He  died  in  1872,  aged  about  66  years.  He  was  a  Whig,  and  later 
a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  A.  Rose, 
who  was  born  near  Princeton,  New  Jersey.  She  died  in  1882,  aged  68 
years.     They  were  of  the  Baptist  faith. 

William  E.  Taylor  received  his  educational  training  in  the  old  log 
school  houses  which  characterized  this  county  in  the  early  period  of  its 
development.  He  took  to  agricultural  pursuits  at  an  early  day,  and  has 
followed  this  vocation  with  marked  success  all  his  life.  Working  hard  and 
living  frugally  he  was  enabled  to  acquire  property  of  his  own,  and  at  the 
present  time  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  280  acres  in  Brushy  Mound  township. 
He  follows  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  his  farm  being  well  stocked 
with  animals  of  a  high  class. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Taylor  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Eliza  Blue,  who 
died  the  year  following  without  issue.     In   1868,  our  subject  was  married 


ii8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

to  Martha  Kiltner,  \\hose  parents  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Ma- 
coupin County.  Six  children  were  born  to  bless  this  union,  namely :  Lucy 
(Beam)  and  Lydia  (\\'hitworth),  twins;  Anna  (Whitworth)  ;  William; 
Ella;  and  Roy.  The  family  are  Baptists  in  religious  attachment.  Politi- 
cally, Mr.  Taylor  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  local 
politics.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  township  supervisor,  commissioner  of 
highways,  overseer,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  in  his  district  for  the  past  15  years.  He  has  also  served  on 
the  Democratic  Central  Committee,  in  which  capacity  he  rendered  valuable 
assistance  to  his  party. 


JACOB  T.  SARGENT. 

Jacob  T.  Sargent  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Macoupin 
County.  He  came  from  New  Hampshire  in  1857  and  has  since  resided  on 
his  farm  north  of  Carlinville  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in  Ne- 
braska. He  is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  farmer,  striving  to  enrich 
and   beautify  his   farm   rather  than   reap  great   gain  therefrom. 

Mr.  Sargent  was  born  July  28,  1832,  his  parents  being  descended  from 
the  old  Puritan  stock.  He  inherited  from  his  "Yankee"  forefathers  a  vein 
of  ingenuity  which  made  him  the  inventor  of  several  practical  appliances 
to  be  used  on  farms  for  the  most  part. 

In  1857  Mr.  Sargent  was  married  to  Maria  L.  Braley,  also  a  native 
of  New  England.  Five  children  were  born  of  this  union,  four  of  whom  are 
living.  While  not  remaining  in  Macoupin  County,  each  one  is  a  worthy 
addition  to  the  place  chosen  for  his  home.  Capt.  Herbert  H.  is  a  United 
States  Army  officer  and  a  military  author  of  marked  ability.  Charles  E. 
of  Chicago  is  a  mechanical  engineer — the  inventor  of  the  "Sargent  Gas 
Engine"  and  several  other  mechanical  devices  which  have  brought  him  some 
fame  in  his  profession.  Grace  Venus  is  a  teacher  in  the  Chicago  public 
schools  and  a  progressive  student.  Edith  M.  is  the  wife  of  Roy  B.  Peebles, 
a  successful  business  man  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Sargent's  family  is  an  honor  to 
him  and  he  is  well  repaid  for  his  determination  to  educate  his  children  even 
though  it  was  a  struggle  in  the  early  days. 

Mr.  Sargent's  marked  interest  in  Christianit)-,  temperance,  education 
and  charity  has  won  for  him  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  know  him. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  119 

JOHN  TITCHENAL. 

John  TitchenaLj  one  of  the  well  known  citizens  and  successful 
farmers  of  Bunker  Hill  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  owns  a  well  culti- 
vated farm  of  160  acres,  situated  in  section  31,  was  born  in  Culpeper  County, 
Virginia,  July  20,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Nancy  (Ogden) 
Titchenal. 

David  Titchenal,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  settled  in  western 
Virginia  in  early  days  on  a  farm  so  intersected  with  mountain  spurs,  that 
it  was  described  as  having  57  corners.  However,  on  this  farm  David 
Titchenal  prospered  and  was  accounted  the  only  wealthy  man  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. Both  he  and  a  son  served  in  tlie  War  of  1812.  His  children  were: 
William,  John,  Andrew,  Moses,  Daniel,  David  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Little. 

Andrew  Titchenal,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1800  in  Virginia 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Harrison  County,  and  died  in  1855,  in  Madison 
County,  Illinois.  Although  he  owned  land  and  did  considerable  farming, 
he  was  more  inclined  to  live  the  life  of  a  hunter  and  trapper,  preferring  log 
cabins  in  the  woods  where  he  could  enjoy  a  life  near  to  nature.  He  made 
a  good  income  from  the  sale  of  deer  and  other  game,  being  a  line  shot.  He 
was  reared  in  Democratic  principles  and,  like  his  father,  always  took  an 
interest  in  politics.  He  married  Nancy  Ogden,  who  could  trace  her  ancestry 
to  Lord  Ogden,  an  English  peer.  She  was  born  in  Virginia  and  died  in 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1S76,  aged  69  years.  William  Ogden,  the 
maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  12  years  of  age  when  his  father 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Revolutionary  \\'ar.  Andrew  Titchenal  and  wife 
had  13  children:  Julia  A.,  William  R.,  David,  Mary  L.,  Martin  V..  Phoebe, 
John,  Melissa  J.,  Thomas  B.,  Virginia,  George  W.,  Rebecca,  and  a  babe 
which  died  in  infancy.  Julia  A.,  now  82  years  of  age,  married  John  Johns 
and  they  moved  to  Salem,  Oregon,  in  1850;  and  there  her  brother  William 
R.  died  in  1857,  aged  21  years.  David,  who  is  a  farmer,  lives  in  the  State  of 
Washington.  Mary  L.  married  Elias  W.  Wilder  and  died  in  1865.  Martin 
V.  went  overland  to  California  in  1853  and  died  in  Oregon  in  1858.  Pheobe 
(Mrs.  Harris)  died  in  1865,  at  Litchfield,  Illinois.  Melissa  J.  (Mrs. 
Williams)  lives  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  where  Thomas  B,  who  is  a 
farmer,  also  lives.  Virginia  (Mrs.  Hill)  is  also  a  resident  of  Madison 
County,  Illinois.  George  W.  went  to  Kansas  City  and  is  a  contractor  there. 
Rebecca  (Airs.  AIcGovern)  resides  in  ]\Iadison  County,  Illinois. 


120  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Our  subject  was  four  years  of  age  when  his  parents  settled  at  Alton, 
Illinois,  later  they  removed  to  Alton  township,  Madison  County.  For  a 
number  of  years  the  family  resided  in  various  neighborhoods.  In  1870  our 
subject  came  to  ]^Iacoupin  County  and  has  resided  here  ever  since.  In 
early  manhood  he  learned  the  cooper's  trade  which  he  followed  from  1854 
tmtil  1867,  with  the  exception  of  1862,  which  he  spent  in  the  army.  He  en- 
listed in  Company  G,  150th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Captain  Swift 
and  served  in  Tennessee  and  Georgia,  and  as  a  teamster  in  Missouri.  Mr. 
Titchenal  has  carried  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  but  for  some 
years  has  given  the  operation  of  the  farm  to  his  son  Frank. 

In  1869  Mr.  Titchenal  married  Katherine  Loyd,  who  was  born  in  Madi- 
son County,  Illinois,  March  15,  1835,  and  died  at  the  home  in  Bunker  Hill 
township,  Macoupin  Count}-,  February  19,  1899.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Dooling)  Loyd,  natives  of  Ireland.  Three  children 
were  born  to  this  union:  Mary  L.,  who  married  James  Taylor  of  Alton 
and  has  three  children — Ethel,  Allen  and  Chester;  Frank  M..  who  married 
Daisy  Spencer  and  has  four  children — Oscar  E.,  Gladys  M.,  Spencer  and 
Samuel  E.,  all  residing  with  our  subject;  and  Thomas  Edwin,  who  is  con- 
nected with  a  business  house  at  East  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Titchenal  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He 
is  well  known  in  Bunker  Hill  township  and  is  very  highly  esteemed.  He 
verj-  distinctly  recalls  pioneer  days  in  this  locality  and  many  of  his  rem- 
iniscences, if  collected,  would  make  interesting  pages  in  a  history  of  those 
times. 


ASA   CLINTON   iMITCHELL 

Asa  Clintox  Mitchell,  one  of  the  prominent  and  progressive  farmers 
of  Honey  Point  township,  ^klacoupin  County,  owning  a  fine  farm  of  120 
acres  in  section  15,  has  always  lived  in  Macoupin  County,  where  he  was  bom 
August  26,  1865.  He  is  a  son  of  Elijah  and  Hannah  (Hollensworth) 
Mitchell. 

Elijah  ^Mitchell  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Macoupin  County, 
where  he  entered  land  in  1825,  coming  to  the  State  from  Kentuck}-.  Al- 
though a  man  of  no  book  learning,  he  was  successful  in  business  and  promi- 
nent in  the  aflfairs  of  the  township.     At  his  death,  which  occurred  August 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  121 

17,  1877,  at  the  age  of  "]■]  years,  he  owned  3,000  acres  of  land,  all  of  which 
he  had  accumulated  through  his  own  exertions.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch 
Democrat.  In  religious  views  he  was  a  Baptist.  His  first  marriage  was  to 
Jane  Moore  and  a  family  of  12  children  were  born  to  this  union,  two  of  the 
well  known  survivors  in  this  locality  being  William  T.  Mitchell  and  Travis 
Moore  Mitchell.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Hannah  Hollensworth,  who 
was  born  in  America  of  English  parentage.  The  children  of  this  marriage 
were  the  following:  Mrs.  Marj'  Perrine  of  Brushy  Mound  township;  Ansel 
J.,  of  Arizona;  Archibald  H.,  of  Honey  Point  township;  Mrs.  Matilda 
Anderson,  deceased;  Asa  Clinton,  of  this  sketch;  Ira,  of  Honey  Point;  Mrs. 
Henrietta  Baughman  of  Honey  Point;  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  was  12  years  of  age  when  his  father  died.  His  boyhood 
was  passed  in  attending  the  local  schools  and  in  assisting  on  the  home  farm. 
His  interests  have  always  centered  in  agriculture  and  his  fine  farm  of  120 
acres  shows  the  results  of  intelligent  management.  Mr.  Mitchell  has  taken 
a  great  interest  in  the  raising  of  fine  cattle  and  hogs,  preferring  in  the  former 
the  Red  Polled  strain  and  in  the  latter  the  Poland-China  breed.  He  devotes 
40  acres  to  corn  and  the  same  acreage  to  wheat,  having  the  rest  of  his  land 
in  grass,  with  the  exception  of  one  acre  of  apple  and  peach  orchard.  His 
land  is  well  situated  and  ranks  with  any  other  farming  land  in  the  township. 

In  1885  Mr.  Mitchell  was  married  to  Pearl  Hull,  who  was  born  in 
Missouri,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Hull.  Twelve  children  were  born  to 
them,  namely :  Clement.  Elizabeth,  Delia,  Harvey,  Ruth,  Stephen,  Nora, 
Myron,  and  Homer  Elijah,  all  of  whom  are  being  prepared  for  the  duties 
of  life;  and  Charles  Ira,  John  C.  and  Wilferd  Guy,  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  accepted  public 
office,  devoting  his  attention  exclusively  to  his  farm.  In  religious  connec- 
tion he  is  a  Baptist.  He  is  a  man  known  to  be  honest  and  upright,  pro- 
gressive and  intelligent,  and  he  is  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
him. 


REV.  SAMUEL  LUTHER  STIVER,  A.  M.,  B.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  D.  C.  L. 

Rev.  Samuel  Luther  Stiver,  A.  M.,  B.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  D.  C.  L.,  one 
of  the  many  educators  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  superintendent  of  the 
Bunker  Hill  Military  Academy,  was  born  at  Potter's  Mills,  Center  County, 


122  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Pennsylvania,  November  i,  1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Mary  F. 
Stiver. 

The  Stiver  family  is  of  German  extraction  but  has  been  settled  in 
America  for  many  generations.  The  patriots  of  the  Revolutionary  War  in- 
cluded jMichael  and  Samuel  Stiver — the  great-grandfather  and  the  grand- 
father of  Professor  Stiver — who  served  under  Gen.  James  Potter,  and  later 
settled  at  Potter's  Mills,  where  Thomas  J.  Stiver  was  born.  The  latter  was 
a  successful  farmer,  and  one  of  the  reliable  men  of  his  neighborhood,  in- 
stinctively selected  to  fill  the  responsible  offices  in  county  and  township. 
He  belonged,  in  his  early  manhood,  to  the  State  militia  of  Center  County, 
Pennsylvania.  A  man  of  intelligence  and  good  judgment,  he  took  a  deep 
interest  in  educational  matters  and  served  frequently  as  a  school  officer. 
Being  Presbyterian  in  religious  belief,  his  life  was  ordered  in  consonance 
with  that  faith.  He  married  Mary  F.  Bench,  who  was  a  daughter  of  ^^'ill- 
iam  and  Hester  Bench,  and  a  granddaughter  of  John  M.  Bench,  a  very 
prominent  man  of  afifairs  in  the  early  history  of  Center  County,  his  name  ap- 
pearing on  many  public  documents  on  record  at  the  county  seat,  who  mar- 
ried Christina  Moser,  a  daughter  of  Philip  Moser.  The  father  of  the  latter 
(Burkhart  Moser)  came  from  Germany  in  1740  and  settled  in  Schuylkill 
Count}',  Pennsylvania,  and  became  the  owner  of  the  great  body  of  coal 
lands  which  embrace  the  city  of  Tamaqua  and  adjacent  regions. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of  Dr.  Stiver,  namely :  Samuel 
Luther,  our  subject;  William  B.,  a  physician  at  Freeport,  Illinois;  Maggie 
H.,  Center  Hall,  Pennsylvania;  Pery  O.,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  daily 
and  weekly  Democrat,  Freeport,  Illinois;  Roland  J.,  a  physician  at  Lena, 
Illinois;  Mary  I.,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Ward  of  Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania; 
Thomas  J.,  a  physician  at  Lena,  Illinois;  and  David  S.,  a  dentist  in  Chicago. 

Dr.  Stiver  passed  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  school 
in  the  neighborhood  and  subsequently  Penn  Hall  and  Jacksonville  academies.. 
He  then  taught  school  and  secured  a  State  certificate  at  the  age  of  18.  In 
1870  he  entered  Lafayette  College,  at  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  and  graduated 
in  the  classical  course  in  1874,  being  the  salutatorian  of  his  class  and  bearing 
ofY  prizes  in  physics  and  astronomy.  During  his  college  life  he  was  also 
engaged  in  newspaper  work,  was  editor  of  the  college  monthly  and  was  a 
contributor  to  other  college  publications.  After  leaving  Lafayette,  he 
passed  one  year  as  vice-principal  of  the  Chambersburg  Boys'  Boarding 
Academy,  and  during  this  period  he  also  studied  law.     In  1875  ^^  went  to 


!  MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  123 

New  York  City  ami  entered  Union  Theological  Seminary  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1878,  with  distinction.  While  in  New  York,  he  was  engaged 
for  two  years  in  teaching  in  Dr.  Sach's  Collegiate  Institute  and  for  a  time 
had  charge  of  one  of  Dr.  John  Hall's  missions.  For  one  year  after  gradu- 
ation from  Union  Theological  Seminary,  he  was  pastor  of  the  High  Street 
Presbyterian  Church  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  the  fall  of  1879  he  came 
to  Bunker  Hill  and  became  the  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  for 
two  years,  and  then  saw  a  new  field  of  usefulness  opening  before  him  in 
the  possibilities  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Academy. 

Since  Dr.  Stiver  took  charge  of  this  institution,  21  years  ago,  many 
changes  have  been  made  in  it.  He  converted  it  into  a  boarding  school  and 
added  a  military  department,  and  as  the  years  have  gone  by  the  increasing 
reputation  of  this  school  has  shown  the  wisdom  with  which  Dr.  Stiver 
planned  as  well  as  the  ability  with  which  he  has  carried  out  his  plans.  The 
course  of  study  followed  at  the  Bunker  Hill  Military  Academy  fits  students 
for  entrance  into  any  college  in  the  United  States,  and  gives  also  a  practical 
education  that  prepares  a  young  man  for  almost  any  line  of  activity. 

Our  distinguished  subject  leads  a  busy  life,  confined  entirely  to  in- 
tellectual lines,  including  preaching,  lecturing,  teaching  and  a  considerable 
amount  of  literary  work.  He  is  interested  in  reform  movements  and  has 
SM^ved  as  a  delegate  to  county.  State  and  national  conventions.  During  the 
Spanish-American  War,  his  support  and  sympathy  were  given  the  Republi- 
can party.  His  fraternal  connections  are  with  the  Odd  Fellows  and  his 
college   fraternity.   Delta   Kappa   Epsilon. 

On  January  26.  18S2.  Dr.  Stiver  was  united  in  marriage  with  Carmelite 
W.  Hornsby,  who  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Robert  J.  and  Cordelia 
Hornsby.  These  children  were  born  to  them :  Mary  Cordelia,  a  graduate 
of  Monticello  Seminary ;  Robert  Thomas,  a  most  promising  youth  just 
ready  to  enter  college,  when  he  died  from  an  operation  for  appendicitis,  at 
the  age  of  14  years;  Kenneth  Hornsby,  who  died  of  pneumonia,  aged  one 
year;  and  Gladys,  Helen  and  Perry,  still  in  school. 

In  1900  Dr.  Stiver  and  his  wife  visited  the  old  family  home  in  Center 
County,  Pennsylvania,  where  members  of  the  family  still  reside.  While  in 
Pennsylvania  he  also  secured  many  items  of  interest  from  records  con- 
cerning the  coal  lands  of  the  Lehigh  Coal  &  Navigation  Company,  which 
formerly  belonged  to  his  mother's  family  and  passed  out  of  their  possession 
before  they  realized  their  value,  among  these  a  family  genealogy',  from  the 
7 


J24  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

title-books  of  the  Lehigh  Coal  &  Navigation  Company  in  Philadelphia, 
tracing  his  mother's  ancesters  back  to  1740  when  Burkhart  Moser,  Sr., 
-came  from  Germany  to  Philadelphia  and  soon  after  took  up  the  coal  lands 
above  mentioned,  and  now  in  litigation  for  restoration  of  title  to  the  Moser 
heirs,  involving  many  millions  of  dollars. 


GEORGE  COWELL. 

George  Cowell,  J.  P.,  a  well  known  resident  of  Brushy  Mound  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  is  an  exten- 
sive stock  raiser  and  dealer.  He  was  born  in  Douglas,  Isle  of  Man,  IMarch 
30,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Margaret  (Kennell)  Cowell. 

George  Cowell,  Sr.,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  Isle  of  Man 
in  1800,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  14  years. 
He  there  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier  which  he  followed  there 
xmtil  he  came  to  America,  bringing  with  him  his  wife  and  five  children. 
He  landed  in  Quebec.  Canada,  and  shortly  after  removed  to  New  York  City, 
Avhere  he  plied  his  trade  and  resided  until  1857.  In  that  year  he  came  west 
to  Carlinville,  Illinois,  purchasing  a  farm  on  which  he  lived  for  three  or 
four  years.  He  then  settled  upon  a  40  acre  tract  now  owned  by  the  Burton 
■estate,  and  still  later  purchased  the  property  now  owned  by  our  subject,  on 
Avhich  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  76  years.  He  and  his 
worthy  wife  were  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  George;  Margaret, 
deceased;  Robert;  Kittie;  Mary;  Charles;  Sophia;  and  Elizabeth.  In  re- 
ligious belief,  they  were  Methodists. 

George  Cowell,  the  subject  of  this  article,  was  reared  in  New  York  City 
and  obtained  his  intellectual  training  in  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier  and  worked  with  his  father  for  some  years. 
Since  coming  to  Illinois,  his  attention  has  been  exclusively  devoted  to  farm- 
ing. He  has  been  very  successful  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  and  owns  a 
-valuable  farm  of  120  acres  in  Brushy  Mound  township.  He  has  made  a 
specialty  of  well  bred  Poland-China  and  Berkshire  hogs,  and  has  registered 
boars. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  125 

In  August,  1 861,  Mr.  Cowell  enlisted  in  Company  C,  32nd  Reg.,  Illinois 
\'ol.  Inf.  as  a  private  and  saw  much  service  in  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
being  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  many  minor  engagements.  He  was  mustered 
out  August  31,  1864,  after  serving  over  three  years.  He  was  disabled  in  the 
service  and  draws  a  pension  of  $8  per  month.  After  his  discharge  from  the 
service,  he  was  employed  as  government  teamster,  driving  ox  teams  from 
Fort  Scott,  Kansas,  to  Fort  Gibson,  Indian  Territory,  being  employed  eight 
months  at  $60  per  month  and  rations. 

Mr.  Cowell  is  a  man  of  exceptional  business  ability  and  possesses  many 
fine  traits  of  character,  which  have  gained  for  him  the  good  will  and  respect 
of  his  fellow  men.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  been 
called  upon  to  fill  numerous  local  offices,  among  them  supervisor,  town  clerk, 
assessor,  collector,  and  justice  of  the  peace,  serving  in  the  last  mentioned 
capacity  at  the  present  time. 


SAMUEL  PAUL  SANNER. 

Samuel  Paul  Sanner,  president  of  the  Shipman  Banking  Company, 
of  Shipman,  Macoupin  County,  and  for  many  years  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  Bunker  Hill  township,  was  born  February  25,  1836,  in  Madi- 
son County,  Illinois.     He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Barbara  (Paul)   Sanner. 

Samuel  Sanner  was  born  September  12,  1803,  in  Northumberland 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Hanna)  Sanner. 
The  family  is  of  German  extraction,  and  was  founded  in  America  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  War  by  the  grandfather  of  Samuel  Sanner,  who  was  a 
physician.  The  Hanna  family  was  of  Irish  origin  and  has  many  repre- 
sentatives through  the  Western  States.  Samuel  Sanner  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  farm  about  four  miles  from  Northumberland,  Pennsylvania,  at- 
tended the  local  subscription  schools  and  remained  at  home  until  20  years  of 
age,  when  he  learned  the  harness  maker's  trade.  This  industry  he  followed 
for  six  years  at  Northumberland.  In  May,  1833,  he  started  with  his  family 
for  Illinois,  crossing  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  and  then  proceeding  down 
the  Oliio  River  to  St.  Louis.     He  locateil  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  where 


126  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

he  bought  400  acres  of  land  as  his  initial  purchase.  At  a  later  date  he  o\\  ned 
3,000  acres  in  Shelby,  Macon  and  Moultrie  counties,  having  purchased  the 
greater  part  of  this  from  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company.  After 
giving  his  children  farms  and  selling  a  part  of  this  great  body  of  land,  he 
still  owned  at  death,  April  19,  1880,  as  much  as  1,000  acres. 

In  1827  Samuel  Sanner  married  Barbara  Paul,  who  was  born  February 
28,  1810,  and  died  January  6,  1896.  They  had  12  children:  Sarah,  deceased; 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Huestis,  deceased;  Jacob  II.,  of  Shelby  County;  William  H., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  18  years;  Samuel  P.,  of  this  sketch;  Elijah  P.  L., 
deceased;  Edward  B.,  of  Shelby  County;  David  G.,  of  Shelby  County;  Mrs. 
Tillie  Johnson  of  Decatur,  Illinois;  Shields  H.,  of  Shelby  County;  Francis, 
deceased;  and  John   \V.,  of  Decatur,   Illinois. 

Our  subject  resided  in  Madison  County,  where  he  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated, until  1862,  when  he  removed  to  his  ])resent  farm,  situated  in  section 
6,  Bunker  Hill  township.  His  father  gave  him  110  acres  of  this  to  which  he 
continued  to  add,  until  it  aggregated  800  acres,  A  large  portion  of  this 
has  been  divided  among  his  children.  When  Mr.  Sanner  settled  here,  he 
erected  a  plank  shanty,  which  remained  the  family  home  for  some  years. 
All  the  fine  improvements  now  so  noticeable  have  been  placed  on  the  property 
by  Mr.  Sanner,  and  to  his  energy  and  excellent  methods  may  be  attributed 
the  condition  of  his  farm,  which  is  generally  considered  one  of  the  most 
fertile  in  the  county.  He  has  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
His  is  one  of  the  few  really  productive  grain  farms  of  this  section,  and  for 
many  years  he  gave  his  attention  principally  to  wheat. 

In  addition  to  his  large  farming  interests,  Mr.  Sanner  has  been  finan- 
cially interested  in  the  Shipman  Banking  Company,  which  was  organized  at 
Shipman,  Illinois.  May  15.  1895,  with  a  capital  of  $15,000.  Of  this  in- 
stitution, Mr.  Sanner  is  president;  Adam  Deahl,  vice-president;  and  James 
D.  Metcalf,  cashier.  This  concern  has  met  with  much  prosperity,  the  trust- 
worthiness and  high  standing  of  its  officials  attracting  business  over  a  wide 
extent  of  territory. 

Mr.  Sanner  was  married  April  8,  i860,  to  Margaret  Calvin,  who  was 
born  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  November  13,  1837,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Philip  S.  and  Jane  C.  (Clarke)  Calvin.  The  Calvins  came  to  Illinois  in  1836 
and  settled  in  Madison  County  in  the  spring  of  1837,  and  lived  there  all 
their  lives.     They  had  four  children :  Mrs.  ]\Iartha  E.  Hammil,  of  Shelby 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  127 

County;  Margaret  (Mrs.  Sanner)  ;  Mrs.  Susan  M.  Keown,  deceased;  and 
Robert  William,  of  Missouri. 

ilr.  and  Mrs.  Sanner  have  nine  children:  Jesse  Frank,  a  farmer  of 
Brighton  township,  who  has  five  children — Rufus  C,  Lona  M.,  Flossie  M., 
Joe  P.  and  Laura  Pauline ;  Anna  Belle,  who  married  Rev.  J.  G.  Miller,  of 
Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  has  four  children — Julia  B.,  Nettie  B.,  Margaret 
•M.  and  Lucy  H. ;  Lucy  Margaret,  who  died  aged  16  years  and  six  months; 
Sophia  May,  who  married  E.  J.  Burton  of  Bunker  Hill  township,  and  has 
three  children  living — Charlotte  Amy,  Elroy  Clarke  and  Dorothy  F. — and 
one  deceased — Archie  N. ;  Samuel  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  months ; 
Nellie  and  Harry,  both  living  at  home;  and  Jacob  Otto  and  Julia  F.,  who 
are  students  at  Blackburn  University,  Carlinville. 

Mr.  Sanner  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has  been  one  of  the  township's 
most  active  men  for  many  years  in  pushing  public  enterprises  and  has  l^een 
a  factor  in  the  educational  as  well  as  the  commercial  advancement  of  his 
locality,  a  man  truly  representative  of  its  best  class  of  citizens. 


WALTER  D.  AND  ARTHUR  A.  OWEN. 

Walter  D.  and  Arthur  A.  Owen,  who  make  up  the  firm  of  Owen 
Brothers,  are  the  owners  and  proprietors  of  a  large  estate  in  section  12, 
Bunker  Hill  township,  IMacoupin  County,  which  is  known  far  and  wide,  as 
the  Maple  Dale  Stock  Farm.  It  consists  of  120  acres  which  is  operated  ex- 
clusively as  a  stock  farm.  Both  brothers  were  born  on  a  farm  near  Redbud, 
Randolph  County,  Illinois,  the  former  on  August  5,  1858,  and  the  latter 
on  January  29,  1863.  They  are  sons  of  William  and  Amanda  (Durfee) 
Owen. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Owen  family  originated  in  Wales,  and  its  first 
settler  in  America  located  in  Rhode  Island.  One  branch  removed  to  Ohio, 
where  Charles  Owen,  grandfather  of  the  Owen  Brothers,  was  born.  He 
came  to  Randolph  County,  Illinois,  one  of  that  brave  vanguard  of  pioneers 
who  faced  the  hardest  conditions  in  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  southern 


128  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

portion  of  this  great  State.  When  the  magnificent  city  of  St.  Louis,  which 
has  the  eyes  of  the  world  centered  upon  her  at  present  as  a  fit  metropolis  in 
which  to  hold  a  world's  exposition,  had  but  two  dwellings,  William  Owen 
was  a  trader  there,  reaching  that  frontier  post  in  his  ox-team  conveyance. 
He  grew  to  manhood  accustomed  to  his  Indian  neighbors  with  whom  lie 
appears  to  have  been  on  friendly  terms.  The  life  of  Charles  Owen,  the 
father  of  W'illiam,  was  mainly  devoted  to  trapping  and  hunting.  His  six* 
children  were:  William,  James,  Harrison,  Rol:)ert,  Augustus  and  Mrs.  Har- 
riet Harlow. 

William  Owen,  father  of  Arthur  A.  and  \\'alter  D.  Owen,  was  born  in 
Randolph  County,  Illinois,  December  14,  181 9,  and  died  at  the  Maple  Dale 
Stock  Farm,  June  6,  1903,  aged  8^  years.  He  came  to  Macoupin  County  in 
1865  and  engaged  in  farming,  prior  to  that  time  having  followed  the  trade 
of  plasterer  in  addition  to  farming.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
belief.  During  the  Civil  War  he  was  a  supporter  of  tlie  administration, 
and  sent  a  substitute  to  represent  him  in  the  army,  his  family  of  small  chil- 
dren preventing  his  going.  In  his  early  years  he  was  an  active  worker  in 
the  Baptist  Cinuxh,  of  which  he  was  a  member  until  the  close  of  his  life.  He 
was  much  respected  and  was  noted  for  his  quiet,  peaceful  disposition.  On 
February  14,  1849,  'i^  married  Amanda  Durfee,  who  was  born  October  22, 
1822,  in  Rhode  Island,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Ruth  (Cook) 
Durfee,  of  Fall  River,  Alassachusetts.  The  eight  children  of  this  marriage 
were:  Ellen  Amelia,  bom  at  Waterloo,  Monroe  County,  Illinois,  who  resides 
at  the  present  home  of  the  subjects  of  this  sketch;  George  H.,  who  is  a 
contractor  and  builder  at  Clondcroft,  New  Mexico;  Mrs.  Hattie  May 
Bainum,  who  resides  at  Olney,  Illinois;  Walter  D.,  unmarried,  who  is  one 
of  the  firm  of  Owen  Brothers;  Arthur  A.,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Owen 
Brothers;  Annabelle  R.,  who  resides  at  Bunker  Hill;  Herbert,  wlio  died  at 
the  age  of  16  years;  and  Ada,  who  lives  at  home. 

Walter  D,  and  Arthur  A.  Owen  moved  to  the  Maple  Dale  Stock  Farm 
on  June  7,  1865,  and  both  have  resided  here  ever  since.  They  raise  only 
high  grade  stock,  either  registered  or  eligible  to  register,  making  specialties 
of  Shropshire  sheep,  and  Poland-China  hogs,  keeping  some  80  of  the  former 
and  50  of  the  latter.  Their  annual  fall  sales  are  lookedfor  events  and  are 
largely  attended.  They  have  done  much  to  raise  the  standard  of  stock  in 
their  vicinity. 

Arthur  A.  Owen  married  Anna  M.  Milne,  who  was  born  in  London, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  129 

England,  and  is  a  daugliter  of  Alexander  and  Emma  Milne,  natives  of 
Scotland  and  England,  respectively.  Two  sons  have  been  born  to  this  union. 
William  and  Eugene.  Mr.  Owen  has  held  a  number  of  the  local  offices.  He 
is  a  Republican,  while  his  brother,  Walter  D.,  is  a  Democrat. 


WILLIAM  B.  TRABUE. 

William  B.  Trabue,  owner  and  operator  of  the  justly  noted  Clover- 
dale  Stock  Farm,  which  includes  352  acres,  situated  in  sections  19  and  20, 
Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County,  belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer 
families  of  this  portion  of  the  State.  He  was  born  October  29,  1854,  in 
Brushy  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  he  is  a  son  of  Joseph  H. 
and  Martha  A.   (Parks)  Trabue. 

The  Trabue  family  is  of  French  extraction,  and  its  American  founders 
came  across  the  Atlantic  in  colonial  days.  Haskin  Trabue,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  took  part  in  the  War  of  1812. 
He  came  to  Macoupin  County  at  an  early  day  and  died  in  Brushy  Mound 
township,  at  the  age  of  60  years.  His  nine  children  were :  Fenland,  Stephen, 
Joseph  H.,  Benjamin,  Edward,  John,  Hodgens,  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Boggess,  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Baily. 

Joseph  H.  Trabue,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  in 
childhood  accompanied  his  parents  to  Macoupin  County,  when  they  settled 
in  Brushy  Mound  township,  near  the  present  Trabue  graveyard.  He  followed 
farming  all  his  life,  finally  removing  to  Crawford  County,  Kansas,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  62  years.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  a  man  of  high  moral  character.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republi- 
can. He  married  Martha  A.  Parks,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Harlan)  Parks,  who  came  to  Macoupin 
County  in  pioneer  days  and  hauled  the  lumter  with  which  to  erect  their 
dwelling  all  the  way  from  Alton.  The  children  of  Joseph  and  Martha 
Trabue  were:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Evans,  of  Crawford  County,  Kansas;  Walter, 
who  died  aged  18  years;  William  B.,  of  this  sketch;  James,  of  Crawford 
County,  Kansas;  Annie,  of  Girard,  Macoupin  County;  Edward,  cf  Greene 


I30  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

County,  Illinois;  Josephine,  who  is  preparing  to  practice  osteopathy,  in 
Crawford  County,  Kansas;  and  Agnes,  also  a  resident  of  Crawford  County, 
Kansas. 

William  B.  Trabue  passed  four  years  of  his  life  in  Greene  County, 
and  two  years  in  Kansas ;  with  these  exceptions  his  home  has  always  been 
in  Macoupin  County.  One  year  he  conducted  a  hardware  business  at  Ray- 
mond, but  his  interests  have  mainly  centered  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
In  1876  he  came  to  his  present  farm  and  in  1897  he  purchased  180  acres  of 
it  and  in  1903  an  adjoining  172  acres,  all  of  which  he  devotes  to  raising 
cattle,  sheep  and  hogs. 

On  June  15,  1898,  Mr.  Trabue  was  married  to  Estella  Tunnell,  who 
was  born  January  28,  1869,  near  Plain  view,  Macoupin  County,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Tunnell.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  them :  Tunnell  Benjamin,  James  Edward  and   Lucius  Bon  le. 

Mr.  Trabue  is  not  very  actively  interested  in  politics,  but  votes  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  declines  to  accept  any  office  but  takes  an  active  part  in 
public  matters  affecting  the  welfare  of  the  township.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


HON.  A.   N.  YANCEY. 

Hon.  a.  N.  Yancey,  deceased,  for  some  years  judge  of  the  Macoupin 
County  Court,  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  professional  men  in  the 
county  and  an  esteemed  citizen  of  Carlinville.  He  was  born  at  Montpelier, 
Orange  County,  \^irginia.  March  24.  1844,  was  a  son  of  James  E.  and  Mary 
E.  (Waller)  Yancey,  and  grandson  of  Chandler  Yancey,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. His  great-grandfather  Yancey  was  a  captain  in  the  Continental  Army 
during  the  Revolutionary  War. 

A.  N.  Yancey  was  13  years  of  age  when  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Oldham  County,  Kentuck3^  His  early  educational  training  was  obtained 
in  the  academy  at  Hilton,  Virginia,  which  he  attended  two  years  and  also 
in  the  public  schools.  He  entered  Dartmouth  College  at  Hanover,  New 
Hampshire,  and  later  took  up  the  study  of  the  law  in  Louis\ille,  Kentucky, 


HON.  JOHN  McAULEY  PALMER. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  133 

He  was  graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan 
at  Ann  Arbor  in  1867,  and  immethately  after  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Bvuiker  Hill,  Illinois.  He  soon  attained  local  prominence  as 
a  lawyer  of  ability  and  numbered  among  his  clients  some  of  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  community,  serving  as  attorney  for  the  Indianapolis  &  St. 
Louis  Railroad  Company.  Upon  his  removal  to  Carlinville,  his  practice 
continued  with  unabated  success.  He  was  well  grounded  in  legal  principles, 
possessed  a  keen,  discriminating  and  practical  mind,  and  was  a  powerful 
advocate  at  the  bar.  In  1880  he  was  elected  on  ^he  Democratic  ticket  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  Illinois,  and  so  well  did  he  represent  his  constituents 
that  he  was  returned  to  that  body  in  the  election  of  1882.  He  served  on  many 
important  committees,  and  was  the  author  of  and  secured  the  passage  of  a 
number  of  good  laws.  From  1890  to  1894.  he  served  with  distinction  as 
coimty  judge  of  Macoupin  Count}',  and  it  was  frequently  remarked  that  no 
more  able  nor  satisfactorj-  judge  ever  presided  in  that  court.  He  was  al- 
ways enthusiastic  in  his  support  of  the  Democratic  part}%  and  no  campaign 
passed  without  his  voice  being  heard  in  the  interest  of  his  party's  success. 
In  1867,  Judge  Yancey  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Lettice  Belle 
BrAan,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  to  their  union  were  bom  the  following 
children:  Mrs.  \Va!ter  S.  Mayo,  of  Carlinville:  James,  of  New  York  City; 
Archie:  Lillian:  and  Ray.  In  religious  faith,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
an  Episcopalian.  Fraternally,  he  was  a  member  of  Bunker  Hill  Lodge, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  was  a  member  of  tlie  committee  on  appeals  and  griev- 
ances of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 


HON.  JOHN   'ACALLEY  PALMER. 

Hox.  John  McAulev  Palmer,  deceased,  who  was  Governor  of  Illinois 
from  1869  to  1872,  and  later  United  States  Senator  from  Illinois  and  in 
1896  candidate  of  the  gold  wing  of  the  Democratic  partj-  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  bom  on  Eagle  Creek,  Scott  Count}-.  Kentuck}-.  September 
13.  1817.  His  father,  who  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1S12.  removed 
when  his  son  was  an  infant  to  Christian  Countv,  KentuckA-.  where  lands  were 


134  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

cheap.  There  the  future  Governor  of  IHinois  spent  his  childhood  and  re- 
ceived such  schoohng  as  the  new  and  sparsely  settled  country  afforded.  To 
this  he  added  materially  by  diligent  reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an  early 
aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  admirer  of  Andrew  Jackson,  was  noted  for 
his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which  he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  chil- 
dren. In  1 83 1  the  Palmer  family  moved  to  Madison  County,  Illinois,  where 
the  labor  of  improving  a  new  farm  was  pursued  for  about  two  years,  \\hen 
the  death  of  our  subject's  mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor"'  system,  and  in  the  spring  of  1834 
young  Palmer  with  his  elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  college  and  re- 
mained 18  months.  Then,  for  over  three  years,  he  was  variously  employed 
at  coopering,  peddling  and  as  a  school  teacher. 

During  the  summer  of  1838,  John  M.  Palmer  formed  the  acquaintance 
of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then  making  his  first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young, 
eloquent  and  in  political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  Douglas  won  the  latter's 
confidence,  fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The  following  winter, 
while  teaching  near  Canton,  Mr.  Palmer  began  to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a 
desultory  reading  of  the  law  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Carlin- 
ville,  Macoupin  County,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother,  Elihu,  who 
became  a  learned  clergyman  of  considerable  originality  of  thought  and  doc- 
trine. On  the  ne.xt  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  Stephen  A.  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners.  He  was  not 
immediately  successful  in  his  profesion,  and  would  have  located  elsewhere 
than  in  Carlinville  had  he  been  possessed  of  the  requisite  nieans.  His  early 
povert)-  was  probably  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  much  of  the  success  of  his 
life  must  be  attributed  to  his  continued  residence  in  this  county. 

While  diligently  pursuing  his  profession  he  participated  more  or  less 
in  local  politics  from  the  time  he  located  in  Carlinville.  In  1843  'le  became 
judge  of  the  Probate  Court.  In  1847,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitu- 
tional Convention  and  there  took  a  leading  part.  He  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate  in  1852  and  at  the  special  session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti- 
slavery  sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  opposition  to  the 
repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became 
a  party  issue,  he  refused  to  receive  a  renomination  for  the  Senatorship  at  the 
hands  of  the  Democracy,  isuing  a  circular  to  that  effect.  A  few  weeks  after- 
ward, however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  participated  in  a  con- 
vention that  nominated  T.  L.  Harris  for  Congress  against  Richard  Yates 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  135 

and  that  unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Act. 
Later  in  the  campaign,  however,  he  ran  for  the  State  Senate  as  an  Anti- 
Nebraska  Democrat,  and  was  elected.  In  the  session  of  the  following  winter, 
he  nominated  Mr.  Trumbull  for  the  United  States  Senate  and  was  one  of  the 
five  men  who  continued  to  vote  for  Mr.  Trumbull  until  all  the  Whigs  came 
to  their  support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  Mr.  Palmer  was  chairman  of  the  State  Republican  Convention 
at  Bloomington,  which  was  the  first  State  convention  held  in  Illinois  by  that 
party.  He  ran  for  Congress  in  1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  i860  he  was  a 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  in 
1861  he  was  appointed  as  one  of  the  five  delegates  (all  Republicans)  sent  by 
Illinois  to  the  Peace  Congress  at  Washington. 

When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  Mr.  Palmer  offered  his  services  to  his 
country,  and  was  elected  colonel  of  the  14th  Reg..  Illinois  Vol.  Inf..  and 
participated  in  the  engagements  at  Island  No.  10;  at  Farmington,  where  he 
skillfully  extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position ;  at  Stone  River, 
where  his  division  for  several  hours  on  December  31,  1862,  held  the  aflvance 
and  stood  like  a  rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  major-general; 
at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  \^an  Cleve's  divisions  maintained  their  posi- 
tion when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers.  He  participated  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign,  being  assigned  to  the  14th  Army  Corps  under  General 
Sherman.  At  Peach  Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert  disaster.  In 
February,  1865,  General  Palmer  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  Military 
Governor  of  Kentucky,  which  was  a  delicate  post,  as  that  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  union,  and  even  those  of  the  latter  element  were  daily 
fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves.  Although  given  extraordinary  power  over 
the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow  men  as  Governor,  he  exhibited  great 
caution  in  the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post  and  received  the  commenda- 
tion of  all  good  citizens. 

General  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illinois  by  the  State 
Republican  Convention  which  met  at  Peoria,  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomina- 
tion would  probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not  persistently 
declared  that  he  would  not  be  a  candidate  for  the  office.  The  result  of  the 
ensuing  election  gave  General  Palmer  a  majority  of  44.707  votes  over  John 
R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  State  Legislature  in  January,  1869,  the  first  thing 


136  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


to  arrest  public  attention  was  that  part  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  riglits  ground.  This  and  some  minor  points,  which  were  more 
in  keeping  with  the  sentiment  of  the  Democracy,  constituted  the  entering 
wedge  for  the  criticims  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received  from  the  Republi- 
can party  and  ultimately  resulted  in  his  entire  alienation  from  the  latter 
element.  This  session  of  the  Legislature  was  noted  for  the  numerous  bills 
which  were  introduced  in  the  interest  of  private  parties,  which  were  em- 
barrassing to  the  Governor.  Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which 
limited  railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum  of  three  cents 
per  mile;  it  was  passed  over  the  Governer's  veto.  Over  his  veto  was  also 
passed  the  "tax-grabbing"  law  to  pay  railroad  subscriptions,  the  Chicago  Lake 
Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State  Constitution  of  1870.  a  great  improvement 
on  the  old  one,  was  a  peaceful  "revolution"  which  took  place  during  Governor 
Palmer's  term  of  ofiice.  The  suffering  caused  by  the  great  Chicago  fire  of 
October,  1871,  was  greatly  alleviated  by  the  promptness  with  which  (Governor 
Palmer  met  the  exigencies  of  the  situation. 

After  retiring  to  a  private  life  in  1872,  Governor  Palmer  continued  to 
be  a  prominent  figure  in  State  politics  and  was  finally  sent  to  the  United 
States  Senate  in  1890.  When  the  National  Democratic  Convention  of  1896 
nominated  William  Jennings  Bryan  at  Chicago  for  President,  Governor  Pal- 
mer was  selected  by  the  Gold  Democrats  to  head  their  ticket  with  Simon  B. 
Buckner  as  Vice-President.  The  putting  of  this  ticket  into  the  field  un- 
doubteedly  assisted  in  the  defeat  of  Bryan,  as  many  Democrats  voted  for 
Palmer  who  would  otherwise  have  voted  for  Bryan  on  account  of  not  wishing 
to  l^e  termed  deserters  to  their  party. 

Governor  Palmer  always  adhered  very  closely  to  the  profession  of  the 
law.  although  many  years  were  given  up  to  the  public  service.  Few  excelled 
him  in  an  accurate  appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles.  The 
geart  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abundantly  testify,  not  only  this,  bvit 
also  a  rare  capacity  to  analyze  the  measures  vetoed  and  to  show  his  reasons 
for  his  action.  He  was  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner.  and  while  not  a  fluent 
or  ornate  speaker,  was  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing.  Without 
brilliancy,  his  dealings  were  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with  passions 
and  prejudices.  He  was  a  patriot  and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Just 
before  his  death,  he  edited  and  published  a  book  entitled  "The  Story  of  an 
Earnest  Life.'     His  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  137 

CLINTON  DAVIS. 

Clixtox  Davis,  a  highly  respected  farmer  of  Brushy  Mound  town- 
ship. Macoupin  County,  was  born  at  Reynoldsburg,  Ohio,  May  21,  1850, 
and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Lovina  (Lazell)  Davis.  His  grandfather  was 
David  Davis,  a  soldier  in  the  British  Army. 

Thomas  Davis  was  born  in  South  Wales  and  came  to  America  in  1842. 
He  served  in  the  United  States  Army  throughout  the  IMexican  War,  and 
thereafter  receixed  a  pension  from  the  government.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Ohio  but  later  sold  out.  and  in  1856  came  to 
Macoupin  County,  purchasing  the  Bluehouse  farm  in  Carlinville  township. 
This  farm  was  later  sold  l)y  him  and  he  located  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  the  Davis  heirs.  This  property  was  purchased  by  his  wife,  and  upon 
her  death  in  1859  he  acquired  a  life  interest  in  the  estate.  He  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  on  this  farm  and  became  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
the  township.  He  died  !March  16,  1903.  at  the  age  of  ■/■]  years.  He  mar- 
ried Lovina  Lazell.  who  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  but  whose  people 
came  from  Worcester,  Massachusetts.  They  had  five  children  as  follows ; 
Clinton;  Jeanette;  Frances:  Bathsheba :  and  Lovina.  Mrs.  Davis  was  a 
Universalist  in  relilgious  belief,  and  her  husband,  a  Baptist.  Mr.  Davis  was 
three  times  married,  his  third  union  being  with  Arminda  York,  by  whom 
he  had  the  following  children  :  Alfonso,  John,  William,  Isabel,  Lydia,  Cora, 
David  and  Edward.     Mrs.  Davis  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead. 

Clinton  Davis  received  his  educational  training  in  the  common  schools 
of  Macoupin  County,  and  at  Blackburn  University.  After  graduating  from 
the  latter  institution,  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  period  of  1 1  years  and 
was  very  successful  at  that  vocation.  He  then  engaged  in  working  out  as  a 
farmer,  and  finally  purchased  a  tract  of  50  acres.  He  now  has  55  acres  of 
valuable  farming  land,  which  he  devotes  to  general  agriculture.  He  is  a 
man  of  good  business  ability,  excellent  judgment  in  managing  his  affairs, 
and  has  merited  the  success  with  which  he  is  meeting. 

In  1885,  Mr.  Davis  was  united  in  marriag^e  with  Ellen  Perrine,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  H.  Perrine,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely : 
Elsie,  deceased ;  Harriet :  Nellie ;  Ida ;  and  Ernest,  deceased.  Religiously, 
Mrs.  Davis  and  her  daughters  are  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  In  political  affiliation,  Mr.  Davis  is  a  Democrat  and  has 
efficiently  held  a  number  of  township  offices,  among  them  town  clerk,  justice 


138  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

of  the  peace,  supervisor,  assessor,  and  at  tlie  present  time  is  school  director, 
taking  an  active  interest  in  educational  affairs.  He  has  been  school  director 
for  14  years,  and  has  materially  assisted  in  improving  the  schools  of  the 
district.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Americans  and  the  Mutual 
Protective  League. 


HARRY  R.  BUDD. 

Harry  R.  Budd,  a  very  prominent  member  of  the  Macoupin  County 
bar,  ex-mayor  and  leading  citizen  of  Bunker  Hill,  was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Brighton  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  September  14.  1855.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  William  and  Elizabeth  (Cage)  Budd. 

The  Budd  family  is  of  English  extraction,  and  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  England  of  prominent  and  wealthy  parentage.  The  son 
enjoyed  educational  and  social  advantages  and  came  to  America  as  a  trav- 
eler and  student.  The  great  agricultural  possibilities  of  Illinois  attracted 
him  and  after  his  marriage  in  Virginia,  he  settled  in  Macoupin  County  where 
he  became  an  extensive  land-owner  and  large  farmer,  owning  at  one  time 
1,500  acres.  After  25  years  of  residence  he  started  on  a  journey  to  Brazil, 
South  America,  with  the  intention  of  investing  $100,000,  but  succumbed  to 
fever  and  died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  70  years.  He  was  a  man  of  remark- 
able business  faculty  as  well  as  one  whose  trained  intellect  fitted  him  for  any 
profession  he  might  have  chosen.  He  was  very  active  in  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  was  a  member  of  the  Alton  lodge.  In  politics  he  always  defended 
the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  religious  connection  he  was  an 
Episcopalian. 

Of  the  family  of  10  children,  these  survive:  James  W.,  of  Kansas  City, 
traveling  auditor  for  the  Pacific  Express  Company;  Harry  R.,  of  this 
sketch;  William  N.,  a  prominent  druggist  of  Bunker  Hill;  Mrs.  Emma 
Lane,  of  Kansas  City;  Katherine,  of  Kansas  City;  and  George,  of  Arkansas. 

Until  he  was  14  years  old,  our  subject  remained  on  the  home  farm  pur- 
suing his  studies  in  the  local  schools  and  constantly  inspired  to  effort  by 
his  father  and  was  prepared  at  this  early  age  to  enter  Rugby  College,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1872,  having  taken  the  elective  course.  After  studying 
law  for  a  year  and  a  half  with  Palmer  &  McMillen,  at  Carlinville,  he  located 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  139 

in  Bunker  Hill  where  he  was  elected  the  first  city  attorney,  when  but  19 
years  of  age.  Serving  out  his  term  of  one  year,  Mr.  Budd  then  went  to 
Missouri  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  after  the  necessary  examinations. 
Upon  his  return  to  Bunker  Hill,  Mr.  Budd  became  associated  with  his 
brother  in  the  drug  business  and  they  established  a  store  at  Bunker  Hill  and 
another  at  Gillespie,  and  later  bought  the  Delano  drug  store,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  three  years.  After  disposing  of  this  business,  he  entered  upon  the 
active  practice  of  his  profession  in  which  he  has  been  successively  engaged 
ever  since,  his  clientage  extending  through  Macoupin  and  contiguous 
counties. 

j\Ir.  Budd  was  reared  to  believe  in  and  uphold  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  he  has  consistently  followed  his  early  teachings.  With 
his  brother,  he  shares  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  only  two  mayors  of  his 
political  faith  that  Bunker  Hill  has  ever  had,  and  he  bears  a  fine  record  of 
consistency  to  the  party  of  his  choice.  On  several  occasions  he  has  been- 
his  party's  chosen  candidate  and  is  one  of  the  most  influential  workers  in 
his  section  of  the  county. 

On  June  19.  1894,  Mr.  Budd  was  married  to  Anna  Delano,  who  was 
born  in  Bunker  Hill  and  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Jolin  A.  Delano,  an  old  medical 
practitioner  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Budd  is  a  Master  Mason,  being  a  member  of  the 
Bunker  Hill  lodge,  and  belongs  also  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


WALTER  S.  MAYO. 

Walter  S.  Mayo,  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  of  Brushy 
Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  in  Carlinville,  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  November  17,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  T.  and  Eliza- 
beth A.   (Palmer)  Mayo. 

Samuel  T.  Mayo  was  born  November  24,  1818,  in  Albermarle  County, 
\'irginia,  and  is  a  son  of  Lewis  and  Susanna  (Price)  Mayo.  He  left  his 
native  State  in   1835   for  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time. 


140  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

then  came  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Carrollton,  in  Greene  County.  In  1843.  he 
came  to  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising. He  continued  in  this  business  successfully  until  1851, 
then  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  until  1882,  which 
year  marked  his  retirement  from  active  business  duties,  although  he  con- 
tinued in  the  management  of  his  farming  interests.  He  at  one  time  owned 
about  2,200  acres  of  excellent  farming  property,  all  of  which  still  remains 
in  the  possession  of  the  family.  In  1845,  Samuel  T.  Mayo  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  A.  Palmer,  a  sister  of  Ex-Governor  John  M.  Pal- 
mer, and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Virginia, 
Florence,  EIizal:>eth,  Louisa,  Carrie,  Samuel  T.  and  Walter  S.  Religiously, 
the  family  is  Methodist.  Mrs.  Mayo  died  in  1899,  at  the  age  of  74  years. 
Mr.  Mayo  was  a  Whig  in  politics  during  his  early  life,  and  has  since  been 
a  Republican.     He  still  resides  in  Carlinville. 

Walter  S.  Mayo,  our  subject,  was  educated  primarily  in  the  public 
schools  of  Macoupin  County,  after  which  he  took  a  course  of  study  in  Black- 
burn University  at  Carlinville.  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1888.  He 
has  displayed  superior  business  ability,  and  in  January,  1900,  moved  upon 
his  present  farm  of  210  acres  in  section  i.  township  9.  range  7.  He  devotes 
his  attention  to  stock  raising,  principally  hogs,  and  in  this  particular  line 
has  attained  imusual  success. 

On  January  24,  1896,  Walter  S.  Mayo  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Lola  Belle  Yancey,  a  daughter  of  Judge  A.  N.  Yancey,  a  record  of  whose 
life  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children,  namely:  Samuel  T.,  Jr.;  Walter  S.,  Jr.;  and  Elizabeth  L.  Mr. 
Mayo  is  a  strong  Democrat  in  politics,  but  has  never  sought  office.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  while  his  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  Carlinville. 


ENOCH  DOOLEY. 


Among  the  progressive  farmers  who  have  been  successfully  engaged  in 
the  pursuits  of  agriculture  in  Macoupin  County  is  the  gentleman  named 
above,  who  resides  on  his  farm  of  80  acres  situated  in  section  25,  Brushy 


f  MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  141 

l^Iound  township.     He  was  born  June  20,   1861.  on  the  old  Dooley  home- 
stead, and  is  a  son  of  Ehhu  and  Susan   (Bagby)   Dooley. 

Elihu  Dooley  was  born  in  White  County,  Tennessee,  in  1818,  and  came 
to  Macoupin  County  when  17  years  of  age.  Upon  his  leaving  Tennessee, 
he  first  located  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  as  a  farm 
hand  working  by  the  month.  x\fter  accumulating  a  sufficient  sum  he  pur- 
chased the  land  on  which  our  subject  now  lives,  which  then  consisted  of 
about  900  acres.  He  married  Susan  Bagby,  who  was  born  March  14,  1837, 
and  to  them  10  children  were  born,  namely:  Daniel;  William;  Harriet; 
George;  Charles;  Eveline;  Enoch,  our  subject;  Thomas;  Mildred;  and 
Benjamin,  deceased.  Elihu  Dooley  was  a  Republican.  He  died  August  12, 
1 90 1,  the  death  of  his  wife  having  occurred  about  two  years  previous — 
July  24,  1899. 

Enoch  Dooley  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Macou- 
pin County,  and  remained  with  his  parents  until  22  years  of  age  when  he 
removed  to  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and  operates.  He  has  since  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  this  farm,  which  is  acknowledged  to 
be  the  best  in  the  county.  He  is  numbered  among  the  most  prominent  and 
most  highly  respected  citizens  of  his  township,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by 
all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  He  is  a  Republican  and  is  at 
present  serving  as  school  director  with  the  utmost  capability.  Religiously, 
our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


HENRY  GRIFFEL. 


We  take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  the  readers  of  this  Biographical 
Record  of  Macoupin  County  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  these  lines. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  agriculturists  of  the  county, 
and  resides  on  his  well  cultivated  farm  of  280  acres,  which  is  situated  in 
sections  10,  11,  14,  15  and  16,  Brushy  Mound  township.  He  was  born 
May  28,  1845,  in  Hanover,  Germany. 

Mr.  Griffel  came  to  America  in  1874,  first  locating  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, where  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  removing  the  same  year  to  ]\Ia- 


8 


142  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

coiipin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  rented  a  farm.  Although  he  began  at  a 
lowly  station  in  life,  he  at  once  rose  in  the  ranks  of  the  business  world. 
He  continued  in  the  pursuits  of  general  farming  upon  the  rented  farm  until 
he  had  accumulated  a  suflicient  sum  to  purchase  a  farm  and  in  1893  he 
purchased  his  present  property,  which  then  consisted  of  240  acres,  to  which 
he  has  since  added  40  acres.  By  his  shrewd  business  methods  and  un- 
ceasing hard  work  he  has  accumulated  considerable  property,  and  has  estab- 
lished his  true  and  honest  character  throughout  the  county.  He  is  also 
prominently  identified  with  the  leading  stock  raisers  of  Macoupin  County, 
raising  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  hogs  quite  extensively.  Our  subject's  politi- 
cal views  make  him  a  Republican,  but  he  has  never  taken  an  active  position 
in  any  political  affairs. 

Our  subject  was  first  married  to  Caroline  W'ehrcnberg,  and  to  them 
were  born  seven  children,  namely:  Helena,  Fred,  Mary,  Charles,  Henry, 
William,  and  John.  His  first  wife  died  in  1901.  He  then  was  wedded  to 
Mrs.  Mary  Ziegemeier,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  had  been  a  resident  of 
Menard  County,  Illinois,  for  ^^  years.  She  had  four  children  by  her  first 
marriage,  as  follows:  Lena,  wife  of  Carl  Kreis,  of  Menard  County,  Illinois; 
Mary,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Carl  Schrimp,  of  Menard  County, 
Illinois;  Minnie,  deceased;  and  Hilda,  who  still  resides  with  her  mother. 
Mr.  GrifFel  adheres  to  the  German  Lutheran  Church  of  which  Mrs.  Griffel 
is  also  a  member. 


THOMAS  F.  SCHROEDER. 

Thomas  F.  Schroeder,  one  of  the  highly  respected  and  \ery  substan- 
tial citizens  of  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  April  7,  1841,  at 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  Francis  Arnold  and 
Dorothy   (Schuerhofif)    Schroeder. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  February  8,  1806.  in  Westphalia, 
Germany,  and  died  in  February,  1882,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  in  Virden, 
Illinois,  aged  76  years.  His  wife,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  181 1, 
died  at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  aged  66  years.  They  had  a  family  of  14 
children,  the  four  survi\ors  he\v^  Mrs.  Josephine  Sclnierhoff,  of  Pierce  City, 
]\Iissouri;  Thomas  F.,  of  this  sketch;  Frank  J.,  a  survivor  and  pensioner  of 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  143 

the  Civil  War,  now  a  resident  of  Philadelphia;  and  Mrs.  Justine  Schaeffer, 
of  Oklahoma  Territory. 

Francis  Arnold  Schroeder  came  first  to  America  at  the  age  of  28  years 
and  bought  a  farm  of  200  acres,  near  St.  Charles,  Missouri.  Two  years 
later  he  was  recalled  to  Germany  to  settle  his  father's  estate,  and  then  mar- 
ried. Upon  his  return  to  the  United  States,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Mercer 
County,  Ohio,  but  later  removed  to  New  York  City  and  still  later  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  was  engaged  in  business  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out. 
In  July,  1861,  he  offered  his  services  to  his  adopted  country,  enlisting  in 
Company  D,  2nd  Pennsylvania  Heavy  Artillery,  under  Captain  Saddler,  and 
was  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  where  he  saw  hard  and  contin- 
uous service,  participating  in  all  the  battles  from  Bull  Run  to  Appomatto.x 
Court  House,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  July,  1865,  having  estab- 
lished a  record  for  great  bravery.  He  returned  to  Philadelphia  and  became 
a  member  of  our  subject's  family.  In  the  years  of  his  residence  in  Missouri 
lie  was  a  Democrat,  but  he  later  became  a  Republican.  Both  as  Mason  and 
Odd  Fellow,  he  lived  up  to  every  requirement  of  those  organizations. 

Our  subject  obtained  an  excellent  common  school  education  in  Phila- 
delphia, at  the  age  of  14  years  beginning  to  work  at  the  blacksmith's  trade. 
On  August  4,  1862,  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  ^Var,  entering  Com- 
pany H.  5th  Reg.,  Pennsylvania  Vol.  Cav..  under  Captain  Bailey,  which  was 
placed  in  Gen.  Phil.  H.  Sheridan's  corps.  This  statement  is  sufficient  to 
students  of  the  history  of  that  time,  to  indicate  the  kind  of  life  Mr.  Schroeder 
and  his  comrades  led  through  the  years  until  he  was  honorably  discharged 
on  May  19,  1865,  including  as  it  did  Bull  Run,  Manassas,  Antietam,  Fred- 
ericksburg. Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Spottsylvania,  Wilderness,  Cold 
Harbor,  and  all  the  operations  around  Richmond.  His  last  picket  duty  was 
on  the  night  of  April  2,  1865,  on  the  Newmarket  road  in  the  vicinity  of 
Richmond.  With  a  noble  record  Mr.  Schroeder  returned  to  his  work  after 
the  war  and  within  10  days  was  quietly  occupying  his  old  position,  just  as 
if  he  had  not  been  risking  his  life  almost  every  hour  during  the  preceding 
three  years.  Working  at  blacksmithing  and  the  butchering  business,  at 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  at  Anderson  and  Logansport,  Indiana,  he  was  busily 
employed  until  the  great  railroad  strike  threw  him  out  of  employment.  In 
1867  he  engaged  in  the  painting  business  at  Virden  and  continuerl  to  work 
in  that  line  until  1902,  when  he  retired  to  Bunker  Hill,  v.here  he  Ims  a  com- 
fortable home  and   manv  friends. 


]44  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Mr.  Schroeder  was  married  in  1869,  to  Helen  C.  Cahill,  who  was  born 
in  Oneida  County,  New  York.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  them,  a  son  and 
daughter,  Agnes  and  Frank,  are  deceased,  while  two  daughters  are  living, 
namely :  Mrs.  Katherine  Anderson  of  Bunker  Hill,  who  has  two  children — 
Helena  and  Thomas  W. ;  and  Marie,  who  lives  at  home.  Mr.  Schroeder 
belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  while  living  at  Virden  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education. 


WILLIAM    P.  DICKIE. 

William  P.  Dickie,  postmaster  at  Bunker  Hill,  IMacoupin  County, 
and  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  place,  was  born  at  Bunker  Hill, 
October  14,  1859.  His  home  always  having  been  here,  he  is  widely  known 
and  a  very  popular  official,  having  been  the  choice  of  his  fellow  citizens  for 
many  responsible  offices  in  the  past.  He  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Mary 
(Patrick)  Dickie. 

Robert  Dickie  was  born  in  Scotland  and.  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
with  his  mother  took  passage  in  a  ship  for  America.  The  ship  was  wrecked 
and,  although  their  lives  were  preserved,  they  lost  all  their  belongings,  and 
when  they  reached  Alton,  Illinois,  were  poor  indeed.  He  soon  found  work 
at  his  trade  of  carpenter  and  later  moved  to  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  operated 
a  wagon  shop  until  his  death,  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  35  years.  He  married 
Mary  Patrick  who  was  born  in  Scotland  and  accompanied  her  parents  to 
Alton  and  thence  to  Bunker  Hill,  where  they  died.  Our  subject  is  the  oldest 
of  their  family  of  six  children,  the  others  being :  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M.  Harland, 
of  Madison,  Illinois ;  Robert,  a  jeweler  of  St.  James,  ^Missouri ;  IMary  E., 
assistant  postmaster  at  Bunker  Hill ;  John  S.,  a  carpenter  of  Bunker  Hill ; 
and  Edward,  who  died  at  Bunker  Hill,  aged  21  years. 

After  completing  the  common  school  course  at  Bunker  Hill,  Air.  Dickie 
spent  one  year  at  the  local  academy,  and  then  learned  the  jewelry  business 
Avith  I.  W.  Camp,  with  whom  he  remained  five  years.  He  then  conduted  a 
business  for  himself  until  February,  1898,  when  he  was  appointed  postmaster. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  145 

In  politics  a  stanch  Republican,  'Sir.  Dickie  has  been  elected  to  many  offices  in 
the  gift  of  the  party.  He  has  served  with  the  greatest  efficiency  as  city 
treasurer,  as  member  of  the  City  Council  and  also  on  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion. He  has  been  very  active  in  politics,  for  12  years  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Republican  Central  Committee,  and  as  delegate  to  county  and  State  con- 
ventions has  proven  his  leadership.  He  is  a  strong  party  man  and  took 
a  very  conspicuous  position  in  the  convention  which  nominated  Governor 
Richard  Yates. 

In  1880  Mr.  Dickie  married  Mary  H.  Tirrill,  who  was  born  in  St. 
Louis,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Louise  Tirrill,  natives  of  New  York. 
They  have  four  children:  John  T.,  with  the  Graham  Paper  Company  of 
St.  Louis;  Chester  O.,  a  member  of  the  class  of  1904  of  the  Bunker  Hill 
High  School;  Lawrence  P.,  also  attending  the  Bunker  Hill  High  School; 
and  ]\Iary  Louise,  who  is  in  school. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Dickie  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  is  a  Master  Mason,  being 
a  member  of  Bunker  Hill  Lodge,  No.   151,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 


ISRAEL  CHAPPELL. 

Israel  Ghappell,  one  of  the  prominent  retired  farmers  of  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  the  owner  of  340  acres  of  fine  land  in  section  4,  Honey 
Point  township,  and  sections  ^t,  and  21,  Shaw's  Point  township,  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  county  since  1852.  He  was  born  February  5,  1825,  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  was  a  son  of  Bartholomew  and  Grace  (Green)  Ghappell. 

Bartholomew  Ghappell  was  born  in  Devonshire,  England  and 
died  in  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  86  years.  He 
came  to  Illinois  in  1833,  one  of  the  early  pioneers,  and  settled  in  Jersey 
County,  where  he  owned  at  one  time  1,000  acres  of  land.  He  entered  two 
half-sections  in  Honey  Point  township,  Macoupin  County.  In  politics  he 
affiliated  with  the  Republican  party  upon  its  formation.  In  religious  belief 
he  was  a  Methodist.  Bartholomew  Ghappell  was  twice  married,  our  subject 
being  the  third  member  of  the  family  born  to  his  second  union,  the  others 


146  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

being:  Mrs.  Lucinda  Lofton,  of  Audrain  County,  Missouri;  Solomon,  of 
Macoupin  County;  Ephraim,  deceased;  Mrs.  Thirza  Noble,  deceased;  Mrs. 
Mahala  Buckles,  a  resident  of  the  old  homestead  in  Jersey  County ;  and 
Richard,  deceased. 

Israel  Chappell  was  seven  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  America,  and  he  was  reared  in  Greene  (now  Jersey)  County,  Illinois.  In 
1848  he  entered  160  acres  of  land  in  Honey  Point  township,  Macoupin 
County,  but  did  not  settle  on  it  until  1852.  In  the  spring  of  1850  he  made 
the  trip  across  the  plains  to  California,  in  company  with  eight  companions, 
with  a  team  of  mules.  The  journey  which  now  requires  but  three  of  four 
days,  then  consumed  four  months.  Mr.  Chappell  remained  in  the  gold  mines 
some  two  years,  being  fairly  successful.  Upon  his  return  he  settled  on  his 
farm  in  Macoupin  County,  which  was  then  unbroken  prairie,  anil  here  he 
has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  over  a  half  century.  He  has 
become  the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  land  both  in  Honey  Point  and 
Shaw's  Point  townships,  aggregating  340  acres,  thus  divided:  160  acres  in 
section.  33,  Shaw's  Point  township,  and  20  additional  acres  of  timber  in  sec- 
tion 21,  and  160  acres  in  section  4,  Honey  Point  township.  He  has  engaged 
very  successfully  in  general  farming  and  the  raising  of  first  class  stock. 
For  some  time  he  has  not  been  actively  engaged,  his  sons  and  son-in-law 
managing  the  property  and  relieving  him  of  all  care. 

On  March  30,  1854,  Mr.  Chappell  was  married  in  Genesee  County, 
New  York,  to  Sophia  Hunt,  who  w-as  born  in  Devonshire,  England,  and  re- 
moved with  her  parents  to  New  York  State  in  1849.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  this  marriage,  of  whom  the  following  are  living :  Israel  Watson, 
who  has  two  children  living  and  one  deceased ;  George  M.,  of  Shaw's  Point 
township,  who  has  three  children  li\ing  and  one  deceased ;  Mrs.  Sophia 
Grace  Dugger,  of  Shaw's  Point  township,  who  has  three  children  living 
and  four  deceased ;  James  Richard,  of  Boone  County,  Illinois,  who  has  two 
children ;  and  Mrs.  Cora  Mae  Groves,  who  has  two  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Groves  reside  on  the  home  farm  which  Mr.  Groves  manages. 

In  his  early  political  life,  Mr.  Chappell  was  a  Whig,  but  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party  ever  since  its  formation  and  still  upholds  its 
principles.  His  first  vote  for  President  was  cast  for  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor. 
He  has  long  been  a  consistent  member  and  liberal  supporter  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Until  he  began  to  feel  the  weight  of  years,  he  was  active  in  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.     Mr.   Chappell   has  lived  a  long  and 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  147 

useful  life  and  has  in  every  way  in  his  power  contributed  to  the  development 
and  betterment  of  his  locality.  He  is  widely  known  and  universally  esteemed. 
On  March  30,  1904,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chappell  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding  in  their  spacious  home,  where  were  gathered  most  of  the  children 
and  grandchildren,  besides  a  large  number  of  their  neighbors  and  acquaint- 
ances. They  were  the  recipients  of  many  valuable  and  useful  presents.  Mr. 
Chappell  made  each  of  his  children  a  present  of  a  handsome  gold  ring  on 
this  occasion.  They  were  recently  made  from  gold  that  he  dug  in  California 
while  there  in  1850-52.  In  addition  Mrs.  Chappell  made  her  eldest  daughter 
a  present  of  a  gold  ring  which  has  been  an  heirloom  in  her  family  for  over 
200  years. 


HENRY  C.  SCHELDT. 

Henry  C.  Scheldt^  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Bunker  Hill  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  who  owns  and  operates  the  Clover  Hill  Farm,  a 
fine  property  of  183  acres  situated  in  section  29,  was  born  in  Madison  County, 
Illinois,  June  23,  1864.  He  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Christine  (Bausch) 
Scheldt. 

Philip  Scheldt  was  born  in  Darmstadt,  Germany.  November  3.  1830. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  11  years  of  age.  ^\'hen  he  was  21  years  olu 
he  came  to  America,  and  after  working  two  years  went  back  to  Germany 
and  brought  with  him  his  father,  who  later  died  at  his  son's  home  in  Madi- 
son County,  Illinois,  aged  75  years.  Philip  Scheldt  married  Christine 
Bausch,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  who  now  resides  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  His 
death  occurred  on  his  farm  in  Macoupin  County  in  1895.  He  was  an  active 
worker  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  was  an  elder  for  many 
years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  he  held  a  number  of  township 
offices.  Although  he  began  life  with  few  advantages,  by  energ}-  and  thrift 
he  accumulated  a  large  property.  His  children  were:  Susan  Gabrielle,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  21  years;  Jacob  T.,  a  lumber  man  in  business  in  Chicago; 
Henry  C,  of  this  sketch;  and  Lizzie,  Amelia  and  Kate,  all  residents  of 
Chicago. 

Our  subject  was  six  months  old  when  his  parents  settled  on  the  present 
farm,  on  which   he  has  lived  ever  since.     He  has  here  very  successfully 


148  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

carried  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  has  a  herd  of  Jersey  cattle, 
eligible  to  register.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  Poland-China  hogs  which  are 
also  eligible  to  register,  his  boar  "Romeo"  being  one  of  the  best  in  this  State. 
He  raises  large  crops  of  wheat  and  corn,  but  of  late  years  has  been  directing 
his  efforts  more  in  the  line  of  fruit  culture,  and  has  set  out  1,400  pear  trees 
and  100  apple  trees.  On  account  of  the  favorable  situation  of  his  land  and 
his  careful  methods,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  Mr.  Scheldt  will  reap  large 
harvests  of  choice  fruit. 

In  1 89 1  Mr.  Scheldt  married  Mary  Kreig,  who  was  born  in  Madison 
County,  Illinois,  October  2,  1868,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara 
Kreig,  both  natives  of  Germany.  They  have  one  son,  Roscoe,  a  bright  boy 
now  attending  school.  In  politics.  Mr.  Scheldt  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party  in  which  he  is  held  in  such  esteem  that  he  is  often  called  upon 
to  fill  official  positions.  He  has  been  a  school  trustee  for  a  long  period  and 
for  nine  years  served  as  highway  commissioner,  much  credit  being  due  him 
for  the  excellent  conditions  prevailing  throughout  the  township.  He  is  a 
leading  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  one  of  the  trustees,  as  well 
as  one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters. 


F.  L  HARRIS. 


F.  L.  H.\RRis,  whose  personal  sketch  we  herewith  present,  is  a  pros- 
perous and  enterprising  citizen  of  Brushy  Mound  township,  Macoupin 
County,  where  he  operates  a  sawmill.  He  was  born  in  Michigan,  December 
23,   1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Amanda    (Watson)    Harris. 

Joseph  Harris  was  by  trade  a  bridge  carpenter,  which  trade  he  followed 
during  his  entire  active  period,  residing  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Michi- 
gan. He  removed  to  Linn  County,  Kansas,  and  later  to  Coffey  County, 
Kansas.  He  died  in  Kansas  City.  To  this  couple  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, namely;  F.  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Isabel;  Irene;  Lulu;  Charles; 
Catherine;  and  one  who  died  unnamed   in   infancy. 

F.  L.  Harris  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1883,  and  located  in  Honey 
Point  township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  remained  but  one  year,  and  then 


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MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  151 

removed  to  his  present  location  and  purchased  the  property.  Our  subject 
has  proved  himself  to  be  a  man  of  great  ability.  Besides  operating  his  saw- 
mill, our  subject  owns  and  operates  a  threshing  machine,  which  has  also 
proved  to  be  very  profitable.  Our  subject  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  be- 
lief, and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  many  political  affairs,  and  has  served  as 
commissioner  of  tlie  township. 

Our  subject  was  wedded  in  1883  to  Angeline  Jackson,  a  native  of 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  they  reside  in  a  comfortable  home  which  our 
subject  owns  and  takes  pride  in  keeping  in  good  repair  and  as  modern  as 
possible. 


ALBERT  C.^.MPBELL  CORR,  A.  M.,  M.  D. 

Albert  Campbell  Corr.  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  deceased,  was  for  many  years 
one  of  the  foremost  physicians  and  surgeons  in  Southern  Illinois,  being 
located  at  Carlinville  nearly  the  entire  period  of  his  professional  career. 
Owing  to  ill  health  resulting  from  general  practice,  he  made  a  careful  study 
of  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear  and  throat  and  confined  his  energies  to  practice  as 
a  specialist.  He  and  his  estimable  wife.  Dr.  Lucinda  H.  Corr,  conducted 
The  Home  Hospital,  a  retreat  for  invalids,  which  they  established  in  1878. 
The  death  of  Dr.  Corr  was  an  irreparable  loss  to  the  community,  in  which  he 
was  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 

Dr.  Albert  Campbell  Corr  was  bom  near  Honey  Point,  ^lacoupin 
County.  Illinois,  February  10,  1840.  and  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Corr, 
whose  father  was  of  English  birth  and  came  to  this  country  with  his  brother, 
locating  in  \'irginia.  Thomas  Corr  was  born  in  King  and  Queen  Countj--, 
\''irginia,  in  1800,  and  at  a  verj'  early  age  moved  to  Kentucky.  At  the  age  of 
17  years  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Preshea  Wood,  who  died  in  Monroe, 
Iowa.  October  9,  1888,  at  the  advanced  age  of  86  years.  In  1S34.  Thomas 
Corr  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was  residing  in  Macoupin  County  at  the  time 
of  his  death  in  1852.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  12  children:  three 
sons  made  honorable  records  of  service  in  the  Union  Army  during  the  Civil 
War. 

Albert  Campbell  Corr  during  his  yoimger  days  attended  the  old  log 
school  house  in  his  district,  and  while  not  at  school  assisted  in  the  work  about 


152  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

the  farm.  He  was  desirous  of  obtaining  a  superior  education  and  laid  his 
plans  accordingly,  but  he  was  destined  to  disappointment  in  this  ambition. 
His  elder  brother  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union  Army  and  the  care  of  the 
paternal  acres  fell  upon  the  young  shoulders  of  our  subject  for  the  time  being. 
However,  in  1863  he  entered  Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville.  But, 
imbued  with  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  he  sacrificed  his  personal  ambitions  for  the 
time  and  in  1864  enlisted  in  Company  F,  133rd,  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.  He 
served  for  a  period  of  four  months,  during  which  time  he  paid  $21  per  month 
to  a  man  to  take  his  place  on  the  farm. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  our  subject  returned  home  and  devoted  his 
spare  time  to  the  study  of  medicine,  pursuing  a  three-years'  course  in  the 
Chicago  Medical  College.  He  was  graduated  from  that  institution  on  March 
4,  1868,  and  was  the  first  in  Macoupin  County  to  take  such  an  extensive 
course  of  study  in  a  medical  college.  In  1865,  Dr.  Corr  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Lucinda  Hall,  a  native  of  Macoupin  County  who  was  at  that  time 
teaching  school.  She  continued  teaching  after  marriage,  having 
a  school  near  the  home  of  our  subject's  mother,  in  order  to 
look  after  the  latter  until  the  graduation  of  Dr.  Corr.  He  was  always  a  firm 
believer  in  equal  rights  and  privileges  to  women,  and  it  was  his  wish  as  well 
as  Mrs.  Corr's  that  she  pursue  a  course  of  study  in  medicine  and  become  a 
companion  to  him  in  his  professional  work.  She  entered  the  Woman's  Hospi- 
tal Medical  College,  and  was  graduated  with  honors  in  March,  1874.  being 
the  first  woman  from  Macoupin  County  to  graduate  in  medicine. 

Dr.  A.  C.  Corr  first  engaged  in  practice  at  Chesterfield,  and  seven  years 
later  became  established  at  Carlinville,  where  he  continued  in  practice  until 
his  death.  It  was  at  his  instigation  that  the  Macoupin  County  Medical  So- 
ciety was  organized  in  1873  and  during  the  first  10  years  of  its  existence  he 
served  as  its  secretary.  He  was  chosen  president  in  April,  1880.  As  a  re- 
sult of  ill  health  he  gave  up  the  general  practice  of  medicine  and  devoted  his 
attention  to  a  careful  study  of  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear  and  throat,  taking  post- 
graduate work  in  New  York,  Baltimore  and  Chicago.  From  1886  until  his 
death,  his  time  was  devoted  exclusively  to  the  treatment  of  those  diseases, 
attaining  a  high  degree  of  success.  His  wife  has  been  equally  successful  in 
the  treatment  of  nervous  diseases  and  diseases  of  women.  Dr.  Corr  was  a 
writer  of  considerable  prominence  in  the  medical  world  and  was  editor  of 
the  eye  and  ear  department  of  the  Southern-Illinois  Journal  of  Medicine  and 
Surgery.     He  was  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  for  over 


MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  153 

30  years,  and  in  1897  was  elected  president  of  that  body.  He  was  also  elected 
president  of  the  Army  and  Na\'y  Medical  Society,  a  society  which  originated 
in  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  and  in  which  he  was  associated  with 
Dr.  E.  P.  Cook  and  many  other  prominent  medical  men  of  the  State.  He 
also  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  pension  examiners  for  Montgomery  and 
Macoupin  counties.  At  the  instance  of  Governor  John  R.  Tanner,  Dr.  Corr 
was  made  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Health,  serving  out  the 
term  of  a  deceased  member,  and  was  elected  its  president.  He  was  chosen 
by  Governor  John  P.  Altgeld  as  one  of  the  delegates  from  this  State  to  the 
first  Pan--\merican  Medical  Congress.  On  account  of  his  continued  scientific 
pursuits  and  successes,  he  was  given  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  by  Black- 
bum  University  in  1893.  He  was  a  man  of  broad  and  liberal  ideas,  always 
a  friend  of  the  poor  and  needy,  and  was  welcomed  into  the  best  homes  of  the 
county.  Portraits  of  Dr.  Albert  Campbell  Corr  and  Dr.  Lucinda  H.  Corr 
accompany  this  sketch,  being  presented  on  a  foregoing  page. 


COL.  JOHN  HELFEN5TE1N  SIMMONS. 

CoL.  John  Helfenstein  Simmons,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Bunker  HiU,  Macoupin  County,  and  a  survivor  of  the  Civil  \\'ar,  now  lives 
in  easy  retirement,  surrounded  by  all  that  makes  advanced  life  pleasant. 
Colonel  Simmons  was  bom  Februarj-  26,  1831,  at  Frederick,  Maryland,  and 
is  a  son  of  Zacharia  Taylor  and  Louisa  C.   (Helfenstein)   Simmons. 

Zacharia  Taylor  Simmons,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Frederick, 
Maryland,  and  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  aged  71  years.  He  w^as  a  son  of 
Col.  John  H.  Simmons,  who  won  his  rank  at  Fort  Henry,  during  the  War 
of  1 81 2,  and  was  a  prominent  and  wealthy  farmer  of  Maryland,  a  Demo- 
cratic politician  and  long  a  member  of  the  State  Senate.  Zacharia  Taylor, 
who  was  one  of  his  father's  family  of  eight  children,  married  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  Helfenstein,  who  was  a  minister  in  the  German  Reformed  Church 
at  Frederick,  ;Mar\-land.  They  had  five  children,  namely:  John  H.,  of  this 
sketch;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Glenn,  deceased;  Mrs.  Harriet  Rebecca  Gee,  of  Wis- 


154  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

consin;  Albert,  who  died  young;  and  Edward  C,  who  is  at  the  head  of 
the  Simmons  Hardware  Co.  of  St.  Louis,  which  is  the  largest  whole- 
sale and  retail  concern  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  Until  his  health  failed,  the 
father  of  this  family  engaged  in  farming  and  merchandising,  removing  to 
Philadelphia  in  1841,  and  to  St.  Louis,  in  1844.  He  was  a  man  of  ex- 
emplary character  and  was  firm  in  his  convictions  of  right  and  wrong.  In 
politics  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school,  he  boldly  upheld  the  principles  of  that 
party.  The  religious  associations  of  the  family  away  back  to  his  grand- 
father, who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  have  always  been  with 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  our  subject  is  a  licensed  lay 
reader. 

Colonel  Simmons  was  1 1  years  of  age  when  tlie  family  removed  to  Phil- 
adelphia, and  remained  at  the  home  in  St.  Louis  until  1877,  as  the  eldest  of 
the  children,  having  many  responsibilities  on  account  of  his  father's  delicate 
health.  For  20  years  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  and  commission  business 
at  St.  Louis,  but  in  the  latter  part  of  1861  enlisted  in  the  Confederate 
service,  in  which  he  remained  through  the  war,  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  being  connected  with  General  Price  at  headquarters.  After  the  close 
of  the  war.  Colonel  Simmons  returned  to  St.  Louis  and  embarked  in  the 
manufacture  of  machinery  with  the  G.  &  W.  Todd  Company  for  two  years 
and  then  took  an  interest  in  the  foundry  and  machine  business  of  Smith, 
Beggs  &  Company.  In  1877  he  went  to  Lake  City  and  Leadville,  Colorado, 
where  he  was  engaged  for  a  time  in  gold  mining  and  then  returned  to  Bunker 
Hill  and  was  engaged  in  merchandising  until  he  retircvi. 

In  1879  Colonel  Simmons  was  married  to  Lucy  D.  Pierce,  who  was 
born  in  November,  1853,  at  Belleville,  Illinois,  and  died  in  Bunker  Hill  in 
February,  1902,  aged  48  years.  Her  death  was  induced  by  nervous  prostra- 
tion and  pneumonia  brought  on  by  the  burning  of  the  family  home.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  John  Orrin  and  Clarissa  D.  Pierce,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  and  the  latter  in  Tioga  County,  New 
York.  Mr.  and  Airs.  Pierce  had  six  children,  viz :  Lucy  D. ;  Mrs.  Clarissa 
Adelaide  Jardine  of  Denver,  Colorado;  J^Irs.  Cynthia  J.  Milton  of  Bunker 
Hill;  Mrs.  Jessie  M.  Richards,  who  died  June  21.  1898:  John  Orrin  of 
Denver:  and  Mary,  of  Bunker  Hill.  Mrs.  Pierce  was  a  Floyd  and  her 
grandmother  was  Lucy  S.  Tozer,  who  was  born  June  5,  1796.  Her  father, 
Julius  Tozer,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  thus,  on  both  sides  of  the 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  155 

family,  Colonel  Simmons"  two  charming  daughters  are  eligible  to  the  so- 
ciety of  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution.  They  bear  the  names  of  Carrie 
Adel  and  Jessie  Floyd. 


WILLIAM  N.  GULP. 

^^'ILLIA1I  X.  CuLP,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  and  extensive  farmers 
and  stock  raisers  of  Macoupin  County,  president  of  the  Honey  Point  Horse 
Compan}-,  was  born  October  i,  1839,  in  ^Macoupin  County,  which  has  been 
his  home  all  his  life.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  B.  and  Gabriella  (Finley) 
Culp. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Hon.  Thomas  Culp,  who  was  born 
in  Kentuckj'  and  removed  to  Missouri  in  1815,  where  he  served  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  died  in  Izard  County,  Arkansas,  in  1848,  leaving  one  child, 
Samuel  B.  The  latter  was  born  in  Nicholas  County,  Kentucky,  in  181 3, 
and  died  in  Shelby  Covmty,  Illinois,  in  1893.  He  came  to  this  State  at  the 
age  of  21  years  and  located  at  Greenfield,  where  he  conducted  a  shop  and 
worked  at  his  trade  of  tailoring.  He  was  a  man  of  most  exemplary  life,  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  which  he  was  a  preacher  for  many 
years,  giving  his  service  to  the  Hickory  Grove  Baptist  Church,  with  little 
remuneration,  for  fortj-  years.  He  owned  a  small  farm  in  Bird  township, 
Macoupin  County,  where  his  industry  and  frugality  secured  him  a  com- 
petency. In  politics  he  supported  the  Democratic  party.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  William  Finley,  of  Kentuck}-,  and  four  children  were  bom  to 
them,  namely:  William  N. ;  James  F.,  a  large  fruit  grower  of  Mississippi, 
having  10,000  peach  trees ;  Columbus,  who  was  accidentally  killed  at  the 
age  of  24  years,  while  on  a  himting  excursion  in  Kansas:  and  Mrs.  Emma 
A.  Hibrier  of  ilississippi.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  Shelby  County, 
Illinois,  in  1S90,  at  the  age  of  79  years. 

\Mlliam  X.  Culp  attended  tlie  common  schools  and  the  education  thus 
secured  was  supplemented  by  one  term  at  Blackburn  University.  During 
12  winters  he  taught  the  local  district  schools.  He  owns  585  acres  of  land 
located  in  sections  17,  18  and  19,  Honey  Point  township,  IMacoupin  County. 
He  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  making  his  leading  crops  hay  and  corn, 
and  extensive  stock  breeding  and   raising,  keeping  only  high  grade  stock. 


156  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Annually,  he  sells  100  head  of  hogs,  100  head  of  cattle  and  averages  15 
head  of  horses.  He  has  taken  great  interest  in  advancing  the  quality  of 
stock  of  all  kinds  in  this  section  and  is  serving  as  president  of  the  Honey 
Point  Horse  Company,  being  one  of  eight  extensive  breeders  who  organized 
the  company  in  June,  1892.  He  owns  an  interest  in  one  of  the  company's 
imported  Percheron  stallions,  which  was  brought  from  France  at  a  cost  of 
$1,600. 

Mr.  Culp  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat  and  is  a  man  of  influence  in  his 
party  in  this  locality.  He  is  most  highly  esteemed  by  the  community  and  has 
served  five  terms  as  township  supervisor,  for  30  years  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board,  and  for  a  long  period  as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Religiously 
he  is  a  member  and  liberal  supporter  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

In  1862  Mr.  Culp  married  Rachel  E.  Frazier,  who  was  born  in  Macou- 
pin County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  C.  and  Malinda  Frazier, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  in  Tennessee. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frazier  came  to  Macoupin  County  in  1833.  The  seven  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Culp  are  as  follows:  Flora  A.,  a  graduate  of 
Elmira  College,  who  is  principal  of  the  Virden  schools;  Carrie  B.,  who  mar- 
ried Dr.  John  N.  English  of  Mississippi,  and  has  one  son — Thomas ;  Samuel 
H.,  who  operates  the  home  farm;  Rev.  Franklin  H.,  a  Baptist  clergyman, 
a  graduate  of  the  Western  Normal  School,  engaged  in  fruit  growing  in 
Mississippi,  who  married  Lizzie  Luckey;  Mabel  C,  who  married  Merle 
Karnahan  of  Kansas,  and  has  one  child — Hazel ;  Claudius  C,  associated 
with  his  brother  Franklin  H.  in  fruit  growing,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Black- 
burn University  and  much  interested  in  sceintific  studies ;  and  Martha  M., 
who  is  also  a  graduate  of  Blackburn  University,  and  resides  at  home.  The 
family  is  one  of  exceptional  ability  and  Mr.  Culp  has  afforded  each  one  of 
his  children  a  college  education. 


JOHN    BRANDENBURGER. 

John  Brandenburger,  who  is  one  of  the  respected  residents  and  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  Bunker  Hill.  Macoupin  County,  and  is  deserving  of  the 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held  as  a  survivor  of  the  great  Civil  War,  was  born 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  ,  157 

at  Krietzner,  Germany,  November  16,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew 
Brandenburger. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Germany  in  1795,  where  he  fol- 
lowed an  agricultural  life,  owning  a  large  estate,  which  he  left  in  1862  ana 
came  to  America,  his  death  occurring  in  tlie  same  year  at  Belleville,  Illinois. 
He  had  ser\-ed  tliree  years  in  the  army,  as  the  law  of  his  country  demanded, 
and  was  a  man  who  commanded  respect  wherever  he  was  known.  His  five 
children  all  came  to  the  United  States,  and  all  except  our  subject  have 
passed  away,  namely:  \\"illiam,  who  died  at  Belleville  in  1892,  aged  79 
years,  leaving  a  fortune  made  in  coal  mining,  which  was  estimated  at  a  half 
million ;  Airs.  Christiana  Ryman,  who  died  in  Belleville  aged  70  years ;  and 
Andrew  and  Jacob. 

John  Brandenburger  attended  school  in  his  native  land  until  he  was  16 
years  of  age  and  then  spent  three  years  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade, 
serving  then  three  years  in  the  Prussian  Army  and  participating  in  the 
revolution  of  1848.  In  185 1  he  came  to  America  to  join  his  brother  at 
Belleville,  where  he  remained  until  1853,  when  he  moved  to  Bunker  Hill. 
]\Ir.  Brandenburger  was  without  means  when  lie  located  in  Bunker  Hill, 
but  being  equipped  with  an  excellent  trade  he  immediately  engaged  in  busi- 
ness and  through  his  industry,  energy  and  perseverance  soon  became  pros- 
perous. However,  when  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded,  in  1861,  he  was  willing 
to  respond  and  do  battle  for  a  country  which  had  welcomed  him  and  had 
offered  him  support  in  making  an  honest  livelihood.  He  enlisted  for  service 
in  Company  B,  ist  Reg.,  Missouri  \'ol.  Cav..  under  command  of  General 
Curtis.  His  army  service  covered  three  years  and  two  months  and  included 
the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Pilot  Knob  and  Prairie  Grove,  and  almost  con- 
tinuous skirmishing  through  Arkansas  and  Missouri.  It  was  shortly  after 
he  enlisted  that  he  was  seriously  injured  in  a  cavalry  charge,  by  having  his 
horse  fall  on  him,  two  broken  ribs  landing  him  in  Sedalia  hosp'tal  for  two 
months  and  entitling  him  to  a  present  monthly  pension  of  $24.  After  mak- 
ing an  admirable  record  for  braverj',  he  was  discharged  in  December,  1864. 
Then  he  returned  to  Bunker  Hill  and  resumed  work  at  his  trade.  In  the 
years  following  he  became  very  prosperous  and  is  now  a  man  of  capital. 
For  some  years,  with  tlie  assistance  of  his  late  estimable  wife,  he  conducted 
a  first  class  boarding  house  in  Bunker  Hill. 

In  1854  Mr.  Brandenburger  was  married  to  Christina  Fohnger,  who 
was  also  born  in  Germany,  and  died  in  1901,  at  Bunker  Hill,  aged  67  years. 


158  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

They  had  these  children :  Mrs.  Louisa  Lee,  of  Bunker  Hill,  who  has  five 
children;  ]\Irs.  Margaret  Hanagan,  of  Alton,  who  has  three  children;  John, 
a  member  of  the  St.  Louis  police  force,  who  has  one  child;  Mrs.  Mena 
Gosch,  of  Bunker  Hill,  who  has  one  child;  and  Lily,  widow  of  Dr.  Glan  of 
Bunker  Hill,  who  has  one  child.  Mr.  Brandenburger  has  lived  to  see  all  his 
children  comfortably  settled  in  life  and  to  have  grandchildren  gathering 
about  his  knee,  and  also  to  see  the  country  for  which  he  risked  his  life  one 
of  the  greatest  in  the  world. 

]\Ir.  Brandenburger  cast  his  -first  presidential  vote  for  General  Fremont 
in  1856,  and  has  been  a  stanch  Republican  ever  since.  He  is  a  valued  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  a  body  of  men  deserving  of  the 
greatest  consideration  from  the  present  generation. 


GILES  ADAMS. 


Giles  Adams^  a  retired  farmer  of  Macoupin  County,  is  a  self  made  man 
in  ever}-  respect  the  word  implies,  as  well  as  a  respected  and  honored  citizen. 
He  resides  on  his  handsome  farm  of  120  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land 
situated  in  section  31,  Brushy  Mound  township.  He  was  bom  in  Tennessee 
May  9,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  William  C.  and  Margaret   (Ward)   Adams. 

William  C.  Adams,  who  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  came  to 
Llacoupin  County  when  our  subject  was  one  year  old,  and  although  he  was 
a  hard  and  industrious  worker  he  never  amassed  any  great  wealth,  but  was 
a  man  who  had  countless  friends  and  was  known  throughout  the  county 
for  his  honest  and  upright  methods  of  doing  business.  He  was  married  to 
Margaret  Ward,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  12  children  were  bom  to  them, 
namely :  Giles,  whose  name  heads  this  personal  sketch ;  IMoses ;  Sarah  E. 
(Rusher),  who  married  William  Rusher  and  had  16  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living,  namely — Elmira,  Robert,  Giles,  George  and  Annie;  John; 
Elizabeth,  now  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  John  Sanders;  James;  Nancy, 
deceased,  whose  first  husband  was  Peter  Xewell,  her  second  John  Dowdle, 
and  her  tliird  John  Conrad;  Jesse;  Daniel;  George;  Francis  M.  and  Jane. 
In  religious  belief  William  C.  Adams  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church.     They  both  died  many  years  ago. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  159 

Giles  Adams  was  reared  and  educated  in  Macoupin  County,  attending 
the  old-fashioned  school  houses  of  the  early  days.  After  reaching  the  years 
of  manhood,  he  worked  upon  the  farm  which  he  now  owns.  He  has  met 
with  success  in  all  enterprises  which  he  has  undertaken.  Our  subject  was 
very  active  in  former  years  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  with  his  nephew- 
Giles  Rusher.  He  is  a  well  preserved  man  of  good  character,  and  is  a 
highly  respected  citizen.  Our  subject  never  married,  preferring  to  support 
and  care  for  his  widowed  mother. 


MRS.  HELEN  FLETCHER. 

Mrs  Helen  Fletcher,  widow  of  the  late  Samuel  Anson  Fletcher,  is 
one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  residents  of  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County, 
and  is  a  representative  of  a  family  which  was  established  here  more  than  a 
half  century  ago.  The  birth  of  Mrs.  Fletcher  took  place  in  the  little  village 
of  Larne,  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  probably  the  most  picturesque  and 
beautiful  section  of  the  northern  part  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Stewart  and  Eliza  (Blair)  McCambridge. 

The  original  home  of  the  McCambridge  family  was  Scotland,  whence 
they  removed  into  Ireland,  generations  ago,  on  acount  of  religious  perse- 
cution. Malcolm  McCambridge,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Fletcher, 
settled  in  County  Antrim  and  there  acquired  lands  to  which  additions  were 
made  by  his  descendants.  His  son  Daniel  succeeded  him  and  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children,  bearing  the  names  of  John,  Daniel,  Alexander,  Archibald, 
Frank,  Sarah,  Margaret  and  Stewart.  The  last  named,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Fletcher,  was  born  in  County  Antrim,  March  8,  1802.  In  the  schools  con- 
ducted by  the  Catholic  clergy  of  the  locality,  he  was  well  educated  but  he 
never  became  a  convert  to  their  faith,  in  later  years  being  confirmed  by 
Bishop  Manse  in  the  communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  In 
Ireland  he  learned  the  tanning  business,  for,  while  his  father  was  a  man  of 
large  wealth,  the  property  was  entailed  and  he  being  the  youngest  child  was 
forced  to  seek  his  own  fortune.  He  married  Eliza  Blair,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland  and  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Knox)  Blair,  and, 
9 


i6o  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

with  wife  and  children,  migrated  in  1849  to  America.  The  vessel  left  its 
freight  and  passengers  at  Xew  Orleans  and  there  the  family  remained  a  few 
months  and  then  came  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  Alton,  the  objective  point 
being  the  rich  farming  lands  of  Macoupin  County.  After  the  purchase  of 
a  beautiful  farm  of  120  acres  had  been  made  by  Mr.  McCambridge,  the 
family  drove  out  to  the  new  home  and  there  Mrs.  Fletcher  lived  until  about 
40  years  of  age.  There  her  father  died  in  March,  1884.  In  appearance  and 
in  manner  and  temperament,  Mr.  McCambridge  was  a  typical  Irishman, 
hospitable,  generous,  witty  and  home-loving.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 
Six  of  his  family  of  12  children  lived  to  maturity:  Daniel,  Frank,  Alexander, 
Elizabeth,  Fannie,  Helen  and  Blair.  Daniel  was  a  physician  and  died  in 
Xew  Zealand.  Frank  and  Alexander  both  served  in  the  Civil  War  as  mem- 
bers of  Mahone's  Brigade,  3rd  Alabama  Regiment,  Confederate  States 
Army.  The  latter  was  wounded  at  Seven  Pines,  was  in  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness  and  was  one  of  the  prisoners  taken  by  General  Grant  at  the  siege 
of  \'icksburg.  Later,  while  under  parole,  he  was  arrested  at  St.  Louis,  but 
was  released  upon  the  payment  of  $100  to  his  guards.  He  then  accepted  a 
position  as  station  agent  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway  at  Alton. 
Frank  also  went  into  railroad  work  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  at 
\'enice,  Illinois,  was  captain  of  a  ferry  boat.  Alexander  died  at  Bunker 
Hill,  Macoupin  County,  in  1866,  of  cholera.  Elizabeth  is  Mrs.  Compton 
and  lives  in  St.  Louis.  Fannie  died  at  the  age  of  19  years  and  rests  in  the 
Bunker  Hill  cemetery.  Blair  is  a  prominent  Democratic  politician  at  Venice, 
Illinois. 

Mrs.  Fletcher  was  born  June  9,  1844,  and  was  five  years  old  when  the 
family  reached  New  Orleans,  old  enough  to  recall  the  leading  features  of  the 
long  trip.  In  the  city  of  New  York,  March  30,  1886,  she  was  married  to 
Samuel  Anson  Fletcher,  of  Bunker  Hill,  who  was  born  at  Antrim,  New 
Hampshire,  in  1824,  a  son  of  Hon.  Samuel  Fletcher,  who  served  16  years  in 
the  New  Hampshire  Legislature.  Mr.  Fletcher  was  a  man  of  fine  educa- 
tion and  in  early  life  was  a  school  teacher.  In  1857  he  came  to  Bunker  Hill, 
where  for  many  years  he  stood  very  high  in  public  esteem.  As  a  stock 
buyer  he  was  very  successful,  carrying  on  extensive  operations.  He  was  the 
first  mayor  of  Bunker  Hill  and  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council  for  12 
years.  In  politics  he  was  an  influential  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  attended  and  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
which  his  father  had  been  a  deacon.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fletcher  had  one  dnugh- 


MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  i6i 

ter.  Elizabeth  Blair,  who  is  still  at  school.  By  a  former  marriage.  Mr. 
Fletcher  had  three  children.  He  died  in  June,  1893,  his  decease  being  a 
distinct  loss  not  only  to  his  family,  but  to  the  community  which  had  so  long 
benefitted  by  his  liberality  and  his  continued  public  spirit. 


VINCENT  SMITH. 


ViNCEXT  Smith,  whose  death  occurred  February-  28,  1904,  had  been 
a  resident  of  Bunker  Hill  for  more  than  half  a  century,  and  for  some  time 
previous  to  his  decease  was  considered  as  the  oldest  citizen  of  Macoupin 
County.  He  was  universally  regarded  with  the  reverence  due  his  advanced 
age,  as  well  as  with  the  respect  and  esteem  accorded  those  who  have  lived 
useful,  helpful  lives.  Mr.  Smith  was  born  June  7,  1808,  in  London,  Eng- 
land, in  the  year  in  which  James  Madison  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  1 1  years  before  the  birth  of  that  gracious  lady  and 
sovereign,  the  late  Queen  \'ictoria.  He  was  the  only  child  born  to  his 
parents,  \'incent  and  Hannah  (Ridgley)   Smith. 

The  Smith  family  was  one  of  distinction  in  England,  only  three  genera- 
tions removed  from  the  crown,  and  upon  their  coat-of-arms  is  inscribed  the 
stag  and  seven  stars.  An  uncle  of  our  venerable  subject  once  sened  as  lord 
mayor  of  London  and  other  prominent  offices  have  been  held  by  his  kindred. 
The  father  of  ilr.  Smith  died  when  he  was  three  years  old,  and  when  Vin- 
cent was  eight  years  of  age.  his  mother  brought  him  to  America,  in  181 6 
accompanying  her  parents,  Thomas  and  Lydia  Ridgley,  to  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. They  settled  on  a  farm  at  Spott's  Pond,  16  miles  from  the  At- 
lantic Ocean.  Some  years  later  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Ridgley  and  family  removed 
to  Illinois,  where  Lydia  Ridgley  died,  her  husband  then  going  to  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  and  making  his  home  subsequently  with  his  son,  Richard  Ridgley, 
a  brother  of  Hon.  Stephen  Ridgley,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Misouri 
Legfislature  and  a  man  of  wealth  and  prominence.  Stephen  Ridgley  was  the 
foimder  of  the  Ridgley  Library-  which  is  now  in  course  of  construction  at 
Washington  University.  Stephen  and  Richard  Ridgley  made  hrge  fortunes 
in   the  manufacture  of   an   illuminating   fluid.      The  other  children   of  the 


i62  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Ridgley  family  were:  John,  a  sailor,  who  lost  his  life  at  sea;  George,  who 
died  on  the  plains  on  his  way  to  California,  in  1849;  ^^^s.  Rhoda  Bird; 
]Mrs.  Eliza  Richards;  Thomas,  a  farmer,  who  died  at  Bunker  Hill;  and 
William,  who  was  also  engaged  in  farming.  Richard  Ridgley  died 
in  Bunker  Hill. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  died  soon  after  reaching  America,  at  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  and  the  orphan  boy  found  a  home  with  his  uncle,  Lazarus 
Haskell.  He  has  the  kindest  recollections  of  his  good  uncle  and  aunt,  the 
latter  being  a  sister  of  his  mother,  and  he  recalls  many  interesting  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  those  days.  Mrs.  Haskell  was  employed  in  the 
family  of  John  Ounicy  Adams,  in  the  capacity  of  seamstress,  but  seems  to 
have  been  regarded  with  affection,  Mr.  Smith  having  in  his  possession  a 
gold  shawl  pin  which  was  presented  to  his  aunt  by  Mrs.  Adams.  With  this 
aunt  he  attended  the  inauguration  of  President  Adams,  and  can  recall  many 
incidents  of  that  august  occasion. 

Mr.  Smith  was  about  25  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  the  family 
in  its  migration  to  Ohio,  and  settlement  at  Yellow  Springs.  A  few  years 
later,  he  came  to  Illinois,  on  the  way  passing  through  the  city  of  Indianapolis, 
when  that  beautiful  capital  of  Indiana  was  represented  by  four  dwellings 
and  a  blacksmith  shop.  Mr.  Smtih  located  near  Monmouth,  Illinois,  enter- 
ing land  in  Warren  County.  As  but  two  years  had  elapsed  since  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  the  country  was  still  in  an  unsettled  state,  and  he  passed  the 
first  winter  in  a  blockhouse — a  frontier  fort  used  for  protection  against 
Indians.  Later  he  improved  a  farm  and  built  the  first  frame  house  erected 
between  Monmouth  and  Chicago.  In  185 1  he  removed  to  Macoupin  County 
and  settled  in  Bunker  Hill  township.  The  old  homestead  still  stands  but 
has  not  been  occupied  for  the  past  25  years. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  January-  25.  1840.  to  Rhoda  Bird,  who  was 
bom  at  Dorchester,  Massachusetts.  December  19.  1824.  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Lemuel  and  Rhoda  (Ridgley)  Bird.  Of  the  12  children  born  to  them, 
these  survive :  Stephen,  who  is  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Wyndmere, 
Xorth  Dakota;  Haney  Y.,  who  resides  in  Bunker  Hill  township;  Mrs.  Han- 
nah Boswell  of  Shipman,  Macoupin  County ;  Katherine  E. ;  Lemuel  B.  and 
Edward  L. — ^all  of  Bunker  Hill  township.  The  deceased  were :  Ella  M.. 
Lucy,  Anna,  Cluilus,  Hattie  and  Mary  E.,  who  died  five  months  after  her 
marriage  with  Henry  Parker. 

Mr.  Smith  always  filled  a  prominent  place  in  the  affairs  of  his  com- 


'  MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  163 

munity  and  was  foremost  in  the  establishment  of  many  of  the  local  enter- 
prises. He  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Military  Academy, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  liberal  supporters  of  McKendree  College.  For  more 
than  60  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  uniting  with  it  in 
its  early  days  in  his  section,  and  was  of  the  utmost  assistance  in  the  erection 
of  the  first  Methodist  church  structure  at  Bunker  Hill.  Later,  when  a  new 
building  was  proposed,  he  again  gave  generous  assistance.  In  early  days 
he  was  an  abolitionist  and  during  the  Civil  War  upheld  the  arms  of  the 
government  to  the  best  of  his  ability.  He  was  always  a  temperance  man  and 
for  some  years  performed  his  part  in  advancing  the  principles  advocated  by 
the  Prohibition  party. 

Mr.  Smith's  declining  years  were  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts 
dear  to  age.  His  wife  passed  away  in  July,  1899,  at  the  age  of  75  years, 
but  an  affectionate  and  devoted  daughter  was  ever  at  his  side  during  the 
three  and  a  half  years  that  intervened  between  the  loss  of  his  wife  and  his 
own  removal  from  the  scene  of  his  labors,  and  his  sons  kept  him  in  touch 
with  the  world.  His  life  covered  the  most  wonderful  epoch  in  the  earth's 
history,  and  it  was  the  oft  expressed  wish  of  his  friends  that  he  might  be 
permitted  to  round  out  the  century.  This  was  not  an  unreasonable  hope,  as 
all  who  have  had  knowledge  of  his  wonderful  vitality  and  his  vigor  of  body 
and  mind  can  testify. 


HANEY  V.  SMITH. 

Haney  V.  Smith,  who,  with  his  brothers,  Lemuel  B.  and  Edward  L., 
form  the  firm  of  Smith  Brothers,  proprietors  of  the  Bird  Hill  Fruit  Farm, 
consisting  of  102  acres,  situated  in  sections  14  and  11,  Bunker  Hill  township, 
Macoupin  County,  was  born  April  29,  1847,  '"  Warren  County,  Illinois. 
He  is  a  son  of  Vincent  and  Rhoda  (Bird)  Smith,  the  former  of  whom  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  February  28,  1904,  was  the  most  venerable  citizen  of 
Macoupin  County. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  12  children  born  to  his  parents,  the 
survivors  being:  Stephen,  born  January  5,  1841,  is  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness at  Wyndmere,  North  Dakota;  Haney  V.,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Hannah 
Boswell,  of  Shipman,  Macoupin  County;  Katherine  E.,  who  resides  with  her 


1 64  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

brothers;  and  Lemuel  B.  and  Edward  L.,  members  of  the  firm  of  Smitli 
Brothers. 

Our  subject  was  four  years  of  age  \\lien  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  the  present  farm,  which  formerly  belonged  to  his  maternal  grandfather, 
Lemuel  Bird.  Mr.  Bird  was  born  in  Maine  and  there  learned  the  business 
of  manufacturing  paper  in  the  early  days  when  much  of  the  work  now  ac- 
complished by  machinery  was  done  by  hand.  Later  he  went  to  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  married,  and  in  1836  came  with  his  family  to  Warren 
County,  Illinois,  and  in  1848  to  Macoupin  County.  His  last  years  were 
passed  in  the  home  now  occupied  bj'  our  subject.  His  family  consisted  of 
eight  children,  namely:  Rhoda,  who  married  Vincent  Smith  and  became  the 
mother  of  our  subject;  Thomas,  deceased,  who  is  in  the  wholesale  paper 
business  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Richard,  now  a  farmer  near  Vandalia, 
Missouri,  who  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  and  was  prevented  from 
entering  the  ministry  on  account  of  ill  health ;  John,  now  a  farmer  near 
Vandalia,  Missouri,  who  made  the  trip  to  California  in  1849:  Katherine, 
Avho  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  T.  C.  Patterson,  of  Monmouth,  Illinois;  Leander. 
a  member  of  Company  A,  97th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  who  died  in  a  mili- 
tary hospital  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  in  the  Civil  War;  Mrs.  Eliza  Brown, 
a  resident  of  Decatur,  Illinois;  and  Samuel,  also  a  member  of  the  97th  Reg., 
Illinois  \'ol.  Inf.,  who  gave  up  his  life  for  his  country,  dying  at  Jefferson 
Barracks,  two  weeks  after  the  death  of  his  brother  Leander. 

Our  subject  has  lived  on  the  beautiful  Bird  Hill  Fruit  Farm  practi- 
cally all  his  life.  On  account  of  its  favorable  soil  and  location,  he  with  the 
assistance  of  his  two  brothers,  has  converted  it  into  a  fruit  farm  exclusively. 
A  specialty  is  made  of  the  growing  of  fine  pears,  the  pear  orchard  including 
5,000  trees  of  the  Kieffer  variety,  700  of  Dutchess,  500  of  Orange  quince, 
200  apple  trees,  and  300  peach  trees.  In  addition,  a  sorghum  and  a  canning 
factory  is  operated,  the  output  from  the  latter  being  30,000  cans  of  tomatoes 
a  season  from  home-grown  stock.  They  have  a  very  complete  equipment 
for  an  extensive  canning  business  and  the  demand  for  the  goods  is  con- 
stantly  increasing  on  account  of  their   uniform   excellence. 

On  January  26,  1902.  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Henrietta  Henessey, 
who  was  born  February  22,  1857,  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  was  left  an 
orphan  at  an  early  age. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  Prohibition  party  and  has  been  very 
active  in  advancing  its  principles.     Since  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  he  has 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  165 

been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  His  fraternal  association  is  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Smith  is  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  the  southern  part  of  Macoupin  County,  where  the  family  has  been 
prominent  so  many  years.  He  is  a  progressive,  rehable  busines  man  and  in 
every  way  a  first  class  citizen. 


NATHANIEL  DALBY. 

Among  the  prominent  farmers  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  who  have 
achieved  success  through  the  cultivation  of  the  talents  endowed  upon  them 
by  the  hand  of  Nature,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  personal 
sketch.  He  resides  on  his  farm  of  100  acres  which  is  situated  in  section  34. 
Brushy  ilound  township.  He  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  about  1842, 
and  is  a  son  of  Mathias  and  Rebecca  (Lightfoot)  Dalby. 

Mathias  Dalby  was  born  in  England,  where  he  remained  during  his 
entire  life,  spending  many  years  in  the  pursuits  of  general  farming.  His 
wife.  Rebecca  Lightfoot,  was  also  a  native  of  England,  and  she  also  spent 
her  entire  life  in  that  country. 

Nathaniel  Dalby  received  his  education  in  England,  and  although  he 
did  not  have  the  educational  advantages  of  the  American  boy,  he  has  become 
very  prominent  in  the  educational  circles  of  his  county.  He  was  raised  upon 
a  farm  in  his  native  country  and  in  1881  came  to  America  on  the  steamship 
"Averrill,"  landing  in  New  York  City,  where  he  remained  about  two  days 
and  then  came  to  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  secured 
work  on  the  farm  of  William  Gill,  whom  he  had  known  in  his  native  coun- 
try, and  who  had  persuaded  him  to  come  to  this  country.  After  working 
upon  the  farm  of  Mr.  Gill  for  some  time,  he  rented  a  farm  from  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds, and  remained  on  that  farm  for  17  years.  In  1901  he  purchased  his 
present  farm,  where  he  is  meeting  with  success  in  the  carrying  on  of  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  operations.  In  political  belief  our  subject  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  as  his  reason  says  that  no  man  living  in  the  part  of 
England  from  which  he  came  could  believe  otherwise.  He  is  also  much 
interested  in  the  educational  afifairs  of  his  county :  he  feels  his  own  lack  of 


1 66  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

educational  training,  and  consequently  has  given  his  children  a  good  common 
schooling. 

In  1876  our  subject  was  married  to  Frances  Harrison,  also  a  native  of 
England;  she  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Chapman)  Harrison,  who 
were  both  natives  of  England.  Five  children  were  born  to  them,  namely : 
Albert,  Harrj',  Matthew,  Rebecca  (deceased),  and  William.  Our  subject 
and  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dalby  have  been  iiard  working  people,  and  what  they  have  to-day  has  come 
as  the  result  of  unceasing  toil. 


EDWIN    S.  MILTON,  M.  D. 

Edwin  S.  Miltox,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  well  known  medical  practitioners 
of  the  city  of  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  February  18,  1832,  at 
Eliot,  Maine,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  Milton,  who  was  born  at  Kittery,  Maine, 
where  his  father  had  settled  upon  coming  from  England. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Milton  spent  his  whole  life  at  Kittery,  following  the 
trade  of  ship  carpenter.  There  he  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  the  age  of  40  years, 
leaving  his  widow  with  a  family  of  five  children,  our  subject  being  then  two 
years  of  age.  The  other  members  of  the  family  were :  Mrs.  Susan  Lakin,  who 
died  aged  yz  years  at  her  home  in  Massachusetts ;  James,  a  man  of  education 
and  of  poetical  ability,  a  contributor  to  many  periodicals,  who  was  apprenticed 
to  the  hatter's  trade,  but  who  never  followed  it,  and  died  in  Massachusetts, 
aged  65  years;  Augustus,  a  carpenter  at  Chelsea,  Masachusetts ;  and  Elbridge, 
who  died  in  Massachusetts,  aged  36  years.  The  family  was  intensely  loyal 
during  the  Civil  War  and  all  the  sons  desired  to  enter  the  army.  By  lot  they 
selected  our  subject  as  the  one  to  remain  at  home  to  look  after  liome  inter- 
ests. They  all  served  in  a  Massachusetts  regiment  of  infantry  and  remained 
until  the  war  was  over,  much  of  their  service  being  under  General  Banks  at 
New  Orleans.  Although  none  was  taken  prisoner  or  wounded,  all  suffered 
from  exposure  which  was  the  direct  cause  of  the  death  of  the  youngest. 

Dr.  Milton  obtained  his  early  education  in  the  Eliot  Academy  and  was 
20  years  of  age  when  he  left  home  and  removed  to  Cincinnati.     He  there  en- 


E.  T.  RICE. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  169 

tered  the  American  Medical  College,  also  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
gons,  completing  the  prescribed  course  in  both  institutions  in  1858.  He  then 
located  at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  has  continued  in  practice 
ever  since. 

In  1852  Dr.  Milton  married  Ann  Dixon,  who  was  born  at  Eliot,  Maine, 
and  who  was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Martha  Dixon.  Mrs.  Milton  died  at 
Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  July  2.  1900.  aged  66  years.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Milton,  the  two  survivors  being :  Caroline, 
wife  of  Alvin  Godfrey  of  Staunton;  and  Francis,  a  farmer,  who  married  Julia 
Pierce  of  Bunker  Hill  township,  and  has  four  children, — Pierce,  Elsie,  Floyd 
and  Delphine. 

In  politics  Dr.  Milton  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  For  the 
past  six  years  he  has  been  on  the  Board  of  Education  and  is  one  of  the  city's 
representati\e  men. 


E.  T.  RICE. 


E.  T.  Rice,  county  treasurer  of  Macoupin  County  and  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial residents  of  Gillespie  township,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  this  county  August  14,  1853.  and  is  a  son  of  Hugh  and 
Christina  Rice,  natives  of  Ireland  and  the  State  of  Ohio,  respectively 

Hugh  Rice  came  from  Ireland  to  this  country  in  1837,  and  in  1843  1°" 
cated  at  Alton,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  four  years.  He  enlisted  for  service 
in  the  United  States  Army  during  the  Mexican  War,  and  his  record  as  a 
soldier  was  an  honorable  one.  In  1849  he  went  to  the  gold  fields  of  Cali- 
fornia, and  upon  his  return  to  Illinois  in  1851  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in 
Cahokia  township,  IMacoupin  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  and  in  raising  and  dealing  in  live  stock  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  one  of  the  good  substantial  residents  of  the  county,  and  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  August,  1898,  at  the  age  of  81  years,  was  regretted 
by  every  one  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  Mrs.  Rice,  who  was 
born  October  3,  1831,  died  December  21,  1880.  at  the  age  of  49  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  E.  T.,  subject  of  this  biography; 
Mary  (Steidley)  ;  H.  W. ;  J.  P.;  E.  A.;  Catherine  (Zenor)  ;  Laura  (Ganey)  ; 


I70  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Mae,  deceased;  W.  H. ;  and  Maud  (Ibbetson).  Mr.  Rice  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  but  never  accepted  office  of  any  kind. 

E.  T.  Rice  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Macoupin  County, 
and  in  Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville.  After  the  completion  of  his 
schooling,  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  in  which  business  he  has  en- 
gaged continuously  up  to  the  present  time.  He  has  i6o  acres  of  valuable 
land  in  Gillespie  township,  which  he  devotes  to  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  He  has  been  successful  at  this  vocation,  and  is  one  of  the  prosperous 
business  men  of  the  community.  He  has  always  been  unswerving  in  his 
support  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  elected  to  township  offices  a  number 
of  times.  In  1903  he  was  elected  county  treasurer  of  Macoupin  County  by 
the  handsome  majority  of  750  votes  and  has  since  discharged  the  duties  of  the 
ofliice  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner. 

On  February  20,  1879,  Mr.  Rice  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
R.  E.  Francis,  a  native  of  Macoupin  County,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in 
the  following  offspring :  Pauline  C. ;  Stewart  P. ;  Mary  E. ;  Mae ;  Frances ; 
and  Charles.  Fraternally.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America. 


GEORGE  MORRISON. 

George  Morrison,  one  of  the  prominent  agriculturists  of  Hilyard 
township,  Macoupin  County,  residing  in  section  13,  where  he  owns  a  farm 
of  200  acres,  belongs  to  an  old  pioneer  family  of  the  State.  He  was  born 
December  22,  1840,  in  County  Derry,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Martha  (Taylor)  Morrison. 

The  Morrison  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  George  Morrison, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  spent  his  whole  life  in  Ireland,  where  he 
possessed  enough  means  to  give  each  one  of  his  children  a  start  in  life.  Two 
of  his  sons,  Henry  and  James,  came  to  America.  The  latter  was  a  school 
teacher  and  always  made  his  home  with  his  brother  Henry,  dying  at  the 
latter's  residence,  November  27,  1894,  aged  83  years.  Henry  Morrison  wa.s 
born  June  7,  1808,  in  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  1845  ^"^1  "^''^f'  i"  his  home 
in  Macoupin  County  in  1897,  aged  about  90  years.  He  lived  one  year 
in  Genesee  County,  New  York,  prior  to  removing  to  Alton.  IllHnois,  where 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  171 

he  first  rented  a  farm  and  then  removed  to  Macoupin  County  in  1S47.  He 
first  entered  a  tract  of  40  acres,  but  this  was  continually  increased  until  he 
owned  a  very  large  body  of  land,  amounting  to  about  900  acres,  which  he 
divided  among  his  children.  ^Ir.  Morrison  was  one  of  the  honest,  upright, 
industrious  men  who  contributed  much  to  the  early  development  of  Hilyard 
township.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Presbyterian  and  was  ever  ready  to 
aid  in  moral  and  educational  work.  His  long  life  was  one  filled  with  credit- 
able achievements.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Martha  Taylor,  who  was 
born  in  1820,  in  County  Derry,  Ireland,  and  who  still  survives,  a  member 
of  the  family  of  her  son  Joseph.  The  children  of  Henry  and  Martha  (Tay- 
lor )  Morrison  were  eight  in  number,  namely :  George,  of  this  sketch ;  Joseph 
and  Henry,  of  Hilyard  township;  Mrs.  Margaret  Howell,  of  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri;  Mrs.  Martha  Ellen  Calloway,  of  Hilyard  township; 
Rebecca,  who  lives  with  her  mother  and  tenderly  cares  for  her;  and  Sam- 
uel and  Robert,  both  deceased,  the  former  while  young,  and  the  latter  in 
1903,  at  the  age  of  41  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  five  children. 

Our  subject  was  four  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
America,  and  he  was  reared  in  Macoupin  County,  under  pioneer  conditions. 
He  readily  recalls  the  days  when  all  this  smiling  farming  land  was  but  a 
wilderness,  broken  by  but  a  few  burned  clearings  and  an  occasional  log 
cabin.  Farming  presented  many  difficulties  in  the  days  of  his  young  man- 
hood and  a  very  serious  drawback  to  its  success  was  the  lack  of  transpor- 
tation facilities.  No  railroads  had  yet  been  constructed  and  the  ordinary 
highways  were  in  bad  condition.  The  nearest  market,  at  Alton,  was  25 
miles  away.  There  were  few  schools  or  churches  and,  outside  of  the  family, 
almost  no  social  life  for  a  long  period.  Mr.  Morrison  became  a  practical 
farmer  and  now  owns  much  fine  stock  and  large  bodies  of  land.  In  addition 
to  his  200  acres  in  Hilyard  township,  he  has  20  acres  of  timl^er  in  Gillespie 
township. 

In  1867  I\Ir.  Morrison  married  P.ebecca  Jones,  who  was  born  October 
22,  1847,  in  Allen  County,  Kentucky,  a  daughter  of  Ambrose  and  Mary 
Jones,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1851  and  settled  first  in  Greene  County,  re- 
moved later  to  Jersey  County  and  finally  located  in  Macoupin  County.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  IMorrison  have  these  children :  Mary  A.,  who  married  W.  W.  Dil- 
lard  of  Hilyard  township,  and  has  two  children, — Lois  and  Jesse;  Jessie, 
who  married  Lee  Dillard,  of  Gillespie  township,  and  has  two  children, — 
Morrison  and  Meryl;  and  George  J.  and  Flossie  R.,  who  live  at  home. 


172  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Mr.  Morrison  is  a  Republican,  an  intelligent  voter  and  a  man  of  influ- 
ence in  political  affairs.  He  has  served  on  the  School  Board.  He  belongs  to 
the  local  Grand  Army  post,  having  been  a  soldier  in  1864,  serving  under 
Captain  Edwards,  in  Company  G,  133d  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.  He  was 
statined  at  Rock  Island,  engaged  in  guarding  prisoners.  Fraternally  he 
belongs  to  Plainview  Lodge,  No.  461,  A.  F".  &  A.  M.  With  his  family, 
Mr.  Morrison  is  a  Presbyterian. 


HENRY  BOCK. 


The  death  of  Henry  Bock,  which  took  place  March  31,  1903,  at  his  home 
in  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  removed  from  this  locality  a  man  who  was  valued 
in  business,  political  and  fraternal  life.  Mr.  Bock  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  July  25,  1842,  hence  was  aged  60  years,  eight  months  and  six 
days,  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 

Mr.  Bock  came  to  America  in  1856  and  for  a  few  years  worked  on  the 
farm  of  Samuel  Thomas,  east  of  Girard,  and  then  made  his  home  at  Girard,- 
with  his  brother,  F.  W.  A.  Bock.  While  there,  he  learned  the  trade  of 
cooper,  and  was  working  at  that  when  the  call  came  for  volunteers,  at  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  War.  Among  the  brave  youths  who  came  forward  and 
offered  their  young  lives  in  defense  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  was  this  Ger- 
man IxDy,  then  only  19  years  old.  Through  the  years  of  peril,  battle  and 
imprisonment,  which  followed,  his  faithfulness  never  wavered,  and  to  the 
full  extent  of  his  power  lie  did  a  soldier's  duty. 

Mr.  Bock,  on  May  25,  1861,  was  enrolled  in  Company  C,  14th  Reg., 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  discharged  January  4,  1864,  at  Camp 
Cervan,  Mississippi,  by  reason  of  reinstatement  as  a  veteran  volunteer,  and, 
as  such,  was  then  enrolled  as  a  veteran  private  in  Company  F,  14th  Reg., 
Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  wliich  was  then  known  as  the  14th  and  15th  Illinois  bat- 
talions. He  was  discharged  from  the  service  of  the  United  States,  Septem- 
Ijer  16,  1865,  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  by  reason  of  Special  Order,  No. 
26,  given  by  Major-General  Pope,  and  he  took  part  in  the  grand  review  in 
the  city  of  Washington. 

