LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 920.077343 
 B521 
 
 I.H.S.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 
 OF 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 
 
 CONTAINING 
 BIOGRAPHICAL and GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES of 
 
 MANY OF THE PROMINENT CITIZENS OF 
 TO-DAY AND ALSO OF THE PAST 
 
 "Biography is the only true history." EMERSON 
 
 CHICAGO 
 
 HOBART PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 1907
 
 "The history of a nation is best told in the lives of 
 its people." MACAULAY.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 The present age is happily awake to the duty of writing its own records, 
 setting down what is best worth remembering in the lives of the busy toilers of 
 today, noting, not in vain glory, but with an honest pride and a sense of fitness, 
 tilings worthy of emulation, that thus the good men do may live after them. 
 The accounts here rendered are not buried talents, but of used ability and op- 
 portunity. The conquests recited are of mind over matter, of cheerful labor 
 directed by thought, of honest, earnest endeavor which subdues the earth in the 
 divinely appointed way. "The great lesson of biography," it is said, "is to show 
 what man can be and do at his best." A noble life put fairly on record, acts like an 
 inspiration, and no more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an 
 intelligent public. 
 
 In this volume will be found the 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 
 limited advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and 
 women, with an influence extended throughout the length and breadth of the land. 
 It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as states- 
 n, and whose names have become famous. It tells of 'those in every 
 walk of life who have striven to succeed, and tells how 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 a 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 all, and at their country's call went forth valiantly "to do or to die," and how 
 through their efforts the Union was restored and peace once more reigned in the 
 land. 
 
 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 record, and which would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been 
 
 _ taken in the compilation of the work, and every opportunity possible given to 
 
 j those represented to insure correctness in what has been written ; and the pub- 
 
 r lishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with few errors 
 
 O^of consequence. 
 
 Yours Respectfully. 
 
 HOBART PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
 => January, 190?.
 
 .- 
 
 "A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote 
 
 ancestors will not achieve anytliing worthy to be remembered 
 
 with pride bv remote generations." MACAULAY.
 
 IONITII JO 
 
 3K1 JO 
 
 Auvuan 

 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 OF 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY 
 
 CHARLES HAY, M. D. 
 
 For forty-three years Dr. Charles Hay 
 was a resident of Illinois and though 
 more than two decades have been added 
 to the cycle of the centuries since he 
 passed away, his name is revered and his 
 memory cherished by all who knew him. 
 It was not alone his skill in his profes- 
 sion, although he was an able medical 
 practitioner of his day, his scholarly at- 
 tainments nor the success he achieved, 
 which gained for him the place which he 
 occupied in the regard of his friends, but 
 rather his sterling traits of character, his 
 kindly spirit, his deference for the opinion 
 of others, his loyalty to all that was right 
 and just in man's relations with his fel- 
 lowmen and his fidelity to high ideals. 
 
 The life record of Dr. Hay began on 
 the 7th of February, 1801, in Fayette 
 county, Kentucky. In the paternal line 
 the family is of Scotch lineage, the ances- 
 try being traced back to John Hay, who 
 with his four sons emigrated from the 
 Rhenish Palatinate to America about the 
 middle of the eighteenth century. This 
 John Hay was the son of a Scotish soldier 
 
 who left his own country about fifty years 
 before and attached himself to the army 
 of the elector Palatine. Following the 
 arrival in the new world the brothers sep- 
 arated and John Hay, the eldest, became 
 a resident of York, Pennsylvania, where, 
 prospering in business affairs, he accumu- 
 lated considerable property. He was also 
 influential in public life and served as 
 one of the magistrates of Pennsylvania 
 during colonial days. Interested in the 
 grave questions which elicited public at- 
 tention prior to the Revolutionary war 
 and advocating the cause of liberty, he 
 filled several important offices in the or- 
 ganization of the patriot forces prepara- 
 tory to the Revolution and when war 
 was inaugurated he joined the military 
 forces and won promotion to the rank 
 of colonel. Following the establishment 
 of the republic he represented York 
 county in the assembly. Another brother, 
 Adam Hay, who, like his brother John, 
 had received military training in Europe, 
 became a resident of Berkeley county, Vir- 
 ginia, and also served with some distinc- 
 tion in the Revolutionary war. He was 
 a friend and associate of Washington and
 
 12 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IElf 
 
 one of the earliest recollections of his son, 
 the late John Hay of Springfield, Illinois, 
 was of meeting General Washington on 
 a country road and hearing him greet 
 Adam Hay as an old comrade, at the 
 same time bestowing a friendly pat on 
 the head of the young lad. 
 
 It was this John Hay who became the 
 father of Dr. Charles Hay of Warsaw. 
 His birth occurred February 13, 1779. 
 His youth was passed in his parents' 
 home, but the discipline of the household 
 was somewhat stern and arbitrary, owing 
 perhaps to the military training, as a 
 German soldier, of the father. As he 
 approached manhood John Hay was un- 
 willing to endure the inflexible rules laid 
 down by the father and resolved to estab- 
 lish a home and seek a fortune for him- 
 self elsewhere. This plan he announced 
 to his father and although there was a 
 lack of sympathy to some extent between 
 them, that there was 110 positive breach 
 is indicated by the fact that he was pro- 
 vided with money sufficient to enable him 
 to take up a good piece of land in Fayette 
 county, Kentucky, to which place he made 
 his way. In early manhood he married 
 Jemima Coulter and they became the 
 parents of fourteen children, all of whom 
 reached maturity. Three of the sons, 
 Charles, Joseph and Theodore Hay, be- 
 came physicians, while another son, Mil- 
 ton Hay, for many years occupied a most 
 distinguished position at the Illinois bar. 
 In his business affairs in Fayette county. 
 John Hay, the father, met with gratify- 
 ing success and for thirty years continued 
 a resident of that locality, but feeling that 
 the influence of slavery was detrimental 
 he determined to take his family to a 
 
 region which was free from that objec- 
 tion and when fifty-five years of age re- 
 moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, ac- 
 companied by all his children save his 
 eldest son, Dr. Charles Hay, who had 
 already begun the practice of medicine in 
 Indiana. 
 
 It was the intention of John Hay to 
 engage in the manufacture of cotton 
 goods in Illinois and he brought with him 
 from Kentucky the machinery and appli- 
 ances necessary for the conduct of such 
 an industry, but the business proved un- 
 profitable and he soon concentrated his 
 efforts upon other interests. He dealt to 
 a greater or less extent in land and his 
 speculations and investments in this re- 
 gard brought to him a good financial re- 
 turn. He was the first man to sign a 
 in the public square of Springfield. In 
 promissory note to the state bank which 
 secured the erection of the old state house 
 matters relating to the general welfare 
 he was deeply interested and his co-opera- 
 tion could be counted upon to further 
 plans and measures for the public good. 
 His name became a synonym for integrity 
 and honor in business affairs as well as 
 in private life and his record was at all 
 times in harmony with his professions as 
 a member of the Baptist church, in the 
 work of which he took an active and help- 
 ful part. The contemporary biographer 
 has said, "His long white hair, his com- 
 pact and powerful form, were for many 
 years a noticeable sight in the streets of 
 the town. He was a devoted friend of 
 Lincoln and the death of the president 
 affected him profoundly. He was then 
 in failing health and for several days 
 after the assassination he could not dis-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 miss the subject from his thoughts. He 
 forgot his ninety years and often said, 
 'If I had been in the box with him, that 
 should not have happened.' He sat at 
 the window to watch the funeral cortege 
 which bore the martyred ruler 'to his 
 grave and then went to his own rest, May 
 20, 1865, in the ninety-first year of his 
 age." 
 
 Dr. Charles Hay, the eldest son of John 
 Hay, spent his childhood and youth in 
 Kentucky upon the old plantation which 
 his father there developed. He was pro- 
 vided with the best educational privileges 
 that the state afforded and his aptitude in 
 his studies was ever a marvel to his teach- 
 ers, who it is said could hardly be con- 
 vinced that he was not playing a practical 
 joke upon them when they saw him learn- 
 ing his alphabet one day and reading 
 with facility a fortnight later. He quick- 
 ly mastered the branches of learning 
 taught in the common schools, after 
 which he continued his studies in a clas- 
 sical school at Lexington, where he made 
 the same easy progress in Latin and 
 Greek. He never allowed his knowledge 
 of those tongues to lapse with the passing 
 of the years and the assistance which he 
 rendered to his children in the reading of 
 Homer and Virgil later made for them 
 an intellectual pastime of what otherwise 
 would perhaps have been a dreaded 
 school task. He , was always a man of 
 scholarly tastes and habits, his reading 
 covering a wide range and his assimila- 
 tion of knowledge being such as to render 
 him a pleasing and entertaining com- 
 panion of men of widest thought and 
 culture. His choice of the practice of 
 medicine as a life work was followed 
 
 by preliminary reading under the direc- 
 tion of Dr. William H. Richardson and 
 later of Dr. Dudley and others who were 
 prominent in the medical fraternity in 
 Kentucky at that day. His collegiate 
 training was received in the medical de- 
 partment of Transylvania University, the 
 most important institution of learning in 
 the west and when his graduation won 
 him the degree of M. D. he located for 
 practice in Salem, Indiana, where for ten 
 years he followed his profession with uni- 
 form success. 
 
 It was during his residence in Salem 
 that Dr. Hay was married in October, 
 1831 to Miss Helen Leonard. She was a 
 daughter of the Rev. David A. Leonard, 
 of Bristol, Rhode Island, whose erudition 
 and oratorical power won him wide fame 
 at the beginning of the nineteenth cen- 
 tury. He was a graduate of Brown Uni- 
 versity of the class of 1/93 and was class 
 poet. Entering upon the active work of 
 the ministry, he became pastor of the 
 First Baptist church in Gold street in 
 New York city and in 1817 removed to 
 the west, purchasing a large tract of land 
 on the Ohio river. His death occurred 
 two years later. He had wedded Mary 
 Pierce and to them had been born thirteen 
 children. Among this number was a 
 daughter, Evelyn, who became the wife 
 of John Hay Farnham, whose acquaint- 
 ance Dr. Hay formed during his resi- 
 dence in Salem and this brought to him 
 the acquaintance of Helen Leonard, 
 whom he afterward made his wife. 
 Other members of the Leonard family 
 were: Charlotte, who married William 
 P. Thomasson, who represented the 
 Louisville district of Kentucky in con-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 gress ; Sarah, the wife of Governor David 
 Meriwether, who was a prominent rival 
 of Mr. Thomasson as leaders in the whig 
 and democratic parties of Kentucky ; and 
 Cornelia, the wife of William N. Grover, 
 afterward United States district attorney 
 for Missouri. 
 
 Following their marriage Dr. and Mrs. 
 Ha}' established their home in Salem, 
 Indiana, and the young physician soon 
 won a large practice, his position in pub- 
 lic regard being fully established through 
 the energy and devotion with which he 
 combatted an epidemic of cholera in 1833, 
 which carried off both Mr. and Mrs. 
 Farnham. For weeks together Dr. Hay 
 took little time for either sleep or food, 
 but gave his attention untiringly to the 
 work of checking the ravages of the dread 
 disease. From that time forward he en- 
 joyed a large and lucrative practice in 
 Salem and became recognized moreover 
 as one of the local leaders in the whig 
 party and was induced to become the 
 editor of a weekly whig paper in Salem, 
 which he conducted for several years, 
 making it one of the strongest organs 
 of that political organization in Indiana. 
 His kindness of heart brought him into 
 financial ruin through securities which 
 he signed for friends and with the hope 
 of retrieving his lost possessions he re- 
 moved frorrv Salem to Warsaw, Illinois, 
 in 1841. Until death claimed him he 
 continued an honored resident of this 
 city, his life being actuated by honorable 
 and benevolent principles and filled with 
 good deeds. His professional capability 
 was soon recognized and brought him a 
 large and important practice. Warsaw 
 at that time was situated in what was 
 
 largely a pioneer district and the practice 
 of a physician was in consequence fraught 
 with many hardships incident to the long 
 rides which it was necessary to take 
 through the hot summer sun or the win- 
 ter's cold in order to administer to the 
 needs of patients far removed from his 
 home. He was engaged in practice here 
 during one of the most notable epochs in 
 the history of this city. From the east had 
 come a colony of people known as Mor- 
 mons. Their belief in and practice of po- 
 lygamy was so distasteful to the residents 
 . of Hancock county that they arose in their 
 wrath to drive the new sect out of the dis- 
 trict and a bitter warfare arose between 
 the Mormon people and their opponents. 
 The roads were infested with bands of 
 lawless persons on both sides, a large 
 number of houses were burned and many 
 persons shot from the ambush of the 
 woods. Dr. Hay's friends, fearing for 
 his life, urged him to give up his country 
 practice, but this he refused to do, merely 
 purchasing a faster horse and continuing 
 his work on either side of the hostile 
 lines. He was often stopped but never 
 otherwise molested, although he was 
 known to be inflexibly opposed to the 
 Mormon people and practices. However, 
 he stood for justice and right and was 
 ever found on the side of law and order 
 and protested vigorously but ineffectually 
 against the march to Nauvoo which re- 
 sulted in the death of Joseph and Hiram 
 Smith, brothers, who were prophet lead- 
 ers among the Mormons. 
 
 In his practice Dr. Hay met with suc- 
 cess. He was a student of any subject 
 or theory which seemed to bear upon his 
 professional work and eagerly embraced
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 every advanced idea that he helieved 
 would promote his efficiency and enable 
 him to give more capable service to his 
 fellowmen in checking the ravages of 
 disease and restoring health. A broad 
 humanitarian spirit was ever the basis of 
 his professional work and yet he was not 
 without that laudable ambition for achiev- 
 ing success, that he might provide well 
 for his family, and as his financial re- 
 sources increased he from time to time 
 made judicious investments in real estate 
 which added to his prosperity. His farms, 
 however, did not bring him the profit 
 which would have accrued to many men 
 who look upon the proposition only from 
 the business standpoint. It is said that 
 Dr. Hay regarded his tenants somewhat 
 as if they were his children or his wards 
 and he looked first to their interests rather 
 than to the financial benefits that he 
 might receive from their labors. How- 
 ever, the normal man always has appre- 
 ciation for nature and Dr. Hay greatly 
 enjoyed riding out to his farms and 
 watching the growth of the crops. His 
 was a well-rounded nature. He never 
 concentrated his energies and efforts so 
 closely upon one line of thought or ac- 
 tion as to become abnormally developed. 
 The study of nature, his professional ser- 
 vice, his deep interest in his fellowmen, 
 shared with his books in his attention. 
 He passed many of his most pleasant 
 hours in communion with the strong and 
 cultured minds of the past, the essay, his- 
 tory and natural science being the prin- 
 cipal themes which claimed his attention. 
 The welfare and progress of his adopted 
 city was ever a matter of deep and intense 
 interest to him and he was particularly 
 
 helpful along lines of intellectual prog- 
 ress and advancement. The public- 
 school system received his most earnest 
 endorsement and he co-operated to the 
 full extent of his powers in the work of 
 upholding the standard of education and 
 introducing improved methods of instruc- 
 tion. The school teachers recognized 
 that they had no stancher friend in all 
 Warsaw than Dr. Hay and a word of en- 
 couragement and appreciation was to 
 them often an inspiration that enabled 
 them to put forth further effective effort 
 for the public schools. He was instru- 
 mental in establishing a free public library 
 in Warsaw and was for many years pres- 
 ident of the library board. He held a 
 prominent place in all the associations for 
 the improvement of agriculture, horticul- 
 ture and other important interests of the 
 county and in local religious and chari- 
 table organizations. His endorsement of 
 such movements was not that of words 
 alone, for he was an active co-operant in 
 all plans for public progress and im- 
 provement and considered no task too 
 unimportant to claim his best efforts if it 
 proved a factor in the result for which 
 they were striving. 
 
 As the years passed there were added 
 to the family of Dr. and Mrs. Hay six 
 children, of whom the eldest, Edward 
 Leonard, died in infancy. Leonard Au- 
 gustus Hay, the second son, retired army 
 officer, died in Warsaw, November 12, 
 1904. Mary Pierce is the widow of 
 Major Austin Coleman Woolfolk, A. Q. 
 M., United States army and afterward 
 a circuit judge in Minnesota. John Hay 
 rose to national prominence, his last pub- 
 lic work being as secretary of state under
 
 i6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 President Roosevelt. Charles Edward, 
 captain of the Third Cavalry, United 
 States army, and afterward twice elected 
 mayor of Springfield, Illinois, it the only 
 surviving son. Helen became the wife 
 of Harwood Otis Whitney and died in 
 1873. The death of this daughter came 
 to Dr. and Mrs. Hay as their greatest 
 bereavement. "Her bright, .sunny tem- 
 per, her witty and original conversation, 
 her devotion to those she loved and her 
 absolute unselfishness, qualities which 
 she seemed to derive with her name from 
 her mother, made her the idol of her 
 home." The lives of Dr. and Mrs. Hay 
 were bound up in their children and. as 
 Dr. Hay expressed it, no personal dis- 
 tinction for himself could bring him the 
 joy that could come to him through the 
 intelligence, honor and thrift of his chil- 
 dren. No personal sacrifice on the part 
 of the parents was considered too great 
 if it would promote the welfare of their 
 sons and daughters. They felt that no 
 economy must be practiced for their edu- 
 cation and there was always means of 
 providing teachers and books of the best 
 within reach. They lived to see them at- 
 tain positions of honor and distinction 
 and the sons attributed to their early 
 parental training much of their success 
 in later life. In the spring of 1879. Mrs. 
 Hay met with a serious accident, so that 
 for many weeks it was thought that she 
 could not recover and she was unable to 
 walk afterward. During these days of 
 trial Dr. Hay waited upon her with un- 
 tiring patience and heroic endurance and 
 following her convalescence became more 
 than ever her inseparable companion. 
 They celebrated their golden wedding in 
 
 October, 1881, having terminated fifty 
 years of a marriage relation which in 
 every respect reached the ideal. It was 
 not long after this that Dr. Hay recog- 
 nized that because of heart disease his 
 own end was near. He never spoke of 
 the matter except to his physician, Dr. 
 Hunt, and he charged him strictly never 
 to mention it, for he did not wish to bring 
 one feeling of alarm or danger to his 
 wife, his children or his grandchildren, 
 in whom his life was wrapped up. He 
 passed peacefully away September 18, 
 1884. "He walked serenely down to the 
 gates of death with nothing of the in- 
 difference of the stoic but with the cheer- 
 ful resignation of a philosopher and the 
 loving self-sacrifice of a Christian hus- 
 band and father bearing the burdens of 
 others-." He had attained the age of 
 eighty-three years. Resolutions of re- 
 spect were passed by the library board 
 and by the cemetery board, of both of 
 which he was a member and perhaps no 
 better estimate of his life work and of 
 his character can be given than by quoting 
 fromthelocal papers of Warsaw, for in that 
 city where he had so long made his home 
 his life record was as an open book. "He 
 soon acquired a competency by judicious 
 investments and by his practice, from 
 which he retired several years ago, to 
 enjoy the leisure he had so well earned. 
 Even in his peaceful and honored age, 
 however, he was no idler. He preserved 
 to his latest days the studious and schol- 
 arly habits of his youth. He read with 
 avidity everything of interest which ap- 
 peared, especially in the line of science 
 and history. He took the greatest in- 
 terest in state and municipal affairs, and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 was active in every enterprise which 
 promised to advance the cause of educa- 
 tion and enlightenment. As in his early 
 manhood he was never too busy to help 
 his own children in their Greek and Latin 
 lessons, so in his latest days he was never 
 so indolent as to refuse his assistance to 
 any scheme to extend to the people those 
 benefits of sound learning which had been 
 of so much advantage and pleasure to 
 himself." Another publication said, 
 "The Doctor was of the highest stamp of 
 manhood upright in all his dealings ; un- 
 swerving in the discharge of what he be- 
 lieved to be his duty ; kind, generous, and 
 charitable with all men; a lover of man- 
 kind, and ever thoughtful of their wel- 
 fare; strong in his convictions of the 
 right, and true to their teachings. He 
 was a nobleman in the true sense of the 
 word." "In his chosen profession of 
 medicine he was an acknowledged mas- 
 ter; and in his devotion to his profession 
 he had but few equals. He was courte- 
 ous, kind, and considerate in his inter- 
 course with those of like profession. In 
 his friendship he was ardent and faith- 
 ful. So long as a man was worthy, he 
 remained his friend." The funeral ser- 
 vices were conducted at his home by the 
 Rev. John G. Rankin, who in his remarks 
 said, "There has been much, especially 
 in his, latter years, to make life desirable. 
 Having, by his diligence and frugality 
 in the noonday of life, acquired a com- 
 petency, which enabled him to free his 
 mind from all anxiety; living among 
 friends and neighbors with whom he had 
 been associated for more than forty years ; 
 honored and loved by the entire commu- 
 nity in which he had so long lived (for 
 
 Dr. Hay had no enemies) ; permitted to 
 see all his children occupying honored 
 and useful positions in life; and, perhaps, 
 above all, receiving from his children, in 
 their frequent visits to the home of their 
 childhood, such love and honor and 
 thoughtful and tender care as but too few 
 parents receive ; surely there was much in 
 such surroundings to make life desirable, 
 yet, as he expressed it to a friend, he had 
 been living for years as a "minute man." 
 He had done life's work day by day, as 
 it was presented to his hand, and he 
 stood ready to answer the Master's call 
 any minute." A minute analization of 
 the life of Dr. Hay, however, would cer- 
 tainly bring forth the fact that with all 
 his love of learning, with all of his de- 
 votion to the public welfare, with all of 
 his scientific knowledge and medical skill, 
 his deepest interest centered in his family. 
 The ties of home were to him sacred. 
 He found his greatest happiness in the 
 companionship of his wife, who survived 
 him until the i8th of February, 1893, 
 when she, too, passed away. 
 
 CHARLES SAVAGE SHIPMAN. 
 
 Charles Savage Shipman, assistant 
 cashier of the First National Bank at 
 Dallas City, and well known in financial 
 circles in this part of the county, was born 
 August II, 1845, i n Yonkers, New York. 
 His parents were Ralph and Marilla 
 (Wells) Shipman, both natives of New 
 Britain, Connecticut. Colonel Lee, the
 
 i8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 great-grandfather of Mr. Shipman, was a 
 soldier of the Revolutionary war, and 
 the family was represented by several sol- 
 diers in the Civil war, so that the military 
 record is a most creditable one. While 
 living in Connecticut Mr. Shipman was 
 owner of a brass foundry, and following 
 his removal to Yonkers, New York, he 
 there engaged in the conduct of a paper 
 box factory. Both he and his wife were 
 members of the Presbyterian church, and 
 he served as one of its deacons from early 
 manhood up to the time of his death. He 
 died in December, 1876. while his wife 
 passed away in 1879, and both were laid 
 to rest in the cemetery in Yonkers, New 
 York. In their family were five children, 
 of whom two died in early childhood. 
 Julius married Miss Mary Clark, made 
 his home in Yonkers, New York, and 
 died in 1875. His widow is still living 
 at the very venerable age of ninety years. 
 He was twenty years older than the sub- 
 ject of this review. He left four children : 
 Mrs. Fannie Wilson, of Brooklyn, New 
 York; Mrs. Isabella Williams, of Yonk- 
 ers, New York; and Walter and Albert 
 Shipman. Ann and Jane Shipman, 
 daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Ship- 
 man, died in childhood. Anna E., the 
 only surviving daughter of the family, 
 makes her home in New Britain, Connec- 
 icut. 
 
 Charles S. Shipman, the only surviv- 
 ing son, was educated in the public and 
 high schools of his native city and in a 
 military academy at Yonkers. New York. 
 His school life being over he assisted 
 his father in the box factory in that city 
 until his removal to the west in 1871. in 
 which vear he arrived in Hancock countv. 
 
 Illinois. He spent the succeeding two 
 years upon a farm, and in 1873 returned 
 to New York, where he conducted his fa- 
 ther's business until 1882, when he re- 
 moved to Dallas City, Illinois. Here he 
 became a clerk and a salesman in the lum- 
 beryard of his father-in-law, H. F. Black, 
 with whom he continued for five years, 
 when he embarked in business on his own 
 account, and was numbered among the 
 successful dry goods merchants of Dallas 
 City for eight years. In 1902 he became 
 bookkeeper and assistant cashier in the 
 First National Bank of Dallas City, and 
 is still acting in that capacity, being well 
 known in financial circles here, while 
 throughout the years of his residence here 
 he has made a most creditable record as 
 an enterprising business man. 
 
 On the 2gth of June, 1876, Mr. Ship- 
 man was married to Miss Catherine Farn- 
 waldt Black, a daughter of Henry Farn- 
 waldt Black, who for many years was a 
 prominent lumber merchant of Dallas 
 City but is now deceased. Mrs. Shipman 
 was born June 14, 1857, in Grand Rapids, 
 Wisconsin, was educated in Rockford 
 Seminary, at Rockford, Illinois, and was 
 married in Dallas City on the 29th of 
 June, 1876. By this union there have 
 been born three children. . Ralph Wells, 
 bom August 18, 1878, attended the pub- 
 lic schools of Dallas City, was graduated 
 from the high school and pursued a course 
 of study at Fort Madison, Iowa. He mar- 
 ried Miss Letitia Nelson, of Nauvoo, Illi- 
 nois, and now lives at Media. Illinois, 
 where he is superintendent of a. lumber- 
 yard for the firm of Black and Loomis. 
 Mary Black Shipman, born August 2, 
 1884, is a senior in Hardin College, in
 
 MAX COCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Mexico, Missouri, and was graduated 
 from the musical conservatory in connec- 
 tion with that school in April. 1906. 
 Anna Celia, born October 15, 1887, at- 
 tended the same school with her sister for 
 three years, when she became ill with 
 typhoid fever. Her sister then brought 
 her home and she died in Fort Madison 
 Hospital, in December, 1905. She was 
 buried the same day as her uncle, B. F. 
 Black, from his late home, and was laid 
 to rest in Dallas City cemetery. She was 
 a beautiful, amiable and accomplished 
 young lady and was greatly beloved by 
 all. She held membership in the Congre- 
 gational church and took an active part 
 in church and Sunday-school work. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Shipman reside in the 
 old Black home at the corner of Fourth 
 and Oak streets, which was built by her 
 father forty-eight years ago, and Mr. 
 Shipman also has a farm at Pontoosuc. 
 Illinois, and pasture lands in Henderson 
 county, together with a house which he 
 rents in Dallas City. His political sup- 
 port is given to the republican party and 
 he is recognized as a prominent factor in 
 local political circles. In 1886 he was 
 elected mayor of Dallas City and is now 
 serving as alderman from the second 
 ward. He is a prominent and valued 
 member of the Masonic fraternity and of 
 the Woodman camp, and he and his wife 
 are devoted members of the Congrega- 
 toinal church, in which he is serving as 
 deacon, while since 1889 he has been su- 
 perintendent of the Sunday-school. His 
 wife has been president of the Ladies So- 
 ciety of the church and was organist and 
 choir leader for years but has recently 
 retired from this work. She belongs to 
 
 a chapter of the Daughters of the Amer- 
 ican Revolution, and is an intelligent, cul- 
 tured lady. Mr. Shipman is a capable 
 business man and a respected citizen, of 
 genial disposition and a fund of wit and 
 humor, and the home of this couple is 
 the center of many delightful social 
 gatherings. 
 
 PROF. WILLIAM K. HILL, A. M. 
 
 William K. Hill, professor of chemis- 
 try and biology at Carthage College, was 
 born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, 
 December u, 1857, and is descended from 
 an ancestry that was established in east- 
 ern Pennsylvania at an early epoch in its 
 development, the progenitor of the fam- 
 ily in America having come from Eng- 
 land. John Hill, the grandfather, re- 
 moved to Armstrong county, Pennsylva- 
 nia, and built the first school-house in the 
 south half of the county. He employed 
 a man to teach his children and invited 
 the neighbors to send their children and 
 enjoy the benefits of instruction. In the 
 midst of the wilderness he carved out a 
 home and his labors were of a character 
 that contributed in marked degree to the 
 material improvement of the community. 
 He also built the first grist mill in his 
 part of the county and he co-operated 
 in many movements for the general wel- 
 fare. He married a Miss Ament and their 
 son, Salem Hill, father of our subject, 
 was born in Armstrong county, where 
 he was reared and educated. He followed 
 both milling and farming and spent his
 
 20 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEU' 
 
 entire life in that locality. In early man- 
 hood he wedded Miss Esther Kuhns, also 
 a native of Armstrong county, where they 
 continued to reside until called to their 
 final rest. In their family were seven 
 children. The parents were devoted and 
 active members of the Lutheran church, 
 in which Mr. Hill served as an officer. 
 His wife was a granddaughter of Father 
 Michael Steck, the first Lutheran minis- 
 ter in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- 
 vania, at which time the county boundaries 
 comprised nearly the entire western por- 
 tion of the state. His daughter Esther 
 married David Kuhns and they became 
 the parents of Mrs. Hill. Salem Hill de- 
 parted this life about ten years ago, but 
 Mrs. Hill is still living upon the old 
 homestead. 
 
 William K. Hill is the second in order 
 of birth in the family. After attending 
 the district schools he continued his stud- 
 ies in Pennsylvania College, at Gettys- 
 burg, and was there graduated in the class 
 of 1879 with the degree of Bachelor of 
 Arts, while later the Master of Arts de- 
 gree was conferred upon him by his alma 
 mater. Following his graduation he en- 
 tered upon a course of study in Gettys- 
 burg Theological Seminary of the Lu- 
 theran church, of which he is an alumnus 
 of the class of 1884. 
 
 In the fall of that year Professor Hill 
 came to Carthage to accept the chair of 
 science at Carthage College, with which 
 he was continuously identified until 1893, 
 when he resigned his position and for eight 
 years thereafter was superintendent of the 
 public schools of the city of Carthage. 
 During that period the work of the schools 
 were rapidly developed and improved, 
 
 Professor Hill maintaining a high stand- 
 ard of proficiency in all his work and in- 
 spiring his teachers and the pupils with 
 much of his own zeal and interest in the 
 work. The attendance at the high school 
 increased threefold during that period and 
 there was a marked improvement mani- 
 fested in all departments of public educa- 
 tion in this city. In 1901 Professor Hill 
 was re-elected to his old position in the 
 college and since that time has filled the 
 chair of chemistry and biology. His spe- 
 cial work has been along the line of and 
 study of biology of fresh water algae but 
 his life work has been that of teaching. 
 As an educator he has won high rank, im- 
 parting knowledge in clear, concise man- 
 ner, which fails not to make a strong im- 
 pression upon the minds of his pupils. He 
 has also become known in business cir- 
 cles in Carthage, where for a number of 
 years he has been director of the National 
 Bank. 
 
 Professor Hill was married December 
 21, 1887, to Miss Kate Griffith, a daugh- 
 ter of Dr. A. J. Griffith and a graduate of 
 Carthage College. To them have been 
 born ten children, nine of whom are yet 
 living, namely : Esther Margaret, Wil- 
 liam Griffith, Katharine, Robert Mc- 
 Claughry, Lewis Rowland, Ralph March- 
 and, Constance, Edward Llewellyn and 
 Imogen. Professor and Mrs. Hill are 
 members of the Lutheran church, in the 
 work of which they take a very active 
 and helpful part. Professor Hill has 
 served as elder for many years and has 
 done all in his power to advance the 
 work of the church and extend its in- 
 fluence. His political views are in ac- 
 cord with the republican principles but
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 21 
 
 he has never been an aspirant for office. 
 He has a beautiful home on Wabash ave- 
 nue, where his well filled library and 
 other attractive furnishings indicate the 
 wealth of refinement and culture to be 
 found there. Throughout his entire pro- 
 fessional career he has remained in Car- 
 thage and his strong intellectuality and 
 broad, scholarly . attainments have made 
 him a leader in its educational progress. 
 
 GEORGE WALKER BARR. 
 
 George Walker Barr, a retired farmer 
 of Dallas City, is one of the few residents 
 of America who can claim the distinction 
 of being the grandson of a Revolution- 
 ary hero. The ancestry of the family 
 can be traced back to the year 1607, when 
 a representative of the name settled at 
 Jamestown, Virginia, among the first per- 
 manent residents of the new world. 
 Adam Barr, grandfather of our subject, 
 was a native of the Old Dominion and 
 served throughout the Revolutionary war 
 as a teamster. He was with the immedi- 
 ate command of General Washington for 
 seven years and underwent the various 
 hardships and privations which were he- 
 roically borne by the soldiers who fought 
 for independence, marching at various 
 times when his footprints were marked 
 by blood. George W. Barr of this review 
 can well remember when at the age of 
 ten years he dropped corn after his grand- 
 father Barr, who was then ninety-five 
 years of age. Adam Barr was married 
 
 in Baltimore, Maryland, and subsequent- 
 ly removed to Kentucky, where he lived 
 for many years. In his family were thir- 
 teen children, of whom four sons fought 
 in the famous battle of New Orleans un- 
 der the command of General Andrew 
 Jackson and two of the number never re- 
 turned, giving their lives in defense of 
 their country in the second war with Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Elias Barr, son of Adam Barr, was 
 born in Breckinridge county, Kentucky, 
 December 8, 1807, and after arriving at 
 years of maturity was married to Sallie 
 A. Beauchamp, whose birth occurred in 
 Hardin county, Kentucky, December 4, 
 1808. She was a daughter of Jerry B. 
 Beauchamp, who was descended from the 
 French nobility. His parents went to 
 England at the time of the emigration of 
 the Huguenots because of the religious 
 persecution in their own country and 
 Jerry Beauchamp and his two brothers 
 were born in England. He was a lawyer, 
 scholar, statesman and aristocrat one of 
 the most distinguished residents of Ken- 
 tucky at an early day. He served for 
 eighteen years in the Kentucky senate, 
 leaving the impress of his individuality 
 upon the laws which were enacted at that 
 early period and aiding in shaping the pol- 
 icy of the state. He was a typical Ken- 
 tucky gentlemen, a man of fine presence, 
 standing six feet, four inches, in height. 
 At one time he owned over ten thousand 
 acres of land in Kentucky. He kept open 
 house and delighted in the sports which 
 were always enjoyed by the southern gen- 
 tlemen. He kept fine racing horses and 
 a pack of greyhounds and participated in 
 many of the big hunts of the time. He
 
 22 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 also owned a large number of slaves and 
 on one day before the war he liberated 
 sixty-three of his bondspeople. Some- 
 thing of the prodigality of the hospitality 
 of his home may be indicated by the fact 
 that a whole ox was roasted at the wed- 
 ding of his daughter Sallie to Elias Barr. 
 He lived to a very advanced age and when 
 he passed away Kentucky lost one of its 
 distinguished, representative and typical 
 citizens a man of the old regime who 
 represented the aristocracy of the south. 
 The year 1859 witnessed the removal 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Barr from Kentucy 
 to Hancock county, Illinois. The father 
 engaged in farming and stock raising on 
 section one. Rock Creek township, owning 
 over four hundred acres in Hancock 
 county, and there carried on general agri- 
 cultural pursuits up to the time of his 
 death, which occurred in 1875. He was a 
 democrat in his political views and both 
 he and his wife held membership in the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, in which he 
 also served as class leader. When he came 
 to Illinois he owned over one thousand 
 acres of good Kentucky land and also 
 some of the finest horses in the United 
 States. He was a man of enterprise, suc- 
 cessful in his undertakings, and his wife 
 was of great assistance to him, being- 
 trained to the work of the household as 
 was the custom in those days. She spun 
 and wove and capably managed the house- 
 hold affairs and there are several pieces 
 of table linen in the family of George W. 
 Barr which were woven by her. Elias Barr 
 passed away on the i8th of July, 1875, 
 his wife surviving for a number of years, 
 or until the ist of May, 1892, when she 
 also departed this life. In their family 
 
 were twelve children : Daniel Thomas, 
 who was born in 1831 and died in 1846; 
 Newell Robinson, who was born in 1834 
 and died in 1892; Elmira A., who was 
 born in 1836 and is the wife of John Hur- 
 dle, living near Disco, Illinois; Mary E., 
 who was born in 1838 and is the widow 
 of Thomas L. Ray, of Dallas township; 
 Bluford B., who was born in 1840 and 
 died in 1898; Kitty Ann, who was born 
 March 5, 1842, married Sylvester T. Tur- 
 ney, and died in 1886; George Walker, of 
 this review; Sarah E., who was born in 
 1846 and is the widow of David Wright, 
 her home being near Disco ; John Adam, 
 who was born in 1848 and is a successful 
 physician of Fountain Green, Illinois; 
 Martha Jane, who was born in 1850 and 
 is the wife of M. Bross, of Prescott, Iowa ; 
 Franklin P., who was born in 1852 and 
 is living in Clarinda, Iowa; and Amanda 
 M., who was born in 1856 and is the 
 wife of Daniel Showers, of Fresno, Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 George W. Barr was born in Breckin- 
 ridge county, Kentucky, February 25, 
 1844, and in his boyhood days accom- 
 panied his parents on their removal to 
 Hancock county. He pursued his edu- 
 cation in the district schools of this county 
 and in Mount Vernon, Illinois, and re- 
 mained with his father until twenty-five 
 years of age, assisting in the cultivation 
 and improvement of the home farm. Am- 
 bitious to have a farm of his own and 
 enter upon an independent business ca- 
 reer, in 1868 he purchased one hundred 
 and sixty acres of land in Dallas town- 
 ship. To this he afterward added as his 
 financial resources increased until he 
 owned two hundred and twenty-five acres
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 of good land in that township, on which 
 he made many modern improvements, 
 converting the place into a splendidly im- 
 proved property. There he lived for a 
 third of a century, or until 1902, when he 
 retired from fanning and purchased a 
 beautiful home and two lots on Third 
 street in Dallas City, where he is now liv- 
 ing, surrounded by many of life's com- 
 forts. 
 
 On the 2Oth of April, 1869, was cele- 
 brated the marriage of Mr. Barr and Miss 
 Mary E. Dean, who was born in Clinton 
 county, Ohio, October 3, 1848, a daugh- 
 ter of William B. and Margaret A. (Ran- 
 kin) Dean. The mother was born in 
 Brown county, Ohio, in 1807 and the 
 father's birth occurred in Ireland in 1806. 
 Crossing the Atlantic, he arrived at New 
 York at the age of fifteen years after a 
 voyage of three months. He traveled for 
 some time and afterward became a farmer 
 of Henderson county, Illinois, where he 
 settled in 1853. In his family were seven 
 children : Bartley R., who died in Ar- 
 kansas in 1906; William L., living near 
 Disco, Illinois; Albert and Alfred, twins, 
 the former a resident of Chico, Califor- 
 nia, and the latter of Eldon, lewa ; Mary 
 E., now Mrs. Barr; Arthur, of Dallas 
 City ; and Charles Edward Franklin, who 
 died in May, 1869. The father was reared 
 in the Roman Catholic church and the 
 mother died in the same faith. Mrs. Barr 
 was educated in the South Hill school in 
 Burlington, Iowa. By her marriage she 
 became the mother of three children : Ettie 
 E., born January 25, 1870, was married 
 May 12, 1897, to Elmer V. Royse, of 
 Aledo, and they have two children, George 
 Frederick and Cleo Ray; Robert A., a 
 
 2 
 
 sketch of whom appears on another page 
 of this book, is the second of the family ; 
 and Mary Ottilia, born August 4, 1885, 
 is a graduate of the Dallas City high 
 school in the class of 1905. In 1901-2 
 she- attended St. Mary's Academy at 
 Xauvoo, Illinois, and is a skilled musician, 
 now at home with her parents. 
 
 Mr. Barr is a democrat in his political 
 faith, voting for the state and national 
 candidates of the party, but at local elec- 
 tions casts an independent ballot. He has 
 held some township offices, including that 
 of road commissioner, and he has been 
 school director, while his wife has also 
 acted in that capacity for three years. 
 They attend the services of the Christian 
 church, of which Mrs. Barr is a member. 
 She is a lady of very genial and cheerful 
 disposition and their friends in the com- 
 munity are almost co-extensive with the 
 circle of their acquaintances. Mr. Barr 
 is a man whose success is attributable to 
 his industry and business integrity and 
 through careful management in an active 
 career, through diligence and persever- 
 ance he has acquired a handsome compe- 
 tence that now enables him to enjoy life 
 without recourse to further labor. His 
 son is operating the home farm and the 
 family is one of which the parents have 
 every reason to be proud. 
 
 FRANKLIN C. LITTLE. 
 
 Franklin C. Little, starting out in life 
 with forty acres of land, is now the owner 
 of a valuable farming property of four
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 hundred acres and the increase in his 
 realty possessions is an indication of the 
 industry and enterprise which have char- 
 acterized his life and made him one of 
 the men of affluence in Pontoosuc town- 
 ship. His success enables him to enjoy 
 the comforts and some of the luxuries of 
 life in the evening of his days for Mr. 
 Little is now seventy-seven years of age. 
 He was born in Green county, Ohio, De- 
 cember 12, 1829. He had an uncle, Da- 
 vid Little, who served in the war of 1812, 
 serving as a guard at Sacketts Harbor. 
 His parents, Martin and Sarah (Ritnour) 
 Little, were both born in the vicinity of 
 Winchester, Virginia, the former in 1794 
 and the latter in 1 796. After some years' 
 residence in Ohio they came to Hancock 
 county, arriving on the 25th of April, 
 1847. They settled in Appanoose town- 
 ship but after a brief sojourn there the 
 father purchased land in Pontoosuc town- 
 ship from a Mormon elder of the name 
 of Fullmer and lived in a little log cabin 
 for a few years, when he made better im- 
 provements, owning four hundred acres, 
 having paid high for those times, paying 
 as high as $5.25 per acre, in order to get 
 good title. He aided in the pioneer de- 
 velopment and upbuilding of the county 
 and was identified with its farming inter- 
 ests until his death in 1854. His wife 
 long survived him and in 1882 was laid 
 by his side in Pontoosuc cemetery. They 
 had seven children : Lorenzo, who lives 
 in Pontoosuc township; D. A., of the 
 same township; Catherine, the widow of 
 Archibald Jackson, of Nauvoo; Sarah, the 
 wife of Charles Rogers, of Nebraska ; Mil- 
 lie, deceased ; F. C. ; and Jane, the wife 
 of Adam Coffman, of Pontoosuc. 
 
 Franklin C. Little largely acquired his 
 education in Ohio and for one term at- 
 tended school in this state, whither he 
 came with his parents when a youth of 
 seventeen. At the age of nineteen, in 
 1849, ne was married to Miss Nancy Mc- 
 Cauley, who was born in New York state 
 in 1829, a daughter of Major and Polly 
 McCauley, both New York people but 
 formerly of Ireland. Her father was 
 a distant relative of MacCauley, the Eng- 
 lish historian. Mr. and Mrs. McCauley 
 came to Illinois at a very early day, set- 
 tling in Hancock county in 1832, and he 
 participated in the Mormon war of 1844, 
 while with many other events of the 
 early days, which have become historic, 
 he was also associated. Of his family 
 of ten children six are now living : Elea- 
 nor, the wife of Isaac London, of Pay- 
 son, Illinois ; Lydia, the widow of Je- 
 rome Langdon, and a resident of Payson ; 
 Henry and Robert, both of Kansas; Su- 
 san, wife of John Schwartz, of Nebraska; 
 and John, also of Nebraska. Three sons, 
 William, Henry and Robert, all served 
 for three years in the Union army in 
 the Civil war. 
 
 At the time of his marriage Mr. Lit- 
 tle's father gave him forty acres of prai- 
 rie land in Pontoosuc township and, lo- 
 cating thereon in 1849, he built a house 
 and has made all the improvements of 
 every kind upon the farm, the boundary 
 of which he has also extended from time 
 to time. He owns altogether four hun- 
 dred acres in Pontoosuc township and 
 although well advanced in years is still 
 actively engaged in general farming and 
 stock raising. This has been his life 
 work. Ambitious to succeed he has put
 
 HANCOCK- COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 forth earnest, unremitting effort, guided 
 by sound judgment, and his prosperity 
 has resulted. 
 
 In 1877 Mr. Little lost his wife, who 
 died on the I4th of June of that year and 
 was laid to rest in Pontoosuc cemetery. 
 She was a devoted member of the Meth- 
 odist church and a consistent Christian 
 woman. Of their ten children, six are 
 living: Martin, a resident of Pontoosuc 
 township, has four sons, Muriel, Franklin, 
 Lee and Harry; Melissa, the wife of 
 James Lamb, of Pontoosuc township, by 
 whom she has seven children Edith. 
 Delmer, George, John, Daisy, Millie and 
 William; Arthur, a resident farmer of 
 Pontoosuc township, who married Lizzie 
 Avis and has three children Jessie, Leola 
 and Gladys ; Mary, wife of Hiram Long- 
 shie. of Pontoosuc township, and the 
 mother of two children, Edward and Min- 
 nie; Samuel, of the same township, who 
 married Emma Cress and has three chil- 
 dren Claude, Nora and Nellie; Anna, 
 the wife of Henry Byler, of Durham 
 township, has one child and by a former 
 marriage has three children, Mabel, Otis 
 and Irene Hamilton (all Hamiltons) ; 
 Flora, wife of Robert Alston, of Hamil- 
 ton, Illinois, by whom she has three chil- 
 dren Flossie, Frankie and Grace; and 
 Frank G., who married Grace Mitchell, of 
 Dallas City, and has one child, Donald 
 Ray. 
 
 On the 23d of January, 1884, Mr. Lit- 
 tle was again married, his second union 
 being with Miss Emma A. North, who 
 was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1853. 
 a daughter of Alfred A. and America A. 
 (Miner) Xorth, both coming from Ohio 
 and settling in Sangamon county.' this 
 
 state, when the eldest sister of Mrs. Lit- 
 tle was only two years old. Mr. North 
 served for three years in the Civil war 
 as a member of Company A, Tenth Illi- 
 nois Cavalry, and was mustered out as 
 brevet major. Of his five children four 
 are living: Kate, the widow of Samuel 
 Lamb, of Pontoosuc township; Mrs. Lit- 
 tle; Milfred, of Galveston, Texas; and 
 Alfred A., living in Springfield. 
 
 Mr. Little is a stalwart republican who 
 has given unswerving support to the party 
 since its organization and has served as 
 supervisor, school director and assessor. 
 He belongs to the United Brethren church 
 and is a man worthy of the respect so 
 uniformly accorded him wherever he is 
 known. He has lived in this county for 
 almost sixty years and events which to 
 others are matters of history are to him 
 matters of personal observation and ex- 
 perience. Pioneer life in Hancock county 
 in all its phases was familiar to him and 
 he has taken justifiable pride in what has 
 been accomplished in the county in the 
 passing years. 
 
 JAMES BABCOCK. 
 
 James Babcock, a leading business man 
 of Durham township engaged in general 
 farming and also representing the finan- 
 cial interests of the community, as vice 
 president of the Farmers Exchange Bank 
 of Dallas City, was born Novmber 2, 
 1849, in the township where he still makes 
 his home. His father, Samuel Babcock,
 
 26 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 was a native of New York, born in 1810, 
 and as a child of a few years he was taken 
 with his parents who settled on the Miami 
 Bottoms near Cincinnati and there he 
 grew to maturity being reared to the oc- 
 cupation of farming. In 1835 he became 
 a resident of Henderson county, Illinois. 
 There he lived in a log house in true pio- 
 neer style for a number of years, there 
 being but few settlers there. He learned 
 and followed the carpenter's trade and 
 he also operated a water mill there until 
 his removal to Hancock county, having 
 purchased a farm in Durham township. 
 He served as a soldier in the Mormon war 
 and was identified with many events 
 which now find place upon the historic 
 annals of this part of the state. He was 
 married in Henderson county in early 
 manhood to Miss Nancy Logan, a daugh- 
 ter of Samuel Logan. She was born in 
 Indiana in 1825, and as a child was 
 brought here. For many years they 
 traveled life's journey happily together. 
 The death of the father occurred Octo- 
 ber 7, 1886, while his wife survived until 
 January 18, 1902, and both were laid to 
 rest in a cemetery in Henderson county, 
 Illinois. Of their family of ten children 
 five are now living: Susan, the wife of 
 Arthur Gates, of Welkin, Minnesota; 
 Euphama,the wife of Lee Shaw, of Dallas 
 City ; James, of this review ; Anna, the 
 wife of Ami Huffman, of Clyde, Mis- 
 souri ; and Florence, the wife of James 
 Farren, of Durham township, living on 
 the old homestead of her parents. 
 
 James Babcock is indebted to the dis- 
 trict schools of Hancock county for the 
 early educational privileges he enjoyed. 
 He afterward spent two winters as a 
 
 student in Bryant & Stratton's Business 
 College at Burlington, Iowa, and he re- 
 mained upon the old homestead until 
 twenty-eight years of age, assisting in 
 the farm work in its various departments 
 and thus gaining thorough familiarity 
 with the best methods of cultivating the 
 fields. 
 
 On the nth of September, 1877, Mr. 
 Babcock was united in marriage to Miss 
 Mary Rice, who was born in Stark county, 
 Ohio, May 12, 1855, a daughter of 
 Henry and Elizabeth Rice, who are men- 
 tioned on another page of this work. For 
 three years following their marriage Mr. 
 and Mrs. Babcock lived upon the present 
 site of Stronghurst and subsequently 
 spent nine years upon the old homestead 
 farm of his father. In March. 1889, he 
 purchased one hundred and sixty acres 
 of good land on section n, Durham 
 township, and in 1896 he erected his 
 present modern residence, which is one 
 of the finest and most beautiful homes in 
 the township. All other improvements 
 upon the place are in keeping and alto- 
 gether his is a model farm property, 
 equipped with the various conveniences 
 and accessories that are known to modern 
 farming in the twentieth century. His 
 fields are under a high state of cultivation 
 and annually return to him good crops 
 and he likewise owns twenty acres of 
 timber land upon the old home place. On 
 the 5th of July, 1904, he was elected vice 
 president of the Farmers State Exchange 
 Bank of Dallas City and has since been 
 connected with the institution in that ca- 
 pacity. He was one of the organizers of 
 the bank and was elected one of the di- 
 rectors at its first meeting, and has been
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 27 
 
 the only vice president who has served. 
 His son Rolla has been cashier from the 
 first and in fact obtained the subscriptions 
 for stock. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock 
 has been blessed with three children : 
 Frank, who was born in Stronghurst in 
 1878, died at the age of five years. Rolla, 
 born in this county in 1880, attended the 
 Gem City Business College at Quincy, 
 Illinois, and is now cashier in the Farm- 
 ers State Exchange Bank in Dallas City. 
 He married Nellie Quinton. Ina, born 
 in Durham township February 9, 1887, 
 attended the Nauvoo Academy for two 
 years and is now at home with her 
 parents. 
 
 Mr. Babcock votes with the democracy 
 but has never been an aspirant for office, 
 preferring to concentrate his energies 
 upon his business affairs, which, capably 
 controlled, are bringing to him a gratify- 
 ing measure of success, and investigation 
 into his history shows that the methods 
 he has ever followed are in strict con- 
 formity to a high standard of business 
 ethics. 
 
 DANIEL T. RAY. 
 
 Daniel T. Ray, living near Colusa, is 
 an extensive land owner and enterpris- 
 ing citizen and as one of the representa- 
 tive men of Hancock county well deserves 
 mention in this volume. He was born in 
 Breckinridge county, Kentucky, in 1859, 
 a son of Thomas L. and Mary (Barr) 
 
 Ray. John Barr, an uncle of Mrs. Mary 
 (Barr) Ray and her grandfather in the 
 maternal line were soldiers of the Revolu- 
 tionary war. 
 
 Thomas L. Ray was born in Breckin- 
 ridge county, Kentucky, in 1827 and was 
 a farmer by occupation. He was mar- 
 ried in his native state to Miss Mary Barr, 
 whose birth occurred in Breckinridge 
 county in 1838. They came to Hancock 
 county, Illinois, in 1865 and settled near 
 Dallas City, while subsequently they re- 
 moved to Pilot Grove township. In 1880 
 they took up their abode in Dallas town- 
 ship, where Mr. Ray purchased eighty 
 acres of land on section 36. This farm 
 was improved and as time passed he ex- 
 tended its boundaries and added other im- 
 provements, making this a well developed 
 property which returned to him a good 
 income for the care and labor which he 
 bestowed upon it. His study of the po- 
 litical issues and questions of the day led 
 him to give his support to the democracy 
 and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his 
 worth and ability, called him to various 
 local offices. He held membership in the 
 Baptist church, to which his widow also 
 belongs, and his life was characterized 
 by his religious faith. In the family were 
 six children, of whom four are now liv- 
 ing: Daniel T. ; Sarah E., who is at 
 home with her mother; Emma E., the 
 wife of George Boyer, of Fort Madison, 
 Iowa; and George W., also at home. 
 One daughter, Mary J., died at the age 
 of two years; and Anna F., the youngest 
 of the family, died in July, 1890, at the 
 age of fourteen years while visiting her 
 sister in Fort Madison, Iowa. That was 
 the year of the father's death. He was
 
 28 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 well advanced in years and suffered from 
 paralysis, but the daughter was carried 
 away in the bloom of youth and died 
 when absent from her mother's home. 
 Her death came as an almost unbearable 
 blow to the family, who in one year were 
 bereft of husband and father, daughter 
 and sister. 
 
