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'LI  B  RARY 

OF   THE 

U  N  I  VERSITY 
Of    ILLINOIS 


977.367 


totflrtcil  Surrij 


PAST  AND  PRESENT 


OF 


PIATT  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


V  TOGETHER  WITH 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  MANY  PROMINENT 
AND  INFLUENTIAL  CITIZENS. 


fCHARLESJMcINTOSH, 


x 

ASSOCIATE  KDIXOR. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


'A  people  that  take  no  pride  in  the  noble  achievements  of  remote  ancestors,  will  never  achieve  anything 
worthy  to  be  remembered  with  pride  by  remote  generations."— MACAULAY. 


CHICAGO: 

THE  S.  ,T.  CLARKK  PUBLISHING  Co. 

19O3. 


"Biography  is  the  only  true  history." — Emerson. 


n  ux4"O"'"u-<r-  O-A      •°-o_-v  V-QAA 
977.  367-.  '  <* 

MiSp 


INTRODUCTORY. 


T 


greatest  of  English  historians,  MACAULAY,  and  one  of  the  most  brilliant 

writers  of  the  present  century,  has  said  :  "The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told 
in  a  record  of  the  lives  of  its  people."  In  conformity  with  this  idea,  the  BIOGRAPH- 
ICAL RECORD  has  been  prepared.  Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and  taking 
therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  .but  few,  our  corps  of 
writers  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their  enterprise 
and  industry,  brought  this  county  to  a  rank-  second  to  none  among  those  compris- 
ing this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life  strug- 
gles. No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelligent 
public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty, 
by  industry  and  economy,  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  lim- 
ited advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women, 
with  an  influence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It 
tells  of  men  who  have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen, 
and  whose  names  have  become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life 
who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and  records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned 
their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  those,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have 
pursued  the  "even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content  to  have  it  said  of  them,  as  Christ 
said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "They  have  done  what  they 
could."  It  tells  how  many  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood  left  the 
plow  and  the  anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and 
profession,  and  at  their  country's  call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how 
through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  peace  once  more  reigned  in  the 
land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not  be 
lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred 
treasure,  from  the  fact  that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into 
public  records,  and  which  would  otherwise  be  inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been 
taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity  possible  given  to  those 
represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written ;  and  the  publishers 
flatter  themselves  that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  conse- 
quence. In  addition  to  biographical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representa- 
tive citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this 
volume.  For  this  the  publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  concep- 
tion of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the  information  necessary  to  compile  a 
sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.  Occasionally  some  member  of  the  family 
would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the 
interested  one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  never  could  be  found, 
though  repeated  calls  were  made  at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

September,  1903.  THE  S.  J.  Q.ARKE  PUBLISHING  Co. 


INDRX. 


HISTORICAL. 

CHAPTER  I     EARLY  HISTORY.   1820-1840 9 

CHAPTER   II     1840-1903 14 

Township    Organization 16 

Civil    War " 18 

Jail    19 

Poor    Farm 19 

Railroads    20 

Dredge    Ditch 21 

Piatt   Fair 22 

County    Papers 24 

Improvements  of  County  Buildings 25 

Court  House  and  Jail 25 

County    Officers 26 

CHAPTER  III     SCHOOLS  OF  THE  COUNTY 27 

School   Directors'   Association 29 

Annual  Institute 30 

State  Course  of  Study 3 l 

Monticello    Township 3 1 

Bement   township 32 

Cerro  Gordo  Township 34 

Milmine    34 

La   Place 34 

Goose  Creek  Township 35 


INDEX. 

Sangamon  Township 35 

Willow  Branch  Township 35 

Unity  Township 36 

Blue  Ridge  Township • 37 

CHAPTER  IV     MONTICELLO  37 

/ 

Monticello  Water  Works 39 

Town   Hall 41 

Farmers'    Elevator 42 

Banks    42 

Harrington    Brother^ 43 

Elevators    .- 44 

Telephones 44 

Hotels    44 

Light   Plant 44 

Pepsin  Syrup  Company 45 

H.  D.  Peters  Company 45 

MONTICELLO  CHURCHES — M.  E.  Church 45 

Presbyterian    46 

LODGES — Masonic    Order 47 

I.  O.  O.  F 48 

K.  of  P 48 

CHAPTER  V     EARLY  SETTLEMENT  BY  TOWNSHIP 48 

Bement    48 

Unity    50 

Cerro    Gordo 51 

La  Place 51 

Milmine    52 

Willow   Branch • 52 

Blue  Ridge 52 

Sangamon    53 


INDEX. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


PAGE 

Adkins,    Charles 246 

Allerton,    Robert   H 464 

Allerton,    Samuel    W 148 

Allman,    Edward 472 

Allman,  James  L 254 

Andrews,   Mrs.   J.  E 494 

Armsworth,  Samuel  S 471 

Arnold,   Elder  John 442 

Ashmore,  C.  H 428 

Baker,   George  W 419 

Baker,  T.   G 122 

Bales,  Dr.  F 291 

Barker,   Dr.   B.   L, 343 

Barnhart,   J.   C 244 

Bateman,  J.  0 412 

Bateman,   Thomas,  Jr 383 

Bear.    C.    J 103 

Beckenholdt,    John 373 

Bell,   John   D 450 

Benard,    Louis 233 

Benson,    Robert   H 194 

Blacker,    John 493 

Blagg,    S.    A 127 

Bondurant,  Thomas  E 56 

Booth,    Dr.    C.    0 242 

Bosserman,    Marion 345 

Buckle.  H.  W 169 

Bunyan,  George  W 137 

Burgess,  G.  A 75 

Burns,  John  H 203 

Bushee,  Jesse 512 

Camp,  J.  M 170 

Campbell.  Elijah 500 

Carter,    Joseph    P 298 

Chenoweth,  E.  B 217 

Chenoweth,    Gideon 215 

Churchill,  John  T 382 

Clark,    Anthony 401 

Clark,    William 386 

Cline,  J.  H 331 

Coffin,  Dr.  N.  G 92 

Coffin,    William    D 279 

Coleman.  Miss  Lyda 511 

Comerford,  John  E 167 

Cope,    C.    C 433 

Cope,  L.  J 432 


PAGE 

Croninger,  E.  L 505 

Crook,  Jesse  J 453 

Curry,   M.   0 502 

Cyphers,   John  W 448 

Darst,  J.  N 322 

Dauberman,    C.    M 256 

Davidson,  M.  R 481 

Dawson,  D.   H 486 

DeGrofft,    William    M 346 

DeLand,   George 420 

Deveny,  T.  F 507 

Dewey,    Charles    S 357 

Dighton,    A.    J 482 

Dighton,    William 145 

Dilatush,  W.  H 84 

Dillin,    Hiram 304 

Dresbach,   Ephraim 285 

Drum,    Ell 204 

Duncan  Brothers.. 63 

Edie,  A.  C 81 

Edwards,    J.    C 380 

Edwards,  Wellington 380 

Elliott,  James  W 449 

Ellis,  Dr.  Joshua  G 191 

England,  C.  E 498 

Etnoyer,    John 302 

Evans,  James  C 206 

Fairbanks,  W.   D 272 

Firke,    W.    H 333 

Fisher,  Jacob 355 

Fisher,  James 321 

Fleck,  W.  A 105 

Fosnaugh,    E.    L 390 

Foulk,    Samuel    J 231 

French,   J.    H 276 

Frizzell.   John 141 

Fulk,  J.  G 234 

Funk,  S.  M 166 

Furnish,  J.  C 334 

Gantz,  Henry  W 451 

Gardiner,    John 506 

Garver,  J.  H 266 

Gessford,    Henry 347 


PAGE 

Gillespie,  C.  0 385 

Gillespie,   Fred   D 361 

Gillespie,  H.  K 338 

Gilmore,    Henry    H 422 

Gordon,    P.    1 394 

Gross,  Jacob 310 

Gulliford,    Walter 372 

Hamman,    Fred 516 

Haneline,   Nathan 307 

Harris,  H.  P 243 

Hawley,  Rev.  Ernest 155 

Hetishee,    Frank 205 

Higgins,  George  0 115 

Higgins,  William  S 222 

Hill,   Joshua 64 

Hilligoss,  John  W 85 

Hiser,   Albert 297 

Hiser,    Pope. 281 

Hoffman,   G.   W 460 

Howell,    J.   R 323 

Hubbard,  J.  S 371 

Hubbart,   R.   B 300 

Huff,  B.  F 180 

Homeau,  Louis  C.  A 154 

James,   Alvah 402 

James,   E.   P 439 

Jamison,  Col.  W.  H 227 

Jones,   Dr.   B.   B 96 

Keel,  Dr.  Fred  W 489 

Kersten,    Fred 431 

Kilborn,  Major  L.  S 496 

Kile,    Joseph    G 434 

Kingston,  G.  W 475 

Kingston.  J.  W 474 

Kirby,    John...: 66 

Kizer,  T.  J 490 

Knight,   E.   G 461 

Lamb,  Thomas,  Sr 179 

Langley,    A.    J 82 

Langley,  J.  C 55 

Larson,    John 

Larson,  Nels 510 

Larson,  N.  B 271 

Leach,  William  H 384 


INDEX. 


PAGE 


Locher,  J.  C 133 

Lodge,   B.    F 314 

Lodge,  William  E 128 

Lodge,  William  F 443 

Lord,  Dr.  William  L 236 

Lowther,    J.    W 228 

Lubbers,  Otto 479 

Lumsden,    E.    W 192 

McClain,   Dr.   B.   T : 144 

McClure,  Samuel 350 

McGinnis,  John  F 499 

Maier,  John 189 

Mansfield,  Charles  F 118 

Mansfield,  Gen.  J.  L 106 

Marquiss,   Seymour 218 

Martin,  O.   M 476 

Matson,    Dr.    W.    F 395 

Means,    Rev.    W.    E 94 

Merritt,  Joseph  W.,  Sr 113 

Meyer,  H.  G 463 

Miller,  Martin  E 292 

Miner,  Charles 515 

Miner,    Ira   F 468 

Miner,  R.  S 287 

Mitchell,  Emor  H 125 

Mitchell,   Dr.   T.   J 238 

Moery,   John 200 

Moody,  R.  B 417 

Moore,  Allen  F 117 

Moore,  H.  V 134 

Morris,  Thomas 259 

Moyer,    Edward 374 

Nelson,  Sylvanus 393 

Noe,   Dr.  O.   D 508 

Noecker,   Dr.   William 164 

Odernheimer,  F.  A 72 

Ohler,    August 504 

Olson,  James   484 


Olson,   John. 
Orr,    Baltis. 


Peters,  H.  D 

Piatt,    W.   H 

Pierson,    A.    D 

Pipher,    Alonzo    T 

Pittman,   George  W... 

Ponder,   James 

Ponder,  John  R 

Predmore,  Rev.  Moses. 
Prine,  David  H 


Rankin,  J.  H 

Ray,   James   P 

Reed,    S.    R 

Reeves,  Dr.  E.  L 

Reeves,  John  H 

Rhoades,  N.  E 

Richey,  Andrew  J... 

Rinehart,    C.    T 

Rodman,   J.   N 

Rodman,  Scamon  C. 

Root,  Ezra  S 

Ross,   A.   R 

Roth,   Christian 

Royse,  Hiram. ....... 

Ryder,  W.  L 


Schwartz,   Haagan . 
Scott,  Matthew  T . . 

Shively,  Isaac 

Shiveiy,  J.  M 

Shively,  Stephen. . . 
Shreve,  John  H. . . . 

Sisson,  W.  J 

Smith,   John 

Smith,  J.  C 

Smith,  James  M... 

Smith,  William  P. . 

Smock,  John  H. . . . 

Smock,    Samuel . 


PAGE  PAGE. 

Smothers,   A.  T 278 

Staats,  Mrs.  P.  E 492 

Stanley,  J.  Frank 124 

Stephenson,   James 136 

Stevenson,    Evan 503 

Stevenson,  Hon.  W.  F 438 

Stollard,    Amos 269 

Stout,  Edward  S 289 

Sullivan,    Florence 226 

Swisher,  Daniel  P 396 

Taylor,   Charles 362 

Teats,  George  W 360 

Tippott,  Mrs.  Helen  C 217 

Tipped,  J.  C 143 

Trenchard,  G.  R 138 

Uhl,  Lewis  M 282 

Van   Gorder,   James 349 

Van  Syckel,  John  V 404 

Vent,  James  A 288 

Wachs,    Albert 337 

Wachs,   W.   A 336 

Wack,    Casper 480 

Warner,  J.  W 444 

Warren,  John  H 326 

Webster,  Presley  B 430 

Weilepp,   Charles   F 477 

Weilepp,  Frank  S 478 

Wells,  Henley  C 95 

Wheeler,   H.   W 157 

White,  Benjamin  R 99 

White,  J.   M 60 

Wilhelmy,  Dr.  Sylvester 237 

Wilson,   Joseph 190 

Wolfe,    Eli    F 80 

Wood,  Dr.  J.  H 325 

Wyman,  D.  F 429 


488 
255 

469 
86 
158 
312 
178 
405 
213 
257 
485 

376 

320 
70 
145 
467 
457 
176 
392 
76 
459 
260 
454 
513 
223 
182 

277 
101 
389 
225 
311 
381 
440 
359 
399 
406 
248 
170 


Yapp,  C.  W. 


368 


147Zook,  N.  W 201 


PAST  AND  PRESENT 


-or- 


PI  ATT  COUNTY,   ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


EARLY     HISTORY  — 1820-1840. 

One  of  the  richest  agricultural  districts 
in  the  world  is  the  small  county  of  Piatt, 
situated  near  the  middle  of  the  great  state 
of  Illinois.  It  lies  in  the  great  prairie  region 
of  the  United  States,  and  is  a  part  of  the 
rich  alluvial  plain  of  the  Mississippi  valley, 
which  is  noted  all  over  the  world  for  its 
wonderful  fertility.  The  soil  is  a  rich  warm 
loam,  particularly  adapted  to  the  raising  of 
corn,  and  large  quantities  of  it  are  produced 
each  year.  Oats  is  also  a  staple  crop,  and 
wheat  is  raised  successfully  along  the  tim- 
ber. Foctl  for  stock  is  produced  in  abun- 
dance, and  large  number  of  cattle,  horses, 
hogs  and  sheep,  are  raised  each  year.  The 
county  is  distinctly  an  agricultural  one,  at 
least  ten  thousand  of  its  seventeen  thousand 
people  living  in  the  country.  There  are  no 
large  cities,  Monticello,  the  largest  having  a 
population  of  some  two  thousand. 


In  pcint  of  size,  Piatt  county  is  a  little 
less  than  the  average  of  the  state.*  Its  area 
is  440  square  miles.  Its  greatest  length  is 
thirty- four  miles,  and  its  greatest  width  fif- 
teen miles. 

The  surface  generally  is  level,  sloping 
slightly  to  the  southwest.  The'  principal 
river  of  the  county  is  the  Sangamon,  which 
crosses  near  the  center  of  the  county,  flowing 
in  a  southwesterly' direction.  This  river  has 
no  very  large  branches,  the  principal  ones 
on  the  north  being  Madden's  Run,  Goose 
Creek,  Wild  Cat  Creek,  and  on  the  south 
Camp  Creek  and  Willow  Branch.  Some  of 
the  land  in  the  south  part  of  the  county 
slopes  southeast  and  drains  into  the  Kaskas- 


*Four  other  counties  of  the  state  have  the  same  area  as  Piatt. 
as    follows:        DeWitt.    Grundy.    Hamilton    and    Williamson. 


of  the  Secretary  of  State.  The  population  of  Piatt  county  in 
1900  was  17,706.  At  that  time,  twenty-eight  counties  of  the  state 
had  a  less  population,  as  follows:  "  Bond,  Boone,  Brown,  Cal- 
houn,  Cass,  Cumberland,  Edwards,  Gallatin,  Hardin,  Hender- 
son, Jersey,  Johnson,  Kendall,  I,awrence.  Marshall,  Mason. 
Massac,  Menard,  Monroe,  Moultrie,  Pope,  Pulaski,  Putnam 
Richland,  Schuyler,  Scott,  Stark,  Wabash. 


10 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


kia,  a  branch  of  the  Mississippi  through  the 
Lake  Fork  of  the  Okaw  River.  The 
"divide"  between  the  Sangamon  and  Kas- 
kaskia  basins  is  a  ridge  extending  in  a  north- 
easterly direction  between  Bement  and  Mon- 
ticello. 

Piatt  County  was  not  settled  as  early  as 
those  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  When 
Illinois  was  admitted  as  a  state  in  1818,  it 
claimed  a  population  of  some  45,000  souls, 
not  one  of  which  lived  within  the  present 
limits  of  our  county. 

The  settlement  of  the  southern  part  of 
the  state  first  came  from  two  causes.  In  the 
first  place,  the  early  settlers  of  Illinois,  came 
generally  from  the  south,  from  Tennessee, 
Kentucky,  Virginia,  etc.,  and  would  natur- 
ally settle  the  southern  part  of  the  state  first. 
Then,  too,  the  Indians  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  state  were  very  hostile  to  the  English 
settlers.  They  were  in  sympathy  with  the 
French  and  cherished  resentment  towards  all 
the  English  for  many  years.  The  Ft.  Dear- 
born massacre  in  1812  helped  to  delay  the 
settlement  of  the  northern  part  of  the  state 
for  some  time. 

Up  to  1822,  what  is  now  Piatt  County 
was  uninhabited  save  by  wanderng  tribes  of 
the  Kickapoo  and  Pottawatomie  Indians,  and 
by  the  animals  of  the  prairie  and  the  forest. 
Along  the  river  and  creeks  was  the  timber, 
and  back  from  these  waterways  were  the 
prairies  covered  over  in  summer  and  fall 
with  the  tall  prairie  grass  waving  backward 
and  forward  in  the  breeze,  making  it  look 
at  a  distance  much  like  a  rolling  sea.  The 
deer,  the  wolf,  and  the  fox  were  very  much 
in  evidence.  During  the  rainy  season  much 
of  the  land  was  under  water,  and  the  country 
looked  like  one  vast  lake. 

The  same  year  in  which  Edward  Cole 
was  elected  second  governor  of  the  state  and 


the  same  year  that  witnessed  the  first  great 
contest  in  our  state  over  slavery,  came 
George  Hayworth  into  our  county  from 
Tennessee  and  built  the  first  cabin  ever  erect- 
ed within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Piatt 
county.  The  cabin  was  built  in  Monticello 
on  the  Lodge  place.  .  Soon  after  this  he  built 
another  cabin,  having  some  friendly  Indians 
to  help  him.  He  lived  in  the  county  three 
years  and  then  moved  to  Danville.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  James  Martin  came  to 
the  county  from  Ohio.  He  built  a  cabin 
north  of  Monticello  on  what  is  now  the 
Rhoades  place.  Mr.  Martin's  wife  died 
within  the  first  year,  so  he  sold  out  his  place 
to  Mr.  Daggott  and  went  back  to  Indiana. 
The  next  spring  he  persuaded  his  nephew, 
John  Martin  and  his  niece,  Mrs.  Furnace,  to 
accompany  him  back  to  Illinois  and  he  re- 
turned and  built  a  cabin  near  White  Heath. 
Mr.  Daggott  lived  on  the  place  he  purchased 
from  Mr.  Martin  for  about  two  years  and 
then  moved  into  Champaign  county. 

About  1824,  Mr.  Holliday  came  to  the 
county  and  built  a  cabin  near  Mr.  Hay- 
worth's  on  what  is  now  a  part  of  Monticello. 
He  sold  his  cabin  to  Mr.-  Solomon  Carver, 
who  sold  it  to  Mr.  Cordell.  In  1829  Mr.  Cor- 
dell  moved  into  the  cabin. 

In  April,  1824,  Mr.  Abraham  Hanline 
and  his  four  sons,  (Abraham,  Jacob,  James 
and  Nathan),  his  wife  having  just  died, 
took  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
near  the  Coon  Spring  north  of  Monticello 
and  commenced  at  once  the  task  of  clearing 
the  ground  and  building  the  cabin.  The 
same  year  Mr.  York  built  a  cabin  where  Mr. 
Geo.  Varner  now  lives  which  was  the  first 
house  ever  built  within  the  limits  of  what  is 
now  Goose  Creek  township.  In  1830  Mr. 
Cordell  built  a  cabin  on  the  Woolington  place 
north  of  Monticello.  In  1830  the  York  and 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


ii 


Cordell  claims  were  the  only  ones  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Sangamon  river  between 
Friend's  Creek  and  Cheney's  Grove. 

In  the  spring  of  1829,  Mr.  James  A. 
Piatt.  from  whom  the  county  is  named, 
bought  the  Hay  worth  claim  paying  $150  for 
it,  and  giving  all  but  $18  of  it  in  tinware. 
He  moved  to  the  county  that  spring  from 
Indiana,  and  bought  in  all  600  acres  of  land, 
on  part  of  which  the  city  of  Monticello  is 
now  located. 

In  1830  Mr.  Frye  put  a  cabin  at  the 
mouth  of  Goose  Creek.  The  same  year.  Mr. 
Terry  came  to  the  county  and  built  two 
cabins,  one  for  himself,  and  the  other  for  his 
mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Randolph.  In  1831  Mr. 
Olney,  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
built  a  cabin  on  what  is  now  the  Mr.  Ezra 
Marquiss  place.  His  son-in-law,  Mr.  Law- 
rence, built  a  cabin  near  him.  One  of  his 
sons  took  possession  of  the  Frye  cabin,  and 
the  other  built  a  cabin  where  Mr.  William 
Piatt  now  lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence 
both  died  here.  Their  sons  became  dissatis- 
fied with  the  place  and  moved  away.  In 
1833,  Mr.  Abraham  Marquiss  came  to  the 
county  and  took  possession  of  the  cabin 
where  Wm.  Piatt's  residence  now  is.  In 
1832,  Peter  and  Mary  Souders  settled  in 
what  is  known  aS  the  Argo  settlement  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  what  is  now  Sangamon 
township. 

Between  1830  and  1840  the  settlers  came 
into  Piatt  county  rapidly.  Among  those 
who  came  about  this  time  may  be  mentioned 
the  following :  Abraham  Marquiss,  Ezra 
Marquiss,  William  Barnes,  John  and  Rich- 
ard Madden,  Samuel  Oulrey,  Joseph  Mai- 
lory,  Isaac  Williams,  Samuel  Sever,  Cyrus 
Widick,  Michael  Billow,  Mr.  Ater,  Mr. 
Bailey,  James  Hart,  Jesse,  Richard  and  Wil- 
liam Monroe,  James  LTtterback.  Joseph  and 


Luther  Moore,  Ezra  Fay,  Daniel  and  Samuel 
Harshbarger,  Simon  and  Nathaniel  Harsh- 
barger,  Samuel  Havely,  Abraham  Collins, 
John  Tenbrook,  Samuel  West,  A.  J.  Wiley, 
A.  Rizeor,  John  Argo,  John  Welch,  William 
Smock,  Peter  Adams,  George  and  Silas 
Evans,  the  Armsworths  and  the  Coons. 

Such  in  brief  is  the  history  of  the  county 
up  to  1840.  We  who  live  in  Piatt  county  at 
the  present  time  and  enjoy  all  the  comforts 
of  civilized  life  can  have  no  adequate  con- 
ception of  the  privations  of  the  early  settlers, 

The  first  settlements  were  always  made 
in  or  near  the  timber  because  their  houses 
were  made  of  logs  and  they  would  build  the 
house  were  the  logs  were.  Then,  too,  they 
must  have  fuel  for  the  winter,  and  if  they 
lived  in  the  timber,  it  did  not  have  to  be 
hauled  very  far. 

When  they  first  came,  they  must  bring 
with  them  enough  bread  and  similar  provi- 
sions to  last  until  a  crop  could  be  raised. 
Corn  furnished  a  large  part  of  the  diet. 
Johnny-cake  for  breakfast  and  dinner,  and 
mush  and  milk  for  supper  were  things  nearly 
always  on  the  "bill  of  fare."  There  was  a 
great  deal  of  wild  fruit,  plenty  of  wild  game, 
including  turkeys  and  deer,  and  an  abun- 
dance of  fish  in  the  rivers.  They  would  find 
a  "bee  tree"  occasionally  and  rob  the  faith- 
ful workers  of  their  sweets.  Afterwards  the 
"truck  patch"  furnished  an  abundance  of 
garden  vegetables  for  the  tables.  In  some 
.places  they  made  a  great  deal  of  maple  sugar. 

The  first  task  of  the  settler  was  the  erec- 
tion of  his  cabin.  These  were  usually  sixteen 
feet  square.  They  would  get  large  logs  for 
sills  and  on  these  lay  the  "sleepers"  for  the 
puncheon  boards  which  constituted  the  floor 
of  the  cabin.  The  house  was  then  built  up 
with  logs  until  about  seven  and  a  half  feet 
high,  then  the  "butting  pole  sleepers"  were 


12 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


laid  on  the  ends.  These  were  logs  that  pro- 
jected about  1 8  inches  over  the  others,  on  the 
projecting  ends  of  which  were  placed  the 
"butting  poles"  which  gave  line  for  the  first 
row  of  clapboards,  which  formed  the  roof 
of  the  cabin.  These  clapboards  were  made 
to  lap  about  a  third  of  the  way,  and  were 
sometimes  kept  in  place  by  heavy  poles 
laid  along  the  roof.  The  cracks  were  then 
daubed  with  mud,  the  door  made  of  rough 
boards  with  large  wooden  hinges  and  a 
wooden  latch,  the  string  of  which  always 
hung  out  as  a  sign  of  welcome,  put  in  place. 
One  or  more  small  windows  containing  a 
few  pains  of  glass,  the  fireplace  occupying 
nearly  one  whole  end  of  the  room,  large 
enough  to  contain  a  back  log  heavy  as  any 
man  would  care  to  carry,  and  the  cabin  was 
ready  for  occupancy.  The  furniture  was  of 
the  most  primitive  kind.  In  one  corner  the 
bed  or  beds,  sometimes  made  by  driving 
sticks  in  the  wall  and  supporting  the  other 
end  from  the  floor  and  covering  the  slats 
with  straw  ticks ;  the  table — a  puncheon  slab 
supported  by  four  legs  made  by  boring  large 
auger  holes  in  the  lower  part  of  the  slab  and 
inserting  the  sticks  used  for  legs.  The 
chairs  were  made  much  like  the  tables  only 
they  had  but  three  legs.  Occasionally,  split 
bottomed  chairs  would  be  found.  The  old 
fashioned  spinning  wheel  stood  in  a  corner, 
perhaps  in  another  the  cumbersome  loom, 
while  over  the  door  hung  the  rifle  and  pow- 
der horn  always  ready  for  instant  use.  A 
rude  cupboard  to  hold  the  dishes  was  all 
else  needed.  But  few  "store  goods"  were 
used.  The  settlers  were  so  far  from  market, 
and  the  cost  of  transportation  was  so  great 
that  they  could  buy  but  few  articles  for 
every  day  use. 

When  the  cabin  was   finished   and  oc- 
cupied, they  commenced  to  clear  the  ground 


for  the  crop.  They  had  not  yet  learned  that 
the  prairie  soil  could  be  cultivated.  The 
prairies  were  covered  over  with  luxuriant 
crops  of  prairie  grass,  which,  on  the  low 
places,  grew  from  six  to  eight  feet  in 
height.  The  roots  were  very  tough  and 
fibrous,  and  it  was  very  hard  to  plow  with 
the  implements  they  then  had.  The  early 
settlers  thought  it  never  would  be  settled. 

In  the  meantime,  the  women  of  the 
household  were  not  idle.  Nearly  every  far- 
mer kept  a  few  sheep.  From  these,  enough 
wool  was  secured  for  home  use.  The  "lin- 
sey-woolsey" made  of  equal  parts  of  cotton 
and  wool  was  a  very  important  article  for  the 
clothing  of  the  early  settlers.  The  spin- 
ning wheel  was  found  in  nearly  every  home, 
and  frequently  the  loom,  and  the  women 
made  all  the  clothes  for  the  entire  family. 
The  children  were  given  some  work  to  do 
as  soon  as  they  were  old  enough  and  they 
were  early  inured  to  labor. 

In  early  times  the  nearest  mills  were  on 
the  Sangamon  and  Wabash  Rivers,  and  the 
people  would  go  to  Danville  for  their  "store 
goods"  and  for  their  flour. 

Some  of  the  early  settlers  had  a  home- 
made arrangement,  for  mashing  the  corn, 
called  a  "hominy-block."  This  was  made 
by  making  a  hole  about  a  foot  and  a  half 
deep  in  a  block  of  wood.  Corn  was  placed 
in  the  hole  and  pounded  with  another  block 
sometimes  supported  on  a  sweep  fastened  to 
the  side  of  the  house.  The  finer  part  of  the 
corn  was  made  into  bread  and  the  coarse 
part  was  used  for  hominy.  The  first  large 
mill  in  the  county  was  made  in  1838,  and  was 
on  the  Sangamon  River  about  two  miles 
north  of  Monticello. 

During  this  time,  the  mails  were  carried 
on  horseback  in  saddle  bags.  Most  of  the 
mail  was  letters,  postage  ranging  from  ten 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


to  twenty-five  cents,  and  could  be  paid  at 
either  end  of  line,  but  was  usually  paid  by  the 
receiver.  When  the  stage  routes  were  estab- 
lished through  the  country  in  1839,  the  mail 
was  carried  by  stage. 

The  ague  season  commenced  usually  in 
August  and  lasted  several  months.  Some- 
times whole  families  would  be  "shaking"  at 
once.  Typhoid  fever  was  very  common. 

One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  was  the 
prairie  fire.  In  the  fall  the  people  would  pro- 
tect their  farms  by  ploughing  furrows 
around  them,  and  sometimes  by  ploughing 
furrows  wide  apart  and  burning  the  grass 
between  them.  Fires  sometimes  came,  burn- 
ed the  stacks  of  hay  and  wheat  and  some- 
times fields  of  corn.  Fires  moved  very  rap- 
idly. Prairie  fires  prevented  growth  of 
timber,  except  on  highlands  or  in  broken 
country  near  streams. 

Green  head  flies  were  very  bad.'  For 
about  six  weeks  in  late  summer,  travelers 
had  to  go  at  night.  These  flies  sometimes 
killed  horses,  goading  them  to  death  with 
pain,  loss  of  blood  and  incessant  kicking  to 
become  rid  of  them. 

This  part  of  the  history  would  not  be 
complete  without  a  brief  account  of  the  "deep 
snow,"  and  "sudden  freeze."  The  "deep 
snow"  came  in  the  winter  of  1830  and  1831. 
The  snow  commenced  to  fall  on  the  2Qth  of 
December  and  continued  falling  for  three 
days  and  nights.  The  snow  was  about  four 
feet  deep  on  a  level,  and  in  some  places  was 
drifted  18  and  20  feet  deep.  The  snow  lasted 
the  rest  of  the  winter,  not  all  melting  off  un- 
til alxwt  the  first  of  April.  It  was  a  winter  of 
great  hardships  for  the  settlers.  They  de- 
pended a  great  deal  on  the  wild  game  for 
their  winter  meat,  and  upon  the  corn  for 
the  other  diet.  When  the  snow  fell  but  little 
of  the  corn  was  gathered  and  game  could  not 


be  had.  It  literally  starved  to  death.  Before 
snow  fell,  deer  were  fat  as  could  be,  but  be- 
fore the  snow  passed  away  they  were  so  poor 
they  were  not  fit  to  eat.  It  was  almost  im- 
possible to  travel.  In  the  spring  the  snow 
melted,  the  ground  was  flooded  and  it  was 
almost  as  difficult  to  get  around  as  it  had 
been  in  the  winter. 

The  "sudden  freeze"  occurred  in  January 
1836.  It  had  been  raining  in  the  morning 
and  was  not  very  cold.  The  storm  came 
from  the  northwest,  and  reached  our  county 
a  little  afternoon,  perhaps  two  o'clock.  The 
temperature  fell  suddenly  from  about  40  de- 
grees above  zero  to  twenty  below  and  much 
suffering  followed.  The  face  of  the  coun- 
try was  changed  almost  instantly  from  water 
to  ice.  The  roads  were  left  sharp  and  it  was 
sometime  before  horses  could  be  taken 
from  barns.  Jacob  and  Samuel  Deeds  were 
frozen  to  death  while  on  their  way  to  West 
Okaw.  Such  are  some  of  the  privations 
.  of  the  early  settlers,  yet  we  must  not  think 
that  their  life  was  altogether  a  bitter  one. 
They  had  their  "bright  spots,"  just  as  we 
do  now.  Human  nature  is  pretty  much  the 
same  now,  as  it  always  has  been,  and  it  de- 
mands a  period  of  relaxation  occasionally. 
These  were  obtained  at  the  "quilting  bee," 
the  "corn  shucking,"  and  the  "apple  bee." 
At  the  "quilting  bee,"  ladies  for  miles  around 
would  assemble  some  afternoon.  Busy 
hands  then  worked  hard  and  fast  for  the 
work  must  be  gotten  out  of  the  way  for  the 
fun  in  the  evening.  In  the  evening  the  gen- 
tlemen came,  and  the  time  was  spent  in  some 
boisterous  games  or  in  a  dance. 

The  corn  husking  usually  took  place  in 
large  barns,  and  both  the  men  and  women 
participated.  One  of  the  features  of  the 
evening  was  to  find  the  red  ears  of  corn. 
When  a  ladv  found  one,  she  was  entitled  to  a 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


kiss  from  every  gentleman  present;  and 
when  a  gentleman  found  one  he  was  allowed 
to  kiss  every  lady  present.  This  feature 
was  always  a  source  of  unlimited  fun  and 
frolic.  When  the  husking  was  done  the 
the  old  violin  was  brought  out  and  the  merry 
dance  began,  which  lasted  until  day  light. 

In  those  days  the  people  were  noted  for 
their  hospitality,  and  their  interest,  the  one  in 
the  other.  They  would  go  miles  to  help  at 
a  "raising"  or  to  nurse  a  sick  neighbor.  The 
following  incident  illustrates  the  spirit  of  the 
times.  A  new  settler  borrowed  a  plough  of 
an  old  settler  and  when  he  returned  it  he 
thanked  him,  and  asked  him  how  much  he 
should  pay  him  for  the  use  of  it.  "Pay,"  he 
said,  "look  here,  my  friend,  you  don't  know 
me  do  you  ?  Now  sir,  I  want  you  to  under- 
stand that  whenever  I  have  anything  you 
wish,  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  come  after  it; 
and  when  through  with  it,  if  it  suits  your 
convenience,  to  return  it,  do  so ;  if  not,  I  will 
come  after  it  when  I  need  it.  I  want  you  to 
understand  farther  sir,  that  whenever  you 
have  anything  I  want,  I  shall  come  and  get 
it,  and  if  it  suits  my  convenience  to  return 
it,  I  shall  do  so ;  if  not  you  can  come  and  get 
it." 


CHAPTER  II. 


1840-1903. 

When  Macon  county  was  organized  in 
1829,  it  included  what  is  now  Piatt  county. 
Along  about  1837  or  1838  some  of  the  set- 
tlers commenced  to  think  that  it  was  too  far 
to  go  to  Decatur  for  the  legal  county  business 


and  they  commenced  to  agitate  the  matter  of 
forming  a  new  county.  A  meeting  of  those 
interested  was  called,  and  committees  ap- 
pointed to  draw  up  and  circulate  petitions  to 
the  legislature  asking  that  a  new  county  be 
organized.  The  petition  was  prepared  by 
George  A.  Paterson,  a  schoolteacher  of  the 
county.  It  was  proposed  to  form  a  county 
out  of  parts  of  Macon,  DeWitt  and  Cham- 
paign counties.  Isaac  Demorest  and  William 
Wright  circulated  the  petition  on  the  west 
side  of  Champaign  county.  They  received 
very  little  encouragement,  and  the  idea  of 
having  any  part  of  Champaign  county  in 
the  new  county  was  abandoned.  Abraham 
and  Ezra  Marquiss,  and  William  Barnes 
circulated  the  petition  in  DeWitt  county  and 
were  successful  in  getting  a  good  many  to 
sign  it.  George  A.  Paterson,  James  and 
John  Piatt  took  the  petition  into  Macon 
county  and  obtained  many  signatures.  Aft- 
er the  petition  had  been  signed  by  a  large 
number,  it  was  decided  to  appoint  Mr.  Pat- 
erson to  present  the  petition  to  the  legis- 
lature. It  was  presented  on  New  Year's 
day,  1841.  An  effort  was  made  to  have  the 
new  county  called  Grundy,  but  it  was  not 
successful  and  on  the  27th  of  January  the 
bill  passed  the  legislature,  and  Piatt  county 
was  ushered  into  being.  The  act  creating  it 
defined  its  boundaries  as  follows :  Begin- 
ning where  the  north  line  of  town  fifteen 
north  intersects  the  middle  of  range  four 
east  and  running  thence  north  through  the 
middle  of  range  four  to  the  middle  of  town 
nineteen,  thence  east  to  the  west  line  of  range 
five,  thence  north  to  the  northwest  corner  of 
town  nineteen  north,  range  five  east,  thence 
by  a  direct  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  seven,  town  twenty-one  north  range 
six;  thence  east  to  the  east  line  of  range 
six ;  thence  south  along  the  east  line  of  range 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


six  to  the  north  line  of  town  fifteen  north; 
thence  west  along  the  north  line  of  town  fif- 
teen to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  entire  population  of  the  county  at 
that  time  was  perhaps  600  or  700. 

Monticello  was  chosen  as  the  county  seat 
and  the  first  county  election  was  held  that 
April,  1841.  It  was  not  under  township 
organization  at  first,  and  John  Hughes,  W. 
Bailey  and  E.  Peck  were  the  first  county 
commissioners.  Joseph  King  was  elected 
circuit  clerk,  James  Reber,  judge;  and  John 
Piatt,  sheriff. 

The  first  term  of  court  was  held  in  the 
Devore  Hotel,  known  in  those  days  as  the 
"Old  Fort"  which  stood  where  the  Ay-re 
meat  market  now  stands.  This  court  con- 
vened May  14,  1841.  Hon.  Samuel  H. 
Treat  presided  as  judge. 

The  first  grand  jury  of  Piatt  county 
was  impaneled  at  the  October  term,  which 
convened  October  15,  1841,  and  was  com- 
posed of  the  following  persons :  George  A. 
Patterson,  foreman;  William  LeForgee, 
Samuel  Harshbarger,  William  Piatt,  Jesse 
Moore,  John  Fisher,  J.  S.  Madden,  Peter 
Croninger,  John  Welch,  Samuel  Suver, 
Thomas  Ater,  William  A.  Patterson,  War- 
ner Kelms,  Henry  Adams,  James  Morain, 
George  Argo,  Thomas  Anderson,  and  Jona- 
than Scott.  The  grand  jury  returned  no  in- 
dictments which  testifies  to  the  good  charac- 
ter of  the  early  settlers. 

But  little  law  business  was  done  in  those 
early  times,  and  it  is  said  that  the  first  four 
terms  of  court  did  not  occupy  one-half  a  day. 

For  the  purpose  of  holding  elections,  the 
county  was  divided  into  three  precincts 
Monticello,  Sangamon  and  Okaw.  George 
Boyer  was  appointed  overseer  of  the  poor  for 
Sangamon  precinct,  James  McReynolds  for 
Monticello  precinct,  and  Samuel  Harshbarg- 


er for  Okaw  precinct.  In  1843  Geo.  Patter- 
son was  appointed  county  assessor  and  Edw. 
Ater,  county  collector.  About  this  time  the 
court  house  was  built.  It  was  a  one-story 
fr^me  building  located  on  the  present  court 
house  site,  and  was  built  by  Judge  Ricket. 
This  did  service  for  several  years  but  was 
afterwards  moved  to  the  west  side  of  the 
square,  and  eventually  burned  down. 

A  jail  was  not  built  for  several  years, 
what  prisoners  the  county  had  being  con- 
fined in  the  jail  at  Champaign.  The  first 
jail  was  built  where  the  Monticello  cala- 
boose now  stands,  two  blocks  east  and  one 
north  of  the  square.  It  was  sixteen  feet 
square  and  was  built  of  hewn  logs  12  inches 
square.  It  had  a  log  floor  and  a  log  ceiling. 
This  did  service  until  the  new  jail  was 
erected. 

The  population  was  increasing,  being 
1606  in  1850. 

In  December,  1851,  H.  C.  Johns,  Enoch 
Peck  and  William  Madden  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  divide  Monticello  precinct 
and  to  make  another  precinct  and  report  at 
the  next  term  of  the  county  court.  In  , 
March,  1852,  H.  C.  Johns  and  Enoch  Peck 
made  their  report  laying  out  a  new  precinct 
comrhencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion four,  T.  18  N.  R.,  5  E.,  running  west 
with  the  township  line  to  the  county,  thence 
south  with  said  county  line  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  county,  thence  east  with  the 
south  line  of  the  county 'to  the  southwest 
corner  of  Okaw  precinct,  thence  north  to 
place  of  beginning,  making  a  territory  six 
miles  wide  by  eighteen  miles  long.  Liberty 
was  recommended  as  name  of  precinct  and 
the  residence  of  Scott  Armsworth  was  rec- 
ommended as  a  central  place  for  holding 
elections.  Scott  Armsworth,  Enoch  Peck 
and  Peter  Adams  were  the  judges  of  the  first 


i6 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


election  held  in  Liberty  precinct.  They  re- 
ceived a  dollar  each  for  their  services  at  this 
election.  In  Sqjtember,  1852,  a  strip  of  ter- 
ritory one  and  one-half  miles  wide  and  six 
miles  long  was  taken  from  Sangamon  pre- 
cinct and  added  to  Monti  cello.  The  total 
vote  polled  that  fall  was  334. 

The  court  house  that  has  done  service 
to  the  present  time  was  built  in  1856  and 
1857.  The  contract  was  awarded  to  George 
Dempsey  and  John  Lowry,  March  7,  1856; 
the  contract  price  being  $10,936,  to  be  paid 
in  four  equal  installments,  one-fourth  when 
foundation  was  completed,  one-fourth  when 
enclosed,  one-fourth  when  finished,  and  one- 
fourth  a  year  after  completion. 

The  building  was  completed  the  next 
spring,  and  formally  accepted  by  the  board 
June  15,  1857.  In  addition  the  contractors 
were  allowed  $22  for  painting,  $23.50  for 
lighting,  $10.50  for  prisoners'  boxes  and 
$240  for  window  blinds. 

The  building  has  been  a  good  one,  and  in 
all  these  years  has  had  but  few  repairs.  The 
court  house  originally  had  a  cupola,  but  it 
was  demolished  by  a  storm  in  July,  1871, 
and  was  never  replaced.  The  building  was  a 
two-story  brick  one,  50x65  feet. 

On  the  lower  floor  were  the  vaults  and 
offices  of  the  county  and  circuit  clerks,  and 
the  offices  of  the  county  judge  and  treasurer. 

Gn  the  upper  floor  were  the  offices  of  the 
state's  attorney,  and  sheriff,  and  the  court 
room. 

The  coroner,  surveyor  and  county  su- 
perintendent have  not  had  offices  in  the  court 
house  for  several  years.  The  coroner  and 
surveyor  have  no  public  office.  That  of  the 
county  superintendent  was  in  the  Smith 
building,  then  in  the  Tatman  building  over 
the  post-office,  then  in  the  Bender  building, 
and  then  in  the  Dighton  Block,  where  it  is 
now  located. 


The  same  year  the  court  house  was  begun 
the  first  newspaper  ever  published  in  Piatt 
county,  was  started.  It  was  called,  the  Mon- 
ticello  Times,  and  was  edited  by  Mr.  James 
D.  Moody.  The  first  issue  appeared  in 
November,  1856.  The  Piatt  County  Agri- 
cultural Society  was  organized  the  same 
year. 

At  about  this  time,  the  first  railroad  was 
completed  through  the  county.  The  first  rail- 
road through  the  county  was  the  main  line  of 
the  Wabash  through  Cerro  Gordo  and  Ben- 
nett townships,  which  was  put  through  in 
1856. 

This  helped  to  bring  settlers  into  our 
county  quite  rapidly,  and  the  decade  from 
1850  to  1860  witnessed  the  county's  most 
rapid  growth,  the  population  in  1860  being 
nearly  four  times  as  great  as  in  1850. 

In  June,  1858,  the  Bement  precinct  was 
laid  out  with  following  boundaries,  com- 
mencing at  the  northeast  corner  of  Section 
i.  Township  18,  Range  6,  thence  west  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  Section  3,  Township  17, 
Range  5  east,  thence  south  along  the  section 
lines  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Section  3, 
Township  16,  Range  .5  east,  thence  east  along 
the  section  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
Section  i.  Township  16,  Range  5  east, 
thence  north  along  said  section  line  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  Section  31,  Township 
1 8,  Range  6,  thence  east  along  the  township 
line  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Section  36, 
Township  18,  Range  6,  thence  north  along 
the  line  of  said  township  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

TOW  X  SHIP  ORG  A  N 17.  ATIO  N . 

On  November  18,  1859,  the  question  of 
adopting  township  organization  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  voters  of  the  county,  and  the 
result  of  the  election  was  420  votes  for 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


township  organization  and  194  votes  against 
adopting  it.  On  the  second  day  of  January 
the  County  Court,  consisting  of  A.  G.  Boy- 
er,  count}-  judge,  John  Mosgrove,  associate, 
and  Reuben  Bowman,  coroner,  ordered  that 
James  Bryden.  of  Monticello,  C.  D.  Moore, 
of  Bement.  and  Ezra  Marquiss^,  of  Goose 
Creek,  be  appointed  commissioners  to  divide 
the  county  into  townships  preparatory  to 
township  organization.  On  February  25, 
1860.  William  F.  Foster  was  appointed  one 
of  the  commissioners  to  divide  the  county 
into  townships,  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  James  Bryden.  The  commis- 
sioners made  the  following  report  at  the 
March  term  of  the  County  Court,  1860 : 

Report  to  the  Honorable  County  Court, 
Piatt  County,  State  of  Illinois : 

We,  the  undersigned  commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  the  court  aforesaid  at  its  last  term 
to  divide  the  County  of  Piatt  into  townships 
under  the  late  law,  beg  leave  to  submit  the 
following  report :  After  a  careful  examina- 
tion of  the  county  and  a  consideration  of  the 
relative  positions  of  the  several  settlements 
of  the  same,  we  proceed  to  divide  it  into 
eight  townships  which  are  named  and  are  as 
follows,  to-wit : 

BLUE     RIDGE     TOWNSHIP. 

Bounded  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the 
N.  W.  corner  of  Sec.  18,  T.  21  N..  R.  6  E., 
thence  east  on  county  lipe  to  the  X.  E.  corner 
of  the  county,  thence  south  on  the  county  line 
to  the  S.  E.  corner  of  Sec.  24,  T.  20.  R.  6  E., 
thence  west  to  the  county  line,  thence  in  a 
northeasterly  course  along  the  county  line 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

GOOSE    CREEK    TOWNSHIP. 

Bounded  as  follows:     Beginning  at  the 


X.  E.  corner  of  Sec.  25,  T.  20  N.,  R.  5  E., 
thence  west  to  the  county  line,  thence  S.  W. 
along  county  line  to  the  N.  W.  corner  of  Sec. 
6.  T.  19  N.,  R.  5  E.,  thence  S.  on  the  coun- 
ty line  to  the  N.  E.  corner  Sec.  24,  T.  19  N. 
R.  4  E.,  thence  W.  on  county  line  to  the  N. 
W.  corner  Sec.  22,  T.  19  N.,  R.  4  E., 
thence  south  on  county  line  to  the  S.  W.  cor- 
ner of  Sec.  34,  T.  19  X.,  R.  4  E.,  thence 
east  to  the  S.  E.  corner  Sec.  36,  T.  19  N.,  R. 
5  E.,  thence  north  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

SANGAMON    TOWNSHIP. 

Bounded  as  follows :  Beginning  at  the 
N.  W.  corner  of  Sec.  30,  T.  20  N.,  R.  6  E., 
thence  east  to  county  line,  thence  south  on 
county  line  to  the  S.  E.  corner  of  Sec.  36,  T. 
19  N.,  R.  6  E.,  thence  west  to  S.  W.  corner 
of  Sec.  31,  T.  19  N.,  R.  6  E.,  thence  N.  to 
place  of  beginning. 

MONTICELLO    TOWNSHIP. 

Bounded  as  follows :  Beginning  at  N. 
W.  corner  of  Sec.  2,  T.  18,  R.  5,  thence  east 
to  county  line,  thence  S.  on  county  line  to 
the  S.  E.  corner  of  Sec.  36,  T.  18,  R.  6  E.. 
thence  W.  to  S.  W.  corner  of  Sec.  35,  T.  18 
N.,  R.  5  E..  thence  north  to  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

LIBERTY    TOWNSHIP. 

Bounded  as  follows :  Beginning  at  N. 
W.  cor.  of  Sec.  3,  T.  18  N.,  R.  4  E.,  thence 
east  to  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Sec.  3,  T.  18  N. 
R.  5  E.,  thence  S.  to  S.  E.  corner  of  N.  E. 
quarter  Sec.  22,  T.  17  X.,  R.  5  E.,  thence 
W.  to  county  line,  thence  N.  on  county  line  to 
place  of  beginning. 


i8 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


BEMENT     TOWNSHIP. 

Bounded  as  follows :  Beginning  at  N. 
\Y.  corner  of  Sec.  2,  T.  17,  R.  5  E.,  thence 
east  to  county  line,  thence  south  on  county 
line  to  the  S.  E.  corner  of  Sec.  36,  T.  i/.N., 
R.  6  E.,  thence  west  to  the  S.  W.  corner 
Sec.  35,  T.  17  N.,  R.  5  E.,  thence  N.  to 
place  of  beginning. 

CERRO    GORDO    TOWNSHIP. 

Bounded  as  follows :  Beginning  at  the 
X.  \Y.  corner  of  S.  W.  quarter  Sec.  22,  T. 
17  N.,  R.  4  E.,  thence  east  to  the  N.  E.  cor- 
ner of  S.  E.  quarter  Sec.  22,  T.  17  N.,  R. 
5  E.,  thence  S.  to  county  line,  thence  W.  on 
county  line  to  the  S.  W.  corner  of  county 
thence  north  on  county  line  to  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

DOUGLAS    TOWNSHIP. 

Bounded  as  follows :  Beginning  at  the 
N.  W.  corner  of  Sec.  2,  T.  16,  R.  5  E., 
thence  east  to  county  line,  thence  S.  on  coun- 
ty line  to  the  S.  E.  corner  of  the  county, 
thence  W.  on  county  line  to  the  S.  W.  cor- 
ner Sec.  35,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  E.,  thence  N.  to 
place  of  beginning. 

The  above  we  conceive  to  be  the  best  di- 
vision it  can  be  to  secure  the  fulfillment  of 
the  requirements  of  the  law  and  at  the  same 
time  meet  the  wants  of  the  inhabitants. 
Respectfully  submitted. 
C.  D.  MOORE, 
WILLIAM  T.  FOSTER, 
EZRA  MARQUISS. 

Dated  at  Monticello,  Piatt  County,  Illi- 
nois, this  27th  day  of  February,  A.  D.,  1860. 

The  report  of  the    committee    was    ap- 


proved and  the  last  session  of  the  county 
court  under  the  old  system  of  county  govern- 
ment was  the  March  term  of  1860,  ending 
April  2.  The  first  session  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  was  held  May  28,  1860,  and  the 
following  members  constituted  the  first 
board :  Blue  Ridge,  John  Meliza ;  Goose 
Creek,  Seth  C.  Langlon;  Willow  Branch, 
Elias  Hall ;  Cerro  Gordo,  William  Cole ; 
Unity,  Royal  Mitchell;  Bement,  Caleb  D. 
Moore;  Monticello,  William  Motherspaw; 
Sangamon,  Ananias  B.  Knott. 

At  this  meeting  the  name  of  Liberty 
township  was  changed  to  Willow  Branch. 

On  motion  of  C.  D.  Moore,  the  compen- 
sation of  the  supervisors  was  fixed  at  two 
dollars  per  day  for  attending  the  meetings 
of  the  board.  The  next  few  years  were  very 
busy  ones  for  this  board.  The  families  of 
the  soldiers  in  the  war  had  to  be  cared  for, 
a  jail  was  built,  and  a  poor  farm  started. 

PIATT    COUNTY   IN    THE   CIVIL   WAR. 

No  state  in  the  union  was  more  loyal  to 
the  Federal  Government  in  the  dark  days  of 
the  Civil  war  than  was  Illinois.  It  was  Illi- 
nois that  furnished  the  chief  executive  of 
the  nation  for  this  trying  time,  and  nobly 
did  she  stand  by  him.  When  Lincoln  issued, 
his  first  call  for  troops  in  1861,  the  authori- 
ties informed  Governor  Yates  that  the  quota 
of  Illinois  was  six  regiments.  Governor 
Yates  issued  his  proclamation  April  15,  1861, 
and  in  ten  days  10,000  volunteers  had  offered 
their  services.  They  could  not  all  be  accept- 
ed, and  it  is  said  that  some  of  them  wept 
when  refused  admission.  In  1862,  and  again 
in  1864.  when  calls  for  troops  were  made, 
Illinois  responded  cheerfully.  In  this,  Piatt 
county  did  her  full  share — and  more.  Out 
of  a  population  of  6,124,  sne  sent  out  I>O55 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


soldiers,  almost  one-sixth  of  her  population. 
The  average  of  the  state  was  100  soldiers  for 
every  742  inhabitants,  while  Piatt  count  sent 
100  men  for  580  inhabitants.  Nor  were 
those  who  for  various  reasons  did  not  go  to 
the  front  lacking  in  patriotic  spirit.  Early 
in  the  war,  we  find  the  county  issuing  bonds, 
and  borrowing  money  to  care  for  the  fami- 
lies of  the  volunteers  in  the  front.  One  per- 
son was  appointed  in  each  township  (usual- 
ly the  supervisor)  to  look  after  the  widows 
and  families  of  the  soldiers,  and  to  see  that 
they  were  provided  with  the  necessaries  of 
life.  When  the  war  closed  and  the  soldiers 
returned  the  county  gave  them  a  big  dinner. 
This  was  held  on  the  i6th  of  August,  1865. 
A  committee  from  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
had  charge  of  the  dinner.  Two  beeves  were 
killed,  and  other  victuals  in  proportion.  The 
county  appropriated  for  the  dinner  $184.94. 

JAIL. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors in  December,  1866,  a  resolution  was 
passed,  making  an  appropriation  of  twelve 
thousand  dollars  to  build  a  county  jail,  and 
authorizing  the  issuing  of  bonds  for  twelve 
thousand  dollars,  drawing  interest  at  ten 
per  cent.  A  committee  of  three  persons — 
Hiram  Jackson,  H.  C.  McComas  and  John 
W.  White — was  appointed  to  fix  upon  a  lo- 
cation for  the  jail.  Lewis  Bond  was  appoint- 
ed to  make  the  plan  for  the  county  jail  and 
to  procure  specifications  for  it.  These  were 
prepared  by  Dennis  and  Sutton,  of  Spring- 
field, and  the  contract  for  building  it  was  let 
to  them  in  March  for  $8,800.  In  March, 
1867,  H.  G.  McComas,  J.  M.  White  and  Ez- 
ra Marquiss  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
purchase  a  site  for  the  location  of  the  jail. 
They  selected  and  purchased  the  last  half  of 


outlot  No.  4  in  original  town  of  Monticello 
for  the  sum  of  $1,000.  Work  was  at  once 
commenced,  and  the  building  completed  in 
the  fall  of  '67.  At  its  meeting  in  November 
the  board  refused  to  receive  the  jail,  but  some 
concessions  were  made,  and  the  jail  was  re- 
ceived by  the  board  in  February,  1868,  and 
the  final  payment  on  it  made.  The  first 
sheriff  to  occupy  it  was  George  F.  Miller. 

The  old  jail  and  lot  were  then  sold  to 
the  president  and  trustees  of  the  town  of 
Monticello,  in  April,  1868,  for  $350. 

The  jail  has  been  repaired  from  time  to 
time  and  has  been  condemned  repeatedly  by 
grand  juries  that  have  examined  it. 

POOR  FARM. 

In  August,  1862,  Piatt  county  acquired 
•a  half-interest  in  a  farm  of  293  acres  for 
$2,948.52,  southwest  of  Monticello,  the  oth- 
er half  being  owned  by  James  Miner.  On 
July  23,  1863,  the  following  resolution,  in- 
troduced by  H.  S.  Coonrod,  was  adopted : 

Resolved,  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of 
Piatt  county,  that  immediate  steps  be  taken 
to  procure  the  title  of  James  Miner  to  the 
undivided  half  of  the  farm  now  owned  by 
him  in  joint  tenancy  with  the  county,  for  the 
purpose  of  making  a  poor  farm  out  of  the 
same.  The  committee  consisted  of  H.  S. 
Coonrod,  D.  Stickle  and  J.  C.  Heath. 

The  attempt  to  buy  the  interest  of  James 
Miner  was  not  successful,  and  in  September, 
1863,  it  is  ordered  that  H.  S.  Coonrod  be 
empowered  to  make  contract  with  James 
Miner  for  providing  for  the  poor  of  Piatt 
county.  James  Miner  was  to  be  paid  $2.50 
per  week  for  keeping  each  pauper,  and  to 
pay  $200  a  year  for  the  county's  one-half  of 
the  farm.  Coonrod  is  to  maintain  supervis- 
ion of  said  paupers,  and  the  said  paupers  shall 


20 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


be  received  by  the  said  James  Miner  as  a 
onmty  charge  only  on  the  order  of  the  over- 
seer of  the  poor  of  one  of  the  townships,  or 
of  the  said  Coonrod. 

In  September,  1865,  a  resolution  was 
adopted  appointing  McComas,  Marquiss  and 
Chambers  a  committee  to  sell  the  county 
portion  of  the  poor  farm,  and  to  purchase 
not  less  than  200  acres  of  land  suitably  sit- 
uated for  a  poor  farm,  provided  that  if  they 
can  sell  the  whole  farm  to  a  better  advantage 
by  buying  Miner's  half,  then  they  can  do  so. 
James  Miner  appears  before  the  county  board 
in  December,  1865,  and  offers  to  sell  his  in- 
terest in  the  county  farm  at  $28  (twenty- 
eight  dollars)  per  acre.  The  offer  accepted 
and  on  June  6,  1866,  James  G.  Miner  trans- 
fers to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Piatt 
county  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  said 
county  his  interest  in  the  undivided  half  of 
the  county  farm  for  $4,116.  Miner  was  to 
run  the  affairs  until  the  first  day  of  October 
next,  and  to  pay  one-third  of  the  corn  in  the 
shock  and  one-third  of  the  small  grain  in 
the  half-bushel,  and  to  keep  the  paupers  un- 
til expiration  of  his  lease  from  first  of  March 
next  at  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  week. 
Just  before  this  he  had  been  receiving  four 
dollars  a  week  for  adults  and  three  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  per  week  for  children. 

From  October,  1866,  to  October,  1867. 
he  runs  the  farm  without  rent,  keeps  the 
paupers  and  receives  one  thousand  dollars  for 
his  services. 

In  December.  1870.  the  committee  on 
poor  farm  report  that  "the  erection  of  a  good, 
substantial  brick  building  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary," and  they  are  authorized  by  the  board 
to  proceed  with  the  erection  of  a  building, 
to  adopt  the  plans  and  specifications  they 
think  best,  the  building  to  cost  not  to  exceed 
five  thousand  dollars.  The  committee,  con- 


sisting of  Hiram  Jackson  and  John  R. 
Klapp  made  a  contract  with  John  C.  Lowry, 
William  Beatie.  Sr.,  James  Brown,  John 
Merryman  and  Charles  Stough  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  building,  which  was  approved  by 
the  board.  The  building  was  completed  the 
following  summer  and  accepted  by  the  board 
in  September,  1871.  It  was  a  brick  build- 
ing, two  stories  and  basement,  containing 
eighteen  rooms,  six  on  each  floor. 

RAILROADS. 

The  main  line  of  the  Wabash  running 
east  and  west  through  Bement  and  Cerro 
Gordo  townships  in  Piatt  county  was  con- 
structed in  1855  and  1856.  The  construct- 
ing gang  worked  from  both  ends  of  the  line 
and  came  together  near  what  is  now  Cerro 
Gordo.  The  Chicago  division  of  the  Wabash 
was  completed  and  put  in  operation  through 
the  county  in  1873.  This  road  was  former- 
ly called  the  Chicago  &  Paducah,  and  was 
laid  by  the  Bloomington  &  Ohio  River  Rail- 
road Company,  which  was  chartered  in  1867. 

What  is  now  a  branch  of  the  Illinois 
Central,  between  Champaign  and  Decatur. 
through  Sangamon,  Monticello  and  Willow 
Branch  townships  of  our  county,  was  put  in 
operation  between  Champaign  and  Monti- 
cello  in  Deceml)er.  1870.  and  was  finished 
through  to  Decatur  two  years  later.  This 
road  was  chartered  as  far  back  as  1861,  as 
the  Monticello  Railroad,  but  nothing  was 
done  toward  building  any  road  until  after  the 
war.  The  charter  was  changed  and  the  com- 
pany fully  organized  in  1865.  and  active 
work  of  constructing  commenced  in  1867. 
The  road  was  afterwards  bought  by  the  In- 
diana, Blcomington  i  Western,  was  sold  and 
reorganized  as  the  Champaign,  Havana  i 
Western.  It  was  bought  by  the  Wabash 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


21 


and  finally  bought  by  the  Illinois  Central, 
which  still  owns  it.  The  road  from  Cham- 
paign to  Clinton  through  Sangamon  and 
Goose  Creek  townships  of  our  county  is  now 
owned  by  the  Illinois  Central.  It  was  char- 
tered in  1867  as  the  Havana,  Mason  City, 
Lincoln  and  Eastern  Railroad,  and  was 
built  through  the  county  in  1872.  That 
same  year  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Mon- 
ticello  road  just  given,  and  its  history  from 
that  time  on  was  identical  with  the  road  be- 
tween Champaign  and  Decatur. 

The  Big  Four  Railroad  through  Blue 
Ridge  township  was  put  through  the- county 
in  1867.  It  was  chartered  as  the  Danville, 
Urbana,  Bloomington  &  Pekin  Railroad,  aft- 
erwards consolidated  with  the  Indianapolis, 
and  Danville,  and  then  became  known  as  the 
Indianapolis,  Bloomington  &  Western,  and 
later  as  the  Chicago,  Cleveland,  Cincinnati 
&  St.  Louis. 

The  Indiana,  Decatur  &  Western  Rail- 
road was  built  through  our  county  in  1873. 
The  road  was  projected  as  far  back  as  1847, 
and  the  company  was  originally  called  the 
Indiana  &  Illinois  Central  road. 

DREDGE    DITCH. 

Special  Drainage  District  of  the  Counties  of 
Piatt,  Champaign  and  Douglas. 

One  of  the  streams  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  county  is  called  the  Lake  Fork  branch 
of  the  Okaw  river,  usually  called  Lake  Fork 
for  short.  The  name  is  very  suggestive. 
The  river  has  but  very  little  fall  and  is  a 
very  sluggish  stream.  In  the  rainy  season 
it  would  overflow  its  banks  and  the  whole 
country  round  about  would  resemble  a  great 
lake.hence  the  name.  The  land  was  the  rich 
black  loam,  but  was  not  very  valuable,  be- 


cause it  would  overflow,  and  a  crop  was  by 
no  means  sure. 

A  plan  was  set  on  foot  to  dredge  the 
Lake  Fork  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  coun- 
ty. The  question  of  forming  a  drainage  dis- 
trict under  the  state  law  was  submitted  to  a 
vote  of  the  people  and  the  question  carried. 
On  the  seventh  of  October,  1882,  an  election 
was  held  in  the  Concern  schoolhouse  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  the  drainage  commission- 
ers. The  election  resulted  in  the  election 
of  Alfred  Jay,  Samuel  L.  Busich  and  An- 
thony Clark.  These  were  the  first  drainage 
commissioners.  Before  work  on  the  ditch 
could  be  commenced,  the  land  had  to  be 
viewed,  and  the  amount  of  the  benefits  to  the 
various  landowners  determined,  and  the  as- 
sessments made.  There  were  a  great  many 
objections  to  the  decision  of  the  commission- 
ers with  regard  to  the  assessment,  and  they 
were  restrained  by  the  court  for  awhile  and 
were  delayed  in  various  ways,  so  that  three 
years  elapsed  before  active  work  was  com- 
menced. 

On  September  21,  1883,  C.  D.  Moore, 
county  surveyor,  was  employed  to  survey 
the  ditch  and  prepare  a  plat  and  profile.  The 
original  ditch  extended  from  the  north  line 
of  Sec.  36,  T.  1 8,  R.  6,  to  the  Grain  bridge, 
a  distance  of  about  eleven  miles. 

This  was  done  that  fall  and  submitted  to 
the  commissioners  at  the  meeting  held  March 
i,  1884.  The  plat  was  approved,  and  it  was 
decided  to  advertise  for  bids  to  be  opened 
March  31,  1884.  When  the  commissioners 
met,  March  31,  no  bids  were  submitted. 
Nothing  more  was  done  until  September  20, 
1884,  when  the  following  motion  was 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  width  and  depth  of 
the  ditch  to  be  dug  be  as  follows:  The 
width  from  Grain's  bridge  to  the  south  line 


22 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


of  Sec.  i,  Township  17,  R.  6,  be  thirty  feet 
at  the  top,  twenty-five  feet  from  thence  to 
south  line  of  Sec.  36,  T.  18,  R.  6,  and  twenty 
feet  from  thence  to  the  north  line  of  said  sec- 
tion 36.  The  bottom  of  said  ditch  to  be 
one-fourth  as  wide  as  the  top,  and  the 
depth  one  foot  more,  at  all  points  than  the 
depth  as  fixed  by  C.  D.  Moore  in  the  profile 
approved  March  i,  1884. 

The  commissioners  advertised  for  bids 
which  were  to  be  received  and  contract  let 
October  16,  1884.  The  board,  however,  ad- 
journed from  time  to  time,  and  the  contract 
was  not  let  until  the  following  spring.  The 
contract  was  awarded  to  McGillis  &  Co.,  at 
eleven  and  nine-tenths  cents  per  cubic  yard, 
with  the  condition  that  if  the  ditch  was  com- 
pleted by  April  i,  1886,  they  were  to  be  al- 
lowed an  additional  one  and  six-tenths  cents 
per  cubic  yard. 

A  short  time  after  the  contract  was  let 
the  firm  of  McGillis  &.Co.  assigned  the  con- 
tract to  Pollard,  Goff  &  Co.,  and  at  a  meeting 
of  the  commissioners  held  July  22,  1885,  it 
was  decided  that  with  the  consent  of  Pol- 
lard, •Goff  &  Co.,  they  would  make  the  ditch 
six  feet  wide  on  the  bottom  from  one  end  to 
the  other,  and  two  feet  deeper  than  the  bot- 
tom of  the  ditch  as  shown  by  C.  D.  Moore's 
profile  from  the  north  end  to  within  one  mile 
of  the  south  end,  and  from  that  point  the 
depth  to  increase  gradually  until  it  is  three 
feet  deeper  than  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  as 
shown  by  the  plans  and  specifications.  The 
width  of  top  of  ditch  to  remain  as  original 
contract.  The  time  for  the  completion  of  the 
ditch  was  extended  to  June  i,  1886. 

These  changes  were  accepted  by  Pollard, 
Goff  &  Co.  and  active  work  was  commenced 
in  the  summer  of  1885,  at  the  north  line  of 
Sec.  36,  T.  18,  R.  6,  in  Monticello  township. 


The  work  continued    all    summer  and  fall 
and  all  the  next  year  until  in  November, 

1886,  they  reached  the  Moore  graveyard  in 
Unity  township.    On  the  second  of  February, 

1887,  the  boat  was  burned.   The  ditch,  how- 
ever, had  been  completed  as  far  as  the  origin- 
al ditch  extended,  in  all  over  two  hundred 
thousand  cubic  yards  of  dirt  had  been  re- 
moved.    As  the  ditch  had  been  completed 
within  the  time,  the  price  paid  for  the  work 
was  thirteen  and  one-half  cents  per  cubic 
yard,  and  the  ditch  had  cost  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

The  farmers  near  Mackville  formed  a 
special  mutual  drainage  district  (called  Dis- 
trict No.  7),  and  cleaned  out  the  ditch  above 
and  below  Mackville  with  teams  and  scrapers. 
The  ditch  was  afterwards  extended  about 
three  miles.  Some  claim  now  that  the  outlet 
is  not  large  enough,  and  they  are  contem- 
plating the  extension  of  the  work  at  least  as 
far  as  the  county  line  on  the  south,  and  pos- 
sibly into  Moultrie  county.  A  number  of 
laterals  have  been  put  in,  and  that  part  of 
the  county  is  getting  to  be  well  drained,  so 
that  now  there  is  not  a  better  farming  re- 
gion anywhere.  It  has  added  greatly  to  the 
value  of  the  land,  also.  To  illustrate,  in  1882, 
the  year  the  ditch  was  commenced,  the  Dr. 
Clapp  farm  of  four  hundred  acres,  sold  for 
$10,000 — $25  per  acre.  Perhaps  $35  would 
have  been  an  average  price  for  land  in  that 
vicinity.  Now  it  could  hardly  be  bought  for 
four  or  five  times  that  amount.  At  first, 
though,  the  taxes  were  very  high,  and  it  was 
a  great  hardship  to  many  of  the  farmers  to 
pay.  The  present  commissioners  are  Ed. 
Moyer,  M.  F.  Walsh  and  Michael  Morris. 

PIATT    FAIR. 

(Note.     I  am  indebted  to  Judge   M.    R. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


Davidson  for  the  information  about  the 
earlier  fairs.) 

The  Piatt  County  Agricultural  Society 
was  organized  in  1856.  No  record  of  the 
early  proceedings  of  the  society  can  be  found. 
In  1 86 1  an  election  of  officers  of  the  society 
was  held  in  the  court-house,  at  which  time 
the  following  officers  were  chosen :  Presi- 
dent, Jacob  Smith;  V ice-Presidents,  J.  C. 
Johnson,  H.  S.  Coonrod,  Ezra  Marquiss, 
Secretary,  A.  T.  Pipher;  Treasurer,  Elias 
Hall  and  directors.  John  M.  Barnes  and  Dr. 
Kelly. 

The  first  fairs  were  held  on  the  grounds 
•east  of  Mr.  Bear's  residence  in  Monticello. 
In  1861  the  society  bought  fifteen  acres 
north  of  town,  where  the  present  fair 
grounds  are  located.  The  only  fence  around 
the  grounds  was  a  rail  one,  and  there  were 
no  buildings.  Jesse  Warner,  C.  P.  Davis, 
and  Dr.  Farra  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  see  what  could  be  done.  It  was  decided 
to  mortgage  the  ground  to  get  money  to  im- 
prove with.  J.  C.  Johnson  furnished  the 
money,  and  the  ground  was  fenced,  and  two 
cheap  buildings  erected.  The  grounds  were 
put  in  shape  by  persons  who  donated  their 
labors.  There  is  very  little  resemblance  be- 
tween the  early  fairs  and  the  modern  ones. 
The  early  fair  was  a  gathering  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  farmer;  it  was  an  annual  county 
picnic,  and  an  annual  occasion  for  meeting 
old  friends.  No  races  were  held.  It  was 
morally  clean  and  a  distinct  success  socially, 
but  a  failure  financially.  As  Capt.  C.  P.  Da- 
vis expressed  it,  "We  knew  the  debit  and 
credit  side  of  our  ledger,  and  the  debit  side 
was  always  in  excess."  At  times  the  people 
were  solicited  for  private  contributions  to 
keep  up  the  honor  of  the  society  for  it  has 
always  made  it  a  point  to  'keep  all  obligations 
in  good  faith. 


All  attempts  to  introduce  races  met  with 
violent  opposition  inside  the  association  until 
1876,  when  there  was  a  change  in  the  offi- 
cials of  the  fair,  and  consequently  a  change 
in  its  management.  A  race  course  one-third 
of  a  mile  long  was  constructed,  which  was 
surveyed  by  the  surveyor  of  the  Monticello 
railroad  free  of  charge.  J.  W.  Warren  and 
C.  P.  Davis  carried  the  chain  without  pay. 
That  year  the  fair  was  a  financial  success. 
Every  one  wanted  to  see  the  new  grounds, 
and  to  see  what  the  new  management  would 
do.  Capt.  C.  P.  Davis  was  secretary,  and 
J.  W.  Warren,  treasure!1,  arid  they  acted  as  a 
committee  on  privileges. 

It  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  make  the 
fair  a  financial  success,  and  some  new  device 
had  to  be  resorted  to  each  year  to  draw  the 
people.  One  year  the  principal  attraction 
was  to  be  a  grand  balloon  ascension,  and  it 
was  advertised  all  over  the  county  to  take 
place  on  a  certain  day.  When  the  people 
came  to  the  fair,  they  found  that  they  were 
required  to  procure  a  balloon  ticket  in  addi- 
tion to  the  regular  admittance  ticket  before 
they  could  be  admitted  to  the  grounds. 
Some  of  the  people  demurred.  They  didn't 
want  a  balloon  ticket;  they  came  to  see  the 
fair  and  when  the  balloon  went  up,  it  would 
be  an  easy  matter  for  them  just  to  turn  their 
backs.  But  such  an  excuse  would  not  go, 
and  the  visitor  must  get  the  balloon  ticket 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  grounds. 
When  the  time  came,  it  was  too  windy  for 
the  balloon  to  go  up,  and  a  veritable  howl 
balloon  tickets,  and  the  management  saved 
themselves  from  bodily  harm,  only  by  prom- 
ising faithfully  that  it  should  go  up  the  next 
day.  They  fulfilled  their  promise,  for  the  next 
day  the  old  balloon  went  up  about  fifty  feet, 
and  the  people  were  satisfied. 

Another  scheme  to  get  a  large  attend- 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


ance  was  to  have  some  eminent  man  speak 
on  some  current  topic  of  general  interest. 
Schuyler  Col  fax  was  the  orator  at  one  fair, 
Ex-Governor  Oglesby  at  another.  Latei 
they  had  chariot  races,  a  "guideless  wonder," 
bicycle  races,  high  diver,  jubilee  singers,  cap- 
tive balloon,  etc. 

In  this  time,  the  fair  was  put  on  a  firmer 
financial  basis,  twenty-eight  more  acres  were 
bought,  a  new  amphtheatre  was  built,  several 
buildings  and  many  new  stalls  added,  and 
a  good  supply  of  water  for  the  fair  furn- 
ished. In  1891  steam  power  was  provided 
for  the  machinery  on  exhibition. 

The  receipts  for  some  of  the  years  are  as 
follows:  1877,  $1825;  1886,  $5225;  1891, 
$6892 ;  1897,  $6272. 

In  1901,  the  week  of  the  fair  was  very 
rainy,  and  the  attendance  was  not  large.  In 
1902  the  society  cleared  about  a  thousand 
dollars.  In  1903,  C.  A.  Tatman,  who  had 
been  secretary  of  the  fair  for  over  twenty 
years,  resigned,  and  a  new  organization  was 
effected.  The  name  of  the  society  was 
changed  to  the  Piatt  County  Board  of  Agri- 
culture, and  the  officers  elected  are  as  fol- 
lows: President,  C.  E.  Moffitt;  Secretary, 
C.  H.  Ridgely;  Vice-President,  J.  D.  lack- 
ey; Treasurer,  O.  W.  Moore;  Directors,  W. 
W.  Royer,  J.  A.  Mathews,  M.  F.  McMillen, 
J.  L.  Bodman,  R.  M.  Dobson,  F.  Bales,  John 
Phalen,  B.  R.  White  and  Samuel  Howe.  The 
first  fair  under  the  new  management  will  be 
held  August  24,  25,  26,  27  and  28,  1903.  It 
will  be  the  fortieth  annual  fair. 

COUNTY     PAPERS. 

The  Piatt  County  Herald  was  started  in 
April,  1874,  by  H.  D.  Peters.  Mr.  Peters 
was  an  able  editor  and  managed  the  paper 

successfully  for  eighteen  years. 


The  Piatt  Independent  was  started  by 
G.  A.  Burgess  in  December,  1887.  In  1892 
Mr.  Burgess  bought  the  Herald  of  Mr.  Pe- 
ters, and  the  Herald  and  Independent  were 
consolidated  under  the  name  of  The  Piatt 
County  Republican,  and  it  has  been  run  un- 
der that  name  to  the  present  time.  G.  A. 
Burgess  is  editor  and  manager. 

The  Piatt  County  Pilot  was  started  in 
April,  1896,  by  L.  S.  Kilborn  and  Son.  It 
was  run  by  them  as  an  independent  concern 
until  the  following  November,  when  it  was 
purchased  by  a  stock  company  incorporated 
under  the  name  "Piatt  County  Pilot."  C. 
H.  Kilborn  was  chosen  editor  and  manager. 
In  May,  1900,  it  was  purchased  by  L.  S. 
Kilborn  and  Son,  the  present  owners. 

The  Monticello  Bulletin  is  the  oldest 
paper  in  the  county.  The  name  has .  been 
changed  a  number  of  times,  but  the  Bulletin 
can  justly  be  claimed  to  be  the  successor,  sev- 
eral gnerations  removed  of  the  Monticello- 
Times,  whose  first  issue  was  printed  in  No- 
vember, 1856.  Mr.  James  D.  Moody  pub-  ; 
lished  the  paper  for  a  short  time,  and  then 
sold  out  to  J.  C.  Johnson.  Mr.  Johnson  sold, 
out  to  James  Outten.  After  a  time  Mr.  Out- 
ten  sold  an  interest  in  the  paper  to  Mr.  Has- 
sett,  and  the  name  of  the  paper  was  changed 
to  the  Sucker  State,  The  paper  was  next 
edited  by  Messrs.  Gillilancl  and  Tritt. 
Thomas  Milligan  succeeded  them,  and  the 
name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to  the  Con- 
servative. W.  E.  Lodge  edited  the  paper 
from  1862  to  1864,  at  which  time  he  sold 
out  to  N.  E.  Rhoades,  and  the  paper  was 
conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Union 
League.  In  the  political  campaign  of  1864 
the  paper  was  called  The  Piatt  County  Union 
and  was  edited  by  M.  A.  Bates.  In  1865  the 
paper  was  sold  to  Jas.  M.  Holmes,  and  the 
name  was  changed  to  the  Piatt  Independent. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


It  was  published  under  this  name  for  about 
seven  years,  and  then  the  name  was  changed 
to  the  Piatt  Republican.  In  1876  the  paper 
was  sold  to  H.  B.  Funk,  and  became  as  the 
Monticello  Bulletin,  and  has  since  been  run 
under  that  name.  Mr.  Funk  edited  the  paper  , 
for  several  years.  W.  E.  Krebs  is  remem- 
bered by  our  citizens  as  the  witty  editor  of 
the  Bulletin.  Mr.  Krebs  sold  out  to  Mr. 
Evan  Stevenson,  who  edited  the  paper  very 
ably  for  about  a  year.  C.  E.  Gaumer  was  the 
next  editor,  who  sold  out  to  H.  W.  Buckle, 
the  present  editor  and  manager. 

IMPROVEMENTS    OF  COUNTY  BUILDINGS. 

In  June;  1901,  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
visited  the  county  farm  to  see  what  was 
needed  there.  It  was  found  that  the  buildings 
were  inadequate,  and  at  the  request  of  the 
committee  on  public  buildings  and  grounds, 
Mr.  C.  S.  Bainum,  a  professional  architect, 
prepared  plans  and  designs  for  buildings 
needed  to  cost  about  twelve  thousand  dollars. 
The  buildings  were  to  be  of  brick,  two  stories 
and  a  basement,  with  slate  roof,  and  to  be 
provided  with  convenient  and  modern  equip- 
ment. The  plans  were  presented  to  the 
Board  of  Supervisors,  and  with  some  modi- 
fications, were  accepted,  and  Mr.  Bainum 
was  directed  to  prepare  complete  plans  and 
specifications.  The  lx>ard  advertised  for 
bids,  and  on  the  26th  of  August,  the  con- 
tract was  let  to  George  Lux  for  $11,750. 

The  buildings  were  completed  the  next 
year,  and  formally  accepted  by  the  Board  of 
Supervisors.  The  buildings  are  all  of  brick, 
heated  by  steam,  and  are  very  comfortable 
and  convenient.  They  are  three  stories  high 
the  sleeping  rooms  on  the  lower  floor  being 
provided  with  iron  grated  doors,  so  that  the 
occupant  can  be  locked  in  the  rooms  if  neces- 


sary.    One  part  of  the  building  is  set  apart 
for  the  men,  another  for  the  women. 

Following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  poor 
farm  Stewarts :  James  G.  Miner,  E.  Carver, 
G.  Turk,  Solomon  Leitz,  W.  R.  Hyde,  John 
Lohr,  W.  R.  Hyde,  D.  R.  Kemper,  George 
A.  Lindsley,  Ben  Cole. 

COURT     HOUSE     AND    JAIL. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors held  September  10,  1902,  on  motion  of 
William  L.  Plunt,  of  Sangamon  township, 
it  was  decided  to  submit  to  the  voters  at  the 
next  general  election,  a  proposition  to  issue 
the  bonds  of  the  county  to  the  amount  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  to  erect  a 
court  house  to  cost  not  more  than  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars,  and  to  repair  the  jail  at 
a  cost  not  to  exceed  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. 

A  great  deal  of  interest  was  taken  in  the 
matter,  and  the  proposition  was  vigorously 
discussed  by  our  newspapers  and  citizens, 
which  discussion  continued  up  to  the  election 
which  was  held  November  4,  1902. 

The  result  of  the  election  was  a  majority 
of  167  votes  in  favor  of  the  proposition  to 
issue  the  bonds  of  the  county  for  the  purpose 
of  building  new  court  house,  and  repairing 
jail. 

Steps  were  at  once  taken  to  get  suitable 
plans  for  the  new  building.  A  committee 
from  the  Board  of  Supervisors  was  appoint- 
ed to  visit  a  number  of  county  seats  and  in- 
spect the  court  houses. 

January  20,  1903,  the  bonds  were  sold  to 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Monticello  at  a 
premium  of  $1050,  and  accrued  interest. 

In  March,  1903,  it  was  decided  to  accept 
the  plans  prepared  by  Architect  Joseph  W. 
Rover,  of  Urbana,  and  he  was  instructed  to 


26 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


prepare  suitable  plans  and  specifications. 
The  contract  was  let  July  8,  1903,  to  H.  B. 
Walters,  of  Danville,  for  seventy-five  thous- 
and dollars,  building  to  be  completed  by  July 
15,  1904.  It  is  to  be  a  three  story  brick 
building,  with  modern  conveniences. 

On  the  lower  floor  on  the  east  side  will 
be  the  office  and  vault  of  the  county  treasurer, 
and  in  the  south  east  corner  the  Board  of 
Suprvisors'  room. 

In  the  northwest  corner  will  be  the  rooms 
of  the  county  school  superintendent.  South 
of  these  will  be  the  vault  of  the  county  clerk, 
and  in  the  southwest  corner  will  be  a  public 
waiting  room. 

On  the  second  floor  above  the  rooms  of 
the  county  superintendent  will  be  the  office 
of  the  sheriff.  South  of  this  will  be  the 
rooms  of  the  county  clerk. 

The  county  court  room  extends  across 
the  south  end  of  this  floor.  In  the  southeast 
corner  is  the  office  of  the  county  judge.  Just 
north  of  him  is  the  state's  attorney's  office, 
and  north  of  that  the  office  and  vault  of  the 
circuit  clerk. 

On  the  third  floor  is  the  circuit  court 
room.  In  addition  to  this,  there  is  a  room 
for  the  law  library,  the  circuit  judges'  private 
room,  the  attorney's  consultation  room,  the 
petit  jury  room,  the  grand  jury  room,  ladies' 
waiting  room,  and  gentlemen's  waiting  room 

The  heating  plant  for  the  building  is  at 
the  jail.  The  old  court  house  was  sold  at 
public  auction  on  May  26th,  and  bought  by 
Lodge  Bros.,  for  $138.01,  which  included 
the  heating  plant  and  the  plumbing.  By  .the 
first  of  August  the  entire  building  was  torn 
down,  and  the  work  of  getting  the  ground 
in  shape  for  the  new  building  commenced. 

The  work  on  the  jail  was  also  begun. 
The  contract  for  the  repair  of  the  jail  was 
let  to  V.  Jobst  and  Son,  of  Peoria,  for 


twelve  thousand,  four  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight  dollars,  work  to  be  completed  in  four 
months.  The  contract  for  the  cell  work  was 
let  to  Van  Dorn  Iron  Works  Co.,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  for  eight  thousand,  six  hundred 
dollars. 

The  contract  for  the  heating  plants  for 
court  house  and  jail,  and  for  laying  of  mains 
was  awarded  to  Field,  Shorb  &  Co.,  of  Deca- 
tur,  for  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  four 
dollars  per  lineal  foot  for  laying  the  mains. 

The  work  of  breaking  the  ground  for  the 
new  court  house  commenced  August  10,  and 
the  work  is  being  pushed  rapidly  forward. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  county  officers 
since  the  organization  of  the  county : 

STATES'   ATTORNEY. 

James  McDougal,  David  Campbell,  M. 
R.  Rust,  John  R.  Eden,  J.  P.  Boyd,  D.  L. 
Bunn,  M.  V.  Thompson,  Samuel  R.  Reed, 
Peter  A.  Hamilton,  Albert  Emerson,  Charles 
Hughes,  James  Hicks,  H.  H.  Crea  and 
Charles  F.  Mansfield,  the  present  states'  at- 
torney. 

COUNTY     JUDGES. 

James  Reber,  John  Hughes,  James  Ater, 
A.  G.  Boyer,  H.  C.  McComas,  G.  L.  Spear, 
Hiram  Jackson,  William  McReynolds,  W. 
G.  Cloyd,  H.  E.  Huston,  M.  R.  Davidson, 
and  F.  M.  Shonkiveler.  the  present  official. 

COUNTY     CLERKS. 

Joseph  King,  J.  D.  Hillis,  James  F.  Out- 
ten,  J.  L.  Miller,  W.  F.  Cox,  J.  A.  Helman, 
W.  L.  Ryder,  John  Porter,  A.  L.  Rodgers 
and  B.  F.  Kagey,  the  present  county  clerk. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


27 


CIRCUIT     CLERKS. 

James  S.  Reber,  J.  C.  Johnson,  A.  G. 
Boyer,  L.  J.  Bond,  W.  T.  Foster,  W.  H. 
Plunk,  G.  A.  Stadler,  Robert  Hudgen  and 
J.  C.  Tippett. 

COUNTY     TREASURERS. 

(While  the  county  was  not  under  town- 
ship organizaion  the  sheriff  acted  as  county 
treasurer.) 

N.  E.  Rhoades,  Charles  Watts,  S.  E. 
Langdon,  J.  T.  VanGundy,  Nelson  Reid, 
Theodore  Gross,  E.  W.  Walker,  Dan  Hall, 

E.  W.  Walker,  S.  M.  Funk   and   Isaac   N. 
Biebinger. 

SHERIFFS. 

John  Piatt,  Edward  Ater,  Charles  Har- 
ris, George  Heath,  Samuel  Morain,  G.  M. 
Bruffett,  Peter  K.  Hull,  Renben  Bowman, 

F.  H.  Lowry,  E.  P.    Fisher,  W.    B.    List, 
George  F.  Miller,  John  Kirby,  W.  H.  Plunk, 
E.  P.  Fisher,  W.  M.  Holmes,  J.  E.  Andrew, 
George  F.  Miller,  J.  M.  Woolington,  C.  A. 
Shiveley,  J.   M.   Woolington  and   Freeman 
Clow. 

COUNTY    SUPERINTENDENTS. 

At  first  this  officer  was  called  school  com- 
missioner. The  school  commissioners  were 
as  follows :  Joseph  King,  W.  H.  Piatt, 
George  A.  Patterson,  Joseph  Kee,  Thomas 
Milligan,  John  Huston,  The  first  county 
superintendent  was  J.  W.  Coleman.  The  oth- 
er county  superintendents  are  as  follows :  C. 
A.  Tatman,  C.  J.  Pitkin,  Mary  I.  Reed,  G. 
A.  Burgess,  George  N.  Snapp,  Allen  B.  Mar- 
tin, James  H.  Martin  and  Charles  'Mclntosh. 


SURVEYORS. 


James  Reber,  George  Heath,  James  Bry- 
clen,  C.  D.  Moore,  Wm.  McReynolds,  C.  D. 
Moore,  Henry  Eatherton  and  W.  J.  Day. 

CORONERS. 

Reuben  Bowman,  W.  M.  Barnes,  M.  N. 
Secrist. 

MASTER     IN     CHANCERY. 

A.  G.  Bowyer,  A.  T.  Pipher,  S.  R. 
Reed,  E.  A.  Barrington,  Albert  Emerson. 
Frank  Pittman,  H.  H.  Crea  and  R.  I.  Tat- 
man. 

GROWTH     IN     POPULATION. 

The  following  table  will  show  the  coun- 
ty's growth  in  population : 

In  1850,  1606;  in  1860,  6127;  in  1870, 
10,953;  m  1880,  15,583;  in  1890,  17,062; 
and  in  1900,  17,706. 


CHAPTER  III. 


SCHOOLS     OF     THE     COUNTY. 

The  pride  of  Piatt  county  is  in  her 
schools.  The  school  work  has  been  organ- 
ized and  systematized  to  an  extent  much 
greater  than  in  many  counties  of  the  state. 
The  first  schools  were  very  crude  ones. 
They  were  subscription  schools,  and  the 
main  object  was  to  make  the  children  able 
to  write  a  little,  to  read  some  and  to  "cipher." 


28 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


The  first  school  houses  were  like  the  first 
dwellings,  of  logs.  There  were  no  desks,  the 
pupils  sitting  on  benches  made  by  putting 
some  legs  in  a  puncheon  log.  A  board  along 
the  side  of  the  room  held  up  by  sticks  driven 
into  the  sides  of  the  school  house,  were  the 
writing  desks.  The  teachers  would  come 
around  occasionally  to  set  the  "copy."  In 
the  earliest  houses  the  light  came  through 
paper  greased  with  "  coon  grease,''  the  only 
windows  that  the  houses  afforded.  Since 
that  time  the  schools  have  made  rapid  pro- 
gress, and  we  have  a  system  of  schools  of 
which  the  people  are  justly  proud. 

At  first  but  few  districts  were  organized 
and  these  extended  over  a  great  deal  of  ter- 
ritory. As  the  country  developed,  new  dis- 
tricts were  formed  bringing  the  schools 
,  nearer  to  the  people.  At  the  present  time 
there  are  101  school  districts  in  the  county, 
most  of  which  contain  four  sections  or  a  lit- 
tle more.  The  largest  school  district  in  the 
county  is  the  Bement  district,  which  has  ten 
and  one-fourth  sections.  A  few  districts 
have  five  and  six  sections.  Watson  numbers 
50  and  Elwood  number  53,  contain  eight 
sections.  A  few  contain  less  than  four  sec- 
tions. •  The  smallest  districts  in  the  county 
are  Hammond,  district  84,  which  contains 
two  sections  and  200  acres,  and  Love,  num- 
ber 85,  the  smallest  in  the  county,  which  con- 
tains but  two  and  one-fourth  sections.  In 
all  these  are  90  rural  schools  in  the  county, 
and  1 3  graded  schools  as  follows :  Atwood 
employs  six  teachers ;  Bement,  eleven ;  Cerro 
Gordo,  six;  Cisco,  three;  DeLand,  four; 
Hammond,  four;  LaPlace,  three;  Mansfield, 
six;  Milmine,  two;  Monticello,  thirteen,  10 
in  one  school  and  three  in  the  other ;  Pierson, 
two  and  White  Heath,  two.  The  Bement, 
Cerro  Gordo,  Mansfield  and  Monticello 
schools  are  on  the  accredited  list  of  the  state 
University. 


The  funds  to  support  the  schools  are  de- 
rived from  four  different  sources,  the  state, 
county,  township  and  district.  The  state 
appropriates  a  million  dollars  annually  for 
the  support  of  the  schools.  The  proceeds 
of  the  sale  of  public  lands  is  loaned  to  the 
state,  and  the  interest  on  this  (one  sixth  part 
excepted  which  goes  to  the  State  University) 
is  distributed  to  the  schools  of  the  state.  The 
interest  on  the  surplus  revenue  which  was 
loaned  to  the  state  by  the  federal  government 
during  Jackson's  administration  (Illinois 
gets  $477,919.24),  is  distributed  to  the  coun- 
ties by  the  state  auditor  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  children  under  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  as  determined  by  the  last  state  or  fed- 
eral census.  The  amount  due  each  county 
is  sent  to  the  county  -superintendent  as  a 
warrant  on  the  state  treasurer.  This  war- 
rant is  cashed  by  the  county  treasurer  who 
turns  it  in  when  making  settlement  with 
the  state  treasurer  in  lieu  of  so  much  taxes. 

The  county  fund  is  the  proceeds  of  the 
sale  of  the  swamp  lands  of  the  county.  The 
amount  in  our  county  at  this  time  is  $7,565. 
This  amount  is  loaned  by  the  county  superin- 
tendent and  the  interest  is  distributed  to  the 
schools  in  the  same  way  that  the  state  funds 
are  distributed.  Fines  and  forfeitures  im- 
posed by  justices  of  the  peace  and  police 
magistrates  for  misdemeanors  are  distrib- 
uted  in  the  same  way. 

The  township  fund  is  the  proceeds  of  the 
sale  of  the  sixteenth  section  in  each  township. 
The  amount  of  this  fund  varies  from  $500 
to  $13,660,  according  to  the  location  of  the 
sixteenth  section,  and  when  the  land  was 
sold.  Every  township  in  our  county  has 
sold  its  section,  and  has  the  money  loaned 
out  on  interest.  The  interest  on  this  fund 
is  distributed  by  the  trustees  to  the  different 
schools  of  the  townships,  in  proportion  to 
the  number  of  children  under  twenty-one 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


years  of  age,  at  the  meetings  held  in  April 
and  October. 

The  principal  of  the  township  funds  is 
as  follows : 

16 — 6 $  1,563  oo 

17—6 5.9l6  28 

18 — 6 500  oo 

19 — 6 1,175  oo 

20 — 6 1,400  oo 

21 — 6 5,000  oo 

1 6 — 5 13,66000 

17—5 •         2,965  56 

18 — 5 1,072  76 

19—5 2,145  °o 

20 — 5 4,000  oo 

The  district  fund  is  the  annual  tax  levied 
by  the  board  of  school  directors. 

Every  since  1878,  Piatt  county  teachers 
have  had  an  organization  called  the  Piatt 
County  Teachers'  Association,  alternating 
between  Bement  and  Monticello.  The  mem- 
bership for  the  last  few  years  has  included 
nearly  every  teacher  in  the  county.  Mem- 
bership is  obtained  by  the  payment  of  an  an- 
nual fee  of  twenty-five  cents,  which  is  used 
in  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  association. 
In  all  sixty-five  regular  meetings  have  been 
held.  The  meetings  are  held  the  latter  part 
of  September.  October,  November,  January, 
February  and  March.  For  the  last  two 
years  the  association  has  been  divided  into 
sections  for  the  morning  work,  as  follows : 
high  school  section ;  country  school  section, 
grade  section  and  primary  section.  In  the 
afternoon  the  teachers  meet  in  general  ses- 
sion and  usually  have  a  teacher  from  neigh- 
boring city  school,  normal  school  or  univer- 
sity to  address  them.  Resident  teachers  of 
the  county  furnish  the  rest  of  the  program, 
which  consists  of  a  discussion  of  the  books 
in  the  course  for  the  year  in  the  Illinois 
Teachers'  Reading  Circle,  and  a  discussion 


of  matters  of  interest  to  teachers.  About 
eighty-five  percent  of  our  teachers  are  regu- 
lar attendants  at  teachers'  meetings.  The 
officers  of  the  association  for  next  year  are 
as  follows :  President,  Supt.  J.  T.  Gale,  of 
the  Monticello  schools ;  Vice-President,  Prin. 
H.  H.  Kirkpatrick,  of  the  DeLand  school; 
Secretary,  Kathryne  Heath,  of  Monticello; 
Treasurer,  Charles  Mclntosh,  county  super- 
intendent. The  executive  committee  is  made 
up  of  these  persons,  and  three  other  elected 
members  as  follows :  Winifred  Hammond, 
Gertrude  Dockum  and  Lilly  Lanier.  The 
executive  committee  arranges  the  course  of 
study  for  the  year,  and  the  different  pro- 
grams. 

SCHOOL   DIRECTORS'    ASSOCIATION. 

Two  years  ago  the  Piatt  County  School 
Directors'  Association  was  formed  for  the 
improvement  of  the  schools  of  the  county. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  Monticello 
high  school  building.  About  seventy-five 
were  present,  and  a  very  interesting  pro- 
gram was  carried  out.  A  constitution  was 
adopted  and  a  permanent  organization  ef- 
fected. The  object  of  the  association  was  to 
bring  the  directors  in  close  touch  with  the 
schools  and  with  each  other  so  that  the  effi- 
ciency of  our  schools  might  be  increased.  L. 
H.  Alvord  was  elected  president;  Mrs.  Maye 
Duncan,  secretary,  and  P.  B.  Maxhimer,  L. 
A.  Melvin  and  G.  A.  Lindsley  and  Charles 
Mclntosh  program  committee. 

The  second  meeting  was  held  in  the  high 
school  building  at  Monticello,  September, 
1902.  At  this  time  the  following  officers 
were  elected  :  President,  P.  B.  Maxhimer ; 
Secretary,  W.  \V.  Lefever.  An  important 
action  taken  at  this  meeting  was  the  adoption 
of  the  following  resolution : 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Resolved,  That  this  association  recom- 
mend  that  all  school  boards  in  the  county 
appropriate  a  suitable  amount  each  year  (at 
least  fifteen  dollars)  to  be  spent  under  their 
direction  for  books  for  the  library,  for  pic- 
tures for  the  school,  or  other  similar  pur- 
poses. 

The  next  meeting  will  be  held  in  Monti- 
cello  in  October. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Piatt  County 
School  Directors'  Association  held  last  Sep- 
tember, the  subject  of  school  text  books  was 
discussed,  and  it  seemed  to  be  the  unanimous 
feeling  of  the  directors  present  that  there 
should  be  a  uniformity  in  the  adopted  text 
books  of  the  county.  A  resolution  was 
adopted  providing  for  a  committee  of  fifteen 
persons,  ten  to  be  chosen  by  the  Piatt  County 
School  Directors'  Association,  five  by  the 
Piatt  County  Teachers'  Association,  with  the 
county  superintendent  as  chairman  of  the 
committee.  The  directors'  association  chose 
the  following  persons  :  Charles  Aclkins, 
Charles  Burns,  A.  T.  Smothers,  A.  A.  Har- 
lan,  H.  C.  Marquiss,  J.  H.  Coon,  W.  F. 
Stevenson,  O.  W.  Moore,  J.  H.  Easton  and 
P.  B.  Maxhimer. 

The  teachers'  association  chose  J.  G. 
Gale,  J.  E.  Underwood,  Clark  Blacker,  Len- 
nia  Hart  and  Winifred  Hammond. 

A  preliminary  meeting  of  the  committee 
was  held  in  the  county  superintendent's  of- 
fice Saturday,  April  25,  at  which  the  follow- 
ing members  were  present  :  Charles  Ad- 
kins,  A.  T.  Smothers,  A.  A.  Harlan,  H.  C. 
Marquiss,  O.  W.  Moore,  J.  H.  Easton,  J.  T. 
Gale,  J.  E.  Underwood,  Clark  Blacker.  Win- 
ifred Hammond  and  Charles  Mclntosh. 

The  subject  of  county  uniformity  of  text 
books  was  discussed,  and  the  members  pres- 
ent were  unanimously  in  favor  of  county  uni- 
formity. A  motion  was  carried  that  the 


committee  recommend  the  adoption  of  books 
in  three  subjects.  It  was  decided  to  concur 
in  the  action  taken  by  the  teachers'  associa- 
tion in  recommending  the  adoption  of  Mont- 
gomery's primary  history  for  sixth  grade, 
McMaster's  school  history  for  the  seventh 
and  eighth  grades,  Rational  grammar  for 
the  seventh  and  eighth  grades. 

It  was  also  decided  to  make  a  thorough 
examination  of  the  different  readers  on  the 
market,  and  to  recommend  a  series  for  adop- 
tion in  the  county.  The  committee  then  ad- 
journed to  meet  again  May  29. 

Notices  were  at  once  sent  to  all  the  book 
companies  that  publish  readers  and  they  are 
invited  to  submit  samples.  The  committee 
met  again  May  29.  The  following  mem- 
bers were  present :  Charles  Burns,  A.  T. 
Smothers,  W.  F.  Stevenson,  O:  W.  Moore, 
A.  A.  Harlan,  H.  C.  Marquiss,  J.  H.  Easton, 
J.  T.  Gale,  J.  E.  Underwood,  Winifred  Ham- 
mond and  Charles  Mclntosh.  Charles  Ad- 
kins  was  not  present,  but  he  sent  his  written 
opinion,  and  vote  on  readers.  Representa- 
tives of  the  different  book  companies  were 
given  an  oppportunity  to  present  the  merits 
of  their  respective  books.  After  discussion, 
the  committee  decided  to  recommend  the 
adoption  of  the  Cyr's  readers  for  the  regular 
or  basal  text  in  the  county,  and  the  progress- 
ive readers  and  stepping  stones  to  literature 
for  supplementary  use.  It  was  also  decided 
to  send  a  circular  letter  to  every  school  di- 
rector in  the  county  giving  the  recommenda- 
tions of  the  committee. 

ANNUAL     INSTITUTE. 

An  annual  institute  is  held  each  year. 
This  year  the  institute  was  held  June  1-5, 
with  the  following  instructors  :  Miss  -Edna 
Keith,  of  the  Western  Illinois  Normal 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


school,  who  had  charge  of  the  primary  work  ; 
Prof.  Henry  Johnson,  of  the  Eastern  Illinois 
State  Normal,  who  had  the  work  in  history, 
and  Prof.  F.  G.  Blair,  who  had  the  work  in 
reading  and  literature.  The  work  in  coun- 
try school  management  was  conducted  by 
County  Superintendent  Charles  Mclntosh, 
for  the  beginning  teachers. 

STATE   COURSE  OF  STUDY. 

The  State  course  of  study  is  now  being 
used  in  every  school  in  the  county.  It  is  a 
course  prepared  under  the  direction  of  the 
State  Teachers'  Association  and  is  in  gen- 
eral use  all  over  the  State.  The  advantages 
which  it  has  over  the  old  text  book  method  is 
that  instruction  will  be  much  broader,  so 
that  they  get  not  just  simply  the  views  of  one 
man.  but  they  study  the  subjects. 

In  enforcing  the  use  of  this  course  of 
study  the  county  superintendent  sends  out 
each  month  to  all  the  teachers  questions  on 
the  month's  work  just  studied.  On  a  speci- 
fied Friday  the  sealed  questions  are  given  to 
the  pupils.  In  the  spring  the  county  superin- 
tendent, in  person,  conducts  an  examination 
of  the  advanced  pupils.  Central  examina- 
tions, as  they  are  called,  are  held-  in  twelve 
f.-r  fourteen  different  places  in  the  county. 
The  questions  are  made  out  by  the  county 
superintendent  and  the  papers  are  graded  by 
him.  From  three  to  ten  or  twelve  different 
schoo's  are  at  these  examinations,  so  that 
'here  i?  given  an  opportunity  to  compare  the 
work  done  in  the  different  schools.  Those 
who  make  an  average  of  75  per  cent,  in  the 
cental  are  eligible  to  the  final,  which  is  held 
the  latter  part  of  March  or  the  first  of 
April.  Those  who  make  an  average  of  75 
per  cent,  in  the  final  are  considered  as  hav- 
iug  satisfactorily  completed  the  year's  work. 
When  a  pupil  has  completed  both  the  sev- 


enth and  eighth  year's  work  he  is  entitiled 
to  a  common  school  diploma,  and  when  he 
has  completed  both  the  ninth  and  tenth 
years'  work  he  is  entitled  to  a  diploma  in 
the  higher  course.  Within  the  last  five  years 
a  great  deal  of  interest  has  been  taken  in  the 
higher  work  in  our  country  schools  and  the 
interest  in  it  has  grown.  The  fourth  annual 
county  commencement  exercises  were  held 
this  year  at  Monticello  Wednesday  after- 
noon, June  17,  and  at  Cerro  Gordo  Thursday 
evening,  June  18,  1903.  Sixteen  diplomas 
were  given  to  the  graduates  of  the  higher 
course  and  thirty  to  the  graduates  of  our 
common  school  course.  A  common  school 
diploma  will  admit  the  holder  to  any  high 
school  in  the  county  without  further  exam- 
ination, and  the  higher  course  diploma  will 
give  the  holder  certain  credits  in  the  high 
school,  so  that  the  high  school  course  can 
be  completed  in  about  two  years. 

The  following  statistics  with  regard  to 
the  schools  may  be  of  interest :  Number  of 
children  in  county  under  21,  6,952;  number 
children  in  school,  4,313;  number  rooms 
used  in  graded  schools,  58 ;  number  of  vol- ' 
times  in  libraries,  11,450;  amount  of  bonded 
school  debt,  $42,645 :  amount  of  money 
raised  by  special  tax  last  year,  $81,975.67; 
amount  paid  teachers,  $57,037.65 ;  paid  for 
new  school  houses.  $3,087.54;  total  expend- 
itures for  school  purposes,  $82,428.87 ;  num- 
l>er  of  public  high  schools,  5 ;  number  of 
schools  that  enrolled  fewer  than  five  pupils, 
i;  fewer  than  10,  2;  fewer  than  15,  14; 
amount  received  from  State  Auditor  last 
year,  $2.620.58;  interest  on  county  fund, 
$456.65 ;  received  from  fines  and  forfeit- 
ures, $30. 

MONTICELLO   TOWNSHIP. 

The  first    school  taught    in    Monticello 
township  was  by  James  Outen.     The  school 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


house  stood  west  of  Monticello,  near  the 
river.  The  first  school  in  the  town  of  Monti- 
cello  was  held  in  the  first  court  house,  and 
was  taught  by  George  A.  Patterson. 

The  first  school  house  built  in  the  city 
was  a  block  south  of  the  square  next  to  the 
Presbyterian  church  lot.  Esquire  A.  J. 
Wiley  donated  the  ground  and  helped  build 
the  house. 

The  old  brick  school  house  in  the  south 
part  of  town  was  built  in  1857-8.  Isaiah 
Stickle  was  the  first  teacher  in  the  new  house. 
At  first  only  three  rooms  were  completed, 
two  below  and  one  upstairs.  In  1869  or  1870 
the  upper  room  was  divided.  This  was  used 
for  school  purposes  until  the  present  new 
brick  building  was  erected.  In  1903  the  old 
house  was  sold  and  torn  down. 

In  1894  a  new,  large,  ten-room  house 
was  erected.  It  is  one  of  the  most  substan- 
tial buildings  in  the  county,  erected  at  a  cost 
of  $22.000.  It  is  heated  by  steam,  has  a 
splendid  system  of  ventilation  and  is  pro- 
vided with  water. 

A  four-room  frame  building  in  the  north 
part  of  town  was  erected  in  1877.  Three 
rooms  of  this  are  now  used. 

In  all,  Monticello  employs  thirteen  teach- 
ers. There  are  three  teachers  in  the  high 
school  and  one  of  the  teachers  gives  half  her 
time  to  teaching  music  in  the  grades. 

The  Ikt  of  principals  of  the  schools  are 
as  follows :  Isaiah  Stickle,  Mr.  Babcock, 
Mr.  Scovell,  W.  F.  Gilmore,  A.  T.  Pipher, 
J.  A.  McComas,  Mr.  Porter,  John  P.  Mcln- 
tosh,  Arthur  Edwards,  P.  T.  Nichols,  Jesse 
Hubbard,  Gilbert  A.  Burgess,  Amelia  E. 
Sanford,  H.  F.  Baker,  W.  H.  Skinner,  F. 
V.  Dilatush,  W.  R.  Humphrey,  James  H. 
Martin,  F.  E.  Auten,  P.  T.  Nichols,  J.  H. 
Martin,  E.  A.  Fritter,  J.  H.  Meneely,  W.  C. 


Hobson,  J.  E.  Webb  and  J.  T.  Gale,  the  pres- 
ent principal  ( 1903). 

There  is  a  good  high  school  course  and 
its  graduates  are  admitted  to  the  State  Uni- 
versity without  examination.  This  year's 
graduating  class  numbered  nineteen,  the 
largest  in  the  history  of  the  school. 

Margaret  Davison.  of  last  year's  class, 
wen  the  scholarship  at  the  competitive  exam- 
ination last  summer.  J.  T.  Gale  was  the 
superintendent.  The  enrollment  of  the 
school  is  about  500.  There  is  a  library  of 
200  volumes,  and  the  apparatus  and  library 
used  for  the  high  school  is  estimated  at  $550. 
They  have  one  of  the  finest  school  grounds 
in  the  county. 

Besides  the  schools  in  town  there  are  the 
following  country  schools  in  the  township : 
Stringtown,  Dighton,  Prairie  Chapel,  Ridge. 
Haneline,  Independent,  New  York,  Casner, 
Anderson  and  Dublin.  Each  of  these  schools 
has  a  good  library,  and  most  of  them  nice 
pictures.  The  Dublin  school  has  nicely 
framed  pictures  of  Lincoln,  Columbus, 
Longfellow  and  Washington,  a  colored  Ital- 
ian copy  of  the  Dance  of  the  Muses  and  an 
Italian  copy  of  Sistine  Madonna.  Prairie 
Chapel  has  a  fine  grove  in  the  school  yard. 
The  school  house  at  Haneline  is  brick.  The 
Casner  school  is  a  small  one,  having  but  four 
pupils  last  year. 

BEMENT    TOWNSHIP. 

'  The  first  school  in  Bement  township  was 
taught  in  the  village  of  Bement  by  Henry  C. 
Booth  in  1856.  The  length  of  the  school 
was  but  three  months  and  the  salary  was  $40 
per  month. 

A  two-room  building  was  erected  in 
1859.  F.  E.  Bryant  was  the  contractor  and 
J.  M.  Camp  was  the  builder.  Previous  to 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


33 


this  time  they  had  used  rented  buildings. 
The  school  grounds,  which  are  used  even  to 
the  present  time,  and  make  a  fine  campus, 
were  donated  by  L.  B.  Wing  and  William 
Rea.  In  1866  four  additional  rooms  were 
added,  although  they  were  not  all  used  for 
some  time.  Two  more  rooms  were  built  on 
in  1886  and  four  more  in  1892,  making  in 
all  twelve  school  rooms.  A  steam  heating 
plant  was  put  in  in  1884. 

On  September  4,  1898,  the  building  was 
struck  by  lightning  during  a  storm  and  was 
damaged  to  the  amount  of  $1,350,  which  was 
paid  by  the  insurance  companies. 

In  April,  1899,  the  entire  frame  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  fire  originated 
in  the  night  from  some  unknown  cause,  and 
before  it .  was  discovered  the  building  was 
past  saving". 

Arrangements  were  at  once  made  for  a 
new  building,  and  in  the  fall  of  1899  and 
1900  a  magnificent  new  building  was 
erected,  which  is  one  of  the  handsomest  of 
any  of  the  smaller  towns  in  the  State.  Cost, 
$27,000. 

It  contains  eleven  school  rooms,  besides 
offices,  recitation  rooms,  etc.  It  is  heated  by 
steam,  has  drinking  water  on  each  floor  and 
has  a  very  efficient  system  of  ventilation. 

N.  G.  Hinkle,  now  in  Champaign,  was  a 
director  of  this  school  for  twenty-one  years 
and  was  a  very  interested  and  capable 
"director. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  school 
principals :  H.  C.  Booth,  S.  K.  Bodman,  J. 
W.  Richards,  C.  D.  Moore,  J.  B.  Lovell,  A. 
S.  Norris.  J.  A.  Helman,  J.  R.  Johnson,  J. 
N.  Patrick,  E.  M.  Cheney,  Mrs.  Shirk,  F. 
M.  Fowler,  Asa  W.  Mason,  H.  A.  Coffeen, 
W.  J.  Cousins,  J.  H.  McComas,  G.  C. 
Gantz,  A.  C.  Butler,  Thomas  Sterling,  Miss 
Bell  Sterling,  R.  O.  Hickman,  T.  C.  Clen- 


denen,  I.  N.  Wade,  W.  E.  Mann,  P.  K. 
McMinn,  William  Condericker,  Charles  \V. 
Groves,  A.  B.  Martin,  J.  M.  Martin,  Charles 
Mclntosh,  E.  L.  McDuffee,  C.  H.  Andrews 
and  Arthur  Verner. 

The  school  was  placed  on  the  accredited 
list  of  the  State  University  in  1881,  under 
Mr.  Clendenen,  but  was  afterwards  dropped. 
LTnder  the  superintendency  of  J.  M.  Martin 
it  was  again  placed  on  the  accredited  list,  and 
has  been  on  the  list  continuously  ever  since. 

Many  of  its  graduates  have  entered  the 
State  University  and  have  made  very  cred- 
itable showings.  At  least  five  of  its  grad- 
uates have  won  scholarships  given  by  the 
State. 

In  1896  Anna  Mitchell  won  the  scholar- 
ship, the  schools  under  the  supervision  of 
Charles  Mclntosh. 

In  1897  Ida  M.  Hinkle,  schools  under 
supervision  of  Charles  Mclntosh. 

In  1898  Charles  Dawson,  schools  under 
supervision  of  Charles  Mclntosh. 

In  1900  Clarence  Holcomb,  schools  un- 
der supervision  of  C.  H.  Andrews. 

At  this  same  time  S.  R.  Noe  was  award- 
ed a  scholarship  and  credited  to  DeWitt 
county.  He  graduated  under  E.  L.  McDuf- 
fee. 

In  1878  a  frame  school  house  was  built 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  district  to  accom- 
modate those  living  at  a  distance  from 
Bement.  Joanna  Fleming  was  the  first 
teacher  in  the  school.  This  house  has  been 
repaired  and  remodeled  from  time  to  time 
and  is  now  in  very  good  condition.  The 
"Bement  Rural,"  as  it  is  called,  has  a  library 
of  over  200  volumes. 

There  are  nine  rural  schools  in  the  town- 
ship, as  follows :  Ray,  Moma,  Davies, 
Fisher,  Concern,  Mitchell,  Bement  Rural, 
Coffin,  Moore.  Davies  has  a  cupola  and  a 


34 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


bell,  and  a  flower  garden.  It  has  also  one 
of  the  best  rural  school  libraries  in  the 
county. 

CERRO    GORDO    TOWNSHIP 

At  first  the  scholars  from  Cerro  Gordo 
attended  a  school  situated  over  in  Macon 
county.  The  first  school  house  in  the  town- 
ship was  built  in  Cerro  Gordo  on  the  site  of 
the  present  school  building  about  1857. 
Andrew  McKinney  was  the  first  teacher  in 
the  house,  and  taught  the  school  for  three 
years. 

In  1867  a  two-room  brick  building  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  In  1873  a  two- 
room  wing  of  the  same  size  and  material 
was  added.  In  1881  a  one-room  frame  addi- 
tion was  added.  The  rooms  were  heated  by 
stoves,  some  of  which  had  two,  one  in  either 
end.  This  house  did  service  until  1900, 
when  it  was  replaced  by  a  handsome  six- 
room  modern  building,  heated  by  a  furnace, 
and  modern  in  every  respect.  In  1900  the 
high  school  course  was  revised  and  enlarged 
and  made  four  years  instead  of  three.  Its 
work  was  also  accredited  at  the  State  Uni- 
versity. The  following  is  a  list  of  its  prin- 
cipals: Andrew  McKinney,  Mr.  Green, 
John  Carver,  Mr.  Welch,  P.  H.  Harris,  £. 
Duncan,  A.  D.  Beckhart,  T.  C.  Fuller,  Miss 
Olive  E.  Coffeen,  Joshua  Thorpe,  A.  R. 
Jolly,  B.  F.  Stocks,  W.  S.  Hall,  George  N. 
Snapp,  W.  H.  Givler,  J.  E.  Wooters,  I.  C. 
Baker,  John  Loeffler,  C.  O.  DuBois,  A.  L. 
Starr,  George  S.  Morris,  S.  Cass  and  Earl 
O.  Snider. 

MILMINE. 

The  present  two-story  brick  school  house 
at  Milmine  was  erected  in  1871  and 
cost  $4,500.  Jasper  N.  Wilkinson  was  its 


first  principal  and  was  followed  by  A.  D. 
Beckhart.  W.  H.  Chamberlain,  Allen  S. 
Stults,  John  A.  Smith,  Frank  East,  Mr. 
McKinney,  Charles  Hughes,  M.  M.  Morris, 
Joel  Dunn,  George  E.  Stuart,  John  J.  Wil- 
kinson, A.  C.  Duncan,  C.  C.  Walsh,  Thomas 
Gilvere,  Charles  Mclntosh,  J.  P.  Rose,  I.  N. 
Biebinger,  Warren  Sanders,  George  F. 
Arps,  F.  S.  Betz  and  Mattie  G.  Johnson,  the 
present  principal.  Milmine  is  a  two-room 
school,  and  its  pupils  have  been  making  very 
creditable  showings  in  central  and  final  ex- 
aminations recently. 

LA  PLACE. 

The  LaPlace  school  building  was  erected 
in  1884.  It  was  a  two-room  building, 
erected  by  Josiah  Gunkle,  the  contract  price 
being  $1,999.40.  The  school  board  at  that 
time  consisted  of  A.  S.  Hawthorne,  presi- 
dent; James  A.  Fleck,  clerk,  and  S.  S.  Mil- 
ler. In  1903  they  built  a  two-room  addition 
to  the  house,  the  contractor  being  Frank 
Michael.  The  cost  of  the  new  building  and 
the  repairs  on  the  old  was  $2,250.  The  list 
of  teachers  is  as  follows:  1884,  George  S. 
Morris  and  Alta  Dawson ;  1885,  George  S. 
Morris  and  Naomi  Smith;  1886,  J.  A.  Har- 
denbrook  and  Naomi  Smith;  1887,  E.  O. 
Humphrey  and  Nellie  Espy;  1888,  E.  O. 
Humphrey  and  Maye  Gannon;  1889-1897, 
A.  C.  Duncan  and  Maye  Gannon;  1897  and 
1898,  Arthur  Verner  and  Nellie  Hoyt;  1899, 
J.  E.  Underwood  and  Mary  Mohler;  1900, 
J.  E.  Underwood  and  Mary  Mohler;  1901, 
J.  E.  Underwood  and  Alice  Dillow;  1902, 
J.  E.  Underwood  and  Minerva  Goodrich ; 
1903,  J.  E.  Underwood,  Grace  Hobson  and 
Minerva  Goodrich. 

The  first  graduating  exercises  were  held 
in  1902,  with  four  graduates. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


35 


The  high  school  course  was  revised  in 
1903  and  now  consists- of  three  years  work. 
The  enrollment  in  the  school  is  110.  The 
school  sentiment  in  the  district  is  good. 

Beside  these  three  graded  schools  there 
are  the  following  schools  in  Cerro  Gordo 
township : 

Gulliford,  Pemble,  East  Union,  Star, 
Pleasant  View,  Voorhies,  Center  16-5,  Cen- 
tennial, Prairie  Dell,  Center,  Center  16-4, 
Clark  and  Lintner. 

Pleasant  View  and  Centennial  have  fine 
groves  in  the  school  yard  and  the  properties 
HI  each  of  the  above  districts  is  well  kept  up. 
Lintner  district  is  contemplating  the  'erec- 
tion of  a  new  school  house. 

GOOSE  CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  school  house  erected  in  Goose 
Creek  township  was  a  log  house  near  where 
the  Piatt  school  house  now  stands.  George 
A.  Patterson  was  the  first  teacher.  The 
next  school  established  in  the  township  was 
the  Morain  school.  These  were  both  large 
schools,  the  average  attendance  being  from 
sixty  to  eighty  pupils. 

DeLand  is  the  only  village  school  in  the 
township.  It  now  has  a  four-room  house, 
heated  by  steam,  built  in  1887. 

The  principals  at  DeLand  are  as  fol- 
lows :  B.  F.  Stultz,  E.  E.  Carrier,  C.  D. 
Thomas,  C.  H.  Wells,  Thomas  Gilvere,  A. 
C.  Staley,  Edward  C.  Graybill,  H.  S.  Davis, 
Arthur  Verner,  Noah  A.  Young  and  H.  H. 
Kirkpatrick,  the  present  principal.  The  rural 
schools  in  the  township  are  as  follows : 

Mount  Vernon,  Wisegarver,  Western, 
Fairview.  Pleasant  Falls,  Harmony,  Piatt 
Morain,  Ashland,  Prospect,  Enterprise,  Ken- 
tucky. The  Kentucky  school  house  was 
built  in  1902. 


SANGAMON    TOWNSHIP. 

George  A.  Patterson  taught  the  first 
school  in  Sangamon  township.  The  house 
was  a  log  school  house  and  stood  north  of 
White  Heath  near  the  site  of  the  old  White 
school  house.  James  Outen,  S.  K.  Bodman, 
W.  H.  Reese,  H.  Timmons,  Charles  Hughes, 
Pamelia  (Combes)  Hughes,  Sadie  Reed  and 
others  are  among  the  early  teachers  in  this 
township. 

White  Heath  has  a  two-room  frame 
house,  built  in  1893.  The  principals  of  the 
school  are  as  follows :  J.  T.  Gale,  Florence 
(Tippett)  Duvall,  D.  W.  Carper,  Alfred 
Ewington,  C.  M.  Morris,  Lennia  Hart,  Clark 
Blackner.  The  country  schools  in  the 
township  are  as  follows :  Galeville,  Sunny 
Mound,  Argo,  Madden,  Centerville,  White, 
Lodge,  Union,  Camp  Creek  and  Prairie  Dell. 
The  White  district  has  recently  completed  a 
modern,  one-room  building,  one  of  the  best 
arranged  in  the  county.  The  windows  are 
all  on  the  north  side.  The  Argo  district  let 
the  contract  recently  for  a  similar  building, 
to  be  completed  this  fall. 

WILLOW    BRANCH     TOWNSHIP. 

Judge  Edward  Ater  taught  the  first 
school  in  Willow  Branch  township  about 
1840  in  a  log  school  house  on  Willow 
Branch.  Among  the  early  teachers  of  the 
township  may  be  mentioned  the  following: 
Robert  L.  Barton,  J.  Hull  Brown,  Caleb  and 
Riley  Tatman,  the  Suver  sisters  and  Thomas 
Lamb,  Jr. 

Cisco  has  the  only  village  school  in  the 
township.  At  first  this  district  was  very 
small,  but  it  has  been  gradually  reaching  out 
until  it  has  nearly  four  sections  and  main- 
tains three  rooms. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


In  1900  they  built  a  modern,  four- room 
brick  house,  well  lighted,  heated  and  venti- 
lated. It  is  heated  by  a  furnace.  The  cost 
of  the  building  complete  was  about  $6,000. 

The  principals  of  these  schools  have  been 
as  follows:  C.  C.  Walsh,  J.  E.  Nichols, 
George  N.  Dunham,  D.  C.  Shaff,  Chester 
M.  Echols,  John  C.  Hall,  D.  C.  Shaff,  T.  H. 
Pease,  E.  S.  Jones,  J.  R.  Simer  and  Henry 
C.  Gross,  the  present  principal. 

The  other  schools  in  the  township  are  as 
follows :  New  Union,  Excelsior,  Wild  Cat, 
Shady  Nook,  East  Cisco,  West  Cisco,  Oak 
Grove,  Willow  Branch,  Havely,  Riverside. 
Dillow,  Hanover,  Baker,  Grove. 

The  Riverside  school  house  was  built  in 
1900  and  the  East  Cisco  in  1901.  The  Wil- 
low Branch  school  has  always  been  a  large 
one.  Recently  the  house  has  been  extensively 
repaired,  new  seats  put  in  and  a  well  sunk. 

UNITY  TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  school  house  in  Unity  township 
was  a  very  primitive  one,  even  having  the 
paper  windows.  It  was  taught  by  John  Col- 
lins about  1842.  The  first  school  house  in 
Mackville  was  built  in  1858  and  was  taught 
by  James  Lewis.  Among  the  early  teachers 
in  the  township  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing: Peter  A.  Hamilton,  Gilbert  A.  Bur- 
gess, George  W.  Poole,  J.  A.  Hawks,  J.  H. 
Easton,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Hawks,  Joseph  Trench- 
ard.  John  A.  Hardenbrook  and  wife,  C.  H. 
Righter  and  Miss  Anna  Davis. 

The  first  school  houses  were  Shonkwiler, 
Harshbarger,  Mackville  and  Tryon.  Pier- 
son  first  belonged  to  the  Tryon  district  and 
was  a  part  of  that  district  until  1882.  The 
last  school  in  the  old  Tryon  school  house  was 
taught  by  William  Wilson  in  1882-3.  Tnc 
house  stood  just  south  of  A.  B.  Chambers 


and  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the  Easton 
school  house.  In  the  spring  of  1883  the 
Pierson  district  was  formed.  George  F. 
Righter  taught  the  first  school  here  in  the 
school  year  of  1883-4.  He  was  followed  by 
Belle  Barnes,  William  Loveless,  Emily  God- 
win, John  H.  Easton,  Anna  Davies,  Bell 
(Righter)  Snider.  Alberta  Easton,  B.  M. 
Godwin,  Rhoda  Lowe,  Otto  C.  Adams  and 
Edward  Erhardt. 

In  the  meantime  the  village  of  Pierson 
had  been  growing  and  they  had  to  have  a 
larger  school  house,  so  in  the  fall  of  1892 
the  present  two-room  building  was  com- 
pleted. Miss  Mollie  Birks  was  the  first  prin- 
cipal .  teaching  there  the  school  year  of 
1892-3.  The  other  principals  at  Pierson  in 
order  are  as  follows :  Holton  Hall,  John  P. 
Rose,  F.  S.  Betz,  Alice  Withers  and  Henry 
C.  Gross. 

Up  to  1876  the  pupils  from  Hammond 
attended  the  Love  school,  which  was  sit- 
situated  northwest  of  Hammond,  near  where 
the  present  Hammond  cemetery  is.  In  1876 
the  school  house  was  moved  into  Hammond. 
John  Hughes  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
new  location.  Among  the  other  teachers  in 
the  one-room  school  house  at  Hammond  may 
be  mentioned :  Laura  Hines,  Levi  Harber, 
Mr.  Humphrey  and  Amos  M.  Sharp. 

In  1882  a  new  two-room  house  was  built 
and  George  S.  Morris  was  the  first  principal. 
In  the  summer  of  1896  two  additional  rooms 
were  added.  The  building  is  now  a  four- 
room  frame  house,  heated  by  a  furnace.  The 
rooms  are  nicely  decorated  and  some  good 
work  is  being  done  there.  Four  teachers  are 
employed.  The  list  of  principals  is  as  fol- 
lows :  George  S.  Morris,  Frank  Godwin. 
W.  W.  Larrahee.  D.  L.  Baker,  John  LoefHer, 
William  Theobald,  L.  C.  Foster,  Warren 
Sanders,  Jennie  B.  Burks.  J.  T.  Gale,  S.  S. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


37 


Mountz    and   X.   B.   Bonham,    the    present 
principal. 

The  At\voocl  district  \vas  organized  as 
a  union  district  in  the  spring  of  1884.  The 
town  of  At\vc;od  is  built  right  along  the 
count}-  line,  between  Piatt  and  Douglas,  the 
county  line  being  the  main  street  of  the  vil- 
lage. Previous  to  1884  the  Atwood  children 
on  the  Douglas  side  went  to  the  Otter  school 
and  those  in  Piatt  county  went  to  the  Mack- 
ville  school.  Either  school  was  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  town.  A  four-room  house 
was  erected  in  1884.  Three  rooms  were  used 
the  first  year  and  James  Hicks  was  the  first 
principal.  In  1886  four  rooms  were  used. 
Afterwards  a  two-room  addition  was  built 
and  the  house  now  contains  six  rooms.  In 
1901  a  steam  heating  plant  was  installed. 
For  some  time  there  was  considerable  oppo- 
sition to  the  district  from  the  Douglas  side. 
The  Atwood  district  maintained  school  in 
the  old  Otter  house  until  1894,  when  two 
sections  in  Douglas  county  were  taken  from 
the  Atwood  district  and  those  who  objected 
to  the  management  of  affairs  at  Atwood 
were  placed  in  the  Garret  district. 

Following  is  the  complete  list  of  the  At- 
wood principals  in  order :  James  Hicks, 
John  Smith,  George  S.  Morris,  T.  J.  Haney, 
Charles  Gott,  W.  E.  Knott,  C.  H.  Bonnell, 
M.  A.  Hester  and  M.  A.  Thrasher,  the  pres- 
ent principal. 

There  are  ten  rural  schools  in  the  town- 
ship, as  follows :  Baird,  McCabe,  Shonk- 
•wiler.  Baker,  Morgan,  Leavitt,  Easton, 
Harshbarger,  Love  and  Maple  Grove. 

BLUE  RIDGE  TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  about 
1854. 

The  Mansfield  school  is  the  only  graded 


school  in  the  township.  The  first  house  in 
Mansfield  was  a  frame  one,  which  jStood  in 
the  east  part  of  town. 

The  brick  house  was  built  in;  1893  at  a 
cost  of  about  $12,000.  It  is  a  modern  brick 
building  of  six  rooms,  heated  by  steam.  A 
four  years'  high  school  course  was  adopted 
in  1902,  and  its  work  has  been  accredited  by 
the  State  University.  The  principals  are  as 
follows : 

G.  N.  Snapp  (2),  1890-91;  L.  D. 
Stearns  (4),  L.  B.  White,  C.  C.  Faust,  J.  M. 
Markel  and  T.  L.  Cook. 

The  rural  schools  in  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship are  as  follows : 

Blue  Ridge,  Langley,  Van  Meter,  West 
Point,  Gillespie,  McGath,  Watson,  South 
Prairie,  Klinger,  Victory,  Pleasant  Grove, 
Number  Six,  Elwood. 

The  Gillespie  is  a  modern  one-room 
house,  built  in  1901.  The  McGath  house  was 
extensively  repaired  in  1902  and  practically 
made  into  a  new  house,  and  the  West  Point 
school  house  was  repaired  and  worked. over 
in  1903,  and  the  Langley  school  in  1900. 
The  Blue  Ridge  school  house  is  brick,  all  the 
others  are  frame. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


MONTICELLO. 

The  location  of  Monticello  is  almost  an 
ideal  place  for  a  town.  The  country  is  roll- 
ing and  affords  excellent  drainage;  it  is  near 
the  river  and  is  in  the  center  of  a  very  fine 
farming  and  stock  country.  It  is  the  oldest 
town  in  the  county,  having  been  laid  out  in 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


1837,  four  years  before  the  county  was  or- 
ganized. Just  before  this  the  nearest  town 
at  which  they  could  trade  was  Decatur, 
about  twenty-five  miles  away  by  road.  The 
people  around  here  thought  that  that  was  too 
far  to  go  to  do  their  trading  and  concluded 
to  start  a  town.  A  committee  consisting  of 
Abraham  Marquiss,  William  Barns,  Major 
McReynolds  and  J.  A.  Piatt  was  appointed 
to  select  a  location  for  a  town.  They 
searched  up  and  down  both  sides  of  the  San- 
gamon  and  finally  decided  on  the  present 
location.  It  was  indeed  a  good  selection,  and 
they  would  have  had  to  search  long  and  care- 
fully to  find  a  better  one. 

It  is  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  country  and  is 
just  rolling  enough  to  make  a  good  location. 
The  principal  streets  of  the  city  are  sloping 
and  will  almost  drain  and  clean  themselves. 

The  land  was  once  owned  by  James  A. 
Piatt,  who  sold  part  of  it.  The  four  men 
mentioned  above  formed  a  stock  company 
and  laid  out  the  town.  It  was  platted  by 
James  A.  Piatt,  surveyed  by  Mr.  McClel- 
land and  named  by  Major  McReynolds  after 
the  home  of  President  Jefferson.  The  plat 
was  recorded  July  i,  1837. 

On  July  4th  a  grand  barbecue  was  held. 
This  was  done  to  attract  people  to  the  new 
town  and  to  sell  the  lots.  The  barbecue  was 
very  successful  from  both  points  of  view.  A 
large  crowd  attended  the  barbecue.  Beeves, 
hogs  and  sheep  were  roasted  and  a  general 
good  time  was  had.  A  number  of  lots  were 
sold,  the  price  obtained  being  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  $2,700. 

The  original  plat  of  Monticello  did  not 
include  the  Heyworth  house,  erected  on  what 
is  now  the  Lodge  place.  The  first  house  in 
the  limits  of  the  city  was  a  small  store  house 
which  stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
square,  where  the  First  National  Bank  is 


now  located.  It  was  built  in  1837  by  Mr. 
Cass,  the  first  merchant  in  the  town.  The 
first  dwelling  house  was  built  in  1839  by  Mr. 
Nicholas  Devore.  The  house  was  several 

9 

years  in  building  and  went  by  the  name  of 
"Old  Fort"  for  a  number  of  years.  The  sec- 
ond dwelling  house  in  the  town  was  built  by 
John  Tenbrooke.  It  was  a  log  house  and 
served  for  a  hotel.  The  third  house  was 
erected  by  James  Outten  just  opposite  the 
jail.  The  fourth  house  was  a  little  black- 
smith shop  near  the  Honselman  House,  one 
block  south  of  the  square.  In  1839  this  was 
the  extent  of  Monticello. 

In  1841  Daniel  Stickel  opened  the  first 
regular  store  in  the  town  on  the  south  side 
of  the  present  square.  J.  C.  Johnson  opened 
the  first  drug  store  and  was  the  first  regular 
postmaster.  The  first  physician  who  settled 
in  Monticello  was  Dr.  King.  The  first 
preaching  in  the  town  was  at  the  home  of 
Mr.  Outten,  where  a  circuit  rider  of  the  M. 
E.  church  stopped  once  a  month.  In  1843 
and  1844  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright  held  meet- 
ings in  the  old  court  house.  He  was  quite  a 
noted  character  in  his  day. 

The  first  church  in  the  town  was  built  in 
1848,  two  blocks  south  and  one  west  of  the 
square.  It  was  a  Methodist  church. 

Monticello  was  made  a  city  in  1872.  The 
first  election  under  the  new  system  of  gov- 
ernment was  held  December  17,  1872,  and 
Daniel  Stickel  was  elected  first  mayor  and 
William  T.  Foster,  B.  B.  Jones,  E.  G. 
Knight,  J.  A.  Hill,  John  Keenan  and  James 
M.  Holmes  aldermen.  William  D.  Shultz 
was  elected  clerk ;  A.  T.  Pipher  attorney ;  J. 
T.  YanGundy  treasurer. 

In  1893  (December  5)  the  city  was  laid 
off  into  three  wards  for  the  administration  of 
municipal  affairs. 

The  electric  light  plant  was  put    in    in 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


39 


1891,  the  city  water  works  system  installed 
in  1892,  the  town  hall  was  built  in  1896  and 
the  Allerton  library  was  founded  in  1897. 

The  system  of  wards  was  abolished  in 
1902. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  mayors : 

1872-1876 — Daniel  Stickle. 

1876-1878— C.  P.  Davis  and  S.  H.  Hub- 
bell. 

1878-1880— Samuel  Reed. 

1880-1882— W.  H.  Plunk. 

1882-1884— Bert  Emerson. 

1884-1885— Julius  A.  Brown. 

1885-1887— W.  H.  Plunk. 

1887-1891— A.  L.  Rodgers. 

1891-1893 — John  E.  Andrew. 

1893-1895— R.  T.  Ayre. 

1895-1897 — John  E.  Andrew  elected. 
Served  a  short  time  and  resigned.  Reber 
Huston  was  appointed  by  City  Council  to  fill 
vacancy  until  election  could  be  held.  Elec- 
tion held  June  25,  1895,  and  W.  J.  Britton 
«lected,  who  filled  out  unexpired  term. 

1897-1899 — John  A.  Bender. 

1899-1901 — John  E.  Andrew. 

1901-1903 — Allen  F.  Moore.. 

1903 — Wilbur  F.  Stevenson. 

MONTICELLO   WATER  WORKS. 

The  first  definite  action  looking  towards 
•city  water  works  was  taken  in  1889.  At  the 
meeting  of  the  City  Council  held  September 
3.  1889,  a  petition  signed  by  forty-four  citi- 
zens was  read,  asking  the  council  to  take 
action  to  establish  a  system  of  water  works. 
On  motion  of  Alderman  C.  N.  Rhoades  the 
mayor  was  instructed. to  appoint  a  commit- 
tee of  seven  to  investigate  the  matter  and  re- 
port conclusions — three  of  the  committee  to 
be  memliers  of  the  council  and  four  of  them 
citizens.  Mayor  A.  L.  Rodgers  appointed 


the  following  persons  on  the  committee :  J. 
A.  Bender,  W.  R.  Yazle,  R.  R.  Meredith,  J. 
A.  Brown,  W.  H.  Plunk,  G.  A.  Stadler  and 
F.'V.  Dilatush.  The  committee  made  a  very 
careful  investigation  of  the  matter  and  made 
a  report  to  the  council  November  5,  1889  as 
follows : 

A  supply  of  water  can  be  obtained  any- 
where in  the  northern  portion  of  the  city  in 
three  different  ways — by  using  the  well  pur- 
chased of  the  coal  company,  by  sinking  a 
large  surface  well  fifty  or  seventy  feet  deep, 
or  by  putting  down  two  or  three  tubular 
wells  about  three  hundred  feet  deep.  Any 
of  these  methods  will  furnish  water  in 
abundance ;  but  for  the  best  and  purest  water 
we  recommend  the  deep  tubular  wells,  as 
that  which  will  give  the  most  satisfactory 
results  for  the  least  money.  Of  the  various 
systems  of  water  works  in  use  the  "combined 
system"  of  direct  pressure  from  the  pump, 
together  with  an  elevated  tank,  would  be  the 
most  durable  and  economical  for  our  city. 
This  system  would  be  the  most  effective  in 
use,  least  expensive  to  operate,  and  the  first 
cost  to  protect  a  width  of  six  blocks  from 
north  to  south  through  the  business  portion 
of  the  city  would  not  exceed  $15,000.  Tais 
includes  sinking  the  wells,  pump,  tank,  power 
house,  etc.,  in  fact,  the  system  completed, 
tested  and  ready  to  be  received  by  the  city. 
Under  the  present  law  owing  to  the  low  val- 
uation of  the  city's  taxable  property  but 
$13,500  could  be  raised  by  bonds,  5  per  cent, 
of  the  valuation  being  the  limit  for  which  a 
city  can  bond  itself  for  water  works.  By 
raising  $1,500  additional  by  a  special  tax 
our  city  can  be  as  effectually  protected  as  any- 
city  can  be,  and  in  view  of  the  helpless  con- 
dition in  case  of  fire  at  present,  we  believe 
our  city  cannot  afford  to  be  longer  without 
this  aid. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


We  therefore  recommend  that  you  sub- 
mit the  question  to  a  vote  of  the  people,  plac- 
ing- the  cost  at  a  maximum  of  $15.000,  all  of 
which  is  unanimously  concurred  in  by  your 
committee.  Signed  by  all  members  of  com- 
mittee. 

The  council  postponed  action  on  the  re- 
port of  the  committee  and  nothing  more  was 
done  with  the  matter  for  nearly  a  year.  On 
September  2,  1890,  the  council  decided  "to 
proceed  to  buy  location  for  water  works  for 
city"  and  the  clerk  was  directed  to  advertise 
for  bids  for  sinking  a  six-inch  well.  It  was 
decided  to  buy  from  H.  E.  Huston  the  east 
half  of  lots  5  and  6  and  all  of  lot  7,  block  10, 
in  Rawlins'  addition  to  Monticello,  for 
$330,  as  a  location  for  well  and  plant. 

October  15,  1890,  the  contract  for  sink- 
ing the  well  was  let  to  the  J.  W.  Mohler 
Company  at  the  following  price:  First  100 
feet,  $2.25  per  foot;  next  50  feet,  $2.75  per 
foot,  and  from  150  to  500  feet,  $3.00  per 
foot.  The  well  was  finished  the  following 
spring  and  was  put  down  311  feet. 

On  October  13,  1891,  an  ordinance  was 
passed  providing  for  bonding  the  city  for 
$9,000  for  the  purpose  of  instituting  a 
waier-works  plant.  The  bonds  were  sold  to 
Parson,  Leach  &  Co. 

The  contract  for  the  construction  of  the 
water  works  plant  complete  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  pipe  lines  was  awarded  to  George 
Cadogan  Morgan  for  $10,450.  The  contract 
for  water  mains  laid  complete  with  all  con- 
nections was  awarded  to  Mueller  Plumbing 
and  Heating  Company  for  $12,890.  The 
work  was  completed  and  the  plant  installed 
in  1892. 

Later  an  eight-inch  well  209  feet  deep 
was  sunk.  The  water  in  each  well  stands 
within  twenty  feet  of  the  top  and  is  un- 
usually clear  and  pure.  The  working  valves 
of  the  pump  are  100  feet  down.  The  water 


f 

tower  is  seventy  feet  high  and  forty-one  feet 

in  circumference  at  the  base.  On  top  of  this 
is  the  stand-pipe,  fifty  feet  high,  twelve  feet 
in  diameter  at  base  and  ten  feet  at  top.  The 
tank  holds  about  36,000  gallons. 

The  water  is  first  pumped  into  a  reser- 
voir, which  holds  56,000  gallons,  and  is  forty 
feet  in  diameter.  On  the  eight-inch  well  is 
an  Aurora  pump  and  on  the  six-inch  well  a 
Cook  pump.  The  water  is  forced  from  the 
reservoir  by  a  Dean  pressure  pump.  The 
stroke  of  this  pump  is  fourteen  inches,  the 
plunger  is  eight  and  one-half  inches  in  diam- 
eter, and  the  steam  cylinder  ten  inches  in 
diameter.  The  pump  will  throw  600  gallons 
per  minute.  In  case  of  fire  the  water  is 
pumped  directly  into  the  main,  and  some  idea 
of  the  force  with  which  it  is  sent  may  be  ob- 
tained when  you  are  told  that  they  have  sent 
water  over  a  three-story  elevator  (Peck's)  at 
least  100  feet  away. 

There  are  two  seventy-five  horse-power 
boilers,  put  in  new  in  1899.  J.  J.  Bell  is  the 
city  engineer  and  has  been  for. the  past  two 
years.  William  Hodson  is  night  man. 

The  fire  company  was  organized  in  1893. 
It  is  a  very  efficient  organization  and  has 
done  excellent  work  for  the  city.  Perhaps 
the  worst  fire  it  has  ever  had  to  fight  was  the 
Peck  elevator  fire.  The  fire  originated  in  the 
upper  story  and  before  the  fire  company 
arrived  it  had  spread  over  nearly  the  whole 
roof,  and  it  seemed  impossible  to  save  the 
building.  The  boys  went  to  work  with  a 
will  and  in  a  short  time  had  the  fire  under 
control.  The  roof  had  to  be  replaced,  and 
quite  a  good  deal  of  •  repairs  made  on  the 
upper  story,  but  aside  from  this,  the  dam- 
ages to  the  building  by  fire  were  not  very 
great.  The  company  responds  readily  to  all 
calls  for  help  in  case  of  fire  and  is  worthy  of 
commendation. 

The  following  persons  compose  the  team 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


at  present:  John  Miller,  chief;  T.  A.  Tull, 
secretary ;  Scott  Tinsman,  Thomas  Widder- 
heim.  \\'ill  Fisher.  Will  Skelton,  Ben  Facius, 
Robert  Huhbard,  George  Peck,  Wade  Mitch- 
ell, Claude  Weaver,  R.  M.  Zybell  and  Sam- 
uel Cooper. 

TOWN    HALL. 

At  the  town  meeting  held  at  the  Baptist 
church  on  April  2,  1895.  Daniel  Hall  made 
the  following  motion,  which  was  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  $15,000  be 
raised  by  taxation  in  the  township  of  Monti- 
cello,  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  in  the  year  1894, 
for  the  purpose  of  buying  site  and  erecting 
thereon  a  town  hall  and  a  room  for  a  public 
library  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  said 
township. 

On  motion  of  J.  E.  Evans  the  moderator 
was  authorized  to  appoint  a  committee  of 
five  to  procure  a  site. and  to  proceed  to  erect 
thereon  a  town  hall  and  a  room  for  a  library. 
The  moderator,  Wm.  H.  Kratz,  appointed 
Caleb  A.  Tatman,  Frank  V.  Dilatush, 
George  F.  Rhoades.  James  L.  Allman,  Her- 
bert D.  Peters. 

The  committee  purchased  the  west  half 
of  cutlot  2.  original  town  of  Monticello,  as  a 
site  for  said  building  at  $1,500.  H.  D. 
Peters  resigned  and  J.  W.  Coleman  was 
chosen  in  his  place. 

The  (.riginal  plans  for  the  building  were 
drawn  by  Seely  Brown,  which  were  ac- 
cepted and  paid  for  by  the  committee,  who 
advertised  for  bids  for  the  erection  of  the 
house  according  to  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions. The  committee  considered  all  the  bids 
too  high  and  all  were  rejected.  The  con- 
tract for  the  building  was  let  July  13,  1896, 
to  Mr.  Gill,  who  drew  a  plan  similar  to  the 
original  one  made  by  Mr.-  Brown.  The  con- 
tract price  was  $13,000,  which  included 


everything  complete,  except  heating,  seating 
and  stage  fixtures.  The  building  was  com- 
pleted and  accepted  the  following  spring, 
at  the  town  meeting  held  April  6.  1897,  the 
committee  appointed  to  have  charge  of  the 
erection  of  the  building  was  dicharged  and 
the  building  was  turned  over  to  the  town 
board.  At  this  same  meeting,  on  motion  of 
C.  A.  Tatman,  the  chair  appointed  a  com- 
mittee of  six  to  act  as  a  library  committee  in 
all  matters  pertaining  to  the  Allerton  library. 
The  chairman  (W.  E.  Krebs)  appointed  C. 
A.  Tatman,  J.  W.  Coleman,  F.  V.  Dilatush. 
A.  C.  Thompson,  (i.  F.  Rhoades  and  James 
L.  Allman.  The  work  of  this  committee  is 
done  by  the  town  board,  which  at  the  present 
time  consists  of  the  following  persons :  H. 
P.  Harris,  supervisor ;  Albert  Hirt,  town 
clerk ;  M.  N.  Secrist  and  W.  J.  Porter,  jus- 
tices of  the  peace. 

The  Monticello  Cemetery  Association 
was  organized  May  2,  1873.  The  following 
were  its  first  officers :  President,  J.  W. 
Coleman;  secretary  and  treasurer,  H.  E. 
Huston ;  directors :  W.  E.  Lodge,  Charles 
Watts,  George  F.  Miller. 

Twenty  acres  of  ground  were  purchased 
about  a  mile  north  of  town  and  laid  out  on 
modern  landscape  plans.  This  work  was  in 
charge  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Coleman,  who  has  been 
president  and  superintendent  since  its  or- 
ganization. The  ground  was  well  chosen, 
being  broken,  thus  permitting  of  ornamenta- 
tion. Excellent  taste  has  l>een  displayed  in 
laying  off  the  grounds.  The  driveways  and 
walks  are  kept  in  excellent  condition,  and 
the  cemetery  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in 
the  State. 

On  the  highest  rise  a  large  block  has 
been  reserved  for  the  soldiers.  In  the  center 
of  this  is  a  tall  pole,  from  which  "Old 
Glory"  floats  on  Memorial  Day. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


The  financial  affairs  have  been  well  man- 
aged. Besides  the  original  twenty  acres  one 
tract  of  seven  acres  and  another  of  eight 
acres  have  been  added,  so  that  the  ground 
now  extends  to  the  Camp  Creek  road,  and  in 
all  are  thirty-five  acres — all  paid  for. 

There  are  something  over  one  thousand 
graves  in  the  cemetery. 

William  Milligan  has  had  the  care  of  the 
grounds  for  over  four  years  and  takes  great 
pride  in  keeping  them  in  order. 

The  present  officers  of  the  association  are 
as  follows  :  President,  Dr.  J.  W.  Coleman  ; 
secretary  and  treasurer,  A.  L.  Rodgers;  di- 
rectors :  S.  R.  Reed,  M.  Hazzard  and  W.  F. 
Lodge. 

FARMERS'  ELEVATOR. 

Steps  are  being  taken  to  form  a  Farmers' 
Grain  Company  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
an  elevator  and  shipping  their  own  grain.  A 
meeting  of  the  farmers  was  held  in  the  Tow'n 
Hall  July  6,  1903.  S.  H.  Minear  acted  as 
chairman  of  the  meeting.  The  matter  was 
discussed  and  W.  W.  Royer,  James  L.  All- 
man,  John  Salyers,  N.  P.  Kelley  and  J.  M. 
Smith  were  chosen  as  commissioners  to  ap- 
ply for  a  license  to  form  a  grain  company. 
It  was  voted  to  have  the  capital  stock  of  the 
company  $10,000,  shares  $50  each  and  limit 
ownerships  to  four  shares. 

Already  similar  companies  have  been 
formed  at  Bement,  Galesville,  Atwood, 
Lodge,  Voorhies. 

The  Allerton  library  was  founded  in 
1897  by  Agnes  C.  Allerton. 

Mrs.  Allerton  furnished  the  books,  furni- 
ture and  pictures.  At  first  there  were  2,500 
volumes.  Since  then  1,700  volumes  have 
been  added  and  the  total  number  now  is 
4.200. 

Monticello  township  furnishes  the  light, 
heat  and  salary  of  librarian. 


The  books  have  been  very  carefully  se- 
lected, the  reference  library  being  unusually 
good.  There  are  over  500  volumes  of  bound 
periodicals  and  the  following  magazines  are 
complete :  New  England,  Century  and  Har- 
per. All  who  live  in  the  township  are  en- 
titled to  the  privilege  of  the  library.  Those 
outside  may  have  the  privilege  of  the  library 
by  paying  $2.50  per  year. 

BANKS. 

The  first  bank  in  Monticello  was  started 
November  i,  1870,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Robert  Huston  &  Co.,  H.  V.  Moore  being 
one  of  the  firm.  In  1872  A.  J.  Dighton  was 
taken  in  as  a  partner  and  the  business  was 
done  under  the  firm  name  of  Huston, 
Moore  &  Dighton.  In  1878  A.  J.  Dighton 
died  and  the  business  was  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  Houston  &  Moore.  In  1880 
Mr.  Moore  bought  out  Mr.  Huston  and  the 
bank  was  run  by  H.  V.  Moore.  In  1883  W. 
H.  Plunk  became  interested  in  the  bank  and 
ever  since  it  has  been  conducted  under  the 
firm  name  of  H.  V.  Moore  &  Co.  It  does 
a  large  general  banking  business,  and  on  ac- 
count of  its  wise  and  conservative  manage- 
ment and  the  financial  standing  of  its  owners 
it  is  considered  one  of  the  safest  banking  in- 
stitutions in  the  State. 

In  November,  1883,  Dr.  William  Noeck- 
er  started  a  private  bank  in  the  room  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  First' National  Bank.  About 
six  years  later  George  A.  Stadler  was  taken 
in  as  a  partner  and  the  business  was  con- 
ducted under  the  firm  name  of  William 
Noecker  &  Co.  Later  John  N.  Dighton  came 
in  as  a  partner. 

On  December  15,  1892,  the  bank  became 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Monticello,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $100,000. 

The  following  were  the  officers:     Wil- 


PIATT    COUNTY, .  ILLINOIS. 


43 


liam  Noecker,  president;  John  N.  Dighton, 
vice-president;  O.  W.  Moore,  cashier;  Wil- 
liam Dighton,  assistant  cashier. ;  Directors  : 
William  Noecker,  J.  L.  Allman,  F.  V.  Dila- 
tush,  C.  A.  Tatman,  A.  C.  Thompson,  John 
Kirby,  J.  N.  Dighton,  W.  F.  Stevenson,  R. 
T.  Ayre. 

These  officers  were  continued  until  the 
death  of  William  Noecker  in  1897,  when  the 
following  officers  were  elected  and  are  the 
officers  of  the  institution  at  this  time : 

President,  John  N.  Dighton;  vice-presi- 
dent, William  Dighton.;  cashier,  O.  W. 
Moore;  assistant  cashier,  George  B.  Noecker. 
Directors :  J.  L.  Allman,  F.  V.  Dilatush, 
William  Dighton,  C.  A.  Tatman,  A.  C. 
Thompson,  John  Kirby,  J.  N.  Dighton,  W. 
F.  Stevenson,  R.  T.  Ayre. 

The  bank  was  remodeled  in  1899  and  a 
burglar-proof  steel-lined  vault  put  in.  It  is 
fitted  with  safety  deposit  boxes  and  other 
modern  steel  furniture. 

The  deposits  June  9,  1903,  were  $377,- 
474.06. 

The  Dighton-Dilatush  Loan  Company 
was  organized  October  31,  1900,  for  the 
purpose  of  making  real  estate  loans.  The 
capital  stock  of  the  company  is  $30,000. 

The  following  are  the  present  officers: 
President,  John  N.  Dighton;  vice-president, 
William  Dighton;  cashier,  F.  V.  Dilatush; 
assistant  cashier,  Frank  Hetishee. 

Directors:  John  N.  Dighton,  Willfam 
Dighton,  Frank  V.  Dilatush,  C.  J.  Bear,  H. 
L.  Timmons,  J.  M.  Bender,  W.  H.  Firke, 
E.  L.  Croninger  and  J.  S.  Ater. 

HARRINGTON    BROTHERS. 

For  about  twenty  years  Harrington 
Brothers  have  been  manufacturing  buggies. 
They  have  always  been  striving  to  make  the 


most  substantial  and  attractive  buggy  for 
the  least  money.  The  factory  was  erected 
in  1900  and  consists  of  a  two-story  brick, 
40x56,  and  a  three-story  frame  building, 
35x70.  All  together  the  factory  contains 
13,630  feet  of  floor  space.  There  is  a  well 
lighted  show  window.  The  factory  employs 
fifteen  hands. 

The  firm  makes  a  specialty  of  mail 
wagons  for  rural  routes.  The  body  of  the 
wagon  is  31x56,  covered  with  heavy  sail 
duck  and  well  painted.  The  interior  is  fitted 
with  suitable  desk,  with  six  letter-boxes  and 
six  paper  boxes  with  lock  and  stamp  drawer. 

The  Piatt  County  Loan  Association  was 
incorporated  March  26,  1886,  and  com- 
menced business  April  10,  1886.  Its  busi- 
ness has  been  managed  conservatively  and  it 
is  one  of  the  best  institutions  of  its  kind  in 
the  State.  It  never  loans  more  than  60  per 
cent,  of  its  appraised  value  on  a  new  build- 
ing or  50  per  cent,  on  an  old  one.  -As  a 
result  of  its  conservative  management  it  has 
never  had  a  foreclosure  in  its  seventeen 
years  of  business.  The  following  are  its 
officers : 

President,  H.  D.  Peters;  vice-president, 
W.  C.  Handlin;  treasurer,  O.  W.  Moore; 
secretary,  A.  L.  Rodgers.  Directors :  H.  D. 
Peters,  Willliam  P.  Smith,  J.  A.  Bender,  C. 

A.  Tatman,  W.  C.  Handlin,  C.  S.  Coe,  A. 

B.  Tinder,  Willliam  E.   Rodgers,    H.    N. 
Knight. 

The  total  assets  for  the  year  1902  were 
$98,994.02. 

This  association  has  done  a  great  deal 
of  good  for  Monticello  by  making  it  possible 
for  some  of  the  best  business  buildings  in 
the  town  to  be  erected 

It  has  not  only  helped  in  the  erection  of 
a  number  of  business  buildings  for  the  better 
accommodation  of  the  citizens  of  the  town, 


44 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


but  it  has  enabled  a  number  of  citizens  of 
limited  means  to  o\vn  their  own  homes  and 
has  thus  helped  to  improve  and  beautify  the 
city. 

ELEVATORS. 

The  first  grain  elevator  in  Monticello 
was  erected  in  1872  by  Piatt,  Hubtell  &  Co. 
In  1878  a  gristmill  was  connected  with  the 
elevator.  Later  it  was  made  into  a  corn  mill 
and  was  fitted  with  machinery  to  make  meal, 
grits,  hominy  and  corn  flour.  It  makes  a 
splendid  grade  of  meal  and  grinds  a  great 
deal  in  fall  and  winter  and  supplies  the  local 
trade  and  ships  a  great  deal  to  neighboring 
towns. 

In  1893  the  elevator  caught  on  fire.  The 
fire  originated  in  the  third  story,  and  when 
discovered  the  fire  had  broken  through  the 
roof.  The  fire  was  at  least  fifty  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  it  was  only  by  the  heroic 
efforts  of  the  fire  company  that  the  elevator 
was  saved.  A  great  deal  of  grain  is  shipped 
from  this  elevator  every  year. 

In  1876,  Knight  &  Tinder  erected  an  ele- 
vator on  the  then  Chicago  &  Pacific  Rail- 
road. This  elevator  was  destroyed  by  fire 
on  January  6,  1884.  A  new  one  was 
built  that  summer,  and  has  been  in  use 
to  the  present  time,  now  being  owned 
and  operated  by  E.  G.  Knight  &  Son. 
The  building  is  to  be  rebunilt  this  fall,  and 
a  modern  grain  elevator  put  up.  In  1900 
the  firm  put  up  a  modern  elevator  near 
the  Illinois  Central  railroad  track.  It 
is  conveniently  arranged  for  handling  grain, 
and  up-to-date  in  every  respect.  E.  G. 
Knight  has  been  in  the  grain  business  for 
thirty-four  years,  commencing  to  buy  grain 
in  Monticello  in  1869. 

TELEPHONES. 

The  first  telephones  in  Monticello  were 


•put  in  in  1895  by  the  Monticello  Mutual  Tel- 
ephone Company.  There  were  forty  share- 
holders in  the  company,  each  taking  a  phone, 
and  there  was  no  provision  made  for  renting 
the  phones  to  outside  parties.  In  1897  this 
company  became  merged  into  the  Piatt  Coun- 
ty Telephone  Company,  an  organized  stock 
company,  of  which  W.  F.  Lodge  has  the  con- 
trolling interest,  and  is  the  president  and 
general  manager.  The  owners  of  shares  in 
the  Mutual  Telephone  Company  surrendered 
them  for  so  much  telephone  service  rendered 
by  the  new  company. 

The  company  now  has  exchanges  in 
Monticello,  Bement  and  DeLand,  and  has  a 
number  of  farmers'  lines  connecting  with 
these  exchanges. 

HOTELS. 

The  Monticello  hotel  building  is  a  three- 
story  brick  building  near  the  square,  erected 
by  J.  C.  Johnson.  It  was  remodeled  and 
greatly  improved  in  1897,  and  furnished  with 
modern  conveniences.  Until  recently  it  has 
been  conducted  by  David  Deter  and  son. 

The  Sackriter  hotel  was  erected  in  1892. 
It  is  a  three-story  brick  near  the  square.  It 
is  provided  with  modern  hotel  equipment. 
The  proprietor,  Henry  Sackriter,  has  been 
in  the  hotel  business  since  1890. 

LIGHT     PLANT. 

The  Monticello  Light  and  Power  Com- 
pany was  organized  in  1891.  They  secured 
a  fifty-year  franchise  from  the  city  and 
erected  a  brick  power  house  west  of  the  Illi- 
nois Central  depot,  and  the  plant  was  started 
in  1892.  They  have  the  contract  from  the 
city  for  lighting  the  streets.  They  have  a 
forty  light  arc  machine,  each  light  being  2000 
candle  power. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


45 


For  residence  lighting  they  have  an  800 
light  alternating  incandescent  machine. 
There  are  two  60  H.  P.  boilers  and  a  120 
H.  P.  engine. 

It  is  a  stock  company  with  the  follow- 
ing officers  :  President.  C.  A.  Tatman ;  Sec- 
retary, J.  P.  Lodge;  Treasurer,  J.  N.  Digh- 
ton  ;  General  Manager,  W.  F.  Lodge. 

DIRECTORS. 

C.  A.  Tatman.  C.  J.  Bear,  W.  F.  Steven- 
son, \V.  F.  Lodge,  J.  P.  Lodge. 

PEPSIN  SYRUP  COMPANY. 

Pepsin  Syrup  Company  was  organized 
in  1893  by  C.  H.  Ridgely,  Dr.  W.  B.  Cald- 
well,  Harry  H.  Crea  and  others,  the  object 
being  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  Dr.  Cald- 
well's  Syrup  Pepsin. 

This  remedy  soon  became  popular  in  cen- 
tral Illinois,  and  the  field  of  operations  was 
gradually  enlarged.  Mr.  Crea  finally  se- 
cured a  controlling  interest  which  he  held  un- 
til June,  1899,  when  he  disposed  of  his  stock 
to  Allen  F.  Moore  and  A.  C.  Thompson. 
Mr.  Moore  is  president  and  manager  of  the 
company  and  Mr.  Thompson  is  vice-presi- 
dent. 

The  medicine  has  won  its  way  by  reason 
of  its  merit,  and  the  field  has  been  extended 
by  judicious  advertising  until  it  is  now  sold 
in  nearly  every  state  and  territory  in  the 
Union,  in  Mexico  and  Canada.  The  business 
has  shown  an  increase  every  year  since  the 
present  management  secured  control,  and  the 
future  prospects  of  the  company  are  very 
gratifying.  A. large  force  is  employed  in  the 
laboratory,  in  the  offices  and  on  the  road. 
The  company  now  imports  direct  several  of 
the  ingredients  of  the  medicine,  Egypt  and 


China  furnishing  two  of  the  articles  used  in 
its  manufacture. 

H.     D.     PETERS     COMPANY. 

The  business  of  H.  D.  Peters  Company, 
manufacturers  of  writing  tablets  and  cigars, 
is  an  off-shoot  of  the  printing  business  of  H. 
D.  Peters,  who,  for  eighteen  years,  was  pro- 
prietor and  editor  of  the  Piatt  County  Herald 
former  business  merging  into,  and  finally  su- 
perceding  the  latter.  This  firm  does  busi- 
ness over  the  larger  part  of  Illinois,  and 
some  in  Indiana,  keeping  constantly  em- 
ployed a  corps  of  traveling  men,  selling  their 
own  products.  From  a  sale  of  a  few  hun- 
dred dollars  of  tablets  a  year,  their  sales  now 
reach  three  to  four  carloads,  nearly  all  their 
own  product.  The  business  in  the  cigar  line 
has  also  increased  in  like  proportion.  This 
firm  still  conducts  a  printing  business,  having 
for  thirty  years  l>een  thus  continuously  en- 
gaged, making  it  the  oldest  printing  firm  do- 
ing business  in  the  county,  and  one  of  the 
oldest  in  the  state. 

From  a  room  18x30  feet  in  the  second 
story  of  the  Opera  building,  they  have  ex- 
panded to  a  building  of  three  rooms  29x90, 
with  a  warehouse  20x80,  with  urgent 
need  of  increased  room.  The  business  of  the 
firm  has  shown  a  steady  growth  from  its  in- 
ception, and  employing  constantly  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  people,  has  become  one 
of  the  leading  enterprises  of  the  city. 


MONTICELLO    CHURCHES 


THE      M.      E.      CHURCH. 

The  records  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Monticello  go  back  to  1843,    just 


46 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


two  years  after  the  county  was  created.  At 
that  time,  it  was  one  of  the  churches  on  the 
Monticello  circuit.  The  records  state  that 
the  First  Quarterly  Conference  was  held  No- 
vember 23,  1843,  witn  W.  B.  Trotter,  pre- 
siding elder,  and  Addison  Gadsid  pastor  in 
charge.  In  1844  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright  be- 
came presiding  elder.  He  was  a  noted  char- 
acter in  his  time,  and  a  man  of  great  personal 
influence.  The  first  church  building  was 
erected  in  1871,  while  James  C.  Buckner  was 
pastor.  It  was  a  frame  building,  and  stood 
where  Mr.  E.  W.  Lumsden  is  now  living. 
Later  they  built  a  parsonage  just  north  of 
the  church.  In  1857  a  great  revival  was  held 
and  four  hundred  came  into  the  church  on 
probation.  The  same  year  the  parsonage 
grounds  were  enlarged  and  fenced.  In  1859 
the  Camp  Creek  church,  then  on  this  circuit, 
was  built,  and  was  dedicated  by  Granville 
Moody,  of  Ohio. 

In  1861  a  bell  was  bought  by  the  Mite 
Society,  and  was  put  on  'a  foundation  be- 
tween the  church  and  parsonage.  In  the  next 
few  years  it  seems  that  the  church  became 
badly  disorganized.  Many  of  the  men  on  the 
circuit  went  to  the  war.  In  1865  a  big  re- 
vival was  held  and  there  were  127  accessions 
to  the  church.  That  same  year  the  church 
was  placed  in  the  Champaign  district. 

In  1868  the  Monticello  church  was  con- 
stituted a  station  with  Ira  Emerson  as  pastor. 
The  membership  was  138,  with  four  local 
preachers,  and  one  exhorter. 

In  1869  the  present  church  building  was 
commenced.  It  was  dedicated  December  17, 
1870,  by  Rev.  Hiram  Buck.  It  is  a  large, 
comfortable  brick  building  just  one  block 
from  the  square.  The  building  was  over- 
hauled this  spring,  papered  and  painted,  and 
is  now  in  good  condition. 

The  parsonage  was  built  in  1890.     It  is 


a  two-story  frame  building,  two  blocks  east 
of  the  church.  The  present  church  member- 
ship is  230.  Following  is  a  list  of  the  pas- 
tors: 

1843,  Addison  Gadsid ;  1844,  John  A. 
Brittenham;  1846,  L.  C.  Pitner;  1847,  James 
C.  Buckner;  1848,  I.  L.  Green;  1849,  W.  J. 
Newman  and  Joseph  Lane;  1850,  A.  Don- 
carloss;  1852,  William  C.  Blundell;  1854, 
Christian  Arnold;  1856,  Miles  A.  Wright; 
1857,  Edward  Rutledge;i859,  A.  B.  Garner; 
1861,  Isaac  Grove;  1863,  D.  P.  Lyon;  1865, 
James  B.  Hoots;  1867,  James  T.  Orr;  1868, 
Ira  Emerson;  1870,  W.  H.  H.  Adams;  1872, 
P.  C.  Carroll;  1873,  George  M.  Fortune; 
1874,  I.  Villars;  1875,  Mr.  Everhart;  1876, 
J.  Montgomery;  1877,  J.  A.  Muse;  1878, 
David  Gay;  1879,  G.  S.  Alexander;  1882, 
E.  A.  Hamilton;  1885,  P.  N.  Minear;  1887, 
G.  D.  Dubois;  1889,  J.  D.  Frye;  1890,  M.  S. 
McCoy;  1892,  J.  S.  Wolforth;  1894,  James 
Foxworthy;  1897,  W.  S.  .Calhoun;  1900,  J. 
H.  Waterbury ;  1902,  J.  S.  Dancey,  present 
pastor. 

PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH. 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Monticello 
was  organized  in  1842  by  Rev.  Joseph  Ad- 
ams with  ten  members,  as  follows :  James 
Huston,  Sarah  Huston,  Mary  Neyhart, 
Archibald  Moffitt,  Samuel  Moffitt,  James  J. 
Patterson,  Anna  Patterson,  Elizabeth  Young 
Hugh  O'Neal  and  Mary  O'Neal.  .'.'. 
by  letter  from  some  other  church.  The  early 
years  of  the  church  seem  to  have  been  very 
discouraging  ones.  For  several  years  it  was 
without  a  pastor,  both  its  elders  died,  and 
the  membership  was  reduced  by  deaths  and 
removals.  To  Rev.  John  Huston  belongs 
the  honor  of  being  the  real  founder  of  the 
church.  He  labored  faithfully  for  the- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


47 


church,  enduring  hardships  and  making  sac- 
rifices, such  as  few  men  would  make.  He 
preached  here  for  about  six  years,  spending 
part  of  his  time  in  the  country  churches  near 
Monticello.  Under  his  leadership  the  church 
membership  was  increased,  and  the  church 
put  on  a  better  basis. 

In  1871  the  present  church  building  was 
erected.  It  is  a  frame  house  35  by  60  feet, 
with  brick  foundation.  It  was  built  under 
the  supervision  of  Architect  J.  M.  Combs, 
and  cost  about  four  thousand  dollars. 

In  1866  the  church  built  a  two  story 
frame  parsonage  just  south  of  the  church  at 
a  cost  of  $1150.  In  August,  1900,  the 
church  bought  lots  in  the  block  south  of  the 
square  for  $2,050  from  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
Lewis  and  W.  E.  Lodge.  They  expect  to 
erect  a  church  building  on  these  lots  in  the 
near  future. 

Following  is  a  list  of  pastors :  Joseph 
Adams;  R.  H.  Lilly;  1858-1864,  John  Hus- 
ton: 1865-1867,  T.  P.  Emerson;  1867-1869, 
J.  H.  Densmore;  1869-1872,  S.  A.  Hummer; 
1874-1876,  W.  R.  Glen;  1876-1880,  A.  F. 
Ashley;  1881-1884,  M.  P.  Ormsby;  1884, 
Rev.  Coyle;  1885-1887,  Fred  L.  Forbes; 
1887-1889.  Maurice  Waller;  1890-1893, 
Daniel  E.  Long;  1894-1898,  M.  E.  Todd; 
1898,  H.  G.  Gleiser. 


LODGES. 


MASONIC   ORDER. 


Fraternal  Lodge  No.  58,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 
was  organized  in  1848,  with  the  following 
charter  members:  Peter  K.  Hall,  Master; 


William  Laforge,  S.  W. ;  R.  Carlyle,  J.  W. ; 
J.  J.  Patterson,  William  Marquiss,  John  P. 
Tenbrook  and  J.  C.  Johnson.  The  lodge  owns 
the  hall  over  the  First  National  Bank,  and 
has  very  pleasant  rooms.  The  regular  com- 
munications of  the  lodge  are  held  the  Satur- 
day of  each  month,  on  or  before  the  full 
moon.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  W. 
M.,  J.  E.  Evans;  S.  W.,  J.  T.  Vent;  J.  W., 
Carl  S.  Reed;  Treasurer,  H.  Sackriter;  Sec- 
retary, R.  I.  Tatman;  S.  D.,  A.  H.  Wild- 
man;  J.  D.,  B.  F.  Craig;  S.  S.,  W.  J.  Brit- 
ton;  J.  S.,  G.  R.  Dawson;  Chap.,  A.  T.  Pi- 
pher;  Marshall,  L.  B.  Tinder;  Tyler,  John 
Lohr. 

Maxwell  Chapter  No.  48,  R.  A.  M.  was 
organized  January  25,  1859,  with  the  follow- 
ing members :  Peter  K.  Hall,  H.  P. ;  James 
J.  Patterson,  King;  A.  G.  Boyer,  Scribe; 
Wm.  Noecker,  C.  H. ;  B.  Cassell,  P.  S. ; 
James  A.  Hill,  R.  A.  C. ;  Charles  Watts,  G. 
M.  3d  V. ;  Wm.  T  Foster,  G.  M.  2nd  V. ; 
L.  J.  Bond,  G.  M.  ist  V.;  Charles  Watts, 
Secretary ;  John  Mosgrove,  Treasurer .  M. 
M.  Harshbarger,  Sent. ;  Members,  J.  O. 
Sparks,  F.  E.  Bryant,  T.  T.  Pettit,  Charles 
Marquiss,  and  S.  H.  Bender.  The  stated 
convocations  are  held  Thursday,  on  or  before 
the  full  moon  each  month.  The  officers  are 
as  follows:  H.  P.,  A.  T.  Pipher;  R.  A.  C, 
J.  M.  Woolington;  King,  R.  T.  Ayre;  M. 
of  3d  V.,  John  V.  Ayre;  Scribe,  Henry  Mar- 
tin ;  M.  of  2nd  V.,  A.  H.  Wildman ;  C.  of  H., 
J.  E.  Evans,  (deceased);  M.  of  ist  V.,  C. 
A.  Tatman;  P.  S.,  F:  A.  Odernheimer; 
Treasurer,  H.  Sackriter;  Secretary,  G.  A. 
Burgess;  Sentinel,  William  Worsley. 

Monticello  Council  No.  27,  R.  and  S.  M. 
was  organized  August  31,  1866,  with  the 
following  charter  members :  A.  T.  Pipher, 
T.  I.  G.  M. ;  Charles  Watts,  D.  G.  G.  M. ;  J. 
C.  Johnson,  P.  C.  W. ;  E.  P.  Fisher,  M.  of 


48 


PAST    AND   -PRESENT. 


E. ;  L.  J.  Bond,  Recorder;  Wm.  Noecker,  C. 
of  G. ;  X.  Haneline,  C.  of  C. ;  J.  A.  Piatt,  Sen 
tinel.  The  stated  assembly  is  held  on  Thurs- 
day after  the  full  moon  of  each  month.  The 
present  members  are  as  follows :  T.  I.  M., 
A.  T.  Pipher:  I.  D.  M.,  G.  F.  Miller;  P.  C. 
W..  \Y.  J.  Britton;  Treasurer,  H.  Sackriter; 
Recorder,  G.  A.  Burgess;  C.  of  G..  R.  T. 
Ayre:  C.  of  C.,  J.  E.  Evans  :  Steward,  Henry 
Martin :  Sentinel,  William  Worsley. 

I.     O.     O.     F. 

Selah  Lodge,  No.  403,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was 
instituted  August  26,  1869,  with  the  follow- 
ing charter  members :  A.  T.  Pipher,  James 
C.  Harrington,  \V.  D.  Shultz,  Michael  Haz- 
zard.  Jacob  McClain,  Pierre  Hahn.  The  first 
officers  of  the  lodge  were  as  follows:  A.  T. 
Pipher,  N.  G. ;  James  C.  Harrington,  V.  G. ; 
W.  D.  Shultz,  Recording  Secretary;  Michael 
Hazzard.  Treasurer. 

The  lodge  owns  lots  and  a  store  building 
on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  square  which 
were  purchased  of  H.  E.  Huston  for  $1,500. 

The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  as 
follows:  N.  G.,  George  A.  Lindsley ;  V.  G., 
John  Fitzwater ;  Recording  Secretary,  Hor- 
ace Meacham ;  Financial  Secretary,  D.  X. 
Kemper;  Treasurer,  C.  Wengenwroth. 

The  encampment  branch  of  the  order  was 
organized  July  9,  1873,  with  the  following 
charter  members :  Joseph  T.  Van  Gundy, 
Wm.  E.  Smith.  James  Houselman,  Louis 
Katz,  John  Kousho,  Henry  Sackriter  and 
James  C.  Harrington.  The  first  officers  were 
as  follows :  Joseph  T.  Van  Gundy,  C.  P. ; 
Louis  Katz,  H.  P. ;  James  C.  Harrington,  S. 
W. ;  James  Houselman,  J.  W. ;  W.  E.  Smith. 
Scribe ;  John  Kousho.  Treasurer.  The  lodge 
is  known  as  Fraternal  Encampment  No.  145, 
and  meets  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  the  first 


and  third  Mondays  of  each  month.  John 
Fitzwater  is  C.  1':  J.  M.  Woolington,  Scribe 
and  H.  C.  Harrington,  Treasurer. 

K.    OF    P. 

The  K.  of  P.  lodge  in  Monticello  was  in- 
stituted October  17,  1889,  with  the  follow- 
ing charter  members:  A.  J.  Woolingtoii, 
George  A.  Stoddler,  F.  L.  Farra,  G.  T. 
Priestly,  E.  W.  Walker.  W.  A.  Miller.  W.  A. 
Smock.  A.  M.  Thorp,  (deceased).  W.  I.  \v  i- 
koff,  W.  S.  Miller,  J.  D.  Knott.  ll  S.  Hill, 
(deceased),  G.  ,N.  Snapp,  M.  M.  Holmes,  C. 
G.  Schofield,  A.  V.  Washington.  S.  B.  E\v- 
ing,  C.  Hughes,  H.  Lure,  J.  E.  Marquiss, 
J.  A.  Bender,  A.  Fithian,  H.  H.  Crea  and 
C.  E.  Rhoades.  The  lodge, is  now  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition.  The  present  officers  are  as 
follows:  C.  C.,  A.  C.  Edie:  V.  C..  D.  C. 
Kelly;  K.  R.  and  S.,  O.  L.  Markel ;  M.  of 
E.,  George  Fisher;  M.  of  F.,  S.  J.  Minear. 


CHAPTER  V. 


EARLY     SETTLEMENT     BY     TOWNSHIP 
BEMENT. 

The  first  settlement  in  Bement  township 
was  made  about  1854  by  Wm.  Bailey.  In 
the  summer  of  the  same  year,  Bement  was 
surveyed,  the  land  at  that  time  belonging  to 
Mr.  Joseph  Bodman.  The  first  settlers  in 
the  town  were  Joseph  Bodman,  J.  H.  Camp. 
J.  M.  Cam]).  William  Ellise,  T.  T.  Pettit 
and  Marion  Pettit.  The  lumber  for  the  first 
house  was  hauled  from  Champaign.  It  was 
erected  in  1855  '>v  T.  T.  Pettit  and  J.  M. 
Camp,  and  was  owned  by  Joseph  Bodman. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


49 


The  house  stood  just  west  of  the  present 
brick  hotel  building.  The  second  house  was 
built  west  of  the  first  one.  Mr.  Force  and 
wife  came  to  Bement  in  1855.  For  awhile 
they  boarded  in  Monticello.  In  the  spring 
of  1856,  they  moved  into  the  third  house 
ever  built  in  "Dement.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aaron 
Yost  cfime  to  Bement  in  1856,  built  a  house, 
but  soon  moved  on  a  farm  north  of  town. 
Mr.  I!.  (1.  Hopkins  moved  on  a  farm  west  of 
Bement.  since  known  as  the  Elihu  Fisher 
farm.  F.  E.  Bryant  moved  to  Bement  in 
i8=;6,  and  run  the  first  store.  He  erected  the 
first  brick  building  in  the  town.  The  first, 
hotel'  was  built  in  1857,  called  the  Sherman 
house.  It  stood  on  the  main  street  of  the 
the  town,  but  on  the  erection  of  the  Masonic 
building,  it  was  moved  back  on  the  corner 
where  the  Christian  church  now  stands,  and 
remained  there  until  moved  away  to  give 
room  for  the  handsome  church  building.  The 
Pennsylvania  hotel,  afterwards  known  as  the 
Thomas  House,  and  kept  for  a  number  of 
years  by  Royal  Thomas,  was  built  in  1888. 
and  is  still  standing.  At  that  time  there  were 
no  sidewalks  in  the  town,  and  no  trees,  thus 
presenting  a  very  marked  contrast  to  the 
beautiful  shaded  streets  and  substantial  side- 
walks of  the  present  time. 

The  first  bank  in  the  town  was  owned 
by  Milmine  and  Boclman. 

The  M.  E.  church  was  organized  in  1858 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Edward  Rut- 
ledge,  a  minister  on  the  Monticello  circuit. 
The  meetings  were  first  held  in  the  school- 
house,  and  afterward  in  Bryant's  Hall.  The 
first  church  was  erected  in  1864,  and  was 
dedicated  in  October,  by  Rev.  Hiram  Buck. 
In  1865.  Bement  was  detached  from  the 
Monticello  circuit,  and  with  Milmine  and 
Cerro  Gordo  formed  a  new  circuit.  In  1867 
Bement  was  constituted  a  circuit  and  Rev. 


H.  S.  Tryon  was  the  first  pastor.  The  par- 
sonage was  erected  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of 
$l,6OG. 

The  Christian  church  was  organized  in 
1862.  The  first  church  building  was  erected 
in  1 867,  and  cost  about  $800.  T>he  building 
stood  where  the  present  brick  hotel  now 
stands.  This  lot  was  afterward  sold  and  a 
handscme  modern  building  erected. 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  organized 
in  1868.  with  eight  members.  The  church 
was  built  in  the  early  /o's.  In  1880  a  storm 
blew  down  the  church  steeple  and  belfry,  and 
by  noon  the  next  day  $200  was  subscribed 
for  its  repair.  The  church  owns  a  handsome 
parsonage,  costing  about  $1,700. 

The  Catholic  church  was  built  in  1866, 
at  a  cost  of  $2,100.  This  was  connected  with 
the  church  at  Ivesdale  for  a  time.  A  hand- 
some residence  for  the  priest  has  been  erected 
just  north  of  the  church. 

The  Bement  Lodge,  No.  365  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.  was  chartered  October  i,  1861  ;  Be- 
ment Chapter.  No.  65,  Royal  Arch  Masons 
October  7,  1864.  The  Masonic  building  was 
erected  in  1876.  The  Irwin  Lodge,  No.  344, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  was  chartered  October,  1867. 

There  is  also  a  K.  of  P.  lodge  organized 
recently  that  is  now  in  a  very  prosperous 
condition. 

The  Haldeman  mill  was  erected  in  1868 
by  Horace  and  William  Haldeman.  and  G. 
C.  Nichols,  and  did  a  flourishing  business  for 
many  years.  A  few  years  ago  the  building 
was  sold  to  the  Farmers'  Elevator  Co..  and 
the  machinery  shipped  away. 

In  1890  a  stock  company  put  in  a  three 
hundred  electric  light  plant.  \Y.  J.  Day  has 
been  manager  and  superintendent  of  the 
plant  since  it  was  started.  At  first  the  Halde- 
man mills  furnished  the  motive  power  for  the 
plant,  but  in  180,6  they  erected  a  power  house 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


of  their  own  just  north  of  the  brick  hotel. 
They  now  have  about  800  lights. 

A  system  of  city  water-works  was  put 
in  about  1893.  In  1900  a  handsome  new 
brick,  school  building'  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  $27,000. 

Population  in  1890,  1,129;  m  1900, 
1,484. 

Bement  has  a  very  creditable  newspaper, 
the  Bement  Register,  publishd  by  M.  O. 
Curry. 

Bement  is  an  important  railroad  center, 
being  a  division  point  of  the  Wabash.  The 
Wabash  have  recently  put  down  a  big  well, 
and  most  of  their  engines  on  these  runs  take 
water  and  coal  here. 

UNITY    TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  settlers  in  Unity  township  were 
the  Monroes,  Shonkwilers,  Harshbargers 
and  Moores  who  settled  on  Lake  Fork  about 
1836  or  1837.  The  first  village  in  the  town- 
ship was  a  little  settlement  started  by  Mr. 
McNutt,  and  hence  called  Mackville,  Here 
Mr.  McNutt  kept  a  small  store,  and  supplied 
the  early  settlers  with  the  few  "store  goods" 
which  they  used.  The  first  church  in  the 
township  was  erected  in  1858,  and  the  first 
school  was  taught  the  same  year.  Dr. 
Mitchell  was  the  first  regular  physician  of 
the  place.  Mackville,  at  one  time,  was  a  fair 
sized  town,  but  when  the  railroad  was  put 
through,  the  town  of  Atwood  was  started, 
and  Mackville  commenced  to  go  down. 

Atwood  was  laid  out  in  1873  on  'and 
owned  by  Mr.  Levi  Budd.  The  first  house 
in  the  place  was  a  store  building  erected  in 
1873  by  Richard  Hetton  and  David  Barrett. 
They  each  moved  a  dwelling  house  over  from 
Mackville,  and  these  became  the  first  resi- 
dences of  the  town.  L.  C.  Taylor  was  the 


first  postmaster  at  Atwood,  Dr.  Bennerfield 
the  first  physician,  and  Joseph  Moore  kept 
the  first  hotel. 

The  Christian  church  of  Atwood  was 
dedicated  August  15,  1880,  by  Rev.  John  T. 
Phillips.  The  M.  E.  church  was  built  at 
Mackville,  and  dedicated  in  1872,  but  moved 
to  Atwood  in  1882.  The  Baptist  church  was 
dedicated  March  18,  1893. 

Atwood  has  strong  Masonic  and  Odd 
Fellow  lodges.  The  town  of  Atwood  is 
partly  in  Piatt  county  and  partly  in  Douglas, 
the  main  street  of  the  town  being  the  county 
line  road  between  the  two  counties.  The 
population  of  the  town  on  the  Piatt  side  was 
320  in  1890,  and  403  in  1800.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  entire  town  was  530  in  1890  and 
698  in  1900. 

Hammond- was  laid  out  in  1873.  The 
first  house  in  the  town  was  a  grain-office 
built  near  where  Evans  and  Bunyans'  lum- 
ber yard  is  now  located.  Alonzo  Newton 
put  up  and  kept  the  first  store  in  the  town, 
and  also  erected  the  first  residence.  Mr.  J. 
M.  Wortham  opened  a  store  in  1873,  and  is 
still  in  business  in  the  place,  occupying  a 
handsome  corner  brick  store  built  recently. 
M.  D.  Cook  was  the  first  postmaster  and 
kept  the  first  drug  store.  W.  R.  Evans  had 
the  first  hardware  store,  George  Ragland 
was  the  first  blacksmith  and  Dr.  Abrams  was 
the  first  physician  of  the  place. 

The  M.  E.  church  was  organized  in  1876 
and  dedicated  the  first  church  in  the  town  in 
1882.  The  Christian  church  was  organized 
in  1877  and  dedicated  their  building  in  1883. 
The  Baptists  have  recently  dedicated  a  hand- 
some new  church.  The  hotel  was  built  by 
W.  H.  Lewis,  of  Lovington,  in  1874.  The 
first  bank  in  Hammond  was  conducted  by  S. 
F.  Musson  in  1895.  In  1899  a  modern  brick 
bank  building  was  erected,  now  owned  by 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


the  State  Bank  of  Hammond.  T.  J.  Kizer 
is  president,  O.  D.  Noe,  vice  president  and 
J.  A.  Vent,  cashier.  The  depots  were  built 
in  1895.  T.  J.  Kizer's  large  grain  elevator 
was  built  in  1881.  The  population  of  the 
village  in  1900  was  481. 

The  town  of  Pierson  was  laid  out  in 
1 88 1.  The  postoffice  was  started  in  1877, 
and  Francis  F.  Flack  was  the  first  postmast- 
er. The  postoffice  was  called  Dry  Ridge  at 
first,  and  changed  to  present  name  later.  The 
Baptist  church  was  dedicated  in  1881.  The 
Christian  church  was  dedicated  in  1903. 

The  churches  in  the  country  are  as  fol- 
lows :  The  Harshbarger  church,  about  four 
miles  north  of  Atwood,  the  oldest  church  in 
the  county ;  the  Antioch  church,  built  in 
1864;  a  Christian  church  about  six  miles 
northwest  of  Atwood  and  the  Prairie  Chapel 
church,  a  Christian  church  built  in  1891, 
about  a  mile  east  of  Voorhies. 

I 

CERRO     GORDO     TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  settlers  in  Cerro  Gordo  town- 
ship were  the  Cunninghams,  who  settled 
north  of  La  Place.  The  first  who  settled  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Cerro  Gordo  were  the 
Howells,  who  came  in  before  the  railroad 
was  built.  After  the  railroad  was  completed 
the  settlers  came  in  rapidly.  The  first  town 
called  Griswold,  but  when  the  postoffice  was 
moved  from  north  of  town  on  what  was 
known  as  the  "Gordy  Beck"  place  (on  the 
stage  line  between  Monticello  and  Decatur), 
the  name  of  the  postoffice  came  with  it,  and 
the  place  was  called  Cerro  Gordo  instead  of 
Griswold.  The  first  house  in  the  town  was 
the  section  house  for  the  railroad  hands. 
Andrew  McKinney  put  up  the  first  dwelling. 
and  he  and  A.  L.  Rodgers  conducted  the 
first  general  merchandise  store  in  the  town. 


John  Prosser  was  the  first  physician  and 
John  Fields  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the 
town.  The  first  school  building  was  erected 
in  1866,  and  the  first  church  in  1857. 

The  Presbyterian  church  of  this  place 
was  organized  in  Willow  Branch  township, 
but  most  of  its  members  moved  into  Cerro 
Gordo.  The  church  building  was  erected 
about  1860.  Originally,  the  congregation 
\vas  large,  but  the  membership  is  small  at 
present. 