Company  C,  of  which  Mr.  Bock  was  an  honored  member,  was  organ- 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  173 

ized  at  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  April  24,  1861  ;  rendezvoused  at  Jackson- 
ville, Illinois,  May  11,  1861 ;  joined  the  14th  Regiment,  on  its  original  or- 
ganization in  the  State  service,  and  on  May  25,  1861,  was  sworn  into  the 
United  States  service  for  the  term  of  three  years,  unless  sooner  discharged. 
From  that  date  the  history  of  the  company  was  identical  with  that  of  the 
regiment.  Cyrus  Hall  was  colonel  and  Augustus  H.  Cornman  was  cap- 
tain. In  the  printed  list  of  members  of  Company  C,  the  sixth  name  on  the 
roll  is  Henry  Bock.  Tlie  regiment  was  detained  at  Camp  Duncan,  Jackson- 
ville, until  the  latter  part  of  June  and  then  proceeded  to  Quincy,  thence  to 
Missouri,  where,  with  the  i6th  Illinois,  it  assisted  in  keeping  down  the  spirit 
of  rebellion.  The  Confederate  force,  under  Martin  E.  Green,  was  dispersed 
and  Senator  Green  w-as  captured,  but  later  paroled.  The  regiment  accom- 
panied General  Fremont  on  his  memorable  campaign  to  Springfield,  Mis- 
souri, in  pursuit  of  General  Price,  and  then  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Ot- 
terville.  In  February,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Fort  Donelson, 
where  it  arrived  the  day  subsequent  to  its  surrender;  went  then  to  Fort 
Henry,  embarked  on  transports  and  proceeded  up  the  Tennessee  River  to 
Pittsburg  Landing.  In  the  sanguinar}'  engagements  of  April  6th  and  7th, 
the  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  fully  one-half  of  the  command  engaged. 
In  the  grand  charge  on  the  evening  of  April  7th,  which  was  the  consumma- 
tion of  that  splendid  victory,  the  14th  Illinois  was  in  the  advance  and  in  the 
official  report  was  praised  for  its  gallantry.  The  regiment  took  an  acti\e 
part  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  siege  of  Corinth.  It  constituted  the  right 
wing  of  Grant's  army  in  the  march  into  Mississippi,  through  Holly  Springs, 
later  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Lafayette,  Tennessee.  Early  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  the  command  was  ordered  to  Vicksburg,  where  it  took  part 
in  all  the  operations  there  which  resulted  in  the  fall  of  that  city  on  July  4, 
1863;  went  then  to  Jackson,  Mississippi;  then  to  Natchez  and  formed  a 
part  of  the  body  which  marched  across  the  swamps  of  northeastern  Louisi- 
ana to  Harrisonburg,  captured  Fort  Beauregard  and  then  accompanied  Ger  - 
era!  Sherman  on  his  Meridian  raid.  Later,  as  a  veteran  regiment,  it  formed 
a  part  of  the  army  in  its  advance  on  Atlanta.  The  regiment  was  a  part  of 
the  body  detailed  to  guard  the  railroad  communications  at  and  near  Ack- 
worth,  Georgia,  a  dangerous  duty,  as  this  was  the  only  route  by  which  Gen- 
eral Sherman  could  supply  his  imm.ense  army.  It  was  with  General  Sher- 
man on  his  celebrated  "March  to  the  Sea."  During  the  long  and  weary 
march  through  North  and  South  Carolina,  the  regiment  was  on  duty,  day 


174  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

and  night,  and  the  battahon  was  the  first  to  enter  Cheraw,  South  CaroHna, 
Fayetteville,  North  CaroHna,  and  also  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Bentonvilla. 
After  the  capitulation  of  Johnston,  the  14th  Regiment  marched  to  \\'ash- 
ington,  D.  C,  to  take  part  in  the  grand  review.  During  its  four  years  and 
four  months  of  arduous  service,  the  regiment  marched  4,490  miles,  trav- 
eled by  rail  2,330  miles  and  by  river,  4,490  miles,  making  an  aggregate  of 
11,670  miles. 

Mr.  Bock,  while  he  shared  in  the  glory  which  the  achievements  of  this 
regiment  won,  did  not  escape  some  of  its  misfortunes.  He  endured  several 
terms  of  imprisonment,  being  captured  at  Moon  Station,  Georgia,  and  taken 
to  Andersonville.  After  three  months  of  wretchedness  at  that  awful  mili- 
tary prison,  he  managed  to  escape  and,  after  many  dangers,  reached  the 
Union  lines  and  rejoined  his  company. 

In  the  year  following  his  return  from  the  army,  on  December  25.  1866, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Bertha  Bajohr,  a  daughter  of  Bernard 
Bajohr.  Three  children  were  born  to  this  marriage :  Pauline,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Guth,  of  Girard;  Emma,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  C.  Rath- 
geber,  of  Girard ;  and  Fred  B.,  one  of  Girard's  leading  merchants,  w  hose 
sketch  appears  in  this  volume. 

Although  the  late  Mr.  Bock  never  sought  public  honors,  he  was  so 
eminently  fitted  for  the  same,  that  his  fellow  citizens  elected  him  to  many 
responsible  positions.  He  was  elected  town  trustee  in  1873,  1874,  1875  and 
was  again  elected  in  1878.  In  1878  he  was  elected  alderman,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1884  and  served  continuously  until  1887,  and  was  again  elected 
in  1901  and  in  1902.  The  confidence  thus  shown  was  never  violated.  While 
he  was  a  man  of  great  public  spirit,  he  was  also  careful  and  cautious,  and  his 
advocacy  of  public  measures  was  always  tempered  by  good  judgment.  Upon 
the  news  of  his  death,  the  city  council  of  Girard  immediately  adopted  res- 
olutions of  respect,  one  paragraph  reading  as  follows : 

"Whereas,  By  the  death  of  Henry  Bock,  the  council  and  city  have  lo.^t 
one  of  the  most  honored,  valued  and  esteemed  members  and  citizens,  one 
who  has  been  repeatedly  called  by  public  voice  and  demand,  to  serve  in  the 
same  official  capacity  as  held  by  him  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  whose 
capacity,  fidelity  and  unswerving  integrity  to  the  duties  of  his  office  and  to 
the  citizens,  was  such  as  to  endear  him  to  the  hearts  of  all." 

^Ir.  Bock  was  the  oldest  member  of  Girard  Lodge,  No.  192,  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  this  lodge  and  branches  passed  resolutions 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  175 

of  respect  and  esteem.  Mr.  Bock  was  also  an  honored  member  of  Luke 
Mayfield  Post,  No.  516,  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  Greenridge  Local  Union,  No.  763, 
United  Mine  Workers.  These  organizations  took  charge  of  the  funeral,  and, 
with  the  city  council,  followed  his  remains  to  their  last  resting  place  in 
Girard  cemetery.  In  addition  to  these  bodies,  the  concourse  was  so  great, 
that  it  seemed  as  if  almost  every  dwelling  in  the  city  had  sent  a  representative 
to  assist  in  paying  a  last  token  of  respect  to  one  who  was  so  universally 
esteemed. 


JOSEPH  J.  DUFNER. 

Joseph  J.  Dufner,  deputy  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Carlinville,  was  born  in  1864,  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
and  is  a  son  of  the  late  Joseph  and  Amelia  (Fehr)  Dufner. 

Joseph  Dufner,  whose  death  took  place  on  his  fine  farm  of  240  acres,  in 
section  14.  South  Otter  township,  July  6,  1894.  was  one  of  the  most  highly 
respected  citizens  of  this  part  of  the  county.  Born  in  Germany  in  1831,  at 
the  age  of  22  years  he  came  to  America,  where  through  his  industry  and 
thrift,  he  soon  secured  enough  capital  with  which  to  send  for  a  younger 
brother  and  sister,  in  order  that  they,  too,  might  enjoy  the  wider  advantages 
offered  in  the  United  States.  After  two  years  spent  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  he 
removed  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  for  farm  work  by 
Gen.  John  Williams,  with  whom  he  remained  many  years.  Steady,  plod- 
ding, reliable,  the  young  man  was  advanced  to  a  responsible  position  on  the 
Williams  estate.  In  1858  he  returned  to  Germany  in  order  to  bring  to  his 
home  his  aged  mother. 

In  1862,  when  Mr.  Dufner  married  Amelia  Fehr,  he  united  with  his 
life  an  estimable  woman,  who,  like  himself,  had  unselfishly  remembered  the 
claims  of  kindred,  assisting  her  mother  for  years.  Mrs.  Dufner  was  born  in 
Germany  and  came  to  America  in  1854,  with  her  mother  and  seven  other 
children.  For  six  months  the  family  lived  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  moving 
from  there  to  Madison,  Indiana,  and  18  months  later  to  Missouri.  Amelia 
then  removed  to  Alton,  Illinois,  where  a  brother  was  located,  and  to  that 
place  she  brought  her  mother  and,  after  seeing  her  installed  as  her  son's 
housekeeper,  secured  work  for  herself.     This  was  the  admirable  wom?n  Mr. 


176  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Dufner  married  and  who  became  the  estimable  mother  of  his  nine  children, 
namely:  Joseph  J.,  deputy  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County;  Caroline,  wife  of 
Joseph  Bartch  of  Salt  Lake  City;  Alfred,  who  resides  with  his  widowed 
mother  and  attends  to  the  farm;  Frank,  a  resident  of  Carlinville;  Helen,  who 
married  Frank  Klaus  and  died  February  21,  1903,  leaving  a  son. — Paul; 
Henry,  who  resides  at  home;  Mary,  who  married  James  Cooper  of  Carlin- 
ville, and  has  two  children, — Mildred  and  Cyril  Oswald;  and  Amelia  and 
William,  both  of  whom  reside  on  the  home  farm.  In  politics  Mr.  Dufner 
was  a  Democrat.  After  his  marriage,  he  and  wife  remained  at  Springfield, 
where  he  worked  after  the  close  of  the  war,  engaged  in  hauling  for  the 
United  States  government,  until  he  was  prepared  to  purchase  his  farm  in 
South  Otter  township.  He  was  a  man  of  the  highest  integrity  and  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Joseph  J.  Dufner,  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Joseph  Dufner,  was  edu- 
cated in  Macoupin  County  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  after  his 
marriage,  when  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and  for  a  time  was  associated  with  his 
father-in-law  in  business.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  politics 
and  has  held  many  responsible  positions.  From  1887  to  1888  he  was  col- 
lector for  South  Otter  township  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee.  He  has  served  as  deputy  sheriff 
since  December,   1903. 

Mr.  Dufner  married  Annie  S.  Warner,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Charles 
H.  Warner,  a  merchant  of  St.  Louis.  She  died  May  26,  1898,  aged  32 
years,  leaving  two  children, — Robert,  born  in  August,  1891 ;  and  Amelia 
Marie,  born  in  September,  1895.  Mr.  Dufner  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church 


JAMES  L.  TIETSORT. 

The  death  of  the  late  James  L.  Tietsort,  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Girard, 
Illinois,  removed  from  this  city  a  citizen  whose  presence  had  lent  added  im- 
portance to  the  place  on  account  of  his  sterling  traits  of  character.  Mr. 
Tietsort  was  born  January  30,  1822,  on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Middle- 
town,  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Huff) 
Tietsort. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  177 

The  Tietsort  family  is  of  Holland  extraction  and  was  founded  in 
America  by  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  spent  his  whole  life  in  New 
Jersey.  There  William  Tietsort  was  born,  but  later  removed  to  Ohio,  and 
in  Butler  County  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Huff,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  James  Law,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Butler 
County. 

When  the  late  James  L.  Tietsort  was  about  10  years  of  age,  his  parents 
decided  to  remove  to  what  was  then  the  wilds  of  Michigan.  The  only  means 
of  transportation  available  at  that  time  was  by  horses  and  strong  wagons, 
and  thus  the  long  journey  was  made  and  the  family  and  household  effects 
carried.  Mr.  Tietsort  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Volinia  township, 
Cass  County,  and  there  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  came  to  be 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  township  and  he  accumulated  a 
large  property  there,  where  he  passed  away  in  1872.  His  estimable  wife 
survived  him  but  one  year.  She  was  a  most  admirable  woman,  and  became 
the  mother  of  a  large  family,  worthily  rearing  to  maturity  14  children. 

Our  late  subject  passed  his  boyhood  in  hard  work  and  his  schooling  was 
necessarily  limited.  His  treats  were  trips  to  St.  Joseph,  30  miles  away,  when 
he  was  permitted  to  accompany  his  father  to  market.  Game  was  so  abundant 
in  the  vicinity  at  that  time,  that  no  provision  of  any  other  kind  of  meat  was 
necessary,  and  hunting  and  fishing  were  the  diversions  of  the  region, 
although  somewhat  dangerous  on  account  of  the  presence  of  roving  bands 
of  Indians,  who  were  not  always  friendly.  The  large  family  were  reared 
in  habits  of  industry,  the  parents  setting  the  example.  The  out-door  life 
and  the  bracing  climate  of  the  locality  developed  a  strong  and  sturdy  con- 
stitution, which  kept  Mr.  Tietsort  until  the  close  of  his  life  vigorous  and 
alert  in  both  body  and  mind.  He  always  loved  to  recall  the  pioneer  days  of 
his  youth  in  Cass  County  and  his  reminiscences  could  always  claim  inter- 
ested listeners. 

By  the  time  he  was  prepared  to  begin  his  own  domestic  life,  he  was 
already  a  good  farmer,  and  for  two  years  after  his  marriage  he  continued  to 
manage  the  homestead  farm  for  his  father.  In  1856  he  decided  to  remove 
to  Illinois,  a  less  rigorous  climate  in  the  more  southern  State,  with  other 
advantages,  attracting  him  and  causing  the  severing  of  old  ties.  After 
farming  as  a  tenant  for  10  years,  Mr.  Tietsort  purchased  a  tract  of  80  acres 
of  good  land  situated  within  two  miles  of  Girard,  and  to  this  he  later  added 
an  adjoining  80-acre  tract.  This  farm,  through  continued  improvement  and 
10 


178  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

intelligent  cultivation,  is  now  justly  considered  one  of  the  most  desirable  in 
Macoupin  County  and  is  now  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Tietsort's  son, 
Melvin  Harvey.  In  1887  the  late  Mr.  Teitsort  left  the  farm  and  bought  a 
comfortable  residence  in  Girard,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  August 
16,  1903. 

Mr.  Tietsort  was  united  in  marriage  on  November  30,  1854,  with  Har- 
riet E.  Gould,  who  was  born  February  11,  1838.  in  White  Lake  County. 
Michigan,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  Harvey  and  Elizabeth  (Ouimby) 
Gould,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Massachusetts,  the  latter  being  a  daughter 
of  a  Revolutionary  patriot.  Later  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould  moved  to  White 
Lake  County,  Michigan,  and  while  Mrs.  Tietsort  was  still  an  infant  moved 
to  Xew  York  State  and  still  later  to  Cass  County.  Michigan,  where  the 
father  died  in  1864  and  the  mother  in  1876.  Mrs.  Tietsort  still  survives. 
Her  interests  are  carefully  looked  after  by  her  son,  Melvin  Harvey  Tietsort, 
who  is  a  most  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Girard.  He  married  Edna  Thacker, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Zachariah  Thacker.  a  prominent  citizen  of  Macoupin 
County  for  many  years.  They  have  two  children:  James  H.,  who  is  ciiief 
bookkeeper  of  the  People's  Bank  of  Girard ;  and  Nona  E. 

The  late  Mr.  Tietsort  had  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  for 
many  years,  and  belonged  to  both  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Early  in  life  they  united  with 
the  Baptist  Church  and  both  have  been  generous  in  its  support.  They  were 
accorded  a  long  life  of  companionship  and  it  was  sweetened  by  mutual  affec- 
tion, love  of  kindred  and  the  warm  friendliness  of  all  who  knew  them. 


JACOB  Z.  BECHTOLD. 

Jacob  Z.  Bechtold,  one  of  the  well  known  business  men  of  Girard, 
Illinois,  where  he  conducts  a  real  estate  and  renting  agency,  is  a  citizen 
whose  business  capacity  and  enterprising  spirit  make  him  valued  in  the 
town's  commercial  circles.  He  was  born  October  15,  1868.  near  Mount  Joy, 
Pennsylvania,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children  born  to  his  paresUs, 
William  and  Elizai)eth  (Brubaker)  Bechtold. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  179 

Our  subject  attended  the  common  schools  m  his  native  locahty  and  in 
1881  accompanied  his  mother  to  Illinois.  She  settled  in  Girard,  where  she 
died  January  18,  1882.  In  1889  Mr.  Bechtold  came  to  Macoupin  County, 
where  he  followed  farming  during  the  daytime  and  completed  his  education 
in  the  night  schools. 

In  1894  our  subject  came  to  Girard  from  Divernon,  Illinois,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  in  partnership  with  J.  W.  and  J.  F.  Stutzman, 
continuing  until  1898.  In  December,  1898,  he  became  the  manager  of  a 
business  enterprise  known  as  the  Model  Grocery,  which  he  conducted  until 
1901.  In  the  following  year  he  began  to  deal  in  real  estate  and  on  Decem- 
ber 23,  1903,  opened  his  present  convenient  offices  in  Girard.  Mr.  Bechtold 
has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  a  circle  of  friends  who  have  known  him  in  a 
business  way  for  years.  He  has  their  confidence  and  esteem  and  has  had 
much  encouragement  in  his  present  enterprise.  He  handles  both  city  and 
country  property,  rents,  sells,  buys  and  exchanges,  and  some  of  the  choicest 
city  and  farming  lands  have  been  profitably  placed  in  his  hands. 

Mr.  Bechtold  was  married  October  9,  1895,  to  Barbara  Catharine 
Pefley,  who  was  born  December  18,  1869,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  B. 
Pefley.  Mrs.  Bechtold's  father  was  born  September  14,  1819,  in  Virginia 
and  died  at  his  home  in  Girard,  February  7,  1879.  He  married  Aneliza 
Wrightsman,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  October  6,  1829;  she  resides  with 
our  subject  in  Girard.  Our  subject  and  wife  have. three  children,  viz:  Paul 
F.,  born  August  17,  1896;  Ray  H.,  born  April  22,  1898;  and  Frank,  born 
February  6,  1900.  The  family  belong  to  the  German  Baptist  Brethren 
Church.  They  have  a  pleasant  home  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  city,  where 
they  have  many  agreeable  social  connections.  In  politics,  Mr.  Bechtold  is  a 
Prohibitionist. 


JOSEPH    LANCASTER. 

Joseph  Lancaster,  an  experienced  and  successful  general  farmer  and 
extensive  breeder  of  fine  stock,  owns  one  of  the  finest  farms  of  Bunker  Plill 
township,  consisting  of  220  acres  in  section  i.  Mr.  Lancaster  was  born  in 
Cohokia  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Francis  and 
Elizabeth  (Collins)  Lancaster. 


i8o  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Francis  Lancaster  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  prominent  men 
and  largest  land-owners  of  Macoupin  County,  although  he  came  here  with 
little  capital.  He  was  born  in  1813  in  Buckinghamshire,  England,  and  came 
to  America  in  the  early  part  of  1841.  He  located  first  in  Lancaster  Count)^ 
Pennsylvania,  and  came-  to  Macoupin  County  in  August  of  that  year.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  energy'  and  business  foresight  and  soon  had  established 
a  brick-yard  and  aroused  interest  in  other  enterprises  which  served  to  benefit 
the  community  as  well  as  himself.  In  September,  1856,  he  purchased  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  his  son,  and  added  to  his  first  purchase  until  he  owned 
900  acres  in  Bunker  Hill  township,  all  of  which  is  still  in  the  possession  of 
his  heirs.  Francis  Lancaster  moved  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  our  sub- 
ject in  1857  and  improved  the  whole  body  of  land.  He  made  extensive  im- 
provements, building  the  handsome  brick  residence  his  son  occupies,  and  all 
the  surrounding  substantial  buildings.  He  devoted  20  acres  to  an  apple 
orchard  and  10  acres  to  small  fruits  and  shade  trees.  He  enjoyed  the  com- 
forts of  this  beautiful  home  he  had  provided  until  his  death,  November  2, 
1895.  In  political  sentiment,  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  he  always  refused  to 
accept  office,  although  few  men  in  his  township  were  better  qualified.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Collins,  who  was  born  in  England,  and  died  on  the  home- 
stead. May  12,  1882,  aged  69  years.  They  had  seven  children :  Francis  \V., 
who  died  in  May,  1883,  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  leaving  a  family;  William 
who  died  December  4,  1898,  at  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  leaving  a  large 
family;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Mercer)  Weis,  who  is  a  widow  living  at  Bunker 
Hill;  Joseph,  of  this  sketch;  Mary  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Asaph  H. 
Barnes,  a  dentist  of  Girard,  Macoupin  County ;  Matilda,  who  is  Mrs.  J.  H. 
Brown,  of  Milton,  Kansas;  and  John,  who  died  January  14,  1895.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  seven  children  named  above,  Francis  Lancaster  had  three  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Joseph  Lancaster  was  reared  in  Macoupin  County  and  remained  at 
school  until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  finally  completing  the  high  school  course 
at  Bunker  Hill.  He  then  went  into  business,  buying  feed  and  shipping  live 
stock,  in  which  he  continued  until  May  6,  1876.  when  he  made  a  trip  to 
Texas  and  Indian  Territorj',  in  the  same  line,  and  in  1879  went  into  the  live 
stock  commission  business,  at  Kansas  City.  Missouri,  where  he  remained 
for  eight  years.  This  experience  fitted  him  for  his  next  work,  that  of  buyer 
for  a  packing  house  in  that  city,  and  three  years  later  he  became  financially 
interested  in  a  packing  house  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.     During  his  five  years' 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  i8i 

residence  there,  he  bought  a  ranch  in  Nebraska,  on  which  he  hved  for  a 
time  and  then  returned  to  his  early  home  to  settle  down  permanently.  In 
February,  1896,  Mr.  Lancaster  took  possession  of  his  present  farm,  which 
he  devotes  mainly  to  stock  raising  and  feeding  and  to  the  breeding  of  Short- 
horn and  Durham  cattle,  taking  a  great  interest  in  making  them  eligible  to 
registration.  In  addition  to  his  own  agricultural  labors,  he  has  the  man- 
agement of  600  acres  belonging  to  his  sisters. 

Mr.  Lancaster  was  married  June  2,  1869,  to  Almira  Parmenter,  who 
was  born  near  Bunker  Hill,  a  daughter  of  Charles  A.  and  Mary  M.  (Barnes) 
Parmenter,  natives  of  New  Hampshire,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1836.  Six 
children  have  been  born  to  them :  Delbert,  a  traveling  salesman  living  in  Ne- 
braska ;  Milton,  a  farmer  and  stockman  living  in  Franklin  County,  Nebraska ; 
William  Francis,  a  traveling  salesman,  whose  home  is  in  Nebraska ;  John  F., 
who  is  living  at  home;  Morton  H.,  who  is  attending  college  at  Manhattan, 
Kansas;  and  Helen  E.,  who  is  a  student  in  the  Bunker  Hill  High  School,  of 
which  her  brothers  are  graduates. 

Mr.  Lancaster  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  public  matters  in 
Bunker  Hill  township,  and  is  now  a  commissioner.  In  politics  he  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party. 


GEORGE  LEE. 


George  Lee,  a  well  known  citizen  who  is  now  retired  from  active 
participation  in  agricultural  pursuits  of  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County,  has 
performed  his  part  well  in  life's  battle.  He  is  one  of  that  splendid  body  of 
men  that  defended  the  Union  in  the  struggle  between  the  States  40  years 
ago.  He  was  born  November  3,  1843,  at  Killam's  Mound,  Morgan  County, 
Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Audas)  Lee. 

George  and  Mary  (Audas)  Lee,  both  natives  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
came  to  America  in  1830  and  located  in  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  where  they 
were  married  February  24,  1835.  The  mother  died  in  1855,  when  the  family 
moved  to  Macoupin  County,  and  our  subject's  father  purchased  a  lOO-acre 
farm  in  1861,  which  is  now  owned  by  his  son,  John  A.,  the  brother  of  our 


i82  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

subject.  He  proved  to  be  very  successful  at  farming  and  accumulated  a 
comfortable  competency  while  engaged  at  his  vocation.  There  were  five 
children  in  the  family,  namely:  Sarah  A.,  deceased  April  lo,  1891  ;  Thomas; 
Elizabeth,  deceased  November  i,  1893;  George,  our  subject;  and  John  A. 
In  religious  belief  both  parents  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and 
up  to  the  time  of  their  death  were  much  interested  in  the  work  of  that  relig- 
ious body.  George  Lee,  our  subject's  father,  died  April  20,  1882.  Our 
subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Morgan  County, 
and  after  taking  full  advantage  of  the  oportunities  for  instruction  that  were 
offered,  engaged  in  farming  and  so  continued  until  the  Civil  War  broke 
out.  On  August  19,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  I22d  Reg.,  Illinois 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  July  14,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Mo- 
bile, Alabama.  He  received  his  discharge  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  August, 
1865.  He  was  wounded  at  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  July  14,  1864,  and  endured 
many  hardships  while  in  the  service.  In  1865  he  returned  to  Illinois  and 
engaged  in  farming,  which  occupation  he  continued  until  1877,  when  he 
retired  and  has  since  resided  with  his  brother,  John  A.,  who  married  Lena 
Kline,  and  has  three  cliiidren,  namely:  George  D.,  Clarence  A.  and  Clara  L. 
Our  subject  has  never  married  and  has  always  lived  a  quiet  and  peaceful 
life.  He  has  friends  who  have  been  attracted  to  him  by  his  manly,  fearless, 
and  resolute  character.  Politically  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  but  has  never  taken  any  active  interest  in  political  affairs.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 


MRS.  FREDERICA  FAHRENKROG 

Mrs.  Frederica  Fahrenkrog,  widow  of  the  late  Henry  Fahrenkrog, 
who  was  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and  valued  citizens  of  Hilyard  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  is  a  lady  who  is  well  known  in  her  locality  and  is 
most  highly  esteemed  for  those  virtues  which  go  to  make  up  a  good  mother, 
kind  neighbor  and  faithful  friend.  The  birth  of  Mrs.  Fahrenkrog  took 
place  in  Holstein,  Germany,  January  28,  1841.  and  she  is  the  youngest  of 
seven  children  born  to  her  parents,  Detlef  and  Frederica  (Luhr)  Herbst. 
The  other  members  of  the  family  were.  Detlef;  Ludwig,  who  was  killed  in 
the  revolution  of   1848;  Ernest,   who  died  in  Ohio;  William,  who  died  in 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  183 

Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County;  Mrs.  Dorothea  Appel,  who  died  in  Bunker 
Hill,  Macoupin  County;  and  Katherine. 

Mrs.  Fahrenkrog  was  16  )-ears  old  when  she  accompanied  her  older 
sister,  Dorothea,  to  America.  They  sailed  from  Hamburg  on  the  sailing 
vessel  "Howell,"  and  reached  New  York  after  a  passage  of  six  weeks,  coming 
immediately  to  Bunker  Hill,  where  they  joined  a  brother.  In  1858  she 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Henry  Fahrenkrog,  with  whom  she  lived 
through  38  happy  years,  separated  then  by  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
February  12,  1896. 

Henry  Fahrenkrog  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  June  30,  1831,  and 
came  to  .\merica  in  1854.  He  located  first  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  then 
came  as  far  west  as  Bunker  Hill,  Illinois.  He  had  but  little  capital,  but  he 
was  very  industrious  and  after  operating  rented  land  for  a  time  bought  the 
present  home  farm  in  Hilyard  township,  consisting  of  160  acres,  situated  in 
section  36.  He  was  a  man  of  much  industrj'^  and  had  excellent,  practical 
ideas  which  resulted  in  the  accumulating  of  much  property,  which  has  be- 
come of  great  value.  For  28  years  he  operated  a  first  class  dairy,  keeping 
30  head  of  cows.  In  addition  to  farming  his  own  land,  he  rented  land,  and 
followed  such  excellent  methods  that  his  crops  were  seldom  failures,  and  he 
was  known  as  one  of  the  best  farmers  of  his  locality. 

In  politics  Henry  Fahrenkrog  always  took  a  deep  interest  and  voted 
with  the  Republican  party,  but  he  sought  none  of  the  ofifices.  He  was  reared 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  faith  his  wife  was 
reared :  their  children  were  also  reared  in  that  faith.  In  every  relation  of  life 
he  was  a  good  man.  always  careful  for  the  welfare  of  his  family  by  whom 
he  was  respected  and  beloved.  His  parents,  Henrj'  and  Christine  Fahren- 
krog. were  born  in  Germany,  where  his  father  died.  His  mother  married 
Henr}-  Kardell  and  they  came  to  America. 

Mrs.  Fahrenkrog  still  resides  on  the  home  farm  which  has  been  her 
residence  so  many  years.  When  she  came  here  with  her  husband,  it  was 
practically  unimproved,  no  buildings  having  been  erected  and  the  land  only 
broken  and  sowed  to  clover.  All  the  improvements,  including  a  very  fine 
dwelling,  substantial  barn  and  commodious  out-buildings,  were  erected  by 
the  late  Mr.  Fahrenkrog.  He  also  set  out  the  orchard  of  three  acres,  which 
has  long  been  in  fine  bearing  condition.  All  these  things  reflect  credit  upon 
his  memory  and  show  the  results  of  his  industrious  life.  The  eight  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fahrenkrog  were:  William  J.  H.,  a  farmer  of  Hilyard 


i84  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

township,  formerly  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County;  Bertha,  who  died  aged 
one  and  a  half  years;  Mrs.  AugTJsta  Huber,  of  Bunker  Hill  township,  wha 
has  four  children, — Henrietta,  Clara,  Bertha  and  Anton;  Karl,  who  died 
aged  three  and  a  half  years;  Dora,  who  resides  at  home;  Henry,  a  merchant 
of  Alton,  Illinois;  Joseph,  who  operates  the  home  farm;  and  Amelia,  who 
lives  at  home  with  her  mother. 


***  ■ 


JOSEPH  DUFNER. 

Joseph  Dufner,  deceased,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  South  Otter  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  where  he  owned  a  farm  of  240  acres,  situated  in  section  14. 
Air.  Dufner  was  born  in  Germany  in  1831,  and  died  on  his  farm  in  Illinois, 
July  6,  1894. 

At  the  age  of  22  years  he  came  to  America  to  seek  his  fortune.  Indus- 
try and  thrift  soon  placed  him  in  a  ix)sition  which  enabled  him  to  assist  the 
members  of  the  family  still  remaining  in  Germany,  and  he  was  joined  at  a 
later  date  by  a  brother  and  sister.  After  spending  two  years  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  found  employment  at  farm  work  with  Gen. 
John  Williams,  at  Springfield,  with  whom  he  remained  many  years,  the 
association  proving  beneficial  on  both  sides.  Steady,  plodding,  reliable,  Mr. 
Dufner  was  advanced  until  he  fiUled  a  very  responsible  position  on  the  Wil- 
liams estate.  In  1858  he  made  a  visit  to  Germany,  in  order  to  bring  to  his 
home  his  aged  mother,  this  filial  act  being  a  fair  indication  of  Mr.  Dufner's 
sterling  character. 

In  1862  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Amelia  Fehr.  This  most  estim- 
able lady  was  born  in  Germany  and,  with  her  mother  and  seven  other  chil- 
dren, came  to  America  in  1854.  The  eldest  of  the  family,  she  assumed 
much  responsibility  and  for  years  made  the  claims  of  kindred  her  first  con- 
sideration. For  six  months  the  Fehr  family  lived  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
then  passed  18  months  at  Madison,  Indiana,  and  then  moved  to  Missouri. 
Later,  after  making  her  mother  comfortable.  Miss  Fehr  located  in  Alton, 
Illinois,  and  secured  work  for  herself.  This  was  the  admirable  woman  who 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Dufner  and  the  mother  of  his  nine  children,  viz : 
Joseph   J.,  deputy  sheriff  of  Macoupin   County;   Caroline,   wife  of  Joseph 


EDWARD  H.  DICKERSON. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  187 

Bartch  of  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Alfred,  who  resides  with  his  widowed 
mother  and  attends  to  the  farm;  Frank,  of  Carhnvillle;  Helen  (Mrs.  Frank 
Klaus),  who  died  February  21,  1903,  leaving  a  son, — Paul;  Henry,  who 
lives  at  home;  Mary,  who  married  James  Cooper  of  Carlinville.  and  has  two 
children, — Mildred  and  Cyril  Oswald:  and  Amelia  and  William,  both  living 
at  home. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Dufner  remained  for  some  years  at  Spring- 
field, and  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  was  engaged  in  hauling  for  the 
government.  Later  he  purchased  the  fine  farm  where  he  died  and  where 
his  widow  still  resides.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat  and  was  prom- 
inent in  part)'  afTairs.  He  was  noted  for  his  integrity  of  character  and  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


EDWARD   H.  DICKERSON. 

Edward  H.  Dickerson,  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  Carlinville, 
whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  is  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County,  in 
which  capacity  he  has  served  most  efficiently  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  people.  He  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  Girard  township,  August 
7,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Martin  M.  and  Mahala  (_Harlan)  Dickerson,  natives 
of  Kentuck)-  and  Virginia,  respectively. 

Martin  M.  Dickerson  came  to  Illinois  when  a  young  man  and  first 
located  in  Carlinville  where  he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  for  one  year. 
After  his  marriage  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Shaw's  Point  township,  and  fol- 
lowed general  fanning  and  stock  raising.  He  later  purchased  a  farm  in 
Nilwood  township  where  he  resided  until  Ills  death.  He  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children  in  addition  to  Edward  H.,  the  subject  of 
this  article :  George  W. :  Thomas  R. :  Mary  C. ;  and  Erastus  M.  Mr.  Dick- 
erson died  in  1878.  aged  68  years,  and  his  widow  died  in  1893,  aged  78 
years.  Both  were  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Fraternally.  Mr.  Dickerson  was  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 

Edward  H.  Dickerson  attended  the  common  and  high  schools  of  Girard, 


i88  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

and  remained  at  home  until  he  reached  his  majority,  when  he  married.  He 
then  located  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Nilwood  township  and  followed  farming 
and  general  stock  raising  with  considerable  success,  also  buying  and  selling 
horses  and  mules.  He  continued  at  this  until  the  fall  of  1902  when  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
by  a  majority  of  500  votes.  He  is  well  qualified  for  the  office  he  so  capably 
fills,  and  is  a  popular  official  who  commands  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
every  one.  He  has  always  been  an  untiring  worker  for  the  success  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  been  frequently  called  upon  to  fill  minor  offices. 
He  served  for  a  time  as  school  director,  as  highway  commissioner,  and  repre- 
sented the  township  on  the  County  Democratic  Central  Committee. 

In  1881,  Mr.  Dickerson  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Ida  M.  Langley, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  with  her  parents,  J.  W.  and  Elizabeth  E. 
Langley,  came  to  Illinois.  Her  father  is  deceased  and  her  mother  lives  at 
Girard,  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickerson  have  three  children,  as  follows : 
Ethel  R. ;  E.  Roy;  and  Harvey  L.  Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  not  a 
member  of  any  church  organization,  but  is  liberal  in  his  support  of  various 
religious  bodies. 


JOHN  G.  LIPPOLDT. 

John  G.  Lippoldt,  one  of  the  successful  agriculturists  of  Macoupin 
County,  is  comfortably  located  on  his  farm  of  160  acres  in  section  35,  Hilyard 
township.  He  was  born  in  Saxe-Weimar,  Germany,  F"ebruary  2,  1825,  and 
is  a  son  of  Christopher  and  Marie  (Breaves)  Lippoldt. 

Christopher  Lippoldt,  who  was  a  nati\e  of  Germany,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1853,  locating  at  Brighton,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he 
died  two  years  later.  He  was  married  to  Marie  Breaves,  also  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  five  boys  and  four  girls  were  born  to  them,  seven  of  whom  are 
still  living,  and  residents  of  this  country.  Mrs.  Lippoldt,  our  subject's 
mother,  died  about  1858  at  the  age  of  65  years. 

John  G.  Lippoldt  in  1854  sailed  on  the  ship  "Helmond"  from  Bremen, 
Germany,  landing  at  New  Orleans  after  a  seven  weeks'  voyage.  Mr.  Lip- 
poldt then  came  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  Alton,  Illinois,  and  purchased  a 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  189 

farm  near  Brighton,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  17  years,  actively  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  then  remo\ed  to  his  present  farm  and  has  since 
cultivated  that  place.  At  one  time,  soon  after  coming  here,  he  owned  515 
acres  of  land,  the  greater  part  of  which  he  has  sold.  At  one  time  he  had  300 
acres  of  wheat  destroyed  by  hail  storms.  Mr.  Lippoldt  in  former  years 
devoted  much  time  and  care  to  the  raising  of  fine  cattle,  and  at  one  time  had 
as  many  as  125  steers  on  his  place.  In  political  circles  Mr.  Lippoldt  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party. 

In  1854  Mr.  Lippoldt  was  married  to  Henrietta  Lippoldt,  a  distant  rela- 
tive, who  was  also  a  native  of  Germany.  They  were  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren, namely :  Theodore,  who  resides  in  Hilyard  township,  and  is  the 
father  of  three  children:  Fanny  (Bartels),  who  resides  in  Hilyard  township: 
Annie  (Shacabie).  who  resides  in  Bunker  Hill  township,  and  Herman,  who 
lives  on  the  homestead  farm.  Mrs.  Lippoldt  was  born  in  1831,  and  died  in 
1899.  Mr.  Lippold  and  family  are  members  of  the  German  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 


JOHN  R.  ASH.  M.  D. 

John  R.  Ash,  M.  D..  a  representative  member  of  the  medical  profession 
in  Macoupin  County,  and  a  practicing  physician  at  Brighton,  was  born  here, 
November  27.  1867.  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  distinguished  Dr.  John  Ash  and 
Mary  E.  Loveland,  his  wife. 

The  Ash  family  is  of  German  extraction  and  was  founded  in  America 
by  Joseph  Ash,  tlie  great-great-grandfather  of  the  present  Dr.  Ash.  He 
settled  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
War,  married  there  and  then  removed  to  a  farm  in  Chester  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  died  at  the  age  of  97  years.  He  possessed  the  strong  consti- 
tution of  sturdy  German  stock,  and  but  a  few  years  before  his  death  took 
part  in  the  harvesting  of  tlie  grain  on  his  fields.  At  the  time  of  burial,  his 
pall-bearers  were  four  great-grandchildren,  one  of  whom  was  the  late  Dr. 
John  Ash.  His  wife  lived  to  the  age  of  95  years.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

William  Ash,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  reared  in  Chester 


I90  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

County,  where  he  dietl  in  1850,  aged  70  years.  He  married  Nancy  Stepler, 
a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

Joseph  Ash,  their  son,  and  grandfather  of  Dr.  Ash,  was  born  and  reared 
in  Chester  county,  and  there  married  Ehzabeth  Zigler,  also  of  German  extrac- 
tion. In  1853  Joseph  Ash  and  wife  located  in  Brighton,  Illinois,  where  the 
latter  died  at  the  age  of  66  years.  Joseph  Ash  survived  until  the  age  of  92. 
In  Pennsylvania  both  he  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  but 
after  coming  to  this  locality  both  united  with  the  Methodists,  and  until  the 
close  of  their  lives  were  faithful  and  consistent  members. 

Dr.  John  Ash  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of  their  family  of  six 
children,  and  was  bom  in  West  Cain  township,  Chester  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania. November  29,  1818,  and  died  January  31.  1903.  in  Brighton,  Macoupin 
County,  where  he  had  ministered  so  long  to  the  sick  and  suffering.  He 
secured  a  good,  public  school  education  and  then  entered  the  Pennsylvania 
Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  there  graduated  in  1851,  prior  to 
this  having  attended  the  Strasburg  Academy  for  two  years.  He  then  came  to 
Illinois,  locating  first  at  Delhi.  Jersey  County,  removing  then  to  Piasa,  Ma- 
coupin County,  where  he  remained  until  locating  in  Brighton,  in  1853.  He 
continued  to  make  his  permanent  home  at  Brighton,  where  his  years  of 
devotion  to  the  public  in  the  following  of  his  profession  is  so  well  known. 
His  loss  is  too  recent  for  it  to  be  yet  fully  appreciated,  but  he  left  l^ehind, 
in  the  person  of  his  son,  our  subject,  one  whose  professional  skill  and  sterling 
character  worthily  supplement  all  his  efforts.  During  the  Civil  War,  Dr. 
Ash  served  in  the  capacity  of  surgeon  at  Memphis.  Tennessee.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Macoupin  County  and  State  Medical  Societies.  Dr.  Ash 
married  Mary  E.  Loveland,  who  was  bom  in  1830.  in  Rhode  Island,  and  in 
childhood  accompanied  her  parents,  Leonard  and  Elizalicth  Loveland,  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Brighton  township,  Macoupin  County.  Mrs.  Ash  was  a 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  a  graduate  of  the  Monticello  Seminary  and 
Jacksonville  Female  College.  The  four  children  of  the  late  Dr.  Ash  were : 
Charles,  who  died  in  childhood ;  Lena,  a  graduate  of  Monticello  Seminary ; 
Dora,  also  a  graduate  of  Monticello  Seminar)-  and  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  James 
Mason  Barcus,  a  leading  dental  surgeon  of  Carlinville;  and  John  R.,  of  this 
biography. 

Dr.  John  R.  Ash  was  afforded  very  excellent  educational  advantages  and 
secured  his  medical  degree  at  the  Beaumont   Hospital  Medical   College  at 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  191 

St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1889.  He  began  practice 
with  his  father  at  Brighton  and  has  been  engaged  here  continuously  with  the 
exception  of  three  sessions  which  he  spent  at  the  Marion  Simms  College  of 
Medicine  at  St.  Louis,  having  cliarge  of  the  nose  and  throat  clinic.  Dr.  Ash 
has  met  with  much  success  and  has  won  the  confidence  of  the  public  and  enjoys 
a  cordial  relationship  with  his  brotlier  physicians. 

In  1896  Dr.  Ash  married  Mabel  Martin,  who  is  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Dr.  Frank  Martin,  of  Greenfield,  Illinois,  a  son  of  Hon.  Hairy  F.  Martin. 
One  son,  John  Loveland,  has  been  bom  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ash. 

Fraternally.  Dr.  Ash  is  a  Mason,  his  father  having  been  a  Knight 
Templar,  connected  with  Belvidere  Comniandery  at  Alton.  He  belongs  also 
to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Politically  he  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  Dr.  John  R.  Ash  is  a  member  of  the  Macoupin  Count>' 
Medical  Society  and  has  served  as  its  president.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  village  of  Brighton. 


FRED  B.  BOCK. 


Fred  B.  Bock,  the  leading  retail  grocer  of  Girard,  Illinois,  and  one 
of  the  city's  progressive  and  public-spirited  business  men.  was  bom  in  Girard, 
November  16,  1869,  and  is  one  of  a  iamily  of  four  children  born  to  Henr}' 
and  Bertha  (Bajohr)  Bock. 

The  late  Henrj-  Bock,  father  of  our  subject,  came  to  Ilhnois  from 
Germany,  when  about  14  years  of  age.  He  had  his  own  way  to  make  in  the 
world,  and  the  success  which  he  attained  and  the  honor  and  respect  with  which 
he  was  long  regarded,  are  facts  well  known  in  the  city  where  he  so  long  made 
his  home.  In  addition  to  taking  a  ver)-  prominent  part  in  civic  life,  being 
again  and  again  elected  to  public  office,  he  was  honored  as  a  sun-ivor  of  the 
great  Civil  War,  in  which  he  spent  more  than  four  years.  He  participated  in 
a  number  of  the  most  notable  battles  of  the  war,  suffered  at  Andersonville. 
and  was  spared  to  share  the  triumphs  of  the  grand  review  at  Washington 
Cit\-.    Until  his  death.  ^Ir.  Bock  was  an  interested  member  of  Luke  Ma^"field 


192  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Post,  No.  516,  G.  A.  R.,  where  he  was  vakied  and  beloved.  An  extended 
sketch,  including  his  miHtary  career,  will  be  found  in  another  part  of  this 
volume. 

Fred  B.  Bock  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Girard,  and  at  the 
age  of  12  years  learned  the  trade  of  cooper  from  his  father.  He  worked  12 
years  as  a  coal  miner  and  spent  two  years  with  the  Eureka  Mercantile  Com- 
pany, and  was  connected  for  one  year  with  the  firm  of  Dodson  &  Sheppard. 
Mr.  Bock  had  then  accumulated,  by  his  own  efforts,  a  sufficient  knowledge  of 
the  mercantile  business  to  enable  him  to  embark  in  a  grocery  business,  and  he 
entered  into  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Lindner,  the  firm  name  becoming  Lindner 
&  Bock.  This  was  succeeded  by  Bock  &  Gill,  which  continued  until  1903. 
On  January  i,  1904,  Mr.  Bock  opened  up  a  fine  store  in  his  own  name,  his 
goods  including  a  complete  line  of  first-class  groceries  and  table  delicacies, 
and.  in  addition,  queensware  and  mining  supplies.  The  \alue  of  his  stock 
comes  not  much  under  $3,500.  His  upright  business  methods  and  obliging 
manner,  combined  with  the  superior  quality  of  his  goods,  have  brought  him 
\ery  satisfying  returns. 

In  1893  ^^^-  Bock  married  Sophia  Holland,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Frank 
Holland,  and  they  have  two  children,  viz.:  Cecil  H.,  born  in  OctoI)er,  1894, 
and  Crystal,  born  in  October,  1904.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bock  are  members  of 
the  Christian  Church. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Bock  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  as  town  clerk,  and 
for  several  years  was  town  collector.  Fraternally  he  is  an  Odd  Fellow, 
belonging  to  Lodge  No.  192,  of  Girard,  and  he  is  also  connected  with  its 
au.xiliary,  the  Rebekah  lodge.  The  family  has  long  been  a  prominent  one 
in  Girard. 


REV.  FRANCIS  H.  ZABEL,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Francis  H.  Zabel,  D.  D.,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  clergy  in  the  Alton  Diocese,  Illinois,  dean  of  that  body, 
and  for  the  past  24  years  the  beloved  and  reverenced  pastor  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church  at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  was  bom  February  9,  1839, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  193 

at  Erbeviller,  Lorraine,  France.     He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Francis  Stephen 
and  Mary   (Midon)   Zabel. 

Father  Zabel  comes  of  Swiss  ancestry,  the  founder  of  the  family  hav- 
ing located  in  Lorraine  at  the  time  the  province  had  been  desolated  by  war 
and  pestilence,  and.  although  a  poor  watchmaker,  he  was  thus  enabled  to 
secure  a  very  large  tract  of  land  which  in  later  days  became  very  valuable : 
Both  the  Zabels  and  Midons  have  been  consistent  Catholics.  The  Midon 
family,  especially,  has  contributed  many  faithful  sons  to  the  service  of  the 
church.  Joseph  Zabel,  the  grandfather  of  Father  Zabel.  was  wounded  while 
serving  in  the  army  at  the  siege  of  Mainz,  and  two  of  his  brothers  perished 
during  the  disastrous  campaign  of  Napoleon  in  Russia.  Fair  Lorraine  has 
figured  so  conspicuously  in  the  various  wars  on  the  Continent,  that  its  dwell- 
ers have  been  called  upon  to  bear  many  hardships  and  their  various  exper- 
iences were  often  tragic.  Father  Zabel's  maternal  grandfather  was  the 
mayor  of  Eulmont  at  the  time  of  Napoleon's  invasion  and  was  the  only  man 
who  remained  at  his  post  of  duty  in  the  hour  of  danger.  At  this  time  the 
mother  of  Father  Zabel  was  but  a  little  maid  of  seven  years,  but  the  im- 
pressions made  then  were  never  forgotten  by  her.  She  died  in  her  old  home, 
in  1896,  at  the  age  of  89  years.  She  was  a  woman  of  great  force  of  char- 
acter, a  most  admirable  wife  and  mother,  and  a  deeply  devout  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  The  father  of  Father  Zabel  was  bom  August  24.  1807,  in 
the  same  house  which  was  his  son's  birthplace  32  years  later,  and  there  his 
useful,  worthy,  virtuous  life  ended  on  June  i,  1884.  His  pursuits  had  been 
entirely  agricultural  and  he  owned  a  large  estate  which  is  now  managed  by 
his  youngest  son,  Charles  A.,  who  is  an  educated  man  and  a  practical  fanner. 
The  family  consisted  of  but  three  sons.  Father  Zabel  being  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  The  eldest,  Rev.  Joseph  Zabel.  is  a  Catholic  priest  now  in 
charge  of  a  church  at  Maron  near  Nancy,  Lorraine. 

Until  he  was  19  years  of  age,  Rev.  Father  Zabel  remained  in  his  native 
place,  attending  the  municipal  schools  until  the  age  of  1 1  years,  having 
private  instruction  for  one  year  and  then  was  placed  by  his  devout  father  in 
the  seminary  at  Pont-a-Mousson,  where  he  continued  the  study  of  Latin,  and 
where  he  remained  for  seven  j-ears,  completing  the  classical  and  scientific 
courses.  Thus  prepared,  he  was  accepted  as  a  student  in  the  great  seminary 
at  Nancy,  where  he  was  grounded  in  philosophy  for  one  year.  Leaving 
France,  he  went  to  Ireland,  and  at  All-Hallows  College,  in  Dubllin,  spent 


194  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

two  years  in  the  study  of  philosophy  and  theology,  going  thence  to  Rome. 
There  two  years  were  passed  in  the  Roman  College  in  the  study  of  theology 
and  the  Roman  University  for  the  study  of  canon  law,  and  graduated  at  both 
institutions  in  1862. 

In  America  Father  Zabel  sought  a  field  of  usefulness.  The  way  was 
opened  to  a  Western  diocese  and  in  November,  1862,  he  reached  Alton,  Illi- 
nois, and  in  May,  1863,  was  appointed  to  a  charge  at  Springfield.  In  July, 
1864,  he  was  transferred  to  East  St.  Louis  and  given  charge  of  St.  Patrick's 
Church,  where  he  remained  until  December  i.  1873,  ^vhen  he  took  charge 
of  St.  Patrick's  Church  at  Cairo,  Illinois,  where  he  was  continued  until  No- 
vember, 1869,  when  he  came  to  Bunker  Hill. 

Father  Zabel's  long  pastorate  has  been  productive  of  great  results,  his 
efforts  not  only  resulting  in  the  erection  of  convents  and  church  additions 
and  adding  to  the  financial  prosperity  of  his  various  charges  by  good  busi- 
ness management,  but  also  in  spiritual  things.  During  all  these  years  he 
has  gone  in  and  out  among  his  people,  administering  to  all  alike  in  brotherly 
love,  and  showing  forth  on  many  occasions  the  same  spirit  which  so  recently 
excited  the  admiration  of  the  country,  when  a  prelate  of  his  church  risked 
his  life  offering  Catholic  consolation  to  perishing  creatures  hemmed  in  by 
fire.  Such  was  the  brave  attitude  of  Rev.  Father  Zabel  during  the  fearful 
epidemic  of  yellow  fever,  in  Cairo,  in  1878,  when,  regardless  of  self,  his 
sen'ices  were  given  to  all  who  suffered. 

On  various  occasions,  Rev.  Father  Zabel  has  been  honored  by  his 
church.  He  represented  the  Alton  Diocese  in  the  Baltimore  Council,  taking 
the  place  of  the  bishop  of  the  diocese,  the  latter  being  sick.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  board  of  examiners  of  the  clerg}'  and  counsellor  to  the  bishop  and  is 
censor  of  books.  In  addition  to  his  clerical  labors  and  priestly  offices,  he  is 
one  of  the  church  historians  and  his  work  issued  in  April,  1900,  is  a  com- 
plete history  of  the  Alton  Diocese,  including  all  bishops,  congregations  and 
all  matters  pertaining  to  this  diocese. 

At  Bunker  Hill  where  he  is  so  well  known  and  where  the  result  of  hi> 
labors  is  so  apparent,  few  men  are  held  in  higher  esteem.  By  education  ad- 
mirably fitted  for  his  work,  he  possesses  also  all  the  attributes  which  go  to 
fill  up  the  ideal  of  a  true  pastor.  The  energies  of  his  life  and  the  gifts  of  his 
intellect  have  been  given  to  his  fellow  men,  and  that  many  more  years  may 
be  added  to  his  Ijeneficent  life  is  the  sincere  wish  of  all  who  know  him. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  195 

LEWIS  C.  DECK. 

Lewis  C.  Deck,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  and  successful  business 
men  of  Girard,  mayor  of  the  city  in  1889  and  1S90.  and  identified  with  its 
affairs  in  many  directions,  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  Illi- 
nois. He  was  bom  August  6,  1848,  in  Palmyra  township,  Macoupin 
County,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Steele)  Deck,  and  a  grandson  of 
Isaac  Deck. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in  \'irginia,  moved  to  Ten- 
nessee and  later,  with  the  early  pioneers,  came  to  Illinois,  locating  for  some 
years  near  Upper  Alton.  He  came  to  Macoupin  County  with  the  early  set- 
tlers, purchasing  a  partly  improved  farm  in  the  vicinity-  of  Bunker  Hill, 
where  he  died  in  1872. 

Jacob  Deck,  father  of  Lewis  C.  Deck,  was  born  in  Madison  County, 
lUinois,  August  25,  1825,  and  lived  there  until  after  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  when  he  removed  to  Macoupin  County,  located  first  in  Palmyra  town- 
ship and  then  removed  to  North  Otter  township,  where  he  acquired  a  farm 
of  160  acres,  in  the  improvement  of  which  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  death  took  place  March  3,  1882.  He  married  Nancy  Steele  as  his 
second  wife.  She  was  bom  in  South  Carolina,  a  daughter  of  Moses  and 
Nancy  (Watts)  Steele,  and  died  June  13.  1899.  The  six  children  of  the 
family  are:  Lewis  C,  ^^'illiam  B..  Mary  E..  Melissa  A.,  John  A.,  and 
George  M. 

Lewis  C.  Deck  obtained  his  education  in  the  schools  of  North  Otter 
township  and  Girard,  and  at  the  State  Normal  School  at  Normal,  Illinois, 
and  subsequently  at  Kentucky  University,  at  Lexington,  Kentuck}-.  Dur- 
ing the  years  that  he  spent  in  thus  cultivating  his  mind  and  training  his  fac- 
ulties, at  inter\-a]s  he  engaged  in  teaching  and  became  well  known  through 
the  county  as  one  of  the  best  qualified  educators.  In  1884  he  gave  up  the 
profession  in  which  he  had  met  with  such  success,  in  order  to  enter  upon  a 
mercantile  life,  forming  at  this  time  a  partnership  with  B.  F.  Clark.  The 
firm  of  Clark  &  Deck  became  a  leading  one  in  Girard,  their  well  appointed 
store  being  devoted  to  the  handling  of  drugs,  groceries,  books  and  station- 
er}-. The  business  methods  of  the  firm  secured  and  kept  patronage,  and  the 
house  continues  to  stand  for  excellence  of  goods,  honest  prices  and  cour- 
teous treatment.  Since  January  5,  1895,  ^Mr.  Deck  has  been  in  the  drug 
business  alone.  He  carries  a  fine  stock,  worth  at  a  conser\-ative  estimate 
about  $5,000. 
11 


196  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

On  December  27,  1883,  Mr.  Deck  was  married  to  Mary  Josephine 
Long,  who  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Kentucky,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  J.  Long.  Two  sons  have  been  born  to  this  marriage: 
Harr}-  L.  and  Lewis  \V.  The  family  home  is  one  of  those  handsome  ones 
for  which  Girard  is  noted,  and  it  is  often  the  scene  of  social  functions. 

Politically  Mr.  Deck  is  a  Democrat  and  upon  many  occasions  he  has 
been  elected  by  his  party  to  offices  of  responsibility.  In  1888  he  was  elected 
clerk  of  the  city,  and  in  1889  he  was  elected  mayor,  a  position  he  filled  with 
dignity  and  efficiency  during  that  and  the  following  year.  Many  reforms 
were  inaugurated  under  his  administration  and  many  civic  improvements 
were  carried  out.  Although  he  is  a  keen  business  man.  his  cultivated  in- 
tellect and  cultured  tastes  lead  him  to  encourage  all  that  goes  to  make  up 
the  higher  life  of  the  city,  and  he  is  ever  a  friend  of  advanced  education,  art 
and  music,  believing  these  things  should  go  hand  in  hand  with  practical  ad- 
vancement, such  as  he  wishes  his  city  to  make.  He  is  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  Girard  Building  &  Loan  Association.  In  religious  belief,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Mutual 
Protective  League. 


WILLIAM   J.  H.  FAHRENKROG. 

Hilyard  township,  Macoupin  County,  has  its  full  share  of  capable,  in- 
telligent and  successful  citizens,  and  one  of  these  is  William  J.  H.  Fahren- 
krog,  former  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County.  He  is  also  one  of  its  excellent 
farmers  and  owns  a  fine  property  of  160  acres  in  section  35,  Hilyard  town- 
ship. Mr.  Fahrenkrog  was  born  September  27,  1859.  on  a  farm  near  Bunker 
Hill,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Frederica 
Fahrenkrog,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Holstein,  Germany.  The  chief 
facts  in  the  life  of  the  late  Henry  Fahrenkrog  may  be  found  in  the  sketch  of 
his  widow  which  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Our  subject  has  always  made  his  home  in  Macoupin  County.  His 
primary  education  was  secured  in  the  district  schools  and  he  spent  three 
years  in  the  Bunker  Hill  Academy.  His  occupation  has  been  that  of  a 
farmer  and  stock  raiser.  His  purchase  of  his  present  fine,  well  cultivated 
farm,  was  a  recent  one,  and  the  improvements  which  he  has  placed  tliereon, 


MACOUPIN   COUNTY.  197 

including  one  of  the  finest  dwellings  of  this  locality,  have  advanced  its  value 
very  materially. 

Since  attaining  manhood,  Mr.  Fahrenkrog  has  been  an  important  factor 
in  township  and  county  politics.  In  political  sentiment  he  is  a  Republican, 
and,  although  his  party  in  many  sections  is  in  a  minority,  he  has  been  elected 
to  office  many  times.  He  served  twice  as  collector  of  Hilyard  township,  one 
term  as  assessor  and  was  then  made  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county,  under  P. 
B.  Davenport,  and  served  in  that  office  from  1894  to  1898,  when  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Macoupin  County.  During  his  four  years  of  service,  he 
so  faithfully  performed  the  duties  that  he  met  with  general  approbation.  He 
was  noted  for  a  courteous  manner,  close  attention  to  detail,  sterling  integrity 
and  a  dignity  well  befitting  a  responsible  position.  He  retired  to  private 
life  in  1902.  with  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  since 
then  has  been  devoting  himself  to  the  development  of  his  farm. 

On  November  23,  1898.  Mr.  Fahrenkrog  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Dora  Tietje,  who  was  born  December  27.  1878,  in  Bond  County,  Illlinois, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Claus  and  Mary  (Kuhne)  Tietje,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  Germany,  but  have  pased  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  in  Illinois. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fahrenkorg  have  one  daughter, — Esther  F.  M.  The  family 
religious  connection  is  with  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 


B.  M.  BURKE. 


B.  M.  Burke,  president  of  the  Carlinville  Telephone  Company,  is  one 
of  the  most  enterprising  and  progressive  citizens  of  Carlinville.  Macoupin 
County.  He  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Missouri,  December  27, 
1863,  and  is  a  son  of  Hon.  Beatty  T.  and  IMartha  J.  (McGready)  Burke, 
and  a  grandson  of  Thomas  Burke.  Thomas  Burke  was  born  in  Ireland 
and  upon  coming  to  this  country  located  in  Virginia.  He  married  Ann 
Thompson,  who  was  of  Scotch  parentage. 

Hon.  Beatty  T.  Burke,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Jeft'erson 
County,  Virginia,  September  12,  1806,  and  upon  arriving  at  the  age  of  14 
years  removed  to  the  town  of  Harper's  Ferry,  where  he  resided  iiiuil  he  was 


198  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

29  years  old.  After  completing  a  common  school  education  he  was  em- 
ployed for  a  time  in  the  United  States  Armory  at  Harper's  Ferry.  He  was 
compelled  to  leave  Virginia  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  in  May,  1835,  ar- 
rived in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  conducted  a  mercantile  establishment 
for  some  time.  He  soon  disposed  of  this  business  and  moved  across  the 
river  to  Zanesville,  Illinois,  where  in  addition  to  carrying  on  mechandising 
he  conducted  an  inn  and  engaged  in  farming.  After  the  death  of  his  wife 
lie  sold  out  his  interests  and  removed  to  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County,  where 
he  grew  to  be  one  of  the  county's  most  influential  citizens.  He  followed  the 
mercantile  business  here  from  1836  to  1838,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Macoupin  County  for  one  term.  In  1847  ''^  ^^'^s  appointed  by  the  Governor 
as  public  administrator  of  the  county,  and  in  1850  was  elected  to  represent 
his  district  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  again  elected  sheriff  of  the 
county  in  1852,  and  two  years  later  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  party 
for  the  State  Legislature  but  was  defeated.  He  was  renominated  for  the 
office  in  1856  and  elected  by  a  good  majority.  In  1868,  he  was  again  nom- 
inated and  elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  in  1871  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  for  a  term  of  four  years.  He  was  also  elected  supervisor  of  his 
township  in  1871,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  his  death  in  1876.  He 
was  a  man  of  many  virtues  and  sterling  qualities,  and  his  death  was  consid- 
ered by  his  fellowmen  as  a  sad  loss  to  the  community.  He  was  first  married 
in  1830  to  Harriet  Jackson,  a  daughter  of  John  Jackson  of  Jefferson  County, 
Virginia,  by  whom  he  had  one  child.  He  subsequently  married  Martha  J. 
McGready,  who  was  born  in  Missouri  and  was  the  mother  of  our  subject. 

B.  M.  Burke  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Macoupin  County, 
and  in  the  schools  of  Wisconsin,  Missouri  and  New  York.  Upon  his  return 
to  Macoupin  County,  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock  raising 
with  much  success  for  a  period  of  eight  years.  Then  in  connection  with  W. 
R.  Hulse  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business,  and  this  part- 
nership continued  until  1901,  when  Mr.  Burke  turned  his  attention  to  the 
telephone  business.  The  Carlinville  Telephone  Company  was  incorporated 
with  B.  M.  Burke  as  president :  W.  R.  Hulse,  vice-president ;  and  A.  L. 
Burke,  secretary.  This  company  operates  250  miles  of  telephone  toll  lines, 
and  operates  in  Macoupin,  Montgomery  and  Jersey  counties.  They  have  n 
direct  connection  with  the  Central  Union  and  Long  Distance  telephone  sys- 
tems; and  also  connect  with  the  Jersey viile  and  the  Montgomery  telephone 
lines,  doing  an  immense  business.    He  is  an  ardent  Democrat  in  politics,  and 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  199 

for  eight  years  has  served  as  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  Mount  Nebo 
Lodge  No.  76,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Commandery  No.  30,  K.  T.,  of  Litchfield; 
Orient  Lodge,  K.  of  P. ;  B.  P.  O.  E. ;  and  a  number  of  fraternal  insurance 
orders. 

In  February,  1885,  Mr.  Burke  married  Alfred  L.  Maj-field,  and  they 
have  six  children:  Bertie  M.,  Martha  L.,  Beatty  T.,  Kathleen;  Gertrude 
and  Lillian.  Religiously,  Mr.  Burke  and  family  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 


HENRY  MORRISON. 

One  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  IMacoupin  County  is  worthily  repre- 
sented in  the  person  of  Henry  Morrison,  a  well-known  farmer,  residing  on 
his  brother  Joseph's  farm  of  160  acres  in  section  24,  Hilyard  township.  Mr. 
Morrison  was  born  in  this  township,  October  29,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Martha  (Taylor)  Morrison. 

Henry  Morrison,  the  father,  was  born  in  County  Derry,  Ireland,  July 
7,  1808,  and  with  his  brother  James  came  to  America  in  1845.  They  re- 
mained a  year  in  Genesee  County,  New  York,  and  then  removed  to  Alton, 
Illinois,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  town  Henry  Morrison  rented  a  farm.  In  the 
spring  of  1847  he  came  to  ]\Iacoupin  County  and  settled  in  Hilyard  township, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  March  6,  1899.  at  the  age  of  90  years,  eight 
months  and  29  days.  He  left  a  large  estate,  all  of  which  he  had  accumulated 
by  his  ov.-n  industry.  From  the  date  of  the  nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
for  the  presidency,  he  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  was  a 
man  who  contributed  much  to  the  developing  and  civilizing  of  this  locality, 
urging  the  building  of  churches  and  schools,  the  improvement  of  the  high- 
ways and  the  raising  of  good  stock.  He  married  ^lartha  Taylor,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  County  Derry,  Ireland,  who  now  resides  with  a  son.  They 
had  these  children:  George,  of  Hilyard  township;  Joseph;  Henry;  Mrs. 
Margaret  Howell,  of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri;  Mrs.  Martha  Ellen  Cal- 
loway, of  Hilyard  township;  Rebecca,  who  lives  with  her  mother;  Samuel, 


200  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

who  died  in  1864,  aged  five  years;  and  Robert,  who  died  July  6,  1903,  aged 
41  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  five  children. 

Mr.  Morrison  owns  a  farm  of  120  acres  in  section  18,  Gillespie  township, 
and  another  of  40  acres  in  section  13,  Hilyard  township.  He  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising,  and  has  met  with  deserved  success. 

On  Thanksgiving  Day,  1885,  Mr.  Morrison  was  married  to  Esther 
Cline,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
\Villiam  and  Sarah  Cline.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to  them :  Nellie 
May,  Harry,  Earl,  Bessie,  Lawrence,  Fern,  Craige  and  Franklin  Edgar. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Morrison  is,  like  his  father,  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  township  matters 
and  has  had  much  responsibility  thrust  upon  him  in  the  way  of  its  develop- 
ment. He  served  as  township  supervisor  for  five  terms,  and  received  the 
nomination  for  a  sixth  term.  His  public  service  increased  the  general  esteem 
in  which  he  has  long  been  held  by  his  fellow  citizens.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
Master  Mason,  belonging  to  Plainview  Lodge,  No.  461. 


O.  C.  HARTLEY. 


This  worthy  and  esteemed  citizen,  who  is  classed  among  the  progressive 
and  enterprising  business  men  of  Carlinville,  is  a  gentleman  greatly  respected 
for  his  sterling  worth,  and  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois.  He  was  born  near  Uniontown,  Pennsylvania,  Septeml)er 
19,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Schnatterly)  Hartley,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  of  Scotch  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  descent. 

James  Hartley  came  to  Macoupin  County  in  1882,  and  at  once  engaged 
in  farming,  which  he  has  followed  up  to  the  present  time.  Three  children 
were  born  to  him  and  his  wife,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy.  The  others 
are  Robert  L.,  and  O.  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Politically  Mr.  Hartley 
is  a  Democrat.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 

O.  C.  Hartle\-,  the  subject  of  this  personal  sketch,  received  his  prelimi- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  201 

nary  educational  training  in  the  common  schools  of  Macoupin  County,  cind 
from  1889  to  1894  attended  the  Bushnell  Normal  School.  After  completing 
his  course  in  that  institution,  he  engaged  as  a  school  teacher  for  several 
years,  during  the  winter  months.  His  political  views  favor  the  Democratic 
party,  and  he  is  prominently  identified  with  that  party,  having  been  elected 
county  clerk  in  the  fall  of  1898,  receiving  a  majority  of  400  votes  over  his 
opposing  candidate,  J.  R.  Duckies.  He  efficiently  filled  that  position  for  four 
years.  He  then  engaged  as  traveling  salesman  and  collector  for  Swift  & 
Company,  of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  and  after  a  time  was  assigned  to  Ken- 
tucky territory,  remaining  there  until  February  2^,  1903,  when  he  resigned 
on  account  of  trying  to  recover  from  an  accident  which  befell  him  while  in 
the  employ  of  that  company.  After  a  short  vacation  he  engaged  with  the 
recently-formed  corporation,  known  as  the  International  Harvester  Com- 
pany of  America,  combining  the  best  known  companies  in  the  United  States. 
and  he  is  acting  as  salesman  and  adjuster  and  has  met  with  much  success. 
His  territory  covers  the  counties  of  Montgomery,  Macoupin,  Greene,  Jersey. 
Scott.  Calhoun  and  Pike.  In  fraternal  circles  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

^Ir.  Hartley  was  married  in  1894  to  Florence  M.  Childs,  and  they  are 
the  happy  parents  of  two  children.  Gladys  L.  (deceased),  and  Beatrice  C. 
In  the  spring  of  1902  he  was  a  candidate  for  Representative,  but  was  defeated. 


MAJ.  FLETCHER  H.  CHAPMAN. 

Maj.  Fletcher  H.  Chapman,  one  of  the  best  knowni  citizens  of  Car- 
linville,  ranks  among  the  leading  attorneys  and  business  men  of  Macoupin 
County  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  people  of  his  community.  He  was 
born  April  15,  1828,  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard 
and  Celia  (Davenport)   Chapman. 

Richard  Chapman  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  as  was  also  his 
wife,  our  subject's  mother,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1818,  being  a  pioneer  of 


202  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

the  State.  He  first  located  in  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  remained  one  year 
and  in  the  following  year  (1819)  he  removed  to  Macoupin  County  and 
remained  here  until  1S24  when  he  removed  from  Dorchester  to  what  is  now 
called  Staunton  township  and  remained  there  until  1857.  Celia  (Daven- 
port) Chapman,  mother  of  our  subject,  died  five  years  previous  to  the  re- 
moval of  our  subject's  father  from  Staunton  township.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  12  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  youngest  son. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Macoupin 
County,  and  engaged  as  a  school  teacher  and  so  continued  until  24  years  of 
age,  during  which  time  he  spent  his  leisure  hours  in  the  study  of  the  law.  In 
the  fall  of  1852  he  engaged  in  land  surveying  and  meeting  with  success  at 
that  enterprise  was  elected  county  surveyor  and  was  later  reelected  and  held 
that  office  until  1859  when  he  resumed  his  study  of  the  law,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  the  Civil  War  broke  out.  He  then  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
14th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  July  14,  1865, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  In  1862  he  was  detached  from  his  regi- 
ment and  took  command  of  Company  L  (artillery)  as  captain  and  in  April 
his  company  was  consolidated  with  Company  D,  2d  Illinois  Light  Artillery, 
and  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  senior  ist  lieutenant  and  in  1863  was 
promoted  to  be  captain  of  his  company.  In  1865  he  was  brevetted  major  for 
meritorious  services  rendered  during  the  war. 

Major  Chapman  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  is  a  leading  politician  of 
his  county  and  State.  During  his  political  career  he  has  filled  several  high 
positions.  He  began  his  political  record  as  a  candidate  for  county  judge 
upon  his  return  from  the  war  but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority.  Later 
he  was  a  candidate  for  police  magistrate  and  was  elected;  he  filled  this  posi- 
tion so  efficiently  and  with  so  much  capability  that  in  1869  he  was  elected 
county  superintendent  of  schools,  which  position  he  filled  until  1873,  when 
he  began  the  practice  of  the  law,  having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869. 
Meeting  with  deserved  success  and  attaining  a  high  rank  in  the  legal  profes- 
sion, his  practice  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  he  chose  a  partnership  with 
the  late  Governor  John  M.  Palmer.  Our  subject  still  practices  law  and  is 
also  engaged  in  land  surveying.  He  holds  a  high  position  among  the  leading 
men  of  his  county  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  him.  He  is 
at  present  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace. 

Major  Chapman  was  married  to  Sarah  McCreery  in  1854.  At  her  de- 
cease a  few  vears  later,  he  was  left  with  two  children.     In  1862  he  was  mar- 


JAMES  THOMAS  KEPLINGEB. 


MRS.  SARAH  E.  KEPLINGER. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  207 

ried  to  Cecelia  C.  Burns;  one  child  has  been  born  to  them, — Charlotte  E. 
Mrs.  Chapman  is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The  Major 
is  a  member  of  Dan  Messick  Post,  No.  339,  G.  A.  R. 


JAMES  THOMAS  KEPLINGER. 

James  Thomas  Keplinger,  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Macou- 
pin County  for  many  years  and  still  the  owner  of  large  and  valuable  tracts  of 
land  in  Honey  Point  and  Brushy  Mound  townships,  was  born  January  22, 
1840,  in  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Sarah  E. 
(Harris)    Keplinger. 

Peter  Keplinger  was  born  August  7,  1815,  in  Washington  County, 
Tennessee.  His  gi'andfather,  Jacob  Keplinger,  removed  as  a  pioneer  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Tennessee.  There  was  born  his  son  John,  our  subject's 
grandfather,  who  on  December  18,  1806,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Rubel. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  them,  the  fifth  member  of  the  family  being  Peter, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  15  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to 
Illinois.  The  long  trip  was  made  with  a  five-horse  team,  and  they  located 
first  in  Morgan  County,  near  Jacksonville.  Peter  Keplinger  remained  with 
his  parents  until  he  was  21  years  of  age,  when  he  married  and  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself,  becoming  a  large  land-owner.  On  February  28,  1839, 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Harris,  born  May  10,  1820,  at  Elilzabethtown, 
Carter  County,  Tennessee,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Harris,  who  was  born  in 
Maryland  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  They  had  five  children  born 
to  them,  namely:  James  T.,  Ann  M.,  John  B.,  Lucian  and  Sarah  E.  Ann  M. 
married  T.  J.  Willhite  and  died  September  17,  1869,  leaving  no  issue.  John 
B.  served  two  years  in  the  Civil  War.  then  took  sick  and  was  finally  brought 
home  from  the  hospital,  and  died  in  1866.  Sarah  E.  married  J.  L.  Wylder 
of  Jacksonville,  Illinois. 

James  T.  Keplinger  has  been  a  resident  of  Honey  Point  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  since  1843.  \vhen  his  parents  settled  here  as  pioneers.  He 
grew  up  on  the  farm  but  had  but  few  educational  advantages.  When  the  Civil 
AVar  broke  out,  he  signified  his  desire  to  go,   but   was  so  opposed  by  his 


2o8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

solicitious  mother  that  he  gave  way  to  her  pleadings,  and  thus  was  subjected 
to  the  draft  of  September  23,  1864.  He  was  one  of  the  drafted  who  re- 
cruited Company  I,  32nd  Veteran  Reg..  IHinois  Vol.  Inf.  under  Lieutenant 
(later  Captain)  Droke.  This  company  was  attached  to  the  17th  Army  Corps 
and  participated  in  Sherman's  campaign.  On  the  way  to  Buford,  South 
Carolina,  the  regiment  encountered  a  severe  storm  on  the  ocean.  After  this 
experience  he  was  mainly  connected  with  the  quartersmaster's  department, 
and  was  discharged  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  September  16,  1865.  Mr. 
Keplinger  has  a  record  for  fidelity  to  duty  that  many  a  soldier  might  en\y. 
Although  entitled  to  a  pension,  he  has  never  applied  for  one. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  resumed  farming. 
He  has  owned  large  bodies  of  land  in  the  locality  where  he  has  made  his  home 
so  many  years,  at  one  time  holding  as  much  as  450  acres  in  Honey  Point 
and  Brushy  Mound  townships,  but  he  has  sold  some  and  has  given  his  chil- 
dren 160  acres.  His  present  holdings  include  120  acres  in  sections  31 
and  32,  Honey  Point  township,  60  acres  of  timber  in  section  20,  Honey 
Point  township,  80  acres  in  section  19,  Honey  Point  township,  and  130  acres 
in  sections  i  and  2,  Brushy  Mound  township.  He  has  been  an  extensive 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  but  has  now  retired  from  active  farming  and  de- 
votes his  time  to  the  buying  and  feeding  of  stock  more  for  a  slight  occupa- 
tion than  for  anything  else,  as  he  has  not  been  in  robust  health  since  1891. 

On  April  25,  1867,  Mr.  Keplinger  was  married  to  Sarah  L.  Entrekin. 
who  was  born  April  22,  1850.  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Ephraim  R.  and  Lavina  Entrekin,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
came  to  Illinois  in  1853.  Our  subject  and  wife  have  had  seven  children, 
namely:  Effie  J.,  who  married  J.  H.  Myer  of  Honey  Point  township  antl 
has  one  daughter — Leda  J.;  John  \Y.,  who  resides  in  Honey  Point,  mar- 
ried Laura  Duncan  and  has  two  children — Orin  C.  and  Florence  M. ;  Peter 
R.,  a  Methodist  clergyman,  of  Camden,  Hillsdale  County,  Michigan,  mar- 
ried Jennie  Akin  and  has  one  son — William  Thomas ;  Luther,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  25  years,  was  also  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Church — his  wife  was 
Ida  Fuller;  Clara  A.,  who  is  the  widow  of  William  Hammond,  resides  with 
her  parents  and  has  three  children — Marvel  W.,  Milo  L.  and  Merris  E. ; 
Mabel  M.,  who  married  Harry  Wilson,  and  resides  in  Honey  Point  town- 
ship; and  Mildred  E.,  who  married  Larkin  Hart  of  Honey  Point  tov.nship 
and  has  one  child — Sybil  Irene. 

Mr.    Keplinger   has   given   all   of   his   children   liberal   educational    ad- 


]\IACOUPIX    COUNTY.  209 

vantages,  always  regretting  his  own  limitations  in  this  direction.  He  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  promoting  educational  movements  in  his  locality 
and  has  served  for  a  long  time  as  school  director.  He  is  an  ardent  temper- 
ance man  and  for  some  years  voted  the  Prohibition  ticket,  but  is  now  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party.  During  the  Civil  War  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Loyal  Union  Leag\ie.  Since  1868  both  he  and  his  wife  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  stewards.  Several 
of  his  sons  have  entered  its  ministry  and  ]\Ir.  Keplinger  has  been  liberal  in 
his  support  of  this  religious  body,  but  he  is  not  a  prejudiced  man  and  can 
see  good  in  every  Christian  effort  and  has  assisted  other  organizations  also. 
\\'ith  the  exception  of  the  year  1863  when  he  traveled  in  Minnesota 
for  his  health,  and  during  his  army  service,  Macoupin  County  has  been  our 
subject's  home.  Here  he  is  known  and  esteemed,  meeting  old  friends  and 
new,  seeing  in  all  that  kind  consideration  which  his  honest,  helpful  life  has 
given  him  the  right  to  expect.  While  by  the  passing  away  of  the  old  pioneers 
many  of  the  most  solid,  substantial,  upright  men  of  the  land  are  removed, 
in  some  of  their  descendants  we  recognize  the  same  honorable  attributes 
which  made  them  what  they  were.  Mr.  Keplinger  worthily  represents  his 
pioneer  ancestry.  Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keplinger  accompany  this 
sketch. 


CYRUS  OTIS  LOVELESS. 

CvRus  Otis  Loveless,  who  has  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres  of  land  in 
Brushy  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  is  one  of  the  substantial  resi- 
dents of  his  community.  He  is  a  business  man  of  unusual  ability,  and  has 
attained  a  high  degree  of  success  in  the  occupation  of  farming.  He  was 
born  in  Bird  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  March  16,  1867,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  H.  and  Rhuhamy  (Brown)  Loveless,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  the  latter  of  Indiana. 

John  H.  Loveless  was  eight  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois,  and  here  he  resided  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Rhuhamy  Brown,  who  was  born  January  i,  1826,  and  died 
September  27,,  1902.  They  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
James,  deceased,  and  William    (twins);  Matilda;   George;  Emma:   Eman- 


210  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

uel ;  Robert ;  Cyrus  Otis ;  John  B. ;  and  two  who  died  in  infancy, — Jennie  and 
Betsey.  Mrs.  Loveless  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr. 
Loveless  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  served  as  school  director  and 
road  commissioner. 

Cyrus  Otis  Loveless  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Macoupin 
County,  after  which  he  worked  for  his  father  until  his  marriage.  He  then 
located  upon  his  present  farm  in  Brushy  Mound  township  and  has  since  con- 
tinuously followed  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  In  1895  he  built  his 
present  home,  which  is  a  model  of  convenience  and  equipped  with  modern 
improvements. 

On  January  13,  1892,  Mr.  Loveless  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
F.  McReynolds,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  J.  (Davis)  McReynolds,  and 
they  have  had  the  following  children  born  to  them:  Cyrene  C. ;  Lincoln  A.; 
Lydia  Dell  and  Jane  Bell  (twins)  ;  George  E. ;  and  Sarah  A.  Religiously, 
our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Shiloh  Baptist  Church.  In 
politics  he  is  independent. 


HON.  PHILIP  FLOOD. 

Hon.  Philip  Flood^  mayor  of  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  and  one  of 
the  city's  most  prominent  business  men,  is  the  senior  member  of  the  progres- 
sive firm  of  Flood  &  Lowe,  dealers  in  lumber,  lime,  cement,  sash,  doors  and 
blinds,  and  doing  business  under  the  name  of  Flood  &  Lowe  Lumber  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Flood  was  born  December  29,  1832,  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  where 
his  grandfather,  an  Englishman,  had  previously  located.  His  parents  were 
also  born  in  Dublin,  and  his  mother  died  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1848. 

Perhaps  not  a  little  of  the  great  business  success  which  Mr.  Flood 
enjoys,  as  well  as  the  public  esteem  in  which  he  is  held,  may  be  traced  to  the 
environments  which  made  him,  almost  from  childhood,  to  be  unselfish,  self- 
reliant  and  resourceful.  At  12  years  of  age,  he  was  assisting  in  the  support 
of  the  family;  at  16  he  was  finding  ways  and  means  to  transport  him  across 
the  Atlantic,  so  that  he  could  join  neighbors  and  friends  who  were  finding 
business  opportunities  in  America,  which  he  could  never  hope  to  secure  in 
Ireland.  It  was  on  October  2,  1848,  that  the  ambitious  Irish  lad  took  pass- 
age, on  the  steamer  "Sir  Charles  Napier,"  and  reached  the  city  of  New 


MACOUPIX    COUXTY.  211 

Orleans,  Louisiana,  after  a  voyage  of  13  long  weeks  without  a  cent  in  his 
pocket.  He  obtained  deck  passage  on  a  boat  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he 
had  an  uncle  Irving,  expecting  to  get  the  amount  of  $3  to  pay  his  passage 
from  him  as  he  had  told  the  captain  he  would  do  so.  He  met  with  a  chilly 
reception  from  his  uncle  and  without  breakfast  he  started  out  for  work  and, 
after  a  tedious  tramp  in  which  he  met  with  many  rebuffs,  Robert  Mitchell,  a 
leading  furniture  manufacturer  of  tiie  Queen  City,  took  him  in  and  con- 
sented to  teach  him  the  upholstering  business  and  hence  he  was  bound  out  for 
three  years  at  $3  per  week  with  which  to  board  and  clothe  himself.  There 
he  remained  until  1855  when  Mr.  Mitchell  sent  him  to  St.  Louis  with  a 
brother,  William  Mitchell,  to  start  a  branch  furniture  store  and  he  remained 
in  St.  Louis  from  June,  1855,  to  the  fall  of  1879,  his  salary  gradually  in- 
creasing until  he  commanded  a  salary  of  $3,500  per  year.  To  his  knowledge 
he  has  never  yet  met  the  Cincinnati  uncle. 

Mr.  Flood's  interest  in  the  lumber  business  at  Girard  dates  from  1872, 
but  he  did  not  make  his  permanent  home  here  until  1879,  when  he  took 
charge  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Flood  &  Lowe  Lumber  Company,  an 
enterprise  which  has  annually  grown  in  importance  and  is  known  all  over 
Illinois  and  its  products  sent  to  other  States.  This  is  one  of  the  ablest  rep- 
resented houses  in  the  lumber  trade  in  this  section.  The  yard  is  provided 
with  ample  buildings  and  sheds  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  busi- 
ness. The  stock  carried  is  very  large,  comprising  all  kinds  of  dressed  and 
undressed  lumber,  posts,  shingles,  etc.,  together  with  a  full  line  of  sash, 
doors,  blinds,  moldings,  etc.,  in  addition  to  lime  and  cement  and  hardware. 
They  are  verj-  large  dealers  in  agricultural  implements  and  carrj'  a  full 
stock  of  these  goods  from  a  garden  rake  to  a  threshing  machine.  Their  list 
includes  reapers,  mowers,  binders,  cultivators,  sulky  plows,  hay  rakes, 
tedders,  feed  cutters,  corn  planters,  corn  shellers,  etc.  The  headquarters  of 
the  business  remain  Girard,  but  successful  branches  have  been  also  estab- 
lished at  Virden,  at  Thayer  and  at  Farmersville.  \Mth  untiring  industry, 
Mr.  Flood  combines  unusual  business  ability,  as  shown  by  the  facility  with 
which  he  handles  his  large  interests. 

On  January  i,  1853,  ^Ir.  Flood  was  married  to  Mrs.  Christina  (Case) 
Robbins.  who  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  died  April  11,  1891. 
His  second  marriage  took  place  on  December  29,  1892,  to  Mrs.  Amy  E. 
Metcalf,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Randall  Benion,  who  was  born  in  England. 
The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Flood  is  one  of  the  many  beautiful  ones  in 


212  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Girard,  and  is  the  center  of  much  hospitality,  and  the  scene  of  many  dehght- 
ful  social  functions.  Both  our  subject  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  in  which  they  are  valued,  both  for  their  remembrance  of  their 
religious  obligations,  and  their  engaging  personalities. 

Mr.  Flood  was  elected  in  April,  1903,  by  the  Prohibition  party,  to  the 
highest  municipal  office  by  the  gratifying  plurality  of  lOO  votes  over  his 
opponent,  Hon.  Jacob  Bowersox.  His  administration  can  not  but  satisfy 
the  good  people  of  Girard,  for  it  is  progressive  while  also  clean,  moral  and 
economic.  The  same  administrati\e  qualities  which  have  made  him  so  suc- 
cessful a  man  at  the  head  of  his  own  concerns,  have  proved  of  equal  value 
when  handling  the  affairs  of  the  public.  He  has  long  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  leading  fraternal  organizations,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Pride  of  the  West  Lodge,  No.  179,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  1873.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  Girard  Lodge,  No.  171,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Girard  Chapter,  No.  132, 
R.  A.  M. ;  St.  Omar  Commandery,  No.  30,  K.  T. ;  and  the  Council  at 
Spring-field.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Security  Lodge,  No.  44,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
and  the  Odd  Fellows. 

The  mayor  of  Girard  is  one  of  the  busiest  men  of  his  city,  but  he  finds 
the  time  to  travel  a  little  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  world's  great  movements, 
to  enjoy  his  fine  library  and  still  hold  the  reins  of  city  government,  and 
seldom,  indeed,  is  too  occupied  to  admit  to  his  genial  presence  one  of  his 
admiring  fellow  citizens. 


J.   GEORGE    BENNER. 

J.  George  Benner  is  one  of  the  extensive  farmers  and  prominent  cit- 
izens of  Bunker  Hill  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  owns 
870  acres  of  fine  land,  situated  in  the  best  portions  of  Bunker  Hill  and 
Brighton  townships,  his  residence  being  on  a  tract  of  240  acres  in  section  20 
in  the  former  township.  Mr.  Benner  was  born  March  29,  1836,  in  Ger- 
many, and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Barbara  Maria  (Urbach)  Benner. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  born  in  Germany,  in  which  land 
John  Benner  served  several  years  in  the  German  army,  and  after  completing 
his  term  of  military  service  engaged  in  farming.  In  1848  he  came  with  his 
family  to  America,  where  he  engaged  during  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  213 

carpenter  work  and  at  general  labor.  He  was  a  man  of  good  habits,  fair 
education,  and,  while  not  accumulating  much  property,  was  much  respected 
for  his  honesty  and  integrity.  In  politics,  he  identified  himself  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  German  Evangelical 
Ciiurch.  His  death  took  place  at  Utica,  Indiana,  in  1862,  at  the  age  of  62 
years.  His  six  children  were :  Mrs.  Christina  Froehlich,  of  Alton,  Illinois ; 
Philip,  who  died  in  1856  in  Indiana,  aged  21  years;  Annie,  who  died  of 
cholera  in  Indiana,  in  1852;  Reinhart,  who  also  died  of  cholera;  John  W., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  butchering  business  at  Jeffersonville,  Indiana,  and  our 
subject,  who  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

J.  George  Benner  was  12  years  of  age  when  his  parents  decided  to 
migrate  to  America,  and  he  can  well  recall  the  incidents  of  their  embarking 
at  Bremen,  on  the  sailing  ship  "Colmonia,"  the  long  journey  across  the 
ocean,  the  landing  at  New  Orleans  and  the  trip  up  the  mighty  Mississippi 
River  and  the  Ohio  River  to  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Many  strange  sights  met 
his  view  and  in  themselves  proved  of  great  educational  value.  Before  finally 
locating  in  Macoupin  County,  Mr.  Benner  lived  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
spent  one  year  at  New  Albany,  Indiana,  three  more  years  at  Louisville, 
some  time  at  Utica,  Indiana,  and  in  1864  came  to  his  present  home.  During 
the  Civil  War  he  belonged  to  the  Indiana  Home  Guards  until  he  came  to 
Macoupin  County.  He  owns  a  farm  of  240  acres  in  section  20,  Bunker  Hill 
township  and  two  others  in  the  same  township,  and  one  in  Brighton 
township  aggregating  870  acres.  The  foundation  of  liis  fortune 
was  laid  while  in  the  butcher  business  in  Indiana.  Industry  and  thrift 
and  the  business  capacity  which  made  him  invest  wisely  have  done  the  rest. 
Mr.  Benner  engages  extensively  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
has  made  so  many  substantial  improvements  on  the  property,  including  a 
fine  home  and  other  buildings,  that  this  farm  is  justly  ranked  with  the  best  in 
the  southern  section  of  the  county. 

In  1857  Mr.  Benner  was  married  to  Charlotte  Wilhelmina  Bartels,  who 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1840,  and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  in 
1852.  They  landed  at  New  Orleans  and  later  went  to  Galveston,  Texas, 
where  they  had  expected  a  brother  to  meet  them,  but  found  when  they  ar- 
rived there  that  he  had  died  of  yellow  fever.  They  then  went  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  and  then  to  Utica,  Indiana,  where  Miss  Bartels  was  married  to 
Mr.  Benner.  She  is  one  of  the  four  children  of  Ludwig  and  Dorothy  Bar- 
tels, the  others  being:  Ludwig.  and  Charles  A.,  of  Bunker  Hill  tc.vnship; 


214  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

antl  Herman,  of  Hilyard  township.  Mrs.  Bartels  died  at  our  subject's  home 
in  1891,  aged  94  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Banner  have  had  these  children :  Mary  W.,  wife  of  John 
H.  Dillon,  deceased  in  January,  1884,  leaving  two  children, — Mrs.  Esther 
Johnson  of  Texas,  and  Lewis  G.,  who  lives  with  his  grandfather;  Charles 
C,  of  the  hardware  firm  of  Benner  Brothers,  of  Bunker  Hill,  who  has  four 
children, — Carl,  Pauline,  Kenneth  and  Dale;  Theodore  S.,  of  the  hard- 
ware firm  of  Benner  Brothers,  who  has  four  children, — Vera,  Theo.  George 
and  Ralph  Eugene;  Ella,  a  music  teacher,  a  graduate  of  the  Alton  Con- 
servatory of  Music,  in  the  class  of  1899,  who  resides  at  home;  Lydia  who 
married  H.  J.  Heal  of  Bunker  Hill  township;  Emma,  who  married  T.  B. 
Luken  of  Dorchester  township;  William  J.,  a  graduate  of  Washington  Uni- 
versity, who  is  a  physician  at  a  Baptist  sanitarium  in  St.  Louis;  and  George, 
a  promising  young  man,  who  died  at  the  age  of  20  years,  May  8,  1891,  just 
prior  to  graduating  from  the  Bunker  Hill  High  School. 

Mr.  Benner  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  advancement  of  education, 
has  served  in  a  number  of  school  offices,  and  has  given  his  family  many 
advantages.  In  politics  he  supports  the  Republican  party.  .  He  has  served 
the  township  officially  on  many  occasions  and  has  been  highway  commis- 
sioner several  times.  He  is  an  active  member  and  an  elder  in  the  German 
Presb}-terian  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  very  liberal  supporter. 

Mr.  Benner  began  life  with  little  capital,  but  he  faced  ever>'  difficulty 
with  courage,  depending  upon  industry,  honesty,  temperance  and  economy, 
to  forward  his  fortune.  The  result  may  be  seen  in  his  large  accumulation  of 
wealth  and  in  the  esteem  and  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow 
citizens. 


MARTIN    H.  HEAD,  M.  D. 

!Martix  H.  He.\d,  M.  D.,  is  the  oldest  practicing  physician  and  sur- 
geon of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Carlinville 
since  the  beginning  of  his  professional  career.  He  was  bom  at  Middletown, 
12  miles  east  of  Louisville,  in  Jefferson  County.  Kentucky.  May  3,  1827, 
and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Margaret  X.  (Brengman)  Head.     His  father 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  215 

was  born  in  Virginia  of  \\'elsh  parents,  and  his  mother  came  of  German 
parentage. 

Benjamin  Head  in  early  Hfe  moved  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  and 
made  a  comfortable  fortune  in  tlie  mercantile  business.  He  later  disposed 
of  this  business  and  purchased  a  farm,  upon  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  He  was  honored  with  an  appointment  to  the  office  of  magistrate, 
the  appointment  at  that  time  lying  with  the  Governor  and  being  indefinite 
as  to  the  length  of  time  the  incumbent  should  serve.  It  was  customary  for 
the  oldest  magistrate  of  the  county  to  be  honored  with  the  office  of  sheriff, 
and  this  honor  was  also  conferred  upon  him.  He  was  a  man  of  the  highest 
principles,  an  old  line  \\'hig  in  political  affiliation,  and  a  man  who  had  the 
confidence  and  good  will  of  his  fellow  citizens  almost  without  exception.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  56  years,  in  1837,  and  was  survived  many  years  by  his 
widow,  who  died  in  1891,  aged  86  years  and  five  months.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children,  namely:  Margaret  A.,  Benjamin  A.,  Samuel  R. 
and  ilartin  H.  Although  reared  to  the  Lutheran  faith,  Mrs.  Head  became 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Martin  H.  Head  was  educated  in  the  private  and  subscription  schools 
of  Kentucky,  also  in  the  college  at  Lagrange,  Kentucky.  Having  decided 
upon  a  professional  career,  he  read  medicine  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
James  M.  Bemiss  of  Middletown,  with  whom  he  continued  until  his  gradua- 
tion from  the  Kentucky  School  of  Medicine  in  the  spring  of  185 1.  In  Oc- 
tober of  that  year,  he  came  to  Carlinville.  Macoupin  County,  his  first  field  of 
practice,  and  has  continued  here  up  to  the  present  time.  He  became  well 
established  in  practice  and  has  had  a  most  active  career.  In  April,  1861, 
he  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  of  the  14th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
which  he  continued  for  one  year.  He  then  entered  Overton  Hospital  at 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  United  States  Army,  and 
served  three  years  until  the  hospital  was  closed.  Dr.  Head  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  Crittenden  Hospital  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  His  duty  was  to 
transfer  soldiers  as  they  became  able  to  their  respective  homes,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  perform  this  service  until  the  institution  was  closed  in  1865.  After 
the  conclusion  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  Carlinville  and  resumed  active 
practice.  He  is  one  of  the  best  knov\n  men  of  the  county,  and  numbers 
among  his  patients  many  of  its  prominent  citizens.  He  has  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  the  people  and  of  his  brother  practitioners. 

In  1853,  Dr.  Head  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Jilargaret  I.  Blackburn, 
12 


2i6  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

granddaughter  of  the  famous  Gideon  Blackburn,  who  founded  Blackburn 
University  at  Carlinville.  Two  sons  were  born  to  bless  their  home,  namely : 
Eugene  S.,  M.  D.,  who  is  practicing  medicine  in  Carlinville;  and  Hadley  B., 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Carlinville.  Our  subject  joined  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity in  1848,  and  is  a  mem!)er  of  Harry  Hudson  Lodge,  No.  76,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  at  Middletown,  Kentucky.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 


MRS.  EMMA   J.  LANCASTER. 

Mrs.  Emma  J.  Lancaster  is  the  widow  of  the  late  John  Lancaster, 
who  was  one  of  the  sturdy  tillers  of  the  soil  of  Macoupin  County,  as  well 
as  a  highly  esteemed  citizen  and  a  gentleman  of  creditable  interest  in  the 
building  of  the  township  of  Bunker  Hill.  Mr.  Lancaster  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  January  14,  1895,  resided  on  his  beautiful  farm, 
located  in  section  11,  which  consisted  of  235  acres. 

Mrs.  Emma  J.  Lancaster  was  born  August  22,  1852,  at  Bunker  Hill, 
Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Charles  A.  and  Mary  M.  (Barnes)  Parmenter. 
Charles  A.  Parmenter  was  lx)rn  at  Antrim,  New  Hampshire,  March  10, 
1806,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Bunker  Hill,  there  being  very 
few  dwellings  in  the  township  at  the  time  he  made  his  settlement.  Mr. 
Parmenter  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  farming,  although  he  was 
also  engaged  in  the  carpenter's  trade.  Politically  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Republican  party  and  an  abolitionist.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  it  was 
the  desire  of  Mr.  Parmenter  to  join  the  ranks  but  owing  to  his  age  he  was 
not  accepted.  Religiously  he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  on  whose  church  structure  in  Bunker  Hill  he  did  a  large  part  of  the 
carpenter  work.  He  was  also  a  very  active  church  worker  and  did  much  to 
gather  a  large  congregation.  Fraternally  he  was  a  member  of  the  Masons 
and  Odd  Fellows  and  took  much  interest  in  the  w'ork  of  both.  For  many 
years  he  held  offices  and  for  his  valuable  services  received  from  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.  lodge  a  fine  cane  which  he  prized  very  highly.  Mr.  Parmenter's  ancestors 
were  French  Huguenots,  who  were  driven  from  France  on  account  of  tlicir 


MACOUPIN  COUNTY.  217 

religious  views.  Mr.  Parmenter  was  married,  May  10,  1831,  to  Mary  M. 
Barnes,  who  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  January  31,  1809,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Wilham  and  Abigail  (Parker)  Barnes.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Par- 
menter were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely :  Marj',  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  years;  Sarah  K.  (Cash)  who  died  June  9,  1866.  at  the  age  of  25 
years;  Leona  (Pennington)  of  Orange,  New  Jersey;  Almira  (Lancaster), 
who  is  a  resident  of  Bunker  Hill  township;  Laura  A.  (Linbarger),  who 
resides  in  Missouri;  Emma  J.  (Lancaster),  the  subject  of  this  article,  and 
Charles  J.,  a  resident  of  Oakland,  California.  Mr.  Parmenter  died  October 
5,  1898,  in  Bunker  Hill  township. 

Emma  J.  Parmenter  was  wedded  to  John  Lancaster,  June  23,  1875,  in 
Bunker  Hill  township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  Mr.  Lancaster 
was  born  in  Bunker  Hill  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  January  13, 
1854,  and  always  resided  in  the  township,  having  in  early  years  engaged  in 
farming,  purchasing  a  farm  of  315  acres  in  section  11,  which  he  cultivated 
for  many  years  with  successful  results.  Mr.  Lancaster  was  a  self  made  man 
in  every  respect  the  word  implies,  having  entered  upon  the  cares  of  a  busi- 
ness man  when  very  young  and  as  a  result  of  careful  methods  and  energy 
well  directed  attained  a  high  position  among  the  business  men  of  his  com- 
munity. John  Lancaster  was  a  son  of  Francis  Lancaster,  born  in  181 3  in 
Buckinghamshire,  England,  who  came  to  .America  in  the  early  part  of  1841 
and  located  in  Macoupin  County  in  August  of  that  year  after  a  short  stay  in 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania.  His  wife  and  three  children  were  left  in 
England  until  he  could  earn  a  sufficient  amount  of  money  to  remove  his 
family  to  his  new  home;  it  was  not  long  before  they  joined  him.  Francis 
Lancaster  at  one  time  owned  more  than  a  section  of  land  and  accumulated 
considerable  property  during  the  active  days  of  his  life,  which  ended  No- 
vember 2,  1895,  having  reached  the  age  of  82  years.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Collins,  and  they  had  seven  children,  namely :  Francis  W.,  who  died  in  St. 
Louis.  Missouri,  in  May,  1883,  leaving  a  family;  William,  who  died  at 
Girard,  Illinois,  leaving  a  large  family;  Elizabeth  (Mercer)  (Wise),  who  is 
a  widow  living  at  Bunker  Hill;  Joseph,  of  Bunker  Hill;  Mary  M.,  who  mar- 
ried .\saph  H.  Barnes,  a  dentist  of  Girard,  Illinois:  Matilda  (Mrs.  J.  H. 
Brown)  of  Milton,  Kansas,  and  John,  who  was  the  husband  of  our  subject. 
There  were  also  three  children  who  died  in  infancy. 

John  Lancaster  politically  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  p?.rty,  and 
religiously  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church.     ?\fr.   Lancaster 


2i8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

was  survived  by  his  wife  (the  subject  of  this  sketch)  and  five  cliildreii, 
namely:  Ernest  J.,  of  East  Alton,  who  is  married  and  has  two  children, — 
Ruth  N.  and  Perry  C. ;  A.  Mariam  (Barnes),  a  resident  of  Akron,  Ohio, 
who  has  one  child, — Harold  W. ;  Harry,  who  resides  on  the  homestead 
place;  Myra  C. ;  and  Willis  E.,  who  also  lives  at  home. 


THOMAS    S.  BAKER. 

Thomas  S.  Baker,  J.  P.,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Girard,  Illinois  who 
has  been  engaged  in  life  insurance  business  at  this  point  for  the  past  i6 
years,  representing  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New  York,  was 
born  in  Maury  County,  Tennessee,  April  24,  1841.  He  is  one  of  a  family 
of  10  children  born  to  his  parents,  Richard  B.  and  Nancy  J.  (Blair)  Baker, 
who  were  both  natives  of  Tennessee.  In  1847  they  came  to  Macoupin 
County,  and  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Medora  until  1858,  when  they  removed 
to  Carlinville.  Richard  B.  Baker  has  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits 
and  in  farming. 

Thomas  S.  Baker  was  six  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Macoupin  County.  He  secured  his  education  in  the  local  schools  and  at 
Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville,  where  he  was  graduated  in  i860.  .\s 
a  painter  and  decorator,  he  became  well  known,  his  taste  and  skill  making 
his  work  far  above  the  average,  but  after  20  years  of  application  to  this  bus- 
iness, he  found  his  health  failing  and  was  obliged  to  abandon  a  calling  for 
which  he  had  decided  talent.  Since  then  he  has  devoted  his  attention  to  the 
life  insurance  business,  being  the  representative  of  the  old  and  reliable  com- 
pany above  mentioned. 

In  1861,  immediately  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Ci\il  War,  he  pre- 
sented himself  for  army  service,  but  was  rejected  by  the  examiner  on  account 
of  want  of  robust  health.  While  not  being  able  to  serve  his  country  on  the 
field,  he  used  his  influence  at  home  and  then,  as  now,  has  always  been  a  good 
and  public  spirited  citizen.  He  is  now  serving  his  fourth  term  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  a  position  for  which  he  is  eminently,  qualified.  His  official  acts 
have  given  general  satisfaction  and  his  integrity  has  never  been  brought  in 
question.     He  has  been  a  valued  resident  of  Girard  since  1882. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  219 

Mr.  Baker  has  been  twice  married.  In  1862  he  married  Mary  Hughes, 
and  five  children  were  born  to  them,  the  four  survivors  being:  Frank  F.,  a 
business  man  of  East  St.  Louis,  Ilhnois;  Mary  Baker  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri 
and  Anna  and  Frances,  who  Hve  at  home.  Mrs.  Baker  died  in  1879.  la 
1889,  Mr.  Baker  married  Mary  Venable,  who  is  a  member  of  an  old  Ohio 
family.     Her  parents  settled  in  Illinois  some  30  years  ago. 


ROBERT  W.  ENGLISH. 

There  is  none  better  qualified  to  represent  the  agricultural  interests  of 
^lacoupin  County  than  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  brief  notice. 
He  resides  on  his  farm  of  70  acres  situated  in  sections  27  and  34,  Shaw's 
Point  township.  He  was  born  in  Pike  County,  Missouri,  May  5,  1856,  and 
is  a  son  of  Levin  X.,  and  Mary  (West)  English. 

Levin  X.  English  was  a  native  of  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  where  he 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  actively  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  general 
farming.  He  began  in  a  somewhat  lowly  station  in  life  but  through  his 
hard  and  industrious  work  accumulated  considerable  property  and  became 
a  highly  respected  citizen,  interested  in  many  projects  to  benefit  his  com- 
munity. His  parents,  who  were  from  Kentucky,  had  eight  children,  namely : 
Nelson,  Robert,  Levin,  Richard,  Betsy  (Brown),  Xellie  (Fullington),  Allie 
(Roundtree)  and  Nancy  (Oafif).  Levin  N.  English  formed  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  ^lary  West,  who  was,  like  him,  a  native  of  Jersey  County,  Illi- 
nois. She  was  a  daughter  of  Edward  West.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  namely:  Robert  W..  whose  name  heads  these  lines;  Levin  N., 
of  Shaw's  Point  township;  Ella  (Allien),  of  Shaw's  Point  township;  J^Iary 
(Stoddard),  of  Carlinville;  and  Dr.  John  N.,  of  Bucatunna,  Mississippi.  He 
died  August  7.  1896,  at  the  age  of  65  years.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  held 
a  number  of  township  offices,  such  as  supervisor  and  highway  commissioner. 

Robert  W.  English  came  to  Macoupin  County  when  five  years  old  in 
company  with  his  parents,  and  has  resided  here  since.  He  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  and  has  proved  very  successful  at 
that  independent  calling.     He  devotes  40  acres  of  his  farm  to  the  raising  of 


220  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

corn,  20  acres  to  the  raising  of  oats,  and  the  remainder  to  his  cattle,  raising 
a  very  high  grade  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  Our  subject's  political  views  are 
such  as  to  make  him  a  Democrat.  In  fraternal  circles  he  is  a  member  of  tlie 
Court  of  Honor.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  English  are  both  adherents  of  the  Christian 
Church,  attending  divine  services  at  Shaw's  Point  Christian  Church,  which 
js  only  one-half  mile  distant.    Mr.  English  is  an  elder  in  the  church. 

Mr.  English  was  married  November  20,  1887,  to  Edna  L.  Johnson,  who 
was  born  in  Shaw's  Point  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  April  2, 
1857,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Edward  and  Sarah  (Crabtree)  Johnson,  natives 
of  Kentucky.     Our  subject  has  no  children. 


E.  ALFRED   BLEULER,  M.  D. 

E.  Alfred  Bleuler,  M.  D.,  who  stands  in  the  front  rank  among  the 
most  successful  practitioners  of  medicine  in  Macoupin  County,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Carlinville  almost  from  the  beginning  of  his  profesional  career. 
He  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  May  25,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Matilda  (Mickel)  Bleuler.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Switzerland,  and  his 
mother  of  Germany. 

Charles  Bleuler,  father  of  our  subject,  came  to  America  in  1845  and 
settled  in  New  York  City  where  he  followed  his  business  as  an  expert  en- 
graver, being  employed  by  the  United  States  government  in  the  engraving 
of  bonds  and  contracts.  He  removed  to  Philadelphia  in  1847.  Later  he 
returned  to  New  York  City  and  in  1849,  with  many  others,  he  started  for 
California,  going  by  sailing  vessel  around  Cape  Horn  to  San  Francisco,  the 
trip  consuming  179  days.  After  reaching  his  destination  he  engaged  in  gold 
mining  in  the  placer  regions  for  several  years,  then  returned  East  by  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama  route,  coming  up  the  Mississippi  River  from  New  Or- 
leans to  St.  Louis,  where  he  arrived  in  1852  during  the  prevalence  of  cholera 
and  soon  after  went  by  boat  to  Cincinnati  where  he  remained  for  five  months. 
He  was  married  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1855,  and  after  remaining 
there  a  short  time  the  young  couple  removed  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  near  which 
town  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land.   He  followed  farming  there  for  a  period  of 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  "  221 

three  years  and  in  1858  sold  out  and  moved  to  Quincy,  Illinois.  He  shortly 
after  removed  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  where  he  became  professor  of  Ger- 
man and  French  in  the  Illinois  and  Bethany  College,  being  very  proficient  in 
those  languages.  In  i860  he  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Morgan  County. 
Illinois,  on  which  he  lived  during  the  following  20  years,  finally  returning, 
in  1880,  to  Jacksonville  to  spend  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  in  retire- 
ment.   He  died  February  28,  1901,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  89  years. 

E.  Alfred  Bleuler  attended  the  public  schools,  Illinois  College  and  the 
Jacksonville  Business  College,  during  which  time  he  also  read  medicine.  He 
matriculated  in  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  in  1882,  and  subsequently 
was  graduated  from  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College.  In  1898  he  located  in 
Carlinville,  where  he  has  since  been  continuously  engaged  in  practice.  He 
made  special  study  of  diseases  of  the  ear,  throat  and  nose,  taking  a  post- 
graduate course  in  Berlin  and  Vienna  in  1902,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  these 
branches.  He  has  met  with  a  high  degree  of  success,  and  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence and  highest  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  brother  practitioners. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Macoupin  County  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical 
Society,  and  the  American  Medical  Association.  He  is  assistant  surgeon 
for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway  Company,  and  examining  physician  for  the 
Federal  Life  Insurance  Company  and  several  fraternal  insurance  companies. 

In  October,  1889,  Dr.  Bleuler  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Helen 
Thompson,  a  native  of  Petersburg,  Illinois,  and  they  have  one  son, — Frank. 
Both  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a 
member  of  Mount  Nebo  Lodge,  No.  79,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Orient  Lodge  No. 
95,  K.  P. ;  and  Carhnville  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. 


♦  <» 


MRS.  D.  CORNELIA  DAVIS. 

Mrs.  D.  Cornelia  Davis,  owner  of  the  fine  farm  of  223  acres,  in  sec- 
tion 24,  Bunker  Hill  township,  Macoupin  County,  known  as  Woodside 
Farm,  is  the  widow  of  the  late  John  Andrews  Davis,  who  for  many  years 
was  a  prominent  agriculturist  of  the  southern  section  of  the  county.  Mrs. 
Davis  was  born  February  22,  1830,  in  Hunterdon  County,  New  Jersey,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Moses  and  Permelia  (Slack)  Warford. 


222  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Davis  removed  to  Livingston  County,  New  York, 
when  she  was  small,  and  she  grew  to  womanhood  in  Geneseo,  where  both 
parents  died,  each  aged  about  70  years.  They  reared  nine  children,  viz: 
i\Irs.  Agnes  Robinson,  deceased;  Mrs.  Matilda  Stout,  deceased;  Thisby, 
who  married  a  relative  named  Warford;  Wilson  B..  who  served  through  the 
Civil  War,  as  captain  of  a  company  of  the  133d  Reg.,  New  York  Vol.  Inf., 
now  a  resident  of  Coldwater,  Michigan;  Stacy  B.,  who  served  through  the 
Civil  War  as  a  private  in  a  New  York  regiment ;  James  Scott,  of  Coldwater, 
Michigan;  ]\Irs.  Harriet  Young,  of  Belfast,  New  York;  Mrs.  Amelia  Locke, 
of  Coldwater.  Michigan,  a  widow  of  a  Civil  War  soldier:  Mrs.  D.  Cornelia 
Davis,  our  subject;  and  a  babe  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  Geneseo,  New  York,  December  14.  1854,  our  subject  was  united  in 
marriage  with  John  Andrews  Davis,  and  to  this  union  these  children  were 
born :  J.  Elroy,  who  with  his  daughter,  Gladys  B.,  resides  on  the  hoin^  farm, 
which  he  superintends,  his  wife  is  deceased;  Scott  Fletcher,  who  lives  at 
home;  Frank  Jackson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  10  months:  Mrs.  Sarah 
Ophelia  Meriwether,  born  December  28,  1864.  who  died  at  Alton,  Illinois, 
October  7,  1S95,  survived  by  two  children, — Katherine  Edith  and  Sarah 
D. ;  Susannah  E.,  at  home;  and  Mrs.  Katherine  J.  Badlay,  of  Marianna, 
Arkansas,  who  has  one  child — Payton  D. 

The  late  John  Andrews  Davis  was  born  February  6,  1826,  at  Ischua, 
Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  where  he  resided  until  he  removed  to 
Bunker  Hill  township,  Macoupin  County,  in  1871.  His  death  took  place 
December  11,  1903,  on  the  farm  which  he  had  occupied  more  than  30  years. 
He  was  the  second  son  of  Jonathan  Davis,  born  July  11,  1790,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  died  in  July,  1878,  who  could  trace  his  ancestry  through  Revo- 
lutionary stock,  back  to  the  "Mayflower."  His  grandfather  and  grand- 
uncle,  Jonathan  and  Edward  Davis,  are  the  two  Davises  mentioned  in  New 
England  history  as  having  gone  disguised  as  Indians  on  the  ships  in  Boston 
harbor,  and  assisted  in  throwing  the  cargoes  of  tea  overboard. 

Mr.  Davis  spent  his  boyhood  in  Cattaraugus  County  and  attended 
school  at  Alfred  Academy  in  Allegany  County,  and  through  life  was  a  man 
of  intelligence,  who  kept  not  only  well  posted  on  current  events,  but  accum- 
tilated  a  private  library  as  well.  He  owned  a  farm  of  500  acres  in  New 
York,  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  brother  Edwin  F.  After  coming  to 
Illinois,  where  his  intelligent  foresight  saw  greater  agricultural  possibilities, 
Mr.  Davis  purchased  the  fine  property  now  the  home  of  his  widow,  which 


PLUTARCH  H.  DORSEY. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  225 

he  successfully  operated  for  so  many  years,  being  engaged  in  dairying  as 
well  as  in  farming.  The  handsome  buildings  and  superior  improvements 
which  he  placed  on  the  property  fully  entitle  it  to  l)e  considered  one  of  the 
handsomest  homes  of  the  county.  This  home  has  always  been  noted  for  its 
hospitality  and  both  Mr.  Davis  and  his  estimable  wife  delighted  to  welcome 
their  friends  over  its  threshold. 

Mr.  Davis  always  took  an  intelligent  interest  in  politics  and  voted  with 
the  Republican  party.  While  bound  by  no  religious  creed,  he  was  liberal  in 
his  support  of  all  religious  bodies  and  moral  measures  and  by  his  influence 
furthered  the  cause  of  education  and  of  morality.  He  had  many  friends,  for 
he  was  a  man  who  deserved  them, — honest,  kind  and  helpful.  Mrs.  Davis 
is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 


*»*• 


PLUTARCH  H.   DORSEY. 

The  name  of  Dorsey  needs  no  introduction  to  the  citizens  of  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  as  for  years  it  has  been  representative  of  one  of  the  most 
numerous,  progressive,  wealthy  and  prominent  families  of  this  portion  of  the 
State,  and  Plutarch  H.  Dorsey  is  its  oldest  member.  He  was  born  on  No- 
vember 8,  1833,  in  Jefferson  County,  Kentucky,  and  is  a  son  of  Elias  and 
Martha  (Booker)  Dorsey. 

Elias  Dorsey  was  born  June  7,  1796,  near  Frederick,  Maryland,  and  in 
childhood  accompanied  his  parents  to  Kentucky.  During  the  War  of  181 2  he 
served  as  a  private  soldier  and  received  a  pension  for  his  services.  He  de- 
voted his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and,  although  in  straitened 
circumstances  during  his  early  manhood,  by  the  exercise  of  a  natural  business 
capacity  acquired  a  large  tract  of  fine  blue  grass  land  within  eight  miles  of  the 
city  of  Louisville.  There  he  engaged  in  the  favorite  occupation  of  the  Ken- 
tucky farmer — the  raising  of  fine  horses  for  market.  His  farm  consisted  of 
Goo  acres  of  land  and  prior  to  the  Civil  War  he  owned  some  30  slaves.  These 
he  subsequently  freed.  For  many  years  he  lived  the  life  of  a  typical  planter, 
"Eden  Farm"  being  the  center  of  general  hospitality  and  social  gaiety,  many 
of  the  most  distinguished  members  of  the  polite,  business  and  political  world 
being  lavishly  entertained  there.     At  an  early  date  Elias  Dorsey,  with  the 


226  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

business  instincts  which  made  all  his  operations  successful,  purchased  13,000 
acres  of  land  lying  in  Madison  and  Macoupin  counties,  Illinois.  His  death 
took  place  in  1873  at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  the  77th  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  a  consistent  supporter  of  Democratic  principles  all  his  life. 
He  was  a  man  of  generous  nature,  was  devoted  to  his  large  family  and  as- 
sisted each  one  of  his  13  children  by  the  gift  of  a  farm  of  1,000  acres. 

In  1815  Elias  Dorsey  married  Martha  Booker,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Col.  Richard  Booker,  and  a  member  of  a  very  prominent  family  of  Shelby 
County,  Kentucky.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  13  children: 
John  W.,  Richard  E.,  Leavin  L.,  Benjamin  L.,  Basil  H.,  William  Montjoy, 
]\Irs.  Cordelia  Hornsby,  Mrs.  Ann  C.  Winchester,  Elias  L.,  Mary  Matilda  and 
Orlean  O.,  all  deceased;  Plutarch  H. ;  and  Mrs.  Martha  Shields  of  Kansas. 

Plutarch  H.  Dorsey's  mother  died  when  he  was  four  years  old,  and  he 
remained  in  Kentucky  to  enjoy  the  excellent  educational  opportunities  offered 
him  there.  He  finished  his  education  with  a  three-years  course  at  Shurtleff 
College,  at  Alton,  Illinois.  He  came  to  Macoupin  County  in  1853  and  settled 
on  his  present  farm  of  420  acres  situated  in  sections  25  and  26,  Gillespie  town- 
ship, land  w  Inch  was  included  in  the  large  tract  which  his  father  had  entered. 
He  has  lived  on  this  farm  continuously  since  1853,  with  the  exception  of  15 
years — from  1871  to  1886 — when  he  resided  in  Bunker  Hill  in  order  to  give 
his  children  the  best  of  educational  advantages. 

While  Mr.  Dorsey  has  raised  large  crops  of  wheat  and  corn,  his  at- 
tention has  been  more  closely  given  to  the  raising  of  fine  cattle  and  stock  and 
particularly  to  the  breeding  of  high  grade  horses,  these  being  mainly  of 
"Gold  Dust"  stock,  of  which  he  has  annually  bred  50  head  and  at  the  same 
time  from  50  to  100  head  of  mules.  He  is  also  an  extensive  breeder  and  shipper 
of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  but  has  gi\en  the  closest  attention  to  horses.  He  has 
bred  a  number  of  fine  animals  which  have  sold  for  $5,000,  and  he  has  re- 
ceived as  much  as  $1,000  for  a  yearling  thoroughbred.  In  addition  to  his 
farming  and  grazing  lands,  Mr.  Dorsey  has  a  fine  orchard  of  120  acres,  one  of 
the  most  productive  in  this  section. 

In  1 89 1  Mr.  Dorsey  sold  his  coal  right  to  the  firm  of  H.  S.  Dorsey  & 
Company,  a  rich  vein  of  coal  probably  underlying  a  large  portion  of  this  farm. 
The  discovery  of  coal  on  the  Dorsey  lands,  in  1886,  was  something  of  an 
accident,  but  after  12  years  of  prospecting,  hard  work  and  expenditure  of  much 
money  the  great  deposits  of  the  black  diamonds  are  being  brought  to  the 


MACOUPIN    COUx\TY.  227 

surface,  bringing  untold  wealth  to  the  family  and  giving  activity  to  the  sec- 
tion and  employment  to  hundreds  of  laborers.  A  new  town  in  the  heart  of  the 
coal  regions  is  now  being  built  up  which  is  expected  to  hold  a  population  of 
6,000  people  within  two  years.  To  this  town  the  name  of  Benld  has  been  given, 
which  is  a  contraction  of  Benjamin  L.  Dorsey,  named  in  honor  of  the  nephew 
of  our  subject,  as  was  the  town  of  Dorsey  named  in  honor  of  the  family  upon 
its  establishment  40  }'ears  ago. 

Benjamin  L.  Dorsey,  the  pioneer  prospector  for  coal  on  his  own  lands, 
was  born  August  31,  1857,  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin L.  Dorsey  and  a  nephew  of  Plutarch  H.  Dorsey.  The  family  has  sold 
40,000  acres  of  coal  land  to  the  Northwestern  Railroad,  through  the  Superior 
Coal  Company  of  Chicago,  and  a  connecting  line,  the  Macoupin  County  Rail- 
road, is  being  rapidly  pushed  to  completion.  This  road  will  erect  a  fine  brick 
depot  at  the  new  town,  while  capitalists  from  the  neighboring  cities  are  making 
contracts  for  the  erection  of  blocks  of  stores,  the  establishment  of  a  bank  and 
the  putting  into  operation  all  the  organizations  which  American  enterprise 
and  progressiveness  so  quickly  accomplish.  \Yhere  once  waved  fields  of  yellow 
grain,  now  are  seen  the  derricks  and  machinery  of  Successful  coal  mines  and 
another  great  industry  has  been  added  to  the  business  life  of  Macoupin  County. 
The  Dorsey  family  has  greatly  profited  by  this  discovery  and  all  its  members 
are  men  of  large  capital.  They  are  also  men  of  high  character  and  well 
represent  the  best  citizenship  of  this  section  of  the  State. 

In  March,  1854,  Plutarch  H.  Dorsey  married  01i\ia  Williams,  who  was 
born  September  25,  1834,  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  died  on  the  farm  in 
Macoupin  County,  July  26,  1902.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Maria 
E.  (Wells)  W^illiams,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Washington.  Eight  chil- 
dren \Aere  born  to  this  marriage,  as  follows :  Mrs.  Eugenia  Robinson,  of  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  who  has  two  children — Edward  and  Mary;  Plutarch  H., 
Jr.,  who  resides  with  his  wife  on  the  farm  of  our  subject  in  a  residence  of  his 
own;  Mrs.  Harriet  Hornsby,  of  Bunker  Hill,  who  has  two  children — Lawrence 
and  Marie;  Marie  L.,  who  resides  at  home;  Oscar  L.,  who  with  his  wife  resides 
on  the  old  homestead ;  Ada,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years ;  Cora,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  eight  years ;  and  Wells  Mayo,  who  with  his  wife  resides  on  a 
farm  in  Cahokia  township,  Macoupin  County.  Mr.  Dorsey's  children  are 
among  the  most  highly  esteemed  residents  of  their  various  communities. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Dorsey  has  been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party 


228  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

all  his  life,  ardently  supporting  its  old-time  principles.  He  is  serving  as  tht 
present  supervisor  of  his  township  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  officials 
the  township  ever  had.  In  him  the  honorable  old  family  of  Dorsey  has  an 
honorable  representative  and  Gillespie  township  a  citizen  who  has  materially 
aided  in  all  movements  designed  to  promote  the  general  welfare.  His  portrait 
accompanies  this  sketch,  being  shown  on  a  preceding  page. 


JAMES  L.  CALLAWAY. 

James  L.  Callaway,  one  of  the  well  known  citizens  and  prominent 
farmers  of  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County,  the  owner  of  a  well  im- 
proved farm  of  130  acres  situated  in  section  18,  was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Randolph  township,  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  March  14.  1846,  and  is  a  son 
of  George  W.  and  Elizabeth  Ann  (Smith)  Callaway. 

George  W.  Callaway  was  born  in  Giles  County,  West  Virginia,  Febru- 
ary 4,  1810,  and  removed  to  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  in  1837,  as  a  pioneer, 
and  died  in  the  home  of  our  subject  in  1893.  His  father  was  American 
born,  his  mother  was  a  German  and  he  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  sons 
and  was  left  on  orphan  at  an  early  age.  He  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life, 
and  although  he  never  accumulated  a  large  estate,  he  was  a  man  of  great 
industry  and  of  the  most  exemplary  character..  For  many  years  he  was  a 
local  preacher  and  filled  many  pulpits  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  Missouri 
and  Illinois.  Early  in  life  he  was  a  supporter  of  the  Jack.sonian  principles  of 
Democracy,  but  later  became  a  Republican. 

George  W.  Callaway  married  first  Keziah  Ray  and  five  daughters  were 
born  to  this  marriage.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Elizabeth  Ann  Smith 
who  was  born  in  Scioto  County,  Ohio,  February  2,  1820,  and  14  children 
were  born  to  them.  11  of  whom  sur\ived  infancy:  Mrs.  Sarah  Van  Cleve  of 
Olney,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Kelley,  deceased;  Melvin,  who  died  in  April, 
1903;  James  L.,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Olive  Cramp,  of  Macoupin  County; 
John  D.,  of  Milton.  Kansas;  Daniel,  deceased;  George,  of  Macoupin 
County;  Mrs.  Ann  Burdsal,  of  Gilllespie;  Mrs.  Antoinette  Perrine,  deceased; 
and  Mrs.  Kate  Hackney,  deceased. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  229 

Our  subject  was  about  seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to 
IMacoupin  County  and  he  has  been  a  resident  here  ever  since.  Since  187S 
he  has  been  located  on  liis  present  farm,  50  acres  of  which  is  in  timber,  and 
here  he  has  most  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
He  makes  his  leading  crops  corn  and  wheat,  and  in  live  stock  has  a  prefer- 
ence for  Red  Polled  cattle  and  Poland-China  and  Berkshire  hogs. 

When  Mr.  Callaway  came  to  his  present  farm,  it  was  still  a  wild  tract, 
covered  with  brush  and  timber.  His  first  log  house  was  soon  succeeded  by  a 
larger  and  more  comfortable  one,  and  the  improvements  which  he  started  in 
to  make  he  has  continued  to  the  present  day,  the  result  being  one  of  the  most 
comfortable,  attractive  and  valuable  homes  of  the  township. 

In  1870  Mv.  Callaway  married  Emily  Dewhirst,  who  was  born  in 
Dekalb  County,  Illinois,  November  24,  1849,  and  died  February  14,  1902. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Judith  Dewhirst,  natives  of  England  and 
Canada  respectively,  who  located  in  Illinois.  Five  children  were  born  to 
them,  namely:  Elizabeth,  her  father's  capable  housekeeper;  Leroy,  deceased; 
Charles  jVI.,  a  farmer  of  Montgomery  County;  Minnie,  wife  of  Noel  Taylor 
of  Granite  City,  Illinois ;  and  James,  who  lives  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Callaway  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


ROBERT  WADE  MCKNIGHT. 

Robert  W'ade  McKnight,  postmaster  at  Girard,  Illinois,  a  prominent 
citizen  and  leading  Republican  politician  of  Macoupin  County,  was  bom  in 
Taylorville,  Christian  County,  Illinois,  November  26,  1873.  He  is  the  only 
surviving  son  of  the  late  distinguished  Col.  Sargeant  and  Virginia  A. 
(Boggess)  McKnight. 

Mr.  McKnight  accompanied  his  parents  to  Girard  in  March,  1882,  and 
this  city  has  been  his  place  of  residence  ever  since.  He  enjoyed  exceptional 
educational  advantages.  After  completing  the  public  school  course  at 
Girard,  he  attended  Morgan  Park  Military  Academy  at  Chicago,  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois  at  Champaign,  and  the  Metropolitan  Business  College  at 


230  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Chicago.  From  1895  to  1897,  he  served  as  city  attorney  of  Girard.  On 
February  i,  1898,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  by  the  late  President  McKin- 
ley,  and  on  March  14,  1902,  was  reappointed  by  President  Roosevelt. 

Mr.  McKnight  was  married  in  Carlinville,  Illinois,  February  14,  1901, 
to  Gertrude  Elfrieda  Fischer,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  C.  J.  C.  Fischer  of 
Carlinville.  They  have  one  little  daughter,  Dorothy  Virginia,  who  was 
born  August  21,  1902. 

Mr.  McKnight  has  taken  a  verj'  active  part  in  politics  and  has  served  as 
the  secretary  of  the  Girard  Republican  Club  and  as  delegate  to  various  con- 
ventions.    Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 


4 « » 


BENJAMIN  F.  SHEPPARD. 

Benjamin  F.  Sheppard,  the  owner  and  successful  operator  of  a  fine, 
well  improved  farm  of  120  acres,  situated  in  section  20,  Gillespie  township, 
Macoupin  County,  was  born  December  8,  1835,  in  Cumberland  County, 
New  Jersey,  and  is  one  of  eight  children  born  to  Nathan  and  Sarah  (Rose) 
Sheppard. 

Nathan  Sheppard  and  wife  were  both  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  passed 
their  lives  on  a  large  and  profitable  farm.  Their  children  were :  Mrs.  Han- 
nah Sheppard,  deceased,  whose  husband  had  the  same  name,  but  was  of  no 
blood  kindred;  Mrs.  Sarah  Thompson,  deceased;  Mrs.  Harriet  Dare,  de- 
ceased; Nathan  L.,  connected  with  railroad  affairs  at  Camden,  New  Jersey; 
William,  deceased;  Mrs.  Cornelia  Lore,  of  Philadelphia;  Benjamin  F.,  of 
this  sketch;  and  Martha,  who  died  in  infancy.  In  politics  Nathan  Sheppard 
affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  valued 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Benjamin  F.  Sheppard  was  reared  in  New  Jersey  and  remained  in  his 
native  locality  until  1857,  when  he  came  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois. 
What  is  now  his  farm  was  then  the  property  of  Silas  Harlan,  for  whom  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  for  three  years.  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Harlan,  he  rented  the  farm  and  some  10  years  later  purchased  it.  It  'S 
a  vv'ell  located  piece  of  property  and  is  splendidly  adapted  to  general  farming 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  231 

and  stock  raising.  Under  Mr.  Sheppard's  capable  management  it  gives  large 
crops  of  wheat,  corn  and  clover. 