 Daniel Ray, whose name introduces 
 this record, was educated in the district 
 schools of Dallas township and to some 
 extent in Pilot Grove township. He re- 
 mained with his father upon the home 
 farm until the latter's death and then took 
 charge of the property for his mother. 
 He is still manager of the farm, which is 
 carefully conducted by him, his business 
 ability and enterprise enabling him to 
 make it a source of profit. In his youth 
 he became thoroughly familiar with the 
 best methods of carrying on farm work 
 and in later years he has not only superin- 
 tended his agricultural interests but has 
 also made judicious investments in land 
 and is now the owner of considerable 
 valuable farm property, owning one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres in Xorth Dakota. 
 He has followed in his father's political 
 footsteps and votes with the democracy. 
 He has served as road commissioner and 
 as a member of the school board and he 
 withplds his support from no movement 
 or measure that is calculated to prove 
 of general good. In his social relations 
 he is a Woodman. Almost his entire 
 life has been passed in this county, for in 
 early boyhood he was brought to Illinois 
 by his parents and in the intervening years 
 he has made a record which is most com- 
 mendable both in his business relations 
 and private life. He is an honest, up- 
 
 right, energetic man, who stands high 
 in the community and in his business life 
 he is making a creditable record and is 
 highly respected by all. 
 
 A. W. O'HARRA. 
 
 Apollos W. O'Harra needs no intro- 
 duction to the readers of this volume, for 
 few men have a wider acquaintance in 
 Hancock county, by reason of his pro- 
 fessional and business connections and his 
 activity in support of many plans and 
 movements for the public good. While 
 undoubtedly he is not without that honor- 
 able ambition which is so powerful and 
 useful an incentive to activity in public 
 affairs he has even regarded the pursuits 
 of private life as being in themselves 
 abundantly worthy of his best efforts and 
 by the faithful and conscientious per- 
 formance of each day's duty as it has 
 come to him he has found inspiration and 
 encouragement for the labors of the suc- 
 ceeding day. He has thus won public 
 confidence and his ability in the line of his 
 chosen profession has given him pres- 
 tige at a bar which has claimed many 
 notable members. 
 
 Mr. O'Harra was born on a farm near 
 Camp Point in Adams county, Illinois, 
 February 22, 1857, his parents being Jef- 
 ferson and Pauline (Robertson) O'Harra. 
 The father was a native of Indiana, born 
 June 4. 1833, and the mother's birth oc- 
 curred in Adams county, Illinois, May 9, 
 1838. Jefferson O'Harra devoted his at-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY. ILLINOIS. 
 
 29 
 
 tention to general agricultural pursuits 
 until 1866 and at the age of fifteen years 
 he went to Adams county, Illinois. In 
 1860 he removed to Hancock county, 
 where he engaged in the tilling of the soil 
 until 1866, when he moved to Bentley 
 and became proprietor of a general store 
 which he conducted for thirty-twci.years^ 
 In 1899 he removed to Carthage, thinking . ; 
 to retire from active business life, but 
 indolence and idleness are utterly foreign 
 to his nature and he could not content 
 himself without some occupation, so that 
 for the past five years he has acted as 
 manager of the mortgage department in 
 the office of his son, A. W. O'Harra. He 
 votes with the democracy and has served 
 as township supervisor and as a member 
 of the school board, but is without polit- 
 ical ambitions. A member of the Odd 
 Fellows Society, he has passed all of the 
 chairs in the local lodge and has several 
 times been representative to the grand 
 lodge. Both he and his wife are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist church and he has 
 held most of the church offices. They re- 
 side in Carthage and are greatly esteemed 
 in the city which is their home. Unto 
 them were born five sons and four daugh- 
 ters, of whom six are now living, namely : 
 A. W., of this review: Dr. William G. 
 O'Harra, a practicing physician of Chi- 
 cago; Mary E., the wife of George E. 
 Burner, a farmer residing in Rock Creek 
 township ; Professor C. C. O'Harra, pro- 
 fessor of geology and mineralogy in the 
 state school of mines at Rapid City, South 
 Dakota ; Rev. M. L. O'Harra, a Methodist 
 minister, who is now pastor of the Col- 
 lege church at Abingdon, Illinois ; and 
 Ira J., a successful lawyer at Macomb. 
 
 A. W. O'Harra was a student in Car- 
 thage College and afterward engaged in 
 teaching for four years in the public 
 schools of Bentley, Illinois. He took up 
 the study of law in the office under the 
 direction of the firm of Draper & Sco- 
 field in Carthage and was admitted to the 
 bar January 5, 1880. He began the prac- 
 ' tice of law alone with an office on the 
 \^est side of the public square and after 
 two years admitted Frank H. Graves, now 
 a' Reading attorney of Spokane, Wash- 
 ington, to a partnership. They were as- 
 sociated for two years, or until Mr. 
 Graves' removal from the city, when Mr. 
 O'Harra entered into partnership with C. 
 J. and T. J. Scofield, brothers, a rela- 
 tionship which was maintained for a few 
 months, when the former was elected cir- 
 cuit judge. T. J. Scofield and Mr 
 O'Harra continued in practice together 
 for seventeen years, the firm originally be- 
 ing Scofield, O'Harra & Scofield and later 
 O'Harra & Scofield. In 1891 they ad- 
 mitted William H. Hartzell to a partner- 
 ship and he continued with the firm until 
 1896. In 1890 O'Harra & Scofield 
 opened a law office in Quincy, Illinois, the 
 latter removing to that city to look after 
 the business there and after a year Colonel 
 W. W. Berry became a member of the 
 firm, the partnership thus continuing un- 
 til the death of Colonel Berry. All this 
 time Mr. O'Harra continued his residence 
 in Carthage, having charge of the office 
 here. On the ist of January, 1897, W. 
 H. Hartzell retired from the firm in this 
 city and during the fall of the same year 
 Judge C. J. Scofield, having retired from 
 the bench, again became a partner and 
 the old firm style of Scofield, O'Harra &
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Scofield was resumed, the connection be- 
 ing continued until the ist of March, 
 1899, when it was dissolved. Judge Sco- 
 field still practices in Carthage, while T. 
 J. Scofield is one of the prominent law- 
 yers of Chicago. Mr. O'Harra practices 
 in all of the courts and is now located in 
 an office on Main street, where he has one 
 of the finest law libraries of the city. It 
 is the theory of the law that the counsel 
 who practice are to aid the court in the 
 administration of justice and this Mr. 
 O'Harra has endeavored to do. He is 
 careful to conform his practice to a high 
 standard of professional ethics and never 
 seeks to lead the court astray in a mat- 
 ter of fact or law, nor does he endeavor 
 to withhold from it a knowledge of any 
 fact appearing in the record. He treats 
 the court with the studied courtesy which 
 is its due and indulges in no malicious 
 criticism because it arrives at a conclu- 
 sion, in the decision of a case, different 
 from that which he hoped to hear. Calm 
 dignified, self-controlled, free from pas- 
 sion or prejudice, he gives to his client 
 the service of great talent, unwearied in- 
 dustry and broad learning, but he never 
 forgets that there are certain things due 
 to the court, to his own self-respect and 
 above all to justice and a righteous ad- 
 ministration of the law which neither the 
 zeal of an advocate nor the pleasure of 
 success permits him to disregard. He has 
 achieved distinction as an able lawyer 
 of his district and he deserves it. 
 
 In connection with his law office Mr. 
 O'Harra maintains a money loaning de- 
 partment, making loans on farms and 
 thus placing about five hundred thousand 
 dollars per year. He is moreover a di- 
 
 rector in the Hancock County National 
 Bank, a director in the State Bank of Au- 
 gusta, and has been a director of the Car- 
 thage Building & Loan Association since 
 its organization in May, 1885. He is 
 likewise a director in the Carthage Elec- 
 tric Light & Power Company and a di- 
 rector in the Plumb Brothers Brick & Tile 
 Company and several other industrial cor- 
 porations. He has made judicious invest- 
 ments in real estate, owning some unim- 
 proved property in Carthage together witli 
 the Shoreham Hotel and his own resi- 
 dence. He likewise has farms in Hancock 
 county and has thus placed his money in 
 the safest of all investments real estate. 
 His strict integrity, business conservatism 
 and judgment have always been so uni- 
 versally recognized that he has enjoyed 
 public confidence to an enviable degree 
 and naturally this has brought him a lu- 
 crative clientage. 
 
 Aside from what he has done for the 
 city through the line of his business and 
 professional activity Mr. O'Harra has 
 given many hours to public service and 
 Carthage has benefited by his efforts in 
 her behalf. He has always been a stanch 
 democrat and for four years, from 1886 
 until 1890, served as mayor of the city, 
 giving a public spirited and businesslike 
 administration. He was also president of 
 the school board for a number of years 
 and for fifteen years has been a member 
 of the board of trustees of Carthage Col- 
 lege. His co-operation can be counted 
 upon for every measure and movement 
 that promises to advance the general wel- 
 fare and while working toward high 
 ideals he uses practical methods. 
 
 On the 1 4th of October, 1880, Mr.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 O'Harra was married to Miss Eliza J. 
 Burner, who was born in Hancock county, 
 October 25, 1856, and is a daughter of 
 Isaac S. and Jane A. (Lionberger) Bur- 
 ner, both of whom were natives of Page 
 county, Virginia, the former born March 
 21, 1817, and the latter April 21, 1820. 
 Mr. Burner was a farmer by occupation 
 and in 1837 came to Hancock' county, 
 traveling all the way on horseback. He 
 settled in Harmony township and rented 
 a log cabin, in which he lived for a few 
 years, when he purchased land and built 
 a log cabin, living in true pioneer style 
 upon the frontier of the ever receding 
 west and aiding in changing its pioneer 
 conditions into those of an advanced and 
 enlightened civilization. He voted with 
 the democracy and held several local of- 
 fices and was recognized as a local party 
 leader, his influence carrying weight in 
 the councils of the party. Both he and 
 his wife were consistent members of the 
 Baptist church, in which he served as dea- 
 con. He lived upon farms in Harmony 
 township for fifty years and died sudden- 
 ly November 3, 1886, at the home of Dr. 
 Carlton, to whom he had gone for med- 
 ical attendance. He was invited by Dr. 
 Carlton, an old-time friend, to remain to 
 dinner and passed away at the table. His 
 wife survived until October 31, 1890. 
 and both He buried in Harmony ceme- 
 tery. In their family were ten children, 
 of whom seven are yet living, as fol- 
 lows: Amanda E.. the widow of Samuel 
 F. Ramsey, of Harmony township; Am- 
 brose C.. and George S., of the same 
 township; Fannie A., the wife of Henry 
 Harter, of Sabetha. Kansas; Alice B., the 
 wife of Philip L. Dailey, living on the 
 
 old home place in Harmony township; 
 Eliza J., now Mrs. O'Harra; and Olive, 
 who resides with her sister, Mrs. O'Harra. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. O'Harra have been 
 bom five children, all born in Carthage, 
 but the eldest died in infancy. Clifton 
 Junius, born May 23, 1884, was gradu- 
 ated from the high school of Carthage in 
 1902, completed the course in Carthage 
 College in 1906 and intends to become a 
 member of the bar. Edith May, born 
 May 22, 1886, is a graduate of the acad- 
 emy, a preparatory department of Car- 
 thage College, and is now a senior in 
 the more advanced institution. Gladys 
 June, born June 8, 1890, is a junior in 
 the high school. Roswell Burner, born 
 March 30, 1892, is a student in the Car- 
 thage High Schools. In 1892, Mr. 
 O'Harra built an elegant residence at the 
 corner of Main and Washington streets. 
 He is a man of domestic tastes, devoted to 
 his family and finding his greatest hap- 
 piness at his own fireside. He has, more- 
 over, great reverence for aged people and 
 the most thorough respect for all things 
 which tend to uplift mankind and develop 
 an upright character. His home is noted 
 for its gracious and almost limitless hos- 
 pitaltiy, Mrs. O'Harra taking great pleas- 
 ure with him in the entertainment of their 
 many friends. Mr. O'Harra is an Odd 
 Fellow, has passed all of the chairs in 
 the local lodge and has several times 
 been representative to the grand lodge. 
 His wife has also filled all of the offices 
 in the Rebekah lodge and has for several 
 years been its representative to the Re- 
 bekah assembly. She is treasurer of the 
 Woman's Club of Carthage, president of 
 the Public Library Association and for
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV I Ell' 
 
 several years was president of the Floral 
 Guild. Mr. O'Harra started in life with 
 limited means, teaching school in order 
 to provide the funds necessary to enable 
 him to study law and at the time of their 
 marriage he and his wife had but very 
 limited possessions. He purchased his 
 first law library with borrowed money and 
 he has inherited nothing, but has accu- 
 mulated all by his industry, supplemented 
 by ambition and the development of his 
 native powers and talents. It is true that 
 his chief life work has been that of a 
 remarkably successful lawyer but the 
 range of his activities and the scope of 
 his influence have reached far beyond this 
 special field. He belongs to that class 
 of men who wield a power which is all 
 the more potent from the fact that it is 
 moral rather than political and is exer- 
 cised for the public weal rather than for 
 personal ends. 
 
 EDWARD CHERRILL. 
 
 Edward Cherrill, president of the Ex- 
 change Bank at Carthage, was born in 
 London, England, June 17, 1838, a son 
 of Adolphus and Elizabeth (Wood) 
 Cherrill, who were likewise natives of 
 London, born in 1808 and 1813 respect- 
 ively. The father came to America in 
 1838, bringing with him his wife and 
 two children, first locating in Jackson- 
 ville, Illinois. They had spent six weeks 
 on the water as passengers on an old-time 
 sailing vessel. He had been brought up 
 
 in a silk warehouse, where were employed 
 fifty-two young men known as Bradbury's 
 Pack, and while living in England ac- 
 quired a classical education as a prepara- 
 tion for a profession. He moreover pos- 
 sessed considerable artistic skill and when 
 a young man and even later in life did 
 creditable work painting in water colors. 
 He was always a great reader and a man 
 of scholarly attainments, and he likewise 
 enjoyed outdoor life. He was married on 
 the 1 5th of December, 1835, in St. 
 George's church, in Hanover Square, 
 London, to Miss Elizabeth Wood, who 
 had spent her girlhood days in that city, 
 had acquired her education in the schools 
 there, and had been received into the 
 Episcopal church at an early age. Two 
 children were born unto them ere they 
 emigrated to America. On coming to 
 Hancock county in 1842 they built a house 
 on a farm near Augusta, where they lived 
 for several years in true pioneer style. 
 In 1847, they removed to Carthage, 
 Mr. Cherrill turning his attention to mer- 
 chandising, which he followed in partner- 
 ship with Mr. Sholl for many years. 
 He was thus closely associated with the 
 business development of the city. With 
 events that marked the history of the 
 city and county he was closely associated, 
 taking an active part in the Mormon war 
 and in other incidents of those early 
 times. His political allegiance was given 
 to the democracy and he served one term 
 as county treasurer of Hancock county. 
 His life was made up of good deeds and 
 he left to his family a record of which 
 his children and grandchildrn have every 
 reason to be proud. His character was 
 such as commanded the respect of the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 33 
 
 entire community. He recognized and 
 called forth the good in others and in his 
 own life displayed those sterling traits 
 which work for good citizenship. He 
 passed away in 1877, and was laid to rest 
 in the Carthage cemetery. Mrs. Cherrill 
 is still living in Carthage, at the advanced 
 age of ninety-two and possesses her men- 
 tal and physical faculties to a remarkable 
 degree and has looked after her own 
 household and other affairs until the past 
 year. While devoted to her family she 
 has always found time to perform many 
 acts of kindness and charity and is great- 
 ly beloved by her own children and the 
 entire community. She is a most enter- 
 taining and companionable lady, relating 
 many interesting reminiscences of pioneer 
 life and of the early days in Hancock 
 county. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Cherrill were the parents 
 of six children. Emily became the wife 
 of Francis M. Corby, and for some time 
 they lived in Chicago but both are now 
 deceased. At one time Mr. Corby was 
 county clerk of Hancock county. Ed- 
 ward is the second of the family. Mary 
 became the wife of Dr. J. K. Bonde, of 
 Carthage, but both are now deceased, the 
 Doctor having passed away in Washing- 
 ton, D. C. Rose C. is the deceased wife 
 of H. E. Griswold, of Atlantic, Iowa, 
 Ellen married Colonel James B. Cahill, 
 who was lieutenant colonel of the Six- 
 teenth Illinois Infantry. They were at 
 one time residents of Carthage but both 
 are now deceased. The Colonel was in- 
 ternal revenue collector at Warsaw and 
 Ouincy, acting as collector for the district 
 in the latter place. A. N. Cherrill makes 
 his home in Carthage. Grace Amelia 
 
 died when a young lady, of malarial fever 
 which she contracted' on a camping trip 
 in Missouri. 
 
 Edward Cherrill was educated in the 
 subscription schools of Hancock county. 
 He lived in Carthage but owing to the 
 pioneer condition of the country and the 
 fact that the public-school system had 
 not yet been organized, he was sent to a 
 country school called Hickory Flat, 
 where, however, he was under the in- 
 struction of a very competent teacher. 
 Soon after leaving school he received the 
 appointment as deputy county clerk under 
 Claiborne Winston, and subsequently he 
 attended Illinois College and the State 
 University of Indiana. After leaving 
 college he went to St. Louis, Missouri, 
 where he was employed in the counting 
 house of Doan, King & Company and 
 afterwards with J. W. Booth & Sons 
 until 1864, when he returned to Carthage. 
 Here he became identified with banking 
 interests of the city as cashier of the 
 Hancock National Bank, which position 
 he occupied for ten years. The bank 
 was originally established by his brother- 
 in-law, Mr. Corby and Mr. Ferris. At 
 a later date Mr. Cherrill was cashier of 
 the Union Bank in Quincy for three 
 years but in 1876 returned to Carthage, 
 where, in connection with his father-in- 
 law, Jacob Sholl, he established the bank- 
 ing house of Cherrill, Sholl & Company, 
 known as the Exchange Bank of Carth- 
 age. The house remains virtually the 
 same although Mr. Sholl is now de- 
 ceased. A. N. Cherrill, a brother of our 
 subject, entered the institution soon after 
 it was established and is still connected 
 with it, Edward Cherrill being now presi-
 
 34 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW' 
 
 dent of the institution. Throughout 
 periods of general financial stress or gen- 
 eral prosperity this bank has continued 
 on the even tenor of its way with an un- 
 assailable reputation, following a safe, 
 conservative policy which has inspired 
 public confidence and secured a liberal 
 patronage. 
 
 On the loth of June, 1869, Mr. Cherrill 
 was married to Miss Susan Agnes Sholl, 
 who was born in Winchester, Ohio. Her 
 father, Jacob Sholl, was a native of Penn- 
 sylvania, and her mother, Mrs. Maria 
 Sholl, of Ohio. In the year 1854 he 
 came to Carthage and was engaged in 
 merchandising before he became identi- 
 fied with the banking interests. His po- 
 litical allegiance was given to the repub- 
 lican party but he was without aspiration 
 for office. In the family were four chil- 
 dren, three of whom are now living: 
 Alexander, who was a captain in the One 
 Hundred and .Eighteenth Illinois Regi- 
 ment in the Civil war and is now residing 
 in Quincy, Illinois ; Jacob Mack, of Carth- 
 age, who is a National bank examiner; 
 Mrs. Cherrill. One brother, David 
 Sholl, who was the third of the family, 
 was killed in a skirmish at Thompson's 
 Hill during the Civil war. Both Mr. 
 and Mrs. Sholl have passed away and 
 their graves were made in Moss Ridge 
 cemetery. 
 
 In 1882 Mr. Cherrill built a pretty 
 home on Madison street and he also owns 
 other property in the city. Unto him 
 and his wife have been born six children. 
 Lawrence C, the eldest, is a resident of 
 Chicago. Ellen Maria is the wife of 
 Charles C. Merrill, formerly of Carthage, 
 who is now passenger agent of the New 
 
 York Central Lines, with headquarters 
 at Kansas City, Missouri. Edward K., 
 living in New York city, is assistant cash- 
 ier of the Merchants Exchange National 
 Bank. He was graduated from the high 
 school and Carthage College, and during 
 the periods of vacation spent much of his 
 time in his father's bank, where he gained 
 the ground work of the business. Lucy 
 Sholl is the wife of Dr. Marsh, of War- 
 saw, and has two children, John and 
 Susan. Katherine has attended the pub- 
 lic schools of Carthage and also Carthage 
 College, and is now at home with her 
 parents. Elizabeth G. is yet in school. 
 The daughters of Mr. Cherrill are con- 
 nected with the Daughters of the Ameri- 
 can Revolution, through William Mack, 
 great-grandfather of Mrs. Cherrill. De- 
 void of ostentation or display in his home 
 life or business affairs, Mr. Cherrill has 
 won his way to a position of prominence 
 in financial circles in this part of the state. 
 In politics a democrat he has never sought 
 public office but is content to remain a 
 private citizen. 
 
 FRANCIS ORREN PERSHING, M. D. 
 
 Although 'Dr. Pershing has resided in 
 Dallas City for only about a year he was 
 not a stranger in the town when he lo- 
 cated here, and he has already made a 
 creditable place for himself in profes- 
 sional circles. He was born in Durham 
 township, Hancock county, November 3, 
 1867, his parents being W r esley K. and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 35 
 
 Ruth A. (Gather) Pershing. Both par- 
 ents were natives of Pennsylvania, the 
 father having been born in Westmore- 
 land county, and the mother in Greene 
 county. The paternal and maternal 
 grandparents of our subject settled in 
 Hancock county in the early '405, and 
 were identified with the pioneer develop- 
 ment and progress of this part of the 
 I state. Wesley K. Pershing is a farmer 
 by occupation, and for over a half cen- 
 tury lived in this county. He purchased 
 government land, cleared a portion of it 
 and built thereon a log cabin. As the 
 years advanced he. continued the work of 
 progress and improvement, his labors be- 
 ing interrupted, however, by the Civil 
 war, for at the time of the inauguration 
 of hostilities between the north and the 
 south he espoused the Union cause and 
 became a member of Company I, Six- 
 teenth Illinois infantry. He served for 
 four years, participated in the seige of 
 Vicksburg, went with Sherman on his 
 memorable march to the sea and also 
 took part in the grand review in Wash- 
 ington at the close of the war. While in 
 Georgia he was wounded, being shot 
 through the throat and for a time was 
 in the hospital. His political allegiance 
 has ever been given to the republican 
 party and its principles, and both he and 
 his wife are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church. He served for many 
 years as superintendent in different Sun- 
 day-schools in various parts of the county, 
 filling that position for a period in Burn- 
 side. Both he and his wife now reside 
 in Oklahoma. In their family were four 
 children, three of whom are now living: 
 Dr. Pershing, of this review; Royal S., 
 
 a dentist practicing in Canada ; and Stella 
 R., who has been a teacher of Marshall 
 county, Illinois, and is now with her par- 
 ents in Oklahoma, being engaged as a 
 teacher in an Oklahoma seminary. 
 
 Dr. Pershing attended the schools of 
 Durham township, of Dallas City and of. 
 Burnside, and later pursued a business 
 course in Hedding College, at Abingdon, 
 Illinois, from which institution he was 
 graduated. He prepared for his profes- 
 sion as a student in Keokuk Medical 
 College, from which he was graduated in 
 the class of 1893, and he later took post- 
 graduate work in the Chicago Polyclinic 
 College, in 1902. From 1893 until 1896 
 inclusive he practiced medicine at Hamill, 
 Iowa, and then located for practice in 
 Burnside, where he remained for a year. 
 On the expiration of that period he re- 
 moved to Whitefield, Illinois, where he 
 continued for six years and later spent 
 three years in active practice at Tiskilwa. 
 In January, 1906, he located in Dallas 
 City, and now has a nice suite of rooms 
 on Oak and Fifth streets, supplied with 
 all modern appliances that are of aid to 
 the physician in his effort to diagnose a 
 case, check the ravages of disease and re- 
 store health. He is a physician and sur- 
 geon in general practice and yet makes 
 somewhat of a specialty of diseases of the 
 nose and throat. He has all the latest im- 
 proved instruments needed in his profes- 
 sion and his well equipped office shows 
 that he is thoroughly familiar with 
 modern methods of practice. 
 
 On the 29th of March, 1893, Dr. Per- 
 shing was married to Miss Winifred L. 
 Bray, of La Harpe, who was born and 
 reared in that place, and is a daughter of
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Thomas and Emma (Leavitt) Bray. 
 Her father came from Wales and settled 
 first in Ohio but at an early day they re- 
 moved to La Harpe, where he located in 
 the '405. His wife is a native of Maine, 
 and her people arrived in Hancock county 
 . before the Bray family was established 
 here. Mr. Bray was a tinner and hard- 
 ware merchant for some years but at the 
 time of his death, in 1894, was engaged 
 in the undertaking business. He served 
 as a soldier of the Civil war for two 
 years. His widow still survives and 
 makes her home in La Harpe. She be- 
 longs to the Congregational church, 
 while Mr. Bray held membership in the 
 Episcopal church. They were the par- 
 ents of a son and two daughters : Edwin 
 M. Bray, proprietor of a general store 
 at Towne, Texas, a suburb of El Paso, 
 where he makes his home; Anna, the wife 
 of J. V. Place, of La Harpe; and 
 Mrs. Pershing. John and Joseph Bray, 
 two of the brothers of Thomas Bray, 
 were killed in the Civil war and some of 
 Mrs. Pershing's relatives on the Leavitt 
 side were in the Revolutionary war, so 
 that she is eligible to membership with 
 the Daughters of the American Revolu- 
 tion. 
 
 Unto Dr. and Mrs. Pershing has been 
 born one son, Francis Orville, who was 
 born in Hamill, Lee County, Iowa, May 
 14, 1895, and is attending the public 
 school of, Dallas City. They are tem- 
 porarily living on Oak street but Dr. Per- 
 shing expects soon to build or buy a resi- 
 dence here. He belongs to Dallas City 
 Lodge A. F. & A. M. No. 145 and Odd 
 Fellows lodges and to the Modern Wood- 
 men camp as well as the Knights of Pyth- 
 
 ias and he votes with the republican party 
 but does not care for office, preferring to 
 give his time and energies to his profes- 
 sional duties, and in the line of his chosen 
 calling he has won a reputation which 
 many an older practitioner might well 
 envy. 
 
 Dr. Pershing is a member of the Han- 
 cock County Medical Society, the Illinois 
 State Medical Society and the American 
 Medical Association. 
 
 JOHN I. HEISLER. 
 
 John I. Heisler, ex-postmaster of Dal- 
 las and now in general business, was 
 born in Hancock county, May 28, 1853, 
 a son of George and Mary (Housewert) 
 Heisler. The father was born in Ohio 
 in 1814, while the mother's birth occurred 
 in Pennsylvania in 1823. He was a farm- 
 er by occupation and in 1835 came to 
 Hancock county, settling in Dallas. His 
 brother, William Heisler, had come to 
 the county in 1832 the year of the Black 
 Hawk war. George Heisler was suc- 
 cessfully engaged in farming until his 
 death, clearing away the timber in or- 
 der to build a log cabin, in which he lived 
 in true pioneer style until he was able 
 to make modern improvements. He 
 served in the war against the Mormons 
 at Nauvoo in 1844, carrying the flag, and 
 was associated with other early historic 
 events. He now lies buried in a ceme- 
 tery in Durham township. His widow 
 still survives and is a member of the Chris-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 37 
 
 tian church. In their family were seven 
 children, of whom three are living: John 
 I.; George F., of Dallas City; and Me- 
 lissa, the wife of Edward Avis, living 
 near Colusa, Illinois. 
 
 John I. Heisler largely acquired his 
 education in the district schools but also 
 spent two years as a student in Carthage 
 College. He remained with his mother 
 upon the home farm until he had attained 
 his majority and then purchased land 
 in Dallas township upon which he en- 
 gaged in general farming and stock-rais- 
 ing for fifteen years, meeting with suc- 
 cess in his, undertakings. He then de- 
 voted ten years to the poultry business, 
 being one of the early fanciers of the 
 county, introducing the first thorough- 
 bred fowls of different varieties and win- 
 ning over 5,000 prizes at various fairs 
 during the time he was in the business. 
 He was then appointed by President Mc- 
 Kinley to the position of postmaster at 
 Dallas and after serving for three years 
 was reappointed, his incumbency in the 
 office covering altogether seven years and 
 three months and giving general satisfac- 
 tion to the public by reason of the prompt 
 and efficient manner in which he dis- 
 charged his duties. During this time the 
 first rural route was inaugurated and the 
 office became a presidential office. He 
 was city alderman for four years, tax 
 collector of Dallas township for two years 
 and township supervisor for two years, 
 and as a public official he bears an unas- 
 sailable record. 
 
 On Christmas clay of 1876 Mr. Heisler 
 was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca 
 Salsbury, a native of Kirksville, Missouri, 
 and a daughter of Christopher and Eliz- 
 
 abeth Salsbury. Mrs. Heisler was born 
 in Missouri and died in this county No- 
 vember 19, 1901, her remains being in- 
 terred in Durham township. She was a 
 member of the Christian church, was a 
 good wife, kind mother and friend to 
 all, and her many excellent traits of char- 
 acter won her the esteem of those with 
 whom she came in contact. She left one 
 daughter, Malinda, now the wife of Fred 
 J. Dickson, of Dallas City, by whom she 
 has two children, Leo and Ethel. On the 
 24th of January, 1906, Mr. Heisler was 
 married to Mrs. Ellen Elizabeth (Toof) 
 Dean, who was born in Durham town- 
 ship, Hancock county, July 9, 1852, a 
 daughter of B. L. and Mary A. (Ather- 
 ton) Toof. Her maternal grandfather 
 built the first log cabin in Dallas and it 
 is now a part of the residence of the late 
 B. F. Black on Oak and Front streets. 
 This place was his farm and there were 
 then still many Indians in the locality, 
 while wild deer and other kinds of wild 
 game could be had in abundance. In the 
 log house which he erected Mr. Atherton 
 died. 
 
 B. L. Toof, father of Mrs. Heisler, was 
 born in Vermont, February 29, 1820, and 
 died March 27, 1885. His wife, who 
 was born in Ohio, July 24. 1823, died 
 September 7, 1877, and both lie buried 
 in Dallas cemetery. He came to Hancock 
 county when a small boy and to Dallas 
 in 1850 and followed farming until his 
 death. He voted with the republican 
 party and held various township offices. 
 He was a charter member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, in which he passed all the 
 chairs, and he and his wife were mem- 
 bers of the Congregational church at Dal-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 las. They had seven children, all liv- 
 ing: Henry A., who was born Septem- 
 ber 15, 1843, an d was a soldier of the 
 Civil war, is- now living in Aurora, Ne- 
 braska; Daniel L., born March 22. 1850, 
 in Iowa, also resides in Aurora, Ne- 
 braska ; Ella E., born July 9, 1852, is now 
 Mrs. Heisler; John Wilson, born Decem- 
 ber 15, 1854, is a resident of Santa Cruz 
 county, California; M. Jane, born in Dal- 
 las City, October 20, 1859, is the wife of 
 William Ramsay; Mary Catherine, born 
 February 15, 1863, is the wife of William 
 Phipps, of Braham, Oklahoma. 
 
 By her former marriage Mrs. Heisler 
 had three children. William B. Dean, 
 born in Henderson county, November 24, 
 1869, when seventeen years of age be- 
 came connected with the Sierra Lumber 
 Company, of Chico, California, of which 
 he is now the manager. He is one of the 
 foremost business men of that place, well 
 known from New York to California, and 
 his weekly payroll amounts to two thou- 
 sand dollars. He married Miss Lulu Wa- 
 dams, of Chico, who died when her sec- 
 ond child, Vera A., was fourteen days 
 old, also leaving another daughter, Lolita 
 R. Mrs. Dean was buried in Chico cem- 
 etery and after living a widower for nine 
 years with his mother, who cared for his 
 two children, William B. Dean was mar- 
 ried, in June, 1903, to Bertha Fish, a 
 prominent teacher of California. Nellie 
 Dean, born in Durham township, April 
 25, 1873, is the wife of Harry Moir, as- 
 sistant cashier and head bookkeeper in 
 the Butte County Bank at Chico, Cali- 
 fornia. Dr. J. Wilson Dean, born in Dur- 
 ham township, Hancock county. May 10, 
 1875, was graduated from the St. Louis 
 
 Medical College and began practice when 
 twenty-one years of age. He is a suc- 
 cessful physician and surgeon now of 
 Pond, Missouri, frequently called in con- 
 sultation on important cases, and he makes 
 a specialty of diseases of the eye and ear. 
 He married Miss Viola Huttenman, who 
 was born August 7, 1879, and they live 
 in Pond, Missouri. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Heisler are descend- 
 ed from highly respected pioneer families 
 of Hancock county. They played together 
 when little children and later attended the 
 same school and social gatherings and 
 then each married. Miss Toof becoming 
 Mrs. Dean and later spending much time 
 in California. On a visit to her old home 
 and friends in Hancock county in 1905 
 she again renewed the acquaintance and 
 friendship with her former playmate and 
 in course of time they were married at the 
 home of her son in Pond, Missouri. It 
 was with delight that Mrs. Heisler's old 
 friends, neighbors and relatives of this 
 county welcomed her back. She is a 
 member of the Eastern Star, in which she 
 has been warden and chaplain and she 
 also belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps 
 and for many years was a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church but is now a 
 member of the Christian church with her 
 husband. 
 
 Mr. Heisler built a pretty home in Dal- 
 las in 1906 and he also owns eighty acres 
 of improved land in Dallas township, 
 where he is again devoting considerable 
 time and energy to the poultry business, 
 in which he is well versed. He is mana- 
 ger and secretary of the Dallas Creamery 
 Company and is president of the Hancock 
 County Poultry Association. Outside of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: 
 
 39 
 
 the eighty acres of land which he inherit- 
 ed from his father, he is entirely a self- 
 made man, and his energy and honesty 
 constitute the basis of his success. He 
 stands high in the community, respected 
 by all, and both Mr. and Mrs. Heisler 
 number their friends by the score. 
 
 LUKE M. VAUGHN. 
 
 Luke M. Vaughn, who follows the oc- 
 cupation of farming in Durham township, 
 was torn in Carman, Illinois, October 15, 
 1870, a son of Mathew and Mary (Mars- 
 den) Vaughn, who were natives of Eng- 
 land and came to America in early life. 
 Mr. Vaughn first resided in Ohio and 
 subsequently removed to Henderson coun- 
 ty, Illinois, where he purchased a farm, 
 while his last years were spent as a re- 
 tired agriculturist in Burlington, Iowa, 
 where he died on the 22d of February, 
 1905. Mrs. Vaughn had departed this 
 life twenty-eight years before. They were 
 the parents of eleven children, of whom 
 nine are living, namely : Catherine, the 
 wife of Thomas Dickson, of Henderson 
 county, Illinois ; George, who is living in 
 Carman, this state ; Arthur, who is located 
 near Lomax; Alice, the wife of John 
 Johnson, of Osceola, Nebraska ; Miles, liv- 
 ing in Nebraska City ; James, of Lomax ; 
 Mark, of Lomax ; Luke, of this review, 
 who is a twin brother of Mark ; and 
 Manford, who is living in Carman. 
 
 In taking up the personal history of 
 Luke Vaughn we present to our readers 
 3 
 
 the record of one who is widely and fa- 
 vorably known in Durham township. He 
 was educated in the public schools and 
 was reared to agricultural life, remaining 
 upon his father's farm to the age of 
 twenty-four years, when he was married 
 and started out in life on his own ac- 
 count. It was on the 5th of December, 
 1894. that he wedded Miss Leona Git- 
 tings, who was born near Disco, Illinois, 
 in 1876, a daughter of- Austin and Ellen 
 (Inghram) Gittings, the former a native 
 of Texas and the latter of Pennsylvania. 
 Mr. Gittings was brought to Hancock 
 county by his parents when only six 
 years of age and is now a farmer of Mis- 
 souri. In his family were fifteen chil- 
 dren, namely: A. J. and Emmet, both 
 residents of Disco; Minnie, the wife of 
 Wesley Scott, of Dallas City ; Clyde, who 
 is living near Carman; Mrs. Vaughn; 
 Ena, the wife of Orville Pence, living near 
 Dallas; Hettie, the wife of Archibald 
 Vaughan, of Carman ; Weaver, of Disco ; 
 Robert, of Lomax ; Edward, also of 
 Disco ; Annie, deceased ; Luella, the wife 
 of John Hayden, of Disco ; Bertha, Ollie 
 and Jessie, at home; and one died in in- 
 fancy. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn 
 has been blessed with three children : 
 Clarence L., born in Henderson county, 
 Illinois, in 1895 ; Ferrill L., born March 
 3, 1897; and Floyd V., November 16, 
 1900. Following their marriage the par- 
 ents lived upon a farm near Lomax for 
 two years and subsequently spent three 
 years near Dallas. In 1900 Mr. Vaughn 
 purchased one hundred and ten acres of 
 land in Durham township, upon which he 
 has erected a beautiful residence, com-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 modious barns and other outbuildings and 
 has improved here a splendid farm, 
 equipped with all modern accessories and 
 conveniences. He also owns eighty acres 
 of good land in Durham township below 
 his home place. He carries on general 
 agricultural pursuits and in the cultiva- 
 tion of his fields employs practical and 
 progressive methods, resulting in annual 
 gatherings of good crops. He is a re- 
 publican but without aspiration for of- 
 fice. Fraternally he is connected with 
 the Woodmen, while his wife is a mem- 
 ber of the Christian church. He never 
 received any assistance through inherit- 
 ance or aid of influential friends but has 
 lived a life of industry and frugality and 
 through the united efforts of himself and 
 wife there are now many comforts to be 
 enjoyed in the Vaughn home. There hos- 
 pitality also reigns supreme and the fam- 
 ily have many friends in this community. 
 
 GEORGE M. CUMMINGS. 
 
 George M. Cummings, a well-to-do 
 farmer of Dallas township, was born in 
 Blooming Grove, Lycoming county, 
 Pennsylvania, September 8, 1853, a son 
 of George and Elizabeth (Keyport) Cum- 
 mings. The father's birth occurred in 
 New York in 1802. In early manhood he 
 learned and followed the trade of a black- 
 smith and tool maker. At the age of 
 eighteen years he went to Pennsylvania 
 and in that state was for a long period 
 engaged in general farming. In 1879 he 
 
 came to Hancock county, Illinois, where 
 he lived. retired until his death, which oc- 
 curred about a year later. His wife had 
 passed away in 1876, at the age of sixty- 
 four years. She was born near the cap- 
 ital of Switzerland and came to America 
 when only three years of age with her 
 parents. George Cummings, Sr., was a 
 republican in his political views and his 
 fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth 
 and ability, called him to fill various town- 
 ship offices. In the family were ten chil- 
 dren, of whom five are now living: Har- 
 riet C, the widow of William G. Edwards 
 and a resident of St. Louis, Missouri ; 
 Mrs. Sarah Porter, a widow living in 
 Erie, Pennsylvania ; Louisa, the wife of 
 Norman Strieby, of Burlington, Kansas; 
 George M., of this review; and W. W., 
 who is living in Los Angeles, California. 
 
 George M. Cummings was educated in 
 the public schools of his native county 
 and gave assistance to his father in the 
 farm work until twenty-three years of 
 age. In the spring of 1878, when he came 
 to Illinois, he began working as a farm 
 hand by the month and was employed by 
 John Dietrick, of Pontoosuc township. 
 The next summer he rented a farm in Se- 
 nora township and started out in life on 
 his own account. He has always carried 
 on general agricultural pursuits and for 
 a number of years has been accounted one 
 of the representative agriculturists of Dal- 
 las township. 
 
 On the loth of February, 1880, Mr. 
 Cummings was united in marriage to 
 Miss Ellen M. Dietrich, who was born 
 in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, Jan- 
 uary i, 1857, a daughter of Joseph F. and 
 Sarah (Benner) Deitrich. The mother
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 died when Mrs. Cummings was a child 
 two years old. The father, who was a 
 farmer by occupation, long survived. He 
 came to Hancock county in 1863 and 
 passed away in Dallas township in 1901. 
 Both he and his wife were natives of 
 Pennsylvania and in this county they won 
 many friends. The political allegiance of 
 Mr. Deitrich was given to the democracy 
 and he held a number of important local 
 offices. Both he and his wife belonged to 
 the Lutheran church, in which he served 
 as a deacon. He was twice married and 
 by his first wife had five children, of 
 whom three are now living: Mary, the 
 wife qf L. H. Foresman, of Dallas City; 
 Mrs. Cummings ; and Hetty, the wife of 
 W. W. Cummings, of California. By his 
 second marriage Mr. Deitrich had thir- 
 teen children, of whom six are now liv- 
 ing: Etta P., the wife of James Paulus 
 and residing in Colusa, Illinois; ^Myra, 
 the wife of Warren Jacobs, of Missouri ; 
 \Yilliam M., of Dallas township; Su- 
 sanna, who is living with her mother on 
 the home place in Dallas township; and 
 Grover C. and John Wesley, also with 
 their mother. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Cummings 
 brought his young wife to a farm of 
 eighty acres on section 14, Dallas town- 
 ship, which she had inherited from her 
 mother. There was a little old house 
 upon the place and in this they began their 
 domestic life. From time to time as 
 his financial resources have increased Mr. 
 Cummings has added to the property and 
 now has a valuable tract of one hundred 
 and sixty acres on sections II and 14, 
 Dallas township. Here he has built a 
 beautiful modern residence, also good 
 
 barns and other substantial outbuildings 
 and added many modern equipments and 
 improvements. The farm is altogether a 
 valuable property and although he is now 
 leaving the more active work to his sons 
 he still gives supervision to his place. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cummings have 
 been born nine children, all born on the 
 farm where they now reside, and seven of 
 the number are living, as follows : Homer 
 D., who is a locomotive fireman and re- 
 sides in Chicago; Joseph M., at home; 
 Mark T., who is in the Farmers State 
 Exchange Bank at Dallas City, of which 
 Mr. Cummings is a director, and was one 
 of the original organizers of the bank, 
 which is now doing a successful business ; 
 Laura, Clara, Kate and Charles, all under 
 the parental roof. 
 
 Mr. Cummings gives his political al- 
 legiance to the republican party and has 
 served as supervisor for two years, while 
 for twenty consecutive years he has been 
 a school director. The cause of educa- 
 tion indeed finds in him a warm and help- 
 ful friend, his labors being very effective 
 in behalf of the schools. Fraternally he 
 is a member of Dallas City Lodge No. 
 235, A. F. & A. M., and has served as 
 worshipful master of his lodge and has 
 represented his lodge in the grand lodge. 
 He is also a member of Dallas chapter 
 No. in, R. A. M., and has filled the 
 office of high priest and attended the 
 grand chapter at a number of meetings, 
 Which fact indicates his high position 
 in the regard of the brethren of the craft. 
 He and his wife are members of the Chris- 
 tian church, in which he is an elder. His 
 ability, energy and economy, together 
 with the assistance of his estimable wife.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 who has indeed been a helpmate to him. 
 constitute the secret of his success. He 
 now owns an excellent farm in Dallas 
 township and enjoys the respect and es- 
 teem of the entire community. 
 
 . D. H. MILLER. 
 
 D. H. Miller, manager for the Alexan- 
 der Lumber Company of Carthage, is a 
 native son of Illinois, his birth having oc- 
 curred in Adams county in 1856, his par- 
 ents being Jacob and Nancy (Chandler) 
 Miller. The father was born in Ger- 
 many, October 12, 1828, and the mother 
 in Adams county, Illinois. She died dur- 
 ing the infancy of their son, D. H. Miller. 
 The father was only thirteen months old 
 when brought to the United States by his 
 parents, who settled in Pennsylvania. The 
 voyage was made in one of the old-time 
 sailing vessels and they landed at New 
 York. Jacob Miller was reared to the oc- 
 cupation of fanning, which he followed 
 as a life work and in 1845 he took up his 
 abode in Adams county, Illinois, where he 
 resided until 1864, when he removed to 
 Hancock county, Illinois, here carrying on 
 general agricultural pursuits until his 
 death, which occurred January 21, 1905. 
 He had therefore long survived his wife. 
 In their family were five children, of 
 whom two died in infancy, the others be- 
 ing: D. H., of this review; Melissa, the 
 wife of J. Cook, of Oberlin, Decatur coun- 
 ty, Kansas; and Alfred, who is living in 
 Seattle, Washington. The mother, Mrs. 
 
 Jacob Miller, had three brothers who were 
 soldiers of the Civil war, John, William 
 and George Chandler. The first named 
 was killed in the service and William re- 
 mained with the army for about four 
 years. The grandmother of our subject 
 in the maternal line was about ninety-two 
 years of age when she passed away and 
 the grandmother in the paternal line was 
 ninety-four years of age, while her hus- 
 band reached the age of ninety-two years. 
 
 D. H. Miller was educated at \Yest 
 Point, Illinois, and is a graduate of the 
 Gem City Business College at Ouincy. 
 After leaving school he followed farming 
 for five or six years in Hancock county 
 and for two years was engaged in teach- 
 ing school in this county. Eventually he 
 entered the employ of the firm of Dickin- 
 son & Bartlett at Hamilton, Illinois, whom 
 he represented as general manager for six 
 years. For several years he did a general 
 contracting business on his own account 
 and in 1898 he assumed charge of the 
 business of the Alexander Lumber Com- 
 pany of Carthage, which responsible po- 
 sition he yet occupies and under his guid- 
 ance the business has developed and is 
 being conducted along profitable lines. 
 
 On the ist of January, 1.878, occurred 
 the marriage of Mr. Miller and Miss Jane 
 I. Hart, who was born in Adams county 
 and is a daughter of William T. and Fan- 
 nie (Wigle) Hart, who came to Illinois 
 at an early day, the mother making her 
 way to this state from Pennsylvania. She 
 is now living at West Point, Illinois, 
 where Mr. Hart passed away in 1896. In 
 their family were eleven children, of 
 whom nine are yet living : Isaac, who re- 
 sides at Bowen, Illinois; Hattie H.. who
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 43 
 
 is the widow of Jake Shaffer and lives at 
 West Point, Iowa ; Margaret, the wife 
 of G. \Y. Wolfe, of West Point : Mark, 
 residing at Ellensburg, Washington ; 
 Clarence, of West Point ; Ollie. who is 
 with her mother ; Eva, the wife of Wil- 
 liam Nutt. of West Point; May E., the 
 widow of Mathew Finley, of West Point; 
 and Arch, who is also living at that place. 
 Mr. Hart, the father of this family, was 
 originally a Dunkard but afterward be- 
 came a member of the Christian church 
 and at his death his remains were in- 
 terred in the cemetery at West Point, Illi- 
 nois. His widow is a devoted member of 
 the Christian church. 
 
 Mrs. Miller and her daughter Ruby 
 are eligible to membership in the society 
 of the Daughters of the American Revo- 
 lution, as John Wigle, an uncle of her 
 mother, fought in the Revolutionary war. 
 Her father's brother, John Hart, was a 
 soldier of the Civil war. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Miller have been born three children : 
 Roy G., the eldest, born in Hancock coun- 
 ty, is a graduate of the Gem City Busi- 
 ness College of Quincy, Illinois, and now 
 lives in Orville, Ohio, where he is em- 
 ployed by the Robert Hixon Lumber 
 Company. Ruby B. is attending the city 
 schools of Carthage and is her father's 
 assistant in bookkeeping in the office. 
 Jake L. is employed in the office of the 
 Alexander Lumber Company. In his 
 fraternal relations Mr. Miller is a Mason 
 and also belongs to the Odd Fellows 
 Society, in which he has passed all of 
 the chairs. His political allegiance is 
 given to the republican party, but he has 
 never sought or desired office. Both he 
 and his wife are faithful and consistent 
 
 members of the Christian church and they 
 are now occupying a nice home on Cherry 
 street in the western part of the city, 
 which Mr. Miller erected in 1895. He 
 holds a responsible position of trust and 
 stands high in the community, in the 
 lodge, in his church, in business circles 
 and among his friends. He is a well in- 
 formed man and a typical American citi- 
 zen, rejoicing in the general progress and 
 keeping in touch with the trend of mod- 
 ern advancement and successful accom- 
 plishment. 
 
 JOHN S. SHIPTON. 
 
 Nature seems to have intended that 
 man in more advanced years should en- 
 joy a season of rest. In youth he possess- 
 es great zeal and energy which in manhood 
 becomes tempered by judgment and deter- 
 mination and if his qualities are well ex- 
 ercised they bring him success, so that 
 when evening of life comes he can put 
 aside the more arduous duties and rest in 
 enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. 
 Such has been the life of Mr. Shipton, 
 who for many years was closely associ- 
 ated with agricultural interests in this 
 part of the state but is now living re- 
 tired in Carthage, occupying a pleasant 
 and attractive home supplied with many 
 of the comforts of life. 
 
 "How blessed is he who crowns in shades 
 
 like these 
 A youth of labor with an age of ease."
 
 44 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEIl' 
 
 Mr. Shipton was born in Beavertown, 
 Pennsylvania, August 16, 1831, his par- 
 ents being John and Elizabeth (Swengel) 
 Shipton. His paternal grandparents 
 came from England to America during 
 the period of the Revolutionary war and, 
 deserting the British army, the grandfa- 
 ther became a defender of the cause of 
 American liberty. The parents of our 
 subject were born in Union county, now 
 Snyder county, Pennsylvania, as were the 
 grandmother's people in the maternal line, 
 some of the Swengel family being vic- 
 tims of the Wyoming massacre of 1778. 
 a monument to the victims having recent- 
 ly been erected at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyl- 
 vania. Thomas Shipton, the grandfather 
 of our subject, was the first circuit judge 
 of Northumberland county, Pennsylva- 
 nia, which then embraced Union. Lycom- 
 ing and other counties in that section of 
 Pennsylvania. John Shipton, the father, 
 learned the blacksmith's trade in the Key- 
 stone state and during the latter part of 
 the war of 1812 he worked at the gun- 
 smith's trade at Carlysle Barracks, Penn- 
 sylvania, making guns and war accoutre- 
 ments, but after the close of the war re- 
 turned to his more peaceful occupation 
 and afterward engaged in farming there 
 to some extent. His last days, however, 
 were spent in honorable retirement from 
 labor and he died about thirty-four years 
 ago when seventy-nine years of age, while 
 his wife passed away about ten years ago. 
 He was independent in politics and was 
 always on the winning side at presidential 
 elections, never losing a vote by support- 
 ing a candidate who was unsuccessful 
 His wife held membership in the Lutheran 
 church. In their family were ten chil- 
 
 dren, of whom four are now living : Ma- 
 ria, the widow of Daniel Trester, of Over- 
 ton, Ohio ; John S. ; Henry, of Delavan, 
 Illinois; and Eliza, the wife of Charles 
 Rigle, residing at Beavertown, Pennsyl- 
 vania. The parents were both buried in 
 the cemetery at Beavertown, the mother 
 being eighty-eight years of age. 
 
 John S. Shipton was educated in the 
 common schools of Pennsylvania but his 
 attendance was of short duration. Schools 
 at that time were largely conducted on 
 the subscription plan. He afterward 
 learned the carpenter's trade in the Key- 
 stone state and followed that pursuit and 
 cabinet making until 1857, when he re- 
 moved westward to 'Kansas, where he con- 
 tinued in the same line of business until 
 1 86 1. He afterward devoted nineteen 
 years to farming in Tazewell county, Illi- 
 nois, and in the early spring of 1881 set- 
 tled on a farm in Hancock county, where 
 he carefully and successfully tilled the soil 
 and harvested good crops until the ist 
 of December, 1898, when he retired from 
 the farm and took up his abode in Car- 
 thage. He still owns the farm property, 
 consisting of two hundred and sixty acres, 
 together with a pretty residence on Adams 
 and Buchanan streets, Carthage, where 
 he is now living. 
 