The  M.  E.  church  building  was  erected 
about  1866  by  Mr.  John  Smith,  and  dedi- 
cated by  Rev.  Hiram  Buck.  In  recent  years 
a  handsome  modern  church  building  has  been 
erected,  and  the  church  is  in  good  condition. 

The  German  Baptist  church  was  built  in 
1878,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000,  and  was  do- 
nated together  with  the  ground  on  which 
it  stands,  by  Mr.  Metzger. 

An  electric  light  plant  was  installed  in 
the  place  in  1903. 

Cerro  Gordo  has  never  had  a  saloon,  and 
the  moral  sentiment  of  the  town  is  high.  It 
is  an  almost  ideal  residence  town. 

It  is  in  the  center  of  a  very  rich  farming 
and  stock  country,  and  a  great  deal  of  grain 
and  stock  is  shipped  from  here. 

Population  in  1890,  939;  in  1900,  1,008. 

LAPLACE. 

LaPlace  was  laid  off  in  1873,  and  was 
named  by  G.  W.  Stoner.  The  first  house 
built  in  the  town  was  the  hotel  erected  in 
1874.  Jacob  Reedy  was  the  first  postmaster 
of  the  town,  Dr.  Pierson  the  first  physician. 
The  M.  E.  church  was  organized  in  the  fall 
of  1874.  The  church  building  was  erected 
in  1877.  The  two-room  school  building  was 
erected  in  1884,  and  a  two-room  addition  to 
this  in  1903.  The  John  S.  Ater  Bank  was- 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


started  there  several  years  ago.  The  country 
around  LaPlace  is  very  fine  farming  coun- 
try and  a  great  deal  of  grain  is  marketed 
each  year.  There  is  a  strong  lodge  of  Odd 
Fellows  who  own  a  two-story  brick  building 
with  lodge  room  above. 

MILMINE. 

Milmine  was  originally  called  Farns- 
worth.  and  was  laid  out  by  Enos  Farns- 
wcrth,  who  put  up  the  first  residence  in  the 
town.  Mr.  Farnsworth  sold  the  plat  to  Mil- 
mine  and  Kerns.  Milmine  and  Boclman 
opened  the  first  store,  which  was  run  by  E. 
B.  Sprague.  The  first  postoffice  was  kept  by 
Hiram  Barber,  and  was  called  Milmine.  a 
name  now  given  to  the  town. 

The  school  building  was  erected  in  1872. 
It  is  a  two-story  brick  building. 

The  Christian  church  was  organized  in 
1879.  They  have  a  very  nice  comfortable 
church.  The  Church  of  God  also  has  an 
organization,  and  a  good  building. 

A  bank  was  started  in  Milmine  in  1903. 

There  are  two  large  elevators  and  a  great 
deal  of  grain  is  shipped  from  this  place. 

Lintner  is  a  small  station  in  this  town- 
ship on  the  I.  D.  &  W.  railroad.  It  was 
named,  from  William  Lintner,  of  Decatur. 
who  formerly  owned  a  great  deal  of  land  in 
that  vicinity.  It  has  a  general  store,  a  grain 
elevator,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  several 
dwellings.  It  is  a  good  grain  market. 

Burrowsville  is  a  postoffice  two  miles 
east  of  Lintner.  It  has  a  grain  elevator  and 
a  store. 

WILLOW   BRANCH. 

Willow  Branch  township  claims  the  dis- 
tinction of  having  the  first  brick  house  ever 
built  in  the  county.  As  early  as  1842.  Mr. 
( 'icorge  \Yidich  made  brick  near  Monticello. 


Some  of  the-  first  settlers  in  the  township 
were  the  Aters,  Pecks,  Armsworths,  YYm. 
Madden.  John  West.  S.  D.  Havely,  Michael 
Dillow,  George  Widick.  Peter  Croninger 
and  Henry  Adams. 

Cisco  is  the  only  village  in  the  township 

E.  F.  Dallas  was  the  first  grain  merchant  in 
the  town.  Dr.  Caldwell  now  of  Monticello. 
practiced   medicine  here    for   several    years. 
Washington    Xebaker    kept    the    first     dry 
goods  store:  Walker  and  Carter,    the    first 
hardware  store.     James  Click  was  the  first 
blacksmith  and  J.  B.  Hamilton  was  the  first 
druggist.     The  village  of  Cisco  was  platted 
April  24,   1874,  by  Hiram  Dodge,  Erastus 

F.  Dallas,   Abraham   Runkle    and    Thomas 
Watson. 

A  modern  M.  E.  church  building  was 
erected  there  recently.  Cisco  has  a  bank,  two 
large  grain  elevators  and  a  number  of  busi- 
ness houses.  It  has  grown  quite  rapidly  in 
last  two  or  .three  years.  The  town  has  one 
paper,  the  Cisco  Press. 

The  first  cabin  on  Goose  Creek  was  built 
where  George  Varner  now  lives.  The  early 
settlers  were  the  Olneys.  Abraham  Marquiss, 
Ezra  Marquiss,  Sr..  Wm.  Piatt  and  wife, 
Mr.  Welch  and  Mr.  Hubbart. 

The  only  village  in  the  township  is  De- 
Land,  where  a  great  deal  of  business  is  done. 
The  village  was  laid  out  by  Thomas  Bondur- 
ant  in  1873.  S.  C.  Langdon  owned  the  first 
dwelling  house  in  DeLancl.  R.  B.  Moody 
and  John  Vail  built  a  store  in  1873.  Dr.  J. 
A.  Davis  was  the  first  physician. 

DeLand  has  two  banks,  two  grain  ele- 
vators, and  some  good  substantial  business 
houses.  The  population  of  the  village  in 
1900  was  411. 

BLUE    RIDGE. 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  Blue  Ridge 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


53 


township  are  the  following :  William  Pierce, 
Richard  Webb,  Jacob  Denning,  Joseph  Aik- 
ens,  Xoah  Coffman,  Mr.  Gillespie,  Lafayette 
Cox,  James  Watson,  Mr.  Keenan,  Thomas 
Brothers. 

The  town  of  Mansfield  was  laid  out  in 
1870  by  Gen.  J.  L.  Mansfield,  and  named 
in  his  honor.  The  first  church  building  was 
an  Episcopal  church  erected  in  1873.  The 
Wabash  and  Big  Four  Railroads  cross  at 
this  place.  It  is  a  good  grain  market  and 
thousands  of  bushels  of  grain  are  marketed 
here  each  year.  It  has  two  banks.  The  bus- 
iness part  of  the  town  is  well  improved, 
there  being  some  modern  brick  store  build- 
ings. The  Odd  Fellows  own  a  very  nice 
building  here.  The  population  in  1890  was 
533 :  in  1900,  708. 

SANGAMON. 

Sangamon  township  was  one  of  the  early 
ones  settled.  Among  the  early  settlers  may 


be  mentioned  the  following :  Mrs.  Nancy 
Ingram,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanline,  Mr.  Wright, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Souders,  Oulreys,  Maddens, 
Mackeys,  Coons  and  Argos. 

Centerville  is  the  oldest  town  in  the 
township,  and  was  started  by  Mr.  Archibald 
Moffett.  who  built  the  first  house.  The  town 
was  laid  out  and  named  about  1850. 

White  Heath  was  laid  out  in  1872.  The 
land  was  owned  by  Mr.  Frank  White  and 
was  bought  by  Mr.  Heath,  hence  the  name. 
James  Webster  erectetd  the  first  dwelling. 
Miss  Frank  and  Mr.  Vin  Williams  put  up 
the  first  hotel  and  opened  the  first  store  in 
the  place.  Dr.  Unangst  was  the  first  physi- 
cian. 

The  town  of  Galetville  was  first  called 
Calef's  Station  and  was  changed  to  the  pres- 
ent one  in  honor  of  Mr.  Calef's  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Gale.  The  first  store 
building  was  erectetd  in  1876  by  Mr.  Calef, 
and  the  first  residence  was  built  and  occupied 
by  John  Donlan. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


J.  C.  LANGLEY. 

J.  C.  Langley  is  the  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Mansfield.  Although  yet 
a  young  man  he  occupies  a  prominent  and 
influential  position  in  business  circles,  and 
one  may  safely  predict  for  him  a  successful 
future  because  he  possesses  laudable  ambi- 
tion and  enterprise  which  are  indispensable 
elements  of  business  advancement.  Mr. 
Langley  was  born  in  Mansfield  on  the  26th 
of  September,  1873,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew 
J.  and  Celia  A.  (Curtis)  Langley,  who  are 
residents  of  Blue  Ridge  township,  Piatt 
county.  Both  the  father  and  mother  are  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  and  after  their  mar- 
riage they  came  to  Piatt  county  in  1865,  be- 
coming pioneer  settlers  of  this  section  of  the 
state.  The  subject  of  this  review  is  the 
third  in  a  family  of  four  living  sons. 

Reared  upon  the  home  farm  in  Blue 
Ridge  township,  James.  C.  Langley  attended 
the  public  schools  and  afterward  entered  the 
University  of  Indiana,  where  he  pursued  a 
literary  and  also  a  business  course,  being 
graduated  in  that  institution  with  the-  class 
of  1890.  In  the  same  year  after  his  comple- 
tion of  his  collegiate  course,  Mr.  Langley  en- 
tered the  Mansfield  Bank,  and  later  became 
cashier  of  the  Commercial  Bank  of  Mans- 
field. Throughout  his  business  career  he 
has  been  identified  with  financial  interests 
and  thoroughly  understands  the  banking 
business  in  every  department.  On  leaving 
the  Commercial  Bank  he  became  cashier  and 
afterward  second  vice  president  of  the  State 


Bank  of  Mansfield,  and  in  1902  he  resigned 
his  position  there  and  opened  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  this  city,  which  is  capitalized 
for  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  Its  offi- 
cers are  William  D.  Fairbanks,  president; 
Andrew  J.  Langley,  vice  president;  J.  C. 
Langley,  cashier;  and  H.  P.  Gladden,  teller. 
The  directors  of  the  bank  are  John  N. 
Darst,  John  Gardiner,  William  DeGrofft, 
James  Caldwell,  Joseph  Seitner,  in  addition 
to  the  three  officers  mentioned.  Although 
the  existence  of  the  bank  covers  a  compara- 
tively brief  period  it  has  already  won  favor 
with  the  public  because  of  the  excellent  busi- 
ness methods  which  have  been  instituted 
there,  and  not  a  little  of  the  success  of  the 
bank  may  be  attributed  to  the  enterprise, 
close  application  and  broad  knowledge  of 
banking  methods  possessed  by  J.  C.  Lang- 
ley.  It  was  on  the  gth  of  January,  1902, 
that  the  bank  was  founded  and  subsequently 
the  First  National  Bank  building  was  erect- 
ed and  splendidly  equipped  for  carrying  on 
the  business.  It  has  the  triple  time  Hall 
safe  and  Hall  vault,  and  every  precaution  is 
taken  to  insure  safety  for  depositors.  Mr. 
Langley  has  also  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Clem- 
ans  &  Langley,  and  in  this  enterprise  has  a 
good  clientage. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1897,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  James  C.  Langley  and  Miss 
Elena  Ryerson,  a  native  of  Gibson  City, 
Ford  county,  Illinois, 'and  a  daughter  of  C. 
G.  Ryerson,  who  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  that  county.  In  addition  to  his 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


splendid  home  in  Mansfield,  Mr.  Langley 
also  owns  land  in  Stevens  county,  Minneso- 
ta, which  he  rents.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  fraternally  is  con- 
nected with  Mansfield  Lodge,  No.  773,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  treasurer.  He  also 
belongs  to  Celestial  Lodge,  Knights  of  Py- 
thias, of  which  he  is  past  chancellor  and  was 
made  a  delegate  to  the  grand  lodge  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  at  Rockford, 
Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1903.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican  and  that  he  has  the  regard 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  is  indi- 
cated by  the  fact  that  he  is  now  acceptably 
serving  as  mayor.  Whatever  tends  to  prove 
of  public  benefit  and  to  advance  local  prog- 
ress and  improvement  receives  his  attention, 
endorsement  and  co-operation,  and  his  ef- 
forts along  many  lines  have  proven  of  ma- 
terial benefit  to  the  city  of  his  birth. 


THOMAS    E.    BONDURANT. 

From  a  humble  financial  position  Thomas 
E.  Bondurant  has  steadily  and  persist- 
ently worked  his  way  upward  until  he 
is  to-day  -accounted  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive landowners  of  Illinois.  There  is  in  his 
life  history  much  that  is  worthy  of  emula- 
tion, his  record  being  such  as  any  man  might 
be  proud  to  possess.  He  has  worked  dili- 
gently and  perseveringly,  guiding  his  efforts 
by  sound  judgment,  and  the  reward  of  hon- 
est toil  is  to-day  his.  He  has  never  incurred 
an  obligation  that  he  has  not  fulfilled,  nor 
taken  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  his  fel- 
low men  in  a  business  transaction,  but  has 
placed  his  dependence  upon  energy  and  un- 
remitting industry.  Thus  it  is  that  Thomas 
E.  Bondurant  stands  to-day  among  the 
wealthy  and  honored  residents  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty, his  home  being  in  DeLand. 


He  is  one  of  Illinois'  native  sons,  his 
birth  cccurring  in  Sangamon  county,  on  the 
291)1  of  December.  1831.  The  Bondurant 
family  is  of  Huguenot  extraction,  and  was 
founded  in  America  by  representatives  of 
that  sect,  who  fled  to  the  New  World  to  es- 
cape religious  persecution.  Joseph  and  Mar- 
tha Bondurant,  the  parents  of  our  subject. 
were  both  southern  people,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
In  the  year  1825  the  father  removed  to  San- 
gamon county,  Illinois,  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  three  children.  Establishing  his 
home  there,  he  continued  to  carry  on  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  until  his  death.  He 
was  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  settlers  of 
the  locality  and  aided  in  the  early  develop- 
ment and  improvement  of  the  county,  while 
at  the  same  time  he  carried  on  his  farm  work 
in  its  various  departments  and  thus  .gained 
a  comfortable  living  for  his  family.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bondurant  were  born  eleven 
.children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  fifth 
in  order  of  birth.  Four  of  the  number  are 
yet  living,  and  a  sister,  Mary  E.,  now  acts 
as  housekeeper  for  her  brother  Thomas. 

On  the  old  family  homestead  amid  the 
wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life  Thomas  E.  Bon- 
durant was  reared.  He  can  remember  cen- 
tral Illinois  when  the  homes  were  widely 
scattered  and  when  the  prairies  were  largely 
covered  with  the  native  grasses,  the  land 
having  never  been  placed  under  the  plow.  He 
pursued  his  early  education  in  an  old  log" 
building,  wherein  school  was  conducted  on 
the  subscription  plan,  and  yet  to-day  Illinois 
has  a  school  system  unsurpassed  in  the 
LTnion.  His  educational  advantages  in  his 
yruth  were  quite  limited,  but  later  he  at- 
tended the  Walnut  Grove  Academy,  at  Eu- 
reka. Illinois,  spending  three  months  there 
after  he  had  attained  his  majority.  In  his 
vouth  he  became  familiar  with  all  the  ex- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


59 


periences  of  pioneer  life,  and  the  hardships 
incident  to  the  arduous  task  of  developing  a 
new  farm.  He  broke  prairie  with  an  ox- 
team,  thus  preparing  hundreds  of  acres  for 
cultivation.  His  father  having  the  contract 
to  put  in  ties  on  the  Wabash  Railroad, 
Thomas  E.  Bonduraiit  began  working  for 
him  for  two  dollars  per  day  and  board,  act- 
ing as  foreman.  This  was  in  1855.  After 
the  contract  had  been  executed  Mr.  Bondu- 
rant  continued  to  break  prairie  through  the 
summer  months,  turning  the  first  furrows  on 
many  tracts  which  are  now  fertile  fields.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  entered  from  the  gov- 
ernment two  hundred  and  ninety-three  acres 
of  land  in  Piatt  county,  at  fifty  cents  per 
acre,  this  being  the  nucleus  of  his  present  ex- 
tensive landed  possessions.  In  the  winter 
of  1858  he  took  a  contract  at  Sangamon 
Station,  east  of  Decatur,  Illinois,  to  supply 
cord  wood  to  the  Wabash  Railroad,  and  this 
work  occupied  his  time  and  attention  for  a 
few  months,  after  which  he  returned  to  his 
farm  in  Goose  Creek  township,  Piatt  coun- 
ty. As  he  has  found  opportunity  he  has 
added  to  his  original  landed  interests  until 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  fourteen  hundred 
acres  in  Piatt  county,  twenty-six  hundred 
and  eighty-two  acres  in  Kankakee  county 
and  eight  hundred  acres  in  Kansas.  He 
is  a  man  of  keen  business  discern- 
ment, and  his  sound  judgment  has  never 
been  at  fault  in  making  investments.  He 
has  placed  his  money  in 'the  safest  of  all  in- 
vestments— real  estate — and  to-day  his 
holdings  make  him  one  of  the  wealthy 
men  of  central  Illinois.  He  well  mer- 
its this  success,  for  it  has  come  entirely 
through  his  own  efforts  and  his  business 
methods  have  ever  been  such  as  will  bear 
the  closest  investigation  and  scrutiny.  All 
the  institution  during  the  earlier  period  of 


through  the  years  Mr.  Bondurant  carried  on 
general  farming,  annually  harvesting  large 
crops,  and  he  has  also  made  a  specialty  of 
raising  and  handling  beef  cattle,  horses  and 
hogs.  He  has  always  given  his  personal  su- 
pervision to  the  operation  of  his  various 
properties,  keeping  thoroughly  in  touch  with 
the  work  done  on  each,  and  the  condition  of 
the  farm  and  has  a  wonderful  capacity  for 
business,  regarding  no  detail  to  unimportant 
to  claim  his  attention  if  it  has  bearing  upon 
the  work  and  its  ultimate  outcome.  In  1900 
the  First  National  Bank  of  DeLand  was  es- 
tablished with  a  capital  stock  of  twenty-five 
thousand -dollars,  and  Mr.  Bondurant  be- 
came its  first  president.  The  success  of 
its  existence  was  largely  attributable  to  his 
efforts  and  his  sound  judgment,  and  he  re- 
mained as  president  until  1902,  when  he  re- 
signed on  account  of  failing  health. 

Mr.  Bondurant  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church  of  DeLand  and  since  its 
organization  he  has  served  as  one  of  its  eld- 
ers. In  the  work  of  the  church  he  has  al- 
ways taken  an  active  and  helpful  interest, 
and  has  contributed  generously  to  its  sup- 
port.  For  the  past  eight  years  Mr.  Bondu- 
rant has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Eureka  College,  of  Eureka,  Illi- 
nois. At  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party  he  became  one  of  its  sup- 
porters and  has  since  followed  its  banner, 
and  during  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  stanch 
Union  man.  For  seven  years  he  has  served 
as  county  supervisor,  but  has  felt  that  his 
business  makes  too  great  demands  upon  his 
time  and  attention  to  allow  him  to  seek  pub- 
lic office.  In  1882  he  built  his  present  home, 
which  is  one  of  the  finest  in  Piatt  county. 
He  has  his  own  sewerage  system  and  elec- 
tric light  plant,  a  hot  water  system  of  heat- 
ing, and  hot  and  cold  water  throughout  his 


6o 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


house.  The  residence  is  also  tastefully,  com- 
fortably and  richly  furnished,  and  the  in- 
terior decorations  are  in  keeping  with  the 
exterior  adornments,  for  the  house  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  beautiful  lawn,  always  kept  in 
the  finest  condition,  and  the  home  of  Mr. 
Bondurant  is  a  credit  to  the  county.  He 
has  seen  many  changes  in  this  portion  of 
the  state,  advancement  and  progress  being 
manifest  in  all  lines  of  life,  and  he  has  kept 
pace  with  the  universal  improvement.  A 
self-made  man,  without  any  extraordinary 
family  or  pecuniary  advantages  at  the  out- 
set of  his  career,  he  has  battled  earnestly 
and  energetically,  and  by  indomitable  cour- 
age and  integrity  has  achieved  both  charac- 
ter and  fortune.  By  sheer  force  of  will  and 
untiring  effort  he  has  worked  his  way  up- 
ward and  is  to-day  numbered  among  the 
leading  business  men  of  Piatt  county. 


JOHN  M.  WHITE. 

When  after  years  of  long  and  earnest  la- 
bor in  some  honorable  field  of  business,  a 
man  puts  aside  all  cares  to  spend  his  re- 
maining days  in  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  former  toil,  it  is  certainly  a  well 
deserved  reward  of  industry. 

"How  blest  is  he,  who  crowns  in  shades  like 

•  these, 
A  youth  of  labor  with  an  age  of  ease," 

wrote  the  poet,  and  the  world  everywhere 
recognizes  the  justice  of  a  season  of  rest 
following  the  active  period  of  business  life. 
Mr.  White  is  now  living  retired  at  his  pleas- 
ant home  in  Monticello,  and  his  history 
shows  the  accomplishment  of  well  directed 


labor.  His  residence  in  Piatt  county  covers 
a  period  of  almost  forty  years,  during 
which  he  was  long  connected  with  agricul- 
tural interests,  but  while  promoting  his  indi- 
vidual success  he  has  also  labored  for  the 
general  welfare  and  has  advocated  many 
measures  which  have  led  to  the  substan- 
tial improvement  and  material  upbuilding 
of  this  section  of  the  state. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  John  M.  White  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  on  the  27th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1817,  and  comes  of  English  ancestry, 
being  a  direct  descendant  of  the  house  of  Tu- 
dor, long  the  reigning  house  of  England.  In 
the  paternal  line  he  is  probably  of  Irish  lin- 
eage, as  it  is  thought  that  his  grandfather, 
Samuel  S.  White,  was  born  on  the  Emerald 
Isle.  For  many  years,  however,  he  resided  in 
Virginia,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  but  early  in  the  Eighth  century  he  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  establishing  his  home  near 
the  Scioto  Big  Run,  four  miles  southwest 
of  the  present  city  of  Columbus.  Again  he 
resumed  his  educational  work,  becoming  one 
of  the  first  instructors  in  the  schools  of 
Franklin  county,  Ohio.  He  was  also  inter- 
ested in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  securing  a 
large  tract  of  wild  land  he  transformed  it 
into  a  fine  farm  on  which  he  made  his  home 
until  his  death,  which  was  the  result  of  an  ac- 
cident caused  by  a  runaway  horse.  He  was 
then  ninety-six  years  of  age.  He  had  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  county  and  was 
a  man  of  considerable  prominence,  leaving 
the  impress  of  his  individuality  upon  the 
early  development  and  permanent  improve- 
ment of  that  part  of  the  state.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jane  Stuart,  and 
was  of  Scotch  lineage.  She  died  at  the  home 
of  Mrs.  John  M.  White,  Sr.,  about  1836. 
His  father  was  an  own '  cousin  of  Mary, 
Queen  of  Scots,  and  thus  comes  our  subject's 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


61 


connection  with  the  house  of  Tudor.  One 
branch  of  the  Stuart  family  was  established 
in  Virginia,  where  they  conducted  hotels, 
and  when  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out 
the  great-grandfather,  who  would  not  take 
up  arms  against  the  mother  country,  re- 
turned to  England,  there  enlisted  in  the 
British  service  and  fought  against  the 
United  States.  His  property  in  Virginia 
was  confiscated,  and  when  the  war  ended  he 
was  given  a  tract  of  land  in  Halifax  to  re- 
compense him  for  what  he  had  lost  in  the 
United  States.  He  wrote  of  this  to  his  family, 
who  were  prepared  to  join  him  in  Nova  Sco- 
tia, but  no  news  was  ever  received  from 
him  afterward,  and  it  is  supposed  that  he 
was  lost  on  the  water.  Years  afterward  one 
of  his  granddaughters  met  a  lawyer  from 
Halifax,  who  told  her  that  the  property  in- 
cluded in  the  grant  to  her  grandfather  had 
become  very  valuable  and  was  held  in  the 
name  of  the  Stuart  heirs,  whom  it  was 
thought  would  some  day  come  and  claim 
possession. 

John  M.  White,  Sr.,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was' a  native  of  Hardy  county,  West. 
Virginia,  and  when  a  young  man  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Ohio. 
When  the  war  of  1812  was  in  progress  he 
drove  a  six  horse  team  to  Fort  Franklin,  a 
military  post  now  included  within  the  city 
of  Columbus,  and  there  his  horses  were 
pressed  into  service  and  he  decided  to 
go  with  them,  thus  serving  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  married  Mrs.  Rachel  Moorehead, 
nee  McDowell,  and  settled  on  the  Moorehead 
farm,  on  the  Scioto  river,  two  miles  from 
Columbus,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days.  He  did  not  live  to  an  advanced  age, 
however,  but  passed  away  November  17, 
1833.  By  her  first  marriage  his  wife  had 
three  children :  Sarah,  Jane  and  Lincoln,  all 


deceased.  Unto  her  marriage  to  Mr.  White, 
there  were  also  three  children  born :  Samuel 
S.,  deceased;  John  M.,  of  this  review;  and 
Marilla,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  N. 
Cherry  and  died  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio.. 
Amid  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life  in 
Ohio  John  M.  White,  of  this  sketch,  was 
reared.  All  around  lay  the  uncultivated  land, 
and  the  forests  stood  in  their  primeval 
strength.  Frontier  conditions  existed  and 
the  family  had  to  endure  many  hardships 
and  trials  incident  to  pioneer  life.  Mr. 
White  was  educated  after  the  primitive 
manner  of  the  times  in  a  log  schoolhouse, 
conning  his  lessons  while  sitting  on  a  slab 
bench.  Light  was  admitted  into  the  room 
through  greased  paper,  covering  an  aperture 
made  by  removing  a  log,  and  the  building 
was  heated  by  a  fire-place,  capable  of  con- 
taining an  immense  back  log.  The  methods 
of  instructions  were  almost  as  primitive  as 
the  little  "temple  of  learning,"  and  thus  Mr. 
White  had  to  depend  upon  reading,  experi- 
ence and  observation  in  later  life  to  broad- 
en his  knowledge  and  supplement  the  in- 
struction which  he  gained,  in  the  school 
room.  The  Wyandotte  Indians  were  fre- 
quent visitors  at  the  White  home,  and  deer 
and  other  wild  game  abounded  in  the  forests 
and  Mr.  White  has  more  than  once  brought 
home  venison  and  other  wild  meat  for  the 
family  larder.  When  his  father  died  he 
continued  to  operate  the  home  farm  for  his 
mother,  and  after  her  death  the  property 
was  divided,  he  receiving  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  acres  of  the  land,  on  which  tract 
stood  the  home  buildings.  To  the  work  of 
farming  and  stock-dealing.  Mr.  White  de- 
voted his  energies  with  success,  becoming 
the  owner  of  a  valuable  property.  He  con- 
tinued his  residence  in  Ohio  until  1864, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  in  the  fall  of 


62 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


that  year  settled  in  Piatt  county.  Here  he 
purchased  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in 
Sangamon  township,  and  subsequently  add- 
ed to  this  tract  until  he  had  five  hundred  and 
eighty-four  acres  of  valuable  land,  including 
the  Major  Bowman  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  which  he  continued  to  cul- 
tivate until  1886.  In  the  intervening  years 
his  carefully  conducted  business  affairs  had 
brought  to  him  a  handsome  competence,  and 
with  this  he  retired  to  private  life,  establish- 
ing his  home  in  Monticello,  where  he  has 
since  lived  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of 
his  former  toil. 

In  1843  was  performed  the  wedding  cer- 
emony which  united  the  destinies  of  Mr. 
White  and  Miss  Jane  Huffman,  who  was 
born  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Rebecca  Huffman,  but  she  passed 
away  in  1845,  leaving  two  children :  Ophe- 
lia J.,  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Mof- 
fitt ;  and  Frank,  a  well-known  business  man 
of  this  county.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
White  chose  Rebecca  H.  Williams,  their 
marriage  taking  place  January  25,  1849. 
She  was  a  great-granddaughter  of  Vincent 
Isaac  Williams,  who  lived  near  what  is  now 
Williamsport,  West  Virginia.  He  met  a 
very  tragic  death.  On  one  occasion  while 
his  family  were  in  the  fort  at  Moorefield, 
West  Virginia,  he  and  a  colored  man  went 
over  to  his  farm  to  look  after  his  stock.  The 
Indians  were  then  on  the  warpath  and  seven 
of  them  attacked  Mr.  Williams,  who  rushed 
to  his  log  cabin  and  succeeded  in  killing  five 
of  the  savages.  This  so  enraged  the  re- 
maining two  that  they  picked  out  the  mor- 
tar from  the  rear  of  the  cabin  and  while  Mr. 
Williams'  attention  was  directed  in  front, 
one  of  them  shot  and  killed  him. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  White  were  Isaac 
V.  and  Mary  D.  (Hendricks)  Williams, 


both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and 
the  latter  was  reared  to  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  at  Harper's  Ferry.  She  was  a  niece  of 
General  Darke,  in  whose  honor  Darke  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  was  named.  At  an  early  day  her 
parents  removed  to  Ohio  and  located  on  the 
Scioto  river,  fifteen  miles  south  of  Colum- 
bus and  four  miles  south  of  Chillicothe.  The 
lives  of  the  early  settlers  were  constantly 
menaced  by  the  treachery  of  the  red  men  and 
Mrs.  Williams,  afraid  to  leave  her  baby  in 
the  cabin,  would  carry  it  to  the  spring  when 
she  went  for  a  pail  of  water.  Hardships 
and  difficulties  of  all  kinds  incident  to  pio- 
neer life  were  experienced  by  the  family, 
and  while  the  men  of  the  household  worked 
in  the  fields  the  wife  and  mother  spun  and 
wove  the  material  which  was  used  in  fash- 
ioning the  garments  of  the  early  settlers. 
The  nearest  market  town  was  Chillicothe, 
thirty-five  miles  distant,  and  the  way  led 
through  the  forests,  there  being  no  road 
save  the  old  Indian  trail.  At  his  death  the 
father  left  an  estate  of  eleven  hundred 
acres,  of  which  his  widow  took  charge  and 
settled.  In  the  family  were  ni'ne  children : 
Joseph,  who  married  a  lady  of  New  York 
city;  Isaac,  who  married  and  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1883;  John  and  Eliza,  who  are 
now  deceased ;  James,  who  died  in  Indiana ; 
Vincent,  who  cared  for  his  mother  until 
her  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years ; 
Sarah,  who  married  Benjamin  Rennock,  but 
is  now  deceased;  Edwin,  who  died  in  child- 
hood ;  and  Rebecca  H.,  wife  of  our  subject, 
and  the  only  one  now  living. 

The  last  named  was  the  youngest  mem- 
ber of  the  household.  She  was  born  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  about  four  miles 
from  Bloomfield,  and  by  her  marriage  she 
has  become  the  mother  of  five  children :  Ben- 
jamin R. ;  Vincent  I. ;  Sarah  W.,  the  wife  of 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


Horace  Caleff;  John  M.,  and  Mary  Darke, 
the  wife  of  E.  1.  Williams,  living  in  Lafay- 
ette. Mrs.  White  is  a  valued  and  exemplary 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  to  her  family  has  ever  been  a  devoted 
wife  and  mother.  Like  her  husband,  she  is 
a  representative  of  old  and  distinguished 
pioneer  families,  and  her  ancestral  history 
is  one  of  close  and  honorable  connection 
with  the  development  of  Virginia. as  well  as 
Ohio. 

For  almost  forty  years  Mr.  White  has 
been  a  resident  of  Piatt  county,  and  has 
therefore  witnessed  much  of  its  develop- 
ment. Much  of  the  land  was  wild  and  unim- 
proved when  he  came  to  this  section  of  the 
state,  and  he  has  borne  his  full  share  in  the 
work  of  transforming  it  into  what  it  is  to- 
day— one  of  the  rich  agricultural  districts 
of  this  great  state,  whose  fine  farms  are  un- 
surpassed throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  this  fair  land.  Throughout  his  entire  ca- 
reer his  life  has  been  honorable  and  upright, 
characterized  by  fidelity  to  duty  in  all  rela- 
tions and  manifesting  energy  and  enterprise 
in  his  business  career.  His  worth  is  widely 
acknowledged,  and  he  has  the  confidence 
and  good  will  of  young  and  old,  rich  and 
poor.  He  justly  deserves  the  rest  which  he 
is  now  enjoying,  and  no  history  of  Piatt 
county  would  be  complete  without  mention 
of  John  M.  White. 


DUNCAN  BROTHERS. 

This  well  known  firm  of  Lintner  is  com- 
posed of  S.  H.,  J.  M.  and  A.  C.  Duncan, 
dealers  in  grain,  general  merchandise  and 
farm  implements  of  all  kinds.  They  are  the 
sons  of  Israel  and  Susanna  (Henry)  Dun- 


can, both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  now 
deceased,  the  mother  having  died  in  1890 
and  the  father  in  1900.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church, 
and  died  in  that  faith,  honored  and  respect- 
ed by  all  who  knew  them. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
nine  children,  who  in  order  of  birth  were  as 
follows :  Warren  H.,  the  eldest,  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty  years.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  enlisted  in  the  Pennsylvania  Heavy  Ar- 
tillery and  was  later  with  the  Second  Pro- 
visional Heavy  Artillery.  Being  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  in  1864,  he 
was  sent  to  the  Haddington  hospital  in 
Philadelphia,  and  was  subsequently  appoint- 
ed ward  master.  S.  H.  was  born  in  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  December  2,  1844, 
and  was  reared  and  educated  there.  He, 
too,  entered  the  service  of  his  country  dur- 
ing the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  and  held 
the  position  of  wagon  master  in  the  quarter- 
master's department  though  he  dressed  in  ci- 
vilian's clothes.  He  :s  now  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Duncan  Brothers  of  Lintner,  Illinois, 
and  has  charge  of  the  implement  business. 
He  married  Mrs.  Kate  Gates,  and  has  three 
sons :  Wellington  G.,  B.  G.  and  P.  G.  Henry, 
the  next  of  the  family,  was  also  a  teamster 
in  the  Civil  war  and  now  resides  one  mile 
east  of  Lintner  on  his  farm.  He  married 
Mattie  Connister  and  has  six  children. 
J.  M.  was  born  on  the  2Oth  of  Au- 
gust, 1850,  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  there  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  his 
education  being  received  in  the  local  schools. 
He  owns  and  operates  a  farm  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  north  of  Lintner  and  also  four  hun- 
dred acres  east  of  Lintner,  making  five  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  in  all.  For  four  years 
he  served  as  postmaster  of  Lintner  under 
General  Harrison.  He  married  Florence 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Green, 'and  has  two  daughters,  Effie  and 
Dora.  Emma  is  the  wife  of  John  Miller,  a 
resident  of  Oklahoma.  Katherine  is  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Spunseller,  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  has  six  children.  A.  C,  the  young- 
est member  of  the  firm,  was  born  in  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  August  31,  1856,  and 
after  acquiring  a  good  education  in  the 
schools  of  that  state,  he  commenced  teach- 
ing at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  and  success- 
fully followed  that  profession  for  twenty- 
one  years,  being  principal  of  the  schools  at 
Milmine,  Illinois,  for  four  years  and  of  La 
Place  for  eight  years.  He  now  has  charge 
of  the  store.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  May  Gannon  and  was  graduated  at 
the  Decatur  high  school,  taught  in  the  pri- 
mary department  at  La  Place.  They  have 
two  children,  Kenneth  and  Cedric.  A. 
C.  Duncan  came  to  Piatt  county  in  1882  and 
since  1897  has  served  as  postmaster  of  Lint- 
ner,  being  appointed  to  that  position  under 
President  McKinley.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife 
of  Henry  Hoffiens,  of  Abbotstown,  Penn- 
sylvania. Charles  H.,  the  youngest  of  the 
Duncan  family,  was  killed  by  lightning  in 
this  county,  half  a  mile  south  of  Lintner,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-seven  years.  He  married 
Etta  Wilson,  and  had  two  children.  They 
now  make  their  home  with  her  father  in 
Moultrie  county,  Illinois. 

The  business  now  carried  on  by  Duncan 
Brothers  was  formerly  owned  by  Wilson  & 
Stone.  The  latter  sold  his  interest  to  Mr. 
Glazbrook  and  J.  M.  Duncan  afterward 
bought  out  Mr.  Wilson.  Later  A.  C.  Duncan 
bought  out  Mr.  Glazbrook,  and  in  1895  the 
firm  name  was  changed  to  Duncan  Brothers, 
though  S.  H.  did  not  become  connected  with 
the  enterprise  until  1901,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  implement  department.  In 
1898  they  erected  their  elevator  at  Lintner, 


which  has  'a  capacity  of  twenty  thousand 
bushels,  and  they  have  made  this  place  a 
good  grain  market  as  they  ship  a  large 
amount  of  grain  annually.  In  the  line  of  gen- 
eral merchandise  they  carry  a  fine  stock  and 
have  built  up  an  excellent  trade  by  fair  and 
honorable  dealing.  J.  M.  Duncan  handles 
considerable  stock,  making  a  speciality  of 
horses,  and  is  a  very  successful  farmer.  All 
of  the  brothers  are  stanch  supporters  of  the 
Republican  party  and  Lutherans  in  religious 
belief.  They  are  wide-awake,  energetic  busi- 
ness men,  of  known  reliability  and  their  suc- 
cess is  but  the  logical  result  of  careful  and 
correct  business  methods  which  they  have 
always  followed. 


JOSHUA  HILL. 

Joshua  Hill,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  now  leading  a  retired  life  in  the  vil- 
lage, of  Bement,  was  born  in  Franklin  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  December  16,  1826,  and  during 
his  early  boyhood  was  taken  to  Piqua  coun- 
ty, that  state,  by  his  parents,  Joshua  and 
Hannah  (Cramer)  Hill.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  Delaware  and  when  a  young  man 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  was  by  trade,  however,  a  shoemaker, 
and  for  a  few  years  he  followed  that  pur- 
suit. In  his  farming  operations  he  pros- 
pered, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
valuable  land  in  Piqua  county,  Ohio,  consti- 
tuting one  of  the  finest  farms  of  the  locality. 
Fraternally  he  was  a  Mason,  and  for  many 
years  he  was  a  worthy  exemplar  of  the 
craft,  but  he  belonged  to  no  order.  Politi- 
cally he  was  a  Whig  in  early  life,  but  he  at- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


tended  the  first  Republican  convention  of 
Ohio,  held  in  Columbus,  and  afterward  gave 
his  support  to  the  principles  of  the  new  par- 
ty. He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years  and  was  survived  for  about  two  years 
by  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  New  Jersey 
near  the  town  of  Hope,  and  she  also  passed 
also  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  A  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
she  was  an  earnest  church  worker,  a  devout 
Christian  woman  and  a  devoted  wife  and 
kind,  loving  mother.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hill  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom  six 
reached  years  of  maturity,  while  the  others 
died  in  infancy.  At  this  time  Joshua  Hill 
has  two  sisters  and  one  brother  living. 

The  "temple  of  learning"  in  which 
Joshua  Hill  obtained  his  education  was  built 
of  logs,  after  the  primitive  manner  of  N  the 
times.  He  worked  upon  the  home  farm  in 
his  youth,  and  afterward  spent  some  time 
as  a  clerk  in  different  stores.  About  the  year 
1850  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Piatt 
county,  and  for  four  years  he  carried  on 
farming  here  in  the  summer  and  taught 
schools  for  three  terms  in  the  winter.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  when  he  again  came  to  Piatt 
county  he  established  his  home  near  Lodge 
station,  where  he  has  resided  since  1861, 
covering  a  period  of  forty-twro  consecutive 
years.  He  removed  to  Bement  on  27th  of 
December,  1862,  and  established  the  first 
regular  dray  line  and  conducted  the  business 
during  his  active  life,  and  it  is  still  carried 
on  by  his  sons.  About  1893  he  retired  from 
further  business  cares  and  is  now  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  1857,  Mr.  Hill 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lydia  Peo- 
ples, who  was  born  in  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
Alexander  and  Rachel  (McClish)  Peoples. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  have  become  the  parents 
of  eight  children:  William  H.,  a  resident  of 
Decatur,  Illinois,  married  Etta  Curfman, 
and  they  have  two  children.  Sarah  E.  is  the 
wife  of  John  W.  Powell,  of  Piqua  county, 
Ohio,  a  conductor  with  headquarters  in  Co- 
lumbus, and  they  have  four  living  children. 
Charles,  who  is  engaged  in  the  dray  business 
in  Bement,  married  Jennie  Fisher  and  has 
four  children.  Edward,  in  Newcastle,  Indi- 
ana, wedded  Saddie  Swigart.  Lewis  is  en- 
gaged in  the  dray  business  in  Bement. 
Franklin,  who  resides  on  the  property  ad- 
joining his  father's  home,  and  is  working 
for  the  Wabash  Railroad  Company,  married 
Willie  Dawson,  and  they  have  six  children. 
The  other  two  children  of  the  family  died 
in  infancy. 

To  the  great  political  questions  which 
divide  the  country  into  parties  Mr.  Hill  has 
given  considerable  thought,  and  his  views 
on  these  have  occasioned  him  to  ally  his 
force  with  the  Republican  party.  He  was 
assessor  of  his  township  for  fourteen  years, 
out  otherwise  he  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker,  preferring  to  give  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  affairs,  rather  than  to 
political  cares.  For  at  least  half  a  century 
he  has  been  identified  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  he  has  long  been  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  he  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  a 
trustee.  His  life  interest  has  centered  along 
those  lines  through  which  flow  the  greatest 
good  to  the  greatest  number,  and  he  has  ev- 
er favored  reform,  progress  and  improve- 
ment. \Vhen  he  came  to  this  county,  nearly 
all  the  land  was  wild  prairie,  and  he  has  been 
a  witness  of  nearly  all  the  changes  made  as 
the  county  has  emerged  from  pioneer  condi- 
tions to  take  its  place  with  the  leading  coun- 
ties of  the  commonwealth.  During  his  early 


66 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


residence  here  he  taught  for  a  number  of 
years  in  the  district  school  and  was  a  very 
successful  educator.  He  and  his  wife  now 
have  a  pleasant  home  in  the  village  of  Be- 
ment,  where  they  are  spending  their  days  in 
the  midst  of  children,  grandchildren  and 
friends,  who  entertain  for  them  the  warmest 
regard. 


JOHN    KIRBY. 

To  say  of  him  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch  that  he  has  risen  unaided  from  com- 
parative obscurity  to  rank  among  the  most 
successful  business  men  of  central  Illinois 
is  a  statement  that  seems  trite  to  those  fa- 
miliar with  his  life,  yet  it  is  but  just  to  say 
in  a  history  that  will  descend  to  future  gen- 
erations that  his  business  record  has  been  one 
that  any  man  would  be  proud  to  possess. 
Beginning  at  the  very  bottom  round  of  the 
ladder  he  has  advanced  steadily  step  by  step 
until  he  is  now  occupying  a  position  of  prom- 
inence and  trust  reached  by  very  few  men. 
Through  his  entire  business  career  he  has 
been  looked  upon  as  a  model  of  integrity  and 
honor,  never  making  an  engagement  that 
he  has  not  fufilled,  and  standing  to-day  an 
example  of  what  determination  and  force, 
combined  with  the  highest  degree  of  business 
integrity  can  accomplish  for  a  man  of  nat- 
ural ability  and  strength  of  character.  He  is 
respected  by  the  community  at  large  and 
honored  by  his  business  associates.  Through 
many  years  Mr.  Kirby  was  actively  and  ex- 
tensively identified  with  agricultural  and 
stock-raising  interests,  and  is  now  making 
his  home  in  the  city  of  Monticello,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  abstract  business  as  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  John  Kirby  & 
Company. 


Mr.  Kirby  is  among  the  sons  of  the  Em- 
erald Isle  who  have  come  to  the  New  World 
to  enjoy  its  broader  business  opportunities 
and  greater  advantages.  He  was  torn  in 
County  Limerick,  Ireland,  on  the  8th  of 
December,  1842.  His  father,  Morris  Kirby, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  the  same  locality 
and  who  spent  his  entire  life  there,  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming.  In  1850,  how- 
ever, he  resolved  to  seek  a  home  and  fortune 
in  America  and  crossed  the  Atlantic,  taking 
up  his  abode  amid  the  green  woods  near  Ur- 
bana,  Ohio.  At  a  later  date  he  removed 
to  Greenville,  Darke  county,  Ohio,  and  his 
remaining  days  were  passed  in  the  Buckeye 
state,  his  death  occurring  in  1878.  In  early 
manhood  he  wedded  Elizabeth  Tuley,  who 
died  in  Ireland.  Both  were  consistent  and 
faithful  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 

John  Kirby,  whose  name  initiates  this 
review,  is  the  eldest  of  the  four  children 
who  were  born  unto  his  parents  and  was 
but  eight  years  of  age  when  he  came  with 
liis  father  to  the  United  States.  His  educa- 
tional privileges  were  those  of  .the  public 
schools  of  Ohio,  where  he  remained  as  a 
student  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois.  Mr.  Kirby  has  since 
been  dependent  entirely  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, and  the  splendid  success  he  has 
achieved  is  the  direct  reward  of  his  own  la- 
bors. He  first  located  in  Decatur.  Macon 
county,  and  as  it  was  necessary  for  him  to 
seek  immediate  employment  he  began  work 
as  a  farm  hand,  being  employed  in  that 
way  until  after  the  inauguration  of  the  Civil 
war,  receiving  ten  dollars  per  month  in  com- 
pensation for  his  services. 

Although  torn  across  the  waters,  his 
love  for  the  stars  and  stripes  was  deep  and 
sincere,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  long 
struggle  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union 


JOHN   KIRBY 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


69 


lie  offered  his  services  in  its  defense,  a>- 
though  but  a  youth  of  seventeen  years.  It 
was  in  July,  1861,  that  he  donned  the  blue 
uniform  and  became  a  member  of  the  Sec- 
mid  Illinois  Cavalry.  He  was  appointed 
one  of  the  carriers  on  the  Mississippi  river 
between  Cairo  and  Belmont,  where  a  battle 
was  fought.  He  was  next  dispatched  to 
Bolivar,  Tenn.,  and  participated  in  the 
engagement  at  that  place,  where  he  had  a 
horse  killed  and  where  the  colonel  of  the 
regirrient  and  six  members  of  his  company 
were  killed.  Later  Mr.  Kirby  was  under 
fire  at  the  battle  of  Columbus,  Kentucky, 
and  he  was  also  in  many  skirmishes  with 
the  rebels,  while  guarding  supplies  at  Holly 
Springs,  Mississippi,  the  most  severe  en- 
gagement in  which  he  participated  occurred 
at  that  place,  the  loss  of  life  being  very 
heavy.  His  regiment  led  the  advance 
from  Milliken's  Bend  which  terminated 
in  the  surrender  of  Yicksburg  and  also 
followed  Johnston  to  Jackson.  Missis- 
sippi. A  duty  which  then  devolved  upon 
the  Second  Illinois  Cavalry  was  the 
destruction  of  a  railroad  as  far  as 
Brook  Haven,  and  later  the  regiment  was 
sent  to  west  Louisiana.  In  the  month  of 
February,  1864,  the  regiment  veteranized, 
and  with  others  of  the  command  Mr.  Kirby 
was  granted  a  thirty  days'  furlough,  which 
he  spent  in  the  north.  When  the  regiment 
again  returned  for  duty  the  soldiers  were 
sent  to  Florida,  Alabama  and  Georgia,  suc- 
cessively, thence  returning  to  Vicksburg. 
They  afterward  went  on  the  Red  River  expe- 
dition and  marched  from  Shreveport  to  the 
Rio  Grande  in  Texas.  Thus  almost  from  the 
time  of  the  beginning  of  hostilities  until 
after  the  cessation  of  all  actual  warfare,  Mr. 
Kirby  was  with  the  army,  being  mustered 
out  in  December,  1865,  and  honorably  dis- 


charged at  Camp  Butler,  on  the  3d  of  Jan- 
uary, 1866.  He  had  command  of  his  com- 
pany as  second  lieutenant  for  the  last  year 
of  his  service.  His  service  covered  four 
and  a  half  long  years,  during  which  time 
he  experienced  all  the  hardships  and  rigors 
of  war.  Although  but  a  boy  when  he  en- 
tered the  army,  he  was  as  true  and  loyal  to 
the  government  as  many  a  veteran  of  twice 
his  years,  and  his  meritorious  conduct  on 
the  field  of  battle  won  him  promotion  to  the 
rank  of  second  lieutenant. 

His  military  service  ended,  Mr.  Kirby 
then  returned  to  Illinois,  and  for  many  years 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising. 
In  1869  he  made  purchase  of  a  tract  of  land 
and  also  invested  in  some  young  stock.  His 
success  in  these  enterprises  was  rapid  and 
consecutive,  and  as  his  financial  resources 
increased  he  extended  the  boundaries  of  his 
farm  by  additional  purchases,  and  also 
bought  stock  until  he  became  one  of  the  most 
extensive  stock-dealers  and  landowners  in 
this  portion  of  the  state.  He  now  operates 
two  thousand  acres  of  valuable  farming 
land.  He  studies  closely  the  best  methods 
of  producing  crops  and  keeps  fully  abreast 
with  the  times  in  all  improvements  connect- 
ed with  agricultural  work.  Upon  his  place 
he  also  made  many  improvements,  including 
the  erection  of  a  beautiful  home  in  1875. 
In  1870  he  entered  into  partnership  rela- 
tions with  Abraham  Piatt  for  the  shipment 
of  cattle  and  the  handling  of  stock  which 
they  purchased  over  a  large  section  of  the 
country  and  sent  to  the  Chicago  and  eastern 
markets.  Each  month  many  carloads  of  cat- 
tle were  sent  by  them  to  New  York  city.' 
They  sold  dressed  hogs  in  the  board  of 
trade  and  made  large  sums  of  money  by  the 
operation.  The  partnership  with  Mr.  Piatt 
continued  until  18.75,  after  which  Mr.  Kir- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


by  engaged  alone  in  stock  business  with 
splendid  success.  In  1897,  however,  he  put 
aside  agricultural  and  kindred  industries  and 
removed  to  Monticello,  where  he  is  now 
making  his  .home,  and  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  abstract  business  as  the  member  of 
the  firm  of  John  Kirby  &  Company.  Their 
office  contains  all  of  the  abstract  books  ever 
compiled  of  Piatt  county  lands,  beginning 
more  than  forty  years  ago. 

On  the  2 ist  of  January,  1873,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  John  Kirby  and  Miss 
Mary  E.  Marquiss,  a  representative  of  one 
of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  the  county,  her 
father  being  Ezra  Marquiss,  who  settled 
here  in  1833.  Mrs.  Kirby  was  born  in  this 
county,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the 
mother  of  two  children,  but  one  died  in  in- 
fancy, the  surviving  child  being  Nellie  May. 
Few  residents  of  Piatt  county  are  more 
widely  known  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirby,  and 
none  are  held  in  higher  regard.  Their 
home  is  celebrated  for  its  gracious  hospital- 
ity and  its  good  cheer  is  enjoyed  by  their 
many  friends. 

Mr.  Kirby  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  having  long  been  one  of  its  stalwart 
and  active  supporters  in  central  Illinois.  He 
has  served  as  a  delegate  to  its  county,  dis- 
trict, state  and  national  conventions,  and 
his  opinions  have  carried  weight  with  those 
who  have  been  called  upon  to  decide  ques- 
tions relating  to  political  work  and  to  the 
progress  of  the  party.  In  1868  Mr.  Kirby 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  and  was 
most  prompt  and  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties.  For  seven  terms  he  repre- 
sented Goose  Creek  township  on  the  board 
of  county  supervisors,  and  in  that  capacity 
did  everything  in  his  power  to  promote  the 
improvement  of  this  section  of  the  country. 
His  social  relations  connect  him  with  the 


Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  his  identification  with 
the  latter  dating  from  1867.  That  Mr.  Kir- 
by possesses  excellent  business  ability  and 
executive  force-  is  indicated  by  the  marked 
success  which  has  crowned  his  efforts.  In 
an  analyzation  of  his  character  we  find  many 
elements  worthy  of  commendation.  He  has 
always  been  energetic  in  business,  enterpris- 
ing in  his  work  and  above  all  honorable  and 
straightforward  in  his  dealings,  never  tak- 
ing advantage  of  the  necessities  of  his  fel- 
low men  in  any  business  transaction.  His 
success  has  been  marked  and  should  serve 
as  a  source  of  inspiration  and  encourage- 
ment to  others,  for  Mr.  Kirby  had  to  begin 
life  empty-handed.  He  is  to-day  one  of  the 
honored  and  respected  residents  of  Piatt 
county,  and  the  most  envious  cannot  grudge 
him  his  success  so  worthily  has  it  been  won 
and  so  honorably  used. 


SAMUEL  R.  REED. 

The  profession  of  the  law  when  clothed 
with  its  true  dignity,  purity  and  strength, 
must  rank  first  among  the  callings  of  man, 
for  law  rules  the  universe.  The  work  of 
the  legal  profession  is  to  formulate,  to  har- 
monize, to  regulate,  to  adjust,  to  adminis- 
ter those  rules  and  principles  that  underlie 
and  permeate  all  government  and  society 
and  control  the  varied  relations  of  men.  As 
thus  viewed  there  is  attached  to  the  legal 
profession  nobleness  that  cannot  but  be  re- 
flected in  the  life  of  the  true  lawyer,  who, 
rising  to  the  responsibilities  of  the  profes- 
sion, and  honest  in  the  pursuit  of  his  pur- 
pose, embraces  the  richness  of  learning,  the 
firmness  of  integrity  and  the  purity  of  mor- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


a!s,  together  with  the  graces  and  modesty 
and  the  general  amenities  of  life.  Of  such  a 
type  is  Samuel  R.  Reed  a  representative  and 
by  many  he  is  accorded  the  leading  place 
at  the  bar  of  Piatt  county.  He  is  the  sen- 
ior member  of  the  law  firm  of  Reed,  Edie  & 
Reed,  of  Monticello,  where  for  more  than 
thirty-six  years  he  has  practiced.  Mr.  Reed 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Beallsville,  Monroe  county,  on  the 
i6th  of  June,  1842.  His  paternal  grandfa- 
ther was  William  Reed,  who  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  Our  subject's  father,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Reed,  was  born  at  Chambersburg, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1795,  and  became  a  preach- 
er cf  the  Presbyterian  church,  devoting  the 
best  years  of  his  life  to  the  ministry.  A 
man  of  scholarly  attainments  and  broad 
learning,  fluent  in  speech  and  logical  in  ar- 
gument, his  power  in  the  pulpit  was  largely 
felt  and  his  influence  for  good  is  yet  mani- 
fest in  the  lives  of  those  who  knew  him. 
lie  wedded  Miss  Margaret  R.  Thompson,  a 
native  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  a  daughter  of  William  Thompson.  The 
father  of  our  subject  died  in  Monroe  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1872,  and  his  wife  passed  away, 
in  1878. 

Samuel  R.  Reed  spent  his  early  boyhood 
days  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  and  there 
began  his  education  as  a  student  in  the  dis- 
trict school  near  his  home.  Later  he  at- 
tended a  select  school  in  which  he  prepared 
for  teaching.  The  year  1860  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  he  was  connected  with  the  intel- 
lectual interests  of  this  locality  as  a  success- 
ful teacher.  He  regarded  this,  however, 
merely  as  a  preparation  for  other  profession- 
al labor  and  began  reading  law  under  the 
direction  of  the  firm  of  Coler  &  Smith,  of 
Champaign,  Illinois.  In  April,  1866,  he  was 


admitted  to  the  bar  before  the  supreme 
court,  which  at  that  time  met  at  Ottawa,  Il- 
linois. Well  equipped  for  his  chosen  profes- 
sion by  broad  and  comprehensive  reading, 
Mr.  Reed  then  opened  a  law  office  in  Pax- 
ton,  Illinois,  where  he  practiced  for  a  short 
time,  but  soon  afterward  he  came  to  Monti- 
cello,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  Judge  Mc- 
Comas,  and  later  entered  into  partnership 
with  George  Clouser,  with  whom  he  was  as- 
sociated for  twelve  months.  His  next  part- 
ner was  E.  A.  Baringer,  now  of  New  Or- 
leans, and  when  that  partnership  was  dis- 
solved by  mutual  consent,  Mr.  Reed  entered 
into  business  relations  with  Judge  M.  R. 
Davidson.  In  1895  he  became  associated  in 
business  with  A.  C.  Edie,  under  the  firm 
style  of  Reed  &  Edie,  and  later  the  firm 
name  was  changed,  its  present  form  being 
adopted  at  the  admission  of  his  son,  Carl  S., 
to  an  interest  in  the  business. 

Samuel  R.  Reed  is  recognized  as  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  Piatt  county  bar,  and 
has  been  connected  with  much  important 
litigation,  being  retained  as  counsel  or 
defendant  in  almost  every  case  of  import- 
ance that  has  been  tried  in  the  courts  of  Pi- 
att county  through  a  third  of  a  century.  He 
is  very  thorough  and  careful  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  his  cases,  and  martials  his  evidence 
with  military  precision.  He  is  logical  in  his 
arguments,  forceful  in  the  presentation  of 
a  cause,  and  never  fails  to  make  a  strong  im- 
pression upon  court  and  jury,  and  has  been 
fairly  successful  in  gaining  the  verdict  de- 
sired. 

In  1862  Mr.  Reed  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Jennie  Clouser,  a  native  of 
Fayette  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Hannah  (Coyner)  Clouser.  This 
marriage  has  been  blessed  with  five  children  : 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


George  M.,  who  is  now  living  in  Grange- 
ville,  Idaho;  Erasmus  E.,  of  Omaha,  NY- 
braska;  Maggie  L.,  who  is  the  wife  of  R.  C. 
Peters,,  of  Omaha;  Carl  S.,  who  is  associat- 
ed with  his  father  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
Monticello;  and  Agnes  B.,  the  wife  of  R.  D. 
Winship,  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Reed  has  made  judicious  invest- 
ments in  farming  land,  having  lands  in  Iowa 
and  Nebraska,  which  he  rents.  Socially  he 
is  connected  with  Fraternal  Lodge,  No.  58, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  with  Markwell  Chapter,  No.  48, 
R.  A.  M.  He  is  a  worthy  exemplar  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  taking  a  deep  an  active 
interest  in  its  growth  and  the  extention  of 
its  influence.  In  politics  he  is  a  pronounced 
Democrat,  and  for  three  years  he  was  states 
attorney,  while  for  four  years  he  was  mas- 
ter in  chancery.  He  has,  however,  devoted 
his  attention  chiefly  to  his  chosen  profes- 
sion. His  nature  is  kindly,  his  temperament 
jovial  and  genial,  and  his  manner  courteous. 
He  is  a  most  companionable  gentleman. 


FREDERICK  ADOLPH  ODERN- 
HEIMER. 

The  German  element  in  our  American 
citizenship  has  been  of  the  utmost  import- 
ance. The  sons  of  the  fatherland  have  come 
to  the  new  world,  bringing  with  them  the 
knowledge  of  business  methods  in  the  old 
country.  They  have  readily  adapted  them- 
selves to  the  conditions  found  in  America, 
and  improving  opportunities  have  worked 
their  \vay  upward  to  positions  of  prominence 
here,  but  not  only  have  they  attained  indi- 
vidual success,  but  have  also  labored  for  the 
welfare  of  the  various  communities  in  which 
thev  have  made  their  home.  Frederick  A. 


Odernheimer  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
the  fatherland,  and  has  become  a  leading 
farmer  of  Piatt  count}',  his  home  being 
on  section  12,  Monticello  township.  He 
was  born  in  Wiesbaden.  Germany,  on  the 
3 ist  of  March,  1857,  a  son  of  Frederick  and 
Marian  (Rudder)  Odernheimer.  'Far  back 
can  the  ancestry  of  the  family  be  traced. 
There  is  an  account  of  the  lineage  on  the 
paternal  side  back  to  1200,  while  on  the  ma- 
ternal line  the  subject  of  this  review  is  de- 
scended from  Sir  Miles  Patrick,  who  flour- 
ished in  1099.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  born  at  Wiesbaden  in  1808,  and  spent 
his  entire  life  in  that  place,  his  death  occurr- 
ing on  the  1 2th  of  December,  1885,  when  he 
was  seventy-eight  years  of  age.  His  wife, 
who  was  bora  at  Sydney,  New  South  Wales, 
Australia,  passed  away  in  1863. 

Mr.  Odernheimer,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  obtained  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
place,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  until 
nine  years  of  age.  He  then  entered  what  is 
known  as  a  gymnasium,  where  he  pursued 
a  course  equivalent  to  -a  high  school  course 
in  America.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
put  aside  his  text-books  and  entered  the  na- 
w  as  a  cadet,  being  thus  engaged  with  the 
military  service  of  the  country  for  five  years. 
Successfully  passing  an  examination  which 
made  him  a  lieutenant,  he  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity for  a  short  time  or  until  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  navy  on  account  of  fail- 
ing eyesight. .  He  then  determined  to  try  his 
fortune  in  the  new  world,  and  in  February, 
1881,  he  sailed  for  the  United  States,  locat- 
ing first  near  Austin,  Texas,  where  he  acted 
as  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  and  also  as 
deputy  United  States  marshal  for  five  years. 
In  1886  he  arrived  in  Illinois,  going  first  to 
Mansfield,  ^ind  in  that  locality  he  purchased 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


73 


a  farm  which  he  continued  to  operate  until 
1890.  On  selling  his  property  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  five  miles  east  of  Mon- 
ticello,  to  which  he  removed.  He  has  since 
made  excellent  improvements  upon  the 
property,  placing  three  hundred  rods  of  til- 
ing upon  the  land,  building  new  fences,  a 
commodious  and  substantial  barn  and  other 
outbuildings.  He  has  also  planted  an  orch- 
ard which  is  now  returning  a  good  yield.  He 
feeds  annually  quite  a  number  of  hogs  for 
the  market,  and  he  also  keeps  on  hand  a 
number  of  milch  cows.  He  makes  a  speciaity 
of  the  production  of  corn,  oats  and  clover 
and  he  also  has  rich  pasture  lands.  This 
farm  was  purchased  in  1890  for  forty-sev- 
en dollars,  but  because  of  the  many  improve- 
ments he  has  placed  upon  it  and  because  of 
the  rise  in  land  values  it  is  to-day  worth  at 
a  low  figure  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars  per  acre.  Mr.  Odernheimer  is  a 
progressive  agriculturist  and  the  methods 
which  he  follows  in  carrying  on  his  work 
have  brought  to  him  excellent  success  in  his 
undertakings. 

In  Austin,  Texas,  in  1884,  Mr.  Odern- 
heimer was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  Buchanan,  of  Mansfield,  Illinois,  who 
died  at  Champaign,  this  state,  in  the  year 
1886,  leaving  a  daughter,  Virginia  Frances, 
who  is  now  at  home.  She  has  completed  the 
common-school  course  and  expects  in  the 
year  1903  to  become  a  student  in  the  Illinois 
University.  On  the  loth  of  August,  1887, 
in  Monticello,  Illinois,  Mr.  Odernheimer 
was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Charlotte  Jane  Baird,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Marie  Baird,  of  Circleville, 
Ohio.  Three  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  but  all  died  in  infancy. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Odernheimer 
is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  takes  a  very 


active  and  influential  part  in  the  work  of  the 
party.  He  has  served  as  a  committeeman 
of  Monticello  township  for  six  years,  being 
chairman  for  three  years,  and  for  three 
years  he  has  also  been  a  member  of  the 
county  central  committee,  acting  as  its  chair- 
man for  two  years.  He  is  likewise  a  mem- 
ber of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Illinois 
Republican  State  League  Club,  and  is  chair- 
man of  the  Monticello  League  Club.  He 
keeps  well  informed  on  the  questions  and 
issues  of  the  day,  thus  being  able  to  give  an- 
intelligent  support  to  the  party  and  his  la- 
bors in  its  behalf  have  been  effective  and  far- 
reaching.  He  is  now  acting  as  government 
crop  reporter  for  Monticello  township  and 
is  secretary  for  the  Piatt  County  Farmers' 
Institute.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Odernheimer  is 
connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  is  now  venerable  consul  of 
Monticello  Camp,  No.  346.  He  also  belongs 
to  Fraternity  Lodge,  No.  58,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  Monticello  and  Markwell  Chapter,  No. 
48,  R.  A.  M.,  while  his  wife  is  connected 
with  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  and 
his  wife  and  his  daughter  are  all  members 
of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
are  people  of  the  highest  respectability,  hav- 
ing the  warm  regard  of  many  friends.  The 
hope  that  led  Mr.  Odernheimer  to  seek  a 
home  in  America  has  been  more  than  real- 
zed,  for  here  he  has  gained  an  excellent 
competence  and  has  won  the  friendship  and 
regard  of  a  large  majority  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact.  His 
business  affairs  have  been  so  capably  man- 
aged that  they  have  returned  to  him  a  splen- 
did income,  and  his  methods  have  ever  been 
above  question.  Keen  and  clear-headed,  al- 
ways'busy;  always  careful  and  conservative 
in  financial  matters,  moving  slowly  and 
surely  in  every  transaction,  he  has  kept  in 


74 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


the  steady  progress  which  invariably  reaches 
an  objective  point.  The  story  of  his 
advancement  should  inspire  all  young  men 
who  read  the  history  of  his  life  with  a  truer 
esteem  of  the  value  and  sure  rewards  of 
character. 


JOHN  LARSON. 

No  foreign  element  has  become  a  more 
important  part  of  our  American  citizenship 
than  that  furnished  by  Sweden.  The  emi- 
grants from  that  land  have  brought  with 
them  to  the  new  world  the  stability,  enter- 
prise and  perseverance  characteristic  of  their 
people  and  have  fused  these  qualities  with 
the  progressiveness  and  indomitable  spirit 
of  the  west.  Mr.  Larson  is  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  this  class.  He  came  to  Ameri- 
ca a  poor  boy,  hoping  to  benefit  his  financial 
condition,  and  his  dreams  of  the  future  have 
been  more  than  realized,  for  he  is  to-day  one 
of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Piatt  county. 

Mr.  Larson  was  born  in  Sweden  on  the 
26th  of  February,  1868,  a  son  of  Bonde  and 
Bessie  Larson,  who  are  still  living  in  that 
country,  where  the  father  is  engaged  in 
farming.  He  visited  his  sons  in  America 
during  the  summer  of  1902.  In  the  family 
are  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, six  of  whom  are  now  living  in  this 
country,  namely :  N.  B.  Larson,  who  lives 
on  the  Thompson  farm  in  Unity  township, 
Piatt  county ;  S.  B.  Larson,  who  lives  on  his 
uncle  Nels  Larson's  place  on  section  7, 
Unity  township,  just  .one  mile  east  of  our 
subject :  John  Larson,  of  this  review ;  Han- 
nah Hanson,  a  resident  of  Macon  cdunty, 
Illinois ;  Segrie  Pierson,  who  makes  her 
home  in  the  same  county ;  and  Emma  Pier- 


son,  of  Argenta,  Macon  county.  Those  liv- 
ing in  Sweden  are  Annie,  Larson  and 
Sophie. 

John  Larson  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  land  and  there  learned  the  trade  of 
carriage  making,  but  has  never  followed 
that  occupation  since  coming  to  America.  It 
was  in  April,  1886,  that  he  sailed  for  the 
new  world  and  landed  in  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, whence  he  made  his  way  westward  to 
Bement,  Illinois.  On  his  arrival  here  he 
was  unable  to  speak  a  word  of  English,  but 
mastered  the  language  in  one  summer.  He 
commenced  work  in  tiling,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  one  year,  and  the  next  year  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  the  same  occupation  in 
connection  -with  farm  work.  Having  saved 
enough  money  to  purchase  a  team  in  1887, 
he  rented  a  farm  in  Unity  township  in  con- 
nection with  his  brothers.  N.  B.  and  S.  B. 
Larson,  and  the  following  year  took  entire 
charge  of  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  which  he  operated  successfully  for 
four  years.  A  part  of  the  time  he  also  had 
charge  of  his  brother's  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres.  At  present  he  rents  a  half- 
section  of  land  in  Moultrie  county,  which 
he  operates  together  with  his  own  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  7. 
Unity  township,  Piatt  county,  which  was 
part  of  the  McCabe  estate.  He  paid  twenty 
thousand  three  hundred  and  ninety  dollars  for 
this  place,  and  has  erected  thereon  a  substan- 
tial residence  and  made  other  improvements 
to  the  amount  of  three  thousand  dollars.  He 
has  tenants  upon  his  land,  but  gives  his  per- 
sonal supervision  to  the  work,  which  is  car- 
ried on  in  the  most  systematic  and  practical 
manner.  Mr.  Larson  is  also  interested  in 
stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  short- 
horn cattle  and  thoroughbred  Norman 
horses,  and  he  owns  two  registered  mares 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


75 


sired  by  Dewey  and  an  interest  in  some  fine 
stallions  in  this  county. 

In  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  October  3, 
1894,  Mr.  Larson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Selma  Nelson,  also  a  native  of  Sweden 
and  a  daughter  of  Nels  and  Bessie  Nelson. 
She  came  to  the  United  States  in  1889,  and 
by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother  of 
two  children:  Luella,  born  June  8,  1896,  and 
Elmer,  born  April  i,  1899.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Larson  are  members  of  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran church,  and  he  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. He  has  become  thoroughly  identified 
with  the  interests  of  his  adopted  country, 
and  is  well  known  as  an  enterprising  and  re- 
liable business  man,  one  who  keeps  abreast 
with  the  times.  All  who  know  him  hold  him 
in  high  esteem. 


GILBERT  A.  BURGESS. 

The  name  of  Gilbert  A.  Burgess  is  close- 
ly associated  with  educational  interests  of 
tion  has  been  carried  on  in  this  connec- 
tiontion  has  been  carried  on  in  the  school- 
room and  through  the  press.  He  is  now  the 
editor  of  the  Piatt  County  Republican,  pub- 
lished in  Monticello. 

Mr.  Burgess  was  born  in  Sigourney,  Ke- 
okuk  county,  Iowa,  February  12,  1848,  and 
is  a  son  of  D.  G.  Burgess,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  New  York.  When  quite  young  the 
father  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval from  the  Empire  state  to  Illinois,  the 
family  home  being  established  near  Ellisville, 
Fulton  county.  The  grandfather  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  community, 
coming  to  Illinois  when  much  of  the  state 
was  still  unsettled  and  unimproved.  It  was 
amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life  in  Ful- 


ton county  that  D.  G.  Burgess  was  reared 
and  with  the  family  he  shared  in  the  hard- 
ships and  trials  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  pio- 
neers. In  1844  he  became  a  resident  of 
Iowa,  which  was  still  under  territorial  gov- 
ernment. He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
in  Iowa  City,  where  he  spent  two  years,  and 
in  1846  he  went  to  Sigourney,  Iowa,  being 
connected  with  the  building  interests  at  that 
place  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1855,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years.  He 
had  married  Louisa  Smith,  who  was  born 
in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  she,  too,  died 
at  a  comparatively  early  age,  passing  away 
when  her  son  Gilbert  was  only  two  years 
old.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Hezekiah  and 
Lydia  Smith,  who  were  born  in  Indiana  and 
became  early  settlers  of  Fulton  county, 
whence  they  removed  to  Keokuk  county, 
Iowa,  in  1843.  Mr.Smith  was  a  millwright, 
carpenter  and  builder  and  these  pursuits  oc- 
cupied his  time  and  energies  until  his  death. 
At  the  early  age  of  seven  years  Gilbert 
Burgess  was  left  an  orphan,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1856  went  to  live  with  his  pater- 
nal grandmother  in  Henry,  Marshall  county, 
Illinois.  He  resided  with  her  until  1861, 
when  he  removed  to  Warren  county,  Illi- 
nois, there  making  his  home  with  his  uncle, 
Henry  B.  Burgess,  through  the  succeeding 
years,  coming  with  him  in  the  year  1866  to 
Piatt  county.  His  early  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  public  schools  and  two  years 
in  Lombard  University  at  Galesburg,  while 
in  Eastman's  Business  College  of  Chicago  he 
had  mastered  the  branches  of  a  commercial 
course  in  the  winter  of  1865-6.  In  the  fall 
of  1866  he  began  teaching  in  Kankakee  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  the  following  summer  he 
spent  in  Iowa,  but  in«the  fall  of  1867  he  re- 
turned to  Illinois  and  taught  at  Mackville. 
For  ten  years  he  followed  his  chosen  profes- 


76 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


sion  during  the  winter  seasons  and  in  the 
summer  months  engaged  in  farming.  He 
entered  the  state  normal  school  at  Normal, 
in  the  spring  of  1876,  therein  pursuing  a 
course  of  advanced  study  until  1878,  when 
he  graduated.  For  one  year,  1878-9,  he  was 
assistant  in  the  high  schools  of  Monticello 
and  then  hecame  superintendent  of  the 
schools  of  this  city,  serving  in  that  capacity 
for  two  years.  When  a  vacancy  occurred 
in  the  position  of  county  superintendent  of 
schools  in  July,  1881,  he  was  chosen  to  fill 
out  the  unexpired  term  and  subsequently  re- 
appointed  to  the  same  office  for  a  year.  At 
the  regular  election,  1882,  he  was  chosen  for 
a  term  of  four  years,  and  thus  served  as 
county  superintendent  for  more  than  five 
years  altogether,  during  which  time  the 
schools  made  rapid  advance. 

Since  leaving  the  position  of  county  su- 
perintendent of  schools  in  Piatt  county  Mr. 
Burgess  has  been  connected  with  journalis- 
tic work.  Removing  to  Decatur  in  the  spring 
of  1887  he  engaged  in  the  publication  of  a 
school  journal  in  which  he  owned  an  inter- 
est. He  then  purchased  the  entire  interest 
in  the  business,  and  returning  to  Monticello, 
issued  the  first  edition  of  the  Piatt  Independ- 
ent in  December,  1887.  In  1.889  ne  erected 
the  substantial  building  in  which  he  is  now 
located,  and  in  1892  bought  the  Piatt  Coun- 
ty Herald.  Since  then  the  union  of  the  two 
papers  has  been  known  as  the  Piatt  County 
Republican.  This  was  sold  to  a  joint  stock 
company  in  1896,  and  Mr.  Burgess  has 
since  been  its  editor  and  manager. 

On  the  i8th  of  June,  1874,  he  was  joined 
in  wedlock  to  Miss  Jane  Conaway,  a  native 
of  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Melissa  Cayton  Conaway. 
Three  sons  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Burgess :  Lou.  Fred  and  Ralph,  all  of 


whom  are  of  age.  Mr.  Burgess  is  a  mem- 
ber 'of  Fraternal  Lodge,  No.  58,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M. ;  Markwell  Chapter,  No.  48,  R.  A.  M., 
Monticello  Counsel,  No.  27,  R.  &  S.  M., 
and  Monticello  Chapter  No.  159,  and  in 
these  various  departments  of  Masonry  he 
has  held  office.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Ur- 
bana  Commandery  No.  16,  Knights  Tem- 
plar. 


HON.  J.  N.  RODMAN. 

An  enumeration  of  the  prominent  and 
honored  men  of  Piatt  county  would  be  in- 
complete without  mention  of  Hon.  J.  N. 
Rodman,  who  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  in 
1903,  is  serving  as  representative  to  the  gen- 
eral assembly  of  Illinois  from  the  twenty- 
fourth  district,  comprising  Champaign, 
Moultrie  and  Piatt  counties.  He  now  resides 
in  DeLand,  but  for  many  years  has  been  ac- 

J     J 

lively  associated  with  farming  interests 
within  the  county.  His  activities  have 
touched  along  other  lines  of  business,  and 
his  keen  discrimination,  wise  counsel  and 
unfaltering  diligence  have  been  important 
factors  in  the  successful  control  of  many 
public  and  private  concerns. 

Mr.  Rodman  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Muskingum  coun- 
ty in  1848.  In  his  childhood  days  he  was 
brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents,  Scammon 
and  Eliza  (Woolf)  Rodman,  who  located  in 
McLean  county.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  mother  of  Virginia. 
On  emigrating  westward  they  took  up  their 
abode  upon  a  farm  in  Oldtown  township, 
McLean  county,  where  they  spent  their  re- 
maining days,  the  father  devoting  his  ener- 
gies untiringly  to  agricultural  interests.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  while  his 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years.  In  their  family  were  ten  children,  of 
whom  the  suhject  of  this  review  was  the 
eighth.  He  has  one  brother  who  resides  in 
DeLand. 

J.  N.  Rodman  was  reared  in  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  and  began  his  education  in 
one  of  the  old-time  log  schoolhouses,  which 
were  common  throughout  this  state  in  pio- 
neer days.  Later  he  spent  two  years  as  a 
student  in  the  Wesleyan  University,  pursu- 
ing a  general  course  and  through  the  years 
of  an  active  manhood  his  knowledge  has 
been  constantly  broadened  by  reading,  expe- 
rience and  observation.  He  first  worked  up- 
on the  old  home  place  known  as  the  Cusey 
farm.  He  continued  to  assist  his  father  in 
the  operation  of  his  land  until  the  time  of 
his  marriage,  which  occurred  on  the  I3th  of 
October,  1878,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Clara  E.  Colvin,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  James  Colvin  who  always  made 
his  home  in  the  Buckeye  state,  and  who 
was  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  there 
serving  for  years  as  county  commissioner. 
He  had  a  family  of  six  children,  including 
Mrs.  Rodman. 

Prior  to  his  marriage  Mr.  Rodman  pur- 
chased and  shipped  stock,  making  his  head- 
quarters at  Holder,  Illinois,  for  several 
years.  After  his  marriage  he  began  farm- 
ing in  1879,  settling  in  Goose  Creek  town- 
ship, Piatt  county,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  identified  with  its  agricultural  interests. 
In  1 88 1  he  removed  to  the  I.  W.  Scott  place 
of  five  hundred  acres,  and  this  he  has  con- 
tinued to  operate  and  improve.  He  has 
been  buying  and  selling  land  throughout  the 
years  of  his  residence  in  McLean  and  Piatt 
counties,  and  in  addition  to  his  property  in 
Illinois,  he  also  owns  land  in  the  cotton  belt 
of  Mississippi.  A  man  of  marked  business 


ability  he  is  quick  to  note  opportunity  and 
to  utilize  it.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  State  Bank  of  DeLand,  of  which  he  is 
now  the  vice  president,  and  his  enterprise 
arid  counsel  have  been  valued  factors  in  the 
successful  control  of  this  institution.  For 
some  time  Mr.  Rodman  was  also  proprietor 
of  a  grain  elevator  in  DeLand,  but  has  now 
disposed  of  the  property.  While  still  on  the 
farm  he  engaged  in  the  raising  of  cattle, 
hogs  and  horses,  and  he  brought  up  Lady 
Rodman,  training  her  to  a  record  of  2  :i5/4- 
When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rodman  were  liv- 
ing upon  the  home  farm  their  place  was  not- 
ed for  its  open-handed  hospitality,  and  their 
door  was  never  closed  to  their  many  friends 
and  they  now  occupy  a  very  attractive  and 
beautiful  residence  in  DeLand,  fitted  up  with 
every  modern  convenience,  including  both 
hot  and  cold  water,  bath  rooms,  a  hot  air 
ph.nt  for  heating  and  a  lighting  plant.  This 
home  is  the  center  of  a  cultured  society  circle 
and  its  good  cheer  is  greatly  enjoyed  by 
those  who  visit  them.  Mrs.  Rodman  is  a 
valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  is  a  most  estimable  lady.  In 
his  social  relations  Mr.  Rodman  is  a  Mason, 
belonging  to  DeLand  Lodge,  No.  812,  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury Lodge,  No.  603,  K.  P.,  and  has  twice 
been  its  representative  to  the  grand  lodge, 
and  was  its  first  chancellor  commander.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican and  has  kept  well  informed  on  the  is- 
sues and  questions  of  the  day,  but  steadily 
refused  to  accept  office  until  1902,  when  he 
was  prevailed  upon  to  become  a  candidate 
for  the  general  assembly.  He  made  a  suc- 
cessful race  and  was  elected,  so  that  he  is 
now  a  member  of  the  house  of  representa- 
tives. He  served  as  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  roads  and  bridges,  and  has  been  a 


8o 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


member  of  the  committees  on  agriculture, 
appraising,  farm  drainage,  federal  buildings, 
live  stock  and  dairying  and  warehouses.  He 
was  likewise  made  a  member  of  the  commit- 
tee whose  purpose  it  was  to  visit,  inspect  and 
report  upon  penal  and  reformatory  institu- 
tions. A  man  of  keen  perception  and  un- 
bounded enterprise,  his  success  in  life  is  due 
entirely  to  his  own  well  directed  efforts,  and 
he  deserves  prominent  mention  among  the 
leading  and  representative  business  men  of 
his  town  and  county.  Over  his  life  record 
there  falls  no  shadow  of  'wrong ;  his  public 
service  has  been  most  exemplary,  and  his 
private  life  has  been  marked  by  fidelity  to 
duty. 


ELI  F.  WOLFE. 

Eli  F.  Wolfe,  deceased,  who  for  many 
years  was  one  of  the  most  honored  and  high- 
ly esteemed  citizens  of  Cerro  Gordo  town- 
ship, was  born  on  the  8th  of  January,  1849, 
in  Clinton  county,  Indiana,  his  parents  be- 
ing Eli  and  Barbara  (Mussellman)  Wolfe, 
both  natives  of  Ohio.  He  was  one  of  a 
family  of  seven  children,  two  of  his  broth- 
ers being  now  residents  of  Kansas,  while  one 
sister  lives  in  California  and  another  makes 
her  home  in  Dakota. 

About  1865  Mr.  Wolfe  came  to  Piatt 
county,  Illinois,  and  took  up  farming,  which 
he  followed  successfully  until  failing  health 
caused  his  retirement.  For  about  a  year 
prior  to  his  death  he  was  confined  to  his 
bed  most  of  the  time,  and  he  passed  away 
on  the  nth  of  March,  1902,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-three  years,  one  month  and  twenty- 
four  days.  Four  of  his  children  had  previ- 
ously died. 

Mr.  Wolfe  was  married  March  7,  1869, 


to  Miss  Catharine  Wolfe,  who  was  born 
near  Lafayette,  Indiana,  in  1849,  and  in 
1861  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  with 
her  parents,  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Shively) 
Wolfe.  They  were  natives  of  Ohio,  born 
near  Dayton.  Her  father  purchased  a  half 
section  of  wild  land  one  mile  east  of  La 
Place,  but  did  not  live  long  to  enjoy  his 
new  home,  departing  this  life  in  January, 
1870.  His  wife  survived  him  some  years 
and  died  in  1887.  Their  children  were: 
Solomon,  deceased;  Catharine,  widow  of 
our  subject;  Lizzie,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Eli,  who  first  married  Fanny  Friesner  and 
second  Mary  Metzger,  and  is  the  owner  of 
a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on 
section  34,  Cerro  Gordo  township,  which 
came  to  him  by  inheritance ;  David,  who  died 
with  consumption  when  about  twenty-five 
years  of  age;  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years;  George,  who  married  Ella 
Friesner  and  lives  south  of  Mrs.  'Catharine 
Wolfe. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born 
seven  children,  but  only  three  are  now  liv- 
ing, namely :  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Cyrus 
Metzger,  a  resident  of  Cerro  Gordo  town- 
ship, and  has  two  children,  Clarence  and 
Goldie.  Frank  married  Dolly  Baney,  of 
Cerro  Gordo  township  and  lives  on  the 
home  farm,  one  mile  east  of  La  Place. 
Laura  is  with  her  mother. 

Since  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Wolfe 
has  made  her  home  in  LaPlace,  where  she 
has  erected  a  very  comfortable  residence, 
surrounded  by  beautiful  shade  trees.  She 
still  owns  the  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  willed  her  by  her  husband  and 
now  rented  to  her  son  Frank.  The  place  is 
improved  with  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings, and  the  land  is  well  tilled  and  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  Mrs.  Wolfe  has 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


81 


witnessed  the  greater  part  of  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  section  of  the  state. 
When  the  family  settled  in  Cerro  Gordo 
township  much  of  the  land  was  covered  with 
sloughs  and  ponds  and  was  thought  unfit 
for  cultivation,  but  it  has  since  been  tiled 
and  drained  and  converted  into  the  best 
farming  property  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Wolfe  led  a  very  quiet,  peaceful  and 
industrious  life  and  was  a  model  husband 
and  loving  father.  He  was  an  active  and 
prominent  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
or  Brethren  church,  to  which  his  wife  and 
children  also  belong,  and  was  a  trustee  of 
the  same.  His  funeral  was  conducted  by 
Elder  M.  J.  McClure,  of  that  church,  and 
his  death  was  widely  and  deeply  mourned, 
for  he  had  many  friends  among  all  classes 
of  people  who  appreciated  his  sterling  worth 
and  many  excellencies  of  character.  For 
many  years  he  held  the  office  of  school  di- 
rector and  never  withheld  his  support  from 
any  object  which  he  believed  would  advance 
the  interests  of  his  fellow  men  or  promote 
'the  general  welfare. 


ALBERT    C.  EDIE. 

Endowed  by  nature  with  strong  mental- 
ity and  a  keen,  logical  power  of  resolving 
intricate  problems  into  their  component 
parts  and  thus  gaining  knowledge  of  the 
points  at  law  which  bear  upon  them,  Albert 
C.  Edie  Iras  won  success  and  prominence  at 
the  bar  of  Piatt  county,  where  he  has  prac- 
ticed for  almost  eight  years  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Reed  &  Edie.  At  the  present 
time  the  firm  style  is  Reed,  Edie  &  Reed,  the 
son  of  the  senior  member  having  recently 
been  admitted. 


Mr.  Edie  is  one  of  Piatt  county's  native 
sons;  his  birth  having  occurred  upon  the 
home  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo  township,  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1868,  his  parents  being  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Amelia  J.  (Funk)  Edie.  The 
father  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio, 
in  1844,  and  the  mother's  birth  occurred  in 
Washington  county,  Indiana,  in  1843,  her 
father  being  Abraham  Funk,  one  of  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  that  locality.  William  H. 
Edie  served  his  country  as  a  Union  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war,  rendering  valiant  service 
on  the  battlefields  of  the  south,  and  after 
receiving  an  honorable  discharge  he  re- 
turned to  his  old  home  in  Ohio.  Later  he 
came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  located 
on  a  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo  township,  where 
he  resided  for  a  number  of  years,  devoting 
his  time  and  attention  to  the  development 
and  further  improvement  of  his  farm.  Aft- 
er some  years  had  passed,  during  which  time 
he  acquired  a  comfortable  competence,  he 
came  to  Monticello,  where  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  now  living.  He  has  retired  from 
business  cares,  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edie 
are  numbered  among  the  highly  respected 
citizens  of  the  community. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  Al- 
bert C.  Edie  was  reared  and  in  Cerro  Gordo 
township  he  began  his  education,  attending 
the  district  schools,  while  later  he  entered  the 
Cerro  Gordo  school,  in  which  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  class  of  1887.  Desirous  to 
make  the  practice  of  law  his  life  work,  he 
then  began  preparing  for  the  bar  in  the  of- 
fice and  under  the  direction  of  W.  G.  Cloyd, 
of  Bement,  who  was  his  preceptor  for  a 
year.  He  then  went  to  Decatur  and  spent 
one  year  in  the  office  of  Judge  W.  C.  Johns, 
and  in  1892  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  before  the  supreme  court  at  Springfield. 
After  his  admission  he  took  charge  of  the 


82 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Building  and  Loan  Association,  at  Cerro 
Gordo,  remaining  there  for  two  years,  and 
on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  came  to 
Monticello,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  In  1894  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  S.  R.  Reed,  a  distinguished  member  of 
the  Piatt  county  bar,  with  whom  he  has  since 
been  associated  in  practice,  and  the  law  firm 
ranks  first  among  the  lawyers  of  the  coun- 
ty. Their  clientage  is  extensive,  embracing 
connection  with  the  most  important  litiga- 
tion which  comes  before  the  courts  of  the 
district.  As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Edie  has  the  suc- 
cess which  might  naturally  be  looked  for 
where  close  application  and  immense  power 
for  work  are  united  to  mental  strength  and 
quickness,  an  excellent  memory  and  a  large 
appetite  for  the  activities  of  the  profession. 

In  .1894  Mr.  Edie  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Gallic  M.  Fisher,  of  Monticel- 
lo, a  daughter  of  E.  P.  and  Ellen  M.  (Ward) 
Fisher.  Mrs.  Edie  is  a  lady  of  culture  and 
innate  refinement  and  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Monticello.  By  her  marriage 
she  has  become  the  mother  of  two  sons.  Burl 
A.  and  Willis  R.  The  family  have  a  good 
home  in  Monticello  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Edie  have  the  warm  regard  of  many  friends 
here. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Edie  is  a  stal- 
wart Republican,  and  for  six  years  he  served 
as  city  attorney  of  Monticello,  his  term  of 
office  expiring  in  May,  1903.  While  the 
incumbent  he  was  a  most  loyal  official,  giv- 
ing most  careful  attention  to  the  legal  inter- 
ests of  the  city.  Socially  he  is  connected 
with  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  204,  K.  P.,  and 
he  is  the  secretary  of  the  Monticello  Busi- 
ness Men's  Association,  and  president  of  the 
hoard  of  education.  Everything  pertaining 
to  the  social,  intellectual,  political  and  moral 
progress  of  his  community  receive  his  in- 


dorsement, nor  has  his  co-operation  been 
found  lacking  along  lines  for  the  general 
good. 


ANDREW  J.   LANGLEY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  finds  an  ap- 
propriate place  in  the  history  of  men  of  busi- 
ness and  enterprise  in  the  state  of  Illinois, 
whose  force  of  character,  whose  sterling  in- 
tegrity, whose  fortitude  amid  discourage- 
ments, whose  good  sense  in  the  management 
of  complicated  affairs  and  of  marked  success 
in  establishing  and  bringing  to  completion 
important  business  interests,  have  contrib- 
uted in  an  eminent  degree  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  best  resources  of  this  common- 
wealth. His  career  has  not  been  helped  by 
accident  or  luck,  wealth,  family  or  powerful 
friends,  but  he  is  in  the  broadest  sense  a  self- 
made  man,  being  both  the  architect  and 
builder  of  his  fortunes,  but  not  only  has  he 
won  proninence  in  business  life,  but  has  al- 
so gained  high  regard  .by  his  genuine 
worth.  He  is  now  the  vice  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Mansfield  and  was 
long  associated  with  agricultural  interests, 
his  home  at  the  present  time  being  on  his 
farm  on  section  17,  Blue  Ridge  township. 

Mr.  Langley  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Erie  county 
about  four  miles  from  the  city  of  Erie  on 
the  ist  of  October,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Jane  (Weston)  Langley,  who 
were  likewise  natives  of  the  Keystone  state. 
The  Langley  family  is  of  Scotch  extraction 
and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject  came  from  the  land  of 
the  heather  to  the  new  world,  locating  in 
Erie  county.  There  he  afterward  followed 
farming  until  called  to  the  home  beyond. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


It  was  in  Erie  county  that  he  was  married 
and  reared  his  family.  James  Langley  also 
became  an  agriculturist,  and  with  his  fam- 
ily he  removed  to  the  west  in  1853,  estab- 
lishing his  home  in  Macoupin  county,  Illi- 
nois. The  subject  of  this  review  was  then 
a  youth  of  sixteen  years.  The  journey  was 
made  overland  and  nineteen  and  a  half  days 
had  passed  ere  they  reached  their  destina- 
tion. They  did  not,  however,  travel  on  Sun- 
days. After  arriving  in  Macoupin  county 
the  father  purchased  land  and  continued  to 
engage  in  farming  there  until  his  demise. 
He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  of  whom  four  are  yet  living,  but 
Andrew  J.  Langley  is  the  only  one  now  re- 
siding in  Piatt  county.  One  of  the  family 
is  living  in  Seattle,  Washington,  another 
in  Mississippi,  and  the  sister  is  a  resident  of 
Eureka  Springs,  Arkansas. 

In  the  schools  of  Erie  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Andrew  J.  Langley  began  his  educa- 
tion which  he  afterward  continued  in  the 
public  schools  of  Macoupin  county,  Illinois. 
He  also  spent  one  term  in  a  commercial 
school  of  Gerard,  Pennsylvania.  Under  the 
parental  roof  he  remained  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  business  as  a 
farmer  and  nurseryman  in  Macoupin  county. 
As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  the  jour- 
-ney  of  life  he  chose  Miss  Celia  A.  Curtis  and 
the  wedding  was  celebrated  on  the  nth  of 
March,  1859.  The  lady  is  also  a  native  of 
Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Hulda  Curtis,  natives  of 
Xew  York,  whence  they  removed  to  the 
Keystone  state,  where  the  father  followed 
farming.  The  Curtis  family  is  probably  of 
English  lineage  and  Mrs.  Langley  is  one  of 
a  family  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
yet  living.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife 
were  born  six  children,  but  a  son  and  daugh- 


ter died  in  infancy.  Elmer  E.,  the  eldest,  is 
now  living  in  Morris,  Stevens  county,  Min- 
nesota. He  married  Emma  Smith,  who  died 
leaving  two  children :  Elbert  E.,  who  makes 
his  home  in  Minnesota  with  his  father;  and 
Emery  F.,  who  is  residing  with  his  grand- 
parents, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langley.  Frederick 
Lincoln,  the  second  son  of  the  family,  re- 
sides at  Bingham  Lake,  Minnesota.  He 
wedded  Mattie  Holman  and  they  have  three 
children,  Max,  Wilbur  and  Celia.  James  C. 
Langley  is  the  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Mansfield.  Roy  A.  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  Morris,  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Langley  returned  to  the  east  for  his 
wife  and  then  brought  his  bride  to  Macoupin 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  carried  on  farming 
until  1865,  and  likewise  devoted  some  atten- 
tion to  the  nursery  business.  That  year  he 
came  to  Piatt  county  and  purchased  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  which  was  then  par- 
tially improved,  having  upon  it  a  little  house 
of  two  rooms.  He  erected  a  new  residence, 
also  built  outbuildings  and  has  improved  the 
place  in  many  ways.  It  was  almost  destitute 
of  trees  when  he  took  up  his  abode  there, 
but  the  place  is  now  surrounded  by  many 
beautiful  trees.  Mr.  Langley  was  planting 
a  grove  of  five  acres  of  walnut  trees  when 
a  messenger  riding  across  the  country  from 
Champaign  county  called  to  him  the  news 
that  President  Lincoln  had  been  assassinated. 
Mr.  Langley  then  gave  to  the  place  the  name 
of  Lincoln  Grove.  For  a  numberof  years  he 
successfully  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits, 
but  not  caring  to  be  burdened  with  the  su- 
pervision of  an  extensive  farm  here,  he  has 
since  sold  all  of  the  home  place  with  the  ex- 
ception of  eighty  acres.  However,  he  has 
landed  possessions  in  South  Dakota,  in 
Minnesota  and  Nebraska,  having  wisely  in- 
vested his  money  in  real  estate. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


In  1893  in  company  with  his  son  J.  C., 
and  William  Firke,  Mr.  Langley  founded 
what  became  known  as  the  Langley,  Firke 
&  Langley  private  bank.  This  was  afterward 
sold  to  John  M.  Dighton  &  Company  of 
Monticello,  and  they  reorganized  the  State 
Bank  of  Mansfield,  with  which  Mr.  Langley 
was  identified  until  1902.  In  that  year  in 
connection  with  W.  D.  Fairbanks  and  his 
son,  J.  C.  Langley,  he  founded  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Mansfield,  its  present  officers 
being  W.  D.  Fairbanks,  president;  A.  J. 
Langley,  vice  president,  and  J.  C..  Langley, 
cashier.  Mr.  Langley  has  always  given  his 
political  support  to  the  Republican  party 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot,  and 
he  was  a  warm  admirer  as  well  as  a  personal 
friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  For  about 
fourteen  years  he  served  as  supervisor  of 
Blue  Ridge  township,  holding  the  office  for 
twelve  consecutive  years  and  for  one  term 
he  was  chairman  of  the  board.  He  has  been 
chairman  of  nearly  all  of  the  committees  of 
the  board  and  has  done  effective  and  helpful 
service  in  behalf  of  the  county  through  the 
exercise  of  his  official  prerogatives.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  Mansfield 
Lodge,  No.  773,  F.  &  A.  M. 

He  and  his  wife  are  now  the  only  peo- 
ple living  on  the  "ridge,"  who  were  here 
when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langley  arrived  and 
their  own  home  place  has  never  been  out  of 
their  possession  and  the  property  is  a  monu- 
•  ment  to  the  enterprise  and  efforts  of  the 
subject  of  this  review.  While  always  active 
in  matters  of  citizenship  for  the  general 
good  Mr.  Langley  has  never  taken  an  active  ' 
part  in  political  work  in  the  hope  of  gaining 
office,  having  always  preferred  to  give  his 
attention  to  the  superintendence  of  his  pri- 
vate business  affairs  and  extensive  invest- 
ments. A  man  of  unswerving  integrity  and 


honor,  one  who  has  a  perfect  appreciation  of 
the  higher  ethics  of  life,  he  has  gained  and 
retained  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
fellow  men  and  is  distinctively  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Piatt  county,  with  whose 
interests  he  has  been  identified  for  more  than 
a  third  of  a  century. 


WILLIAM  H.  DILATUSH. 

Among  the  enterprising  and  energetic 
young  business  men  of  Piatt  county  is 
numbered  William  H.  Dilatush,  the  popular 
cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  DeLand.  He 
was  born  in  this  county,  July  5,  1871,  and 
is  a  son  of  George  D.  Dilatush,  a  resident  of 
Decatur.  The  father  in  early  manhood 
wedded  Cynthia  Jeffries,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
He  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  but  in  his 
boyhood  days  emigrated  westward  with  his 
parents  to  the  Buckeye  state  and  located  in 
Warren  county.  They  were  married  in  Ohio 
and  in  1868  they  removed  westward  to  Illi- 
nois, settling  in  Lincoln,  Logan  county. 
There  they  lived  until  1870,  when  they  took 
up  their  abode  in  Cerro  Gordo  township, 
Piatt  county,  where  Mr.  Dilatush  purchased 
land  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  followed 
that  pursuit  until  1890,  when,  having  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competence  sufficient  to 
enable  him  to  put  aside  business  cares  and 
rest  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his 
former  toil,  he  removed  to  Decatur,  where 
he  has  since  lived  retired.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dilatush  were  the  parents  of  five  children : 
Frank  V.,  a  resident  of  Monticello;  Jarvis 
J..  who  is  living  in  Utah;  Elmer  E.,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Decatur;  Lida  E.,  who  is 
with  her  parents ;  and  William  H.,  of  this, 
review. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


In  the  district  schools  William  H.  Dila- 
tush  began  his  education  which  was  con- 
tinued in  Monticello  high  school,  of  which 
he  is  a  graduate.  On  putting  aside  his  text- 
books he  entered  upon  his  business  career  in 
the  capacity  of  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  of 
Race,  Handlin  &  Company,  with  whom  he 
continued  for  four  years.  He  then  went  in- 
to the  postoffice  book  'store,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years,  and  in  1898  he  came 
to  DeLand,  accepting  the  position  as  cashier 
in  the  John  Kirby  &  Company  Bank.  This 
institution  was  reorganized  in  1899  as  the 
State  Bank  of  DeLand,  with  John  Kirby  as 
president  and  W.  H.  Dilatush  as  cashier. 
The  bank  was  capitalized  for  twenty-five 
.  thousand  dollars  and  is  a  most  reliable  finan- 
cial institution.  The  bank  building  is 
splendidly  equipped,  being  fitted  up  with  a 
Mosler  safe  manufactured  at  Hamilton, 
Ohio.  There  is  also  a  safety  deposit  vault 
with  sixty  boxes.  The  building  was  erected 
in  1902  at  a  cost  of  eleven  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
plete bank  buildings  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
A  general  banking  business  is  carried  on 
along  progressive  lines  and  yet  the  policy 
of  the  firm  is  conservative  enough  to  insure 
perfect  safety  to  depositors. 

In  October,  1898,  Mr.  Dilatush  was  unit- 
ed in  marriage  to  Miss  Ida  Stevenson,  a 
daughter  of  Wilbur  Stevenson,  of  Monticello, 
The  young  couple  have  many  warm  friends 
in  DeLand  and  Piatt  county,  and  their  own 
home  is  celebrated  for  its  gracious  hospitali- 
ty. Mr.  Dilatush  is  a  member  of  DeLand 
Lodge,  No.  812,  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  of  Twen- 
tieth Century  Lodge,  No.  603,  K.  P.,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Democrat.'  He  has 
served  as  supervisor  of  Goose  Creek  town- 
ship, filling  the  office  from  1899  until  1901. 
He  is  a  typical  American  citizen,  wide-awake 


and  enterprising,  quick  to  notice  business 
opportunities  and  to  utilize  them  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  his  individual  success.  At 
the  same  time  he  is  ever  in  touch  with  public 
progress  and  improvement  and  co-operates 
in  many  measures  for  the  general  good. 


JOHN  W.  HILLIGOSS. 

In  public  affairs  in  Mansfield  John  W. 
Hilligoss  has  been  prominent  and  his  efforts 
in  behalf  of  the  general  progress  have  been 
far-reaching  and  effective.  He  was  born  in 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  on  the  ist  of 
October,  1841,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Darnall)  Hilligoss,  who  were  also  natives 
of  the  Bluegrass  state.  The  former  was  a 
farmer,  and  in  following  that  pursuit  pro- 
vided a  comfortable  living  for  his  family. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  died  when  about  sixty- 
eight  years  of  age,  and  they  were  laid  to 
rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Elizaville,  Fleming 
county.  In  their  family  were  the  following 
children :  John  W. ;  James  T.,  who  is  de- 
ceased ;  Jeanette.  a  resident  of  Fleming 
county,  Kentucky;  Mary,  who  is  a  widow 
and  lives  in  Fleming  county;  Maggie,  who 
makes  her  home  in  Lexington,  Kentucky; 
Cynthia,  who  is  also  living  in  Fleming  coun- 
ty ;  Clyde,  who  has  passed  away ;  and  Robert 
E.  Lee,  who  resides  in  LaSalle  county,  Il- 
linois. 

Under  the  parental  roof  John  W.  Hilli- 
goss spent  his  boyhood  days,  and  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  he  acquired  his  education,  contin- 
uing his  studies  there  until  about  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  student  through 
the  winter  months,  and  during  the  summer 
seasons  he  engaged  in  farming,  assisting  in 
the  operations  of  the  old  home  place.  At 


86 


PAST    AND     PRESENT 


the  age  of  nineteen  he  began  teaching  in  his 
home  locality,  and  he  there  continued  to  re- 
side until  his  removal  to  Illinois.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  true  to  his  loved  southland,  he 
responded  to  the  call  of  the  Confederates 
for  troops  and  enlisted  as  a  member  of  the 
command  of  Colonel  Thomas  Johnson,  join- 
ing the  army  at  Mount  Sterling,  Kentucky. 
He  was  in  the  service  for  two  years,  and  on 
the  gth  of  July,  1864,  at  Mount  Sterling, 
he  was  wounded  in  the  right  leg.  which  was 
amputated  just  above  the  knee  on  the  I2th 
of  the  same  month.  This,  of  course,  inca- 
pacitated him  for  further  service  and  he  re- 
turned to  his  home. 

He  continued  to  reside  in  Fleming  coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  until  1868,  when  he  decided  to 
establish  his  home  in  Illinois,  and  took  up 
his  abode  near  Mattoon,-this  state.  There 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school  successfully 
until  1873,  when  he  came  to  Mansfield, 
and.  for  thirty  years  he  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  place.  The  favorable  opinion  passed 
upon  him  at  the  outset  of  his  career  here 
has  never  been  set  aside,  or  in  any  degree 
modified,  for  he  has  always  lived  so  as  to 
command  the  respect  and  good  will  of  his 
fellow  men.  For  two  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  here,  and  in  1881 
he  established  the  Mansfield  Express  which 
had  its  origin  in  Mahomet  in  1878.  He  has 
since  published  the  paper  which  is  independ- 
ent in  politics,  and  which  has  a  good  circu- 
lation and  a  constantly  growing  patronage. 
It  is  devoted  to  the  advancement  of  the  lo- 
cal and  general  news  and  to  the  furtherance 
of  the  best  interests  of  this  locality,  and  is 
a  leading  journal  of  Piatt  county. 

On  the  gth  of  July,  1872,  Mr.  Hilligoss 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hester 
House,  of  Champaign  county,  and  they 
now  have  a  daughter,  Clyde,  who  is  the  wife 


of  John  R.  \Yatkins,  who  is  conducting  a 
job  printing  business  in  Urbana,  Illinois. 
Socially  Mr.  Hilligoss  is  connected  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  belong- 
ing to  Brothers  Lodge,  No.  589,  in  Mans- 
field. He  has  filled  all  of  its  offices  and  has 
twice  represented  the  local  lodge  in  the 
grand  lodge;  is  thoroughly  informed  con- 
cerning the  tenets  and  teachings  of  the  or- 
der, and  his  life  has  been  guided  by  its  be- 
neficent principles.  In  public  affairs  he  has 
been  prominent  and  has  served  as  village 
clerk,  and  also  as  township  clerk.  During 
his  long  residence  in  this  county  he  has  be- 
come very  widely  known,  and  Mansfield 
numbers  him  among  its  respected  and  hon- 
ored citizens. 


WILLIAM  H.  PIATT. 

It  is  most  fitting  that  there  be  accorded 
due  mention  in  this  biographical  history  of 
this  prominent  representative  of  a  family 
whose  name  is  borne  by  the  county  and 
whose  members  have  been  so  prominent  in 
promoting  the  various  interests  which  have 
contributed  to  the  country's  welfare  and 
progress  along  all  lines  of  substantial  im- 
provement. Since  the  time  that  the  first 
members  of  the  Piatt  family  located  in  this 
section  of  the  state  the  name  has  figured  con- 
spicuously in  connection  with  its  material, 
social,  intellectual  and  moral  development. 
Fortunate  is  the  man  who  has  back  of  him 
an  ancestry  honorable  and  distinguished,  and 
happy  is  he  if  his  lines  of  life  are  cast  in  har- 
money  therewith.  In  appearance  and  in  tal- 
ents Mr.  1'iatt  is  a  worthy  scion  of  his  race, 
and  after  more  than  fifty  years  of  honorable 
and  active  connection  with  the  agricultural 


W.   H.   PIATT 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


interests  he  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  hav- 
ing long  since  passed  the  Psalmist's  span  of 
three  score  years  and  ten.  Indeed,  he  has 
now  reached  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years — 
a  venerable  man  whose  upright  life  should 
serve  as  a  source  of  inspiration  and  as  an 
example  for  emulation. 

The  Piatt  family  is  of  French  lineage  and 
was  established  in  America  by  John  Piatt, 
the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who 
was  a  Huguenot  in  religious  faith.  He  left 
his  native  country  of  France  and  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  America,  establishing  his  home 
during  colonial  days  in  New  Jersey,  where 
he  died  in  1760.  Abraham  Piatt,  his  son 
and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  New  Jersey  in  1741  and  became  a  sur- 
veyor. He  emigrated  to  Center  county, 
Pennsylvania,  casting  in  his  lot  with  its  pio- 
neer settlers  and  taking  an  important  part  in 
the  work  of  development  and  improvement 
there.  When  the  colonists  attempted  to 
throw  off  the  yoke  of  British  oppression  he 
joined  the  American  army  and  fought  for 
the  independence  of  the  nation.  He  held  the 
rank  of  colonel  and  rendered  valiant  and  ef- 
fective service  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  He 
did  not  live  very  long,  however,  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  this  long  struggle,  for  when  fifty 
years  of  age  he  passed  away,  dying  on  the 
1 3th  of  November,  1791,  from  the  effects  of 
of  a  cold  which  he  contracted  while  engaged 
in  surveying  a  large  tract  which  was  given  to 
him  for  his  services  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Jacob  Piatt,  a  brother,  was  also  an 
officer  under  Washington  and  was  also 
granted  land. 

Among  the  children  of  Abraham  Piatt 
was  James  A.  Piatt.  in  whose  honor  this 
county  was  named.  His  birthplace  was 
Center  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  year  of 
his  birth  1/89.  He  was  for  many  years  iden- 


tified with  pioneer  life  not .  only  in  Illinois, 
but  also  in  Indiana.  In  1815  he  left  Penn- 
sylvania and  removed  to  Brookville,  Frank- 
lin county,  Indiana,  at  which  time  that  state 
was  still  under  territorial  rule.  The  place  of 
his  destination  was  a  small  village  and  was 
situated  upon  what  was  then  the  very  west- 
ern frontier.  There  Mr.  Piatt  engaged  first 
in  merchandising,  but  frequently  he  fol- 
lowed freight-boating  on  the  Mississippi 
river,  taking  many  cargoes  to  New  Orleans, 
which  has  then  the  market  for  all  that  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  for  the  era  of  railroads 
had  not  dawned  upon  the  nation  and  ship- 
ments were  made  by  water.  Mr.  Piatt  also 
made  several  trips  to  Cuba  with  live  stock. 
Fn  1828  he  established  the  first  tin  shop  in 
Indianapolis,  and  through  two  years  was  en- 
gaged in  business  there  as  a  hardware  and 
tin  merchant.  There  was  something  in  his 
nature  that  was  in  accord  with  pioneer  con- 
dition, and  in  1829  he  again  resumed  his 
westward  journey.  He  came  to  what  is  now 
Piatt  county,  Illinois,  reaching  the  present 
site  of  Afonticello  on  the  7th  of  April,  after 
a  journey  made  with  ox  teams.  All  was 
wild  and  unimproved.  The  prairies  were 
still  as  they  came  from  the  hand  of  nature, 
not  a  furrow  having  been  turned  or  an  im- 
provement made.  At  that  time  there  existed 
a  preemption  law  whereby  settlers  were  en- 
abled to  hold  land  for  five  years  before  enter- 
ing it.  Mr.  Piatt  made  wise  choice  of  his  se- 
lection of  land,  although  many  at  that  time 
would  have  wondered  at  his  choice,  for  his 
nearest  neighbor,  with  one  exception,  was 
fifteen  miles  distant.  As  years  passed,  how- 
ever, this  land  greatly  increased  in  value,  and 
he  carried  on  the  work  of  farming,  his  labors 
being  attended  with  very  creditable  and  grat- 
ifying success.  The  first  family  home  was 
a  pioneer  cabin  built  of  logs,  and  for  many 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


years  it  has  stood  on  the  Monticello  fair 
grounds,  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  pioneer 
days,  and  an  interesting  relic  of  the  early 
times  when  such  homes  sheltered  all  the 
early  settlers.  Another  indication  of  the  wild- 
ness  of  the  district  was  the  large  number  of 
Indians  who  still  lived  in  this  part  of  the 
state,  and  Mr.  Piatt  became  agent  for  a  con- 
tractor who  supplied  the  red  men  with  ra- 
tions at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812.  He 
found  favor  with  the  Indians  who  regarded 
Mr.  Piatt  as  the  donor  of  the  supplies,  and 
always  held  him  in  grateful  remembrance, 
frequently  giving  expiration  of  their  appre- 
ciation of  his  bounty  by  bestowing  upon  him 
venison  and  other  wild  game.  No  history 
of  central  Illinois  would  be  complete  with- 
out mention  of  this  gentleman,  so  promi- 
nently was  he  associated  with  the  early  de- 
velopment of  the  locality.  He  aided  in  laying 
broad  and  deep  the  foundation  for  the  pres- 
ent progress  and  prosperity  of  the  county  and 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1838,  caused 
an  irreparable  loss  to  central  Illinois.  His 
work  in  connection  with  the  capture  of  horse 
thieves  in  an  early  day  was  likewise  notable. 
At  that  time  such  law  breakers  infested  the 
country,  for  owing  to  its  unsettled  condition, 
they  had  good  opportunity  to  get  away. 
However,  Mr.  Piatt  was  relentless  in  his 
search  for  such  thieves,  and  more  than  one 
instance  is  related  of  his  skill  in  capturing 
those  who  had  stolen  horses.  In  the  spring 
of  1832  two  of  his  best  horses  were  stolen, 
and,  accompanied  by  a  neighbor,  he  traced 
the  thieves,  capturing  them  in  Indiana  near 
the  Ohio  line.  He  then  returned  with  them 
to  Decatur,  where  they  were  tried,  con- 
victed and  sentenced  to  be  whipped  by  the 
sheriff,  one  thief  to  receive  thirty-nine 
lashes  and  the  other  forty-nine.  The  follow- 
ing year  Mr.  Piatt,  accompanied  by  his  son, 


William  H.,  of  this  review,  went  to  Ohio 
county,  Kentucky,  in  search  of  a  horse  thief, 
whom  they  arrested  and  took  to  Ottawa,  Il- 
linois, for  trial.  During  the  Black  Hawk  war 
James  A.  Piatt  served  as  a  ranger  in  Illinois 
under  the  command  of  Major  Warnick,  who 
had  been  an  officer  under  General  Jackson  in 
the  war  of  1812.  In  civil  life  Mr.  Piatt  was 
also  prominent.  In  the  early  days  he  served 
as  one  of  the  county  commissioners  of  Macon 
county  for  seven  years  before  the  division  of 
the  district  into  Macon  and  Piatt  counties. 
His  influence  was  ever  given  on  the  side  of 
progress  and  improvement,  and  he  well  de- 
served the  honor  of  having  the  new  county 
called  by  his  name. 

In  the  early  schools  of  Indianapolis  and 
of  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  William  H.  Piatt 
pursued  his  studies,  although  his  educational 
privileges  were  extremely  limited.  He  left 
school  when  only  eleven  years  of  age,  and 
although  he  has  become  a  broad-minded  man 
and  one  of  good  general  information,  this  is 
due  to  his  experience  and  observation.  He 
has  possessed  an  observing  eye  and  retentive 
memory,  and  these  qualifications,  added  to 
keen  discernment,  have  gained  for  him  prac- 
tical experience  of  much  value  in  the  busi- 
ness world.  His  surroundings  and  environ- 
ments in  boyhood  were  those  of  the  frontier, 
and  he  assisted  in  the  arduous  task  of  devel- 
oping new  land  and  of  reclaiming  the  region 
for  the  purpose  of  civilization.  After  arriv- 
ing at  years  of  maturity  he  chose  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  for  life's  journey,  being 
united  in  marriage  on  the  loth  of  April,  1838, 
to  Miss  Clarinda  Marquiss,  who  was  born 
in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in  1819,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Barnes.) 
Marquiss,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  became  pioneers  of  Piatt  county.  As 
the  years  passed  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


Piatt  was  blessed  with  seven  children: 
James  A.,  who  is  now  deceased;  Abraham, 
deceased ;  Charles,  who  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising;  Frances, 
the  wife  of  W.  E.  Lodge,  of  Monticello;  Je- 
mima, the  wife  of  W.  E.  Smith,  a  merchant 
of  Monticello;  and  Emma  L.,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Llewellyn,  of  Chicago.  She  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Illinois  University  and  is 
the  author  of  the  Piatt  county  history. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piatt  began  their  domestic 
life  upon  a  farm,  and  throughout  his  business 
career  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits. 
His  first  home  was  the  site  of  the  present  fair 
grounds  near  Monticello,.  where  he  lived  for 
a  short  time.  In  the  fall  of  1839  he  built  a 
cabin  on  the  banks  of  Goose  Creek  in  the 
township  of  that  name,  and  while  his  wife 
cared  for  the  little  home  he  engaged  in  the 
labors  of  the  fields.  In  his  farm  work  he 
prospered.  The  land  was  rich  and  proved 
very  productive,  returning  excellent  crops  in 
reward  for  the  labors  bestowed  upon  the 
fields.  As  his  financial  resources  increased 
Mr.  Piatt  ma<le  judicial  investments  in  real 
estate,  and  from  time  to  time  has  made  pur- 
chases and  sales  that  have  proven  of  profit 
and  added  largely  to  his  income.  He  en- 
tered land  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
much,  of  which  he  improved  and  sold  to  his 
children.  He  has  fenced  and  broken  over 
two  thousand  acres  and  he  now  has  in  his 
possession  about  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  this  land,  upon  which  he  has  made 
many  fine  improvements.  In  the  years  1864 
and  1865  he  erected  a  large  brick  house 
upon  a  beautiful  site  in  the  midst  of  a  fine 
grove  of  walnut  trees  that  have  stood  for 
ages  upon  the  place. 

Mr.  Piatt  has  not  confined  his  attention 
solely  to  the  cultivation  of  his  fields  and  to 
the  purchase  and  sale  of  property,  but  has 


also  engaged  in  large  measure  in  cattle  deal- 
ing. He.began  this  business  in  1841  and  for 
some  time  was  associated  with  his  brothers 
in  the  enterprise.  In  1851  he  drove  his  first 
herd  of  cattle  to  Philadelphia  and  thence  to 
the  New  York  city  market,  making  the 
journey  on  horseback.  Later  he  made  va- 
rious other  trips  to  the  east  with  stock  at 
a  time  when  there  were  no  railroads  and 
when  it  required  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  days  to  make  the  trip.  For  several 
years  he  dealt  very  extensively  in  stock 
which  he  purchased  in  various  states  and 
drove  to  the  eastern  market.  Thus  he  add- 
ed annually  to  his  income  and  to-day  Mr.  , 
Piatt  is  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  the 
county. 

While  extensive  business  interests  have 
claimed  his  attention  he  has  ever  found  time 
and  opportunity  to  assist  in  many  measures 
of  progress  and  improvement  and  to  co-op- 
erate actively  along  lines  leading  to  the  per- 
manent development  of  central  Illinois.  In 
measures  for  the  public  good  his  assistance 
is  not  sought  in  vain  and  while  he  has  given 
generously  of  his  means,  his  wise  counsel 
and  practical  judgment  have  also  been  valued 
factors  in  the  control  of  affairs  of  public  mo- 
ment. He  has  never  sought  or  desired  office, 
in  fact,  the  demands  of  his  business  have 
been  too  great  to  allow  him  to  take  an  ac- 
tive part  in  political  work  even  had  he  de- 
sired to  do  so.  Hjs  fellow  townsmen  have 
frequently  solicited  him  to  become  a  candi- 
date and  at  one  time  he  served  as  commis- 
sioner of  Piatt  county.  With  this  exception 
he  has  always  refused  to  serve  in  political 
offices.  His  support,  however,  is  given  to 
the  Democracy  and  although  now  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  he  still  keeps  in  touch  with 
the  political  questions  of  the  day,  being  deep- 
lv  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  nation. 


92 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


The  life  history  of  Mr.  Piatt,  if  written 
in  detail,  would  give  a  comprehensive  and 
accurate  picture  of  pioneer  conditions  and  ex- 
perience in  the  county  which  bears  his 
name.  From  early  manhood  days  he  has 
seen  the  development  of  this  section  of  the 
state  and  has  witnessed  its  wonderful  trans- 
formation. When  he  came  here  with  his 
parents  he  found  the  broad  prairies  unculti- 
vated and  covered  with  the  native  grasses. 
There  was  in  the  vicinity  no  city  or  town 
of  any  importance  and  the  work  of  progress 
largely  lay  in  the  future.  The  district  was 
cut  off  from  the  comforts  and  conveniences 
of  the  older  east  by  long  stretches  of  prairie 
and  by  forests,  and  the  rivers  were  un- 
bridged  and  the  roads  were  oftentimes  al- 
most impassable,  especially  during  the  sea- 
son of  the  spring  rains.  A  mighty  work  lay 
before  the  pioneer  in  his  efforts  to  make  this 
section  of  the  country  inhabitable  and'  to 
cause  it  to  be  productive  enough  to  yield 
a  good  living  to  its  settlers,  but  the  frontiers- 
men were  people  of  courageous  spirit, 
strong  purpose  and  firm  determination  and 
in  the  course  of  years  have  accomplished  a 
work  for  which  present  and  future  genera- 
tions shall  owe  them  a  debt  of  gratitude  that 
can  never  be  repaid.  However,  we  can 
cherish  in  our  hearts  their  memory  and  re- 
ccunt  their  deeds  to  representatives  of  the 
younger  generations,  always  honoring  their 
name  and  giving  them  credit  for  the  splen- 
did task  they  accomplished.  The  life  record 
of  Mr.  Piatt  is  one  deserving  of  the  highest 
commendation.  -In  his  early  youth  he  had 
very  limited  opportunities  and  he  had  no 
capital  to  assist  him  as  he  started  out  upon 
his  business  career,  but  he  was  energetic, 
self-reliant  and  honorable,  and  these  qualities 
stood  him  instead  of  fortune.  He  worked 
ep.rnestlv  vear  after  vear  and  in  due  course 


of  time  his  labors  were  rewarded.  To-day 
he  is  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty, but  he  has  never  allowed  the  accumu- 
lation of  wealth  to  in  any  way  effect  his 
feelings  or  actions  toward  those  less  fortu- 
nate. 


NELSON  G.  COFFIN,  M.  D. 

Few  men  are  more  prominent  or  more 
widely  known  in  the  enterprising  city  of 
Monticello  than  Dr.  Nelson  G.  Coffin,  who 
has  been  the  leading  representative  of  the 
medical  fraternity  here  for  many  years. 
Now,  having  reached  the  eighty-second  year 
of  his  age,  he  is  living  retired  from  further 
professional  labors,  but 'still  gives  his  per- 
sonal supervision  to  the  management  of  his 
farm.  Through  many  years,  however,  he 
was  the  loved  family  physician  in  numer- 
ous households  in  the  city  and  county,  car- 
rying with  him  hope  and  comfort  by  his 
cheery  presence,  and  at  the  same  time  ren- 
dering effective  aid  in  the  elimination  of  dis- 
ease and  the  restoration  of  strength  and 
health. 

The  Doctor  is  of  English  lineage  and  rep- 
resents an  old  southern  family  that  was 
founded  in  America  in  colonial  days.  His 
grandfather  was  Samuel  Coffin,  who 
in  his  earlier  years  resided  in  North  Caro- 
lina, whence  he  removed  to  Indiana  at 
a  very  early  period  in  the  development  of 
the  latter  state.  Our  subject's  father.  Dr. 
William  Coffin,  was  born  in  North  Carolina 
in  1704,  and  was  a  graduate  of  the 
Medical  College  of  Ohio  at  Cincinnati.  He 
afterward  located  in  Newport,  Indiana, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession for  a  number  of  years.  Late  in 
life  he  removed  to  California,  where  he 


PI  ATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


93 


spent  his  last  days,  dying  in  January, 
1850.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  Eunice  Worth,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  and  died  in  Indiana  in  1869.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  'William  and  Abigail 
(Gardner)  Worth.  Of  the  children  born 
unto  Dr.  William  Coffin  and  his  wife  two 
sons  and  two  daughters  are  yet  living. 

Dr.  Nelson  G.  Coffin,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  record,  was  born  in  North  Car- 
olina on  the  3d  of  October,  1820.  When  he 
was  only  two  years  eld  his  parents  removed 
to  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  there  residing 
until  1848.  when  they  came  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  so  that  the  subject  of  this  review 
is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county 
in  which  he  yet  makes  his  home.  In  the 
spring  of  the  same  year  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Phoebe  D.  Johnson,  of 
Monticello,  who  was  born  in  Rhode  Island 
and  came  to  Piatt  county  about  the  year 
1847.  After  their  marriage  they  took  up 
their  abode  in  Monticello,  where  the  Doctor 
has  since  resided.  In  1857,  however,  he  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife, 
and  of  the  three  children  born  of  this  union 
only  one  is  now  living,  Eugene,  who  is  a 
physician  in  .Monticello.  He  was  graduated 
in  Dunham  Homeopathic  Medical  College  of 
Chicago,  after  obtaining  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  Jacksonville  College  at  Jacksonville, 
Illinois,  and  now  he  is  successfully  practic- 
ing in  Monticello. 

Dr.  Nelson  G.  Coffin  prepared  for  his 
profession'  as  a  student  in  the  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Ohio  at  Cincinnati,  and  entered  up- 
on the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Vermil- 
ion county.  Indiana,  in  1843.  For  five  years 
he  continued  his  work  there  and  then  came 
to  Piatt  county  at  the  time  of  his  parents' 
removal  here.  His  early  practice  extended 
throughout  the  county,  and  oftentimes  be- 


yond its  borders.  He  is  familiar  with  all 
the  experiences  which  come  to  the  early 
physician  who  located  upon  the  frontier. 
Calls  came  to  him  from  long  distances  and 
he  found  it  necessary  to  travel  over  almost 
impassable  roads,  while  oftentimes  he  had 
to  cross  swollen  streams  and  face  dangers 
in  so  doing.  The  weather  was  never  so  in- 
clement, however,  or  the  hardships  so  great 
that  Dr.  Coffin  would  not  respond  to  the 
call  of  the  sick  and  suffering.  As  the  years 
passed  he  kept  in  touch  with  the  progress 
that  has  ever  characterized  the  profession 
and  by  continual  reading  and  observation 
added  to  his  knowledge,  and  thus  rendered 
his  labors  more  effective  in  coping  with  dis- 
ease. 

For  many  years  the  Doctor  continued  in 
active  and  successful  practice.  He  left  his 
home  in  Monticello,  however,  in  August, 
1862,  feeling  that  his  duty  was  to  his  coun- 
try, and  that  he  should  render  whatever  aid 
he  could  to  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers 
in  the  south.  He  became  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois 
Regiment,  and  spent  most  of  his  time  in  the 
hospitals,  rendering  aid  to  the  wounded  and 
alleviating  all  who  need  professional  skill. 
He  was  at  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Tennessee, 
and  at  Nashville,  and  he  knows  all  of  the 
horrors  of  war  that  are  the  lot  of  the  soldier 
who  faces  danger  and  death  in  defense  of 
country  and  principles.  He  continued  at  his 
post  of  duty  until  July,  1865,  when  the  war 
having  ended,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  returned  to  his  home. 

Again  coming  to  Monticello,  Dr.  Coffin 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
in  1881  found  it  necessary  and  expedient  to 
remove  from  his  first  location  to  a  more 
commodious  brick  office  which  was  pleas- 
antly located  within  a  half  of  a  block  from 


94 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


the  public  square  of  Monticello.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession 
until  1874,  when  he  retired  and  since  that 
time  has  been  devoting  his  time  and  energies 
to  his  farming  interests.  He  is  the  owner  of 
a  valuable  tract  of  land  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  which  is  highly  cultivated  and 
improved  with  good  buildings. 

Man's  worth  in  the  world  is  determined 
by  his  usefulness — by  what  he  has  accom- 
plished for  his  fellow  men — and  he  is  cer- 
tainly deserving  of  the  greatest  honor  and  re- 
gard whose  efforts  have  been  of  the  greatest 
benefit  to  his  fellow  men.  Judged  by  this 
standard,  Dr.  Nelson  G.  Coffin  may  well  be 
accounted  one  of  the  distinguished  citizens 
of  Monticello,  for  almost  throughout  his 
professional  career,  covering  many  decades, 
his  labors  have  been  of  a  most  helpful  na- 
ture. His  deep  research  and  investigation 
have  rendered  his  work  effective  and  cer- 
tainly his  labors  have  been  of  the  greatest 
practical  benefit,  and  the  world  is  better  for 
his  having  lived.  Although  he  is  now  in 
his  eighty-third  year,  he  yet  takes  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  affairs  of  moment  to  the  city  of 
Monticello,  and  no  man  in  Piatt  county  is 
held  if  higher  regard  or  deeper  respect. 


REV.  WILLIAM  E.  MEANS 

Rev.  William  E.  Means,  the  well  known 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Atwood  Herald, 
and  a  prominent  citizen  of  Atwood,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois,  born  in  Paris,  Edgar  county, 
June  28,  1850.  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  N. 
and  Jane  (Quiett)  Means,  natives  of  Ohio 
and  Tennessee,  respectively.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  William  Means,  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent. 


Our  subject  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  a  farm  and  pursued  his  studies  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  until  he  entered  the 
high  school  of  Paris.  In  1874  he  became 
a  student  at  the  Northwestern1  University 
of  Evanston,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
theological  department  of  that  well  known 
institution  in  the  class  of '1879. 

After  his  graduation  Mr.  Means  joined 
the  Minnesota  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  was  appointed  pastor 
of  the  Rushmore  charge,  where  he  was  in- 
strumental in  erecting  .a  handsome  four 
thousand  dollar  church,  all  paid  for.  In  the 
middle  of  the  second  year  he  was  transferred 
to  Luverne,  where  the  church  was  greatly 
strengthened  by  a  very  successful  revival, 
the  house  of  worship  completed  and  the  way 
prepared  for  paying  off  a  crushing  debt 
Finding  the  Minnesota  winters  colder  than 
he  liked,  Mr.  Means  availed  himself  of  an  op- 
portunity to  be  transferred  to  the  South 
Kansas  Conference  in  the  spring  of  1884, 
and  was  there  instrumental  in  building  two 
churches,  one  a  temporary  building  at  Fort 
Scott,  which  has  since  become  Grace  church, 
and  the  other  a  beautiful  village  church  at 
Hiattville,  Kansas,  both  erected  in  1884. 
The  two  following  years  were  spent  in  Mo- 
ran,  Kansas,  and  were  very  fruitful,  more 
than  a  hundred  being  gathered  into  the 
church  and  the  church  thoroughly  organized. 
A  pastorate  of  three  and  a  half  years  on  the 
Caney  charge  was  likewise  fruitful  in  revi- 
vals, and  in  the  paying  of  a  crushing  debt 
on  the  church  building. 

In  October,  1891,  Mr.  Means  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Sidney,  Illinois,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  was  in  charge  of  the  Atwood 
church.  Failing  health  compelled  him  to 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


95 


retire  from  the  pastorate  in  the  fall  of  1893, 
and  he  has  since  held  a  supernumerary  rela- 
tion to  the  Illinois  conference,  often  render- 
ing efficient  service,  without  assuming-  the 
responsibilities  of  a  pastoral  charge.  In 
1895  Mr.  Means  leased  the  Atwood  Herald 
and  purchased  it  the  following  year.  This 
paper  was  established  in  1888,  is  independ- 
ent in  politics,  is  an  excellent  advertising  me- 
dium and  has  a  large  circulation. 

In  1884  Mr.  Means  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ella  M.  Chesnut,  of  Delavan, 
Minnesota,  and  to  them  has  been  born  one 
child,  a  son,  Cyril,  now  eighteen  years  of 
age.  Mr.  Means  exerts  a  healthful  influ- 
ence in  the  community,  both  personally  and 
through  the  columns  of  his  paper,  and  is  a 
man  whose  upright  character  wins  him  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
is  brought  in  contact. 


HENLEY   C.  WELLS. 

Upon  a  farm  on  section  13,  Blue  Ridge 
township,  resides  Henley  C.  Wells,  who  is 
one  of  the  progressive  agriculturists  of  the 
community.  He  was  born  August  16,  1857, 
in  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  a  son  of  John  B. 
and  Mary  Elizabeth  Wells.  The  father  was 
born  in  the  year  1837  in  Knox  county,  Ten- 
nessee, and  became  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
owning  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land  in  his  native  state.  At  the  time  of  the 
Civil  war  he  became  a  member  of  the  Ninth 
Tennessee  Cavalry.  Being  taken  ill  with 
typhoid  fever,  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  be 
moved  he  was  sent  to  his  home.  Our  sub- 
ject, who  was  then  but  a  boy,  got  a  horse 
and  together  the  father  and  son  rode  the 
horses  to  a  nearby  camp  of  soldiers.  When 


the  soldiers  saw  the  boy  they  caught  him 
in  their  arms  and  passed  him  from  one  to 
the  other,  so  glad  were  they  again  to  see 
a  boy,  having  long  been  separated  from 
their  own  homes  and  family  ties  by  the  war. 
The  country  had  been  devastated  by  the  rav- 
ages of  war  and  John  B.  Wells,  who  was  in 
very  comfortable  circumstances  prior  to  the 
outbreak  of  hostilities,  was  left  almost  pen- 
niless at  the  close  of  the  long  conflict.  His 
wife  had  received  thirty  thousand  dollars  in 
Confederate  money  from  General  Lee  for 
damage  done  their  property  by  the  South- 
ern army,  but  the  father  was  only  able  to 
realize  about  twenty-five  dollars  on  the  en- 
tire amount. 

Henley  C.  Wells  started  out  for  himself 
at  the  age  of  twenty  years  by  working  at  the 
carpenter's  trade.  For  this  he  received  eight 
dollars  per  month.  Later  he  was  paid  a 
salary  of  twenty-five  dollars  per  month  for 
working  a  part  of  the  time  in  a  store  and  a 
part  of  the  time  on  a  farm.  He  resolved  to 
seek  his  fortune  north  of  the  Ohio  river  in 
1880,  and  removed  to  Greencastle,  Indiana, 
whence  he  afterward  went  to  Mahom- 
et, Champaign  county,  where  he  worked 
for  two  years  for  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Smith. 

In  the  year  1883  Mr.  Wells  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Lida  Pittman,  and  their 
marriage  was  blessed  with  four  children : 
Lillie  May,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years ;  Nora  Etta,  who  is  the  wife  of  R.  A. 
Robinson,  a  resident  of  Mansfield ;  Ethel 
Marie,  who  is  at  home;  Harrison,  who  is  at 
home  and  is  assisting  in  the  operation  of  the 
farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells  now  own  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  on  section  13,  Blue  Ridge 
township,  constituting  one  of  the  valuable 
farms  of  the  community.  He  improved  the 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


house  and  barn  in  the  spring  of  1903,  and 
has  planted  an  orchard  of  eighty  trees,  in 
fact,  he  has  added  all  modern  equipments 
and  accessories  to  his  place,  which  is  now 
a  desirable  property  and  one  on  which  he  is 
realizing  a  good  return  from  his  invest- 
ments. He  gives  the  greater  part  of  his 
attention  to  the  raising  of  grain,  but  to  some 
extent  also  raises  cattle  and  hogs. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Wells  is  a 
Mason,  holding  membership  with  the  lodge 
in  Mansfield,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, giving  an  earnest  support  to  the 
principles  of  the  party.  His  wife  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  church,  and  both  are  well- 
known  and  highly  respected  people  of  this 
community,  enjoying  the  warm  regard  of 
many  friends.  The}'  have  lived  here  for 
twenty  years,  and  throughout  this  period  the 
circle  of  their  friends  has  steadily  increased 
as  the  circle  of  their  acquaintance  has 
widened. 


BYRON   B.   JONES,   M.  D. 

In  the  death  of  Dr.  Byron  B.  Jones,  on 
the  2Oth  of  December,  1896,  Monticello  and 
Piatt  county  lost  one;  of  their  most  promi- 
nent and  highly  respected  citizens.  As  the 
day  with  its  morning  of  hope  and  promise, 
its  noontide  of  activity,  its  evening  of  com- 
pleted and  successful  effort,  ending  in  the 
grateful  rest  and  quiet  of  the  night,  so  was 
the  life  of  this  honored  man.  His  ca- 
reer was  a  long,  busy  and  useful  one,  of 
great  benefit  to  his  fellow  men,  and  he  leaves 
behind  him  a  memory  which  is  enshrined  in 
many  hearts.  He  was  ever  a  considerate  and 
genial  friend,  and  one  whom  it  was  a  pleas- 
ure to  know  and  meet  under  any  circum- 
stances. 


Doctor  Jones  was  born  in  Pickaway  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  on  the  26th  of  November,  1828,  and 
was  a  son  of  Dr.  George  G.  Jones,  a  native 
of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  born  on  the  26th  of 
March,  1796.  The  father  was  a  prominent 
figure  in  central  Ohio,  and  for  many  years 
enjoyed  a  wide  practice.  He  married  Miss 
Ann  Hanley,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
1810,  and  on  the  loth  of  June,  1832,  he 
passed  away.  His  wife,  long  surviving  him, 
died  in  1863. 

Dr.  Byron  B.  Jones  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Bloomfield,  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
and  after  acquiring  his  literary  education 
he  resolved  to  make  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine his  life  work  and  began  studying  with 
that  end  in  view.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
the  Starling  Medical  College,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  although  his  studies  were  not  prose- 
cuted continuously.  Coming  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  he  was  for  a  time  a  student  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  P.  K.  Hull,  one  of  the  early 
physicians  of  Circleville,  Ohio,  who  acted 
as  his  preceptor.  He  was  graduated  in 
1853,  and  in  1856  he  came  to  Monticello  and 
entered  into  partnership  with  Doctor  Hull, 
his  former  preceptor,  who  came  the 
year  before,  this  relationship  being  con- 
tinued until  Doctor  Hull's  death,  about 
1859.  Later  Doctor  Jones  was  asso- 
ciated with  Doctor  Noecker  for  two 
years.  He  continued  in  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession  here  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  covering  a  period  of  forty  years,  and 
not  to  know  Doctor  Jones  was  to  argue  one- 
self unknown  in  Piatt  county.  His  patron- 
age was  large  and  of  an  important  charac- 
ter. In  the  early  days  he  underwent  the 
usual  experience  of  the  physician  in  a  fron- 
tier district,  took  long  drives  across  the  coun- 
trv,  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  and  often  over 


DR.  B.   B.  JONES 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


99 


almost  impassable  roads,  but  he  was  always 
prompt  in  responding  to  the  call  of  the  sick 
and  suffering,  and  his  broad  sympathy  arid 
charitable  spirit  led  him  to  give  his  services 
often  when  he  knew  there  was  little  hope  of 
financial  remuneration.  In  later  years  his 
practice  was  confined  more  closely  to  the 
city,  and  his  professional  services  were  so 
effective  in  checking  disease  that  his  work 
made  constant  and  heavy  demands  upon  his 
time  and  attention.  In  April,  1862,  during 
the  Civil  war,  the  Doctor  entered  the  volun- 
teer service  as  assistant  surgeon,  being  com- 
missioned by  Governor  Yates  and  assigned 
to  the  Twenty-first  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, which  was  made  up  of  Piatt  and 
DeWitt  county  men.  He  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  for 
seven  months  aided  in  caring  for  the  sick 
and  wounded. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  1857,  Dr.  Jones 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Short,  of  Mechanicsburg.  Illinois,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Rezin  and  Mary  (Rawlins)  Short. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
after  some  years'  residence  in  Ohio,  he  re- 
moved from  Washington  Court  House,  that 
state,  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois.  His 
wife  was  a  native  of  Bloomingburg,  Fayette 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Judge  Sam- 
uel Rawlins,  of  that  county,  who  was  born 
near  Lexington,  Kentucky,  July  25,  i8it, 
and  became  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Ohio. 
Unto  the  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Jones  were  born 
two  children  who  are  yet  living:  Martha  A. 
and  Byron  P.,  at  home. 

Mrs.  Jones  was  educated  at  Washing- 
ton Court  House,  Ohio,  and  in  the  Cooper 
Seminary,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  is  a  most 
estimable  and  cultured  lady.  She  now  owns 
a  valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 

acres,  besides  her  home  in  Monticello,  and 
a 


a  farm  of  eighty  acres  near  Taylorville,  Il- 
linois. This  property  was  left  to  her  by  her 
husband,  who  passed  away  in  1896.  He 
was  for  many  years  a  prominent  and  hon- 
ored citizen  of  Piatt  county,  a  successful 
physician  and  a  gentleman  of  kindly  spirit. 
He  attained  success  in  his  profession  by 
close  application,  ready  adaptability  and 
broad  reading,  and  he  was  an  ideal  follower 
of  his  calling,  having  the  highest  regard  for 
the  ethics  of  the  medical  fraternity.  The 
Doctor  was  a  writer  of  ability,  especially 
poetry,  and  was  a  man  of  rare  talent  in  that 
direction.  He  was  very  fond  of  children 
and  they  loved  him  dearly. 


BENJAMIN  R.  WHITE. 

A  detailed  account  of  the  life  work  and 
environments  of  Benjamin  R.  White  would 
present  a  true  and  clear  picture  of  pioneer 
life  in  Piatt  county  and  of  the  development 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  has  for 
many  years  been  classed  with  the  leading 
and  substantial  agriculturists  of  the  com- 
munity, and  his  home  is  now  on  section  24, 
Sangamon  township.  He  was  born  in  Co- 
lumbus, Franklin  county,  Ohio,  June  21, 
1851,  and  is  the  son  of  John  M.  and  Rebecca 
(Williams)  White,  of  Monticello. 

Having  spent  the  first  thirteen  years  of 
his  life  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  he 
then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Piatt  county,  Illinois.  He  ha.d  be- 
gun his  education  in  Ohio,  pursuing  his  stud- 
ies in  a  log  schoolhouse,  such  as  was  common 
at  an  early  day,  and  after  his  arrival  in  the 
west  he  further  pursued  his  educational 
training  in  order  that  he  might  be  fitted  for 
the  transaction  of  business  in  later  life. 
Through  his  youth  he  remained  upon  what 


100 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


was  known  as  the  White  homestead,  con- 
tinuing with  his  father  until  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  on 
his  own  account,  renting  a  tract  of  land  up- 
on which  he  now  resides,  and  which  he  has 
owned  for  many  years.  Shortly  after  be- 
ginning his  farm  work  he  sought  a  compan- 
ion and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  and  was 
joined  in  wedlock  to  Sarah  J.  Seymour,  a 
daughter  of  F.  G.  and  Catherine  (Parker) 
Seymour. 

In  1880  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  his 
farm  of  Caleb  Tatman,  and  as  the  years 
have  passed  he  has  from  time  to  time  added 
to  his  possessions,  having,  in  1890,  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  his 
father's  farm  which  adjoined  the  Tatman 
property,  while  in  1901  he  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  of  Patrick  Mullen. 
These  three  tracts  of  land  join  and  our  sub- 
ject now  has  more  than  three  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  all  in  one  body,  constituting  one 
of  the  finest  farms  of  Piatt  county.  When 
he  began  farming  here  most  of  the  land  was 
raw  prairie,  and  he  tilled  the  soil  with  the  old 
style  plow,  driving  oxen  as  he  turned  the 
furrows.  He  experienced  with  the  family 
all  of  the  inconveniences  of  pioneer  life. 
There  are  many  hardships  to  be  encountered, 
many  difficulties  to  be  met,  but  by  persist- 
ency of  purpose  and  adaptation  of  the  means 
at  hand  he  has  mastered  every  obstacle  in 
his  path,  and  has  steadily  advanced  toward 
prosperity.  Upon  his  farm  he  has  erected 
a  residence  which  is  a  matter  of  pride  to  the 
entire  community,  and  is  built  in  a  modern 
style  of  architecture,  is  commodious  and  at- 
tractive and  is  supplied  with  all  modern  con- 
veniences. Throughout  this  broad  land 
there  are  no  finer  farms  to  be  found  any- 
where than  are  seen  in  Illinois,  and  Mr. 
White  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  coun- 


try homes  of  Piatt  county.  He  has  three 
windmills  of  improved  workmanship  upon 
his  place  and  four  self-opening  farm  gates. 
There  is  a  splendid  orchard  which  yields 
its  fruits  in  season  and  furnishes  a  large 
supply  for  the  winter  consumption.  Around 
the  home  extends  a  well  kept  lawn  adorned 
with  beautiful  shade  trees  and  the  fields  are 
now  under  a  very  high  state  of  cultivation. 
Mr.  White  has  built  every  fence,  planted 
every  tree  and  shrub,  made  every  improve- 
ment and  brought  his  farm  up  to  the  high 
state  of  cultivation  in  which  it  is  found  to- 
day. He  raises  corn,  oats  and  other  grain 
and  feeds  cattle  for  the  market.  He  has 
been  exceptionally  successful  in  raising  hogs 
and  his  sales  annually  reach  a  large  figure, 
He  has  also  engaged  in  breeding  full  blooded 
horses,  and  in  1889  he  went  to  Ohio,  where 
he  purchased  what  is  considered  the  best  lot 
of  road  horses  ever  brought  into  Illinois. 
He  also  became  the  owner  of  a  high  bred 
stallion,  a  sire  of  the  brother  of  the  noted 
race  horse,  J.  I.  C.,  which  is  known  as  Dic- 
tator. Mr.  White  certainly  deserves  great 
credit  for  what  he  has  done  in  the  county  in 
this  respect,  for  by  introducing  the  fine 
grades  of  horses  he  has  been  instrumental 
in  improving  the  horsed  raised  here,  and 
thus  in  advancing  market  prices.  Mr. 
White  holds  many  ribbons  won  at  the  coun- 
ty fairs  of  the  Piatt  County  Agricultural 
Society.  At  the  fair  held  between  the  ijth 
and  2ist  of  August,  1891,  he  won  three  first 
premiums  and  the  sweep  stakes  ribbon,  the 
first  on  the  stallion  Dictator  and  three  colts ; 
also  a  premium  on  the  mare  Rone  Bell  and 
her  colt  Maymorning:  a  next  on  the  suck- 
ing colt  Maymorning;  and  the  last  the 
sweep  stakes  prize  on  Rone  Bell.  At  the 
fair  held  from  the  2ist  to  the  25th  of  Au- 
gust, 1893,  he  took  the  first  prize  on  a  suck- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


101 


ing  colt,  also  the  first  prize  on  a  horse  and 
three  colts,  a  first  prize  on  a  roadster  horse 
colt,  and  the  second  prize  on  the  same  in  the 
same  ring. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  were  born 
six  children :  Edwin,  who  is  at  home  with 
his  father;  Benjamin  R.,  who  died  May  25, 
1900,  in  his  twenty-second  year;  Bessie, 
Seymour  J.,  Richard  P.  and  Maggie,  who 
are  at  home.  The  mother  of  these  children 
passed  away  April  9,  1889,  and  on  the  6th 
of  November.  1895,  Mr.  White  was  married 
to  Lola  M.  DeLand,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Ellen  (Converse)  DeLand,  who  are 
now  residents  of  White  Heath.  Mr.  White's 
children  have  fifty-eight  acres  of  land  on 
section  36,  Sangamon  township ;  twenty  acres 
on  section  I,  Sangamon  township;  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Scott  township, 
Champaign  county,  which  came  to  them  from 
their  grandfather,  F.  G.  Seymour's  estate, 
and  the  tract  is  now  under  the  supervision  of 
the  subject  of  this  review. 

Mr.  White  has  long  lived  in  Piatt  coun- 
ty and  has  witnessed  many  changes  here. 
He  says  that  at  one  time  he  drove  to  Mon- 
ticello  to  get  his  mail  before  the  village  of 
White  Heath  was  known.  At  the  postoffice 
there  he  was  asked  to  take  on  some  mail  for 
the  town  of  Lickskillet,  now  known  as  Cen- 
terville,  Illinois.  He  consented  and  the 
postmaster  threw  several  grain  sacks  full 
of  mail  into  the  back  end  of  the  sleigh.  He 
drove  home,  let  the  mail  stand  in  the  sleigh 
over  night  and  the  next  morning  took  it  to 
Lickskillet,  where  it  was  thrown  on  the 
platform  in  front  of  William  Smith's  store, 
and  the  people  then  came  and  took  the  mail 
that  belonged  to  them.  This  seems  very  odd 
when  we  think  of  the  perfectly  organized 
mail  system  of  the  country  at  the  present 
time.  The  first  year  after  Mr.  White  pur- 


chased his  property  he  made  enough  off  of 
his  wheat  to  pay  for  his  land  at  the  rate  of 
twenty  dollars  per  acre,  and  have  seven  and 
a  half  dollars  yet  remaining  to  each  acre. 
His  substantially  developed  farm  is  an  indi- 
cation of  his  life  of  industry  and  thrift.  He 
has  worked  earnestly  and  persistently  in'  or- 
der to  gain  a  competence  for  himself  and 
family,  and  to-day  he  is  classed  among  the 
substantial  agriculturists  and  stockdealers  of 
this  portion  of  the  state.  His  worth  as  a 
man  and  citizen  as  well  as  a  farmer  is  widely 
acknowledged,  and  all  who  know  Mr.  White 
entertain  for  him  high  regard. 


MATTHEW  T.  SCOTT. 

Matthew  T.  Scott,  who  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  and  resides  upon  his  farm  ad- 
joining the  village  of  Bement  on  the  north- 
east, is  a  native  of  the  state  of  Kentucky, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Lexington,  on 
the  2Oth  of  January,  1840.  The  Scott  fam- 
ily is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  and  was  es- 
tablished in  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  epoch 
in  the  history  of  America.  Matthew  Thomp- 
son Scott,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Kentucky,  locating  in  Lexington, 
where  he  became  a  prominent  and  influential 
citizen.  He  was  one  of. the  best  known  of 
the  prominent  bankers  of  the  south,  and  it 
was  largely  due  to  his  advice  and  influence 
that  the  Kentucky  banks  did  not  suspend 
payment  during  the  great  financial  panic  of 

1837- 

Isaac  W.  Scott,  the  father  of  Matthew 
T.  Scott,  of  Bement,  was  born  near  the  city 
of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  after  arriving 
at  years  of  maturity  he  was  engaged  in  gen- 


IO2 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


eral  merchandising,  and  also  in  the  manu- 
facture of  woolen  goods  for  the  southern 
trade,  yarn  being  the  principal  commodity 
which  he  made.  He  was  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Lexington  and  was  held  in  the 
highest  regard  by  his  fellow  men.  His  la- 
bors were  of  marked  benefit  in  prompting 
the  general  prosperity,  because  of  the  extent 
and  importance  of  his  commercial  and  in- 
dustrial enterprise.  In  connection  with  his 
manufacturing  and  mercantile  interests  he 
he  was  for  many  years  the  president  of  the 
Red  River  Iron  Works  Company.  In 
1833,  when  a  young  man,  he  journeyed 
through  Piatt  county,  investing  in  lands  for 
his  father.  From  Sadorus  Grove  he  made 
a  trip  of  fifty  miles  and  the  only  house 
which  he  passed  in  that  distance  was  the 
Piatt  house  at  Monticello,  where  he  passed 
the  night.  He  and  his  brothers  were  the 
first  to  introduce  the  system  of  tiling  in  this 
part  of  the  country,  and  a  great  amount  of 
wet  land  was  reclaimed  by  them  through 
this  method.  When  they  first  began  their 
tiling  operations  they  were  laughed  at,  and 
it  was  predicted  by  nearly  all  that  their  ef- 
forts would  prove  a  failure,  but  soon  the 
beneficial  effects  of  tiling  were  observed  by 
their  neighbors  and  others  followed  their 
example.  Isaac  W.  Scott  continued  to  make 
his  home  in  his  native  state,  however,  until 
the  spring  of  1874,  when  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  located  in  the  village  of  Bement,  there 
residing  for  a  number  of  years.  After  some 
years  spent  in  Illinois  he  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  where  he  is 
now  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years.  He  has  always  been  a  progress- 
ive and  enterprising  man  and  has  accumu- 
lated a  large  landed  estate.  His  wife  died 
in  the  city  of  Lexington,  in  1853,  in  the 
faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
she  was  a  faithful  member.  Mr.  Scott  has 


for  long  years  been  a  devoted  member  of 
the  same  church,  and  in  his  political  views 
he  was  a  Whig  until  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  of  which  he  is  still 
an  ardent  supporter."  This  worthy  couple 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  but  only 
three  are  now  living. 

In  Lexington,  Kentucky,  Matthew  T. 
Scott  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  and  in  its  schools  acquired  his  edu- 
cation. Soon  after  putting  aside  his  text- 
books he  engaged  in  the  ice  business  in  Lex- 
ington, which  he  followed  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1876  he  removed  to  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  settling  upon  the  farm  adjoining 
Bement,  which  is  still  his  home.  Here  he 
has  resided  continuously  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  and  for  twenty  years 
he  was  engaged  in  general  farming,  but  now 
lie  is  living  a  retired  life,  having  leased  the 
farm  to  a  tenant.  He  still  occupies  the  resi- 
dence that  stands  upon  his  land,  while  enjoy- 
ing a  rest  which  he  has  truly  earned  and 
richly  deserves. 

In  1 86 1  Mr.  Scott  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Kate  W.  Williams,  a  native 
of  Georgia,  whence  in  an  early  day  she  re- 
moved to  Pennsylvania  and  then  Kentucky, 
being  a  resident  of  Lexington  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Pro- 
fessor S.  R.  and  Mary  L.  (Chappelle)  Wil- 
liams. Her  father  was  principal  of  the 
Sayre  Seminary  for  young  ladies,  at  Lex- 
ington— quite  a  noted  educational  institu- 
tion of  that  day — and  he  had  formerly  been 
a  professor  in  one  of  the  colleges  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  became  well  known  through- 
out the  south  as  an  able  instructor  and  left 
the  impress  of  his  individuality  and  labors 
upon  the  educational  development  of  that 
section  of  the  country.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  now  deceased. 

Eleven  children  have  been  born  unto  Mr. 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


103 


and  Mrs.  Scott,  six  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Isaac  \Y.,  who  resides  on  the  home  place 
with  his  parents,  was  born  in  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  November  22,  1862,  and  obtained 
his  education  there  and  in  the  high  school 
of  Bement.  He  is  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  assisted  in  the  cultivation  of  the  old 
homestead  until  a  few  years  ago.  He  has 
taken  a  very  prominent  part  as  a  political 
worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party, 
but  has  never  sought  or  desired  political  pre- 
ferment. Socially  he  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  in  which  he 
has  passed  through  all  the  chairs,  and  he  is 
now  the  oldest  representative  of  the  order 
in  Piatt  county.  Those  of  the  family  now 
deceased  are  Joseph,,  Louise  Chappelle,  Sam- 
uel W.,  Mary  M.,  Matthew  T.,  Margaret 
S.,  John  W.,  and  Henry  S.  Ethelbert  Dud- 
ley and  Lucian  W.  are  still  under  the  parent- 
al roof. 

Mr.  Scott  holds  membership  with  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  in  his  political  views  he  is 
a  Prohibitionist,  which  indicates  his  views 
on  the  temperance  question.  He  believes 
that  intemperance  is  one  of  the  greatest  evils 
which  to-day  threaten  the  American  peo- 
ple, and  he  has  labored  by  precept  and  ex- 
ample to  promote  the  cause  of  its  suppres- 
sion. All  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare 
of  his  fellow  men.  all  that  tends  to  amelior- 
ate the  burdens  of  the  poor,  all  that  tends 
to  promote  the  progress  and  improvement  of 
the  race,  receives  his  earnest  endorsement. 


CARLTON    J.   BEAR. 

One  of  the  most  extensive  landowners  and 
successful  representatives  of  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Piatt  county  is  Carlton  J.  Bear,  of 


Monticello.  He  is  recognized  as  a  man  of 
exceptional  business  ability,  executive  force 
and  keen  discernment,  who  forms  his  plans 
readily  and  brooks  no  obstacles  to  their  suc- 
cessful completion  that  can  be  overcome  by 
persistent  and  honorable  effort.  He  is  very 
widely  known  as  one  of  the  most  prominent 
farmers  and  stock-breeders  of  Piatt  county 
and  as  a  leading  citizen  of  central  Illinois  he 
is  well  entitled  to  mention  in  the  history  of 
his  adopted  county. 

Mr.  Bear  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Mercer  county,  on 
the  ist  of  October,  1856.  His  father,  Jacob 
Bear,  was  born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
November  29,  1816,  and  the  grandfather, 
Peter  Bear,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  the  last 
named  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine Casner,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
several  children,  among  whom  was  Jacob 
Bear,  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  wedded 
Miss  Jemima  Casner,  whose  birth  occurred 
October  15,  1828,  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
both  being  representatives  of  early  pioneer 
families  of  that  county.  In  1834  Jacob  Bear 
cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  removing  to  this 
state  in  company  with  Martin  Bear,  his 
brother.  He  was  then  a  young  man  of  eigh- 
teen years,  possessed  of  energy  and  indus- 
try and  desirous  of  gaining  a  good  home 
and  competence  in  the  west.  Ten  years  later, 
in  1844.  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Casner  and  took  up  his  abode  upon  a  farm 
in  Mercer  county,  where  he  continued  to 
engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  for .  forty 
years.  He  prospered  in  his  undertaking, 
winning  success  through  careful  mnnage- 
ment  and  unremitting  diligence.  In  1884. 
however,  he  put  aside  the  cares  and  respon- 
sibilities of  business  life  and  removed  to  New 
Boston.  Illinois,  where  he  lived  retired  un- 


104 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


til  his  death,  which  occurred  March  19, 
1893.  His  widow  then  came  to  Monticello 
to  make  her  home  with  her  son,  Carlton  J. 
Bear,  and  here  died  October  12,  1895.  In 
the  family  were  three  children :  Roland, 
who  died  January  14,  1871;  C.  J.,  of  this 
review:  and  Clinton,  who  was  born  in  Mer- 
cer county,  Illinois,  July  4,  1859. 

On  the  home  farm  in  his  native  county 
Carlton  J.  Bear  was  reared  and  in  his  youth 
attended  the  district  school  near  his  home. 
He  also  spent  a  short  time  in  a  select  school 
and  then  returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  his  twenty-sixth  year,  giving 
his  father  the  benefit  of  his  services.  He 
became  familiar  with  farm  work  in  its  vari- 
ous departments  and  his  broad  experience 
proved  of  much  value  to  him  when  he  start- 
ed out  upon  an  independent  career. 

In  1882  Mr.  Bear  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Bertha  'R.  Mannon,  who  was 
born  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  on  the  i8th 
of  March,  1860,  the  only  daughter  of  James 
M.  and  Sarah  J.  (Moore)  Mannon.  Her 
father  was  a  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zen of  Mercer  county,  where  in  1856  he  was 
elected  county  sheriff.  He  served  most  ac- 
ceptably in  that  office  and  later  was  elected 
and  served  as  circuit  clerk.  At  the  time  of 
the  Civil  war  he  manifested  his  loyalty  to 
the  Union  cause  by  enlisting  in  its  defense, 
becoming  a  member  of  Company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Second  Illinois  Infantry.  On 
the  organization  of  the  company  he  was 
elected  its  captain,  and  his  meritorious  con- 
duct on  the  field  of  battle  won  him  various 
.promotions.  In  1862  he  was  commissioned 
major  of  his  regiment,  and  in  October  of 
the  same  year  was  promoted  and  commis- 
sioned lieutenant  colonel,  thus  serving  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  after  which  he  returned 
to  his  home  in  New  Boston,  where  he  died 
on  the  24th  of  May,  1901. 


Mrs.  Bear  was  reared  and  educated  in 
New  Boston,  and  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage went  with  her  husband  to  a  farm  in 
Mercer  county,  adjoining  the  old  Bear  home- 
stead. There  Mr.  Bear  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  upon  indus- 
try and  enterprise  he  placed  his  dependence, 
using  these  as  the  foundation  tlpon  which 
to  rear  the  superstructure  of  success.  He 
made  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  hogs  and 
cattle,  and  from  his  sales  realized  good 
profit.  As  his  financial  resources  increased 
he  added  to  his  landed  possessions  from 
time  to  time  until  he  had  between  seven  and 
eight  hundred  acres,  constituting  a  very  val- 
uable property.  In  1888,  however,  he  dis- 
posed of  his  landed  interests  in  Mercer  coun- 
ty and  came  to  Piatt  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased two  or  three  fine  farms.  He  has 
since  placed  his  capital  in  the  safest  of  all 
investments — real  estate — until  he  to-day 
owns  over  one  thousand  acres  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty land,  and  no  richer  land  can  be  found 
throughout  the  entire  country  than  is  to  be 
seen  in  central  Illinois.  He  rents  a  part  of 
his  land  and  the  remainder  is  devoted  to 
the  breeding  and  raising  of  fine  stock.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  high  grade  Aberdeen- 
Angus  cattle,  breeding  from  thoroughbred 
bulls,  and  he  has  some  of  the  finest  specimens 
of  that  stock  that  can  be  found  in  the  state. 
He  also  is  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  Berk- 
shire hogs.  His  bull  at  the  head  of  his  herd 
is  Vice  Consul.  His  farm  is  splendidly 
adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  used ; 
there  are  commodious  barns,  outbuildings, 
and  feed  yards ;  and,  in  fact,  the  farm  is  ex- 
cellently well  equipped  for  stock-raising.  In 
all  of  his  agricultural  and  kindred  interests 
Mr.  Bear  has  followed  progressive  methods 
and  his  efforts  have  been  followed  by  most 
creditable  and  gratifying  success. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bear  have  been  born 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


105 


six  children :  Paul  C,  who  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Monticello  high  school ;  Lee  M.,  who  is 
yet  in  school;  Grace  M.,  Ralph  W.  and 
Lloyd,  at  home;  and  one  that  died  in  infan- 
cy. In  1893  Mr.  Bea^r  built  a  residence  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Monticello,  constructed 
in  attractive  style  of  architecture  and  mod- 
ern throughout,  with  all  up-to-date  equip- 
ments, and  in  its  furnishings  and  interior 
decorations  it  indicates  comfort,  wealth  and 
cultured  taste. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Bear  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat and  served  for  one  term  as  supervisor 
of  Monticello  township.  He  takes  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  the  growth  and  success  of 
his  party,  although  he  has  never  been  a  poli- 
tician in  the  sense  of  office-seeking.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee  and 
elder.  An  intelligent  and  affable  gentleman, 
he  is  a  public-spirited  citizen  who  takes  a 
deep  and  helpful  interest  in  everything  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  the  community 
along  intellectual,  social,  material  and  moral 
lines,  and  he  has  gained  many  friends 
through  his  sterling  worth  of  character. 


W.   A.   FLECK. 

\Y.  A.  Fleck  is  now  serving  as  postmas- 
ter of  LaPlace  and  is  also  dealing  in  general 
merchandising  here.  He  is  a  young  man, 
and  the  success  which  he  has  achieved  is 
creditable  and  argues  well  for  a  prosperous 
future.  He  was  born  in  the  village  which 
is  still  his  home,  his  natal  day  being  August 
5,  1875.  His  parents  are  James  A.  and  Cath- 
erine (Horner)  Fleck,  the  former  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Crawford  county, 
Illinois.  The  father  came  to  Piatt  county  in 


1870,  settling  in  the  village  of  LaPlace, 
•where  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 
several  years.  He  also  filled  the  office  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  was  engaged  in  the  in- 
surance business  for  some  time.  He  then 
embarked  in  general  merchandising  here, 
and  successfully  conducted  his  store  until 
1902,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  his  son, 
W.  A.  Fleck,  of  this  review.  He  then  re- 
moved with  his  wife  to  Decatur,  and  they 
are  now  living  at  No.  328  East  Bradford 
street  in  that  city.  The  father  is  there  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  in  connection 
with  another  son,  under  the  firm  name  of 
B.  E.  Fleck  &  Company,  the  store  being  lo- 
cated at  the  corner  of  Morgan  and  Marietta 
streets.  Mr.  Fleck  is  a  typical  business  man 
of  the  west,  always  alert  and  energetic,  and 
has  attained  creditable  prosperity  in  the  con- 
duct of  his  business  affairs.  In  matters  of 
citizenship  he  is  loyal  and  progressive,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he  served  as  a 
soldier  in  defense  of  the  Union.  Unto  him 
and  his  wife  have  been  born  three  children : 
Benjamin  E.,  who  resides  in  Decatur  and  is 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  his 
father;  W.  A.,  of  this"  review;  and  Estella 
B.,  who  is  at  home. 

In  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
town  W.  A.  Fleck  obtained  his  education 
and  afterward  began  teaching  in  Cerro  Gor- 
do  township,  following  that  profession  for 
three  years  with  creditable  success.  In  1895 
he  became  a  representative  of  mercantile  in- 
terests of  LaPlace,  by  becoming  a  partner  of 
his  father  in  the  store  which  was  conducted 
here  under  the  firm  style  of  Fleck  &  Son 
until  October,  1902,  when  our  subject  pur- 
chased his  father's  interest,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  alone  in  business.  He  carries 
a  large  and  carefully  selected  stock  of  gen- 
eral merchandise  and  the  business  methods 


ic6 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


which  lie  has  there  followed  have  commend- 
ed him  to  the  confidence  and  patronage  of 
the  public.  In  October,  1902,  he  was  made 
postmaster  of  LaPlace,  and  is  now  occupy- 
ing that  position.  He  likewise  has  other 
business  duties,  being  agent  for  the  Hart- 
ford &  German  Insurance  Company.  His  is 
the  leading  stare  in  the  village,  and  Mr. 
Fleck  is  an  enterprising  young  merchant,  his 
life  being  typical  of  the  progressive  spirit  of 
the  times. 

Mr.  Fleck  was  united  in  marriage,  De- 
cember' 7.  1898.  to  Miss  Minnie  Carver, 
also  a  native  of  Cerro  Gordo  township  and 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Carver,  who  is  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Piatt  county  and 
now  resides  in  the  village  of  Cerro  Gor- 
do. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fleck  have  two  in- 
teresting children :  Ethel  and  Bernice. 
They  hold  membership  in  the  Christian 
church  and  are  people  of  sterling  worth,  held 
in  the  highest  esteem  because  of  their  many 
excellent  traits  of  heart  and  mind.  Mr. 
Fleck  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  having  endorsed  its  princi- 
ples since  he  attained  his  majority.  He  is 
now  serving  as  treasurer  of  Cerro  Gordo 
township. 

Socially,  he  is  connected  with  the  Wood- 
men Camp  at  LaPlace.  A  young  man,  he 
has  already  attained  an  enviable  position  in 
public  regard  and  in  business  circles,  and  he 
is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  his  entire  life  has  been 
passed. 


GENERAL  JOHN   L.    MANSFIELD. 

General  John  Lutz  Mansfield  spent  the 
closing  years  of  his  life  in  the  Illinois  town 
which  bears  his  name  and  of  which  he  was 


the  founder.  His  nature  was  too  broad  to 
bear  the  impress  of  the  prejudices  or  peculi- 
arities of  any  one  locality.  He  was  one  of 
those  great  characters  that  seem  to  compre- 
hend world-wide  conditions,  to  recognize  the 
trend  of  events  which  make  history,  and  to 
understand  the  needs  of  humanity  and  our 
possibilities  for  development.  He  labored 
long  and  earnestly  for  the  improvement  of 
the  race  along  those  lines  which  prove  of  per- 
manent good.  He  was  a  man  of  scholarly 
attainments,  a  lover  of  liberty  in  its  broadest 
and  best  sense,  an  educator  who  regarded 
his  mission  to  be  one  preparing  the  youth  to 
meet  life's  duties,  and  a  statesman  who 
looked  beyond  the  exigencies  of  the  moment 
to  the  possibilities  of  the  future  and  labored 
for  the  good  of  coming  generations  as  well 
as  for  those  of  the  present  age.  Piatt  coun- 
ty, during  the  years  of  his  residence  here, 
held  him  in  the  highest  honor,  and  the  town 
of  Mansfield  stands  as  a  lasting  monument  to 
his  memory. 

General  Mansfield  was  born  in  Bruns- 
wick, Hanover,  Germany,  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1803,  and  was  descended  from  ancestry  hon- 
orable and  distinguished.  His  father,  Ferdi- 
nand Lutz,  was  at  one  time  minister  of 
finance  in  Germany,  and  a  man  prominent 
in  the  affairs  of  the  government,  wielding  a 
wide  influence,  but  his  brilliant  career  was 
terminated  by  death  on  the  fiftieth  year  of  his 
age.  He  was  a  man  of  broad  education  and 
desired  that  his  son,  John,  should  receive  ex- 
cellent advantages  in  that  direction,  so  that 
capable  private  tutors  were  employed,  who 
instructed  him  in  various  languages  as  well 
as  in  rudimentary  and  more  advanced 
branches  of  learning.  Later  he  attended  some 
of  the  most  advanced  excellent  educational 
institutions  of  Germany,  being  a  student  in 
the  University  of  Leipsic  and  the  University 


GEN.  JOHN   L.  MANSFIELD 


i 


MRS.  JOHN   L.MANSFIELD 


I  MATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


in 


of  Gottingen.  He  was,  however,  instructed 
at  home  until  twelve  years  of  age.  He  then 
entered  a  school,  where  he  showed  marked 
aptitude  in  algebra  and  other  branches  of 
mathematics,  and  later  he  was  recognized  as 
having  few  superiors  in  mathematics  and  as- 
tronomy in  Germany.  He  was  a  favorite  pu- 
pil of  the  great  mathematician  Gaus,  and 
when  eighteen  years  of  age  Mr.  Mansfield 
was  offered  the  observatory  at-Gena,  but  de- 
clined the  honor  in  order  to  further  continue 
his  private  studies.  General  Mansfield's 
physical  training  was  not  neglected  in  the 
midst  of  his  arduous  mental  discipline,  and 
lie  developed  a  physique  and  vigor  which 
made  possible  the  great  performance  of  work 
which  he  did  in  later  years.  In  youth  he  was 
very  delicate  and  many  believed  that  he 
would  never  attain  his  majority,  but  he 
sought  out  physical  training  which  would  de- 
velop bone  and  sinew,  taking  as  his  pattern 
his  elder  brother,  who  was  a  general  under 
Napoleon,  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  powerful  men  in  the  service  of  the  Cor- 
sican.  The  result  of  his  careful  and  syste- 
matic physical  training  was  that  he  became 
an  expert  athlete,  and  was  a  leader  among  his 
fellow  students  physically  as  well  as  mentally, 
having  frequent  contests  of  strength,  and 
with  the  sword. 

While  thus  developing  physically  and 
mastering  the  principles  of  different  sciences 
and  gaining  familiarity  with  various  lan- 
guages, Mr.  Mansfield  was  also  formulating 
.  his  character  and  giving  shape  to  his  own 
destiny.  During  these  years  of  his  student 
life  he  was  giving  much  thought  to  the  study 
of  government,  its  purposes,  its  uses  and 
abuses.  He  became  a  champion  of  free  gov- 
ernment and  his  argument  and  efforts  in  his 
favor  largely  molded  the  opinions  of  those 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  became 


a  leader  in  a  free  government  movement 
among  his  fellow  students,  who  demanded 
the  recognition  of  the  principles  for  which 
they  stood.  One  night  General  Mansfield 
spent  the  night  with  some  fellow  students  in  a 
hotel.  He  was  sought  out  by  the  government 
authorities,  who  desired  his  arrest  because  of 
his  activity  in  the  rebellion,  and  the  next 
morning  he  was  captured  in  the  hotel,  which 
was  filled  with  soldiers,  but  their  vigilance  be- 
ing relaxed  for  a  brief  period,  he  managed  to 
escape  by  jumping  from  a  second-story  win- 
dow. He  lay  in  hiding  all  day  and  then  fled 
to  England. 

Although  General  Mansfield  could  con- 
verse fluently  in  the  French,  Spanish,  Italian 
and  German  languages  and  was  very  profi- 
cient in  Latin,  he  coud  not  speak  the  English 
language,  but  after  spending  six  weeks  in 
England,  he  had  largely  mastered  that 
tongue.  Desiring  rather  a  residence  in  "the 
land  of  the  free"  than  on  the  "merrie  isle," 
General  Mansfield  sailed  for  the  United 
States  in  1824,  the  vessel  in  which  he  took 
passage  dropping  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
New  York.  From  that  time  forward,  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country,  he  exerted  strong 
influence  over  public  thought  and  action, 
viewing  life  from  a  humanitarian  standpoint, 
at  the  same  time  studying  political,  social  and 
economic  questions  with  a  student's  and 
statesman's  grasp  of  affairs.  In  1831  he  be- 
came professor  of  mathematics  in  the  Tran- 
sylvania University,  at  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
occupying  that  position  for  twelve  years, 
during  which  time  some  of  the  most  distin- 
guished men  of  the  country  were  among  his 
students.  Promotion  came  to  him  in  the  in- 
stitution until  he  was  made  its  president,  and 
under  his  administration  the  university 
gained  in  reputation  and  in  the  extent  of  its 
patronage. 


[  IJ 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


On  severing  his  connection  with  Tran- 
sylvania, General  Mansfield  devoted  himself 
to  civil  engineering  and  surveyed  and  con- 
structed the  first  turnpike  through  Kentucky. 
It  was  while  he  was  living  in  that  state  that 
he  changed  his  name,  through  an  act  of  the 
legislature  to  John  Lutz  Mansfield.  The  influ- 
ences of  slavery  caused  him  to  remove  north 
of  the  Ohio  river,  so  that  his  children  might 
be  separated  from  the  institution.  A  lover 
of  liberty  and  of  equal  right,  he  became  bit- 
terly opposed  to  the  system  of  human  bond- 
age then  existing  in  the  south,  and  in  1853 
he  took  his  family  to  Madison,  Indiana, 
where  he  retired  from  active  business  life.  A 
man  of  such  breadth  of  thought,  strong  prin- 
ciple and  firm  convictions,  however,  could 
not  but  leave  his  impress  upon  the  public 
mind,  and  the  deep  interests  which  he  took 
in  political  questions  and  his  marked  patriot- 
ism led  to  his  selection  for  political  honors. 
Chosen  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state 
legislature,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Indiana 
senate  for  a  number  of  years,  filling  a  position 
in  the  upper  house  at  the  time  of  the  inaugu- 
ration of  the  Civil  war.  He  labored  earn- 
estly for  the  adoption  of  the  war  measures 
which  found  their  way  to  the  statute  books  of 
Indiana,  and  he  was  a  close  personal  friend 
and  adviser  of  Governor  Morton,  the  chief 
executive  of  the  state  during  the  period  of 
the  war.  In  1860  he  was  made  one  of  the 
electorsrat-large  in  Indiana  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  he  took  an  active  part  in  cam- 
paign work,  delivering  many  addresses,  not- 
ably the  one  on  the  merits  of  the  Dred  Scott 
Decision,  which  greatly  aroused  patriotism 
throughout  the  state.  When  the  war  came  on 
he  did  everything  in  his  power  toward  de- 
vising means  necessary  to  the  prosecution  of 
-the  war,  and  he  was  also  largely  instrumen- 
tal in  raising  troops  for  the  front. 


When  the  war  was  over  and  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Union  an  assured  fact,  Gen- 
eral Mansfield  removed  with  his  family  to  In- 
dianapolis, where  he  .  remained  for  several 
years,  coming  thence  to  Piatt  county  in  1870. 
He  took  up  his  abode  in  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship, where  he  had  previously  entered  an  ex- 
tensive tract  of  land,  and  here  he  founded  the 
town  which  bears  his  name. 

In  1841  General  Mansfield  had  been 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Josephine  A.  Tur- 
ner, who  was  born  in  New  Orleans  in  1821. 
They  became  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
one  of  whom,  Colonel  Fielding  Mansfield, 
was  the  youngest  colonel,  with  one  exception, 
in  the  Union  Army  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was 
for  some  years  a  manufacturer  of  St.  Louis. 
Oscar  is  a  prominent  stockman  and  resides 
in  Mansfield.  Margaret  became  the  wife  of 
~M.  C.  Straight  and  lives  in  Champaign.  Ma- 
ria, who  has  given  much  attention  to  musical 
and  literary  pursuits,  is  now  living  in  Califor- 
nia. The  others  have  passed  away.  Gen- 
eral Mansfield  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life 
in  the  beautiful  home  which  he  established  in 
Piatt  county,  and  died  September  20,  1876, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  His  widow, 
who  was  a  most  beautiful  Christian  charac- 
ter, and  whose  life  was  filled  with  kind  deeds 
and  gracious  thought,  has  also  passed  away. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  analyze  the  life 
record  of  General  Mansfield  and  so  determine 
what  was  his  greatest  work.  Viewed  from 
many  standpoints  his  career  could  be  said  to 
be  a  successful  one.  In  the  acquirement  of 
a  fortune  he  showed  marked  business  and 
executive  ability,  and  at  his  death  he  left  to 
his  widow  an  estate  of  over  twelve  hundred 
acres,  most  of  which  was  improved,  and 
therefore  of  great  value.  If  his  ambition  was 
in  the  line  of  scholarship  he  certainly  had  rea- 
son to  feel  satisfied  with  the  recognition 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


which  came  to  his  broad  learning.  If  he  de- 
sired more  than  all  else  to  influence  his  fel- 
low men  for  the  betterment  of  the  race  again 
he  may  be  said  to  have  gained  that  which  he 
sought.  Along  all  those  lines  he  won  dis- 
tinction. His  friends  entertained  for  him  the 
highest  personal  regard  as  well  as  admira- 
tion, and  many  in  thought  at  least  have 
breathed  the  spirit  of  the  words : 

He  was  a  man,  take  him  for  all  in  all 
I  shall  not  look  upon  his  like  again. 


JOSEPH    W.   MERRITT,   SR. 

Joseph  \V.  Merritt,  who  is  now  serving 
as  police  magistrate  of  Atwood,  has  filled 
the  position  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  al- 
most a  third  of  a  century  with  credit  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 
He  is  thoroughly  impartial  in  meting  out 
justice,  his  opinions  being  unbiased  by 
either  fear  or  favor,  and  his  fidelity  to  the 
trust  reposed  in  him  is  above  question.  He 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  his  community, 
and  it  is,  therefore,  consistent  that  he  be 
represented  in  a  work  whose  province  is  the 
portrayal  of  the  lives  of  the  prominent  men 
of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Merritt  was  born  in  Augusta  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  October  28,  1838,  and  is  a  son 
of  \Yilliam  and  Rachel  'A.  (Fitzpatrick) 
Merritt,  who  were  also  born  in  the  Old  Do- 
minion, of  American  parentage,  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1854.  The  family  located  in 
Coles  countv,  this  state,  where  the  father, 
who  was  a  mechanic,  followed  the  black- 
smith's trade  for  some  years,  but  later  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  died  in  Coles  county 


in  1895,  and  his  wife  about  twenty  years 
previously.  This  worthy  co.uple  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters,  are  still  living, 
but  our  subject  is  the  only  one  of  the  num- 
ber residing  in  Piatt  county.  The  others  are 
•all  married  and  still  make  their  home  in 
Coles  county. 

Joseph  W.  Merritt  began  his  education 
in  the  state  of  his  nativity,  and  after  com- 
ing to  Illinois  attended  school  in  Coles  coun- 
ty for  a  time.  Under  the  guidance  of  his  fa- 
ther he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  early 
life,  and  continued  to  follow  that  pursuit  un- 
til after  his  marriage.  On  the  i6th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1857,  he  wedded  Miss  Irene  Conly, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Conly,  who 
were  natives  of  Indiana.  Eight  children 
blessed  this  union,  namely :  Joseph  W.,  Jr., 
a  resident  of  Atwood,  who  married  Lula 
Samson;  Anna,  wife  of  Robert  C.  Sipe,  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Sipe  &  Sipe,  manu- 
facturers of  tile  at  Atwood ;  Dazella,  wife 
of  Vinton  Garrett,  of  Atwood;  Elmer  O., 
who  married  Alice  McDonald  and  also  lives 
in  Atwood;  May,  wife  of  David  Mumper, 
of  Ouincy,  Illinois ;  Bert,  who  married  Retta 
Gosnald  and  makes  his  •  home  in  Decatur ; 
Claud,  at  home  with  his  father;  and  Zeph, 
who  married  Bertha  Marshall  and  is  a  mail- 
carrier  in  the  rural  free  delivery  service,  re- 
siding in  Atwood.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  on  the  ist  of  April,  1901,  and 
Mr.  Merritt  was  again  married  October  6, 
1902,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  S. 
A.  Mo'nden,  of  Decatur,  whose  first  husband 
was  also  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war. 

When  the  south  made  the  attempt  to 
secede  Mr.  Merritt  resolved  to  strike  a  blow 
for  the  Union  cause,  and  at  Charleston, 
Coles  county,  he  enlisted  June  4,  1861,  in 
Company  E,  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer 


I 'AST    AND    PRESENT. 


Infantry,  under  Captain  West  ford  Taggart. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge, 
Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Perryville  and 
Corinth,  and  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
was  taken  prisoner.  September  20.  1863. 
He  was  incarcerated  in  four  different  pris- 
ons— Libby,  Danville  (Virginia),  Anderson- 
ville  and  Florence,  and  from  the  last  named 
he  finally  made  his  escape,  as  the  stockade 
was  uncompleted  at  the  time.  While  in  hid- 
ing he  was  joined  by  a  comrade,  William 
Dozier,  of  the  Second  Ohio  Cavalry,  who 
made  his  escape  shortly  afterward  and  they 
traveled  northward  together,  being  seventeen 
days  and  nights  upon  the  trip  from  Florence 
to  Newbern.  They  were  compelled  to  swim 
the  streams,  including  the  Pedee  river  in 
North  Carolina,  and  had  to  travel  mainly 
at  night  to  avoid  capture.  They  encountered 
many  hardships,  and  it  would  have  been  im- 
possible for  them  to  proceed  had  it  not  been 
for  the  friendly  negroes  who  gave  them  as- 
sistance. Finding  the  yellow  fever  raging 
at  Newbern  and  that  they  would  not  be  al- 
lowed to  remain  there,  they  boarded  a  ship 
that  was  sailing  and  went  to  New  York 
city,  where  Mr.  Merritt  was  in  the  Soldiers' 
Home  for  a  time.  General  John  M.  Dix 
then  gave  him  transportation  to  St.  Louis, 
whence  he  proceeded  to  Springfield,  Illinois. 
where  he  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service  on  the  2(\  of  November.  1864. 
In  the  meantlime  his  family  had  given  him 
up  for  dead,  having  heard  nothing  from  him 
while  in  the  southern  prisons. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  i86S.  Mr.  Mer- 
ritt came  to  Piatt  county  and  settled  m 
Mackville  with  his  wife  and  three  children. 
the  other  children  being  born  here.  Pur- 
chasing a  blacksmith  shop,  he  continued  to 
work  at  his  trade  until  1890.  and  later  en- 
gaged in  the  agricultural  implement  business 


at  At  wood,  until  the  tall  of  1902.  Since 
1894  he  has  also  been  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  tile  and  brick,  having  purchased  a 
tile  factory  at  that  time,  and  in  connection 
with  these  varied  business  interests  he  has 
carried  on  farming  to  some  extent.  He 
bought  seventy  acres  of  timber  land,  which 
he  has  cleared,  tiled  and  placed  under  culti- 
vation, and  built  thereon  three  houses.  He 
also  owns  about  thirty-three  town  lots,  and 
has  aided  materially  in  the  upbuilding  and 
development  of  Atwood. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merritt  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he 
is  prominently  identified  with  a  number  of 
civic  societies,  including  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  being  the 
present  treasurer  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge 
at  Atwood.  Since  casting  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  he  has  never 
wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs,  serving  as  a  delegate  to  numerous 
county  conventions;  to  the  state  convention 
when  Governor  Yates  was  nominated  and 
to  the  national  convention  at  St.  Louis  when 
President  McKinley  was  made  the  candidate 
of  his  party  for  chief  executive  of  the  nation. 
Since  1871  Mr.  Merritt  has  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  was  elected  police  magis- 
trate <m  the  incorporation  of  Atwood.  He 
is  also  serving  as  notary  public  and  for  man}' 
years  filled  the  office  of  trustee  of  Unity 
township.  He  has  always  been  identified 
with  the  best  interests  of  his  town  and  town- 
ship, and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
public-spirited  and  useful  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity. Mr.  Merritt  is  a  well-read  man. 
nlways  keeping  abreast  with  the  times,  and 
over  his  life  record  there  falls  no  shadow 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


of  wrong.  His  public  service  has  been  most 
exemplar}  and  his  private  life  has  been 
marked  by  the  utmost  fidelity  to  duty. 


GEORGE  O.  HIGGINS. 

One  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  Piatt 
county  -is  the  property  of  George  O.  Hig- 
gins.  It  is  situated  on  section  12,  Monti- 
cello  township,  and  is  supplied  with  all  mod- 
ern equipments  and  accessories  found  upon 
a  model  farm  of  the  twentieth  century.  In 
his  business  affairs  he  is  careful  and  con- 
servative and  he  has  placed  his  money  in  the 
safest  of  all  investments — real  estate.  His 
life  history  proves  conclusively  that  success 
is  not  a  matter  of  genius,  but  is  the  outcome 
of  clear  judgment,  experience  and  indefa- 
tigable industry. 

Mr.  Higgins  was  born  on  the  8th  of 
September,  1846,  on  a  farm  near  South 
Bloomfield.  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  his 
parents  being  John  L.  and  Mary  (Dean) 
Higgins.  His  father  was  born  on  a  farm 
near  Lexington,  Kentucky,  December  n, 
1817,  and  died  December  27,  1885.  He  be- 
gan his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Newport,  Kentucky,  after  which  he  continued 
his  studies  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  graduated,  his  father,  John  Higgins,  Sr., 
having  in  the  meantime  removed  to  that 
city  and  established  the  third  hotel  there. 
When  he  was  sixteen  he  and  his  parents  went 
to  Lawrence  county,  Illinois,  where  they 
spent  one  year.  During  that  time  he  rode  to 
mill  on  an  ox  and  that  animal  was  then  used 
in  grinding  the  grist.  Mr.  Higgins  after- 
ward returned  to  Ohio  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  took  a -drove  of  one  hundred 
and  five  cattle  over  the  mountains  to  New 


York  city,  l.eing  in  the  employ  of  Vin  and 
Ned  Williams,  who  in  later  years  were  well 
known  throughout  Piatt  county  as  stock- 
buyers.  Mr.  Higgins  continued  in  that  line 
of  business  for  many  years,  following  it  at 
a  time  when  the  nearest  railroad  point  to  his 
home  was  at  Springfield,  Ohio.  In  1850, 
however,  he  discontinued  his  work  as  a 
drover  and  began  farming  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  1869.  Attracted  by  the 
opportunities  of  the  growing  west  and  the 
rich  land,  he  came  to  Piatt  county  in  that 
year,  locating  on  a  farm  six  miles  from 
Alonticello,  on  the  Sangamon  river.  This 
farm  is  situated  on  section  22,  Alonticello 
township,  and  to  its  development  and  im- 
provement John  Higgins  devoted  his  ener- 
gies until  his  death.  When  he  came  to  this 
part  of  the  country  wolves  howled  around 
his  cabin  door.  All  was  wild  and  unim- 
proved and  the  work  of  progress  seemed 
scarcely  begun,  but  during  the  years  of  his 
residence  here  civilization  has  wrought  many 
great  changes  in  Piatt  county,  and  Mr.  Hig- 
gins bore  an  active  and  helpful  part  in  its 
work.  He  was  a  prominent  and  influential 
citizen,  one  who  enjoyed  the  high  regard 
of  his  fellow  men  because  his  life  was  up- 
right and  honorable. 

He  was  married  on  the  3d  of  August, 
1838,  to  Miss  Mary  Dean,  who  was  born  in 
Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  February  7,  1822. 
They  became  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
namely :  Nancy  Jane  and  Sarah  Ann.  who 
are  now  deceased ;  George  O. ;  Harriet,  who 
died  when  two  weeks  old ;  Hannah,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Bendon,  of  Monti- 
cello,  Illinois ;  Katie,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Lu- 
cas, who  is  living  on  a  farm  southwest  of 
Cisco,  in  Macon  county;  Lucy  A.,  the  wife 
of  John  Duvall,  a  farmer  residing  near 


n6 


PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


Rochester,  Indiana;  William  S.,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  Addie,  who  died 
when  five  years  of  age;  and  Joseph  Dean, 
who  married  Sarah  Coon  and  makes  his 
home  upon  a  farm  west  of  Argenta,  Macon 
county.  All  of  the  children  were  born  in 
Pickaway  county.  Ohio.  Mrs.  Higgins,  Sr., 
died  February  20,  1880. 