In  1865  Mr.  Sheppard  married  Susan  Harlan,  who  was  born  in  Ma- 
coupin County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Silas  and  Sarah  (Wilson)  Har- 
lan, both  of  whom  were  born  in  Kentucky  and  came  as  pioneers  to  Illinois. 
Mrs.  Sheppard's  maternal  grandfather,  Isaac  Wilson,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  Brushy  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County.  Seven  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheppard,  viz :  Mrs.  Margaret  Le  May,  of  La- 
veta,  Colorado,  who  has  one  child, — Mary;  Silas  Harlan,  his  father's  as- 
sistant on  the  farm;  Franklin,  also  at  home;  Daisy;  Charles,  deceased; 
Susan  and  Harrison. 

In  politics  Mr.  Sheppard  is  a  Republican,  but  takes  no  very  active  inter- 
est in  politics.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial,  reliable  men  of  his  community 
and  commands  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 


FRANCIS  M.  ADAMS. 

Fraxcis  M.  Adams^  who  is  engaged  in  extensive  farming  and  stock 
raising  operations  on  his  fine  farm  of  484  acres,  situated  in  sections  17  and 
20,  Gillespie  township,  ?^Iacoupin  County,  was  born  in  this  township,  July. 
I,  1833,  and  has  spent  his  whole  life  in  his  boyhood  home.  He  is  a  son  of 
Giles  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Taylor)  Adams. 

The  Adams  family  ranks  with  the  old  and  honorable  ones  of  Virginia 
and  claims  Welsh,  Irish  and  French  ancestry.  Daniel  Adams,  the  grand- 
father of  Francis  M.,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  died  in  Illinois,  at  the  age  of 
74  years.     Giles  M.  was  one  of  his  family  of  eight  children. 

Giles  M.  Adams  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1801,  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Kentucky  and  thence  to  Tennessee.  In  1829  he  migrated  to  Madi- 
son County,  Illinois,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two  children,  and  two 
years  later  settled  on  what  is  now  our  subject's  home  farm.  He  entered  a 
small  portion  of  it  at  first,  as  his  means  were  very  limited,  but  made  many 
additions,  and  through  industrv  and  energ}'  accumulated  a  property  of  300 
acres.     He  found  it  necessary  to  build  his  own  log  house  and  clear  his  own 


2^2  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

land,  but  he  prospered  through  all  the  hardships  of  those  early  days  and 
died  at  the  age  of  68  years,  a  man  of  large  capital.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat.  For  a  considerable  period  he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  did 
much  in  those  early  times  to  peacably  adjust  difficulties  and  to  promote 
movements  intended  for  the  well  being  of  the  whole  community. 

Giles  M.  Adams  married  Elizabeth  Taylor,  who  was  born  in  South 
Carolina,  April  19,  1809.  The  five  children  born  to  them  were:  William 
W.,  born  September  28,  1826,  who  lives  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois; 
Daniel,  born  July  2y,  1827,  deceased;  Mrs.  Xancy  Ann  Dillard,  born  April 
14,  1829,  a  resident  of  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County;  Francis  M., 
of  this  sketch ;  and  James,  deceased. 

On  February  2,  1864.  our  subject  was  married  to  Elizabeth  K.  Grimes, 
who  was  born  at  Carlinville,  Macoupin  Count,  Illinois,  February  27,  184J, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  (Wagner)  Grimes.  William 
Grimes  was  born  January  13,  181 1,  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  was  married 
July  20,  1837,  and  died  February  24,  1897.  He  was  a  son  of  Nicholas 
Grimes  who  was  born  March  7,  1783,  and  died  April  i,  1848.  The  mother 
of  Mrs.  Adams  was  born  April  22,  1820,  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  and 
died  May  28,  1856.  For  some  years  William  Grimes  was  a  blacksmith  at 
Carlinville  and  then  became  a  farmer,  dying  a  man  of  large  means  accumu- 
lated by  his  own  efforts.  Mrs.  Adams  inherited  1,000  acres  of  land,  and 
the  combined  acreage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams  includes  2,160  acres  in 
Macoupin  and  Christian  counties.  Mrs.  Adams'  grandfather,  Peter  Wag- 
ner, came  to  Illinois  from  Tennessee  as  early  as  1820.  Mrs.  Adams  is  the 
only  surviving  child  of  her  parents ;  her  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Beggan,  born 
February  22,  1844,  died  September  i,  1899,  and  her  brother,  Stephen  N., 
born  September  2,  1848,  died  February  24,  1896.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams 
have  had  six  children,  namely:  \Villiam  M.,  born  November  24,  1866,  de- 
ceased February  i,  1870;  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Teter,  of  Hilyard  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  born  June  25,  1868,  who  has  three  children, — Clarence  L., 
William  E.  and  Kenneth  L. ;  James  L.,  born  December  14,  1872,  deceased 
December  27,  1874;  Stephen  N.,  born  October  26,  1875,  deceased  Septem- 
ber 18,  1878;  Oscar  N.,  born  November  15,  1877,  deceased  March  18,  1878; 
and  Mrs.  Nancy  Virginia  Davis,  of  Gillespie,  Macoupin  County,  born  Jan- 
uary 10,  1880. 

For  a  period  of  26  years  ]\Ir.  Adams  ran  a  threshing  machine  and  was 


MACOUPIX    COUXTY.  233 

interested  in  a  sawmill  for  some  16  years,  in  connection  with  large  farming 
operations. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  he  has  filled  a  number  of  the  township 
offices,  sen-ing  four  years  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  three  years  as  highway 
commissioner,  one  term  as  township  supervisor  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  School  Board  for  many  years.  The  local  school  house  is  situated  on  his 
farm.  The  family  is  one  of  great  prominence  in  Gillespie  township  and  Mr. 
Adams,  aside  from  being  one  of  its  largest  capitalists,  is  also  one  of  its  best 
and  most  reliable  citizens. 


GEORGE  W.  HAMILTON. 

Among  the  prominent  and  progressive  business  men  of  ^lacoupin 
County,  probably  none  is  better  or  more  widely  known  than  the  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  brief  notice,  and  who  is  proprietor  of  a  thriving 
grocer)'  business  in  Girard.  ilr.  Hamilton,  who  is  one  of  the  rising  young 
men  of  the  community,  was  bom  in  Tennessee,  October  12,  1872,  being  one 
of  a  family  of  six  children. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  left  an  orphan  when  but  a  child  and  has  been  a 
resident  of  Girard  since  he  was  seven  years  of  age.  After  reaching  the  yeais 
of  manhood,  he  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business  with  such  success  that  he 
later  embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  has  since  carried  on  with 
the  best  results.  Mr.  Hamilton,  although  he  has  dealt  in  groceries  only  since 
November,  1902,  has  at  present  what  is  said  to  be  the  most  complete  line  of 
fancy  groceries  in  Girard  and  carries  a  stock  of  $3,500.  Mr.  Hamilton  is 
also  prominently  identified  in  the  political  circles  of  Girard  and  in  1901  was 
elected  city  clerk  on  the  Republican  ticket,  being  again  elected  to  that  office 
in  1903  by  the  same  party.  In  fraternal  circles  he  is  a  member  of  Girard 
Lodge,  Xo.  192,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  also  connected  with  the  Girard  Knights 
of  Pythias  lodge  and  is  a  member  of  the  Modem  Woodmen  of  America, 
having  ser\-ed  as  clerk  of  the  last  named  organization  for  four  years.  Mr. 
Hamilton  takes  much  interest  in  social  affairs  as  well  as  political  and  has 
countless  friends  among  the  prominent  people  of  his  community. 

Mr.   Hamilton  was  married  May   16,   1894,  in  Carlinville,   Illinois,  to 

13 


234  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Minnie  E.  Putty,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Putty,  a  resident  of  Virden,  Illinois. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  Edith,  born  August  i8, 
2897;  George  R.,  born  May  31,  1899,  and  Zelma,  born  August  24,  1900. 


WILLIAM  T.  GRIMMETT. 

William  T.  Grimmett,  postmaster  of  Palmyra,  Macoupin  County, 
and  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  the  town,  was  born  in  1856  in  Palmyra 
township,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and  honorable  families  of  the  county. 
His  parents  were  John  C.  and  Martha  (Huson)  Grimmett. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  spent  his  whole  life  in  Eastern  Ten- 
nessee, where  John  C.  Grimmett  was  born  in  1825.  There  he  married 
^lartha  Huson,  and  in  1850  tliey  came  to  Illinois,  locating  on  his  present 
farm  in  section  36,  North  Palmyra  township,  where  he  lived  until  he  entered 
the  army  in  1862.  He  enlisted  in  Company  E,  I22d  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf., 
and  saw  hard  service,  participating  in  these  battles :  Parker  Cross  Roads ; 
Town  Creek,  Alabama;  Tupelo.  Mississippi;  Nashville.  Tennessee;  Mobile, 
Alabama;  and  Paducah.  Kentucky.  At  the  battle  of  Parker  Cross  Roads, 
he  was  wounded  in  the  right  shoulder,  but  he  never  left  his  place  in  the  ranks 
on  this  account,  merely  transferring  his  gun  to  his  left  arm,  until  the  wound 
healed.  His  next  wound,  received  at  Paducah,  Kentucky,  was  again  in  the 
right  arm  and  was  of  too  serious  a  nature  for  him  to  endure  with  his  former 
Spartan  fortitude,  as  it  disabled  him  for  two  months.  This  brave  soldier 
was  finally  mustered  out  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  in  1865  and  received  his  hon- 
orable discharge  at  Springfield,  Illinois.  He  was  twice  married,  his  second 
wife  being  Elizabeth  Lair,  who  is  also  deceased.  Six  children  were  born  to 
his  first  union  (of  whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest)  and  three  to  his 
second. 

William  T.  Grimmett  obtained  his  education  in  the  schools  of  North 
Palmyra  township,  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  of  age. 
In  1877  he  married  Tabitha  Doss,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Kitty 
{Cherry)  Doss.  At  death  these  parents  left  a  large  estate  and  Mr.  Grimmett 
bought  the  interests  of  the  heirs,  and  resided  on  the  old  Doss  farm  for  19 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  235 

years.  In  1891  Airs.  Grimniett  died,  the  mother  of  six  cliildren,  viz:  Ralph 
Thornton,  who  died  in  infancy;  Thomas  Truman,  who  died  aged  18  months; 
Mary,  who  died  aged  three  years;  Homer  Burnet,  who  died  in  his  19th  year; 
Eva  Catherine,  Hving  at  home;  and  Florence  Irene,  who  assists  her  father 
in  the  post  office.  The  death  of  Homer  Burnet  Grimmett  brought  grief  to 
a  wide  circle  of  friends.  In  August,  1898,  he  followed  the  example  set  him 
by  his  grandfather,  and  enlisted  for  service  during  the  Spanish-.^merican 
War.  The  unaccustomed  conditions  of  living  with  which  he  had  to  contend, 
broke  down  his  helath  while  the  troops  were  encamped  at  Chattanooga,  on 
their  way  to  the  coast,  and  he  soon  succumbed.  His  father  hastened  to  his 
succor,  but  found  the  youth  too  ill  to  move,  and  when  he  returned  to  Pal- 
myra, it  was  with  his  son's  lifeless  body,  which  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side 
of  his  mother.    Thus  was  a  bright,  promising  career  cut  short. 

Mr.  Grimmett's  second  marriage  was  contracted  with  Clara  Deopheid, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Ernest  and  Rachel  Deopheid,  the  former  of  whom  is  a 
well  known  mechanic  and  an  owner  of  real  estate  in  Palmyra.  They  have 
one  son,  Minton  Randolph,  who  was  torn  September  12,  1901. 

Mr.  Grimmett  has  been  a  lifelong  Republican  and  has  taken  a  lively 
interest  in  public  matters  and  in  political  affairs.  He  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Plmyra  on  June  i,  1898,  a  position  he  still  holds  to  the  satisfaction 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  a  religious 
body  with  which  he  has  been  connected  ever  since  his  19th  year. 


HON.  L.  P.  PEEBLES. 

Hon.  L.  P.  Peebles,  an  honored  citizen  of  Carlinville,  Macoupin 
County,  has  frequently  l>een  called  upon  to  fill  offices  high  in  public  trust 
during  his  long  and  active  career.  In  each  instance  he  served  most  credit- 
ably and  in  such  manner  as  to  win  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow- 
men.  He  served  17  years  as  judge  of  Macoupin  County,  and  we  may  safely 
say  that  no  more  able  nor  impartial  judge  has  ever  sat  upon  this  bench. 

Judge  Peebles  was  born  in  Chesterfield,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
July  13,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Jesse  and  ISIargaret  (Reeder)   Peebles.     Plis 


236  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

fatlier  came  to  Macoupin  County  from  Camden,  South  Carolina,  in  1S34, 
and  lived  here  until  his  death  in  1864.  He  was  a  farmer  and  local  preacher 
of  the  Methodist  faith,  and  commanded  the  respect  of  all.  Mrs.  Peebles  was 
a  native  of  Tennessee  and  died  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1840. 

Judge  Peebles  obtained  the  rudiments  of  an  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county  and   remained  upon   the  paternal   acres  until 
1861,  when  he  spent  the  winter  in  studying  law  under  the  direction  of  Will- 
iam A.  Grimshaw  of  Pittsfield,  Illinois.     He  continued  there  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1862,  then  returned  home.  The  Civil  War  being  in  progress,  inspired 
with  a  spirit  of  patriotism  and  love  for  his  country  he  organized  a  company 
of  soldiers  at  Chesterfield  and  tendered  them  to  the  government.  They  were 
accepted  and   mustered   in  as   Company   D,    I22d   Reg.,   Illinois   Vol.    Inf., 
Judge  Peebles  being  elected  captain  of  the  company.  He  continued  in  that 
capacity  and  served  with  the  regiment  in  all  of  its  battles  until  August,  1865, 
when  the  company  was  mustered  out,  as  the  war  was  at  an  end.  He  was  a 
valued  officer  and  brave  soldier,  winning  the  love  and  affection  of  his  com- 
mand and  the  commendation  of  his  superiors.   Returning  to  his  home,   he 
entered  the  law  office  of  the  late  Judge  William  R.  Welch,  and  resumed  his 
preparation  for  the  legal  profession.     He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1867 
but  returned  to  the  farm  and  remained  until  1868,  when  he  was  appointed 
deputy  sheriff  under  Sheriff  S.  B.  Wilcox,  serving  throughout  the  latter's 
administration.     He  then   formed  a  partnership  with   R.  C.   Smalley,  with 
whom  he  was  engaged  in  practice  until  1872,  when  he  was  chosen  by  the 
Governor  to  complete  the  unexpired  term   of   Mr.   Fishback  as   sheriff'  of 
Macoupin   County.     Upon   the  expiration  of  the  term,   he  served   as  office 
deputy   for   Sheriff   Pennington   until   the   fall   of    1873,   then   was   elected 
county  judge  of   Macoupin   County.      He   served   efficiently   for   a   term  of 
four  years,  when  his  ability  and  faithfulness  received  their  merited  reward 
by  his  reelection.    His  great  popularity  may  be  gleaned  from  the  fact  that  his 
election  was  made  without  opposition.     He  served  two  more  terms  of  four 
years  each  after  his  second  term,  and  held  over  for  one  year  between  two  of 
his  terms,   making  a  total  of   17  years  on   the  bench.      Since    1890.  Judge 
Peebles  has  devoted  his  time  and  energies  exclusively  to  his  large  private 
practice.     He  numbers  among  his  clients  many  of  the  most  substantial  busi- 
ness men  and  corporate  enterprises  in  the  county.     He  has  always  evinced  s 
deep  interest  in  the  welfare  and  development  of  his  city  and  county,  and  has 
served  conscientiously  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  and  as  president  of 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  237 

the  Board  of  Education.  He  is  a  3d  degree  Mason  and  was  formerly  active 
as  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  Dan  Messick  Post,  No.  339, 
G.  A.  R. 

On  March  i.  1869,  Judge  Peebles  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
E.  Odell,  a  native  of  Macoupin  County.  Both  have  been  lifelong  residents 
of  this  county,  and  have  many  friends  and  acquaintances  throughout  its 
limits. 


JOHN  J.  STOWE. 

JoHX  J.  Stowe,  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Girard,  Macoupin 
County,  supervisor  of  Girard  township,  and  owner  of  a  large  grocery  busi- 
ness, was  born  December  9,  1861,  in  Ohio,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven 
children  bom  to  his  parents,  Erastus  and  Lucretia  (Whaley)   Stowe. 

Erastus  Stowe  was  born  in  1819,  and  his  wife  in  1826,  both  in  Meigs 
County,  Ohio.  They  had  the  following  children :  James,  of  Meigs  County ; 
Charles  R.,  who  lives  near  Greenville,  Illinois;  Sardine  S.,  who  lives  in  Rut- 
land. Ohio:  Addie  E..  wife  of  Henry  Chase  of  Columbus,  Ohio;  Erastus 
C,  a  resident  of  Pomeroy,  Ohio;  William  G.,  a  resident  of  Rochester,  Illi- 
nois; and  John  J.,  our  subject.  Erastus  Stowe  spent  his  life  on  a  farm,  dy- 
ing on  the  old  homestead,  followed  by  his  wife  about  two  years  later.  The 
parents  were  both  Universalists  in  religious  faith  and  Mr.  Stowe  was  a 
Republican  in  politics.  He  served  four  years  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
and  also  had  a  son,  James,  in  the  same  company. 

Mr.  Stowe  has  been  a  resident  of  Macoupin  County  since  he  was  22 
years  of  age.  His  education  was  secured  in  Ohio  and  at  a  business  college 
in  New  York.  In  1890  he  located  at  Virden.  Macoupin  County,  and  became 
extensively  interested  in  farming,  \\hich  interest  he  still  maintains,  although 
since  1899  he  has  resided  at  Girard.  where  he  opened  up  a  grocery  business, 
including  in  it  the  handling  of  feed  and  the  shipping  of  hay.  This  business 
is  conducted  under  the  style  of  the  Model  Grocery  and  Feed  Company.  Mr. 
Stowe  is  probably  one  of  the  largest  shippers  of  hay  in  the  State,  his  busi- 
ness amounting  to  immense  proportions,  during  the  past  15  years  amount- 
ing to  $75,000  annually.  He  carries  a  large  and  complete  grocery  stock, 
valued   at  83,000.   selected   with   a   view  toward  pleasing  the  most  critical 


238  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

taste  of  the  best  patronage  of  the  town.  Mr.  Stowe  has  not  only  been  ver}- 
successful  in  his  commercial  relations,  but  has  also  prospered  in  the  politi- 
cal field.  In  1903  he  was  elected  township  supervisor  by  a  vote  of  27  over 
his  opponent.  S.  S.  Huber,  of  Girard,  and  at  the  April  election  of  1904,  was 
reelected  by  67  majority,  his  opponent  being  Charles  E.  Burnett,  and  other 
honors  await  him. 

On  March  7,  1889,  Mr.  Stowe  was  married  to  Lizzie  E.  Gibson,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  C.  C.  Gibson,  a  member  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  of 
Tennessee.  Both  in  private  and  business  life.  Air.  Stowe  stands  very  high 
in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  wide-awake  and  progressive, 
while  at  the  same  time  his  methods  are  such  as  commend  him  to  the  con- 
fidence of  those  with  whom  he  does  business.  In  political  sentiment  he  is  a 
Republican. 


BENJAMIN  MIZE. 


Benj.^min  Mize^  for  many  years  one  of  the  extensive  stock  raisers 
and  large  grain  farmers  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  resides  upon  his  large 
and  productive  farm  of  280  acres,  situated  in  sections  28,  29  and  33,  Dor- 
chester township.  He  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  prominent 
old  Southern  pioneer  families  of  the  State.  He  was  born  June  10,  1824,  iji 
Davidson  County,  North  Carolina,  and  is  the  oldest  son  born  to  Obediah 
and  Mary   (Sweney)   Mize. 

The  Mize  family  originated  in  Germany.  The  great-grandfather 
fought  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  lost  his  life  in  the  battle  of  Guilford 
Court  House.  Benjamin  Mize,  grandfather  of  our  esteemed  subject,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina,  and  accompanied  the  family  when  it  came  to  Illi- 
nois, in  1832.  His  children  were:  William,  who  fought  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War;  John,  who  served  under  General  Jackson  at  New  Orleans;  Obediah, 
the  father  of  our  subject;  and  Mary,  who  became  Mrs.  Spence. 

Obediah  ISIize  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  died  in  Macoupin 
County  at  the  age  of  70  years.  In  1832,  with  family  and  household  goods, 
he  came  as  a  pioneer  to  Illinois,  settled  in  Aladison  County,  renting  a  log 
cabin  for  immediate  shelter,  took  up  government  land,  and  made  there  a 
permanent  home.     His  first  marriage  was  to  Mary  Sweney,  who  succumbed 


MACOUPI\    COUXTY.  239 

to  the  hardships  of  the  pioneer  surroundings  in  1833,  leaving  three  children: 
Benjamin,  of  this  sketch;  and  William  and  James,  deceased.  The  second 
marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  child, — Mrs.  Minerva  Latham,  of 
Bunker  Hill. 

Benjamin  Mize,  our  subject,  was  eight  years  old  when  the  family  came 
to  Illinois,  reaching  Edwardsville  October  i,  1832,  near  which  town  his 
father  entered  land.  At  that  time  the  nearest  market  was  at  Cairo,  40  miles 
distant,  and  St.  Louis  was  only  a  village.  Wonderful  indeed  are  the  changes 
which  have  come  under  the  immediate  view  of  Mr.  Mize.  The  death  of  his 
mother  brought  with  it  the  usual  train  of  misfortune,  for  the  little  lad  was, 
tlien  bound  out  to  a  hard  taskmaster.  His  indenture  papers  required  him  to 
stay  until  21  years  of  age,  but  at  16  he  rebelled,  ran  away  and  joined  an  uncle 
in  Edwardsville,  and  was  finally  released  by  his  father's  efforts.  In  1840 
he  came  to  ^Macoupin  County,  after  which  he  enjoyed  six  months  schooling, 
all  he  ever  obtained,  enough,  however,  to  lay  a  foundation  upon  which  Mr. 
]^Iize  has  continued  to  build  ever  since.  In  1850  he  bought  his  first  tract  of 
land,  120  acres,  for  which  he  made  a  first  payment  of  $6,  all  he  possessed. 
It  was  wholly  unimproved.  To  this  tract  he  continued  to  add  until  he  owned 
320  acres.  He  has  devoted  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits  exclusively.  He 
has  been  one  of  the  few  really  successful  grain  farmers  of  this  section,  and 
has  also  made  the  growing  of  fine  cattle  a  leading  feature,  prospering  in  all 
he  has  undertaken  and  being,  through  persevering  industrj-.  blessed  in  bas- 
ket and  in  store. 

During  his  early  manhood,  Mr.  ilize  was  a  \\  hig  and  cast  his  first 
vote  for  William  Henrj-  Harrison,  and  became  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party  in  1854.  He  has  always  refused  all  public  office  with  the  exception 
of  membership  on  the  School  Board,  his  interest  in  general  education  mak- 
ing him  willing  to  serN-e  thus. 

On  December  15,  1843,  ^^r.  ^lize  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Jane  Xesbit,  who  was  bom  in  Indiana  and  died  in  1856.  The  five  children 
of  this  union  were  Mrs.  Margaret  Teeters,  of  Kansas  City,  who  has  two 
children, — Roy  and  Carney:  John  W.,  of  Denver,  who  has  one  child, — 
Mabel  Millimen:  George  W"..  of  Denver,  who  is  a  railroad  engineer:  Win- 
field  Scott,  a  farmer  of  Dorchester  township,  ilacoupin  County,  who  has 
six  children,- — Lillian  E.,  Marj-  E.,  Alice,  Margaret,  William  and  Emma; 
and  Louis  Sanford.  a  farmer  of  Dorchester  township.  Macoupin  Coimty, 
who  has  one  child, — Marion  B. 


240  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

On  October  8,  1856,  Mr.  Mize  married,  as  his  second  wife,  Eliza 
Billyeu,  who  was  born  June  8.  1833,  in  Bond  County,  Ilhnois,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Wilson  Brown  and  Sarah  (Jenkins)  Billyeu,  who  were  early 
pioneers  in  the  State,  coming  from  North  Carolina.  Four  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  namely:  Albert  C,  of  Denver,  Colorado,  who  has  three 
children, — Cora  E.,  Gertrude  and  William  B. ;  Thomas  W.,  who  died  at 
Denver  aged  28  years,  leaving  one  son,  Benjamin  Warren:  Robert  D.,  who 
operates  the  home  farm;  and  James  H.,  a  farmer  of  Dorchester  township, 
■Macoupin  County,  who  has  four  children, — Albert  L.,  Norman  R.  and  Nellie 
R.  (twins)  and  Ada  ^M. 

Since  1845  ^^''-  ^lize  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  to 
which  he  has  always  rendered  a  liberal  support.  The  only  secret  organiza- 
tion to  which  he  e\er  belonged  was  the  Union  League,  during  the  Civil 
War.  He  is  a  man  who  occupies  a  very  high  position  in  public  esteem.  He 
is  widely  known  in  agricultural  and  church  circles  especially,  and  his  home 
is  one  of  the  hospitable  ones  of  the  locality  where  friends  may  always  be  sure 
of  a  heartv  welcome. 


MRS.  SUSAN  C.  TAYLOR. 

Mrs.  Susan  C.  Taylor,  one  of  the  well  known  residents  of  Gillespie 
township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  owns  and  occupies  a  fine  farm  of  124 
acres,  situated  in  section  5.  She  is  the  widow  of  John  Taylor,  who  served 
in  the  Civil  War.  Mrs.  Taylor  was  born  in  Simpson  County,  Kentucky,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Ann  (Solomon)  Newell. 

James  Newell  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  there  engaged  in  farming  until 
he  came  to  Illinois  in  1840,  when  our  subject  was  a  little  maid  of  five  years. 
His  death  took  place  March  18.  1873,  in  his  73d  year.  He  was  a  man  de- 
voted to  his  home  and  family  and  left  them  well  provided  for.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Baptist.  The  children  of 
John  and  Ann  Newell  were  10  in  number,  those  who  grew  to  maturity  Ijeing: 
T^Irs.  Elizabeth  Solomon,  deceased:  William  D.,  deceased;  Mrs.  Mary 
King,  deceased;  Peter  G..  deceased;  Mrs.  Taylor,  of  this  sketch;  IMrs.  Nancy 
M.  Blake  of  Warrensburg,  Missouri;  and  Pricilli  Ann  and  Sarah  Jane, 
-who  both  died  in  girlhood. 


DAVID  E.  PETTENGILL. 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  243 

When  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Taylor  came  to  Macoupin  County  they  settled 
at  Eagle  Point,  but  in  1856  they  renio\ed  to  Gillespie  where  she  has  lived 
ever  since.  In  1854  she  married  John  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Macoupin 
County,  Ilhnois.  His  death  was  caused  by  the  explosion  of  a  grist  mill  at 
Collinsville,  Madison  County,  in  1S61,  when  he  was  35  years  of  age.  The 
two  children  born  to  them  were:  William  H,,  who  resides  with  his  mother 
and  is  her  capable  farm  manager;  and  Mrs.  Rosa  E.  Wagener,  of  Gillespie 
township,  who  has  three  children, — Albert.  Jacob  D.  and  Harry.  The  sec- 
ond marriage  of  our  subject  took  place  in  1868,  to  John  Taylor,  who  was 
born  in  South  Carolina  and  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois.  He  followed 
farming  as  an  occupation,  but  answered  the  last  call  for  troops  for  the  Civil 
War  and  served  for  three  months  as  a  private  in  Company  G,  154th  Reg., 
Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  and  for  his  services  his  widow  receives  a  pension.  He  is 
sur\-ived  by  three  children,  namely :  Noel,  a  resident  of  Granite  City,  Illi- 
nois; Mrs.  Minnie  Gray,  of  Gillespie  township,  who  has  five  children, — Roy, 
Samtiel,  Clara,  Joseph  and  Mildred ;  and  Xancy,  who  resides  with  her  mother 
and  brother  on  the  farm. 

Both  ilr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Taylor  were  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party.  They  were  excellent  citizens  and  had  many  warm  friends  in  this 
neighborhood.  ]\Irs.  Taylor  has  very  successfully  carried  on  farming  opera- 
tions with  the  assistance  of  her  son.  She  enjoys  a  wide  acquaintance  and  is 
noted  in  the  community  for  her  many  excellent  and  amiable  traits  of  char- 
acter. 


MRS.  MARY  ANN  PETTENGILL. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Pf.ttengill,  of  Bunker  Hill,  Jilacoupin  County,  is  the 
widow  of  the  late  David  E.  Pettengill,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch, 
who  was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  business  man,  as  well  as  a  worthy  and  highly 
esteemed  citizen.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Mary  Ann  (Workinger) 
Boosiriger,  and  was  born  near  Akron,  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  July  3,  1823. 

George  W.  Boosinger  was  a  nati\e  of  \'irginia.  and  when  12  years  of  age 
moved  to  Ohio  in  company  with  his  parents,  settling  in  the  Western  Reserve, 
where  he  had  many  experiences  with  the  Indians  and  the  wild  animals  in  the 
dense  forests,  living  the  life  of  a  pioneer  woodsman.    He  took  an  active  part 


244  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

in  the  War  of  1812.  Politically  he  was  a  member  of  the  Whig  party,  taking 
an  active  part  in  the  government  of  his  community.  He  was  also  interested 
in  school  and  church  work,  and  helped  to  establish  a  number  of  schools  and 
churches  in  the  new  country.  Mr.  Boosinger  was  one  of  a  family  of  four  boys 
and  six  girls.  John  Boosinger,  the  brother  of  George  W.,  died  in  Ohio,  at 
the  age  of  100  years.  He  at  one  time  drove  a  team  for  his  brother  George  W. 
to  ^klissouri,  making  the  journey  in  seven  weeks.  Mr.  Boosinger  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Ann  Workinger,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  they 
were  blessed  with  five  children,  namely :  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Pettengill,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  article;  George  F.,  a  resident  of  Gillespie  township;  Wesley,  who 
died  in  Madison  County,  Illinois;  Christie  Ann  (Rice),  who  died  at  Gillespie; 
and  Charlotte  F.  (Peter),  who  is  a  widow  and  resides  in  Oregon.  George  W. 
Boosinger  died  near  Gillespie,  Macoupin  County,  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  •/■] 
years. 

David  E.  Pettengill  was  born  in  Salisbury,  New  Hampshire,  January  19, 
18.20,  and  was  a  son  of  David  Pettengill.  The  latter,  also  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  there  until  1836,  when  he 
migrated  to  Alton,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  con- 
tinuing at  that  occupation  until  his  death  in  1838.  His  father,  the  grandfather 
of  David  E.  Pettengill,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  David  Pettengill  was 
the  father  of  six  children  by  his  first  marriage,  namely :  Caroline,  Hannah, 
Sarah,  Perces,  Charles  and  David  E. 

David  E.  Pettengill  removed  in  company  with  iiis  parents,  when  about 
15  years  of  age,  to  Alton,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  three  years  and  then 
removed  to  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County.  Illinois,  where  he  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life,  following  agricultural  pursuits.  Mr.  Pettengill  was  a  man  of 
good  business  judgment  and  conducted  his  business  affairs  by  skilled  methods, 
as  a  result  of  which  he  became  a  large  land-owner,  owning  a  well  tilled  farm 
in  his  home  township.  320  acres  in  Iowa,  and  three-quarters  of  a  section  in 
Kansas.  Mr.  Pettengill  was  a  public  spirited  citizen  and  did  much  toward  the 
building  up  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  located  in  1839,  before  it  was  settled.  A 
great  reader  himself,  he  did  much  toward  the  establishing  of  libraries  in  his 
city.  Politically  Mr.  Pettengill  was  a  Republican,  but  took  only  a  citizen's 
interest  in  any  political  affairs.  In  1845  he  was  married  to  Mary  Ann 
Boosinger,  and  they  were  blessed  with  two  children,  namely :  Charles,  who 
was  born  in   1847,  ''"^  Anna  Maria,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  245 

Charles  Pettengill.  the  only  son  of  our  subject,  was  a  prominent  hardware  mer- 
chant of  Gillespie.  He  died  at  that  place  in  1880,  leaving  a  widow  and  two 
children — Mrs.  Ella  Bower,  a  resident  of  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County, 
and  Charles,  who  is  a  resident  of  Memphis,  Tennessee.  David  E.  Pettengill, 
our  subject's  late  husband,  died  September  8,  1894. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Pettengill  when  12  years  of  age  removed  with  her  parents 
from  Ohio  to  Missouri,  where  the  family  was  established  near  Lexington,  in 
1836.  There  they  remained  for  two  and  a  half  years,  then  removed  to  Alton, 
Illinois,  and,  after  a  short  time,  she  removed  with  her  parents  to  Macoupin 
County,  where  she  has  since  resided,  having  lived  in  her  present  house  since 
1845- 


HENRY  CLAY  DUCKELS. 

Henry  Clay  Duckels,  a  prominent  citizen  and  successful  agriculturist 
of  Western  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  in  Chesterfield 
township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1855.  Plis  parents  were  Richard 
and  Elizabeth  (Morris)  Duckels,  extended  mention  of  whom  will  be  found 
in  this  volume  in  the  sketch  of  John  H.  Duckels. 

Mr.  Duckels  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  local 
schools,  remaining  at  home  until  his  marriage.  He  then  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Western  Mound  township  where  he  remained  three  years  and  then  en- 
gaged in  a  mercantile  business  at  Chesterfield,  returning  at  the  end  of  one 
year  to  farming  life  again.  He  then  settled  on  a  farm  in  Chesterfield  town- 
ship, consisting  of  120  acres,  which  he  very  successfully  managed  until  he 
removed  in  1886  to  the  Loper  homestead,  which  was  the  estate  of  his  late 
father-in-law,  Adrian  W.  Loper.  This  fine  farm  is  now  Mr.  Duckels"  prop- 
erty and  under  his  most  excellent  management  shows  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, with  substantial  improvements  of  every  nature. 

In  1877  Mr.  Duckels  married  Ophelia  Loper,  who  was  born  in  Western 
Mound  township  and  is  the  estimable  daughter  of  the  late  Adrian  W.  and 
Susan  Loper.  Adrian  W.  Loper  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  was  a  son  of 
James  Loper,  a  seafaring  man,  who,  at  the  time  of  the  War  of  1812,  was 
the  owner  of  two  large  vessels  and  lost  them  in  the  fortunes  of  war.  He 
then  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and,  accompanied  by  his  wife  pnd  two 


246  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

children,  crossed  the  Allegliany  mountains,  safely  making  the  journey  with 
a  one-horse  wagon.  They  located  first  at  Fairfield,  Indiana,  but  in  1829 
removed  to  Greene  County,  Illinois.  In  1831  they  became  early  settlers  in 
Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County.  Adrian  W.  Loper  was  the  sec- 
ond of  James  Loper's  seven  children.  He  married  Susan  Keller,  who  was 
born  September  14,  1818,  in  Crawford  County,  Indiana,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Keller,  who  was  bom  in  Maryland,  of  German  parentage.  John 
Keller  accompanied  his  parents  to  Kentucky  where  he  married,  and  in  1800 
removed  to  Indiana,  and  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Crawford  County,  where 
he  became  one  of  the  first  settlers.  In  1836  Mr.  Keller  sold  his  property, 
which  had  then  become  very  valuable,  and,  again  a  pioneer,  came  to  Macou- 
pin County,  settling  in  Chesterfield  township.  This  property  he  also  im- 
proved into  a  fine  farm.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Duckels  was  1 1  years  of  age 
when  the  family  removed  to  ilacoupin  County  and  she  was  not  only  a 
witness  of  but  a  participant  in  the  many  privations,  hardships  and  exciting 
experiences  of  the  early  days  of  the  settling  of  the  township.  She  was  reared 
in  the  homely  housekeeping  duties  of  the  time  which,  in  those  days  were  very 
comprehensive,  including  as  they  did  the  carding,  spinning  and  weaving  of 
the  cloth  which  clothed  the  family.  She  died  June  6,  1896,  after  /S  years  of 
useful  life.  Mrs.  Duckels  emulated  the  many  virtues  of  this  most  estimable 
mother.  She  too  passed  away,  leaving  bereaved  hearts  behind,  dying  in 
August.  1896,  in  her  38th  year.  The  four  children  surviving  are:  Thomas 
\\"..  Gertrude,  Reynold  and  William  Elden. 

In  political  sentiment.  Mr.  Duckels  is  a  Republican.  He  is  fraternally 
connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  Protective  League.  Like  all  members  of  the  Duckels  family,  he  is 
very  highly  esteemed  in  his  township,  for  his  many  sterling  traits  of  char- 
acter. 


GEORGE   W.  HILLIARD. 

George  W.  Hilli.\rd,  one  of  the  leading  business  citizens  of  Brighton, 
Macoupin  County,  resides  on  the  homestead  farm  in  section  17,  Brighton 
township,  where  he  was  born  in  1840.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Amos  Avery 
and  Charlotte  (Towne)  Hilliard. 

Few  citizens  of  Macoupin  County  enjoyed  more  prominence  than  did 


•  MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  247 

Amos  Avery  Hilliard,  who  for  more  than  40  years  was  identified  with  ahnost 
every  public  enterprise  and  successful  agricultural  or  educational  movement 
in  his  section.  He  came  of  honorable  New  England  ancestry,  was  born  in 
New  Hampshire,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  local  schools. 
Rural  environments  did  not  satisfy  his  ambition,  and  he  soon  made  his  way 
to  Boston,  thence  to  New  York  and  in  1832  made  his  first  trip  to  the  great 
West.  With  his  capital  he  formed  a  partnership  with  a  citizen  of  Boston 
in  the  infant  industry  of  pork  packing,  locating  at  Alton,  a  convenient  point 
from  which  to  ship  to  the  South.  The  conditions  which  exist  at  present  were 
then  wanting  and  the  business  was  unsuccessful  and  Mr.  Hilliard  returned 
to  New  Hampshire  with  little  in  his  possession  but  experience.  However, 
in  1834,  he  returned  to  Illinois,  this  time  to  engage  in  farming,  and  he  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Brighton  township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death  on  February  28,  1878.  On  November  30,  1837,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Charlotte  Towne,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Townc, 
early  residents  of  Hopkinton,  near  Concord,  New  Hampshire.  She  was 
born  August  4,  1802,  came  to  Macoupin  County  with  her  brother  in  1833, 
and  died  August  8,  1845.  I"  1^4^  Mr.  Hilliard  was  married  to  Mrs.  Har- 
riet Towne,  who  died  in  1872,  and  in  1873  he  married  Mrs.  A.  S.  Everett. 

Amos  Avery  Hilliard  possessed  at  the  time  of  his  death  425  acres  of 
valuable  land.  In  addition  to  general  farming,  he  was  early  interested  in 
fruit  growing  and  as  early  as  1845  began  a  daily  shipment  of  peaches,  dur- 
ing the  season,  by  boat  to  St.  Louis,  an  undertaking  which  met  with  much 
discouragement  from  neighboring  farmers  of  less  enterprise,  but  which 
proved  remunerative  on  account  of  Mr.  Hilliard's  methods.  In  later  years 
he  discontinued  the  growing  of  peaches,  as  transportation  facilities  from 
other  points  made  the  business  less  profitable.  He  then  turned  his  attention 
to  the  making  of  cider  and  vinegar  and  produced  these  with  so  fine  a  flavor 
that  he  became  widely  known  in  this  industry.  He  was  truly  one  of  the 
pioneer  horticulturists  of  the  county,  and  so  excellent  were  his  views  and  so 
valuable  his  suggestions,  that  he  became  a  regular  contributor  to  the  Nezv 
York  Tribune,  Caiman's  Rural  IVorld  and  the  Prairie  Farmer.  In  politics 
a  Whig,  he  later  became  a  Republican.  He  is  survived  by  one  son,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

George  W.  Hilliard  has  continued  the  industries  which  his  father 
founded  and,  under  better  conditions,  has  expanded  and  improved  his 
products.     His  plant  is  of  modern  construction  and  his  mills  produce  pure 


248  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

apple  cider,  cider  vinegar,  cornmeal,  graham  flour,  ground  feed,  and  he  also 
deals  in  hardwood  lumber,  owning  a  fine  sawmill.  Mr.  Hilliard  owns  some 
600  acres  of  land  and  is  one  of  the  county's  substantial  citizens. 

On  April  13,  1864,  Mr.  Hilliard  was  married  to  Celia  Adelaide  Chase, 
and  they  have  seven  children,  namely :  Charles  A.,  who  has  one  daughter, 
Marion;  Stella  C,  who  married  Allen  A.  Davison,  auditor  for  Swift  & 
Company  of  Chicago,  and  has  twin  daughters, — Dorothy  and  Florence ; 
Norman  Rae  and  Wenona  Rose  (twins)  ;  Frank  Wyman  and  Fannie  Leah 
(twins)  ;  and  Gladys.  The  family  belong  to  the  Baptist  Church.  Polit- 
ically Mr.  Hilliard  is  a  Republican  and  fraternally  is  a  Mason. 


REV.  MARTIN   V.  KITZMILLER. 

Rev.  Martin  V.  Kitzmiller,  ex-postmaster  of  Girard  and  one  of 
Macoupin  County's  most  venerated  citizens,  was  born  in  Washington 
County,  Tennessee,  January  20,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
(Carr)   Kitzmiller. 

Rev.  Mr.  Kitzmiller's  paternal  line  of  ancestry  is  of  Gemian  origin  and 
that  of  his  mother  is  of  a  combination  of  English  and  Scotch.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Martin  Kitzmiller,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  where  many  of 
the  name  may  still  be  found  among  the  representatives  of  the  agricultural 
districts.  He  was  an  early  settler  in  Washington  County,  Tennessee,  where 
he  engaged  extensively  in  farming  and  also  carried  on  wagonmaking  and 
blacksmithing.  At  a  later  date  he  bought  a  large  farm,  near  to  the  Falls  of 
the  Ohio,  which  is  now  included  in  the  corporate  limits  of  the  beautiful  city 
of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  but  died  at  his  old  home  in  Washington  County,  at 
the  age  of  86  years.  His  third  son,  Henry  Kitzmiller,  became  the  father  of 
the  esteemed  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  life  was  an  entirely  agricultural 
one.  After  learning  the  trades  of  which  his  father  was  master,  he  chose 
farming  as  his  occupation,  and  two  years  after  his  marriage  settled  per- 
manently on  a  farm  in  Sullivan  County.  Tennessee,  which  he  operated  until 
his  death  in  1843.  He  married  Elizabeth  Carr,  who  was  also  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  and  died  in  Sullivan  County,  in   1891,  aged  85  yenrs.     The 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  249 

nine  children  of  this  marriage  were:  Martin  V.,  Martha,  Richard  C,  Mary, 
Henry,  EHzabeth,  David,  Lovisa  and  Joseph. 

The  Hfe  of  Rev.  Mr.  Kitzmiller  has  been  a  useful  one  and  has  been  re- 
plete with  interest  from  boyhood.  His  education  was  secured  in  the  neigh- 
boring schools,  in  Sullivan  and  Washington  counties,  Tennessee,  and  at  the 
age  of  15  years  his  life  work  was  definitely  shown  him,  in  his  conversion, 
and  later  admission  into  the  Baptist  Church.  Perhaps  no  better  certificate  of 
character  or  proof  of  the  strength  of  his  convictions  could  be  found,  than  the 
fact  that  two  years  later  he  was  admitted  to  the  ministry  of  that  religious 
body.  From  1844  to  1856,  he  continued  in  the  ministry  in  Tennessee,  and 
then  came  to  Illinois,  led  to  change  his  residence  on  account  of  his  anti- 
slavery  principles.  He  was  eagerly  welcomed  by  the  faithful  little  band  of 
Baptist  workers  who  were  striving  to  have  a  church  of  their  faith  estab- 
lished in  Girard.  He  became  the  first  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church,  a  rela- 
tion he  held  for  about  30  years,  in  which  time  the  membership  increased  from 
II  to  188;  during  this  time  he  baptized  and  received  otherwise  over  500 
members  into  the  church.  He  also  baptized  five  ministers  of  the  Gospel  in 
the  Girard  Baptist  Church.  He  also  preached  in  Auburn,  Illinois,  alternat- 
ing with  Girard,  for  about  18  years.  The  immense  amount  of  clerical  and 
pastoral  work  crowded  into  the  fruitful  years  can,  perhaps,  never  be  appre- 
ciated except  by  Rev.  Air.  Kitzmiller  himself,  who  at  last  had  to  reluctantly 
give  up  his  labors  on  account  of  his  failing  voice.  Among  the  interesting 
records  of  these  years,  Rev.  Mr.  Kitzmiller  recalls  the  founding  of  a  number 
of  the  well  establislied  churches  in  and  near  Macoupin  County,  notably 
those  at  Carlinville,  Greenfield,  Hickory  Point  and  Waverly,  and  also  at 
Chatham  and  Auburn  in  Sangamon  County.  An  interesting  event  was  the 
first  time  he  administered  the  ordinance  of  baptism,  his  young  wife  being 
the  subject.  It  must  be  a  source  of  comfort  to  this  faithful  pastor,  to  recall 
that  fully  1,000  persons  were  brought  by  his  ministrations  to  be  baptized  by 
him,  and  that  a  number  of  these  entered  into  the  ministry  of  the  same 
church.  Although  advancing  years  and  ill  health  have  impaired  his  powers 
in  some  degree,  he  is  still  considered  one  of  the  wise  men  in  council  and  a 
worker  of  no  insignificant  importance.  His  whole  life  has  been  devoted  to 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  to  doing  good.  It  is  an  interesting  fact,  and 
illustrative  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  has  been  and  is  still  held  that  he  never 
in  his  long  ministry  witnessed  a  fight  or  saw  a  blow  struck. 

On  April  29,  1847,  Rev.  Martin  V.  Kitzmiller  and  Mary  Crouch,  were 


250  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

united  in  marriage.  Mrs.  Kitzmiller  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Ten- 
nessee, and  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ehzabeth  (Keefhaver)  Crouch.  Of 
the  lo  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kitzmiller,  seven  now  survive,  namely : 
Joseph  H.,  a  graduate  of  Hahnemann  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  who  is  a 
practicing  physician  at  Chickasha,  Indian  Territory;  Martha,  who  is  the 
wife  of  John  Lloyd,  an  extensive  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Franklin 
County,  Kansas;  James  W.,  an  attorney  of  North  Dakota;  Charles  M. , 
Laura,  who  is  the  wife  of  G.  A.  Post,  of  Girard;  David  M. ;  and  Eldredge 
P.,  who  resides  at  Steele,  North  Dakota.  Those  deceased  are:  Elizabeth  \'., 
deceased  October  25,  1861 ;  Richard,  deceased  in  August,  1858;  William  S., 
deceased  October  i,  1866.  Mrs.  Kitzmiller  died  at  the  family  home  in 
Girard  July  20,  1894.  On  March  4,  1897,  Rev.  Mr.  Kitzmiller  was  married 
to  Melvina  Lightbourn,  daughter  of  James  B.  Lightbourn  of  the  West  In- 
dies. Mrs.  Kitzmiller  was  an  old  acquaintance  of  the  family,  a  member  of 
the  same  church  in  Girard,  and  the  same  amiable  and  friendly  relations  con- 
tinue between  Mrs.  Kitzmiller  and  her  husband's  children  as  e.xisted  before 
her  marriage.  The  marriage  has  indeed  proved  to  be  a  very  happy  and 
blessed  one;  his  children  were  heartily  in  favor  of  it  because  it  was  not  like 
taking  a  stranger  into  the  family.  Mrs.  Kitzmiller  has  proved  an  excellent, 
devoted  wife  and  has  made  the  declining  years  of  our  subject  very  pleasant 
through  her  ministrations,  as  he  has  not  been  in  robust  health  for  some 
years  and  on  account  of  growing  infirmities  has  been  made  the  subject  of 
considerable  attention.  The  Kitzmiller  home  is  one  of  the  pleasantest  in  the 
city,  located  most  beautifully  and  combining  ideally  the  comforts  of  city 
life,  with  the  solid  advantages  of  suburban  life. 

The  formation  of  the  Republican  party  found  Rev.  Mr.  Kitzmiller  a 
Democrat,  but  not  a  satisfied  one,  and  he  soon  became  a  stanch  advocate  of 
the  principles  enumciated  by  the  new  party.  He  has  been  true  to  this  allegi- 
ance. On  January  20,  1890,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Girard,  a  selec- 
tion by  President  Harrison,  which  met  with  universal  approval.  Other 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  of  a  public  nature,  he  has  declined,  with 
the  exception  of  membership  on  the  school  board,  which  he  held  for  nine 
years. 

Few  citizens  of  Girard  are  held  in  higher  esteem  by  all  classes  than  is 
the  subject  of  this  biography.  Much  of  this  regard  is  personal,  for  he  pos- 
sesses the  kindness  of  disposition,  the  gentle  interest  in  the  troubles  of  others 
and  the  continual  desire  to  do  them  good,  which  endears  him  to  all   who 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  251 

know  him.  During  the  long  period  of  his  ministerial  work,  he  laid  many- 
plans  which  he  can  see  carried  out  by  others,  and  has  lived  to  see  that  his 
vigorous  campaigns  against  sin,  have  had  a  world  of  influence. 


THE  SHALE   BRICK  .4ND  TILE  WORKS. 

The  Shale  Brick  and  Tile  Works,  of  Carlinville,  is  one  of  the  most 
important  of  the  industries  of  Macoupin  County.  It  was  incorporated  in 
1898  with  D.  T.  Michaels  as  president;  H.  C.  ^IcBride,  secretary,  treasurer 
and  manager;  and  D.  T.  Michaels,  H.  C.  McBride,  and  J.  C.  McBride  as 
members  of  the  board  of  directors.  They  immediately  after  began  the  man- 
ufacture of  shale  brick  for  building  purposes  and  drain  tile  from  shale,  the 
best  grade  of  tile  made  in  Central  lllinoif;.  from  4  to  12  inches  in  size. 
They  also  manufacture  building,  street  paving  and  sidewalk  brick,  and  eight 
by  eight  sidewalk  tiling,  and  the  demand  in  this  county  for  these  products  is 
in  the  main  supplied  by  this  company.  They  have  con\-inced  many  of  the 
farmers  that  tiling  is  necessary  to  the  successful  cultivation  of  a  wet  piece 
of  ground,  and  the  many  who  have  acted  on  their  advice  are  now  reaping 
rewards  in  the  increased  production  of  their  lands.  It  was  first  looked  upon 
as  a  venture  by  agriculturists,  but  has  safely  passed  the  experimental  stage 
and  hundreds  of  letters,  testifying  to  the  benefits  of  tiling  have  been  received 
from  farmers  throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties.  This  company  em- 
ploys some  18  men  during  the  busy  season  and  has  an  output  of  2,000  12- 
inch  and  10,000  four-inch  tile  per  day.  The  plant  is  a  flourishing  one,  in 
which  the  citizens  of  the  county  take  pride. 

H.  C.  ^McBride.  who  has  attained  a  high  degree  of  success  as  secretary 
and  treasurer,  and  manager  of  the  Shale  Brick  and  Tile  Works,  was  born  in 
Taylorville,  Christian  County,  Illinois,  December  26,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  C.  and  Mattie  (Wheeler)  ^McBride.  The  ^IcBrides  are  of  Scotch 
descent  paternally,  and  were  pioneers  in  the  settlement  of  three  States, — 
Virginia,  Tennessee  and  Illinois.  From  this  family  have  come  hardy  and 
gallant  soldiers  for  nearly  every  w^ar  fought  in  this  country.  Two  of  this 
family   fell   at  the  time  of   General   Braddock's   defeat   in  the   French   and 

14 


252  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Indian  War;  William  McBride  participaled  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans 
during  the  war  of  1812;  and  Andrew  McBride  was  one  of  the  gallant  sol- 
diers who  gained  independence  from  Mexico  for  Texas.  There  were  live 
brothers  and  six  sisters  in  the  family  that  lived  in  Patrick  County.  N'irginia, 
and  of  this  number  James  McBride  is  the  one  from  whom  our  subject  is 
descended.  He  was  one  of  the  first  white  men  to  emigrate  from  \'irginii 
to  Tennessee,  going  as  early  as  1754.  His  grandson,  John  McBriile,  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  married  Mary  Hand- 
lin,  who  was  of  Irish  descent  on  the  paternal  side,  and  of  Welsh  on  her 
mother's  side.  Among  the  children  born  to  them  was  Thomas  W.  McBride. 
Thomas  W.  McBride,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  biography, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Tennessee,  May  2j,  1822,  and  spent  his 
boyhood  days  at  work  upon  the  farm  there,  attending  school  during  the 
winter  months.  When  he  reached  his  i6th  year  he  concluded  to  come  to 
Illinois,  and  located  in  Greene  County  in  April,  1838.  He  engaged  in  farm- 
ing by  the  month  for  some  years,  at  the  same  time  attending  school  during 
the  winter  months,  and  in  1842  he  began  for  himself.  He  put  in  crops  and 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  the  two  branches 
of  business  were  combined  by  him  for  two  years  in  Barr  township,  Macoupin 
County.  In  1845  1^  rented  a  piece  of  land  and  farmed  it  and  was  soon,  by 
dint  of  hard  labor  and  economical  living,  enabled  to  enter  an  80-acre  tract  in 
the  east  part  of  Barr  township.  From  this  humble  beginning  he  arose  to  a 
station  of  influence  in  the  county,  becoming  a  man  of  large  means.  He 
moved  to  Carlinville  in  1854,  and  in  1855  moved  to  Girard  where  he  bought 
an  interest  in  the  first  flouring  mill  erected  there.  He  remained  there  until 
March,  i860,  when  he  removed  to  section  i,  Nilwood  township,  purchasing 
a  farm  of  160  acres,  which  he  conducted  the  remainder  of  his  days.  In 
politics,  he  was  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  James  K. 
Polk  for  President  in  1844.  On  September  19,  1844,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Marjorie  Wiggins,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  of  English  descent. 
To  them  were  born  the  following  children:  James  C.  father  of  our  subject; 
Aveline,  wife  of  F.  L.  Starkey,  a  farmer  living  near  Girard,  Illinois;  John, 
who  married  Fanny  Harrington ;  Emma  Jane,  wife  of  E.  S.  Terry,  now  a 
resident  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Alice,  wife  of  John  Stead;  George;  Nona, 
wife  of  Charles  Duff  of  Bloomington,  Illinois;  Minnie  (Crandall),  a  widow; 
and  Sophronia.  Fraternally  Thomas  W.  McBride  was  a  Mason,  having 
joined  the  order  as  early  as  1832. 


JklACOUPIX    COUNTY.  253 

James  C.  McBride,  who  is  a  prominent  attorney-at-law  of  Taylorville, 
Illinois,  was  born  in  Macoupin  County,  near  Barr's  Store.  He  received  a 
careful  preparation  for  the  legal  profession  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
this  State.  He  has  been  very  successful  as  a  lawyer  and  is  one  of  the  influ- 
ential men  of  Christian  County,  Illinios.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and 
fraternally  is  a  member  of  the  Masons  and  the  Odd  Fellows.  Religiously, 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mattie  Wheeler,  by  whom  he  has  four  children,  as  follows : 
\\'illi5  Brammer;  Horace  Carroll;  Elmira,  wife  of  Albert  Buckley  of  Chris- 
tian County :  and  Marcella. 

H.  C.  McBride  attended  the  common  schools  and  later  tlie  high  school 
of  Christian  County,  Illinois,  after  which  he  took  a  commercial  course  in  the 
Springfield  Business  College.  In  1898,  he  became  identified  with  the  Shale 
Brick  and  Tile  Works  and  has  displayed  exceptional  ability  as  manager  of 
the  company.  He  is  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity  and  by  his  fairness  and 
honesty  in  all  transactions  has  gained  the  highest  respect  and  confidence  of 
the  people. 

In  1 90 1,  Mr.  McBride  was  united  in  marriage  with  Isabel  Wheeler,  a 
daughter  of  Jehu  Wheeler,  \^-ho  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  IMacoupin 
County.  Two  children. — Claribel  and  Carroll  Jehu,  were  born  to  bless  this 
union.  I\Irs.  McBride  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Faternally,  Mr.  McBride  is  a  Mason  and  belongs  to  a  number  of  fraternal 
insurance  orders.  He  is  a  stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  as  were  his  fore- 
fathers. 


ZACHARIAH  J.  GIBSON.  . 

Zach.ariah  J.  Gibson,  one  of  the  highly  respected  citizens  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Hilyard  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  still  oper- 
ates a  farm  of  80  acres,  situated  in  section  22,  this  tract  being  all  that  he  has 
retained  from  more  than  200  acres  that  he  once  owned.  Mr.  Gibson  comes 
of  fine  old  Kentucky  stock.  He  was  born  in  Hardin  County.  June  11,  1839, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Jones)   Gibson. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  resident  of  Kentucky  all  his  life,  and 
died  there  in    1842.     He  had  been  the  owner  of  farming  land   in   Meade 


254 


BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


County,  where  he  also  held  political  ofi'ice.  He  married  Elizabetli  Jones, 
who  was  born  in  Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  and  died  in  Macoupin  County. 
She  contracted  a  second  marriage  after  ]Mr.  Gibson's  decease,  with  a  Mr. 
Greenwood.  Our  subject  is  the  sixth  member  of  a  family  of  12  cliildren, 
born  to  his  parents,  namely:  Thomas;  James;  Green;  Nathaniel,  of  Ken- 
tucky; Mrs.  Maria  C.  Adams;  Zachariah,  of  this  sketch;  Margaret;  Joseph 
T. ;  and  four  who  died  in  infancy.  Our  subject  and  his  brother  Nathaniel 
are  now  the  only  survivors. 

Zachariah  J.  Gibson  was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Macoupin 
County.  His  education  was  such  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  district  schools 
and  his  interests  liave  always  been  of  an  agricultural  nature.  W'hile  he  re- 
tained possession  of  a  very  large  body  of  his  land,  he  devoted  mucli  time  to 
the  raising  of  fine  stock,  but  as  he  grew  older,  he  sold  farm  after  farm  until 
he  has  but  80  acres  under  operation  at  the  present  time.  This  is  finely  culti- 
vated and  well  improved  and  may  be  considered  one  of  the  best  farms  of 
Hilyard  township.  Formerly  Mr.  Gibson  was  connected  with  the  Grange 
movement  and  was  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Asociation,  but 
in  late  years  his  interests  in  these  directions  have  lessened.  He  has  demon- 
strated his  capacity  as  a  first  class  farmer  and  now,  with  the  assistance  of 
modern  methods  and  machinery,  lives  in  the  greatest  comfort  and  inde- 
pendence. 

In  1864  Mr.  Gibson  married  Mahala  Leach,  who  was  born  in  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Leach,  who  are 
natives  of  England.  The  Leach  family  located  in  the  southwestern  section 
of  Macoupin  County  when  Carlinville  consisted  of  but  one  log  house.  W'licn 
they  settled  in  Chesterfield  township,  their  nearest  neighbor  was  five  miles 
away.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibson  have  these  children :  Tessora,  Sarah,  \'irginia 
A.  and  John  T.,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Hilyard  township.  Tessora  married  F. 
il.  Smith,  of  Alton,  Illinois,  and  has  one  son — Ralph  PI.  Sarah  first  mar- 
ried George  E.  Dey.  who  is  now  deceased ;  one  son  was  born  to  this  union — 
George  E.  Dey.  Her  second  marriage  was  to  A.  B.  Roberts,  of  Hilyard 
township;  they  have  one  daughter — Sylvia  M.  X'irginia  A.  married  Isaac 
Combs,  of  Hilyard  township,  and  has  three  chiklren — Sarah,  Abigail  and 
David  H.    John  T.  has  one  son — George  E. 

Mr.  Gibson  has  never  taken  a  very  lively  interest  in  politics  and  ger.- 
erally  casts  his  vote  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  judgment,  selecting  tlie 
man  before  the  party.     He  has  filled  a  number  of  positions  on  the  Scliool 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  255 

Board,  and  during  his  long  life  in  Hilyard  township  has  used  his  influence 
in  improving  the  schools  and  in  developing  the  township  in  such  a  way  as  to 
benefit  all  its  citizens.  For  a  long  time  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity.  He  was  made  a  Master  Mason  in  Plainview  Lodge,  No. 
445,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  known  in  his  locality  as  one  of  its  most  upright 
and  useful  citizens  and  is  held  in  very  high  esteem. 


JOHN  H.  DUCKELS. 

John  H.  Duckels,  whose  fine,  well  improved  farm  of  200  acres  of  pro- 
ductive land  is  situated  in  section  4,  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County, 
was  born  in  this  township  in  1850  and  is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth 
(Morris)  Duckels. 

On  both  paternal  and  maternal  sides,  our  subject  is  of  English  ancestry. 
Richard  Duckels,  his  great-grandfather,  was  born  in  1734  in  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, where  his  whole  life  was  spent,  his  business  being  that  of  a  blacksmith. 
His  son  Thomas  Duckels,  the  grandfather  of  John  H.,  was  born  at  the  village 
of  Goole.  Yorkshire,  in  1770,  and  there  married  Ann  Golton,  and  they  reared 
eight  children,  three  of  whom  came  to  America,  namely :  Nancy,  who  married 
John  Leach ;  William,  deceased,  of  whom  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of 
E.  G.  Duckels  in  this  work;  and  Richard,  the  father  of  our  subject. 

The  birth  of  Richard  Duckels  took  place  July  4,  181 1.  at  Goole,  York- 
shire. v^•here  he  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm.  In  1835  he  came  to 
America  and  to  the  State  of  Illinois.  After  a  few  months  passed  at  Jackson- 
ville, he  went  to  Alton  and  entered  into  the  employ  of  Godfrey  &  Gilmore, 
general  merchants,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1841,  when  he  returned  to 
England  on  a  visit.  In  1842  he  came  a  second  time  to  Illinois,  purchasing  a 
farm  in  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County,  on  which  he  resided  three 
years,  removing  then  to  another  upon  which  he  lived  until  1889  when  he  took 
possession  of  his  present  fine  farm  in  Western  Mound  township,  where  he 
resides,  still  hale  and  hearty,  at  the  age  of  93  years.  He  is  a  large  land- 
owner, having  some  700  acres,  much  of  it  being  the  most  desirable  farming 
land  in  the  western  section  of  the  county. 


256  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

On  February  23,  1843,  Mr.  Duckels  married  Elizabeth  Morris  who  was 
born  near  Thorne,  Yorkshire,  England,  January  18,  1827,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Ann  (Sexton)  Morris,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Yorkshire, 
residents  of  Thorne  until  1832,  whai,  with  their  nine  children,  they  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Western  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  where 
Mr.  Morris  bought  a  squatter's  claim  to  a  tract  of  government  land.  Mrs. 
Duckies  died  March  29,  1897,  in  her  71st  year.  She  was  a  woman  of  beautiful, 
Christian  character,  and  as  she  passed  away  into  the  sunlight  of  Heaven,  she 
whispered  to  those  who  were  left  behind  weeping :  "How  sweet  is  Jesus." 
The  12  children  born  to  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Morris)  Duckels  were:  Ma- 
tilda, deceased  at  the  age  of  47  years,  who  was  the  wife  of  Jefferson  Lee; 
George;  John;  Edwin;  Richard;  Henry  C. ;  Oscar  T. ;  Anna,  wife  of  Aaron 
Lovelace;  Grant;  Laura;  RoUin,  and  Clara,  wife  of  Charles  Wilton. 

John  H.  Duckels  received  his  education  in  his  nati\e  township  and  grew 
to  manhood  assisting  in  the  operation  of  his  father's  farms.  In  the  fall  of 
1876  he  purchased  his  present  farm  \vhich  then  consisted  of  120  acres,  located 
in  section  4,  Chesterfield  township,  to  which  he  has  since  added  80  acres,  and 
has  here  very  successfully  carried  on  farming  and  stock  raising. 

In  1872  Mr.  Duckels  married  Elizabeth  Morris,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
the  late  Felix  Morris.  The  latter  was  born  in  England  and  accompanied  his 
parents  to  America  in  his  early  youth.  Until  1862  he  assisted  his  father  in 
the  working  of  his  farm  in  Chesterfield  township,  enlisting  then  for  service  in 
the  Civil  War,  entering  Company  G,  59th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.  On  No- 
vember 22,  1863,  he  reenlisted  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Chattanooga  and 
Chickamauga,  being  taken  prisoner  at  the  latter  engagement.  After  being 
incarcerated  at  Andersonville,  he  was  exchanged  and  given  a  furlough  home. 
This  was  his  last  visit,  for  the  brave  soldier  returned  to  his  regiment  only  to 
be  subsequently  killed. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duckels  have  had  nine  children,  namely :  Addie,  born  in 
1873,  '^^'10  married  Lawrence  Ketchum  (son  of  Leonard  Ketchum,  a  farmer  of 
Chesterfield  township),  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Shipman  township — 
they  ha\e  three  children,  Edna,  Ruby  and  Hazel ;  Felix,  deceased ;  Edward, 
born  in  1878,  who  resides  at  home;  Lois,  bom  in  1881,  who  married  John  E. 
Hall,  a  farmer  of  Chesterfield  township  and  has  one  child,  Lethia;  ^lorris  R., 
born  in  1885;  Clarence,  born  in  1888;  Hayden,  born  in  1891;  Howard,  born 
in  1900,  and  Grace,  born  in   1903,  all  of  whom  reside  at  home. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  257 

In  politics,  ;Mr.  Duckels  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party.  In  religious 
views  he  is  a  Methodist.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  ]\Iodern  Woodmen  of 
America. 


WILLIAM  M.  GROSS,  M.  D. 

Every  community  has  its  prominent  citizens,  and  one  of  these  in  the 
progressive  and  prospering  town  of  Gillespie,  Illinois,  is  Dr.  William  M. 
Gross,  who  is  also  well  and  favorably  known  all  over  Macoupin  County.  Dr. 
Gross  was  bom  March  24,  1842,  in  Bollinger  County,  Missouri,  and  is  a 
son  of  Christopher  and  Sophia  (Yount)  Gross. 

The  Gross  family  is  of  German  extraction,  and  its  founder  in  America 
came  from  the  vicinity  of  Hamburg  and  settled,  in  colonial  days,  in  Northamp- 
ton County,  Pennsylvania.  There  Christian  Gross,  the  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Gross,  was  bom,  and  many  distinguished  members  of  the  family  still  reside 
in  that  State,  a  notable  one  being  Prof.  Samuel  D.  Gross  of  Philadelphia. 
Christian  Gross  moved  to  Lincoln  County,  North  Carolina,  and  there  reared 
a  large  family,  one  son,  Christopher,  being  born  there  December  5,  1806. 

Christopher  Gross  accompanied  his  parents  to  Bollinger  County,  Missouri, 
when  five  years  of  age  and  engaged  there  in  farming  until  1854  when  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Saint  Francois  County,  residing  there  until  the 
latter  part  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  removed  to  Hillsboro,  Illinois.  After 
the  close  of  hostilities,  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  there  spent  his  last  years, 
dying  at  the  age  of  76  years.  Christopher  Gross  was  a  plain,  unassuming 
farmer,  and  through  industry  accumulated  what  in  peaceful  times  would  have 
been  considered  a  competency,  but  the  disturbed  condition  of  the  country  and 
the  cares  of  a  second  family  somewhat  reduced  what  was  once  an  ample  for- 
tune. He  was  a  man  of  great  self-reliance,  one  who  believed  in  the  right  of 
every  man  to  his  opinion,  and  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party 
from  its  foundation,  having  previously  been  a  Whig.  He  was  equally  stanch 
in  his  support  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church.  In  every  walk  of  life 
he  commanded  respect.  He  married,  first,  Sophia  Yount,  who  was  born  in 
Bollinger  County,  Missouri,  where  she  died  in  1850,  aged  23  years,  leaving 
a  family  of  five  children,  namelv:  Mrs.  ilargaret  McDowell,  deceased:  Mrs. 


258  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Sarah  Ann  Dennis,  deceased;  \\'illiani  M.,  of  this  biography;  Jacob  Amos, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  50  years ;  and  Peter,  a  resident  of  Gillespie.  The  chil- 
dren of  his  second  marriage  were  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom 
with  one  exception  still  survive. 

When  Dr.  Gross  was  12  years  of  age,  his  parents  removed  to  Farmington, 
the  county  seat  of  Saint  Francois  County,  and  there  he  continued  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  at  Carlton  College,  where  he  remained  until  he  had 
almost  completed  the  classical  and  scientific  courses.  Dr.  Gross  made  a  spec- 
ialty of  mathematics  at  Carlton  College  and  mastered  the  ditficult'ies  of 
differential  and  integral  calculus  with  extraordinary  ease.  In  the  winter  of 
1863  he  made  a  trip  to  California,  going  by  way  of  New  York 
and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  which  has  been  a  bone  of  contention  so  long  and  at 
present  is  occupying  the  public  attention.  A  man  of  his  ability  and  energ)' 
soon  found  work  awaiting  his  hand  and  brain,  and  he  was  fully  occupied 
either  in  teaching  or  mining,  until  after  the  surrender  of  General  Lee.  He 
then  came  to  Hillsboro,  Illinois,  where  his  parents  had  in  the  meantime  located 
and  here  he  again  began  teaching  school.  In  1866  he  entered  upon  the  study 
of  medicine  at  Walshville,  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  under  Dr.  M.  S. 
Davenport,  and  continued  his  reading  with  this  leading  physician,  assisting 
also  in  the  latter's  practice,  for  two  years,  when  he  returned  to  Missouri  and 
located  in  \\"ayne  County.  Some  five  years  later,  after  a  term  of  very  suc- 
cessful medical  practice,  he  went  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  where  he  completed  ihe 
prescribed  course  and  was  graduated  in  1875  ^t  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons.  Dr.  Gross  came  then  to  Macoupin  County.  Illinois,  and  prac- 
ticed his  profession  for  three  years  in  the  village  of  Horn.sby,  removing  then 
to  Gillespie,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since. 

Dr.  Gross  is  prominently  identified  with  not  only  the  professional  but 
also  the  business  life  of  Gillespie,  and  is  almost  as  well  known  for  his  ability 
in  business  enterprises  as  for  his  skill  in  his  profession.  Dr.  Gross  shares 
with  many  others  a  scientific  comprehension  of  the  wonders  and  values  of 
electricity,  and,  to  utilize  it  on  certain  lines,  in  1896  he  organized  a  company 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $15,000,  erected  a  plant  and  installed  machinery.  This 
industry  still  continues  in  successful  operation.  In  July.  1903.  he  became  in- 
terested in  newspaper  work,  became  part  owner  of  the  Gillespie  Herald  and  is 
now  the  manager  and  a  director  of  the  Herald  Publishing  Company.  So  ver- 
satile is  he  in  his  activities,  he  h?.?  given  an  impetus  to  everything  in  his  lo- 


JAMES  JENCKS. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  261 

cality  to  which  he  has  seriously  turned  his  attention.  Through  his  intehigent 
and  well  directed  energies,  the  Gillespie  schools  have  attained  to  a  standard 
of  excellence  second  to  none  in  tlie  State,  their  graduates  being  fitted  to  enter 
higher  institutions  without  any  preliminary  preparation.  Dr.  Gross  has  made 
a  careful  study  of  electricity  and  has  done  much  experimenting,  and  a  part  of 
his  busy  life  has  been  given  to  lecturing  on  the  subject.  His  contributions  on 
various  scientific  subjects  are  welcomed  by  the  leading  periodicals  and  his 
opinion  bears  with  it  the  weight  of  knowledge  and  experience. 

On  April  11,  1867,  Dr.  Gross  was  married  to  Mary  C.  Sitton,  who  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  A.  J. 
Sitton,  a  Baptist  clergyman.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  this  marriage, 
namely:  Sarah  Sophia,  who  married  Milton  Mitchell,  a  farmer  living  near 
Gillespie,  and  has  seven  children ;  Martha  Frances,  who  is  the  wife  of  Fred- 
erick Opie  of  Gillespie ;  Edwin  Guy,  who  married  Maggie  Hamilton,  and 
resides  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Herbert,  who  is  a  student  at  Gillespie,  in  electri- 
cal engineering;  and  Dean,  who  is  attending  the  public  schools. 

Politically  Dr.  Gross  is  a  Republican.  He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
at  the  second  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has  consented  to  fill  a  number 
of  the  minor  offices  and  gave  his  valuable  services  to  the  School  Board  of  which 
he  was  president  some  eight  years.  Like  his  father,  he  is  a  Master  Mason, 
having  joined  a  IMasonic  lodge  at  Farmington,  Missouri,  at  the  age  of  21 
years.    In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Baptist. 


JAMES  JENCKS. 


James  Jencks^  mayor  of  the  city  of  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  and 
a  prominent  and  representative  business  citizen,  whose  portrait  accompanies 
this  sketch,  was  born  here,  March  9,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of  William  O.  and 
Martha  A.  (Llewellyn)  Jencks. 

\\'illiam  O.  Jencks  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  September  19,  1824,  com- 
ing of  illustrious  ancestry.  The  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  was  James 
Jencks,  who  came  from  England  on  the  "Mayflower,"  and  was  later  ap- 


262  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

pointed  by  King  Charles  I,  governor-general  of  Rhode  Island,  to  treat  with 
the  Narragansett  Indians.  Joseph  Jencks,  the  father  of  William  O.  Jencks, 
married  Esther  Tyler,  a  descendant  of  James  Tyler,  who  came  to  America 
and  settled  in  Rhode  Island  with  James  Jencks.  Joseph  and  Esther  (Tyler) 
Jencks  had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  six  daugiiters,  \\'illiam  O.  being  the 
youngest.  In  1852  our  subject's  father  came  to  Bunker  Hill  and  engaged  in 
the  carriage  manufacturing  business  and  later  founded  the  livery  business  to 
which  his  son  succeeded  30  years  later  and  which  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
complete  in  this  portion  of  the  State. 

William  O.  Jencks  is  now  living  a  retired  life.  He  possesses  a  notable 
record  for  military  service,  having  held  commissions  in  three  wars.  He  en- 
listed first  in  1845  in  the  Plainfield  Rifles,  of  Plainfield,  Connecticut,  under  Col. 
Judson  B.  Lyon,  which  took  part  in  the  battle  at  Vera  Cruz  in  the  Mexican 
War,  and  returned  in  1847.  I"  1859  when  the  troubles  with  the  Kiowa  and 
Comanche  Indians  brought  on  war,  he  enlisted  as  a  private,  remained  through 
the  war  and  returned  as  a  ist  lieutenant.  Again,  when  war  clouds  arose,  this 
veteran,  on  April  21,  1861,  again  offered  his  services,  was  commissioned  1st 
lieutenant  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Guards,  and  served  three  months.  He  was  then 
given  a  position  of  the  greatest  danger  and  .served  three  years  and  nine  days 
as  a  bearer  of  dispatches.  His  military  record  is  one  of  which  he  and  his 
descendants  may  well  be  proud,  while  his  civil  one  is  no  less  honorable.  He  has 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  as  supervisor,  and  in  other  local  offices  and 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics.  He  is  a  very  prominent  Odd  Fellow  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  the  Grand  Lodge  on  many  occasions.  He  is  a  leading 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  married  Martha  Llewellyn  of  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  and  the  four  survivors  of  their  family  of  eight  children,  are : 
John  W.,  Charles  D.,  James  and  Oscar  W.,  all  of  Bunker  Hill. 

James  Jencks  was  educated  at  Bunker  Hill,  attending  Ixith  the  Bunker 
Hill  High  School  and  the  Military  Academy.  W'hen  about  18  years  old  he 
succeeded  his  father  in  the  livery  business.  For  years  he  has  been  one  of  the 
leading  Republican  politicians  of  the  county  and  has  been  particularly  promi- 
nent in  his  native  city.  In  1897  he  was  elected  alderman  and  during  his  term 
of  six  years  devoted  every  energy  to  the  development  of  Bunker  Hill,  advo- 
cating the  introduction  of  electric  lights  and  cement  paving  and  during  his 
term,  as  a  member  of  the  finance  committee,  assisted  in  paying  ofif  a  large 
bonded  indebtedness.     In  April,  1903,  he  was  honored  by  election  as  mayor, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  263 

and  his  clean,  careful  and  economic  administration  gives  satisfaction  to  nil 
parties. 

On  March  6,  1901,  Mr.  Jencks  was  married  to  Laura  C.  Mercer,  who 
was  born  in  Macoupin  County,  IMay  2,   1870. 

■  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  several  of  the  leading  fraternal  organizations, 
including  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  to  social  todies,  in  which  he  and  his  wife  are  both  popular. 


CORBIN  S.  MORGAN. 

CoRBiN  S.  Morgan,  an  honored  and  prominent  agriculturist  of  ]SIacou- 
pin  County,  resides  on  his  handsome  farm  of  340  acres  which  is  situated  in 
sections  2  and  10,  Hilyard  township.  He  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Ohio, 
July  4,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  A.  and  Louisa  P,  (Jones)  Morgan,  and 
a  grandson  of  James  Morgan.  The  Morgan  family  may  with  justice  term 
itself  American,  for  it  has  been  established  in  this  country  for  many  genera- 
tions. 

James  Morgan  was  a  native  of  old  Virginia  and  went  to  what  is  now 
West  Virginia  in  company  with  his  parents.  On  this  journey  James  Morgan's 
father  was  killed  by  the  Lidians  while  crossing  the  mountains.  Mr.  ^lorgan 
was  a  farmer  all  his  life  and  was  in  every  way  successful  in  his  work  as  a 
pioneer  agriculturist.  James  Morgan  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  namely : 
John,  Thomas,  Samuel  A.,  William,  Corbly,  Stewart,  Nancy  (Stein),  Amanda 
and  Mary  (Simpson). 

Samuel  A.  Morgan  was  born  in  Wheeling,  Virginia  (now  ^^'e5t  \^irginia) 
in  1817,  and  migrated  to  Ohio  in  company  with  his  parents,  being  a  lad  in 
years  when  this  journey  was  made.  Mr.  Morgan  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  and  devoted  a  great  deal  of  his  time  to  cattle  buying  and  shipping, 
in  which  he  proved  very  successful,  leaving  at  his  death,  in  1872,  a  good  farm. 
When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  he  went  to  enlist  but  was  rejected.  Politically 
he  was  a  Democrat  and  ser\-ed  as  deputy  sheriff  of  his  county  and  also  as 


264  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

tax  collector,  besides  holding  several  other  ofilkes.  In  religious  circles  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Morgan  was  married  to  Louisa  P. 
Jones,  who  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Ohio,  in  1818,  being  the  first  girl 
born  in  that  county.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Amos  B.  Jones.  They  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy.  The  others  are  as 
follows :  James  J.,  who  resides  with  our  subject ;  Permelia.  deceased ;  Katherine, 
of  Ohio;  Augustus  L.,  a  resident  of  Ohio,  who  is  a  bachelor;  Amanda 
(Brown),  a  resident  of  Marietta,  Ohio;  Elizabeth,  also  a  resident  of  Ohio; 
Corbin  S.,  our  subject;  and  Nathaniel  and  Mary  E.  (Elliot),  who  are  resi- 
dents of  Jefferson  County,  Ohio.     Mr.  Morgan  died  in  1872. 

Corbin  S.  Morgan  came  West  in  1870,  locating  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  remained  but  a  short  time  in  the  employ  of  Henry  Jobin,  who  con- 
ducted a  nursery.  Erom  there  he  went  to  Lacleile,  Linn  County,  Missouri, 
remained  there  until  March,  1871,  and  then  removed  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
where  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  some  time.  Next  entered  the 
employ  of  Hitson  &  I'atterson,  he  worked  as  a  cowboy  until  the  following 
summer,  when  he  traveled  through  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Mexico  and 
California.  Mr.  Morgan  then  returned  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  work  at  the 
.shoemaker's  trade  at  Stafford.  On  July  9,  1 874,  he  came  to  Macoupin  County. 
Illinois,  and  worked  for  six  years  by  the  month  for  W.  H.  Dey.  In  1880 
he  removed  to  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  but  after  one  year's  residence  re- 
turned to  Macoupin  County  and  rented  a  farm  in  Hilyard  township  of  Mr. 
Dey.  He  remained  on  that  farm  for  10  years  and  then  purchased  his  present 
farm.  320  acres  of  which  is  prairie  land,  the  remaining  portion  being  in  timber 
land.  Mr.  Morgan  is  a  feeder  and  raiser  of  stock  and  has  proved  himself 
to  be  skilled  at  that  occupation.  He  also  raises  grain  and  other  farm  produ.ce. 
Although  Mr.  Morgan  started  in  a  somewhat  lowly  station  in  life  he  has 
attained  a  high  position  among  the  prominent  business  men  of  his  county. 
In  1874,  when  he  came  to  Bunker  Hill,  he  had  but  $1.25,  and  his  possessions 
of  to-day  are  but  a  reward  for  his  unceasing  energies  and  skilled  methods  of 
farming.  Mr.  Morgan  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  but  takes  but  a 
citizen's  interest  in  political  afifairs.  In  fraternal  circles  he  is  a  memljer  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

On  Eebruary  i,  1880,  Mr.  Morgan  was  married  to  Mary  Boyle,  who  was 
born  at  Bornton,  New  Jersey,  April  16,  1853.  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Margaret  (McPhillips)   Boyle,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  raised  near  Belfast. 


MACOUPIX    COUNT Y.  265 

yh.  and  Mrs.  :Morgan  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely :  Mabel.  James 
\V.  and  Sarah  Jane,  all  of  whom  reside  at  home  with  their  parents,  ilr. 
Morgan  and  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


COL.  SARGEANT  MCKNIGHT. 

The  death  of  the  late  Colonel  2\IcKnight  on  June  4,  190 1.  removed  from 
}^lacoupin  County,  Illinois,  a  citizen  who  was  distinguished  during  the  Civil 
War,  who  was  notable  in  successful  business  enterprises  after  its  close,  and 
who  was  prominent  in  State  military  affairs  until  the  end  of  his  long  and  use- 
ful life.  Girard,  his  chosen  place  of  residence,  benefitted  by  his  influence  and 
public  spirit,  and  held  him  as  an  honored  citizen. 

Colonel  ilcKnight  was  a  native  of  Scottville,  ilacoupin  County,  born 
January  6,  1844,  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  10  children.  His  parents  were 
natitves  of  \'irginia,  who  settled  in  Green  County,  Illinois,  in  1830,  removing 
to  Macoupin  County  prior  to  the  birth  of  our  distinguished  subject,  and  set- 
tling at  Girard  in  1859,  where  the  mother  died  in  1864,  and  the  father  in  1868. 
His  education  was  that  aflforded  by  the  public  schools,  and  he  entered  upon  a 
business  career  in  1861,  as  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  establishment  at  Girard, 
where  there  was  every  chance  for  advancement.  The  stirring  events  of  the 
times  aroused  in  his  breast  the  loyal  sentiments  which  marked  his  whole  after 
life,  and  in  August,  1862,  he  offered  his  services  to  his  country,  enlisting  as  a 
private  in  Company  H,  122nd  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  in  which  he  was  made 
1st  sergeant  through  personal  popularity.  On  December  30  following,  he 
was  promoted  to  a  2nd  lieutenancy,  and  rapid  promotion  followed.  His  whole 
career,  extending  to  the  closing  scenes  of  the  war,  shows  a  fidelity  to  duty  and 
a  loyal  faithfulness  in  all  times  of  stress  and  danger,  very  remarkable  in  a 
youth  not  yet  out  of  his  'teens.  This  unusual  development  of  manliness  antl 
reliability  caused  his  frequent  selection  for  positions  involving  great  responsi- 
bility. In  1863  he  was  made  aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Colonel  Mercer,  but 
as  the  duties  were  not  congenial,  at  his  own  request  he  was  relieved  and  re- 
joined his  regiment  at  Paducah,  Kentucky,  where  he  served  as  an  inspector 


266  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

on  the  staff  of  Colonel  Hicks,  commander  of  the  post.  He  participated  in  the 
repulse  of  General  Forrest  on  Fort  Anderson,  in  March,  1864  and  afterward 
served  as  provost  marshal  of  Paducah.  In  December,  1864,  he  was  appointed 
aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  General  Garrard ;  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, in  December  following,  and  for  gallant  services  during  the  campaign 
against  the  city  of  Mobile  was  promoted  to  captain  by  brevet  by  the  President. 
In  July,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out  of  a  service  which  he  had  adorned. 

Successful  on  the  field,  Colonel  McKnight  soon  showed  his  capacity  in 
private  life  and  ere  long  was  numbered  with  the  prospering  business  men  of 
Girard.  In  1867  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Barnabas  Boggess,  A.  A. 
Cooper  and  John  F.  Holden,  in  a  mercantile  business,  which  expanded  until 
it  was  deemed  judicious  by  the  company  to  open  up  a  branch  at  Taylorville. 
Colonel  McKnight  took  charge  at  this  point  in  April,  1870,  and  retained 
management  until  the  partnership  was  dissolved.  He  continued  in  business 
at  Taylorville  until  March,  1882,  when  he  transferred  his  interests  to  Girard, 
where  he  continued  active  for  some  years. 

All  his  life,  Colonel  McKnight  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party  and  had  a  w-ide  and  intimate  acquaintance  with  its 
prominent  men,  among  these  being  the  late  President  McKinley  and  ex- 
Governor  Fifer  of  Illinois.  He  was  appointed  aid-de-camp  on  the  staff'  of  the 
latter  during  his  administration  and  served  in  the  same  capacity  on  the  staff 
of  the  late  Governor  Tanner,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  was  one  of  two 
Republicans,  retained  on  the  staff'  of  Governor  Altgeld.  He  served  four  years 
as  captain  of  Company  B,  5th  Regiment  Illinois  National  Guard. 

In  1892  he  was  chosen  without  opposition  as  minority  candidate  for 
Representative  in  the  38th  Gaieral  Assembly,  and  during  liis  term  of  mem- 
bership was  on  the  following  committees  :  steering,  railroads,  county  and  town- 
ship organization,  live  stock  and  dairying,  claims,  retrenchment  and  senatorial 
apportionment.  He  was  one  of  the  delegates  who  nominated  the  late  Presi- 
dent McKinley.  Colonel  McKnight  was  also  past  commander  of  Luke  May- 
field  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  a  representative  from  Illinois  to  the  National 
Encampment  at  Boston.  In  1893  he  was  again  selected  as  a  delegate  to  the 
annual  gathering  of  the  defenders  of  the  L'nion.  He  was  an  aid-de-camp  on 
the  staffs  of  both  Generals  Veazey  and  Palmer. 

In  May.  1866,  Colonel  McKnight  was  married  to  Virginia  A.  Boggess, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Barnabas  Boggess.  and  the  children  of  this 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  267 

union  were :  Walter,  deceased ;  Emma  P. ;  and  Robert  Wade,  who  is  post- 
master at  Girard. 

Colonel  ^IcKnight  was  taken  ill  se%eral  months  prior  to  his  decease,  and 
spent  some  time  at  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas,  in  the  hope  of  relief,  but  despite 
all  that  medical  science  could  do,  he  passed  away  shortly  after  his  return  to  his 
home  in  Girard.  The  annoimcement  of  his  funeral  brought  friends  from  all 
the  neighboring  towns  and  villages  and  messages  of  condolence  to  his  afflicted 
family,  from  many  States.  The  interment  was  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Knights  of  Pj-thias  and  die  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  both  organizations 
holding  him  in  the  highest  esteem.  Gen.  John  I.  Rinaker  of  the  latter  organi- 
zation, who  was  colonel  of  the  122nd  Reg.,  Illinois  \'ol.  Inf.,  delivered  an  ad- 
dress which  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  heard  his  glowing  tributes 
to  liis  friend  and  comrade,  in  which  he  testified  to  his  braver}-  as  a  soldier  and 
to  his  personal  worth  as  a  citizen,  husband  and  father.  The  Knights  of 
Pj-tliias  placed  upon  their  records  the  following  resolutions  which  we  are  per- 
mitted to  append : 

"Whereas,  It  has  pleased  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  Universe  to  call  from 
our  midst  our  worthy  brother.  Sargeant  McKnight,  an  honored,  faithful  and 
untiring  worker  in  our  noble  order,  the  founder  of  Hiawatha  Lodge  and  its 
first  Chancellor  Commander  and  first  representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  who 
departed  this  life  on  June  4,  1901,  and 

"Whereas,  While  we  must  yield  in  himible  submission  to  the  divine  decree, 
yet  through  die  misty  veil  of  earth's  sorrows  and  tears,  we  mourn  the  death 
of  one  who  was  ever  true  to  the  teachings  of  Friendship,  Charity  and  Benevo- 
lence.   Therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  brother  Sargeant  McKnight.  Hiawatha 
Lodge.  No.  124,  Knights  of  Pythias,  has  lost  an  invaluable  member,  the  family 
an  affectionate  husband  and  father,  the  community.  State  and  nation  a  useful 
citizen  and  gallant  soldier,  one  whom  the  people  and  those  in  authority  de- 
lighted to  honor,  and 

"Resolved,  That  while  we  keenly  feel  the  loss  of  our  esteemed  brother, 
we  tender  the  family  our  sincere  sympathy  in  their  sad  berea\ement.  Be  it 
further 

"Resolved,  That  we  furnish  his  family  with  a  copy  of  these  resolutions, 
and  that  they  be  placed  on  our  records,  also  a  copy  be  furnished  each  of  our 
cit\-  papers  for  publication.     Be  it  further 


268  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

"Resolved,  That  our  Charter  he  draped  in  mourning  for  a  period  of  thirty 
days  as  a  token  of  respect  for  our  departed  brother." 

This  is  signed  by  the  committee:  Frank  G.  Wood,  C.  W.  Birzele  and 
P.  O.  Wells. 

Col.  Sargeant  McKnight  was  a  high  minded,  loyal  hearted,  generous  man, 
and  his  memory  will  not  only  be  cherished  and  kept  green  by  his  devoted 
family  and  by  the  thinning  ranks  of  the  old  army  veterans,  but  also  by  the 
citizens  of  his  State  and  county,  as  one  of  the  best  representatives  of  their 
manhood,  patriotism,  intelligence  and  integrity. 


FREDERICK  G.  STORZ. 

Frederick  G.  Storz,  who  for  almost  a  quarter  century  was  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  Girard,  and  was  justly  considered  one  of  the 
city's  most  useful  and  successful  men,  was  born  at  Benningen,  Wurtemburg, 
Gennany,  September  22,  1851,  and  died  at  his  beautiful  home  in  Girard, 
August  23.  1893.  He  ^^'^s  the  youngest  member  of  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  his  parents,  Frederick  and  Ann  Marie  (Schober)  Storz. 

Frederick  Storz,  who  was  a  native  of  Wurtemburg,  spent  his  whole  life 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  native  land,  dying  in  1873.  ^ '^^ 
mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1865.  These  parents  were  not  possessed  of  a 
large  amount  of  worldly  goods,  but  they  were  able  to  educate  their  children, 
and  were  careful  that  all  should  learn  to  be  self  supporting.  While  all  grew 
to  maturity,  none  was  as  enterprising  as  our  subject,  he  being  the  only  one 
of  the  family  to  seek  and  find  fortune  in  America.  The  children  in  the  par- 
ental family  were  as  follows :  Freiderick,  Michael,  Ann  Marie,  Karl,  and 
Frederick  G.,  our  subject.  These  children  were  all  given  good  educations 
and  were  able  to  assume  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility. 

At  the  age  of  14  years,  Frederick  G.  Storz  apprenticed  himself  to  a 
baker  at  Ludwigsburg,  in  his  own  province,  with  whom  he  continued  until 
the  terms  of  the  agreement  were  complied  with,  and  then  worked  as  a 
journeyman  at  various  points  in  Germany.  He  worked  one  year  at  Heidel- 
berg and  then  returned  to  Ludwigsburg.     In  1872,  having  secured  enough 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  269 

capital  to  pay  his  passage  to  America,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  the  steamer 
"Neckar,"  and  as  soon  as  possible  joined  former  friends  who  were  then  liv- 
ing at  Springfield,  Illinois.  In  casting  about  for  the  best  place  in  which  to 
locate,  Mr.  Storz  selected  Virden,  then,  as  now,  a  flourishing  town,  and  en- 
gaged with  a  bakery  there  for  two  years.  He  then  removed  to  Girard,  and, 
while  employed  for  some  nine  months  at  various  occupations,  kept  looking 
about  and  considering  the  probabilities  of  success  in  the  bakery  line.  He 
finally  concluded  to  establish  a  first  class  bakery.  Later,  having  taken  in  a 
partner,  a  restaurant  was  added  to  the  bakery,  and  a  very  prosperous  period 
of  five  years  ensued.  In  1879  Mr.  Storz  bought  his  partner's  interest  and 
conducted  the  business  alone  until  December,  1889,  when  he  retired  from 
business  activity.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  a  stockholder  and  a 
director  of  the  People's  Bank  of  Girard,  and  it  was  one  of  his  buildings  that 
was  purchased  as  a  home  for  the  bank,  and  there  it  remains  today.  This 
seems  a  simple  record,  but  those  who  are  accustomed  to  study  the  causes  of 
men's  successes  and  failures  must  be  interested  and  impressed.  A  life  of  in- 
dustry, enterprise  and  honesty  secured  its  own  reward,  the  possession  of  a 
large  estate  earned  legitimately,  and  with  it  the  respect,  admiration  and  es- 
teem of  his  fellow  citizens.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Storz's  life  was  spent  in 
giving  attention  to  his  extensive  real  estate  holdings  in  Girard  and  the 
vicinity. 

On  December  16,  1879,  ]\Ir.  Storz  was  married  to  Lena  Schelb,  who 
was  bom  January  6,  i860,  in  Carlsruhe,  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden,  Germany, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Christina  (Kuebler)  Schelb,  who  came  to 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  from  their  native  land  in  1868.  This  estimable 
lady  still  survives,  with  a  son  and  daughter.  The  son,  Albert  W.  Storz,  born 
October  29,  1880,  is  a  bright  young  man  and  is  bookkeeper  for  the  Darling- 
ton Lumber  Company,  of  Girard.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Girard, 
spent  one  year  at  Blackburn  University  and  one  year  at  the  Dixon  (Illinois) 
Business  College.  The  daughter,  Mabel  C.  Storz,  born  January  6,  1885, 
received  her  education  in  the  Girard  public  schools  and  Monticello  Seminary, 
and  is  an  excellent  pianist.  The  beautiful  residence,  which  continues  to  be 
the  family  home,  was  erected  and  furnished  with  much  luxury  by  the  late 
Mr.  Storz.  It  was  always  his  delight  to  contribute  to  the  welfare  of  his 
family,  by  whom  he  was  beloved  and  reverenced.  He  gave  liberally  to  the 
support  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  long  had  mem- 
bership, his  widow  since  his  death  joining  tiie  Presbyterian  Church  on  ac- 

15 


2.-JO  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

count  of  there  being  no  Lutheran  Church  in  Girard  until  quite  recently.  I\Ir. 
Storz  was  fraternally  connected  with  Lodge  No.  192,  L  O.  O.  F.,  of  Girard, 
and  also  with  the  local  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias.  His  death  removed 
from  Girard  one  whose  honorable  and  successful  life  may  well  be  recalled 
as  an  example. 


ROBERT  D.  QUIGLEY. 

Robert  D.  Quigley,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  successful  stock 
raisers  of  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  section  30,  and  60 
acres  of  timber  land  in  sections  17  and  19,  Gillespie  township,  was  born 
October  18,  1832,  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  and  is  a  son  of  Hon.  William  and 
Eliza  (Somers)  Quigley. 

Hon.  William  Quigley,  father  of  Robert  D.,  was  at  one  time  mayor  of  the 
city  of  Mobile,  Alabama.  He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  was  the  eldest  son 
of  Daniel  Quigley,  of  Irish  extraction,  who  married  twice,  reared  seven  chil- 
dren, and  died  at  Mobile  at  the  age  of  75  years.  In  young  manhood  William 
Quigley  went  to  Philadelphia  and  there  learned  the  brick-mason's  trade,  and 
following  it  went  to  Mobile,  where  he  was  later  joined  by  his  father,  also  a 
mason.  \\'illiam  Quigley  became  a  large  builder  and  contractor  in  that  city 
and  for  many  years  held  the  position  of  city  engineer  there.  He  became  promi- 
nent in  Democratic  politics  and  was  elected  mayor  and,  had  not  an  early  death 
intervened,  would  probably  have  become  still  more  distinguished.  At  Camden, 
Xew  Jersey,  he  married  Eliza  Somers,  daughter  of  Isaac  Somers,  who  was  the 
inheritor  of  a  large,  still  unsettled,  estate  in  England.  The  children  born  to 
this  marriage  were:  Malcolm  and  Jefferson,  both  deceased;.  Mrs.  Cordelia 
Shackelford,  deceased;   Robert  D.,  and  George,  of  St.  Louis. 

Our  subject  was  bereft  of  his  father  when  but  four  years  of  age,  and  when 
18  years  old  he  accompanied  his  mother  and  younger  brother  to  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois.  Prior  to  this  he  had  enjoyed  high  school  advantages  and  had 
also  had  a  few  months  of  business  experience  in  the  cotton  commission  house  of 
McClennan  &  Company.  After  coming  to  Illinois,  he  entered  upon  farm  work 
and  has  continued  in  the  same  line  ever  since.  In  1857  he  settled  on  his 
present  place,  on  which  he  has  engaged  in  large  farming  operations  and  has  sue- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  271 

cessfully  raised  much  stock.  He  operates  entirely  with  high  grade  cattle  and 
stociv  and  gives  his  whole  attention  to  their  further  improvement. 

Mr.  Ouigley  was  married  June  7,  1855,  to  Mary  Parks,  who  was  born 
September  10,  1831,  in  Christian  County,  Kentucky,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
James  and  IMary  (Harlan)  Parks,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Augusta 
County  and  the  latter  in  Berkley  County,  Virginia.  They  came  from  Kentucky 
to  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County,  in  1833  and  Mr.  Parks  entered  over 
400  acres  of  land  in  Gillespie  and  Hilyard  townships.  Four  children  were 
born  to  ;\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Ouigley,  namely :  Walter,  who  married  Sarah  E.  Spill- 
man  and  lives  in  Pettis  County.  Missouri;  Robert  P.,  unmarried,  who  resides 
at  home:  Jessie  Cordelia,  who  resides  at  home;  and  Mary  Eliza,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  26  years. 

Mr.  Ouigley  is  an  outspoken  and  consistent  Republican  and  has  never 
voted  any  other  ticket,  supporting  that  party  even  when  only  one  of  three 
Republican  voters  in  the  township.  He  has  capably  filled  many  local  offices, 
has  been  h.ighway  commissioner,  ser\ing  three  years,  and  for  10  years  was  ap- 
pointed clerk  of  elections.  He  has  done  much  to  further  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion in  his  locality,  has  served  as  school  director  and  has  always  favored  pro- 
gressive movements.  W'ith  his  family,  Mr.  Ouigley  belongs  to  the  Presby- 
terian Church.     He  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  his  locality. 


MILTON  MITCHELL. 

Milton  Mitchell^  a  prominent  citizen  and  successful  farmer  as  well  as 
a  member  of  one  of  the  leading  families  of  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  well 
improved  farm  of  163  acres,  situated  in  sections  23  and  26,  Gillespie  town- 
ship, was  born  August  13,  1861,  in  Bn.ishy  Mound  township,  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  on  which  farm  he  lived  until  the  age  of  40  years.  He  is  a 
son  of  Rev.  Levi  and  Emily  (Brown)  Mitchell,  and  a  grandson  of  Elijah 
Mitchell. 

Elijah  Mitchell  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1800,  and  in  1827  came 
with  his  brother  to  Illinois  as  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Macoupin  County. 


272  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Elijah  Milcliell  accumulated  more  land  than  any  other  man  in  the  county 
and,  as  his  children  were  born,  he  deeded  to  each  one  a  farm,  thus  ensuring 
the  child's  future.  The  children  who  survived  infancy  were :  Mrs.  ^^lildred 
Moore,  who  died  in  2\iacoupin  County;  Levi;  Mrs.  Lucy  Scott,  who  reared  a 
large  family  all  of  whom  are  doing  well  in  Kansas;  Mrs.  Martha  Ann  Brown 
of  Corsiciana,  Texas;  Mrs.  Sally  Morgan  of  Missouri;  Mrs.  Jane  Carrico, 
who  died  in  Macoupin  County;  Mrs.  Phoebe  Pope,  who  died  in  Arkansas; 
Travis  Moore,  of  Honey  Point  township,  Macoupin  County;  William  T., 
of  Honey  Point  township,  Macoupin  County;  Elijah,  who  died  during  the 
Civil  \Var ;  Mrs.  Mary  Perrine,  of  Brushy  Mound  township.  Macoupin 
County;  Ansel  J.,  of  Arizona;  iVrchibald  H.,  of  Honey  Point  townsliip,  i\Ia- 
coupin  County ;  Mrs.  Matilda  Anderson,  who  died  in  Honey  Point  township, 
Macoupin  County;  Asa  Clinton,  Ira  and  Mrs.  Henrietta  Baughman,  of  Honey 
Point  township,  Macoupin  County;  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bull,  who  died  De- 
cember lo,  1868. 

Rev.  Levi  Mitchell  was  born  December  28.  1825,  at  Bowling  Green,  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  October  18,  1902,  at  San  Jose,  California,  where  he  had  re- 
sided for  the  preceding  1 5  years.  He  accompanied  his  parents  from  Kentucky, 
at  the  age  of  two  years  and  spent  the  greater  pari  of  his  life  in  Brusiiy 
Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  farming  and  raising  stock.  He  was  an 
ordained  minister  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and,  with  his  brother,  Travis  Moore 
Mitchell,  deeded  the  land  for  and  was  chief  promoter  in  the  building  of  the 
Honey  Creek  Baptist  Church.  He  was  much  valued  as  a  preacher  and  served 
as  moderator  for  the  Apple  Creek  Baptist  Association  for  a  considerable  period. 
He  was  opposed  to  the  liquor  traffic  and  in  late  life  left  the  Democratic  party 
to  support  the  Prohibition  party's  candidates  and  principles.  He  married 
Emily  Brown,  born  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  November  23,  1831,  who 
still  resides  at  San  Jose,  California.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Rowena  (Connors)  Brown.  The  surviving  members  of  their  family  are: 
Francis  Marion,  a  resident  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island;  Warren  L.,  of 
Table  Rock,  Nebraska;  Pauline  G.,  of  Antioch,  California;  Milton,  of  this 
sketch;  Arthur,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Eunice  V.,  of  Oakley,  California; 
Mrs.  Mary  B.  Johnson  of  San  Jose,  California;  three  are  deceased. 

Since  1901  Alilton  Mitchell  has  occupied  his  present  fine  farm  in  Gillespie 
township  and  has  most  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  the  breeding  of 
fine  stock  and  cattle.     He  owns  18  head  of  registered  Durham  and  Shorthorn 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  273 

cattle  and  has  a  herd  of  40  fine  specimens.  He  gives  considerable  attention 
to  the  raising  of  Poland-China  hogs  for  market,  raises  all  his  own  horses  and 
realizes  immense  crops  from  his  land,  making  features  of  hay  and  corn.  He 
has  one  of  the  finest  farms  of  the  locality,  well  improved  and  highly  stocked. 

On  April  24,  1888,  Mr.  Mitchell  was  married  to  Sarah  S.  Gross,  who 
was  bom  March  17,  1868,  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  William  Gross.  They  have  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely :  George 
]\I..  Roger  W..  Clarence  L..  Olive  G..  Harvey  G.,  Doris  B.  and  Elizabeth. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Mitchell  is  associated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  ancestors,  he  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  is  a  man  of  enterprise  and  possesses  many  of  the 
qualities  which  made  his  father  both  successful  and  universally  esteemed. 


JOSEPH  STUTZMAN. 

Joseph  Stctzmax,  senior  member  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Stutzman 
&  ThoiTipson,  of  Girard.  Illinois,  manufacturers  of  and  dealers  in  all  kinds 
of  harness  and  accessories,  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Macoupin  County.  He 
was  born  March  11,  1865,  on  his  father's  farm  near  Goshen.  Indiana,  and  is 
a  son  of  Aaron  D.  and  Catherine  (Cripe)  Stutzman.  The  father  resides  in 
Girard  township,  Macoupin  County. 

Mr.  Stutzman  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Christian  County,  Illinois, 
and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Girard  township,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  until  the  forming  of  his  present  business  partnership.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Democrat.     He  is  unmarried. 

In  February.  1904  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Hezekiah  J.  Thomp- 
son, who  was  born  August  23,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Hezekiah  Thompson,  of 
St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  Mr.  Thompson  learned  his  trade  in  Macoupin 
County  and  has  always  resided  here,  and  since  completing  his  apprenticeship, 
in  1889.  has  lived  in  either  \"irden  or  Girard.  Since  the  present  partnership 
was  formed,  the  business  has  made  a  very  satisfactory  showing.  A  large 
stock  of  all  kinds  of  harness  and  similar  goods  is  carried,  and  they  are  also 


274  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

manufacturers,  occupying  a  building  built  for  their  accommodation.    They 
command  a  large  local  trade. 

Mr.  Thompson  married  Susan  Gibson,  in  1891,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  Ruth,  Vena,  Reba  Arnola,  and  Farley  Lynn.  In  politics  he 
is  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party. 


WILLIAM  W.  VAN  WORMER,  M.  D.,  D.  D.  S. 

William  W.  Van  Wormer,  M.  D.,  D.  D.  S.,  of  Girard,  Illinois,  is  one 
of  the  prominent  young  professional  men  of  the  city,  a  graduate  in  both  medi- 
cine and  dentistry,  although  he  is  confining  his  efforts  to  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine and  surgery.  Dr.  Van  Wormer  was  born  April  30,  1878,  in  Christian 
County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  John  E.  and  Lucy  (Rutherford)  Van 
Wormer. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Van  Wormer  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  a  hotel  business  for  a  numl^er  of  years.  Dr.  Van 
Wormer  completed  the  common  and  high  school  course  at  Virden,  Illinois, 
and  then  entered  Marion  Sims  Beaumont  Medical  College,  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  There  he  graduated  in  the  dental  department  in  April,  1899.  re- 
ceiving at  that  time  a  gold  medal  for  proficiency.  He  continued  his  studies 
in  medicine  and  surgery  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1903, 
receiving  the  highest  honors  of  the  class.  He  located  for  practice  in  Girard, 
fitting  up  a  suite  of  six  rooms  very  elegantly  and  installing  all  modern  surgi- 
cal appliances,  making  his  quarters  the  best  equipped  in  the  county.  Although 
thoroughly  competent  in  both  dentistry  and  medicine,  he  has  devoted  his  at- 
tention solely  to  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery. 

Dr.  Van  Wormer  was  married  to  Edith  B.  Metcalf,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Charles  H.  Metcalf,  a  retired  capitalist  of  Girard.  One  son, 
Charles,  has  been  born  to  them.  They  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  both  are  prominent  socially. 

Dr.  Van  \\^ormer  continues  to  Ije  an  enthusiastic  student  of  the  great 
questions  of  medical  science  and  keeps  in  touch  with  all  the  wonderful  dis- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  275 

coveries  and  successful  experiments  which  lead  the  way  toward  still  greater 
accomplishment.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Medical  So- 
ciety, the  Macoupin  County  Medical  Society  as  well  as  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  bodies,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  and  the  ^Modern  W'oodmen  of 
America.  He  is  held  in  much  esteem  in  Girard  and  is  recognized  as  a  young 
physician  who  has  every  promise  of  a  very  brilliant  career  before  him. 


ERNEST    BRAUTIGAN. 

Ernest  Brautigan,  one  of  the  self  made  men,  prominent  citizens  and 
successful  farmers  of  Hilyard  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  owns  282 
acres  of  its  best  land,  located  in  sections  7,2  and  ^t,,  was  born  in  Saxony, 
Germany,  October  7,  1856.  His  parents  were  Frank  and  Christina 
(Starkey)   Brautigan. 

Frank  Brautigan  was  born  in  Germany,  September  20,  1829,  and  came 
to  America  in  1867,  being  followed  by  his  family  in  the  following  year.  By 
trade  he  was  a  carpenter.  His  death  occurred  in  IMacoupin  County,  Illinois, 
in  1891,  at  the  age  of  62  years.  His  wife  died  in  1881,  aged  48  years.  He 
identified  himself  with  the  Democratic  party.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a 
Lutheran.  The  children  of  Frank  and  Christina  Brautigan  were :  Ernest, 
of  this  sketch;  Frank,  deceased;  William,  of  Brighton  township;  Mrs.  Anna 
Lynsick,  of  Alton ;  Albert,  who  lives  with  his  brother  Ernest ;  ^Irs.  Emma 
Greenfield,  of  St.  Louis;  and  Charles,  of  Brighton  township. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  1 1  years  when  he  left  his  home  for  America 
and  easily  recalls  the  departure  of  the  family  from  the  city  of  Bremen  on  the 
sailing  ship  "Atolphine."  and  the  events  of  the  long  sea  voyage  of  70  days. 
This  ship  landed  its  passengers  at  the  port  of  Baltimore  and  our  subject, 
with  the  other  members  of  the  family,  proceeded  directly  to  Brighton, 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois.  He  has  remained  in  this  county  ever  since  and 
has  always  been  connected  with  farming  operations.  Beginning  as  a  helper 
on  farms,  by  saving  his  money  and  carefully  investing  it  he  became  a  land- 
owner, and  through  continued  industry,  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his 


276  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

locality.  In  addition  to  general  farming,  Mr.  Brautigan  started  a  dairy, 
and  also  made  plans  for  the  raising  of  fine  cattle.  His  present  herd  of  60 
head  of  Holsteins  can  not  be  excelled  in  the  county.  The  products  of  his 
dairy  command  high  prices.  It  must  give  Mr.  Brautigan  extreme  pleasure 
to  note  his  handsome  dwelling,  his  fine  barn,  which  is  one  of  the  largest  in 
Macoupin  County,  his  other  excellent  improvements,  and  to  realize  that  this 
property  has  been  accumulated  honestly,  through  his  own  efforts.  He  has 
never  given  much  attention  to  politics,  voting  regularly,  however,  with  the 
Democratic  party. 

In  1 88 1,  Mr.  Brautigan  was  married  to  Bertha  Haag,  who  was  born 
September  12,  1859,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Caroline  (Kurtz)  Haag, 
who  came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Madison  County,  Illinois.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Brautigan  have  two  children, — Lena  and  Edward. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Brautigan  is  a  ]\Iaster  Mason  and  belongs  to  Ship- 
man  Lodge,  No.  212,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Court  of  Honor.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  at  Shipman. 
He  has  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  has  become  expert  in 
the  tilling  of  the  soil  and  is  an  authority  on  the  breeding  of  first  class  cattle 
and  on  modern  dairying.  Personally  he  is  a  man  of  upright  character,  one 
who  is  respected  and  esteemed,  lx)th  as  a  neighbor  and  as  a  citizen. 


GREEN  E.  HILL,  M.  D. 

Green  E.  Hill,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  prominent  physicians  and  surgeons 
of  Macoupin  County,  has  been  a  resident  of  Girard  since  1898,  locating  in 
the  city  after  almost  a  decade  of  successful  practice  at  other  points.  Dr.  Hill 
was  born  December  24,  1862,  at  Middletown,  Logan  County,  Illinois,  and  is 
a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Green  and  Martha  (Caldwell)  Hill. 

The  Hill  family  is  of  Southern  antecedents,  the  late  Dr.  Hill  having 
been  born  in  181 3  in  Tennessee.  In  1854  he  came  to  Illinois  and  secured 
720  acres  of  land  in  Logan  County.  This  property  he  improved  and  re- 
tained, in  the  meantime  carrying  on  a  large  country  medical  practice,  his  ac- 
tivity ending  only  with  his  death,  w-hich  took  place  November  28,  1892.     A 


DANIEL  HUDDLKSTON. 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  279 

rather  remarkable  fact  is  that  his  five  sons  all  adopted  his  profession,  gradu- 
ated from  medical  institutions  and  are  all  eminent  practitioners. 

Dr.  Green  E.  Hill  passed  from  the  common  schools  to  Eureka  College, 
where  he  remained  a  student  through  1883.  1884  and  1885.  and  then  entered 
Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  and  was  graduated  from  that  widely 
known  institution,  in  1890.  In  1901  the  Doctor  took  a  post-graduate  course 
at  the  Chicago  Policlinic.  Dr.  Hill  located  first  at  Modesto.  Illinois,  and 
there  met  with  so  much  success  in  his  practice,  that  he  remained  seven 
years  and  then  removed  to  Lincoln,  Logan  County.  In  the  fall  of  1898, 
Dr.  Hill  established  himself  at  Girard,  securing  most  desirable  offices  on  the 
west  side  of  the  public  square  where  many  of  the  leading  professional  men 
are  located.  He  has  met  with  ven,'  satisfactory  encouragement  and  on 
many  occasions  has  shown  his  ability  as  a  physician  and  his  skill  as  a  sur- 
geon. He  takes  advantage  of  all  opportunities  for  increasing  his  medical 
knowledge,  and  belongs,  as  a  valued  and  useful  member,  to  the  Macoupin 
County  and  the  Illinois  State  Medical  societies  and  the  American  iledical 
Association;  he  attends  their  meetings  and  contributes  to  their  literature. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Dr.  Hill  married  Harriet  Miner,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
^Margaret  Miner.  Thomas  Miner  was  bom  in  New  Jersey,  and  resides 
near  Girard,  Macoupin  County.  Both  the  Doctor  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Christian  Church,  and  are  prominent  in  local  social  circles.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat. 


MRS.  RACHEL  HUDDLESTON. 

Mrs.  R-\chel  Huddleston,  who  owns  one  of  the  finest  farms  of  Macou- 
pin Count}-,  located  in  section  11.  Gillespie  township,  and  consisting  of  500 
acres,  was  bom  on  the  Big  Blue  River,  in  the  State  of  Indiana.  February  21, 
1824.  her  birth  taking  place  while  her  parents  were  migrating  from  Ken- 
tuck}'^  to  Indiana.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Julia  (Huddleston)  Hud- 
dleston. 

William  Huddleston.  father  of  our  subject,  was  probably  born  in  Ken- 
tuck}'  immediately  after  his  parents  had  removed  there  from  Virginia.     He 


28o  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

was  a  soil  of  Thomas  Kuddleston,  who  (Heu  in  Indiana,  where  he  was  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  and  where  he  left  a  large  number  of  descendants.  Thomas 
Huddleston's  children  were  lo  in  number:  William,  Allen,  John,  Thomas, 
Henry,  Daniel,  I\Iartha,  Malinda,  Rachel  and  Mary.  William,  the  eldest 
son,  served  as  a  private  in  the  War  of  1812  and  took  part  hi  the  battle  of  Xe^v 
Orleans,  but  he  never  accepted  a  pension  for  his  services.  Although  he  re- 
moved to  Indiana  poor  in  worldly  goods,  he  became  prosperous  and  left  his 
large  family  well  provided  for.  He  died  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  in  1845, 
aged  -i^  years.  He  was  a  man  of  exemplary  life  and  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  His  first  marriage  was  to 
his  first  cousin,  Julia  Huddleston,  wlio  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Huddleston.  The  nine  children  born  to  them  were :  Allen  ; 
j\Irs.  Maria  Hampton;  Mrs.  Julia  Netherton  of  Macoupin  County;  Mrs.  Mil- 
bey  McGovern:  Mrs.  Huddleston,  of  this  sketch;  John;  William  H.,  of  Kan- 
sas; Thomas  and  Louisa.  The  four  children  of  his  second  marriage  were: 
Stith,  of  California;  James,  of  California;  Charles,  of  De  W^itt  County:  and 
Samuel,  of  Texas. 

In  1838  our  subject  married  her  second  cousin,  Daniel  Huddleston,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary  (Roe)  Huddleston, 
who  had  two  other  children — Mrs.  Jane  Krider  and  Mrs.  Emily  Kinder. 
Thirteen  children  were  born  to  Mrs.  Huddleston,  as  follows :  Preston,  who  died 
aged  29  years;  Henry,  who  died  in  infancy;  Julia,  who  married  Amos  Rick- 
man — both  are  deceased;  John  \\'esley,  residing  on  the  home  farm,  who  has 
four  children — Daniel,  Rachel,  Florence  and  Viola;  Mrs.  Carrie  James,  a 
widow,  who  resides  with  her  mother — she  has  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Nettie 
Dodge,  of  Alton,  who  has  two  children,  Harold  and  Frank;  Mary  Jane,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  20  years ;  Jasper,  who  died  at  the  age  of  29  years,  survived 
by  three  children — Nina,  Mrs.  Josephine  Cryder  and  Mrs.  Viola  Corbett; 
Mrs.  Emma  Dugger  of  Pinkneyville,  Illinois,  who  has  three  children — Earl. 
Edna  and  Harrison;  Mrs.  Florence  Williams,  a  widow,  who  resides  on  a  farm 
in  Gillespie  township,  with  three  sons — Roy,  Ruby  and  Roland;  Susan  and 
Nina,  who  died  aged  two  years;  Luther,  who  died  aged  seven  years:  and 
Katherine,  who  died  in  infancy. 

'Sirs.  Huddleston  has  been  a  resident  of  IMacoupin  County  and  Gillespie 
township  since  she  was  six  years  of  age.    She  has  lived  through  many  vicissi- 


MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  281 


tudes  and  has  seen  many  wonderful  changes.    She  is  well  known  through  the 
district  of  her  home  and  is  most  highly  esteemed. 

A  portrait  of  Daniel  Huddleston,  our  subject's  husband,  accompanies  this 
sketch. 


NATHAN  R.   SMITH. 

Nathax  R.  Smith,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of 
Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  Countj-,  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  153 
acres  in  section  25  and  26,  is  also  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential  men 
of  his  township.  He  was  bom  December  5,  1838,  near  Carrollton,  Greene 
County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mar}-  (Chatham)  Smith. 

This  branch  of  the  great  Smith  family  is  of  Welsh  extraction.  The 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  his 
grandfather,  Nathan  Smith,  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  The  latter  had  five 
children :  Thomas,  Josqjh,  ilrs.  Elizabeth  Weeks :  Mrs.  Miranda  Newberry 
and  Mrs.  Lucy  Woodruflf,  all  of  whom  became  residents  of  Illinois. 

Thomas  Smith,  father  of  Nathan  R.  Smitli,  was  born  August  9.  18 13, 
in  North  Carolina,  near  Raleigh,  where  he  resided  until  1834,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Greene  County,  Illinois.  There  he  married  and  later  removed  to 
Madison  County  and  still  later  to  Macoupin  County,  dying  on  his  farm 
south  of  Staunton  in  1852.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  latter,  who  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  accompanied  her  parents  first  to  Kentuck}'  and  later  to  Illi- 
nois. She  became  the  devoted  and  beloved  mother  of  six  children :  Nathan 
R.,  of  this  sketch,  who  is  the  oldest;  Mrs.  Frances  Snell,  of  Staunton;  Jas-. 
per,  who  lives  with  our  subject;  Mrs.  Ellen  Sparks,  who  lives  near  Ed- 
wardsville,  Illinois :  Joseph,  superintendent  of  a  coal  mine  at  Staunton ;  and 
Mrs.  Margaret  Grant,  of  Edwardsville. 

Nathan  R.  Smith  was  an  infant  when  his  parents  moved  from  Greene 
to  Madison  County  and  was  four  years  old  when  they  came  to  Macoupin 
Countj',  which  has  been  his  home  e\er  since,  with  the  exception  of  three 
years  spent  in  Madison  Coimty.  He  has  always  followed  a  farming  life  and 
his  fine  farm  of  153  acres  testifies  to  his  ability.  He  located  on  it  in  1866 
and  has  made  stock  raising  a  feature,  giving  attention  only  to  the  best  grades 


282  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

of  cattle  and  hogs.  His  improvements  are  substantial  and  a  lately  erected 
fine  dwelling  and  commodious  barn  add  much  to  the  air  of  comfort  and  the 
prosperity  of  the  place.  He  has  a  fine  orchard  of  50  trees,  set  out  by  himself, 
which  are  in  good  bearing  at  the  present  time. 

In  1858  Mr.  Smith  married  Servilla  Walker,  who  was  born  in  Dor- 
chester township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  June  29,  1840,  a  daughter  of 
Aaron  and  Nancy  Walker,  natives  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  respectively,  who 
were  pioneers  in  this  section.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  had  three  children  born 
to  them,  viz :  Charles,  a  resident  of  Mitchell,  lillinois,  who  has  four  chil- 
dren,— Charles,  Donna,  Maggie  and  an  infant;  Thomas,  also  a  resident  of 
Mitchell,  who  has  three  children;  and  James,  who  is  also  a  resident  of 
Mitchell.  Mrs.  Smith  died  in  1874  and  in  the  following  year  Mr.  Smilii 
married  Hannah  Cornelius,  who  was  born  in  Dorchester  township,  Macou- 
pin County,  Illinois,  and  they  had  three  children :  Nathan,  of  Mitchell ;  Mrs. 
Dolly  Sawyer,  of  Staunton,  and  Cornelius,  who  lives  at  home.  The  mother 
of  this  family,  born  February  14,  1853,  died  April  21,  1897.  In  1900  Mr. 
Smith  married  Mrs.  Julia  Simmons,  daughter  of  Jacob  Perrine. 

For  the  past  30  years  Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  school  official,  for  16  years 
was  highway  commissioner,  has  been  four  times  elected  township  clerk  and 
has  been  supervisor  for  seven  years.  In  all  his  public  offices  he  has  been 
honest,  careful  and  economical  in  the  interests  of  the  townsliip.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  Master  Mason  in  Lodge  No.  177  and  a  Modern  Woodman  of  Amer- 
ica in  Lodge  No.  572,  both  of  Staunton. 


ALBERT  H.  SIMMONS,  M.  D. 

Albert  H.  Simmons,  M.  D.,  of  Girard,  Illinois,  bears  a  name  which 
has  been  held  in  esteem  and  almost  reverence  in  Macoupin  County  for 
many  years.  He  was  born  January  23,  1856,  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  and 
is  the  only  son  of  Dr.  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Bowersox)  Simmons,  the 
former  of  whom  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  as  well  as  one  of  the 
oldest  physicians  in  the  county. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  283 

The  Simmons  family  is  of  Swiss  ancestry,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject  having  been  born  in  Switzerland  in  1750.  He  came  to- America 
and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  his  son,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  1786.  The  latter  married  a  lady  of  Virginia  birth  and  they 
reared  a  family  of  which  the  senior  Dr.  Simmons  was  the  most  eminent 
member. 

Completing  his  literary  education  in  1853,  Dr.  Adam  Simmons  became 
interested  in  the  reform  medical  movement  which  led  him  to  attend  the  first 
lectures  of  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of  Cincinnati.  There  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  those  lights  of  Eclecticism,  Drs.  Howe,  Hannah  and  Scudder, 
and  W'as  graduated  at  the  institution  in  1865.  Dr.  Adam  Simmons  prac- 
ticed two  years  in  Wisconsin,  eight  years  in  Indiana  and  two  years  in  Ohio, 
prior  to  locating  permanently  at  Girard  in  1865.  Until  1899  Dr.  Adam  Sim- 
mons continued  to  practice  medicine  and  surgery  with  the  success  which 
attends  the  careful,  skillful  practitioner,  and  gained  a  reputation  which 
extended  all  over  the  State.  He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Eclectic 
organizations  over  the  country,  and  was  a  valued  member  of  the  State 
Eclectic  Medical  Society,  acting  many  years  as  secretary  for  the  same.  He 
is  much  beloved  in  Girard  where  he  is  passing  the  evening  of  life,  surrounded 
by  all  that  comforts  and  satisfies  honored  age.  His  three  children  are  the  son, 
who  so  successfully  has  carried  on  his  own  work  while  continuing  that  of  the 
father,  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Mrs.  E.  G.  McKinney,  of  Colorado;  and 
Mary  E.,  of  Girard,  Illinois. 

In  Dr.  Albert  H.  Simmons  is  found  ail  that  liljeral  education  supple- 
menting heredity,  and  enthusiasm  for  the  science,  could  produce  in  the  build- 
ing of  a  true  physician,  one  whose  thorough  knowledge  makes  him  sure  of 
his  ground,  and  whose  philanthropy  extends  as  a  beneficent  mantle  over  the 
undeserving  as  well  as  the  deserving.  On  June  8,  1882,  he  was  graduated  at 
the  American  Medical  College,  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  then  entered  upon 
an  association  with  his  father,  which  was  a  liberal  education  in  itself.  Since 
the  retirement  of  the  older  physician,  the  weight  and  responsibility  have 
been  entrely  with  the  successor,  this  being  particularly  great  on  account  of 
the  older  physician's  prominence.  The  demands  of  the  day  upon  a  physi- 
cian's time  are  many,  and  Dr.  Simmons  has  but  little  opportunity  to  take 
part  in  social  life,  his  energies  being  given  to  practice,  investigation  into 
scientific  discoveries  and  attendance  upon  the  sessions  of  various  leading 
medical  organizations. 


284  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Dr.  Albert  H.  Siinmons  married  Olive  L.  Fletcher,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Burwell  Fletcher,  one  of  the  progressive  and  prominent  citizens  of  Ma- 
coupin County.  They  have  two  sons, — Bayard  E.  and  Donald  F.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church.  Dr.  Simmons  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and 
is  politically  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


CHARLES  EDWARD  SMITH,  M.  D. 

Charles  Edward  Smith,  M.  D.,  who  for  many  years  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  medical  practitioners  in  Macoupin  County,  and  whose  name 
still  bears  weight  in  the  profession  he  adorned  so  long,  although  since  1902 
he  has  been  retired  from  active  service,  is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Palymra.  Dr.  Smith  comes  of  professional  ancestry,  and  was 
born  in  1829,  at  Catskill,  New  York,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Carlos  and  Susan 
(Saxon)  Smith,  and  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Ethan  Smith,  a  noted  Presbyterian 
divine  of  Vermont. 

Rev.  Carlos  Smith,  like  his  father,  became  a  distinguished  minister  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  graduated  from  Union  College  and  served 
in  charges  in  New  York  until  1836,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Painesville,  Ohio.  After  a  long  and  useful  fife  he  died  in  1877  ^t  Akron, 
where  he  was  survived  by  his  widow  until  1889. 

Dr.  Smith  was  reared  in  an  intellectual  atmosphere.  He  was  primarily 
educated  at  Painesville,  and  then  went  to  the  Western  Reserve  College  at 
Hudson.  While  his  ambition  and  inclination  did  not  lead  him  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  ministry,  they  did  incline  him  toward  a  professional  life,  and  he 
began  to  teach  school  and  also  study  the  elements  of  the  science  of  medi- 
cine, almost  as  soon  as  his  collegiate  career  closed.  Circumstances  led  him 
to  locate  in  Mississippi,  where  he  remained  from  1849  to  1854,  engaged  in 
teaching.  He  then  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  where  he 
attended  lectures  in  the  class  of  1854-55.  Dr.  Smith  located  for  two  years  at 
Palmyra,  and  then  removed  to  Nilwood,  but  in  1879  returned  to  Palmyra, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since.     After   20  years  of  arduous  practice  at 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  285 

Palmyra,  and  upon  recovery  from  a  serious  illness  brought  on  by  devotion  to 
the  calls  of  his  profession,  Dr.  Smith  decided  to  retire  from  active  work. 
His  people  were  so  loath  to  give  him  up,  that  he  delayed  his  actual  and 
final  retirement  until  1903,  making  his  last  professional  call  in  the  country, 
in  October  of  that  year.  The  old  ties,  so  close  between  patient  and  beloved 
and  trusted  physician,  were  hard  to  break.  There  were  many  homes  in 
Palmyra  and  vicinity  into  which  no  physician  other  than  Dr.  Smith  had 
been  called,  during  the  whole  term  of  his  professional  service. 

Dr.  Smith  was  married  in  1855  to  Jane  Gardner,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
W.  B.  Gardner,  a  well  known  farmer  of  Palmyra.  They  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  viz :  Susan  H.,  who  married  Samuel  L.  Smith,  now  of  Santa 
Rosa,  California,  and  they  have  these  children, — Charles  P.,  Ralph  R., 
Grace.  Wendell,  D.  \\^,  John  Dewitt,  Melvin  Roy  and  Hope;  Helen,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  Harriet,  who  died  at  the  age  of  23  years; 
]\Iary,  who  married  John  C.  O'Conner,  a  railroad  man  living  at  Pomona, 
California,  and  they  have  these  children— Charles  William,  Nettie  Gertrude, 
Mary  C,  Harriet  and  John  Lyndon;  Carlos,  who  died  at  Nilwood,  aged  four 
years;  Grace,  born  in  1867,  who  died  in  1888;  Lyndon  Edward,  who  died  in 
1883.  aged  13  years;  and  Lucy  Gertrude,  who  resides  in  Tuolumne  County, 
California.  Dr.  Smith  has  suffered  many  bereavements,  in  which  he  has 
had  the  sympathy  of  the  whole  community.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  in  March,  1885. 