 On the Qth of October, 1864, Mr. Ship- 
 ton was married to Miss Elizabeth Jane 
 Hummel, who was born in Miflin county, 
 Pennsylvania, in 1838, a daughter of John 
 and Hannah (Shawver) Hummel, also 
 natives of the Keystone state. Her pa- 
 ternal grandfather was a soldier of the 
 war of 1812 and held official rank, carry- 
 ing a sword which Mrs. Shipton has seen. 
 Her brother, George Hummel, was a sol-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 45 
 
 clier of the Civil war, enlisting from Illi- 
 nois and serving for three years. John 
 Hummel, father of Mrs. Shipton, was a 
 farmer and in 1854 became a resident of 
 Lewistown, Illinois, but was not long per- 
 mitted to enjoy his new home, his death 
 occurring about a month later. His wife 
 long survived him, passing away in 
 March, 1899, on ' v lacking a few months 
 of being one hundred years of age, her 
 birth having occurred in 1799. She passed 
 away in Webster county, Iowa, but her 
 grave was made in the cemetery at Lewis- 
 town, Illinois, where her husband had 
 been laid to rest many years before. They 
 had eight children, of whom four are liv- 
 ing : Lydia, the eldest, is the wife of 
 Thomas Ellsworth, of Table Grove, Illi- 
 nois, who came to Carthage with a com- 
 pany of volunteers from Fulton county, 
 Illinois, during the Mormon troubles and 
 camped near the city, being in camp there 
 when Joseph and Hiram Smith, the Mor- 
 mon prophets, were shot in the old jail. 
 Catherine, the second member of the 
 Hummel family, is the wife of David Dep- 
 ler, of Webster county. Iowa. George 
 is living in Webster City, Iowa. Mrs. 
 Shipton is the youngest member of the 
 family and by her marriage has become 
 the mother of five children, all of whom 
 were born in Tazewell county, Illinois, 
 while four are yet living. Luther H., the 
 eldest, educated in the public schools of 
 Carthage, in early manhood purchased a 
 grocery stock and is engaged in business 
 at the corner of Jackson and Main streets 
 as a dealer in staple and fancy groceries 
 and queensware. His father is interested 
 with him in the ownership of the store, 
 which is on' a most advantageous corner 
 
 of the business center of the city and their 
 trade is extensive and profitable. Luther 
 Shipton belongs to the Knights of Pythias 
 fraternity and is a republican, while his 
 religious faith is indicated by his mem- 
 bership in the Methodist church. He was 
 married February i, 1893, to Miss Sadie 
 Deitrick, a native of Pennsylvania and 
 a daughter of John and Harriet (Kime) 
 Deitrick, who were also natives of the 
 Keystone state, whence they removed to 
 a farm in Illinois. Both are deceased and 
 were laid to rest in a cemetery of Dal- 
 las City. Their daughter, Sadie, became 
 Mrs. Luther Shipton and passed away 
 February 10, 1900, at the age of thirty- 
 two years, her remains being interred in 
 Carthage cemetery. She was an estima- 
 ble lady, whose death was deeply deplored 
 by her many friends. She left two chil- 
 dren, Loveta and Lloyd, aged respect- 
 ively eleven and eight years. They are 
 now attending school and with their fa- 
 ther they reside with his parents at the 
 corner of Adams and Buchanan streets. 
 Aurelia, the second member of the family 
 of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Shipton, is the 
 wife of Jesse G. Waggoner, of Centralia, 
 Missouri, and they have four children : 
 George, Lizzie, Laone arid Ida, all of 
 whom are attending school, three being 
 students in Carthage College. Elizabeth 
 Shipton is the wife of E. S. Martin, of 
 Carthage, and has two children : Aurelia 
 S. and John Robert Martin. Carrie is 
 the wife of Samuel Wingert, of Prairie 
 township, Hancock county, and has three 
 children : Violet, John LeRoy and Sam- 
 uel Wingert. 
 
 Mr. Shipton is numbered among the 
 men whom fortune has favored not from
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 caprice but in reward for earnest, per- 
 sistent and honorable labor. In early life 
 he worked many days for sixty-two and 
 a half cents per day, later was paid a dol- 
 lar and a quarter. He paid a dollar and 
 a half for his board per week and pro- 
 vided for his other expenses. As the years 
 advanced he saved from his earnings until 
 he was enabled to purchase a farm and 
 he made all of the improvements upon 
 his Tazewell county property and added 
 many improvements to his farm in Han- 
 cock county. He is still a strong, sturdy 
 man, working in his garden and raising 
 bees and though he is practically retired 
 he yet manages to keep busy most of the 
 time. During the summer of 1906 he 
 made a beautifully carved and planned 
 Hymn board for the Lutheran church, 
 which contains upward of 150 different 
 kinds of wood gathered by himself. His 
 leisure is largely devoted to reading and 
 he is well informed on all the questions 
 and interests of the day. He has kept 
 a diary of the weather and also the date 
 of small fruit blossoming for many years 
 and it is now a valuable record. He pos- 
 sesses a remarkable memory and in spirit 
 and interest seems yet in his prime. Both 
 he and his wife still enjoy good health 
 and are among the most esteemed citizens 
 of Carthage, having many friends here. 
 His name is honored by reason of what 
 he has accomplished and the methods 
 which hav wrought his success. He is 
 interested in all that pertains to the mate- 
 rial, intellectual or moral progress of his 
 community and his support of beneficial 
 public measures is never of a lukewarm 
 character, but is of the kind that is strong 
 and steadfast. 
 
 THOMAS I. WALKER. 
 
 Thomas I. Walker, a retired farmer 
 who, left an orphan in his youth and thus 
 early thrown upon his own resources, has 
 gained the success which crowns persist- 
 ent and well directed effort, was born in 
 Todd county. Kentucky, August 20, 1843, 
 his parents being T. I. and Eliza (Wag- 
 goner) Walker. The parents died when 
 their son was but a young lad. They were 
 natives of Kentucky and the father fol- 
 lowed the occupation of farming. In their 
 family were eight children, of whom five 
 are now living : James, Garnett and Wil- 
 liam, all of Kentucky; T. I., of this re- 
 view ; and Luda, the wife of W. O. Clark, 
 of McDonough county, Illinois. Two of 
 the brothers were soldiers of the Con- 
 federate army in the Civil war, St. Clair 
 being killed in the first battle of Shiloh. 
 while James, the -eldest brother, served 
 for four years with the southern troops. 
 
 T. I. Walker was brought to Carthage 
 when about four years of age and lived 
 with relatives until nine years old, attend- 
 ing the public schools during that period. 
 He then went to live with his eldest sis- 
 ter, who had been married in the mean- 
 time and with her he remained until his 
 own marriage. It was in 1867 that he 
 wedded Miss Mary E. Atchison, who was 
 born in this county October 3, 1845, a 
 daughter of John and Margaret (Gallo- 
 way) Atchison. The father was born in 
 Ireland and came to America at an early 
 day and was here married to Miss Gallo- 
 way, whose birth occurred in Hancock 
 county. He was a blacksmith by trade 
 but followed fanning in this state and 
 both he and his wife passed away many
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 47 
 
 years ago. Mr. Atchison was a member 
 of the Christian church at the time of 
 his death and was an exceedingly quiet 
 man, of retiring nature, but he possessed 
 a kindly and generous spirit and was re- 
 spected by all. Unto him and his wife 
 was born but one child, Mrs. Walker. 
 
 At the time of their marriage Mr. and 
 Mrs. Walker began their domestic life 
 on a farm in Harmony township, where 
 they lived for two years and then removed 
 to another farm in St. Marys township, 
 on which they resided for thirty-six years. 
 Both places were improved and were 
 brought under higher cultivation by the 
 enterprise and labors of Mr. Walker, who 
 for many years was accounted one of the 
 leading, practical and progressive agricul- 
 turists of this part of the state. He care- 
 fully tilled his fields and thereby annu- 
 ally harvested good crops. He also raised 
 good grades of stock and he placed sub- 
 stantial buildings upon his farm, together 
 with all of the modern improvements. He 
 added to his farm from time to time until 
 it now contains about four hundred acres. 
 In July, 1905, he removed to Carthage, 
 where he purchased a pretty new home on 
 North Adams street. He still retains pos- 
 session of his farm, however, and also 
 owns other land in the county. 
 
 At the time of the Civil war Mr. Wal- 
 ker, responding to the call of the Union 
 enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty- 
 eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He 
 was with his regiment for about a year 
 and participated in a few light skirmishes. 
 For many years he gave his political alle- 
 giance to the republican party, but is now 
 a strong prohibitionist. He has served as 
 school director and path master, but has 
 
 accepted no other offices, preferring to 
 leave office holding to others. 
 
 As the years passed by eight children 
 were added to the family circle, all yet 
 living and all natives of Hancock county. 
 Homer, born June 22, 1868. and now re- 
 siding on the farm on which his father 
 settled at an early day, married Nellie 
 White and has four children : Marian, 
 Wendell, James and Lucile. Stella, bom 
 October 3, 1870, on the anniversary of 
 her mother's birth, is now the wife of J. 
 B. Johnson, a stock feeder residing in 
 Carthage. Atchison, bom June 7, 1873, 
 and living on a farm in Hancock county, 
 married Alberta Cloud and has two chil- 
 dren : Aurelia and Harold. Gerald, born 
 May 24, 1876, is in Montana. Geraldine, 
 twin sister of Gerald, is the wife of J. E. 
 Garnett, of Oklahoma and has two chil- 
 dren. Pauline and Walker L. Maud, born 
 January 14, 1879, is the wife of Don 
 Cloud, a farmer of Nebraska and has one 
 child, Don Cleophas. T. Orville, born 
 May 24, 1882, married Josephine Engle 
 and lives on a farm in Hancock county. 
 Hilda, born May 8, 1885, acts as her 
 father's housekeeper and is attending 
 Carthage College. The children have all 
 been provided with excellent educational 
 privileges and have attended various col- 
 leges in the state of Illinois. 
 
 In 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Walker attended 
 the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. 
 Louis, Missouri, and had a most pleasant 
 trip there and in the winter of 1904-5, 
 with their youngest daughter, they went 
 to California and had just got comfort- 
 ably settled there when Mrs. Walker be- 
 came ill with a cancerous trouble which 
 had never been manifest before. After a
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RE J 'I Ell' 
 
 very brief illness of three weeks she passed 
 away February I, 1905. She was a lov- 
 ing wife, a fond mother, a dutiful daugh- 
 ter and a kind friend and her many ex- 
 cellent traits of character won her the con- 
 fidence and love of all who knew her. 
 Her remains were brought back to Han- 
 cock county for interment and she was 
 laid to rest February 7, 1905. Many 
 years will have passed, however, before 
 she is forgotten or before her influence 
 ceases to be felt by those who knew her. 
 She was a devoted member of the Meth- 
 odist church and her life exemplified her 
 Christian faith. Mr. Walker also belongs 
 to the same church, in which he has held 
 several offices. 
 
 Early denied the parental care which 
 most boys receive with its attendant priv- 
 ileges and careful guidance, Mr. Walker 
 has, though dependent upon his own re- 
 sources, not only worked his way upward 
 to success but has also developed a char- 
 acter which makes him one of the honored 
 and respected citizens of Carthage and his 
 example proves what may be accom- 
 plished when one has determination and 
 energy qualities which may be cultivated 
 by all. 
 
 ALEXANDER WELLINGTON BAS- 
 COW. 
 
 A. W. Boscow, one of the oldest gro- 
 cery merchants of Carthage whose busi- 
 ness integrity and activity stand as un- 
 questioned facts in his career and make 
 him a citizen of worth who is accorded 
 
 respect and honor, was born on the Isle 
 of Man off the coast of England in 1840. 
 His paternal grandfather, Nicholas Bos- 
 cow, served in the war against the French 
 in the early part of the nineteenth cen- 
 tury, being under command of the Duke 
 of Wellington in the engagements against 
 Napoleon Bonaparte. The gun which he 
 carried is now in possession of A. W. 
 Boscow and is very highly prized. Nich- 
 olas Boscow, Jr., father of our subject, 
 was born in England and was there mar- 
 ried to Miss Alice Newell, a native of the 
 same country. He was a merchant and 
 shipper of wheat, owning his own vessel 
 which made trips between Peel anl Liver- 
 pool. He came to America by way of 
 New Orleans in an old-time sailing vessel 
 in 1842; being about three months and 
 two weeks on the water. He bought land 
 near Warsaw, Illinois, having made his 
 way northward to Hancock county and 
 after remaining there for a year or more 
 went to Buffalo, New York, to investigate 
 property interests and business prospects 
 there. He soon became ill, however, and 
 died in that city. He held membership 
 in the Church of England, to which his 
 wife also belonged. She continued to live 
 for some years on a farm with her chil- 
 dren but spent her last days in the home 
 of her son, A. W. Boscow, from whom 
 she received a most devoted filial care, 
 attention and love. He also took great 
 pride in his mother, for she was a most 
 remarkable old lady and she died at his 
 home in the spring of 1894, her remains 
 being interred in Moss Ridge cemetery. 
 She was ninety-six years of age, her death 
 occurring very suddenly. Only once did 
 she complain of feeling a little dizzy.
 
 H.iXCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 49 
 
 Early in the morning, however, she ex- 
 pressed a desire to see the Rev. Hyde, a 
 beloved preacher of Carthage, who came 
 and offered up a touching and befitting 
 prayer in behalf of this dear old lady and 
 in closing said : "May this dear soul have 
 an abundant and happy entrance into the 
 joy of her Lord," and as he said Amen, 
 the life of this good woman went out as 
 though her soul were carried onward 
 upon the spirit of prayer. She had been a 
 faithful friend, a kind neighbor and a 
 most devoted and loving mother and she 
 was a general favorite among her many 
 acquaintances. Her children who lived 
 were five in number, seven having died 
 before her death : George, a merchant liv- 
 ing at Oakland, California; John H., a 
 land dealer of Garnett, Kansas ; Peter, a 
 farmer of Hillsboro, Oregon ; Mrs. Alice 
 Deatley, living at Base Line, Missouri, 
 and A. W. of this review. The son John 
 was drafted twice for service in the Civil 
 war but both times sent substitutes, the 
 first time paying seven hundred and fifty 
 dollars and the last time nine hundred 
 dollars. 
 
 A. W. Boscow acquired his early edu- 
 cation in Breckenridge, Illinois, and 
 worked upon his mother's farm until he 
 had attained his majority. He then went 
 to the gold mines of California and Ore- 
 gon, spending much of his time for four- 
 teen years in the latter state in search of 
 the precious metal. Following his return 
 to Illinois he located in Warsaw, where he 
 conducted a general grocery store for sev- 
 en years and in 1886 removed to Carth- 
 age, where he was engaged in the grocery 
 business on Main street for twenty years. 
 He has a large trade and with one excep- 
 
 tion is the oldest grocery merchant in the 
 city in years of continuous connection 
 with the trade. His business methods are 
 unassailable, being characterized by 
 promptness and integrity and many of his 
 early patrons- have remained with him 
 throughout the passing years, showing 
 that he has their confidence and trust. 
 
 In 1874 Mr. Boscow was married to 
 Miss Clara Spillman, a native of Illinois 
 and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. D. 
 Spillman, natives of Virginia who came to 
 Illinois at an early day. Her father was a 
 carpenter and lived in Warsaw, Illinois, 
 Hancock county, for a number of years 
 but both he and his wife are now deceased 
 and their four children have now all 
 passed away. Mrs. Boscow died in 1887 
 and is buried in Moss Ridge cemetery. 
 She was a devoted Christion woman and 
 a member of the Episcopal church. By 
 this marriage there were three children, 
 but only one is now living, Anna R. Bos- 
 cow, who is now the wife of Frederick 
 Reynolds, of Seattle, Washington. 
 
 In 1890 A. W. Boscow was married to 
 Miss Louisa Scott, of Carthage, who was 
 born in Warsaw, Illinois, and was a 
 daughter of Major John and Louisa 
 (Frazier) Scott. Her father was born in 
 North Carolina in 1801 and her mother 
 in Kentucky, January 8, 1816. Mr. 
 Scott was a Mason and for some years 
 meetings of the lodge were held in his 
 home. For a long period he was a lead- 
 ing merchant of Warsaw, conducting a 
 successful business there until his death 
 on the 3Oth of April, 1865. His wife long 
 survived him, passing away in August, 
 1900, when she was laid to rest by his 
 side in Warsaw cemetery. Only two of
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 their children are now living: John F. 
 Scott, who is assistant county treasurer 
 and makes his home in Carthage; and 
 Mary, the wife of George Rogers, of 
 Warsaw, Illinois. Mrs. Louisa Boscow 
 died in 1897 and was buried in Moss 
 Ridge cemetery. In 1898 Mr. Boscow 
 was married to Mrs. Frances E. Dickey 
 Cherry, the widow of Edward Cherry. 
 She was born in Illinois and has one son 
 by her first marriage, Edward Cherry, 
 who is now living in Pecos valley, Mex- 
 ico. Mr. Boscow lives in a beautiful home 
 in the east part of the city on Main street, 
 having erected the residence about eight 
 years ago. His wife also owns some 
 property here. His has been a creditable 
 business record in which he has allowed 
 no obstacle to deter him in his advance 
 toward the goal of success. He has re- 
 garded every difficulty as a stimulus for 
 renewed effort and closer application 'and 
 in these ways he has achieved what he 
 has undertaken and is now one of the 
 leading merchants of the city who, 
 through his persistency and determina- 
 tion, has secured many of the comforts 
 of life. Matters of municipal and local 
 pride are of deep interest to him and he 
 co-operates in many measures which have 
 direct bearing upon the upbuilding and 
 welfare of the city. He is a man full 
 worthy of the respect of those with whom 
 he has come in contact and his friends 
 are almost as numerically strong as his 
 acquaintances. He and his worthy wife 
 full well merit all the good things of this 
 life and of the life to come, which should 
 be the reward of all those who live an 
 upright life. They are held in the highest 
 esteem bv their manv friends. 
 
 EZEKIEL RUCKER. 
 
 Ezekiel Rucker is a retired farmer liv- 
 ing at the corner of Scofield and Locust 
 streets in Carthage and although about 
 eighty years of age he keeps his home 
 place in a most neat and attractive condi- 
 tion. He was born in Crittenden, Grant 
 county, Kentucky, in 1827, his parents be- 
 ing Morning and Julia (Reese) Rucker, 
 both of whom were natives of Virginia. 
 The father dealt extensively in horses, 
 which he shipped to the New Orleans 
 market. At an early day he removed to 
 Kentucky, where he continued in active 
 business but both he and his wife passed 
 away many years ago, their remains being 
 interred in an Illinois cemetery. Mr. 
 Rucker was a democrat in his political 
 views, and his wife was a member of the 
 Methodist church. In their family were 
 seven children. 
 
 E. Rucker of this review is now the 
 only surviving member of the family, and 
 in the year 1837, when a youth of ten 
 summers, he accompanied his parents on 
 their removal from Kentucky to Schuyler 
 county, Illinois. There he acquired his 
 education in one of the old-time subscrip- 
 tion schools, the building being a little 
 log structure with puncheon floor, slab 
 seats and mud and stick chimney. There 
 were no nails used in its construction, 
 even in making the roof and the little 
 room was poorly lighted. The methods 
 of instruction were very primitive, too, 
 but he succeeded in learning the common 
 branches of learning and afterward took 
 up the cooper's trade in Schuyler county. 
 Later he engaged in farming there on his 
 own account until 1864, when he sold his
 
 H AX COCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 property and removed to Hancock county, 
 settling in Cartilage township on a farm 
 of two hundred and twenty acres of arable 
 and productive land. He then carried on 
 general farming and stock-raising until 
 1884, when he retired from active busi- 
 ness life. Up to this time he had kept his 
 fields under a very high state of cultiva- 
 tion and added many modern improve- 
 ments to his property and had carried on 
 the work of development until his farm 
 was one of the best in this part of the 
 state. As the years passed, through the 
 sale of his crops he added annually to his 
 income and possessing a comfortable com- 
 petence, removed to the city of Carthage, 
 building a dwelling at the corner of Sco- 
 field and Locust streets. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate for life's 
 journey Mr. Rucker chose in early man- 
 hood Miss Pauline De Lashmutt, to 
 whom he was married February 29, 1849. 
 She was born in North Carolina in 1826, 
 a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John De 
 Lashmutt, who located in .Rushville, 
 Schuyler county, Illinois, prior to 1837, 
 being among the early settlers of that 
 county, where the father followed farm- 
 ing as a means of livelihood. When 
 called to their final rest he and his wife 
 were buried in Schuyler county. In their 
 family were seven children, the surviving 
 members being Ananias, Thomas, Wil- 
 liam and Frank, all of whom are residents 
 of Kansas; and Mrs. Rucker. Thomas 
 De Lashmutt was a soldier of the Six- 
 teenth Volunteer Infantry throughout the 
 Civil war and was under command of 
 General Sherman. Mr. and Mrs. Rucker 
 have never had any children of their own 
 but out of the goodness of their hearts 
 
 have reared two, Adaline and Brown. The 
 latter is the wife of George Elliott, a resi- 
 dent of Missouri, and has seven children. 
 The former became the wife of Thomas 
 Metcalf and is now in California. She 
 separated from her first husband and she 
 has since married Mr. Burlell. She has 
 three children, Willie, Arthur and Stella. 
 Mr. Rucker is a democrat and has 
 served as school director and as road su- 
 pervisor but has never been very active in 
 politics, preferring that others shall hold 
 office. He was one of the early members 
 of the Masonic lodge in Hancock county 
 and at all times has been true to the teach- 
 ings of the craft. Although nearly eighty 
 years of age he is very active. He is a 
 man of quiet disposition but has been a 
 great reader and is an intelligent gentle- 
 man, well informed on current events. 
 His success has been acquired entirely 
 through his own efforts and he is now 
 in comfortable circumstances. He and his 
 wife have been married for more than 
 fifty-seven years a remarkable fact 
 and they enjoy the respect of friends and 
 neighbors in large measure. Mr. Rucker 
 receives the veneration and esteem which 
 should always be accorded one advanced 
 in years, whose life has been worthily 
 spent. 
 
 JAMES E. MORRISON. 
 
 James E. Morrison, engaged in general 
 farming and stock-raising near Hamilton, 
 has been assistant state veterinary sur- 
 geon since 1890 and is widely known by 
 
 LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 4T IIDRAMA PU/IUOKinu
 
 5 2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 reason of his official service and his ac- 
 tivity in his private business affairs. He 
 was born in Madison county, Ohio, March 
 31, 1844, and represents one of the old 
 families of Pennsylvania, in which state 
 his grandfather, Ross Morrison, was 
 born. William R. Morrison, father of 
 our subject, was likewise a native of the 
 Keystone state and having arrived at 
 years of maturity was married at Plains 
 City, Union county, Ohio, to Miss Relief 
 C. Hager, a native of Vermont and a 
 daughter of Amos Hager, also of that 
 state. Mr. and Mrs. William R. Morri- 
 son began their domestic life upon a farm 
 near Plains City, Ohio, where they re- 
 sided until October, 1850, and then started 
 for Illinois, making the journey by 
 wagon. They were nearly four weeks 
 upon the road to Hamilton and they spent 
 the winter in a log cabin about two and 
 a half miles south of this city. In the 
 spring of 1851 they removed to a rented 
 place Hn Wythe township, where they 
 lived for four years, at the end of which 
 time Mr. Morrison bought one hundred 
 acres of land on section 34, Montebello 
 township. It was unimproved save that a 
 small shanty had been built thereon. It 
 was not fenced, however, and he fenced it, 
 dug wells, built barns and generally im- 
 proved the place, making it a good farm, 
 while the fields responded readily to the 
 care and labor he bestowed upon them. 
 His attention was devoted to general agri- 
 cultural pursuits up to the time of his 
 death, which occurred in August. 1889. 
 while his wife passed away in 1899. In 
 their family was a daughter, Mollie, who 
 is now the wife of John A. Price. 
 
 James E. Morrison, the elder of the two 
 
 children of his father's family, was a little 
 lad of six summers when the trip was 
 made across the country from Ohio to 
 Illinois. He attended the common 
 schools of Montebello township and in 
 the summer months worked in the fields, 
 sharing in all of the labors that fall to the 
 lot of the agriculturist. He was eighteen 
 years of age when on the i2th of Au- 
 gust, 1862. he responded to his country'? 
 call for aid, enlisting as a member of 
 Company C, One Hundred and Eight- 
 eenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The 
 regiment was assigned to the Army of 
 the Mississippi and he was in all of its 
 battles with the exception of that of 
 Thompson's Hill on the 1st of May, 1863. 
 He sustained several gun-shot wounds, 
 but would remain in the hospital only 
 long enough to have his wounds heal. 
 On the 2 ist of August, 1865, he received 
 an honorable discharge and with a cred- 
 itable military record returned to his 
 home. He then resumed farming upon 
 his father's place and having assisted the 
 veterinary surgeon of the army, he has 
 " since practiced the profession in connec- 
 tion with the occupation of farming and 
 since the year 1900 has been assistant 
 state veterinary surgeon. In 1874 he 
 bought fifty acres of the home farm, 
 whereon he erected a house and barn and 
 he has since added to the property until 
 he now has one hundred acres, while his 
 wife also owns one hundred acres. He 
 carries on general farming and stock- 
 raising, keeping horses, cattle and hogs, 
 and in the development of the fields he 
 uses the latest improved machinery and 
 annually harvests good crops. 
 
 On the 1 5th of April, 1875, Mr. Mor-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 53 
 
 rison was married to Miss Lydia Dar- 
 nell, who was born in Warsaw, Illinois, 
 February 26, 1856, and attended the com- 
 mon schools. Her parents were Caleb 
 and Mary (Tremble) Darnell, both of 
 whom were natives of Kentucky and at 
 an early day became residents of Warsaw. 
 Illinois. In the family were the following 
 children: Bertha, who died in infancy; 
 Mamie ; Nellie, the wife of Harry Den- 
 nis, of Hamilton and the mother of one 
 daughter; Arthur, Fred, William, Ray, 
 Elta and Gwendolyn, all at home. Mr. 
 Morrison casts his ballot for the men and 
 measures of the Republican party and has 
 filled a number of offices, serving twice 
 as collector and also in the positions of 
 constable and school director. He has at- 
 tained high rank in Masonry, belonging 
 to the blue lodge, chapter, council and 
 commandery, his affiliation being with 
 the commander}- at Keokuk. He is a 
 member of the Christian church and the 
 principles which have permeated his life 
 are those which work for good citizenship 
 and for intellectual and moral progress. 
 
 HON. O. F. BERRY. 
 
 Hon. O. F. Berry was born at Table 
 Grove, McDonough county, Illinois, Feb- 
 ruary 16, 1852. He is a son of Lee 
 Berry, a native of Virginia, who, com- 
 ing to Illinois, settled upon a farm in 
 McDonough county, where he resided un- 
 til his death. By his first marriage he 
 had two children, but the younger of 
 these, John Berry, was killed while serv- 
 
 ing in the navy in the Civil war. The 
 elder. Charles L. Berry, who served in 
 the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illi- 
 nois Mounted Infantry until the close of 
 the Civil war, is now a contractor of 
 Wichita, Kansas. After losing his first 
 wife he married Martha McConnell, a na- 
 tive of Pennsylvania. O. F. Berry is the 
 elder son of the second marriage and his 
 brother, M. P. Berry, is equally well 
 known in Carthage as a lawyer and bank- 
 er. The father died in 1858 and the 
 mother in 1860, their remains being in- 
 terred at Table Grove, Illinois. 
 
 O. F. Berry was educated in the com- 
 mon schools in Fountain Green town- 
 ship, Hancock county, and in early life 
 and until he was twenty-one years of age 
 he. worked by the month as a farm hand. 
 After his marriage he purchased a small 
 farm and lived upon it one year. In 1875 
 he came to Carthage and took up the 
 study of law in the office of Mack & 
 Baircl. attorneys of this city. Following 
 his admission to the bar he immediately 
 formed a partnership with Judge Thomas 
 C. Sharp, now deceased, and later the 
 firm became Sharp & Berry Brothers. 
 He has practiced continuously in all the 
 courts of Hancock county from that time 
 to the present and has conducted impor- 
 tant litigation in the federal and state 
 courts with gratifying success, winning 
 well earned fame and distinction. He 
 believes in the maxim, "There is no ex- 
 cellence without labor," and follows it 
 closely. About six years ago his brother, 
 M. P. Bern-, retired from the firm and O. 
 F. Berry is practicing as the senior mem- 
 ber of the firm of Berry, McCrary & 
 Kellv.
 
 54 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 His attention, however, has not been 
 confined exclusively to his legal interests, 
 for in 1903 he joined his brother, M. P. 
 Berry, in establishing and opening the 
 Dime Savings Bank, of which he is presi- 
 dent and M. P. Bery is cashier. He is also 
 president and general manager of the 
 Mississippi Valley Telephone Companj* 
 and was a trustee and attorney for Car- 
 thage College for fifteen or sixteen years. 
 His political history has become a mat- 
 ter of state record. He was chairman of 
 the republican state convention in 1896 
 and 1906. He was the first mayor of 
 Carthage, serving for three terms, from 
 1888 until 1894, and is again the chief 
 executive of the city at this writing, in 
 1906. In 1888 he was elected to the 
 state senate, wherein he served continu- 
 ously until 1900 and then, after an in- 
 terval of two years, was elected to fill a 
 vacancy and re-elected in 1904. He is 
 president pro tem. of the senate, was act- 
 ing governor from August 27th to Sep- 
 tember 4, 1906, and isone of the recog- 
 nized political leaders of the state. It will 
 be observed that his turn of mind is emi- 
 nently judicial and free from the bias of 
 animosity. Strong and positive in his re- 
 publicanism, his party fealty is not 
 grounded on partisan prejudice and he 
 enjoys the respect and confidence of all 
 his associates, irrespective of party. Of 
 the great issues which divide the two po- 
 litical organizations, with their roots ex- 
 tending down to the very bed rock of the 
 foundations of the republic, he has the 
 true statesman's grasp. Well grounded 
 in the political maxims of the schools, he 
 has also studied the lessons of actual life, 
 arriving at his conclusions as a result of 
 
 what may be called his post-graduate 
 studies in the school of affairs. He was 
 general attorney for the insurance de- 
 partment of the state under Governor 
 Tanner's administration. He was special 
 attorney of the Lake Front cases in Chi- 
 cago for Attorney General Hamlin and 
 chairman of the special committee of the 
 senate in 1897 to investigate Chicago po- 
 lice management and justice courts. He 
 was likewise chairman of the senate com- 
 mittee to investigate the Globe Savings 
 Bank and the treasurer of the university 
 school fund under Governor Altgeld's ad- 
 ministration. At the present writing he 
 is receiver of the Peoria National Bank. 
 
 On the 5th of March, 1873, Senator 
 Berry was married to Miss Anna R. Barr, 
 of Fountain Green, who was born in 
 Pennsylvania in 1850, a daughter of Da- 
 vid and Jane (Barr) Barr. Her father 
 was a mechanic, who prior to the Civil 
 war removed to Iowa and about 18(35 
 came to Illinois. He enlisted in Iowa 
 as a member of the Union army and 
 served throughout the period of hostili- 
 ties. He followed his trade in Illinois 
 until his death in 1870 and his wife 
 passed away in Carthage in 1902. They 
 were faithful members of the United 
 Presbyterian church. They had five chil- 
 dren, of whom four daughters are living : 
 Elizabeth, who is the widow of John S. 
 Duffy and resides in Carthage; Mary A., 
 who is the widow of William T. Camp- 
 bell and lives in this city; Nannie J., of 
 Carthage; and Laura, the wife of Wil- 
 liam T. Duffy, of Waverly, Kansas. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Berry became the par- 
 ents of five children, one born in Fountain 
 Green and four in Carthage. Of this
 
 f/AXCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 55 
 
 number three died in infancy, while two 
 lived to be fourteen years of age and all 
 are buried in Moss Ridge cemetery. They 
 now have an adopted daughter, Lenore, 
 who at the age of twelve years is attend- 
 ing the high school of Carthage. In 1897 
 Mr. Berry built his beautiful modem res- 
 idence on Walnut street. He also owns 
 much other property in the city and 
 county. He himself built eleven of the 
 new houses that were erected in Carthage 
 in 1905 and he has built and sold alto- 
 gether thirty homes. In connection with 
 his other interests the firm of which he 
 is a member is conducting a real estate 
 business. Mr. Berry is a Royal Arch 
 Mason and is also connected with the 
 Knights of Pythias, Woodmen and the 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen. He 
 and his wife are members of the Presby- 
 terian church and he was chairman of 
 the building committee at the time of the 
 erection of the two new churches that 
 have been built in the last five years, the 
 former one having been destroyed by fire. 
 He has been again and again chosen trus- 
 tee of the church and has long served as 
 superintednent of the Sunday-school. He 
 takes a most active and helpful part in 
 church work, contributing generously of 
 his means to its support and giving free- 
 ly of bis time and attention to further its 
 development and extend the scope of its 
 activities. He is frequently called upon 
 to make addresses to the Men's League 
 and his labors have been of direct and im- 
 mediate serviceableness in the church 
 work. His wife has been treasurer of the 
 missionary society for many years. She 
 also belongs to the Woman's Club and 
 to the society of the Daughters of ihe 
 4 
 
 American Revolution. He has been pros- 
 perous in his business affairs, yet there 
 is no man in Carthage who respects 
 wealth for wealth's sake as little as he 
 does. His means, however, have enabled 
 him to be a generous contributor to many 
 charities and good works and he never 
 fails to lend a helping hand when solic- 
 ited to do so. He belongs to that public- 
 spirited, useful and helpful type of men 
 whose ambitions and desires are centered 
 and directed in those channels through 
 which flow the greatest and most perma- 
 nent good to the greatest number. He 
 is naturally of a quiet and retiring dis- 
 position and has not been an active seeker 
 for the glamor of publicity, but his rare 
 aptitude and ability in achieving results 
 make him constantly sought and often 
 bring him into a prominence from which 
 he would naturally shrink were less de- 
 sirable ends in view. 
 
 HENRY C. BYLER. 
 
 Henry C. Byler, a representative 
 farmer of Durham, his native township, 
 was born August 30, 1855, his parents 
 being David and Matilda Catherine (Cun- 
 ningham) Byler. The father, a native of 
 Tennessee, was a son of John and Sarah 
 (Hayworth) Byler and was born Novem- 
 ber 6, 1819. His life record covered more 
 than the psalmist's allotted span of three 
 score years and ten, as he passed away
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 on the 2d of April, 1894, when in the sev- 
 enty-fifth year of his age. He lived a suc- 
 cessful farmer in Adams county, Illinois, 
 from 1836 until 1851. In the spring of 
 1851 he purchased the homestead at Dur- 
 ham Centre now occupied by his widow 
 and removed to Hancock county, where 
 he resided until his demise. The place 
 comprises one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land on section 9, Durham township. 
 Prospering in his undertakings, so that 
 his financial resources increased, he 
 bought more land from time to time until 
 he became the owner of twelve hundred 
 acres of as fine land as can be fouqd in 
 Illinois. He thus won a place among the 
 substantial residents of the state and his 
 life record was indeed commendable, as 
 his success came as the legitimate result 
 of carefully directed effort and honorable 
 dealing. For over thirty-one years he 
 was a member in good standing of Dallas 
 City lodge No. 235, A. F. & A. M., and 
 filled nearly all of its offices. His early 
 political support was given the republican 
 party but he afterward joined the ranks 
 of the democracy. For more than a half 
 century he was a member of the old school 
 Baptist church, which he joined in Adams 
 county in 1840. He held all of the lead- 
 ing offices in the church and he donated a 
 part of his home farm as a church site and 
 erected thereon a 'nice frame structure to 
 be used as a house of worship by the Bap- 
 tist denomination. This was in 1881 and 
 the building is still put to its original use. 
 He was very liberal, the poor and needy 
 finding in him a warm friend, while in 
 many other ways he displayed his gen- 
 erosity. His fellow townsmen gave evi- 
 dence of their appreciation of his worth 
 
 and ability by electing him to many posi 1 
 tions of public trust. For over fourteen 
 years he served as county supervisor. 
 For the long period of thirty years he 
 held the office of justice of the peace and 
 for twenty-eight years was township 
 treasurer. He was ever faithful to the 
 trust reposed in him and his long contin- 
 uance in office indicated the implicit con- 
 fidence given him by those who knew him. 
 He was a man honored and respected by 
 all and was most highly esteemed where 
 he was best known. His wife, Matilda C. 
 Byler, died April 12, 1857, and was 
 buried in Durham cemetery, the subject 
 of this review being at that time only two 
 years of age. She was his second wife and 
 there were born to this union four chil- 
 dren, of whom Henry C., is the youngest. 
 The others are : Gracie Jane, who became 
 the wife of Calvin Stiles and died in La 
 Harpe in September, 1899; and Joseph 
 and George W., both deceased. 
 
 Henry C. Byler, the only surviving 
 member of this family, was educated in 
 the district schools of Durham township 
 and remained at home until twenty-one 
 years of age ; after which he engaged in 
 farming on his own account on his 
 father's land for nine years. He was mar- 
 ried at the age of twenty-one to Miss Em- 
 ma J. Toof, who was born in Durham 
 township, October 20, 1859, a daughter 
 of Benjamin and Mary (Atherton) Toof. 
 The father was born in Franklin county, 
 Vermont, February 29, 1820, and the 
 mother in Ohio, July 24, 1823. Her 
 death occurred in 1877. At an early day 
 they became residents of Hancock county, 
 settling on a farm, and in their family 
 were seven children : Henry, living in Ne-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 57 
 
 braska : Ella, the wife of John Heisler. 
 who is represented elsewhere in this 
 work ; Daniel, of Nebraska ; Emma J., 
 now Mrs. Ramsay, of Dallas City; John 
 \Y.. of California; Kate, the wife of Wil- 
 liam Phipps, of Oklahoma; and Clara, the 
 wife of David Shain, of California. 
 
 After living in Durham Centre on his 
 father's farm for nine years Mr. Byler re- 
 ceived' as a gift from his father one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of good land on sec- 
 tion 33, Durham township. There was a 
 house upon this place, which he has since 
 improved, making it a comfortable mod- 
 ern residence. He has also added many 
 other equipments and improvements to 
 the farm and he has now a valuable prop- 
 erty of one hundred and forty acres which 
 is under a high state of cultivation. At 
 one time, following his second marriage, 
 he engaged in the hardware business in 
 Dallas City for two years. 
 
 On the 1 3th day of July, 1899, Mr. By- 
 ler was married to Mrs. Anna E. Hamil- 
 ton, who was born in Pontoosuc town- 
 ship, June 16, 1867, and is a daughter of 
 F. C. and Nancy (McAuley) Little, the 
 former a native of Ohio and the latter of 
 New York. Both came to Illinois in 1829 
 and they were nineteen years of age at the 
 time of their marriage. Mr. Little was a 
 farmer by occupation, thus providing for 
 the support of his family. In his political 
 views he was an earnest republican and 
 held a number of township offices. His 
 wife died at the old home in Pontoosuc 
 township in 1877 and the father is still 
 living upon that place. In their family 
 were eleven children, of whom eight yet 
 survice. namely: Melissa, the wife of J. 
 A. Lamb, of Pontoosuc township ; Martin 
 
 L., living in the same township; Arthur 
 and Samuel I., who are resident farmers 
 of that township; Mary, the wife of H. 
 H. Longshie, of Pontoosuc township; 
 Mrs. Byler; Flora, the wife of Robert 
 Alston, living near Hamilton, Illinois; 
 and Frank G., of Dallas City. In early 
 womanhood Anna E. Little gave her hand 
 in marriage to Thomas B. Hamilton, who 
 was born in McDonough county, Illinois, 
 in 1864, a son 'of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 
 Hamilton, of Blandinsville, both of whom 
 are now deceased. Their only child was 
 Thomas B. Hamilton, a most respected 
 and .worthy citizen of Hancock county, 
 who died in 1897 and was buried in Pon- 
 toosuc township. He left three children 
 who are now living with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Byler, namely: Mabel G., born July 18. 
 1888; Otis F., born August 16, 1890; 
 and Anna Irene, March 7, 1894. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Byler are now the parents of one 
 child, Velna G., born July 7, 1903. By 
 his first marriage Mr. Byler had four 
 children. Frank L., the eldest, born Sep- 
 tember 24, 1878, and now living in Dur- 
 ham township, married Miss Georgiana 
 B. Lamb and they have three children. 
 Vera, Naysee and an infant son. Ressa 
 V. Byler, who attended the high school 
 of Dallas City and is a graduate of the 
 high school of Aurora, Nebraska, of the 
 class of 1902, makes her home in Ne- 
 braska but is now engaged in teaching in 
 the high school of Dallas City. Joseph 
 L, born September 30, 1887, died May 
 4, 1891. Versel, born July 5, 1894, is a 
 student in Dallas City high school. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Byler hold membership in 
 the Baptist church and he is a member of 
 Burnside Lodge 385, A. F. & A. M. of
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 Burnside. He also belongs to the Mod- 
 em Woodmen camp, while his political 
 allegiance is given to the democracy. He 
 has never been a politician in the sense of 
 office seeking, preferring to devote his 
 time and energies to his business affairs. 
 He is recognized in the community as a 
 good neighbor and as an enterprising in- 
 dustrious man, who has made a creditable 
 record in his business life and who en- 
 joys the respect and esteem of many 
 friends. 
 
 JACOB REISELT. 
 
 Jacob Reiselt, whose position in public 
 regard and affection is indicated by the 
 fact that to his many friends he is known 
 as Uncle Jake, resides on a farm in Dur 
 ham township near La Harpe and is 
 classed with the prominent and repre- 
 sentative residents of the community. He 
 was born in Germany, March i, 1829. 
 His parents, Jacob and Anna (Sponer) 
 Reiselt, were also natives of that coun- 
 try and in the year 1842 came to America, 
 landing at New York, after a voyage of 
 thirty-nine days made on the ship Oneida, 
 They settled in Franklin county, Ohio, 
 near Columbus, taking up their abode 
 upon a farm there in the month of August. 
 Six mofiths later the father purchased a 
 farm of forty-two acres in Hamilton 
 township, Franklin county, where he car- 
 ried on farming for many years or 
 throughout his remaining days, his death 
 occurring in October, 1885. His wife 
 survived until 1890 and was then laid to 
 
 rest by his side in Walnut Hill church 
 cemetery in Ohio. Mr. Reiselt had served 
 for six years in the German army in his 
 native country. Emigrating to America 
 he became a loyal son of his adopted coun- 
 try and as the years passed by his care- 
 fully conducted business interests brought 
 to him a gratifying measure of success. 
 Unto him and his wife were born seven 
 sons and five daughters and of their fam- 
 ily four sons and three daughters are yet 
 living, namely : Henry, living in Oakland, 
 Ohio; Waltham, of Columbus, Ohio; 
 Jacob, of this review; Lewis, of Nebras- 
 ka; Bina, the wife of Charles Kale, of 
 Columbus, Ohio; Elizabeth, the wife of 
 John Gates, also of Columbus ; and Mary, 
 the wife of John Claud, living near Ohio's 
 capital city. 
 
 Jacob Reiselt at the usual age entered 
 the public schools of his native country 
 and there pursued his studies until four-; 
 teen years of age, when he accompanied 
 his parents on their voyage to the new 
 world. He remained at home until seven- 
 teen years of age and then started out in 
 life on his own account, working by the 
 month as a farm hand for Jeremiah Clark, 
 near Columbus, Ohio, with whom he re- 
 mained for ten years a fact which is 
 indicative of his capable service and the 
 trust reposed in him by his employer. 
 He was married December 18, 1852, to 
 Miss Elizabeth Wetherington, who was 
 born near Columbus. Ohio, in 1824, a 
 daughter of William and Maggie (Hel- 
 scher) Wetherington, natives of Virginia 
 and Pennsylvania respectively. They 
 went to Ohio at an early day and there 
 Mr. Wetherington engaged in teaching 
 school and in farming. He served as a
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 59 
 
 ioldier of the war of 1812, holding the 
 ank of captain, and in the community 
 vhere he lived was recognized as a prom- 
 nent and influential citizen. In his fam- 
 ly were ten children but only two are 
 low living: Rebecca, the wife of Lewis 
 rlartzell, of La Harpe; and Sarah, who 
 esides with her sister. The parents died 
 ind were buried in Ohio. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Reiselt 
 nirchased one hundred acres of good 
 : ann land in Ohio, where he remained 
 until after the close of the war and then 
 :ame to Illinois, locating in Durham 
 ownship on the 5th of March, 1866. He 
 mrchased one hundred and twenty acres 
 >f improved land on section 23 and he 
 las since carried on farm work. He has 
 argely remodeled and improved the 
 louse, has built fences, planted orchards 
 ind has from time to time added to his 
 ilace until he now has one hundred and 
 -ixty acres, one of die best farms in the- 
 ownship. He has carried on general ag- 
 icultural pursuits and in his business af- 
 airs has prospered owing to his capable 
 nanagement and well-directed energy. 
 
 In 1899 Mr. Reiselt was called upon to 
 nourn the loss of his wife, who passed 
 ivvay on the ist of May of that year at 
 he age of seventy-four and was laid to 
 est in La Harpe cemetery. Both Mr. 
 ind Mrs. Reiselt as well as their parents 
 vere reared in the faith of the Lutheran 
 rhurch. to which they always adhered. 
 Mrs. Reiselt was a devoted wife and 
 nother and kind neighbor and possessed 
 nany excellent traits of heart and mind 
 vhich endeared her to all with whom she 
 .vas associated. She left five children. 
 :wo sons and three daughters, all born 
 
 in Franklin county, Ohio. Henry, the 
 eldest, born in 1853, married Rose Ketch- 
 am, of Elvaston, Hancock county, Illi- 
 nois, and they have seven children: Mel- 
 vin, Ivy, Sherman, Mabel, Myrtle, Hazel, 
 and an infant son. William, born in 
 1855, married Arrissa Smith and lives 
 near La Crosse. Effie. born in 1857, is 
 at home with her father. Mary, born in 
 1 86 1, is the wife of Sherman Broadfield. 
 of Durham township, and has two chil- 
 dren, Bonneth and Ogle. Margrettie. 
 born in 1865, is at home. 
 
 Mr. Reiselt has lived a life of diligence 
 and industry and has now a valuable farm 
 property as the result of his well-directed 
 labor. He has a natural spring upon his 
 farm better than any windmill, over 
 which he has built his milk house, and he 
 keeps from thirty to thirty-five good 
 milch cows, thus conducting quite an ex- 
 tensive dairy business. In Ohio his home 
 was a log cabin and for forty-two years 
 he has resided continuously upon his pres- 
 ent farm in Hancock county. Every- 
 thing about the place is kept in good con- 
 dition and indicates his careful super- 
 vision and capable management. In pol- 
 itics he is a democrat and has held a 
 number of township offices, the duties of 
 which he ever discharged with prompt- 
 ness and fidelity. He was road super- 
 visor for six years, school trustee for 
 t\venty-seven years and path master for 
 twelve years. Although he has now 
 passed the seventy-seventh milestone on 
 life's journey he is still very active and 
 possesses a wonderful memory, while in 
 the community no man stands higher in 
 the general regard than does Uncle Jake 
 Reiselt.
 
 6o 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 LEWIS MARTIN MYERS. 
 
 Lewis M. Myers is a general stockman, 
 feeding and raising high bred horses and 
 cattle upon a farm in Pontoosuc township 
 and his business qualifications and un- 
 abating energy argue well for a success- 
 ful future. He was born in the township 
 where he still resides, May 16, 1872, and 
 is the ninth in order of birth in a family 
 of fifteen children whose parents are 
 Charles H. and Anna (Dustman) Myers, 
 both of whom are natives of Germany, 
 the father having been born July 2, 1836, 
 and the mother in October, 1844. C. H. 
 Myers was a lad of seven years when 
 brought to the United States and for 
 forty-two years has lived in Hancock 
 county, his home being continuously in or 
 near Pontoosuc township. He married 
 Anna Dustman 'near Burlington, Iowa, 
 who was a maiden of eleven summers when 
 she crossed the Atlantic. She is a daugh- 
 ter of Henry Dustman, who for many 
 years lived near Burlington as a farmer 
 and later in life was a fruit grower and 
 gardener south of the city. She is a sister 
 of Henry Dustman, whose family history 
 is in the Biographical Review of Des 
 Moines County, Iowa. Their children are : 
 Mary, the wife of J. S. Massie, of Pon- 
 toosuc township ; Harman, living at West 
 Point, Iowa; Emma, at Port Arthur, 
 Texas ; William, deceased ; Martha, the 
 wife of William Pomeroy, of Alveston, 
 Illinois; Elizabeth, at home; Lena, the 
 wife of George W. Jones, of Rock Creek 
 township ; Anna, the wife of Fred Smith, 
 a rice farmer of Port Arthur, Texas; L. 
 M., of this review; Henry, of Washing- 
 ton ; Charles, of Rock Creek township ; 
 
 Fredric, who is with our subject ; Virgie, 
 at home; Hugh, living in Dallas town- 
 ship; and Fay, who is with her parents. 
 
 Having attended the district school 
 near his father's farm Lewis M. Myers 
 afterward spent one term as a student in 
 Elliott Business College, at Burlington, 
 Iowa, in 1892, and following his return 
 home assisted in the work of the fields un- 
 til twenty-one years of age. Subsequently 
 he operated one of his father's farms for 
 several years, thus starting out in life on 
 his own account. 
 
 On the i6th of October, 1895, was cel- 
 ebrated the marriage of L. M. Myers and 
 Miss Nancy Rice, who was born in Fay- 
 ette county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 
 1868, a daughter of Samuel and Cather- 
 ine (Spears) Rice, likewise natives of the 
 Keystone state and now residents of Dur- 
 ham township, this county, aged respect- 
 ively seventy-four and sixty-three years. 
 Of their five children four are now living : 
 Alice, the wife of Grant Schultz. of Dur- 
 ham township; Mrs. Myers; Charles, a 
 farmer of Durham township; and Mrs. 
 Barbara Doss, of Durham township. One 
 daughter, Ada, died when five years of 
 age. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Myers now live on one 
 of his father's farms, and in December, 
 1904, he purchased eighty acres of land 
 across the road from his home on section 
 22, Pontoosuc township. He tills the soil 
 and also raises and feeds horses and cattle, 
 and his stock-raising interests are a most 
 important branch of his business. For 
 about nine years Mr. Myers has been one 
 of the leading horse breeders in this part 
 of the county, being particularly inter- 
 ested in Percheron horses, and now has
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 61 
 
 at the head of his stud, Caesar (No. 
 54038) his French Register Number, 
 his American Register Number being 
 
 . 40523. He was imported from France in 
 ' 1904, at the age of two years, and has been 
 owned by Mr. Myers since November 
 i, 1904. Besides being highly bred he 
 is a fine individual, weighing over 
 2. too at four years. He also has a 
 large number of fine mares and raises 
 a high bred stock himself. He also 
 has had full blood Chester hogs and 
 Angus cattle but devotes his time now 
 to his horses and cattle feeding. He was 
 
 I one of the organizers of Camp Creek 
 Prospecting Co. that is locating the coal 
 in this section, Mr. Myers having gone 
 through a three-foot vein of good coal in 
 drilling his well. He is one of the di- 
 rectors of the company, which intend to 
 develop the mine. His success is entirely 
 attributable to his own efforts and the as- 
 sistance of his estimable wife. Careful of 
 expenditures, managing his property ably 
 
 . and with keen foresight, he has made con- 
 siderable progress on the high way of suc- 
 cess and will continue on that road until 
 he reaches the goal of prosperity. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Myers has 
 been blessed with three children and the 
 family circle yet remains unbroken by the 
 hand of death. Their thre sons are: Mil- 
 lard Rice, born October 30, 1896 ; Charles 
 Byard, February 16, 1899; and Paul 
 Lewis, August 28, 1900. Mrs. Myers 
 belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church 
 but for convenience Mr. and Mrs. Myers 
 attend the United Brethren church. He 
 is a democrat in his political views and 
 has been school director for six years and 
 has also filled the office of township col- 
 T 
 
 lector. At all times he manifests a public- 
 spirited interest in the general welfare and 
 upbuilding and is an intelligent an re- 
 spected citizen whose well-spent life is 
 indicated by the fact that many of his best 
 friends are those who have known him 
 longest. 
 
 COLONEL BENJAMIN F. MARSH. 
 
 By the consensus of public .opinion in 
 the state and nation in the death of Colo- 
 nel Benjamin Franklin Marsh, Illinois 
 lost one of her greatest sons. He was 
 nine times chosen to represent his district 
 in congress and his career at all times was 
 characterized by a steady progress in mil- 
 itary, political and professional circles. 
 The simplicity of his life, the breadth of 
 his vision, the loftiness of his purpose, 
 the extent of the work that he accom- 
 plished in legislative halls, all combined 
 to win for him the respect, honor and 
 gratitude of his fellowmen. The meas- 
 ure of his ability and personal worth is 
 perhaps best indicated by the fact that he 
 numbered his warmest friends among the 
 most distinguished statesmen of the 
 country. 
 