George  O.  Higgins  pursued  his  early 
education  in  the  Oak  Grove  school  of  Picka- 
way county,  attending  during  the  winter 
months,  while  in  the  summer  seasons  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  work  on  the  home 
farm.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  the  time  of  his  marriage,  when  he  came 
to  Piatt  county,  Illinois.  On  the  7th  of  No- 
vember, 1869,  in  Hocking  county,  Ohio,  he 
wedded  Miss  Henrietta  Brown,  and  with  his 
bride  he  removed  westward,  settling  on  a 
farm  in  Springtown  Lane  where  he  rented 
a  tract  of  land.  There  he  lived  for  two 
years,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  the  Mc- 
Comas  farm,  south  of  the  river,  and  for  two 
years  he  rented  and  operated  that  property. 
He  next  lived  on  what  was  known  as  the 
Jerry  Baker  farm  for  three  \  ears,  and  subse- 
quently rented  the  John  Kirby  farm  in 
Goose  Creek  township  for  two  years.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  Mr.  Higgins 
took  up  his  abode  in  Effingham  county,  Il- 
linois, purchasing  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  on  which  he  lived  for  three  years.  He 
afterward  returned  to  his  father's  farm  in 
Piatt  county,  and  continued  its  cultivation 
for  six  years,  during  which  time  he  rented 
his  own  land  in  Effingham  county.  On  leav- 
ing his  father's  farm  he  removed  to-the  Hen- 
ry Coonse  farm,  which  he  rented  for  two 
years.  He  next  lived  upon  the  Shep- 
hard  farm,  near  Milmine,  renting  that  prop- 
erty for  two  years,  and  on  the  nth  of  May, 
i88g,  he  purchased  the  north  half  of  sec- 


tion 12,  Monticello  township,  and  is  to-day 
the  owner  of  this  tract  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land.  He 
purchased  the  place  of  Preston  Houston  for 
forty-five  dollars  per  acre  and  he  traded  his 
Effingham  county  property  for  a  nice  home 
in  the  city  of  Monticello.  About  three  years 
ago  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  Macon  county,  Illinois.  This 
is  a  splendidly  improved  property  on  which 
he  pays  an  insurance  of  thirty-five  hundred 
dollars  on  the  buildings  for  three  years.  His 
home  farm  in  Piatt  county  is  a  monument 
to  his  enterprise  and  labor.  Since  the  place 
came  into  his  possession  he  has  erected  all 
of  the  buildings  which  now  adorn  it,  and 
there  is  no  better  improved  property  in  all 
Piatt  county.  He  paid  for  the  tract 
ninety-five  dollars  per  acre,  and  it  is  to-day 
worth  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  acre. 
When  it  came  into  his  possession  it  was  in 
poor  condition,  having  been  rented  for  a 
number  of  years  to  tenants,  who  did  not  take 
good  care  of  the  property,  but  since  coming 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  Higgins  it  has 
been  transformed  by  the  erection  of  good 
buildings  and  by  the  care  and  labor  bestowed 
upon  the  place,  until  now  it  is  one  of  the 
best  farm  properties  in  all  Piatt  county.  In 
1892  Mr.  Higgins  erected  a  residence  which 
was  destroyed  by  fire  two  years  later,  the 
conflagration  occurring  on  the  last  day  of 
August,  1894.  In  1896  he  erected  a  nice 
house  of  eight  rooms,  supplied  with  all  mod- 
ern conveniences,  and  this  home  he  now  oc- 
cupies. It  is  tastefully  furnished  and  stands 
in  the  midst  of  a  well-kept  lawn.  Mr.  Hig- 
gins has  also  built  two  new  barns  and  has 
put  up  two  windmills  attached  to  tanks,  and 
the  water  is  piped  into  the  barns.  There  are 
two  elevated  driveway  corn-cribs,  and,  in 
fact,  no  equipment  of  a  model  farm  of  the 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


117 


twentieth  century  is  here  lacking.  He  has 
fenced  nearly  the  entire  place  with  wire 
fencing,  which  divides  the  farm  into  fields  of 
eighty  'acres.  Altogether  he  has  put  up 
more  than  seven  miles  of  wire  fencing  in  the 
last  two  years,  and  he  has  laid  over  seventeen 
miles  of  tiling.  He  has  planted  several  new 
orchards  at  a  cost  of  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  dollars,  securing  the  stock  from  the 
Troy  nursery.  Great  changes  have  been 
wrought  in  methods  of  farming  since  he  first 
came  to  Piatt  county,  and  with  the  progress 
made  along  agricultural  lines  Mr.  Higgins 
has  kept  fully  abreast.  He  feeds  large  quan- 
tities of  all  kinds  of  stock  for  the  market, 
making  a  specialty  of  hogs,  and  he  keeps 
fourteen  head  of  horses  and  several  mules  for 
vise  upon  his  farm.  He  raises  annually  from 
eleven  to  twelve  thousand  bushels  of  corn 
and  oats',  and  his  farm  products  find  a  ready 
sale  upon  the  market  because  of  their  excel- 
lence. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higgins  has 
been  blessed  with  two  children :  Mary  Etta, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Parks,  who  re- 
sides upon  a  farm  in  Piatt  county;  William 
S.,  who  is  married  and  lives  upon  a  farm  in 
Monticello  township ;  Catherine,  who  is  the 
wife  of  a  Mr.  White  and  resides  upon  her 
father's  farm  in  Macon  county ;  Atchafalaya, 
who  died  when  three  years  of  age;  Cora, 
is  the  wife  of  Marshall  Crites,  and  they 
make  their  home  upon  her  father's  farm 
north  of  Monticello;  Isaac,  who  married  Jane 
McKi'nzie  and  lives  upon  his  father's  farm ; 
Lila  May,  the  wife  of  Charles  Tabor,  whose 
home  is  upon  a  farm  south  of  Milmine ;  Sa- 
clie,  who  is  attending  school;  Lewis,  who 
died  in  infancy ;  and  Annie,  who  is  also  in 
school. 

Mr.  Higgins  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Democracy  and  has  firm  faith  in  its 


principles.  He  has  held  the  office  of  ditch 
commissioner  for  three  terms,  covering  nine 
years,  and  is  still  the  incumbent  in  that  po- 
sition. He  has  been  school  commissioner 
for  nine  terms,  or  for  twenty-seven  years. 
He  and  his  wife  are  regular  attendants  at 
church  services,  although  they  do  not  be- 
long to  any  religious  denomination,  and. they 
contribute  liberally  to  the  support  of  church 
work.  Mr.  Higgins  is  a  genial,  courteous 
gentleman,  a  pleasant,  entertaining  compan- 
ion arcl  has  many  stanch  and  admiring 
friends  among  all  classes  of  men.  His  busi- 
ness career  is  notable  on  account  of  the  splen- 
did success  he  has  achieved  and  because  of 
the  honorable,  straightforward  methods  he 
has  ever  followed.  His  sagacity  and  fore- 
sight have  enabled  him  to  make  judicious  in- 
vestments, while  his  diligence,  indomitable 
energy  and  undaunted  perseverance  have 
won  him  a  prosperity  that  numbers  him 
among  Piatt  county's  most  substantial  citi- 
zens, yet  he  has  not  only  advanced  his  in- 
dividual interest,  but  has  done  much  toward 
promoting  the  general  welfare  and  the  coun- 
ty numbers  him  among  its  most  valued  rep- 
resentatives. 


ALLEN    F.  MOORE. 

Although  Allen  F.  Moore  is  not  a  na- 
tive son  of  Monticello,  he  has  spent  almost 
his  entire  life  here,  having  been  less  than 
two  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  parents'  re- 
moval to  this  city.  As  taken  in  contradis- 
tinction to  the  old  adage,  that  a  prophet  is 
never  without  honor  save  in  his  own  country, 
there  is  particular  interest  attached  to  the 
subject  of  this  review,  since  in  this  place  he 
has  passed  his  active  life  and  so  directed  his 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


ability  and  efforts  as  to  gain  recognition  as 
one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Piatt 
county.  He  is  well  known,  enterprising  and 
successful  in  business  circles,  and  has  been 
honored  with  the  office  of  mayor  of  Monti- 
cello,  filling  the  position  with  credit,  his  ad- 
ministration being  progressive,  practical  and 
beneficial.  Many  lines  of  advancement  and 
improvement  have  profited  by  his  co-oper- 
ation. 

Allen  F.  Moore  is  the  eldest  son  of  Hen- 
ry V.  and  Alzina  W.  (Freeman)  Moore,  the 
former  a  capitalist  of  Monticello,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  banking  business  and  also 
has  extensive  realty  holdings  in  Piatt  coun- 
ty, where  he  has  made  his  home  for  a  third 
of  a  century.  On  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume extended  mention  is  made  of  him.  Al- 
len F.  Moore  was  born  in  St.  Charles,  Kane 
county,  Illinois.  September  30,  1869,  en- 
tered the  public  schools  of  Monticello  at  the 
usual  age.  and  was  graduated  in  the  high 
school  with  the  class  of  1886.  He  then  fur- 
ther continued  his  studies  by  matriculating 
in  Lombard  University,  at  Galesburg,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  was  graduated  on  the  comple- 
tion of  a  three-years'  course,  in  1889.  Going 
then  to  Chicago,  he  secured  a  position  as  a 
bookkeeper  in  a  wholesale  dry-goods  store, 
where  he  remained  for  three  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  became  confiden- 
tial secretary  to  W.  D.  Hitchcock,  a  dealer 
in  lumber,  for  whom  he  acted  as  bookkeeper, 
also  having  charge  of  the  office.  He  occu- 
pied that  position  for  two  years,  and  then 
returned  to  Monticello  in  1894.  Joining 
the  ranks  of  business  men  in  this  city,  he 
took  charge  of  a  harness  store  in  which  his 
father  was  interested,  conducting  the  busi- 
ness for  four  and  a  half  years,  when  he 
closed  it  out.  Soon  afterward  he  purchased 
a  controlling  interest  in  the  Pepsin  Syrup 


Company.  He  has  since  developed  an  excel- 
lent business,  having  a  well-equipped  plant, 
from  which  is  sent  out  a  large  product  to 
meet  the  growing  demands  of  the  trade. 

On  the  2Oth  of  March,  1893,  Mr.  Moore 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Madora 
Bradford,  of  Ouincy,  Illinois,  a  daughter  of 
E.  F.  and  Emily  (Prince)  Bradford,  of 
Quincy,  the  former  being  general  agent  for 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad. 
Mrs.  Moore  was  educated  in  Lombard  Col- 
lege, and  it  was  while  students  in  that  insti- 
tution that  she  and  her  husband  met.  Unto 
them  have  been  born  a  son  and  daughter, 
Bradford  V.  and  Mary  H.,  but  the  latter 
died  in  1899. 

Politically  Mr.  Moore  is  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, unfaltering  in  his  advocacy  of  the 
principles  of  the  party,  and  for  two  years 
he  served  as  alderman  of  Monticello.  In 
1901  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city.  Dur- 
ing his  administration  he  instituted  many 
needed  reforms  and  improvements,  and 
though  he  at  first  met  opposition  to  his  pro- 
gressive measures,  the  people  of  the  city  now 
point  with  pride  to  many  of  the  improve- 
ments he  instituted.  He  is  extremely  pub- 
lic-spirited and  anything  pertaining  to  the 
welfare  of  the  city  is  sure  to  elicit  his  at- 
tention and  to  find  in  him  a  co-operant  fac- 
tor. 


CHARLES  F.  MANSFIELD. 

The  family  name  of  our  subject  is  one  of 
close  and  honorable  connection  with  the  his- 
tory of  Piatt  county,  and  the  subject  of  this 
review  is  now  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the 
county,  being  one  of  its  distinguished  law- 
yers, who  at  the  present  time  is  serving  as 
state's  attorney,  making  his  home  in  Monti- 


C.   F.   MANSFIELD 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


121 


cello.  He  is  a  native,  however,  of  Jefferson 
county,  Indiana,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  the  city  of  Madison  on  the  7th  of  January, 
1863.  He  is  a  son  of  General  John  L. 
Mansfield,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and 
prominent  residents  of  Piatt  county  for 
a  number  of  years  and  the  founder  of  the 
town  of  Mansfield.  Reared  in  the  home  of 
culture  and  refinement  its  atmosphere  left  its 
impress  upon  his  character.  Charles  F. 
Mansfield  was  also  given  good  educational 
privileges.  During  his  early  youth  he  at- 
tended a  German-English  school  in  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  and  after  accompanying  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Illinois  he  con- 
tinued his  studies  in  the  public  schools  and 
under  the  direction  and  preceptorage  of  his 
father. 

In  the  fall  of  1878  he  matriculated  in 
Racine  College,  at  Racine,  Wisconsin,  but 
not  being  pleased  with  that  institution  he 
spent  only  one  year  there.  In  1880  he  en- 
tered the  University  of  the  South  at  Se- 
wanee,  Tennessee,  where  he  continued  his 
studies  for  about  three  years,  when  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  college  on  account  of  ill 
health.  His  close  application  to  his  books 
had  undermined  his  strength,  and  he  sought 
rest  and  recuperation  in  healthful  out-of- 
doors  exercise.  Turning  his  attention  to 
farming  he  found  it  the  tonic  he  needed  and 
was  soon  restored  to  his  accustomed  vigor. 
Not  wishing,  however,  to  devote  his  entire 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  he  resolved  to 
become  a  member  of  the  bar,  and  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  winter  of  1884-5.  I" 
September  of  the  latter  year  he  entered  the 
Bloomington  law  school,  and  on  the  comple- 
tion of  the  course  was  graduated  in  1887. 
In  September  of  the  latter  year  he  entered 
the  Bloomington  law  'school,  and  on  the 
completion  of  the  course  was  graduated  in 


1887.  In  June,  however,  before  the  close  of 
his  college  term,  he  was  admitted  to  practice, 
having  successfully  passed  the  examination 
before  the  appellate  court.  At  Springfield, 
where  he  acquitted  himself  with  high  honor, 
while  attending  law  school  he  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  reading  in  the  office  of  the  firm  of 
Fifer  &  Phillips,  the  senior  partner  being 
later  governor  of  Illinois. 

Admitted  to  the  bar  Mr.  Mansfield 
opened  an  office  and  entered  upon  practice  in 
the  town  of  Mansfield,  in  July,  1887.  In  no 
calling  to  which  man  gives  his  attention  does 
success  depend  more  largely  upon  individual 
effort  than  the  law,  and  that  Mr.  Mansfield 
has  achieved  distinction  in  the  fields  of  juris- 
prudence at  once  attests  his  superior  ability 
and  close  application.  He  has  been  retained 
as  counsel  in  many  important  cases  tried  in 
the  courts  of  Piatt  and  adjoining  counties. 
A  man  of  sound  judgment,  he  manages  his 
cases  with  masterly  skill  and  also  is  a  logical 
reasoner  and  has  a  ready  command  of  Eng- 
lish. His  powers  as  an  advocate  have  been 
demonstrated  by  his  success  on  many  occa- 
sions, and  he  is  now  an  able  lawyer  of  large 
and  varied  experience  in  all  the  courts. 
Thoroughness  characterizes  all  his  efforts, 
and  he  conducts  all  his  business  with  a  strict 
regard  to  a  high  standard  of  professional 
ethics. 

On  the  1 3th  of  April,  1839,  Mr.  Mans- 
field was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie 
B.  Van  Meter,  and  they  took  up  their  abode 
with  his  mother  at  the  old  family  homestead 
in  the  town  of  Mansfield,  where  our  subject 
lived  for  thirty-two,  years.  Their  union  was 
blessed  with  the  presence  of  a  daughter, 
Minnie  T.  Mrs.  Mansfield  comes  of  a  dis- 
tinguished. Virginia  family  and  was  born 
in  the  south,  while  her  parents,  Joseph  and 
Teresa  (Hugh)  Van  Meter,  were  also  na- 


122 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


tives  of  Hardy  county,  Virginia.  In  1888 
they  removed  to  Salt  Lake  City,  where  they 
have  since  resided.  Mr.  Mansfield,  his  wife 
and  daughter  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
church. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Mansfield  is  connected 
with  the  Masonic  order,  is  also  an  Odd  Fel- 
low and  holds  membership  relations  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Sons  of  Veter- 
ans. In  the  latter  order  he  was  elected  major 
of  the  state  division,  and  is  prominent  in  its 
circles.  He  is  also  a  distinguished  Odd  Fel- 
low, has  served  as  a  member  of  the  judiciary 
committee  of  the  grand  lodge  of  Illinois  for 
three  years,  and  during  part  of  that  time  was 
its  chairman.  In  1896  he  was  elected  grand 
master  of  the  grand  lodge  of  Illinois,  and 
there  is  no  representative  of  the  order  more 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  the  state  than 
Charles  F.  Mansfield.  He  was  active  in  es- 
tablishing the  Odd  Fellows'  home  for  old 
people  at  Mattoon,  Illinois,  and  for  several 
years  he  was  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Odd  Fellows'  Herald,  published  at  Mans- 
field, succeeding  in  this  position  Owen  Scott, 
a  former  member  of  congress. 

Mr.  Mansfield  is  equally  well  known  in 
political  circles,  having  been  an  active  work- 
er in  the  ranks  of  the  party  for  the  benefit  of 
local,  state  and  national  successes.  In  1896 
he  was  nominated  on  the  Republican  ticket 
for  the  office  of  state's  attorney  of  Piatt 
county  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  filled  the 
position  so  capably  that  in  1900  he  was  re- 
elected  for  a  second  term,  which  will  expire 
in  December,  1904.  In  January,  1903,  in 
order  to  better  discharge  the  duties  of  his 
position  he  removed  from  the  old  home  at 
Mansfield,  which  he  had  occupied  for  nearly 
a  third  of  a  century,  to  Monticello,  where  he 
is  now  living.  He  has  presented  some  of 
the  most  important  criminal  cases  in  this 


part  of  the  state,  acting  as  prosecutor  in  the 
Hickman  murder  case — the  people  versus 
Fred  Fales,  Otis  Woolington,  Lloyd  Kincaid 
and  Charles  Beckhart.  This  case  was  tried 
in  the  circuit  court  in  Monticello  in  Septem- 
ber, 1897,  eleven  days  being  consumed  in 
the  hearing.  This  resulted  in  the  conviction 
of  three  of  the  parties,  the  fourth,  Charles 
Beckhart,  succeeding  in  making  his  escape, 
since  which  time  he  has  never  been  found. 
He  is  quick  to  master  all  the  intricacies  in  a 
case  and  grasp  all  details,  at  the  same  time 
losing  sight  of  none  of  the  essential  points 
upon  which  the  decision  of  every  case  finally 
turns.  He  has  a  ready  flow  of  language,  and 
as  a  speaker  is  fluent,  forcible,  earnest,  log- 
ical and  convincing.  His  knowledge  of  the 
law,  it  must  be  conceded,  is  hardly  second  to 
that  of  any  member  of  the  bar  in  Piatt 
county. 


T.  G.  BAKER. 

In  America  where  all  are  equal  before 
the  law  and  where  success  is  the  logical  re- 
ward of  earnest,  persistent  effort,  there  are 
many  men  who  achieve  prosperity.  Mr. 
Baker  is  among  the  number  who  owes  his 
financial  advancement  to  his  own  labors. 
For  many  years  he  was  actively  connected 
with  agricultural  interests  in  Piatt  county, 
and  now  he  is  living  a  retired  life  in  Monti- 
cello,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest. 

He  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  on 
the  nth  of  August,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Jane  (Grove)  Baker,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio.  The  Bakers,  however,  were  Massa- 
chusetts people,  and  the  Groves  were  from 
Pennsylvania.  William  Baker,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  followed  farming  in  Picka- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


123 


way  county,  Ohio,  for  some  years,  and  in 
1858  came  to  Piatt  county,  settling  in  Wil- 
low Branch  township,  where  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  land,  devoting  his  attention  there 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  in  Beinent,  Illinois,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three  years,  and  his  wife  has 
reached  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children :  T.  G., 
whose  name  introduces  this  record;  F.  M., 
a  resident  of  Jefferson  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  follows  farming;  Mary,  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Lamb,  Jr.,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, his  home  being  in  Bement  township, 
Piatt  county;  Florence,  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Hoover,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  St.  Paul,  Nebraska.  The  father 
prospered  in  his  undertakings  and  now  owns 
three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable 
land. 

T.  G.  Baker  of  this  review  was  only 
about  four  years  of  age  when  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Piatt  county.  He  acquired  his 
early  education  in  Willow  Branch  township, 
and  later  pursued  a  course'  of  study  at  Nor- 
mal. Illinois.  He  began  teaching  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years,  having  charge  of  what  is 
known  as  Wild  Cat  school  in  Willow  Branch 
township.  He  devoted  five  years  to  educa- 
tional work,  spending  the  entire  time  in 
Piatt  county  and  during  the  summer  months 
he  assisted  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm.  In  early  life  he  became  connected 
with  agricultural  pursuits,  and  when  twenty- 
four  years  of  age  he  began  farming  on  his 
own  account.  That  year  he  was  married, 
the  wedding  being  celebrated  on  the  24th  of 
April,  1878.  The  lady  of  his  choice  was 
Miss  Emma  Tallman,  of  Willow  Branch 
township,  a  daughter  of  Douglas  and  Susan 
Tallman.  Her  father  died  when  Mrs.  Baker 
was  three  vears  old,  and  Mrs.  Tallman  aft- 


erward became  the  wife  of  R.  H.  Farra. 
She  is  now  living  in  Monticello,  and  is  the 
second  time  a  widow.  The  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Baker  has  been  blessed  with  two  chil- 
dren :  Susan  and  George,  both  of  whom 
are  attending  school. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Baker 
began  farming  upon  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  which  he  had  purchased  in  partnership 
with  his  father.  He  continued  to  cultivate 
and  improve  that  place  for  two  years,  and 
then  sold  his  interest  on  the  farm  and 
bought  seventy  acres  in  Willow  Branch 
township.  Removing  to  his  new  farm  he 
began  its  further  development  and  with 
characteristic  energy  has  since  carried  on 
the  work.  He  added  to  the  property  all  mod- 
ern equipments,  facilitating  the  labors  of  the 
family  by  use  of  the  latest  improved  machin- 
ery. Annually  he  harvests  good  crops  and 
thus  receives  for  his  labor  a  substantial 
financial  return.  He  has  invested  in  other 
land  and  now  is  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  in  Willow  Branch  township, 
and  he  has  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  adjoining 
the  corporation  limits  of  Monticello.  He 
continued  to  farm  on  his  original  homestead 
until  1890,  when  he  removed  to  the  county 
seat,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  yet  gives 
his  supervision,  however,  to  two  hundredand 
twenty-five  acres,  and  his  other  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  five  acres  is  now  rented.  While 
carrying  on  general  agricultural  pursuits, 
Mr.  Baker  has  also  given  considerable  at- 
tention to  the  raising  of  stock,  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  beef  cattle,  and  his  sales  have  add- 
ed materially  to  his  income. 

In  his  political  allegiance  Mr.  Baker  is 
a  Democrat,  and  for  one  term  served  as  town 
clerk.  He  has  also  been  assessor  and  school 
director  and  has  taken  a  very  active  interest 
in  school  work  and  in  maintaining  a  high 


124 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


standard  of  education  here.  He  has  like- 
wise been  a  delegate  to  various  conventions 
of  his  party  and  he  is  a  valued  and  exem- 
plary member  of  Fraternal  Lodge,  No.  58, 
F.  &  A.  M..  in  which  he  has  served  as  sec- 
retary. His  wife,  a  most  estimable  lady, 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Monticello.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  broad-mind- 
ed and  intelligent  man,  and  through  reading 
has  kept  in  touch  with  current  events  and 
the  progress  of  the  world.  His  business  ca- 
reer is  honorable  and  through  keen  discrim- 
ination and  unremitting  diligence  he  has 
gained  a  place  among  the  prominent  and 
prosperous  landowners  of  Piatt  county. 


J.  FRANK    STANLEY. 

J.  Frank  Stanley,  the  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Hammond  Courier,  has  re- 
sided in  Hammond  since  March,  1902,  and 
is  now  thoroughly  in  touch  with  its  interests, 
laboring  effectively  and  earnestly  for  its  wel- 
fare. He  was  born  in  Clay  county,  Illinois, 
on  the  22d  of  December,  1876,  and  is  a  son 
of  Stephen  and  Sarah  E.  (Brackett)  Stan- 
ley, both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Kentucky, 
whence  they  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day, 
settling  first  in  Christian  county,  where  the 
father  was  engaged  in  general  merchandis- 
ing for  several  years.  He  afterward  turned 
his  attention  to  farming  there,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  a  few  years,  and  later  he  removed 
to  Ingraham,  Clay  county,  where  he  resumed 
commercial  pursuits,  establishing  a  general 
store,  which  he  carried  on  for  some  time. 
He  then  sold  out  and  is  now  conducting  a 
restaurant  in  Newton,  having  a  good  patron- 
age. In  the  family  are  three  editors :  Int, 
who  is  editor  of  the  Lovington  Reporter, 


published  at  Lovington,  Illinois ;  Otis,  who 
is  editor  of  the  Sainte  Marie  Tribune,  of 
Sainte  Marie,  Illinois ;  and  J.  Frank,  of  this 
review.  The  other  members  of  the  family 
are  still  at  home  with  their  parents  in  New- 
ton, Illinois. 

In  the  public  schools  of  that  place  J. 
Frank  Stanley  acquired  his  education.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  started  upon  his  busi- 
ness career,  going  to  Lovington,  Moultrie 
county,  where  he  learned  the  printer's  trade  in 
his  brother's  office,  where  he  worked  for  six 
years.  He  mastered  the  business  in  every 
department,  becoming  familiar  with  every 
principle  in  detail,  and  was  thus  well- 
equipped  when  he  decided  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  Returning  to 
Newton  he  there  established  a  paper  called 
the  Newton  Star,  and  also  published  the  first 
daily  paper  ever  issued  in  Newton.  He  con- 
tinued his  journalistic  interests  in  that  place 
until  March,  1902,  when  he  came  to  Ham- 
mond and  established  the  Hammond  Cour- 
ier, which  he  has  since  conducted.  He  is 
the  editor  as  well  as  the  proprietor,  and  each 
week  issues  a  journal  that  is  a  credit  to  the 
locality.  The  paper  is  published  every 
Thursday  and  has  a  large  circulation.  Mr. 
Stanley  has  a  well-equipped  office  and  in  ad- 
dition to  his  large  printing  press  he  has  a 
nice  job  press  and  does  all  of  the  job  print- 
ing for  Hammond  and  other  villages  nearby. 
He  keeps  well  in  touch  with  the  progress 
made  in  the  ''art  preservative  of  arts"  and 
in  his  business  career,  his  thorough  under- 
standing of  printing  and  his  executive  abil- 
il  y  and  capable  management  have  brought  to 
him  a  comfortable  competence. 

In  1898  Mr.  Stanley  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Josephine  Myers,  a  native  of 
Indiana.  They  are  well  known  in  Ham- 
mond, where  they  have  gained  many  friends 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


during  the  period  of  their  residence  here. 
Mr.  Stanley  is  independent  in  his  political 
affiliations,  advocating  the  men  and  meas- 
ures that  he  thinks  will  promote  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  county,  state  and  nation.  So- 
cially he  is  connected  with  the  Court  of 
Honor  and  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur  in  Ham- 
mond. 


EMOR   H.  MITCHELL. 

There  is  no  more  highly  respected  citi- 
zen in  Piatt  county  than  Emor  H.  Mitch- 
ell, .one  of  its  early  settlers.  He  makes  his 
home  in  Bement  after  many  years'  connec- 
tion with  agricultural  interests.  He  has 
watched  the  greater  part  of  the  progress  and 
improvement  which  -have  transformed  Piatt 
county  from  a  wild  prairie  district  into  one 
of  the  leading  counties  of  this  great  com- 
monwealth with  its  rich  agricultural  inter- 
ests and  its  thriving  towns,  enterprising  busi- 
ness affairs  and  educational,  social  and  mor- 
al advantages. 

Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Knox  county,  on 
the  5th  of  December,  1839.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Sylvanus  Mitchell,  removed 
from  his  native  state  of  Massachusetts  to 
Ohio  in  the  year  1805,  settling  in  Granville 
township,  Licking  county,  where  he  engaged 
in  general  farming  until  1823.  At  that  date 
he  took  tip  his  abode  in  Knox  county,  where 
his  remaining  days  were  passed  and  where 
he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  of  Eng- 
lish lineage. 

Almond  Mitchell,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Licking  county.  Ohio,  on 
the  3Oth  of  March,  1816,  and  was  a  lad  of 
Lut  seven  years  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Knox  county  in  1823.  He  was 


reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Milford  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority,  after  which  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  the  same  township,  con- 
tinuing to  engage  in  general  agricultural 
pursuits  and  stock-raising  there  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  diligent,  industrious  man, 
progressive  in  his  business  methods  and  in 
his  undertakings  he  prospered,  becoming  the 
owner  of  between  five  and  six  hundred  acres 
of  rich  farm  land.  He  was  also  prominent 
in  public  affairs  and  was  well-fitted  for  lead- 
ership, because  of  his  keen  insight  into  pub- 
lic matters,  his  devotion  to  the  general  good 
and  his  marked  capability.  He  held  a  num- 
ber of  township  offices  and  he  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson,  but 
after  the  inauguration  of  the  Republican  par- 
ty he  became  one  of  its  followers.  He  was 
also  a  supporter  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  everything  pertaining  to  the  general 
good  received  his  endorsement,  and  many 
times  his  active  co-operation.  In  early  man- 
hood he  wedded  Miss  Margaret  Hawkins, 
who  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
2d  of  May,  1818.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Disciple  church  and  was  a  devoted  and  lov- 
ing wife  and  mother  and  a  faithful  friend. 
Mr.  Mitchell  died  April  6,  1896,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  in  1901.  Unto  this  worthy 
couple  were  born  fifteen  children,  of  whom 
three  died  in  infancy,  while  the  others 
reached  years  of  maturity,.  Eight  of  the 
family  are  now  living,  two  sisters  and  five 
brothers  of  our  subject.  One  brother-  re- 
sides in  Chicago,  another  in  Texas,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  our  subject,  the  others  are 
living  in  Ohio.  Harris,  the  eldest  of  the 
family  born  in  Ohio. in  1838,  died  in  in- 
fancy. Emor  H.  is  the  second.  Lewis  is  a 
farmer  of  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Civil  war.  Alice  is  the  de- 


126 


PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


ceased  wife  of  Monroe  Crego,  who  is  a 
farmer  of  Galena,  Ohio.  Elizabeth  is  the 
deceased  wife  of  Dempsy  Conway,  of  De- 
catur,  Illinois.  Albert  is  a  resident  farm- 
er of  Knox  county,  Ohio.  Wealthy  is 
the  deceased  wife  of  Thomas  Wade,  of  Knox 
county.  Torrence  is  an  agriculturist  of  the 
same  county.  Maria  is  the  wife  of  Abram 
Jackson,  of  Wichita  Falls,  Texas.  William 
is  a  merchant  of  Knox  county,  Ohio.  Laura 
is  the  deceased  wife  of  Emer  Harris,  a  farm- 
er of  Red  Oak,  Iowa.  Dana  is  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law  in  Chicago.  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Judson  Poland,  an  agriculturist 
of  Knox  county,  Ohio.  The  other  two  died 
in  infancy  unnamed. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of 
Emor  H.  Mitchell  we  present  to  our  readers 
the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  Piatt  county.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  in  his  youth  was 
trained  to  habits  of  industry,  economy  and 
honesty,  which  have  been  important  factors 
in  shaping  his  career  in  later  life.  He  gained 
practical  knowledge  of  farming  upon  the 
old  homestead  and  he  remained  in  Ohio  un- 
til 1864.  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  establish- 
ing his  home  three  and  a  half  miles  east  of 
Bement  in  Piatt  county.  Purchasing  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  was 
then  but  a  tract  of  wild  prairie,  he  began  its 
development  with  characteristic  energy, 
placed  all  of  the  improvements  upon  the 
land  and  made  a  good  home  for  himself  and 
familv.  There  he  lived  until  1889,  when  he 
removed  to  the  village  of  Bement,  leaving 
his  farm.  For  many  years  he  had  carried 
on  general  farming  and  stock-raising  and  in 
the  careful  control  of  his  business  he  won 
capital  sufficient  to  enable  him  at  the  pres- 
ent time  to  live  retired. 


On  the  1 3th  of  December,  1860,  Mr. 
Mitchell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emily  S.  Reynolds,  who  was  born  in  Knox 
county.  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Amos  and  So- 
phia (Houch)  Reynolds.  Her  paternal 
grandfather  was  William  Reynolds,  a  na- 
tive of  England,  and  his  wife  was  born  in 
Scotland.  In  the  year  1793  he  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  the  United  States,  then  in  the 
early  years  of  its  republic  existence,  and  lo- 
cated in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  purchasing  a 
large  tract  of  land  at  twelve  and  a  half  cents 
per  acre.  This  property  is  still  owned  by  his 
descendants.  He  planted  an  orchard  with 
apple  seeds  brought  from  England,  and 
many  of  the  old  trees  are  still  standing  up- 
on this  land.  Amos  Reynolds,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Mitchell,  was  born  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  old  family  homestead,  and  in 
the  place  of  his  nativity  he  spent  his  entire 
life,  living  upon  the  farm  which  is  still  in 
possession  of  the  family.  It  is  situated  at 
Richhill.  and  he  owned  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  acres  as  a  nucleus  to  his  estate 
which  grew  as  the  years  advanced  until  it 
became  a  valuable  and  extensive  property. 
Throughout  his  business'  career  he  carried 
on  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  his 
justice  and  honor  in  all  business  transactions 
won  him  the  unqualified  regard  of  his  fellow 
men.  He  died  March  26,  1850,  at  the  age 
of  forty-nine  years,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred on  the  1 6th  of  January,  1801.  He 
was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  and  to  his  family  he  left  an  untar- 
nished name.  His  wife,  who  was  born  April 
25,  1808,  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  was  a  con- 
stant Christian  woman,  holding  membership 
in  the  Methodist  church,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred in  her  native  county.  January  8, 
1849.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  were 
.born  ten  children,  and  the  familv  record  is. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


127 


as  follows  :  James,  the  eldest,  born  in  Knox 
county,  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 
Sylvester  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  suc- 
cessful practicing  physicians  of  Knox  coun- 
ty. Burr,  who  went  to  California  in  1849, 
and  there  remained  for  eight  years,  after- 
ward resided  in  Huntington,  Indiana,  where 
his  death  occurred.  Daniel  was  an  adjutant- 
general  in  the  southern  Confederacy  and 
lost  one  of  his  lower  limbs  while  serving  his 
country.  Prior  to  the  Civil  war  he  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  in  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, and  subsequently  he  became  a  well- 
known  lawyer  of  Lake  Village,  Arkansas. 
He  was  fitted  for  his  profession  by  gradua- 
tion in  the  Wesleyan  College  of  Delaware, 
Ohio.  William,  born  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  was  a  resident  of  Iowa  for  a  number 
of  years,  and.  is  now  an  extensive  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  of  South  Dakota.  Sarah  is  the 
deceased  wife  of  Lucius  Webster,  of  Knox 
county,  Ohio.  Barbara  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  years.  Mrs.  Michell  is  the  next  of  the 
family.  Caroline  is  the  wife  of  Nelson 
Jones,  of  Foosland,  Illinois.  Mary  died  in 
infancy.  All  of  the  members  of  the  family 
were  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohi.o. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell 
has  been  blessed  with  six  children.  Walter 
R.,  the  eldest,  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Illinois  State  University 
of  the  class  of  1887,  and  now  resides,  in 
Chicago,  where  he  is  professor  of  biology 
in  the  Hyde  Park  high  school.  He  also  won 
a  degree  from  the  Chicago  University.  He 
married  Miss  Florence  Stuart,  of  Cham- 
paign, Illinois,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Beulah  and  Maurice.  Olive,  the  second 
member  of  the  Mitchell  family,  was  born  in 
Bement,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  in  the  State  University  and  in  the 
Art  Institute  of  Chicago,  doing  excellent 


work  as  a  water-color  artist.  Pauline,  who 
resides  in  St.  Louis,  and  was  educated  in  the 
Normal  School  of  Chicago,  is  now  the  wife 
of  James  Grant  Abbott,  who  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Wesleyan  University  of  Bloomington, 
Illinois,  and  is  now  a  contractor  and  car- 
penter of  St.  Louis  Worlds'  Fair.  Annie, 
who  resides  at  home,  is  a  teacher  and  as- 
sistant principal  in  the  high  school  of  Green- 
field, Illinois,  her  specialty  being  languages. 
Elizabeth  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
and  Charles  died  at  the  age  of  eight  months. 
Mr.  Mitchell  has  served  in  a  number  of 
township  offices,  and  in  all  the  public  posi- 
tions he  has  filled  has  been  found  true  and 
faithful  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him.  While 
acting  as  school  director  for  a  number  of 
years  he  was  instrumental  in  securing  the 
erection  of  three  new  school  buildings.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  stalwart  Re- 
publican, and  has  ever  kept  well  informed 
on  the  great  national  questions  which  have 
divided  political  opinions  into  two  parties. 
His  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian church,  and  his  life  has  ever  been  guided 
by  high  moral  principles  and  characterized 
by  sterling  integrity  and  fidelity  to  duty. 
He  has  seen  nearly  all  the  improvements 
made'  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  has 
done  his  full  share  in  the  work  of  public 
progress  and  advancement. 


S.  A.  BLAGG. 

S.  A.  Blagg,  who  is  now  residing  in 
Mansfield,  belongs  to  that  class  of  represent- 
ative American  citizens  who  are  known  as 
self-made,  because  their  possessions  have 
been  acquired  entirely  through  their  own  ef- 
forts unassisted  by  inheritance,  or  by  influ- 


128 


PAST    AXD    PRESKXT 


ential  friends.  Mr.  Blagg  was  born  in  West 
Virginia,  November  29,  1844,  his  parents 
being  James  and  Elizabeth  (Armstrong) 
Blagg.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion and  died  when  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view was  only  five  years  of  age. 

In  Lewis  county.  West  Virginia,  Mr. 
Blagg,  of  this  review,  obtained  his  early  ed- 
ucation. His  school  privileges,  however,  were 
somewhat  meager,  and  it  has  been  in  the 
school  of  experience  that  he  has  learned  the 
valuable  lessons  fitting  him  for  a  practical 
and  successful  business  man.  At  the  time 
of  the  Civil  war,  although  but  a  young  boy, 
he  joined  the  Confederate  army.  He  went 
to  face  the  enemy  at  Laurel  Hill  and  could 
not  get  away,  so  enlisted  with  the  Confeder- 
ate troops  just  after  the  battle  of  Philippi. 
He  then  served  for  fopr  years,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  I,  Thirty-first  Regi- 
ment of  Virginia  Volunteers  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  A.  H.  Jackson  and  Colonel 
W.  L.  Jackson.  He  was  a  brave  and  loyal 
soldier  and  continued  with  his  regiment  un- 
til the  cessation  of  hostilities.  He  was,  how- 
ever, only  twenty-one  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  the  close  of  the  war. 

Almost  immediately  afterward  he  came 
to  Illinois,  settling  first  in  Moultrie  county 
near  the  Piatt  county  line.  He  found  this 
section  of  the  country  in  a  wild  state,  the 
land  was  raw  and  unimproved,  and  it  was 
possible  to  travel  in  almost  any  direction 
without  coming  to  a  fence  to  impede  his 
progress.  There  were  no  roads  and  the 
work  of  improvement  and  development 
seemed  scarcely  begun.  Mr.  Blagg  was  in 
very  limited  financial  circumstances  at  the 
time  of  his  arrival,  and  in  order  to  gain  a  liv- 
ing he  worked  by  the  day  as  a  farm  hand. 
Later  he  rented  a  tract  of  land  and  thus  be- 
gan life  on  his  own  account.  As  he  pros- 


pered in  his  undertakings  and  was  enabled 
to  save  something  from  his  earnings  he  care- 
fully hoarded  the  money  thus  won  until  he 
was  able  to  purchase  a  tract  of  land.  He 
now  owns  two  lots  in  the  home  which  he  oc- 
cupies in  Mansfield.  He  has  been  a  resident 
of  Piatt  county  since  1892,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
here. 

Mr.  Blagg  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Martha 
Hardin,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now 
living:  Ida.  who  was  born  June  3,  1869; 
James,  born  April  6,  1871 ;  Jesse,  born  Oc- 
tober 20,  1873;  Benjamin,  April  13,  1875; 
August,  on  the  24th  of  August,  1878; 
Marie,  May  8,  1880;  Charlie,  February  21, 
1882;  Grace,  February  6,  1885;  and  Maude. 
April  7,  1892.  The  oldest  daughter,  Ida.  is 
now  the  wife  of  Wesley  Williams  and  has 
five  children. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Blagg  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  never  sought  or  desired 
office,  preferring  to  give  his  time  and  ener- 
gies to  his  business  affairs,  whereby  he  has 
attained  the  success  that  he  now  enjoys. 
During  his  long  residence  in  the  county  he 
has  become  widely  and  favorably  known, 
and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  his 
history  to  our  readers. 


WILLIAM  E.  LODGE. 

There  are  few  men  whose  lives  are 
crowned  with  the  honor  and  respect  which 
was  so  universally  accorded  to  William  E. 
Lodge,  but  through  more  than  forty  years 
connection  with  the  history  of  Piatt  county 
his  was  an  unblemished  character.  With 


WILLIAM   E.  LODGE 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


him  success  in  life  was  reached  by  ster- 
ling qualities  of  mind  and  a  heart  true  to  ev- 
en' manly  principle.  He  never  deviated 
from  what  his  judgment  would  indicate  to 
be  right  between  himself  and  his  fellow  men, 
and  he  never  swerved  from  the  path  of  duty. 
He  gained  distinction  at  the  bar,  where  he 
practiced  for  four  decades,  and  he  also  won 
marked  financial  success  in  the  control  of  ag- 
ricultural interests.  Into  whatever  channel 
he  directed  his  energies  he  so  guided  his  la- 
bors that  he  was  always  true  to  his  duties  to 
his  fellow  men,  and  secured  his  own  ad- 
vancement upon  a  high  mental  and  moral 
plane. 

Mr.  Lodge  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  the  town  of  Mount 
Hope,  which  is  now  included  within  the  city 
of  Cincinnati,  in  December,  1834.  Back  to 
Kngland  can  the  ancestry  of  the  family  be 
traced,  and  representatives  of  the  name  es- 
tablished homes  in  America  prior  to  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  The  old  family  homestead 
which  came  into  possession  of  the  emigrants 
in  1750  is  still  owned  by  descendants  of  those 
who  were  the  first  occupants.  This  property 
is  situated  in  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey, 
and  it  was  there  that  Samuel  Lodge,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  carried  on  farm- 
ing throughout  his  entire  business  career. 
He  wedded  Miss  Abigail  Homer,  who  was  of 
German  lineage,  and  like  her  husband  was  a 
native  of  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey.  It 
was  their  son.  Benjamin  F.  Lodge,  who  be- 
came the  father  of  our  subject,  and  who 
after  arriving  at  years  of  maturity,  removed 
from  New  Jersey  to  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
maintaining  his  residence  in  that  place  while 
he  conducted  his  business  operations  in  New 
York  city  for  some  years.  He  was  engaged 
in  merchandising  there  when  attracted  by 
the  opportunities  of  the  growing  west,  and 


went  to  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  In  that  sec- 
tion of  the  country  he  became  well  known  as 
a  builder  of  turnpikes,  and  he  took  contracts 
for  similar  work  in  Kentucky,  carrying  on 
the  business  with  success  until  1836.  In 
that  year  he  took  passage  on  a  steamer  which 
eventually  landed  him  at  Clinton,  Indiana, 
but  that  was  not  his  destination  and  he  con- 
tinued his  westward  journey  by  team  until 
he  arrived  in  Paris,  Edgar  county,  Illinois. 
All  around  him  stretched  the  wild  prairie, 
the  work  of  improvement  and  development 
being  scarcely  begun,  and  Mr.  Lodge  under- 
took the  mammoth  task  of  improving  and  op- 
erating eleven  hundred  acres  of  prairie  land 
for  William  Neff,  of  Cincinnati.  He  used 
forty  yoke  of  oxen  in  breaking  the  prairie. 
The  farm  work  at  that  day  was  very  ardu- 
ous, because  of  the  primitive  condition  of  the 
farm  machinery  and  agricultural  implements. 
Grain  was  cut  with  a  sickle  and  cradle  and  a 
scythe  was  used  in  mowing  the  meadow. 
Prices,  too,  were  very  low,  corn  at  one  time 
bringing  six  and  a  quarter  cents  per  bushel, 
while  other  cereals  were  proportionately 
cheap.  However,  Mr.  Lodge,  with  deter- 
mined purpose  and  marked  business  capabil- 
ity, continued  the  work  which  he  undertook 
and  central  Illinois  owes  much  to  him  for  its 
advancement  of  agricultural  interests  here. 
He  planted  the  first  osage  orange  hedge  ever 
seen  in  Illinois,  and  in  his  farming  he  always 
kept  abreast  with  the  progress  and  improve- 
ment of  the  times.  His  first  home  was  about 
three  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Paris,  but  lat- 
er he  removed  four  miles  west  of  the  town, 
where  he  resided  until  1857.  In  that  year 
he  took  up  his  abode  in  Paris  and  was  identi- 
fied with  its  commercial  pursuits  as  a  mer- 
chant until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in 
death  in  the  year  1863. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maid- 


132 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


en  name  of  Julia  A.  Brooks,  and  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  In  her  early 
womanhood  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage 
to  Benjamin  F.  Lodge,  and  by  this  union  she 
became  the  mother  of  eight  children :  Alex- 
ander A. ;  Samuel  A. ;  George  R. ;  Julia,  who 
became  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Rudy;  Benjamin 
F. ;  William  E. ;  Charles  V.  and  a  daughter 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Lodge  survived 
her  husband  for  a  number  of  years  and 
.  passed  away  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  in 
Edgar  county,  Illinois,  in  1881. 

William  E.  Lodge  was  a  little  lad  of  only 
two  summers  when  his  parents  left  Ohio  and 
came  to  Illinois.  He  was  reared  in  Edgar 
county  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life, 
and  as  there  were  no  schools  yet  established 
in  that  locality  his  early  education  was  ac- 
quired under  the  direction  of  his  father,  who 
was  a  man  of  broad  learning.  His  training 
at  farm  labor,  however,  was  not  meager  and 
almost  as  soon  as  old  enough  to  reach  the 
plow  handles  he  began  work  in  the  fields,  as- 
sisting from  that  time  on  in  the  task  of  plant- 
ing, plowing  and  harvesting  throughout  the 
summer  and  fall  months.  Every  leisure 
moment  which  he  had  was  devoted  to  study. 
While  hauling  rails  he  mastered  grammar, 
and  while  herding  cattle  he  also  learned 
arithmetic.  It  was  in  such  disadvantages 
that  he  pursued  his  education,  but  he  was 
ambitious  to  advance  in  that  direction,  and 
throughout  his  entire  life  he  continually . 
added  to  the  rich  treasures  which  were  in 
the  storehouse  of  his  mind.  He  read  broadly, 
thought  deeply  and  had  the  power  to  assim- 
ilate and  utilize  what  he  learned.  His  youth, 
however,  was  largely  devoted  to  farm  labor, 
and  he  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
was -twenty-two  years  of  age. 

Nature,  however,  evidently  designed  Mr. 
Lodge  for  the  practice  of  law  as  he  seemed 


to  have  a  natural  predilection  in  that  direc- 
tion, and  won  marked  success  in  the  calling. 
He  began  his  preparation  for  the  bar  as  a 
law  student  in  the  office  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Green  &  Fades,  of  Paris,  and  when 
he  felt  that  his  knowledge  justified  his  ad- 
mission to  the  bar  he  came  to-  Monticello, 
Piatt  county,  where  a  few  days  later  he  re- 
ceived his  license  to  practice,  having  suc- 
cessfully passed  an  examination  in  Paris. 

Mr.  Lodge  at  once  opened  his  office  and 
gradually  advanced  as  he  demonstrated  his 
power  to  successfully  cope  with  the  intricate 
problems  of  jurisprudence.  He  was  re- 
markable among  lawyers  for  the  wide  re- 
search and  provident  care  with  which  he  pre- 
pared his  cases.  His  logical  grasp  of  facts 
and  principles  and  of  the  law  applicable  to 
them  was  another  element  in  his  success  and 
a  remarkable  clearness  of  expression  and  ad- 
equate language  which  enabled  him  to  make 
others  understand  not  only  the  salient  points 
of  his  arguments,  but  his  every  fine  grada- 
tion of  meaning,  were  account  among  his 
conspicuous  gifts  and  accomplishments. 

Mr.  Lodge,  however,  did  not  confine  his 
attention  solely  to  his  professional  duties  for 
he  became  extensively  connected  with  farm- 
ing. He  always  maintained  a  deep  interest 
in  the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared 
and  regarded  it  as  the  basis  of  all  national 
prosperity.  From  time  to  time  he  made  judi- 
cious investments  in  real  estate,  and  ulti- 
mately became  the  owner  of  six  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Monticello  and  Sangamon 
townships  of  Piatt  county.  Upon  his  land  he 
made  many  improvements,  developing  farms 
modern  in  all  their  equipments  and  supplied 
with  all  accessories  necessary  to  carry  on  ag- 
ricultural work.  He  was  the  first  in  the 
county  to  use  tile  in  draining  his  land,  and 
was  the  first  to  advocate  surface  cultivation. 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


133 


He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  Piatt  County 
Agricultural  Society,  and  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  object  for  which  it  was  estab- 
lished. He  acted  as  its  attorney  and  he  did 
everything  in  his  power  to  promote  its 
growth  and  usefulness.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Chicago  & 
Paducah  Railroad,  now  a  part  of  the  Wabash 
system,  and  was  its  solicitor  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  also  one  of  the  promo- 
ters of  the  Monticello  &  Decatur  Railroad, 
now  a  part  of  the  Illinois  Central  and  was  its 
solicitor. 

On  the  3Oth  of  January,  1868,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Lodge  and  Miss 
Francis  A.  Piatt,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Ciarinda  (Marquiss)  Piatt.  Mrs.  Lodge 
was  born  in  Goose  Creek  township,  this 
county,  and  was  a  most  estimable  lady 
of  broad  culture  and  innate  refinement,  and 
shared  with  her  husband  in  the  high  regard 
and  friendship  in  which  he  was  uniformly 
held.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lodge  was 
blessed  with  five  sons :  William  F.,  who  is 
now  a  practitioner  at  the  bar  of  Monticello ; 
James  P.  and  Charles  V.,  twins,  the  former 
of  whom  is  practicing  law  and  looking  after 
farming  interests  of  the  family,  and  the  lat- 
ter also  has  charge  of  farming  interests  in 
Kansas  and  is  engaged  in  the  raising  of 
thoroughbred  Holstein  cattle  and  draft 
horses ;  Paul  E.  and  Fred  S.  Realizing  the 
value  of  education  the  parents  gave  their 
children  excellent  opportunities  in  that  di- 
rection, at  the  same  time  rearing  them  amid 
the  influence  of  a  refined  and  cultured  home, 
and  instilling  into  their  minds  lessons  tend- 
ing toward  moral  as  well  as  mental  develop- 
ment. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lodge  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  church,  of  which 
they  were  most  consistent  representatives, 
and  to  the  support  of  the  organization  they 
contributed  liberally. 


In  his  early  manhood  Mr.  Lodge  gave 
his  political  support  to  the  Whig  party  and 
after  the  war  became  a  Democrat.  The 
honors  and  emolument  of  office,  however, 
had  no  attraction  for  him  as  he  preferred  to 
devote  his  time  and  energies  to  his  profes- 
sional duties  and  the  supervision  of  his  in- 
vested interests.  In  1864  he  established  his 
home  in  Monticello  upon  a  beautiful  tract 
of  land  of  thirty-five  acres  all  within  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  city.  He  passed  away 
September  24,  1901,  and  his  wife  died  on 
the  i6th  of  September,  1895.  Nature  be- 
stowed upon  him  many  of  her  rarest  gifts. 
He  possessed  a  mind  of  extraordinary  com- 
pass and  an  industry  that  brought  forth 
every  spark  of  talent  with  which  nature  had 
blessed  him.  He  was  in  every  way  a  most 
superior  man.  Faultless  in  honor,  fearless  in 
conduct,  stainless  in  reputation — such  was 
his  life  record.  His  scholarly  attainments, 
his  statesmanship,  his  reliable  judgment  and 
his  charming  powers  of  conversation  would 
have  enabled  him  to  ably  fill  and  grace  any 
position,  however  exalted,  and  he  was  no 
less  honored  in  public  than  loved  in  private 
life. 


JAMES  C.  LOCHER. 

James  C.  Locher,  who  is  the  editor  of 
the  New  Era,  published  at  Cerro  Gordo,  and 
is  also  a  dealer  in  stationery  there,  was  born 
in  Oroville,  Butte  county,  California,  .on  the 
1 3th  of  March,  1860,  his  parents  being 
James  and  Mary  A.  Locher.  The  father  is 
a  mechanical  engineer  and  in  1873  he  left 
California  with  his  family,  locating  in  De- 
catur, Illinois.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
still  living. 

At  the  usual  age  James  C.  Locher  began 
his  education  and  attended  the  schools  of 


134 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


California  and  Illinois,  putting  aside  his  text 
books  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  in  order  to 
enter  upon  his  business  career.  He  worked 
in  his  father's  sawmill  and  at  other  labor  in 
connection  with  the  operation  of  the  mill, 
such  as  cutting  and  hauling  logs,  hauling 
lumber  and  chopping.  He  remained  with 
his  father  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  at 
which  time  he  left  home  to  seek  employment 
as  a  farm  hand,  devoting  the  evening  hours 
to  further  study  of  the  branches  of  learning, 
which  he  began  in  the  schoolroom.  He 
was  variously  employed  until  able  to  pass 
an  examination,  whereby  he  obtained  a 
teacher's  certificate  in  Macon  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1885.  He  afterward  engaged  in 
teaching  for  one  year  in  Macon  county,  and 
for  six  years  in  Piatt  county,  being  a  suc- 
cessful educator.  He  then  accepted  a  posi- 
tion in  the  drug  store,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed for  several  years,  during  which  time 
he  mastered  the  business,  learning  the  use  of 
the  various  drugs  and  remedial  agencies 
which  are  found  in  such  establishments.  He 
then  established  a  drug  store  of  his  own  in 
Cerro  Gordo  in  1899.  continuing  its  conduct 
until  1901.  when  he  disposed  of  his  store  and 
purchased  the  New  Era.  since  which  time 
he  has  conducted  the  paper  in  a  manner 
creditable  to  the  town,  and  with  financial  re- 
sults satisfactory  to  himself.  In  1902  he 
purchased  the  drug  store  in  which  he  was 
first  employed  in  Cerro  Gordo,  and  is  still 
carrying  on  this  business,  and  also  deals  in 
stationery,  carrying  a  large  and  well  selected 
line  in  both  departments.  It  was  in  the 
year  1883  that  Mr.  Locher  removed  from 
Decatur  to  Cerro  Gordo,  and  here  he  has 
continuously  made  his  home  for  twenty 
years. 

On  the    1 5th  of    November,     1885,    in 
Cerro  Gordo,  Mr.  Locher  was  united  in  mar- 


riage to  Miss  Capitola  Hyett,  and  unto  them 
have  been  born  four  children :  Fred,  Mabel 
Florence  and  Ralph.  Mr.  Locher  has  held 
no  official  offices  save  those  of  village  trus- 
tee, village  treasurer  and  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  but  has  ever  been  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  welfare  and  progress  of  his  com- 
munity, and  has  given  generous  and  hearty 
aid  to  many  movements  for  the  general 
good.  For  two  years  he  was  secretary  of 
the  Cerro  Gordo  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation. His  political  support  is  given  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  quite  prom- 
inent in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  having  been 
a  member  of  Cerro  Gordo  Lodge,  No.  '600, 
F.  &  A.  M.  since  1882.  He  has  held  all  of 
the  offices  in  the  lodge  save  that  of  secretary 
and  treasurer,  and  is  the  present  senior  dea- 
con. In  1902  he  became  a  member  of  Be- 
ment  Chapter,  No.  65,  R.  A..  M.,  and  the 
following  year  joined  Beaumanior  Com- 
mandery.  K.  T.,  while  in  1901  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Independant  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  since.  1884  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  and  thus  his  in- 
terests are  of  a  varied  nature,  which  show 
him  to  be  a  broad-minded  man,  having  due 
regard  for  the  material,  intellectual,  social 
and  moral  development  of  his  community. 


HENRY  V.  MOORE. 

Henry  V.  Moore  is  one  of  the  oldest  rep- 
resentatives of  the  banking  business  in  Mon- 
ticello.  having  thus  been  connected  with  its 
financial  interests  since  1870.  His  success 
in  all  his  undertakings  has  been  so  marked 
that  his  methods  are  of  interest  to  the  com- 
mercial world.  He  has  based  his  business 
principles  and  actions  upon  strict  adherence 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


to  the  rules  which  govern  industry,,  economy 
and  strict,  unswerving  integrity,  and  what 
he  is  to-day  he  has  made  himself,  for  he  start- 
ed out  upon  his  business  career  with  nothing 
but  his  energy  and  willing  hands  to  aid 
him.  By  constant  exertion,  associated  with 
good  judgment,  he  has  raised  himself  to  the 
prominent  position  he  now  holds,  having 
the  friendship  of  many  and  the  respect  of 
all  who  know  him. 

t  .\  native  of  Illinois,  Henry  V.  Moore 
was  born  in  Farmington,  Fulton  county,  on 
the  ist  of  December,  1837.  His  father  was 
Dr.  Henry  Moore,  who  devoted  his  life  to 
the  practice  of  medicine  and  died  in  1849. 
For  some  time  he  was  a  resident  of  New 
York,  living  upon  a  farm  near  Auburn.  The 
year  of  his  birth  was  1809.  Removing  to 
the  west  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Ellis- 
ville,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  ami  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  locality.  He 
aided  in  its  early  development  and  improve- 
ment, and  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
for  many  years,  meeting  with  prosperity  in 
his  undertakings.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary 
Hand,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  who,  in  her 
girlhood  days,  was  taken  by  her  parents  to 
Ohio,  the  family  home  being  there  estab- 
lished amid  pioneer  surroundings  and  en- 
vironments. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore 
were  born  six  children,  four  of  whom 
reached  adult  age.  The  father  passed  away 
in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  forty 
years,  and  the  mother  reached  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-one  years. 

Henry  V.  Moore  was  reared  as  a  farm 
boy  and  was  sent  to  the  district  school  in 
his  early  youth,  thus  acquiring  his  prelim- 
inary education,  which  was  supplemented 
by  a  course  in  Lombard  University,  of 
Galesburg,  Illinois,  where  he  pursued  his 
studies  for  three  vears.  Thus  he  was  well 


prepared  by  liberal  educational  privileges 
for  the  practical  and  responsible  duties  of  a 
business  career.  Upon  the  completion  of  his 
collegiate  course  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a 
grocery  store  in  Champaign,  Illinois,  and  in 
1864  he  purchased  the  store  and  stock  of 
his  employer,  continuing  in  the  business  on 
his  own  account  for  six  years  or  until  1870, 
when  he  sold  out.  He  had  met  with  very 
gratifying  success  in  that  enterprise  and  his 
capable  management,  reasonable  prices  and 
fair  dealing  had  secured  to  him  a  liberal  pa- 
tronage whereby  he  annually  obtained  a 
good  income  on  his  investment.  It  was  in 
1870  that  Mr.  Moore  came  to  Monticello, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Here 
he  formed  a  parnership  with  A.  J.  Dighton 
in  a  private  banking  business  and  the  rela- 
tionship was  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr. 
Dighton,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1878. 
Mr.  Moore  then  admitted  William  H.  Plunk 
to  an  interest  in  the  business  under  the  firm 
style  of  H.  V.  Moore  &  Company,  private 
bankers,  and  this  name  has  since  been  re- 
tained. The  institution  is  one  of  the 
strong  financial  enterprises  of  the  county, 
and  receives  a  liberal  patronage  from  the 
best  people  of  this  locality.  A  general  l»nk- 
ing  business  is  carried  on  and  the  extensive 
reality  holdings  of  Mr.  Moore  are  a  safe 
guarantee  to  the  depositors.  As  his  finan- 
cial resources  have  increased  he  has,  from 
time  to  time  invested  in  property,  and  he 
is  now  the  owner  of  sixteen  hundred  acres 
of  choice  land  in  Piatt  county,  which  can 
command  the  highest  market  price,  and  no 
district  of  this  great  country  has  more  val- 
uable or  productive  land  than  is  to  be  found 
in  this  county. 

In  1866  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Moore  and  Miss  Alzina  W.  Freeman,  a 
native  of  Ohio.  Five  children  have  been 


i36 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


born  unto  them :  Mary  H.,  who  died  in 
1889;  Allen  F. ;  Arthur  L.,  who  is  living 
in  Chicago;  and  Dwight  L.  and  George  M., 
who  are  yet  under  the  parental  roof. 

For  thirty-three  years  Henry  V.  Moore 
has  been  a  resident  of  Monticello  and  his 
business  record  throughont  this  period  has 
been  such  as  any  man  might  be  proud  to 
possess.  He  is  energetic,  prompt  and  nota- 
bly reliable,  and  while  he  has  gained  wealth, 
this  has  not  been  alone  the  goal  for  which 
he  has  striven,  for  he  belongs  to  that  class 
of  representative  American  citizens  who  pro- 
mote the  general  prosperity  while  advancing 
individual  interests. 


JAMES  STEPHENSON. 

James  Stephenson,  who  is  now  practi- 
cally living  a  retired  life  in  the  village  of  De- 
Land,  was  born  in  the  neighboring  state 
of  Indiana,  his  birth  having  occurred  at 
Boonville,  Warrick  county,  on  the  i8th  of 
January,  1826.  His  father,  Thomas  Steph- 
enson, was  a  native  of  Logan  county,  Ken- 
tucky, in  which  state  he  passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  much  of  his  time  being  devoted 
to  farm  work,  and  when  a  young  man  he 
went  to  Indiana,  becoming  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Warrick  county.  It  was. there  that 
he  met  and  married  Miss  Sarah  Phillips,  who 
was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1801,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Agnes  Phillips, 
who  were  of  English  descent  and  residents 
of  Boonville,  Indiana.  Throughout  life 
Thomas  Stephenson  continued  to  engage  in 
farming.  He  died  in  1859.  and  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1872.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  are 
still  living,  namely:  Mary,  wife  of  George 


P.  Hull,  a  retired  citizen  of  Washington; 
Nancy,  wife  of  Elias  Crumb,  a  farmer  of 
Marion  county,  Illinois ;  James,  of  this  re- 
view ;  and  Maria,  widow  of  William  Lang- 
ford  and  a  farmer  of  Warrick  county,  Indi- 
ana. 

To  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county  James  Stephenson  is  •  indebted  for 
his  early  educational  privileges,  though  he 
was  only  able  to  attend  school  for  about 
three  months  during  the  winter  season,  and 
his  lessons  were  conned  in  a  log  schoolhouse 
with  puncheon  floor  and  slab  benches.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  months  he  worked  on  the 
home  farm,  remaining,  with  his  father  until 
his  marriage  until  1844,  when  he  led  to  the 
altar  Miss  Martha  J.  Meeks,  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Jennie  (Young)  Meeks. 
Eight  children  blessed  this  union,  namely : 
•  Paulina  Jane,  widow  of  Samuel  Howell  and 
a  resident  of  AJissouri ;  Sarah,  deceased ; 
Thomas,  a  farmer  of  Iowa ;  Linzy,  a  resident 
of  South  Dakota ;  Ida,  wife  of  William  Mill- 
er; James  T.,  a  resident  of  Jackson,  Minne- 
sota; Minnie,  wife  of  E.  O.  Delivou,  a 
blacksmith  of  DeLand;  and  William  T.,  a 
farmer  of  Minnesota. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stephenson  pur- 
chased a  forty-acre  farm,  which  he  operated 
for  one  year,  and  on  selling  that  place  he  re- 
moved to  French  Island,  Indiana,  where  he 
spent  three  years.  His  next  removal  made 
him  a  resident  of  Macon  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  forty  acres 
and  resided  there  for  ten  years.  He  then 
sold  out  and  came  to  Piatt  county,  locating 
near  Bement.  where  he  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  and  farmed  there  for  nine 
years.  He  next  rented  the  Scott  farm  in 
Goose  Creek  township,  and  while  residing 
there  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  the  same  locality,  settling  on  his 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


137 


new  place  in  1872,  and  residing  there  until 
his  removal  to  DeLand  in  January,  1903. 
Here  he  bought  two  lots  and  built  a  nice  sev- 
en-room residence,  also  a  barn  and  other 
buildings,  making  it  a  very  neat  and  attract- 
ive place.  Here  he  is  practically  living  a  re- 
tired life,  though  he  still  superintends  his 
farm  work,  which  is  done  by  hired  help,  and 
he  feeds  a  large  amount  of  stock,  making  a 
specialty  of  shorthorn  cattle.  He  has  been 
quite  an  extensive  stock-raiser,  and  has  found 
this  business  a  profitable  source  of  income. 
Mr.  Stephenson's  first  wife  died  June 
1 8,  1-882,  and  on  the  26th  of  December, 
1883,  he  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Sarah  Wilkinson,  a 
daughter  of  William  F.  and  Jane  Wilkin- 
son. She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  and  a  most  estimable  lady.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Stephenson  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  he  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Goose  Creek  township  for  four 
years,  but  has  never  cared  for  political  pre- 
ferment, his  time  and  attention  being 
wholly  occupied  by  his  business  affairs.  Af- 
ter a  useful  and  honorable  career  he  can  well 
afford  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares  and 
live  in  ease  and  retirement,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  former  toil.  He  always  made  the 
most  of  his  opportunities  and  he  has  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 


GEORGE  W.  BUNYAN. 

George  W.  Bunyan  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  in  Piatt  county  after  long  con- 
nection with  its  agricultural  interests  and 
is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  the  village  of 
Hammond.  He  established  his  home  in  this 
•county  in  1867  when  deer  still  roamed  over 


the  prairie,  and  prairie  wolves  were  seen 
in  quite  large  numbers.  He  is  a  native  of 
Herefordshire,  England,  his  birth  having 
there  occurred  on  the  I5th  of  April,  1831. 
His  parents  were  Elijah  and  Sarah 
(Swaby)  Bunyan,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  England,  and  in  the  year  1833  they 
•  came  to  America,  landing  in  New  York  in 
the  month  of  February.  They  then  made 
their  way  to  Pennsylvania,  settling  near  the 
Delaware  river,  where  Mrs.  Bunyan  was 
taken  ill  and  died  only  three  weeks  after 
landing  in  this  country.  Because  of  the 
great  amount  of  sickness  in  that  locality  the 
husband  and  father  determined  to  seek  a 
home  further  west,  and  made  his  way  to 
Ohio.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade  and  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  afterward  removed  to  Allen  county.  In- 
diana, where  he  became  connected  with  agri- 
cultural interests,  following  farming  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1837. 

In  1866  a  brother  of  our  subject  came 
to  the  west,  settling  on  section  32,  Bement 
township,  Piatt  county,  and  it  was  because 
of  this  that  George  W.  Bunyan  came  to  Pi- 
att county  in  1867.  He  was  less  than 
two  years  of  age  when  brought  to 
America  by  his  parents,  and  was  reared  in 
Ohio  and  Indiana.  On  coming  to  Illinois 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Bement 
township,  and  with  characteristic  energy  be- 
gan its  development  and  improvement.  As 
the  years  passed  this  became  a  very  valuable 
property,  constituting  one  of  the  best- farms 
in  this  locality.  Mr.  Bunyan  was  very  pro- 
gressive in  his  farming  methods  and  was 
quick  to  adopt  improvements  that  would  fa- 
cilitate his  work  and  render  his  labors  more 
valuable  in  the  acquirement  of  a  handsome 
competence. 

In   Richland    countv.    Ohio,    was    cele- 


'38 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT 


brated  the  marriage  of  George  W.  Bunyan 
and  Miss  Eleanor  Dratt,  a  lady  of  French 
descent,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  loth  of  July,  1829,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Eleanor  (VanPelt) 
Dratt.  Her  father  was  a  cooper  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  Ohio  during  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  Both  he  and  his  wife  died 
in  Ashland  county,  that  state.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bunyan  became  the  parents  of  five  children : 
Sarah  J.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Mc- 
Cabe  and  resides  upon  a  farm  near  Bement ; 
John  W.,  who  first  married  Janette  Wal- 
lace, who  died  in  1885,  after  which  he 
wedded  Jane  Dobson,  with  whom  he  is  now 
living  on  the  old  Bunyan  homestead  in 
Unity  township,  Piatt  county;  Charles  An- 
drew, who  married  Lilly  Bernard  and  re- 
sides in  Hammond,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business ;  Wilbert  Willis,  who 
married  Ruth  Shaw  and  resides  upon  the 
home  farm  in  Unity  township;  and  Marga- 
ret Elverta,  the  wife  of  Dayton  M.  Lincoln. 
They  reside  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bunyan  and 
have  two  children,  George  M.  and  Chester  A. 
Mr.  Bunyan  continued  to  engage  in 
farming  upon  the  old  homestead  in  Unity 
township  until  the  2ist  of  February,  1895, 
when  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Ham- 
mond, where  he  has  since  lived  retired.  He 
is  now  enjoying  a  rest  which  he  has  truly 
earned,  for  through  many  years  he  was  an 
active  factor  in  agricultural  circles  in  Piatt 
county.  He  now  owns  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  one  farm  and  another  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  both  being  in  Unity 
township.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  a  com- 
fortable home  property  in  Hammond.  His 
political  support  is  given  to  the  Republican 
party  and  he  is  entitled  to  membership  in 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  for  while 
living  in  Ohio  he  enlisted  in  May,  1864,-  in 


tlie  National  Guard  of  that  state,  becoming 
a  member  of  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-third  Regiment  under  Colonel  Hiram 
Miller.  This  regiment  was  called  to  active 
service,  but  Mr.  Bunyan  remained  with  the 
army  for  only  a  few  months  for  he  became 
ill  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Fort  Po- 
cahontas,  Virginia.  Later  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  hospital  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
Virginia,  where  he  received  an  honor- 
able discharge  in  September,  1864.  His 
name  has  always  been  an  honored  one  in 
business  circles  and  a  synonym  for  integrity 
and  straightforward  dealing.  In  matters  of 
citizenship  he  has  ever  been  loyal,  and  has 
withheld  his  co-operation  from  no  move- 
ment calculated  to  benefit  the  community. 
He  has  witnessed  many  changes  during  his 
residence  in  the  county  for  he  has  seen  pio- 
neer conditions  give  way  before  advancing 
civilization  and  Piatt  county  has  kept  abreast 
with  the  general  improvement  along  all 
lines  which  have  advanced  material,  social, 
intellectual  and  moral  interests. 


GEORGE    R.    TRENCHARD. 

Success  is  determined  by  one's  ability  to 
recognize  opportunity  and  to  pursue  this 
with  a  resolute  and  unflagging  energy.  It 
results  from  continued  effort,  and  the  man 
who  thus  accomplishes  his  purpose  usually 
becomes  an  important  factor  in  business  cir- 
cles of  the  community  with  which  he  is  con- 
nected. Although  comparatively  a  young 
man.  Mr.  Trenchard  has  already  attained  a 
leading  place  among  the  representative  busi- 
ness men  of  his  section  of  the  county,  be- 
ing the  well-known  and  popular  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  DeLand. 


G.   R.  TRENCHARD 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


141 


He  was  born  on  a  farm  just  outside  the 
corporation  limits,  February  14,  1867,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  O.  and  Nancy  (Lyons) 
Trenchard.  His  father  is  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, born  in  New  Devonshire,  on  the  8th 
of  August,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Edna  (Upjohn)  Trenchard.  The  latter  died 
in  March,  1881.  The  father  of  our  subject 
removed  to  Morgan  county,  this  state,  and 
for  about  thirteen  years  was  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  near  Jacksonville.  At  the 
end  of  that  period  he  came  to  Piatt  county 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres 
of  land  in  Goose  Creek  township  south  of  De 
Land,  where  he  followed  farming  for  over 
thirty  years.  Since  then  he  has  made  his 
home  in  Champaign,  Illinois. 

While  living  in  Morgan  county,  Wil- 
liam O.  Trenchard  was  married  July  25, 
1852,  to  Miss  Nancy  Lyons,  who  was  born 
in  County  Clare,  Ireland,  August  25,  1830. 
Her  parents  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that 
country.  Her  father  was  a  full-fledged 
Irishman,  but  her  mother  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  Unto  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Trench- 
ard were  born  seven  children,  as  follows : 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Tatman,  a  farmer  of 
Iowa ;  Ellen,  wife  of  Robert  Bragg,  who 
follows  farming  near  DeLand;  Joseph,  a 
physician  of  Chicago,  who  married  Emma 
Marquiss,  but  she  died  in  January,  1892 ; 
William  H.,  a  farmer  and  stock- raiser  living 
near  Carlton,  Missouri ;  Frances,  wife  of 
William  Sullivan,  a  real  estate  dealer  of  • 
Champaign;  Sadie  Edna,  wife  of  G.  M.  Mor- 
ton, a  grocer  of  Champaign;  and  George  R., 
of  this  review. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  near  DeLand,  and  re- 
mained with  his  father,  assisting  in  the  op- 
eration of  the  home  farm  until  his  marriage, 


which  was  celebrated  December  28,  1898,  at 
the  home  of  Thomas  Bondurant  in  DeLand, 
where  his  wife  had  resided  for  several 
years.  In  her  maidenhood  she  was  Miss 
Lucy  Thornton,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Fanny  (Bondurant)  Thorton,  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa.  She  has  become  the  mother 
of  one  child,  Wendell  Bondurant  Trenchard, 
who  was  born  on  the  3d  of  April,  1900. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Trenchard  com- 
menced farming  on  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  south  of  DeLand,  but  after 
residing  there  for  a  year  he  sold  that  place 
and  bought  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  just  north  and  adjoining  the 
corporation  limits  of  DeLand.  After  oper- 
ating that  place  for  three  years  he  was  ap- 
pointed cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  DeLand  and  has  since  given  his  atten- 
tion principally  to  the  discharge  of  the  du- 
ties of  that  position. 

Mr.  Trenchard  has  taken  the  first  degree 
in  the  Masonic  Lodge  there  and  is  also  a 
member  of  DeLand  Lodge,  No.  603,  K.  P., 
and  DeLand  Camp,  No.  2178,  M.  W.  A. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in 
the  Christian  church.  In  all  of  his  under- 
takings he  has  prospered  thus  far,  his  excel- 
lent success  being  but  the  logical  result  of 
his  careful  and  correct  business  methods. 


JOHN  FRIZZELL. 

*  > 

This  well-known  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  DeLand,  was  born  in  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio,  April  25,  1841,  a  son  of 
Jason  and  Rebecca  (Turner)  Frizzell,  both 
representatives  of  old  Virginia  families.  The 
father  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1808,  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  that 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


state.  In  early  life  he  followed  farming  in 
Fairfield  county,  and  for  the  long  period  of 
forty-five  years  most  acceptably  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  At  one  time  he  was 
also  the  Democratic  candidate  for  sheriff, 
but  was  defeated.  He  was  a  stanch  support- 
er of  that  party  and'  took  a  very  active  and 
prominent  part  in  local  politics.  In  1830  he 
married  Rebecca  Turner,  who  died  when  our 
subject  was  a  year  old,  and  he  was  again 
married  in  1851,  his  second  union  being 
with  Jane  Jones,  of  Pennsylvania,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children :  Jason,  who  served  in 
the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  the  Seven- 
teenth Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  and  is  now 
a  railroad  man  living  in  Ohio;  William;  and 
Barbara,  wife  of  Dudley  Layman.  The  chil- 
dren of  the  first  marriage  were  Joel,  a  resi- 
dent of  Ohio ;  Frederick,  who  died  in  the 
army ;  Jackson,  also  deceased ;  John,  of  this 
review ;  Emily  and  Rebecca,  both  deceased. 
The  father  died  in  Ohio,  February  c,  1862. 

J      *J' 

John  Frizzell  is  indebted  to  the  public 
schools  of  Ohio  for  the  educational  privi- 
leges he  enjoyed  during  his  boyhood,  but  he 
was  able  to  attend  school  but  little  as  he  be- 
gan work  as  soon  as  old  enough.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  years  he  commenced  learning 
the  tanner's  trade,  which  he  followed  con- 
tinuously until  the  Civil  war  broke  out, 
when  prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriot- 
ism he  offered  his  services  to  the  govern- 
ment. At  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1863,  he  en- 
listed in  the  Ninety-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  with  which  he  served  until  hostili- 
ties ceased.  He  was  in  a  number  of  engage- 
ments, including  the  battle  of  Guntown, 
where  he  was  taken  prisoner  June  10,  1864. 
For  about  seven  months  he  was  incarcerated 
in  Andersonville  prison,  was  in  Millen  pris- 
on six  or  seven  weeks,  and  was  also  confined 
in  the  jail  at  Columbus,  Georgia,  for  a  few 


days,  but  was  finally  paroled  and  sent  home, 
receiving  an  honorable  discharge  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  in  1865. 

After  resting  for  a  time  Mr.  Frizzell  be- 
gan work  as  a  farm  hand  and  also  did  odd 
jobs.  In  1866  he  left  his  native  state  and  re- 
moved to  Charleston,  Illinois,  where  he  was 
married  on  the  jth  of  June,  that  year,  to 
Miss  Mary  L.  Frizzell,  a  daughter  of  David 
B.  and  Harriet  (Smith)  Frizzell,  who  were 
from  Ohio.  Her  mother  is  still  living  in 
Cumberland  county,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years,  but  her  father  died  in 
1868  at  the  age  of  fifty-four.  He  had  two 
brothers :  Lloyd  drove  an  ox  team  across 
the  plains  to  California  in  1849  and  died  in 
San  Francisco  of  heart  failure.  He  was 
county  treasurer  for  one  or  two  terms.  John, 
a  physician,  served  for  three  years  as  a  sur- 
geon in  the  Civil  war  and  died  in  Butler, 
Bates  county,  Missouri,  six  years  ago.  The 
wife  of  our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  the  others  being  Sarah,  de- 
ceased ;  John,  who  died  in  the  army ;  Craw- 
ford, a  resident  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana; 
Rebecca,  wife  of  John  Jenuine;  Alice,  wife 
of  George  Stults,  a  farmer ;  and  Lloyd,  who 
is  operating  the  old  home  farm.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  were  born  two  children, 
namely :  Florence,  deceased ;  and  Gertrude, 
wife  of  O'Neal  Barnes,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  our  subject's  place  near  DeLand. 

In  1879  Mr.  Frizzell  came  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty and  began  farming  near  the  present  site 
of  DeLand,  which  was  then  a  cornfield.  He 
bought  a  forty-acre  farm  in  1882,  but  sold 
the  same  later  and  purchased  sixty  acres,  on 
which  he  made  his  home  for  fourteen  years. 
On  disposing  of  that  farm  he  bought  an- 
other of  one  hundred  acres,  which  he  oper- 
ated quite  successfully  until  1902.  when  he 
removed  to  DeLand  and  purchased  town 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


property,  though  he  still  owns  his  farm  near 
the  village.  His  home  in  DeLand  is  a  valu- 
able property,  consisting  of  a  fine  house, 
good  barn  and  other  outbuildings  situated 
on  four  lots.  He  has  a  large  amount  of 
fruit  upon  his  place,  including  cherries  and 
berries  of  all  kinds,  and  everything  is  in 
first-class  condition.  Here,  surrounded  by 
all  the  comforts  which  go  to  make  life  worth 
the  living,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frizzell  expect  to 
spend  their  remaining  days.  They  are  prom- 
inent members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  taking  an  active  part  in  its  work,  and 
they  enjoy  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  all 
who  know  them.  Mr.  Frizzell  is  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  is 
a  strong  Republican  in  politics.  His  life 
has  been  one  of  industry  and  usefulness  and 
he  merits  the  success  that  has  come  to  him 
as  well  as  the  confidence  that  is  so  freely  ac- 
corded him. 


JAMES    CLIFTON   TIPPETT. 

Piatt  county  figures  as  one  of  the  most 
attractive,  progressive  and  prosperous  di- 
visions of  the  state  of  Illinois,  justly  claim- 
ing a  high  order  of  citizenship  and  a  spirit 
of  enterprise  which  is  certain  to  conserve 
consecutive  development  and  marked  ad- 
vancement in  the  material  upbuilding  of  men 
who  have  controlled  its  affairs  in  official  ca- 
pacity, and  in  this  connection  the  subject  of 
this  review  demands  representation  as  one 
who  has  served  the  county  faithfully  and 
well  in  positions  of  distinctive  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility.  He  is  now  acting  as  circuit 
clerk  and  recorder  of  Piatt  county  and 
makes  his  home  in  Monticello. 

Mr.  Tippett  was  born   at  White  Heath, 


Piatt  county,  on  the  3d  of  July,  1873,  and  is 
a  son  of  Cumberland  Tippett,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  about  the 
year  1834.  The  father  was  a  merchant  and 
also  devoted  some  time  to  farming  and  to 
preaching  the  gospel  as  a  local  minister.  He 
Became  an  early  settler  of  White  Heath  and 
his  influence  for  good  was  widely  felt.  In 
his  ministerial  capacity  he  was  called  upon 
to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony  for  many 
couples  in  Piatt  and  adjoining  counties.  He 
was  ever  the  friend  of  progress,  reform  and 
improvement,  and  his  influence  was  ever 
given  on  the  side  of  right  and  justice.  His 
death  was  occasioned  by  accident  on  the  2d 
of  October,  1875,  at  which  time  he  fell  from 
an  apple  tree.  His  wife  survived  him  and  is 
still  living  at  White  Heath.  She  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1848.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tip- 
pett were  born  two  children :  Florence 
M.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  B.  E.  Duvall,  a  resi- 
dent of  Atlanta,  Georgia.  She  is  also  a 
physician,  having  pursued  a  course  in  the 
Southern  Eclectic  Medical  College  at  At- 
lanta, Georgia,  in  which  institution  her  hus- 
band pursued  his  medical  course.  Both  are 
now  actively  engaged  in  practice  and  each 
are  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  lucrative  business. 
In  connection  with  their  work  in  this  direc- 
tion they  are  editing  the  Southern  Eclectic 
Medical  Journal  of  Atlanta,  Georgia,  which 
is  recognized  as  authority  on  many  subjects 
of  which  it  treats. 

James  C.  Tippett,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  record,  was  reared  and  educated 
at  White  Heath.  On  leaving  the  public 
schools  he  entered  the  State  University  at 
Champaign,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
for  several  terms,  and  then  returning  to  his 
home  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing, making  a  specialty  of  feeding  hogs  and 
cattle.  His  father  was  the  owner  of  a  small 


144 


FAST    AND    PRESENT 


tract  <?f  land  and  it  was  upon  this  that  Mr. 
Tipptftt  carried  on  his  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  continued  farming  until  May  1900, 
wlien  he  was  nominated  on  the  Republican 
ticket  to  the  office  of  circuit  clerk,  and  was 
elected  the  following  fall,  assuming  the  du- 
ties of  his  office  in  December  of  the  same 
year,  his  term  to  extend  four  years.  He  is 
now  the  incumbent  in  the  office  and  is  dis- 
charging its  duties  with  marked  promptness 
and  fidelity.  By  virtue  of  his  position  as 
circuit  clerk  he  is  also  recorder  of  the  county 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the 
office  is  most  commendable. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  1898,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Tippett  and  Miss  Mat- 
tie  Jamison,  a  native  of  Illinois  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Mrs.  Inez  Bender,  of  Decatur,  Illinois. 
Socially,  Mr.  Tippett  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  with  Selah 
Lodge,  No.  243,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  a 
most  genial  and  affable  gentleman  and  is 
well  known  in  his  native  county,  where  he 
has  spent  his  entire  life.  His  interests  are 
thoroughly  identified  with  those  of  Piatt 
county,  and  at  all  times  he  is  ready  to  lend 
his  aid  and  co-operation  to  any  movement 
calculated  to  benefit  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try or  advance  its  wonderful  development. 


B.  T.  McCLAIN,  M.  D. 

Dr.  B.  T.  McClain,  of  Atwood,  Illinois, 
was  born  on  the  28th  of  September,  1854, 
in  Harrison  county,  Kentucky,  of  which  his 
parents,  George  and  Sarah  McClain,  were 
also  natives.  Throughout  life  the  father 
followed  farming  and  made  his  home  in 
either  Harrison,  Scott  or  Grant  counties, 


Kentucky.  Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in 
that  state.  Our  subject  and  his  brother  \Yil- 
liam,  were  the  only  ones  of  the  family  to 
come  to  Illinois,  and  the  latter  is  now  an  ex- 
tensive farmer  of  Sangamon  count}-. 

The  preliminary  education  of  our  sub- 
ject was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of 
Grant  county,  Kentucky,  and  he  also  at- 
tended high  school  there.  Later  he  went  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  pursuing  a  two-years'  course  in 
the  Cincinnati  College  of  Medicine  and  Sur- 
gery, from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1886.  He  was  grant- 
ed the  degree  of  M.  D.  and  licensed  to 
practice.  Opening  an  office  in  Scott  county, 
Kentucky,  he  was  engaged  in  practice  there 
for  four  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time 
removed  to  Franklin,  Morgan  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  the  following  seven  years  were 
passed.  In  1897  ne  came  to  Atwood,  and 
here  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice  which 
is  constantly  increasing.  As  the  village  is 
in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county  he  re- 
ceives many  calls  from  Douglas  and  Moul- 
trie  as  well  as  Piatt  county  for  his  country 
practice  is  very  extensive. 

Dr.  McClain  married  Miss  Sarah 
Hughes,  of  Owen  county,  Kentucky,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  two  children :  Myrtle 
and  Nellie.  Mrs.  McClain  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Atwood, 
while  the  Doctor  is  a  Baptist  in  religious  be- 
lief. They  have  a  nice  home  in  the  south 
part  of  town,  where  his  office  is  also  located, 
and  in  the  latter  he  keeps  a  stock  of  medi- 
cines. He  is  a  member  of  the  Esculapian  So- 
ciety of  the  Wabash  Valley,  the  Douglas 
County  Medical  Society  and  the  Illinois 
State  Medical  Society,  and  by  the  inter- 
change of  thought  which  forms  a  feature  of 
those  organizations  he  keeps  in  touch  with 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


145 


the  progress  which  is  continually  carrying 
the  science  of  medicine  toward  perfection. 
His  life  is  a  busy  one,  so  numerous  are  the 
demands  made  upon  his  professional  skill, 
and  it  is  therefore  well  that  he  takes  a  deep 
and  abiding  interest  in  his  work,  in  which  he 
has  attained  a  high  degree  of  proficiency. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Atwood  Lodge, 
No.  761,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  encampment  of 
the  same  order  at  Atwood;  Atwood  Lodge, 
No.  651,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Atwood;  the  chap- 
ter and  commandery  of  Masonry  at  Tuscola, 
Illinois ;  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge 
at  Tuscola.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


E.  L.  REEVES,  M.  D. 

Among  those  who  devote  their  time  and 
energies  to  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery  and  are  meeting  with  success  in  their 
chosen  profession  is  Dr.  E.  L.  Reeves, 
who  had  built  up  a  good  practice  in  and 
around  Milmine,  although  he  has  made  his 
'  home  here  only  a  short  time.  A  native  of 
Illinois,  he  was  born  near  Carlisle  in  Clin- 
ton county,  November  17,  1865,"  and  is  a  son 
of  J.  M.  and  Rachel  (Jones)  Reeves,  who 
are  now  living  near  Vandalia,  Fayette  coun- 
ty, this  state,  both  having  passed  the  Psalm- 
ist's allotted  span  of  life — three  score  years 
and  ten.  The  father  has  made  farming  his 
life  occupation.  In  the  family  were  three 
children :  J.  T.,  a  physician  of  Pittsburg, 
Illinois;  H.  C.,  a  farmer  of  Fayette  county; 
and  E.  L.,  of  this  review. 

During  his  boyhood  Dr.  E.  L.  Reeves  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  was  graduated 
•at  the  Vandalia  high  school  in  the  class  of 
1884.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  for  a 
time,  and  having  determined  to  enter  the 


medical  profession  he  matriculated  at  the  Ec- 
lectic Institute  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  1890,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He 
opened  an  office  in  Lake  City,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  until  1892,  and  was  then  a 
practitioner  of  St.  Elmo  until  the  fall  of 
1902,  which  witnessed  his  removal  to  the 
village  of  Milmine,  where  he  has  already 
secured  a  good  patronage,  his  skill  and  abil- 
ity being  soon  recognized. 

On  the  I2th  of  July,  1893,  near  Van- 
dalia, Illinois,  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  Dr.  Reeves  and  Miss  Ella  J.  Godsey,  who 
was  born  near  that  city,  March  30,  1869. 
The  Doctor  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  is  serv- 
ing as  official  instructor.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  Rebekah  Lodge  and  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  being  medical  exam- 
iner for  the  camp  at  Milmine.  Occasionally 
he  contributes  articles  of  worth  to  the  Ec- 
lectic Journal  and  has  gained  recognition  as 
one  of  the  able  and  successful  physicians  of 
his  part  of  the  county,  as  well  as  one  of  its 
best  citizens. 


WILLIAM  DIGHTON. 

Controlling  important  financial  and 
agricultural  interests,  William  Dighton 
occupies  a  prominent  position  in  business 
circles  of  Piatt  county,  where  his  efforts 
have  been  so  discerningly  directed  along 
well  defined  lines  of  labor  that  he  seems 
to  have 'realized  at  any  one  point  of  his  ca- 
reer the  full  measure  of  possibility  at  that 
point.  He  is  yet  a  young  man,  but  he 
possesses  the  energy  and  enterprise  so 
characteristic  of  this  section  of  the  coun- 


r46 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


try  and  in  the  management  of  his  busi- 
ness affairs  displays  marked  capability. 
While  winning  success  he  has  also  gained 
the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  fellow 
men  and  William  Dighton  is  to-day  num- 
bered among  the  popular,  prominent  and 
representative  citizens  of  Piatt  county. 

Mr.  Dighton  has  spent  his  entire  life 
here,  with  the  exception  of  a  brief  period 
passed  in  college.  He  was  born  upon  the 
home  farm  in  Piatt  county,  June  4,  1873, 
and  is  the  fourth  son  of  Andrew  J.  and 
Sarah  C.  (Netherton)  Dighton.  His  boy- 
hood days  were  passed  in  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  lads  of  the  period  and  the 
work  of  field  and  meadow  became  familiar 
to  him  in  his  youth.  He  was  provided 
with  good  educational  privileges,  for  after 
attending  the  grammar  and  high  schools 
of  Monticello,  he  entered  the  State  Uni- 
versity, at  Champaign,  Illinois,  where  he 
spent  two  years  as  a  student.  On  leaving 
college  he  again  took  up  his  abode  upon 
the  home  farm  but  soon  afterward  became 
connected  with  the  active  management  of 
the  First  National  Bank  in  Monticello,  in 
which  he  accepted  the  position  of  assistant 
cashier.  The  successful  conduct  of  the  in- 
stitution since  that  time  has  been  largely 
due  to  his  efforts.  He  has  made  a  close 
and  thorough  study  of  the  banking  busi- 
ness and  his  obliging  manner,  unfailing 
courtesy  to  the  patrons,  his  keen  fore- 
sight and  energy  have  been  salient  feat- 
ures in  the  prosperity  of  the  bank.  He 
acted  as  assistant  cashier  until  1897,  when 
he  wras  elected  vice  president  and  now 
holds  that  connection  with  the  bank. 

Mr.  Dighton  has  not  confined  his  at- 
tention, however,  to  one  line  for  he  is 
a  man  of  much  natural  business  ability, 
resourceful  and  alert,  and  in  agricultural 


interests  he  is  especially  prominent.  His 
real  estate  possessions  are  extensive, 
amounting  to  about  fifteen  hundred  acres 
of  choice  land,  and  there  is  no  finer  land 
in  all  America  than  is  contained  in  the 
farms  of  Piatt  county.  His  property  is 
divided  into  a  number  of  farms,  some  of 
which  are  situated  in  Champaign  county 
and  all  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. Mr.  Dighton  is  also  extensively  in- 
terested in  live  stock.  He  buys,  feeds, 
raises  and  ships  both  hogs  and  cattle,  and 
annually  sends  several  carloads  to  the  city 
markets.  Besides  those  he  raises  himself 
or  buys  in  this  locality  he  has  also  dealt 
in  western  cattle,  and  being  an  excellent 
judge  of  stock,  he  makes  judicious  purchases 
and  profitable  sales. 

In  1888  occurred  the  marriage  of  Wil- 
liam Dighton  and  Miss  Jessie  L.  Thomp- 
son, a  daughter  of  Mrs.  C.  N.  Thompson, 
of  a  prominent  old  family  of  Monticello. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dighton  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  They  contribute 
liberally  to  the  support  of  the  church  and 
take  an  active  part  in  its  work,  and  Mr. 
Dighton  is  also  a  prominent  Mason,  be- 
longing to  Fraternal  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
Markwell  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ;  and  Cham- 
paign Commandery,  K.  T.  Having  al- 
ways made  his  home  in  Piatt  county  he 
is  widely  known  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
He  is  also'  widely  recognized  as  one  of  the 
most  prominent,  alert  and  enterprising 
business  men  of  the  county.  Intricate 
business  situations  he  readily  masters 
and  shapes  conditions  to  the  further- 
ance of  his  own  ends  and  yet  in  his  busi- 
ness life  he  has  never  been  known  to 
take  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  his 
fellow  men  or  to  swerve  in  the  least  from 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


the  strictest  commercial  ethics.  His  gen- 
ial nature  renders  him  popular,  and  as  a 
citizen  he  belongs  to  that  class  of  public- 
spirited  men  who  are  found  as  supporters 
of  all  that  contributes  to  the  material, 
social,  intellectual  and  moral  development 
of  the  communities  with  which  they  are 
connected. 


SAMUEL  SMOCK. 

A  representative  of  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  Piatt  count}-,  Samuel  Smock,  who 
iv?ides  on  section  16,  Monticello  township, 
well  deserves  mention  in  this  volume.  He 
i?  to-day  the  possessor  of  a  fine  property 
which  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  enter- 
prise and  unfaltering  perseverance  through- 
out the  years  of  his  business  career.  He 
\vas  born  in  Ohio  near  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween Pickaway  and  Ross  counties,  his  natal 
day  being  the  I4th  of  November,  1834.  His 
father,  William  Smock,  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia and  in  early  childhood  removed  to 
Ohio  where  he  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  early 
assisting  in  the  labors  of  field  and  meadow 
and  in  the  Buckeye  state  he  remained  until 
1839.  when  he  sought  a  home  in  Illinois, 
coming  to  Piatt  county.  He  cast  in  his  lot 
with  the  early  settlers  and /lived  amid  the 
wild  scenes  of  frontier  life.  He  purchased 
his  farm  from  the  government,  becoming 
the  owner  of  a  tract  of  land  in  Monticello 
township,  for  which  he  paid  one  dollar  and 
twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  Not  a  furrow 
had  beeti  turned  nor  an  improvement  made 
upon  the  place,  but  with  characteristic  en- 
ergy he  began  its  development.  Subse- 
quently he  sold  it  and  purchased  another 


farm  of  eighty  acres  on  which  he  made  his 
home  until  his  death  which  occurred  about 
1878.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Jane  Heath  and  she,  too,  was  born  in  Ohio. 
They  became  the  parents  of  three  children : 
Samuel ;  Rufus,  who  died  about  fifteen  years 
ago;  and  Hiram,  who  died  about  twelve 
years  ago. 

Samuel    Smock   obtained   his   education 
in  one  of  the  old-time  log  schools  with  a 
puncheon  floor,  slab  benches  and  other  prim- 
itive furnishings.     This  school  was  located 
where  the  fairgrounds  are  now  seen.    At  an 
early  day,  however,  he  left  school,   for  his 
services  were  needed  upon  the  home  farm 
and  he  continued  to  assist  his  father  until 
1861,  when  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account.     This  occupation  he  has  made  his 
life  work  and  his  labors  have  been  crowned 
with  a   fair  degree  of  prosperity.     At  the 
time  of  his  marriage  he  took  up.  his  abode 
upon  the  farm  which  has  now  been  his  home 
for  forty-two  years.     Many  great  changes 
have  occurred  during  this  period,  many  rods 
of  tiling  have  been  laid,  an  orchard  has  been 
planted  and  two  houses  have  been  erected  by 
Mr.  Smock,  the  second  one  being  his  present 
residence,  which  is  very  attractive  and  com- 
modious, containing  ten  rooms.     It  stands 
in  the  midst  of  a  fine  lawn  in  which  are  a 
large  number  of  shade  trees  that  have  been 
planted  by  Mr.  Smock.    He  has  also  erected 
a   new   barn   and   other   buildings   and  has 
generally  improved  the  place  until  it  is  one 
of  the  best   improved  in   this  section  of  the 
county.     In  connection  with  general  farm- 
ing he  feeds  a  large  number  of  hogs  for  the 
market,  all  mostly  Poland  China  and  Red 
Rock  stock. 

On  the  yth  of  March,  1861,  Mr.  Smock 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Marietta 
Hart  and  unto  them  have  been  born  four 


148 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


children  :  John  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing; Charles  A.,  who  is  with  his  father  on 
the  homestead;  Ada  A.,  who  is  also  under 
the  parental  roof;  and  Edwin  O.,  who  died 
in  1894.  Mrs.  Smock  and  her  daughter  are 
faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Mr.  Smock  has  held  the  office  of 
school  director  for  twenty-seven  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  the  honors 
and  emoluments  of  office  have  had  no  at- 
traction for  him.  He  has  concentrated  his 
energies  along  one  line  and  his  undivided  at- 
tention combined  with  capable  management 
and  energy  have  resulted  in  bringing  to  him 
a  creditable  success. 


SAMUEL  WATERS  ALLERTON. 

One  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  Piatt 
county,  but  who  makes  his  home  in  Chicago, 
is  Samuel  W.  Allerton,  who  traces  his  an- 
cestry to  Isaac  Allerton,  who  came  over  in 
the  Mayflower  in  1620.  Isaac  Allerton  was 
a  native  of  England  and  was  torn  between 
the  years  1583  and  1585,  the  exact  date  be- 
ing unknown.  He  resided  in  London  for 
some  time  prior  to  his  removal  to  Holland 
in  1609.  It  is  generally  admitted  that  he 
was  the  wealthiest  of  all  the  Pilgrims  and 
was  one  of  the  few  among  them  to  whose 
names  Bradford  and  other  contemporaneous 
writers  always  gave  the  prefix  "Mr."  which 
in  those  days  was  used  as  an  index  of  supe- 
rior family  or  respectability.  He  was  also 
one  of  the  three  upon  whom  the  privilege 
of  citizenship  was  conferred  by  the  city  of 
Leyden,  his  associates  in  this  honor  being 
William  Bradford,  afterward  governor  of 
the  Plymouth  colony,  and  Degory  Priest, 
his  brother-in-law.  He  was  first  married  in 


the  city  of  Leyden,  November  4,  1611,  to 
Mary  Norris,  of  Newbury,  England,  and  at 
the  time  of  the  sailing  of  the  Mayflower 
he  had  four  children.  His  wife  died  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1621.  In  1626  he  married  Fear 
Brewster,  daughter  of  Elder  William  Brew- 
ster.  She  was  a  woman  of  pleasing  appear- 
ance and  of  a  pious  disposition  and  was  the 
mother  of  Isaac  Allerton,  the  second  of  that 
name,  from  whom  the  Allerton  family  is  de- 
scended. She  died  in  1634,  while  his  death 
occurred  in  1659. 

Samuel  W.  Allerton  is  of  the  ninth  gen- 
eration from  Isaac  Allerton,  of  whom  men- 
tion has  just  been  made.  He  was  born 
at  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  New  York, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  W.  and  Hannah 
(Hurd)  Allerton,  the  former  also  being  a 
native  of  Amenia,  born  December  5,  1785. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Hannah  Hurd 
on  March  26,  1808.  She  was  born  in  South 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  New  York,  and 
was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and 
Rebecca  (Phillips)  Hurd,  her  father  being 
an  extensive  farmer  and  stock-dealer  in 
Amenia.  By  this  union  there  were  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  were  living  in  Jan- 
uary, 1899,  at  a  combined  age  of  over  six 
hundred  and  thirty  years.  In  his  early  life 
the  father  of  our  subject  studied  for  the 
medical  profession,  but  changing  his  mind 
he  learned  the  tailor's  trade  and  became  a 
merchant  tailor,  while  at  the  same  time  he 
carried  on  a  country  store.  In  1828  he  was 
one  of  the  promoters  in  building  a  woolen 
mill  and  establishing  a  factory.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  reduction  of  the  tariff  in  1833 
nearly  all  the  manufactories  in  New  Eng- 
land were  ruined,  and  Mr.  Allerton  lost 
nearly  all  his  fortune.  In  1837  he  went 
west  to  Iowa  with  the  hope  of  building  up 
;i.'=  fortune  but  was  taken  sick  and  returned 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


to  his  eastern  home.  In  1842  he  removed 
to  Yates  county,  New  York,  where  he  rent- 
ed a  farm,  and  in  1848  he  bought  a  farm 
in  Wayne  county,  in  the  same  state,  where 
he  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  was  a  Universal- 
ist  in  religious  belief,  and  lived  to  the  ripe 
old  age  of  ninety-nine  years  and  eight 
months. 

Samuel  Waters,  Allerton,  our  subject, 
was  but  seven  years  of  age  when  his  father 
failed  in  business,  at  which  time  he  received 
an  impression  which  has  influenced  his  no- 
ble life.  While  the  sheriff  was  selling  his 
father's  property,  his  mother  shed  tears 
when  two  horses  which  had  been  highly 
prized  were  sold.  Putting  his  arms  around 
his  mother's  neck  he  told  her  that  he  would 
be  a  man  and  provide  for  her.  In  after  life 
he  kept  his  promise.  He  was  the  youngest 
of  the  nine  children  and  lived  in  Amenia  un- 
til he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  but  com- 
menced to  work  for  himself  when  he  was 
twelve  years  old.  In  1842  he  went  to  Yates 
county  with  his  parents  and  remained  with 
them  until  they  had  saved  enough  money  to 
buy  a  farm  in  Wayne  county.  With  his 
brother  Henry,  he  then  rented  a  farm  and 
made  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  which  they 
invested  in  a  farm  in  Wayne  county,  leav- 
ing still  three  thousand  dollars  unpaid. 

Renting  another  farm  Mr.  Allerton  be- 
gan its  cultivation  and  at  the  end  of  three 
years  had  saved  thirty-two  hundred  dollars. 
He  then  went  to  Newark  where  he  worked 
with  his  brothers  on  their  farm  and  traded 
in  a  small  way  in  livestock  in  Wayne  coun- 
ty. On  his  return  from  Albany  and  New 
York,  where  he  had  gone  with  some  stock, 
he  said  to  his  brother  Henry:  "I. believe  I 
know  as  much  as  the  dealers  I  met,  and  as 
we  now  have  the  farm  paid  for  and  three 


thousand  dollars  in  money,  I  will  settle  with 
you,  you  taking  the  farm  and  I  taking  the 
money."  His  brother  replied  :  "If  you  con- 
tinue as  you  are  in  a  few  years  you  will  own 
the  best  farm  in  the  country,  but  if  you  wish 
to  try  the  livestock  business,  all  right,  we 
will  settle  on  this  basis.  This  is  all  the 
advice  I  have  to  give  you.  You  will  run 
across  smart  and  tricky  men,  but  they  al- 
ways die  poor.  Make  a  name  and  character 
for  yourself  and  you  are  sure  to  win." 

The  first  hundred  cattle  Samuel  bought 
after  dissolving  partnership  with  his  broth- 
er, he  sold  in  New  York  at  a  loss  of  seven 
hundred  dollars.  This  made  him  sick,  but 
calling  on  an  elderly  uncle  who  had  made 
a  success  in  life,  he  was  told  by  his  uncle, 
"My  boy,  you  are  pretty  sick,  but  don't  lose 
your  courage.  I  never  found  but  one  dead 
sure  thing,  and  that  was  hoeing  corn  at  fifty 
cents  per  day.  If  you  make  money  you  must 
sometimes  lose  it.  Try  it  over." 

About  this  time  women  had  burned  a 
number  of  bridges  on  the  Erie  Railroad  be- 
cause the  trains  would  not  stop  for  dinner. 
Going  to  Erie,  Mr.  Allerton  purchased  one 
hundred  head  of  cattle,  which  he  shipped 
to  New  York  over  the  Erie  Railroad,  and 
which  on  account  of  the  burned  bridges  had 
to  be  unloaded  and  driven  to  Dunkirk, 
where  they  were  reshipped.  On  his  arrival 
he  found  the  market  short  on  cattle,  and 
his  venture  netted  him  three  thousand  dol- 
lars, which  gave  him  new  courage.  He  then 
drifted  west  and  for  one  year  fed  and  raised 
cattle  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  The  finan- 
cial panic  which  swept  over  the  country  at 
that  time  wiped  out  all  the  capital  he  had, 
and  becoming  ill  he  concluded  that  he  could 
not  stand  the  western  climate.  Returning 
east,  he  bought  an  interest  in  a  store  with  his 
brother  in  Newark,  New  York,  and  for  a 


PAST    AND    PRESHXT 


short  time  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
Selling  goods',  however,  was  not  agreeable 
to  him,  as  he  desired  to  deal  on  a  larger 
scale. 

While  residing  in  Illinois  he  had  met  a 
daughter  of  Astor  C.  Thompson,  of  Fulton 
county,  that  state.  Having  regained  his 
health  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  store  and, 
gathering  his  money  he  had  left  and  bor- 
rowing five  thousand  dollars,  he  came  west, 
the  young  lady  in  Fulton  county  being  the 
principal  attraction.  On  his  arrival  there 
he  traded  a  little,  but  in  March,  1860,  he 
returned  to  Chicago,  which  has  since  con- 
tinued to  be  his  home.  On  the  ist  of  July, 
•1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Pamilla  Thompson,  at  Peoria,  Illinois, 
and  with  his  young  bride  returned  to  Chi- 
cago, "where  the  world  turned  around  ev- 
ery twenty-four  hours,"  and  which  was  the 
proper  place  in  which  to  trade. 

On  going  to  Chicago,  MT.  Allerton  com- 
menced to  buy  and  sell  livestock  in  a  small 
way,  there  being  then  no  general  market  in 
the  city  except  for  a  short  time  during  the 
winter.  Shippers  generally  took  their  live- 
stock to  the  eastern  markets.  About  this 
time  there  was  a  decided  break  in  the  Chi- 
cago market,  and  Mr.  Allerton  desired  to 
buy,  but  having  formed  no  connection  with 
any  bank  there,  the  question  was  how  to 
get  money.  Among  his  few  acquaintances 
in  Chicago  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  To- 
bey,  whom  he  asked  to  take  him  to  a  bank 
and  identify  him.  Mr.  Tobey  was  willing 
to  do  this  but  he  said  that  he  could  not  guar- 
antee anything.  He  was  assured  by  Mr. 
Allerton  that  he  only  wished  to  be  identi- 
fied and  that  he  would  arrange  the  balance. 
He  was  taken  to  the  bank  of  George  Smith 
and,  on  being  introduced,  said  to  Mr.  Wil- 
lard,  "If  I  pay  for  three  telegrams,  one  to 


Halstead,  Chamberlain  &  Company,  asking 
if  they  will  pay  my  draft;  one  to  your  own 
correspondent,  to  ascertain  if  Halstead, 
Chamberlain  &  Company  are  all  right ;  and 
one  to  my  own  bank  to  assure  you  that  I 
am  all  right,  can  I  come  down  to-morrow 
and  sell  you  a  sight  draft?"  He  replied 
"Yes."  Mr.  Allerton  went  back  to  the 
stockyards  and  bought  all  the  hogs  in  the 
market  and  went  down  with  a  draft  for 
eighty  thousand  dollars,  asking  Mr.  Willard 
if  he  had  received  replies  to  his  telegrams. 
His  answer  was  that-  he  had  and  that  the 
replies  were  favorable.  Mr.  Allerton  hand- 
ed him  the  draft  and  was  told  that  he  could 
not  discount  so  large  a  draft  on  telegrams 
and  that  he  had  supposed  that  he  would  not 
want  more  than  five  thousand  dollars.  Mr. 
Allerton  said,  "You  know  Mr.  Tobey,  and 
you  certainly  do  not  think  that  he  would  in- 
troduce a  thief  to  you." 

Mr.  Willard,  however,  would  not  dis- 
count the  draft  and  Mr.  Allerton  found  him- 
self in  a  position  where  he  must  have  money, 
but  what  to  do  he  did  not  know.  Leaving 
the  bank,  he  accidentally  met  a  man  from 
Syracuse,  New  York,  and  asked  him  if  he 
was  acquainted  with  any  banks  in  Chicago, 
and  was  told  that  he  knew  Aikens  &  Norton. 
He  was  taken  to  them  and  introduced.  Mr. 
Aikens  looked  over  the  telegrams  and  signi- 
fied his  willingness  to  comply  with  Mr.  Al- 
lerton's  request,  but  that  he  would  have  to 
charge  one  per  cent,  for  the  use  of  the  money. 
In  this  way  Mr.  Allerton  became  a  customer 
of  Aikens  &  Norton.  The  Civil  war  broke 
out  and  the  nation  needed  money.  Congress 
passed  the  national  bank  act,  issuing  bonds 
to  secure  the  circulation.  This  was  regard- 
ed by  Mr.  Allerton  as  a  step  in  the  right  di- 
rection toward  a  national  currency,  as  the 
nation  had  never  had  anything  but  "red 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


153 


dog"  and  "bob-tailed"  currency.  To  start 
a  national  bank  would  aid  the  government 
and  give  the  people  unifrom  currency,  but 
for  some  reason  the  people  seemed  slow  to 
start  national  banks.  Mr.  Allerton  asked 
Mr.  Aikens  why  he  did  not  start  one  and 
was  answered  "because  he  feared  he  could 
not  get  the  stock  taken."  Mr.  Allerton  said 
that  he,  with  five  other  men,  would  take  ten 
thousand  dollars  each.  In  this  way  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Chicago,  one  of  the 
strongest  financial,  institutions  in  the  coun- 
try, was  started. 

By  his  union  with  Pamilla  Thomp- 
son two  children  were  born.  Kate  Bennett, 
born  June  10,  1863,  married  Dr.  Francis 
Sydney  Papin,  October  14,  1885,  and  after 
his  death  married  Hugo  R.  Johnson.  Rob- 
ert Henry,  born  March  20,  1873,  is  repre- 
sented elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  moth- 
er of  these  children  died  and  Mr.  Allerton 
later  married  her  sister,  Agnes  C.  Thomp- 
son, the  marriage  ceremony  being  solem- 
nized March  15,  1882.  They  are  now  re- 
siding in  a  beautiful  home  on  Prairie  avenue, 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Allerton  has  been  a  very  successful 
business  man  and  is  well  known  througout 
the  state  and  nation.  He  wrote  the  first  let- 
ter published  in  the  Chicago  Tribune  in  fa- 
vor of  organizing  the  Union  Stockyards,  so 
as  to  bring  all  buyers  and  sellers  together, 
which  has  made  it  the  greatest  livestock 
market  in  the  world  and  also  made  Chicago 
a  money  center.  He  always  had  the  desire  to 
own  a  farm  when  he  succeeded  in  accumu- 
lating enough  money.  His  desire  has  cer- 
tainly been  gratified,  and  he  is  to-day  one 
of  the  largest  farmers  in  the  country  who 
cultivates  his  own  land,  cultivating  about 
forty  thousand  acres  in  the  very  best  man- 
ner. He  is  said  to  have  a  hobby  for  pur- 


chasing poorly  productive  lands  and  by  cul- 
vation  "makes  them  blossom  as  a  rose."  He 
has  large  interests  in  ranches  and  gold  mines 
and  has  lands  in  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Iowa, 
Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and 
New  York,  and  has  always  been  interested 
in  the  livestock  trade  and  continues  to  ship 
livestock  to  New  York  and  England. 

Mr.  Allerton  received  his  early  political 
education  from  Henry  Clay  and  Horace 
Greeley,  and  has  always  been  a  strong  be- 
liever in  a  protective  tariff  and  free  schools. 
He  remembers  that  in  the  campaign  of 
1844,  when  Henry  Clay  was  a  candidate  for 
the  presidency,  the  issue  was  "Shall  we  put 
a  tariff  on  iron  and  inaugurate  free 
schools  ?"  The  Democrats  said  that  "a  tar- 
iff would  build  up  home  monopolies  and  free 
schools  would  te  a  burden  and  a  tax  on  the 
people."  Clay  replied,  "Give  the  people  free 
schools  so  as  to  increase  their  intelligence, 
their  energy  and  industry,  and  home  com- 
petition would  reduce  the  price  of  iron." 
It  was  then  one  hundred  dollars  a  ton.  Re- 
membering the  words  of  Henry  Clay  and 
believing  the  free  school  system  has  made 
this  great  nation,  Mr.  Allerton,  by  giving 
the  land,  has  had  schoolhouses  built  on 
each  of  his  farms.  Since  the  organization 
of  the  party  he  has  been  a  stalwart  Republi- 
can and  has  been  mentioned  and  his  election 
advocated  by  some  of  the  best  newspapers 
and  best  citizens  of  the  state  for  the  high 
office  of  United  States  senator.  That  he 
would  honor  the  office  and  people  of-  the 
state  goes  without  question.  He  once  ran 
for  mayor  of  Chicago  in  the  interest  of  civil 
service  with  no  pledges  to  any  one.  His  de- 
sire was  to  give  the  city  an  honest,  clean  ad- 
ministration. The  office  would  have  been 
no  honor  to  him  but  he  would  have  honored 
the  office.  It  was  his  intention  to  employ  the 


'54 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


best  engineers  in  the  country  to  settle  the 
vexed  question  of  engineering  and  in  all  de- 
partments o.f  the  city  government  to  put  the 
right  man  in  the  right  place,  irrespective 
of  politics.  He  carried  the  north  division 
of  the  city  and  the  other  intelligent  wards, 
but  was  beaten  by  a  sharp  political  trick  of 
his  opponent. 

Mr.  Allerton  believes  that  all  men  should 
try  to  lead  a  successful  life;  this  he  owes  to 
himself,  his  friends  and  his  people.  He  be- 
lieves that  young  men  to-day  have  better  op- 
portunities for  advancement  than  when  he 
was  a  boy,  and  that  they  have  better  teach- 
ers and  better  schools.  Labor  is  higher  and 
the  necessities  of  life  are  cheaper,  and  there- 
fore the  opportunities  are  much  greater  for 
success.  His  life  is  certainly  an  object  les- 
son for  the  young  men  of  to-day,  and  he 
certainly  deserves  all  the  honor  which  he  re- 
ceives. 


LOUIS  C.  A.  HUMEAU. 

Coming  to  this  country  from  a  foreign 
land  Louis  C.  A.  Humeau  has  improved 
the  opportunities  which  America  offers  to 
her  adopted  sons  and  is  to-day  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois, making  his  home  in  Mansfield.  He 
was  born  in  Angers,  France,  on  the  25th 
of  July,  1 86 1,  and  is  the  youngest  in  a 
family  of  five  children,  whose  parents 
were  Francis  and  Mary  Homeau.  He  is 
also  the  only  surviving  member  of  the 
family.  The  father  owned  and  conducted 
a  wocdyard  in  France  and  during  the 
winter  months  when  his  business  greatly 
increased  he  employed  about  five  men. 
The  mother  died  when  her  son  Louis  was 
Taut  four  years  of  age  and  the  father 


passed  away  when  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age.  The  oldest  sister  of  the  family 
died  in  France  when  about  eighteen  years 
old. 

Louis  C.  A.  Humeau  obtained  his 
early  education  in  France  and  was  pro- 
vided with  good  privileges,  there  being 
graduated  in  the  agricultural  school  of 
his  native  country  when  about  eighteen 
years  of  age.  On  attaining  his  majority 
he  determined  to  establish  his  home  in 
America  and  attest  the  truth  of  the  favor- 
able reports  which  he  had  heard  concern- 
ing the  United  States  and  its  business 
possibilities.  He  landed  at  New  York  on 
the  24th  of  September,  1882,  after  a  voy- 
age of  eleven  days  on  the  steamer  Circas- 
sian, and  thence  made  his  way  to  Mont- 
real, Canada,  where  he  remained  for 
about  eighteen  months.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  removed  to  Illinois 
and  spent  about  a  year  at  St.  Ann.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  located 
in  Farmer.  City,  DeWitt  county,  Illinois, 
and  afterward  came  to  Mansfield,  Piatt 
county,  where  he  arrived  in  the  spring  of 
1885.  Here  he  has  resided  continuously 
since  and  until  1897  was  in  the  employ  of 
Root  Brothers,  as  one  of  their  most 
trusted  representatives.  In  that  year  he 
began  working  for  the  D.  F.  Wyman  Com- 
pany in  the  lumber  business  and  is  still 
with  Mr.  Wyman. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  1888,  Mr. 
Humeau  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Olive  S.  Clouser  and  unto  them  have  been 
born  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  yet 
living  and  the  three  eldest  are  now  stu- 
dents in  the  Mansfield  schools.  These 
are  George  H.,  who  was  born  April  23, 
1891;  Adele  M.,  born  June  26.  1893; 
Florence  L..  born  February  27,  1898; 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


155 


Francis,  born  on  the  24th  of  May,    1901, 
and  an  infant  daughter  born  July  I,  1903. 

In  1889  Mr.  Humeau  purchased  a  lot 
in  Mansfield  and  erected  the  house  which 
he  and  his  family  now  occupy,  it  being  a 
pleasant  home  and  the  abode  of  cheerful 
hospitality  which  is  much  enjoyed  by  their 
many  friends.  Politically  Mr.  Humeau  is 
a  stanch  Republican  and  served  as  village 
clerk  for  one  term,  while  for  four  terms 
he  has  been  village  treasurer.  In  his  re- 
ligious faith  he  is  a  Methodist. 


REV.    ERNEST  HAWLEY. 

There  is  no  position  held  by  man  more 
important  than  pastor  of  a  church,  nor  is 
there  a  position  that  has  attached  to  it 
greater  importance  or  responsibility  when 
properly  conceived  and  conscientiously 
discharged.  This  is  more  essentially  the 
case  with  the  clergymen  of  the  Catholic 
faith,  for  he  is  held  more  as  an  instructor 
and  guide,  not  only  in  religious  matters, 
but  in  moral  and  social  conduct  by  his  con- 
gregation. There  are  few  men  by  character 
and  education  better  fitted  to  preside  over  a 
people  in  all  these  relations  than  the  rev- 
erend gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch. 

Father  Hawley  is  a  native  of  Leices- 
tershire, England,  born  February  26, 
1866,  at  Melton  Mowbray,  a  place  noted 
for  fox  hunters.  His  parents  were 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Hall)  Hawley.  The 
father  is  now  deceased  but  the  mother  is 
still  living  and  continues  to  reside  in  Eng- 
land. Our  subject  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  Radcliffe  College,  Leicester, 
England,  and  remained  in  that  countrv 


until  his  eighteenth  year,  when  he  com- 
menced his  ecclesiastical  studies  in  north- 
ern It^ly,  at  Domo  D'Ossola,  near  Turin. 
He  spent  nine  years  in  the  Alps  and 
spoke  nothing  else  but  Italian  during  that 
time,  being  well  educated  in  that  lan- 
guage. He  was  ordained  a  priest  by 
Bishop  Ricardi,  of  Novara,  Italy,  on  the 
roth  of  July,  1892.  Two  years  were 
passed  in  France,  and  in  1893  he  was  sent 
to  this  country  directly  from  Italy  to  be- 
come a  teacher  at  Galesburg,  Illinois, 
where  he  spent  five  years.  He  also  did 
some  missionary  and  parish  work  while  at 
that  place,  and  was  then  sent  to  Kewanee, 
this  state,  for  six  months  as  assistant  pas- 
tor to  Rev.  F.  C.  Duffy,  now  rector  of 
St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church  at  Danville. 
On  the  29th  of  June,  1901,  Father  Hawley 
was  appointed  by  Bishop  J.  L.  Spalding  as 
vice  rector  under  Rev.  F.  G.  Lentz  at  Be- 
ment  with  out-mission  at  Monticello.  He  is 
still  located  here  and  has  done  effective 
work  of  the  parish.  He  is  a  man  of 
scholarly  attainments  and  has  a  splendid 
library,  of  which  he  makes  excellent  use. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  engaged  in  the 
translation  of  a  historical  work  from  the 
French,  entitled  the  Sources  of  Modern 
Civilization,  written  from  the  Christian 
standpoint  by  Godefroid  Kurth.  He  is 
very  earnest  and  conscientious  in  all  that 
he  does  and  he  labors  untiringly  for  the 
interests  of  the  church.  It  will  be  inter- 
esting in  this  connection  to  note  something 
of  the  history  of  St.  Michael's  church  of 
Bement,  of  which  Father  Hawley  is  the 
pastor.  Its  record  is  as  follows. 

The  Catholic  church  in  Piatt  county 
gained  its  first  stronghold  in  the  early 
'6os.  Previous  to  this  time  Catholicism 
had  made  its  way  into  this  section  of  the 


i  $6 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


state  for  Catholic  families  had  located 
within  the  borders  of  the  county  and  con- 
tinued their  belief  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
great  organization  which  has  its  center 
in  Rome.  However,  there  was  no  perma- 
nent church  formation  and  the  people 
only  had  religious  ministrations  as  priests 
came  from  Danville  or  Decatur.  The 
Catholic  families  were  scattered  in  the 
southern  part  of  Piatt  county,  but  it  was 
only  at  rare  intervals  that  the  priests  of 
the  church  came  to  this  locality  and  no 
record  was  kept  of  their  visits  or  of  the 
work  done  among  the  followers  of  Cath- 
olicism. At  times  of  baptisms  or  deaths 
the  people  usually  visited  Decatur,  but  in 
the  early  '6os  the  work  was  firmly  in- 
stituted here  by  the  Rev.  A.  Vogt  of 
Decatur,  who  held  regular  services  and 
continued  his  work  among  his  Catholic 
followers  in  Piatt  county  until  1865.  At 
that  time  Rev.  P.  Toner,  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Champaign,  was  assigned  to  the 
mission  work  of  Champaign  and  Piatt 
counties.  The  growth  of  the  Catholic 
population  and  their  deep  interest  in  the 
work  then  led  to  the  formation  of  a  con- 
gregation and  the  erection  of  a  house  of 
worship  which  was  built  in  Bement  in 
1867  at  a  cost  of  twenty-one  hundred  dol- 
lars. The  following  year  the  Rev.  P.  Ber- 
mingham  was  stationed  as  pastor  of  tho 
Catholic  church  at  Ivesdale  and  Bement 
was  made  one  of  the  out-missions  of  that 
place,  so  continuing  until  June,  1871.  At 
that  time,  on  account  of  ill  health,  Father 
Bermingham  took  a  trip  to  Europe  and 
upon  his  return  he  passed  away  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.  He  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Shanley,  who  was  a  man  of 
marked  executive  ability  and  energy  as 
well  as  of  deep  Christian  purpose  and 


strong  character.  He  soon  brought  about 
many  new  reforms  that  proved  of  marked 
benefit  to  Catholicism  and  led  to  the  growth 
of  the  church.  He  had  labored,  however,  for 
only  a  few  years  when  death  claimed  him 
and  he  passed  to  his  reward  on  the  2d  of  Sep- 
tember, 1874.  This  worthy  Christian  priest 
was  then  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Byrne, 
who  very  successully  carried  on  his  good 
work  not  only  instructing  his  people  in  the 
teachings  of  the  church,  but  also  having 
marked  influence  in  behalf  of  the  cause 
of  temperance.  He  taught  the  wrong- 
fulness  of  the  vice  of  drink  and 
largely  eliminated  the  use  of  intoxicants 
among  the  Catholics  in  this  community. 
Throughout  the  years  the  congregation 
grew  in  numbers  and  force  and  in  Chris- 
tian spirit,  and  in  1889  the  increase  in  the 
congregation  demanded  larger  accommo- 
dations so  that  a  new  church  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  forty-five  hundred  dollars  and 
this  was  dedicated  on  its  completion  Sep- 
tember 5,  1889.  The  work  of  the  church 
has  also  been  promoted  in  Bement  by 
Revs.  Labrie,  O'Dwyer,  Devany,  Dono- 
van and  Barry.  They  continued  their  la- 
bors effectively  in  the  mission  until  the  ist 
of  June,  1891,  when  Bement  was  cut  off 
from  Ivesdale  and  placed  under  the  charge 
of  a  missionary  rector,  the  Rev.  F.  G. 
Lentz,  who  did  much  to  further  the  cause 
among  the  members  of  the  parish.  A  par- 
sonage was  built  by  this  congregation  dur- 
ing his  administration,  containing  all  mod- 
ern improvements.  It  is  a  credit  to  the 
town  and  county  and  indicates  the  devo- 
tion of  the , Catholics  of  this  locality  to 
their  church  and  its  best  interests.  The 
present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Ernest  Haw- 
ley,  who  took  charge  in  1900.  He  is  a  man 
of  scholarly  attainments,  of  broad  general 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


157 


learning  and  a  comprehensive  understand- 
ing of  Catholicism  and  its  teachings.  His 
devotion  to  his  parishioners  and  their  best 
interests  is  most  marked,  and  under  his 
supervision  the  church  is  making,  rapid 
and  satisfactory  progress,  the  different 
branches  .of  work  being  now  in  a  thriv- 
ing condition. 


H.  W.  WHEELER. 

H.  W.  Wheeler,  who  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits 'on  section  36, 
'Cerro  Gordo  township,  is  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Macon 
county,  April  15,  1855.  His  father,  Charles 
Wheeler,  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  in  early 
manhood  married  Mary  Wheeler,  a  native  of 
Tennessee.  Though  bearing  the  same  name 
they  were  not  related  prior  to  their  marriage. 
They  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Macon 
county,  Illinois,  their  home  being  on  a  farm 
near  Spangler  Mills,  where  in  the  midst  of 
the  forest  the  father  cleared  a  tract  of  land 
and  placed  it  under  cultivation.  Through- 
out life  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. In  his  family  were  fifteen  children, 
•seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely :  Mrs. 
Hathaway  and  Alfred,  both  residents  of  Ne- 
braska; John,  a  resident  of  Long  Creek,  Ma- 
con county,  Illinois ;  Mrs.  Belle  Schroll,  who 
lives  on  a  farm  near  Independence,  Iowa ; 
H.  W.,  of  this  review;  Leander,  a  resident 
of  Macon  county ;  and  James,  of  Nebraska. 

Reared  upon  the  home  farm,  H.  W. 
Wheeler  obtained  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  that  locality  and  gave  his 
father  the  benefit  of  his  labor  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  fields  until. eighteen  years  of  age. 
He  has  made  farming  his  life  work,  and 


in  following  that  occupation  has  met  with 
good  success.  The  first  piece  of  property 
he  acquired  was  a  tract  of  thirty  acres  on 
section  36,  Cerro  Gordo  township,  Piatt 
county,  and  he  has  since  added  to  the  place 
until  he  now  has  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved  with  good  and  substantial 
buildings. 

Mr.  Wheeler  was  married  on  the  I2th 
of  March,  1883,  to  Miss  Isabella  Dobson, 
a  native  of  Scott  county,  Illinois,  and-  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Isabella  (Morley) 
Dobson,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Scarborough,  England,  and  the  latter  in 
Whitby,  England.  In  1850  they  emi- 
grated to  America  and  settled  near  Jack- 
sonville in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  but 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Lynnville, 
the  same  county,  and  in  1866  came  to  Pi- 
att county,  locating  in  Cerro  Gordo  town- 
ship. Mr.  Dobson  has  been  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died 
March  13,  1893,  and  he  now  makes  his 
home  in  Richmond,  Virginia.  Of  their 
eight  children  seven  are  yet  living :  Mrs. 
Mary  Balch,  of  Cerro  Gordo ;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Ankrom,  of  Douglas  county,  Illinois;  Isa- 
bella, wife  of  our  subject;  Robinson,  a  res- 
ident of  Cerro  Gordo  township,  this 'coun- 
ty; Rachel,  wife  of  Arthur  B.  Lamb,  of 
Bement  township ;  Anna,  wife  of  William 
Brandenburg,  of  Cerro  Gordo;  and  John, 
of  Cerro  Gordo  township.  Mrs.  Wheeler 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Cer- 
ro Gordo  and  the  Normal  College  at  Val- 
paraiso, Indiana,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
successfully  engaged  in  teaching  in  Cerro 
Gordo  township.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  three  children :  Philip,  Mary 
and  Martha,  and  the  family  is  one  of  prom- 
inence in  the  community  where  they  re- 


158 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


side.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wheeler 
is  a  Democrat,  and  he  gives  an  earnest 
support  to  all  measures  which  he  believes 
will  prove  of  public  benefit. 


A.   D.    PIERSON. 

A.  D.  Pierson,  whose  home  is  on  section 
33,  Unity  township,  is  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive and  enterprising  farmers  of  that 
locality  and  a  worthy  representative  of  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  fami- 
lies of  that  section  of.  the  country.  He  was 
born  on  the  2d  of  July,  1857,  in  Vigo  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  and  is  a  son  of  Willis  C.  Pier- 
son,  who  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and 
from  that  state  removed  with  his  mother  to 
Vigo  county,  Indiana,  when  only  four  years 
old,  his  father,  Elijah  Pierson  having  died  in 
Kentucky.  Prior  to  that  time  only  three 
settlements  had  been  made  in  the  county, 
these  being  known  as  the  Reed.  Drake  and 
Langtry  colonies.  Indians  were  then  far 
more  numerous  than  the  white  men  and 
Vigo  county  had  but  just  entered  upon  its 
era  of  development.  Willis  C.  Pierson  aid- 
ed in  clearing  and  breaking  many  an  acre  of 
land  in  that  state  and  bore  an  active  part  in 
its  early  improvement.  In  early  manhood 
he  married  Miss  Eveline  Reed,  a  distant  rel- 
ative of  S.  R.  Reed,  of  Monticello,  Illinois, 
and  a  daughter  of  William  Reed,  whose 
family  was  also  from  Kentucky.  By  this 
union  thirteen  children  were  born,  seven  of 
whom  are  still  living,  the  birth  of  six  of 
these  occurring  in  Vigo  county,  Indiana, 
and  the  others  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois. 

In  March,  1865,  Mr.  Pierson  and  his 
family  started  for  Illinois  in  an  old  covered 
wagon.  It  proved  a  tedious  journey  as  it 


took  them  about  fourteen  days  to  make  the 
trip,  at  times  being  able  to  travel  only  four 
miles  per  day.  In  1868  the  father  located 
permanently  in  Piatt  county,  where  he  found 
the  prairies  covered  with  ponds  and  sloughs 
and  most  oj:  the  land  wild  and  unbroken. 
He  purchased  an  eighty  acre  tract  from  the 
Indiana,  Decatur  &  Western  Railroad,  now 
the  Champaign,  Havana  &  Western  road,  for 
which  he  paid  eighteen  dollars  per  acre.  It 
was  all  wild  and  only  about  thirty  acres  were 
then  fit  for  cultivation,  the  remainder  being 
under  water.  The  village  of  Pierson  has 
be>en  laid  out  upon  this  place,  which  now  be- 
longs to  our  subject,  and  was  named  in  his 
honor.  The  father  tiled  this  land  and  made 
many  improvements  thereon.  For  many 
years  he  successfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock-raising  and  was  also  in- 
terested in  the  grain  and  mercantile  business 
at  Pierson  for  eight  years  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Pierson  &  Son,  our  subject  being 
the  junior  partner.  His  fellow  citizens  rec- 
ognizing his  worth  and  ability  called  upon 
him  to  serve  as  commissioner  of  Unity  town- 
ship for  the  long  period  of  nineteen  years, 
and  for  two  years  he  filled  the  office  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  as  tax  assessor  one 
year.  His  friends  and  neighbors  often  sought 
his  counsel  and  he  was  a  man  of  marked  in- 
fluence in  the  community  where  he  resided. 
He  was  practically  the  founder  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  church  here  and  gave  the 
land  on  which  it  and  the  parsonage  stood  to- 
be  the  property  of  the  church  as  long  as  it 
stood  there,  but  the  buildings  have  since  been 
removed.  For  over  forty  years  Mr.  Pierson 
was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  At- 
wood  and  was  also  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for 
many  years,  holding  the  office  of  treasurer 
in  both  organizations  for  some  time.  After 


WILLIS  C.  PIERSON 


MRS.  WILLIS  C.  PIERSON 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


163 


his  retirement  from  active  business,  he  de- 
voted considerable  attention  to  his  apiary, 
having  forty  stands,  and  he  found  great 
pleasure  in  working  among  his  bees.  In  his 
political  views  he  was  a  Democrat  and  as 
every  true  American  citizen  should  do  he 
took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  Aft- 
er a  useful  and  well-spent  life  he  passed 
away  July  6,  1898,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  wife  departed 
this  life  February  8,  1896. 

The  children  of  the  family  still  living 
are :  Mary  J.,  wife  of  A.  Beedle  and  a 
resident  of  Garrett,  Douglas  county,  Illinois ; 
Catherine,  wife  of  H.  J.  Rigney,  the  oldest 
merchant  of  Pierson ;  Candacy,  wife  of  Mel- 
born  Bell,  who  has  a  fruit  farm  near  Red- 
lands,  California;  A.  D.,  who  is  fourth  in 
order  of  birth;  J.  G.,  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Pierson  &  Fisher,  hardware  merchants  of 
Pierson ;  Emma,  wife  of  James  White,  of 
Moultrie  county,  Illinois ;  and  Mame,  wife 
of  Richard  Willis,  a  fruit  farmer  of  Red- 
lands,  California. 

A.  D.  Pierson  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Piatt  county  and  gained  a  good  practical 
business  education  as  his  father's  assistant. 
For  a  time  he  conducted  a  hotel  and  livery 
stable  in  Buffalo,  Illinois,  and  since  then  has 
made  his  home  uninterruptedly  in  Piatt 
county.  He  had  a  splendid  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  on  section  21,  Unity 
township,  north  of  Pierson,  and  on  selling 
that  place  he  purchased  the  old  homestead 
where  he  now  resides.  This  farm  consists 
of  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres  on  sec- 
tion 33,  Unity  township,  just  south  of  Pier- 
son,  and  is  a  well-improved  and  valuable 
tract.  Mr.  Pierson  is  engaged  principally 
in  raising  broom-corn  and  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  progressive  and  practical  farmers 
of  Piatt  county. 

In  September,   1880,  was  celebrated  the 


marriage  of  Mr.  Pierson  and  Miss  Susan  J. 
Hook,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Montgomery)  Hook.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  was  but 
twelve  years  of  age  on  his  removal  to  Moul- 
trie county,  Illinois,  with  his  parents,  Jacob 
and  Susan  (Frederick)  Hook,  the  family 
locating  there  in  1847.  The  unbroken 
prairies  abounded  in  wild  game  and  the 
Hook  family  experienced  many  of  the 
hardships  and  trials  of  pioneer  life  in  their 
new  home.  Mrs.  Pierson  is  the  oldest  in 
a  family  of  ten  children,  all  of  whom  reached 
man  and  womanhood,  and  six  of  the  number 
are  still  living,  the  others  being  Mrs.  Sarah 
Shultz;  Amanda,  who  married  Hiram 
Meece,  of  Moultrie  county;  James,  who 
married  Maggie  Dick ;  P.  C,  who  married 
Alice  Chase;  and  Harvey.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  and  the  father  subse- 
quently married  Mrs.  Susan  Davis,  and 
since  August,  1902,  has  lived  a  retired  life 
in  Pierson.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  six 
children  and  the  living  are  all  residents  of 
Moultrie  county  with  exception  of  Mrs. 
Pierson's  father. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  six  chil- 
dren :  Willis  C.,  Elmer  Elsworth,  Charley 
C.,  Pearl,  Grover  G.  and  Samuel  D.  Willis 
C.,  named  for  his  grandfather,  was  married 
in  May,  1903,  to  Miss  Blanche  Benner  and 
lives  on  the  home  farm.  Mr.  Pierson  is  a 
member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church 
and  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party.  For  five  years  he  efficiently  served 
as  ditch  commissioner  and  has  been  a  val- 
uable member  of  the  school  board  for  fif- 
teen years,  taking  an  active  interest  in  edu- 
cational affairs  and  in  the  material  upbuild- 
ing and  prosperity  of  his  township  and  coun- 
ty. He  is  a  man  of  progressive  ideas  and 
sound  judgment  which  renders  him  an  im- 
portant factor  in  public  affairs. 


164 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


WILLIAM  NOECKER,  M.  D. 

Fifty  years  have  been  added  to  the 
cycle  of  the  centuries  since  Dr.  William 
Noecker  came  to  Monticello.  He  had  just 
graduated  from  the  Starling  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  here  he  entered  upon  his  profes- 
sional career,  in  which  he  was  destined  to 
gain  honor  and  distinction.  For  thirty 
years  he  devoted  his  energies  to  the  alle- 
viation of  human  suffering  and  then  he  put 
aside  professional  cares  to  engage  in  the 
banking  business  in  which  he  continued  for 
about  twenty  years,  being  the  "president, 
as  well  as  the  founder  of  the  First  Nation- 
al Bank  of  Monticello.  Among  the  ear- 
nest men  whose  depth  of  character  and 
strict  adherence  to  principles  excite  the 
admiration  of  contemporaries,  Dr.  Noeck- 
er was  prominent  and  he  was  as  influential 
in  financial  circles  as  he  was  active  in  the 
practice  of  medicine.  Banking  institutions 
are  the  heart  of  the  commercial  body,  indi- 
cating the  healthfulness  of  trade,  and  the 
bank  that  follows  a  safe,  conservative  busi- 
ness policy  does  more  to  establish  confi- 
dence in  times  of  widespread  financial  de- 
pression than  anything  else.  Such  a 
course  did  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Monticello  follow  under  the  able  manage- 
ment of  its  president,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view. .For  a  half  century  he  was  one  of  the 
active  business  men  of  Piatt  county,  and 
probably  no  single  individual  was  more 
widely  or  favorably  known  within  its  bor- 
ders. 

The  Doctor  was  a  native  of  Northum- 
berland county,  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
April,  1823,  and  represented  an  old  family 
of  Berks  county,  that  state.  It  was  in  the 
latter  county  that  his  paternal  grandfather 
spent  his  entire  life,  and  there  it  was  that 


John  Noecker,  the  father  of  the  Doctor,  was 
born.  After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity, 
however,  he  married  and  removed  to 
Northumberland  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  His  wife  bore  the  maid- 
en name  of  Maria  Stump,  and  was  also  a 
native  of  Berks  county,  but  both  spent 
their  last  days  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, where  they  had  long  resided  and  where 
they  reared  their  family  of  twelve  children, 
all  of  whom  reached  adult  age,  the  young- 
est to  pass  away  being  forty  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  death. 

Dr.  Noecker  spent  the  first  fifteen 
years  of  his  life  under  the  parental  roof 
and  then  accompanied  an  elder  brother 
to  Pickaway  county,  Ohio.  As  there  were 
no  railroads  then  they  traveled  in  a  spring 
wagon  drawn  by  a  team  of  horses,  and  for 
some  years  thereafter  the  Doctor  was 
connected  with  farm  work.  'He  also  em- 
braced every  opportunity  possible  for  se- 
curing an  education,  and 'in  1849  he  be- 
gan teaching,  which  profession  he  fol- 
lowed for  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  resolved  to  give  his  attention  to 
other  professional  labor  and  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine,  Dr.  Peter  K.  Hull,  of 
Circleville,  Ohio,  directing  his  reading.  In 
the  winter  of  1851  he  became  a  student  in 
the  Starling  Medical  College,  of  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  where  he  continued  to  attend 
lectures  until  February,  1853,  when  he 
was  graduated  and  received  his  degree.  In 
March  he  started  for  Monticello  with  the 
intention  of  establishing  an  office  and  en- 
gaging in  practice  here. 

Westward  of  Ohio  lay  a  section  of  the 
country  as  yet  largely  unimproved  and  in 
many  sections  the  work  of  cultivation  and 
development  had  scarcely  been  begun. 
Methods  of  travel  were  then  very  primitive 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


165 


as  compared  to  the  parlor  coaches  on  the 
railroads  of  to-day,  and  the  young  physi- 
cian traveled  by  stage  from  Columbus  to 
Cincinnati,  where  he  took  passage  on  an 
Ohio  river  boat.  On  reaching  the  Missis- 
sippi he  proceeded  up  that  stream  to  Al- 
ton and  on  by  rail  to  Springfield,  which 
was  the  nearest  railroad  station  to  Monti- 
cello.  He  learned  that  at  eight  o'clock 
the  next  morning  the  stage  would  start 
for  Piatt  county.  He  made  preparations 
to  continue  his  journey  at  that  time  and 
when  the  hour  arrived  he  saw  a  team 
drive  to  the  hotel,  to  which  was  attached 
a  two-wheeled  cart,  and  on  the  axle  was 
a  dry-goods  box.  The  Doctor  engaged  pas- 
sage in  this  primitive  vehicle  but  the  driver 
refused  to  take  both  his  trunks  and  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  one  behind.  Three 
times  the  driver  stopped  to  change  horses 
and  yet  it  was  three  o'clock  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  before  they  arrived  at  their 
destination.  In  such  a  manner  did  Dr. 
Noecker  arrive  in  Monticello,  which  was 
then  a  mere  village  in  the  midst  of  a 
sparsely  settled  region.  At  that  time  the 
merchants  largely  bought  their  goods  in 
Springfield  and  brought  them  by  team 
to  Monticello  and  Dr.  Noecker  soon  made 
arrangements  with  the  teamster  to  bring  his 
trunk. 

Then  began  his  professional  labor  here. 
He  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  C.  R. 
Ward,  but  the  connection  continued  for 
only  a  few  months,  after  which  Dr.  Noeck- 
er practiced  alone.  His  was  the  usual  ex- 
perience of  the  physician  who  settles  upon 
the  frontier  in  a  thinly  populated  district. 
Calls  came  to  him  from  long  distances, 
and  necessitated  hard  rides  at  all  hours 
and  through  all  kinds  of  weather.  Most 
of  the  settlers  lived  in  the  timber  regions 


bordering  the  Sangamon  river  and  Goose 
and  Camp  creeks.  There  was  little  money 
in  circulation  and  thus  collections  were 
very  difficult,  but  as  the  years  advanced 
and  the  people  prospered  Dr.  Noecker  re- 
ceived a  profitable  and  extensive  patron- 
age. For  thirty  years  he  continued  in 
practice  here  and  into  many  a  household 
carried  comfort  and  cheer.  His  profes- 
sional skill  was  continually  augmented  by 
his  reading  and  research  and  viewed  from 
both  a  professional  and  financial  stand- 
point his  labors  were  crowned  with  suc- 
cess. Great  had  been  the  changes  which 
had  occurred  during  that  time,  the  coun- 
try having  become  thickly  populated, 
while  science,  too,  had  made  marked  ad- 
vance, rendering  the  labors  of  the  progres- 
sive physician  much  more  beneficial.  With 
a  nature  that  could  never  content  itself 
with  mediocrity,  Dr.  Noecker  had  contin- 
ually kept  abreast  of  the  times,  and  many 
of  his  patrons  felt  loath  to  part  with  his 
professional  services  when  he  determined 
to  retire  from  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the 
banking  business  and  established  the  Bank 
of  Monticello,  now  the  First  National  Bank, 
which  has  become  one  of  the  safe  and  re- 
liable moneyed  institutions  of  this  part  of 
the  state. 

In  1861  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Dr.  Noecker  and  Miss  Ella  Britton,  a  na- 
tive of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Jane  Britton.  They  had  but 
one  child,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years.  Mrs.  Noecker  is  a  most  estimable 
lady,  cultured  and  of  innate  refinement, 
and  over  her  pleasant  home  she  presides 
with  gracious  and  charming  hospitality. 

The  Doctor's  political  support  was  ever 
given  to  the  Democracy,  and  he  served 


1 66 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  as 
city  treasurer.  There  were  many  elements 
in  his  life  history  worthy  of  emulation. 
The  secret  of  his  success  was  undoubtedly 
that  he  had  a  talent  for  hard  work  and 
close  application,  combined  with  a  mind 
which  delighted  in  investigation.  Realiz- 
ing that  "there  is  no  excellence  without  la- 
bor" he  attended  closely  to  the  details  of 
his  profession  and  of  his  banking  business, 
carefully  superintending  each  department. 
Such  methods  cannot  fail  to  win  success, 
but  it  is  not  the  acquirement  of  success 
which  is  so  deserving  of  commendation, 
but  the  use  of  it  in  ways  that  benefit  man- 
kind, and  in  this  regard  Monticello's  citi- 
zens speak  of  Dr.  Noecker  in  terms  of 
highest  praise.  He  died  very  suddenly  of 
throat  trouble,  May  4,  1897,-  at  Columbus, 
Indiana. 


S.  M.  FUNK. 

S.  M.  Funk,  ex-county  treasurer  and 
dealer  in  hardware,  cutlery,  buggies  and  har- 
ness at  Cerro  Gordo,  has  resided  in  Piatt 
county  since  the  year  1853.  He  is  a  native 
of  Indiana  and  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Eliza 
J.  (McKinney)  Funk,  the  former  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Indiana. 
The  father  lived  in  his  native  state  until 
1836,  when  he  removed  to  Bloomington,  Il- 
linois, where  he  was  married,  and  there  made 
his  home  until  1853.  In  that  year  he  ar- 
rived in  Piatt  county,  taking  up  his  abode  in 
Willow  Branch  township,  where  for  several 
years  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  then 
removed  to  Macon  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
lived  for  a  short  time,  but  soon  returned  to 
Piatt  county,  and  at  this  time  settled  in  the 
village  of  Cerro  Gordo,  where  he  lived  a  re- 


tired life  until  called  to  his  final  rest  in  the 
year  1890.  His  widow  still  survives  him 
and  is  widely  known  as  Grandma  Funk  in 
Monticello,  where  she  makes  her  home. 
There  were  five  children  born  unto  this 
worthy  couple,  four  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing, as  follows :  Emma,  the  widow  of  San- 
ford  Tracy,  who  resides  in  Cerro  Gordo ; 
Samuel  M.,  whose  name  introduces  this  rec- 
ord ;  Amelia,  the  wife  of  William  Edie,  of 
Monticello;  and  Theodore,  who  married  Al- 
ice Good  and  now  resides  in  Decatur,  Illi- 
nois. For  several  years  he  was  a  successful 
teacher  of  Piatt  county. 

Like  the  other  members  of  the  family 
Samuel  M.  Funk  pursued  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  had  no  advantages 
beyond  that.  After  putting  aside  his  text- 
books he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Cerro  Gordo  township  and  was 
engaged  in  farming  until  after  the  inaugu- 
ration of  the  Civil  war,  when  in  response  to 
his  country's  need  he  offered  his  services. 
It  was  in  August,  1862,  that  he  joined  Com- 
pany K,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois 
Infantry  under  Colonel  Thomas  Snell  of 
Clinton,  and  at  a  later  date  Colonel  Lowry 
of  Monticello  commanded  the  regiment. 
Captain  U.  M.  Lawrence  was  in  command 
of  the  company  which  took  part  in  a  num- 
ber of  important  engagements,  including 
the  battle  of  Knoxville,  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign and  the  capture  of  Wilmington  and 
Raleigh.  Mr.  Funk  was  never  injured  in 
any  way  and  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina, 
on  the  loth  of  July,  1865,  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge  after  three  years  of 
faithful  and  valorous  service. 

Mr.  Funk  returned  to  Cerro  Gordo 
township,  where  he  resumed  his  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Chilson.  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a  daughter 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


167 


of  William  A.  Chilson,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Piatt  county,  where  he  ar- 
rived in  1857.  Here  he  followed  farming, 
which  he  carried  on  continuously  until  his 
death.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Funk  have  been 
born  eight  children,  of  whom  four  are  now 
living,  namely :  John  E.,  who  is  a  partner 
in  his  father's  store;  Samuel  E.,  who  is  now 
farming  in  Cerro  Gordo  township  and  who 
served  as  county  deputy  treasurer  of  Piatt 
county  for  four  years;  Cora  A.,  at  home; 
Aaron  L.,  who  is  assisting  his  father  in 
the  store  and  who  through  several  years  was 
a  capable  teacher  of  the  county.  The  chil- 
dren of  the  family  who  have  passed  away 
are  Eugene  M.,  who  died  in  November, 
1902;  Elvaretta,  William  A.  and  Charles 
W. 

Mr.  Funk  engaged  in  farming  in  Cerro 
Gordo  township  until  1883,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  that  name  and  en- 
tered upon  his  present  business.  He  yet 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres  in  Cerro  Gor- 
do township,  which  is  operated  by  his  chil- 
dren. He  now  has  two  large  stores,  in  one 
of  which  he  carries  a  full  line  of  general 
hardware,  stoves,  etc.  To  the  conduct  of 
this  business  he  gives  his  personal  attention. 
The  other  store  is  stocked  with  a  good  large 
supply  of  buggies  and  harness.  Mr.  Funk 
has  secured  a  good  patronage  and  now  has 
a  profitable  trade.  He  has  also  been  quite 
active  and  well  known  in  public  affairs.  For 
several  years  he  served  as  collector  of  Cerro 
Gordo  township  and  in  1898  he  was  elected 
county  treasurer  of  Piatt  county  in  which 
capacity  he  ably  served  for  four  years  or 
until  December,  1902,  when  he  retired  from 
office  as  he  had  entered  it — with  the  confi-  ' 
dence  and  good  will  of  all.  In  politics  he  has 
always  been  a  Republican,  taking  an  active 
interest  in  the  growth  and  success  of  the 


party  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  its  lead- 
er in  this  part  of  the  county.  Socially,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post,  No. 
210  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
hold  membership  relations  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  in  the  town.  He  has 
been  one  of  its  members  for  more  than  for- 
ty years  and  takes  much  interest  in  church 
work.  Mr.  Funk  has  been  a  very  successful 
business  man  and  no  man  is  better  known 
in  this  part  of  the  county. 


JOHN    E.  COMERFORD. 

John  E.  Comerford  is  one  of  the 
younger  and  prominent  business  men  of 
the  village  of  Bement,  actively  associated 
with  its  industrial  interests,  and  he  pos- 
sesses the  qualities — industry,  enterprise  and 
laudable  ambition — which  will  bring  him 
future  success.  He  is  one  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty's native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Cerro  Gordo  township,  near  Milmine, 
on  the  26th  of  April,  1877.  He  is  a  son 
of  Robert  and  Mary  (Seitz)  Comerford, 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  who 
when  but  sixteen  years  of  age  left  the  Em- 
erald Isle  for  the  new  world,  taking  up 
his  abode  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois.  In  1846 
he  first  purchased  a  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo. 
township  of  eighty  acres  of  prairie  land, 
and  at  once  began  its  development,  mak- 
ing excellent  improvements  upon  it  and 
transforming  it  until  it  was  a  rich  and  pro- 
ductive farm.  From  time  to  time  he  added 
to  the  original  purchase  until  he  was  the 
owner  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
valuable  and  improved  land.  -He  carried 
on  his  work  with  marked  enterprise  and  in- 
dustry and  by  his  careful  management 


i68 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


and  diligence  he  accumulated  a  handsome 
competence.  His  death  occurred  upon  the 
old  homestead  in  January,  1895,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  sixty-five  years.  He  be- 
longed to  the  Catholic  church  and  was  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  views,  but  he 
never  sought  or  desired  political  prefer- 
ment. His  life  record  furnishes  to  his 
children  an  example  that  is  indeed  worthy 
of  emulation,  for  he  so  lived  as  to  merit 
the  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact.  His  wife  survived  him  and  now 
resides  in  Bement,  where  she  has  pur- 
chased a  pleasant  home,  being  there  sur- 
rounded by  the  comforts  of  life.  By  her 
marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  six 
children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living.  Bar- 
ney, who  resides  near  Milmine,  occupies  a 
part  of  the  old  home  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo 
township,  and  devotes  his  attention  to  its 
cultivation.  He  married  Bridget  Tynan 
and  they  have  three  children :  Lona,  Mary 
and  Daniel.  Anna  is  the  wife  of  John  Uhl, 
of  Pana,  Illinois,  who  is  a  traveling  sales- 
man for  a  hide  and  leather  house  of  Cin- 
cinnati. They  have  four  children :  Mary, 
Thomas,  Victor  and  Augusta.  Michael, 
who  resides  upon  a  part  of  the  old  home 
farm,  wedded  Alice  Gulliford,  a  native  of 
this  county,  and  they  had  one  child  that 
died  in  infancy.  Robert  has  recently  re- 
moved from  Bement  to  Monticello,  where 
he  is  now  living.  Joseph  died  in  infancy. 
The  youngest  member  of  the  family  is 
John  E. 

Mr.  Comerford  of  this  review  entered 
the  public  schools  at  the  usual  age  and  con- 
tinued his  studies  in  Bement  until  after  he 
had  completed  the  high  school  course. 
Subsequently  he  entered  St.  Bede  College, 
in  LaSalle,  Illinois,  and  was  graduated  in 
that  institution  when  eighteen  years  of 


age.    Returning  to  his  home  in  Piatt  coun- 
ty   he    accepted    a  clerkship    in    a    cloth- 
ing store  in  Cerro   Gordo,  and  was  also 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  Bement  after  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  this  place  about 
eight    years   ago.      He    continued   in    the 
clothing  business  for  about  four  years  in 
Bement,  and  then  followed  the  undertak- 
ing business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Evans  &  Comerford,  his  connection  there- 
with covering  two  years.     On  the  expira- 
tion of  that"  period  he  sold  his  interest  to 
A.   Swinson,  who  still  conducts  the  busi- 
ness.     Mr.     Comerford    then    engaged    in 
the  manufacture  of  brooms  at  his  present 
location,  and  from  the  beginning  his  busi- 
ness has.  steadily  and  constantly  increased 
so  that  he  now  employs  a  large  force  of 
expert  broommakers.     They  also  manu- 
facture all  kinds  of  brushes  that  are  made 
from  broomcorn.     In  the  control  of  this 
enterprise    Mr.    Comerford    has    displayed 
marked   business   ability,    executive   force 
and  keen   discrimination.     He  forms    his 
plans   readily  and  is   determined  in  their 
execution   and "  along  legitimate   business 
lines  he  is  winning  very  creditable  success. 
On  the  29th  of  April,  1903,  in  Ivesdale, 
Champaign  county,  Illinois1,  was  celebrat- 
ed a  pretty  wedding  ceremony  which  unit- 
ed the  destinies  of  John  E.  Comerford  and 
Miss  Josephine  Foohy,  a  native  of  Ives- 
dale.    The  wedding  was  solemnized  in  St. 
Joseph's  church  by  its  pastor,  Rev.  Charles 
C.  O'Brien,  who,  assisted  by  Rev.  Haw- 
ley,  of  Bement,  and  Rev.  Berry,  of  Philo, 
performed  the  ceremony  in  connection  with 
solemn    mass.     The    bride    is    a    daughter 
of  John   Foohy,  who   is   now   living  a   re- 
tired  life  in   Ivesdale.    where  he  was   for- 
merly engaged  in  the  grain  business.     He 
has  always   been   a   prosperous   and   pro- 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


169 


gressive  man  and  has  accumulated  consid- 
erable property.  He  is  a  communicant  of 
the  Catholic  church  there  and  a  well- 
known  and  influential  citizen.  Mrs.  Com- 
erford  was  educated  in  Ivesdale  and  in  St. 
Mary's  Academy,  near  Terre  Haute,  In- 
diana. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Comerford  are 
communicants  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church,  and  fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge,  No.  199, 
of  Bement,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  of 
the  chairs.  He  votes  with  the  Democracy, 
but  has  never  sought  or  desired  public  of- 
fice. A  young  man  of  genial  disposition 
and  kindly  manner,  he  is  popular  with  a 
large  circle  of  friends,  and  in  Bement 
is  widely  and  favorably  krown.  Already 
he  has  established  for  himself  a  position  in 
the  business  world  and  those  who  know 
him  have  no  hesitancy  in  predicting  for 
him  a  successful  future. 


H.  W.  BUCKLE. 

The  press  has  not  only  recorded  the  his- 
tory of  advancement,  but  has  also  ever  been 
the  leader  in  the  work  of  progress  and  im- 
provement— the  vanguard  of  civilization. 
The  philosopher  of  some  centuries  ago  pro- 
claimed the  truth  that  "the  pen  is  mightier 
than  the  sword,"  and  the  statement  is  contin- 
ually being  verified  in  the  affairs  of  life.  In 
molding  public  opinion  the  power  of  the 
newspaper  cannot  be  over  estimated,  but  at 
all  events  its  influence  is  greater  than  that 
of  any  other  single  agency.  Mr.  Buckle  is 
connected  with  the  journalistic  interests  of 
Monticello  as  the  manager  of  the  Monticello 
Bulletin  Company,  and  through  much  of  his 


life  has  devoted  his  energies  to  this  line  of 
work. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Buckle  was  born 
on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river,  in  Gallia 
county,  and  began  his  education  in  private 
schools,  while  later  he  continued  his  studies 
in  the  National  Normal  University,  at  Leb- 
anon, where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of    1892.      He    next    matriculated    in    Rio 
Grande  College,  at  Rio  Grande,  Ohio,  com- 
pleting  his   work    there   by   graduation    in 
1895.     Turning  his  attention  to  journalistic 
work  he  was  for  some  time  employed  on 
leading  newspapers  in  Wisconsin,  and  later 
he  began  teaching,  which  profession  he  fol- 
lowed for  thirteen  years,  four  of  which  were 
spent  in  Kansas,  two  in  Ohio,  four  in  Illi- 
nois and  the  remainder  of  the  time  being 
spent  in  village  schools  and  in  graded  schools 
at  Mound  City  and  Milan,  Illinois.    At  Gen- 
eseo,  Illinois,  he  published  a  daily  and  weekly 
paper,  and  from  the  latter  place  he  went  to 
Freeport,  Illinois,  where  for  a  year  he  was  in- 
terested in  the  Freeport  Daily  Democrat.   In 
May,    1901,   he  bought   an   interest   in   the 
Monticello   Bulletin.      This   paper    was   es- 
tablished in  1858  and  is  the  oldest  paper  in 
the  county,  having  been  published  by  a  suc- 
cession of  proprietors.     The  paper  is  now 
owned  by  a  stock  company.      In  January, 
1903,  it  was  incorporated  and  has  one  hun- 
dred  stockholders   with   a   paid   up   capital 
of  five  thousand  dollars.     Its  officers  are  as 
follows :     James   Hicks,   president ;   H.   W. 
Buckle,  secretary ;  T.  J.  Ater,  treasurer ;  and 
William  C.  Handlin,  vice  president,  and  the 
board  of  directors  numbers  nine  members. 

Mr.  Buckle  is  now  the  manager  of  the 
paper,  which  has  a  large  circulation  in  Mon- 
ticello and  Piatt  county,  and  this  consti- 
tutes the  journal  an  excellent  advertising 
medium.  The  offices  are  equipped  with  a 


1 7o 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


large  two  revolution  cylinder  press,  a  new 
modern  gasoline  engine,  a  folder,  a  perfora- 
tor, job  press,  paper  cutter,  type,  etc.,  in  fact, 
it  is  the  best  equipped  newspaper  and  job 
plant  in  Piatt  county.  Mr.  Buckle  is  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  newspaper  work  in  all 
its  various  departments  and  as  manager  of 
the  Monticello  Bulletin  he  has  developed  a 
paper  which  is  a  credit  to  the  city. 


JOHN  H.  SMOCK. 

John  H.  Smock,  who  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
Smock,  follows  farming  on  section  3,  Monti- 
cello  township.  He  was  born  on  the  old 
home  farm  in  Piatt  county,  November  15, 
1861,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  can  remember  that  in  his  early 
life  there  were  many  log  houses  in  the  dis- 
trict and  the  school  was  one  of  the  primitive 
constructions  supplied  with  slab  benches, 
while  planks  hinged  into  the  wall  served  as 
desks,  but  long  since  such  buildings  have 
given  place  to  buildings  of  modern  construc- 
tion. Farm  work  claimed  his  attention 
during  the  summer  months,  while  the  du- 
ties of  the  schoolroom  occupied  his  time 
through  the  winter  seasons.  He  put  aside 
his  text-books  about  1881  and  continued  up- 
on the  home  place  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  when  he  began  farming  in  partner- 
ship with  his  father.  They  made  a  specialty 
of  the  raising  of  thoroughbred  hogs,  which 
they  carried  on  extensively  until  cholera  oc- 
casioned the  loss  of  many  of  these  animals. 
They  had  mostly  hogs  of  the  Poland  China 
breed.  Mr.  Smock  continued  to  carry  on 
farming  in  connection  with  his  father  until 
1893,  when  he  was  married. 

The  ladv  who  now  bears  the  name  of 


Mrs.  John  H.  Smock  was  in  her  maiden- 
hood Miss  Emma  Frances  Hubbart,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbart,  of  Ne- 
osho  county,  Missouri,  but  who  were  early 
settlers  of  Piatt  county,  removing  from  here 
to  Missouri  about  thirty  years  ago.  At  the 
time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Smock  began  by 
renting  the  farm  upon  which  he  resides, 
then  known  as  the  old  Hast  farm.  This  he 
has  continued  to  operate  for  ten  years.  The 
entire  place  shows  general  improvement  and 
the  farm  indicates  the  careful  supervision  of 
the  owner  who  is  a  progressive  and  practical 
agriculturist.  He  has  planted  a  good  or- 
chard, has  built  a  new  residence  and  out- 
buildings and  has  continued  the  work  of 
improvement  until  to-day  the  farm  is  valu- 
able and  most  attractive.  For  three  years 
Mr.  Smock  has  served  as  school  director  and 
he  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Democ- 
racy. He  belongs  to  White  Heath  Camp, 
No.  2219,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


JOHN  M.  CAMP. 

John  M.  Camp,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Piatt  county  now  residing  in  the  village 
of  Bement,  was  born  at  Mount  Morris,  New 
York,  on  the  3d  of  January,  1832.  The  Camp 
family  is  of  English  lineage  and  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Abram 
Camp,  who  was  a  physician  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  the  Empire  state. 
He  never  came  to  the  west  except  to  visit 
his  children  and  he  died  in  New  York  at  an 
advanced  age.  Eldad  Cicero  Camp,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Connecticut 
in  1804,  and  in  early  life  became  a  resident 


ELDAD  CAMP 


J.  M.  CAMP 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


of  New  York,  where  for  many  years  he 
followed-  farming.  Upon  his  removal  to 
Ohio,  he  purchased  land  in  Knox  county 
and  continued  its  cultivation  until  1865, 
when  he  continued  on  his  westward  way, 
this  time  locating  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois. 
For  more  than  thirty  years  he  remained  a 
resident  of  this  county,  dying  in  the  village 
of  Bement  in  1896.  Throughout  his  business 
career  he  carried  on  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival 
here  he  purchased  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  land 
which  he  cultivated  and  improved,  develop- 
ing it  into  a  good  home  for  himself  and 
family.  He  wedded  Miss  Minerva  M.  Hin- 
man,  who  was  born  in  Bradford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  their  marriage  being  celebrat- 
ed in  Mount  Morris,  New  York.  She  died 
in  Ohio  in  1863  when  about  fifty-nine  years 
of  age.  Both  were  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  living  lives  in  consistent  har- 
mony with  its  teachings,  and  for  many  years 
he  was  an  elder  in  the  church,  his  labors  in 
its  behalf  being  far-reaching  and  beneficial. 
His  political  support  in  early  life  was  given 
to  the  Whig  party  and  upon  its1  dissolution 
he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  Republican 
party,  with  which  he  continued  to  affiliate 
until  his  demise.  Unto  him  and  his  wife 
were  lx>rn  thirteen  children,  six  of  whom 
are  yet  living,  the  eldest  of  the  survivors  be- 
ing John  M.  Camp.  The  others  are  James 
H.,  who  resides  in  Tolono,  Champaign 
county,  Illinois;  William  M.,  who  is  presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Bement; 
Eldad  C..  a  resident  of  Knoxville,  Tennes- 
see; Curtis,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  in  Bement;  and  Henry  N.,  who  is 
also  living  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  Two  of 
the  sisters  died  in  early  life,  but  the  other 
reached  years  of  maturity.  Those  who 
passed  awray  in  early  childhood  were  both 


named  Harriet  and  the  elder  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years  and  the  younger  at  the 
age  of  two  years.  Emily  F.  became  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Edward  Swaney  and  both  are  now 
deceased.  She  resided  in  Bement  and  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  Stanley  de- 
parted this  life  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years.  Edgar,  who  responded  to  his  coun- 
try's call  for  aid  and  became  a  captain  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  Infantry, 
was  killed  in  the  Civil  war.  Hanson,  who 
was  a  boot  and  shoe  merchant  of  Bement, 
died  in  this  place  about  two  years  ago,  leav- 
ing a  widow,  but  no  children.  Frederick  de- 
parted this  life  about  1865. 

John  M.  Camp  was  only  four  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  removed  from  New 
York  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  in  the  latter 
place  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  obtained 
his  education  in  the  common  schools.  When 
not  engaged  with  the  duties  of  the  school- 
room he  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of 
the  home  farm.  In  his  youth  he  also 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  a  number  of  years  in  Ohio  and 
which  he  continued  to  make  his  life  work 
after  his  removal  to  Illinois.  Settling  in  Be- 
ment he  did  the  carpenter  work  and  was 
the  contractor  for  the  first  house  erected  in 
this  village.  It  was  built  in  1855  and  was 
the  property  of  Joseph  Rodman.  Mr. 
Camp  also  built  the  first  schoolhouse  that 
was  erected  here  and  took  and  executed  the 
contracts  for  the  erection  of  the  Christian 
and  Presbyterian  churches  in  this  place. 
Monuments  to  his  enterprise  are  still  seen 
in  a  number  of  substantial  buildings  in  Be- 
ment, but  in  1872  he  discontinued  his  con- 
nection with  industrial  life  and  turned  his 
attention  to  commercial  pursuits,  becoming 
a  grain  merchant  here.  He  has  since  fol- 
lowed the  business  and  to-dav  he  owns  an 


1 76 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


elevator  having  a  capacity  of  thirty  thou- 
sand bushels.  He  is  also  largely  interested 
in  the  grain  trade  at  Ivesdale  and  at  Vor- 
hies,  Illinois,  owning  the  elevators  at  dif- 
ferent places  having  greater  capacity  than 
the  one  at  Bement.  His  operations  in  grain 
are  now  extensive  and  profitable,  his  business 
returning  to  him  an  excellent  financial  in- 
come. 

In  ;86o  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Camp  and  Miss  Margaret  Holm,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio.  The  wedding  took  place  in 
Marion  county,  Ohio,  and  with  her  husband 
Mrs.  Camp  came  to  Illinois,  her  death  oc- 
curring in  Bement  in  1870. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Camp  chose 
Frances  A.  Kimber,  a  native  of  England 
who  came  to  the  United  States  to  live  with 
her  sister,  but  her  parents  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  England.  Three  children  have  been 
born  of  the  second  marriage,  of  whom  two 
are  living:  Mallary  C.,  the  eldest,  was  born 
in  Bement,  November  15,  1876,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  is  now 
engaged  in  the  grain  trade  with  his  father. 
He  married  Lulu  B.  Bennett,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  He  is  a  popular  representative  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  he  also  belongs  to 
the  Presbyterian  church.  William  R.,  the 
second  of  the  family,  died  when  about  three 
years  old.  Lena  Z.,  also  born  in  Bement, 
resides  at  home. 

Mr.  Camp  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party  and  has  served  as  the 
supervisor  of  the  county,  as  a  member  of 
the  town  board  and  in  other  offices,  yet  has 
never  been  a  politician  in  the  .sense  of  office- 
seeking,  preferring  to  devote  his  energies  to 
his  business  affairs.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
hold  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
and  for  some  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  board  of  finance.  He  also  belongs  to  the 


Masonic  fraternity  and  is  true  to  its  teach- 
ings and  its  tenets.  For  almost  a  half  cen- 
tury Mr.  Camp  has  made  his  home  in  Piatt 
county  and  his  mind  bears  the  impress  of  its 
early  annals  as  well  as  of  the  later  events 
which  have  shaped  its  history.  He  has  been 
particularly  active  in  business  and  public 
life  in  this  section  of  the  county  and  has  co- 
operated along  many  lines  for  public  im- 
provement and  progress.  In  his  business 
dealings  he  has  always  been  found  reliable 
and  energetic,  and  what  he  has  accomplished 
has  been  won  through  his  own  well  directed 
efforts.  By  those  who  know  him  his  worth 
is  widely  acknowledged  and  his  name  is  in- 
scribed high  on  the  roll  of  honored  pioneers 
of  Piatt  county. 


ANDREW  J.  RICKEY. 

After  years  of  honest  toil,  mostly  de- 
voted to  agricultural  pursuits,  Andrew  J. 
Richey  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  the 
village  of  Atwood,  enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest.  He  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  2d  of  October,  1827,  his  par- 
ents being  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Biggs) 
Richey,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  Blue 
Grass  state  and  were  married  in  Shelby 
county  in  1826.  When  our  subject  was 
about  five  years  of  age  the  family  removed 
to  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  being 
among  the  early  settlers  of  that  locality,  and 
later  they  lived  for  some  time  in  Vigo  and 
Sullivan  counties,  that  state,  where  the  father 
was  engaged  in  general  farming.  He  died 
in  Vigo  county  in  1861,  and  his  wife,  who 
long  survived  him,  passed  away  in  the  same 
county  in  1901,  at  the  extreme  old  age  of 
ninetv-four  years.  Unto  them  were  born 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


177 


nine  children,  of  whom  one  died  young  but 
the  others  reached  man  and  womanhood  and 
five  of  the  number  are  still  living. 

Andrew  J.  Richey  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  a  farm,  and  was  educated  in  the 
old-time  subscription  schools  so  common 
in  that  day  in  Indiana,  the  temple  of  learning 
being  a  primitive  log  structure  with  its  rude 
furnishings.  As  soon  as  old  enough  to  be 
of  any  assistance  he  began  to  aid  in  the  work 
of  the  farm  and  throughout  his  active  busi- 
ness life  continued  to  engage  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  remained  with  his  father  un- 
til he  attained  his  majority. 

On  the  gth  of  November.  1848,  Mr. 
Richey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Bar- 
bara Dcty,  a  native  of  Indiana,  who  died  in 
1867,  leaving  five  children,  as  follows:  The- 
odore, now  a  resident  of  Clay  county,  Indi- 
ana, married  Martha  Wilson  and  has  five 
children.  Emery  married  Belle  Nolan  and 
died,  leaving  six  children,  who,  with  their 
mother,  reside  in  Arkansas.  James  wedded 
Eva  Lumly  and  with  his  wife  and  five  chil- 
dren makes  his  home  in  Atwood.  Illinois. 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  James  Griffin,  a  farmer 
of  Unity  township,  this  county,  and  has 
eight  children.  Eli.  a  resident  of  Moultrie 
county,  Illinois,  married  Sarah  Wagner  and 
has  seven  children.  Mr.  Richey  was  again 
married  December  12,  1867,  his  second  un- 
ion being  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Williams, 
widow  of  Cornelius  Williams  and  daughter 
of  John  and  Catharine  (Terry)  Moon,  who 
were  pioneers  of  Piatt  county  and  .ire  now 
deceased.  This  Mrs.  Richey  was  born  in 
Monongahela,  Pennsylvania,  December  12, 
1830,  and  died  in  1901.  For  his  third  wife 
our  subject  married  Elizabeth  Doty,  a  native 
of  Indiana,  their  wedding  being  celebrated 
May  21,  1902. 

Mr.    Richev  continued  his   residence   in 


Indiana  until  1862,  when  he  removed  to 
Moultrie  county.  Illinois,  where  three  years 
later  he  bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres  in  Lowe  township,  and  he  also  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in  Unity  town- 
ship, Piatt  county,  but  made  his  home  on 
the  former  place,  his  time  and  attention  being 
devoted  to  general  farming  until  his  removal 
to  Atwood  in  1891.  when  he  retired  from 
business  life.  On  coming  to  Illinois  he 
found  much  of  this  section  of  the  state  still 
wild  and  unimproved  and  as  the  land  in 
many  places  was  low  and  under  water  ague 
was  prevalent.  Most  of  his  own  farm, 
however,  was  higher  land  and  he  drained 
the  remainder,  using  a  dredging  boat.  He 
fenced  his  property,  erected  good  and  sub- 
stantial buildings  and  planted  the  seed  from 
which  to-day  have  grown  the  large  and  beau- 
tiful trees  which  now  adorn  the  place.  Mr. 
Richey  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  upbuilding  of  Atwood  and  laid  out  fif- 
teen acres  into  town  lots.  Land  which  he 
purchased  at  nine  dollars  per  acre  in  1864 
is  to-day  valued  at  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-five dollars,  while  the  eighty-acrte  tract 
in  Piatt  county  for  which  he  paid  forty-five 
dollars  per  acre  is  now  worth  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  dollars,  owing  to  the  rise  in 
value  and  the  many  improvements  he  has 
placed  thereon. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richey  hold  membership 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  At- 
wood and  have  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  who  know  them.  He  cast  his  first  pres- 
idential vote  for  Zachary  Taylor  and  is  now 
a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  Republican  party 
and  its  principles.  He  has  efficiently  filled 
the  offices  of  township  trustee  and  school  di- 
rector, assisted  in  organizing  his  district  and 
was  prominently  identified  with  the  upbuild- 
ing of  Lowe  township  morally,  socially  and 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


materially.  Mr.  Richey  has  ever  been  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  representative  men  of 
his  community  and  a  leader  in  public  affairs. 


GEORGE    W.  PITTMAN. 

Although  born  in  Ohio  George  W. 
Pittman  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  is  here 
widely  and  favorably  known.  His  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  24th  of  February,  1837,  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  his  parents  being 
Aaron  Ford  and  Katherine  Bake  Pittman. 
The  father  was  born  in  New  York  and  the 
mother  in  the  Buckeye  state.  He  devoted 
his  energies  to  agricultural  pursuits,  which 
he  carried  on  in  Ohio  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1854,  however,  he  brought  his 
family  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  here 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  for  which  he  paid  eleven  dollars  per 
acre.  Establishing  his  home  thereon, 
both  he  and  his  wife  lived  there  until  called 
to  their  final  rest,  and  they  were  widely 
known  as  prominent  farming  people  of  the 
community,  enjoying  the  warm  friendship 
of  many  with  whom  they  came  in  contact. 
Mr.  Pittman,  who,  was  born  August  14, 
1811,  died  April  19,  1900,  and  his  wife, 
whose  birth  occurred  on  the  I7th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1815,  passed  away  on  the  i3th  of 
August,  1875.  In  their  family  were  nine 
children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth :  J. 
V..  who  was  born  March  n,  1832,  and  died 
July  7,  1893;  Jacob  Bake,  who  was  born 
November  17,  1833,  and  died  August  u, 
1834;  George  W.,  born  February  24. 
1837;  Johnson  C.,  who  was  born  April  14, 
1841,  and  died  August  22.  1870;  William 


A.,  born  November  n,  1843;  Leonard, 
born  August  2,  1845;  Sylvester,  who  was 
born  May  21,  1847,  and  died  September 
29,  1865;  Franklin,  born  June  6,  1850; 
and  Lida  A.,  born  September  14,  1855. 

George  W.  Pittman  acquired  his  early 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Piatt 
county.  He  began  working  by  the  month 
when  a  young  man,  being  employed  by 
George  Hayde  for  sixteen  dollars  per 
month.  Later  he  rented  his  father's  farm 
and  thus  began  agricultural  pursuits  on 
his  own  account.  When  his  labors  had 
brought  to  him  sufficient  capital,  he  made 
purchase  of  a  tract  of  land  of  eighty  acres 
in  Blue  Ridge  township,  becoming  owner 
of  this  property  in  1875.  About  a  quarter 
of  a  century  later  he  made  another  pur- 
chase, comprising  sixty  acres,  and  thus  his 
farm  constitutes  in  all  one  hundred  and 
forty-one  acres.  A  farm  in  Piatt  county 
is  a  synonym  for  fertile  soil  and  productive 
fields,  if  even  moderate  care  is  bestowed 
upon  it,  so  rich  is  the  land.  Mr.  Pittman 
raises  stock  and  grain  and  is  very  success- 
ful in  his  work. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1893,  Mr. 
Pittman  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Jennie  Duckwall,  who  was  the  third  in  a 
family  of  nine  children.  Her  father,  Wil- 
liam Duckwall,  was  born  August  15,  1808, 
and  is  now  living  near  Dayton,  Ohio.  Her 
mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Car- 
oline Bruner,  was  born  January  27,  1820, 
and  died  September  15,  1890.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Sarah  Ann,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary 21,  1828,  and  died  when  but  six 
months  old ;  John  William,  born  Septem- 
ber 27,  1840;  Mary  Jane,  born  March  17, 
1843,  ar|d  now  the  wife  of  our  subject; 
Laura,  born  November  17.  1845;  Charles, 
born  September  13,  1849;  Francis  Ash- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


179 


bury,  born  February  19.  ^852;  Clayton, 
born  February  9,  1855;  Clara  Ellen,  born 
April. 2,  1858;  and  Elmer  Ellsworth,  born 
June  3,  1861. 

Mr.  Pittman  is  well  known  in  Piatt 
county,  having  here  resided  for  almost  half 
a  century.  He  has  witnessed,  therefore, 
almost  the  entire  growth  and  development 
of  this  portion  of  the  state.  He  has  seen 
Piatt  county  when  it  was  largely  an  un- 
improved district,  when  its  lands  were  wild 
and  when  the  work  of  cultivation  had 
scarcely  been  begun.  He  has  borne  his 
full  share  in  the  task  of  improvement  here 
and  in  all  measures  for  the  general  good 
he  has  taken  a  deep  interest,  co-operating 
in  many  movements  that  have  resulted  for 
the  benefit  of  the  communitv. 


THOMAS   LAMB,    SR. 

Thomas  Lamb,  Sr.,  a  retired  agricultur- 
ist of  Bement,  now  in  his  ninetieth  year, 
is  a  true  type  of  the  energetic,  hardy  men 
who  have  actively  assisted  in  the  develop- 
ment and  improvements  of  this  beautiful  and 
fertile  agricultural  country.  His  career 
has  been  such  as  to  command  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  men,  and  by  honest  toil 
and  industry  he  has  secured  a  competence 
which  now  enables  him  to  spend  the  sunset 
of  life  in  quiet  and  retirement. 

A  'native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  Mr. 
Lamb  was  born  at  Kirklavington,  April  I, 
1814,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Hannah 
Lamb,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that 
country.  Before  coming  to  America  he 
lived  for  a  time  near  Middlesex,  and  in 
1854  came  to  the  United  States,  first  lo- 
cated in  Woodford  county,  Kentucky, 
where  he  was  employed  as  herdsman  for 


a  Mr.  Alexander,  a  large  property  owner 
and  cattle-raiser.  After  spending  five  years 
in  that  locality  he  came  to  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  for 
Mr.  Scott  about  five  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  cares  of  land  about  one  mile  west  of 
Bement,  and  in  his  farming  operations  here 
he  met  with  remarkable  success,  becoming 
the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  land,  but 
he  has  recently  presented  each  of  his  sons 
with  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  though  he  still  retains  six 
hundred  acres  in  this  county.  The  sons 
have  other  property  besides  the  quarter- 
sections  given  them  by  their  father. 

Before  leaving  England  Mr.  Lamb  was 
married  in  that  country  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Lee,  whose  parents,  John  and  Ann  Lee, 
died  since  our  subject  and  his  wife  came 
to  the  United  States.  Mr.  Lee  was  a  weav- 
er by  trade,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
lifelong  residents  of  England,  where  their 
daughter  was  also  born  and  reared.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lamb  were  born  eleven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  John,  who  died  in  Be- 
ment at  the  age  of'  nineteen  years ;  Robert, 
who  married  a  Miss  Fisher  and  is  engaged 
in  farming  in  Unity  township ;  Thomas, 
who  married  Miss  Baker  and  lives  in  Be- 
ment township;  Elizabeth,  at  home;  Wil- 
liam, who  married  a  Miss  Hall  and  follows 
farming  in  Bement  township ;  Hannah,  de- 
ceased ;  Charles,  who  wedded  a  Miss  Dun- 
can and  resides  in  Bement  township; 
Arthur  B.,  who  married  a  Miss  Dobson,  a 
daughter  of  Philip  Dobson,  of  Cerro 
Gordo  township  and  lives  in  Bement  town- 
ship: Albert  J.,  who  married  a  Miss 
Kelly  and  resides  in  Bement  township; 
Edward,  who  is  married  and  makes  his 
home  in  Unity  township ;  and  Mary  J., 


i8o 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


wife  of  J.  P.  Rose,  of  Bement.  The  last 
four  were  born  in  this  country,  the  others 
in  England,  and  the  birth  of  Arthur  and 
Albert  occurred  in  Kentucky. 

Throughout  his  active  business  life  Mr. 
Lamb  continued  to  engage  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  about  six  years  ago  he  re- 
tired and  has  since  made  his  home  in  the 
village  of  Bement.  where  he  is  enjoying  a 
well-earned  rest  in  the  midst  of  all  that  goes 
to  make  life  worth  the  living.  He  came 
to  this  country  in  limited  circumstances, 
but  being  industrious,  enterprising  and 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings  he  prospered 
in  his  undertakings  and  succeeded  in  ac- 
cumulating a  handsome  competence.  He 
is  now  a  supporter  of  the  Methodist 
church,  but  he  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Episcopal  church,  and  his  life  has  been 
an  upright  and  honorable  one. 


B.  F.  HUFF. 

For  about  twenty  years  Cerro  Gordo 
has  numbered  B.  F.  Huff  among  its  most 
prominent  and  progressive  citizens.  He 
may  well  be  termed  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  town,  for  he  has  been  the  promoter  of 
many  of  its  leading  business  enterprises,  and 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  city 
depends  upon  its  commercial  and  indus- 
trial activity.  His  connection  with  any  un- 
dertaking insures  a  prosperous  outcome 
of  the  same,  for  it  is  his  nature  to  carry 
forward  to  successful  completion  whatever 
he  is  associated  with.  He  has  won  for 
himself  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  care- 
ful man  of  business,  and  in  his  dealings  is 
known  for  his  prompt  and  honorable  meth- 
ods, which  have  won  him  the  deserved  and 


unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellow  men. 
He  is  now  connected  with  various  enter- 
prises of  Cerro  Gordo,  but  gives  his  atten- 
tion chiefly  to  the  control  of  the  lumber 
and  coal  business. 

The  first  representative  of  the  Huff 
family  to  settle  in  Piatt  county  was  Charles 
Huff,  an  uncle  of  our  subject,  who  located 
here  in  1863.  B.  F.  Huff  is  a  native  of 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  where  his  birth 
occurred  in  1853.  His  parents  were  Aquil- 
la  and  Elizabeth  (McMorris)  Huff,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  On  account  of  the  institution  of 
slavery  Aquilla  Huff  left  the  Old  Dominion 
in  1832,  and  removed  to  Coshocton  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  order  to  be  away  from  the  per- 
nicious influence  of  the  institution  which 
at  that  time  was  dominant  in  the  south. 
In  the  Buckeye  state  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  fol- 
lowed there  until  1865,  in  which  year  he 
came  to  Illinois,  settling  first  in  Douglas 
cdunty.  There  he  successfully  engaged  in 
farming  until  1881,  when  he  came  to  the 
village  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  here  lived  a 
retired  life  until  called  to  his  final  rest  in 
March,  1887.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war 
he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Union  and 
held  a  captain's  commission.  He  was  ad- 
jutant in  his  regiment  of  the  Ohio  National 
Guards,  and  was  very  loyal  to  the  nation's 
cause.  In  both  Ohio  and  Illinois  he  was 
regarded  as  a  prominent  citizen  of  his  com- 
munity. His  worth  was  widely  acknowl- 
edged by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  His  wife 
survived  him  for  a  short  period,  passing 
away  in  Ohio  while  visiting  a  son,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1888.  '  In  their  family  were  several 
children,  but  these  are  now  living  in  vari- 
ous sections  of  the  United  States. 

B.  F.  Huff  is  the  only  representative  of 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


181 


this  branch  of  the  family  residing  in  Piatt 
county.-  After  mastering  his  preliminary 
studies  in  the  common  schools  he  entered 
the  University  of  Illinois  in  1874,  and  aft- 
erward became  a  student  in  the  Wesleyan 
University  at  Bloomington,  this  state.  In 
1881  Mr.  Huff  and  his  brothers,  W.  J. 
and  S.  E.,  established  a  lumberyard  on 
the  site  he  now  occupies,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Huff  Brothers.  Having  other 
business  connections  in  Moultrie  and  Ed- 
gar counties  he  did  not  make  his  home 
permanently  until  1886,  when  having  sev- 
ered his  connection  with  the  lumber  busi- 
ness he  bought  a  half  interest  in  a  hard- 
ware store,  with  which  he  was  identified 
until  1891.  In  that  year  he  sold  out  and 
again  entered  the  lumber  business.  In 
1892  he  entered  the  corporation  of  Huff 
Brothers  Lumber  and  Planing  Mill  Com- 
pany, of  Decatur,  Moweaqua,  Moroa  and 
Cerro  Gordo,  as  its  treasurer,  and  shortly 
afterward  purchased  the  yard  where  he 
still  carries  on  business.  He  disposed  of 
his  interest  in  the  company  in  1898,  and 
has  since  been  alone  in  business  at  Cerro 
Gordo.  He  deals  in  building  materials  and 
coal,  with  office  near  the  depot,  and  enjoys 
n  large  trade. 

Mr.  Huff  is  a  man  of  resourceful  busi- 
ness ability,  of  keen  foresight  and  discrim- 
ination; and  his  wise  counsel  and  untiring 
activity  have  been  important  factors  in  the 
successful  control  of  many  business  inter- 
ests in  Cerro  Gordo.  For  twelve  years  he 
has  been  president  of  the  Building  and 
Loan  Association  of  that  place,  with  which 
he  has  been  connected  since  its  organiza- 
tion in  1886,  and  for  two  years  was  its  sec- 
retary. He  is  now  treasurer  and  a  direc- 
tor of  the  telephone  company  of  Cerro 
Gordo,  and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the 


State  Bank  of  Cerro  Gordo.  In  addition 
to  these  investments  Mr.  Huff  also  owns 
a  small  farm  situated  three  miles  west  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  Macon  county. 

In  1885  he  was  married  at  Moravia, 
Iowa,  to  Miss  Annie  Homer,  a  native  of 
Streator,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Elizabeth  (Brandon)  Hprner.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  and  a  coal  miner,  and 
at  one  time  owned  the  land  upon  which 
the  city  of  Streator  has  been  built.  There 
is  still  a  mine  near  that  place  known  as  the 
Horner  coal  bank.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huff 
hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  take  an  active  interest  in  its 
work,  donate  liberally  to  its  support  and 
do  everything  in  their  power  for  the  ex- 
tension of  its  influence.  Mr.  Huff  is  now- 
serving  as  one  of  the  stewards  in  the  church 
and  is  also  an  active  worker  in  the  Sun- 
day-school. 

His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  his  opinions  carry 
weight  in  its  councils.  In  1901  he  wis 
elected  supervisor  of  Cerro  Gordo  town- 
ship, and  is  now  the  incumbent  in  that  of- 
fice for  the  second  term.  He  is  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  county  claims  and 
records  and  a  member  of  the  special  build- 
ing committee  of  the  county  buildings. 
For  six  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  and  during  that  time  acted 
as  its  secretary,  and  the  cause  of  education 
received  from  him  valuable  assistance  in 
a  practical  nature.  He  is  now  the.  presi- 
dent of  the  township  school  trustees  of 
Cerro  Gordo  township.  He  has  held  a 
number  of  other  offices  in  the  township 
and  county,  and  in  all  he  has  been  found 
loyal  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him  and  ca- 
pable in  the  performance  of  his  duties. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Piatt  Camp, 


182 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


No.  323,  M.  W.  A.,  of  Cerro  Gordo,  which 
is  one  of  the  oldest  camps  in  the  county. 
He  also  belongs  to  Eclipse  Lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias.  To  him  there  has 
come  the  attainment  of  a  distinguished  po- 
sition in  connection  with  the  business  in- 
terests of  Piatt  county,  and  his  efforts  have 
been  so  discerningly  directed  along  well- 
defined  lines  of  labor  that  he  seems  to  have 
realized  at  any  one  point  of  progress  the  full 
measure  of  his  possibilities  for  accomplish- 
ment at  that  point.  A  man  of  distinct  and 
forceful  individuality,  of  broad  mentality  and 
most  mature  judgment,  he  has  left  and  is 
.  leaving  his  impress  upon  the  business 
world  and  his  efforts  have  not  only  ad- 
vanced individual  prosperity,  but  have  con- 
served the  general  welfare  of  the  city  and 
locality  in  which  he  makes  his  home. 


WATKINS   L.  RYDER. 

Honored  and  respected  by  all  there  is 
no  man  in  Monticello  who  occupies  a  more 
enviable  position  than  Watkins  L.  Ryder  in 
business  and  financial  circles,  not  alone  on 
account  of  the  brilliant  success  he  has 
achieved,  but  also  on  account  of  the  honor- 
able, straightforward  business  policy  he  has 
ever  followed.  He  possesses  untiring  ener- 
gy, is  quick  of  perception,  forms  his  plans 
readily  and  is  determined  in  their  execution, 
and  his  close  application  to  business  and  his 
excellent  management  have  brought  to  him 
a  high  degree  of  prosperity  which  is  to-day 
his.  He  stands  as  one  of  the  foremost  repre- 
sentatives of  the  real  estate  and  insurance 
•  interests  of  Piatt  county,  his  business  having 
assumed  large  proportions.  He  is  also  prom- 
inent in  public  affairs,  being  a  cooperant  fac- 


tor in  many  measures  for  the  general  good, 
and  his  citizenship  is  characterized  by  pro- 
gression and  loyalty. 