Li  1892  Dr.  Smith  married  Martha  Solomon,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Judge  Lewis  and  Nancy  (Fink)  Solomon.  Judge  Solomon  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  of  Macoupin  County  for  a  number  of  years,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  one  of  the  oldest  residents.  He  was  born  April  i, 
1812,  in  Muhlenberg  County,  Kentucky,  and  was  a  son  of  Lewis  and  Sarah 
(Bowden)  Solomon;  the  latter  was  a  daughter  of  John  Bowden,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Franklin  County,  North  Carolina,  who  belonged  to  Marion's  gal- 
lant band  of  patriots,  noted  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  Li  1825  Lewis 
Solomon,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  accompanied  his  father  to  Morgan 
County,  Illinois,  and  in  1827  came  to  Macoupin  County.  In  1832  he  served 
three  months  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  under  Capt.  John  Harris.  He  settled 
as  a  farmer  in  North  Palmyra  township,  but  was  continually  called  upon  to 
serve  his  fellow  citizens  in  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  In  1852  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature;  from  1857  to  1861,  he  served  as  county 
judge,  at  the  close  of  this  term  being  elected  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 


286  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Convention.  In  1870,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  the  North 
Pahnyra  district  and  served  his  constituency  with  wisdom  and  honor.  A 
Mason  of  high  degree,  he  was  interred  with  the  ceremonies  of  the  order. 

Dr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  local  medical  organizations,  and  has  been 
a  Free  Mason  since  1851.     In  religions  belief  he  is  a  Methodist. 


♦  » » 


ROBERT  J.  MITCHELL,  M.  D. 

Robert  J.  Mitchell,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  oldest  as  also  one  of  the  most 
eminent  physicians  of  Girard,  Illinois,  was  born  on  a  farm,  near  Lancaster, 
Schuyler  County,  Missouri,  October  30,  1843,  and  is  one  of  the  three  sur- 
viving children  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Underwood)  Mitchell. 

Isaac  Mitchell  was  born  March  i,  181 5,  on  his  father's  farm  near 
Harby,  Nottinghamshire,  England,  and  was  a  son  of  Richard  and  Susanna 
(Clapman)  Mitchell,  the  latter  of  whom  died  January  16,  1841.  Of  their  10 
children,  Isaac  and  William  were  the  only  ones  to  come  to  America.  Will- 
iam located  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  anl  reared  a  family  of  five  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Isaac  was  the  younger  brother  and  he  also  located  in  Greene 
County,  where  he  engaged  in  farm  work  and  attended  school.  In  1841  he 
married  Sarah  Underwood,  who  was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Kentucky, 
August  12,  181 1,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Francis  and  Margaret  (Jarvis) 
Underwood,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Shropshire,  England,  August 
9,  1767.  He  came  to  America  as  an  officer  in  the  British  Army,  but,  never 
returning  to  his  native  land,  settled  in  Kentucky  and  in  1799  married  Mar- 
garet Jarvis.  She  was  torn  October  9,  1784,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Mary  Jarvis,  natives  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  who  settled  first  in  Westmore- 
land County,  Pennsylvania,  moved  then  to  Lafayette  County,  Kentucky,  and 
died  at  Troy,  Ohio.  In  1839  Francis  Underwood  came  to  Illinois,  settling 
on  a  farm  seven  miles  west  of  Carrollton,  where  he  purchased  land  whicli 
he  converted  into  one  of  the  fertile  farms  of  that  section,  and  there  he  died 
June  20,  1853,  the  death  of  his  widow  following  on  August  20,  i860.  They 
reared  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  After  his  marriage,  Isaac  Mitchell 
removed  to  Missouri  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Schuyler  County. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  2S7 

His  purchase  of  a  squatter's  claim  was  followed  later  by  purchase  from  the 
government.  A  half-completed  log  cabin  was  finished  by  Mr.  Mitchell,  and 
there  in  the  wilderness,  threatened  by  Indians  and  visited  by  the  wild  crea- 
tures of  the  forests,  this  enterprising  pioneer  and  his  courageous  young 
wife  began  domestic  life.  Conditions  were  hard,  hardships  were  continual 
and  deprivations  of  every  kind  were  accepted  as  inevitable.  In  those  days  no 
railroads  crossed  the  country,  the  nearest  market  was  75  miles  distant,  and 
the  only  means  of  transportation  was  up  and  down  the  Mississippi  River, 
which  then,  as  now,  rolled  its  great  yellow  waters  to  the  Gulf.  Despite  all 
drawbacks,  Mr.  Mitchell  developed  a  good  farm  and  reared  children  who 
have  inherited  his  energy  and  perseverance,  in  addition  to  his  admirable 
personal  characteristics.  Finally  he  decided  to  return  to  Illinois,  in  order  to 
give  these  children  better  educational  opportunities,  and  consequently  he 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Madison  County,  which  he  leased  for  eight  years.  In 
1873  he  retired  to  Girard,  where  he  lived  in  comfort  until  his  death.  The 
four  children  of  his  family  were :  William  F.,  a  noted  physician  located  at 
Lancaster,  Missouri;  John  M.,  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  2 1  St  Missouri  Infantry,  who  died  while  in  the  service  at  Memphis, 
Tennessee ;  Robert  J.,  of  this  sketch ;  and  Mary  J. 

Dr.  Mitchell  completed  his  literary  education  at  Shurtleff  College, 
Upper  Alton,  Illinois,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1869.  His  medical  read- 
ing was  pursued  under  the  direction  of  his  brother.  Dr.  W^illiam  Mitchell, 
and  he  then  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated with  high  honors  in  1871.  He  immediately  located  at  Girard,  and  is 
thus  the  second  oldest  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  city.  For  some  14 
months  Dr.  R.  S.  Cowan  was  associated  with  Dr.  Mitchell,  but  with  this 
exception  the  latter  has  practiced  alone.  In  addition  to  the  general  line  of 
practice.  Dr.  Mitchell  has,  through  scientific  study  and  experiment,  made 
something  of  a  specialty  of  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear,  and  his  success  in 
this  particular  line  has  added  to  an  already  eminent  professional  reputation. 
He  has  always  been  a  close  student  and  keeps  thoroughly  abreast  of  the 
times,  taking  advantage  of  membership  in  the  American  ^ledical  Associa- 
tion, the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  and  the  Macoupin  County  Medical 
Society.  The  last  named  organization,  which  is  one  of  vast  importance  in 
the  county,  was  organized  by  Dr.  Mitchell,  Dr.  Cowan  and  a  few  others  and 
reflects  credit  upon  their  progressiveness  and  their  professional  and  philan- 
thropic zeal. 

16 


288  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Dr.  Mitchell  was  married  April  23,  1873,  to  Julia  A.  Bennion,  who  is 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  Randle  Bennion,  a  native  of  Wales.  Two 
daughters  compose  the  household — JMabel  and  Anna  V.,  who  are  favorites 
in  Girard  society.     The  family  affiliate  with  the  Baptist  Church. 

Politically  Dr.  Mitchell  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  served  on  the  city 
council  and  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  has  been  active  in 
promoting  sanitary  measures  in  the  city.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Free  Mason, 
belonging  to  Girard  Lodge,  No.  171,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Chapter  No.  132, 
R.  A.  M.  Professionally,  socially  and  publicly,  Dr.  Mitchell  is  one  of  the 
representative  men  of  Girard. 


4 »» 


HON.  EDWARD  C.  KNOTTS. 

Hon.  Edward  C.  Knotts,  one  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of  Macoupin 
county  and  a  citizen  of  Carlinville,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  in  1S63,  and  comes  of  old  Virginia  and  Kentucky  ancestry. 

At  the  age  of  17  years,  he  entered  Blackburn  University  and  later  grad- 
uated from  Knox  College,  at  Galesburg,  Illinois.  After  leaving  college,  he 
was  employed  for  about  two  years  as  a  newspaper  writer,  and  then  returned 
to  Macoupin  county  and  taught  school  for  a  period  of  three  years,  during 
which  period  he  also  studied  law.  In  1889  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Illinois  and  opened  an  oflice  at  Girard,  where  he  remained  until  1903,  when 
he  removed  to  Carlinville.  In  1892  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  State's 
Attorney  of  Macoupin  county  and  during  his  term  of  office  distinguished 
himself  as  a  fearless  and  forceful  prosecutor.  From  1893  to  1895  he  held  the 
office  of  mayor  of  Girard,  and  won  an  enviable  reputation  by  his  strict 
adherence  to  official  duty.  At  the  September  term  of  the  circuit  court,  1903, 
he  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  Master  in  Chancery  of  Macoupin  county, 
by  Jutlge  Robert  B.  Shirley,  for  a  term  of  two  years,  and  his  conduct  in  such 
office  is  characteristic  of  the  man, — honest,  industrious,  careful  and  fearless. 

Mr.  Knotts  is  a  very  active  and  effective  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  the  county,  and  is  generally  regarded  by  his  party  asso- 
ciates as  one  of  the  best  campaign. speakers  in  the  State.  Though  active  in 
politics,  he  has  never  been  an  office  seeker,  and  such  offices  as  he  has  held 
have  come  to  him  in  recognition  of  his  party  service  and  eminent  fitness. 


MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  2B9 

He  is  the  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Knotts  &  Terrj',  and  is 
especially  strong  in  trials  before  juries.  It  may  be  truly  said  of  Mr.  Knotts 
that  he  is  a  self-made  man,  for  he  earned  the  means  by  farm  labor  with 
which  to  educate  himself,  and  then  taught  school  to  sustain  himself  while 
reading  law. 


JOHN  F.  AHRENS. 

John  F.  Ahrens,  a  prominent  and  respected  citizen  of  Gillespie,  JNIa- 
coupin  Covmt}',  where  he  is  postmaster,  was  bom  at  Staunton,  this  count}', 
^March  16,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  J.  and  Maria  M.   (Ruther)  Ahrens. 

Peter  J.  Ahrens  was  bom  in  Germany  about  1826,  and  came  to  America 
in  1848,  a  poor  boy  seeking  his  fortune.  He  was  educated  in  the  German 
schools  and  after  coming  to  this  coimtrj-  learned  the  English  language.  He 
engaged  in  a  mercantile  business  at  Staunton,  Illinois,  until  1856,  and  then 
retired  to  a  farm  until  1861,  in  which  year  he  resumed  his  former  business  at 
Staunton  which  he  continued  until  he  permanently  retired  in  1890,  selling 
his  business  to  his  son,  John  F.  ilr.  Ahrens  was  a  very  strong  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party  and  was  one  of  the  party's  three  adherents  in  the  town  at 
the  time  he  settled  in  Staunton.  He  was  a  man  of  such  upright  character  that 
his  fellow  citizens  elected  him  to  office  on  many  occasions  and  he  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  two  terms,  for  16  years  was  township  treasurer  and  for 
15  years  was  a  member  of  the  School  Board.  He  was  prominent  also  in  re- 
ligious matters  and  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Church,  to  v.hich  he  was  a 
liberal  contributor  and  of  which  he  was  a  regular  attendant.  At  the  time 
of  his  demise,  April  10,  1901,  he  left  a  large  estate  which  he  had  accumulated 
through  his  own  efforts.  He  married  Maria  M.  Ruther,  who  was  bom  near 
Hanover,  Germany,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Illinois.  They  had  10  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  the  six  survivors  being:  John  F. :  Mrs.  Christine  Golightly 
of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania;  George  C,  connected  with  the  Wabash  Rail- 
road at  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Karl  W.,  of  Gillespie,  Macoupin  Countj- ;  Fannie 
L.,  who  is  attending  a  commercial  college  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  and  Rosa 
L.,  also  a  student  in  a  business  college  at  St.  Louis,  who  had  been  connected 
with  the  Gillespie  post  office  for  four  years.     The  mother  of  this  family  died 


290  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

in  1902,  at  the  age  of  66  years.    She  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  a  woman  of  most  beautiful,  amiable  character. 

John  F.  Ahrens  completed  the  common  school  course  and  had  an  am- 
bition to  go  to  college,  which  his  father,  needing  his  services  at  home,  could  not 
gratify  at  that  time.  He  assisted  in  the  store  and  then  spent  10  years  on  the 
farm,  two  years  in  an  elevator  business  and  several  years  in  insurance  and 
other,  lines,  and  purchased  his  father's  mercantile  business  in  1890.  Prior  to 
this  he  had  served  four  years  as  deputy-sheriff  under  Sheriff  Davenport.  In 
politics  he  has  always  l)een  actively  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and 
has  faithfully  served  in  local  offices,  at  present  being  chairman  of  the  street 
commissioners  of  Gillespie.  For  12  years  he  was  a  notary  public,  and  since 
October,  1898,  he  has  been  the  popular  postmaster  of  Gillespie.  I'raternally 
Mr.  Ahrens  is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.     He  is  unmarried. 


CAPT.  REUBEN  O.  WOOD. 

Capt.  Reuben  O.  Wood,  one  of  the  leading  and  most  substantia!  farmers 
of  Macoupin  County,  residing  on  what  was  his  decertscd  father's  home  farm, 
consisting  of  330  acres,  situated  in  sections  16,  17,  20  and  21,  Bunker  Hill 
township,  was  born  on  this  farm,  November  30,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  Jona- 
than L.  and  Aurora  B.  (Foster)  Wood. 

Many  of  the  old  families  of  Macoupin  County  have  interesting  histories 
in  the  records  of  the  lives  of  their  ancestors,  who  have  taken  prominent  parts 
in  the  affairs  of  their  times.  Such  is  the  case  with  the  Wood  family.  Our 
subject's  great-grandfather,  Samuel  Wood,  was  born  in  England  and  came 
to  America  in  1754,  during  the  progress  of  the  French  and  Indian  War  and 
was  with  General  Washington  at  Fort  Duquesne  and  fought  under  the  same 
commander  in  the  Revolutionary  War;  tradition  says  that  at  one  time  he  was 
Washington's  private  secretary.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  lived  for  a 
number  of  years  in  Loudoun  County,  Virginia,  later  removed  to  North  Caro- 
lina and  thence  to  Washington  County,  Tennessee,  which  he  probably  helped 


MACOUPIN    COL'XTY.  291 

to  organize,  as  he  was  one  of  its  earliest  'justices  of  the  peace,  holding  his 
first  court  at  Jonesboro,  the  county  seat.  His  children  were :  William,  James, 
Samuel,  Thomas,  Abram,  George  and  John. 

Thomas  Wood,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Loudoun  County, 
Virginia,  in  1779,  moved  to  Kentucky  in  1805,  and  later  made  a  prospecting 
trip  to  Illinois,  where  he  entered  land.  Before  he  could  settle  here,  however, 
he  died,  in  1835,  aged  55  years.  Thus  Macoupin  County  lost  a  pioneer  of 
more  than  usual  worth,  a  n:an  of  substance  and  of  temperance  and  industry. 
He  loyally  assisted  General  Jackson  in  the  preparations  for  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans  in  181 5,  helping  to  dig  the  saltpetre  used  for  the  manufacture  of  the 
powder  which  made  the  old  rifles  of  the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  troops  do 
such  effective  work.  He  married  Mary  Bayless,  who  was  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  they  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters  lx)rn  to  them,  namely : 
Jonathan  L..  Reuben  B.,  William,  Mrs.  Annie  Cross,  Mrs.  Margaret  Camp- 
bell. ]\Irs.  Mary  Reneau  and  Mrs.  Meriba  Ewing. 

All  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Thomas  Wood  or  their  descendants  re- 
mained in  the  South  except  Jonathan  L.  Wood,  father  of  our  subject,  who  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Tennessee,  January  18,  1803.  and  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Cumberland  County.  Kentucky,  when  two  years  of  age.  re- 
maining there  until  26  years  old.  In  1829  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  followed 
his  trade  of  millwright  and  wagonmaker  at  Edwardsville,  Madison  County, 
for  one  year  and  in  the  spring  of  1830  entered  80  acres  of  land  in  Bunker  Hill 
township,  Macoupin  County.  He  later  increased  his  holdings  by  another  tract 
of  120  acres  and  subsequently  added  other  tracts.  Prior  to  settling  down  to 
work,  he  spent  one  year  at  his  books,  in  Shurtlefif  College,  at  Upper  Alton,  and 
then  entered  into  an  eight-year  contract,  from  1832  to  1840,  with  Elijah 
Lincoln,  a  noted  "boss"  millwright  and  contractor,  and  with  him  assisted  in  the 
building  of  some  of  the  largest  mills  in  Central  and  Southern  Illinois.  In 
1840  he  moved  to  the  present  Wood  homestead  and  built  a  wagonmaking  shop, 
which  still  stands,  with  the  old  tools.  Mr.  Wood  married  shortly  after  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  principally  in  farming,  and  died  here  in  1887. 
Until  1856  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  as  the  party  departed  from  its  old  ideals. 
he  saw  more  hope  for  the  country  in  the  Republican  party  then  coming  to  the 
front,  and  used  his  influence  in  assisting  in  its  organization  and  until  the  close 
of  his  life  voted  its  ticket.  He  belonged  to  the  old  State  militia,  and  held 
a  number  of  the  township  offices,  being  a  man  of  more  liberal  education  than 


292  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

many  of  his  associates.    He  was  a  member  of  the  Woodburn  Baptist  Church. 
He  was  married  December  5,  1840,  to  Aurora  B.  Foster,  who  was  born  in 
Oxford  County,  Maine,  September  5,  181 1,  and  now  resides  with  our  sub- 
ject at  the  advanced  age  of  92  years,  the  object  of  much  tender  care.     She 
recalls  the  journey  made  when  she  was  seven  years  of  age,  in  1819,  when  her 
father  settled  at  Alton,  Illinois,  and  of  taking  dinner  at  Edwardsville,  on  Wash- 
ington's birthday,  in  181 9.     Her,  father  drove  by  carriage  the  distance  from 
Maine  to  Pittsburg,  PennsyKania,   where  the   family  embarked  with   entire 
outfit  on  a  flat-boat,  which  took  them  to  Shawneetown,  Illinois,  where  they 
arrived  in  January,  1819.     Her  parents  were  Oliver  and  Hannah   (Eldred) 
Foster,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  and  the  latter  at 
Plymouth,  Massachusetts.    Both  died  at  Fosterburg,  Madison  County,  a  town 
named  in  honor  of  Oliver  Foster.    The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  were : 
Fmira,  ]\Iary,  Aurora  B.,  Lenora,  Rosaviva,  Oliver  P.,  Alonzo,  Eldred  J., 
Monroe  and  Micah.    The  last  named  makes  his  home  with  our  subject ;  he  has 
had  an  adventurous  life,  having  been  lost  to  the  family  for  some  45  years.    He 
crossed  the  plains  in  1859  to  Pike's  Peak,  Colorado,  and  engaged  in  freighting 
and  mining  and  afterward  in  ranching  in  California  and  Arizona,  in  the  last 
mentioned  occupation  being  much  annoyed  by  the  depredations  of  prowling 
Indians.     Finally  he  began  to  long  for  his  kindred  and  communicated  with 
them  in  May,  1903,  resulting  in  his  coming  home  and  finding  a  welcome  from 
his  two  aged  sisters,  and  other  relatives  that  still  survive. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  attended  the  local  schools. 
During  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  was  19  years  of  age,  on  May 
12,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  133rd  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Capt. 
G.  \y.  Dugger,  and  his  first  term  of  service  was  spent  in  doing  garrison  duty, 
gaurding  prisoners  of  war,  at  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  In  1865  he  reenlisted  in 
Company  G,  150th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Capt.  John  W.  Swift,  was 
sent  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  then  in  Tennessee  and  Georgia,  and  was 
mustered  out  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  January,  1866.  His  regiment  was  con- 
tinued in  service  in  the  South  during  the  reign  of  martial  law,  when  the  serv- 
ices of  the  soldiers  were  necessary  for  a  time  to  establish  order. 

After  his  return,  Captain  Wood  attended  the  local  schools  again  for  a 
season  and  then  entered  the  State  University  at  Urbana.  Champaign  County. 
Illinois,  w^here  he  was  graduated  with  honors  in  1872,  having  taken  the  agri- 
cultural and  military  courses  of  instruction,  by  reason  of  which  he  was  com- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  293 

missioned  a  captain  in  the  Illinois  State  militia.  Since  then  he  has  continned 
on  the  farm.  He  manages  a  body  of  land  which  is  well  tilled,  and  all  of  it  is 
scientifically  managed. 

In  1880  Captain  Wood  married  Eliza  J.  Howell,  who  was  born  in  Madi- 
son Connty,  Illinois,  and  is  a  flaughtcr  of  Benjamin  S.  and  Rose  Ann  (Silvers) 
Howell,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  New  Jersey  and  came  to  Madison  Connty 
in  1835,  and  died  at  Woodburn.  Captain  Wood's  only  brother,  T.  Granville 
Wood,  died  in  November,  1901,  leaving  four  children — Mrs.  Hannah  Elliot, 
of  Moberly,  Missouri;  and  Fred  R.,  Edna  and  Inez,  who  live  with  our  sub- 
ject— who  will  inherit  an  undivided  one-half  interest  in  their  grandfather's 
estate. 

Captain  Wood  is  a  Republic;m  in  his  political  belief  and  has  frequently 
been  called  upon  to  fill  township  offices.  He  has  been  township  assessor  and 
justice  of  the  peace  and  has  also  served  on  the  School  Board.  He  takes  great 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  belongs  to 
J.  M.  Hubbard  Post,  No.  721,  Department  of  Illinois,  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  at 
the  present  time  is  serving  as  quartermaster  of  the  post. 


STEPHEN  T.  CARMODY. 

Stephen  T.  Carmody^  one  of  the  large  farmers  and  representative  cit- 
izens of  South  Otter  township,  Macoupin  County,  resides  on  his  fine  farm  of 
220  acres  in  section  20,  upon  which  he  has  placed  many  substantial  improve- 
ments. He  was  born  December  25,  1861,  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  and  is 
a  son  of  Thomas  P.  and  "Margaret  (Malone)   Carmody. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  born  in  Ireland,  coming  to  Amer- 
ica about  1850.  They  married  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  but  in  1864  Mr. 
Carmody  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  his  son  now  resides.  He  became 
a  man  of  wealth  and  was  prominent  both  in  politics  and  the  church.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  his  land  aggregated  700  acres,  of  which  Mr.  Carmody  of 
this  sketch  owns  220  acres  and  the  balance  is  divided  with  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Thomas  P.  Carmody  died  in  1890,  aged  70  years.  His  widow,  aged 
^"j  years,  still  survives. 


294  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

In  1891,  our  subject  married  Alice  Pocklington,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Martin  and  Maria  (Brennan)  Pockhngton,  ihe  former  of  whom  was  a  well 
known  business  man  of  Carlinville,  where  he  carried  on  a  livery  business  for 
years.  His  death  occurred  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  60  years,  at  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri. He  is  survived  by  his  estimable  widow,  now  in  her  73d  year,  a  resi- 
dent of  our  subject's  household.  Two  children,  a  son  and  daughter,  have 
been  born  to  this  marriage:  Stephen  Eugene,  born  in  1899;  and  Catherine 
Madeline,  born  in  April,  1901. 

Mr.  Carmody  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat.     He  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

The  family  is  well  known  throughout  South  Otter  township  and  is 
much  respected.  In  addition  to  being  a  capital  farmer,  Mr.  Carmody  is  a 
progressive  and  enterprising  citizen. 


♦  »» 


CLARENCE  GRIMMETT. 

Clarence  Grimmett,  one  of  the  leading  business  citizens  of  Palmyra, 
Macoupin  County,  and  senior  member  of  the  mercantile  firm  of  Grimmett  & 
Waters,  was  born  in  North  Otter  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in 
1876,  and  is  a  son  of  Huson  and  Julia  (Allmond)  Grimmett. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Eastern  Tennessee  and  was  a  son 
of  John  C.  and  Martha  (Huson)  Grimmett,  who  came  to  Illinois  and  settled 
in  Macoupin  County  in  1850,  some  years  prior  to  the  Civil  War.  John  C. 
Grimmett  purchased  the  farm  in  North  Otter  township,  where  his  grandson 
was  born.  He  served  three  years  in  the  Civil  War  in  Company  E,  122nd 
Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  twice  wounded.  Six  children  were  Ixirn  to 
his  union  with  Martha  Huson  and  three  to  his  union  with  Elizabeth  Lair. 

Clarence  Grimmett  obtained  his  education  at  Mount  Moriah,  in  Scott- 
\ille  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  at  the  Palmyra  High  School,  com- 
pleting it  at  Bushnell,  Illinois.  He  then  engaged  in  school  teaching  and 
followed  the  profession  with  much  success  for  three  years,  mainly  in  North 
Palmyra  township.    On  September  6,  1899,  he  embarked  in  business,  opening 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  295 

a  store  for  the  sale  of  groceries  and  queensware,  at  Palmyra,  which  he 
managed  alone  until  October  i,  190J,  when  he  admitted  J.  G.  Waters  into 
partnership.  This  has  become  one  of  the  strongest  mercantile  houses  in 
Palmyra,  its  success  being  the  result  of  the  ability  and  enterprise  of  the  two 
partners  and  the  honorable  methods  they  have  pursued.  They  carry  a  large 
and  varied  stock,  selected  with  care  and  a  desire  to  meet  the  demands  of  the 
community,  and  their  constantly  expanding  trade  show's  the  confidence  and 
good  will  of  their  fellow  citizens. 

I\Ir.  Grimmett  is  fraternally  connectetd  with  the  Masons,  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Loyal  Americans.  Both  he  and  his  partner  are  prominent  members  of  the 
social  organization  known  as  the  Bachelor  Club.  In  politics  he  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party.  For  eight  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  He  has  shown  sound  judgment  as  a  business  man  and 
possesses  personal  attributes  which  attract  friendship  and  make  him  popular 
with  his  fellow-  citizens. 


ROBERT  S.  COWAN,  M.  D. 

The  high  professional  standing  as  well  as  the  long  residence  and  ex- 
cellent citizenship  of  Dr.  Robert  S.  Cowan  combine  to  make  of  him  one  of  the 
leading  and  representative  men  of  Girard,  Illinois,  which  has  been  his  home 
since  1869.  Dr.  Cowan  was  born  March  9.  1833,  in  Sullivan  County,  Tenn- 
essee, and  is  a  son  of  Hon.  George  R.  and  Mary  (May)  Cowan. 

Dr.  Cowman  comes  of  Revolutionary  ancestry,  and  his  famil}'  has  been  fre- 
quently distinguished  in  military  life.  Robert  Cowan,  his  paternal  grand- 
father, fought  under  General  Washington  and  belonged  to  that  daring  body  of 
patriots  who  crossed  the  Delaware  on  that  winter  night  and  attacked  and 
routed  the  Hessian  force.  After  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,' he  set- 
tled in  Virginia,  but  removed  later  to  the  more  genial  climate  of  Tennessee, 
and  died  on  his  plantations  there.  His  wife,  INIary  Rutledge,  was  of  South 
Carolina  birth  and  became  the  mother  of  five  sons:  James,  Andrew,  William, 
George  R.  and  John,  the  first  three  of  these  winning  military  laurels  under 
General  Jackson  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  in  1812. 


296  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Hon.  George  R.  Cowan,  father  of  Dr.  Cowan,  was  reared  in  Tennessee 
and  there  married  Mary  May,  who  was  born  in  that  State  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  Samuel  and  Katherine  (Shelby)  May,  the  former  of  whom  was  an 
eminent  physician  in  his  day.  In  his  youth  Judge  Cowan  learned  the  tanning 
business  which  he  conducted  for  some  years  at  Paperville,  Sullixan  County, 
Tennessee,  where  he  also  had  an  interest  in  a  paper  mill  and  in  other  manu- 
facturing enterprises.  Later  he  became  imbued  with  the  pioneering  spirit, 
which  is  responsible  for  the  settlement  and  civilization  of  every  portion  of  our 
country.  In  1838  he  went  to  Missouri,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  six  chil- 
dren. The  preparations  for  such  a  move  seem  to  us,  to-day,  with  convenience 
and  luxury  on  every  hand,  very  formidable,  and  excite  our  admiration  for  the 
courage  and  boldness  with  which  our  pioneer  ancestors  faced  unknown  con- 
ditions. Judge  Cowan  first  transported  his  family  ami  household,  wliich  in- 
cluded his  slaves  and  cattle,  to  a  flat-boat  on  which  they  floated  down  the 
Holston  River  to  its  junction  with  the  Ohio.  There  they  boarded  a  river 
steamboat  which  conveyed  them  to  the  Missouri  Ri\er.  up  which  they  advanced 
until  they  reached  Boonville,  Missouri.  They  selected  Polk  County  as  a  place 
of  settlement  and  there  and  in  other  contiguous  counties,  Judge  Cowan  en- 
tered large  tracts  of  land  which  he  improved  and  upon  which  he  resided  for 
some  years.  He  did  not  escape  some  of  the  lawlessness  which  long  prevailed 
in  some  parts  of  the  border,  and  he  finally  disposed  of  his  lioldings  in  Polk 
County  and  removed  to  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  also  owned  land,  and  there 
he  lived  until  1854.  He  was  made  Probate  judge  of  Polk  County,  Missouri, 
and  served  as  such  with  distinction  until  the  changed  conditions  induced  by  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  \\'ar  caused  him  to  retire  from  public  functions.  His 
de?dh  took  place  at  the  home  of  a  daughter,  at  Sarcoxie,  Jasper  County, 
Missouri,  January  i,  1874,  the  death  of  his  wife  having  occurred  September 
ID,  1852,  in  St.  Clair  County.  The  six  children  of  the  family  were:  Catherine, 
George,  Nancy,  Robert  S.,  Mary  and  Salina. 

Roljert  S.  Cowan  was  an  infant  wlien  his  parents  settled  in  Missouri,  and 
his  boyhood  was  spent  in  pioneer  surroundings.  One  of  the  great  disad- 
vantages incident  to  settlement  in  remote  regions  was  the  lack  of  educational 
facilities  for  the  children,  and  intelligent  parents  were  continually  concerned 
on  this  account.  Judge  Cowan  endeavored  to  overcome  this  trouble  by  build- 
ing a  school  house  on  his  own  property,  and  engaging  a  teacher  to  take  charge 
of   the  educating  of  his   little   flock.      There   the   eminent   subject   of   this 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  297 

biography  acquired  his  early  education,  which  he  completed  at  Ebenezer  Col- 
lege, a  ^Methodist  sciiool  of  note.  In  1854  he  tegan  the  study  of  medicine 
under  Dr.  Bow  les,  a  noted  physician  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  was  grad- 
uated at  Pope  College,  St.  Louis,  in  185S.  He  settled  first  in  Dade  County 
and  later  in  Newton  County,  Missouri,  where  he  w-as  engaged  in  practice  upon 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  He  proffered  his  services  and  was  accepted  as 
assistant  surgeon,  later  being  made  surgeon  of  the  3rd  Missouri  Cavalry, 
under  General  Price  of  the  Confederate  Army,  and  serving  with  the  greatest 
efificiency  and  devotion  for  three  years.  After  six  months  spent  in  Mexico, 
he  resided  in  New  Orleans  until  1865.  Coming  North,  Dr.  Cowan  located 
at  the  village  of  Nilwood,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  but  in  i86g  he  located 
permanently  at  Girard.  which  has  been  his  home  ever  since.  In  1874  he  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  Dr.  Robert  J.  Mitchell,  but  this  business  associa- 
tion was  discontinued,  with  mutual  esteem,   14  months  later. 

In  1854  Dr.  Cowan  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Weir,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Rev.  Samuel  and  ^lary  (Stevens)  Weir,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  promi- 
nent clerg}-man  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  children  of  this  union  are: 
George  R.,  a  practicing  physician  of  reputation  at  Joliet.  Illinois,  a  graduate 
of  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  and  his  father's  associate  until  the  spring 
of  1903;  Mrs.  Edward  McCoy  of  Springfield;  and  ]\Irs.  Grant  Adams  and 
Mrs.  Edward  V.  Way,  both  of  Macoupin  County. 


HOWELL  M.  DORSEY. 

Howell  M.  Dorsey,  one  of  the  extensive  farmers  of  ]\Iacoupin  County, 
owning  a  farm  of  620  acres  in  sections  35  and  36,  Gillespie  township,  80  acres 
in  Dorchester  township  and  a  one-half  interest  in  a  tract  of  873/2  acres  in 
Cahokia  township,  was  born  in  Gillespie  township.  January  29,  1866.  He 
is  a  son  of  \\^illiam  Montjoy  and  Henrietta  (Green)  Dorsey. 

The  Dorsey  family  is  a  prominent  one  in  Macoupin  County,  and  has 
numerous  members.  William  Montjoy  Dorsey  w'as  one  of  the  13  children 
of  Elias  Dorsey,  and  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Kentucky,  October  8, 
1823.    He  came  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  with  his  brother,  Benjamin  L., 


298  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  on  land  which  had  been  entered  by 
their  father,  who  owned  some  4,000  acres  of  land  in  Cahokia  township,  on  the 
site  of  the  present  coal  town  of  Benld.  After  his  marriage  in  1S55.  the 
brothers  dissolved  their  partnership,  but  William  continued  to  operate  a  large 
stock  farm  until  1867,  when  he  removed  to  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  led  a  retired 
life  until  his  death  March  13,  1902.  The  Dorsey  family  has  been  noted  for  its 
devotion  to  the  Democratic  party  and,  no  less  so,  to  the  Episcopal  Church. 

William  Montjoy  Dorsey  was  a  man  of  considerable  literary  ability  and 
enjoyed  his  favorite  1xx)ks  by  his  own  fire  side,  in  the  midst  of  his  family  to 
whom  he  was  devotedly  attached.  He  was  a  great  lover  of  Nature  and  en- 
joyed beautiful  landscapes  and  flowers  of  all  kinds.  At  Bunker  Hill  he  married 
Henrietta  Green,  who  was  born  in  Westchester  County.  New  York,  August  4, 
1828,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Stephen  and  Letitia  (Quick)  Green,  both 
natives  of  that  county.  Samuel  Green,  father  of  Captain  Green,  was  a  memljer 
of  the  famous  Revolutionary  family  of  the  name.  For  many  years  Captain 
Green  followed  the  sea.  Our  subject's  mother  died  at  Bunker  Hill,  March 
30,  1898,  a  woman  of  great  force  of  character  and  of  unusual  intellectual 
strength. 

Howell  M.  Dorsey  Tias  always  resided  in  Macoupin  County,  his  absence 
being  only  during  his  collegiate  course  at  Jacksonville,  after  completing  his 
academic  studies  at  Bunker  Hill.  After  his  marriage  he  took  possession  of 
his  present  large  farm  and  has  been  extensively  engaged  since  then  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising,  his  large  operations  in  the  latter  line  causing  his 
plnce  to  be  given  the  name  of  the  "Mont  Clare  Stock  Farm."  He  raises 
thoroughbred  draft  and  driving  horses,  keeping  20  head  and  has  60  head  of 
Durham  and  Shorthorn  cattle,  60  head  of  Poland-China  hogs  and  50  head 
of  Cotswold  sheep.  In  addition  to  raising  large  crops  of  wheat,  corn,  oats 
and  hay,  he  has  a  productive,  carefully  tended  ochard  of  200  apple  and  100 
pear  trees. 

On  DecemlxT  12.  1888.  Mr.  Dorsey  was  married  to  Christine  Stookey, 
who  was  lx)rn  at  Belleville.  Illinois.  May  5.  1867.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Simon 
J.  and  Sophia  J.  (Richmond)  Stookey.  During  the  Civil  War,  Simon  J. 
Stookev  was  a  captain  in  the  service.  He  was  bom  August  %.  1827,  in  St. 
Chir  County,  Illinois,  and  he  died  in  Missouri.  October  24.  1874.  His  wife 
was  born  March  16.  1840.  in  London.  England,  and  died  at  Belleville.  Tune 
25-  1874.     Three  children  have  l>een  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dorsev:  Clare 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  299 

Louise;  William  Montjoy;  and  Albert  Howell,  all  bom  in  the  home  where 
their  grandparents  first  went  to  housekeeping. 

In  both  religion  and  politics,  Mr.  Dorsey  follows  the  family  principles. 
He  is  a  man  held  in  very  high  esteem  in  his  section,  and  is  a  representative 
member  of  an  honorable  old  familv. 


ASAPH  H.  BARNES,  D.  D.  S. 

Among  the  leading  professional  men  of  Girard,  Illinois,  is  Dr.  Asaph 
H.  Barnes,  who  is  tlie  oldest  resident  dental  surgeon  in  the  city  and  possibly 
in  the  count)\  In  addition  he  is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  and  public 
spirited  citizens.  Dr.  Barnes  was  bom  September  8,  1S40,  near  Greenfield, 
New  Hampshire,  being  one  of  a  famil}'  of  10  children  bom  to  Nathan  and 
Sarah  (Evans)  Barnes. 

Although  Dr.  Barnes  comes  of  agricultural  ancestrj',  his  forefathers  hav- 
ing been  prosperous  farmers  in  his  native  State  for  generations,  he  verj-  early 
in  life  evinced  a  leaning  to  the  profession  in  which  he  has  attained  such  suc- 
cess. After  completing  the  common  school  course,  at  the  age  of  17  years  he 
obtained  his  father's  permission  to  leave  the  farm  and  enter  the  office  of  a  local 
dentist.  There  he  took  advantage  of  everj^  opportunity  to  read,  study  and 
obserse  concerning  the  science  in  which  he  was  so  much  interested,  and  thus, 
more  from  natural  aptness  than  from  any  teaching,  he  acquired  the  knowledge 
and  skill  which  enabled  him,  in  i860,  to  begin  practice  at  Bunker  Hill,  Ma- 
coupin Count}-,  Illinois.  After  one  year  during  which  he  had  met  with  suc- 
cess and  had  secured  the  confidence  of  the  public,  he  entered  the  army,  en- 
listing as  a  private  in  Company  A,  97th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  2nd  Brigade, 
2nd  Division,  13th  Army  Corps,  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  under  Col.  \'ictor 
Vifquin.  He  served  through  three  years  and  was  honorabl}-  discharged  July 
29,  1865,  after  participating  in  eight  serious  battles  and  enduring  the  hard- 
ships of  continual  campaigning.  A  wound  he  received  in  the  vicinit}-  of 
Algiers,  opposite  New  Orleans,  has  given  him  trouble  at  various  times  since, 
causing  him  to  resign  his  practice  in  1870  and  spend  a  year  in  an  open  air  life 
as  a  farmer,  with  considerable  profit  to  his  health.     Dr.  Barnes  returned  to 


300  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Bunker  Hill  after  the  war  and  resumed  his  practice  until  1870  when  he  went 
on  the  farm,  as  noted,  in  Mason  County,  where  he  farmed  until  1871  and  then 
practiced  dentistry  until  October,  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Girard.  He 
purchased  a  home  here,  within  a  half  block  of  the  public  square,  and  fitted  up 
othces  in  his  residence. 

Dr.  Barnes  was  married  October  16,  1868,  to  Mary  M.  Lancaster,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Francis  Lancaster,  who  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
farmers  and  citizens  of  Macoupin  County,  and  who  died  in  November,  1895, 
aged  82  years.  Mrs.  Lancaster  died  in  May,  1882,  aged  69  years.  The 
Lancaster  family  is  socially  a  promiivent  one  and  has  been  a  factor  in  the 
county  since  its  first  settlement.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Barnes  have  three  daughters, 
all  comfortably  settled  in  homes  of  their  own,  viz:  Lulu  M.,  wife  of  Charles 
G.  Woods,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Augusta  P.,  wife  of  James  Garretson  of 
Macoupin  County;  and  Minnie  M.,  wife  of  Charles  P.  Gibson,  also  of  Ma- 
coupin County.  Mrs.  Barnes  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
but  the  genial  Doctor  was  reared  in  the  Methodist  faith. 

Although  not  an  active  politician.  Dr.  Barnes  throws  all  his  intluencc  in 
the  direction  of  the  Prohibition  party.  His  membership  in  Luke  Mayheld 
Post,  No.  516,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  is  a  congenial  one,  and  there 
he  meets  comrades  of  other  days  who,  like  himself,  did  l)attle  for  a  country 
in  which  they  still  feel  an  interest  which  can  not  be  excelled  by  the  younger 
generation.  Dr.  Barnes  is  considered  one  of  the  most  successful  practitioners 
of  dental  surgery  in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  family  is  one  of  social  promi- 
nence and  his  home  is  a  center  of  hospitality. 


WILLIAM  JAMES  DONAHUE,  M.  D. 

William  James  Donahue,  M.  D.,  the  leading  physician  and  surgeon 
of  Hilyard  township,  Macoupin  County,  located  in  the  village  of  Plainview, 
is  prominently  identified  in  political,  business  and  social  circles  of  his  county. 
He  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  April  7,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Sarah  (Boyle)  Donahue. 

James  Donahue,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  County  Derry, 


MACOUPLX    COUNTY.  301 

Ireland,  August  i,  1829,  and  came  to  America  in  1849,  locating  at  Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Donahue  now  resides  on  his  farm  in  Hilyard  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  and  holds  a  high  position  among  the  prominent  agri- 
culturists of  this  county.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  Boyle,  who  was  also  a 
native  of  County  Derry,  Ireland.  Mrs.  Donahue  died  here  in  1888,  having 
reached  the  age  of  57  years.  She  was  survived  by  her  husband  and  eight 
children,  the  sons  and  daughters  being  named  as  follows:  Mary  (Maher), 
who  resides  at  Bunker  Hill,  Illinois;  William  J.,  whose  name  heads  this  brief 
notice;  Jennie  (Morrison),  a  resident  of  Hilyard  township;  Sarah  (Baird), 
of  Hilyard  township;  Fannie  (Dey),  a  resident  of  Hilyard  township;  Martha 
(Faragher),  who  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Arthur  B.,  who  resides  at 
Pekin,  Illinois,  and  who  is  employed  in  a  distillery  there;  and  Robert  J.,  who 
is  a  school  teacher  in  Hilyard  township. 

William  James  Donahue  was  three  years  of  age  when  his  parents  re- 
moved from  his  birthplace  to  Boonton,  Xew  Jersey,  where  they  li\ed  two 
years,  and  then  came  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois  and  here  our  subject  has 
remained  ever  since.  Dr.  Donahue  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's 
farm,  attending  the  common  schools  of  the  district.  Later  he  went  to  Val- 
paraiso, Indiana,  and  attended  the  State  Normal  School,  graduating  in  1882. 
Dr.  Donahue  then  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  at  Chicago,  attending  in  the  years  1882  and  1883.  Returning 
home,  he  engaged  as  a  school  teacher,  and  continued  in  that  occupation  until 
1893.  after  which  he  was  engaged  in  farm  work  for  three  years.  Entering 
Barnes  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis,  IMissouri,  after  two  years  of  study,  he 
received  his  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1898.  After  his  graduation  he  located  at 
Plainview  and  his  since  practiced  his  chosen  profession,  enjoying  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice  among  the  citizens  of  his  township.  In  fraternal  circles, 
Dr.  Donahue  is  a  ^ilason,  being  master  of  the  lodge  at  Plainview  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  chapter  at  Carlinville.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Court  of  Honor, 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  Mutual  Protective  League,  being  examining 
physician  for  the  three  mutual  benefit  insurance  societies  just  named.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  !NLicoupin  County  and  Illinois  State  ^Medical  Societies. 
Politically,  Dr.  Donahue  is  a  strong  upholder  of  Republican  principles,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  political  affairs  of  his  township,  having  held 
nearly  all  the  offices.  At  present  he  is  serving  as  treasurer,  a  position  he  has 
held  for  the  past  five  years.  He  was  chairman  of  the  last  iMacoupin  County 
Republican  Convention  and  secured  the  endorsement  of  the  convention  for 


302  BIOGRAPHIC.\L    RECORD 

his  nomination  as  minority  Representative.     Dr.  Donahue  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Macoupin  County  Repubhcan  Central  Committee. 

Dr.  Donahue  was  married  June  19,  1888,  to  Emma  Dey,  a  native  of 
Hilyard  township,  and  a  daughter  of  Wiliiam  and  Susan  Dey.  They  are 
the  parents  of  three  cliildren,  namely:  Jamie  C,  Edna  and  Earl.  Dr.  Don- 
ahue and  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


HUGH  F.  LOVELESS. 

Hugh  F.  Loveless,  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  farmers  of 
Bird  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  owns  a  very  productive  farm  of  510 
acres,  situated  in  section  26,  was  born  in  Bird  township  in  1843.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Jane  (Bell)  Loveless. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Loveless  were  both  bom  in  Tennessee,  the  father 
being  a  native  of  Blount  County  and  the  mother  of  Knox  County.  They 
resided  in  their  native  State  until  1841,  when  they  came  as  pioneers  into  ^Li- 
coupin  County,  settling  in  section  8,  Bird  township.  Here  Mr.  Loveless  cleared 
up  a  fine  farm,  reared  a  large  family  and  Ijecame  one  of  the  reliable,  sub- 
stantial men  of  his  time  in  the  locality.  His  useful  life  was  prolonged  to  the 
age  of  93  years,  his  death  occurring  July  9,  1900.  His  wife  died  December  i, 
1881,  when  in  her  71st  year.  They  reared  a  family  of  12  children,  nine  of 
whom  survive  them,  those  now  living  being  John  H.,  Samuel  L.,  Zeddock, 
William  J.,  George  W.,  Hugh,  Marj-  A.,  Marion  F.  and  Charles  M. 

Hugh  F.  Loveless  obtained  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Macoupin  County,  and  he  remained  on  the  homestead  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage. This  took  place  March  3,  1864,  at  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  to  Sarah  A. 
Sells.  Mrs.  Loveless  was  born  in  W^estern  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County, 
May  3,  1847,  the  fifth  member  of  a  family  of  nine  children  born  to  Michael 
and  Sarah  (Brown)  Sells.  Mr.  Sells  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania  and  his  wife 
in  Virginia.  Prior  to  coming  to  Macoupin  County  they  had  resided  in  Indiana. 
At  the  time  of  their  location  in  the  county,  pioneer  conditions  still  existed. 
They  located  first  in  Western  Mound  township,  removing  in   1864  to  Bird 


MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  303 

township  and  later  to  Xihvood  township,  where  Mr.  Sells  died  June  22,  1886, 
his  widow  surviving  him  until  December  4,  1898. 

^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Loveless  have  had  four  children,  namely :  Albert,  born 
January  9,  1865,  who  has  reared  two  children — Vena  O,  born  June  26,  1889, 
and  Sadie  C,  born  August  10,  1891 ;  Edgar  L.,  bom  March  10,  1872,  who  died 
July  24.  1876;  Francis  F.,  born  ]\Iay  28,  1879,  who  married  Jessie  I.  Arnett, 
bom  July  9,  1879,  who  is  a  daughter  of  John  Arnett  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Bird  township;  and  Cora  F.,  born  April  18,  1881,  who  resides  with  her 
parents. 

Mr.  Loveless  has  made  a  success  of  his  agricultural  enterprises  and  for 
a  number  of  years  has  been  considered  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his 
locality.  His  large  estate  has  been  accumulated  by  his  own  energ}'  and  ability 
and  is  a  valuable  piece  of  property.  In  the  near  future  Mr.  Loveless  plans  to 
remove  to  Carlinville  and  to  delegate  the  operation  of  the  farm  to  others.  For 
several  terms  he  has  served  as  school  director  and  at  present  is  a  school  trustee 
of  his  district.  In  politics  Mr.  Loveless  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party.  In  religious  views  he  is  a  Baptist,  a  member  of  the  congregation  of 
Shiloh  Church.  Mr.  Loveless  is  a  man  of  standing  in  his  neighborhood, 
thoroughly  respected  for  his  upright  character. 


4 « » 


FRANK  D.  ALLEN. 

Frank  D.  Allen,  junior  member  of  the  well  known  business  firm  of 
Bowersox  &  Allen,  of  Girard,  Illinois,  dealers  in  clothing  and  gents'  furnish- 
ing goods,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  citizens  of  the  northeastern  section  of 
Macoupin  County.  Mr.  Allen  was  bom  January  3,  1865,  and  is  one  of  a 
family  of  three  children  born  to  his  parents,  Jesse  L.  and  Rebecca  (Morrow) 
Allen. 

Jesse  L.  Allen  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  as  was  his  son.  There 
he  followed  a  milling  business  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  engaged  in  a 
grocerv'  business.  He  now  lives  retired. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  was  only  13  years  of 
age  when  he  started  out  for  himself,  becoming  a  clerk  in  the  dry  goods  house 

17 


304  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

of  Atwater  &  Pratt.  He  remained  with  this  firm  until  1S84,  when  he  made 
a  trip  to  the  West,  where  he  remained  two  years;  upon  his  return  he  settled 
at  Waverly,  from  which  point  he  later  moved  to  Girard,  to  become  manager  of 
the  Eureka  Mercantile  Company.  He  continued  in  this  position  until  1896, 
when  he  engaged  in  business  in  Chicago  for  a  year.  In  October,  1S97,  he 
returned  to  Girard.  His  father-in-law,  H.  Carr  of  the  firm  of  Carr  &  Bower- 
sox,  dying  in  November  of  that  year,  Mr.  Allen  took  charge  of  the  Carr  in- 
terests and  finally  in  February,  1901,  he  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  business 
and  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  firm  ever  since.  In  the  line  of  clothing 
and  gents'  furnishings,  this  house  carries  a  very  large  and  well  selected  stock 
which  is  noted  for  its  completeness  in  every  particular. 

In  politics  Mr.  Allen  is  a  Democrat  in  national  affairs,  but  in  local  mat- 
ters he  votes  according  to  his  judgment.  In  1900  he  was  elected  a  city  alder- 
man, and  was  re-elected  in  1902.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive,  public-spirited 
men  of  the  city. 

On  November  15,  1895,  Mr.  Allen  was  united  in  marriage  with  Eva  Carr, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Henry  Carr,  who  died  October  2-j.  1897.  Mr. 
Carr  was  a  very  prominent  citizen.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Allen,  the  one  survivor  being  Vera,  who  was  born  May  20,   1902. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Allen  is  identified  with  Waverly  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pvthias. 


HENRY  K.  YOUNG. 

Henry  K.  Young,  one  of  the  most  progressive  business  men  of  Ma- 
coupin County  is  prominently  identified  with  the  leading  contractors  of  his 
county  and  also  operates  a  large  planing  mill  at  Girard.  He  was  born  Sep- 
tember 24.  1851,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  11  children  born 
to  John  and  Susan  (Kaufman)  Young.  John  Young  was  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  he   followed  trucking  with  successful   results. 

Henry  K.  Young  came  to  Macoupin  County  in  1879  and  engaged  in  the 
contracting  business.  Proving  very  successful  at  that  occupation  and  accum- 
ulating sufficient  money,  he  built  a  planing  mill  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  which  was 
built  according  to  modern  methods  and  fitted  with  the  best  machinery.     Mr. 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  305 

Young  has  almost  continuousiy  operated  this  mill  since  he  built  it  and  at 
present  employs  three  men,  doing  general  contracting  work.  Politically  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Young  was  united  in  marriage  to  Susan  Hershey  and  13  children 
were  born  to  them.  ]Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  are  prominent  in  the  social  circles 
of  tlieir  community. 


WILLIAM    iCHELB,  Sr. 

William  Schelb^  Sr.,  of  Girard,  Illinois,  whose  long  and  honorable 
business  record,  and  whose  many  years  of  faithful  ser\'ice  in  the  city's  public 
life,  entitle  him  to  be  considered  a  thoroughly  representative  citizen,  was 
born  December  26,  1832,  in  the  town  of  Zachringen,  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden, 
Germany.  He  is  the  only  sur%-iving  son  of  Philip  and  Theresia  Schelb.  The 
father  was  a  wholesale  merchant  for  many  years  and  prominent  in  the  politi- 
cal and  social  circles  of  the  grand  duchy,  where  his  death  took  place  in  1864. 

According  to  the  provisions  of  the  German  law.  young  Schelb  was 
placed  in  school  at  the  age  of  six  years  and  remained  there  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  14  years.  His  parents  were  strong  Catholics  as  were  all  the 
people  of  that  section  of  the  countr\%  and  it  was  their  desire  that  William 
should  be  a  Catholic  priest  and  he  was  accordingly  sent  in  the  spring  of  1846 
to  the  archbishop  at  the  cit\-  of  Freiburg  for  his  theological  education.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  revolution  in  the  year  1848  in  Baden  and  some  of  the 
other  States,  the  seminar}'  was  closed  and  yoimg  Schelb  returned  home.  The 
father  at  that  time  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  and  with  a  party  that 
was  not  in  harmony  with  the  revolutionan.-  party  and  was  forced  to  leave  his 
home  and  seek  safet}-  in  Switzerland.  William  being  at  home  at  that  time 
went  with  his  father  and  it  was  there,  away  from  the  strong  church  influence 
and  among  philosophers,  free  men  and  free  thinkers,  that  he  too  breathed 
the  air  of  investigation  and  since  then  has  allowed  no  man  or  set  of  men  to 
do  his  thinking.  Filled  with  the  love  of  liberty  and  independence,  it  was  his 
desire  to  learn  a  trade  and  accordingly  he  was  taken  by  an  old  friend  of  his 
father,  who  was  a  very  fine  artist,  to  learn  the  painter's  trade.  The  contract 
■was  for  two  years  and  he  was  to  receive,  besides  instruction,  his  board  and 
S50  in  money.     At  the  expiration  of  the  two  years  he  rem.ained  with  this 


3o6  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

man  for  another  jear  for  which  he  received  good  pay.  He  returned  home 
in  the  year  185 1  and  after  some  three  months  rest  he  traveled  and  hunted  for 
work;  finding  it  with  but  httle  trouble,  he  worked  for  over  two  years  in  the 
city  of  Weinheim,  Baden.  By  the  German  rule  he  entered  the  regular  army 
in  April,  1853,  at  the  age  of  20  years,  in  the  Jager  Battalion  and  remained 
in  the  army  seven  years  or  until  April,  i860.  During  this  period  he  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  rank  of  orderly  sergeant,  and  on  two  occasions  received  medals 
of  gold  and  silver  for  his  services  and  many  times  good  prizes  for  fine  shoot- 
ing. Resigning  his  coinmission  as  orderly  sergeant,  he  followed  his  trade  as 
carriage  painter  and  entered  the  State  railroad  shops  at  Carlsruhe  as  man- 
ager of  the  car  painters  and  remained  there  for  eight  years. 

In  October,  1858,  Mr.  Schelb  was  united  in  wedlock  with  Christina 
Kuebler,  who  was  born  in  Unterderdingan,  Kingdom  of  Wurtemburg,  a 
daughter  of  ^^'illiam  Kuebler.  Mr.  Schelb  came  to  .\merica  in  the  year  1868 
and  located  in  Girard,  Illinois,  where  he  had  a  brother-in-law.  His  family  at 
that  time  consisted  of  his  wife  and  three  children — one  daughter  and  two 
sons:  Lena,  William,  Jr.,  and  Adolph  Robert.  Later,  in  1870,  a  son  was 
born  to  them  in  this  country — Ernest -F.  In  August,  1880,  Adolph  Robert 
died  at  the  age  of  16  years.  Lena  Schelb  married  the  late  Fred  G.  Storz.  of 
Girard,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  in  this  work.  The  two  surviving 
sons^^  William,  Jr.,  and  Ernest  F.,  now  carry  on  the  painting  business  that 
was  established  by  their  father  and  which  was  left  to  them  on  his  retirement 
a  short  time  ago.  Mrs.  Schelb  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  and  the  children  were  all  christened  in  that  church. 

Mr.  Schelb  cast  his  first  vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant  for  President  but 
ever  since  he  has  been  a  strict  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  in  high  standing  in 
Girard  Lodge,  No.  192,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  several  times  been  its  represen- 
tative in  the  Grand  Lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Encampment  and  is 
the  present  representative  in  the  Grand  Encampinent,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  was 
also  honored  by  his  brother  Odd  Fellows  w-ith  a  veteran's  jewel,  which  is  for 
his  membership  of  more  than  25  years  in  good  standing  in  his  order  and  for 
the  good  work  he  had  done  for  it.  He  was  elected  and  served  as  village  trus- 
tee of  Girard  and  after  it  became  a  city  he  was  elected  and  served  for  eight 
years  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  Resigning  that  position,  he  was  elected  for 
a  two-years  term  as  city  treasurer. 

Working  at  his  trade  in  this  country,  he  was  a  contractor  for  house 
painting  and  for  36  years  conducted  a  shop  where  he  did  carriage,  wagon, 


MACOUPIX    COUXTV.  307 

sign  and  other  fine  painting.  He  closed  this  successful  career  as  a  painter  on 
January  5,  1904,  when  at  the  age  of  71  years  he  retired  and  turned  the  busi- 
ness over  to  his  two  sons,  who  are  now  conducting  the  business. 

Mr.  Schelb  is  one  of  the  largest  real  estate  owners  in  Girard  and  is, 
in  fact,  considered  one  of  the  capitalists  of  Macoupin  County.  His  residence 
in  Girard  is  one  of  the  handsomest  and  is  also  one  of  the  most  hospitable,  for 
both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schelb  have  a  wide  circle  of  warm  friends.  Mr.  Schelb, 
although  about  -j^  years  of  age.  seems  hale  and  hearty  and  gives  promise  of 
manv  vears  of  usefulness  as  a  citizen  and  public  benefactor,  as  in  his  lodges 
and  in  his  home  city  his  advice  and  assistance  are  sought  by  his  brothers  and 
fellowmen. 


WALTER   B.  RICH.MOND. 

Walter  B.  Richmond,  who  was  bom  October  17.  1846,  in  Jackson- 
ville, Morgan  County,  Illinois,  is  a  son  of  Henrj-  and  Charlotte  B.  (Crane) 
Richmond  and  a  grandson  of  Jonathan  and  Barbara  (Burgett)  Richmond. 
John  Richmxond,  the  father  of  Jonathan,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
family  consisted  of  six  children,  namely:  Elinor;  Levi;  Jonathan;  John; 
Margaret:  and  Henry.  Jonathan  Richmond  moved  to  the  State  of  Ohio 
where  he  married  Barbara  Burgett  and  they  were  among  those  hardy  pioneers 
who  braved  imtold  privations  and  perils  among  the  cruel  and  inhuman 
red  men  to  assist  in  carving  that  noble  State  from  the  wild  and  barbarous 
condition  in  which  it  then  existed.  Among  the  brave  lives  sacrificed  before 
this  mission  was  accomplished  was  that  of  Martin  Burgett,  the  father  of 
Barbara,  who,  with  two  other  white  men.  was  surprised  by  the  Indians  on 
April  25,  1792.  The  two  companions  were  shot  and  instantly  killed  and 
Burgett  was  wounded  but  rather  than  fall  a  captive  to  the  savages  or  suffer 
them  to  earn,-  his  scalp  as  a  trophy  of  victor}-,  he  jumped  into  the  Miami 
River  and  was  drowned.  He  came  from  Kentuckj-  and  it  was  in  that  State 
that  Barbara  Avas  bom  in  1744.  She  died  in  1844  in  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
at  the  age  of  100  years.  The  children  of  Jonathan  and  Barbara  Richmond 
were:  Levi,  Elizabeth.  Simeon,  Margaret.  John,  Man,-,  Henrj-,  Martin,  Jona- 
than and  George. 


3o8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Henry  Richmond  was  born  in  Rlillville,  Butler  County,  Ohio,  May  i, 
1818,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker  at  Rossville,  that  county. 
He  was  married  October  24,  1841,  to  Charlotte  B.  Crane  and  three  years 
later  moved  to  Illinois,  first  locating  in  Morgan  County.  In  1847  he  moved 
with  his  family  to  Montgomery  County,  where  he  became  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  growth  of  the  community.  Here  he  carried  on  farming  but 
also  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  and  as  late  as  the  year  i860  he  was  called 
upon  to  make  the  coffins  and  take  charge  of  the  funerals  for  miles  around. 
He  erected  many  houses  in  Montgomery  County,  adding  carpentering  to  his 
trade  of  cabinet-maker,  and  was  known  as  a  reliable,  conscientious  workman. 
That  he  stood  high  in  the  opinion  of  his  neighbors  was  shown  by  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  him — a  confidence  that  was  never  betrayed.  He  was  the 
first  postmaster  of  Butler;  served  as  enrolling  officer  during  the  Civil  War; 
was  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years  and  represented  his  district  in  the 
Legislature.  He  was  a  man  of  uprightness  and  honor  who  refused  to  profit 
at  the  expense  of  another,  a  characteristic  repeatedly  demonstrated  in  his 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  When  two  belligerent  neighbors  came  to  him 
to  settle  their  troubles  in  court,  instead  of  taking  advantage  of  their  de- 
termination to  take  the  law  to  each  other  (and  thereby  pocketing  a  fee),  he 
always  counselled  an  amicable  settlement  and  by  far  the  greater  number  of 
his  cases  were  settled  out  of  court  and  no  charge  made  by  him  in  his  office 
of  peace-maker.  He  was  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow  and  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  lodge  of  that  order  organized  in  Hillslxjro  in  1849.  -^^  ^^75 
he  moved  to  Litchfield  which  was  his  home  imtil  1885  when  he  moved  to 
Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  October  27,  1895. 

Charlotte  B.  Crane  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Butler  County,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 28,  1 82 1,  and  was  the  eldest  child  of  Norris  and  Elizabeth  (Stanley) 
Crane.  Her  grandparents,  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Thompson)  Crane,  were 
natives  of  Xew  Jersey.  Their  children  were  John  R.,  Abigail.  Esther, 
Phoebe  H.,  Charlotte  W.,  Hezekiah  Thompson,  Norris,  Jacob  Thompson, 
Benjamin,  David  Thompson,  and  Moses  Thompson.  Norris  Crane  was  born 
March  10,  1799,  in  New  Jersey,  and  when  a  lad  of  11  years  went  with  the 
family  of  an  aunt  to  Ohio,  and  it  was  the  one  regret  of  his  life  that  he 
was  never  to  see  his  parents  again.  In  1820  he  was  joined  in  marriage  to 
Elizabeth  Stanley,  one  of  a  pair  of  twins  born  to  Isaac  and  Susan  (Neff)' 
Stanley.     Isaac  Stanley  was  a  native  of   South  Carolina  and   Susan   Neff 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  309 

Avas  born  in  Germany.  Her  twin  brother  was  drowned  during  childhood. 
The  children  of  Norris  and  Elizabeth  Crane  were :  Charoltte  B.,  mother  of  our 
subject;  Man,"  .\nn  (Mrs.  N.  Johnston),  deceased;  Isaac  Stanley,  a  resi- 
dent of  Missouri;  Needham,  a  resident  of  Illinois;  Jacob,  deceased;  Norris, 
a  resident  of  Illinois;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Rosetta,  a  resident  of  Illinois; 
Benjamin,  deceased:  Emma  C.  (Mrs.  John  Mitts),  deceased;  and  Susan 
(]Mrs.  James  Peter),  deceased.  Norris  Crane  was  a  merchant  and  also  a 
mason  in  Hamilton  where  he  was  well  known,  but  the  later  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  where  some  of  his  descendants 
still  live.  The  union  of  Henrj-  and  Charlotte  B.  (Crane)  Richmond  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  12  children,  five  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Of  this 
number  two  pair  were  twins,  one  of  each  pair  reaching  maturitj'.  Those 
reaching  adult  years  are  Norris  C,  William  J.,  Walter  B.,  our  subject, 
Needham,  George,  Edgar  and  Addie.  Edgar  died  September  2,  1902,  in  the 
prime  of  life.  He  possessed  to  quite  a  marked  degree  the  happy  faculty  of 
making  friends  and  wherever  he  lived  the  number  of  his  friends  was  only 
limited  by  the  number  of  his  acquaintances,  for  all  who  came  to  know  him 
were  drawn  to  him  by  bonds  of  esteem  and  affection.  Except  our  subject, 
and  George,  who  resides  in  Chicago,  all  the  children  live  in  Cedar  Rapids, 
Iov,-a,  where  the  mother  also  makes  her  home.  Although  in  her  84.th  year 
and  a  woman  who  has  done  more  than  her  share  of  active  labor,  she  insists  in 
taking  part  in  the  household  duties  and  says  she  is  worth  two  or  three  younger 
women.  She  is  a  woman  of  remarkable  endurance  and,  besides  rearing  her 
own  family,  cared  for  her  brothers  and  sisters  when  they  were  left  orphans 
and  has  also  cared  for  some  of  her  grandchildren.  She  enjoys  recounting 
her  experiences  of  the  long  ago  when  large  droves  of  deer  were  a  common 
sight  and  the  wolves  were  so  troublesome  that  it  was  necessar\'  to  enclose 
pigs  and  calves  in  tight  rail  pens  to  insure  their  safet}-  over  night. 

Walter  B.  Richmond  w-as  one  of  the  above  mentioned  twins.  His 
younger  years  were  spent  on  the  farm,  attending  school  in  the  log  school 
house  during  winter  while  in  spring  and  summer,  with  his  elder  brothers, 
he  followed  the  plow  as  it  was  drawn  over  the  fertile  prairie  by  the  oxen. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  in  the  shop  of  J.  C.  Gunning,  of 
Hillsboro,  becoming  proficient  in  even,-  department  of  the  business.  He  has 
always  shown  a  fearlessness  of  danger,  even  in  his  boyhood,  which  enabled 
him  to  control  the  wildest  horse — and  this  without  unkindness  to  the  ani- 


310 


BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mal — and  he  now  became  known,  far  and  near,  as  the  best  horseshoer  in  the 
country.  In  consequence  of  this  he  was  always  in  demand  and  the  vicious 
and  unruly  horses  were  pretty  certain  to  find  their  way  to  Richmond's  shop. 
His  first  shop  was  in  Butler  but  a  better  opening  being  offered  in  the  then  new 
village  of  Morrisonville,  Christian  County,  he  removed  to  that  place  and 
established  the  first  smithy  there.  He  was  married  May  7,  1872,  to  Jane 
Hawk  and  became  the  father  of  eight  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Those  living  are  as  follows :  Lottie,  Hattie,  Addie,  Gertie,  Henry 
and  Birdie. 


T.  H.  EDWARDS. 


T.  H.  Edwards,  proprietor  of  the  Staunton  Times,  an  eight-page,  six- 
column  weekly  publication  at  Staunton,  Illinois,  and  also  proprietor  of  the 
Warden  Nczvs,  an  eight-page,  five-column  weekly,  and  a  member  of  the  real 
estate  firm  of  Fisher  &  Edwards,  of  Staunton,  is  one  of  the  city's  busiest  and 
most  prominent  citizens.  Mr.  Edwards  was  born  at  Kelloe,  County  Durham, 
England,  September  3,  1S74,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Hannah  (Roberts) 
Edwards. 

David  Edwards  was  born  June  13,  1854,  and  his  wife,  March  i,  1848, 
both  in  England.  They  reside  in  Staunton,  where  Mr.  Edwards  is  machine 
boss  in  Mine  No.  7.  Six  children  were  born  to  them:  T.  H.;  John;  Anna; 
Samuel  G. ;  Mary  and  Charles  E. 

Our  subject  was  five  years  of  age,  when  lie  sailed  with  his  parents  from 
Manchester,  England,  for  New  York.  The  family  proceeded  immediately 
to  Belleville,  Illinois,  and  two  years  later,  in  1881,  moved  to  Staunton.  Leav- 
ing school  at  the  age  of  15,  Mr.  Edwards  spent  a  few  months  clerking  in  a 
drug  store.  On  July  30,  1890,  he  started  as  "devil"  in  the  printing  office  of 
the  Staunton  Times,  a  paper  which  was  started  in  1879  and  was  then  under 
the  management  of  Fred  L.  Blome.  Here  Mr.  Edwards  learned  the  trade 
and  continued  until  1895,  when  he  took  a  little  vacation,  making  a  bicycle 
trip  to  Alanta.  Georgia,  where  he  enjoyed  the  exposition.  He  easily  covered 
the  700  miles,  but  returned  by  railroad,  via  New  Orleans  and  up  the  Mississ- 
ippi river.     On  January  13,  1896,  he  purchased  the  office  and  good  will  of 


PS 

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MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  313 

the  Times,  which  he  conducted  alone  until  July.  1902,  when  he  sold  a  half  in- 
terest to  his  brother.  John  J.  Together  they  established  the  JVordai  Xezcs, 
in  Mav.  1903.  Both  these  publications  have  met  with  deserved  success  and 
are  independent  in  politics.  The  business  is  well  managed,  a  well  equipped 
job  office  being  one  of  its  features. 

On  May  8.  1901,  Mr.  Edwards  was  married  to  Marion  Elizabeth  Blair, 
who  graduated  from  the  Beethoven  Conservator)-  of  INIusic,  and  conducted 
a  class  in  music  at  Staunton,  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  politics.  Mr.  Edwards  is  a  Republican  and  has  ser\-ed  the  city  as 
treasurer  for  two  years.  Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  the  Masons, 
Knights  of  Pj-thias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


ISAAC  .A.  FL'NDERBURK. 

Isaac  A.  Fuxderburk,  who  is  the  oldest  citizen  of  Dorchester  township, 
Macoupin  County,  to  which  he  came  as  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  in  1830, 
was  bom  in  the  vicinity  of  Lancaster,  South  Carolina.  April  18,  1822.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  F.  and  Rachel  (Laney)  Funderburk. 

The  Funderburk  family  originated  in  Germany  and  there  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  venerable  subject  was  born,  in  the  city  of  Leipsic;  when  he  came 
in  very  early  days  to  .\merica,  he  settled  on  a  plantation  near  Lancaster, 
Lancaster  Coimty,  South  Carolina.  He  reared  a  family  of  12  children,  all  of 
whom,  with  the  exception  of  one,  lived  to  exceed  So  years.  Two  of  his  sons 
served  seven  years  and  one  three  months,  in  the  colonial  army.  John  Funder- 
burk. his  eldest  son.  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  served  seven  years  in  the 
Revolutionarj-  Army  and  removed  in  advanced  age  to  Rome,  Georgia,  where 
he  died,  at  the  age  of  96  years.  He  married  Mar\-  Larriman,  who  was  born  in 
Yorkshire.  England.  They  had  three  children:  John  F.  and  Daniel  (twins) 
and  Isaac.     Daniel  Funderburk  served  all  through  the  \\'ar  of  1812. 

John  F.  Funderburk  was  born  in  1786,  near  Lancaster,  South  Carolina, 
and  died  on  the  present  farm  of  our  subject  at  the  age  of  84  years  and  was 
buried  in  the  Funderburk  Cemeterv.    He  was  a  "Minute  Man"  in  South  Caro- 


314  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

lina  during  the  War  of  1812.  He  married  Rachel  Laney,  who  was  born  in 
South  CaroHna,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Titus  and  Christine  Laney,  the  former 
of  whom  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject,  the  youngest,  is  the  only  survivor.  In  April, 
1828,  he  started  with  his  family  to  drive  to  Illinois,  to  make  a  new  home  in 
the  far  W^est,  and  readied  Olive  township,  Madison  County,  November  14, 
1828,  after  having  been  detained  three  months  by  sickness  in  Madison  County, 
Tennessee,  while  passing  through  that  State.  They  remained  in  Madison 
County,  Illinois,  until  March  i,  1830,  when  they  settled  in  Dorchester  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  building  the  second  cabin  in  the  township.  No  land 
had  yet  been  entered  either  in  this  or  Bunker  Hill  township  although  within 
the  following  few  years  many  others  came.  As  the  family  was  obliged  to  sub- 
sist principally  on  game,  which  was  plentiful,  Mr.  Funderburk  became  a  great 
hunter.  He  was  much  respected  for  his  fine  traits  of  character  and  did  much 
to  preserve  order  in  the  newly  settled  region,  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace 
and  in  other  capacities,  having  an  education  superior  to  many  of  his  neighbors. 
Formerly  a  Methodist  he  became  a  supporter  of  the  Christian  Clnnxh  in  Dor- 
chester township. 

Isaac  A.  Funderburk  was  eight  years  old  when  he  removed  in  1830  with 
the  family  to  his  present  home — the  farm  of  53  acres  in  section  34,  having  on 
it  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  Dorchester  township,  which  farm  was  deeded 
to  him  in  1848.  He  also  owns  an  adjoining  tract  on  the  west  of  40  acres — the 
southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  34 — which  was  a  Black 
Hawk  War  land  grant,  which  he  purchased  from  John  Pifer,  paying  two  $20 
gold  pieces  for  it ;  and  40  acres  joining  his  other  property  on  the  west,  which 
he  added  later — this  tract  is  described  as  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  33.  In  all,  therefore,  he  owns  133  acres  lying  in  one 
piece,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  and  nearly  five-sixths  of  a  mile  long.  Until 
1856  Mr.  Funderburk  resided  in  a  small  log  cabin,  18  by  16  feet  in  dimensions, 
but  that  long  since,  with  other  pioneer  structures,  has  passed  away.  He  went 
through  with  all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life  here.  He  can  recall 
the  abundance  of  game  and  the  constant  sight  of  wild  animals  and  recalls  when 
Black  Hawk's  Indians  passed  by  his  home,  500  strong.  In  those  days  the 
winters  were  spent  by  all  members  of  the  household  in  grating  corn  to  be  made 
into  hominy,  as  the  nearest  mill  was  50  miles  away,  at  the  mouth  of  Cahokia 
creek.    The  nearest  post  office  was  18  miles  distant,  at  Edwardsville,  and  the 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY, 


0^0 


nearest  market  was  St.  Louis.  Many  of  the  changes  in  this  neighborhood 
have  come  about  through  ^Ir.  Funderburk's  influence,  as  he  has  always  worked 
for  the  best  interests  of  his  township,  although  he  has  never  consented  to  hold 
office.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig  in  early  days,  but  is  now  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Henry  Clay.  Since  1849  he  has 
been  a  Master  Mason  and  belongs  to  Staunton  Lodge,  No.  177. 

On  ilarch  22,  1853.  Mr.  Funderburk  was  married  to  Clarissa  Jane  Dig- 
man,  who  was  bom  April  27,  1830,  in  Rush  County,  Indiana,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Absalom  and  Lucretia  (ilcCann)  Digman,  natives  of  Mrginia 
and  Pennsylvania,  respectively,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1842.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fimderburk  had  10  children  born  to  them,  those  who  reached  maturity  being: 
Mar)-  Alice,  who  married  W.  F.  Kell,  of  Sedalia,  Missouri,  and  has  eight  chil- 
dren :  Sarah  Ellen,  widow  of  William  F.  Funderburk,  a  distant  relative,  who 
died  in  1888,  at  Sedalia,  ^lissouri,  aged  46  years;  William  L.,  who  lives  at 
home;  Henry,  who  was  accidentally  drowned  at  the  age  of  21  years;  Hester 
L.,  who  married  Thomas  B.  Funderburk  of  Springfield.  Illinois,  and  has  two 
children;  Thomas  W.,  who  manages  the  home  farm;  and  Nettie  C,  who  re- 
sides at  home. 

Mr.  Funderburk  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which 
he  is  a  trustee,  while  his  wife  is  equally  valued  in  the  Baptist  Church.  Both 
have  been  acti\e  in  church  work  and  ha\e  many  friends  who  know  how  much 
good  they  have  accomplished. 


DAVID  W.  PINKERTON. 

David  W'.  Pinkerton^  a  general  farmer,  fruit  grower  and  bee  keeper  of 
Macoupin  County,  located  in  section  ■^2,  North  Palmyra  township,  was  born 
in  Bird  township,  ^lacoupin  County,  in  March,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Jane  (Huskey)  Pinkerton,  and  a  grandson  of  David  Pinkerton,  who 
came  to  Illinois  from  Ohio,  after  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  in  which  he  had 
taken  part,  and  settled  first  in  Greene  County. 

Henn,-   Pinkerton   was  born   in   Ohio  and  accompanied   his  parents  to 


^^"T^"  •*.!  ■  I »»..■.»,.    -  •  ••  - 


3i6  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Illinois.  He  had  only  limited  school  advantages,  but  became  proficient 
enough  to  teach  school  in  his  neighborhood.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  from  which  he  returned  unhurt.  His  wife,  Jane  Huskey,  was 
born  in  Alabama  and  accompanied  her  parents  to  Illinois  in  childhood.  Mr. 
Pinkerton  and  wife  removed  to  Iowa  in  the  fall  of  1843.  ^^^t  returned  to  Illi- 
nois in  1848  and  settled  on  our  subject's  present  farm,  to  which  Mrs.  Pinker- 
ton  had  fallen  heir.  Henry  Pinkerton  died  while  his  son  David  was  still  too 
small  to  effectively  use  the  plow,  but  his  widow  survived  until  her  81  st  year, 
dying  December  10,  1895. 

David  W.  Pinkerton,  named  for  his  paternal  grandfather,  obtained 
his  education  in  the  district  schools.  That  he  was  a  model  pupil  in  childhood 
is  shown  by  a  certificate,  which  his  children  highly  prize,  and  which  reads  as 
follows:  "This  is  to  certify  that  David  Pinkerton  has  attended  my  school 
for  the  last  three  months,  and  for  his  good  behavior  and  the  progress  he  has 
made  in  learning,  he  merits  my  love  and  esteem."  This  interesting  docu- 
ment is  signed  by  Eliza  J-  Richardson  and  is  dated  August  10,  1849.  Upon 
the  return  of  the  family  to  Illinois,  he  again  attended  school  until  the  death  of 
his  father,  and  worked  on  his  mother's  farm  until  he  enlisted  in  the  Union 
Army.  On  August  13.  1862,  he  entered  Company  B,  I22d  Reg..  Illinois 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Mobile.  Alabama,  July  15. 
1865.  Like  iiis  father  and  grandfather,  Mr.  Pinkerton  was  a  brave  and  loyal 
soldier.  He  participated  in  these  battles :  Trenton,  Tennessee,  where  he  suf- 
fered capture  and  imprisonment  for  eight  months;  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  July 
14,  1864;  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  15  and  16,  1864;  and  Blakely, 
Alabama,  April  9,  1865.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  that  body  of  brave 
men,  each  year  growing  smaller,  who  gave  their  best  years  to  the  service  of 
their  country  and  who  deserve  the  respect  and  gratitude  of  the  present  and 
succeeding  generations. 

In  1869  Mr.  Pinkerton  married  Mary  A.  Crum,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Eli  Crum,  a  farmer  of  South  Palmyra  township,  Macoupin  County.  Mrs. 
Pinkerton  died  August  7.  1887.  aged  42  years.  Their  seven  children  were: 
Luther,  born  in  1870.  a  farmer  of  North  Palmyra  township,  who  married 
Amy  Hanshaw  and  has  one  child — Helen;  Maud,  born  November  20,  1871, 
who  died  July  18.  1887;  Mary,  bom  April  14,  1873,  who  died  September  4, 
1887;  Eli,  born  April  20,  1875,  who  died  April  14.  1895;  Eugene,  born  Jan- 
uary 18,  1876,  who  assists  his  father  on  the  home  farm:  Amy  A.,  born  Jan- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  317 

uary  15,  1881,  who  is  now  engaged  in  teaching  school;  and  Xancy  X.,  born 
August  31,  1884. 

Mr.  Pinkerton  is  identified  with  the  RepubHcan  party,  but  considers 
himself  no  politician  in  the  usual  acceptance  of  the  word.  He  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  his  agricultural  operations  in  which  he  is  ably  assisted  by  his  son, 
and  thev  meet  with  much  success. 


WILLIAM  L.  NIEMANN. 

William  L.  Niemann,  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  Mount 
Olive,  Macoupin  County,  and  junior  member  of  the  well  known  firm  of 
Niemann  Brothers,  was  born  in  Mount  Olive,  June  2,  1869,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  C.  and  Anna  (Stullken)  X'iemann. 

The  late  John  C.  Niemann  was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Macou- 
pin County  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Prussia,  and  migrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1839,  coming  to  ^Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  among  its  early 
pioneers.  He  settled  at  Mount  Olive  when  he  was  the  only  one  of  his 
countrymen  who  had  chosen  a  home  in  this  locality.  After  a  long  and 
prosperous  life,  his  death  took  place  September  9,  1896.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried. To  his  first  marriage,  with  Margaret  Stullken.  were  born  three  chil- 
dren:  Mary,  wife  of  C.  J.  Keiser,  of  Mount  Olive;  Sophia,  widow  of  the  late 
William  Nieme3er;  and  Henry,  who  died  in  1876.  His  second  wife,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  who  lives  in  Mount  Olive,  was  a  sister  of  his  first;  to 
them  were  born  six  children — Matilda,  Lydia,  Louisa,  Edward  F.,  William 
L.  and  Anna, 

William  L.  X'iemann  secured  a  good  common  school  education  and  has 
been  in  business  in  Mount  Olive  since  leaving  school.  In  1896,  in  association 
with  his  brother,  Edward  F.,  whose  sketch  will  be  found  in  this  volume,  he 
established  the  lumber  firm  of  Niemann  Brothers,  and  through  the  handling 
of  only  reliable  goods,  and  by  reason  of  low  prices  and  careful  attention,  the 
I  usiness  has  assumed  very  large  proportions.  In  addition  to  dealing  in  lum- 
ber, they  handle  lime,  cement,  paints,  oils,  sewer  tile  and  builders'  supplies  of 
all  kinds. 


■PW^ 


3i8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

On  June  19,  1898,  Mr.  Niemann  was  married  to  Bertlia  Hieronymus. 
a  daughter  of  William  Hieronymus,  of  Mount  Olive,  whose  sketch  appears 
in  this  work.  They  have  one  son,  Wihnot  E.,  who  was  born  July  19,  1899. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Niemann  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics, 
our  subject  is  a  Republican. 


ANDREW  H.  SKELTON. 

Andrew  H.  Skelton,  superintendent  of  the  Girard  Coal  Company,  of 
Girard,  Illinois,  is  a  prominent  business  citizen  of  Macoupin  County.  Mr. 
Skelton  was  born  in  Scotland,  January  15,  1867,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Ellen  (Hutton)  Skelton,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland. 

Our  subject  was  16  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the  L'nited  States, 
and  he  received  his  education  at  Coal  City,  Illinois,  and,  Valparaiso,  Indiana. 
Mr.  Skelton,  who  is  an  expert  mining  engineer,  began  at  the  bottom  of  the 
ladder,  as  a  coal  miner,  at  the  age  of  20  years.  With  the  money  thus  earned. 
he  perfected  himself  in  the  profession  he  wished  to  follow  and  in  1887  easily 
secured  employment  in  the  rolling  mills  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company,  at 
Chicago.  There  his  knowledge  of  detail  work  soon  advanced  him  with  his 
superiors  and  he  had  been  with  the  company  but  one  month,  when  he  was 
made  foreman  in  the  converting  department  and  three  years  later  became 
assistant  superintendent  of  that  great  industry,  under  Superintendent  W.  R. 
Walker.  He  continued  in  the  rolling  mills  for  some  time,  where  his  services 
were  considered  very  valuable.  In  1900  he  took  the  necessary  examinations 
for  the  position  of  mine  manager,  having  for  a  year  traveled  through  mining 
districts  and  visited  working  plants  in  order  to  make  his  knowledge  com- 
plete. In  1900  he  opened  up  the  Morris  City  mine,  near  Coal  City,  Illinois, 
and  in  1901  came  to  Girard,  where,  in  1902,  he  was  made  superintendent 
of  the  Girard  Coal  Company. 

The  important  business  enterprise,  of  which  Mr.  Skelton  is  the  able 
superintendent,  is  one  of  the  largest  in  Macoupin  County.  The  shaft  of 
the  mine  controlled  by  this  company  was  built  in  1872  and  has  a  capacity  of 
1,000  tons  of  coal  a  day.     Although  the  mine  had  been  in  operation  some 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  319 

time,  its  pay-roll  was  but  $3,000  per  month  when  Mr.  Skelton,  with  his 
energetic  methods,  took  charge  as  superintendent.  He  now  employs  262 
men,  runs  the  mine  to  its  full  capacity  and  the  pay-roll  has  been  increased 
to  $20,000  a  month.  He  is  a  man  who  thoroughly  understands  his  business, 
has  been  trained  to  it,  and  the  results  are  very  satisfactory  to  all  concerned. 
Mr.  Skelton  was  married  January  15.  1896,  to  Margaret  Edgar,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  Frank  Edgar.  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Skelton  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
Mason. 


JOHN  J.  ENGLAND. 

John  J.  England,  agent  for  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road Company,  at  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and 
honorable  pioneer  families  of  the  county  to  which  his  great-grandfather  came 
in  1830.  He  was  born  at  Girard,  July  11,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Samuel  and  Louisa  C.  (Smith)  England. 

John  England,  his  grandfather,  bought  a  squatter's  claim  and  also  en- 
tered government  land  in  what  is  now  North  Otter  township.  He  married 
Lina  Hall,  and  they  reared  10  children.  He  died  in  1858.  Samuel  England, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Tennessee,  February  22, 
1820.  He  became  a  very  prominent  and  wealthy  citizen  of  Macoupin  County. 
His  death  took  place  on  his  farm  of  225  acres,  which  adjoins  the  village  of 
Girard.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Moses  and  Permelia  Smith,  who  died  in 
1863,  mourned  by  all  who  knew  her. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  Girard  schools  and  became  connected 
with  railroad  work  in  March,  1882.  On  November  9,  1887,  he  w-as  married 
to  Lizzie  E.  Rollins,  who  died  February  21,  1894,  leaving  three  children, — 
Clarence,  Albert  and  Lois.  His  second  marriage,  which  took  place  Sep- 
tember 8,  1897,  was  to  Eva  L.  Welch,  who  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Hattie 
(White)  Welch.  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Welch  are  natives  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Burlington,  Iowa,  respectively.  Mr.  Welch  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Burlington,  Iowa,  when  he  was  a  young  man  in  his  "teens."  He  was 
a  contractor.     The  family  moved  to  Glen  Elder,  Kansas,  in  1882  and  Mr. 


320  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Welch  died  March  17,  1883.  The  mother  and  family  still  reside  in  Glen 
Elder.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  England  are  valued  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 
In  politics,  Mr.  England  is  a  strong  Prohibitionist  and  e.xerts  much  influence. 


ARCHIE  L.  CARTER. 

Archie  L.  Carter,  postmaster  of  Medora,  Macoupin  County,  and  one 
of  the  best  known  and  most  popular  men  in  Chesterfield  township,  was  born 
in  this  township,  in  1871,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rhoda  (Kelsey)  Carter. 

John  Carter  was  born  in  1840,  also  in  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  and  was  a  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Whittaker)  Carter, 
both  of  whom  were  torn  in  Yorkshire,  England.  John  Carter,  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade  and  lost  his  life 
while  at  work  on  a  vessel,  falling  from  the  dock  into  the  water.  After  the 
death  of  his  mother  also,  Robert  Carter,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
came  to  America  and  settled  at  Cincinnati,  where  he  lived  until  1827,  and 
then  came  to  Illinois.  He  lived  one  year  at  Shawneetown  and  then  went  back 
to  Cincinnati  where  he  married  Mary  Whittaker.  They  returned  to  Illinois 
and  located  in  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  here  Mr.  Carter 
engaged  in  farming  and  also  followed  his  trade  of  house  carpenter,  which 
he  had  learned  in  England.  The  grandmother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter 
of  English  people  who  came  to  Cincinnati  and  in  that  city  John  Whittaker 
built  up  a  large  rendering  business,  the  products  of  which  were  tallow,  glue 
and  other  like  commodities.  Mrs.  Carter  died  in  1843,  aged  27  years,  leaving 
two  children,  John  being  the  eldest.  Mr.  Carter  married  Ann  Thompson,  a 
native  of  England,  but  a  resident  of  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County, 
for  his  second  wife,  and  she  was  the  mother  of  two  children. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Henrietta 
(Jennings)  Kelsey,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  the  latter  in  the  city  of  London.  In  1840  they  came  to  America  and 
located  first  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  but  shortly  after  moved  to  Brighton 
township,  Macoupin  County,  where  they  took  up  government  land.  Mrs. 
Kelsey  still  resides  on  this  homestead   farm,  at   the  age  of  83  years,  but 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  321 

Robert  Kelsey  died  in  1883,  in  his  65th  year.     ]Mrs.  Carter  is  the  oldest  of 
their  seven  children. 

Archie  L.  Carter  obtained  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Chesterfield 
and  Brighton  townships,  and  worked  on  a  farm  his  father  gave  him,  from 
1892  until  the  spring  of  1896,  carrying  on  general  fanning  and  stock  raising 
operations.  In  addition  to  superintending  his  farm,  he  fills  many  engage- 
ments as  pubHc  auctioneer,  a  business  for  which  he  is  admirably  adapted, 
possessing  a  genial  presence  and  a  fund  of  anecdote,  combined  with  much 
natural  humor.  It  has  been  said  on  numerous  occasions  that  his  wit  attracts 
more  audience  than  the  goods  on  sale.  Since  April,  1903,  he  has  been  post- 
master at  Medora  and  thus  is  one  of  the  busiest  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
popular  men  of  the  locality. 

In  1892  Mr.  Carter  married  Eva  J.  Ketchum,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Leonard  and  Jane  (Hay^vard)  Ketchum.  The  Ketchum  family  is  a  pioneer 
one  in  Illinois,  Ira  Ketchum,  a  native  of  Vermont,  having  settled  in  Jersey 
Cotmty  at  a  very  early  date  and  died  while  his  grandchildren  were  small. 
His  son,  Leonard  Ketchum,  father  of  Mrs.  Carter,  was  born  in  1841  in 
Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  Count}\  Two  children  have  been  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carter:  Verda  Marie,  bom  January-  i,  1893,  died  June  23, 
1899;  and  Carl  Le  Roy,  bom  May  2,  1900. 

In  politics  Mr.  Carter  is  a  zealous  Republican.  Fraternally  he  belongs 
to  the  Modem  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  re- 
ligious belief,  he  is  a  Baptist. 


* » » 


DAVID  L.  BLEY,  M.  D. 

Da\-id  L.  Bley,  ;M.  D.,  one  of  the  best  known  physicians  of  Macoupin 
Coimty,  Illinois,  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  Staunton,  was  born  November 
13,  1853,  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  George 
and  Elizabeth  W.    (Lavis)   Bley. 

Dr.  Bley  is  of  German  and  English  ancestry.  His  grandfather,  George 
Bley,  was  bom  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  died  at  Indiana,  Indiana 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  i8%5,  at  the  age  of  92  years.     He  was  one  of  the 

18 


322  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

few  survivors  of  Napoleon's  disastrous  campaign  to  Moscow,  and  spent  a 
number  of  years  in  educational  work  in  Germany,  but  engaged  in  farming- 
after  coming  to  the  United  States.  His  six  children  were:  Conrad,  at  whose 
home  he  died;  George,  father  of  our  subject;  John;  Philip;  Mrs.  Sophia 
Klump;  and  Mrs.  Mary  Wallace. 

Dr.  George  Bley  was  born  in  1820,  at  Dettingen,  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
and  was  1 1  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  America.  After 
securing  a  common  school  education,  in  Pennsylvania,  where  his  father  had 
settled,  he  was  bound  out  to  the  drug  business,  at  the  age  of  13  years.  In 
the  course  of  time,  he  graduated  at  the  old  Philadelphia  College  of  Medicine, 
and  practiced  all  his  life  and  conducted  drug  stores,  with  the  exception  of 
three  years,  when  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Iowa.  His  death  took  place  at 
Staunton  in  1886.  In  politics,  he  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
For  many  years  he  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Although  he  started  out  in  life  with  but  a  modicum  of  means,  his  judicious 
investments  resulted  in  the  accumulation  of  a  comfortable  estate. 

Dr.  George  Bley  married  Elizabeth  W.  Lavis,  who  was  born  August 
17,  1823,  in  Philadelphia,  and  now  is  one  of  the  most  venerable  and  highly 
esteemed  residents  of  Staunton,  making  her  home  with  her  daughter,  the 
widow  of  the  late  Dr.  Dripps.  She  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Mary 
(Wilson)  Lavis,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Bristol,  England,  and  the 
latter  in  New  Jersey.  Dr.  George  Bley  and  wife  reared  a  family  of  si.x  chil- 
dren, viz :  Ellen,  who  married  David  C.  Wurtz,  of  Jerseyville,  Illinois ;  Eliza- 
beth W.,  who  married  Thomas  Blair  and  at  her  death  left  one  child;  George, 
a  resident  of  Beardstown,  Illinois;  David  L.,  of  this  sketch;  Robert  E.,  a 
prominent  physician  of  Bunker  Hill ;  and  Mary  L.,  widow  of  the  late  Dr. 
C.  T.  Dripps,  of  Staunton. 

Dr.  David  L.  Bley  is  the  oldest  physician  of  Staunton,  which  has  been 
his  home,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years,  ever  since  his  parents  settled 
here,  in  1861.  His  life,  prior  to  this  date,  had  been  spent  at  various  points 
in  Iowa  and  Illinois,  where  his  father's  business  interests  had  called  him. 
After  coming  to  Staunton,  our  subject  attended  school  until  he  was  14  years 
of  age,  and  then  entered  his  father's  drug  store,  in  preparation  for  his  medical 
studies.  At  the  age  of  18  years,  his  father  sent  him  to  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia,  and  he  received  his  degree  there  in  1875  and  returned 
to  Staunton  and  practiced  with  his  father  until  1877,  and  then  spent  two 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  323 

years  in  practice  at  Alhambra,  Madison  County.  After  the  death  of  his 
father.  Dr.  Bley  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother,  Dr.  Robert  E., 
who  sold  his  interest  to  Dr.  C.  T.  Dripps,  in  1888,  and  removed  to  Edwards- 
ville  and  after  a  few  months  to  Bunker  Hill.  The  partnership  of  Dr.  David 
and  his  brother-in-law,  Dr.  Dripps,  continued  until  the  latter's  death,  in 
August,  1902.  Until  January  i,  1904,  Dr.  Bley  continued  alone,  but  has 
found  it  necessarj-  to  have  assistance  again,  and  has  admitted  to  partnership 
Dr.  Myron  \Y.  Snell. 

Fraternally  Dr.  Bley  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Knight 
of  Pythias,  belonging  to  Staunton  Lodge,  No.  177,  A.  F.  and  A. 
M. ;  Elliott  Chapter,  No.  120,  R.  A.  M. ;  St.  Omar  Commandery, 
No.  30,  K.  T.,  of  Litchfield;  Staunton  Lodge,  No.  685,  L  O. 
O.  P.;  and  Pamassu  Lodge,  No.  581,  K.  of  P.,  of  Litchfield.  In  politics 
he  votes  with  the  Republican  party,  but  takes  not  very  active  interest,  his 
large  practice  absorbing  the  greater  part  of  his  time.  Dr.  Bley  stands  very 
high  in  professional  ranks. 


EDWARD  F.  NIEMANN. 

Edward  F.  Niemaxx,  one  of  the  progressive  and  successful  busines-S 
men  of  Mount  Olive,  IMacoupin  County,  member  of  the  well  known  and  en- 
terprising firm  of  Niemann  Brothers,  dealers  in  building  lumber,  sash,  doors, 
blinds,  shingles,  lath,  builders'  supplies,  lime,  cement,  plaster,  hair,  etc.,  was 
bom  in  Mount  Olive,  IMarch  26,  1864.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  prominent 
citizen,  John  C.  Niemann  and  Anna  (Stullken)  Niemann,  the  latter  of  whom 
still  resides  in  Blount  Olive. 

Mr.  Niemann  received  an  excellent  common  school  education  and  as- 
sisted his  father  in  his  agricultural  enterprises  prior  to  embarking  in  his 
present  business  in  1896,  in  association  with  his  brother,  William  L.  Nie- 
mann, of  whom  a  sketch  will  be  found  in  this  volume.  The  business  has  been 
constantly  expanded  until  this  firm  has  grown  to  be  the  largest  of  its  kind 
in  the  county.  Its  success  has  been  partly  on  acount  of  the  demand  of  the 
public  for  thoroughly  reliable  goods  and  partly  through  the  energy  and 
progressive  methods  which  characterize  the  manaeement. 


324  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

In  1897  Mr.  Niemann  was  married  to  Anna  Remmert,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Henry  Remmert,  of  Mount  OHve.  They  have  one  child, 
Lonieda,  born  March  6,  1898.  Mr.  Niemann,  like  his  late  father,  and 
other  members  of  the  family,  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  is 
deeply  interested  in  the  development  of  his  section  and  is  prominent  in  all 
public  spirited  enterprises.  The  Niemann  family  has  long  Ijeen  one  of  the 
wealthiest  and  most  prominent  in  the  southeastern  section  of  the  county. 


JASON    N.  McELVAlN. 

The  death  of  Jason  N.  McElvain,  which  took  place  at  his  beautiful  home, 
in  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  on  February  14,  1904,  removed  from 
this  section  a  citizen  who  had  been  identified  with  its  development  for  many 
years,  and  one  who  for  a  long  period,  had  been  considered  one  of  the  county's 
most  substantial  men  and  astute  financiers.  Mr.  McElvain  was  born  in  Simp- 
son County,  Kentucky,  March  19,  1826,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and 
Jane  (Neely)  McElvain.  His  age,  at  the  time  of  decease,  was  "/•]  years,  10 
months  and  26  days. 

The  father  of  the  late  Mr.  McElvain  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1783,  and 
was  a  son  of  Andrew  McElvain,  a  member  of  a  family  which  is  still  well 
represented  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Prior  to  coming  to  Macoupin  County, 
in  1850,  William  McElvain  owned  and  operated  large  plantations  in  his 
native  State,  but  lived  a  retired  life  after  coming  to  Illinois.  He  reared  a 
large  family,  all  of  whom  have  passed  away  with  the  exception  of  three 
sons — one  a  resident  of  Iowa,  one  of  Oregon,  and  one  of  Kansas. 

Until  the  age  of  21  years,  the  late  Mr.  McElvain  remained  in  Kentucky. 
Pushing  out  then  for  himself,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  began  farm  work  in 
Sangamon  County.  In  185 1  he  came  to  Macoupin  County,  locating  in  Nil- 
wood  township,  where  he  remained  until  1889,  when  he  moved  to  Girard. 
In  the  intervening  years  he  had  accumulated  much  property  and  owned  640 
acres  of  some  of  the  choicest  land  in  Macoupin  County.  Under  his  im- 
mediate  supervision,   he   carried   on   extensive   agricultural   operations   and, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  325 

prior  to  settling  in  Girard,  was  known  as  one  of  the  farmers  of  prominence 
in  this  section. 

After  locating  at  Girard,  Mr.  McElvain  looked  about  for  the  best  invest- 
ment of  capital,  and,  after  due  consideration,  decided  to  enter  into  banking, 
the  prevailing  conditions  giving  him  assurance  of  success  for  a  conservative 
institution  which  could  be  backed  by  large  capital  in  the  hands  of  representa- 
tive men.  Thus  came  about  in  1893  the  founding  of  the  People's  Bank  of 
Girard,  in  which  Mr.  McElvain  was  one  of  the  heaviest  stockholders.  From 
its  founding  until  April,  1903,  he  was  its  careful,  watchful,  conservative 
president,  until  the  weight  of  years  made  him  seek  relief  from  official  re- 
sponsibility and  he  resigned  the  position  which  his  personality  had  made  so 
notable.  His  name  has  been  associated  with  other  business  enterprises,  al- 
ways carrying  with  it  a  sense  of  security  not  always  attached  to  large  capi- 
talists. 

On  February  13,  1851,  Mr.  McElvain  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Fletcher, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Job  Fletcher,  of  Sugar  Creek,  Illinois,  after 
which  he  came  to  IMacoupin  County  and  purchased  the  tract  of  land  upon 
which  his  farmhouse  now  stands.  Mrs.  McElvain  died  in  x\ugust,  1875. 
On  June  18,  1877,  Mr.  McElvain  was  married  to  Nancy  J.  Ballinger,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  Rev.  John  H.  Ballinger,  and  four  children  were  born  to  them, 
two  of  whom  are  deceased,  the  survivors  being  Joseph  and  Pearl. 

Since  1875  Mr.  McElvain  had  been  a  consistent,  useful  and  beloved 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  he  gave  most  liberal  support. 
From  that  church,  where  solemn  and  befitting  services  were  conducted  by 
Revs.  Tarbett  and  Berr}'hill,  the  funeral  cortege  took  its  way  to  Girard 
Cemetery,  where  all  that  was  mortal  of  one  who  had  been  beloved  by  family, 
friends  and  fellow  citizens,  was  laid  to  rest.  Like  many  other  men  of  capital 
and  consequence  in  the  business  world,  Mr.  McElvain  was  simple  in  his 
habits  and  unassuming  in  his  manner.  He  honored  work  and  respected 
those  who  toiled,  and  in  his  home  there  were  no  menials,  all  being  regarded 
with  consideration,  if  they  deserved  it.  His  beautiful  home,  with  its  many 
comforts,  was  thoroughly  enjoyed,  and  he  did  not  despise  the  social  promi- 
nence of  himself  and  famil}',  accepting  the  same,  however,  with  no  assump- 
tion of  superiority.  It  is  recorded  of  him  that  one  of  his  maxims  was  "take 
life  as  it  comes,"  implying  by  this,  that  cheerful  acceptance  of  trials  was  a 


^26  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

man's  duty,  a  view  which  his  natural  genial  disposition  did  much  to  make 
easy. 

The  death  of  a  man  of  Mr.  McElvain's  character  is  a  loss  to  any  com- 
munity, but  the  influence  of  a  life  of  business  integrity,  of  liberal  public 
spirit,  of  exemplary  Christian  effort,  will  ever  remain.  In  the  great  loss  his 
family  sustained,  it  had  the  sincere  sympathy  of  the  whole  community. 

Joseph  McElvain,  the  only  surviving  son  of  the  late  Jason  N.  McElvain, 
is  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  Girard,  junior  member  of  the  large 
dry  goods  firm  of  Enslow  &  McElvain.  This  business  house  was  estab- 
lished by  Enslow  Brothers  April  i,  1901,  and  was  conducted  by  them  until 
September  i,  1903,  when  Joseph  McElvain  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the 
business.  Removal  was  soon  made  to  larger  quarters,  a  store  space  of  40 
by  80  feet  now  being  used,  and  with  the  introduction  of  all  modern  appliances 
and  conveniences  business  is  carried  on  here  with  a  showing  which  would  be 
very  satisfactory  in  cities  of  much  larger  size.  The  firm  carries  a  most  com- 
plete and  carefully  selected  stock  of  goods,  and  have  the  prestige  of  being 
the  largest  exclusive  dry  goods  house  in  Macoupin  County. 


JOHN   LOWIS,  Jr. 

John  Lewis,  Jr.,  vice-president  and  director  of  the  Bank  of  Medora, 
and  the  owner  of  a  finely  improved  farm  in  Shipman  township,  Macoupin 
County,  is  one  of  the  leading  and  representative  citizens  of  his  locality.  He 
was  bom  in  1852  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Ann 
(Jackson)  Lowis. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  born  in  Westmoreland,  England,  and 
both  came  of  agricultural  ancestry.  They  married  in  their  native  shire  and  in 
1850  came  to  America.  They  located  near  Mineral  Point,  Wisconsin,  where 
Mr.  Lowis  w-orked  in  the  lead  mines  until  1858,  when  they  removed  to 
McLeod  County,  Minnesota,  where  they  purchased  a  farm  upon  which  they 
remained  until  1866.  They  then  came  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  section  18,  Shipman  township.  This  farm  includes  a  quar- 
ter section  of  land,  and  is  now  the  property  of  our  subject's  brother,  Charles. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  327 

John  Lowis  accumulated  1,000  acres  of  land  in  Christian  County.  300  in  Ma- 
coupin, 200  in  Jersey  County  and  at  one  time  owned  1,500  acres  of  highly  im- 
proved real  estate.  Mrs.  Lewis  was  the  first  to  pass  away,  her  death  oc- 
curring in  1891,  at  the  age  of  66  years,  and  in  February,  1896,  her  hus- 
band followed  her  to  the  grave,  when  in  his  74th  year.  Nine  of  their  10 
children  still  sur\-ive,  our  subject  being  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  The 
other  members  of  the  family  are :  George,  of  Iowa,  who  has  one  son,  William ; 
Isabella,  housekeeper  for  her  brother  in  Christian  County;  Alice  A.,  who 
married  Joseph  Offlighter,  a  lumber  merchant  at  Palmer,  Illinois,  and  has 
one  child — Hallie;  Alary  J.,  who  married  William  Kitchell  of  Christian 
County,  and  has  10  children,  namely:  Arthur,  Nellie,  Roy,  John, 
Elizabeth,  Verna,  Richard,  Florence,  Maria  and  Helen :  William, 
who  in  partnership  with  his  brother  Joseph,  owns  770  acres  of 
land  in  Christian  County;  Ruth  Elizabeth,  who  married  G.  R. 
Waggoner,  a  farmer  living  in  section  19,  Shipman  township,  and 
has  five  children — Ruth,  Ellis,  George,  Ralph  and  Carrie;  Joseph 
D.  (in  partnership  with  his  brother  William),  who  married  Carrie 
Pence  and  has  one  son,  Frank  Ashton :  and  Charles,  living  on  the  homestead 
farm,  who  married  Lillie  Berkamyer,  and  has  one  son,  Edwin.  Christopher 
died  during  the  residence  of  the  family  in  Minnesota.  During  the  years 
spent  in  Minnesota,  the  family  went  through  many  thrilling  experiences,  the 
Indians  being  abnost  continually  troublesome  and  troops  being  necessary  to 
protect  the  settlers.  In  1864  Mr.  Lowis  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Hatch's 
Battalion,  Minnesota  Vol.  Cav.,  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  at  New  Ulm, 
and  was  discharged  in  the  following  Februarj'. 

John  Lowis,  our  subject,  who  bears  his  father's  name,  obtained  his  edu- 
cation entirely  in  Shipman  township,  and  he  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
29  years  of  age,  operating  the  land  for  himself  after  his  majority.  In  1882 
he  located  on  his  present  farm,  and  since  then  in  addition  to  making  many 
substantial  improvements,  has  added  250  acres.  His  farming  and  stock 
raising  operations  are  carried  on  in  an  extensive  manner,  his  land  all  ad- 
joining and  being  favorably  located  for  both  farming  and  grazing. 

On  March  9,  1882,  Mr.  Lowis  married  Augusta  Wilton,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  George  Wilton  of  Shipman  township,  and  they  have  had  a 
family  of  five  children,  namely:  Bertha  A.,  born  in  December,  1882;  Bina 


328  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Isabelle,  born  in  November,   1885;  Edith,  born  in   1891;  John  R.,  born  in 
1893;  and  Mary,  born  in  June,  1900. 

Mr.  Lowis  has  always  been  deeply  interested  in  educational  matters  and 
has  served  on  the  School  Board  for  the  past  16  consecutive  years.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican.  With  his  family  he  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Church. 


JAMES  WILLIAM  RENO. 

Among  the  prominent  farmers  of  Macoupin  County  none  has  been 
more  successful  in  his  life  vocation  than  has  our  subject,  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Shipman  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
in  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  William  S.  and  Martha  (Haycraft)  Reno. 

William  S.  Reno  was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Kentucky,  in  1810,  and 
came  to  Illinois  about  1843,  locating  in  Shipman  township,  Macoupin  County, 
in  the  neighborhood  where  our  subject  now  lives.  He  purchased  a  tract  of 
school  property  and  immediately  began  the  cultivation  of  the  land.  Mr. 
Reno  became  widely  known  throughout  the  county  as  an  honest  and  upright 
citizen  and  became  the  friend  of  everyone  who  came  in  contact  with  him. 
Mr.  Reno  was  married  to  Martha  Haycraft  in  Kentucky,  February  22, 
1832,  and  ten  years  later  removed  to  Illinois.  Mrs.  Reno  was  born  in  Hardin 
County,  Kentucky,  September  29,  1815.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  namely:  Beauford;  Lucy,  who  died  at  the  age  of  18  years;  Samuel 
H.,  who  died  in  Kansas  in  September,  1890;  Mary  Elizabeth,  who  married 
William  Forwood;  James  William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Gran- 
ville G.     Mr.  Reno  died  in  1882  while  in  his  72nd  year. 

James  William  Reno  received  his  education  in  Shipman  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  27  years  of  age,  when 
he  married  Mary  Jane  Mitchell,  a  daughter  of  William  W.  Mitchell,  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Shipman  township  who  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  resided 
on  a  farm  in  section  16.  Mr.  Mitchell  died  in  1885,  leaving  his  wife  and  four 
children,  of  whom  our  subject's  wife  was  the  youngest.  At  the  death  pf 
Mr.  Mitchell  our  subject  purchased  the  former's  farm  of  160  acres,  which 
he  has  since  cultivated.    The  mother  of  our  subject's  wife  died  in  1897  while 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  329 

residing  with  Mr.  Reno.  ^Ir.  Reno  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Sankey,  born  August  30,  1878,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Travers,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Travers,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Shipman 
township:  Frederick,  bom  March  13,  1880;  Eulalia,  born  November  i,  1881; 
Rosa,  bom  March  19,  1883;  William  Sidney,  born  May  30,  1885;  Newton, 
bom  March  7,  1888.  and  Paul,  born  September  i,  1890.  Mr.  Reno  pur- 
chased his  first  farm  in  partnership  with  his  brother  in  1877.  In  1892  when 
the  partnership  was  dissolved,  they  were  the  owners  of  440  acres  of  finely 
tilled  soil  in  Shipman  township.  When  they  dissolved  partnership,  our  sub- 
ject took  as  his  interest  an  80-acre  farm  in  section  16,  where  he  now  resides, 
and  140  acres  in  section  9.  I^Ir.  Reno  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
produces  some  of  the  best  grain  produced  in  his  county. 

Mr.  Reno's  political  views  are  Democratic.  He  has  never  aspired  to 
any  local  office  and  in  voting  picks  his  candidates  carefully.  In  fraternal  cir- 
cles he  is  a  member  of  the  Jvlodem  \\'oodmen  of  America  and  the  Mutual 
Protective  League.    Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


CHARLES  R.  WALL. 

Ch.\rles  R.  WalLj  senior  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  Wall  & 
Quade,  of  Staunton,  Illinois,  and  one  of  the  prominent  and  successful  busi- 
ness men  of  the  southeastern  section  of  Macoupin  County,  was  born  at 
Staunton  on  June  8,  1862.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Hon.  Hampton  W.  and 
Isabella    (Roseberry)    Wall. 

Hon.  Hampton  W.  \\'all  was  long  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Macou- 
pin County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born  in  1832,  and  died  August  16,  1898. 
He  was  the  second  son  of  Richard  Wall,  a  pioneer  resident  of  this  section,  and 
Lucinda  Camp.  Mr.  Wall  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  through  his  whole 
life  was  more  or  less  extensively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  although 
he  had  many  other  interests,  being  a  man  of  business  capacity,  progressive 
spirit  and  political  strength.  Among  his  interests  outside  of  farming  and 
stock  raising  were  those  of  milling  and  merchandising,  in  Madison  County, 
where  the  village  of  New  Hampton  was  named  in  his  honor.     This  village 


330  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

is  now  known  as  Worden.  After  locating  in  Staunton,  he  engaged  in  milling 
and  for  some  years  was  a  dealer  in  agricultural  implements.  After  selling 
this  business,  he  entered  into  banking  at  Staunton,  first  with  James  Taylor, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Wall  &  Taylor,  and  later,  with  J.  C.  Panhorst,  under 
the  firm  style  of  Wall  &  Panhorst,  which  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr. 
Wall.  The  details  of  the  latter,  which  resulted  in  the  blotting  out  of  the 
life  of  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Macoupin  County  by  a  murderous  hand, 
are  of  too  recent  a  date  and  of  too  sad  a  nature,  to  be  recounted  in  this 
record. 

Mr.  Wall  was  a  lifelong  Democrat  and  his  services  to  his  party  were 
generously  rewarded.  After  serving  as  supervisor  of  his  township  a  number 
of  times,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  House  of  Representatives  and  so  ably 
performed  his  duties  and  so  carefully  looked  after  the  interests  of  his  constitu- 
ency, that  he  was  re-elected  to  the  lower  House  and  later  became  a  member 
of  the  State  Senate.  Mr.  Wall  was  noted  for  his  conception  of  the  duties 
of  public  office  and  always  displayed  a  noble  readiness  to  fulfill  them.  He 
left  a  large  estate,  accumulated  entirely  by  his  own  efforts,  and  a  name  for 
business  integrity  and  private  generosity  which  will  keep  his  memory  green. 
He  was  gifted  in  many  ways  and,  had  he  enjoyed  early  educational  ad- 
vantages, would  have  also  made  his  mark  at  the  bar. 

The  late  Mr.  Wall  was  thrice  married.  The  first  marriage  was  to  Ellen 
Roseberry,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Roseberry,  and  one  child  was  born  to  this 
union,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Alice  M.  Ferris,  of  Missouri.  The  second  mar- 
riage was  to  his  sister-in-law,  Isabella  Roseberry,  and  six  children  were  born 
to  them,  of  whom  four  grew  to  maturity  and  still  survive,  namely:  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Godfrey,  of  Staunton;  Charles  R.,  of  this  sketch;  William  P.,  a 
member  of  the  banking  firm  of  Wall  &  Company,  of  Staunton;  and  Mrs. 
Harriet  Campbell,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  His  third  marriage  was  to  Mar- 
tha E.  Scroggins,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Keziah  Scroggins  of  Staunton. 
She  still  survives,  with  three  children :  Lillian  M.,  Mabel  E.  and  Hampton 
Grover. 

Charles  R.  Wall,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  biography,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Staunton  until  the  age  of  17  years  and  then  entered  the 
Northern  Indiana  Normal  School,  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  and  completed 
the  course  of  study  there  in  two  years.  After  his  return  to  Staunton,  he 
became  chief  clerk  for  the  Consolidated  Coal  Company,  and  remained  with 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  331 

this  corporation  for  12  years.  He  served  in  the  same  capacity  with  the 
Staunton  Coal  Mining  Company  for  six  months,  and  then,  in  1898,  entered 
into  the  banking  business  with  his  brother. 

The  business  had  been  conducted  for  eight  years  under  the  firm  name  of 
Wall  &  Panhorst,  but,  upon  its  reorganization,  after  the  death  of  the  senior 
partner,  the  firm  style  became  Wall  Brothers.  The  present  organization, 
under  the  name  of  Wall  &  Ouade,  was  effected  ]March  25,  1902.  To  the 
management  and  careful  conduct  of  this  business,  Mr.  Wall  devotes  his  en- 
tire attention,  and  stands  at  the  head  of  what  is  considered  one  of  the  safest 
financial  institutions  of  the  county. 

On  September  18,  1885.  Mr.  Wall  was  married  to  Nettie  E.  Patrick, 
who  was  born  near  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Altha  Patrick.  They  have  one  son,  James  C,  who  is  a  student 
in  the  public  schools. 


*  ■  > 


WILLIAM  DRUM. 

William  Drum,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  and  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  in  Greene  County, 
Illinois,  December  17,  1831,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Girard,  August  29, 
1899.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of  12  children  born  to  Silas  and  Mary  (Roe) 
Drum,   farming  people  of  Greene  County. 

The  late  William  Drum  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Greene 
County  and  was  14  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Macoupin  County.  He 
grew  up  on  a  farm  and  assisted  in  breaking  the  land,  for  at  that  time  few 
improvements  had  been  made.  His  inclinations  did  not  lead  him  to  take  up 
an  agricultural  life,  and  he  learned  the  brick  mason's  trade,  combined  with 
that  of  plasterer,  which  he  followed  until  he  removed  to  Girard  to  enter  upon 
a  mercantile  career.  In  1872  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Bellamy 
and  the  business  was  conducted  imtil  1880  under  the  firm  name  of  Bellamy 
&  Drum.  After  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership,  Mr.  Drum  continued 
alone  and,  as  his  outlook  was  very  good,  he  decided  to  build  a  fine  brick 
store  building.  He  laid  the  foundations  for  this  substantial  structure,  with 
his  own  hands,  and  in  the  handsome  building  which  was  soon  completed, 


332  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

he  conducted  a  successful  business  for  many  years,  dealing  in  groceries  and 
hardware.  His  honorable  dealing,  his  accommodating  manner  and  his  well 
selected  stock,  combined  with  sagacity  and  untiring  industry,  all  contributed 
to  a  great  financial  success. 

Mr.  Drum  was  married  to  Mary  McConaughy  on  December  23,  1856, 
who  died  April  7,  1862,  leaving  one  son,  Henry,  who  is  in  business  in  a 
Western  State.  On  February  13,  1868,  Mr.  Drum  married  Julia  F.  Stewart, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  Stewart,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  who  came  to 
Macoupin  County  in  i860,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  The  two  sur- 
viving children  of  this  marriage  are:  Mary  Bertha,  who  is  the  wife  of  Mc- 
Pherson  Thompson,  a  lumber  merchant  of  Girard,  and  superintendent  and 
manager  of  the  Darlington  Lumber  Company;  and  Robert  S.,  of  Girard. 
One  child  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Drum  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Girard  and 
took  a  great  interest  in  its  work.  Politically  he  affiliated  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  although  he  never  was  willing  to  accept  any  party  recognition.  He 
was  stanch  in  all  his  opinions  and  at  no  time  lacked  the  courage  to  express 
them,  but  possessed  a  pleasant,  kind  manner,  which  disarmed  all  criticism 
and  made  him  hosts  of  friends.  Mrs.  Drum  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  large 
income  provided  by  his  care  and  forethought.  She  is,  as  was  her  late  hus- 
band, a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Girard. 


4 » » 


LEONARD  G.  BROWN. 

Leonard  G.  Brown,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Modesto,  Ma- 
coupin County,  part  owner  and  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Modesto,  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  State.  He  was  born  in  1867 
in  Morgan  County  near  Woodson,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  George  S.  and 
Mary  S.  (Wood)  Brown,  and  a  grandson  of  Bedford  Brown. 

Bedford  Brown  came  with  his  family  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  in  1828 
and  located  near  Jacksonville,  Morgan  County,  but  a  short  distance  from 
where  our  subject  was  born  so  many  years  later.     Bedford  Brown  died  in 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  333 

1874,  aged  70  years,  his  three  surviving  children  being:  Charles,  Robert  and 
Mary.  Charles  Brown  is  a  resident  of  Divernon,  Sangamon  County,  Illinois, 
where  he  owns  a  farm  of  2,000  acres,  and  is  vice-president  of  the  Illinois 
National  Bank  of  Springfield,  belonging  also  to  the  directing  boards  of 
several  other  banks.  He  has  one  child.  Robert  Brown  is  a  retired  farmer 
of  Hastings,  Nebraska,  and  is  a  director  of  one  of  the  Hastings  banks. 
Mary  married  William  Duer,  a  retired  farmer  of  Hastings,  Nebraska,  and 
they  have  these  children — Caroline,  William,  John,  Bessie  and  Charles. 

George  S.  Brown,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  eldest  of  his  parents' 
children  and  was  the  only  one  born  in  Kentucky  except  Reuben.  He  was 
five  years  old  when  the  family  came  to  Illinois  and  the  remainder  of  his  life 
was  passed  here,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  when  he  served  in  the 
^Mexican  War.  He  died  in  1893  ™  ^^^^  7^st  year.  He  married  ]\Iary  S. 
Wood,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  died  in  Illinois,  in  1900,  aged  72 
years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Wood,  who  removed  in  early  days 
to  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  48  years.  But  two 
of  Thomas  Wood's  children  still  survive:  Sarah,  who  married  B.  W.  Poe, 
a  farmer  of  North  Palmyra  township,  ]Macoupin  County,  now  a  resident  of 
Modesto;  and  Joseph  F.,  who  married  Elizabeth  Miller  and  now  resides  near 
Modesto,  engaged  in  farming.  The  three  children  of  George  S.  Brown  and 
wife  are :  W.  T.,  Cordelia  C.  and  Leonard  G.  of  this  sketch.  W.  T.  Brown 
is  a  dealer  in  musical  instruments  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  He  married 
Annie  Thompson,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Howard  Thompson,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Jacksonville,  and  they  have  three  children:  Howard,  Hazel  and 
Susie.  Cordelia  C.  married  Henry  J.  Myars,  a  large  land-owner  living  at 
San  Diego,  California,  and  they  ha^•e  four  children :  Susie,  who  married 
Bazil  Woods  of  San  Diego,   California ;  George,  Lewis  and  Roy. 

Leonard  G.  Brown  received  his  primary  education  in  Morgan  and  San- 
gamon counties,  later  attended  the  Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville  and  then 
took  a  commercial  course  at  the  Jacksonville  Business  College.  He  then 
spent  one  year  working  on  his  father's  farm  and  teaching  school.  In  1891, 
in  association  with  his  father  and  Alexander  Nevins,  he  established  the  Bank 
of  Modesto,  of  which  he  is  cashier.  This  band  has  a  cash  capital  of  $10,000, 
and  its  stockholders  are  these  well  known  capitalists :  I.  B.  Vancil,  Leonard 
G.  Brown,  W.  T.  Brown,  H.  J.  IMyars  and  C.  Van  Winkle,  who  is  assistant 


334  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

cashier.     The  bank  has  been  a  very  successful  business  enterprise  and  has 
been  conducted  along  lines  which  have  inspired  public  confidence. 

In  1893,  Mr.  Brown  married  Ida  A.  Vancil,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Imri 
B.  and  Elizabeth  S.  (Rice)  Vancil,  of  North  Palmyra  township,  Macoupin 
County.  Mr.  Vancil,  whose  sketch  will  be  found  in  another  part  of  this 
work,  is  one  of  the  best  known  farmers  and  capitalists  of  this  county.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  this  marriage,  namely:  Ruth,  born  in  1894; 
Harlow,  born  in  1896;  Imri,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  months;  and  Lois, 
born  in  1993.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Jacksonville  Presby- 
terian Church.  Mrs.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  of 
Modesto.  Fraternally,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  both  a  Mason  and  an 
Odd  Fellow.     Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


WILLIAM  B.  OTWELL. 

William  B.  Otwell,  farmer  and  nurseryman,  third  child  of  Justinian 
S.  and  Eliza  E.  Otwell,  was  born  in  Carlinville,  Illinois,  on  January  27,  1863. 

His  father  was  a  man  of  sterling  character,  well  thought  of  by  every- 
body. His  mother  was  a  devoted  home-maker,  in  the  constant  association 
of  her  children;  her  greatest  ambition  was  to  see  to  it  that  each  was  given 
a  good  education. 

William  B.  Otwell  spent  all  of  his  boyhood  days  working  on  the  farm 
in  the  summer  and  attending  his  home  district  school  in  the  winter.  He  was 
energetic,  ambitious  to  get  on  in  the  world,  and  so  learned  to  do  things.  He 
graduated  from  Blackburn  University  in  1884  and  was  for  12  years  advisory 
trustee  of  that  institution.  After  leaving  college  he  taught  school  in  the 
winter  and  began  the  planting  of  a  nin'sery  in  the  summer.  When  the 
nursery  had  grown  to  be  a  substantial  business,  he  stopped  teaching  and  de- 
voted all  of  his  time  to  his  nursery  and  farm  work. 

Mr.  Otwell  in  politics  has  always  been  a  strong  Republican  but  has 
never  ran  for  an  office  himself.  He  believes  all  good  men  should  take  an 
active  part  in  politics.     His  influence  has  always  been  exerted  in  the  manage- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  ^  335 

ment  of  county  institutions,  such  as  county  fairs,  farmers'  institutes,  and  old 
settlers'  associations.  His  favorite  work  has  ahvays  been  among  farmer  or- 
ganizations and  no  one  in  Ilhnois  has  enjoyed  a  better  acquaintance  and 
stronger  influence  upon  the  platform  of  the  farmer's  institutes  of  the  State 
that  Will  B.  Otwell.  As  an  e\idence  of  his  worth  at  these  farmers'  institutes, 
it  may  be  stated  in  passing  that  during  1901,  1902  and  1903,  Mr.  Otwell  was 
invited  and  made  two  speeches  in  each  of  57  counties  of  Ilhnois.  And  to  his 
effective  work  among  the  farmers  of  Illinois  is  due,  perhaps  more  that  to 
any  other  cause,  the  fact  that  he  was  selected  by  the  State  commissioners  to 
have  entire  charge  of  Illinois  agricultural  interests  at  the  Lxjuisiana  Purchase 
Exposition  held  at  St.  Louis  in  1904. 

The  entire  Otwell  family  for  four  generations  back  have  been  strong 
Methodists. 

In  1887  William  B.  Otwell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mar>'  H.  Van 
Winkle  of  Jklorgan  County  and  to  this  union  five  children  were  born,  four 
of  whom  were  living  at  the  time  1;his  sketch  was  written. 

Bom  and  reared  on  a  farm,  he  has  ahvays  insisted  that  farm  life  was  the 
best  life  of  all. 

Independent  in  thought  and  actions,  yet  conscious  of  the  rights  of  others, 
William  B.  Otwell  has  exerted  an  influence  that  will  live  to  do  good  in  the 
lives  of  others  when  he  is  gone. 


SAMUEL  ENGLAND. 

The  late  Samuel  England  was  an  old  and  most  highly  regarded  resident 
of  Macoupin  County,  to  which  he  came  with  his  pioneer  parents  in  1831. 
He  was  born  in  Alorgan  County,  Tennessee,  February  22,  1820,  and  was  a 
son  of  John  and  Lina   (Hall)   England. 

Joseph  England,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
moved  into  Tennessee  as  an  early  settler  of  IMorgan  County.  There  he 
o^^•ned  land  and  engaged  in  farming  vmtil  1830,  when  he  again  became  a 
pioneer,  migrating  to  Illinois,  and  settling  in  Morgan  County.  His  last 
years  were  spent  with  his  daughter,  ]\Irs.  Wilkins,  in  Marion  County. 


336  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 

John  England,  father  of  the  late  Samuel  England,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Tennessee,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1830  with  his 
parents  and  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  family  of  10  children.  In  those 
early  days  the  only  mode  of  transportation  was  by  means  of  teams  and 
wagons  and  thus  the  family  exodus  from  Tennessee  was  made.  The  covered 
wagons,  loaded  with  household  goods  and  accompanied  by  troops  of  happy 
children  and  their  grave  parents,  were  not  an  unusual  sight  at  that  time,  the 
rich  promises  of  fertile  lands  in  Illinois  having  drawn  hither  many  settlers 
from  older  States,  anxious  to  provide  for  their  usually  large  families.  The 
Englands  reached  Morgan  County  after  five  weeks  of  necessarily  slow  travel, 
and  their  first  winter  in  their  new  surroundings  was  probably  their  worst, 
it  being  the  year  which  has  become  noted  as  "the  winter  of  the  great  snow." 
In  the  spring  of  1831,  they  came  to  Macoupin  County,  where  Mr.  England 
bought  a  squatter's  claim  and  also  entered  land  from  the  government  in  what 
is  now  North  Otter  township.  They  lived  in  a  log  cabin,  14  by  16  feet  in 
dimensions,  which  was  covered  with  clapboards,  rived  by  hand.  The  chim- 
ney was  of  slabs  covered  with  mud,  and  the  floor  was  of  puncheons,  split 
by  hand.  In  these  small  quarters,  the  family  lived  two  years,  and  then  built 
a  larger  but  no  less  picturesque  log  house.  When  Mr.  England  was  prepared 
to  raise  his  house,  he  was  obliged  to  go  a  distance  of  eight  miles  to  get 
neighbors  to  assist.  This  new  house  also  had  a  puncheon  floor,  and  the 
pimcheon  door  was  fastened  with  wooden  pins  instead  of  nails.  From  this 
little  home,  where  the  latch-string  hospitably  hung  out,  went  forth  men  and 
women  who  grew  into  some  of  the  finest  types  of  citizenship  the  county  ever 
had.  The  parents  of  our  subject  labored  industriously,  the  father  clearing, 
and  cultivating  the  land,  and  the  mother  spinning  and  weaving  cloth  for  the 
household  raiment,  while  wholesome  tasks  were  assigned  each  child.  Here 
the  mother  died  in  1841,  and  the  father  in  1858. 