 JBenjamin Franklin Marsh was more- 
 over a native son of Illinois, his birth 
 having occurred in Wythe township, 
 Hancock county, November 19, 1835, 
 and the house in which he first opened 
 his eyes to the light of day is still stand- 
 ing. Moreover the portion of the farm 
 on which the building is located is still 
 owned by the family. His boyhood days
 
 62 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 were fraught with the vicissitudes, ex- 
 periences and environments of pioneer 
 life and he early became familiar with 
 all of the labor incident to the develop- 
 ment and improvement of a farm. His 
 education was acquired in private 
 schools. He was for a brief period a 
 student in Palmyra, Missouri, and the 
 indignities which he there saw heaped 
 upon the colored youth fired his sense of 
 justice and left upon him an indelible 
 impression which bore fruit in the service 
 which he gave for the Union and for 
 liberty during the dark days of the Civil 
 War. He continued his education by 
 four years' study in Jubilee College un- 
 der Bishop Chase and there was awak- 
 ened in him that keen appreciation for 
 right and justice which was ever a dom- 
 inant element in his career. He com- 
 pleted the work of the junior year in 
 college and then took up the study of 
 law under the direction of his brother. 
 Judge J. W. Marsh (now deceased), with 
 whom he was subsequently associated in 
 the practice of his profession subsequent 
 to his admission to the bar in 1860. It 
 was a momentous period in the history of 
 Illinois and the nation, the country hav- 
 ing become aroused over the slavery 
 question and the threats of secession and 
 it may well be imagined that the young 
 man took a keen interest in nil of the 
 great events of that time. Political ques- 
 tions were, the dominant theme of inter- 
 est where men collected together and 
 Colonel Marsh entered heart and soul 
 into the political movements, taking a 
 firm stand in support of the new Repub- 
 lican party even at a time when it was 
 unpopular to do so. In the year of his 
 
 admission to the bar he accepted the Re- 
 publican nomination for state's attorney 
 in a district comprising Adams and Han- 
 cock counties, which was then strongly 
 democratic. He canvassed both coun- 
 ties, his successful opponent being the 
 late Calvin A. Warren, then a distin- 
 guished lawyer of Western Illinois. In 
 his home city. Warsaw. Colonel Marsh 
 was more fortunate in his candidacy and 
 served for a period as city clerk and 
 also represented Warsaw on the board of 
 supervisors from 1867 until 1869. In 
 the latter year he was nominated for 
 membership in the state constitutional 
 convention of 1870. but his republican 
 proclivities occasioned his defeat in a 
 strongly democratic district. 
 
 In the meantime Colonel Marsh had 
 devoted four years of his life to active 
 military service. He had watched with 
 keen interest the progress of events in 
 the south and all the patriotism of his 
 nature was aroused by the firing upon of 
 Fort Sumter and the attempt to disrupt 
 the Union. When war was proclaimed 
 he raised a company of cavalry and. go- 
 ing to Springfield, tendered its sen-ices to 
 Governor Yates, but as cavalry was not 
 included in President Lincoln's call the 
 company was not accepted. On his way 
 home from the state capital Colonel 
 Marsh found the Sixteenth Illinois Regi- 
 ment rendezvoused at Quincy and imme- 
 diately enlisted as a private, but was soon 
 afterward chosen quartermaster. When 
 with the regiment at Monroe Station. 
 Missouri, he received a telegram from 
 Governor Yates on the 4th of July, 1861. 
 saying that his cavalry company would 
 be accepted. Returning at once to War-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY. ILLINOIS. 
 
 sa\v. Colonel Marsh recruited the com- 
 pany and in August, with his men. pro- 
 ceeded to Springfield, where the command 
 was mustered in as Company G of the 
 Second Illinois Cavalry. Mr. Marsh was 
 chosen captain in August, 1861, and pro- 
 motions came to him from time to time 
 in recognition of gallant and meritorious 
 service. He was commissioned major 
 August 30, 1862. lieutenant colonel May 
 3. 1864, colonel August 29, 1865, and 
 served continuously until January, 1866, 
 having campaigned in every seceding 
 state except Virginia and the two Caro- 
 linas. Four times he was wounded by 
 gun shot and he carried some of the lead 
 to his grave. Those who served under 
 him tell that he was a fearless and bril- 
 liant officer, never faltering in the per- 
 formance of any duty and inspiring his 
 men by his own valor and loyalty. Per- 
 haps one of the most notable examples 
 of his innate personal courage was his 
 refusal to obey his superior officer at 
 Holly Springs when the latter surren- 
 dered. Colonel Marsh and his command 
 cutting their way through the rebel lines. 
 He never ceased to feel a deep interest 
 in the military organizations of the coun- 
 try and had a warm feeling of friendship 
 for his comrades in arms. 
 
 When the preservation of the Union 
 had become an assured fact and his aid 
 was no longer needed at the front Colonel 
 Marsh returned to Warsaw and resumed 
 the practice of law. continuing an active 
 and able member of the bar until his elec- 
 tion to congress in 1876. From that 
 time forward his attention was given al- 
 most exclusively to important public serv- 
 ice and he left the impress of his individ- 
 
 uality upon national legislation. He had 
 in 1866 been the nominee for the candi- 
 dacy of the Republican party in his dis- 
 trict for congress and again in 1872 and 
 the fatal illness of his wife terminated 
 in death on the day of the republican 
 convention in the latter year, so that 
 Colonel Marsh was unable to attend. In 
 1876, having secured the nomination. 
 Colonel Marsh entered into the campaign 
 with the same determination and loyal 
 spirit that ever characterized him in 
 everything that he undertook. In the 
 convention each county of the district 
 except Mercer had a candidate and 
 Colonel Marsh secured the nomination 
 on the twenty-fifth ballot. He was not 
 only elected in that year but again in 1878 
 and 1880. his services during his first 
 term being of such a beneficial nature that 
 the party rallied to his support as the 
 standard bearer in the two succeeding 
 elections. Then came a factional fight 
 in the party and he retired from office 
 on the close of his third term, March 3, 
 1883. He was in 1892 strongly recom- 
 mended by many of his friends for the 
 candidate for governor. In the same year, 
 however, others urged him to again be- 
 come a candidate for congress. He care- 
 fully studied the situation and was on the 
 eve of refusal, but the influence of rec- 
 ognized party leaders who knew his 
 strength prevailed upon him and he was 
 once more nominated and elected, at that 
 time serving, through re-election, for four 
 consecutive terms. In 1900 he was de- 
 feated, but in 1902 was again elected to 
 congress and once more in 1904, so that 
 he was serving as a member of the house 
 at the time of his death. In the latter
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 campaigns the state of his health pre- 
 vented him from active participation, but 
 each election showed good returns in sup- 
 port of Colonel Marsh, who was thus nine 
 times called to represent his district in the 
 council chambers of the nation. During 
 the interval of ten years he was out of 
 congress he served for four years on the 
 Illinois Railroad and Warehouse Commis- 
 sion through appointment in 1889 from 
 Governor Oglesby. His political service 
 is a matter of history. Congressional 
 records give indication of his support or 
 opposition to various measures which 
 came up, and it was a well-known fact 
 that he could never be coerced into any 
 political position, that neither fear nor 
 favor could win his allegiance to a meas- 
 ure that he believed would prove detri- 
 mental or cause him to oppose a move- 
 ment that he thought would prove bene- 
 ficial to his state or country at large. He 
 did important work in the committee 
 rooms, being closely connected with many 
 measures of constructive legislation, and 
 he made a number of notable addresses 
 on the floor of the house. As has been 
 said, "But, after all, the services of the 
 most valuable, most effective members of 
 congress is unwritten history. It can be 
 known only to him who has the open 
 sesame to the devious ways by which leg- 
 islation is shaped and enacted at Wash- 
 ington. That Colonel Marsh was here 
 a power is "now recognized, and that he 
 will be missed, especially by this portion 
 of the nation, is fully appreciated." 
 
 The home life of Colonel Marsh was 
 largely ideal. He was married August 
 6, 1861, to Miss Josephine Miller, who 
 died July 31, 1872. Of their five chil- 
 
 dren two are living : Miss Bertha Marsh, 
 of Warsaw, and C. Carroll Marsh, of 
 Warsaw. Two of the children, Cara P. 
 and Josephine, died in infancy, while 
 Arthur W. died a number of years ago 
 after reaching adult age. On the ist of 
 January, 1881, Colonel Marsh was mar- 
 ried to Miss Jane E. Coolbaugh, of Chi- 
 cago, who died on the i8th of March, 
 1905. There were also five children by 
 this marriage, of whom Robert Miller 
 and James C. died in infancy, while those 
 still living are William C., Richard O. 
 and Benjamin F. Marsh, , Jr. Colonel 
 Marsh was able to leave his family in 
 excellent financial circumstances, for in 
 his business undertakings he had pros- 
 pered. After his retirement from con- 
 gress in 1883 he devoted his attention 
 largely to his farm southeast of Warsaw, 
 and gradually added to his possessions 
 situated in Warsaw, Wilcox and Wythe 
 townshnps. The normal man always en- 
 joys nature and Colonel Marsh was of 
 this class. He found great delight in 
 superintending his agricultural interests, 
 in watching the growth of his crops and 
 in bringing his land up to a high state 
 of cultivation. Colonel Marsh passed 
 away June 2, 1905, at his home in War- 
 saw, after an illness which extended over 
 several 'months, although at times his 
 health was greatly improved. The fu- 
 neral was one of the most notable that 
 has ever been held in Illinois, special 
 trains being run over the different rail- 
 road and trolley lines in order to bring 
 the large concourse of people who gath- 
 ered to pay their last tribute of respect 
 to one whom they had known and hon- 
 ored. From congress came Senator
 
 HAXCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Shelby M. Cullom and Representatives 
 George W. Prince, of Galesburg; Joseph 
 V. Graff, of Peoria; Philip .Knopf, of 
 Chicago; Henry T. Rainey, of Carroll- 
 ton; William W. Wilson, of Chicago; 
 Zeno J. Rives, of Litchfield; and Charles 
 McGavin, also of Chicago, who acted as 
 honorary pall-bearers, while the active 
 pall-bearers were the same that Colonel 
 Marsh had chosen to serve at his wife's 
 funeral just eleven weeks earlier. 
 
 It is. difficult to analyze the character of 
 such a man because of the variety of his 
 service and the extent of his influence 
 and work. He was a conservative man 
 and must be regarded as a statesman, al- 
 ways striving to build up for the benefit 
 of the people and to insure a continuous 
 national progress, believing that nations, 
 like men, cannot stand still but must go 
 forward or backward. He became con- 
 spicuous as a public officer who was al- 
 ways at his post of duty and always at 
 work. No man ever represented a dis- 
 trict in Illinois in congress who was more 
 faithful to the trust reposed in him by the 
 people. His mental characteristics were 
 of that solid and practical rather than of 
 the ostentatious and brilliant order. He 
 was essential!}' strong in intellect and ca- 
 pable of reaching safe, reasonable and 
 prudent conclusions. In the long and 
 crowded line of illustrious men of whom 
 Illinois is justly proud, the public life of 
 few others has extended over as long a 
 period as his, and certainly the life of 
 none has been more varied in service, 
 more constant in honor, more fearless in 
 conduct or more stainless in reputation. 
 Perhaps no better testimonial of his char- 
 acter and public service can be given than 
 
 in the words of one of his old-time 
 friends and associates, who said, "The 
 morning following the memorable Gar- 
 field memorial exercises in the house of 
 representatives, Alexander H. Stephens, 
 that pigmy in stature and giant in intel- 
 lect, moving in his wheeled chair over the 
 arena in front of the speaker's desk, while 
 indulging a musing, sparkling, laudatory 
 criticism of Elaine's eloquent address, 
 turned to the writer, with that peculiar 
 graciousness which won young men to 
 him, and said : "And yet, after all, while 
 the genius of the forum kindles enthusi- 
 asm and moves one to effort, we should 
 remember that in public affairs the well- 
 balanced, forceful, persistent worker, 
 with courageous determination and unas- 
 sailable integrity, is the master hand in 
 shaping the weal of a nation. Of such 
 material is your congressman, Colonel 
 Marsh." 
 
 "Had the distinguished ex- Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the southern confederacy known 
 his subject even more intimately he could 
 not have measured Colonel Marsh's 
 character more accurately nor have 
 weighed his abilities more correctly. 
 Through all his public service his in- 
 tegrity was never questioned for a mo- 
 ment, and his entire career, from youth 
 up, was marked by courageous determi- 
 nation. It was with him when only out 
 of his teens he braved a pistol's muzzle 
 and a mob's fury to sever the rope of 
 would-be lynchers; it was with him at 
 Holly Springs when he defied his cow- 
 ardly superior officer, refused to sur- 
 render, and with a remnant of the Sec- 
 ond Illinois Cavalry cut his way through 
 the enemy's lines. Further, it was with
 
 66 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEll' 
 
 him in the capacity of a representative 
 of the people whenever and wherever 
 duty pointed the way. as it was with 
 him in private life. He had his sorrows, 
 he had his afflictions ; but he concealed 
 the bruise of the rod and the scar of the 
 scourge with the veil of his indomitable 
 will. 
 
 "His was a rugged character. Molded 
 amid the privations of pioneer life and 
 developed in the stirring scenes of the 
 past half century, it became well-rounded 
 as the shadows lengthened. There was 
 no pretense about him. no dissimulation 
 in his make-up. He was frank of 
 speech, unassuming in manner, hospita- 
 ble but unostentatious. He had a sym- 
 pathetic interest in his fellowman. but it 
 was a wholesome sympathy, not misled 
 by sickly sentiment on the one hand nor 
 awed by arrogance on the other. Loyal 
 in his friendship, he was not bitter in 
 his enmities, and never took advantage 
 of power to punish a foe. That he was 
 charitable there are many, many, to at- 
 test, but he never jingled the coin of 
 charity, being of those who hold that the 
 left hand should not know what the right 
 hand doeth. As a politician, Colonel 
 Marsh was keen, astute, far-sighted. He 
 was an adept in marshalling his forces. 
 But he eschewed the baser arts and never 
 resorted to trades or cabals or the de- 
 moralizing agencies only too common to 
 the field of politics. 
 
 "As a public man. he aspired to be a 
 worker, a doer: and the sequel proves 
 that he did not strive in vain. He did 
 not affect the ornate as a speaker nor did 
 he dawdle in debate, but when he spoke 
 it was briefly and to the point. He was 
 
 exceptionally familiar with all public 
 questions, and in close touch with the 
 powers that shape them, equipping him 
 well for his work, and with his strong 
 personality, making results possible. He 
 had the respect and admiration of his 
 colleagues and enjoyed in a peculiar de- 
 gree the confidence of the late President 
 McKinley and that of President Roose- 
 velt and stood close to the heads of the 
 departments. It was in council, in com- 
 mittee, he was strongest, and those who 
 are most familiar with his achievements 
 know that his impress is on national leg- 
 islation. But his life work is o'er. He 
 has passed to the unknown realm whither 
 man's pilgrimage tends. The good he 
 has done will not be interred with his 
 bones. It will live after him ; and while 
 his ashes sleep in Oakland, under the 
 silent watch of the 'untroubled sentries 
 of the shadowy night; his memory will 
 endure, long to be cherished as that of 
 one who served his day and generation 
 well and faithfully." 
 
 EDMOXD PARKER DEXTOX. 
 
 Edmond Parker Denton, who, since 
 1898 has made his home in Hamilton, 
 but for many years was extensively and 
 successfully engaged in stock-raising in 
 Hancock county, as proprietor of the 
 Catalpa Grove stock farm, was bom in 
 Bath county, Kentucky, April 2, 1832. 
 his parents being Reuben and Jane 
 (Perkins) Denton. the former born near
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 67 
 
 the Holstein river in Tennessee, and the 
 latter in Bath county, Kentucky. His 
 paternal grandparents, Abraham and 
 Sarah (Hunt) Denton, were natives of 
 Tennessee, while the maternal grand- 
 parents, Edmond and Elizabeth (Van 
 Landingham) Perkins, were natives of 
 Bath and Fleming counties, Kentucky, 
 respectively. The parents were married 
 in Fleming county, where the father died 
 in 1862, while the mother passed away in 
 1868. Their son, Edmond P. Denton, 
 was the third in order of birth in a fam- 
 ily of five children, of whom one daugh- 
 ter, Matilda, died at the age of four 
 years, while Abraham T., who was born 
 in 1830, died in Missouri, in February, 
 1904. The other brother, Oliver B., re- 
 sides in Fleming county, Kentucky, while 
 Allen H., born in 1840, died at the age of 
 thirteen years. 
 
 Edmond P. Denton spent the days of 
 his boyhood and youth in his native state, 
 being reared to the occupation of farm- 
 ing, and on the 8th of March, 1854, 
 when a young man of twenty-two years, 
 he left Kentucky and removed to Co- 
 lumbus, Illinois, where he spent the suc- 
 ceeding year. He then came to Hancock 
 county, settling in Wythe township, 
 where he secured a tract of land which 
 had been fenced and cultivated. He be- 
 gan the further improvement of the 
 place, which he called the Catalpa Grove 
 stock farm and here he was extensively 
 engaged in raising Wilkes horses, always 
 making a specialty of this breed. When 
 his son. Henry attained his majority he 
 was admitted to a partnership and the 
 business of raising and breeding fine 
 stock was conducted under the firm stvle 
 
 of Denton & Son. Mr. Denton became 
 known as one of the most prominent 
 stockmen in this part of the state, raising 
 some very fine animals upon his place, 
 which sold for high prices. He is an 
 excellent ' judge of horse flesh and has 
 owned some splendid specimens of the 
 noble steed. As a breeder and stock- 
 raiser he met with excellent success and 
 continued in active business until 1898, 
 when he retired from his farm and re- 
 moved to Hamilton, where he has since 
 made his home. 
 
 On the 1 5th of December, 1853, Mr. 
 Denton was united in marriage to Miss 
 Jemima Ellen Whitney, who was born in 
 Bath county, Kentucky, December 29, 
 1845, a daughter of Elijah K. and 
 Julanie (Jones) Whitney, the former a 
 native of Ohio and the latter of Bath 
 county, Kentucky. Mrs. Denton was 
 educated in Kentucky and spent her girl- 
 hood days in her parents' home. By her 
 marriage she became the mother of the 
 following named : Charles A., who is 
 circuit judge of Bates county, Missouri ; 
 Julania Jane, the wife of Charles Cole, 
 a liveryman of Omaha, Nebraska; Mar- 
 garet B., the wife of J. T. Guy, who is 
 proprietor of Hotel Hamilton, at Hamil- 
 ton, Illinois; Henry K., who is in the 
 livery business in Hamilton; Sarah E., 
 the wife of R. R. Wallace, cashier of the 
 State Bank at Hamilton ; Edmond Grant, 
 a farmer, whose home is two miles north 
 of Hamilton; Albert C, a groceryman of 
 Hamilton, and is also a mail carrier on 
 the rural route ; and Jemima Ellen, the 
 wife of Harry Rentchler, employed as 
 salesman for Bolls Brothers, of Chicago, 
 Illinois. Mrs. Denton passed away July
 
 68 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 10, 1889, and was buried in Oakwood 
 cemetery at Hamilton, Illinois. She was 
 an estimable lady, who had been a faith- 
 ful companion and helpmate to her hus- 
 band on life's journey. Her loss was 
 deeply regretted by many friends as well 
 as her immediate family. Mr. Denton 
 now boards with his daughter at Hotel 
 Hamilton. He is a republican in his 
 political views and served as supervisor 
 of Wythe township for three terms, 
 while for one term he was collector. He 
 was appointed postmaster of Hamilton 
 on the ist of June, 1899, anc l ' ias h a d 
 three appointments to that office, the last 
 coming from President Roosevelt on the 
 ist of March, 1905, so that the incum- 
 bency will continue until 1909. He is 
 a capable official, giving a public-spirited 
 administration in the affairs of the office. 
 Fraternally he is a Mason, and in his life 
 exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the 
 craft. In business, in political circles 
 and in social life he has always been 
 known as a man worthy of the public es- 
 teem and confidence and the circle of his 
 friends is a very extensive one. 
 
 LORENZO D. LITTLE. 
 
 Lorenzo D. Little is one of the most 
 venerable citizens of Hancock county, 
 yet the years rest lightly upon him and 
 he appears to be a much younger man 
 than the records state, for he is still ac- 
 tive in business life, managing his farm- 
 ing interests in Pontoosuc township and 
 
 maintaining a deep interest in current 
 events and matters of general progress. 
 His has been a useful and honorable ca- 
 reer. He was born in Hampshire county, 
 Virginia, in 1821, and is a representative 
 of an old family that was founded in 
 America in colonial days. His uncle, 
 David Little, was one of the Revolution- 
 ary heroes who won independence for the 
 nation and when the country again be- 
 came engaged in war with Great Britain, 
 in 1812, he once more fought for Amer- 
 ican rights. Martha and Sarah (Rit- 
 nour) Little, parents of our subject, were 
 likewise natives of the Old Dominion, 
 born near Winchester in 1794 and in 
 1796, respectively. In the '205 they 
 became residents of Greene county, Ohio, 
 and on the 25th of April, 1847, arrived' 
 in Hancock county, settling in Ap- 
 panoose township. Soon, however, the 
 father purchased land from a Mormon 
 elder, Fullmer, and the family were in- 
 stalled in a log cabin in Pontoosuc town- 
 ship, where they experienced the usual' 
 hardships, privations and pleasures of 
 pioneer life, the father following farm- 
 ing there until his death in 1854. He 
 was long survived by his wife, who died 
 in 1882. 
 
 L.D. Little, accompanied his parents on 
 their removal to Ohio in 1827, was educ- 
 cated in that state and there lived for 
 twenty years, and at the time of the re- 
 moval of the family to Illinois, in 1847, 
 he also came to Hancock county, taking 
 up his abode in Pontoosuc township, 
 where he purchased forty acres of land 
 and began the development of a new 
 farm, performing all the arduous labor 
 connected with such a task. In later
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 69 
 
 years he purchased another forty-acre 
 tract on section 20, and throughout his 
 residence here has carried on general 
 farming and stock-raising, his prosper- 
 ity coming as the legitimate and well- 
 merited result of his own labor. 
 
 Mr. Little was married July 15, 1849, 
 to Miss Hester A. Tull, who was born 
 in Maryland, February 25, i827,a daugh- 
 ter of John R. and Nancy (Langford) 
 Tull. The father, who was born in 
 Maryland, in March. 1807, died in 1898, 
 while the mother, whose -birth occurred 
 in the same state and in the same year, 
 died in August, 1882. They were mem- 
 bers of the Methodist church and many 
 good qualities endeared them to their 
 family and friends. Of their nine chil- 
 dren only three are now living: Mrs. 
 Little; Elizabeth, the wife of Daniel A. 
 Little, of Pontoosuc township; and 
 Sarah, the wife of Isaac Grove, of Pay- 
 son, Adams county, Illinois. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Little became parents of three chil- 
 dren who have passed away and three 
 who still survive. Naomi became the 
 wife of Marion Jacobs, who died in Ar- 
 kansas in 1904, leaving six children: 
 Rosa, the wife of Arthur Jacobs, of 
 Mena, Arkansas, by whom she has three 
 children, Evelyn, Lorenzo and Clara ; 
 Joseph Jacobs, who married Zelpha 
 Choate, of Arkansas; Ella, wife of John 
 McKinstry, of Texas ; Orley, living in 
 Arkansas ; and Lorenzo and Clarence 
 Jacobs, also of that state. John Little 
 married Flora Wilcox and resides in 
 Pontoosuc township. Joseph Little, of 
 Pontoosuc township, married Louisa 
 Cress, and has four children : Emma P., 
 wife of Frank Perkins, of Pontocsuc 
 
 township; Lester, Guy and Walter. Ar- 
 melda Little is the wife of Benjamin Ri- 
 ter, of Pontoosuc township, and has 
 three children: Arthur L., Goldie M., 
 and Lizzie E., Harry C. Riter died at the 
 age of ten months. One child of the fam- 
 ily died in early infancy. Elizabeth Lit- 
 tle, who was the first bom, died at the age 
 of four months and twenty-three days. 
 
 Mr. Little is a republican and has 
 served as road supervisor and as a mem- 
 ber of the school board. His wife is a 
 member of the Methodist church. They 
 have traveled life's journey together as 
 man and wife for fifty-seven years, and 
 are a much-esteemed couple of Pontoo- 
 suc township. They yet enjoy good 
 health and are active, bearing the burden 
 of the years lightly. While they have 
 had sorrows and hardships, they have 
 yet had many pleasures and successes. 
 
 HENRY RICE. 
 
 Henry Rice, whose well developed 
 farm is one of the attractive features in 
 the landscape in Durham township, 
 was born in Fayette county, Pennsylva- 
 nia, June 15, 1827, and the nearly eighty 
 years of his well-spent life have made 
 him a most respected and honored man. 
 His parents were Samuel and Fannie 
 (Strickler) Rice, likewise natives of Fay- 
 ette county, Pennsylvania, the former 
 born in 1804 and the latter in 1802. 
 Samuel Rice was also a farmer bv oc-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEll' 
 
 cupation and was a local preacher in the 
 River Brethren denomination in Penn- 
 sylvania. He remained in the Keystone 
 state until his later years, when he came 
 to Illinois and lived with his children, 
 passing away in Henderson county, De- 
 cember 19. 1885. His wife died No- 
 vember 30, 1870, and was laid to rest in 
 Ohio, while his grave was made in Dur- 
 ham cemetery. They were the parents 
 of eleven children : Nancy and Christian, 
 deceased ; Henry, of this review ; John 
 and Fannie, who have passed away ; 
 Samuel, of Durham township; George, 
 deceased ; Lydia, the wife of John 
 Hershey, of Ohio ; Rebecca, who died in 
 April, 1906: and Mary and Cyrus, also 
 deceased. 
 
 Henry Rice was educated in the dis- 
 trict schools of Fayette county, Pennsyl- 
 vania, but his opportunities in that direc- 
 tion were somewhat limited. The little 
 "temple of learning" in which he pursued 
 his studies, ,was a log structure with 
 puncheon floor and slab seats. He re- 
 mained with his father until about the 
 time he attained his majority and was 
 then married, in 1848, to Miss Elizabeth 
 Stoner, who indeed proved a faithful 
 companion and helpmate to him on life's < 
 journey. She was born in Blair county, 
 Pennsylvania, in September, 1826, a 
 daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Bosler) 
 Stoner, natives of eastern Pennsylvania, 
 in which state the father followed farm- 
 ing. In the Stoner family were nine 
 children : Abraham, now living in Des 
 Moines, Iowa ; Mary, deceased ; Mrs. 
 Rice; Ann and David, who are residents 
 of Pennsylvania: Joseph and Rebecca, 
 who have passed away; Susan, living in 
 
 northern Illinois; and Sarah, deceased. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rice began their domes- 
 tic life in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, 
 where they lived for six years and then 
 removed to Stark county, Ohio, where 
 they spent four years on a farm. On the 
 expiration of that period they located in 
 Adams county, Illinois, and after a year 
 and a half came, in the fall of 1859, to 
 Hancock county, settling in Durham 
 township, where Mr. Rice purchased 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land on 
 section 10. Improvements had already 
 been made upon the place, and in 1871 
 he erected an elegant residence, whije in 
 1868 he built a commodious barn. He 
 also put up a windwill and built good 
 sheds and other outbuildings for the 
 shelter of grain and stock, together with 
 fences which divide the place into fields 
 of convenient size. It is today one of 
 the finest farms in Durham township, 
 and comprises one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land, Mr. Rice having sold two 
 hundred and forty acres. However, he 
 still owns three hundred and twenty 
 acres of farm land in Lee county, Iowa. 
 He has always raised stock and has car- 
 ried on general farming. Although now 
 well advanced in years he still gives per- 
 sonal supervision to the place, which, 
 under his capable management, is kept 
 under a high state of cultivation, the 
 rich and productive fields annually re- 
 turning to him gratifying harvests. Mr. 
 Rice is also a director of the Farmers 
 State Bank of Dallas. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rice, as the years 
 went by, were born ten children, three 
 in Pennsylvania, two in Ohio and the 
 others upon the home farm, in this county.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 The family record is as follows : Fan- 
 nie Ann, deceased; Jacob, of Nebraska, 
 who married Miss Luella Lydic and has 
 five children, Nellie, Elizabeth, Laura, 
 Jay and Dean ; Samuel, also of Nebras- 
 ka, who married Miss Jennie Boyle, and 
 died leaving three children, Lena, Stew- 
 art and Harry; Mary, the wife of James 
 Babcock, of Durham township, by whom 
 she had three children, Frank, deceased, 
 Rolla and Ina; Le Roy, who has passed 
 away ; Clara, the wife of John Smith, of 
 Iowa, by whom she has nine children, 
 Bessie. Grace, Laura, Maggie, Lawrence, 
 Ina, Helen, Beulah and Ruth ; Laura, 
 who is with her father ; Jenora. deceased ; 
 Clark, of Pontoosuc township, who mar- 
 ried Miss Minnie Bradfield and had three 
 children/ Bertha, deceased, Charles, and 
 Eulah, who has also passed away; and 
 Etta, at home with her father. The 
 children have been provided with liberal 
 educational privileges, the sons all at- 
 tending city schools, some in Burlington, 
 in Denmark and in Keokuk, Iowa. 
 
 In the early days of their married 
 life Mr. and Mrs. Rice had to undergo 
 many hardships and privations, but as 
 the years passed prosperity attended 
 their labors and Mr. Rice is now in very 
 comfortable financial circumstances. In 
 addition to his farm property he is a 
 stockholder in the Farmers Exchange 
 Bank of Dallas City, as are his two 
 daughters who are at home. In 1902 
 they were called upon to mourn the loss 
 of wife and mother, who passed away 
 on the 7th of November of that year and 
 was laid to rest in Durham cemetery, 
 her death being deeply regretted by 
 many friends as well as her immediate 
 5 
 
 family. She was indeed a loving wife 
 and mother, her interests centering in 
 her own household. She did everything 
 in her power to promote the welfare and- 
 happiness of her family and she extended 
 a most gracious and cordial hospitality 
 to her many friends. Her many excel- 
 lent traits of character won her the es- 
 teem and love of all with whom she came 
 in contact. In his political affiliation 
 Mr. Rice is a democrat and at one time 
 served as school director but has never 
 sought or desired office. His success is 
 attributable entirely to his own labors. 
 He is of a modest and retiring disposi- 
 tion but the consensus of public opinion 
 is that he deserves prominent mention 
 among "the representative men of the 
 county. He is a representative of one 
 of the oldest families of the township 
 and is one whose life record is indeed 
 worthy of emulation and of admiration. 
 
 ZIMRI WHITE. 
 
 Zimri White is a retired farmer and 
 veteran of the Civil war, living in Ham- 
 ilton. He was born in Coatsburg, Adams 
 county, Illinois, September 22, 1839, and 
 is a son of John and Drusilla (Lasley) 
 White, natives of Virginia and South 
 Carolina respectively. His paternal 
 grandfather, William White, was a na- 
 tive of Scotland and the maternal grand- 
 father was John Lasley, of South Caro- 
 lina. In the year 1822 John White went 
 to Springfield, Illinois, with his mother.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 He was then a lad of ten years, his birth 
 having occurred in 1812. The father 
 had died in the south and the widowed 
 mother afterward removed to this state, 
 where John White learned the plasterer's 
 trade. He worked in Springfield for 
 some time, after which he removed to 
 Adams county, Illinois, where he was 
 married in 1838. He then rented land 
 for a few years, after which he removed 
 to Hancock county and purchased one 
 hundred and sixty acres of prairie land, 
 for which he paid three hundred and 
 fifty dollars and which is now worth six- 
 teen thousand dollars. He also bought 
 thirty acres of timber land. The prairie 
 tract was all wild and uncultivated, but 
 he built thereon good houses, barns and 
 other improvements. He also fenced 
 the land and broke the wild prairie, trans- 
 forming it into richly developed fields. 
 It was the period of pioneer progress in 
 Hancock county and it was no unusual 
 thing to see timber wolves, while deer 
 were quite numerous and turkeys and 
 other lesser game could he had in abund- 
 ance. In fact evidences of frontier life 
 were many, but they gave - way before 
 the inroads of an advancing civilization. 
 John White continued to reside upon the 
 farm which he purchased until 1897, 
 when he went to live with a son upon a 
 farm, and in 1899 he took up his abode 
 in the home of his son, Zimri, with whom 
 he continued until his death, which oc- 
 curred on the 22d of August, 1903. His 
 wife had passed away in 1891, when 
 seventy-one years of age. In the family 
 were ten sons, of whom six are yet 
 living. 
 
 Zimri White, the eldest of the father's 
 
 family, worked upon the home farm un- 
 til twenty-one years of age, during which 
 period he gained practical knowledge of 
 the best methods of tilling the soil, while 
 in the public schools he acquired his edu- 
 cation. Almost his entire life has been 
 passed in Hancock county. After at- 
 taining his majority he engaged in the 
 operation of rented land for a year, but 
 at the end of that time put aside all per- 
 sonal considerations in order to aid his 
 country, enlisting on the I3th of August, 
 1862, as a member of Company H, One 
 Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Infan- 
 try. The regiment went to Camp But- 
 ler, remaining there for a few months 
 and afterward was attached to the Army 
 of the Mississippi. At the battle of Fort 
 Hudson Mr. White had a horse shot 
 from under him. He was with his regi- 
 ment during the entire period of the war 
 save for three months spent in the hos- 
 pital at Jefferson Barracks and at Baton 
 Rouge, Louisiana. Returning to the 
 home place, he bought eighty acres on 
 section 9. Wythe township, where he 
 built a house of five rooms but has since 
 made an addition thereto. He carried 
 on general farming and stock-raising un- 
 til 1894, when, on account of ill health, 
 he removed to the Oakwood addition to 
 Hamilton, where he bought six fine lots 
 in one tract, improved with a commodi- 
 ous and pleasant residence. He does 
 general gardening on his lots and his 
 place is one of the most sightly in all the 
 Oakwood addition. He finds it impossi- 
 ble to entirely put aside business cares 
 and thus his time and energies are given 
 to the cultivation of vegetables. 
 
 On the 25th of December, 1865, Mr.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 73 
 
 White was united in marriage to Miss 
 Hannah E. Daw, who was born in Bear 
 Creek township, Hancock county, a 
 daughter of Edward and Eliza (Gra- 
 ham) Daw, the former a native of Eng- 
 land. There was one son born of that 
 marriage, John Edward White, whose 
 birth occurred October 4, 1866. The 
 wife and mother died on the 2gth of the 
 same month and on the 2ist of Novem- 
 ber, 1867, Mr. White was again married, 
 his second union being with Harriet 
 Eliza Smith, who was born in Wythe 
 township. Hancock county, May 22, 
 1848, her parents being William A. and 
 Sarah (Smart) Smith, the former born 
 in Alabama in 1821 and the latter in 
 Macoupin county, Illinois. Her paternal 
 grandparents were James and Elizabeth 
 (Owens) Smith and the former was a 
 son of a Revolutionary soldier. In the 
 year 1831 William A. Smith came to 
 Hancock county, Illinois, and served as 
 a soldier at the time of the Mormon 
 war. He married near Plymouth, Illi- 
 nois, and lived upon a farm in Wythe 
 township up to the time of his death, 
 which occurred on the 29th of November, 
 1864. His wife long survived him, pass- 
 ing away on Christmas day of 1894. In 
 their family were two sons and five 
 : daughters, all of whom are yet living. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. White have been 
 born the following named : William 
 Smith, who was born April 24. 1869, 
 and is living on his father's farm in 
 Wythe township; Myrtle Jane, who was 
 born May n. 1872, and married Orville 
 French, of Quincy, Illinois; Ira Elmer, 
 who was born April 20, 1876, and re- 
 sides at Glenn's Ferry, Idaho ; Ida Alice, 
 
 twin sister of Ira and the wife of Burt 
 Barnaby, of Wythe township; Bertha 
 Drusilla, who was born February 14, 
 1879, and is the wife of Lester Barr, of 
 Downer's Grove, Illinois ; and Sarah 
 Helen, who was born November 18, 
 1889, and died March 12, 1891. 
 
 Mr. White of this review is a member 
 of the Baptist church, active and influ- 
 ential in its work, and for many years He 
 was superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
 Since 1881 he has served as deacon in the 
 church. In his political affiliation he is 
 a prohibitionist, the cause of temperance 
 having long found in him a stalwart 
 champion. He has served as highway 
 commissioner and as constable and school 
 director in Wythe township and the du- 
 ties of these various positions were dis- 
 charged with promptness and capability. 
 He likewise belongs to the Grand Army 
 of the Republic and thus maintains pleas- 
 ant relations with his old army com- 
 rades. An analyzation of his life record 
 will show that he has been faithful in 
 citizenship, straightforward in business, 
 trustworthy in friendship and devoted to 
 the ties of home and family, and thus 
 his many excellent characteristics make 
 him well worthy the regard in which he 
 is uniformly held. 
 
 JOSIAH RITCHEY. 
 
 Josiah Ritchey is a retired farmer re- 
 siding at the corner of Clark and Wash- 
 ington streets, Carthage. He is accorded
 
 74 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the respect and confidence of his fellow- 
 men not alone because of the success 
 which he has achieved, making him one 
 of the men of affluence in this -city but 
 also by reason of the honorable, straight- 
 forward business methods he has ever 
 followed and also owing to the princi- 
 ples of conduct which have shaped his 
 daily life. An analyza'tion of his career 
 shows that his religious faith has been 
 a strong motive influence in all that he 
 has done and he stands for that higher 
 type of manhood which not only repre- 
 sents justice but tempers justice with 
 mercy and which recognizes man's obli- 
 gation to his fellowman and his Maker. 
 A native of Tennessee he was born in 
 Monroe county, in 1830, his parents be- 
 ing John and Catherine (Dougherty) 
 Ritchey. Josiah Dougherty, the great- 
 grandfather of our subject, was a soldier 
 of the war of 1812, and his son, Henry 
 Dougherty, was a soldier of the Mexican 
 war. The parents were natives of Ten- 
 nessee, the former born in Hawkins 
 county January 19, 1801, and the latter 
 in Jefferson county on the 2ist of May, 
 1804. The father was a farmer by oc- 
 cupation, and after living for a number 
 of years in Tennessee came to Illinois in 
 1853, settling first in Adams county. The 
 following year he removed to a farm in 
 Hancock county, Illinois, and at first 
 lived -in -a log cabin, the family living 
 upon the old home property in Dallas 
 township. Later, however, he sold out 
 and bought an improved farm in Dur- 
 ham township, on which stood a com- 
 fortable brick residence and other equip- 
 ments. He devoted his time and ener- 
 gies to general farming and stock-raising 
 
 and yet found opportunity to promote 
 public progress through co-operation in 
 many movements for the general good 
 and by efficient service in public office. 
 He held a number of local political posi- 
 tions and was also a member of the 
 school board. He voted with the de- 
 mocracy, of which he was a stalwart 
 supporter and both he and his wife were 
 members of the Baptist church, while 
 living in Tennessee, but following the 
 removal to Illinois Mr. Ritchey joined 
 the United Brethren church. He died 
 in Durham township in 1876, at the age 
 of seventy-five years, while his wife 
 passed away in 1888, at the age of 
 eighty-four years and eight months, both 
 being buried in Durham township. Their 
 marriage had been celebrated on the I5th j 
 of March. 1822, and they became the : 
 parents of twelve children, all of whom 
 were born in Tennessee and have now 
 passed away, with the exception of Mar- 
 garet and Josiah. The former, born 
 March 15, 1825, is the widow of James 
 Kelley, and resides with a daughter in 
 Colusa, Illinois. Those who have passed 
 away are: Nancy J., who was born No- 
 vember 19, 1823 ; Alexander H., born 
 July i, 1826; Sarah M., May 7, 1828; 
 Samuel L., July 4, 1832 ; John, February 
 n, 1834; Martin B., January 7, 1837; 
 Isaac S., July 27, 1839; Elizabeth, Feb- 
 ruary 7, 1841; James K., November 12, 
 1842; and Louisa Catherine, January 28, 
 
 1845- 
 
 Josiah Ritchey largely acquired his 
 
 education in the schools of Tennessee, 
 but also continued his studies through 
 one winter in Hancock county, Illinois. 
 He spent the days of his boyhood and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 75 
 
 youth in his parents' home and remained 
 with them until twenty-three years of 
 age. when, on the I2th of January, 1854. 
 he was married near Blandinsville, Illi- 
 nois, to Miss Amanda F. Knowles, who 
 was born in Delaware, January 27, 1835. 
 and is a daughter of Rev. Phillip and 
 Xancy (Hill) Knowles, who were also 
 natives of Delaware. The father was 
 a minister of the United Brethren church 
 and after coming to this state resided for 
 a time in Jacksonville, after which he 
 removed to McDonough county and sub- 
 sequently to Henderson county, while 
 later he had several charges in Hancock 
 county, Illinois. He was thus closely as- 
 sociated with the moral development of 
 this portion of the state, his influence be- 
 ing of no restricted order, as he labored 
 untiringly for the spread of the gospel. 
 He departed this life in Missouri in 1888, 
 while his wife had previously passed 
 away. In their family were eight chil- 
 dren, of whom four are now living: 
 Thomas, a resident of Oregon ; William, 
 in Florida; Elizabeth, the wife of Man- 
 love Dawson, of Peoria ; and Kinzie. of 
 Nebraska. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ritchey were 
 born nine children, all natives of Han- 
 cock county, and seven of the number 
 are still living. Hiram C., born Decem- 
 ber 15, 1854, married Belle Lamb and 
 had two children, Earl H. and Perle W.. 
 twins, born August 10, 1877. Their 
 mother died when they were only eleven 
 months old and they were reared by 
 their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah 
 Ritchey. Both are now married. Perle 
 wedded Pearle Callopy, lives in Canton, 
 Illinois, and has three children, Ursa. 
 
 Hiram Edward and Verne Lagrue. 
 Earl married Luella Brown, lives in Can- 
 ton and has two children, Lowell and 
 Grace. After losing his first wife Hiram 
 Ritchey wedded Mrs. Mary McClain, the 
 widow of Dr. McClain, and after her 
 death he married Mrs. Ella Ball, the 
 widow of Dr. Ball. The only child of 
 the third marriage is deceased. Hiram 
 Ritchey is now a resident of Canton, Illi- 
 nois. Philip W. Ritchey, the second 
 member of the father's family, was born 
 July 7, 1857, married Angeline Howard 
 and lives in Dallas City, Illinois. They 
 had two children, the living daughter, 
 Eva, being now at home with her parents. 
 John M. Ritchey, born March 22, 1859, 
 died in 1877. Sarah L., born April 30, 
 1861, is the wife of William Styles, of 
 Laurens, Iowa, and they had nine chil- 
 dren, of whom six are living: Bert, who 
 is married and lives in Fulton county, 
 Illinois, and has .four children ; James, 
 who is married and lives in Fulton 
 county, and has one child ; Josiah Goldie ; 
 and Fay and an infant. Margaret 
 Ritchey, the fifth member of the family 
 of Josiah Ritchey, was born September 
 14, 1863, is the wife of Henry W. Wal- 
 ter, of Dallas City, Illinois, by whom 
 she has one daughter. May, now Mrs. 
 Muller, of Dallas City, and the mother of 
 two children. Catherine M. Ritchey, 
 born August 14, 1865, is the wife of 
 Lucius Atwater, of Missouri, and, has 
 eight children living, Cleveland, Bertha, 
 Orilla, Amanda Belle, Lotus, Lecil, 
 Josiah Ritchey and Joseph. James H. 
 Ritchey, the seventh member of the fam- 
 ily, was born October 5, 1868, and lives 
 in Canton, Illinois. He married Mrs.
 
 7 6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Dora Gates and has four children, Elsie, 
 Charles, James and Edith. Lucinda M., 
 born March 9, 1873, became the wife of 
 Frank O'Neil, and died in Graceville, 
 Minnesota', February 19, 1903, leaving 
 four children : Roy, of Durham town- 
 ship ; Josiah Royse, living with an aunt 
 in La Harpe; Ernest Ritchey and Edith 
 Elizabeth, twins, who are with their 
 grandparents; Dora B., born September 
 27, 1875, is the wife of Fred McKim, a 
 resident of Disco, Illinois. 
 
 At the time of their marriage Josiah 
 and Amanda (Knowles) Ritchey began 
 their domestic life in Dallas township, 
 where they resided for two years and 
 then removed to Durham township, set- 
 tling on a partially improved farm, on 
 which Mr. Ritchey made many modern 
 improvements, there carrying on general 
 farming and stock-raising with good suc- 
 cess. In 1883 he was called upon to 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who died 
 upon the old homestead farm in Dur- 
 ham township. She was a lady of many 
 excellent traits of character and was 
 held in warm regard by all who knew 
 her. Mr. Ritchey continued to reside 
 upon the farm until 1899, when he re- 
 moved to Carthage, purchasing a beau- 
 tiful home at No. 706 Washington street 
 at the extreme end of the street. He 
 was drafted for service in the Civil war 
 but sent a substitute, and throughout the 
 passing years carried on farm labor with 
 excellent results, the annual sale of his ' 
 crops and stock bringing to him a good 
 income that eventually enabled him to 
 put aside further cares and live retired. 
 
 On the 20th of November, 1889, Mr. 
 Ritchey was again married, his second 
 
 union being with Miss Isabelle Curry, 
 who was born in Allegheny county, 
 Pennsylvania, November 20, 1838, a 
 daughter of Matthew and Jane (Curry) 
 Curry, who though of the same name 
 were not relatives, the former being a 
 native of Ireland, and the latter of Penn- 
 sylvania. Matthew Curry came to 
 America when fourteen years of age and 
 made his way to Hancock county, Illi- 
 nois, in 1852, settling upon a farm here. 
 He was a republican in his political 
 views and both he and his wife were 
 of the old Covenanter faith and became 
 members of the United Presbyterian 
 church, with which they were affiliated 
 at the time of their deaths. The father 
 passed away in 1874, and the mother 
 survived until 1891, when she was laid 
 by his side in the cemetery in Fountain 
 Green township. He had farmed in 
 Hancock township for a number of years 
 and was accounted one of the enterpris- 
 ing agriculturists and reliable business 
 men of the community. In their fam- 
 ily were six children, five of whom are 
 living, namely : Mrs. Isabelle Ritchey ; 
 Adam, who resides upon the old home 
 farm near Webster, Illinois; Eliza Jane, 
 the wife of James Marshall, who is living 
 in Carthage township, near Webster; 
 Margaret, the wife of Andrew Baxter, of 
 Atchison county, Kansas; and Samuel, 
 who is living in Hancock township, this 
 county. One brother, Adam Curry, en- 
 listed in the Tenth Missouri Infantry, and 
 afterward re-enlisted in the One Hundred 
 and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, serving 
 throughout the war. He was with 
 Sherman on the celebrated march to the 
 sea and was shot at the battle of Corinth,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 77 
 
 still carrying the ball in his shoulder. 
 Thomas. Isaac, William and Jacob 
 Knowles, brothers of Mr. Ritchey's first 
 wife, were also soldiers of the One Hun- 
 dred and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ritchey have reared two 
 grandchildren, living to see them married 
 and comfortably situated in life, and are 
 now rearing two more grandchildren. 
 He and his first wife were members of 
 the United Brethren church but now he 
 is a member of the Presbyterian church, 
 to which his second wife belongs and in 
 which he has served as an elder for five 
 years. They take a very active and 
 earnest part in church work and are sin- 
 cere Christian people, doing everything 
 in their power to advance the cause of 
 Christianity. Mr. Ritchey was for many 
 years an advocate of the democracy but 
 now casts an independent ballot, sup- 
 porting the candidate whom he regards 
 as the best man. He has held a num- 
 ber of township offices and at all times 
 has been loyal in citizenship, doing what 
 he could for the welfare and progress of 
 the community. He is a self-made 
 man, conscientious and reliable. Start- 
 ing out in life empty-handed, his deter- 
 mination and energy have been the sali- 
 ent points in his career, enabling him to 
 acquire a good living and lay something 
 by for a rainy day. Both he and his wife 
 are held in the highest esteem, Mrs. 
 Ritchey being a lovely Christian char- 
 acter, and their interest and activity in 
 church work has done much for the cause 
 in this community. Now living retired 
 from business Mr. Ritchey is enjoying a 
 rest which is richly merited and he 
 stands high in public regard. 
 
 JONATHAN C. WILLEY. 
 
 Jonathan C. Willey, who became a 
 resident of Hancock county at an early 
 day, now resides upon his farm on sec- 
 tion 10, Carthage township, where he 
 owns and cultivates eighty acres. He 
 was born in Dickson county, Tennessee, 
 on the I4th of September, 1837, and be- 
 came a resident of Illinois when about 
 ten years of age, accompanying his 
 parents, John F, and Millie (Morrison) 
 Willey, on their removal to Bond county, 
 this state. The father was born in Hali- 
 fax county, North Carolina, while the 
 mother's birth occurred in Tennessee. 
 With his parents he went to the latter 
 state when about two years old and was 
 there reared to manhood and married. 
 All of the children of the family were 
 born in Tennessee and the parents re- 
 sided there until about 1847, when they 
 came to this state, settling in Bond 
 county, where they remained for five or 
 six years. They afterward went to 
 Menard county, Illinois, and thence to 
 Mason county, remaining for only a 
 brief period in each county. In 1854 
 they came to Hancock county and Mr. 
 Willey cast in his lot with the early set- 
 tlers who were depending upon agricul- 
 tural interests for a living. He subse- 
 quently conducted his farming interests 
 up to the time of his death, which oc- 
 curred in Carthage township upon the 
 place now owned by his son Jonathan, 
 when he was seventy-six years of age. 
 His political allegiance was given to the 
 democracy but he never sought or de- 
 sired office. He was a prosperous and 
 progressive man who owned large prop-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 erty interests in Tennessee. The place 
 of his interment is in Fountain Green 
 cemetery, where he was laid to rest fol- 
 lowing his death, on the i2th of March, 
 1887. His wife survived him for about 
 four years and died March 14, 1891. Of 
 their five children only three are now 
 living, as follows : Mary Catherine, the 
 wife of John Dennison, of Hamilton, 
 Illinois; Elizabeth, the wife of Elias 
 Lister, of Tulare, California ; and Jon- 
 athan C. 
 
 The fourth in order of birth in his 
 father's family, Jonathan C. Willey, was 
 reared under the parental roof, accom- 
 panying his parents on their removals 
 to various localities. He largely ob- 
 tained his education in Tennessee and 
 after coming to Hancock county he as- 
 sisted his father upon the home farm 
 as a young man. There he remained 
 to the age of twenty-three years, when 
 he started out in life on his own account, 
 renting a farm in Fountain Green town- 
 ship, where he remained for a number of 
 years. During that period he lived care- 
 fully and economically and thereby he 
 accumulated the capital sufficient to en- 
 able him to purchase his present farm, 
 whereon he has since resided. The place 
 was but partially improved but he has 
 continued its cultivation and develop- 
 ment until he now has a model farm, his 
 attention being given to general farm- 
 ing and - stock-raising. His business 
 methods are such as bear close investi- 
 gation and scrutiny and his enterprise 
 has been a salient feature in his success. 
 
 On the 2d of April, 1862, was cele- 
 brated the marriage of Mr. Willey and 
 Miss Cynthia Wright, a daughter of 
 Hickerson and Cynthia (Donoho) 
 
 Wright. Mrs. Willey was born in Foun- 
 tain Green township, September 30, 1840, 
 and pursued her education in the schools 
 of Fountain Green, Pontoosuc and Web- 
 ster townships, remaining at home until 
 her marriage. She has become the 
 mother of five children, three sons and 
 two daughters. Sterling Price, born in 
 Fountain Green township, November 30, 
 1862, died at the age of three years and 
 one month, and was there laid to rest. 
 Linnie is now the wife of Charles E. 
 Griswold, a carpenter and contractor of 
 Chicago. Her first husband was Steph- 
 en D. Aldridge, who was a farmer of 
 Fountain Green township, and by their 
 marriage there was one son, Carroll D., 
 who was born August 12, 1895, and now 
 makes his home with his grandparents, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Willey. Jennie Florence 
 is the wife of Alfred B. Miller, of De- 
 Witt, Missouri, where he follows farm- 
 ing. They have had seven children : 
 Ethel, now the wife of George Seabold, 
 by whom she has one child ; Roy, Harry, 
 Bessie, Ross, and Dixie; and one, the 
 sixth in order of birth, who is deceased. 
 Patrick H., the fourth member of the 
 Willey family, is a farmer residing in 
 Peabody, Kansas, and married Margaret 
 Yetter, a daughter of Samuel R. Yetter. 
 They had four children, Alma May, 
 Bertha A., Frank and Mabel, but the 
 first named is deceased. Jesse W., a 
 railroad bridge builder living in Chicago, 
 married Miss Minnie Oglvie, a daughter 
 of James and Millie Oglvie, of Carthage 
 township, and they have two children. 
 Mabel and Helen. All of the children of 
 the Willey family were born in Hancock 
 county. 
 