Mr.  Ryder  was  born  in  Chaumont,  Jef- 
ferson county,  New  York,  on  the  6th  of 
March,  1834,  and  comes  of  English  ances- 
try, the  family  having  been  established  in 
this  country  at  an  early  period  in  the  colonial 
development  of  America.  The  Ryders  are 
of  English  lineage  and  the  first  representa- 
tive of  the  name  lived  in  Rhode  Island, 
whence  others  went  to  Vermont.  It  was 
in  the  Green  Mountain  state  that  Joseph  Ry- 
der, the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  December,  1780.  Arriving  at  years 
of  maturity  he  wedded  Mary  Hill,  and  later 
removed  to  Jefferson  county,  New  York, 
which  was  then  a  frontier  region,  the  family 
being  surrounded  by  pioneer  environments. 
The  grandfather  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
from  a  Frenchman  named  De  LaRay,  whose 
realty  holdings  were  very  extensive  and  who 
sold  his  land  cheap  to  actual  settlers.  Clear- 
ing a  small  portion  of  his  home  farm  Mr. 
Ryder  built  thereon  a  two-story  stone  house 
and  after  comfortably  establishing  his  fam- 
ily in  their  new  home  he  continued  to  work 
in  the  fields,  developing  and  cultivating  his 
land,  making  his  home  upon  the  old  farm- 
stead there  until  his  demise. 

It  was  on  the  2ist  of  December,  1806, 
in  Vermont,  that  Benjamin  Ryder,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  born  and  during 
his  early  boyhood  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  New  York,  where  he  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm,  assisting  in  its  cultivation 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  He  then  left  the  parental  roof  and  be- 
gan work  as  a  raftsman  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
river,  transporting  lumber.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  purchased  fifty  acres  of  land  from 
Mr.  De  LaRay  and  built  a  log  house  which 


W.  L.   RYDER 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


187 


later  he  replaced  by  a  frame  dwelling.  With 
characteristic  energy  he  began  clearing  the 
property,  transforming  the  wild  tract  into 
richly  cultivated  fields.  He  afterward  ex- 
tended the  boundaries  of  his  farm  by  the 
purchase  of  an  additional  tract  of  forty  acres 
adjoining  his  first  property  and  upon  the 
old  homestead  he  continued  to  live  until  his 
death.  He  had  wedded  Ann  Caroline  Hor- 
ton,  a  native  of  Chaumont,  New  York,  born 
on  the  I3th  of  June,  1806.  Her  parents 
were  James  and  Martha  (White)  Horton, 
and  she  was  a  descendant  in  the  eighth  gen- 
eration of  Barabas  Horton,  who  was  the 
first  of  the  name  known  in  America.  His- 
tory gives  it  that  this  gentleman  was  born 
in  the  hamlet  of  Mously  in  Leicestershire, 
England,  and  that  he  came  to  the  new  world 
as  a  passenger  on  the  American  ship  Swal- 
low in  1633  or  1638.  After  a  long  voyage 
he  arrived  safely  at  Hampton,  Massachu- 
setts. In  1664  he  was  a  resident  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  and  assisted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Congregational  church 
there.  On  the  2ist  of  October,  1670,  he 
sailed  for  Southhold,  Long  Island,  where 
he  built  the  first  frame  house  ever  erected 
on  the  island.  It  stood  for  more  than  two 
centuries,  one  of  the  landmarks  of  that  sec- 
tion of  the  country.  Barabas  Horton  took 
a  very  prominent  part  in  public  affairs  and 
served  for  many  years  as  a  magistrate  and 
was  a  number  of  times  a  member  of  the 
general  assembly  in  Hartford  and  New  Ha- 
ven. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Ryder 
were  born  eight  children  :  Watkins  L.,  Cor- 
nelia, Wallace,  Walter,  Vanrantz,  Mary, 
Gaylord  and  Bruce.  The  father  died  on  the 
3  ist  of  December,  1866,  and  his  wife  long 
surviving  him,  passed  away  at  the  age  of 
ninety-three  years. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were 


quietly  passed  on  the  old  family  homestead 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity.  He  is  indebt- 
ed to  the  public  school  system  for  the  edu- 
cational privileges  he  enjoyed  in  his  youth 
and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began 
earning  his  own  livelihood  as  a  teacher,  fol- 
lowing that  profession  for  three  winter  terms 
in  the  Empire  state.  When  twenty-one 
years  of  age  Mr.  Ryder  left  New  York  for 
Ohio,  establishing  his  home  in  Oberlin, 
where  he  further  continued  his  own  mental 
discipline  by  becoming  a  student  in  the  uni- 
versity at  that  place.  His  residence  in  Ober- 
lin covered  three  years  during  which  period 
he  attended  college,  taught  school  and  also 
studied  law. 

The  spring  of  1858  witnessed  his  arriv- 
al in  Monticello,  Illinois,  and  he  became  a 
law  student  in  the  office  of  Milligan  &  Mc- 
Comas.  In  the  following  year  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  and  entered  upon  his  pro- 
fessional duties  at  Bement,  where  he  prac- 
ticed until  1861.  During  this  time  he  was 
captain  of  the  Wide-Awake  Company,  of 
which  he  continued  at  the  head  until  his  en- 
listment in  1861.  The  war  was  then  inau- 
gurated and  feeling  that  his  first  duty  was 
to  his  country  he  offered  his  services  to  the 
government  in  the  month  of  June  of  that 
year.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  with  Com- 
pany F,  Second  Illinois  Cavalry  and  like  the 
others  of  the  command  he  furnished  his  own 
horse  and  accoutrements.  In  August  of  the 
same  year  he  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  volunteer  service  and  at  that  time 
went  south,  where  soon  afterward  he  was 
detailed  to  act  as  sergeant  of  orderlies  to 
General  McPherson.  For  one  year  he  filled 
that  position  and  rejoined  his  regiment,  with 
which  he  continued  in  active  service  until  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment.  He 
was  in  a  number  of  important  engagements 


i88 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


which  led  to  the  final  victory  that  eventually 
crowned  the  Union  arms  and  when  three 
years  had  been  spent  in  the  service  he  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge  at  Baton 
Rouge.  Mr.  Ryder  was  always  found  at 
his  post  of  duty,  faithfully  defending  the 
old  flag  and  the  cause  it  represented  and 
he  has  every  reason  to  be. proud  of  his  mili- 
tary service. 

Once  more  establishing  his  home  in  Be- 
ment,  Mr.  Ryder  became  principal  of  the 
schools  at  that  place,  continuing  his  active 
identification  with  educational  interests  un- 
til the  fall  of  1865.  He  was  then  called  to 
official  service  and  for  eight  years  acted  as 
county  clerk.  At  the  time  of  his  election 
in  1865  he  removed  to  Monticello,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  retired  from  office 
as  he  had  entered  it — with  the  confidence  and 
good  will  of  all  concerned.  He  then  turned 
his  attention  to  real  estate  and  land  opera- 
tions. That  business  has  since  claimed  his 
time  and  energies  and  has  been  so  capably 
conducted  that  his  labors  have  brought  to 
him  a  handsome  financial  return.  Through 
all  the  years  Mr.  Ryder  has  had  a  most  com- 
prehensive and  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
value  of  realty  and  has  thus  been  able  to 
make  judicious  investments  and  profitable 
sales.  He  has  also  teen  instrumental  in 
securing  good  investments  for  others  and  in 
the  line  of  his  business  has  ever  enjoyed  a 
large  clientage. 

On  the  3  ist  of  August,  1864,  Mr.  Ryder 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Spatilding,  with  whom  he  has  since  traveled 
life's  journey.  The  lady  was  born  in  Lake 
county,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Allen 
and  Hannah  Spatilding.  Her  educational 
advantages  and  her  innate  refinement  and 
her  many  excellent  traits  of  womanhood 
have  won  her  the  love  and  friendship  of  all 


with  whom  she  has  come  in  contact.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ryder  were  born  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Gale  died  in  infancy,  while 
the  others  are  Edith,  Clyde  H.  and  Gaylord 
C.  Edith  is  the  wife  of  Frank  W.  Caldwell 
and  they  reside  in  Decatur,  where  Gaylord  C. 
is  also  living,  being  engaged  in  the  real  es- 
tate and  loan  business.  He  married  Nellie 
Norton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  have  two 
children,  Kenneth  and  Robert.  To  their 
children  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ryder  gave  excellent 
educational  privileges,  thus  preparing  them 
for  life's  practical  and  responsible  duties  and 
the  members  of  the  family  occupy  a  very 
prominent  position  in  social  circles. 

Mr.  Ryder  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  party  and,  keeping  well 
informed  on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the 
day,  has  ever  been  able  to  support  his  posi- 
tion by  intelligent  argument.  He.  has,  how- 
ever, sought  neither  the  honors  nor  emolu- 
ments of  public  office,  his  best  service  being 
done  as  a  private  citizen.  In  matters  per- 
taining to  the  public  welfare  he  is  enterpris- 
ing, alert  and  active,  and  his  co-operation  has 
teen  of  value  in  promoting  many  interests 
which  have  contributed  to  the  general  good. 
Mr.  Ryder  finds  one  of  his  chief  sources  of 
pleasure  and  recreation  in  travel  and  has 
visited  many  points  of  interest  in  this  coun- 
try and  also  abroad.  He  has  thus  gained 
the  knowledge  and  culture  which  only  travel 
can  bring,  and  he  has  stored  his  mind  with 
many  interesting  incidents  concerning  the 
peoples  and  places  he  has  visited.  His  in- 
terest in  his  fellow  men  is  deep  and  sincere 
and  arises  from  a  humanitarian  spirit  which 
has  prompted  his  support  and  co-operation 
of  many  measures  and  enterprises  for  the 
general  welfare.  His  career  has  ever  been 
such  as  to  warrant  the  trust  and  confidence 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


189 


of  the  business  world  and  his  activity  in  busi- 
ness circles  forms  an  important  chapter  in 
the  history  of  Piatt  county. 


JOHN  MAIER. 

For  more  than  thirty  years  John  Maier 
has  been  a  prominent  representative  of 
the  business  interests  of  Monticello,  for 
throughout  this  period  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  lumber  trade  and  to-day 
is  extensively  engaged  in  dealing  in  lumber, 
shingles  and  all  kinds  of  building  materials. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  fatherland — a  country 
which  through  many  centuries  has  been  a  po- 
tent factor  in  the  civilization  of  the  world, 
sending  its  representatives  into  all  countries 
to  carry  with  them  the  learning,  the  culture 
and  the  artisanship  of  their  own  country. 
The  German-American  element  in  our 
own  citizenship  is  very  important,  and 
Monticello  is  the  home  of  at  least  one  from 
the  fatherland  who  is  loyal  to  her  inter- 
ests and  active  in  advancing  her  business 
affairs. 

A  native  of  Wittenberg,  Germany,  he 
was  born  on  the  7th  of  January,  1832,  and 
is  a  son  of  Patrick  and  Catherine  (Straub) 
Maier.  The  father  had  charge  of  timber 
interests  there,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
died  in  Germany.  At  the  usual  age  of  six 
years  John  Maier  began  his  education 
and  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  his  na- 
tive land  he  there  pursued  his  studies  until 
fourteen  years  of  age.  He  then  began 
working  upon  a  farm  and  was  employed  in 
that  manner  until  eighteen  years  of  age. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  went  into  the 
army,  serving  for  eight  years.  In  1860 
Mr.  Maier  resolved  to  try  his  fortune  in 


America,  for  he  had  heard  very  favorable 
reports  of  the  opportunities  afforded  in  this 
country  and  thought  to  better  his  financial 
condition  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  He 
therefore  bade  adieu  to  home  and  friends  and 
took  passage  for  the  new  world,  crossing 
the  Atlantic  upon  a  sailing  vessel,  which  was 
twenty-eight  days  in  reaching  the  harbor 
of  New  York.  He  made  his  way  to  Lo- 
gansport,  Indiana,  and  as  he  had  no  cap- 
ital it  was  necessary  that  he  secure  imme- 
diate employment.  This  he  did,  working 
at  chopping  wood.  After  about  eighteen 
days  he  went  to  Champaign,  Illinois, 
and  became  connected  with  the  lum- 
ber business,  being  for  eleven  years  in  the 
lumber  yard  of  W.  H.  Kratz  &  Company, 
at  that  place. 

In  April,  1872,  Mr.  Maier  arrived  in 
Monticello,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home,  and  here  he  remained  in  the  employ 
of  W.  H.  Kratz  until  1883,  when  he  bought 
out  his  employer  and  became  proprietor 
of  the  lumber  yard,  which  he  has  since 
conducted. 

During  his  residence  here  Mr.  Maier 
has  become  very  widely  and  favorably 
known  in  business  circles,  and  throughout 
his  long  connection  with  commercial  pur- 
suits in  Monticello  he  has  always  sustained 
an  unassailable  reputation,  his  business 
methods  being  such  as  neither  seek  nor 
require  disguise. 

In  1860  Mr.  Maier  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Catherine  Yoerg,  a  native 
of  Germany  and  a  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Mary  (Vogel)  Yoerg,  also  born  in  the 
same  country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maier  have 
become  the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  of 
whom  fourteen  are  yet  living:  Fred; 
Charles ;  William ;  John ;  Otto ;  Lena,  the 
wife  of  Dr.  Graves;  Albert;  Kate,  de- 


igo 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


ceased;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Walter  Crisap; 
Emma;  Harry;  Martha;  Thomas;  and 
Mary. 

Mr.  Maier  owns  forty  acres  of  land  in 
his  homestead  place,  which  is  well  im- 
proved, and  he  also  has  another  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Monticello 
township  which  he  rents.  His  property  is 
the  visible  evidence  of  his  life  of  industry 
and  enterprise,  his  earnest  labor  and  his 
straightforward  methods,  and  now  he  is 
in  possession  of  a  comfortable  competence 
for  the  evening  of  life.  The  hope  that  led 
him  to  seek  a  home  in  America  has  been 
more  than  realized,  and  he  is  to-day  one 
of  the  prosperous  merchants  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty. In  his  political  views  Mr.  Maier  is  a 
Republican,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  at- 
tention to  his  business  and  the  pleasure  of 
the  home  circle.  His  force  of  character  is 
indicated  by  the  fact  that  after  coming  to 
America,  while  working  in  the  daytime, 
he  attended  night  schools  in  order  to  gain 
a  good  knowledge  of  the  English  lan- 
guage. The  same  determination  has  al- 
ways characterized  him,  and  has  made  him 
a  prosperous  business  man  and  valued  cit- 
izen. 


JOSEPH  WILSON. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Wilson  was  one 
of  the  active  and  progressive  farmers  of 
Piatt  county,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  re- 
liable and  honored  citizens,  and  now  in  his 
declining  years  he  is  enjoying  a  well- 
earned  rest,  free  from  the  cares  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  business  life.  He  makes 
his  home  in  DeLand  and  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  county 


where  he  has  resided  for  over  a  quarter  of 
a  century. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  born  in  Maryland,  July 
1 6,  1833,  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Hunt) 
Wilson,  who  were  also  natives  of  that 
state,  where  the  father  spent  his  entire  life, 
his  occupation  being  that  of  farming.  He 
died  in  1834,  and  his  wife,  who  was  born 
in  1802,  departed  this  life  in  Ohio  in  1874. 
To  them  were  born  two  children :  Joseph, 
of  this  review,  and  his  sister,  Sophia. 

When  four  years  old  Joseph  Wilson 
went  to  Ohio  with  his  mother,  his  father  . 
having  died  during  his  infancy,  and  at  the 
age  of  seven  he  commenced  earning  his 
own  livelihood.  For  about  two  or  three 
months  during  the  winter  he  was  allowed 
to  attend  school,  conducted  in  an  old  log 
building,  but  his  educational  privileges 
were  meager,  the  remainder  of  his  time  be- 
ing devoted  to  farm  work.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  hired  out  to  work  by  the  month 
at  eight  dollars  per  month,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  that  way  until  coming  to  Illinois 
in  1853.  Settling  in  Tazewell  county,  he 
continued  in  the  employ  of  others  until 
his  marriage,  and  then  rented  a  farm  in 
that  county.  He  afterward  operated  his 
father-in-law's  place  for  eight  years,  and 
then  purchased  one  hundred  and  nine  acres 
in  the  same  county,  moving  his  home 
thereon  for  three  years.  On  selling  his 
farm  he  removed  to  Normal,  Illinois, 
where  he  spent  two  years,  and  the  follow- 
ing five  years  were  passed  at  Atlanta,  Lo- 
gan county,  this  state,  where  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  In 
1876  he  came  to  Piatt  county  and  bought 
three  hundred  acres  near  DeLand,  which 
he  operated  until  January  20,  1901,  when 
he  retired  from  active  business  and  re- 
moved to  DeLand,  renting  his  farm.  With 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


191 


the  hope  of  benefiting  his  health,  which 
was  much  impaired,  he  recently  spent  four 
months  at  Eureka  Springs,  Arkansas,  and 
on  his  return  purchased  the  Dresbach 
property,  which  he  expects  soon  to  occu- 
py. He  bought  a  house  and  lot  here  in 
1898  and  another  in  1902,  both  of  which 
he  now  rents. 

On  the  1 6th  of  October,  1856,  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lu- 
cinda  Judy,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
Ann  (Musick)  Judy.  Her  mother  was 
born  on  November  20,  1812,  and  died 
in  1884,  but  her  father,  who  was  born 
in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  January  9,  1804, 
is  still  living,  and,  although  ninety- 
nine  years  of  age,  still  enjoys  good  health, 
though  his  eyesight  has  failed  him.  In 
early  life  he  engaged  in  farming  in  his  na- 
tive state,  but  as  early  as  1823  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Tazewell  county, 
where  he  followed  the  same  pursuit.  He 
is  now  a  resident  of  Logan  county,  this 
state.  In  1886  he  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mary  Ann 
Hawes.  The  children  by  his  first  marriage 
were  Nancy  Jane,  the  widow  of  Ellis  Rob- 
erts, of  Champaign  county,  Illinois ;  Rob- 
ert, who  died  on  March  27,  1902;  Eliza,  the 
widow  of  Nimrod  Brighton,  of  Hopedale, 
Tazewell  county,  who  died  at  Eureka 
Springs,  Arkansas,  about  eight  years  ago; 
Annie,  wife  of  Allen  Haneline,  of  Arming- 
ton,  Illinois;  Mattie  M.,  wife  of  John 
Montjoy,  of  Armington;  H.  C.,  a  resident 
of  Hopedale,  Illinois ;  Mary  Belle,  who  died 
April  28,  1897;  Lucinda,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject ;  and  Sarah,  Hattie  and  John,  who  all 
three  died  in  infancy. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
son were  as  follows :.  Rose  Ellen,  now  the 
wife  of  William  Gelsthorpe,  a  farmer  of 


Logan  county,  Illinois;  Sarah  Ann,  wife 
of  D.  P.  Swisher,  a  farmer  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty; Amanda,  who  died  February  29,  1888; 
May  Bell,  wife  of  J.  L.  Borton,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  near  DeLand;  Jacob  G., 
a  farmer  of  this  county;  and  Mattie  May, 
who  died  October  9,  1887.  The  parents 
are  both  earnest  and  consistent-  members 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  are  held  in 
the  highest  respect  by  all  who  know  them. 
Politically,  Mr.  Wilson  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  but  he  has  never  cared 
for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  of- 
fice, preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  his  business  interests.  'He 
deserves  great  credit  for  what  he  has 
achieved  in  life,  as  he  began  making  his 
own  way  in  the  world  at  the  age  of  seven 
years  and  has  since  been  dependent  upon 
his  own  rsources.  He  is  a  man  of  good 
business  ability,  sound  judgment  and  strict 
integrity,  and  to  these  characteristics  is 
due  his  success. 


JOSHUA   G.  ELLIS,  M.  D. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  Dr.  Joshua  G.  El- 
lis was  born  in  Pope  county  on  the  26th  of 
November,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  James  M. 
and  Kizziah  Ann  (Clay)  Ellis,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  this  state.  The  fam- 
ily comes  from  the  same  ancestry  to  which 
Henry  Clay,  a  noted  American  statesman, 
traced  his  lineage.  James  McKee  Ellis 
was  born  and  reared  in  southern  Illinois, 
his  abode  being  in  Pope  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  January,  1862.  His  wife,  sur- 
viving him  for  a  number  of  years,  passed 
away  in  1878. 


192 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


The  Doctor  is  the  only  one  of  this  fam- 
ily now  living.  During  his  boyhood  days 
he  worked  upon  the  home  farm  and  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  Pope  coun- 
ty, his  time  being  largely  passed  in  this 
way  until  he  attained  his  majority.  Not  de- 
siring, however,  to  follow  the  plow  as  a 
life  work,  he  turned  his  attention  to  pro- 
fessional labors,  and  entered  upon  the 
stud}'  of  medicine.  He  matriculated  in  the 
American  Eclectic  Medical  College  of  St. 
Louis,  and  was  graduated  in  that  institu- 
tion in  June,  1880,  at  which  time  he  re- 
ceived his  certificate  to  practice.  He  then 
opened  an  office  and  established  his  home 
in  Dudenville,  Missouri,  and  in  due  course  of 
time  received  a  good  patronage,  demon- 
strating his"  ability  to  successfully  cope  with 
the  intricate  problems  which  continually 
confront  the  physician  in  his  efforts  to  re- 
store health  and  prolong  life.  He  contin- 
ued to  practice  in  Dudenville  for  about 
six  years,  and  in  October,  1885,  he  re- 
turned to  Illinois,  settling  in  Oakley,  Ma- 
con  county,  where  he  practiced  until  1888. 
That  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Cerro 
Gordo,  where  he  has  since  remained,  and 
he  is  now  the  oldest  physician  in  years  of 
continuous  practice  in  this  place.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
State  Medical  Society,  and  through  the  in- 
terchange of  thought  and  experiences  there 
he  adds  greatly  to  his  knowledge,  while 
reading  and  investigation  are  also  contin- 
ually broadening  his  mental  ken  and  his 
comprehension  of  the  powers  of  the  physi- 
cian in  the  administration  of  remedial 
agencies. 

While  residing  in  Dudenville,  Missouri, 
the  Doctor  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Rose  Brown,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Sam- 
ual  Brown,  who  was  a  minister  of  the 


United  Brethren  church,  but  is  now  re- 
tired, making  his  home  in  Cerro  Gordo. 
The  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  parents  of 
two  children:  Homer,  born  in  1886;  and 
Mervyl,  born  in  1889.  The  Doctor  and 
his  wife  have  a  pleasant  home  in  Cerro 
Gordo,  and  its  good  cheer  is  greatly  en- 
joyed by  their  many  friends.  Both  hold 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  shape  their  lives  in  conformity 
to  its  teachings.  The  Doctor  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  his  political  views,  and  while  he 
has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office,  he 
has  kept  well-informed  on  the  questions 
and  issues  of  the  day.  Fraternally,  he  is 
connected  with  the  Masonic  order,  belong- 
ing to  Lodge  No.  600,  in  Cerro  Gordo, 
and  he  also  has  membership  relations  with 
the  Woodmen  Camp  of  this  place.  Social- 
ly and  professionally  the  Doctor  is  popu- 
lar and  well-liked.  He  has  a  large  prac- 
tice, both  in  the  village  and  the  surround- 
ing country,  and  while  his  ability  in  his 
profession  ranks  him  among  its  leading 
representatives,  his  many  excellent  person- 
al traits  of  character  have  gained  him  the 
high  regard  and  warm  friendship  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 


EDMOND    W.   LUMSDEN. 

Edmond  W.  Lumsden,  who  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  actively  connected  with 
mercantile  interests  in  Monticello,  but  has 
now  retired  from  commercial  pursuits,  is 
a  representative  of  the  class  of  citizens  in 
America  known  as  self-made  men,  and  in 
early  manhood  he  entered  upon  a  business 
career  which  has  been  creditable  and  suc- 
cessful alike.  His  interests  have  been  con- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


193 


ducted  with  the  strictest  regard  to  com- 
mercial ethics,  and  his  course  has  ever 
been  one  which  would  bear  close  investi- 
gation and  scrutiny.  Thus  he  has  won  an 
honored  name  as  well  as  prosperity,  and  in 
Piatt  county  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known. 

Mr.  Lumsden  has  spent  his  entire  life 
in  Illinois  and  doubtless  early  became  im- 
bued with  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  ad- 
vancement which  have  been  so  potent  in 
the  wonderful  development  of  this  section 
of  the  country.  He  was  born  in  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  near  Jacksonville,  on  the 
I4th  of  June,  1842,  and  on  the  paternal 
side  comes  of  Scotch  ancestry,  while  in 
the  maternal  line  he  is  of  German  and 
Irish  extraction.  His  father,  William  G. 
Lumsden,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  born 
in  1807,  and  in  Kentucky  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucy  Keeling,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  who  was  born  in  1804. 
Her  girlhood  days,  however,  were  largely 
passed  in  Todd  county,  Kentucky,  and 
there  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to 
William  G.  Lumsden.  In  1828  they  re- 
moved to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  set- 
tling near  Jacksonville  in  pioneer  times — 
only  ten  years  after  the  admission  of  the 
state  into  the  Union.  Mr.  Lumsden  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  wild  tract  of  land, 
upon  which  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned 
or  an  improvement  made,  and  with  char- 
acteristic energy  he  began  the  develop- 
ment of  a  farm.  He  broke  and  improved 
his  land  and  added  to  the  property  until 
he  has  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
highly  improved  and  constituting  one  of 
the  fine  farms  of  the  locality.  When  he 
came  to  Illinois  he  brought  with  him  one 
child,  born  in  Kentucky,  Susie  E.,  who  is 
now  living  in  Iowa.  Later  other  children 


were  added  to  the  family,  as  follows :  James 
\\'.,  who  makes  his  home  in  Macoupin  coun- 
ty, Illinois;  Martha  N.,  a  resident  of  Can- 
ada; Francis  M.,  who  lives  in  Morgan  coun- 
ty, Illinois;  John  T.,  a  resident  of  Cham- 
paign, Illinois;  Mary  J.,  of  Jacksonville;  Ed- 
mond  W. ;  Nancy  F.,  who  resides  in  Blake- 
poole,  England ;  and  Annie,  who  is  living  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois.  The  father  of  these 
children  died  in  1892,  and  the  mother  passed 
away  in  1894. 

Edmond  W.  Lumsden  was  reared  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  having, 
perhaps,  more  privileges  than  some,  and  less 
than  others.  He  received  ample  training  at 
farm  labor,  and  in  the  district  schools  near 
his  home  he  acquired  his  education,  leaving 
school  when  in  his  fifteenth  year.  He  then 
continued  to  work  upon  the  home  farm,  and 
when  in  his  twenty-second  year  he  was  united 
in  jnarriage  to  Miss  Parthenia  Ayer,  who 
was  born  in  England,  a  daughter  of  Jonas 
and  Annie  (Towers)  Ayer.  Mr.  Lumsden 
took  his  bride  to  the  old  homestead  farm, 
and  for  five  years  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  there.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  left  his  native  county  and 
removed  to  Champaign  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing for  four  years. 

In  August,  1873,  Mr.  Lumsden  arrived 
in  Monticello,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  ac- 
tively connected  with  business  interests 
here.  He  first  formed  a  partnership. with 
R.  T.  Ayer,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ayer 
&  Lumsden,  and  for  five  years  they  con- 
ducted a  meat  market,  meeting  with  a 
high  degree  of  success,  for  they  secured 
a  large  patronage.  Selling  out  this  busi- 
ness Mr.  Lumsden  then  purchased  the 
hardware  stock  of  Dr.  Ward,  and  succeed- 


i94 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


ed  to  the  business,  which  he  operated  suc- 
cessfully for  some  time.  He  had  a  well- 
appointed  store,  carrying  a  large  and  se- 
lected stock  of  general  merchandise,  and 
for  eleven  years  he  did  a  profitable  busi- 
ness, which  brought  to  him  the  compe- 
tence which  now  enables  him  to  live  re- 
tired. He  then  sold  out  to  McMillen  & 
Company,  and  since  that  time  has  engaged 
in  no  active  business  save  the  supervision 
of  his  farming  interests.  He  is  the  owner 
of  two  farms,  both  being  choice  land.  One 
comprises  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  and 
the  other  is  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  extent,  and  is  situated  in  Moultrie 
county.  The  rental  from  these  properties 
brings  to  him  a  very  desirable  income,  and 
his  landed  interests  show  that  his  money 
has  been  carefully  invested. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lumsden 
was  blessed  with  seven  children :  Walter 
K.,  who  is  living  in  Monticello;  Jonas  A., 
a  resident  of  Moultrie  county;  James  R., 
who  follows  farming  in  this  county;  An- 
nie E.,  a  student  in  the  Woman's  College, 
of  Jacksonville,  Illinois;  Olive  E.,  graduate 
of  the  Monticello  high  school;  Ethel  May, 
who  is  a  student  in  the  high  school;  and 
Albert,  who  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Lumsden  votes  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  believes  firmly  in  its  principles, 
and  is  often  found  in  its  councils.  He  was  • 
for  three  years  one  of  the  aldermen  of 
the  city,  and  for  a  similar  period  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  An  intelli- 
gent and  public-spirited  citizen,  he  gives 
an  active  and  earnest  support  to  many 
progressive  measures,  and  since  coming  to 
Monticello  he  has  been  numbered  among 
her  representative  men.  His  has  been  a 
busy  and  useful  life,  largely  devoted  to 
business  interests,  and  through  the  exer- 


cise of  diligence  and  unabating  energy  he 
has  won  a  creditable  position  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  adopted  county. 


ROBERT  H.  BENSON. 

No  history  of  Piatt  county  would  be 
complete  without  extensive  mention  of  Rob- 
ert Harvey  Benson.  There  is  no  man  in 
this  section  of  the  state  who  has  done  more 
for  agricultural  interests.  For  many  years 
he  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers 
and  stock-raisers  of  this  portion  of  Illinois 
and  by  improving  the  grade  of  stock  and 
thereby  advancing  prices  he  did  much  for  his 
fellow  men  who  were  connected  with  the 
same  line  of  activity.  Having  now  reached 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years,  he  is 
practically  living  retired,  an  honored  and  re- 
spected citizen  and  venerable  gentleman 
who  is  revered  as  one  of  the  patriarchs  of 
the  community  and  as  one  whose  mind  bears 
the  impress  of  the  early  historic  annals  of 
Piatt  county.  He  located  here  in  pioneer 
times  and  down  to  the  present  he  has  taken 
a  deep  and  helpful  interest  in  matters  per- 
taining to  public  progress. 

Mr.  Benson,  who  now  lives  on  section 
25,  Sangamon  township,  was  born  on  a  farm 
near  Springfield,  Ohio,  April  3,  1821,  his 
parents  being  Andrew  and  Sarah  (Renick) 
Benson.  His  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Benson,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  there 
spent  his  entire  life.  Andrew  Benson  was 
born  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Potomac  riv- 
er in  Virginia,  in  1781,  and  obtained  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
state.  In  1808  he  left  the  Old  Dominion  for 
Clark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  took  up  his 
abode  and  there  in  1812  he  was  united  in 


R.   H.  BENSON 


MRS.   R.   H.   BENSON 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


199 


marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Renick,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Greenbrier  county,  Virginia, 
December  20,  1795.  Andrew  Benson  en- 
tered a  large  tract  of  land  from  the  govern- 
ment, cleared  'and  broke  it  and  successfully 
carried  on  farming  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  very  suddenly  in  1826. 
Returning  to  his  home,  he  lay  down  on  the 
lounge  and  went  to  sleep.  .  At  nine  o'clock 
his  wife  requested  their  son,  Robert,  to 
awaken  Mr.  Benson,  which  he  attempted  to 
do.  Failing  in  this  he  called  his  mother 
and  they  found  that  the  husband  and  father 
had  passed  away,  dying  of  heart  failure. 
He  had  never  been  ill  a  day  in  his  life  nor 
had  he  complained  of  illness  on  the  day  of 
his  death. 

Mr.  Benson  of  this  review  resided  in  one 
of  the  pioneer  log  cabins  of  Ohio  during  his 
youth  and  attended  school  for  about  three 
months  in  the  winter.  The  little  "temple 
of  learning"  was  a  log  structure  on  one  side 
of  which  there  was  a  log  removed  and  the 
aperture  covered  with  greased  paper 
through  which  the  light  was  admitted  to  the 
room.  In  one  end  of  the  room  was  an  old- 
fashioned  fireplace  eight  by  ten  feet  capable 
of  accommodating  an  immense  back  log. 
This  school  was  situated  about  four  and  a 
half  miles  from  Springfield  and  its  methods 
of  instruction  were  also  somewhat  primi- 
tive— in  keeping  with  the  crude  furnishings. 
Later  Mr.  Benson  attended  a  select  school 
for  a  time'.  Through  broad  experience,  ob- 
servation and  reading,  however,  he  added 
largely  to  his  knowledge  as  the  years  passed 
and  gained  an  excellent  practical  education. 

When  twelve  years  of  age  he  began 
working  in  a  brickyard  for  four  dollars  per 
month,  but  in  this  way  he  injured  his  back, 
the  work  being  too  heavy  for  him  and  he 
has  never  fully  recovered.  During  the  win- 


ter of  1833-34  he  engaged  in  sawing  wood 
for  twenty-five  cents  per  cord,  and  when  fif- 
teen years  of  age  he  began  farming  on  a 
tract  of  land  of  one  hundred  acres  left  by 
his  father.  He  supported  his  mother,  being 
the  eldest  of  her  children.  His  life  through 
many  years  was  one  of  earnest  toil.  In  1841 
he  started  for  Missouri  on  horseback,  but 
the  horse  died  on  the  road  and  he  was 
obliged  to  go  to  work  in  ordei;  to  make  the 
money  with  which  to  pay  for  the  animal 
which  he  had  borrowed  for  the  purpose  of 
making  the  trip.  Mr.  Benson  remained  in 
.Missouri  until  1844  and  while  he  was  in 
the  west  his  mother  died.  Returning  to 
Ohio  he  there  hired  out  to  drive  cattle  for 
four  dollars  per  month.  That  fall  he  bor- 
Towed  one  hundred  dollars  and  purchased 
twenty-five  head  of  cattle.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  his  stock  dealing  which  in  years 
grew  to  be  most  extensive  and  important. 
A  year  later  he  borrowed  four  hundred  dol- 
lars, which  he  also  invested  in  cattle  in  In- 
diana, forming  a  partnership  with  another 
man  in  this  enterprise.  Nearly  every  deal 
of  this  character  which  he  made  proved 
profitable  and  thus  he  added  continually  to 
his  income.  Wisely  he  invested  his  money 
in  real  estate  and  in  1862  he  became  the 
owner  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Piatt 
county,  Illinois.  He  continued  to  reside  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Clark  county,  Ohio, 
however,  until  the  fall  of  1864,  when  he 
came  to  the  west. 

Piatt  county  was  then  largely  an  unim- 
proved region,  being  a  tract  of  wild  prairie 
land,  much  of  which  still  belonged  to  the 
government.  Mr.  Benson  took  a  very  ini-- 
portant  part  in  reclaiming  this  district  for 
purposes  of  civilization.  He  assisted  in 
breaking  the  prairie,  in  building  roads  and 
•  in  laying  the  foundation  for  the  present 


2  CO 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


prosperity  of  this  section  of  the  state.  He 
endured  all  of  the  hardships  and  trials  inci- 
dent to  frontier  life,  but  his  energy  and  de- 
termination enabled  him  to  overcome  all  of 
the  obstacles  and  difficulties  that  barred  his 
advance  toward  the  goal  of  success.  He 
worked  almost  night  and  day  in  these  early 
years  in  an  attempt  to  gain  a  good  start  in 
business  and  his  unremitting  diligence  was 
at  length  rewarded.  For  many  years  he 
was  one  of  the  most  extensive,  successful 
and  prominent  stock-dealers  and  breeders  of 
this  section  of  Illinois.  In  1876  he  pur- 
chased several  imported  Norman  horses  and 
began  breeding,  his  efforts  resulting  largely 
in  the  improvement  of  the  grade  of  horses 
raised  in  Piatt  county.  In  1882  he  went  to 
France,  where  he  purchased  nine  head  of 
Norman  horses  which  he  brought  to  Ameri- 
ca. In  1883  he  again  crossed  the  Atlantic 
and  returned  with  twelve  head  of  horses, 
paying  as  high  prices  for  some  of  them  as 
was  ever  given  by  an  American  for  French 
horses.  He  has  also  been  an  extensive  deal- 
er in  cattle  and  hogs,  which  he  has  raised 
upon  his  own  farm,  having  large  pastures  in 
which  his  stock  has  grazed  in  the  summer 
months,  while  during  the  winter  seasons  it 
has  been  sheltered  in  his  extensive  barns. 
From  time  to  time  Mr.  Benson  added  to  his 
landed  possessions  until  he  had  at  one  time 
over  two  thousand  acres  in  Piatt  county, 
but  he  has  in  recent  years  disposed  of  much 
of  this,  not  caring  to  be  burdened  by  its  su- 
pervision. To-day  he  retains  only  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  his  farm  and  he  has 
also  put  aside  business  cares  in  other  direc- 
tions. In  the  last  year  he  sold  but  two  car 
loads  of  stock.  His  rest  is  well  merited  for 
his  life  has  been  one  of  untiring  industry 
and  should  be  crowned  with  a  period  in 
which  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 


On  the  1 7th  of  December,  1877,  Mr. 
Benson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Piatt,  who  was  born  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  died  May  9,  1880.  She  was  a 
lifelong  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  by  her  first  marriage  to  Jacob 
Piatt  she  became  the  mother  of  six  children, 
three  of  whom  are  still  living. 

There  are  few,  if  any,  residents  more, 
widely  known  in  Piatt  county  than  Robert 
Harvey  Benson.  His  extensive  and  valu- 
able farming  and  stock-dealing  interests 
made  him  a  leading  and  representative  agri- 
culturist of  this  section  of  Illinois.  In  all 
his  business  dealings  he  was  honorable  and 
straightforward  and  his  word  is  as  good  as 
any  bond.  He  certainly  has  just  reason  to 
feel  proud  of  the  success  he  has  achieved 
and  he  well  deserves  the  proud  American 
title  of  a  self-made  man.  His  youth  spent 
upon  a  farm  in  Ohio,  living  in  a  log  cabin, 
he  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  prosperous  cit- 
izens of  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  at  one 
time  was  one  of  the  largest  landowners  here. 
His  capital  is  now  invested,  however,  in 
other  ways,  releasing  him  from  much  of  the 
care  incident  to  the  control  of  extensive 
property  interests.  Widely  known  and 
honored,  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present 
this  record  of  his  life  to  our  readers. 


JOHN    MOERY. 

This  well  known  and  successful  farmer 
living  on  section  24,  Bement  township,  was 
born  on  the  4th  of  November,  1853,  in  the 
Canton  of  Berne.  Switzerland,  and  was  but 
six  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States  in  company  with  his  parents,  Rudolph 
and  Mary  (Goodman)  Moery,  who  were 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


20  r 


also  natives  of  that  country.  By  occupation 
the  father  was  a  farmer  and  also  a  school 
teacher,  following  both  pursuits  inSwitzer- 
land.  On  his  arrival  in  America,  he  located 
near  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  for  about  three  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Crawford  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  was  similarly  employed  for 
seme  years.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  also  engaged  in  .stock-raising  to 
some  extent.  Politically,  he  was  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  religiously 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reform 
church.  He  died  in  Crawford  county,  Indi- 
ana, at  the  age  of  seventy-one  ye&rs,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  about  sixteen  years  pre- 
viously. They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  but  one  died  in  infancy,  and  God- 
fred.  Mary  and  Alice  are  also  now  de- 
ceased. Those  living  are  Lina,  wife  of  Fred 
Feller,  a  resident  of  Missouri ;  Ernest,  a 
farmer  of  Oklahoma;  and  John,  of  this  re- 
view. 

The  early  education  John  Moery  acquired 
was  largely  obtained  from  his  father,  and 
during  his  younger  years  he  assisted  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  farm.  He  remained 
in  Indiana  until  twenty-six  years  of  age, 
whence  he  removed  to  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  and  two  years  later  came  to  Piatt 
county,  where  he  worked  in  different  town- 
ships. The  first  land  owned  by  him  was 
in  Moultrie  county,  where  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  acres,  to  the  cul- 
tivation and  improvement  of  which  he  de- 
voted his  time  and  energies  for  four  year?. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  bought  eighty 
acres  near  his  present  home  in  Bement  town- 
ship, Piatt  county,  and  subsequently  traded 
his  Moultrie  county  property  for  his  home 
place  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 


Here  he  has  erected  a  large  and  substantial 
dwelling  and  other  buildings  and  has  made 
many  other  improvements  which  stand  as. 
monuments  to  his  thrift  and  industry.  In 
the  spring  of  1902  he  bought  another  eighty- 
acre  tract,  and  to-day  has  one  of  the  best 
and  most  desirable  farms  of  its  size  in  the 
county.  He  follows  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  with  marked  success  and  to- 
day is  numbered  among  the  prosperous  citi- 
zens of  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 

In  1879  Mr.  Moery  married  Miss  Ellen 
Loveless,  a  native  of  Macoupin  county,  Illi- 
nois,- where  her  father,  Thomas  Loveless, 
still  resides,  his  occupation  being  that  of 
farming.  Six  children  were  born  to  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  namely :  Lina,  who  is 
a  graduate  of  the  Bement  high  school  and 
is  at  home  with  her  parents ;  John,  who  as- 
sists his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm ;  Ralph,  also  at  home ;  Ernest  and  Wil- 
liam, who  both  died  in  infancy ;  and  Hel- 
venia,  who  died  in  childhood.  All  of  the 
children  were  born  in  Bement  township. 

Mr.  Moery  is  a  member  of  the  Court  of 
Honor  and  attends  and  supports  the  Metho- 
dist church.  He  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  never  cared  for  office,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  undivided  attention  to 
his  business  interests.  He  is  widely  and  fa- 
vorably known  throughout  the  county  of  his 
adoption,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all 
with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  either  in 
business  or  social  life. 


-  NELSON   W.  ZOOK. 

Nelson  W.  Zook,  who  is  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  and  energetic  farmers 
(if  Monticello  township,  his  home  being  on 


202 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


section  i,  was  born  at  Bethany,  Illinois, 
October  14,  1872,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Mary  (Kutch)  Zook.  His  paternal 
grandmother  is  still  living  at  the  extreme 
old  age  of  ninety-six  years,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Kansas.  His  father  was  born 
in  Indiana,  on  the  3d  of  October,  1845, 
and  was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Illi-- 
nois,  his  education  being  acquired  in  the 
schools  of  Fayette  county,  this  state.  Dur- 
ing his  boyhood  and  youth  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm, 
remaining  under  the  parental  roof  until 
eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  entered 
the  Union  army,  enlisting  in  1863  m  tne 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  After  serving  one  year 
he  was  honorably  discharged  on  account 
of  blood-poisoning  caused  by  vaccination. 
He  then  returned  to  Moultrie  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  rented  a  farm  near  Bethany,  con- 
sisting of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  he  subsequently  purchased,  and 
which  he  still  continues  to  operate.  He  is 
a  man  of  influence  in  his  community  and 
is  now  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Bethany.  In  early  life  he  wedded  Miss 
Mary  Kutch,  who  was  born  January  26, 
1845,  in  Moultrie  county,  where  her  par- 
ents had  located  in  1830,  being  pioneers  in 
that  portion  of  the  state.  They  were  of 
German  and  Irish  descent.  Nelson  W. 
Zook  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren, the  others  being  Thomas  M.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Bethany ;  and  Margaretta,  who  is 
at  home  with  her  parents. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  Bethany, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  by  working  at  the 
carpenter's  trade,  but  he  has  mainly  en- 


gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  since 
1900  has  operated  the  Dighton  farm  on 
section  i,  Monticello  township,  Piatt  coun- 
ty. He  owns  all  of  the  machinery  used  in 
the  cultivaton  of  the  land,  and  also  the 
stock  upon  the  place,  being  quite  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  fattening  of  stock 
for  market. 

On  the  nth  of  September,  1891,  Mr. 
Zook  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nan- 
nie Duke,  a'  resident  of  Bloomfiekl,  In- 
diana, and  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Han- 
nah (McDonald)  Duke.  On  the  maternal 
side  her  ancestors  were  related  to  Daniel 
Boone.  Her  father  served  for  four  years 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  and 
died  in  1898  of  heart  trouble  at  his  home 
in  Bldomfield,  Indiana.  He  was  largely  in- 
terested in  the  raising  of  pure  blooded 
Percheron  horses  and  Hereford  cattle,  and 
was  an  extensive  and  prosperous  farmer, 
owning  and  operating  six  hundred  acres 
of  land  which  was  supplied  with  the  latest 
and  best  facilities  for  doing  his  work.  He 
also  operated  coal  mines  on  his  own  land, 
and  in  all  his  undertakings  met  with  excel- 
lent success,  so  that  he  was  able  to  leave 
his  family  in  most  comfortable  circum- 
stances. His  widow  and  four  children  now 
derive  a  good  income  from  the  proceeds  of 
the  farm  and  mine,  the  estate  being  still 
undivided.  Mr.  Duke  was  widely  and  fa- 
vorably known  and  was  a  man  of  promi- 
nence in  the  locality  where  he  resided. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zook  have  one  child, 
Harold,  now  nineteen  months  old.  They 
are  prominent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  to  which  our  subject's 
parents  also  belong,  and  have  a  large  cir- 
cle -of  friends  and  acquaintances  in  their 
adopted  county.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Zook  is 
connected  with  Todds  Point  Camp.  No. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


203 


550,  M.  W.  A.,  of  Todds  Point,  and 
The, mas  Strayhorn  Camp,  No.  227,  Sons  of 
Veterans  at  Bethany,  Illinois.  In  politics 
he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  but  he  does  not 
care  for  official  honors,  preferring  to  de- 
vote his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  interests. 


JOHN    H.   BURNS. 

John  H.  Burns,  deceased,  was  a  lead- 
ing farmer  and  respected  citizen  of  Piatt 
county,  and  when  he  passed  away  he  left 
many  friends  who  will  be  glad  to  see  this 
mention  of  his  life  work  in  our  history. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Carroll  county, 
Maryland,  on  the  igth  of  January,  1848, 
his  parents  being  Danie!  and  Mary  (Knip- 
ple)  Burns,  who  were  residents  of  Mary- 
land at  the  time  of  his  birth,  but  had  for- 
merly made  their  home  in  Pennsylvania. 
John  H.  Burns  was  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children,  being  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 
His  father  was  a  saddler  by  trade,  follow- 
ing that  pursuit  in  the  years  of  his  early 
manhood,  while  later  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. 

The  son  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Maryland  and  became 
a  well-informed  man.  In  1873  he  removed 
to  the  west,  locating  first  in  Tazewell  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  eight 
months.  He  then  removed  to  McLean 
county,  where  he  rented  lard  for  six  years, 
and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Blue  Ridge  township, 
Piatt  county,  where  he  purchased  two 
hundred  and  twelve  and  a  half  acres  of  land 
that  is  still  in  possession  of  his  family.  Aft- 
erward he  added  to  his  farm,  extending 


its  boundaries  until  it  comprised  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-eight  acres,  lying  within 
a  mile  and  a  half  of  Mansfield.  There  Mr. 
Burns  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  thoroughly 
understood  farm  work  in  all  of  its  depart- 
ments, was  progressive  in  his  labors  and 
his  place,  always  neat  and  thrifty  in  ap- 
pearance, indicated  his  careful  supervision. 

On  the  2 ist  of  December,  1870,  Mr. 
Burns  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Re- 
becca. A.  Petry,  of  Carroll  county,  Mary- 
land, a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Ann  Re- 
becca (Roop)  Petry.  The  father  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  the  mother  in  Mary- 
land and  both  came  of  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  ancestry.  Mrs.  Burns  was  one  of 
a  family  of  eight  children  and  was  the 
third  in  order  of  birth.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Burns  were  born  seven  children : 
Anna  May,  now  the  wife  of  David  P. 
Smith,  a  resident  of  Manson,  Calhoun 
county,  Iowa,  by  whom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren, Harold  Burns  and  Everett ;  William, 
who  is  now  the  efficient  and  popular  cash- 
ier of  the  State  Bank  of  Mansfield  and 
who  married  Miss  Allie  Speer,  by  whom 
he  has  one  child,  Wayne  Emerson;  Corda 
Irene,  Amy  R.,  Ida  Blanche,  Catherine 
R.  and  Charles  L.,  all  of  whom  are  still 
at  home. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Burns  was  a 
stalwart  Republican  and  while  living  in 
McLean  county  he  served  as  county  com- 
missioner. He  also  held  many  other  of- 
fices of  trust  and  responsibility  and  Was  al- 
ways loyal  in  these,  progress  and  fidelity 
characterizing  his  entire  .official  service. 
He  belonged  to  the  German  Baptist 
church  in  Blue  Ridge  township  and  died 
in  that  faith  April  25,  1887,  his  remains  be- 
ing then  interred  in  the  cemetery  adjoining 


2O4 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


the  Brethren  church.  The  strong  char- 
acteristics of  Mr.  Burns  were  such  as  com- 
mended him  to  the  confidence  and  regard 
of  his  fellow  men  and  many  delighted  in 
his  friendship  and  in  his  companionship. 

After  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Burns 
left  with  a  large  family  commenced  to 
carry  on  the  home  farm.  There  was 
quite  a  large  sum  owing  upon  it  at  that 
time,  which  she  has  succeeded  by  her 
capable  business  management  and  execu- 
tive force  to  discharge  and  is  now  renting 
the  place,  having  removed  to  Mansfield 
in  1892.  She  has  since  made  her  home  in 
the  city  and  is  a  well-known  and  most 
highly  esteemed  lady  there.  She  belongs 
to  the  German  Baptist  church  and  takes 
an  active  and  helpful  interest  in  its  work. 


ELI  DRUM. 

The  value  of  the  local  newspapers  in  the 
upbuilding  of  the  best  interests  of  any  com- 
munity is  universally  conceded.  The  rule  is 
that  good  papers  are  found  in  good  towns, 
inferior  journals  in  towns  of  stunted  growth 
and  uncertain  future.  It  is  not  so  much  a 
matter  of  size  as  of  excellence  and  of  adapt- 
ability to  the  needs  of  its  locality.  These 
conditions  given,  in  an  appreciative  and  pro- 
gressive community,  the  size  of  the  paper 
will  take  care  of  itself  in  a  way  mutually  sat- 
isfactory to  publishers  and  patrons.  Mr. 
Drum  as  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Star 
of  Cerro  Gordo,  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  the  journalistic  interests  of  Piatt  county. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Picka- 
way  county  on  the  2ist  of  April,  1843,  his 
parents  being  Benjamin  and  Lydia  Drum. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 


died  about  1848,  while  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1893,  having  long  survived  her  hus- 
band. In  the  country  schools  of  Ohio  and 
of  Illinois  the  subject  of  this  review  pur- 
sued his  education.  It  was  in  October,  1856, 
that  he  removed  from  the  place  of  his  birth 
to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  where  he  has  since 
lived.  He  remained  upon  the  home  farm 
until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he  enlisted 
in  the  Union  army  in  response  to  the  need 
for  soldiers  to  aid  in  the  preservation  of  the 
Union.  On  the  nth  of  August,  1862,  he 
becarfie  a  private  of  Company  K,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventh  Illinois  Infantry  and  was 
discharged  in  July,  1865,  after^  about  three 
years  of  faithful  and  valorous  service.  He 
served  in  eastern  Tennessee,  took  part  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign  and  then  returned  to 
Nashville,  where  he  aided  in  the  movements 
which  resulted  in  the  victories  for  General 
Thomas  and  his  army. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Drum  re- 
turned to  the  north  and  was  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  for  twelve  years,  being  a  well 
known  merchant  of  Cerro  Gordo.  In  1881 
he  began  his  present  work,  and  three  years 
ago  started  the  Cerro  Gordo  Star,  and  has 
made  of  this  paper  an  interesting  journal 
which  has  a  large  and  growing  patronage 
and  which  has  returned  to  the  proprietor 
a  good  income.  He  has  made  it  an  excel- 
lent advertising  medium  and  at  the  same 
time  it  treats  in  a  fair  and  interesting  man- 
ner of  the  leading  questions  and  issues  of 
the  day  and  disseminates  local  news. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1868,  at  Cerro 
Gordo,  Mr.  Drum  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  May  E.  Stuart.  Their  children  are 
S.  M.,  who  married  Adeline  Van  Ordstrand ; 
Flora  Lillian,  who  was  the  wife  of  H.  L. 
Lesley  and  died  sixteen  months  after  her 
marriage;  Arthur  J.,  who  wedded  Miss  Er- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


205 


ma  Ater;  Benjamin  E. ;  W.  Webb;  Harry; 
and  Mary.  Mr.  Drum  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  gives  his 
political  support  to  the  Republican  party, 
furthering  its  interests  through  the  columns 
of  his  paper  and  also  in  the  same  channel 
advancing  the  welfare  and  improvement  of 
the  community  along  many  lines. 


FRANK  HETISHEE. 

Frank  Hetishee  is  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Dighton-Dilatush  Loan  Company  of 
Monticello  and  is  thus  actively  connected 
with  financial  interests.  The  business 
with  which  he  is  so  closely  associated  has 
become  one  of  importance  in  Piatt  county, 
and  like  the  other  members  of  the  com- 
pany Mr.  Hetishee  is  recognized  as  a 
man  of  reliability,  of  enterprise  and  of 
honor.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and'  Elizabeth 
(Ruff)  Hetishee.  His  father  was  born  in 
Berne,  Switzerland,  on  the  i6th  of  March, 
1826,  acquired  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  country  and  afterward 
learned  the  tailor's  trade  there.  In  1848, 
when  twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  boarded 
a  sailing  vessel  bound  for  the  port  of  New 
York  for  he  had  heard  much  of  the  priv- 
ileges and  opportunities  offered  in  a  busi- 
ness way  in  the  new 'world  and  had  re- 
solved to  try  his  fortune  in  America. 
Therefore,  he  came  to  the  new  world,  ar- 
riving after  fifty-one  days  spent  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  broad  Atlantic,  the  vessel 
dropping  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Amer- 
ica's metropolis.  Mr.  Hetishee  did  not 
remain  in  New  York,  however,  but  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to' Ohio,  stopping  first  at 


Dayton.  In  1851  he  began  farming  near 
that  city  and  there  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  for  two  years.  At  the"  end  of  that 
time  in  1853  he  came  to  Monticello  and 
soon  afterward  made  choice  of  a  location 
in  Sangamon  township,  Piatt  county, 
where  he  devoted  his  energies  to  general 
farming  and  stock-raising.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  was  an  active  representative 
of  that  line  of  business  and  in  1870  he  re- 
moved to  Ivesdale,  Piatt  county,  where 
he  purchased  a  farm,  continuing  its 
further  development  and  cultivation  until 
1891,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
capital  city.  While  upon  the  farm  he 
prospered  in  his  undertakings,  becoming 
the  owner  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  valuable  land,  which  he  placed  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  im- 
provements which  he  made  and  the  rise  in 
land  values,  owing  to  the  increase  in  pop- 
ulation in  this  section  of  the  state,  made 
his  property  a  very  desirable  one  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  considered 
one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  his  adopted 
county.  Upon  his  farm  he  erected  sub- 
stantial buildings  and  also  placed  modern 
equipments  which  would  facilitate  agri- 
cultural work  and  he  was  likewise  suc- 
cessful in  the  raising  of  hogs  and  cattle 
and  to  this  branch  of  his  business  in  large 
measure  can  be  attributed  his  prosperity. 
His  business  affairs  were  always  con- 
ducted with  energy,  diligence  and  strong 
purpose  and  at  the  same  time  his  methods 
were  honorable  and  would  bear  the 
closest  investigation.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  held  membership  in  the  Lutheran 
church  and  lived  lives  in  consistent  har- 
mony with  their  religious  faith  and  pro- 
fessions. Mr.  Hetishee  passed  away  in 
1898  and  his  wife,  surviving  him  for  a 


206 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


few  years,  died  in  1902.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  named :  William, 
who  is  a  fafmer  in  Piatt  county;  Henry, 
who  also  carries  an  agricultural  pursuits 
here;  Carrie,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Geoggle, 
who  resides  upon  a  farm  in  this  county; 
and  Frank,  of  this  review. 

It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  great  per- 
centage of  men  who  are  successful  and  prom- 
inent in  commercial,  industrial  and  profes- 
sional circles  are  they  who  have  spent  their 
youth  upon  farms.  Of  this  class  Frank  Het- 
ishee  is  a  representative,  his  boyhood  days 
being  passed  under  the  parental  roof  at  the 
old  family  homestead,  where  in  his  early 
youth  he  was  a  student  in  the  district 
schools.  He  showed  mucji  aptitude  at  his 
lessons,  mastering  the  various  branches 
of  learning  taught  in  the  public  schools 
and  largely  supplementing  his  knowledge 
by  reading,  experience  and  observation. 
On  leaving  the  farm  he  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  assistant  bookkeeper  in  the  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Monticello,  acting  in  that 
capacity  for  three  years,  after  which  he 
become  connected  with  the  Dighton-Dila- 
tush  Loan  Company  of  this  city.  He  was 
one  of  its  organizers,  the  company  being 
formed  in  October,  1900,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  thirty  thousand  dollars,  all  paid 
up.  In  the  organization  of  the  company 
Mr.  Hetishee  was  made  assistant  cashier 
which  position  he  still  holds  and  in  large 
measure  to  his  efforts  may  the  success  of  the 
institution  be  attributable. 

On  the  I2th  of  June,  1902,  Mr. 
Hetishee  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elsie  B.  Gleiser,  of  Monticello,  Illinois,  a 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Henry  G.  Gleiser, 
who  is  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church.  Her  mother  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Elsie  F.  Kratzer.  Both  Mr.  and 


Mrs.  Hetishee  hold  membership  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  of  Monticello 
and  are  interested  in  its  work  and  to  its 
support  contribute  generously.  Their 
pleasant  home  was  erected  in  1902  and  is 
the  center  of  a  cultured  society  circle.  It 
is  modern  in  all  of  its  improvements  and 
equipments  and  is  tastefully  furnished.  It 
is  also  the  abode  of  hospitality  and  is  a 
fav6rite  resort  with  the  many  friends  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hetishee.  In  business  af- 
fairs our  subject  stands  prominent,  pos- 
sessing excellent  qualifications,  strong  de- 
termination and  laudable  ambition.  He 
is  a  genial  and  affable  gentleman  and 
thereby  wins  the  good  will  and  friendship 
as  well  as  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
those  with  whom  he  is  brought  in  contact. 


JAMES    C.  EVANS. 

In  the  death  of  James  C.  Evans  on  the 
5th  of  March,  1903,  Bement  and  Piatt  coun- 
ty lost  one  of  their  most  prominent  and 
highly  esteemed  citizens.  His  career  was  a 
long,  busy  and  useful  one,  and  although  he 
was  earnest  and  active  in  business,  he  never 
allowed  the  pursuit  of  wealth  to  warp  his 
kindly  nature,  being  to  the  end  of  his  life  a 
kindly,  genial  friend,  one  whom  it  was  a 
pleasure  to  know  and  meet  under  any  cir- 
cumstances. He  attained  the  advanced  age 
of  seventy-eight  years,  retaining  to  the  last 
those  qualities  of  the  mind  and  heart  whicii 
had  endeared  him  to  every  one  throughout 
his  life. 

No  history  of  Piatt  county  would  be 
complete  without  mention  of  James  C.  Ev- 
ans and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  the  historian  to 
present  his  life  record  to  our  readers.  His- 


JAMES  C.  EVANS 


MRS.  MARY  E.  EVANS 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


211 


life  span  covered  almost  four  score  years 
and  lijs  career  was  so  honorable  that  he  won 
the  highest  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  was 
associated.  A  native  of  Clark  county,  Ken- 
tucky, he  was  born  in  the  year  1825,  and 
on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides 
was  a  member  of  early  Kentucky  families. 
His  father  was  a  second  cousin  of  Danfel 
Boone,  the  noted  pioneer  explorer  and  hunt- 
er who  led  the  way  into  the  wilds  of  the  Blue 
Grass  state.  Mr.  Evans  was  one  of  a  fam- 
ily of  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  now 
deceased. 

When  about  ten  years  of  age  our  sub- 
ject accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  the  family  home  being  es- 
tablished in  Scott  county.  There  he  resided 
until  1846,  at  which  time  his  father  entered 
the  Mexican  war  as  a  lieutenant  under 
Colonel  John  J.  Hardin.  Filled  with  the 
spirit  of  patriotism  James  C.  Evans,  who 
about  that  time  attained  his  majority,  also 
offered  his  services  to  the  government  and 
became  a  private  in  his  father's  company. 
(He  went  to  the  south  where  he  valiantly 
aided  in  the  protection  of  his  country's 
rights  and  after  the  cessation  of  hostilities 
he  returned  to  Scott  county,  where  he 
.worked  at  the  cooper's  trade,  which  he  had^ 
learned  previous  to  his  enlistment.  To  this 
industry  he  gave  his  attention  until  after  the 
discovery  of  gold  in  California.  Men  from 
all  sections  of  the  country  flocked  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast  in  the  hope  of  rapidly  acquiring 
a  fortune  and  Mr.  Evans  was  among  the 
number  who  made  the  long  overland  trip 
across  the  hot  stretches  of  sand  and  through 
the  mountain  passes  to  the  Golden  state.  In 
the  trip  he  accompanied  his  father  and  broth- 
er and  they  spent  two  years  at  Hangtown 
Gulch,  which  was  one  of  the  early  mining 
settlements  of  California  and  is  now  the  city 


of  Placerville.  Although  he  did  not  acquire 
a  fortune  as  he  hoped,  he  yet  found  some  gold 
and  brought  back  with  him  the  precious  met- 
al which  was  made  into  the  wedding  ring 
that  signified  through  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tury his  union  with  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth 
Hopkins.  Upon  his  return  to  Scott  county 
he  embarked  in  merchandising  with  B.  G. 
Hopkins  in  the  town  of  Winchester  and  a 
year  later  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  his 
partner's  daughter. 

Mr.  Evans'  connection  with  mercantile 
interests  in  Scott  county  continued  until 
1856,  when  he  removed  to  Piatt  county  and 
located  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Willow  Branch  township.  This 
property  continued  in  his  possession  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  although  after  a  few 
years  he  left  its  cultivation  to  others,  while 
he  turned  his  attention  to  commercial  pur- 
suits. About  1863  ne  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  D.  Vaughan  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, but  continued  to  reside  upon  his  farm 
until  1870,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
town.  Through  long  years  the  partnership 
with  Mr.  Vaughan  continued  with  mutual 
pleasure  and  profit,  the  firm  enjoying  a  large 
and  continually  increasing  patronage.  A 
few  years  prior  to  his  death,  however,  Mr. 
Evans  purchased  Mr.  Vaughan's  interest 
and  the  firm  of  Evans  &  Son  was  then 
formed  and  continued  up  to  the  time  of  the 
father's  death. 

The  home  life  of  Mr.  Evans  was  ideal. 
They  traveled  life's  journey  together  for 
more  than  fifty  years,  sharing  with  each  oth- 
er in  all  the  joys  and  sorrows,  the  adversities 
and  prosperity  which  came  to  them,  their 
mutual  love  and  confidence  increasing  as 
the  years  went  by.  Mrs.  Evans  came  of  early 
New  England  ancestry  of  English  lineage, 
the  line  being  traced  back  to  the  early  set- 


212 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


tiers  of  Connecticut,  who  located  there  in 
1642.  She  is  of  the  fifth  generation  in  di- 
rect descent  from  General  John  Sedgwick, 
of  Cornwall,  Connecticut,  and  of  the  fourth 
from  Benjamin  Hopkins  and  Stephen  Gold 
of  her  father's  ancestors  and  of  the  fourth 
generations  from  Elijah  Stanton  and  Joseph 
Hollister,  who  came  to  America  in  1642,  all 
of  the  above  men  being  prominent  in  the 
country's  early  history.  She  is  also  of  the 
eighth  generation  from  Captain  John  Stan- 
ton,  who  came  to  America  in  1646  as  co- 
lonial interpreter  for  the  six  nations  of  Pe- 
quod  Indians. 

By  the  marriage  of  James  C.  and  Mary 
Elizabeth  (Hopkins)  Evans  thirteen  child- 
ren were  born,  of  whom  eight  are  still  liv- 
ing. William  G.,  who  resides  in  the  village 
of  Bement,  married  Miss  Viola  Workman, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Harold  and  Clar- 
ence. Charles  E.,  who  is  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  church  and  resides  at  Weiser,  Ida- 
ho, wedded  Miss  Jennie  Miller,  of  Ohio.- 
They  had  four  children :  Lester,  who  died 
when  about  nineteen  years  of  age;  Mayo,  a 
musician,  residing  in  Oregon;  Miller  and 
Oliver  S.  Dora,  the  third  member  of  the 
Evans  family,  is  the  wife  of  S.  S.  Jones,  a 
minister  of  the  Christian  church,  now  lo- 
cated in  Danville,  Illinois.  Ellen  G.  is  the 
wife  of  George  D.  McKay,  of  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  and  they  have  two  children.  James 
O.,  who  resides  in  Bement,  Illinois,  was  born 
two  miles  west  of  the  village  on  the  home 
farm,  April  23,  1870,  and  after  pursuing 
the  high  school  course  in  Bement  continued 
his  studies  in  Eureka  College  at  Eurekn, 
Woodford  county,  Illinois.  He  was  gradu- 
ated on  the  completion  of  the  business  course 
and  then  returned  to  Bement,  where  he 
joined  his  father  in  the  lumber  business,  the 
partnership  continuing  until  the  latter's 


death,  since  which  time  the  son    has    been 
alone  in  the  conduct  of  this  enterprise.     He 
is  well  known  in  the  commercial  circles  of 
the  city,  and  is  a  leading  and  representative 
business  man  of  this  place.     For  three  years 
he  has  been  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  village 
and  is  now  a  stalwart  Republican  in  his  po- 
litical views.   His  religious  faith  is  indicated 
by    his  membership  in  the  Christian  church, 
and  he  is  a    member  of   the     Masonic   and 
Knight  of  Pythias  fraternities    at    Bement, 
and  has  passed  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  latter 
organization.     Albert  A.,    born  'December 
18,  1872,  the  sixth  member  of  the  father's 
family,  is  likewise  a  resident  of  Bement.  He 
married  Miss  Grace  L.  Landis,  a  native  of 
Owen  county.  Indiana,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Albert  Canada.      Albert   A.    Evans   is 
now  associated  with  his  brother,  James,  in 
the  lumber  business.     Darley,  born  Septem- 
ber 15,  1875,  in  Bement,  is  a  clerk  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Mansfield,  Piatt  county.  He  married 
Miss    Carrie   Burns,  a     daughter  of   John 
Burns,  of  Bement,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Eugene.     Grace  G.  is  the  wife  of  H.  A.  De 
Vaux,  of  Mankato,  Minnesota,  where  he  is 
manager  of  the  World's  Stock  Food  Com- 
pany.    The  other  children   of   the     father's 
family  died  in  infancy  with  the  exception  of 
Dollie.  who  died  in  Bement,  when  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  Mr.  Evans  was  most  devot- 
ed to  his  family  and  considered  no  personal 
sacrifice  on  his  part  too  great  if  it  would  en- 
hance the  welfare  and  promote  the  happi- 
ness of  his  wife  and  children.     On  Sunday, 
the  23d  of  March,  1902,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ev- 
ans celebrated  their  fiftieth    wedding    anni- 
versary, holding  an  "open  house"    reception 
between  the  hours  of  two  and  five  in  the  af- 
ternoon.    This  worthy  couple  had  traveled 
life's  journey  together  for  a  half  century 
and  more  than  one  hundred  guests  called  to 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


213 


express  their  pleasure  over  this  fact  and 
wish  for  them  happy  returns  of  the  day,  but 
ere  a  year  had  passed  Mr.  Evans  was  called 
from  this  life.  There  was  nothing,  however, 
to  indicate  that  his  life's  journey  was  so  rap- 
idly nearing  its  close,  and  the  occasion  of 
the  golden  wedding  anniversary  was  a  most 
happy  one.  The  guests  were  received  in  the 
parlor  and  later  passed  through  the  sitting 
room  into  the  dining  room,  which  was  hand- 
somely decorated  with  cut  flowers  and  yel- 
low ribbon,  its  beautiful  golden  tint  being 
in  harmony  with  the  occasion.  Refresh- 
ments were  served  and  each  guest  was  given 
a  favor — heart-shaped  cards  tied  with  yel- 
low ribbon  and  bearing  a  design  in  gold 
with  the  number  "50"  in  white  in  the  center. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  were  long  faithful 
and  devoted  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  with  which  the  lady  is  still  identified. 
He  united  with  the  church  of  this  denomina- 
tion at  Winchester,  Illinois,  about  1845,  un- 
der the  preaching  of  Alexander  Campbell, 

and  he  connected  himself  with  the  church 

i 

in  Betnent  during  the  meeting  held  by  Rev. 
A.  B.  Rice,  who  obeyed  the  gospel  at  the 
same  time  that  Mr.  Evans  became  one  of  the 
followers  of  that  church.  For  long  years 
Mr.  Evans  was  very  active  in  church  work, 
and  even  in  advanced  years  his  interest  there- 
in never  abated  in  the  slightest  degree.  He 
always  contributed  liberally  of  his  means  to 
its  support,  and  his  time  and  energies  were 
freely  given  for  its  welfare  and  progress. 
Frequently  he  would  perform  the  baptismal 
ceremony  for  the  pastor  in  charge  and  his 
character  was  manifest  in  his  daily  life.  He 
lived  peaceably  with  all  men,  possessed  a 
kindly,  charitable  spirit  and  was  anxious  for 
the  moral  welfare  of  the  community.  He 
was  also  very  benevolent,  and  the  poor  and 
needy  found  in  him  a  friend.  During  all 


the  long  years  in  which  he  was  able  to  per- 
sonally superintend  his  business  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  he  never  left  his  office  on  Saturday 
evening  without  having  given  at  least  five 
dollars  in  charity  during  the  week.  He 
passed  away  March  5,  1903,  and  thus  closed 
a  most  honorable  and  useful  career.  The 
county  lost  one  of  its  pioneers,  the  communi- 
ty a  valued  citizen  and  those  with  whom  he 
was  associated  a  faithful  friend,  while  his 
wife  and  children  mourned  the  loss  of  a  de- 
voted, loving  and  tender  husband  and  fath- 
er. His  memory,  however,  is  still  enshrined 
in  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  re- 
mains as  a  blessed  benediction  to  those  with 
whom  he  was  associated  in  the  daily  walks 
of  life. 


JOHN  R.  PONDER. 

The  history  of  such  a  man  as  John  R. 
Ponder  is  always  of  interest  to  the  public, 
especially  when  it  comes  as  a  direct  result 
of  meritorious  effect.  Mr.  Ponder  has  just- 
ly earned  the  title  of  a  self-made  man  and 
his  life  history  stands  as  an  exemplifica- 
tion of  what  can  be  accomplished  when  one 
has  the  will  to  dare  and  to  do.  He  has  con- 
trolled extensive  farming  interests  in  Piatt 
count}'  and  is  now  a  director  of  the  Bank  of 
Hammond,  and  also  the  president  of  the 
village  board.  He  likewise  represents  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  Piatt  county,  having 
lived  here  since  1864. 

Mr.  Ponder  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Tennessee,  on  the  i8th  of  December, 
1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Matilda 
(Radford)  Ponder,  both  of  whom  are  na- 
tives of  Buncom  county,  North  Carolina, 
the  former  born  on  the  23d  of  May,  1816, 
and  the  latter  on  the  8th  of  March,  1820. 


214 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Joseph  Ponder  made  his  home  in  North  Car- 
olina until  after  his  marriage  and  then  re- 
moved with  his  wife  to  Washington  coun- 
ty,  Tennessee,    where    he  was    engaged  in 
farming  for  several  years.      He  afterward 
took  up  his  abode  in  Clay  county,  Kentucky, 
where  he  followed  the  same  pursuit  until  the 
I /th  of  March,   1864,  when  he  bade  v  adieu 
to  home  and    friends    in  that    locality    and 
came  to  Illinois.     He  had  a  cousin  living 
in  Piatt  county,  and  thereby  was  induced  to 
settle  in  this  section  of  the  state,  establishing 
his  home  in  Unity  township  northeast  of 
the  village  of  Pierson.     Resuming  agricul- 
tural  pursuits,   he  carried   On   farming  for 
two  years,  and  then  went  to  Douglas  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the  tilling 
of  the  soil  for  a  year.     At  the  end  of  that 
time,  however,  he  returned  to  Unity  town- 
ship and  purchased  a  farm  here,  devoting 
his  energies  to  its  further  development  and 
improvement  until  1880.     He  then  went  to 
the  home  of  his  son,  John  R.,  where  he  lived 
for  two  years,  and  on  the    ist    of    March, 
1882.  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Ham- 
mond, where  he  lived  retired  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  8th    of    December, 
1892.     His  widow  survived  him  for  about 
ten  years  and  passed  away  on  the  27th  of 
January,    1902.      Both   were  respected  and 
honored  people,  and  they  reared '  a  family 
of  six  children  who  are  now  living  and  are 
residents  of  Piatt  county. 

Like  the  other  members  of  the  family 
John  R.  Ponder  obtained  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  through  his  youth 
he  spent  the  summer  months  in  working  in 
the  fields  on  the  home  farm.  He  continued 
to  assist  his  father  until  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage, which  was  celebrated  in  1883,  Miss 
Elizabeth  E.  BoLin  becoming  his  wife.  She 
is  a  native  of  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  and 


a  daughter  of  J.  R.  Bolin,  who  is  now  a  re- 
tired farmer,  making  his  home  in  Ham- 
mond. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ponder  have 
been  born  three  children :  Ray  B. ;  Wilbur 
H.  and  Wilma  E.,  twins. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ponder  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  a  farm  in  Unity  township, 
where  he  carried  on  general  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1890.  He  then  removed  to 
the  village  of  Hammond,  where  he  built  his 
fine  residence.  It  is  situated  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  town  and  is  a  most  at- 
tractive and  commodious  home,  celebrated 
for  its  gracious  hospitality.  The  house 
stands  in  the  midst  of  beautiful  grounds 
and  everything  about  the  place  indicates  the 
cultured  taste  of  the  owner.  In  addition  to 
this  property  Mr.  Ponder  owns  seven  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  fine  farming  land, 
all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
therefore  returning  to  him  a  good  tribute 
for  the  labor  bestowed  upon  it.  Of  this 
twenty  acres  is  located  in  Lovington  town- 
ship, Moultrie  county,  but  the  remainder  is 
situated  in  Unity  township,  Piatt  county. 
Mr.  Ponder  gives  his  personal  supervision 
to  the  operation  of  five  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  the  land,  while  the  remainder  he 
rents,  and  annually  golden  harvests  are 
gathered  in  return  for  the  labors  bestowed 
upon  the  fields.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  and 
director  in  the  State  Bank  of  Hammond, 
and  thus  his  activity  has  touched  upon  many 
lines,  whereby  he  has  won  prosperity. 

In  matters  pertaining  to  the  general  good 
Mr.  Ponder  is  ever  progressive  and  pub- 
lic spirited,  and  has  given  his  co-operation 
to  many  measures  for  the  welfare  of  town 
and  county.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  in  1901  was  elected  mayor  of  Ham- 
mond, in  which  capacity  he  is  still  serving, 
having  been  re-elected  for  a  second  term. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


21- 


For  eleven  years  he  has  heen  a  member  of 
the  village  board  and  since  1901  has  been 
its  president.  He  also  served  on  the  school 
board  for  several  years  and  for  one  year  was 
tax  collector  of  Unity  township.  He  belongs 
to  the  Baptist  church,  and  his  wife  to  the 
Church  of  Christ,  and  he  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent,  influential  and  prosperous  resi- 
dents of  this  part  of  Piatt  county.  Over  the 
record  of  his  public  career  and  private  life 
there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong  or  suspi- 
cion of  evil,  for  his  wealth  has  been  obtained 
through  honorable  methods  and  he  has  ever 
been  found  faithful  in  friendship  and  in  cit- 
izenship. Hammond  owes  much  to  his  active 
efforts  in  her  behalf,  and  no  history  of  this 
part  of  Piatt  county  would  be  complete  with- 
out mention  of  John  R.  Ponder. 


GIDEON  CHENOWETH. 

Among  the  honored  veterans  of  the 
Civil  war  now  living  retired  in  De  Land 
is  numbered  Gideon  Chenoweth,  who  was 
born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  March  16, 
1840,  his  parents  being  Jacob  and  Sarah 
(Foster)  Chenoweth,  natives  of  Virginia 
and  Ohio,  respectively.  On  the  paternal 
side  he  is  of  Welsh  descent,  while  his  ma- 
ternal ancestors  came  originally  from 
Scotland.  His  father  was  horn  in  the  Old 
Dominion  in  1798  and  was  educated  in  the 
subscription  schools  of  that  state,  the  tem- 
ple of  learning  being  a  rude  log  structure 
with  greased  paper  windows,  puncheon 
floor  and  huge  fire-place.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1818  and  settled  in  Darke  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  entered  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  timber  land,  which  he 
developed  into  a  fine  farm.  He  gave  con- 


siderable attention  to  the  raising  of  cattle, 
sheep  and  hogs  and  was  considered  one  of 
the  best  and  most  successful  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  of  his  locality.  After  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1853,  the  family 
remained  upon  the  farm  but  a  year,  when 
the  widowed  mother  sold  the  place  and 
with  her  children  removed  to  De  Witt 
county,  Illinois,  where  she  made  her  home 
throughout  the  remainder  of  her  life.  She 
died  very  suddenly  in  1867  while  visiting 
friends  and  relatives  in  Iowa  and  was' 
buried  in  the  town  of  Bedford,  that  state. 
Her  early  life  was  passed  amid  primitive 
surroundings  and  our  subject  well  remem- 
bers hearing  her  relate  of  turning  the 
grindstone  for  Indians  while  they  shar- 
pened their  scalping  knives. 

Gideon  Chenoweth  is  one  of  a  family 
of  twelve  children,  the  others  being  Abra- 
ham, who  died  in  Kansas  in  1891 ;  Rebecca, 
who  died  in  Clinton,  Illinois,  in  1899;  Joseph, 
who  died  in  Versailles,  Illinois,  in  1877; 
John,  who  died  in  Nebraska  in  1890; 
Thomas,  who  died  in  1856  or  1857;  Mary 
Ann,  who  married  Jacob  Rarrick  and  is 
now  living  in  Portland,  Oregon,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years ;  William,  de- 
ceased ;  Martha,  who  is  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Harless  and  is  living  in  Weldon,  Iowa,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-one;  Noah,  who  is  living 
in  Kansas,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine;  Eliza, 
who  died  in  1874;  and  Cassandra,  who  died 
in  infancy. 

During  his  boyhood  Gideon  Cheno- 
weth attended  school  in  Ohio  for  about 
three  months  during  the  winter  season, 
the  remainder  of  the  time  being  devoted 
to  the  work  of  the  home  farm.  In  1854 
he  accompanied  his  widowed  mother  on 
her  removal  to  Clinton,  De  Witt  county, 
where  he  continued  his  education  until  six- 


2l6 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


teen  years  of  age.  In  1857  he  led  to  the  mar- 
riage altar  Miss  Mary  A.  Bryant,  a  daughter 
of  Cornelius  and  Agnes  ( Sims)  Bryant,  who 
were  of  Irish  descent.  By  this  union  were 
born  five  children,  as  follows :  George  H., 
the  eldest,  died  at  Argenta,  Illinois,  Novem- 
ber 5,  1892.  Francis  H.,  the  next  of  the  fam- 
ily, was  born  in  Clinton,  Illinois,  June  22, 
1866,  and  is  a  druggist  of  Charleston,  this 
state.  Edward  B.,  born  January  4,  1869, 
is  mentioned  more  fully  below.  Eliza  A., 
•  born  August  22,  1872,  died  May  4,  1874. 
William  C,  born  June  28,  1878,  is  a  drug- 
gist of  Charleston,  Illinois. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Chenoweth  en- 
gaged in  operating  a  rented  farm  until 
he  entered  the  army  during  the  Rebellion. 
In  1861  he  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of  Com- 
pany E,  Twentieth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry and  remained  at  the  front  until 
honorably  .discharged  at  Jefferson  Bar- 
racks, Missouri,  April  16,  1863.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Frederickstown, 
Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh  and 
Corinth,  and  was  accidently  wounded  at 
Jackson,  Tennessee,  being  confined  in  the 
hospital  from  the  i6th  of  September 
1862,  until  he  left  the  service. 

On  his  return  home  Mr.  Chenoweth 
accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  general  store  in 
Clinton,  Illinois,  where  he  was  employed 
until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Piatt  county 
and  for  four  years  rented  and  operated  the 
farm  belonging  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza 
Lowery.*  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  re- 
moved to  Monticello,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  meat  market  for  two  years,  and 
then  assisted  in  building  a  branch  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  from  White 
Heath  to  Clinton,  this  state.  In  1876  he 
became  connected  with  the  firm  of  Piatt. 
Hubbell  &  Company,  who  were  in  the 


elevator  business  at  Monticello,  acting  as 
their  buyer  at  Cisco,  Illinois,  and  when 
the  business  was  sold  to  E.  A.  Townley, 
he  remained  with  that  gentleman  in  the 
same  capacity  until  1883.  During  the  fol- 
lowing two  years  he  was  with  W.  H.  Tel- 
ford,  who  was  in  the  same  line  of  business, 
and  on  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
went  to  Ness  county,  Kansas,  where  he 
pre-empted  three  claims,  both  homestead 
and  timber  claims.  He  had  nothing  on 
his  removal  to  that  state  but  on  his  re- 
turn to  Illinois  after  five  years  he  was  the 
owner  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  fine  farming  land  in  Kansas  and  one 
hundred  head  of  cattle  besides  other  per- 
sonal property,  so  successful  had  he  been. 
After  his  return  to  Monticello  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  E.  C.  Knight  in  the  grain 
business  until  November,  1900,  when  he 
accepted  a  position  as  carrier  in  the  rural 
mail  service  and  faithfully  served  as  such 
for  two  years  and  two  months,  during 
which  time  he  lost  but  seven  days.  He 
made  a  trip  of  twenty-seven  miles  and  a 
half  each  day  and  therefore  traveled 
nearly  nineteen  thousand  miles  during  the 
twenty-six  months'  time. 

Mr.  Chenoweth  has  been  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife, 
who  died  in  Monticello  of  heart  failure  on 
her  way  home  from  church  December  3, 
1899,  when  sixty  years  of  age.  She  was 
a  lifelong  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  was  an  active  and 
faithful  worker  in  the'  same.  On  the  7th 
of  January,  1903,  Mr.  Chenoweth  re- 
moved to  De  Land,  where  he  is  now  living 
a  retired  life,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  know  him.  He  is  still  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Monticello 
and  enjoys  meeting  with  the  gray-haired 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


217 


veterans  who  as  young  men  fought  with 
him  on  the  bloody  battle-fields  of  the 
south. 


EDWARD  B.  CHENOWETH. 

Edward  B.  Chenoweth,  a  son  of  Gid- 
eon Chenoweth,  was  born  in  Piatt  county, 
January  4,  1869,  and  has  here  spent  al- 
most his  entire  life.  Since  attaining  man's 
estate  his  attention  has  mainly  been  de- 
voted to  mercantile  interests.  For  two 
years  he  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  store 
in  Argenta  and  for  about  eight  years  was 
similarly  employed  in  De  Land,  although 
during  six  months  of  that  time  he  served 
as  assistant  cashier  in  a  bank  at  this  place. 
In  November,  1902,  he  embarked  in 
business  on  his  own  account,  opening  a 
new  store  in  De  Land  with  a  well  selected 
stock  of  general  merchandise.  He  car- 
ries an  excellent  grade  of  goods  and 
spares  no  pains  to  please  his  customers. 

In_  1891  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  Edward  B.  Chenoweth  and  Olive  S. 
Mitchell,  of  Weldon,  Iowa,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  George  E.  and  Rosetta  (Westfall) 
Mitchell,  and  three  children  bless  this 
union:  Lela,  now  eleven  years  of  age; 
Lola,  nine  years ;  and  Beulah,  a  year  and 
six  months.  Socially  Mr.  Chenoweth  is 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  No. 
740,  of  De  Land,  of  which  he  is  treasurer ; 
Twentieth  Century  Lodge,  No.  603, 
K.  P. ;  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp, 
No.  2178,  of  which  he  is  clerk.  He  was 
also  a  delegate  to  the  head  camp  of  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  in  1903.  Politically  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  and 
has  held  the  office  of  township  clerk  two 
years  and  village  clerk  the  same  length  of 


time.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing young  men  of  the  town,  active,  enter- 
prising and  progressive,  and  although  he 
has  been  in  business  for  himself  only  a 
short  time  he  has  already  built  up  a  good 
trade  and  his  patronage  is  steadily  in- 
creasing. 


MRS.   HELEN  C.  TIPPETT. 

Mrs.  Helen  C.  Tippett,  a  well-known 
resident  of  White  Heath  and  a  worthy  rep- 
resentative of  an  honored  pioneer  family  of 
this  county,  was  born  on  the  nth  of  Janu- 
ary, 1842,  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Anna  (Porter) 
Heath.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  when  a  young  man  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss  Porter,  who 
was  born  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
February  27,  1799,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Clinton)  Porter. 
On  the  maternal  side  she  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  Mrs.  Tippett's  paternal 
grandmother  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Wood  and  was  of  English  descent.  After 
farming  in  Ohio  for  about  eighteen  years, 
David  Heath  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
near  White  Heath.  He  then  returned  to 
Ohio  to  settle  up  some  business,  making  the 
journey  on  horseback,  as  there  were  no  rail- 
roads at  that  time,  and  while  there  caught 
a  severe  cold  which  developed  into  pneu- 
monia, from  which  he  died  within  a  year 
from  the  time  he  come  to  Piatt  county,  and 
it  was  two  weeks  before  his  relatives  in  this 
county  learned  of  his  death.  His  widow 
then  took  charge  of  affairs,  and  with  the  as- 
sistance of  her  two  sons,  Jarnes  and  Noble, 


218 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


she  transformed  the  wild  tract  into  a  good 
farm.  She  was  one  of  the  bravest  and  best 
of  women,  bearing  uncomplainingly  the 
hardships  and  trials  of  frontier  life.  Many 
times  she  was  left  alone  for  two  or  three 
days  while  her  sons  went  to  the  city  for  sup- 
plies. Their  home  was  at  the  edge  of  the 
timber  and  the  nearest  neighbor  was  at  least 
one  mile  away.  Wolves  and  rattlesnakes 
were  numerous  and  many  dangers  and  diffi- 
culties were  encountered  by  those  early  set- 
tlers. 

In  the  Heath  family  were  six  children, 
namely :  Mary  J.,  born  January  3,  1825, 
became  the  wife  of  B.  F.  Harris,  a  banker 
of  Champaign,  Illinois,  and  died  March  23, 
1883 ;  James  Clinton,  born  August  20,  1828, 
died  December  22,  1872 ;  Noble  Porter,  born 
February  8,  1833,  .died  June  8,  1893 ;  Anna 
E.,  born  June  6,  1838,  died  in  1851;  one 
died  in  infancy;  and  Mrs.  Tippett  is  now 
the  only  survivor.  The  mother  passed 
away  June  10,  1877,  loved  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  her. 

Mrs.  Tippett  was  only  three  years  old 
when  she  accompanied  her  parents  on  their 
removal  to  this  state  and  amid  pioneer 
scenes  she  grew  to  womanhood.  She  was 
educated  in  an  old  log  school  house,  known 
as  the  Hughes  school,  and  after  her  gradu- 
ation commenced  teaching  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  following  that  profession 
from  1860  to  1870.  On  the  gth  of  March, 
1871,  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to 
Cumberland  Tippett.  who  then  took  charge 
of  the  old  Heath  homestead  and  operated 
the  farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
October  2,  1875.  He  was  a  member  of 
Monticello  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  was  a 
local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  lifelong  meml^er, 
always  taking  an  active  part  in  church  work 


and  doing  all  in  his  power  for  the  uplifting 
of  his  fellow  men.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tip- 
pett were  born  two  children:  Florence  B., 
born  December  18,  1871,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Dr.  B.  E.  Duvall.  of  Atlanta,  Georgia.  She 
is  also  a  physician,  l)eing  a  graduate  of  the 
Eclectic  Medical  College  of  Atlanta,  and 
having  also  taken  a  post-graduate  course  at 
the  Cincinnati  Eclectic  Medical  College. 
James  Clinton,  born  January  3,  1873.  was 
married  October  4,  1896,  to  Mattie  I.  Jami- 
son, and  is  now  circuit  clerk  and  county 
auditor,  living  in  Monticello,  Illinois.  His 
sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Tippett  and  her  mother  took  charge  of  the 
farm,  hiring  a  man  to  run  it,  and  when  her 
mnther  died  she  went  to  Champaign,  where 
she  lived  for  four  years,  her  brother  having 
charge  of  the  place  during  that  time.  The 
following  eighteen  years  were  spent  upon 
the  farm  with  her  children,  her  brother  still 
continuing  to  conduct  the  property.  In 
1901  Mrs.  Tippett  purchased  her  present 
comfortable  residence  in  White  Heath, 
where  she  has  since  resided.  Her  brother 
continued  to  manage  the  farm  until  1894, 
when  her  son,  J.  C,  was  old  enough  to  take 
charge  of  the  same.  He  lived  there  until  he 
was  elected  circuit  clerk  and  still  rents  the 
place.  Mrs.  Tippett  is  a  woman  of  many  ex- 
cellent traits  of  character,  who  is  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
her. 


HON.  SEYMOUR  MARQUISS. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Piatt  county  on 
whom  has  been  conferred  public  honor  and 
whose  careers  have  reflected  credit  upon 


SEYMOUR  MARQUISS 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


221 


those  who  have  reposed  in  them  public  trust 
is  numbered  Seymour  Marquiss.  He  has 
represented  his  district  in  the  legislature 
and  has  been  active  and  influential  in  busi- 
ness circles,  where  his  course  has  ever  been 
such  as  to  commend  him  to  the  confidence 
and  good  will  of  those  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact.  He  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  Monticello,  having  acquired  a 
competence  which  has  enabled  him  to  put 
aside  business  cares  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
former  toil. 

Mr.  Marquiss  is  one  of  Piatt  county's 
native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Goose  Creek  township  on  the  7th  of  June, 
1837.  He  is  a  son  of  Ezra  and  Ann  Maria 
(Norris)  Marquiss,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  Their 
marriage  was  celebrated  in  Illinois,  the  fa- 
ther having  come  to  this  state  in  1833  with 
the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Abraham  Marquiss,  who  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. He  settled  in  Piatt  county  in  1833 
at  a  very  early  period  in  the  development  of 
this  portion  of  the  state,  and  there  he  took 
up  government  land.  He  made  the  jour- 
ney from  Ohio  by  wagon  and  cast  in  his 
lot  with  the  early  settlers  who  lived  amid 
frontier  environments.  Not  a  furrow  had 
been  turned  or  an  improvement  made  upon 
his  place,  but  he  at  once  began  the  develop- 
ment of  a  farm  and  soon  rich  fields  returned 
to  him  good  harvests.  Ezra  Marquiss  was 
one  of  a  family  of  seven  children  and  his 
education  was  obtained  during  his  residence 
in  Ohio.  After  coming  with  his  father  to  Il- 
linois he  began  farming  in  Goose  Creek 
township,  Piatt  county,  near  the  old  Abra- 
ham Marquiss  homestead,  entering  forty 
acres  of  land  from  the  government.  As  the 
years  passed  he  prospered  and  his  business 
methods  were  such  as  to  win  for  him  puViiic 


confidence  as  well  as  to  gain  for  him  gratify- 
ing success.  As  his  financial  resources  in- 
creased he  made  judicious  investments  in 
real  estate  until  he  became  the  owner  of 
two  thousand  acres  of  land.  His  death  oc- 
curred on  the  3d  of  January,  1898,  when 
he  had  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  on  the 
icth  of  August,  1881.  This  worthy  couple 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
four  are  yet  living-,  namely:  Seymour;  Pau- 
lina, the  wife  of  Frank  McMillan,  of  Mon- 
ticello; Ezra,  who  is  a  resident  of  Monti- 
cello;  and  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  John  Kirby, 
who  is  also  living  in  the  county  seat. 

Under  the  parental  roof  Seymour  Mar- 
quiss was  reared  and  attended  the  old  Piatt 
school  in  Goose  Creek  township.  He  spent 
his  winter  months  in  mastering  the  studies 
therein  taught,  and  during  the  summer  sea- 
sons he  worked  upon  the  home  farm,  early 
becoming  familiar  with  the  labors  that  fall 
to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  The  sun 
shone  down  on  many  a  field  which  he  plowed 
and  planted  in  his  youth,  and  when  autumn 
came  he  assisted  in  harvesting  the  crops. 
He  remained  at  home  until  twenty-four 
years  of  age  and  then  made  preparations 
for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Caroline  McMillen,  the  wed- 
ding taking  place  on  the  igth  of  December, 
1 86 1.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
McMillen,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1856  and 
located  in  Goose  Creek  township,  Piatt  coun- 
ty. He  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1806,  and  in  1812  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Highland  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  1828.  He  then 
went  to  Indiana,  where  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Hathaway,  who  was  born  in 
Fort  Harrison  during  the  war  of  1812.  In 
1856  he  again  became  a  pioneer  settler.  He 


222 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


had  previously  lived  amid  frontier  surround- 
ings in  Ohio  and  in  Indiana,  and  now  he 
cast  in  his  lot  with  the  early  settlers  of  Piatt 
county,  Illinois.  Later  he  removed  to 
Champaign  county,  where  he  died  in  1869, 
when  sixty-three  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Mar- 
quiss  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children, 
being  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Seymour 
Marquiss  began  farming  and  buying  stock. 
He  took  up  his  abode  in  Goose  Creek  town- 
ship near  DeLand,  and  for  many  years  was 
a  most  prominent  representative  of  agricul- 
tural interests.  He  continued  to  reside 
upon  his  farm  until  1887,  when  he  estab- 
lished his  home  in  the  village  of  DeLand, 
but  is  now  living  retired  in  Monticello,  al- 
though he  has  given  his  personal  supervis- 
ion to  the  management  of  his  farming  inter- 
ests. While  living  on  the  farm  he  was  very 
extensively  engaged  in  feeding  stock,  using 
in  this  way  all  of  the  grain  which  he  raised 
and  also  purchasing  large  amounts  of  feed 
for  his  cattle.  He  owns  two  hundred  and  for- 
ty-eight acres  of  rich  and  arable  land  lying 
in  sections  8,  9,  16  and  17,  Goose  Creek 
township,  eight  acres  of  which  is  in  the  vil- 
lage of  DeLand. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marquiss  have  never  had 
any  children  of  their  own,  but  the  kindness 
of  their  hearts  has  prompted  them  to  give 
homes  to  six  different  children,  namely :  So- 
phia Norris,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  R.  M. 
Cathcart  and  resides  upon  Mr.  Marquiss' 
farm;  Lillie  Ives,  the  wife  of  Don  P. 
Chandler,  a  resident  of  Nebraska;  Minnie 
Hubbard,  who  died  in  San  Diego,  Califor- 
nia; Delta  M.  Parsons,  now  the  wife  of  Doc- 
tor Keel,  of  Monticello:  Jessie  Parsons,  who 
is  teaching  school  southeast  of  White  Heath, 
and  Florence  Tripp,  who  is  nine  years  of  age, 
and  is  yet  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marquiss. 


Mr.  Marquiss  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  served  as  asses- 
sor in  his  township,  was  also  township  clerk, 
highway  commissioner  and  school  director. 
He  was  found  so  loyal  and  faithful  in  all 
of  his  local  offices  that  his  fellow  townsmen 
conferred  upon  him  higher  political  honors, 
electing  him  to  the  fortieth  general  assem- 
bly as  the  representative  of  what  was  then 
the  Thirtieth  senatorial  district.  There  he 
served  on  several  committees,  including  those 
on  license,  agriculture,  roads  and  bridges, 
public  buildings,  public  grounds  and  state 
institutions.  He  was  an  active  working 
member  of  the  house  and  did  everything  in 
his  power  to  promote  what  he  believed  would 
prove  the  best  interests  of  the  state.  He  has 
been  president  of  the  DeLand  village  board 
for  three  terms  and  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  growth  and  development  of  this  place. 
Prompt  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  his  official  service  is  a  criterion  of  his 
entire  career,  for  in  all  life's  relations  the 
qualities  of  an  honorable  and  upright  man- 
hood have  been  manifested.  He  enjoys  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  young  and  old, 
rich  and  poor,  and  well  deserves  representa- 
tion in  the  history  of  his  native  county. 


WILLIAM    S.    HIGGINS. 

William  S.  Higgins  is  one  of  the  native 
sons  of  Piatt  county  and,  although  a  young 
man,  is  classed  among  the  representative 
farmers  successfully  conducting  agricultural 
pursuits  upon  his  home  place  on  section  10, 
Monticello  township.  -  He  was  born  on  the 
2d  of  December,  1872,  in  Milmine,  a  son 
of  George  and  Henrietta  Higgins.  He  be- 


FIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


223 


gun  his  education  in  the  Shadynook  school 
and  later  successfully  attended  the  Howell 
and  Baker  schools,  continuing  his  studies 
until  fifteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
devoted  his  entire  time  to  assisting  his  fath- 
er in  the  work  of  the  home  farm.  He  never 
worked  for  any  one  save  his  father  until  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account.  This 
occurred  in  the  year  1895. 

On  the  i8th  of  March,  of  that  year,  Wil- 
liam S.  Higgins  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Josephine  Lewis,  a  daughter  of  Steph- 
en and  Omilia  (Oliver)  Lewis,  of  In- 
diana. The  young  couple  began  their  domes- 
.  tic  life  upon  the  Hale  farm,  which  Mr.  Hig- 
gins rented  for  five  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  the  C.  E.  Pierson  farm  which  he 
rented  for  three  years,  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time  he  took  up  his  abode  upon  a  farm 
which  is  now  his  home.  He  cultivates  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and  he  is 
making  a  specialty  of  the  production  of 
corn  and  oats.  He  also  feeds  a  large  number 
of  hogs  annually  for  the  market,  and  he  has 
eighteen  head  of  cattle,  principally  of  the 
Galloway  and  shorthorn  breeds.  He  also 
has  eight  head  of  horses  and  several  mules 
which  he  utilizes  in  the  cultivation  of  his 
farm.  He  now  owns  a  Galloway  bull,  for 
which  he  has  refused  sixty  dollars,  and  he 
has  a  shorthorn  cow  called  Roney  for  which 
he  has  refused  one  hundred  dollars.  Mr. 
Higgins  keeps  good  stock  and  manifests 
practical  judgment  in  their  care.  He  also 
has  a  nice  orchard  upon  his  place  and  every- 
thing about  his  farm  is  in  various  ways 
showing  him  to  be  a  wide-awake,  loyal  and 
enterprising  owner. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higgins  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children,  but  only 
one  is  now  living — George  D.,  who  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth,  and  is  now  a  lad 


of  five  years.  Emmet,  the  eldest,  died  at 
the  age  of  one  year  and  twelve  days.  The 
other  children,  Iva  and  Ora,  were  twins  and 
died  in  infancy.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Higgins  is  a  Democrat,  but,  though  re- 
quested many  times  to  accept  public  office, 
he  has  always  refused,  preferring  to  devote 
his  time  and  energies  to  his  business  affairs, 
in  which  he  is  meeting  with  creditable  and 
well-merited  success. 


HIRAM  ROYSE. 

When  Hiram  Royse  was  called  to  the 
home  beyond  one  more  name  was  added  to 
the  list  of  honored  dead,  whose  earthly  rec- 
ords closed  with  the  words  "Well  done, 
thou  good  and  faithful  servant,"  but  as 
long  as  memory  remains  to  those  who  knew 
him  the  influence  of  his  upright  life  will 
remain  as  a  source  of  encouragement-and  in- 
spiration. "Our  echoes  roll  from  soul  to 
soul,"  and  the  good  we  do  lives  after  us 
through  all  ages,  handed  down  from  gener- 
ation to  generation.  Mr.  Royse  was  a  man 
well  known  in  Piatt  county,  where,  for 
many  years,  he  was  identified  with  agricul- 
tural pursuits. 

He  was  born  in  Bartholomew  county, 
Indiana,  upon  his  father's  farm,  October 
23.  1840.  His  parents  were  Aaron  and 
Elizabeth  (McGuyre)  Royse.  The  father 
was  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  and  the 
mother's  birth  also  occurred  in  that  state. 
They  remained  residents  of  Indiana  through- 
out their  entire  lives,  and  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  Aaron  Royse  was  connected 
with  agricultural  interests.  Thus  it  was 
that  Hiram  Royse  was  reared  upon  a  farmr 
and  like  most  farmer  boys  of  the  period  he 


224 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


attended  the  district  schools  through  the 
winter  months,  while  in  the  summer  seasons 
he  worked  upon  the  home  farm,  thus  contin- 
uing to  assist  his  father  until  he  reached  his 
twenty-second  year. 

At  that  time  Hiram  Royse  was  married, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Helen 
Long,  who  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  county, 
Ohio,  in  August.  1844,  being  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children, 
whose  parents  were  Young  B.  and  Cather- 
ine (Weaver)  Long.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Long  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
soon  after  their  marriage  they  removed  to 
Tuscarawas  county.  Ohio,  and  when  Mrs. 
Royse  was  a  little  maiden  of  six  summers 
they  went  to  Bartholomew  county.  Indiana, 
where  she  was  reared,  educated  and  mar- 
ried. It  was  on  the  23d  of  October,  1861, 
that  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Hi- 
ram Royse. 

The  young  couple  began  their  domestic 
life  in  Indiana,  where  they  lived  for  about 
seven  years.  They  also  spent  two  years  in 
Macon  county,  Illinois,  but  not  being 
pleased  with  that  locality,  they  removed  to 
DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  where  they  spent 
one  year.  On  the. expiration  of  that  period 
they  came  to  Piatt  county,  settling  in 
Goose  Creek  township  in  1871.  Mr.  Royse 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  new  land  upon 
which  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an 
improvement  made,  but  he  at  once  l>egan  to 
break  the  prairie  and  to  carry  on  the  work 
of  cultivation.  Therefore,  it  was  not  long 
before  a  marked  change  was  wrought  in  the 
appearance  of  the  place,  and  instead  of  the 
wild  prairie  grasses  were  seen  rich  fields  of 
grain,  giving  promise  of  abundant  harvests. 
From  time  to  time  Mr.  Royse  added  to  his 
property  as  his  financial  resources  increased 
until  within  the  boundaries  of  his  farm 


was  comprised  a  valuable  tract  of  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  On  this  place  he  car- 
ried on  general  agricultural  pursuits  and 
stock-raising,  meeting  with  excellent  success 
in  his  undertakings.  He  erected  a  good  res- 
idence, built  substantial  barns  and  other 
outbuildings  and  added  other  improvements 
as  they  were  needed.  His  farm  became  a 
valuable  one,  attractive  in  appearance  and 
was  the  visible  evidence  of  the  life  of  indus- 
try and  enterprise  led  by  Mr.  Royse.  For 
many  years  he  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits with  success,  annually  adding  to  his 
income  until  he  had  obtained  a  very  desira- 
ble competence.  He  then  removed  from  his 
farm  to  Monticello  in  1895  and  continued 
to  make  his  home  in  the  capital  city  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  Ma}'  14,  1900. 
The  last  five  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
honorable  retirement  from  business  cares. 
He  well  merited  the  rest  which  came  to  him 
for  all  that  he  possessed  had  been  acquired 
through  his  own  honest  efforts. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Royse  were  born 
nine  children :  Emily,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  A.  M.  Doss,  a  resident  farmer  of  Wil- 
low Branch  township;  Amanda  E.,  the  wife 
of  Fred  Swam,  also  a  farmer;  Albert  E., 
who  resides  in  Johnson  county,  Indiana ; 
Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  John  Stilabower,  oi 
Piatt  county :  Ella  O.,who  died  in  her 
eighth  year;  Clara  E.,  the  deceased  wife  of 
William  O.  Daffer;  Josie,  at  home;  John  A., 
who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in 
Goose  Creek  township;  and  Harvey  E.,  who 
is  a  student  in  school. 

The  home  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  is  still  in  possession  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  of  this  Mrs.  Royse  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  her  own  right.  She 
has  performed  her  part  of  wife  and  mother 
in  the  home,  and  is  a  most  estimable  ladv 


I  MATT    COUNTY.     ILLINOIS. 


who  shares  in  the  high  regard  of  all  with 
\\hnni  she  comes  in  contact.  She  has  a 
comfortable  residence  in  Monticello,  where 
she  is  now  living,  and  she  has  seventeen 
grandchildren,  who  take  great  delight  in 
visiting  their  grandmother.  Of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  she  is  an  acceptable 
member  and  her  life  has  ever  been  in  con- 
sistent harmony  with  its  teachings  and 
faith.  To  this  church  Mr.  Royse  belonged 
and  was  one  of  its  liberal  contributors,  took 
an  active  interest  in  its  work  and  thus  did 
what  he  could  to  advance  its  growth  and 
welfare.  He  died  in  its  faith  in  1900,  and, 
passing  away,  he  left  to  his  family  not  only 
a  handsome  competence,  but  also  an  untarn- 
ished record,  for  his  life  was  ever  honorable 
and  those  who  knew  him  entertained  for 
him  the  highest  confidence. 


J.   M.   SHIVELY. 

The  world  instinctively  pays  deference 
to  the  man  whose  success  has  been  wor- 
thily achieved,  who  has  overcome  the  ob- 
stacles in  his  path  and  has  reached  a 
creditable  position  in  the  business  world. 
This  is  a  progressive  age  and  he  who  does 
not  continually  advance  is  soon  left  be- 
hind. By  the  improvement  of  opportun- 
ities by  which  all  are  surrounded,  J. 
M.  Shively  has  steadily  and  honorably 
worked  his  way  upward  and  is  to-day  one 
of  the  prosperous  business  men  of  Cerro 
Gordo,  where  he  is  connected  with  the 
grain  trade  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
J.  M.  Shively  &  Company.  He  repre- 
sents an  old  and  prominent  family  of  the 
county.  He  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1860, 
a  son  of  Andrew  and  Barbara  (Metzger) 


Shively,  the  former  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Clinton 
county,  Indiana.  Andrew  Shively  went 
to  Indiana  in  his  youth,  locating  first  in 
Clinton  county,  where  he  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  1872.  He  then 
came  to  Piatt  county  and  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  in  Cerro  Gordo  township, 
where  he  carried  on  general  farming  with 
success  until  1887.  His  well  directed  ef- 
forts, his  sound  business  judgement  and 
his  indefatigable  industry  brought  to  him 
capital  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  put 
aside  business  cares  and  after  removing  to 
Cerro  Gordo  he  lived  retired  here  for  a 
few  years.  Wishing,  however,  to  enjoy 
the  balmy  climate  of  California,  he  re- 
moved to  Lordsburg,  that  state,  where 
he  is  still  living,  resting  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  Cerro  Gordo  in  1895. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children : 
Susan,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Isaac  Metz- 
ger, a  resident  of  Cerro  Gordo;  John  M., 
our  subject ;  and  Joseph,  who  resides  upon 
a  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo  township. 

To  the  public  school  system  of  this 
county  J.  M.  Shively  is  indebted  for  the 
educational  privileges  he  enjoyed.  After 
putting  aside  his  text  books  he  began 
farming  in  Cerro  Gordo  township  and 
was  thus  employed  until  1887,  when  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  the  town  and  turned 
his  attention  to  the  grain  business.  The 
grain  elevator  which  he  owns  is  the 
largest  here.  It  was  built  in  1886  by  Mr. 
Shellabaer,  who  operated  it  until  May, 
1889,  and  then  sold  to  E.  R.  Ulrich  &  Son 
and  this  firm  continued  to  conduct  the 
business  until  the  spring  of  1902,  when 
they  sold  it  to  Mr.  Shively  and  on  the  ist 
of  November,  1902,  our  subject  admitted 


226 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


H.  Phillips  to  a  partnership  and  the  enter- 
prise has  since  been  carried  on  under  the 
firm  style  of  J.  M.  Shively  &  Company. 
They  are  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
grain,  for  which  they  pay  the  highest 
market  price  and  their  business  has  al- 
ready assumed  extensive  and  profitable 
proportions. 

Mr.  Shively  was  happily  married  to 
Miss  Katie  Wagoner,  of  Oakley,  Macon 
county,  Illinois,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Brethren  church  of 
Cerro  Gordo.  In  politics  he  is  indepen- 
dent, supporting  the  men  whom  he  thinks 
best  qualified  for  office.  He  has  never 
held  nor  desired  office  for  himself,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  affairs,  in  which  he  is 
meeting  with  creditable  success.  His  life 
has  been  quietly  passed  and  yet  there  are 
in  his  history  lessons  worthy  of  considera- 
tion and  emulation,  for  he  has  always"  been 
loyal  to  the  ties  of  home,  of  friendship 
and  of  citizenship  and  such  a  man  well 
merits  the  esteem  of  those  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact. 


FLORENCE  SULLIVAN. 

Among  the  worthy  sons  of  the  Emer- 
ald Isle  who  have  become  residents  of 
Illinois  is  numbered  Florence  Sullivan  and 
there  is  in  his  life  record  much  that  is 
worthy  of  commendation  and  emulation. 
He  has  engaged  in  the  harness  business 
in  Mansfield  since  1870  and  under  circum- 
stances that  would  have  utterly  discour- 
aged many  a  man  of  less  resolute  spirit  he 
has  worked  his  way  stead'ly  upward,  ac- 
quiring a  comfortable  competence  and 


gaining  the  respect  and  good  will  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 

Mr.  Sullivan  is  a  native  of,  County 
Cork,  Ireland,  born  on  the  4th  of  May, 
1836.  His  parents  were  Florence  and 
Ellen  (Rouan)  Sullivan,  in  whose  family 
were  nine  children,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  The 
children  were  named  as  follows:  Corne- 
lius, Mary,  Julia,  James,  Daniel,  Florence, 
Johanna,  Patrick  and  John,  but  Mr.  Sulli- 
van of  this  review  is  the  only  one  now  liv- 
ing. In  the  schools  of  his  native  country 
he  began  his  education  and  was  there 
reared  to  manhood.  He  perhaps  had  more 
advantages  than  some  boys  and  less  than 
others.  His  youth,  however,  was  largely 
a  period  of  toil.  He  was  thirteen  years  of 
age  when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
America  in  company  with  some  of  his  rel- 
atives, the  family  embarking  on  the  sail- 
ing vessel  Bridalbin,  which  was  five  weeks 
and  three  days  in  completing  the  voyage. 
At  length,  however,  anchor  was  dropped 
in  the  harbor  of  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
in  the  year  1849  and  the  family  went  from 
that  city  to  Rutland,  Vermont. 

In  1851  Mr.  Sullivan  had  both  of  his 
legs  taken  off  by  the  cars.  He  afterward 
learned  the  harness  maker's  trade  and  em- 
barked in  business  on  his  own  account  in 
the  spring  of  1854.  opening  a  shop  in 
Aurora,  New  York.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  was  employed  in  making  harness  for 
the  army  and  earned  good  wages  at  that 
time.  He  has  ever  been  a  man  of  un- 
faltering industry  and  certainly  deserves 
great  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished 
m  life.  He  continued  to  reside  in  the  east 
until  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois, 
establishing  his  home  in  Mansfield,  Piatt 
county,  on  the  3d  of  November.  Here  he 


PIATT    COUNTY>     ILLINOIS. 


227 


opened  a  harness  shop  which  he  has  since 
conducted.  He  is  an  excellent  workman 
in  this  line  and  the  business  which  he  has 
carried  on  has  brought  to  him  a  good 
financial  return  because  of  the  splendid 
quality  of  harness  which  he  manufactures. 
These  find  a  ready  sale  upon  the  market 
and  he  now  enjoys  a  good  trade. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1870,  Mr.  Sulli- 
van was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet McCarty  and  unto  them  were  born 
four  children,  but  the  mother  and  children 
have  all  passed  away.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  Sullivan  is  independent,  voting 
for  the  men  rather  than  the  party.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  village  board 
for  two  years  and  is  deeply  interested  in 
everything  pertaining  to  the  progress  and 
welfare  of  his  community.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Roman  Catholic  church 
and  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  American 
citizen  imbued  with  the  progressive  spirit 
of  the  times  and  keeping  in  touch  with 
the  world's  advancement. 


COLONEL   W.    H.    JAMISON.     - 

Deeds  of  valor  have  been  the  theme  of 
song  and  story  throughout  all  the  ages,  nor 
can  such  tales  be  told  too  often.  When  this 
country  became  involved  in  civil  war  over 
the  attempt  of  the  south  to  destroy  the 
Union,  patriotic  men  from  all  walks  of  life 
flocked  to  the  standard  of  their  country. 
They  came  from  the  shops,  the  fields,  the 
counting  room,  the  offices  and  even  from  the 
pulpits,  all  anxious  to  aid  in  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  nation.  Among  the  brave  sons 
of  Illinois  was  Colonel  William  H.  Jamison. 
Although  several  years  passed  after  the  close 


of  the  war  before  he  was  called  to  his  final 
rest,  he  practically  laid  down  his  life  upon 
the  altar  of  his  country  for  his  long  and  ar- 
duous service  in  its  defense,  undermined 
his  health  that  he  was  never  again  able  to 
take  his  place  among  the  active  business 
men.  All  honor  is  due  him  and  his  -name 
should  be  enrolled  high  among  the  brave 
sons  of  Illinois  who  bore  such  a  glorious 
part  in  the  struggle  for  the  Union. 

Colonel  Jamison  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  in  the  Empire  state,  on  the  6th 
of  October,  1831.  His  parents  were  Wil- 
liam and  Ann  Jamison,  the  former  of 
Scotch  and  Irish  extraction,  while  the  latter 
was  horn  in  England.  In  her  early  girlhood, 
however,  she  was  brought  to  America,  be- 
coming a  resident  of  New  York.  During 
the  early  boyhood  of  the  Colonel  his  parents 
removed  from  New  York  to  Ohio,  settling 
in  Franklin  county,  about  ten  miles  east  of 
Columbus,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  ac- 
quiring his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
and  in  a  select  school  of  London,  Ohio.  In 
1855  he  started  westward  and  came  as  far 
as  Monticello,  Illinois.  He  had  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade  in  London,  Ohio,  and 
on  arriving  in  this  city  he  opened  a  shop, 
which  he  continued  to  conduct  until  after 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  in  re- 
sponse to  his  country's  call  for  troops  he  en- 
listed, becoming  a  member  of  the  Twenty- 
first  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  under  com- 
mand of  Colonel  U.  S.  Grant.  He  was  mus- 
tered in  at  Mattoon,  Illinois,  and  on  the  or- 
ganization of  the  company  he  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant.  He  participated  in 
a  number  of  important  battles  which  bore 
a  part  in  shaping  the  final  victory  of  the 
Union  army.  He  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ment at  Lookout  Mountain  and  in  the  battle 
of  Franklin,  Tennessee,  and  at  that  place  he 


228 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


barely  escaped  with  his  life,  a  ball  passing 
through  his  chin  whiskers.  He  was  always  a 
loyal  and  valorous  soldier,  and  his  bravery 
and  meritorious  conduct  on  the  field  of  battle 
several  times  won  him  promotion.  He  was 
first  made  captain  of  his  company,  then  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  major,  and  finally  be- 
came lieutenant  colonel  of  his  regiment,  with 
which  rank  he  served  until  after  the  close 
of  the  war,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge 
in  December,  1865,  having  been  with  the 
army  over  four  years.  His  military  service 
was  certainly  most  creditable.  He  was  a 
faithful  officer,  and  while  he  never  need- 
lessly exposed  his  men  to  danger,  he  often 
led  them  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight  and 
by  his  own  courage  inspired  them  to  deeds 
of  valor. 

Colonel  Jamison,  however,  made  a  great 
sacrifice  for  his  country.  He  returned  to  his 
home  in  Monticello  much  broken  in  health, 
and  was  thereafter  unable  to  attend  to  busi- 
ness. He  continued  to  suffer  from  the  trou- 
bles brought  about  by  the  exposures  and 
hardships  of  army  life  -until  thirteen  years 
had  passed  and  he  was  then  called  to  his 
final  rest  in  1878. 

Before  going  to  the  war  Colonel  Jami- 
son had  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Tinder, 
who  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  igth  of  March,  1833,  the  sec- 
ond daughter  of  Asher  W.  and  Delila  C. 
(Lewis)  Tinder.  In  1853  ner  parents  re- 
moved to  Piatt  county.  She  was  at  that 
time  a  young  lady  of  about  twenty  years, 
and  on  the  loth  of  February.  1856,  she  gave 
her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Jamison.  They 
became  the  parents  of  two  daughters :  Inez 
and  Flo  A.,  the  wife  of  Scott  Miller,  a  res- 
ident of  Wilmington,  Illinois.  He  is  the  su- 
perintendent of  the  Widows'  Home  and  was 
instrumental  in  its  establishment.  Mrs. 


Jamison  has  two  granddaughters :  Zola 
L'rda,  who  is  an  artist;  and  Mattie,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Tippett,  circuit  court 
clerk  and  recorder  of  Piatt  county. 

Colonel  Jamison  was  a  most  active  and 
earnest  Republican,  joining  the  party  on  its 
organization.  It  become  the  defender  of  the 
Union  in  the  dark  days  of  the  country's 
peril,  and  he  never  wavered  in  his  allegiance 
thereto,  giving  to  it  his  stalwart  support  up 
to  the  time  of  his  demise.  He  did  every- 
thing he  could  for  its  success,  and  he  was 
always  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  city  and  the  promotion  of  its  best  inter- 
ests. At  his  death  many  friends  mourned 
his  loss  for  his  many  excellent  traits  of  char- 
acter had  endeared  him  to  those  with  whom 
he  was  associated.  His  widow  is  a  member 
of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  of  Monticello, 
and  also  of  the  Chapter  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
the  auxiliary  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  She 
is  a  lady  of  culture,  having  graduated  in  the 
high  school  of  London,  Ohio,  and  she  has  a 
good  home  in  Monticello  and  is  granted  a 
pension  by  the  government. 


JAMES    W.    LOWTHER. 

Prominent  among  the  citizens  of  Piatt 
county  who  have  witnessed  the  marvelous 
development  of  this  section  of  the  state  in 
the  past  thirty-five  years,  and  who  have,  by 
honest  toil  and  industry,  succeeded  in  ac- 
quiring a  competence  and  are  now  able  to 
spend  the  evening  of  life  in  quiet  and  retire- 
ment, is  the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch.  His  home  is  on  section  7, 
Unity  township. 

Being  left  an  orphan  at  a  very  early  age, 
Mr.  Lowthers  knows  nothing  of  his  par- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


231 


ents,  and  he  was  reared  by  John  Daw-son,  of 
Ohio.  His  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed 
upon  the  farm,  where  he  early  became  famil- 
iar with  hard  work  and  thoroughly  mastered 
agricultural  pursuits,  but  his  literary  educa- 
tion was  limited.  He  was  reared  amid  pio- 
neer conditions  in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  and 
when  a  boy  often  used  a  single  shovel 
plow  drawn  by  one  horse.  Many  a  day  he 
has  dropped  corn  by  hand  and  cut  grain  with 
a  scythe  and  cradle.  The  hum  of  the  spin- 
ning wheel  was  heard  throughout  the  day 
in  the  home  of  his  foster  parents,  and  the 
clothes  of  the  girls  were  made  from  lin- 
sey-woolsey, while  the  boys  wore  jeans. 
Kerosene  lamps  had  not  come  into  use,-  and 
tallow  candles  furnished  the  light  in  the  lit- 
tle pioneer  homes. 

Coming  west  in  1868,  Mr.  Lowther  set- 
tled in  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  has  since 
watehecl  with  interest  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  this  portion  of  the  country. 
The  wild  prairies  stretched  for  miles 
around  and  were  covered  with  ponds  and 
sloughs,  and  small  game  was  plentiful.  The 
railroad  had  not  then  been  built  through 
Voorhies  and  he  has  seen  the  upbuilding 
of  that  and  other  villages  in  this  county. 

For  one  year  after  his  arrival  Mr.  Low- 
thers  worked  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand 
and  then  rented  land  until  1875.'  In  the 
meantime  he  saved  money  to  buy  a  home 
and  invested  in  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  raw  prairie  on  section  7,  Unity 
township,  for  which  he  paid  twenty-five  dol- 
lars and  a  half  per  acre,  but  it  is  now  worth 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  pet- 
acre.  After  tiling  and  draining  his  land  he 
placed  it  under  cultivation  and  successfully 
engaged  in  general  farming  for  several  years. 
He  planted  every  tree  now  found  upon  the 
place,  built  fences,  set  out  an  orchard  and 


made  many  other  improvements,  so  that  he 
now  has  a  very  desirable  place.  For  the 
past  nine  years  he  has  practically  lived,  re- 
tired from  active  labor,  leaving  the  land  to 
be  operated  by  a  tenant,  and  Mr.  Hubbell 
has  been  in  charge  for  three  years.  Mr. 
Lowther  votes  the  Republican  ticket  and 
takes  a  commendable  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs. He  is  one  of  the  old  and  honored 
residents  of  his  section  of  the  county  and 
deserves  representation  in  the  Past  and  Pres- 
ent of  Piatt  county. 


SAMUEL  J.   FOULK. 

Samuel  J.  Foulk,  who  is  connected  with 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Bement  township, 
where  he  owns  and  operates  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  on  section  21,  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Somerset  county,  on  .the  3ist  of  January, 
1843.  The  family  is  of  German  descent 
and  was  founded  in  America  by  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject  who  came  from 
that  country  and  located  in  the  Keystone 
state.  George  Foulk,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  died  in  Pennsylvania  when  a 
comparatively  young  man.  Jacob  Foulk, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Som- 
erset county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1817,  and 
throughout  his  entire  life  he  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  in  the  state  of  his  na- 
tivity. He  was  a  prosperous  and  progress- 
ive man,  his  business  being  capably  con- 
ducted along  the  lines  which  brought  to  him 
a  good  financial  return.  His  political  sup- 
port was  given  to  the  Whig  party  until  its 
dissolution  when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the 
new  Republican  party,  but  while  he  kept 
well  informed  on  the  questions  and  issues 


232 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


of  the  day,  he  never  sought  or  desired  public 
office,  content  to  do  his  duty  as  a  private 
citizen.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Mennonite 
church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged.  In 
her  maidenhood  Mrs.  Foulk  bore  the  name 
of  Barbara  Gincrick.  She  was  born  in 
1816  in  Germany,  and  when  seventeen  years 
of  age  came  to  the  United  States  with  her 
brother,  her  parents  having  died  in  the  fath- 
erland. Her  death  occurred  when  she  was 
seventy-three  years  of  age.  To  her  family 
she  was  a  devoted  wife  and  loving  mother, 
and  by  her  marriage  she  had  seven  children, 
of  whom  three  are  living,  the  subject  of  this 
review  being  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 
His  brothers  are  Jeremiah,  who  is  a  retired 
farmer  residing  in  Pennsylvania;  and  Ana- 
nias, who  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Pennsylvania. 

Samuel  J.  Foulk  remained  in  the  Key- 
stone state  until  after  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  and  in  1865,  when  twenty-two 
years  of  age  he  came -to  the  west,  believing  • 
that  he  might  have  better  opportunities  in 
this  growing  section  of  the  country.  He 
located  in  McLean  county,  Illinois,  near 
Hayworth,  where  he  lived  for  one  year,  de- 
voting his  energies  to  general  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  then  removed  to  the  vicinity 
of  Bloomington,  where  he  resided  for  five 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
came  to  Piatt  county  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Bement  township.  This 
was  situated  on  section  21  and  was  only  par- 
cially  improved,  but  with  characteristic  en- 
ergy he  began  its  further  cultivation  and 
development,  and  as  the  years  have  passed 
he  has  also  extended  the  boundaries  of  his 
farm  until  it  now  comprises  two  hundred 
acres,  a  part  of  which  he  rents  to  a  tenant, 
but  the  remainder  of  the  land  he  cultivates 
and  it  has  been  his  home  since  his  arrival 


in  Piatt  county  in  the  early  seventies.  He 
carries  on  general  farming  and  stock-raising 
and  in  his  business  career  he  has  met  with 
prosperity,  owing  to  the  excellent  farming 
methods  which  he  follows  and  his  progress- 
ive labors,  placing  him  in  the  front  ranks 
of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  com- 
munity. 

In  1863  Mr.  Foulk  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Lizzie  Welfly,  who  was  born 
in  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came 
to  Illinois  after  her  marriage.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Israel  and  Susannah  Welfly, 
who  were  likewise  natives  of  the  Keystone 
state.  The  father  is  still  living  at  the  age 
of  ninety-three  years,  but  the  mother  passed 
away  many  years  ago,  dying  at  the  early 
age  of  twenty-eight  years.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Foulk  have  been  born  five  children,  but 
only  one  is  now  living.  The  eldest,  Emma, 
died  at  the  age  of  six  months;  the  second 
died  in  infancy ;  Alsinus  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years ;  and  Orville  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years.  The  three  eldest  were  born 
in  McLean  county  and  the  others  in  Be- 
ment township.  The  living  son  is  Earl  E., 
who  was  the  fifth  member  of  the  family  and 
is  now  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  was 
educated  in  Bement  township  and  assists  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foulk  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  church,  taking  an  active  and 
helpful  part  in  its  work,  and  he  is  serving  as 
steward,  and  is  one  of  the  church  trustees. 
In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and 
held  the  office  of  school  director,  while  at 
the  present  time  he  is  school  trustee.  The 
cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm 
friend  who  has  done  much  to  promote  the 
interests  of  the  schools  and  advance  their 
permanent  improvement.  Coming  to  the 
west  in  earlv  manhood,  Mr.  Foulk  here 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


233 


found  the  business  opportunities  he  sought 
for  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land  there  is  no  better  agricultural  district 
than  is  afforded  in  Piatt  county.  Working 
earnestly  and  systematically  he  has  year  by 
year  added  to  his  possessions  until  he  is  now 
accounted  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of 
this  community. 


LOUIS  BENARD. 

Louis  Benard  is  a  retired  farmer  and 
extensive  landowner  now  residing  in  the 
village  of  Hammond,  where  he  occupies 
a  beautiful  residence.  He  is  well  known 
throughout  Piatt  county  and  is  numbered 
among  its  pioneer  settlers  for  he  located 
in  Bement  in  1864  and  has  since  resided 
in  this  portion  of  the  state.  Great  changes 
have  occurred  since  that  time  and  the 
transformation  wrought  in  Piatt  has  kept 
this  county  abreast  with  the  universal  im- 
provement, making  it  one  of  the  leading 
agricultural  counties  of  this  great  state. 
For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Benard  was 
actively  associated  with  farming  interests 
and  as  the  years  passed  he  made  judicious 
investments  in  real  estate  until  he  is  now 
one  of  the  extensive  landowners. 

A  native  of  Canada,  Louis  Benard  was 
born  in  Montreal  in  1837,  and  is  a  son  of 
Louis  and  Ovede  (LaCrosse)  Benard,  who 
were  also  natives  of  Canada,  in  which 
country  they  spent  their  entire  lives,  the 
father  devoting  his  energies  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  there.  Unto  him  and  his 
wife  were  born  ten  children,  among  whom 
were  three  son.s  who  served  in  the  Union 
army  and  are  now  residents  of  Albany, 
New  York.  The  other  members  of  the 


family,  with  the  exception  of  our  subject, 
are  residents  of  Montreal. 

Mr.  Benard  of  this  review  obtained  his 
education  in  the  country  schools  of  Can- 
ada and  at  the  age,  of  seventeen  years  he 
left  home,  going  to  Upper  Canada  and 
afterward  to  Ogdensburg,  New  York. 
Starting  out  in  life  with  but  limited  means, 
he  soon  realized  that  there  is  no  royal 
road  to  wealth  and  also  recognized  the 
fact  that  persistency  of  purpose  and 
strong  determination  are  forceful  ele- 
ments in  obtaining  success.  Therefore  he 
labored  energetically  at  whatever  claimed 
his  attention.  While  living  in  Ogdens- 
burg, New  York,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mary  Smithers,  a  native  of 
St.  Lawrence  county,  that  state,  born  on 
the  Qth  of  Ocober,  1837,  and  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Marie  (Stephens)  Smith- 
ers. who  were  natives  of  England  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1836,  settling 
in  St.  Lawrence  county,  New.  York,  where 
both  the  father  and  mother  passed  away. 
Throughout  the  years  of  his  active  busi- 
ness career  Mr.  Smithers  engaged  in 
farming. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Benard  re- 
sided for  five  months  in  New -Hampshire 
and  during  that  time  learned  and  followed 
the  shoemaker's  trade.  He  afterward  re- 
moved to  Vermont,  living  successively  in 
Northfield,  Montpelier  and  other  places, 
where  he  followed  shoemaking  for  six 
years  or  until  August,  1864,  when  he 
came  to  the  west  and  has  since  made  his 
home  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  He  set- 
tled in  the  village  of  Bement,  Piatt  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  worked  at  the  shoe- 
makers' trade  for  four  years.  He  then 
traded  his  shoe  shop  for  a  team  of  horses 
and  removed  to  Moultrie  county,  Illinois, 


234 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


having  but  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents 
in  his  pocket  at  that  time.  There  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  four  years  and  in 
1872  he  returned  to  Piatt  county,  settling 
on  a  farm  in  Unity  township,  where  he 
engaged  in  tilling  of  the  soil  for  more  than 
twenty  years.  In  1895  he  removed  to  the 
village  of  Hammond  and  built  his  present 
residence,  since  which  time  he  has  lived 
retired.  Those  who  know  aught  of  his 
history  recognize  that  he  has  been  a  man 
of  marked  industry  who  has  carried  on  his 
work  so  steadily  and  energetically  that  he 
has  gained  a  comfortable  competence. 
He  is  still  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Unity  township 
near  Hammond,  this  constituting  a  well 
improved  property.  In  addition  to  this 
he  has  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  pro- 
ductive land  in  central  Minnesota  and  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  the  Ya- 
zoo  valley  in  Mississippi.  He  has  placed  his 
capital  in  the  safest  of  all  investments, 
real  estate,  and  is  to-day  the  owner  of  val- 
uable property  which  returns  to  him  a  splen- 
did income,  enabling  him  to  live  retired  from 
further  business  cares,  save  the  supervision 
of  his  property. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benard 
was  blessed  with  four  children :  Louis, 
who  is  with  his  parents;  Lilly,  the  wife  of 
Charles  Bunyan,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  in  Hammond ;  Marie,  the 
wife  of  John  Dick,  a  farmer  residing  in 
Moultrie  county,  Illinois ;  and  Fred  E., 
who  married  Ethel  Kizer,  by  whom  he 
has  one  child  and  who  is  now  engaged  in 
general  merchandising  in  Hammond. 

Mr.  Benard  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Democracy,  having  always  voted 
that  ticket,  but  he  has  never  been  an  of- 
fice seeker  nor  has  he  desired  political 


preferment.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  belonging  to  Bement 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  always  spends  his 
summer  months  on  his  land  in  Minnesota, 
while  the  winter  season  is  passed  in  his 
pleasant  home  in  Hammond.  He  is  a  man 
of  sterling  purpose,  of  strong  force  of 
character  and  of  upright  life  and  his  suc- 
cessful career  excites-  the  admiration  and 
commands  the  respect  of  those  who  are 
at  all  familiar  with  his  history.  He 
started  out  upon  his  business  career 
empty  handed  and  to  no  fortunate  com- 
bination of  circumstances  does  he  owe  his 
success.  Such  a  history  should  serve  as 
a  source  of  encouragemnt  to  others,  show- 
ing that  prosperity  may  be  won  through 
perseverance  and  diligence. 


JOHN  G.  FULK. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  in  one  of 
the  leading  and  representative  citizens  of 
Cerro  Gordo  township,  where  after  years 
of  active  labor  mainly  devoted  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  he  is  now  living  retired 
at  his  pleasant  home  on  section  35.  He 
was  born  in  Rockingham,  Virginia,  No- 
vember 9,  1849,  an<i  is  a  son  °f  John  and 
Martha  (Roadcap)  Fulk,  who  spent  their 
entire  lives  in  that  state.  In  their  family 
were  ten  children,  all  of  whom  reached 
man  and  womanhood.  Two  of  the  sons 
were  killed  during  the  Civil  war,  one  while 
serving  in  the  Southern  army,  and  the 
other  while  fighting  with  the  Union  forces 
in  North  Carolina.  The  father's  sym- 
pathies were  with  the  north  during  those 
trying  days.  One  son  and  five  of  the 
daughters  are  still  living  in  Virginia  and 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


235 


all  are  married  and  have  families.  One 
daughter  is  deceased. 

John  G.  Fulk  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  his  native  state  and  was  given 
good  educational  advantages.  On  reach- 
ing manhood  he  was  married  December 
19,  1875,  to  Miss  Sarah  Wine,  a  daughter 
of  Michael  S.  and  Elizabeth  (Fry)  Wine, 
also  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  where 
her  father  still  resides,  her  mother  being 
now  deceased.  They  had  five  children, 
two  sons  and  three  daughters,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living,  two  of  the  number 
making  their  home  in  Virginia.  One  son, 
J.  C.  Wine,  is  a  resident  of  Cerro  Gordo 
township,  this  county. 

Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fulk.  Rilla,  the  eldest,  is  now 
the  wife  of  O.  R.  Turney,  of  Pocahontas 
county,  Iowa,  and  has  two  children,  Fern 
and  Elma  J.  George  L.  is  a  graduate  of 
De  Pauw  University  at  Greencastle,  Indiana, 
and  is  now  studying  law  in  Chicago,  at  the 
same  time  being  in  the  employ  of  Bald- 
win Brothers,  prominent  attorneys  of  that 
city.  He  is  thus  making  his  way  through 
school  though  he  saved  part  of  the  money 
to  meet  his  expenses  while  teaching  in 
Kentucky  for  one  year.  He  is  also  serv- 
ing as  notary  public  in  Chicago.  William, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Cerro  Gordo  schools. 

It  was  on  the  28th  of  February,  1885, 
that  Mr.  Fulk  arrived  in  Piatt  county  and 
for  nine  years  he  rented  the  John  S.  Kuns 
farm.  He  had  brought  with  him  nine  hun- 
dred dollars,  but  this  was  spent  in  stocking 
the  farm  and  he  would  have  found  it  diffi- 
cult to  niake  a  start  here  if  it  had  not  been  for 
the  kindly  assistance  of  Mr.  Kuns,  who  is 
to-day  an  extensive  fruit  farmer  of  Cali- 
fornia. In  1894  he  removed  to  his  present 


farm  on  section  35,  Cerro  Gordo  town- 
ship, which  at  that  time  was  only  partially 
improved.  The  place  consisted  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  to  which  he  sub- 
sequently added  forty  acres,  but  he  later 
,  sold  eighty  acres,  so  that  he  to-day  has 
two  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  farming  land 
as  is  to  be  found  in  the  state.  He  has 
erected  thereon  a  large  and  substantial 
barn,  sixty  by  ninety  feet  with  a  brick 
floor,  and  capable  of  accommodating 
twenty  horses,  and  has  also  built  two  cat- 
tle stables  which  will  shelter  thirty  head. 
He  has  a  corn-crib  which  holds  about 
twenty-five  hundred  bushels  and  also  has 
storag-e  room  for  twenty-eight  -hundred 
bushels  of  small  grain  besides  seven  hun- 
dred bushels  of  oats  in  thp.  feed  bin.  He 
has  a  good  system  of  private  water  works 
upon  his  farm,  and  has  spent  between  five 
and  six  thousand  dollars  on  improvements 
since  locating  here,  making  his  place  one 
of  the  most  desirable  .farms  of  its  size  in 
this  section  of  the  state. 

To  his  industry,  enterprise  and  good 
management  Mr.  Fulk  ow>s  much  of  his 
success  in  life,  but  he  also  gives  his  wife 
credit  for  her  share  in  the  same  as  she  has 
proved  to  him  a  faithful  companion  and 
helpmate  on  life's  journey,  aiding  him  in 
every  possible  way  by  her  encouragement 
and  cheerfulness  as  well  as  by  her  labor. 
They  are  active  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church  of  Cerro  Gordo,  in  .which 
he  is  serving  as  deacon,  and  they  have  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know 
them.  Mr.  Fulk  is  now  practically  living 
retired  while  two  hired  men  operate  his 
farm,  although  he  still  gives  his  personal 
supervision  to  the  work.  During  eight  of 
the  nine  years  while  living  on  the  Kuns 
farm  he  served  as  school  director  and  has 


236 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


ever  given  an  earnest  support  to  those 
measures  calculated  to  advance  the  edu- 
cational, moral  and  material  welfare  of  the 
community  in  which  he  resides.  He  is 
therefore  justly  entitled  to  prominent 
mention  in  the  history  of  his  adopted 
county. 


WILLIAM    L.  LORD,    D.    D.    S. 

Although  one  of  the  more  recent  addi- 
tions to  the  professional  circles  of  Piatt 
county,  during  the  five  years  of  his  residence 
in  Monticello,  Dr.  Lord  has  gained  a  prom- 
inent position  as  one  of  the  leading  dentists 
here,  having  a  large  and  growing  practice. 
Dentistry  is  unique  among  the  professions, 
in  that  it  demands  three  elements  for  suc- 
cess— marked  technical  knowledge,  mechan- 
ical skill  and  the  ability  to  handle  the  finan- 
cial interests  of  the  work.  He  must  not  only 
be  well  equipped  in  the  knowledge  which 
can  be  gained  from  text  books,  but  he  must 
also  have  the  power  to  handle,  with  mechan- 
ical precision,  the  varied  and  delicate  little 
instruments  with  which  work  upon  the 
teeth  is  executed.  In  all  these  lines  Dr. 
Lord  is  well  equipped  for  his  professional 
work,  and  has  attained  a  high  degree  of  suc- 
cess in  the  prosecution  of  his  chosen  calling. 

A  native  of  Iowa,  Dr.  Lord  was  torn  in 
the  city  of  DesMoines,  on  the  8th  of  June, 
1857.  His  father,  P.  A.  Lord,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  but  removed  to  Iowa  in  1856,  and 
there  engaged  in  merchandising.  Later  he 
made  his  way  to  the  Pacific  coast,  where  he 
spent  six  years,  and  on  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  returned  to  the  east,  taking  up 
his  abode  in  Monticello,  Illinois,  where  he 
carried  on  merchandising  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  represent- 


atives of  business  interests  here,  and  his  ef- 
forts added  greatly  to  the  commercial  activ- 
ity of  the  citv.  He  married  Miss  Margaret 

J  *  o 

Oliver,  of  Mechanicsburg,  Illinois,  in  which 
place  she  was  born,  reared  and  married. 
Her  death  occurred  in  Monticello,  in  April, 
1899,  and  was  deeply  lamented  by  many 
friends,  who  had  learned  to  prize  highly  her 
sterling  worth  and  her  faithful  friend- 
ship. After  the  death  of  his  wife  P.  A. 
Lord,  having  disposed  of  all  his  property  in 
Monticello,  removed  to  Springfield.  Illinois, 
where  he  is  now  living,  in  the  seventy-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
October,  1829. 

Dr.  William  L.  Lord  spent  his  boyhood 
days  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Mount  Pulaski,  acquir- 
ing a  good  English  education.  Determining 
to  make  the  practice  of  dentistry  his  life 
work  he  then  entered  upon  preparation  for 
that  calling  as  a  student  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
D.  M.  Doty,  of  Mount  Pulaski.  He  com- 
pleted his  studies  by  attending  for  one  term 
the  dental  school  in  Washington  Territory, 
and  then  successfully  passing  an  examina- 
tion before  the  state  board,  he  received  a  cer- 
tificate to  practice  and  located  in  Mount  Pu- 
laski. 

In  1884  Dr.  Lord  located  in  Dayton,  the 
county  seat  of  Columbia  county.  Washing- 
ton, where  he  engaged  in  practice  for  four 
years,  or  until  1888.  He  then  returned  to 
Mount  Pulaski,  Illinois,  but  after  a  short 
time  removed  -to  Homer,  Illinois,  where  he 
practiced  successfully  for  nine  years.  He 
then  came  -to  Monticello,  arriving  on  the 
26th  of  January,  1898.  Here  he  has  since 
built  up  a  good  practice,  having  a  well  ap- 
pointed office  supplied  with  everything  nec- 
essary for  the  successful  prosecution  of  his 
work  in  accordance  with  modern  improved 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


237 


methods.  He  has  always  kept  abreast  with 
the  progress  of  the  times  in  the  science  of 
dentistry,  and  in  no  profession  has  there  been 
made  more  marked  advance  than  in  the  one 
to  which  Dr.  Lord  devoted  his  energies. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1879  Dr.  Lord 
was  happily  married  to  Miss  Mary  Eve 
Mathews,  who  was  torn  in  Mount  Pulaski, 
Illinois,  December  n,  1858.  They  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  four  still  liv- 
ing, namely  :  Ralph  O.,  who  is  assistant  gen- 
eral agent  of  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  & 
Dayton  Railroad  at  Sprinfield,  Illinois ;  Ada. 
L.,  the  wife  of  Carl  Motherspaw,  of  Peoria, 
Illinois;  Hilma  and  Eldon  H.,  who  are  at 
home.  On  the  I3th  of  January,  1900,  Mrs. 
Lord  was  called  to  her  final  rest.  She  had 
made  many  friends  during  her  brief  resi- 
dence in  Monticello  and  here,  as  in  other 
places  where  she  had  lived,  her  death  was 
deeply  mourned  by  those  who  knew  her. 
Perhaps  no  better  estimate  of  her  character 
and  life  can  be  given  than  was  presented  in 
the  obituary  notice  published  in  one  of  the 
Monticello  papers,  which  said :  "Mrs.  Lord 
was  a  devoted,  faithful  wife,  a  tender  and 
indulgent  mother  and  a  kind  and  thoughtful 
neighbor.  In  times  of  sickness  and  distress 
she  was  ever  ready  to  offer  her  assistance 
in  any  capacity  it  might  be  needed.  Her  na- 
ture was  broad  and  generous,  and  no  needy 
one  ever  appealed  to  her  for  aid  in  vain. 
She  was  an  accomplished  artist,  who  de- 
lighted in  the  beautiful  and  her  home  was 
adorned  with  many  specimens  of  her  talent 
and  skill.  Mrs.  Lord  was  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  was  of  a  deeply  religious 
nature,  but  was  quiet  and  unostentatious  in 
her  belief.  She  believed  in  deeds,  not  words, 
as  an  expression  of  her  faith,  and  in  her  life 
she  certainly  exemplified  the  true  spirit  of 
Christianitv.  She  was  a  member  of  the 


Royal  Neighbors  of  America  and  other  fra- 
ternal organizations,  and  in  their  beneficent 
work  took  an  active  part.  The  funeral  serv- 
ices were  in  charge  of  the  Monticello  Royal 
Neighbor  Camp,  and  the  funeral  sermon 
was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Calhoun. 
then  amid  the  flowers  which  she  loved  so 
well — a  very  profusion  of  beautiful  floral 
offerings — she  was  laid  to  rest." 

Dr.  Lord,  in  the  line  of  his  profession, 
holds  membership  with  the  Washington 
State  Dental  Society,  and  Eastern  Illinois 
society.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  many  excel- 
lent traits  of  character,  not  the  least  of 
which  is  his  public-spirited  citizenship  and 
his  deep  and  helpful  interest  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  general  welfare.  In  man- 
ner he  is  cordial  and  genial,  and  his  unfail- 
ing courtesy  has  rendered  him  popular  with 
those  whom  he  has  met — and  his  acquaint- 
ance is  a  wide  one.  His  attention,  like  that 
of  the  enterprising  business  man,  is  chiefly 
given  to  his  profession,  and  by  his  skill  and 
ability  he  has  won  the  liberal  patronage 
which  is  to-dav  accorded  him. 


SYLVESTER  WILHELMY,  M.  D. 

Sylvester  Wilhelmy  is  a  young  man 
of  strong  nature  and  marked  force  of 
character  who  could  never  content  him- 
self with  mediocrity.  He  has  engaged  in 
practice  in  the  village  of  La  Place  only  since 
the  29th  of  October,  1902,  but  has  already 
won  public  recognition  of  his  skill.  Dr. 
Wilhelmy  is  a  native  of  Decatur,  Illinois, 
and  was  born  on  the  27th  of  September, 
ber,  1875.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Mary 
Wilhelmy  are  residents  of  Decatur  and  the 
father  is  there  engaged  in  teaching  music. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


This  worthy  couple  are  the  parents  of  six 
children,  of  whom  Dr.  Sylvester  Wilhelmy 
is  the  second  son.  The  eldest  is  Dr.  A.  F. 
Wilhelmy,  a  medical  practitioner  in  Deca- 
tur.  The  daughter  Mrs.  E.  E.  Edwards 
resides  in  the  village  of  Cerro  Gordo. 
Mrs.  Charles  Edie  and  Mrs.  Charles  Pease 
are  residents  of  Decatur. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city 
Dr.  Wilhelmy  of  this  review  acquired  his 
early  education  and  in  Decatur  continued 
his  studies  until  he  had  completed  the 
high  school  course  by  graduation  with 
the  class  of  1897.  Desiring  to  enter  upon 
professional  life  and  making  choice  of  the 
practice  of  medicine  as  his  preferred  oc- 
cupation, he  then  went  to  Cincinnati, 
where  he  entered  upon  preparation  for  his 
chosen  calling  as  a  student,  in  the  Cincin- 
nati Medical  College,  in  which  he  re- 
mained for  four  years.  He  was  also  an  at- 
tendant in  the  hospital  of  the  same  college 
and  thus  gained  broad,  practical  exper- 
ience as  well  as  theoretical  knowledge. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  institution 
with  the  class  of  1901,  receiving  his 
diploma  of  practice  in  May  of  the  same 
year.  He  was  class  orator  the  same  year, 
which  is  the  highest  honor  of  the  class. 
He  then  returned  to  Macon  county  and, 
locating  west  of  Decatur,  entered  upon 
his  professional  career  there.  After  about 
a  year  and  a  half  he  came  to  La  Place  and 
purchased  the  practice  of  Dr.  Davidson, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  located  here, 
steadily  .  gaining  favor  with  the  public  as 
his  capability  is  evidenced. 

Dr.  Wilhelmy  was  married  in  Cincin- 
nati to  Miss  Ida  Sanker,  a  native  of  Cin- 
cinnati and  they  have  a  nice  residence  in 
La  Place  where  gracious  hospitality  is 
dispensed.  The  Doctor  is  connected  with 


the  Woodmen  of  America,  belonging  to 
the  camp  in  La  Place  and  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  while  his  religious  faith  is  in- 
dicated by  his  membership  in  the  Episco- 
pal church  in  Decatur.  As  there-  is  no 
drug  store  in  La  Place  he  carries  quite  a 
large  stock  of  drugs  in  his  office  and  he 
has  built  up  quite  an  extensive  practice, 
especially  through  the  country. 


THOMAS   J.  MITCHELL,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Thomas  J.  Mitchell  has  reached  the 
eightieth  milestone  on  life's  journey  and 
after  many  years  of  active  and  honorable 
connection  with  the  medical  fraternity  he  is 
now  living  a  retired  life.  He  was  born  in 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  June  18, 
1823.  a  son  of  Christopher  and  Mary  A. 
(Lillibridge)  Mitchell.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  his  father  loyally  served 
the  country  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Herkimer  county,  New  York, 
and  in  early  manhood  he  removed  to  Chau- 
tauqua county  of  the  same  state.  '  As  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  he 
married  Mary  Lillibridge,  who  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island  and  was  left  an  orphan  at  the 
age  of  ten  years.  About  that  time  she  went 
to  New  York  and  it  was  in  that  state  that 
she  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Mitch- 
ell, to  whom  she  afterward  gave  her  hand 
in  marriage.  A  farmer  by  occupation,  he 
devoted  his  energies  to  that  pursuit  through- 
out his  entire  business  career  and  he  died 
in  the  Empire  state  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  His  wife  also  reached 
a  ripe  old  age,  passing  away  in  her  eighti- 
eth vear.  She  was  the  mother  of  twelve 


DR  T.  J.  MITCHELL 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


241 


children,  of  whom  but  three  are  now  living, 
the  Doctor  and  one  brother  and  a  sister. 
Both  of  the  parents  were  laid  to  rest  on  the 
old  home  farm  in  New  York,  where  Dcctor 
.Mitchell's  birth  occurred. 

In  the  place  of  his  nativity  the  Doctor 
remained  until  the  time  when  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority  and  he  acquired  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
locality.  He. afterward  became  a  student  in 
the  Academy  at  Fredonia,  Chautauqua 
county,  and  when  he  had  completed  his 
academic  course  he  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine and  was  graduated  from  the  Louisville 
Medical  College  of  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
On  the  completion  of  that  course  he  re- 
turned to  New  York,  where  he  resided  for 
a  short  time,  but,  thinking  that  a  more  west- 
ern district  would  prove  a  better  location, 
he  started  for  Ohio  and  on  the  ist  of  Jan- 
uary, 1850,  he  opened  an  office  in  Ironton, 
Ohio,  on  the  Ohio  river.  There  he  contin- 
ued for  about  two  years,  removing  thence 
to  Lucasville,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  in 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  until 
the  fall  of  1853.  That  year  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois.  He  made 
the  journey  westward  by  wagon,  after  the 
primitive  manner  of  the  times  and  located 
in  Mackville,  where  he  practiced  for  about 
eighteen  years,  his  professional  skill  and 
ability  gaining  for  him  a  large  patronage. 
He  then  removed  to  Milmine,  where  he  re- 
sided for  five  years  and  on  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  came  to  the  village  of  Be- 
ment,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
continuing  in  active  practice  until  about 
1895,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  retired. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Piatt  County  Med- 
ical Society  and  a  physician  of  broad  learn- 
ing and  wide  experience.  He  continually 
added  to  his  knowledge  through  reading 


;md  research  and  his  practice  embraced  al- 
most every  department  of  the  medical  sci- 
ence. He  became  the  loved  family  physi- 
cian in  many  a  household.  There  is  no  man 
in  business  life  who  holds  a  more  confiden- 
tial relation  to  his  patrons  than  does  the 
physician  and  there  is  no  represesentative 
of  the  profession  who  has  had  stricter  re- 
gard for  the  ethics  of  the  fraternity  than  has 
Dcctor  Mitchell.  Of  a  hopeful  nature,  he 
carried  cheer  and.  sunshine  into  miny  a 
hcme  and  his  appearance  was  an  effective 
supplement  to  the  medicines  he  administered. 
In  Lucasville,  Ohio,  in  1851.  Doctor 
Mitchell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Nan- 
cy A.  Tabor,  the  widow  of  Edwin  A.  Talx>r. 
They  became  the  parents  of  a  daughter, 
Mary  A.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  James  A. 
Hawks,  of  Atwood,  Illinois.  Mr.  Hawks  is 
a  native  of  New  York  and  came  to  the  west 
in  1869.  He  engaged  in  teaching  school 
at  Mackville,  Illinois,  for  four  terms  after 
arriving  in  Piatt  county  and  then  became  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising.  After  a 
time,  however,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the 
milling  business  and  is  a  prominent  and  in- 
fluential representative  of  business  inter- 
ests in  Atwood.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil 
war  he  responded  to  his  country's  call  for 
aid,  enlisting  from  New  York  in  Battery 
G,  Third  New  York  Light  Artillery.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Roanoke  Is- 
land. Plymouth  and  Kingston  and  was 
never  wounded,  but  was  captured  and  for 
one  month  was  incarcerated  in  Libby  Pris- 
on. At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
to  his  home  and  he  soon  afterward  cast  in 
his  lot  with  the  residents  of  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  where  in  1877  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Mitchell.  At  one  time  he  served  as 
township  treasurer  and  supervisor,  and  in 
matters  pertaining  to  the  general  good  he 


-42 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


has  always  1>een  public-spirited  and  progres- 
sive. He  is  now  successfully  engaged  in 
business  in  Atwood  as  a  grain  merchant, 
lumber  dealer  and  banker,  and  bis  efforts 
have  been  effective  in  promoting  commercial 
activity  and  prosperity  of  the  town,  where 
he  resides.  Unto  him  and  his  wife  has  been 
born  a  daughter,  Mildred  C,  who  is  now 
seventeen  years  of  age.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage Mrs.  Mitchell  had  a  daughter,  Susan 
L.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  C.  H.  McCoy, 
of  North  Yakima.  Washington. 

In  1900  the  Doctor  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on 
the  7th  of  March  of  that  year  in  Bement, 
where  her  remains  were  interred.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  Boyle,  of  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  who  was  a  large  mill  owner, 
owning  and  operating  an  extensive  gristmill 
at  the  time  of  his  demise.  The  Doctor  aft- 
erward married  Mrs.  Susan  C.  Sampson, 
who  was  born  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and 
is  a  sister  of  his  first  wife. 

Doctor  Mitchell  has  ever  been  deeply 
interested  in  the  welfare  and  advance- 
ment of  his  country  and  when  the 
stability  of  the  Union  was  threatened 
by  the  secession  movement  in  the  south 
he  offered  his  services  to  the  govern- 
ment and  valiantly  aided  in  its  defense. 
For  fifteen  months  prior  to  his  own  enlist- 
ment he  was  engaged  in  recruiting  and 
helped  to  raise  nine  companies,  but  for  such 
service  he  received  no  remuneration.  It  was 
on  the  I3th  of  August,  1862,  that  he  enlist- 
ed, being  assigned  to  duty  in  Company  H. 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  With  that  command  he 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tennes- 
see, in  May,  1865.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Resaca  and  Rocky  Face  Creek  in 


Tennessee,  and  on  the  I2th  of  May,  1865, 
he  was  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  Eighth 
Tennessee  Mounted  Infantry  at  Nashville. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
Post  at  Bement,  and  thus  maintains  pleas- 
ant relations  with  his  old  army  comrades. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Piatt 
county,  where  he  has  continuously  made  his 
home,  and  no  resident  of  this  section  of  the 
state  is  more  highly  or  justly  honored.  His 
life  work  has  been  of  value  to  the  people 
among  whom  he  has  lived.  His  fidelity  to 
honorable  principles  has  been  above  question  ' 
and  his  life  record  should  serve  as  an  ex- 
ample to  the  young  and  an  inspiration  to 
the  aged. 


CARLETON  ORR  BOOTH,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Carleton  O.  Booth,  who  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine and  surgery  at  De  Land,  Illinois,  was 
born  in  McDonotigh  county,  this  state,  on 
the  Qth  of  July,  1871,  and  is  a  son  of 
Robert  and  Dora  (Jennings)  Booth.  The 
father,  who  is  of  Irish  descent,  was  born 
in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  June  20,  1833,  and 
in  early  life  came  to  Illinois,  settling  on  his 
grandfather's  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  near  Macomb,  McDonough 
county.  Later  he  purchased  the  prop- 
erty and  continues  to  make  his  home 
thereon,  his  entire  life  having  been  de- 
voted to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  Octo- 
ber. 1869,  he  married  Miss  Dora  Jen- 
nings, a  daughter  of  Harvey  and  Cornelia 
Jennings,  who  also  lived  on  a  farm  near 
Macomb.  She  was  born  November  24, 
1851,  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  is  descended 
from  an  old  Connecticut  family.  The  Doc- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


243 


tor  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  His 
sister,  Alta  Belle,  was  born  August  29, 
j  877,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Fred  D.  Rex- 
roat,  a  farmer  of  McDonough  county.  An 
uncle.  James  O.  Booth,  is  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Blue  Ridge  township,  Piatt 
county. 

Dr.  Booth  began  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  McDonough  county 
and  afterward  attended  the  Western  Il- 
linois Normal  College  at  Macomb,  gradu- 
ating in  the  literary  and  commercial  de- 
partments in  1893.  For  nine  years  he  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  teaching  school  and 
now  holds  a  teacher's  lif<;  certificate  in 
both  -Illinois  and  Missouri.  •  On  abandon- 
ing the  teacher's  profession,  he  entered 
Barnes  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  and  was  graduated  at  that  in- 
stitution in  1901,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
Prior  to  this  time  he  was  graduated  at  the 
College  of  Electro  Therapeutics  of  Lima. 
Ohio,  October  5,  1899,  and  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  degree  of  M.  E.  On  the  7th 
of  September,  1901,  Dr.  Booth  located  in 
DeLand  and  purchased  the  office  building 
he  has  since  occupied.  'He  was  not  long 
in  building  up  a  good  practice,  meeting 
with  success  from  the  start,  and  being  a 
young  man  of  pleasing  social  qualities  he 
stands  high  in  both  social  and  profession- 
al circles. 

On  the  1 5th  of  October,  1902,  Dr. 
Booth  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Jeanette  Houk,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Rebecca  Houk.  Her  father  died  several 
years  ago  and  her  mother  was  subsequent- 
ly married  to  Mr.  Fry,  of  Paris,  Illinois, 
where  they  are  now  living.  The  Doctor 
is  a  member  of  DeLand  Lodge,  No.  812. 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  DeLand;  Twentieth 


Century  Lodge,  No.  603,  K.  P.,  of  De- 
Land;  DeLand  Post,  No.  131,  F.  A.  of  A.; 
and  Rosel  Hadd  Temple,  No.  72,  D.  O. 
K.  K.,  at  Macomb.  His  excellent  knowl- 
edge of  the  profession  which  he  has  chos- 
en as  a  life  work  has  gained  for  him  the 
public  confidence  and  a  liberal  patronage, 
and  his  pleasant,  genial  manner  has  won 
the  friendship  of  those  with  whom  he  has 
been  brought  in  contact  in  any  relation 
of  life. 


HENRY    P.  HARRIS. 

For  fourteen  years  Henry  P.  Harris  has 
been  connected  with  mercantile  interests  in 
Monticello  as  a  hardware  merchant  and  pre- 
vious to  that  time  he  was  a  representative 
of  agricultural  life  in  Piatt  county.  He 
has  won  for  himself  an  enviable  reputation 
as  a  careful  man  of  business  and  one  whose 
success  is  well  deserved,  as  in  him  are  em- 
braced the  qualities  of  unabating  energy,  un- 
faltering honesty  and  industry  that  never 
flags.  He  is  now  dealing  in  hardware, 
stoves  and  tinware,  and  also  does  a  business 
as  a  dealer  in  plumbing  and  heating  appa- 
ratus. 

Mr.  Harris  is  numbered  among  Piatt 
county's  native  sons,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred upon  a  farm  here.  His  parents  were 
William  -H.  and  Ann  Eliza  (Hart)  Harris, 
the  latter  a  daughter  of  James  Hart,  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  who  settled  in  Piatt  county 
in  1836.  among  its  pioneer  settlers,  the  work 
<if  improvement  and  development  having 
scarcely  been  begun  in  this  section  of  the 
state  at  that  time.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Harris  took  up  his  abode  in  Monticello  town- 
ship and- became  one  of  the  prosperous  farm- 
ers of  Piatt  countv.  His  investments  were 


244 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


carefully  made,  his  business  conducted  along 
practical  and  progressive  lines,  and  thus  he 
won  prosperity  in  his  undertakings.  His 
first  wife  died  leaving  four  children :  Henry 
Payne,  Rebecca  J.,  Sally  A.  and  James  Wil- 
liam. Mr.  Harris  afterward  married  again 
and  by  that  union  there  was  one  son.  The 
father  of  our  subject  passed  away  in  1869 
and  his  widow  later  became  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Branch. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of 
Henry  Payne  Harris  we  present  to  out- 
readers  the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widely 
and  favorably  known  in  his  native  county 
and  central  Illinois.  He  was  reared  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  who  spend  their 
youth  in  mastering  the  branches  of  learning 
taught  in  the  district  schools  and  in  learning 
the  methods  of  farm  work  in  the  fields  and 
meadows.  After  leaving  the  common 
schools  he  resumed  his  farm  work  in  Monti- 
cello  township,  and  there  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising,  following 
these  pursuits  until  1889,  when,  deciding 
that  he  wished  to  engage  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits, he  came  to  Monticello  and  purchased 
an  interest  in  a  hardware  store,  formerly 
owned  by  Mr.  Ferra.  In  this  enterprise  Mr. 
Harris  became  a  partner  of  W.  S.  Ridgely 
under  the  firm  style  of  Harris  &  Ridgely, 
and  this  connection  was  continued  until 
1897,  when  Mr.  Harris  purchased  his  part- 
ner's interest  and  has  since  been  sole  pro- 
prietor. He  carries  a  large  and  carefully  se- 
lected stock  of  goods  fitted  to  meet  the  re- 
quirements of  a  varied  trade,  and  he  now 
has  a  large  patronage,  his  business  having 
assumed  profitable  proportions. 

Mr.  Harris  has  been  honored  with  pub- 
lic office  and  served  for  two  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  during  which  time 
the  Monticello  water  works  were  established 


and  the  electric  light  plant  was  also  built. 
In  the  spring  of  1903  he  was  elected  super- 
visor of  Monticello  township,  for  a  term  of 
two  years,  and  is  now  filling  that  position. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity  and  is  a  genial  gentleman  who 
has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  many  friends. 
During  fourteen  years  he  has  been  account- 
ed one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Mon- 
ticello, his  efforts  promoting  its  commercial 
activity  and  consequent  prosperity  while  at 
the  same  time  they  have  advanced  his  in- 
dividual success. 


JOHN  C.  BARNHART. 

John  C.  Barnhart  is  numbered  among 
the  honored  veterans  of  the  Civil  war.  It  is 
usually  found  that  the  soldier,  all  else  being 
equal,  makes  a  citizen  of  rare  value.  His 
army  experience  teaches  him  precision,  to- 
gether with  rapidity  and  exactness  of  move- 
ment, his  duty  to  his  country  is  paramount, 
and  these  characteristics  developed  amid 
the  scenes  of  battle  or  upon  the  tented  field, 
are  apt  to  remain  with  him  throughout  the 
years  of  an  active  manhood.  John  C.  Barn- 
hart  won  distinction  in  the  Civil  war  as  a 
most  patriotic  defender  of  the  stars  and 
stripes.  He  stands  to-day  as  one  of  the 
distinguished  citizens  of  Cerro  Gordo,  a 
man  who  in  all  life's  relations  is  true  to 
duty  and  principle. 

Mr.  Barnhart  was  born  in  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio,  December  27,  1836,  and  has 
been  a  resident  of  Piatt  county  since  1864, 
his  home  being  in  the  village  of  Cerro  Gor- 
do. He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Ann 
(Whitehurst)  Barnhart.  both  of  whom  are 
natives  of  Ohio.  The  father  was  twice  ma:-- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


245 


ried.his  last  union  being  with  a  Mrs.  Russell, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Andrews.  She  was 
a  native  of  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio.  There 
are  five  living  children  by  their  marriage: 
Joshua,.  Sibey,  Elizabeth,  Ann  and  Maggie, 
all  of  whom  are  residing  in  z\dams  county, 
Indiana.  Unto  the  parents  of  our  subject 
were  born  five  children,  of  whom  three  are 
now  living,  while  two  are  deceased,  namely : 
John  C. ;  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Leslie,  a  farmer  residing  in  Carlisle,  Arkan- 
sas ;  Comfort  Ann,  the  wife  of  William 
Nicholson,  a  resident  farmer  living  in  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio;  and  Hannah  and  Peter,  who 
have  passed  away.  Hannah  was  the  wife  of 
William  Johnson,  who  for  thirty  years  was 
an  extensive  farmer  of  Piatt  county.  They 
removed  to  Columbus  and  subsequently  to 
Colorado,  where  both  died.  Peter  died  in 
Fairfiekl  county,  Ohio,  in  February,  1866. 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  a  carpenter  and  mill- 
wright by  trade  and  followed  these  pursuits 
through  his  entire  business  career.  He  died 
in  Adams  county,  Indiana,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1841. 

John  C.  Barnhart  was  a  little  lad  when 
his  parents  left  the  Buckeye  state  and  took 
up  their  abode  in  Adams  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  was  reared  and  acquired  a  common 
school  education.  He  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  after  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war.  when  on  the  i6th  of  December, 
1 86 1,  a  few  days  before  he  was  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  he  enlisted  at  Buck  Creek,  In- 
diana, as  a  member  of  Company  H,  Fortieth 
Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  first  under  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Wilson  and  later  Colonel 
J.  W.  Blake.  His  first  captain  was  William 
H.  Bryan,  who  was  succeeded  by  Captain 
Alfred  Cole.  With  his  company  Mr.  Barn- 
hart  participated  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh, 
Perrvville,  Corinth,  Murfreesboro  and  Chat- 


tanooga. At  the  last  named  place  Mr.  Barn- 
hart  was  the  first  commissioned  officer  that 
crossed  the  Tennessee  river  and  took  charge 
of  the  men.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of 
Mission  Ridge  and  in  all  of  the  engagements 
of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  On  account  of 
ill  health  he  returned  from  Atlanta  to  Look- 
out Mountain,  where  he  lay  in  the  hospital 
for  two  months  and  then  because  of  his 
continued  illness  he  resigned  and  returned 
to  his  home. 

Mr.  Barnhart  had  friends  residing  in 
Cerro  Gordo  and  it  was  this  that  led  him  to 
come  to  Piatt  county.  He  was  married  on 
the  I  ith  of  February,  1866,  to  Miss  Susan 
Drum,  a  native  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Lydia 
Drum.  Her  father  was  a  farmer,  who  died 
in  the  Buckeye  state  in  1848,  but  the  mother 
long  survived  him  and  passed  away  in  1893. 
The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnhart  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children,  but  the  eldest, 
Charles,  died  in  infancy  and  Lydia,  the  fifth 
child,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  The 
others  are  Lura,  at  home;  Estella,  who  is  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Cerro  Gordo ; 
Arthur,  who  married  Cora  Houston  and  is 
a  barber  of  Gibson  city,  Illinois ;  and  Reed, 
who  is  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  shoe  store 
in  Cerro  Gordo  and  makes  his  home  with  his 
parents. 

After  coming  to  Cerro  Gordo  Mr.  Barn- 
hart  built  the  Clifton  House,  which  is 
the  only  hotel  in  this  place.  He  was  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  for  six  months-  and  aft- 
erward worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for 
three  years.  He  then  began  wagonmaking, 
carriage  building  and  woodworking.  He  re- 
tired from  business  for  two  years,  but  his 
friend,  E.  O.  Troxel,  induced  him  to  take 
charge  of  his  (Troxel's)  shop,  and  he  has 
had  charge  of  it  for  twelve  years. 

Mr.  Barnhart  voted  with  the  Republican 


246 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


party  in  early  days,  but  is  now  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat. He  has-  never  been  an  aspirant  for 
public  office  nor  has  he  held  such  positions. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  both  are  highly  es- 
teemed people,  having  many  warm  friends 
in  the  village  and  throughout  this  portion 
of  Piatt  county.  In  matters  of  citizenship 
Mr.  Barnhart  is  as  true  and  loyal  to  his  coun- 
try as  he  was  when  he  wore  the  blue  uni- 
form of  the  nation  and  followed  the  starry 
banner  upon  southern  battlefields. 


CHARLES  ADKINS. 

There  has  been  no  greater  advancement 
made  along  any  line  of  business  than  in 
agriculture,  and  in  this  regard  America  has 
gained  the  leadership  of  the  world.  No 
other  country  has  so  greatly  improved  farm 
implements  or  given  to  civilization  as  many 
useful  inventions  along  this  line  as  has  the 
United  States.  Keeping  in  touch  with  the 
universal  progress  Charles  Adkins  of  Be- 
ment  township,  has  become  one  of  the  most- 
progressive  farmers  of  Piatt  county  and  the 
excellent  methods  which  he  has  followed 
have  been  of  value  to  the  community,  giving 
to  his  fellow  citizens  an  example  well  worthy 
of  emulation. 

Mr.  Adkins  was  born  in  Pickaway  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  on  the  Jth  of  February,  1863,  and 
comes  of  a  family  of  English  lineage.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  Reuben  Adkins, 
whose  early  life  was  spent  at  Snowhill. 
Maryland.,  whence  he  removed  to  Ross  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1802.  After  a  short  time,  how- 
ever, he  established  his  home  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  seventy-two 


years  of  age.  Sampson  Adkins,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Pickaway  coun- 
ty. Ohio,  in  1839  and  spent  his  entire  life 
there,  devoting  his  energies  throughout  the 
period  of  his  manhood  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  how- 
ever, he  put  aside  all  business  and  personal 
considerations,  offering  his  services  to  the 
government  as  a  member  of  Company  A, 
Ninetieth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
then  went  to  the  front,  but  after  ten  months' 
service  was  honorably  discharged  on  account 
of  disability.  In  his  business  affairs  he  was 
energetic,  wide-awake  and  prosperous  and 
gained  for  his  family  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence. He  married  Miss  Eliza  A.  Mintun, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Phoebe  Mintun.  Her  father  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  Buckeye  state, 
removing  there  from  Hardy  county,  Vir- 
ginia. He,  too,  was  an  agriculturist.  In 
his  political  views  Sampson  Adkins  was  a 
stalwart  Republican  and  in  matters  of  citi- 
zenship he  was  public  spirited,  giving  a 
helpful  interest  to  all  measures  which  he 
believed  would  prove  of  general  benefit.  He 
died  in  1882  and  is  still  survived  by  his  wife 
who  is  now  living  in  Monticello,  where  she 
has  made  her  home  for  about  a  year. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
thirteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  are  still 
living  and  all  now  reside  in  Piatt  county 
with  the  exception  of  two.  The  members  of 
the  family  are  as  follows :  Charles,  who  is 
the  eldest;  Mary  E., -who  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Mintun,  of  Willow  Branch  town- 
ship; Benjamin  F.,  who  follows  farming  in 
Willow  Branch  township;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Charles  Reeves,  of  Boone,  Iowa;  Reuben 
of  Willow  Branch  township;  Ida.  the  de- 
ceased wife  of  Ellsworth  Anderson,  of  Mon- 
ticello; Harry  H..  who  is  a  bookkeeper  for 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


247 


the  Chicago  Woodenware  Company,  of  Chi- 
cago; Amanda,  the  wife  of  Charles  Jones,  a 
farmer  of  Monticello  township;  Nancy  A., 
the  wife  of  Ellsworth  Anderson;  William 
X.,  who  is  living  in  Monticello  township; 
Clara  A.,  who  resides  with  her  mother ;  Joice, 
who  is  a  school  teacher  and  resides  in  Monti- 
cello;  and  Sampson,  who  also  follows  school 
teaching  and  is  living  in  Monticello.  All 
of  these  children  were  born  in  Ohio. 

Charles  Adkins  spent  the  first  twenty- 
two  years  of  his  life  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity  and  pursued  his  education  in  its 
public  schools.  He  afterward  engaged  in 
teaching  for  one  term  in  Pickaway  county 
and  then  assisted  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm.  In  December,  1885,  he  left 
Ohio  and  with  his  mother  and  the  other 
members  of  the  family  came  to  Piatt  county, 
locating  in  Monticello  township  on  what 
was  then  known  as  the  E.  B.  Hale  property. 
There  he  engaged  in  farming  for  three  years 
and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  re- 
moved to  the  W.  F.  Stevenson  farm  in  Wil- 
low Branch  township,  where  he  also  lived  for 
three  years.  He  next  settled  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm,  where  he  has  charge  of  five  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land,  be- 
longing to  W.  F.  Stevenson.  This  he  has 
managed  continuously  since,  having  entire 
supervision  of  the  property,  on  which  there 
are  about  eight  men  employed.  All  of  this 
extensive  farm  is  under  cultivation,  and  his 
time  is  given  in  an  undivided  manner  to 
the  oversight  of  the  property.  He  has  upon 
the  place  a  herd  of  shorthorn  cattle,  and 
raises  high  grade  hogs.  He  feeds  cattle  for 
the  market,  and  in  his  stock-dealing,  as  well 
as  in  other  lines  of  business,  he  is  most  pro- 
gressive and  prosperous.  He  has  made 
many  improvements  upon  the  farm,  which 
is  considered  one  of  the  finest  in  this  part 
of  the  state.  Mr.  Adkins  is  continually  seek- 


ing new,  improved  and  practical  methods  of 
agriculture,  and  he  has  put  into  use  the  sys- 
tem of  rotation  of  crops,  which  has  proven 
very  successful. 

In  January,  1888,  Mr.  Adkins  was  unit- 
ed in  marriage  to  Miss  Dora  E.  Farrow,  a 
native  of  Piatt  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Frank  and  Elizabeth  (Lorish)  Farrow.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  at  an 
early  day  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Ma- 
con  county,  where  he  resided  for  a  number 
of  years,  carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits. 
About  1868  he  removed  to  Piatt  county, 
where  he  again  engaged  in  farming,  and  he 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
died  at  about  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years 
in  the  faith  of  the  Christian  church,  of 
which  she  was  a  consistent  member.  She 
was  the  mother  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
two  are  still  living.  Mrs.  Adkins  obtained 
her  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Piatt  county,  and  is  a  most  estimable  lady, 
possessing  many  excellent  traits  of  character. 
She  has  one  brother,  John  Farrow,  who  is  a 
resident  farmer  of  Bement  township;  and  a 
half-brother.  Frank  Farrow,  who  also  fol- 
lows'agricultural  pursuits  in  Bement  town- 
ship. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adkins  have  been 
born  nine  children  :  Ella ;  twins  who  died 
in  infancy  unnamed;  Charles  Otis;  Benja- 
min V. ;  Reuben  :  Roy;  Ruth  and  Grace.  All 
of  the  children  were  born  in  this  county  and 
are  being  educated  in  the  schools  of  Bement. 

At  one  time  Mr.  Adkins  entered  into  a 
contest  for  a  prize  to  be  given  for  the  best 
one  hundred  acres  of  corn  raised  in  Piatt 
county,  and  he  was  at  that  time  farming  in 
Willow  Branch  township.  The  prize  was 
five  hundred  dollars,  offered  by  S.  W.  Aller- 
ton,  the  father  of  Robert  Allerton,  who  is 
living  in  this  county.  Mr.  Adkins  had  a 
splendid  field,  as  did  one  of  his  neighbors. 


I 'I  ATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


and  the  committee  was  unable  to  decide  be- 
tween them,  so  the  prize  was  divided  be- 
tween the  two.  The  corn  was  estimated  to 
have  a -yield  of  one  hundred  bushels  to  the 
acre,  and  these  two  gentlemen  carried  off 
the  prize  over  thirty  competitors.  Mr.  Ad- 
kins  received  the  following  letter  from  Mr. 
Allerton  about  that  time: 

Chicago,  November  14,  1889. 
Mr.   Charles  Adkins. 

Monticello,  Illinois : 

Dear  Sir — Inclosed  you  will  find  my 
check  for  $250,  the  prize  awarded  you  by 
Messrs.  C.  F.  Tenney  and  T.  E.  Bondurant, 
which  I  send  you  with  pleasure,  for  I  feel 
you  have  paid  me  the  highest  compliment  of 
any  man  in  the  county,  for  you  had  the  best 
cultivated  one  hundred  acres  of  corn,  and 
you  have  demonstrated  to  the  people  of  Pi- 
att  county,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  one  hundred 
bushels  of  corn  can  be  raised  on  an  acre  of 
land.'  • 

I  took  great  pleasure  in  walking  through 
5'our  field  of  corn.  It  was  a  more  beauti- 
ful picture  to  me  than  any  that  the  old  mas- 
ters could  paint. 

With  my  best  wishes,  I  remain, 
Yours  truly, 
SAMUEL  W.  ALLERTOX. 

Mr.  Adkins  is  deeply  interested  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  agriculture  and  the  ad- 
vancement of  farming  interests.  He  has 
been  actively  connected  with  the  Farmers' 
Institute  of  this  state,  has  delivered  many 
addresses  before  its  meetings  and  during  the 
past  year  of  1902  has  delivered  man}-  ad- 
dresses in  different  counties  of  Illinois  upon 
questions  of  vital  interest  to  the  farmer.  So- 
cially, he  has  been  connected  with  the  Ma- 
sonic order  for  the  past  sixteen  years,  and  he 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men Camp  and  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur.  In 


1901  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  Bement 
township,  and  has  since  acted  in  this  capac- 
ity. He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  two  years,  and  in  politics 
he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  having  firm 
faith  in  the  principles  of  the  party.  He 
stands  to-day  as  one  of  the  most  prominent, 
enterprising  and  successful  farmers  of  Piatt 
county,  and  is  certainly  worthy  of  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume. 


WILLIAM    P.    SMITH. 

A  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  Piatt  county,  William  P.  Smith 
has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  county  and 
has  attained  to  a  position  of  prominence  in 
business,  political  and  social  circles.  There 
is  nothing  in  his  life  history  to  attract  the 
reader  in  search  of  a  sensational  chapter, 
but  the  student  who  reads  between  the  lines 
and  recognizes  the  value  of  character  and 
the  force  of  enterprise  and  energy  in  the 
world,-  will  find  much  of  interest  in  his 
career.  N«,t  only  has  he  gained  a  creditable 
position  in  the  business  world,  but  he  has 
also  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow  men  among  whom  his  lot  has  been 
cast.  He  is  now  engaged  in  dealing  in  real 
estate,  abstracts,  loans  and  insurance  in 
Monticello.  where  he  has  spent  the  greater 
part  of  the  years  of  his  manhood.  He  was 
born  in  Willow  •  Branch  township,  Piatt 
county,  on  the  I2th  of  September,  1859, 
about  two  years  after  the  removal  of  his 
parents  to  central  Illinois. 

The  ancestral  line  of  the  Smith  family 
in  America  can  be  traced  back  to  a  period 
antedating  the  Revolutionary  >var.  Jacob 
Smith,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 


W.  P.  SMITH 


J.  G.  W.  SMITH 


MARY  E.  SMITH 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


253 


joined  the  colonists  in  their  struggle  for  in- 
dependence and  valiantly  fought  for  liberty 
through  seven  long  years  of  the  Revolution. 
His  son,  Samuel  Smith,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  English  and  Ger- 
man descent.  Jacob  Smith,  the  father,  was 
also  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  born  in 
1817,  and  was  twice  married,  his  second 
wife  being  the  mother  of  our  subject.  She 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Nancy  Shenk,  and 
her  birth  occurred  in  Dauphin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1820.  Her  father  was  Michael 
Shenk,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
of  German  descent.  The  children  of  the 
first  marriage  of  Jacob  Smith  were  Henry 
Augustus,  who  married  Margaret  Brightbill ; 
and  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Diller,  a  res- 
ident of  Nebraska.  Those  of  the  second 
were  J.  G.  W.,  who  was  a  teacher  for  a 
number  of  years  and  died  in  1884;  James 
M. ;  Mary  E.  and  William  P.  In  the  spring 
of  1857  the  father  came  with  his  family  di- 
rectly from  Dauphin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  having 
acquaintances  here.  He  settled  upon  a 
tract  of  land  which  he  developed  into 
a  highly  cultivated  and  improved  farm 
and  made  his  home  there  until  1882, 
when  he  removed  to  Monticello,  where 
he  spent  his  remaining  days  in  retirement 
from  active  labor.  He  was  known  as 
Colonel  Smith,  having  commanded  a  regi- 
ment of  state  militia  and  served  as  a  colonel 
on  the  staff  of  Governor  Pollock,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  was  a  most  pronounced  Re- 
publican, and  kept  well  informed  on  the  is- 
sues of  the  day,  and  was  thus  enabled  to 
support  his  position  by  intelligent  argument. 
His  life  was  busy,  useful  and  honorable,  and 
he  commanded  respect  wherever  known. 
He  died  in  1897,  and  his  second  wife  is  still 

12 


living    in    her    eighty-second    year  and  is 
now  in  fair  health. 

The  boyhood  days  of  William  P.  Smith 
were  spent  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads.  He  remained  upon  the  home  farm 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  and  during  that 
time  acquired  his  education  in  the  district 
school  and  received  ample  training  at  farm 
labor  through  the  periods  of  vacation.  He 
early  became  familiar  with  the  labors  of 
the  fields  and  continued  to  assist  his  father 
through  the  summer  months,  until  after  he 
had  attained  his  majority,  while  in  the  win- 
ter seasons  he  engaged  in  teaching  school 
for  five  years,  beginning  when  he  was  twen- 
ty years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five 
he  entered  the  office  of  William  E.  Lodge, 
a  prominent  attorney  of  Monticello,  acting 
as  his  bookkeeper  and  also  studying  law. 
He  continued  with  Mr.  Lodge  for  three 
years,  and  then  embarked  in  merchandising, 
handling  cigars  and  tobacco.  Having  con- 
ducted his  store  for  three  years  he  then  sold 
out,  and  in  1891  opened  a  real  estate  office 
in  Monticello,  since  which  time  he  has  en- 
gaged in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  lands,  ne- 
gotiating many  important  real  estate  trans- 
fers. In  1897  he  compiled  a  complete  set 
of  abstract  books,  and  thus  established  a 
new  department  to  his  business.  He  is  also 
a  loan  and  insurance  agent.  He  has  worked 
earnestly,  systematically  and  along  legiti- 
mate lines  in  securing  a  large  clientage  in 
the  different  departments  of  his  business, 
and  his  labors  have  been  crowned  with  a 
richly  merited  degree  of  success.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Piatt  County  Loan  Associa-' 
tion,  one  of  the  strong  financial  institutions 
of  the  county,  also  one  of  its  organizers,  di- 
rectors and  principal  stockholders. 

In  1894  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Catherine  Webster,  who  was 


254 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


born  and  reared  in  Monticello,  while  her  fa- 
ther, Samuel  B.  Webster,  was  a  native  of 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  the  parents 
of  three  children :  Marion,  William  Web- 
ster and  Richard  A. 

Socially,  Mr.-  Smith  is  connected  with 
Selah  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  he  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp 
of  Monticello.  In  his  political  views  he  is 
a  stalwart  Republican,  taking  a  prominent 
and  helpful  part  in  county  and  state  politics. 
He  served  for  four  years  as  city  clerk  of. 
Monticello,  and  on  the  1st  of  April,  1901, 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Richard  Yates 
a  member  of  the  live  stock  commission  of 
Illinois,  and  was  elected  chairman  by  the 
board.  He  was  for  four  years  secretary  of 
the  Republican  county  central  committee, 
and  "his  active  connection  with  the  political 
work  here  has  been  a  desirable  factor  in  Re- 
publican successes.  His  genial  manner,  un- 
failing courtesy  and  deference  for  the  opin- 
ions of  others,  which,  however,  never  in- 
terferes with  his  stalwart  support  of  his  own 
honest  convictions,  are  elements  in  his  life 
which  have  won  him  the  friendship  and  re- 
spect of  his  fellow  men. 


JAMES    L.    ALLMAN. 

One  of  the  most  extensive  landowners 
of  western  Illinois  is  James  L.  Allman,  whose 
landed  possessions  aggregate  one  thousand 
acres.  His  home  is  on  section  23,  Monticel- 
lo township.  An  analyzation  of  his  life 
work  shows  that  he  owes  his  success  not  to 
any  fortunate  combination  of  circumstances 
or  to  inheritance  or  the  assistance  of  influ- 
ential friends,  but  to  the  capable  control  of 
his  own  business  affairs,  to  the  utilization  of 


opportunity  and  to  strong  purpose  guided  by 
sound  judgment. 

Mr.  Allman  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  Au- 
gust, 1838,  and  his  father  was  John  All- 
man, who  remained  a  resident  of  the  Em- 
erald Isle  until  his  death.  At  the  usual  age 
the  subject  of  this  review  entered  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  country,  and  he  contin- 
ued to  make  his  home  in  his  native  land  un- 
til 1854,  when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the 
New  World,  establishing  his  home  in  Piatt 
county,  Illinois.  It  was  necessary  that  he 
secure  employment  in  order  to  provide  for 
his  support,  and  he  soon  obtained  a  posi- 
tion as  a  farm  hand,  working  in  that  way 
until  1862,  when,  believing  his  business  ex- 
perience and  judgment  justified  his  engag- 
ing in  business  on  his  own  account,  he  rent- 
ed a  tract  of  land  belonging  to  John  Piatt, 
and  situated  near  Monticello.  On  this  he 
lived  for  three  or  four  years,  and  success- 
fully operated  the  property.  In  1865  he  pur- 
chased two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
on  section  35,  Monticello  township,  and 
continued  its  cultivation.  Later  he  pur- 
chased four  hundred  and  forty  acres  more. 
From  time  to  time  he  added  to  his  property, 
until  he  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  extensive 
landowners  in  the  county.  When  he  took 
up  his  abode  on  his  present  farm  it  was  all 
wild  prairie,  and  the  water  covered  nearly 
the  entire  surface.  It  required  much  drain- 
ing in  order  to  make  it  cultivable,  but  Mr. 
Allman  possessed  resolute  spirit  and  strong 
perseverance  necessary  to  the  successful 
prosecution  of  a  work  so  arduous  as  the  de- 
velopment of  a  farm.  He  endured  all  the 
hardships  of  pioneer  life,  broke  the  soil, 
placed  it  under  the  plow  and  tiled  the  entire 
farm.  Year  by  year  other  improvements 
have  been  made,  until  he  is  to-day  the  owner 
of  some  of  the  most  valuable  farm  property 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


255 


to  be  found  in  this  state.  He  has  planted 
orchards,  has  erected  a  good  residence  and 
substantial  barns  and  outbuildings,  and  has 
set  out  beautiful  shade  trees.  In  connection 
with  the  cultivation  of  cereals  best  adapted 
to  the  soil  and  climate  he  annually  feeds  many 
cattle  for  market,  making  a  specialty  of 
shorthorn,  black  polled  cattle  and  Here- 
fords.  He  also  raises  hogs  for  the  market, 
selling  about  four  hundred  Poland  China 
hogs  each  year.  His  has  been  an  extremely 
prosperous  career,  and  the  most  envious  can- 
not grudge  him  his  success,  so  honorable  has 
it  been  won.  He  is  likewise  a  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Monticello,  which  is  one  of  the 
strong  financial  institutions  in  central  Illi- 
nois. 

In  April,  1877,  Mr.  Allman  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  McCheffey,  at 
Champaign,  Illinois.  She  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania.  They  now  have 
seven  children :  Mary,  Agnes,  Margaret, 
Edmond,  Anna,  James  and  Joseph,  all  of 
whom  are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  The 
parents  hold  membership  in  the  Catholic 
church,  and  Mr.  Allman  votes  with  the  De- 
mocracy. In  seeking  for  the  causes  which 
have  contributed  to  his  success  he  finds  them 
not  so  much  in  their  rarity  as  in  their  har- 
monious union.  It  is  no  very  rare  thing  for 
a  poor  boy  in  our  country  to  become  a  pros- 
perous man,  occupying  a  commanding  posi- 
tion in  the  business  world,  but  many  who 
have  fought  their  way  from  poverty  to 
wealth,  from  obscurity  to  prominence,  re- 
tains some  marks  and  scars  of  the  conflict. 
They  are  apt  to  be  narrow  and  grasping, 
even  if  not  sordid  and  unscrupulous.  Mr. 
Allman,  however,  is  an  instance  of  a  man 
who  has  achieved  success  without  paying  the 
price  at  which  it  is  often  bought  for  his  pros- 


perity has  not  removed  him  farther  from 
his  fellow  men,  but  has  brought  him  into 
nearer  and  more  intimate  relations  with 
them.  His  life  history  stands  in  exemplifi- 
cation of  what  can  be  accomplished  in  this 
free  land,  where  opportunity  is  open  to  all, 
and  to-day  he  is  numbered  among  the  most 
prominent  as  well  as  the  most,  successful 
citizens  of  Piatt  county. 


BALTIS    ORR. 