Our  subject  first  invested  in  land,  in  association  with  his  brother-in-law, 
paying  $2.50  an  acre,  built  a  small  house  and  a  year  later  sold  his  interest 
for  $700.  His  next  purchase  was  of  a  tract  of  80  acres,  in  North  Otter 
to^^•nship,  for  which  he  paid  $500.  This  transaction  gave  him  a  little  capital 
and  from  that  time  until  his  death,  Mr.  England  was  unusually  successful 
in  his  business  afifairs.  At  various  times  he  added  land  to  his  purchase  and 
lived  on  that  place  until  1866,  when  he  sold  it  and  bought  his  farm  adjoin- 
ing the  village  of  Girard,  a  well  cultivated  and  most  valuable  property  of 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  337 

225  acres,  which  he  improved  into  one  of  the  model  rural  homes  of  the 
county.  Mr.  England  was  permitted  to  spend  many  happy  and  useful  years. 
He  was  well  and  widely  known  for  his  good  farming,  in  earlier  days,  and 
latterly  for  tlie  hospitality  and  kindliness  which  made  him  esteemed  by  all 
who  were  admitted  to  his  acquaintance.  In  his  religious  views  he  was  a 
Methodist,  and  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  that  church. 

In  1846,  Mr.  England  married  Louisa  C.  Smith,  who  was  a  daughter 
of  ;Moses  and  Permelia  Smith.  Mrs.  England  died  in  1863,  mourned  by  all 
who  knew  her.  She  was  survived  by  six  children :  Antoinette,  of  Girard ; 
Elias,  of  Girard;  Marshall  M.,  deceased;  Permelia  E.,  wife  of  Henry  C. 
Hamilton,  president  of  the  Girard  Bank  and  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  prominent  citizens  of  the  place,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  wife  of  John  H.  Gill;  and  John  J.,  whose  sketch 
will  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  volume,  who  for  many  years  has  been 
the  valued  agent  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company 
at  Girard. 


JOHN  C.  NIEMANN. 

John  C.  Niem.\nn,  deceased,  who  for  many  years  was  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Mount  Olive  and  an  extensive  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Macou- 
pin County,  was  born  at  Borgholzhausen,  Ravensburg-Halle,  Prussia,  x\pril 
12,  1817,  and  was  a  son  of  Casper  Niemann,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  that 
locality. 

Mr.  Niemann  was  educated  in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land 
and  had  learned  the  management  of  a  farm  before  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  When  he  landed  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  May  13,  1839,  it  was 
with  a  capital  of  $3.80,  and  his  first  work  in  America  was  as  a  laborer  on 
the  Chesapeake  &  Potomac  Canal,  which  was  then  in  course  of  construction, 
where  he  earned  $1.25  per  day.  He  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  among  the 
pioneers  of  Macoupin  County  and,  when  he  located  at  Mount  Olive,  was  the 
only  German  settler  for  miles  around.  In  1841  he  located  on  a  farm  near 
Carlinville,  where  he  remained  three  years,  but  from  1844  until  his  death 
he  was  a  resident  of  Mount  Olive.     He  was  interested  in  the  town's  early 

19 


338  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

business  enterprises  and  was  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  the  township  through  many  years.  Mr.  Niemann's  death  took 
place  September  9,  1896. 

Mr.  Niemann  was  married  in  1847  to  Margaret  Stullken,  who  was  bom 
in  Oldenburg,  Germany,  and  died  in  September,  1854,  leaving  three  children, 
viz:  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  C.  J.  Keiser,  a  prominent  business  man  of 
Mount  Olive;  Sophia,  who  is  the  widow  of  the  late  William  Niemeyer,  of 
whom  a  sketch  will  be  found  in  this  volume;  and  Henry,  who  died  in  1876. 
Mr.  Niemann's  second  marriage  was  to  his  sister-in-law,  Anna  Stullken, 
who  still  survives  with  these  children :  Matilda,  Lydia,  Louisa,  Edward  P., 
William  L.  and  Anna.  Mr.  Niemann's  sons  form  the  firm  of  Niemann 
Brothers,  extensive  dealers  in  lumber,  lime,  cement,  paints,  oils,  sewer  pipe 
and  building  material  of  all  kinds.  This  firm  was  established  in  1896  and  is 
known  all  through  Macoupin  County,  not  only  for  its  enterprise,  but  for  its 
honest  methods  and  perfect  reliability. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Niemann  was  a  lifelong  Republican,  but  was  no  aspirant 
for  political  honors.  He  was  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
Mount  Olive,  and  was  a  man  who  commanded  the  respect  of  all  who  knew 
him,  both  in  business  and  private  life. 


HON.  HAMPTON    W.  WALL 

Hon.  Hampton  W.  Wall,  who  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  promi- 
nent, influential  and  successful  men  of  Macoupin  County,  identified  with  its 
agricultural,  business  and  political  life,  was  born  November  10,  1831,  in 
Macoupin  County,  and  was  a  son  of  Richard  and  Lucinda  (Camp)  Wall, 
being  the  younger  of  their  two  children.     His  brother's  name  was  Pahram. 

Mr.  Wall  received  a  district  school  education  and  early  in  life  became 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources.  He  worked  at  farm  work,  "mauled" 
rails,  by  the  month,  and  made  and  saved  money  from  the  beginning.  He 
became  the  owner  of  a  farm  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  which  he  operated, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  339 

in  connection  with  a  general  store  at  the  village  of  New  Hampton,  named  in 
his  honor  at  the  time.  This  store  he  sold,  at  a  later  date,  to  an  employee 
named  Worden,  and  after  Mr.  Wall  removed  to  Macoupin  County,  the  name 
was  changed  to  Worden,  which  name  the  village  still  bears.  After  locating 
in  Staunton.  Mr.  Wall  became  interested  in  a  milling  business,  eventually 
selling  it  and  entering  into  the  implement  business,  in  which  he  continued 
a  number  of  years.  All  his  ventures  proved  successful.  A  large  part  of  his 
working  capital  was  obtained  through  his  energy-,  enterprise  and  foresight 
in  the  buying  and  shipping  of  horses  and  mules,  during  the  Civil  War. 

After  disposing  of  his  implement  business,  Mr.  Wall  entered  into  part- 
nership with  James  Taylor  in  a  private  banking  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Wall  &  Taylor.  Failing  health  caused  Mr.  Taylor  to  withdraw,  and 
Mr.  Wall  entered  into  partnership  with  J.  C.  Panhorst,  and  this  congenial 
and  profitable  partnership  was  continued  until  the  calamity  occurred  which 
resulted  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Wall,  from  a  murderous  assault,  on  August  16, 
1898.  The  distressing  details  of  this  sad  afifair,  which  caused  a  united  family 
to  be  bereft  of  a  kind  husband  and  father,  a  community  to  lose  one  of  its 
foremost  citizens  and  a  State  to  regard  with  horror  and  g^ief  the  sudden 
death  of  an  honored  stateman,  have  been  spread  upon  the  pages  of  the  public 
press,  and  the  biographer  turns  aside,  better  satisfied  to  contemplate  the 
works  which  reflect  honor  upon  his  memory. 

In  political  conviction,  Mr.  Wall  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  in  the 
many  positions  to  which  he  was  advanced  by  his  party,  he  was  a  zealous 
advocate  of  its  principles,  but  was  never  swerved  from  the  path  of  duty, 
by  friend  or  foe.  Twice  elected  to  the  State  House  of  Representatives  and 
once  to  the  State  Senate,  he  gave  his  whole  mind  to  the  forming  and  passing 
of  just  laws  and  such  is  his  public  record.  Locally  he  filled  many  of  the 
offices  and  practiced  law  in  the  justice  courts,  although  never  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  had  a  natural  comprehension  of  law  and  jurisprudence  and  was 
often  heard  to  regret  tliat  he  had  not,  early  in  life,  devoted  himself  to  serious 
study  of  the  law.  The  death  of  such  a  man  is  a  serious  loss  to  any  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Wall  was  thrice  married.  His  first  marriage  was  to  Ellen  Rose- 
berry,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Roseberry.  At  her  death  she  left  one  daughter, 
now  Mrs.  Alice  M.  Ferris,  of  Missouri.  His  second  marriage  was  to  his 
sister-in-law.  Isabella  Roseberry,  the  second  daughter  of  Robert  Roseberry, 


340  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

and  six  children  were  born  to  them,  viz :  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Godfrey,  of  Staun- 
ton;  Charles  R.,  of  the  banking  tirm  of  Wall  &  Ouade,  of  Staunton; 
William  P.,  a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  Wall  &  Company,  of 
Staunton;  Mrs.  Harriet  Campbell,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  two  that 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Wall  for  his  third  wife  married  the  lady  who  still  sur- 
vives him,  Martha  E.  Scroggins,  who  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Keziah 
Scroggins  of  Staunton.  The  three  children  of  this  union  are :  Lillian  M., 
Mabel  E.  and  Hampton  Grover.  The  family  still  reside  at  Staunton,  where 
Mr.  Wall's  sons  look  after  the  large  financial  interests,  from  which  he  was  so 
suddenly  called.  In  every  circle,  the  family  has  been  of  prominence  for 
many  years.    Mrs.  Wall  resides  in  Staunton,  and  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


LEWIS  F.  BECKER. 

Lewis  F.  Becker,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Virden,  Macoupin  County, 
who  has  carried  on  an  extensive  contracting  and  building  business  for  a 
number  of  years,  was  born  July  i,  1854,  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  George  and  Catherine  (Steelier)  Becker. 

Our  subject  comes  of  German  parentage,  his  father  being  a  native  of 
Bavaria,  and  his  mother  of  Hesse-Cassel.  The  former  came  to  America  in 
1850  and  the  latter,  in  185 1,  and  they  were  married  in  1852.  They  reared 
a  family  of  five  children,  viz:  Lewis  P.,  Anna,  Amelia,  Oscar  (now  deceased) 
and  Carrie.  Three  children  died  in  infancy :  Ida  and  Wyant,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years,  and  an  infant  that  died  when  two  days  old.  Our 
subject's  parents  removed  in  1861  from  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  to  Virden,  which 
has  continued  to  be  their  residence  ever  since,  Mr.  Becker  being  largely  in- 
terested in  contracting  and  building. 

Lewis  F.  Becker  has  been  a  resident  of  Virden  since  he  was  seven  years 
of  age  and  for  this  reason  looks  upon  this  city  in  almost  the  same  light  as  if 
he  had  been  born  here.  Here  he  was  educated  and  to  the  improvement  and 
building  up  of  Virden  he  has  devoted  the  energies  of  a  very  busy  and  suc- 
cessful life.  The  handsome  appearance  and  substantial  character  of  the 
leading  business  houses  and  many  of  the  private  residences,  testify  to  his 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  341 

practical  ideas  as  well  as  to  his  constructive  ability.  He  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  civic  affairs,  has  served  most  usefully  on  the  City  Council,  has  been 
a  member  of  the  School  Board,  and  by  personal  effort  and  financial  assistance 
has  promoted  the  enterprises  uhich  ha\e  served  to  place  \'irden  among  the 
prospering  cities  of  Macoupin  County.  There  is  a  great  dift'erence  in  citizen- 
ship, and  ^Ir.  Becker  has  always  belonged  to  that  class  which  is  ready  and 
willing  to  put  aside  private  interests  when  the  welfare  of  the  public  is  at 
stake. 

On  February  21,  1877,  ilr.  Becker  was  married  to  Caroline  Bajohr, 
who  was  bom  in  Jerseyville,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Bernard  and 
Martha  Bajohr,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Germany.  They  have  eight 
children  living:  Fred,  Ota,  Ada,  Oscar  L.,  Anna,  Carrie,  Albert  and  Russell. 
One  child  died  in  infancy.  'Sir.  Becker  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fratemit}'-  for  many  years  and  is  locally  connected  with  \''irden  Lodge,  No. 
161,  in  which  he  has  served  as  Worshipful  Master  and  is  at  present  secretary. 
Mr.  Becker  and  family  are  much  esteemed  in  Virden  and  he  is  considered  one 
of  the  city's  substantial  and  representative  men. 


SCOTT  ETTER. 


Scott  Etter,  city  attorney  of  Palmyra,  a  leading  citizen  and  Demo- 
cratic politician,  and  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Transcript,  one  of  the 
outspoken  and  influential  newspapers  of  ilacoupin  County,  is  a  descendant 
6f  some  of  the  best  pioneer  stock  of  this  section  of  the  State.  'Sir.  Etter 
was  bom  October  30.  1875.  in  South  Palmyra  township,  Macoupin  County, 
and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Flora  (Ritchie)  Etter. 

Tracing  the  Etter  family  as  far  back  as  our  subject's  great-grandfather, 
we  find  that  Henrj-  Etter  was  born  in  Wythe  County,  \^irginia.  and  removed 
to  Eastern  Tennessee  at  the  age  of  23  years.  He  married  Elizabeth  Parks, 
a  member  of  a  family  which  had  migrated  from  New  England  to  Tennessee, 
and  they  had  a  family  of  12  children,  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth  being 
Henr}',  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  In  1S27  the  elder  Henry  Etter  re- 
moved   with   his    familv   to    Greene    Countv,    Illinois,    settling   three   miles 


342  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

southeast  of  Greenfield.  He  was  the  pioneer  settler  in  his  neighborhood, 
only  a  few  other  families  having  located  in  the  township.  In  1836  he  re- 
moved to  Alacoupin  County  and  settled  on  section  9,  in  what  is  now 
Western  Alound  township,  on  a  farm  now  occupied  by  George  Etter.  At 
that  early  day  few  settlers  had  found  homes  here  and  pioneer  conditions 
existed  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Etter  bought  a  claim  of  120  acres  and 
entered  280  additional  acres,  much  of  this  property  still  remaining  in  the 
possession  of  the  family. 

Henry  Etter,  Jr.,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  became  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Macoupin  County,  although  he  enjoyed  in  youth  few  educational  oppor- 
tunities. On  November  14,  1844,  he  married  Asbereen  Elizabeth  Davidson, 
who  was  born  ^lay  12,  1824,  in  Barren  County,  Kentucky,  and  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  E.  and  Margaret  (Wright)  Davidson  and  a  granddaughter  of  John 
Davidson,  who  migrated  to  America  from  Scotland.  Mr.  Etter  and  wife 
engaged  in  farming  in  Western  Mound  township  until  1845,  \vhen  they 
moved  to  the  present  farm  of  our  subject  in  section  16,  South  Palmyra  town- 
ship. Mr.  Etter  accumulated  480  acres  of  land,  but.  with  the  exception  of 
160  acres,  has  given  all  to  his  children.  He  was  born  May  14,  1820,  and, 
although  advanced  in  years,  still  retains  the  management  of  his  homestead. 
The  children  of  Henn,-  Etter,  Jr.,  were:  George;  James;  Smith,  deceased; 
and  Elijah,  a  resident  of  Waverly,  Illinois. 

James  Etter,  father  of  our  subject,  is  now  a  retired  farmer  of  South 
Palmyra.  He  married  Flora  Ritchie,  who  died  in  1900.  Mrs.  Etter  was  a 
daughter  of  E.  W.  Ritchie,  a  farmer  of  South   Palmyra  township. 

Scott  Etter  attended  the  Palmyra  schools  and  was  graduated  at  the 
Palmyra  High  School  in  1892.  It  had  required  considerable  eflfort  and  self 
denial  on  the  young  man's  part  to  accomplish  this  satisfactory  result.  The 
successful  passage  through  high  school  entails  expenses  for  suitable  books, 
apparatus,  etc.,  and  the  means  for  defraying  these  expenses  he  earned  by 
working  in  the  rock  quarries  on  his  father's  farm.  Doubtless  this  was  ex- 
cellent discipline,  at  any  rate  it  goes  to  show  that  Mr.  Etter  is  not  one  to  per- 
mit adverse  conditions  to  discourage  him  in  the  pursuit  of  his  chosen  aim. 
Much  of  his  subsequent  career  has  made  this  manifest.  For  a  period  he 
taught  school  in  Macoupin  Count\',  and  from  1896  to  1897  was  the  able 
principal  of  the  Modesto  High  School.  He  then  removed  to  Palmyra  and 
entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law  with  Frank  M.  Solomon,  with  whom  he 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  343 

later  formed  a  law  partnership.  When  this  was  dissolved  in  1898,  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  Hon.  James  B.  Searcy,  at  that  time  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature.  This  connection  was  severed  in  1900,  since  which  time 
Mr.  Etter  has  conducted  his  practice  alone,  Mr.  Searcy  locating  at  Carlin- 
ville. 

Since  1895  ^^^-  Etter  has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  Democratic  poli- 
tics in  this  section  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  all  important  conventions. 
One  notable  one  was  the  i6th  Congressional  Convention,  which  finally 
elected  T.  J.  Selby,  after  a  deadlock  and  the  taking  of  2,531  ballots.  He  was 
also  a  delegate  to  the  convention  which  nominated  J.  B.  Rieks  as  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Illinois.  In  1891  his  abilities  were  recognized  by  election 
as  city  attorney  of  Palmyra,  an  office  he  has  since  held  by  acclamation.  On 
November  7,  1898,  he  purchased  the  Transcript,  one  of  the  leading  news- 
papers of  the  county  and  one  which  commands  attention  on  account  of  the 
ability  with  w^hich  it  is  conducted.  Since  April  17,  1901,  he  has  been  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  F.  A.  of  A.  Insurance  Company.  Until  1903  he  was  one 
of  the  principal  stockholders  of  the  Electric  Light  &  Telephone  Company  of 
Palmyra,  of  which  he  was  the  promoter.  He  has  been  very  active  in  all 
public  spirited  movements,  and  by  voice,  pen  and  means,  encourages  every- 
thing which  promises  to  be  of  substantial  benefit  to  this  section. 

On  October  31,  1900,  Mr.  Etter  was  married  to  Frances  M.  Butcher, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Wesley  Butcher,  who  died  January  7,  1892.  Mrs. 
Etter  is  proficient  in  music  and  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  was  a  teacher  of 
music  at  Carlinville.  They  have  a  son,  Roscoe,  who  was  born  November  9, 
1901,  and  a  daughter,  Frances,  born  February  24,  1904.  Both  Mr.  Etter 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Fraternally  he  is  an  Odd 
Fellow  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 


THOMAS  E.  ELLIMAN. 

Thomas  E.  Elliman,  a  prominent  general  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of 
Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County,  owning  and  operating  a  fine  farm  of 
240  acres,  situated  in  sections  15  and  22,  was  born  in  Butler  Grove  township, 


344  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  October  14,  1875.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Louise    (Casselberry)    Elliman. 

William  Elliman,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Cheap- 
stead,  Surrey  Lane,  now  a  part  of  the  city  of  London,  England,  and  was  a 
son  of  a  clergyman  of  the  Established  Church.  He  brought  his  family  to 
America  and  located  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  when  his  son  William 
was  II  years  of  age,  and  here  he  died  at  the  age  of  46  years.  He  was  a 
baker  by  trade,  although  for  generations  the  family  calling  had  been  the 
Church.  His  children  were :  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Raymond,  of  Macoupin  County ; 
William,  of  Butler,  Montgomery  County;  Mrs.  Katherine  Coffee,  of  Ma- 
coupin County;  Mrs.  Mary  Cromwell,  of  Macoupin  County;  Harry,  of 
Butler,  Montgomery  County;  Mrs.  Emma  Young,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri; 
and  Thomas,  deceased. 

William  Elliman,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  October  25,  1843,  ^^ 
Cheapstead,  London,  and,  as  noted,  was  a  lad  of  11  years  when  he  came  to 
Macoupin  County.  For  many  years  he  was  connected  with  railroad  work, 
was  frieght  agent  for  the  "Big  Four"  Railroad  at  Litchfield,  agent  for  the 
Wabash  road  at  Litchfield,  ticket  agent  at  Butler,  and  for  three  years  was 
deputy  county  clerk.  On  account  of  failing  eyesight,  he  turned  his  attention 
to  farming  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  agriculturists  of  Montgomery  County, 
living  near  Butler.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  an  influential  man 
in  his  party.  In  religious  belief  he  is  an  Episcopalian.  Two  daughters  were 
born  to  his  first  marriage:  Mary  Elizabeth,  who  resides  at  home;  and  an  in- 
fant, deceased.  His  second  union  was  with  Louise  Casselberry,  who  was  born 
in  Belleville,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Louise  Casselberry, 
natives  of  Indiana.  An  uncle  of  our  subject,  Evans  Casselberry,  who  died 
at  St.  Louis  some  eight  years  ago,  was  very  prominently  identified  with  the 
school  system  of  that  city,  and  a  leading  member  of  the  bar.  Two  children 
were  born  to  this  marriage — Thomas  E.  and  Charles,  the  latter  being  de- 
ceased. 

Thomas  E.  Elliman  has  had  most  excellent  educational  advantages.  Af- 
ter graduating  from  the  Butler  High  School,  he  studied  two  years  at  Black- 
burn University  at  Carlinville  and  then  entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine. 
However,  he  subsequently  ended  his  professional  studies  and  turned  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits,  being  his  father's  only  son,  and  the  heir  to  a 
large  amount  of  real  estate.     Mr.  Elliman  has  proved  his  choice  a  wise  one, 


SAMUEL  GRAY. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  347 

his  success  having  been  continuous  ever  since  he  took  charge  of  his  present 
farm  in  1901.  While  thoroughly  practical,  Mr.  Elliman  is  also  a  scientific 
farmer,  applying  the  principles  of  the  whole  circle  of  sciences  in  the  intelli- 
gent management  of  his  land.  He  has  large  herds  of  fine  Shorthorn,  Dur- 
ham and  Hereford  cattle,  Shropshire  sheep  and  Poland-China  and  Duroc 
swine.    He  also  raises  horses  and  makes  hay  and  corn  his  leading  farm  crops. 

In  June,  1900,  Mr.  Elliman  married  Mary  B.  Barrett,  who  was  born 
July  4,  1880,  at  Butler,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jesse  C.  and  Emma 
(Hutchison)  Barrett.  Jesse  C.  Barrett  was  born  May  30,  1839,  at  Deer- 
field,  Indiana,  and  came  to  Illinois  a  young  man  to  make  his  own  way.  For 
15  years  he  was  superintendent  of  schools  in  Montgomery  County  and  a 
teacher  all  his  life.  He  was  a  son  of  Hon.  Elisha  E.  Barrett,  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  who  was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  during  the  administra- 
tion of  President  Lincoln.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Elliman  now  live  retired  on 
a  farm.  She  is  the  third  member  of  their  family  of  four  children,  the  others 
being :  Mrs.  Nettie  Neely,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  James,  an  instructor  at  the 
State  University;  and  Anita,  who  is  living  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barrett 
belong  to  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  politics  Mr.  Elliman  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  township  clerk. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  Master  Mason  and  is  connected  with  Gillespie  Lodge,  No. 
214,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.     In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 


SAMUEL  GRAY. 


Samuel  Gray,  one  of  the  old  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Macoupin 
County  and  a  leading  agriculturist  of  Gillespie  township,  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  of  258  acres,  situated  in  sections  6,  7,  8  and  17,  was  born  February 
10,  1839,  in  Gillespie  township.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Eliza  (De  Crow) 
Gray. 

The  Gray  family  is  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  this  county.  James 
Gray,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  an  Irishman  by  birth,  came  here  in  1824, 
entering  land  on  Coup's  creek,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  at  the  age 
of  75  years.     His    children  were :  James,  Samuel,  Menoah,  Julia,  Elizabeth, 


348  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Polly,  Matilda,  William,  Mrs.  I^Iaria  Maxwell,  ]Mrs.  Lucy  Clark  and  Mrs. 
Jane  James.  Julia,  Elizabeth  and  Matilda  married  brothers  of  the  McKinsey 
family.  William  Gray  was  born  on  the  James  River  in  \'irginia,  and  he  was 
23  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  in  1824.  He  entered  land  here  and 
paid  his  taxes  with  sales  of  coonskins  and  beeswax.  His  destination  was 
Carlinville,  but  the  few  log  cabins  which  formed  the  village  were  so  incon- 
spicuous that  he  could  scarcely  believe  he  had  reached  the  settlement.  Of 
this  place  he  soon  became  a  leading  factor.  Like  other  pioneers  he  possessed 
much  inventive  genius  and  the  agricultural  implements  he  required  he  was 
able  to  construct  himself.  As  game  was  abiuidant  he  spent  much  time  in 
hunting  and  our  subject  can  recall  when  16  deer  at  one  time  hung  ready  to  be 
preserved  for  future  use,  all  having  been  killed  by  his  father.  In  those  days  the 
mothers  of  the  families  were  equally  ingenious  and  industrious,  making  all  the 
materials  for  the  garbing  of  the  family  on  their  busy  looms  and  riding  on 
horseback  many  miles  to  the  nearest  markets  to  dispose  of  their  butter  and 
eggs.  Mr.  Gray  entered  land  in  Christian  County,  earning  money  to  pay  the 
entering  fee  by  making  rails  at  a  "bit"  a  hundred.  His  death  took  place  in 
Christian  County  where  he  left  a  good  farm  of  120  acres.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  his  political  views.  For  a  long  time  he  was  a  major  in  the  local  militia. 
Although  a  man  of  little  book  education,  he  was  possessed  of  much  native  in- 
telligence. In  religion  he  was  a  Baptist.  He  married  Eliza  De  Crow,  who  was 
born  in  Maryland,  of  French  ancestry  and  could  speak  the  French  language 
fluently.  These  children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely :  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Gibbs,  deceased;  James,  deceased;  Mrs.  Mary  Johnson,  of  Missouri;  Mrs. 
Julia  Armstrong,  of  Morrisonville.  Christian  County ;  William,  deceased,  who 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  during  the  Civil  War,  his  brother  Samuel 
receiving  injuries  in  the  same  battle;  Samuel,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Anna  Reed, 
deceased;  Jackson,  deceased;  David,  of  Alton,  Illinois;  Elijah,  deceased;  and 
Mrs.  Priscilla  Record. 

Samuel  Gray  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  attended  the  district 
schools  of  his  neighborhood.  When  the  Civil  War  came  upon  the  land,  he 
was  one  of  the  first  loyal  young  men  to  respond  from  Carlinville,  enlisting  in 
Company  C,  32nd  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Col.  John  A.  Logan.  His 
regiment  was  sent  to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and  during  two  years  he 
participated  in  some  of  the  most  serious  battles  of  the  great  war.  Survivors 
can  not  hear  the  names  of  Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh  and  Corinth 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  349 

mentioned,  without  recalling  appalling  scenes  of  carnage.  At  Shiloh  he  was 
wounded;  after  the  battle  of  Corinth,  he,  with  other  sick  and  injured,  was  sent 
by  Governor  Richard  Yates,  Sr.,  to  the  Marine  Hospital  at  St.  Louis,  where, 
after  six  months  of  convalescence,  he  was  honorably  discharged  for  disability, 
October  16,   1863. 

Mr.  Gray  returned  to  the  farm  in  Christian  County,  where  he  lived  for 
18  months,  removing  then  to  his  present  farm  in  Gillespie  township,  which 
has  been  his  home  ever  since.  Here  Mr.  Gray  has  carried  on  extensive  general 
farming  and  stock  raising,  having  170  acres  under  cultivation.  He  has  made 
many  valuable  and  substantial  improvements  on  his  property  and  has  set  out 
an  apple,  peach  and  pear  orchard  of  6,000  trees. 

On  February  12,  1863,  Mr.  Gray  was  married  to  Sarah  B.  Bell,  who  was 
born  in  Marion  County,  Ohio,  March  26,  1847,  ^"^  is  a  daughter  of  William 
J.  and  Katherine  (Bushy)  Bell,  and  children  have  been  bom  to  them,  as 
follows:  Julia  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years;  Wilson  Dennis,  a  farmer 
of  Gillespie  township,  who  married  Minnie  Taylor  and  has  five  children — Roy 
E.,  Samuel,  Clara  B.,  Joseph  F.,  and  Mildred  E. ;  Cora  A.,  who  is  at  school; 
and  five  others  who  are  now  deceased. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Gray  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In 
politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  serving  at  present 
as  school  director.  Formerly  he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  His 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch. 


MAHLON  ROSS. 


Mahlon  Ross^  one  of  the  retired  citizens  of  Virden,  where  for  many 
years  he  has  been  prominent  in  professional  life  as  the  senior  member  of  the 
law  firm  of  Ross  &  Ross,  and  has  also  been  identified  with  the  business  in- 
terests of  the  place,  was  born  November  12,  1821,  in  Mercer  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  is  a  son  of  Edward  C.  and  Mary   (Axtel)    Ross. 

The  Ross  family  was  originally  from  New  Jersey  and  in  that  State 
both  our  subject's  father  and  grandfather  were  bom.  The  family  removed 
to  Washington  County,   Pennsylvania,   where  Edward  C.   was   reared  and 


350  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

educated.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  of  200  acres  in  Sandy 
Creek  township,  Mercer  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  until  1835, 
when  he  sold  this  property,  which  he  had  mucli  improved,  and  removed  to 
Delaware  County,  Ohio,  where  he  proposed  to  clear  and  improve  a  large 
tract  of  land,  but  his  death  took  place  in  the  following  year,  at  the  age  of 
52  years.  This  calamity  left  a  widow  and  nine  children,  who  remained  on  this 
farm  until  1839,  when  they  sought  a  new  home  in  the  then  Territory  of 
Iowa,  Mrs.  Ross  securing  a  government  claim  in  Linn  County.  She  was  the 
moving  spirit  for  some  years  in  all  the  changes  of  the  family,  and  perhaps 
no  more  capable  or  self-denying  woman  ever  lived.  Her  memory  is  treasured 
by  her  children,  whose  welfare  it  was  her  continual  desire  to  promote.  She 
died  in  1846,  having  lived  to  see  the  farm  under  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved, and  her  children  all  on  the  high  road  to  success. 

In  the  work  incident  to  the  settlement  in  Linn  County,  Iowa,  our  sub- 
ject was  his  mother's  right-hand  helper.  He  was  18  years  of  age  at  this  time 
and  his  schooling  was  finished,  his  education  having  been  obtained  in  the 
subscription  schools  in  the  neighborhoods  where  his  parents  had  lived,  and  at 
the  Mission  Institute  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  from  1842  to 
1846.  He  was  thus  prepared  for  teaching  and  was  employed  one  summer 
in  Missouri  and  one  summer  and  one  winter  in  Greene  County,  Illinois.  His 
vacations  were  made  profitable  in  every  way  that  opportunity  offered,  as  as- 
sistant on  neighboring  farms  and  also  as  chain  boy  in  surveying  expeditions, 
a  notable  example  of  the  latter  being  during  the  survey  of  the  Territorial 
road  from  Davenport  to  Iowa  City,  at  a  time  when  a  log  cabin  was  the  only 
house  then  standing  in  the  present  bustling  and  important  city  of  Cedar 
Rapids.  All  this  time,  however,  the  youth  was  cherishing  an  ambition,  and 
under  the  most  unfavorable  conditions  managed  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
law,  and  in  1850  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  After  a  short  practice  at  Hardin, 
Calhoun  County,  Illinois,  he  went  to  Carrollton,  and  in  1854  located  in 
Virden,  where  for  almost  a  half  century  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  of  Macoupin  County.  Natural  ability  he  possessed  to  a  high 
degree  and  he  successfully  waged  legal  contests  with  other  men  in  his  pro- 
fession, who  already  had  become  eminent  and  many  of  whom  later  gained 
national  reputations.  It  is  recalled  of  Mr.  Ross,  that  he  was  long  considered 
a  very  formidable  opponent  on  account  of  his  ready  wit  and  flow  of  language, 
as  well  as  for  his  clear  comprehension  of  every  case  he  ever  undertook.    After 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  351 

years  of  activity,  he  retired  to  private  life,  taking  with  him  the  cordial 
esteem  of  his  co-workers,  the  respect  of  the  community  and  the  affection 
of  those  who  have  been  permitted  to  enter  into  close  association  with  him. 

Mr.  Ross  was  married  in  1857  to  Harriet  E.  ^L  Roberts,  who  was  born 
June  27,  1825,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Joel  and  Tabitha  (Fellows)  Roberts, 
and  five  children  were  bom  to  them,  of  whom  three  died  in  infancy.  Those 
living  are :  -\lva  and  Ella. 

It  may  be  truthfully  said  that  the  mantle  of  the  father  has  fallen  on 
his  son,  for  Alva  Ross  since  his  father's  retirement  has  entered  upon  a  bril- 
liant individual  career,  and  has  pushed  to  the  front  until  to-day  he  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  the  Macoupin  County  bar.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Virden,  Jacksonville  Business  College  and 
Xorthwestern  University's  Law  School  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  law  in  1890.  In  the  following  June  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  was  admitted  to  partnership  by  his  father,  the  firm  name  of  Ross  & 
Ross  then  coming  into  existence.  From  the  first  it  was  a  strong  one  and  to  it 
has  been  entrusted  much  of  the  important  litigation  of  the  count}'. 

Our  venerable  subject  has  filled  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bility in  Virden,  being  at  all  times  a  man  whose  life  and  character  reflected 
honor  upon  his  communitj'.  While  interested  in  all  public  spirited  efforts 
and  contributing  service,  time  and  financial  aid,  his  real  life  has  been  more 
that  of  a  thinker  and  scholar.  His  pen  has  often  strayed  into  literary  eft'ort 
and  his  papers,  if  collected,  would  show  deep  learning,  close  reasoning  and 
the  careful  consideration  of  a  wide  range  of  subjects.  In  his  beautiful  home 
in  Virden,  his  fine  library  is  his  chosen  spot,  and  here  the  evening  of  life  is 
peacefully  enjoyed  by  this  citizen  of  Virden,  who  is  the  center  of  his  fellow 
citizens'  good  will. 


FREDERICK  SCHULTZ. 

Frederick  Schultz,  a  highly  respected  retired  citizen  of  Staunton.  Ma- 
coupin County,  was  born  November  10,  1834,  in  Brunswick,  Germany,  and 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  Schultz,  who  was  a  farmer  in  Germany. 

Frederick  Schultz  of  this  sketch  lost  his  mother  in  infancy.     He  is  the 


352  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 

only  son  in  the  family  of  five  children  born  to  his  parents,  and  the  only 
member  of  the  family  to  come  to  America.  He  began  farm  work  in  his  own 
country  at  the  age  of  14  years,  hiring  out  by  the  year  as  was  the  custom  there. 
When  he  was  21  years  of  age,  he  sailed  from  Bremen  to  New  York  City, 
which  he  reached  after  a  voyage  of  four  weeks.  His  objective  point  was 
Belleville,  Illinois,  where  he  secured  work  in  the  coal  mines,  and  where  he 
continued  until  1875,  when  he  moved  to  Staunton.  Mr.  Schultz  worked  in 
the  mines  at  Staunton  until  1903,  and  then  retired  from  activity,  having  in 
the  meantime  accumulated  a  competency  which  is  well  invested.  He  is  a 
self  made  man,  one  who  has  fairly  earned  all  he  possesses. 

In  1866  Mr.  Schultz  was  married  to  Mary  Leipoldt.  who  was  born  in 
October,  1839,  in  Germany,  and  who  came  to  America  in  1865.  They  have 
three  children :  Peter,  who  is  a  mine  worker  and  lives  at  home ;  Henry,  who 
follows  the  same  vocation  and  also  lives  at  home;  and  Mrs.  Minnie  Baum, 
who  has  one  child — Edna. 

Mr.  Schultz  has  generally  voted  with  the  Democratic  party,  although, 
in  some  campaigns,  he  has  not  been  in  full  accord  and  has  cast  his  vote  with 
the  Republicans.  He  has  his  own  convictions  and  sometimes  votes  more  for 
the  man  than  for  the  party  he  represents.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of  St. 
Paul's  Reformed  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Schultz  is  much  esteemed  in  Staun- 
ton, where  his  industry,  his  honesty  and  kind,  neighborly  qualities  ha\e  at- 
tracted to  him  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


* « » 


WILLIAM  H.  SCHELM. 

William  H.  Schelm,  one  of  the  leading  business  citizens  of  Brighton. 
]Macoupin  County,  where  he  conducts  a  blacksmith  shop,  was  born  in  Brigh- 
ton in  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Amelia  (Brummer)  Schelm. 

Henry  Schelm  was  born  in  1835  in  Brunswick,  Germany,  and  came  to 
America  and  located  at  Brighton  in  1863.  In  1866  he  married  Amelia 
Brummer,  who  was  also  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  with  her 
parents  when  six  years  of  age.  Her  father.  Charles  Brummer,  was  a  mer- 
chant   in    Germany,    but   after    locating    in    Brighton    township,    Macoupin 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  353 

County,  he  followed  farming.  He  died  in  1866  at  the  age  of  62  years,  sur- 
vived by  his  widow  until  1880,  when  she  was  75  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Schelm 
was  the  j-oungest  of  1 1  children.  She  still  survives,  residing  at  Brighton,  in 
her  55th  year.  Henry  Schelm  died  in  1889,  leaving  seven  children,  our  sub- 
ject being  the  eldest. 

William  H.  Schelm  obtained  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Brighton 
township  and  also  learned  his  trade  on  the  farm,  working  for  a  time  in  the 
village  and  township,  and  then  erected  a  complete  and  well  appointed  shop 
in  Brighton.  In  addition  to  this  building,  he  owns  a  dwelling  and  store.  His 
skill  as  a  workman  is  so  well  known  that  he  enjoys  a  large  patronage. 

In  1889  Mr.  Schelm  married  Henrietta  Lauck,  who  was  the  fifth  mem- 
ber of  a  family  of  six  children  born  to  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Cook)  Lauck. 
Mr.  Lauck  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  with  his  mother  and 
three  brothers  in  1855,  when  he  was  26  years  of  age.  The  family  landed 
at  New  Orleans  and  came  immediately  to  Brighton,  where  Mr.  Lauck  has 
followed  the  carpenter  trade  ever  since,  being  the  builder  of  many  of  the 
substantial  structures  in  this  vicinity.  Mrs.  Schelm  died  March  31,  1904, 
at  the  age  of  35  years,  1 1  months  and  26  days. 

Our  subject  has  six  bright,  intelligent  children,  namely :  Hilda,  born 
October  23,  1890;  Alma,  born  May  26,  1892;  Carl,  born  February  2,  1895; 
Ruth,  born  August  3,  1897;  Viola,  born  October  10,  1900;  and  Paul,  born 
September  3,  1903. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Schelm  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  Democratic  principles. 
He  belongs  to  a  number  of  fraternal  organizations,  notably  the  Modem 
Woodmen  of  America,  Royal  Circle  and  the  German  Harugari.  With  his 
family,  he  belongs  to  and  liberally  supports  the  Evangelical  Church. 


GIDEON  B.  LOPER. 

Gideon  B.  Loper,  one  of  the  extensive  farmers  and  substantial  citizens 
of  Western  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  fine  farm  of  913 
acres  in  Macoupin  County,  was  1x)rn  in  W^estern  Mound  township,  June  3, 
1842.     He  is  a  son  of  Adrian  W.  and  Susan  (Keller)  Loper. 


354  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

James  Loper,  the  grandfather  of  Gideon  B.,  was  probably  born  in  New 
Jersey;  he  was  a  sea-faring  man,  and  his  two  vessels  did  good  service  for 
his  country  during  the  War  of  1812,  which,  however,  resulted  in  his  losing 
them.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  with  his 
wife  and  two  children  started  for  Indiana,  crossing  the  Alleghany  Mountains 
with  his  household  goods  packed  in  a  one-horse  wagon.  For  a  time  he  lived 
in  the  vicinity  of  Fairfield,  Indiana,  but  in  1829,  he  removed  to  Greene 
County,  Illinois.  In  1831  he  became  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Chesterfield 
township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  passed  his  remaining  years. 

Adrian  W.  Loper,  father  of  Gideon  B.,  was  the  second  member  of  his 
parents"  family  of  seven  children.  He  became  a  large  land-owner  and  promi- 
nent farmer,  leaving  an  estate  of  215  acres  at  the  time  of  his  death.  On 
December  22,  1837,  he  married  Susan  Keller,  who  was  born  in  Crawford 
County,  Indiana,  September  14,  1818,  and  died  June  6,  1896.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Keller  who  was  born  in  Maryland  and  accompanied  his 
parents  in  youth  to  Kentucky.  There  he  was  reared  and  married,  removing 
to  Crawford  County  Indiana,  in  1800,  being  one  of  the  earliest  settlers. 
There  he  purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land  and  later  bought  land  in  Coles 
County,  Illinois,  which  he  sold  in  1836  to  remove  to  Chesterfield  township, 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  also  a  pioneer.  Here  he  developed 
a  fine  farm. 

Gideon  B.  Loper  obtained,  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
township  and  remained  at  home,  assisting  his  father  on  the  homestead  farm, 
120  acres  of  which  he  owns.  In  addition  to  this  valuable  property,  Mr.  Loper 
owns  1,493  aci'es  throughout  the  States  of  Illinois  and  Kansas,  and  also 
numerous  town  lots  in  various  cities. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Loper  was  married  to  Virginia  Carr,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Macabus  and  Mary  (Bates)  Carr,  who  were  born  in  Tennessee.  Mr. 
Carr  came  to  Macoupin  County  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1874,  in 
his  59th  year,  he  was  a  large  farmer  of  Western  I\Iound  township.  Five 
children  were  torn  to  this  marriage:  Ary  O.,  Annetta,  Mattie  V.,  Orin  B., 
and  Horace  G.  The  eldest  son  is  operating  the  homestead  farm.  He  mar- 
ried Ella  Brannan,  who  is  a  daughter  of  James  T.  and  Sarah  Ann  (Hinkle) 
Brannan,  and  they  have  reared  two  children — Ora  and  Oma.  Annetta  mar- 
ried A.  C.  Chism,  a  farmer  of  Bird  township,  who  is  a  son  of  Bostick  Chism 
of  Western  Mound  township,  and  they  have  four  children — Frank,  Floyd, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  355 

Henry  and  Evelyn.  Mattie  \'.  married  William  Henry  Dams,  a  merchant  at 
Chesterfield,  and  they  have  one  child — Cressa  Viola.  Orin  B.  Loper,  a 
general  merchant  at  Chesterfield,  married  Mabel  Moore,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Louis  P.  i\loore.  Horace  G.  Loper  assists  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  mar- 
ried Ora  Regsbey,  daughter  of  a  large  stock  buyer  of  Chesterfield  township, 
and  they  have  two  children — Rhea  and  Corinne. 

In  politics  Mr.  Loper  is  identified  with  the  Requblican  party.     Fratern- 
ally he  is  a  Mason.     In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Baptist. 


OTTO   E.  QUADE. 

Otto  E.  Ou.\de,  one  of  the  representative  business  citizens  of  Staun- 
ton, Illinois,  junior  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  Wall  &  Quade,  of  Staun- 
ton, was  born  in  this  city,  January  31,  1875,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  William 
and  Mary  (Voglesang)  Quade. 

The  Quade  family  is  of  German  ancestry,  and  both  of  the  parents  of 
our  subject  were  born  in  that  country.  William  Quade  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1870  and  settled  in  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  for  a  time  in 
coal  mining.  Later  he  entered  into  the  liquor  business  and  in  1890  erected  the 
fine  hotel  in  Staunton  known  as  the  Hotel  Quade,  a  modern  structure  fitted 
with  every  convenience  demanded  by  the  critical  traveling  public  of  the  times. 
Mr.  Quade  conducted  this  excellent  hostelry  himself  until  his  death,  in  1899, 
at  the  age  of  66  years.  He  is  survived  by  his  widow  and  four  of  his  six 
children,  viz :  Johanna,  wife  of  Rudolph  Dreibholz,  the  present  proprietor 
of  the  Hotel  Quade;  Lena  A.,  wife  of  the  former  postmaster,  W.  F.  Hack- 
man;  Otto  E.,  of  this  sketch;  and  William  G.,  of  West  Depere,  Wisconsin, 
who  is  assistant  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Burns  Boiler  &  Manufacturing 
Company. 

Otto  E.  Quade  has  always  had  his  residence  in  Staunton  and  is  devoted 
to  the  city's  interests.  Until  he  was  14  years  of  age,  he  attended  the  paro- 
chial schools  and  then  spent  a  year  at  Walther  College,  St.  Louis,  returning 

to  enter  his  father's  employ,  as  clerk  of  the  Hotel  Quade.     In   1898  he  be- 
20 


356  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

came  clerk  in  the  Staunton  Post  Office,  and  served  four  years  under  Post- 
master W.  F.  Hackman.  In  1902  he  entered  into  the  banking  business,  in 
association  with  Charles  R.  Wall,  and  the  firm  of  Wall  &  Quade  carries  con- 
siderable weight  with  it  in  financial  circles.  He  is  the  secretary'  of  the  Staun- 
ton Loan  &  Building  Association,  and  of  the  Staunton  Home  Association. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Quade  is  connected  with  Parnassus  Lodge,  Xo.  581, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Staunton;  and  of  the  Elks  Lodge,  No.  654,  of  Litch- 
field. Personally  Mr.  Quade  is  a  man  of  winning  exterior  and  pleasing  and 
courteous  manner.  His  business  sagacity  has  been  recognized  and  both  he 
and  his  business  partner  enjoy  the  fullest  measure  of  public  confidence. 


JOHN    GEORGE   BECKER. 

John  George  Becker,  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  regarded 
citizens  of  Virden,  Illinois,  who  has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  the  city's 
business  life  for  more  than  40  years,  was  born  June  15,  1828,  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Philip  Becker,  who  died  in  his  native  land  in 
1874,  at  the  age  of  74  years. 

Until  he  was  13  years  old,  our  esteemed  subject  attended  school  and 
laid  the  foundations  upon  which  reading,  experience  and  association  with  the 
world  have  built  a  comprehensive  education.  Mr.  Becker  was  the  son  of  a 
practical  farmer,  who  encouraged  him  to  learn  a  self-supporting  trade,  and 
before  he  was  16  years  old  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  local  cabinet-maker.  He 
became  a  skilled  workman  and  followed  his  trade  in  various  parts  of  Ger- 
many until  1850,  when  he  came  to  America.  His  passage  was  taken  on  the 
sailing  vessel  "Calender,"  from  Havre  to  New  Orleans,  which  city  he  finally 
reached  after  a  long  and  wearying  voyage  of  52  days.  The  Southern  city  did 
not  offer  the  business  opportunities  he  sought,  and  after  two  weeks  of  sight- 
seeing, he  traveled  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained 
until  1 86 1.  At  this  time  Virden  was  not  the  bustling  little  city  it  has  since 
become.  Mr.  Becker  saw  here  a  fine  opening  as  a  builder  and  contractor; 
taking  advantage  of  it,  he  not  only  assured  his  own  business  success,  but  ad- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  357 

vanced  the  interests  of  the  place.  His  large  building  and  contracting  opera- 
tions opened  the  way  for  other  enterprises  and  the  growth  of  Virden  may  be 
noticed  from  that  time.  The  excellence  of  Mr.  Becker's  work  is  shown  on 
every  hand,  in  the  substantial  structures  planned  and  erected  by  him.  For 
many  years  he  stood  at  the  head  of  this  industry  and  he  holds  the  record  of 
having  erected  the  first  brick  building  in  Virden.  Mr.  Becker's  enterprise 
kept  up  with  the  city's  increase  in  financial  importance,  and  the  first  brick 
building  in  1866  was  succeeded  by  the  fine  mansions  and  substantial  business 
houses  which  now  adorn  the  city. 

In  June,  1852,  Mr.  Becker  was  married  to  Catherine  Stecher,  who  was 
born  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany :  Eight  children  were  born  to  them,  five  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely:  Lewis  F.,  Anna,  Amelia,  Oscar 
(deceased)  and  Carrie.  Ida  and  Wyant  died  at  three  years  of  age  and  an 
infant  unnamed  died  when  only  two  days  old.  For  many  years  Mr.  Becker 
has  been  a  Free  Mason  and  is  connected  with  Virden  Lodge,  No.  161. 


WILLIAM  P.  WALL. 

WiLLi.vM  P.  Wall,  one  of  the  leading  business  men  and  substantial 
citizens  of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of 
Wall  &  Company,  was  born  April  18,  1870,  at  Staunton,  and  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Hon.  Hampton  W.  Wall,  extended  mention  of  whom  will  be  found  in 
this  volume. 

Completing  the  public  school  course  at  the  age  of  17  years,  our,  subject 
then  entered  Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville,  taking  a  three-years  course. 
Upon  his  return  to  Staunton,  he  worked  for  a  few  months  for  the  Staunton 
Milling  Company,  and  then  entered  the  office  of  the  Consolidated  Coal  Com- 
pany of  St.  Louis,  at  Staunton.  After  one  year  at  Staunton,  he  was  sent  to 
the  branch  oi^ce  at  Mount  Olive  where  he  remained  16  months. 

On  March  i,  1894,  Mr.  Wall  entered  the  employ  of  Wall  &  Panhorst, 
bankers  at  Staunton,  of  which  firm  his  father  was  a  member,  and  continued 
with  them  until  the  death  of  his  father.  August  16,  1898.  The  old  firm  was 
then  dissolved  and  on  September  3,  1898.  the  business  was  reorganized  and 


358  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

our  subject,  witli  his  brother,  Charles  R.,  succeeded  the  late  firm.  This  asso- 
ciation continued  until  December  13,  1901,  when  he  purchased  his  brother's 
entire  interest,  the  firm  name  being  then  changed  to  Wall  &  Company.  From 
this  date  until  March  i,  1902,  Mr.  Wall  remained  sole  proprietor  and  then 
admitted  his  brother-in-law,  Cornelius  Godfrey,  to  partnership,  Mr.  Wall 
being  president  and  I\Ir.  Godfrey,  cashier.  Not  only  does  Mr.  Wall  claim  to 
be  a  careful  financier,  but  is  very  proud  of  his  three  years  record  as  a  farmer. 
In  the  spring  of  1885  he  left  school  and  put  in  the  spring  crop  on  his  father's 
farm  and  operated  the  property  for  three  years  with  a  measure  of  success 
which,  he  declares,  gave  him  more  satisfaction  than  all  the  uniNcrsity  honors 
he  won.  He  also  conducts  a  branch  bank  at  Worden,  Illinois,  which  he 
established  March  i,  1902. 

Mr.  Wall  was  married  June  8,  1893  to  Daisy  D.  Camp,  who  was  born 
March  8,  1873,  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam E.  and  Mary  E.  (Shafifer)  Camp,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  Septem- 
ber 25,  1843,  and  the  latter,  March  3,  1845,  ^^^^^  Carlinville.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wall  have  three  children :  Harriet  Edith,  Helen  Isabella  and  Grace  Elizabeth. 

Politically  Mr.  W'all  votes,  on  national  affairs,  with  the  Democratic 
party.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason  and  for  the  past  three  years  has  been  master 
of  Staunton  Lodge,  No.   177. 


JOHN  C.  COX. 

John  C.  Cox,  one  of  the  representative  farmers  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Mount  Olive  township,  Macoupin  County,  the  owner  and  opera- 
tor of  a  fine  farm  of  80  acres,  situated  in  section  10,  Mount  Olive  township 
and  section  21,  Staunton  township,  was  born  January  15,  1845,  '"  Macou- 
pin County,  Illinois.  He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  Jackson  and  Elizabeth  (Har- 
grove) Cox,  members  of  old  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  families,  respectively. 

Andrew  Jackson  Cox,  was  born  January  i,  1817,  and  was  a  son  of 
Ezekiel  and  Mary  Cox,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  181 5,  leaving  children 
as  follows :  Jeremiah,  Mrs.  Jensy  Stilley,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Colson,  Emanuel 
and  Andrew  Jackson.    The  last  named  married  Elizabeth  Hargrove,  a  daugh- 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  359 

Ler  of  Willis  and  Rachel  Hargrove,  born  in  Trigg  County,  Kentucky,  Jan- 
uary I,  1823,  and  deceased  April  23.  1874.  Their  children  were:  Virgil  T., 
who  died  in  1865 ;  Green,  who  died  in  Texas  in  1872 ;  John  C,  of  this  sketch; 
Jane,  who  died  of  smallpox:  Irving,  a  resident  of  Missouri;  George,  a  resi- 
dent of  Arkansas;  Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years:  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Morrison,  a  resident  of  Edwardsville,  Illinois.  Virgil  T.,  the  eldest 
member  of  this  family,  was  a  paroled  prisoner  of  war  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  a  member  of  Company  I,  122nd  Reg.,  Illinois  Inf..  under  Capt. 
Stephen  Sawyer,  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Trenton,  Tennessee. 

Mr.  Cox  was  reared  and  educated  in  I\Iacoupin  County,  where  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  farming  until  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  War. 
His  father  had  come  to  Illinois  in  1836  and  settled  in  Mount  Olive  township, 
where  he  ov.ned  265  acres  of  land,  and  where  he  died  in  1859.  aged  42  years. 
He  built  a  cabin,  16  by  18  feet  in  dimensions,  with  a  rock  chimney,  when  he 
first  settled  here,  to  which  pioneer  home  he  brought  his  bride,  and  here  our 
subject  was  bom.  Hard  work  and  exposure  occasioned  his  death  in  middle 
life.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  The  land  which  he  worked  so  hard 
to  clear  and  cultivate  is  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Mount  Olive. 

On  March  18,  1865.  our  subject  enlisted  from  Staunton,  in  Company 
H,  28th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf..  under  Capt.  B.  F.  Cowell  and  Col.  Richard 
Ritter.  ist  Brigade.  3rd  Division.  13th  Army  Corps.  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Spanish  Fort  and  Fort  Blakely.  Alabama, 
and  th.en  accompanied  his  regiment  to  Fort  Mobile  and  Whistler.  Alabama. 
The  regiment  then  encamped  for  a  short  time  near  Mobile  and  then  went  to 
Brazos  Island.  Texas,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  River  and  thence  to 
Brownsville,  where  he  was  mustered  out  March  8.  1866.  He  returned  to 
Macoupin  County  by  way  of  Xew  Orleans  and  St.  Louis.  Soon  after  he  mar- 
ried, and  removed  to  Madison  County  and  engaged  in  farming  there  for 
five  years.  Upon  his  return  to  ^Macoupin,  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Staun- 
ton until  1875.  removing  then  to  the  property  in  section  10,  Mount  Olive 
township,  where  his  residence  is. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Cox  was  to  Mary  Cornelius,  who  died  in 
Madison  County,  Illinois,  aged  23  years,  leaving  one  daughter,  Emma,  who 
died  in  Texas,  aged  18  years.  On  November  24,  1875,  Mr.  Cox  married 
Matilda  E.  Hoxey,  who  was  born  February  28.  1852,  in  Madison  County, 
Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Christopher  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Riston)  Hoxey, 


36o  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

natives  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  respectively,  who  located  in  Madison 
County  among  the  early  pioneers.  Mrs.  Hoxey  died  in  1872,  agd  50  years, 
but  Mr.  Hoxey  still  survives,  aged  84  years.  The  children  in  the  Hoxey 
family  were  as  follows :  John  and  Joseph,  both  deceased ;  Mrs.  Nancy  White, 
of  Joplin,  Missouri;  Matilda  E.  (Mrs.  Cox);  Sinai  T.,  deceased;  James,  of 
Madison  County,  Illinois ;  Edward,  of  Kansas ;  Henry,  of  Iowa ;  and  Mrs. 
Carrie  Phillips,  of  Madison  County,  Illinois. 

These  children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  wife :  Thomas,  bom  Feb- 
ruary 9.  1877.  who  was  killed  in  a  coal  shaft.  January  15,  1904 — a  distressing 
accident  in  which  the  family  had  the  sympathy  of  the  community ;  and  Carrie, 
\Villiam,  Lily,  Charles  and  Christopher,  all  of  whom  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Cox  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat.  While  taking  a  deep  interest  in 
public  matters,  he  has  accepted  very  few  official  positions,  serving  at  present  as 
a  trustee  of  the  cemetery  and  for  five  years  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Mount  Olive.  The  family  belong  to  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  Cox  is  a  man  who  receives  as  he  deserves  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens. 


FRANK  B.  LEACH. 

Frank  B.  Leach,  one  of  the  prosperous  young  farmers  of  Chesterfield 
township,  Macoupin  County,  who  operates  his  father's  farm,  situated  in  sec- 
tion I,  was  born  in  this  township  in  1872,  and  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Harriet 
(Brown)   Leach. 

John  J.  Leach  was  born  on  this  farm  in  1842.  and  is  now  living  in  the 
village  of  Chesterfield  near  by,  retired  from  active  work.  He  is  one  of  the 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  township.  He  served  his  country  during  the 
Civil  W^ar  from  1862  until  1865,  participating  in  many  serious  battles.  In 
1S69  he  married  Harriet  Brown,  who  is  a  daughter  of  F.  G.  and  Mary 
(Bell)   Brown. 

Frank  B.  Leach  was  reared  in  Chesterfield  township  and  here  obtained 
his  education.  For  three  years  he  was  cashier  in  the  Chesterfield  Bank,  but 
in  the  fall  of  1901  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm.  This  he  has  managed 
with  notable  success. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  361 

In  1901  Mr.  Leach  was  united  in  marriage  with  Clara  Corbin.  who  is 
a  daughter  of  L.  B.  Corbin  of  Polk  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  they 
have  one  son. — John  C, — who  was  born  February  13,  1903. 

In  politics  Mr.  Leach  is  a  Republican.  Fraternally  he  is  both  a  Mason 
and  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  In  religious  views  he  is  an  Episcopalian.  He  is 
a  young  man  of  sterling  character  and  commands  the  esteem  of  all  who  know 
him. 


MEINT  ARKEBAUER. 

Meint  Arkebauer,  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  and  for  many  years 
one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  of  Mount  Ohve  township,  Macoupin 
County,  owning  almost  400  acres  of  land  in  sections  10  and  11,  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  September  8,  1828.  He  is  a  son  of  Harm  and  Annie 
(Johnson)   Arkebauer. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  in  1798, 
and  died  in  Illinois  at  the  age  of  60  years.  The  mother,  who  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1802,  was  killed  accidentally  on  the  Wabash  Railroad,  at  the 
age  of  80  years.  Their  children  were :  Mrs.  Anthia  Shoen,  of  Mount  Olive ; 
Meint,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Martha  Ross,  of  Mount  Olive;  Mrs.  Gerdje 
Garrels,  a  widow,  of  Mount  Olive;  and  Mrs.  Trintje  Whitehouse,  deceased. 
The  father  of  this  family  was  always  an  agriculturist.  In  religious  belief  he 
was  a  Lutheran. 

Our  subject  was  18  years  of  age,  when  with  his  parents  he  embarked  on 
a  sailing  ship  at  Bremen  for  the  United  States.  After  a  voyage  of  15  weeks, 
the  party  reached  New  Orleans,  having  been  detained  four  weeks  in  England 
for  repairs  to  the  vessel.  The  first  winter  was  spent  in  St.  Louis,  and  in  the 
spring  settlement  was  made  in  Madison  County,  where  the  family  lived  nine 
years,  our  subject  working,  in  the  meantime,  for  different  farmers,  by  the 
month.  In  1855,  Mr.  Arkebauer  settled  on  the  present  farm,  where  he  has 
practically  resided  ever  since,  a  four-years  residence  in  Kansas  being  mainly 
on  account  of  a  chance  of  profitable  investment.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
400  acres  in  Smith  County,  Kansas,  in  addition  to  his  extensive  holdings  here. 
His  Macoupin  County  property  is  very  valuable,  80  acres  of  it  being  within 


362  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

the  city  limits  of  Mount  Olive.  Mr.  Arkebauer  has  improved  his  property 
with  good,  substantial  buildings,  and  has  made  it  one  of  the  most  desirable 
and  attractive  farms  in  the  county.  Until  prevented  by  poor  health,  he  was  a 
very  industrious  man,  and  accumulated  his  possessions  through  his  own 
efforts. 

In  1857  Mr.  Arkebauer  married  Tette  Keiser,  who  was  born  in  Germany 
and  died  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1874,  aged  36  years.  They  had 
six  children,  of  whom  the  following  are  living:  Johanna,  the  wife  of  Fred 
Droste,  who  operates  the  home  farm — they  have  nine  children ;  Hermina, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  J.  Gehner,  Jr.,  of  Cahokia  township,  Macoupin 
County;  Anna,  who  married  Charles  Kueneth,  of  Mount  Olive  township, 
and  has  five  children ;  and  John,  who  has  five  children  and  lives  on  the  Kan- 
sas property.     Mr.  Arkebauer  has  27  grandchildren. 

When  he  first  came  to  the  county,  our  subject  was  a  Democrat,  but  later 
both  he  and  his  father  became  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  educational  affairs  of  the  section,  has  held  school 
offices  for  many  years,  and  has  been  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  building  of 
both  churches  and  school  houses.  When  he  first  came  to  Mount  Olive,  the 
present  flourishing  little  city  was  but  a  hamlet,  and  Mr.  Arkebauer,  by  his 
intelligent  cooperation,  has  done  his  part  in  bringing  about  the  present  pros- 
perity.    He  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


ALEXANDER  W.  CRAWFORD. 

Alexander  W.  Crawford,  ex-mayor  of  Girard  and  a  leading  citizen, 
was  bom  February  9,  1861,  at  Godfrey,  Madison  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a 
son  of  Robert  W.  and  Ann  (Squire)  Crawford.  The  former  was  born  in 
Ireland,  and  the  latter  in  England. 

Our  subject  received  a  common  school  education  at  Godfrey  and  at 
one  time  was  the  postmaster  of  that  place,  also  a  member  of  the  Madison 
County  board  two  terms  and  later  United  States  live  stock  inspector  at  the 
National  Stock  Yards  at  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  which  position  he  re- 
signed to  take  charge  of  the  \\''illiamson  County  Coal  Company's  mines  at 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  363 

Johnston  City.  Williamson  County,  Illinois,  which  position  he  resigned  in 
1899  and  removed  to  Girard  to  take  charge  of  the  Greenridge  Mining  Com- 
pany's interests.  During  the  last  two  years  he  has  been  very  extensively  en- 
gaged in  buying  coal  rights,  having  bought  and  sold  to  capitalists  nearly 
40,000  acres. 

Mr.  Crawford  has  been  interested  in  politics  since  boyhood  and  has  been 
one  of  the  leading  spirits  of  the  Democratic  party,  both  in  Madison  and  Ma- 
coupin counties.  His  party  services  include  eight  years  as  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  Senatorial  Committee,  and  12  years  as  secretary  of  the  Demo- 
cratic Executitve  Committee  in  Madison  County.  He  served  as  mayor  of 
Girard  during  1901  and   1902. 

Mr.  Crawford  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Jennie  H.  Stewart,  of 
Godfrey,  Illinois.  She  died  in  1893,  leaving  three  children:  Alexander  M., 
\\'illiam  P.  and  Louise  S.  Mr.  Crawford  married,  second,  Maude  A.  Boyd, 
of  Godfrey,  Illinois.  They  have  three  children :  John  T.,  Mary  A.,  and  Sue 
Harriett. 


WILLIAM    WELLENBRINK. 

WiLLi.\M  Wellenbrink,  deceased,  who  for  many  years  was  a  promi- 
nent business  man  of  Mount  Olive,  Macoupin  Comity,  and  the  third  member 
of  the  large  mercantile  firm  of  Keiser,  Niemeyer  &  Company,  was  born  in 
Germany,  October  30,   1832. 

Mr.  Wellenbrink  was  educated  in  his  native  land  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1864  with  capital,  which  he  invested  in  a  grocery  business  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri.  He  prospered  there  and  remained  until  1877,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Mount  Olive,  to  become  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Keiser,  Niemeyer 
&  Company,  with  which  he  continued  until  his  death,  November  12,  1900. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  business  ability  and  became  one  of  the  very  substantial 
as  well  as  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  city.  His  death  was  a  loss  to  the 
city,  removing  as  it  did  one  whose  influence  had  always  been  directed  toward 
matters  of  general  welfare. 

Mr.  Wellenbrink  was  married  in  December,  1869.  to  Mrs.  N.  (Nieder- 
luecke)  Buschmann,  widow  of  the  late  Casper  H.  Buschmann.    Mrs.  Wellen- 


364  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

brink  had  two  sons  by  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Buschmann — Henry  A.  and 
WilHam  F. — who  have  adopted  the  name  of  their  late  step-father,  Mr.  Wellen- 
brink.  Henry  A.,  who  manages  his  mother's  affairs  and  is  a  very  capable 
business  man,  was  born  January  12,  1868;  William  F.  was  born  November 
15,  1869.  On  January  2,  1896,  Henry  A.  Wellenbrink  married  Louisa 
Knollmann,  a  daughter  of  John  F.  KnoUmann,  formerly  a  merchant  of  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  who  died  November  19,  1893. 

In  politics  the  late  Mr.  Wellenbrink  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party. 
Fraternally  he  was  identified  with  the  Odd  Fellows.  The  family  is  one  of 
wealth   and   prominence   in   Mount   Olive. 


GEORGE   A.  WASH,  M.  D. 

George  A.  Wash,  M.  D.,  who  received  his  degree  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  Louisville  (Kentucky)  on  the  13th  of  March,  1894,  and  who  imme- 
diately engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  enjoys  a  large  patronage  in 
the  town  of  Palmyra,  Macoupin  County,  and  numbers  among  his  patients 
the  very  best  citizens  of  the  community.  He  was  born  at  Lawrenceburg, 
Anderson  County,  Kentucky,  March  25,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  Allen  and 
Susan  (Alstoot)  Wash,  and  a  grandson  of  Col.  John  Wash. 

Col.  John  Wash,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  was  a  planter  and  slave- 
owner. Removing  to  Kentucky  before  the  birth  of  his  son,  Allen,  he  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  89  years. 

Allen  Wash  was  born  in  181 3  in  Kentucky,  where  he  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  farming  but  was  never  a  slave-owner.  He  was  married  to  Susan 
Alstott,  a  daughter  of  John  Alstott,  a  Virginian,  who  removed  to  Casey 
County,  Kentucky.  Mr.  Wash  and  wife  reared  four  sons  and  one  daughter, 
all  of  whom  are  now  living,  our  subject  being  the  youngest.  Mr.  Wash  died 
on  the  homestead  farm  at  the  age  of  79  years.  Mrs.  Wash,  our  subject's 
mother,  died  in  1878  at  the  age  of  44  years. 

George  A.  Wash,  after  his  graduation  from  the  University  of  Louis- 
ville, engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Hustonville,  Kentucky,  later 
removing  to  St.  Meinrad,  Indiana,  where  he  continued  his  practice  for  six 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  365 

years.  In  1899  he  removed  to  Palmyra,  Illinois,  where  he  has  since  prac- 
ticed, having  one  of  the  largest  village  and  country  practices  in  his  section 
of  the  county.  Dr.  Wash  is  also  examining  physician  for  the  following  life 
insurance  companies :  Aetna ;  New  York  ^lutual ;  the  Northwestern  of  Iowa ; 
the  Massachusetts  Northwestern,  and  also  for  all  the  fraternal  orders  of  his 
section.  Dr.  Wash  is  a  Democrat  and,  fraternally,  is  a  member  of  the 
Masons.  Modem  Woodmen  of  America,  the  F.  A.  of  A.,  and  the  'Si.  P.  L. 
Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

On  March  16,  1897,  Dr.  Wash  was  married  to  Margaret  S.  Alexander, 
tlie  estimable  daughter  of  James  S.  Alexander,  a  farmer  of  Mercer  County, 
Pennsylvania,  deceased  in  1898.  Mrs.  James  S.  Alexander  is  still  living 
and  superintends  the  homestead   farm. 


WILLIAM  A.  SHRIVER,  M.  D. 

William  A.  Shriver,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  \'ir- 
den  since  1866  and  is  president  of  the  Farmers'  &  IMerchants"  Bank,  was  born 
April  30.  1S44,  at  Sugar  Tree  Ridge,  Highland  County,  Ohio.  He  is  a  son 
of  George  A.  and  Mary  A.  (^Hensley)  Shriver,  and  a  grandson  of  Peter 
Shriver,  who  v\as  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  established  the  family  in  Ohio. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Shriver  was  reared  in  Highland  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  resided  until  185 1,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Rockford. 
In  1854  he  removed  to  Pike  County,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  on  which  his 
last  years  were  spent.  He  married  Mary  Hensley,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hens- 
ley,  a  farmer  of  Highland  County,  Ohio,  and  nine  children  were  born  them. 

Dr.  Shriver  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  since  the  age  of  seven  years, 
and  here  he  obtained  his  education  and  then  at  the  age  of  15  years  made  his 
initial  attempt  at  district  school  teaching.  During  the  following  three  years, 
while  his  days  were  passed  in  the  school  room,  his  evenings  and  vacations 
were  spent  in  medical  study  under  that  eminent  physician,  Dr.  Pitzer.  now 
a  leading  professional  man  of  St.  Louis.  Later  he  entered  the  Eclectic 
Medical   Institute  of  Cincinnati,   and   was   graduated   there  in    1871,   since 


366  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  active  practice.  In  the  spring  of  1866, 
Dr.  Shriver  located  at  Virden,  of  wliich  city  he  has  e\'er  since  been  a  most 
useful  and  honored  citizen. 

In  addition  to  caring  for  a  large  practice  and  the  fulfilling  of  the  duties 
incumbent  upon  him  as  a  member  of  various  medical  organizations,  Dr. 
Shriver  is  interested  in  various  successful  business  enterprises  which  require 
a  large  measure  of  his  time  and  talent.  Among  these  is  the  Farmer's  & 
Merchants'  Bank  of  Virden.  a  leading  financial  institution  of  the  county, 
of  which  he  has  been  president  since  October.  1893.  The  bank  is  operated 
by  Dr.  Shri\'er  and  his  son-in-law,  Olin  R.  Rohrer,  the  latter  being  cashier. 

In  1865  Dr.  Shriver  was  married  at  Barry,  Pike  County,  Illinois,  to 
Carrie  E.  Rowland,  and  five  children  were  born  to  them.  The  two  eldest 
of  the  family,  Carrie  and  Frank,  are  deceased.  The  survivors  are:  Edith, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Olin  R.  Rohrer,  a  banker  of  Virden;  Estelle  and  Earl. 
The  family  is  connected  with  the  Methodist  Church. 

Although  public  spirited  in  everything  pertaining  to  the  advancement 
of  \'irden  in  its  commercial,  professional  and  social  life,  Dr.  Shriver  has 
avoided  the  annoyances  attendant  upon  active  political  life,  accepting  only 
the  presidency  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  a  period.  He  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  in  Virden  and  in  the  uprightness  of  his  life  and  character  re- 
flects honor  upon  his  profession  and  upon  the  city  with  which  he  has  been 
so  long  and  so  prominently  identified. 


WILLIAM  NIEMEYER. 

For  a  number  of  years,  the  late  William  Niemeyer  was  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive and  enterprising  business  men  of  Mount  Olive,  Macoupin  County, 
Illinois,  and  vice-president  of  the  Keiser  &  Niemeyer  Mercantile  Company. 
Mr.  Niemeyer  was  born  July  5,  1844,  in  Holzfeld,  Prussia,  and  was  a  son 
of  F.  William  and  C.  M.  (Meddewag)  Niemeyer.  Both  parents  passed 
their  lives  in  their  native  land,  where  the  father  was  engaged  in  farming. 
Both  were  worthy  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  367 

in  1865,  William  Xiemeyer  decided  to  seek  his  fortune  across  the  At- 
lantic, took  passage  on  the  vessel  "Stella,"  and  after  a  voyage  of  56  days 
reached  the  port  of  New  York.  Remembering  that  he  was  but  a  lad  of  16 
years,  with  limited  capital  and  no  knowledge  of  either  the  language  or  cus- 
toms of  the  new  land  in  which  he  was  then  forced  to  make  his  way  unaided, 
it  speaks  well  for  his  industrj',  pluck  and  ability,  that  in  a  comparatively  short 
time  he  was  established  in  a  business  of  his  own.  In  search  of  work,  he 
drifted  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  working  his  way  honestly  and  economically 
until  at  last,  at  Mount  Olive,  he  secured  an  appreciative  employer  in  the  late 
John  C.  Niemann,  himself  a  native  of  Germany.  For  three  years  he  worked 
at  farm  labor  for  ]\Ir.  Niemann,  each  year  proving  more  and  more  valuable 
to  his  employer,  and  then  entered  Mr.  Niemaim's  store  as  a  clerk.  In  1873, 
the  business  was  reorganized  and  Mr.  Niemeyer,  who  had  become  a  member 
of  Mr.  Niemann's  family  by  marriage,  was  given  an  interest,  and  the  pres- 
ent firm  of  Keiser  &  Niemeyer  was  established.  It  has  developed  into  the 
largest  mercantile  establishment  in  Macoupin  County,  and  is  the  oldest  busi- 
ness house  in  Mount  Olive.  At  a  later  date,  Mr.  Niemann  retired  and  the 
firm  was  again  reorganized,  with  C.  J.  Keiser,  president ;  F.  G.  Droste,  secre- 
tary;  William   Niemeyer,   vice-president  and   H.   H.   Droste,  treasurer. 

The  late  William  Niemeyer  undoubtedly  possessed  an  unusual  busi- 
ness faculty.  Few  of  his  enterprises  were  unsuccessful  and  his  advice  was 
considered  by  liis  fellow  citizens  of  inestimable  value.  He  accumulated  much 
property,  both  in  Mount  Olive  and  in  Macoupin  County  and  in  various  por- 
tions of  the  \\'est.  A  late  investment  was  the  purchase  of  a  tract  of  wooded 
land,  in  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Olive,  with  the  idea  of  establishing  here  a 
summer  resort  which  would  secure  the  ready  patronage  of  residents  of  St. 
Louis  and  neighboring  cities.  The  stocking  of  the  reservoir  with  a  fine  school 
of  fish  is  recalled  as  one  of  his  public  spirited  acts. 

ilr.  Niemeyer  owned  probably  the  finest  home  in  Alount  Olive — a  beau- 
tiful residence,  fitted  with  every  modern  improvement.  The  building  of  this 
home  and  the  installing  of  his  family  was  a  source  of  the  greatest  gratifica- 
tion to  Mr.  Niemeyer,  who  was  always  most  devoted  to  wife  and  children. 
On  April  29,  1869,  William  Niemeyer  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Sophia  Niemann,  the  second  daugliter  of  the  late  John  C.  Niemann,  a  sketch 
of  whom  will  be  found  in  this  work'.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Niemeyer  was  born 
April  12.  1817,  and  died  September  9,  1896,  one  of  the  largest  capitalists  of 


368  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

his  section.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Niemeyer:  Edward, 
who  died  June  21,  1897;  William,  who  died  in  infancy;  Eniil,  who  has 
succeeded  his  father  in  business;  and  Juliet,  who  in  February,  1904,  became 
the  wife  of  A.  E.  Fisher,  the  junior  member  of  the  drug  firm  of  Koch  & 
Fisher.  On  September  2,  1903,  Emil  Niemeyer  married  Nettie  A.  Birtley, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  J.  V.  Birtley,  a  coal  magnate  of  Scranton,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

The  late  William  Niemeyer  was  a  worthy  member  and  a  liberal  supporter 
of  Zion  Lutheran  Church,  of  Mount  Olive,  of  which  his  family  are  also  mem- 
bers. He  was  known  for  his  many  acts  of  generosity,  for  his  genial,  cheery 
temperament  and  for  those  honest,  manly  virtues,  which  will  cause  him  to  be 
long  recalled  with  feelings  of  the  highest  esteem  in  the  city  where  he  spent 
so  many  useful,  busy  years. 


HENRY  KRUSE. 


Henry  Kruse,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Mount 
Olive  township,  Macoupin  County,  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres, 
well  located  in  sections  12  and  13,  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  March 
21,  185 1,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Wilhelmina  (Prange)   Kruse. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Prussia,  and  died  in  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  May  4,  1864.  The  mother  was  also  born  in  Prussia  and 
died  in  this  county,  February,  9,  1893,  ^S^'^  74  years.  Their  children  were: 
Henry,  of  this  sketch ;  William,  of  Staunton  township,  Macoupin  County ; 
Wilhelmina,  wife  of  F.  W.  Hartke,  of  Cahokia  township,  Macoupin  County; 
August,  of  Cahokia  township,  Macoupin  County;  and  Louis,  of  Mount  Olive 
township.  Henr)-  Kruse,  the  elder,  was  a  poor  man  when  he  came  to 
America,  but  through  his  industry  he  accumulated  a  comfortable  property. 
He  identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party.  He  was  a  man  of  many 
good  deeds  and  was  much  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  were  worthy  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Henry  Kruse,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  but  two  years  old  when  the 
family  left  Bremen  on  a  sailing  ship  for  New  Orleans,  whence  they  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river  to  St.  Louis,  and  then  moved  to  what  is  now  Mount  Olive 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  369 

township.  Mr.  Kruse  attended  the  local  schools  and  has  been  occupied  with 
farming  and  stock  raising  ever  since  attaining  manhood.  He  has  paid  much 
attention  to  Durham  cattle  and  the  leader  of  his  herd  is  the  well  known 
"Prince  Henry."  He  also  breeds  many  fine  horses  and  mules  and  many 
Poland-China  hogs.  He  makes  his  leading  crops  corn,  wheat,  oats  and 
clover,  believing  in  a  system  of  rotation.  Mr.  Kruse  is  a  practical  farmer, 
\\ho  uses  modern  methods  and  machinery  and  enjoys  great  agricultural  pros- 
perity. His  property  is  adorned  with  a  handsome  brick  residence  and  two 
commodious  bams,  while  all  the  surroundings  tell  of  thrift  and  good  taste. 
Like  his  father,  he  has  always  been  very  industrious  and  carries  on  extensive 
operations  with  great  success. 

On  March  21,'  1877,  Air.  Kruse  was  united  in  marriage,  with  Bern- 
hardina  Mindrup,  who  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  December  6, 
1856,  and  died  August  16,  1902,  a  daughter  of  Eberhard  and  Sophia 
Mindrup,  both  natives  of  Germany.  They  had  five  children  born  to  them : 
Henry  R.,  now  attending  a  business  college  in  St.  Louis;  and  Sophia,  Will- 
iam E.,  Emma  and  Minnie,  who  live  at  home. 

Mr.  Kruse.  who  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  held  a  number  of  the 
minor  township  offices  and  has  been  active  in  school  matters.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


♦ »» 


RICHARD  W.  LOBB. 

Occasionally  we  find  a  man  who  has  begun  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder  and 
worked  his  way,  unaided,  to  the  very  summit,  where  honor  and  success 
await  those  who  are  plucky  and  persevering  enough  to  endure  the  hardships 
and  trials  that  beset  the  way.  Macoupin  County  has  such  a  citizen  in  the 
person  of  one  of  its  most  prominent  agriculturists — Richard  W.  Lobb.  He 
resides  on  his  well  tilled  farm,  situated  in  section  2;^,  North  Palmyra  town- 
ship. Mr.  Lobb  was  born  in  Green  County,  Kentucky,  November  13,  1847, 
and  is  a  son  of  Chapman  and  Ann  (Horton)  Lobb. 

Chapman  Lobb,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  at  an  early  date  removed 
to  Kentuckj'.  where  he  died  about  1858.  having  reached  quite  an  advanced 


370  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

age.  Mr.  Lobb  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being  Ann  Horton,  the 
mother  of  our  subject;  she  died  in  1868,  aged  about  50  years.  Chapman 
Lobb  had  eight  children,  of  whom  Richard  W.  is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 
Four  of  the  family  besides  our  subject  are  hving,  namely :  Frank,  who  served 
three  years  in  the  Civil  W'ar,  and  is  now  living  in  Kentucky;  Thomas  and 
George,  who  also  live  in  Kentucky;  and  Berry,  who  is  a  resident  of  Clay 
County,  Nebraska.  Of  those  deceased,  Lucy  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Welch, 
while  Juda  died  young. 

Richard  \\\  Lobb  was  but  a  small  toy  when  his  father  died  and  was 
compelled  to  engage  in  work  on  a  farm  to  help  support  his  mother  and  there- 
fore had  little  opportunity  to  get  an  education.  After  his  mother's  death  in 
1869,  he  came  to  Illinois  in  company  with  a  neighbor,  James  Adcock.  Upon 
arriving  in  Macoupin  County,  he  located  with  his  uncle,  Oswell  Horton,  in 
North  Palmyra  township,  remaining  there  that  winter.  In  the  following 
spring  he  engaged  in  work  on  the  farm  of  James  Nevins  at  Chapman  Point, 
remaining  there  during  that  summer.  The  following  winter  he  returned  to 
North  Palmyra  township,  and  again  lived  with  his  uncle  Oswell  Horton, 
remaining  there  until  spring.  In  the  summer  of  1870  he  again  engaged  in 
work  on  the  farm  of  James  Nevins  and  the  following  year  worked  for  some 
time  for  Robert  Alderson,  who  was  the  son-in-law  of  James  Nevins.  In 
1 87 1  he  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which  then  consisted  of  176  acres,  and 
which  he  later  purchased.  Mr.  Lobb  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  property  with  the  best  results.  Politically  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Democratic  party. 

On  August  24,  1 87 1,  Mr.  Lobb  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Norvell,  who 
was  born  December  24,  1835,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Spencer  and  Emily  (Ross) 
Norvell.  Spencer  Norvell  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  came  to  Illinois 
in  company  with  his  parents  in  1828,  locating  in  North  Palmyra  township, 
where  he  entered  government  land.  Spencer  Norvell  enlisted  in  the  Mexican 
War  and  served  his  term  of  enlistment,  as  a  reward  receiving  a  land  grant 
from  the  United  States  government.  Mr.  Norvell  was  married  twice,  his 
first  marriage  to  Emily  Ross  taking  place  in  1834;  to  them  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Lobb  is  the  eldest.  Mrs.  Norvell  died  in  August.  1S45, 
while  in  her  31st  year.  Mr.  Norvell  was  married  a  second  time  in  December, 
1849,  to  ^  Mrs.  Hamner.  He  died  in  January,  1879,  while  in  his  73rd  year. 
Mrs.  Lobb  has  but  one  brother  living,  James  H.   Norvell,  who  resides  at 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  371 

Waggoner,  Illinois,  and  is  a  retired  farmer.  Mr.  Lobb  and  wife  are  the  pa- 
rents of  four  chiklren,  namely:  Emma  A.,  born  July  2,  1874;  Chapman 
Spencer,  born  September  13,  1876;  Arthur,  born  February  8,  1878,  and 
George  R.,  born  February  9,  1880.  Mr.  Lobb  and  wife  joined  the  Baptist 
Church  at  East  Union,  in  May,  1873. 


MICAJAH   C.  MALONE. 

Among  the  representative,  well-to-do  citizens  of  Macoupin  County,  the 
subject  of  this  notice  occupies  a  prominent  position  as  an  esteemed  and 
worthy  member  of  the  community,  toward  the  establishing  and  maintaining 
of  which  he  has  performed  his  part.  He  is  skilled  as  a  blacksmith  and  is 
the  inventor  of  various  patents.  He  was  born  in  Marion  County,  Kentucky, 
in  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Micajah  and  Susan  (Batsell)  Malone,  and  the 
grandson  of  John  Malone,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  moved  to  Kentucky 
where  he  passed  the  remaining  days  of  his  life. 

Micajah  Malone  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  spent  almost  his  entire 
life  in  that  State.     He  died  in  1847. 

Micajah  C.  Malone  received  his  education  in  Kentucky,  and  after  com- 
pleting his  education  set  himself  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade  and  soon  be- 
came a  skilled  hand.  In  1857,  having  thoroughly  learned  his  trade,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Palmyra,  where  he  established  a  smithy  and  engaged 
in  business.  Mr.  Malone  in  1870  invented  a  pruning  knife,  which  is  now  in 
universal  use,  being  known  as  "Malone's  Pruning  Shears."  He  also  in- 
vented various  other  articles,  among  the  most  important  being  a  shears  for 
cutting  iron,  which  is  also  in  general  use.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masons.  In  1892  Mr.  Malone  took  his 
son  Thomas  M.  into  the  business  as  a  partner  and  the  business  has  since 
been  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Malone  &  Son. 

Mr.  Malone  was  first  married  in  Kentucky  to  Mary  Jane  Wilson,  who 
died  there,  leaving  no  children.  In  1859.  he  was  married  to  Susan  C.  Ross, 
a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Ann  (Hunt)  Ross.  Mr.  Ross  was  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  South  Palmyra  township.     He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 

21 


372  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

of  four  children,  of  whom  our  subject's  wife  was  the  third  child.  Mr.  Ross 
died  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  59  years,  his  wife  having  died  in  1861  while  in  her 
58th  year.  Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Malone,  namely: 
Mary  Susan,  who  died  in  infancy;  Lillie  Bell,  born  February  5,  1862,  who 
married  J.  D.  Nighbert,  a  veterinary  surgeon  of  Pittsfield,  Illinois,  and  has 
two  children — Maynard  and  Vida  V.;  Ida  L.,  bom  in  December,  1863,  who 
married  Henry  Nifong,  a  prominent  farmer  of  North  Palmyra  township, 
Macoupin  County,  and  has  three  children — Otho,  Guy  and  Ruby;  Hattie  A., 
born  in  November,  1865,  who  married  Lafayette  Solomon,  who  is  justice 
of  the  peace  at  Palmyra,  Illinois;  Thomas  M.,  bom  in  November,  1867,  who 
is  a  blacksmith  working  with  his  father  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Malone 
&  Son — he  married  Millie  J.  Hartsook,  a  native  of  Palmyra,  and  has 
reared  three  children,  Iva  Jennett,  Gerald  Dale  and  Geraldine;  Jennett  P., 
born  in  March,  1870,  and  deceased  in  December,  1890;  Alberta  Pearl,  bom 
in  December,  1876,  and  now  the  wife  of  George  H.  Davenport,  a  farmer  of 
South  Palmyra  township,  Macoupin  County;  and  Charles  H.,  born  in  May, 
1880,  who  is  at  work  on  the  home  farm  with  his  father. 


MRS.  MARY  ANN  SAWYER. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Sawyer,  widow  of  the  late  Ebem  Sawyer,  is  one  of 
the  esteemed  and  beloved  residents  of  Mount  Olive  township,  Macoupin 
County,  where  she  has  made  her  home  for  more  than  a  half  century.  Mrs. 
Sawyer  was  born  near  Nashville,  Tennessee,  January  23,  1822,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Anna  (Spence)  Best,  both  families  being  still  well 
represented  in  the  Southern  States. 

Mrs.  Sawyer  was  about  two  years  old  when  her  parents  came  to  this 
locality  and  entered  land  near  Staunton.  They  were  natives  of  North  Caro- 
lina and  had  resided  for  a  time  in  Tennessee  prior  to  coming  to  Illinois. 
Mrs.  Sawyer  grew  up  under  pioneer  conditions,  when  almost  all  the  family 
necessities  were  provided  by  home  skill.  In  her  young  days,  the  family 
shoes  were  made  at  home  from  the  tanned  skins  of  their  cattle,  while  the 
wool  froiu  their  sheep  was  spun  and  woven  into  cloth  by  the  industry  of  her 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  373 

mother  and  herself  and  sisters.  Mrs.  Sawyer  has  in  her  possession  some 
of  her  late  husband's  clothing  that  was  made  from  wool  spun  by  herself.  In 
many  ways  the  present  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren  regard  the 
early  life  of  their  beloved  grandparent  as  one  not  to  be  envied,  but  happi- 
ness then  as  now  was  much  a  matter  of  surroundings  and  circumstances,  and 
there  are  few  of  the  remaining  honored  pioneers  who  can  be  brought  to  ac- 
knowledge that  in  every  way  the  present  can  equal  "old  times."  Mrs.  Saw- 
yer was  reared  in  a  log  cabin  and  was  taught  the  thrift  and  economy  that 
made  her  such  an  admirable  wife  and  mother.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  10 
children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  she  and  a  brother,  Wesley 
Best,  of  Kansas,  still  survive. 

In  1838  Mary  Ann  Best  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ebern  Sawyer, 
who  was  born  November  26,  18 14,  in  Tyrrell  County,  North  Carolina,  the 
third  son  of  Stephen  Sawyer,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  but  died  in 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois.  Ebern  Sawyer  was  16  years  of  age  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  he  assisted  in  transporting  the  house- 
hold goods,  and  took  his  turn  walking,  this  being  the  mode  of  travel  adopted 
by  many  of  the  pioneers  when  coming  to  this  State,  who  later 
accumulated  enough  property  to  buy  its  farms,  banks  and  manu- 
factories. Mr.  Sawyer  arrived  here  in  the  fall  of  183 1.  Later 
he  entered  two  40-acre  lots  and  erected  a  log  cabin,  one  room 
in  which  was  plastered.  He  broke  all  the  priarie  which  is  the 
present  site  of  Sawyerville,  a  town  erected  by  the  Superior  Coal  Company, 
Shaft  No.  2.  At  that  time  the  Indians  still  considered  this  a  hunting  ground 
and  Mr.  Sawyer  made  enough  friendly  advances  to  enable  him  to  also  enjoy 
hunting,  which  was  then  a  fine  sport  on  account  of  the  plentitude  of  deer, 
foxes,  turkeys,  prairie  chickens  and  quail. 

Mr.  Sawyer  lived  a  long  and  useful  life.  He  was  a  man  of  good  judg- 
ment, was  twice  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  served  in  other  local  offices. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  took  a  great  interest  in  educational  afifairs 
and  always  did  his  full  part  when  any  public  spirited  movement  was  advo- 
cated. His  death  occurred  on  April  10,  1873,  and  he  left  behind  him  many 
to  mourn. 

Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Sawyer  had  a  family  of  nine  children :  Mrs.  Anna  D. 
Klock,  who  resides  with  her  mother;  Stephen  T.,  of  Mount  Olive  township, 
Macoupin  County;  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  J.  Courtney,  deceased;  Michael  C,  of 


374  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Oklahoma  Territory;  H.  Perry,  deceased;  Mrs.  Brittania  Clark;  Mrs.  Marga- 
ret E.  Walker  of  Mount  Olive  township,  Macoupin  County;  Mrs.  Frances 
E.  Lawrence  of  Spokane,  Washington;  and  Mrs.  Ada  McMullen,  of  The 
Dalles,  Oregon.  Mrs.  Sawyer  has  34  grandchildren  and  24  great-grand- 
children, and  her  declining  years  are  made  happy  and  comfortable  by  their 
loving  ministrations.  She  has  seen  wonderful  changes  in  her  locality  and 
is  honored  by  all  who  know  her  as  a  representative  "pioneer  mother." 


4«» 


LOUIS  E.  CORDUM. 

We  take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  the  readers  of  this  work  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  farmers  of  Macoupin  County,  as  well  as  one 
of  the  largest  stock  raisers  in  Southern  Illinois.  He  was  born  on  his  present 
farm,  which  consists  of  280  acres  in  sections  7  and  8,  Cahokia  township,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1875,  ^"^  'S  a  son  of  Henry  and  Reka  (Mohlman)  Corduni,  and  a 
grandson  of  Louis  Cordum. 

Louis  Cordum,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many where  he  was  a  highly  respected  citizen.  He  was  twice  married,  and 
had  four  sons  by  his  first  union  and  three  daughtess  and  one  son  by  his 
second. 

Henry  Cordum  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  when  a  small 
boy  in  company  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
where  Henry  continued  to  reside  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Cordum 
was  a  self  made  man  in  every  sense  that  this  term  implies,  for  he  engaged 
in  the  battle  of  life  with  scarcely  any  material  aid  and  at  the  tihie  of  liis 
death  left  a  large  estate  which  was  solely  earned  by  himself.  Mr.  Cordum 
was  a  Democrat  and  aided  in  promoting  that  party's  interests.  He  served  as 
school  director  for  several  years.  Religiously  Mr.  Cordum  was  a  member 
of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Cordum  was  married  to  Reka  Mohl- 
man, a  native  of  Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cordum  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  namely:  Hannah  (Weyen),  a  resident  of  Cahokia  township,  Ma- 
coupin County;  Minnie,  who  resides  at  home  as  housekeeper;  Louis  E.,  our 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  375 

subject;  Henry,  who  resides  in  Gillespie,  where  he  conducts  an  electric  light 
plant;  Fred  and  Edward.  ^Iv.  Cordum's  death  took  place  here  December 
21,  1892,  having  reached  the  age  of  51  years.  After  his  death,  his  widow 
married  Herman  Dettmers  and  now  resides  on  a   farm. 

Louis  E.  Cordum  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  all  his  life  and  at  an 
early  age  devoted  his  energies  to  agricultural  operations.  At  present  he  is 
chiefly  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  the  chief  products  of 
his  farming  operations  being  grain  and  hay.  ^Ir.  Cordum  also  devotes  much 
time  to  the  breeding  of  Shorthorn  cattle  and  is  an  extensive  breeder  of  Per- 
cheron  and  Coach  horses.  He  also  raises  many  hogs,  having  on  hand  at 
present  100  head  of  Poland-China  hogs.  Politically  Mr.  Cordum  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party,  and  represents  his  township  on  the  County 
Central  Committee,  having  previously  served  for  one  year  as  tax  collec- 
tor.    He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 


S.  OWEN  SMITH. 


S.  OwEX  Smith,  president  of  the  People's  Bank  of  Girard,  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  is  one  of  the  best  known  financiers  of  this  part  of  the 
State.  He  was  born  in  Macoupin  County,  January  17,  i860,  and  is  one  of 
a  family  of  seven  children  born  to  his  parents.  Samuel  A.  and  Elizabeth 
(Harlan)  Smith. 

His  grandfather,  Moses  Smith,  came  to  Illinois  from  Tennessee,  and 
entered  a  large  body  of  land  in  North  Otter  and  Girard  townships  in  1836 
and  continued  to  reside  in  North  Otter  until  his  death  in  the  early  "forties." 
He  had  the  following  children:  John  C,  Samuel  A..  Mary  (Horn).  Elisha, 
Elizabeth   (Eves),  Lanira   (England)   and  Robert. 

Samuel  A.  Smith  was  born  in  Maury  County.  Tennessee,  in  181 1  and 
came  to  Macoupin  County  two  years  later  than  his  parents.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1849  to  Elizabeth  Harlan,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  She  was  born  in 
1819  and  came  to  Sangamon  County,  Illinois,  in  1834  with  her  parents  who 
moved  to  Macoupin  County  in  the  fall  of  1838.     They  had  the  following 


376  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

children:  .Annali,  who  died  in  infancy;  Walter  and  Georgia  (twins), — 
Walter  died  aged  three  years,  while  Georgia  resides  with  our  subject;  a 
child,  who  died  in  infancy  unnamed;  Ednah  Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  26  years;  another  infant  that  died  unnamed  and  Samuel  Owen,  the 
youngest,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Samuel  A.  Smith  became  a  land-owner 
and  stock  raiser  and  dealt  largely  in  stock,  shipping  to  Xew  Orleans  from 
Alton  on  flat-boats.  He  died  in  1874.  leaving  his  family  in  comfortable 
circumstances.  Mrs.  Smith,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  died  July  26,  1899, 
aged  80  years.  Samuel  A.  Smith  was  a  Methodist  and  his  wife  a  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian.     In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

S.  Owen  Smith  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  followed  cattle  feeding  and  agricultural  pursuits 
until  Januar}',  1896,  when  he  removed  to  Girard,  and  accepted  the  position 
of  cashier  in  the  People's  Bank.  On  January  1,  1899.  he  was  elected  vice- 
president  and  on  January  i,  1903,  president,  in  the  latter  office  succeeding 
the  late  Jason  N.  McElvain. 

The  people's  Bank  is  one  of  the  solid  financial  institutions  of  the  county, 
and  was  organized  January  31,  1893,  its  paid-up  capital  stock  being  $40,000. 
Its  present  officers  are  all  representative  men :  S.  Owen  Smith,  president ; 
Thomas  H.  Cherry,  vice-president ;  Perry  O.  Wells,  cashier.  A  general 
banking  business  is  carried  on,  including  the  discounting  of  approved  com- 
mercial paper,  making  collections,  issuing  drafts  throughout  the  United 
States,  Canada  and  Europe,  loaning  money  on  all  first  class  securities  and 
exercising  all  the  functions  of  a  first  class  banking  house.  The  citizens 
conclusively  show  their  utmost  confidence  in  the  careful  and  conservative 
management  of  the  bank,  the  amount  of  business  being  continually  on  the 
increase. 

On  October  25.  1901,  Mr.  Smith  married  Virginia  Christoe,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  James  Christoe.  formerly  of  Macoupin  County,  now  of  Alton, 
Illinois.  They  have  one  son.  Samuel  O.,  Jr..  born  September  18,  1903. 
Both  Mr.  Smith  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church.     In  political  sentiment  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Smith  still  owns  a  large  body  of  valuable  farming  land  in  Macou- 
pin County,  which  he  operated  until  1901  when  he  became  a  resident  of 
Girard.  where  he  is  highly  regarded  as  a  business  man  and  public  spirited 
citizen.  : 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  377 

JOHN  F.  PATTON.D  .  D.  S. 

John  F.  Pattox,  D.  D.  S.,  one  of  the  well  established  professional  men 
of  Virden,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  in  Iowa  on  November  15,  1875,  ^"^ 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Huldah  (Marx)  Patton,  who  were  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Ohio,  respectively.  James  Patton,  who  was  a  farmer  all  his  life, 
was  a  man  who  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  business  and  social  associates. 

Dr.  Patton  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood, 
where  he  completed  the  high  school  course.  He  then  entered  the  North- 
western University  Dental  School  at  Chicago,  and  was  there  graduated  in 
dentistry  in  1900,  since  which  date  he  has  been  located  at  Virden,  where  he 
has  met  with  flattering  success  in  practice,  commanding  some  of  the  most 
desirable  patronage  of  the  locality.  Dr.  Patton  has  introduced  into  his  prac- 
tice all  modern  methods  and  has  equipped  his  offices  with  appliances  which 
not  only  expedite  w^ork,  but  render  some  of  the  formerly  painful  operations 
comparatively  easy. 

Dr.  Patton  was  married  in  October,  1900,  to  Helen  Gates,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Lee  Gates,  of  Sangamon  County,  Illinois,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
that  section. 

Fraternally,  Dr.  Patton  is  a  Mason.  He  belongs  also  to  the  Illinois 
State  Dental  Society  and  the  Northwestern  Dental  Society.  Well 
equipped  for  his  work,  enthusiastic  in  its  pursuit,  he  is  becoming  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  his  profession.  He  is  verj-  popular  in  Virden  and  en- 
joys the  confidence  and  good  wishes  of  the  majority  of  its  citizens. 


EMERY  C.  JONES,  M.  D. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Emery  C.  Jones,  formerly  a  prominent  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  removed  a  skilled  practitioner  from 
the  ranks  of  the  medical  profession  of  Macoupin  County.  Dr.  Jones  was 
born  in  Owen  County,  Indiana,  November  7,  1853,  and  was  a  son  of  Jesse 
and  Sarah  (Crow)  Jones,  and  died,  after  a  year  of  illness  in  a  hospital  at 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  on  March  21,  1900. 


378  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Dr.  Jones  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  attended  the  local  schools, 
beginning  the  reading  of  medicine  with  a  local  practitioner.  When  prepared 
for  his  collegiate  course,  he  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  afterwards  attended  the  Kentucky  Medical  College  at  Louisville, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1880.  Dr.  Jones  then  located  near  Thomasville, 
Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  practice  from  1880  to  1899, 
in  which  year  he  settled  in  Virden,  where,  because  of  his  poor  health,  he  was 
never  able  to  practice.  In  fact,  he  lived  in  Virden  only  one  month,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  time  from  the  date  he  located  until  he  died  being  spent  in  the 
hospital  at  St.  Louis. 

Dr.  Jones  was  married  December  3,  1889,  to  Henrietta  Terry,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Talitha  (Morrell)  Terry,  and  a  sister  of  Charles 
C.  Terry,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Girard.  Mrs.  Jones  survives,  with  three 
children,  Lola  K..  Lloyd  D.,  and  Emery  Terry.  They  reside  in  a  beautiful 
home  in  Virden  and  have  always  been  prominent  in  social  life. 

Dr.  Jones  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  for 
years  having  taken  a  lively  interest  in  its  aims  and  success.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Montgomery  County,  he  served  as  chairman  of  County  conventions, 
and  also  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  pension  examiners.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  education,  engaging  personality,  professional  skill  and  honest  citizen- 
ship. His  death  not  only  brought  grief  to  a  very  devoted  family,  but  regret 
to  his  fellow  citizens,  and  pain  to  his  fellow  practitioners.  Fraternally  he 
was  associated  with  the  Masons  and  the  Woodmen. 


WILLIAM  C.  BODKA. 

William  C.  Bodka,  a  leading  and  well-to-do  agriculturist  of  Macoupin 
County.  Illinois,  is  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  of  his  handsome 
farm  in  section  6,  South  Palmyra  township.  He  was  born  in  Germany  in 
1864,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Fredericka  (Wagner)  Bodka. 

William  Bodka  in  the  spring  of  1881  brought  his  family  to  America, 
locating  in  Barr  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  purchased 
a  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural  operations.     Mr.  Bodka  and  wife  were 


IMRI  B.  VANCIL 


MRS.  ELIZABETH  R.  VANCIL. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  383 

blessed  with  four  children,  namely:  Betsey,  who  married  John  Geerhardt, 
and  now  resides  at  New  Berlin,  Illinois;  Alinnie,  who  married  Fred  Sonna- 
bonn,  and  now  resides  in  Barr  township,  Macoupin  County;  William  C,  our 
subject;  and  Tena,  who  married  Edward  Sherbourn,  and  resides  in  Barr 
township,  Macoupin  County.  Mr.  Bodka  died  in  1882,  having  reached  the 
age  of  55  years.  His  widow  still  resides  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Barr  town- 
ship. 

^^'illiam  C.  Bodka  received  his  education  in  Germany,  and  upon  coming 
to  America  in  company  with  his  parents  made  his  home  with  his  uncle,  Fred 
Bodka,  in  Barr  township.  Mr.  Bodka  immediately  engaged  in  the  pursuits 
of  agriculture,  and  for  10  years  worked  for  farmers  of  the  county.  He 
then  took  a  trip  to  Kansas,  and  after  an  absence  of  one  year  returned  to  Barr 
township  and  secured  employment  on  a  farm  for  one  year.  In  1898  he  pur- 
chased of  the  sons  of  Robert  Forrester  his  present  farm,  and  has  since  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  property.  Mr.  Bodka  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party,  but  takes  only  a  good  citizen's  interest  in  poli- 
tical affairs. 

In  1894.  Mr.  Bodka  was  married  to  Martha  Crtun,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Crum.  a  prominent  farmer  of  South  Palmyra  to\\Tiship.  They  are  the 
parents  of  two  children,  namely;  Bessie,  who  was  born  in  the  fall  of  1900, 
and  Zola,  who  was  born  in  1902.  Mr.  Bodka  and  family  are  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church. 


IMRI  B.  VANCIL. 


Imri  B.  Vancil,  one  of  the  extensive  farmers  and  prominent  and 
substantial  citizens  of  North  Palmyra  township,  Macoupin  County,  where 
he  owns  and  operates  an  estate  of  1,1 60  acres,  was  born  in  Union  County, 
Illinois,  October  15.  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  Edmund  C.  and  Mary  (Byars) 
Vancil. 

Edmund  C.  Vancil  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1799,  and  in  1801  was  taken 
to  Muhlenberg  County,  Kentuckj-,  by  his  father,  Tobias  Vancil,  who  at  a 
later  date  settled  on  the  Mud  River  in  Logan  County,  Kentucky.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  ambitious  to  secure  an  education  and,  as  his  views  and 


384  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

those  of  his  father  clashed,  he  ran  away  from  home  at  the  age  of  18  years, 
accompanying  a  neighbor,  who  was  a  teacher  and  who  at  that  time  removed 
to  IlHnois.  They  located  in  Jackson  County,  and  the  youth  had  the  advantage 
of  three  months'  attendance  in  the  subscription  schools  of  the  period.  In  that 
locality  he  met  Mary  Byars,  who  was  bom  in  Kentucky  in  1804,  and  had 
accompanied  her  father  to  Jackson  County  in  1808.  Mr.  Byars  became  one 
of  the  prominent  men  of  that  county,  and  served  as  commissioner  and  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years. 

In  1827  Edmund  C.  Vancil  left  Jackson  County  and  in  the  same  winter 
located  in  Macoupin  County,  north  of  Virden;  in  the  following  spring  he 
settled  in  North  Palmyra  township,  which  was  then  in  Greene  County.  Mr. 
Vancil,  who  possessed  at  this  time  a  cash  capital  of  $100,  entered  80  acres  of 
land  in  section  4,  the  nucleus  of  the  great  estate  now  owned  by  our  sub- 
ject. Here  the  mother  died  in  1889,  aged  87  j-ears,  the  father  surviving 
until  December  31.  1891,  when  in  his  93rd  year.  The  family  was  noted  for 
longevity,  our  subject's  uncle  John  dying  here  in  his  94th  year,  and  his  uncle 
Williamson,  who  resides  at  Estherwood,  Louisiana,  is  in  his  looth  year.  Of 
the  family  of  seven  children  reared  by  our  subject's  parents,  one  brother  still 
survives,  Mordecai,  a  resident  of  California. 

Imri  B.  Vancil  was  given  excellent  educational  opportunities  by  his 
father,  and  attended  school  in  Jacksonville,  spending  two  years  in  the  Illinois 
College,  located  there.  He  spent  the  winter  of  1844-45  '"  Texas  and  the 
winter  of  1847-48,  attending  medical  lectures  in  Cincinnati.  After  his  re- 
turn, he  operated  a  sawmill  in  Palmyra  township  until  1850,  when  he  joined 
the  great  exodus  to  California,  reaching  Sacramento  City  by  the  overland 
route,  August  13,  1850.  At  first  he  engaged  in  mining,  but  later  turned  his 
attention  to  trade  and  remained  in  the  State  for  two  years,  returning  to 
Illinois  in  1852.  His  father  then  gave  him  a  farm  of  240  acres  and  on  this 
he  resided  until  he  retired  to  the  village  of  Modesto,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics  and  was  the  first  superv-isor  of 
North  Palmyra  township,  an  office  he  held  for  seven  years.  Then  he  re- 
signed, but  at  a  later  date  was  prevailed  upon  to  again  assume  its  duties  and 
he  ser\'ed  three  years  longer.  He  also  served  several  years  as  township  treas- 
urer and  for  some  years  was  one  of  the  school  trustees.  In  all  these  offices, 
Mr.  Vancil  has  had  an  intelligent  conception  of  their  duties  and  has  per- 
formed them  faithfully.  Mr.  \''ancil  owns  1,160  acres  of  land  in  North 
Palmyra  township,  and  has  put  in  40  miles  of  tiling  on  his  property.     He 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  385 

is  also  manager  of  an  estate  belonging  to  his   sister-in-law.     Mr.   Vancil 
is  a  large  capitalist  and  is  one  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Bank  of  Modesto. 

On  April  4,  i860,  Mr.  Vancil  married  Elizabeth  S.  Rice,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  B.  Rice,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1836  and  was  long  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Medora. 

Thomas  B.  Rice  was  born  in  Frederick  County,  Virginia,  April  17, 
1806,  and  was  a  son  of  James  Brown  Rice,  and  a  grandson  of  James  Rice, 
both  of  Culpeper  County,  Virginia.  James  B.  Rice  was  about  17  years  of 
age  when  he  entered  the  Continental  Army  and  served  through  the  closing 
years  of  the  Revolutionary  War  and  took  part  in  the  extraordinary  events 
that  attended  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown.  He  recalled 
the  landing  of  General  Lafayette  and  many  interesting  events.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  accompanied  his  father  to  Kentucky,  which  was  then 
an  unsettled  wilderness,  but  he  did  not  make  his  home  there.  Upon  his  re- 
turn to  Virginia,  he  married  Susan  Wallace,  a  daughter  of  John  Wallace, 
who  owned  a  farm  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  at  Raccoon  Ford,  on  the 
Rapidan  River,  30  miles  above  Fredericksburg. 

Thomas  B.  Rice  was  the  fourth  member  of  a  family  of  10  children. 
His  birthplace  was  at  Millwood,  near  the  Shenandoah  River  and  12  miles 
from  Winchester,  which  district  in  the  conflict  between  the  States  became  the 
scene  of  war  and  bloodshed.  After  reaching  his  majority,  he  spent  five  years 
managing  and  overseeing  the  lands  of  Bushrod  Rust.  On  April  17,  1828, 
he  married  Mahala  Farrow,  who  was  torn  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia, 
December  22,  1807,  and  was  a  daughter  of  William  Farrow,  whose  family 
had  owned  and  occupied  for  many  years  a  magnificent  estate  known  as 
"Flint  Hill,"  a  noted  place  in  Rappahannock  County,  Virginia.  They  reared 
10  children,  Mrs.  Vancil  being  the  third  of  the  family. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Rice  carried  on  a  saddle  and  harness  business 
at  Upperville,  Fauquier  County,  Virginia,  until  his  property  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  invitation  of  the  great  West, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1835  came  to  Illinois.  In  1836  he  settled  at  Rhode's 
Point  and  then  entered  242  acres  of  land  in  Macoupin  County,  in  section  6, 
Shipman  township,  where  he  built  a  log  house,  a  part  of  which  still  stands. 
When  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company  began  its 
survey  in  the  neighborhood,  he  filed  the  first  plat  of  the  town  of  Medora, 
about  the  same  time  engaging  in  a  milling  business.  He  was  a  man  of  ster- 
ling character  and  his  value  was  recognized  by  election  as  county  judge  in 


386  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

1862,  his  service  extending  over  two  terms,  when  he  decHned  to  serve  longer. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  postmaster  at  Medora.  His  death  occurred 
at  the  age  of  84  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vancil  have  four  children,  namely :  Burke,  Effie,  Ollie 
and  Ida  A.  Burke,  who  is  a  prominent  attorney  of  Springfield,  Illinois, 
married  Mary  Steidley,  of  Carlinville.  Eifie  married  George  F.  Jordan, 
editor  of  the  Carlinville  Argus,  and  has  three  children — Judith,  Emily  and 
Elizabeth.  Ollie  married  Lewis  Rinaker,  a  son  of  Gen.  John  I.  Rinaker  of 
Carlinville,  and  a  practicing  attorney  of  Chicago ;  they  have  three  children — 
Lewis,  John  Imri  (deceased)  and  Virginia.  Ida  A.  married  Leonard  G. 
Brown,  who  is  the  cashier  and  a  large  stockholder  of  the  Bank  of  Modesto, 
and  a  large  land-owner  of  North  Palmyra  township.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren living,  namely :  Ruth.  Harlow  and  Lois.  Their  son  Imri  died  at  the  age 
of  three  months. 

Politically  Mr.  Vancil  is  a  Democrat.  Fraternally  he  is  both  an  Odd 
Fellow  and  a  Mason.  He  has  been  one  of  the  public  spirited  men  of  this 
section  and  by  his  energetic  endeavors  has  done  much  for  his  home  township, 
in  which  he  is  held  in  very  high  esteem.  Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vancil 
accompany  this  sketch. 


THOMAS  B.  FORWOOD. 

Thomas  B.  Forwood,  who  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Macoupin  County, 
located  on  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  section  20,  Shipman  township,  was  born  in 
1 83 1  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Ann  (Houston) 
Forwood. 

William  Forwood,  the  great-grandather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Sweden,  and  was  a  very  early  settler  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  where  hi;, 
son,  Robert  Forwood,  and  his  grandson,  George  Forwood,  were  born.  The 
last  named  died  in  his  native  State  in  1858,  aged  66  years,  survived  10  years 
by  his  widow,  who  died  at  the  age  of  75  years. 

Thomas  B.  Forwood  was  educated  in  Delaware  and  in  1854  accom- 
panied his  three  brothers  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  all  settled  in 
Shipman  township.  Our  subject  located  first  on  a  farm  of  80  acres  in  section 
21,  where  he  made  his  home  for  38  years.     In  1895  he  moved  to  section  20 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  387 

and  settled  on  his  present  farm  of  160  acres,  which  he  has  placed  under  tine 
cultivation.  The  present  residence  scarcely  shows  the  signs  of  age,  although 
it  was  built  in  1852.  It  is  a  substantial  and  comfortable  home  and  is  sur- 
roiuided  by  much  to  make  it  attractive. 

In  1858  Mr.  For^vood  married  Luvenia  Parker,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Joel  and  Miriam  (Haycraft)  Parker.  Joel  Parker  was  born  in  X'irginia, 
moved  thence  to  Kentucky  and  in  1835  to  Illinois,  where  four  of  his  seven 
children  were  born.  Mrs.  Forwood  being  the  youngest.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  For\vood,  viz.:  Monroe,  born  in  1859,  who  mar- 
ried Lovada  \\'aggoner,  daughter  of  James  Waggoner,  a  farmer  of  Brighton 
township.  Macoupin  County, — they  have  two  children,  Roscoe  and  Vera; 
Nettie,  bom  in  1861,  who  married  U.  C.  Kellum,  formerly  a  teacher,  now  a 
farmer  in  Nebraska,  and  has  three  children — Alferetta.  ^lerton  and  Mildred; 
Cora,  born  in  1863,  deceased  in  1864;  Arthur,  born  in  1865,  who  married 
Angle  Stratton.  of  Shipman  township.  ^lacoupin  County,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren.— Florence  and  Emma;  and  Earl,  born  in  1879,  who  resides  at  home. 

Mr.  Forwood  has  always  been  a  reliable,  temperate  man  and  his  strict 
temperance  principles  have  led  him  to  conscientiously  uphold  the  principles 
of  the  Prohibition  party.     He  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church. 


HENRY  C.  HAMILTON. 

Hexry  C.  Hamilton,  president  of  the  Bank  of  Girard  and  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 13,  185 1,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  six  children  bom  to  his 
parents,  John  and  Rhoda  (George)  Hamilton,  natives  of  Tennessee. 

^Ir.  Hamilton  is  a  self  made  man.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
living  first  in  Tennessee  and  later  in  Kentucky.  Since  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Girard  in  early  manhood  he  has  been  connected  with  a  number  of 
the  successful  business  enterprises  of  this  city,  and  since  1889  has  been 
president  of  the  Bank  of  Girard,  the  oldest  bank  in  the  city,  established  in 
1873,  o"^  o^  ^'^^  leading  financial  institutions  of  Macoupin  County,  which  has 


388  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

a  paid-up  capital  of  $50,000  and  a  surplus  of  $10,000.  The  cashier  is  J.  M. 
Metcalf.  The  two  officers  are  also  the  owners  of  the  bank.  Mr.  Hamilton's 
management  of  the  affairs  of  this  bank  has  been  careful  and  conservative 
and  has  added  to  his  reputation  as  a  financier. 

In  1892  Mr.  Hamilton  was  appointed  by  Judge  Allen  of  the  United 
States  Court  as  receiver  of  the  Girard  Coal  Company,  which  appointment  he 
filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court,  creditors  and  stockholders,  putting  the 
company  upon  a  sound  financial  basis  and  was  discharged  one  year  later. 
Again  in  1902,  the  coal  company  having  become  largely  involved,  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton was  appointed  receiver  of  the  said  company  by  Judge  R.  B.  Shirley  and 
held  this  position  until  July  i,  1903.  During  this  period  his  management  of 
the  company  was  very  satisfactory  to  all  concerned  and  his  relations  with  the 
employees  of  the  mine  very  pleasant.  Through  his  successful  management 
of  the  business,  the  company's  property  was  sold  to  a  strong  corporation 
which  now  owns  the  same,  and  to  him  perhaps  a  large  share  of  the  credit 
for  the  perpetuation  of  the  only  large  enterprise  Girard  now   has  is  due. 

On  May  7,  1873,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Permelia 
E.  England,  who  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Samuel  and  Louisa  C.  (Smith) 
England.  Mrs.  Hamilton's  grandfather,  John  England,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, removed  to  Tennessee,  and  in  1830  came  as  a  pioneer  to  Illinois.  The 
family  has  long  been  one  of  wealth  and  distinction  in  this  locality.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hamilton  have  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely;  Maude  (Littlepage), 
Florenc  Clare,  Gussie  Clay  (Brayton),  Bertha,  John,  Roscoe  and  Marie. 
The  family  residence  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  in  Girard  and  has  been  the 
scene  of  many  social  functions  and  much  hospitality.  Politically  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton is  a  Republican.     Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason. 


JOHN  J.  LEACH. 


John  J.  Leach,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens of  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  also  an  honored  sur- 
vivor of  the  Civil  War,  resides  in  the  village  of  Chesterfield,  retired.    He  was 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  389 

born  at  Chesterfield,  Illinois,  in  1842.     He  is  the  youngest  son  of  Thomas 
and  Sarah  (South)  Leach. 

Thomas  Leach  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  1830  he  came  to  America,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  two  children,  and  settled  first  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  Coimty,  Illinois. 
In  1832  he  removed  to  Chesterfield  township,  iiacoupin  County,  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject.  The  children  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  (South)  Leach  were:  Thomas,  born  in  England,  who  became  a 
farmer  in  Bird  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  died  at  the  age  of  65  years 
while  on  a  visit  in  Kansas;  Sarah,  born  in  England,  who  is  the  widow  of 
Henr}-  Craggs,  and  resides  on  their  homestead  farm  in  Bird  township,  Ma- 
coupin County;  Alfred,  bom  in  America,  who  is  deceased;  Mahala,  the  wife 
of  Z.  J.  Gibson,  a  farmer  of  Hilyard  township,  Macoupin  Coimty;  Frances, 
the  wife  of  John  Craggs  of  Bird  township,  Macoupin  Coimty;  and  John  J. 

Mr.  Leach  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Chesterfield  township  and 
was  educated  in  the  local  schools.  He  was  20  years  of  age  when  he  loyally 
offered  his  services  to  his  countrj',  in  1862  enlisting  in  Company  D,  122nd 
Reg.,  Illinois  \'ol.  Inf.  He  continued  in  the  service  until  August,  1865, 
when  he  received  his  discharge  at  Springfield,  Illinois.  Although  ^Ir.  Leach 
escaped  serious  injury,  he  participated  in  a  number  of  serious  battles,  notably 
those  of  Xashville,  Parker  Cross  Roads  and  Fort  Blakely,  and  in  innumer- 
able skirmishes  when  his  life  was  continually  in  danger. 

Returning  to  peaceful  pursuits,  Mr.  Leach  resumed  farming  on  the  home 
place.  He  has  been  successful  in  the  operation  of  this  farm,  which  is  one 
of  the  valuable  ones  of  his  locality. 

In  1869  ;Mr.  Leach  married  Harriet  Brown,  who  is  a  daughter  of  F.  G. 
and  Mary  (Bell)  Brown.  The  former  was  born  in  Virginia,  but  has  been 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  Bird  to%vnship,  Macoupin  County,  for  a  long  period 
prior  to  his  death  which  took  place  there  in  his  77th  year.  His  wife  died 
in  1864,  in  her  60th  year.  The  three  children  reared  by  !Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach 
are :  Walter,  engaged  in  railroad  work  in  Texas,  who  married  Rose  Harbor 
of  Barton  County,  Missouri;  Frank  B. ;  and  Charles  F.,  a  resident  of  Okla- 
homa Territory. 

Since  1867  Mr.  Leach  has  been  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  politics,  he 
is  identified  with  the  Republican  party,     ilr.  Leach  is  held  in  high  esteem 


390  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

in  his  own  locality  and  is  a  representative  member  of  that  solid,  substantial 
class  of  thinking  men,  who  through  loyalty,  honest  industry  and  sterling 
integrity  have  brought  this  country  to  its  present  eminence. 


WILLIAM  H.  MEYER. 

William  H.  Meyer,  a  prominent  farmer  and  a  very  successful  raiser 
of  fine  stock,  owns  and  occupies  a  well  cultivated  and  improved  farm  of  293 
acres  situated  in  sections  22  and  23,  Cahokia  township,  Macoupin  County. 
Mr.  Meyer  was  born  in  Westphalia,  Germany,  December  31,  1853,  and  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Mary   (Lafman)   Meyer. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Westphalia  where  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  served  three  years  in  the  German  Army.  He  married  Mary 
Lafman  and  in  1858  came  to  America  and  located  first  in  Morgan  County, 
in  1864  coming  to  Macoupin  County,  where  he  died  in  1874,  aged  51  years. 
He  was  an  honest,  upright  man  and  was  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  widow  survived  until  1883,  dying  at  the  age  of  73  years.  Both  parents 
were  consistent  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics  Henry  Meyer 
was  a  Democrat.  The  seven  children  born  to  Henry  and  Mary  (Lafman) 
Meyer  were:  Frank,  who  died  in  Germany;  August,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Sangamon  County,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Mary  Waltman,  a  widow,  of  Morgan 
County,  Illinois ;  Mrs.  Minnie  Niehaus,  deceased,  of  Morgan  County,  Illinois ; 
Mrs.  Lottie  Sathofif,  deceased,  of  Montgomery  County,  Illinois ;  Henry,  a 
farmer  and  stockman  of  Oregon;  and  William  H. 

William  H.  Meyer  was  four  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to 
America  and  can  scarcely  recall  what  must  have  been  a  long  and  tiresome 
voyage.  He  resided  with  the  family  near  Jacksonville,  in  Morgan  County, 
until  1864,  when  his  father  removed  to  what  is  now  our  subject's  farm, 
which  has  been  his  home  ever  since.  Mr.  Meyer  is  a  very  practical  man 
and  exercises  most  excellent  judgment  in  his  management  of  the  large  estate. 
He  grows  the  grains  which  he  has  found  best  adapted  to  his  land  and  pays 
great  attention  to  the  raising  of  high  grade  stock,  being  interested  only  in 
the  best.     He  has  herds  of  Durham  cattle  which  compare  favorably  with  any 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  391 

in  the  county,  and  raises  also  fine  Cotswold  sheep  and  Poland-China  hogs. 
On  account  of  a  number  of  magnificent  oaks  on  the  place,  it  is  locally  known 
as  "Oak  Grove  Farm."  It  is  well  situated  and  abundantly  watered  and  a  fine 
lawn  gives  a  beautiful  setting  for  a  handsome  residence  and  the  two  great 
bams  which  testify  to  the  abundance  of  the  crops.  An  excellent  orchard  of 
four  acres  provides  all  the  apples,  peaches  and  plums  the  family  can  use.  All 
these  improvements  and  many  others  have  been  made  by  Mr.  Meyer  and  he  is 
in  the  enjoyment  of  one  of  the  best  homes  of  his  section  of  the  county. 

On  June  12,  1879,  Mr.  Meyer  was  married  to  Minnie  Gehner,  who  was 
bom  in  Washington,  Missouri,  October  25,  i860,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Cas- 
per and  Minnie  (Shultz)  Gehner,  both  natives  of  Germany.  Nine  children 
have  been  born  to  them :  Mrs.  Lottie  Grosenhider  of  Montgomery  County ; 
and  August,  Minnie,  William,  Emma,  Lydia,  Lena,  Annie  and  Ella,  who 
live  at  home.  In  politics  Mr.  Meyer  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church. 


RICHARD  D.  FRANCIS. 

Richard  D.  Francis,  one  of  the  most  successful  and  extensive  horse 
breeders  of  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County,  located  in  section  23, 
where  he  owns  no  acres,  was  born  on  this  farm  November  2y,  1858,  and  is 
a  son  of  Charles  and  Pauline   (Temple)  Francis. 

Charles  Francis  was  bom  in  Ireland  in  1814.  and  came  to  Americawith 
his  parents  at  the  age  of  18  years.  They  located  at  Alton,  Illinois,  and  died 
there  when  Charles  was  still  a  youth.  He  was  the  youngest  of  four  children 
and  was  left  dependent  upon  his  own  resources.  For  a  time  after  coming  to 
Macoupin  County  he  followed  farming  and  then  began  the  breeding  of  draft 
horses  and  mules.  In  1858  he  entered  the  present  farm,  on  which  he  con- 
fined the  raising  of  fine  horses,  became  a  man  of  large  means  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  owned  320  acres  of  fine  land.  For  many  years  he  was  prominent 
in  the  Masonic  fraternit}^  and  his  funeral  was  conducted  with  Masonic  honors. 
In  politics  he  was  identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  His  religious  con- 
nection was  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  Charles  Francis  mar- 
ried Pauline  Temple,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  had  come  to  Macoupin 
22 


392  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

County  to  teach  school.  The  two  children  of  this  union  were:  Rosa,  wife 
of  E.  T.  Rice,  and  Richard  D.,  of  this  sketch. 

This  beautiful  and  well  improved  farm  where  Mr.  Francis  was  born 
has  always  been  his  home,  with  the  exception  of  seven  years  spent  in  Frede- 
ricktown,  Madison  County,  Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  a  meat  business. 
In  addition  to  carrying  on  large  farming  operations,  Mr.  Francis  has  devoted 
much  attention  to  the  breeding  of  fine  stock,  cattle  and  high  grade  horses. 
He  is  a  partner  with  15  other  capitalists  in  a  stock  horse — the  registered 
Percheron  stallion  "Baccarat  III"  No.  21069;  ^"d  the  great  Hambletonian, 
"Joe  Wilks,"  is  owned  individually  by  our  subject. 

On  December  19,  1883,  Mr.  Francis  was  married  to  Emma  Frey,  who 
was  born  in  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County,  May  3,  1866,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Arminda  (Grant)  Frey,  who  were  born  in  Leipsic, 
Germany,  and  are  now  residents  of  Madison  County,  Illinois.  The  one 
daughter  of  this  marriage,  Violet,  an  accomplished  young  lady,  will  graduate 
from  the  Gillespie  High  School  in   1904. 

Mr.  Francis,  like  his  father,  is  a  Democrat,  but  beyond  casting  his  vote 
takes  no  very  active  part  in  politics.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America. 


DAVID  FUNDERBURK. 

David  Funderburk,  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  retired  farm- 
ers of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  in  Dorchester  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  Illinois,  December  6,  1849.  He  is  a  son  of  Laney  and  Eliza- 
beth (Adcock)   Funderburk. 

The  Funderburk  family  is  of  German  origin,  its  founders  in  America 
coming  to  this  country  at  a  very  early  day.  The  father  of  our  subject,  who 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  removed  to  Jefferson  County,  Illinois,  in  young 
manhood,  engaged  in  fanning  and  died  at  the  age  of  40  years.  He  married 
Elizabetli  Adcock,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  who  survived  her  husljand,  dying 
at  the  age  of  66  years,  after  rearing  her  nine  fatherless  children.  These 
were:  Mrs.  Eveline  Weeks,  deceased;  Mrs.  Serena  Kennedy,  deceased;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Sawyer,  deceased;  Mrs.  Amelia  Ann  Williams,  of  Staunton,  Ma- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  393 

coupin  County;  James  M.,  deceased;  George,  deceased;  Henry,  of  Jerseyville, 
Jersey  County;  John,  deceased;  and  David  of  this  sketch. 

Left  a  babe  of  six  months  at  the  death  of  his  father,  our  subject  had 
much  to  contend  with  during  his  childhood  and  youth.  When  other  boys 
were  attending  school,  he  was  working,  and,  in  looking  back  to  the  time  when 
the  lad  worked  a  whole  day  putting  up  hay  for  15  cents,  and  drove  oxen 
at  $7  per  month,  one  is  able  to  see  that  the  persevering  industry  and  patience 
of  the  child  laid  the  foundation  stones  on  which  the  man  built  his  fortune. 
Mr.  Funderburk  never  found  the  time  to  learn  to  either  read  or  write,  but 
he  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  men  in  his  part  of  the  county  and  has  always 
taken  pleasure  in  helping  others  along  a  little  and  has  never  turned  the  hun- 
gry' from  his  door.  His  life  of  economy,  industry  and  good  management 
can  teach  valuable  lessons  to  those  who  wish  to  learn.  W'hen  he  was  16  years 
old,  he  bought  a  team  of  cattle  and  earned  $300  by  hauling  wood  and  then 
bought  a  tract  of  15  acres  of  timber  land,  to  which  he  kept  adding  until  his 
farm  is  now  worth  $15,000.  In  contains  255  acres  and  is  situated  in  sec- 
tions 25,  35  and  36,  Dorchester  township.  He  also  owns  seven  good  dwell- 
ings in  Staunton  and  a  brick  block.  His  time  has  been  occupied  since  his 
retirement  in  iVIarch,   1903,  in  looking  after  his  real  estate  interests. 

On  May  2,  1872,  Mr.  Funderburk  was  married  to  Matilda  Hausam, 
who  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  March  24,  1856,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  Hausam.  They  have  these  children :  Mary,  wife  of  Henry 
Bargfeld  of  Staunton ;  Ida,  who  married  George  Allen  of  Staunton,  and  has 
four  children;  Moda  L.,  who  married  Charles  Mclntire,  of  Staunton,  and 
has  two  children ;  Julia,  who  married  Walter  Perslow,  and  has  two  children ; 
and  Laney  and  Pearl,  who  live  at  home. 


JOHN  ROACH. 