 Mr. Willey gives evidence of his po-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 79 
 
 litical faith on election day by casting a 
 ballot for the men and measures of de- 
 mocracy. He has held the office of 
 school director for the past thirty years 
 and is interested in intellectual progress 
 and development in his community. Af- 
 fairs relating to general improvement 
 also claim his attention and co-operation 
 and he has done his full share in the work 
 of public improvement during the half 
 century or more in which he has lived in 
 Hancock county where he has been fully 
 appreciated. 
 
 ROBERT M. KIMBROUGH. 
 
 Death often removes a citizen whom a 
 community feels it can ill afford to lose. 
 The news of the death of Robert M. 
 Kimbrough was received with deep and 
 wide-spread regret in his township and 
 throughout Hancock county wherever he 
 was known, for he had lived a life of 
 uprightness and honor. He was no mere 
 negative factor in the community but a 
 citizen of exemplary rectitude of char- 
 acter, who was active and energetic in 
 his business life and loyal in his support 
 of all the measures and movements which 
 he deemed would prove of benefit in ad- 
 vancing public progress and upbuilding. 
 His life record began in Carthage town- 
 ship on the 2Oth of April, 1844, and he 
 continuously remained a resident of that 
 locality. His education was acquired in 
 the common schools near his father's 
 
 home and he assisted in the work of the 
 farm when not busy with his text-books. 
 He was a son of William and Martha 
 (Cauthorn) Kimbrough, both of whom 
 were natives of Kentucky, whence they 
 came to Illinois at an early day, settling 
 in Hancock county. The father pur- 
 chased land in Carthage township and 
 there made a home for himself and fam- 
 ily, devoting his time and energies to 
 general agricultural pursuits and stock- 
 raising. As the years passed he con- 
 verted his land into productive fields and 
 continued their cultivation until his 
 death. His wife had passed away 
 several years before. 
 
 Under the parental roof Robert M. 
 Kimgrough spent the days of his boy- 
 hood and continued to reside upon the 
 home farm as a young man, although to 
 some extent he worked upon neighboring 
 farms. He was about sixteen years of 
 age when he began earning his own liv- 
 ing in that way and was thus employed 
 up to the time of his marriage, which was 
 celebrated on the igth of January, 1871, 
 Miss Almeda A. Bryant becoming his 
 wife. The young couple began their 
 domestic life upon a farm which Mrs. 
 Kimbrough had inherited from her 
 father and it was situated on section i, 
 Harmony township. The place com- 
 prises one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land there together with thirty-seven 
 acres in Carthage township. As the years 
 passed by Mr. Kimbrough continued the 
 work of cultivating and improving the 
 fields and adding to the farm many 
 modern equipments in harmony with pro- 
 gressive ideas of agricultural develop- 
 ment. Upon the destruction of the old
 
 8o 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 home by fire in 1902 he erected a large 
 two-story frame dwelling with all mod- 
 ern conveniences, which is one of the 
 attractive farm residences of this part of 
 the county. He cultivated his fields 
 successfully, annually harvesting large 
 crops, and he was also well known as a 
 capable and prosperous stock raiser, 
 keeping on hand high grades of cattle, 
 horses and hogs, making a specialty, 
 however, of Durham cattle. He used 
 the latest improved machinery to facili- 
 tate the work of the fields and as the 
 years passed by he converted the place 
 into one of the model farms of the 
 county. 
 
 It was upon this place that Mrs. Kim- 
 brough was born and reared, her natal 
 day being April 19, 1847. Her parents 
 were Ambrose and Susanna (Reed) 
 Bryant, both of whom were natives of 
 Virginia, whence they came to Illinois 
 at an early day, settling in Harmony 
 township, Hancock county, when it was 
 still a frontier region. Mr. Bryant pur- 
 chased one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land on section I and although the tract 
 was wild and unimproved when it came 
 into his possession, he soon converted it 
 into productive fields, continuing the cul- 
 tivation of the place until his death. He 
 was born March 5, 1810, and passed 
 away July 25, 1876, in the faith of the 
 Primitive Baptist church, of which he 
 had long been a devoted member. In his 
 political views he was a democrat. He 
 had for several years survived his wife, 
 who was born November 26, 1807, and 
 died February 23, 1864. Their remains 
 now rest side by side in Holland ceme- 
 tery in St. Mary's township. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kim- 
 brough was blessed with three children, 
 two of whom are living: Dennis B., 
 born January n, 1872, was educated in 
 Harmony township and now operates 
 the old home farm. Flora S.. born on 
 the home place December 19, 1874, is the 
 wife of Lawrence D. Lane, who was 
 born in Carthage township, Hancock ] 
 county, and is a son of Thomas Lane, 
 now a resident of the city of Carthage, i 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lane reside with her 
 mother, Mrs. Kimbrough, on the old 
 farm, and to them have been born three ] 
 children, of whom two are living : Hazel 
 Fern, born March 4. 1894; and Oliver, j 
 December 2, 1896. They lost their 
 younger daughter, Neva Pearl, who was ] 
 born May 31, 1904, and died June 9, 
 1905. These children were all born in 
 Carthage township. Leo R. Kimbrough, 
 the youngest member of the family, was 
 born November 13, 1880, and died Feb- 
 ruary I, 1905, after an operation for ap- 
 pendicitis. He was a young man of 
 genuine personal worth, much loved by 
 his family and a large circle of friends. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Kimbrough also reared a 
 niece, Emma Thompson, who was born 
 January 27, 1872, in Hancock county. 
 Her parents were Robert and Isabelle 
 Thompson, residents of Adams county, 
 the latter being a sister of Mr. Kim- 
 brough. They died when their daugh- 
 ter was about seven years of age, when 
 she became a member of the Kimbrough 
 household, in which she remained until 
 her marriage on the 2gth of November, 
 1893, to William Reuck, a resident 
 farmer of Hancock county. Two chil- 
 dren grace this union : William Clay,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 81 
 
 born September 28, 1894; and Edna 
 May, born November 29, 1899. 
 
 Throughout his entire life Robert M. 
 Kimbrough carried on general farming 
 and his death occurred upon the old 
 homestead March 8. 1905. when he was 
 sixty years of age. He had, however, 
 been in poor health for a number of 
 years. He was a supporter of the Bap- 
 tist church and was an ardent adherent 
 of the democratic party. He held the 
 office of assessor of Harmony township 
 for two terms and was also school di- 
 rector for some years. Although he 
 never united with any church he was a 
 firm believer in the Primitive Baptist doc- 
 trine and lived a Christian life. In his 
 last illness he suffered intensely but never 
 a murmur escaped his lips. He was a 
 good neighbor and a kind and indulgent 
 husband and father, and he 'was always 
 ready and willing to do his part. He 
 possessed an adaptable nature which en- 
 abled him to mingle freely and easily 
 with young and old and all enjoyed his 
 company. Hospitality reigned supreme 
 in his home and his friends were ever 
 cordially welcome. He possessed a 
 genial, kindly disposition and many ster- 
 ling traits of character, and all who knew 
 him esteemed him highly. His entire 
 life had been passed in Hancock county 
 and he was a most worthy pioneer settler, 
 taking a deep interest in what was ac- 
 complished in the line of improvement 
 and progress and doing all in his power 
 to further the public good, and through- 
 out his entire life he was actuated by hon- 
 orable principles and manly purposes, and 
 i? well worthy of representation in this 
 volume. 
 
 THADDEUS J. ELLEFRITZ. 
 
 Thaddeus J. Ellefritz, who carries on 
 general agricultural pursuits in Carth- 
 age township, is a native son of Hancock 
 county, having been born in Pilot Grove 
 township, on the igth of April. 1869. 
 His parents were Solomon A. and Mary 
 A. (Botts) Ellefritz. The father's 
 birth occurred in Virginia and there he 
 resided until he attained his majority, 
 after which he removed to Illinois, set- 
 tling in Pilot Grove township, Hancock 
 county. There he purchased a tract of 
 land of one hundred and sixty acres, 
 which he transformed into a good farm, 
 making a home for himself and family. 
 He lived there for a number of years, 
 after which he removed to another farm 
 of one hundred acres in the same town- 
 ship, residing thereon until about two 
 years prior to his death, when he pur- 
 chased a third farm property in the same 
 township, comprising one hundred and 
 eighty acres. He lived thereon until his 
 demise and as his financial resources in- 
 creased he added more and more largely 
 to his land holdings until at his death he 
 was the owner of eight hundred acres, 
 nearly all of which was improved land. 
 He died in 1893, at the age of sixty-four 
 years. Throughout his life he carried 
 on general farming and stock-raising 
 and was very prosperous, yet he did not 
 selfishly hoard his wealth but gave to the 
 support of the Methodist church and to 
 many movements for the general good. 
 In early manhood he wedded Mrs. Mary 
 A. Coak, nee Botts, who was the widow 
 of Henry Coak. She was born in St. 
 Mary's township, Henry county, and is
 
 82 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 
 still living, her home being in Carthage. 
 She was the mother of seven children: 
 Eugenie, the wife of L. C. Miller, of 
 Carthage; Thaddeus J., of this review; 
 Howard, residing in Carthage; Carlos, 
 whose home is in Burnside, Illinois ; 
 Bristow; Mary, deceased; and Alma, 
 died in infancy. 
 
 Thaddeus J. Ellefritz acquired his edu- 
 cation in the common schools of his na- 
 tive township and as a young man 
 worked upon his father's farm. Later 
 he began farming on his own account on 
 one of the properties belonging to his 
 father, the place comprising one hundred 
 acres of land in Pilot Grove township. 
 The mother who received all of the prop- 
 erty at the time of her husband's death 
 deeded our subject the one hundred acres 
 near Burnside on which he had resided. 
 He remained thereon until five years ago, 
 when he sold that property and purchased 
 a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 
 Missouri. He lived there for only ten 
 months, however, when he sold out and 
 returned to Hancock county, where he 
 purchased his present farm of one hun- 
 dred and thirty-six acres in Carthage 
 township. The entire tract is under a 
 high state of cultivation and he has made 
 additional improvements, including the 
 planting of a fine orchard. Here he car- 
 ries on general fanning and stock-rais- 
 ing in addition to .the cultivation of fruit 
 and he annually raises high grades of 
 cattle, horses and hogs. Everything 
 about his place is kept in excellent condi- 
 tion and the neat and thrifty appearance 
 of his farm is proof of his progressive 
 spirit and practical methods. 
 
 On April 6, 1892. Mr. Ellefritz w.-is 
 
 married to Miss Fannie M. Pearce, who 
 was born in Maryland, and came to Illi- 
 nois when five years of age with her 
 parents, Thomas and Sophia (Dailey) 
 Pearce. Both the father and mother 
 were natives of Maryland, and on com- 
 ing to Illinois settled in Bowen. The 
 father was a farmer by occupation and 
 followed that pursuit throughout his ac- 
 tive business life. He now resides in 
 Burnside but his wife passed away thir- 
 teen years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Ellefritz 
 have become the parents of three chil- 
 dren, Pernie M., Ray T. and Cleo C. 
 All of the children were born in Pilot 
 Grove township. 
 
 Mr. Ellefritz is a republican but with- 
 out aspiration for office, preferring to 
 leave the strife of office-holding to oth- 
 ers, yet doing all in his power to promote 
 general improvement and progress. The 
 family attend and support the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Elle- 
 fritz is a member. He is successful in 
 his farming operations and his carefully 
 directed labors have been the means of 
 securing a valuable property, which is 
 highly cultivated and constitutes one of 
 the fine farms of Carthage township. 
 
 HOMER DAVENPORT BROWN. 
 
 Homer Davenport Brown, who for 
 many years was the owner of Brown's 
 nursery at Hamilton, was born in 
 Quincy, Illinois, March 9, 1846, and is 
 a son of Homer Brown, who was born
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Lunenburg, Massachusetts, in 1811. 
 is father was overseer of the poor in 
 Massachusetts for many years and 
 Homer Brown, Sr., was reared upon the 
 county farm. He married Miss Hannah 
 Chandler Safford, who was born in New 
 Ipswich, New Hampshire, in 1811. The 
 maternal grandparents of our subject 
 started from the east to Quincy, Illi- 
 nois, and the grandfather died upon the 
 road. His wife, however, continued on 
 the way to Quincy with her family, where 
 she spent her remaining days. She had 
 three children. In the year 1832, Homer 
 Brown, Sr., went to Keokuk, Iowa, 
 where he engaged in business as a 
 painter and painted the first sign made 
 in Keokuk. He did work throughout 
 this vicinity of the country and was for 
 some time in Quincy, where h'e was mar- 
 ried. He lived at different times in 
 Hancock and Adams counties and located 
 permanently where Hamilton now is. 
 In fact he was one of the founders of 
 the town. He purchased in 1857 what 
 is now known as Wild Cat Springs, 
 which property he improved and owned 
 until his death. He was quite promi- 
 nent, leaving the impress of his individ- 
 uality upon public thought and action and 
 upon the development and substantial im- 
 provement of this part of the state. He 
 died September 29, 1876, while his wife 
 survived him for a number of years, 
 passing away in Quincy, May 14, 1890. 
 In the family were two sons, the elder 
 being Horace Safford, who was born in 
 Carthage in 1837. He was identified 
 with work on the rapids of the Missis- 
 sipppi river. He attended some of the 
 finest schools of the country and enlisted 
 
 in the United States navy, being engaged 
 in government work at Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky. He now resides in Quincy and 
 is a contractor for improvements made 
 by the government. He married Eliza 
 Brown, by whom there is one child, 
 Catherine H. Brown. His wife died 
 and he afterward married Jennie Elder, 
 by whom he had one child, who died at 
 the age of nine years. He makes his 
 home in Quincy and does important 
 government work. 
 
 Homer Davenport Brown, whose name 
 introduces this review, remained with his 
 parents until he attained his majority, 
 when he further improved the land 
 where the Wild Cat Springs are located 
 and where the Chautauqua assembly is 
 held, which he still owns. 
 
 On the 26th of October, 1869, Mr. 
 Brown was united in marriage to Miss 
 Alice Harvey, who was born in St. Cath- 
 erine's, Ontario, and attended the com- 
 mon schools and an academy there. She 
 is a daughter of Samuel and Lucy Sophia 
 (Parsons) Harvey and was their only 
 child who lived to mature years. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born two 
 children: Nellie L., born June 16, 1871; 
 and Harvey Homer, born November 25, 
 1876. Mr. Brown is well known in 
 Hamilton as an enterprising business 
 man, alert and energetic, making the 
 most of his opportunities and conducting 
 a business along modern lines. He is 
 winning gratifying success and occupies 
 an enviable position in business circles 
 there. He casts an independent ballot, 
 having no strong political preferences but 
 voting for the man whom he thinks best 
 qualified to fill the offices. He has served
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ-'IEU' 
 
 fo,r two terms as alderman of the third 
 ward and proved a capable official, sup- 
 porting each measure that was intro- 
 duced that he believed would prove bene- 
 ficial to the town and at the same time 
 opposing as strongly those measures 
 which he believed might prove detri- 
 mental to the welfare of the city. 
 
 ISAAC N. HOBART. 
 
 Isaac N. Hobart, a native of Hancock 
 county, and a man of whom the county 
 may well be proud, resides on his large 
 and well-improved farm on section 6 of 
 Hancock township. Mr. Hobart is the 
 owner of three hundred acres of fine 
 farming land, part of which lies in Han- 
 cock township and part in Carthage 
 township. 
 
 Isaac N. Hobart was born in Foun- 
 tain Green township, Hancock county, 
 Illinois, on 'January 10, 1834. and was 
 the son of Norman and Ura Eaton (Hol- 
 liday) Hobart, the father being a native 
 of Essex, New York, his birth occurring 
 December 29, 1810. Norman Hobart 
 came to Illinois in 1833. locating in 
 Rushville, where he lived until his mar- 
 riage to Miss Holliday, after which he 
 came to Hancock county, where he lo- 
 cated in Fountain Green township, re- 
 maining but one year, and then removed 
 to Carthage township. Mr. Hobart 
 purchased a farm in Carthage township 
 on which he made his home part of the 
 time, and partly in Carthage, where he 
 
 owned a carding machine. Later he 
 bought the old grist mill on Crooked 
 creek, which he rebuilt, making a steam 
 flouring mill of it, also adding a saw mill 
 which he operated for a number of years. 
 He then moved the mill to Carthage, op- 
 erating it as a grist mill, then purchased 
 a farm of eighty acres, one mile from 
 Carthage, which he farmed until his 
 death, December 13, 1878. He was a 
 devoted member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church, for many years being a 
 local preacher in that church. 
 
 He was a public-spirited man and 
 gave his support to the Republican party, 
 though he was never an aspirant for of- 
 fice. Norman Hobart was a prosperous 
 man of his day and was an important 
 factor in the building up of the com- 
 munity in which he lived. He assisted 
 in building the first wagon road from 
 Fountain Green to Carthage. His re- 
 mains were laid to rest in the Carthage 
 cemetery. His wife was a native of 
 Kentucky and came to Illinois at an early 
 day. She was the daughter of Moses 
 and Celia (Skirvin) Holliday, both na- 
 tives of Kentucky. Mr. Holliday was a 
 hatter by trade. Both parents were 
 buried in Hancock county. 
 
 This worthy couple were the parents 
 of fourteen children, only two of whom 
 are now living, our subject being the 
 oldest in point of birth. 
 
 Isaac N. Hobart was educated in the 
 common schools of the township in which 
 he lived, in the old log school houses of 
 that day, and also in a school that was 
 held in the old brick church in Carthage 
 township, near what is now Elm Tree 
 post-office. The school was taught by
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Squire R. Davis and was a subscription 
 school. When about sixteen years of 
 age he went to work in the grist and 
 saw mill of his father and continued at 
 this for eleven years. 
 
 On the 3 ist day of January, 1861, oc- 
 curred the marriage of Isaac N. Hobart 
 and Mary E. Duffy, of Hancock county, 
 which union was blessed with eleven 
 children, all of whom are now living. 
 This large family of children are all mar- 
 ried and have homes and interesting fam- 
 ilies of their own, of whom Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hobart are justly proud. Mary Emily, 
 widow of Joseph Kuntz, has four chil- 
 dren : Mary L., Leo, Harley, and 
 Garret H., and resides in Missouri : 
 
 Carrie Luella, wife of Samuel Sowers, 
 a farmer in Nebraska, has six children : 
 Jessie B., wife of Lee Julian, also a 
 farmer in Nebraska, and parents of two 
 children : Gladys and Clayton L. ; Mary 
 W., Blanche, Floyd, Buby C., and 
 Garret; 
 
 Joseph N., resides in Hancock town- 
 ship, farming part of the home farm, 
 married Eva Wright, and has one child, 
 Ray; 
 
 Dennis W., resides in Missouri on a 
 farm owned by his father, married Katie 
 Murtland, and has three children : 
 Glenn, Joseph, and Dennis W. ; 
 
 Eva Elizabeth, married John McCon- 
 nell, a farmer in Fountain Green town- 
 ship, and has six children: Beulah E., 
 Evelyn H., Margaruite, Frances, Bernice 
 and Anna M. ; each of whom is a credit 
 to the parents. 
 
 Lillie Estella. wife of Morris Yutter, 
 a farmer of Fountain Green township, 
 and has seven children : Lewis N., 
 
 Alma E., Jennings B., Harry, Ross M., 
 Mabel and Fay Hobart; 
 
 Matilda E., wife of John Herron, a 
 farmer of Nebraska, and has four chil- 
 dren : John Newton, Erma G., Charles 
 and Joseph Bernard; 
 
 Ura Amanda, wife of Wayman Mills, 
 a farmer and saw-mill owner of Carth- 
 age township, and has three children : 
 Mary E., deceased, Dennis W., and 
 Myrtle ; 
 
 Isaac N., resides on part of the home 
 place, which he farms, married Mary 
 Hasten and has two children : Gladys 
 M., and Ivan ; 
 
 Ethel B., wife of William E. Koontz, 
 a farmer in Hancock township, has three 
 children : Forrest U., Franklin Clay, 
 and Fern ; 
 
 Mabel Grace, widow of Gerald Mos- 
 ley, who died in Colorado, where he had 
 gone for his health, his death occurring 
 September 20, 1905. Mrs. Mosley has 
 one child, Herman Harold, born June 
 7. 1904. 
 
 All of the children of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hobart were born in Hancock township. 
 Hancock county. Mr. Hobart is a large 
 landowner, part of his property lying in 
 Hancock county, and part in Missouri. 
 He has made many improvements on his 
 farms, and keeps his buildings in the very 
 best of repair. For many years he has 
 engaged in general farming and stock- 
 raising. His wife was the daughter of 
 Anthony and Mary Matilda (Spangler) 
 Duffy, early residents 'of Hancock coun- 
 ty, the mother being called from earth 
 in July, 1872, and the father in Septem- 
 ber. 1884, after having mourned the death 
 of his companion about twelve years.
 
 86 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE}}' 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hobart have lasting 
 monuments in the well-kept properties 
 which they have accumulated, and are 
 surrounded by many happy families of 
 their children. 
 
 Mr. Hobart has used his progressive- 
 ness and good judgment to the better- 
 ment of the community in which he 
 makes his home, as well as for the ad- 
 vancement of his own welfare, and is a 
 man whose counsel is asked and heeded 
 by his contemporaries. 
 
 LEVERETT WELLINGTON BUELL. 
 
 Leverett W. Buell, formerly identified 
 with farming interests and later en- 
 gaged in the hotel business in Dallas, is 
 now living retired. Centuries ago the 
 Greek philosopher uttered the words of 
 wisdom, "Earn thy reward : the gods 
 give naught to sloth," and this truth has 
 been manifest in all the ages. Mr. Buell 
 is one who has justly earned all that he 
 possesses and a life of activity is now 
 crowned with an honorable rest. A na- 
 tive of Connecticut, he was born in 
 Killingsworth, Middlesex county, Febru- 
 ary 22, 1840, a son of William and 
 Louisa (Chatfield) Buell, who were like- 
 wise natives of that place. The father 
 was a farmer by occupation, and enlisted 
 in the war of .1812 but was not called 
 out for active service. He filled the of- 
 fices of justice of the peace and road com- 
 missioner and gave his political support 
 to the democracy. He held membership 
 in the Methodist church, while his wife 
 belonged to the Presbyterian church and 
 
 both died in the place of their nativity. 
 They had five children, of whom four 
 are now living: Leverett W., Cornelia, \ 
 the wife of Joseph H. Beal, a Methodist 
 minister living in Portland, Maine ; Jen- 
 nie, now Mrs. Snow, of New Haven, 
 Connecticut; and Celestra, wife of Dar- 
 well Stone, of Guilford, Connecticut. 
 
 L. W. Buell was educated in Killings- 
 worth, Connecticut, and engaged in 
 farming with his father until 1864, when 
 he engaged in butchering and the meat 
 business for 'five years. His marriage 
 occurred in 1865, Miss Celestine E. 
 Parmelee becoming his wife. She was 
 bom in Killingsworth, a daughter of 
 Orin S. and Phoebe (Lynes) Parmelee, 
 both of whom died in Connecticut, the 
 mother being killed in a runaway acci- 
 dent. In their family were nine chil- 
 dren, of whom three are living. Mrs. 
 Buell died April 21, 1879, and was buried 
 in Durham township, Hancock county. 
 She had two children, one of whom died 
 in infancy, while Frank W. was killed 
 by a traction engine in Carthage town- 
 ship, March 24, 1905. He was a most 
 highly respected and worthy young man, 
 and his death came as a great blow to his 
 father. He had married Emma Heiler, 
 who still lives in Carthage township, and 
 they had three children -Ethel, Chesley 
 and El wood. On the 2ist of September, 
 1 88 1, Mr. Buell married Mrs. Mary J. 
 Potter, nee Robinson, whose parents live 
 on a farm in Kansas. They had seven 
 children : William and John, who are 
 residents of Colusa, , Illinois, and were 
 soldiers of the Civil war; Martha and 
 Elizabeth, both of Kansas; and Percival, 
 of Oklahoma, who served in the Philip-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 pine war. Mrs. Buell is the other mem- 
 ber of the family. She lost her first hus- 
 band in 1869. There were four children 
 by that marriage, the eldest of which died 
 in infancy, the others being: Louisa, the 
 eldest, is the wife of Lemuel Wells, of 
 Pontoosuc, Illinois, by whom she has five 
 children : Sarah, the wife of Cleo Price, 
 of Dallas, and the mother of one child, 
 and Jesse, Imogen, Mariette and Helen, 
 all at home; Charlotte Potter is the wife 
 of Albert Thai-inert, a traveling man for 
 a Burlington hardware store, now living 
 in Red Oak, Iowa. Warren Potter, who 
 is living in North Chillicothe, Illinois, 
 married Emma Snyder, of Burlington. 
 They have four children : Harry LeRoy, 
 Marie, Clifford and Allen. 
 
 Mr. Buell came west in 1869 in No- 
 vember, engaged in farming in Durham 
 township until 1886, when on account 
 of his health he retired to Dallas, pur- 
 chasing a home on Front street, after 
 spending two years as proprietor of the 
 Riverside Hotel, of Dallas, which was 
 destroyed by fire in 1890. He then 
 bought his present home and he also 
 owns a vacant lot in Kerby's first ad- 
 dition. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buell has been 
 born a son, William Henry, who was 
 born in Senora township, July 30, 1885, 
 and is at home. For four years he has 
 worked as a painter in Burg's factory. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Buell are also rearing her 
 niece, Verda Robinson, whose mother 
 died when she was a little girl. She was 
 born in November, 1894. In his po- 
 litical views Mr. Buell is a democrat and 
 has served as town clerk and a commis- 
 sioner of highways of Durham township. 
 6 
 
 He is a member of Dallas City Lodge 
 No. 235 A. F. & A. M. of which he is 
 past master, also a member of Dallas 
 Chapter No. in, of which he has been 
 tyler for many years. A Methodist in 
 religious faith and -an active worker in 
 the church, he was Sunday-school super- 
 intendent and secretary for thirteen years 
 and sexton of the church for many years, 
 while for three years he was also sexton 
 of the Congregational church. His wife 
 is a member of the Christian church, 
 Mr. Buell is an intelligent man, of kind 
 and generous disposition and of quiet 
 manner. His wife, too, possesses many 
 sterling traits of character and in the 
 community where they reside they are 
 accorded the approval of public opinion. 
 
 BARZILLAI ROBINSON. 
 
 Barzillai Robinson, a retired farmer 
 living in Hamilton, was born in Mus- 
 kingum county, Ohio, June 23, 1830, 
 and is a representative of one of the 
 old southern families. His paternal 
 grandfather, Israel Robinson, was born 
 in Virginia and married a Miss Hedge. 
 They were early settlers of Ohio, remov- 
 ing to that state when the Indians were 
 more numerous than the white men. 
 They aided in reclaiming the region from 
 the domain of the savages and converting 
 it into uses of civilization and there they 
 resided until called to their final rest. 
 Their son, Silas Robinson, was born in 
 Wellsburg, West Virginia, in 1798, and
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 was a descendant of Sarah Pierce, who 
 came to America in the Mayflower, land- 
 ing at Plymouth. After arriving at years 
 of maturity, Silas Robinson was married 
 to Miss Polly Warne, who was born in 
 Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1802, and 
 was a daughter of Abram and Elizabeth 
 (Pierce) Warne, both of whom were 
 natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Polly 
 Robinson was a descendant of James 
 Pierce and the name Pierce was retained 
 in the family through many generations. 
 The maternal grandparents of our sub- 
 ject removed to Ohio about the same 
 time the Robinson family was founded 
 there and they, too, lived in that locality 
 until called to the home beyond. Silas 
 Robinson and Polly Warne were married 
 in Ohio, where he owned and operated 
 a quarter section of land and also con- 
 ducted a gristmill in connection with his 
 farm. In 1852 he started westward 
 with his family, consisting of wife, three 
 sons and one daughter, driving through 
 in a wagon. They were two weeks upon 
 the way from their Ohio home to Wythe 
 township, Hancock county. Here Mr. 
 Robinson purchased a farm of one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of unimproved 
 prairie land. They lived in a little log 
 cabin until the following fall, when a 
 neighbor returned to his old Ohio home 
 and the Robinsons then occupied his two- 
 story frame house. A few months after- 
 ward, however, this house was destroyed 
 by fire, but as soon as possible Mr. Rob- 
 inson erected a frame house on his own 
 farm. He began the work of fencing the 
 fields and breaking the land and as the 
 years passed by he improved his farm 
 until he made it a splendidly developed 
 
 property. He was an energetic, enter- 
 prising man and was well known as one 
 of the leading farmers of his community. 
 His death occurred in 1894, while his 
 wife passed away in 1866. 
 
 Mr. Robinson of this review was the 
 third in order of birth in a family of 
 three sons and a daughter. The days of 
 his boyhood and youth were passed in the 
 usual manner of farm lads, no event of 
 special importance occurring to vary the 
 routine of that life in his boyhood days. 
 His father had accumulated considerable 
 land and afterward divided it among his 
 children, Mr. Robinson securing one 
 hundred and twenty acres of the old 
 home place. There was a log cabin upon 
 this tract, into which he removed after 
 his marriage, which event occurred on 
 the 3 ist of December, 1863, the lady of 
 his choice being Miss Priscilla Callison, 
 who was born in Illinois. She died in 
 1866 and in October, 1873, Mr. Robinson 
 was again married, his second union be- 
 ing with Mrs. Mollie E. (Chapman) 
 Hill, a widow, who was born in Ohio 
 and was a daughter of Nathaniel and 
 Mary (Frazee) Chapman. Unto this 
 marriage three children have been born : 
 Mary Chapman, who is now teaching 
 school in Hamilton; Wayland B., who 
 occupies the home farm; and Jessie M. 
 at home. 
 
 Following his first marriage Mr. Rob- 
 inson began general farming and also 
 raising and feeding horses, cattle and 
 hogs. He was thus actively engaged for 
 many years and kept adding to his land 
 until he was the owner of two hundred 
 acres, constituting a valuable property 
 on sections 7 and 8, Wythe township.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 89 
 
 He worked energetically and persistently 
 year after year, gathering good crops 
 and realizing good returns from his 
 stock. At length after many years of 
 active and successful connection with 
 farming and stock-raising interests he re- 
 tired to private life and in May, 1903, 
 removed to Hamilton, where he pur- 
 chased a residence which he now occupies 
 with his two daughters, his wife having 
 died in April, 1883. He has recently 
 sold his farm to his son Wayland. In 
 earh- manhood he engaged in teaching 
 schools for a year before leaving Ohio 
 and for three terms after coming to Han- 
 cock county, but otherwise he has always 
 made farming his life work and is now 
 enjoying a well-earned rest. He is 
 known as a man of thorough reliability 
 and enterprise and enjoys the respect of 
 those with whom he has corrte in contact. 
 He has lived in the county for more than 
 a half century and has therefore wit- 
 nessed much of its growth and develop- 
 ment. Without special advantages in his 
 youth, he has worked his way steadily 
 upward to success. He attended school 
 only during the winter months when a 
 boy, but has acquired through practical 
 experience and observation a good busi- 
 ness education. In his religious faith he 
 is a Presbyterian and in his political 
 views a republican. He has served as 
 school trustee and assessor of Wythe 
 township and at all times has been in- 
 terested in movements for the general 
 good. His services for the public have 
 always been rendered with a view to the 
 public good and from the standpoint of 
 a patriotic citizen, none too many of which 
 are to be found in this great country. 
 
 WILLIAM T. DYE. 
 
 The farming interests of Carthage 
 township find a worthy representative in 
 William T. Dye, who is living on section 
 9, where he owns one hundred and 
 twenty acres of good land. He is a na- 
 tive of Brown county, Ohio, born Sep- 
 tember 5, 1855, an d when only seven 
 months old was brought to Illinois by his 
 parents, who settled in Rock River town- 
 ship, Hancock county, where the father 
 purchased and improved a farm of one 
 hundred and sixty acres. He is a son of 
 Wilson and Anna (Wall) Dye. both of 
 whom were natives of Brown county, 
 Ohio. The father engaged in farming 
 there and followed the same pursuit sub- 
 sequent to his removal to this state. Pur- 
 chasing land in Rock River township he 
 continued to make his home thereon un- 
 til his death, which occurred when he 
 was thirty-eight years of age. He was 
 a member of the Presbyterian church and 
 a democrat in his political views, and 
 throughout an active life he manifested 
 sterling traits of character which won 
 him the respect and confidence of his fel- 
 lowmen. He was also one of the pros- 
 perous and progressive residents of his 
 community and in addition to his farm- 
 ing interests he engaged in business as 
 a bridge contractor and constructed sev- 
 eral bridges near Warsaw, Hancock 
 county. It was while building one of 
 these bridges that he caught cold and 
 pneumonia resulted, being terminated by 
 death when his son William was but four 
 years of age. His grave was made in the 
 Carthage cemetery. His widow survived 
 him for about six years and was married
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 to James Thompson. She died at or near 
 Bentley, this state. By the first marriage 
 there were four children, of whom Wil- 
 liam T. was the third in order of birth. 
 Only two are now living-, his sister being 
 Mrs. Elizabeth F. L. Harper, who re- 
 sides in Carthage, Hancock county, 
 Illinois. 
 
 William T. Dye was educated in the 
 common schools of Carthage, his mother 
 having sold the farm and removed to that 
 city in his boyhood days. He remained 
 with her until her death, and at the early 
 age of eleven years started out to fight 
 life's battles unaided. He engaged in 
 farm work by the month on various 
 farmstof the county, being thus employed 
 until his marriage, which occurred on the 
 5th of October, 1876, the wedding be- 
 ing celebrated in Carthage. The lady of 
 his choice was Miss Hortense Yetter, a 
 daughter of William and Mary (Long) 
 Yetter. Her father was one of the early 
 settlers of this county, coming here from 
 Ohio, his native state. He engaged in 
 farming throughout his active business 
 life with the exception of the period 
 spent in the Civil war, in which he served 
 for nearly four years. He is now living 
 a retired life, making his home in the 
 city of Carthage. Mrs. Dye was born 
 in Hancock county, Illinois, pursued her 
 education in the public schools and re- 
 mained at home until her marriage. This 
 union has been blessed with four children 
 and the family circle yet remains un- 
 broken by the hand of death. All were 
 born in Carthage. Joseph E., the eldest, 
 resides on the home place and assists his 
 father in its cultivation and improve- 
 ment. He married Miss Ollie Van Dyke, 
 
 and they have one child, William Fran- 
 cis. Frank L., the second son, residing 
 in Springfield. Illinois, is an employe of 
 one of the interurban railroads. He 
 married Esta Reed and they have two 
 children, Leland H. and Ruth I. Ro- 
 wena May is the wife of Frank G. 
 Wright, a resident farmer of Carthage 
 township, and has one child, Goldie 
 Mae. Homer W., a student in the Carth- 
 age high school is yet with his parents. 
 For sixteen years after his marriage 
 Mr. Dye operated rented land in Carth- 
 age township, and in 1888 purchased 
 his present farm, on which he has since 
 resided. He put all of the present im- 
 provements upon the place, supplanting 
 the old house with a good substantial 
 frame dwelling, also erecting commodi- 
 ous barns and other outbuildings. He 
 has the entire farm under cultivation and 
 annually gathers rich harvests. In addi- 
 tion to the tilling of the soil he also en- 
 gages in the raising of stock and his 
 business interests are capably managed 
 and bring to him a good return. His 
 life has been one of untiring activity, 
 crowned with a gratifying measure of 
 success, yet he has found time to devote 
 to public interests. In politics he is a 
 democrat and has held the office of high- 
 way commissioner for eight years and is 
 still filling the position. He, with his 
 wife, is a member of the Presbyterian 
 church ; he is also a member of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity of Carthage, the Modern 
 Woodmen camp and the Illinois Bank- 
 ers, a local fraternal and insurance or- 
 ganization of this state. Viewed in a 
 personal light Mr. Dye is a strong man, 
 strong in his honor and good name, in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 9 1 
 
 his business capacity and in his accom- 
 plishments. Starting out when only 
 eleven years of age with no assistance 
 from influential friends or through in- 
 heritance, he owes all that he possesses 
 to his own labors and as the architect 
 of his fortunes has builded wisely and 
 well. 
 
 CAMILLE P. DADANT. 
 
 Camille P. Dadant, president of the 
 National Beekeepers Association and the 
 vice president of the State Bank of Ham- 
 ilton, is justly accorded a place among 
 the prominent and representative busi- 
 ness men of Hancock county. In fact 
 few residents of the county have such a 
 wide acquaintance as Mr. Dadant, who 
 is known by reason of his manufacturing 
 interests not only throughout America 
 but in foreign lands as well. It has been 
 said that the name of Dadant is a fa- 
 miliar one wherever bee culture is carried 
 on. The enterprise of which he is now 
 the head, has reached extensive propor- 
 tions and in its control he displays 
 splendid business ability, executive force, 
 keen foresight and capable management. 
 
 A native of Langres, France, he was 
 born on the 6th of April- 1851, and in 
 both the paternal and maternal lines rep- 
 resents old French families. His paternal 
 great-grandfather was a locksmith of 
 France. His grandfather. Dr. Francois 
 Dadant, engaged in the practice of med- 
 icine and surgery in his native country 
 throughout his entire life and was there 
 married to Justine Jayet. Their son. 
 
 Charles Dadant, was born amid the 
 golden hills of Burgundy at Vaux-Sous- 
 Aubigny, France, on the 22cl of May, 
 1817, and his education was completed 
 by a collegiate course at Langres. 
 While in his native country he wedded 
 Gabrielle Parisot in 1847, ner parents 
 being Pierre and Louise (Guillemot) 
 Parisot. 
 
 Charles Dadant was engaged in the 
 operation of a tannery in his native coun- 
 try, but devoted the greater part of his 
 attention to merchandising until the ven- 
 ture proved unprofitable, when, closing 
 out his affairs in France, he sought a 
 home in the new world, hoping to re- 
 trieve his fortunes in this country, nor 
 was he destined to meet disappointment 
 in this respect. On the contrary he en- 
 tered upon a business career that proved 
 eminently successful and gained him 
 world-wide reputation in connection with 
 his chosen line of endeavor. He came at 
 once to Illinois and settled on a farm 
 about two miles from Hamilton in Han- 
 cock county. He had planned to devote 
 his attention to the cultivation of grapes, 
 with which business he had become fa- 
 miliar in his youth in France, but at the 
 same time he began the raising of bees 
 and the latter proved so profitable that 
 he concentrated his energies more and 
 more largely upon this business, which 
 he also developed along ramifying lines 
 until he was recognized as one of the 
 most prominent and extensive bee cul- 
 turists not only in America but also in 
 the world. Perhaps there are others who 
 have produced as great an amount of 
 honey in a single season, but there was 
 no one who equalled him in the extent
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE}}' 
 
 of his comb foundation manufacture or in 
 the importation of bees. The occupation 
 proved both genial and profitable and 
 yielded marvelous results. In 1873 he 
 made a trip to Italy to import bees from 
 that country to the United States on a 
 large scale. He made a close study of 
 the best methods of shipping bees, selling 
 the Italian queen bees at ten dollars each 
 or a colony for twenty dollars. In 1869, 
 his son. Camille P. Dadant, whose name 
 introduces this review, was admitted to 
 a partnership and from that time for- 
 ward until the father's death they were 
 closely associated in their business rela- 
 tions and interests and the account of the 
 father's work for the development of 
 their enterprise is also the account of the 
 son's labors. In 1878 they began the 
 manufacture of comb foundation, intend- 
 ing the product only for their own use, 
 as they were extensive .bee keepers. The 
 first year they manufactured five hun- 
 dred pounds. Others, however, sought 
 to become purchasers and this led them 
 to increase their output to two thousand 
 pounds the second year and six thousand 
 pounds the third year and the increase 
 has been continued at a proportionate or 
 even greater rate until in the year end- 
 ing July i, 1904, they had manufactured 
 one hundred and fifteen thousand 
 pounds, thus giving them leadership 
 among the manufacturers of comb foun- 
 dation not only in America but in the 
 world. A visit to the factory shows that 
 it is equipped with every device neces- 
 sary for the successful conduct of the 
 work, the greatest care is taken in every 
 department toward securing perfection 
 and the absolutely perfect comb founda- 
 
 tion secures a most extensive and profit- 
 able sale. 
 
 Mr. Dadant's business consisted not 
 only in the comb manufacture and the 
 production of honey, the latter reaching 
 way up into the thousands of pounds 
 annually, but he also did much for bee 
 culture throughout the world through 
 the articles contributed to the leading bee 
 journals of America and foreign lands 
 as well. It is a noticeable fact in his 
 history that when he came to the United 
 States at the age of forty-six years he 
 was unable to speak the English lan- 
 guage, but the strength of purpose and 
 will shown by him is indicated by the 
 fact that he at once subscribed to the 
 New York Tribune and denied himself 
 any French papers or books so that he 
 should be compelled to acquaint himself 
 with the English tongue, using freely a 
 dictionary for this purpose, Within 
 three years he had acquired a mastery 
 of English sufficient to enable him to' 
 write articles for the American Bee 
 Journal, then published in Washington, 
 D. C. He wielded a pen of still greater 
 power when writing in his native lan- 
 guage and it was due to his efforts 
 through his published articles that the 
 movable frame hive is today so much in 
 use among French-speaking people, the 
 Dadant and the Dadant-Blatt hives being 
 among the most common in France. In 
 1886 he revised and republished the book 
 of Langstroth on the Honey Bee, which 
 has been styled the "classic in bee cul- 
 ture." This work was published almost 
 simultaneously in America, France and 
 Russia. The three latest editions were 
 printed at Keokuk, Iowa, near his home. 

 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 93 
 
 His teachings spread over the world and 
 there is not a civilized country where his 
 name is unknown to progressive bee 
 keepers. In 1874 he published a small 
 book, Petit Cours d'Apiculteur Pratique, 
 in the French language. His attention 
 was given to the business of raising bees, 
 producing honey and manufacturing 
 the comb foundation up to the time of 
 his death, which occurred in 1902, when 
 he was in his eighty-fifth year. His busi- 
 ness integrity was unassailable. He was 
 never known to take advantage of the 
 necessities of his fellowmen in any trade 
 transaction but was a soul of honor and 
 straightforward dealing in all business 
 affairs. He was moreover a man of 
 kindly purpose, of generous spirit and 
 genial disposition and made friends of 
 all with whom he came in contact. He 
 possessed a most cheerful disposition 
 and those who have had the pleasure of 
 an acquaintance with him in his own 
 home will testify to his genial and cordial 
 spirit. He possessed, too, much of the 
 spirit of the philanthropist, taking the 
 most kindly interest in those whom he 
 employed. He encouraged all of his 
 French workmen to have homes of their 
 own and allowed them certain times in 
 which to cultivate their vines and work 
 their ground. Ideal relations existed 
 in the home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dadant 
 were born two daughters and a son : 
 Mary ; Mrs. E. J. Baxter, of Nauvoo ; 
 and C. P. Dadant, whose name intro- 
 duces this record. 
 
 The last named was a youth of twelve 
 years when he accompanied his parents 
 on their removal to America. From 
 this time forward his youth was passed 
 
 at the old homestead near Hamilton and 
 at the age of twenty-four years he was 
 admitted to a partnership by his father 
 and the firm style of Dadant & Son has 
 since been well known among the bee 
 culturists of America and foreign lands. 
 He now keeps about two hundred and fifty 
 hives of bees and sold one hundred thou- 
 sand pounds of foundation for honey comb 
 in the year 1905. One of his buildings, 
 constructed of iron and then painted, con- 
 tains only beeswax and holds something 
 like twenty thousand pounds. It is 
 usually kept full, for it is the purpose of 
 the firm to have on hand always a large 
 supply of the only suitable material for 
 making their excellent comb foundation. 
 The bulk of the foundation made by the 
 firm is the Weed process, which refers 
 to the method of sheeting the wax be- 
 fore milling it. The largest crop of 
 honey for one year was forty-five thou- 
 sand pounds, from which they realized 
 twenty-eight hundred dollars net of all 
 expenses. They use the Dadant hive, 
 which is of their own invention and 
 manufacture and they believe in having 
 large hives and big colonies and thus 
 have practically no swarms of bees. 
 After the death of his father Mr. Dadant 
 of this review admitted his sons, Louis 
 C. and Henry C., to a partnership and 
 thus the firm style of Dadant & Sons was 
 maintained. Mr. Dadant has also ex- 
 tended his business interests to other 
 lines, being one of the organizers of the 
 State Bank of Hamilton, of which he is 
 the vice president. He was also one of 
 the promoters of the water power of the 
 Mississippi river for building a dam 
 across the river from Keokuk to Hamil-
 
 94 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ton. The company formed for this pur- 
 pose is composed of twenty-five mem- 
 bers and Mr. Dadant became one of the 
 executive committee of three, his asso- 
 ciates being William Logan and A. E. 
 Johnstone, of Keokuk. A man of re- 
 sourceful business ability, keen enterprise 
 and sound judgment, he carries forward 
 to successful completion whatever he un- 
 dertakes and has developed a business at 
 Hamilton which has become one of the 
 important productive enterprises of his 
 county. 
 
 On the ist of November, 1875, Mr. 
 Dadant was married to Miss Mary Mari- 
 nelli, who was born in St. Louis, Mis- 
 souri. August 9, 1854, and was a daugh- 
 ter of Luigi Marinelli, a pioneer of the 
 French Icarian community that settled in 
 Nauvoo in 1848. His wife was Fran- 
 coise Marinelli and their daughter, Mrs. 
 Dadant, attended the common schools of 
 Saint Clair county, Illinois. She shares 
 with her husband in extending a warm- 
 hearted, attractive and gracious hospi- 
 tality to their many friends. They have 
 a beautiful riew home, a substantial brick 
 residence, which was completed in 1904. 
 From the rear is had a splendid view of 
 the Mississippi river as it flows south- 
 ward for nearly fourteen miles and across 
 the river stands the city of Keokuk. In 
 addition to this Mr. Dadant owns other 
 property interests in and about Hamil- 
 ton. Unto" him and his wife have been 
 born three sons and four daughters, 
 namely : Louisa, the wife of Leon 
 Saugier, of Hamilton : Valentine M., 
 who attended the University of Illinois 
 and is president of the Hamilton library, 
 an organization which was formed sev- 
 
 eral years ago and of which the town is 
 justly proud, Louis C., who married 
 Eza Miller and lives near the main 
 factory of the firm, being associated with 
 his father in business; Henry C., who is 
 also a partner and resides at home ; 
 Maurice G., who is a student in the Illi- 
 nois State University at Champaign ; 
 Clemence and Harrietta, who are at 
 home. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Dadant is a 
 republican and has served as school trus- 
 tee of Montebelle township, but other- 
 wise has neither sought nor held public 
 office. Fraternally he is connected with 
 the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
 Naturally, however, his attention is 
 chiefly directed to his business interests, 
 which are now of a varied and extensive 
 nature and are a source of gratifying 
 profit. The name of Dadant & Son has 
 ever been synonoymous with honorable 
 dealing and success has come as the mer- 
 ited reward of business integrity, enter- 
 prise and diligence. Uniformly courteous 
 and considerate of others, he at the same 
 time possesses a force of character that 
 everywhere commands respect and accom- 
 plishes results and is today accounted 
 one of the most honored and respected 
 citizens of Hancock county. 
 
 ROBERT A. BARR. 
 
 Robert A. Barr, a fanner living near 
 Colusa, whose success in life is attribut- 
 able entirely to his own efforts, was
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 95 
 
 born February 13, 1871, upon the old 
 family homestead in Dallas township, 
 his parents being George W. and Mary 
 E. (Dean) Barr. , The father was born 
 in Breckinridge county, Kentucky, near 
 Louisville, in 1844, while the mother's 
 birth occurred in Ohio in 1848. He be- 
 came a resident of Dallas township on 
 the 2d of April, 1859, and is still the 
 owner of the farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres on which his son, Robert A., 
 now resides. Unto him and his wife 
 were born three children: Etta E., now 
 the wife of Elmer Royse, of Aledo, Illi- 
 nois ; Robert A. ; and Mary Otellia, who 
 is living with her parents in Dallas City, 
 the father having retired from active 
 farm life to enjoy a rest which he has 
 truly earned and richly deserves. 
 
 Robert A. Barr began his education in 
 the district schools of Dallas township 
 and continued his studies in Carthage 
 College, where he remained for two 
 years. Through the period of his youth 
 and after attaining his majority he re- 
 mained with his parents on the old home- 
 stead, living with them until thirty-one 
 years of age and during the latter part of 
 that period practically carrying on the 
 work of the home farm. On the 26th 
 of February, 1902, he was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Ethel Elizabeth Massie. 
 who was bom in Fountain Green town- 
 ship. Hancock county, August 13, 1882, 
 a daughter of John S. and Mary E. 
 (Myers) Massie. The father was born 
 in Rock Creek township, this county, Oc- 
 tober 24, 1855, and the mother's birth 
 occurred in Iowa, October 21, 1859. She 
 was four or five years of age when 
 brought by her parents to Hancock 
 
 county. Mr. and Mrs. Massie are well 
 krjown residents of Pontoosuc township 
 and in the control of his business inter- 
 ests the father has become well-to-do 
 and is accounted a representative agricul- 
 turist of his community. Unto him and 
 his wife have been born eight children : 
 Ethel E., Stuart M., living in Montana; 
 Goldy V., deceased ; Grover C. ; Fern 
 F. : Cheryl Beatrice ; Ralph Emerson ; 
 and Ruby Marie. 
 
 At the time of his marriage Mr. Ban- 
 rented his father's farm of one hundred 
 and sixty acres on section 36, Dallas 
 township, which is one of the best farms 
 in Hancock county, and he has since 
 given his time and energies to its further 
 cultivation and improvement. He has 
 brought the fields under a high state of 
 cultivation and is regarded as one of the 
 model fanners of the community. As the 
 years have passed the home has been 
 blessed with the presence of three chil- 
 dren : Homer Dysinger, born Decem- 
 ber 17, 1902; Emmet Cleophas, July 6, 
 1904; and Ada Cheryl, December 15, 
 1905. All were born in the house in 
 which their father's birth occurred and 
 they constitute a most interesting family. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Barr is a 
 democrat and has served as constable for 
 two terms but has never been a politician 
 in the sense of office-seeking, as he has 
 preferred to devote his time and energies 
 to his business interests. He had no 
 money when he was married and started 
 out in life on his own account, but 
 through his economy, energy and un- 
 faltering industry and the assistance of 
 his estimable wife, who has indeed been 
 a helpmate to him, he has accumulated
 
 9 6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 a considerable share of this world's goods 
 and is accounted one of the leading and 
 representative farmers of his community. 
 He is well read, keeping informed on all 
 matters of general interest as well as the 
 political questions of the day and is a 
 man of genial, jovial disposition, who 
 has many warm friends. He belongs to 
 the Modern Woodmen lodge of Colusa 
 and for three years has been clerk and 
 holds a certificate of efficiency from the 
 Court of Honor. Both he and his wife 
 are members of the Christian church and 
 Mr. Barr is a man of domestic taste, 
 thoroughly devoted to his family, their 
 welfare and happiness. 
 
 CHARLES E. CLARK. 
 
 Charles E. Clark, a retired farmer liv- 
 ing in Dallas City, was born March 10, 
 1868, in the city which is still his home, 
 and is a son of William J. and Abigail 
 (Ellis) Clark. The father was born in 
 Sangamon county, Illinois, October 16, 
 1837, and the mother in Vevay, Switzer- 
 land county, Indiana, May 25, 1836. She 
 became a resident of Hancock county in 
 1841, and William J. Clark was only 
 about six years of age when he accom- 
 panied his parents to this county, where 
 they were married February 27, 1859. 
 Both were representatives of honored old 
 pioneer families of this portion of the 
 state. The maternal and paternal grand- 
 parents settled here in an early day and 
 for some years lived in log cabins, spend- 
 
 ing their days in true pioneer style amid 
 the environments of frontier life. The 
 father of our subject cleared and devel- 
 oped several farms which he sold at a 
 good advance, and as the years passed by 
 he successfully carried on general agri- 
 cultural pursuits. He died October 10, 
 1870, his widow surviving until July 23, 
 1905, and both were laid to rest in Har- 
 ris cemetery, in Dallas township. Mr. 
 Clark was a soldier of the Civil war, en- 
 listing as a member of Company F, Fif- 
 tieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which 
 he joined near the close of hostilities. 
 He was with the company" that responded 
 to a call for the protection of Chicago 
 and thus served until mustered out. He 
 stanchly advocated republican principles 
 and was a faithful member of the Chris- 
 tian church. They had three children but 
 the two daughters died in early child- 
 hood. 
 