In  the  history  of  the  residents  of  Piatt 
county  who  have  been  prominent  in  public 
affairs  or  have  been  worthy  representa- 
tives of  business  enterprises  mention 
should  be  made  of  Baltis  Orr,  who  for 
many  years  followed  farming  in  Piatt  coun- 
ty. He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  here, 
and  was  well  known  in  Monticello  and 
throughout  this  section  of  the  state.  He 
resided  in  the  country  from  1866  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  through  the 
faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  of  citizen- 
ship he  aided  in  the  promotion  of  public 
progress  and  improvement. 

Mr.  Orr  was  born  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  November  4,  1835,  a  son  of  John 
and  Lavina  Orr,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  On  leaving  the  Old  Do- 
minion they  settled  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  engaged  in  farming 
throughout  their  remaining  days,  both  the 
father  and  mother  passing  away  in  that  lo- 
cialty.  Mr.  Orr  of  this  review  was  the  only 
one  of  the  family  that  came  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty. He  obtained  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
and  was  trained  to  farm  work  upon  the 
old  homestead.  He  lived  in  the  Buckeye 


256 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


state  until  March,  1865,  carrying  on  fann- 
ing there,  and  on  severing  his  business  con- 
nections in  Ohio  he  removed  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi valley,  settling  first  in  LaSalle 
county,  Illinois.  There  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  year,  and  on  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  removed  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Unity 
township.  Here  he  at  once  began  its  de- 
velopment and  improvement  and  success- 
fully carried  on  general  farming  until 
1897.  Each  year  saw  good  crops  raised 
upon  his  place,  and  as  modern  machinery 
was  introduced  he  secured  such  accessories 
as  would  facilitate  his  farm  work  and  add 
to  the  value  of  his  crops.  Everything 
about  his  place  indicated  his  progressive 
supervision,  and  he  continued  actively  in 
farming  until  1897,  when  he  removed  to 
the  village  of  Hammond,  where  he  lived 
retired  until  his  death. 

While  still  a  resident  of  Ohio  Mr.  Orr 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah 
L.  Boring,  also  a  native  of  .Licking  coun- 
ty, born  on  the  2ist  of  September,  1837. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  George  Boring,  who 
was  born  in  Virginia,  but  removed  to  Ohio 
at  an  early  day,  and  there  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  upon  a  farm.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Orr  was  born  one  daughter,  Ad- 
die,  whose  birth  occurred  on  the  3ist  of 
October,  1865,  and  who  died  in  1888.  She 
was  the  wife  of  H.  W.  Leavitt,  and  had  one 
child,  Elmer,  who  now  resides  with  his 
grandmother,  Mrs.  Orr. 

Mr.  Orr  voted  with  the  Democracy 
and  believed  firmly  in  its  principles,  but 
was  never  an  active  politician  in  the  sense 
of  office-seeking.  He  held  some  minor 
township  offices,  but  always  preferred  to 
give  his  attention  to  his  business  affairs, 
in  which  he  prospered  so  that  he  left  his 
widow  in  verv  comfortable  circumstances. 


He  died  August  i,  1901,  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him,  for  throughout  his  life 
he  had  been  honorable  in  all  his  relations 
with  his  fellow  men,  and  he  thus  gained 
uniform  confidence  and  regard.  Mrs.  Orr 
is  a  consistent  and  valued  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  of  Hammond.  She  now 
owns  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
the  best  farming  land  in  Unity  township, 
which  she  rents,  and  in  addition  to  this 
she  has  a  beautiful  residence  in  Hammond, 
where  she  is  now  living  with  her  grandson. 
She  also  owns  several  building  lots  in  Ham- 
mond, and  she  is  well  known  in  the  county 
where  for  thirty-seven  years  she  has  made 
her  home.  Mr.  Orr  lived  to  see  many 
changes  wrought  here  by  time  and  man 
as  the  county  emerged  from  its  primitive 
condition  to  take  its  place  with  the  lead- 
ing counties  of  this  great  commonwealth. 
Because  of  its  broad  and  rich  prairies 
agriculture  has  been  the  chief  occupation 
of  its  people,  and  of  this  business  Mr.  Orr 
was  also  a  worthy  representative.  So 
•  productive  is  the  soil  and  so  enterprising 
the  farmers  that  Piatt  county  has  become 
one  of  the  garden  spots  of  the  world. 


CHARLES   M.   DAUBERMAN. 

Charles  M.  Dauberman,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Mansfield  as  a  grain 
merchant,  was  born,  in  Union  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  5th  of  February, 
1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Esther 
(Yarger)  Dauberman,  who  are  still  living. 
Both  were  natives  of  Snyder  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, which  adjoins  Union  county,  and 
throughout  his  business  career  the  father 
carried  on  the  occupation  of  farming.  On 
the  old  homestead  in  the  Kevstone  state 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


257 


Charles  M.  Dauberman  was  reared,  and 
at  the  usual  age  he  entered  the  public 
schools  of  Union  count}',  therein  pursuing 
his  studies  until  he  had  largely  mastered 
the  common  branches  of  English  learning. 
His  training  at  farm  work  was  not  meager, 
for  at  an  early  age  he  began  assisting  in 
the  work  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvest- 
ing. He  continued  upon  his  father's  farm 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  be- 
gan working  in  a  machine  shop  in  Mifflin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed for  a  year.  At.  the  end  of  that 
time  he  began  working  as  an  engineer  in 
a  flouring  mill,  and  afterward  he  came  to 
the  west,  where  he  secured  a  position  as 
a  farm  hand  in  the  employ  of  W.  D.  Fair- 
banks, a  well-known  agriculturist  of  Piatt 
county.  He  acted  as  assistant  manager 
and  engineer  upon  the  farm  for  some  time, 
and  in  1881  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Mans- 
field. Here  he  managed  a  grain  office  for 
W.  D.  Fairbanks  through  a  period  of  six 
years,  after  which  he  leased  an  elevator 
and  engaged  in  the  grain  trade  on  his  own 
account.  He  had  followed  that  business 
for  himself  for  six  years  in  Mansfield, 
when  he  ceased  renting  and  built  an  ele- 
vator of  his  own,  worth  about  nine  thou- 
sand dollars.  He  is  one  of  the  wide-awake 
and  progressive  grain  merchants  of  this 
place,  and  his  business  furnishes  an  excellent 
market  for  the  grain-raisers  of  this,  locality, 
while  his  own  sales  are  attended  with  profit 
and  are  bringing  to  him  a  very  creditable 
prosperity. 

In  1891  occurred  the  marriage  of 
Charles  M.  Dauberman  and  Miss  Sarah 
M.  Osborne.  They  now  have  one  child, 
Lucile,  who  is  attending  school  in  Mans- 
field and  is  now  .nine  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Dauberman  holds  membership  relations 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 


and  he  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party.  Almost  every  year  he 
is  solicited  to  become  a  candidate  for  of- 
fice, but  has  always  steadily  refused,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  energies  to  his  busi- 
ness affairs.  While  a  member  of  no 
church  there  is  probably  no  resident  of 
Mansfield  whose  career  more  clearly  il- 
lustrates the  power  of  honesty  and'  integ- 
rity in  active  business  affairs  than  does 
that  of  Charles  M.  Dauberman.  He  start- 
ed out  in  life  empty-handed,  but  resolved 
that  he  would  win  success  if  it  could  be 
done  by  persistent,  earnest  effort.  Brook- 
ing no  obstacles  that  could  be  overcome  by 
diligence  and  perseverance,  he  has  steadily 
advanced  to  the  goal  of  prosperity,  and  as 
a  grain  merchant  is  now  well  known  as 
a  successful  and  enterprising  business  man 
of  Mansfield. 


REV.    MOSES    PREDMORE. 

Rev.  Moses  Predmore  has  for  the  past 
twenty-eight  years  devoted  his  life  to  the 
ministry  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Who  can  measure  the  influence  of  such  a 
career  or  can  tell  of  what  shall  be  the 
harvest  of  the  seeds  of  good  sown?  It  is 
a  well-known  fact,  however,  that  Mr.  Fred- 
more  has  taken  a  very  active  and  helpful 
part  in  the  moral  redemption  of  the  people 
of  this  locality,  and  long  after  he  shall  have 
passed  away  his  influence  will  be  held  as 
a  blessed  benediction  by  those  who  know 
him. 

Rev.  Predmore  is  a  native  of  Licking 
county,  Ohio,  his  birth  having  there  oc- 
'curred  on  the  gtli  of  April,  1833.  His 
father,  Benjamin  Predmore,  was  a  native 


258 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


of  Scotland,  a  man  of  powerful  frame  and 
well  fitted  to  cope  with  the  hardships  and 
difficulties  of  pioneer  life.  He  became 
an  early  settler  of  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
and  aided  in  the  arduous  task  of  reclaim- 
ing that  region  for  the  purposes  of  civiliza- 
tion. He  wedded  Miss  Mercy  Ann  Evans, 
a  native  of  that  county  and  a  daughter  of 
Lewis  Evans,  who  was  also  born  in  Ohio. 
It  was  of  this  marriage  that  Rev.  Moses 
Predmore  was  born.  He  was  reared  as  a 
farmer  boy  and  early  became  familiar  with 
hard  work.  His  father  was  a  well-edu- 
cated man  and  a  successful  teacher  in 
early  life,  but  he  died  when  his  son,  Moses, 
was  only  two  years  of  age,  and  the  mother 
passed  away  ten  years  later,  so  that  the 
boy  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  tender  age 
of  twelve  years.  After  that  he  made  his 
home  among  strangers,  fighting  life's  bat- 
tles as  best  he  could  without  any  one  to 
advise  him  or  to  guide  him.  He  was  am- 
bitious and  energetic,  however,  and  de- 
sirous of  obtaining  an  education.  He  at- 
tended the  district  schools  as  he  had  op- 
portunity until  his  sixteenth  year.  He 
then  left  Ohio  and  made  his  way  to  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois.  As  his  means  were 
limited  he  traveled  on  foot  part  of  the 
way,  and  during  other  portions  of  the 
journey  proceeded  by  stage.  He  stopped 
first  at  Otto,  Fulton  county,  where  he 
found  employment  with  a  farmer  who  re- 
sided on  the  bank  of  Otter  creek.  Rev. 
Predmore  remained  in  his  service  for  three 
years,  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  'pe- 
riod he  returned  to  Ohio.  Soon  after- 
ward, however,  he  went  to  Arkansas  for 
the  purpose  of  chopping  wood  during  the 
winter  months.  Being  large  and  strong, 
he  proved  himself  especially  capable  as  a 
chopper,  and  had  no  difficulty  in  secur- 


ing employment  in  that  way.  Returning 
to  the  north,  he  located  in  Springfield.  Illi- 
nois, and  there  rented  land  for  four  years. 

Seeking  a  companion  and  helpmate  for 
life's  journey,  on  the  loth  of  March,  1861, 
Rev.  Predmore  led  to  the  marriage  altar 
Miss  Sarah  Fairbanks,  of  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, a  daughter  of  Samuel  Fairbanks. 
They  continued  to  reside  upon  the  farm 
near  the  capital  city  for  four  years,  and 
during  that  time  Mr.  Predmore  prospered 
so  that  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  a  larger 
tract  of  land,  buying  one  hundred  and  six- 
ty acres  of  land  in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois, 
and  there  resided  until  1875.  During  that 
time  he  had  resolved  to  devote  at  least  a 
portion  of  his  time  to  the  holy  calling  of 
redeeming  men  from  sin,  and  while  there 
he  began  studying  for  the  ministry  and 
became  a  local  preacher  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  In  1875  ne  commenced 
work  on  the  circuit,  which  embraced  two 
or  three  counties.  Later  selling  his  De- 
Witt  county  farm,  he  came  to  Monticello 
and  continued  in  the  work  of  the  ministry 
here,  giving  his  labors  to  the  United  Breth- 
ren church  in  this  city  until  1902,  when, 
on  account  of  failing  health,  he  was  obliged 
to  retire  from  active  connection  with  the 
ministry.  His  deep  interest  in  the  church 
and  its  work,  however,  has  never  abated 
in  the  slightest  degree,  and  he  does  every- 
thing in  his  power  to  promote  the  cause 
of  Christianity  in  this  locality. 

In  1896  Mr.  Predmore  was  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  the  faithful  and  lov- 
ing wife  with  whom  he  had  traveled  life's 
journey  for  thirty-five  years.  He  has  since 
married  again,  his  second  union  being 
with  Mrs.  Martha  Martin,  the  widow  of 
John  Martin.  By  her  first  marriage  she 
had  three  children :  William,  a  mechanic- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


259 


of  Springfield ;  Allen,  who  engages  in 
farming;  and  Bertha,  who  is  at  home  with 
her  mother.  Like  her  husband,  Mrs.  Pred- 
more  is  much  interested  in  church  work, 
and  has  long  been  active  in  behalf  of  the 
cause  of  Christianity.  Mr.  Predmore  in 
former  years  made  judicious  investments 
in  real  estate,  and  now  owns  considerable 
property  in  Monticello,  including  a  num- 
ber of  dwellings,  the  rental  from  which 
brings  to  him  a  good  income  and  enables 
him  to  enjoy  the  rest  which  he  greatly  de- 
serves. Through  his  reading,  research 
and  observation  he  has  become  a  man  of 
scholarly  attainments,  and  has  ever  put 
forth  his  utmost  power  in  behalf  of  his 
church.  In  his  discourses  he  is  earnest, 
forceful  and  logical,  and  many  have  heard 
him  with  attention  and  deep  interest,  re- 
sulting in  a  change  in  the  course  of  their 
lives. 


THOMAS  MORRIS. 

Thomas  Morris  is  one  of  the  self-made 
men  and  successful  farmers  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty, his  home  being  on  section  4,  Unity 
township.  The  possibilities  that  America 
offers  to  her  citizens  he  has  utilized,  and 
though  he  came  to  this  country  in  limited 
circumstances  he  has  steadily  and  perse- 
veringly  worked  his  way  upward,  leaving 
the  ranks  of  the  many  to  stand  among  the 
successful  few. 

A  native  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Morris  was 
born  in  County  Galway  in  1833,  and  is  a 
son  of  Michael  and  Mary  ( Shaughnessy) 
Morris,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that 
country.  In  their  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren. Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  land  and  was  twenty  years  of 


age  when,  in   1853,  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States.     He  landed  in  New  York 
city  and  from  there  proceeded  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of 
1854,  which  witnessed  tyis  arrival  in  Piatt 
county,  Illinois.     Here  he  hired  out  as  a 
farm  hand  and  continued  to  work  by  the 
month  for  about  nine  years,  receiving  from 
sixteen  to  twenty  dollars  per  month.     In 
this  way  he  gained  a  start  in  the  business 
world  and  for  five  years  rented  land  in  Un- 
ity township.     At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
was  able  to  purchase  eighty  acres  of  land 
on  section  4,  the  same  township,  and  sub- 
sequently bought  eighty  acres  on  section 
9,  another  eighty  acres  on  section  4,  and 
eighty  acres  on  section  '5,  all  in  Unity  town- 
ship.   He  also  purchased  two  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acre  tracts  in  Bement  township 
and  a  similar  amount  in  Monticello  town- 
ship,  making    four    hundred    and    eighty 
acres  in  all.    For  his  first  land  he  paid  elev- 
en dollars  per  acre  and  the  second  tract 
nine  dollars,  but  it  is  now  very  valuable 
property  owing  to  the  rise  in  value  and  its 
present  improved  condition.    When  he  lo- 
cated on  section  4,   Unity  township,   his 
place  was  all  wild,  but  he  has  tiled  and 
drained  the  land,   made    many    improve- 
ments thereon,  and  is  to-day  the  owner 
of  some  of  the  best   farming  property   in 
this  section  of  the  state.     Since  1861  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Unity  township  and  has 
been  actively  and  prominently  identified 
with  its  development  and  prosperity,  but 
at    present    is    practically    living    retired 
while  his  sons  cultivate  the  land. 

Mr.  Morris  married  Miss  Mary  Con- 
ner s,  who  was  born  in  County  Kerry,  Ire- 
land, and  came  to  America  when  a  child. 
By  this  union  six  children  have  been  born 
namely :  Michael,  who  lives  on  one  of  his 


26o 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


father's  farms  in  Bement  township,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Dooley  and  has  three  children ; 
David,  who  also  lives  on  a  farm  belonging 
to  his  father  in  Bement  township,  wedded 
Mary  Brown  and  has  one  child;  James 
married  Jane  Dooley  and  makes  his  home 
in  Monticello  township;  Thomas,  Mary 
and  Henry  are  still  with  their  parents  upon 
the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Morris  and  his  family  are  commu- 
nicants of  St.  Michael's  Catholic  church 
of  Bement  and  he  assisted  in  building  both 
the  old  and  new  churches  at  that  place,  as 
well  as  the  school  houses  in  his  section 
of  the  county.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  taking  an  actjve 
interest  in  public  affairs.  When  he  first 
came  to  this  county  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  only  extended  as  far  as  Cham- 
paign and  he  has  been  a  witness  of  the 
greater  part  of  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  has 
broken  many  an  acre  of  prairie  sod  with 
oxen  and  some  with  horses  and  has  mate- 
rially aided  in  transforming  this  region  in- 
to a  productive  agricultural  district.  In 
early  days  he  was  fond  of  hunting  wild 
game  of  all  kinds,  including  ducks,  prairie 
chickens  and  cranes  which  were  found  in 
abundance.  Much  of  the  land  was  under  wa- 
ter and  fever  and  ague  were  the  prevailing 
diseases  among  the  pioneers,  but  all  of 
these  conditions  have  gradually  changed 
and  Piatt  county  now  ranks  among  the 
best  in  this  great  commonwealth. 


E.  S.  ROOT. 

E.  S.  Root  is  numbered  among  the  hon- 
ored veterans  of  the  Civil  war,  and  is  also 
one  of  the  early  settlers  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Piatt  county.  He  is  now  leading 


a  retired  life  in  the  village  of  Bement  and 
well  does  he  merit  the  rest,  for  he  has  himself 
earned  the  competence  which  now  'enables 
him  to  put  aside  further  business  cares.    He 
was  born  in  Athens,  Athens  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  3Oth  of  January,  1831.  and  is  a  son 
of  Levi  and   Polly    (Stewart)   Root.     The 
father  was  born  in  Vermont,  but  at  an  early 
day  in  the  history  of  Ohio  he  took  up  his  res- 
idence in  the  latter  state,  becoming  identi- 
fied with  its  farming  interests.    Throughout 
his  business  career  he  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  at  length  he  died  in  Missouri 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
His  life  record  shows  that  industry  and  in- 
tegrity were  salient  features  in  his  career 
and  formed  the  basis  of  his  prosperity.     He 
voted   with  the  Republican  party  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  his  Kfe 
being  in  consistent  harmony  with  its  teach- 
ings and  principles.    His  wife  was  born  and 
reared  in  Athens  county,  Ohio,  and  always 
lived  there  until  called  to  the  home  beyond. 
She.  too,  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  and  into  the  minds  of  her  children 
she  instilled  lessons  of  honesty  and  morality 
which  have  .borne  fruit  in  honorable  lives. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Root  were  born  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom  are  natives  of  Athens 
county.  Ohio,  and  of  this  family  E.  S.  Root 
is  the  eldest.     Eleven  of  the  children  are  still 
living,  but  none  are  residents  of  Piatt  county 
with    the    exception    of    our    subject.     The 
mother  was  born  in  1809.  and  passed  away 
in    1857,   at  the   age  of   forty-eight   years. 
Ezra   S.   Root  began  his    education    in 
Ohio  at  an  early  day.     His  advantages  in 
that  direction  were  somewhat  limited,  ow- 
ing to  the  primitive  condition  of  the  schools 
and   to  the   need  of  his  services  upon  the 
home  farm,  but  he  made  good  use  of  his  op- 
portunities, and  in  later  life  has  added  large- 


E.  S.   ROOT 


MRS.  EZRA  S.  ROOT 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


26$ 


ly  to  his  knowledge  through  reading,  obser- 
vation and  experience.  In  1857  he  came  to 
this  state,  locating  first  in  Douglas  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war. 
Prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism  he  of- 
fered his  aid  to  the  government,  enlisting  in 
Douglas  county  in  1862  as  a  member  of 
Company  E,  Seventy-ninth  Illinois  Infantry, 
with  which  he  served  for  three  years.  He 
was  in  a  number  of  very  important  battles 
and  skirmishes,  including  the  engagements 
at  Stone  River,  Tullahoma,  Chickamauga 
and  Mission  Ridge,  and  when  the  war  was 
over  he  received  an  honorable  discharge  at 
Springfield,  Illinois.  He  was  always  found 
at  his  post  of  duty,  whether  it  led  him  into 
the  thickest  of  the  fight  or  called  him  to  the 
lonely  picket  line.  He  never  failed  in  his 
allegiance  to  the  old  flag  and  his  military 
record  is  one  which  he  has  every  reason  to 
be  proud  of. 

Mr.  Root  had  five  brothers  in  the  Civil 
war,  and  all  retured  home  save  one,  Wil- 
liam Henry,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Perryville.  The  others  were  D.  O.,  Charles, 
John  Wesley  and  Lawrence  Eugene,  the  last 
being  but  fifteen  years  of  age  when  he  en- 
listed. The  grandfather  of  our  subject  on 
his  mother's  side,  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  while  his  grandfather  on  his  fa- 
ther's side  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  An 
uncle  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

After  receiving  his  discharge  Mr.  Root 
returned  to  Douglas  county,  where  he  re- 
sumed farming,  carrying  on  the  work  of 
tilling  the  soil  there  until  1874.  In  that 
year  he  removed  to  Iowa,  but  after  three 
years  returned  to  this  state,  making  his  way 
to  Piatt  county.  Locating  in  Bement  town- 
ship he  engaged  in  farming  and  followed  that 
pursuit  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  act- 


ive business  career.  In  1898  he  retired 
from  agricultural  life  and  is  now  living  in 
Bement,  resting  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  former  labor.  His  life  record 
stands  in  exemplification  of  the  truth  that 
success  is  the  outcome  of  energy  guided  by 
practical  judgment  and  by  laudable  ambi- 
tion guided  by  common  sense. 

In  1850,  in  Athens  county,  Ohio,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Root  and 
Miss  Margaret  McCreary.  who  was  born  in 
the  Buckeye  state,  and  who  proved  to  her 
husband  a  faithful  companion  and  helpmate 
on  life's  journey  for  alx>ut  fifty-one  years. 
At  length  she  was  called  to  her  final  rest, 
passing  away  at  her  home  in  Bement  in 
1901,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  She 
held  membership  in  the  Methodist  church, 
and  was  a  woman  who  was  greatly  loved  by 
all  who  knew  her,  because  she  was  most 
faithful  to  her  friends  and  was  a  devoted 
wife  and  mother.  In  her  life  she  displayed 
many  excellent  traits  of  character,  and  her 
death  was  thus  the  occasion  of  deep  regret 
among  those  in  whose  midst  she  had  lived. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Root  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  four  of  whom  survive.  Emily, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  forty  years,  was  the 
wife  of  William  Cravatt,  of  Iowa,  and  had 
three  children,  Guy  and  Levi,  who  are  liv- 
ing, and  Grace,  deceased.  Mary  Jane  died 
at  the  age  of  eleven  months.  Elizabeth  be- 
came the  wife  of  James  Gill,  and  at  her  death 
left  seven  children.  Harriet  is  the  wife  of 
Cornelius  Hopkins,  of  Bement,  who  is'  em- 
ployed as  a  section  hand  on  the  W abash 
Railroad,  and  they  had  four  children.  Myr- 
tle, Arthur.  Jerry  and  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. Levi  F.,  who  resides  in  Bement  and 
works  at  the  coal  shaft  of  the  Wabash  Rail- 
road, married  Victoria  Snyder.  Ezra  N., 
the  next  in  the  family,  died  at  the  age  of  one 


266 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


year.  Wesley  Bement  married  Bessie  Davis 
and  has  four  children.  Theodore  G.  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  months.  William  Sher- 
man is  a  farmer  and  resides  with  his  father. 
He  married  Laura  Martindale,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Rosetta  and  Raymond. 
All  of  the  children  were  born  in  Illinois  with 
the  exception  of  the  three  oldest. 

Mr.  Root  has  seen  many  improvements 
made  in  Piatt  county  and  has  assisted  mate- 
rially in  the  substantial  development  and 
permanent  upbuilding  of  this  section  of  the 
state.  He  owns  the  dwelling  in  which  he 
lives  and  three  village  lots  in  Bement,  in 
addition  to  two  lots  and  dwellings  which  he 
leases.  For  his  services  in  the  Civil  war  he 
draw's  a  pension.  In  times  of  peace  he  has 
been  as  loyal  to  his  country  as  he  was  when 
he  followed  the  old  flag  on  the  battle-fields  of 
the  south,  and  his  public  career  is  indeed  hon- 
orable and  upright.  In  his  business  relations 
he.  has  ever  been  straightforward.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Grand  Army  Post  and 
thus  maintains  pleasant  relations  with  his  old 
army  comrades.  In  politics  he  has  long  been 
a  stalwart  Republican  and  feels  it  the  duty  as 
well  as  the  privilege  of  American  citizens  to 
exert  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
measures  he  believes  will  prove  of  greatest 
benefit  to  his  country  and  its  government. 


JOHN  H.  CARVER. 

There  is  an  old  German  saying  that  a 
man,  may  have  three  things  in  this  world 
— the  gains  he  accumulates,  the  hearts  he 
loves  and  his  good  works.  The  wealth  is 
the  first  to  leave  him  when  death  lays  its 
hand  upon  his  form ;  the  loved  ones  go 
to  the  tomb,  turn  from  it  and  pass  to  their 


homes ;  but  the  good  works  followed 
through  all  the  years,  praising  his  narne 
and  make  hallowed  his  memory.  Mr.  Gar- 
ver  won  creditable  and  honorable  success  in 
his  business  career,  but  it  was  not  this 
that  made  him  so  loved  by  the  people  who 
knew  him  and  caused  him  to  be  accounted 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  best  liked 
citizens  of  Piatt  county.  He  lived  a  life 
that  at  all  times  commanded  respect  and 
honor  and  his  kindness  of  nature,  his  gen- 
ial disposition  and  his  honorable  principles 
gained  for  him  the  warm  friendship  of  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

Mr.  Garver  was  born  November  3, 
1825,  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Susan  (Hisey)  Garver, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state,  where  they  lived  until  1839, 
when  they  came  with  their  family  to  Illi- 
nois, settling  in  Macon  county.  There 
the  father  engaged  in  farming  for  several 
years,  but  afterward  removed  to  Kansas, 
where  both  he  and  his  wife  died.  Of  the 
children  born  unto  them  seven  are  now 
living  as  follows :  David,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  poultry  business  in  Cerro  Gbrdo; 
Mrs.  Susan  Johnson,  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas; Mrs.  Mary  Wallace,  who  is  living  in 
Humbolt,  Kansas ;  Samuel,  a  carpenter  re- 
siding in  Louisiana;  Barbara,  the  wife  of 
Sanford  Rogers,  also  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas; Daniel,  who  is  clerking  in  a  store  in 
Decatur,  Illinois;  and  Abram,  who  con- 
ducts a  meat  market  in  Westfield,  this 
state. 

John  H.  Garver  was  a  youth  of  only 
fourteen  years  when  he  became  a  resident 
of  Illinois  and  throughout  his  remaining 
days  he  resided  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
After  coming  to  Cerro  Gordo  he  engaged 
in  the  grain  business,  buying  and  shipping 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


267 


grain  of  all  kinds.  He  conducted  opera- 
tions along  that  line  for  several  years  and 
then,  disposing  of  his  enterprise,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  grocery  business,  con- 
ducting a  store  here  until  his  life's  labors 
were  ended  in  death.  His  business  meth- 
ods were  very  honorable  and  would  bear 
the  closest  investigation.  In  all  of  his 
work  he  was  systematic,  progressive,  in- 
dustrious and  thoroughly  reliable  and  his 
word  was  as  good  as  any  bond  that  was 
ever  solemnized  by  signature  or  seal. 

On  the  1 6th  of  December,  1848,  Mr. 
Garver  wras  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  Jane  Hudson,  the  wedding  taking 
place  in  Cerro  Gordo.  The  lady  is  a  na- 
tive of  Newcastle,  Maryland,  born  in  1830, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Asa  and  Phoebe 
(Jester)  'Hudson,  who  were  also  natives 
of  Maryland,  but  in  1832  they  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  they  resided  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1841  they  came  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Oakley  township,  Ma- 
con  county,  near  the  village  of  Cerro  Gor- 
do. Subsequently  they  took  up  their 
abode  within  the  borders  of  Piatt  county 
and  the  father  engaged  in  farming  un- 
til his  death.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carver 
were  born  nine  children,  but  five  of  the 
number  are  now  deceased,  namely :  Al- 
bert, Addie,  Willie,  Chester  and  Minnie. 
Of  those  living  Benjamin  F.  is  the  eldest. 
He  married  Docia  Neblock,  of  Cerro  Gor- 
do, and  follows  the  painter's  trade  here. 
Samuel  D.,'who  married  Emma  Hummell, 
is  a  plasterer  who  follows  his  chosen  occu- 
pation in  Cerro  Gordo.  May  is  the  widow 
of  H.  E.  McKinney,  a  son  of  Andrew  and 
Mary  (Rogers)  McKinney.  Andrew  Mc- 
Kinney was  a  prominent  dry  goods  mer- 
chant of  Cerro  Gordo  who  removed  from 
Illinois  to  Kansas,  where  he  became  an 
extensive  landowner  and  both  he  and  his 


wife  died  in  the  Sunflower  state  in  1898. 
Their  son,  H.  E.  McKinney,  acted  as  a 
salesman  in  the  stores  of  Cerro  Gordo  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  life  and  was 
a  prominent  young  business  man  here, 
popular  with  a  large  circle  of  friends.  He 
belonged  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
was  a  worthy  exemplar  of  the  craft.  His, 
death  occurred  August  7,  1888,  and  his 
widow  now  resides  with  her  mother,  Mrs. 
Garver.  Charles  A.,  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  is  a  farmer  and  resides  in  Okla- 
homa. Mrs.  Garver  and  Mrs.  McKinney 
occupy  a  pleasant  home  in  the  southwest- 
ern part  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  each  own  other 
valuable  property  in  the  village. 

In  early  days  Mr.  Garver  was  a  Repub- 
lican, but  in  later  life  gave  his  political 
support  to  the  Prohibition  party  for  he 
was  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance and  believed  it  to  be  one  of  the 
paramount  issues  before  the  people.  For 
a  half  century  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  to  which  his 
wife  also  belongs  and  was  one  of  its  most 
earnest  and  consistent  workers.  Perhaps 
no  better  estimate  of  his  character  can  be 
given  than  to  quote  from  the  funeral  ser- 
mon which  was  delivered  at  his  death  by 
his  pastor,  Rev.  J.  H.  Waterbury,  on  the 
i5th  of  November,  1898,  and  who  said: 
"We  bury  from  our  sight  this  day  one  of 
God's  saints.  For  three  score  years  and 
ten  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  conflict 
which  all  men  must  wage  in  this '  world. 
His  pathway  has  not  been  one  of  roses 
entirely.  He  knew  what  it  meant  to  be  an 
overcomer.  In  the  contest  for  material 
prizes  he  has  been  fairly  successful.  By 
the  economic  use  of  his  energies,  he  has 
gained  for  himself  a  competency.  His  de- 
clining years  were  spent  in  the  peaceful 
possession  and  benefits  of  accumulation 


268 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


wrested  from  the  soil.  That  kind  of  over- 
coming is  full  of  hardships,  yet  his  victory 
in  the  realm  of  the  moral  and  spiritual  is 
more  significant. 

"First,  I  desire  to  direct  attention  to 
our  brother's  relation  to  secular  life.  He 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  men.  His 
agreements  were  kept  to  the  letter.  One 
thing  that  came  to  the  surface  in  conversa- 
tion with  Brother  Carver  was  his  keen 
discrimination  between  right  and  wrong. 
In  business  transactions,  any  injury  he 
may  -have  done  his  neighbor  was  a  mistake 
of  the  head  and  not  of  the  heart.  He  was 
conscientious.  This  alone  is  a  record  of 
which  men  may  well  be  proud,  but  with 
him  there  was  no  suspicion  that  he  had 
done  anything  unusual  in  doing  right.  It 
was  a  life  acting  in  harmony  with  a  high 
purpose. 

"In  social  life  he  sustains  the  position 
he  .gained  in  secular  affairs.  It  is  a  grief 
to  lose  the  example  of  a  good  man.  Con- 
sciously or  unconsciously  he  becomes  a 
center  of  moral  power,  restraining  the  bad 
and  encouraging  the  good.  Such  was  his 
example.  He  was  universally  kind.  While 
he  was  not  able  to  mingle  in  society  toward 
the  close  of  his  life,  he  was  in  touch  with 
all  that  was  going,  and  contact  with  him 
revealed  his  interest  in  men.  A  trait 
worthy  of  emulation  was  the  invariable 
disposition  to  hang  the  mantle  of  charity 
over  the  faults  of  others.  This  was  not 
due  to  a  desire  to  palliate  wrong  doing, 
but  rather  a  knowledge  of  the  weaknesses 
of  humanity.  The  influence  of  such  a  life 
cannot  be  measured  this  side  of  eternity. 
It  is  educational.  It  is  the  good  of  this 
world  which  preserves  society  from  cor- 
ruption, and  the  Savior's  language  'the  salt 
of  the  earth'  applies  to  him. 


"As  an  overcomer  in  spiritual  matters 
he  reaches  the  highest  place  in  our  confi- 
dence and  esteem.  Mr.  Carver  was  a  be- 
liever in  eternal  verities.  Christ  was  at 
once  his  Leader,  Master,  Friend.  It  is 
with  pleasure  I  emphasize  his  belief  in 
God.  You  bear  me  out  in  this  statement 
who  knew  him  best.  He  sought  out  the 
footsteps  of  Christ  and  followed  Him. 
With  a  child-like  faith  he  placed  his  hand 
in  that  of  his  Savior  and  was  led  through 
life's  changing  scenes,  ending  with  the  'val- 
ley and  the  shadow  of  death.'  He  bowed 
in  humble  submission  to  divine  mandates, 
believing  that  God  does  all  things  well. 

"If  loyalty  to  the  church  is  a  test  of 
spiritual  life,  the  deceased  does  not  dis- 
appoint. In  early  life  he  was  a  regular 
attendant  upon  the  services  of  God's 
house.  Few  men  have  a  higher  regard 
for  the  mission  of  Christianity  than  did 
our  brother,  and  when  he  was  too  feeble 
to  leave  his  home  he  prayed  for  the  suc- 
cess of  Zion,  and  gave  wings  to  his  prayers 
by  paying  promptly  of  his  money  to  the 
extent  of  his  ability.  A  test  of  this  loyal- 
ty was  his  attitude  toward  his  pastor.  As 
a  minister  I  am  competent  to  speak  here. 
I  visited  him  often,  and  in  each  instance 
he  fixed  himself  more  securely  in  my  af- 
fections. He  was  a  friend,  a  brother,  an 
adviser  and  a  confidant.  He  was  not  ex- 
pecting absolute  perfection,  and  yet  en- 
couraged me  to  do  my  best.  I  revere 
his  memory.  He  was  sympathetic  and 
true.  There  are  some  in  glory  to-day 
and  others  on  the  way,  whose  lives  had  an 
impetus  toward  heaven  through  contact 
with  this  man  of  blessed  memory. 

"Finally  I  will  speak  of  his  domestic 
life.  How  true  a  heart  has  ceased  to  beat 
no  one  knows'  as  well  as  his  familv.  As 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


269 


a  husband  he  was  all  that  the  term  im- 
plies. He  was  a  lover  of  home  and  did 
his  share  to  make  it  a  refuge  from  the 
storms  of  life.  He  walked  by  the  side 
of  her  who  is  widowed  to-day  for  fifty 
years  and  in  that  period  of  a  half  century 
fulfilled  the  vows  taken  at  the  marriage 
altar.  The  home  cannot  be  again  what  it 
has  been  because  he  is  not.  As  a  father  he 
tried  to  do  his  duty.  He  was  very  tender 
toward  his  loved  ones,  and  their  joys  and 
sorrows  were  his  joys  and  sorrows.  He 
repeatedly  expressed  the  hope  that  God 
would  save  them  an  unbroken  family. 

"It  is  not  my  intention  to  assume  that 
Mr.  Carver  was  without  fault.  Doubtless 
he  had  the  weaknesses  to  which  flesh  is 
heir.  But  the  trend  of  his  life  was  right. 
His  motives  were  pure,  his  positions  clear- 
ly defined.  He  favored  no  compromises 
with  evil  and  believed  in  the  ultimate  tri- 
umph of  the  right.  We  reluctantly  give 
him  up,  but  we  confidently  believe  that 
the  influence  of  his  life  in  the  business  and 
social  world,  and  in  his  home,  is  a  per- 
manent blessing.  May  God,  who  was  the 
inspiration  and  joy  of  this  life,  lead  us  as 
he  was  led,  that  when  it  is  ours  to  depart 
it  can  be  said  of  us  'he  has  fought  a  good 
fight,  finished  his  course  and  kept  the 
faith.'  " 


AMOS  STOLLARD. 

One  of  the  beautiful  country  seats  of 
Piatt  county  is  the  property  of  Amos  Stol- 
lard,  a  commodious  and  attractive  resi- 
dence standing  in  the  midst  of  a  well-kept 
lawn  shaded  by  magnificent  trees  and  in 
the  rear  are  all  the  outbuildings  needed  for 
the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock.  These  in 


turn  are  surrounded  by  richly  cultivated 
fields  and  the  farm  is  complete  in  all  of 
its  appointments.  It  is  situated  in  section 
1 6,  Monticello  township,  and  Mr.  Stollard 
carefully  superintends  the  cultivation  of 
this  place  with  the  result  that  it  returns 
to  him  a  good  annual  income. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Picka- 
way  county,  upon  a  farm  near  Circleville, 
February  2.  1847,  n's  parents  being  Wil- 
liam and  Margaret  (Vinson)  Stollard.  'His 
father  was  born  in  Maryland,  April  6,  1814, 
and  was  educated  there  in  the  common 
schools,  after  which  he  assisted  his  father 
at  the  blacksmith's  trade  until  they  re- 
moved to  Ohio.  In  the  latter  state  they 
turned  their  attention  to  farming  in  Picka- 
way  county  and  William  Stollard  remained 
upon  the  home  place  with  his  father  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account  upon 
rented  land.  Soon  afterward  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Margaret  Vinson  and  he  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  the  operation  of  a 
rented  farm  in  Pickaway  county  until  1867, 
when  he  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois, 
settling  in  Monticello  township.  He'  here 
rented  the  Marquiss  farm,  upon  which  he 
lived  for  two  years,  after  which  he  leased 
the  McReynolds  farm  for  seven  years.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  he  retired  from  active 
business  life,  his  son,  Amos,  taking  charge 
of  the  farm  and  the  father  living  with  him 
until  his  death.  Unto  the  parents  of  our 
subject  were  born  six  children :  Martin 
L.,  who  married  Malinda  Kuiser  and  is 
now  living  in  Tarlton,  Ohio;  Louis  P.,  a 
retired  farmer  of  Bement  who  married 
Jane  Russell  and  after  her  death,  which 
occurred  in  less  than  a  year  following  their 
marriage,  he  wedded  Tamson  Sullivan; 
Malinda,  who  is  the  widow  of  Philip 


270 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Baum,  who  died  about  1869;  Amos,  who 
is  the  fourth  in  the  family ;  Mary  Janes,  de- 
ceased; and  Minerva,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Benjamin  F.  Hood,  now  living  on  a  farm 
on  section  18,  Monticello  township. 

At  the  usual  age  Amos  Stollard  be- 
gan mastering  the  branches  of  learning 
taught  in  the  common  schools  of  Picka- 
way  county,  Ohio.  He  continued  his  stud- 
ies through  the  winter  months,  while  in 
the  summer  seasons  he  worked  in  the  fields 
and  meadows,  early  becoming  familiar 
with  agricultural  life  in  all  of  its  depart- 
ments. With  his  father  he  removed  to 
Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  he  continued  to 
assist  his.  father  in  farm  work  until  after 
his  marriage,  which  important  event  in 
his  life  occurred  in  September,  1877.  He 
wedded  Miss  Sarah  C.  Jones  and  then  be- 
gan farming  on  his  own  account.  After 
renting  land  for  two  years  he  purchased 
the  farm  upon  which  he  is  now  located 
on  section  16,  Monticello  township,  and 
has  developed  this  into  one  of  the  finest 
properties  in  this  section  of  the  state.  He 
erected  a  beautiful  residence  containing 
eight  rooms,  has  built  two  barns  and  two 
double  granaries,  together  with  other  out- 
buildings needed  for  the  shelter  of  grain 
and  stock  and  for  the  protection  of  his 
farm  implements  from  the  inclement 
weather.  A  driveway  winds  up  to  the 
house,  around  which  is  a  well-kept  lawn 
shaded  by  beautiful  trees.  So  numerous 
are  the  trees  that  at  a  distance  the  place 
appears  to  be  a  small  grove.  Everything 
about  the  farm  is  kept  in  first-class  condi- 
tion. Mr.  Stollard  has  lajd  a  large  amount 
of  tiling  and  has .  enclosed  his  land  by  a 
new  wire  fence  and  has  also  thus  divided 
it  into  fields  of  convenient  size.  He  has 
set  out  two  new  orchards,  has  a  deep  well 


upon  the  place  and,  in  fact,  there  is  no 
equipment  of  the  model  farm  that  is  lack- 
ing. His  landed  possessions  comprise 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  of  which 
eighty  acres  is  situated  on  section  17  and 
forty  acres  on  section  16,  Monticello  town- 
ship. Annually  he  produces  large  crops  of 
corn  and  oats,  also  raises  considerable 
clover  and  has  rich  pasture  lands.  He 
yearly  sells  many  head  of  cattle  and  hogs 
and  in  all  of  these  departments  his  farm 
work  is  bringing  to  him  a  good  profit. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stollard  have  been 
born  seven  children :  Amos  Elmer,  who 
is  attending  school  in  Dixon,  Illinois ;  Wil- 
bur Earl,  who  is  at  home  with  his  father; 
Maggie  May,  who  is  also  attending  school 
in  Dixon;  Hattie,  deceased;  Minnie  Ethel, 
who  is  at  home;  one  who  died  unnamed 
in  infancy ;  and  Irene,  deceased. 

Mr.  Stollard  votes  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  believing  firmly  in  its  principles 
and  its  platform.  For  more  than  ten  years 
he  has  served  as  school  director  and  the 
cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm 
friend.  At  the  present  time  he  is  filling  the 
position  of  road  commissioner.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stollard 
are  well  known  in  Piatt  county.  His  life 
record  should  serve  as  a  source  of  inspi- 
ration and  encouragement  to  others,  for 
he  started  out  on  his  own  account  without 
capital  or  the  aid  of  influential  friends. 
With  him  success  has  been  ambition's  an- 
swer. He  has  labored  perseveringly,  us- 
ing discrimination  in  the  conduct  of  his 
business  affairs  and  as  the  years  have 
passed  his  financial  resources  have  in- 
increased  until  he  is  to-day  classed  among 
the  substantial  residents  of  his  adopted 
county. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


271 


NELS   B.  LARSON. 

Nels  B.  Larson,  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising and  practical  farmers  of  Unity 
township,  was  born  in  Sweden,  February 
18,  1861,  and  is  the  oldest  of  the  nine  chil- 
dren of  Bonde  and  Bessie  Larson.  His 
parents  are  still  living  in  that  county, 
where  the  father  is  engaged  in  farming. 
He  visited  his  sons  in  America  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1902.  Six  of  his  children  are  now 
living  in  the  United  States,  these  being 
Nels  B.,  of  this  review;  S.  B.,  who  lives 
on  his  Uncle  Nels  Larson's  place  on  sec- 
tion 7,  Unity  township;  John,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  that  township ;  Hannah  Hanson, 
a  resident  of  Macon  county,  Illinois;  Se- 
grie  Pierson,  who  makes  her  home  in  the 
same  county;  and  Emma  Pierson,  of  Ar- 
genta,  Macon  county.  Those  living  in 
Sweden  are  Annie,  Larson  and  Sophie. 

Nels  B.  Larson  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  a  farm  in  his  native  land  and 
is  indebted  to  the  public  schools  of  that 
country  for  the  educational  privileges  he 
enjoyed.  Deciding  to  try  his  fortune  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  he  emigrated  to 
America  in  1881  and  has  since  been  identi- 
fied with  the  interests  of  central  Illinois. 
He  was  entirely  unfamiliar  with  the  Eng- 
lish language  on  his  arrival  in  this  coun- 
try, but  could  speak  it  quite  fluently  be- 
fore two  years  had  passed.  His  first  work 
here  was  tiling,  and  he  afterward  worked 
by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  for  three 
years. 

At  the  end  of  that  time  Mr.  Larson 
rented  the  Ruby  farm  in  Unity  township, 
which  he  operated  for  nine  years,  and  next 
"had  charge  of  the  Daniel  Dawson  place  in 
Bement  township  three  years.  The  fol- 
lowing two  years  were  passed  on  the  Ed- 


mund Davis  farm  in  Bement  township, 
and  from  there  he  removed  to  Moultrie 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  for  which  he  paid  sixty  dollars  per 
acre,  and  he  at  once  began  to  drain,  break 
and  cultivate  the  land,  which  to-day  is 
worth  one  hundred  and  fifteen  dollars  per 
acre  owing  to  the  improvements  he  has 
made  thereon.  It  is  well  tilled  and  a  sub- 
stantial house,  barn  and  other  outbuildings 
stand  as  monuments  to  his  labor.  After 
residing  here  for  four  years  Mr.  Larson 
rented  the  place,  which  is  now  occupied  by 
a  tenant,  and  removed  to  the  E.  P.  Thomp- 
son farm  on  section  6,  Unity  township.  On 
this  place  he  has  made  his  home  since  1901, 
operating  the  land  on  the  shares,  and  in  con- 
nection with  general  farming  he  carries  on 
stock-raising  to  a  considerable  extent,  making 
a  specialty  of  a  high  grade  of  horses. 
He  has  sold  some  fine  stallions  at  good  prkes 
and  also  has  some  good  roadsters. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr. 
Larson  was  his  marriage  on  the  3Oth  of 
April,  1883,  to  Miss  Emma  Ericks,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  at  Marinette, 
Wisconsin.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Erick 
Swanson,  who  is  now  living  in  Michigan, 
and  is  a  most  hospitable  woman,  well  liked 
by  all  who  know  her.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Larson  have  been  born  eight  children, 
namely:  Bessie,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Oscar  Swanson  and  a  resident  of  Michi- 
gan ;  Mamie ;  Lillie ;  Albert ;  Annie ;  John ; 
Russell  and  Stella.  Our  subject  is  giv- 
ing his  children  the  best  educational  ad- 
vantages possible,  desiring  that  their  train- 
ing shall  fit  them  for  any  position  in  life 
that  they  may  be  called  upon  to  fill.  'His 
eldest  daughter  has  studied  music. 

On    coming    to    Illinois    Mr.    Larson 


272 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


found  much  of  Piatt  county  covered  with 
sloughs  and  ponds,  and  he  has  done  his 
share  in  the  work  of  improvement,  for  he 
is  a  public  spirited  and  progressive  citizen 
who  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  adopted  country.  While  living  in 
Moultrie  county  he  acceptably  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  as  path 
master.  Socially,  he  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of  Bement, 
and  he  and  his  family  hold  membership 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  at  that  place. 


YY.   D.   FAIRBANKS. 

Business  conditions  in  America  have  rev- 
olutionized the  commercial  history  of  the 
world.  No  other  country  has  made  as  rapid 
advance  or  as  splendid  progress  as  our  own 
republic,  where  every  man  is  equal  before  the 
law  and  finds  his  opportunity  if  he  will  but 
diligently  seek  it.  Every  community  has  its 
leaders — men  capable  of  controlling  import- 
ant and  extensive  business  interests  and 
whose  carefully  earned  success  awakens  the 
admiration  and  respect  of  the  public.  Such 
a  one  is  W.  D.  Fairbanks,  who  has  risen  to 
a  prominent  position  among  the  most  exten- 
sive land-owners  of  central  Illinois,  and  his 
business  record  is  such  as  any  man  might  be 
proud  to  possess,  not  alone  because  of  his 
brilliant  prosperity,  but  also  because  of  the 
honorable  manner  in  which  it  has  been 
achieved.  Judicious  investment,  careful 
management  and  strict  conformity  to  com- 
mercial ethics  stand  as  salient  features  in  his 
career  and  make  his  name  an  honored  as  well 
as  a  powerful  one  in  financial  circles. 

Mr.  Fairbanks,  whose  landed  holdings 
exceed  those  of  the  majority  of  citizens  in 


this  locality,  and  who  is  the  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Mansfield,  Illinois, 
was  torn  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  on  the  i6th 
of  June,  1857,  and  traces  his  ancestry  back 
through  many  generations  to  England.  The 
first  of  the  name  of  whom  we  have  record 
was  Jonathan  Fairebanke,  who  was  born  in 
England  before  the  year  1600,  and  came  with 
his  family  to  the  new  world,  landing  in  Bos- 
ton in  1633.  After  a  residence  there  of 
three  years  he  went  to  Dedham,  Massachus- 
etts, becoming  one  of  its  founders,  and  there 
he  built  the  celebrated  "Old  Fairbanks 
House"  in  1836.  It  is  still  standing  in  a 
good  state  of  preservation,  and  has  never 
been  out  of  the  possession  of  those  who  bear 
the  family  name.  Jonas  Fairbank,  the  sec- 
ond in  line  of  direct  descent  to  our  subject, 
was  born  in  England  and  accompanied  his 
parents  to  the  new  world  in  1833,  becoming 
a  resident  of  Dedham,  Massachusetts,  after 
three  years.  He  was  killed  in  an  Indian 
massacre,  February  10,  1676.  Captain  Jabez 
Fairbank,  his  son,  was  born  August  1 1,  1670, 
in  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  was  a  valiant 
officer  in  the  Indian  wars,  became  famous  as 
a  scout  and  stood  very  high  in  the  confidence 
of  Governor  Drummer.  Deacon  Joshua  Fair- 
bank,  a  son  of  Captain  Jabez  Fairbank,  was 
born  in  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  March  28, 
1714.  and  was  a -soldier  of  the  French  and 
Indiana  war.  The  next  in  the  line  of  direct 
decent  was  Captain  Luthes  Fairbank,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  was 
born  in  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  August  15, 
1755,  and  was  a  brave  and  well-known  officer 
of  the  Continental  army.  He  was  one  of 
those  who  were  taken  prisoner  while  in  the 
act  of  scaling  the  walls  of  the  fortifications 
of  Quebec,  under  General  Montgomery,  in 
December.  1775.  Luther  Fairbank,  his  son, 
and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


275 


in  Swanzey,  New  Hampshire,  September  10, 
1780,  became  a  farmer  of  Vermont  and  aft- 
erward removed  to  Ohio,  where  his  remain- 
ing days  were  passed. 

Loriston  Monroe  Fairbanks,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Barnard,  Ver- 
mont, May  4,  1824,  and  was  the  first  of  the 
name  to  add  the  final  "s."  When  a  young 
man  lie  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Union 
county,  upon  a  farm  near  Unionville.  He 
was  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  local- 
ity and  took  an  active  interest  in  the  early 
development  of  that  part  of  the  state.  He 
there  met  and  married  Mary  Elizabeth 
Smith,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  went  with 
her  parents  to  Union  county,  Ohio.  In  early 
life  Loriston  M.  Fairbanks  was  a  mechanic 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons 
and  buggies  at  Homer,  Union  county,  being 
in  partnership  with  his  father-in-law,  Wil- 
liam DeForrest  Smith.  He  resided  at  Homer 
for  many  years,  and  ultimately  began  farm- 
ing on  account  of  his  health.  He  followed 
that  pursuit  throughout  his  remaining  days 
with  the  exception  of  a  brief  period  of  three 
or  four  years,  which  were  spent  in  Delaware, 
Ohio,  to  which  place  he  removed,  that  his 
children  might  attend  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University  there.  The  last  eight  years  of  his 
life  were  passed  in  retirement  at  his  home  in 
Springfield,  Ohio,  though  he  and  his  wife 
spent  their  winters  at  Pasadena,  California, 
where  he  died  January  30,  1900,  when  sev- 
enty-four years  of  age.  His  remains  were 
brought  back  and  interred  in  the  beautiful 
cemetery  at  Springfield,  Ohio.  His  widow 
now  resides  in  Springfield,  with  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Milligan.  They  were  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  of  whom  five  are  still  living : 
Charles  W.,  who  is  United  States  senator 
from  Indiana  and  one  of  the  distinguished 
statesmen  of  the  country ;  Luther  M.,  who  re- 


sides in  Chicago  and  in  Mansfield,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  trade  in  the  former  city; 
W.  D.,  of  this  review;  Newton  H.,  an  attor- 
nev-at-law  of  Springfield,  Ohio ;  and  Jennie, 
the  wife  of  Melvin  Milligan,  of  Springfield, 
Ohio,  of  which  city  he  was  formerly  mayor. 
Those  that  have  passed  away  are  Mary,  the 
eldest  child,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and 
a  half  years;  the  second  one  who  bore  the 
name  of  her  deceased  sister,  Mary,  and  died 
at  about  the  same  age;  Adolphus,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  Nellie,  at  the 
age  of  twenty;  and  Harry,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  W.  D.  Fair- 
banks pursued  his  preliminary  education, 
which  was  supplemented  by  study  in  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  in  which  he  pur- 
sued the  scientific  course.  He  then  took  up 
the  study  of  law,  but  his  health  prevented 
his  continuance  in  that  task,  and  hoping  that 
he  might  be  benefited  by  the  outdoor  life 
which  is  required  in  the  supervision  of  farm- 
ing interests,  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Mansfield.  Here  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  and  also  l>ecame  identified  with 
farming.  His  first  purchase  of  land  con- 
sisted of  eighty  acres,  two  miles  west  of 
Mansfield,  which  he  bought  in  connection 
with  his  brother,  L.  M.,  with  whom  he  was 
also  associated  in  the  grain  trade.  As  the 
years  have  advanced  the  brothers  have  made 
extensive  investments  in  real  estate  and  have 
carried  on  their  farming  and  grain  business 
on  a  mammoth  scale.  All  of  this,  however, 
represents  much  hard  labor,  keen  discrimi- 
nation, careful  watchfulness  of  the  markets 
and  of  everything  bearing  upon  their  busi- 
ness, and  unfaltering  perseverance  in  their 
undertakings.  Mr.  Fairbanks  of  this  re- 
view is  now  the  owner  of  seven  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land  in  Piatt  county  and  has 


13 


2/6 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


one  thousand  seven  hundred  acres  of  valu- 
able land  in  other  parts  of  the  state.  He  has 
nine  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  South  Da- 
kota and  jointly  with  his  brother  owns  ten 
thousand  acres  in  Greene  county,  Illinois, 
and  seventeen  hundred  acres  in  Dickey 
county,  North  Dakota.  He  likewise  has  full 
control  of  five  thousand  acres  in  Piatt  and 
McLean  counties,  owned  by  his  brother,  Sen- 
ator Fairbanks,  of  Indiana.  He  conducts  an 
extensive  grain  business  at  Blue  Ridge,  Illi- 
nois, and  fn  1902  -he  founded  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Mansfield,  of  which  he  is  the 
president. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1880,  Mr.  Fair- 
banks married  Miss  Flora  A.  Kroell,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  L.  H.  Kroell, 
who  removed  from  the  Buckeye  state  to  Pi- 
att county  and  is  now  deceased.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fairbanks  have  been  born  four 
children — Lulu  May,  Jennie,  William  De- 
Forrest  •  and  Bernice.  Mrs.  Fairbanks  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
Mr.  Fairbanks  holds  membership  in  Mans- 
field Lodge,  No.  589,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which 
he  is  a  past  grand.  He  also  belongs  to 
Monticello  Encampment  and  to  the  Modern 
Woodman  Camp.  In  politics  he  is  a  firm  be- 
liever in  Republican  principles  and  has 
served  continuously  as  justice  of  the  peace 
for  fifteen  years.  The  locality  in  which  he 
has  long  made  his  home  has  found  in  him  a 
benefactor  by  reason  of  the  generous  and 
prompt  assistance  he  has  given  to  many 
measures  for  the  public  good.  He  has  never 
sought  to  figure  prominently  before  the 
public  in  any  relation  save  that  of  a  business 
man  and  yet  his  co-operation  is  never  sought 
in  vain  in  behalf  of  measures  for  the  general 
welfare.  In  his  business  life,  however,  he 
has  achieved  a  brilliant  success  along  legiti- 
mate lines,  which  are  open  to  all.  It  is  his 


adaptability  his  quick  recognition  of  oppor- 
tunity, his  persistency  of  purpose  and  his  dis- 
criminating judgment  which  have  been  the 
basis  of  his  wealth,  and  no  business  man  of 
Piatt  county  occupies  a  higher  position  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 


JOHN  H.  FRENCH. 

John  H.  French,  a  well-known  citizen 
of  DeLand  and  proprietor  of  a  meat  mar- 
ket at  that  place,  was  born  on  the  i8th  of 
October,  1861,  in  Farmington,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  a  son  of  Edward  and  Anna 
Jane  (Jamison)  French.  The  father  was 
born  near  Manchester,  England,  in  1803, 
and  was  reared  and  educated  in  that  coun- 
try, where  he  was  employed  as  a  shepherd 
for  some  time  prior  to  his  emigration  to 
America.  It  was  in  1823  that  he  crossed 
the  broad  Atlantic  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  New  York,  where  he  had  a  milk 
route  for  a  few  years,  and  then  came  to 
Illinois,  settled  near  Farmington.  He 
made  his  home  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  August,  1900,  and  he  was  laid 
to  rest  there.  His  wife  survived  him  only 
three  months,  passing  away  in  November 
of  the  same  year.  In  early  life  he_  success- 
fully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and 
became  the  owner  of  a  good  eighty-acre 
farm,  but  during  the  last  fifteen  years  of 
his  life  he  lived  retired  from  active  labor. 
He  purchased  a  lot  in  Farmington  and 
erected  thereon  a  good  modern  residence, 
where  he  and  his  wife  passed  their  remain- 
ing days  in  ease  and  quiet.  He  was  a  man 
of  good  business  ability  and  met  with  fair 
success  in  his  undertakings.  His  family 
consisted  of  three  children :  Edward,  who 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


277 


died  in  infancy;  James  Edward,  who  died 
in  California  in  December,  1897;  and  John 
H. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  educat- 
ed in  the  Farmington  high  school  and  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  parents  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
California  and  was  with  his  brother  on  a 
fruit  ranch  for  two  years.  He  was  then 
called  home  by  the  illness  of  his  father 
and  continued  under  the  parental  roof  un- 
til his  marriage  in  1887,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Essie  Maud  Blakeslee, 
a  daughter  of  S.  S.  and  Addie  (Egan) 
Blakeslee,  who  lived  about  eight  miles 
from  Farmington.  Three  children  grace 
this  union,  namely:  Boyd  Edward,  born 
in  1891;  Bert  Carlton,  born  in  1893;  and 
Oneita  Mae,  born  in  1898. 

Mr.  French  spent  the  years  1888  and 
1889  in  learning  the  butcher's  business 
and  in  the  latter  year  opened  a  market  of 
his  own  at  Waverly,  Nebraska,  where  he 
spent  four  years.  He  met  with  success  at 
that  place  and  was  much  pleased  with  the 
location,  but  on  account  of  his  father's  fail- 
ing health  he  returned  to  Farmington  at 
the  end  of  that  time  and  accepted  a  posi- 
tion with  E.  Clark  &  Brother,  butchers  of 
that  place.  Four  years  later  he  removed 
to  DeLand,  where  he  has  since  conducted 
a  meat  market  and  engaged  in  the  butch- 
ering business  with  good  success,  having 
the  only  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the 
town.  He  enjoys  a  good  trade  and  has 
made  many  friends  since  coming  to  this 
place  by  his  fair  dealing  and  strict  atten- 
tion to  his  business  affairs. 

In  religious  faith  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
French  are  Methodists  and  they  also  hold 
membership  in  the  Court  of  Honor.  He 
is  connected  with  the  Fraternal  Army  and 


the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  No.  740,  at  De- 
Land,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  is  a 
stalwart  Republican.  For  one  year  he  has 
served  as  village  treasurer,  being  elected 
on  the  Citizen's  ticket,  and  for  three  years 
he  has  been  a  school  director,  now  serv- 
ing his  second  term.  He  takes  a  commen- 
dable interest  in  public  affairs  and  does 
all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  welfare  of 
the  community  along  social,  educational 
and  moral  lines. 


HAAGEN  SCHWARTZ. 

Haagen  Schwartz  is  a  well-known  mer- 
chant of  Monticello,  where  for  a  number 
of  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  jewelry 
business.  He  is  a  native  of  Norway, 
which  country  has  furnished  to  the  United 
States  many  bright,  enterprising  young 
men  who  have  left  the  land  of  the  mid- 
night sun  to  enter  the  business  circles  of 
this  country  with  its  more  progressive 
methods,  livelier  competition  and  advance- 
ment more  quickly  secured.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  1859  and  in  his  sixth  year  he 
became  a  student  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  land,  where  he  continued  to 
master  the  branches  of  learning  therein 
taught  until  he  reached  his  fourteenth 
year.  At  that  time  he  entered  upon  his 
business  career  as  an  apprentice  to  the 
trade  of  a  jeweler  in  the  city  of  Drammen, 
Norway.  His  term  of  service  covered  six 
years,  during  which  time  he  acquired  a 
thorough  and  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  trade  in  all  of  its  departments  and 
was  thus  well  equipped  to  enter  upon  busi- 
ness life. 

Having  heard  favorable  reports  of  the 


278 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


new  world  and  its  opportunities  he  re- 
solved to  cross  the  Atlantic  in  order  that 
he  might  enjoy  the  advanages  offered  by 
America.  In  1878  he  crossed  the  water  and 
for  a  time  was  detained  at  Castle  Garden. 
From  New  York  city  he  went  to  Elgin, 
Illinois,  where  he  secured  a  situation  in 
the  Elgin  watch  factory,  and  fiis  capable 
service  and  fidelity  to  duty  led  to  his  re- 
tention in  the  factory  as  one  of  its  most 
trusted  employes  for  four  years,  and  in  the 
Illinois  watch  factory  at  Springfield  for 
nine  years.  He  then  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  the  company,  wishing  to  engage 
in  business  on  his  own  account.  Remov- 
ing to  Monticello,  he  has  here  'resided  for 
eleven  years.  Opening  a  store  he  secured 
a  good  stock  of  watches,  clocks,  silverware 
and  jewelry,  and  now  he  has  a  well  ap- 
pointed establishment  and  is  classed 
among  the  honorable  and  reliable  mer- 
chants of  Piatt  •county,  having  the  patron- 
age of  the  best  citizens  of  Monticello  and 
the  surrounding  districts.  He  is  a  practi- 
cal and  skilled  workman  in  the  line  of 
watchmaking  and  he  carries  a  large  and 
carefully  selected  stock  of  diamonds  and 
jewelry,  silverware  and  china  ware,  pur- 
chasing his  goods  from  the  most  reliable 
manufacturers. 

In  1882  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Schwartz  and  Miss  Mary  Lauret- 
son,  of  Elgin,  Illinois.  She  was  born  in 
Christiana,  Norway,  and  by  her  marriage 
she  has  become  the  mother  of  six  children : 
Minnie,  Inga,  Henry,  Lillie,  Andrew  and 
Lina,  who  is  the  baby  of  the  household. 

Mr.  Schwartz  is  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  also  of 
the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur.  He  owns  six  acres 
of  valuable  land  in  the  southern  part  of 
Monticello,  upon  which  he  has  erected  a 


comfortable  residence  and  good  outbuild- 
ings. He  is  an  enterprising  citizen  here 
deeply  interested  in  the  progress  and  im- 
provement of  Monticello  and  his  active  co- 
operation has  been  given  to  many  lines  for 
the  general  good.  The  hope  that  led  him 
to  leave  his  native  land  and  seek  a  home 
in  America  has  been  more  than  realized. 
He  found  the  opportunities  he  sought, 
which,  by  the  way,  are  always  open  to  the 
ambitious,  energetic  man,  and  making 
the  best  of  these  he  has  steadily  worked 
his  way  upward.  He  possesses  the  reso- 
lution, perseverance  and  reliability  so 
characteristic  of  people  of  his  nation,  and 
his  name  is  now  enrolled  among  the  best 
citizens  of  Piatt  county. 


ALVIN   T.  SMOTHERS. 

Alvin  T.  Smothers,  a  retired  farmer 
now  living  in  Mansfield,  was  born  on  the 
2Oth  of  May,  1867,  in  Franklin  count)', 
Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Emery  and  Lida 
(Sherbourne)  Smothers.  The  father  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  at  the  time  of 
the  Civil  war  he  responded  to  the  coun- 
try's call  for  troops,  serving  for  two  years. 
He  started  with  Sherman  on  the  memor- 
able march  to  the  sea,  but  was  wounded 
while  on  the  way  and  was  unable  to  reach 
the  sea  coast.  For  six  months  he  lay  in  the 
hospital  and  afterward  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge.  In  April,  1880,  his  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death.  His  widow, 
however,  still  survives  him  and  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Licking  county,  Ohio. 

Alvin  T.  Smothers  obtained  his  prelim- 
inary education  in  Harlem,  Ohio,  and  aft- 
erward entered  the  university  at  Wester- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


279 


ville,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued  advanced 
studies  and  became  well  equipped  for  the 
practical  and  responsible  duties  of  life.  On 
leaving  school  he  enlisted  in  the  regular 
army  of  the  United  States,  serving  for 
four  years.  At  the  expiration  of  his  mili- 
tary service  he  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  began  working  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand  for  Isaac  Hilligoss, 
receiving  as  a  compensation  for  his  serv- 
ices twenty  dollars  per  month.  Later  he 
was  married  and  returned  to  Ohio  where 
he  remained  for  twenty-one  months,  but 
he  thought  that  he  preferred  Illinois  as  a 
place  of  residence  and  again  came  to  Piatt 
county,  this  time  settling  upon  a  farm 
which  he  rented  from  W.  D.  Fairbanks. 
For  four  years  he  resided  there  and  har- 
vested good  crops  as  the  result  of  his  per- 
sistent labors.  He  also  spent  four  years 
upon  a  farm  which  he  rented  of  E.  P.  Barn- 
hart  and  then  purchased  a  part  of  the  farm 
which  he  was  cultivating,  becoming  the 
owner  of  a  tract  of  eighty  acres.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  successfully  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  in  this  county  and  in 
December.  1901,  he  removed  to  Mansfield, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Here 
he  purchased  a  house  and  lot  and  has  lived 
retired  from  farm  life,  but  to  some  extent 
carries  on  carpentering. 

Mr.  Smothers  was  united  in  marriage 
on  the  7th  of  November,  1889,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jennie  Bateman. 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
(Brown)  Bateman,  who  were  natives  of 
Ireland  and  Canada,  respectively.  The  fa- 
ther left  the  Emerald  Isle  in  1848  and 
crossed  the  Atlantic  with  his  parents. 
There  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  aft- 
er his  marriage  he  came  with  his  wife 
and  children  to  Piatt  countv,  Illinois,  in 


1871.  Here  he  has  since  resided  and  is 
now  one  of  the  wealthy,  prominent  and 
influential  farmers  of  this  portion  of  the 
state.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  im- 
proving and  developing  this  locality  and 
his  business  career  proves  the  value  of  en- 
ergy and  activity  in  agricultural  circles. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bateman  have  been 
born  eleven  children :  Thomas,  Mrs.  Jen- 
nie Smothers,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Chase,  Sam- 
uel, Charles  F.,  John  R.,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Smith,  Etta,  Nellie,  Mrs.  Edna  Warren 
and  Harry.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smothers  has  been  blessed  with  one  child, 
Edith  Lisle,  who  was  born  on  the  27th  of 
August,  1890,  and  is  now  attending  school 
in  Mansfield. 

The  parents  hold  membership  in  the 
Methodist  church  and  Mr.  Smothers  is  a 
Republican,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote the  growth  and  insure  the  success 
of  the  party,  yet  never  seeking  office  as 
the  reward  for  party  fealty.  The  cause 
of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend 
and  he  is  now  serving  as  a  school  director. 
He  is  also  a  co-operant  factor  in  the  moral 
development  of  the  community  and  in 
many  measures  for  the  general  welfare. 
His  business  career  has  been  honorable 
and  active  and  through  his  capable  man- 
agement he  has  gained  the  competence 
that  now  enables  him  to  live  retired  in 
Mansfield,  enjoying  all  of  the  comforts 
and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 


WILLIAM    D.  COFFIN. 

The  deserved  reward  of  a  well-spent 
life  is  an  honored  retirement  from  business 
in  which  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 


280 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


To-day,  after  a  useful  and  beneficial  ca- 
reer, Mr.  Coffin  is  quietly  living  at  his 
pleasant  home  in  Bement,  surrounded  by 
the  comfort  that  earnest  labor  has  brought 
him.  He  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in 
Vermilion  county,  January  22,  1842,  and 
is  a  son  of  Berkley  and  Narcissus  (David- 
son) Coffin.  The  Coffin  family  is  of  English 
origin  and  was  founded  in  America  by 
Christian  Coffin,  who  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Massachusetts  and  from  whom  all 
bearing  the  name  in  this  country  are  de- 
scended. The  early  family  was  known  as 
the  Nantucket  clan.  Our  subject's  pater- 
nal grandfather,  William  Coffin,  was  cap- 
tain of  the  first  company  from  Wabash, 
Indiana,  that  crossed  the  plains  to  Califor- 
nia during  the  gold  excitement,  and  he 
died  in  Sacramento,  his  being  the  first 
death  recorded  by  the  secretary  of  the 
cemetery.  His  death-bed  was  in  a  wagon. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Eunice  Worth,  was  also  a  representative 
of  an  old  eastern  family  of  English  ex- 
traction. 

Berkley  Coffin,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  North  Carolina  and 
about  1832,  when  still  a  boy,  removed  to 
Indiana  with  his  brother,  Dr.  Coffin,  who 
is  now  a  retired  physician  of  Monticello, 
Illinois.  In  early  life  Berkley  Coffin 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  but  in  later 
years  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
which  he  followed  in  Parke  and  Vermilion 
counties,  Indiana,  for  some  years,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1858  came  to  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  pursued  the  same  occu- 
pation until  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1861. 
His  wife  died  in  1852  at  Fort  Laramie 
while  on  her  way  to  California.  They  had 
but  two  children,  the  older  of  whom  is  our 
subject.  His  sister  Ann  is  the  wife  of  I. 


S.  Matthews,  a  resident  of  Fort  Jones, 
California,  and  is  the  mother  of  nine  chil- 
dren, seven  sons  and  two  daughters, 
though  one  daughter  died  April  15,  1903. 
William  D.  Coffin  was  principally 
reared  and  educated  in  Vermilion  county, 
Indiana,  though  he  attended  school  to  a 
limited  extent  after  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  in  the 
spring  of  1858.  As  soon  as  old  enough 
to  be  of  any  assistance  he  began  to  aid 
in  the  labors  of  the  farm  and  throughout 
his  active  business  life  continued  to  en- 
gage in  agricultural  pursuits  with  marked 
success.  He  accumulated  much  valuable 
property  and  is  to-day  .the  owner  of  land 
to  the  amount  of  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  in  Bement  township,  which  he  rents. 
In  1895  he  retired  from  active  labor  and 
removed  to  the  village  of  Bement,  where 
he  now  makes  his  home.  He  has  traded 
quite  extensively  in  farm  property  and  has 
met  with  uniform  success  in  his  opera- 
tions. His  first  purchase  of  land  consisted 
of  eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie,  which  he 
broke  and  improved,  and  he  later  bought 
forty  acres  in  the  edge  of  the  timber,  a 
part  of  which  he  cleared.  There  he  made 
his  home  in  a  log  cabin  for  one  year  and 
then  removed  to  his  prairie  farm.  Every- 
thing was  new  and  wild  and  there  was 
plenty  of  game  of  all  kinds,  including  deer, 
while  the  prairie  wolves  were  also  numer- 
ous. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  years  Mr.  Coffin 
laid  aside  all  personal  interests  to  enter 
the  service  of  his  country  during  the  dark 
days  of  the  Rebellion,  enlisting  at  Bement. 
August  7,  1862,  as  a  private  in  Company 
D,  Seventy-third  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, under  Colonel  James  F.  Jaquess 
and  Captain  Thomas  Motherspaw,  who- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


281 


was  afterward  appointed  major  and  led 
the  charge  in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Ten- 
nessee. This  was  known  as  the  "Preach- 
ers Regiment"  as  many  of  its  officers  were 
ministers,  and  it  was  the  first  regiment  to 
be  called  from  the  state  of  Illinois  in  1862. 
For  two  years  Mr.  Coffin  was  under  the 
command  of  General  Phil  Sheridan  and 
he  remained  in  the  service  for  three  years, 
being  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  Tennes- 
see, June  12,  1865,  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
The  principal  engagements  in  which  he 
participated  were  the  battles  of  Perryville; 
Stone  River,  where  he  was  slighty  wound- 
ed; Chickamauga,  September  20,  1863, 
where  he  was  wounded  in  the  hip  by  a 
spent  ball;  and  Missionary  Ridge,  where 
he  was  wounded  in  the  left  arm  near  the 
shoulder,  nearly  losing  the  member.  He 
was  all  through  the  Georgia  campaign  un- 
til after  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  when  his  regi- 
ment returned  to  Tennessee  to  meet  Hood 
and  took  part  in  the  severe  engagement 
at  Franklin,  where  Major  Motherspaw 
and  Adjutant  Davis  were  both  killed  in 
leading  charges.  This  was  followed  by 
the  battle  of  Nashville  where  they  routed 
General  Hood's  army.  Dr.  Coffin  was  at 
Blue  Springs  when  the  news  came  of  Gen- 
eral Lee's  surrender  and  the  assassination 
of  President  Lincoln,  having  been  sent 
there  with  his  regiment  to  fill  up  a  gap. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  our  subject  re- 
turned to  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  and 
was  married  September  13,  1866,  to  Miss 
Mary  Holtz,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Lovinia 
(Whipple)  Holtz,  both  deceased.  The  fol- 
lowing October  they  came  to  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  where  they  have  since  made  their 
home.  Of  the  eight  children  born  to  them 
the  following  are  still  living:  Eva,  the 
wife  of  A.  H.  Harshbarger,  who  is  en- 


gaged in  the  implement  business  in  Be- 
ment;  Harry  M.,  who  married  Delia  Na- 
tion and  lives  in  Bement ;  Bessie  and  Fred- 
erick, both  at  home.  Those  deceased  are 
Homer,  a  twin  brother  of  Harry,  who  was 
accidentally  killed  by  a  gunshot;  Emma, 
who  married  John  Crawford  and  died  of 
appendicitis;  Eddy,  a  bright  little  boy, 
who  died  of  scarlet  fever  at  the  age  of 
three  years;  and  William,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  children  have  all  received  lib- 
eral educations  and  the  family  is  one  of 
prominence  in  the  community  where  they 
reside.  They  attend  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

Mr.  Coffin  affiliates  with  the  Republi- 
can party  and  at  one  time  took  quite  an 
active  and  influential  part  in  local  politics. 
For  two  terms  he  acceptably  served  as 
township  supervisor  in  Bement  township 
and  was  school  director  of  the  Coffin 
school,  located  on  his  land,  for  about  twen- 
ty-nine years.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  board  of  education  in  the  village  of  Be- 
ment one  term 'and  never  withholds  his 
support  from  any  enterprise  which  he  be- 
lieves will  prove  of  public  benefit.  He  is 
well  known  in  the  county  of  his  adoption 
and  by  those  qualities  which  in  every  land 
and  clime  command  respect  he  has  won 
many  friends.  The  early  career  of  Mr. 
Coffin  was  one  of  unfaltering  industry  and 
through  strong  purpose  and  diligence  he 
worked  his  way  upward  to  the  plane  of 
affluence. 


POPE   HISER. 

Pope  Hiser,  who  carries  on  farming  and 
stock-raising  on  section  32,  Cerro  Gordo 
township,  was  born  on  the  8th  of  August, 


282 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


1862,  just  west  of  the  village  of  Cerro  Gor- 
do,  in  Macon  county,  and  is  a  representative 
of  an  old  and  honored  family  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state.  His  father,  Solomon 
Hiser.  was  born  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  November-  19,  1826.  and  in 
1855  wedded  Miss  Mary  E.  Page  a  native 
of  Xe\v  York,  born  in  1833.  In  1850  he 
came  to  Illinois  and,  settling  in  Macon  coun- 
ty, aided  in  its  pioneer  development.  He 
broke  many  an  acre  of  wild  prairie  land,  and 
for  nearly  forty  years  engaged  in  farming 
there.  Most  hospitable  in  manner,  he  was 
a  model  pioneer  and  although  not  a  member 
of  anv  church  he  was  always  found  on 
the  side  of  right  and  order  and  gave 
liberally,  though  unostentatiously,  to  all 
worthy  objects.  He  believed  firmly  in 
the  principles  of  Christianity  and  died  as 
he  had  lived,  with  a  hope  of  a  just  reward, 
not  fearing  death,  but  ready  to  meet  his  God. 
He  passed  away  at  Cerro  Gordo.  September 
28,  1889.  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  ten 
months  and  nine  days,  and  his  wife  died  at 
the  same  place,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years 
and  two  months,  from  the  effects  of  a  cancer, 
after  long  and  patient  suffering.  Her  fu- 
neral was  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Rev.  Poe  officiating,  and  her  re- 
mains were  interred  in  the  Frantz  cemetery. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
eight  children :  Mrs.  J.  J.  Garver.  a  resi- 
dent of  Decatur,  Illinois ;  Pope,  whose  name 
introduces  this  sketch ;  Samuel :  Mattie.  the 
wife  of  Henry  Berry,  of  Salem,  Illinois;  Al- 
ma, wife  of  John  Eiler,  a  mail-carrier  of 
Cerro  Gordo;  and  three  deceased. 

Pope  Hiser  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  near  his  boyhood  home,  and  early  ac- 
quired an  excellent  knowledge  of  every  de- 
partment of  farm  work.  At  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-two he  began  farming  on  his  own  account 


in  Macon  county,  and  remained  there  until, 
coming  to  Piatt  county,  in  1893,  when  he  set- 
tled on  his  present  farm,  having  purchased 
the  place  two  years  previously.  It  was  then 
in  bad  repair,  but  he  has  remodeled  the  house, 
tiled  and  drained  the  land  and  made  many 
other  useful  improvements,  spending  about 
eighteen  hundred  dollars  in  this  way.  He 
is  a  progressive  farmer  and  is  meeting  with 
well-deserved  success  in  his  chosen  occu- 
pation. 

In  1887  Mr.  Hiser  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Delia  Wheeler,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children,  but  both  are  deceased. 
Mrs.  Hiser  is  also  a  native  of  Macon  coun- 
ty, and  is  a  daughter  of  John  O.  K.  and 
Xancy  ( Hudgeon)  Wheeler,  both  deceased. 
She  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  five 
of  whom  are  still  living,  two  of  the  number 
being  residents  of  Macon  county :  Grant,  of 
Seattle.  Wash  ;  and  John  K.,  of  Macon  coun- 
ty. Isaiah  resides  in  Cerro  Gordo,  Piatt 
county.  Melissa  is  the  wife  of  John  Huff, 
a  farmer  of  Oakley  township. 


LEWIS    M.    UHL. 

One  of  the  best-known  and  most  hon- 
ored citizens  of  Cerro  Gordo  township  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  his  home  being  on  section  32,  where 
he  successfully  carries  on  operations  as  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser.  He  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  Ross  county,  January  12,  1854, 
and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Anna  Elizabeth 
(Luthwick)  Uhl.  natives  of  Germany.  On 
the  3d  of  July,  1847,  they  left  the  fatherland 
on  a  sailing  vessel  which  weighed  anchor  at 
Hessedamstat,  and  after  a  voyage  of  forty 


L.   M.  UHL 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


285 


days  landed  in  New  York  city,  whence  they 
proceeded  to  Ross  county,  Ohio.  They  made 
their  home  there  until  the  fall  of  1856,  and 
then  came  to  Piatt  county,  IHinois,  first  set- 
tling in  Monticello  township,  where  two 
years  were  passed.  They  next  removed  to 
Bement  township,  and  on  the  3d  of  March, 
1865,  located  on  the  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo 
township,  where  our  subject  now  resides. 
The  father  broke  and  improved  this  place, 
erecting  the  present  residence  in  1872. 
He  was  one  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, all  now  deceased,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred on  the  3d  of  June,  1889,  when  in 
his  eighty-third  year.  His  wife,  who  was 
one  of  a  family  of  three  children,  all  now  de- 
ceased, passed  away  January  16,  1887,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two.  She  was  a  devout  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Lutheran  church  and  a 
most  estimable  lady,  while  her  husband  was 
an  active  and  earnest  worker  in  the  Christian 
church,  to  which  he  belonged. 

This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  who  in  order  of  birth  were  as 
follows :  Peter,  now  a  resident  of  Oklahoma 
Territory;  John,  a  traveling  salesman  living 
in  Pana,  Illinois ;  Jeanette,  who  married 
George  Erler  and  died  leaving  two  children. 
Lizzie  and  Louis ;  L.  C.,  an  attorney  of  Smith 
county,  Kansas;  Henry,  an  attorney  of 
Colorado;  Jane,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Lewis  M.,  of  this  review ;  Charles,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  abstract  business  in  Smith  coun- 
ty, Kansas :  and  William,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Lewis  M.  Uhl  attended  the  district 
schools  near  his  boyhood  home  and  early  be- 
came familiar  with  all  the  duties  which  fall 
to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  His  entire  life 
has  been  devoted  to  farming  with  exception 
of  the  time  spent  as  postmaster  at  Kensing- 
ton, Smith  county,  Kansas.  For  several  years 
he  worked  bv  the  month  for  others,  and  in 


this  way  gained  a  start  in  life.  He  now  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  of  eighty  acres,  where 
the  family  located  in  1865,  and  he  materially 
assisted  in  breaking  and  improving  the  place. 
It  is  now  well  drained  and  tiled,  is  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  is  well  improved 
with  good  building,  a  new  barn  having  been 
erected  by  our  subject  in  1896.  It  is  one  of 
the  choice  farms  of  the  locality  and  is  pleas- 
antly located  on  the  main  road  to  Cerro  Gor- 
do, being  three  and  a  quarter  miles  east  of 
that  village.  Mr.  Uhl  handles  a  good  grade 
of  stock,  including  horses,  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  finds  this  branch  of  his  business  quite 
profitable.  He  has  borne  his  share  in  the  de- 
velopment and  improvement  of  this  section, 
transforming  the  wild  lands  into  well-culti- 
vated farms.  When  the  family  first  located  in 
this  region  much  of  the  land  was  unbroken 
and  wild  game  was  quite  plentiful. 

Mr.  Uhl  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran 
church  and  still  holds  to  that  "belief.  Polit- 
ically, he  is  a  Democrat,  and  on  his  party 
ticket  was  once  the  candidate  for  township 
assessor,  but  was  defeated  by  twenty-three 
votes,  the  township  being  strongly  Republic- 
an. He  has  served  as  postmaster  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  promoting  the  welfare 
of  his  township  and  county.  Fraternally,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  No. 
346,  of  Cerro  Gordo ;  Cerro  Gordo  Lodge, 
No.  600,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  and  Bement  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M.  He  is  also  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  a  man 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  aU  who 
know  him. 


EPHRAIM  DRESBACH. 

Illinois  ranks  among  the  first  states  of 
the  Union  in  agriculture,  as  well  as  along 
manv  other  lines,  and  its  rich  lands  have 


286 


PAST"   AND    PRESENT 


been  reclaimed  for  farm  purposes  by  such 
enterprising  and  progressive  citizens  as 
Ephraim  Dresbach.  Upon  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 1 6,  Monticello  township,  Mr.  Dresbach 
makes  his  home,  and  he  has  a  splendidly  im- 
proved prpperty,  its  neat  and  thrifty  appear- 
ance and  excellent  equipment  indicating  his 
careful  supervision  and  progressive  meth- 
ods. Mr.  Dresbach  was  born  in  Ross  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  on  the  5th  of  August,  1848.  His 
father  was  John  Dresbach,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  Ohio,  October  13,  1810.  In  the 
common  schools  he  was  educated,  attending 
the  subscription  schools  such  as  were  com- 
mon at  the  time.  He  not  only  spent  the  sum- 
mer months  in  aiding  in  the  work  of  clear- 
ing and  developing  the  land,  but  also  much 
of  the  winter  was  thus  passed,  and  thus  his 
educational  privileges  were  quite  meager. 
He  lived  in  Ohio  until  1855,  when  he  came 
to  Illinois,  establishing  his  home  in  Piatt 
county.  He  also  carried  on  farming  here, 
purchasing  what  is  known  as  the  Brady  farm 
two  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Monticello. 
There  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  for 
twenty  years,  breaking  most  of  that  land 
and  developing  it  into  rich  fields,  which  re- 
turned to  him  excellent  harvests.  When 
two  decades  had  passed  he  removed  to  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  our  subject,  and  made 
it  his  place  of  residence  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1884.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mary  Vinston,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Margaret  Vinston,  of 
Maryland.  Eight  children  were  born  unto 
Mr.  and  Airs.  Dresbach,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing are  living:  Mary,  now  the  wife  of 
George  Brady,  of  Monticello;  Ephraim;  and 
Edward,  who  is  now  engaged  in  dealing  in 
coal  and  wood  in  Chicago. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Piatt  county 
Ephraim  Dresbach  was  educated,  pursuing 
his  studies  in  the  first  frame  schoolhouse 


ever  built  in  Ridge  school  district.  For  the 
building  of  this  the  lumber  was  hauled  from 
Urbana  with  teams.  During  his  youth  Mr. 
Dresbach  also  became  thoroughly  familiar 
with  farm  work  in  all  of  its  departments,  as- 
sisting in  the  clearing  and  cultivation  of  the 
land  and  the  harvesting  of  crops.  He  con- 
tinued to  attend  school  mostly  during  the 
winter  seasons,  until  twenty  years  of  age. 

On  the  I4th  of  May,  1868,  was  celebrat- 
ed the  marriage  of  Mr.  Dresbach  and  Miss 
Samantha  Brady,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Buesy)  Brady,  of  Piatt  county. 
They  lived  with  his  father  for  about  six 
months,  and  then  rented  a  house,  moving  by 
themselves.  Mr.  Dresbach,  however,  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  farming  operations  in 
connection  with  his  father  for  about  five 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account,  buying  forty 
acres  of  land  and  renting  about  forty  acres 
more  of  the  farm  which  he  yet  owns  or  one 
adjoining  this  place.  In  his  work  he  has 
been  very  successful,  and  he  has  carried  on 
farming  operations  along  progressive  lines 
that  have  proven  of  value  in  bringing  to  him 
a  comfortable  competence.  He  has  tiled  the 
place,  thus  draining  the  fields  and  making 
them  very  productive.  He  has  also  divided 
his  farm  into  fields  of  convenient  size  by 
well-kept  fences,  and  has  planted  an  orch- 
ard, erected  a  new  residence  and  built  a  sub- 
stantial barn  and  other  outbuildings.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  engaged  in  further  im- 
proving his  home.  There  is  upon  his  place 
an  old  brick  house  which  was  probably  built 
here  in  1853,  and  was  the  first  home  occu- 
pied by  his  father  on  removing  to  this  local- 
ity. The  brick  with  which  it  was  construct- 
ed was  made  by  Gabriel  Dresbach,  an  uncle 
of  our  subject,  on  Camp  creek. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dresbach  have  been 
born  eleven  children :  William,  who  mar- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


287 


riecl  Jennie  Ashleman,  and  is  a  farmer  resid- 
ing about  a  mile  east  of  Monticello;  Cora, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Edwin  E.  Fuller,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Humboldt  county,  Iowa; 
Charles,  who  married  Elsie  Saint,  and  is 
now  residing  in  Humboldt  county,  Iowa; 
Jennie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Nisson,  a 
farmer  living  about  four  miles  southeast  of 
Monticello;  Frank,  who  married  Ottie  Hon- 
selman  and  resides  on  a  farm  two  miles  east 
of  Monticello;  Mary,  who  is  at  home  with 
her  parents ;  John,  who  is  working  on  his 
brother's  farm  near  Monticello;  Emery,  who 
assists  his  father  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm ;  Nellie,  who  is  yet  under  the 
parental  roof;  George,  who  died  when  about 
a  year  old ;  and  Letha,  who  is  now  eleven 
years  of  age  and  is  attending  school.  Mr. 
Dresbach  belongs  to  the  Court  of  Honor, 
Xo.  118,  of  Monticello,  with  which  he  has 
been  connected  for  four  years.  In  politics 
he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  school  director  for  nine  or  ten 
years,  the  cause  of  education  finding  in  him 
a  warm  friend.  He  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  this  por- 
tion of  the  state,  and  is  to-day  classed  among 
the  most  successful,  energetic  and  reliable  ag- 
riculturists of  the  community. 


RICHARD   S.   MINER. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Rich- 
ard S.  Miner,  we  present  to  our  readers  the 
life  record  of  one  who  has  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance in  Piatt  county,  having  resided  here 
since  pioneer  times.  He  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  after  many  years  of  connection 
with  agricultural  interests.  He  was  born  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  in  1847,  a  son  °f  T-  C-. 


and  Emeline  Miner.  The  father  was  born 
on  the  3d  of  October,  1812,  and  learned  the 
tailor's  trade.  He  also  became  a  farmer, 
and  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  tilling 
of  the  soil.  He  died  in  1901,  his  death  re- 
sulting from  an  accident.  While  walking 
home  one  day  he  slipped  on  a  slab  and 
broke  his  angle,  and  the  injury  terminated 
his  life.  His  wife,  who  was  born  on  the 
5th  of  M'ay,  1818,  passed  away  in  1892. 
The  subject  of  this  review  has  three  broth- 
ers and  two  sisters  yet  living  in  Piatt  coun- 
ty- 

Richard  S.  Miner  was  educated  near 
Monticello,  in  an  old  log  schoolhouse  fur- 
nished with  slab  seats,  a  writing  desk  around 
the  wall  and  an  immense  fireplace  in  one 
end  of  the  room.  The  methods  of  instruc- 
tion were  somewhat  limited,  but  reading  and 
observation  have  greatly  added  to  his 
knowledge  as  the  years  have  gone  by.  He 
accompanied  his  parents  to  the  west  and  can 
well  remember  the  journey.  They  started 
on  the  2d  of  November,  1856,  driving  across 
the  country,  and  on  the  i6th  of  November 
reached  Piatt  county.  On  the  way  they  en- 
countered a  severe  snowstorm  and  the  trip 
was  thus  fraught  with  hardships.  The  coun- 
try was  all  prairie,  wild  and  unimproved,  and 
the  district  abounded  in  game.  The  town 
of  Mansfield  was  not  established  at  that  time, 
nor  were  any  railroads  built,  Mr.  Miner  well 
remembering  when  the  first  roads  were  laid 
for  steam  traffic.  He  remained  with  his 
father  upon  the  old  homestead,  which  was 
known  as  the  Collins  farm.  The  father,  oft 
making  the  purchase,  secured  an  old  buck- 
skin deed,  such  as  were  used  at  that  time.  He 
bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
two  acres,  and  then  drove  to  Decatur  in  or- 
der to  purchase  tables  and  chairs.  On  the 
return  trip  he  became  lost  in  a  fog,  and  drove 


288 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


all  day  before  he  could  arrive  at  his  home. 
Many  were  the  hardships  and  trials  endured 
by  the  pioneers  as  they  attempted  to  estab- 
lish homes  en  the  frontier  and  perform  the 
arduous  task  r-f  re"'n'ming  the  wild  regions 
for  the  uses  of  civilization.  Mr.  Miner  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  development  and  cul- 
tivation of  the  home  farm  and  continued  to 
reside  there  until  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  twenty-five 
years  of  age. 

It  was  in  1872  that  Richard  S.  Miner 
was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Hannah  F. 
Stewart,  a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Mary  J. 
Stewart.  Unto  them  were  born  two  chil- 
dren :  Etta,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Wilson  and  has  three  children ;  and  Stew- 
art A.,  who  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  is  liv- 
ing with  his  parents. 

After  his  marriage  Richard  S.  Miner  en- 
gaged in  the  cultivation  and  operation  of 
his  wife's  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  He  paid  special  attention  to 
the  raising  of  stock,  having  large  numbers  of 
cattle  and  hogs  upon  his  place.  He  also 
engaged  in  the  raising  of  grain  and  fed 
much  of  his  crops  to  his  stock.  He  tiled  the 
farm  and  improved  it  from  year  to  year, 
making  it  a  valuable  property.  There  he 
continuously  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
until  about  four  years  ago.  when  he  removed 
to  Mansfield  and  erected  a  residence,  in 
which  he  is  now  spending  his  days  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 
His  wife's  farm  is  rented  to  their  son-in- 
law,  while  Mr.  Miner  has  rented  his  own 
farm  to  his  brother.  He  owns  thirty  acres 
of  land  in  Goose  Creek  township. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miner  belong  to  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  in  his  political 
affiliations  he  is  a  Democrat,  while  socially 
he  is  connected  with  the  Odd  Fellows'  So- 


ciety of  Mansfield,  being  a  popular  and  val- 
ued member  of  that  lodge.  For  five  years 
he  served  as  school  director  of  the  county, 
and  the  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend,  interested  in  its  welfare  and 
doing  all  he  can  to  promote  the  standard  of 
the  schools.  His  mind  bears  the  impress  of 
the  early  historic  annals  of  the  county.  Few 
men  have  longer  resided  within  the  borders 
of  Piatt  county  than  has  Mr.  Miner,  who 
from  the  age  of  nine  years  to  the  present 
time  has  lived  here.  He  herded  cattle  on  the 
prairies  when  no  towns  could  be  seen,  none 
of  the  small  towns  which  now  dot  the  county 
here  and  there  having  been  built.  There  was 
only  one  mill  in  Piatt  county  at  that  time, 
and  it  was  operated  by  water  power.  Corn 
could  be  purchased  for  ten  cents  per  bushel, 
and  prices  for  other  farm  products  were 
equally  low.  The  courthouse  was  an  old 
plank  storeroom,  and  court  was  only  held 
for  one  day  at  a  time.  Marvelous  changes 
have  since  occurred  as  this  county  has 
emerged  from  pioneer  conditions  to  take  its 
place  in  the  leading  counties  of  the  com- 
monwealth. Mr.  Miner  has  ever  borne  his 
part  in  the  work  of  progress  and  improve- 
ment, and  is  known  as  a  highly  respected  cit- 
izen, who  in  all  life's  relations  has  been  hon- 
orable, and  who  in  his  business  career  has 
been  active  and  energetic,  thus  gaining  a 
comfortable  competence. 


JAMES    A.  VENT. 

James  A.  Vent  is  the  popular  and  well 
known  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Ham- 
mond and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  influential  citizens  of  this  town  in 
which  he  has  made  his  home  since  1898. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


289 


He  \v;is  born  in  Willow  Branch  township, 
Piatt  county,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1874, 
and  is  a  son  of  James  T.  Vent,  who  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  Monticello.  To  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  township 
he  is  indebted  for  the  early  educational 
privileges  which  he  enjoyed.  Subsequent- 
ly he  attended  Brown's  Business  College 
at  Decatur  for  one  term  and  obtained  a 
good  business  education,  graduating  in 
February,  1894.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  returned  to  the  old  homestead  and  for 
a  short  period  he  engaged  in  farming  in 
Willow  Branch  township,  but  not  desiring 
to  follow  the  plow  as  a  life  work  he  re- 
moved to  Monticello  in  the  fall  of  1894, 
where  he  was  connected  with  an  implement 
business  for  one  year.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  the  firm  of  E.  G.  Knight  & 
Son,  with  which  he  remained  for  three 
years,  during  which  time  he  became  famil- 
iar with  business  methods  and  was  thus 
well  qualified  for  th(e  position  when  called 
upon  to  take  charge  of  the  jewelry  house 
in  Monticelo  owned  by  Mr.  Knight.  He 
acted  as  its  manager  most  capably  con- 
trolling its  affairs  until  1895.  'He  also  held 
other  positions  in  business  circles  in  Mon- 
ticello, remaining  there  until  the  ist  of 
November,  1898,  when  he  came  to  Ham- 
mond and  accepted  the  position  of  cashier 
in  the  bank  owned  by  Dighton  &  Thomp- 
son. It  was  then  a  private  banking  insti- 
tution. Mr.  Vent  was  the  youngest  bank 
cashier  in  Piatt  county,  being  only  twen- 
ty-four years  of  age  at  the  time  he  accepted 
the  position.  This  bank  was  organized  as 
a  state  bank  on  the  23d  of  September, 
1901,  and  Mr.  Vent  has  since  been  cashier, 
his  efforts  being  an  important  factor  in 
making  this  one  .of  the  reliable  financial 
institutions  of  this  part  of  the  county. 
In  Monticello  January  12,  1899,  was 


celebrated  the  marriage  of  James  A.  Vent 
and  Miss  Jessica  Stafford,  a  native  of  Graf- 
ton,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Charles 
Stafford.  She  was  reared,  however,  by 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Tidball,  of  Monticello.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vent  have  been  born  two 
children:  Louise,  born  December  31, 
1899;  and  Vivienne,  born  October  17, 
1901.  Mrs.  Vent  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  both  our 
subject  and  his  wife  occupy  an  enviable 
position  in  social  circles.  He  belongs  to 
Lovington  Lodge,  No.  228,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  Lovington,  Illinois,  and  he  gives  his 
political  support  to  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  now  serving  as  a  member  of  the  vil- 
lage board  and  also  as  school  treasurer  of 
16-5.  He  occupies  a  very  fine  residence 
in  Hammond  and  is  a  prominent,  well-to-do 
and  popular  young  business  man.  He  spends 
the  greater  part  of  his  time  at  the  bank  be- 
tween the  hours  of  nine  in  the  morning  and 
four  in  the  afternoon,  and  he  is  also  interest- 
ed in  real  estate,  dealing  largely  in  that  line. 
He  is  likewise  a  representative  of  the  insur- 
ance business,  being  agent  for  the  Hartford 
Company,  the  Insurance  Company  of 
North  America  and  the  Security  Insurance 
Company.  Whatever  he  undertakes  he 
carries  forward  to  a  successful  completion 
and  has  found  that  success  is  ambition's 
answer. 


EDWARD   S.  STOUT. , 

Edward  S.  Stout  is  one  of  Illinois'  na- 
tive sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Moultrie  county,  on  the  i8th  of  February, 
1867.  He  is  a  son  of  Amos  and  Catherine 
(Allman)  Stout,  and  only  the  first  years 
of  his  life  were  passed  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity,  his  parents  then  removing  to 


290 


PAST    AND     PRESENT 


Champaign  county.  The  father  was  born 
in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and  there  lived 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  Decid- 
ing that  he  might  find  better  business  op- 
portunities in  the  west  he  came  at  that 
time  to  Illinois, 'first  settling  in  Monticello 
township,  Piatt  county.  This  was  about 
1855.  There  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
some  years  and  afterward  was  employed 
in  the  village  of  Monticello,  where  he  spent 
a  number  of  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  removed  to  Moultrie  county, 
where  he  carried  on  farming  for  a  year, 
after  which  he  followed  the  same  pursuit 
in  Champaign  county  for  a  year.  Return- 
ing then  to  Piatt  county,  he  located  in 
Bement  township,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on 
section  3.  Here  the  family  settled  and 
still  reside.  He  placed  excellent  improve- 
ments upon  his  land,  remodeled  the  house 
and  continued  to  cultivate  the  fields  with 
success  until  his  death.  He  also  carried 
on  stockraising  in  connection  with  gener- 
al farming  and  both  branches  of  his  busi- 
ness proved  profitable.  In  all  his  work 
he  was  enterprising  and  was  thoroughly 
in  touch  with  the  progress  that  character- 
ized agriculture  in  the  nineteenth  century. 
In  matters  of  citizenship  he  was  public 
spirited  and  was  deeply  interested  in  ev- 
erything pertaining  to  the  general  welfare. 
At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Stout  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Union  and  in  1862 
feeling  that  he  wished  to  aid  in  the  defense 
of  the  old  flag  and  the  cause  it  represent- 
ed, he  donned  the  blue  uniform  and  went 
to  the  front,  serving  for  three  years  as  a 
member  of  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteers. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Frank- 
lin, Nashville,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach- 


tree  Creek,  Resaca  and  the  Georgia  cam- 
paign and  in  the  engagement  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain  he  was  wounded  by  a  bullet  in 
the  head,  but  he  never  received  a  pension. 
Prior  to  the  Civil  war  he  gave  his  support 
to  the  Republican  party  for  a  time  and  aft- 
erward became  a  Democrat,  voting  with 
that  organization  until  his  demise.  He 
served  as  road  commissioner,  but  was  nev- 
er an  active  politician  in  the  sense  of  office- 
seeking,  content  to  do  his  duty  as  a  private 
citizen. 

Amos  Stout  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Catherine  Allman,  who  was  born 
in  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  and  who  was 
Brought  to  America  when  a  little  maiden 
of  eleven  years.  She  was  reared  in  Ohio 
and  came  to  Illinois  when  a  young  lady. 
Both  of  her  parents  died  on  the  Emerald 
Isle.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stout  were  born 
five  children,  of  whom  three  are  still  liv- 
ing, the  subject  of  this  review  being  the 
eldest.  The  others  of  the  family  are :  John, 
who  died  when  about  thirty  years  of  age ; 
James  C.,  who  is  a  bank  clerk  at  Ivesdale, 
and  married  Miss  Annie  Crinigan ;  Mary, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Malachi  Loftus,  a  farm- 
er of  Ivesdale,  Illinois,  by  whom  she  has 
two  children.  The  father  of  this  family 
passed  away  in  1888  and  his  remains  were 
interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Ivesdale.  His 
widow  still  survives  him  and  is  now  residing 
on  the  home  place  in  Bement  township 
at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  Mr.  Stout 
was  a  leading  and  influential  resident  of  his 
community  and  an  honored  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  and  his  many  excellent  traits  of 
character  gained  for  him  the  high  regard 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

Under  the  parental  roof  Edward  S. 
Stout  spent  his  boyhood  days,  most  of  his 
time  being  passed  in  Piatt  county.  At  the 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


291 


usual  age  he  entered  the  public  schools 
and  therein  mastered  the  branches  of 
learning  usually  taught  in  such  institu- 
tions. He  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  when  not  engaged  in  the  duties  of 
the  schoolroom  and  on  the  old  home  place 
he  has  always  resided,  devoting  his  ener- 
gies to  general  farming  and  stockrais- 
ing.  As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for 
the  journey  of  life  Mr.  Stout  chose  Miss 
Bridget  Grady,  the  wedding  being  cele- 
brated in  Ivesdale.  The  lady  is  a  daugh- 
er  of  John  and  Bridget  (Lynch)  Grady, 
and  her  father  is  a  farmer  of  Ivesdale, 
where  both  he  and  his  wife  are  living.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stout  has  been 
blessed  with  three  interesting  children: 
Catherine,  who  is  four  years  of  age; 
Mary,  two  years  old;  and  Edward,  who  is 
the  baby  of  the  household.  All  of  the 
children  were  born  in  Bement  township. 
Mr.  Stout  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Democracy  and  socially  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Foresters,  while  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church.  Having 
resided  in  Piatt  county  throughout  his  en- 
tire life  with  the  exception  of  a  brief  pe- 
riod of  two  years  he  is  to-day  widely  and 
favorably  known  and  among  those  with 
whom  he  has  been  acquainted  from  boy- 
hood are  numbered  many  of  his  stanchest 
friends. 


F.  BALES,  D.  V.  S. 

Dr.  F.  Bales,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  veterinary  surgery  in  Monti- 
cello,  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Vermilion  county,  that 


state,  upon  the  home  farm,  June  12,  1865. 
His  father,  William  F.  Bales,  was  a  pros- 
perous agriculturist  and  stockraiser  of 
that  county,  carrying  on  business  in  a 
way  that  brought  to  him  a  good  financial 
return  for  his  labor.  He  continued  to  re- 
side in  Vermilion  county  until  his  demise. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Nancy  Merriweather,  was  likewise  a  na- 
tive of  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  and  a 
daughter  of  Josiah  Merriweather,  a  prom- 
inent and  influencial  gentleman  of  high 
standing  in  the  community  and  of  con- 
siderable wealth. 

Dr.  Bales  of  this  review  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  county,  attend- 
ing the  district  school  near  his  home. 
During  periods  of  vacation  he  worked  up- 
on a  farm  and  early  became  familiar 
with  the  best  methods  of  caring  for  the 
fields  and  for  the  stock.  His  father  was 
especially  active  as  a  stockraiser  and  Dr. 
Bales  learned  much  concerning  horses 
and  cattle,  their  needs  and  requirements. 
His  early  educational  privileges  were  sup- 
plemented by  one  year's  study  in  the  Agri- 
cultural University  at  Lafayette,  Indiana. 
He  afterward  read  medicine  and,  deciding 
to  devote  his  life  to  the  practice  of  veter- 
inary surgery,  he  became  a  student  in  a 
veterinary  college  at  Toronto,  Canada, 
which  is  considered  the  best  institution  of 
the  kind*  in  the  new  world.  There  he 
studied  until  he  had  mastered  the 
branches  which  constituted  the  curric- 
ulum and  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of 
1890. 

Dr.  Bales  then  returned  to  Indiana 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  calling.  In  December,  1890,  he 
removed  to  Monticello,  Illinois,  where  he 
opened  an  office  and  now  devotes  his  en- 


292 


PAST     AND     PRESENT. 


tire  time  to  his  professional  duties.  He 
is  well  established  in  practice,  his  business 
extending  all  over  Piatt  county.  His 
treatment  of  horses  has  been  particularly 
successful.  He  has  made  a  very  close 
study  of  his  work  and  his  knowledge  is 
broad,  comprehensive  and  accurate. 

The  Doctor  is  a  Democrat  in  his  poli- 
tical affiliations  and  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  Governor  Altgeld  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  state  veterinary  surgeon. 
This  brought  to  his  care  a  number  of  im- 
portant cases.  The  Doctor  is  also  a 
breeder  of  standard  bred  trotting  horses 
and  is  the  owner  of  the  celebrated  stud 
Vincent  DePaul.  He  is  likewise  the 
owner  of  the  noted  stallion  Pluton,  weigh- 
ing two  thousand  pounds  and  imported  by 
John  Ulrich  of  Decatur,  Illinois.  Another 
stallion,  which  is  the  property  of  Dr. 
Bales,  is  Albrook,  sixteen  and  a  half  hands 
high  and  weighing  twelve  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds.  As  a  breeder  as  well  as  a 
veterinary  the  Doctor  has  become  well 
known  and  is  conducting  a  successful  bus- 
iness in  both  lines.  He  has  attained  a 
high  position  in  Piatt  county  and  has  done 
much  to  improve  the  grade  of  stock  raised 
in  this  locality  and  thus  to  advance  prices 
whereby  the  general  agricultural  popula- 
tion is  benefited. 

In  1895  Dr.  Bales  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Louise  Jones,  of  Monticello, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children :  Harold,  Carl  and  Frederick. 


MARTIN   E.   MILLER. 

Martin  E.  Miller,  a  well-known  and  high- 
ly esteemed  citizen  of  DeLand,  is  largely  in- 


terested in  agricultural  pursuits  here  and 
elsewhere,  but  has  practically  retired  from 
active  labor,  leaving  the  operation  of  his 
lands  to  others  while  he  gives  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  the  supervision  of  his  busi- 
ness affairs  and  the  management  of  his  prop- 
erty. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Miller  was  born 
in  Fulton  county,  this  state,  March  27,  1865, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  F.  and  Anna  (Nicewan- 
der)  Miller,  both  natives  of  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  which  was  their  home  until 
after  their  marriage.  The  father  was  born  in 
1834,  and  in  early  life  followed  the  black- 
smith's trade,  but  after  his  removal  to  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  in  1863,  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming.  He  rented  land  until  1870, 
when  he  removed  to  Piatt  county  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Goose  Creek 
township,  near  DeLand,  to  which  he  after- 
ward added  an  adjoining  eighty  acres  though 
just  across  the  line  in  DeWitt  county.  Here 
he  continued  to  engage  in  farming  until  his 
death,  and  so  successful  was  he  that  he  was 
able  to  add  to  his  property  until  he  had  two 
hundred  and  eleven  acres  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  well  improved.  He  also 
fed  stock  for  market  and  both  branches  of  his 
business  proved  quite  profitable.  After  a  use- 
ful and  well-spent  life  he  passed  away  in 
the  fall  of  1890.  In  his  family  were  eight 
children  :  Louisa,  the  wife  of  Henry  Reeser,  a 
retired  stock-buyer  of  Farmer  City,  Illinois; 
Martin  E.,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch :  Dessie,  wife  of  Newton  Troxell,  of 
Huntsville,  Alabama ;  Oliver,  a  liveryman 
and  farmer  of  South  Dakota;  Cora,  a  resi- 
dent of  Farmer  City;  Clarence,  a  farmer  of 
that  place ;  Belle,  deceased  wife  of  Frank  Mc- 
Bride ;  and  Tishia.  who  died  in  infancy. 

Martin  E.  Miller  was  only  five  years  old 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 


MARTIN   E.  MILLER 


MRS    MARTIN   E.  MILLER 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


297 


moval  to  Piatt  county,  and  here  he  acquired 
a  good  practical  education  in  the  public 
schools,  at  the  same  time  gaining  an  excellent 
knowledge  of  every  department  of  farm 
work  while  aiding  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm.  He  remained  with  his  father  un- 
til his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  Febru- 
ary 4.  1891,' the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Catherine  AlcBride,  a  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Mary  (Johnson)  McBride,  of  Piatt  county. 
Her  ancestors  were  originally  from  Mary- 
land and  Pennsylvania.  To  our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  been  born  two  children :  Corda 
Opal  and  Cecil  Dale,  now  in  school. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Miller  located  on 
his  father-in-law's  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-six  acres  in  DeWitt  county,  and  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  McBride  the  property  came  into 
possession  of  Mrs.  Miller.  Our  subject  con- 
tinued to  operate  that  farm  until  1901,  when 
he  removed  to  DeLand,  but  Mrs.  Miller  still 
owns  the  place.  In  the  meantime  he  had  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  two  acres 
south  of  Farmer  City,  which  he  sold  in  the 
fall  of  1901.  and  also  bought  three  hundred 
and  eight  acres  in  Carroll  county,  Missouri, 
which  is  still  in  his  possession.-  Besides  this 
property  he  has  sixteen  and  a  quarter  acres 
at  the  edge  of  DeLand,  which  is  a  well-im- 
proved place,  he  having  remodeled  the  resi- 
dence, built  a  barn,  and  in  other  ways  en- 
hanced its  appearance.  Here  he  raises  some 
stock,  and  he  still  continues  to  operate  his 
wife's  farm,  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres 
of  which  is  in  De\Yitt  county,  and  the  re- 
maining forty,  which  they  have  added,  be- 
ing just  across  the  line  in  Piatt  county.  He 
is  a  practical  and  progressive  farmer,  who 
thoroughly  understands  the  vocation  and  is 
meeting  with  well-deserved  success.  He  is 
also  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  DeLand,  and  is  a  man  of 
excellent  business  and  executive  ability. 


Religiously,  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  fraternally,  he  is  connected  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  De 
Land  Camp,  No.  2178,  M.  W.  A.  His  po- 
litical support  is  given  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Democracy,  and  he  takes  a  deep  in- 
terest in  public  affairs.  Pleasant  and  genial 
in  manner  he  makes  many  friends,  and  is  held 
in  high  regard  by  all  who  know  him. 


ALBERT  HISER. 

As  the  world  has  progressed  in  civili- 
zation history  is  no  longer  a  record  of 
wars  and  conquests  or  the  tale  of  a  power- 
ful nation  conquering  a  weaker  one,  but 
has  become  the  record  of  an  enlightened 
people  whose  energies  are  devoted  to  bus- 
iness activity  and  a  steady  culture.  There 
is  no  country  on  the  face  of  the  globe  that 
has  made  such  rapid  advances  along  busi- 
ness lines  as  has  America,  and  every  com- 
munity has  its  leading  and  progressive 
men  who  are  the  promoters  of  the  pros- 
perity of  the  towns  which  they  represent. 
To  this  class  Albert  Hiser  belongs  and  he 
is  now  largely  engaged  in  dealing  in 
grain  in  La  Place,  where  his  operations 
having  assumed  extensive  proportions  are 
bringing  to  him  very  gratifying  success. 
He  has  resided  in  the  village  for  six  years 
and  for  eighteen  years  has  made  his  home 
in  Piatt  county.  He  is,  moreover,  a  na- 
tive son  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Macon  county,  this  state,  on  the 
5th  of  January,  1864.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Sarah  (Hess)  Hiser  and  the 
father  throughout  his  business  career  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  in  Macon 
county,  but  at  length  when  he  had  ac- 


14 


298 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


quired  a  comfortable  competence  he  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Cerro  Gordo, 
where  he  is  now  living  retired,  enjoying 
a  rest  which  he  has  truly  earned  and 
richly  deserves. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  and  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  of  the  period 
Albert  Hiser  spent  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth.  When  a  little  lad  of  six 
years  he  was  supplied  with  the  necessary 
text  books  and  made  his  way  to  the 
country  school  near  his  home.  Therein 
as  the  years  passed  he  mastered  the 
branches  of  learning  usually  taught  in 
such  institutions  and  during  the  summer 
months  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  work 
of  field  and  meadow.  He  continued  upon 
his  father's  farm  until  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage, which  was  celebrated  in  1883,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Martha 
Veagh,  also  a  native  of  Macon  county 
and  a  daughter  of  John  Veagh,  who  died  in 
Macon  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiser  now 
have  two  very  interesting  children,  Bessie 
and  Firman. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hiser  entered 
upon  an  independent  business  career,  re- 
moving to  Piatt  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  located  in  Cerro  Gordo 
township.  With  characteristic  energy  he 
began  its  further  development  and  im- 
provement and  he  cultivated  his  land  with 
excellent  results,  producing  good  crops 
annually  and  to  the  personal  supervision 
of  his  land  he  devoted  his  energies  until 
1897,  when  he  removed  to  the  village  of 
La  Place.  Here  he  became  a  factor  in  the 
commercial  pursuits,  opening  a  general 
mercantile  store  which  he  conducted  for 
three  years.  He  then  sold  out  in  that  line 
and  turned  his  attention  to  the  grain  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  since  continued.  He 


owns  a  large  grain  elevator  at  the  west  end 
of  the  village  and  handles  many  hundreds 
of  bushels  of  grain  annually,  his  business 
forming  an  excellent  market  for  the  produc- 
ers in  this  section.  He  is  also  a  dealer  in 
coal  and  his  annual  sales  of  both  commodi- 
ties have  reached  a  large  figure.  While  care- 
fully conducting  his  business  affairs  Mr.  Hi- 
ser has  also  faithfully  performed  his  duties 
of  citizenship  and  is  public  spirited.  He  has 
held  several  minor  offices  in  his  township 
and  for  the  past  six  years  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  doing  all  in  his  pow- 
er to  further  the  interests  of  education  along 
practical  lines.  His  political  support  is 
given  the  Democracy.  Socially  he  is  con- 
nected with  La  Place  Lodge  No.  787,  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  La 
Place  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  church  here.  He  is  a 
man  of  distinctive  ability  and  his  character 
is  one  which  is  above  a  shadow  of  re- 
proach. He  has  been  faithful  in  the  posi- 
tions in  which  he  has  been  called  to  serve 
and  is  widely  known  and  respected  by  all 
who  have  been  at  all  familiar  with  his 
honorable  and  useful  career. 


JOSEPH    P.    CARTER. 

From  the  age  of  nine  years  Joseph  P. 
Carter  has  resided  in  Piatt  county  and  now 
owns  and  occupies  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
on  section  35,  Bement  township.  His  long 
association  with  agricultural  interests  and 
his  excellent  reputation  in  business  circles 
have  made  him  widely  known  and  gained 
for  him  the  unqualified  regard  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact.  Ken- 
tucky is  the  state  of  his  nativity,  his  birth 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


299 


having  occurred  in  Grant  county  in  1854,  his 
parents  being  Landon  S.  and  Sally  Carter, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Grant  county.  The 
father  followed  farming  throughout  his  en- 
tire life,  and  about  1863  he  left  his  native 
state  and  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Piatt  county,  where  he  cultivated 
a  farm  for  a  number  of  years.  He  next  re- 
moved to  Kansas,  where  he  lived  for  eight 
or  ten  years,  and  on  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Missouri, 
where  his  remaining  days  were  passed.  He 
lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  but 
took  no  active  part  in  political  work,  prefer- 
ing  to  devote  his  time  and  energies  to  his 
business  affairs.  His  wife  died  in  Missouri 
about  a  year  prior  to  the  demise  of  her  hus- 
band. They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  five  daughters,  and  with 
one  exception  all  are  yet  living.  Mr.  Carter 
of  this  review,  however,  is  the  only  one  who 
resides  in  Piatt  county,  the  others  being  res- 
idents of  Missouri. 

Joseph  P.  Carter  obtained  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Cisco,  Willow 
Branch  township,  living  at  that  time  on  the 
Allegan  farm.  Five  years  ago  he  purchased 
his  present  place  on  section  35,  Bement 
township,  and  here  he  has  since  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stockra-ising.  Before 
buying  his  present  home,  however,  he  was 
manager  of  the  Allerton  farm  in  Unity 
township  and  continued  with  Mr.  Allerton 
for  twenty-four  years  as  supervisor  of  his 
place.  He  is  most  thorough  and  systematic 
in  his  work,  and  everything  about  his  home 
is  indicative  of  his  careful  supervision  and 
advanced  ideas  concerning  farming. 

In  1901  Mr.  Carter  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Nancy  M.  Carter,  the  widow 
of  O.  T.  Carter,  a  deceased  brother  of  our 


subject,  and  a  daughter  of  Frank  Nelson,  of 
Argenta,  Illinois,  who  was  an  early  settler 
of  that  portion  of  the  state,  and  died  at  an 
advanced  age.  By  her  first  marriage  Mrs. 
Carter  had  four  children :  Jesse  O.,  who 
is  now  in  the  employ  of  Samuel  W.  Aller- 
ton, of  Chicago;  Willis  L.,  who  married 
Miss  Laura  Trigg,  by  whom  he  has  two 
children  and  who  resides  in  Bement,  de- 
voting his  time  and  attention  to  the  oper- 
ation of  a  threshing  machine;  Edgar,  who 
resides  with  his  mother ;  and  Nellie,  the  wife 
of  Walter  Wells,  who  is  living  two  miles 
west  of  Bement.  They  have  one  child. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Carter  is  a 
Democrat,  his  study  of  the  questions  and 
issues  of  the  day  leading  him  to  the  belief 
that  the  Democracy  contains  the  best  ele- 
ments of  good  government,  and  has  served 
as  school  director  of  Unity  township  and 
is  deeply  interested  in  the  advancement  of 
education,  realizing  that  it  is  one  of  the  bul- 
warks of  the  nation.  His  religious  faith  is 
indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  Metho- 
dist church,  and  at  all  times  he  is  known  as 
a  man  of  strong  and  upright  character, 
unfaltering  in  his  fidelity  to  duty  and  to  his 
principles.  Through  a  long  residence  in 
Piatt  county  he  has  witnessed  many  of  its 
changes  and  has  seen  the  work  of  improve- 
ment carried  forward  until  the  district  to- 
day bears  little  resemblance  to  that  in  which 
the  family  arrived  forty  years  ago.  During 
his  remembrance  the  wild  prairie  has  been 
transformed  into  productive  farms  which 
have  been  made  to  bloom  and  blossom  as 
the  rose,  and  along  other  lines  of  work 
improvement  has  kept  pace  with  the  general 
progress  of  the  world.  Mr.  Carter  takes  a 
just  pride  in  what  has  been  accomplished 
here,  and  he  certainly  deserves  great  credit 
for  his  personal  success,  for  all  that  he  has 


300 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


has  been  won  through  his  untiring  labor, 
guided  by  sound  business  judgment  and 
prompted  by  laudable  ambition. 


REV.    RICHARD   B.    HUBBART. 

Rev.  Richard  B.  Hubbart  is  now  devot- 
ing his  time  and  attention  to  general  farm- 
ing on  section  i,  Monticello  township,  Piatt 
county,  but  he  has  devoted  much  of  his  life 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  it  is  a  hard- 
ship to  him  that  his  entire  time  and  energies 
cannot  be  directed  for  the  betterment  of 
mankind  and  the  advancement  of  moral 
growth  among  his  fellow  men.  His  health, 
however,  prevents  this,  and,  finding  it  im- 
possible to  longer  continue  in  the  active 
work  of  the  ministry,  he  retired  to  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  which  is  situated  just  eight 
miles  from  his  birthplace.  His  natal  day 
was  July  28,  1868. 

His  father,  Hon.  William  C.  Hubbart, 
a  distinguished  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Piatt  county,  now  living  retired,  was  born 
in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  October  26,  1835. 
The  ancestry  of. the  family,  however,  can 
be  traced  farther  back  than  this.  The  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject  was  Thomas 
Hubbart,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  his  son, 
Richard  Hubbart,  the  grandfather,  was  born 
'  in  Pennsylvania.  He  became  a  well-to-do 
and  enterprising  farmer,  and  after  reaching 
years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Nancy  Down, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1806.  a  daughter 
of  William  Down.  Richard  Hubbart's  birth 
occurred  in  1807,  and  the  marriage  was  cele- 
brated in  the  Buckeye  state.  In  1856  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois, settling  in  what  was  then  Goose  Creek 
township,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of 


land  from  the  government,  paying  the  usual 
price  of  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per 
acre.  His  farm  comprised  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  to  which  he  added  from  time  to 
time  until  it  was  an  extensive  property. 
There  he  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stockraising  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  the  year  1859.  He  was  for  several  years 
swamp  land  commissioner  in  Piatt  county, 
and  was  well  known  as  a  leading  and  influ- 
ential citizen.  From  the  early  days  of  his 
residence  here  he  was  deeply  interested  in 
whatever  pertained  to  the  progress  and  wel- 
fare of  the  county,  and  his  efforts  proved  a 
patent  factor  in  the  substantial  upbuilding 
of  this  section  of  the  state. 

William  C.  Hubbart,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  reared  to  farm  life.  He  pursued 
his  education  in  the  common  schools,  his 
teacher  being  Samuel  Morain.  Upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm  he  continued  until  his  twentieth 
year,  and  in'  1862,  putting  aside  all  busi- 
ness and  personal  considerations,  he  respond- 
ed to  his  country's  call  for  aid,  enlisting  in 
defense  of  the  Union  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany E,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  Colonel  Snell,  of  Clin- 
ton, Illinois,  commanding  the  regiment.  Mr. 
Hubbart  took  part  in  a  number  of  skirmishes 
and  battles,  but  escaped  without  wounds, 
nor  was  he  taken  prisoner.  He  served  his 
country  faithfully  until  June,  1865,  for  some 
time  acting  as  division  mail-carrier,  and  aft- 
er the  close  of  the  war  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, returning  then  to  his  home  in 
Goose  Creek  township.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, the  first  union  being  with  Miss  Clarin- 
da  Marquis,  their  wedding  being  celebrated 
Xovember  19.  1857,  and  in  1858  Mrs.  Hub- 
bart was  called  from  this  life,  leaving  a  lit- 
tle daughter,  Florence,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  Wylie  M.  DeWess,  of  DeLand,  Illinois. 


-PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


301 


In  1862  Air.  Hubbart  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Luanda 
Coon,  a  daughter  Mr.  and  Airs.  Bartholo- 
mew Ham,  who  lived  on  the  Ezra  Marquis 
place  in  a  little  pioneer  cabin.  The  second 
marriage  of  Mr.  Hubbart  resulted  in  the  fol- 
lowing children  :  Willie,  who  died  in  infan- 
cy; Edith  P.,  who  is  a  teacher;  Richard  B., 
a  farmer;  Jennie  M.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  F.  P. 
Stedem,  of  Saybrook,  Illinois;  Oliver  S., 
who  is  a  student  in  the  State  University  at 
Champaign ;  Delia  S.,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  A.  F.  Conard  and  resides  in  Homer,  Il- 
linois; and  Dwight  C,  who  is  a  student  in 
the  Northwestern  University  at  Evanston, 
Illinois. 

Throughout  his  business  career  Hon. 
William  C.  Hubbart  followed  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  became  one  of  the  prosperous 
farmers  of  Piatt  county.  His  landed  pos- 
sessions are  extensive  and  he  still  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  five  hundred  acres  in  Goose  Creek 
township,  together  with  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Moultrie  county,  Il- 
linois, eighty  acres  in  Champaign  county 
and  a  farm  in  Sangamon  county.  He  is 
classed  among  the  largest  landowners  of  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  as  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  representatives  of  the  agricultur- 
al class.  His  success  is  well-merited,  and 
lias  been  so  worthily  won  that  the  most  en- 
vious cannot  grudge  him  his  prosperity.  He 
sustains  an  unassailable  reputation  as  a  busi- 
ness man,  and  his  industry,  perseverance 
and  sound  discriminating  judgment  have 
formed  the  basic  elements  of  his  career.  He 
now  occupies  a  nice  home  in  Alonticello, 
tastefully  furnished  with  attractive  sur- 
roundings, and  there  he  is  enjoying  a  well- 
earned  rest.  Well  fitted  for  leadership,  he 
has  left  the  impress  of  his  individuality  upon 
public  thought  and  action.  He  served  in 


the  legislature  in  the  year  1874  and  again 
in  1895,  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
While  a  member  of  the  house  he  gave  care- 
ful considration  to  every  question  which 
came  up  for  settlement,  and  his  official  career 
has  been  characterized  by  conscientious  fidel- 
ity to  duty  and  patriotic  devotion  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  state.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Franklin  Post,  No.  256,  G.  A. 
R.,  and  in  this  organization,  as  in  other 
walks  of  life,  he  enjoys  the  highest  regard 
and  good  will  of  those  with  whom  he  is 
brought  in  contact. 

Richard  B.  Hubbart,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  obtained  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  near  his  home, 
and  later  attended  the  Wesleyan  University 
at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  but  had  been  there 
only  one  year  when  his  health  failed  him, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  discontinue  his  stud- 
ies. Prior  to  this,  in  1888,  1889  and  1890. 
he  taught  school  in  Piatt  county.  A  year 
before  going  to  the  university  he  entered 
upon  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  for  one  year  he  was  the  pastor  of  the 
church  of  his  denomination  at  Weedman, 
Illinois,  and  for  two  years  at  Thomasboro. 
He  was  then  appointed  to  the  church  at  Og- 
den.  and  while  acting  as  pastor  for  the  sec- 
ond year  his  health  again  failed  and  he  was 
forced  to  resign.  For  some  time  he  was 
very  ill,  and  in  March,  1890,  he  removed  to 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  is  now  located 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  He  is  gaining 
in  strength  and  health  and  feels  happy  in 
that  he  has  a  country  home  to  which  he  can 
retire  when  his  strength  will  not  permit  him 
to  engage  in  ministerial  labors — that  being 
his  chosen  life  work.  He  expects  when  he 
has  sufficiently  recovered  to  gain  the  doc- 
tor's consent  to  again  enter  into  active  rela- 


302 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


tions  with  the  ministry.  He  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  labors  in  behalf  of  the  moral 
advancement  of  mankind  and  while  he  was 
preaching  he  had  between  four  and  five  hun- 
dred conversions  in  his  church. 

On  the  gth  of  May,  1894,  Rev.  Hubbart 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Iris  Porter, 
and  it  was  in  the  same  year  that  he  entered 
into  conference  relations.  The  lady  is  a 
daughter  of  Austin  and  Emma  (Jones) 
Porter  and  was  born  in  Parnell,  DeWitt 
county,  near  Farmer  City.  Her  father  was 
a  grain  merchant  at  Parnell  and  owns  a 
farm  adjoining  the  town.  He  is  now  living 
retired,  having  gained  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, sufficient  to  supply  him  with  all  the 
necessities  and  many  of  the  comforts  of  life. 
Mrs.  Hubbart  taught  schools  in  Piatt  coun- 
county  for  ten  years  prior  to  her  marriage. 
She  has  a  brother,  Clarence  Porter,  who  is 
now^in  Oklahoma,  and  a  sister,  Delia,  who 
is  teaching  school  in  Champaign  county, 
Illinois.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbart  have 
been  born  three  children,  who  are  yet  living, 
and  they  lost  one,  Harold  Evan,  the  young- 
est, who  was  born  on  5th  of  September, 
1902,  and  died  on  the  I3th  of  November  of 
the  same  year.  The  other  children  of  the 
family  are  Faith  Iris,  who  was  born  April 
19,  1895,  at  Weedman,  and  is  now  attending 
school;  Ruth  Frances,  born  at  Ogden  City, 
this  state,  February  21,  1899;  and  Paul 
Richard,  born  on  the  home  farm  October 
23,  1901. 

Mr.  Hubbart  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  having  joined  Pop- 
lar Camp,  No.  253,  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1895,  at  Farmer  City.  His  wife  has  been 
an  able  assistant  to  him  in  his  work,  both 
upon  the  farm  and  in  the  ministry,  carefully 
superintending  the  household  and  encour- 
aging him  by  her  sympathy  and  deep  inter- 


est in  whatever  he  undertakes.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  Mr.  Hubbart  is  engaged  in  the 
raising  of  corn,  oats  and  clover.  He  also 
has  upon  his  farm  twenty-six  head  of  cattle 
and  fifty  sheep,  together  with  a  number 
of  hogs.  In  the  past  year  he  had  a  drove  of 
seventy  hogs,  but  thirty-five  were  killed  by 
cholera.  The  '  farm  is  a  well  improved 
place  with  good  buildings  and  modern 
equipments,  and  in  its  control  Mr.  Hubbart 
shows  excellent  business  ability.  It  would 
be  almost  tautological  in  this  connection  to 
enter  into  any  series  of  statements  as  show- 
ing him  to  be  a  man  of  genuine  public  spirit 
and  broad  human  sympathy  for  this  has 
Ijeen  shadowed  forth  between  the  lines  of 
this  review.  His  deepest  interests  lie  in 
the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men,  in  the  line  of 
character  development  and  his  efforts  in 
this  direction  have  been  far-reaching  and  of 
marked  benefit. 


JOHN   ETNOYER. 

Since  1893  John  Etnoyer  has  lived  re- 
tired in  the  village  of  Cerro  Gordo,  but  for 
a  number  of  years  he  was  extensively  and 
successfully  engaged  in  farming,  and  is  still 
the  owner  of  valuable  land.  He  has  resided 
in  Piatt  county  since  1880,  and  no  agricul- 
turist of  this  section  of  the  state  occupies  a 
higher  position  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen.  Mr.  Etnoyer  is  a  native  of  Dau- 
phin county,  Pennsylvania,  born  on  the  first 
of  February,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Mary  (Stupher)  Etnoyer,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  state. 
There  they  spent  their  entire  lives,  both  hav- 
ing now  passed  away  and  the  father  devoted 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  order 
to  provide  for  his  family. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


303 


At  the  Msual  age  John  Etnoyer  entered 
the  public  schools,  to  prepare  for  life's  prac- 
tical and  responsible  duties.  He-  continued 
his  studies  during  the  winter  months  and 
during  the  summer  seasons  remained  at 
home,  assisting  his  father  in  the  work  of 
the  farm.  The  sun  shone  clown  on  many  a 
field  which  he  plowed  and  planted  and 
ripened  the  grain  which  sprung  from  the 
seed  that  he  sowed.  He  became  familiar 
with  farm  work  in  all  its  departments  and 
was  thus  well  equipped  to  carry  on  similar 
Work  when  he  started  out  in  life  independ- 
ently. He  chose  as  a  companion  and  help- 
mate for  life's  journey  Miss  Mary  Holin- 
ger,  who  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
where  their  wedding  was  celebrated.  Her 
parents,  Christian  and  Nancy  (Kinzie)  Hol- 
inger,  were  also  natives  of  Dauphin  county, 
and  the  father  carried  on  farming  there  in 
his  early  life,  while  later  he  operated  a 
woolen  mill.  Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in 
the  county  of  their  nativity.  The  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Etnoyer  has  been  blessed 
with  four  children :  Emma,  who  is.now  the 
wife  of  Michael  Stookey,  who  is  a  farmer  of 
Bement  township,  Piatt  county ;  Anna,  now 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Diehl.  a  farmer  living 
in  Cerro  Gordo  township;  Frank,  who 
married  Lizzie  Shively,  and  is  an  agricul- 
turist of  Cerro  Gordo  township;  and  Ida, 
the  deceased  wife  of  Samuel  Landis,  who 
now  resides  in  the  village  of  Cerro  Gordo. 

After  his  marriage  Mr,  Etnoyer  en- 
gaged in  the  burning  of  lime  in  Dauphin 
county,  and  later  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  which  he  followed  in  his  native 
state  for  six  years.  He  then  came  to  the 
west,  settling  first  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  until  1880.  That 
year  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Piatt  countv. 


He  settled  in  Cerro  Gordo  township,  where 
he  secured  a  tract  of  land,  and  for  thirteen 
years  he  devoted  his  energies  to  its  cultiva- 
tion and  improvement  until  1893,  when  he 
determined  to  put  aside  further  business 
cares  and  spend  his  remaining  days  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 
He  then  took  up  his  abode  in  Cerro  Gordo, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  yet  owns  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
north  of  town  and  another  tract  of  land 
southeast  of  Cerro  Gordo.  In  addition  to 
this  he  has  a  nice  residence  in  the  west  part 
of  the  village  which  he  and  his  wrife  now  oc- 
cupy. 

Mr.  Etnoyer  served  as  a  school  director 
in  Edgar  county  for  some  time  and  took  a 
deep  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to 
the  welfare  and  improvement  of  the  schools. 
In  politics  he  has  ever  been  a  stalwart  Rep- 
publican,  giving  his  support  to  the  party 
since  he  attained  his  majority  and  never  fal- 
tering in  his  allegiance  to  its  principles. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church.  His  life  history 
is  another  instance  of  what  can  be  accom- 
plished in  this  land  where  opportunity  is 
not  hampered  by  caste  or  class,  but  where 
energy  and  strong  purpose  form  the  basis 
of  success.  Not  to  any  fortunate  combina- 
tion of  circumstances  or  to  the  aid  of  influ- 
ential friends  does  Mr.  Etnoyer  owe  his 
prosperity.  It  may  all  be  attributed  to  his 
own  efforts  and  his  business  career  is  such 
as  any  man  might  be  proud  to  possess,  for 
it  has  ever  been  characterized  by  industry 
and  unswerving  integrity.  He  possesses 
in  full  measure  the  ennobling  qualities  which 
command  respect,  and  his  honesty  and  fair- 
ness have  gained  for  him  the  confidence  and 
good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  as- 
sociated. 


3°4 


PAST    AND     PRESENT 


HIRAM  DILLIN. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  to  our 
readers  the  life  record  of  Hiram  Dillin,  for 
through  the  conduct  of  business  affairs, 
which  have  been  capably  managed  and  well 
directed  by  sound  judgment  and  energy,  he 
has  acquired  a  competence  that  now  enables 
him  to  live  retired  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
his  former  toil.  For  many  years  he  was 
connected  with  agricultural  interests  in  Piatt 
county,  and  now  he  occupies  a  fine  residence 
in  Monticello,  where  he  has  lived  continuous- 
ly since  1895.  His  residence  in  the  county 
dates  from  an  early  day,  and  he  is  therefore 
familiar  with  much  of  its  history,  while  his 
own  labors  have  been  of  particular  benefit  in 
the  line  of  agricultural  development. 

A  native  of  Virginia,  Mr.  Dillin  was 
born  upon  a  farm  in  Taylor  county  in  the 
Old  Dominion,  his  natal  day  being  July  n, 
1837.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and  Mary 
(McDonald)  Dillin,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia,  and  during  the  early  boy- 
hood of  their  son,  Hiram,  they  left  that  state, 
removing  to  Hocking  county,  Ohio,  in  the 
year  1845.  There  the  parents  settled  perma- 
nently and  the  father  devoted  his  attention 
to  farming  and  stock-raising.  For  about  eigh- 
teen years  he  carried  on  his  work  there,  and 
in  1863  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  the  following  year. 
They  were  the  parents'  of  eleven  children, 
four  daughters  and  seven  sons,  all  of  whom 
reached  adult  age,  while  five  of  the  number 
are  still  living,  two  being  residents  of  Wis- 
consin, one  of  northwestern  Indiana  and  two 
of  Minnesota. 

Hiram  Dillin,  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  began  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  Ohio,  near  his  boyhood  home.  He 
remained  upon  the  farm  until  he  attained  his 


twentieth  year,  and  during  that  time  he  spent 
the  summer  months  in  the  work  of  the  fields. 
In  early  spring  he  assisted  in  the  plowing  and 
planting  and  in  late  autumn  he  aided  in  har- 
vesting the  crops.  When  in  his  twentieth 
year,  however,  he  left  home  to  earn  his  own 
livelihood,  working  as  a  farm  hand  during 
the  summer  months.  In  the  year  1857  Mr. 
Dillin  came  west  to  Piatt  county,  and  as  he 
had  no  capital  with  which  to  purchase  land 
and  engage  in  farming  on  his  own  account, 
he  continued  to  work  as  a  farm  hand,  being 
employed  in  this  way  for  about  five  years, 
most  of  the  time  in  the  service  of  William 
Bryden. 

In  1863  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Dillin  and  Miss  Mary  G.  Bryden,  of 
Goose  Creek  township,  a  daughter  of  his  em- 
ployer, William  Bryden  and  the  latter's  wife, 
Mrs.  Catherine  (Batie)  Bryden.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Dillin  spent  one  year  in  Monti- 
cello,  where  he  followed  various  business  pur- 
suits. On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
returned  to  Goose  Creek  township,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  operation  of  his  father-in-law's 
farm,  making  his  home  thereon  for  five 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  ime,  with  the 
money  he  had  acquired,  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  and  also  receiving  a  part  of 
Mr.  Bryden's  old  homestead,  he  became  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  With 
characteristic  energy  and  unremitting  zeal  he 
took  up  farm  work  on  his  own  account,  and 
in  connection  with  the  raising  of  cereals  best 
adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate  he  engaged 
in  feeding  hogs  and  cattle,  thus  readily  turn- 
ing the  products  of  his  farm  into  money.  In 
all  of  his  business  career  he  displayed  marked 
energy  and  determination  and.  overcoming 
all  obstacles  that  could  be  met  by  persistent, 
earnest  effort,  he  worked  his  way  upward  to 
the  goal  of  prosperity.  He  made  excellent 


HIRAM   DILLIN 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


307 


improvements  upon  his  property,  including 
the  erection  of  a  good  dwelling,  a  barn,  out- 
buildings and  sheds.  All  modern  equipments 
and  accessories  were  added  to  the  place,  and 
the  farm  was  developed  into  a  splendid  prop- 
erty, which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Rob- 
ert, the  only  child  of  his  first  marriage. 

In  1881  Mr.  Dillin  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  first  wife,  and  later  he 
wedded  Mrs.  S.  J.  Welch,  an  estimable  lady, 
who  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Monti- 
cello  and  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
Piatt  county.  She  lost  her  mother  when  only 
five  years  of  age,  and  was  reared  by  James  A. 
Piatt.  who  sent  her  to  the  schools  of  Monti- 
cello.  Her  father  died  in  1866.  He  was  a 
prominent  old  citizen  of  Piatt  county,  coming 
here  in  1855.  and  was  the  owner  of  a  valu- 
able farm  of  four  hundred  acres  known  as 
the  Thomas  Reed  property.  By  her  former 
marriage  Mrs.  Dillin  had  one  son,  James 
Piatt  Welch,  now  a  street  car  conductor  of 
St.  Louis. 

It  was  in  November,  1895,  that  Mr.  Dil- 
lin removed  from  his  farm  to  the  city,  put- 
ting aside  the  more  arduous  cares  of  business 
life  in  order  to  enjoy  a  rest  which  he  has 
truly  earned  and  richly  deserves.  In  1894  he 
had  purchased  his  land  in  Monticello  and  had 
erected  thereon  his  present  fine  residence. 
This  is  an  attractive  home,  modern  in  all  of 
its  appointments  and  equipments,  is  tastefully 
furnished  and  is  surrounded  by  a  broad  ve- 
randa eight  feet  in  width,  which  adds  much 
to  the  beauty  as  well  as  the  comfort  of  the 
dwelling.  The  lawn  is  well-kept  and  deco- 
rated with  beautiful  flowers  and  trees,  and  al- 
together the  home  is  one  of  the  most  pleas- 
ing in  Monticello.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dillin 
hold  membership  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  and  Mrs.  Dillin  takes  a  very  active 
part  in  church  work. 


Forty-six  years  have  passed  since  Hiram 
Dillin  arrived  in  Piatt  county,  and  thus  from 
early  pi< nicer  days  he  has  watched  the  prog- 
ress and  development  of  this  portion  of  the 
state.  In  matters  of  improvement  he  has 
been  deeply  interested,  and  to  such  has  often 
given  his  co-operation.  He  certainly  deserves 
great  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished, 
for  he  started  out  in  life  empty-handed.  He 
had  no  influential  friends  or  inheritance  to 
assist  him,  and  he  had  to  learn  the  value  of 
persistent  industry,  close  economy  and  care- 
ful management.  Upon  this  safe  and  sure 
foundation,  however,  he  has  reared  the  su- 
perstructure of  success,  and  as  the  architect 
of  his  own  fortunes  has  builded  wisely  and 
well.  Such  a  record  is  of  greater  value  than 
the  possession  of  material  wealth,  for  it  in- 
dicates a  personality  strong,  efficient  and  re- 
liable. Tried  in  the  battle  of  life  he  has  not 
failed.  Wherever  known  he  is  held  in  high 
regard  and  as  an  honored  pioneer  and  highly 
respected  citizen  he  is  certainly  deserving  of 
prominent  mention  in  the  history  of  his 
adopted  county. 


NATHAN    HANELINE. 

No  history  of  Piatt  county  would  pre- 
sent a  faithful  picture  of  the  locality  and 
its  upbuilding  without  prominent  and  ex- 
tended mention  of  Nathan  Haneline  who 
passed  away  in  1903  after  long  years  of 
residence  in  this  county  dating  from  its 
early  pioneer  days.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  the  oldest  living  pioneer  in 
this  section  of  Illinois.  A  native  of  Ohio 
his  birth  occurred  in  Greene  county  on 
the  22d  of  November,  1815,  his  parents 


3o8 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


being  Abram  and  Alsey  (Moslander) 
Haneline.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  where  he  spent  the  first 
eighteen  years  of  his  life,  removing  thence 
to  Kentucky  with  his  mother.  In  the  lat- 
ter state  he  was  married  and  afterward 
went  to  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  lived  for  some  years.  In  1822  he  came 
from  Ohio  to  Illinois  and  for  two  years 
was  a  resident  of  Sangamon  county.  It 
was  there  that  the  mother  of  our  subject 
died  in  the  spring  of  1823,  and  in  the 
spring  of  the  following  year  the  father 
came  with  his  children  to  Piatt  county, 
locating  within  the  present  limits  of  San- 
gamon township,  where  he  spent  his  re- 
maining days.  He  belonged  to  that  class 
of  representative  early  citizens  to  whom 
the  present  generation  owes  a  debt  of 
gratitude,  for  what  they  accomplished  in 
the  work  of  preparing  the  way  for  ad- 
vancement and  improvement  at  a  later 
date.  He  assisted  in  the  arduous  task  of 
developing  new  land  and  gave  his  in- 
fluence in  behalf  of  every  measure  for  the 
general  welfare,  so  that  when  he  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  the  community 
mourned  the  loss  of  one  whose  value  was 
great  and  who  had  come  to  be  widely 
known  and  honored  in  this  section  of  the 
state. 

Nathan  Haneline  was  the  last  sur- 
viving member  of  the  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren. He  was  reared  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  frontier  life,  sharing  with  the 
family  in  all  the  hardships  and  trials 
which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  pioneer. 
Around  the  home  for  long  distances 
stretched  the  unbroken  prairie,  while 
along  the  stream  the  native  timber  grew 
and  the  work  of  development  lay  in  the 
future.  The  Indians  were  still  numerous 


in  the  neighborhood  and  Mr.  Haneline 
had  the  little  sons  of  the  forest  as  his 
playmates.  They  belonged  to  the  Potta- 
watomie,  Kickapoo  and  Delaware  tribes. 
Mr.  Haneline  shared  in  their  sports,  went 
hunting  with  them  and  often  slept  in 
their  wigwams.  He  acquired  a  know- 
ledge of  their  languages  and  greatly  en- 
joyed with  them  the  pleasures  which  they 
indulged,  the  Indian  always  proving 
friendly  to  him.  He  had  in  his  posses- 
sion up  to  the  time  of  his  death  a  number 
of  interesting  relics  as  mementoes  of  his 
early  associations  with  the  tribes.  How- 
ever, his  early  youth  was  not  all  a  period 
of  pleasure,  indeed,  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  was  devoted  to  farm  work  and  as 
soon  as  old  enough  to  handle  the  plow  he 
began  work  in  the  fields.  Throughout 
his  entire  business  career  he  carried  on 
farming  and  stock-raising  and  for  more 
than  a  half  century  he  resided  upon  the 
farm  which  was  his  place  of  residence  at 
the  time  of  his  demise,  taking  up  his  abode 
there  in  1850.  The  farm  is  situated  on 
section  14,  Monticello  township,  and  com- 
prises two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
very  rich  land.  When  he  settled  on  this 
place  there  were  but  three  families  living 
in  the  entire  district.  At  first  he  did  his 
farming  after  the  primitive  manner  of  the 
times,  but  as  improved  agricultural  im- 
plements were  introduced  he  kept  apace 
with  the  general  progress  and  had  better 
facilities  to  aid  him  in  his  farm  work.  He 
practiced  the  strictest  economy  and  the 
most  unfaltering  industry  in  his  early  days 
and  thus  as  the  years  passed  he  added  to 
his  financial  resources,  ultimately  becom- 
ing one  of  the  substantial  residents  of  his 
community. 

There  is  a  period  of  romance  in  the 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


309 


early  history  of  Mr.  Haneline,  for  he  was 
but  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  sought 
in  marriage  the  hand  of  Miss  Sarah 
Souder,  who  was  then  but  fifteen  years  of 
age.  'Her  parents  were  Peter  and  Mary 
Souder,  who  were  residents  of  Champaign 
county,  Illinois.  Piatt  county  then 
formed  a  part  of  Macon  county  and  her 
parents  resided  on  the  Champaign  county 
line.  The  course  of  true  love  did  not  run 
smoothly,  however,  for  the  young  couple. 
Their  marriage  was  opposed  by  the  par- 
ents because  of  their  youth  and  because 
of  the  impecunious  condition  of  the  young 
lover.  However,  they  were  not  to  be  de- 
terred by  parental  objection  and  finally 
the  parents  reluctantly  consented  to  the 
marriage  and  arrangements  were  made 
for  the  wedding.  The  trousseau  of  the 
bride  was  not  very  elaborate,  the  wedding 
dress  of  white  costing  but  seventy-five 
cents  a  yard.  The  groom  went  to  Pekin 
to  purchase  his  wedding  suit  and  the  shoes 
for  the  occasion  were  the  third  pair  he  had 
ever  owned.  They  were  married  on  the 
I2th  day  of  November,  1833,  and  Abe 
Haneline,  a  brother  of  the  groom,  went  to 
Urbana  to  secure  a  justice  of  the  peace  to 
perform  the  ceremony.  They  were  de- 
layed on  the  return  trip  and  did  not 
reach  their  destination  until  eleven  o'clock 
at  night.  When  everything  was  ready  it 
was  discovered  that  the  license  was  issued 
in  Champaign  county  and  that  if  the  wed- 
ding was  legal  it  must  take  place  in  that 
county.  Fortunately  the  parents  lived  on 
the  county  line,  so  the  party  proceeded 
across  the  line  and  under  a  giant  oak  the 
marriage  ceremony  was  solemnized.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  a  long  and  happy 
married  life,  in  which  they  shared  together 
the  joys  and  sorrows,  the  adversity  and 


prosperity  which  come  to  all.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  the  living  are  James,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Piatt  county;  Mary  Jane,  the  wife 
of  Jacob  M.  Freeman  of  Jasper  county, 
Missouri ;  Peter,  who  lives  in  Piatt  coun- 
ty; Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  David  Shipman; 
Columbus  Thomas  of  Stafford  county, 
Kansas.  Those  deceased  are  Sarah  H., 
John  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  After 
traveling  life's  journey  side  by  side  as  man 
and  wife  for  fifty-six  years  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Haneline  were  separated  in  death,  the 
wife  being  called  to  her  final  rest.  Mr. 
Haneline  afterward  made  his  home  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  with  his  son 
James.  He  is  survived  by  his  five  chil- 
dren, twenty-six  grandchildren  and  thirty 
great-grandchildren. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Haneline  was 
always  a  stanch  Democrat  and  did 
everything  in  his  power  to  promote  the 
growth  and  insure  the  success  of  his 
party.  He  served  as  township  school 
treasurer  and  did  what  he  could  to  pro- 
mote education  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
In  1855  he  aided  in  organizing  lodge  No. 
58  F.  &  A.  M.,  becoming  one  of  its  char- 
ter members  and  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  he  was  identified  with 
the  organization.  His  history  is  unique 
in  that  he  lived  in  four  counties  without 
moving  out  of  the  neighborhood.  He 
was  first  a  resident  of  Sangamon,  then  of 
Macon,  later  of  DeWitt  and  lastly  of 
Piatt  county.  In  matters  pertaining  to 
the  general  good  he  was  deeply  interested 
and  his  interest  was  often  that  of  active 
co-operation.  He  desired  to  see  the  sub- 
stantial development  of  the  county  and 
his  assistance  was  of  a  practical  nature 
that  leaves  lasting  results.  Death  came 


3io 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


to  him  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  The  vital  forces  slowly 
ebbed  and  at  last  rest  came,  but  he  went 
about  the  house  up  to  within  a  short 
time  prior  to  his  demise.  It  was  compara- 
tively only  a  few  hours  in  which  he  had 
not  the  use  of  his  faculties.  His  friends 
and  neighbors  had  learned  to  respect  and 
honor  him  because  of  his  genuine  worth, 
his  freedom  from  ostentation  and  his  life 
of  integrity  and  honor  and  because  of  the 
important  part  which  he  performed  in  the 
improvement  of  Piatt  county  and  be- 
cause he  was  so  long  a  representative  of 
its  business  interests  we  take  the  greatest 
pleasure  in  presenting  his  record  to  our 
readers. 


JACOB  GROSS. 

No  better  illustration  of  the  characteris- 
tic energy  and  enterprise  of  the  typical  Ger- 
man-American citizen  can  lie  found  than 
that  afforded  by  the  career  of  this  gentle- 
man, who  is  successfully  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stockraising  on  section  36,  Unity 
township.  Coming  to  this  country  with  no 
capital  ex-cept  his  abilities  he  has  made  his 
way  to  success  through  wisely  directed  ef- 
fort and  he  can  now  look  back  with  satis- 
faction upon  past  struggles. 

Mr.  Gross  was  born  in  Waldshut  coun- 
ty. Baden,  Germany,  on  the  23d  of  October, 
1845.  and  is  a  son  of  Casper  and  Rachel 
(Gross)  Gross,  also  natives  of  that  coun- 
try, where  his  father  followed  the  trade  of 
wagonmaking  until  his  immigration  to 
America  in  1863.  In  the  family  were  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living : 
Casper,  a  furniture  dealer  of  Atwocd.  Illi- 
nois :  Henry,  a'  general  merchant  of  the 


same  place;  Theodore,  who  is  living  retired 
in  Atwood ;  Rachel,  wife  of  William  Berch- 
er,  of  Atwood;  and  Jacob,  our  subject. 
Those  deceased  are  Salina  and  Mary.  The 
first  of  the  family  to  come  to  the  new  world 
was  Henry,  who  settled  in  Chicago  in  1857, 
and  there  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  for 
a  time.  Theodore  and  Salina  also  came  in 
1857;  Casper  in  1861,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  family  in  1864.  The  father  was  acci- 
dently  killed  while  walking  on  the  railroad 
track  August  3,  1883,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  years. 

Jacob  Gross  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  land  and  although  his  home  was 
in  a-  village,  'he  worked  on  a  farm  -during 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  has  always  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits.  In  1864  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  immigration 
to  America,  and  coming  direct  to  Illinois, 
settled  on  section  36,  Unity  township,  Piatt 
count}-.  He  purchased  the  Ned  Shunk- 
wieler  farm,  which  was  a  partially  im- 
proved place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five 
acres,  and  also  bought  forty-seven  acres  of 
land  where  he  low  lives.  He  has  since  made 
many  improvements  upon  his  farm  which 
to-day  is  well  tiled  and  fenced,  and  he  is  suc- 
cessfuly  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  draft 
horses.  He  also  keeps  a  good  grade  of 
cattle  and  has  prospered  in  all  his  under- 
takings. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1872,  Mr. 
Grosi  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Kath- 
erine  Scheffer,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Katherine  Scheffer,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  Mrs.  Gross  was  born  in  Hesse- 
Cassel,  Germany,  and  became  the  mother  of 
nine  children,  those  still  living  being  Cas- 
per, Mary.  Arthur.  Annie,  Mollie  and  Ma- 
linda.  The  wife  and  mother  died  .August 
29,  1892.  when  in  the  prime  of  life,  and 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


two  childden  died  when  about  seventeen 
years  of  age.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Gross  married  Christina  Peterson,  who  was 
born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  and  by  whom  he 
has  two  children,  Robert  and  William.  The 
children  have  all  been  given  good  educa- 
tional advantages  and  are  well  fitted  for 
life's  responsible  duties. 

In  1879  he  became  identified  with  James 
A.  Hawkins  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and 
tile  at  Atwood,  a  business  which  they  carried 
on  quite  successfully  under  the  firm  name 
of  Hawkes  &  Gross  until  1893,  since  which 
time  our  subject  has  given  his  attention 
principally  to  his  farming  interests.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican 
and  is  one  of  the  standard  bearers  of  his 
party  in  Piatt  county.  He  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  in  At- 
wood, as  trustee  of  the  Mutual  Telephone 
Company  of  the  place,  and  trustee  of  the 
cemetery  there.  He  has  also  been  vice  pres- 
ident of  the  Farmer's  Institute  of  Unity 
township,  and  is  a  man  of  prominence  and 
influence  in  the  community  where  he  re- 
sides. He  is  a  member  of  the  County  Fair 
Association  and  in  this  connection  has  done 
much  to  advance  the  interests  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  Religiously,  Mr.  Gross  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Evangelical  church 
at  Garrett,  Douglas  county,  and  he  is 
a  man  who  commands  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  with  whom  he  is  brought  in 
contact  either  in  business  or  social  life. 


STEPHEN   SHIVELY. 

Piatt  county  is  very  rich  in  its  agricul- 
tural opportunities.  .  Throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  this  land  there  can  be  found 


no  district  <;f  soil  more  productive  or 
which  is  better  adapted  to  the  production 
of  grain  which  is  the  basis  of  all  business 
prosperity.  More  than  a  century  ago  George 
Washington  said  "Agriculture  is  the  most 
useful  as  well  as  the  most  honorable  occu- 
pation of  man,"  and  the  truth  of  this  state- 
ment has  been  verified  throughout  the  ages. 
It  is  to  this  work  that  Stephen  Shively  has 
devoted  his  energies  through  an  active  and 
honorable  business  career,  and  now  he  is 
living  a  retired  life.  He  has  made  his  home 
in  this  section  of  Illinois  for  over  forty-five 
years',  having  settled  in  Oakley  township, 
Macon  county,  Illinois,  near  Cerro  Gordo, 
in  1858. 

A  native  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Shively  was  born 
in  Montgomery  county  on  the  28th  of  De- 
cember, 1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Susannah  (Metzger)  Shively,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. The  father  was  reared  in  Ohio  and 
there  lived  until  1836,  at  which  time  he  re- 
moved to  Clinton  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  carried  on  farming  until  his  life's  labors 
were  ended  in  death.  His  wife  also  passed 
away  in  that  county.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  children :  Stephen ;  Andrew,  who 
married  Barbara  Metzger  and  is  living  in 
California ;  and  Mary,  who  is  the  widow  of 
John  W.  Metzger,  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  children. 

Stephen  Shively  was  quite  young  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  Clinton  county,  Indiana,  and  there  he  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  also  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of 
the  home  farm  until  his  marriage,  which 
important  event  in  his  life  occurred  in  the 
year  1850,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Catherine  Metzger.  She,  too,  was  born  in 
Ohio,  her  birth  occurring  on  the  4th  of  No- 


312 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


vember,  1832,  near  the  place  of  the  nativity 
of  pur  subject.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Hanna  (Ullery)  Metzger,  the  former 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  Her  father  was  an  agriculturist,  fol- 
lowing that  pursuit  in  the  east  until  1859, 
when  he  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo  towship. 
Later  he  went  to  California,  but  soon  re- 
turned to  Illinois  and  lived  retired  in  Cerro 
Gordo  until  his  death,  wlhich  occurred  in 
1896.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1887. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Shively  began 
farming  in  Clinton  county,  Indiana,  where 
lie  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  for  eight 
years.t  On  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  came  to  Illinois,  establishing  his  home 
in  Oakley  township,  Macon  county,  where 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  at  once  be- 
gan its  development  and  improvement.  There 
he  carried  on  general  fanning  with  creditable 
and  gratifying  success  from  1858  until  1881. 
when  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Cerro 
Gordo,  wherehe  has  since  lived  a  retired  life. 
In  his  farm  work  he  was  progressive  and 
enterprising,  steadily  advancing  along  all 
lines  which  have  proven  of  value  in  the 
work  of  cultivating  the  fields  and  producing 
excellent  crops. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shively  has 
been  blessed  with  five  children :  John  J., 
who  married  Miss  L.  Blickenstaff  and  is 
now  a  resident  farmer  of  Cerro  'Gordo 
township;  Solomon,  who  married  Mary 
Yont,  and  is  engaged  in  carpentering  in  Ram- 
sey, Illinois;  Susannah,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Amos  Ratsman,  and  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Oakley  township,  Macon  coun- 
ty ;  Hannah,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Cripe, 
a  farmer  of  Macon  county,  Illinois ;  and 
Jacob,  who  died  in  1862,  at  the  age  of 
two  years.  The  parents  are  members  of  the 


German  Baptist  Brethren  church  of  Cerro 
Gordo,  and  have  lived  earnest  Christian 
lives  in  harmony  with  their  professions.  In 
political  views  Mr.  Shively  has  always  been 
a  Republican  and  has  held  a  number  of 
minor  offices.  During  his  long  residence 
in  this  section  of  the  state  he  has  witnessed 
almost  its  entire  development  and  improve- 
ment, and  his  interest  in  its  welfare  has 
been  indicated  by  the  co-operation  which  he 
has  given  to  movements  for  the  general 
good.  He  is  thoroughly  genuine,  there  be- 
ing not  the  slightest  suggestion  of  anything 
hypocritical  about  him.  With  him  friend- 
ship is  inviolable,  his  word  is  as  good  as 
his  bond,  and  he  clings  with  unyielding 
firmness  to  a  position  which  careful  consid- 
ation  and  mature  judgment  has  convinced 
him  to  be  right. 


ALONZO  T.  PIPHER. 

The  profession  of  law  when  clothed 
with  its  true  dignity,  purity  and  strength 
must  rank  first  among  the  callings  of  men, 
for  law  rules  the  universe.  The  work  of 
the  legal  profession  is  to  formulate,  to 
harmonize,  to  regulate,  to  adjust,  to  ad- 
minister those  rules  and  principles  that 
underlie  and  permeate  all  government  and 
society  and  control  the  varied  relations 
of  men.  As  thus  viewed  there  is  attached 
to  the  profession  nobleness  that  cannot 
but  be  reflected  in  the  life  of  the  true  law- 
yer, who,  rising  to  the  responsibilities  of 
the  profession,  and  honest  in  the  pursuit 
of  his  purpose,  embraces  the  richness  of 
learning,  the  firmness  of  integrity  and  the 
purity  of  morals,  together  with  the  graces 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


313 


and  modesty  and  the  general  amenities  of 
life.  Of  such  a  type  Alonzo  T.  Pipher  is 
a  representative.  His  connection  with  the 
Piatt  county  bar  covers  a  longer  period 
than  that  of  any  other  resident  of  this 
section  of  the  state. 

A  native  of  New  York  Alonzo  T. 
Pipher  was  born  in  Jefferson  county  on 
the  1 3th  of  May,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
Lewis  and  Sophronia  (Gardner)  Pipher. 
It  is  thought  that  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  a  native  of  France  and  he  fol- 
lowed carpentering  in  Jefferson  county, 
New  York,  until  August,  1854,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois,  settling  near  Blackberry, 
Kane  county.  There  he  continued  to 
work  at  his  trade  for  a  number  of  years 
and  afterward  removed  to  Miami  county, 
Kansas,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days,  dying  at  the  home  of  a  son  there. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Gard- 
ner, who  was  of  English  descent  and  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  New  York  at  an  early  period  in 
the  development  of  the  Empire  state.  He 
became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Alexan- 
dria, Jefferson  county,  and  it  was  during 
his  residence  there  that  Mrs.  Pipher  was 
born.  The  tract  of  timber  land  which  he 
purchased  lie  developed  into  a  rich  and  pro- 
ductive farm  and  continued  to  make  his 
home  thereon  until  his  removal  to  Illinois, 
where  he  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Kane  county.  There  he  en- 
tered land  from  the  government,  securing 
a  tract  of  prairie  about  four  and  a  half 
miles  west  of  Aurora  and  to  its  cultivation 
and  improvement  he  at  once  directed  his 
energies.  He  made  his  home  on  that 
farm  until  1847,  when  he  died  at  about  the 
age  of  eighty  years.  His  daughter,  Mrs. 
Pipher  continued  to  survive  her  husband 
for  some  time  and  died  in  Miami  county, 
Kansas,  in  1884. 


Alonzo  Pipher  of  this  review  was  one 
of  a  family  of  ten  children.  He  acquired 
his  preliminary  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Jefferson  county,  New  York, 
and  when  he  had  mastered  the  branches 
of  learning  therein  taught  he  became  a 
student  in  Aurora  Academy  at  Aurora, 
Cayuga  county,  New  York,  being  then 
nineteen  years  of  age.  For  two  years  he 
was  enrolled  among  its  pupils  and  then  en- 
tered Blackriver  Institute  at  Watertown, 
New  York,  where  he  prepared  for  admis- 
sion to  Hamilton  College.  In  1852  he 
matriculated  in  that  college  and  com- 
pleted the  work  of  two  years,  but  failing 
health  obliged  him  to  abandon  his  hope 
of  graduating  there  and  he  had  to  put  aside 
his  text  books.  In  September,  1854,  Mr. 
Pipher  arrived  in  the  west,  reaching 
Chicago  on  the  28th  of  that  month.  After 
spending  a  few  weeks  in  visiting  friends 
in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  he  went  to 
Springfield,  afterward  to  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, and  then  to  Kane  county,  Illinois.  He 
had  relatives  living  in  this  place  and  after 
renewing  his  acquaintance  with  them  he 
entered  upon  his  business  career  in  this 
state,  accepting  a  position  as  teacher  at 
Ross  Grove,  DeKalb  county,  where  dur- 
ing a  six  month's  term  he  received  a  salary 
of  twenty  dollars  per  month  as  compensa- 
tion for  his  services  and  "boarded  around" 
among  the  pupils.  In  August,  1855,  Mr. 
Pipher  met  with  an  accident  that  incapaci- 
tated him  for  any  work  for  eighteen 
months  and  during  that  period  he  re- 
mained at  his  father's  home  in  Blackberry. 
In  the  fall  of  1856  Mr.  Pipher  began  ac- 
tive preparation  for  the  profession  which 
was  his  life  work,  becoming  a  law  student 
in  the  office  and  under  the  direction  of 
John  Stephens  at  Dixon,  Lee  county.  He 
remained  under  that  preceptor  for  a  year 
and  then  accepted  a  position  as  a  teacher 


I'AST    AND    PRESKXT 


in  \Yinthrop,  Kane  county,  thus  replen- 
ishing his  somewhat  exhausted  ex- 
chequer. On  the  expiration  of  that  pe- 
riod lie  located  in  Blooming-ton,  where  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school,  devoting  all 
of  his  leisure  hours, to  the  study  of  law. 
In  1857  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  on 
the  1 3th  of  April,  1858,  he  came  to  Monti- 
cello,  where  he  has  since  practiced.  He 
stands  to-day  as  the  nestor  o'f  the  Piatt 
county  bar  and  has  easily  maintained  a 
leading  position  in  the  ranks  of  the  legal 
fraternity.  Nature  bountifully  endowed 
him  with  the  peculiar  qualifications  that 
combine  to  make  a  successful  lawyer. 
Patiently  persevering,  possessed  of  an 
analytical  mind,  and  one  that  is  readily  re- 
ceptive and  retentive  of  the  fundamental 
principles  and  intricacies  of  the  law ;  gifted 
with  a  spirit  of  devotion  to  wearisome  de- 
tails; quick  to  comprehend  the  most  sub- 
tle problems  and  logical  in  his  .conclusions ; 
fearless  in  the  advocacy  of  any  cause  he 
may  espouse,  and  the  soul  of  honor  and 
integrity,  few  men  have  been  more  richly 
gifted  for  the  achievement  of  success  in 
the  arduous  difficult  profession  of  the  law. 
Mr.  Pipher  was  married  July  i,  1850, 
to  Sophia  Singer,  a  native  of  Hummels- 
town.  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Singer.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Ella  Lillian,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Elijah  Hedrick;  Albertina ;  Florence,  the 
wife  of  Frederick  Bostwick  ;  May  ;  Alonzo 
S. :  and  Sophia.  In  1872  Mr.  Pipher  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife 
who  died  on  the  28th  of  April,  of  that 
year.  He  was  again  married  May  5,  1880, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Caroline 
H.  Mentz,  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and 
Mary  Mona.  Mrs.  Pipher  was  born  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  first  became  the 


wife  of  William  Mentz,  who  died  in 
Monticello  in  1869.  By  her  first  marriage 
she  had  three  children:  Sarah  B.,  now 
the  wife  of  Frederick  Haines ;  Nancy 
Maria  and  William. 

Mr.  Pipher  has  served  as  police  magis- 
trate for  a  number  of  years  and  was  also 
for  a  long  period  master  in  chancery  and 
in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  he 
has  ever  been  found  prompt,  faithful  and 
reliable.  His  political  support  is  given  to 
the  Republican  party  and  he  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  while  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Faultless  in  honor,  fearless  in  conduct  and 
stainless  in  reputation,  such  has  been  his 
life  record.  His  scholarly  attainments, 
his  excellent  judgment  and  his  charming 
powers  of  conversation  would  have  en- 
abled him  to  fill  and  grace  any  position 
however  exalted,  but  he  has  desired  rather  to 
give  attention  to  his  professional  labors. 
He  is  honored  in  public  life  and  loved  by 
his  friends  and  close  associates,  and  his 
prominent  position  at  the  bar  well  en- 
titles him  to  representation  among  the 
leading  citizens  of  his  county. 


BENJAMIN  F.  .LODGE. 

Only  those  lives  are  worthy  of  record 
that  have  been  potential  factors  in  the  pub- 
lic progress  in  promoting  the  general  welfare 
or  advancing  the  educational  or  moral  inter- 
ests of  the  community.  Mr.  Lodge  was  a 
man  of  noble  character,  much  of  whose  life 
was  devoted  to  the  betterment  of  his  fellow 
men,  and  the  world  is  certainly  better  for  his 
having  lived. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Read- 
ing, that  state,  December  26,  1832,  and  was 


B.  F.  LODGE 


MRS.  F.  E.  LODGE 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


319 


a  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Julia  A.  (Brooks) 
Lodge.  His  father  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
and  at  an  early  day  came  to  Illinois,  taking 
up  his  residence  in  Paris,  where  he  and  his 
wife  both  died.  For  many  years  he  served 
as  county  surveyor  of  Edgar  county,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.  In  his 
family  were  seven  children. 

Mr.  Lodge,  of  this  review,  was  only 
about  five  years  old  when  the  family  removed 
to  this  state,  and  his  early  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  schools  near  Paris.  In  1856  he 
united  with  the  Methodist  church  in  that  city, 
and  determining  to  enter  the  ministry  he  aft- 
erward took  a  theological  course  and  joined 
the  Illinois  conference  in  1858.  Coming  to 
Piatt  county  he  entered  upon  his  ministerial 
labors,  and  for  a  time  was  junior  preacher 
on  the  Monticello  circuit.  Among  his 
charges  were  Bement,  Cerro  Gordo,  Monti- 
cello,  Baker  schoolhouse,  Ridge  school,  Camp 
Creek  and  several  other  places  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Sangamon,  Shelby,  Cole,  Edgar, 
Douglas,  Champaign,  Piatt  and  Menard,  but 
at  the  end  of  nine  years  he  was  obliged  to 
giving  up  preaching  on  account  of  ill  health, 
and  in  1866  located  on  a  farm  near  Paris, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for 
some  years.  He  then  came  to  Piatt  county 
and  made  his  home  on  the  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  his  widow  until  called  to  his  final  rest. 

On  the  2  ist  of  April,  1862,  Mr.  Lodge 
was  married  by  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright  to 
Mrs.  Frances  E.  Lyon,  a  daughter  F.  Ewing 
and  Eliza  (Foster)  Berry.  Her  maternal 
grandfather  was  Constantine  Foster,  who 
was  born  in  Cape  May  county,  New  Jersey, 
October  18,  1792,  and  was  married  in  Cum- 
berland county,  that  state,  to  Miss  Margaret . 
Sayre,  who  was  born  in  the  same  county, 
February  25,  1800.  They  had  five  children 
born  in  Cape  May  county,  New  Jersey,  who 


accompanied  their  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1832,  and  thence  came  to 
Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in  the  autumn  of 
1833.  The  family  first  settled  in  what  is  now 
Cartwright  township,  and  two  years  later  re- 
moved to  what  is  now  gardner  township.  One 
child  was  added  to  the  family  in  Sangamon 
county.  Eliza,  L.,  the  oldest,  was  born  in  New 
Jersey,  May  13,  1820,  and  on  the  22d  of 
June,  1837,  in  Sangamon  county,  gave  her 
hand  in  marriage  to  F.  Ewing  Berry,  who 
died  four  months  later.  A  daughter,  Fran- 
ces E.  Berry,  was  born  of  this  union  in  San- 
gamon county,  June  4,  1838,  and  was  mar- 
ried August  27,  1857,  to  Henry  F.  Lyon. 
His  death  occurred  April  25,  1858,  and  their 
only  child,  Ida,  born  September  14,  1858, 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Lyon  was  engaged  in 
the  shipping  of  stock  at  Mechanicsburg,  Illi- 
nois, and  was  only  twenty-nine  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  Constantine  Foster 
died  in  Sangamon  county,  September  29, 
1865,  his  wife  April  9,  1867,  and  both  were 
laid  to  rest  in  the  Pleasant  Plains  cemetery. 
Their  other  children  besides  Mrs.  Berry  were 
Catherine,  who  married  John  C.  ,Bone,  and 
both  are  now  deceased ;  John  S. ;  Jacob ;  Jo- 
seph R. ;  and  Mary  J. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lodge  were  born  nine 
children,  of  whom  Benjamin  F.,  Julia,  Wil- 
liam and  Elmer  are  all  now  deceased.  Those 
living  are  as  follows :  Charles  Albert,  now 
a  contractor  and  builder  of  Lincoln,  Nebras- 
ka, married  Miss  Emma  Hyder,  of  Bement, 
Illinois,  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Martha  Flynn, 
and  to  them  were  born  five  children :  Clar- 
ence, who  died  in  Oklahoma  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years ;  Ethel,  who  died  near  Monticel- 
lo, Illinois,  at  the  age  of  two;  Harold  V.,  now 
ten  years  of  age;  Hazel  Marie,  aged  eight; 
and  Charles  Norman,  aged  six.  Frank,  the 
second  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lodge,  is  a  rail- 


320 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


road  man  and  resides-  at  home  with  his  moth- 
er. Fannie  May  is  the  wife  of  H.  .C.  Body, 
of  Bement,  and  has  three  children  :  Alta  May, 
William  Neville  and  Harriet  L.  Howard  F. 
manages  the  farm  for  his  mother,  and  Daisy 
K.  is  also  at  home.  All  were  born  in  Piatt 
county  with  exception  of  Benjamin  F.,  whose 
birth  occurred  at  Windsor,  Illinois ;  and  Wil- 
liam, whose  birth  occurred  in  Edgar  county. 
The  family  reside  on  the  old  home  place  on 
section  i,  Bement  township,  and  are  people 
of  prominence  in  that  community. 

Mr.  Lodge  departed  this  life  July  6,  1902, 
and  in  life's  span  of  almost  seventy  years  he 
accomplished  much,  leaving  behind  him  an 
honorable  record  well  worthy  of  perpetua- 
tion. He  was  devoted  to  the  work  of  the 
church  even  after  leaving  the  ministry,  and 
always  took  a  deep  interest  in  religious  af- 
fairs. Domestic  in  his  tastes  he  displayed 
a  great  fondness  for  his  home,  and  was  a 
most  exemplary  husband  and  father.  He 
was  also  much  attached  to  children,  and  was 
especially  the  young  man's  friend,  aiding  him 
by  his  wise  counsel  and  advance  as  well  as  by 
more  material  assistance.  His  death  occa- 
£.it<ned  the  deepest  regret  throughout  the  com- 
munity, and  Piatt  county  thereby  lost  one  of 
its  most  valued  citizens  and  an  earnest  Chris- 
tian gentleman.  His  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Monticello  cemetery. 


JAMES  P.  RAY. 

James  P.  Ray,  deceased,  through  the 
years  of  his  identification  with  Piatt  coun- 
ty, enjoyed  the  highest  respect  of  his  fel- 
low citizens  by  reason  of  his  strict  in- 
tegrity and  sterling  worth.  Almost  his 
entire  life  was  passed  in  Illinois,  for  he  was 


born  in  Marion  county,  this  state,  on  the 
ist  of  May,  1848,  and  lived  at  the  place 
of  his  birth  until  twenty-six  years  of  age. 
His  parents  were  Alfred  and  Mary  (Mor- 
gan) Ray,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
and  reared  in  North  Carolina  and  the  lat- 
ter in  Tennessee.  At  an  early  day  they 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  state.  By  occupation  the 
father  was  a  merchant  and  farmer  and  in 
religious  belief  was  a  Methodist,  while  his 
wife  held  membership  in  the  Christian 
church.  Both  died  in  Marion  county  at 
an  advanced  age. 

Reared  in  the  county  of -his  nativity, 
James  P.  Ray  was  indebted  to  its  public 
schools  for  his  early  educational  advan- 
tages. When  a  young  man  he  assisted  in 
the  work  of  the  home  farm  and  on  leaving 
the  parental  roof  went  to  Kansas,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  three  years. 
On  his  return  to  Illinois,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Unity  township,  Piatt  county, 
where  he  continued  to  follow  the  same 
pursuit  for  some  years.  He  next  removed 
to  Bement  township,  where  he  continued 
to  engage  in  farming  and  stock-raising 
until  his  death.  He  operated  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  well  improved 
and  valuable  land  here  and  also  had  a 
good  farm  of  ninety  acres  in  Marion 
county,  Illinois.  His  life  was  one  of  thrift 
and  industry  and  the  success  that  came  to 
him  was  due  to  his  well  directed  efforts, 
keen  discrimination  and  sound  judgment. 

On  the  igth  of  March,  1874,  Mr.  Ray 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Electa  B. 
Wooters,  also  a  native  of  Marion  county 
and  a  daughter  of  E.  J.  and  Elizabeth 
(Richardson)  Wooters,  both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  Her  father  was  born  in 
North  Carolina  and  her  mother  in  Ten- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


321 


nessee.  Both  were  faithful  members  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  people  of  the  high- 
est respectability.  During  his  active 
business  life  Mr.  Wooters  engaged  in 
merchandising  and  for  some  time  served 
as  postmaster  of  Raccoon,  Marion  coun- 
ty. Mrs.  Ray  now  makes  her  home  upon 
a  farm  in  Bement  township  and  with  her 
reside  three  children  of  her  sister,  the 
boys  having  charge  of  the  farm. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ray  was  a  Democrat 
and  for  a  time  he  held  the  office  of  school 
director.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Order  and  his  life  was  in  harmony 
with  its  teachings.  He  died  in  Bement 
township,  March  31,  1896,  honored  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Like  her 
husband  Mrs.  Ray  is  also  held  in  the  high- 
est esteem  and  has  a  host  of  warm  friends 
in  the  community  where  she  has  long 
made  her  home. 


JAMES   FISHER. 

One  of  the  most  energetic  and  successful 
agriculturists  of  Piatt  county  is  James 
Fisher,  who  now  resides  on  section  14,  Be- 
ment township,  where  he  is  operating  a  half 
section  of  rich  farming  land.  He  was  born 
upon  that  place  September  9,  1860,  and  is 
a  son  of  Elihu  Fisher,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Illinois,  born  in  one  of  the  pioneer  homes 
in  Greene  county,  at  Roodhouse,  November 
29,  1825.  Elihu  Fisher  was  left  fatherless 
at  the  age  of  ten  years,  but  his  mother  lived 
to  an  advanced  age  and  died  in  Macoupin 
county,  this  state.  He  grew  to  manhood  on 
a  farm  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  and  on 
leaving  there  in  1857  he  came  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty, taking  up  his  residence  in  Bement  town- 


ship, where  for  many  years  he  was  actively 
engaged  in  farming.  In  course  of  time  he 
accumulated  a  valuable  property  and  was 
enabled  to  retire,  passing  his  declining  years 
free  from  the  care  and  labor  that  beset  his 
early  life.  His  farm,  which  was  one  of  the 
finest  in  that  part  of  the  county,  comprised 
five  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well  im- 
proved land  of  surpassing  fertility  and  its 
improvements  were  of  the  best.  Besides 
this,  he  owned  other  valuable  property  in 
the  village  of  Bement.  His  life  record  was 
an  honorable  one,  alike  to  himself  and  to 
the  community  in  which  he  so  long  resided, 
and  where  he  was  always  held  in  high  es- 
teem of  his  fellow  men.  He  always  dis- 
played a  zealous  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
adopted  township,  and  aided  in  carrying  on 
its  public  affairs  in  the  several  township  of- 
fices that  he  at  various  times  held.  To  his 
zeal  while  holding  the  office  of  highway 
commissioner  his  section  of  the  county  is 
greatly  indebted  for  the  improvements 
made  in  its  roads  and  bywTays.  He  was  also 
interested  in  advancing  educational  matters 
and  made  many  improvements  in  that  re- 
gard while  holding  various  school  offices. 
He  was  a  man  of  force,  and  had  decided 
opinions  and  a  fine  appreciation  of  what 
was  right  and  what  wrong,  and  was  a 
strong  advocate  of  any  measure  that  he  be- 
lieved would  tend  to  improve  the  district 
in  which  he  lived.  He  served  throughout 
the  Mexican  war  and  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Buena  Vista  and  other  important  engage- 
ments. Shortly  before  his  death  he  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  church  and  died  in 
that  faith  in  Bement  township  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order  for  many  years.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  owned  five  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  Piatt  county,  be- 


322 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


sides  his  village  property  and  a  valuable 
farm  in  Lee  county,  Illinois. 

In  Greene  county,  Illinois,  Elihu  Fisher 
married  Miss  Lydia  J.  Rawlins,  who  was 
a  native  of  that  county  and  survived  him 
until  a  year  ago,  when  she  died  on  the 
home  farm  at  the  age  of  seventy  years, 
She  was  also  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  was  a  most  estimable  lady.  In 
their  family  were  ten  children,  namely : 
Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Robert  Lamb;  Cordelia 
A.,  wife  of  Joseph  Zorger;  William  Bur- 
gess; James;  Effie,  wife  of  Daniel  Hall: 
Charles ;  Kate ;  Mary  and  Fred. 

James  Fisher  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  near  his  boyhood 
home,  and  for  one  year  attended  the  uni- 
versity at  Rloomington.  After  completing 
his  education  lie  assisted  his  father  upon 
the  home  farm  and  also  operated  a  farm 
near  the- village  of  Cerro  Gordo,  which  he 
then  owned.  Throughout  his  active  busi- 
ness life  he  has  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  and  to-day  has  one  of  the 
model  farms  of  the  county.  In  addition 
to  his  interest  in  his  father's  estate  he  has 
recently  purchased  thirteen  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  bottom  land  in  Missouri.  He 
is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  the  raising 
of  high  grade  road  horses  and  in  all  his  un- 
dertakings has  met  with  -well-deserved  suc- 
cess for  he  is  energetic,  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive and  thoroughly  understands  the 
vocation  which  he  follows. 

In  July,  1895,  Mr.  Fisher  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  N.  Creighton,  a 
daughter  of  Matthew  and  Maria  (Groves) 
Creighton.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
Delaware,  and  from  that  state  removed  to 
Ohio  in  1840,  and  in  1852  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  in  Cerro  Gordo  township,  Piatt 
county,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  of  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 


which  he  made  all  the  improvements.  His 
residence  was  built  in  1860.  In  1849  he 
married  Maria  Groves,  and  to  them  were 
born  eight  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher 
have  six  children :  Grover  F.,  Mamie  Etta, 
Ollie  May,  Orville,  Ralph  and  Lydia  J.,  all 
born  in  Bement  township  with  the  exception 
of  Grover,  who  was  born  in  Cerro  Gordo 
township. 

Mr.  Fisher  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  and  for  many  years  has  been 
connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Po- 
litically, he  is  identified  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
public  affairs.  He  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  in  the  community  where  he  resides, 
and  those  who  know  him  best  are  numbered 
among  his  warmest  friends,  a  fact  which 
plainly  indicates  an  upright  and  honorable 
career. 


JOHN    N.    DARST. 

John  N.  Darst  is  a  well-known  contrac- 
tor and  builder  residing  in  Mansfield.  He 
stands  to-day  prominent  in  business  cir- 
cles, and  his  life  record  proves  what  can  be 
accomplished  through  the  force  of  energy, 
determination  and  honorable  dealing.  He 
was  born  in  Circleville,  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  I4th  of  October,  1855,  and  is 
a  son  of  George  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Evans) 
Darst.  The  father  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade  and  followed  that  pursuit  for  thirty 
years,  but  later  in  life,  however,  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1861  he  removed  from  Ohic 
to  Marshall,  Clark  county.  Illinois,  and  after 
a  few  years  residence  in  that  locality  came 
to  Piatt  county.  He  died  June  4,  1896,  and 
the  mother  of  our  subject  passed  away  Sep- 
tember 4,  1871. 

John  N.  Darst  pursued  his  studies  in  the 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


323 


Argo  schoolhouse    in   Sangamon   township, 
Piatt  county,  but  in  early  youth  he  started 
out  upon  his  business  career.     When  about 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  began  to  earn  his 
own  living,   working  as  a    farm    hand    at 
eight   dollars   per   month.      At  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  he  began  farming  -for  him- 
self and  was  thus  engaged  during  the  years 
of  1873-4-5.     He  then  commenced  to  learn 
the  builder's  art,  and  in   1876  he  took  up 
his  abode  in  Mansfield,  where  he  has  since 
resided.     Becoming  an  expert  workman  in 
the  line  of  building  he  turned  his  attention 
to  contracting,  and  has  erected  the  majority 
of  the  best  buildings  in   Mansfield  during 
the  past  twenty-five  years,     including    the 
Sisson  department     store,    First    National 
Bank  building,  the    State    Bank    building, 
Hotel  Monroe,  the  high  school  building,  a 
fine  structure  erected  in  1895,    and    many 
others  of  a  public  and  private  character.     In 
the  first  part  of  the  year   1903  he  erected 
eight  buildings.     He  employs  his  own  ma- 
sons,  painters  and   workmen  of   all   kinds, 
and  he  takes  contracts  all  over  this  part  of 
the  state,  also  doing  work  in  Chicago.     He 
thoroughly  understands    the    builder's    art 
in  every  particular,    and    his    labors    have 
brought  to  him  very  gratifying  success  as 
the  years  have  gone  by.     Mr.  Darst  is  also 
one  of  the  directors  and  was  one  of  the  or- 
organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank  in 
Mansfield.     He  owns  five  houses    and    lots 
in  this  city,  and  his  property  interests  are 
the  visible  evidence  of  his  life  of  industry 
and  thrift. 

On  the  2ist  of  February.  1881,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Darst  and  Miss  Jennie 
Bateman,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Bateman, 
of  whom  more  extended  mention  is  made 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Darst  has  been  blessed  with  three 


children :  Mabel  Elizabeth,  who  was  born 
December  8,  1888;  Nellie  Bernice,  born  on 
the  agth  of  May,  1890;  and  Mary  Isabel, 
born  February  6,  1900.  They  have  an  at- 
tractive home  in  Mansfield  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Darst  occupy  an  enviable  position  in 
social  circles.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican 
and  while  he  gives  a  firm  support  to  the 
principles  of  the  party,  he  has  never  sought 
or  desired  office,  desiring  rather  that  his 
time  and  energies  shall  be  devoted  to  his 
business  affairs  which  have  already 
brought  him  creditable  success.  A  life  of 
unswerving  integrity  and  honor,  of  unfal- 
tering diligence  and  of  straightforward 
dealing  has  gained  and  retained  for  him  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  men 
and  he  is  distinctively  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  the  thriving  town  of  Mansfield, 
with  whose  interests  he  has  been  identified 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 


JOHN  R.  HOWELL. 

Prominent  among  the  energetic,  far- 
seeing  and  successful  business  men  of 
Piatt  county  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  is  interested  in  a  number  of  different 
enterprises  and  is  also  serving  as  post- 
master of  the  village  of  Burrowsville.  En- 
ergy, close  application,  perseverance  and 
good  management,  these  are  the  elements 
which  have  entered  into  his  business  ca- 
reer and  crowned  his  efforts  with  pros- 
perity. 

Mr.  Howell  was  born  in  Moultrie 
county,  Illinois,  October  28,  1865,  his  par- 
ents being  John  T.  and  Susan  (Harris) 
Howell.  both  natives  of  Shelby  county, 
Kentucky,  and  early  settlers  of  Moultrie 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


county,  where  they  located  in  1864.  At 
that  time  there  was  only  one  house  be- 
tween his  place  and  Bement  and  most  of 
the  land  was  wild  and  covered  with 
sloughs  and  ponds.  'His  farm  had  pre- 
viously been  improved  though  he  subse- 
quently broke  many  acres  of  prairie  with 
oxen  and  materially  assisted  in  the  de- 
velopment and  improvement  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state.  He  continued  to  live 
in  Lovington  township,  Moultrie  county, 
for  some  years,  his  time  being  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  but  he  is  now  living 
retired  in  Decatur,  Illinois.  Although 
seventy-two  years  of  age  he  is  still  hale 
and  hearty  and  his  wife  is  in  her  sixty- 
eighth  year.  The  children  born  to  them 
are  as  follows :  H.  T.,  now  a  resident  of 
Missouri;  S.  W.,  of  Holly,  Colorado;  Jphn 
R.,  of  this  review ;  Molly,  wife  of  Rev.  B. 
C.  Dewey,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister 
now  located  at  Pana,  Illinois;  James,  who 
is  living  in  Denver;  and  three  deceased. 

In  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
county  John  R.  Howell  obtained  a  good 
practical  education  and  on  laying  aside 
his  text  books  took  up  farming,  to  which 
occupation  he  still  gives  considerable  at- 
tention in  the  supervision  of  his  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sec- 
tions 33  and  34,  Cerro  Gordo  township. 
In  the  fall  of  1890  he  embarked  in  the 
grain  business  and  in  general  merchandis- 
ing at  Burrowsville  and  on  the  ist  of  the 
following  year  was  appointed  postmaster 
at  that  place,  which  office  he  has  since 
filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
His  elevator  has  a  capacity  of  thirty  thou- 
sand bushels  and  he  handles  on  an  aver- 
age one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  bush- 
els annually  and  also  deals  quite  exten- 
sively in  stock.  Although  he  buys  and 


sells  sheep  and  cattle,  he  makes  a  spec- 
ialty of  horses  and  is  very  much  interested 
in  the  same.  In  addition  to  his  other 
duties  he  also  acts  as  station  agent  for  the 
Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  Railroad 
at  Burrowsville. 