John  Roach,  deceased,  formerly  president  of  the  Bank  of  Girard  and 
a  director  of  the  People's  Bank  of  Girard,  was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  Macoupin  County,  a  leading  farmer  and  an  extensive  stock  raiser.    He  was 


394  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

bom  August  i6,  1829,  in  Carroll  County,  Tennessee,  being  one  of  12  chil- 
dren born  to  William  and  Anna  (Smith)  Roach. 

William  Roach,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  was 
engaged  throughout  his  life  in  the  pursuits  of  an  agriculturist.  The  12  chil- 
dren bom  to  him  and  his  good  wife  were:  William,  Joseph,  Rachel  (Wright), 
Angeline  (McGinnis),  Ellen  (Davenport),  Elizabeth  (Chandler),  Celia 
(Smith),  Susan  (Waters),  John,  our  subject,  and  three  whose  names  are 
not  given. 

The  late  John  Roach,  who  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Tennessee,  had  only  the  advantages  of  a  district  school  education.  He 
followed  farming  in  his  native  State  until  1854,  when  he  came  to  Macoupin 
County,  and  was  one  of  the  littie  band  that  first  broke  the  soil  on  the  site 
of  the  present  city  of  Girard.  Throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life  he 
took  a  generous  pride  in  her  growth  and  development,  and  was  identified 
with  many  of  her  most  successful  business  enterprises.  He  was  a  success- 
ful farmer  and  a  man  who  used  good  taste,  as  well  as  good  judgment, 
in  raising  stock,  and  the  breeding  of  Shorthorn  cattle  gained  for  him  a  repu- 
tation that  was  general  in  Macoupin  County  and  this  section  of  the  State. 
Until  he  retired  from  business  activity,  he  continued  to  be  an  extensive  raiser 
of  Shorthorn  cattle  and  a  large  shipper  to  the  St.  Louis  and  Chicago  markets. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  secured  a  number  of  important  contracts,  and  in 
the  shipping  of  stock  and  cattle  laid  the  foundation  of  an  ample  fortune. 
By  taking  advantage  of  opportunities,  as  well  as  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow, 
he  accumulated  considerable  land  of  a  choice  nature.  He  was  very  active  in 
the  establishment  of  Girard's  financial  institutions  and  was  associated  with 
those  other  substantial  citizens,  S.  Owen  Smith  and  T.  H.  Cherry,  whose 
sketches  appear  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Several  years  previous  to  his 
decease,  he  resigned  from  the  presidency  and  disposed  of  his  entire  interest 
in  the  Bank  of  Girard :  but  was  a  director  and  stockholder  of  the  People's 
Bank,  at  the  time  he  was  called  to  the  great  beyond,  June  16,  1903. 

On  November  12,  1852,  ilr.  Roach  was  married  to  Martha  H.  Cherry, 
a  daughter  of  Harvey  Cherry,  of  Girard.  Four  children  were  born  to  them, 
of  whom  two  now  survive — Mary  E.  and  James  Coy.  Mary  E.  married 
Hairy  Lemon,  of  Girard  township,  and  they  have  eight  children,  as  follows : 
Ethel  (Riffey),  John  R.,  Henry  McCoy,  Calvin  C,  Roscoe  H.,  Martha  E., 
Emma  A.  and  Fae.    James  Coy  Roach,  who  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  395 

of  Girard,  a  director  in  the  People's  Bank,  married  Olive  Bird.  Mrs.  Roach 
still  occupies  the  beautiful  family  home  in  Girard,  where  her  husband  had 
lived  so  many  happy  years,  and  is  spending  the  sunset  years  of  her  life  in 
comfort  and  ease.  The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  lost  in  Mr.  Roach 
one  of  its  faithful  members  and  liberal  supporters.  He  had  been  a  member 
for  man)-  years  and  ever  stood  ready  to  advance  its  cause.  He  was  notably 
a  man  of  sterling  honesty  and  unswering  in  his  convictions  of  the  right.  In 
almost  every  public  movement  affecting  Girard.  he  was  a  prominent  factor, 
encouraging  its  commercial  development  and  advancing  its  moral  and  edu- 
cational interests. 

His  burial  took  place  on  June  18.  his  funeral  being  attended  by  so 
many  friends  that  before  all  had  assembled  even  standing  room  was  not  to 
be  had.  The  officiating  ministers  were  Rev.  R.  D.  Miller,  of  Petersburg, 
and  Rev.  Berrj-hill,  of  Girard.  The  pall-bearers  were  Joseph  Listen,  of  Car- 
linville,  and  C.  C.  Armstrong.  John  Beeby,  H.  S.  Webb.  Henrj-  Stewart  and 
W.  S.  Garretson.  of  Girard.  His  death  was  sincerely  mourned  by  an  ex- 
ceedingly large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


JOHN  H.  WALKER. 

John  H.  ^^'ALKER,  a  prominent  and  substantial  farmer,  cattle  raiser  and 
dairyman,  of  Mount  Olive  township,  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  fine  farm 
of  121  acres  in  section  7,  was  bom  in  Clark  County,  Indiana,  February  8, 
1S44.     He  is  the  yoimgest  son  of  John  S.  and  Harriet   (French)   Walker. 

John  S.  ^^'alker  was  born  near  Dover,  Kent  County,  Delaware,  and 
died  in  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County,  in  1868,  aged  75  years. 
His  wife,  Harriet  French,  was  born  in  Delaware,  and  died  in  Indiana,  when 
our  subject  was  five  years  of  age.  Three  children  survived  her :  Mrs.  Frances 
Elizabeth  Hutchison,  who  died  in  1868,  near  Staunton;  William  C,  of 
Sacramento.  California;  and  John  H.,  of  this  sketch.  John  S.  Walker  was  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  views.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  prior  to 
coming  to  Indiana  was  an  overseer  for  a  time  on  a  Marj-land  plantation. 

John  H.  Walker  was  15  years  old  when  the  family  came  to  Macoupin 


396  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

County,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since  and  has  become  one  of  the  substantial 
and  influential  men.  He  owned  124  acres  of  land  in  jMount  Olive  township, 
but  in  December,  1903,  he  sold  three  acres  to  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern 
Railway,  whose  line  is  in  course  of  construction.  Eighty  acres  of  Mr. 
Walker's  farm  is  under  cultivation,  and  he  engages  in  general  farming, 
cattle  raising  and  dairying.  Mrs.  Walker  owns  20  acres  in  section  6,  the 
coal  rights  of  which  have  been  disposed  of  to  the  B.  L.  Dorsey  and  the 
Superior  coal  companies. 

Mr.  Walker  has  a  fine  Civil  War  record.  He  enlisted  March  8,  1865, 
at  Staunton,  in  Company  H,  28th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Capt.  B.  F. 
Cowell.  and  Col.  Richard  Ritter,  ist  Brigade,  3rd  Division,  13th  Army 
Corps,  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  saw  much  active  service,  participating 
in  the  battles  of  Spanish  Fort,  Fort  Blakely.  the  surrender  of  Mobile,  and 
the  battle  at  Whistler,  Alabama,  and  spent  the  last  eight  months  of  his  en- 
listment at  Brownsville.  Texas,  where  he  was  mustered  out  March  8,  1866. 
He  was  never  off  duty  during  this  time,  from  either  sickness  or  wounds,  and 
proved  to  be  a  good,  reliable  soldier,  as  he  has  since  become  a  responsible, 
representative  citizen.  For  six  years  he  has  served  as  highway  commissioner 
of  Mount  Olive  township,  was  constable  one  year  in  Staunton  township,  and 
is  school  director  and  trustee. 

In  1863  Mr.  Walker  was  married  to  Mava  E.  Godfrey,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Godfrey,  and  died  in  1872,  aged  ^2  years,  without  issue. 
In  1877  Mr.  Walker  married  Margaret  E.  Sawyer,  who  was  born  in  Mount 
Olive  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ebern  Sawyer,  who 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  died  at  North  Bend,  Mount  Olive  town- 
ship, April  10,  1863,  aged  57  years.  Mr.  Sawyer  gave  the  name  of  North 
Bend  to  that  school  district.  He  came  here  in  pioneer  days  with  his  parents 
and  became  an  extensive  agriculturist  and  cattle  raiser.  He  married  Mary 
A.  Best,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  January  23,  1823,  and  still  resides  on 
the  old  homestead.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sawyer  had  nine  children,  namely :  Ann- 
dosia  (Mrs.  Klock),  of  Mount  Olive  township;  Stephen  T.,  of  Mount  Olive 
township;  Mary  A.  (Mrs.  Courtney),  deceased;  Michael  C,  of  Oklahoma 
Territor)-;  Oliver  H.  P..  deceased;  Brittania  A.  (Mrs.  Clark),  of  Mount 
Olive  township;  Margaret  Ellen  (Mrs.  Walker);  Frances  Elizabeth  Best 
(Mrs.  Lawrence),  of  Spokane  Falls,  Washington;  and  Ada  Belle  (Mrs. 
^McMullen),  of  Oregon. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  397 

Mr.  Walker  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and  has  taken  a  very 
active  part  in  local  matters.  During  the  last  presidential  campaign,  he  was 
a  member  of  the  county  executive  committee,  is  a  member  of  the  township 
central  committee  and  upon  many  occasions  has  been  a  delegate  to  both 
county  and  State  conventions.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
Staunton  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Walker  is  widely  known  and  universally  respected.  His  opinions 
are  consulted  and  his  advice  taken  in  matters  pertaining  to  local  affairs,  his 
known  intergrity  and  public  spirit  making  his  judgment  of  value  to  his 
fellow  citizens,  who  have  never  foimd  him  wanting  in  patriotism  or  local 
pride. 


WILLIAM   H.  WHITEHOUSE. 

William  H.  Whitehouse,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Mount  Olive, 
Macoupin  County,  postmaster  and  agent  for  the  Aetna  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, was  born  at  Mount  Olive,  in  July,  i860.  He  is  one  of  two  children 
bom  to  his  parents,  Henry  and  Amelia  (Leghmann)  Whitehouse.  The 
father,  who  was  a  German  by  birth,  migrated  to  this  country  and  engaged  in 
farming  in   Macoupin   Coimty,   where  he  died. 

Mr.  Whitehouse  completed  the  common  school  course  and  then  took  a 
special  course  in  bookkeeping,  subsequently  returning  to  the  home  farm. 
Until  1890  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  then  embarked  in  a  mer- 
cantile business,  opening  up  a  general  store  in  Mount  Olive.  This  he  con- 
ducted until  1898,  when  his  appointment  as  jailer  at  Carlinville  necessitated 
his  removal  to  that  cit)-.  On  May  2"],  1902,  three  and  a  half  years  later,  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Mount  Olive  and  has  served  in  this  capacity 
ever  since.  The  amount  of  business  at  this  point  is  considerable  and  Mr. 
Whitehouse  has  engaged  Fred  C.  Troeger  as  assistant.  He  also  represents 
the  Aetna  Life  Insurance  Company,  and  has  written  up  many  risks  through 
his  section. 

In  1888  Mr.  Whitehouse  was  united  in  marriage  with  Maggie  Arke- 
bauer,  who  is  a  daughter  of  George  Arkebauer  of  Mount  Olive,  and  they  have 
three  children,  namely:  Molly  A..  Theodore  W..  and  Alvin  G. 


398  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

In  politics  Mr.  Whiteliouse  is  one  of  the  influential  Republicans  in  his 
section  of  Macoupin  County.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  valued  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church. 


THOMAS  METCALFE. 

The  death  of  the  late  Thomas  Metcalfe  removed  from  Macoupin  County 
a  citizen  who  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem,  and  one  who  is  recalled  by  the 
bar  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  as  long  one  of  its  ablest  members.  Mr.  Metcalfe 
was  born  in  1838  in  Kentucky,  and  was  a  son  of  Melville  and  Amanda 
(Mclntyre)  Metcalfe. 

Few  names  are  inore  distinguished  in  the  State  of  Kentucky  than  is  that 
of  Metcalfe.  Thomas  Metcalfe,  the  grandfather  of  our  deceased  subject, 
served  the  commonwealth,  as  a  member  of  Congress,  1819-29,  was  inaugu- 
rated its  Governor  in  1829,  afterwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
and  through  a  long  and  illustrious  public  career  reflected  only  credit  upon  the 
honorable  name. 

The  late  Thomas  Metcalfe  was  educated  for  the  law  and  from  1869  to 
1876  he  was  in  active  practice  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  removing  then  to  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  became  a  prominent  member  of  the  bar,  only  retir- 
ing from  the  arena  when  failing  health  warned  him  of  his  danger.  In  May, 
1901,  he  became  the  owner  of  the  magnificent  farm  of  440  acres,  beautifully 
situated  in  sections  8  and  9,  Shipman  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
and  with  enthusiasm  entered  upon  extensive  improvements,  converting  the 
residence  into  a  handsome  modern  home.  Here  it  was  fondly  hoped  by  his 
friends  that  he  would  be  spared  to  enjoy  many  years,  but  it  was  not  to  be. 
The  winter  of  1902  found  him  trying  the  balmy  air  at  San  Antonio,  Texas, 
but  it  was  of  no  avail  and  he  passed  away  March  11,  1903,  at  the  age  of  65 
years,  universally  regretted. 

In  1863  Mr.  Metcalfe  married  Mary  Chiles,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Hon. 
Walter  and  Caroline  (Stith)  Chiles,  these  names  being  very  prominent  and 
influential  ones  in  Montgomery  and  Hardin  counties,  Kentucky.  Hon.  Wal- 
ter Chiles  was  a  distinguished  lawyer,  who  died  in  1861,  in  his  50th  year, 
after  honorably  representing  his  district  in  the  State  Senate  for  three  terms. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  399 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metcalf  remained  on  the  home  farm  in  Kentucky  until  they 
removed  to  Kansas,  in  1869. 

Mr.  Metcalfe  is  survived  by  his  bereaved  widow  and  six  children,  viz. : 
Carrie  Lou;  Walter  and  Melville  (twins),  the  former  residing  on  the  estate 
with  his  mother,  the  latter  a  resident  of  Topeka,  Kansas,  who  married  Belle 
Ellis  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Thomas,  of  Chicago,  who  married  a  Miss  Bums 
of  Kentucky;  Mary,  who  married  James  Primrose,  of  North  Carolina,  and 
has  one  child,  Mary — they  reside  in  Indian  Territory;  and  Alice,  who  lives 
with  her  mother.     Landon  died  in   1895. 

Mr.  Metcalfe  was  prominent  in  political,  fraternal  and  religious  circles. 
For  a  long  period  he  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Fraternally  he  was  a  Mason,  and  politically  he  was  a  Democrat. 


FITZHUGH   LEE  HARRIS. 

FiTZHUGH  Lee  Harris,  one  of  the  successful  farmery  and  self-made 
men  of  Mount  Olive  township,  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  very  superior 
farm  of  140  acres  in  sections  7  and  8,  was  bom  in  Jackson  county,  Missouri, 
February  i,  1877,  and  is  a  son  of  Doctor  Robert  and  Henrietta  (Dalton) 
Harris,  a  grandson  of  William  G.  Harris  and  a  great-grandson  of  Isam 
Harris. 

The  Harris  family  came  from  England  about  1776,  Isam  Harris,  our 
subject's  great-grandfather,  being  the  first  to  come  to  America.  Mr.  Harris 
first  settled  in  Virginia,  and  in  1839  removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  operated 
a  distillery.  Isam  Harris  was  the  father  of  14  children,  our,  subject's  grand- 
father being  the  second  son.  Mr.  Harris  died  while  a  resident  of  Misouri 
at  the  age  of  108  years ;  his  father  lived  to  be  1 1 1  years  old. 

William  G.  Harris,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  bom  at  Colfax 
Court  House,  Virginia,  April  18,  1822,  and  migrated  to  Missouri  in  1839, 
where  he  died  in  1897.     He  always  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 

Doctor  Robert  Harris,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Jackson 
County,  Missouri,  October  14,  1852,  being  the  second  of  eight  children  born 
to  his  parents.     He  is  now  cultivating  a  farm  in  Jackson  County,  Missouri, 


400  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

being  also  engaged  as  a  carpenter  and  contractor.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
"Texas  Rangers"  and  was  engaged  in  many  battles  against  the  Indians. 
Politically,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  married  Henrietta 
Dalton,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  April  17,  1858.  They 
are  the  parents  of  15  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Fitzhugh 
Lee,  our  subject;  Lillie  M.  (Patterson),  of  Eldorado,  Kansas;  Rose  C.  (Con- 
way), of  Jackson  County,  Missouri;  Lottie,  who  resides  with  our  subject; 
and  Lucy  P.,  Blanche,  Chlora,  Pearl  and  Myrtle,  who  reside  with  their 
parents. 

Fitzhugh  Lee  Harris  resided  on  his  father's  farm  in  Jackson  County, 
Missouri,  until  he  was  24  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Macoupin  County, 
Illinois,  where  he  has  since  lived.  Mr.  Harris  cultivates  a  very  superior 
farm  of  140  acres  and  also  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  stock  raising,  in 
which  occupation  he  has  met  with  very  successful  results.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Democratic  party,  although  he  takes  but  a  citizen's  interest  in  political 
affairs. 

Mr.  Harris  was  married  August  31,  1901,  to  Lillian  E.  Reid,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  City,  June  10,  1877.  Mrs.  Harris'  parents  moved  from 
New  York  City  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  when  she  was  an  infant,  later  remov- 
ing to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where  she  lived  until  several  years  ago,  when 
she  came  to  Macoupin  County.  Mrs.  Harris  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Annie  (Foster)  Reid,  both  natives  of  County  Sligo,  Ireland.  Mrs.  Reid,  the 
mother  of  our  .subject's  wife,  immigrated  to  America  when  she  was  18  years 
old  in  company  with  her  brother.  Her  parents  both  died  before  she  came  to 
this  country.  Her  husband,  Robert  Reid,  came  to  this  country  in  1848,  when 
II  years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  children  besides  our  subject's 
wife,  namely :   Jennie  and  Robert. 

Joseph  Whiteside  Reid,  uncle  of  Mrs.  Harris,  was  born  in  County  Sligo, 
Ireland,  January  9,  1843.  He  removed  to  New  York  in  1851,  in  company 
with  his  widowed  mother  and  remained  there  until  he  was  25  years  old. 
While  he  was  in  New  York  City  he  and  his  two  brothers,  Thomas  and 
Robert,  began  the  manufacture  of  confectionery  and  proved  fairly  successful 
at  that  ocupation.  At  the  first  call  for  volunteers  in  1861,  Mr.  Reid  enlisted 
in  a  New  York  infantry  regiment  under  the  command  of  General  McDowell. 
Mr.  Reid  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  took  an  active 
part    in    many    battles,    but    never    received    even    a     scratch.       He    re- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  401 

enlisted  a  second  time  and  served  throughout  the  entire  war.  Mr. 
Reid  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review  in  Washington,  D.  C.  After  the 
war  he  returned  to  New  York  and  again  engaged  in  the  confectionery  manu- 
facturing business,  continuing  at  it  until  1868.  In  1868  he  set  out  to  travel 
through  the  South  and  purchased  a  ranch  in  Texas,  where  he  lived  but  one 
year  and  then  sold  it  and  removed  to  San  Francisco,  California,  where  he 
again  engaged  in  the  confectionery  business.  Mr.  Reid  later  engaged  in 
mining  in  California  and  after  some  time  engaged  in  freighting  on  the 
plains.  After  a  time  he  again  engaged  in  gold  mining,  this  time  in  the  Black 
Hills,  being  one  of  the  first  to  settle  there.  He  again  engaged  in  freighting 
and  later  located  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  engaged  in  the  candy  businss  for 
five  years,  and  then,  in  1886,  came  to  Macoupin  County,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  until  his  death  which  occurred  September  8,  1903.  Mr.  Reid  was 
a  well  educated  man,  a  verj'  fine  conversationalist  and  was  a  leading  figure  in 
the  communities  where  he  resided.  He  was  a  personal  acquaintance  of  Lin- 
coln, Grant  and  many  other  noted  men.  Mr.  Reid  was  employed  as  a  tax 
collector  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  immediately  after  the  surrender  of  that  city. 
Politically  he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  party.  Fraternally  he  was 
a  member  of  a  New  York  City  lodge  of  Masons. 

On  January-  6,  1886,  Mr.  Reid  was  married  to  Jane  Foster,  who  died  in 
Macoupin  County,  August  26,  1902,  at  the  age  of  70  years. 


JACOB  KLEIN. 


Jacob  Klein,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Mount  Olive,  Macoupin 
County,  supervisor  of  Mount  Olive  township,  and  manager  of  the  branch 
depot  at  Mount  Olive  of  the  Anheuser-Busch  Brewing  Association  of  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Charlotta  (Keck) 
Klein. 

John  Klien  lived  and  died  in  Germany.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  a  man  of  industrious  habits  and  many  sterling  virtues.  After  the  death 
of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Klein  came  with  her  son  Jacob  and  daughters  Mary  and 


402  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Anna,  to  America,  locating  first  at  Belleville,  Illinois,  and  later  removing 
from  that  point  to  Mount  Olive. 

Our  subject  received  a  good,  common  school  education.  In  1885  he 
entered  into  the  wholesale  beer  business  and  in  1891  was  made  manager  of 
the  Mount  Olive  depot  of  one  of  the  largest  brewing  companies  in  the  coun- 
try. His  plant  and  the  offices  are  very  complete  and  he  does  a  business  of 
$40,000  annually.  He  has  long  since  demonstrated  his  fine  business  ability 
and  ranks  with  the  substantial  men  of  the  community  and  is  ranked  very 
high  in  the  commercial  world.  He  is  also  a  prominent  factor  in  local  poli- 
tics as  an  influential  member  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  1902  he  was 
elected  supervisor  of  Mount  Olive  township,  a  choice  most  satisfactory  to  all 
those  who  have  the  best  interests  of  the  township  at  heart.  He  has  served  three 
years  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  where  his  advice  and  excellent  judg- 
ment have  been  much  appreciated.  On  April  16,  1904,  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  that  body. 

On  June  24,  1875,  Mr.  Klein  was  united  in  marriage  with  Margiierita 
Rehg,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Moritz  Rehg,  and  they  have  a  family  of  10  chil- 
dren, namely:  William,  Julia,  Louis  C,  Gunda,  Tillie,  Minnie,  Walter,  Dala, 
Josephine  and  Anna.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klein  and  all  their  children  belong  to 
the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Klein  is  an  active  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Knights  of  Honor,  the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor  and  Tren 
Bund. 


CHARLES  E.  SMITH. 

Charles  E.  Smith,  one  of  the  enterprising  and  successful  business 
men  of  Medora.  Macoupin  County,  engaged  in  conducting  a  first  class 
grocery,  was  born  in  1877  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Mary  C  (McNamar)  Smith. 

William  Smith,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  has  followed  farming  all  his 
life.  In  1884  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Virden  township,  Macoupin 
Count}',  but  in  1892  he  removed  to  the  central  part  of  Missouri,  where  he  is 
now  an  extensive  farmer. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  403 

Charles  E.  Smith  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Virdeii,  IllHnois,  and 
after  he  completed  his  education  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  grocery  store, 
where  he  remained  four  years,  this  long  term  testifying  to  his  industry  and 
ability.  During  these  years  he  learned  all  the  necessary  details  of  the  busi- 
ness and  was  thus  well  equipped  when  he  located  in  Medora  in  1899,  and 
opened  up  his  first  class  grocery  store.  Mr.  Smith  has  shown  much  enter- 
prise in  his  venture,  and  has  given  his  patrons  the  best  the  market  affords. 
His  careful  and  choice  selection,  not  only  of  staple  and  standard  groceries 
but  also  of  delicacies  and  luxuries,  combined  with  uniform  courtesy  and  hon- 
est and  fair  dealing,  have  brought  him  the  larger  part  of  the  best  trade  of 
the  place. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  October  17,  1899,  to  Lillie  Hunt,  who  was  born 
in  England,  where  her  parents  resided  all  their  lives. 

Politically  Mr.  Smith  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Fidelity  Lodge,  No.  152,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
As  a  business  man  he  stands  well  in  his  community  and  is  esteemed  person- 
ally. 


JOHN  HARRISON  PERRINE. 

John  Harrison  Perrine,  proprietor  of  the  well  known  "Cotton  Wood 
Stock  Farm,"  consisting  of  305  acres,  situated  in  sections  i  and  14,  Hilyard 
township,  Macoupin  County,  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  farmers 
and  stock  raisers  of  this  portion  of  the  State.  Mr.  Perrine  was  born  Septem- 
ber 13,  1846,  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  but  has  been  a  resident  of  Hilyard 
township  since  1856.    He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Emily  (Doyle)  Perrine. 

As  far  back  as  the  closing  year  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  Perrine 
family  resided  in  New  Jersey,  and  Mathew  Perrine,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, served  in  the  patriot  army.  His  son  William,  one  of  seven 
children,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  married  Rachel  Lippincott,  who  was 
born  in  Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey.  After  the  birth  of  four  children, 
they  moved  to  Ohio,  where  our  subject's  grandmother  died,  and  the  grand- 
father died  soon  after  coming  to  Illinois,  a  few  years  later. 

Daniel  Perrine,  father  of  John  H.,  was  born  July  4,  1822,  in  Monmouth 
County,  New  Jersey,  and  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Jersey  Cojnty,  in 


404  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

185 1.  He  married  Emily  Doyle  who  was  bom  in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  and 
died  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  September  7,  1884.  aged  56  years.  They 
had  12  children,  namely:  John  H.,  of  this  sketch;  William,  of  Morrisonville, 
Illinois;  Hattie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  20  years;  Mrs.  Ann  Coulter  of  Al- 
ton; Mrs.  Jane  Huchelbridge,  of  Louisiana;  Mrs.  Clara  Huddleston,  of 
Farmer^'ille.  Illinois;  Mrs.  Emma  Jones,  of  Gillespie  township;  Mrs.  Dora 
Trabue;  Alice,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  Edwin,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  34  years;  Mrs.  Effie  Chappel,  who  is  living  on  the  old  homestead;  and 
Mrs.  Kate  Simonson,  of  Saratoga,  Wyoming. 

Our  subject  was  five  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  he  has 
lived  in  Hilyard  township.  Macoupin  County,  for  the  past  48  years.  The 
wonderful  changes  which  have  taken  place  in  the  county's  settlement  and  civ- 
ilization are  no  more  remarkable  than  are  the  changes  which  Mr.  Perrine 
has  brought  about  in  his  own  fortunes.  From  a  capital  consisting  of  noth- 
ing but  health,  industr}',  energy  and  honesty,  he  has  arisen  to  be  one  of  the 
county's  capitalists,  and  where  he  was  once  obliged  to  pay  10  per  cent,  inter- 
est on  every  dollar  he  borrowed,  the  banks  are  anxious  to  lend  him  their 
whole  capital  without  a  sign  of  security.  For  many  years  his  name  has  given 
confidence  to  many  investors,  his  probity,  honor  and  integrity  equaling  his 
substantiability. 

When  Mr.  Perrine  first  started  out  in  life,  he  found  it  necessary  to  com- 
mand a  small  capital,  in  order  to  carry  out  enterprises  which  his  judgment 
and  foresight  saw  would  bring  about  great  results.  He  computes  that  he  has 
paid  something  like  $10,000  in  interest  money.  He  has  been  very  prominent 
in  all  agricultural  movements  in  his  section  of  the  county  and  much  credit  is 
due  him  for  the  reputation  the  section  has  for  its  magnificent  showing  of 
cattle  and  stock.  In  addition  to  large  operations  in  buying,  selling  and  ship- 
ping, his  stock  farm  has  some  of  the  finest  specimens  of  horses,  cattle  and 
hogs,  to  be  found  in  the  State.  With  four  other  prominent  stock  men,  he 
owns  a  share  in  the  Hilyard  Township  Horse  Company.  They  imported 
the  magnificent  French  Percheron  stallion  "Brave,"  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 
On  his  own  farm  he  has  150  head  of  Poland-China  hogs  and  a  large  herd  of 
Polled  Durham  cattle,  with  these  three  fine  registered  animals  at  their  head : 
"Red  Joe,"  No.  1549;  "John  Brown,  Jr.,"  No.  1895,  and  the  cow,  "Christ- 
mas Eve,"  No.  1894.  During  the  early  years  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Bene- 
fit Association,  Mr.  Perrine  was  coimty  vice-president  and  also  county  pur- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  405 

chasing  agent  and  for  a  long  period  was  much  interested  in  furthering  the 
designs  of  the  organization,  looking  to  the  improvement  of  agricultural  con- 
ditions. 

On  October  12,  1871,  Mr.  Perrine  was  married  to  Maria  Elizabeth 
Jones,  who  was  born  November  21,  1850,  in  Allen  County,  Kentuck)-,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Ambrose  and  Mary  (Wilson)  Jones,  the  former  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  the  latter  of  Tennessee.  Both  died  in  Gillespie  township, 
Macoupin  County,  having  moved  to  Illinois  when  Mrs.  Perrine  was  six 
months  old.  They  have  four  children:  Grace  May,  Anna  Myrtle  (deceased). 
James  Harrison  and  Marj-  Ethel.  Mr.  Perrine  attended  Shurtleff  Colllege 
at  Alton,  and  Mrs.  Perrine  took  a  four-years  Chautauqua  course,  receiving  a 
diploma,  and  their  children  have  benefited  by  having  intelligent  and  edu- 
cated parents.  All  have  had  excellent  educational  opportunities,  the  eldest 
daughter  attending  the  Western  Normal  College  at  Bushnell  and  also  per- 
fecting herself  in  vocal  and  instrumental  music  and  becoming  a  successful 
teacher.  She  is  now^  the  wife  of  Orville  Dey  of  Hilyard  township  and  they 
have  two  children — Lola  Inez  and  Florence  Grace.  Ethel  is  also  an  accom- 
plished musician  and  a  graduate  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Academy.  Harrison  at- 
tended Bushnell  College  and  Bunker  Hill  Militan,-  Academy. 

Mr.  Perrine  was  reared  a  Republican,  but  later  became  a  Populist  and 
now  votes  independently.  He  has  never  cared  for  political  office,  his  inter- 
ests being  mainly  centered  in  agricultural  aflfairs  and  in  his  church,  home 
and  family.  He  is  one  of  the  most  liberal  supporters  of  the  Corrington 
Chapel,  and  is  one  of  the  trustees.  The  family  residence  is  probably  one  of 
the  most  imposing  in  the  township  and  is  surrounded  by  bams  and  out- 
buildings that  testify  to  the  extensive  operations  carried  on  here.  The 
farm  has  a  name  well  known  beyond  local  circles  and  its  products  bring  the 
highest  price  in  the  market. 


HENRY  BRAYFORD. 

Henry  Bravford,  who  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  prominent  min- 
ing men  and  large  land-owners  of  Madison  and  Macoupin  counties,  Illinois, 
died  on  his  large  farm  of  711  acres,  located  in  sections  21,  22  and  23,  Polk 


4o6  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 

township,  Macoupin  County,  December  22,  1901.     He  was  born  in  1817  in 
Staffordshire,  England,  and  came  to  America  in  1848. 

By  trade  Mr.  Brayford  was  a  miner,  one  who  had  made  the  business 
a  study  for  years.    He  located  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  the  same  year  he 
came  to  this  country,  and  bought  a  farm  of  80  acres,  in  the  vicinity  of  Moro, 
on  which  he  had  reason  to  believe  he  would  find  a  coal  bed.     Being  a  practi- 
cal miner,  he  was  engaged  by  Ritter  &  Brother,  of  Edwardsville,  Illinois, 
to  look  over  the  ground  in  that  locality,  and  it  resulted  in  his  putting  down 
the  first  coal  shaft  in  that  later  noted  coal  locality.    He  remained  in  the  em- 
ploy of  this  firm  for  some  years,  his  family  in  the  meantime  remaining  on 
the  farm.     When  released  from  his  contract  with  Ritter  &  Brother,  he  re- 
turned to  Moro,  and  soon  put  down  coal  shafts  on  his  property,  which  he 
successfully  worked  for  1 1  years.     During  this  time  he  had  purchased  land 
in  Polk  township,  Macoupin  County,  which  later  aggregated  711  acres,  built 
on  it  a  handsome  home  and  established  his  family.     Mr.  Brayford  was  a 
man  of  fine  business  ability  as  well  as  practical  knowledge,  and  he  purposed 
to  develop  the  coal  beds  which  he  knew  to  be  underlying  his  property  in  Polk 
township.    In  1899  he  began  operations  and  at  a  depth  of  144  feet  found  the 
coal  as  he  expected, — a  fine  vein  of  six  feet.    His  death  prevented  the  open- 
ing of  the  mine,  but  its  presence  so  proved  has  vastly  enhanced  the  value  of 
the  property. 

On  October  13,  1853,  Mr.  Brayford  married  Mary  Ann  Cartlidge  who 
is  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Ann  (Broughton)  Cartlidge,  of  Staffordshire, 
England,  where  Mrs.  Brayford  was  born.  Her  family  landed  at  New 
Orleans  and  remained  in  that  city  six  months,  removing  then  to  Madison 
County,  Illinois,  and  locating  at  Paddock's  Grove,  on  the  Springfield  and 
Bunker  Hill  road.  Mr.  Cartlidge  died  in  1891  at  his  home  near  Bethalto, 
at  the  age  of  67  years,  and  his  wife  died  in  1876.  They  brought  two  chil- 
dren with  them  from  England  and  four  were  born  in  Madison  County,  but 
the  only  survivors  are:  Mrs.  Brayford  and  her  sister  Martha,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Lubbin,  a  farmer  of  Macoupin  County.  Mr.  Brayford  is 
survived  by  his  widow  and  four  children,  namely :  Virginia,  who  is  the  wife 
of  John  Ruttman,  a  stone  mason ;  Mary  Ann,  who  married  Henry  Bergmann, 
a  farmer  who  died  March  5,  1904 — she  has  three  children,  Herbert,  Grace 
and  Belle;  Theresa  M.,  who  married  John  Lawrence,  a  mechanic,  and  lives 
in  St.  Louis,  Missouri — they  have  seven  children,  Daisy,  Albert,  Arthur, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  407 

Adele,  Dosia,  Ada  and  Doris;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Frank  Rhoades  of 
Polk  township,  this  county. 

The  large  estate  of  Mr.  Brayford  is  in  the  possession  of  the  family  and 
it  includes,  besides  the  farm  mentioned,  another  tract  of  80  acres  north  of 
Carlinville,  through  which  an  electric  road  is  planned  from  that  city  to  St. 
Louis,  and  80  acres  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  near  Moro.  Included  in  the 
711-acre  estate  in  Polk  township  is  a  lovely  sheet  of  water  known  as  Beaver 
Dam  Lake,  which  is  91  acres  in  area,  being  situated  between  hills  and  sur- 
rounded by  200  acres  of  beautiful  hunting  and  pleasure  grounds.  The  lake 
has  been  stocked  for  the  past  24  years  with  all  kinds  of  game  fish,  and  lies  a 
half  mile  west  of  Macoupin  Station  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway. 

In  politics,  since  the  administration  of  President  Buchanan,  Mr.  Bray- 
ford was  a  Democrat.  Fraternally  he  was  a  Alason.  Religiously  he  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Advent  Christian  Church  at  Carlinville.  He  was  a 
man  of  a  great  deal  of  strength  of  character  and  was  looked  up  to  by  those 
around  him,  and  his  sound  advice  was  not  only  often  asked  for  but  was  taken. 
He  was  a  man  of  the  highest  integrity  in  business,  honest  himself  and  ex- 
pecting honesty  of  others.  In  his  home  he  was  both  respected  and  obeyed 
and  sincerely  beloved. 


4»> 


JOSEPH  S.  BIRD. 

Joseph  S.  Bird,  who  is  efficiently  serving  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  of 
Mount  Olive  towTiship,  Macoupin  County,  is  an  enterprising  and  progressive 
young  business  man  of  the  township.  He  was  born  in  Madison  County, 
Illinois,  September  6,  1880,  and  is  a  son  of  James  W.  and  Martha  (Grant) 
Bird. 

James  W.  Bird,  who  was  a  native  of  Madison  County,  Illinois,  early  in 
life  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  is  at  present 
one  of  the  most  extensive  stock  raisers  of  his  county.  Mr.  Bird  is  a  stanch 
Republican  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  party,  being 
known  throughout  his  county  as  a  political  leader. 

Joseph  S.  Bird  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Madison  County.     After  completing  his  education,  he  entered 

23 


4o8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

upon  the  cares  of  a  business  man  and  in  1900  he  began  the  occupation  of 
mining,  which  he  has  followed  up  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Bird  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party  and  in  April,  1903,  he  was  elected  to  his  present 
position  as  clerk  of  Mount  Olive  township.  In  fraternal  circles,  Mr.  Bird 
is  a  member  of  Staunton  Lodge,  No.  177,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

On  October  24.  1901.  Mr.  Bird  was  married  to  Mary  Hassler,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  Fred  Hassler,  who  now  resides  in  Mount  Olive. 


JOHN  BINNEY,  M.  D. 

One  of  the  leading  business  houses  of  Mount  Olive,  Illinois,  is  what  is 
known  as  "Binney's  Pharmacy,"  the  foundations  for  which  were  begun  by 
the  late  Dr.  John  Binney,  who  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  prominent  and 
successful  physicians  and  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Mount  Olive.  Dr. 
Binney  was  born  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  April  17,  1854,  and  was  one 
in  a  family  of  10  children,  born  to  his  parents,  Walter  and  Christina  (_  Web- 
ster) Binney.    The  father  is  now  a  resident  of  Madison  County,  Illinois. 

The  late  Dr.  Binney  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the 
local  schools.  His  medical  reading  was  done  as  occasion  offered,  and  he 
prepared  himself  for  entrance  to  the  St.  Louis  College  of  Medicine,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1877,  with  high  honors.  He  located  at  Mount  Olive,  and 
immediately  took  a  foremost  place  among  the  medical  practitioners  of  Ma- 
coupin County.  Here  he  continued  to  live  and  practice,  taking  a  great 
interest  in  public  affairs  and  developing  enterprises  which  served  to  benefit 
the  community,  until  the  time  of  his  decease,  August  14,  1899.  The  plans 
he  had  made  for  the  completion  of  a  beautiful,  modem  building  to  be  used 
as  a  first  class  pharmacy  were  followed  out  by  his  widow,  and  the  business 
is  now  conducted  by  her  in  asociation  with  her  son-in-law,  AVilliani  H.  Bar- 
rick.  The  latter  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  young  business  men  of 
Mount  Olive  and  the  pharmacy  is  not  only  stocked  with  drugs,  but  carries 
also  all  the  articles  usually  found  in  a  drug  store  of  the  present  day  and  is  a 
credit  to  the  business  life  of  Mount  Olive. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  .     409 

On  April  17,  1879,  Dr.  Binney  was  married  to  Elizabeth  McMillan,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  the  late  James  McMillan.  She  still  survives,  with  two 
daughters :  Lulu  E.,  and  Margaret  C,  the  latter  of  whom  is  the  wife  of 
William  H.  Barrick.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barrick  have  one  child,  Grace  L.,  who 
was  bom  July  19,  1903. 

In  political  sentiment,  Dr.  Binney  was  a  Republican,  but  he  accepted 
no  public  honors,  outside  of  being  a  central  committeeman,  his  time  being 
fully  occupied  with  his  practice,  and  in  looking  after  his  many  investments 
and  propertj'  interests.  Fraternally  he  was  a  member  of  the  Modem  Wood- 
men of  Ainerica,  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the  Court  of 
Honor.  He  was  also  a  valued  member  of  the  Macoupin  County  Medical 
Association. 


HENRY  J.  GEHNER,  Jr. 

Henry  J.  Gehner,  Jr.,  who  owns  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres  in  section 
35,  Cahokia  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  occupies  a  handsome  residence 
erected  on  that  place,  was  born  near  Jacksonville,  Morgan  County,  Illinois, 
April  18,  1 86 1,  and  was  brought  to  Macoupin  County  when  an  infant  of 
three  years.     He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Wilhelmina  (Schweppe)  Gehner. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Westphalia,  Germany,  in  August, 
1823,  and  when  25  years  old  immigrated  to  America.  He  first  located  at 
St.  Louis,  where  he  was  engaged  at  general  work,  later  removing  to  Cahokia 
township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  now  resides  on  a  handsome  farm  of 
260  acres.  Mr.  Gehner's  first  marriage  was  to  Wilhelmina  Schweppe,  who 
was  a  native  of  Germany.  Her  death  occurred  in  January,  1880.  They  were 
blessed  with  seven  children,  namely:  IMary  (Eichmeyer),  who  resides  in 
Cahokia  township:  Henn.-  J-,  our  subject;  William  H.,  of  Cahokia  township; 
Fred,  who  resides  in  Minnesota;  Lottie  (Arkebauer)  a  resident  of  Kansas; 
Herman,  who  is  a  teacher  in  Wisconsin ;  and  Louis,  who  resides  at  home  with 
his  parents.  Mr.  Gehner's  second  marriage  was  to  Caroline  Weisbrodt  and 
to  this  union  were  bom  two  boys  and  three  girls. 

Henr)^  J.  Gehner,  Jr..  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  since  he  was 
three  years  old  and  has  met  with  success  in  all  enterprises  into  which  he  has 


4IO  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

entered.  He  is  at  present  operating  his  large  and  productive  farm  of  200 
acres  and  is  besides  employed  as  an  engineer  for  the  Madison  Coal  Com- 
pany. ^Ir.  Gehner  sold  the  coal  rights  of  his  farm  to  this  company  and 
they  have  besides  purchased  four  acres  of  his  farm  for  their  pumping  station. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  served  as  highway  com- 
misioner  for  the  past  three  years,  having  also  served  in  several  other  minor 
township  offices. 

In  1885,  our  subject  was  married  to  Hermina  Arkebauer,  who  was  born 
in  Mount  Olive  township,  September  9,  1864,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Meint 
Arkebauer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gehner  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely: 
Lydia,  Rosena,  Amanda,  Theodore.  Pauline,  Clara,  Ida  and  Walter.  Mr. 
Gehner  and  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


GEORGE  FENTON. 

George  Fenton,  a  prosperous  agriculturist  of  Macoupin  County,  re- 
sides on  his  well  cultivated  farm  located  in  section  23,  Chesterfield  township. 
He  was  bom  in  Nottinghamshire,  England,  in  183 1. 

Mr.  Fenton  left  his  native  land  in  early  manhood  in  company  with  his 
brother,  William  Fenton,  and  his  sister,  Ann  (Fenton)  Boyington,  both 
of  whom  have  since  died,  and  landed  in  America  on  January  12,  1851.  Mr. 
Fenton  came  immediately  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  locating  in  Chester- 
field township,  where  he  has  since  remained,  having  never  done  a  day's  work 
outside  of  this  township  since  coming  to  the  United  States.  He  at  first  took 
up  a  40-acre  tract  of  land  in  section  13,  which  he  cultivated  and  afterwards 
sold.  He  then  purchased  his  present  homestead  and  has  since  been  actively 
engaged  in  its  cultivation  and  improvement.  He  devotes  considerable  time 
to  stock  raising  and  always  has  on  hand  a  great  number  of  hogs,  sheep,  cattle, 
and  horses,  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud.  Mr.  Fenton  also  owns  130  acres 
of  well  improved  land  south  of  the  homestead  farm  of  160  acres.  He  has  re- 
tired from  active  work  on  the  farm  and  spends  his  time  enjoying  the  bene- 
fits of  a  comfortable  and  well  appointed  home,  which  he  has  gained  by  manv 
years  of  hard  and  unceasing  labor,  and  in  which  he  takes  great  pride. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  411 

On  January  15,  1854,  Mr.  Fenton  took  as  his  life  companion  Sarah 
Thornton,  and  10  children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  Herbert,  born  July 
16,  1855;  Hannah,  born  May  i,  1857;  Robert,  born  August  21,  1859,  de- 
ceased October  11,  i860:  Mary,  born  August  14,  1861 ;  George,  born  June 
27,  1864;  Edith,  born  September  9,  1867,  deceased  November  24,  1891  ; 
Sarah,  born  April  29,  1870;  Orange,  born  November  19,  1874;  Calista,  born 
March  9,  1878,  deceased  December  zj,  1881 ;  and  Amos,  born  Septeml^er  29, 
1 88 1.  Our  subject's  wife  died  in  June,  1894,  having  reached  her  60th  year. 
Mr.  Fenton  adheres  to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  takes  only 
a  citizen's  part  in  politics.  The  members  of  the  Fenton  family  are  Episco- 
palians. 


HON.  THEODORE  H.  KOCH. 

Hon.  Theodore  H.  Koch,  cashier  of  the  bank  of  C.  J.  Keiser  &  Com- 
pany of  Mount  Olive,  Macoupin  County,  and  a  prominent  and  substantial 
citizen,  was  born  Novembr  26,  1863,  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Minnie  (Sewing)   Koch. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Westphalia, 
Germany,  came  to  America  in  1845  and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  where  they  re- 
sided all  their  lives.  They  married  in  St.  Louis,  where  Mr.  Koch  was  em- 
ployed as  calker  on  the  dry  docks,  which  he  later  bought  and  successfully 
operated  until  he  retired  from  business  activity  in  1875.  The  family  con- 
tinued to  live  in  St.  Louis,  where  Mr.  Koch  died  in  1884,  aged  65  years, 
and  where  Mrs.  Koch  died  in  1899,  aged  "jz  years.  Both  parents  were  most 
worthy  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

Theodore  Koch  had  the  advantages  offered  by  both  the  English  and 
the  German  schools.  His  boyhood  was  passed  before  his  father  had  at- 
tained business  success,  and  from  the  age  of  12  years  he  was  thrown  mainly 
upon  his  own  resources.  In  1876  he  entered  the  employ  of  Keiser  &  Nie- 
meyer,  general  merchants  at  Mount  Olive,  where  by  fidelity  to  his  employers' 
interests  he  gained  their  attention  and  good  will  to  such  an  extent  that  they 
permitted  him  to  take  a  course  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College  in 
St.  Louis,  where  he  graduated  from  the  commercial  course.     In   1880  he 


412  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

returned  to  Mount  Olive  and  took  charge  of  the  books  of  the  firm,  which  po- 
sition he  retained  until  1882,  when  he  was  made  cashier  of  the  bank  of  C.  J. 
Keiser  &  Company. 

Mr.  Koch  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and 
has  been  the  recipient  of  many  political  rewards.  In  1889  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Mount  Olive  by  President  Harrison,  and  was  succeeded  by 
William  H.  Whitehouse,  of  whom  a  sketch  will  be  found  in  this  volume. 
That  his  administration  of  office  met  with  the  approval  of  his  fellow  citizens, 
was  shown  by  his  almost  unanimous  election  to  the  office  of  mayor  in  1903. 
He  has  filled  other  responsible  positions,  his  aldermanic  services  being  of 
great  value  to  the  city,  his  record  being  that  of  a  fearless,  upright  upholder 
of  the  law.  In  April,  1902,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  board  of  trustees, 
all  his  public  services  being  of  a  character  to  reflect  credit  upon  himself  and 
honor  on  the  city.  He  was  elected  in  April,  1904,  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Republican  Convention,  which  will  convene  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  in  June, 
1904.  In  association  with  G.  G.  Simpson,  he  owns  and  operates  the  Mount 
Olive  telephone  plant.  Fraternally  Mr.  Koch  is  a  very  popular  member  of 
the  Knights  Templar,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Elks. 


WALLACE  A.  BRUCE. 

Wallace  A.  Bruce,  one  of  the  largest  and  most  progressive  farmers 
of  Macoupin  County,  has  attained  a  leading  position  among  the  farmers  and 
business  citizens  of  his  county,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  over  1,700  acres  of 
land.  Mr.  Bruce  resides  on  his  handsome  homestead  farm  of  320  acres 
situated  in  section  2^,  Staunton  township.  He  was  born  in  County  Derry, 
Ireland,  Septanber  20,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Matilda  (Patter- 
son) Bruce. 

Samuel  Bruce,  the  father  of  our  subject,  came  to  Macoupin  County 
from  Ireland  and  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  55  years,  when  his  son  Wallace  was  nine  years  old.  Mr.  Bruce  was 
married  to  Matilda  Patterson,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  10  children 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  413 

were  bom  to  them,  namely:  Alice  (Sawyer),  deceased;  Nancy  (Sawyer), 
of  Staunton  township,  Macoupin  County;  Tilly  (Hagins),  of  St.  Louis, 
Missouri;  Sarah  (Gates),  deceased;  Lovina,  who  died  at  the  age  of  17  years; 
Samuel,  who  died  in  ^Macoupin  County;  Wallace,  our  subject;  Hugh,  who 
died  in  infancy  in  Ireland;  and  Elizabeth  Ann,  who  died  in  Staunton  when 
three  years  old. 

Wallace  A.  Bruce  came  to  America  when  nearly  two  years  of  age  in 
company  with  his  parents  and  the  other  children  of  the  family  then  born. 
His  parents  settled  in  Staunton  township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  Mr.  Bnice  when  a  youth  had  little  or  no  opportunity  to  gain 
an  education  but  has  worked  himself  up  in  the  business  world  through  his 
own  energy  and  perseverance.  Mr.  Bruce  has  always  been  a  hard  working 
man  and  withstood  many  hardships  when  he  first  began  his  most  remark- 
able career,  starting  with  almost  nothing  and  building  up  a  vast  estate  by  his 
own  exertions  with  the  aid  of  his  wife  and  boys.  In  political  circles,  Mr. 
Bruce  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  part}'. 

In  February,  i860,  Mr.  Bruce  was  married  to  Eliza  J.  Clark,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Eliza  (Little)  Clark,  both  natitves  of  Ireland.  IMr.  and 
Mrs.  Bruce  are  the  parents  of  1 1  children,  namely :  Charles,  of  Macoupin 
County ;  Thomas,  of  Madison  County,  Illinois ;  Elizabeth,  who  resides  with 
her  parents ;  Belle,  who  is  the  wife  of  James  Early  of  Madison  County, 
Illinois;  Wallace,  of  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County;  Edward,  of 
Staunton  township,  Macoupin  County ;  Agnes,  the  wiie  of  Gustave  Kreoger ; 
William,  of  Madison  Count}',  Illinois;  Robert,  of  Madison  County,  Illinois; 
Calvin,  who  resides  with  his  parents;  and  May,  the  wife  of  Winifred  Cox. 


^«» 


WILLIAM  HIERONYMUS. 

^\'ILL1AM  HiEROXYMUS,  proprietor  of  a  blacksmith  and  machine  shop 
at  Mount  Olive,  Macoupin  County,  is  a  skilled  mechanic  in  every  respect 
and  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  enterprising  citizens  of  his  city.  He  was 
bom  in  the  city  of  Treysa.  Hesse-Nassau.  Germany,  in  1848,  and  is  a  son 
of  Ludwig  and  Barbara  (Schwing)   Hieronymus. 


414  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Ludwig  Hieronymus,  the  father  of  our  subject  was  also  born  in  the  city 
ot  Treysa,  Hesse-Xassau,  Germany,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life.  He  was 
a  first  class  miller  by  trade  and  his  services  were  always  in  demand.  He 
died  in  his  nati\e  country. 

William  Hieronymus,  who  is  one  in  a  family  of  seven  children  born 
to  his  parents,  received  his  preliminary  educational  training  in  his  native 
country  and  when  13  years  of  age  took  up  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  which  he 
followed  until  17  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  landing 
in  New  York  City.  Mr.  Hieronymus  immediately  removed  to  Mount  Olive, 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  two  years.  He  was  then  a 
resident  of  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  for  11  years,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Mount  Olive,  where,  in  1879,  he  engaged  in  his  present  business,  which  he 
has  since  conducted  with  the  best  results.  In  political  circles,  Mr.  Hierony- 
mus is  a  Republican  but  takes  but  a  citizen's  interest  in  political  affairs. 

Mr.  Hieronymus  married  Augusta  Holtgreve,  a  daughter  of  Herman 
and  Elizabeth  (Heidbrink)  Holtgreve.  lx)th  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many. Mr.  Holtgreve  was  an  earnest  and  devout  minister  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  three  children  besides  Mrs. 
Hieronymus,  one  brother  being  Rev.  Paul  B.  Holtgreve.  Our  subject  and 
wife  were  blessed  with  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely: 
Bertha,  wife  of  William  L.  Niemann  of  Mount  Olive,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume:  Emma,  Amandus,  Henrj',  Pauline,  Augusta  and 
William.  Mr.  Hieronymus  and  his  family  are  strict  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 


MRS.  GESKE  MARGARET  JOHNSON. 

Mrs.  Geske  Margaret  Johnson,  an  esteemed  resident  of  Staunton 
township,  is  the  widow  of  Jacob  Johnson,  who  was  for  many  years  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  and  substantial  farmers  of  Macoupin  County.  He  was 
bom  in  Hanover.  Germany,  February  i,  1833.  and  was  a  son  of  Tony  and 
Sophia  Johnson. 

Jacob  Johnson  came  to  America  when  24  years  of  age  in  company  with 
his  parents,  first  locating  at  New  Orleans  and  later  removing  to  Alton.  Illinois, 


WILLIAM  M.  DRENNAN. 


MACOUPIN   COUNTY.  417 

where  he  remained  one  winter  and  then  located  in  Staunton  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  on  the  farm  where  our  subject  hves,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  hfe.  ]\Ir.  Johnson  started  with  a  farm  of  40  acres  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  left  640  acres,  all  of  which  is  in  Macoupin  and  Mont- 
gomer}-  counties,  Illinois.  Mr.  Johnson  was  a  member  of  the  Republican 
party  and  held  several  township  offices.  He  died  January'  5,  1892.  While 
in  his  native  country,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  but  after 
coming  to  America  he  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

On  March  15,  1861,  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Geske  Margaret  Eck- 
hoff,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  April  17,  1S38.  J^Irs.  Johnson 
came  to  America  alone  on  a  sailing  craft  in  October,  1858,  landing  at  New 
Orleans  after  a  voyage  of  nine  weeks.  She  then  came  direct  to  Macoupin 
County  and  has  resided  here  ever  since.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Stillahn  and 
Tolke  iMargaret  (Albers)  Eckhoff,  being  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children, 
two  girls  and  five  boys ;  three  of  the  five  boys  came  to  .\merica — John,  Albert 
and  George.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  had  10  children,  of  whom  eight  are  still 
living,  namely :  Sophia,  who  married  Eilert  Englemann,  of  Raymond,  Illi- 
nois, and  has  four  children  living;  Meta,  who  married  William  Egelhoff,  a 
resident  of  Raymond,  Illinois  and  has  six  boys ;  Henr}%  residing  on  the  farm 
adjoining  the  farm  of  his  mother,  who  is  married  and  has  one  girl ;  Lena, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Otto  Adden,  of  Ra}Tnond,  Illinois;  John,  who  resides 
with  his  mother  and  runs  the  farm ;  Gesna,  who  married  Louis  Brackenbush 
of  Staunton  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  has  one  child;  Albert  (single)' 
and  Emma,  who  live  at  home. 


»»» 


WILLIAM  M.  DRENNAN. 

William  M.  Drennan,  formerly  mayor  of  the  city  of  Girard,  Ma- 
coupin County,  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War  and  a  prominent  and  useful  citizen, 
whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  was  bom  in  Sangamon  County, 
Illinois,  November  4,  1842,  and  died  September  4,  1899.  He  was  one  of  a 
family  of  seven  children  bom  to  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Withrow) 
Drennan. 


4i8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Joseph  Drennan  was  bom  in  Kentucky  in  1814  and  died  in  Illinois  in 
1872.  He  married  Elizabeth  Withrow  who  was  born  in  1823  in  Sangamon 
County,  Illinois,  and  died  in  i860.  When  our  late  subject  was  seven  years 
old,  the  family  removed  to  Macoupin  County  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  North 
Otter  township.  Here  William  M.  Drennan  was  reared  and  attended  the 
local  schools.  From  the  age  of  17  years  he  made  his  own  way  in  the  world. 
The  outbreak  of  the  Civil  W'ar  aroused  in  him  a  loyal  enthusiasm  which 
caused  his  enlistment  in  the  Union  Army,  his  name  being  entered  on  the 
roll  of  Company  B,  114th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  on  August  14,  1862.  Dur- 
ing a  very  hard  term  of  service  which  included  the  battles  of  Jackson, 
Mississippi ;  Nashville,  Tennessee ;  Brandon,  Mississippi ;  Guntown  and 
Tupelo,  Mississippi,  he  bore  himself  as  a  brave  and  valiant  soldier,  although 
little  more  than  a  youth  in  years.  After  completing  his  term  of  enlistment, 
he  returned  to  Macoupin  County  and  resumed  farming. 

Mr.  Drennan  was  married  April  24,  1866,  to  Margaret  L.  Johnston,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  B,  and  Elizabeth  (Berry)  Johnston,  who  reared  a 
family  of  six  childen,  Mrs.  Drennan  being  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  died  April  20,  1856,  and  her  mother  died 
in  Nebraska  in  1887.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drennan, 
viz:  William  O.,  born  January  28,  1867;  Elizabeth  E.  (Mrs.  John  Wells); 
and  Cora  E.   (Mrs.  Henry  Huber). 

For  many  years  Mr.  Drennan  was  ven,-  prominent  in  North  Otter  town- 
ship and  was  a  leader  in  Democratic  politics.  For  four  years  he  served  as 
supervisor,  for  a  like  period  was  township  treasurer  and  for  12  years  was 
highway  commissioner.  He  took  an  active  part  in  advancing  the  interests 
of  his  party  and  served  in  many  important  positions,  and  was  a  delegate  to 
both  county  and  State  Democratic  conventions.  In  1897  he  was  elected 
mayor  of  Girard  and  served  as  such  for  two  years,  his  administration  being 
marked  with  many  needed  reforms  and  meeting  with  the  approbation  of  his 
constituents.  His  public  service  only  tended  to  make  him  more  highly 
respected,  and  through  life  he  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  men  of  both  parties. 
Mr.  Drennan  was  always  deeply  interested  in  educational  matters  and  faith- 
fully served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  a  number  of  years. 

Mrs.  Drennan  still  resides  in  the  beautiful  home  in  Girard,  where  she 
is  highly  regarded  and  has  many  social  interests.  She  is  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  which  the  late  Mr.  Drennan  attended  and  to  which 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  419 

he  gave  liberally,  as  well  as  to  other  religious  bodies,  also  contributing  gen- 
erously to  the  city's  charities.  The  first  gun  ever  brought  into  Sangamon 
County,  Illinois,  was  a  rifle  which  belonged  to  William  M.  Drennan's  grand- 
father, Joseph  Drennan,  and  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  widow  of 
our  subject. 


JOHN    E.  HART. 


John  E.  Hart^  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  South  Otter  township, 
Macoupin  County,  owning  a  farm  of  230  acres,  situated  in  sections  6  and  7, 
belongs  to  an  honorable  pioneer  family  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  North 
Otter  township,  Macoupin  County,  in  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  John  C.  and 
Martha  (Bull)   Hart. 

No  more  interesting  reading  could  be  found  than  in  an  extended  his- 
tory of  two  such  important  families  as  those  from  which  our  subject  has 
descended,  identified  as  they  have  been  with  the  public,  agricultural  and  re- 
ligious life  of  the  sections  in  which  they  have  made  their  homes.  The  present 
biographer  regrets  the  limitation  of  space.  Charles  Hart  was  the  pioneer 
of  the  family  in  America,  coming  with  his  brother  in  1700,  landing  at 
Charleston.  South  Carolina.  According  to  the  compact  entered  into  before 
the  voyage  was  undertaken,  a  not  unusual  one  at  that  date,  the  youths  were 
sold  at  auction  to  such  as  needed  help,  the  money  paid  going  to  the  master 
of  the  ship  to  pay  for  their  passage.  Thus  the  brothers  were  separated  and 
never  were  reunited.  Charles  Hart  discharged  all  his  obligations  and  spent 
his  whole  life  in  South  Carolina.  David  Flart,  a  son  of  Charles,  was  born 
in  1740  and  moved  to  North  Carolina,  where  he  took  an  active  part  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  He  left  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  David,  the 
eldest  of  the  sons,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  December  18,  1768,  mar- 
ried Margaret  Blackwilder,  and  reared  a  family  of  one  daughter  and  10 
sons.  He  resided  in  Mercer  County,  Kentucky,  but  removed,  at  an  early 
day,  to  Bedford  County.  Tennessee,  where  he  died. 

Solomon  Hart,  third  son  of  this  family,  was  born  in  Mercer  County, 
Kentucky,  January  6,  1793,  and  was  10  years  old  when  his  father  removed 
to  Tennessee.     At  the  age  of  20  years,  with  his  eldest  brother,  he  enlisied  in 


420  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

the  United  States  service,  under  Gen.  Afidrew  Jackson,  and  took  part  in 
the  Horse  Shoe  battle.  After  his  return,  on  July  17,  1817,  he  married  Nancy 
Waggoner,  and  in  1826  they  moved  to  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  accom- 
panied by  his  brothers,  Nathan  and  Charles.  For  a  short  time  they  lived 
near  the  village  of  Jacksonville,  which  was  then  but  a  hamlet.  Coming  from 
the  timbered  lands  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed,  the  lack  of  trees  in 
their  vicinity  made  the  country  look  barren  to  them  and  caused  them  to  re- 
move to  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  where  they  found  a  fine  belt  of  tim- 
ber on  an  island  lying  between  Big  and  Little  Apple  creeks.  Here  they  built 
their  cabins,  after  each  had  secured  land,  Solomon  securing  three  80-acre 
tracts  of  the  best  timber.  The  remainder  of  his  capital  he  invested  in 
prairie  land.  Four  other  brothers  subsequently  joined  him  and  all  settled 
here,  the  spot  still  bearing  the  name  of  Hart's  Prairie.  Here  Solomon  Hart 
and  wife  tore  with  wonderful  fortitude  the  hardships  incident  to  their 
pioneer  life,  patiently  bearing  the  disadvantages  aind,  by  contrast,  enjoying 
to  the  utmost  the  few  pleasures  which  came  into  their  lives.  They  were 
blessed  with  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  throve 
despite  the  lack  of  what  we  consider  the  necessary  comforts  of  life,  and 
reached  maturity.  Before  the  parents  were  called  away,  they  had  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  all  comfortably  settled  in  life.  It  was  in  this  household  that 
the  teachings  of  Alexander  Campbell  were  so  nourished  that  it  soon  became 
possible  to  gather  a  congregation  together,  and  great  were  the  religious  re- 
sults from  the  preaching  in  this  home  of  those  natural  orators,  well  known 
in  the  history  of  the  spread  of  the  Christian  Church,  Dr.  Patrick  Henderson, 
W.  W.  Happy  and  Robert  Foster.  All  were  earnest  men  and  all  of  devout 
life  and  practice. 

In  politics,  Solomon  Hart  was  a  Democrat  of  the  Jackson  school,  and 
became  a  great  admirer  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  He  lived  to  cast  his  vote 
for  14  presidential  candidates,  and  imbued  his  sons  with  his  political  senti- 
ments. His  death  took  place  October  17,  1874,  in  his  82nd  year.  He  was 
survived  by  his  widow  several  years,  her  age  being  86  years. 

John  C.  Hart,  father  of  our  subject,  was  reared  at  Hart's  Prairie,  Mor- 
gan County,  Illinois,  and  came  to  Macoupin  County  when  about  21  years  of 
age.  He  located  on  the  south  edge  of  North  Otter  township  and  died  there 
in  1863.  aged  39  years.  This  homestead  farm  was  entered  by  his  uncle 
Nathan  and  was  purchased  by  John  C.  when  he  came  to  Macoupin  County. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  421 

He  married  Martha  Bull,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Moses  Bull,  who  came  from 
North  Carolina  and  settled  at  Hart's  Prairie  in  early  days,  dying  there  be- 
fore our  subject  was  born.  Eight  children  were  born  to  this  marriage,  John 
E.  of  this  sketch  being  the  fifth  member  of  the  family. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother  in  1865,  in  North  Otter  township,  our 
subject  returned  to  Hart's  Prairie,  where  he  remained  until  1876,  when  he 
purchased  his  present  farm  in  South  Otter  township  and  contracted  his  first 
marriage,  with  Sarah  Cherr}-,  who  died  in  1881,  leaving  two  children:  Nora, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Elijah  Clark  of  South  Palmyra  township ;  and  Moses,  a 
resident  of  Virden.  In  1883,  ^Ir.  Hart  married  Laura  Hunt,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  .\miel  and  Mary  ( Battershell )  Hunt. 

Amiel  Hunt  was  born  in  Pike  County,  Illinois,  in  1836,  and  was  a  son  of 
Eber  Hunt,  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  Eber  Hunt  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
family  and  entered  160  acres  of  land  near  the  Illinois  River,  where  he  died 
in  1838,  survived  by  his  widow  until  1899.  Amiel  Hunt  and  wife  still  reside 
on  their  farm  in  South  Otter  township.  The  latter  was  bom  near  Winches- 
ter, Illinois,  in  1840,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Battershell,  who  was  born  in 
Kentuck}-  and  came  with  his  wife  to  Illinois  in  pioneer  times. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hart  have  three  children :  Bessie  Lee,  born  in  September, 
1883;  John  Waller,  born  August  30,  1888;  and  Frederick  D.,  born  May  4, 
1890.  Mr.  Hart  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Modem  Wood- 
men of  America,  the  American  Home  and  the  Fraternal  Army  of  America. 
In  politics,  like  the  rest  of  his  family,  he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party.     He  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 


H.  C.  BUCHTERKIRCHEN. 

H.  C.  BucHTERKiRCHEX,  One  of  the  most  substantial  citizens  of  Staun- 
ton, Macoupin  County,  an  extensive  dealer  in  lumber  and  building  material 
of  all  kinds,  is  a  self  made  man,  who  although  scarcely  yet  in  the  prime  of 
life,  has  accumulated  a  fortune  and  has  taken  a  verv-  prominent  part  in  the 
cit>''s  public  life.  He  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  September  2,  1866, 
and  is  a  son  of  August  and  Lezzetta  (Loehr)   Buchterkirchen. 


422  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

The  father  of  our  subject  spent  his  whole  Hfe  in  Germany,  where  he 
was  a  well  known  furniture  manufacturer.  He  died  September  26,  1878, 
aged  52  years,  survived  by  his  widow,  who  still  resides  in  Germany.  They 
had  seven  children,  namely:  Herman,  of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois;  H.  C,  of 
this  sketch;  Gustav,  who  died  in  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  in  1897,  aged  27  years, 
and  August,  Carl,  Wilhelm  and  Albert,  who  are  residents  of  Germany. 

Our  subject  was  14  years  old  when  he  left  school  and  learned  the  butch- 
ering business.  In  1882  he  decided  to  accompany  a  visitor  from  St.  Louis 
to  America,  and  together  they  sailed  from  Bremen.  For  some  years  after 
coming  to  the  United  States,  Mr.  Buchterkirchen  was  variously  employed 
but  never  at  any  time  idle.  He  worked  at  Elsah,  Illinois,  then  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  and  in  August  of  the  same  year  removed  to  Staunton,  Macoupin 
County,  where  he  secured  work  at  mine  No.  5,  first  on  top,  later  under 
ground.  He  also  was  employed  as  section  hand  on  the  Wabash  Railroad, 
went  then  to  Worden  and  w'orked  in  mine  No.  12,  returned  to  Staunton  for 
a  short  time,  then  to  Jersey  Landing  and  Jerseyville.  In  the  last  named  place 
he  was  kept  busy,  as  a  carpenter  during  the  summers,  and  as  a  butcher  in  the 
winter  months,  for  three  years.  Then  he  went  to  St.  Charles,  Missouri,  and 
spent  three  years  building  coaches  in  the  car  shops  there.  In  1888  he  re- 
turned to  Staunton  where  he  had  made  many  friends,  and  where  he  has 
ever  since  been  actively  engaged  in  business.  For  10  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  liquor  business  and  then  embarked  in  his  present  extensive  lumber 
business,  which,  although  but  in  its  infancy  as  to  years,  has  outstripped  al- 
most every  other  business  house  of  its  kind  in  the  southeatern  section  of  the 
county. 

Mr.  Buchterkirchen  was  married  December  27,  1888,  to  Minnie  Baule, 
who  was  bom  January  8,  1868,  at  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  and  they 
have  three  children — Lezzetta,  Harry  and  Walter,  all  Hving  at  home.  Mr. 
Buchterkirchen  is  completing  one  of  the  finest  private  residences  in  Staunton, 
which  promises  to  not  only  be  a  home  of  comfort  and  luxury,  but  will  also 
be  an  ornament  to  the  city.  The  family  belong  to  St.  Paul's  Evangelical 
Church. 

It  is  not  always  the  case  that  men,  interested  in  the  building  up  of  their 
own  fortunes,  are  equally  alive  to  their  duties  as  citizens,  but  Mr.  Buchter- 
kirchen has  always  displayed  commendable  public  spirit  and  many  of  the 
city's  facilities  are  due  to  his  efiforts  while  a  member  of  the  city  council.    He 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  423 

is  now  serving  on  the  Board  of  Education,  is  vice-president  of  the  Staunton 
Home  Association,  a  director  of  the  Staunton  Loan  &  Building  Association 
and  a  director  of  the  Business  Men's  Club.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Knight  of 
Pythias  and  a  Woodman.     In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 


GEORGE  A.  SIMPSON. 

George  A.  Simpson,  superintendent  of  the  Madison  Coal  Company  and 
also  one  of  the  members  of  the  City  Council  of  Mount  Olive,  Macoupin 
County,  was  born  in  La  Salle,  Illinois,  May  8,  1863.  He  is  one  of  a  family 
of  eight  children  born  to  his  parents,  David  and  Ellen  (Colvin)  Simpson. 

David  Simpson  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  his  whole  life  has  been  con- 
nected with  coal  mining.  He  began  when  a  lad  of  nine  years  and  has  climbed, 
through  every  degree,  to  the  position  of  mine  manager,  that  he  now  fills  at 
the  age  of  64  years.  In  1851  David  Simpson  came  to  the  United  States  and 
lived  in  Pennsylvania,  later  removing  to  La  Salle,  Illinois,  where,  in  1862, 
he  married  Ellen  Colvin,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Colvin,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  that  place.     He  then  settled  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  he  now  resides. 

George  A.  Simpson  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Sangamon  County 
and  at  Springfield,  until  he  was  13  years  of  age,  when  he  followed  his  father's 
example,  and  became  a  coal  miner.  This  occupation  he  followed  contin- 
uously until  1892,  when  he  was  made  mine  manager  and,  subsequently,  mine 
superintendent.  This  responsible  position  includes  the  supervision  of  two 
shafts,  one  located  at  Mount  Olive,  where  he  has  250  men,  and  one  at  Diver- 
non,  Sangamon  County,  Illinois,  where  there  are  325  men.  This  position 
was  given  him  in  consideration  of  his  thorough  technical  knowledge  and 
superior  fitness,  on  February  14,  1893,  and  the  tact,  skill,  ability  and  ef- 
ficiency with  which  he  has  controlled  these  large  bodies  of  men  and  rendered 
satisfactory  showings  to  the  company,  speak  well  for  him  as  superintendent. 
The  position  is  no  sinecure  and  Mr.  Simpson  has  met  with  unusual  success. 

On  x\ugust  29,  1887,  Mr.  Simpson  was  married  to  Catherine  Hahn,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  John  Hahn,  of  Springfield,  and  they  have  five  children, 
namely :  David,  George  A.,  Roy  L.,  Gladys  C.  and  Edna  R. 


424  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 

In  addition  to  his  official  duties  at  the  coal  mines,  Mr,  Simpson  has 
business  asociations  which  require  some  of  his  attention,  and  political  duties 
which  he  faithfully  performs.  Mr.  Simpson  and  T.  H.  Koch  are  the  owners 
of  the  Strowger  Automatic  Telephone  Company  of  Mount  Olive.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  April,  1902,  was  elected  one  of  the  city  alder- 
men.    Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  Knight  Templar  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 

Mr,  Simpson  is  one  of  the  self  made  men  of  Mount  Olive  and  is  en- 
titled to  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held.  The  qualities  which  have  advanced 
him  from  the  humble  position  of  mine  boy  to  that  of  superintendent,  in  so 
short  a  time,  are  the  same  which  make  him  one  of  the  most  valued  and  use- 
ful citizens  of  Mount  Olive. 


4«» 


HORACE  EDWARD  SCROGGINS. 

Horace  Edward  Scroggins,  proprietor  of  the  well  known  "Silver 
Creek  Stock  Farm,"  which  consists  of  160  acres  in  section  35,  Staunton 
township,  belongs  to  an  old  Virginia  family  which  settled  in  Illinois  in  the 
early  days  of  this  region.  Mr.  Scroggins  was  born  in  Dorchester  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  September  3,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Clayborn 
and  Lucy  V.  (Rounds)  Scroggins. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  40  years.  The  mother  was  born  in  Macoupin  County,  Illi- 
nois, in  1846,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Patience  Rounds,  natives  of 
Vermont.  They  had  three  children :  Horace  Edward,  Milton  (deceased) 
and  Otis,  of  Bunker  Hill.  Clayborn  Scroggins  was  a  farmer  of  Macoupin 
County  and  was  one  of  its  representative  agriculturists.  He  served  his 
country  with  bravery  through  four  years  of  the  Civil  War,  its  hardships 
probably  closing  his  life  in  middle  age.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  elucated  in  Macoupin  County.  He  has 
become  one  of  the  foremost  breeders  of  live  stock  of  all  kinds  in  Macoupin 
County.  He  is  known  over  a  wide  section  of  the  State  for  the  fine  standard 
bred  road  horses  that  are  a  feature  of  his  stock  breeding  operations.  The 
stallions  "Village  Boy,"  No.  39,000,  "Galberta,"  No.  34,342,  "Martin  Lee" 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  425 

and  "Belta  Boy,"  which  compose  his  stud,  are  splendid  animals,  extremely 
valuable,  and  with  few  equals.  He  also  gives  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  the 
raising  of  Jersey  and  Durham  cattle  of  the  very  best  strain,  and  is  noted  for 
his  thoroughbred  Plymouth  Rock  poultry.  Mr.  Scroggins  also  pays  atten- 
tion to  modern  dairying  and  places  a  butter  product  upon  the  market  that  is 
unexcelled. 

Mr.  Scroggins  was  married  October  23,  1888,  to  Nancy  Olive,  who  was 
born  on  the  present  farm.  April  2.  1864.  and  they  have  a  family  of  five 
interesting  and  intelligent  children:  Jesse  E.,  born  September  19,  1889; 
John  H.  O.,  born  December  9,  1891 ;  ^lyrtle  ^L.,  born  March  5,  1894;  Mabel 
v..  born  November  14.  1896;  and  Marion  E.,  born  September  6,  1899.  Mrs. 
Scroggins  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.     Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason. 

Mrs.  Scroggins  belongs  also  to  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  Illi- 
nois. Jesse  Olive,  her  father,  was  born  November  27,  1820,  in  Trigg 
County,  Kentucky,  and  was  about  nine  years  old,  when  his  parents  settled  in 
Illinois.  He  died  May  i,  18S1,  in  Macoupin  County,  on  the  present  home 
farm  of  our  subject  and  wife,  which  he  had  entered  and  operated  as  a  stock 
farm  for  years.  In  1843.  Jesse  Olive  married  Margaret  Keown,  who  was 
born  September  7.  1826,  and  died  March  12,  1887.  They  had  a  family  of 
12  children,  the  four  survivors  being:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  T.  Crowder,  of 
St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Malvina,  v.ife  of  H.  J.  Crowder  of  New  Douglas,  Mad- 
ison County:  \\'illiam.  of  Dorchester  township.  Macoupin  County;  and 
Nancy  (Mrs.  Scroggins).  In  politics.  Air.  Olive  was  a  Democrat.  He  was 
frequently  called  upon  to  hold  local  office  and  was  considered  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative and  substantial  men  of  his  township. 


SAMUEL   J.  WILLIAMS. 

Samuel  J.  \\'illiams,  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  and  substan- 
tial farmers  of  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  well  improved  farm  of  160  acres, 
situated  in  section  i.  Gillespie  township,  was  born  March  3.  1824,  in  Knox 
County,  Tennessee.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Williams,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Knox  Countv. 


426  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

111  1836  Samuel  Williams  came  as  a  pioneer  lo  Illinois,  entering  a  farm 
of  160  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  Bunker  lliil,  Macoupin  County.  This  he  suc- 
cessfully operated  a  number  of  years,  dying  there  at  the  age  of  60  years.  lie 
was  the  father  of  a  large  family,  15  chiKlreii  reaching  maturity.  The  lliree 
who  still  survive  are:  i\Irs.  Mary  Deck,  of  Kansas;  Elihu,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Litchfield,  Illinois;  and  Samuel  J.,  of  this  sketch. 

Samuel  J.  Williams  may  be  considered  as  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Gillespie  township  for  he  entered  his  present  farm  in  section  i  in  1845.  ^^^ 
was  then  but  21  years  of  age,  full  of  energy  and  ambition  and  the  task  ot 
clearing  160  acres  of  land  was  not  so  formidable  a  job  to  him  as  it  prob- 
ably woukl  be  to  many  young  men  of  to-day.  All  of  the  fine  improvements 
on  the  projjcrty  have  been  made  by  Mr.  Williams,  incluiling  three  l;irge  barns 
and  an  unusually  commodious  and  comfortable  residence,  in  addition  to  many 
other  improvements  which  serve  to  make  this  one  of  the  most  valuable  prop- 
erties in  the  township.  His  barns  now  shelter  modern  machinery  of  vari- 
ous kinds,  but  Mr.  Williams  broke  every  part  of  his  farm  and  placed  it  under 
cultivation  with  an  ox  team.  l*"or  a  long  time  his  markets  for  produce  and 
stock  were  as  far  away  as  Alton  and  St.  Louis,  Gillespie  not  being  settled  at 
that  time.  The  few  dwellings  in  the  neighborhood  were  all  of  hewed  logs, 
and  as  no  sawmills  had  yet  been  built  in  the  vicinity  the  early  school  houses 
and  churches  were  constructed  of  similrn-  material.  Mr.  Williams  has  de- 
voted attention  to  general  farming,  wheat  and  com  being  his  leading  crops, 
has  raised  both  horses  and  mules  and  now  has  a  large  henl  of  Durham  cattle 
and  many  Poland-China  hogs.  For  12  years,  beginning  about  1847,  Mr. 
Williams  served  his  neighborhood  as  postmaster,  the  olhce  located  on  his 
farm  being  kn<iwn  as  Honey  Point  P.  O.  Later,  when  the  postofKice  was 
changed  to  Mount  01i\e,  it  wps  moved  into  a  country  store,  and  so  continued 
until   it  was  removed  to  Gillespie. 

Mr.  \A^illiams  was  first  married  to  Lucy  Ann  Carmack,  who  died  three 
years  later,  survived  by  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Jane  Ash,  who  resides  in  St. 
Louis.  Missouri. 

On  November  10,  1853,  b.c  married  Margaret  A.  Pope.  She  was  born 
November  10,  1833,  in  Butler  County,  Kentucky,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Martha  Pope,  who  came  to  Illinois  among  the  early  pioneers.  Of  the 
II  children  i:)orn  to  this  union,  these  survive:  Mrs.  Lydia  Odell,  of  Litch- 
field,   Illinois;    Mrs.    Selina    Clark,    of    Gillespie,    Macoupin    Count)';    Mrs. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  427 

Minnie  Clark,  of  Brushy  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County;  and  Henry, 
Osa  and  Hattie,  who  Hve  at  home,  the  sons  operating  the  farm. 

From  being  a  Repubhcan  in  his  poHtical  attitude,  Mr.  WilHams  became 
a  supporter  of  the  Greenback  party,  but  for  years  has  entertained  independent 
views  on  pubhc  questions.  He  served  as  one  of  the  first  supervisors  of  the 
township,  was  assessor  for  many  years  and  a  school  director  for  a  long  period, 
being  a  liberal  supporter  of  both  schools  and  churches.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
belong  to  the  Baptist  Church.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  Macoupin  County 
Fire  Asociation,  having  served  25  years  as  president  of  Farmers'  Mutual 
Fire  and  Lightning  Association  of  Gillespie. 


JOHN   W.  ARMSTRONG. 

John  W.  Armstrong,  a  well-to-do  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Macou- 
pin County  and  a  self  made  man  in  every  sense  the  word  implies,  as  well  as  a 
respected  and  honored  citizen,  is  residing  on  his  productive  farm  of  80  acres 
situated  in  section  5,  Polk  township.  He  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Illi- 
nois, March  24,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Gelder)  Arm- 
strong. 

John  Armstrong  was  born  at  Brampton,  England,  August  26,  1794, 
and  came  to  America  in  the  early  pioneer  days,  locating  in  Greene  County, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  at  farming.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Gelder,  was  bom 
January  23,  1813  at  Whitley,  Yorkshire.  England,  and  they  were  married 
November  24,  1836,  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois.  She  died  at  Chester- 
field, Macoupin  County,  February  20,  1878,  while  enjoying  her  66th  year. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely : 
Sarah  Jane,  who  married  E.  C.  Hall,  a  prominent  merchant  of  Chesterfield, 
Illinois,  and  has  three  children — Grace,  Chase  and  May;  John  \V.,  our  sub- 
ject; Elizabeth,  who  married  Peter  Randolph,  deceased,  who  was  a  farmer 
of  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  where  his  surviving  wife  and  one  child.  Clara, 
now  reside.  John  Armstrong  died  at  Athensville,  Greene  County,  Illinois, 
June  16,  1859,  while  in  his  66th  year. 

John  W.  Armstrong  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 


428  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Greene  and  Macoupin  counties,  and  remained  upon  the  liomestead  until  i6 
years  of  age,  assisting  in  the  farm  labor.  By  hard  and  industrious  work  he 
succeeded  in  accumulating  sufficient  money  to  purchase  his  present  farm, 
which  is  unsurpassed  in  productiveness  by  any  farm  in  the  county.  Our 
subject  takes  great  pride  in  keeping  his  farm  well  supplied  with  all  modern 
conveniences.  In  political  views  he  is  a  supporter  of  Republican  principles, 
but  takes  little  interest  in  political  affairs  other  than  to  support  good  govern- 
ment.    In  fraternal  circles  he  is  a  Mason. 

In  1882  our  subject  married  Eliza  F.  Duckies,  daughter  of  William  and 
Francis  Duckies,  whose  family  sketch  will  be  found  in  this  work  under  the 
name  of  E.  G.  Duckies.  Our  subject  and  wife  are  the  proud  parents  of  one 
child,  Phoebe  D.,  born  October  16,  1883. 


JAMES  M.  BURTON. 

We  take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  the  readers  of  this  Biographical 
Record  of  Macoupin  County  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  tliis  brief 
article.  He  is  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his  124-acre  farm,  situated  in 
section  2,  Dorchester  township.  He  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  \'irginia, 
about  six  miles  from  Liberty,  February  13.  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Edmond 
and  Lucy   (Reynolds)   Burton,  and  a  grandson  of  William  Burton. 

Mr.  Burton's  ancestors  were  from  England.  William  Burton,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he  owned  a  large  plan- 
tation and  many  slaves,  and  was  a  prominent  leader  in  business  circles.  He 
was  the  father  of  10  children,  namely:  Philip;  William;  Edmond,  the  father 
of  our  subject;  Charles;  Robert;  Addison;  James;  Howell;  Frances 
(Turpin)  and  Martin,  who  was  a  very  wealthy  man.  Mr.  Burton  died  in 
Virginia. 

Edmond  Burton  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he  at  one  time  owned 
a  large  plantation  and  several  slaves,  although  after  all  he  was  opposed  to 
slavery  and  disposed  of  his  slaves  when  he  came  North.  Mr.  Burton  was 
a  veteran  of  the  War  of  1812  and  three  months  after  its  conclusion  was  given 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  429 

a  land  warrant  as  a  reward  for  his  services,  which  warrant  gave  him  the  priv- 
ilege of  locating  a  tract  of  go\ernment  land.  He  followed  farming  there- 
after. He  died  in  Macoupin  Count}',  Illinois,  about  i860,  at  the  age  of 
72  years.  Mr.  Burton  was  married  to  Lucy  Reynolds,  also  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  they  were  blessed  with  eight  children,  namely :  William,  de- 
ceased; James  M.,  our  subject;  Charles,  a  resident  of  Gillespie,  Illinois; 
George,  who  resides  at  Irving,  Illinois;  Thomas;  Cynthia  (Turpin),  de- 
ceased, who  was  the  wife  of  William  Turpin;  Frances  (Wilson),  deceased, 
and  Lucy  J.   (Isaacs),  a  resident  of  Dorchester. 

James  M.  Burton  when  13  years  of  age  came  to  Illinois  in  company  with 
his  parents,  making  the  trip  in  a  wagon  across  the  prairies,  the  journey  tak- 
ing six  weeks.  They  first  located  a  mile  from  the  present  village  of  Gillespie 
and  remained  there  for  six  years,  then  removed  to  a  farm  south  of  Bunker 
Hill,  where  they  lived  seven  years.  Mr.  Burton's  parents  then  bought  the 
farm  that  he  now  owns,  where  he  has  spent  over  half  a  centur}',  tilling  the 
soil.  !Mr.  Burton,  besides  owning  124  acres  in  section  2,  owns  10  acres  of 
timber  land  in  section  3.  After  locating  on  his  present  farm.  Mr.  Burton 
immediately  began  the  production  of  the  necessities  of  life  and  after  the 
first  year  produced  everything  needed.  In  1843,  ^^  Alton,  Illinois,  pork  was 
%vorth  two  cents  per  pound  net,  cows  were  sold  for  $10  per  headland  $3,0 
would  buy  the  l^est  horses.  The  farm  products  were  also  sold  at  a  \ery  low 
price,  wheat  being  worth  but  37}^  cents  per  bushel.  At  that  time  land  that 
had  been  put  in  crops  or  otherwise  slightly  improved  was  worth  but  $2  per 
acre,  while  unimproved  government  land  was  worth  $1.25  per  acre.  Labor 
could  be  obtained  for  37V2  cents  per  day.  Mr.  Burton  gave  as  low  as  $3 
per  acre  for  his  land,  all  improved,  and  for  some  he  paid  as  high  as  $iO 
and  $35.  In  political  belief  Mr.  Burton's  views  adhere  to  Republicanism, 
although  before  the  war  he  was  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Burton  was  married  in  1849  to  Malissa  Nesbit,  who  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  who  died  in  Macoupin  County  about  1870  at  the  age  of 
35  years.  Five  children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  Frances  (Jipson) 
(Sawj-er).  who  resides  in  Arkansas,  and  is  the  mother  of  four  boys  and  three 
girls  living;  Mary  (Deck),  deceased,  who  left  one  child;  John,  who  resides 
in  Oklahoma  Territory  and  is  the  father  of  three  children;  Eva  (Charles). 
of  Staunton.  Illinois,  who  is  the  mother  of  six  children ;  and  William,  of 
Alton,  Illinois,  who  has  one  child.     In   1870.  Mr.   Burton  was  married  to 


430  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Rebecca  J.  St.  Clair,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  March  23,  1829,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Nancy  (Jones)  St.  Clair,  both  natives  of  Tenn- 
essee. One  child  was  born  to  them,  namely:  Martha  L.  (Sawyer),  who 
resides  at  Alton,  Illinois,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children — Florence  E. 
and  Reba  M.     Mr.  Burton  has  eight  grandchildren. 


HENRY   P.  DINGERSON. 

Henry  P.  Dingersox,  who  is  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  general  farm- 
ing and  truck  gardening  on  his  well  located  farm  of  29  acres,  situated  in  sec- 
tion 5,  Mount  Olive  township,  was  born  on  his  present  farm,  January  16, 
1870,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  P.  and  Sophia  (Oltmann)  Dingerson. 

Henry  P.  Dingerson,  Sr.,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  a  youth  in  company  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Staunton  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  Illinois.  His  parents  died  shortly  after  coming  to 
America,  leaving  four  other  children  besides  our  subject's  father.  Mr.  Dinger- 
son took  up  the  occupation  of  farming  in  Staunton  township,  which  he  fol- 
lowed during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  also  operated  a  mill  for  several 
years.  In  1849  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California  in  search  of  gold  and  was 
fairly  successful  in  mining;  he  returned  to  Illinois  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama  and  New  York  City.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Sophia  Oltmann,  a  native  of  Germany  who  came  here  with  her  par- 
ents in  the  'thirties.  Five  children  were  born  to  them,  namely :  Louise 
(Brown),  who  resides  at  Joplin,  Missouri;  George,  who  resides  in  Mount 
Olive  township,  ilacoupin  County;  Tilly  (Leeper),  who  resides  at  Joplin, 
Misouri;  Henry  P.,  our  subject;  and  John,  who  is  a  resident  of  Idaho.  Mr. 
Dingerson's  death  occurred  in  January,  1879,  at  the  age  of  49  years.  He  and 
his  family  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

^^'hen  16  years  of  age  our  subject  engaged  in  work  in  a  mill  operr 
ated  by  Hunefeld  Brothers,  situated  at  Holstein,  Missouri,  where  he 
worked  for  one  year.      He  then  went  to  New  Haven,  Missouri,  where  he 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  431 

worked  in  the  mill  of  Wolf  Brothers,  remaining  there  but  six  months  when 
he  removed  to  New  Douglas,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  in  the  mill  of  H. 
Prange  &  Son  for  12  or  15  years.  He  later  worked  for  Reiser  Brothers,  who 
operated  a  mill  in  Mount  Olive  township.  Mr.  Dingerson  then  went  to 
South  Dakota,  where  he  worked  during  the  hardest.  Upon  his  return  to 
Mount  01i\  e  township,  he  located  upon  his  present  farm  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  property.  In  all,  he  owns  at  present  45 
acres,  which  he  devotes  to  farming,  truck  gardening  and  bee  culture.  He  has 
50  hives  of  bees,  principally  of  Italian  or  hybrid  Italian  stock,  and  disposes  of 
the  honey  in  the  comb.  'Mr.  Dingerson  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  party.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  International  Flouring  and  Cereal  ^Milling  Union. 

On  April  2j,  1898.  Mr.  Dingerson  was  married  to  ^Martha  Dace,  who 
was  bom  in  Mount  Olive  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  January  28, 
1879,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  (Henderson)  Dace,  natives  of 
Staffordshire,  England,  and  Illinois,  respectively.  Our  subject  and  wife 
are  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely :  Esther  E.,  Henr}-  J.  and  Clar- 
ence L.  Mrs.  Dingerson  was  graduated  from  the  Mount  Olive  High  School 
in  1897.     Our  subject  and  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


JEFFERSON  W.  BOSTON. 

Among  the  prominent  and  influential  business  men  of  Macoupin  County 
we  take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  the  readers  of  this  work  the  enterprising 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  these  lines,  and  whose  energies  have  assisted  in 
the  promotion  of  the  business  interests  of  the  count}-.  Air.  Boston  is  promi- 
nently identified  with  many  industries  of  his  count)-,  and  is  the  leading  dealer 
in  furniture,  hardware,  stoves  and  tinware.  He  was  born  in  Macoupin 
County.  Illinois,  November  26.  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  David  B.  and  Catherine 
(Mitchell)   Boston. 

David  B.  Boston,  who  was  a  resident  of  Macoupin  County  nearly  his 
entire  life,  came  to  this  county  in  1832  and  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming 


432  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

in  Nilwood  township.  He  still  resides  there  on  his  first  and  only  home  he 
has  had  in  Macoupin  County.  He  had  six  children:  Beverly  B.,  a  farmer, 
living  at  home;  Matilda,  living  at  home;  Jefferson  W.,  our  subject;  Sarah, 
living  at  home;  Charles  who  is  single  but  resides  on  a  farm  near  by;  and 
Alice,  the  wife  of  John  Williamson  of  Denver,  Colorado. 

Jefferson  W.  Boston  was  reared  and  educated  in  Macoupin  County  and 
after  completing  his  education  entered  ujion  the  cares  of  a  business  man. 
In  1892  he  formed  the  business  firm  of  Boston  &  Thompson,  lumber  mer- 
chants, which  continued  under,  that  firm  style  until  September,  1902,  when 
the  partners  sold  the  business  to  the  E.  R.  Darlington  Lumber  Company. 
Mr.  Boston  then  took  the  position  of  manager  of  the  Girard  branch  of  the 
E.  R.  Darlington  Lumber  Company,  and  so  continued  until  February  22, 
1904,  when  he  purchased  the  business  of  John  C.  Beeby,  dealer  in  furniture, 
hardware,  stoves,  ranges  and  window  shades,  purchasing  a  stock  of  $1,600. 
Mr.  Boston  is  also  interested  in  the  farming  operations  of  his  county  and  in 
many  other  profitable  industries.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party. 
In  fraternal  circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  blue  lodge  and  chapter. 
Mr.  Boston  is  one  of  the  foremost  business  citizens  of  his  city  and  has  al- 
ways been  active  in  the  promotion  of  the  welfare  of  his  city. 

Mr.  Boston  was  married  to  Lourena  N.  Mclntyre  and  they  are  the  pa- 
rents of  three  children,  namely :  Donald  D. :  Celia  C. ;  and  Charles  L.  Mr. 
Boston  and  family  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 


JOHN  WILLIAMSON. 

John  WiLLi.'MrfSON,  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  citizens  of 
Macoupin  County,  who  resides  on  his  handsome  farm  of  160  acres,  situated 
in  section  5,  Gillespie  township,  was  born  in  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  Janu- 
ary I,   1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth   (Martin)   Williamson. 

Richard  Williamson  was  also  a  native  of  County  Donegal,  Ireland, 
where  he  spent  his  entire  life,  being  actively  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  gen- 
eral farming.     He  married  Elizabeth  Martin,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ire- 


TRAVIS  MOORE  MITCHELL. 


MRS.  SARAH  J.  MITCHELL. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  437 

land,  and  nine  children  were  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Those  living  are  as  follows :  Jolin,  whose  name  heads  this  brief  notice :  Sam- 
uel, who  resides  in  Canada:  and  Eliza  Jane  (Montgomer}')  and  Richard, 
who  are  residents  of  Scotland.  Our  subject  also  had  two  brothers.  Richard 
and  Thomas,  who  reached  the  years  of  manhood  and  died  in  Ireland. 

John  Williamson  came  to  .\merica  in  1858,  locating  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  secured  employment  as  a  laborer,  which  occupation 
he  followed  for  two  years  and  in  i860  came  to  Macoupin  County.  Illinois, 
where  he  worked  a  farm  which  was  o\^■ned  by  his  uncle.  In  1881  he  pur- 
chased his  present  farm,  of  which  about  one-half  is  in  timber,  and  has  since 
been  actively  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  property,  his  principal  crop 
being  com ;  he  also  devotes  much  time  to  the  raising  of  stock. 

In  1859  'Sir.  Williamson  married  ^lartha  McCoach,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
bom  in  the  same  count}-  as  was  our  subject.  She  is  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  McCoach,  who  were  natives  and  lifelong  residents  of  Ireland.  Our 
subject's  wife  came  to  America  with  her  sister.  Mr.  Williamson  and  wife 
are  the  parents  of  six  children,  two  of  whom,  Eliza  and  Robert,  are  de- 
ceased. Those  living  are  as  follows :  Richard,  of  Staunton  township.  Ma- 
coupin County,  who  married  Laura  McKitrich,  and  has  three  children — 
John  L.,  Claude  A.  and  Martha  V,:  John  J.  engaged  in  fanning  in  Madison 
County,  Illinois,  who  married  Margaret  Bell,  and  has  eight  children — Will- 
iam, Harp.-,  Walter  (deceased),  Robert,  Belle  (deceased),  Mar\-,  Agnes 
and  Mathew:  and  Mathew  and  Mary,  who  reside  with  their  parents. 


TRAVIS   MOORE  MITCHELL. 

Tra\-is  Moore  Mitchell,  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  and  for  many 
years  an  extensive  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Macoupin  Count}-,  owning  Iarg« 
tracts  of  valuable  farming  land  both  in  Honey  Point  township,  where  he 
resides  in  section  30,  and  in  Brushy  Mound  township,  was  born  in  the  latter 
township  on  Februan.-  13.  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  Elijah  and  Jane  (Moore) 
Mitchell. 

Elijah  Mitchell  was  born  January'  30,  1800.  in  North  Carolina,  and  was 


438  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

the  third  son  of  Archibald  Mitchell,  who  was  born  in  the  same  State,  but  died 
in  Kentucky,  leaving  nine  children,  as  follows :  John,  Nathaniel,  Elijah, 
Elisha,  Thomas,  Nicholas,  Betsey,  Harriet  and  Sally.  Elijah  Mitchell  married 
Jane  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  a  family  of  12  children  was  born 
to  them,  1 1  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  as  follows :  Mrs.  Amelia  Moore ; 
Levi ;  Mrs.  Martha  Ann  Brown,  of  Texas ;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bull ;  Travis  Moore; 
Mrs  Sarah  Friend,  of  Missouri;  Mrs.  Lucy  Scott,  of  Kansas;  Mrs.  Jane 
Carrico;  William  T.,  of  Honey  Point  township;  Mrs.  Phoebe  Pope;  and 
Elijah.  In  1829  Elijah  Mitchell  and  family  came  to  Illinois,  and  in  1831  to 
Macoupin  County.  He  became  a  very  large  investor  in  land,  although  when 
he  first  came  here  he  w-as  able  to  enter  but  80  acres.  Before  his  death  he 
owned  3,500  acres  of  land  in  the  States  of  Illinois  and  Kansas.  Some  of  this 
he  disposed  of  and  some  was  divided  with  his  children,  to  whom  he  also  left 
a  sum  of  money.  In  politics  he  was  an  old-time  Democrat.  In  religious 
faith  he  was  a  Baptist.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  Hannah  Hollens- 
worth,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children :  Mary  (Perrine)  ;  Ansel  J. ;  Archibald 
H. ;  Matilda  (Anderson);  Asa  Clinton;  Ira;  Henrietta  (Baughman)  ;  and 
two  that  died  in  infancy. 

Travis  Moore  Mitchell  has  spent  his  life  in  Macoupin  County  and  until 
the  last  1 1  years  has  l)een  actively  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  making  features  of  wheat,  oats,  corn  and  hay,  and  of  Poland-China 
hogs.  Mr.  Mitchell  has  owned  considerable  valuable  stock,  much  of  it  regis- 
tered, and  has  always  been  considered  one  of  the  good  farmers  and  excellent 
managers  of  his  section.  When  he  started  out  for  himself,  his  father  assisted 
him,  giving  him  70  acres  of  unbroken  prairie  and  a  good  horse,  and  with  the 
other  children,  he  was  remembered  in  his  father's  will.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  the 
owner  of  various  tracts  of  valuable  land,  situated  as  follows:  160  acres  in 
section  36,  Brushy  Mound  township;  40  acres  in  section  25,  Brushy  Mound 
township;  150  acres  in  section  30,  Honey  Point  township;  and  85  acres  in 
section  19,  Honey  Point  township.  At  one  time  he  owned  495  acres  in  these 
two  townships. 

On  April  15,  1858,  Mr.  Mitchell  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Jackson,  who 
was  born  in  Honey  Point  township,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Sarah 
Jackson.  Four  children  were  born  to  this  marriage,  all  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  One  son,  Frederick  Elijah,  married  Nellie  J.  Smith,  who,  with 
one  son,  Frederick  E.,  survives  and  lives  in  Kansas. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  439 

Although  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  he  confines  his  interest  in 
politics  to  casting  his  vote.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  leading  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  in  wliich  he  has  been  a  deacon  for  25  years,  and  has  served 
for  a  long  period  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Mitchell  takes 
a  deep  interest  in  religious  work  and  is  a  generous  supporter  of  his  church. 
He  has  made  provision  so  that  the  Honey  Creek  Baptist  Church  is  to  have 
the  interest  on  $2,500  as  long  as  it  remains  a  church.  He  is  a  man  of  unswerv- 
ing integrity,  one  of  the  township's  first  class  citizens,  and  is  held  in  universal 
esteem. 

Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  accompany  this  sketch,  being  pre- 
sented on  foregoing  pages. 


WILLIAM  ROBINSON  GEORGE. 

William  Robinson  George,  a  representative  business  citizen  of  Staun- 
ton, Macoupin  County,  junior  member  of  the  hardware  firm  of  Godfrey  & 
George,  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio,  November  6,  1851,  and  is  a  son 
of  Rev.  William  F.  and  Alartha  (Speers)  George. 

The  George  family  originated  in  Wales.  John  George,  the  great-great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Scotland,  to  which  country  the  family 
had  removed,  and  his  son  Jonathan  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica, coming  hither  at  the  age  of  20  years.  Jonathan  George  took  part  in  the 
War  of  1 81 2,  and  a  bit  of  interesting  history  is  connected  with  his  service. 
During  the  stay  of  the  troops  in  New  Orleans,  when  food  was  scarce,  he 
saved  himself  from  actual  starvation  by  eating  a  part  of  the  leather  cover  of 
a  Bible,  which  he  had  carried  through  all  adventures.  This  relic  was  in  the 
possession  of  our  subject  for  a  long  period.  The  family  name  of  his  wife 
has  been  lost,  and  also  the  names  of  his  12  children,  with  the  exception  of 
that  of  Alexander,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  Alexander  George  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  a  man  possessed 
of  ample  means,  later  removed  to  Ohio  and  owned  a  large  tract  known  as 
"Bear  Forests,"  where  our  subject  one  time  witnessed  four  bears  killed  in 
one  morning.  His  children  were  named :  Robert,  Mary,  William  F.,  Chris- 
tina, Helen  and  Thomas. 


440  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Rev.  \\'illiam  F.  George  was  born  in  Xo\ember,  1821,  in  New  Concord, 
Ohio,  and  died  in  1879  ^^  Staunton  Illinois.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  edu- 
cation and  was  educated  for  the  ministry  in  Lane  Theological 
Seminary  in  Cincinnati,  and  later  became  instructor  in  dead  lan- 
guages at  North  wood,  Ohio.  In  1851  he  accepted  a  charge  at 
Macedon,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  1858,  when  he  removed 
to  Illinois.  He,  with  his  brother  Robert,  owned  at  one  time  2,000 
acres  of  land  and  the  earnings  of  a  successful  mercantile  business  carried  on 
at  Lodi,  Illinois,  where  he  was  asociated  with  his  brother.  Both  lost  all  they 
possessed  by  the  failure  of  "wild  cat"  or  State  Banks,  to  which  they  had  en- 
trusted their  funds,  and  both  died  poor.  Rev.  William  F.  George  married 
Martha  Spears,  who  was  born  in  1823  in  Ohio  and  now  resides  with  a  davigh- 
ter  at  Staunton.  They  had  these  children:  Robert,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri; 
Albert  H.,  of  Raymond,  Illinois;  William  Robinson,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs. 
Adella  M.  Stanton,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  John  B.,  of  La  Salle,  Colorado; 
James  R.,  of  Washington,  Iowa;  A.  V.,  a  druggist,  who  died  in  Staunton, 
Macoupin  County,  in  1884;  Arthur,  of  Peoria,  Illinois;  and  Anna  B.,  of 
Staunton,  Macoupin  County. 

William  Robinson  George  was  seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  Illinois.  They  lived  in  Iroquois  County  until  i860,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Randolph  County,  and  located  in  Staunton  in  1871.  Mr.  George 
attended  school  in  Randolph  County,  spending  three  years  in  the  high  school 
at  Coulterville  and  then  clerked  in  a  general  store  for  the  same  length  of 
time.  After  settling  with  the  family  in  Macoupin  County,  he  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  for  two  years,  and  then  became  clerk  in  the  general  store 
and  \yas  also  connected  with  the  flouring  mill,  where  he  remained  until  the 
fall  of  1879.  Then  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and  in  the  following  year  was 
graduated  at  Jones'  Commercial  College.  Upon  his  return  to  Staunton,  Mr. 
George  became  bookkeeper  for  the  hardware  firm  of  F.  R.  Fritz  &  Com- 
pany ;  after  three  years,  he  organized  a  company  and  bought  the  business, 
which  he  operated  under  the  firm  name  of  Williamson,  George  &  Company 
for  three  years  and  three  months.  On  account  of  failing  health,  Mr.  George 
sold  his  interest  and  went  on  the  road  for  the  Wood  Machine  Company  until 
the  fall  of  1888,  when  he  engaged  to  work  for  his  brother-in-law,  E.  E. 
Godfrey,  in  the  hardware  business  which  he  conducted  until  1890,  when  he 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  ,  441 

formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Godfrey,  and  ever  since  the  business  has  been 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Godfrey  &  George. 

Mr.  George  has  always  been  an  enterprising  and  public  spirited  citizen, 
but  has  remained  an  independent  in  politics.  He  has  filled  a  number  of  the 
local  offices  and  has  served  at  various  times  as  collector  and  township  clerk, 
his  constantly  increasing  business  responsibilities  making  him  unwilling  to 
enter  into  very  active  political  life,  although  he  never  shirks  what  he  deems  a 
civic  duty. 

On  May  2,  1882,  Mr.  George  was  united  in  marriage  with  May  God- 
frey, who  was  born  January  26,  1859,  in  Staunton  township,  Macoupin 
County.  Illinois,  is  a  daughter  of  Frank  and  Mary  Godfrey,  very  prominent 
residents  of  the  locality  for  many  years.  They  have  two  children :  Elvin 
David  and  Leslie. 


ABRAM  ISAACS. 


Abram  Isaacs,  proprietor  of  that  beautiful  and  valuable  farm  of  280 
acres,  known  as  the  "Shady  Hill  Farm,"  located  in  sections  i  and  2,  Dor- 
chester township,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  October  4,  1851,  on  this 
place,  which  has  always  been  his  home.  He  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary 
(Eaton)  Isaacs. 

The  Isaacs  family  is  of  English  extraction,  and  the  family  was  founded 
in  America  by  two  brothers  of  the  name,  who  emigrated  from  Sheffield,  Eng- 
land, prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  which  struggle  both  took  part,  one 
as  a  tory  and  the  other  as  a  patriot.  Richard  Isaacs,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  went  to  North  Carolina,  settling 
in  Rowan  County.  He  married  Mary  Stonestreet,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Butler  Stonestreet,  who  served  through  the  Revolutionary  War.  They  had 
issue  as  follows :  Jane,  Charles  C,  Abraham  and  Richard.  By  a  second 
marriage,  Grandfather  Isaacs  had  an  additional  family  of  six  sons  and  one 
daughter. 

Abraham  Isaacs,  father  of  our  subject,  was  bom  November  10.  18 10, 
in  Rowan  County,  North  Carolina.  When  three  years  old,  his  mother  died 


442  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

and  he  went  to  live  with  his  grandfather  Stonestreet,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  lie  was  married,  in  1836,  when  he  came  to  Ilhnois.  He  settled  first  in 
Madison  County,  but  in  1840  removed  to  the  present  farm  of  our  subject, 
where  he  died  January  29,  1897.  Like  other  early  settlers,  he  came  a  poor 
man,  in  search  of  better  agricultural  opoprtunities.  He  lived  for  a  long 
time  in  a  small  log  cabin  on  his  first  purchase  of  land,  but  later,  after  he  had 
acquired  a  large  property  through  his  own  efforts,  he  built  a  fine  dwelling 
and  commodious  barns.  Early  in  life  he  was  a  Democrat,  later  a  Whig, 
and  still  later,  a  Republican.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  regular  attendants 
and  liberal  supporters  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  July  2;^.  1815.  in  Atlams  County,  Mississippi,  and  died  on  our 
subject's  farm  in  Dorchester  township.  May  9,  1891.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (King)  Eaton.  The  ancestors  of  the  Eatons  came 
from  Wales  and  settled  in  Maryland  at  a  very  early  day.  The  Eatons  took 
part  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  the  name  is  held  in  esteem  in  that  State. 
Our  subject's  parents  had  10  children:  Mrs.  Sarah  Sinclair,  who  died  in 
Macoupin  County;  Richard,  of  Macoupin  County;  Charles  C,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Litchfield,  Illinois;  Thomas  W.,  a  farmer  of  Madison  County,  Illi- 
nois; Henry  K.,  a  farmer  of  Bond  County,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Amanda  C.  Ayers, 
of  Fayette  County,  Illinois;  Abram;  Alfred  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years,  and  three  babes  who  died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  has  followed  farming 
all  his  life.  While  engaging  in  a  general  agricultural  line,  he  has  paid  espec- 
ial attention  to  the  raising  of  grain,  and  to  the  breeding  of  Shorthorn  cattle, 
Poland-China  hogs  and  many  horses  and  mules. 

Mr.  Isaacs  was  married  November  12,  1878,  to  Nancy  Fruit,  who  was 
born  March  29,  1856,  near  Edwardsville,  Madison  County,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Jefferson  and  Elizabeth  (Vawter)  Fruit,  of  Madison  and  Bond  counties, 
respectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaacs  have  three  sons,  who  are  representative 
young  men  of  the  township.  Thomas,  after  spending  one  year  at  De  Pauw 
University,  Indiana,  entered  Cornell  College,  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa,  and  in 
one  year  graduated  from  the  academic  department ;  he  then  pursued  a  classi- 
cal course  at  that  institution.  Alfred  A.  is  a  student  at  Cornell  College. 
Walter  F.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Gillespie  High  School. 

Mr.  Isaacs  has  been  a  Republican  all  his  life,  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  General  Grant.     He  has  taken  only  a  citizen's  interest  in  township 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  443 

affairs  but  has  served  in  offices  connected  with  the  public  school  system. 
With  his  family,  he  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Church,  to  which  he  is  a  libera! 
contributor. 


» »» 


JOHN  O.  KENNEDY,  Esq. 

John  O.  Kennedy,  Esq.,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Staunton, 
Illinois,  for  many  years  a  leading  educator  in  Macoupin  County,  and  for 
the  past  three  years  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  this  city,  was  bom  December 
29,  1852,  in  Dearborn  County,  Indiana.  He  is  a  son  of  James  L.  and  Emira 
(Roberts)   Kennedy. 

James  L.  Kennedy  was  born  in  April,  1825,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a 
son  of  John  Kennedy,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  first  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
and  later  removed  to  Indiana,  following  the  trade  of  cabinet-making.  John 
Kennedy  had  six  children :  William,  Samuel,  Robert,  James,  Nancy  and 
Margaret.  James  L.  Kennedy  was  but  a  lad  when  his  father  moved  to  Indi- 
ana. He  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Manchester,  where  he  died  aged  74  years.  He  served  during 
the  Civil  War,  enlisting  in  1864  in  Company  C,  7th  Reg.,  Indiana  Vol.  Cav., 
under  Capt.  John  Senior.  His  company  was  detailed  to  guard  duty  and 
never  was  sent  out  of  the  State.  He  was  a  Grand  Army  man  and  a  stanch 
Republican.  In  religious  views  he  was  a  Presbyterian.  He  married  Emira 
Roberts,  born  in  Dearborn  County,  Indiana,  deceased,  in  i860,  aged  33 
years,  survived  by  these  children:  Emily;  Lewis  T.,  for  30  years  a  teacher 
in  Madison  County,  now  principal  of  the  Venice,  Illinois,  public  schools; 
Amasa,  a  teacher  at  Alhambra,  Illinois,  who  died  aged  28  years;  John  O., 
of  this  sketch;  Charles,  a  farmer  of  Coffeyville,  Kansas;  and  Sarah  B.,  who 
died  in  1880,  aged  22  years. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  mainly  in  Indiana,  attended  district 
schools  and  spent  two  years  at  Moore's  Hill  (Indiana)  College.  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy located  in  Staunton  in  1884  and  ever  since  has  been  a  prominent  factor 
in  educational  work.  He  devoted  many  years  to  teaching  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  organizers  of  the  present  admirable  high  school  here.  In  1903  he 
took  charge  of  the  office  of  the  De  Camp  Fuel  Company,  of  St.  Louis, 


444  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Missouri,  at  mine  No.  i,  in  Madison  County,  two  and  a  half  miles  south 
of  Staunton. 

In  1878  he  married,  at  Moore's  Hill,  Indiana,  Martha  Ross,  who  was 
born  in  November,  1852,  and  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  IvOuise  Ross.  Five 
children  were  born  to  them:  Orville  H.,  Wilbur  C,  David  Arthur,  J.  Leroy, 
and  Dan  W.,  three  of  whom  are  graduates  of  the  Staunton  High  School, 
the  last  named  being  valedictorian  in  the  class  of  1904.  They  have  had  the 
advantage  of  a  father's  training  and  a  mother's  intelligent  companionship. 
Mrs.  Kennedy  is  a  highly  cultured  lady,  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Club 
and  prominent  in  musical  circles.  She  is  organist  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  Mr.  Kennedy  the  chorister  of  the  same. 

Formerly  a  Republican,  Mr.  Kennedy  has  also  been  active  in  the  Prohi- 
bition party.  For  two  years  he  served  in  the  City  Council  from  the  Third 
Ward,  and  was  chairman  of  the  committees  on  finance  and  streets  and  high- 
ways. He  was  for  five  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  is 
actively  interested  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  the  community.  In 
1901  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  on  the  Republican  ticket  and  entered 
85  cases  during  his  first  year,  in  addition  to  performing  a  number  of  mar- 
riage ceremonies  and  other  minor  duties  of  his  office.  He  is  an  elder  in  his 
church  and  for  12  years  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 


JOHN  C.  HOXSEY,  V.  S. 

John  C.  Hoxsey,  V.  S..  a  prominent  and  successful  veterinary  surgeon 
of  Girard,  Illinois,  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children  born  to  William  and 
Gincey  G.  (Lyons)  Hoxsey.  He  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Madison 
County,  IlHnois,  April  25,   1856. 

William  Hoxsey,  our  subject's  father,  was  bom  in  the  State  of  Ken- 
tucky and  chose  the  profession  of  a  physician  as  his  calling  but  later  in  life 
he  became  interested  in  farming  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  and  through 
his  skilled  methods  became  a  farmer  of  success  and  prominence.  Mr.  Hox- 
sey died  in  November,  1902. 

Dr.  John  C.   Hoxsey  received  his  preliminary  educational  training  in 


^lACOUPIX    COUNTY.  445 

the  common  schools  of  ]\Iadison  County  and  during  his  leisure  hours  read 
medical  books.  After  his  graduation  from  the  schools  of  }iIadison  County, 
he  entered  the  St.  Louis  \'eterinary  Institvite  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Upon 
graduating  fromx  that  institution,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
iladison  County.  Dr.  Hoxsey  remained  in  Madison  County  and  continued 
his  practice  there  until  1904,  when  he  removed  to  Girard  and  purchased  his 
present  property,  building  a  first  class  veterinary  hospital  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 
The  hospital  is  a  modern  brick  structure  and  measures  44  by  50  feet  in 
ground  dimensions  and  is  20  feet  high,  containing  12  box  stalls  and  a  large 
carriage  room  on  the  main  floor  besides  his  offices,  and  five  living  rooms  on 
the  second  floor.  Our  subject's  practice  extends  all  over  Macoupin  County 
and  in  portions  of  the  adjoining  counties.  His  stable  also  accommodates  a 
large  liver}-  and  boarding  trade,  making  his  stable  the  only  first  class  one  in 
Girard.  Dr.  Hoxsey  is  well  qualified  for  his  profession.  He  took  a  special 
course  on  the  diseases  of  the  horse,  and  then  passed  the  State  examination  at 
Springfield,  Illinois. 

On  December  28,  1876,  Dr.  Hoxsey  was  married  to  ^lartha  A.  Bentley, 
a  daughter  of  George  W.  Bentley  of  ilacoupin  County,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  12  children,  11  of  whom  are  still  living.  Dr.  Hoxsey  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Illinois  State  Veterinary  Surgeon  Association  of  Decatur,  Illinois. 


BENJAMIN  F.  GULP. 

Bexjamix  F.  Culp,  who  was  born  July  8.  1851,  in  Macoupin  County, 
Illinois,  and  now  occupies  his  fine  farm  of  210  acres  in  section  7,  Gillespie 
township,  has  always  lived  in  this  county  and  has  always  been  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.    He  is  a  son  of  Henr}'  and  Martha  J.  (Largent)  Culp. 

The  Culp  famih'  early  settled  in  Macoupin  County.  Amos  Culp,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  brought  his  family  hese  from  Tennessee,  and 
died  here  aged  92  years.  He  followed  farming  and  cabinet-m.aking  and 
probably  many  of  the  oldest  families  of  this  region  have  some  of  the  furni- 
ture he  constructed  many  years  ago.     His  children   were :   Henrv.   David, 

25 


446  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Daniel,  Mrs.  Emily  Bullion,  Mrs.  Eliza  Coffee,  Mrs.  Tennessee  Raymond, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Harris.  ]\Irs.  Jane  Raymond  and  Mrs.  Elzira  Harris.  Henry 
Gulp  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Illinois  at  the  age  of  lo  years.  He  followed  farming 
until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  62  years,  passing  away  in  1891.  His  industry 
brought  him  large  returns  and  he  left  his  family  considerable  property.  In 
religious  views  he  was  a  Methodist.  Until  he  became  an  advocate  of  the 
Prohibition  party,  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Martha  J.  Largent, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Largent  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and 
13  children  were  born  to  them,  the  nine  who  grew  to  maturity  being:  Benja- 
min F.,  of  this  sketch;  William,  of  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County, 
where  he  is  a  farmer  and  dairyman;  Mrs.  Sarah  Frances  Woods,  of  Ma- 
coupin County;  Henry  F.,  of  Missouri;  James  C,  of  Taylorville,  Christian 
County;  David  S.,  of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois;  Thomas,  of  Macoupin  County; 
John  W.,  of  Atwater.  Macoupin  County;  and  ]\Irs.  Mattie  McCulley,  of 
Missouri. 

Benjamin  F.  Culp  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  was  a  smalt 
boy  when  he  accompanied  his  father  on  threshing  expeditions  to  the  neigh- 
boring farms,  driving  the  horses  for  the  old  horse-power  thresher.  The 
contrast  is  very  great  between  that  primitive  bit  of  machinery  and  the  three 
modern  steam  threshers  which  Mr.  Culp  has  since  owned  and  operated  for  30 
seasons.  In  1880  he  removed  to  his  present  farm  in  section  7.  Gillespie  town- 
ship, starting  with  a  tract  of  20  acres  of  brush  land,  to  which  he  added  from 
time  to  time.  Not  only  has  Mr.  Culp  erected  all  the  comfortable  and  substantial 
buildings  on  his  property,  but  he  has  been  interested  in  the  building  of  e\ery 
road  in  the  section.  It  was  mainly  due  to  his  efforts  that  the  fine  large 
bridge  now  spanning  Dry  Fork  creek,  was  erected  by  the  township.  I^Ir. 
Culp  has  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  succeeding  particu- 
larly well  in  the  latter  line,  having  large  herds  of  Jersey,  Durham  and  Red 
Polled  cattle.  He  has  no  inferior  stock  of  any  kind,  as  he  believes  that  the 
best  is  none  too  good  and  that  greater  profits  are  shown  in  the  end.  He  raise? 
much  corn  and  oats  and  millet  for  feeding  purposes.  He  has  devoted  10 
acres  to  an  orchard  of  peaches,  apples  and  pears  which  is  producing  very 
satisfactorily. 

On   February   18.    1875.   IMr.   Culp  was  married   to   Angeline   Woods, 
who  was  born  December  25,   1853.  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  447 

daughter  of  James  and  Martlia  (Mounts)  Woods,  natives  of  Ohio.  Nine 
children  have  been  born  to  them:  Mary  M.,  wife  of  George  Sawyer,  of  Dor- 
chester township,  Macoupin  County;  Martha  E.,  who  married  Bert  Fritz  of 
Sliipman.  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  has  one  child — Annie  Lucy ; 
Charles  O. :  Lucy  F. ;  Bessie;  John  F. ;  Thomas  Earl;  William  F.  and  Ethel 
P.  The  family  belong  to  the  Methodist  Church  in  which  Mr.  Culp  has 
served  as  class  leader.  He  has  been  prominent  in  district,  county  and  State 
association  Sunday-school  work.  He  is  a  zealous  supporter  of  the  Prohibition 
party  and  exerts  a  wide  influence. 


WILLIAM  SNODGRASS. 

William  Snodgrass^  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  tilUng  of  the 
soil  in  South  Otter  township,  also  follows  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  resides 
on  his  finely  tilled  farm  of  58  acres  in  section  9.  He  was  born  in  Sullivan 
County,  Tennessee,  in  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  S.  P.  and  Elizabeth  E.  (Barnes) 
Snodgrass. 

S.  P.  Snodgrass  is  a  farmer  and  blacksmith  of  Sullivan  County,  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  is  a  highly  esteemed  citizen.  He  still  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  place  with  his  wife,  our  subject's  mother,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
William  Barnes,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Sullivan  County,  who  died  about 
1895,  ha\ing  attained  a  very  advanced  age.  Mr.  Snodgrass  enlisted  in  the 
Confederate  Army  in  1862  and  served  three  years;  during  this  time  he  was 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner. 

William  Snodgrass  received  his  education  in  Sullivan  County,  Tennes- 
see and  came  to  Illinois  in  1885,  locating  in  Macoupin  County,  where  he 
remained  for  five  years.  In  1892  he  went  to  Kansas,  remained  there  for  eight 
years,  then  moved  to  Sullivan  County,  Tennessee,  and  resided  there  two 
years.  In  1900  he  returned  to  Macoupin  County,  and  purchased  a  farm  in 
South  Otter  township,  which  he  later  sold.  He  then  purchased  his  present 
farm  and  immediately  began  the  cultivation  of  the  place.  Our  subject  also 
does  much  carpenter  work,  having  learned  the  trade  in  his  younger  years  in 


448  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Tennessee.     In  :\Iarch,   1904,   Mr.   Snodgrass  moved  to  Caiiinviile,  having 
rented  his  farm. 

Prior  to  going  to  Kansas,  Mr.  Snodgrass  was  married  to  Armilda  E. 
Hart,  the  estimable  daughter  of  John  S.  Hart,  a  farmer  of  South  Otter 
township.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely:  Ora,  born  March 
6,  1889;  Fletcher,  born  March  17,  1890;  Noye  C,  born  July  31,  1892;  Zona, 
born  March  23,  1894;  Sewel,  born  October  23,  1896,  who  died  in  infancy; 
and  Bryan,  born  December  27,  1897.  Our  subject's  wife  died  December  6, 
1903,  when  in  her  44th  year.  Her  death  was  mourned  by  her  family  and  a 
large  circle  of  friends,  who  were  attracted  to  her  by  her  lovely  character. 
She  was  a  member,  as  is  Mr.  Snodgrass,  of  the  Hickory  Point  Baptist 
Church.  Mr.  Snodgrass  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  fraternal 
circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  United  Mine  Workers  of 
America. 


DAVID  M.  THOMPSON. 

David  M.  Thompson,  the  efficient  supervisor  of  Dorchester  township, 
and  an  esteemed  resident  of  the  village  of  Dorchester,  where  he  represents 
the  produce  house  of  F.  &  T.  Meyer  &  Company,  was  born  in  Dorchester 
township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  February  14,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Xancy  F.    (Grant)   Thompson. 

William  Thompson,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  came  to  Illinois  at 
an  early  date,  and  located  in  Macoupin  County,  where  he  immediately  en- 
gageil  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  having  previously  followed  that  occupation 
for  many  )'ears.  Mr.  Thompson  was  an  excellent  workman,  very  successful 
as  a  business  man  and  always  a  good  provider  for  his  family.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party  and  was  w'idely  known  in  poli- 
tical circles.  He  married  Nancy  F.  Grant,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ma- 
coupin County,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely :  Edward ; 
Wesley;  Mary  (Percher),  and  David  M.,  our  subject,  who  is  the  only  .sur- 
viving member  of  the  family. 

David  M.  Thompson,  who  has  always  lived  in  Dorchester  township, 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  the  township.     After  com- 


MACOUPIX    COUXTY.  449 

pleting  his  school  education,  he  entered  the  employ  of  F.  &  T.  Meyer  & 
Company,  merchants  and  produce  dealers,  and  has  remained  in  the  employ  of 
that  firm  for  26  consecutive  years,  being  one  of  the  firm's  most  valued  em- 
ployees. He  is  also  an  engineer,  and  at  one  time  ran  an  elevator  for  that 
firm;  he  has  worked  at  various  branches  of  the  business.  Mr.  Thompson  is 
a  Democrat.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  township  supervisor  by  that 
party  in  1898,  and  served  continuously  for  three  terms;  at  the  spring  election 
of  1904  he  was  reelected  for  another  term  of  two  years.  In  fraternal  circles, 
Mr.  Thompson  is  a  member  of  the  Modem  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the 
Court  of  Honor. 

In  1890,  'Mr.  Thompson  was  married  to  Clara  B.  Vannatta,  who  is  a  na- 
tive of  Madison  County,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Frances 
Vannatta.  They  are  the  parents  of  one  child — Ira  M.  Religiously,  Mr. 
Thompson  and  family  are  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 


EDWARD  S.  HOLME. 

Edward  S.  Holme^  who  may  almost  be  called  a  landmark  character  of 
Cahokia  township,  ^lacoupin  County,  on  account  of  his  early  settlement  and 
subsequent  usefulness,  lives  retired  on  his  farm  of  140  acres,  situated  in 
section  17,  18  and  20,  and  also  owns  an  additional  tract  of  75  acres  in  sec- 
tion 24.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Shirtclifif)  Holme  and  was  bom 
July  15,  1822,  in  England. 

James  Holme  was  born  at  Syck  House,  Yorkshire,  England,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1790.  and  was  one  of  the  eight  children  born  to  Robert  Holme  and  wife. 
In  1830  James  Holme  came  to  America,  and  was  joined  in  the  succeeding 
year  by  our  subject  and  his  mother  and  sister.  Mr.  Holme  had  been  a  mer- 
chant in  his  native  land,  but  engaged  in  farming  after  settling  in  Morgan 
Coiuity,  Illinois,  his  death  taking  place  at  Gillespie.  Macoupin  County,  in 
i860.  Although  never  a  man  of  abundant  means,  he  was  always  independent 
and  left  his  family  provided  for.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.     He  married  Sarah  Shirtcliff.  born  also  in  Yorkshire,  wh^i  died  in 


450  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Macoupin  County  at  the  age  of  70  years.  They  had  four  children,  viz:  Mrs. 
Sarah  Challacobe,  who  died  in  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  aged  82  years; 
Henry,  who  died  in  1892,  in  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  aged  yT,  years;  Ed- 
ward S.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Mrs.  Jane  Stephenson,  born  in  Illinois,  who  lives 
in  Andrew  County,  Missouri. 

Our  subject  was  eight  years  old  when  his  parents  settled  near  the  present 
town  of  Lynnville,  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  which  he  later  laid  out,  plough- 
ing along  the  town  lines  with  an  oxteam.  Mr.  Holme  grew  up  under  pioneer 
conditions  and  experienced  many  of  the  hardships  pertaining  to  those  early 
days.  He  recalls  the  year  1838  when  the  Pottawattamie  Indians,  800  strong, 
were  moved  from  Northern  Indiana.  In  1845  ^I^-  Holme  took  possession 
of  his  present  farm,  buying  the  land  for  the  small  sum  of  $3.28  per  acre. 
At  that  time  even  the  most  optimistic  person  could  not  have  predicted  the 
wonderful  changes  which  Mr.  Holme  has  brought  about.  The  prairie  was 
unbroken,  the  land  was  covered  with  a  brush  thicket,  and  not  even  a  rude 
dwelling  welcomed  the  pioneer.  He  put  up  a  plank  house  as  soon  as  possible, 
with  dimensions  of  16  by  18  feet,  the  structure  being  of  so  substantial  a 
character  that  it  still  serves  a  purpose.  Deer,  wild  turkeys  and  prairie  chickens 
constantly  tempted  the  hunter,  but  the  busy  farmer  had  little  time  for  sport, 
when  he  had  to  drive  his  hogs  30  miles  to  Alton,  or  50  miles  to  St.  Louis, 
to  find  a  market.  Mr.  Holme  is  a  veritable  mine  of  interesting  reminiscences 
and  his  stories  of  the  way  he  and  his  neighbors  fought  prairie  fires,  of  which 
they  lived  in  dread,  are  very  exciting.  He  was  an  observer  of  the  building  of 
the  "Big  Four"  Railroad  through  this  .section  and  remembers  that  wheel- 
barrows were  used  in  the  filling  of  the  cuts,  the  labor-saving  machinery  of 
to-day  not   ha\-ing  then   been   thought   of. 