 Charles E. Clark, the only surviving 
 member of the family, was educated in 
 the common schools of Dallas City and 
 at the age of twelve years went to the 
 country with his mother, settling upon a 
 farm in Durham township where he lived 
 until 1899. He was then married to Mrs. 
 Martha Ackerson, widow of George Ack- 
 erson, who in her maidenhood bore the 
 name of Martha E. Howard. She was 
 born in Adams county, Illinois, in 1851, 
 a daughter of Henry and Mary Ann 
 Howard, the former born April 23, 1825, 
 and the latter February 18, 1827. Mr. 
 Howard was a native of Dayton, Ohio, 
 and his wife of Indiana. He devoted 
 his life to general agricultural pursuits 
 and when eighteen years of age became 
 a resident of Crawford countv, Illinois.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 97 
 
 where he resided for seven years, then re- 
 moving to Adams county where he re- 
 sided until about 1857 when he came to 
 Dallas township, where he made his home 
 for many years until the time of his death. 
 In politics he was a democrat and having 
 removed to Hancock county in 1857, he 
 served for nineteen years as township 
 treasurer here. His wife died May 7, 
 1885, and his death occurred on the 17* 
 of March, 1898, both being laid to rest in 
 Harris cemetery. They had ten chil- 
 dren, of whom four are now living: Mrs. 
 Martha E. Clark; Mary Ann, the wife of 
 William Robinson, of Dallas township; 
 Charlotte, the wife of Edward Gill, of 
 Dallas township; and Angelina, the wife 
 of Philip Ritchey, of Dallas township. 
 
 After a year's residence in the south 
 Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Clark located in 
 Dallas City, Hancock county, he owning 
 a farm of eighty acres in Durham town- 
 ship. Mrs. Clark also owns eighty acres 
 in Dallas township. He was a successful 
 farmer and stock-raiser. He and his wife 
 occupy a beautiful home at the corner of 
 Front and Pine streets which Mrs. Clark 
 purchased from her father's estate in 
 1899. Since then Mr. Clark has retired, 
 having rented the farm but he still over- 
 sees it. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Clark has al- 
 ways been a strong republican but with- 
 out aspiration for office. Both he and his 
 wife are devoted members of the Chris- 
 tian church, in which he has been a deacOn 
 for a number of years, and in the work 
 of the church they take an active and help- 
 ful interest. Of a studious nature, very 
 fond of books, he reads broadly, thinks 
 deeply and is an intelligent man. Both 
 
 he and his estimable wife have the warm 
 regard of many friends, she being a lady 
 of pleasing address, presiding with gra- 
 cious hospitality over her home. They 
 are now surrounded by all the comforts 
 that go to make life worth living, occu- 
 pying an attractive and pleasant home in 
 Dallas City. 
 
 S. E. HARNEST. 
 
 S. E. Harnest, a retired farmer living 
 in Carthage, was born in Champaign 
 county, Ohio, March 8, 1835, his parents 
 being John and Anna (Spitler) Harnest, 
 the former born September 20, 1797, 
 and the latter April 3, 1809, their birth- 
 place being Upshire county, Virginia. 
 The paternal grandfather was a soldier of 
 the Revolutionary war, valiantly aiding in 
 the struggle for independence. The an- 
 cestral history of the family was one of 
 which the descendants have every reason 
 to be proud, for the men have displayed 
 activity and honor in business and fidelity 
 in all life's relations, while the women 
 have been marked by the true womanly 
 traits of character which command the 
 highest respect. The paternal grand- 
 parents, John and Anna Harnest, were 
 charter members of the Myrtle Tree Bap- 
 tist church in Champaign county, Ohio. 
 This church was organized April 24, 
 1830, by Elder William Fuson, the first 
 meeting being held on the first Sunday 
 in April, 1830. It was estimated that one 
 thousand people were in attendance on
 
 9 8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 this occasion, every section of the county 
 being represented. The name of the 
 church was chosen because of the follow- 
 ing circumstance. A short time before 
 the organization, the wife of Elder Fuson 
 had a dream that she had read the first 
 chapter on Zachariah before retiring for 
 the night and meditated on the beauty of 
 the myrtle tree, and in her dream she saw 
 the tree in the lovely valley, beholding it 
 in all its glory. The dream so impressed 
 her that at her request the church was 
 called the Myrtle Tree church. Its orig- 
 inal members were George Pine, Bryant 
 Moody, John Hamest, James Pine, Wil- 
 liam Fuson, Phebe Moody, Ann Harnest, 
 Sarah Pine, Sarah Pine, Sr., Deidamia 
 Fuson, Lucy Comer and Elizabeth Whit- 
 more. All of the above have entered into 
 the church triumphant. Eight of the 
 number received their letters of dismissal 
 from the Symm's Creek Baptist church in 
 Lawrence county, Ohio, in order to at- 
 tend the newly-organized Myrtle Tree 
 church, while the remaining five had for- 
 merly beep members of the Nettle Creek 
 church. John Harnest. the grandfather 
 of S. E. Harnest, was the first baptismal 
 candidate. He had served as a soldier 
 of the Revolutionary war in connection 
 with the father of Elder Fuson and he 
 was the first person buried in the ceme- 
 tery of the new church, his death occur- 
 ring on the roth of September, 1830. John 
 Harnest, Jr.. was elected clerk and John 
 Harnest, Sr., deacon of the church. A 
 house of worship was erected shortly after 
 the organization of the church on land 
 purchased of Samuel Kite, the consider- 
 ation for the property being a calico 
 dress for Mrs. Kite. Elder Fuson con- 
 
 tinued pastor there until September 25, 
 1841, when old age compelled him to 
 resign. 
 
 John Harnest, father of our subject, 
 was a native of Virginia, later moved to 
 Ohio and removed from that state to 
 Hancock county, Illinois, in 1838. He 
 found a pioneer district and at once be- 
 gan to clear the land and built a log cabin. 
 Every evidence of frontier life was here 
 to be seai, and he killed many deer, tur- 
 keys and wolves in those early days. The 
 homes of the settlers were widely scat- 
 tered and many of the now thriving towns 
 and villages had not yet been founded. 
 Through a long period he carried on ag- 
 ricultural pursuits and bore an active and 
 helpful part in the work of public prog- 
 ress, aiding in laying broad and deep the 
 foundation for the present upbuilding and 
 progress of the county. In politics he was 
 a democrat and for many years served as 
 school director. Both he and his wife 
 were members of the Missionary Baptist 
 church, taking an active and helpful part 
 in its work and for a number of years he 
 served as one of its deacons. In the fam- 
 ily were twelve children, three of whom 
 survive : Daniel S., who is living in Ar- 
 kansas; S. E., of this review; and Mary 
 J., the widow of Palestine Wright, of 
 Carthage. The father died November i, 
 1864, and his remains were interred in the 
 Ray graveyard. The mother long sur- 
 vived him, departing this life in June, 
 1896. 
 
 S. E. Harnest attended the district 
 schools of Carthage township and re- 
 mained upon his father's farm until twen- 
 ty-six years of age. assisting in the ardu- 
 ous task of developing new land and shar-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 99 
 
 ing with the family in the hardships and 
 privations incident to life on the frontier. 
 In the early days of the family's residence 
 here the winters were very severe. They 
 were visited by many blizzards and the 
 father had settled in the timber that it 
 might afford protection for the stock and 
 also furnish an abundant supply of fire- 
 wood. When the farmers commenced to 
 improve the prairie land for the first time 
 after it had been vacated by the red race 
 he fitted up a team of oxen with five or 
 six yoke and started his eldest son, D. S. 
 Harnest and his son Samuel E. of this 
 review to breaking prairie land with a 
 large plow, which would turn a 26-inch 
 furrow. They thus engaged in breaking 
 prairie for a number of years, sharpening 
 their plows at the blacksmith shop on 
 Saturdays, using a small anvil and heavy 
 hammer to draw out the shear with the 
 use of several sharp files would run a 
 week at a time. The anvil which was 
 then used is still in possession of S. E. 
 Harnest of this review, who has broken 
 hundreds of acres of land and while thus 
 engaged has encountered numerous large 
 rattlesnakes. The whip lashes were made 
 of buckskin, which were dressed by his 
 father and the stocks were of hickory or 
 ironwood. As it was necessary for them 
 to clear off this land the mother made the 
 sons buckskin trousers . as she thought 
 they were stronger and would better 
 stand the wear and tear of such a life. 
 The elder brother, D. S. Harnest, was in 
 the Mormon war, which resulted in the 
 shooting of Hiram and Joseph Smith in 
 1844. John A. Harnest, a second brother 
 who went through to California with ox 
 team, died in 1853. 
 
 On the 2 ist of February, 1861, S. E. 
 Harnest married Miss Matilda Ann Wal- 
 ton, who was born in St. Mary's town- 
 ship, Hancock county, April 6, 1841, a 
 daughter of Frederick M. and Emily 
 (Rice) Walton. The father was born in 
 Mason county, Kentucky, January n, 
 1809, and the mother's birth occurred in 
 Boone county, Kentucky, January 10. 
 1811. They were married January 31, 
 1831, and became very early settlers of 
 Hancock county, arriving in 1835, at 
 which time they took up their abode in 
 St. Mary's township, residing continu- 
 ously upon one farm until 1880, when 
 Mr. Walton died. His first home was a 
 little log cabin, in which he lived until 
 1840, when he employed John Harper, 
 who made mortar brick and was also a 
 bricklayer, to build him a house. Mrs. 
 Harnest was the first child in the county 
 born in a brick house. Mr. Walton was 
 a republican in his political views after the 
 organization of the party and served as 
 highway commissioner and was school 
 director for many years. He supported 
 every feasible plan for the benefit of the 
 community and co-operated in many 
 movements that were of direct benefit to 
 this part of the state. Both he and his 
 wife were members of the Missionary 
 Baptist church. In their family were 
 eight children but only three are now liv- 
 ing: John, a resident of Plymouth, Illi- 
 nois; Mrs. Harnest, of Carthage; and 
 Simon M., who lives upon the old home- 
 stead farm. The father passed away 
 April 10, 1880, and the mother on the 
 8th of November, 1904, their remains 
 being interred in Plymouth cemetery. 
 In his business affairs Mr. Walton pros-
 
 100 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 pered and he gave to each of his children 
 about two hundred acres of good land. 
 
 His widow resided upon the old home- 
 stead from 1835 until 1902, covering a 
 period of sixty-seven years and there 
 spent her remaining days (except about 
 two years she spent in Carthage), with 
 her daughter, Mrs. Harnest. She was 
 one of the charter members of the Bap- 
 tist church of St. Mary's township, or- 
 ganized in 1837, and outlived all of the 
 other original members, exemplifying 
 each day her faith and Christian belief. 
 She was also the last survivor of the or- 
 ganizers of the Plymouth Baptist church 
 and she had many warm friends who ad- 
 mired her greatly for her Christian vir- 
 tues and good qualities of heart and mind. 
 
 For the first three years after their 
 marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harnest lived on 
 a farm near Plymouth but their home 
 there was destroyed by fire and they after- 
 ward bought a farm in Carthage town- 
 ship, where they resided for twenty-seven 
 years. They had a comfortable home 
 which they improved with porches, etc. 
 He also built two new barns and out- 
 buildings for the shelter of grain and 
 stock. The farm lay on sections 24 and 
 25 and comprised two hundred and forty 
 acres of rich and productive land, which 
 is still in his possession. For many years 
 Mr. Harnest carefully cultivated the 
 fields, developed the property and won 
 success in, his undertakings as an agri- 
 culturist and feeding stock, but in 1891 
 moved to Carthage, building a pretty 
 home on No. 611 Main street, adjoining 
 the Baptist church. He has since lived 
 retired in the enjoyment of a well-earned 
 rest, his labor in former years having 
 
 brought to him a competence sufficient to 
 supply him with the necessities and com- 
 forts of life together with some of its 
 luxuries. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harnest have been 
 born three children, of whom two are now 
 living, the oldest two having been born 
 near Plymouth and the other in Carthage 
 township. Mary Emily, born January 
 2, 1862, became the wife of F. M. Cutler, 
 who now lives in Carthage. She died 
 May 13, 1895, in the triumphs of a living 
 faith, leaving a son, Fred Francis, who 
 died April 22, 1900, at the age of sev- 
 enteen years. He was a good Christian 
 youth and was a great comfort to his 
 grandparents. John Walton Harnest, 
 born August 4, 1863, married Olive Rob- 
 ertson, and is a stock dealer living in 
 Carthage. He has one child, Forest I. 
 Frederick Eldridge Harnest, born March 
 19, 1869, lives in Quincy, where he con- 
 ducts a livery stable. He had the mis- 
 fortune to have his barn destroyed by fire 
 January 18, 1906, but has since purchased 
 another livery barn and is again in busi- 
 ness. He married Miss Bertie M. Wright 
 . and has three children, Pauline, Waldo 
 W. and Mary Marguerite. 
 
 Mr. Harnest is largely a self-made man 
 and owing to his economy and energy in 
 former years is now very comfortably 
 situated in his old age. He has always 
 been a very methodical man and since his 
 marriage has kept a daily diary of events 
 and incidents. Mrs. Harnest is a lady of 
 very retentive memory and intelligence 
 and her good qualities have won her many 
 friends with whom she spends many pleas- 
 ant hours in social conversation on sub- 
 jects which give enjoyment to all.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 101 
 
 OSCAR HUBBARD BURR. 
 
 Oscar Hubbard Burr, who is the owner 
 of valuable farming property in Dur- 
 ham township, consisting of two hundred 
 and forty acres in the home farm and also 
 twenty acres on another section, was born 
 in that township February 4, 1858, his 
 parents being Edward and Julia (Wil- 
 cox) Burr, both of whom were natives 
 of Connecticut. The father was born De- 
 cember 24, 1814, and the mother on the 
 1 3th of July, 1817. When he came to 
 Hancock county in 1839 from his native 
 state he traveled with a party of sixteen, 
 who made the journey with two small 
 wagons and were six weeks upon the way, 
 crossing the swamps and mountains and 
 suffering many privations and hardships, 
 as they journeyed on after the primitive 
 manner of travel of those . days. Here 
 Mr. Burr began life in true pioneer style, 
 living in a log house for some time. The 
 family had no table and scarcely any table 
 cutlery for a number of years. Various 
 wild animals roamed over his land and 
 many evidences of pioneer life were to be 
 seen. In 1852 he built the main part of 
 the house in which his son, O. H. Burr, 
 now resides, and from time to time he 
 added to his possessions until at his death 
 he was very comfortably situated and was 
 known as an enterprising and respected 
 citizen of his community. He died June 
 II, 1895, while his wife passed away July 
 18. 1862, their remains being interred in 
 Durham cemetery. Both were devoted 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and his political views accorded 
 with the principles of the Republican party. 
 An old-fashioned teapot which he brought 
 
 to Illinois in 1839 is now in possession 
 of his son, O. H. Burr, and is a much 
 prized relic. In the family were seven 
 children : Jonathan E., who was born 
 August n, 1837, and lives in Cowley 
 county, Kansas ; Julia C., who was born 
 November n, 1838, and is the wife of 
 William H. Avis, of Des Moines, Iowa ; 
 Esther A., who was born June 3, 1841, 
 and is the wife of Harvey H. Pershin, of 
 Portland, Oregon; Orpha D., who was 
 born February 14, 1845, and is the wife 
 of S. E. Harkness, of southern Nebraska ; 
 Emily C., who was born April 15, 1850, 
 and is the wife of D. L. Toof, of Aurora, 
 Nebraska; Demmis V., who was born 
 December 14, 1854, and became the wife 
 of Edwin Burr, her death occurring in 
 Hancock county, Illinois, March 30, 1881, 
 while Mr. Burr resides in Nebraska ; and 
 O. H., who was born in Durham town- 
 ship, February 4, 1858. 
 
 The last named was educated in the 
 district schools of his native township 
 and remained with his parents until in 
 his twenty-first year, when he was mar- 
 ried and started out in life on his own 
 account. It was on the 2Oth of October, 
 1878, that he wedded Miss Mahala I. 
 Potter, who was born in Durham town- 
 ship, Hancock county, June 28, 1859, 
 one of the ten children of Warren and 
 Mahala (Collins) Potter. Her father, 
 who was born in Pennsylvania, August 
 9, 1813, followed the occupation of 
 farming as a life work and after living 
 for some time in Adams county, Illinois, 
 removed in 1858 to Hancock county and 
 took up his abode in a log cabin, living in 
 true pioneer style. As the years passed 
 he improved his farm and at a later date
 
 102 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 added modern equipments. He died Jan- 
 nary 23, 1883, and his wife, who was 
 born in Indiana, October 3, 1821, passed 
 away March 2, 1899, at the age of sev- 
 enty-seven years and was laid to rest by 
 his side in Union cemetery. Six of their 
 children are yet living: Rebecca E., the 
 wife of James Potter, of Macomb, Illi- 
 nois; Cynthia J., the wife of R. T. H. 
 Bartlett. of Dallas City ; Mary Erne, the 
 wife of W. O. Stout, of Thayer, Oregon 
 county, Missouri; Olive E., the wife of 
 C. F. Bross, of Colusa; Mahala I., now 
 Mrs. Burr; and Josephine, the wife of 
 George Arnt, of Beatrice, Nebraska, while 
 Allen Potter was killed by a runaway in 
 California, and Weaver Potter died in 
 Missouri. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Burr began their domestic life in a house 
 on the place where he now lives. After 
 a year they removed to his father's house. 
 Throughout the intervening years Mr. 
 Burr has carried on general agricultural 
 pursuits and is now engaged in cultivat- 
 ing two hundred and forty acres of land 
 in Durham township. He has improved 
 the house, built barns and sheds, while 
 one of the barns upon the place was 
 erected by his father in 1861. He has 
 brought the fields under a high state of 
 cultivation and everything about the farm 
 indicates his careful supervision and pro- 
 gressive methods. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Burr has 
 been blessed twith four children, all born 
 in the house which was their father's 
 birthplace. Oscar H., Jr., the eldest, born 
 July 14, 1882, married Catherine Kloss- 
 ing, of Durham township, and they have 
 a son, Ralph Joseph Oscar Burr. Bessie 
 
 C., bom October 18, 1888, is at home; 
 Mamie, born July 8, 1891, died two days 
 later; Hazel C., born March 18, 1893, is 
 with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Burr are 
 members of the Free Methodist church 
 and take an active interest in its work, 
 living the lives of earnest Christian peo- 
 ple. He votes with the prohibition party, 
 which. indicates his views on the temper- 
 ance question, and he is a school director, 
 standing at all times for intellectual and 
 moral progress and giving his endorse- 
 ment to every measure which he believes 
 will uplift humanity. 
 
 JOHN A. FLETCHER. 
 
 John A. Fletcher, living retired in 
 Carthage, was born in Muskingum 
 county, Ohio, May 22, 1838, and his 
 parents, Elisha and Elizabeth (Lane) 
 Fletcher, were also natives of that county, 
 where the father lived and died, follow- 
 ing the occupation of- farming as a life 
 work. His political allegiance was given 
 to the Republican party and he served as 
 tax collector. Both he and his wife were 
 members of the Methodist church, but 
 both have passed away, their remains be- 
 ing interred in Ohio. 
 
 Of their family of five children John 
 A. Fletcher is the only one now living. 
 He was educated in the district schools 
 of Ohio, the little "temple of learning" 
 being a log building with puncheon floor, 
 and small windows, slab seats and an im- 
 mense fireplace. He remained upon the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 103 
 
 home farm with his parents until his mar- 
 riage. It was on the I3th of January, 
 .1858, that he wedded Miss Elizabeth 
 Palmer, who was born June 9, 1840, in 
 Muskingum county, Ohio, a daughter of 
 Frederick and Sarah (Butler) Palmer, 
 the former a native of the state of New 
 York and the latter of Muskingum 
 county. Mr. Palmer was a farmer by 
 occupation . and was killed in Ohio in 
 April, 1844, by a log falling upon him. 
 He was at that time serving as road su- 
 pervisor. The mother was a member of 
 the old primitive Baptist church. In the 
 family were three children by the first 
 marriage, but only two are now living, 
 Mrs. Fletcher and Augusta, the latter the 
 widow of Mr. King, who is living in 
 Kansas City, Kansas. The mother later 
 married Abner Lane. They left two liv- 
 ing children. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Fletcher lived upon a farm in Muskingum 
 county, Ohio, until after the outbreak of 
 the Civil war, when Mr. Fletcher, in re- 
 sponse to his country's need, enlisted as 
 a member of Company D, Sixteenth Ohio 
 Volunteer Infantry. He was afterward 
 transferred to Company I of the invalid 
 corps and was promoted to the rank of 
 first sergeant. He served for three years 
 and one month and was honorably dis- 
 charged in October, 1864. At Camp 
 Dennison, Ohio, in the first year of the 
 war, he had an attack of typhoid fever, 
 being ill in the hospital there for a long 
 time and as a result his left side was 
 paralyzed and has always remained so. 
 He participated in the battles of Mills 
 Springs and Cumberland, where he was 
 wounded in the leg by the explosion of 
 7 
 
 a shell, which also cut off the stock of 
 his gun. He was likewise in the battles 
 of Tazewell, Tennessee, Cumberland Gap 
 and Vicksburg, where he was stripped of 
 his clothing by the rebels and lay for two 
 days and nights in the rain. He likewise 
 participated in the engagements at 
 Thompson's Hill and McKenzie Bend. 
 His regiment was the Sixteenth Ohio In- 
 fantry and Company D was commanded 
 by Captain Milton Mills, while the first 
 lieutenant was Thomas Hedge and the 
 second lieutenant William Dorsey. All 
 were from Dresden, Ohio. He was a 
 brave soldier and made a great sacrifice 
 for his country, but he did it cheerfully 
 and willingly and no one displays a more 
 patriotic spirit than does Mr. Fletcher, 
 who is always interested in the welfare 
 of his country and her progress. His 
 eldest and his youngest brothers, Spencer 
 and Joshua Fletcher respectively, were 
 also soldiers of the Civil war. Joshua 
 died from the effects of injury sustained 
 at Cumberland Gap and was buried there. 
 Spencer was wounded at Vicksburg and 
 died at Milliken's Bend. They, too, were 
 soldiers of the Sixteenth Ohio Regiment 
 and Henry Fletcher, a cousin, was with 
 the three brothers in this regiment, while 
 George Fletcher, an uncle, was in the 
 Seventy-eighth Ohio Regiment. Charles 
 and Henry Tatham, cousins of Mrs. 
 Fletcher, were likewise soldiers of the 
 Sixteenth Ohio and Charles H. Butler, 
 another cousin, was a soldier of Company 
 D, Twelfth Illinois Infantry and was hon- 
 orably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, 
 in 1865. 
 
 After his return from the war Mr. 
 Fletcher located upon a farm in Licking
 
 IO4 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 county. Ohio, and in 1869 came to Illi- 
 nois. About 1871 or 1872 he located 
 upon a farm of ninety acres in Carthage 
 township, and for many years thereafter 
 was devoted to general agricultural pur- 
 suits, conducting his business interests 
 with good ability. He has now been re- 
 tired for twelve years, has made his home 
 in the city of Carthage since February, 
 1903, and is in poor health. He possesses, 
 however, a cheerful nature and most 
 kindly disposition and bears his sufferings 
 uncomplainingly. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Fletcher have been born eight children, 
 four of whom were born in Ohio and the 
 others in Carthage township. Francis L.. 
 the eldest, married Miranda J. Kim- 
 brough, has a son, Charles, and lives in 
 Carthage. Sarah L. died in infancy. Al- 
 feretta May is the wife of Willis Ervin, 
 a resident of Carthage township, and has 
 six children: Edward, Ethel. George. 
 Genevieve, Hazel and Harry. Of these 
 children Edward Ervin married Bernice 
 Reed, resides in West Point, Iowa, and 
 has a son, Frederick. Ethel Ervin is the 
 wife of Frank Briley, lives in Carthage 
 member of the family, married Miss Cora 
 township, and has a little son, Thomas 
 Briley. Joshua E. Fletcher, the fourth 
 Linn and resides at Carthage. Abner P. 
 Fletcher owns a farm near West Point, 
 Iowa, married Miss Martha Conn and 
 has five daughters: Ada, Georgie, Lena. 
 Alice and Blanche. Mina A., is the wife 
 of Perry D. Myers, of Pilot Grove town- 
 ship, and has f our ''children : Ray, Hurl, 
 Florence and Ernest. Knox B. Fletcher 
 wedded Miss Mary B. Connoughton, re- 
 sides in Carthage, and has a daughter, 
 Lola D. Winnifred is the wife of Fred 
 
 Craig, of Hannibal, Missouri. He en- 
 listed in the Twentieth Infantry of the 
 regular army and was transferred to the 
 Fifth Regiment, being stationed at San- 
 tiago during the Spanish-American war. 
 He was in Cuba for eight months, enlist- 
 ing at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1900. He was 
 absent for a year in active service but now 
 resides in Hannibal. 
 
 In politics Mr. Fletcher is a stalwart 
 republican, having given unfaltering alle- 
 giance to the party since attaining his 
 majority. He has been actively interested 
 in the cause of education and has done 
 effective service in behalf of the public 
 schools of Carthage during many years' 
 service on the school board, of which he 
 has acted as clerk, while for twelve years 
 he was its president. He is a charter 
 member of the Modern Woodmen of 
 America of Carthage, also belongs to the 
 Grand Army of the Republic and is a 
 member of the Presbyterian church, to 
 which his wife and some of his children 
 also belong. He owns the comfortable 
 home on Locust street where he has lived 
 since coming to the city. He has been an 
 enterprising, self-made man, whose suc- 
 cess is due entirely to his own labors and 
 efforts. Handicapped by ill health, he has 
 nevertheless worked resolutely and ear- 
 nestly year after year and has accumulated 
 a comfortable competence. In his family 
 he has been a devoted husband and father 
 and in his illness his wife and daughter. 
 Mrs. Craig, put forth every effort to as- 
 suage his suffering. His life has prac- 
 tically been a sacrifice to his country. 
 Wherever known he is held in high es- 
 teem, for he possesses those traits of 
 character which win friendship, confi-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 dence and regard and his many friends 
 will be glad to receive this record of his 
 life. 
 
 HENRY JENKINS. 
 
 Henry Jenkins is one of the early 
 settlers of Hancock county, who through 
 many years has been an interested wit- 
 ness of the changes that have occurred 
 and the progress that has been made as 
 the county has emerged from pioneer 
 conditions and taken on all of the evi- 
 dences and improvements of an advanced 
 civilization. He now makes his home in 
 Carthage, and owns a farm of one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres in Carthage town- 
 ship, that under his care and development 
 has been transformed into a highly im- 
 proved and productive property. He was 
 born in Roan county, Tennessee, on the 
 1 7th of September, 1838, and there re- 
 sided until twelve years of age. when he 
 came to Illinois in 1851 with his parents, 
 John and Sarah (Rayborn) Jenkins. The 
 father was born in Virginia, representing 
 one of the old southern families, and 
 throughout his active life he carried on 
 farming. Upon coming to Hancock 
 county he settled in Rock Creek township, 
 where he purchased one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land, making his home thereon 
 until 1862. He then removed to Har- 
 mony township, trading his original farm 
 for a tract of land in Harmony township, 
 of two hundred and twenty acres which 
 was partially improved. He gave his time 
 and energies to its further development 
 
 for some years and then bought another 
 place in Harmony township, after which 
 he sold the other farm, residing upon the 
 last purchased property for many years. 
 Eventually, however, he went to Bentley, 
 where he lived with one of his daughters 
 until he was called to his final rest, passing 
 away at the very advanced age of ninety- 
 one years. He was a member of the 
 Primitive Baptist church and a man of 
 earnest Christian faith and character. 
 His political support was given to the de- 
 mocracy. In his business affairs he pros- 
 pered and though he only had seventy- 
 five dollars in money when he came to 
 Illinois, lie succeeded in rearing a large 
 family, providing for them a comfortable 
 living and acquiring a competency for his 
 last years. His remains were interred in 
 Harmony township cemetery. His wife, 
 who was born in Tennessee, grew to 
 womanhood there. She was also a mem- 
 ber of the Primitive Baptist church, and 
 died about six years prior to her husband's 
 demise, her grave being also made in 
 Harmony township cemetery. Unto this 
 worthy couple were born thirteen children, 
 seven of whom are living. 
 
 Henry Jenkins remained upon the 
 home farm until twenty-five years of age, 
 no event of special importance occurring 
 to vary the routine of farm life for him 
 in his youth, his attention being divided 
 between the work of the schoolroom, the 
 duties of the fields and the pleasures of 
 the playground. He was then married 
 but continued to reside upon a part of the 
 old homestead property for a few years, 
 after which he removed to Missouri, 
 where he resided for three years, engaged 
 in farming during that time. He then
 
 io6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 returned to Hancock county, Illinois, 
 where he remained for five years in Har- 
 mony township. On the expiration of 
 that period he took up his abode in Knox 
 county, Missouri, where he spent nine 
 years, when he again came to Hancock 
 county and purchased his present farm of 
 one hundred and sixty acres in Carthage 
 township. Here he has lived continuous- 
 ly, until recently. He bought the farm 
 sixteen years ago and has placed thereon 
 many improvements, securing the best ma- 
 chinery for the development of the fields, 
 adding many modern equipments and ac- 
 cessories. He has a good frame dwelling 
 and other buildings upon his place and 
 devoted his time and energies to general 
 farming and stock-raising, having good 
 grades of stock. In September, 1906, Mr. 
 Jenkins bought a residence on Scofield 
 street, Carthage, and in October moved 
 with his family to the city in order to 
 give his sons better educational advan- 
 tages. 
 
 At the age of twenty-five years Mr. 
 Jenkins was married to Miss Family V. 
 Mauk, who was born in Virginia and re- 
 moved to Hancock county, Illinois, with 
 her parents when a small child. Her 
 father, Abram Mauk, came to this county 
 in 1851, and followed the occupation of 
 farming in Harmony township, where he 
 lived until his death, which occurred when 
 he was about fifty-five years of age. His 
 wife died in Virginia. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Jenkins have been born thirteen chil- 
 dren, nine of whom are living : Robert, a 
 farmer residing at home ; Ada, the wife of 
 Robert E. Granger, a resident farmer of 
 Hancock township, by whom she had 
 seven children : Charles, May, Sarah, 
 Clara and Roy, who are living, and two 
 
 who died in infancy; John, a teamster of 
 La Harpe, Kansas, who married Cora 
 Willis; Sarah, the wife of Homer Rig- 
 gens, a farmer residing in Hancock town- 
 ship, by whom she has one daughter, 
 Anna; Ollie, at home; Anna, married 
 Jesse Ruddle, of Oak Grove, and has 
 two sons, Leland H. and Roy T. ; Lu- 
 cinda Belle, who died at the age of twen- 
 ty-four years; Harvey, Edward and 
 Thomas, all at home; one who died at 
 the age of eight years, while three died in 
 infancy. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are mem- 
 bers of the Primitive Baptist church, and 
 he votes with the democracy, but has 
 never cared for public office, his time and 
 attention being fully occupied with his 
 business interests, which have been care- 
 full}' managed, and though his life has 
 not been exempt from the difficulties and 
 obstacles which usually come to all in a 
 business career, he has overcome all these 
 by determination and energy and is now 
 the possessor of a valuable farm prop- 
 erty which yields him a good income. He 
 has also seen many improvements made 
 in Hancock county during the long years 
 of his residence here, and has done his 
 full share in the work of citizenship, 
 standing for progress and improvements 
 along all those lines which are of direct 
 and immediate serviceableness in the pro- 
 motion of material, intellectual, social 
 and moral progress. 
 
 Mr. Jenkins and his family richly de- 
 serve the high esteem in which they are 
 held by their many friends in the com- 
 munity where "they have so long resided. 
 and they are well worthy of representation 
 in the Biographical Review of Hancock 
 County.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 107 
 
 VERRIEUS R. FAUGHT. 
 
 Verrieus R. Faught, for many years 
 identified with general agricultural pur- 
 suits and now doing business as a gar- 
 dener at Hamilton, was born in New 
 Madrid, Missouri, April i, 1843. His 
 parents were Sanford and Caroline 
 (Seavers) Faught, the former a native 
 of Frankfort, Kentucky, and the latter of 
 Baden, Germany. The mother was 
 brought from Germany to Pennsylvania 
 during her infancy. Her mother died 
 when the daughter was quite young and 
 she afterward lived with her father until 
 her marriage, which was celebrated in 
 Evansville, Indiana. Sanford Faught 
 had been reared in Kentucky and in early 
 manhood was married there. Two sons 
 were born of the first marriage, but his 
 wife and children all died in Kentucky. 
 Following his marriage to Caroline 
 Seavers he lived in New Madrid, Mis- 
 souri, for a few months and afterward re- 
 moved to Evansville, Indiana, -and then 
 to Keokuk, Iowa, where he worked at 
 his trade of house building, making his 
 home there from 1849 until 1853. In the 
 latter year, with his family, he took up 
 his abode in what is now the western part 
 of Hamilton, and purchased forty acres 
 of land, which at that time was covered 
 with a dense growth of timber. He 
 cleared a portion of this and built a 
 frame house, bringing the lumber across 
 the river in a skiff. From the door of 
 his house he could frequently see deer 
 and wild turkeys. As the town of Ham- 
 ilton grew he subdivided his land and sold 
 it off in town lots. He was one of the 
 promoters of the movements to secure the 
 
 first ferry to Keokuk and one of the in- 
 fluential men of the town, a fact which is 
 indicated in that the early name of the 
 town was Faughtsburg, but after a few 
 years it was changed to Hamilton. He 
 measured off the first town lot in Hamil- 
 ton with a tape line and from the earliest 
 inception of the village until his death 
 was closely identified with its growth and 
 progress. He died March 24, 1856, and 
 his wife, long surviving him, remained 
 an esteemed resident of Hamilton until 
 called to her final home on the 2/th of 
 June, 1903. The name of Sanford 
 Faught, however, is inseparably inter- 
 woven with the history of Hamilton and 
 he will always be honored as one of its 
 founders. 
 
 Verrieus R. Faught, the eldest in a 
 family of two sons and four daughters, 
 of whom two of the daughters and the 
 brother of our subject are now deceased, 
 spent his boyhood days in Hamilton, his 
 parents removing to Hancock county 
 when he was but a young lad. He pur- 
 sued his education in the public schools 
 and also attended a commercial college 
 at Davenport, Iowa. He has watched the 
 growth and development of Hamilton 
 from a wilderness to a thriving city and 
 has been a co-operant factor in many pro- 
 gressive public movements. He assisted 
 his parents on the home farm until the 
 ist of September; 1862, when he enlisted 
 for active service in the Civil war as a 
 member of Company D, Seventy-eighth 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was in 
 the Fourteenth Army Corps in the Army 
 of the Cumberland and participated in 
 the Atlanta campiagn, the battle of Chick- 
 amauga and many other important en-
 
 io8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 gagements and in the celebrated march to 
 the sea under General Sherman. He 
 fought in the battles of Jonesboro, 
 Georgia, September i, 1864; Kingston, 
 Tennessee; Chattanooga, November 25, 
 1863; Lookout Mountain; Atlanta. Sep- 
 tember i, 1864; Savannah, Georgia; 
 Evansboro, North Carolina ; Rome and 
 Resaca, Georgia ; Kennesaw Mountain, 
 June 27, 1864; and Bentonville, North 
 Carolina, March 19, 1865. He was mus- 
 tered out of service at Washington, D. 
 C., on the 2d of June, 1865, after almost 
 three years of active duty in the south, 
 and he proved his loyalty and bravery on 
 various battlefields and under many of 
 the arduous conditions which war brings. 
 
 Returning to Hamilton, Mr. Faught 
 turned his attention to general agricul- 
 tural pursuits after spending a few months 
 at St. Joseph, Missouri. He has followed 
 farming throughout his entire life and for 
 many years was a prosperous agricultur- 
 ist but has now put aside the more ardu- 
 ous duties of the farm and has given his 
 attention to gardening, in which he is 
 doing a big business. He bought six 
 lots in the Oakwood addition to Ham- 
 ilton, where he has his residence and in 
 the fall of 1904 he added three more lots. 
 He has a good trade in garden products, 
 placing upon the market many of the 
 finest vegetables produced in this section 
 of the country. 
 
 On the 2d of March, 1881, Mr. Faught 
 was united in marriage to Miss Sarah 
 Frances Nelson, who was born in Peoria, 
 Illinois, November 8, 1859, and was edu- 
 cated in the public schools of Ouincy, Illi- 
 nois, and of Keokuk, Iowa. She also 
 studied to be a nurse in the training 
 
 school in connection with the College of 
 Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk. 
 Her father, John S. Nelson, was born in 
 Beardstown, Illinois, and married Phebe 
 J. Turner, whose birth occurred in Cler- 
 mont county, Ohio, October 21, 1841, 
 while his natal day was January 22, 1829. 
 In their family were nine children, four 
 sons and five daughters. Mrs. Nelson, 
 removing to the middle west, made the 
 journey over the Ohio, Mississippi and 
 Illinois rivers to Peoria in 1844 and since 
 that time has made her home in Peoria 
 and Hamilton, living in the latter city 
 since 1870. She now makes her home 
 with Mr. and Mrs. Faught. By this mar- 
 riage have been born a son and daugh- 
 ter: Emmett Sanford. born April 9, 
 1882, is now living in Peoria, Illinois. 
 Almeda May, born June 16, 1885', is the 
 wife of John Seavers residing in San 
 Francisco, California, a machinist on the 
 battleships in the navy yard. 
 
 Since his return from the war Mr. 
 Faught has resided continuously in Ham- 
 ilton and is one of the oldest citizens here, 
 having been brought to the county in pio- 
 neer times when a young lad. He is a 
 member of the Freewill Baptist church, 
 gives his political allegiance to the Repub- 
 lican party and is a valued representative 
 of the Grand Army Post. 
 
 JUDGE THOMAS COKE SHARP. 
 
 Judge Thomas Coke Sharp, deceased, 
 left the impress of his individuality upon
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 109 
 
 Hancock county as journalist, lawyer, 
 county judge, a member of the state con- 
 stitutional convention of 1848, a leader 
 in the movement against the Mormons 
 and as advocate of railroad projects. Any 
 one of these things would entitle him to 
 mention among the representative citizens 
 of this part of the state, while his com- 
 bined labor made him a distinguished 
 man, recognized as a leader of public 
 thought and action. 
 
 Judge Sharp was born September 25, 
 1818. at Mount Holly, Xew Jersey. His 
 father, Rev. Solomon Sharp, was born 
 on the eastern shore of Maryland and was 
 a noted pioneer Methodist minister of the 
 Philadelphia conference. His mother was 
 a member of the well known and promi- 
 nent Budd family, of Pemberton, Burling- 
 ton county, New Jersey. In his pastoral 
 work Rev. Sharp was stationed at differ- 
 ent times at Trenton, Xew Jersey, Phila- 
 delphia, Wilmington, Delaware, and was 
 also connected with the Salem circuit of 
 'New Jersey, the Christiana circuit of Del- 
 aware, the Smyrna and the Dover circuits, 
 after which he entered upon superannu- 
 ated relations .with the church, his death 
 occurring within a short time. 
 
 Thomas Coke Sharp, after attending 
 the common schools, entered Dickinson 
 College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1835. 
 and in 1837 became a student in the law 
 school conducted by Judge Reed, of Car- 
 lisle. He supported himself during the 
 last eighteen months of his law course by 
 teaching in the male high school, of which 
 he took charge when twenty years of age. 
 He was also teacher of mathematics for 
 six months in Dickinson College in the ab- 
 sence of one of the professors. Following 
 
 his graduation from Judge Reed's school 
 he was in April, 1840, matriculated in the 
 Cumberland Law School. In September 
 of the same year he came west and opened 
 a law office in Warsaw, Illinois, which he 
 successfully maintained until 1865, when 
 he located in Carthage, where he resided 
 until his death. 
 
 While in Warsaw, Judge Sharp's hear- 
 ing became impaired, so that he gave up 
 the practice of law for a few years or un- 
 til 1858. He practiced for but a year in 
 Warsaw, after which he became one of 
 the proprietors of the Western World, his 
 partner in the enterprise being James 
 Gamble. The paper was published as 
 a whig organ, but Mr. Sharp soon placed 
 it upon a neutral political basis, for he 
 was an advocate of Jacksonian democ- 
 racy. In 1841 the name of the paper 
 was changed to the Warsaw Signal. Al- 
 though the two partners worked hard and 
 faithfully they realized in 1842 that they 
 could not raise the debt on the establish- 
 ment and the paper passed again into the 
 hands of its first proprietor, D. N. White. 
 
 It was in the same year, on the 6th of 
 September, 1842, that Judge Sharp was 
 married to Mrs. Hannah G. \Vilcox, the 
 widow of John R. Wilcox, one of the 
 original proprietors of the town site of 
 Warsaw. She was a most highly es- 
 teemed lady, enjoying the warm regard 
 of all who knew her. She had six chil- 
 dren, one born of her first marriage and 
 five of her marriage to Judge Sharp, but 
 only two of the number are now living : 
 Charles G., who resides in Shadron, Mis- 
 souri ; and W. O. Sharp, who is repre- 
 sented elsewhere in this work. The wife 
 and mother passed away October 3, 1879.
 
 110 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 About the time the Warsaw Signal 
 suspended Judge Sharp decided to try 
 farming, but soon realized that nature 
 had never intended him for a tiller of the 
 soil and he made arrangements to again 
 resume the publication of the Warsaw- 
 Signal in 1844. He soon became widely 
 known as a journalist whose articles of 
 attack against the Mormons awakened 
 wide-spread attention and aroused public 
 opinion. The sect turned out upon him 
 its vengeance and wrath and called him 
 "Old Tom Sharp." His editorials in the 
 Signal were extensively copied into other 
 papers throughout the country. He was 
 a forceful writer, earnest and fluent, and 
 was unsparing in his attacks of the prin- 
 ciples upon which the Mormon church 
 was founded. Many reading these ar- 
 ticles formed the opinion that Judge 
 Sharp was a most aggre3sive man, full of 
 the fighting spirit, but on the contrary 
 he was most mild-mannered, of kindly 
 nature and rather inclined to the conserva- 
 tive in his opinions and judgments. It 
 was only when he was aroused by some- 
 thing that he believed to be wrong that 
 he assumed the attitude of the antagonist 
 and then he was unfaltering in support 
 of whatever cause or course he believed 
 to be right. In 1844, Joseph and Hiram 
 Smith, the two prophets and leaders of the 
 Mormon church, were killed and Judge 
 Sharp, through the Signal, vindicated the 
 anti-Mormons. Several attempts were 
 made to indict him as one of the leaders 
 in the assassination, but to no avail. He 
 continued at the head of the Warsaw 
 Signal until the fall of 1846 and in the 
 Mormon war which followed the trouble 
 between the orthodox Christians and the 
 
 followers of Smith he acted as an aide to 
 General Singleton, who first had com- 
 mand of the anti-Mormon troops, and 
 after his retirement Judge Sharp occupied 
 the same position on the staff of General 
 Brockman. In the battle of Nauvoo he 
 was sent with others to make a feint on 
 the Mormon battery on the right, while 
 the general at the head of the main force 
 made a flank movement on the left. The 
 feint executed, Judge Sharp, with his 
 command, joined the main force and con- 
 veyed the orders that brought the first 
 regiment into the fight, and in person led 
 the second regiment up to the support of 
 the exposed artillery, during which move- 
 ment several of the men were wounded. 
 After the Mormons had been driven 
 from the country Judge Sharp turned the 
 Signal over to Thomas Gregg, and as his 
 health had become impaired through the 
 strain and hard work in the office he 
 sought recuperation in outdoor interests. 
 In the spring of 1847 he was elected a 
 member of the constitutional convention 
 with four others from Hancock county 
 and assisted in framing the organic law 
 of the state, which was adopted as the 
 state constitution by a vote of the people 
 in 1848. In 1851 he was elected justice 
 of the peace of Warsaw and in 1853 was 
 chosen the first mayor of that city, which 
 office he occupied for three consecutive 
 terms and was again elected in 1858 and 
 1859, giving to the city a public-spirited 
 administration, characterized by the ut- 
 most devotion to the public welfare along 
 lines of material improvement and intel- 
 lectual, legal and political progress. For 
 fifteen months during the early '503 he 
 also published a paper, neutral in politics,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 in 
 
 for the advancement of railroad projects 
 and in this way contributed much to the 
 upbuilding of the state. It has been said 
 that railroads are the means of draining a 
 new country of savagery and all acknowl- 
 edge that rapid transportation is one of 
 the chief elements in opening up a new 
 district to commercialism and industrial- 
 ism. 
 
 During the Mormon war Judge Sharp 
 ceased to be a partisan democrat and in 
 1854, upon its organization, joined the 
 Republican party, which he ardently and 
 zealously supported from that time until 
 his death. In 1856 he was nominated by 
 the republicans of the then fifth district 
 as a candidate for congress. He knew 
 this to be an empty honor because of the 
 strength of the democracy in his section 
 of the state, but nevertheless made a 
 strong canvass through the district, de- 
 livering speeches in every county in sup- 
 port of the principles which he upheld. 
 In 1864 he began the publication of the 
 Warsaw New Era at the request of the 
 Union League of Hancock county, and 
 conducted it for a year at that place, when 
 leaders in public opinion desired that the 
 paper be moved to Carthage because of 
 more central location. In 1865 therefore 
 the Carthage Gazette was established by 
 F. E. Fowler. In the fall of the same 
 year Judge Sharp was nominated by the 
 republicans for the position of county 
 judge and on being elected removed his 
 family to the county seat. He held the 
 office for four years and the court records 
 show him to have been one of the ablest 
 judges that have sat upon the bench. He 
 was repeatedly renominated but the dem- 
 ocrats had regained their ascendency and 
 
 republican victories have since been few 
 in Hancock county. On retiring from the 
 bench he formed a partnership with H. 
 W. Draper, with whom he continued in 
 the practice of law for three years, and 
 in December, 1869, when Mr. Fowler re- 
 ceived a government appointment, Judge 
 Sharp was urged to assume editorial con- 
 trol of the Carthage Gazette, which he 
 did, expecting, however, to remain con- 
 nected with that paper for only a brief 
 period. His old interest in journalistic 
 work, however, being revived, he pur- 
 chased the office in 1870 and continued 
 as proprietor of the Carthage Gazette 
 until he turned it over to his son, W. O. 
 Sharp, the present editor. In this period 
 he had also continued in the practice of 
 law and for many years was at the head 
 of the law firm of Sharp & Berry 
 Brothers. He remained in active life for 
 many years and was widely known 
 throughout the state as a journalist and 
 as a leader in political circles. He also 
 attained high rank at the bar and in citi- 
 zenship stood for all that is progressive, 
 for all that is opposed to misrule and for 
 all that looks to the welfare of the coun- 
 try before the aggrandizement of self. 
 His efforts were again and again of direct 
 and immediate serviceableness to the 
 county. He continued active in the news- 
 paper field and at the bar until 1891, when 
 he was stricken with paralysis. He lived 
 for three years thereafter, passing away 
 April 9, 1894, at the advanced age of sev- 
 enty-five years, his remains being interred 
 in Moss Ridge cemetery. It is an impor- 
 tant public duty to honor and perpetuate 
 as far as is possible the memory of an 
 eminent citizen, one who by his blame-
 
 I 12 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ'IEU' 
 
 less and honorable life and distinguished 
 career reflected credit upon his city and 
 his state. No man in Hancock county 
 was ever more respected, more fully en- 
 joyed the confidence of the people or de- 
 served in larger measure such respect and 
 confidence. In his lifetime the people of 
 his city and county, recognizing his merit, 
 rejoiced in his advancement and in the 
 honors to which he attained and since his 
 death they have cherished his memory. 
 
 MARTIN CONRAD ECHBOHM. 
 
 The financial and commercial history 
 of Hancock county would be very incom- 
 plete and very unsatisfactory without a 
 personal and somewhat extended mention 
 of those whose lives are interwoven so 
 closely with its industrial and manufac- 
 turing development and with its public 
 interests. When a man or a select number 
 of men have set in motion the machinery 
 of business which materializes into a thou- 
 sand forms of practical utility, or where 
 they have carved out a fortune or a name 
 from the common possibilities, open for 
 competition to all, there is a public desire 
 to know the results and the circumstances 
 by which such results have been achieved. 
 
 The subject of this sketch finds a 
 proper place in the history of those men 
 of business and enterprise in Hancock 
 county, whose force of character, whose 
 sterling integrity, whose fortitude amid 
 discouragements, whose good sense in 
 the management of complicated affairs 
 
 and marked success in establishing and 
 controlling industrial and commercial in- 
 terests have contributed in an eminent 
 degree to the development of the re- 
 sources of this part of the state. His 
 career has not been helped by accident, 
 or luck, or wealth, or family, or power- 
 ful friends. He is in the broadest sense 
 of the term a self-made man, being both 
 the architect and builder of his own for- 
 tunes. 
 
 Mr. Echbohm was born in Leebeck, 
 Germany, March 13, 1851, and there at- 
 tended a public school until thirteen years 
 of age, when he came to America on an 
 old sailing vessel, which, after a voyage 
 of thirteen weeks, dropped anchor in the 
 harbor of New Orleans. He made the 
 trip in company with his parents and 
 from that city the family proceeded north- 
 ward to Warsaw, Illinois, where Mr. 
 Echbohm has since lived. His father was 
 a ship carpenter in the old country and 
 after coming to the United States em- 
 barked in the grain business, in which he 
 continued until his death, passing away 
 in 1876, when sixty-two years of age. 
 He was married in his native country to 
 Miss Mary Woldebrand, who survived 
 him until 1891, and died at the age of 
 seventy-two years, when she was laid to 
 rest by his side in Warsaw cemetery. 
 They were the parents of three children : 
 A'lartin C. ; Charles, who died at the age 
 of twenty-one years ; and Rickey, the wife 
 of Captain Frank Meyers, of Warsaw. 
 
 Mr. Echbohm well remembers the in- 
 cidents of the voyage to the United 
 States and the condition of things that 
 confronted the family upon their arrival 
 in Hancock county in 1864. His educa-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 tion completed, he entered upon a com- 
 mercial career in the hay and grain busi- 
 ness in connection with his father. This 
 partnership was maintained until the 
 father's death, and Mr. Echbohm was 
 then alone in business for fifteen years 
 thereafter. On the expiration of that 
 period he retired from the hay and grain 
 trade and became a merchant of Warsaw, 
 since which time he has conducted a hard- 
 ware and implement business. The en- 
 terprise, of which he is now proprietor, 
 was established by Fred and Henry Dross 
 in Warsaw, about 1881, and was contin- 
 ued by that firm until 1898, when the 
 partnership was dissolved and the busi- 
 ness divided. In the meantime Mr. Ech- 
 bohm had become interested in the busi- 
 ness and upon the dissolution of the part- 
 nership he purchased a new stock of im- 
 plements and groceries and has since car- 
 ried on business alone under his own 
 name, dealing in hardware, implements 
 and groceries. He carries a large and 
 carefully selected stock suited to the 
 varied tastes and needs of the general 
 public and has a liberal patronage, which 
 has been given him in recognition of his 
 honorable business methods and reason- 
 able prices. He is a man of resourceful 
 ability and has not confined his attention 
 alone to one line but has extended his 
 efforts into other fields of activity and 
 commercial progress and prosperity have 
 been stimulated by his energy and keen 
 discrimination. In 1886 he organized 
 the Warsaw Pickle Company, capitalized 
 for twenty-five thousand dollars and still 
 in successful operation. At the beginning 
 he became general manager and has since 
 acted in that office. The plant has a ca- 
 
 pacity of sixty thousand bushels a year. 
 In 1901 a.tomato canning- plant was added 
 and the annual output of canned tomatoes 
 is about twenty thousand cases. The 
 works are situated in the village of War- 
 saw and the company is officered by the 
 following gentlemen : William Ballenger, 
 president ; F. C. Haslup, secretary and 
 treasurer; and Mr. Echbohm, general 
 manager. The last named was also or- 
 ganizer of a cold storage business, which 
 is conducted in connection with the pickle 
 works and which has a capacity of two 
 hundred thousand cases of eggs. This 
 enterprise is one of the leading business 
 concerns of the village, furnishing an ex- 
 cellent market for local products and the 
 quality of its output finds a ready sale on 
 -the market. 
 