In  1894  Mr.  Howell  married  Miss 
Grace  Toney,  of  La  Place,  who  was  born 
in  Indiana  on  the  ist  of  January,  1877, 
but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Macon 
county,  Illinois,  whither  she  removed  with 
her  parents,  J.  W.  and  Marie  (Nesbott) 
Toney,  when  about  five  years  of  age.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Toney  came  originally  from 
Bedford,  Indiana,  and  are  now  residents 
of  La  Place,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Howell  is  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  six  children  and  is 
the  mother  of  a  little  son,  Roland  J.,  now 
seven  years  old.  She  had  two  other  chil- 
dren :  Virgil,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  months ;  and  Marie,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  months. 

Politically  Mr.  Howell  affiliates  with 
the  Democracy  and  has  served  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  conventions  of  his  party. 
Within  his  remembrance  land  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state  has  risen  in  value  from 
twenty  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars  per  acre  and  he  has  seen  much  of 
the  upbuilding  and  development  of  this 
region.  He  is  one  of  the  most  energetic 
and  progressive  citizens  of  his  locality  and 
gives  an  earnest  support  to  all  enter- 
prises which  he  believes  will  prove  of  pub- 
lic benefit.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  Ben  Hur  Lodge,  and  religiously  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  His  genial,  pleasant 
manner  has  made  him  quite  popular  in 
business  and  social  circles  and  as  a  public- 
spirited,  enterprising  man  he  is  recog- 
nized as  a  valued  citizen  of  Piatt  countv. 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


3^5 


DR.  J.  H.  WOOD. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Wood,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  in  De   Land,  was  born  in 
Fulton     county,    Illinois,    on   the    I5th    of 
April,   1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Dyckes)   Wood,  the  former  a  na- 
tive   of     Pennsylvania   and   the   latter  of 
Maryland.    Both  the  Dyckes  and  Wood  fam- 
ilies were  of  English  extraction.     William 
Dyckes,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and 
was  woUnded  in  the  battle  of  Fort  McHenry. 
The  parents  of  the  Doctor  were  married 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  the  father  was 
engaged    in    blacksmithing.     In  the  year 
1837  he  and  his  wife  came  to  the  west, 
crossing  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  which  was 
then  a  frontier  village,  giving  little  prom- 
ise%  of  the  marvelous  development    which 
was  soon  to  make  it  the  metropolitan  city 
of  the  west.    They  proceeded  by  stage  to 
LaSalle,   Illinois,   and   thence  by  boat   to' 
Havana.     Mr.   Wood  took  up  his  abode 
in     Farmers     township,     Fulton     county, 
where  he  erected  a  blacksmith  shop  upon 
a  tract  of  land  which  he  secured  from  the 
government.     This  he  improved,  carrying 
on    agricultural    pursuits    in    connection 
with   the   blacksmithing   which   he  did   for 
the    early    settlers.      He  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  residents  of  this  part  of  the  state 
and   took   an   active   and   helpful   part   in 
the  early  development  of  the  county  and 
was    widely    known    among    the    pioneer 
settlers  who  esteemed  him  highly  for  his 
genuine  worth.     He  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine    years    and  his  widow  is   now 
living  in  Denver,  Colorado,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years  with  her  son  J.  D.  Wood. 
They  became   the  parents   of  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  subject  of  this  review 


was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  Those 
still  living  are  the  daughter  Alice,  who  is 
the  widow  of  James  Sperry,  and  resides 
with  his  brother ;  and  J.  D.,  who  is  with  his 
mother  in  Denver,  Colorado. 

Dr.  Wood  obtained  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Farmers 
township  and  for  several  years  he  engaged 
in  teaching  school.  Desirous  to  become 
a  member  of  the  medical  profession  he  be- 
gan studying  privately  and  when  he  had 
earned  enough  money  to  meet  the  ex- 
penses of  a  college  course  he  matricu- 
lated in  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  which  he 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1878.  Im- 
mediately upon  his  graduation  he  came 
to  DeLand  and  here  began  practice.  In 
his  work  he  met  with  creditable  and  grati- 
fying success  and  remained  an  active  prac- 
titioner here  until  1894,  when  he  removed 
to  Champaign.  For  six  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  medical  fraternity  at  that 
place  and  in  1900  he  removed  to  Ham- 
mond, Louisiana,  where  he  was  located 
for  a  year  and  a  half.  He  then  returned 
to  De  Land  and  purchased  the  drug  store 
of  William  Downey,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  conducting  the  business,  having 
now  a  liberal  patronage  which  is  accorded 
him  in  recognition  of  the  good  stock 
which  he  carries,  his  reasonable  prices  and 
his  honorable  and  courteous  treatment  of 
his  patrons. 

In  December,  1875,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Dr.  Wood  and  Miss  Sarah 
Peirsol,  a  native  of  Illinois  and  a  daughter 
of  Sampson  Peirsol,  of  Lee  township,  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois.  'Her  parents  died 
during  her  early  girlhood  and  she  made 
her  home  with  her  uncle  Dr.  Peirsol.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


and  is  a  most  estimable  lady.  Fraternally 
the  Doctor  is  connected  with  De  Land 
Lodge,  No.  812,  F.  &  A.  M.,  with  Monti- 
cello  Chapter,  No.  48,  R.  A.  M.,  and  with 
Champaign  Commandery,  K.  T.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  stalwart  Democrat 
and  for  a  number  of  terms  served  as 
supervisor  of  his  township.  He  has  also 
been  town  clerk  and  in  public  office  he 
has  been  found  most  loyal  and  faithful  to 
his  duties.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I.  Sixth  Regular  Cavalry  under 
Captain,  now  General  A.  R.  Chaffee  and 
served  three  years,  being  mustered  out 
as  first  sergeant.  He  was  stationed  on 
the  Texas  frontier  after  the  close  of  hos- 
tility, Fort  Belknap  being  their  head- 
quarters the  greater  part  of  the  time. 
During  a  long  residence  in  this  section 
of  the  state  Dr.  Wood  has  become  widely 
and  favorably  known  and  well  deserves 
mention  in  this  volume  as  one  of  the 
representative  men  of  Piatt  county. 


JOHN    HENRY    WARREN. 

John  Henry  Warren,  who  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  in  Piatt  county,  his  home  being 
on  section  17,  Blue  Ridge  township,  was  born 
on  the  7th  of  July,  1859,  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  and  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth 
(Clary)  Warren,  both  natives  of  Sussex 
county,  England.  The  father  was  born  Jan- 
uary 2,  1824,  and  is  still  living,  but  the  moth- 
er, whose  birth  occurred  February  14,  1828, 
died  on  the  3Oth  of  May,  1897.  It  was  in 
1855  that  they  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  during  the  first  six  years  of  their  resi- 
dence in  this  country  lived  near  Albany,  New 
York,  where  the  father  worked  on  a  farm  for 


one  man  all  of  that  time.  They  then  came  to 
Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  for  eight  years  Mr. 
Warren  operated  a  rented  farm  near  his  pres- 
ent place,  and  then  purchased  the  latter. 
Since  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen  he  has 
always  supported  the  Republican  party.  His 
children  are  William  Howard,  now  a  farmer 
of  Iowa;  Alfred,  a  carpenter  of  Champaign, 
Illinois;  John  Henry,  of  this  review;  and 
Arthur,  also  a  resident  of  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship. The  first  two  were  born  in  England, 
the  third  in  New  York,  and  the  youngest  in 
Piatt  county. 

John  H.  Warren  spent  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  his  parents'  home,  and  in 
the  public  schools  acquired  his  education. 
When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  began 
working  for  himself,  and  for  two  years  was 
employed  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand.  He 
afterward  took  up  his  abode  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Blue  Ridge  township,  Piatt  county, 
where  he  is  now  living.  He  pays  his  father 
six  hundred  and  forty  dollars  per  year  as  rent 
for  the  farm,  and  he  also  takes  care  of  this 
aged  parent.  As  an  agriculturist  Mr.  War- 
ren is  practical  and  progressive  and  every- 
thing he  undertakes  he  carries  forward  to 
successful  completion.  His  place  is  neat  and 
thrifty  in  appearance,  indicating  his  careful 
supervision  and  annually  his  labors  return 
to  him  a  good  income. 

On  the  3oth  of  May,  1879,  Mr.  Warren 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Flora  Trus- 
ler,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  October  i, 
1860,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Nancy 
Jane  Trusler.  Her  parents  were  farming 
people  and  made  their  home  in  Blue  Ridge 
township,  this  county,  for  about  twenty  years 
after  coming  from  Indiana.  The  father  died 
February  2,  1899.  and  the  mother  passed 
away  August  13,  1901.  Their  other  children 
were  Daniel,  a  resident  of  Ford  county.  Illi- 


J.   H.  WARREN 


MRS.  J.   H.  WARREN 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


nois ;  Mrs.  Martha  Bishop,  of  Ohio ;  William, 
a  farmer  of  Ford  county ;  Elijah,  a  painter  of 
Indiana;  Charles,  a  resident  of  Ford  county, 
Illinois ;  and  Emma,  of  Blue  Ridge  township, 
Piatt  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  have 
eight  children  :  Golda  Belle,  Frances  Paulina, 
Grace  Alma,  Sarah  Hazel,  James  Henry  Ed- 
ward, Susie  May,  Laddie  Elizabeth  and  Ru- 
fus  George  Franklin,  all  of  whom  are  still 
under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Warren  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  is  deeply  interested 
in  its  success,  for  he  believes  that  the  party 
platform  contains  the  test  elements  of  good 
government.  He  has  been  a  school  director 
for  five  terms  and  the  cause  of  education  has 
in  him  a  warm  friend.  Socially,  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Ameri- 
ca, and  carries  two  thousand  dollars'  insur- 
*  ance  in  that  order. 


JACOB    H.    CLINE. 

In  viewing  the  mass  of  mankind  in  the 
varied  occupations  of  life  the  conclusion  is 
forced  upon  the  observer  that  in  the  vast 
majority  of  cases  men  have  sought  employ- 
ment not  in  line  of  their  peculiar  fitness, 
but  in  those  where  caprice  or  circumstances 
have  placed  them,  thus  explaining  the  rea- 
son of  the  failure  of  ninety-five  per  cent  of 
those  who  enter  commercial  and  profession- 
al circles.  In  a  few  cases  it  seems  that  men 
with  a  peculiar  fitness — genius  it  may  be 
called,  for  a  certain  line  have  taken  it  up 
and  marked  success  has  followed.  Such  is 
the  fact  in  the  case  of  the  subject  of  this  bi- 
ography, who  is  now  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  in  White  Heath. 

A  native  of  Piatt  county,  he  was  born 
in  Sangamon  township,  August  25,  1851, 


and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Letitia  Cline.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Ohio,  coming  from 
Pickaway  county,  that  state,  to  Illinois  at 
an  early  day.  They  entered  a  claim  from 
the  government,  thereby  becoming  the  own- 
er of  a  tract  of  land  in  Piatt  county,  and 
in  the  course  of  years  the  father  improved 
about  eight  hundred  acres.  He  certainly,  in 
this  way,  aided  largely  in  the  development 
and  progress  of  the  county  and  this  section 
of  the  state  acknowledges  its  indebtedness 
to  him  for-  the  work  which  he  performed 
in  advancing  civilization  here.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  25th  of  March,  1860,  when 
he  was  living  upon  his  farm  two  miles 
northeast  of  White  Heath.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  in  Pickaway  county,  April  7, 
1817,  died  in  White  Heath  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1891.  They  were  people  of  the 
highest  respectability,  and  during  the  long 
years  of  their  residence  here  they  gained 
many  friends  for  their  sterling  traits  of 
character  awakened  the  respect  and  admi- 
ration of  those  with  whom  they  were  asso- 
ciated. 

Jacob  H.  Cline  when  small  became  a 
student  in  a  little  schoolhouse  where  the 
White  schoolhouse  now  stands  about  three 
and  a  half  miles  north  of  White  Heath. 
Later  he  attended  the  Hazeldell  school,  but 
his  education  was  somewhat  limited  for  the 
schools  of  that  day  had  not  reached  their 
present  advanced  standard.  It  was  also 
necessary  that  he  should  assist  his  mother. 
The  father  died  when  the  son  was  only 
nine  years  of  age.  leaving  a  large  family  of 
six  children  to  the  care  of  his  widow. 
Jacob  H.  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 
He  remained  upon  the  old  home  with  his 
mother  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
was  married  and  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self. It  was  on  the  I3th  of  February.  1870, 
that  he  wedded  Miss  Josephine  Knott.  His 


332 


PAST    AND    PRESENT! 


share  of  his  father's  estate  was  then  under 
the  control  of  the  second  guardian,  S.  R. 
Reed,  of  Monticello.  Mr.  Cline  took  his 
bride  to  his  farm  and  continued  its  cultiva- 
tion for  two  or  three  years.  He  then  traded 
the  property  with  his  younger  brother,  Ezra 
Cline,  and  in  the  second  or  third  transfer 
he  came  into  possession  of  the  home  farm, 
which  he  cultivated  for  two  years.  He 
then  traded  that  property  with  John  A. 
Flanagan,  and  he  became  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  near 
White  Heath.  Removing  to  this  place  he 
there  erected  a  new  house,  built  a  barn, 
planted  an  orchard  and  made  other  improve- 
ments, which  added  to  the  value  and  at- 
tractive appearance  of  his  home.  After  re- 
maining there  about  three  years  he  made  a 
deal  with  Charles  Smith,  of  White  Heath, 
whereby  he  came  into  possession  of  a  store, 
house  and  lot,  formerly  owned  by  Mr. 
Smith  in  the  village.  Mr.  Cline  is  now  one 
of  the  oldest  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  re- 
liable merchants  of  White  Heath.  He  car-- 
ries  a  large  stock  of  general  merchandise 
and  receives  a  gratifying  share  of  the  pub- 
lic patronage.  His  diligent  attention  to 
business  has  won  him  a  constantly  growing 
trade  among  the  best  families  of  White 
Heath  and  the  surrounding  district.  He  is 
always  courteous  to  his  customers,  is  pro- 
gressive in  his  business  methods  and  is  al- 
ways fair  and  just  in  his  dealings.  In  addi- 
tion to  supervising  his  store  he  has  also 
served  as  postmaster,  being  appointed  dur- 
ing President  Arthur's  administration,  and 
holding  the  office  continually  since,  with 
the  exception  of  the  period  of  President 
Cleveland's  second  administration.  A  rural 
route  was  established  from  this  office  on  the 
ist  of  March,  1902,  and  at  that  time  the 
old  star  route  from  White  Heath  to-Center- 
ville  was  discontinued. 


Mr.  Cline  owns  a  fine  home  adjoining 
his  store,  and  it  stands  in  the  midst  of  a  beau- 
tiful and  well-kept  lawn,  adorned  with  shade 
trees.  He  also  has  many  other  trees  upon 
his  place,  including  apples,  ciiernes,  peaches 
and  plums.  The  home  occupies  an  excel- 
lent location  in  the  center  of  the  business 
district  in  the  pretty  village  of  White  Heath 
and  there  is  no  more  attractive  place  than 
that  of  Mr.  Cline.  He  likewise  owns 
twenty  acres  of  rich  land,  adjoining  the  vil- 
lage and  another  desirable  residence  situ- 
ated on  Washington  street  in  Monticello,  Il- 
linois. His  business  affairs  have  been  care- 
fully conducted,  resulting  in  the  acquire- 
ment of  a  desirable  capital,  which  he  has 
judiciously  invested  in  real  estate. 

In  this  connection  it  will  be  interesting 
to  note  something  of  the  family  history  of 
Mrs.  Cline  who  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  B. 
and  Mary  (Law)  Knott.  Mrs.  Cline  was 
born  in  Washington  Court  House,  Ohio, 
January  22,  1853,  and  in  the  year  1856  was 
brought  by  her  parents  to  Illinois,  the  fam- 
ily locating  in  Centerville,  where  the  Doc- 
tor practiced  his  profession  continuously 
for  twenty-five  years,  being  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  successful  physicians  of  that  part 
of  the  state.  Mrs.  Cline  pursued  her  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Centerville  and  of  Ot- 
tawa, Illinois,  and  by  her  marriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  five  children :  Anna 
B.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Gale,  and  is 
a  nurse,  making  her  home  with  her  parents : 
Minnie  M.,  the  wife  of  Jerry  Purcell,  of 
White  Heath;  Cora  O.,  who  is  a  doctor  of 
osteopathy  in  Monticello;  Ona  L.,  who  is 
deputy  circuit  clerk  of  Piatt  county ;  and 
Roy  R.,  who  attends  school  and  assists  his 
father  is  the  store  during  the  periods  of  va- 
cation. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Cline  is  a  stal- 
wart Republican,  active  in  the  party  and  in- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


333 


fluential  in  its  councils.  For  several  years 
he  has  served  as  chairman  of  the  township 
central  committee.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  supervisor  for  fifteen  years  and  has  also 
been  commissioner  of  highways.  Fraternal- 
ly he  is  connected  with  Monticello  Lodge, 
No.  58,  F.  &  A'.  M.,  and  also  with  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Neighbors  and  with 
the  Court  of  Honor  and  has  long  been  a 
prominent  and  influential  member  and  work- 
er in  the  Universal ist  church  of  White 
Heath.  He  is  truly  a  representative  Ameri- 
can citizen  and  a  worthy  representative  of 
that  type  of  American  character  which  pro- 
motes public  good  in  advancing  individual 
prosperity.  Prosperity  has  come  to  him  as 
a  natural  consequence  of  industry  and  appli- 
cation, and  his  splendid  success  bears  testi- 
mony to  his  rare  judgment  in  business  af- 
fairs. 


WILLIAM   H.  FIRKE. 

Among  the  representative  business  men 
of  Mansfield  who  have  done  much  toward 
its  upbuilding  and  development  probably 
none  are  better  known  than  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  As  an 
extensive  landowner  and  banker  he  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  business  in- 
terests of  the  county  for  many  years  and  is 
a  recognized  leader  in  agricultural  and  fi- 
nancial circles. 

Mr.  Firke  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  a  log  cabin  in 
Wiesburg.  on  the  I7th  of  January,  1852. 
His  parents  were  Conrad  and  Anna  (Auf- 
encamp)  Firke.  The  father  was  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade  and  followed  that  pursuit 
throughout  his  business  career.  He  died  in 


Indiana  on  the  28th  of  January,  1852,  and 
is  still  survived  by  his  widow  who  is  now 
living  in  Cass  county,  Nebraska,  near  Green- 
wood. Mr.  Firke  is  one  of  three  living  chil- 
dren and  two  of  the  family  are  now  de- 
ceased. 

In  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
state  the  subject  of  this  review  obtained  his. 
early  education.  He  was  left  an  orphan  and 
started  out  to  earn  his  own  living  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years,  first  working  as  a 
farm  hand  in  which  capacity  he  w.as  em- 
ployed until  1874,  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  near  Farmer  City.  There  he 
worked  for  one  year  as  a  farm  hand  for  D. 
W.  and  J.  C.  Smith,  after  which  he  rented 
a  tract  of  land  and  carried  on  farming  on 
his  own  account.  During  this  time  he  made 
money  and  with  the  capital  he  had  acquired 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
.'I  land  in  Piatt  county,  of  which  he  became 
owner  in  1876.  This  he  plowed,  planted 
and  tiled,  thus  producing  very  rich  and  ara- 
ble fields  and  he  continued  his  farm  work 
there  until  1883,  at  which  time  he  purchased 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Champaign  county.  He  has  since  owned 
much  valuable  property.  In  1889  he  bought 
what  is  known  as  the  William  Lindsey  farm 
in  Piatt  county  near  Blue  Ridge.  This  he 
tiled  and  upon  the  place  he  erected  two  good 
barns,  unsurpassed  by  any  in  the  county. 
He  also  built  corn  cribs  and  other  necessary 
buildings,  planted  an  orchard  and  made 
various  improvements  which  added  to  the 
value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the  place. 
In  iBgo  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Champaign  county,  and  in  1895  he  bought 
in  Vermilion  county  four  hundred  acres  of 
land  on  Eight  Mile  Prairie.  This  he  im- 
proved and  tiled,  erected  a  good  residence,, 
substantial  barns  and  new  corn  cribs,  in  fact,. 


334 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


he  made  all  the  improvements  upon  the 
place.  In  1902  he  became  the  owner  of 
four  hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres  of 
land  in  Pike  county,  afterward  purchased 
one  hundred  and  seventy-three  acres  in  Piatt 
county,  this  being  the  old  Mansfield  home, 
for  which  he  paid  one  hundred  and  seventy 
and  a  half  dollars  per  acre.  He  also  owns  a 
half  interest  in  four  hundred  and  thirty  acres 
of  land  in  Pike  county,  which  he  purchased 
in  1893,  ar>d  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Champaign  county,  and  also  an  eighty- 
acre  tract  there.  Thus  from  time  to  time  he 
has  continued  to  make  investments  in  real 
estate,  until  he  now  is  one  of  the  extensive 
landowners  in  central  Illinois,  his  posses- 
sions aggregating  altogether  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  acres  of  well-improved  and 
valuable  land.  All  this  is  the  visible  evi- 
dence of  his  life  of  industry,  of  his  keen 
foresight  and  business  sagacity.  He  has 
also  been  associated  with  financial  interests 
of  the  county,  having  in  1893  organized  the 
State  Bank  of  Mansfield,  which  is  capital- 
ized for  forty  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Firke 
is  its  president  and  holds  stock  in  the  insti- 
tution to  the  amount  of  twelve  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  other  officers  are  Alvah  James, 
vice  president ;  W.  H.  Burns,  cashier ;  and 
Robert  Howe,  assistant  cashier.  This  was 
conducted  as  a  private  banking  institution 
until  1899,  when  it  became  a  state  bank.  He 
is  interested  in  the  Dighton  &  Dilatush  Loan 
Company  of  Monticello. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1878,  Mr.  Firke 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J. 
Petry,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Petry,  a  native 
of  Indiana.  Her  mother  died  during  the 
infancy  of  the  daughter  and  the  father  has 
also  passed  away.  Six  children  have  been 
born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Firke :  Alma  Belle, 
the  wife  of  J.  R.  Bateman,  who  resides  four 


miles  north  of  Mansfield  upon  a  farm  and 
by  whom  she  has  one  son,  Russell ;  C.  W., 
who  was  graduated  in  the  law  department 
of  the  State  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
Arbor  in  the  class  of  1902,  and  is  now  prac- 
ticing his  profession  in  Mansfield;  Lutie 
Phebe,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years ; 
Ada  Catherine,  at  home ;  Ralph  W.  and 
Frank  J.,  who  are  also  under  the  parental 
roof. 

Mr.  Firke  gives  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  De- 
mocracy and  has  served  eighteen  years  as 
school  trustee  and  two  years  as  supervisor. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Firke  is 
a  broad-minded  man,  who  looks  at  life  from 
a  practical  and  humanitarian  standpoint.  He 
is  one  of  the  well-known  citizens  of  Piatt 
county,  whose  labors  have  closely  touched 
the  interests  of  the  state  and  have  contrib- 
uted toward  the  general  advancement.  He 
is  a  man  of  firm  convictions,  and  it  is  doubt- 
ful if  he  ever  weighed  a  single  act  of  his 
life  in  the  scale  of  policy,  his  conduct  being 
prompted  by  the  spirit  of  usefulness  and 
conscientious  obligation.  While  he  has 
won  wealth  it  has  been  gained  so  honorably 
that  the  most  envious  cannot  grudge  him 
his  success.  His  achievements  represent  the 
result  of  honest  endeavor,  along  lines  where 
mature  judgment  has  pointed  the  way. 


JOHN  C.  FURNISH. 

One  of  the  leading  and  representative 
farmers  of  Sangamon  township  is  John 
C.  Furnish,  who  was  born  on  his  present 
farm  on  section  21,  near  White  Heath, 
March  17,  1851,  and  has  here  spent  his 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


335 


entire  life,  his  time  and  attention  being 
devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His 
father,  Samuel  Furnish,  was  one  of  the 
oldest  settlers  of  Piatt  county.  He  was 
born  in  Kentucky  in  1822  and  was  only 
two  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  this  locality, 
making  his  home  here  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1869.  He  cleared  and 
broke  a  large  amount  of  land  which  was- 
originally  covered  with  a  heavy  growth/ 
of  timber,  and  became  the  owner  of  con- 
siderable property  though  prior  to  his 
death  he  disposed  of  much  of  it,  though 
he  still  retained  about  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  He  was  educated  in  an  old 
log  schoolhouse  such  as  is  generally 
found  in  a  pioneer  settlement,  and  in  his 
younger  days  drove  cattle  from  this  coun- 
ty to  New  York  city,  where  prices  were 
enough  better  to  pay  him  for  so  doing. 
Throughout  life  he  successfully  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Miss 
Catherine  Coon,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Ruth  (Clemens)  Coon,  who  were  from 
Ohio.  By  this  union  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  James,  who  is  now 
operating  the  Foster  farm  northwest  of 
White  Heath ;  John,  of  this  review ; 
George  and  William,  both  farmers  of 
Missouri;  Charles,  who  is  farming  one 
half  mile  west  of  White  Heath ;  and 
Frank,  deceased. 

John  C.  Furnish  received  a  common- 
school  education,  beginning  his  studies  in 
what  was  known  as  the  Hughes  school- 
house,  which  was  a  log  structure  with  a 
puncheon  floor,  slab  seats  and  a  desk 
made  by  placing  boards  on  wooden  pins 
driven  into  the  walls.  During  the  early 
residence  of  the  family  in  this  state  deer 
were  known  to  have  eaten  salt  out  of  the 


troughs  his  father  had  fixed  for  the  cattle 
and  horses,  and  all  kinds  of  wild  game 
were  then  abundant.  Like  most  boys  our 
subject  was  only  able  to  attend  school  for 
a  short  time  during  the  winter  months 
while  through  the  summer  season  he  aided 
his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm,  re- 
maining with  him  until  the  latter's  death, 
after  which  he  worked  out  one  season.  He 
then  returned  home  and  had  charge  of  the 
farm  until  the  estate  was  settled,  when  he 
received  his  share  of  the  same.  In  connec- 
tion with  its  operation  he  also  cultivates 
some  rented  land  and  raises  corn,  oats, 
wheat  and  melons,  making  a  specialty  of  the 
last  named  product,  which  he  finds  quite' 
profitable,  planting  ten  or  twelve  acres  of 
that  crop.  He  hauls  his  melons  by  team  to 
the  neighboring  towns,  where  he  finds  a 
ready  sale  for  them,  owing  to  their  excel- 
lence, and  he  makes  more  money  on  them 
than  he  could  from  any  other  crop  raised 
on  a  similar  amount  of  land. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1874,-  Mr.  Fur- 
nish was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cynthia 
Blacker,  a  daughter  of  Guston  and  Anna 
Blacker,  of  this  county.  They  have  become 
the  parents  of  eleven  children :  George, 
now  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri ; 
Frank,  deceased ;  Lewis,  Oscar,  Erria,  Ollie, 
Stella,  Lola,  Pearl  and  Wilma,  all  at  home; 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  The  younger 
children  are  still  in  school. 

By  his  ballot  Mr.  Furnish  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  for  three  years  he  acceptably  filled  the 
office  of  school  director  but  refused  to  hold 
the  office  any  longer.  He  is  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  fam- 
ilies of  this  county  and  can  remember  when 
this  region  was  still  largely  wild  and  unim- 
proved. He  was  born  in  an  old  log  house 


336 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


which  stood  on  the  site  of  his  mother's  pres- 
ent residence,  it  having  a  puncheon  floor,  a 
stick  chimney  and  many  other  pioneer  appli- 
ances. Some  of  the  land  which  his  father 
bought  cost  him  only  the  government  price 
of  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre,  and 
with  the  development  and  improvement  of 
the  county  the  family  has  been  actively  iden- 
tified. 


WILLIAM  A.   WACHS. 

One  of  the  prominent  German  Ameri- 
can citizens  now  residing  in  Monticello,  is 
William  A.  Wachs,  who  was  born  on  a  farm 
bordering  the  Baltic  sea,  near  Colberg,  Ger- 
many, September  22,  1836.  His  father, 
Christopher  Wachs,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  place,  his  entire  life  being  passed  upon 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  near 
Colberg.  He  married  Sophia  Kopka,  and 
unto  them  were  born  three  children :  Frank, 
who  is  still  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Germany;  Annie,  who  married 
a  Mr.  Benson,  a  farmer  of  that  country, 
and  died  in  1861 ;  and  William  A. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  land,  and  on  leaving 
home  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  went 
upon  the  ocean,  spending  five  years  as  a 
sailor  before  the  mast.  He  then  returned 
home  on  a  visit,  and  while  there  was  draft- 
ed into  the  German  army,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Fourth  Company,  Ninth  Regi- 
ment with  Colbeck.  After  serving  for 
three  years  he  was  discharged  in  the  fall  of 
1858,  and  the  following  year  he  spent  at 
home  with  his  parents. 

In  1859  Mr  Wachs  sailed  for  America, 
and  while  on  shipboard  he  met  Miss  Lizzie 
Zybell,  also  a  native  of  Germany  and  a 


daughter  of  John  Zybell.  They  soon  be- 
came fast  friends  and  journeyed  together  to 
Monticello,  Illinois,  where  she  had  a  broth- 
er living.  It  was  not  long  before  they  were 
engaged  to  be  married,  and  Mr.  Wachs  de- 
cided to  purchase  a  farm  with  the  three  thou- 
sand dollars  he  had  brought  with  him  to 
this  country,  so  that  they  might  have  a 
home  of  their  own.  They  went  to  Iowa  in 
search  of  a  location,  but  not  being  pleased 
with  the  country,  and  Miss  Zybell  wishing  to 
be  nearer  her  brother,  they  returned  to  Piatt 
county  and  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Goose  Creek  township  near  DeLand. 
They  were  married  at  Monticello  in  the 
spring  of  1860  and  at  once  took  up  their 
residence  on  the  land  which  Mr.  Wachs 
had  purchased  and  lived  in  a  cabin  he  erected 
thereon.  It  was  all  wild  prairie  and  swamp 
land,  and  their  nearest  neighbor  at  that 
time  was  a  mile  and  a  half  away,  so  sparsely 
was  the  country  settled  at  that  time.  Tiling 
and  ditching  his  land,  Mr.  Wachs  soon 
made  it  cultivable  and  after  it  was  broken 
good  crops  were  raised,  but  she  who  had 
borne  with  him  all  of  the  hardships  and 
trials  of  frontier  life,  died  in  November, 
1863,  leaving  two  children:  Frank,  who 
married  Katie  Lust  and  is  now  operating  a 
farm  adjoining  the  old  home  farm  in  Goose 
Creek  towship:  and  Martha,  who  married 
Elza  Davis,  a  farmer  of  Iowa,  and  died  in 
1888. 

Mr.  Wachs  was  again  married,  March 
29,  1864,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Dena  Hammerschmit,  a  daughter  of  Enda 
and  Elizabeth  Hammerschmit,  of  Dena, 
Province  of  Hanover,  Germany.  Her  father 
died  in  that  country  and  her  mother  after- 
ward came  to  the  United  States  to  live  with 
Mrs.  Wachs.  Here  she  married  again,  be- 
coming the  wife  of  Thomas  Angar,  a  farm- 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


337 


•er  of  Washington.  Missouri,  where  she 
died  in  1890.  The  children  by  her  first 
marriage  were  Louis,  a  furniture  dealer  of 
Monticello;  Lizzie,  wife  of  August  Zybell. 
a  retired  shoe  merchant  of  Monticello; 
Charles,  a  carpenter  of  that  city ;  August, 
who  is  still  living'  in  Germany;  and  Augus- 
ta, wife  of  Henry  Smith,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  near  Poplar  Bluff,  Iowa ;  and 
Dena,  wife  of  our  subject.  By  his  second 
marriage  Mr.  Wachs  has  four  children : 
Albert,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  on 
section  35,  Sangamon  township,  and  whose 
sketch  appears  below;  Lillie,  widow  of 
Rempt  Arends.  now  residing  near  Green- 
up,  Illinois;  Lizzie,  wife  of  John  Nelson, 
a  carpenter  of  Normal,  Illinois;  and  Rose, 
wife  of  Joe  Clinton,  a  farmer  of  Monticello 
township.  All  of  the  children  have  been 
given  good  educational  advantages  and 
have  attended  high  school. 

After  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Wachs 
sold  his  farm  in  Piatt  county  and  went  to 
Missouri  with  the  expectation  of  locating 
there,  but  not  liking  it  there  he  returned  to 
Illinois  and  bought  a  farm  of  forty-three 
acres  in  Piatt  county,  where  he  spent  one 
year.  He  was  next  engaged  in  the  butch- 
ering business  in  Washington,  Missouri,  but 
as  this  was  uncongenial  he  again  came  to 
Piatt  county  and  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Goose  Creek  township  near  De- 
Land.  In  the  operation  of  this  place  he  met 
•with  excellent  success  and  at  the  end  of  five 
years  bought  an  eighty-acre  tract  adjoining, 
and  still  later  another  eighty  acres.  Upon 
his  property  he  built  two  good  houses  and 
a  number  of  barns  and  other  outbuildings, 
tiled  the  land  and  set  out  orchards,  until  he 
had  a  well-improved  and  valuable  place. 
Mr.  Wachs  continued  to  actively  engage 
in  farming  until  1893,  when  he  retired  and 


moved  to  Monticello,  where  he  now  owns 
a  nice  home.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth 
and  many  excellent  traits  of  character,  and 
is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
him. 


ALBERT    WACHS. 

Throughout  his  active  business  life  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  identified 
with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty and  is  to-day  successfully  carrying  on  his 
chosen  occupation  on  section  35,  Sangamon 
township.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  south 
of  DeLand  in  Goose  Creek  township,  Janu- 
ary 8,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Dena  (Hammerschmit)  Wachs,  whose 
sketch  appears  above.  During  his  boyhood 
and  youth  he  worked  on  the  farm  with  his 
father  in  the  summer  and  for  about  three 
months  during  the  winter  season  attended 
the  neighboring  school.  He  remained  un- 
der the  parental  roof  until  his  marriage.  It 
was  on  the  8th  of  October.  1889.  that  he 
wedded  Miss  Katie  Baker,  who  had  come 
from  Germany  in  1885,  and  to  them  has 
been  born  one  child,  Lillie,  who  is  now  with 
her  grandparents  in  Monticello  attending 
school. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Wachs  com- 
menced farming  upon  eighty  acres  of  land 
which  he  rented  from  his  father,  and  when 
the  latter  retired  and  removed  to  Monticello 
our  subject  took  charge  of  half  of  his  land, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
which  he  farmed  quite  successfully.  At 
length  in  the  fall  of  1902  he  was  able  to 
purchase  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
land,  known  as  the  R.  H.  Benson  farm  and 
upon  this  place  he  has  made  his  home  since 
the  gth  of  March,  1803.  The  place  is  im- 


338 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


proved  with  good  modern  buildings,  and 
the  land  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
the  latest  improved  machinery  being  used 
in  its  operation.  Mr.  Wachs'  crops  are 
principally  corn  and  oats,  and  he  raises 
some  cattle  and  hogs  for  market.  He  is  a 
very  progressive  and  energetic  farmer  and 
well  deserves  the  success  that  has  crowned 
his  efforts  thus  far  in  life.  In  his  political 
view's  he  is  a  Republican,  active  in  the  party, 
and  influential  in  its  councils. 


HARMON  KUHN  GILLESPIE. 

Harmon  Kuhn  Gillespie,  who  for  many 
years  was  a  representative  farmer  of  Piatt 
county,  but  is  now  deceased,  still  lives  in  the 
memory  of  his  friends  because  he  had  en- 
deared himself  to  them  by  strong  ties.  His 
honorable  manhood  and  his  genuine  worth 
won  for  him  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  and  when  he  was  called  away  his  death 
was  deeply  deplored. 

Mr.  Gillespie  was  born  in  Huntingdon 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  September.  1825, 
a  son  of  Christian  and  Dorothy  Gillespie, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
In  1845  the  parents  removed  to  the  west, 
settling  in  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  spent  their  remaining  days.  The 
subject  of  this  review  was  the  oldest  of 
the  family  and  in  his  early  life  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  iron  works  of  the  east.  He  ac- 
quired a  good  common-school  education  in 
Pennsylvania  and  when  still  quite  a  lad  he 
learned  the  trade  of  wagon-making.  Ere 
his  removal  to  the  west  he  was  married  on  the 
2Oth  of  September,  1845,  to  Miss  Nancy 
Moore,  a  native  of  Bedford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  on  the  I4th  day  of  April,  1823, 


and  a  daughter  of  James  and  Anne  (Wein- 
gardner)  Moore.  Her  people  were  also  from 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father  followed  farming, 
spending  his  entire  life  in  the  Keystone  state,, 
as  did  his  wife.  The  Moores  were  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  and  all  were  of  Quaker  faith. 
The  Gillespies  were  also  of  Scotch-Irish  line- 
age and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  came 
from  Ireland  to  America  in  an  early  day. 
The  family  was  represented  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  also  in  the  war  of  1812. 
Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born  nine 
children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Chris- 
tian, who  resides  in  Champaign  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  is  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  Fred  Gillespie;  George  Moore,  who 
is  living  in  Champaign  county,  and  who  wed- 
ded Ollie  Crawford,  by  whom  he  has  two 
children,  Belle  Irene  and  Luella  Ida;  Ann 
Dorothy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Philip  Wied- 
man,  a  resident  of  DeWitt  county,  living 
near  Farmer  City,  by  whom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren— Frank  L.  and  Lou  Ola ;  Samuel  Jo- 
seph, a  resident  of  Storm  Lake,  Iowa,  who- 
married  Miss  Eva  Wisegarver  and  has  two 
children — Nancy  Pearl  and  Clyde  C. ;  John 
Wesley,  who  resides  in  Farmer  City  and 
married  Miss  Emma  Cook;  Henry  Martin, 
who  is  living  near  Farmer  City  in  DeWitt 
county  and  married  Ida  Knight,  by  whom  he 
has  one  child,  Hazel  A. ;  Lizzie  Jane,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Henry  C.  Eakin,  a  resident  of 
Piatt  county;  Carl  O.,  who  is  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  volume ;  and  Frank  Leslie, 
a  resident  of  Montezuma,  Indiana,  and  mar- 
ried Jennie  Bunton  and  has  one  child,  Cas- 
sius  M.  C. 

Mr.  Gillespie  had  been  married  for  but  a 
brief  period  when  with  his  wife  he  came  to 
the  west,  arriving  in  Illinois  in  1847.  He 
settled  at  Bloomington,  and  after  a  residence 
there  of  about  five  years  he  removed  to  Piatt 


PIATT    COUNTY.     ILLINOIS. 


343 


county,  where  he  entered  government  land, 
becoming  the  owner  of  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  All  of  this  was  wild  and  un- 
improved, and  with  characteristic  energy  he 
began  its  development.  In  course  of  time  it 
yielded  to  him  good  harvests,  and  as  his 
financial  resources  increased  he  added  to  this 
property  until  he  owned  some  four  hundred 
acres  of  land.  There  he  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  1891,  when  he  removed 
to  Farmer  City,  and  in  the  latter  place  he 
died,  June  25,  1901,  his  remains  being  in- 
terred in  Maple  Grove  cemetery,  south  of 
Farmer  City.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  a  valued  member 
of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  Farmer  City,  also 
of  the  local  chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Urbana 
Commandery,  K.  T.  He  was  always  true 
and  faithful  to  the  teachings  of  the  craft,  and 
was  buried  with  Masonic  honors.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Republican  and  for  many  years 
served  as  supervisor,  while  for  a  long  period 
he  also  acted  as  justice  of  the  peace.  His 
faithfulness  in  public  office  was  most  marked, 
and  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  justice 
he  was  impartial  and  was  strictly  fair  to  all. 
He  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the 
building  of  the  Big  Four  Railroad  from  Ur- 
bana to  Peoria,  thus  obtaining  railroad  fa- 
cilities in  Piatt  county,  and  he  was  always  a  ' 
very  active  factor  in  the  development  and  im- 
provement of  this  section  of  the  state.  He 
served  as  superinendent  of  construction  on 
the  road  when  it  was  called  the  Illinois, 
Bloomington  &  Western  Railroad.  Along 
many  lines  his  helpfulness  was  shown  and  he 
co-operated  in  many  measures  for  the  public 
good. 


BRENT    L.  BARKER,  M.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  a  well- 
known   physician    and    surgeon   .of   White 

16 


Heath,  Illinois.  He  is  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Somerset,  that 
state,  on  the  I5th  of  December,  1871.  His 
father,  William  M.  Barker,  was  also  born 
in  Somerset,  December  i,  1836,  and  was  a 
son  of  James  Irby  and  Canzada  (Simpson) 
Barker.  The  grandfather  was  born  in  Lee 
county,  Virginia,  in  1795,  and  on  leaving 
his  native  state  removed  to  Somerset,  Ken- 
tucky. His  parents  were  John  and  Lucy 
(Irby)  Barker.  John  Barker  was  one  of 
the  heroes  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  by 
profession  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  In 
his  family  were  six  children,  namely :  As- 
bury  Edmond,  who  married  Keziah  Cover; 
Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Floyd';  James  Irby,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject;  Elizabeth,  who  died  unmarried; 
Thomas,  who  served  throughout  the  war  of 
1812  and  was  so  nearly  starved  while,  in  the 
army  that  on  his  way  home  from  New  Or- 
leans he  purchased  a  side  of  meat  and  died 
from  eating  too  much  of  it,  the  report  of 
his  death  being  made  by  his  comrade,  Fred- 
erick Tarter,  on  his  return  home;  and  John 
F.,  who  married  Katherine  Weaver.  The 
Doctor's  grandmother,  Mrs.  Canzada  Bar- 
ker, was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah 
(Carson)  Simpson.  The  former  died  in 
1832  and  his  wife  in  September,  1840.  The 
latter  was  of  Irish  descent  on  both  the  pa- 
ternal and  maternal  sides,  and  her  parents 
were  quite  old  at  the  time  of  their  marriage. 
Unto  James  and  Sarah  Simpson  were  born 
twelve  children,  as  follows :  William  L., 
who  married  Susan  Buster;  Canzada, 'wife 
of  James  Irby  Barker ;  Samuel ;  Eliza,  wife 
of  John  Cover ;  Thomas,  who  married  a 
Miss  Stringer ;  Greenup ;  David,  who  mar- 
ried Nancy  Cover ;  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Pierce;  John  R.,  who  married  Susan  Yager; 
Sarah  Jane,  wife  of  Wesley  Cover;  Frank- 
lin, who  married  Emeline  Richardson;  and 
Quails.  The  children  of  James  Irby  and 


344 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Canzada  (Simpson)  Barker  were  John  W., 
who  married  Polly  Molen;  James  S.,  who 
married  Dostia  Ann  Molen ;  William  Mason, 
the  father  of  our  subject ;  and  Sarah  G.,  the 
wife  of  Michael  Pennington. 

William  Mason  Barker  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  Somerset,  Kentucky, 
and  after  reaching  manhood  engaged  in 
farming  there  throughout  life.  In  1856  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Malinda  Sie- 
vers,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and  came 
to  this  country  when  a  child  of  thirteen 
years.  She  died  in  Somerset,  in  May,  1875, 
leaving  eight  children,  namely :  Walter  O., 
the  eldest,  died,  and  his  wife  has  since  mar- 
ried James  Roberts,  a  resident  of  Dunnville, 
Kentucky.  John  C.  is  now  a  physician  of 
Hustonville,  Kentucky,  having  graduated 
from  the  medical  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Louisville  in  1893,  and  also  taken  a 
course  in  medicine  and  surgery  at  Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania  in  1896  and  1897.  He 
was  married  in  1895  to  Annetta  Hamon, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Anna  L.  and 
William  Hamon.  Sarah  J.  was  married  at 
Somerset,  Kentucky,  to  Rufus  Barker,  and 
removed  to  Texas,  where  she  died  in  1901, 
leaving  a  husband  and  six  children.  James 
F.  was  married  in  Texas  to  Lula  Jones,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Texas.  Rosa 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Stanton  Pierce,  who  was 
formerly  a  resident  of  Somerset,  but  is  now 
carrying  on  farming  near  Greenville,  Texas. 
Brent  L.,  of  this  review,  is  the  next  in  order 
of  birth.  Alonzo  L.  is  a  merchant  of  Som- 
erset, Kentucky.  Malinda  is  the  wife  of 
Sievers  Barker,  who  follows  farming  near 
that  place. 

Dr.  Barker  acquired  his  elementary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Somerset, 
and  later  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  two 
years.  He  was  next  a  student  at  the  Na- 


tional Normal  University  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
where  he  pursued  a  general  course,  and  on 
leaving  that  institution  he  resumed  teach- 
ing, again  following  that  profession  for 
three  years.  While  thus  employed  at  Som- 
erset, he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  and 
in  1893  entered  the  Louisville  Medical 
School,  where  he  was  graduated  on  the  25th 
of  March,  1897,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
He  was  also  presented  with  a  gold  medal  by 
the  same  institution,  which  he  won  in  a  com- 
petitive examination,  and  was  also  honored 
in  the  same  way  by  the  Pulaski  County  Ora- 
torical Association,  being  given  the  first  gold 
medal  ever  presented  by  that  society. 

For  one  year  after  leaving  medical  col- 
lege Dr.  Barker  was  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Kentucky,  but  in 
1898  came  to  White  Heath,  Illinois,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  On  the  igth 
of  July,  1902',  he  purchased  property  here, 
consisting  of  two  lots  on  which  is  a  nice 
house  and  barn  in  good  repair.  Here  he  has 
his  office.  He  has  many  patients  through- 
out the  surrounding  country,  covering  a  ra- 
dius of  fifteen  miles,  and  in  his  treatment  of 
cases  of  all  kinds  he  has  been  remarkably 
successful.  Although  still  a  young  man  he 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  practition- 
ers of  his  adopted  county,  and  well  does  he 
deserve  the  confidence  reposed  in  him. 

Dr.  Barker  was  married  on  the  I7th 
June,  1903,  to  Miss  Nellie  Rankin,  of  White 
Heath,  who  was  born  near  Cisco,  September 
i,  1882,  and  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
in  a  family  of  six  children.  Her  parents  are 
now  living  on  the  road  between  White 
Heath  and  Monticello.  Her  father  was  born 
August  i,  1849,  and  her  mother's  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  22d  of  November,  1854. 

Politically  Dr.  Barker  is  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


345 


cared  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  office, 
preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  affairs.  Fraternally,  he 
is  an  honored  member  of  White  Heath 
Camp,  No.  2119,  M.  W.  A.,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  clerk  for  over  two  years ;  and  also 
belongs  to  Mount  Royal  Lodge,  No.  120, 
Court  of  Honor;  Fern  Leaf  Camp,  No.  145, 
Royal  Neighbors;  and  White  Heath  Coun- 
cil, No.  319,  Mutual  Protective  League,  all 
of  White  Heath.  He  is  quite  popular  in  so- 
cial as  well  as  professional  and  business  cir- 
cles and  is  well  liked  by  all  who  know  him. 


MARION    BOSSERMAN. 

Marion  Bosserman.  a  well-to-do  agricul- 
turist living  on  section  28,  Goose  Creek 
township,  is  a  typical  self-made  man,  and  in 
the  following  record  of  his  career  there  is 
much  to  arouse  respect  and  esteem.  His  suc- 
cess in  life  is  largely  due  to  his  industry  and 
perseverance,  and  by  making  the  most  of 
circumstances,  however  discouraging,  he  has 
acquired  a  comfortable  competence. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Frank- 
lin county,  September  25,  1847,  and  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Rachel  (Young)  Bosser- 
man, natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jer- 
sey, respectively.  The  father  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  Keystone  state,  and  in 
1^60  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  DeWitt 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  his  death  in  1889.  He  died  very  sud- 
denly, being  seemingly  well  -at  noon,  but 
passed  away  at  one  o'clock  from  the  effects 
of  an  epileptic  stroke.  His  widow  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  but  is  now 
in  very  poor  health.  In  their  family  were 


ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living, 
namely:  William  and  Michael,  who  oper- 
ate the  home  farm:  Catherine,  the  wife  of 
Robert  Marsh,  a  farmer  living  three  and  a 
half  miles  southwest  of  Weldon,  Illinois; 
Charles,  a  farm  hand;  Lucy,  at  home  with 
her  mother;  and  Marion,  of  this  sketch. 
Those  deceased  are  John,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years ;  David,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  three;  and  Lincoln,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

From  the  time  he  attained  a  sufficient 
age  until  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Illi- 
nois, Marion  Bosserman  attended  school  in 
Ohio,  and  was  later  a  student  in  the  public 
schools  of  DeWitt  county,  where  his  par- 
ents settled.  When  about  twenty  years  of 
age  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  in 
that  county,  and  being  careful  and  econom- 
ical he  was  able  to  save  nfost  of  his  wages, 
in  which  way  he  gained  a  start  in  life.  He 
began  farming  on  his  own  account  in  De 
Witt  county,  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of 
Weldon,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
low  land  in  a  very  poor  condition,  but  he 
improved  the  same,  transforming  it  into  a 
good  farm,  which  he  successfully  cultivated 
for  some  years,  adding  greatly  to  its  valua- 
tion during  that  time.  In  1888  Mr.  Bos- 
serman sold  that  property  and  removed  to 
Piatt  county,  purchasing  the  John  Van 
Sycle  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
in  Goose  Creek  township.  In  its  operation 
he  steadily  prospered  and  was  able  to  add 
to  his  property  until  he  now  owns  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  as  good  land  as  Piatt 
county  affords.  Upon  the  place  is  a  pleas- 
ant residence,  good  outbuildings,  an  orchard 
and  various  kinds  of  small  fruits,  and  its 
neat  and  thrifty  appearance  plainly  indicates 
the  supervision  of  a  progressive  and  pains- 
taking owner.  He  raises  the  cereals  best 


346 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate  and  also  feeds 
for  the  market  cattle  and  hogs  of  a  fine  breed. 
He  also  keeps  good  horses  for  his  own  vise 
and  raises  some  nice  colts. 

Mr.  Bosserman  was  married  in  1873,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Anna  Eliza 
Marsh,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  Eliza 
(Forceman)  Marsh,  who  were  well-known 
and  highly  respected  farming  people  of  De ' 
Witt  county,  Illinois.  The  children  born  to 
this  union  were  Iva,  who  died  in  early  child- 
hood'; Laura,  the  wife  of  Frank  Marvin,  a 
farmer  of  Piatt  county ;  John,  Robert  and 
Charles,  who  assist  their  father  in  carrying 
on  the  home  farm ;  and  Frederick,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years.  The  sons  are 
honest,  industrious  and  reliable  young  men. 
who  are  of  great  assistance  to  their  father, 
and  who  have  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
who  know  them.  Mr.  Bosserman  owes  not 
a  little  of  his  success  in  life  to  his  estimable 
wife,  who  by  her  help  and  encouragement 
has  aided  him  in  every  possible  way.  She 
is  a  kind  mother  and  loving  wife,  who  takes 
pride  in  making  her  home  a  cheerful  one 
and  in  doing  everything  for  the  comfort  and 
welfare  of  her  family.  By  his  ballot  Mr. 
Bosserman  supports  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  now  capa- 
bly filling  the  office  of  school  trustee  for  a 
second  term.  He  also  served  as  school  di- 
rector while  living  in  DeWitt  county,  and  is 
a  public-spirited  and  enterprising  citizen. 


WILLIAM   M.   DE  GROFFT. 

William  M.  DeGrofft  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life.  Nature  was  bountiful  in  her  gifts 
to  the  agriculturist  who  was  wise  enough  to 
locate  in  Piatt  county  as  a  place  of  residence. 


The  rich  land  of  this  portion  of  the  state 
yields  abundant  harvests  and  furnishes  excel- 
lent pasturage  for  stock,  and  he  who  devotes 
his  energies  to  farming  and  stock-raising, 
carefully  directing  his  labors  by  sound  judg- 
ment, finds  that  within  a  number  of  years  he 
has  acquired  capital  sufficient  to  supply  him 
with  the  necessities  and  many  of  the  com- 
forts of  life  without  further  labor.  Such 
has  Ijeen  the  case  with  Mr.  Groffts,  who 
resides  on  section  34,  Blue  Ridge  township, 
and  who  was  long  actively  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Piatt  county. 

A  native  of  Fayette  county;  Indiana,  he 
was  born  in  1842  and  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and 
Elizabeth  DeGrofft,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Indiana.  The  father,  who  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  is  now  deceased,  but 
the  mother  is  still  living.  It  was  in  the  year 
1857  that  this  worthy  couple  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Champaign  county.  The 
subject  of  this  review  was  at  that  time  fif- 
teen years  of  age.  The  three  came  overland, 
making  the  journey  with  a  team  and  wagon, 
and  were  thirteen  days  in  completing  the 
trip.  The  father  secured  a  tract  of  land  and 
the  son  assisted  him  in  its  cultivation  and 
improvement.  When  twenty-one  years  of 
age  William  M.  DeGrofft,  however,  left 
home  and  entered  upon  an  independent  busi- 
ness career.  He  rented  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  Sangamon  town- 
ship, Piatt  county,  not  far  from  Galesville, 
and  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in 
1882,  becoming  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-two  and  a  half  acres,  which  con- 
stitutes the  farm  that  he  now  owns  and  oc- 
cupies. He  has  added  all  of  the  .improve- 
ments upon  the  place  and  has  made  it  a 
valuable  tract  of  land  substantially  equipped 
with  good  buildings  and  modern  accessories. 
He  gave  his  attention  to  general  farming. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


347 


carrying  on  both  grain  and  stock-raising  tin- 
til  about  five  years  ago,  when  he  rented  his 
land  to  his  son,  Lyman,  and  is  now  living 
retired.  His  wife  owns  fifty  acres  of  land 
near  Mansfield,  and  Mr.  DeGrofft  has  prop- 
erty in  the  town  of  Mansfield.  He  is  also 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  which  was  founded  in  1902.  Year 
after  year  through  a  long  period  he  labored 
in  the  fields,  plowing,  planting  and  harvest- 
ing, and  as  the  result  of  his  careful  atten- 
tion and  capability  he  acquired  a  handsome 
competence,  becoming  one  of  the  substantial 
residents  of  the  community. 

On  the  1 6th  of  March,  1866,  Mr.  De 
Grofft  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine Macke,  a  daughter  of  John  Macke,  of 
Warren,  New  Jersey,  who  had  emigrated 
to  Ohio  in  early  life,  and  unto  them  have 
been  torn  nine  children :  Aimer,  who  is 
living  in  Whiteside  county,  Illinois;  Rachel 
A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Edmund  Ouayle,  a 
resident  of  Champaign  county;  John  W., 
who  makes  his  home  in  McLean  county.  Il- 
linois ;  Lyman,  who  resides  in  Piatt  county ; 
Franklin,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year 
and  five  months ;  Delilah,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Edmund  Van  Sycle,  a  resident  of  Piatt 
count}':  Alice,  who  is  the  wife  of  William 
Patterson,  of  South  Bend,  Indiana;  a  son 
that  died  in  infancy :  and  Ida,  who  is  living 
at  home. 

Mr.  DeGrofft  is  both  self-educated  and 
a  self-made  man.  In  his  early  life  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  in  an  old-fashioned  log 
schoolhouse  in  Indiana,  seated  with  slab 
benches,  while  in  one  end  of  the  room  was 
an  immense  fireplace.  His  attendance  there, 
however,  was  quite  limited,  and  yet  through 
reading  and  observation  he  has  gained  broad 
practical  knowledge.  He  possesses  an  ob- 
serving eye  and  retentive  memory,  and  is 


now  well  informed  concerning  the  leading 
questions  of  the  day.  His  business  career 
has  been  creditable  and  by  close  attention  to 
his  work  he  has  advanced  steadily  on  the 
road  to  success.  Both  he  and  his  wife  be-  , 
long  to  the  Methodist  church'  and  in  politics 
he  is  a  Republican.  For  six  years  he  served 
as  road  commissioner,  but  with  this  excep- 
tion he  has  never  consented  to  hold  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  time  and  energies  to 
his  agricultural  interest,  whereby  he  has 
won  signal  success.  When  he  first  came 
to  Illinois  this  county  was  very  wild,  being 
still  a  frontier  region.  Wolves  were  nu- 
merous and  deer  were  also  to  be  seen  in 
great  numbers.  Much  of  the  land  was  under 
water  and  some  unfit  for  cultivation,  but  til- 
ing has  made  it  very  productive  and  the  rich 
soil  annually  returns  splendid  harvests.  Mr. 
DeGrofft  has  seen  the  growth  of  the  coun- 
ty, has  witnessed  its  development  and  has 
aided  in  its  progress,  especially  along  agri- 
cultural lines.  As  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers, therefore,  as  well  as  a  successful  citi- 
zen, he  deserves  mention  in  this  volume. 


HENRY     GESSFORD. 

« 

Among  the  leading  and  representative 
citizens  of  DeLand  probably  none  have  done 
more  for  the  upbuilding  and  advancement 
of  the  place  than  the  gentleman  whose  name 
introduces  this  sketch.  For  over  thirty 
years  he  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  its  material  development  and  prosper- 
ity, and  has  done  all  within  his  power  to  ad- 
vance its  interests. 

Mr.  Gessford  is  proud  to  claim  Illinois 
as  his  native  state,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  DeWitt,  DeWitt  countv,  on  the  i6th  of 


348 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


December,  1842.  His  father,  Elihu  Gess- 
ford,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in  1802, 
but  as  a  small  boy  went  to  West  Virginia, 
and  in  his  early  manhood  followed  farming 
there.  In  1834  he  came  to  Illinois  and  en- 
tered one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
near  DeWitt,  in  DeWitt  county,  which  he 
broke  and  improved,  his  first  home  here  be- 
ing a  log  cabin  in  which  our  subject  was 
born.  He  experienced  all  the  hardships  and 
trials  of  pioneer  life  and  in  those  early  days 
he  hauled  his  grain  to  Chicago  by  team — a 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  forty  miles. 
After  selling  his  wheat  at  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  cents  per  bushel  he  would  return 
home  with  a  load  of  salt  for  the  cattle.  In 
1824  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Frances  Webb,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  Webb,  of  Wythe  county,  Vir- 
ginia. Mrs.  Gessford  was  born  in  that 
county  in  1810  and  died  at  Farmer  City,  Il- 
linois, in  1871,  while  her  husband  passed 
away  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  1847. 
To  them  were  born  eleven  children,  namely : 
Sarah  and  Catherine,  twins,  both  now  de- 
ceased ;  Malinda  and  Rebecca,  also  deceased ; 
Stephen,  a  farmer  residing  near  Creston, 
Iowa  ;  Frances,  wife  of  George  Walters  of 
Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  Columbus,  de- 
ceased; Henry,  of  this  review;  William, 
who  was  a  member  of  Company  I,  Thirty- 
ninth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  during 
the  Civil  war,  and  died  after  his  return 
home  from  wounds  received  in  service; 
James,  who  was  a  member  of  Company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  was  killed  in  the  siege  of 
Atlanta;  and  Annie,  also  deceased. 

Henry  Gessford  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  DeWitt  county  near 
Farmer  City,  but  at  the  early  age  of  twelve 
years  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  by 


working  as  a  farm  hand  at  ten  dollars  per 
month,  being  thus  employed  until  the  coun- 
try became  involved  in  civil  war.  Like  his 
brothers  he  offered  his  services  to  the  gov- 
ernment to  help  put  down  the  Rebellion,  en- 
listing in  1 86 1  in  Company  F,  Forty-first  Il- 
linois Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  as- 
signed to  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps.  He 
participated  in  a  number  of  hard-fought  bat- 
tles, including  the  engagements  at  Fort  Hen- 
ry, Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  the  siege  of  Co- 
rinth and  Vicksburg.  He  was  also  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Hatchie's  Run  and  Jackson,  Mississip- 
pi. He  was  wounded  at  both  Fort  Donelson 
and  Vicksburg,  and  after  over  three  years  of 
faithful  service  he  was  mustered  out  and 
honorably  discharged  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
August  20,  1864. 

On  his  return  from  the  army  Mr.  Gess- 
ford commenced  farming  on  his  own"  ac- 
count, operating  land  near  Farmer  City  un- 
til 1873,  when  he  removed  to  DeLand  and 
embarked  in  merchandizing  under  the  name 
of  the  Henry  Gessford  Mercantile  Com- 
pany, conducting  the  store  successfully  for 
five  years.  He  then  sold  out  and  turned  his. 
attention  to  painting  and  paper  hanging. 
He  has  since  given  more  or  less  attention  to 
the  real  estate  business,  buying  and  selling 
town  property,  and  he  now  owns  five  houses 
and  lots  besides  his  own  home  and  some  va- 
cant lots.  These  houses  he  keeps  in  good 
repair  and  rents.  Soon  after  coming  to  De- 
Land  he  purchased  two  lots  and  in  1884 
erected  thereon  the  small  house  which  he 
now  occupies,  but  in  the  summer  of  1903  it 
is  his  intention  to  erect  a  fine  large  residence 
with  eleven  rooms  and  all  modern  conveni- 
ences and  improvements.  His  property  is 
well  located  and  is  surrounded  by  beautiful 
shade  trees  which  add  greatly  to  the  at- 
tractive appearance  of  the  place.  On  his 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


349 


return  from  the  army  Mr.  Gessford  found 
DeLand  unplatted,  in  fact  a  large  cornfield, 
and  it  is  largely  due  to  his  efforts  that  the 
village  to-day  enjoys  its  present  prosperity. 
He  has  bought  and  sold  a  number  of  lots 
and  erected  several  buildings,  including 
private  residences  and  stores. 

Mr.  Gessford  was  married  December 
22,  1864,  to  Miss  Mary  Jackson,  of  Farmer 
City,  Illinois,  who  was  born  in  Stockport, 
England,  in  1846,  and  came  to  this  country 
in  1850  with  her  parents,  Joseph  and  Han- 
nah (Higginbotham)  Jackson,  also  natives 
of  that  country.  On  their  arrival  in  Amer- 
ica they  first  settled  in  Rochester,  New 
York,  but  six  years  later  removed  to  Le 
Roy,  Illinois,  and  in  1863  took  up  their  res- 
idence in  Farmer  City.  Mrs.  Jackson  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  but 
has  suffered  a  third  stroke  of  paralysis  and  is 
now  totally  blind.  She  makes  her  home 
with  our  subject  and  his  wife.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gessford  have  four  children :  James 
W.,  a  harnessmaker  and  dealer  in  harness 
and  saddlery  at  DeLand ;  Charles  G.,  who 
lives  with  his  father  and  owns  and  operates 
a  thresher  and  cornsheller;  Maude  DeLand, 
who  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the 
village  for  which  she  is  named,  and  now  the 
wife  of  Edward  Johnson,  of  Monticello; 
and  Bertram  E.,  who  is  with  his  brother 
James  in  the  harness  business. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gessford  are  earnest  and 
consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  he  is  also  connected  with 
Lemon  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Farmer  City. 
For  thirty-three  years  he  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
but  was  obliged  to  withdraw  from  that  so- 
ciety on  account  of  failing  health.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  he  is  as 
true  to  his  duties  of  citizenship  to-day  as  he 


was  when  following  the  old  flag  to  victory 
on  the  battlefields  of  the  south  during  the 
dark  days  of  the  Rebellion.  Upright  and 
honorable  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  he  merits 
and  receives  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
"those  with  whom  he  is  brought  in  contact, 
and  his  friends  are  many  in  the  community 
where  he  has  so  long  made  his  home. 


JAMES  VAN  GORDER. 

Section  19,  Blue  Ridge  township,  is  the 
home  of  this  "horny  handed  son  of  toil." 
Here  he  was  born  and  bred,  and  in  this  com- 
munity none  stand  higher  in  the  public  es- 
teem. James  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Charlotte  Van  Gorder,  who  were  early  set- 
tlers in  the  county,  and  highly  regarded  for 
their  honesty  and  integrity.  He  is  a  native 
of  the  county,  born  in  1866  in  Blue  Ridge 
township,  where  he  still  cultivates  the  home- 
stead farm.  One  brother,  William  Judson, 
and  a  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  Martin,  who  also 
reside  in  the  county,  are  the  remaining  mem- 
bers of  the  family. 

Mr.  Van  Gorder  passed  the  period  of 
boyhood  and  youth  in  the  invigorating  out- 
door life  of  the  farm,  securing  a  good  pri- 
mary education  at  Langley,  the  district 
school  of  the  community.  For  a  year  after 
attaining  his  majority  he  remained  beneath 
the  parental  roof,  working  for  his  -father, 
then  took  up  the  duties  of  life  on  his  own 
account,  cultivating  a  portion  of  the  home 
farm.  In  1895  he  purchased  forty  and  five 
years  later  purchased  forty  acres  more  of  the 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  he  now  cul- 
tivates, the  remaining  portion  still  belonging 
to  his  father.  The  farm  is  one  of  the  most 


=10 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


productive  in  the  county,  the  combined  ef- 
forts of  the  father  and  son  having  brought 
it  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  They  de- 
vote its  products  largely  to  the  fattening  of 
cattle  and  hogs  for  the  market,  using  grain 
as  a  crop  in  rotation. 

Mr.  Van  Gorder  waited  until  he  was  well 
prepared  to  care  for  a  wife  before  taking  the 
important  step  of  matrimony,  the  I3th  day 
of  October,  1892,  marking  that  event.  Mrs. 
Van  Gorder  was  a  Piatt  county  girl,  the 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Susan  Steele,  well- 
to-do  farmers  living  near  Galesville.  where 
her  father  and  sisters  still  reside,  the  mother 
having  passed  away.  To  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Van  Gorder  have  been  born  Adelia, 
Howard,  Paul,  Vernie,  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  baby  Bertha,  who  constitute  a  most  in- 
teresting family. 

The  weight  which  attaches  to  a  life  well 
spent  entirely  within  one  community  is 
hardly  to  be  estimated.  A  floating  popula- 
tion is  the  bane  of  our  civilization.  Using 
the  other  end  of  the  familiar  old  saw,  "A 
rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss,"  one  finds  in 
the  Van  Gorder  family  a  fine  old  moss-cov- 
ered stone — covered  with  the  attractive  moss 
of  sterling  attributes  of  character.  Their 
church  affiliations  lie  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren, while  fraternally  Mr.  Van  Gorder  is  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  the  Masons,  with  membership  at  Mans- 
field. He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
though  not  courting  office,  has  been  called 
on  to  serve  his  community  in  a  minor  way. 
He  is  at  present  school  director  of  the  dis- 
trict and  as  such  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
growing  idea  in  educational  fields — that  con- 
solidation of  schools  in  the  country  will 
greatly  improve  the  service — which  is  an  idea 
that  is  yearly  gathering  strength  as  each  new 
experiment  demonstrates  its  feasibility. 


SAMUEL    McCLURE. 

Willow  Branch  township  has  many  good 
citizens  but  none  better  known  and  more  fav- 
orably held  in  the  esteem  of  the  public  than 
the  gentleman  whose  name  prefaces  this 
sketch.  He  resides  on  a  splendid  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  9. 
the  fine  twelve- room  modern  farm  house, 
which  he  erected  in  1883,  having  few  equals 
in  the  county. 

Mr.  McClure's  place  of  nativity  was  in 
Jefferson  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
born  in  1829.  His  father,  William  McClure, 
was  born  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  near 
there  he  married  Nancy  Wheeler  about  1823. 
William  McClure  was  of  a  stirring,  restless 
character,  with  an  abundance  of  animal  spir- 
its and  not  a  lazy  bone  in  his  body.  Had  he 
possessed  business  ability  in  a  larger  degree 
he  would  have  risen  to  affluence.  In  early  life 
he  engaged  in  wagon-making.  Later  he 
turned  his  ingenuity  to  good  account  in  the 
manufacture  of  stocks  for  cradles  and 
scythes.  His  later  days  were  passed  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Macon  county.  Illinois,  to 
which  state  he  had  removed  in  1848.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  on  November  6,  1877, 
he  became  an  inmate  of  our  subject's  home, 
where  he  was.  tenderly  cared  for  until  his 
race  was  run,  the  date  of  his  death  being  1878. 
The  family  born  to  these  parents  were  as  fol- 
lows: John  C.  W.,  who  entered  the  army 
during  the  Mexican  war,  and  died  in  Mexico ; 
Samuel :  Emaza  J.,  deceased  wife  of  George 
R.  Farrow;  Eranie  E.,  who  married  William 
Farrow  and  is  now  deceased :  Nancy,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  and  William, 
who  died  at  fifteen. 

Samuel  McClure  is  the  product  of  grind- 
ing toil  and  poverty.  It  was  his  lot  until  near 
his  majority  to  pass  the  daylight  hours,  as 


SAMUEL  McCLURE 


MRS.  SAMUEL  McCLURE 


P1ATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


355 


well  as  many  of  the  night,  in  hardest  toil. 
After  he  became  a  man  he,  Lincoln-like,  se- 
cured enough  education  to  transact  ordinary 
business,  and  an  observant  mind  has  done  the 
rest  toward  making  him  what  might  safely 
be  called  a  man  of  good  education.  His  first 
efforts  were  directed  toward  getting  a  home 
for  his  wife,  whom  he  married  May  15,  1851, 
her  maiden  name  having  been  Eliza  Jane  Far- 
row. She  was  the  daughter  of  Thornton  and 
Catherine  Farrow,  of  Macon  county.  By 
renting  land  and  breaking  prairie  for  outside 
parties  he  was  finally  enabled  in  1856  to  buy 
his  first  piece  of  land,  an  eighty-acre  tract  in 
Macon  county,  all  wild.  Several  different 
times  he  bought  and  sold,  steadily  advancing 
in  prosperity.  Finally,  in  1857,  he  purchased 
a  part  of  his  present  farm,  it  being  at  that 
time  virgin  prairie,  and  now,  as  he  looks  out 
over  his  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
broad  domain,  Mr.  McClure  does  so  with  the 
satisfaction  that  his  is  the  unaided  hand 
which  has  wrested  from  nature  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  the  whole  state.  He  laid  the 
first  tile  used  in  the  township,  and  the  farm  is 
covered  with  objects  of  his  care  and  fore- 
thought, fine  orchards  yielding  abundant 
fruit  in  every  variety,  wells  and  good  fenc- 
ing, and  spacious  and  substantial  barns  and 
outbuildings.  For  many  years  Mr.  McClure 
was  one  of  the  most  active  farmers  in  the 
county,  raising  large  crops  of  all  kinds  of 
grain.  Of  late  years,  however,  he  has  taken 
matters  more  quietly,  pleasing  his  fancy  in 
the  raising  of  thoroughbred  stock — Norman 
horses,  Aberdeen  and  Jersey  cattle  and  Po- 
land China  hogs — with  which  varieties  he 
has  had  great  success. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClure:  Daniel  K.,  a  farmer 
of  Willow  Branch  township;  John  C.  and 
Francis,  both  of  Bement;  Theodosia,  wife  of 


William  F.  Ater,  a  bookkeeper  of  Chicago; 
and  Lyona,  wife  of  O.  B.  Baker,  a  farmer  of 
the  township.  Three  girls  died  in  early  in- 
fancy. 

Life  is  a  1>attle.  To  win  one  must  have 
a  superabundance  of  reserve  force.  This  may 
consist  of  inherited  wealth  or  natural  ability, 
reinforced  by  strong  will  power.  Samuel 
McClure  found  himself  handicapped  as  to  the 
former,  but  endowed  with  an  abundance  of 
the  latter  he  has  vanquished  adversity.  All 
honor  to  such  a  man.  As  road  overseer  and 
school  director  he  serves  his  community  most 
acceptably,  and  he  and  his  family  deserve  the 
large  measure  of  esteem  which  comes  to  them 
from  friends  and  neighbors. 


JACOB  FISHER. 

Jacob  Fisher  is  a  retired  farmer  living  in 
White  Heath.  Fie  was  born  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  December  2,  1837,  his  par- 
ents being  John  and  Margaret  (Cline)  Fish- 
er. The  father  was  a  native  of  Frederick 
county,  Virginia,  born  on  the  pth  of  Au- 
gust, 1808,  and  obtained  a  common-school 
education  in  the  Old  Dominion.  In  1836 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cline, 
and  in  1839  they  removed  to  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  this  being  then  a  frontier  region  in 
which  the  work  of  progress  and  improve- 
ment had  been  scarcely  begun.  For  miles 
stretched  the  wild  prairie  unclaimed  and  un- 
improved. Mr.  Fisher  took  up  his  abode 
upon  a  tract  of  this  land  and  developed  a 
farm  which  continued  to  be  his  home  for 
fourteen  years.  In  the  early  days  he  and 
his  family  endured  many  hardships  and 
trials  incident  to  pioneer  life.  He  broke  the 
prairie  with  one  of  the  old-time  plows,  driv- 


356 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


ing  an  ox  team.  He  raised  wheat  and  corn 
for  market,  and  by  the  sale  of  these  prod- 
ucts was  enabled  to  gain  some  of  the  other 
necessities  of  life.  He  would  haul  his  wheat 
to  Chicago  for  there  was  only  one  other  flour 
mill,  and  that  was  in  Springfield,  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  low  prices  at  which  groceries 
sold  in  Chicago  at  that  day  Mr.  Fisher  pre- 
ferred to  take  his  wheat  to  that  city  in  order 
to  secure  his  other  supplies.  He  first  made 
the  trip  with  ox  teams  and  afterward  with 
horse  teams.  His  wheat  sold  for  thirty- 
seven  and  a  half  cents  per  bushel,  while 
pork  brought  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per 
hundred  weight.  He  harvested  his  wheat 
and  corn  with  the  sickle,  and  shocked  it  all 
by  hand.  All  farm  work  was  done  with 
primitive  machinery,  and  the  farmers  felt 
that  thev  were  greatly  benefited  by  the  in- 
vention of  the  cradle  which  enabled  them  to 
do  much  more  work  with  less  labor.  There 
is  certainly  a  great  contrast  between  farm 
machinery  used  at  that  early  day  and  the 
improved  agricultural  implements  of  the 
present.  The  home  was  a  log  cabin,  and 
while  many  of  the  conveniences  in  use  at 
the  present  time  were  then  unknown,  still 
pioneer  life  was  not  devoid  of  its  pleasures 
for  hospitality  then  reigned  supreme,  and 
many  were  the  merry  gatherings  held  in 
the  different  pioneer  homes.  After  some 
years  residence  in  this  county,  Mn  Fisher 
purchased  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
forty  acres  upon  which  he  resided  until  his 
death.  In  addition  to  general  farm  products 
he  was  also  extensively  engaged  in  raising 
stock  for  the  market,  making  a  specialty  of 
hogs.  Year  by  year  the  work  of  improve- 
ment was  carried  on  by  him  until  at  the 
time  of  his  demise  he  was  considered  one 
of  the  most  successful  and  prosperous  agri- 
culturists of  Piatt  county.  He  died  on  April 


n,  1863,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  wife  was  of  German  lineage  and  was  a 
most  estimable  lady,  carefully  rearing  her 
family.  She  died  on  May  1 1,  1849,  at  tne  ac'~ 
vanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Their 
children  were  Jacob;  George  W.,  deceased; 
Mary  Ann,  who  died  in  early  childhood; 
John,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Martha,  the 
wife  of  James  Collins,  now  deceased;  Sarah 
Malissa,  who  died  when  but  three  years  old ; 
Hiram,  who  died  at  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
while  serving  in  the  Union  army;  David, 
deceased ;  James,  a  farmer  living  three 
miles  north  of  Monticello;  Serelda  C,  who 
is  the  wife  of  James  Phalen,  and  is  living 
on  the  Allerton  farm,  four  miles  southwest 
of  Monticello;  Margaret,  the  wife  of  I.  N. 
Holloway,  who  is  living  retired  at  White 
Heath ;  and  Ezra,  who  died  Jn  infancy. 

Jacob  Fisher  is  indebted  to  the  public 
school  system  of  Piatt  county  for  the  edu- 
cational privileges  he  enjoyed.  He  gained 
his  lessons  sitting  upon  a  slab  bench  in  a 
log  schoolhouse  and  wrote  his  exercises  up- 
on a  plank  desk.  There  were  puncheon 
floors  and  old  fashioned  fireplaces.  It  was 
just  about  that  time  that  sawmills  were 
coming  into  universal  use  and  lumber  was 
therein  prepared  for  flooring  and  other 
purposes.  Mr.  Fisher  worked  upon  his 
father's  farm  and  attended  school  when  he 
could  be  spared  from  the  labors  of  the  fields, 
but  he  was  the  eldest  of  twelve  children  and 
his  services  were  often  needed  at  home. 
His  educational  privileges  were  therefore 
limited,  but  in  later  years  reading,  experi- 
ence and  observation  have  added  largely 
to  his  knowledge,  making  him  a  practical 
business  man.  He  wedded  Mary  Ann 
Morse,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Morse,  of  Ma- 
homet. Champaign  county,  Illinois.  Her 
father  was  a  Canadian  while  her  mother 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


357 


was  from  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Morse  followed 
the  blacksmith's  trade  in  Mahomet,  carry- 
ing on  the  business  also  at  his  farm  about 
half  a  mile  from  the  town. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Fisher 
began  farming  upon  his  father's  land  and 
was  thus  engaged  until  two  years  after  his 
father's  death.  He  then  purchased  land  of 
his  own — a  part  of  the  Cline  tract — and 
continued  to  carry  on  agricultural  pursuits 
there  until  1898,  when  he  rented  the  place 
and  removed  to  White  Heath.  About 
three  years  ago  he  sold  his  farm  to  William 
Alexander  and  purchased  a  house  and  a  half 
block  of  land  in  the  village.  He  also  owns 
property  in  Clinton,  Illinois,  and  the  rental 
from  the  place  brings  to  him  a  good  in- 
come. Since  his  removal  to  White  Heath 
he  has  lived  a  retired  life.  In  all  his  deal- 
ings he  has  been  straightforward  and  honor- 
able, and  his  untiring  industry  has  been  the 
source  of  his  prosperity.  He  has  never  con- 
sented to  hold  office  nor  cared  to  figure 
prominently  in  public  positions,  save  during 
three  years  when  he  served  as  school  direct- 
or. Many  other  times  he  has  been  urged 
to  become  a  candidate  for  political  prefer- 
ment, but  has  always  refused.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  very  familiar  with  the  pioneer 
history  of  this  section  of  the  state,  and 
passed  through  the  experience  and  hard- 
ships incident  to  frontier  life.  '  They  can 
relate  many  interesting  incidents  concerning 
the  early  days,  Mrs.  Fisher  telling  of  the 
times,  when  years  ago  the  water  was  so  high 
in  the  spring  that  it  was  almost  impossible 
to  ford  the  rivers,  and  it  overflowed  many 
places  until  it  reached  the  height  of  a 
horse's  back.  On  one  such  occasion  her 
father's  family  exhausted  their  supply  of 
flour  and  meal  and  were  obliged  to  live  three 
weeks  without  bread,  subsisting  on  hominy, 


potatoes  and  meat.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  they  were  all  so  hungry  for  bread  that 
Mrs.  Fisher's  mother  parched  some  corn 
which  she  ground  in  a  coffee-mill  and  then 
converted  the  meal  into  bread,  which  Mrs. 
Fisher  declares  tasted  better  than  any  wheat 
bread  they  ever  ate.  An  estimable  lady, 
she  holds  membership  in  the  United  Breth- 
ren church  and  is  most  loyal  to  its  teachings. 
Mr.  Fisher  votes  with  the  Democracy,  and 
both  are  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
the  county  and  are  held  in  the  highest  re- 
gard by  all  with  whom  they  have  come  in. 
contact.  They  are  among  the  oldest  set- 
tlers now  residing  in  White  Heath,  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  to  our  read- 
ers the  history  of  people  who  have  been  so 
closely  associated  with  the  annals  of  Piatt 
county  through  long  years. 


CHARLES   S.   DEWEY. 

One  of  the  most  progressive  and  suc- 
cessful agriculturists  of  Piatt  county  is-- 
Charles  S.  Dewey,  whose  home  is  on  sec- 
tion 28,  Goose  Creek  township.  His  meth- 
ods of  farm  management  showed  deep  scien- 
tific knowledge,  combined  with  sound  prac- 
tical judgment,  and  the  results  show  that 
high-class  farming  as  an  occupation  can  be 
made  profitable  as  well  as  pleasant. 

Mr.  Dewey  was  born  in  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  June  10,  1865,  and  is  a 
son  of  Edward  and  Delphina  (Lantz) 
Dewey,  and  a  grandson  of  Alonzo  Baldwin 
and  Emeline  (Washburn)  Dewey.  His  fa- 
ther is  a  second  cousin  of  Admiral  Dewey— 
of  America's  most  prominent  naval  officers. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  lived  to  quite 
an  advanced  age  and  died  on  the  2oth  of 


358 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


March."  1891,  but  the  grandmother  died  in 
1845,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years. 

Edward  Dewey,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Northfield,  Vermont,  November  7,  1836, 
and  during  boyhood  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents,  the  family  locating  in  Mc- 
Donough  county,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
boys.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he 
resolved  to  strike  a  blow  in  defense  of  the 
Union,  and  op  the  I2th  of  October,  1861, 
enlisted  in  Company  F,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry.  Going  south  he  partic- 
ipated in  a  number  of  important  engage- 
ments including  the  battles  of  Shiloh, 
Corinth,  Chickasaw  Bayou,  Champion 
Hills,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  capture 
of  Jacksonville,  Mississippi,  and  the  battles 
of  Raymond.  Missouri  Ridge,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Atlanta  and  Peach  Tree  Creek. 
He  was  severely  wounded  in  an  engage- 
ment July  28.  1864,  and  several  days  later 
was  sent  home  on  a  furlough.  In  due  time 
he  reported  for  duty  at  Quincy,  Illinois, 
and.  was  transferred  to  Company  E.  Twen- 
ty-second Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
his  brigade  was  assigned  to  General  Sher- 
man's command.  At  the  time  of  President 
Lincoln's  assassination  his  company  was 
stationed  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  was 
appointed  a  guard  of  honor  while  the  body 
lay  in  state  at  the  capitol.  The  war  having 
ended  and  his  services  being  no  longer 
needed,  Mr.  Dewey  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  June, -1865.  and  returned  home. 

On  the  1 2th  of  May.  1864,  at  Bushnell. 
Illinois,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Delphina  Lantz,  who  was  born  at  Stanhope, 
New  Jersey,  October  28,  1842,  a  daughter 
of  David  and  Malinda  (Heminover)  Lantz. 
Eight  children  blessed  this  union,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  eldest.  John-  E..  born 


November  4,  1866,  is  now  a  farmer  of 
Ringgold  county,  Iowa.  William  F.,  born 
August  24,  1868,  died  December  n,  1871. 
Mary  Estella,  torn  June  27.  1871.  is  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Severs,  a  carpenter  living  in 
Ohio.  Curtis  Melvin,  born  June  8,  1873,  is 
a  farmer  of  Ringgold  county,  Iowa.  Hattie 
M.,  born  March  29,  1879,  is  the  wife  of 
Ray  Covey,  a  carpenter  of  Farmer  City, 
'Illinois.  David  Edwin,  horn  March  14, 
1 88 1.  died  January  31,  1889.  Etta  Viola 
Jane,  born  October  26,  1885.  is  at  home 
with  her  parents  in  Farmer  City. 

In  1871  the  father  brought  his  family  to 
Piatt  county  and  purchased  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Goose  Creek 
township,  four  miles  and  a  half  north  of 
DeLand.  He  broke  and  improved  this 
place,  and  after  operating  it  for  about  two 
years,  he  purchased  forty  acres  adjoining 
and  eighty  acres  more  two  years  later.  As 
time  passed  he  steadily  prospered  and  kept 
enlarging  his  estate  from  time  to  time  by 
additional  purchases  until  at  present  he 
owns  about  a  thousand  acres  of  well  im- 
proved land.  His  success  in  life  is  due  en- 
tirely to  his  well  directed  efforts,  persistent 
industry  and  good  management  for,  on 
starting  out  for  himself  he  was  without  cap- 
ital and  had  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world  unaided.  He  is  a  man  of  exceptional 
business  ability  and  sound  judgment,  and 
has  steadily  overcome  all  obstacles  in  the 
path  to  success  until  he  has  acquired  a  hand- 
some competence  which  ranks  him  among 
wealthy  citizens  of  his  community.  After 
years  of  active  labor,  he  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  Farmer  City,  enjoying  a  well- 
earned  rest. 

Charles  S.  Dewey  was  quite  young  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  Piatt  countv,  and  he  is  indebted  to  the 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


359 


district  schools  near  DeLand  for  the  educa- 
tional privileges  he  enjoyed  during  his 
youth.  During  the  summer  season  he  would 
aid  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  and  at- 
tended school  for  about  three  months  dur- 
ing the  winter  until  seventeen  years  of  age, 
when  he  laid  aside  his  text-books  and  took 
up  the  more  arduous  duties  of  life.  He 
gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  labors  until 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age. 

On  the  1 3th  of  March,  1889,  Mr.  Dew- 
ey  wedded  Miss  Mary  Emma  Beckwith,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Laura  (Levy)  Beck- 
with, both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
her  father  followed  farming  for  some  years. 
In  1871  he  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois, 
and  is  now  living  near  Farmer  City  in  De- 
Witt  county.  Mrs.  Dewey's  mother  died 
February  n,  1891,  at  the  age  of  forty-one 
years  and  tweny-seven  days,  and  in  1893, 
Mr.  Beckwith  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Etta  Shreeves,  by 
whom  he  has  one  child,  Ruth.  The  chil- 
dren of  the  first  marriage  are  Lawrence,  a 
farmer  of  DeWitt  county ;  Mary  E.,  wife 
of  our  subject ;  and  Katie  May,  wife  of 
Frank  Keefer.  a  farmer  living  near  Storm 
Lake,  Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewey  have 
two  children :  Clyde  Edwin,  born  Septem- 
ber 12,  1890;  and  Ethel  May.  born  Janu- 
ary 17,  1894. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Dewey  com- 
menced operating  a  part  of  his  father's  land 
and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  the  land. 
He  has  since  bought  tracts  from  other  par- 
ties, and  to<lay  owns  a  half  section  of  fine 
farming  land,  which  he  has  placed  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Upon  the  place 
are  good  and  substantial  buildings,  a  finr 
orchard  and  beautiful  shade  trees,  and  ev- 
erything indicates  the  supervision  of  a  pro- 
gressive and  painstaking  owner.  The  best 


improved  machinery  is  used  in  carrying  on 
the  work  of  the  farm,  and  the  most  ad- 
vanced and  practical  methods  are  employed 
in  its  operation.  Mr.  Dewey  is  interested 
in  stock,  raising  hogs  for  market,  and  he 
also  has  five  pure-blooded  registered  Perch- 
eron  mares  and  two  two-year-old  stallions. 
Like  his  father,  he  possesses  exceptional 
ability  in  business  affairs  and  his  success  is 
but  the  just  reward  of  honest  labor.  Fra- 
ternally, Mr.  Dewey  is  a  member  of  De- 
Land  Lodge,  No.  603,  K.  P.,  and  the 
Twentieth  Century  Lodge,  No.  2178,  M. 
W.  A.,  of  DeLand,  and  politically  he  affili- 
ates with  the  Republican  part). 


JOHN    SMITH. 

John  Smith,  whose  entire  life  has  been 
spent  in  or  near  Centerville,  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  was  born  on  a  farm  near  that  vil- 
lage, May  28,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Julia  Ann  (Wright)  Smith, 
both  natives  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  the 
former  born  in  1818,  and  the  latter  in 
1826.  In  1840  the  father  came  to  Piatt 
county  with  his  stepfather,  Ezra  Marcus,, 
and  worked  on  a  farm  by  the  month  until 
his  marriage  to  Miss  Wright  in  1844, 
when  he  removed  to  his  father-in-law's 
farm  and  there  spent  twelve  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  removed  to  Centerville 
or  Lick  Skillet,  as  it  was  then  called,  and 
purchased  two  lots  on  which  he  erected  a 
store  building  and  put  in  a  stock  of  general 
merchandise.  He  carried  on  business  at 
that  place  until  his  death,  hauling  his  goods 
from  Chicago,  and  sometimes  from  St. 
Louis.  He  passed  away  in  1870.  His 
first  wife  also  died  in  Centerville  in  1856, 


360 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


and  after  her  death  he  married  Barbara 
Dawson,  a  daughter  of  William  Dawson. 
She  is  now  the  wife  of  Daniel  Clinger  and 
lives  bn  a  farm  near  Mansfield,  Illinois.  By 
liis  first  marriage  Mr.  Smith  had  six  children : 
Charles,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Ala- 
bama; George,  deceased;  Mary,  wife  of  W. 
H.  Dawson,  a  resident  of  Missouri;  Sarah, 
wife  of  V.  I.  Williams,  of  Champaign,  Illi- 
nois; John,  of  this  review;  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  children  of  the  sec- 
ond union  were  James,  a  resident  of  the 
state  of  Washington ;  Frank  B.,  of  Nebras- 
ka; Edward,  of  Missouri;  Isaac  D.,  who 
died  in  Mansfield,  Illinois,  in  November, 
1902;  and  Madie,  wife  of 'Edward  Reed, 
•of  Mansfield. 

During  his  boyhood  John  Smith  at- 
tended a  subscription  school  in  Centerville, 
and  after  completing  his  education  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  years,  he  commenced  driving 
a  team  for  his  father  in  hauling  goods  from 
Chicago  and  Champaign.  He  also  assisted 
in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  until  his 
father's  death,  when  he  went  to  Iowa  and 
spent  one  year,  his  brother  having  charge 
of  his  father's  store  at  that  time.  On  his 
return  to  Piatt  county  he  worked  in  the 
store  until  after  his  marriage,  when  his 
brother  removed  the  stock  of  goods  to 
White  Heath,  and  with  an  entirely  new 
stock,  our  subject  embarked  in  business  on 
his  own  account  at  the  old  stand.  Two 
years  later  he  sold  out  and  bought  a  forty- 
acre  farm  which  he  operated  for  three 
years,  and  on- disposing  of  that  property  he 
purchased  a  house  and  two  lots  in  Center- 
ville, where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
To  some  extent  he  still  engages  in  farming, 
but  owning  to  failing  eyesight  he  is  not  able 
to  do  much. 

In  1873  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  mar- 


riage to  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Camp,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Charity  (Morris)  Camp, 
who  came  to  this  county  from  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  in  1866.  Six  children  bless 
this  union,  namely :  Lula,  wife  of  Frank 
Webster,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  near 
DeLand;  Arthur  M.,  who  is  also  a  farmer; 
Alberta,  wife  of  James  Winters,  a  resident 
of  Champaign ;  Etta,  wife  of  Otis  Mc- 
Wethy,  a  farmer  living  near  Urbana ;  Eva, 
at  home ;  and  Elmer,  who  also  follows  farm- 
ing. In  his  political  views  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
Democrat.  He  is  widely  known  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  has  always  made  his  home, 
and  those  who  know  him  best  are  numbered 
among  his  warmest  friends. 


GEORGE  W.  TEATS. 

George  W.  Teats,  who  is  living  in  White 
Heath,  was  born  in  Adelphi,  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  3Oth  of  August,  1854,  his  par- 
ents being  Mathias  and  Mary  (Puffinbarger) 
Teats.  The  father  was  also  a  native  of  Ross 
county,  born  August  n,  1818,  and  was  a 
shoemaker  by  occupation,  following  that 
pursuit  in  Adelphi  thirty-six  years.  He  was 
married  there  in  1840  and  in  1856  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois, taking  up  his  abode  upon  a  farm  near 
White  Heath,  where  the  Camp  Creek  ceme- 
tery is  now  located.  Unto  him  and  his  wife 
were  born  five  children — Maria  Louisa,  who 
was  the  wife  of  James  H.  Hickman,  and  died 
in  the  spring  of  1902;  Mary  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Jehu  Trotter  and  departed  this  life 
in  the  year  1901 ;  Caroline  Marian,  who  died 
about  1856;  Jane,  the  wife  of  Jesse  Bushee, 
of  White  Heath  ;  and  George  W. 

In  taking    up    the    personal  history    of 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


361 


George  W.  Teats  \ve  present  to  our  readers 
the  record  of  one  whose  life  history  demon- 
strates the  power  of  industry  and  persever- 
ance in  the  active  affairs  of  life,  for  he  has 
been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes  and 
has  built  wisely  and  well.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  attending  the  Camp 
Creek  school  through  the  winter  months, 
while  during  the  summer  seasons  he  worked 
upon  his  father's  farm  and  thus  became  fa- 
miliar with  every  department  of  agricultural 
life. 

Mr.  Teats  continued  with  his  father  until 
October  29,  1886,  when  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Barbara  E.  Trotter,  a 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Lydia  Maria  (All- 
man)  Trotter,  of  Champaign  county.  She 
was  born  in  Newcomb  township,  that  county, 
June  12,  1858.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Virginia  and  are  now  deceased.  Her  father 
was  born  January  22,  1813,  and  died  No- 
vember 13,  1900.  He  was  three  times  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  Mrs.  Teats'  moth- 
er, who  was  born  October  7,  1815,  and  died 
in  Champaign  county,  December  28,  1881. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teats  have  a  daughter,  Lydia 
May,  who  was  born  January  16,  1889,  and  is 
now  attending  school. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  the  Plunk  farm,  which  he 
rented  for  two  years,  and  afterward  rented 
the  Jehu  Trotter  farm,  which  was  their  home 
for  the  same  length  of  time.  Subsequently 
1hey  removed  to  Nebraska,  but  after  farm- 
ing there  for  one  season  they  returned  to 
Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Teats  pur- 
chased of  W.  P.  Smith  thirty  acres  of  land 
in  Sangamon  township.  In  1899  he  sold 
that  property,  having  successfully  operated 
it  during  the  intervening  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  White  Heath,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  livery  business  and  in  carpentering  for 


four  years.  Three  years  ago  he  purchased 
about  ten  acres  of  land  within  the  town  lim- 
its, and  in  September,  1902,  bought  another 
nine  acres,  upon  which  he  is  now  engaged 
in  the  raising  of  fruits,  including  pears  of 
all  kinds  and  also  peaches,  plums  and  cher- 
ries. He  makes  a  specialty  of  strawberries 
and  blackberries,  however,  and  has  a  thor- 
ough and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  hor- 
ticulture, his  opinions  on  this  subject  being 
largely  regarded  as  authority  in  the  com- 
munity. He  makes  a  close  study  of  the  needs 
of  different  kinds  of  fruits,  is  always  ready 
to  investigate  any  methods  advanced  for  the 
improvement  of  fruit  and  that  which  he  pro- 
duces is  of  such  superior  size  and  excellent 
flavor  that  he  can  always  command  the  high- 
est market  prices.  He  and  his  family  occupy 
a  nice  home  only  a  short  distance  from  the 
center  of  White  Heath,  and  Mr.  Teats  is  now 
improving  this  property  by  building  an  addi- 
tion thereto. 


FRED  D.  GILLESPIE. 

Fred  D.  Gillespie,  who  is  engaged  in 
dealing  in  grain  in  Harris  and  is  also  a  gen- 
eral merchant  there,  was  born  in  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  on  the  I2th  of  August,  1879, 
and  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Lauretta  (Da- 
vidson) Gillespie.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Blair  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  on  the 
2d  of  August,  1846,  and  the  mother's  birth 
occurred  in  Westmoreland  county,'  of  the 
same  state,  on  the  igth  of  April,  1849.  Dur- 
ing his  early  boyhood  days  Christian  Gilles- 
pie came  to  the  West  with  his  parents,  who 
settled  in  McLean  county,  Illinois.  He  was 
educated  in  Piatt  county,  however,  but  was 
married  in  McLean  county.  He  then  took 


362 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


up  his  abode  on  the  old  Gillespie  homestead 
in  this  county  and  continued  to  engage  in 
farming  here  for  a  number  of  years.  Later 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  Normal  and 
there  his  wife  died  in  the  year  1882.  On 
Thanksgiving  Day  of  1889  he  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Louisa 
Osborn,  of  Mansfield.  They  now  reside  in 
Champaign  county,  and  are  well  known  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  that  locality.  By 
the  first  marriage  there  were  two  children — 
Jessie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  B.  Har- 
rison, a  resident  of  Manhattan,  Kansas ;  and 
Fred  D. 

Fred  D.  Gillespie  is  indebted  to  the  com- 
mon-school system  of  the  state  for  the  early 
educational  privileges  he  received,  while 
later  he  attended  school  in  Farmer  City,  pur- 
suing a  high-school  course  there.  He  then 
went  to  the  normal  school  at  Normal,  Illi- 
nois, and  later  he  engaged  in  teaching  school 
for  three  years  in  Piatt  county,  following  the 
profession  in  Blue  Ridge  and  Sangamon 
townships.  In  the  year  1901  he  established 
his  grain  business  at  Harris,  having  a  good 
elevator  there,  with  a  capacity  of  fifty  thou- 
sand bushels.  He  is  now  carrying  on  a  suc- 
cessful trade  as  a  grain  merchant,  and  his 
business  furnishes  an  excellent  market  for 
the  grain-raisers  of  this  locality.  He  like- 
wise conducts  a  general  mercantile  store  and 
has  secured  a  good  patronage  in  that  line  lie- 
cause  of  his  earnest  desire  to  please  his  cus- 
tomers, his  obliging  manner  and  his  straight- 
forward business  methods.  In  the  fall  of 
1901  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Harris 
and  is  now  acting  in  that  capacity. 

On  the  1 7th  of  June.  1904.  Fred  D.  Gil- 
lespie was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Stella 
M.  Long,  a  native  of  Piatt  county,  Illinois, 
and  a  daughter  of  Lewis  Long.  They  now 
reside  on  the  old  Gillespie  homestead  near 


Harris,  which  place  was  entered  by  his 
grandfather.  H.  K.  Gillespie.  who  settled  in 
Piatt  county  many  years  ago,  becoming  one 
of  the  first  residents  of  this  portion  of  the 
state.  Mr.  Gillespie  votes  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  is  a  popular,  enterprising, 
wide-awake  and  highly  respected  young 
man  of  his  native  county. 


CHARLES    TAYLOR. 

For  some  years  Charles  Taylor  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  business  in- 
terests of  Milmine,  where  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Phillips  &  Taylor  he  is  now  doing  an 
extensive,  business  as  a  grain-dealer.  He  is  a 
representative  of  that  class  of  citizens  who, 
while  advancing  individual  success,  also  pro- 
mote the  public  welfare. 

A  native  of  Piatt  county,  Mr.  Taylor  was 
born  in  Willow  Branch  township  on  the  I4th 
of  October,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of  Elijah  Tay- 
lor, a  farmer  and  stock- raiser  who  was  well 
and  favorably  known  in  this  county,  where 
he  made  his  home  for  many  years,  dying  here 
July  2,  1887.  The  father  was  born  in  a  pio- 
neer home  in  Ross  county,  Ohio.  January 
23,  1834.  and  passed  his  early  life  in  that 
state.  He  received  a  public-school  education, 
and  as  soon  as  old  enough  he  commenced 
farming.  He  came  to  this  county  in  1853, 
and  here  he  was  married  on  the  I3th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1861,  to  Miss  Catherine  Peck,  a  native 
of  Piatt  county,  born  December  15,  1839,  and 
a  daughter  of  Adonijah  and  Mary  (Ater) 
Peck.  For  three  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Taylor  engaged  in  farming  on  rented 
land,  and  then  located  on  the  farm  in  Willow 
Branch  township,  where  his  widow  still  re- 
sides in  a  well-appointed  home.  His  first 


CHARLES  TAYLOR. 


MRS.  CATHARINE  TAYLOR 


ELIJAH  TAYLOR 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


purchase  consisted  of  eighty  acres  of  wild 
prairie  land,  on  which  not  a  furrow  had  been 
turned  or  an  improvement  made.  By  per- 
sistent hard  work  he  brought  his  land  to  its 
present  high  state  of  cultivation  and  made 
many  valuable  improvements  on  the  place,  in- 
cluding the  erection  of  the  handsome  brick 
residence  occupied  by  his  widow,  it  being 
built  in  the  summer  of  1871.  He  kept  add- 
ing to  his  property  from  time  to  time  until 
he  had  one  of  the  best  and  most  desirable 
farms  of  the  township.  For  many  years  he 
was  an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  in  which  he  served  as  dea- 
con, and  was  always  found  on  the  side  of 
right.  Politically,  he  was  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party  and  he  served  as  clerk  of 
Willow  Branch  township  and  as  township 
school  trustee.  After  a  useful  and  well-spent 
life  he  passed  away,  leaving  many  friends  as 
well  as  his  immediate  family  to  mourn  his 
loss.  His  widow  still  survives  him  and  con- 
tinues to  reside  on  the  old  homestead.  At  her 
husband's  death  she  was  left  with  seven  chil- 
dren to  care  for,  the  eldest  of  whom  had  just 
arrived  at  man's  estate,  while  the  youngest 
was  only  nine  years  old.  No  one  but  those 
who  have  experienced  it  can  measure  the 
weight  of  the  load  thus  thrown  upon  her,  but 
with  a  heroism  born  of  a  great  need  she  faced 
the  situation  and  began  the  contest.  Details 
vary  in  such  cases  and  the  outcome  alone  con- 
cerns us.  Her  children  were  reared  to  habits 
of  industry  and  honesty  and  are  to-day  num- 
bered among  the  leading  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity where  they  reside.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  her,  but  Edwin,  the  eldest,  is 
now  deceased.  Charles  is  the  next  of  the 
family.  Ulla  Dell  was  the  wife  of  C.  Davies, 
who  now  lives  in  Oklahoma.  Alonzo  is  a 
mechanic  at.  Milmine.  Lewis  and  Adelbert, 
the  youngest,  carry  on  the  farm  for  their 

17 


mother.  Anna  B.  is  the  wife  of  William 
Burns,  superintendent  of  the  United  States 
weather  bureau  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 
James  E.  is  on  a  cattle  ranch  in  Arizona. 

Charles  Taylor  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  this  county,  and  on  completing 
his  education  he  engaged  in  teaching  school 
here  for  four  or  five  years.  He  next  engaged 
in  general  merchandising  with  A.  C.  Evans 
at  Bement  for  two  years,  and  in  June,  1890, 
formed  a  partnership  with  R.  M.  Shepherd 
under  the  firm  name  of  Shepherd  &  Taylor 
in  the  same  line  of  business.  They  carried 
a  large  and  well-selectd  stock  amounting 
to  about  three  thousand  dollars  and  met  with 
excellent  success,  doing  an  annual  business 
between  fifteen  and  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
Mr.  Shepherd  is  to-day  one  of  the  popular 
men  of  Cerro  Gordo  township.  On  disposing 
of  his  mercantile  interests,  Mr.  Taylor  em- 
barked in  the  grain  business  in  partnership 
with  Frank  Phillips  under  the  firm  style  of 
Phillips  &  Taylor,  and  they  now  do  the 
largest  business  in  their  line  of  any  firm  in 
tlie  county.  Their  elevators  have  a  capacity 
of  thirty-five  thousand  bushels  and  they  have 
succeeded  in  making  Milmine  one  of  the 
great  grain  centers  of  central  Illinois.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1902  they  handled  one 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  oats  per  day  for 
thirty  days.  Both  Mr.  Phillips  and  Mr.  Tay- 
lor are  energetic  and  enterprising  business 
men  of  known  reliability  and  well  deserve 
the  success  that  has  come  to  them. 

On  the  gth  of  January,  1889,  Mr.  Taylor 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Brandenburg,  a  native  of 
Piatt  county  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Bran- 
denburg, who  was  born  in  Clark  county. 
Kentucky,  July  i,  1827.  Her  paternal 
grandfather,  David  Brandenburg,  was  of 
German  extraction.  Samuel  Brandenburg 
was  married  August  24,  1853,  to  -Miss  Ade- 


368 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


line  Haggard,  who  was  also  born  in  Clark 
county,  Kentucky,  April  15,  1835,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Zachariah  and  Zilpha  (Hodge) 
Haggard,  her  father  being  a  Virginian  by 
birth  and  a  pioneer  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Bran- 
denburg was  reared  and  educated  in  that 
state,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the  moth- 
er of  eight  children,  Mrs.  Taylor  being  the 
seventh  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Brandenburg 
died  at  his  home  in  Cerro  Gordo  township, 
January  29,  1886,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  three  children : 
Theo,  aged  thirteen ;  Adlia,  aged  nine ;  and 
Ulla,  aged  seven.  The  family  have  a  very 
cozy  and  pleasant  residence  in  Milmine  and 
are  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  them.  Mrs.  Taylor  is  an  active  worker 
in  the  Christian  church  and  Mr.  Taylor  was 
formerly  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  but  now  attends  the  Christian  church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge, 
No.  276,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
the  Court  of  Honor  and  Loyal  Americans,  all 
of  Milmine,  and  in  all  of  which  he  is  serving 
as  secretary.  He  also  belongs  to  Cerro  Gor- 
xlo  Lodge,  Bement  Chapter,  Decatur  Com- 
mandery  and  Mohammed  Temple  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine  of  Peoria,  all  of  the  Masonic 
order,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
bekahs,  a  branch  of  the  Odd  Fellows  society. 
He  takes  a  very  active  and  influential  part 
in  local  politics  and  is  a  strong  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  its  principles.  He 
served  as  postmaster  of  Milmine  for  four 
years  under  President  Cleveland  and  is  now 
filling  the  office  of  township  treasurer  of 
schools.  He  is  also  United  States  section  di- 
rector and  weather  forecaster.  Public-spir- 
ited and  progressive,  he  takes  a  deep  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  his  community  and  is  num- 
bered among  its  most  valued  and  useful  citi- 
zens— one  devoted  to  the  public  welfare.  , 


CHARLES  W.  YAPP. 

Charles  W.  Yapp,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  27,  Blue  Ridge  township, 
was  born  in  Illinois  in  the  year  1850  and  is 
a  son  of  G.  W.  and  Anne  Yapp.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  New  York  and  at  an  early 
day  came  west,  establishing  his  home  in 
Iowa.  He  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
in  the  Empire  state,  afterward  following 
farming  in  Iowa,  dying  there.  The  mother 
and  family  came  later  to  Champaign  county, 
Illinois.  He  died  when  the  subject  of  this 
review  was  only  eight  years  of  age,  and  the 
mother's  death  occurred  in  the  year  1867. 
In  the  family  were  six  children,  but  Charles 
W.  is  the  only  one  now  living  in  Piatt 
county. 

When  a  youth  of  seventeen  years  Charles 
W.  Yapp  was  left  an  orphan.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  came  to  this  county  and,  entering 
upon  his  business  career,  he  leased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  is  now  living. 
Later  he  leased  an  additional  tract  of  a  quar- 
ter section,  and  in  1874  bought  forty  acres, 
to  which  he  has  since  added  one  hundred 
acres.  When  he  took  charge  of  the  farm 
there  were  no  improvements  upon  it.  The 
land  was  all  wild  prairie  and  not  a  furrow 
had  been  turned.  Mr.  Yapp  has  planted  all 
of  the  trees  upon  his  place  and  has  carried 
on  the  work  of  improvement  along  various 
lines  until  he  is  to-day  cultivating  one  of  the 
finest  farms  to  be  found  in  this  section  of  the 
state. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
journey  Mr.  Yapp  chose  Miss  Martha  A. 
Gardiner,  a  daughter  of  William  Gardiner. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  1873  and 
has  been  blessed  with  five  children — Grace, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  a  year  and  a  half; 
two  who  died  in  infancy :  Lucy  May,  who  is 
now  at  home,  and  William  W.,  who  is  also 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


under  the  parental  roof.  The  daughter, 
Lucy,  however,  has  been  appointed  to  a 
school  in  the  Philippine  Islands.  She  at- 
tended school  in  Normal,  Illinois,  and  is  now 
studying  music  under  Professor  Foster  in 
Champaign,  but  expects  to  go  to  our  colonial 
possession  in  the  far  East. 

The  family  attend  the  services  of  the 
Methodist  church,  to  which  Mr.  Yapp  be- 
longs, taking  an  active  and  helpful  part  in 
its  work.  He  is  now  serving  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-school,  is  also  a  trustee 
and  steward  of  the  church  and  likewise  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  board.  He  does 
everything  in  his  power  to  advance  the  cause 
of  Christianity,  and  his  labors  in  its  behalf 
have  been  far-reaching  and  beneficial.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican  and  he 
served  as  collector  and  road  supervisor.  Fra- 
ternally, he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic 
lodge  at  Mansfield  and  he  also  belongs  to  the 
Court  of  Honor. 

He  may  truly  be  called  a  self-made  man, 
for  both  of  his  parents  died  when  he  was 
young  and  he  had  to  begin  work  when  but  a 
boy,  his  early  life  being  a  period  of  hard- 
ships in  many  respects.  He  never  had  but 
two  hundred  and  sixty-four  dollars  given 
him  in  all  of  his  lifetime.  When  he  was 
about  seventeen  years  of  age  he  had  only  one 
suit  of  clothes,  and  he  had  to  work  an  en- 
tire month  in  order  to  secure  another  suit. 
For  three  years  he  was  employed  in  the  tim- 
ber, having  to  grub  up  roots  and  split  rails 
while  in  Iowa.  In  November,  1859,  he 
started  to  make  the  trip  from  Iowa  to  Illi- 
nois. When  he  came  to  the  Mississippi 
river  it  was  frozen  so  that  the  boats  could 
not  run  and  the  wagon  had  to  be  hauled 
across  the  ice.  Mr.  Yapp  only  had  one  boot 
on  owing  to  a  sore  foot  and  the  one  with  the 
boot  on  was  frozen  at  that  time.  Finally  he 


arrived  at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  thence 
went  to  Mahomet.  The  snow  at  that  time 
was  up  to  the  horses'  knees.  The  town  of 
Mahomet  was  called  Middletown  and  Farm- 
er City  was  known  by  the  name  of  Mount 
Pleasant.  At  that  time  Mr.  Yapp  went  to 
live  with  his  grandmother  in  Champaign 
county  and  thus  established  his  home  in  a 
district  where  wolves  were  still  numerous, 
and  where  various  kinds  of  wild  game 
abounded.  He  has  watched  with  interest 
the  development  of  this  county  as  the  years 
have  gone  by  and  has  seen  its  wonderful 
transformation.  He  has  also  advanced  in 
his  business  career  and  to-day  he  is  the  own- 
er of  an  excellent^farm  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  raises  grain 
and  stock. 


JOSEPH  S.  HUBBARD. 

Among  the  representative  farmers  of 
Piatt  county  is  Joseph  S.  Hubbard,  who  re- 
sides on  section  21,  Blue  Ridge  township. 
He  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Illinois,  in 
1844,  his  parents  being  Joseph  and  Lucinda 
(Lewis)  Hubbard.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts  and  was  a  painter  by 
trade.  He  also  engaged  in  school-teaching 
and  in  farming,  and  he  died  when  his  son 
Joseph  was  but  five  years. of  age.  Two  years 
later  the  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
and  thus  our  subject  was  left  an  orphan.  He 
acquired  his  early  education  in  Pike  county 
in  a  log  schoolhouse,  but  by  reading  and  ob- 
servation in  later  years  has  added  largely  to 
his  fund  of  knowledge  and  become  a  practical 
business  man.  He  started  out  for  himself 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  in  Pike  county 
by  working  as  a  farm  hand  for  ten  dollars 


372 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


per  month.  He  was  thus  employed  until 
1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  C  of  the 
Ninety-ninth  Illinois  Infantry  under  the 
command  of  A.  C!  Matthews  and  Colonel 
Bailey.  His  company  was  the  flag  company 
of  the  regiment,  and  with  this  command  M 
Hubbard  participated  in  the  battle  of  Harts- 
ville,  Missouri,  and  also  about  fourteen  other 
open  fights.  He  was  likewise  in  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg  and  afterward  was  taken  ill,  be- 
cause of  which  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge and  returned  home. 

Following  his  military  experience,  M-. 
Hubbard  was  engaged  as  a  farm  hand  for 
two  years  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  receiv- 
ing twenty-three  dollars  per  month,  which 
was  very  high  wages  to  be  paid  for  such 
labor.  In  the  year  1866  he  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Logan  county  to  Miss  Sarah  P. 
Johnston,  a  daughter  of  William  Johnston, 
and  by  this  union  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, but  the  first  two  died  in  infancy;  Min- 
nie, the  daughter,  is  now  the  wife  of  Bert 
Collins,  who  is  living  in  Farmer  City,  Illi- 
nois, and  J.  W.  C.  Hubbard,  the  youngest 
of  the  family,  died  on  the  i8th  of  December, 
1902,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  The 
wife  and  mother  passed  away  in  January, 
1895.  In  1900  Mr.  Hubbard  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Elizabeth 
Johnston,  with  whom  he  is  now  living  on  his 
pleasant  farm  in  Blue  Ridge  township. , 

Mr.  Hubbard  came  to  Piatt  county  in 
1869  and  rented  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  lived  for  four 
years,  continuing  its  care  and  cultivation 
throughout  that  period.  He  then  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  near  the  West 
Point  schoolhouse.  Later  he'  sold  that  prop- 
erty and  took  a  trip  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
spending  about  four  months  in  Oregon  and 
California.  He  then  came  to  Illinois  and 


rented  a  quarter  section  of  land  for  a  period 
of  seven  years,  after  which  he  purchased  that 
property.  He  has  made  all  of  the  improve- 
ments upon  his  farm  and  has  now  an  excel- 
lent tract  of  land  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. LTpon  the  place  are  good  buildings 
and  everything  is  modern  and  progressive. 
He  has  always  made  it  the  rule  of  his  life  to 
be  honest  and  straightforward  in  his  dealings 
with  others  and  these  qualities  have  gained 
for  him  the  unqualified  confidence  and  re- 
gard of  his  fellow  men. 

He  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge 
at  Mansfield  and  with  the  Grand  Army  Post 
at  Farmer  City.  In  his  political  views  he  is 
a  Republican,  and  for  two  terms  served  as 
a  school  director.  Both  he  and  his  wife  be- 
long to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
he  is  well  known  throughout  the  community 
as  one  whose  career  has  been  guided  by  hon- 
orable principles  and  characterized  by  stead- 
fastness of  purpose.  Left  an  orphan  at  a 
very  early  age  and  starting  out  in  life  on  his 
own  account  when  still  quite  young,  he  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward  and  the  suc- 
cess that  he  has  gained  may  be  attributed  en- 
tirely to  his  own  diligence  and  perseverance. 


WALTER  GULLIFORD. 

Walter  Gulliford,  a  representative  young 
farmer  of  Piatt  county,  now  engaged  in  his 
chosen  occupation  on  section  34,  Cerro  Gor- 
do  township,  was  born  in  Bement  on  the  2ist 
of  April,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Eliza  (Knighton)  Gulliford,  both  natives  of 
England.  The  father  is  now  deceased  and 
the  mother  is  now  the  wife  of  William 
Clark,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


373 


During  his  boyhood  \Yalter  Gulliford 
pursued  his  education  in  the  Gulliford  school 
of  Cerro  Gordo  township  and  after  complet- 
ing his  studies  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  to  which  vocation  he  still  devotes 
his  energies  with  marked  success.  He  now 
rents  and  operates  his  mother's  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  34,  Cerro 
Gordo  township. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1899,  Mr.  Gulli- 
ford was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ora 
Edith  Peel,  who  is  the  second  in  order  of 
,birth  in  the  family  of  Benjamin  and  Amanda 
E.  (Haviner)  Peel.  By  this  union  one  child 
has  been  born,  Katie  Belle.  Mrs.  Gulliford's 
father  is  a  native  of  Marshall  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  on  first  coming  to  this  state  in 
1857,  located  in  Sangamon  county,  whence 
he  removed  to  the  village  of  Bement,  Piatt 
county,  in  1880.  He  is  now  working  for  our 
subject  on  the  farm.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  served  for  eight  months  as  a  member  of 
the  Seventh  Illinois  Cavalry  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged  November  4,  1865.  His 
children  are  as  follows:  Charles  E.,  Ora 
Edith,  wife  of  our  subject ;  Laura  E.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas ;  Lenora;  Lura  Eva  and  Carl 
William.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Gulli- 
ford is  a  Republican  and  he  takes  a  deep  and 
commendable  interest  in  public  affairs,  as 
each  American  citizen  should  do. 


JOHN  BECKENHOLDT. 

Since  1881  John  Beckenholdt  has  made 
his  home  in  Piatt  county,  where  he  began 
work  as  a  farm  hand,  and  to-day  he  is  one 
of  the  well-to-do  agriculturists  of  Blue  Ridge 
township  and  all  that-  he  possesses  has  come 
as  the  reward  of  earnest  labor.  He  was  born 


in  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  on  the  7th  of 
February,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
\Yilhelmina  Beckenholdt,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Germany.  In  early  life  they  came 
to  America  and  were  married  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  The  father  was  a  brewer  by  trade  and 
for  many  years  operated  a  brewery  in  Law- 
renceburg, while  later  he  devoted  his  ener- 
gies to  farming  in  that  county.  He  and  his 
wife  both  died  during  the  early  boyhood  of 
their  son  John. 

In  the  schools  of  Dearborn  county,  Indi- 
ana, John  Beckenholdt  of  this  review  ac- 
quired his  education.  He  was  there  in- 
structed in  the  elementary  branches  of  learn- 
ing and  as  the  years  have  passed  he  has  add- 
ed to  his  knowledge  through  reading  and  ex- 
perience. He  possesses  an  observing  eye  and 
retentive  memory  and  has  thus  gained  valu- 
able information  concerning  the  world  and 
the  practical  duties  of  life.  He  and  his  three 
elder  brothers  lived  together  in  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  keeping  "bachelors'  hall." 
In  1877  Mr  Beckenholdt,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review,  came  to  Illinois.  Later 
he  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  took  up  a 
homestead  in  Sheridan  county,  but  not  meet- 
ing with  the  success  that  he  had  anticipated 
there,  he  went  to  Colorado  and  also  to  Ne- 
braska, remaining  in  the  west  until  1881, 
when  he  returned  to  Illinois,  this  time  estab- 
lishing his  home  in  Piatt  county.  Here  he 
began  working  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand 
in  the  employ  of  Jacob  B.  Chase,  of  Blue 
Ridge  township,  but  when  he  had  acquired 
a  sufficient  capital  to  become  a  landowner 
he  invested  his  savings  in  a  tract  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  for  which  he  paid 
thirty-one  dollars  and  a  quarter  per  acre.  As 
his  financial  resources  steadily  increased  he 
extended  the  boundaries  of  this  farm  until 
it  now  comprises  four  hundred  and  eighty 


374 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


acres  of  the  rich  land  of  Piatt  county,  and 
there  is  no  more  productive  soil  in  this  great 
farming  state  of  Illinois  than  is  to  be  found 
in  Blue  Ridge  township.  Mr.  Beckenholdt 
also  owns  four  hundred  and  twenty-three 
acres  in  Pike  county,  Illinois.  His  home 
farm  was  improved  but  very  little  when  he 
took  up  his  abode  there,  and  it  is  now  well 
tilled,  the  rich  fields  promising  golden  har- 
vests in  the  autumn.  He  has  also  given  con- 
siderable attention  to  the  raising  of  beef  cat- 
tle and  hogs,  shipping  to  the  Chicago  mar- 
kets and  finding  this  a  profitable  source  of 
income. 

In  1884  Mr.  Beckenholdt  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Sallie  E.  Chase,  a  daugh- 
ter of  his  first  employer  in  Piatt  county,  Ja- 
cob B.  Chase,  who  came  from  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  and  won  a  place  among  the 
well-to-do  residents  of  this  locality.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beckenholdt  have  been  born 
four  children — Walter;  Minnie,  who  died 
September  4,  1902,  and  was  laid  by  the  side 
of  her  mother  in  Blue  Ridge  cemetery ;  Wil- 
ber,  who  passed  away  February  8,  1890,  and 
Willard.  The  wife  and  mother  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  October  16,  1894,  her  death 
being  deeply  deplored  by  many  friends.  In 
1895  Mr.  Beckenholdt  was  joined  in  wed- 
lock to  Miss  Emily  Godwin,  but  after  a  short 
married  life  she  passed  away  March  5,  1898. 
In  1900  he  wedded  his  present  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Lena  Roth.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Christian  Roth,  who  is  rep- 
resented elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Beckenholdt  is  a  member  of  Farmer 
City  Camp,  M.  W.  A.,  and  in  politics  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  never  consented  to  be- 
come a  candidate  for  office,  desiring  rather  to 
give  his  time  and  energies  to  his  business 
pursuits.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  Mansfield  and  has  been  a  co-op- 


erant  factor  in  the  material  advancement  and 
the  moral  improvement  of  his  community. 
In  addition  to  his  agricultural  interests  he 
became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Mansfield  in  1901  and  is  one  of  its 
directors.  He  is  a  man  of  great  natural  abil- 
ity and  has  been  very  successful  in  business. 
As  has  been  truly  remarked  after  all  that  may 
be  done  for  a  man  in  the  way  of  giving  him 
early  opportunities  for  obtaining  the  require- 
ments which  are  sought  in  books  and  schools, 
he  must  essentially  formulate,  determine  and 
give  shape  to  his  own  character,  and  this  is 
what  Mr.  Beckenholdt  has  done.  He  has 
been  very  persevering  in  his  life  work  and 
has  gained  a  satisfactory  reward. 


EDWARD  MOVER. 

Edward  Moyer,  who  is  the  present  as- 
sessor of  the  township  of  Bement  and  who 
resides  on  section  13  there,  where  he  owns 
an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  acres,  was  born  at  Delphi,  Indiana,  on 
the  3ist  of  October,  1853.  The  Moyer  fam- 
ily is  of  German  lineage  and  was  established 
in  America  by  Jacob  Moyer,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  who  settled  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  and  there  spent  his  remaining 
days,  reaching  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
one  years.  He  was  a  farmer  throughout  his 
active  business  career. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  David 
and  Delilah  (Kerns)  Moyer.  The  father 
was  born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in  the 
year  1818  and,  removing  to  Indiana,  he 
spent  four  years  in  that  state,  after  which  he 
came  to  Illinois.  Making  his  way  to  Piatt 
county,  he  here  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  Willow  Branch 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


375 


township.  All  was  wild  and  unimproved 
and  with  characteristic  energy  he  began  the 
arduous  task  of  developing  a  new  farm.  For 
many  years  he  successfully  carried  on  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising 
and  in  his  work  he  prospered.  His  land  was 
richly  cultivated  and  the  well-tilled  fields  re- 
turned to  him  golden  harvests,  while  because 
of  the  good  grade  of  stock  which  he  raised  he 
found  a  ready  sale  for  his  horses  and  cattle 
on  the  market.  As  his  financial  resources  in- 
creased he  added  to  his  property  until  he  was 
the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres. 
About  twenty  years  ago  he  removed  to  the 
village  of  Bement.  where  he  spent  his  re- 
maining days,  his  death  occurring  about 
1892.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Moyer  was 
first  a  Democrat,  but  afterward  became  a 
Republican  and  in  his  later  life  was  a  Prohi- 
bitionist. He  was  fearless  in  his  defense  of 
what  he  believed  to  be  right  and  never  wav- 
ered in  his  allegiance  to  the  political  princi- 
ples which  he  thought  contained  the  best  ele- 
ments of  good  government.  For  six  years 
he  served  as  supervisor  of  Willow  Branch 
township  and  was  most  loyal  and  prompt  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties.  His  religious 
faith  was  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  his  fidelity  to  its 
teachings.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Pick- 
away  county,  Ohio,  there  lived  until  her 
marriage  and  her  parents  died  in  that  county. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moyer  were  born  six 
children — Mary  E.,  who  was  the  wife  of 
Giles  Clarke,  and  is  now  deceased;  Isabella, 
the  deceased  wife  of  John  LeFever;  John, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years ;  Edward, 
of  this  review ;  Clara,  who  is  the  wife  of 
R.  E.  McKinney,  of  Decatur,  and  Ruth,  the 
wife  of  William  Cochran,  of  Bement  town- 
ship. 

Edward  Moyer  was  only  three  years  of 


age  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Piatt 
county  and  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm 
in  Willow  Branch  township.  He  acquired 
his  earh-  education  in  the  schools  of  this 
county  and  afterward  became  a  student  in 
the  Jacksonville  Business  College,  in  which 
institution  he  was  graduated.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  farm  in  Willow  Branch  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of 
1883,  carrying  on  general  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  also  engaged  in  stock-raising 
quite  extensively  and  successfully,  making  a 
specialty  of  shorthorn  cattle  and  Norman 
horses.  He  devoted  much  attention  to  the 
breeding  and  raising  of  horses  for  six  years. 
In  1883  he  removed  to  Bement  township, 
where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  on  section  13,  and  upon  this 
farm  he  still  lives.  He  was  for  a  number  of 
years  one  of  the  representative  agriculturists 
and  stock-raisers  of  the  community,  but 
about  two  years  ago  he  rented  his  land  and 
is  now  living  retired.  His  business  affairs 
have  been  so  capably  conducted  that  as  the 
years  passed  he  won  comfortable  competence 
and  is  now  largely  resting  in  the  enjoyment 
of  what  he  previously  earned. 

In  August,  1876,  in  Willow  Branch 
township,  Mr.  Moyer  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Eva  Heath,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Charity  Heath.  Her  father  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Willow  Branch  township, 
having  come  to  Piatt  county  in  1854.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased.  The  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moyer  was  blessed  with  six 
children,  all  of  whom  wyere  born  in  Piatt 
county.  The  three  now  living  are  :  Charles 
A.,  who  resides  at  home;  lona  B.,  the  wife  of 
H.  C.  Cornelius,  of  Bement,  by  whom  she 
has  two  children,  Paul  and  Ruth ;  and  Lena, 
who  is  the  wife  of  David  Johnson,  a  painter 
of  Urbana,  Illinois,  by  whom  she  has  one 


376 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


child — Edward  D.  The  members  of  the  fam- 
ily who  have  passed  away  are :  Edward, 
who  died  when  about  eight  years  of  age ; 
Roy,  who  died  of  diphtheria  at  the  age  of 
four  years ;  and  one  that  died  in  infancy  un- 
named. 

Mr.  Mover  has  held  the  office  of  assessor 
for  five  years  and  has  been  elected  for  an- 
other year.  He  was  also  road  commissioner 
for  one  term  and  no  public  trust  reposed  in 
him  has  been  betrayed  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree. His  political  support  is  given  to  the 
Democracy,  and  he  keeps  well  informed  on 
the  issues  of  the  day,  thus  being  able  to  sup- 
port his  position  by  intelligent  argument. 
Mr.  Moyer  is  a  valued  and  popular  repre- 
sentative of  a  number  of  fraternal  and  in- 
surance associations.  He  belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  Camp,  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  to  the  Court  of  Honor,  to  the 
Tribe  of  Ben  Hur,  to  the  Fraternal  Army. 
to  the  Loyal  Americans  and  the  North  Amer- 
icans, and  he  has  held  official  positions  in  all 
of  these  save  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur.  He  has 
many  excellent  qualities  which  have  made 
him  esteemed  by  those  with  whom  he  has 
come  into  contact  and  gained  for  him  the 
favor  and  friendship  of  many  with  whom  he 
has  been  associated. '  There  is  in  his  life  rec- . 
ord  much  that  is  commendable,  for  he  has 
always  been  faithful  to  duty,  progressive  in 
citizenship  and  reliable  in  business. 


•    JOSEPH  H.  RANKIN. 

Joseph  H.  Rankin,  who  is  the  well-known 
and  capable  manager  for  the  Galesville  Grain 
Company  of  Piatt  county  and  a  resident  of 
DeLand,  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  5th  of  April.  1848.  His  life  record 


proves  conclusively  that  success  is  not  a  mat- 
ter of  genius,  but  may  be  won  through  per- 
sistent effort,  laudable  ambition  and  sound 
judgment.  It  is  these  qualities  that  have 
formed  the  basis  of  Mr.  Rankin's  prosperity 
and  made  him  a  substantial  and  respected  citi- 
zen of  his  adopted  county. 

Mr.  Rankin  is  a  son  of  James  and  Ma- 
linda  (Decker)  Rankin,  who  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  Buckeye  state.  By  occupation 
the  father  was  a  stone-mason  and  carpenter. 
Coming  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1852,  he  set- 
tled in  DeWitt  county,  casting  in  his  lot 
among  the  early  settlers  who  laid  the  founda- 
tion for  the  present  development  and  pros- 
perity of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  pos- 
sessed natural  mechanical  genius  and  marked 
ingenuity  along  such  lines  and  before  coming 
to  Illinois  he  had  also  mastered  the  trade 
of  a  millwright.  After  locating  here  he  en- 
gaged in  the  operation  of  a  mill  for  three  or 
four  years  and  also  followed  carpentering, 
carrying  on  the  latter  pursuit  until  his  re- 
tirement from  further  business  cares.  His 
life  for  many  years  was  one  of  unceasing  in- 
dustry and  unfaltering  enterprise  and  there- 
by he  won  a  comfortable  competence  which 
now  enables  him  to  live  retired.  He  makes 
his  home  in  Waverly,  Morgan  county,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years  and  is  one  of  the 
respected  citizens  of  the  community.  His 
wife  died  when  the  subject  of  this  review 
was  but  six  years  of  age  and  her  remains 
were  interred  in  Logan  county  near  Atlanta. 
The  children  of  this  union  were  three  in  num- 
ber, two  sons  and  a  daughter,  all  of  whom 
are  yet  living,  namely  :  John  W.,  a  resident 
of  Oregon;  J.  H.,  of  this  review;  and  Ma- 
linda,  who  is  the  wife  of  Clayton  Newberry, 
a  resident  of  Waverly,  Morgan  count}-. 

J.  H.  Rankin  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  DeWitt  coun- 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


379 


ty  and  mastered  the  branches  of  learning 
therein  taught  which  prepare  one  for  the 
practical  duties  of  life.  He  attended  school 
until  about  fifteen  years  of  age  and  then  be- 
gan working  for  his  father  on  the  home  farm, 
being  thus  connected  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  about  twenty-four  years  of  age. 
For  some  years  thereafter  he  followed  car- 
pentering and  in  this  way  was  connected  with 
the  substantial  upbuilding  and  improvement 
of  the  locality.  He  was  actively  connected 
with  the  builder's  art  for  twelve  years  or  un- 
til he  turned  his  attention  to  the  grain  busi- 
ness as  manager  of  the  Galesville  Grain 
Company.  This  is  a  farmers'  co-operative  in- 
stitution of  which  Mr.  Rankin  took  charge 
on  the  4th  of  August,  1902.  The  business  is 
an  incorporated  concern  capitalized  for  ten 
thousand  dollars,  the  company  dealing  in 
grain,  coal  and  salt.  The  present  officers  are 
J.  T.  Churchill,  president,  a  resident  of 
Goose  Creek  township;  J.  Z.  Schwartz,  of 
the  same  township,  vice  president;  James 
Bert,  secretary  and  treasurer,  also  of  Goose 
Creek  township ;  and  J.  H.  Rankin,  manager. 
Mr.  Rankin  makes  his  home  in  DeLand, 
where  he  had  been  employed  in  the  line  of 
carpentering  prior  to  coming  here.  He  is  a 
man  of  good  business  ability  and  executive 
force  and  is  rarely,  if  ever,  at  fault  in  mat- 
ters of  business  judgment,  so  that  he  is  well 
qualified  for  the  important  position  which  he 
is  now  filling. 

In  1867  in  Piatt  county  near  DeLand 
Mr.  Rankin  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emma  Brown,  a  daughter  of  James  A. 
Brown,  who  came  here  at  an  early  day  from 
Virginia.  Two  children  graced  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  and  his  wife:  James 
Floyd  and  John  W.,  but  the  latter  died  in  in- 
fancy. In  his  political  affiliation  Mr.  Rankin 
is  a  Democrat  with  firm  faith  in  the  princi- 


ples~  of  the  party  and  he  has  been  honored 
with  a  number  of  local  offices.  He  served 
for  four  years  as  justice  of  the  peace ;  was 
also  town  clerk  for  two  years;  was  notary 
public  and  police  magistrate  for  twelve  years, 
and  is  still  holding  the  last  named  office.  He 
has  ever  been  prompt  and  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  devolving  upon  him. 
Fraternally,  he  is  connected  with  DeLand 
Lodge,  No.  812,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is 
a  worthy  and  prominent  representative,  hav- 
ing served  for  three  years  as  its  secretary, 
prior  to  taking  up  his  business  at  Galesville. 
He  is  likewise  identified  with  some  fraternal 
insurance  orders.  Mr.  Rankin  dates  his  resi- 
dence in  this  county  from  pioneer  times  and 
the  red  men  were  still  numerous  when  the 
family  came  to  this  section  of  the  state  and 
there  was  wild  game  of  all  kinds,  including 
deer  and  turkeys.  There  were  also  many 
prairie  wolves  and  pioneer  conditions  existed 
on  every  hand.  With  the  work  of  progress 
and  improvement  Mr.  Rankin  has  been  iden- 
tified and  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  what 
has  been  accomplished  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  He  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best 
homes  in  DeLand,  which  stands  in  visible 
evidence  of  his  life  of  industry.  His  career 
has  ever  been  honorable  and  straightforward 
and  those  who  have  known  him  entertain  for 
him  warm  regard. 

James  Floyd  Rankin,  the  son  of  J.  H. 
Rankin,  is  now  a  bookkeeper  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Champaign.  He  acquired  a 
liberal  education,  attending  the  common 
schools  of  this  county  and  afterward  becom- 
ing a  student  in  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Busi- 
ness College  of  Chicago,  in  which  he  pur- 
sued a  commercial  course.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  began  acquiring  a  practical  educa- 
tion in  the  State  Bank  of  DeLand  and  readily 
mastering  the  duties  intrusted  to  him,  he 


38o 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


steadily  and  rapidly  advanced.  Going  to 
Kansas  City  he  was  assistant  receiving  teller 
in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Commerce 
there,  and  later  returning  to  DeLand,  he  en- 
tered upon  his  present  position  in  connection 
with  the  financial  interests  of  this  place.  He 
is  a  young  man  of  exemplary  habits,  respect- 
ed in  business  circles  because  of  his  capabili- 
ty and  trustworthiness.  He  married  Miss 
Ermer  Dresback,  a  resident  of  this  county 
and  a  daughter  of  John  P.  Dresback,  an 
old  settler  and  retired  farmer  now  living  near 
DeLand.  They  have  one  child,  Esther  Burl, 
who  was  born  on  the  3rd  of  July,  1902,  in 
Kansas  City. 


WELLINGTON  EDWARDS. 

On  the  2d  of  December,  1895,  Piatt  coun- 
ty citizens  were  called  on  to  mourn  the  de- 
mise of  one  of  their  number,  Wellington 
Edwards,  a  gentleman,  of  the  old  school,  and 
who  had  been  a  resident  of  the  county  since 
1854.  Mr.  Edwards  was  born  near  Buffalo, 
New  York,  February  14,  1831.  At  the  age 
of  five  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Ohio,  where  they  settled  at  Bu- 
cyrus.  He  lost  his  mother  at  the  age  of  ten 
and  the  family  afterward  became  scattered, 
our  subject  becoming  an  inmate  of  the  home 
of  an  uncle,  with  whom  he  lived  until  his 
marriage.  This  event  occurred  January  n, 
1852,  the  lady  who  now  survives  him  being 
SaraTi  Jane  McPheeters,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel McPheeters. 

Thirteen  children  were  born  to  this 
union  as  follows :  Susan  Janette.  born 
March  24,  1853;  Samuel  Francis,  December 
3,  1854;  Willis,  November  12,  1855;  Joseph 
C,  April  20,  1858;  Selah  Ravenia,  March 


16,  1860;  Adeline,  December  20,  1861 ;  Al- 
meda  Ellen.  December  20,  1863  ;  Charles  \V., 
September  26.  1865;  Alonzo  L.,  August  12, 
1867;  Sarah  Eveline,  June  20,  1869;  Mel- 
cena,  June  31,  1871 ;  Harry  V.,  February  4, 
1873,  and  Harvey,  January  25,  1875. 

For.  two  years  after  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Edwards  rented  land  in  Ohio.  They 
then  concluded  to  come  to  the  great  west, 
.  where  land  was  cheaper  and  where  they 
could  secure  a  home  with  less  outlay.  They 
settled  in  Sangamon  township.  Piatt  county, 
Illinois,  where  they  purchased  eighty  acres 
at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre,  which 
Mrs.  Edwards  still  owns.  Additions  have 
been  made  at  times  to  this  original  purchase 
— one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  at  one  time 
and  thirty-two  at  another.  It  is  unnecessary 
to  relate  in  detail  the  struggles  and  priva- 
tions endured  by  the  family  in  their  efforts 
to  build  up  a  home  and  rear  and  educate  so 
large  a  number  of  children.  Suffice  it  to  say 
that  these  children  are  all  living  and  occupy- 
ing respected  positions  in  their  different 
spheres  of  life.  They  are  all  married  except- 
ing Alonzo  and  Almeda  Ellen. 


JOSEPH  C.  EDWARDS. 

Joseph  C.  Edwards  cultivates  a  farm  in 
section  24,  Blue  Ridge  township.  He  was 
born  as  stated  and  continued  dutifully  at 
home,  aiding  his  father  in  the  support  of  his 
large  family  until  the  year  preceding  his  ma- 
jority. He  then  rented  a  farm  from  Thomas 
Bondurant.  upon  which  he  raised  one  crop 
and  then  rented  his  father's  farm  of  eighty 
acres  for  a  period  of  six  years.  By  this  time 
he  was  enabled  to  make  a  purchase  of  eighty 
acres,  but  with  which  he  soon  parted.  An- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


381 


other  purchase  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  was  made  by  our  subject,  which  he  re- 
tained for  a  time  and  then  sold  at  a  good 
advance.  In  1900  he  purchased  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides.  It  contains  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  and  our  subject  de- 
votes it  to  general  farming — the  raising  of 
stock  and  grain. 

Mr.  Edwards  consummated  marriage 
December  u,  1879,  the  other  contracting 
party  being  Emma  Jane,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Nancy  Hall.  Mrs.  Edwards  has 
become  the  mother  of  nine  children  as  fol- 
lows:  Lucinda,  born  September  5,  1878; 
Cora.  July  3,  1880;  Albert,  August  15, 
1882  ;  Daisy,  Novembers,  1884;  Roy,  Janu- 
ary 28,  1887;  Carl,  February  7,  1889:  Lillie, 
March  3,  1891;  Pearl,  March  i,  1893,  and 
Lloyd,  November  19,  1898. 

Character  is  what  we  are,  reputation 
what  people  think  we  are,  at  least  so  says  the 
savant.  Both,  however,  are  really  synony- 
mous. No  man  can  have  a  good  reputation 
with  his  associates  in  daily  life  whose  char- 
acter is  faulty,  nor  is  the  development  of  a 
good  character  possible  without  developing 
its  consequent,  a  good  reputation.  These  re- 
marks are  made  introductory  to  the  asser- 
tion that  no  man  in  the  county  has  either  in 
better  degree  than  our  subject.  With  word 
as  good  as  his  bond  and  a  social  and  genial 
temperament,  Joseph  Edwards  is  the  peer  of 
any  citizen  of  Piatt  county. 


JOHN   HENRY  SHREVE. 

John  Henry  Shreve  is  one  of  the  self- 
made  men  of  Piatt  county  now  numbered 
among  the  farmers  •  of  affluence.  He  has 
steadily  worked  his  w'ay  upward  to  this  po- 


sition through  persistency  of  purpose,  over- 
coming all  the  obstacles  and  difficulties  in 
his  path  by  a  strong  determination  and  in- 
dustry. He  was  born  April  26,  1844,  in 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Gearhart)  Shreve.  The 
mother  died  in  Ohio  and  the  father  after- 
ward came  to  Illinois,  settling  first  in  Cham- 
paign county,  whence  he  later  removed  to 
Piatt  county.  After  residing  here  for  a  time 
he  went  to  Missouri,  where  his  remaining 
days  were  passed.  He  was  thrown  from  a 
wagon  and  never  recovered  from  the  in- 
jury received  in  this  accident.  In  the  fam- 
ily were  two  children,  the  younger  brother 
of  our  subject  being  Oliver  Shreve,  who  is- 
now  a  resident  of  Calhoun  county,  Iowa. 

The  educational  privileges  of  John  Henry 
Shreve  were  somewhat  limited.  He  attend- 
ed school  in  Boone  county,  Indiana,  conning 
his  lessons  in  a  little  log  schoolhouse  while 
sitting  upon  a  slab  bench.  The  remainder 
of  his  education  was  acquired  in  Champaign 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  again  attended  a 
district  school.  He  has  always  kept  well  in- 
formed on  the  questions  of  the  day  and  on 
topics  of  general  interest,  continually  adding 
to  his  knowledge  through  reading  and  ob- 
servation. When  twenty  years  of  age  he 
began  earning  his  own  living,  working  as  a 
farm  hand,  and  while  thus  employed  he  re- 
ceived from  twenty  to  forty  dollars  per 
month  in  compensation  for  his  services.  For 
eight  years  he  was  thus  'employed,  and  with 
the  money  which  he  \vas  enabled  to  save 
from  his  earnings  he  then  purchased  his  own 
farm,  containing  one  hundred  and  fourteen- 
acres  of  land  in  Blue  Ridge  township.  This 
he  bought  in  the  fall  of  1885,  and  it  has  since 
been  his  home,  covering  a  period  of  eighteen 
consecutive  years.  He  raises  stock  and  grain 
and  his  richly  cultivated  fields  annually  bring- 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


to  him  good  harvests,  while  the  sales  of  his 
grain  and  stock  add  considerably  to  his  bank 
account. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  1885,  Mr. 
Shreve  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Katharine  Freeze,  a  daughter  of  Harvey 
and  Josephine  (Paulsel)  Freeze.  In  1898 
Mr.  Shreve  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  6th 'of  De- 
cember of  that  year,  her  remains  being  in- 
terred in  the  Mansfield  cemetery.  Unto 
them  had  been  born  but  one  child,  Roy  Allen, 
who  was  born  November  28,  1888,  and  is 
now  living  at  home  with  his  father.  Mr. 
Shreve  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the 
Democracy  and  while  he  keeps  well  informd 
on  the  issues  of  the  day  he  has  never  sought 
or  desired  public  office,  preferring  to  devote 
his  energies  to  his  business  affairs.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Baptist  church,  and  his  life  is  in 
•consistent  harmony  with  its  teachings.  He 
has  long  resided  in  Piatt  county,  and  is 
known  as  a  worthy  and  representative  farm- 
er of  this  portion  of  the  state. 


JOHN  T.  CHURCHILL. 

John  T.  Churchill,  farmer,  stock-raiser 
and  splendid  good  citizen,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 34,  Sangamon  township,  was  born  at 
Mechanicsburg,  Sangamon  county,  Illinois, 
September  29,  1853.  His  parents,  Joe 
and  Lucretia  J.  (Bondurant)  Churchill,  were 
natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  state,  from  which 
they  came  to  Piatt  county  in  1825,  thus  con- 
stituting them  pioneers  of  the  pioneers. 
They  remained  in  the  county  until  the  close 
of  the  Civil  war,  and  then  removed  to  the 
new  state  of  Kansas,  where  they  settled  near 
the  famous  town  of  Lawrence.  After  ten 


years,  however,  they  returned  to  their  early 
love,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until 
their  death. 

John  T.  Churchill  passed  his  early  boy- 
hcod  on  the  Kansas  farm,  receiving  train- 
ing in  the  district  school  and  later  at  Bald- 
win University.  Upon  leaving  that  institu- 
tion in  1874  he  remained  in  Kansas,  engaged 
in  farming,  but  met  with  so  little  encourage- 
ment on  account  of  the  grasshoppers  and 
drouth  that  he  finally  returned  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty. Mr.  Churchill  retains  vivid  remembrances 
of  those  early  days  of  his  career  and  especially 
of  the  grasshoppers.  He  happened  to  be  in 
a  section  particularly  overrun  with  the  pests 
and  distinctly  recalls  one  day  on  his  return 
home  from  town  seeing  them  piled  in  the 
road  three  feet  deep,  and  having  to  drive  out 
of  his  way  on  account  of  them.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1875,  Mr.  Churchill  rented  a  farm  in 
Piatt  county  and  has  since  that  time  been 
a  continuous  resident  here.  In  1892  he  made 
his  first  purchase  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
acres  in  Sangamon  township,  but  he  later 
sold  out  and  bought  his  present  two-hundred 
and- forty-acre  farm,  which  under  his  careful 
and  intelligent  management  is  without  doubt 
one  of  the  best  farm  properties  in  the  county. 
He  devotes  it  largely  to  the  raising  of  grain, 
a  crop  which  he  understands  as  well  as  any 
man  in  the  county,  and  from  which  he  real- 
izes handsome  profits. 

Three  years  after  his  return  from  Kan- 
sas, June  ii.  1878,  Mr.  Churchill  became  a 
married  man.  leading  to  the  altar  Miss 
Florence  Bell,  daughter  of  William  and 
Katherine  Hatfield,  of  DeLand.  now  de- 
ceased. Three  children  have  come  to 
brighten  their  home,  Fabian  C,  born  Au- 
gust i,  1879:  Roscoe  W.,  December  2,  1881 
and  Lloyd  J.,  September  10,  1896. 

Mr.  Churchill  votes  with  the  Republican 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


party,  and  carries  insurance  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen,  holding  membership  in  Mans- 
field Camp,  No.  2919.  He  and  his  family  are 
much  esteemed  and  enter  with  zest  into  all 
movements  looking  to  the  elevation  of  their 
fellow  citizens. 


THOMAS    BATEMAN,    JR. 

Thomas  Bateman,  Jr.,  is  one  of  the  well- 
known,  successful  and  enterprising  agricul- 
turists of  Piatt  county,  his  home  being  on 
section  19,  Blue  Ridge  township.  He  was 
torn  in  Ontario,  Canada,  on  the  I4th  of 
November,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Bateman,  who  were 
natives  of  Ireland  and  Canada,  respectively. 
The  father  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  Do- 
minion in  1848  in  company  with  his  parents, 
and  the  grandfather  there  carried  on  farm- 
ing for  some  years.  Subsequently,  however, 
he  removed  to  the  United  States,  settling  in 
Piatt  county,  Illinois,  where  his  remaining 
days  were  passed. 

In  the  year  1863  Thomas  Bateman,  Sr., 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Brown, 
and  in  1872  they  arrived  in  Piatt  county, 
where  he  had  previously  purchased  the  old 
William  Johnson  homestead  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  To-day  he  is  the  owner  of 
two  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  but  at 
one  time  owned  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
This,  however,  he  has  divided  among  his 
children,  giving  to  them  more  than  one-half 
of  the  entire  amount.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bateman  were  born  eleven  children  and  it  is 
remarkable  in  that  the  family  circle  has  never 
been  broken  by  the  hand  of  death.  The  chil- 
dren are  as  follows  :  Thomas,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  record ;  Jane,  who  is  the  wife  of 


Alvin  Smothers  of  Mansfield ;  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Enoch  Chase,  of  McLean  county, 
Illinois;  Samuel,  who  is  also  living  in  Mc- 
Lean county ;  Charles,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  at  Bellflour,  Illinois ;  John, 
a  resident  of  Piatt  county;  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  Latham  Smith,  of  McLean  county; 
Etta  and  Nellie,  both  at  home ;  Edna,  the 
wife  of  Herbert  Warren,  of  Mansfield;  and 
Harry,  who  completes  the  family  The 
father  is  now  practically  living  retired  upon 
his  home  farm  and  is  one  of  the  respected 
and  worthy  citizens  of  the  community  whose 
life  record  contains  many  lessons  that  might 
be  profitably  followed. 

Thomas  Bateman,  Jr.,  was  only  about 
seven  years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to 
Piatt  county,  and  in  the  public  schools  here 
he  became  familiar  with  the  branches  of 
learning  usually  taught  in  such  institutions. 
He  also  early  became  identified  with  farm 
life,  receiving  ample  training  in  the  work  of 
field  and  meadow.  He  remained  at  home 
until  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  on 
the  1 6th  of  March,  1892,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Cora  Slater,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  Slater,  of  Champaign 
county.  They  now  have  one  son,  William 
Slater,  whose  birth  occurred  January  28^ 
1893. 

The  home  farm  of  Mr.  Bateman  is  a 
tract  of  two  hundred  acres  of  productive  and 
fertile  land  on  section  19,  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship, and  to  its  cultivation  and  improvement 
he  gives  his  personal  supervision.  The  farm 
is  adorned  with  one  of  the  best  country  resi- 
dences to  be  found  in  this  section  of  the 
state.  It  was  built  by  Mr.  Bateman  in  1899, 
is  a  commodious  structure  erected  in  a  mod- 
ern style  of  architecture,  is  supplied  with  hot 
and  cold  water,  is  heated  by  hot  water  and  is- 
equipped  with  all  modern  conveniences.  It 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


was  erected  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  dol- 
lars. Other  improvements  Mr.  Bateman  has 
placed  upon  his  farm  which  is  indeed  a  model 
one.  He  gives  his  attention  to  the  raising 
of  grain  and  stock,  making  a  specialty  of  fine 
cattle  and  hogs.  He  is  an  industrious  and 
energetic  business  man  and  has  met  and  is 
meeting  with  richly  merited  success.  He 
exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  his  religious  faith  is  indicated  by 
his  membership  in  the  Baptist  church  of 
Monticello. 


WILLIAM  H.  LEACH. 

William  H.  Leach,  a  retired  farmer,  is 
now  living  in  Mansfield  in  a  pleasant  home 
which  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  life  of 
industry.  For  many  years  he  was  con- 
nected with  agricultural  pursuits  and  the 
rest  which  he  is  now  enjoying  is  well  mer- 
ited, because  he  has  always  been  a  most  in- 
dustrious and  energetic  man,  and  has  ever 
been  honorable  in  his  business  relations.  He 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  March,  1827,  near 
Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  and  is  a  son  of 
Clement  and  Mary  (Worley)  Leach.  In  the 
family  were  the  following  named :  Mor- 
decai  M.,  born  September  10,  1818;  John, 
March  12,  1821  ;  Rebecca,  December  17, 
1822 ;  Rachel  and  Levina,  twins,  October  20, 
1824;  William,  March  24,  1827;  Clement, 
May  18,  1829;  Martha,  April  5,  1831;  and 
Joseph,  February  24,  1834.  The  last  named 
served  as  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  being 
commissioned  lieutenant,  and  lost  his  health 
while  in  the  army. 

William  Leach  was  reared  in  the  state  of 
liis  nativity,  spending  his  boyhood  days 


under  the  parental  roof,  and  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  locality  he  acquired  his  educa- 
tion. After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity 
he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Ann  Bowen,  who  was 
born  on  the  nth  of  September,  1851.  De- 
termining to  seek  a  home  in  the  Mississippi 
valley  they  started  by  wagon  for  Illinois, 
driving  across  the  country  with  a  four-horse 
team.  They  were  eighteen  days  upon  the 
road,  and  on  reaching  their  destination  Mr. 
Leach  was  the  possessor  of  seventy-five  dol- 
lars in  cash  and  a  team  of  horses.  He  went 
first  to  Grundy  county,  Illinois,  and  became 
identified  with  agricultural  interests  and 
about  twenty-six  years  ago  removed  to 
Piatt  county  and  began  farming  in  this  lo- 
cality. He  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  a  mile  from  Mansfield, 
and  devoted  his  attention  to  the  raising  of 
grain  and  hogs.  He  annually  harvested 
large  crops  and  in  addition  he  raised  many 
head  of  hogs  annually,  his  profits  in  one 
year  on  his  hogs  amounting  to  fourteen  hun- 
dred dollars.  This  work  has  been  the 
source  of  his  prosperity.  He  has  never  en- 
gaged in  speculation  or  placed  his  depen- 
dence upon  a  combination  of  fortunate  cir- 
cumstances, but  has  worked  diligently  and 
persistently  and  has  thus  acquired  a  com- 
fortable competence.  He  is  now  the  owner 
of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich 
farming  land  in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in 
addition  to  his  house  and  lot  in  Mansfield. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  have  been 
born  the  following  children  :  Clement,  born 
September  2,  1852;  Martha.  October  29, 
1859:  Mary  M.  B.,  October  12,  1857;  Wil- 
liam, October  i,  1860;  John  M.,  November 
27,  1863;  George,  October  3,  1866;  and 
Rose,  November  11,  1871.  Martha  died  at 
the  age  of  seven  years  but  the  others  are  still 
living  and  all  are  married. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


385 


Mr.  Leach  usually  gives  his  support  to 
the  Republican  candidates,  but  votes  rather 
for  the  men  than  for  the  party.  He  keeps 
well  informed  on  the  issues  and  questions 
of  the  day  and  does  what  he  believes  is  for 
the  best  interest  of  the  country  in  the  exer- 
cise of  his  right  of  franchise.  His  religious 
faith  is  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the 
Methodist  church,  and  his  connection  there- 
with influences  his  life  and  his  treatment  of 
his  fellow  men.  He  has  always  lived  up- 
rightly and  his  many  excellent  traits  of  char- 
acter have  gained  for  him  the  regard  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 


CARL  O.  GILLESPIE. 

Carl  O.  Gillespie  is  one  of  the  extensive 
landowners  of  Piatt  county,  his  possessions 
aggregating  seven  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  He  lives  on  section  36,  Blue  Ridge 
township,  and  is  one  of  its  native  sons,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  this  township  in 
1861.  His  parents  were  H.  K.  and  Nancy 
Gillespie,  who  are  mentioned  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  The  father  was  born  in  the 
year  1828,  and  died  in  June,  1901.  while  his 
wife,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1828,  is  still 
living,  making  her  home  in  Farmer  City, 
Illinois. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads  Carl 
O.  Gillespie  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
and  assisted  in  the  care  and  improvement  of 
the  home  farm  and  in  1886  he  began  farming 
on  his  own  account  on  the  old  home  place, 
comprising  four  hundred  acres.  The  practi- 
cal training  which  he  had  received  in  his 
youth  now  proved  of  marked  value  to  him. 
He  engaged  in  the  raising  of  fine  cattle  and 


hogs  which  he  carries  on  extensively  and 
finds  a  profitable  source  of  income.  He 
raises  only  good  grades  of  farm  stock  and 
he  now  ships  about  three  carloads  of  hogs 
annually.  In  all  of  his  farm  work  he  is  pro- 
gressive and  enterprising,  and  as  the  years 
have  passed  he  has  met  with  a  high  degree 
of  prosperity.  He  still  resides  upon  the  old 
home  place,  to  which  he  is  continually  add- 
ing improvements  of  an  important  character 
so  that  his  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  this 
portion  of  the  state.  He  owns  altogether 
four  hundred  acres  of  rich  land,  two  hundred 
and  forty  located  at  Bethel  church  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  near  the  home  place.  His 
mother  owns  the  home  place. 

In  1890  Mr.  Gillespie  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Minnie  Wisegarver,  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  W.  and  Mary  Wisegarver, 
who  are  living  in  Farmer  City.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two 
children  who  are  yet  living  and  they  have 
also  lost  two,  their  eldest,  George  L.,  having 
died  in  infancy,  while  Maurine,  the  third, 
died  at  the  age  of  one  year.  The  others  are 
Evangeline,  now  ten  years  of  age ;  and  Mary 
Madge,  a  little  maiden  of  six  summers.  The 
parents  belong  to  the  Methodist  church  and 
take  an  active  interest  in  its  work.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Gillespie  is  a  Republican,  but  the 
honors  and  emoluments  of  office  have  had 
no  attraction  for  him  as  he  has  preferred  to 
give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
interests.  He  has  never  followed  any  oc- 
cupation save  that  to  which  he  was  reared 
and  has  found  it  to  be  a  profitable  source  of 
income.  He  belongs  to  that  class  of  pro- 
gressive agriculturists  of  the  west  who  have 
made  the  county  to  bloom  and  blossom  as 
the  rose,  using  the  latest  improved  machin- 
ery, and  all  modern  equipments  that  will 
facilitate  his  work.  He  has  a  good  home 


386 


PAST    AND    PRESENT' 


and  valuable  farm  and  deserves  much  credit 
for  what  he  has  accomplished  during  his 
business  career. 


WILLIAM  CLARK. 

Nature  seems  to  have  intended  that  man 
should  enjoy  a  season  of  rest  in  the  evening 
of  life.  In  youth  one  is  full  of  energy,  deter- 
mination and  bright  hope,  and  with  more  ma- 
ture years  comes  sound  judgment,  keen  in- 
sight and  practical  experience  so  that  labor 
is  carefully  directed  and  brings  its  just  re- 
ward. If  one  has  carefully  husbanded  his 
resources  and  made  the  most  of  his  oppor- 
tunities he  will  through  the  years  of  youth 
and  mature  manhood  gain  capital  sufficient 
to  enable  him  to  put  aside  business  cares, in 
his  later  life.  This  Mr.  Clark  has  done  and 
his  rest  is  well  deserved,  for  his  has  been  an 
honorable  career  characterized  by  industry, 
enterprise  and  integrity.  He  is  now  living 
in  the  village  of  Bement  and  is  one  of  its 
most  respected  and  worthy  citizens. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Somersetshire, 
England,  on  the  I2th  of  June,  1828.  Com- 
ing to  the  United  States  in  the  year  1855,  ne 
determined  to  make  the  most  of  his  oppor- 
tunities here  and  win  success  if  it  could  be 
gained  through  honorable  persistent  effort. 
He  had  obtained  his  early  education  in  the 
subscription  schools  in  the  place  of  his  birth 
and  until  his  immigration  to  America  he  had 
always  been  employed  as  a  farm  hand,  but  de- 
siring to  see  the  new  world  and  having  heard 
much  of  its  advantages  for  the  young  men  of 
pluck  and  energy,  he  decided  to  leave  Eng- 
land and  established  his  home  in  the  United 
States.  Immediately  after  his  arrival  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  he  made  his  way  to  Ohio  and 


spent  six  months  in  Lorain  county  as  a  farm 
hand.  At  the  expiration  of  that  period, 
however,  he  continued  his  journey  westward 
and  soon  arrived  in  Piatt  count}-,  Illinois, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  spending  the 
greater  part  of  this  time  in  the  village  of  Be- 
ment. He  has  always  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  his  first  farming  here  was 
done  in  Cerro  Gordo  township.  There  he 
rented  a  small  tract  of  land  which  he  culti- 
vated for  several  years.  He  afterward  spent 
sometime  in  working  on  a  number  of  farms 
in  the  county  by  the  month,  being  thus  em- 
ployed at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war. 

After  coining  to  the  United  States  he 
had  informed  himself  thoroughly  concern- 
ing conditions  and  political  issues  and  he 
noted  the  growing  dissatisfaction  in  the 
south.  In  1862,  prompted  by  patriotic  loy- 
alty to  the  Union  cause,  he  offered  his  ser- 
vices to  the  government,  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany H,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois 
Infantry,  with  which  he  served  until  the  close 
of  hostilities.  He  was  in  some  of  the  hard- 
fought  battles  of  that  long  and  sanguinary 
conflict  and  when  the  war  was  ended  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge  at  Camp  But- 
ler near  Springfield,  Illinois.  He  was  always 
found  at  his  post  of  duty,  loyal  to  the  na- 
tion's starry  banner  and  the  cause  it  repre- 
sented, and  with  a  creditable  military  record 
he  returned  to  his  home. 

On  again  reaching  Piatt  county  Mr.  Clark 
spent  a  short  time  in  the  village  of  Bement, 
and  afterward  went  to  Monticello  township, 
where  he  again  took  up  the  occupation  of 
farming,  which  he  followed  through  several 
years.  He  has  been  twice  married  and  by 
his  first  wife  had  five  children,  of  whom  two 
are  still  living,  the  others  having  died  in  in- 
fancy. Sherman  is  now  a  resident  of  Iowa. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


389 


He  married  Lena  Bauch,  and  they  have  five 
children.  John,  the  second  surviving  son, 
is  employed  in  St.  Louis.  For  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Clark  chose  Mrs.  Eliza  Gulliford, 
the  widow  of  Thomas  Gulliford.  She  was  a 
native  of  England,  and  a  daughter  of  Ed- 
win and  Anna  (Bacon)  Knighton,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  England,  where  they 
spent  their  entire  lives.  Mrs.  Clark  came  to 
the  United  States  when  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  Her  first  husband,  Thomas  Gulliford, 
was  also  born  in  England,  and  came  to 
America  in  the  same  vessel  in  which  Mr. 
Clark  crossed  the  Atlantic.  He  made  his  way 
to  Piatt  county  and  located  in  Cerro  Gordo 
township,  where  he  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  He  also  became  an  ex- 
tensive shipper  of  live  stock  to  the  city  mar- 
kets, and  a  well-known  business  man  of  this 
locality.  He  died  in  Cerro  Gordo  township 
at  the  age  of  forty-three  years,  leaving  a 
widow  and  two  children,  the  sons  being  Wal- 
ter E.  and  Herbert.  The  former,  who  is  now 
a  farmer  of  Cerro  Gordo  township,  married 
Edith  Peel  and  they  have  one  child,  Katie. 
Herbert,  who  is  also  an  agriculturist  of 
Cerro  Gordo  township,  wedded  Mabel  High 
and  they  have  a  son,  William. 

After  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Clark  en- 
gaged in  the  operation  of  the  farm  owned 
by  his  wife  until  his  health  failed,  and  dur- 
ing the  last  few  years  he  has  been  leading 
a  quiet  life  at  his  pleasant  home  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Bement.  He  draws  a  pension  in 
recognition  of  his  services  during  the  Civil 
war,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
Post  at  Bement.  In  politics  he  has  always 
been  a  Republican,  and  in  matters  of  citi- 
zenship he  is  as  true  and  loyal  to  his  coun- 
try as  when  he  wore  his  blue  uniform,  and 
followed  her  banners  upon  the  battlefields 
of  the  south. 

18 


ISAAC    SHIVELY. 

Among  the  prominent  and  successful 
agriculturists  of  Piatt  county  none  are  more 
deserving  of  mention  in  this  volume  than  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  February  8,  1837,  and  there  spent 
the  first  fourteen  years  of  his  life,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  removed  to  Wabash  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  with  his  parents,  Christian  and 
Barbara  (Ulery)  Shively,  the  family  loca- 
ting near  North  Manchester.  His  parents 
were  also  natives  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  the  father  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. He  assisted  materially  in  the  early 
development  and  upbuilding  of  Wabash 
county,  Indiana,  and  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  that  state,  but  died  at  the  home 
of  our  subject  on  section  24,  Cerro  Gordo 
township,  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  when  over 
eighty-eight  years  of  age.  His  wife  had 
passed  away  on  the  old  home  farm  near 
North  Manchester,  Indiana.  In  their  family 
were  eight  children  :  Jacob  died  in  infancy ; 
Esther  is1  the  wife  of  John  Miller,  of  North 
Manchester,  Wabash  county,  Indiana ;  Sam- 
uel died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years;  Isaac  is 
next  in  order  of  birth ;  Christian  is  a  resident 
of  Lincoln,  Nebraska;  Elizabeth  married 
Samuel  Blickenstaff  and  died  in  Wabash 
county,  Indiana,  leaving  a  family;  John  H. 
lives  in  North  Manchester,  Indiana ;  and 
Barbara  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 

Isaac  Shively  received  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  Ohio  as  his 
time  was  almost  wholly  occupied  by  the  work 
of  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer, 
near  North  Manchester,  Wabash  county, 
Indiana,  and  remained  there  until  after  his 
marriage.  He  wedded  Miss  Margaret 


390 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Blickenstaff,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Gumph)  Blickenstaff,  and  in  1871, 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  three  children, 
he  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois.  He  pur- 
chased the  north  half  of  section  24,  Cerro 
Gordo  township,  some  of  which  was  under 
cultivation,  but  there  were  many  ponds  and 
much  of  the  land  unbroken,  but  he  has  since 
ditched  and  drained  it  and  made  many  other 
improvements  to  the  value  of  thousands  of 
dollars.  In  addition  to  the  original  pur- 
chase he  now  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  more,  which  is  well  drained.  For  his 
first  eighty  acres  he  paid  twenty-five  dollars 
per  acre,  for  the  second  eighty  thirty  dollars, 
and  for  the  last  eighty  acres,  adjoining  it  on 
the  east,  sixty  dollars  per  acre.  He  now  has 
four  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  it  is  all 
worth  over  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  ow- 
ing to  the  rise  in  value  and  the  many  im- 
provements he  has  made  thereon.  He  built 
two  good  barns,  one,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  and 
the  other  thirty  by  seventy-eight  feet,  which 
will  accommodate  sixteen  head  of  horses  and 
cattle,  and  he  has  corncribs  which  hold  about 
six  thousand  bushels.  His  success  in  life 
is  due  entirely  to  his  own  well-directed  ef- 
forts, being  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and 
good  business  ability.  He  has  always  made 
the  most  of  his  advantages,  and  has  labored 
untiringly  to  make  for  himself  and  family 
a  comfortable  home  and  competence.  Be- 
sides his  property  in  this  state,  he  owns  a 
section  of  land  southwest  of  Houston,  Texas. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shively  were  born 
ten  children,  seven  sons  and  three  daughters, 
of  whom  nine  are  yet  living :  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  Frank  Etnoyer,  of  Cerro  Gordo 
township ;  Julia,  wife  of  Jacob  Wyne,  whose 
home  is  near  LaPlace  in  Cerro  Gordo  town- 
ship; Daniel,  who  married  May  Boone  and 
lives  in  Cerro  Gordo  township;  John,  who 


married  Dora  Musselman  and  also  resides 
in  Cerro  Gordo  township;  Samuel,  who 
wedded  Annie  Musselman,  a  sister  of  his 
brother's  wife,  and  makes  his  home  in  the 
same  township;  Joseph,  who  married  Nora 
Duncan  and  resides  in  Carroll  'county, 
Indiana ;  Jerome,  Ira  and  Festus,  all  at 
home. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Shively  has  served 
as  school  director  and  has  ever  taken  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  educational  affairs,  doing  all 
in  his  power  to  secure  good  teachers  and  the 
best  advantages  along  that  line.  He  is  a 
deacon  in  the  German  Baptist  church  of  La- 
Place,  in  which  he  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership, and  they  are  active  and  sincere 
Christian  workers.  Mr.  Shively  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  representative  men  of  his  com- 
munity, as  well  as  one  of  its  most  substantial 
and  honored  citizens,  and  is  therefore  justly 
deserving  of  mention  in  this  volume. 


EUROPE  L.  FOSNAUGH. 

Europe  L.  Fosnaugh  is  largely  a  promot- 
er of  the  business  activity  of  White  Heath, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  dealing  in  dry  goods, 
boots,  shoes  and  groceries.  He  is  also  pro- 
prietor of  the  only  hotel  in  the  town  nnd 
throughout  this  portion  of  the  county  he  is 
very  widely  known,  while  his  friends  are  al- 
most as  numerous  as  his  acquaintances.  He 
was  born  upon  the  farm  three  miles  north- 
east of  the  village,  September  24,  1858,  his 
parents  being  Ezra  and  Eliza  (Bushee)  Fos- 
naugh. He  is  of  German  and  French  de- 
scent. His  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Fos- 
naugh. was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
was  of  German  lineage,  while  the  maternal 
grandfather,  Jacob  Bushee.  was  of  French 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


extraction.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were 
natives  of  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  and  in  the 
year  1856  came  to  Illinois.  They  journeyed 
westward  by  wagon  to  Macoupin  county, 
where  they  remained  for  one  winter  and  then 
continued  on  their  way  to  Piatt  county.  Here 
the  father  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
near  White  Heath  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred oh  the  ist  of  October,  1873,  when  he 
was  fifty  years  old,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  1823.  His  wife  was  born  in  1832  and  sur- 
vived him  until  1901.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children :  Austin,  who  is  a 
merchant  in  Clinton,  Illinois;  Selina,  who 
was  the  wife  of  George  McCabe  and  died  in 
1873;  Theodore,  a  railroad  employe  living 
in  Springfield,  Illinois ;  Elifus,  a  farmer  who 
is  living  five  miles  east  of  Monticello ;  Eu- 
rope L. ;  Dora  Alice,  the  wife  of  William 
Dungan,  of  Deadwood,  South  Dakota;  Lau- 
ra Belle,  the  wife  of  John  Dilsaver,  who  re- 
sides upon  the  home  farm;  and  Erwin,  a 
railroad  employe  living  in  Decatur,  Illinois. 
Europe  L.  Fosnaugh  pursued  a  common- 
school  education  in  the  Prairie  Dell  school 
near  White  Heath.  His  studies  were  pur- 
sued through  the  winter  months,  while  dur- 
ing the  summer  he  worked  with  his  father 
and  thus  became  familiar  with  the  farm  work 
in  all  its  departments.  He  entered  upon  an 
independent  business  career  as  a  farm  hand, 
working  for  eighteen  dollars  per  month,  and 
he  continued  in  that  way  for  about  four 
years.  He  next  rented  a  farm  which  he  cul- 
tivated for  a  year  and  subsequently  he  ac- 
cepted a  clerkship  in  his  brothers  store  in 
Lane,  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained for  three  years.  When  that  time  had 
elapsed  he  again  rented  a  farm  for  one  sea- 
son and  then  embarked  in  business  for  him- 
self as  proprietor  of  a  pool  and  billiard  hall 
in  Tolono,  Illinois.  He  conducted  it  for 


three  years,  and  on  selling  it  took  charge  of 
his  brother's  store  in  Lane,  this  state,  there 
continuing  as  a  merchant  for  fifteen  years, 
when  he  purchased  the  store  in  White  Heath 
of  which  he  has  since  been  proprietor.  He 
now  carries  a  large  and  well-selected  line  of 
dry  goods,  boots,  shoes  and  groceries,  and 
has  a  liberal  and  growing  patronage.  On  the 
7th  of  April,  1903,  he  rented  the  only  hotel 
in  the  town  and  has  since  conducted  it.  This 
hotel  is  well  located  on  the  main  thorough- 
fare of  the  village  and  in  this  line  Mr.  Fos- 
naugh also  does  a  profitable  business. 

On  the  23<i  of  March,  1874,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Europe  L.  Fosnaugh  and 
Miss  Ida  J.  Graham,  a  daughter  of  George 
W.  and  Jane  (Morgan)  Graham.  She  was 
born  February  4,  1861.  Her  father's  birth 
occurred  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  July  8, 
1824,  and  he  was  a  son  of  William  and  Su- 
sanna (Leichleiter)  Graham,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia. After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity 
George  W.  Graham  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Jane  Morgan,  who  was  born  in 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  December  4,  1827, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  ( Mc- 
Cleary)  Morgan,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania. 
The  latter  was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Ja- 
nette  ( McCleary)  McCleary,  who  were  cous- 
ins prior  to  their  marriage.  ,  They  went  to 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  in  1815,  and  the  lat- 
ter died  in  1862.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fos- 
naugh have  been  born  six  children:  Harlie, 
who  is  now  at  home;  Garah,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Vance  Mattix,  a  farmer  of  DeWitt  coun- 
ty ;  and  Grace  Jane,  Lucile,  William  and  Le- 
ota,  at  home. 

Mrs.  Fosnaugh  is  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Christian  church  and  a  most  estimable 
lady.  Mr.  Fosnaugh  belongs  to  Mozart 
Lodge,  No.  96,  K.  P.,  of  Weldon,  Illinois; 
to  Lane  Camp,  No.  1782,  W.  M.  A.,  of  Lane; 


392 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


and  the  Mutual  Protective  League  of  Lane. 
He  is  likewise  connected  with  the  Royal 
Neighbors,  and  in  these  various  societies  he 
is  a  valued  representative,  having  the  good 
will  and  high  regard  of  his  brethren.  Po- 
litically, he  is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  but  has 
never  sought  or  desired  public  office,  prefer- 
ring to  devote  his  energies  to  his  business  af- 
fairs. That  he  has  prospered  is  due  entirely 
to  his  own  labors.  Realizing  that  there  is 
no  royal  road  to  wealth,  he  has  worked  un- 
tiringly as  the  years  have  gone  by,  and  upon 
the  sure  foundation  of  indefatigable  industry 
he  has  builded  his  success. 


C.  T.  RINEHART. 

On  a  farm  on  section  25,  Blue  Ridge 
township,  resides  C.  T.  Rinehart,  who  is  one 
of  the  worthy  citizens  of  Piatt  county  that 
Pennsylvania  has  furnished  to  this  state.  He 
was  born  in  Millerstown  of  the  Keystone 
state  in  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and 
Mary  A.  Rinehart.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  always  carried  on  that 
work  in  Pennsylvania.  At  the  time  of  the 
Civil  war,  however,  he  put  aside  all  business 
and  personal  considerations,  enlisting  in 
1 86 1  as  a  member  of  the  Union  Army.  He 
participated  in  many  of  the  most  important 
engagements  of  the  war  until  about  the  close 
of  hostilities  when  he  was  wounded  in  the 
left  shoulder,  the  wound  proving  so  serious 
that  it  became  necessary  to  amputate  his 
arm.  He  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  the 
Soldiers'  Home  in  Virginia,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  Millerstown,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1893. 

Mr.  Rinehart  of  this  review  began  his 
education  in  Pennsylvania  as  a  student  in 


one  of  the  old-time  log  schoolhouses.  He 
sat  upon  a  slab  bench  and  conned  his  lessons 
from  books  that  were  almost  as  primitive  as 
the  school  buildings.  Later  he  attended 
school  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  for  one 
term  and  he  has  also  added  to  his  knowledge 
through  reading  and  experience  until  he  is 
now  a  well  informed  man.  Having  come  to 
the  west  in  early  manhood  Mr.  Rinehart  be- 
gan working  for  himself  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one years,  being  first  employed  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand  in  Logan  county.  He 
there  worked  for  three  years,  receiving 
eighteen  dollars  per  month,  after  which  he 
rented  a  farm  where  his  mother  acted  as  his 
housekeeper.  In  1886,  however,Mr.  Rine- 
hart was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Melissa 
J.  Michaels,  and  unto  them  has  been  born  a 
daughter,  Bessie  Fay,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  McLean  county,  Illinois,  on  the  i8th  of 
April,  1892,  and  who  is  now  attending  the 
home  school. 

Mrs.  Rinehart  was  born  in  Logan 
county,  December  15,  1862,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Gus  Davis  and  Elizabeth  (Barr) 
Michaels.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, torn  June  6,  1822,  and  was  twelve 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  this  country. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  South.  She  was  born 
in  De  Witt  county,  Illinois,  August  2,  1834, 
and  died  there  September  27,  1893.  Mr. 
Michaels'  death  occurred  June  26,  1894, 
both  passing  away  at  the  home  of  a  daugh- 
ter in  DeWitt  county,  though  they  made 
their  home  in  Logan  county  for  many  years. 
Mrs.  Rinehart  has  five  sisters  and  one 
brother  living. 

Mr.  Rinehart  first  became  a  landowner 
in  1893,  when  he  purchased  a  tract  of  forty 
acres.  Two  years  later,  having  prospered 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


393 


in  the  meantime,  he  added  to  this  eighty 
acres,  and  he  now  lives  upon  his  farm  which 
comprises  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
the  rich  land  of  Piatt  county.  It  is  situated 
on  section  25,  Blue  Ridge  township,  and  is 
a  good  property.  In  1902  he  spent  four 
thousand  dollars  in  improving  his  house  and 
barn.  In  his  home  he  has  many  of  the  mod- 
ern equipments  which  are  found  in  the  city 
homes  of  the  present.  There  is  hard  and 
soft  water  all  through  the  house,  being  piped 
to  the  various  rooms,  and  a  hot  water  plant 
is  used  for  heating,  while  the  light  is  fur- 
nished by  a  system  of  acetylene  gas  lamps. 
Under  the  house  there  is  a  basement  contain- 
ing five  rooms,  and  altogether  this  home  is 
one  of  the  most  modern  and  desirable  in  the 
county. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rinehart  belong  to 
the  Methodist  church  and  are  widely  known 
throughout  the  community  for  their  ster- 
ling worth  and  upright  lives.  In  politics 
Mr.  Rinehart  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served 
as  a  school  director  for  a  number  of  years, 
the  cause  of  education  finding  in  him  a  warm 
friend.  He  is  always  deeply  interested  in 
everything  pretaining  to  the  welfare  and 
progress  of  the  community  along  lines  of 
material,  social,  intellectual  and  moral  de- 
velopment and  his  cooperation  for  the  pub- 
lic good  has  been  far-reaching  and  benefi- 
cial. 


SYLVANUS  NELSON. 

Agriculture  is,  perhaps,  the  chief  occu- 
pation of  the  residents  of  Piatt  county  for 
the  lands  in  this  portion  of  the  state  are 
so  rich  and  productive  that  a  splendid  oppor- 
tunity is  afforded  for  the  acquirement  of  suc- 
cess by  following  farming.  To  this  work 


Mr.  Nelson  devotes  his  time  and  energies, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Piatt  coun- 
ty, his  birth  having  occurred  here  on  the  I2th 
of  December,  1856.  His  parents  were  Wes- 
ley and  Nancy  (Marsh)  Nelson,  who  re- 
moved from  Indiana  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois, 
at  an  early  period  in  the  development  of  this 
portion  of  the  state.  The  father  was  of 
German  lineage  and  the  mother  of  Irish  de- 
scent. He  devoted  his  energies  to  the  occu- 
pation of  farming  and  thus  provided  for  his 
family. 

On  the  old  family  homestead  in  the  coun- 
ty of  his  nativity  Sylvanus  Nelson  was 
reared,  his  boyhood  days  being  spent  in  the 
usual  manner  of  most  farmer  lads  of  the  pe- 
riod. In  his  early  youth  he  was  a  student  in 
the  Clinger  school  in  Piatt  county,  and  the 
remainder  of  his  education  has  been  ob- 
tained through  reading  and  through  contact 
with  the  world,  whereby  he  has  gained  much 
valuable  and  practical  experience.  He  was 
twenty-two  years  of  age  when  he  started 
out  upon  an  independent  business  career,  and 
well  may  he  be  called  a  self-made  man,  for 
all  that  he  has  acquired  has  been  gained 
through  his  determination  and  energy.  He 
has  had  no  assistance  from  influential 
friends,  nor  has  a  fortunate  combination  of 
circumstances  aided  him.  He  first  worked 
by  •  the  month  for  Daniel  Reed,  receiving 
twenty-two  dollars  per  month.  He  was  thus 
employed  for  a  year,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  rented  a  tract  of  land  of  David  Bail- 
ey, of  New  York,  who  owned  farming  in- 
terests in  Piatt  county.  About  1893  Mr.  Nel- 
son purchased  a  farm  in  Indiana,  becoming 
the  owner  of  eighty  acres  in  Boone  county, 
and  later  he  disposed  of  that.  He  now  has  a 
farm  in  Blue  Ridge  township,  and  his  well- 
developed  property  indicates  that  his  career 
has  been  an  active  and  useful  one. 


394 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


On  the  3d  of  July,  1880,  Mr.  Nelson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Ber- 
ry, and  as  the  years  have  passed  children  to 
the  number  of  six  have  been  added  to  the 
household:  Lillie  Bell,  born  April  9,  1881, 
is  now  married  and  resides  upon  her  father's 
farm;  William  Jasper,  born  August  16, 
1884;  Laura  May,  born  July  27,  1887;  Roy, 
born  March  18,  1890;  Amy  Winniefred, 
born  January  27,  1893,  and  Flora  Henrietta, 
born  November  28,  1897,  are  all  with  their 
parents.  Thus  the  family  circle  remains  un- 
broken. 

Mr.  Nelson  belongs  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  in  which  he  carries 
insurance  amounting  to  three  thousand  'dol- 
lars. He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  was  at  one  time  the 
school  director,  but  otherwise  has  held  no 
public  office.  He  has  made  the  golden  rule 
his  life  motto,  and  has  closely  followed  it. 
After  an  honorable  and  useful  life,  actuated 
by  unselfish  motives,  he  may  rest  assured 
that  the  people  of  the  county  entertain  for 
him  respect,  confidence  and  good  will. 


PHILIP  ISOR  GORDON. 

Nature  seems  to  have  intended  that  man 
should  enjoy  a  period  of  rest  in  his  more 
advanced  years,  for  in  early  life  one  is  full 
of  energy,  determination  and  courage,  and 
later  added  to  .these  qualities  is  a  mature 
judgment  that  renders  one's  efforts  more  ef- 
fective in  the  search  of  success.  With  ad- 
vancing years,  however,  comes  a  desire  for 
rest  that  may  be  gratified  if  one  has  dili- 
gently labored  along  practical  lines  as  Mr. 
Gordon  has  done.  In  former  years  he  was 


engaged  in  general  farming  and  worked  so 
untiringly  and  earnestly  that  to-day  he  is  the 
possessor  of  a  handsome  competence.  He 
maintains  his  home  in  Mansfield,  where  he 
is  now  living  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  born  in  Bucks  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1838, 
his  parents  being  Franklin  and  Gertrude 
(Hyde)  Gordon.  The  father  was  born  Jan- 
uary 26,  1810,  and  the  mother  February  9, 
1811,  and  they  were  married  on  the  I7th  of 
December,  1829.  Their  union  was  blessed 
with  ten  children,  of  whom  Philip  I.  is  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth.  The  family  record 
is  as  follows :  Caroline,  born  December  18, 
1830;  Anna,  October  6,  1832;  Martha  A., 
July  20,  1835;  Philip  I.,  January  4,  1838; 
Benjamin  Thomas,  January  24,  1841 ;  An- 
na E.,  January  3,  1843 ;  Nancy  Jane,  March 
ii,  1845;  Mary  Katherine,  October  20 f  • 
1847;  Sarah  A.,  January  19,  1850;  and  Git- 
ty  Margaret,  September  5,  1853.  Only  four 
of  these  children  are  now  living,  Philip,  Sa- 
rah, Mary  and  Gitty.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  removed  from  the 
Keystone  state  to  New  Jersey,  whence  he 
afterward  went  to  Preble  county,  Ohio,  mak- 
ing the  journey  by  wagon.  He  was  upon 
the  road  for  six  weeks,  and  then  reached  his 
destination  in  safety.  For  seventeen  years 
he  continued  to  reside  in  Preble  county, 
where  he  owned  and  operated  a  farm  of  fifty- 
three  acres.  In  1857  he  came  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  served  for  many  years 
as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship. He  had  also  filled  that  position  in 
Ohio,  and  the  official  papers  for  his  tenth 
term  came  to  him  when  he  was  on  his  death- 
bed. He  was  a  man  in  whom  his  friends  and 
fellow  citizens  placed  unbounded  confidence, 
for  he  was  the  soul  of  honor  and  integrity 
in  all  life's  relations.  When  serving  as  jus- 


PI  ATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


395 


tice  in  Ohio  and  Illinois  he  settled  many  es- 
tates, especially  in  Ohio.  He  did  practically 
all  of  this  for  miles  around.  He  left  to  his 
family  the  priceless  heritage  of  an  untar- 
nished name,  and  to  his  friends  the  memory 
of  a  noble  life.  He  passed  away  April  12, 
1872,  after  having  survived  his  wife  for 
about  five  years.  She  died  July  30,  1867, 
and  her  death  was  also  deeply  deplored  by 
those  who  knew  her,  for  she  was  a  most 
estimable  woman. 

Philip  I.  Gordon,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  early 
life  in  Ohio,  being  reared  upon  the  home 
farm,  where  he  early  became  familiar  with 
the  duties  and  labors  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the 
agriculturist.  When  a  young  man  of  nineteen 
years  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and 
throughout  his  business  career  he  followed 
the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared. 
When  he  had  acquired  sufficient  capital  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  Blue  Ridge  township,  which  he  still 
owns,  and  to  this  he  afterward  added  a  tract 
of  forty  acres.  While  upon  the  farm  he 
raised  considerable  stock,  feeding  them  all 
of  the  grain  which  he  annually  harvested. 
His  farming  methods  were  progressive  and 
in  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  the  times. 
Everything  about  his  place  was  neat  and 
thrifty  in  appearance  and  gave  evidence  of 
his  careful  supervision  and  practical  methods. 
In  1890,  however,  he  put  aside  the  arduous 
duties  of  agricultural  life  and  took  up  his 
abode  in  Mansfield,  where  he  is  now  living 
retired. 

On  the  1 7th  of  February,  1860,  Mr.  Gor- 
don was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha 
J.  Mathews,  and  unto  them  have  been  born 
three  children :  Thomas  Edward,  whose 
birth  occurred  December  20,  1860,  and  who 
died  January  22,  1864;  Benjamin  Franklin, 


who  was  born  August  15,  1862,  and  died 
April  17,  1866;  and  Charles,  who  was  born 
on  the  1 8th  of  February,  1864,  and  married 
Luella  Caldwell.  He  is  now  living  on  the 
old  home  farm  in  Blue  Ridge  township,  and 
•  unto  him  and  his  wife  have  been  born  three 
children :  Philip  Burton,  Bertha  and  James 
Willard. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Gordon  is 
a  stalwart  Republican  and  has  firm  faith  in 
the  principles  of  the  party,  but  has  never  as- 
pired to  public  office,  preferring  to  give  his 
time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests, 
which  have  been  so  capably  conducted  that 
he  has  gained  a  neat  little  fortune.  He  and 
his  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  regularly  attend  its 
services,  contribute  generously  to  its  support 
and  take  a  helpful  interest  in  its  work.  They 
are  well  known  in  Mansfield,  and  their  many 
friends  speak  of  them  in  terms  of  praise. 


WILLIAM  F.  MATSON,  M.  D. 

From  no  professional  man  do  we  expect 
to  exact  so  many  of  the  cardinal  virtues  as 
from  the  physician.  If  the  clergyman  is  au- 
stere, we  imagine  that  his  mind  is  absorbed 
with  the  contemplation  of  things  beyond  our 
ken;  if  our  lawyer  is  brusque  and  crabbed, 
it  is  the  mark  of  genius ;  but  in  the  physician 
we  expect  not  only  a  superior  quality  of 
mentality  and  comprehensive  knowledge,  but 
sympathy  as  wide  as  the  universe.  Dr.  Mat- 
son  in  large  measure  meets  all  these  require- 
ments and  is  regarded  by  many  as  an  ideal 
physician.  Certainly  if  patronage  is  any  cri- 
terion of  ability  he  ranks  high  among  the 
leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Piatt 
county.  He  has  resided  here  since  1898,  and 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


during  the  intervening  years  has  well  demon- 
strated his  broad  learning  and  ready  adapt- 
ability of  his  knowledge  to  the  needs  of  suf- 
fering humanity. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Dr.  Matson  was  born 
in  Logan  county,  that  state,  on  the  gth  of 
August,  1864.  He  comes  of  Scotch  and 
Irish  ancestry  in  the  paternal  line,  and  is  of 
German  lineage  in  the  maternal  line.  His 
great-grandfather,  Uriah  J.  Matson,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, following  the  pursuit  through  his 
entire  life.  He  wedded  Eliza  J.  Beach,  a 
native  of  Ohio.  Dr.  Albert  F.  Matson,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Rich- 
land  county,  Ohio,  and  after  attaining  his 
majority  practiced  medicine  there  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
served  as  a  surgeon  and  was  stationed  for  a 
considerable  time  at  Bermuda  Hundred. 
After  his  return  from  the  war  he  resumed 
practice  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1867.  He  married  Miss  Hannah  J.  Mar- 
quess, who  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  T.  and  Rosina 
(Stiles)  Marquess,  natives  of  Virginia.  In 
the  family  of  Dr.  Albert  F.  Matson  and  his 
wife  were  three  children  :  Charles  A.,  a  min- 
ing engineer,  is  at  Dawson,  Alaska ;  Ona 
D.  died  in  1895. 