On  June  18,  185 1,  Mr.  Holme  was  married  to  Ellen  Stull,  who  was 
born  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  April  17,  1830,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Harland)  Stull.  Their  only  surviving  child  is  John  Pearson,  who 
operates  the  home  farm.  Dora  died,  aged  16  years;  William  H.  died,  aged 
37  years,  and  three  died  in  infancy. 

In  youth  Mr.  Holme  was  a  Democrat,  but  has  been  identified  with  the 
Republican  party  since  its  organization.  He  served  as  supervisor  of  Cahokia 
township  during  1871,  1872,  1873  and  1884 — four  terms — and  was  one  of 
the  17  supervisors  who,  by  their  refusal  to  obey  a  mandamus  issued  by  the 
United  States  Circuit  Court  in   1873,  caused  a  fine  of  $1,000  apiece  to  be 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  451 

assessed   against    the   county,    but   by    their    action    subsequently    saved    the 
county  an  immense  sum. 

Since  1889  ^Ir.  Holme  has  been  somewhat  incapacitated  physically,  but 
is  as  hale  and  hearty  mentally  as  in  early  years.  He  has  hundreds  of  friends 
in  his  locality  and  is  still  frequently  consulted  on  questions  affecting  the 
public  welfare.  2\Ir.  Holme  considers  it  a  matter  worthy  of  record  that  he 
and  his  mother  were  passengers  on  the  first  railroad  ever  built  in  the  world. 
He  was  for  manv  vears  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


GEORGE  C.  ROBINSON. 

George  C.  Robinson,  postmaster  at  Hettick,  Macoupin  County,  and  one 
of  the  county's  prominent  and  substantial  citizens  was  bom  April  18,  1855, 
in  Peterborough,  Northamptonshire,  England,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Catherine   (Crossland)    Robinson. 

The  family  and  all  its  connections  are  of  English  extraction.  James 
Robinson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  ilarch  5,  1826,  at  Knottingley, 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  died  in  1861  at  Madras,  India,  from  the  effects  of 
poison.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  sailor  in  the  merchant  marine  service 
and  our  subject  has  in  his  possession  the  paper  showing  his  honorable  dis- 
charge, as  mate  of  the  "Ann  and  Mary,"  his  last  ship,  bearing  the  date  of 
i\Iay  24,  1848.  He  was  a  man  of  business  capacity  as  was  shown  by  his 
being  sent  to  Madras  as  overseer  of  the  workmen  engaged  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  first  English  railroad  built  in  that  land.  Those  were  dangerous 
days  for  foreigners  in  India,  on  account  of  fanatical  prejudices,  and  his  very 
useful  life  was  cut  short  by  poison  administered  in  large  quantities  by  some 
of  the  natives.  ]\Ir.  Robinson  was  survived  by  a  widow  and  six  children, 
namely:  John  W.,  George  C,  Mary  C,  Elizabeth,  Charles  C.  and  James. 
Elizabeth  married  Albert  E.  Dennis,  a  farmer  at  Rockbridge,  Greene  County, 
Illinois,  and  they  have  had  seven  children,  those  surviving  Ijeing:  George  P., 
Sidne}-,  James  F.  and  Catherine.  Mary  C.  married  Joseph  G.  Bilbrook,  a 
farmer  living  near  Hettick,  Macoupin  County,  and  died  in  1881.  Charles 
C.  married  Kate  Reddington,  daughter  of  John   Reddington,  a  farmer  of 


452  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Hagaman,  Macoupin  County.  Charles  C.  was  postmaster  at  Hagaman  under 
President  Cleveland,  and  is  now  coroner  of  Macoupin  County.  He  has  three 
children — Leo,  Mamie  and  Charles.  John  \\'.  resides  at  Hagaman,  where 
he  is  deputy  postmaster  and  conducts  a  general  store.  He  married  Johanna 
O'Conner,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  they  have  four  children,  viz:  John, 
James,  Edward  and  Mary  Ellen.  James,  who  is  postmaster  at  Hagaman, 
married  Grace  Cooling,  and  has  two  children — Mabel  Margaret  and  James 
Byron.  I 

After  tlie  death  of  her  husband,  our  subject's  mother  supported  herself 
and  children  by  selling  garden  products.  Two  of  her  sons  migrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1866,  and  in  October,  1871,  she  came  with  the  others  of  the  family, 
and  settled  at  Hagaman,  Macoupin  County.  At  a  later  date  she  married 
Robert  Hay  worth,  a  farmer  living  near  Hagaman,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land and  died  in  1879.  Mrs.  Hayworth  died  October  8,  1902,  aged  75  years. 
She  was  a  most  excellent  woman,  a  devoted  mother  and  had  borne  many 
trials  with  patience  and  fortitude. 

George  C.  Robinson  came  to  America  with  his  elder  brother,  John  \V., 
arriving  in  Xew  York  City,  October  12,  1866.  They  came  immediately  to 
Illinois,  and  after  one  week  at  Alton  located  in  J^Iacoupin  County.  Our  sub- 
ject found  work  with  his  uncle,  William  Crossland,  and  for  his  clothes  and 
board  worked  for  his  uncle  from  1866  to  1871,  when  his  mother  came  to 
Hagaman.  In  1871  he  went  to  Jersey  County  and  remained  five  years  with 
Charles  Sanders,  at  $18  per  month  with  board,  and  two  years  with  V.  L. 
Dodge,  a  neighboring  farmer.  He  then  opended  a  small  store  at  Kemper, 
Jersey  County,  and  was  appointed  village  postmaster  by  President  Garfield. 
In  1881  he  sold  his  stock  to  Still  Brothers  and  removed  to  Chesterfield  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  where  he  opened  a  general  store  and  conducted  it 
for  two  years,  selling  out  in  order  to  take  a  pleasure  trip  to  England  with  his 
uncle  \\'illiam  Crossland.  During  its  duration  of  six  months,  he  visited 
London  and  many  other  places  of  interest,  including  his  old  home.  Upon 
his  return  he  again  located  at  Kemper,  with  less  than  $100,  buying  out  the 
general  store  of  G.  B.  Harland,  and  remained  in  that  village  until  the  fall 
of  1886.  when  he  sold  out  to  B.  C.  Elliott  and  purchased  the  store  of  John 
Burrell  at  Hettick.  which  pleasant  village  has  been  his  place  of  residence 
ever  since.  He  has  held  the  office  of  postmaster  under  every  Republican  ad- 
ministration since  James  A.  Garfield  became  president  in  188 1. 


^lACOUPIX    COUNTY.  453 

Mr.  Robinson  is  a  large  real  estate  owner,  his  properties  including  500 
acres  of  prairie  and  bottom  land,  several  stores  and  dwelling  houses  in 
Hettick,  450  acres  of  land  in  Shipman  township,  near  iMedora,  and  the  brick 
hotel  in  that  place. 

^Ir.  Robinson  was  married  October  7,  1880,  to  Margaret  Kirkland, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Kirkland,  a  carpenter  and  joiner  of  Kemper, 
Illinois.  Thomas  Kirkland  married  Margaret  C.  Gilbert  and  their  family 
were  all  born  in  England  except  the  two  youngest  who  were  twins.  Theii" 
names  in  order  are  John  Thomas,  William,  Margaret  C,  Luella,  and  Frank 
Huin  and  Charles  (twins).  Mrs.  Robinson  as  well  as  her  parents  was  born 
in  England  and  she  was  four  years  old  when  she  was  brought  to  America  in 
1868.  Six  children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely:  Florence  Viola,  John 
^^^,  George  Thomas,  William,  Edith  May  and  James  Theodore  Kirkland. 
Mr.  Robinson  has  been  able  to  give  each  of  his  children  a  good  schooling 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  proud  of  their  sons  and  daughters,  all  being  intelli- 
gent and  highly  respected  in  the  community. 

In  politics  ]\Ir.  Robinson  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  been  president  of  the  village  board  for  two  years  and  has 
held  other  ofiSces  at  Hettick.  He  belongs  to  the  ^Macoupin  County  Agricul- 
tural Society,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  The 
family  belong  to  the  Methodist  Church. 


■4 « » 


WILLIAM  H.  WHITFIELD. 

WiLLi.\M  H.  Whitfield,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  and  substantial 
farmers  of  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  fine  farm  of  160 
acres,  situated  in  section  27,  was  born  September  10,  1832,  near  the  city 
of  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  and  is  a  son  of  Travis  W.  and  Elizabeth 
(Stephens)  Whitfield. 

Our  subject  belongs  to  a  family  of  distinction  in  the  South,  both  of 
his  grandfathers  having  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  both  the 
Whitfields  and  Stephenses  being  for  many  years  prominent  planters  and  slave 
owners. 


454  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Travis  W.  Whitfield,  father  of  Wilham  H.,  was  born  in  South  CaroHna 
and  his  hfe  was  passed  in  the  Carohnas,  Tennessee  and  IlHnois,  his  death 
taking  place  in  Macoupin  County  in  1870  at  the  age  of  60  years.  He  had 
followed  the  trades  of  shoemaker  and  carpenter.  In  politics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. He  married  Elizabeth  Stephens,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  the 
six  children  born  to  them  were  the  following:  William  H.,  of  this  sketch; 
Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Collins,  of  Kansas;  John  T.,  of  Macoupin  County;  I\Irs. 
T^Iary  Clarkston,  of  Atwater,  Montgomery  County,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Martha 
\"aughn,  of  Virden,  Macoupin  County;  and  Mrs.  Sallie  Stubbleficld.  of 
Kansas. 

William  H.  \\'hitfield  was  still  a  small  boy  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Tennessee,  whence  they  came  to  Illinois  in  1847.  Macoupin  County  has 
been  Mr.  Whitfield's  home  ever  since.  In  1864  he  removed  to  his  present 
valuable  farm  in  Gillespie  township,  which  he  has  operated  most  success- 
fully, making  his  leading  farming  crops,  wheat,  com,  oats  and  hay  and  has 
engaged  extensively  in  stock  raising  and  feeding,  and  has  raised  all  his  own 
horses.  In  addition  he  has  operated  a  threshing  machine  for  35  years  and 
purchased  one  of  the  first  steam  threshers  ever  made  use  of  in  Gillespie  town- 
ship. Mr.  Whitfield  has  l>een  one  of  the  most  progressive  agriculturists  of 
his  section  and  his  farm  indicates  that  its  management  has  been  done  with 
careful  and  systematic  methods. 

In  i860,  Mr.  ^\'hitfield  married  Mourning  Clark,  who  was  born  April 
30,  1840,  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Randall  and 
Lucy  (Gray)  Clark,  the  former  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  latter, 
of  Virginia.  Their  four  children  are:  Henrietta,  wife  of  John  Luttenberger, 
residing  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  William  M.,  now  operating  his  father's  farm, 
w^ho  married  Mary  Snyder  who  at  death  left  three  children — Henrietta, 
Mary  and  Maude;  James  L.,  of  Honey  Point  township,  who  married  Clara 
Coffee  and  has  seven  children — Flora,  William,  Harry,  Edith,  Lucilla.  James 
and  "Baby;"  and  J.  Thomas,  of  Gillespie  township,  who  married  Cora 
Vanatta  and  has  two  children — Everett  and  Esther. 

In  politics  Mr.  Whitfield  is  a  supporter  of  the  Requblican  party  and  he 
has.  on  various  occasions,  been  called  upon  to  accept  local  offices.  He  has 
been  township  supervisor,  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  long  period 
and  has  shown  his  interest  in  educational  matters  by  serving  as  school  director. 
During  his  term  as  highway  commissioner  many  needed  improvements  were 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  -  455 

made  and  others  inaugurated.    He  is  a  man  very  highly  esteemed  in  Gillespie 
township  and  a   worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  old   families   of  the 

countv. 


MRS.  MARY  BLEY  DRIPPS. 

Mrs.  Mary  Bley  Dripps,  widow  of  the  late  Dr.  Calvin  Todd  Dripps, 
and  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  residents  of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County, 
was  born  at  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  June  10,  1859.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
George  and  Elizabeth  W.  Bley. 

Mrs.  Dripps  has  been  a  resident  of  Staunton  ever  since  she  was  two 
years  of  age,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  this  city.  On  May  15, 
1889,  she  was  united  in  marriage  with  the  late  Dr.  Calvin  Todd  Dripps, 
whose  death,  on  August  22,  1902,  was  felt  to  be  almost  a  public  sorrow  to  the 
citizens  of  Staunton,  so  great  was  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  One 
daughter,  Edna  Isabella,  survives. 

The  late  Dr.  Calvin  Todd  Dripps  was  born  in  Staunton  township, 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  October  19,  1850,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children  born  to  Thomas  and  Mary  A.  (Patterson)  Dripps.  He  at- 
tended the  country  schools  and  aided  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  entered 
Monmouth  College  at  IMonmouth,  Illinois,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  honors,  in  1875,  receiving  the  degree  of  A.  M.  He 
then  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  medical  diploma  in  1880,  later  taking  a  post-graduate 
course  in  New  York.  Dr.  Dripps  located  at  Staunton  and  bought  the  prac- 
tice of  Dr.  R.  E.  Bley,  becoming  a  partner  of  Dr.  D.  L.  Bley,  in  June,  1888, 
with  whom  he  was  associated  until  his  death.  He  enjoyed  a  very  large  prac- 
titce  and  followed  the  profession  with  enthusiasm,  devoting  every  energy  to 
the  scientific  solving  of  its  complex  problems  and  to  discovering  newer  and 
better  methods  of  combating  disease.  His  death  was  a  great  loss  to  the 
medical  profession.  To  the  hundreds  who  depended  upon  his  skill  for  relief 
and  cure,  and  to  those  who  were  bound  to  him  by  ties  of  kindred  and  warm 
friendship,  his  death  came  as  a  crushing  blow. 

Dr.  Dripps  was  a  valued  member  of  a  number  of  fraternal  organizations. 


456  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

In  Masonic  circles  he  was  past  master  of  Staunton  Lodge,  Xo.  177,  A.  F. 
&  A.  IM.,  and  a  member  of  St.  Omar  Commandery,  K.  T.,  of  Litchfield.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  Staunton  Lodge,  No.  685,  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  benevolent  aims  of  other  associations.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  contributed  liberally  to  the  support  of  the  work  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  consistent  member.  While  the  Doctor  was  not 
a  member  of  any  church  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  a  good,  conscientious 
Christian  gentleman.  He  -won  esteem  and  affection  and  his  hospitable  home 
was  always  open  to  the  visits  of  the  younger  generation,  who  frequently 
took  advantage  of  the  welcome  they  felt  sure  of  receiving.  It  would  be  im- 
possible for  a  man  of  the  high  character  and  genial  personality  of  the  late 
Dr.  Dripps  to  be  forgotten  in  Staunton  as  long  as  the  present  generation 
survives.  Mrs.  Dripps,  with  her  daughter  and  her  mother,  occupy  the  beauti- 
ful home,  which  is  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  Staunton. 


HENRY  M.  COFFEE. 

Henry  M.  Coffee,  one  of  the  largest  land-owners  and  most  successful 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Hilyard  township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he 
owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  208  acres,  situated  in  sections  33  and  34,  was 
born  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  October  2,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Eliza  (Culp)  Coffee. 

James  Coffee,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  came  from  Ireland  and 
settled  in  Livingston  County,  New  York,  wdiere  he  reared  these  children : 
Eliza,  Clarissa,  IMatilda,  John,  Frank,  Katherine  and  Daniel. 

Daniel  Coffee,  father  of  Henry  M.,  was  born  in  1816  in  Livingston 
County.  New  York,  in  the  vicinity  of  Dansville,  and  died  in  Hilyard  town- 
ship. Macoupin  County,  at  the  age  of  49  years.  He  came  here  a  young  man. 
seeking  employment  and  was  engaged  by  the  month  by  Vernon  King,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  his  marriage,  when  he  bought  the  present  farm  of 
our  subject.  He  broke  prairie  with  an  old  wooden  plough  and  did  much  hard 
work  in  the  cultivating  of  land  in  this  country  with  no  assistance  from  im- 
proved machinery.     He  was  a  man  of  ability  and  judgment  and  at  various 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  457 

times  held  local  oltice.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Eliza 
Culp,  who  was  born  near  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Amos 
and  Jane  (Davis)  Culp,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1820  and  settled  near  Wood- 
bum.  Macoupin  County.  Mrs.  Coffee  died  here  in  1898,  aged  "ji  years. 
Their  children  were:  Mrs.  Katherine  Smith,  of  Decatur,  Illinois;  James  A., 
deceased;  Henry  ^I.,  of  this  sketch;  Margaret  F.,  Edward,  Elizabeth  and 
Martha,  who  died  young;  William  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  28  years;  and 
Jolin  W.,  of  Doans,  Texas. 

Henry  M.  Coffee  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  has  been  in- 
terested in  farming  ever  since  he  can  remember.  He  has  always  had  land 
under  cultivation  but  has  not  permitted  actitvity  in  this  direction  to  absorb 
all  his  energies.  For  some  12  years  he  acted  as  the  traveling  representative 
for  several  leading  business  firms — Garr,  Scott  &  Company,  of  Richmond, 
Indiana,  threshing  machines  and  engines;  and  the  Pitts  Agricultural  Works, 
at  Buffalo,  New  York.  That  Mr.  Coffee's  ideas  about  agricultural  ma- 
chinery are  verj'  practical  has  been  demonstrated  by  his  invention  of  a  straw 
stacker,  which  he  had  patented  in  1882,  and  which  has  proved  of  great  selling 
value. 

In  addition  to  his  fine  farm  of  208  acres  in  Hilyard  township,  where  he 
engages  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  he  has  a  cotton  and  stock 
ranch  of  1,280  acres  in  \\'ilbarger  County,  Texas,  and  640  acres  in  Buchanan 
Comity,  Virginia.  This  aggregates  2,128  acres  of  valuable  land  and  when 
it  is  remembered  that  ^Ir.  Coffee  has  accumulated  this  large  property  through 
his  own  efforts,  an  estimate  may  be  made  as  to  his  industry  and  business 
ability.  Although  at  present  his  whole  time  is  taken  up  in  looking  after  his 
large  farming  interests,  he  has  been  a  ven,-  useful  citizen  and  has  done  much 
toward  the  development  of  his  township.  As  a  man  of  intelligence  and 
broad  views,  his  connection  of  25  years  with  the  schools  of  the  township  have 
resulted  in  benefiting  them  greatly.  He  served  four  years  as  supervisor  of 
Hilyard  township,  from  1898  to  1902,  has  been  foreman  of  the  grand  jury 
and  has  held  other  offices  of  honor  and  responsibility. 

Mr.  Coffee  was  married  in  1872,  to  Katherine  Elliman,  who  was  bom 
July  28,  185 1,  near  London,  England,  and  was  brought  to  America  by  her 
parents  when  three  years  of  age.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
A.  (Lo^•ette)  Elliman,  who  settled  on  a  farm  in  ^lacoupin  County,  where 
both  died.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coffee  have  had  six  children,  viz:  Edward,  who 


458  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

died  in  infancy ;  Daniel,  who  operates  the  ranch  in  Texas — he  has  one  child, 
Bessie  Kathrine;  Mary  E.,  who  married  Dr.  C.  H.  Moore  of  Shipman,  Ma- 
coupin County,  and  has  one  child — Thirsa ;  Rosa  Nell,  who  is  at  home ;  John 
E.,  a  traveling  man  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  who  has  one  son — Lockland  A.;  and 
William  H.,  who  is  at  home. 

The  religious  connection  of  the  family  is  with  the  Baptist  Church.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Coffee  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and  has  served 
as  a  delegate  to  its  various  conventions,  and  on  its  important  committees  in 
this  county.  Fraternally  he  is  both  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Coffee  is  one  of  the  enterprising  and  progressive 
men  who  not  only  better  their  own  fortunes  through  their  enterprises,  but 
reflect  credit  upon  their  communities.  He  is  one  of  Hilyard  township's 
representative  citizens  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him,  not  only 
as  a  business  man,  but  also  as  a  friend  and  neighbor. 


SAMUEL  GILL. 


The  city  of  Girard,  Macoupin  County,  is  a  center  of  commercial  activity, 
and  its  large  enterprises  are  in  the  hands  of  energetic  and  capable  men.  One 
of  the  important  business  houses  is  the  large  grocery,  queensware  and  hard- 
ware establishment,  which  was  founded  and  is  managed  by  Samuel  Gill,  one 
of  the  city's  progressive  young  men.  Mr.  Gill  was  bom  in  Girard,  July  17, 
1879,  2"d  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Elizabeth  (England)  Gill. 

John  H.  Gill  was  born  in  j\Iacoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  his  business 
was  that  of  traveling  representative  for  various  business  firms.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  England,  who  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Samuel  England, 
who  was  born  February  22,  1820,  in  Morgan  County,  Tennessee.  His  grand- 
father, Samuel  England,  came  to  Macoupin  County  in  1830  and  died  here. 
John  England,  father  of  Samuel  England,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  was 
reared  in  Tennessee,  where  he  married  Lina  Hall,  who  died  in  1841,  he  died 
in  1858.  The  grandmother  of  our  subject  was  Louisa  C.  Smith.  The  Eng- 
land family  was  a  prominent  one  in  the  Episcopal  Church  and  Samuel  Eng- 
land was  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Macoupin  County. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  459 

Our  subject,  Samuel  Gill,  was  educated  at  Girard  and  all  his  business 
experience  has  been  in  this  city.  After  satisfactorily  filling  a  clerical  posi- 
tion, he  was  made  manager  of  the  Ernke  Mercantile  Company,  of  Girard, 
when  17  years  of  age,  and  held  the  position  until  1903,  when  he  entered 
business  for  himself,  as  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Bock  Sc  Gill.  This  continued 
until  August,  1903.  when  he  opened  up  his  present  business.  He  is  the 
youngest  merchant  on  the  Square  and  carries  an  immense  stock  of  care- 
fully selected  goods,  having  the  largest  establishment  of  its  kind  in  Girard. 
He  stands  high  both  in  business  and  in  social  circles. 

In  November  1901,  Mr.  Gill  married  Winnifred  HufT,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Edwin  J.  Huff,  one  of  Macoupin  County's  most  substantial  citizens,  and 
owner  of  the  Girard  telephone  plant.  Pohtically  our  subject  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  part)-.  Fraternally  he  is  both  a  ^Mason  and  an  Odd 
Fellow. 


JERO.ME   B.  BALDWIN. 

Jerome  B.  Baldwin,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  \'irden,  who 
for  many  years  has  been  identified  with  the  agricultural  development  of  the 
southeastern  section  of  Macoupin  Count)',  was  bom  on  a  farm  near  Craw- 
fordsville,  Indiana,  April  22,  1843.  and  is  a  son  of  A\'illiam  C.  and  Cyrena 
(Dalton)   Baldwin. 

William  C.  Baldwin  was  bom  in  Butler  Count)',  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  attained  his  majorit)-,  when  he  removed  to  Indiana.  At  that 
time  few  settlements  had  been  made  in  Montgomer)'  County,  Indiana,  where 
he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  heavily  timbered  land,  erected  a  log  cabin,  and 
settled  as  one  of  the  pioneers.  He  cleared  a  portion  of  this  land  but  never 
completed  it,  disposing  of  it  in  1852  and  removing  to  Illinois.  The  family- 
lived  for  a  time  in  Greene  County,  but  later  settled  permanently  in  Macou- 
pin Count),  buying  a  tract  of  land  in  the  vicinit)-  of  Virden.  Here  the 
mother  of  our  subject  died  July  31,  1880;  his  father  survived  until  1888. 
They  led  useful,  honorable  lives,  enduring  many  of  the  hardships  of  pioneer 
life,  but  their  last  days  were  spent  in  comfort. 

Although  not  bom  in  Illinois,  Jerome  B.  Baldwin  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  State  since  the  age  of  nine  vears  and  his  children  have  been  bom  and 


46o  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

reared  here  and  all  the  interests  of  his  life  have  centered  here.  His  boyhood 
was  spent  in  assisting  his  father  in  the  latter's  farming  operations  and  in 
attending  school  whenever  possible,  although  those  were  not  the  days  of  well 
built,  comfortable  school  houses,  a  log  building  usually  being  made  use  of. 
He  grew  to  manhood,  however,  a  well  informed,  practical  farmer,  capable  of 
developing  the  natural  resources  of  the  rich  soil  and  acquainted  with  the  best 
methods  of  raising  good  stock.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  situ- 
ated some  two  miles  from  the  village  of  Virden,  which  he  continued  to  operate 
for  the  succeeding  14  years.  This  property,  which  belongs  to  our  subject's 
wife,  is  held  at  a  high  value,  being  one  of  the  best  cultivated  and  finely  im- 
proved farms  in  the  township.  Since  1884  Mr.  Baldwin  has  resided  in  Vir- 
den, where  he  built  one  of  the  most  comfortable  homes  in  the  place.  Mr. 
Baldwin  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Central  Baptist  Church  of 
Springfield,  Illinois. 

On  September  i,  1870,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Gates, 
and  they  have  one  son,  John.  Mrs.  Baldwin,  like  her  husband,  comes  of 
sturdy  pioneer  stock.  She  was  born  March  25,  1844,  in  Sangamon  County, 
Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Lucinda  (Wood)  Gates.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Muhlenberg  County,  Kentucky,  and  her  mother  in  Madi- 
son County,  Illinois.  Mr.  Gates  came  to  Illinois  in  1831  and  married  in 
1833.  He  settled  on  the  line  of  Sangamon  and  Macoupin  counties  and  later 
entered  land  both  in  Auburn  township,  Sangamon  County,  where  he  made 
his  home,  and  in  Virden  township,  Macoupin  County.  Mrs.  Baldwin's  ma- 
ternal grandparents  were  William  and  Polly  (Cox)  Wood,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  the  latter  in  Kentucky,  a  member  of  a 
distinguished  old  family  of  South  Carolina.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Baldwin 
was  a  true  type  of  pioneer  womanhood,  skilled  in  all  housewifely  expedients. 
Her  children  were  reared  to  habits  of  usefulness  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  has, 
in  her  excellent  housekeeping,  reflected  credit  upon  her  early  training.  The 
family  is  one  very  highly  esteemed  in  Virden. 


WILLIAM 'ANDERSON. 

William  Anderson,  one  of  the  successful  farmers,  prominent  citizens 
and  self  made  men  of  Macoupin  County,  residing  on  his  finely  improved  farm 
of  240  acres,  situated  in  section  5,  Cahokia  township,  was  born  February 


'  MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  461 

14,  1S32,  in  Putnam  County,  Indiana,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Scott)    Anderson. 

Thomas  Anderson  was  the  oldest  son  of  James  Anderson,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  who  removed  to  Indiana,  took  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  fol- 
lowed farming  and  died  aged  80  years.  Thomas  was  born  in  Tennessee, 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Indiana  in  boyhood,  lived  there  until  1834,  when 
he  came  among  the  pioneers  to  Macoupin  County,  where  he  died  aged  35 
years,  having  entered  160  acres  of  land  in  Honey  Point  township.  He  mar- 
ried Marj-  Scott,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  Scott,  a  pioneer  of  1833, 
and  their  four  children  were:  William;  James  M.,  of  Terre  Huate,  Indiana; 
Jesse  F.,  of  Portland,  Oregon;  and  Joseph  M.,  who  died  three  years  since 
in  Missouri. 

\\'illiam  Anderson  became  a  resident  of  Macoupin  County  at  the  age 
of  two  years,  coming  here  with  his  parents  in  the  spring  of  1834,  and  has 
resided  on  his  present  farm  since  1874.  Mr.  Anderson's  earliest  recollections 
of  the  neighborhood  are  of  miles  of  uncultivated  prairie  land,  lonely  and  un- 
settled, with  few  roads,  school  houses  or  churches,  and  with  almost  no  chances 
for  a  boy,  orphaned  at  the  age  of  10  years,  to  make  his  way  except  through 
the  hardest  kind  of  farm  work.  He  found  employment  first  on  farms  and  later 
in  sawmills,  working  for  nine  years  in  mills  on  Honey  Creek.  He  then  bought 
80  acres  of  land  which  was  the  beginning  of  a  very  successful  agricultural 
career,  soon  after  becoming  the  owner  of  100  acres  in  section  35,  Brushy 
Mound  township.  This  farm  he  improved  and  occupied  19  years.  He  now 
owns  240  acres  in  Cahokia  township,  and  40  acres  in  section  20,  Honey 
Point  township.  This  property  has  been  finely  improved,  substantial  build- 
ings erected  and  orchards  set  out,  all  by  Mr.  Anderson's  own  thrift  and  in- 
dustrj-.  He  has  devoted  much  attention  to  the  raising  of  high  grade  cattle 
and  stock  and  has  realized  an  ample  fortune  by  his  good  management.  Al- 
though practically  retired,  he  still  enjoys  overlooking  the  various  improve- 
ments under  way  and  in  recalling  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  as  the 
result  of  his  enterprise  and  perseverance. 

In  1856  Mr.  Anderson  married  Lydia  J.  Huddleston,  who  was  born  in 
Brushy  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County.  Illinois,  and  they  have  six  chil- 
dren, viz :  John,  of  Honey  Point  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  has  one 
child — Edna;  Samuel,  of  Cahokia  township,  who  has  four  children — Hazel, 
Audrey.  George  and  Owen:  Clara,  who  is  the  home  housekeeper;  William 

26 


462  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Luther,  of  Montgomery  County.  Illinois,  who  has  seven  children;  Mrs.  Ida 
]\IcRevnolds,  of  Honey  Point  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  has  three 
children — William  H.,  John  M.  and  May;  and  Charles,  the  home  farmer, 
who  married  Tena  Walschleger. 

Politically  Mr.  Anderson  upholds  the  principles  of  the  Populist  party. 
He  has  most  capably  held  a  number  of  township  offices  and  for  25  years  was 
a  school  director.  He  was  a  friend  of  the  Grange  movement  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  master  of  the  local  body.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
L^nited   Baptist   Church. 


EUGENE  DAVID  WURTZ.  D.  M.  D. 

Et'GENE  D.wiD  WcRTZ,  D.  M.  D.,  One  of  the  leading  professional  men 
of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  December  25,  1875,  at  Staunton, 
and  is  a  son  of  David  C.  and  Ellen  (Bley)  \\'urtz,  and  a  nephew  of  Dr. 
Bley  of  Staunton. 

The  W'urtz  family  is  of  Dutch  descent,  but  has  been  located  in  America 
for  generations.  The  grandfather  of  Dr.  \\'urtz  was  a  pioneer  in  Ohio  and 
probably  assisted  in  the  laying  out  of  Lockport.  Later  he  came  to  Illinois, 
accompanied  by  his  son,  Da\iil  C,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  January  29, 
1837.  The  latter  began  life's  work  as  a  stone  cutter,  but  has  been  an  archi- 
tect for  many  years  and  is  still  engaged  in  that  profession,  at  Fort  Smith, 
Arkansas.  He  served  all  through  the  Civil  War,  as  a  member  of  Company 
C,  3rd  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Cav.,  under  the  command  of  General  Carr.  Form- 
erly a  Republican,  he  now  supports  the  Prohibition  party.  He  married  Ellen 
Bley,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  September  16,  1847,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  George  Bley,  and  they  reared  four  children,  namely:  George  B.,  lo- 
cated at  Escanaba,  Michigan,  who  is  a  clerk  of  the  \\'eather  Bureau ;  Marv 
S.,  a  teacher  in  the  Jerseyville  (Illinois)  schools;  Eugene  David,  of  tliis 
sketch;  and  Martha  W.,  who  lives  at  home. 

Dr.  Wurtz's  parents  removed  to  Alton  in  1880  and  to  Jerseyville  in 
1883.  and  there  he  completed  his  course  in  the  high  school,  subsequently 
spending  a  year  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  St.  Louis. 
He  then  entered  the  dental  department  of  Washington  University,  at  St. 


^lACOUPIX    COUXTY.  463 

Louis,  where  he  was  graduated  in  April.  1899.  Locating  then  at  Staunton, 
he  has  been  engaged  in  practice  ever  since.  Dr.  \\'urtz  has  met  with  the 
success  which  may  be  expected  by  a  skilled  and  trained  operator,  in  combina- 
tion with  a  pleasant  personality  and  courteous  manner.  He  is  \er)-  con- 
Aeniently  located  and  makes  use  of  all  modem  methods  of  dental  surgerj'. 
Dr.  W'urtz  takes  only  a  citizen's  interest  in  politics,  but  votes  with  the 
Republican  party.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Pilaster  ilason,  being  a  member  of 
Staunton  Lodge.  Xo.  177,  A.  F.  &  A.  iL  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 


ABRA.M  C.  GISH. 


The  death  of  Abram  C.  Gish,  on  March  13,  1899,  removed  from  Virden, 
ilacoupin  County,  one  of  the  citj-'s  pioneer  merchants,  who  had  been  honor- 
ably engaged  in  business  here  for  a  period  of  30  years.  Mr.  Gish  was  bora 
in  Virginia,  in  December,  1829.  and  was  a  son  of  George  and  Sarah 
(Wrightsman)  Gish. 

The  Gish  family  is  an  old  one  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  many  repre- 
sentatives of  it  still  reside  there.  The  father  of  the  late  Mr.  Gish  was  a 
large  planter  there  and  was  of  prominence  in  his  communitj".  He  reared  a 
family  of  10  children. 

The  late  Mr.  Gish  grew  up  in  his  old  home  and  was  educated  in  the 
local  schools.  In  young  manhood  he  learned  the  drug  business  and  carried 
this  on  through  life.  For  a  period  of  five  years  he  was  also  engaged  in  the 
dry  goods  and  grain  business  at  Aubtirn.  During  his  whole  business  life 
of  more  than  a  quarter  century  in  \'irden,  he  was  noted  for  his  integrity, 
for  his  public  spirit  and  for  all  the  qualities  which  go  to  make  a  good  and 
useful  citizen. 

On  September  4.  1858.  Mr.  Gish  was  married  to  Martha  A.  Lewis, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Eddin  Lewis,  a  member  of  an  old  and  prominent 
family  of  Kentuck}-.  Besides  Mrs.  Gish,  two  children  survive:  Charles  L., 
who  married  Philomelia  Everet  of  Virden;  and  .Arab  M.,  who  married  Her- 
mone  R.  Goette,  a  jeweler  of  \'irden,  and  has  one  daughter — Martha  Rogers. 
In  Mr.  Gish's  death  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Virden  lost  a  liberal  sup- 


464  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

porter.  The  family  has  long  been  one  of  the  representative  ones  of  the  place, 
and  the  pleasant  home  has  been  the  scene  of  much  hospitality  and  social  life. 
The  death  of  a  good  citizen  is  always  a  loss  to  a  community,  and  men  like 
the  late  Abram  C.  Gish  are  sincerely  mourned. 


HERBERT  A.  JONES. 

Herbert  A.  Jones,  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness citizens  of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  conducts  a  well  established 
general  store  and  receives  the  patronage  of  many  well-to-do  residents  of  the 
city  and  vicinity.  He  was  born  in  Iowa  near  Keokuk,  October  15,  1840,  and 
is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Lizzie  (Brown)  Jones. 

Henry  Jones,  who  was  one  of  a  family  of  four  children  and  the  only 
one  that  came  to  America,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  coming  to  America 
when  20  years  of  age.  He  located  in  the  New  England  States,  where  he  lived 
alone  for  five  years,  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  general  farming.  Later  he 
removed  to  Iowa  and  again  engaged  in  farming  with  very  successful  results. 
Mr.  Jones  was  a  man  of  refined  habits  and  of  a  mild  temperament.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Whig  party.  He  was  married  to  Lizzie  Brown,  a  native 
of  Rhode  Island,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely :  Henry, 
who  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  and  died  at  Keokuk,  Iowa;  John, 
who  assisted  his  brother  Henry  in  his  farming  operations  and  also  died  at 
Keokuk,  Iowa;  Herbert  A.,  our  subject;  and  Lucy,  who  died  at  Keokuk, 
Iowa.     Mr.  Jone's  death  occurred  in  1856,  at  the  age  of  59  years. 

Herbert  A.  Jones  was  reared  on  a  farm  near  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  when 
17  years  of  age  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  until  1861, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois.  Although  he  received  but  a  common  school  educa- 
tion, he  gained  his  present  position  in  business  circles  through  his  energy, 
toil  and  perseverance.  While  residing  in  St.  Louis  he  clerked  in  tlie  dry 
goods  store  of  Henry  Ferguson  and  there  gained  considerable  knowledge  of 
the  methods  of  that  branch  of  business.  In  1862  he  located  at  Litchfield, 
Illinois,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  a  dry  goods  firm  of  that  place,  and 


^lACOUPIX    COUNTY.  465 

continued  there  until  18S0.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  Staunton,  Ilhnois, 
where  the  following  spring  he  opened  a  dry  goods  store  with  John  H.  Gabay 
under  the  firm  style  of  Gabay  &  Jones.  After  establishing  a  good  trade  in 
the  drs-  goods  line,  they  put  in  a  stock  of  various  kinds  of  merchandise  and 
opened  a  general  store,  continuing  their  business  until  1884,  when  they  dis- 
solved partnership.  Mr.  Jones  then  associated  himself  with  Fred  Newman 
and  J.  C.  Panhorst  under  the  firm  name  of  Jones.  Nev.man  &  Company,  and 
the  business  was  conducted  by  these  three  gentlemen  for  two  years.  The 
business  then  came  under  the  control  of  ^Ir.  Jones,  who  has  since  conducted 
it  verj-  successfully.  Mr.  Jones  is  prominently  identified  with  many  business 
concerns  of  his  city,  among  the  most  prominent  being  the  Staunton  Loan  & 
Building  Association  and  the  Staunton  Home  &  Building  Association,  of 
which  associations  he  is  a  director,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Mer- 
chants" Business  Association. 

^Ir.  Jones  was  married  in  1867  to  Matilda  Brooks,  who  was  bora  in 
Illinois  in  August,  1854.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children — Maude, 
who  resides  with  her  parents,  and  Ellie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Robert  L.  -Forest, 
of  Chicago,  Illinois.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  master  mason  of 
Staunton  Lodge,  No.  177,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  charter  member  of  the 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor. 


RICHARD  .W.  PURDY. 

Richard  M.  Purdy^  contractor  and  builder,  and  one  of  the  leading  men 
in  his  line,  in  ^Macoupin  County,  has  been  identified  with  the  interests  of 
Staunton  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Purdy  was  born  April  26,  1859,  in 
Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Malitta 
(Parisher)  Purdy. 

John  H.  Purdy  was  bom  in  181 6  in  North  Carolina,  and  died  in  a 
hospital  at  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  in  1865,  from  the  exposures  incident  to  a 
service  of  three  years  in  the  Civil  War.  He  was  a  son  of  William  Purdy, 
who  was  a  teamster  between  St.  Louis,  ^lissouri,  and  Springfield,  Illinois, 
when  but  one  house  stood  on  the  way.    Although  William  Purdy  was  a  \ery 


466  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

acti\e  and  capable  business  man,  and  reared  a  family  of  nine  children,  he  was 
small  of  stature  and  weighed  about  loo  pounds.  His  children  were:  John 
H.;  William  C,  of  Staunton,  who  served  in  the  Mexican  War;  Josiah,  who 
died  in  a  Confederate  prison  in  Alabama  during  the  Civil  War;  James,  who 
died  prior  to  the  Rebellion;  and  Samuel,  George,  Nancy,  Mary  and  Celia, 
deceased.  Our  subject's  grandfather  died  in  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin 
County,  in  1882,  aged  96  years. 

John  H.  Purdy  was  a  small  boy  when  his  parents  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County.  He  served  in  the  Mex- 
ican War  and  in  1861  enlisted  for  the  Civil  War,  in  the  3rd  Reg.,  Illinois 
Vol.  Cav.,  under  Captain  Sparks  and  took  part  in  many  of  the  leading  battles, 
including  that  of  Shiloh,  and  escaped  both  wounds  and  imprisonment,  but 
died  as  stated  above.  He  was  a  brave  soldier.  In  1851  he  crossed  the 
plains  to  California  with  an  ox  team,  and  mined  for  gold  for  five  years,  mak- 
ing the  home  trip  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  Soon  after,  he  went 
to  Pike's  Peak,  and  then  returned  to  the  home  farm  shortly  before  the  out- 
break of  the  Rebellion.  He  married  Malitta  Parisher,  who  was  bom  in 
South  Carolina  and  died  in  1881  at  Staunton,  aged  55  years.  Their  children 
were:  John  :\1.  P.,  born  October  30,  1848,  deceased  February  3.  1888;  Mrs. 
Anna  Maria  Walker,  born  January  30,  1850,  deceased  May  6,  1877;  Mrs. 
Ida  Isabella  Small,  of  Litchfield,  Illinois;  Richard  M.,  of  this  sketch;  Emma 
J.,  of  Worden,  Illinois ;  and  Elias  E.,  of  Worden. 

Our  subject  lost  his  father  when  six  years  of  age  and  he  lived  with  his 
widowed  mother  and  his  brother  on  the  farm  until  1874,  and  then  was  en- 
gaged at  various  occupations  in  Staunton  for  a  year.  After  one  year  spent 
working  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Northern  Louisiana,  he  returned  to 
Staunton,  where  he  worked  by  the  day  until  1880,  and  then  worked  a  year  in 
a  coal  mine,  ran  an  engine  for  one  year  in  a  flouring  mill  and  then  returned 
to  mine  work,  a  strike  throwing  him  out  of  employment.  All  this  was  fine 
experience,  each  kind  of  work  teaching  him  things  desirable  for  a  first  class 
builder  and  contractor  to  know.  Since  then  Mr.  Purdy  has  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  has  engaged  extensively  in  house  and  bridge  con- 
tracting and  building.  During  the  past  two  years  he  has  completed  25  dwell- 
ings and  has  done  considerable  bridge  work,  all  of  the  bridges  over  the 
various  streams  for  a  radius  of  20  miles  being  of  his  construction.  In  1901 
he  erected  his  own  handsome  residence,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  citv. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  467 

On  October  9,  1893,  Mr.  Purely  married  Flora  Handley,  who  was  born 
October  11,  1873.  '"  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Edward  G.  and  Emily  Handley,  and  they  have  one  daughter — Dorcas.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Purdy  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  fraternal  order  of 
\\'oodmen. 


WILLIAM  COLLINS  PURDY. 

\\'iLLiAM  Collins  Purdy,  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  residents 
of  Dorchester  township.  Macoupin  County,  a  veteran  and  pensioner  of  the 
Mexican  War,  was  born  Alarch  30,  1827,  near  Collinsville,  Illinois, .and 
cameto  Macoupin  County  with  his  parents,  William  C.  and  Ann  (Kinney) 
Purdy,  in  1831. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  whose  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland,  was 
born  December  17.  1789.  in  a  house  which  stood  on  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween North  and  South  Carolina,  and  his  death  took  place  February  28, 
1882,  in  Dorchester  township,  ilacoupin  County.  His  boyhood  and  youth 
were  spent  in  Alabama  and  Tennessee  and  in  the  former  State  he  learned  the 
trade  of  brick  mason.  In  1818  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  St.  Clair 
County,  where  he  followed  his  trade  and  farmed,  later  becoming  a  teamster 
during  the  Indian  wars.  In  St.  Clair  County,  he  married  Ann  Kinney,  who 
was  born  in  1802  in  a  blockhouse  in  that  county,  and  died  in  Dorchester 
township,  Macoupin  County,  aged  66  years.  They  had  nine  children :  Samuel, 
who  died  aged  12  years;  John  H.,  who  died  in  a  hospital  in  Edwardsville, 
Illinois;  William  Collins,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Nancy  Best,  deceased;  James, 
deceased ;  George,  who  died  aged  eight  years ;  Josiah,  deceased,  w-ho  was 
taken  prisoner  in  the  Civil  War;  Mrs.  Polly  Best;  and  Mrs.  Celia  Webb 
Clark.  Two  members  of  the  above  family  died  on  account  of  loyal  service 
to  their  country.  John  H.  Purdy  was  a  volunteer  in  Company  L,  3rd  Illinois 
Vol.  Cav.,  and  served  two  years  and  then  came  home  and  died.  Josiah  Purdy 
served  three  years  and  died  in  a  Confederate  prison  in  Alabama.  Both  were 
true  and  brave  soldiers.  The  family  was  a  loyal  one,  the  issues  of  the  Civil 
War  making  the  father  change  his  political  views  from  Democracy  to 
Republicanism. 


468  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Our  esteemed  subject  was  reared  under  conditions  which  prevented  any 
great  amount  of  schooHng,  and,  in  fact,  he  has  educated  himself.  The  greater 
part  of  his  Hfe  has  been  spent  in  Madison,  Montgomery  and  Macoupin 
counties,  and  he  lias  been  engaged  in  various  occupations — has  operated  a 
livery,  has  run  a  sawmill,  and  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  a  butchering  busi- 
nes  at  Staunton.  In  1872  he  took  a  contract  which  he  held  for  16  years  to 
supply  the  mine  operators  at  Staunton  and  vicinity  with  their  lumber.  He 
has  been  an  extensive  buyer  and  seller  of  land  and  has  owned  a  large  acreage 
himself.  A  farm  of  120  acres  in  Paradise  township,  Rooks  County,  Kansas, 
he  traded  for  his  present  home,  receiving  in  addition  the  sum  of  $1,800.  He 
has  retained  25  acres  in  section  12,  Dorchester  township,  having  given  farms 
to  his  three  children. 

As  stated,  Mr.  Purdy  is  a  survivor  of  the  Mexican  War,  in  which  he 
took  an  active  part.  He  enlisted  in  June,  1846,  in  Company  E,  4th  Reg., 
Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Col.  E.  D.  Baker  and  Capt.  Daniel  Newcomb,  which 
was  recruited  at  Staunton  and  mustered  in  at  Alton.  At  Jefferson  Barracks, 
Missouri,  the  company  was  drilled  and  was  then  sent,  by  way  of  New  Orleans, 
to  Point  Isabella,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  River.  Mr.  Purdy  took 
part  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  accompanied  his  regiment  to  Matamoras, 
Victoria,  and  took  part  in  the  great  fight  at  Cerro  Gordo.  He  was  discharged 
about  a  month  later  at  New  Orleans.  Although  he  saw  hard  service,  Mr. 
Purdy  was  anxious  to  again  give  his  country  still  further  proof  of  his 
patriotism  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  but  impaired  health  prevented. 
Since  i860  he  has  been  a  Republican  in  his  political  sentiments. 

On  February  8,  1849,  Mr.  Purdy  was  married  to  Susan  M.  Best,  who 
Avas  born  October  20,  1828,  in  Macoupin  County,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Annie  (Tatum)  Best,  natives  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  re- 
spectively. The  Bests  owned  farming  land  about  three  miles  south  of  Staun- 
ton, where  Mr.  Best  died,  aged  81  years,  and  Mrs.  Best  died  aged  66  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Purdy  have  had  nine  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
the  survivors  being:  William  Collins,  Jr.,  who  is  living  at  home;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Hushing,  of  Litchfield,  Illinois,  who  has  four  children ;  Luella,  wife  of  J.  M. 
Cox;  Wesley  B.,  of  Mount  Olive  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  has  six 
children;  Edward,  of  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  has  six 
children;  and  Dora  (Mrs.  Piper),  of  Worden,  Illinois,  who  has  two  children. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Purdy  have  four  great-grandchildren.     They  have  thus  been 


CHRISTOPHER  C.  ARMSTRONG. 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  471 

permitted  not  only  to  enjoy  each  other's  affection  and  companionship  for  55 
years,  but  can  renew  tlieir  youth  in  their  descendants.  Both  are  well  and 
widely  known.  The  family  and  its  connections  represent  some  of  the  best 
citizenship  of  the  county  and  the  name  is  one  held  in  respect  wherever  found. 
Hospitality  reigns  in  this  home  and  many  friends  hope  for  continued  years 
and  many  blessings  for  this  worthy  couple. 


CHRISTOPHER  C.  ARMSTRONG. 

Christopher  C.  Armstrong,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch, 
is  classed  among  the  retired  business  men  of  Girard  who  have  been  most 
active  in  advancing  the  city's  material  interests,  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  for 
many  years  he  sucessfully  conducted  a  general  store  here,  and  also  aided  in 
the  administration  of  public  affairs.  He  is  a  fine  representative  of  one  of  the 
old  pioneer  families  of  Illinois,  and  is  himself  a  native  of  this  State,  born  on 
a  farm  near  Fielden,  Jersey  County,  January  2,  1S37. 

Our  subject's  father,  Maurice  Armstrong,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
a  son  of  one  of  its  early  pioneers,  Joshua  Armstrong,  who  was  a  Pennsyl- 
vanian  by  birth.  The  last  named  was  also  a  pioneer  of  this  State  during 
territorial  days,  migrating  from  Kentucky  with  teams  in  1810,  and  being  one 
of  the  first  to  settle  in  what  is  now  ^Madison  County.  At  that  time  there  were 
but  few  white  settlers  in  Illinois,  and  the  Indians,  who  were  often  hostile,  still 
held  possession  of  their  ancient  hunting  grounds.  The  few  whites  who  had 
boldly  ventured  within  their  domain,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages 
afforded  by  the  rich  virgin  soil,  built  blockhouses  in  which  to  live  when  the 
Indians  were  on  the  war-path,  and  they  always  went  armed  into  the  fields. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  after  spending  several  years  in  Madison 
County,  removed  to  Jersey  County,  and  there  died  in  the  fullness  of  time. 
His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Morris,  and  she  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, of  French  ancestry. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  young  when  the  family  came  to  Illinois, 
and  he  grew  to  a  stalwart,  vigorous  manhood  in  the  wilds  of  Madison  Countj', 


472  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

When  he  started  out  in  Hfe  on  his  own  account  he  bought  in  that  county  a 
tract  of  land  with  a  few  improvements,  and  lived  upon  it  until  1833,  when 
he  sold  that  place,  and  took  up  his  abode  in  what  is  now  Jersey  County, 
where  he  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land  and  built  the  log  house  in  which  his 
son,  of  whom  we  write,  was  Iwrn.  He  rived  shingles  for  the  roof,  and  made 
the  house  in  tiie  primitive  manner  common  in  the  construction  of  dwellings 
in  those  days.  After  lie  had  his  family  comfortably  domiciled,  he  commenced 
to  evolve  a  farm  from  the  wilderness.  He  had  not  the  conveniences  of 
modern  machinery  to  aid  him  in  his  work,  and  there  were  no  railways  to 
bring  the  markets  within  easy  access,  so  that  whenever  he  needed  supplies  or 
wished  to  dispose  of  his  produce,  he  had  to  go  to  Alton  with  a  team,  that  being 
the  nearest  city.  His  wife,  who  was  an  adept  at  the  old-fashioned  arts  of 
carding,  spinning  and  weaving,  used  to  manufacture  the  cloth  with  which 
she  clothed  her  children,  and  she  cooked  their  meals  before  the  fire  in  the  rude 
open  fireplace  of  the  olden  days. 

In  1854  Maurice  Armstrong  sold  his  place  in  Jersey  County,  and  going 
to  JMontgomery  County  settled  on  land  he  had  entered  from  the  government. 
He  built  upon  it  and  resided  there  one  year,  after  which  he  rented  it  and, 
removing  to  Girard,  bought  a  home  in  the  town,  in  which  he  lived  quietly 
until  his  life  was  rounded  out  by  death.  In  early  manhood  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Sims,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  She  died  at  a  venerable  age  at  Girard.  She 
was  the  mother  of  12  children:  Aholla,  James,  Eveline.  Mary  Adeline, 
William,  Thomas,  Andrew,  Jane,  Christopher  C,  Benjamin  F..  Maurice  and 
Elizabeth. 

Christopher  C.  Armstrong  was  reared  under  pioneer  influences,  and 
obtained  his  education  in  the  primitive  schools  of  Jersey  County,  that  were 
taught  in  log  school-hooues,  furnished  with  slab  benches  without  backs  and 
with  wooden  pins  for  legs.  There  were  no  desks  in  front  of  the  seats.  The 
light  was  admitted  by  a  log  being  cut  out  of  the  wall,  and  a  row  of  glass 
inserted  into  the  aperture  thus  made.  Our  subject  can  well  remember  the 
wild  condition  of  the  country  in  which  he  passed  his  boyhood,  when  deer, 
wolves  and  other  kinds  of  wild  game  were  plentiful.  Before  he  attained  his 
majority  he  left  his  home  with  its  familiar  scenes,  and  in  1855  moved  with 
his  folks  to  Girard,  then  a  small  but  flourishing  village,  and  opening  a  general 
store,  he  soon  became  one  of  its  most  enterprising  merchants.  In  1870  he 
established  himself  in  the  drug  trade,  and  until  recently  carried  it  on  very 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  473 

prosperously,  having  a  neat  and  well  equipped  store,  fully  stocked  with  every- 
thing usually  found  in  such  an  establishment.  Mr.  Armstrong  sold  this  busi- 
ness in  June,  1902,  and  in  September,  1903,  with  his  son  Byron,  opened  a 
large  and  well  appointed  drug  store  in  Jacksonville.  Illinois,  operating  vmder 
the  firm  st}-le  of  Armstrong  &  Armstrong.  Their  stock,  which  is  complete 
and  up-to-date  in  ever)-  respect,  is  valued  at  $10,000.  They  make  a  specialty 
of  physicians'  supplies. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  married  in  1862  to  Fanny  D.  Weed,  and  they  have 
made  their  home  the  center  of  a  charming  hospitalit)-.  Six  children  have 
been  bom  to  them,  of  whom  four  are  now  living :  Herbert,  Paul,  Byron  and 
Irene. 

ilr.  Armstrong  is  justly  held  to  be  one  of  the  county's  citizens,  for  his 
private  life  is  irreproachable  and  in  ever}-  public  position  he  has  held  he  has 
alw-ays  acted  for  the  best  interests  of  the  city  and  county.  His  fellow  citi- 
zens, appreciating  his  worth,  his  sound  business  instincts,  and  his  genuine 
integrity-  of  character,  have  often  called  upon  him  to  fill  responsible  offices. 
He  has  represented  Girard  as  a  member  of  the  Count)-  Board  of  Super- 
visors several  terms;  he  has  ser\-ed  as  a  member  of  the  Citj-  Council  of 
Girard,  and  also  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board.  He  belongs  to  Girard 
Lodge  Xo.  171,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. ;  Girard  Chapter.  Xo.  132.  R.  A.  M. ;  St. 
Omar  Commander}-,  X'o.  30,  K.  T. :  and  Macoupin  Council.  R.  and  S.  il. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  always  stood  firmly  by  his  party.  Aside 
from  his  private  business,  our  subject  is  identified  with  the  financial  interests 
of  the  city, — as  treasurer  of  the  Girard  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and 
as  president  of  the  Girard  Coal  Company,  he  has  contributed  gp-eatly  to  their 
success  and  imponance. 


MRS.    EMMA    LLKER. 

Mrs.  Emma  Luker,  widow  of  the  late  Henr}-  M'.  Luker,  and  mother 
of  George  H.  Luker,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Staunton,  Illinois  and 
supervisor  of  Staunton  township,  is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  ladies 
of  this  cit}-.  Mrs.  Luker  was  born  December  8,  1854.  in  Switzerland,  her 
maiden  name  being  Miller. 


474  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Mrs.  Luker  was  brought  to  America  by  her  parents  when  a  child  of 
three  months.  Her  father  died  shortly  afterward,  and  she  was  reared  by  her 
widowed  mother  on  the  farm  at  Highland.  Madison  County,  Illinois.  In 
August,  1874,  she  was  united  in  marriage  with  the  late  Henry  W.  Luker, 
at  Alhambra,  Illinois,  and  these  children  were  born  to  them:  Emma,  wife 
of  F.  E.  Shumacher,  of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County;  George  H.,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Luker  Brothers  of  the  Staunton  Bottling  Works;  Edward 
C.  of  Staunton;  Dora;  Paul;  Robert;  John;  and  Anna  and  Charles,  deceased. 

The  late  Henry  W.  Luker  came  to  America  from  Germany  at  the  age 
of  16  years,  accompanying  his  widowed  mother.  He  learned  the  painting 
business  in  St.  Louis  and  worked  at  that  trade  until  1887,  when  he  estab- 
lished the  wholesale  beer  and  bottling  business,  which  his  sons  still  carry 
on.  Mr.  Luker  died  at  Staunton  in  1897,  aged  43  years.  When  he  left 
Germany,  he  had  very  little  capital  and  had  little  more  when  he  married,  but 
through  his  fine  business  ability  and  the  help  of  his  cheerful,  capable  wife, 
he  made  rapid  headway,  and,  although  he  died  comparatively  a  young  man, 
he  left  a  large  estate.  He  was  very  prominent  in  Democratic  circles  and 
took  much  interest  in  the  improvement  and  development  of  Staunton.  Mrs. 
Luker,  like  her  late  husband,  belongs  to  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  She 
resides  in  a  very  pleasant,  attractive  home  in  Staunton,  and  has  a  wide  circle 
of  warm  friends. 


JOSEPH  A.  DODDS. 

Joseph  A.  Dodds,  a  well  known  young  business  man  of  Girard,  Illi- 
nois, is  a  member  of  the  undertaking  firm  of  J.  F.  Dodds  &  Company.  He 
was  bom  in  Sangamon  County,  Illinois,  October  25,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  W.  and  Minervia  J.  (Easley)  Dodds.  His  father  was  a  well-to-do 
farmer  of  Sangamon  County. 

Mr.  Dodds  was  reared  in  Sangamon  County,  and  after  finishing  his 
education  in  the  schools  there,  was  variously  engaged  for  a  number  of  years 
and  traveled  extensively  in  this  country  and  in  Europe.  In  1898  he  en- 
listed in  Company  I,  40th  Regiment,  Illinois  Infantry,  U.  S.  Volunteers, 
served  two  years  in  the  Philippines,  and  received  his   discharge  June  24, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  475 

1901.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Girard  since  1901,  being  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  J.  F.  Dodds  &  Company,  his  brotlier,  J.  F.  Dodds,  being  senior 
member  of  the  firm.  In  1903  he  pursued  a  course  in  the  Chicago  College 
of  Embalming.  The  business  of  J.  F.  Dodds  &  Company  is  now  undoubt- 
edly the  largest  of  its  kind  in  iMacoupin  County.  They  carry  a  stock  that 
is  valued  at  $5,000  and  use  three  hearses. 

i\Ir.  Dodds  was  married  to  Mrs.  N.  E.  Page,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Nana  E.  ]\Iann,  and  who  by  her  first  marriage  was  the  mother  of  one  child, 
Anna  E.  Page.  j\lr.  Dodds  and  family  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  and  in  fraternal 
circles  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Fra- 
ternal Order  of  Eagles. 


GEORGE   H.  LUKER. 

George  H.  LukeRj  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Staunton,  Macoupin 
County,  supervisor  of  Staunton  township,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Luker 
Brothers,  of  the  Staunton  Bottling  Works,  and  agent  for  the  Excelsior 
Brewery  of  St.  Louis,  was  born  September  3,  1877,  in  Madison  County, 
Illinois.    He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Henry  W.  and  Emma  (Miller)  Luker. 

The  Luker  family  was  established  in  f'lmois  by  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  who  came  to  this  State  from  Germany,  when  Henry  W.  was  16 
years  of  age.  The  latter  was  born  in  Germany  and  died  at  Staunton  in  1897, 
at  the  age  of  43  years.  He  followed  the  trade  of  painter  until  1887,  when  he 
established  the  wholesale  beer  and  bottling  business  which  his  sons  still  carry 
on.  Henry  Luker  was  a  succesful  business  man,  and  was  a  prominent  Demo- 
crat of  this  section.  He  married  Emma  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Switzerland, 
and  was  brought  to  Highland,  Madison  County,  Illinois,  in  infancy,  and  now 
resides  at  Staunton.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were  as  follows  Emma, 
wife  of  F.  E.  Schumacher,  of  Staunton;  George  H.,  of  this  sketch;  Edwanl 
C,  of  Staunton ;  Anna,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Dora ;  Cliarles,  deceased ;  Paul ; 
Robert  and  John. 

George  H.  Luker  was  brought  to  Staunton  at  the  age  of  10  days,  so  that 
he  may  almost  be  represented  as  a  native  of  this  city,  which  has  been  his  home 


4/6  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

ever  since.  He  was  educated  in  the  Staunton  schools.  His  father  died  when 
he  was  i8  years  of  age,  after  establishing  a  good  business,  and  our  subject 
and  his  next  younger  brother  assumed  charge  of  it  and  have  successfully  con- 
ducted it  ever  since.  Both  brothers  are  members  of  the  Business  ]\Ien's  Asso- 
ciation and  take  an  active  part  in  the  city's  business  life. 

In  1900  Mr.  Luker  was  married,  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  to  Laura 
Damniann,  who  was  born  at  Tarrytown,  New  York,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Adolph  Dammann. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Luker  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  has  taken  a  verv 
lilvely  interest  in  city,  township  and  county  affairs.  He  was  township  col- 
lector in  1900,  and  in  1903  was  elected  township  supervisor,  performing  the 
duties  of  the  ofifice  to  the  complete  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  He  is 
usually  sent  as  a  delegate  to  party  conventions  and  is  recognized  as  a  very- 
able  party  worker,  and  at  present  is  a  central  committeeman.  He  belongs 
to  the  Staunton  Home  Association  and  in  every  way  shows  commendable 
public  spirit.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor,  the  Elks  (at  Litchfield),  and  the 
Eagles  (at  St.  Louis). 


ROBERT  CLARK. 

Robert  ClarKj  who  is  serving  as  highway  commissioner  of  Mount 
Olive  township,  is  a  prominent  and  successful  farmer,  and  a  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  Macoupin  County,  where  he  owns  and  cultivates  a  farm  of  80 
acres,  situated  in  section  6,  Mount  Olive  township.  He  was  born  in  Staun- 
ton township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  October  6,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Eliza  (Little)  Clark. 

William  Clark  was  born  in  County  Derry.  Ireland,  and  immigrated  to 
America  about  1840  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  settling  in  Staunton 
township,  where  he  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming,  at  which  he  continued 
his  entire  life.  Mr.  Clark  was  a  home  loving  man  and  took  a  great  interest 
in  his  family  and  home.  He  was  a  man  well  liked  and  was  of  high  standing 
in  his  community.  His  wife,  Eliza  Little,  was  a  native  of  County  Derry, 
Ireland.     Nine  children  were  born  to  them,  namely :  William,  of  Johnson 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  477 

County.  ^Missouri ;  Eliza  (Bruce),  of  Staunton  township,  Macoupin  County; 
Samuel,  of  Staunton  township,  Macoupin  County;  James,  of  Madison 
County,  Illinois;  John;  Mary  Ann,  who  died  when  16  years  of  age;  Robert, 
our  subject;  Henry,  of  Spangle,  Washington,  and  Isabelle,  who  died  when 
seven  years  of  age.  Mr.  Clark  died  in  Staunton  township.  January  17,  1878, 
having  reached  the  age  of  70  years.  The  death  of  his  wife  followed  iii. 
September,  1894,  she  having  attained  the  age  of  "/"j  years.  ^^Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Clark  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Robert  Clark  has  always  been  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  general 
farming  and  has  met  with  unusual  success  in  his  operations.  He  recently 
sold  three  acres  of  his  farm  to  the  railroad  for  right-of-way  and  has  sold  the 
coal  right  to  a  large  mining  company.  His  farm  is  situated  near  the  new 
town  of  Benld.  Mr.  Clark  located  on  his  present  farm  in  the  spring  of 
1 88 1  and  immediately  began  the  cultivation  of  the  place,  having  at  present 
one  of  the  best  tilled  farms  to  be  found  for  many  miles.  Politically,  Mr. 
Clark  is  a  Republican  and  has  held  several  school  offices  in  the  past.  In 
fraternal  circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

On  ]\Iarch  7,  1877,  Mr.  Clark  was  united  in  marriage  to  Britanni.i 
Sawyer,  a  native  of  Mount  Olive  township  and  a  daughter  of  Ebern  and 
]\Iary  A.  (Best)  Sawyer.  ]Mr.  and  jNIrs.  Clark  are  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  are  living,  namely :  Edward,  LeRoy,  Ethel  May,  Erbie 
Irene,  William  Robinson,  Archie,  Florence  and  Bertha.  The  deceased  child 
is  Frank,  who  died  when  four  years  of  age. 


GEORGE  F.  BOOSINGER. 

George  F.  Boosinger,  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  and  stock  rais- 
ers of  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  fine,  well  improved  farm  of  207  acres, 
situated  in  sections  17  and  18,  Cahokia  township,  was  born  in  what  was  then 
Portage  County,  Ohio,  now  included  in  Summit  County,  January  28,  1825, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Workinger)   Boosinger. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  came  to  America  from  Germany  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  which  he  took  part,  later  removing  to  \'ir- 


478  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ginia,  in  which  State  the  father  of  our  subject  was  born.  The  latter  became 
a  pioneer  in  Oiiio,  but  later  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  fell  under  the  in- 
fluence of  Joseph  Smith,  the  Morman  prophet.  He  became  a  preacher  of 
the  faith  but  finally  left  that  body  on  account  of  the  belief  in  plural  mar- 
riages to  which  he  could  not  give  assent.  In  payment  for  his  services  in  the 
War  of  1 812  he  received  from  the  government  a  pension  and  a  tract  of  160 
acres  of  land  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois.  He  died  in  Cahokia  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County  in  1861,  aged  ^l  years.  He  was  twice  married,  five 
children  being  born  to  his  first  union,  and  six  to  the  second.  His  second 
wife,  Mary  Workinger,  who  was  of  German  parents,  after  leaving  her  na- 
tive land  first  settled  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  and  later  in  Ohio.  She  died 
in  1859,  aged  65  years,  leaving  six  children:  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Pettengill,  of 
Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County;  George  F.,  of  this  sketch;  John  Wesley, 
deceased;  Nathan,  who  was  accidentally  killed  in  boyhood;  Mrs.  Christiann 
Rice,  deceased;  and  Mrs.  Charlotte  Peter,  of  Oregon. 

George  F.  Boosinger  accompanied  his  father  from  Ohio  to  Ray  County, 
Missouri,  in  1836,  remaining  there  until  March,  1839,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  lived  one  year  at  Smooth  Prairie,  in  1840  settling  in  Cahokia 
township,  Macoupin  County,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  year  1850,  which  he  spent  in  gold  mining  in  California.  His 
brother  had  crossed  the  plains  in  1849,  but  our  subject  made  the  trip  by  way 
of  New  Orleans  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  they  returned  to- 
gether. In  1 85 1  Mr.  Boosinger  bought  his  present  farm  and  settled  on  it  the 
following  year.  He  has  lately  disposed  of  20  acres  of  land  to  the  new  rail- 
road that  is  now  being  built  and  he  also  sold  a  portion  to  the  "Big  Four" 
Railroad.  Some  20  years  ago  he  sold  the  coal  which  underlies  his  farm  to 
the  McKinney  &  Young  Coal  Company.  He  deems  it  probable  that  he  will 
be  obliged  to  sell  more  railroad  rights-of-way,  his  land  lying  in  the  path  of 
projected  railroad  extensions.  When  he  first  came  here  and  the  country  was 
but  unbroken  prairie,  he  bought  160  acres  of  his  farm  for  $10  per  acre,  and 
the  remainder  for  $35  per  acre;  its  \'a!ue  has  in  the  intervening  years  mucli 
more  than  trebled.  He  has  passed  through  all  the  hardships  which  attended 
the  path  of  the  early  settlers,  and  in  an  interesting  way  recalls  the  times 
when  he  made  trips  of  30  miles  to  the  nearest  mill  at  Alton,  and  to  St.  Louis 
to  reach  a  market.  Mr.  Boosinger  has  engaged  in  general  farming,  raising 
wheat,  corn,  oats  and  hay  and  has-  made  a  specialty  of  high  grade  cattle  and 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  479 

swine.     His  land  is  all  highly  improved  and  he  has  some  o£  the  finest  or- 
chards in  his  section. 

In  1 85 1  Mr.  Boosinger  married  Marie  Edwards,  who  was  born  in 
Michigan,  removed  with  her  parents  to  Ohio,  and  later  came  to  Macoupin 
County.  They  have  two  children:  Mrs.  Carrie  Clark  of  Gillespie,  Macou- 
pin County;  and  Frank  S.,  who  operates  the  homestead  farm.  Frank  S. 
Boosinger  married  Lulu  Brown  and  they  have  three  children — Mark,  Mae 
and  Edwin  R. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  musician  and  for  eight  years  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Gillespie  Brass  Band,  making  many  trips  with  the  organization 
through  this  State  and  Missouri,  playing  cornet,  clarinet  and  violin.  For 
40  years  his  services  were  in  request  at  local  entertainments.  In  politics  Mr. 
Boosinger  is  a  Republican  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  member  of  the 
township  central  committee.  For  nine  years  he  was  highway  commisioner 
and  under  his  direction  the  greater  number  of  the  excellent  highways  of  the 
locality  were  laid  out.  He  has  done  much  for  the  advancement  of  educa- 
tional facilities  in  his  neighborhood  and  served  as  school  director  for  42 
years.  When  the  farmers  organized,  he  was  active  in  support  of  the  enter- 
prise and  became  a  valued  member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and  for  many  years  was 
active  in  the  Gillespie  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  No.  220.  For  some  years  Mr. 
Boosinger  has  been  much  interested  in  the  study  of  Spiritualism. 

This  venerable  citizen  of  the  township  is  held  in  very  high  esteem.  He 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  almost  everything  which  has  promoted 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  township  and  few  men  are  more  widely 
known.  He  belongs  to  a  band  that  is  but  too  rapidly  pasing  away,  and  with 
its  last  member  will  go  much  of  that  sturdy  perseverance  and  indomitable 
courage  which  made  possible  the  subjugation  of  Nature  and  the  building  of 
the  happy  homes  of  the  present. 


♦  «» 


MRS.  KISSIAH    SCROGGINS. 

In  the  lady  whose  name  opens  this  sketcii  is  found  one  of  the  most 
highly  esteemed  residents  of  Staunton,  Illinois,  a  member  of  one  of  the 
pioneer  families  of  Macoupin  County.   She  was  born  November  28,   :833, 

27 


-fc  ^  .   v^v.v.l 


48o  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

near  Staunton,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Lurenda  (Spence)  Simmons, 

long  deceased. 

About  1825  James  Simmons  and  wile  left  their  home  in  North  Caro- 
lina, their  household  goods  and  small  children  packed  in  a  one-horse  wagon, 
their  destination  being  the  rich  farming  lands  of  IMacoupin  County,  Illinois. 
The  older  members  of  the  family  walked  the  whole  distance,  a  feat  of  endur- 
ance of  no  slight  character.  Mr.  Simmons  died  prior  to  the  birth  of  Mrs. 
Scroggins  and  the  mother  was  left  with  eight  children  to  support.  Her  subse- 
quent success  reflected  the  greatest  credit  upon  her  industry  and  estimable 
character.  At  a  later  date  she  married  Obcdiah  I\Iize,  the  one  child  of  this 
union  being  :\lrs.  Minervia  Latham,  of  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County.  The 
six  children  of  her  first  marriage  who  lived  to  maturity  were:  John,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Lyons  and  Polly,  all  deceased;  Snowden  W.,  a  farmer  of  :Macoupin 
County;  Asbury  A.,  who  served  in  the  Civil  War  and  was  never  heard  from 
after  the  war  was  over;  and  Mrs.  Scroggins. 

The  late  William  Scroggins,  who  died  February  18,  18S4,  at  Staunton, 
was  born  ISIay  31,  1828,  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  was  a  son  of 
Prior  and  Mary  (Tatum)  Scroggins,  natives  of  Tennessee.  Prior  Scrog- 
gins died  in  Alton,  Illinois,  with  cholera,  during  the  Black  Hawk  W'ar,  in 

1833- 

William  Scroggins  was  one  of  a  famil}'  of  nine  children.  His  life  was 

spent  in  Macoupin  County,  with  the  exception  of  18  months  when  he  ser\-ed 
in  the  !\Iexican  War,  during  which  time  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Santa  Fe. 
He  never  accepted  a  pension,  but  it  has  been  given  his  widow.  His  life  was 
mainly  devoted  to  agriculture,  farming,  teaming  and  stock  trading.  In  busi- 
ness he  was  a  very  practical,  successful  man.  From  the  time  of  John  C.  Fre- 
mont, Mr.  Scroggins  was  identified  with  the  Republican  paity. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Scroggins  left  many  friends  to  mourn  his  loss  and  a 
widow  and  family  who  had  the  sympathy  of  the  whole  community.  His 
children  Avere :  Lurenda,  who  married  John  Jacobs  of  Gillespie,  Macoupin 
County,  now  deceased,  who  has  three  children ;  Mary  K..  who  married 
George  Bird  of  Staunton  township.  Macoupin  County  and  has  one  child ; 
Sarah  Ann.  who  married  M.  A.  Smith,  and  has  three  children:  Malinda.  a 
teacher  in  the  Staunton  schools  for  the  past  18  years,  who  resides  with  her 
mother;  and  INIartha  E.,  who  married  Hon.  Hampton  W.  Wall,  of  Staun- 
ton, Macoupin  County,  now  deceased,  and  has  three  children.  The  late  ]\Ir. 
Scroggins  belonged  to  the  Christian  Church. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  481 

JAiWES  FAITH,  M.  D. 

James  Faith,  -M.  D.,  one  of  the  prominent  and  much  appreciated 
physicians  of  Palmyra,  Macoupin  County,  and  a  member  of  one  of  the  old 
pioneer  families  of  the  State,  was  born  May  6,  1841,  at  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Rachel  (Helfeinstein)  Faith. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Faith  came  to  Illinois  in  1845,  locating  at  Peters- 
burg, the  county  seat  of  r^Ienard  County,  where  the  father  died  December  1 5, 
1858,  and  the  mother,  January  16,  1862.  William  Faith  was  a  teacher  by 
profession  and  was  employed  as  an  instructor  in  the  public  schools.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  Of  his  eight  children, 
four  still  survive,  namely:  ^Margaret  L.,  who  married  Lorenzo  D.  Chapman; 
George  W.,  a  resident  of  Greenfield,  Illinois;  James,  our  subject ;  and  ]Mrs. 
Rebecca  Jane  Baker,  of  Salem,  Oregon. 

James  Faith  had  the  early  advantages  of  intellectual  home  training  and 
after  he  completed  the  public  school  course  at  Petersburg  he  secured  as  a 
private  tutor  Mintor  Graham,  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  same  way  by 
Abraham  Lincoln,  in  the  days  when  that  ambitious  boy,  who  had  no  means 
with  which  to  secure  either  teachers  or  books,  scoured  the  country,  borrow- 
ing literature  from  any  one  who  would  lend.  Mr.  Lincoln  always  felt  much 
indebted  to  Mr.  Graham.  Under  the  latter's  instruction,  our  subject  was 
prepared  for  college,  and  in  October,  1864,  he  entered  the  Eclectic  Medical 
Institute,  of  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  graduated  with  credit,  February  9. 
1869.  For  two  years  Dr.  Faith  practiced  his  profession  at  Petersburg,  and 
then  located  at  Palmyra,  where  he  has  continued  ever  since.  Dr.  Faith  en- 
joys .1  large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  re- 
liable practitioners  of  the  locality.  He  has  met  with  much  success  in  hand- 
ling many  special  cases,  and  is  noted  for  his  charitable  work. 

Dr.  Faith  has  been  twice  married.  In  1871  he  married  Sarah  Jane 
Fuller,  who  died  the  following  year.  He  married  as  his  second  wife  Martha 
Elizabeth  Brown,  who  is  a  daughter  of  James  Brown,  a  farmer  of  Greene 
County,  Illinois.  They  have  reared  three  children,  namely :  Virgie,  who 
married  Elmer  R.  Bramley.  the  leading  grocer  and  druggist  of  Palmyra, 
Jklacoupin  County,  and  has  two  children — Mary  and  Karl ;  Inez,  who  mar- 
ried John  ^^^  Costley  and  died  July  17.  1902,  leaving  two  children — Faith 
and  Pauline;  and  Jessie,  the  wife  of  Ira  N.  King,  an  expert  electrician,  who 
has  charge  of  the  electric  light  plant  at  Cairo,  Illinois. 


482  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Dr.  Faith  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  Both  personally  and  profesionally,  he  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  by  the  good  people  of  Palmyra.  He  has  always  taken  a  pub- 
lic spirited  interest  in  local  enterprises,  and  from  the  view  point  of  his  pro- 
fesion  has  been  able  to  give  useful  advice  on  many  occasions. 


ROBERT  BROWN,  ESQ. 

Robert  Brown,  Esq.,  who  has  oiificiated  as  justice  of  the  peace  at 
Gillespie,  Macoupin  County,  since  April,  1871,  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Gillespie  township.  He  was  born  November  8,  1833,  in  County  Mona- 
ghan,  Ireland,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Brown,  whose  whole  life  was  passed 
in  his  native  countr3\ 

Robert  Brown  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children  and  the  only  one  to 
come  to  the  United  States;  two  brothers,  Butler  and  William,  located  in 
Canada.  Our  subject  was  17  years  of  age  when  he  took  passage  in  the  sail- 
ing ship  "Ocomoco,"  bound  for  New  Orleans,  which  city  he  reached  early 
in  1850,  after  a  passage  of  1 1  weeks  and  three  days.  Having  worked  in  his 
father's  tailoring  establishment  from  the  age  of  10  years,  he  was  equipped 
with  a  good  trade  and  this  he  followed  for  two  years  at  New  Orleans  and 
then  gradually  made  his  way  north,  working  two  years  at  St.  Louis,  and 
reaching  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1854.  There  he  worked 
for  two  years  longer,  then  married  and  removed  to  Gillespie,  and  this  place 
has  been  his  home  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in  army 
service  during  the  Civil  War. 

In  1862  Mr.  Brown  enlisted  in  Company  A,  97th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol. 
Inf.,  1 6th  Army  Corps,  and  served  in  the  Army  of  the  W'est  under  General 
Grant,  General  McCann  and  Capt.  W.  H.  Willard.  On  account  of  being 
taken  sick,  he  participated  only  in  the  skirmish  at  Arkansas  Post,  being 
discharged  before  Vicksburg,  in  February,  1863.  Upon  his  return  to  Gilles- 
pie, he  opened  a  tailoring  establishment  which  he  conducted  until  1893. 
Since  1873  he  has  been  in  the  public  scales  office  and  for  the  past  35  years 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  483 

has  been  the  village  clerk  and  since  1871  has  been  a  notarj-  public  and  justice 
of  the  peace.  Although  a  Democrat  in  his  political  sentiment,  his  personal 
popularit)-  is  such  tliat  both  parties  unite  in  keeping  him  in  his  present  posi- 
tions, where  his  integrity  and  impartiality  have  never  been  questioned. 

On  April  i,  1S56,  Mr.  Brown  was  married  to  Mary  Drennan,  who  was 
bom  in  Tennessee,  and  is  one  of  the  two  children  of  James  Drennan,  an  early 
pioneer  of  ^lacoupin  County.  The  five  children  of  this  union  are :  Delos  M., 
who  follows  a  blacksmith  business  at  Gillespie;  Robert  D.,  a  coal  miner  of  the 
vicinity;  Mrs.  Annie  Knouse,  a  resident  of  Gillespie,  who  has  five  children; 
Mrs.  Emma  Schmulback,  of  Tennessee;  and  Mrs.  May  Duffy,  of  Gillespie. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Mason  and  formerly  was  associated  also 
with  the  Odd  Fellows.  For  many  years  he  has  been  an  active  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  has  ser\'ed  both  as  trustee  and  as  treasurer.  Few 
men  of  his  section  are  better  known  or  more  thoroughlv  esteemed. 


DAVIS  L.  SPAULDING,  M.  D. 

Davis  L.  Spauldixg,  ^I.  D.,  an  eminent  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Macoupin  Count}-,  Illinois,  and  a  leading  practitioner  of  Mrden,  is  also  a 
most  highly  valued  citizen.  He  was  born  in  \'ermont,  November  14.  1834, 
and  is  one  of  a  family  of  three  children  born  to  his  parents,  Hiram  and 
Elizabeth  (Hawkins)   Spaulding,  farming  people  in  Vermont. 

Dr.  Spaulding  attended  the  local  schools  and  Fort  Edward  University 
(New  York)  and  entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine  in  early  manhood, 
completing  his  medical  course  at  the  Universitj'  of  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
where  he  received  his  degree  in  1864.  In  1856  he  became  a  resident  of  Vir- 
den.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  he  enlisted  for  service,  entering  the 
19th  Regiment,  Illinois  \'ol.  Inf.,  as  a  private.  Soon  after  he  was  ap- 
pointed surgeon  and  was  with  the  4th  Regiment,  Ohio  Vol.  Cav.,  about  nine 
months,  when  he  was  assigned  to  hospital  work,  in  which  he  served  about 
two  years.  He  helped  to  organize  the  first  military  hospital  at  Camp  Yates, 
Springfield,  and  served  there  during  the  three  month  service. 


484  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Dr.  Spaulding  returned  to  Virden  and  has 
made  this  pleasant  little  city  his  home  ever  since.  He  commands  a  large 
practice  and  has  built  up  a  most  gratifying  practice  that  extends  over  the 
county,  having  devoted  many  years  of  his  life  to  the  earnest  practice  of 
his  profession. 

Dr.  Spaulding  married  Louisa  Freeman,  who  is  a  daughter  of  a  sub- 
stantial farmer  of  North  Otter  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  the  three 
children  born  to  them  are:  Lauretta  E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  J.  Hall,  a  mer- 
chant of  Kansas ;  Charles  H. ;  and  Clarence  Edgar,  who  is  an  employee  of 
Marshall  Field  &  Company.  Chicago.  Charles  H.  Spaulding  is  also  a 
prominent  member  of  the  medical  fraternity,  a  graduate  of  Rush  Medical 
College  of  Chicago,  and  is  now  chief  physician  at  Johannesburg,  South 
Africa,  for  a  large  gold  mining  company. 

In  politics  Dr.  Spaulding  is  a  Republican  but  is  not  enough  of  a  politi- 
cian to  consent  to  accept  political  preferment.  He  belongs  to  the  various 
medical  associations  and  is  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  the  public  and  by 
his  brother  practitioners.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Spaulding  have  a  pleasant  home  in 
Virden  and  enjoy  social  life.  They  are  valued  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 


MRS.  HENRIETTA  E.  (DYSON)  VIRDEN. 

Mrs.  Henrietta  E.  (Dyson)  V^irden,  one  of  the  most  highly  es- 
teemed residents  of  \^irden,  is  a  most  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the 
old  and  honored  pioneer  families  of  the  State.  Mrs.  Virden  was  born  Janu- 
ary 8,  1827,  in  Montgomery  County,  Maryland,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Annie  (Darnall)  Dyson,  and  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Archibald  L. 
Virden. 

The  Dyson  family  is  of  English  extraction,  although  it  has  long  been 
established  in  Maryland,  where  both  the  father  and  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Virden  were  born.  In  1842  William  Dyson,  with  his  seven  motherless 
children,  left  the  old  home,  where  his  wife  had  died  in  1836,  and  started  for 
Christian  County.  Illinois,  Mrs.  Virden  being  then  a  maiden  of  15  years. 
She  vividly  recalls  the  overland  trip  and  the  pioneer  conditions  which  they 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  485 

found,  when  her  father  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  which  he  had  purchased 
near  Taylorxille.  The  family,  however,  had  scarcely  become  accustomed  to 
the  hardships  which  were  doubly  hard  after  the  comforts  of  their  former 
home,  when  the  beloved  father  was  stricken  with  illness  and  soon  passed 
away,  his  death  occurring  in  1845. 

On  August  18,  1844,  Henrietta  E.  Dyson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Archibald  L.  Virden,  who  is  recalled  to  the  residents  of  Virden  with  feelings 
of  sincere  esteem.  Mr.  Virden  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  October  2-j, 
1823,  and  was  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Amelia  (Saddler)  Virden,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Maryland,  and  the  latter  in  Ohio,  where  the  name  is 
recorded  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  Buckeye  State.  When  Archi- 
bald was  about  16  years  of  age,  the  family  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Christian  County,  where  the  father  bought  and  improved  a  farm,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  10  sons.  Archibald  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage, 
but  shortly  after  removed  to  Sangamon  County,  and  two  years  later  pur- 
chased a  property  near  Auburn. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  \"irden  were  early  settlers  in  the  village  which  bears  their 
name,  so  called  in  honor  of  Mr.  Virden's  brother  John,  who  had  laid  it  out 
and  was  an  early  benefactor  of  the  little  hamlet.  From  1852  when  Archi- 
bald L.  \^irden  located  at  Virden,  until  his  lamented  death  on  April  8,  1880, 
he  was  a  prominent  factor  in  its  commercial,  social  and  public  life.  The 
surrounding  country,  although  yet  unsettled,  was  rich  in  agricultural  possi- 
bilities, and  it  was  with  rare  good  judgment  and  foresight,  that  Mr.  Virden 
acquired  considerable  land  and  became  one  of  the  earliest  business  men.  For 
some  years  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  but  later  embarked  in  the 
drtig  business,  with  which  he  was  associated  until  his  decease.  His  business 
career  was  always  marked  w'ith  success  and  he  was  ranked  with  the  capi- 
talists of  the  locality.  He  was  missed  in  almost  every  circle,  belonging  as 
he  did  to  the  public  spirited  class  of  citizens  in  whose  hands  rests  the  develop- 
ment of  the  communities  in  which  they  live.  He  was  a  man  of  the  highest 
integrity.  In  his  home  he  was  beloved,  in  his  neighborhood  he  was  esteemed 
and  in  the  city  he  was  respected,  and  in  all  places  he  was  mourned.  He  was 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  he  was  a  liberal 
giver,  but  his  benefactions  were  not  confined  to  this  religious  body.  Charit- 
able organizations  and  worthy  enterprises  benefited  by  his  gifts. 

Mr.  Virden  is  survived  by  his  widow  and  by  two  children,  Annie  M. 


486  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD      • 

and  Edgar  L.,  and  seven  grandchildren.  Annie  M.  is  the  widow  of  Otho 
Williams,  and  has  four  children :  Mariel,  who  is  the  widow  of  Harry  Colean, 
who  died  at  his  mother's  home  in  Jerseyville,  Illinois,  leaving  one  child — 
Edwin  Williams;  Archibald  Virden;  Lamira;  and  Genevieve.  Edgar  L. 
married  Jennie  Piper,  and  they  reside  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

The  death  of  the  second  son,  William,  in  December,  1882,  was  a  second 
severe  bereavement  to  Mrs.  Virden.  He  was  born  in  1852  and  married 
Sarah  Wilcox,  by  whom  he  is  survived,  with  three  children — Homer  W., 
Henrietta  E.  and  Archibald  L. 

Mrs.  Virden  has  been  the  witness  of  many  wonderful  changes  in  Virden, 
and  has  been  permitted  to  see  the  results  produced  by  the  helpful,  useful 
lives  of  herself  and  husband.  Her  home  has  always  been  one  of  genuine 
hospitality  and  many  of  the  prominent  visitors  to  this  locality,  in  the  early 
(lays,  have  been  her  guests.  With  her  husband,  she  assisted  in  the  founding 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  here,  in  which  she  has  ever  been  a  tireless  worker. 
She  is  the  center  of  a  loving  family  circle  and  is  interesting  to  the  stranger, 
both  on  account  of  her  representing  the  old  pioneer  families,  which  are  held 
in  the  highest  esteem,  and  also  for  her  interesting  conversation  and  gracious 
hospitality. 


WALTER   D.  FISK. 

Prominent  among  the  enterprising  and  inlluential  business  men  of  Ma- 
coupin County,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  narrative,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Shipman.  He  was  born  in  Shipman  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1876,  and  is  a  son  of  Frank  and  Frances 
(Sayer)  Fisk. 

Frank  Fisk  was  born  in  ^Michigan  and  came  to  Illinois  as  a  railroad 
employee  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railway  in  1874.  Later  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  at  which  he  proved  very  sucessful  and  became  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  his  section.  Still  later  he  purchased  a  farm  in  section  26, 
Shipman  township.  Macoupin  County,  where  he  engaged  extensively  in  the 
raising  of  Xorman  and  Clydesdale  horses.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Fisk, 
which  occurred  in  1898,  our  subject  rented  the  farm  to  a  tenant  and  succeeded 


S.  HUFFMAN.   M.  D. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  489 

his  father  in  the  kimber  business.     Mrs.  Frances  (Sayer)   Fisk,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  died  in  1S90.  at  the  age  of  47  years. 

Walter  D.  Fisk  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Ship- 
man  township  and  in  1897  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  his  father, 
which  business  he  still  continues  with  remarkable  efficiency.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics. 


S.  HUFFMAN,  M.  D. 

S.  HuFFjiAX,  M.  D.,  a  prominent  physician  and  the  leading  druggist 
of  Chesterfield,  Alacoupin  County,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch, 
was  bom  in  Pike  Coimty,  Illinois,  in  1873,  ^"<i  's  a  son  of  P.  B.  and  Nancy 
(Clifton)   Huftman. 

P.  B.  Huftman  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Huff- 
man, who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  who  died  in  1900,  in  Missouri,  in  his 
95th  year.  In  1837  P.  B.  Huffman  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Vermilion 
County.  There  he  married  Nancy  Clifton,  whose  father  was  bom  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  in  Vermilion  County.  Illinois,  in  1870,  in  his  70th  year. 

Dr.  Huffman  was  primarily  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Cass 
Count)'  and  subsequently  attended  the  Western  Normal  School  at  Bushnell, 
Illinois.  He  then  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  St.  Louis  University 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1896,  ser^■ing  then  as  an  interne  for  six  months  az 
the  St.  Louis  City  Hospital,  being  made  junior  assistant  superintendent. 
While  clerking  in  a  drug  store  at  Greenfield,  Illinois,  in  order  to  perfect  his 
knowledge  of  pharmacy  by  making  a  practical  use  of  it,  he  met  and  in  1895 
married  Nece  ^klcOuerrj',  who  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  McOuerry. 
Mrs.  Huffman  died  December  29,  1901.  Our  subject's  second  marriage  was 
contracted  on  Februarj'  22,  1903,  with  Clyde  M.  AlcOuerry,  a  sister  of  his 
first  wife.  John  McOuerry,  Dr.  Huffman's  father-in-law,  is  a  prominent 
resident  of  Greenfield,  Illinois,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a  farm.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  political  belief,  and  is  his  party's  choice  for  minority  Repre- 
sentative and  his  friends  predict  his  election. 

Dr.  Huffman  soon  after  his  first  marriage  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Pegram,  Greene  County,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until 
he  moved  to  Chesterfield  in  1899.     In  1902  he  purchased  the  old  established 


490  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

drug  business  of  W.  A.  Gary,  who  had  carried  it  on  in  Cliesterfield  for  the 
preceding  21  years.  Dr.  Huffman  built  a  new  store  on  the  site  of  the  old 
one  and  has  fitted  it  up  with  all  modern  conveniences  and  attractions;  he 
carries  a  complete  and  carefully  selected  stock  of  the  goods  usually  found  in 
an  establishment  of  the  kind,  in  addition  to  all  the  standard  remedies  and 
drugs  which  have  been  selected  by  himself  in  order  to  be  confident  that  they 
are  fresh  and  pure.  Not  only  as  a  physician,  but  also  as  a  business  man, 
is  Dr.  Huffman  popular.  He  has  made  the  pleasant  village  of  Chesterfield 
his  home  and  in  it  are  his  interests  centered. 

In  politics  Dr.  Huffman  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He  was  elected  as  one 
of  the  trustees  of  the  village  in  1901,  and  served  one  term.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  Mason,  a  Modern  Woodman  of  America,  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Knight 
of  Pythias,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Mutual  Protective  League.  In  religious 
belief  he  is  a  Methodist. 


JOHN  JAMES  WYCKOFF. 

John  J.\mes  Wyckoff,  deceased,  for  many  years  on  of  the  prominent 
and  substantial  citizens  of  Macoupin  County,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  June  16,  1832.  and  died  in  Macoupin  County,  March  30,  1901.  He 
was  a  son  of  Ambrose  and  Elizabeth  A.   (Hanmer)  Wyckoff. 

Ambrose  Wyckoff  was  married  on  Novemlier  9,  1831,  to  Elizabeth  A. 
Hanmer,  and  they  had  two  children :  John  James,  our  subject,  and  Hanmer. 
Mrs.  Wyckoff  died  March  15.  1837,  and  her  husband  was  later  married  to 
Sarah  Gelder,  who  died  in  September,  1899,  leaving  five  children.  Ambrose 
Wyckoff  died  September  28,  1872. 

John  J.  Wyckoff  was  educated  at  Delhi,  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  and  was 
there  engaged  in  a  hardware  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wyckoff  & 
Hobson,  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1862  he  removed  to  Macoupin  County 
and  became  interested  in  farming,  which  he  continued  until  his  death. 

In  i860,  he  married  Sarah  Utt,  who  died  November  2^,  1864.  His 
second  marriage.  October  22,  1868,  was  to  Nancy  E.  Ewing,  who  was  born 
October  23,  1848,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Obadiah  and  Narcissa  Y.  Ewing, 
the  former  of  whom  was  bom  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  April  i,  1823,  and  was 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  491 

a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Glass)  Ewing.  Obadiah  Ewing  was  a 
farmer  and  a  school  teacher.    The  mother  of  Mrs.  Wyckoff  was  born  April 

15,  1829,     and     has     survived     her     husband     since     his     death,     March 

16,  1 90 1.  She  is  one  of  the  most  highly  regarded  ladies  of  Virden  and  its 
vicinity.  She  \vas  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Baptist  Church.  She  is  the 
mother  of  six  children,  as  follows:  Nancy  E.,  Madora  Jane,  William  James 
(deceased),  Mary  Elma,  Edgar  Spink  and  Alicia  Malissa.  Two  daughters 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wyckoff,  viz:  Sarah  Narcissa,  born  October  12, 
1869,  who  married  J\Iajor  W.  Treadway,  and  has  three  children,  Carrie  E., 
born  August  17,  1897,  John  J.,  born  November  28,  1901,  and  Herbert,  born 
February  11,  1903;  and  Eliza  A.,  born  September  9,  1873,  who  married, 
on  October  28,  1896,  Dr.  E.  K.  Lockwood,  formerly  of  Virden,  and  died 
December   15,    1902. 

The  late  Mr.  Wyckoff  was  a  man  of  excellent  business  capacity  and  was 
possessed  of  large  means  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  widow  inherited 
1. 000  acres  of  land  and  also  some  valuable  city  property.  Both  she  and  her 
mother  have  many  pleasant  social  connections  in  Virden  and  enjoy  the  es- 
teem of  all  who  know  them. 


JOHNS.  SCHMIDT. 

John  S.  Schmidt,  a  well  known  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Staun- 
ton, Illinois,  was  born  September  10,  1850,  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and  is  a 
son  of  Christopher  and  Dora  (Maschendorf)  Schmidt,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Germany. 

Christopher  Schmidt  was  engaged  as  a  sheep  herder  on  a  large  estate 
in  Hanover,  and  died  in  Germany,  aged  65  years.  He  was  the  father  of 
six  children,  three  of  whom  died  young,  and  the  others  were :  Henry,  who 
died  in  Hanover,  Germany,  January  15,  1904;  Alar,  a  resident  of  Ohio,  who 
came  to  America  in   1869;  and  John  S.,  of  this  sketch. 

John  S.  Schmidt  came  alone  to  America  in  1867.  He  had  attended 
the  schools  of  his  native  neighborhood  until  he  was   13  years  of  age,  and 


492  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

then  began  herding  sheep,  which  was  his  father's  occupation.  This  work  did 
not  bring  large  enough  returns  to  satisfy  the  ambitious  youtli,  and  after  four 
years  he  succeeded  in  securing  passage  from  Bremen  to  New  York,  and 
from  the  latter  city  proceeded  immediately  to  Staunton.  This  city  has  been 
his  home  ever  since,  where  Mr.  Schmidt  has  accumulated  a  competency,  has 
become  prominent  in  public  life,  serving  as  alderman,  and  has  surrounded 
himself  with  many  warm  friends.  Until  1871  he  worked  by  the  year  at 
farm  work  and  then  began  work  in  the  coal  mines.  This  at  first  had  such 
a  bad  efifect  on  his  health,  that  he  engaged  in  teaming,  an  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed for  seven  years,  and  then  returned  to  mining  and  is  now  connected 
with  what  is  known  as  No.  6,  wdiich  is  owned  by  The  Consolidated  Com- 
pany. 

In  1874  Mr.  Schmidt  was  united  in  marriage  with  Wilhelmina  Heine- 
meyer,  who  was  born  May  30,  i8"53,  in  Braunswic,  and  came  to  America 
in  March,  1872.  Mr.  Schmidt  has  been  a  Republican  ever  since  he  was 
naturalized.  From  boyhood,  he  has  beeii  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church. 


PHILIP  W.  MAXEINER. 

Philip  W.  Maxeiner,  who  has  been  postmaster  of  Dorchester,  Ma- 
coupin County,  since  1898,  was  born  January  7,  1S52,  in  Germany,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  P.  and  Katherine  (Kopf)  Maxeiner. 

John  P.  Maxeiner,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Germany,  immigrated  to 
America  in  1852,  locating  at  Brighton,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where 
he  followed  the  shoemaker's  trade.  Other  members  of  the  family  also  lo- 
cated in  Illinois,  one  of  these  being  his  cousin,  a  tailor,  who  took  pride  in  the 
fact  that  to  him  was  entrusted  the  task  of  making  the  first  military  suit  ever 
worn  in  service  by  the  late  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  The  father  of  our  subject 
died  at  Brighton  in  1875,  ^g^'i  63  years.  He  married  Katherine  Kopf,  who 
was  born  in  1808  at  Singhofi'en,  Prussia,  and  three  of  their  children  died 
in  Germany,  those  who  came  to  America  being :  Mrs.  Mary  Tonsor,  de- 
ceased; Mrs.  Katherine  Wonderley,  of  Brighton,  Macoupin  County;  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Cramer,  of  Fidelity,  Illinois:  Mrs.  Philipine  Brumnier.  of  Brighton, 
Macoupin  County;  Henry;  and  Philip  W.,  of  this  sketch. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  493 

Mr.  Maxeiner  was  but  an  infant  when  his  parents  located  in  Brighton, 
after  some  time  spent  in  New  Orleans  and  Alton,  Illinois,  and  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  tliis  county  ever  since  1855.  Since  the  age  of  15  years  Mr. 
Maxeiner  has  worked  at  wagon-making  and  is  considered  an  excellent  me- 
chanic. In  1880  he  moved  to  Dorchester  and  e\er  since  he  has  been  a  promi- 
nent factor  in  Republican  politics  in  the  township.  Since  his  appointment 
as  postmaster,  he  has  most  satisfactorily  performed  the  duties  of  the  office 
and  is  held  in  much  esteem  by  the  citizens  of  the  village. 

In  1875  Mr.  Maxeiner  married  Katherine  Bohn,  who  was  born  in 
Macoupin  County,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Katherine  Bohn  natives 
of  Germany.  The  four  children  bom  to  this  marriage  are :  Minnie,  living  at 
home,  who  is  assistant  postmaster;  William  P.,  attached  to  the  St.  Louis 
Post  Office,  having  passed  the  civil  serA-ice  examination;  Charles  A.,  second 
assistant  postmaster,  who  conducts  the  store  at  Dorchester;  and  Annie,  who 
lives  at  home.  ^Ir.  Maxeiner  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  as  was 
his  father.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  ^lodern  Woodmen  of 
America. 


JOHN  H.  BOYER,  M.  D. 

JoHX  H.  Bo\"ER,  M.  D.,  a  prominent  medical  practitioner  of  Macoupin 
County,  whose  professional  skill  has  made  him  widely  known,  is  one  of  the 
most  highly  considered  citizens  of  Virden.  He  was  born  in  1850  in  Ger- 
many, and  is  a  son  of  ^Michael  Boyer. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Boyer  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  and  by  trade 
was  a  shoemaker.  Prior  to  coming  to  America,  he  resided  with  his  family 
for  three  years  in  Paris,  France,  coming  then  to  Illinois  by  way  of  New 
Orleans.  He  opened  a  shoe  store  at  Virden,  which  he  conducted  until  within 
a  few  years  of  his  death,  in   1892. 

Dr.  Boyer  was  educated  first  in  the  public  schools  at  Virden  and  began 
reading  medicine  at  the  age  of  17  years,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Homeopathic 
Institute  at  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  where  he  received  his  medical  degree  in 
1876,  since  which  year  he  has  been  established  at  Virden,  with  the  exception 
of  four  years  spent  with  Dr.  King  at  the  Passavant  Memorial  Hospital,  at 


494  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Jacksonville,  Illinois.  His  practice  covers  a  wide  extent  of  country,  his 
calls  coming  frequently  from  adjoining  counties.  His  laboratory  is  well 
supplied  with  the  preparations  used  in  his  medical  school,  and  his  com- 
modious offices  are  equipped  with  all  appliances  needful  in  his  practice,  and 
with  one  of  the  finest  medical  libraries  in  this  section  of  the  State.  He  is  a 
man  of  much  scholarship,  and  converses  fluently   in  three  languages. 

On  May  12,  1892,  Dr.  Boyer  was  married  to  Margaret  M.  Meacham, 
a  most  estimable  lady  and  a  valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  of 
Virden.  Dr.  Boyer  was  reared  in  the  Baptist  Church,  but  his  tolerance  and 
his  liberality  extend  to  all  religious  bodies. 

Fraternally  he  belongs  to  both  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellow  organizations. 
He  has  had  much  to  do  with  the  development  of  Virden  along  educational 
lines  and  is  valued  both  as  citizen  and  physician.  In  politics  a  Democrat, 
the  Doctor  has  been  central  committeeman  of  Virden  township  for  the  past 
17  years  and  has  been  president  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  the  past  five 
terms. 

The  Doctor  has  a  thoroughly  musical  education  and  is  known  through- 
out the  State  for  his  beautiful  tenor  voice.  He  helped  to  organize  the  first 
band  in  ^'^irden  and  continued  a  member  for  20  years. 


CYRUS  TOLMAN    H.AYWARD 

Cyrus  Tolman  Havw.\rd,  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  retired 
farmers  of  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County,  as  well  as  one  of  its 
most  venerable  citizens,  is  a  native  of  New  England,  born  at  Easton,  Bristol 
County,  Masachusetts,  in  1819.  He  is  a  son  of  Ansel  and  Lucinda  (Tolman) 
Hayward. 

The  father  of  our  esteemed  subject,  also  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  18 12.  He  married  Lucinda  Tolman,  of  his 
own  locality,  who  was  a  daughter  of  James  Tolman  and  a  sister  of  Judge 
Tolman,  later  of  Whitehall,  Greene  County,  Illinois. 

Although  Mr.  Hayward  has  passed  his  84th  birthday  and  has  been  a 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  495 

witness  of  the  greatest  development  the  world  has  ever  known,  he  is  still  the 
possessor  of  a  vigor  and  measure  of  endurance  which  may  well  be  envied 
by  many  who  have  not  half  his  weight  of  years.  The  enjoyment  of  a  walk 
of  10  miles  on  his  83rd  birthday  was  considered  remarkable,  but  when  it  was 
easily  accomplished  on  his  84th  birthday,  his  neighbors  began  to  question 
what  early  training  gave  him  the  capacity  for  such  an  athletic  feat.  As  a 
pedestrain,  howe\er,  he  has  always  been  notable  and  it  is  recalled  of  him  that 
upon  one  occasion,  during  a  year  spent  at  Beverly,  Ohio,  when  about  18 
years  of  age,  he  walked  to  Zanesville,  ordered  his  lumber  and  returned  to 
Beverly  the  following  day,  covering  in  all  a  distance  of  90  miles  on  foot. 
In  1839  Mr.  Hay  ward  accompanied  his  brother  Ansel  to  Illinois,  and  spent 
about  a  year  working  as  a  cabinet-maker  at  Carrollton,  Greene  County.  He 
then  settled  in  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County,  with  his  father  and 
mother,  and  located  on  his  present  farm  in  section  20,  which  then  consisted 
of  40  acres,  where  his  father  died  at  the  age  of  65  years.  Mr.  Hayward  also 
had  a  quarter  section  of  land  west  of  Carlinville,  which  he  sold  at  a  later  date. 
To  his  original  40-acre  homestead  he  added  an  80-acre  adjoining  tract.  When 
he  retired  from  activity,  his  son,  Herbert  M.  Hayward,  purchased  the  farm. 
Mr.  Hayward  still  resides  here,  surrounded  by  every  comfort  and  solicitously 
cared  for  by  his  children  and  grandchildren  by  whom  he  is  much  beloved. 

Mr.  Hayward's  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Maria  Olmstead,  who  died  July  8, 
1856,  was  the  mother  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  still  survive.  On 
September  21,  1859,  Mr.  Hayward  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Perry  (daugh- 
ter of  James  Pery),  who  died  August  22,  1898,  leaving  four  children,  namely: 
Lillian  O..  IMrs.  Mary  E.  Simpson,  Herbert  M.  and  Horace.  Herbert  M. 
Hayward,  who  was  born  January  25,  1868,  was  married  August  3,  1892,  to 
E.  Emma  Hall,  who  is  a  daughter  of  David  T.  and  Elizabeth  B.  H.  (Payne) 
Hall.  ]\Ir.  Hall  was  a  farmer  and  brick  mason  of  Chesterfield  township, 
Macoupin  County,  and  Mrs.  Hayward  is  the  seventh  member  of  a  family 
of  10  children.  The  one  child  of  this  marriage,  Stanley  Hall  Hayward, 
was  born  July  6,  1893.  Horace  Hayward,  the  youngest  son  of  our  subject, 
is  now  traveling  in  California,  representing  a  Chicago  Ix)ok  concern. 

Mr.  Hayward  has  always  taken  an  interest  in  local  enterprises  and  has 
done  his  part  in  the  development  of  his  section  of  the  county.  He  has  always 
been  a  stanch  Republican  and  keeps  himself  posted  on  public  movements. 
Although  he  has  outlived  the  greater  number  of  his  old  neighbors,  he  has 


496  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

many  friends  among  the  younger  generation  and  his  reminiscences  of  early 
days  are  accorded  marked  attention.  The  experiences  of  84  years  are  well 
worth  heeding,  and  the  lessons  they  teach  are  of  the  utmost  importance. 


WILLIAM    PATRICK. 

William  Patrick^  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  retired  residents  of 
Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  April  28,  1831,  in  Ayrshire,  Scot- 
land, and  was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents,  John  and 
Margaret   (Stirritt)   Patrick,  to  America. 

John  Patrick  was  born  September  25,  1788,  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  and 
died  near  Bunker  Hill,  Illinois,  October  13,  1867.  In  his  own  land,  he  was 
an  expert  silk  weaver,  but,  with  a  family  of  13  children,  he  found  it  necessary 
to  make  a  change  in  order  to  provide  for  their  necessities.  Hence,  in  1841, 
with  his  family  and  household  possessions,  among  which  was  a  sword  which 
had  done  good  work  in  the  hands  of  an  ancestor  in  the  early  wars,  he  sailed 
from  Liverpool,  and  by  slow  traveling  at  length  reached  Bunker  Hill,  Illinois, 
which  was  then  a  hamlet  of  10  houses  and  one  general  store.  Here  he 
bought  120  acres  of  land  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife 
Margaret  was  the  only  daughter  of  James  Stirritt,  and  was  born  September 
16,  1792,  in  Dairy,  Scotland,  and  died  January  18,  1874,  aged  83  years. 
The  eight  members  of  their  family  who  reached  maturity  were :  James,  who 
died  at  Alton,  Illinois;  John,  who  died  at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County; 
Mrs.  Ann  Templeton,  who  died  at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County;  Mrs. 
Margaret  Muir,  who  died  near  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Mrs.  Janet  Galloway, 
who  died  at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County;  William,  who  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch ;  Mrs.  Mary  Dickie,  who  is  the  mother  of  Postmaster  Dickie, 
of  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County;  and  Robert  E.,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska. 
The  family  was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Although  63  years  have  passed  since  Mr.  Patrick  left  his  natitve  land, 
during  which  period  he  has  lived  an  active  and  at  times  an  adventurous  life, 
he  distinctly  recalls  the  family  embarkation  at  Liverpool,  the  long  voyage  of 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  497 

39  clays  before  landing  at  New  York  and  the  continued  trip  across  the 
country  to  Pittsburg,  from  which  point  an  Ohio  River  boat  transferred  the 
travelers  to  one  on  the  great  Mississippi,  and  at  length  Alton,  Illinois,  was 
reached.  Including  the  wait  of  two  weeks  at  Pittsburg,  the  trip  from  the 
coast  had  taken  o\er  a  month  which  can  now  be  accomplished  in  less  than 
24  hours.  ;Mr.  Patrick's  boyish  interest  was  excited  by  the  way  the  hinged 
smokstacks  on  the  locomotives  were  worked  as  the  noisy  little  engines  passed 
under  bridges.  One  winter  was  passed  by  the  family  at  Alton,  but  in  1842 
they  permanently  located  at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  and  our  subject 
%  remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  18  years  of  age.  In  1850  he  started 
with  an  ox  team  to  cross  the  plains  to  California,  accompanied  by  his  broth- 
in-law,  .\ndrew  Muir.  After  many  adventures  and  dangers  from  the  Indians, 
they  reached  the  gold  regions  and  ^Ir.  Patrick  spent  seven  years  there,  ac- 
cumulating a  capital  which  gave  him  a  good  start  in  life.  He  earned  it 
by  hard  work,  working  in  deep  canons,  where  he  saw  the  sun  neither  rise  nor 
set,  enjoying  its  light  for  but  a  few  hours  a  day.  He  returned  to  Bunker 
Hill,  but  a  year  later  crossed  the  plains  again  with  a  mule  team,  in  1859. 

ilr.  Patrick  has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  discoverers  of  gold  at 
Central  City,  and  was  a  companion  of  Green  Russell,  of  Georgia,  who  named 
RusselFs  Gulch,  a  rich  mining  locality.  Mr.  Patrick  discovered  the  noted 
Mammoth  Lode,  and  in  the  fall  he  returned  to  Bunker  Hill.  In  the  following 
spring,  equipped  with  tools  and  mining  machinery,  including  a  quartz  mill, 
he  made  a  third  trip  and  worked  in  this  lode  until  late  in  the  fall  and  again 
returned.  This  was  Mr.  Patrick's  last  trip  to  the  far  West.  When  the  last 
call  was  made  for  troops  for  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Patrick  enlisted  in  Company 
G,  20th  Reg.,  Illinois  \'ol.  Inf..  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking 
part  in  the  battles  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  of  Wise's  Forks,  North  Caro- 
lina, and  was  mustered  out  at  Louisville.  Kentucky,  in  July.  1865.  Mr. 
Patrick  draws  a  pension,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
After  remaining  one  more  year  at  Bunker  Hill,  he  went  to  Montgomery 
County,  Illinois,  where  he  improved  a  farm  and  continued  to  operate  it  for 
12  years,  removing  then  to  Staunton,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  Mr. 
Patrick  opened  up  a  stone  quarrj-,  but  this  venture  was  not  successful,  and 
brought  upon  him  a  loss  of  some  $2,000.  He  built  his  present  pretentious 
home  for  a  hotel  and  operated  it  for  10  years  as  the  Patrick  Hotel,  and  since 
then  has  occupied  it  as  a  private  residence.     For  seven  years  he  was  engi.ieer 

28 


498  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

for  the  Consolidated  Coal  Company.  For  some  years  he  has  hved  retired 
from  business  responsibihties. 

Mr.  Patrick  was  married  March  14,  i860,  to  Althea  Aeohan  Wood,  who 
was  born  near  Bunker  Hill,  Illinois,  March  14,  1837,  and  is  one  of  a  family 
of  eight  children  born  to  Samuel  and  Keziah  (Daugherty)  Wood,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were:  William  H.,  who  is  a  banker 
at  Clarendon,  Texas;  Jeannet,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  R.  Wall,  a  banker 
of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County;  Elgin,  who  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania;  Rosalie,  the  widow  of  Charles  D.  Mitchell,  who  resides  with 
our  subject,  with  her  two  children — Leland  and  Margaret;  George  Bley,  a 
resident  of  Decatur,  Illinois,  who  is  a  conductor  on  the  Wabash  Railroad,  and 
has  two  children — Hazel  and  George;  and  Bernean,  who  lives  at  home.  One 
son,  Bernard,  died  aged  one  year. 

Mr.  Patrick  has  always  supported  the  Republican  party,  but  has  not 
sought  political  honors,  although  his  friends  have  upon  several  occasions 
elected  him  alderman.  He  was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Fratern- 
ally he  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Woodmen. 


REV.  LUKE  DILLIARD. 

An  old  age  which  commands  honor,  obedience,  admiration  and  affection 
is  what  is  vouchsafed  to  one  of  the  venerable  residents  and  valued  citizens 
of  Macoupin  County,  whose  home  is  located  in  section  31,  Gillespie  township. 
Mr.  Dilliard  was  born  January  3,  1823,  in  North  Carolina,  and  is  a  son  of 
!Mark  Dilliard. 

The  Dilliard  family  is  one  of  great  age  and  repute  in  the  Old  Xorth 
State,  and  there  Mark  Dilliard  was  born  March  20,  1776.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  cooper,  married  in  his  native  State,'  and  then  removed  to  middle 
Tennessee.  He  died  on  his  farm  there  November  26,  1826,  aged  56  years. 
In  1830.  his  widow  removed  with  her  family  to  Logan  County,  and  a  year 
later  to  Todd  County,  Kentuck}%  but  subsequently  returned  to  Robinson 
County,  Tennessee.     In  1836  a  change  was  again  made  to  Logan  County, 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  499 

but  in  1838  the  decision  was  made  to  proceed  north  and  secure  one  of  the 
fertile  tracts  awaiting  owners  in  Ilhnois.  In  real  pioneer  fashion  the  journey 
was  made  and  a  farm  was  selected  in  Brushy  Mound  township,  Macoupin 
County. 

Our  subject  is  the  only  survivor  of  his  parents'  family  of  ti\e  children. 
They  lived  until  1844  on  a  rented  tract  of  land,  and  then  our  subject  pur- 
chased 40  acres,  which  was  the  nucleus  of  a  farm  which  finally  expanded  into 
500  acres.  The  most  of  this  land  Mr.  Dilliard  developed  himself,  under  the 
hard  conditions  of  pioneer  existence.  He  was  a  youth  with  longings  for  an 
education,  but  meager  opportunities  were  afforded  him  and.  although  a  man 
of  scholarly  attainments  at  present,  he  is  entirely  self-educated.  His  youth 
and  manhood  were  spent  in  strenuous  toil,  while  the  remoteness  of  educational 
facilities  prevented  his  taking  advantage  of  the  few  months  in  the  year  when 
farm  work  presses  least.  As  young  manhood  advanced  he  began  to  teach 
school  and  it  is  related  of  him,  as  showing  his  persistence  and  perseverance, 
that  during  one  winter,  after  his  ordination,  he  taught  school  every  week 
day,  taught  singing  school  at  night  and  ably  filled  his  pulpit  on  Sunday. 
He  taught  school  for  30  years  in  Gillespie  and  neighboring  townships  and  be- 
came an  educator  of  reputation. 

On  the  fourth  Sunday  in  October,  1840,  Luke  Dilliard  united  with  the 
Baptist  Church  and  three  years  later  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  from  the 
date  of  his  ordination  until  three  years  ago,  since  which  time  bodily  infirmities 
have  afflicted  him,  he  was  a  faithful  worker  in  the  Master's  vineyard.  He  has 
material])'  assisted  in  the  organization  of  20  churches  and  has  lent  his  in- 
fluence at  all  times  to  movements  of  a  moral  or  educational  character.  His 
children  have  been  reared  surrounded  with  the  best  of  literature,  and  he  has 
given  collegiate  advantages  to  them  all,  and  in  turn  they  reflect  the  greatest 
credit  upon  their  wise,  careful  and  tender  father. 

On  December  31.  1845.  Rev.  Mr.  Dilliard  was  married  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  to  Xancy  Adams,  who  was  boni  at  Cumberland  Gap,  Tennessee, 
April  14,  1829,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Giles  ^L  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Adams, 
natives  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  respectively.  During  the  childhood 
of  Mrs.  Dilliard's  parents,  their  respective  families  moved  to  Tennessee  and 
there  they  married.  Mrs.  Dilliard  was  two  months  old  when  her  parents  came 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  what  was  then  the  wilderness  of  Madison  County. 
In  183 1  her  father  removed  to  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  Count}-,  securing 


500  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

virgin  land  from  the  government.  Their  last  days  were  passed  with  a  son  in 
Montgomery  County.  Airs.  Dilliard  was  the  eldest  daughter  and  second  child 
m  their  family  of  five. 

Rev.  Mr.  Dilliard  and  wife  have  had  eight  children  born  to  them,  namely : 
Mathew;  Giles;  Almeda,  who  died  in  infancy;  James  J.;  Lorenzo;  William 
C,  who  died  unmarried,  August  5,  1883,  aged  26  years;  Edmund;  and  Mary 
J.  Mathew  Dilliard,  who  died  July  4,  1897,  at  the  age  of  51  years,  was  sur- 
vived by  his  widow,  formerly  Lucy  T.  Boyce,  and  four  sons,  namely :  William 
\V.,  who  married  Mary  Morrison  and  has  two  children — Lois  E.  and  Jessie 
B. ;  Robert  E.,  who  married  Jessie  E.  Morrison  of  Gillespie  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  and  has  two  children — Morrison  H.  and  Muriel  P. ;  Charles 
T.,  of  Gillespie,  Macoupin  County,  who  married  Jennie  Watson  and  has  one 
child — Gerald  W. ;  and  Lawson  E.,  of  Dorchester,  Macoupin  County,  who 
married  Zoda  E.  Huestis  and  has  one  child — Carrie  M.  Giles  Dilliard,  who 
is  a  resident  of  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County,  married  Martha  J.  McBride 
and  has  three  children — Mary  A.,  Emma  E.  and  Oscar  W.  James  J.  Dil- 
liard, who  resides  at  Collinsvilie,  Illinois,  married  Mary  Look  and  has  two 
children — Mattie  K.  and  David.  Lorenzo  Dilliard,  who  lives  at  home,  was 
educated  at  the  Jacksonville  School  for  the  Blind,  is  a  talented  musician  and 
has  been  a  teacher.  Edmund  Dilliard,  who  is  a  practicing  physician  and  sur- 
geon at  Denver,  Colorado,  married  Katherine  S.  Doe  and  has  five  children — 
Edmund  L.,  Abigail,  Elizabeth  M.,  William  K.  and  Catherine.  The  youngest 
member  of  the  family,  Mary  J.  Dilliard,  married  William  A.  Mattox,  of  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  and  has  one  son — William  A. 

On  account  of  the  infirmities  of  age,  Mr.  Dilliard  has  not  been  engaged 
in  any  active  work  for  some  years,  and  has  retained  but  no  acres  of  his 
former  large  extent  of  land.  With  his  estimable  wife,  he  enjoyed  the  cele- 
bration of  his  golden  wedding  anniversary,  on  December  31,  1895.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  a  Master  Mason,  connected  with  the  Bunker  Hill 
lodge.  No.    151,   A.   F.  &  A.   M. 


CHARLES  C.  TERRY. 

Charles  C.  Terry,  the  junior  partner  of  the  law  firm  of  Knotts  & 
Terry,  practicing  attorneys  at  Girard,  Illinois,  is  one  of  the  able  members  of 
the  Macoupin  County  bar. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  501 

He  was  born  October  i,  1865,  in  the  town  of  Girard  where  he  now  prac- 
tices law.  He  is  a  son  of  Robert  N.  and  TaHtha  A.  (Morrell)  Terry,  both 
of  whom  came  from  Jersey  County,  IlHnois,  to  ^Macoupin  County,  in  the 
early  days.  Mr.  Terry's  parents,  and  in  fact  all  of  his  ancestry,  have  been 
agriculturists. 

Charles  C.  Terry  was  educated  in  the  country  district  school  near  his 
father's  farm  and  afterward  in  the  \'irden  High  School.  He  afterward  at- 
tended school  at  the  Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  and  at  the 
Western  Normal  College  at  Bushnell,  Illinois.  He  taught  school  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Edward  C.  Knotts  (his  present  part- 
ner) in  Girard,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  January,  1S93,  and  has  since  prac- 
ticed his  profession. 

The  partnership  of  Knotts  &  Terry  was  formed  in  the  year  1894.  Mr. 
Terry  is  considered  a  sound  lawyer  and  though  not  an  orator,  a  forcible, 
logical  speaker.  For  the  past  two  3-ears  his  time  has  been  principally  engaged 
in  looking  after  coal  interests  for  railway  and  coal  companies.  The  firm  of 
Knotts  &  Terry  has  always  been  rated  as  one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 

In  1894  ]Mr.  Terry  was  married  to  Nellie  B.  Carter,  a  daughter  of 
Byron  L.  Carter,  who  was  formerly  a  merchant  in  Girard.  They  have  two 
children:  Robert  B.,  aged  seven  years;  and  Mary  Ann,  aged  four  years. 
Mr.  Terry,  though  of  Republican  ancestn,-,  affiliates  with  the  Democratic 
party.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Elks.  He 
is  not  a  member  of  any  church  and  his  religious  views  are  very  liberal.  His 
wife  is  a  Methodist. 


JOSEPH  S.  VOLLENTINE. 

Joseph  S.  \^ollentixe,  a  prominent  business  man  of  Staunton,  Illinois, 
senior  member  of  the  livery  firm  of  Vollentine  &  Grove,  was  born  August 
13,  1855,  in  Bond  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  J.  and  Margaret 
A.    (Evans)   Vollentine. 

William  Vollentine.  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  !x)rn  in  Tenn- 
essee, probably  of  Irish  parentage,  came  to  Illinois  in  pioneer  days,  and  here 
acquired  much  property,  leaving   1,000  acres  at  his  death,  his  possessions 


502  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

being  so  large  that  it  required  three  days  to  complete  the  administrator's 
sale  of  his  effects.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  War,  and  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.     He  was  married  three  times  and  had  22  children. 

Benjamin  J.  \'ollentine  was  a  son  of  William  Vollentine's  second  mar- 
riage, and  was  born  in  Bond  County,  Illinois,  and  died  at  New  Douglas, 
Madison  County,  Illinois,  aged  40  years.  He  administered  his  father's  estate 
and  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  a  man  of  high  character  and  was  held  in 
much  respect  by  all  who  knew  him.  Had  he  not  been  rejected  by  the  ex- 
aminers, he  would  have  served  in  the  Civil  War,  and  was  always  a  stanch 
Republican.  For  years  he  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Our  subject  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  14  years  old  when 
his  parents  moved  to  the  Village  of  New  Douglas,  in  order  to  give  him  school 
facitities,  and  they  were  living  there  when  his  father  died.  At  about  the  age 
of  22  years  he  went  to  farming  and  then  carried  the  mail  between  Staunton 
and  Xew  Douglas  for  tv.o  years.  Later  he  accepted  the  agency  at  Xew 
Douglas  for  the  National  and  American  e.xpress  companies,  a  position  he 
filled  for  nine  years.  A  trip  to  Wichita,  Kansas,  resulted  in  his  remaining 
there  two  years,  engaged  in  teaming,  and  he  also  conducted  a  feed  store  for 
six  months  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  Upon  his  return  to  Xew  Douglas,  he 
was  again  engaged  as  express  agent  for  eight  years,  and  then  went  to  Mul- 
berry Grove,  Bond  County,  where  he  carried  on  a  livery  business  for  a  year. 
On  November  8,  1900,  he  removed  to  Staunton  and  bought  the  Carroll  livery 
business  which  he  conducted  two  and  a  half  years  before  selling  it.  For  four 
months  he  was  then  engaged  on  the  road  in  the  interest  of  the  Consolidated 
Coal  Company,  buying  timber  in  Missouri,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Staunton,  and  in  association  with  Joseph  Grove  purchased  the  livery  busi- 
ness of  Cox  &  Schaffer,  the  firm  style  being  Vollentine  &  Grove.  They  are 
the  operators  and  owners  of  one  of  the  best  and  most  complete  livery  concerns 
in  Macoupin  County  and  the  only  one  located  at  Staunton. 

On  October  4,  1877,  Mr.  Vollentine  was  married  to  Amelia  Taylor,  who 
was  born  in  Marion  County,  Illinois,  X^ovember  i,  1858,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Martha  f Smith)  Taylor.  They  have  had  three  children:  Ben- 
jamin; Roscoe,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  and  Willard.  Benjamin 
Vollentine,  who  is  a  painter,  was  married  June  29,  1902,  to  Charlotte  Easley, 
daughter  of  Dr.  J.  T.  Easley,  of  Sterling,  Colorado,  but  now  a  resident  of 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  503 

Carlsbad,  California.     Mr.   and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Vollentine  have  one  child, 
Lehdi  Louise,  born  April  30,   1903. 

In  politics  ]\Ir.  Vollentine  is  a  Republican  and  is  a  school  trustee.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  at  New  Douglas,  he  was  a  city  alderman  and  a  citizen  of 
prominence.  Like  his  father,  he  has  been  active  in  Masonry,  and  belongs 
also  to  the  Woodmen  and  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  With  his  family  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


MRS.  MARY  JANE  GODFREY. 

One  of  the  very  highly  regarded  residents  af  Staunton  is  the  lady  whose 
name  opens  this  sketch.  She  has  always  lived  in  Macoupin  County,  where 
she  was  born  July  18,  1838,  and  is  a  daughter  of  a  pioneer  settler,  Daniel  B. 
Sawyer. 

Mr.  Sawyer  was  born  in  Tyrrell  County,  North  Carolina,  September  24, 
1813,  and  came  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  when  18  years  of  age.  He 
entered  a  large  tract  of  government  land  in  Dorchester  township,  where  he 
passed  tlie  remainder  of  his  life,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  dying  in 
1 88 1.  He  was  a  man  who  was  regarded  with  much  respect,  a  quiet,  law 
abiding  citizen,  and  while  not  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  he  was  a  reg- 
ular attendant  of  it.  He  married  Minervia  Scroggins,  who  was  born  September 
30,  1816,  in  Middle  Tennessee,  near  the  Alabama  line,  and  died  in  Macoupin 
County,  in  1882.  They  had  11  children,  namely:  John,  now  deceased,  who 
was  a  Baptist  minister,  a  graduate  of  Shurtleff  College  at  Alton  and  of  a 
New  York  theological  seminary;  Mary  Jane,  widow  of  Frank  Godfrey; 
Harrison,  a  graduate  of  Shurtleff  College  and  at  one  time  a  minister,  who  is 
farming  in  Oklahoma;  Mrs.  Harriet  E.  Sinclair,  Sarah  E.,  Susan  M.,  William 
T.,  Franklin  P.,  Daniel  E.  and  Addinson,  all  deceased;  and  Dempsey  B., 
who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Dorchester  township. 

Mrs.  Godfrey  was  reared  to  useful  young  wotnanhood  in  Macoupin 
County,  and  attended  the  district  schools.  She  married  Frank  Godfrey  who 
was  born  in  Tyrrell  County,  North  Carolina,  January  14,  1834,  and  was  13 


504  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

years  of  age  \vhen  he  accompanied  his  mother  and  sister  to  Macoupin  County. 
He  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Dinah  (Sawyer)  Godfrey.  Mr.  Godfrey  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1871,  when  he  removed  to  Staunton, 
\\here  he  erected  a  large  three-story  brick  residence  and  engaged  in  hotel 
keeping,  conducting  a  first  class  hostelry,  known  as  the  Godfrey  Hotel,  until 
his  death  which  took  place  August  28,  1880.  Mrs.  Godfrey  continued  to 
operate  a  hotel  until  1893,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Mr.  Godfrey  was  prominent  in  politics  and  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  and  served  as  deputy 
sheriff  for  some  time. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Godfrey  had  three  children,  all  of  whom  survive :  Corne- 
lius, a  banker  in  Staunton,  who  has  been  president  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, with  the  exception  of  two  years,  ever  since  it  was  organized,  about  15 
years  ago;  E.  E.,  the  leading  hardware  merchant  of  Staunton;  and  May,  who 
is  the  wife  of  \\'.  R.  George,  a  prominent  business  man  of  Staunton.  For 
years  the  family  has  been  one  of  prominence  in  the  city  and  closely  identified 
with  its  business  enterprises. 


JOHN   F.  PHELPS. 

John  F.  Phelps,  who  conducts  a  first  class  clothing  and  gents'  furnish- 
ing store  at  Chesterfield,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  in  Lincoln  County, 
Kentucky,  May  i,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  M.  and  Sarah  (Carter) 
Phelps. 