 Had Mr. Echbohm done nothing for 
 his city outside of business interests he 
 would be entitled to representation among 
 its leading men. He has, however, la- 
 bored untiringly and effectively toward 
 promoting its welfare in other ways and 
 his fellow townsmen, recognizing his 
 worth and devotion to the public good 
 have frequently honored him with office. 
 He has served as alderman of Warsaw 
 for several terms and in 1901 was elected 
 mayor, giving a practical and business- 
 like administration that led to his re-elec- 
 tion in 1902, again in 1904, and once 
 more in 1905, so that he is now serving 
 for the fourth term in that capacity. 
 
 On the 1 4th of October, 1873, Martin 
 C. Echbohm was married to Miss Mary 
 Schafer, a daugther of John and Eliza- 
 beth Schafer. They have become the 
 parents of a son and daughter. The for- 
 mer, Henry, died at the age of twenty-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 one years. Clara is now the wife of 
 Charles Lockart, a resident of St. Paul, 
 Minnesota. The parents are members of 
 the Lutheran church, and Mr. Echbohm 
 became a member of the Odd Fellows 
 society in Warsaw, in which he has passed 
 all of the chairs. Mr. and Mrs. Echbohm 
 are prominent socially and the hospitality 
 of their own home is greatly enjoyed by 
 their many friends. In the prosperity of 
 the city of his residence he has been an 
 invaluable factor, no man having done 
 more toward upbuilding the city of War- 
 saw than he, while his public spirit and 
 his progressive ideas have been of ines- 
 timable worth to the community, while 
 to public enterprises and other efforts look- 
 ing toward the advancement of his fellow 
 citizens he contributes with an open hand 
 and is the prime mover in most of them. 
 
 PARKHURST WARD CUTLER. 
 
 Parkhurst Ward Cutler resides on sec- 
 tion 14, Carthage township, where he has 
 a farm of four hundred acres - of well 
 improved land. He is a native of Fulton 
 county, Illinois, born February 27, 1848. 
 and came to Hancock county in 1853 
 with his parents, Nathan and Hannah 
 Ward Cutler. His early education was 
 acquired in the common schools of Han- 
 cock county beginning in the old sub- 
 scription school. The father, a native of 
 New York, was born at Holland, Erie 
 county, near Buffalo, and there resided 
 until nineteen years of age, when he re- 
 
 moved to Fulton county, Illinois, where 
 he lived with his parents until after his 
 marriage. He continued to reside in that 
 county until 1853, the year of his arrival 
 in Hancock county, where he engaged in 
 general farming. He also purchased a 
 tract of land in Fulton county, which he 
 sold upon locating in Pilot Grove town- 
 ship, where he also bought a farm of one 
 hundred and fifty acres. A year later, 
 however, he disposed of that property and 
 removed to Carthage township, purchas- 
 ing one hundred and seventy-three acres 
 of good land on section 28. This he at 
 once began to cultivate and improve, mak- 
 ing it his home until his death and suc- 
 cessfully carrying on general farming 
 and stock-raising. He kept high grades 
 of cattle, hogs and horses and both 
 branches of his business proved profitable. 
 His life was in harmony with his pro- 
 fessions as a member of the Baptist 
 church. He took a most active and help- 
 ful interest in its work and served as 
 deacon for many years, acting in that 
 capacity at the time of his death, which 
 occurred December 26, 1897, when he 
 was seventy-eight years of age, his birth 
 having occurred on the loth of August, 
 1819. He was laid to rest in Moss Ridge 
 cemetery at Carthage, and thus passed 
 away a citizen whom to know was to re- 
 spect and honor. His early political alle- 
 giance was given to the democracy, but 
 a few years prior to his death he joined 
 the ranks of the Prohibition party and 
 was an active worked for its principles, 
 believing firmly in the cause of temper- 
 ance. Upon the democratic ticket he 
 was elected to the office of supervisor for 
 two terms and he was a member of the
 
 PARKHURST W. CUTLER
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 school board for a number of years. In- 
 tellectual and moral progress and all 
 those interests which tend to uplift man- 
 kind elicited his attention, approval and 
 active support. His wife was born in 
 Pennsylvania, and in her childhood days 
 \vas taken to Fulton county, Illinois, by 
 hei parents. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Ward. 
 There she was reared and educated, living 
 at home until her marriage. She passed 
 away May, 1886, some years prior to the 
 death of her husband and her interment 
 was also in Moss Ridge cemetery, at 
 Carthage. Of the seven children of that 
 union three are yet living. Francis M., 
 having died August I, 1906. The others 
 in childhood. 
 
 Parkhurst W. Cutler, whose name in- 
 troduces this review, attended school in 
 Carthage township and assisted in the 
 work of the home farm through the period 
 of his boyhood and youth, remaining at 
 home until his marriage, save for the time 
 which- he spent as a student in Central 
 College, at Pella, Iowa. His education 
 completed, he started out in life for him- 
 self, working in partnership with his 
 father for one year and then purchasing 
 one hundred and twenty acres of land on 
 section 28, Carthage township. This was 
 improved when it came into his possession 
 and he made his home thereon for about 
 a quarter of a century, carrying on gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising. He then 
 purchased his present farm in Carthage 
 township, where he has lived for the past 
 ten years. He has erected all of the build- 
 ings here and has a model farm property, 
 his land being divided into fields of con- 
 venient size by well kept fences and cul- 
 tivated with the aid of the latest improved 
 
 machinery. Mr. Cutler is probably the 
 most extensive stock feeder in Carthage 
 township, usually shipping two hundred 
 fat cattle per year. He also was the first 
 man in Carthage township to introduce 
 thoroughbred Hereford cattle which he 
 has handled extensively since 1886. He 
 now has about one hundred head of reg- 
 istered cattle, and has at the head of his 
 herd a fine registered bull. He also has 
 had imported animals. He was the owner 
 of Britton, a son of Ancient Britton, the 
 Chicago World's fair champion, while he 
 was also a brother of the champion cow 
 at the St. Louis exposition. He weighed 
 2,600 pounds. The majority of his herd 
 now being descended from him. It is the 
 largest herd in this county. He has been 
 a successful exhibitor at different fairs. 
 
 On the 27111 of February, 1871, Mr. 
 Cutler was married to Miss Fannie G. 
 Barker, a daughter of Judge Francis A. 
 and Catherine (Barker) Barker. The 
 father's birth occurred near Poughkeepsi'e, 
 in Dutchess county, New York, April 2, 
 1798, and in his nineteenth year he went 
 to West Virginia, where he engaged in 
 he removed to Morgan county, Ohio, 
 teachmg for about two years. In 1820 
 where he was married in 1827, and in Oc- 
 tober, 1844, he went to Iowa, settling on 
 section 14, Gold township, Marion county, 
 where he took up land from the govern- 
 ment. Not a furrow had been turned nor 
 an improvement made thereon but he at 
 once began its cultivation. In 1846 he 
 was elected probate judge of Marion 
 county and was re-elected to the same of- 
 fice in 1847, proving a capable officer. In 
 1863, owing, to his advanced age and fail- 
 ing health, he disposed of the estate he had
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ,-iccumulated through years of toil and 
 hardship and spent his remaining days in 
 the city of Knoxville, dying at his resi- 
 dence there, January 17, 1871, at the age 
 of seventy-three years. He was the first 
 probate judge of Marion county and also 
 held at one time the position of clerk of 
 the house of representatives of Iowa, 
 while for two terms he was warden of 
 the Iowa state prison. At an early epoch 
 in the development of that state he was 
 one of its most prominent, influential and 
 best known citizens and his influence in 
 behalf of public progress was far-reach- 
 ing and beneficial. 
 
 Mrs. Cutler was educated in the com- 
 mon schools of Clay township, Marion 
 county, Iowa, and in Central University, 
 at Pella, Iowa, from which institution 
 she was graduated, while at the present 
 time she is a member of its board of 
 directors. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cutler 
 have been born two sons, Nathan B. and 
 Ward A., both born in Carthage town- 
 ship. The elder now resides on section 
 28, Carthage township, which was the 
 farm on which his grandfather first set- 
 tled on coming to this county. He mar- 
 ried Daisy Corbin, and they haVe one 
 daughter. Veta. 
 
 Mr. Cutler exercised his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and 
 measures of democracy until 1884, when 
 he became a prohibitionist and has ever 
 since voted~ that ticket, for he is a stal- 
 wart champion of the cause of temperance 
 and believes it to be one of the dominant 
 issues of the country. He was nominated 
 by his party for the office of member of 
 the State Board of Equalization and has 
 been nominated for various county offices. 
 
 He is chairman of the county committee 
 and a member of the senatorial commit- 
 tee. He has also been a director of the 
 Harmony Mutual Fire Insurance Com- 
 pany for fifteen years. He holds mem- 
 bership in the Baptist church and has lived 
 an upright, honorable life characterized 
 by devotion to all that tends to uplift 
 humanity and promote moral progress. 
 
 ROBERT P. STEWART. 
 
 Robert P. Stewart, who during the long 
 years of his residence in Elvaston, be- 
 came known as an honored man of gen- 
 uine, personal worth, was born March 4. 
 1830, in Butler county, Ohio. His parents 
 were James T. and Susanna (Finney) 
 Stewart. The father, a native of Harri- 
 son county, Pennsylvania, was born in 
 1793, while the mother's birth occurred 
 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 3. 
 1792. When a youth of eleven years 
 James T. Stewart accompanied his par- 
 ents on their removal to Illinois, settling 
 in Montebello township, Hancock county, 
 where he engaged in fanning until his 
 death, which occurred September 17, 
 1864. His wife survived him until the 
 3d of May, 1870. Both were members 
 of the United Presbyterian church. In 
 their family were nine children, three of 
 whom are now living : Sarah and Mary 
 Jane, who are residing with their sister- 
 in-law. Mrs. Stewart; and John F., who 
 resides in Boulder, Colorado. 
 
 Robert P. Stewart spent the days of his
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 117 
 
 boyhood and youth in his native county. 
 No event of special importance occurred 
 to vary the routine of farm life for him 
 in his youth. When a young man of 
 about twenty-seven years he came west 
 witli his parents and as stated, the family 
 home was established in Montebello town- 
 ship, where the father purchased a farm, 
 the family living in Oakwood while a 
 dwelling was being built on the farm. 
 Soon after the home was completed Rob- 
 ert Stewart returned to Ohio and on the 
 evening of March 9, 1859, he was married 
 to Miss Martha Holmes, a daughter of. 
 John and Hannah (Bigger) Holmes, of 
 whom her father was a native of Penn- 
 sylvania, and her mother of Kentucky. 
 Following their marriage they removed to 
 Ohio, settling near Dayton, where the 
 father followed the occupation of farm- 
 ing. He died in his eighty-sixth year, 
 while his wife passed away in the seventy- 
 first year of her age. In their family were 
 eight children. Mr. Stewart brought his 
 bride back to Hancock county and began 
 housekeeping on the farm a few miles 
 southwest of Elvaston, where they lived 
 continuously until 1901, when they built 
 their home in the village and retired from 
 the farm, planning to enjoy life in ease 
 during their remaining days. His parents 
 lived for only a brief period after they 
 came to Illinois and from that time on 
 Mr. Stewart was owner of the farm which 
 he carefully cultivated and improved, 
 adding to it modern equipments and 
 placing his fields under a high state of 
 cultivation. While living upon the farm 
 one son came to bless their union but was 
 spared to them for a little less than two 
 years. The kindness of their hearts, how- 
 
 ever, prompted them to care for three 
 children, to whom they gave a parent's 
 love and devotion. These were Ernest 
 and Georgia Allison (the latter now de- 
 ceased), and Nelson Wells, who lived to 
 young manhood and for the benefit of his 
 health afterward went to the western 
 country. The anticipated improvement 
 did not follow, however, and about 1902 
 he returned to the home of his foster 
 parents, living but a few days after his 
 arrival, thus in early manhood passed 
 away a life which gave so much promise 
 for the future. 
 
 While Mr. Stewart was a farmer by oc- 
 cupation he also possessed milch mechan- 
 ical ingenuity and to a greater or less ex- 
 tent followed the carpenter's trade. His 
 ability in this direction enabled him to 
 keep everything about his place in excel- 
 lent condition and the buildings and fences 
 were always in a state of good repair. In 
 matters of citizenship he was loyal and 
 progressive. During the latter part of the 
 Civil war he responded to the country's 
 call for aid and enlisted in the Union 
 Army but after a few months the war 
 ended and he was engaged in no battle. 
 Every movement for the benefit of his 
 township and county received his en- 
 dorsement and to a large measure his co- 
 operation and he always stood as an ad- 
 vocate of all that is right, true and just. 
 In his youth he became a member of the 
 Presbyterian church, and he and his wife 
 and his two sisters were charter mem- 
 bers of the Elvaston Presbyterian church, 
 in which Mr. Stewart served as an elder 
 for many years, while in the various 
 church activities he took a helpful part. 
 His life was permeated by his Christian
 
 n8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 faith and he made it his daily endeavor 
 to follow closely the teachings of his 
 church, so that he lived an exemplary 
 Christian life. He was considerate in his 
 judgments of men, kindly in action and 
 generous in disposition and was de- 
 voted to his family, doing everything in 
 his power for the welfare and happiness 
 of his wife and the two sisters residing 
 with them. He was last seen in public 
 in attendance at Sunday services of his 
 church on the 8th of January, 1905. He 
 had always been a rugged man, enjoying 
 excellent health and that morning seemed 
 in his usual good health, but soon after 
 his return 'home he became ill and in a 
 half hour had passed away. The news of 
 his death was a shock in Elvaston, Ham- 
 ilton and throughout the county wher- 
 ever he was known. He had lived a life 
 of usefulness and activity, in which there 
 were no sensational chapters but the 
 record was that of a man who had always 
 done his duty to himself, his family and 
 his country. 
 
 LEWIS L. NEWTON. 
 
 Lewis L. Newton, engaged in general 
 farming in Pontoosuc township, was 
 born in Vinton county, Ohio, July 24, 
 1860, a son of Hiram H. and Hannah 
 (Harper) Newton, who were likewise 
 natives of that county, the former born 
 February 10, 1836, and the latter De- 
 cember 15, 1839. They are now resi- 
 dents of Pontoosuc township. Their fam- 
 ily numbers seven children, who survive, 
 the first born son having died in infancy. 
 
 Lewis L., Mrs. Laura A. Alston, D. L., 
 Mrs. Ella S. Deewall, Mrs. Anna F. 
 Kidson, Mrs. C. Blanche Booz and R. 
 H. Newton. 
 
 After acquiring his preliminary educa- 
 tion in the district schools of Pontoosuc i 
 township, Lewis L. Newton became a 
 student in Carthage College and, return- 
 ing to the home farm, he remained until 
 twenty-one years of age, when he started 
 out upon an independent business career. 
 He has always followed the occupation 
 of farming and now has a good place, 
 which he has tiled and placed under a 
 high state of cultivation. He uses the 
 latest improved agricultural implements 
 to facilitate the work of the farm. 
 
 On the loth of May, 1882, Mr. New- 
 ton was united in marriage to Miss Laura 
 B. Lamb, who was born in Pontoosuc 
 township, May 10, 1861, a daughter of 
 Samuel and Sarah (Baker) Lamb. Her 
 father was born. in Virginia, March 10, 
 1824, and her mother was a native of 
 Adams county, Illinois, her birth occur- 
 ring about 1840. He was a farmer by 
 occupation and in 1855 settled upon a 
 farm in Pontoosuc township, Hancock 
 county, where he lived until his death, 
 March 17, 1893. For some years he had 
 survived hie wife who died in 1878 and 
 their remains rest side by side in Pleasant 
 Hill cemetery, Pontoosuc township. They 
 were the parents of nine children, of 
 whom seven are living: Delilah M., the 
 wife of George Carlisle, of Rock Creek 
 township; Charles R., living in Clements, 
 Minnesota; Mrs. Newton; Mary E., the 
 wife of Samuel Wright, of Lamar, Colo- 
 rado; Addie M., the wife of Orville Pit- 
 tarn, of Pilot Grove township; Frank B..
 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 119 
 
 a resident farmer of Pontoosuc township, 
 and Hugh L., who is also a farmer of the 
 same township. Air. Lamb married for 
 his second wife Kate C. North, and to 
 them was born one child, George, who 
 now resides on the home place with his 
 mother. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Newton have continu- 
 ously resided in the township in which 
 they began their domestic life and their 
 home has been blessed with four children : 
 Minnie R., Leslie M., who was graduated 
 from a military school at Booneville, Mis- 
 souri, May 30, 1906; Madge E., and 
 Hiram F. They attend and support the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, of which the 
 wife and daughters are members. 
 
 HENRY CLAY HANSON. 
 
 Henry Clay Hanson, a prosperous and 
 enterprising farmer of Montebello town- 
 ship, was born in this county on Novem- 
 ber 4, 1849, and is the son of David and 
 Anna Maria (Sullivan) Hanson, both 
 natives of Ohio, the father being the 
 son of Daniel and Barbara (Broombach) 
 Hanson, also natives of the Buckeye state. 
 
 The parents of our sketch were married 
 in Ohio, and drove with a team to the new 
 west, and settled in Montebello township 
 in 1847, renting a farm for a few years 
 and then buying the N. \Y. quarter of 
 section 3 of this township, which at that 
 time was unimproved prairie land. He 
 first built a frame house, and then broke 
 up what land he could and as rapidly as 
 
 he could with the few facilities at his dis- 
 posal. Progress was very slow as the 
 country was very new and his means lim- 
 ited. He moved on this place in 1854, 
 where he made his home until 1890, when 
 he retired and moved to Hamilton, Illi- 
 nois, remaining there until called to his 
 final resting place on May 22, 1901. 
 
 His wife preceded him to her long 
 home, passing away from her earthly 
 home on January 18, 1888. To this union 
 were born four children : Daniel, of 
 Cloud county, Kansas ; Sullivan, of Ham- 
 ilton, Illinois; Sarah, wife of Owen 
 Dickerhoof, of Belleville, Kansas; and 
 Henry, the subject of this sketch. 
 
 Henry received his education in the 
 school of district No. 132, and remained 
 with his parents until his twenty-fifth 
 year, when, on the first day of October, 
 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss 
 Georgiana Benner, of Sonora township. 
 Miss Benner was born on October 7, 
 1853, the daughter of George and Emily 
 (Bradley) Benner, natives of Ohio. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hanson made their home on a portion of 
 the home place, renting the land until the 
 father's death, when the estate was di- 
 vided among the children, Henry being 
 given the home place of one hundred and 
 sixty acres. The farm was well im- 
 proved with hedge fences and buildings, 
 there being two residences, the main house 
 being a story and a half high, with seven 
 rooms, and supplied with water piped 
 from a deep well. He has one windmill 
 and four wells, one being one hundred 
 and ninety-eight feet in depth. His horse- 
 barn is twenty-four by thirty feet with a 
 shed ten by thirty feet. The land lays
 
 120 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 in such a way that tiling is not necessary. 
 Mr. Hanson carries on general farm- 
 ing, and the well kept farm and general 
 conditions bear silent testimony to his 
 ability in this his chosen occcupation. 
 
 To his marriage with Miss Benner, 
 were born six children, five of whom are 
 still living : Edna B., born May 24, 1877, 
 at home; Leslie, August 23, 1879, died 
 October 22, 1903; Adella G., born April 
 8, 1 88 1, at home; Winnie M., born May 
 21, 1883, resides at Hamilton, Illinois; 
 Jesse Ray, born February 23, 1886; 
 and Archie Clay, born April 17, 1888. 
 Mrs. Hanson was called from this life on 
 April 21, 1888, and her remains were laid 
 to rest in the Oak Grove cemetery, in 
 Sonora township. 
 
 On May 24, 1892, Mr. Hanson was 
 united in marriage to Miss Ella Clemen- 
 tine Black, who was born in Sonora 
 township and was the daughter of George 
 and Helen (Bumpus) Black. To this 
 union were born three children, only one 
 of whom is now living. Vina Gertrude, 
 born October 29, 1893; Barbara Helen, 
 born September 22, 1896, died August 3, 
 1897; Celia Rachel, born April 18, 1900, 
 died July 23, 1900. 
 
 Mrs. Hanson has been dead for several 
 years, being taken away July 7, 1900, and 
 her remains lie in the Oak Grove ceme- 
 tery. 
 
 Mr. Hanson has gone through many 
 trials, the hand of death bringing grief 
 and sorrow to his home many times, but 
 he goes bravely on, and with the help of 
 his children he has made a comfortable 
 and happy home. He is a member of the 
 Democratic party, but does not have any 
 political aspirations, being content to use 
 
 his vote in the way that he judges bene- 
 ficial to the people and his party. He is 
 a member of the Christian church of 
 Golden Point, and is an honest, industri- 
 ous man, gaining and keeping the respect 
 of his friends and neighbors. 
 
 RALPH ELLISON. 
 
 Ralph Ellison, one of the prosperous 
 and enterprising farmers of Prairie town- 
 ship, owns and operates one hundred and 
 seventy-four acres of rich land upon 
 which he has placed many improvements, 
 transforming it into a model farm prop- 
 erty. He was one of the early settlers 
 of Hancock county and has been contin- 
 ously connected with its agricultural in- 
 terests, giving his time and energies at 
 the present time to the development of 
 his farm, which is conveniently and 
 pleasantly located, adjoining the village 
 limits of Elvaston. A native of England, 
 he was born in Yorkshire on the 23d of 
 December, 1840, and when' only a year 
 old was brought to the United States by 
 his parents, Matthew and Jane (Willson) 
 Ellison, both of whom were natives of 
 Yorkshire. The father worked in a 
 factory during his residence in England, 
 and upon coming to the United States 
 settled in Hancock county, Illinois, where 
 he purchased a quarter section of land in 
 Rock Creek township. There he made a 
 home for himself and family, and resided 
 until his death, which occurred at the age 
 of seventv-six years. The mother also
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 121 
 
 died there and was seventy-eight years of 
 age at the time of her demise. They were 
 faithful members of the Presbyterian 
 church and enjoyed the unqualified esteem 
 of those with whom they came in con- 
 tact. The father engaged in general 
 farming throughout the period of his res- 
 idence in this county, or until his life's 
 labors were ended in death and both he 
 and his wife were laid to rest in Rock 
 Creek township. In their family were 
 eight children, of whom Ralph is the 
 youngest child. He has two surviving 
 sisters, Margaret, the wife of John Stev- 
 enson, a resident fanner of Rock Creek 
 township, and Mary, the widow of 
 Dwight Whitcomb, who is living in 
 Adrian. 
 
 Mr. Ellison of this review was reared 
 upon the old homestead farm in Rock 
 Creek township, and acquired his educa- 
 tion in the common schools, while during 
 the periods of vacation he assisted in the 
 work of the fields, and after putting aside 
 his text-books gave his entire attention to 
 work upon his father's farm until twenty- 
 three years of age, save that for a brief 
 period he devoted his energies to the 
 blacksmith's trade, which he learned and 
 followed for a short time and then aban- 
 doned it. Leaving home at the age of 
 twenty-three, he purchased a quarter sec- 
 tion of raw land on section 17. Rock 
 Creek township, and with characteristic 
 energy began to cultivate and improve 
 this tract, on which he erected good build- 
 ings. He here engaged in general fann- 
 ing and stock-raising for twenty-seven 
 years and then sold the property, at which 
 time he purchased a farm of eighty acres 
 in Prairie township, where he resided for 
 
 a year. He then sold that place to his 
 son, George, and invested in one hundred 
 and seventy-four acres of land, consti- 
 tuting his present farm in Prairie town- 
 ship. Here he has resided continously 
 since and the many excellent improve- 
 ments he has placed upon the property 
 have made it a model farm. He has mod- 
 ern farm machinery, good buildings, high 
 grades of stock and richly cultivated 
 fields, and altogether the property is a 
 valuable one. He likewise owns a farm 
 of one hundred and sixty acres at Edna, 
 Labette county, Kansas. 
 
 Mr. Ellison was married December 31, 
 1862, to Miss Edith Evans, who was born 
 in Adams county, Illinois, a daughter of 
 Bales and Elizabeth (Pevehouse) Evans, 
 both of whom are now deceased. The 
 father was a farmer and became one of 
 the early settlers of Adams county, Illi- 
 nois. Mrs. Ellison died at their home 
 in Prairie township, February 4, 1904. 
 She was a consistent member of the Pres- 
 byterian church, a devoted wife, a kind 
 and loving mother and a faithful friend, 
 and her death was deeply regretted by all 
 who knew her. Her remains were in- 
 terred in Carthage cemetery. By her mar- 
 riage she had become the mother of four 
 children, all of whom are yet living, and 
 all were born in Hancock county. Jennie 
 is the wife of Albert Schenk, a resident 
 farmer of Labette county, Kansas, and 
 has four children. Clifford and Emory, 
 born in Hancock county ; Myrtle and Grace 
 were born in Labette county, Kansas. 
 Emma married Milton Karr, October 1 1 . 
 1906, a resident farmer of Elvaston. 
 George is a farmer of Prairie township, 
 where he owns eighty acres of land, which
 
 122 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 he purchased from his father. He wedded 
 Mary J. Davis, a daughter of Amos 
 Davis, of Appanoose township. They 
 have two sons, Earl and Ray. Lillian 
 is the wife of Jean McGinnes, proprietor 
 of a grocery store and meat market at 
 Elvaston, Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Ellison votes with the Republican 
 party and has held several township of- 
 fices. He has seen many improvements 
 made in Hancock county, and in fact has 
 witnessed almost its entire development 
 from a wil'd prairie section to one of high 
 cultivation, the farms of this locality be- 
 ing among- the best to be found in this 
 great agricultural state. He has done his 
 full share toward making the county 
 what it is today and has ever stood for 
 good citizenship, for progress and for 
 advancement, and in his private business 
 interests he has displayed sterling purpose 
 and close application which have resulted 
 in the acquirement of valuable property. 
 
 CYRUS MANLEY HEWITT. 
 
 Cyrus M. Hewitt is engaged in general 
 farming and stock-raising on section 9, 
 Pontoosuc township, where he has resided 
 since 1885 and where he owns one hun- 
 dred and ten acres of land that, owing to 
 the care and labor bestowed upon it, is 
 now rich and productive. It was in this 
 township, September 6, 1851, that he first 
 opened his eyes to the light of day, his 
 parents being Charles W. and Ann (Alex- 
 ander) Hewitt. The father was a native 
 
 of Vermont and the mother of New York 
 and the latter was 'a daughter of one of 
 the heroes of the Revolutionary war. 
 Charles W. Hewitt followed the occupa- 
 tion of farming as a life work and came 
 to Hancock county, Illinois, in 1839, set- 
 tling in Pontoosuc township, where he 
 entered land from the government and 
 amid pioneer conditions began the devel- 
 opment of a farm. Subsequently he re- 
 moved to La Harpe township and con- 
 tinued actively in farming until his life's 
 labors were terminated by death in 1894. 
 His wife survived him until 1898. They 
 were the parents of eight children, of 
 whom five are now living : Viola, the wife 
 of W. B. Kirkpatrick, of Macomb, Illi- 
 nois ; Louisa, the wife of Rufus Bennett, 
 of La Harpe; C. M. ; Ellen and lola, also 
 of La Harpe. * 
 
 In the schools of La Harpe township 
 Cyrus M. Hewitt acquired his education 
 and upon the home farm remained to the 
 age of twenty years, when he began 
 working by the month and so continued 
 until his marriage, March 21, 1883, to 
 Miss Eary Ettny Cranshaw, who was born 
 in Henderson county, Illinois, in 1839, a 
 daughter of Isaac and Mary (Coffman) 
 Cranshaw, natives of Georgia and Ken- 
 tucky respectively. Coming to Illinois at 
 a very early day, her father settled in the 
 southwestern part of the state. He took 
 part in the Mormon war in 1844, whereby 
 the Mormons were driven from the state 
 and he was connected with other early 
 events which left their impress upon the 
 historic annals of the state. His political 
 support was given the democracy. Both 
 he and his wife died in McDonough 
 county, Illinois. In their family were
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 123 
 
 eleven children, five yet living: Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Wise, a widow, living in Ore- 
 gon ; Mrs. Hewitt ; Isaac, a resident of 
 Kansas ; Mary, the widow of James Dun- 
 can, and a resident of Kansas City, Mis- 
 souri ; Franklin, of Stronghurst. Illinois. 
 One son, Boone Cranshaw, was a soldier 
 of the Civil war and died in the hospital 
 from the effects of the hardships of mili- 
 tary life. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt began their do- 
 mestic life in Henderson county, Illinois, 
 where they lived for two years, and then 
 removed to the Alexander place in Pon- 
 toosuc township. In 1885 he purchased 
 his present farm of one hundred and ten 
 acres on section 9, erected a house, built 
 a barn and other outbuildings and has 
 generally improved the farm. Here he 
 tills the soil and raises stock, leading a 
 busy and useful life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hewitt has been born a daughter, Lola, 
 whose birth occurred in Pontoosuc town- 
 ship in 1885, and who is still with her 
 parents. At the time of her marriage to 
 our subject Mrs. Hewitt was the widow 
 of John Duncan, of McDonough county, 
 Illinois. He was born in that county in 
 1841, a son of Joseph and Catherine 
 (Wasson) Duncan, both deceased. In 
 their family were four children, all living 
 with the exception of John, the others be- 
 ing: Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt, a widow, liv- 
 ing in Kansas ; Lydia, the wife of John 
 M. Huston, of McDonough county ; and 
 Caroline, the wife of Henry Curry, of 
 Henderson county. John Duncan died in 
 1882, his remains being interred in Mc- 
 Donough county. He left five children : 
 Dora, the eldest, is the wife of W. T. 
 Kirkpatrick, of Oklahoma, and has six 
 
 children : George, John, Robert, Law- 
 rence, Lulu and Olive ; Addie is the wife of 
 Luther Van Osdale, of Henderson county, 
 Illinois, and has four children : Ethel, 
 John, Roy and Gladys; Lawrence, living 
 in Kansas, married Maude Kidson and 
 has three children : Vallie, Dewey and 
 Opal ; Vema is the wife of William Koll, 
 of Dallas City, Illinois, and has a daugh- 
 ter, Maxine ; and Royce, of Blandinsville, 
 Illinois, married Florence Sullivan and 
 has a daughter, Edna May. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt are devoted mem- 
 bers of the Christian church, of which he 
 is one of the trustees, and upon the demo- 
 cratic ticket, of which he is a supporter, 
 he has been elected commissioner. Mrs. 
 Hewitt, a lady of natural culture and re- 
 finement and of most gracious manner, 
 possesses superior literary taste and has 
 written many poems of much more than 
 ordinary merit. In 1905 she had a volume 
 of her best poems published and sold to 
 aid the missionary cause of her church. 
 They had a ready sale and the volume is 
 much prized by all who possess a copy. 
 Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hewitt stand high in 
 public regard. It has been due to his 
 business enterprise and sound judgment 
 that he has won a place among the sub- 
 stantial residents of his county, for he 
 started out in. life empty-handed and his 
 possessions are the visible proof of his 
 enterprise and keen discernment in all 
 matters relating to the management and 
 improvement of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hewitt both stand high in the estimation 
 of all who have had the pleasure of mak- 
 ing their acquaintance, and with whom 
 they have been associated in the walks 
 of life.
 
 124 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 EDWIN P. ROWE. 
 
 Edwin P. Rowe, one of the oldest 
 salesmen in the city of Carthage, was 
 bom in 1851, at Dallas City, Hancock 
 county. His paternal grandfather, Mor- 
 ris Rowe, was a soldier of the war of 
 1812 and of the Mexican war. His 
 parents were Miles and Eliza Jane (Bean) 
 Rowe, the former born in New York, in 
 1821, and the latter in Virginia, in 1826. 
 Miles Rowe came to Illinois at an early 
 period in its settlement and for a num- 
 ber of years when a young man drove a 
 stage between Carthage and Warsaw, 
 while for many years afterward he was 
 proprietor of the Hit or Miss Hotel, in 
 Dallas City. Then for fifteen or twenty 
 years he was employed in the lumber of- 
 fice of H. F. Black, and is now gatekeeper 
 on the Santa Fe road at Dallas City, oc- 
 cupying this position although eighty-five 
 years of age. In politics he is a demo- 
 crat. His wife, who was a member of 
 the Methodist church, died in 1902, and 
 is buried in Dallas City, Illinois. They 
 had six children, of whom five are now 
 living: William H., a resident of St. 
 Louis; Oscar E., deceased; Edwin P.; 
 Stella, the wife of John Roth, of Dallas 
 City. Illinois : Mary, the wife of Fred 
 Grippe, living in Joliet, Illinois ; and 
 Morris, of Dallas City. 
 
 Edwin P. Rowe was educated in the 
 public schools of his native place "and 
 afterward was employed for a number of 
 years in a grocery store there. Later he 
 had charge as manager of a dry goods 
 store in Dallas City, and in 1885 he re- 
 moved to Carthage, where he has been 
 head salesman of the Quinby Clothing 
 
 Store since that time, covering a period of 
 more than twenty years. 
 
 On the 23d of April, 1876, Mr. Rowe 
 was married to Miss Minnie P. Graff, 
 who was born in Burlington. Iowa, in 
 September. 1855, a daughter of Ferdi- 
 nand and Louisa M. (Becker) Graff. Her 
 father was born in Berlin, Germany, and 
 at the age of twenty years emigrated to 
 America, settling in Iowa but now lives 
 in Hancock county, Illinois, where he fol- 
 lows farming. His wife, who was born 
 in Berlin, came to the L'nited States when 
 only five years of age. Both were mem- 
 bers of the Lutheran church. In the fam- 
 ily were ten children, nine of whom still 
 survive: John H., a resident of Musca- 
 tine, Iowa: Minnie P., now the wife of 
 Mr. Rowe; Clara M., the wife of C. R. 
 Thull, of Dallas City ; Eda, who died in 
 infancy; Emma, the wife of F. A. Scrip- 
 fer, of Sigourney, Iowa; George F., who 
 lives on the old home farm near Dallas 
 City ; John, a druggist, of Des Moines, 
 Iowa : Bertha, the wife of H. Hagebeack, 
 of Davenport, Iowa : Etta, the wife of 
 Hershall Trenthart, of Niota, Hancock 
 county : and Flora, at home. These chil- 
 dren were born of two marriages, for the 
 mother of Mrs. Rowe died when the 
 (laughter was only six years of age. and 
 for his second wife the father chose Miss 
 Anna Mayer, there being six children 
 born of the second marriage. Both he 
 and his second wife are living, their home 
 being in Pontoosuc township. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rowe had four children, 
 two born in Dallas City and two in Car- 
 thage, namely : Walter E., who was born 
 in February, 1877, and is at home; Wil- 
 ford F.. who was born in 1879, married
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 125 
 
 Miss Lenore Kelley and lives in Chicago, 
 where he is employed in the Live Stock 
 National Bank. He was in the Philippine 
 war, enlisting in 1899 in the Thirtieth 
 Regiment under Colonel Gardner. He 
 was a member of the Thirtieth Regimental 
 Band, was first corporal, was afterward 
 promoted to the rank of sergeant and re- 
 ceived an honorable discharge in 1901. 
 He was in early youth employed in sev- 
 eral stores in Carthage and afterward be- 
 came messenger at the Drovers Bank in 
 Chicago, while later he was employed in 
 the money department of the Adams Ex- 
 press Company in that city. Later he was 
 promoted to bookkeeper at a salary of 
 fifty-five dollars a month in the Live Stock 
 Bank, of Chicago, and he has a fine record 
 for a young man of his years, when 
 viewed from both a military and business 
 standpoint. Since entering the bank he 
 has won promotion and he is in a position 
 where he handles millions of dollars a 
 day. Mabel Grace, the third member of 
 the family, was a graduate of the high 
 school and became a fine piano and violin 
 player as well as vocalist. She died in 
 1888. Irma Pauline died in 1900. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Rowe is an 
 earnest democrat and fraternally is con- 
 nected with the Modern Woodmen and 
 with the Court of Honor, while his wife 
 belongs to the' latter and also to the Order 
 of the Eastern Star, in which she is a past 
 matron. Both are faithful members of 
 the Presbyterian church and Mr. Rowe 
 was a member of the building committee 
 at the time of the erection of the present 
 house of worship. He built his present 
 home at the corner of Marion and Davis 
 streets and has erected several houses in 
 
 Carthage but has sold them all. He 
 owns, however, one or two vacant lots in 
 the city. He is a man whose indefatigable 
 enterprise and indomitable purpose have 
 constituted the basis of his success and 
 though he started out in life on his own 
 responsibility at an early age he has 
 through his energy, ambition and deter- 
 mination accumulated the means whereby 
 he has given his children good educa- 
 tional advantages and provided them with 
 many of the comforts of life. Mrs. Rowe 
 presides with pleasing hospitality over 
 their home and their friends in Carthage 
 are numbered by the score. 
 
 GEORGE W. PAYNE. 
 
 George W. Payne, an architect of 
 Carthage, whose business extends into 
 various other counties and states, is a 
 son of Alfred F. and Elizabeth (Wil- 
 liams) Payne, and was born near St. 
 Charles, Missouri, November 4, 1845. 
 His father was a native of Fauquier 
 county, Virginia, while the mother's birth 
 occurred near St. Louis, Missouri. She 
 was a daughter of Thomas Williams, a 
 
 - - 
 
 soldier of the war of 1812. Alfred F. 
 Payne was a civil engineer, who pursued 
 his education in the college in St. Louis. 
 He afterward turned his attention to 
 harness-making, later followed the occu- 
 pation of farming and subsequently en- 
 gaged in the lumber business, thus follow- 
 ing various pursuits. He died in 1869 
 and his remains were interred in Bowen
 
 126 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 cemetery in Hancock county, while his 
 wife, who survived him for a number of 
 years, was laid to rest in Carthage cem- 
 etery. In their family were ten children, 
 of whom five are living. 
 
 George \V. Payne was largely educated 
 in the schools of Brown county, Illinois. 
 When a young lad he ran away from 
 home to go to the war but his army life 
 was very brief, lasting for only a few 
 weeks, at the end of which time his 
 parents learned of his whereabouts and 
 he was returned home, for he was too 
 youthful for military service. In early 
 life he learned the carpenter's trade, which 
 he followed from 1868 until 1887 in 
 Hancock county. He became a resident 
 of Carthage in 1870 and was actively 
 identified with its building operations for 
 seventeen years thereafter, since which 
 time he has given his attention to his pres- 
 ent profession that of an architect. In 
 this he is associated with his son, Edgar 
 A., and they are the only architects in the 
 county. They have done some publishing 
 and they send plans to almost every state 
 in the union. Their office is on Main 
 street and their business is now extensive 
 and of an important character, their plans 
 being equal to any sent out by the various 
 architects in this part of the state. They 
 have made plans for churches, oppra 
 houses, business blocks, residences and 
 schools and have planned all of the 
 churches in Carthage. In fact many of 
 the fine structures of this city stand as 
 monuments to their skill and ability in the 
 line of their chosen profession. 
 
 Mr. Payne was married in 1871 to Miss 
 Emma Carsey, of Hancock county, Illi- 
 nois, who was born in Missouri. Her 
 
 father was a shoemaker and removed 
 from Missouri to this city but is now re- 
 siding in Texas. In his family were 
 eight or nine children. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Payne have been born two children, 
 both of whom are natives of Carthage. 
 The elder, Edgar A., married Miss Kittie 
 Linn and is connected with his father in 
 business. He pursued a course of study 
 in Carthage College. The daughter, 
 Bertha A., is now the wife of C. A. 
 Garard, of Carthage, and has two chil- 
 dren, Earl A. and Ruth A. The parents 
 are devoted members of the Lutheran 
 Evangelical church and reside on Wash- 
 ington street, near Main, where Mr. 
 Payne erected a fine residence. In his 
 political views he is a democrat. 
 
 He stands high among all classes of 
 men and is an energetic, progressive and 
 upright citizen, who well merits the con- 
 fidence and esteem which are uniformly 
 extended to him. His residence in 
 Carthage covers a period of thirty-six 
 years and through his entire life he has 
 been actuated by honorable principles and 
 manly purposes. 
 
 LYMAN W. WATT. 
 
 Lyman W. Watt, an influential busi- 
 ness man of the village of Elvaston, 
 where he is engaged in the coal trade, 
 was here born on the I2th of May, 1868. 
 His father, Alexander Watt, was a native 
 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born Feb- 
 ruary 4, 1821, and in that city he resided
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 127 
 
 until twenty-eight years of age, when he 
 came to Illinois, settling first in Durham 
 township, Hancock county, where he en- 
 gaged in farming. He rented a farm 
 there for some years, after which he went 
 to Wythe township, where he owned and 
 operated a farm of eighty acres, making 
 his home thereon until 1863. That year 
 witnessed his removal to Dallas and he 
 filled a position as clerk in one of the 
 stores at that place. In 1866 he came to 
 Elvaston and with the capital he had ac- 
 quired through his own labor, economy 
 and careful management he established 
 himself in a general mercantile business 
 and was for years a prominent factor in 
 commercial circles here, continuing in the 
 store until 1900, when he sold out and 
 retired to private life. He was also 
 largely engaged in the coal trade and his 
 son, Lyman, subsequently became his suc- 
 cessor in this business. The father like- 
 wise shipped and handled large quantities 
 of grain and hay and his business inter- 
 ests were extensive, making him one of 
 the leading representatives of commercial 
 life in Elvaston. He realized that "There 
 is no excellence without labor" and his 
 unfaltering diligence and determined pur- 
 pose proved the basis of a very gratifying 
 success. He married for his first wife 
 Miss Sarah McDonald, who died in 1863. 
 His second wife bore the maiden name 
 of Fannie C. Wilcox and was a native 
 of Connecticut, born in the town of Had- 
 dam, March II, 1836. This marriage 
 was celebrated November 29, 1866. Mrs. 
 Watt is still living and resides with her 
 son, Lyman W. Six children were born 
 of the second marriage, two of whom are 
 now living, the younger son being Her- 
 
 man, who resides in Burlington, Iowa, 
 and is connected with the Prudential In- 
 surance Company. 
 
 Alexander Watt was a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, who exemplified in his 
 life the beneficent spirit of the craft. 
 He voted with the Republican party and 
 as even- true American citizen should 
 do, felt a deep interest in political ques- 
 tions and issues. He was supervisor of 
 Prairie township for several terms and 
 whether in office or out of it was thor- 
 oughly trustworthy and commanded the 
 esteem of all who knew him. His death 
 occurred at his home in Elvaston on the 
 27th of July, 1901, when he had reached 
 the age of eighty years, five months and 
 twenty-three days. He was a prosperous 
 and progressive man of his day and had 
 the confidence of all who knew him. His 
 circle of friends was extensive, a result 
 that was attributable to his genial disposi- 
 tion, kindly manner and deference to the 
 opinions of others. He erected a home 
 which is now occupied by his widow and 
 son a large and substantial frame dwell- 
 ing and was also the owner of several 
 other buildings in the village. 
 
 Mrs. Alexander Watt was a daughter 
 of Lyman and Emily (Hubbard) Wilcox, 
 both of whom were natives of Middlesex, 
 Connecticut, whence they came to Illinois 
 in 1839, when their daughter was but 
 three years of age. They settled in Han- 
 cock county, where Mr. Wilcox followed 
 farming on North prairie but after a short 
 time he removed to Durham township. 
 He was one of the committee appointed 
 to name that township and gave to it the 
 name of Durham. He purchased a farm 
 there and carried on the work of cultiva-
 
 128 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW' 
 
 tion and improvement up to the time of 
 his death, which occurred when he was 
 about seventy-nine years of age, for lie 
 was born in 1795 and he passed away in 
 1874. He held membership in the Meth- 
 odist church and his entire life was 
 guided by honorable principles and lofty 
 motives. He was one of the worthy, 
 pioneer residents of the county, traveling 
 westward in true pioneer style. The party 
 consisted of sixteen people, all of whom 
 located in Hancock county. They were 
 six weeks upon the way from Connecticut 
 to Illinois, making the journey in wagons. 
 Mrs. Wilcox died in 1868. In the family 
 were eight children, fpur of whom are 
 now living, namely : Mrs. Emily Pershin 
 and Mrs. Clara Spencer, both of Durham 
 township ; Wilbur, who is living in Peoria, 
 Illinois; and Mrs. Watt, who makes her 
 home with her son in Elvaston. 
 
 In the public schools of the village Ly- 
 man W. Watt acquired his education and 
 after putting aside his text-books entered 
 his father's store in 1887. He was ad- 
 mitted to a partnership under the firm 
 name of A. Watt & Son and continued 
 in the store until March, 1900, when they 
 sold the business, having up to that time 
 carried a large line of general merchan- 
 dise and enjoyed an extensive patronage. 
 At that date the father retired from ac- 
 tive business, while Lyman W. Watt con- 
 centrated his energies upon the coal trade, 
 with which he has since been connected. 
 He has a large business in this line and 
 is numbered among the leading represen- 
 tatives of trade interests in his native 
 town. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Watt is an 
 earnest republican but without aspiration 
 
 for office. He belongs to the Modern 
 Woodmen camp, No. 3155, of Elvaston, 
 in which he has held a number of offices. 
 His entire life has here been passed, so 
 that his life history is well known to his 
 fellow townsmen and that he enjoys the 
 good will and confidence of all is an in-' 
 dication that his has been an honorable 
 and straightforward career. In the man- 
 agement of his business interests he dis- 
 plays keen discernment and arrives quickly 
 at correct conclusions. 
 
 SAMUEL GORDON. 
 
 Samuel Gordon, deceased, was actively 
 connected with agricultural pursuits in 
 Hancock county for many years and the 
 place which he occupied in public regard 
 well entitles him to representation in this 
 volume. He was born in Peterboro, New 
 Hampshire, May 3, 1825, a son of John 
 and Elizabeth (Smith) Gordon, who were 
 also natives of Peterboro. The paternal 
 grandparents were Samuel and Eleanor 
 (Mitchell) Gordon, natives of Scotland. 
 John and Elizabeth (Smith) Gordon, 
 leaving New Hampshire, traveled by 
 stage to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, thence 
 down the Ohio and up the Mississippi 
 river, landing just opposite Montebello in 
 1831. They were accompanied by their 
 two sons, Samuel being the younger. The 
 father died soon afterward, but in the 
 meantime had in 1839 purchased land 
 which he secured under a tax title where 
 Hamilton is now located. His wife sur-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLIXOIS. 
 
 129 
 
 vivecl him, passing away about 1845. The 
 land which they owned covered nearly the 
 entire site of Hamilton as it is today and 
 Air. Gordon assisted in laying out the 
 city. 
 
 Samuel Gordon of this review spent the 
 days of his boyhood and youth in his 
 parents' home and acquired a fair com- 
 mon school education. He remained with 
 his parents until they were called from 
 this life and being the only heir came 
 I into possession of the old home property. 
 On the 3d of April, 1851, he married Miss 
 IVrmelia A. Alvord, who was born in 
 Warren county, Pennsylvania, August 3, 
 1832. a daughter of Rev. Samuel and 
 Ursula (Smith) Alvord. She was only 
 thirteen years of age when brought to 
 Hancock county, where she was reared 
 by her parents, remaining at home until 
 her marriage, when she went to a home of 
 her own. She came to this county in 
 1845. Mr. Gordon had one hundred and 
 sixty acres of land on which a log cabin 
 had been built. In later years he erected 
 the finest brick residence in this part of 
 the country, containing twelve rooms with 
 a large cellar under one half of the house. 
 In this home, surrounded by the comforts 
 and many of the luxuries of life, he spent 
 his remaining days, passing away on the 
 6th of October, 1901. He had for more 
 than a decade survived his wife, whose 
 death occurred September 25, 1890. This 
 worthy couple were the parents of the 
 following named : Eleanor Elizabeth 
 Gordon, living in Des Moines. Iowa, is a 
 minister of the Unitarian church. John 
 A. Gordon is engaged in the book busi- 
 ness in Hamilton. Alice and Agnes are 
 living at the old home in Hamilton. 
 
 Robert Smith Gordon is station agent on 
 the Wabash and on the Toledo, Peoria 
 & Warsaw railroads at Hamilton. Mabel 
 has been a teacher in the schools of Ham- 
 ilton since 1894. In August, 1862, Mr. 
 Gordon responded to his country's call 
 for troops, enlisting as a member of 
 Company C, One Hundred and Eight- 
 eenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He 
 was on continuous duty for three years 
 and eight months and participated in the 
 battles of Chickasaw Bluffs, Arkansas 
 Post, Thompson's Hill, Champion Hills, 
 Black River, the siege of Vicksburg, 
 Grand Coteau Bayou and Port Hudson. 
 He was a brave and loyal soldier, always 
 found at his duty whether on the firing 
 line or the lonely picket line. He became 
 a member of Black Hawk lodge, No. 238, 
 A. F. & A. M., on the ist of September, 
 1857, and served as senior warden for 
 one year and as junior warden for two 
 years. He was also secretary for six 
 years and treasurer for twenty-two years. 
 His political allegiance was given to the 
 Republican party and he held the office 
 of town and city clerk and police magis- 
 trate, city treasurer and councilman. No 
 public trust reposed in him was ever be- 
 trayed in the slightest degree, for he was 
 a brave and loyal soldier, always faith- 
 ful to his duty and prompt in the dis- 
 charge of any task that devolved upon 
 him, bringing to. his work in civic life 
 the same loyalty and fidelity that char- 
 acterized his military service. Mr. Gor- 
 don was a representative of one of the 
 oldest pioneer families of the county and 
 was a resident of this part of the state 
 for more than .the allotted psalmist's span 
 of three score years and ten. He watched
 
 130 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 its growth and development from the 
 time when it was reclaimed from a fron- 
 tier district until his eyes were closed in 
 death and was a co-operant factor in many 
 measures for the general good. 
 
 SAMUEL R. YETTER. 
 
 Samuel R. Yetter, one of the early 
 settlers of Hancock county, Illinois, now 
 residing on his farm in Carthage town- 
 ship, has watched the development of the 
 county as it has emerged from pioneer 
 conditions, when the land was unculti- 
 vated, the timber uncut and the streams 
 unbridged to the present era of progress 
 and development when none of the ad- 
 vantages and improvements known to the 
 older east are lacking. Mr. Yetter has 
 now reached the eighty-second milestone 
 on life's journey, having been born in 
 Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the 
 4th of August, 1824. He is a son of Wil- 
 liam and Lydia (Rock) Yetter. The 
 father, also a native of Lancaster county, 
 Pennsylvania, was of German parentage 
 and was reared to manhood in his native 
 state. He became a mechanic, learning 
 and following the locksmith's trade, his 
 attention being devoted thereto during the 
 period of his residence in Pennsylvania. 
 He was married in that state to Miss . 
 Lydia Rock, and thinking to enjoy better 
 business opportunities in the new but 
 growing west, came to Illinois in 1837. 
 his destination being Hancock county. He 
 settled in Carthage township, then moved 
 
 to Fountain Green township, but after two 
 years returned to Carthage township. 
 Here William Yetter turned his attention 
 to the occupation of farming, in which he 
 continued throughout the remainder of 
 his active business life. In his political 
 views he was a democrat and held various 
 township offices, including that of county 
 treasurer and assessor, the duties of the 
 two offices being combined in one at that 
 time. On the expiration of his term he 
 was elected to the office of justice of the 
 peace, in which capacity he served con- 
 tinuously until his death, his decisions be- 
 ing strictly fair and impartial. He was a 
 member of the Methodist church, to which 
 his wife also belonged, and he took an 
 active, earnest and helpful part in the 
 church work for many years, serving as 
 superintendent of the Sunday-school, and 
 doing all in his power to promote the 
 cause of Christianity here. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity and was the 
 first representative of the order to pass 
 away in Hancock county, his remains be- 
 ing laid to rest with Masonic honors. He 
 died in 1853, at the a R e f fifty-three years 
 and was buried in Franklin cemetery in 
 Carthage township. His widow long 
 survived him and died in 1892, at the very 
 venerable age of ninety-two years. She 
 was also a native of Lancaster county, 
 Pennsylvania, and there lived until after 
 her marriage, or until the removal of the 
 family to Illinois. She was likewise a 
 devoted member of the Methodist church 
 and at her death was laid to rest by the 
 side of her husband in Franklin cemetery. 
 In the family of this worthy couple were 
 eight children, four of whom are now 
 living.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Samuel R. Yetter spent the first thir- 
 teen years of his life in the place of his 
 nativity, and in 1837 came with his 
 parents to Hancock county, Illinois, living 
 in Fountain Green township for two years 
 and since that time in Carthage township. 
 He remained upon the home place until 
 about twenty-four years of age. His edu- 
 cation was acquired at Columbia, Lan- 
 caster county, Pennsylvania, and when 
 he permanently left the parental roof he 
 rented a farm which he cultivated for a 
 number of years, or until he purchased 
 his present place, then about two hundred 
 acres. This he has improved, making it 
 his home continuously through many 
 years. He set out many of the trees here 
 and a large number of them have now 
 been growing here for more than a half 
 century. Through a long period he tilled 
 the soil, carefully sowing the seed and" 
 harvesting the crops as the years went by. 
 He usually had a good return for his 
 labor in the shape of bounteous harvests 
 and he continued actively in farm work 
 until a number of years ago, when he sold 
 a part of his land and is now living re- 
 tired in the enjoyment of a rest which he 
 has truly earned and richly deserves. 
 