Dr.  William  F.  Matson  obtained  his  pre- 
liminary education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  then  took  up  the 
study  of  telegraphy  and  telegraph  construc- 
tion, entering  the  employ  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company,  with  which  he 
continued  for  some  time.  From  1888  until 
1890  Dr.  Matson  was  in  the  West  Indies, 
in  the  employ  of  the  West  India  Improve- 
ment Company,  and  later  he  was  in  the  serv- 
ice of  James  Ray,  the  millionaire  prince  of 


the  West  Indies.  On  returning  to  the 
United  States  he  took  up  the  study  of  medi- 
cine, reading  in  the  office  and  under  the  di- 
rection of  Dr.  Staples,  a  prominent  physi- 
cian of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  later  he  was 
graduated  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
State  University  of  Iowa  City,  with  the  class 
of  1896.  After  his  graduation  the  Doctor 
located  in  Gilmore,  Humboldt  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  continued  in  practice  for  two  years, 
and  in  1898  he  came  to  Monticello,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  Here  he  has  se- 
cured a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

In  1886  Dr.  Matson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ida  M.  Calland,  of  Degraff. 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Gershan  and  Elizabeth 
(Dickey)  Calland.  They  now  have  one 
daughter,  Ona  Marguerite.  Both  the  Doctor 
and  his  wife  have  gained  many  friends  dur- 
ing the  five  years  of  their  residence  in  Monti- 
cello  and  their  own  home  is  the  center  of  a 
cultured  society  circle.  The  Doctor  is  a 
wo'rthy  representative  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, belonging  to  Fraternal  Lodge,  No. 
58,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  to  Lincoln  Park  Chap- 
ter, No.  177,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Chicago.  In  the 
line  of  his  profession  he  is  connected  with  the 
Champaign  County  District  Medical  Society, 
the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  and  the 
American  Medical  Association,  and  through 
the  interchange  of  thought  and  experience  in 
these  organizations  he  is  continually  broad- 
ening his  scientific  knowledge  and  rendering 
his  labors  more  effective  in  his  practice. 


DANIEL  P.  SWISHER. 

Daniel  P.  Swisher,  who  is  successfully 
carrying  on  general  farming  on  section  16, 
Goose  Creek  township,  was  born  on  the  gth 


MR.  AND  MRS.  D.  P.  SWISHER 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


399' 


of  September,  1850,  in  the  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Palm)  Swisher,  natives  of  West  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania,  respectively,  the  former 
born  April  25,  1803,  and  the  latter  January 
n,  1805.  The  Palms  were  of  German  de- 
scent, Mrs.  Swisher's  parents  having  come 
to  this  country  from  the  fatherland.  The 
birthplace  of  the  father  of  our  subject  was 
Stanton,  West  Virginia,  and  there  he  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  until  about  1840, 
when  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania.  Previous 
to  this  event  he  had  followed  the  black- 
smith's trade,  but  he  now  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming,  in  which  pursuit  he  engaged 
until  called  to  his  final  rest  on  the  nth  of 
August,  1857.  He  had  nine  children,  who 
in  order  of  birth,  were  as  follows :  Sarah 
Anne  Elizabeth,  born  October  3,  1824,  died 
July  2,  1825.  William,  born  December  3, 
1827,  was  graduated  at  the  Allegheny  Medi- 
cal College  at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  first  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Elmwood,  Illinois,  and  later  at 
Canton,  this  state,  where  he  died  in  1881, 
leaving  a  wife  and  one  child.  His  son,  Edwin 
S.  Swisher,  is  now  a  practicing  physician  of 
New  Mexico.  Mary  Eveline  Amanda,  the 
third  child  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  Swisher, 
was  born  December  5,  1831,  and  died  Au- 
gust 17,  1850.  Elmus  Josiah  E.,  born  No- 
vember 22,  1834,  died  in  July,  1840.  Julia 
is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Billig,  who  is  engaged 
in  farming  near  Harper- in  Harper  county, 
Kansas.  Emily  L.  is  a  resident  of  Fairview, 
and  the  widow  of  Jacob  Wise,  a  carriage- 
maker  and  trimmer,  who  died  about  fifteen 
years  ago.  Jacob  James  K.,  who  was  born 
in  1843,  ar>d  died  during  his  service  in  the 
Civil  war  March  2,  1863.  Samuel  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  harness  business  at  Meadville, 
Pennsylvania. 

Daniel  P.  Swisher  received  a  good  prac- 


tical education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  state,  and  made  his  home  with  his 
mother  until  reaching  manhood,  his  father 
having  died  when  he  was  only  seven  years 
old.  In  early  life  he  learnd  the  harness- 
maker's  trade  at  Jamestown,  Pennsylvania, 
and  continued  to  follow  that  occupation  until 
1873,  when  he  came  west  and  located  a  mile 
west  of  DeLand,  Illinois,  in  Piatt  county. 
Here  he  rented  eighty  acres  of  land  which  he 
afterward  purchased  in  1883,  and  although 
he  has  since  bought  and  sold  a  number  of 
farms,  on  which  he  has  made  his  home  for  a 
time,  he  finally  returned  to  his  first  purchase. 
The  farm  is  well  tiled  and  improved  and  is 
divided  into  fields  of  convenient  size  by  well- 
kept  fences.  A  deep  well  has  been  made  and 
a  windpump  set  up,  and  the  place  is  supplied 
with  the  latest  improved  machinery  for  facil- 
itating farm  work.  The  family  residence 
has  been  remodeled  and  improved  and  the 
fields  are  highly  cultivated.  In  connection 
with  the  operation  of  his  own  land,  'Mr. 
Swisher  has  charge  of  his  father-in-law's 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 

In  1876  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Sarah  Ann  Wilson,  a  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph and  Lucinda  (Judy)  Wilson,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  three  children :  Ger- 
trude E.,  at  home;  Edith  Viola,  wife  of 
Charles  Marvel,  a  farmer  of  Goose  Creek 
township ;  and  Grace  Anna,  at  home.  The 
family  are  earnest  and  consistent  members 
of  the  Christian  church  of  DeLand,  and  Mr. 
Swisher  also  holds  membership  in  DeLand 
Lodge,  No.  740,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican. 


JOSEPH  C.   SMITH. 

On  section  24,  Blue  Ridge  township,  is 
located  the  home   and    farm   of   Joseph    C. 


'400 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Smith,  who  is  successfully  carrying' on  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  born  in 
the  year  1845,  an<^  's  a  son  °^  Thomas  and 
Jane  Smith.  .  His  paternal  grandfather  was  a 
native  of  England  and  came  from  York, 
that  country,  to  America  in  the  year  1816, 
landing  at  Philadelphia.  He  crossed  the 
mountains  in  wagons  and  came  down  the 
Ohio  river  in  a  flatboat,  landing  at  Law- 
renceburg,  Indiana.  In  that  locality  he  pur- 
chased land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  a 
number  of  years,  being  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  the  locality.  Thus  he  took  an  active 
part  in  advancing  civilization  there  and  aided 
in  laying  the  foundation  for  the  present  pros- 
perity and  progress  of  the  commit  rt 
family  were  ten  children,  including  Thomas 
Smith,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was 
born  in  York,  England,  in  1805.  He  pur- 
sued his  early  education  there  and  acquired 
good  mental  training  for  that  day.  With 
his  parents  he  came  to  America  and  through 
long  years  was  identified  with  agricultural 
interests  in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana. 
Prior  to  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  stanch  Aboli- 
tionist and  was  very  anxious  to  see  slaves 
freed,  but  he  never  lived  to  hear  the  procla- 
mation. When  because  of  the  cruelty  of 
southern  masters  many  slaves  attempted 
to  gain  freedom  in  Canada,  Mr.  Smith  con- 
ducted what  was  known  as  a  station  on  the 
famous  underground  railroad.  He  and  his 
wife  frequently  sheltered  the  negroes,  who 
were  then  fleeing  northward  and  assisted 
them  on  their  way.  Thomas  Smith  died  in 
1863,  and  his  wife,  who  was  born  in  1807, 
long  survived  him,  passing  away  in  1891. 
In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
eight  children,  and  our  subject  now  has  one 
brother  who  lives  in  Piatt  county. 

Joseph  C.  Smith  was    reared    and    edu- 
cated in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana.  He  pur- 


sued his  studies  in  an  old  log  school-house 
and,  though  his  privileges  were  somewhat 
limited  he  made  the  most  of  his  opportuni- 
ties arid  has  always  followed  that  course 
through  life.  It  has  been  this  that  has 
brought  to  him  his  success.  He  started  out 
for  himself  when  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  for  two  years  worked  by  the  month  as  a 
farm  hand  in  Piatt  county,  receiving  from 
twenty-five  to  forty  dollars  per  month.  He 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  about  1890, 
and  has  since  added  to  his  original  purchase 
a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  The 
land  was  not  improved  and  Mr.  Smith  broke 
it,  doing  the  first  plowing  upon  the  fields. 
He  has  added  a  great  many  substantial  im- 
provements, has  planted  all  of  the  trees,  has 
erected  good  buildings  and  has  made  a  splen- 
did farm.  His  attention  has  always  been 
given  to  general  farming,  and  to-day  he  has 
a.  valuable  property.  In  1873  he  erected  a 
good  residence,  and  the  following  year  built 
a  large  barn.  Annually  he  sells  good  crops, 
and  as  the  years  have  passed  he  has  gradu- 
ally increased  his  capital  until  he  is  now 
numbered  among  the  men  of  affluence  in  the 
community.  In  1871  Mr.  Smith  was  offered 
a  wagon  for  one  hundred  dollars  cash  or  one 
hundred  and  ten  dollars  on  time.  He  went 
to  a  bank  in  Farmer  City  and  borrowed  one 
hundred  dollars  for  three  months,  paying 
six  dollars  interest,  but  on  the  expiration  of 
that  time  did  not  have  the  money  and  paid 
six  dollars  more  interest.  At  the  end  of  six 
months  he  was  still  unable  to  pay  and  was 
told  that  as  money  was  a  little  more  plentiful 
he  could  have  it  for  another  three  months  for 
five  dollars.  Again  he  could  not  raise  the 
one  hundred  dollars,  and  this  time  paid  an- 
other six  dollars  interest.  He  was  able  to 
settle  at  the  end  of  the  year,  after  having 
paid  twenty-three  dollars  interest,  which 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


401 


would  seem  very  exorbitant  price  at  present. 

In  1874  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Lida  Robinson,  a  daughter  of 
William  Robinson,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  six  children;  Omer,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years;  Nora,  who  is  the  wife 
of  E.  B.  James,  by  whom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren ;  Raymond,  who  married  Maude  El- 
more;  Alfred,  who  is  living  at  home  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years ;  Burton,  who  is  now 
fourteen  years  of  age ;  and  Glenn,  who  died 
in  1902. 

Mr.  Smith  is  now  serving  as  the  efficient 
road  commissioner  of  Blue  Ridge  township, 
and  has  held  the  office  for  four  years.  Dur- 
ing the  spring  of  1903  he  had  five  iron 
bridges  built  in  Blue  Ridge  township.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and 
is  a  progressive  citizen,  taking  an  active  in- 
terest in  everything  pertaining  to  the  welfare 
of  the  comunity  and  its  progress  along  sub- 
stantial lines.  When  he  came  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty there  were  only  one  or  two  spring  vehicles 
in  the  county,  and  everything  was  primitive 
because  this  district  was  but  a  frontier  set- 
tlement. Great  changes  have  since  occurred 
and  Mr.  Smith  has  endorsed  everything  per- 
taining tq  the  general  welfare  and  given  his 
co-operation  to  many  movements  for  the 
public  good. 


ANTHONY  CLARK. 

Anthony  Clark,  who  is  now  residing  on 
section  10,  Bement  township,  where  he  owns 
and  cultivates  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  was  torn  in  Jefferson  county,  In- 
diana, on  the  27th  of  March,  1837.  The 
family  is  of  English  lineage  and  was  estab- 
lished in  the  new  world  by  the  great-grand- 


father of  our  subject,  who  settled  near  Bal- 
timore, Maryland,  on  crossing  the  Atlantic 
to  America.  The  grandfather,  John  Clark, 
removed  from  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  there  spent  his  remaining  days. 

Samuel  Clark,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  but  was 
reared  in  Kentucky  and  became  a  steamboat 
captain  on  the  Mississippi  river.  He  was 
the  pilot  on  the  third  boat  on  that  river,  and 
.  ran  from  Pittsburg  to  New  Orleans.  For 
many  years  he  followed  that  life,  but  at 
length  was  killed  in  Arkansas  by  an  explo- 
sion on  his  boat  when  thirty-two  years  of 
age.  He  had  married  Miss  Maria  Horse- 
man, who  was  born  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  survived  her  husband  for  some 
years,  passing  away  in  1861  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  a  lady  whose  many  ex- 
cellent qualities  greatly  endeared  her  to  her 
family  and  many  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clark  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  a 
son  and  three  daughters :  Elizabeth,  the  de- 
ceased wife  of  Thomas  D.  George,  who  was. 
a  Baptist  minister,  and  died  in  Indiana,  while 
her  death  occurred  in  California;  Louisa, 
who  resides  at  Columbus,  Indiana,  and  is  the 
wife  of  David  J.  Stilling,  a  railroad  con- 
tractor ;  Anthony,  whose  name  introduces 
this  record;  and  Catherine,  who  is  the  wife 
of  John  H.  Jones,  a  retired  farmer  living 
in  Martinsville,  Indiana. 

Anthony  Clark  was  reared  in  the  place  of 
his  nativity,  remaining  there  until  1865.  His 
education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools 
of  Jefferson  county  and  he  worked  upon  the 
home  farm,  early  becoming  familiar  with  the 
duties  and  labors  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the 
agriculturist.  He  remained  upon  the  old 
homestead  for  a  short  period  after  attain- 
ing his  majority,  and  then  came  to  Illinois,. 


402 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


locating  in  Pittsburg.  For  two  years  he  re- 
sided there  and  then  came  to  Piatt  county 
in  1867,  establishing  his  home  on  the  place 
which  he  now  owns  and  occupies  in  Bement 
township.  He  has  made  all  of  the  improve- 
ments here  and  has  to-day  a  valuable  farm, 
supplied  with  all  modern  equipments.  He 
uses  the  latest  improved  machinery  in  carry- 
ing on  the  work  of  the  fields,  and  his  place 
is  characterized  by  neatness  and  thrift  in 
every  department. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1872,  in  Pe- 
tersburg, Mr.  Clark  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Anne  B.  Parks,  a  native  of  Glascow, 
Scotland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1 86 1.  Her  parents  were  James  and  Rebecca 
(Purdon)  Parks,  both  of  whom  were  natives  ' 
of  Scotland,  and  they  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
the  United  States  two  years  after  their 
daughter's  arrival  here,  establishing  their 
home  in  Petersburg.  The  father  was  a  farm- 
er by  occupation,  and  thus  provided  for  his 
family.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  been 
born  three  children:  Samuel  J.,  who  is  a  ma- 
chinist residing  in  Bement,  and  who  was 
born  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Bement  town- 
ship; Thomas  P.,  who  resides  on  the  old 
homestead;  and  Rebecca  M.,  who  is  now  un- 
der the  parental  roof.  All  of  the  children 
were  born  in  Bement  township  and  were  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools. 

In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Clark  is  an 
Odd  Fellow,  belonging  to  the  lodge  at  Be- 
ment, and  is  one  of  the  supporters  of  the 
Baptist  church.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart 
Republican,  and  has  held  nearly  all  of  the 
township  offices,  in  which  he  has  proven 
most  loyal  to  his  duties,  discharging  the  ob- 
ligations which  have  devolved  upon  him 
with  promptness  and  fidelity.  When  he 
came  to  Piatt  county  most  of  the  land  was 
wild  prairie,  and  he  has  seen  this  section  of 


the  county  developed  from  its  primitive  con- 
'dition  into  highly  cultivated  farms,  which 
are  unsurpassed  in  the  state.  He  has  done 
his  full  share  in  making  the  county  a  rich 
farming  district,  and  is  a  progressive  agri- 
culturist whose  worth  in  business  circles  is 
widely  acknowledged. 


ALVAH  JAMES. 

Alvah  James  is  numbered  among  the  cap- 
italists of  Piatt  county  and  makes  his  home 
in  Mansfield.  He  is  one  of  the  typical  citi- 
zens of  the  Mississippi  valley — men  of  en- 
terprise, of  keen  sagacity  and  strong  force  of 
character,  who  have  developed  this  wonder- 
ful section  of  the  country  in  a  manner  that 
has  made  its  transformation  almost  phenom- 
enal. He  started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  a 
school-teacher  on  a  small  salary,  has  also 
worked  as  a  farm  hand,  and  to-day  he  stands 
among  the  most  prosperous  residents  of  this 
portion  of  the  state,  having  important  landed 
and  financial  interest*  while  at  the  same 
time  he  is  well  known  as  a  dealer  in  grain 
and  beef  cattle.  The  extent  and  volume  of 
his  business  has  made  him  widely  known  far 
beyond  the  confines  of  this  locality,  and  his 
business  operations  have  been  so  capably  con- 
ducted that  they  have  returned  to  him  grati- 
fying success. 

Alvah  James  was  born  in  Lucas  county, 
Iowa,  on  the  2ist  of  November,  1855,  a  son 
of  Ezra  and  Susanna  (Murray)  James. 
The  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio,  were  mar- 
ried there,  and  in  1852  removed  westward, 
becoming  residents  of  Lucas  county,  Iowa. 
The  father  entered  land  from  the  govern- 
ment and  became  a  well-to-do  citizen  of  that 
locality.  In  1867  he  removed  to  Marion 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


403 


county,  Iowa,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days,  his  death  occurring  in  1886,  when  he 
was  sixty-two  years  of  age.  His  wife  died 
in  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  review  is  the  sixth  in  or- 
der of  birth.  Nine  are  yet  living,  but  he  is 
the  only  one  who  resides  in  Piatt  county. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Lucas  and  Ma- 
rion counties,  Iowa,  Alvah  James  acquired 
his  preliminary  education  and  afterward  at- 
tended the  University  of  Indiana,  at  Valpa- 
raiso, where  he  pursued  a  literary  course. 
After  finishing  his  education  he  taught 
school  for  three  terms,  one  in  Porter  county, 
Indiana,  one  in  Marion  county,  Iowa,  and  the 
third  in  Champaign  county,  Illinois.  In  1880 
he  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  worked 
by  the  month  for  an  uncle,  receiving  three 
hundred  dollars  for  the  year's  service.  He 
then  resolved  to  engage  in  farming  on  his 
own  account,  and  rented  three  hundred  acres 
of  land.  Through  his  untiring  industry  and 
careful  management  he  was  enabled  to  gain 
a  start,  and  with  the  money  acquired 
through  his  own  labors  he  purchased  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land.  His  farm- 
ing and  stock-dealing  interests  have  been  car- 
ried on  extensively.  He  is  now  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Doug- 
lass county,  Illinois,  ninety  acres  in  Ohio, 
five  acres  in  Champaign  county,  twenty-five 
lots  in  Roseville,  Ohio,  and  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois. 
He  resided  upon  his  farm  in  Blue  Ridge 
township,  Piatt  county,  until  1894,  when  he 
removed  to  Mansfield,  Illinois.  There  he  re- 
mained for  two  years,  during  which  time  he 
was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business.  He 
then  returned  to  the  farm  and  came  again 
to  Mansfield  in  1902.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  engaged  extensively  in  dealing  in  stock 


and  had  found  this  a  profitable  source  of  in- 
come. For  several  years  he  was  engaged 
in  handling  sheep,  and  during  the  last  few 
years  he  has  been  interested  in  beef  cattle, 
shipping  to  Chicago.  His  purchases  and 
sales  are  extensive,  and  the  annual  financial 
return  from  this  department  of  his  business 
materially  increases  his  income.  Mr.  James 
also  has  other  business  interests,  and  is  a  man 
of  resourceful  ability,  alert  and  energetic. 
He  is  a  director  and  the  vice-president  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Mansfield ;  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  old  Citizens'  National  Bank  of  Zanesville, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  director  of  the  Howard  Grain 
Elevator  and  Mercantile  Company  of  How- 
ard, Illinois.  Thus  his  interests  are  of  a  va- 
ried and  important  nature,  and  have  been  im- 
portant factors  in  promoting  the  prosperity 
of  the  communities  in  which  they  are  located 
by  advancing  commercial  activity. 

On  the  2Oth  of  December,  1882,  Mr. 
James  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mat- 
tie  Webb,  a  native  of  Piatt  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Preston  Webb,  a  retired  farmer 
living  in  Mansfield.  Unto  him  and  his  wife 
have  been  born  five  children :  Birdie,  Clar- 
ence, Phebe,  and  Sybil  and  Herbert,  twins, 
but  Herbert  died  on  the  gth  of  August,  1902, 
at  the  age  of  five  years.  Mrs.  James  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  Mr. 
James  belongs  to  Mansfield  Camp,  M.  W.  A., 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  while  he 
keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day, 
he  has  never  sought  or  desired  office,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  affairs,  in  which  he  has  met  with 
signal  success.  Intricate  business  problems 
he  readily  masters,  and  his  judgment  is  sel- 
dom, if  ever,  at  fault  in  regard  to  business 
matters.  There  is,  perhaps,  no  history  in  this 
volume  which  more  clearly  illustrates  the 
force  of  industry  and  integrity  in  the  affairs 


404 


PAST    AND    PRESENT, 


of  life  than  does  that  of  Mr.  James.  He  is 
distinctively  a  self-made  man,  and  has  every 
reason  to  be  proud  of  what  he  has  accom- 
plished, and  yet  he  has  never  allowed  the  ac- 
cumulation of  wealth  to  in  any  way  affect  his 
actions  to  those  less  fortunate  than  himself. 
His  is  an  honorable  career  of  a  successful 
man,  and  .one  who  well  deserves  mention  in 
this  volume  as  a  leading  and  representative 
citizen  of  Piatt  county. 


JOHN  V.  VAN  SYCKEL. 

John  V.  Van  Syckel,  who  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  21,  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship, was  born  on  the  3d  of  August,  1836,  in 
New  Jersey,  a  son  of  William  and  Charity 
(Smith)  Van  Syckel.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  Major  Smith,  a 
soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  serving  as  major- 
general  during  the  war  and  afterward  as 
drill  master,  as  the  American  soldiers  kept 
drilling  in  fear  that  the  British  would  make 
another  attempt  to  subdue  the  colonists. 
William  Van  Syckel  resided  in  Hunterdon 
county,  New  Jersey,  where  he  carried  on  the 
occupation  of  farming  and  also  engaged  in 
the  operation  of  some  mills.  His  last  days 
were  spent  in  Illinois,  his  death  occurring 
in  Fulton  county,  while  his  wife  died  in 
McLean  county,  this  state.  He  had  several 
brothers  and  sisters  who  lived  in  New  York 
city,  but  are  now  deceased.  A  brother  of 
our  subject,  Abraham  S.  Van  Syckel,  was  a 
drill  master  in  the  Civil  war.  One  night  he 
relieved  a  friend  who  was  to  go  on  picket 
duty,  and  during  that  night  while  he  was  on 
the  watch  he  was  shot  and  killed. 

John  V.  Van  Syckel,  of  this  review,  spent 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  east 
and  started  out  in  life  for  himself  at  the  age 


of  twenty-one  years.  At  an  early  day  he  acted 
as  head  distiller  in  a  distillery  owned  by  his 
father  and  uncle  in  New  Jersey,  who  carried 
on  a  more  extensive  business  than  any  other 
firm  in  that  line  in  the  locality.  Our  subject 
has  himself  never  taken  a  glass  of  whiskey, 
simply  for  the  sake  of  enjoying  the  drink. 
For  two  years  during  his  residence  in  the 
east  he  worked  upon  his  father's  farm  and 
was  then  given  a  team  of  horses  in  compen- 
sation for  his  labors.  He  afterward 
rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  him- 
self, continuing  the  operation  of  the  leased 
tract  for  six  years.  Coming  to  the  west  he 
lived  for  thirteen  years  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  on  his 
own  account  for  three  years,  and  then  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  in  Piatt  county, 
for  thirty  dollars  per  acre.  Later  he  bought 
one  hundred  acres  more  and  afterward  he 
sold  this  and  purchased  land  on  which  he 
now  resides.  His  farm  comprises  a  half 
section,  and  the  land  is  as  rich  and  valuable 
as  any  in  Piatt  county.  Mr.  Van  Syckel  has 
made  all  of  the  improvements  there,  and  now 
has  a  well  equipped  farm.  He  has  paid  con- 
siderable attention  to  stock-raising,  making 
a  specialty  of-the  raising  of  hogs,  and  he  has 
always  endeavored  to  keep  a  breed  that  he 
thought  would  make  the  most  money  for  the 
farmer  rather  than  a  fancy  breed.  He  sold 
thirty-three  male  hogs  iri  one  year  at  fifteen 
dollars  each.  Mr.  Van  Syckel  is  eminently 
practical  in  all  he  does,  and  thus  his  methods 
in  the  conduct  of  his  farm  as  well  as  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  of  citizenship  have 
been  of  the  greatest  benefit. 

At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Van 
Syckel  endeavored  to  join  the  army.  He  en- 
listed and  went  to  Peoria  for  drill,  but  failed 
to  pass  examination  there.  In  other  ways, 
however,  he  gave  his  loyal  support  to  the 
Union  cause,  and  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  the 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


405 


community  have  been  far-reaching  and  help- 
ful. He  and  his  father  each  gave  one  hun- 
dred dollars  toward  bounty  for  the  One 
Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  which 
was  the  means  of  keeping  the  draft  for  sol- 
diers out  of  Fulton  county. 

In  1864  Mr.  Van  Syckel  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Emeline  Hunt,  a  daughter 
of  Richard  Hunt,  of  Fulton  county.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child, 
George  Edmund,  who  married  Lila  DeGrofft 
and  now  resides  upon  his  father's  farm. 
They  had  three  children.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  Van  Syckel  is  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican, but  has  never  sought  or  desired  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  affairs.  He  is  energetic, 
wideawake  and  progressive,  and  has  been  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortunes,  building 
wisely  and  well  in  this  respect.  He  was 
school  trustee  for  twelve  years  and  refused 
to  longer  serve. 


JAMES   PONDER. 

With  the  agricultural  interests  of  Piatt 
county  James  Ponder  has  been  identified 
from  boyhood,  and  in  his  chosen  field  of  la- 
bor he  has  met  with  remarkable  success,  so 
that  he  is  to-day  numbered  among  the  most 
prosperous  farmers  in  his  locality,  as  well  as 
one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Unity  town- 
ship. His  home  is  on  section  19.  He  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Tennessee,  June 
5.  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  P.  and  Matilda 
(Radford)  Ponder,  both  natives  of  North 
Carolina,  from  which  state  they  removed  -to 
Tennessee  and  later  to  Kentucky.  In  1864 
they  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Piatt  county,  where  the  father  pur- 


chased a  tract  of  raw  prairie  land.  Wild 
game  was  then  abundant  and  furnished  many 
a  meal  to  the  early  settlers,  and  most  of  the 
land  was  uncultivated  and  full  of  sloughs. 
Mr.  Ponder  drained  his  forty-acre  tract  in 
Unity  township  and  soon  had  it  under  culti- 
vation. On  his  retirement  from  farm  work 
he  removed  to  Hammond,  Illinois,  where  he 
died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  near  that 
place  January  28,  1901,  at  the  same  age. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  six 
of  whom  are  yet  living,  namely :  Mrs.  So- 
phrona  Jane  Franklin,  a  resident  of  Colo- 
rado; Valanchie  K.,  the  wife  of  J.  T.  Ed- 
mondson,  of  Pierson  Station,  Piatt  county; 
James,  of  this  review;  J.  R.,  a  resident  of 
Hammond ;  Delitha,  wife  of  J.  R.  Mitchell, 
whose  home  is  near  Hammond ;  and  Cena, 
wife  of  J.  B.  Fisher,  of  Pierson  Station. 

James  Ponder  was  about  twelve  years  of 
age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county,  and  although  his  literary  education 
was  limited,  he  gained  an  excellent  knowl- 
edge of  all  the  pursuits  which  fall  to  the  lot 
of  the  agriculturist.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself, 
operating  rented  land  in  Unity  township  for 
three  years,  but  since  that  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his  own  prop- 
erty. So  successful  has  he  been  in  his  farm- 
ing operation  that  he  is  to-day  the  owner  of 
some  valuable  property,  comprising  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section 
1 8,  Unity  township;  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  on  section  19;  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  3 1 ,  making  seven  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Unity  township, 
besides  a  twenty-acre  tract  in  Moultrie  coun- 
ty, Illinois. 

In  1882  Mr.  Ponder  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Lucretia  Bryson,  who  was  born 


406 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


in  this  county  in  1856,  her  parents,  Samuel 
and  Mary  Bryson,  having  located  here  in 
1850  among  the  pioneers.  Five  children 
bless  this  union :  Ethel  M.,  Walter  S.,  Leslie 
J.,  Eva  B.  and  John.  Mr.  Ponder  had  the 
misfortune  to  meet  with  an  accident  Febru- 
ary 23,  1903,  by  his  horse  falling  with  him. 
As  his  foot  was  caught  under  the  horse  his 
leg  was  broken  and  his  ankle  sprained.  Re- 
ligiously, he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Pierson  Station,  while  his  wife  be- 
longs to  the  New  Light  church,  and  they  re- 
ceive and  merit  the  high  regard  of  the  entire 
community.  Mr.  Ponder  is  a  man  of  recog- 
nized ability  and  sterling  worth,-  and  as  a 
citizen  ever  stands  ready  to  discharge  any 
duty  devolving  upon  him. 


JAMES  M.  SMITH. 

One  of  the  most  progressive  and  ener- 
getic farmers  of  Willow  Branch  township 
is  James  M.  Smith,  who  is  now  succesfully 
operating  the  old  homestead  on  section  16, 
where  the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been 
passed.  He  was  born,  however,  near  Mid- 
dletown,  Pennsylvania,  April  24,  1855,  a 
son  of  Colonel  Jacob  and  Nancy  L.  (Shenk) 
Smith.  The  ancestral  line  of  the  Smith  fam- 
ily in  America  can  be  traced  back  to  a  period 
antedating  the  Revolutionary  war  and  the 
great-grandfathers  of  our  subject  on  both 
sides  took  part  in  that  struggle  and  were 
homesteaders  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Jacob  Smith,  the  paternal  great- 
grandfather, remained  in  the  army  for  seven 
long  years,  fighting  for  the  independence  of 
the  colonies.  His  son,  Henry  Smith,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  Eng- 
lish and  German  descent. 


Colonel  Jacob  Smith,  the  father,  was 
also  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  born  April 
4,  1817,  and  died  on  the  nth  of  March, 
1898.  He  was  first  married  December  30, 
1835,  to  Mary  Nisley,  who  died  April  25, 
1847.  Four  children  blessed  that  union, 
namely :  Fannie;  Martin  N. ;  Henry  Augus- 
tus, who  married  Margaret  Brightbill;  and 
Catharine  A.,  wife  of  John  Diller,  a  resident 
of  Nebraska.  Colonel  Smith  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Maria 
Zimmerman,  February  8,  1848,  but  she  died 
June  22,  1849,  and  their  only  child,  Fannie 
Maria,  died  in  infancy.  On  the  22d  of  Oc- 
tober, 1850,  the  Colonel  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Nancy  L.  Shenk,  who  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  December 
25,  1820,  and  is  still  living,  making  her  home 
in  Monticello,  Illinois.  Her  father,Michael 
Shenk,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
state,  and  of  German  descent.  By  his  third 
marriage,  Colonel  Smith  had  four  children : 
John  George  Washington,  who  was  born 
July  31,  1851,  and  died  May  20,  1887,  after 
having  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  many 
years;  James  M.,  of  this  review;  Mary 
Elizabeth,  who  was  born  December  15,  1856, 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  mother  in 
Monticello;  and  William  P.,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

In  1857  the  father  came  with  his  family 
direct  from  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania 
to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  having  acquaint- 
ances here,  and  he  became  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  early  development  and  im- 
provement of  this  section  of  the  state.  He 
purchased  a  farm  in  Willow  Branch  town- 
ship, for  which  he  paid  fifteen  dollars  per 
acre,  that  being  considered  a  high  price  at 
that  time,  as  the  land  was  still  in  its  primi- 
tive condition  and  for  twenty-five  miles  to 
the  northwest  all  was  wild  prairie.  He  is 


H.   H.  GILMORE 


MRS.   H.   H.  GILMORE 


JAMES  M.  SMITH 


JACOB  SMITH 


MRS.   NANCY   SMITH 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


411 


believed  to  have  owned  the  first  sawmill  ever 
erected  in  Piatt  county,  having  shipped  the 
machinery  from  Philadelphia,  and  he  also 
purchased  the  first  piano  brought  here,  it  be- 
ing of  the  Phelps  &  Wiley  manufacture,  and 
the  first  sewing  machine,  which  was  of  the 
G  rover  &  Baker  make.  All  of  his  farm  ma- 
chinery he  bought  in  Chicago  at  that  early 
day,  and  for  his  first  clover  seed  he  paid  fif- 
teen dollars  per  bushel.  Colonel  Smith  was 
a  very  progressive  and  public-spirited  man, 
and  headed  the  list  with  his  signature  for  the 
right-of-way  for  the  Champaign  &  Decatur 
branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  He 
was  also  one  among  the  few  who  fought  the 
signing  of  the  bonds  Tor  railroad  tax,  which 
saved  the  township  many  thousand  of  dollars. 
He  was  a  most  pronounced  Republican  in 
politics  and  kept  well  informed  on  the  issues 
of  the  day,  being  able  to  support  his  posi- 
tion by  intelligent  argument.  In  early  life 
he  commanded  a  regiment  of  state  militia 
and  served  as  colonel  on  the  staff  of  Gov- 
ernor Pollock,  of  Pennsylvania.  His  life  was 
busy,  useful  and  honorable,  and  he  com- 
manded respect  wherever  known.  In  1882 
he  left  the  farm  and  removed  to  Monticello, 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  days  in  retire- 
ment from  active  labor.  His  widow  still 
makes  her  home  in  that  city.  She  has  a  cov- 
erlet which  she  made  herself  in  1840,  shear- 
ing the  sheep,  carding  the  wool,  dyeing  it 
and  then  sending  it  to  Elizabethtown,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  be  woven.  Besides  this  highly 
prized  relic  of  early  days  the  family  have  a 
clock  which  is  about  two  hundred  years  old 
and  is  seven  feet  in  height. 

It  was  during  his  infancy  that  James  M. 
Smith  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Piatt 
county,  and  he  has  witnessed  almost  the  en- 
tire growth  and  development  of  this  region. 
He  well  remembers  when  there  were  but 

19 


few  frame  buildings  throughout  the  county, 
the  houses  being  built  mainly  of  logs.  Dur- 
ing his  boyhood  he  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  became  thoroughly  fa- 
miliar with  all  kinds  of  farm  work.  Leaving 
home  in  1878,  he  went  to  Nebraska,  where 
he  spent  one  year  and  then  returned  to  the 
old  homestead,  but  in  1881  he  removed  to 
Iowa,  where  the  following  two  years  were 
passed  as  clerk  in  a  general  store.  He  was 
next  engaged  in  the  music  business  with  his 
brother  at  Monticello  for  three  years,  and 
later  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  clothing 
.  store  of  N.  E.  Rhoades  &  Son,  and  also 
Sackriter  &  Ormsby,  at  that  place.  In  1890 
he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  being  over- 
seer of  the  estate  which  is  still  undivided, 
and  in  1895,  he  took  up  his  residence  there- 
on. He  has  since  made  many  improvements 
on  the  place  in  the  way  of  tiling,  fencing, 
clearing  and  breaking  the  land,  which  is  to- 
day under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  owing 
to  his  untiring  labors  and  excellent  manage- 
ment. His  principal  crops  are  corn,  oats, 
hay  and  rye,  and  he  has  made  a  specialty  of 
the  raising  of  potatoes,  principally  for  seed. 
He  has  engaged  in  this  business  on  quite  an 
extensive  scale,  and  thus  solved  the  problem 
that  has  so  long  puzzled  the  people  here — 
how  to  secure  a  good  crop  of  potatoes. 

In  February,  1896,  Mr.  Smith  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mattie  Keene,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Louisa  Keene,  of  Clay 
county,  Illinois,  and  to  them  has  been  born 
one  child,  Wayne  K.,  now  three  years'  old. 
Mr.  Smith  is  insured  in  the  Fraternal  Order 
of  America,  and  is  also  a  member  of  Selah 
Lodge,  N'o.  403,  I.  O.  O.  F.  Politically,  he 
is  a  strong  Republican,  and  takes  quite  an 
active  interest  in  local  politics,  usually  serv- 
ing as  delegate  to  all  county  conventions,  and 
as  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention  two 


412 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


years  ago.  He  is  a  recognized  leader  of  the 
party  in  his  community,  and  is  widely  and 
favorably  known. 


JOSHUA  O.   BATEMAN. 

Joshua  O.  Bateman,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  raising  of  grain  and  stock  on  section  24, 
Blue  Ridge  township,  was  born  on  the  »3th 
of  June,  1851,  in  New  London  county,  Can- 
ada, his  parents  being  John  S.  and  Elizabeth 
(Morgan)  Bateman.  The  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  and  after  emi- 
grating to  Canada  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  there.  He  rented  a  tract  of  land  in 
that  country  upon  his  arrival  there  and 
through  its  cultivation  provided  for  the  needs 
and  wants  of  his  family.  Joshua  O.  Bate- 
man, of  this  review,  is  the  youngest  of  the 
six  children  of  the  family,  the  others  being 
Samuel,  John  Wesley,  Benjamin,  Jane  and 
Matilda.  After  living  in  Canada  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  the  father  brought  his  family 
to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  arriving  in  the 
year  1866.  He  then  again  rented  a  tract  of 
land,  and  in  about  four  years  removed  to 
Piatt  county. 

Joshua  O.  Bateman  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  the  United  States,  and  in  1872  he  be- 
gan farming  on  his  own  account.  After  his 
father's  death  he  and  his  brothers  took  pos- 
session of  the  old  home  place,  and  together 
they  conducted  the  farm  for  about  four 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  time  the 
place  was  sold  and  the  money  divided  equal- 
ly among  the  children. 

After  the  partnership  between  the  broth- 
ers was  dissolved  Joshua  O.  Bateman  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  of  eighty  acres,  about 
1884.  He  then  engaged  in  its  cultivation 


and  improvement,  and  also  rented  a  tract  of 
land  which  he  operated,  while  his  sister  acted 
as  his  housekeeper.  Later,  however,  he  was 
married,  Miss  Minnie,  a  daughter  of  Mar- 
cus and  Mary  Walker,  becoming  his  wife. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  4th  of 
February,  1885,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  five  children  :  Lora,  who  was  born 
September  n,  1887;  Roy,  born  March  23, 
1889;  Tessa,  who  was  born  April  22,  1891 : 
one,  who  was  born  June  20,  1894,  and  died 
in  infancy;  and.  Elsie,  born  on  the  23d  of 
April,  1896. 

Mr.  Bateman  sold  his  first  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Blue  Ridge  township  and  bought  an- 
other farm  in  the  same  township,  comprising 
one  hundred  and  ninety  acres,  becoming 
owner  of  this  tract  on  the  ist  of  September, 
1890.  He  paid  fifty  dollars  per  acre  for  it, 
and,  with  characteristic  energy,  began  its  de- 
velopment and  cultivation.  On  the  ist  of 
January,  1903,  he  made  another  purchase, 
this  time  paying  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  dollars  per  acre  for  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-six  acres,  making  altogether 
three  hundred  and  forty-six  acres  in  Blue 
Ridge  township  which  he  owns.  Of  this, 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  are  on  sec- 
tion 24,  and  the  remainder  on  section  19. 

Mr.  Bateman  obtained  his  early  education 
in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  some  in  Piatt 
county,  and  as  the  years  have  passed  his 
knowledge  has  been  broadened  by  practical 
experience,  as  well  as  observation  and  read- 
ing, and  to-day  he  is  a  well-informed  man, 
who  is  prospering  in  his  business  affairs  and 
directing  his  efforts  by  intelligent  judgment, 
so  that  his  labors  are  bringing  to  him  credit- 
able success.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  has  been  offered 
several  offices,  but  he  would  not  accept,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  time  and  energies  to  his 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


417 


business  affairs.  He  has  engaged  in  the  rais- 
ing of  stock  and  grain  with  excellent  success. 
He  belongs  to  Camp  No.  9089,  M..W.  A., 
of  Galesville,  in  which  he  carries  three  thou- 
sand dollars'  insurance.  He  believes  insur- 
ance is  a  splendid  investment  and  that  every 
man  should  thus  provide  for  his  family.  Mr. 
Bateman's  interest  has  always  centered  in 
his  home,  and  he  has  put  forth  every  effort  to 
secure  for  his  wife  and  children  advantages 
which  will  make  life  pleasant  for  them  and 
will  promote  their  best  interests.  His  busi- 
ness career  has  been  active  and  honorable, 
and  during  the  long  years  of  his  residence 
in  Piatt  county  he  has  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward  until  he  now  occupies  a  posi- 
tion on  the  plane  of  affluence. 


R.   B.   MOODY. 

In  an  analyzation  of  the  life  record  of  R. 
B.  Moody  "we  find  that  he  has  well  earned 
and  justly  deserves  the  proud  American  title 
of  a  self-made  man.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile  in  DeLand, 
and  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  this 
locality  who  started  out  in  life  for  himself  in 
a  very  humble  capacity,  receiving  only  six 
and  a  quarter  cents  per  day  for  his  services. 
His  history  proves  conclusively  what  may 
be  accomplished  through  strong  purpose,  un- 
abating  diligence  and  unfaltering  persever- 
ance, and  such  a  record  should  serve  as  a 
source  of  inspiration  and  encouragement  to 
others. 

Mr.  Moody  came  to  Illinois  from  Ohio. 
A  number  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  this 
portion  of  the  state  are  natives  of  Ohio,  and 
Mr.  Moody's  birth  occurred  in  Mahoning 
county  about  five  miles  from  the  city  of 


Youngstown,  on  the  3Oth  of  June,  1837. 
His  parents,  John  and  Martha  (Hahn) 
Moody,  were  also  natives  of  Ohio,  and  in 
their  family  were  eight  children,  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  review  is  the  third  in  order 
of  birth. 

In  the  common  schools  R.  B.  Moody  ac- 
quired his  education,  but  his  privileges  were 
somewhat  limited,  as  the  family  was  in  lim- 
ited financial  circumstances,  and  it  was  neces- 
sary that  he  should  aid  in  his  own  support. 
When  he  was  very  young  he  tegan  driving 
a  yoke  of  oxen  to  a  plow,  receiving  six  and  a 
quarter  cents  per  day  for  his  labor,  or  the 
munificent  salary  of  a  quarter  for  four  days' 
work.  When  fifteen  years  o>f  age  he  was 
given  only  four  dollars  and  a  half  per  month, 
his  duties  being  to  milk  fifteen  cows  night 
and  morning  and  work  in  the  fields  the  bal- 
ance of  the  time.  Hjs  youth  was  largely  a 
period  of  toil,  and  his  entire  life  has  been  one 
of  unusual  activity,  which,  however,  has  been 
crowned  with  a  high  degree  of  success. 

He  arrived  in  the  west  in  1855,  locating 
in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  east  of  Wapello. 
There  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand,  re- 
ceiving seventeen  dollars  per  month,  and  in 
this  way  he  saved  some  money.  When  he 
had  secured  sufficient  capital  he  began  farm- 
ing for  himself,  purchasing  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land.  In  April,  1861,  how- 
ever, he  put  aside  all  business  and  personal 
consideration  in  order  that  he  might  aid  his 
country  in  her  struggle  to  preserve  the 
Union.  He  had  been  an  interested  witness 
of  the  progress  of  events  which  led  up  to  the 
Civil  war,  had  noted  the  threatening  attitude 
of  the  south,  and  resolved  that  if  an  attempt 
was  made  to  overthrow  the  Union  he  would 
strike  a  blow  in  its  defense.  He,  therefore, 
enlisted,  April  20,  1861,  as  a  member  of 
Company  E,  Twentieth  Illinois  Infantry,  un- 


4i8 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


der  Colonel  C.  C.  Marsh,  and  was  attached  to 
the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  under  General 
Grant.  Going  to  the  front,  he  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fort  Henry, 
Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh  and  others.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  last  named  battle,  and  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  time  in  the  army 
served  on  detached  duty,  continuing  with  the 
Union  troops,  however,  until  the  war  closed. 
From  1864  until  1865  he  worked  for  the  gov- 
ernment on  special  duty,  and  among  all  the 
soldiers  who  wore  the  blue  uniform  of  the 
nation,  none  were  more  faithful  to  the  old 
flag  and  the  cause  it  represented.  After  the 
close  of  hostilities  and  his  aid  was  no  longer 
needed,  Mr.  Moody  returned  tq  DeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  began  farming, 
there  making  his  home  until  after  his  mar- 
riage. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1868,  he  was  joined 
in  wedlock  to  Miss  Rumina  Hassinger,  of 
Ohio.  The  young  couple  removed  to  Sanga- 
mon  township,  Piatt  county,  where  Mr. 
Moody  carried  on  general  farming  until 
1869,  at  which  time  they  took  up  their  abode 
in  Goose  Creek  township,  there  living  until 
1873.  la  that  year,  in  company  with  John 
Vail,  Mr.  Moody  erected  a  store  building, 
which  was  the  first  built  in  DeLand.  For 
two  years  he  engaged  in  merchandising  there, 
and  for  some  time  followed  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  that  place.  He  then  built  an  elevator 
and  was  engaged  in  the  grain  business  for 
fifteen  years,  during  which  time  he  annually 
handled  many  thousands  of  bushels  of  grain, 
carrying  on  a  business  that  was  of  benefit  to 
the  locality,  as  well  as  a  source  of  income  to 
himself,  for  it  furnished  a  market  to  the  pro- 
ducers. In  1889  Mr.  Moody  sold  out  to  the 
firm  of  Tyler  &  Company,  of  Chicago.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  become  interested  in 
other  business  enterprises  of  this  locality, 


having  in  1885  purchased  a  third  interest  in 
the  tile  factory.  In  1887  he  purchased  an- 
other third  interest,  and  in  1889,  after  closing 
out  his  grain  business,  he  became  sole 
proprietor,  and  his  since  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick  and  tile.  He  has 
a  plant  that  is  well  equipped  with  the 
latest  improved  machinery,  and  the  product 
of  his  factory  is  of  such  excellent  quality  that 
he  finds  for  it  a  ready  sale  on  the  market, 
His  identification  with  business  interests  also 
extends  to  the  financial  affairs  of  the  county, 
for  he  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  DeLand. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moody  have  had  no  chil- 
dren of  their  own,  but  have  displayed  great 
kindness  of  heart  and  sympathetic  natures 
by  rearing  eight  children.  These  are  James 
W.  Moody,  now  of  DeLand ;  D.  B.  Troxell, 
who  is  now  postmaster  of  DeLand ;  Rumina 
Troxell,  who  died  when  twenty-four  years  of 
age;  Bruce  demons,  who  resides  near  Fort 
Madison,  Iowa;  Pearl  demons,  the  wife  of 
L.  C.  Dick,  a  resident  of  Port  Arthur,  Tex- 
as ;  Grace  Jones,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten 
years;  Eva  Moody,  whose  name  was  Eda 
Carroll,  and  who  lived  in  Chicago,  but  for 
a  number  of  years  has  resided  with  her  fos- 
ter-parents and  is  now  attending  school  in 
DeLand ;  and  Lawrence  Dawson,  who  is  also 
with  our  subject  and  his  wife. 

This  worthy  couple  are  consistent,  loyal 
and  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  and  their  Christianity  is  certain- 
ly shown  in  their  kind  and  generous  treat- 
ment of  the  little  ones  \vhom  they  have 
brought  to  their  home  and  cared  for,  prepar- 
ing them  for  life's  practical  and  responsible 
duties.  Mr.  Moody  has  served  as  recording 
steward  of  his  church  for  a  number  of  years, 
is  most  generous  in  his  contribution  to  its 
support  and  is  active  in  the  various  depart- 


PI  ATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


419 


ments  of  the  church  work.  Fraternally,  he 
is  connected  with  DeLand  Lodge,  No.  812, 
F.  &  A.  M. ;  Chapter  No.  48,  R.  A.  M. ;  and 
Urbana  Commandery,  No.  16,  K.  T.  He  is 
past  master  of  the  lodge  here  and  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  exemplary  representatives 
of  the  craft.  In  politics  he  has  always  been 
a  stalwart  Republican,  and  his  close  study  of 
the  political  issues  has  made  his  knowledge 
concerning  politics  broad,  thorough  and 
comprehensive.  He  has  served  continually 
since  1876,  except  four  years,  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  has  been  school  treasurer  since 
1875.  His  loyalty  in  citizenship,  his  hon- 
esty in  business  and  his  trustworthiness  in 
private  life  stand  as  unquestioned  facts  in 
his  career,  making  him  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored and  esteemed  men  connected  with  agri- 
cultural, industrial  and  financial  interests,  as 
well  as  public  affairs  in  Piatt  county. 


.     GEORGE   W.    BAKER. 

George  W.  Baker,  who  is  now  deceased, 
was  a  resident  farmer  of  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship and  lived  on  section  13.  He  was  born 
in  1852  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  and  died  in 
Piatt  county  in  1897,  leaving  to  his  family 
the  record  of  an  upright  life.  He  was  a  son 
of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  Baker,  and  acquired 
his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  Darke 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age, 
and  from  that  time  forward  earned  his  living 
and  gained  through  his  own  labors  all  that 
he  possessed.  He  first  worked  by  the  month 
as  a  farm  hand  in  Ohio  until  he  was  twenty- 
two  years  of  age.  He  then  came  to  Piatt 
county,  where  he  was  employed  for  three  or 
four  hours  as  a  farm  hand,  after  which  he 


resolved  to  engage  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  rented  land  for  four  or  five  years. 
Thus  with  the  capital  he  had  acquired 
through  his  own  industry,  economy  and  per- 
severance he  purchased  land  in  Piatt  county, 
upon  which  he  lived  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  farm  comprised  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  and  the  soil  was  rich  and  ar- 
able, returning  to  him  good  harvests.  He 
built  a  barn  and  made  other  improvements 
from  year  to  year,  and  successfully  carried 
on  his  labors  until  he  was  the  possessor  of 
a  comfortable  competence  that  enabled  him 
to  leave  his  family  in  good  financial  circum- 
stances. He  first  gave  his  attention  to  the 
raising  of  grain,  but  after  a  time  he  began 
raising  stock  and  gradually  increased  in  this 
because  he  found  it  a  lucrative  business.  He 
made  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  beef  cattle 
and  of  hogs,  and  his  annual  sales  were  large 
and  profitable. 

In  the  year  1880  Mr.  Baker  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Leach,  a  daughter 
of  William  Leach,  of  Mansfield.  She  was 
born  in  1857  in  Grundy  county,  Illinois,  and 
came  to  Mansfield  with  her  parents,  who 
lived  upon  a  farm  until  the  time  of  their 
daughter's  marriage.  It  was  in  her  home 
there  that  Mary  H.  gave  her  hand  in  wed- 
lock to  George  W.  Baker.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Baker  was  born  but  one  child,  Millie 
Jane,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Wallace  Walk, 
by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Verna  Belle 
and  Clifford  Clayton,  the  former  born  July 
1901 ;  and  the  latter  February  19,  1903.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Walk  reside  upon  Mrs.  Baker's 
farm  and  keep  house  for  her.  - 

Mr.  Baker  was  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  at  Mansfield,  with  which  his  wid- 
ow is  still  connected.  In  his  political  views 
he  was  a  Prohibitionist  and  was  serving  as 
a  school  director  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 


420 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


took  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance and  in  all  the  movements  for  the 
welfare  and  betterment  of  humanity.  He 
was  a  great  church  worker,  indefatigable  in 
his  efforts  to  promote  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity. He  served  as  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  church,  labored  untiringly  for  the  Sun- 
day-school, and  was  frequently  superinten- 
dent of  the  school  or  one  of  its  teachers.  His 
entire  life  was  in  harmony  with  his  profes- 
sions as  a  member  of  the  church,  and  his 
name  was  a  synonym  for  honor  and  integrity 
in  all  business  transactions.  He  was  long  a 
citizen  who  enjoyed  the  highest  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow  men,  and  he  left  to 
his  family  not  only  a  good  property,  but  also 
the  priceless  heritage  of  an  untarnished 
name. 


GEORGE  DELAND. 

George  DeLand,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
cultivation  of  small  fruits  for  the  city  mar- 
kets and  at  present  rural  mail-carrier,  and 
has  his  home  in  White  Heath,  has  passed  the 
Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten, 
but  is  still  an  active  factor  in  business  cir- 
cles, and  his  career  should  put  to  shame 
many  a  man  of  much  younger  years  who 
would  relegate  to  others  the  burdens  that 
he  should  bear. 

Mr.  DeLand  is  a  native  of  Rutland,  Rut- 
land county,  Vermont,  his  birth  having  there 
occurred  on  the  igth  of  October,  1832.  The 
same  city  was  also  the  birthplace  of  his  par- 
ents, Squire  and  Hannah  (Butler)  DeLand, 
the  former  born  on  the  igih  of  December, 
1788,  and  the  latter  on  the  27th  of  August, 
1794.  The  father  of  our  subject  pursued  a 
common-school  education  in  Rutland  and 
then  entered  upon  his  business  career  there 


as  a  wagonmaker,  following  the  trade  con- 
tinuously until  he  left  Vermont  in  the  fall 
of  1837.  He  removed  to  Union  county, 
Ohio,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  he  suc- 
cessfully operated  until  his  life's  labors  were 
ended  in  death  on  the  22d  of  April,  1858.  It 
was  on  the  I4th  of  December,  1809,  that  he 
had  wedded  Hannah  Butler,  and  unto  them 
were  born  nine  children :  Amy  M.,  who  was 
born  August  22,  1810,  became  the  wife  of 
Philip  S.  Fay,  and  died  May  4,  1864 ;  Harriet 
A.,  born  August  15,  1813,  married  Jonathan 
Reynolds  and  died  about  1860.  Lucy  M., 
born  November  6,  1815,  became  the  wife  of 
John  Stocks,  and  departed  this  life  March 
10,  1888;  Mariette,  born  February  9,  1818, 
is  the  wife  of  Michael  Sager,  and  resides 
upon  a  farm  in  Union  county,  Ohio.  James, 
born  August  31,  1821,  was  married  October 
20,  1842,  to  Emily  Abbott,  and  died  May  n, 
1896.  It  was  in  his' honor  that  the  town  of 
DeLand  was  named,  and  he  took  the  contract 
for  the  building  of  the  Champaign  &  Havana 
branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
which  ran  through  that  place.  Charles,  born 
September  3,  1823.  was  married  April  7, 
1846,  to  Elizabeth  A.  Eaton,  of  Madison 
county,  Ohio.  He  is  now  a  retired  farmer 
of  Wymore,  Nebraska.  Edward,  born  Feb- 
ruary n,  1827,  married  Elizabeth  McCloud 
on  the  5th  of  July,  1853,  and  is  now  assistant 
secretary  of  the  Farmers'  Loan  and  Trust 
Company  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  Hannah, 
born  April  29,  1831,  was  married  October 
12,  1848,  to  Ross  Mitchell.  She  is  now  a 
widow  and  she  and  her  children  reside  with 
her  brother,  George,  who  completes 'the  fam- 
ily. - 

In  one  of  the  old  log  schoolhouses  of 
Ohio,  seated  with  slab  benches  and  supplied 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


421 


with  other  primitive  furnishings,  George  De- 
Land  pursued  his  education  through  three 
months  of  the  winter  term.  In  the  summer 
seasons  his  attention  was  given  to  the  farm 
work,  and  he  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of 
his  assistance  until  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority. In  the  meantime,  however,  he  taught 
school  for  three  winter  seasons.  In  early 
manhood  he  was  married,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Ellen  A.  Converse,  and 
the  wedding  took  place  November  3,  1853. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Darius  and  Lois  M. 
( Smith)  Converse.  On  leaving  her  parents' 
home,  she  went  to  the  home  of  her  husband 
upon  a  rented  farm  near  Plain  City,  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  for  about  seven  years,  carry- 
ing on  agricultural  pursuits  in  a  successful 
manner. 

He  then  turned  his  attention  to  merchan- 
dising in  Chuchery,  Union  county,  Ohio,  in 
1860,  and  was  thus  engaged  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war,  when  in  response  to 
his  country's  call  he  joined  the  army,  enlist- 
ing on  the  1 6th  of  August,  1862,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hill  and 
Perryville  on  the  8th  of  October,  1862 ;  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  20,  1863  ; 
Lookout  Mountain,  November  20,  1863,  and 
the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  on  the  22d 
of  June,  1864.  In  the  engagement  at  Chick- 
amauga he  was  wounded  in  the  back  and 
side,  and  for  two  months  lay  in  the  hospital. 
Ke  then  returned  to  the  army  just  in  time 
to  participate  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain, where  he  was  again  wounded.  He  was 
first  struck  in  the  leg  and,  while  trying  to 
slop  the  flow  of  blood  from  that  wound,  he 
was  again  struck  by  rebel  lead,  this  time  in 
the  shoulder.  The  injuries  there  sustained 
were  the  cause  of  his  discharge  on  the  24th 


of  February,  1865.  Being  unable  for  furth- 
er field  duty  he  was  mustered  out  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  and  for  two  years  after  returning 
to  his  home  he  was  unable  to  walk  save  with 
the  aid  of  crutches.  For  a  long  period  his 
health  was  so  impaired  that  he  could  not 
work,  but  ultimately  he  obtained  a  position 
in  a  railroad  office  at  Union  City,  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years. 

On  the  expiration  of  that  period  Mr.  De 
Land  rented  a  tract  of  land  near  Union  City, 
where  he  resided  until  1881,  when  he  came  to 
White  Heath,  Piatt  county,  Illinois.  Here 
he  erected  a  store  building  and  stocked  it 
with  a  general  line  of  goods,  carrying  on 
the  business  for  two  years.  His  store  was 
then  destroyed  by  fire,  after  which  he  pur- 
chased two  blocks  of  ground  in  1885,  and 
began  raising  small  fruits.  He  has  since  fol- 
lowed this  pursuit,  and  the  products  of  his 
place  find  a  ready  sale  upon  the  market  be- 
cause he  has  so  effectively  labored  to  raise 
fruits  of  superior  size  and  flavor.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  work  he  carries  the  mail  on  the 
rural  route  from  White  Heath,  and  though 
now  seventy-one  years  of  age,  is  covering 
twenty-eight  miles  daily  in  this  work,  hav- 
ing performed  this  service  for  the  past  two 
years. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  DeLand  have  been 
born  five  children :  Linda,  born  June  26, 
1855,  died  October  17,  1859;  Ernest,  who 
was  born  February  2,  1857,  was  married 
February  4,  1877,  to  Mary  E.  Alexander, 
and  died  August  7,  1896,  while  his  widow  is 
now  living  in  White  Heath;  Edward  R., 
born  March  5,  1862,  was  married  August 
10,  1883,  to  Etta  Teats,  and  is  now  telegraph 
operator  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at 
Maroa,  Illinois ;  Lola  M.,  born  June  9,  1867, 
is  the  wife  of  B.  R.  White,  one  of  the  most 
successful  farmers  of  Piatt  county;  Earl, 


422 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


born  May  8,  1878,  was  married  February  23, 
1901,  to  Minnie  Perry,  and  they  are  now  liv- 
ing with  his  father  in  White  Heath. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  DeLand  is  a 
stalwart  Republican,  unfaltering  in  support 
of  the  principles  of  the  party,  and  he  is  now 
serving  as  town  clerk  and  also  owns  the 
township  right  on  the  White  self-operating 
farm  gate,  handling  the  same  throughout 
Sangamon  township.  George  DeLand,  the 
father,  votes  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
for  some  time  has  been  notary  public,  while 
for  twelve  years  he  has  filled  the  position  of 
justice  of  the  peace.  About  eighteen  -years 
ago  he  built  the  house  in  which  he  now  lives, 
it  being  one  of  the  pleasant  homes  of  White 
Heath.  He  and  his  family  are  all  members 
of  the  Universalist  church,  and  he  belongs 
to  Franklin  Post,  No.  256,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Mon- 
ticello.  In  days  of  peace  he  is  as  loyal  to  the 
old  flag  as  he  was  when  he  followed  it  upon 
the  southern, battle-fields,  and  in  matters  of 
citizenship  he  is  ever  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, taking  a  deep  and  helpful  interest 
in  whatever  pertains  to  the  general  progress 
and  improvement. 


HENRY  H.  GILMORE. 

Henry  H.  Gilmore,  a  practical  and  en- 
terprising farmer  residing  on  section  32, 
Goose  Creek  township,  owns  and  operates 
four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land  in  this 
county,  constituting  one  of  the  valuable  and 
highly  improved  farms  in  this  locality.  His 
possessions  have  been  acquired  through  his 
own  efforts  and  as  the  result  of  his  consecu- 
tive endeavor  he  has  won  a  place  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  adopted  county. 
He  claims  Illinois  as  his  native  state,  for  he 


was  born  near  Canton  on  the  5th  of  October, 
1840. 

His  father,  William  Gilmore,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  1782,  and  during  boyhood, 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Pickaway  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where,  after  reaching  man's  estate, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Addie  Vandolah. 
He  followed  farming  there  until  1836,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  McLean  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
same  occupation  for  two  years.  His  next 
home  was  near  Canton,  where  he  purchased 
two  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  continued  to 
operate  that  place  up  to  within  a  few  years 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  loth  of 
November,  1870.  When  this  farm  came  in- 
to his  possession  it  was  all  wild  and  unim- 
proved, but  he  transformed  it  into  a  highly 
cultivated  and  very  desirable  place.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Harrison,  and  was  ever  a 
patriotic  and  loyal  citizen,  devoted  to  the 
best  interests  of  his  country.  His  first  wife 
died  about  eight  years  after  their  marriage, 
leaving  three  children,  namely :  James,  who 
died  in  1877;  Sarah  Ann,  who  died  in  1882; 
and  Amanda,  who  died  in  1880.  About  1820 
he  wedded  Jane  Pinkerton,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child,  Ada  Jane,  now  the  widow 
of  David  Bennett  and  a  resident  of  Oregon. 
This  wife  survived  the  birth  of  her  daugh- 
ter only  a  short  time,  and  for  his  third  wife 
Mr.  Gilmore  married  Sophia  P.  White  in 
1835,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children, 
as  follows :  Eliza,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Wil- 
liam Milton,  now  a  resident  of  Lincoln,  Ne- 
braska; Henry  H.,  of  this  sketch;  and 
Elizabeth  M.,  who  died  in  1887. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject 
was  obtained  in  subscription  schools,  but  in 
1850  he  commenced  attending  a  free  school 
— the  first  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  in 


.PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


427 


1859  ne  entered  Lombard  University  at 
Galesburg,  Illinois.  After  his  graduation 
he  entered  upon  the  more  practical  duties'1  of 
business  life  as  a  farmer  upon  rented  land, 
his  property  at  that  time  consisting  of  only 
one  team,  but  he  met  with  success  in  this  un- 
dertaking, and  in  a  short  time  had  put  him- 
self on  a  firm  footing,  being  able  to  have  all 
the  teams  necessary  and  everything  required 
to  carry  on  his  farming  operations.  He  lived 
economically,  was  careful  and  painstaking, 
and  worked  incessantly,  almost  day  and  night, 
never  losing  an  opportunity  to  make  an  hon- 
est dollar.  After  six  or  seven  years  had 
passed,  he  was  able  in  this  way  to  purchase 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on 
section  32,  Goose  Creek  township,  Piatt 
count}',  which  he  has  farmed  almost  contin- 
uously since.  From  1872  until  1879,  how- 
ever, he  was  obliged  to  part  with  the  same 
during  the  panic  at  that  time,  but  in  1880  he 
bought  it  back  and  has  since  added  to  it  un- 
til he  now  has  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres,  besides  a  sixty-acre'  tract  in  Fulton 
county,  and  considerable  city  property  in  Can- 
ton, Illinois.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  and 
director  of  both  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Farmer  City  and  the  State  Bank  of  DeLancl, 
and  is  numbered  among  the  wealthiest  farm- 
ers of  Piatt  county.  When  his  present  farm 
came  into  his  possession  it  was  in  a  wild 
state,  not  a  furrow  having  been  turned,  or  an 
improvement  made  thereon,  but  he  soon 
broke  the  land,  erected  a  good  residence  and 
several  barns,  and  has  since  built  another 
house.  He  has  also  expended  several  thou- 
sand dollars  in  tiling  and  draining  the  land, 
has  divided  the  farm  into  fields  of  forty  or 
eighty  acres  by  well-kept  fences,  and  has  set 
out  orchards,  a  new  one  being  three  acres  in 
extent,  and  to-day  he  has  one  of  the  most 
valuable,  well-cultivated  and  highly  improved 
places  in  this  part  of  the  state. 


At  Canton,  Illinois,  in  1870,  Mr.  Gil- 
more  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Marv 

•  o  J 

Jane  Chambers,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  John  R. 
Chambers,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister, 
who  died  in  Hamilton  county,  Illinois,  about 
thirteen  years  ago.  Six  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  namely :  Arthur  B.  and  Fran- 
cis, both  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  Charles, 
who  married  Othela  Spratt  and  is  engaged 
in  farming  in  Goose  Creek  township ;  Ora 
Raymond,  who  was  drowned  when  about  one 
year  old ;  Bertha,  who  was  born  July  2,  1893, 
and  is  with  her  parents;  and  Estella  M., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year.  While 
the  son,  Charles  Gilmore,  was  taking  part  in 
a  charivari  at  the  home  of  Daniel  Horsh,  an 
accident  occurred,  the  blame  of  which  fell 
upon  him.  The  matter  was  brought  up  in  the 
courts  in  1900,  where  jugment  was  ren- 
dered against  him  for  fifteen  hundred  dollars, 
and  this  was  afterward  affirmed  by  the  ap- 
pclate  court,  but  when  carried  into  the  su- 
preme court  by  the  state  the  decision  was  re- 
versed and  the  son's  name  was  cleared  of 
disgrace,  the  other  parties  being  beaten  on 
the  entire  three  points  of  the  law.  The  suit 
cost  our  subject  over  three  thousand  dollars, 
but  he  has  never  regretted  the  money  thus 
expended. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Gilmore  is  a 
pronounced  Republican,  and  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  his  fellow  citizens  as 
school  director  twelve  years,  school  trustee 
the  same  length  of  time,  and  also  as  road  ov- 
erseer. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  are 
people  of  prominence  in  the  community  where 
they  reside.  Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  man  of  recog- 
nized ability,  and  his  success  in  life  is  due  en- 
tirely to  his  own  well-directed  efforts  and  ca- 
pable management.  He  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  this  section  of  the 
state,  and  deserves  prominent  mention  among 


42* 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


the  leading  and  representative  citizens  of  his 
adopted  county. 


C.    H.    ASHMORE. 

C.  H.  Ashmore,  who  is  residing  on  sec- 
tion 36,  Blue  Ridge  township,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  on  the  23d  of  January,  1848, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jabez  and  Keziah  (Reeder) 
Ashmore,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in  Bucks 
county.  After  their  marriage  they  removed 
to  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  and  settled  in  Mer- 
cer county,  where  the  subject  of  this  review 
was  born.  Jabez  Ashmore  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade  and  followed  that  pursuit  for  a  long 
period.  When  the  son,  C.  H.  Ashmore,  was 
two  or  three  years  of  age,  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Lena,  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  established  a  blacksmith  shop  and 
carried  on  business  for  a  time.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  Plattsville,  Shelby  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home  for  six  years 
and  then  passed  away  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
five.  His  widow  still  survives  him  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years,  and  has  always 
remained  true  to  his  memory.  This  worthy 
couple  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  four 
of  whom  are  yet  living,  but  none  reside  in 
Piatt  county  save  the  subject  of  this  review. 

C:  H.  Ashmore  attended  the  schools  of 
Shelby  county,  Ohio,  for  a  time,  and  after 
the  death  of  his  father  the  mother  removed 
with  her  family  to  Fletcher,  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  where  the  son  completed  his  education, 
his  knowledge,  however,  being  more  largely 
acquired  through  reading  and  observation 
in  later  years  than  through  mental  discipline 
in  the  schoolroom.  The  first  school  which 
he  attended  was  an  old  log  building  seated 


with  slab  benches  and  with  a  puncheon  floor. 
Around  the  wall  was  a  writing  desk  nailed 
to  the  logs.     The  first  teacher  was  a  Mr. 
Heat,  who  is  yet  living  at  the  advanced  age 
of.about  ninety  years.    After  completing  his 
education    Mr.    Ashmore    began    working, 
.  starting  out  for  himself  when  eleven  years 
of  age  as  a  farm  hand.     The  first  six  years 
he  was  bound  out,  receiving  no  compensation 
for  his  labors  but  his  board  and  clothing,  and 
the  latter  was  of  a  very  poor  quality.     The 
first  wages  he  ever  earned  was  twenty-five 
dollars  a  month,  a  high  price  for  those  days. 
He  was  industrious  and  energetic,  however, 
and  as  the  years  passed  he  added  to  the  sum 
of  money  which  he  was  enabled  to  save  in 
his  early  years.    In  November,  1865,  he  came 
to  the  west,  going  first  to  Secor,  Woodford 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until  the 
winter  of   1878-9.     During  this  period    he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  twenty  dollars  per 
month,  and  later  he  operated  a  ditching  ma- 
chine for  a  number  of  years.    In  1871  he  be- 
gan  farming  and   rented   land  in   Roanoke 
township,  Woodford  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres,  this  being  the  first  land 
that  he  ever  owned.    In  the  latter  part  of  De- 
cember, 1878,  he  came  to  Piatt  county,  es- 
tablishing his  home  in  Blue  Ridge  township, 
after   the   first    three    months,    which   were 
passed    in    Champaign    county.      He    then 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Blue  Ridge 
township,  which  was  unimproved  with  the 
exception  of  a  little  shanty  which  had  been 
built  thereon.     He  then  planted  all  of  the 
shade  trees,  as  well  as  the  orchard,  has  built 
a  good  house  and  substantial  barns  and  out- 
buildings.    His  attention  has  been  given  to 
the  raising  of  grain  and  stock. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  1869,  Mr.  Ash- 
more  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Bernice 
Jane  Bullington,  a  resident  of  Eureka, 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


429 


Woodford  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Mary  Bullington,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  Woodford  county.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashmore  have  been  born  three 
children :  Ora,  who  married  Miss  Lydia  E. 
Knupp,  of  Mansfield,  Illinois,  and  has  three 
children — Amy  Fern,  Leslie  C.,  and  Eulalia 
Ruth,  the  family  home  being  in  Blue  Ridge 
township,  where  Ora  is  engaged  in  farming; 
Bertie  Lewis,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years  ;  and  Carrie  A.,  wife  of  S.  E.  Smith,  of 
Sterling,  Colorado. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashmore  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Brethren  church,  and  his  po- 
litical support  is  given  the  Democracy.  He 
is  now  serving  his  twenty-first  year  as  a 
school  director,  and  the  cause  of  education 
finds  in  him  a  warm  friend  who  is  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  advancement  of  the  schools 
and  has  done  much  for  their  progress.  His 
career  has  been  creditable  and  his  success  is 
the  just  reward  of  his  capable  management 
and  unremitting  labor.  Starting  out  in  life 
at  the  early  age  of  eleven  years,  and  since  de- 
pending upon  his  own  resources,  he  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  overcom- 
ing all  difficulties  that  have  barred  his  path 
to  the  goal  of  success. 


D.    F.    WYMAN. 

D.  F.  YY'yman  is  one  of  the  more  recent 
additions  to  the  business  circles  of  Mansfield, 
but  during  his  residence  here  has  given  proof 
of  his  diligence  and  energy  in  the  conduct 
of  the  lumberyard  of  which  he  is  now  the  pro- 
prietor. Mr.  Wyman  was  born  in  Essex 
county,  New  York,  tin  the  gth  of  April,  1849, 
and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Anna  (Phelps) 


Wyman,  also  natives  of  Essex  county,  the 
former  born  on  the  6th  of  April,  1816,  while 
the  mother's  birth  occurred  in  Essex  county, 
on  the  6th  of  July,  1825.  The  father  was- a 
millwright  by  trade,  and  followed  that  pur- 
suit for  some  time,  but  during  the  last  twen- 
ty-five years  of  his  business  career  engaged 
in  milling. 

To  the  public  school  system  of  Crown 
Point,  New  York,  D.  F.  Wyman  is  indebted 
for  the  educational  privileges  which  he  re- 
ceived. He  continued  to  reside  in  the  east 
until  1883,  when  he  came  to  the  Mississippi 
valley,  establishing  his  home  in  Iowa.  He 
afterward  removed  to  Nebraska  in  1887,  and 
there  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  contin- 
uing in  the  trade  there  for  three  years.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  went  south, 
locating  at  Eagle  Mills,  Arkansas,  where  he 
became  connected  with  the  Eagle  Lumber 
Company.  For  six  years  he  was  associated 
with  that  firm,  and  then  severing  his  business 
connections  in  the  south  he  came  to  Mans- 
field, Piatt  county,  Illinois,  in  order  that  his 
children  might  take  advantage  of  the  excel- 
lent school  system  of  this  city.  Here  he  pur- 
chased the  lumber  business  of  W.  D.  Root 
and  has  since  conducted  his  yard  which  is 
now  equipped  with  a  large  stock  of  lumber 
and  building  materials.  He  has  demon- 
onstrated  his  right  to  a  share  of  the  public 
patronage  through  honorable  business  meth- 
ods and  an  earnest  desire  to  please  his  pa- 
trons, and  to-day  he  numbers  among  his  cus- 
tomers many  of  the  best  citizens  of:  Mans- 
field and  the  surrounding  country. 

On  the  1 6th  of  October,  1872,  Mr.  Wy- 
man was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie 
Barnett,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  four 
children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Orin, 
who  was  born  September  25,  1873,  was  grad- 
uated in  the  public  schools  of  Davenport 


43° 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Iowa,  and  is  now  assistant  manager  of  the 
Eagle  Lumber  Company  at  Eagle  Mills,  Ar- 
kansas. Charles,  who  was  born  December 
30,  1875,  is  a  graduate  of  the  schools  of 
Crown  Point,  New  York,  and  is  now  accept- 
ably serving  as  bookkeeper  for  the  Crossett 
Lumber  Company  of  Crossett,  Arkansas ; 
Florence,  born  June  24,  1883,  is  yet  with 
her  parents.  Wallace,  born  June  13,  1890, 
is  now  a  student  in  the  schools  of  Mansfield. 
Mr.  Wyman  has  just  completed  a  beauti- 
ful home  in  Mansfield,  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive residences  of  the  town.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Royal  Circle  and  the 
American  Home  Circle,  two  fraternal  insur- 
ance organizations,  and  his  political  support 
is  given  to  the  Republican  p^rty,  for  he  has 
firm  belief  in  its  principles  and  its  platform. 
He  is  now  serving  as  one  of  the  township 
trustees,  and  in  public  office  is  always  loyal 
and  true  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  church,  with  which  he 
has  long  been  associated,  and  his  religious 
faith  is  manifested  in  his  upright  life,  his 
loyalty  in  citizenship,  his  trustworthiness  in 
business  and  his  fidelity  in  friendship. 


PRESLEY  B.   WEBSTER. 

Presley  B.  Webster,  whose  operations  in 
farming  have  made  him  one  of  the  success- 
ful men  of  Piatt  county  and  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  acres  near  the  postoffice  of  Lodge, 
was  born  on  the  171!!  of  May,  1855,  at  Cen- 
terville,  Piatt  county.  He  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Mary  (Enbanks)  Webster.  At  an  early 
day  in  the  history  of  this  section  of  the  state 
the  father  came  from  Ohio  to  Piatt  county 
and  settled  near  Centerville  on  the  Sanga- 


mon  river,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  which  was  all  raw  prairie,  not  a  furrow 
having  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made 
upon  the  place.  He  soon  began  to  clear  the 
land,  however,  and  continued  the  work  of 
cultivation  and  development  until  he  had  be- 
come the  owner  of  a  very  fine  farm.  Later 
he  purchased  other  tracts  of  timber  land, 
cleared  it  of  the  trees  and  built  thereon  a 
good  residence.  For  many  years  he  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits,  but  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  the  village  of  Seymour,  having 
reached  the  age  of  about  seventy-seven  years. 
His  wife,  however,  has  passed  away.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  and  with  the 
exception  of  one  son,  all  are  yet  living. 

Reared  under  the  parental  roof,  Presley 
B.  Webster  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  country  schools  of  Piatt  county,  attend- 
ing what  was  known  as  the  Sangamon 
school.  The  little  "temple  of  learning" 
was  a  log  structure,  supplied  with  slab 
benches  and  other  primitive  furniture.  It 
was  in  this  school  that  Mr.  Webster  mas- 
tered the  primary  branches  of  learning 
and  later  he  continued  his  studies  in  the 
schools  of  Monticello.  He  spent  much 
of  his  youth,  however,  upon  the  home 
farm,  his  training  at  the  labor  of  the  fields  not 
being  meager.  He  early  became  familiar 
with  farm  work  in  its  various  departments, 
and  from  the  time  of  earl}'  spring  planting 
until  crops  were  harvested  in  the  late  autumn 
he  assisted  in  the  work  of  cultivation.  With 
the  excepion  of  one  year  spent  in  the  postof- 
fice at  Monticello  and  two  years  at  White 
Heath,  he  has  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  the  year  1884.  with 
the  money  earned  through  his  own  labor,  he 
purchased  forty-two  acres  of  land,  for  which 
he  paid  eleven  hundred  dollars.  As  time  has 
passed  and  his  financial  resources  have  in- 


IMATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


creased,  he  has  added  to  this  property  until 
lie  now  owns  one  hundred  and  fourteen  acres, 
valued  at  one  hundred  and  thirty  dollars  per 
acre.  His  fine  farm  is  the  visible  evidence  of 
his  life  of  industry  and  thrift,  and  he  has  to- 
day one  of  the  valuable  properties  of  Pia.tt 
county.  Mr.  Webster  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  both  branches 
of  his  business  return  to  him  a  good  income, 
because  of  his  thorough  understanding  of  his 
work  and  his  keen  sagacity.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  the  breeding  of  Poland  China 
hogs,  and  also  of  fancy  poultry,  raising 
Plymouth  Rock  chickens  and  turkeys.  His 
energies,  however,  have  not  been  confined 
entirely  to  the  work  of  the  farm  in  its  various 
departments,  for  he  is  the  owner  of  a  store 
at  Lodge  and  also  of  an  elevator  there.  He 
is  a  man  of  excellent  business  capacity  and 
executive  force,  readily  comprehending  in- 
tricate business  situations  and  carrying  for- 
ward to  successful  completion  whatever  he 
undertakes. 

Mr.  Webster  has  been  twice  married. 
When  about  twenty-four  years  of  age  he  was 
joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Ida  F.  Conklin,  a 
native  of  Piatt  county.  Five  children  graced 
this  marriage,  namely :  Amy,  who  died  in 
infancy ;  Elmer ;  Maude ;  Laura,  now  de- 
ceased; and  Carrie.  In  November,  1891,  Mr. 
Webster  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Mamie  Wolf,  a  na- 
tive of  Champaign  county,  but  who  has  re- 
sided during  the  greater  part  of  her  life  in 
Piatt  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webster  are 
well  known,  and  the  hospitality  of  many  of 
the  best  homes  in  this  portion  of  the  state  is 
freely  accorded  them. 

Mr.  Webster  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  RepublHfcn  party,  and  always  keeps 
well  informed  on  the  issues  and  questions 
of  the  day,  thus  being  able  to  support  his  po- 


sition by  intelligent  argument.  For  five 
years  he  held  the  office  of  assessor,  but  has 
preferred  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to 
his  business  interests,  in  which  he  has  met 
with  very  creditable  and  honorable  success. 
He  is  ever  true  to  the  relations  of  the  home, 
citizenship  and  of  business  life,  and  his  many 
sterling  traits  of  character  have  gained  for 
him  the  warm  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  associated.  He  is  well  known  as 
one  of  the  leading  representatives  of  agricul- 
tural interests,  and  as  such  deserves  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume. 


FRED   KERSTEN. 

The  farming  interests  of  Piatt  county  are 
well  represented  by  this  gentleman  who  is 
now  living  on  section  5,  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship, where  he  owns  and  cultivates  a  good 
tract  of  land.  The  German  element  in  our 
American  citizenship  has  been  an  important 
one.  It  is  of  this  class  that  Mr.  Kersten  is  a 
representative  and  his  life  record  has  been  so 
honorable  and  successful  that  it  is  creditable 
alike  to  the  land  of  his  birth  and  the  land  of 
his  adoption. 

Mr.  Kersten  was  born  in  Germany  on  the 
3d  of  November,  1840,  and  in  that  country 
his  father  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits, 
spending  his  entire  life  there.  Mr.  Kersten 
of  this  review  was  reared  and  educated  in 
the  fatherland  and  remained  there  until 
twenty-eight  years  of  age,  when  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world,  landing  at 
New  York.  He  took  passage  on  a  west- 
ward bound  sailing  vessel,  Shakespeare,  and 
was  twenty-eight  days  upon  the  water,  en- 
countering some  severe  storms,  but  event- 
ually reached  harbor  in  safety.  He  then  went 


432 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


to  Cleveland^  afterward  to  Chicago,  and  later 
to  Bloomington,  Illinois.  He  remained  in 
the  last  named  city  for  three  years,  follow- 
ing various  pursuits  during  that  period,  in- 
cluding carpenter  work  and  mason  work. 
He  is  a  man  of  marked  industry,  and  idleness 
is  utterly  foreign  to  his  nature.  On  his  re- 
moval to  Piatt  county  in  1872  he  rented  a 
tract  of  land  belonging  to  General  Mansfield 
and  resided  upon  that  farm  for  five  years. 
He  then  rented  the  farm  upon  which  he  now 
lives  for  one  year,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time  purchased  the  property.  It  contains 
ninety-eight  acres  of  rich  and  productive 
land,  for  which  he  paid  sixteen  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars.  It  was  not  improved, 
however,  when  it  came  into  his  possession. 
He  has  set  out  all  of  the  trees  upon  the  place, 
and  has  made  many  excellent  improvements 
of  a  substantial  and  beneficial  character.  He 
uses  modern  machinery  to  facilitate  his  farm 
work,  and  everything  about  his  place  is  neat 
and  thrifty  in  appearance. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1874,  Mr. 
Kersten  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Fredericka  Spiehs,  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1873  as  a  pas- 
senger on  the  Maine,  which  made  the  voy- 
age in  eleven  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kersten 
are  most  worthy  people  and  belong  to  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church.  They  take  an 
active  interest  in  the  work,  contribute  gen- 
erously to  its  support  and  do  all  in  their  pow- 
er for  its  welfare. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Kersten  is  in- 
dependent, voting  for  the  man  whom  he 
thinks  best  qualified  for  office  regardless  of 
party  affiliations.  He  is  now  practically  liv- 
ing a  retired  life,  having  rented  his  farm  to 
Carl  Porter.  While  actively  engaged  in 
farming  himself  he  raised  grain,  giving  lit- 
tle attention  to  stock.  When  he  came  to 


Piatt  county  he  then  found  a  tract  of  wild 
prairie,  for  little  of  the  land  had  been  im- 
proved at  that  time,  but  as  the  years  have 
passed  time  and  man  have  wrought  many 
changes,  and  to-day  the  rich  soil  of  Piatt 
county  is  utilized  for  farming  purposes  and 
this  district  of  the  state  has  become  one  of 
the  garden  spots  of  the  entire  country.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kersten  were  schoolmates  in  child- 
hood, and  have  now  traveled  life's  journey 
together  as  man  and  wife  for  almost  thirty 
years.  They  are  well  known  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  make  their  home,  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  we  present  to  our  readers 
the  record  of  their  lives. 


LEWIS  J.   COPE. 

It  is  not  often  one  sees  the  professions 
abandoned  for  an  agricultural  life,  and  yet 
an  investigation  of  the  conditions  obtaining 
at  this  time  in  the  industrial  world  warrants 
the  belief  that  sound  business  judgment  is 
evidenced  by  such  a  change.  The  gentleman 
whom  the  biographer  introduces  to  the  read- 
er here  qualified  in  pharmacy,  but  was  led  to 
abandon  it  after  three  years  for  the  pursuit 
of  agriculture  in  the  belief  that  in  it  was  a 
larger  future  outcome — a  fact  which  his 
course  has  already  sufficiently  attested. 

Lewis  J.  Cope  comes  from  Buckeye 
stock,  having  been  born  in  Smithfield,  .Ohio, 
in  1873,  the  son  of  William  and  Mary  Cope, 
who  now  reside  there.  These  parents,  with 
their  family,  passed  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  earlier  part  of  their  lives  in  Piatt  county, 
and  are  remembered  among  the  older  settlers 
as  pioneers  in  Blue  Ridge  4ownship,  where 
they  opened  the  farm  on  which  our  subject 
now  resides.  Circumstances  led  them  to  re- 


PI  ATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


433 


turn  to  the  state  of  their  birth,  while  the  son 
continues  the  work  of  improvement  which 
they  initiated.  The  family  which  they  reared 
consisted  of  three  children,  a  brother  of  our 
subject,  Charles,  by  name,  living  near  by, 
while  a  sister,  Ida  M.,  married  John  Hender- 
son and  lives  near  the  parents  in  Ohio. 

Lewis  J.  Cope  is  the  product  of  a  cultured 
home  and  the  best  schools  in  the  Buckeye 
state.  After  laying  the  ground  work  of  his 
education  in  the  graded  schools,  he  gradu- 
ated in  the  Smithfield  high  school.  His 
further  scholastic  training  was  acquired  in 
the  Ohio  Normal  University,  after  which  he 
matriculated  at  Scio  College,  and  from 
which  excellent  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  pharmacy  in  the  class  of  1893.  The  fol- 
lowing three  years  Mr.  Cope  passed  in 
Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  in  the  employ  of 
a  drug  house.  A  trip  of  three  months 
throughout  the  great  west  taken  at  this  time 
changed  his  mind  concerning  the  future,  and 
he  settled  on  his  father's  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  in  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship. Here  he  found  much  to  engage  his  at- 
tention, the  farm  being  in  a  run-down  condi- 
tion. He  proceeded  at  once  to  improve  it, 
building  a  fine  modern  farm  house  at  a  cost 
of  three  thousand  dollars,  together  with 
a  commodious  barn.  Other  improvements 
are  in  course  of  construction,  and  still  others 
are  contemplated.  Mr.  Cope  and  his  brother 
together  own  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
in  this  county,  and  as  an  investment  have 
lately  purchased  a  section  of  Minnesota 
farming  land. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Cope  was  an  event 
of  June  19,  1895,  on  which  day  he  led  to  the 
altar  Miss  Martha  Isabelle,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  William  B.  Adams,  of  Cadiz, 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cope  enter  into  the  so- 
cial life  of  their  community  with  intelligent 


zest  and  enthusiasm,  and  ate  leaders  in  ev- 
ery good  cause.  They  are  active  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  Mr. 
Cope  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
No.  634,  of  Mansfield,  Illinois.  The  wide- 
awake and  intelligent  interest  which  these 
young  people  manifest  in  the  welfare  of  their 
community  has  resulted  in  endearing  them  to 
a  circle  of  friends  and  neighbors  whose  name 
is  legion. 


CHARLES   C.   COPE. 

Charles  Cope,  brother  of  the  above,  is  an- 
other of  Piatt  county's  energetic  young 
farmers.  He  cultivates  a  portion  of  the  old 
homestead  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
county's  best  citizens.  Charles  was  born  in 
Smithfield,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1870.  He  also 
was  given  the  advantage  of  scholastic  train- 
ing, after  graduating  from  the  high  school 
taking  a  thorough  course  in  the  commercial 
_  department  of  Scio  College.  He  then  ac- 
cepted a  position  with  a  firm  of  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  for  five  years  was  the 
trusted  bookkeeper  of  that  concern.  In  1897 
he  concluded  to  begin  an  agricultural  life  and 
came  to  Piatt  county,  where  he  has  since  cul- 
tivated his  father's  farm.  He  has  built  a 
snug  little  cottage  at  a  cost  of  a  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  is  demonstating  the  wisdom  of  his 
change  of  occupation.  Mr.  Cope  takes  an 
intelligent  and  active  interest  in  affairs,  votes 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  active  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Prior  to  1899  Mrs.  Cope  was  Hul- 
dah  Coomer.  She  is  a  Buckeye  by  birth,  the 
daughter  of  William  Coomer,  of  Mansfield, 
Ohio. 

The  current  of  life  for  the  last  half  cen- 
tury has  been  largely  toward  the  great  cities 


434 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


of  the  land.  Young  men  have  been  tempted 
by  the  tinsel  of  city  life  to  give  up  comforta- 
ble homes  and  a  solid  future,  only  to  wake 
up  late  in  life  to  the  fact  that  "all  is  not  gold 
that  glitters."  Were  there  more  young  men 
with  the  wisdom  of  Charles  and  Lewis  Cope 
the  cities  would  be  unable  to  drain  the  coun- 
try of  its  best  blood.  Their  example  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation. 


JOSEPH  G.   KILE. 

In  the  history  of  Piatt  county  it  is  neces- 
sary that  mention  shall  be  made  of  Joseph 
G.  Kile,  else  the  record  would  not  be  com- 
plete, for  he  is  numbered  among  its  earliest 
settlers,  having  located  here  in  1844,  when 
but  a  boy  of  eight  years.  Around  the  beauti- 
ful home  which  the  father  established 
stretched  the  broad  prairie,  over  which  one 
could  ride  for  miles  without  coming  to  a 
fence  or  other  evidence  of  settlement  to  im- 
pede his  progress.  The  land  was  covered  with 
its  native  prairie  grasses  and  along  the 
streams  stood  the  timber  as  planted  by  the 
hand  of  nature.  There  were  deer,  turkeys 
and  other  wild  game  to  be  had  in  abundance, 
and  farms  could  be  purchased  for  a  very  low 
price,  as  there  was  not  as  great  demand  for 
the  property  as  there  is  to-day.  As  the  years 
have  progressed  Joseph  G.  Kile  has  become 
an  active  factor  in  agricultural  circles,  and 
has  done  his  full  share  in  reclaiming  the  wild 
land  for  the  purposes  of  civilization. 

Mr.  Kile  is  a  native  of  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  his  birth  having  there  occurred  on  the 
20th  of  August,  1836.  His  father,  Josiah 
Kile,  was  a  native  of  the  same  state,  and  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  After  arriving  at 
years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Miss  Mary 


Clarke,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  In  the 
year  1838,  he  brought  his  family  to  Illinois, 
establishing  his  home  in  Shelby  county, 
where  he  rented  a  tract  of  land  and  in  con- 
nection with  its  cultivation,  he  engaged  in 
teaming  to  St.  Louis  in  an  early  day.  In 
1844  he  made  his  way  to  Piatt  county,  set- 
tling two  miles  west  of  Monticello,  where 
he  again  leased  a  tract  of  land.  In  1846, 
however,  he  made  purchase  of  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  Macon  county.  This  was  all 
raw  prairie  on  which  not  a  furrow  had  been 
turned  or  an  improvement  made,  and  he  at 
once  began  its  cultivation.  He  broke  the 
fields,  planted  the  seed,  and  in  due  course  of 
time  harvested  good  crops.  He  also  built  a 
log  house  upon  the  place  and  resided  there 
for  four  years,  after  which  he  sold  that  prop- 
erty and  again  came  to  Piatt  county.  Here 
he  rented  land  east  of  Monticello  for  two 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  again 
bought  a  farm  in  Macon  county,  there  living 
from  1849  until  1883,  when  he  was  called  to 
his  final  rest,  passing  away  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years.  He  lived  a  life  in  consistent 
harmony  with  his  profession  as  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church  and  took  a  very  active 
interest  in  founding  the  Wesley  Chapel  at 
the  edge  of  his  farm.  His  wife,  who  sur- 
vived him  for  some  time,  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three  years,  dying  upon  the 
farm  of  her  son,  Joseph  G.,  about  one  mile 
from  the  old  home  place.  She  was  a  woman 
of  deep  religious  nature,  of  earnest  convic- 
tions and  of  unfaltering  loyalty  to  the  princi- 
ples in  which  she  believed.  She,  too,  held 
membership  in  the  Methodist  church,  and  the 
influence  of  her  life  was  a  potent  factor  for 
good  among  those  who  knew  her.  By  her 
marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  ten  chil- 
dren, namely:  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife 
of  O.  L.  Stewart,  a  farmer  residing  in  Ma- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


437 


con  county :  James,  who  died  in  1855 ;  Jo- 
seph G.,  of  this  review ;  John  W.,  who  is  liv- 
ing in  Humboldt,  Kansas;  Isaac  W.,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Argenta,  Macon  county ; 
Edward  M.  and  Ezra  M.,  who  are  located 
in  Decatur;  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Irvin 
Dunbar,  a  farmer  of  Nebraska ;  Martha,  who 
died  when  a  child  of  three  years;  and  Reu- 
ben A.,  who  is  also  a  farmer  and  makes  his 
home  in  Missouri. 

IVlr.  Kile's  educational  advantages  were 
limited  to  two  terms'  attendance  at  a  sub- 
scription school,  but  through  experience,  ob- 
servation and  reading  in  later  life  he  has 
gained  a  good  practical  education  that  has 
enabled  him  to  carefully  conduct  his  business 
interests  and  to  keep  in  touch  with  the 
thought  and  progress  of  the  day.  When  only 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  started  out  in  life  on 
his  own  account.  He  was  a  young  boy  to 
battle  with  the  world,  but  it  seemed  neces- 
sary that  he  provide  for  his  own  support,  and 
in  his  work  he  showed  adaptability  and  per- 
severance. He  began  earning  his  own  liv- 
ing by  working  as  a  farm  hand  at  seven  dol- 
lars per  month,  being  employed  in  this  way 
for  three  months.  He  then  became  connected 
with  cattlemen,  with  whom  he  worked  for 
four  years,  making  many  trips  over  the 
mountains  to  eastern  markets.  He  made  one 
trip  to  New  York  which  required  ninety- 
seven  days.  At  the  end  of  four  years,  how- 
ever, he  resumed  farm  work  and  was  in  the 
employ  of  friends  up  to  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage. 

It  was  on  the  loth  of  February,  1859,  in 
Macon  county,  that  Mr.  Kile  gained  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  for  life's  journey, 
wedding  Miss  Elizabeth  Carver,  daughter 
of  George  Carver,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Macon  county.  Three  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage,  but  one  died  in 

30 


infancy.  Mary  Samantha,  the  eldest,  is  now 
the  wife  of  Charles  Stucky,  a  resident  of 
Cisco.  Eliza  Ann,  the  youngest  member  of 
the  family,  is  the  wife  of  Oliver  Jones,  who 
is  now  living  in  Macon  county,  where  he  fol- 
lows farming. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Kile 
rented  a  tract  of  land  in  Macon  county,  upon 
which  he  lived  for  two  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  in  that  county,  aft- 
erward added  another  tract  of  forty  acres 
and  four  years  later  bought  forty-five  acres 
in  the  same  locality.  When  seven  years 
'more  had  gone  by  he  bought  seventy  acres  in 
Piatt  county,  this  being  the  first  tract  which 
he  owned  in  the  latter  county.  This  was 
improved  land,  for  which  he  paid  fifty  dollars 
per  acre  and  after  retaining  it  in  possession 
for  thirteen  years,  he  sold  it  at  a  good  profit, 
the  sale  price  being  one  hundred  and  seven 
and  one-half  dollars  per  acre.  Mr.  Kile  next 
purchased  eighty  acres  in  Macon  county  on 
section  18,  Friends  Creek  township,  and 
then  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
adjoining,  for  which  he  paid  seventy-two 
and  a  half  dollars  per  acre.  The  next 
purchase  made  him  the  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  on  section  22,  for  which  he  paid 
ninety  dollars  per  acre,  and  this  property  he 
still  has.  He  owns  altogether  four  hundred 
acres,  which  is  very  valuable,  being  a  part 
of  the  rich  farm  land  of  central  Illinois, 
which  has  made  this  state  famous  as  an  agri- 
cultural district.  He  also  owns  five  lots  in 
the  town  of  Cisco  and  two  residence  proper- 
ties. Fifteen  years  ago  he  came  to  the  vil- 
lage and  has  since  lived  retired,  save  that  he 
gives  his  supervision  to  his  investments.  On 
August  5,  1903,  he  was  offered  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre  for  all  the 
land  he  owns,  but  refused  the  offer. 

Mr.  Kile  votes  with  the  Republican  party 


438 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


when  questions  of  national  interest  are  in- 
volved, but  at  local  elections  often  votes  inde- 
pendently, regarding  only  the  capability  of 
the  candidates.  He  has  served  as  commis- 
sioner of  highways,  has  been  school  treasurer 
for  six  and  a  half  years,  justice  of  the  peace 
for  nine  years  and  police  magistrate  for  two 
years,  and  in  these  offices  has  been  prompt 
and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  do- 
ing everything  in  his  power  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  He  attends  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  has  lived  a  life  that 
has  won  for  him  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  his  fellow  men.  Starting  out  for  himself 
with  very  meager  advantages,  he  has  stead- 
ily progressed  in  the  world,  and  his  success 
has  been  won  along  lines  which  all  may  fol- 
low. He  met  difficulties  in  his  career 
but  he  has  steadily  advanced  by  determined 
and  honorable  purpose,  and  many  of  the  ob- 
stacles in  his  path  have  served  as  an  impetus 
for  renewed  effort.  The  history  of  pioneer 
life  in  this  section  of  the  state  is  familiar  to 
him  and  from  pioneer  times  down  to  the  pres- 
ent he  has  watched  the  progress  and  devel- 
opn^ent  of  Piatt  county,  feeling  a  just  pride 
in  what  has  been  accomplished  here. 


HON.  WILBUR  F.   STEVENSON. 

Hon.  Wilbur  F.  Stevenson  is  now  serv- 
ing as  mayor  of  Monticello  and  is  accounted 
one  of  the  leading  and  distinguished  citizens 
of  Piatt  county,  for  his  has  been  an  honora- 
ble and  prosperous  career.  Success  is  de- 
termined by  one's  ability  to  recognize  oppor- 
tunity and  to  pursue  this  with  resolute  and 
unflagging  energy.  It  results  from  con- 
tinued labor,  and  the  man  who  thus  accom- 
plishes his  purpose  usually  becomes  an  im- 


portant factor  in  the  business  circles  of  the 
community  in  which  he  is  connected.  Air. 
Stevenson  through  such  means  attained 
a  leading  place  among  the  representative  ag- 
riculturists of  Piatt  county,  and  his  well 
spent  and  honorable  life  commands  the  re- 
spect of  all  who  knew  him. 

A  native  of  Kentucky,  Wilbur  F.  Stev- 
enson was  born  in  Scott  county,  that  state, 
on  the  1 2th  of  November,  1842,  and  is  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  old  families  of 
Kentucky.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Job 
Stevenson,  was  an  active  business  man,  and 
at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Kentucky  legis- 
lature. Evans  Stevenson,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  devoted  his  life  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry  and  became  a  noted,  divine  of  the 
Methodist  church.  His  services  in  this  con- 
nection were  probably  required  to  a  greater 
extent  than  any  other  man  of  local  note.  He 
solemnized  many  marriages,  pronounced 
many  funeral  sermons  and  frequently  was 
called  upon  to  deliver  lectures,  public  ad- 
dresses and  political  speeches.  He  left  the 
impress  of  his  individuality  upon  the  locality 
with  which  he  was  connected,  his  influence 
being  widely  felt  in  public  thought  and  feel- 
ing, and  from  the  time  when  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  age  until  his  death  in  1879.  he 
figured  prominently  before  the  public,  and  by 
reason  of  his  marked  individuality,  strong 
intellectuality  and  sterling  worth  he  did  much 
to  promote  progress,  reform  and  improve- 
ment. He  married  a  daughter  of  Major 
John  Boggs,  who  won  his  title  by  service  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  who  was  well  known 
as  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio. 

In  the  state  of  his  nativity  amid  the  re- 
fining and  ennobling  influence  of  a  good 
home  Wilbur  F.  Stevenson  was  reared,  and 
the  lessons  of  integrity  and  nobility  which 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


439 


were  impressed  upon  his  mind  in  early 
youth  have  never  been  forgotten,  but  have 
largely  aided  in  molding  his  character  in 
later  life.  His  arrival  in  Piatt  county  dates 
from  1868.  He  was  at  that  time  a  young 
man  of  twenty-four  years,  desirous  of  win- 
ning success  by  his  efforts  in  the  business 
world.  Reaching  Illinois  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  his  uncle,  John  Boggs,  Jr., 
who  was  prominent  as  a  stockman  through- 
out Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  Throughout 
the  greater  part  of  his  residence  in  Piatt 
county  Mr.  Stevenson  has  been  actively  and 
extensively  associated  with  stock-raising, 
and  stock-dealing  interests.  He  has  secured 
a  valuable  tract  of  land  in  Willow  Branch 
township,  and  there  conducted  a  stock  farm, 
which  gained  a  wide  reputation  throughout 
this  portion  o>f  the  country.  His  business 
affairs  were  always  conducted  along  legiti- 
mate lines  and  in  accordance  with  enterprise. 
Quick  to  note  and  improve  opportunity  he 
has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  and  his 
efforts  have  been  crowned  with  a  high  de- 
gree of  success. 

Mr.  Stevenson  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Alice  Talman,  a  native  of  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  whence  she  came  to  Illinois  in 
her  early  girlhood.  Her  mother  is  now  Mrs. 
Susan  Farra,  of  Monticello.  Since  coming 
to  Monticello  Mr.  'Stevenson  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  and  in  1903 
he  was  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
for  the  office  of  mayor  of  the  city,  and  was 
elected  to  that  position,  so  that  he  is  now  the 
incumbent  in  the  office.  His  administration 
is  practical  and  progressive,  for  he  takes  into 
consideration  the  real  condition  of  the  city, 
its  needs  and  its  possibilities,  and  he  labors 
along  lines  of  permanent  good  and  substan- 
tial development.  He  is  a  wideawake,  ener- 
getic and  reliable  man  and  as  a  citizen  he  has 


.at  all  times,  the  good  of  the  community  at 
heart,  while  his  ability  has  been  exerted  to 
make  his  adopted  county  rank  with  the 
brightest  and  best  of  all  composing  this  great 
commonwealth.  He  is  now  numbered  among 
the  capitalists  of  Piatt  county,  and  his  life 
record  should  serve  as  a  source  of  encour- 
agement to  others,  for  he  started  out  for  him- 
self without  capital  and  the  position  which 
he  now  occupies  in  the  financial  circles  is  due 
to  his  own  labors. 


ELIAS   P.   JAMES. 

Elias  P.  James  has  placed  his  earnings  in 
the  safest  of  all  investments,  real  estate,  and 
is  to-day  the  owner  of  valuable  landed  hold- 
ings in  Piatt  county.  His  home  is  in  Blue 
Ridge  township,  where  he  has  a  splendidly 
improved  property.  He  was  born  in  the 
neighboring  state  of  Indiana,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Rush  county,  on  the  27th  of 
September,  1835.  His  parents  were  Elisha 
and  Catherine  (Poston)  James,  and  the 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  and  the  mother's  birth  oc- 
curred in  Kentucky.  After  living  for  some 
years  in  Indiana  they  removed  to  Missouri, 
and  afterward  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Piatt  county.  They  spent  their  last  days  on 
the  farm  of  our  subject,  and  when  called  to 
their  final  home  their  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Mansfield  cemetery. 

Elisha  P.  James  obtained  his  education  in 
Rush  county,  Indiana,  pursuing  his  studies 
in  the  Bell  school.  The  little  "temple  of 
learning"  was  an  old  log  schoolhouse  with 
slab  benches.  There  was  a  large  fireplace  in 
one  end  of  the  room,  and  upon  the  wall  an 
old-fashioned  clock.  The  books  were  some- 


440 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


what  primitive  in  character,  and  the  teaching 
was  also  after  the  same  style.  Mr.  James 
has  led  a  very  busy  and  useful  life.  He  be- 
gan working  for  himself  when  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  and  rented  a  tract  of  land  in  or- 
der that  he  might  carry  on  farming  on  his 
own  account.  The  first  land  which  he  ever 
owned  was  near  Bear  Swamp  in  Wabash 
county,  Indiana.  He  paid  twelve  hundred 
dollars  for  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  This  was  all  covered  with 
timber  and  Mr.  James  cleared  away  half  of 
it  and  then  sold  his  land  for  forty  dollars  per 
acre,  disposing  of  the  property  on  the  ist  of 
October.  1870.  He  then  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Blue  Ridge 
township,  Piatt  county,  becoming  owner  of 
this  farm  on  the  I5th  of  October,  of  the 
same  year.  He  has  devoted  his  time  and  en- 
ergies largel}'  to  the  raising  of  stock  and 
grain,  and  he  was  at  one  time  the  owner  of 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  valuable 
land.  This,  however,  he  has  divided  among 
his  children,  giving  to  each  forty  acres, 
so  that  he  now  has  himself  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres,  all  in  Blue  Ridge 
township.  He  bought  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  at  twenty-four  dollars  per  acre,  forty 
acres  for  thirty-one  and  a  half-dollars,  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres  for  thirty-six  dol- 
lars per  acre,  one  hundred  and  sixty  for  sev- 
enty dollars,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres 
for  ninety  dollars,  eighty  acres  for  one  hun- 
dred and  six  dollars,  and  forty  acres  for  one 
hundred  and  one  dollars  per  acre.  Thus  he 
has  invested  large  amounts  of  money  in  land, 
but  has  found  this  a  profitable  way  to  use 
his  capital,  because  of  the  rich  yield  which  the 
fields  give  and  because  of  the  excellent  pas- 
turage which  the  land  affords,  this  making 
it  profitable  to  raise  stock. 

In  Wabash  county,  Indiana,  Mr.  James 
was  united  in  marriage  on  the  6th  of  Febru- 


ary, 1862,  to  Miss  Mary  I.  Shephard,  who 
was  born  March  16,  1842,  in  McDonough 
county,  Illinois.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Sallie  Shephard,  and  by  her  mar- 
riage she  has  become  the  mother  of  seven 
children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters: 
Stella  B.,  who  was  born  January  19,  1864; 
Cora  B.,  born  May  23,  1865 ;  .Charles  E., 
born  September  23,  1867;  Emma  Z.,  born 
December  I,  1869;  Elmer  B.,  January  9, 
1872;  Robert  Ouincy,  torn  January  29, 
1876;  and  Elias  Ollan,  born  March  9,  1879. 
A  number  of  the  children  were  married  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  and  their  sons  and  all 
of  their  children  by  marriage  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James 
have  been  members  of  this  section  since  1862, 
and  have  led  earnest,  consistent  lives  in  har- 
mony with  their  professions.  Mr.  James  also 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  of  Mans- 
field, and  he  votes  with  the  Republican 
party.  The  honors  and  emoluments  of  of- 
fice, however,  have  had  no  attraction  for  him, 
as  his  time  has  been  fully  occupied  by  his 
business  interests.  He  has  displayed  sound 
judgment  in  all  of  his  work,  untiring  energy 
in  the  prosecution  of  his  affairs,  and  unfal- 
tering honesty  in  all  of  his  relations  with  his 
fellow  men.  His  life  record  should  serve  as 
a  source  of  help  and  inspiration  to  others, 
showing  what  may  be  accomplished  through 
persistency  of  purpose  and  diligence.  He 
is  to-day  one  of  the  best  known  as  well  as 
one  of  the  most  successful  agriculturists  of 
Piatt  county. 


WILLIAM  J.  SISSON. 

No  history  of  the  business  interests  of 
Mansfield  would  be  complete  without  men- 
tion of  William  J.  Sisson,  who  is  proprietor 


PIATT   COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


441 


of  a  department  store  that  would  be  a  credit 
to  a  city  of  much  larger  size.  His  is  a 
splendidly  equipped  establishment,  com- 
prising a  varied  line  of  goods  and  in  his  busi- 
ness methods  Mr.  Sisson  has  gained  general 
confidence.  He  never  loses  the  patronage  of 
those  whose  business  he  once  secures,  because 
in  all  his  dealings  he  is  found  reliable,  while 
in  his  treatment  of  those  whom  he  serves  he 
is  ever  courteous  and  obliging. 

Mr.  Sisson  is  one  of  Illinois'  native  sons, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  the  city  of  Gales- 
burg,  Knox  county,  on  the  5th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1854.  His  parents  were  Frederick  P. 
and  Mary  Ann  (Field)  Sisson.  The  father 
engaged  in  manufacturing  pursuits  in  early 
life,  and  during  the  period  of  the  Civil  war 
purchased  horses  for  the  government.  In  the 
schools  of  his  native  state  William  J.  Sisson 
obtained  his  education  and  was  thus  well 
trained  for  the  practical  duties  of  life.  After 
putting  aside  his  text-books  he  secured  a  po- 
sition in  a  mercantile  establishment  in  Gales- 
burg,  being  employed  as  cash  boy  when 
about  thirteen  years  of  age.  Later  the  firm 
with  which  he  was  connected  failed  and  he 
then  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  shoe  store.  In 
1871  he  went  to  Peoria,  where  he  entered 
the  employ  of  Charles  Seaberry  &  Company, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  twelve  years,  a 
fact  which  certainly  indicates  his  fidelity  to 
those  whom  he  served,  and  the  unqualified 
confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  employers. 
During  the  last  nine  years  of  his  connection 
with  that  house  he  served  as  traveling  sales- 
man upon  the  road,  and  annually  negotiated 
a  large  amount  of  business  for  the  firm.  In 
severing  his  connection  with  business  inter- 
ests in  Peoria  in  1883,  he  removed  to  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  where  he  entered  the  employ 
of  D.  P.  Erwin,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
sixteen  years.  Certainly  no  higher  testi- 


monial of  his  business  capability  and  his 
trustworthiness  could  be  given  than  the  fact 
that  he  has  been  so  long  retained  in  the  ser- 
vice of  these  two  firms.  On  leaving  Indian- 
apolis he  came  to  Mansfield.  He  had  pre- 
viously purchased  his  store  here  and  was  also 
the  proprietor  of  a  store  in  Princeville,  Illi- 
nois, but  on  coming  to  Mansfield  he  disposed 
of  the  store  in  Princeville  in  order  to  give  his 
entire  attention  to  the  supervision  of  his 
business  interests  in  this  place.  He  now  car- 
ries a  large  and  carefully  selected  stock 
worth  thirty  thousand  dollars,  and  has  one  of 
the  most  modern  and  completely  equipped 
general  mercantile  establishments  in  central 
Illinois.  The  store  is  heated  by  hot  water 
and  is  supplied  with  all  modern  improve- 
ments, including  the  Luxfer  prism  lights, 
such  as  are  seldom  found  in  any  store 
outside  of  the  large  cities.  He  also  has 
handsome  toilet-rooms  and  fine  bath-rooms 
in  the  building.  The  basement  is  ce- 
mented and  is  also  used  as  a  salesroom, 
being  so  splendidly  lighted  that  the  ab- 
sence of  sunlight  is  never  noticed.  Alto- 
gether the  floor  space  of  the  store  covers 
ten  thousand  square  feet,  and  in  addition  to 
this  Mr.  Sisson  has  an  oil  house,  flour  house 
and  a  warehouse.  He  conducts  a  general 
department  business,  carrying  a  large  line  of 
dry  goods,  notions,  carpets  and  floor  cover- 
ings, clothing,  hats,  mens'  furnishing  goods, 
shoes,  chinaware  and  groceries.  His  sales 
have  reached  a  large  annual  figure,  and  are 
constantly  increasing.  He  has  studied  closely 
the  desires  of  the  public  and  makes  his  pur- 
chases accordingly. 

In  1886  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Sisson  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Venemann. 
They  now  have  three  children  all  living. 
Frederick  P.  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Indianapolis  and  Mansfield,  and  is  now  as- 


4-P 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


sisting  his  father  in  the  conduct  of  the  store. 
Ella  Richey  and  Sarah  are  at  home.  The 
family  attend  the  services  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  the  parents  are  members. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Sisson  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  while  he  keeps  well  informed  on 
the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day,  as  every 
American  citizen  should  do,  he  has  no  time 
or  inclination  to  seek  public  office.  He  owns 
a  beautiful  residence  in  Mansfield  in  addition 
to  his  store,  and  is  classed  among  the  most 
prominent  and  influential  citizens  here.  He 
has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes, 
•and  has  builded  wisely  and  well,  gradually 
working  his  way  upward  from  the  humble 
position  of  a  cash  boy  until  he  is  to-day  a 
prosperous  merchant,  doing  a  large  and  prof- 
itable business.  He  is  genial  in  manner, 
progressive  in  spirit,  and  as  a  citizen  is  very 
deeply  interested  in  what  pertains  to  the  gen- 
eral welfare,  co-operating  largely  in  meas- 
ures for  the  public  good. 


ELDER   JOHN   ARNOLD. 

Among  Piatt  county's  honored  and  re- 
spected citizens  should  be  numbered  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  introduces  this  sketch, 
the  present  pastor  of  the  German  Baptist 
Brethren  church  of  Okaw.  He  was  born  on 
the  i6th  of  June,  1846,  in  Mineral  county, 
West  Virginia,  and  is  a  son  of  Solomon  and 
Susan  (Wine)  Arnold,  also  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  of  German  extraction.  The  father 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  in  that 
part  of  the  old  Dominion  which,  during  the 
Civil  war,  became  the  state  of  West  Vir- 
ginia. Later  the  mother  and  her  family  came 
to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of 
1868,  and  she  died  at  the  home,  of  her  daugh- 


ter, Mrs.  Samuel  Henricks,  near  Cerro 
Gordo,  in  1901.  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight 
years.  She  had  seven  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  West  Virginia.  The  others 
are  as  follows :  Samuel  married  Lucina 
Rose,  now  deceased,  and  has  three  daughters, 
Laura,  Mame  and  Flossie.  Daniel  is  mar- 
ried and  with  his  family  resides  in  Missouri. 
John,  of  this  review,  is  the  next  in  order  of 
birth.  Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Hen- 
ricks,  and  a  resident  of  Cerro  Gordo,  Illi- 
nois. 

John  Arnold  was  educated  in  a  primitive 
log  schoolhouse  with  its  slab  benches  and 
huge  fireplace,  continuing  his  studies  there 
until  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  made 
the  most  of  his  advantages  in  that  line  as  it 
was  his  desire  to 'obtain  a  good  education, 
and  by  reading  and  observation  he  has 
added  greatly  to  the  knowledge  acquired 
in  the  schoolroom.  During  his  boyhood  and 
youth  he  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm,  and  has  since  been  identified  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he 
came  with  his  family  to  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  in  Cerro  Gordo  township, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  and 
his  brother,  Samuel,  engaged  in  farming  to- 
gether for  several  years,  but  on  the  marriage 
of  the  latter  the  partnership  was  dissolved. 
Our  subject  began  life  here  in  limited  circum- 
stances, but  prospered  in  his  farming  opera- 
tions, and  in  1881  purchased  his  present  farm 
of  eighty  acres  on  section  29,  Cerro  Gordo> 
township,  which  was  then  under  cultivation, 
but  in  tiling  and  other  improvements  he  has 
laid  out  more  money  than  the  eighty  acres 
cost  him.  Since  then  he  has  added  to  it  an 
adjoining  eighty,  making  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  In  1887  he  built  a  good  barn 
and  also  corn-cribs,  and  in  1895  erected  a 
nice  modern  residence,  which  is  a  verv  at- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


443 


tractive  home  on  the  main  road.  The  place 
is  divided  into  fields  of  convenient  size  by 
well-kept  fences,  and  everything  is  in  first- 
class  condition. 

On  the  3ist  of  May,  1875,  Mr.  Arnold 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Hen- 
ricks,  who  was  born  in  Fairfield  county, 
Ohio,  in  February,  1840,  and  died  on  the  23d 
of  August,  1890.  Her  parents  were  Elder 
Joseph  and  Lizzie  (Seitz)  Henricks,  also  na- 
tives of  Fairfield  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Arnold 
was  again  married  in  June^  1892,  his  second 
union  being  with  Lydia  Heeter,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Heeter,  of  Wabash 
county,  Indiana.  The  children  by  the  first 
marriage  are  Nora  S.,  Etta  May  and  Stella 
Ethel.  The  oldest  daughter  is  a  graduate  of 
the  German  Baptist  school  at  Mt.  Morris,  Il- 
linois, and  will  leave  this  year  as  a  mission- 
ary to  India,  having  made  preparations  to 
devote  her  life  to  that  noble  work. 

In  1876  Mr.  Arnold  was  ordained  as  a 
minister  of  the  German  Baptist  Brethren 
church,  and  has  since  served  as  assistant  pas- 
tor most  of  the  time,  though  he  has  been  in 
full  charge  of  the  congregation  at  Okaw 
(formerly  La  Place)  since  1897,  succeeding 
Jacob  Olery  at  that  place.  During  his  minis- 
try the  membership  has  grown  and  now  num- 
bers over  two  hundred,  and  the  church  has 
been  otherwise  Strengthened  and  built  up. 
Mr.  Arnold  has  preached  throughout  Piatt, 
Macon  and  Moultrie  counties,  and  has  la- 
bored untiringly  in  the  interests  of  his. 
church.  In  1898  he  retired  from  active  farm 
work,  and  now  rents  his  land,  living  in  hon- 
orable retirement  from  business.  However, 
he' still  attends  to  his  ministerial  duties,  and 
on  the  30th  of  May,  1903,  went  to  Bellefon- 
taine,  Ohio,  to  attend  the  general  annual  con- 
ference of  his  church.  He  has  often  been  a 
delegate  to  such  conventions,  and  for  four 


years  served  as  .president  of  the  mission 
board  in  southern  Illinois.  He  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  throughout  this  section  of 
the  state,  and  those  who  know  him  best  are 
numbered  among  his  warmest  friends. 


WILLIAM   F.   LODGE. 

One  of  the  most  progressive  and  ener- 
getic young  business  men  of  Monticello  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view. He  was  born  in  that  city  on  the  I2th 
of  November,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
E.  and  Frances  A.  (Piatt)  Lodge,  the  latter 
a  daughter  of  William  H.  Piatt,  in  whose 
honor  the  county  was  named.  In  the  public 
schools  of  Monticello  our  subject  began  his 
early  literary  education  and  later  became  a 
student  in  the  State  University  at  Cham- 
paign, where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  some 
time.  Leaving  that  institution  he  entered 
the  law  department  of  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity, at  Evanston,  Illinois,  in  which  he 
was  graduated  on  the  completion  of  the  reg- 
ular course,  with  the  class  of  1892.  He  was 
then  admitted  to  practice  before  the  supreme 
court  at  Springfield  the  same  year. 

Returning  to  Monticello,  Mr.  Lodge 
joined  his  father  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Lodge,  Hicks  &  Lodge,  and  became  inter- 
ested in  the  manufacture  of  building  brick 
and  tile,  the  plant  being  situated  just  outside 
the  city  limits  on  the  north.  This  enterprise 
was  established  in  1891,  and  the  machinery 
is  of  the  latest  improved  patterns.  The  out- 
put of  the  industry  is  now  large,  and  employ- 
ment is  furnished  to  a  number  of  men  and 
boys.  Mr.  Lodge  also  became  secretary  and 
incorporation  promoter  of  the  electric  light 
company,  and  was  instrumental  in  erecting 


444 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


the  plant.  He  succeeded  in  selling  ten  thou- 
sand dollars'  worth  of  stock,  and  for  nine 
years  efficiently  served  as  manager  of  the 
company,  and  also  as  electrician.  He  still 
owns  a  part  of  the  stock.  Mr.  Lodge  was 
also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mon- 
ticello  Mutual  Telephone  Company,  which 
was  afterward  merged  into  the  Piatt 
Telephone  Company  with  exchanges  at  Be- 
ment,  Monticello  and  DeLand,  and  about 
five  hundred  phones  in  use.  This  company 
was  organized  and  incorporated  in  1896, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 
Our  subject  and  his  brother,  James  P.,  now 
own  about  seven  hundred  telephones  in  oper- 
ation throughout  Piatt  county,  and  he  gives 
his  personal  supervision  to  that  business. 

The  Lodge  family  occupy  the  old  Piatt 
homestead  where  the  first  location  was  made 
in  this  county,  and  two  rooms  of  the  resi- 
dence were  built  by  Mr.  Barnett,  becoming, 
the  property  of  our  subject's  father  about 
forty  years  ago.  The  house  is  surrounded 
by  a  spacious  lawn,  the  grounds  comprising 
about  twenty  acres.  Mr.  Lodge  is  a  young 
man  of  marked  business  ability  and  execu- 
tive force,  of  keen  sagacity  and  unfaltering 
energy,  and  along  many  lines  he  has  con- 
tributed to  the  substantial  improvement  and 
permanent  develppment  of  his  native  county. 


JESSE  W.  WARNER. 

Jesse  W.  Warner  is  one  of  the  extensive 
land  owners  of  Piatt  county,  his  possessions 
aggregating  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
He  is  likewise  well  known  as  a  large  cattle- 
dealer,  and  both  branches  of  his  business 
have  been  so  capably  conducted  that  they 
have  brought  to  him  very  deserved  and  grat- 


ifying prosperity.  His  home  is  on  section  35, 
Goose  Creek  township,  and  for  a  half  cen- 
tury he  has  resided  in  Piatt  county,  being 
one  of  its  respected  citizens  and  honored  pio- 
neers. , 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Warner  was  torn 
in  Ross  county  on  the  i6th  of  December, 
1829,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Delilah 
Warner,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  were  farming  people  and 
for  many  years  the  father  was  connected  with 
agricultural  pursuits  in  the  Buckeye  state. 
There  he  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years, 
and  the  mother  afterward  came  to  the  west. 
spending  her  last  days  in  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois. In  the  family  were  eleven  children, 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom 
Jesse  W.  Warner  was  the  sixth  in  order  ol 
birth. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Ohio  Mr.  Warn- 
er, of  this  review,  obtained  his  education, 
but  his  advantages  were  somewhat  limited  as 
his  services  were  needed  on  the  home  farm. 
His  father  died  when  the  son  was  seventeen 
years  of  age,  and  for  two  years  thereafter 
Mr.  Warner  remained  with  his  mother,  as- 
sisting in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm.  He 
then  began  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  but  thinking  that  he 
might  have  better  business  opportunities 
further  west,  he  left  his  native  state  in  the 
fall  of  1852  and  came  to  Monticello,  where 
he  arrived  with  a  cash  capital  of  eighteen  dol- 
lars and  fifty  cents.  He  also  had  a  horse, 
saddle  and  bridle,  having  made  the  journey 
westward  on  horseback.  On  reaching  Piatt 
county  he  secured  work  by  the  month  as  a 
farm  hand,  and  was  thus  employed  until 
1856.  when  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years  he 
lost  his  right  arm  in  an  accident  on  a  railroad. 
This  would  utterly  have  discouraged  many 
a  man  of  less  resolute  spirit,  but  Mr.  Warner 


J.  W.  WARNER 


PIATT   COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


447 


showed  marked  strength  of  character  in 
facing  the  situation.  He  attended  school  and 
learned  to  write  with  his  left  hand.  For  two 
years  after  the  accident  he  worked  with  an- 
other man  in  operating  a  mole  ditcher,  and 
in  1860  he  engaged  in  the  cattle  business 
with  Absalom  Fisher  and  James  Piatt,  the 
relation  between  these  gentlemen  continuing 
until  1864,  and  their  efforts  were  crowned 
with  a  high  degree  of  success.  With  the 
money  which  he  thus  realized,  Mr.  Warner 
purchased  two  hundred  and  ninety-seven  and 
a  half  acres  of  land,  for  which  he  paid  five 
thousand  dollars.  This  was  largely  unim- 
proved, and  with  characteristic  energy  he  be- 
gan its  development,  transforming  the  tract 
into  rich  fields,  which  are  now  very  product- 
ive. As  his  financial  resources  have  in- 
creased he  has  added  to  his  property  until 
he  now  owns  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
the  rich  land  of  Piatt  county,  which  is  equal 
in  productiveness  to  any  to  be  found  in  this 
great  agricultural  state. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1873,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Warner  and  Miss 
Katie  Schultz,  of  Piatt  county.  She  died  in 
1876  and  their  only  child  died  in  infancy. 
On  the  6th  of  January,  1878,  Mr  Warner 
was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Lulu  Connor,  a  native  of  Bloom- 
field,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Abner  and 
Rachel  Connor,  who  came  to  Piatt  county 
in  the  year  1851.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
and  stock-buyer,  and  was  thus  closely  asso- 
ciated with  the  leading  business  enterprises 
of  the  county  for  a  number  of  years.  He  died 
at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-five  years, 
his  widow  is  now  living  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Warner.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
been  born  four  children :  Ollie,  Edward,  Lu- 
ella  and  Lena.  The  eldest  daughter  is  now 
the  wife  of  James  Miner,  a  resident  of  Goose 


Greek  township,  and  they  have  two  children : 
Harold  and  Ruth. 

While  carrying  on  the  work  of  cultivat- 
ing the  fields,  Mr.  Warner  is  also  giving  con- 
siderable attention  to  raising  and  dealing  in 
stock,  making  a  specialty  of  beef  cattle  and 
hogs,  and  annually  he  sends  to  the  city  mar- 
kets large  numbers  of  these  animals.  He  is  a 
man  of  resourceful  business  ability,  quick  to 
note  opportunity  and  to  utilize  the  advan- 
tages which  come  to  him.  In  1900  he  was  in- 
terested in  founding  the  State  Bank  of  De- 
Land,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  director. 
For  about  fifteen  years  he  has  served  as  pres- 
ident of  the  Monticello  Fair  Association,  an 
enterprise  which  has  been  of  marked  value 
to  this  section  of  the  state,  cultivating  ambi- 
tion for  progress  among  the  farmers  with  the 
result  that  better  farm  products  and  stock 
have  been  produced.  Whatever  tends  to 
prove  of  value  to  the  agricultural  community 
is  of  interest  to  him,  and  he  has  always  been 
a  leader  in  matters  of  advancement  in  this  di- 
rection. 

Mr.  Warner  is  also  prominent  and  active 
in  fraternal  circles  and  now  belongs  to  Selah 
Lodge,  No.  403,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  encamp- 
ment of  Monticello  and  has  been  representa- 
ative  to  the  grand  lodge,  while  both  he  and 
his  wife  and  their  daughter,  Luella,  are  con- 
nected with  the  Rebekah  degree  and  their  son 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fra-; 
ternity.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Warner 
is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  has  served  as 
road  commissioner  for  three  years,  while  for 
one  term  he  was  overseer,  but  he  has  alwrays 
preferred  to  give  his  time  to  his  business  in- 
terests rather  than  to  political  work,  and 
along  the  line  of  his  chosen  field  of  labor  he 
has  won  every  gratifying  and  honorable  pros- 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


perity.  His  life  has  been  a  useful,  active 
and  upright  one,  and  now  in  the  evening  of 
his  days  he  has  the  respect,  confidence  and 
good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated. He  has  witnessed  many  changes  and 
improvements  in  the  county  during  the  half 
century  of  his  residence  here,  and  well  de- 
serves credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished, 
and  mention  among  the  honored  pioneers. 


JOHN  W.  CYPHERS. 

John  W.  Cyphers,  who  was  one  of  the  de- 
fenders of  the  Union  cause  during  the  dark 
days  of  the  Civil  war,  and  is  to-day  an  hon- 
ored citizen  of  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  was 
born  on  the  2ist  of  August,  1843,  in  Morgan 
county,  West  Virginia.  His  parents,  Joseph 
S.  and  Elizabeth  (Zeger)  Cyphers,  were 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former 
born  in  1806,  the  latter  in  1812,  and  in  Mer- 
cersburg,  that  state,  they  were  married  in 
1834.  After  following  farming  in  Pennsyl- 
vania for  some  years,  the  father  removed  to 
Morgan  county,  West  Virginia,  in  1839, 
making  his  home  there  until  coming  to  Illi- 
nois in  1858,  when  he  located  in  Fairview, 
Fulton  county,  which  was  his  home  until 
•  called  to  his  final  rest.  Throughout  life  he 
followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  also 
owned  a  large  herd  of  sheep,  being  quite  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  buying  and  selling  those 
animals.  He  died  on  the  4th  of  July,  1868, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1885.  This 
worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely : 
Eliza,  the  wife  of  John  Cosa,  a  shoemaker, 
of  Fairview ;  Urias,  a  harnessmaker  of  that 
place :  Jacob,  a  policeman  of  Chicago ; 
Charles,  a  painter  of  Fairview ;  and  John  W.. 
of  this  review. 


Having  spent  the  first  fifteen  years  of  his 
life  in  the  state  of  his  nativity,  John  W.  Cy- 
phers began  his  education  in  its  public 
school,  the  first  temple  of  learning  being  an 
old-fashioned  log  structure  with  puncheon 
floor  and  slab  seats,  and  after  coming  to  Illi- 
nois in  1858,  he  attended  school  for  two  win- 
ters, while  working  on  his  father's  farm 
through  the  summer.  He  early  acquired  an 
excellent  knowledge  of  every  department  of 
farm  work,  and  later  worked  at  six  dollars 
per  month  as  a  farm  hand. 

Mr.  Cyphers  was  thus  employed  when  the 
Civil  war  broke  out,  and  not  being  content 
to  remain  quietly  at  home  while  the  country 
was  in  danger,  he  entered  the*army  in  August, 
1862,  enlisting  in  Company  D,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
which  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade, 
First  Division,  Fifteenth  Army  Corps.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Mission  Ridge 
and  Kenesaw  Mountain,  the  siege  of  At- 
lanta, Georgia,  and  was  with  Sherman  on  his 
celebrated  march  to  the  sea,  being  all  through 
that  campaign.  The  war  having  ended  he 
took  part  in  the  grand  review  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  and  was  there  discharged  from 
the  service,  being  mustered  out  at  Chicago  in 
July,  1865,  with  a  war  record  of  which  he 
may  be  justly  proud. 

Mr.  Cyphers  then  returned  to  Fairview, 
Illinois,  and  learned  the  plasterer's  trade, 
which  he  followed  continuously  until  coming 
to  Piatt  county  in  1870,  when  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  adjoining  the  village 
of  DeLand  and  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  has  since  operated 
his  land  quite  successfullly,  and  has  added 
twenty-five  acres  to  the  original  tract,  and 
has  made  many  other  useful  and  valuable  im- 
provements which  have  added  greatly  to  the 
attractive  appearance  of  the  place,  including 
the  erection  of  a  fine  ten-room  residence  sur- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


449 


rounded  by  lovely  shade  trees.  In  connec- 
tion with  the  raising  of  cereals  best  adapted 
to  the  soil  and  climate,  he  also  raises  cattle 
and  hogs  for  market,  and  in  both  branches  of 
his  business  is  meeting  with  well  deserved 
success. 

In  1867  Mr.  Cyphers  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ellen  Cook,  a  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph and  Mary  Cook,  of  Fairview,  but  -she 
died  within  three  weeks  of  their  marriage. 
He  \vas  again  married  in  January  1888,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Caroline 
Zeger,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
Zeger,  and  by  this  marriage  five  children 
were  born,  but  only  one  is  now  living,  this 
being  Jerry,  who  is  at  home  with  his  parents. 
John  Wesley,  Robert  Franklin  and  Joseph 
Dickey  all  died  with  membranous  croup, 
and  Hattie  May  died  in  infancy.  Joseph 
Zeger,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Cyphers,  was  born 
April  3,  1822,  and  died  February  5,  1901. 
when  almost  seventy-nine.  His  widow,  whose 
birth  occurred  on  the  3d  of  February,  1828, 
now  makes  her  home  with  our  subject  and 
his  wife. 

Politically  Mr.  Cyphers  is  a  staunch  Re- 
publican, and  fraternally  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  De  Land  Lodge,  No.  740,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  are  held  in 
the  highest  respect  and  esteem  by  all  who 
know  them. 


JAMES   W.    ELLIOTT. 

James  "W.  Elliott,  who  is  now  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  merchandising  at 
Voorhies,  was  torn  in  Lynnville,  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  on  the  I3th  of  October. 
1855,  his  parents  being  George  and  Ann 


(Wilkinson)  Elliott,  who  were  of  English 
extraction.  Leaving  England  in  his  twen- 
tieth year,  the  father  came  to  America,  land- 
ing in  New  York,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  of  harness  making  for  a  time,  and  then 
removed  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  similarly  employed,  bu  he  now  follows 
farming  in  Macon  county,  his  home  being 
three  miles  west  of  Decatur.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  his  first  wife,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  having  died  about  1860.  By 
that  union  there  were  two  childlren :  James 
W.  and  Frances.  The  latter  was  for  some 
time  a  popular  schoolteacher,  and  is  now  the 
wife  of  a  Mr.  Brown,  of  Kansas. 

James  W.  Elliott  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  a  farm  and  received  a  good  com- 
mon school  education.  Being  a  lover  of  good 
literature,  he  has  become  a  well  informed 
man,  and  keeps  abreast  of  the  times.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-three  years  he  left  the  home 
farm  in  Macon  county  and  went  to  Kansas, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  about 
twelve  years.  While  there  he  was  married 
in  1881  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Orr,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1862,  and  was  educated 
at  Cannonsburg,  that  state.  They  now  have 
three  children,  two  of  whom  were  born  before 
leaving  Kansas.  In  order  of  birth  they  are 
George,  Charles  and  Beulah,  all  of  whom 
have  received  good  educational  advantages. 
One  of  the  sons  is  now  attending  business 
college,  while  the  other  assists  his  father  in 
the  store. 

On  his  return  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Elliott' had 
charge  of  his  father's  farm  for  a  time,  and 
in  1892  removed  to  the  E.  P.  Thompson 
farm  in  Unity  township,  which  he  conducted 
until  the  fall  of  1895,  when  he  came  to  Voor- 
hies. Here  he  embarked  in  general  mer- 
chandising on  the  ist  of  January,  1896,  and 
in  this  new  venture  has  steadily  prospered,. 


45° 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


having  a  stock  valued  at  about  two  thousand 
dollars,  though  he  started  out  with  a  capital 
of  seven  hundred  dollars.  He  is  a  thorough 
business  man,  prompt,  energetic,  and  nota- 
bly reliable,  and  generally  carries  forward 
to  successful  completion  whatever  he  under- 
takes. He  is  independent  in  politics  and  is 
well  worthy  the  high  regard  so  freely  accord- 
ed him. 


JOHN   D.   BELL. 

An  honorable  retirement  from  labor  has 
been  vouchsafed  to  John  D.  Bell,  who  after 
many  years  connection  with  business  affairs 
in  which  his  success  was  won  through  hon- 
orable, persistent  effort,  is  now  resting  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former 
toil.  He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
bcrn  in  Mifflin  county,  on  the  3d 
of  September,  1830.  His  parents  were 
George  T.  and  Sara  (Sample)  Bell.  The 
father  was  born  in  Mifflin  county  on  the  I5th 
of  March,  1803,  and  resided  at  the  place  of 
his  birth  until  1864,  when  he  came  to  Illinois. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  followed 
that  pursuit  during  his  residence  in  the  Key- 
stone state.  He  had  also  learned  the  black- 
smith's trade  in  early  life,  but  devoted  his 
energies  to  it  for  but  a  brief  period.  A  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  he 
was  always  interested  in  its  work  and  pro- 
gress, and  in  his  political  views  he  was  a 
Democrat.  In  the  county  of  his  nativity  he 
married  Miss  Sara  Sample,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Mifflin  county.  Bringing  his 
family  with  him  to  Illinois,  he  located  in  the 
village  of  Bement,  where  he  spent  his  remain- 
ing days,  passing  away  just  two  days  before 
the  seventy-seventh  anniversary  of  his  birth. 
His  attention  was  not  given  to  any  business 


calling  after  his  removal  to  the  west,  the 
small  farm  which  he  purchased  being  culti- 
vated by  his  son,  John  D.  and  others.  He 
was  a  prosperous  and  progressive  man,  pub- 
lic spirited  and  interested  in  all  that  tended 
toward  improvement.  In  his  work  he  was 
systematic  and  kept  everything  about  his 
home  in  a  neat  condition.  He  passed  away 
in  1880,  and  was  survived  seventeen  years 
by  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  i8oy  and 
passed  away  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years  and  five  months.  Her  Christian 
faith  was  manifested  by  her  membership  in 
the  Methodist  church,  with  which  she  be- 
came identified  during  her  girlhood  days.  For 
long  years  she  was  one  of  its  active  workers, 
and  her  labors  were  effective  in  advancing 
the  moral  development  of  the  community. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  were  torn  but  two 
children,  John  D.  being  the  elder.  The 
daughter,  Mary  Jane,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  became  the  wife  of  Jacob  Mut- 
thersbaugh,,  who  came  to  Bement,  Illinois,  at 
the  time  of  the  removal  of  John  D.  Bell  and 
her  parents  to  this  place.  Mr.  Muttersbaugh 
engaged  in  the  butchering  business  here  after 
several  years,  and  was  engaged  in  it  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in  Be- 
ment cemetery  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  who 
passed  away  in  1876.  They  left  five  children  : 
William  and  Harvey,  who  are  now  conduct- 
ing a  meat  market  in  Bement ;  James,  a  resi- 
dent of  Nebraska;  Addie,  a  resident  of  De- 
catur,  Illinois;  and  May,  who  is  on  a  farm 
near  Decatur. 

John  D.  Bell  obtained  his  early  education 
in  the  old-time  log  schoolhouses  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  assisted  his  father  upon  the  home 
farm  from  his  early  youth  up  to  the  time  of 
his  marriage,  in  1853.  when  he  took  charge 
of  the  farm  then  vacated  by  his  father,  who 
located  on  a  small  fruit  farm  in  Pennsylva- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


nia.  remaining  there  until  the  family  came 
west  in  the  spring  of  1864.  On  his  arrival 
in  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  our  subject  pur- 
chased a  farm  just  north  of  the  village  of 
Bement.  erected  a  large  and  substantial  brick 
residence  and  made  other  excellent  improve- 
ments there.  It  continued  to  be  his  home  un- 
til the  spring  of  1874,  when,  his  wife  having 
died  in  1872,  and  his  daughter  being  unable 
to  keep  house  on  the  farm,  he  left  the  place 
and  removed  to  Bement.  Subsequently  he 
engaged  in  the  butchering  business  for  ten 
years,  and  afterward  bought  a  half  interest 
in  a  drug  store,  but  not  liking  the  latter  busi- 
ness he  sold  out  to  his  partner  in  about  a 
year.  Since  that  time  he  has  not  engaged  in 
any  business  on  his  own  account,  though  he 
held  a  position  in  a  furniture  store  until 
1900,  and  since  that  time  has  practically  lived 
retired  from  all  business  cares. 

On  the  ist  of  September,  1853,  at  Mc- 
Veytown,  John  D.  Bell  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Margaret  E.  Oliver,  the  widow 
of  G.  W.  Oliver.  She  was  born  in  the  Key- 
stone state,  a  native  of  Huntingdon  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  David  Jackson,  who  was 
a  farmer  of  that  county.  Both  her  father  and 
mother  died  on  the  old  home  place  in  Hunt- 
ingdon county.  Mrs.  Bell  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  that  faith  she 
died,  November  19,  1872,  at  Lincoln,  Illinois, 
while  visiting  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Houser. 
Her  remains  were  brought  back  home  and 
at  her  request  were  then  interred  in  the  Mc- 
Veytown  cemetery  near  her  old  home  in 
Pennsylvania.  She  was  a  devoted  wife  and 
a  kind  and  loving  mother.  By  her  first  hus- 
band she  had  three  children  who  made  their 
home  with  Mr.  Bell :  John  L.  Oliver,  who 
now  resides  in  Colorado;  Mary,  the  wife  of 
Dr.  W.  W.  Houser,  of  Lincoln,  Illinois ;  and 
George  W.  Olliver,  who  resides  in  Texas. 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  was 
blessed  with  five  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living :  Sadie,  the  wife  of  R.  O.  Hick- 
man,  of  Colorado;  Anna,  the  wife  of  A.  C. 
Stadler,  of  Bement,  Illinois,  by  whom  she 
has  one  child,  Arno  Karl ;  and  Elmer  E.,  who 
is  a  traveling  salesman,  residing  in  New  Jer- 
sey. He  is  married  and  has  four  children : 
Two  children  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell 
died  in  infancy  and  were  laid  to  rest  in  the 
McVeytown  cemetery. 

During  his  residence  in  Piatt  county  Mr. 
Bell  has  so  lived  as  to  win  the  high  regard 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men.  In  his  busi- 
ness relations  he  has  been  active  and  straight- 
forward, and  through  capable  management 
and  enterprise  he  has  won  a  competence  that 
now  enables  him  to  live  retired;  He  has 
passed  the  psalmists's  span  of  three  score 
years  and  ten,  having  reached  the  seventy- 
third  milestone  on  life's  journey.  His  worth 
is  widely  acknowledged,  and  it  is  with  pleas- 
ure that  we  present  to  our  readers  this  record 
of  his  career. 


HENRY  W.   GANTZ. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  business 
men  of  Piatt  county  is  numbered  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  actively  identified 
with  the  agricultural,  industrial  and  mercan- 
tile interests  of  this  locality,  and  he  has  at- 
tained a  leading  place  among  its  representa- 
tive citizens.  In  business  affairs  he  has  pros- 
pered through  his  own  unaided  efforts  and 
sound  judgment,  and  is  now  quite  well-to-do. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Gantz  was  born 
in  Richland  county,  September  3,  1845,  and 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Laninger) 


45^ 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Gantz,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
father  was  born  July  7,  1806,  and  the  mother 
September  18,  1817.  They  were  married 
in  the  Keystone  state  on  the  26th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1837,  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  the  father  followed  his  chosen 
occupation — that  of  farming — until  his 
death,  having  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  from  the  government.  In  his 
family  were  seven  children  as  follows  • 
Hiram,  born  in  1838,  engaged  in  farming 
in  Ohio  until  his  enlistment  in  the  Fifty- 
fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  during  the 
Civil  war  and  died  in  the  service  in  1862.  Re- 
becca, born  August  21,  1840,  married  Wil- 
liam Nagle,  of  Ohio,  and  died  in  June,  1899, 
leaving  a  husband  and  five  children.  Har- 
riet is  the  wife  of  Michael  Katzemire,  a  shoe 
merchant,  owning  two  stores,  one  in  Upper 
Sandusky  and  the  other  in  Toledo,  Ohio. 
Henry  W.  is  the  next  of  the  family.  George 
Washington,  born  June  13,  1848,  is-  a  resi- 
dent of  Morgantown,  West  Virginia.  Wil- 
liam Franklin,  born  July  6,  1855,  is  a  farmer 
of  Wayne  county,  Illinois.  Sarah  Alice, 
born  July  3,  1858,  died  September  23,  1863. 
During  his  boyhood  Henry  W.  Gantz 
attended  the  common  schools  of  Ohio  from 
thirty  to  forty  days  in  winter,  the  remainder 
of  the  year  being  devoted  to  the  work  of  the 
hone  farm.  He  would  also  haul  wood  to  the 
neighboring  town,  and  on  the  return  trip 
would  bring  home  supplies  for  the  family. 
On  leaving  home  he  started  to  earn  his  own 
livelihood  "in  the  lumber  woods  by  manufac- 
turing shingles.  Deciding  to  try  his  fortune 
on  the  prairies  of  Illinois,  he  came  to  this 
state  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  and  af- 
ter working  as  a  farm  hand  for  one  year,  he 
purchased  a  team,  and  for  one  year  operated 
a  part  of  the  Jacob  Swigart  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  DeWitt  county.  He 


was  then  taken  ill  and  during  his  sickness 
lost  all  that  he  had  made,  being  thus  forced 
to  accept  employment  on  a  farm  at  twenty 
dollars  per  month.  During  the  year  passed 
in  that  way  he  borrowed  one  hundred  dollars 
and  made  his  first  payment  on  forty  acres  of 
land  in  this  county,  and  then  rented  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  DeWitt  coun- 
ty in  partnership  with  Jonathan  Donnar, 
farming  the  same  quite  successfully  until  he 
had  paid  for  his  forty-acre  tract  in 
Piatt  county.  He  then  borrowed  money 
t;>  purchase  an  adjoining  forty -acre  tract, 
but  after  living  upon  his  property  for  one 
year  he  traded  it  for  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Goose  Creek  township,  three 
miles  southwest  of  De  Land,  which  place  he 
operated  until  1883,  in  the  meantime  adding 
one  hundred  acres  to  his  farm.  Since  then 
he  has  made  his  home  in  the  village  of  De 
Land,  but  is  still  interested  in  fanning  prop- 
erty, and  now  owns  four  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  this  county,  four  hundred  acres  in 
Wayne  county,  Illinois,  and  a  half  interest 
in  five  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  White 
county,  this  state.  In  1882  he  erected  a  tile 
factory  in  De  Land,  but  sold  the  same  two 
years  later  and  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  this  place  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  I.  L.  Rinehart  &  Company,  which  firm 
was  changed  to  Gantz  &  Fuller  in  1896.  In 
1900  Mr.  Gantz  became  sole  owner  and  car- 
ried on  the  business  under  the  style  of  the 
Gantz  Mercantile  Company  for  one  year, 
when  he  sold  a  half  interest  in  the  store  to 
Wiley  Dewees,  the  firm  becoming  Gantz  & 
Dewees.  In  the  fall  of  1901.  however,  Mr. 
Gantz  sold  his  interest  to  his  son  and  Mr. 
Dewees  sold  out  to  a  Mr.  Cox,  since  which 
time  business  has  been  carried  on  under  the 
firm  name  of  Gantz  &  Cox.  Our  subject  is 
a  stockholder  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


453 


First  National  Bank  of  De  Land,  and  owns 
forty  thousand  shares  in  the  Mascot  Gold 
Mining  Company,  which  is  capitalized  at  two 
million  dollars,  and  is  operating  in  Colorado. 

On  the  ist  of  October,  1873,  Mr.  Gantz 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Amanda 
Porter,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
Porter,  and  to  them  have  been  born  three 
children :  Hattie  Ethel,  who  was  born  July 
8,  1874,  and  was  married  June  28,  1899,  to 
Dr.  Charles  Smith,  of  East  St.  Louis;  Inez, 
born  January  10,  1878;  and  Ira  W.,  born 
February  10,  1882.  The  younger  children 
are  still  at  home. 

Dr.  Gantz  and  his  family  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
he  is  also  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge  at  De  Land.  His  political  sup- 
port is  given  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  has  served  as  coun- 
ty commissioner  from  Goose  Creek  town- 
ship one  term  and  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  two  terms.  A  man  of  keen  perception, 
unbounded  enterprise  and  good  business  abil- 
ity, his  success  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  efforts,  and  he  deserves  prominent  men- 
tion among  the  leading  and  representative 
business  men  of  the  county.  He  is  what  the 
world  terms  "self-made,"  and  well  does  he 
deserve  the  prosperity  that  has  come  to  him, 
for  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  with  no 
capital,  and  by  industry  and  perseverance 
has  overcome  the  obstacles  in  the  path  to  suc- 
cess. 


JESSE  J.  CROOK. 

James  M.  Crook,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  torn  in  the  county  of  Fountain  in  the 
Hcosier  state  in  1830,  and  lost  his  father 
when  he  was  a  lad  of  fourteen,  the  widowed 


mother  being  left  with  seven  children.  With 
them  she  settled  in  Willow  Branch  township 
on  the  creek  of  that  name  about  the  year  1845. 
James,  being  one  of  the  eldest  of  the  boys, 
early  felt  the  burdens  of  man's  estate,  and 
secured  little  education.  Others  of  the  fam- 
ily were,  George,  deceased ;  Jane,  deceased 
wife  of  George  Hopkins ;  Thomas  J. ;  Martha, 
wife  of  Dr.  H.  Hickman,  of  Oklahoma; 
Mary  E.,  widow  of  Daniel  Madden,  of  Dan- 
ville, Illinois;  Benjamin  F.,  deceased;  Har- 
riet, wife  of  Sheridan  Rose,  of  Oklahoma; 
and  Delilah,  also  of  Oklahoma,  the  wife  of 
Murphy  Secrest. 

On  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  James 
M.  Crook  married  Charity,  daughter  of 
Enoch  and  Elizabeth  Peck,  who  had  settled 
with  their  family  in  Willow  Branch  township 
as  early  as  1839.  Life  was  simple  and  full 
of  toil  in  those  days,  and  Mr.  Cook  began 
his  married  life  as  a  railsplitter.  He  finally 
succeeded  in  saving  sufficient  to  make  a  pay- 
ment on  a  tract  of  swamp  land  near  Cisco. 
This  he  improved  as  he  could  and  in  1868 
sold  it  for  a  price  which  enabled  him  to  pur- 
chase the  first  forty  acres  of  the  farm  which 
he  afterwards  brought  to  high  perfection  and 
which  our  subject  still  cultivates.  He  later 
added  to  it  a  quarter  section  of  land.  This 
land  was  virgin  and  was  reclaimed  from  that 
state  by  his  hand.  He  was  a  man  of  shrewd 
judgment  and  gave  his  attention  largely  to 
one 'line,  that' of  the  raising  of  hogs.  He  was 
very  successful  with  these  animals,  and  it  is 
said  that  he  paid  for  a  full  eighty-acre  tract 
by  the  sale  of  one  single  drove.  He  had  just 
finished  remodeling  his  house  when  he  took  a 
severe  cold,  which  after  two  years'  illness  re- 
sulted in  his  death,  the  date  being  November 
9,  1884.  He  left  a  wife  and  four  children, 
the  wife  still  surviving  him,  living  at  Mil- 
mine.  The  names  of  the  children  are  Wil- 


454 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Ham  Wallace,  now  residing  in  Monticello; 
James  M.,  who  died  in  1894;  Jesse;  and  Ora, 
who  now  resides  in  Cerro  Gordo  township, 
the  wife-of  William  McQuay. 

Jesse  J.  Crook  has  held  continuous  resi- 
dence on  the  old  homestead  since  the  date  of 
his  birth.  March  8,  1868.  Hawver  district 
school  equipped  him  in  the  educational  line, 
and  he  aided  his  mother  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  home  farm  until  his  marriage,  when  he  as- 
sumed the  management  himself.  His  wife, 
whom  he  married  on  the  8th  of  October,  1891 , 
was  Austie  Snyder,  daughter  of  Benner  and 
Mary  (Christian)  Snyder.  Her  parents  were 
farmers  of  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  and 
reared,  coming  to  Illinois  in  1876.  They  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo  township,  but 
after  a  fe\v  years  moved  to  Milmine,  where 
the  mother  died  in  1881.  The  father  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  Milmine.  In  the  fam- 
ily beside  Mrs.  Crook  were  Victoria,  who 
married  Frank  Root  and  resides  in  Bement ; 
Virginia,  now  Mrs.  James  Doyle,  of  Ham- 
mond, Illinois ;  Lyda,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Coak- 
ley,  of  Bement ;  Laura,  wife  of  Watts  Caffee, 
of  Pittsburg,  Kansas;  William,  of  Milmine; 
John,  of  Kansas;  Addie,  wife  of  John  Hend- 
ricks,  of  Willow  Branch  township;  Quinter, 
of  Milmine;  Bartley,  of  Willow  Branch 
township ;  and  Jesse,  at  home.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Crook  have  been  born  Elma,  Lester  R.. 
Chattie  Fay  and  Dimple  May. 

To  speak  of  the  life  led  by  our  subject 
would  be  the  enumeration  of  the  manifold  du- 
ties performed  by  the  busy  farmer.  Like 
many  farmers,  he  has  his  weakness,  and  that 
is  a  good  horse,  of  which  he  is  an  excellent 
judge.  He  has  made  a  specialty  of  blooded 
stock,  and  has  now  in  his  possession  two  very 
fine  animals.  These  horses  are  both  regis- 
tered. Schley  III,  a  Percheron ;  and  Milmine 
King,  a  fine  Shire  horse. 


In  the  county  round  about  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crook  have  a  large  acquaintance,  among 
whom  they  are  highly  esteemed  for  their 
open-handed  and  generous  hospitality.  Mr. 
Crook  served  a  term  acceptably  as  tax  collect- 
or of  Willow  Branch  township,  and  six  years 
as  school  director,  and  both  are  popular  mem- 
bers of  the  Loyal  American  Lodge,  No.  32, 
at  Milmine. 


ALBERT  R.  ROSS. 

The  above  named  gentleman  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the 
county,  his  father,  Francis  Asbury  Ross, 
having  settled  here  during  the  great  Civil 
war,  after  he  had  rendered  gallant  service 
to  his  country.  He  was  born  in  Essex,  New 
Jersey,  April  i,  1841,  the  son  of  Simon  and 
Eveline  Ross.  He  came  to  Illinois  when 
about  three  years  of  age,  and*  was  educated 
at  Whitehall,  and  at  a  college  in  Jacksonville, 
Illinois.  Soon  after  leaving  school  he  entered 
the  army  as  a  private  in  Company  K, 
Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  served  for  eighteen  months  in  the  Army 
of  the  West.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Belmont  and  Island  No.  10,  when  he  was 
taken  sick  and  passed  the  remaining  time  in 
the  hospital  at  Benton  Barracks.  Upon  his 
return  home  in  1863,  on  the  3ist  of  Decem- 
ber he  married  Miss  Frances,  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  Cotter.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  purchased  a  farm  in  Blue  Ridge 
township,  then  one  of  the  wildest  portions  of 
the  county.  Here  they  patiently  passed 
through  the  severe  trials  incident  to  pioneer 
life  for  a  period  of  five  years,  thence  remov- 
ing to  Mansfield,  where  Mr.  Ross  engaged  in 
merchandising  for  some  twenty-six  years. 
His  health  failing  he  exchanged  his  store  for 


A.   R.   ROSS 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


457 


land  in  Cheyenne  county,  Nebraska.  After 
a  period  of  rest  he  again  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile life  in  Mansfield,  but  was  again  com- 
pelled to  give  it  up  and  traded  his  store  for 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  choice  land 
in  Wcodson  county,  Kansas.  He  removed 
to  Bloomington,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of 
his  days,  dying  in  September,  1898.  His 
wife  survives  him  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Chicago.  To  them  were  born  four  children, 
those  living  being  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
and  Brant  C.  Ross,  now  a  student  in  Chicago 
Dental  College. 

Albert  R.  Ross,  supervisor  pf  Blue  Ridge 
township,  was  born  in  DeWitt  county,  Illi- 
nois, on  the  29111  of  July,  1867.  He  received 
a  good  education  and  at  twenty-two  began 
life  for  himself  as  a  farmer.  His  marriage 
to  Hannah  Belle  Hilligoss  occurred  February 
22,  1888.  Mrs.  Ross  is  the  daughter  of  B. 
E.  and  Eliza  Hilligoss,  of  Mansfield,  and  is 
the  mother  of  six  children.  The  five  living 
are  Albert  L.,  Duane  E.,  Frances  Adelaide, 
Henry  G.  and  Frank  C.,  the  three  eldest  be- 
ing in  school,  the  younger  ones  at  home. 

Mr.  Ross  is  one  of  the  extensive  farmers 
in  Piatt  county,  cultivating  four  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  and  shipping  from  one 
to  two  hundred  cars  of  beef  cattle  and  hogs 
every  season.  For  investment  purposes  he 
holds  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Nebraska,  a  section  in  Kansas,  and 
an  eighty  in  Minnesota.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  Mr.  Ross  is  one  of  the  large  land  owners 
in  the  county,  and  an  influential  and  re- 
spected citizen.  His  interest  in  matters  of 
public  moment  is  that  of  the  good  citizen, 
who,  though  not  courting  public  attention,  is 
yet  willing  to  do  his  duty  in  administering 
the  unpaid  offices  of  the  local  government. 
In  1902  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the 
township  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  is 

21 


serving  most  acceptably.  He  is  at  present 
chairman  of  the  building  committee  which  is 
erecting  a  handsome  stone  and  brick  court- 
house and  jail  in  the  county  seat. 

Mr.  Ross  is  a  thorough  believer  in  the 
fraternal  principles  and  is  a  popular  member 
of  several  of  the  best  societies,  notable  among 
which  are  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which 
he  is  a  charter  member  of  No.  634  of  Mans- 
field, the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and 
the  Royal  Circle,  of  which  Mrs.  Ross  is  also 
a  member.  Still  a  young  man,  with  a  record 
of  helpful  and  efficient  service  to  his  credit, 
our  subject  has  before  him  a  useful  future. 
Successful  in  business  affairs,  courteous  and 
obliging  with  all  his  associates,  he  is  held  in 
high  esteem  wherever  he  is  known. 


NATHAN   E.    RHOADES. 

The  activity  of  Nathan  E.  Rhoades  has 
touched  many  lines  and  to  the  benefit  of  all, 
and  Monticello  has  profited  by  his  marked 
energy,  keen  discernment  and  business  sa- 
gacity, for  he  has  labored  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  promote  the  public  welfare  while  ad- 
vancing individual  success.  His  name  is  as- 
sociated with  commercial  and  agricultural 
interests  of  the  county  and  with  its  political 
history,  and  throughout  the  years  of  his  con- 
nection with  varied  interests  here,  he  has  so 
guided  his  affairs  that  he  has  won  the  un- 
qualified regard  of  the  public  by  reason  of  his 
straightforward  business  methods. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Nathan  E.  Rhoades 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  near  the  village 
of  Reynoldsburg,  in  1834,  and  his  parents, 
Daniel  and  Catherine  Rhoades,  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  same  county.  In  the  year  1845 
the  father  removed  with  his  family  from  the 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Buckeye  state  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Piatt 
county  upon  a  tract  of  land  which  now  consti- 
tutes the  county  poor  farm,  three  miles  west 
of  Monticello.  His  possessions  included  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  and  for  years  he  oc- 
cupied that  property,  giving  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  its  cultivation  and  improvement. 
He  died  in  1854,  and  many  friends  mourned 
his  death,  for  he  was  a  citizen  of  worth.  His 
wife,  who  survived  him  for  almost  twenty 
years,  died  in  March,  1873,  in  Monticello, 
where  she  had  removed  after  the  death  of  her 
husband, 

Nathan  E.  Rhoades  was  a  little  lad  of 
about  eleven  years  when  his  parents  came  to 
Illinois,  and  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer 
life  in  Piatt  county  he  was  reared,  aiding  in 
the  arduous  task  of  developing  a  new  farm 
and  sharing  in  the  hardships  and  difficulties 
of  life  on  the  frontier.  He  had  spent  three 
months  in  school  before  coming  to  Illinois, 
and  he  continued  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  Piatt  county.  Farm  work  became 
familiar  to  him  in  its  various  departments, 
but  in  1853,  he  left  the  farm  and  came 
to  Monticello,  where  he  engaged  in  clerking 
for  a  time  in  the  employ  of  various  mer- 
chants' of  the  city.  In  1859  he  was  called 
from  commercial  life  to  public  service,  being 
elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  the  office 
of  treasurer  of  Piatt  county.  Only  three 
years  before  the  party  had  placed  its  first 
presidential  candidate  in  the  field,  but  the  new 
organization  had  gained  great  strength  in 
Piatt  county  and  Mr.  Rhoades  was  num- 
bered among  its  earnest  endorsers.  He  has 
never  faltered  in  his  allegiance  thereto 
throughout  all  the  years  which  have  come 
and  gone  since  that  time,  and  has  done  much 
toward  securing  its  success  in'  this  locality. 
Entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  of 
county  treasurer  he  proved  so  faithful  to  the 


trust  reposed  in  him  that  he  was  re-elected 
and  filled  the  position  for  eight  consecutive 
years.  He  was  also  deputy  circuit  clerk  for 
four  years  and  deputy  county  clerk  for  a  sim- 
ilar period.  For  several  years  he  served  as 
trustee  of  the  Monticello  school  district,  and 
the  cause  of  education  found  in  him  a  warm 
friend. 

On  his  retirement  from  office  Mr. 
Rhoades  again  became  an  active  factor  in 
mercantile  circles — this  time  as  a  proprietor. 
He  conducted  his  enterprise  from  1877  until 
1901,  covering  about  twenty-four  years. 

During  the  latter  part  of  his  connection 
with  mercantile  interests,  he  was  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  N.  E.  Rhoades  &  Soa. 
In  1895  he  established  the  Cedar  Hill  stock 
farm,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
breeding  of  fine  stock,  often  having  as  many 
as  twenty  head  of  fine  horses  in  his  stables. 
His  stud  Bernal  has  a  record  of  2:17,  and 
was  bred  by  Senator  Stanford,  of  California, 
and  after  the  Senator's  death  was  sold  in 
Kentucky.  Later  Mr.  Rhoades  purchased 
Bernal.  He  is  sixteen  hands  high,  weighs 
thirteen  hundred  pounds,  is  seal-brown  in 
color  and  of  a  gentle  disposition.  Besides  en- 
gaging in  the  breeding  of  horses  Mr. 
Rhoades  was  at  one  time  the  owner  of  a  very 
fine  herd  of  shorthorn  cattle. 

In  the  way  of  building  Mr.  Rhoades  has 
done  much  to  improve  Monticello.  The 
Rhoades  opera  house  block  was  erected  in 
1874  and  with  the  exception  of  the  room  oc- 
cupied by  the  bank  and  the  basement  under- 
neath, and  two  offices,  the  entire  building  is 
owned  by  Mr.  Rhoades.  He  also  laid  out  an 
addition  to  the  city  known  as  the  Rhoades  ad- 
dition, and  owns  a  nice  park  just  north  of  the 
town.  In  1868  he  erected  a  palatial  home  of 
fourteen  rooms.  It  is  constructed  of  brick 
and  was  long  the  finest  house  in  the  town. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


459 


In  1857  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Rhoades  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Ross,  of 
Madison  county,  Ohio,  in  which  place  she 
was  born  and  reared.  By  this  marriage 
there  are  two  sons :  Charles  N.,  now  a  prom- 
inent farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Oklahoma; 
and  Corwin  E.,  at  home.  Mr.  Rhoades  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  .Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  have  a 
wide  acquaintance  and  large  circle  of  friends 
in  this  part  of  the  state.  To  him  there  has 
come  the  attainment  of  a  distinguished  posi- 
tion in  connection  with  the  various  interests 
of  the  county,  and  his  efforts  have  been  so 
discerningly  directed  along  well-defined  lines 
of  labor  that  he  seems  to  have  realized  at  any 
one  point  of  progress  the  full  measure  of  pos- 
sibilities for  accomplishment  at  that  point. 
A  man  of  distinct  and  forceful  individuality, 
of  broad  mentality  and  most  mature  judg- 
ment, he  has  left  and  is  leaving  his  impress 
upon  business  activity  in  this  community. 
For  years  he  has  been  an  important  factor  in 
the  development  of  this  part  of  the  state,  and 
has  been  a  witness  of  its  growth  for  nearly 
sixty  years.  Great  changes  have  occurred 
during  this  long  period,  the  wild  prairie  land 
being  developed  into  some  of  the  richest 
farms  of  Illinois,  while  in  other  ways  the 
county  has  kept  apace  with  the  universal 
progress.  Mr.  Rhoades  has  done  everything 
in  his  power  to  further  its  advancement,  and 
is  justly  accounted  one  of  its  most  valued  and 
respected  citizens. 


SCAMON  C.  RODMAN. 

Scamon  C.  Rodman,  who  is  now  engaged 
in  the  grain  business  in  DeLand,  Illinois,  and 
is  also  interested  in  lead  mining  in  Missouri, 


was  born  on  the  22d  of  April,  1844,  near 
Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  near  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
having  come  with  his  father  to  this  state  when 
nine  years  old.  He  was  preparing  to  enter 
college  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  he 
laid  aside  his  text-books  to  enter  the  service 
of  his  country,  his  patriotic  spirit  being 
aroused.  He  first  enlisted  in  1864  in  Com- 
pany H,  One  Hundred  -and  Forty-fifth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  served 
six  months,  and  later  being  mustered  out  at 
Camp  Butler  he  re-enlisted  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fiftieth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
He  participated  in  the  engagements  at  Cleve- 
land, Tennessee ;  Dalton  and  Atlanta,  Geor- 
gia ;  and  Jonesboro,  North  Carolina ;  and  aft- 
er hostilities  ceased  he  assisted  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  civil  government  in  the  south 
during  the  reconstrucion  period.  A  lengh  he 
•was  mustered  out  at  Griffin,  Georgia,  Jan- 
uary 16,  1866,  and  was  discharged  at  Camp 
Butler. 

On  his  return  home  Mr.  Rodman  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  his  marriage.  It 
was  on  the  6th  of  January,  1870,  that  he 
wedded  Miss  Emily  Fleming,  a  daughter  of 
A.  M.  and  Sarah  Fleming,  and  to  them  have 
have  been  born  five  children:  Gertrude  L., 
now  the  wife  of  G.  W.  Griffin,  of  Nevada, 
Missouri ;  Roy  S.,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  Telephone  Company  of  Chicago; 
Mabel  F.,  Herbert  G.  and  Earl  C.,  all  three 
at  home. 

For  four  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Rodman  operated  his  father's  farm,  and  then 
purchased  a  store  and  grain  business  at 
Padua,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  thirteen 
miles  from  Bloomington,  conducting  the 
same  until  1877,  when  he  removed  to  DeLand 
and  opened  a  general  store  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  but  sold  out  to  his  brother 


460 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


a  year  later.  He  next  embarked  in  the  grain 
?,nd  stock  business  with  R.  B.  Moody  and 
built  the  first  elevator  in  DeLand  with  a  ca- 
pacity of  seventy-five  thousand  bushels. 
That  connection  continued  for  ten  years,  and 
in  1888  he  sold  out  to  his  brother,  J.  N. 
Rodman,  on  account  of  failing  health.  He 
then  removed  to  southwestern  Missouri  and 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  mining  busi- 
ness, under  the  firm  name  of  Rodman  &  Mc- 
Clure,  at  Carthage,  that  state,  the  capital 
stock  of  the  company  being  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars.  In  1889  Mr.  Rodman  also  em- 
barked in  the  commission  and  farm  imple- 
ment business,  which  he  followed  for  eight 
years,  and  on  the  end  of  that  time  he  went 
to  Salem,  Iowa,  where  he  was  engaged  -in  the 
clothing  and  general  merchandise  business, 
conducting  what  was  known  as  the  Salem 
Clothing  House.  After  six  years  spent  at 
that  place  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  De 
Land  in  September,  1892,  and  took  the  man- 
agement of  the  J.  N.  Rodman  elevator.  He 
is  still  interested  in  a  lead  mine  at  Oronoga, 
Missouri,  and  has  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  that  state,  besides  a  nice 
home  in  DeLand,  which  he  purchased  of  Ed- 
ward B.  Chenoweth,  in  1902. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  Rodman  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles,  and  he  has  taken  quite  an  active 
and  commendable  interest  in  affairs,  serving 
as  town  clerk  in  Goose  Creek  township,  this 
county,  justice  of  the  peace  while  in  Iowa, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  six 
years.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge  at  DeLand,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  Congregational  church. 
He  is  a  man  in  whom  the  community  places 
the  utmost  confidence,  and  he  has  always 
been  found  worthy  of  and  true  to  every  trust 
reposed  in  him. 


GEORGE  W.   HOFFMAN. 

One  of  the  leading  and  representative  cit- 
izens of  Blue  Ridge  township  is  George  W. 
Hoffman,  who  is  successfully  carrying  on  his 
chosen  occupation  on  section  19,  where  he 
owns  a  valuable  and  well-improved  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres.  A  native  of  Illinois,  he 
was  born  in  Logan  county  on  the  24th  of 
July,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  James  M.  and 
Mary  (Barr)  Hoffman,  who  are  natives  of 
West  Virginia  and  Illinois,  respectively. 
When  the  father  was  three  years  old  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Ohio  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Champaign 
county,  that  state.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he 
turned  his  face  westward  with  the  intention 
of  making  an  overland  trip  to  California,  but 
on  reaching  Waynes vi  lie,  DeWitt  county,  Il- 
linois, he  stopped  and  remained  there  until 
the  spring  of  1869,  when  he  removed  to  Mc- 
Lean county.  He  was  there  engaged  in 
farming  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  ac- 
tive business  life,  and  since  1897  he  and  his 
wife  have  lived  retired  in  Farmer  City,  Illi- 
nois, enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  Unto 
them  were  born  six  children,  but  only  three 
are  now  living,  these  being  George  W.,  of- 
this  review ;  Mrs.  Delia  Cross,  of  Farmer 
City;  and  Mrs.  Addie  L.  Orendorff,  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois. 

George  W.  Hoffman  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  McLean 
and  Logan  counties,  and  passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  much  the  manner  of  farmer 
boys,  gaining  an  excellent  knowledge  of  the 
duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agricultur- 
ist. On  the  2nd  of  April,  1879,  ne  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  Orendorff,  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Susan 
R.  ( Hoover)  Orendorff.  Her  father  was  the 
first  white  male  child  born  in  McLean  county. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


461 


Of  his  four  living  children  none  are  residents 
of  Piatt  county  with  exception  of  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man. Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  nine 
children,  namely :  Myrtle,  now  the  wife  of 
Lincoln  G.  Heller,  of  McLean  county,  and 
the  mother  of  one  child,  Bernice  Evelyn : 
Daisy  Pearl ;  Edith ;  Elmer  O. ;  Mary ;  Hazel 
Laverne ;  James  Lewis ;  George  Arthur ;  and 
Ruth  Lucile. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hoffman  began 
farming  in  West  township,  McLean  county, 
on  land  which  Mr.  Orendorff  had  given  him 
and  his  wife,  and  they  continued  to  reside 
there  until  February,  1893,  when  they  re- 
moved to  the  farm  in  Blue  Ridge  township, 
Piatt  county,  where  they  now  live.  Mr. 
Hoffman  first  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  to  which  he  has  since  added  a 
forty-acre  tract,  making  two  hundred  acres 
in  one  body.  This  he  has  improved  and 
placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing, handling  horses,  mules,  cattle,  sheep  and 
hogs,  and  gives  considerable  attention  to  that 
part  of,  his  business,  which  he  has  found  quite 
profitable. 

In  1886,  on  account  of  Mrs.  Hoffman's 
health,  the  family  removed  to  Tennessee, 
where  they  spent  almost  a  year,  and  while 
there  our  subject  engaged  in  buying  and  sell- 
ing stock.  With  that  exception  he  has  al- 
ways made  his  home  in  Illinois.  He  is  an  act- 
ive and  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Weedman,  of  which  he 
has  been  trustee  for  some  years,  and  was  also 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  six  or 
seven  years.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of 
Poplar  Camp,  No.  253,  M.  W.  A.,  and  po- 
litically, is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  tax  collect- 
or, but  has  never  cared  for  political  prefer- 
ment, his  time  and  attention  being  taken  up 


by  his  business  interests.  He  is  a  man  of 
sterling  worth  and  commands  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  is  brought  in 
contact. 


ELBERT   G.    KNIGHT. 

Since  1877  Elbert  G.  Knight  has  figured 
in  business  circles  in  Monticello,  where  he  is 
now  extensively  engaged  in  dealing  in  grain, 
implements  and  coal,  and  also  in  the  manu- 
facturing of  harness.  His  achievements  rep- 
resent the  result  of  honest  endeavor  along 
lines  where  mature  judgment  has  pointed  the 
way.  He  possesses  a  weight  of  character, 
a  native  sagacity,  a  discriminating  mind  and 
a  fidelity  of  purpose  that  command  the  re- 
spect, if  not  the  approval,  of  friends  and  foes 
alike.  His  is  an  honorable  career,  and  he  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  and  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  Monticello. 

His  ancestral  history  is  one  of  close  con- 
nection with  New  England  from  an  early 
day,  although  the  family  is  of  Scotch  descent. 
Moses  Knight,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  who  fought  valiantly  for  the  cause  of 
independence,  and  his  son,  Moses,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  again  took  up  arms  in 
behalf  of  his  country  in  the  second  war  with 
England,  entering  the  service  in  1812.  Pa- 
triotism has  always  been  one  of  the  strong 
characteristics  in  the  Knight  family,  and 
many  incidents  might  be  cited  of  the  love  of 
country  of  the  different  people  who  have 
borne  the  name  of  Knight.  Joshua  Knight. 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  New 
England,  in  1802,  and  resided  in  that  section 
of  the  country  until  after  his  marriage  and 
the  birth  of  his  children.  His  last  years,  how- 
ever, were  spent  in  Illinois,  his  death  occur- 


462 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


ring  in  Monticello  in  1881.  In  early  man- 
hood he  wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  Gage,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Gage.  She 
died  in  1853.  In  the  family  were  five  chil- 
dren. 

Elbert  G.  Knight,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  record,  was  reared  in  New  Eng- 
land, attending  the  public  schools  of  Bath  and 
later  working  at  various  pursuits  until  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Haverhill,  Massachusetts,  on  the  2gth  of 
September,  1836,  and  in  1856  he  came  to 
Monticello,  Illinois,  where  he  entered  upon 
his  business  career  in  the  humble  capacity  of 
a  clerk  in  a  general  store  owned  and  con- 
ducted by  O.  Bailey.  That  he  proved  a  ca- 
pable and  faithful  employe  is  indicated  by 
the  fact  that  he  remained  in  Mr.  Bailey's 
service  for  five  years.  He  was  afterward  in 
another  store  for  ten  years.  In  1862  he  vol- 
unteered his  services  for  the  Civil  war,  but 
not  being  accepted  he  returned  to  Monticello 
and  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  under  E.  P. 
Fischer  for  one  year.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  entered  the  employ  of  Piatt  & 
Bryden,  with  whom  he  remained,  sixteen 
years,  and  in  1877  started  in  business  with 
L.  B.  Tinder,  as  dealers  in  grain.  This  con- 
nection continued  until  1884,  when  he  pur- 
chased his  partner's  interest  in  the  business, 
and  his  son  became  a  member  of  the  firm  in 
1892.  They  handle  all  kinds  of  grain,  and  as 
they  found  opportunity  they  have  extended 
the  field  of  their  labor  until  to-day  they  have 
several  elevators  on  the  Wabash  &  Illinois 
Central  Railroads,  having  a  capacity  of  six- 
ty thousand  bushels,  and  owing  to  the  close 
proximity  of  the  railroads  they  have  good 
facilities  for  the  shipment  of  both  grain  and 
coal.  They  deal  in  the  latter  commodity  on 
quite  an  extensive  scale,  and  in  the  various 
branches  of  their  business  they  have  gained 


success.  Business  was  carried  on  under  the 
firm  style  of  E.  G.  Knight  &  Son  until  1903, 
when  it  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
the  Knight  Grain  Company,  Mr;  Knight  be- 
ing president,  while  H.  N.  Knight  is  vice 
president  and  treasurer,  and  W.  K.  Davidson 
is  secretary.  This  is  one  of  the  best-known 
firms  in  the  county,  and  its  business  methods 
are  unassailable. 

In  July,  1858,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Knight  and  Miss  Ann  R.  Cur- 
ran,  a  native  of  Towanda,  Pennsylvania,  and 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Anna  (Duggan) 
Curran.  This  marriage  was  blessed  with  four 
children :  Anna  E.,  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Davi- 
son;  Ella  Y.,  who  married  Daniel  Bohon,  of 
Monticello;  H.  N.,  who  is  in  business  with 
his  father;  and  Jessie  F.,  wife  of  J.  E.  An- 
drews. 

Mr.  Knight  is  the  owner  of  a  good  farm 
of  forty-five  acres  about  four  miles  distant 
from  Monticello  and  situated  on  the  banks  of 
the  Sangamon  river.  The  place  is  skirted  with 
of  the  finest  springs  in  Piatt  county  Mr. 
Knight  has  erected  suitable  buildings,  and 
has  a  little  rustic  house  which  he  uses  as  a 
cottage  in  the  summer  months,  the  family 
spending  a  part  of  the  hot  season  of  the  year 
in  this  quiet,  cool  retreat.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  Knight  is  a  pronounced  Republic- 
an, taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  success  of 
his  party,  for  he  earnestly  desires  the  welfare 
of  the  county  and  the  election  of  his  friends. 
He  has,  however,  never  been  an  active  poli- 
tician in  the  sense  of  office-seeking  on  his 
own  account,  although  for  eleven  years  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  of 
Monticello.  Such,  in  brief,  is  the  life  record 
of  one  of  the  well-known  citizens  of  this  state, 
whose  labors  have  closely  touched  the  inter- 
ests of  state  and  have  contributed  to  the  ad- 
vancement toward  that  perfection  for  which 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


463 


a  majority  of  the  world's  people  are  striving. 
He  is  a  man  of  firm  convictions,  and  it  is 
doubtful  if  he  ever  weighed  a  single  act  of 
his  life  in  the  scale  of  policy,  his  conduct  be- 
ing prompted  by  the  spirit  of  usefulness  and 
conscientious  obligation.  Strong  in  his  in- 
dividuality he  never  lacks  the  courage  of  his 
convictions,  and  this  taken  into  consider- 
ation with  the  sterling  integriy  and  honor  of 
his  character  have  naturally  gained  for  him 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  men. 


HERMAN   G.   MEYER. 

A  member  of  the  Teutonic  race  who  has 
made  a  success  of  farming  in  Piatt  county,  is 
Herman  G.  Meyer,  who  resides  on  a  farm  on 
section  32,  Goose  Creek  township.  He  is  a 
native  of  Germany,  having  been  born  there 
on  the  loth  of  December,  1836,  and  is  the  son 
of  George  H.  and  Gertrude  Frances  (Hend- 
ricks)  Meyer.  The  family  is  of  German  de- 
scent, tracing  its  origin  far  back  into  the  mid- 
dle ages.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Pilsun,  Province  of  Hanover, 
March  9,  1807.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  the 
fatherland,  and  with  his  family  came  to  this 
country  in  1867.  He  settled  in  the  city  of 
Peoria,  Illinois,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of 
weaver  for  a  period  of  some  six  years.  At 
the  solicitation  of  our  subject,  he  removed  to 
Logan  county,  where  they  together  rented  a 
farm,  which  they  continued  to  operate  for  a 
period  of  fifteen  years.  The  father  then  re- 
moved to  Piatt  county,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Goose  Creek  town- 
ship. Here  he  resided  some  twenty  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  retired  from  active 
work  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Monticello, 
where  he  died  on  the  gth  of  December,  1891. 


Our  subject's  mother  was  born  also  in  the 
fatherland,  the  date  being  February  24,  1814, 
and  her  death  occurring  in  Logan  county, 
May  15,  1903,  her  age  being  eighty-nine 
years,  three  months  and  one  day.  She  was 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living :  Herman ;  Lowery,  widow  of 
Nanka  Rademaker ;  Henry,  retired  farmer 
residing  in  Monticello ;  Ties,  a  Logan  county 
farmer;  and  Albert,  who  also  resides  in  Lo- 
gan county. 

Herman  G.  Meyer  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  Germany,  and 
came  with  the  family  to  this  country  on  the 
date  above  mentioned.  He  had  for  some  time 
previous  to  this  been  the  mainstay  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  paid  the  passage  of  his  parents  to 
this  country,  he  himself  working  his  way  as 
cook  on  the  vessel.  He  was  first  employed 
in  this  country  in  the  coal  mines  near  Peoria. 
and,  as  stated,  associated  himself  with  his  fa- 
ther in  the  cultivation  of  a  farm  in  Logan 
county.  He  accompanied  his  father  to  Piatt 
county  and  in  company  with  him  purchased 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Goose  creek  town- 
ship. After  the  retirement  of  his  father  Mr. 
Meyer  continued  the  operation  of  this  farm, 
and  in  1880  had  accumulated  sufficient  to 
purchase  a  tract  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  near  by,  for  which  he  paid  thirty  dol- 
lars an  acre.  Upon  this  farm  he  continued 
to  reside  until  the  death  of  his  father,  when 
he  removed  to  Monticello,  and  for  two  years 
resided  in  the  home  which  he  had  bought  for 
his  father  upon  his  retirement  from  active  du- 
ties. A  long  life  of  activity  on  the  farm, 
however,  has  unfitted  Mr.  Meyer  for  the  mo- 
notonous life  in  town,  and  he  therefore  again 
took  up  his  residence  on  the  home  place, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  but  which  he 
rents  to  tenants.  Mr.  Meyer  has  been  quite 
a  dealer  in  real  estate,  and  has  purchased  and 


464 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


improved  several  valuable  farms  in  the  coun- 
ty, which  he  sold  at  a  good  price.  His  own 
farm  is  a  model  of  the  agriculturist's  art,  be- 
ing thoroughly  tiled  and  ditched  and  one  of 
the  most  productive  farms  in  the  county, 
Large  barns  and  many  convenient  outbuild- 
ings have  been  erected,  and  orchards  consist- 
ing of  all  kinds  of  the  best  fruit  surround  the 
home. 

The  married  life  of  Mr.  Meyer  began  in 
the  fatherland  June  22,  1860,  when  he  was 
joined  in  marriage  to  Rincha,  daughter  of 
Lewis  and  Grace  Frances  (Stroman)  Adams. 
To  them  have  been  born  two  children, 
George,  who  married  Miss  Belle  Reynolds ; 
and  Lewis,  whose  wife's  maiden  name -was 
Dina  Lubbers.  Both  of  the  sons  are  culti- 
vating portions  of  the  home  farm,  and  reside 
near  their  parents.  The  mother  of  these 
boys  was  born  in  Germany,  and  is  one  of  four 
children  residing  in  this  county,  the  others 
being  Rinder,  a  brother,  who  is  a  retired 
farmer  living  in  Ackley,  Iowa ;  Wupke,  the 
widow  of  H.  Blacker  and  a  resident  of  Pe- 
kin,  Illinois;  Tetge,  the  widow  of  Simon  Up- 
hoff  and  also  a  resident  of  Pekin. 

Mr.  Myer  is  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  the  county,  and  has  a  reputation  for  hon- 
esty and  integrity  of  character.  Politically, 
he  supports  the  Democratic  party,  has  been 
school  director  for  a  period  of  two  years,  and 
for  the  past  five  years  has  been  one  of  the 
ditch  commissioners  of  the  county.  He  is  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity, 
and  holds  a  membership  in  lodge  No.  58,  of 
Monticello.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Monti- 
cello,  in  this  regard  following  in  the  footsteps 
of  Mr.  Meyer's  father  and  mother,  who  were 
both  lifelong  members  of  that  church. 

Secure  in  the  possession  of  the  esteem 
and  respect  of  their  neighbors,  and  the  love 


of  their  children,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meyer  are 
passing  a  happy  and  serene  old  age,  conscious 
of  duty  well  and  faithfully  performed.  Hon- 
est toil  and  fair  dealing  have  brought  their 
sure  reward,  assuring  a  surcease  from  the 
heat  and  labor  of  the  day  for  the  remaining 
portion  of  their  lives. 


ROBERT  HENRY  ALLERTON. 

One  of  the  beautiful  country  homes  of 
central  Illinois  is  that  owned  by  Robert  H. 
Allerton  about  four  miles  west  of  Monticello, 
the  artistic  taste  of  the  owner  being  shown  in 
all  its  appointments.  Mr.  Allerton  is  a  native 
of  Illinois,  born  in  Chicago,  March  20,  1873, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Waters  and  Pamilla 
(Thompson)  Allerton,  of  that  city.  The 
father  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers 
and  bankers  of  this  state,  where  he  owns  a 
large  amount  of  land.  The  Allerton  family 
was  founded  in  America  by  Isaac  Allerton, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  the  Mayflower. 

Robert  H.  Allerton  began  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Chicago,  and  later  attended 
St.  Paul's  at  Concord,  New  Hampshire.  Af- 
ter leaving  that  institution  he  went  abroad, 
where  he  spent  five  years  in  study  and  travel, 
gi  ving  special  attention  to  art  in  Paris  and 
Munich,  and  he  was  graduated  at  the  Royal 
Academy  art  school  at  Munich  in  1894. 
Since  his  return  to  America  he  has  made  his 
home  principally  in  Piatt  county  as  he  is  very 
fond  of  country  life,  and  takes  great  delight 
in  horses  and  clogs.  He  has  made  a  scientific 
study  of  farming  and  practices  the  rotation 
of  crops  in  the  operation  of  his  land,  owning 
ten  thousand  acres  in  Piatt  county,  eight 
thousand  in  his  own  place  and  two  thousand 
three  miles  the  other  side  of  Monticello.  The 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


467 


land  is  all  under  cultivation  with  the  excep- 
tion of  about  one  thousand  acres  of  forest. 
His  residence,  which1  is  a  palatial  structure, 
and  also  his  stables  and  other  buildings  up- 
on the  place  are  of  Georgian  architecture,  and 
the  former  is  elegantly  furnished.  The 
grounds  are  also  in  keeping  with  the  home, 
being  laid  out  in  a  most  artistic  manner  and 
under  the  supervision  of  expert  landscape 
gardeners. 

Mr.  Allerton  has  become  interested  in  a 
number  of  business  enterprises  which  claim 
a  portion  of  his  attention,  being  president  of 
the  A.  T.  Ranch  Company  in  Wheeler  coun- 
ty, Nebraska;  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Primrose,  that  state,  and  president  of 
the  Jersey  City  Stockyards  of  New  York.  In 
religious  faith  he  is  a  Universalist  and  in  pol- 
itics is  a  Republican.  He  is  now  serving  as 
a  trustee  of  the  St.  Charles  Home  for  Boys. 
By  their  investments  and  improvements  Mr. 
Allerton  and  his  father  have  done  much  to 
promote  the  interests  of  central  Illinois,  and 
have  become  prominently  identified  with  its 
welfare  and  advancement. 


JOHN   H.    REEVES. 

Although  for  many  years  John  H. 
Reeves  was  connected  with  general  farming 
in  central  Illinois,  he  is  now  living  retired  in 
Cisco,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  rest  which  he 
has  truly  earned  and  richly  deserves.  He 
was  born  on  the  I7th  of  June,  1837,  in  Picka- 
way  county,  Ohio,  his  parents  being  Josiah 
and  Eliza  (Mauser)  Reeves,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  following 
that  pursuit  throughout  his  entire  life  in  or- 
der to  provide  for  his  family.  On  leaving 


Ohio  he  removed  to  Jackson  county,  Mis- 
souri, taking  up  his  abode  there  after  the 
Civil  war.  He  continued  his  residence  in 
that  state  until  called  to  his  final  rest  in  the 
year  1887,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  1812.  In  the 
family  were  nine  children,  of  whom  five-are 
yet  living. 

John  H.  Reeves  spent  his  early  boyhood 
days  under  the  parental  roof  and  obtained 
his  education  in  the  old-time  subscription 
schools  of  Ohio.  Pickaway  county  during 
the  period  of  his  boyhood,  was  largely  a  fron- 
tier district,  in  which  the  work  of  improve- 
ment and  progress  had  scarcely  been  begun. 
His  training  at  farm  work,  however,  was  not 
meager,  and  from  an  early  day  he  began 
work  in  the  fields,  assisting  his  father  in  the 
task  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting,  un- 
til about  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Thinking 
that  the  newer  west,  with  its  more  rapid  de- 
velopment, furnished  better  business  oppor- 
tunities, he  then  resolved  to  establish  his 
home  in  Illinois,  and  made  his  way  westward 
to  Champaign  county,  settling  near  Ma- 
homet, where  he  lived  for  about  three  years. 
In  the  spring  of  1861  he  came  to  Piatt  coun- 
ty, and  has  since  been  a  representative  of  its 
agricultural  interests. 

Mr.  Reeves  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Miss 
Angeline  Williams,  and  brought  his  bride 
with  him  to  Illinois.  They  began  their  domes- 
tic life  in  Champaign  county  upon  a  tract  of 
rented  land,  and  after  coming  to  Piatt  county 
he  again  rented  land  until  1872,  during  which 
time  his  industry  and  economy  enabled  him 
to  acquire  sufficient  capital  to  purchase  forty 
acres  of  land.  Thus  becoming  the  owner  of 
a  home  of  his  own,  with  renewed  courage 
and  determination  he  began  its  development 
and  placed  the  land  under  cultivation.  He 
then  bought  forty  acres  more,  and  traded  this 


468 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


eighty  acres  for  the  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres. 

As  the  years  passed  he  gathered  good 
harvests  as  the  reward  of  his  labors  and  de- 
velopment of  a  property  which  in  its  neat 
and  thrifty  condition  indicates  his  careful  su- 
pervision. To  the  original  purchase  he  added 
forty  acres,  which  he  also  placed  under  culti- 
vation, and  ditching  and  tiling  have  made  the 
fields  very  productive.  He  also  placed  ex- 
cellent improvements  upon  his  property,  and 
as  his  financial  resources  have  increased  he 
has  added  to  his  realty  holdings  until  his 
landed  possessions  now  aggregate  four  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  of  which  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  are  in  Piatt  county  and  the 
balance  in  Macon  county.  He  has  also  town 
property,  including  two  residences  and  six 
lots  in  the  village  of  Cisco.  All  that  Mr. 
Reeves  possesses  has  come  to  him  through 
his  own  efforts,  and  while  promoting  his  in- 
dividual prosperity  he  has  also  been  an  active 
factor  in  the  development  of  Piatt  county,  co- 
operating in  many  measures  for  the  general 
good  along  lines  of  substantial  improvement 
and  permanent  development. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Reeves  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  P. 
Eva,  a  widow.  By  his  first  union  he  had  six 
children :  Turney,  who  is  now  deceased ;  Wil- 
liam; Edward;  Orin  C. ;  Corilda;  and  Alba, 
who  is  also  deceased.  Mr.  Reeves  has  given 
his  political  support  to  the  Democracy  since 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  John  Bell 
in  1860,  but  while  he  has  kept  well  informed 
on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day  and 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  success  of  his 
party,  he  has  never  sought  political  prefer- 
ment for  himself.  In  1893  he  came  to  Cisco 
and  purchased  good  residence  property, 
since  which  time  he  has  lived  retired  from 
the  active  work  of  the  farm,  enjoying  the 


fruits  of  his  former  toil.  While  there  is 
nothing  in  his  life  history  to  attract  the  read- 
er in  search  of  a  sensational  chapter,  there  are 
valuable  lessons  to  be  learned  by  those  who 
have  regard  for  the  things  of  life  which  de- 
velop honorable  character,  upright  manhood 
and  which  win  success.  He  has  ever  guided 
his  life  by  principles  which  will  bear  the  clos- 
est and  most  rigid  scrutiny,  and  in  his  deal- 
ings with  his  fellow  men  has  ever  been 
straightforward  and  honorable. 