Jeremiah  Phelps  was  born  and  reared  in  Tennessee,  and  removed  to 
Kentucky-  in  1866,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he  came 
to  Illinois  and  located  in  Western  Mound  township,  Macoupin  County,  but 
now,  with  his  wife,  resides  in  Chesterfield  township.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Elijah  Carter,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln  County,  Kentucky.  They  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children,  our  subject  being  the  second  member. 

John  F.  Phelps  was  educated  in  Chesterfield  township  and  at  the  Spring- 
field Business  College.    L^pon  his  return  home,  he  engaged  for  a  short  period 


WILLIAM  L    TRAVERS. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  507 

in  farming  and  then  accepted  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  general  store  in  Chester- 
field. On  September  i,  1894,  he  established  his  present  business  in  Chester- 
field. He  carries  a  large  and  complete  stock  of  clothing,  gents'  furnishing 
goods,  boots,  shoes,  hats  and  caps,  offering  to  his  customers  a  fine  line  to 
choose  from  and  one  that  is  up-to-date  in  every  particular. 

In  May,  1894,  Mr.  Phelps  was  married  to  Mary  Linfoot,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Mary  Linfoot.  She  died  September  22,  1895.  Mr.  Phelps 
married  September  7,  1898,  Bertha  Collins,  who  is  a  daughter  of  L.  C.  and 
Emma  Collins,  the  former  of  whom  is  a  retired  general  merchant.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union:  John  Franklin,  born  June  29,  1899; 
and  Lucile  Collins,  born  August  28,  1891,  deceased  November  17,  1903. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Phelps  is  a  Mason  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  In  politics 
he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  one  of  the  energetic  and 
progressive  business  men  of  his  locality  and  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 


WILLIAM    L  TRAVERS. 

Among  the  many  prominent  and  influential  business  men  of  Macoupin 
County,  nowhere  do  we  find  a  man  possessed  of  better  business  instincts  than 
he  whose  name  heads  this  narrative.  Mr.  Travers,  whose  portrait  accom- 
panies this  sketch,  conducts  a  general  merchandise  store  and  is  also  postmaster 
of  the  village  of  Shipman.  He  was  born  in  Macoupin  County  south  of 
Shipman.  July  7,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  A.  (Loveland) 
Travers. 

William  Travers  was  a  native  of  Somersetshire,  England,  and  came  to 
America  when  18  years  of  age  in  companj'  with  his  parents.  He  located  it 
Shipman,  where  he  purchased  property;  at  his  death  he  owned  a  50-acre  tract 
within  the  corporation  lines  of  the  village,  besides  a  number  of  town  lots 
in  the  village,  including  three  lots  on  which  were  buildings  in  the  business 
portion  of  the  town.  Mr.  Travers  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Loveland.  the 
estimable  daughter  of  Leonard  Loveland,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  The 
Loveland  family  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Shipman  township,  Macoupin 
County,  having  come  to  this  region  when  one  could  drive  for  miles  across 


5oS  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

the  prairie  without  seeing  a  house.  In  1858  Mr.  Loveland  went  to  Pike's 
Peak  during  the  gold  excitement.  After  his  return  to  Macoupin  County  he 
organized  a  company  of  citizens  and  started  to  return  to  Pike's  Peak,  but 
died  while  on  the  trip. 

William  L.  Travers  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Shipman,  and  entered  upon  the  cares  of  a  business  man  in  1890,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business,  which  he  still  continues  with 
the  best  results.  Mr.  Travers  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  and  was 
appointed  postmaster  of  Shipman  on  January  12,  1898,  which  position  he 
still  holds,  having  filled  it  with  remarkable  efficiency.  In  fraternal  circles 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

In  1880  Mr.  Travers  was  married  to  Mary  J.  Utt,  a  daughter  of  Jack- 
son Utt,  of  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  who  came  to  this  State  from  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  namely:  Harry  Everard,  bom 
February  13,  1881,  and  Walter  Elsworth,  born  June  26,  1887. 


FRANK  L.  TUCKER,  D.  D.  S. 

Fraxk  L.  Tucker,  D.  D.  S.,  who  has  been  established  in  Virden,  Ma- 
coupin County,  since  July,  1903,  and  has  already  become  known  for  his  pro- 
fessional skill,  was  born  at  Sycamore,  Illinois.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of 
four  children  born  to  his  parents,  John  and  Mary  (Burton)  Tucker. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Tucker  was  one  of  the  old  and  trusted  engineers  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway  and  continued  in  the  service  as  a  passenger 
engineer  until  the  age  of  74  years.  His  death  took  place  in  1900.  On 
the  maternal  side.  Dr.  Tucker  is  of  English  extraction. 

After  completing  the  common  school  course.  Dr.  Tucker  became  a  stu- 
dent of  denistry  with  Dr.  Westlake,  of  Virden  and  was  there  prepared  for 
entrance  to  the  Marion  Sims  College,  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  was 
graduated  April  9.  1898.  He  settled  for  a  short  time  at  Rood-House,  Illinois, 
and  then  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  three  and  a  half  years,  during 
one  year  of  this  time  having  charge,  under  Dr.  J.  S.  Keefe,  of  the  Chicago 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  509 

Post-Graduate  Dental  College,  a  position  of  responsibility  and  of  great  pro- 
fessional advantage. 

On  November  14,  1895,  Dr.  Tucker  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
B.  Cowen,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Llewellyn  Cowen,  and  a  member  of 
one  of  the  leading  families  of  Virden  and  Macoupin  County.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Lelia  L.,  who  was  born  January  4,  1897. 

Fraternally  Dr.  Tucker  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  being 
connected  with  Lodge  No.  817,  L  O.  O.  F.,  of  Chicago,  and  Pyramid  Lodge, 
No.  288,  K.  of  P.,  of  Virden.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican  and  takes  an 
active  and  intelligent  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  is  very  pleasantly  located 
in  \"irden,  and  he  adopts  in  his  practice  the  most  modern  methods  and  uses 
all  the  latest  appliances.  Like  other  skilled  practitioners,  Dr.  Tucker  under- 
stands much  of  medicine,  and  is  careful  and  judicious  in  the  administration 
of  drugs.  He  has  a  fine  field  of  eft'ort  before  him  in  Virden,  and  has  every 
qualification  to  assure  him  continued  success. 


WILLIAM  F.  HACKMAN. 

Few  names  are  better  known  in  Staunton,  Alacoupin  County,  than  that 
of  Hackman,  the  family  having  been  a  prominent  one  in  business  and  politics 
in  this  locality  for  many  years.  William  F.  Hackman,  of  this  family,  was 
bom  in  Staunton  October  26,  1871,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Dorathea 
(Kruse)  Hackman,  extended  mention  of  whom  will  be  found  in  the  sketch 
of  Mayor  Hackman,  our  subject's  brother,  in  this  work. 

From  the  public  schools,  William  F.  entered  his  father's  business  house, 
and  speedily  mastered  every  trade  represented  by  the  goods  handled.  He 
learned  cabinet-making,  carpentering,  cutting  stone  for  monumental  work, 
carpet  laying,  and  undertaking;  nothing  was  too  large  or  small  and  no  detail 
escaped  his  attention.  Later,  with  his  brother,  he  bought  the  business  and  the 
firm  style  became  Hackman  &  Sons,  although  the  father  had  no  longer  any 
financial  interest.  After  eight  years,  our  subject  sold  his  half  of  the  business 
to  his  brother  and  accepted  the  appointment  of  postmaster,  made  by  the  late 


5IO  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

President  McKinley.  After  four  years  he  resigned,  on  account  of  the  con- 
fining nature  of  the  office,  and  for  six  months  managed  the  Hotel  Quade  for 
his  mother-in-law.  For  one  year  he  operated  a  dapartment  store,  traveled 
considerably  over  the  Western  country  and  then  entered  into  an  extensive  real 
estate  business,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  He  bought  40  acres  of  land  in 
the  city  limits,  which  he  platted  and  sold ;  built  and  sold  the  White  Mountain 
Block  and  many  of  the  fine  residence  properties  throughout  the  city.  He  is 
an  expert  on  real  estate  values  and  handles  much  of  the  most  desirable  prop- 
erty in  his  section,  including  coal  lands  and  mining  properties. 

Mr.  Hackman  was  married  October  4,  1894,  to  Lena  A.  Quade,  who  was 
born  at  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  August  i,  1873,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  (Vogelsang)  Quade,  natives  of  Westphlia,  Prussia. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  them — Hobart  and  Waldo. 

Mr.  Hackman  is  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
has  been  central  committeeman  for  eight  years  and  has  many  times  been  a 
delegate  to  the  Republican  county  conventions.  Fraternally,  he  is  associated 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  United  Mine  Workers  of  America 
and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Staunton.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church. 


JAMES  D.  METCALF,  Jr. 

James  D.  Metcalf,  Jr.,  one  of  the  leading  business  citizens  of  Shipman, 
cashier  of  the  Shipman  Banking  Company,  was  born  in  Girard,  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  in  1871,  and  is  a  son  of  James  D.  and  Brunette  (Mason) 
Metcalf. 

The  Metcalf  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  Macoupin  County  and  is 
of  Kentucky  origin.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  teacher,  later  a  druggist, 
and  still  later  was  engaged  in  banking  at  Girard,  where  he  died  March  22, 
1887,  in  his  52nd  year.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Mason,  of  Greene  County,  Illinois,  who  resided  upon  his  homestead,  located 
between  Carrollton  and  Greenfield,  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Metcalf  died  in 
1883.  aged  49  j'ears. 

James   D.    Metcalf,    Jr.,    was    very   thoroughly   educated,    his    father's 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  511 

large  means  giving  him  exceptional  advantages.  He  was  most  creditably 
graduated  at  the  University  of  Illinois  at  Champaign  in  1893,  and  subse- 
quently spent  a  year  in  enjoyable  travel  through  Arizona  and  California. 
Upon  his  return  to  Girard,  he  entered  the  bank  of  that  place  as  bookkeeper, 
remaining  there  in  that  capacity  until  May  15,  1895,  when  he  removed  to 
Shipman  and  established  the  Shipman  Banking  Company,  of  which  he  is  the 
cashier.  The  other  officers  are  S.  P.  Sanners,  president,  and  Adam  Deahl, 
vice-president.  The  Shipman  Banking  Company  was  established  to  transact 
a  general  banking  business,  to  buy  and  sell  exchange  on  all  the  principal  cities 
in  the  United  States,  and  it  has  a  paid-up  capital  of  $15,000  with  a  surplus  of 
$3,000.  Not  being  incorporated,  the  stockholders  are  individually  liable  for 
deposits,  a  conservative  estimate  of  these  being  $300,000.  The  co-partners 
in  the  business  are :  Joseph  Dodson,  Adam  Deahl,  S.  P.  Sanners,  F.  S.  Shultz, 
J.  M.  Metcalf,  James  D.  Metcalf,  M.  Shultz,  F.  M.  Dodson  and  H.  C.  Hamil- 
ton. The  business  is  in  a  very  flourishing  condition  and  it  ranks  with  any 
financial  institution  of  its  kind  in   this  section  of  the   State. 

In  1898  Mr.  Metcalf  was  married  to  Eugenia  Wolf,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  P.  L.  and  Dora  Woli,  of  Girard,  ]\Iacoupin  County.  One  little  daughter, 
Eugenia,  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  ^letcalf  in  1901.  Fraternally  Mr.  Metcalf 
is  a  Mason  and  he  also  retains  his  membership  with  his  college  Greek  letter 
society.     Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 


GEORGE  H.  WESTLAKE,  D.  D.  S. 

George  H.  Westlake,  D.  D.  S.,  who  served  the  city  of  Virden  as 
mayor  for  five  consecutive  years,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  dentists  of  Ma- 
coupin County,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  September  19,  1856,  and  is  one 
of  a  family  of  six  children  born  to  Dr.  Albert  and  Cornelia  (Carter) 
Westlake. 

Dr.  Albert  Westlake  is  a  prominent  dental  surgeon  of  New  York,  his 
dental  offices,  at  No.  500  Fifth  avenue,  corner  of  42nd  street,  being  the 
largest  and  his  equipment  the  most  complete  of  any  practitioner  in  that 
metropolis.     He  was  instructed  in  dentistry  by  an  old  Quaker  practitioner  in 


512  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  then,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  time, 
traveled  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  some  years.  In  1839  he  became 
established  in  New  York  City  and  as  a  dental  surgeon  has  made  a  great 
reputation. 

Dr.  Westlake,  of  Virden,  was  educated  in  New  York  City  and  was  en- 
couraged by  his  father  to  enter  upon  the  practice  of  dentistry  and  was  in- 
structed by  the  latter  until  he  was  prepared  to  enter  the  New  York  College  of 
Dentistry,  where  he  was  graduated.  After  a  short  term  of  practice  at  Eliza- 
bethtown.  New  Jersey,  in  1879,  Dr.  Westlake  removed  to  Virden,  Macoupin 
County,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Virginia  Squires,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Betsy  Squires,  who  were  the  10th 
family  to  locate  in  Virden.     Dr.  and  Mrs.  Westlake  have  adopted  a  son. 

There  is  no  question  as  to  Dr.  Westlake's  position  as  a  member  of  the 
dental  profession  in  Macoupin  County.  He  possesses  professional  skill  of 
a  high  order  and  has  fitted  up  at  Virden  offices  which  compare  favorably  with 
those  in  much  larger  places.  Here  every  kind  of  dental  work  is  done  and  here 
may  be  found  every  appliance  for  the  work  necessarily  pertaining  to  dental 
surgery.  Dr.  Westlake's  equipments  include  the  modern  inventions  which  no 
more  make  a  visit  to  a  dentist  one  of  dread.  He  has  been  particalarly  success- 
ful in  the  management  and  treatment  of  the  dental  troubles  of  children. 

Ever  since  locating  at  Virden,  Dr.  Westlake  has  taken  a  public  spirited 
interest  in  the  place,  and  has  been  honored  on  many  occasions  with  marks  of 
public  appro\al.  He  served  one  term  as  supervisor  of  Virden  townsh.ip  and 
ably  filled  the  office  of  mayor  during  1899.  1900,  1901,  1902  and  1903 — rather 
a  remarkable  record. 

Fraternally  Dr.  ^^'estlake  is  a  Mnson  and  Knight  Templar.  The  family 
belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


CHARLES   F.  HACKMAN. 

Charles  F.  Hackman,  mayor  of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  and  a 
prominent  citizen  of  both  city  and  county,  was  born  at  Staunton.  October  13, 
1864.     He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Dorathea  (Kruse)  Hackman. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  513 

The  Hackman  family  originated  in  Prussia,  Germany.  There  tiie 
grandfather  of  the  Hackmans  of  Illinois,  Stephen  Hackman,  was  born  in 
1797,  followed  an  agricultural  life,  and  died  aged  84  years.  He  married 
Elizabeth  ^leyer,  who  was  born  in  1808,  and  died  in  1866  in  her  native 
land.  The  children  of  Stephen  and  Elizabeth  Hackman  were:  Elizabeth, 
who  still  resides  in  the  old  countrj',  aged  80  years ;  Katherine,  whp  came  to 
America,  married  Henrj'  Witte,  and  died  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Mrs.  2^Iar- 
garet  Hadderfield,  who  died  in  Germany ;  Henry,  father  of  Charles  F. ; 
Fritz,  a  retired  farmer  in  Germany;  and  two  who  died  young. 

Henrj-  Hackman  was  bom  April  8,  1836,  and  came  to  America  when 
iS  years  of  age,  sailing  from  Bremen  for  New  Orleans  in  the  vessel  "Autin," 
and  reaching  port  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks.  He  worked  for  two  years 
in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  as  an  employee  of  the  Eiler  Furniture  Company,  and 
then,  in  1858,  removed  to  Staunton,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  For 
25  years  he  worked  here  at  cabinet-making  and  then  founded  the  business 
which  is  owned  at  present  b}-  his  son,  Charles  F.  This  is  one  of  the  old  and 
firmly  established  houses  and  was  conducted  at  first  under  the  firm  stjle  of 
H  Hackman,  then  of  Hackman  &  Sons,  and  now  of  Charles  F.  Hackman. 
Mr.  Hackman  has  been  one  of  the  useful  citizens  of  Staunton.  He  is  a  typi- 
cal representative  of  the  well  educated  German-American  citizen,  retaining 
all  the  characteristics  which  make  his  countrymen  valued  in  ever}'  land,  and 
supporting  with  vigor  and  honesty  the  laws  under  which  he  Ii\es,  assisting  in 
their  making  and  taking  pride  in  the  well  being  of  the  community  in  which 
he  has  lived  so  many  years.  He  has  served  in  the  city  council  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  For  a  long,  period  Mr.  Hackman  has  been  a 
leading  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  in  which  he  is  a  deacon.  Since 
the  Civil  War,  he  has  been  identified  in  politics  with  the  Republican  party. 

In  1859  Henn,-  Hackman  married  Dorathea  Kruse,  \\ho  was  bom  in 
1839  in  Holstein,  Germany.  ^Irs.  Hackman  came  to  America  in  the  fall 
of  1856,  accompanying  her  brothers  and  sisters.  Three  children,  all  of 
whom  are  residents  of  Staunton,  were  born  to  this  union,  namely :  Charles 
F..  William  F.,  and  Mrs.  Emma  Ott. 

Charles  F.  Hackman  passed  a  boyhood  identical  with  that  of  many 
other  youths  of  his  age,  attending  school  and  finding  amusement  in  youthful 
sports  and  pastimes,  reaching  the  age  of  16  years  probably  with  more  quick- 
ened mental  faculties  than  if  his  rearing  had  been  on  the  farm.    He  then 


514  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

entered  his  father's  store  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  and  remained  as  such, 
learning  every  detail  of  the  business,  until  he  was  28  years  old,  after  which, 
in  association  with  his  brother,  \Villiam  F.  Hackman,  he  operated  the  busi- 
ness for  10  years,  then  admitted  Max  Ott,  his  brother-in-law,  to  partnership, 
finally  in  September,  1903,  becoming  sole  owner.  Mr.  Hackman  deals  in 
furniture,  pianos  and  organs,  sewing  machines,  and  marble  and  granite 
tombstones,  also  has  a  large  undertaking  business ;  while  the  house  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  oldest,  it  has  also  a  settled  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
most  reliable  in  the  southeastern  section  of  the  county.  Mr.  Hackman  does 
much  of  his  own  designing  for  the  ornamentation  used  in  his  stone  cutting, 
in  the  decoration  of  tombstones.  He  is  a  skilled  draughtsman  and,  although 
not  educated  in  this  line,  does  architectural  draughting  with  so  much  ac- 
curacy that  his  designs  for  two  water-ways  for  the  city  reservoir  were  ac- 
cepted, and  also  for  the  city  bridge,  which  crosses  the  "branch"  and  was  the 
first  concrete  bridge  in  the  vicinity.  He  also  drew  the  plans  for  the  business 
block  which  he  occupies,  and  for  two  of  the  most  attractive  residences  in 
Staunton.  Had  circumstances  not  made  Mr.  Hackman  the  head  of  a  large 
commercial  house  and  placed  him  in  the  most  honorable  municipal  position, 
he  might  easliy  have  earned  reputation  with  his  pencil  in  some  metropolitan 
center. 

In  June,  1895,  ^^^-  Hackman  married  Bertha  Utiger,  who  was  born  in 
Madison  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Robert  D.  and 
Susan  (Leef)  Utiger.  Two  daughters  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hackman — Dorathea  and   Hazel. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Hackman,  Hon.  Robert  D.  Utiger,  was  for  years 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  and  substantial  farmers  of  Madison  County, 
Illinois,  owning  200  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land,  and  serving  his  fellow 
citizens  in  many  responsible  public  offices.  He  was  born  in  Madison  County, 
Illinois,  in  1841,  was  liberally  educated  and  from  young  manhood  took  a 
deep  interest  in  politics.  He  was  a  zealous  advocate  of  Democratic  principles 
and  was  chosen  by  his  party  to  fill  many  offices.  For  five  years  he  was 
supervisor,  for  six  years  justice  of  the  peace,  for  12  years  was  postmaster  of 
Alhambra,  and  in  1882  was  selected  as  his  party's  standard-bearer  in  the 
House  of  Representatives,  from  the  41st  Assembly  District.  His  death  took 
place  at  his  home,  on  February  20,  1890.     Three  children  survive:  Louise, 


AIACOUPIN    COUNTY. 


513 


wife  of  A.  Hitz,  of  Alhambra,  Illinois;  Bertha,  wife  of  Mayor  llackman; 
and  David,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

In  political  sentiment.  Mr.  Hackman  is  a  Republican.  In  April,  1903, 
he  was  elected  by  that  party  mayor  of  Staunton,  an  oflice  he  fills  with  dignity 
and  efficiency.  The  same  attention  to  details  and  the  careful  and  thoughtful 
management,  given  to  his  own  business  with  so  much  success,  characterize 
the  attitude  of  Mayor  Hackman  in  public  life.  He  gives  the  people  a  clean, 
economic,  but  progressive  administration  and  finds  friends  and  supporters 
on  every  hand  among  those  who  have  the  true  welfare  of  the  city  at  heart. 


THOMAS  H.  CHERRY. 

TnoM.AS  H.  Cherry,  vice-president  of  the  People's  Bank,  at  Girard, 
Macoupin  County,  and  one  of  the  city's  leading  citizens,  was  born  July  17, 
1854,  in  Macoupin  County,  and  is  one  of  the  family  of  four  children  born  to 
the  late  Thomas  C.  Cherry  and  wife.  The  father  of  Mr.  Cherry  was  a 
large  land-owner  and  successful  stockman,  and  was  the  first  mayor  of  the 
city  of  Girard. 

Thomas  H.  Cherry  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
spent  many  years  in  the  growing  and  shipping  of  stock,  in  connection  with 
extensive  agricultural  operations.  On  January  i,  1902,  Mr.  Cherry  became 
associated  with  the  People's  Bank,  at  Girard,  succeeding  S.  Owen  Smith,  its 
present  president,  in  the  office  of  vice-president.  Mr.  Cherry  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  directing  board  of  this  institution  and  one  of  its  most  careful  and 
conservative  advisers. 

On  May  17,  1877,  Air.  Cherry  was  married  to  Florence  Adella  Post, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Macoupin  County,  and 
they  have  had  five  children:  Thomas  Alfred  and  Lora  D.,  deceased;  and 
Clarence  S.,  Elizabeth  and  Adella.  The  family  belong  to  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Girard. 

Since  making  his  home  in  Girard,  Mr.  Cherry  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  public  affairs  and  has  served  the  city  two  terms  as  a  member 

29 


5i6  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

of  its  council.  For  20  years  he  has  been  a  vahieil  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  and  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  all  public  spirited  movements 
tending  to  the  advancement  of  education  or  morality.  Mr.  Cherry  is  a 
zealous  champion  of  prohibition  and  has  voted  the  ticket  of  the  Prohibition 
party  for  some  years.  He  occupies  a  prominent  position  in  the  city's  busi- 
ness, public  and  social  circles  and  is  in  every  way  one  of  its  representative 
men. 


JOHN  EDWARD  WALTON,  M.  D. 

John  Edward  Walton,  M.  D.,  a  prominent  practicing  physician  at 
Medora,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  December  22,  1867,  at  Brighton,  Ma- 
coupin County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Edward  \\^  and  Hester  C.  (Eber- 
man)  Walton. 

Edwartl  W.  Walton  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Illinois,  and  is  now  a 
prominent  retired  farmer  residing  at  Miles  Station,  Illinois.  On  August  7, 
1861,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Edward  W.  Walton  enlisted  in 
Company  A,  130th  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  and  during  his  long  term  of  serv- 
ice, which  terminated  August  7,  1865,  he  was  never  cither  captured  or 
wounded,  although  he  participated  in  15  engagements  and  on  many  other 
ocasions  was  in  great  danger.  He  took  part  in  the  siege  of  V'icksburg,  Span- 
ish Fort,  Sabine  Cross  Roads  and  Cane  River  and  was  with  the  Red  River 
expedition.  During  two  years  and  si.K  months  he  served  as  special  hospital 
steward  and  during  this  time  was  associated  with  Dr.  C.  B.  Johnson,  of 
Champaign,  Illinois,  who  was  recently  elected  president  of  the  State  Board 
of  Health.  The  mother  of  Dr.  Walton  was  also  born  in  Monroe  County  and 
she  became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  our  subject  being  the  second  son. 

Dr.  Walton  obtained  his  education  in  the  common  and  high  schools  at 
Brighton  and  then  entered  what  was  formerly  the  Marion  Sims  Medical 
College  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  but  is  now  the  medical  department  of  the 
L'niversity  of  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  graduated  April  10,  1897,  ^fter  an 
attendance  of  three  years.  He  immediately  located  at  Medora,  his  capital  at 
that  time  being  composed  of  a  horse  and  buggy,  $50  in  cash,  an  educated 
mind  and  trained  hand  and  faculties.  The  success  that  has  attended  him  is 
the  best  testimonial  to  his  worth. 


MACOUPIN   COUNTY.  517 

In  1892  Dr.  Walton  was  married  to  Mollie  B.  Simpson,  of  an  old 
pioneer  family,  wlio  is  a  daughter  of  F.  B.  and  Marietta  B.  (Parker)  Simp- 
son, and  one  son,  Franklin  Edward,  was  born  to  this  marriage,  on  August 
15,  1902. 

F.  B.  Simpson,  father  of  Mrs.  Walton,  was  bom  Januarj'  5,  1827,  in 
Rappahannock  County,  Virginia,  and  was  a  son  of  Hendley  and  Elizabeth 
(Farrow)  Simpson,  the  former  of  whom  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia,  al- 
though of  Scotch  ancestry.  In  1S34  Hendley  Simpson  came  to  Illinois, 
F.  B.  being  then  nine  years  of  age.  The  family  settled  on  a  tract  of  217 
acres  of  improved  land  in  Chesterfield  township,  Macoupin  County,  which 
farm  came  into  the  possession  of  F.  B.  Simpson,  who  rented  it  in  1899,  and 
resided  with  Dr.  Walton  at  Medora  until  liis  death,  January  25,  1904.  F.  B. 
Simpson  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  \'irginia  and  of  Chesterfield 
township  and  devoted  his  life  to  farming.  On  January  5,  1837,  he  married 
Marietta  B.  Parker,  a  daughter  of  Joel  and  Miriam  (Haycraft)  Parker,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  \'irg^nia  and  the  latter  in  Kentucky,  to  which 
State  the  Parkers  removed  at  a  later  date.  In  1834  Joel  Parker  and  wife 
came  to  Illinois  and  took  up  government  land  in  Shipman  township,  Ma- 
coupin County.  This  farm  Benjamin  E.  Parker  recently  sold  and  retired  to 
Medora.  The  eight  sur\-iving  children  of  F.  B.  Simpson  are:  Ann  C,  wife 
of  Andrew  Steed ;  Harriet  C,  wife  of  William  J.  Bell ;  Cornelia,  wife  of  John 
Robbins ;  S.  F.,  who  married  Nancy  Eggelston ;  S.  Elmer,  who  married 
Martha  V.  Andrews ;  Julia ;  E.  L.,  who  married  Emma  Keele ;  and  Mollie 
B.,  wife  of  Dr.  Walton.  Both  Mrs.  Walton  and  her  mother  belong  to  the 
Baptist  Church,  but  Dr.  W^alton  was  reared  a  Methodist.  He  is  a  Mason. 
The  whole  family  is  more  or  less  identified  with  temperance  work,  and  Dr. 
Walton  casts  his  vote  with  the  Prohibition  part}-. 


ELVIN  ELLET  GODFREY. 

El\in  Ellet  Godfrey,  senior  member  of  the  hardware  firm  of  God- 
frey &  George,  a  leading  business  house  of  Staunton,  was  born  December  i, 
1856,  in  what  is  now  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County.  Illinois,  and 
is  a  son  of  Franklin  and  Mary  Jane  (Sawyer)  Godfrey. 


5i8  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Franklin  Godfrey  was  born  in  Nortli  Carolina,  where  he  lived  until 
he  was  13  years  of  age.  His  father  died  when  he  was  young,  and  the  lad 
decided  to  come  to  Illinois  with  his  mother,  his  determination  not  being 
changed  by  the  fact  that  it  wnuld  necessarily  entail  walking  the  whole  dis- 
tance. His  subsequent  life  displayed  the  same  strength  of  character,  and  he 
became  not  only  a  successful  farmer,  but  also  a  man  of  prominence  in  the 
political  affairs  of  Macoupin  County.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and, 
although  a  man  of  little  book  education,  was  of  such  sound  judgment  and 
upright  character,  that  he  was  repeatedly  elected  to  public  office  and  served 
for  a  considerable  time  as  deputy  sheriff.  He  gave  his  children  the  educa- 
tional opportunities  that  his  youth  had  lacked,  and  was  a  strong  advocate  of 
the  public  schools.  His  death  took  place  at  Staunton  in  1880.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Jane  Sawyer,  who  was  born  in  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin 
County,  Illinois,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Staunton.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  B.  and  Minerva  Sawyer,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  and  the  latter  in  Tennessee,  and  came  to  this  county  in  181 8.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Godfrey  reared  three  children,  viz.  Cornelius,  of  Staunton,  Macou- 
pin County;  Elvin  Ellet,  of  this  sketch;  and  Mae  G.,  the  wife  of  William  R. 
George,  the  juniur  member  of  the  hardware  lirm  of  Godfrey  &  George. 

Elvin  Ellet  Godfrey  lived  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  15  years  of 
age  and  then  accompanied  his  parents  to  Staunton,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  was  given  excellent  educational  advantages,  attending  the  public 
schools  until  1874,  and  then  entering  Blackburn  University  at  Carlinville, 
where  he  spent  two  years.  His  business  career  began  as  traveling  salesman 
for  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Machine  Company,  with  which  he  was  as.sociated 
five  years,  subsequently  entering  into  the  hardware  business,  as  a  silent  part- 
ner with  Williamson,  George  &  Company.  In  the  fall  of  1888  the  present 
firm  was  formed,  and  the  business  has  grown  into  one  of  the  important 
houses  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Godfrey  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  In 
the  spring  of  1891,  the  village  charter  was  changed  to  a  city  charter.  Mr. 
Godfrey  was  the  last  village  president,  and  was  elected  the  first  city  mayor, 
an  ofifice  to  which  he  was  continuously  re-elected  for  the  succeeding  10  years, 
five  times  being  elected  unanimously,  and  serving  two  terms  with  such  gen- 
eral approbation  that  no  opposition  ticket  was  in  the  field.  That  Mr.  Gofl- 
frey  had  many  things  to  contend  with  during  his  long  administration,  may 


MACOUPLX    COUNT V.  519 

be  imagined  when  it  is  recalled  that  during  this  time  the  water  works  were 
built  and  the  electric  light  plant  was  installed.  Both  these  improvements  are 
owned  by  the  city.  In  addition  to  this  civic  prominence,  Mr.  Godfrey  has 
capably  served  in  many  local  offices  and  has  many  times  been  sent  a  delegate 
to  conventions.  His  party  services  have  been  important  and  they  have 
been  appreciated. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Godfrey  married  Calla  Milton,  who  was  born  March  i, 
1861,  in  Bunker  Hill,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  E.  S.  Milton,  a  prominent 
physician  of  Bunker  Hill,  Illinois. 


VVlLLI.AiM  LINCOLN  McBRlEN,  M.  D. 

William  Lixcolx  McBriex,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  prominent  medical 
practitioners  of  Macoupin  County,  who  has  been  located  at  Staunton  since 
1898,  was  born  April  28,  1865,  near  Toronto,  Canada,  in  the  little  city  of 
Oshawa,  a  port  on  Lake  Ontario.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  William  F.  and  Esther 
Ann  (Fisher)  McBrien. 

Dr.  McBrien  comes  of  a  family  which  for  generations  has  been  distin- 
guished in  the  professions  and  sciences.  His  grandfather.  James  McBrien, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  became  an  officer  in  the  engineer  corps  of  the  British 
Army,  and  aid-de-camp  to  Lord  Brisbane.  He  OAvned  property  which  is  now 
the  site  of  the  city  of  Brisbane,  New  South  Wales,  which,  had  it  been  pre- 
served to  his  family,  would  bring  them  millions.  His  death  was  caused  by 
cholera,  while  on  his  way  to  Australia,  but  not  before  he  had  made  his  mark 
in  his  profession.  His  children  were :  Australia,  who  is  a  pensioned  school 
teacher  living  in  Ontario;  \\'illiam  F.,  father  of  Dr.  McBrien:  James,  who  is 
a  public  school  inspector  of  Ontario,  having  held  the  office  for  the  past  30 
years;  Mrs.  Louisa  McMillen.  of  Oshawa,  Canada;  Dr.  Alfred  N..  deceased; 
and  Mrs.  Dina  Hickey,  of  Detroit.  Michigan. 

Dr.  William  F.  McBrien  was  born  in  1826,  near  Enniskillen,  Ireland. 
and  in  1834  accompanied  his  widowed  mother  to  Canada,  and  resided  in  the 
Dominion  until  within  si.x  months  of  his  death,  which  took  place  in  East 


520  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

St.  Louis,  Illinois,  June  17,  1903.  Possessed  of  little  means  but  much  am- 
bition and  the  family  talent,  he  worked  on  farms  until  he  earned  enough  to 
provide  him  with  a  complete  medical  education.  He  was  graduated  from  the 
Rolph  INIedical  School  in  1866,  and  later  from  \"ictoria  University,  both  in- 
stitutions of  Toronto,  Canada.  After  two  years  of  practice  at  East  Whitby, 
he  went  to  London,  England,  spending  three  years  at  the  Royal  College  of 
Surgeons,  of  which  he  became  a  member.  For  40  years  he  practiced  at 
Oshawa  and  Toronto,  attaining  eminence  in  the  profession.  He  married 
Esther  Ann  Fisher,  who  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Content  (Col- 
ton)  Fisher,  who  were  natives  of  New  England.  Her  grandmother,  Sarah 
Demouth,  was  one  of  the  devoted  women  who  gave  their  services  during  the 
Revolutionary  War  as  nurses  of  sick  and  wounded  patriots,  and  she  was  de- 
tailed to  take  care  of  General  Washington  at  one  time. 

Dr.  McBrien  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  Ixirn  to  his  parents 
viz. :  Louisa,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  S.  Patterson,  of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois :  Dr. 
James  G.,  of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois;  William  Lincoln,  of  this  sketch;  Dr. 
Alfred  Australia,  health  officer  of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  and  son-in-law  of 
Judge  Cook,  ma)'or  of  that  city ;  Clara  Content,  a  resident  of  East  St.  Louis, 
Illinois;  Richard,  a  student  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of 
St.  Louis.  Missouri;  and  Josephine  V.,  of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois. 

Dr.  William  Lincoln  McBrien  completed  the  common  school  and  high 
school  courses  at  Oshawa,  Canada,  and  then  entered  Trinity  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Toronto,  where  he  remained  three  years.  His  vacations  were  spent 
in  healthful  farm  work,  but  his  aims  were  continually  directed  to  making 
progress  in  his  chosen  profession.  In  1894  he  passed  the  examinations  which 
entitled  him  to  be  a  hospital  steward  in  the  L'^nited  States  Regular  Army,  and 
he  was  detailed  at  New  York  harbor,  and  after  three  years  and  three  months 
of  service,  was  honorably  discharged  in  September.  1897,  at  Fort  Sheridan. 
Illinois.  He  then  spent  six  months  in  the  Midwifery  and  Lying-in-Hospital, 
at  Toronto,  Canada,  and  then  spent  a  year  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  at  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  obtaining  his  medical  degree  from  this  insti- 
tution in  1898,  Following  this,  he  took  a  summer  post-graduate  course  at 
Toronto,  and  then  settled  at  Staunton,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  suc- 
cessful practice  ever  since. 

In  1897  Dr.  McBrien  was  united  in  marriage  with  Annie  Low,  who  is 


MACOUnX    COL'XTY.  521 

a  daughter  of  John  Low.  an  alderman  of  the  city  of  Toronto.     Two  sons 
have  been  bom  to  this  marriage — WiUiam  B.  and  James  A. 

Despite  his  Canadian  birth.  Dr.  McBrien  is  an  American  citizen,  but 
takes  only  a  moderate  interest  in  politics,  casting  his  vote  more  for  the  sup- 
port and  administration  of  good  laws  than  in  the  interest  of  any  party.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  nn  Odd  Fellow  and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  is  in  active  co-operation  with  these  bodies  in  Staunton. 


JOHN  R.  CAVENDER. 

John  R.  Cavender,  one  of  the  prominent  residents  and  substantial  and 
extensive  farmers  of  Macoupin  County,  owning  458  acres  of  fine  land  in 
section  i,  Gillespie  township,  and  80  acres  in  section  27,  Brushy  Mound 
township,  was  bom  in  Bunker  Hill  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
November  13.  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  David  X.  and  Eliza  J.  (Stockton) 
Cavender. 

Mr.  Cavender  comes  of  Revolutionan,-  stock,  his  great-grandfather 
ser\-ing  during  tlie  W'ar  for  Independence.  His  grandfather,  Charles  Cav- 
ender, belonged  to  the  general  m.uster  of  militia  in  later  years.  The  latter 
was  bom  in  X^ew  Hampshire,  in  the  vicinity  of  Concord,  and  died  in  Ma- 
coupin County.  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  84  years.  He  v.as  married  five  limes, 
his  oldest  son,  David  X'..  being  the  only  child  of  his  first  union,  the  mother 
djing  in  giving  him  birth. 

David  X'.  Cavender  was  14  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
from  Xew  Hampshire  to  Macoupin  County.  His  father  settled  at  Bunker 
Hill  which  was  then  called  WoU  Ridge.  He  bought  a  farm  of  240  acres 
from  the  man  who  entered  the  land,  paying  $5.25  per  acre,  all  of  it  being  un- 
turned prairie  with  the  exception  of  So  acres  in  Brashy  Mound  township.  He 
improved  this  land  and  at  the  time  of  death  was  accoimted  a  man  of  ample 
fortime.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  belonged  to  the  Anti-Horse 
Thief  Associntion.  He  married  Eliza  J.  Stockton,  who  v.as  born  in  Cum- 
berland County,  Kentucky,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Davis  Stockton  who  was 
a  pioneer  of  Macoupin  Count}'.     Our  subject  is  one  of  eight  children  nnd 


522  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

the  eldest,  the  others  being :  Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years ;  ]\Irs. 
Lucy  Grimes,  who  Hves  with  our  subject  with  her  three  children — William. 
Walter  and  Ruth ;  Maggie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years ;  Mrs.  Jane  Hud- 
dleston,  of  Gillespie,  Macoupin  County;  Calista.  who  died  young;  Ellen,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  34  years;  and  Mrs.  Mary  Halpin,  of  Gillespie,  Macoupin 
County. 

Our  subject  is  almost  a  lifelong  resident  of  Macoupin  County,  having 
come  here  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Reared  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  he  has 
successfully  followed  these  occupations,  taking  pride  in  breeding  the  best 
stock  and  in  taking  the  lead  in  his  farming  operations.  He  has  given  the 
greater  part  of  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  stock  and  has  a  large  herd  of 
full-blooded  Durham  and  Hereford  cattle,  about  130  head,  which  he  breeds, 
feeds  and  ships,  and  also  120  head  of  Poland-China  hogs,  and  many  horses 
and  mules,  keeping  30  head  of  draft  horses.  His  leading  crops  are  corn,  oats 
and  hay.  For  the  past  30  years  he  has  also  operated  several  threshing  ma- 
chines, and  thus  covers  almost  every  line  of  agricultural  activity. 

In  politics  ^Ir.  Cavender  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Anti-Horse  Thief  Association.  Mr.  Cavender  has  never 
married.  He  is  a  man  of  the  greatest  reliability  and  one  who  has  devoted 
himself  closely  to  business,  making  the  most  of  his  opportunities  and  setting 
an  example  in  thrift  and  in  progressive  methods. 


MRS.  HANNAH  M.  BOSWELL. 

Mrs.  Hannah  'M.  Boswkll,  widow  of  the  late  John  M.  Boswell,  was 
born  at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County,  June  2,  1854,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Vincent  and  Rhoda  (Bird)  Smith.  ]\Irs.  Boswell  resides  on  her  excellent 
farm  in  Hilyard  township,  and  is  widely  known  in  social  and  religious 
circles. 

John  ]\I.  Boswell  was  born  in  London,  England,  October  24,  1845,  and 
was  a  son  of  John  George  and  Ann  (Nightengale)  Boswell,  both  natives 
of  England,  the  former  of  whom  is  now  living  in  the  village  of  Shipman, 


CORNELIUS  GODFREY. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  525 

Macoupin  County.  Jolin  M.  Bosivcll  came  to  America  when  four  years  of 
age  in  company  with  his  parents,  landing  at  New  Orleans,  and  proceeding 
to  Alton,  Illinois.  From  there  they  moved  to  Woodburn,  Macoupin  County, 
whence  after  a  short  time  they  rcmovLHl  lo  Hilyard  township,  where  Mr. 
Boswell  engaged  in  farming,  at  which  he  continued  until  his  death.  Mr. 
Boswell  operated  a  farm  consisting  of  760  acres,  situated  in  sections  17, 
18.  19  and  20,  Hilyard  township,  the  farm  being  known  as  the  "Hazel 
Ridge  Farm."  He  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  the  raising  of 
cattle  and  sheep,  being  one  of  the  largest  shippers  of  his  community.  For 
many  years  he  conducted  a  dairy  farm.  In  the  early  years  of  his  life  Mr. 
Boswell  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  but  in  later  years  became 
a  Prohibitionist.  Mr.  Boswell  was  a  great  home  lover  and  took  much  in- 
terest in  his  home  and  family.  He  was  a  selfmade  man  and  accumulated 
the  fine  estate,  the  benefits  of  which  are  now  enjoyed  by  his  widow.  Mr. 
Boswell  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  did  much  as 
a  liberal  supporter  of  that  church.  He  died  October  18,  1903,  and  was  sur- 
vived by  his  widow,  the  subject  of  this  brief  notice,  and  five  children,  namely: 
Nellie  Mabel;  Bessie  Nightengale;  Pauline  Bird;  Hattie  Irene,  and  Myrtle 
Katherine,  all  of  whom  reside  on  the  homestead  with  their  mother. 


CORNELIUS  GODFREY. 

Cornelius  Godfrey,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Staunton,  Illinois, 
for  many  years  identified  with  public  affairs  and  prominent  in  business  life, 
has  been  a  member  of  the  well  known  banking  firm  of  Wall  &  Company  since 
March,  1902.  Mr.  Godfrey  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Dorchester 
township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  June  29,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Franklin 
and  Mary  Jane  (Sawyer)  Godfrey. 

Franklin  Godfrey  was  born  in  Tyrrell  County.  North  Carolina,  and  died 
in  Staunton,  Illinois,  in  1880,  aged  48  years.  He  had  come  to  the  State  when 
13  years  old,  acompanying  his  widowed  mother.  His  business  was  farming 
and  hotel  keeping,  and  he  was  also  prominent  in  Democratic  politics.     He 


526  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

liuilt  the  best  hotel  then  conducted  at  Staunton,  which  he  operated  until  his 
death.  He  held  a  number  of  the  local  offices,  was  deputy  sheriff,  deputy 
assessor,  and  filled  other  positions,  always  with  credit.  He  married  Mary 
jane  Sawyer,  who  was  born  in  Macoupin  County,  and  they  had  three  chil- 
dren :  Cornelius,  of  this  sketch;  Elvin  Ellct,  a  merchant  of  Staunton,  Ma- 
coupin County;  and  May  G.,  wife  of  William  R.  George. 

The  early  life  of  Mr.  Godfrey  was  that  of  a  bright,  intelligent,  ambitious 
youth,  whose  aspirations  led  him  beyond  the  mere  tilling  of  the  soil.  He 
attended  school  whene\er  it  was  jwssible  to  escape  the  pressing  work  on  the 
farm,  and  in  1871  moved  into  Staunton  to  become  a  student  in  the  city  schools. 
In  1873  he  entered  Blackburn  University,  at  Carlinville.  After  two  years  of 
collegiate  training,  he  began  to  teach  school  and  later  was  made  assistant 
principal  of  the  Staunton  schools.  After  taking  a  commercial  course  in  St. 
Louis,  which  he  completed  in  December,  1880.  he  went  to  Carlinville,  January 
I,  1881,  in  the  capacity  of  deputy  sheriff  and  served  under  Sheriff  J.  1". 
Sunderlin.  In  1883  he  returned  to  Staunton,  and  became  connected  with 
the  firm  of  Williamson,  George  &  Compan}-,  which  bought  the  F.  R.  Fritz 
hardware  store.  He  continued  in  the  hardware  business  until  after  the  first 
election  of  President  Cleveland.  He  was  then  appointed  postmaster  of  Staun- 
ton and  held  the  office  about  five  )-ears,  after  which  he  bought  the  drug  busi- 
ness of  A.  W.  Buchheit,  with  Mr.  Eslaman,  and  the  business  was  conducted 
under  the  firm  style  of  Eslaman  &  Godfrey  until  President  Cleveland's  second 
election,  when  he  was  reappointed  postmaster  and  served  as  such  more  than 
four  years.  After  a  few  years  of  rest  from  Ijusiness  care,  in  March,  1902,  he 
became  a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  Wail  &  Company,  with  W.  P.  Wall 
as  president,  and  himself  as  cashier. 

Mr.  Godfrey  has  been  very  promin.ent  in  political  life  in  ?.lacnu]iii' 
County.  He  served  for  two  years  as  deputy  sheriff,  was  elected  in  1S83  a 
supervisor  of  Staunton  township  and  served  three  terms,  in  the  meantime 
having  been  appointed  postmaster  by  President  Cleveland  in  1885,  and  was 
re-elected  supervisor  just  before  his  term  of  office  as  postmaster  expired. 
He  also  served  two  terms  as  township  collector.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee.  Mr.  Godfrey  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  public  schools  and  for  a  number  of  years  Iv;; 
been  president  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  is  the  present  incumbent. 

On  May  2,  1888,  Mr.  Godfrey  was  married  to  Libby  M.  Wall,  vho  was 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  527 

I)orn  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Hampton 
W.  Wall.  They  have  two  sons.  Wall  and  P'raiilc,  Imth  students  in  the  city 
schools. 

Mr.  Godfrey  has  been  interested  in  fraternal  life  since  he  was  21  years 
of  age,  when  he  joined  Welcome  Lodge,  No.  396,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  but  since  the 
surrender  of  its  charter,  in  1880,  he  has  been  a  member  of  Staunton  Lodge, 
No.  685,  in  which  he  has  passed  the  chairs  and  been  secretary  for  15  years. 
He  is  a  master  Mason,  belonging  to  Staunton  Lodge,  No.  177  (of  which  he 
has  been  secretary  for  many  years),  a  member  of  St.  Omar  Conimandery, 
No.  30,  K.  T.,  of  Litchfield;  and  a  charter  meml^er  of  Orient  Lodge,  No.  95. 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Carlinxille.  Mr.  Godfrey's  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch. 


HENRY  MILLER. 


Henry  Miller,  one  of  the  leading  and  most  substantial  busiiiess  men 
of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  at  Luibbake,  Prussia,  Germany, 
August  31,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Charlotte  (Hift'niann)   Miller. 

William  Miller  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  followed  this  business 
both  before  and  after  he  came  to  Aaiv:i!ca  in  December,  1857.  His  wife  died 
in  Germany  in  1856.  He  died  at  Staunton,  Macoupin  County.  Illinois, 
March  4,  1884.  Two  children  survived,  namely:  Henry,  of  this  sketch,  and 
Johanna,  who  is  the  wife  of  August  Dingerson,  of  Staunton  township,  Ma- 
coupin County. 

Henry  Miller  was  17  years  of  age  when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  ocean  in 
the  sailing  ship  "Minerva,"  reaching  New  Orleans  in  time  to  witness  what 
v/as  to  him  a  very  novel  exhibition,  the  celebrating  of  the  Fourth  of  July 
b\'  the  negroes.  He  had  learned  the  butchering  business  in  his  own  country 
and  found  work  at  Columbia,  Monroe  County,  Illinois.  In  1855  he  first 
1.' cated  in  Staunton,  but  remained  but  a  few  months,  going  then  to  Madison 
County,  where  he  worked  with  Archibald  Hoxsey  for  two  years.  In  185S 
he  located  a  second  time  in  Staunton,  where  he  started  a  butchering  business 
for  himself,  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  e\-er  since.  This  enterprise  Mr. 
Miller  built  up  from  the  very  bottom,  a  work  which  recpiired  perseverance, 


528  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

ability  and  economy.  Now  he,  with  his  five  sons  in  partnership  witli  him, 
about  controls  the  retail  trade  of  the  city,  owning  large  slaughter  houses 
and  supplying  the  greater  part  of  the  meat  used  in  the  vicinity.  One  of  the 
pioneer  business  men,  Mr.  INIiiler  has  been  also  one  of  the  most  important 
and  most  successful.  He  owns,  in  addition  to  his  abbatoir,  the  Miller  Block, 
wliich  he  built  and  where  his  retail  business  is  carried  on,  and  a  magnificent, 
improved  farm  of  190  acres  lying  partly  in  and  partly  without  the  city 
limits,  besides  950  acres  in  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County.  His 
large  brick  residence  is  a  lantl-mark  which   attracts  general   attention. 

In  1862  Mr.  Miller  married  Louisa  Langewich,  who  was  torn  De- 
cember 21,  1842,  in  Luibbake,  Germany,  being  one  of  a  family  of  12  chil- 
dren boni  to  Charles  and  Caroline  Langewich.  She  came  to  America  with 
her  parents  in  1848.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  10  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living  at  this  date,  namely:  Henry,  Louis,  Emma  (wife  of  Oscar  Gosch  of 
St.  Louis,  Missouri),  Lena.  Otto,  William.  Lucy.  Charles.  Matilda  and  Al- 
bert, all  of  whom  are  at  home  except  Mrs.  Gosch  and  Charles,  the  latter  being 
in  a  drug  store  in  St.  Louis,  I^Iissouri.  All  the  other  sons,  who  are  energetic 
and  promising  business  men,  are  associated  with  their  father  in  business. 

I\Ir.  Miller  belongs  to  the  Business  Men's  Club.  In  politics  he  is  an 
independent.  The  family  belong  individually  and  collectively  to  the  Luth- 
eran Church. 


JAMES  MADISON  COX. 

James  M.^dison  Cox,  a  prominent  and  prosperous  farmer  of  ]Mount 
Olive  township,  Macoupin  County,  owning  a  fine  farm  of  180  acres  in  sec- 
tions 7  and  8,  was  born  in  the  township  in  which  he  now  resides,  December 
4.  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Emanuel  and  Eliza  G.  (Biggs)  Cox,  and  a  grandson 
of  Ezekiel  Cox. 

Ezekiel  Cox.  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  labored  faithfully  as  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel  for  many  years.  He  was  the  father  of  five  children, 
namely:  Emanuel,  our  subject's  father;  Jackson;  Betsy  (Coalson)  ;  Jensey 
(Stilley)  ;  and  Jerry. 

Emanuel  Cox  was  born  in  Stewart  County.  Tennessee,  November   19, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  529 

1812,  and  when  sLx  years  of  age  went  to  Trigg  County,  Kentuck}-.  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  26  years  of  age.     He  came  to  Macoupin  County  in 
1837,  took  up  government  land  and  engaged  in  farming.     While  a  young 
man  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.     Before  settling  in  this  region 
he  was  employed  as  a  steward  on  steamboats  and  remained  at  that  occupa- 
tion until  he  was  married.     Mr.  Cox  was  a  sclfmade  man  in  every  respect 
the  term  implies,  being  left  fatherless  when  8  or  10  years  of  age.     When 
he  fust  located  in  this  region,  he  built  a  log  house  measuring  16  by  iS  feet 
and  endured  many  hardships  for  the  first  few  years.     He  often  went  to  mill 
at  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  by  ox  team,  the  journey  of  25  miles  each  way 
consuming  two  or  three  days.     The  neighbors  often  exchanged  work  and 
uix)n  one  of  these  occasions  (when  helping  his  brother-in-law,  John  Coalson) 
on   his  return  home  he  became  lost  and  spent  one  night  on   the  prairie, 
tigliting  the  wolves,  being  compelled  to  club  them  ofT  with  a  wagon  stake. 
Mr.  Cox  hauled  all  his  produce  to  St.  Louis  as  it  was  then  the  nearest  market, 
making  a  trip  of  several  days.     Mr.  Cox  was  a  home  loving  man  and  never 
drank  a  drop  of  any  kind  of  spirits,  although  he  at  one  time  conducted  a 
saloon.     He  soon  became  disgusted  with  this  business  and  finally  gave  it  up 
wholly.     His  wife,  Eliza  G.  Biggs,  was  born  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  June 
16,  1822.  They  were  blessed  with  eight  children,  namely:  Alisa  A.,  of  Mount 
Olive  township,  Macoupin  County;  Martha   (Koontz),  of  Adams  County, 
Illinois;   William  Alva,  of  Montgomery   County,   Illinois;   Alfred,  of   i'ar- 
sons,  Kansas;  Ezekiel,  deceased;  James  M.,  our  subject;  Lillie  Araba,  who 
resides  m  Chicago  and  is  a  stenographer,  having  an  office  of  her  own;  and 
Anna  E.  (Coalson).    Mrs.  Cox"s  death  occurred  in  this  county,  January  2^, 
1893.     ^^^-  Cox,  who  died  Januarj'  31,  1898,  was  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.     He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

James  2kIadison  Cox  has  always  resided  in  Mount  Olive  township  and 
has  always  followed  farming.  He  devotes  his  farm  to  general  farming  and 
stock  raising,  having  cleared  160  acres  for  farming  purposes  while  the  re- 
maining 60  acres  is  timber  and  pasture,  affording  good  grazing  for  stock. 
Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  school  director. 

Mr.  Cox  was  united  in  marriage,  February  3.  1878,  to  Luclla  M.  Purdy, 
who  was  bom  in  Staunton  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  a  daughter 
of  William  C.  and  Susan  (Best)  Purdy.  Three  children  were  bom  to  them, 
namely:  Maude,  a  pianist,  who  resides  with  her  parents;  Winifred   B.,  a 


530  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

violinist,  who  married  ]\Iae  Bruce,  and  has  one  child — Glenn  Elmer;  and 
Hallie,  also  residing-  with  her  parents,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Mount  Olive 
High  School  and  a  teacher  and  an  accomplished  pianist. 


HORACE  W.  COULTAS. 

Horace  W.  Colltas,  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Macoupin 
County  and  a  valued  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  \'irden  township,  resides 
on  his  handsome  farm  of  140  acres  situated  in  section  4.  He  was  born  in 
Scott  County,  Illinois,  July  18,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of  T.  F.  and  Elizabeth 
(Loud)    Coultas  and  a  grandson   of  James  and   Mary    (Foster)    Coultas. 

James  Coultas  was  born  in  Engkunl,  where  he  was  married  to  Mary 
Foster  and  one  son  was  born  to  them  while  still  living  in  England,  namely : 
James  Coultas,  Jr.,  who  now  resides  in  Scott  County,  Illinois.  James  Coul- 
tas, our  subject's  grandfather,  came  to  America  in  the  early  'thirties  and 
settled  in  Scott  County,  Illinois. 

T.  F.  Coultas,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  Iwrn  in  Scott  County, 
Illinois,  where  he  also  received  his  education.  In  the  spring  of  1867  he 
moved  to  Macoupin  County  and  located  on  his  present  farm,  two  and  one 
half  miles  west  of  the  village  of  Virden  in  sections  6  and  7.  He  also  owns 
an  80-acre  farm  in  North  Otter  township,  Macoupin  County,  making  a 
total  of  255  acres.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Loud)  Coultas,  was  born  in  Elaine 
anil  came  to  Illinois  in  company  with  her  parents,  first  locating  in  Scott 
County,  later  removing  to  the  village  of  V^irden,  Macoupin  County,  wdiere 
she  was  united  in  marriage  to  T.  F.  Coultas.  They  reared  seven  children, 
namely :  Ellen,  who  married  D.  F.  Organ  and  died  in  Nebraska,  leaving  her 
husband  and  four  children — Elsie,  Lester,  William  and  Earl ;  Horace  W., 
our  subject ;  R.  J.,  a  practicing  physician  of  Mattoon,  Illinois,  who  married 
Lula  Yoigt,  of  that  place;  Alvin,  a  resident  of  Chadbourn,  Columbus  County. 
North  Carolina,  engaged  at  truck  farming,  who  married  Nora  Taylor  and 
has  reared  three  children — Marion,  Thomas  and  Foster;  Frank,  engaged  in 
the  dairy  business  in  Virden  township,  Macoupin  County,  who  married  Eliza- 


MACOUPIN    COUXTV.  531 

beth  Eninierson;  .''jinie,  who  married  Wiliam  Emmerson  of  Virden  town- 
ship, }.iacoupin  County,  and  has  one  daugliter — Edith;  and  Emma,  the  wife 
oi  Charles  Lathrop  of  Delavan,  Wisconsin — they  now  reside  with  T.  F. 
Couhas. 

Horace  W.  CouUas  located  in  18S5  on  his  present  farm,  which  belonged 
to  his  father.  Later  he  purchased  40  acres  of  adjoining  property  on  which 
he  erected  a  fine  dwelling  and  bams  in  the  fall  of  1903.  Our  subject  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  and  has  met  with  success  in 
his  vocation. 

2\Ir.  Coultas  was  married  in  1885  to  Jennie  M.  Crane,  a  daughter  of 
Albert  S.  Crane,  who  died  April  19,  1S93.  when  in  his  60th  year.  The 
deaili  of  ;\Irs.  Crane  followed  in  1897,  at  the  age  of  63  years.  Si.x  children 
have  been  bom  to  our  subject  and  wife,  namely :  Albert  Thomas,  bom 
Octob-er  9,  1887;  Bertha,  born  July  11,  1889;  Charles  Rufus,  bom  August 
9.  1893;  David  Eugene,  born  December  19,  1896;  Wilbur  Horace,  born 
December  22,  1900,  and  James  Harold,  bom  June  11,  1902.  Mr.  Coultas 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbj'terian  Church  while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.      He  is  a  Republican   in  his  political  belief. 


FRANK  E.  BAUER. 

Frank  E.  Bauer,  a  general  farmer  and  extensive  stock  raiser  of  Dor- 
chester township,  Macoupin  Count)',  who  owns  a  magnificent  farm  of  480 
acres,  situated  in  sections  20  and  21,  was  bom  on  this  place,  November  18. 
1 868,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Henry  and  Anna  (Ahlers)  Bauer. 

John  Henr)'  Bauer  was  born  in  Sa.xony,  Germany,  November  28,  1825, 
and  came  to  Illinois,  by  way  of  New  Orleans  and  St.  Louis,  in  1848,  at  first 
staying  with  an  uncle  in  Madison  County  for  two  months,  and  finally  lo- 
cating near  Bunker  Hill  in  Macoupin  County  the  same  year.  His  parents 
moved  to  Bunker  Hill  in  185 1  and  died  the  same  year.  He  was  entirely 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources  and  no  better  idea  can  be  given  as  to  his 
industrj',  thrift  and  business  ability,  than  the  fact  of  his  being  able  to  accumu- 


532  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

late  so  large  a  body  of  land  as  2,000  acres.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  De- 
cember 13,  1899,  he  owned  1,772  acres  and  was  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners in  ]\Iacoupin  County.  His  first  purchase  was  one  of  160  acres  in 
section  21,  Dorchester  township,  for  which  he  paid  $5  an  acre.  The  beauti- 
ful brick  dwelling  and  commodious  barns  and  other  buildings  were  con- 
structed by  him.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  township's  prominent 
men,  taking  part  in  public  spirited  enterprises,  favoring  legislation  looking 
to  educational  advancement  and  upholding  all  measures  contributive  to  the 
public  weal,  lie  gave  his  children  collegiate  advantages  and  looked  care- 
fully after  their  material  welfare.  While  liberal  in  his  support  of  all  re- 
ligious bodies,  he  was  particularly  generous  in  his  gifts  to  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

In  1852  John  Henry  Bauer  married  Anna  Ahlers,  who  was  born  in 
Holstein,  Germany,  November  11,  1832,  and  came  to  America  in  1851. 
She  was  the  eldest  of  the  seven  children  of  Adam  and  Magdalena  Ahlers, 
the  others  being:  Mrs.  Dora  Sanders;  Frederick;  Mrs.  Wilhelmina  Arnheim; 
Henry,  of  San  Jose,  California;  i\lrs.  Johanna  Gauer;  and  Charles,  of  Reese 
River,  Nevada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bauer  had  eight  children,  viz :  Mrs.  Matilda 
Weidner,  deceased;  Albert,  who  died  in  California;  Mrs.  Maria  Redman, 
who  died  at  Tipton,  Missouri;  Henry,  of  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin 
County;  Mrs.  Anna  Henrichs,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Frank  E.,  of  this 
sketch;  Otto,  a  resident  of  Macon  County,  Illinois;  and  Bertha,  a  most 
beautiful  and  highly  educated  young  lady,  who  died  at  the  age  of  19  years. 

Our  subject,  I'rank  E.  Bauer,  has  always  li\cd  on  the  beautiful  farm 
of  his  present  residence,  which  it  has  been  his  constant  aim  to  further  im- 
prove. Reared  to  practical  farming  and  thoroughly  understanding  all  the 
conditions  which  make  it  a  success,  he  has  continued  to  prosper.  He  has 
made  a  specialty  of  stock  raising.  At  present  he  owns  75  head  of  Aberdeen 
Angus  cattle,  some  of  which  are  registered,  in  addition  to  a  number  of  fine 
horses  and  high  grade  hogs.  Mr.  Bauer  has  also  under  his  oversight  a  farm 
of  630  acres  that  I^elongs  to  another  party.  An  orchard  of  400  apple  trees 
which  he  set  out  a  few  years  ago  gives  every  promise  of  bringing  in  large 
returns.  He  is  a  man  of  method,  and  in  spite  of  multitudinous  duties  has  so 
arranged  his  work  that  there  is  no  friction  and  every  department  yields  satis- 
factory results. 

Mr.  Bauer  was  married  January  3,  1894,  to  Louisa  Otto,  who  was  torn 


'  MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  533 

October  9,   1873,  in  Shelby  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  August 
and  Augusta  Otto,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Saxony,  Germany. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bauer  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  takes 
a  lively  interest  in  township  matters,  and  is  serving  at  present  as  school 
treasurer.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Master  Mason,  belonging  to  Bunker  Hill 
Lodge.  Xo.  151,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  v.liile  Mrs.  Bauer  is  a  member  of  the 
auxiliary  society,  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Both  are  valued  members 
of  the  Bunker  Hill  Congregational  Church. 


RHULIFF  DEY. 

Rhuliff  Dey,  a  substantial,  retired  farmer  of  Hilyard  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  and  a  member  of  an  old  pioneer  family  of  the  State,  was  born 
February  18,  1841,  in  Jerseyville,  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  where  he  lived 
until  1854.    He  is  a  son  of  Cornelius  and  Katherine  (Rogers)  Dey. 

Enoch  Dey,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  spent  his  whole  life  in  New 
Jersey.  He  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  of  whom  Cornelius  was  the 
oldest. 

Cornelius  Dey  was  born  August  9,  181 7,  in  Middlesex  County,  New 
Jersey,  and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  local  schools. 
He  married  Katherine  Rogers,  daughter  of  William  and  Ann  Rogers,  also 
of  New  Jersey,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1839,  accompanied  by  Cornelius 
Dey  and  wife,  and  located  in  Jersey  County.  Mr.  Dey  also  entered  land  in 
Sangamon  County.  In  1854,  he  removed  to  Macoupin  County  and  settled 
in  Hilyard  township,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1874.  He  left  a  farm 
of  160  acres  which  is  now  owned  by  our  subject.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dey  had  a 
family  of  five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the  others  being:  Will- 
iam H.,  who  died  at  Carlinville,  in  1891,  aged  58  years;  Rhuliflf,  of  this 
sketch ;  and  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Ferguson,  of  Staunton,  Macoupin  County. 
The  parents  were  memliers  of  the  Presliyterian  Church. 

Rhuliflf  Dey  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Jersey  and  Alacoupin  cotm- 
ties  and  adopted  farming  as  his  vocation.  He  has  been  very  successful  in 
his   agricultural   operations,   paying  attention   to   general    farming   and   the 


534 


BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


raising  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  owns  520  acres  in  sections  23  and  24, 
Hilyard  township,  and  30  acres  of  timber  in  Gillespie  township.  He  no 
longer  is  actively  engaged,  his  sons  now  very  successfully  managing  the  prop- 
erty for  him. 

JVIr.  Dey  was  married  January  2,  1867,  to  Katherine  AI.  Snedeker,  who 
was  born  October  13,  1845,  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Ellen  (Jay)  Snedeker,  who  came  to  Illinois  from  Ohio  in 
1850.  The  five  children  of  this  union  are:  Charles  Rhulifif,  operating  one 
of  his  father's  farms,  who  has  four  children — Franklin  H.,  \'elma  K.,  C. 
Edgar  and  Walter  K. ;  Orville  A.,  occupying  a  second  of  our  subject's  farms 
who  has  two  children— Lola  J.  and  Florence  G. ;  Nellie  C,  who  married 
R.  H.  Isaacs,  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Gillespie,  and  has  two  children — Harold 
and  Franklin;  and  Frank  and  Hattie  Leona,  w-ho  live  at  home. 

Mr.  Dey  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  faith,  and  he  has  been  called 
upon  at  various  times  to  show  his  zeal  for  his  party,  his  standing  as  a  man 
of  wealth  and  integrity  making  his  influence  very  strong.  For  15  years  he 
has  served  as  school  director,  three  terms  as  school  trustee,  and  has  also 
been  highway  commissioner.  With  his  family  he  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Church. 

Our  esteemed  subject  is  a  member  of  the  local  Grand  Army  post,-  hav- 
ing served  for  five  months  during  the  Civil  War  as  a  member  of  Company 
G.,  133rd  Reg.,  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.  His  commanding  ofificer  was  Colonel 
Phillips  and  his  duty  was  the  guarding  of  prisoners  at  Rock  Island  in  1864. 


WILLIAM  H.  CLAYTON. 

\\'iLLi.\M  H.  Clayton^  a  representative  and  influential  business  man  of 
Virden,  and  a  man  widely  known  throughout  Macoupin  County,  who  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  his  acquaintances  as  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  sound 
principles,  operates  an  extensive  livery  business,  and  is  also  engaged  in  buy- 
ing and  selling  horses,  as  well  as  shipping  hay  by  the  car-load.     Our  subject 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  535 

was  born  iu  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  October  16,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of 
Moses  L.  and  Alpha  M.   (Clayton)  Clayton. 

]\Ioses  L.  Clayton  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he  was  a  well  known 
stockman,  and  an  extensive  stock  shipper,  as  well  as  a  highly  respected  citi- 
zen. 

William  H.  Clayton  received  his  preliminary  educational  training  in 
the  public  schools  of  Macoupin  County,  after  which  he  entered  the  Virden 
High  School  where  he  completed  his  education.  He  then  entered  upon  the 
cares  of  a  business  man,  building  his  large  stable  and  engaging  in  the  livery 
business,  which  he  has  successfully  conducted  ever  since.  Mv.  Clayton  as 
a  buyer  and  seller  of  horses  is  a  slu-ewd  dealer  and  is  known  throughout 
the  county  for  his  judging  of  fine  horses.  His  livery  business  consists  of 
20  rigs  and  many  good  horses,  who  receive  the  best  care.  In  addition  to  his 
livery  business,  he  operates  a  board  and  feed  stable  and  receives  the  custom 
of  many  prominent  farmers  and  residents  of  his  community.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party,  and  served  his  city  in  the  capacity  of  alderman 
in  1900.  Mr.  Clayton  is  a  director  of  the  Virden  Homestead  &  Loan  Asso- 
ciation, a  position  which  he  has  held  for  some  time.  In  fraternal  circles  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles,  the  latter  of  Springfield,  Illinois. 

In  1886  Mr.  Clayton  was  married  to  E.  Mae  Silloway  a  daughter  of 
Fred  W.  Silloway,  a  resident  of  Springfield,  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clayton 
are  the  parents  of  two  children — Harry  S.  and  Bessie  R. 


MARK  W.  CLARK. 

;\Iark  W.  Clark,  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  and  honored  agri- 
culturists and  stockmen  of  Macoupin  County,  resides  on  his  well  improved 
property  which  is  widely  known  as  "Stony  Brook  Stock  Farm,"  and  which 
consists  of  180  acres  situated  in  sections  2,  10  and  11,  Gillespie  township. 
He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Honey  Point  township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
August  5,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Melvina  (Huddleston)  Clark, 
and  a  grandson  of  Samuel  Clark. 


536  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Samuel  Clark,  who  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  came  to  Illinois  in  1829, 
locating  in  IVIacoupin  County  and  immediately  engaged  in  farming,  at  which 
he  proved  very  successful.  He  participated  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  He 
was  the  father  of  six  boys  and  two  girls,  namely:  Margaret  (Christie); 
James;  Robert;  John  J.,  our  subject's  father;  Benjamin;  Joseph;  Samuel; 
and  Susan  (Estabrook),  of  Christian  County,  Illinois.  Samuel  Clark  died  in 
Macoupin  County  in  1838. 

John  J.  Clark  was  born  in  Logan  County,  Kentucky,  March  7.  1822. 
In  1837  in  company  with  his  parents  he  came  to  Illinois  and  here  began  the 
occupation  of  farming.  Being  left  an  orphan  shortly  after  his  arrival  in 
this  region,  he  was  forced  to  fight  his  own  way  to  the  goal  of  success.  Al- 
though he  started  in  a  somewhat  lowly  station  in  life,  his  successful  career 
placed  him  high  in  the  business  circles  of  his  county.  j\Ir.  Clark  was  deeply 
interested  in  the  advancement  of  his  county  and  during  his  lifetime  did  much 
toward  the  promotion  of  various  business  enterprises  which  served  to  benefit 
the  community.  He  conducted  his  business  afifairs  with  remarkable  shrewd- 
ness and  skill  and  accumulated  considerable  land,  owning  at  one  time  600 
acres,  which  he  divided  among  his  children  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  12,  1902.  i\Ir.  Clark  was  a  great  home  lover  and  spent  little  time  else- 
Avhere;  in  his  trips  to  town  on  business,  he  spent  as  little  time  away  from 
his  family  as  possible.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican;  he  did  not  hold 
office  or  have  aspirations  in  that  direction,  but  performed  every  duty  of  a 
p:itriotic  citizen.  His  wife,  Melvina  Huddleston,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky 
and  tlie  estimable  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  Huddleston,  vvho  were 
pioneers  of  this  region.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children,  namely :  Lee,  of  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County ;  ]\Iark 
W. ;  Harriet  (Crawford),  who  resides  in  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin 
County;  Mack,  who  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Cora  (Willson),  a  resi- 
dent of  Brushy  Mound  township,  IMacoupin  County ;  Schuyler,  a  resident  of 
Santa  Barbara,  California,  where  he  is  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel;  Nettie 
(Smith),  a  resident  of  Gillespie  township,  Macoupin  County;  and  Alead, 
of  Santa  Barbara,  California. 

Mark  W.  Clark  was  reared  and  educated  in  Macoupin  County  and  early 
took  upon  himself  life's  duties,  engaging  in  farming  and  raising  stock.  He 
has  for  many  years  been  a  large  raiser  and  shipper  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs. 
Mr.  Clark  still  does  some  shipping  but  nothing  in  comparison  to  that  of 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  537 

former  years,  when  he  shipped  on  an  average  50  cars  per  year,  and  as  high 
as  14  cars  in  one  day,  his  shipments  going  to  Buffalo,  St.  Louis,  Indianapohs 
and  Jersey  City.  At  present  he  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  the  raising  and 
breeding  of  Shropshire  sheep,  usually  having  about  250  on  hand.  A  fourth 
of  our  subject's  farm  is  covered  with  timber.  The  remaining  portion  of  his 
farm  is  largely  devoted  to  the  producing  of  corn,  hay  and  oats,  most  of  which 
is  fed  to  his  stock. 

^Ir.  Clark  is  a  member  of  th.e  Republican  party,  has  served  in  the 
capacity  of  highway  commissioner  for  two  terms,  as  school  director  for  20 
years,  and  is  at  present  serving  as  township  central  committeeman.  In  fra- 
ternal circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  ^lodern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 


MRS.  IDA  M.  GER.MAN. 

Mrs.  Ida  M.  German*,  who  resides  upon  her  well  improved  and  valu- 
able farm  of  100  acres,  situated  in  section  2,  Honey  Point  township,  Ma- 
coupin County,  was  born  July  28,  1849,  '"  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Philinda  (Gooddell)  Englis,  and  the  widow  of  the 
late  Isaac  German. 

Isaac  German  was  born  in  1845  in  Devonshire.  England,  and  was  15 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  brother,  John  German.  They 
joined  an  older  brother,  William  German,  then  a  resident  of  Alton,  Illinois. 
Isaac  German  lived  in  Jersey  County  until  he  was  21  years  of  age  and  then 
came  to  Macoupin  County,  where  he  rented  a  farm  from  Israel  Chappell, 
which  he  operated  until  186S.  In  1870  he  bought  the  present  farm  of  our 
subject,  which  he  successfully  cultivated  for  many  years,  or  until  failing 
health  made  it  advisable  for  his  ven,-  capable  wife  to  take  upon  herself  its 
management.     His  death  took  place  December  21,  1901. 

On  March  28,  1868,  Mr.  German  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ida  En- 
lis.  Her  father,  Hiram  Englis,  was  born  in  Oswego,  New  York,  and  died  in 
Illinois,  April  21,  1884,  aged  /6  years.  At  the  age  of  21  years  he  went  to 
Ohio,  where  he  married,  and  in  1841  located  in  Madison  County,  Illinois. 
He  was  a  verv  successful  farmer  and  accumulated  much  valuable  property. 


538  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

During  the  Civil  \\'ar  he  served  at  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  with  the  loo-day 
volunteers.  In  politics  Hiram  Englis  was  a  Republican.  Mrs.  German  is 
the  youngest  of  nine  children,  the  others  being:  Mrs.  Harriet  Tyler,  of 
Litchfield,  IlHnois;  Mrs.  Martha  Newel,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Elias,  of 
Kansas;  Mrs.  Esther  Ward,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Mrs.  Sarah  Gardner, 
of  Brooklyn.  New  York:  Mrs.  E.  C.  Berry,  of  California;  Mrs.  Sue  Burton, 
of  Carlinville,  ^lacoupin  County;  and  !Mrs.  Nettie  Rose,  of  Gillespie,  Ma- 
coupin County. 

Mrs.  German  has  three  sun-iving  children,  one  daughter,  ilrs.  Nellie 
Giberson,  having  passed  away.  Those  living  are :  James,  who  follows  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  is  located  with  his  family,  at  Reno,  Nevada ;  and  El- 
nora  and  Walter,  both  at  home,  the  latter  being  the  farmer.  A  general  line 
of  farming  is  followed  and  much  fine  stock  is  annually  raised.  Mrs.  German 
has  shown  much  capacity  in  her  management  of  the  farm  and  has  displayed 
an  unusual  amount  of  business  ability. 

In  politics  Mr.  German  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  In 
religious  connection,  he  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Church  of  England. 
The  family  is  one  which  stands  very  high  in  public  esteem  throughout  Honey 
Point  township. 


HENRY  S.  HL'BER. 

Henry  S.  Huber,  an  enterprising  merchant  of  Girard,  conducts  a  well 
established  store  in  which  are  sold  ladies'  furnishing  goods,  suits,  shoes  and 
other  wearing  apparel.  He  was  born  in  Ohio  February  2,  1864,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Anna  (Snell)  Huber. 

John  Huber  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  always  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  From  Pennsylvania  he  moved  to  Ohio,  and  later  came 
to  ^lacoupin  County,  where  he  died  in  1884.  His  wife  passed  away  10  years 
later.    They  were  the  parents  of  five  children  besides  our  subject. 

Henrj-  S.  Huber  was  reared  and  educated  in  !Macoupin  County,  where 
his  parents  located  during  his  boyhood.  After  completing  his  education,  he 
took  up  the  occupation  of  farming  and  continued  his  farming  operations 
until  January  23.  1904.  when  he  moved  to  Girard  and  engaged  in  his  present 


MACOUPIN    COUXTY.  539 

business.  He  occupies  a  new  and  finely  fitted  store  and  has  a  very  large  stock 
of  well  selected  goods,  which  is  valued  at  over  $7,000.  He  has  established  an 
excellent  trade,  already  ranks  with  the  most  prominent  merchants  of  the  city 
and  has  every  prospect  of  proving  very  successful  in  the  mercantile  business. 
^Ir.  Huber  was  married  April  25,  1893,  to  Cora  E.  Drennan,  daughter 
of  the  late  William  M.  Drennan,  whose  sketch  and  portrait  appear  in  this 
volume.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Huber  are  the  parents  of  one  boy,  Bayard,  who  was 
born  February  17,  1895.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  Mr.  Huber  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  never 
taken  any  active  interest  in  politics  other  than  to  exercise  his  right  as  a  citi- 
zen to  vote  for  the  men  and  measures  that  he  considers  best. 


RICHARD  ISAACS. 

Richard  Isaacs,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Dorchester  township, 
Macoupin  County,  proprietor  of  the  well-known  "Angora  Stock  Farm,"  con- 
sisting of  340  acres,  situated  in  section  12,  was  born  in  Dorchester  township, 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  December  10,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and 
Mary  (Eaton)  Isaacs. 

The  Isaacs  family,  which  is  of  English  extraction,  was  founded  in 
America  by  two  brothers  of  the  name  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  A\'ar;  one 
of  them  was  a  member  of  the  British  Army  and  the  other  a  member  of  the 
American  Army  in  that  struggle. 

Richard  Isaacs,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  in  early  life  went  to  Rowan  County,  North  Carolina.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Stonestreet,  a  daughter  of  Butler  Stonestreet,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  They  had  these  children :  Jane,  Charles  C,  Abra- 
ham and  Richard.  By  a  second  marriage,  Mr.  Isaacs  had  an  additional  fam- 
ily of  six  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Abraham  Isaacs,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  November  10.  1810, 
in  Rowan  County,  North  Carolina.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  three 
years  old  and  he  then  went  to  live  with   his  maternal  grandfather,   with 


540  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

whom  he  remained  until  his  marriage,  in  1836,  -when  he  came  to  IlHnois.  He 
settled  first  in  Madison  County,  but  in  1840  removed  to  Dorchester  town- 
ship, Macoupin  County,  where  his  death  took  place,  January  29,  1897.  Mr. 
Isaacs  came  to  this  county  a  poor  man,  and  began  married  life  in  a  log  cabin 
on  a  small  tract  of  land.  Industry  and  thrift,  for  which  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  noted,  brought  about  a  great  change  in  his  condition,  farm  after 
farm  being  added  to  his  possessions,  and  handsome  and  substantial  buildings 
taking  the  place  of  the  first  humble  residence.  Early  in  life  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, later  he  was  a  Whig,  but  before  his  interest  in  politics  declined  he  be- 
came a  Republican.  Both  he  and  wife  were  most  worthy  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary  Eaton, 
who  was  born  July  23,  181 5,  in  Adams  County,  Mississippi,  and  died  in  Ma- 
coupin County,  May  9,  1891.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
(Wallace)  Eaton.  The  Eatons  were  natives  of  Maryland,  of  Welsh  extrac- 
tion and  were  prominent  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaacs 
had  10  children,  viz:  Mrs.  Sarah  Sinclair,  who  died  in  Macoupin  County; 
Richard,  of  this  sketch;  Charles  C,  a  retired  farmer  of  Litchfield,  Illinois; 
Thomas  W.,  a  farmer  of  Madison  County,  Illinois;  Henry  K.,  a  farmer  of 
Bond  County,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Amanda  C.  Ayers  of  Fayette  County,  Illinois; 
Alfred  A.,  who  died  aged  three  years ;  Abram ;  and  three  babes,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Richard  Isaacs  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  was  educated  in  the 
local  schools.  Farming  and  stock  raising  have  occupied  his  whole  attention, 
and  he  has  met  with  unusual  success.  His  fine  property  is  widely  known  as 
the  "Angora  Stock  Farm"  and  it  is  the  intention  of  Mr.  Isaacs  to  make  it  an 
exclusively  cattle  and  goat  farm.  He  has  just  entered  upon  the  latter  indus- 
try, with  65  head  of  high  bred  Angora  goats,  fleeces  command  a  high  price 
in  the  market.  He  has  made  a  study  of  raising  them  and  unless  unlocked 
for  conditions  arise,  he  will  probably  have  herds  composed  of  hundreds  of 
animals.  He  also  raises  Durham  cattle.  In  all  his  work,  Mr.  Issacs  is  ably 
assisted  by  his  son,  who  also  takes  a  deep  interest  in  this  enterprise. 

On  December  8,  1864,  Mr.  Isaacs  married  Lucy  J.  Burton,  who  was 
born  on  a  farm  near  Gillespie,  Macoupin  County,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ed- 
mund and  Lucy  (Reynolds)  Burton,  natives  of  Virginia.  Our  subject  and 
wife  have  one  son,  Frank  A.,  one  of  the  enterprising  farmers  of  the  section, 
who  married  Fannie  E.  Watson,  and  thev  have  one  son,  wh.o  h.as  been  mined 


MACOUPIX    COUNTY.  541 

for  his  grandfather, — Richard  M.  Another  member  of  the  family  was  a 
niece  of  Mrs.  Isaacs — MeHssa  Deck. — who  was  reared  as  a  daughter  until 
her  marriage  with  E.  Harris,  of  Lafayette,  Indiana.  Both  Mr.  Isaacs  and 
wife  are  valued  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  politics,  he  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party. 


MRS.  LENA  BARTEL. 

Mrs.  Lena  Bartel,  who  resides  on  her  beautiful  farm  of  160  acres 
situated  in  section  16,  Dorchester  township,  Macoupin  County,  was  born  at 
Dorsey,  Madison  County,  Illinois,  November  11,  1861,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Herbert  and  Lena  (Beauman)  Bohlen. 

Herbert  Bohlen,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  America  about 
1845,  landing  at  New  Orleans,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  then 
removing  to  Alton,  Illinois,  and  later  locating  on  a  farm  near  Dorsey,  Madi- 
son County,  Illinois.  'Mr.  Bohlen  followed  farming  his  entire  life.  Mr. 
Bohlen's  first  marriage  took  place  in  his  native  land,  where  his  wife  died, 
leaving  two  children,  \\'ubka  and  Rixte,  who  accompanied  their  father  to 
America.  Wubka  died  at  the  age  of  25  years,  while  Rixte.  who  married 
Thomas  Saahoff,  is  now  a  resident  of  Litchfield,  Illinois.  Two  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  Bohlen';  marriage  to  Lucy  Beauman,  a  native  of  Germany, 
namely:  John,  a  resident  of  Mount  Olive,  ]Macoupin  County;  and  Mrs.  Lena 
Bartel.  Mr.  Bohlen  died  on  his  farm  near  Dorsey,  Illinois,  on  his  61  st  birth- 
day, February  8,  1880.  Mrs.  Bohlen,  our  subject's  mother,  died  at  Dorsey, 
Illinois,  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  63  years. 

Lena  Bohlen,  when  19  years  of  age,  married  Herman  Rust,  a  native  of 
Germany,  with  whom  she  removed  to  Mount  Olive,  Macoupin  County,  where 
they  resided  until  1895.  when  they  located  on  our  subject's  present  farm. 
Mr.  Rust  followed  farming  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  but  worked  for  a 
short  time  in  the  mines  at  Mount  Olive.  He  died  on  the  farm  in  Dorchester 
township,  in  1897,  at  the  age  of  47  years.  They  were  blessed  with  seven 
children,  namely:  Fred;  Henn.-;  William:  Eddie;  Francis;  Sophia,  and 
Otto,  all  of  whom  reside  on  the  homestead  farm.  On  October  i.  1903.  Mrs. 
Rust  was  married  to  Henrv  Bartel,  who  was  born  at  East  St.  Louis.  Illi- 


542  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

nois,  September  19,  1858.  Mr.  Bartel  when  15  years  of  age  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Dorsey,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  until  three  years  ago,  when 
he  removed  to  Bunker  Hill.  Mr.  Bartel  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children, 
born  to  Richard  and  Annie  (Heyes)  Bartel,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Germany.  Mrs.  Bartel  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  of 
Bunker  Hill. 


4 « » 


NEVILLE  B.  BEERUP. 

Neville  B.  Beerup^  who  is  an  esteemed  agriculturist,  resides  on  his 
well  tilled  farm  of  208  acres,  situated  in  section  2,Sy  North  Palmyra  town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  in  1861,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Sinia  M.  (Neale)  Beerup. 

Thomas  Beerup  was  born  at  Canandaigua,  Ontario  County,  New  York, 
and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  brother  in  1840,  locating  at  Springfield.  ;\Ir. 
Beerup  was  a  carriage  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  was  married  at  Springfield, 
Illinois,  to  Sinia  M.  Neale,  daughter  of  Col.  Thomas  Neale,  county  sur- 
veyor and  attorney,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Sangamon 
County,  Illinois,  and  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  as  colonel.  Thomas 
Beerup  and  wife  reared  seven  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest. 
There  are  but  two  living  besides  our  subject,  namely :  Thomas,  who  resides 
at  Springfield,  Illinois;  and  Mrs.  Harriet  Winslow,  who  is  a  resident  of  Cen- 
tralia,  Illinois. 

Neville  B.  Beerup  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Sangamon 
County  and  assisted  his  father  until  1897.  In  August,  1897,  he  was  married 
to  Rosebelle  Steidley,  daughter  of  Solomon  Jackson  and  Clara  M.  (Rice) 
Steidley.  Solomon  Jackson  Steidley  was  born  in  Macoupin  County,  Illi- 
nois. His  wife,  Clara  M.  Rice,  was  born  April  17,  1841,  in  South  Palmyra 
township,  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  died  December  18,  1903.  Solo- 
mon Jackson  Steidley  reared  six  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Beerup  was  the 
second  born.  Neville  B.  Beerup  and  wife  have  reared  three  children, 
namely:  Harriet  Blackmore,  born  July  8,  1898;  Mary  Athlone,  born  in 
September,  1899;  3"^  Horace  Neale,  born  May  30,  1902.     Mr.  Beerup  pur- 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  543 

chased  his  farm  of  the  heirs  of  his  wife's  father,  which  the  latter  had  owned 
for  35  years.  Mr.  Beerup  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising 
and  his  farm  is  well  equipped  with  modern  improvements.  He  has  a  fine 
dwelling  and  farm  buildings,  e.\cellently  located,  being  half  a  mile  from  the 
village  of  Palmyra.  Mr.  Beerup  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party.  In 
fraternal  circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  ^lodem  ^^'oodmen  of  America.  The  Beerup  family  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church. 


JA.MES  CAMPBELL,  EsQ. 

James  Campbell,  Esq.,  justice  of  the  peace  and  formerly  police  mag- 
istrate of  ^'irde^,  Macoupin  Count}-,  and  one  of  the  city's  venerable  and  most 
highly  esteemed  citizens,  was  born  June  7,  1821,  in  New  Jersey.  He  is  a 
son  of  Charles  Muir  and  Agnes  (Schenck)  Campbell,  the  former  of  whom 
w^as  born  in  Scotland,  of  Scotch  parents.    The  mother  was  of  Dutch  ancestry. 

Our  subject  received  a  good,  common  school  education,  the  best  the 
time  and  locality  afforded,  and  his  father  taught  him  his  own  trade,  that  of 
coach  and  harness  making.  This  he  followed  until  1840,  when  he  sought  a 
home  in  the  fertile  farming  lands  of  the  West,  locating  in  Jersey  County 
Illinois.  There  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1854  and  then  moved  to  Sanga- 
mon County,  where  he  continued  to  farm  until  1873,  when  he  settled  at  Vir- 
den.  Here  he  became  one  of  the  enterprising  citizens  and  was  soon  elected 
police  magistrate,  a  position  he  filled  with  much  credit  to  himself  and  benefit 
to  the  city.  For  the  past  15  years  he  has  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  at  Virden,  bringing  to  it  dignity,  e.xperience  and  judgment,  and  his 
impartial  decisions  have  gained  him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  Despite  the  weight  of  82  years,  his  eye  is  bright,  his  brain  alert, 
his  perceptions  as  quick  as  those  of  a  man  many  years  his  junior.  Mr. 
Campbell  is  a  great  lover  of  music. 

In  1841  Mr.  Campbell  married  Catherine  Whitlock  who  died  in  1873.  a 
few  months  after  the  familv  located  at  X'irden.    To  this  union  were  born  10 


544  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

children,  all  of  whom  still  survive,  as  follows:  Charles  \V. ;  Jennetta  A., 
widow  of  George  E.  Warwick;  Edward  A.;  James;  Margaret  C.  widow  of 
Daniel  H.  Warwick;  John  I\Iorgan;  Agnes  S. ;  Catherine  IM.;  Ferdinand  S. ; 
and  ilary  Caroline,  wife  of  John  Beasley.  He  also  has  27  grandchildren 
and  two  great-grandchildren,  all  of  whom  regard  him  with  the  deepest  re- 
spect and  affection.     In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 


FRANK  W.  COOPER. 

Frank  W.  Cooper,  who  is  prominently  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  Macoupin  County,  is  mine  superintendent  and  proprietor  of  a 
large  general  store  at  Nihvood.  He  was  born  at  Nihvood,  Macoupin  County, 
Illinois,  January  11,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Cooper,  one  of  the  capi- 
talists of  this  county. 

The  Cooper  family  is  of  English  extraction.  James  Cooper,  the  grand- 
father of  Frank  W.,  died  in  Australia,  leaving  a  widow  and  five  children. 
The  widow  later  married  David  Chappie,  and  died  in  1884,  in  England, 
aged  84  years.  Her  second  and  only  surviving  son.  Henry  Cooper  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  England,  December  25,  1825.  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  the  fall  of  1849.  He  had  been  an  employee  of  the  Great  Western 
Railroad  Company  of  England  and  was  a  practical  railroad  man  when  he 
landed  in  New  York.  His  objective  point  was  the  West,  but  Chicago  did 
not  ofifer  sufficient  inducements  to  make  him  desire  to  make  his  home  there. 
At  Elgin,  Illinois,  where  work  was  being  done  on  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western Railway,  he  secured  a  sub-contract  which  he  finished  in  the  spring 
of  1 85 1,  when  he  came  first  to  Macoupin  County.  The  Alton  road  was  then 
in  couse  of  construction,  and  Mr.  Cooper  took  another  sub-contract,  this 
being  for  the  grading  and  finishing  of  the  road  from  Carlinville  to  Alton. 
This  also  was  completed  satisfactorily  and  in  185 1  he  was  made  foreman  of 
the  construction  work  from  Springfield  to  Alton.  After  the  completion  of 
the  road,  he  settled  where  he  still  resides.  In  1852  he  entered  upon  the 
business  of  supplying  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway  with  wood,  purchasing 
first  40  acres  of  timber  land.     So  successful  was  he  in  this  enterprise,  that 


FRANK  W.  COOPER. 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  545 

he  then  bought  of  the  city  of  AUon  640  acres  of  timber  land,  a  third  purchase 
being  one  of  400  acres  of  timber  land  in  the  Macoupin  Bottoms. 

Each  business  effort  of  :Mr.  Cooper  was  better  than  the  last  and  thus 
he  felt  justified  in  taking  his  largest  contract,  this  being  the  supplying  of 
ties  to  this  railroad,  involving  the  purchase  of  2,000  acres  of  timber  land, 
all  contiguous  to  the  Chicago  &  Alton.  Mr.  Cooper  still  resides  in  the 
vicinity  of  Nihvood,  owning  1,000  acres  of  improved  land  here,  including 
much  of  the  village,  400  acres  of  which  property  he  has  leased  to  coal  oper- 
ating companies.  He  is  a  man  of  exceptional  business  ability.  In  politics 
he  has  always  supported  the  Democratic  party.  Fraternally  he  is  a  ]Mason. 
In  1852  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  (^lurphy)  Dea,  widow  of  Richard  Dea, 
who  was  bom  in  Ireland.  They  reared  seven  children,  our  subject  being 
the  youngest  son. 

Frank  W.  Cooper  received  his  education  at  Nihvood  and  in  the  State 
University  of  Michigan  at  .\nn  Arbor.  He  began  his  business  career  as  an 
employee  of  the  Bell  Telephone  Company,  first  at  Elkhart,  Indiana,  then  at 
Kankakee,  Illinois,  and  later  at  La  Salle,  Illinois,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Nihvood  and  engaged  in  clerking.  On  October  21,  18S8,  he  became  book- 
keeper for  the  Nihvood  Carbon  Coal  Company  and  in  April,  1897,  with  his 
brother  Charles,  purchased  the  mines,  two  years  later  becoming  sole  operator 
through  lease.  On  October  i,  1902  he  disposed  of  the  mines  and  became 
superintendent.  Since  April  i,  1897,  he  has  been  engaged  in  a  general 
mercantile  business  at  Nihvood  and  is  prominently  identified  with  the  ma- 
jority of  its  enterprises,  has  been  president  of  the  village  for  four  years,  on 
the  School  Board  for  nine  years  and  treasurer  of  Nihvood  since  1893. 

On  October  29,  1890,  ^Ir.  Cooper  was  married  to  S.  Chassie  Cline.  a 
daughter  of  J.  W.  Cline,  a  retired  farmer  of  Litclifield,  Illinois.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  Kjiight  Templar  and  a  Knight  of  Pj-thias. 


HON.  WILLIAM  T.  CONLEE. 

Hox.  William  T.  Coxlee,  one  of  the  well  known  men  and  successful 
farmers  of  South  Otter  township,  ilacoupin  County,  and  the  owner  of  a 
fine  farm  of  160  acres  in  section  27,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old 
pioneer  families  of  this  part  of  Illinois.     He  was  bom  in  ^lorgan  County, 


546  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

Illinois,  September  24,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Whitfield  and  Luvina  (Antle) 
Conlee. 

George  Conlee,  the  grandfather  of  William  T.  Conlee,  came  to  Illinois 
in  181 6  from  ]\Iarion  County,  Kentucky,  locating  in  ^ladison  County,  where 
he  died.  Whitfield  Conlee,  his  son,  was  bom  in  Kentucky,  accompanied  his 
father  to  Illinois,  and  came  to  Carlinville  when  about  21  years  of  age,  but 
shortly  after  returned  to  Morgan  County,  later  settling  at  Roodhouse,  Greene 
County,  where  he  owned  property  and  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  81  years. 
His  wife  had  died  in  Morgan  County,  aged  40  years,  leaving  these  children : 
James,  Anderson,  Harrison,  Mary  Jane  (Buchanan),  Rexa  (\\'right), 
William  T.  and  Luvina  (Spainhower). 

William  T.  Conlee  was  the  sixth  member  of  his  parents'  family.  He 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  and  later  in  the  operation  of  a  flouring  mill, 
in  the  meantime  securing  his  education  in  the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of 
19  years  he  started  out  for  himself  and  secured  farm  work  through  Morgan 
County,  continuing  to  work  by  the  month  until  he  was  23  years  old  and 
then  purchasing  property  of  his  own.  He  bought  his  present  farm  of  160 
acres  in  1885,  and  owns  other  land  in  South  Otter  township,  amounting  in  alf 
to  some  360  acres.  He  is  not  only  one  of  the  most  substantial  men  of  the 
township,  but  he  is  also  one  of  the  leading  politicians  of  the  county,  having 
served  three  terms  in  the  Legislature,  as  the  choice  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  County  Supervisors  for  nine  years. 

Mr.  Conlee  married  Minerva  Jane  Alford,  who  is  a  daughter  of  the  late 
William  Alford,  who  came  from  Tennessee  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Pal- 
myra. He  died  in  1892,  aged  ~^  years,  at  the  home  of  our  subject.  Five 
children  were  bom  to  this  union :  Oliver,  engaged  in  teaching  school  at  Hick- 
ory Point,  who  married  Delia  Jenkins,  daughter  of  William  Jenkins,  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  North  Otter  township,  Macoupin  County,  and  has  one 
daughter — Marie;  Ida,  who  married  Walter  Johnson,  a  farmer  of  South 
Otter  to^\^lship,  Macoupin  County,  and  has  two  children — Man,-  and  Edna; 
Florence,  who  married  David  Anderson  of  Shaw's  Point  tiwnship:  Alva, 
now  engaged  in  teaching  in  Brushy  Mound  township.  Macoupin  County; 
and  Lulu,  who  lives  at  home.  Mr.  Conlee  gave  all  his  children  educational 
advantages  and  he  has  an  unusualh'  intelligent  and  interesting  family. 

In  politics  Mr.  Conlee  has  always  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  Democratic 
principles.     From  a  young  man  entirely  dependent  upon  his  own  resources, 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  547 


he  has  risen  to  be  one  of  the  capitahsts  of  his  township  and  one  of  tlie  prom- 
ir.ent  men  of  affairs  of  his  locahty.  He  has  gained  a  strong  position  in  pub- 
he  esteem  and  is  considered  a  representative  citizen. 


GUSTAVE  A.  FLORETH,  M.  D. 

GusTAVE  A.  Floreth,  I\I.  D.,  a  prominent  medical  practitioner  of 
Mount  Ohve,  Macoupin  County,  and  a  member  of  a  family  which  has  been 
held  in  the  highest  esteem  here  for  many  years,  was  born  in  Randolph 
County,  Illinois,  October  19,  1877.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Rev.  Charles  W. 
and  Elizabeth   (Zuercher)   Floreth. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Floreth  were  born  in  Germany.  In  1849  they  came 
to  Illinois,  and  in  1889  Rev.  Mr.  Floreth,  who  was  a  minister  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  located  at  Mount  Olive.  His  death  took  place  in 
1900  at  Truxton,  Missouri,  while  he  was  minister  there.  He  was  a  man 
who  was  honored  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  is  survived  by 
10  of  his   13  children. 

Dr.  Floreth  finished  the  public  school  course  at  Mount  Olive,  Illinois, 
and  graduated  from  the  Canton  (Missouri)  High  School.  His  education 
from  youth  was  directed  in  medical  channels,  a  love  for  the  science  develop- 
ing in  boyhood,  and  in  consequence  he  is  more  thoroughly  in  touch  with 
e\ery  branch  of  the  profession,  and  has  sought  more  experience,  than  have 
many  whose  study  has  been  merely  that  of  books.  In  1903  he  graduated  and 
received  his  medical  degree  from  the  Marion  Sims-Beaumont  Medical  Col- 
lege— the  medical  department  of  the  St.  Louis  University  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  His  time  during  vacations  was  spent  in  the  St.  Louis  City  Hospi- 
tal, where  he  held  a  position  as  nurse  for  three  consecutive  summers  and  one 
summer  was  night  nurse  at  City  Quarantine  Station.  Dr.  Floreth  is  a 
graduate  nurse  of  the  Mount  Pleasant  Training  School  for  Nurses  (1896), 
and  served  the  three  following  years  at  the  Mount  Pleasant  (Iowa)  State 
Insane  Asylum.  In  1902  he  took  a  post-graduate  course  on  diseases  of  the 
eye,  nose  and  throat,  giving  careful  study  to  these  organs.     Immediately 


548  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

after  getting  his  degree  in  medicine,  a  competitive  examination  was  held  for 
physicians  on  the  City  Hospital  staff,  in  which  he  was  successful  and  there- 
after served  as  interne  at  the  said  institution  until  he  resigned  the  position 
to  open  his  office  at  Mount  Olive.  In  the  fall  of  1903  he  settled  at  Mount 
Olive,  fitting  up  a  complete  office  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Walnut  streets. 
Here  the  ailing  may  find  not  only  a  physician  of  trained  faculties  and  tried 
skill,  but  also  a  pleasant  gentleman  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet. 

Dr.  Floreth  and  the  other  members  of  his  family  belong  to  the  Methodist 
Church. 

N.  B. — Just  as  this  goes  to  print,  we  hear  that  Dr.  Floreth  has  moved 
to  Colona,  Illinois,  where  he  has  taken  charge  of  the  practice  of  Dr.  F.  G. 
Johnson,  who  has  been  unwell  and  unable  to  tend  to  his  practice.  Dr.  Floreth 
has  taken  charge  of  this  practice  temporarily  and  will  most  probably  return 
to  Mount  Olive. 


SAMUEL  GREENHALGH. 

Samuel  Greenh.vlgh,  wiio  is  serving  in  the  capacity  of  police  magis- 
trate of  Mount  Olive,  is  well  qualified  for  that  position  and  may  well  be 
named  as  one  of  the  foremost  and  progressive  citizens  of  his  city.  He  was 
born  April  3,  1840,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children  born  to  James 
and  Judith  (Holker)  Greenhalgh,  the  former  of  whom  was  an  Englishman 
by   birth   and   followed   the   vocation   of  a   teamster. 

Samuel  Greenhalgh  was  raised  and  educated  in  England  and  vihen  12 
years  of  age  began  the  life  of  a  miner  to  assist  his  parents  and  has  made 
that  his  vocation  to  the  present  time.  In  1881  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
locating  at  Litchfield,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until  1884,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Gillespie,  IMacoupin  County.  The  following  j-ear  he  removed  to 
Alount  Olive,  and  again  took  up  the  occupation  of  mining,  being  at  present 
one  of  the  oldest  miners  in  Macoupin  County.  Mr.  Greenhalgh  although 
not  having  the  opportunities  of  most  men  has  accumulated  considerable 
property  and  has  educated  himself.  In  political  circles,  Mr.  Greenhalgh  is 
a  stanch  Democrat  and  in  1901  he  was  elected  to  his  present  office.  The 
position  of  police  magistrate  could  not  have  been  more  efficiently  filled.     In 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  549 

fraternal  circles  he  is  a  member  of  the  United  Mine  Workers  of  America. 
Mr.  Greenhalgh  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ellen  Jones  on  May  ii,  1872, 
and  14  children  were  born  to  them,  eight  of  whom  still  sur\-ive,  namely: 
Ellen;  Fred  C,  who  resides  in  Colorado;  Israel;  Sarah,  wife  of  A.  Christ- 
field;  Edith;  Florence;  Ida  M.  and  Magdelina  M.  Mr.  Greenhalgh  and 
family  are  members  of  the  English  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


FREDERICK   W.  A.  BOCK. 

Frederick  W.  A.  Bock,*  one  of  the  well  known  and  most  highly  re- 
spected retired  German  citizens  of  Girard,  was  born  in  Germany  on  Novem- 
ber 20,  1830.  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  Bock  and  a  brother  of  the  late  Henry 
Bock,  of  Girard,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Bock  was  reared  to  manhood  and  educated  in  the  schools  and 
trained  in  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  before  he  came  to  the  United  States.  He 
had  also  v>-orked  at  coopering  and  butchering  and  was  apt  enough  to  turn 
his  hand  to  almost  anything.  In  1856  he  left  his  home  with  the  intention  of 
settling  in  Illinois.  The  vessel  on  which  he  sailed  landed  him  in  Texas, 
whence  he  made  his  way  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  found  opportunity  to 
work  for  his  passage  to  Cincinnati.  From  that  city  he  worked  his  way  until 
he  reached  Girard  and  soon  found  employment  here,  doing  general  work  in 
the  grist  mill  of  Howard  &  Bride.  Although  the  mill  changed  hands,  Mr. 
Bock  made  himself  too  useful  to  have  his  services  dispensed  with  and  he  re- 
mained until  the  chance  came  for  him  to  rent  the  mill  for  $25  a  month.  By 
1867  he  had  acumulated  enough  capital  to  buy  the  mill,  and  he  operated  it 
successfully  until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  This  disaster  visited  him  three 
times,  each  time  the  mill  being  rebuilt,  and  then  ^Ir.  Bock  admitted  Harris 
Bridges  to  partnership.  For  the  fourth  time  fire  destroyed  the  mill  and  Mr. 
Bock  again  rebuilt  and  conducted  it  until  he  finally  sold  the  property.  He 
has  always  lived  a  very  busy  life  and,  in  addition  to  other  lines  of  business, 
has  spent  about  30  years  working,  at  various  times,  in  the  coal  mines.  Wher- 
ever he  has  been,  he  has  shown  the  same  tenacity  of  purpose  and  persevering 
industr}-.  which  has  resulted  in  making  him  one  of  the  city's  moneyed  men. 

31 


550  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

iMr.  Bock  married  Catherine  Morris,  who  died  February  22,  1896.  They 
had  a  family  of  13  children,  of  whom  10  are  now  living,  namely:  Henry  W., 
bom  October  22,  1863;  Augusta,  born  December  16,  1864;  Charles,  born 
April  10,  1866;  .\nna  ]\I.,  born  June  28,  1868;  Birdie  K.,  born  January  11, 
1871 ;  Lena,  bom  July  24,  1872;  Nora  A.,  born  April  i,  1876;  Clara  A.,  born 
April  I.  1877;  Minnie  S.,  born  December  12,  1878,  and  Fred  W.  A.,  Jr., 
bom  July  12,  1880.  Those  deceased  are:  Oscar  A.,  who  died  September  8, 
1S82;  Sophia,  who  died  July  27,  1869;  and  Amelia,  who  died  May  8,  1874. 
The  surviving  children  all  reside  at  home,  a  happy,  united  household. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Bock  has  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party  ever  since 
he  was  naturalized.  He  has  been  called  upon  on  numerous  occasions  to  serve 
in  public  office  at  Girard,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  city  alderman. 
For  four  years  he  served  most  efficiently  as  street  inspector  and  his  administra- 
tion is  remembered  with  satisfaction  by  the  tax-payers  and  those  most  in- 
terested. He  has  been  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  for  a  long 
period  and  belongs  to  the  Girard  lodge.  Like  his  late  brother,  he  is  a  repre- 
sentative German-American  of  the  northeastern  section  of  Macoupin  County, 
and  is  held  in  very  high  regard  by  the  citizens  of  Girard. 


SIGEL  CAPEL. 


SiGEL  C.^PEL,*  who  is  held  in  high  repute  by  the  citizens  of  Mount 
Olive,  is  one  of  the  city's  prominent  and  successful  attorneys.  He  was  born  in 
Illinois  on  September  8,  1870,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  four  children  bom 
to  John  I.  and  Mary  E.  (Nolan)  Capel. 

John  I.  Capel  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1845  and  after  reaching  the  years 
of  manhood  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming  and  now  resides  in  Illinois. 

Sigel  Capel  received  his  preliminary  educational  training  in  the  public 
schools  of  Saline  County.  Illinois,  and  later  attended  the  schools  at  Hay- 
wood. Wa}Tie  County,  Illinois,  completing  his  school  education  at  the  high 
school  of  that  county.  He  then  studied  law  under  W.  H.  Boyer  of  Harris- 
burg.  Illinois  and  G.  M.  Milley  of  the  same  place.  In  1893  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Blount  Vernon,  Illinois,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 


MACOUPIN    COUNTY.  551 

at  Harrisburg,  continuing  with  such  success  that  in  December  1900  he  was 
elected  States  attorney.  In  1903  he  located  in  Mount  Olive  and  has  continued 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  e\er  since  with  much  success.  In  political 
circles,  Mr.  Capel  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party  and  in  fraternal  circles 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Masons. 

Mr.  Capel  was  united  in  marriage  to  Janie  Parks,  a  daughter  of  Rufus 
Parks,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  Hobart  P..  who  was  born  in  June, 
1896.  Our  subject  and  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


HON.  J.  F.  HUSTON. 

Hon.  J.  F.  Huston,*  mayor  of  Virden,  and  senior  member  of  the  busi- 
ness house  of  J.  F.  Huston  &  Son,  successors  to  J.  F.  Huston,  is  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  this  progressive  little  city.  He  was  born  in  Greene 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Hiram  and  Eliza  (Haverstick)  Huston,  who 
still  reside  in  Ohio,  where  the  father  is  an  extensive  farmer. 

Mr.  Huston  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  obtained  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  at  Xenia,  Ohio.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  Civil  War,  he  enlisted  at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  in  the  184th 
Regiment.  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Colonel  Monney,  and  served  with  faithful- 
ness and  honor  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  then  returned  to  Xenia,  where 
he  remained  in  business  until  he  came  to  Macoupin  County  in  1868.  In  1881 
he  located  in  Virden  and  organized  the  business  which  has  developed  into  one 
of  large  proportions.  His  son,  Frank  D.,  is  associated  with  him  as  junior 
member  of  the  firm.  They  are  licensed  embalmers  and  funeral  directors  and 
deal  in  hardware,  stoves,  tinware,  furniture,  undertaker's  goods,  farm  imple- 
ments, bicycles  and  sundries.  The  company's  stock  is  valued  at  more  than 
$10,000.  while  the  annual  business  foots  up  to  some  $30,000.  His  trade 
covers  the  whole  of  Macoupin  County. 

Mr.  Huston  has  been  actively  interested  in  politics  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  most  public  spirited  citizens  of  Virden.  The  esteem  in  which 
he  is  universally  held  has  been  shown  on  many  occasions  by  his  fellow  citi- 


552  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

zens,  who  have  placed  hini  in  responsible  positions.  He  has  served  four  years 
as  alderman  and  two  years  as  city  treasurer.  In  1886  he  was  first  elected 
mayor  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  10  consecutive  years — rather  a  remark- 
able record.  In  the  spring  of  1903  he  was  again  called  to  the  city's  highest 
official  position,  and  his  administration  has  been  marked  with  improvements 
and  reforms  which  have  met  with  the  approval  of  his  constituents,  irrespective 
of  party  lines. 

Mr.  Huston  married  Mary  L.  Deer,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Deer, 
and  their  two  children  are  Frank  D.  and  Mina  L.  All  members  of  the  family 
belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Fraternally,  our  subject  belongs  to  the 
Masons,  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Woodmen. 


BOYER  BROTHERS  COMPANY. 

BoYER  Brothers  Company,*  the  leading  livery  firm  of  Carlinville, 
Macoupin  County,  is  composed  of  George  S.  and  Albert  Boyer,  sons  of  Sam- 
uel and  Mary  E.   (Seaman)   Boyer. 

Samuel  Boyer,  who  was  Ijorn  in  England,  came  to  the  United  States  in 
early  manhood,  and  settled  at  Carlinville,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick  for  some  years.  Finally  he  sold  his  plant  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  active  life  following  his  trade  of  brick  laying  and  contracting.  He 
married  Mary  E.  Seaman,  and  they  had  these  children :  Sarah,  Mary,  Emma, 
George  S.,  Edward,  Albert  and  one  deceased.  Mrs.  Boyer  still  survives  and 
resides  with  her  sons  in  Carlinville. 

George  S.  Boyer  was  born  October  3,  1863,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Carlinville.  He  found  his  first  business  opening  as  a  liv- 
ery hand  in  the  stables  of  George  J.  Castle,  with  whom  he  remained  for  25 
years.  In  1900,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Albert,  he  purchased  these 
stables  and  the  business  has  since  been  carried  on  by  Boyer  Brothers  Company. 
The  stables  are  located  on  West  street  and  are  probably  the  best  equipped 
ones  in  Macoupin  County.  The  company  has  15  horses  which  are  kept  in 
fine  condition  for  livery  use,  and  any  kind  of  vehicle  can  be  obtained.  This 
company  controls  the  larger  part  of  the  livery  business  of  the  section,  the 


MACOL'PIX    COUNTY.  553 

accommodating  spirit  and  honest  methods  of  its  members  gaining  them  the 
full  confidence  of  the  public. 

George  S.  Boyer  is  a  very  prominent  Macoupin  County  Republican  and 
has  been  the  efficient  tax  collector  of  Carlinville  township,  an  office  which  re- 
quires a  bond  of  $83,000,  succeeding  his  brother  Albert,  who  held  the  office 
in  1889.  Both  young  men  are  personally  popular  and  own  a  business  which 
promises  to  make  them  very  substantial  citizens.  Albert  Boyer  is  a  member 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workman,  and  George  S.,  of  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles  and  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Frank,  genial,  accom- 
modating, they  are  the  very  men  to  give  the  visitor  a  good  opinion  of  the 
type  of  citizen  to  be  met  with  in  this  locality,  and  few  men  are  better  posted 
on  current  values  and  business  possibilities  and  attractions.  They  are  well 
known  all  through  the  county  and  are  considered  among  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  Carlinville. 


HON.  DAVID   E.   KEEFE. 

Hon.  David  E.  Keefe*,  formerly  county  judge  of  Macoupin  County,  is 
now  a  resident  of  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  where  he  enjoys  a  large  and  lucra- 
tice  law  practice.  He  was  torn  in  Madison  County,  Illinois.  December  13. 
1863,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Honora  (Runlan)   Keefe. 

John  Keefe  was  born  in  Ireland  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  In  1848 
he  migrated  to  America  and  first  settled  in  St.  Louis,  IMissouri,  where  he' 
remained  imtil  1855.  In  tlie  latter  year  he  moved  to  IMadison  County, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  lived  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
dying  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  83  years.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  87  years.  Of  a  family  of  10  children  born  to  them,  five  are 
now  living,  namely:  ^lary;  Patrick  H. ;  Catherine;  John;  and  David  E., 
subject  of  this  biography. 

David  E.  Keefe  received  a  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Madison  County,  which  was  supplemented  by  a  course  of  study  in  the 
Northern  Illinois  Normal  School.  After  leaving  the  latter  institution,  he 
engaged  in  teaching  for  some  four  years  and  in  the  meantime  pursued  the 
study  of  the  law.    He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May,  1890,  and  the  follow- 


554  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 

ing  July  opened  an  office  for  practice  at  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  met  with 
almost  immediate  success.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  attorney  of 
Bunker  Hill  in  1893,  ^"^  served  a  term  of  two  years.  In  October,  1896, 
he  removed  to  Carlinville,  the  county  seat,  where  he  became  associated  with 
the  law  firm  of  Peebles  &  Peebles,  the  style  and  title  of  the  firm  being 
changed  to  that  of  Peebles,  Keefe  &  Peebles.  They  commanded  an  exten- 
sive practice  throughout  the  county,  and  were  recognized  as  one  of  the 
strongest  combinations  of  legal  talent  in  this  section  of  the  State.  Judge 
Keefe  became  his  party's  choice  for  county  judge  of  Macoupin  County  in 
1898,  and  was  elected  for  a  term  of  four  years.  Upon  the  expiration  of  his 
term,  he  resumed  practice  as  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Keefe  &  Peebles. 
Both  on  the  bench  and  in  private  practice.  Judge  Keefe  has  displayed 
marked  ability;  although  his  election  to  office  came  at  the  hands  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  those  of  different  political  views  never  had  cause  to  complain 
of  the  treatment  accorded  them.  He  was  utterly  impartial  in  all  the  decisions 
rendered  by  him,  and  was  equally  popular  with  Democrats  and  Republicans. 
He  has  been  a  constant  student  of  his  profession,  possesses  a  discriminating 
mind  and  retentive  memory,  and  few  members  of  the  bar  are  as  well  posted 
on  the  statutes  of  the  State. 

On  November  29,  1893,  Judge  Keefe  was  joined  in  marriage  with 
Jennie  C.  Chire  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  four  children  have  blessed 
their  home,  namely :  J.  Robert ;  May  H. ;  Virginia ;  and  Agnes  A. 


INDKX. 


PAGE 

Adams,  Francis  M .231 

Adams,  Giles  158 

Ahrens,  John  F 289 

Allen,    Frank   D    303 

Anderson,   John    C 42 

Anderson,  Randolph  P 104 

Anderson,  W.  E.  P 21 

Anderson,    William 460 

Arkebauer,  Meint  361 

Armstrong,  Christopher  C   471 

Armstrong,  John  W 427 

Ash,  John  R.,  M.  D .189 

Baker,  Thomas   S 218 

Baldwin,  Jerome  B 459 

Barnes,  Asaph  H.,  D.   D.   S 299 

Barnett,    William   T 89 

Bartel,  Mrs.  Lena 541 

Bates,  Atison 69 

Bauer,  Frank  E 531 

Bechtold,    Jacob    Z 178 

Becker,  John  George   356 

Becker,   Lewis   F 340 

Beerup,    Neville    B 542 

Behrens,   W.   H 52 

Benner,    J.    George 212 

Binney,  John,  M.  D 408 

Bird,  Joseph  S 407 

Bleuler,  E.  Alfred,  M.  D 220 

Bley,  David  L.,  M.  D 321 

Bley,    Robert    E 84 

Bock,  Fred  B 191 

Bock,  Frederick  W.   D 549 

Bock,   Henry   172 

Bodka,    William    C 378 


PAGE 

Boosinger,   George   F 477 

Boston,   Jefferson    W 431 

Boswell,    Mrs.    Hannah    M 522 

Boyer    Brothers    Company 552 

Boyer,   John   H.,    M.    D 493 

Brandenburger,  John    156 

Brautigan,    Ernest 275 

Bray  ford,  Henry 405 

Brown,    Benjamin   H 48 

Brown,  Leonard  G 532 

Brown,   Robert,  Esq 482 

Bruce,    Wallace    A 412 

Buchterkirchen,   H.    C 421 

Budd,   Harry   R 138 

Burke,  B.  M 197 

Burton,   James   M 428 

Cain,   Thomas   15 

Callaway,  James  L 228 

Campbell,   James    543 

Capel,    Sigel    550 

Carmody,    Stephen    T    293 

Carter,    Archie    L 320 

Castle,    Capt.    George    J 77 

Cavender,    John    R 521 

Caveny,  John  30 

Chapman,    Maj.    Fletcher    H 201 

Chappell,   Israel    145 

Cherry,  Thomas  H 515 

Clark,   Mark  W 535 

Clark,   Robert    476 

Clayton,   William   H 534 

Coffee;    Henry    M 456 

Cole,  John  T 81 

Conlee,    Hon.    William    T 545 


556 


INDEX. 


FACE 

Cooper,  Frank  W 544 

Corr,   Albert   C,   A.    M.,   M.    D 151 

Corr,  Lucinda  H.,  M.  D 151 

Cordum,   Louis   E 374 

Costley,   Andrew    59 

Coultas,   Horace   W 53° 

Covvell,  George  124 

Cowan,  Robert  S.,  M.  B 295 

Cox,  James  Madison 528 

Cox,  John  C 358 

Culp,  Benjamin  F 445 

Culp,  William  N I55 

Crawford,  Alexander  W 362 

Dalby,  Nathaniel 165 

Davis,    Clinton 137 

Davis,   Mrs.    D.    Cornelia 221 

Deck,  Lewis  C IQS 

Denby,  Frank  R 46 

Dey,   Rhuliff   533 

Dickerson,  Edward  N 187 

Dickie,    William    P 144 

Dilliard,    Rev.   Luke 498 

Dingerson,  Henry  P 430 

Dodds,   Joseph   A ^74 

Donahue,    William    J.,    M.    D 300 

Dooley,    Enoch 140 

Doraey,  Howell  M 297 

Dorsey,    Plutarch    H 225 

Dripps,    Mrs.   Mary   Bley 455 

Drennan,  William  M 417 

Duckies,  Edward  G 57 

Duckies,  Henry  Clay 245 

Duckies,  John  H 255 

Dufner,  Joseph   184 

Dufner,  Joseph  J 175 

Dugger,    Capt.    W.    B 13 

Drum,    William    331 

Edwards,   T.   H 310 

England,  John  J 319 

England,    Samuel    335 

English.    Robert    W 219 

Elliman,  Thomas   E 343 

Etter,   Elmo 74 

Etter,    Scott 341 

Fahrengrog,  Mrs.   Fredericka   182 

Fahrenkrog,    William    J.    H 196 


rAGE 

Faith,    James,    M.    D 481 

Fenton,  George  410 

Fischer,  C.  J.  C,  M.  D 47 

Fisk,   Walter   D 486 

Fletcher,  Mrs.   Helen 159 

Flood,  Hon.  Philip 210 

Floreth,  Gustave  A.,  M.  D 547 

For  wood,    Thomas    B 386 

Francis,  Richard  D 39' 

Funderburk,  David   392 

Fundcrburk,    Isaac    A 313 

Gardner,    L.    W 29 

Gehner,  Henry  J.,  Jr 409 

George,  William  Robinson 439 

German,   Mrs.    Ida   M 537 

Gibson,    Zacliariah    J 253 

Gill,    Samuel    458 

Gish,    Abram    C 463 

Godfrey,  Cornelius 525 

Godfrey,    Elvin    Ellet 517 

Godfrey,  Mrs.  Mary  Jane 503 

Gore,  Forrest  D 79 

Gray,    Samuel 347 

Grccnhalgh,    Samuel 548 

Griffel,   Henry 141 

Grimmctt,  Clarence 294 

Grimmett,    William   T 234 

Gross.  William  M.,  M.  D 257 

Hacke,    August 85 

Hackman,   Charles   F 512 

Hackman,  William  F 509 

Hall,    Jackson 103 

Hamilton,  George  W 233 

Hamilton,  Henry  C 387 

Harris,    F.    L 148 

Harris,    Fitzhugh    Lee 399 

Hart,  John   E 419 

Hart,  William  J 107 

Hartley,  O.  C 200 

Hayes,  Edgar  W 70 

Hayward,   Cyrus  Tolman .-194 

Head,   Martin   H.,   M.   D 214 

Heironymus,  William 413 

Hill,  Green  E.,  M.  D 276 

Hilliard,   George   W 246 

Holme,    Edward    S 449 

Hounslcy,    William    W 43 


INDEX. 


557 


P^GE 

Hoxsey,    John    C,    V.    S 444 

Huber,  Henry  S 538 

Huddleston,   Mrs.   Rachel 279 

Huffman,    S.,    M.    D 489 

Hulse,  W.  R 40 

Huson,    William    M 62 

Huston,  Hon.  J.  F 551 

Isaacs,  Abraham 441 

Isaacs,  Richard 539 

Jarman,  Robert 100 

Jencks,  James 261 

Johnson,  Gabriel  Willard 92 

Johnson,    Mrs.    Geske   M 414 

Johnston,  John  W 88 

Jones,  Emery  C,  M.  D m 

Jones,   Herbert   A 464 

Keefe,  Hon.   David  E 553 

Kennedy,  John  O 443 

Keplinger,   James   Thomas 207 

Keplinger,  Mrs.  Sarah  E 207 

Kessinger,  Manning  M 32 

Kitzmiller,    Rev.    Martin    V 248 

Klein,    Jacob 401 

Knotts,  Hon.  Edward  C 288 

Koch,  Hon.  Theodore  H 411 

Kruse,    Henry 368 

Lancaster,  Mrs.  Emma  J 216 

Lancaster,  Joseph 179 

Leach,  Frank  B 360 

Leach,  John  J 388 

Lee,   George 181 

Lippoldt,    John    G 188 

Lobb,   Richard   W 369 

Loper,  Gideon  B 353 

Lott,   Henry   C 91 

Loveless,   Alexander   B 72 

Loveless,   Cyrus  Otis 209 

Loveless,  Hugh  F 302 

Lowis,  John,  Jr .326 

Luker,  Mrs.  Emma 473 

Luker,   George   H 475 

Malone,    !Micajah    C 371 

Martin,  Eugene 61 

Matthews,  John   Pitt,  M.   D 16 


P.\GE 

Maxeiner,    Philip    W 492 

Mayo,  Walter  S 139 

Metcalf,    James    D.,   Jr 510 

Metcalfe,    Thomas 598 

Meyer,   William   H 390 

Miller,   Henry 527 

Milton,  Edwin  S.,  M.  D 166 

Mitchell,   Asa   Clinton 120 

Mitchell,  Milton 271 

Mitchell,  Robert  J.,  M.  D 286 

Mitchell,  Mrs.   Sarah  J 286 

Mitchell,    Travis    Moore 437 

Mize,    Benjamin 238 

Montgomery,  Joseph,  Jr 51 

Morgan,    Corbin    S 263 

Morrison,  George 170 

Morrison,  Henry   199 

Morse,    Theodore 28 

Mounts,    Hon.    W.    L 115 

McBrien,  William  Lincoln,  M.  D 519 

McElvain,   Jason    N 324 

McKnight,  Robert  Wade 229 

McKnight,   Col.   Sargeant 265 

Neimeyer,    William    366 

Niemann,   Edward   F 323 

Niemann,  John   C 337 

Niemann,  William  L 317 

Otwell,  William   B 334 

Owen,  Walter  D.  and  Arthur  A 127 

Palmer,  Hon.  John  McAuIey 133 

Patrick,    William 496 

Patton,  John  F.,  D.  D.   S m 

Peebles,  Hon  L.  P 233 

Pennington,  Joseph 109 

Perrine,    John   Harrison 403 

Perrine,   William   H 98 

Pettengill,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 243 

Phelps,  John  F ^ 504 

Pinkerton,   David   W 315 

Purdy,  Richard  M 465 

Purdy,    William    Collins 467 

Quade,    Otto    E 355 

Quigley,   Robert   D 270 

Reichmann,  John 102 


558 


INDEX. 


FACE 

Reno,   James    William 328 

Rice,  E.  T 169 

Richmond,   Walter  B 307 

Richer,  Christopher .  97 

Rieher,  Mrs.  Lena  S 97 

Rinaker,  Gen.  John  1 11 

Roach,    John 393 

Robinson,  George  C 451 

Robley,   Richard  T 44 

Ronksley,  William 106 

Ross,    Mahlon 349 

Sanner,    Samuel    P 125 

Sargent,   Jacob    T 118 

Sawtell,  Charles  H 14 

Sawyer,    Mrs.    Mary    Ann 372 

Schelb,   William,   Sr 305 

Scheldt,   Henry    C 147 

Schelm,    William    H 352 

Schmidt,    John    S 491 

Schoenemann,    Henry no 

Schroeder,   Thomas   F 142 

Schultz,  Frederick 351 

Scroggins,  Horace  Edward 424 

Scroggins,   Mrs.   Kissiah 479 

Seehausen,    W.    C 27 

Sells,  William  H 25 

SIftle  Brick  &  Tile  Works,  The 251 

Sheppard,  Benjamin  F 230 

Shirley,   Hon.   Robert  B 67 

Shriver,  William  A.,  M.  D 365 

Simmons,  Albert  H.,  M.  D 282 

Simmons,  Col.  John  H 153 

Simpson,  George  A 423 

Skelton,  Andrew  N 318 

Smith,    Charles    E 402 

Smith,  Charles  Edward,  M.  D 284 

Smith,   Haney   V 163 

Smith,    Nathan    R 281 

Smith,  S.  Owen 375 

Smith,  Vincent 161 

Snodgrass,    William 447 

Spaulding,   Davis   L.,   M.   D 483 

Staats,    Henry 64 

Steinmeyer,  William  H 23 

Stiver,  Rev.   Samuel  L 121 

Storz,  Frederick  G .  268 

Stowe,  John  J 237 

Stutzman,  Joseph 273 


lAGE 

Taylor,  Mrs.   Susan  C 240 

Taylor,  William  E 117 

Terry,  Charles  C 500 

Thompson,   David   M 448 

Tietjen,   John    H 24 

Tietsort,  James  L 176 

Titchenal,   John    119 

Trabue,  William  B 129 

Travers,  William  L 507 

Tucker,  Frank  L.,  D.  D.  S 508 

Utt,  W.  H 36 

Vancil,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  R 383 

Vancil,  Imri  B 383 

Van  Wormer,  William  W.,  M.  D 274 

Vaughn,   Hon.   J.   B 39 

Virden,   Mrs.   Henrietta  E.  (Dyson) ...  .484 
Vollentine,  Joseph   S 501 

Wall,  Charles   R 3-29 

Wall,  Hon.  Hampton  W 338 

Wall,  William  P 357 

Walker,  John   H .395 

Walton,  John  Edward,  M.  D 516 

Wash.  George  A.,  M.  D 364 

Wellenbrink,  William 363 

Welton,  Samuel  M 63 

Westlake,   George   H.,    D.    D.    S 5" 

Whitehouse,   William   H 397 

Whitcley,  Robert,   Sr 34 

Whitfield,   William    H 453 

Williams,  Samuel  J 425 

Williamson,    John 432 

Willson,  George  W 87 

Wolf,   Henry 18 

Wood,   Alfred   C 49 

Wood,    Capt.    Reuben    0 290 

Woodman,  Elijah  F 53 

Woods,    Benjamin 33 

Wurtz,   Eugene  David,   D.   M.   D 462 

Wyckofl,  John  James 490 

Yancey,  Hon.  A.  N 130 

York,  Charles  W 112 

Young,    Henry    K 304 

Zabel,  Rev.  Francis  H 192 

Zaepflfel,    Augustus 83 


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