•    IRA  F.   MINER. 

t     •_. 

Ira  F.  Miner  is  a  son  of  James  and  Erne- 
line  (Fleming)  Miner,  and  was  born  in 
Clarksburg,  Ohio,  April  5,  1840.  His  educa- 
tion was  that  of  the  common  schools,  and  he 
remained  with  his  parents  until  after  his  re- 
moval with  them  to  Piatt  county.  He  then 
began  farming  for  himself,  buying  forty 
acres  of  what  was  known  as  the  John  Digh- 
ton  farm.  Holding  this  two  years,  he  sold 
and  bought  eighty  acres  on  Stringtown  lane. 
He  improved  this  farm,  and  at  the  end  of  six 
years  again  sold  out  and  purchased  eighty- 
five  acres  in  Goose  Creek  township.  After 
the  death  of  his  father,  he  sold  this  farm  and 
removed  to  a  tract  of  sixty-four  acres,  which 
he  received  from  his  father's  estate,  and 
where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Miner  is 
one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  the  county, 
giving  especial  attention  to  the  raising  of 
thoroughbred  horses,  some  of  which  have  at- 
tracted more  than  a  local  notice.  His  home  is 
modern  in  every  respect,  and  is  surrounded 
with  every  convenience  and  necessity  which 
go  to  make  up  country  life. 

Mr.  Miner  was  married  July  4,  1861,  to 
Mary  Bruffett.  a  daughter  of  William  and 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


469 


Amanda  (Freeman)  Bruffett.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1822,  and  her  mother  Novem- 
ber 15,  1820.  They  were  married  De- 
cember 18,  1843,  and  in  the  fall  of  1851 
C5«n«  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  -where  they 
were  leading  farmers  until  their  deaths, 
the  father  dying  July  19,  1855,  the  mother 
surviving  until  June  24,  1871.  Mrs.  Miner 
is  the  eldest  of  their  children.  David  Bruf- 
fett, a  brother,  is  in  the  marble  business  at 
Urbana,  Illinois.  Rachel,  a  sister,  died  at  the 
tender  age  of  seven  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miner  have  been  born 
nine  children :  Emma,  widow  of  Frank  Rob- 
inson, resides  in  Monticello;  Amanda  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  Aterson,  a  farmer  residing 
near  Cisco,  Illinois.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Warren,  Willarcl  and  Gladys.  Fannie 
married  William  Robinson  and  resides  north 
of  Bement,  Illinois,  with  their  children,  Nel- 
lie and  Lynn.  Tallie  is  the  wife  of  William 
McCartney,  and  resides  on  a  farm  near  Cisco 
with  their  children :  Ward,  _Wayne  and  Ira. 
Mary  died  at  eleven  years.  James  E.  is  a 
farmer  of  Goose  Creek  township.  He  mar- 
ried Olive  Warner,  to  whom  has  been  born 
Harold  and  Ruth.  Nellie  is  the  wife  of  Roy 
Jones,  principal  of  schools  at  Foosland,  Illi- 
nois. Her  two  children  are  Helen  and  Hazel. 
Roy  D.  is  still  a  young  man  at  home.  Pearl, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  a  successful 
school-teacher,  her  last  school  being  at  Gales- 
ville,  Illinois. 

Fe\v  families  of  the  county  stand  better 
in  all  that  m.akes  up  good  citizenship  than 
the  one  here  treated.  Strong,  manly  sons 
and  home-loving,  womanly  daughters  speak 
with  no  uncertain  tone  of  the  splendid  train- 
ing received  in  the  home  of  our  subject  and 
his  good  wife,  and  they  .constitute  the  crown- 
ing glory  of  well-spent  lives.  The  family  is 


one  of  the  most  esteemed  in  the  county  and 
is  well  worthy  of  representation  in  a  volume 
devoted  to  the  representative  citizens  of  Piatt 

county. 


HERBERT  D.  PETERS. 

The  many  avenues  of  activity  in  which 
Mr.  Peters  has  sought  an  outlet  for  his  abili- 
ties and  aspirations  have  invariably  profited 
by  his  common-sense  methods,  his  sterling 
worth  and  sound  judgment.  A  prominent 
representative  of  industrial  interests  and  well 
known  in  political  circles,  he  certainly  de- 
serves mention  in  this  history  of  his  adopted 
county.  His  name  figures  conspicuously  in 
connection  with  the  Republican  party  in  cen- 
tral Illinois,  and  his  business  interests  have 
now  assumed  an  importance  which  makes 
him  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Monticello. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cig- 
ars, also  writing  tablets,  does  a  printing  busi- 
ness and  is  also  a  jobber  of  stationery,  school 
supplies  and  tobacco  articles,  and  his  enter- 
prise has  reached  extensive  proportions. 

Herbert  D.  Peters  was  born  upon  a  farm 
in  Steuben  county,  Indiana,  November  i, 
1849.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  Rich- 
ard Peters,  a  native  of  New  York,  who,  when 
a  young  man,  became  a  pioneer  of  Summer- 
field  township,  Monroe  county,  Michigan, 
and  the  village  of  Petersburg,  that  state,  was 
named  in  his  honor.  He  was  quite  an  exten- 
sive farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  owned  a 
large  amount  of  land  in  that-  locality.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  died  in  1862.  Of  his 
three  sons  Charles  Peters  was.  the  father  of 
our  subject.  He  was  born  in  1827  in  Monroe 
county,  Michigan,  not  far  from  the  city  of 
Detroit.  Reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of 
frontier  life,  he  aided  in  the  improvement  of 


470 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


his  father's  farm,  and  after  attaining  his  ma- 
jority he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Julia  A.  Burnham,  a  native  of  Massachusetts 
and  a  daughter  of  Calvin  Burnham.  Unto 
them  were  born  three  children,  who  are  still 
living. 

Spending  his  boyhood  days  under  the 
parental  roof,  Herbert  D.  Peters  began  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Michigan, 
later  became  a  student  in  the  high  school  of 
Monroe,  and  afterward  entered  the  State 
University,  at  Ann  Arbor,  in  which  institu- 
tion he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1873. 
He  entered  upon  his  business  career  thor- 
oughly equipped  with  broad  mental  training. 
For  a  time  he  was  connected  with  journalistic 
work  in  Detroit,  being  employed  on  one  of 
the  papers  of  that  city,  and  in  1874  he  came 
to  Monticello,  Illinois,  where  he  established 
the  Piatt  County  Herald  under  the  firm  name 
of  Scroggs  &  Peters.  A  year  and  a  half  later 
he  became  sole  proprietor  and  continued  the 
publication  of  the  Herald  as  a  Republican 
paper  for  eighteen  years.  At  length  he  sold 
his  interest  to  its  present  editor,  Mr.  Burgess, 
who  now  publishes  it  under  the  name  of  the 
Piatt  County  Republican. 

On  disposing  of  his  newspaper  Mr. 
Peters  continued  in  the  printing  business 
along  other  lines,  and  also  became  a  jobber 
in  stationary  and  school  supplies.  Later  he 
added  another  department  to  his  business — 
the  manufacture  of  tablets — and  to-day  he 
does  a  large  business  and  carries  an  extensive 
stock,  being  represented  on  the  road  by  sev- 
eral traveling  salesmen,  covering  the  greater 
part  of  Illinois  and  portions  of  Indiana. 
Later  he  began  the  manufacture  of  cigars  and 
tobacco,  thus  adding  another  department  to 
his  business,  and  the  upper  story  of  his  large 
brick  building  is  now  being  utilized  in  this 
way.  He  has  a  building  twenty-nine  by  nine- 


ty feet  and  two  stories  and  a  basement  in 
height,  and  all  devoted  to  Mr.  Peters'  busi- 
ness. In  1884  he  also  erected  a  brick 
business  block  that  is  now  occupied  by 
the  Hott  drug  store,  and  thus  he  has  added 
to  the  improvement  of  the  central  section  of 
the  city.  In  1894  he  erected  his  present 
building,  which  is  twenty-nine  by  ninety-five 
feet  and  two  stories  in  heigh  with  basement, 
and  in  this  he  conducts  a  part  of  his  business. 
He  employs  a  force  of  from  twenty-five  to 
thirty  people,  and  is  conducting  an  enterprise 
of  importance  to  the  city  as  well  as  to  him- 
self. The  prosperity  of  any  town  or  city 
depends  upon  its  business  activity  and  the 
promotion  of  its  industrial  and  commercial 
interests,  and  Mr.  Peters  has  done  much  in 
this  direction. 

In  1879  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Peters  and  Miss  Anna  Huston,  of  Mon- 
ticello, who  was  for  several  years  a  teacher 
in  the  Monticello  schools  and  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  E.  ( Prichard)  Huston.  They 
traveled  life's  journey  happily  together  for 
about  fifteen  years,  and  then  Mrs.  Peters  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  in  January,  1894,  leav- 
ing a  son  and  two  daughters  :  Grant,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Monticello  high  school  of  the 
class  of  1903 ;  Mary  and  Julia,  who  are  at- 
tending school. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Peters  has 
always  been  a  Republican,  unfaltering  in  sup- 
port of  the  principles  of  the  party,  and  for 
several  years  he  was  connected  with  the  Re- 
publican central  committee  of  Piatt  county 
as  is  secretary,  and  in  other  capacities.  He 
has  also  been  a  delegate  to  the  state  conven- 
tions of  his  party  and  his  efforts  in  behalf  of 
the  organization  have  been  effective  and  bene- 
ficial. He  has  made  a  close  study  of  the  is- 
sues and  questions  of  the  day,  and  is  thus 
able  to  support  his  position  by  intelligent  ar- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


471 


gument,  and  he  has  also  left  the  impress  of 
his  opinions  upon  public  thought  and  action. 
In  local  politics  he  has  figured  prominently, 
and  he  was  for  two  years  a  memljer  of  the 
city  council  from  the  first  ward.  He  has  also 
been  president  of  the  school  board,  the  cause 
of  education  finding  in  him  a  warm  friend. 
In  1880  he  was  nominated  to  represent  Piatt 
county  in  the  state  legislature,  was  elected 
"from  the  thirty-second  district,  and  was  an 
active  working  member  of  the  body,  serving 
on  a  number  of  important  committees.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  business  that  was 
transacted  in  the  council  chambers  of  the 
state,  and  his  course  was  ever  above  suspi- 
cion. The  good  of  the  nation  he  places  above 
partisanship  and  the  welfare  of  his  constit- 
uents before  personal  aggrandizement.  He 
commands  the  respect  of  those  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact  everywhere,  but  at  home — 
in  the  county  of  his  adoption— ^where  he  is 
test  known,  he  inspires  personal  friendship 
of  unusal  strength,  and  all  who  know  him 
have  the  highest  admiration  for  his  good 
qualities  of  heart  and  mind. 


SAMUEL    S.     ARMSWORTH. 

Samuel  S.  Armsworth  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing young  farmers  of  Willow  Branch  town- 
ship, his  home  being  on  section  25,  where 
he  was  born  on  the  I3th  of  March,  1871,  a 
son  of  James  and  Emma  (Gulliford)  Arms- 
worth.  The  birth  of  the  father  occurred  on 
the  same  place,  it  being  originally  the  home 
of  our  subject's  paternal  grandparents,  Sam- 
uel and  Celia  Armsworth,  who  located  there 
when  the  county  was  in  its  wildest  state. 

The  father  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  this  locality,  and  when  a  young 


man  began  dealing  in  stock  and  also  ran  a 
ditching  machine,  which  he  owned  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother-in-law,  Thomas 
Gulliford,  and  John  Kirby,  of  Monticello. 
They  ditched  much  of  land  of  this  county. 
After  his  marriage  James  Armsworth  contin- 
ued to  reside  on  the  old  homestead,  and  in 
connection  with  its  operation  he  conducted 
a  brick  and  tile  factory,  which  was  located  on 
his  land,  having  been  established  there  by 
D.  O.  Loy,  who  had  leased  the  land  from 
James  Armsworth.  About  1880  the  father 
purchased  the  plant  and  successfully  carried 
on  the  factory  throughout  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  manufacturing  much  of  the  brick 
and  tile  used  in  this  region.  In  1883  he 
erected  one  of  the  finest  brick  houses  in  Wil- 
low Branch  township,  it  being  of  the  very 
best  workmanship  throughout  and  built  for 
the  convenience  of  himself  and  family.  The 
brick  was  manufactured  in  his  own  factory 
and  no  pains  were  spared  in  the  construction 
of  the  residence. 

On  the  gth  of  December,  1866,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  James  Armsworth 
and  Miss  Emma  Gulliford,  who  was  born 
in  Somersetshire,  England,  in  1840,  and  is  a 
daughter"  of  William  and  Mary  (Ashford) 
Gulliford.  Her  paternal  grandfather  was 
William  Gulliford,  Sr.,  a  property  owner  jn 
England,  while  on  the  maternal  side  she  is 
related  to  a  Mr.  Ashford,  who  has  much 
wealth  at  his  command  in  that  country.  In 
1853  Mrs.  Armsworth  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  the  new  world  and  settled  near  Mil- 
mine.  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  when  this  section 
of  the  state  was  very  wild  and  unimproved. 
Wolves  and  deer  were  then  numerous  and 
smaller  game  was  also  found  in  abundance. 
The  homes  of  the  early  settlers  were  mostly 
built  of  logs,  and  were  widely  scattered. 
Mrs.  Armsworth's  father  was  a  butcher  by 


472 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


trade,  but  he  also  engaged  in  the  bakery  busi- 
ness to  some  extent,  and  was  capable  of  do- 
ing almost  any  kind  of  work.  .  After  com- 
ing to  this  country  he  turned  his  attention 
principally  to  farming,  his  home  being  near 
Milmine  in  this  county. 

Unto  James  and  Emma  (Gulliford) 
Armsworth  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren:  William  Edwin,  now  deceased;  Sam- 
uel S.,  whose-  name  introduces  this  sketch ; 
Celia  Lavina,  Bertha  Alma  and  Floyd  Fred- 
erick, all  three  deceased ;  Ernest  Albion,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  before  the  fa- 
ther's death ;  and  Edith  May,  who  is  at 
home  with  her  mother  and  brother.  After  a 
useful  and  well-spent  life  the  farther  passed 
away  in  1885.  Most  of  the  children  were 
then  quite  small,  but  Mrs.  Armsworth  not 
only  reared  her  own  family,  but  also  three 
children  belonging  to  her  husband's  brother, 
these  being  Sadie,  now  the  wife  of  Samuel 
D.  Parr,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  east  of 
Monticello;  Chattie,  wife  of  John  Mitchell, 
who  lives  near  Ivesdale;  and  Scott,  who  is 
still  with  Mrs.  Armsworth.  At  different 
times  the  family  have  resided  in  Monticello 
and  Cerro  Gordo,  but  they  prefer  the  quiet 
of  farm  life  and  now  occupy  their  beautiful 
country  home. 

Mrs.  Armsworth  is  an  active  and  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to 
which  her  husband  also  belongs.  He  never 
cared  for  political  preferment,  but  served  as 
school  director  for  many  years,  and  always 
took  a  deep  interest  in  all  enterprises  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  moral,  educational  or 
social  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  he 
lived.  He  was  a  very  successful  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  and  derived  a  good  income  from 
his  business  as  a  stock-dealer,  buying  and 
selling  cattle  on  quite  an  extensive  scale  in 
earlv  life.  The  old  homestead  had  been  rent- 


ed for  several  years  prior  to  his  marriage, 
and  when  he  took  charge  of  the  same  it  was 
in  rather  a  dilapidated  condition,  but  he  tiled, 
fenced  and  improved  the  land,  erected  good 
and  substantial  buildings  and  made  his  farm 
one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 

The  property  is  now  under  the  control  of 
Samuel  S.  Armsworth,  who  is  successfully 
operating  about  three  hundred  acres,  raising 
corn,  oats  and  fruit  of  all  kinds,  and  he  usual- 
ly ships  a  carload  of  hogs  to  market  each 
year.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  since 
his  father's  death  has  remained  with  his 
mother,  doing  all  in  his  power  for  her  com- 
fort and  pleasure.  He  raises  a  good  grade 
of  stock  and  has  some  very  fine  colts  upon 
his  place.  On  the  3d  of  November,  1892,  he 
married  Miss.  Catharine  Maier,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Catharine  Maier,  of. Monticello, 
but  she  died,  April  25,  1895,  and  their 
daughter,  Catharine,  who  was  born  January 
14,  1895,  died  the  following  July.  Bessie, 
born  September  22,  1893,  is  still  living. 

Mr.  Armsworth  is  now  serving  his  sec- 
ond term  as  tax  collector  in  Willow  Branch 
township.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Arela  Lodge,  No. 
599,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  Royal  Circle  of 
Cisco. 


EDWARD  ALLMAN. 

After  years  of  active  labor,  mostly  de- 
voted to  farming,  Edward  Allman  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  the  city  of  Decatur,  en- 
joying a  well  earned  rest  and  the  fruits  of  his 
former  toil.  He  is  a  native  of  County  Kerry. 
Ireland,  and  a  son  of  John  Allman,  who 
spent  his  entire  life  in  that  country.  He  still 
has  one  brother  and  a  sister  living,  these  be- 
ing James  L.,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Monti- 


PIATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


473 


cello,  and  Mrs.  Edward  S.  Stout,  also  a  res- 
ident of  Piatt  county. 

Edward  Allman  spent  the  first  thirteen 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  land,  and  then 
came  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New 
York  City,  whence  he  made  his  way  to 
Ohio,  where  he  spent  two  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  proceeded  westward  and  set- 
tled in  Monticello,  Illinois.  In  partnership 
with  his  brothers,  James  L.  and  John  All- 
man, he  took  up  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land 
in  Monticello  township,  Piatt  county,  which 
at  that  time  was  covered  with  ponds  and 
sloughs,  but  by  draining  and  cultivation  they 
converted  the  place  into  a  well  improved 
farm.  At  that  early  day  deer,  wild  geese  and 
other  game  was  plentiful  and  furnished  the 
early  settlers  with  many  a  meal.  The  farm 
machinery  then  in  use  was  very  primitive, 
and  the  first  corn  Mr.  Allman  helped  to  culti- 
vate was  with  a  single  shovel  plow,  while  he 
cut  grain  with  a-  cradle.  Upon  their  place 
the  brothers  erected  a  small  frame  house, 
which  was  later  replaced  by  a  more  commo- 
dious and  modern  residence,  and  all  of  the 
improved  machinery  and  conveniences  were 
added  to  their  farm. 

When  his  adopted  country  became  in- 
volved in  Civil  war,  Edward  Allman  laid 
aside  all  personal  interests  and  was  one  of 
the  first  to  enlist  from  Piatt  county,  becom- 
ing a  private  of  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
which  was  at  first  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Snell,  and  when  he  resigned  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Lowery,  who  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Franklin.  The  cap- 
tain of  Company  E  was  John  W.  Wood. 
Mr.  Allman  went  into  camp  at  Camp  Butler, 
and  from  there  was  sent  south  with  his  reg- 
iment. The  first  engagement  in  which  he  par- 
ticipated was  with  Morgan  in  Kentucky,  and 


after  his  capture  in  Ohio  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky our  subject  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Nashville  and  Campbell  Station, 
the  siege  of  Knoxville,  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  the  siege  of  Atlanta  and  the 
battles  of  Jonesboro  and  Newbern,  North 
Carolina,  besides  several  other  engagements 
of  less  importance.  After  three  years  of  val- 
iant and  meritorious  service  on  southern 
battle-fields,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
in  1865,  and  returned  home  to  Piatt  county. 

After  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Allman  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  with  his  brother,  James  L.,  for 
some  years.  He  worked  by  the  month  for 
'some  time  after  coming  to  Piatt  county,  but 
about  1868  started  out  in  life  for  himself. 
His  first  purchase  consisted  of  a  tract  of  vir- 
gin soil,  upon  which  he  laid  about  seven  miles 
of  tiling,  and  also  erected  thereon  a  good  set 
of  farm  buildings.  He  is  still  the  owner  of  a 
good  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  Monticello  township,  where  he  was  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for 
many  years,  and  gave  considerable  attention 
to  the  stock  business,  which  he  found  quite 
profitable.  In  1892,  on  account  of  ill  health, 
he  rented  his  farm  and  has  since  lived  retired. 
He  has  twice  crossed  the  ocean  to  visit  his 
native  land,  and  also  went  west  in  the  search 
of  health,  having  traveled  quite  extensively 
over  this  country  for  that  purpose.  Since 
1892  he  has  made  his  home  in  Decatur.  and 
now  has  a  beautiful  residence  at  No.  1006  E. 
Lincoln  avenue,  surrounded  by  well  kept 
lawns.  His  housekeeper  is  his  niece,  Miss 
Maggie  C.  Allman,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Nora  (Cronin)  Allman,  both  now  deceased. 

By  his  ballot,  Mr.  Allman  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party. 
He  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Catholic 
church,  and  has  helped  to  organize  the 


474 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


churches  at  Tolono,  Champaign,  Ivesdale  and 
Bement,  but  is  now  connected  with  St.  Pat- 
rick's church  of  Decatur.  He  well  remem- 
bers seeing  the  first  Catholic  missionary  that 
ever  came  to  Piatt  county,  and  he  has  borne 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  moral  and 
material  development  of  this  section  of  the 
state.  He  is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  the 
community,  his  success  in  life  being  due  en- 
tirely to  his  own  well  directed  efforts  and 
good  business  ability,  and  he  not  only  de- 
serves the  prosperity  that  has  come  to  him, 
but  he  has  also  gained  the  confidence  and 
good  will  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact  either  in  business  or  so- 
cial life. 


JOHN  W.   KINGSTON. 

John  W.  Kingston  is  a  member  of  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  the  state  and  has  been 
a  resident  of  Piatt  county  since  1867.  He  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  on  section  35,  Goose 
Creek  township.  He  is  a  native  of  Peoria 
county,  Illinois,  born  April  5,  1827,  the  son 
of  George  and  Susan  (Miller)  Kingston. 
George  Kingston  was  born  in  County  Cork, 
Ireland,  and  came  to  this  country  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  years.  He  later  located  in  the 
middle  west  and  purchased  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  government 
land  in  Woodford  county,  Illinois.  He  con- 
inued  to  cultivate  this  farm  until  the  death 
of  his  wife,  when  he  went  to  reside  with  the 
children.  He  was  one  of  the  early  and  re- 
spected settlers  in  Woodford  county,  and 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven 
years.  He  married  Susan  Miller  in  Morgan 
county  and  became  the  father  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  now  living :  John  W. ; 
George,  who  resides  in  Florida;  Mary  A., 
Mrs.  Hollis  Thompson,  of  Bloomington,  II- 


linis;  Charles  \Y.,  a  Nebraska  farmer;  Mil- 
ten,  a  Kansas  farmer;  and  Julia,  widow  of 
Charles  Fredericks,  now  residing  in  Wash- 
ington. 

John  W.  Kingston  is  a  product  of  west- 
ern institutions,  having  been  educated  in  the 
pioneer  schools  of  Woodford  county,  which 
he  remembers  as  being  of  the  old  log-house, 
puncheon-floor  variety.  He,  however,  suc- 
ceeded in  absorbing  enough  education  to  car- 
ry him  through  life,  and  has  made  a  most 
useful  and  respected  citizen.  As  he  came  to 
an  age  of  responsibility,  he  worked  by  the 
month  for  adjacent  farmers,  and  later  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade.  This  trade  he  followed 
for  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  re- 
turned to  the  occupation  of  farming.  He 
bought  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in  Woodford 
county,  paying  therefor  two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  acre;  improving  this  for  a  period  of 
ten  years  he  sold  at  the  splendid  advance  of 
forty-five  dollars  an  acre.  With  the  result 
of  this  sale  he  came  to  Piatt  county  in  Sep- 
tember of  1867,  and  bought  the  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  continued  in  active  cultivation  of 
the  soil  until  1893,  when  his  success  was 
such  as  to  warrant  his  retirement  and  the 
turning  of  his  farms  over  to  his  boys.  The 
original  two  hundred  and  eighty-acre  farm 
is  now  one  of  the  most  highly  improved  in 
the  county  and  is  worth  the  highest  price 
paid  for  farming  land,  though  Mr.  Kingston 
paid  but  seven  dollars  per  acre  for  it  at  the 
time  of  purchase.  It  is  thoroughly  ditched 
and  tiled,  and  there  is  a  fine  modern  farm- 
house, together  with  a  complete  equipment 
of  barns  and  outbuildings.  Mr.  Kingston 
formerly  OAvned  forty  acres,  but  has  since 
sold  twenty  acres  to  his  sons.  He  is  looked 
upon  as  one  of  the  solid  men,  financially,  of 
Piatt  county. 

Our  subject  entered  the  state  of  matri- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


475 


inony  in  M'ay  of  1851,  Mrs.  Kingston's  name 
having  teen  Sarah  M.  Bunting.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Bunting.  Their 
children  are  as  follows :  Rose  married  Henry 
Purkheiser,  a  railroad  conductor,  living  in 
Macon  county,  Illinois ;  George  W.  married 
Mary  Ann  Cooper  and  is  a  farmer  living  on 
section  26,  Goose  Creek  township;  Susan 
married  James  Spurling  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; John  married  a  Miss  Reynolds,  and 
removed  to  California,  where  he  died  in 
1891 ;  Ansel  is  a  farmer  living  near  Weldon, 
Illinois ;  Ellis  married  Miss  Cooper  and  is 
a  farmer  of  Goose  Creek  township;  Virginia 
died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kingston  are  prominent 
and  leading  members  of  the  Baptist  church, 
in  \yhich  they  were  ordained  as  deacons  in 
1888.  For  a  period  of  twenty-seven  years, 
both  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  ear- 
nest and  enthusiastic  workers  in  this  denomi- 
nation, he  being  at  the  present  time  superin- 
tendent of  the  Baptist  Sunday-school  of 
Monticello,  while  she  is  one  of  the  efficient 
teachers.  The  consistent  Christian  lives  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  have  endeared  them 
to  a  very  large  circle  of  friends  in  the  coun- 
ty, among  whom  they  are  most  highly  re- 
garded. 


GEORGE     W.    KINGSTON. 

George  W.  Kingston,  a  son  of  John  W. 
and  Sarah  M.  ( Bunting)  Kingston,  was  born 
in  \Yoodford  county,  Illinois,  in  1857,  and 
now  cultivates  a  farm  on  section  26  and  35, 
Goose  Creek  township,  Piatt  county.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Piatt  county,  and  resided  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  In  Feb- 
ruary. 1879,  he  was  happily  joined  in  mar- 


riage to  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Joshua  and 
Martha  ( Rainwater)  Cooper.  Mrs.  King- 
ston's parents  were  leading  farmers  of  Gocse 
Creek  township.  Her  father  entered  the  army 
during  the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  Compa- 
ny D,  Seventy-third  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  after  a  period  of  service  was 
stricken  with  disease  and  died.  A  short  time 
later  the  mother  also  died,  Mrs.  Kingston 
being  thus  left  an  orphan  at  the  tender  age  of 
three  years.  The  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily were:  James  F.,  a  stockbuyer  of  Kansas, 
and  Martha  E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  John 
Laka,  a  farmer  and  storekeeper  residing  at 
Breeze,  Missouri. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King- 
ston have  been  born  five  children,  as  follows : 
all  of  whom  still  reside  at  home :  Alva  E., 
Dora  V.,  Bertha,  Ray  and  Carl.  After  our 
subject's  marriage,  he  rented  a  portion  of  his 
father's  farm  and  met  with  such  success  in 
its  cultivation  that  he  was  soon  enabled  to 
buy  the  quarter  section  adjoining,  on  which 
he  now  resides.  On  this  farm  he  has  erected 
a  modern  farm  house  and  large  "barn,  has 
tiled  the  entire  place  thoroughly,  and  has  it 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  coun- 
ty, being  particularly  careful  in  the  use  of 
good  stock  and  up-to-date  machinery.  He 
carries  on  general  farming,  and  demon- 
strates that  care  given  to  such  an  occupation 
will  make  it  pay. 

In  the  field  of  politics  MT.  Kingston  sup- 
ports the  principles  of  Jefferson  and  Jack- 
son, and  has  been  school  director  of  his  dis- 
trict for  the  past  twelve  years.  He  and  his 
wife  are  prominent  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  taking  an  active  part 
in  all  the  work  of  that  organization.  They 
are  most  highly  esteemed  in  their  local  com- 
munity. 


476 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


OLIVER  M.   MARTIN. 

One  of  the  younger  representatives  of  ag- 
ricultural interests  in  Piatt  county  is  Oliver 
M.  Martin,  who  resides  on  section  34,  Goose 
Creek  township.  The  birth  of  Mr.  Martin 
occurred  in  Piatt  county,  November  29, 
1868.  His  father  was  William  S.  Martin,  his 
mother  Jane  M.  Chandler.  The  former  was 
born  in  the  Hoosier  state,  November  9, 
1835,  and  at  eighteen  years  came  west  to  De- 
Witt  county,  Illinois,  where  he  passed  three 
years  on  a  rented  farm.  In  1856,  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  prairie  in  Piatt  county,  to 
which  he  later  added  another  eighty  acres, 
and  at  the  end  of  fifteen  years  owned  a  half 
section.  He  continued  to  cultivate  this  body 
of  land  successfully  until  1894,  when  he 
passed  a  year  in  Bloomington,  and  then  set- 
tled in  Monticello.  Here  he  resided  for  the 
following  four  years,  and  after  a  trip  to  Cal- 
ifornia moved  to  Weldon,  Illinois,  where  he 
died  October  25,  1901.  He  was  a  man  of 
sturdy  qualities  and  of  patriotic  mold,  hav- 
ing served  his  country  loyally  during  the 
Civil  war  as  a  member  of  Company  B,  One 
Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. His  wife,  whom  he  married  Febru- 
ary 28,  1866,  was  a  daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Rachel  (Manlove)  Chandler.  She  became 
the  mother  of  six  children :  Ettie  M.,  resides 
with  her  mother  in  Weldon ;  Oliver  M.  is  the 
second  child ;  Edgar  O.  is  a  farmer  of  Goose 
Creek  township ;  Luther  died  at  two  years ; 
Wenford  B.  is  a  practicing  physician  at  Free- 
port,  Illinois;  Manford  R.  is  a  student  of 
medicine  in  the  College  of  Physician  and 
Surgeons  of  Chicago. 

Oliver  M.  Martin,  since  his  father's 
death,  has  resided  on  the  home  place,  which 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  the 
county.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 


schools  of  the  county  and  lived  dutifully  at 
home  until  he  was  twenty  years  old.  He 
then  went  to  California  with  the  intention  of 
making  that  state  his  home,  but  after  an  eight 
months'  period  on  his  uncle,  Wilbur  F. 
Chandler's  ranch,  he  was  cured  of  his  west- 
ern fever  and  returned  to  his  native  state. 

Here,  on  the  4th  of  June,  1891,  Mr.  Mar- 
tin was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Ennis,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Illinois,  and 
they  now  have  five  children,  namely :  Erma 
F.,  Gladys  E.,  Bernice,  William  Lawrence 
and  Granville  N.  William  H.  Ennis,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Martin,  was  born  in  Mary- 
land in  1837,  and  in  early  life  came  west,  lo- 
cating in  Sazewell  county,  Illinois.  He  was 
married  at  Pekin  in  1866  to  Sarah  E.  Houk, 
who  died  two  or  three  years  later,  leaving 
one  child,  James  E.,  now  a  minister  at  Cat- 
lin,  Illinois.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Ennis 
married  Martha  Jane  Houk,  who  was  born 
in  Tazewell  county  in  1847,  ar>d  they  now 
make  their  home  on  a  farm  in  Willow 
Branch  township,  Piatt  county.  The  children 
born  of  this  union  are:  William  D.,  a  farmer 
of  Macon  county;  Mrs.  Martin;  Thomas  J., 
a  farmer  near  Kanawha,  Iowa;  Mary  E., 
Mrs.  Emery  McGinnis,  of  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois; Louie  J.,  wife  of  Carmi  Parrish,  of 
Macon  county ;  Ira  Lee,  a  farmer  of  Sullivan, 
Illinois;  Handy  M.,  of  Glenhaven,  Illinois; 
Cora  E.,  now  Mrs.  Clarence  Pease,  of  Cisco. 
Illinois;  and  Lester  C,  who  resides  with  his 
parents.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  in  Au- 
gust, 1862,  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Martin,  he  set- 
tled on  a  rented  farm  in  DeWitt  county, 
where  he  passed  three  years,  and  then  rented 
the  old  home  place  from  his  father,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  carries  on  gen- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


477 


eral  farming,  and  has  made  a  specialty  of 
raising  blooded  cattle  of  the  polled  Angus 
breed.  Mr.  Martin  has  also  a  fine  reputation 
as  a  dealer  in  thoroughbred  horses,  he  hav- 
ing but  recently  purchased  a  car  load  of 
splendid  animals  in  the  famous  state  of  Ken- 
tucky. Upon  his  settlement  upon  the  old 
home  place,  he  began  systematically  to  put  it 
in  splendid  condition,  remodeling  the  house, 
fencing  the  entire  place  with  a  good  wire 
fence,  and  adding  many  new  outbuildings. 
He  is  now  the  owner  of  the  farm,  together 
with  other  lands,  making  in  all  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres. 

The  character  of  his  citizenship  has  been 
such  as  to  secure  to  him  and  his  family  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  the  whole  country  side. 
In  politics  he  favors  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  he  is  a  liberal  supporter 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  his  wife 
is  a-  faithful  member. 


CHARLES  F.  WEILEPP. 

Through  forty-five  years  Charles  Fleet- 
man  Weilepp  has  been  a  resident  of  central 
Illinois  and  is  one  of  the  venerable  citizens 
of  Piatt  county,  his  mind  bearing  the  impress 
of  the  early  historical  annals  of  this  part  of 
the  state.  He  has  passed  the  eightieth  mile- 
stone on  life's  journey,  having  been  born  on 
the  pth  of  December,  1819,  in  Prussia.  His 
parents  were  Christopher  and  Hannah  Weil- 
epp, and  the  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, following  that  pursuit  throughout  his 
entire  business  career.  He  and  his  wife  died 
in  the  fatherland,  her  death  occurring  before 
the  emigration  of  her  son  Charles  F.  to  the 
new  world. 

In  the  land   of  his   nativity   Charles    F. 


Weilepp  was  reared  and  educated  and  in 
1851  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America,  be- 
lieving that  he  might  have  better  business 
opportunities  in  the  new  world  than  could  be 
obtained  in  the  older  countries  of  Europe. 
He  landed  in  New  York  with  only  fifty  cents 
in  his  pocket.  He  had  made  the  voyage  in 
the  sailing  vessel  Idelphia,  which  weighed 
anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Bremen  on  the  6th 
of  June  and  reached  the  harbor  of  New  York 
on  the  24th  of  August,  1851.  He  exper- 
ienced pleasant  weather  and  a  voyage  which 
was  without  danger.  Mr.  Weilepp  did  not 
tarry  long  in  the  east,  but  started  at  once  for 
the  interior  of  the  country,  making  his  way 
to  Rush  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
for  about  six  6r  seven  years.  It  was  neces- 
sary that  he  secure  immediate  employment 
for  he  was  without  funds,  and  he  first  worked 
at  daily  labor.  He  was  afterward  employed 
at  farm  work  and  in  1858  he  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Macon  county  upon  a  tract  of 
rented  land.  Thus  he  began  farming  upon 
his  own  account,  and'  for  ten  years  followed 
that  pursuit  at  his  first  location.  As  the  years 
passed  Mr.  Weilepp  prospered  in  his  under- 
taking, gaining  a  comfortable  competence, 
and  in  agricultural  circles  he  was  well  known 
as  a  leading  representative  of  that  line  of 
business  activity.  In  1885  he  left  the  home 
farm  and  came  to  Cisco,  where  he  has  since 
lived  with  his  son. 

Mr.  Weilepp  was  married  in  Prussia 
about  sixty-four  years  ago,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Christina  Hyer,  who  was  'born 
in  Prussia  and  who  was  long  a  faithful  com- 
panion and  helpmate  to  his  on  life's  journey. 
They  became  the  parents  of  nine  children : 
Minnie,  who  is  now  the  widow  of  Samuel 
Smith  and  resides  in  St.  John's,  Kansas; 
Charles,  deceased ;  Edward,  who  is  also  liv- 
ing in  St.  John's ;  David,  who  resides  in 


4/8 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Maroa,  Illinois;  Laura,  who  is  the  widow 
of  John  McKinley  and  makes  her  home  at 
Forsyth :  William  and  Samuel,  who  have 
passed  away;  Frank  S.,  with  whom  our  sub- 
ject makes  his  home;  and  John,  who  died  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  these  children  depart- 
ed this  life  in  1870,  dying  in  Macon  county. 
She  had  gained  many  friends  during  her 
residence  in  this  part  of  the  state,  and  her 
loss  was  there-fore  deeply  and  widely 
mourned. 

Mr.  Weilqip,  of  this  review,  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Macon  county,  and  as- 
sisted in  breaking  a  great  amount  of  new 
land  there  and  in  otherwise  reclaiming  the 
district  for  cultivation  and  improvement.  He 
resided  in  that  county  for  twenty-six  years, 
but  has  spent  his  later  years  at  the  home  of 
his  son  in  Cisco,  living  retired.  Mr.  Weilepp 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  but  since  that  time  has  sup- 
ported the  Democracy,  and  is  unfaltering  in 
his  allegiance  to  its  principles,  for  he  believes 
its  platform  contains  the  best  elements  of 
good  government.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church,  to,  which  his  wife 
also  belonged,  and  has  lived  an  earnest 
Christian  life,  doing  unto  others  as  he  would 
have  them  do  unto  him,  making  the  most  of 
his  opportunities,  and  at  all  times  giving  his 
influence  for  improvement  along  lines  of 
benefit  to  the  entire  community. 


FRANK  S.  WEILEPP. 

The  broad  prairies  of  Illinois  furnished 
splendid  opportunities  to  the  agriculturist 
who  annually  harvests  good  crops  of  grain. 
Because  of  this  there  has  sprung  up  various 
industries  of  a  kindred  nature  and  Mr.  Weil- 
epp, of  this  review  is  a  representative  of  one 


of  these,  being  to-day  extensively  engaged 
in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  grain,  having  a 
large  elevator  in  Cisco.  He  is  a  native  son 
of  central  Illinois,  and  is  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  and  progress  which  has 
been  the  dominant  factor  in  the  development 
and  permanent  improvement  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  He  was  torn  in  Macon  county 
on  the  ist  of  June,  1862,  and  acquired  his 
early  education  in  the  common  schools.  His 
youth  was  spent  in  working  upon  his  father's 
farm,  where  he  early  became  familiar  with 
the  labors  of  field  and  meadow  and  continued 
Under  the  parental  roof  until  eighteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  went  to  Forsyth  and  em- 
barked in  the  grain  business.  About  1882 
he  arrived  in  Cisco,  where  he  began  buying 
grain  for  the  firm  of  Day,  Sons  &  Company, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  about  seven 
years,  when  he  purchased  his  employer's  in- 
terests in  the  business  in  connection  witlrM. 
Croninger.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Weilepp 
has  enjoyed  a  very  prosperous  career,  meet- 
ing with  gratifying  success  in  his  undertak- 
ings. The  elevator  has  a  capacity  of  about 
forty  thousand  bushels,  the  granary  in  con- 
nection about  thirty  thousand  and  the  total 
capacity  of  elevator,  granary  and  cribs  is 
about  one  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  grain. 
This  is  a  well  equipped  plant,  of  which  Mr. 
Weilepp  is  sole  owner.  The  valuation  of  his 
business  property  is  fifteen  thousand  dollars, 
and  he  is  to-day  regarded  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing representatives  of  the  grain  trade  in  this 
part  of  the  state.  His  operations  are  quite 
extensive  and  his  business  furnishes  an  excel- 
lent market  for  producers  so  that  his  work  is 
of  value  to  the  community  as  well  as  a  source 
of  good  income  to  himself.  Mr.  Weilepp  is 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  bank  owned  by  the 
late  M.  Croninger.  He  likewise  owns  about 
twenty-five  acres  of  land  near  Cisco,  and  one 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


479 


hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Macon  county. 
He  also  leases  and  sublets  about  a  section  of 
land,  and  has  some  valuable  real  estate  hold- 
ings, besides  those  already  mentioned.  He 
has  a  good  residence  in  Cisco  which  he  occu- 
pies and  another  which  he  rents,  and  alto- 
gether his  property  possessions  represent 
large  investments  and  indicate  something  of 
the  success  which  has  come  to  him  in  reward 
for  his  life  work. 

On  February  i,  1883,  Mr.  Weilepp  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ada  F.  Nogle,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  eight  children,  namely :  Lela  N., 
Carl  N.,  Edward  S.,  Louise  M.,  Eva  F., 
Laura,  Paul  and  Max.  Mr.  Weilepp  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  regards  it  the 
duty  as  well  as  the  privilege  of  every 
American  citizen  to  exercise  his  right  of 
franchise  unrestricted  by  a  political  ring, 
and  he  reserves  to  himself  the  right  which 
he  grants  to  others  of  forming  an  un- 
biased opinion. '  '  Socially,  he  is  quite 
prominent.  He  has  taken  the  three  degrees 
of  the  blue  lodge  of  Masonry  at  Weldon,  also 
belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity, 
and  in  the  last  two  has  held  office.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  town  board  of 
Cisco,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Having 
spent  his  entire  life  in  this  section  of  Illinois, 
he  is  well  known.  The  qualities  of  an  up- 
right manhood  are  his,  and  his  reliabiltiy  in 
business  and  his  trustworthiness  in  every 
relation  of  life  make  him  respected  by  all 
with  whom  he  is  associated.  In  business  cir- 
cles he  sustains  an  enviable  reputation,  and 
is  recognized  as  a  man  of  energy  and  enter- 
prise. He  has  ever  conducted  his  affairs  along 
progressive  lines  and  commands  uniform 
confidence. 


OTTO  LUBBERS. 

One  of  the  thrifty  Germans  of  the  county 
who  has  made  a  splendid  success  at  farming 
is  Otto  Lubbers,  residing  at  the  present  time 
on  section  33,  Goose  Creek  township.  He 
was  born  March  9,  1846,  in  the  fatherland. 
His  father  was  Reemt  Lubbers,  his  mother 
Dena  Bookhoff.  They  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1870  and  purchased  a  farm  near  Mani- 
to,  Illinois,  where  they  lived  for  a  period  of 
four  years,  and  then  purchased  a  quarter  sec- 
tion in  Logan  county.  The  father  died  on  this 
farm  in  his  sixty-third  year,  having  survived 
his  wife  for  a  time.  They  were  the  parents 
of  Eike.  a  farmer  of  Goose  Creek  township ; 
Fannie,  wife  of  Chris  Roos,  a  Logan  county 
farmer ;  Otto,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ; 
George,  a  farmer  near  Enclen,  Illinois ;  Net- 
tie, Mrs.  Harm  Hohlfs,  residing  in  Logan 
county;  and  Dena,  wife  of  John  Roos,  a 
Goose  Creek  township  farmer. 

The  education  of  Otto  Lubbers  was  ac- 
quired in  Germany,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  his  twenty-second  year.  In  1868 
he  came  to  America  and  settled  on  what  was 
then  known  as  the  Sculley  land  in  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  purchased  a  quarter 
section.  After  five  years  he  sold  this  farm 
and  came  to  Piatt  county,  where  he  purchased 
the  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  on 
which  he  now  resides,  paying  therefor  thirty 
dollars  per  acre.  To  the  original  purchase 
Mr.  Lubbers  has  added  two  hundred  acres, 
constituting  him  one  of  the  largest  farmers 
in  the  county.  He  has  made  many  improve- 
ments upon  his  place.  In  1892  he  erected  a 
handsome  residence  on  the  site  of  the  old 
frame  house,  and  the  previous  year  built  a 
good  barn  for  all  purposes,  good  sheds  and 
granary.  Near  the  house  stands  a  splendid 
orchard  planted  by  his  hand,  while  wind- 


480 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


mills  draw  water  from  wells  which  have  been 
sunk  at  different  times.  The  farms  are  all 
thoroughly  tiled  and  ditched,  and  in  all  their 
appointments  are  among  the  up-to-date  farms 
of  the  county. 

Prior  to  1873  the  wife  of  our  subject  was 
Miss  Kate  Remmers.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Jurko  and  Wendelke  (Tenhove)  Rem- 
mers, and  is  the  mother  of  nine  children : 
Dena  married  Lewis  Meyer,  and  resides  on 
section  32,  Goose  Creek  township ;  Winnie  is 
the  wife  of  Jurgen  Weets,  also  residing  on 
section  32 ;  Fannie  is  Mrs.  Christ  Lubbers, 
who  resides  on  section  31 ;  Reemt  is  a  young 
man  at  home;  Jurko,  Kate  and  Otto  are  at 
home. 

Mr.  Lubbers  and  his  family  are  consistent 
members  and  supporters  of  the  Baptist 
church,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  trustees. 
To  this  church  they  have  given  many  of  the 
best  years  of  their  life,  he  being  at  the  present 
time  secretary  of  the  church,  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school,  in  which  the 
wife  is  also  a  teacher.  In  political  affiliation, 
Mr.  Lubbers  votes  with  the  Democratic  par- 
ty, though  he  does  not  aspire  to  the  emolu- 
ments of  office.  Men,  as  well  as  trees,  are 
judged  by  their  fruit.  The  life  of  our  sub- 
ject has  been  singularly  fruitful  in  good 
works  and  deeds,  and  the  splendid  Christian 
character  which  he  has  built  up  in  his  home 
community  wields  a  powerful  and  beneficient 
influence. 


CASPER    WACK. 

Casper  Wack  is  one  of  the  well-known 
stock-raisers  of  Piatt  county,  his  home  be- 
ing in  Blue  Ridge  township.  He  was  born 
September  20,  1850,  in  Canton  township, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  a  son  of  Casper  and 


Mary  Jane  (Linaberg)*  Wack.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  and  carpenter  by  occupation, 
following  both  pursuits.  The  subject  of  this 
review  was  reared  on  the  old  family  home- 
stead in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  acquired 
his  early  education  there,  pursuing  his  studies 
in  the  Mound  schoolhouse,  which  is  still 
standing  and  is  yet  used  for  educational  pur- 
poses. In  the  summer  months  Mr.  Wack  as- 
sisted in  the  labors  of  the  fields,  and  thus 
early  gained  practical  experience  of  farm 
work.  When  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  his 
father  began  paying  him  wages.  He  received 
twenty  dollars  per  month  in  compensation 
for  his  services,  and  he  worked  in  this  man- 
ner for  his  father  for  one  year,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  they  entered  into  partnership 
relations.  They  raised  and  bought  consid- 
erable stock  and  as  the  result  of  their  stock- 
dealing  they  prospered.  Both  were  men  of 
good  business  ability  and  marked  energy, 
and  their  capable  management  and  strong 
determination  enabled  them  to  progress 
along  lines  of  their  chosen  occupation. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1878,  Mr. 
Wack  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lizzie  Ash- 
by,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Ann  (Mc- 
Kee)  Ashby,  of  Hamilton  county,  Indiana, 
where  Mrs.  Wack  was  born  September  13, 
1851.  Her  parents  died  there  many  years 
ago.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wack  were  born 
three  children :  Garrett  J.,  born  July  23, 
1879,  is  now  living  with  his  father;  Wallace, 
born  February  23,  1881,  married  Miss  Millie 
Baker  and  they  have  two  children ;  and 
Emery,  born  September  3,  1883,  is  yet  at 
home.  There  is  also  an  adopted  child,  Leo, 
born  on  the  27th  of  January,  1897. 

Mr.  Wack  now  devotes  his  attention  al- 
most exclusively  to  the  raising  of  stock  of 
various  kinds.  He  perhaps  pays  more  atten- 
tion to  Poland  China  hogs  than  any  other^ 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


481 


but  he  has  large  numbers  of  cattle  and  horses 
upon  his  place.  At  the  present  time  he  has 
nineteen  head  of  horses  and  mules,  and  he 
feeds  annually  about  forty  head  of  cattle,  all 
of  which  he  ships  to  the  Chicago  markets. 
He  buys  stock  cattle  in  Kansas  City,  and  be- 
ing an  excellent  judge  of  farm  animals  he  is 
thus  enabled  to  invest  his  money  so  that  his 
sales  bring  to  him  good  financial  returns.  He 
feeds  almost  all  of  the  grain  which  he  raises 
to  his  stock,  and  yet  he  annually  harvests 
good  crops  for  his  fields  are  rich  and  produc- 
tive, returning  to  him  excellent  harvests. 
Mr.  Wack  lives  upon  a  rented  farm  in  Piatt 
county,  but  he  owns  a  good  tract  of  land  in 
Hamilton  county,  Iowa,  near  Webster  City. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  an  earnest 
Democrat,  and  has  held  some  minor  offices, 
having  served  as  school  director  in  his  town- 
ship for  six  years,  while  for  nine  years  he  was 
a  trustee.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, holding  membership  in  Mansfield  Lodge 
No.  773.  The  beneficent  spirit  of  the  craft 
appeals  to  him,  and  he  endorses  its  princi- 
ples by  active  co-operation  for  its  good.  His 
business  career  has  been  .honorable  and 
awakens  the  admiration  of  those  who  know 
his  history,  for  all  that  he  possesses  has  been 
attained  through  his  own  labors. 


JUDGE   M.    R.    DAVIDSON. 

•Judge  M.  R.  Davidson,  who  has  gained 
distinction  by  capable  service  upon  the  bench 
and  by  marked  ability  in  the  trial  of  cases  at 
the  bar  of  Piatt  county,  now  makes  his  home 
in  Monticello,  where  he  is  enjoying  a  good 
practice.  He  was  born  in  Macon  county,  Il- 
linois, on  the  4th  of  April,  1847,  an^  is  a  son 
of  Baxter  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Harbaugh) 


Davidson.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Illinois 
and  the  mother  of  Kentucky.  The  parental 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Samuel  Da- 
vidson, who  removed  from  South  Carolina 
to  this  state  before  the  admission  of  Illinois 
into  the  Union.  Pioneer  conditions  were  ev- 
erywhere prevalent  and  in  many  sections 
of  the  state  new  settlements  had  been  made. 
He  took  up  his  abode  in  White  county,  where 
later  his  son  Baxter  W.  Davidson  was  born, 
and  with  the  early  development  and  progress 
of  his  locality  he  was  actively  identified,  tak- 
ing a  helpful  part  in  many  measures  which 
pertain  to  the  public  good. 

Upon  the  old  family  homestead  Baxter 
W.  Davidson  was  reared  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  frontier  life  and  early  became  fa- 
miliar with  the  arduous  task  of  developing 
and  cultivating  a  new  farm.  In  1830  he  re- 
moved to  Macon  county  and  became  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  that  locality.  It,  too,  was 
a  frontier  district,  and  he  entered  land  from 
the  government  and  began  its  cultivation, 
turning  the  first  furrows  in  the  fields  upon 
what  became  his  homestead  there.  For  many 
years  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Macon  county  and  was  widely  known  as  one 
of  the  successful,  progressive  and  enterpris- 
ing farmers  of  this  portion  of  the  state.  His 
business  career  was  honorable,  because  in  all 
his  dealings  he  was  straightforward,  never 
taking  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  his  fel- 
low men  in  any  trade  transaction.  He  died  at 
his  home  in  the  village  of  Mount  Zion,  on 
the  23d  of  January,  1899,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-one  years,  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  and  respected  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity, in  which  he  had  made  his  home 
through  nearly  seven  decades.  His  wife  died 
on  the  ist  of  March,  1867,  and  both  lie 
buried  in  the  cemeteries  of  Mount  Zion,  Il- 
linois. This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents 


482 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living, 
but  the  subject  of  this  review  is  the  only  one 
residing  in  Piatt  county. 

Judge  Davidson  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  Mount  Zion 
township,  Macon  county,  and  when  he  had 
mastered  the  branches  of  learning  therein 
taught,  he  became  a  student  in  Mount  Zion 
Seminary,  which  has  since  become  the  Milli- 
kin  University  of  Decatur.  He  there  pur- 
sued a  classical  course  and  for  several  terms 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Macon  and 
Shelby  counties.  In  1871  he  entered  the  law 
office  of  the  firm  of  Nelson  &  Roby,  having 
formed  the  determination  to  make  the  prac- 
tice of  law  his  life  work.  Both  of  his  precep- 
tors are  still  living  and  Judge  Nelson  is  yet 
in  active  practice.  They  carefully  directed 
his  reading  and  he  applied  himself  assidu- 
ously to  the  mastery  of  the  principles  of  juris- 
prudence. Necessity  compelled  him  to  teach 
again  in  order  to  replenish  his  depleted  pock- 
et-book, and  he  taught  for  two  years,  and 
one  year  engaged  in  farming  in  the  mean- 
time. After  studying  for  two  years  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  before  the  supreme  court 
of  Springfield  in  January,  1877,  and  has  since 
been  an  active  factor  in  professional  circles  of 
the  state.  He  first  practiced  in  Lovington. 
Illinois,  as  a  colleague  of  Judge  William  G. 
Cochran,  there  remaining  for  almost  three 
years,  and  in  1878  he  came  to  the  county 
seat  of  Piatt  county,  since  which  time  he  has 
lived  in  Monticello  and  has  been  recognized 
as  one  of  its  most  prominent  lawyers.  He 
was  a  partner  of  Samuel  R.  Reed  from  188.2 
until  1885,  but  with  that  exception  has  been 
alone  in  the  prosecution  of  his  profession.  He 
prepares  his  cases  with  great  diligence  and 
care,  carefully  weighing  every  point  of  evi- 
dence until  he  has  ascertained  with  correct- 
ness the  most  important  points,  and  is  thus 
enabled  to  present  them  with  clearness  and 


force  before  the  court  and  jury.  His  argu- 
ments are  strong,  his  deductions  logical,  and 
he  seldom  fails  to  win  the  verdict  desired. 
Many  important  interests  have  beeri  intrusted 
to  his  care,  and  he  has  thus  been  connected 
with  the  litigation  which  has  awakened  much 
interest  and  attention  in  his  district.  In  1891 
he  was  elected  county  judge  and  served  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  A  man  of  unimpeach- 
able integrity  and  with  profound  learning  of 
the  law  combined  with  the  ability  to  put  per- 
sonal prejudices  and  opinions  aside  in  order 
to  ^'ve  an  unbiased  judgment,  he  took  to  the 
bench  high  qualifications  for  this  responsible 
office  and  proved  an  able  jurist. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1874,  Judge  David- 
son was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma 
M.  Reeme,  a  daughter  of  William  H.  Reeme, 
and  unto  this  marriage  have  been  born  four 
children:  Myrtle  F.,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the 
city  schools  of. Chicago;  Mabel  R..  who  is 
at  home  with  her  parents ;  Cloyd  O.,  who  is 
occupying  a  responsible  position  as  manager 
of  a  canning  factory  in  Barron,  Wisconsin ; 
and  Lois  A.,  who  is  still  a  •  student  in  the 
schools  of  Monticello.  The  family  is  well 
known  and  prominent  in  social  circles  here. 
In  his  political  views  the  judge  is  a  Demo- 
crat, warmly  espousing  the  cause  of  the  party 
and  rendering  effective  aid  in  its  behalf.  He 
is  likewise  an  active  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  of  which  he  has  been  an  elder 
for  a  number  of  years.  Universal  progress 
and  improvement  are  causes  dear  to  his  heart 
and  he  has  been  a  co-operant  factor  in  m"anv 
measures  for  the  general  good. 


ANDREW  J.  DIGHTOX. 

Piatt  county  with  its  splendid  agricultural 
opportunities  attracted  to  this  section  of  the 
state  manv  men  of  marked  business  enter- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


483 


prise,  whose  qualifications  prepare  them  for 
the  conduct  of  extensive  and  important  farm- 
ing interests.  Of  this  class  Andrew  J.  Digh- 
ton  was  a  representative  and  he  became  one 
of  the  most  successful  and  honored  agricul- 
turist and  stock-raisers  of  the  community. 
He  based  his  business  principles  and  actions 
upon  strict  adherence  to  the  rules  which  gov- 
ern industry,  economy  and  unswerving  integ- 
rity, and  by  constant  exertion  associated  with 
good  judgment,  he  raised  himself  to  a  posi- 
tion of  affluence  and  of  prominence,  and  his 
straightforward  career  won  him  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  the  entire  community 
in  which  he  lived. 

Mr.  Dighton  was  born  in  Erie  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  ist  of  May,  1822,  and 
was  of  English  lineage.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  born  in  England  and  came  to 
America  with  Burgoyne's  army.  He  was 
pleased  with  the  country  to  which  he  had 
been  transported  for  military  service,  and  in- 
stead of  returning  to  his  native  land  he  re- 
mained in  the  new  republic,  and,  finally  join- 
ing the  Continental  army,  aided  in  securing 
independence  to  the  nation.  When  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  was  over  he  established  his 
home  in  Watertown,  New  York,  where  some 
of  his  descendants  are  still  living.  John 
Dighton,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
and  reared  in  Watertown  and  after  arriving 
at  years  of  maturity,  wedded  a  lady  of  that 
place.  He,  too,  was  loyal  to  this  land  when 
the  war  cloud  hovered  above  the  horizon  and 
he  took  -up  arms  against  the  British  in  the 
war  of  1812. 

In  the  state  of  his  nativity  Andrew  J. 
Dighton  spent  his  early  boyhood  days,  re- 
maining there  until  seventeen  years  of  age. 
At  that  time  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  <>\vn 
account  and  whatever  success  he  achieved 
afterward  was  the  direct  result  of  his  own 


labor,  merit  and  perseverance.  He  went 
first  to  Ohio,  afterward  to  Kentucky  and 
subsequently  to  Virginia,  spending  several 
years  in  the  last  named  state.  He  was  not 
only  a  self-made  man,  but  also  a  self-edu- 
cated one  and  by  reading  and  study  greatly 
broadened  his  knowledge,  and  thus  became 
qualified  for  teaching,  a  profession  which  he 
followed  for  some  time.  He  afterward  com- 
pleted a  course  of  study  in  the  Transylvania 
University  in  Virginia,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated, and  also  he  won  a  diploma  as  a  grad- 
uate of  the  law  course.  He  never  practiced 
the  profession,  however,  although  his  knowl- 
edge of  law  proved  of  valuable  assistance  to 
him  in  his  business  career.  His  own  educa- 
tion being  completed,  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  in  both  Kentucky  and  Virginia, 
although  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  time 
as  a  representative  of  that  profession  in  the 
Blue  Grass  state. 

About  1852  Mr.  Dighton  arrived  in  Piatt 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until  the 
following  year,  when  he  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  wedded  Sarah  C.  Netherton, 
a  most  estimable  lady,  who  was  born- in  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  26th  of  August,  1834.  Her 
parents  were  John  and  Margaret  Netherton, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and 
the  ancestor  on  the  paternal  line  came 
from  the  fatherland.  Mrs.  Dighton  was  the 
second  daughter  born  unto  her  parents  and 
she  continued  to  reside  in  her  native  state  un- 
til her  eighteenth  year,  when  she  gave  her 
hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Dighton,  and.  with 
him  went  to  his  new  home  in  Piatt  county, 
settling  in  Monticello  township.  Here  she 
has  resided  almost  continuously  since,  and 
by  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of 
eight  children  :  John  N.,  Elvira,  William  and 
Mary,  all  of  whom  are  living  in  Piatt  county. 
Elviea  is  now  the  wife  of  F.  V.  Dilatush. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Those  who  have  passed  away  are  Morris, 
Andrew  J..  Annie  and  Ida  M. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Dighton  brought 
his  bride  to  Piatt  county,  and  upon  a  farm 
north  of  Monticello,  they  began  their  domes- 
tic life.  He  purchased  eight  hundred  acres 
of  land  at  fifteen  dollars  per  acre.  Few  im- 
provements had  been  made  upon  it,  but  with 
characteristic  energy  he  began  its  further  de- 
velopment and  cultivation,  and  in  course  of 
years  it  became  a  splendid  estate.  As  his 
financial  resources  increased  he  made  judi- 
cious investments  in  property  until  his  land 
holdings  were  extensive  and  valuable.  In  all 
his  farm  methods  he  was  progressive,  was 
systematic  in  his  work  and  was  determined 
in  carrying  out  his  plans.  His  opinions  were 
never  hastily  formed  in  regard  to  business 
matters,  but  when  once  reached  he  adhered 
to  them  closely.  A  man  of  resourceful  busi- 
ness ability,  he  readily  recognized,  appreci- 
ated and  utilized  them  for  the  benefit  of  his 
own  business  career.  Moreover,  in  all  of  his 
transactions  he  was  strictly  fair  and  honor- 
able and  was  never  known  to  take  advantage 
of  his  fellow  men  in  any  dealing.  His.  word 
became  a  synonym  ofr  integrity,  and  he  en- 
joyed, to  an  unusual  degree,  the  confidence 
of  those  with  whom  he  was  brought  in  con- 
tact. About  the  time  of  the  organization  of 
the  Rank  of  Monticello,  he  became  one  of  its 
stockholders,  joining  the  banking  firm  which 
was  known  as  Houston,  Moore  &  Dighton. 

In  public  affairs  pertaining  to  the  general 
welfare,  Mr.  Dighton  was  deeply  and  actively 
interested,  and  he  served  as  supervisor  of 
Monficello  township  in  a  manner  which  rc- 
ilected  credit  upon  himself  and  was  satisfac- 
tory to  his  constituents.  His  political  alle- 
giance was  given  to  the  Democracy.  He 
passed  away  December  25,  1878,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  Mrs.  Dighton  continued  to 


reside  upon  the  old  homestead,  but  in  1899 
removed  to  the  city  of  Monticello,  where  she 
erected  a  substantial  frame  residence,  mod- 
ern in  all  of  its  appointmens.  There  she  is  liv- 
ing with  her  daughter,  Mary,  a  most  estima- 
ble young  lady,  who  was  educated  in  Monti- 
cello  Seminary  in  Godfrey,  Illinois.  The 
best  thoughts  and  efforts  of  Mr.  Dighton's 
life  were  wrought  into  Piatt  county's  pros- 
perity. He  was  the  friend  of  education,  of 
justice  and  of  the  elements  that  prove  of  ben- 
efit to  mankind.  Though  his  early  educa- 
tion was  meager,  yet  he  achieved  for  himself 
broad  learning,  and  his  continuous  interest 
in  every  great  question  of  the  age  made  him 
a  man  of  profound  thought  and  scholarly  at- 
tainments. The  strong  qualities  which  made 
him  useful  in  one  locality  would  have  insured 
his  eminence  anywhere.  Though  never  a 
seeker  for  political  honors  he  exerted, 
through  his  wide  acquaintance,  an  influence 
exceeding  that  of  many  whose  names  are  fa- 
miliar in  public  affairs.  He  was  honored  and 
respected  throughout  Piatt  county,  and  his 
life  record,  indeed,  furnishes  an  example 
worthy  of  careful  study. 


JAMES  OLSON. 

Prominent  among  the  agriculturists  of 
Piatt  county  is  James  Olson,  who  cultivates 
a  farm  on  section  25,  Goose  Creek  township. 
He  has  resided  in  the  county  since  1884,  and 
has  by  his  upright  life  secured  the  esteem 
and  respect  of  his  home  community. 

Mr.  Olson  was  born  in  Sweden  on  the 
I3th  of  August,  1842,  and  is  the  son  of  Ola 
and  Annie  ( Person)  Jonsson,  who  were  well- 
to-do  farmers  in  the  old  country,  and  passed 
their  entire  lives  there,  the  father  dying  at  the 


PI  ATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


485 


advanced  age  of  eighty-nine,  April  8,  1903, 
the  mother  having  passed  to  her  rest  several 
years  previously,  May  5,  1894,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one.  The  children  born  to  them  were  : 
James,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John, 
farmer  of  Goose  Creek  township,  residing  on 
section  26:  Betsy,  the  wife  of  Peter  Nelson, 
of  Helsingborg,  Sweden ;  Kate,  wife  of 
Charles  Seaburg,  of  Weldon,  Illinois;  Peter 
A.,  contractor,  living  in  Chicago;  and  Han- 
nah, who  is  the  wife  of  P.  Johnson,  a  mer- 
chant of  Helsingborg,  Sweden. 

James  Olson  was  carefully  trained  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  country,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-nine  came  to  America.  He 
located  first  in  Menard  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  worked  on  farms  by  the  month  for 
some  two  years.  He. then  rented  a  farm  near 
Farmer  City  in  DeWitt  county,  which  he  cul- 
tivated for  one  year,  thence  to  Piatt  county, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  rented  farms 
for  several  years,  but  by  thrift  and  economy 
was  finally  enabled  in  1884  to  purchase 
eighty  acres  of  the  farm  which  he  now  culti- 
vates, and  where  he  has  continued  to  labor 
successfully.  He  has  added  to  his  original 
purchase  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  and  is  now  in  possession  of  one  of  the 
most  productive  farms  in  the  county.  At  the 
time  of  its  purchase,  it  was  much  run  down 
on  account  of  the  fact  that  it  had  been  rented 
for  many  years.  Under  the  careful  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Olson  and  at  a  large  expense, 
the  farm  has  been  put  in  splendid  condition, 
he  having  tiled  it  thoroughly,  and  in  1896 
erected  a  handsome  modern  farm  residence 
and  the  following  year  a  commodious  and 
well-appointed  barn.  At  various  times  he 
has  set  out  new  orchards,  and  has  improved 
his  fencing  with  the  best  quality  of  wire, 
fence,  has  sunk  several  deep  wells,  over  which 
he  has  placed  windmills,  and  in  many  ways 


has  .-hewn  that  he  is  an  up-to-date,  progress- 
ive farmer. 

In  the  year  1875  he  led  to  the  altar  Miss 
Christina  Johnson,  who  has  borne  him  three 
children  :  Oscar,  the  eldest  son,  is  one  of  the 
progressive  young  farmers  of  Goose  Creek 
township,  cultivating  a  farm  of  his  own,  but 
still  residing  at  home.  The  second  son, 
Charles,  also  owns  an  eighty-acre  farm  near 
by,  \\hile  Edgar,  the  youngest,  has  marked 
out  for  himself  a  career  as  a  physician  in  the 
new  line  of  osteopathy,  and  is  at  present  at 
the  famous  school  of  Kirksville,  Missouri. 

During  his  residence  in  the  county  Mr. 
Olson  has  evinced  a  good  citizen's  interest 
in  public  matters,  having  been  for  the  past 
fourteen  years  a  member  of  the  local  school 
board,  and  for  the  past  four  years  has  been 
road  overseer  of  his  community.  He  and  his 
wife  are  consistent  members  o'f  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee  and 
steward.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest 
and  active  members,  and  are  always  found 
at  the  head  of  any  movement  which  looks  to 
the  advancement  of  the  Master's  kingdom. 
The  political  affiliation  of  Mr.  Olson  lies 
with  the  Republican  party,  though  the  casting 
of  his  vote  on  election  day  constitutes  the  ex- 
tent of  his  interest  in  politics.  Mr.  Olson  is 
in  many  respects  a  model  citizen  and  well 
deserves  mention  in  these  memoirs  of  Piatt 
county's  representative  citizens. 


DAVID    H.    PRINE. 

This  prominent  and  representative  farm- 
er cultivates  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  for- 
ty acres  on  section  15,  Goose  Creek  town- 
ship, where  he  has  resided  for  some  years. 
He  is  a  Buckeye  by  birth,  born  in  Pickaway 


486 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


county,  Ohio,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1856.  His 
father,  Albert  Prine,  was  also  a  native  of 
Pickaway  county,  and  died  when  David  was 
but  three  years  of  age.  His  mother  was 
Xancy  Robinson,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1830,  and  is  now  an  inmate  of  our  subject's 
home.  After  the  death  of  her  first  husband, 
she  went  to  live  with  her  father,  David  Rob- 
inson, with  whom  she  came  to  Piatt  county 
in  1 86 1.  where  she  later  married  Robert  Du- 
Vall.  To  the  first  marriage  three  children 
were  bcrn,  David  being  the  only  one  living. 
To  the  second  marriage  were  born  :  Maggie, 
now  the  wife  of  James  Perkins,  a  farmer  of 
Goose  Creek  township :  Isabel,  who  resides 
at  Monticello.  the  wife  of  John  Fitzwater; 
and  Xannie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Fitz- 
water, a  farmer  of  Monticello  township. 

David  H.  Prine  passed  the  early  years 
of  his  life  in  Ohio,  where  he  received  a  good 
common-school  education.  Upon  his  remov- 
al to  Illinois,  he  was  placed  in  the  home  of  a 
Mr.  Watson  until  the  date  of  his  mother's 
second  marriage,  after  which  he  lived  in  her 
home.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  DuVall,  the 
mother  became  an  inmate  of  our  subject's 
home,  where  she  has  since  been  tenderly 
cared  for.  Mr.  Prine's  own  home  life  be- 
gan in  1895.  when  he  was  happily  joined  in 
marriage  to  Annie  May,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Perkins.  Their  children  are :  Edna 
Amy,  six  years  old;  Charles  H.,  four  years 
old:  and  Homer  O.,  one  year  old. 

The  first  purchase  of  land  made  by  our 
subject  was  an  eighty-acre  tract  adjoining 
his  present  farm,  and  which  he  now  culti- 
vates in  connection  with  the  farm  which  came 
to  him  through  his  mother.  He  has  also  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  acres  in  Mississippi,  as  an  investment. 
Mr.  Prine's  home  farm  is  a  model  of  neat- 
ness and  thrift.  It  is  thoroughly  tiled,  and 


ever\'  fence  and  building  on  the  place  shows 
the  master  hand  of  one  who  understands  ag- 
riculture in  its  higher  lines.  He  has  placed 
upon  the  farm  several  new  orchards  and 
many  fine  shade  trees,  and  is  engaged  largely 
in  fattening,  shorthorn  cattle  and  hogs  for 
the  general  market. 

Mr.  Prine  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  society  about  him.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  and  is  a  thorough  be- 
liever in  the  fraternal  principles,  being  a 
member  of  DeLancl  Camp  of  Modern  Wood- 
men and  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  In  religious 
belief  he  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  God, 
his  wife  holding  membership  with  the  United 
Presbyterians. 


DAVID  H.  DAWSON. 

Not  all  who  seek  success  win  it.  Some 
fail  because  of  a  lack  of  persistency  of  pur- 
pose, others  because  of  unfitness  for  the 
work  which  they  undertake,  but  the  man  who 
chooses  wisely  his  calling  and  labors  persist- 
ently therein  may  always  gain  the  compe- 
tence for  which  he  strives.  David  H.  Daw- 
son  is  among  the  prosperous  men  of  Piatt 
county,  and  after  long  years  of  active  and 
honorable  connection  with  agricultural  inter- 
ests he  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Bement. 
The  story  of  the  pioneer  experiences  in  this 
section  of  the  state  is  familiar  to  him  for  his 
residence  here  dates  from  a  very  early  day. 
He  is  a  native  of  Sussex  county.  Delaware, 
bcrn  on  the  4th  of  July,  1824,  his  parents  be- 
ing Zachariah  and  Mary  ( Beacham)  Daw- 
son.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Delaware 
and  the  mother's  birth  also  occurred  in  that 
state.  The  Dawson  family  is  of  Scotch  de- 
scent. The  maternal  grandmother  of  our 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


487 


subject  was  Celia  Beacham,  who  lived  to 
the  extreme  old  age  of  one  hundred  and  ten 
years,  and  the  grandfather  also  lived  to  be 
about  as  old. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  his  active  business  life  carried  on  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  After  coming  to  the  west 
he  also  owned  and  operated  a  flouring  mill 
at  Winchester,  Illinois.  He  arrived  in  this 
state  in  1834,  locating  in  Scott  county  and 
there  he  carried  on  business  for  a  number  of 
years,  but  the  mill  was  eventually  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  he  did  not  rebuild  it.  In  his  life 
history  there  is  also  a  chapter  of  military  ex- 
perience, for  he  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1812,  joining  the  army  as  a  private  in  defense 
of  American  interests  in  our  second  war  with 
Great  Britain.  His  political  support  was 
given  the  Whig  party  until  the  organization 
of  the  new  Republican  party,  when  he  joined 
its  ranks  and  continued  to  follow  its  banner 
until  called  to  his  final  rest.  In  business  he 
was  successful  and  honorable  in  citizenship, 
was  loyal  and  public  spirited,  and  to  the  du- 
ties of  his  family  and  friendship  he  was  most 
faithful.  He  passed  away  in  Winchester, 
Scott  county,  Illinois,  when  about  eighty- 
eight  years  of  age  and  the  mother  of  our 
subject  survived  for  several  years.  -She  was 
born  in  Delaware,  living  there  until  her  re- 
moval to  Illinois  with  her  husband  in  1834. 
Called  to  the  home  beyond,  her  remains  were 
interred  by  his  side  in  the  Winchester  ceme- 
tery. This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, and  the  eldest  brother  of  our  subject  is 
Jesse  Dawson,  who  is  now  eighty-eight  years 
of  age. 

David  H.  Dawson  and  his  brothers  early 
became  familiar  with  the  arduous  task  of  de- 
veloping new  land,  for  they  cleared  the  tim- 
ber from  four  hundred  acres  in  Scott  county. 


The}-  were  reared  in  one  of  the  old  log  cabins 
with  its  primitive  furnishings  and  pioneer 
surroundings,  and  David  H.  Dawson  ob- 
tained his  education  in  a  log  schoolhouse 
with  greased  paper  windows  and  slab  seats. 
The  children  were  clothed  in  homespun  gar- 
ments, and  the  shoes  for  the  family  were  pur- 
chased of  a  traveling  shoemaker  who  visited 
the  homes  once  each  year,  and  made  the 
shoes  for  the  different  members  of  the  family. 
Tallow  dips  were  used  in  lighting  the  house 
and  the  fires  were  started  by  striking  sparks 
with  flint.  Each  Sunday  the  family  walked 
six  or  seven  miles  to  church.  The  farm  wag- 
on owned  by  the  family  was  but  a  two- 
wheeled  cart,  all  made  of  wood,  having 
•neither  tires  or  iron  in  any  part  of  its  con- 
struction. All  grain  was  cut  with  the  old 
time  cradle  and  scythe,  and  farm  work  was 
carried  on  in  a  manner  which  seems  very 
primitive  compared  with  our  modern  pro- 
gressive methods.  Mr.  Dawson  of  this  re- 
view has  witnessed  almost  the  entire  develop- 
ment and  improvement  of  Scott  and  Piatt 
counties,  and  has  seen  the  progress  made  in 
all  lines  of  business  activity.  In  the  fall  of 
1854  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Piatt  county, 
first  settling  in  the  edge  of  the  timber  in  Wil- 
low Branch  township.  The  prairie'  land  at 
that  time  was  completely  covered  with  water 
during  the  rainy  season,  and  was  considered 
unfit  for  cultivation,  but  draining  and  tiling 
has  made  the  tract  very  rich  and  productive. 
There  was  good  fishing  in  all  the  streams 
around,  and  deer  and  other  wild  game  was 
to  be  had  in  abundance.  There  were  many 
prairie  wolves  and  evidences  of  frontier  life 
were  seen  in  every  direction.  The  nearest 
neighbor  to  the  Dawson  family  lived  six 
miles  away,  but  hospitality  in  those  days 
reigned  supreme,  and  the  latch-string  always 
hung-  out. 

Air.  Dawson  first  purchased  a  half  sec- 


488 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


tion  of  land  in  Bement  township,  but  after  a 
few  years  had  passed  he  sold  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  retaining  the  other  quarter 
section,  which  he  still  owns.  The  purchase 
price  was  seven  and  one-half  dollars  per  acre 
and  he  paid  one  hundred  and  'fifty  dollars 
down,  having  seven  years  in  which  to  pay 
the  balance.  He  broke  his  land  with  five 
yoke  of  oxen,  and  purchased  all  his  farming 
implements  on  credit  from  the  agent  who  had 
sold  him  the  land.  Building  a  house  on  his 
land  he  soon  afterward  put  up  a  barn  and  in 
due  course  of  time  developed  an  excellent 
home  for  himself  and  family.  In  1874  he  re- 
placed his  first  residence  by  a  large  brick 
house,  one  of  the  substantial  and  attractive 
•homes  of  the  county.  He  has  also  placed 
many  rods  of  tiling  upon  the  farm,  paying 
out  altogether  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  this 
way.  He  has  erected  a  large  barn  and,  in 
fact,  his  is  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the 
county.  He  continued  its  active  cultivation 
until  February  1884,  when  he  left  the  farm 
and  purchased  a  home  in  the  village  of  Be- 
ment, where  he  has  since  resided,  leading  a 
retired'life. 

Mr.  Dawson  has  been  twice  married.  He 
first  wedded  Caroline  Malissa  Elliott,  who 
is  now  deceased.  They  became  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  in- 
fancy, while  six  are  still  living,  namely : 
Belle,  who  married  Joseph  Medaris,  of  Be- 
ment, by  whom  she  has  three  children ; 
George,  who  wedded  Emma  Ragland  and 
resides  in  Missouri ;  Clara,  who  is  the  wife  of 
E.  Deatheridge,  of  St.  Louis;  William  Zeb, 
who  is  married  and  resides  near  St.  Louis, 
where  he  is  in  the  railroad  service;  Kate,  at 
home ;  and  Frank  E.,  who  is  living  in  Louisi- 
ana. For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Dawson  chose 
Mrs.  Ella  (Holderman)  Madden,  who,  in  her 
earlv  life  was  a  successful  school-teacher. 


Mr.  Dawson  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  and  his  life  has  ever 
been  in  harmony  with  his  profession.  He 
has  contributed  liberally  to  the  church  as  he 
has  prospered  in  his  work.  He  now  makes 
his  home  in  Bement  and  owns  several  village 
lots  besides  his  valuable  farm  property.  Dur- 
ing long  years  he  has  witnessed  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  section  of  the  state, 
and  has  borne  an  active  and  helpful  part  in 
the  work  of  improvement.  He  certainly  de- 
serves to  be  mentioned  among  the  honored 
pioneers,  and  his  life  history,  if  written  in 
detail,  would  present  a  faithful  picture  of  the 
early  conditions  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
He  has  now '  almost  reached  the  eightieth 
milestone  on  life's  journey  and  because  of  his 
fidelity  to  principle,  his  honor  and  integrity 
in  all  life's  relations,  he  can  look  back  over 
the  past  without  regret.  He  now  receives 
the  veneration  and  respect  which  should  have 
ever  been  accorded  to  one  who  has  lived  up- 
rightly and  has  reached  an  advanced  age. 


JOHN  OLSON. 

John  Olson  is  another  member  of  the 
family  elsewhere  spoken  of  under  the  sketch 
of  his  brother  James.  He  is  one  of  the  stir- 
ring citizens  of  Goose  Creek  township,  culti- 
vating a  large  farm  on  section  26.  He  was 
born  in  Sweden,  June  3,  1845.  His  educa- 
tion was  such  as  could  be  secured  in  the  local 
schools  of  his  home  community,  after  which 
he  dutifully  helped  his  parents  on  the  home 
farm  until  he  was  twTenty-five  years  of  age. 
He  preceded  the  coming  of  James  to  Menard 
county,  Illinois,  by  a  year,  and  as  in  his  case, 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  the  first  few 
years.  He  finally  rented  a  farm  of  two  hun- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


489 


dred  and  eighty  acres  on  the  line  between 
Piatt  and  DeWitt  counties,  but  after  pro- 
ducing one  crop  came  over  into  Piatt  county, 
where  he  rented  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  near  Mansfield,  and  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  for  four  years.  By  close 
economy  he  had  by  this  time  saved  enough 
to  purchase  the  first  forty  acres  of  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  resides,  and  for  which  he 
paid  thirty  dollars  per  acre.  He  later  at  dif- 
ferent times  added  an  eighty  and  a  forty  to 
the  original  purchase.  He  is  also  the  owner 
of  a  quarter  section  in  Greene  county,  Iowa, 
which  he  purchased  in  1901.  .The  original 
purchase  of  his  home  farm  was  largely  of 
wild  land,  and  Mr.  Olson  has  gone  through 
the  usual  trials  of  the  pioneer  farmer  in 
bringing  order  out  of  chaos.  The  farm  has 
at  present  over  two  thousand  rods  of  tile 
and  is  well  ditched,  making  it  one  of  the  good 
farms  of  the  county.  In  1892  he  erected  a 
handsome  new  residence  and  later  added  a 
large  barn.  The  farm  is  equipped  with  sev- 
eral good  wells  _  with  the  usual  windmill 
pump,  several  fine  orchards  and  many  hand- 
some shade  trees,  and  the  entire  place  is  un- 
der good  wire  fence.  Mr.  Olson  gives  spe- 
cial attention  to  the  breeding  of  cattle  for 
the  market  and  is  also  specially  engaged  in 
the  raising  of  thoroughbred  horses. 

The  married  life  of  Mr.  Olson  was  initi- 
ated in  1873,  when  on  the  25th  of  Septem- 
ber he  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Nellie  Poulson. 
To  them  have  been  born  children  as  follows : 
Philip,  the  eldest  son,  married  Bessie  Wed- 
dle,  and  is  a  farmer  living  near  Paton,  Iowa ; 
Alma  became  the  wife  of  Herman  Melvin, 
a  school-teacher  residing  near  Weldon,  Illi- 
nois; Annie  was  educated  at  Normal,  Illi- 
nois, and  is  now  one  of  the  successful  school- 
teachers of  the  county,  her  last  school  having 
been  taught  at  Stringtown;  Florence  was 


also  educated  at  Normal  and  is  a  successful 
teacher  in  the  county  schools;  Clark,  the 
youngest  child,  is  a  sturdy  farm  lad  aiding 
his  father  at  home. 

Mr.  Olson  and  his  family  are  highly  re- 
garded in  the  social  circles  of  Piatt  county. 
In  political  belief  he  ascribes  to  the  tenets 
laid  down  in  the  Republican  platform  and 
has  served  his  community  in  several  of  the 
unpaid  local  offices,  having  been  on  the 
township  board  for  the  past  two  years, 
school  director  of  his  district,  and  for  seven 
years  has  been  drainage  commissioner  of 
district  L,  Goose  Creek  township.  His  re- 
ligious affiliations  lie  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  and  his  fam- 
ily are  active  members  and  in  which  he  is  a 
trustee. 

The  hope  of  the  Republic  is  in  its  well- 
ordered  homes.  The  early  inculcation  of  a 
love  for  home  intensifies  the  spirit  of  patriot- 
ism in  later  life  and  cements  the  bond  which 
exists  between  people  and  country.  This 
principle  is  exemplified  in  the  homes  of  M. 
James  and  John  Olson,  whose  citizenship 
has  always  been  of  the  highest  character 
and  received  the  deserved  enconiums  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  neighbors. 


FRED  W.   KEEL,   D.   D.   S. 

Dr.  Fred  W.  Keel,  who  for  the  past  five 
years  has  successfully  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  dentistry  at  Monticello,  is  a  native  of 
Illinois,  born  in  Marion  county,  September 
9,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  Ambrose  and  Mary 
Jane  (Connaway)  Keel,  who  are  natives  of 
Illinois  and  Indiana,  respectively.  For  some 
time  the  father  was  engaged  in  farming  in 
Marion  county,  this  state,  but  when  our  sub- 


490 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


ject  was  seven  years  of  age  he  removed  to 
DeWitt  county,  locating  near  Weldon,  where 
the  family  spent  one  year.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  they  came  to  Piatt  county  and  Mr. 
Keel  is  now  residing  in  Cerro  Gordo  town- 
ship. He  had  eight  children,  of  whom  six 
are  still  living. 

During  his  boyhood  Dr.  Keel  received  a 
good  common-school  education,  and  later  en- 
tered the  Western  Dental  College,  at  Kan- 
sas City,  where  he  was  a  student  in  1896, 
1897  and  1898,  graduating  in  the  latter  year 
with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  S.  Soon  after  his 
graduation  he  opened  an  office  in  Monticello, 
where  he  has  since  engaged  in  practice  with 
good  success,  having  already  secured  a  good 
patronage. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1899,  Dr.  Keel 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Delta  M. 
Parsons,  of  DeLand,  Illinois,  a  daughter  of 
Clay  Parsons,  now  a  resident  of  Missouri. 
Having  lost  her  mother  when  quite  small, 
she  went  to  live  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seymour 
Marquiss,  of  DeLand,  and  made  her  home 
with  them  from  the  age  of  seven  years  until 
her  marriage.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have 
a  little  son,  Harold  Marquiss,  born  August 
26.  1901.  They  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and,  fraternally,  the  Doctor 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Dental 
Society.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. To  some  extent  he  has  become  in- 
terested in  the  real  estate  business,  dealing  in 
northwestern  lands  mostly,  but  given  his  at- 
tention principally  to  his  professional  duties. 


T.    J.    KIZER. 

If  those  who  claim  that  fortune  has  fa- 
vored certain  individuals  above  others  will 


but  investigate  the  cause  of  success  and  fail- 
ure it  will  be  found  that  the  former  is  largely 
due  to  the  improvement  of  opportunity,  the 
latter  to  the  neglect  of  it.  Fortunate  envi- 
ronments encompass  nearly  every  man  at 
seme  stage  of  his  career,  but  the  strong  man 
and  the  successful  man  is  he  who  realizes 
that  the  proper  moment  has  come,  that  the 
present  and  not  the  future  holds  his  oppor- 
tunity. The  man  who  makes  use  of  the  Xow 
and  not  the  To  Be  is  the  one  who  passes  on 
the  highway  of  life  others  who,  perhaps, 
started  out  ahead  of  him.  It  is  this  quality 
in  Mr.  Kizer  that  has  gained  him  an  enviable 
position  in  the  business  world  and  made  him 
widely  known  as  a  grain  dealer  of  Ham- 
mond, Illinois,  and  also  as  the  president  of 
the  State  Bank  here.  He  is  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him  in  both  finan- 
cial and  commercial  circles,  and  he  is  justly 
accounted  the  leading  citizen  of  the  village 
where  he  has  made  his  home  for  over  thirty 
years. 

Mr.  Kizer  is  a  native  §f  Macon  county, 
Illinois,  his  birth  having  occurred  near  De- 
catur  on  the  iith  of  June.  1847,  h's  parents 
being  John  S.  and  Lydia  (Davis)  Kizer,  the 
former  a  native  of  Ohio  and -the  latter  of 
Kentucky.  The  father  resided  in  Ohio  until 
1835,  when  he  came  to  the  west,  settling  in 
Sangamon  county,  Illinois.  There  he  en- 
gaged in  carpentering  until  1846,  at  which 
time  he  removed  to  Macon  county,  where  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  again  carried 
on  general  agricultural  pursuits.  He  made 
farming  and  carpentering  his  life  work,  but 
in  1888  retired  from  business  and  lived  in 
Decatur  until  his  death,  enjoying  a  well-mer- 
ited rest.  His  life  was  ever  honorable  and 
upright,  busy  and  useful,  and  the  sterling 
traits  of  his  character  won  fer  him  the  un- 
qualified regard  and  confidence  of  those  with 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


491 


whom  he  associated.  He  passed  away  on 
the  loth  of  April,  1903,  at  the  very  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-seven  years,  and  his 
widow  now  resides  in  Decatur,  making  her 
home  with  her  children.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kizer  were  born  nine  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  yet  living,  five  being  residents  of  Macon 
county,  two  of  Hammond,  and  one  of  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois. 

.Mr.  Kizer  received  only  a  common- 
school  education,  attending  in  Macon  coun- 
ty. In  his  youth  he  remained  at  home,  and 
through  the  months  of  summer  he  assisted 
his  father  in  the  operation  of  a  farm,  early 
becoming  familiar  with  the  duties  and  labors 
that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  In 
December,  1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Eliza  Adams,  a  sister  of  Dr.  Adams, 
of  the  Wesleyan  University,  and  a  daughter 
of  Christopher  B.  Adams,  who  was  a 
farmer,  spending  the  greater  part  of  "his 
life  in  Macon  county,  where  his  death 
eventually  occurred.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kizer  were  born  two  children :  Ethel,  who 
was  born  on  the  i6th  of  March,  1878,  is  now 
the  wife  of  F.  E.  Benard,  who  is  engaged  in 
general  merchandising  in  Hammond,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Glenn  P.  Loren  P.,  born 
June  2,  1880,  resides  in  Decatur,  where  he 
is  connected  with  the  Weare  Grain  Company. 

Mr.  Kizer  came  to  Hammond  in  June, 
1873,  and  embarked  in  the  lumber  trade. 
Four  years  later  he  also  entered  the  grain 
trade,  conducting  both  enterprises  with  good 
success  until  1885.  In  that  year  he  sold  out 
the  lumber  business,  but  continued  operations 
in  the  grain  trade,  which  has  since  claimed 
considerable  of  his  time  and  attention.  He 
now  owns  two  large  grain  elevators  in  Ham- 
mond, with  a  capacity  of  forty  thousand 
bushels,  and  is  carrying  on  the  grain  business 
on  a  more  extensive  scale  than  any  other  man 

23 


in  the  southern  part  of  Piat.t  county.  He 
ships  largely  to  Cincinnati,  Indianapolis  and 
St.  Louis,  makes  judicious  purchases  and 
profitable  sales,  and  in  the  control  of  his  busi- 
ness has  met  with  creditable  and  gratifying 
success.  When  the  State  Bank  of  Hammond 
was  organized  John  Dighton  was  made  its 
first  president,  but  in  January,  1902,  Mr. 
Kizer  succeeded  him,  and  has  since  acted  in 
that  capacity.  The  bank  is  capitalized  for 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  and  a  general 
banking  business  is  carried  on  along  lines 
which  have  won  for  the  institution  a  most  en- 
viable reputation  for  reliability. 

In  matters  of  citizenshp  Mr.  Kizer  is  also 
progressive,  and  for  twenty  years  he  served 
as  school  treasurer.  He  gives  his  political 
support  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  never 
fails  to  cast  his  ballot  for  its  men  and  meas- 
ures. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Ham- 
mond, of  which  he  is  now  serving  as  trustee, 
steward,  treasurer  and  recording  secretary. 
He  takes  much  interest  in  church  work,  put- 
ting forth  e\;ery  effort  in  his  power  to  extend 
the  influence  of  the  church  and  promote  its 
permanent  growth.  He  thoroughly  enjoys 
home  life  and  takes  great  pleasure  in  the  so- 
ciety of  his  family  and  friends.  He  is  always 
courteous,  kindly  and  affable,  and  those  who 
know  him  personally  have  for  him  warm  re- 
gard. A  man  of  great  natural  ability,  his 
success  in  business,  from  the  beginning  of  his 
residence  in  Piatt  county,  was  uniform  and 
rapid.  As  has  been  truly  remarked,  after 
all  that  may  be  done  for  a  man  in  the  way  of 
giving  him  early  opportunities  for  obtaining 
the  requirements  which  are  sought  in  the 
schools  and  in  books,  he  must  essentially 
formulate,  determine  and  give  shape  to  his 
own  character;  and  this  is  what  Mr.  Kizer 
has  done.  He  has  persevered  in  the  pursuit 


492 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


of  a  persistent  purpose  and  gained  the  most 
satisfactory  reward.  His  life  is  exemplary 
in  all  respects,  and  he  has  ever  supported 
those  interests  which  are  calculated  to  uplift 
and  benefit  humanity,  while  his  own  high 
moral  worth  is  deserving  of  the  highest  com- 
mendation. 


MRS.    PERMELIA    E.    STAATS. 

Mrs.  Permelia  E.  Staats,  widow  of  John 
P.  Staats,  makes  her  home  on.  section  3, 
Willow  Branch  township,  where  she  owns 
a  fine,  well-improved  farm.  She  is  a  native 
of  Illinois,  having  been  born  two  miles  and 
a  half  from  Lincoln  in  Logan  county,  this 
state,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Musick,  who  were  old  settlers  of  that  locality 
and  were  of  German  descent.  Her  father 
was  engaged  in  farming  in  Logan  county 
for  many  years,  and  there  Mrs.  Staats  was 
reared  and  educated,  remaining  under  the 
parental  roof  until  her  marriage,  which  was 
celebrated  on  the  2d  of  March,  1871. 

Her  husband,  John  P.  Staats,  was  born 
May  23,  1841,  in  Clifton,  West  Virginia, 
near  the  Ohio  line,  and  was  also  of  German 
lineage.  His  parents,  Isaac  and  Elizabeth 
Staats,  were  lifelong  resident  of  West  Vir- 
ginia. He  was  only  three  years  old  when 
his.  mother  died,  and  his  father  passed  away 
five  years  later.  Thus  he  was  left  an  orphan 
at  the  early  age  of  eight  years,  and  his  edu- 
cational advantages  were  consequently  lim- 
ited. For  some  time  he  made  his  home  with 
a  family  by  the  name  of  Coleman,  in  West 
Virginia,  and  was  forced  to  work  when  only 
a  small  boy.  His  sympathies  being  with 
the  south  he  served  for  three  years  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Confederate  army  during  the 


Civil  war,  and  when  hostilities  ceased  in 
1865,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Lo- 
gan county,  where  he  had  sisters  living  at 
that  time.  For  one  year  he  rented  the  farm 
of  Levi  Musick — his  brother-in-law — and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  bought  a  tract  of  land 
near  what  is  now  the  home  place  in  Piatt 
county.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he 
sold  that  and  bought  a  portion  of  the  present 
farm,  to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time  as 
his  financial  resources  increased,  until  at  the 
time  of  his  death  his  landed  estate  consisted 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  rich 
and  arable  land.  Mr.  Staats  began  life  in 
this  state  with  no  capital,  and  when  he  made 
his  first  purchase  he  had  but  one  hundred 
dollars.  He  was,  however,  a  very  energetic 
enterprising  and  industrious  man,  who  made 
the  most  of  his  advantages,  and  through  his 
own  unaided  efforts  was  able  to  leave  his 
family  in  comfortable  circumstances.  He 
converted  the  wild  .prairie  and  swamp  land 
into  well-tilled  fields,  tiling,  fencing  and 
breaking  the  land,  and  making  many  sub- 
stantial improvements  thereon. 

On  the  1 5th  of  October,  1896,  Mrs. 
Staats  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of 
her  husband.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
faithful  and  consistent  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he 
was  an  elder,  and  he  was  a  man  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Three  of  his  sisters  are  still  living,  namely : 
Cynthia,  wife  of  A.  Blake,  a  resident  of  Fish- 
er, Illinois;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Musick.  who 
makes  her  home  near  Lincoln,  Illinois;  and 
Rebecca,  wife  of  David  Atwell,  of  Mon- 
mouth,  Illinois. 

The  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Staats  are  as  follows :  Alma,  wife  of  Joseph 
Rainey,  of  Willow  Branch  township;  Mary 
F.,  wife  of  Hiram  Starkey,  who  lives  near 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


493 


the  home  place;  John  R.,  a  resident  of  Nor- 
cross,  Minnesota ;  Cynthia  I.,  wife  of  Louis 
Kreker,  of  Willow  Branch  township;  Edith 
E.,  John  D.  and  Raymond,  all  three  at  home 
with  their  mother.  Mrs.  Staats  operates  the 
farm  with  the  assistance  of  her  sons,  and 
in  the  management  of  her  business  affairs 
has  met  with  good  success.  Two  years  ago, 
however,  she  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  her 
house  by  fire,  but  promptly  rebuilt,  erecting 
a  more  modern  and  attractive  residence, 
which  is  now  the  home  of  the  family.  They 
are  active  members  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian church  and  are  people  of  promi- 
nence in  the  community  where  they  reside, 
their  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  be- 
ing extensive. 


JOHN  BLACKER. 

John  Blacker  is  a  retired  farmer,  now  liv- 
ing at  DeLand.  He  was  born  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  November  20,  1834.  He  can 
trace  his  ancestry  back  through  several  gen- 
erations to  his  great-grandfather,  Lucas 
Blacker,  wTho  was  born  in  Germany  and  be- 
came the  founder  of  the  family  in  America. 
It  is  believed  that  he  was  married  in  this 
country  and  that  his  wife  was  a  native  of 
Ireland.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject 
emigrated  to  Virginia  in  his  early  days,  and 
later  took  up  his  abode  in  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio.  He  married  Clarissa  Payne,  who  was 
of  Scotch  descent. 

Our  subject's  father,  Augustus  Blacker, 
was  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  born  August 
28.  1810,  and  in  that  state  he  resided  until 
he  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
removed  to  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and  se- 
cured work  as  a  farm  hand.  He  was  em- 


ployed in  that  way  until  1839,  when  he  rent- 
ed a  tract  of  land  and  began  farming  on  his 
own  account.  In  the  meantime  he  had  mar- 
ried, having  wedded  Miss  Aner  Madden,  a 
daughter  of  Major  and  Elizabeth  (Miller) 
Madden,  the  latter  of  German  descent.  The 
Major  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  while  his  wife 
went  from  Delaware  to  the  Buckeye  state. 
For  many  years  Augustus  Blacker  continued 
to  engage  in  farming  in  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  following  that  pursuit  there  until  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  August, 
1855.  His  widow  still  survives  him  and 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  eldest  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Frank  Hott,  in  Monticello.  She 
was  born  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and  is 
now  in  her  ninety-first  year. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blacker  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  John  is  the  eldest. 
The  others  are  Elizabeth,  who  was  born 
April  7,  1836,  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and 
is  the  wife  of  F.  M.  Hott,  of  Monticello; 
James  Madison,  who  was  born  in  Ross  coun- 
ty, January  15,  1838,  and  is  now  living  re- 
tired upon  his  farm  near  White  Heath ;  Jo- 
seph, who  was  born  in  Ross  county,  April 
10,  1839,  and  is  a  retired  farmer  of  Monti- 
cello;  William,  who  was  born  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  December  13,  1840,  and  is  liv- 
ing retired  in  Monticello;  Mary  Jane,  who 
was  born  in  Kosciusko  county,  Indiana,  in 
1842,  and  died  in  early  childhood;  Rebecca, 
who  was  born  in  Kosciusko  county  in  1844, 
and  died  in  infancy;  Francis  Marion,  who 
was  born  in  Kosciusko  county,  March  13, 
1845.  and  is  now  following  the  carpenter's 
trade  near  White  Heath;  Helen  V.,  who  was 
torn  October  19,  1847,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Harvey  Camp,  a  resident  of  Lincoln,  Logan 
county,  Illinois ;  Levi,  who  was  born  April  5, 
1851,  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  re- 
tired farmer  living  in  Shelby  county,  Illi- 


494 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


nois;  and  Cynthia  Jane,  \vho  was  born  in 
Pickaway  county,  March  27,  1854,  and  is  the 
\vife  of  John  Firnish,  a  farmer  of  White 
Heath,  Piatt  county.  Of  this  family  James, 
Joseph  and  Wrilliam  were  all  soldiers  of  the 
Civil  war,  who  valiantly  fought  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  Union. 

John  Blacker,  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  was  educated  in  Kosciusko  county, 
Indiana,  pursuing  his  studies  in  a  log  school- 
house,  in  which  was  a  puncheon  floor.  The 
seats  were  made  of  slabs  and  there  was  an 
immense  fireplace  in  one  end  of  the  room  ca- 
pable of  accommodating  a  very  large  back 
log.  He  afterward  continued  his  studies  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  but  all  the  schools 
were  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan  and 
he  had  little  opportunity  to  attend,  because 
his  parents  were  in  limited  financial  circum- 
stances and  his  labors  were  needed  to  assist 
in  support  of  the  family.  He  had  the  privi- 
lege of  pursuing  his  studies,  however,  to 
some  extent  in  the  winter  months,  while  dur- 
ing the  summer  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
until  about  1857.  He  then  worked  with  his 
father  on  the  home  place  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  was  married  and  made  preparations 
for  having  a  home  of  his  own. 

It  was  in  September,  1859,  that  Mr. 
Blacker  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  Orrison,  of  Circleville,  Ohio,  at  which 
time  he  rented  a  tract  of  land  in  Pickaway 
county,  where  he  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  two  seasons.  He  then  came  to  Piatt 
county,  where  he  has  since  lived.  Unto  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Frank  Douglass,  who  is  a  farmer  of 
Sangamon  township,  Piatt  county ;  Matilda, 
the  wife  of  Lewis  Robinson,  a  farmer  near 
DeLand  in  Goose  Creek,  township ;  Mary, 
who  died  on  a  farm  in  Monticello  township 
in  her  twentieth  year ;  Cynthia,  who  died  in 


infancy;  Henry  C,  a  resident  farmer  of  Be- 
ment  township;  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
a  year  and  a  half ;  Marcus,  who  died  when 
but  two  years  of  age;  Arthur,  who  is  now 
carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  Monti- 
cello  township ;  Jasper  Augustus,  who  is  also 
a  farmer  of  Monticello  township ;  Charles 
Clarence,  who  is  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the 
soil  in  Goose  Creek  township;  and  Lena 
Myrtle,  the  wife  of  Ora  Stiverson,  who  is 
living  in  Goose  Creek  township. 

The  mother  of  these  children  has  been 
called  to  her  final  rest,  and  Mr.  Blacker  is 
now  living  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Ora  Sti- 
verson. He  has  put  aside  business  cares  and 
is  now  enjoying  a  well-merited  rest.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  well-known  and  active 
agriculturist  of  Piatt  county.  He  came  here 
at  an  early  day  and  undertook  the  task  of  de- 
veloping a  farm.  He  is  a  man  who  carries 
forward  to  successful  completion  whatever 
he  undertakes,  and  in  the  control  of  his  busi- 
ness affairs  he  won  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence. In  all  his  dealings  he  was  strictly 
honorable  and  straightforward,  and  those 
with  whom  he  was  associated  respect  him 
for  his  genuine  worth  and  unfaltering  integ- 
rity. His  life  has  been  in  constant  harmony 
with  manly  principles  and  wherever  he  has 
lived  he  has  won  the  good  will  and  confidence 
of  those  whom  he  has  met.  His  political  sup- 
port is  given  to  the  Democratic  party. 


MRS.   JACOB   E.    ANDREWS. 

In  a  pleasant  home  in  the  village  of  Cisco 
live  Mrs.  Jacob  E.  Andrews  and  her  two 
sons,  Hanson  and  Harmon.  The  young 
men  are  proprietors  of  the  Cisco  Press,  a 
weekly  newspaper  which  they  purchased  in 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


495 


1902,  and  which  they  are  rapidly  making  a 
power  in  their  local  community. 

The  salient  points  in  the  history  of  the 
Andrews  family  are  as  follows :  Airs.  An- 
drews was  born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio. 
March  25,  1844,  the  daughter  of  H.  S.  and 
Charlotte  (Martin)  Coonrod.  The  Coonrods 
were  of  German  descent,  the  Martins  being 
traced  to  New  Jersey.  The  father,  H.  S., 
was  brought  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in  his 
mother's  arms  on  horseback  long  before  the 
days  of  wagon  roads,  this  occurring  about 
the  year  1815.  The  father  of  the  family  died 
shortly  after  removing  to  Ohio,  and  H.  S. 
was  reared  by  the  widowed  mother.  He  was 
given  a  fair  education  and  remained  at  home 
until  his  majority.  He  had  previously  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  the  old  homestead  and 
there  in  1842  began  his  married  life.  The 
family  remained  in  Ohio  until  1856,  thence 
removing  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  where  they 
located  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Allerton 
farm.  Six  years  later  purchase  was  made  of 
a  farm  three  miles  northeast  of  Cisco,  where 
the  family  resided  until  1882.  Mr.  Coonrod 
was  a  stock-buyer  and,  circumstances  mak- 
ing it  desirable  to  locate  in  Missouri,  a  farm 
was  purchased  in  that  state  near  Nevada. 
Later  the  family  removed  to  Iowa  and  were 
residents  of  Gushing  at  the  time  of  the  fa- 
ther's death,  December  6,  1899,  the  mother 
having  died  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  in  1875. 
Five  children  constituted  the  family — J.  H., 
now  a  resident  of  Flandreau,  South  Dakota;- 
J.  B.,  of  Rock  Rapids,  Iowa ;  Lavinia,  wife 
of  Jasper  Chandler,  Gushing,  Iowa;  Fran- 
ces, now  Airs.  George  Dawson,  of  Monticel- 
lo,  Illinois ;  and  Sophronia.  now  Mrs.  An- 
drews. 

Mrs.  Andrews  received  an  excellent  edu- 
caton,  finishing  in  Mount  Zion  Seminary,  fol- 
lowing which  she  taught  successfully  for  a 


period  of  five  years  in  the  schools  of  Piatt 
county.  Jacob  E.  Andrews,  of  Kendallville, 
Indiana,  had  come  west  from  the  Hoosier 
state  and  soon  found  an  attraction  of  irre- 
sistible quality  in  the  fair  Piatt  county 
schoolma'am.  Their  marriage  was  celebrat- 
ed on  the  2gth  of  December,  1870.  Mr.  An- 
drews was  a  son  of  J.  E.  and  Elizabeth 
(Coonrod)  Andrews,  and  was  a  gentleman 
of  many  noble  traits  of  character.  He  took 
his  bride  to  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  two  and 
one-half  miles  northeast  of  Cisco,  where  the 
first  six  years  of  their  married  life  were 
spent.  Prior  to  the  purchase  of  the  present 
home  the  family  passed  three  years  in  the 
cultivation  of  a  Champaign  county  farm, 
The  years  passed  happily  away  until  the  3d 
of  September,  1894,  when  the  husband  and 
father  was  taken  away,  leaving  the  wife  and 
three  sons  to  mourn  his  death.  The  children 
living  are  Hanson,  Harmon  and  Chester. 
The  last  named  is  now  engaged  in  the  sheep 
business  in  North  Dakota.  Three  others  are 
deceased — Grace  M.,  Claud  Abbie,  and  Les- 
ter. The  father  of  these  children  was  one 
of  the  gallant  defenders  of  the  Union  in  the 
dark  days  of  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted 
first  in  the  hundred-day  service  and  later  in 
Company  B,  Twenty-second  Indiana  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  He  served  faithfully  in  the 
ranks,  his  honorable  discharge  dating  July 
24,  1865,  at  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

The  two  boys,  Hanson  W.,  aged  twenty- 
seven,  and  Harmon  R.,  seven  years  his  broth- 
er's junior,  are  still  inmates  of  their  mother's 
home,  to  whom  they  yield  a  loving  fidelity. 
Their  present  business  enterprise  is  the  re- 
sult of  their  own  efforts.  The  paper  had  not 
been  a  paying  venture  under  its  former  own- 
er, and  it  has  tested  the  metal  of  the  boys  to 
place  it  on  its  present  prosperous  basis.  But 
the  powers  that  be  always  help  those  that 


496 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


help  themselves,  and  with  a  continuance  of 
past  energetic  effort  and  good  judgment  in 
business  management  the  future  of  the  Press 
is  assured.  Both  they  and  their  gentle 
mother  have  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  all 
to  whom  they  are  known. 


MAJOR  LAWSON  S.   KILBORN. 

No  history  of  Piatt  county  would  be  com- 
plete without  mention  of  Major  Lawson  S. 
Kilborn,  for  he  is  a  self-made  man,  an  hon- 
ored veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and,  moreover, 
was  formerly  connected  in  a  prominent  man- 
ner for  many  years  with  the  educational  in- 
terests of  this  section  of  the  state,  and  is  at 
present  a  representative  of  its  journalistic  in- 
terests. His  labors  have  in  many  ways 
touched  the  activities  of  the  world,  bearing 
upon  advancement  and  improvement,  and  to- 
day he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  representa- 
tive men  of  his  adopted  county. 

The  Major  is  a  native  of  Kingston,  Can- 
ada West,  his  birth  having  there  occurred 
on  the  28th  of  December,  1835.  When  but 
an  infant,  however,  his  parents  removed  to 
the  Empire  state,  crossing  Lake  Ontario  to 
Monroe  county,  New  York,  when  the  Major 
was  but  six  weeks  old.  At  the  age  of  eleven 
the  father  died.  The  eldest  daughter  of  the 
household  married,  and  three  of  the  older 
brothers  had  gone  to  Indiana  to  seek  their 
fortunes,  the  family  at  home  then  consist- 
ing of  the  mother,  two  sisters,  an  elder 
brother  named  Hiram,  and  Lawson.  It  was 
arranged  that  the  Major  was  to  care  for  the 
home,  and  throughout  all  his  spare  time  was 
to  work  through  the  day  and  thus  supply  the 
table  of  the  family  while  Hiram,  who  could 
command  high  wages  as  a  farm  hand,  was  to 


spend  his  time  in  that  way  and  apply  his 
earnings  to  paying  for  a  home  on  which  he 
had  traded  the  family  horse  as  a  first  pay- 
ment. Major  Kilborn's  first  act  as  he  started 
upon  this  independent  career  was  to  go  in 
debt  for  a  sack  of  flour,  but  the  strength  of 
character  of  the  boy  was  shown  by  the 
promptness  with  which  he. discharged  this 
obligation,  and  it  also  foreshadowed  the  cor- 
rect business  methods  which  he  has  ever  fol- 
lowed. He  has  never  allowed  himself  to  be- 
come burdened  by  debt  and  has  ever  met 
every  trust  reposed  in  him.  Through  the 
summer  months  Major  Kilborn  continued 
to  work,  and  in  the  winter  months  attended 
school,  his  time  being  thus  passed  until  his 
seventeenth  year,  when  it  was  decided  to  sell 
the  home,  the  members  of  the  household  be- 
ing disposed  of  in  the  following  manner. 
The  two  youngest  children  were  to  spend  a 
year  in  a  near-by  academy,  and  the  mother 
was  to  visit  through  the  winter  with  a  mar- 
ried daughter,  while  Hiram  was  to  go  to  In- 
diana, there  to  be  joined  by  the  others  of  the 
family  in  the  following  spring.  Thus  it  was 
that  Major  Kilborn  and  his  sister  Emma  be- 
came students  in  Riga  Academy  in  the  town 
of  Riga,  New  York,  through  the  winter  of 
1852-3.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he  came  to 
the  west  in  company  with  his  mother  and  his 
eldest  sister  and  her  family,  her  husband 
having  gone  to  Indiana  the  previous  year 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Hiram  Kilborn. 

On  reaching  Lafayette,  Indiana,  Lawson 
Kilborn  began  working  for  his  brothers,  who- 
\\ere  engaged  in  carpentering  in  that  city, 
but  soon  he  became  connected  with  the  edu- 
cational interests  of  the  west.  In  the  winter 
following  his  arrival  he  was  employed  to 
teach  in  an  old  log  schoolhouse  about  seven 
miles  from  Lafayette.  The  school  was  con- 
ducted on  the  subscription  plan,  and  he 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


497 


realized  about  ten  dollars  per  month  from 
his  labors.  For  some  time  thereafter  he  con- 
tinued his  work  as  an  educator,  his  third 
term  of  school-teaching  being  spent  at  Lin- 
den, Montgomery  county,  Indiana.  It  was 
during  that  time  that  the  Major  was  mar- 
ried, the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Sa- 
mantha  Aydelott,  a  daughter  of  a  fanner  liv- 
ing near  Linden.  In  the  spring  of  1860  Ma- 
jor Kilborn  secured  the  position  of  principal 
of  the  Central  school  of  Lafayette,  and 
proved  there  a  most  capable  and  successful 
educator,  winning  popular  favor  and  accept- 
ably serving  until  the  spring  of  1862.  The 
country,  however,  was  then  engaged  in  civil 
war,  and  he  felt  a  strong  desire  to  join  the 
army.  When  at  length  he  left  for  the  field 
there  devolved  upon  his  wife  the  care  of  their 
little  children,  the  youngest  of  whom  was 
only  a  month  old.  It  was  with  regret  that  he 
left  his  family,  although  he  so  much  wanted 
to  serve  his  country,  but  when  speaking  on 
the  subject  to  his  wife,  she  replied :  "I  know 
how  you  feel,  and  if  I  were  a  man  I  should 
go.  I  and  the  little  ones  will  be  taken  care 
of,  never  fear."  This  response  decided  him 
at  once,  and  he  set  about  recruiting  a  com- 
pany in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Dr.  J.  B.  Johnson.  In  about  a  month's  time 
the  company  was  raised  and  mustered  in 
with  the  Seventy-second  Indiana  Regiment, 
with  Dr.  Johnson  as  captain,  H.  B.  Wilson, 
first  lieutenant,  and  L.  S.  Kilborn,  second 
lieutenant.  He  took  a  very  active  part  in 
Indianapolis  the  Doctor  was  promoted  to 
the  medical  deparment,  Mr.  Wilson  became 
captain,  and  Mr.  Kilborn  was  then  made  first 
lieutenant.  He  took  a  very  active  part  in 
many  important  military  movements  with  his 
regiment.  When  his  captain's  health  failed 
and  he  resigned  his  command  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  .Mr.  Kilborn  was  given  the  vacant  po- 


sition as  commander  of  the  company,  and 
just  before  the  army  moved  he  was  detailed 
to  command  the  pioneers  of  the  brigade. 
This  cut  him  off  from  active  participation  in 
the  movements  on  the  battlefield  and  there- 
fore was  not  pleasing  to  him,  but  as  Colonel 
Wilder  said  that  he  had  only  one  other  man 
in  the  brigade  who  could  get  as  much  work 
out  of  men  as  Captain  Kilborn,  and  as  that 
man  could  not  be  spared  for  the  position  Cap- 
tain Kilborn  was  compelled  to  remain  in  that 
service  for  a  time. 

However,  after  the  capture  of  Gurley, 
he  was  relieved  of  the  command  of  pio- 
neers by  General  Crook  and  was  detailed 
to  command  scouts  to  be  attached  to  the 
general  headquarters.  In  that  position  Ma- 
jor Kilborn  accompanied  General  William 
S.  Smith  on  his  raid  along  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  Railroad  to  West  Point  and  Columbus, 
Mississippi,  and  was  thus  often  engaged  in 
severe  and  perilous  service.-  A  part  of  the 
Seventy-second  Regiment  together  with  Ma- 
jor Kilborn's  scouts  were  all  of  the  Wilder 
Brigade  that  went  on  this  expedition.  Cap- 
tain Kilborn  was  promoted  to  the  majority 
of  his  regiment  November  9,  1864,  and 
served  with  credit  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  went  with  General  Wilson  on  his  famous 
raid  through  Alabama  and  Georgia,  result- 
ing in  the  capture  of  Selma  and  Montgom- 
ery in  Alabama,  of  Columbus  and  Macon  in 
Georgia.  From  the  latter  place  the  com- 
mand was  ordered  home  and  the  Seventy- 
second  was  mustered  out  in  June,  1865. 

While  Major  Kilborn  was  in  the  field 
faithfully  performing  his  duty  to  his  coun- 
try, and  doing  everything  possible  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  his  wife  was 
caring  for  their  little  family  at  home,  and 
by  her  economy  and  industry  she  had  bought 
a  house  and  lot  in  the  village  of  Ladoga,  In- 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


cliana,  and  had  almost  completed  the  pay- 
ments thereon.  After  the  Major's  return 
they  traded  this  property  for  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  in  Shelby  county,  Illinois,  and 
removed  there  in  the  fall  of  1895.  The  fol- 
lowing year  they  went  to  Marion  county, 
Illinois,  and  as  Major  Kilborn  had  not  pros- 
pered in  his  agricultural  pursuits  he  again 
became  connected  with  educational  work  as 
principal  of  a  graded  school.  Through 
many  years  he  continued  to  follow  the  pro- 
fession and  won  high  standing  among  its 
representatives  in  this  section  of  Illinois.  He 
was  principal  of  the  schools  of  Marshall.  Il- 
linois, for  seven  years,  and  his  name  was 
prominently  mentioned  as  a  candidate  for 
superintendent  of  public  instruction  at  the 
Prohibition  convention  at  Bloomington,  in 
1882.  In  the  schoolroom  he  closely  studied 
the  needs  and  requirement  of  the  situations 
and  planned  for  the  furtherance  of  the 
schools  and  the  permanent  improvement  of 
the  educational  systems  of  the  various  local- 
ities in  which  he  was  located.  His  own  zeal 
in  the  work  inspired  the  teachers  who  came 
under  his  guidance  and  he  won  for  himself 
a  prominent  position  in  educational  circles. 

In  1900  Major  Kilborn  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Monticello,  and  here  he  is  now  well 
known  as  a  representative  of  journalistic 
interests,  being  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  L.  S.  Kilborn  &  Son,  editors  and  pro- 
prietors of  the  Monticello  Pilot,  which  he 
publishes  in  the  interests  of  the  Republican 
party.  It  is  a  bright  entertaining  journal 
and  its  editorials  from  the  pen  of  Major 
Kilborn  show  comprehensive  understanding 
of  the  questions  which  affect  the  state  and 
national  welfare.  He  has  always  been  a  flu- 
ent and  ready  writer,  a  master  of  the  art  of 
rhetoric,  and  yet  one  whose  language  is  but 
the  adornment  for  keen  thought  and  decis- 


ive logic.  His  life  has  been  all  that  is  exem- 
plary of  the  unright  and  therefore  truly  great 
citizen.  He  has  favored  progress,  reform 
and  improvement,  and  has  labored  as  earn- 
estly for  the  welfare  of  his  country  in  times 
of  peace  as  when  he  followed  the  starry  ban- 
ner of  the  nation  upon  the  battlefields  of  the 
south. 


CHARLES  EDWARD  ENGLAND. 

Charles  E.  England,  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive and  successful  agriculturists  of 
Piatt  county,  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm 
of  several  hundred  acres  in  Goose  Creek 
township,  and  his  management  of  the  estate 
is  marked  by  the  scientific  knowledge  and 
skill  which  characterize  the  modern  farmer. 
A  native  of  this  county,  he  was  born  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Goose  Creek  township,  on  the  9th  of 
April,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  A.  T.  and  Har- 
riet (Plunk)  England.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  Rev.  John  England,  a  minister 
of  the  Christian  church,  who  was  engaged 
in  preaching  the  gospel  through  this  section 
of  the  state  for  many  years,  his  home  being 
in  Sangamon  and  Logan  counties  most  of 
the  time.  He  was  also  a  mechanic  and  fol- 
lowed farming  to  some  extent. 

A.  T.  England,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  'but 
was  principally  reared  in  Logan  county, 
whither  his  parents  removed  when  he  was 
quite  young.  He  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  throughout  his  active 
business  life  successfully  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Monti- 
cello,  Piatt  county.  He  was  married  in  1865. 

Mr.  England,  of  this  review,  attended 
first  the  public  schools  of  Monticello,  and 
later  became  a  student  at  the  State  Univer- 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


499 


sity  at  Champaign,  where  he  remained  for 
two  years.  His  school  life  being  ended  in 
1884,  he  returned  home  and  on  attaining 
his  majority,  began  life  for  himself  by  oper- 
ating a  farm  which  was  formerly  owned 
by  his  father.  He  has  since  devoted  his 
time  and  energies  almost  exclusively  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  has  made  his  home  in 
the  neighborhood  where  he  now  resides.  In 
his  undertakings  he  has  met  with  remarka- 
ble success  and  his  landed  estate  now 
amounts  to  eleven  hundred  and  twenty-six 
acres,  all  in  Goose  Creek  township.  His  crops 
consist  principally  of  corn,  oats  and  hay, 
and  he  is  also  engaged  in  the  feeding  of 
stock  for  market,  shipping  from  three  to 
four  carloads  of  hogs  each  year.  He  also 
raises  some  very  nice  colts  for  the  market. 
Mr.  England's  home  is  a  beautiful  place, 
his  splendid  residence  being  well  and  taste- 
fully furnished.  The  farm  buildings  are  neat 
and  substantial  and  a  beautiful  grove  near 
the  house  adds  to  its  attractive  appearance. 
There  are  also  fine  orchards  and  many  kinds 
of  small  fruit  on  the  place,  the  land  is  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  in  fact  it  is 
one  of  the  model  farms  of  the  locality.  Mr. 
England  is  a  stockholder  and  vice  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  DeLand,  and 
is  a  man  of  marked  business  and  executive 
ability. 

In  1893  ne  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Esta  M.  Fitzwater,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  four  children,  namely :  Leland, 
now  eight  years  of  age;  Helen,  five;  Dor- 
othy, three;  and  Herbert,  a  year  and  a  half. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  England  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  he  is  also  iden- 
tified with  the  Blue  lodge  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  at  DeLand,  and  the  Twentieth 
Century  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the 
same  place.  By  his  ballot  he  supports  the 


men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs, 
giving  his  support  to  every  enterprise  for  the 
public  good,  and  materially  aiding  in  the  ad- 
vancement of  all  social,  educational  and 
moral  interests. 


JOHN    F.    McGINNIS. 

John  F.  McGinnis,  who  is  successfully 
engaged  in  the  operation  of  a  nice  farm  on 
section  10,  Willow  Branch  township,  Piatt 
county,  was  torn  on  the  5th  of  March,  1857, 
in  Owen  county,  Indiana,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  H.  and  Marinda  (Hinkle)  McGinnis. 
The  father  was  also  a  native  of  that  state, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated  in  much 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys  of  his  time, 
and  he  made  his  home  with  his  parents, 
Elisha  and  Amelia  Abigail  McGinnis,  until 
grown.  They  were  originally  from  Ken- 
tucky and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  our  sub- 
ject's great-grandparents  having  come  to  this 
country  from  the  north  of  Ireland. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1851,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  John  H.  McGinnis 
and  Miss  Marinda  Hinkle  and  to  them  were 
born  ten  children,  as  follows:  Amelia  A., 
now  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Bales,  a  farmer  of  De- 
Witt  county,  Illinois ;  Emily  Jane,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years ;  Elisha,  who  died 
in  1896;  John  F.,  of  this  review;  James  H., 
who  died  August  n,  1888;  Jesse  B.,  who 
died  May  23,  1893,  leaving  a  wife  and  three 
children;  George  R.,  who  died  March  5. 
1901,  leaving  a  wife  and  five  children; 
Thomas  Lee,  who  is  married  and  is  engaged 
in  the  draying  business  in  Cisco;  Emory  S., 
a  farmer  of  Cisco;  Charles  P..  who  died  Jan- 
uary 21,  1891. 


;co 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


After  his  marriage  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject continued  to  reside  in  Indiana  until 
1868,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located 
two  miles  west  of  Weldon  in  DeWitt  county, 
where  he  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing quite  successfully  for  some  time.  Later 
he  removed  to  the  farm  on  which  his  son 
now  resides,  and  in  1881  purchased  the 
place  which  was  then  known  as  the  William 
Coleman  farm  and  consisted  of  seventy- 
eight  acres.  He  erected  thereon  new  build- 
ings, fenced  and  tiled  the  land,  and  made 
many  other  substantial  improvements.  At  an 
early  day  he  raised  considerable  wheat,  but 
for  the  past  twenty  years  there  has  been  very 
little  of  that  grain  produced  in  Piatt  county, 
corn  and  oats  being  the  principal  crops  at  the 
present  time.  Mr.  McGinnis  died  on  the  7th 
of  January,  1895,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
July  19,  1898,  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  them.  They  left  many  friends, 
as  well  as  their  immediate  family,  to  mourn 
their  loss,  for  they  were  widely  and  favora- 
bly known. 

John  F.  McGinnis  began  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Indiana,  and  after 
coming  to  Illinois  at  the  age  of  eleven  years 
he  continued  to  attend  school  here  during 
the  winter  season  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. In  the  meantime  he  also  gained  an  ex- 
cellent knowledge  of  all  kinds  of  farm  work, 
and  to-day  successfully  operates  the  old 
home  farm.  He  gives  considerable  atten- 
tion to  stock-raising  and  usually  raises  about 
a  carload  of  hogs  each  year.  He  never  left 
the  parental  roof,  and  after  the  death  of  his 
father  he  took  entire  charge  of  the  farm,  and 
since  his  mother  passed  away  he  has  also 
managed  the  household  affairs.  He  has 
made  many  improvements  on  the  place, 
and  to-day  has  a  fine  bearing  orchard 
of  one  hundred  trees  and  all  kinds  of  small 


fruits.  Politically,  Mr.  McGinnis  is  a 
stanch  Democrat,  and  for  fifteen  years  has 
most  efficiently  filled  the  office  of  school  di- 
rector, being  clerk  of  the  board  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  educa- 
tional affairs  and  gives  his  support  to  all 
measure  which  he  believes  will  prove  of  pub- 
lic benefit. 


ELIJAH    CAMPBELL. 

Elijah  Campbell,  who  resides  on  section 
33,  Goose  Creek  township,  owns  and  operates 
a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
pleasantly  located  two  miles  north  of  De- 
Land,  its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  plainly 
indicating  his  careful  supervision.  Substan- 
tial improvements  are  surrounded  by  well 
tilled  fields,  and  all  the  accessories  and  con- 
veniences of  a  model  farm  are  there  found. 

A  native  of  the  neighboring  state  of  In- 
diana, Mr.  Campbell  was  born  in  Clark  coun- 
ty, July  7,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Turner  and 
Isabel  (Hinthorn)  Campbell.  The  father 
was  born  in  Ireland,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and 
trie  mother  was  of  Irish  descent.  Through- 
out life  Turner  Campbell  followed  farming 
and  died  in  Indiana  in  1844.  Four  years 
later  his  widow  became  the  wife  of  John 
Loudenback,  of  Kentucky,  and  after  residing 
in  Indiana  for  a  few  years,  they  removed  to 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  making  their  home 
there  until  1888,  when  they  went  to  How- 
ard county,  Missouri,  settling  near  Mob- 
erly,  where  Mrs.  Loudenback  died  about 
1892. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  one  of  a  family  of  nine 
children,  who  in  order  of  birth  were  as  fol- 
lows:  Isaiah  died  in  Indiana;  William  died 
in  Missouri  in  1899;  John  died  in  Indiana, 
leaving  a  wife  and  three  children,  Francis 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


Marion,  Elizabeth  and  John  Floyd;  Oliver 
died  when  alxnit  twenty-two  years  of  age; 
Isaac  married  Jane  Ailman,  a  daughter  of 
John  Ailman,  of  Canton,  Illinois,  and  with 
his  wife  and  children  is  now  living  on  a  farm 
near  Wyoming,  Illinois.  Alexander,  who 
was  single,  disappeared  from  a  farm  near 
Canton,  Illinois,  about  fifteen  years  ago, 
when  forty-five  years  of  age,  and  has  never 
been  heard  from  since ;  Turner  died  of  ty- 
phoid fever  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  ; 
Elijah  is  the  next  of  the  family;  and  Sarah 
married  Michael  Phalen  and  died  in  Mis- 
souri about  1863,  leaving  three  children.  Her 
husband  has  since  married  again. 

Elijah  Campbell  obtained  his  early  edu- 
cation in  an  old-fashioned  log  schoolhouse 
in  Indiana,  with  its  puncheon  floor,  hewed 
seats  and  a  fireplace  large  enough  to  hold  a 
six-foot  log.  He  attended  school  only 
through  the  winter  season,  while  through 
the  summer  months  he  worked  on  the  home 
farm  from  sunrise  until  sundown.  The 
school  also  lasted  all  day  and  through  the 
noon  hours  the  boys  cut  wood,  meeting  on 
Saturdays  to  haul  it  to  the  building  with  ox 
teams. 

In  1863  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Campbell  and  Miss  Sarah  Elizabeth 
Carter,  of  Lewiston,  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
where  her  parents,  Jackson  and  Harriet  Jane 
(  Riley)  Carter,  made -their  home.  She  is  the 
oldest  in  their  family  of  seven  children,  the 
others  being  Atha,  wife  of  James  O'Brien, 
a  farmer  of  Fulton  county;  Eldora,  wife  of 
H.  D.  Porter,  a  grain-dealer  of  DeLand; 
Everett,  also  a  farmer  of  Fulton  county; 
Almecla,  deceased  wife  of  Jacob  Miller,  a 
farmer ;  Ouincy,  who  is  engaged  in  the  lum- 
ber business  at  Sidell.  Illinois,  and  Jessie 
wife  of  John  Wertman.  a  farmer  of  Fulton 
county. 


Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  have  been 
born  twelve  children :  Hattie  Belle,  the  old- 
est, was  married  in  1886  to  Thomas  Wise- 
garver,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Aubra. 
Cora  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Huddleston,  of 
Webster  City,  Iowa.  Atha  is  the  wife  of 
Luther  Cox,  a  member  of  the  mercantile 
firm  of  Gantz'&  Cox,  of  DeLand.  Lillian 
is  the  wife  of  George  Galliver,  of  Bagdad, 
Santa  Rosa  county,  Florida.  Both  are  phy- 
sicians and  are  graduates  of  the  Harvey 
Medical  College  of  Chicago.  Wynona  is  the 
wife  of  Smith  Wisegarver,  a  farmer  of.  Piatt 
county.  Pearl  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Hag- 
gard, also  a  farmer  of  this  county.  Ray- 
mond R.  was  recently  graduated  at  Lorn-' 
bard  College,  Galesburg,  Illinois,  with  the 
highest  honors,  being  three  points  higher 
than  any  other  graduate  there  during  the 
forty-eight  years  of  the  existence  of  the  col- 
lege. He  has  taught  in  a  training  school  in 
Chicago,  and  by  teaching  earned  the  money 
with  which  to  pay  his  way  through  college 
and  meet  all  his  expenses  while  there.  He  is 
a  young  man  of  marked  ability  and  deserves 
great  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished. 
At  present  he  is  in  Chicago,  undecided  as 
to  what  he  will  devote  his  time  in  the  future. 
Turner  Jackson,  the  next  of  the  family,  ma- 
ried  Jennie  Armstrong,  a  daughter  of  Leon- 
ard Armstrong,  and  at  present  is  engaged 
in  draying  in  DeLand,  though  he  previously 
followed  farming  in  this  county.  Canova 
died  in  infancy.  Caddie  is  the  wife  of  Oscar 
Moody,  who  follows  farming  near  DeLand ; 
Wave  and  De  Forest  are  both  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Campbell  rented 
a  farm  in  Fulton  county  for  two  years,  and 
in  its  cultivation  was  fairly  successful.  He 
then  came  to  Piatt  county  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he  operated  for 


502 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


two  years,  and  on  disposing  of  that  he  pur- 
chased another  tract  here.  Since  then  he  has 
bought  and  sold  a  number  of  places,  usually 
making  money  on  the  transaction,  and  finally 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  33,  Goose  Creek 
township.  His  crops  are  principally  corn 
and  oats,  and  he  gives  considerable  attention 
to  the  breeding  of  pure  blooded  Ohio  Im- 
proved Chester  hogs,  which  are  considered 
a  superior  breed,  and  in  the  raising  of  which 
he  has  met  with  remarkable  success  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  usually  ships  from  eighty 
to  one  hundred  hogs  each  year,  and  as  those 
he  raises  are  among  the  best  to  be  found  on 
the  market,  they  command  the  highest 
prices.  He  may  well  take  a  just  pride  in  his 
success  in  this  enterprise.  He  also  feeds  some 
cattle  for  market.  His  farm  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  there  is  a  good  or- 
chard and  many  varieties  of  small  fruit  up- 
on it.  He  has  erected  a  new  house,  barn  and 
other  buildings,  and  everything  is  in  first- 
class  condition. 

Mr.  Campbell,  his  wife  and  all  his  chil- 
dren are  members  of  the  Christian  church 
of  DeLand,  and  for  thirty-two  years  he  has 
also  been  connected  with  the  Masonic  order, 
now  holding  membership  in  DeLand  Lodge, 
No.  812,  F.  &  A.  M.  The  Democratic  party 
has  always  found  in  him  a  stanch  supporter 
of  its  principles,  and  his  fellow  citizens 
recognizing  his  worth  and  ability  have  called 
upon  him  to  fill  several  local  offices,  the  du- 
ties of  which  he  has  most  capably  and  satis- 
factorily discharged.  He  was  road  commis- 
sioner one  term,  road  overseer  seven  years 
and  township  treasurer  twenty-two  years. 
He  is  still  filling  the  last  named  office,  and  is 
also  school  treasurer  of  his  township.  Up- 
right and  honorable  in  all  the  relations  of 
life,  he  well  merits  the  confidence  and  trust 
reposed  in  him. 


MALDEX   O.    CURRY. 

To  succeed  where  others  have  failed,  to 
advance  where  others  have  retrograded  indi- 
cates certainly  thorough  understanding  of 
the  business  in  which  one  is  engaged  together 
with  marked  capability,  close  application  and 
keen  sagacity.  Maiden  O.  Curry  in  1890 
became  proprietor  of  a  paper  in  Bement, 
which,  previous  to  this  time,  had  had  various 
proprietors  and  editors,  none  of  whom  had 
made  the  journal  a  paying  enterprise.  He 
brought  to  the  work  strong  determination, 
resolving  that  he  would  brook  no  obstacles 
that  could  be  overcome  by  honorable  and  de- 
termined effort.  He  is  now  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Bement  Register,  which  is  a 
weekly  newspaper,  and  the  only  one  pub- 
lished in  the  village. 

Mr.  Curry  was  born  in  Moultrie  county, 
Illinois,  March  16,  1866,  a  son  of  Thomas 
A.  and  Martha  A.  (Davis)  Curry.  The 
father  was  born  in  Kentucky  on  the  22d  of 
December,  1827,  and  in  an  early  day  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Moultrie  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  During  his 
residence  in  Moultrie  county  he  drove  cattle 
through  Piatt  county,  taking  them  to  market 
across  the  prairies.  There  were  then  no  rail- 
reads  through  this  part  of 'the  coihitry,  and 
but  a  few  settlers,  so  that  one  could  journey 
for  miles  without  coming  to  a  fence  or  other 
evidence  of  settlement  to  impede  progress. 
By  trade  he  was  a  cabinetmaker,  learning 
the  business  at  Sullivan,  Illinois.  He  fol- 
lowed the  pursuit  for  some  years  before  go- 
ing to  Missouri,  in  which  state  he  resided  for 
some  time.  Upon  his  return  to  Illinois  he  lo- 
cated in  Shelby  county,  where  he  is  yet 
living.  His 'political  support  is  given  to  the 
Democracy,  and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of 
the  Christian  church,  with  which  he  has  long 
held  membership.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


503 


maiden  name  of  Martha  A.  Davis,  was  born 
in  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  April  8,  1837, 
and  died  on  the  26th  of  August,  1900,  in 
Shelby  county,  Illinois.  She,  too,  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  was  a 
most  estimable  lady.  By  their  marriage 
September  4,  1855,  eight  children  were  born, 
live  of  whom  are  now  living,  but  Maiden  O. 
Curry  is  the  only  one  residing  in  Piatt 
county. 

Maiden  O.  Curry  spent  the  first  six  years 
of  his  life  in  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  and 
then  accompanied  his  parents  to  Missouri, 
where  they  resided  for  six  years,  returning 
then  to  this  state.  He  has  since  been  a  res- 
ident of  Illinois,  and  in  the  public  schools  of 
Shelby  county  he  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tion, pursuing  his  studies  there  until  fourteen 
years  of  age.  He  began  learning  his  trade  in 
1880  in  a  newspaper  office  in  the  village  of 
Stewardson,  Shelby  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  continued  for  several  years.  He  was  aft- 
erward employed  at  his  trarle  in  Effingham, 
Altamont,  Kinmundy,  Chicago,  Brazil,  In- 
diana, Bloomington,  Monticello,  Assumption 
and  Bement.  All  these  places  are  in  Illinois, 
with  the  exception  of  Brazil.  On  the  loth  of 
January,  1890,  he  became  editor  and  proprie- 
tor of  the  Bement  Register,  entering  into 
partnership  at  this  time  with  G.  A.  Burgess, 
of  Monticello,  under  the  firm  style  of  M.  O. 
Curry  &  Company.  Later  our  subject  formed 
a  partnership  with  C.  A.  Burks,  which  con- 
tinued for  three  years,  and  he  was  afterward 
with  F.  E.  Unholz  until  1895,  when  he  sold 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Unholz.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  Assumption  News  in  Christian 
county,  Illinois,  and  remained  there  until 
October,  1897,  when  he  returned  to  Bement 
and  again  became  owner  and  editor  of  the  Be- 
ment Register,  which  he  is  still  publishing. 
The  office  is  well  equipped  with  the  latest 


improved  machinery  needed  in  his  line,  and 
be- turns  out  a  high  grade  of  work  as  viewed 
from  the  printer's  standpoint. 

On  the  igth  o'f  November,  1886,  Mr. 
Curry  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  S. 
Olive  Patton,  who  was  born  in  Shelby  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  near  Shelbyville,  was  edu- 
cated in  that  county  and  taught  school  there 
for  several  terms.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curry 
are  devoted  and  active  members  of  the 
Christian  church  and  are  greatly  interested 
in  temperance  work,  doing  all  in  their  power 
to  suppress  the  evil  of  intoxication.  Mr. 
Curry  votes  with  the  Prohibition  party,  and 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Chris- 
tian Temperance  Union.  Unto  them  have 
been  born  four  children,  of  whom  two  are 
living :  Marvella  O.,  who  was  born  in  Chi- 
cago and  educated  in  Bement;  and  Lois  O., 
who  was  born  in  Assumption,  Illinois,  and  is 
now  seven  years  of  age.  The  other  two 
children  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Curry  holds 
membership  in  Bement  Lodge,  No.  199, 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Through  the  columns 
of  his  paper  he  advocates  every  measure 
which  he  believes  will  prove  of  permanent 
benefit  to  the  community. 


EVAN  STEVENSON. 

Evan  Stevenson  is  numbered  among 
Piatt  county's  native  sons  for  his  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  old  home  farm  in  Willow 
Branch  township,  September  3,  1872.  He  is 
the  only  son  of  Wilbur  F.  and  Alice  (Tall- 
man)  Stevenson,  who  are  mentioned  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work.  Back  to  a  pioneer 
epoch  in  the  history  of  Kentucky  can  the 
ancestry  be  traced,  and  his  pafernal  great- 
grandfather. Job  Stevenson,  was  not  only  a 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


leading  business  man  of  that  state,  but  was 
also  a  member  of  the  legislature  and  aided 
in  framing  the  early  policy  of  the  common- 
wealth. His  son,  Evan  Stevenson,  for 
whom  the  subject  of  this  review  was  named, 
became  well  known  in  political  circles  and 
was  equally  prominent  as  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  While  on  the 
maternal  side  Mr.  Stevenson  of  this  review- 
is  descended  from  John  Boggs,  his  grand- 
father, who  served  as  major  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  aided  in  laying  broad  and  deep 
the  foundation  for  the  present  development 
of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio'  being  one  of  its 
pioneer  settlers. 

Upon  the  home  farm  Evan  Stevenson 
was  reared  and  in  his  early  youth  he  attend- 
ed the  district  school  of  the  neighborhood. 
Later  he  continued  his  studies  in  the  Monti- 
cello  schools  and  subsequently  he  pursued 
a  collegiate  course  as  a  student  in  the  Mich- 
igan State  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michi- 
gan, where  he  remained  for  two  or  three 
years.  On  account  of  ill  health  he  was  obliged 
to  leave  school,  and  returning  home  he  be- 
came owner  of  the  Monticello  Bulletin,  but 
when  a  year  had  passed  he  severed  his  con- 
nection with  that  paper  and  in  1898  went  to 
Texas  with  the  hope  of  benefiting  his  health. 
At  that  time  the  Spanish-American  war  was 
in  progress  and  he  joined  a  volunteer  cav- 
alry company  which  was  used  in  patroling 
border,  remaining  in  the  service  four  months. 
The  state  militia  had  gone  to  Cuba  and  it 
was  rumored  that  an  attempt  might  be  made 
by  Mexican  adventurers  to  invade  Texas. 

Since  his  return  to  Piatt  county  Mr. 
Stevenson  has  taken  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tics. In  1900  he  was  nominated  by  the  De- 
mocracy as  a  candidate  for  state  senator,  but 
was  defeated  after  a  vigorous  campaign.  In 
1902,  however,  he  was  elected  to  the  lower 


house  of  the  general  assembly  of  Illinois, 
where  he  served  on  a  number  of  important 
committees.  Each  question  which  came  up 
for  settlement  received  his  close  considera- 
tion and  he  labored  in  behalf  of  many  im- 
provements which  he  believed  would  con- 
tribute to  the  general  good.  Particularly 
he  worked  for  liberal  appropriations  for  the 
University  of  Illinois,  which  is  located  in 
his  district.  -His  influence  and  efforts  have 
extended  beyond  the  confines  of  Illinois.  In 
1901  he  went  to  New  York  city  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  campaign  there  in  support 
of  Edward  M.  Shepherd,  the  Tammany 
nominee  for  mayor  of  New  York.  He  is  a 
fluent  and  forceful  speaker,  logical  in  his  ar- 
gument and  bases  his  statements  upon  fact 
as  shown  by  history  and  statistics.  He  never 
fails  to  entertain  an  audience  and  to  leave 
an  impression  upon  the  thinking  mind.  Mr. 
Stevenson  is  a  typical  American  citizen,  alive 
to  the  interests  and  questions  of  the  day,  and 
to  the  welfare  of  his  county,  state  and  na- 
tion. Although  yet  a  young  man,  his  work 
has  been  felt  in  political  circles  and  should 
he  continue  to  give  his  attention  to  political 
work  he  can  undoubtedly  win  success  and 
distinction  in  that  line.  His  fellow  towns- 
men respect  and  admire  him  for  what  he  has 
acomplished,  and  he  well  deserves  mention 
in  the  history  of  Piatt  county. 


AUGUST  OHLER. 

August  Ohler,  who  is  now  so  efficiently 
serving  as  supervisor  of  Unity  towship,  was 
born  on  the  28th  of  August,  1858,  in  Fred- 
erick county,  Maryland,  his  parents  being 
Jacob  and  Emeline  (Forney)  Ohler.  both  now 
deceased.  In  the  countv  of  his  nativity  he 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


505 


grew  to  manhood,  and  is  indebted  to  its  com- 
mon schools  for  the  educational  privileges 
he  enjoyed  during  his  boyhood  and  youth. 
He  remained  on  the  home  farm,  assisting 
in  its  operation  until  the  spring  of  1880, 
when  he  went  to  Decatur,  Illinois,  and  was 
there  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  tile  for 
four  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
came  to  Piatt  county  and  rented  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  23, 
Unity  township,  belonging  to  Charles  S. 
Traver,  of  Decatur.  This  place  he  has  since 
successfully  operated,  being  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming.  He  is  a  very  industrious  and 
energetic  man,  and  is  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1882,  Mr.  Ohl- 
er  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Christina 
VVinn,  of  Decatur,  who  was  born  in  Arkan- 
sas, and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  five 
children,  two  of  whom  died  when  about  sev- 
en years  of  age.  Those  living  are  Florence, 
now  the  wife  of  Morris  Broyles,  of  Ham- 
mond ;  and  Clarence  and  Roy,  both  at  home. 
The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  reside.  Mr.  Ohler  is  one 
of  the  leading  Republicans  of  Unity  town- 
ship, and  on  his  party  ticket  was  elected 
supervisor,  which  office  he  is  now  so  accept- 
ably filling. 


ERNEST   L.    CRONINGER. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  is  here  pre- 
sented belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  families 
of  the  county,  Mr.  Croninger's  grandfather. 
Peter  Croninger,  having  settled  on  the  farm 
upon  which  the  grandson  now  resides  in 
about  1840.  With  his  wife,  Cynthia,  he  had 
come  from  the  Buckeye  .state,  and  they  were 
of  German  descent.  They  built  the  usual 


log  cabin  and  started  in  to  subdue  nature's 
wilds.  With  the  patience  characteristic  of 
the  pioneer,  they  cleared  their  land,  and  year 
by  year  saw  the  result  of  their  efforts  in  the 
attempt  at  home  building  most  splendidly 
realized.  In  1868  they  had  so  prospered 
as  to  erect  one  of  the  best  homes  in  the  coun- 
ty, which  still  stands  a  monument  to  their 
energy.  It  is  of  brick,  burned  on  the  farm 
by  the  aid  of  neighbors,  and  stands  in  a  no- 
ble grove  of  shade  trees  well  back  from  the 
road.  Grandfather  Croninger  was  a  man  of 
remarkable  mold,  and  was  instrumental  in 
settling  the  high  standard  of  morals  which 
early  characterized  the  citizens  of  Piatt 
county.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  He  reared  but  one  son,  Mahlon 
Croninger,  who  was  born  in  this  cdunty.  In 
1868  he  married  a  daughter  of  James  Rhine- 
hart  and  to  them  four  children  were  born, 
as  follows:  Ernest  L.,  who  constitutes  the 
subject  of  this  review;  Charles  L.,  of  Deca- 
tur; Nellie  G.,  wife  of  Dr.  M.  Pategale,  of 
Cisco,  Illinois;  Braley  F.,  still  residing  on 
the  old  homestead,  which  he  helps  to  culti- 
vate. 

Ernest  L.  Croninger,  eldest  son  of  the 
family,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead, 
March  8,  1870.  He  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  in  Langley  school,  and 
later  attended  Brown's  Business  College.  He 
aided  his  father  in  his  large  farming  inter- 
ests until  1897,  when  he  became  interested 
with  his  father  and  others  in  a  banking  busi- 
ness at  Cisco,  he  acting  as  cashier  of  the  in- 
stitution. The  confinement  attendant  on 
such  employment,  however,  threatened  to  un- 
dermine his  health,  and  while  he  is  yet  cash- 
ier of  the  bank  and  assistant  attends  to  the 
more  arduous  duties.  At  his  father's  death 
our  subject  succeeded  to  his  interest  in  the 
bank.  In  addition  to  his  banking  interests 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Mr.  Croninger,  together  with  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  is  interested  in  a  large 
grain  elevator,  and  the  business  attendant 
to  it,  under  the  firm  name  of  Croninger  & 
Weilepp.  This  firm  carries  on  an  extensive 
business,  handling  nearly  all  the  grain  raised 
in  Piatt  county.  After  the  original  pur- 
chase of  land  by  the  grandfather,  different 
members  of  the  family  have  at  various  times 
added  to  the  domain,  until  at  the  present 
time  the  farm,  consists  of  two  thousand  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  all  of  which 
save  two  hundred  acres  of  wood  land,  is  un- 
der cultivation. 

Mr.  Croninger' is  a  gentleman  of  genial 
temperament  and  fine  social  qualities,  and 
it  is  not  strange  that  the  fraternal  idea  ap- 
peals to  him  with  such  force.  He  has  taken 
the  third  degree  in  the  noble  lodge  of  Ma- 
sons, is  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  an  Odd  Fellow, 
and  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star.  Politically,  Mr.  Croninger  supports 
the  principles  of  the  great  Jefferson,  and 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  supervi- 
sor of  Willow  Branch  township,  to  which 
he  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
Though  still  in  the  hey-day  of  youth,  our 
subject  has  fully  demonstated  his  fitness  to 
handle  any  trust  imposed  on  him  by  society, 
and  may  look  forward  with  confidence  to  a 
career  of  great  usefulness. 


JOHN  GARDINER. 

John  Gardiner,  living  on  section  20,  Blue 
Ridge  township,  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1844,  the  place  of  his  birth  being  County 
Antrim.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary  Ann 
(McKnight)  Gardiner,  were  also  natives  of 
County  Antrim,  where  the  mother  died. 


Crossing  the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world,  the 
father  spent  his  last  years  in  America.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years  and  the 
mother  reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  nine- 
ty-two years.  In  their  family  were  seven 
children,  who  attained  adult  age,  but  the  sub 
ject  of  this  review  is  the  only  one  now  resid- 
ing in  Piatt  county.  It  was  in  1867  that  the 
father  came  to  America  with  Andrew  and 
John,  and  located  in  Piatt  county,  where  he 
remained  until  called  to  the  home  beyond. 
John  Gardiner  spent  the  first  twenty- 
three  years  of  his  life  on  the  Emerald  Isle, 
no  event  of  special  importance  occuring  to 
vary  the  routine  of  life  for  him  in  his  youth. 
Work  and  play  fell  to  his  lot,  and  it  also  be- 
came his  duty  to  master  the  branches  of 
learning  taught  in  the  common  schools.  Aft- 
er reaching  years  of  maturity,  however,  he 
sailed  for  the  new  world,  taking  passage  at 
Londonderry,  Ireland,  upon  an  old-time 
steamer,  which  was  upon  the  water  for  some 
days.  At  length,  however,  he  landed  at 
Portland,  Maine,  and  by  way  of  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railroad  went  to  Chicago,  and  after- 
ward proceeded  to  Pittsfield,  Pike  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  spent  a  few  months.  He 
then  removed  to  Logan  county,  this  state, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years,  during 
which  time  he  was  employed  by  the  month 
as  a  farm  hand.  In  1869  he  arrived  in  Piatt 
county  where  he  worked  for  William  John- 
son, whose  daughter  he  afterward  married. 
Later  he  rented  a  farm  and  for  three  years 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  A.  J.  Langley.  Sub- 
sequently he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  of 
eighty  acres  and  locating  thereon,  at  once  be- 
gan its  improvement.  He  broke  the  prairie 
and  after  turning  the  sod  planted  crops 
which  in  due  course  of  time  yielded  good 
harvests.  He  also  built  a  house  and  im- 
proved that  property  in  many  ways.  After 


1'IATT    COUNTY,     ILLINOIS. 


5C7 


a  time  lie  sold  it  and  purchased  another 
tract  of  eighty  acres,  which  he  later  disposed 
of.  He  then  bought  the  one-hundred-and 
sixty-acre  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides, 
paying  for  this  thirty-seven  and  a  half  dol- 
lars per  acre.  He  has  since  added  to  its 
boundaries  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  so  that  he  now  has  in  one 
farm  a  valuable  tract  of  four  hundred  acres. 
His  attention  has  been  more  largely  given 
to  the  raising  of  grain  and  in  his  work  he 
has  met  with  very  creditable  and  gratifying 
success. 

In  1874  Mr.  Gardiner  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Teresa  Emily  Johnson,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Julia  Ann  John- 
son. Her  father  passed  away  many  years 
ago,  but  was  survived  for  some  time  by  his 
wife.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardiner  have 
been  born  eight  children  :  William  E. ;  An- 
drew ;  Mary  Ann;  one  who  died  in  infancy; 
Walter ;  Addie :  Ida  and  John. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardiner  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Mans- 
field, of  which  he  formerly  served  as  a  trus- 
tee, and  at  the  present  time  he  is  an  elder. 
He  takes  a  ^ep  interest  in  church  work,  do- 
ing all  in  hu  power  to  promote  the  growth 
of  the  church  :md  extend  its  influence.  His 
first  presidential  ballot  was  cast  for  General 
Grant,  and  he  has  since  voted  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  having  firm  faith  in  its  prin- 
ciples. He  has  also  served  as  school  director 
for  five  years  and  the  cause  of  education 
finds  in  him  a  stalwart  friend.  Landing  in 
this  country  without  capital,  he  has,  through 
his  persistency  of  purpose  and  untiring  ef- 
forts, steadily  worked  his  way  upward  until 
he  is  now  one  of  the  prosperous  agricultur- 
ists of  Piatt  county.  His  manner  is  genial 
and  entirely  free  from  ostentation.  Without 
pretense  or  display  he  commands  the  respect 

24 


of  his  fellow  men  and  is  regarded  by  them 
as  one  who  has  been  true  and  faithful  in  ev- 
ery relation  of  life  in  which  he  has  been 
placed. 


TIMOTHY  F.  DEVENY. 

Among  those  who  valiantly  fought  for 
the  Union  when  the  South  endeavored  to  se- 
cede was  Timothy  F.  Deveny,  who  to-day  is 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Goose  Creek 
township.  He  is  engaged  in  farming  and  the 
dairy  business,  supplying  the  people  of  De- 
Land  with  milk  of  the  finest  quality.  He 
was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  August 
8,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Dewitt)  Deveny.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  the  town  of  Little  York,  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  of  German  descent,  while 
the  mother  was  born  in  Ulster  county,  New 
York,  and  belonged  to  an  old  Holland  fam- 
ily. In  early  life  John  Deveny  learned  the 
tailor's  trade,  and  for  over  thirty  years  con- 
ducted a  shop  in  Plymouth,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  making  his  home  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1855.  His  wife  died  at  the  same  place  in 
1890.  This  worthy  couple  were  married  in 
Plymouth  and  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  namely:  Benjamin  F.,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Plymouth;  Timothy  F.,  of  this 
review;  Jennie,  wife  of  John  Wilson,  a 
molder  of  Plymouth;  Elizabeth,  deceased 
wife  of  James  Moore;  Henry,  who.  died 
when  quite  young;  Henrietta,  wife  of  Frank 
Sable,  a  plasterer  and  mason  of  Plymouth, 
Ohio;  and  Martha,  who  died  at  that  place 
in  1892. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  passed  in  Plymouth,  Ohio,  and  he  is  in- 
debted to  its  common  schools  for  his  early 
educational  advantages.  He  learned  the 


5c8 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


trade  of  a  stationary  engineer  at  that  place, 
and  later  was  employed  as  a  locomotive  engi- 
neer on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad  for 
about  ten  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
removed  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  ran 
a  stationary  engine  for  five  years,  and  then, 
in  1884,  went  to  Le  Roy,  Illinois,  where  he 
ran  the  engine  in  the  flouring  mill  of  Bar- 
num  &  Kenun  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  came  to 
DeLand  and  rented  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
near  the  village,  which  he  has  since  operated. 
There  is  a  fine  orchard  upon  the  place,  the 
fields  are  well,  tilled  and  everything  is  in  first- 
class  condition.  The  home  is  a  pleasant  resi- 
dence of  nine  rooms,  surrounded  by  beautiful 
shade  trees,  and  is  known  as  the  old  Marquiss 
homestead.  Mr.  Deveny  raises  the  cereals 
best  adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate,  and 
keeps  a  number  of  milch  cows  for  dairy  pur- 
poses, having  a  good  milk  route  in  DeLand. 

Soon  after  passing  his  twentieth  birth- 
day, Mr.  Deveny  entered  the  army,  enlist- 
ing on  the  I5th  of  August,  1861,  in  an  Ohio 
regiment  of  volunteer  infantry,  which  was 
assigned  to  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps. 
On  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment 
he  was  discharged  at  Chattanooga,  Tennes- 
see, September  i,  1864,  but  afterward  re- 
enlisted,  this  time  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-first 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  When  hostilities 
ceased  he  was  again  discharged  on  the  27th 
of  August,  1865,  by  order  of  the  govern- 
ment, as  his  services  were  no  longer  needed. 
He  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  in  the 
battles  of  Greenbrier,  Crosskeys,  Winches- 
ter, Kenesaw  Mountain  and  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  and  finally  returned  to  his  home  with 
a  war  record  of  which  he  may  be  justly 
proud. 

At  Newark,  Ohio,  October  9,  1879,  Mr. 


Deveny  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hat- 
tie  Smith,  a  daughter  of  Wesley  and  Mary 
Ann  Smith,  of  that  place,  and  to  them  has 
been  born  one  son,  Justus  Neal,  who  is  at 
home  with  his  parents.  All  three  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church,  and  Mr.  De- 
veny is  also  connected  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  No.  812,  of  DeLand,  in  which  he  is 
now  serving  as  senior  warden.  By  his  bal- 
lot he  supports  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party  and  is  as  true  to  his  duties 
of  citizenship  in  days  of  peace  as  he  was 
when  following  the  old  flag  to  victory  on 
southern  battlefields. 


OSCAR  D.   NOE,   M.   D. 

The  life  history  of  Dr.  Oscar  D.  Noe 
touthes  upon  many  fields  of  activity.  His 
efforts  have  covered  a  wide  range  and  have 
been  of  practical  benefit  to  his  fellow  citizens 
as  well  as  to  himself.  He  is  now  successfully 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Hammond,  where  he  also  conducts  a  drug 
stored  He  is  the  vice  president  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Hammond.  A  typical  American 
citizen  realizing  the  force  of  industry,  per- 
severance and  integrity  in  the  affairs  of  life 
he  has  so  directed  his  efforts  that  he  seems 
to  have  realized  at  any  one  point  of  progress 
his  possibilities  for  accomplishment  at  that 
point.  At  the  same  time  he  has  been  a  co- 
operant  factor  in  many  measures  for  the  gen- 
eral good,  and  we  express  the  public  senti- 
ment when  we  speak  of  him  as  one  of  the 
representative,  valued  and  honored  residents 
of  Piatt  county. 

Dr.  Noe  came  to  Hammond  in  1875,  and 
is  now  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  in  years 
of  connection  with  this  part  of  the  county. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


509 


He  was  born  in  Columbia,  Boone  county, 
Missouri,  on  the  i6th  of  October,  1849,  ar)d 
is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Matilda  Noe,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  were 
there  reared  and  married.  They  afterward 
removed  to  Boone  county,  Missouri,  where 
the  father  engaged  in  merchandising  until 
the  last  five  years  of  his  life.  During  that 
period  his  attention  was  devoted  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  which  he  carried  on  success- 
fully until  his  death  in  1879.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  died  when  the  Doctor  was  but 
six  years  of  age,  and  the  father  afterward 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Angel,  who  now  re- 
sides in  Columbia,  Missouri.  There  were 
five  children  of  the  first  union :  James,  a  res- 
ident of  California;  Amon,  who  is  living  in 
the  same  state;  George,  who  makes  his  home 
in  Woodland,  California;  Oscar  D.,  and 
Newton,  who  became  a  physician,  having 
graduated  from  the  Missouri  Homeopathic 
Medical  College,  of  St.  Louis,  and  who  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years.  The  three 
children  born  of  the  father's  second  marriage 
are  R.  B.,  who  is  a  practicing  physician  at 
Thorntowri,  Indiana;  Issathar,  who  makes 
his  home  in  Columbia,  Missouri ;  and 
Amanda,  the  wife  of  W.  B.  Holmes,  of  Kan- 
sas City,  Missouri. 

Dr.  Noe,  whose  name  introduces  tliis 
record,  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  after- 
ward attended  Columbia  college,  of  Colum- 
bia, Missouri.  With  broad  general  learning 
to  serve  as  an  excellent  basis  for  profession- 
al knowledge,  he  began  preparation  for  the 
practice  of  medicine  as  a  student  in  the  St. 
Louis  Allopathic  Medical  College,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1872.  He 
then  received  his  certificate  for  practice  and 
came  direct  to  Hammond,  where  he  opened 
an  office  and  entered  upon  his  professional 
work.  Soon  afterward,  however,  he  returned 


to  St.  Louis,  where  he  pursued  a  course  in  the 
Homeopathic  Medical  College,  being  grad- 
uated therein  with  the  class  of  1877.  Again 
coming  to  Hammond  he  once  more  resumed 
practice  here  and  also  established  his  drug 
store,  which  he  has  since  conducted  in  con- 
nection with  the  prosecution  of  his  chosen 
calling.  Dr.  Noe  continued  in  active  prac- 
tice here  until  1898,  when  he  was  elected 
professor  of  senior  obstetrics  in  the  National 
Medical  College  and  Hospital  of  Chicago. 
He  occupied  that  chair  until  the  ist  of 
March,  1899,  when  he  returned  to  Ham- 
mond and  again  took  up  the  practice  of 'med- 
icine, giving  especial  attention  to  the  diseases 
of  women  and  children,  and  to  surgical  prac- 
tice. He  has,  moreover,  a  large  general 
practice  as  well  as  an  extensive  patronage 
along  the  line  of  his  specialties,  his  business 
making  constant  demands  upon  his  time  and 
energies.  In  his  store  he  keeps  a  general 
line  of  drugs,  stationery  and  wall  paper,  and 
has  a  liberal  patronage  there. 

Dr.  Noe,  unlike  many  professional  men, 
possesses  marked  business  ability  and  execu- 
tive force  as  well  as  broad  scientific  learning, 
and  his  counsel  and  aid  have  therefore  been 
important  factors  in  the  successful  control 
many  interests.  He  is  the  vice  president 
of  the  State  Bank  of  Hammond,  and  is  the 
president  of  the  Hammond  Telephone  Com- 
pany— both  enterprises  of  importance  in  the 
town.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  over  five 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  valuable  farm- 
ing land,  two  hundred  acres  of  which  lie  in 
Moultrie  county,  while  the  remainder  is  sit- 
uated in  Cerro  Gordo  township.  The  Doctor 
is  thoroughly  progressive  along  all  lines,  and 
is  the  owner  of-  the  only  automobile  in  Ham- 
mond, finding  his  machine  of  value  to  him 
in  his  profession  as  it  enables  him  to  reach 
his  patrons  with  very  little  loss  of  time. 

The  Doctor  was  united  in    marriage   in 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Hammond  to  Miss  Clara  Van  Hook,  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  as  was  her  father,  Lawrence 
Van  Hook,  who  at  an  early  day  brought  his 
family  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois.  He  engaged 
in  farming  in  Unity  township  and  afterward 
removed  to  the  village  of  Hammond,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1890.  His  wife 
also  died  here.  Unto  the  Doctor  and  his  wife 
has  been  born  a  daughter,  Dr.  Estella  V. 
Noe,  whose  birth  occurred  September  19, 
1 88 1.  After  acquiring  her  preliminary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  she  attended  the 
Bloomington  University  at  Bloomington,  Il- 
linois, and  subsequently  the  Hahnemann 
Medical  College  of  Chicago,  in  which  she 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1901.  She 
then  returned  to  Hammond  where  she  began 
practice  with  her  father,  and  now  she  has 
a  large  patronage,  having  demonstrated  her 
skill  by  the  successful  handling  of  a  num- 
ber of  important  cases.  The  family  occupy 
one  of  the  finest  residences  in  this  part  of  the 
county,  and  in  social  circles  are  prominent 
while  the  hospitality  of  their  own  beautiful 
and  attractive  home  is  greatly  enjoyed  by 
their  many  friends. 

Both  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Christian  church  of  Ham- 
mond, and  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge  here,  and  also  to  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows lodge.  In  politics  he  usually  gives  his 
support  to  the  Democracy,  but  at  local  elec- 
tions frequently  casts  his  ballot  for  the  men 
whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  for  office,  re- 
gardless of  party  affiliations.  The  Doctor 
is  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments  and  of 
broad  general  learning,  as  well  as  compre- 
hensive scientific  knowledge.  He  is  a  man 
of  keen  forsight  and  marked  executive  abil- 
ity in  business  affairs,  and  at  all  times  and 
in  all  relations  of  life  he  is  found  reliable,  his 


life  being  in  conformity  to  the  strictest  pro- 
fessional, commercial  and  social  ethics. 
He  came  to  Hammond  a  young  man  with  lit- 
tle capital,  but  his  personal  worth  and  profes- 
sional ability  proved  the  foundation  upon 
which  he  has  builded  creditable  and  gratify- 
ing success,  and  to-day  he  is  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  and  respected  residents  of  this 
portion  of  the  state. 


NELS  LARSON. 

It  is  astonishing  to  witness  the  success 
of  young  men  who  have  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica without  capital  and  from  a  humble  posi- 
tion have  worked  their  way  upward  to  one 
of  affluence.  The  readiness  with  which  they 
adapt  themselves  to  circumstances  and  take 
advantage  of  opportunities  offered  brings  to 
them  success  and  wins  them  a  place  among 
the  leading  men  of  the  community  in  which 
they  reside.  To  this  class  belongs  Mr.  Lar- 
son, who  now  makes  his  home  in  Voorhies, 
where  he  has  a  most  beautiful  residence. 

A  native  of  Sweden,  he  was  born  Jan- 
uary 29,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Lars  and  Elma 
( Wrensen)  Johnson,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  In  their  family  were  four  children, 
two  of  whom,  a  son  and  daughter,  still  re- 
side in  Sweden,  while  our  subject  and  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Johnson,  are  now  living  in  Piatt 
county,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Larson  was  reared  to  manhood  up- 
on a  farm  in  his  native  land,  and  was  twenty- 
six  years  of  age  when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  America,  landing  in  New  York  city, 
whence  he  made  his  way  at  once  to  Gales- 
burg,  Illinois.  For  one  year  he  worked  on 
a  farm  in  Knox  county,  and  then  came  to 
Piatt  county,  where  during  the  ensuing 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


eighteen  months  he  was  employed  on  the 
farm  of  William  Burgess  in  Bement  town- 
ship. On  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  was 
entirely  unfamiliar  with  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  had  that  difficulty  to  encounter 
as  well  as  many  others,  but  he  soon  overcame 
these  and  is  to-day  a  well-informed  man  keep- 
ing abreast  with  the  times  in  all  particulars. 
In  1870  he  entered  the  employ  of  William 
Voorhies,  for  whom  he  worked  a  year  and 
a  half  and  afterward  operated  rented  land 
in  Unity  and  Cerro  Gordo  townships.  Sub- 
sequently he  purchased  an  eighty-acre  tract 
in  the  former  township  and  began  life  in 
earnest  as  a  general  farmer.  He  has  since 
added  to  his  property  from  time  to  time  until 
he  now  owns  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  as  well  improved  and  valuable  land  as  is 
to  be  found  in  that  part  of  the  county.  With 
the  assistance  of  hired  help  he  operates  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  this,  raising  prin- 
cipally corn,  which  yields  on  an  average  of 
from  fifty  to  sixty  bushels  per  acre.  Mr. 
Larson  is  also  interested  in  the  grain  trade, 
having  erected  an  elevator  at  Voorhies, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  buying  and  selling 
grain,  handling  about  three  hundred  thou- 
sand bushels  a  year  through  J.  M.  Camp,  of 
Bement.  His  son  George  W.  now  has 
charge  of  the  business  and  attends  to  the  of- 
fice work  for  his  father. 

At  Bement,  Illinois,  March  16,  1872,  Mr. 
Larson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jo- 
hanna Nelson,  who  was  also  born  in  Sweden, 
April  14,  1842,  and  came  to  America  when 
twenty-six  years  of  age.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  namely :  George  W., 
who  was  graduated  at  the  Bement  high 
school  in  1893,  and  received  a  diploma  from 
Brown's  Business  College  of  Decatur,  the 
following  year;  and  Eleanora,  who  is  also  a 
graduate  of  the  Bement  high  school.  The 


home  of  this  family  is  a  model  one,  being 
complete  in  all  its  appointments  and  elegantly 
furnished.  It  was  built  in  1901  by  James 
Howard,  a  contractor  of  Bement  from  plans 
made  by  a  Chicago  architect,  and  without 
an  exception  is  the  finest  home  in  Piatt  coun- 
ty, having  cost  about  eight  thousand  dollars. 
It  contains  fifteen  rooms  lighted  and  venti- 
lated by  a  large  number  of  windows,  is 
heated  by  hot  water,  and  supplied  with  hot 
and  cold  water.  The  grounds  are  beautifully 
laid  off  and  adorned  with  flower  beds,  and 
the  walks  are  all  of  cement.  In  addition  to 
his  own  private  residence  Mr.  Larson  owns 
all  of  the  houses  at  Voorhies  and  much  other 
property. 

He  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  but 
he  and  his  family  now  attend  the  Christian 
church.  Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  various  county 
conventions  of  his  party.  For  five  years  he 
served  as  postmaster  of  Voorhies  under  the 
first  administration  of  President  Cleveland, 
and  also  under  President  Harrison,  and  his 
son,  George,  is  now  filling  that  office.  He 
is  a  man  of  exceptionally  good  business  and 
executive  ability,  and  to  his  own  untiring 
efforts  and  good  management  is  due  his 
wonderful  success  in  life. 


MISS  LYDA  COLEMAN. 

Miss  Lyda  Coleman,  the  well-known  li- 
brarian of  the  Allerton  Public  Library  of 
Monticello,  is  a  native  of  that  city  and  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  J.  W.  and  Carrie  R.  (King) 
Coleman.  The  mother  is  now  deceased  and 
with  the  exception  of  Lyda,  all  of  the  six 
children  of  the  family  have  also  passed  away. 
Dr.  Coleman  has  been  engaged  in  the  prac- 


512 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


tice  of  medicine  in  Monticello  since  1860,  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  promi- 
nent citizens  of  that  place.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Monticello  Cemetery 
Association  in  1873,  and  has  been  its  secre- 
tary ever  since.  He  also  assisted  in  organ- 
izing the  Monticello  high  school  and  was 
president  of  the  board  in  1865,  1866,  1867, 
1868  and  1899.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  United  States 
board  of  pension  examiners,  and  has  served 
for  some  time  as  commander  of  Franklin 
Post,  No.  256,  G:  A.  R.  His  daughter  ob- 
tained her  preliminary  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Monticello  and  later  entered 
Farmer's  College  at  College  Hill,  Ohio, 
where  she  continued  her  studies  until  the 
close  of  the  junior  year.  In  June,  1897,  she 
assumed  the  duties  of  librarian  in  the  Aller- 
ton  Public  Library,  and  has  since  filled  that 
position  in  a  most  creditable  and  satisfactory 
manner. 


JESSE  BUSHEE. 

Jesse  Bushee,  an  honored  veteran  of  the 
Civil  War,  who  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  White  Heath,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Fair- 
field  county,  Ohio,  on  the  i  ith  of  September, 
1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Gettings)  Bushee.  The  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1787,  and  on 
leaving  that  state  removed  to  Ohio,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death.  The 
mother  died  in  1852.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  but  our  subject  is  the  only 
one  of  the  number  now  living. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Jesse  Bushee 
spent  the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life,  re- 
maining at  home  until  his  mother's  death. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  the  local 


schools,  the  temple  of  learning  being  a  log 
structure  with  puncheon  floor,  slab  benches 
and  greased  paper  windows.  On  starting 
out  in  life  for  himself  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  until  1856,  when  he  de- 
cided to  come  to  Illinois,  and  by  team  jour- 
neyed with  his  brother-in-law,  Ezra  Fos- 
naugh,  across  the  country  to  Macoupin 
county,  it  requiring  about  six  weeks  to  make 
the  trip.  There  Mr.  Bushee  engaged  in 
splitting  rails  for  about  six  months,  and  then 
came  to  Piatt  county,  where  he  worked  on 
a  farm  by  the  month  until  the  Civil  war 
broke  out. 

Prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism  he 
entered  the  service  of  his  country,  enlisting 
for  three  months  in  the  Twenty-first  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry — General  Grant's  old 
regiment,  and  was  mustered  in  by  General 
Grant  himself.  After  five  months  spent  in 
the  army  he  returned  home  and  rented  a  part 
of  the  George  Boyers  farm,  which  he  oper- 
ated until  the  I3th  of  August,  1862,  when 
he  again  entered  the  army,  this  time  as  a 
member  of  the  One  Hunded  and  Seventh 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  in  the 
march  from  Glasgow,  Kentucky,  through 
Ohio  and  Indiana  to  Ironton,  where  they 
captured  General  Morgan  and  his  army. 
Mr.  Bushee,  with  others  of  his  command, 
took  the  prisoners  to  Cincinnati,  and  from 
there  went  to  Lebanon,  Kentucky,  and  on 
the  noted  march  over  the  Cumberland  moun- 
tains, where  they  were  forced  to  live  on  two 
or  three  small  pieces  of  hardtack  per  day. 
He  was  in  the  siege  of  Knoxville  and  all 
through  the  Georgia  campaign  as  far  as  At- 
lanta, and  was  also  in  the  battle  at  Loudon, 
Tennessee.  Mr.  Bushee  was  taken  ill  at  At- 
lanta and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Marietta, 
Georgia.  On  his  recovering  he  was  granted 
a  furlough  and  returned  home  to  vote.  Later 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


he  rejoined  his  regiment  and  was  in  all  of 
the  engagements  from  Atlanta  to  Resaca, 
and  was  in  the  battles  of  Buzzard  Roost. 
Kenesaw  Mountain  and  many  others,  in- 
cluding that  of  Nashville.  After  the  last 
named  engagement  he  returned  to  Cincinnati 
by  boat,  and  from  there  went  to  Washington, 
D.  C.,  whence  he  proceeded  by  boat  to 
Smithland,  North  Carolina.  He  was  in  the 
fight  at  Fort  Anderson  and  Raleigh 
where  his  command  met  that  of  General 
Sherman,  and  then  proceeded  to  Salisbury, 
North  Carolina,  where  he  remained  until 
mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war  in  the 
spring  of  1865. 

After  his  return  home,  Mr.  Bushee  re- 
sumed farming  on  Benjamin  F.  Cressip's 
place,  but  shortly  after  marriage  in  1866  he 
removed  to  the  farm  belonging  to  Jehu 
Trotter,  where  he  spent  two  years,  and  the 
following  year  was  passed  on  the  John  Jones 
farm.  For  one  year  he  made  his  home  in 
Champaign  county,  but  at  the  end  of  that 
time  he  returned  to  Piatt  county,  operating 
the  Charles  Smith  farm  for  two  years.  He 
next  farmed  on  property  adjoining  the  vil- 
lage of  White  Heath,  owned  by  the  firm  of 
White  &  Heath,  remaining  there  until  1890, 
when  he  retired  from  active  labor,  buying  a 
nice  little  home  in  the  village  and  three  and 
a  half  acres  of  land  at  the  edge  of  town. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  1866,  Mr. 
Bushee  was  united  in  marriage  to.  Miss  Ma- 
tilda Jane  Teats,  who  was  born  in  Adelphi, 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  March  27,  1849,  and  in 
1856  came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  with  her 
parents.  Mathias  and  Mary  (Puffmberg) 
Teats.  All  of  their  seven  children  are  now 
deceased  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Bushee 
and  her  brother,  George  W.  Teats,  of  White 
Heath,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bushee  were 


born  five  children :  Mary  Elizabeth,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  three  months;  Carrie  J., 
wife  of  John  Cox,  a  resident  of  DeLand; 
Jessie  Estella,  who  is  at  home  with  her  par- 
ents, and  is  a  member  of  Mount  Royal  Court 
of  Honor,  No.  320,  White  Heath;  Ralph  W., 
who  is  now  working  on  a  farm  by  the  day, 
but  spends  his  evenings  at  home;  and  one 
who  died  in  infancy.  The  family  is  widely 
and  favorably  known  and  their  circle  of 
friends  is  extensive. 


CHRISTIAN  ROTH. 

Christian  Roth,  one  of  the  leading  and 
influential  citizens  of  Blue  Ridge  township, 
residing  on  section  28,  was  born  in  Witten- 
berg, Germany,  on  the  i8th  of  July,  1834, 
his  parents  being  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Craft)  Roth,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  same  province.  They  were  farming 
people  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Ger- 
many. In  their  family  were  eight  children, 
of  whom  Christian  Roth  is  the  fifth  in  order 
of  birth.  He  attended  the  home  school  un- 
til fourteen  years  of  age,  and  then  worked 
upon  a  farm  up  to  the  time  of  his  emigration 
to  America  in  the  year  1857.  A  forward 
look  into  the  future,  a  mental  review  of  the 
advantages  afforded  in  his  native  land  and 
in  the  new  world  and  a  comparison  of  the  op- 
portunities which  both  offered,  led  him  to 
cross  the  Atlantic,  and  in  the  year  1857  he 
sailed  from  Havre,  France,  being  six  weeks 
upon  the  voyage.  They  encountered  rough 
weather  and  lost  three  of  the  sailors,  but  ul- 
timately the  vessel  reached  the  harbor  of 
New  York  in  safety.  Mr.  Roth  landed  in 
that  city,  but  did  not  tarry  long  there,  im- 
mediately coming  to  the  west.  He  went  first 


5*4 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


to  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  he  had  friends 
living,  and  soon  afterward  he  commenced 
work  on  a  farm  in  Sangamon  county,  re- 
ceiving eighteen  dollars  per  month  for  his 
services.  This  seemed  to  him  a  large  sum 
of  money  when  he  compared  it  with  the 
wages  paid  in  Germany.  He  continued  to 
reside  in  Sangamon  county  until  1862,  when 
his  patriotic  spirit  being  aroused  in  defense 
of  his  adopted  land,  he  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Yates,  an  uncle  of  the  present  governor  of  the 
state.  The  commander  of  the  regiment  was 
Colonel  Latham.  Mr.  Roth  participated  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  took  part  in  a 
number  of  the  important  battles  with  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee.  He  was  very  for- 
tunate in  that  he  was  never  wounded,  and 
after  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  mustered 
out  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1865. 

Following  his  military  experience,  Mr. 
Roth  was  engaged  in  conducting  a  butcher 
shop  in  Old  Berlin  for  two  years,  and  then 
came  to  Piatt  county  and  purchased  land. 
As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  the  jour- 
ney of  life  he  chose  Miss  Julia  Ann  Auer,  a 
daughter  of  Mathew  Auer,  who  lived  and 
died  in  Germany.  Mrs.  Roth  was  born  in 
that  country  and  their  marriage  occurred 
September  22,  1866.  Unto  our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  been  born  ten  children :  Eliza- 
beth, who  is  the  wife  of  Simeon  Keiser,  a 
resident  of  Champaign  county,  Illinois,  by 
whom  she  has  four  children.  John,  Teresa, 
Juliana  and  Alma;  Agnes,  who  is  the  wife 
of  German  Wesler,  a  resident  of  Mansfield, 
by  whom  she  has  two  children,  William  and 
Lawrence;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Mark  Schudel, 
by  whom  she  has  one  daughter,  Juliana; 
Katharine,  the  wife  of  Michael  Schudel,  by. 


whom  she  had  three  children,  John,  Mollie 
and  Irene,  but  the  first  named  is  now  de- 
ceased ;  William,  a  resident  farmer  of  Blue 
Ridge  township,  who  married  Minnie  Kruz- 
weg,  by  whom  he  has  three  children,  Clar- 
ence, Mabel  and  Emma;  Lena,  the  wife  of 
John  Beckenholdt,  a  resident  of  Blue  Ridge 
towship;  Emma,  the  wife  of  Frank  Wolf, 
who  is  living  in  Oklahoma ;  and  Nellie,  John 
and  Christian,  all  at  home. 

After  coming  to  Piatt  county  Mr.  Roth 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  which  was 
wild  prairie,  paying  for  it  ten  dollars  per 
acre.  Since  that  time  he  has  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  with  excellent  success,  grad- 
ually adding  to  his  landed  possessions  until 
they  now  aggregate  four  hundred  acres,  all 
of  which  is  located'  in  Blue  Ridge  township, 
with  the  exception  of  a  tract  of  eighty  acres 
that  lies  in  Hensley  township,  Champaign 
county.  He  carries  on  general  farming,  rais- 
ing both  grain  and  stock.  He  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  beef  cattle  and  of  hogs,  and  the 
products  of  the  farm  annually  find  a  good 
sale  on  the  market  and  bring  to  him  a  de- 
sirable financial  reward  for  his  labor.  Year 
by  year  he  has  carried  on  his  farm  work, 
making  his  labors  of  such  force  in  the  busi- 
ness affairs  of  life  that  he  is  to-day  one  of 
the  substantial  citizens  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Roth  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church.  He  also  belongs  to  Mans- 
field Lodge,  Xo.  589,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  in  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  served  as 
school  director,  but  at  other  times  has  al- 
ways preferred  to  .give  his  time  and  energies 
to  his  business  interests.  If  those  who  claim 
that  fortune  favors  certain  individuals  above 
others,  will  but  examine  into  the  life  records 
of  the  majority  of  successful  men.  it  will  be 
found  that  the  great  numljer  of  them  have 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


515 


gained  their  possessions  as  Mr.  Roth  has 
done,  though  close  application,  earnest  labor 
and  unfaltering  perseverance.  Coming  to 
America  empty-handed  he  has  adapted  him- 
self to  the  changed  conditions  of  this  coun- 
try, has  improved  the  opportunities  which 
have  come  to  him  and  to-day  is  one  of  the 
men  of  affluence  in  Blue  Ridge  township, 
where  he  is  also  known  as  a  loyal  citizen.  No 
native  born  son  of  America  could  have  been 
more  true  to  her  interests  during  the  dark 
days  of.  the  Civil  war  and  his  entire  life  has 
been  characterized  by  unswerving  fidelity  to 
this  land. 


CHARLES  MINER. 

This  well-known  and  highly"  esteemed 
citizen  of  Goose  Creek  township,  who  carries 
on  general  farming  on  section  21,  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  that  location,  being  torn  on 
a  farm  on  the  same  section,  March  12,  1857. 
His  father,  James  G.  Miner,  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
27th  of  October,  1814,  but  he  was  principally 
reared  and  educated  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  his 
family  having  removed  to  that  state  during 
his  boyhood.  His  parents  were  Jonathan 
and  Mary  (Mallet)  Miner.  The  former  was 
born  in  Connecticut  in  1783,  and  in  early 
life  removed  to  New  York,  where  in  1816  he 
married  Mary  Mallet,  a  native  of  that  state. 
His  second  removal  made  him  a  resident  of 
Ross  county,  Ohio.  By  trade  he  was  a  cab- 
inet-maker and  followed  that  occupation 
throughout  life,  dying  in  1867,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty- four  years.  His  wife  had 
passed  away  in  1854. 

James  G.  Miner,  our  subject's  father, 
learned  the  tailor's  trade  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  worked  at  the  same  time  in  various  cities 


for  a  number  of  years,  spending  twenty-one 
years  at  Clarksburg,  Ohio.  In  1856  he  came 
to  Monticello,  Illinois,  where  he  was  similar- 
ly employed  for  five  years,  and  then  turned 
his  attention  to  farming,  renting  land  in  that 
vicinity.  Ere  long  he  was  able  to  purchase  a 
farm  in  Willow  Branch  township,  but  in  1867 
he  sold  that  place  and  bought  two  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  acres  of  land  on  section  21, 
Goose  Creek  township,  where  he  lived  until 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  on  the  24th 
of  March,  1900.  He  was  married  April  26, 
1836,  to  Miss  Emaline  Fleming,  who  was 
born  in  Kent  county,  Delaware,  in  1818,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Piercy 
(Harrington)  Fleming,  natives  of  Maryland 
and  Delaware,  respectively.  During  her  in- 
fancy her  parents  removed  to  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  and  in  her  new  home  she  grew  to  wo- 
manhood. Her  father,  who  was  a  tailor  by 
trade,  died  May  2,  1847,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years,  and  her  mother  departed  this  life 
November  8,  1852,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven. 
She  was  a  life  long  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  a  most  estimable  lady. 

Charles  Miner  is  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  six  children.  Annie,  the 
eldest,  is  now  the  widow  of  James  Harring- 
ton, a  carpenter  of  Monticello,  who  made 
the  first  wagon  ever  manufactured  in  Piatt 
county  and  dropped  dead  at  his  work,  about 
six  years  ago.  Ira  married  May  Broffet  and 
is  engaged  in  farming  in  Goose  Creek  town- 
ship. Elbert  is  living  retired  in  Monticello. 
Richard  married  Hannah  Stewart  and  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  Mansfield.  Eliza  is  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Warner,  a  farmer  near  Ma- 
homet, Illinois. 

During  his  boyhood  Charles  Miner  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Goose  Creek 
township  and  aided  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  commenced 


PAST    AND    PRESENT 


operating  a  part  of  his  father's  land  on  the 
shares,  and  on  the  death  of  the  latter  the 
property  was  divided  among  the  heirs  and 
he  came  into  possession  of  sixty-two  acres  of 
the  old  homestead,  which  he  now  farms  quite 
successfully.  He  raises  principally  corn  and 
oats  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  stock  for  his 
own  use.  There  is  a  good  brick  house  upon 
his  place,  surrounded  by  beautiful  shade 
trees,  and  he  has  set  out  a  new  orchard  and 
equipped  his  farm  with  the  latest  improved 
machinery  for  carrying  on  'his  work  in  the 
best  and  easiest  manner. 

On  the  I2th  of  April,  1876,  Mr.  Miner 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Shafer, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mahala  (Coffel) 
Shafer,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  the 
latter  of  Indiana.  Mrs.  Miner  is  the  oldest 
of  their  children,  the  others  being  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Lorenzo  Tinsmon,  who  is  living  re- 
tired in  Monticello.  John,  who  married 
Dora  Frey  and  follows'farming  in  Monticello 
township;  Susie,  wife  of  Elijah  Parsons, 
foreman  of  the'  tile-yard  at  Monticello; 
Charles,  a  horse-buyer  and  trainer  of  Monti- 
cello;  Addie,  wife  of  Albert  Plunk,  a  farmer 
of  Sangamon  township;  and  three  who  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miner  have  seven  children  : 
Olga,  wife  of  Oliver  Hostler,  a  farmer  liv- 
ing near  Monticello;  Fenton,  who  married 
Gertrude  Widdershine  and  is  a  clerk  in  his 
brother-in-law's  grocery  store  at  Monticel- 
lo; Samuel,  a  fireman  on  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  and  a  resident  of  Champaign; 
Grace,  wife  of  Thomas  Parsons,  a  farmer  of 
Monticello  township ;  Richard,  who  assists 
in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm ;  and  Josie 
and  Charlie,  also  at  home.  In  his  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Miner  is  a  strong  Republican 
and  he  takes  a  deep  and  commendable  inter- 
est in  public  affairs. 


FREDERICK    HAMMAN. 

Frederick  Hamman,  who  is  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  section 
28,  Cerro  Gordo  township,  was  born  in  Pike 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  February,  1855, 
and  is  a  son  of  Franz  and  Kate  (Rocky) 
Hamman,  also  natives  of  that  state,  the  for- 
mer born  in  Pike  county,  the  latter  in  Fair- 
field  county.  Coming  to  Illinois  in  1868,  the 
father  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Morgan, 
Sangamon  and  Macon  counties  for  some 
years,  and  afterward  lived  retired  in  Piatt 
county,  where  he  died  at  the  home  of  his  son, 
William,  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one 
years.  His  wife  survived  him  and  passed 
away  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Hamman,  in  Bement,  in  January, 
1903,  when  in  her  eighty-fourth  year. 

The  ten  children  of  the  family  were  as 
follows  :  Daniel  and  William,  both  residents 
of  Bement  township,  Piatt  county;  Philip,  a 
resident  of  St.  Louis ;  Nancy,  wife  of  James 
H.  Boyer,  of  Bement ;  David,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Kansas ;  Fred- 
erick, of  this  sketch;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Philip 
Hamman,  of  Bement ;  John,  of  Kansas ;  and 
George,  of  Moultrie  county,  Illinois. 

Frederick  Hamman's  boyhood  days  were 
passed  amid  rural  surroundings,  and  his  lit- 
erary education  was  received  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county.  In  1876,  on  at- 
taining his  majority,  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself,  and  for  a  number  of  years  oper- 
ated rented  land  in  Macon  county,  Illinois. 
About  1887  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  un- 
improved land  on  section  27,  Cerro  Gordo 
township,  and  also  bought  an  improved  place 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  28. 
Both  farms  are  now  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  yield  to  the  owner  a  good  return 
for  the  care  and  labor  expended  upon  them. 


PIATT    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS. 


On  the  6th  of  March,  1884,  Mr.  Hamman 
married  Miss  Nettie  M.  Wade,  a  native  of 
Macon  county  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Martha  (Myers)  Wade.  Her  father  is 
now  deceased,  but  her  mother  is  still  living 
and  now  makes  her  home  in  Warrensburg, 
Macon  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamman 
were  born  seven  children,  namely :  Lovina ; 
Mabel.  Thurman;  Everett;  Clifford,  who 
died  in  infancy  ;  Flossie  and  Annetta.  The 
family  hold  membership  in  the  Church  ot 


God,  of  which  Mr.  Hamman  is  one  of  the 
elders  and  also  a  trustee,  and  he  has  served 
as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  at 
Gulliford  schoolhouse  and  as  assistant  super- 
intendent at  Milmine.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  school  director  in  Cerro  Gordo  township 
and  has  ever  taken  an  active  interest  in  pro- 
moting the  social,  educational  and  moral  wel- 
fare of  the  community  in  which  he  has  re- 
sided. He  is  an  upright,  honorable  man,  and 
has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  PIATT  COUNTY,  ILLINO