 Mr. Yetter has been married twice. In 
 1848 he wedded Miss Marilla Goodrich, 
 a daughter of Messech and Rebecca Good- 
 rich, who were early settlers of Hancock 
 county, Illinois, where they lived and died. 
 By this marriage there were three chil- 
 dren, of whom William and Marilla died 
 in infancy, while Laura is now the widow 
 of Lewis R. Tull, and a resident of 
 Berkeley, California. She has one daugh- 
 ter, Etta. Mrs. Yetter died at the com- 
 paratively early age of twenty-five years, 
 
 and was laid to rest in Franklin ceme- 
 tery in Carthage township. For his sec- 
 ond wife Mr. Yetter chose Miss Hester 
 A. Halbert, who was born in Lewis 
 county, Kentucky, and came to Illinois 
 with her widowed mother in 1850. She 
 is a daughter of Stephen and Priscilla 
 (Watkins) Halbert, both of whom were 
 natives of Maryland, whence they re- 
 moved to Kentucky at an early day. The 
 father died in that state in 1848 and was 
 there buried, and the mother afterward 
 came to Hancock county, Illinois, where 
 she passed away at the age of eighty-one 
 years, her remains being interred in 
 Franklin cemetery in Carthage township. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yetter have been 
 born ten children, four sons and six 
 daughters, of whom six are now living. 
 Mary is the wife of Richard White, sex- 
 ton of Moss Ridge cemetery in Carthage, 
 and they have three children, Florence, 
 Ruth and Myrtle. Clara is the deceased 
 wife of William Sowers, a farmer resid- 
 ing in Kansas. She died while on a visit 
 at the home of her parents, leaving three 
 children, Mabel, Hester and Charles. 
 The elder daughter, Mabel, is now the 
 wife of Walter Moot and resides near 
 Lucas, Kansas, and they have one son, 
 William. John Yetter, the third member 
 of the father's family, resides in Carthage, 
 Illinois, where he is a teamster. He 
 wedded Mary B. Swain, and they have 
 two living sons, Frank and Ferris, and 
 lost one son, David, who died at the age 
 of two months. Charles S. Yetter, a rail- 
 road conductor of the Chicago, Burling- 
 ton & Quincy road, residing at Beards- 
 town, Illinois, married Pearl Johnson, and 
 has two living children, Howard and
 
 132 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 George, and two deceased, Pearl and 
 Guy. Alice Yetter became the wife of 
 Alfred M. McKee. a grocer of Carthage, 
 and they have three children, Earl, Ray 
 and Helen. Alaggie is the wife of P. H. 
 Willey, a farmer of Peabody, Kansas, and 
 they have three living children. Bertha, 
 Frank and Mabel, and lost one, who died 
 unnamed in infancy. Frank Yetter, who 
 was in the United States Navy and served 
 in the Philippine war, died at Wilbur, 
 Washington, when twenty-four years of 
 age. Ralph is at home. Fidelia died at 
 the age of six years. Nora died at the 
 age of one year and sixteen days. All 
 of the children were born in Carthage 
 township and were educated here, and 
 Alice, Clara and Laura all taught school 
 prior to their marriage. 
 
 Mr. Yetter is a member of the Carthage 
 Methodist church and belongs to Han- 
 cock lodge. No. 20, Ancient Free and 
 Accepted Masons. He votes with the Re- 
 publican party and has held some of the 
 township offices, serving as justice of the 
 peace, highway commissioner and con- 
 stable. He has seen many of the changes 
 that have occurred and the improvements 
 that have been made in Hancock county. 
 Almost seventy years have come and gone 
 since he arrived here, at which time al- 
 most the entire district was a wild prairie, 
 which he has seen converted into richly 
 cultivated farms with here and there thriv.- 
 ing towns and villages and progressive 
 cities. Deer and other wild game were 
 killed in this part of the state and only a 
 few settlements had been made, the trav- 
 eler finding it possible to ride for miles 
 over the country in almost any direction 
 without coming to a fence or habitation 
 
 to impede his progress. The work of 
 transforming the wild district into one 
 of rich fertility and improvement has been 
 an arduous task. Mr. Yetter, however, 
 bore his full share in this work and has 
 performed an important part in making 
 the county what it is today one of the 
 richest farming districts of western Illi- 
 nois. He certainly deserves extended 
 and prominent mention in this volume as 
 a leading and honored agriculturist, and 
 one whose life has at all times been 
 worthy of emulation, being charterized 
 by fidelity to principle and by unfaltering 
 allegiance to the rules of honorable and 
 manly conduct. Now in the evening of 
 life he receives the veneration and respect 
 which should ever be accorded those who 
 have advanced far on life's journey and 
 who are able to look back over the past 
 without regret and forward to the future 
 without fear. 
 
 FRANK W. WALKER. 
 
 Frank W. Walker is the owner of the 
 finest farm home and stock barns in Han- 
 cock county and is one of the most exten- 
 sive landholders of this part of the state, 
 having fourteen thousand acres under 
 fence. In the control of his business in- 
 terests he displays excellent ability and 
 keen discrimination, and his prosperity 
 has resulted from judicious management 
 as well as carefully directed industry. 
 One of Hancock county's native sons he 
 was born in \Yalker township, on the 28th
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 133 
 
 of March, 1858, and now resides on sec- 
 tion 32, Prairie township, where his home 
 farm comprises one hundred and sixty 
 acres of very rich and productive land. 
 His parents were Henry M. and Sophronia 
 (Rankin) Walker, hoth of whom were 
 natives of Kentucky, whence they came 
 to Illinois at an early day, settling in 
 \Ya1ker township, Hancock county, which 
 was named in honor of his grandfather, 
 George Walker, who was one of the 
 earliest pioneers of the township. After 
 working on the farm during the week he 
 would preach Sundays, being the first 
 Baptist minister in the vicinity. The 
 father purchased land and made a home, 
 residing upon his farm for twenty-five 
 years, during which period his attention 
 was given to the tilling of the soil and to 
 the raising of stock. He owned one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land in that town- 
 ship and he afterward removed to Prairie 
 township, purchasing a farm upon sec- 
 tion 27. This farm contained three hun- 
 dred and twenty acres, which was then 
 unimproved, and on which he made all the 
 improvements. It continued to be his 
 home place until his death, which occurred 
 when he had reached the advanced age of 
 seventy-nine years. In addition to this 
 property he owned enough to make his 
 landed possessions ten hundred and sixty 
 acres in Hancock county, all of which is 
 now improved. He brought a large part 
 of this property under cultivation during 
 his life time and was a man of marked 
 energy and diligence, whose life activity 
 resulted in the acquirement of a measure 
 of prosperity, making him one of the lead- 
 ing citizens of his county. He was one 
 of the first men in the county to give 
 
 thought to better stock, having had regis- 
 tered shorthorn cattle, not only bringing 
 his own stock up to a fine grade but being 
 the means of improving the stock in the 
 whole community. His political views ac- 
 corded with the principles of democracy 
 and he was a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church. His wife passed away 
 about two years prior to his demise, when 
 she was seventy years of age. Of their 
 family of seven children four are still liv- 
 ing. Both parents lie buried in the El- 
 vaston cemetery and when they were 
 called from this life many friends 
 mourned their loss. Mr. Walker was one 
 of the argonauts who went to California 
 in search of the golden fleece in 1849. 
 He there engaged in mining and was quite 
 successful in his operations, accumulating 
 a comfortable fortune during his residence 
 of three years on the Pacific coast. He 
 died while visiting in California, on the 
 1 4th of February, 1906. 
 
 At the usual age Frank W. Walker 
 began his education in the common 
 schools and afterward attended Carthage 
 College. He assisted upon the home place 
 as a young man and has always remained 
 upon the farm. When twenty-two years 
 old he purchased the one hundred and 
 sixty acres on which he now resides, and 
 has erected here all of the modern build- 
 ings, including an attractive and pleas- 
 ant frame residence, which is one of the 
 largest and finest country homes in the 
 county. He also has commodious and 
 substantial barns, one barn sixty by sixty- 
 four with twenty-four foot ports'is one of 
 the finest, if not the finest, barn in the 
 county, it being elegantly and attractively 
 planned and finished and is a model barn
 
 134 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 both for conveiience and beauty, and 
 altogether his is a model place, in which 
 none of the accessories of a modern farm 
 are lacking. It is known as the Shadow 
 Brook stock farm and Mr. Walker de- 
 votes his attention to the raising of high- 
 bred stock, making a specialty of short- 
 horn cattle and Hambletonian horses, hav- 
 ing a large number of each upon his place. 
 He raises for sale purposes and has been 
 engaged in this business for twenty-six 
 years. He now owns a fine Hambletonian 
 stallion, Elcho, and he is also the owner 
 of the bull, Duke of Iron Hill, a regis- 
 tered shorthorn, both of which are used 
 for breeding purposes. In addition to his 
 home farm Mr. Walker has always con- 
 ducted the old homestead farm compris- 
 ing three hundred and twenty acres and 
 located one mile east. He is an extensive 
 feeder, shipping about one hundred and 
 fifty head of fat stock per year of his own 
 production and in addition to this Mr. 
 Walker buys and ships many carloads of 
 stock annually to the Chicago market. He 
 is also the owner of about fourteen thou- 
 sand acres of land in Colorado, all under 
 fence, which he has used for stock-raising 
 and the growing of wheat. Everything 
 about his home place is kept in most per- 
 fect order and repair, showing his pro- 
 gressive spirit and his careful supervision. 
 Mr. Walker was married on the loth of 
 November, 1881, to Miss Helen M. Jack- 
 son, a daughter of Peter Jackson, of 
 Prairie township, who was an early set- 
 tler of Hancock county. He followed 
 farming for a number of years but is now 
 living retired. Mrs. Walker, like her hus- 
 band, obtained her early education in the 
 district schools and was afterward a 
 
 student in Carthage College. This mar- 
 riage has been blessed with six children, 
 of whom five are living: Claude C., of 
 Prairie township, residing upon the old 
 homestead of his grandfather, married 
 Yetta Thomas, a daughter of Henry 
 Thomas. Clyde H. assists in the oper- 
 ation of the home farm. Flossie M., 
 Blossom J. and Ruth, are all at home ; and 
 Onlin died at the age of eight years. All 
 were born upon the home property and 
 have been provided with excellent educa- 
 tional privileges. 
 
 Mr. Walker is a democrat without po- 
 litical aspiration and he keeps well in- 
 formed on the questions and issues of the 
 day. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal church and he 
 is interested in those measures and move- 
 ments which tend to advance the material, 
 intellectual and moral progress of the 
 community. The number of his friends 
 is almost co-extensive with the circle of 
 his acquaintance, for he has always lived 
 in Hancock county and his history has 
 been such as would bear close investiga- 
 tion and scrutiny, for at all times he has 
 lived honorable with due regard to his 
 obligations to his fellowmen and with 
 conscientious regard for his duties of 
 citizenship. 
 
 JAMES HENRY CLARK. 
 
 James Henry Clark, who is engaged in 
 farming and also carries on stock-raising 
 extensively in Dallas township, was born
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 135 
 
 in Brown county, Illinois, May 30, 1863, 
 a son of Nathaniel H. and Jane (Wells) 
 Clark. The father's birth occurred in the 
 state of New York in 1835 and the mother 
 was born in Ohio in the same year. He 
 was a farmer by occupation and at an 
 early day came to Illinois, settling in 
 Brown county, while subsequently he be- 
 came a resident of Schuyler county. He 
 was killed on the railroad- near Clayton, 
 October 7, 1902, and his widow still re- 
 sides in that county. In their family were 
 eight children : George, living in Brown 
 county, Illinois ; Maggie, the wife of 
 George Laughlin, who resides in Black- 
 bird, Missouri; James H., of this review; 
 Lydia, the wife of Henry Lawson, of 
 Fountain Green ; Fannie, the wife of Al- 
 lan Groscloud; Dora, the wife of James 
 Younglove, of Schuyler county ; Charles, 
 who is living upon the home farm in 
 Schuyler county; and Jesse, of Dallas 
 City. 
 
 James Henry Clark attended the public 
 schools of Schuyler county but his educa- 
 tional privileges were somewhat limited, 
 as his aid was needed in the operation of 
 the home farm. He remained with his 
 parents until nineteen years of age and 
 was afterward employed for one season by 
 the month as a farm hand. In January, 
 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss 
 Minnie Bowker, who was born in Schuy- 
 ler county, Illinois, in 1865, a daughter 
 of Catherine and Frank Bowker, natives 
 of New York, and of Scotland county, 
 Missouri, respectively. The father be- 
 came a farmer, first of Schuyler county 
 and afterward of Hancock county, Illi- 
 nois, and subsequently removed to Mis- 
 souri and thence to Kansas, but is now liv- 
 9 
 
 ing retired in Dallas City. He owned 
 land in each place in which he lived and 
 is now in comfortable circumstances. 
 L'nto him and his wife were born eight 
 children and the family circle yet remains 
 unbroken by the hand of death. The 
 record is as follows : Minnie, now Mrs. 
 Clark ; Nettie, who in early life engaged in 
 teaching school and is now the wife of 
 Sydney Callison, of Boston, Missouri; 
 Roger, of Hancock county ; Kittie, the 
 wife of Ernest Rose worn, of Barton 
 county, Missouri ; Maud, the wife of Wal- 
 ter Lionberger, of Scotland county, Mis- 
 souri; Inez Bowker, who is a successful 
 teacher; George, who is living in Dallas 
 City ; and Mabel, who is a graduate of the 
 high school of Dallas City and lives with 
 her parents. 
 
 At the time of their marriage Mr. Clark 
 and his young wife began their domestic 
 life upon a rented farm in Schuyler 
 county, where they lived for one year. In 
 1 885 they came to Hancock county, where 
 they have since resided, making their home 
 in Dallas and Durham townships. Mr. 
 Clark has been extensively engaged in the 
 live stock business and this is still a fruit- 
 ful source of income to him. In 1904 he 
 purchased ninety-seven acres of good land 
 on section 14, Dallas township, and has 
 since made extensive improvements in the 
 home. He has also erected two good 
 barns, one thirty-two by forty feet and the 
 other fifty- four by sixty-six feet. He now 
 has one of the best improved farms of the 
 township, equipped with modern conveni- 
 ences and accessories, and he has been one 
 of the heavy stock feeders of the county. 
 His business interests are carefully con- 
 ducted and his labors are bringing to him
 
 136 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE}]' 
 
 a gratifying measure of success, while his 
 straightforward dealings in all of his 
 transactions have gained for him the trust 
 of his fellowmen. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Clark has 
 been blessed with four children, all born 
 in Hancock county : Ethel and Ray, 
 aged respectively twenty and eighteen 
 years : Katherine and Annice, both in 
 school. In his political views Mr. Clark 
 is an inflexible democrat and has held 
 various township offices, including that 
 of assessor of Durham township. Fra- 
 ternally he is a Mason and a Woodman 
 and both he and his wife are connected 
 witli the Royal Neighbors. Without pe- 
 cuniary assistance at the outset of his 
 career he has made steady progress and 
 in his home is surrounded by many of 
 the comforts of life. He and his wife 
 occupy an enviable position in the re- 
 gard of friends and neighbors and are 
 accounted worthy and leading citizens of 
 Dallas township. 
 
 SAMUEL S. CHAPMAN. 
 
 Samuel S. Chapman, owning and op- 
 erating a valuable farm in Prairie town- 
 ship, is a native of Scott county, Illinois, 
 born May 11, 1851. He has, however, 
 resided in Hancock county since 1857. 
 when, at the age of six years, he came 
 to this part of the state with his parents, 
 Wesley and Elizabeth (Haynie) Chap- 
 man. The father was born in Maryland, 
 near Cumberland, March 24, 1825, and 
 
 lived in his native state until ten years 
 of age, when, in 1835, he came to Illi- 
 nois and for many years thereafter was 
 a resident of Scott county. After attain- 
 ing his majority he engaged in farming 
 on his own account and followed that 
 occupation throughout his active business 
 career. Upon his removal from Scott 
 county to Hancock county in 1857, he 
 purchased a farm of eighty acres in 
 Prairie township, to which he afterward 
 added from time to time as his financial 
 resources increased until within its bound- 
 aries were comprised two hundred and 
 eighty acres. He had in all four hun- 
 dred and twenty acres of land, all in 
 Prairie township. It is upon this tract 
 that Samuel S. Chapman now resides." 
 The father placed many modern improve- 
 ments upon the .property, including the 
 erection of a large brick residence in 1869. 
 He also built a good barn and other out- 
 buildings for the shelter of grain and 
 stock. It was in 1862 that he took up 
 his abode upon this place, where he en- 
 gaged in general farming and stock-rais- 
 ing with signal success until 1890, when 
 he sold the farm to his son, Samuel S., 
 and removed to Carthage, where he lived 
 for ten years, or until the death of his 
 wife, since which time he has made his 
 home with his children. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Christian church at Carthage, 
 and his life has been permeated by his 
 religious faith. In his political affilia- 
 tions he is a republican and has held some 
 of the minor offices of the township. His 
 wife, who was born in Kentucky, came 
 to Illinois in 1829, when two years of 
 age. She was a member of the Christian 
 church, took a very active part in its work
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 137 
 
 and did all in her power for the exten- 
 sion of its influence and the promotion 
 of the cause. On the I4th of November, 
 1900, she was called to her final rest and 
 her remains were interred in Carthage 
 cemetery. By her marriage she became 
 the mother of eleven children, eight of 
 whom are still living. 
 
 Samuel S. Chapman of this review re- 
 mained upon the old home farm until 
 1876, and during that period acquired a 
 good common school education which 
 was supplemented by a three years' course 
 at the Agricultural College of the State 
 University at Urbana, while in the sum- 
 mer months he was trained to the work 
 'of the fields, becoming familiar with all 
 departments of farm labor and thus gain- 
 ing that practical experience which en- 
 abled him to carefully and successfully 
 conduct his own business affairs when he 
 started out in life for himself. On the 
 7th of September, 1876, he was united 
 in marriage to Miss Nancy C. Jackson, 
 a daughter of Peter Jackson, one of the 
 early settlers of Hancock county, who 
 arrive here in 1852, and has now been 
 a resident of the locality for fifty-four 
 years. He made his home in Carthage 
 until the death of his wife about two 
 years ago and is now living with his 
 children. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Chapman 
 purchased eighty acres of land in Prairie 
 township north of Elvaston. This was 
 improved and he continued the further 
 cultivation of the fields until about eight- 
 een years ago, when he purchased the old 
 home place of his father and has resided 
 upon it continuously since. He has one 
 hundred and fifty acres of the old home- 
 
 stead and the farm is well cultivated, giv- 
 ing every evidence in its neat and thrifty 
 appearance of the careful supervision and 
 practical methods of the owner, whose 
 labors have been attended with a gratify- 
 ing measure of success. As the years 
 have gone by the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Chapman has been blessed with four chil- 
 dren but the oldest died in infancy. The 
 others are John Hurst, who was educated 
 in Carthage and is now a Junior at Hed- 
 ding College, in Abingdon, Illinois, and 
 now resides upon the home farm ; Irene, 
 a senior in Hedding College; and Myrna 
 May, who is now attending the high 
 school in Carthage. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
 Chapman are faithful members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, in which 
 they take an active and helpful interest. 
 He has served as one of the trustees and- 
 also steward o.f the church, and for many 
 years he has been a stanch prohibitionist, 
 a fact which indicates his attitude on the 
 temperance question. Indeed his life has 
 been guided by honorable principles and 
 has exemplified manly conduct such as 
 commands respect and esteem everywhere. 
 He has stood for temperance, for justice, 
 for truth and uprightness, and he favors 
 every movement that tends to promote 
 progressive citizenship or uplift his 
 fellowmen. 
 
 PETER JACKSON. 
 
 Peter Jackson was born in Ross county, 
 Ohio, on August 27, 1826, and lived there
 
 133 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 until 1852, when he came to Hancock 
 county, Illinois, in November, coming by 
 wagon, and located in Wythe township, in 
 the spring of 1852, and there he pur- 
 chased land and lived till 1866, engaged 
 in fanning and stock-raising. In 1866 he 
 bought a farm in Prairie township and 
 there he lived as a farmer and stock-raiser 
 'until 1895, when he rented his farm and 
 moved to Carthage, where he led a retired 
 life until 1904, when his wife died and 
 since then he has lived with his children. 
 
 He married Angeline Hanson who was 
 born in Pickaway county, Ohio, May 12, 
 1828, and lived there until her marriage 
 in 1847. 1 J^Si sne came west with her 
 husband. She was educated in Pickaway 
 county, Ohio. She died April 5, 1904. She 
 was the mother of seven children, all 
 daughters, six of whom are living : Sarah 
 R.,wife of Francis W. McClellan, of Win- 
 field, Kansas; Barbara H., widow of 
 George B. Comstock, of Omaha, Nebras- 
 ka; Mary M., widow of John G. Harris. 
 She resides in Oak Park, Cook county, Il- 
 linois. She has three children who were 
 born in Hancock county. Nancy C., wife 
 of Samuel S. Chapman (see sketch of Mr. 
 Chapman) ; Matilda J., wife of Lot B. 
 Clark (see sketch) ; Annie E. died in in- 
 fancy; Helen M., wife of Frank W. 
 Walker (see sketch of Frank W. 
 Walker). 
 
 The wife -of Mr. Jackson is buried at 
 Carthage cemetery. They were a very 
 worthy couple, who were always held in 
 the highest esteem by all who knew them. 
 Mr. Jackson, who is still living, has at the 
 present writing passed the eightieth mile- 
 stone of life's journey and still possesses 
 a very retentive memory. 
 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CONNOR. 
 
 Benjamin Franklin Connor was born in 
 Rome, Perry county, Indiana, in 1832, 
 a son of John and Annie (Maine) Con- 
 nor. The father was born in New Lynch- 
 burg. Virginia, and removed to Bullitt 
 county, Kentucky, in his boyhood days. 
 In 1813, when a young man he became 
 a resident of Rome, Indiana, and there he 
 spent his remaining days and reared his 
 family. He was a man worthy all trust 
 and esteem, for he lived an upright, 
 honorable life. Unto him and his wife 
 were born ten children, all born within 
 a quarter of a mile of the place where he 
 built his first cabin upon taking up his 
 abode in Perry county when it was a 
 pioneer district. His death occurred in 
 1862, and his wife passed away about 
 1847 or 1848. She was a faithful and 
 devoted wife and mother, and put forth 
 every effort in her power to promote the 
 welfare and happiness of her family. 
 
 Benjamin F. Connor is now the only 
 surviving member of the family. He was 
 fifteen or sixteen years of age at the time 
 of his mother's demise, and for some time 
 thereafter he remained with a sister. He 
 learned the trade of a tanner and currier 
 at Rome, Indiana, where he worked for 
 eight years, and in 1857 he removed to 
 Clark county, Missouri, where he resided 
 until August, 1 86 1. At that date he came 
 to Warsaw. He had engaged in mer- 
 chandising in Missouri, and following his 
 removal to this city he continued business 
 as a cooper for some years. Subsequently 
 he traveled for eighteen years as represen- 
 tative of a portrait house of Chicago, tak- 
 ing orders for the enlargement of por-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 139 
 
 traits. In this he was very successful and 
 wherever he went he made many warm 
 friends by reason of his genial manner, 
 his unfailing courtesy and the many ster- 
 ling traits of his character which are 
 easily recognized, for such qualities al- 
 ways leave their impress upon the indi- 
 vidual. For twelve years, however, he 
 has lived retired in the enjoyment of a 
 well earned rest. 
 
 Mr. Connor enlisted for service in the 
 Civil war and was in the battle of Athens, 
 Missouri. He remained in the service for 
 five months, engaged in drilling most of 
 that time. It was subsequent to his return 
 from the war that he brought his family 
 to Warsaw in August, 1861. His po- 
 litical allegiance has always been given to 
 the democracy but he has never aspired 
 to office. He is one of the oldest Masons 
 in the state and is an exemplary represen- 
 tative of the craft. 
 
 On the 1 6th of April, 1855, Mr. Con- 
 nor was married to Miss Eliza Lamb, 
 who was also a native of Perry county, 
 Indiana, born February 18, 1830, and a 
 daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth 
 (Shepherd) Lamb. Her parents were 
 married May 26, 1811. Her father was 
 born in New York, July 21, 1780, while 
 his wife's birth occurred in the south, 
 January 13, 1791. He was a farmer by 
 occupation and for twenty-seven years 
 resided in Perry county, Indiana, where 
 he took an active and influential part in 
 pubjic affairs. He was chosen the first 
 circuit clerk of the county, and for twen- 
 ty-six years held that office. No higher 
 testimonial of his capability and fidelity 
 could be given than the fact that he was 
 so long retained as the incumbent in that 
 
 office. He was faithful to every trust 
 reposed in him and his life was always 
 guided by manly principles and character- 
 ized by honorable conduct. He died Feb- 
 ruary 5, 1848, and his wife on the 28th 
 of October, 1855, both being laid to rest 
 on the old homestead farm in Indiana, on 
 which he settled about 1810. This was a 
 valuable farming property, situated on the 
 bank of the Ohio river. At the time of 
 his demise he was serving as one of the 
 commissioners of the county and he 
 passed away in the faith of the Baptist 
 church, of which he was a most consistent 
 and devoted member. In the family were 
 eight children but all have passed away. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Connor traveled life's 
 journey together as man and wife for 
 about twenty-three years and were then 
 separated by the death of Mrs. Connor, 
 who passed away January 28, 1878, and 
 Was laid to rest in the Warsaw cemetery. 
 She was a member of the Methodist 
 church and a lady whose many good traits 
 of heart and mind endeared her to all who 
 knew her. To her family she was a most 
 devoted and faithful wife and mother and 
 she was equally loyal in her friendships. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Connor were born 
 four children. Ella was born in Rome, 
 Perry county, Indiana, January 12, 1856. 
 She was graduated from the Warsaw 
 public schools and taught several years. 
 December 31, 1878, she was married to 
 Dr. C. L. Ferris, of Fountain Green, Illi- 
 nois, the oldest son of Dr. L. T. and 
 Helen Ferris, who are old residents of 
 the county. Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Ferris 
 have two daughters, Helen and Ruth, and 
 are living in Carthage, Illinois. Helen 
 is a graduate of Carthage College, a
 
 140 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'lEU' 
 
 teacher, and is principal of the High 
 School at Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Ruth is a 
 senior in Carthage College. Isabella 
 Sacket, the second daughter, was born 
 at Luray, Clark county, Missouri, July 
 29, 1857, was graduated from the public 
 schools of Warsaw, and afterward en- 
 gaged in teaching in this city up to the 
 time of her marriage to John B. Worthen, 
 who was born in Warsaw, February 4, 
 1855. He is the youngest son of Prof. 
 A. H. and Sarah B. Worthen. Both of 
 his parents were old settlers of Warsaw, 
 while the father was state geologist for 
 twenty years. Mr. Worthen is an en- 
 terprising grocer and business man of 
 Warsaw, where he has always lived. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Worthen were married August 
 21, 1882, and to them six children were 
 born, as follows : Ella Eugenia, born 
 October 26, 1883. She graduated from 
 the Warsaw public school and the State 
 University at Urbana, Illinois, was prin- 
 cipal of the high school at Arcola, Illi- 
 nois, and is an instructor in mathematics 
 at the State University at Lincoln, Ne- 
 braska. James C- Worthen, who was 
 born October 16, 1885, died February i, 
 1887; Jeannette Lamb, who was born 
 July 13, 1887, and is now a senior in 
 the State University at Urbana, from 
 which she will graduate in 1907; Evelyn 
 Marie, who was born August 18, 1890, 
 and is a sophomore in the Warsaw high 
 school ; Helen Eunice, who was born Oc- 
 tober n, 1892, and is in her second year 
 in the high school ; and John Connor, born 
 February 13, 1899. J. T. M. Connor, the 
 third member of the family of Benjamin 
 F. Connor, is now living in Chicago, 
 where he is auditor for the Clay-Robinson 
 
 Company, live stock commission mer- 
 chants. He was married in Kansas City, 
 Missouri, December 13, 1885, to Eunice 
 Mason, and they have one child, Ella 
 Belle, who was born November 13, 1886, 
 and is a graduate of the Denver (Colo- 
 rado) school. Frank H. Connor, born 
 Mary 27, 1865, is a live stock commis- 
 sion merchant of Chicago, being a mem- 
 ber of the firm of Clay, Robinson & 
 Co. He was married June 20, 1894, to 
 Evelyn L. Hill, and has had three children. 
 The twin boys, born June 16, 1897, both 
 died at the age of fifteen months, Ron- 
 noc Hill was born August 8, 1903. Both 
 of Mr. Connor's sons were graduates of 
 the Warsaw public schools. 
 
 Wlien Mrs. Connor died the children 
 were all single and remained with their 
 father until they were married and had 
 homes of their own. Mrs. Worthen was 
 the second one married and Mr. Connor 
 has since made his home with her and 
 her husband. Mr. Worthen has built a 
 beautiful modern residence on the river 
 bluff, situated on Van Buren and First 
 streets in the part of Warsaw called Fort 
 Edward. This is a beautiful home known 
 as Nehtrow. Here Mr. Connor is most 
 pleasantly situated. He is largely a self- 
 made man, having had few advantages 
 in his youth but his business enterprise 
 and diligence enabled him to make steady 
 advancement in his business career. 
 Wherever he went he made friends by 
 reason of his genial and kindly disposi- 
 tion. He is a man of good judgment and 
 warm impulses and wherever he is known 
 he is held in highest esteem, while the cir- 
 cle of his friends is almost co-extensive 
 With the circle of his acquaintance.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: 
 
 141 
 
 WILLIAM JACKSON ASH. 
 
 William Jackson Ash is one of the ven- 
 erable citizens of Hamilton, receiving the 
 respect and honor which should be ac- 
 corded to one of his years and whose life 
 has been worthily spent. He is now 
 eighty-one years of age, having been born 
 in McMinn county, Tennessee, on the 6th 
 of June, 1825, his parents being Hugh 
 Brown Ash and Nancy (Jones) Ash, 
 natives of South Carolina and Tennessee 
 respectively. His paternal grandparents 
 were Robert and Esther Ash, the former 
 a native of South Carolina and the latter 
 of Ireland. The maternal grandfather, 
 Thomas Jones, was a native of Tennessee, 
 and in that state married Miss Beckham. 
 Robert Ash, leaving his native country, 
 crossed the Atlantic and became a resi- 
 dent of South Carolina, whe'fe he followed 
 the occupation of farming for a number 
 of years and then removed to eastern Ten- 
 nessee, where he and his wife spent their 
 remaining days. It was in that state that 
 Hugh Brown Ash and Nancy Jones were 
 united in marriage and there they lived 
 for a number of years upon a farm. He 
 was injured one day while stacking fodder 
 and soon afterward died. His wife mar- 
 ried again nine years later, her second 
 union being with Edwin Pedegrew, who 
 at one time owned famous gold mines in 
 Georgia. They were married in Alabama, 
 to which state the mother of our subject 
 removed and about ten years later they 
 went to Dent county, Missouri, where 
 they spent their remaining days. 
 
 William Jackson was the eldest of three 
 sons and three daughters, all of whom 
 are now deceased with the exception of 
 
 one brother who is residing in Carrollton, 
 Carroll county, Arkansas. By the second 
 marriage there were two daughters and 
 two sons, of whom one son is now living 
 in Dent county, Missouri. 
 
 William J. Ash was twelve years of age 
 when he went with his mother to Chero- 
 kee county, Alabama. She there took up 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land and 
 in 1839 was married a second time. It 
 was then that the subject of this review 
 started out in life to make his own way in 
 the world. He began learning the trade 
 of a tanner and leather finisher. He was 
 also the owner of three colts, two cows 
 and several hogs, which he gave to his 
 mother in exchange for homespun cloth- 
 ing. He continued to work at his trade 
 until 1846, in which year Benjamin 
 White, who ten years before had removed 
 to Adams county, Illinois, returned to 
 Tennessee on a visit and about a month 
 later took three Tennessee lads with him 
 to Adams county. He paid their fare and 
 they worked for him two years for ten 
 dollars a month. Mr. Ash had an uncle 
 living in Adams county and after leaving 
 Mr. White's employ he began operating 
 his uncle's farm on shares, being thus en- 
 gaged for a year. In 1848 he returned to 
 Tennessee and Alabama in company with 
 his uncle, driving across the country with 
 teams. The uncle soon again came to 
 Illinois, but Mr. Ash remained in his na- 
 tive state until after his marriage, which 
 important event in his life was celebrated 
 on the 2/th of February, 1 849, the lady of 
 his choice being Miss Eliza Ann Culpep- 
 per, who was born in McMinn county, 
 Tennessee, August 14, 1828, a daughter 
 of Joel and Ann Elizabeth (Tyler) Cul-
 
 142 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 pepper, both of whom were natives of 
 South Carolina. The former was a son 
 of John Culpepper and the latter a daugh- 
 ter of John Tyler. 
 
 On the 28th of March, 1849, Mr - Ash 
 with his bride started by wagon for 
 Adams county, where they arrived on the 
 22d of April, after spending almost a 
 month upon the road. They remained in 
 that county for one season and Mr. Ash 
 engaged in the cultivation of a tract of 
 land. He tried to raise a crop of corn but 
 the worms took it and he sowed his land 
 to buckwheat, raising an enormous crop, 
 furnishing large supplies to the city of 
 Quincy of buckwheat flour, which he had 
 ground at Fletcher's Mills in Hancock 
 county. In the fall of 1849 he and his 
 wife removed to Wythe township, this 
 county, where they lived in a log house 
 with puncheon floor and fireplace with 
 stick and clay chimney. There was but 
 one room in the cabin. The following 
 season he purchased forty acres of 
 prairie about a mile north of where he 
 lived, fenced his land with rails and 
 raised corn, which was planted on the 
 newly broken sod. The following year 
 he broke more land and also purchased 
 forty acres additional. He also cultivated 
 the eighty acres and rented some land, 
 adding to his place from time to time un- 
 til he was the owner of three hundred 
 and forty acres in Wythe township, which 
 had been improved as well as any place 
 in the township at that time. As the 
 years passed he added further improve- 
 ments to his property and made it a 
 splendidly developed farm. He had two 
 large barns, one thirty by eighty feet, 
 which he afterward used for sheltering 
 
 his cattle. He kept from twenty to thirty 
 cows and conducted a dairy for ten years. 
 Thus year by year he continued active 
 in business, winning success by his close 
 application and strong determination. He 
 was never idle and indolence is utterly 
 foreign to his nature. He has led a busy 
 and useful life and as the years have 
 gone by has won the success which al- 
 ways crowns earnest effort. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ash have been born 
 the following named : Sarah Mulvina, 
 the wife of W. H. King, who is acting 
 as janitor of the public schools at Hamil- 
 ton ; Mary Adeline, the wife of Frederick 
 Shrifer, a mail-carrier at Hamilton ; Joel 
 Brown, of Hamilton; Louisa Ann; 
 Amanda Jane, the wife of J. E. Ernst, 
 who owns the old homestead farm ; Alice 
 Alma, the wife of Charles F. Binderwald, 
 of Montrosej Iowa; and Narcissa Eliza- 
 beth, the wife of D. William Wolfe, a 
 resident of Hamilton. 
 
 On the 8th of March, 1897, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Ash removed from the home farm 
 to Hamilton, where he purchased a fine 
 residence on Broadway. Since that time 
 he has lived retired. He rented his land 
 for three years and then sold it. He is 
 one of the organizers and stockholders of 
 the Peoples State Bank, of Hamilton, and 
 also of the West Point State Bank, and 
 thus his money has been placed in insti- 
 tutions where it is bringing a good finan- 
 cial return. He has justly earned the rest 
 which he is now enjoying, for his life has 
 been characterized by unflagging dili- 
 gence and also by unfaltering honesty in 
 all business transactions. Wherever 
 known he has won high esteem and more- 
 over he is one of the honored pioneer set-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 143 
 
 tiers of the county, whose efforts have 
 been a potent element in promoting prog- 
 ress and improvement in this section of 
 the state as the county has emerged from 
 its pioneer conditions. 
 
 AHIMAAZ PUNTENNEY. 
 
 Ahimaaz Puntenney, the owner of a 
 well improved and valuable farm in Mon- 
 tebello township, where he is engaged in 
 general agricultural pursuits and m rais- 
 ing high grade horses, cattle and hogs, 
 is a native son of Adams county, Ohio, 
 where he was bom February 10, 1833. 
 He is a son of John and Arminta 
 (Wright) Puntenney, both of whom were 
 natives of Adams county, Ohio. The 
 paternal grandparents were George Hol- 
 linsworth and Margaret (Hamilton) 
 Puntenney, the former a native of New 
 England and the latter of Ireland. The 
 grandfather was a soldier of the Revolu- 
 tionary war. In order to join the army 
 in the manner he wished he had to be an 
 immune from small pox. He had never 
 suffered from the disease, but his uncle 
 and aunt, with whom he was living, were 
 attending a case of small pox and he 
 thought this his opportunity to become 
 afflicted with the disease. His relatives 
 wished to prevent it and they put the 
 clothing which they had worn while at- 
 tending the small pox case into a hollow 
 tree. There George Puntenney found 
 them, took them out, wore them and be- 
 came ill with small pox. Thereby he was 
 
 permitted to join the army and he fought 
 valiently for American liberty. Later he 
 was granted a pension, but he would not 
 accept it, having given his aid freely for 
 the cause which he espoused. Subse- 
 quently he became a resident of Adams 
 county, Ohio, where he died in 1852, at 
 the very venerable age of ninety-six years. 
 The maternal grandfather of our subject 
 was a native of Virginia, while his wife 
 was bom in Ireland, whence she came to 
 America when about seven years of age. 
 They were married in Adams county, 
 Ohio, the family having located there at 
 a very early day. 
 
 The marriage of John Puntenney and 
 Arminta Wright was celebrated in Adams 
 county, Ohio, where he settled upon a 
 farm, there following general agricultural 
 pursuits until his death, which occurred 
 in April, 1864, when he was sixty-nine 
 years of age. 
 
 When Ahimaaz Puntenney was only 
 two years old he went to live with his 
 maternal grandfather in the northern part 
 of Adams county and in 1846 all the fam- 
 ily removed to Lee county, Iowa. In 
 company with an uncle and J. W. Dry- 
 den, Mr. Puntenney of this review drove 
 across the country from the Buckeye state 
 to their destination, being upon the road 
 from the i8th of September until the 2Oth 
 of October. His grandfather settled on a 
 farm in Lee county, where he died in 
 1848. Following his death Mr. Pun- 
 tenney continued to make his home there 
 with his uncle until about 1855, when he 
 bought forty acres of land on the east 
 line of Montebello township and in 1861 
 sold that property, subsequently investing 
 in eighty acres on section 23, constituting
 
 144 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'lE}}' 
 
 the east half of the southeast quarter. He 
 had about fifteen acres broken, but there 
 were no fences or buildings on the place. 
 In 1862 he built a frame house of three 
 rooms and built a half mile of fence on 
 the west side of the farm. He continued 
 the further development and improvement 
 of the place until February, 1864, when 
 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty- 
 sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He 
 left his wife and two small children, who 
 went to Lee county, Iowa, to her mother's 
 home, while Mr. Puntenney went to the 
 front to aid in the defense of the Union. 
 His regiment was consolidated with New 
 York and Indiana troops and did guard 
 duty near Chattanooga on the Chicka- 
 mauga river. They were in different 
 places in the south doing guard duty, and 
 Mr. Puntenney continued at the front 
 until honorably discharged on the I5th of 
 September, 1865. He had remained with 
 his command for a year and a half and 
 had always been loyal to his duty, faith- 
 fully discharging every task that was as- 
 signed him in connection with his military 
 service. 
 
 Following his return home. Mr. Pun- 
 tenney began making further improve- 
 ments upon his place and in 1880 he pur- 
 chased the east half of the southeast quar- 
 ter, so that he was owner of the entire 
 quarter section. In 1878 he built a large 
 hay barn, which he remodeled in 1905. 
 He also erected an addition to the house 
 in 1890 and now has a good farm prop- 
 erty which is enclosed largely with wire 
 fence. He has as fine a prairie farm as 
 can be found in the township and in 
 connection with the tilling of the soil he 
 is engaged in raising Shire draft horses, 
 
 good cattle and Poland China hogs. His 
 business interests are carefully directed 
 and his labors have brought to him a 
 very gratifying measure of success. 
 
 On the 26th of February, 1861, Mr. 
 Puntenney was united in marriage to 
 Miss Isabelle Kerr, who was born in 
 Pennsylania and during her infancy was 
 brought to Illinois by her parents, Alex- 
 ander Kerr and Isabelle Dunham, who 
 located at Peoria. Both her father and 
 mother were natives of Scotland and 
 after a brief residence in Peoria they re- 
 moved to Lee county, Iowa. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Puntenney have been born two 
 sons and two daughters : John Alex- 
 ander, who owns a ranch near Moscow, 
 Idaho; Iowa B., who is the widow of 
 Samuel Marshall and resides with her 
 father; Nettie K., the wife of James Mc- 
 Gaw, of Prairie township, this county; 
 and William L., who conducts the home 
 place. 
 
 In his religious views Mr. Puntenney 
 is a Presbyterian and since 1880 has been 
 elder of the church of that denomination 
 at Elvaston. He exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and meas- 
 ures of the Republican party and he be- 
 longs to Russell post, Grand Army of the 
 Republic, of Hamilton, of which he is 
 senior vice commander. In all duties of 
 citizenship he is as loyal to his country 
 as when he followed the old flag upon 
 battlefields of the south. In his business 
 affairs he is reliable, working earnestly 
 and persistently for the achievement of 
 success and is now the owner of one of 
 the excellent farm properties of Monte- 
 bello township, where he is pleasantly sit- 
 uated and has a comfortable home.
 
 HAXCOCK COUXTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 145 
 
 JACOB C. BALSLEY. 
 
 Jacob C. Balsley, filling the position of 
 township assessor, his home being in 
 Dallas City, was born in Harrisburg, 
 Pennsylvania, November 28, 1839, his 
 parents being William and Elizabeth 
 (Longenecker) Balsley. who were like- 
 wise natives of the Keystone state, the 
 former having been born in Dauphin 
 county, and the latter in Cumberland 
 county. The father engaged in the coal 
 trade and milling on the Monongahela 
 in Pennsylvania for a number of years, 
 and was a member of the state militia 
 in Pennsylvania. In 1854 he came to 
 Illinois, devoting his attention to general 
 agricultural pursuits and merchandising 
 in Scott county. In 1869, however, he 
 removed to Dallas township, Hancock 
 county, where he engaged in horticultural 
 business, being one of the early men to 
 raise berries and small fruits here until 
 his death, which occurred May 17, 1898, 
 his remains being interred in Dallas City 
 cemetery. At the time of his demise he 
 was a member of the Christian church, 
 and at one time was an Odd Fellow. The 
 mother of our subject still survives him 
 and is a hale and hearty lady of eighty- 
 nine years, now living in Scott county. 
 In their family were nine children, of 
 whom seven are yet living, namely : 
 Jacob C. ; George W., a department clerk- 
 in Washington, D. C. ; Theodosia, the 
 widow of George W. Ebey, living at 
 Winchester, Illinois; Miriam, the widow 
 of A. C. Dean and a resident of Gales - 
 burg, this state; John W., also living in 
 Winchester; Frances, the wife of James 
 A. Warren, a prominent lawyer of Win- 
 
 chester ; and Sarah, the widow of John 
 Kirkpatrick, living in Winchester. Of 
 this number John W. Balsley was a mem- 
 ber of the Sixty-first Illinois Volunteer 
 Infantry and took part in several engage- 
 ments, including the battle of Shiloh. He 
 served three years and then veteraned or 
 re-enlisted, after which he was captured 
 and sent to Andersonville prison, where 
 he was held until paroled at the close of 
 the war. George W. Balsley, another 
 brother, was also a member of the Sixty- 
 eighth Illinois Infantry, serving for three 
 months. 
 
 Jacob C. Balsley was a youth of fifteen 
 years when in company with his parents 
 he removed from Pennsylvania to Illinois. 
 He continued his studies in the schools of 
 Winchester. In 1861 he responded to the 
 country's call for .aid but because he was 
 under size his services were rejected, and 
 he turned his attention to the teacher's 
 profession, teaching in the country district 
 schools for several terms and also one 
 term in the city school. During this time 
 he also read law for a time in the office 
 of Knapp & Case. In 1863 he left home 
 to enter the government service on the 
 Mississippi river and went upon a govern- 
 ment transport for three months, but re- 
 turning home in September on account of 
 physical disability. 
 
 Subsequently Mr. Balsley entered the 
 postoffice at Winchester in 1863 and acted 
 as deputy postmaster there for three 
 years, and in 1866 and 1867 he was em- 
 ployed as a clerk in a drug store. . He 
 spent the succeeding seven years in the 
 office of G. W. Martin, then county clerk 
 at Winchester, as his deputy. He after- 
 ward entered the postoffice again for two
 
 146 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 years and he was the first to receive the 
 news of President Lincoln's assassination 
 and was in the postoffice at the time of 
 President Garfield's death. Later he 
 again engaged in teaching school in the 
 county of Scott and in 1891 he came to 
 Hancock county, settling in Dallas City, 
 being engaged with his father in the hor- 
 ticultural business until the time of the 
 latter's death. 
 
 On the 24th of July, 1898, Mr. Balsley 
 was married to Mrs. Elizabeth P. Price, 
 who was born in Adams county, Illinois. 
 Her father was of Gentian birth, while 
 her mother was a native of Covington, 
 Kentucky. The mother is still living in 
 Dallas City but the father, A. Padburg, 
 who was a cooper by trade, has departed 
 this life. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Padburg were nine children, seven of 
 whom are yet living, as follows : Mrs. 
 Balsley of this review; May, the wife of 
 Alston Giddings, near La Harpe, Illinois : 
 Ella, the widow of William Giddings and 
 who lives on a farm near Burnside, Illi- 
 nois ; John, who is engaged in the practice 
 of medicine at Francis, Indian Territory; 
 Charles, living in Dallas City; Alfred, a 
 student of medicine of Dallas City; and 
 Leah, the wife of Charles Hinckley, of 
 Dallas City. Mrs. Padburg is a member 
 of the Methodist church and Mr. Pad- 
 burg was a pioneer Mason. He came to 
 Hancock county in early life, being but 
 ten years 6f age when he crossed the At- 
 lantic to America. His eldest daughter, 
 Elizabeth, was married in 1878 to Frank 
 Frice, a native of Galena, Illinois, who 
 was a brick molder by trade and spent 
 much of his time in Nauvoo, Illinois. He 
 died August n, 1894, and was buried in 
 
 Dallas City, Illinois. In the family were 
 two children, of whom one is now living, 
 Frankie Myrtle, born in Dallas City, July 
 17, 1880, died April 4, 1895, and was 
 buried by the side of her father. Cleo A. 
 Frice, born in Dallas City March 3, 1886, 
 married Miss Sarah Wells, and is a clerk 
 in a grocery store in Dallas City. They 
 have one child, Genevieve, who was born 
 in Dallas City June 30, 1905. Cleo Frice 
 and his family live with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Balsley. 
 
 Following his father's death Mr. Bals- 
 ley remained upon the old home place, 
 which he inherited, from 1898 until 1902. 
 In the latter year he entered the postoffice 
 at Dallas City as assistant, there contin- 
 uing until 1905 and since that time he has 
 been employed as clerk in the Black & 
 Loomis lumber office. He is now serving 
 as assessor of his township. He has al- 
 ways been a republican and has firm faith 
 in the principles of the party and their 
 ultimate supremacy. His wife is a mem- 
 ber of the Christian church and with her 
 he attends its services. They reside in a 
 pretty home on Oak street and Mrs. Bals- 
 ley takes a very active part in church 
 work, serving as one of the teachers of 
 the Sunday-school and doing all in her 
 power to advance the various church ac- 
 tivities. Mr. Balsley is regarded as a 
 trustworthy citizen who discharges every 
 duty devolving upon him in prompt and 
 conscientious manner. He is a careful 
 and painstaking man and both he and his 
 wife stand high in the community where 
 they have made many friends and are 
 held in the highest esteem by all with 
 whom they come in contact, either in s >- 
 cial or business relations.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 WILLIAM L. KIMBROUGH. 
 
 William L. Kimbrough was born in 
 
 I Carthage township, where lie is now en- 
 gaged in farming. His natal day was 
 
 [ October 27. 1853, and his birthplace was 
 four miles east of the city of Carthage 
 
 I and about a quarter of a mile north. 
 
 : His parents were William R. and Eliza- 
 beth (Dale) Kimbrough, extended men- 
 
 I tion of whom is made elsewhere in this 
 volume. In the common schools of his 
 township the subject of this review ac- 
 quired his education. In the summer 
 months he aided in the work of the fields, 
 early becoming familiar with the task 
 
 i of plowing, planting and harvesting. He 
 remained upon the home place until 
 twenty-two years of age and then, leaving 
 the parental roof, started out in life on 
 his own account by working as a farm 
 hand at a salary of twenty dollars per 
 month. He was thus employed for some 
 time in the vicinity of La Harpe and on 
 his -marriage, December 28, 1874, he 
 rented a farm in Carthage township, 
 which he cultivated for a year. He after- 
 ward spent a year upon a rented farm in 
 Henderson county, Illinois, after which 
 he returned to Carthage township. An- 
 other year passed and he then went to 
 Nevada, working in the silver mines at 
 Austin and later at Leadville, Colorado, 
 for two years. When he again came to 
 Illinois he was employed at farm labor 
 by the month in Henderson county for 
 four years and with the capital he ac- 
 quired through his economy and industry 
 he then purchased eighty acres of land 
 on section 33, Carthage township, for 
 which he paid twenty-five hundred dol- 
 
 lars. Taking up his abode thereon he 
 made it his home for ten years and he 
 still owns the place, which, however, is 
 now being operated by his son. When 
 a decade had passed he rented a farm 
 from F.' M. Cutler, which he operated 
 for five years and then purchased the 
 present home farm of eighty acres on sec- 
 tion 22, Carthage township, which was 
 well improved. He also ow r ns forty 
 acres which he purchased from his father 
 on section 1 1 of the same township and all 
 of his land is under a high state of culti- 
 vation. His home is on section 22, where 
 he has a fine modern residence and other 
 good buildings in keeping with the model 
 farm of the twentieth century. His time 
 is devoted to the cultivation of the cereals 
 best adapted to soil and climate and also 
 to stock raising and both branches of his 
 business are proving profitable. 
 
 On the 28th of December, 1874, Mr. 
 Kimbrough was- married to Miss Mary 
 A. Butler, who was born in Monroe, 
 Green county, Wisconsin, April 26, 1857. 
 Her parents were Jesse and Elizabeth 
 (Tatham) Butler. Her father was born 
 in Zanesville, Ohio, April 13, 1826, a son 
 of Henry and Charity Butler, who re- 
 moved to the Buckeye state from Mary- 
 land. Jesse Butler was reared in Ohio 
 and on the nth of March, 1847, he 
 married Elizabeth Tatham, also a native 
 of Zanesville. About 1856 they removed 
 to Wisconsin, settling at Monroe, Green 
 county, where they lived upon a farm 
 until the autumn of 1864, Mr. Butler de- 
 voting his time and .energies to general 
 agricultural pursuits and sheep raising. 
 When eight years had passed he removed 
 with his family to a farm near La Harpe,
 
 148 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEIl" 
 
 Illinois, where he lived for about thirty 
 years, becoming one of the best known 
 and most enterprising agriculturists of 
 that locality. On selling his property he 
 took up his abode near Blencoe, Iowa, 
 where he lived for two years, when on 
 account of failing health he returned to 
 Illinois, making his home with his daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Kimbrough, until his death, 
 which occurred on the 3Oth of October, 
 1896, when he had reached the age of sev- 
 enty years, six months and seventeen days. 
 His widow still survives him and is now 
 living in Ellsworth, Iowa, with her 
 youngest daughter at the age of seventy- 
 seven years. Mr. Butler was a man of 
 genuine personal worth. While residing 
 in Wisconsin he announced his faith in 
 the Christian religion and ever lived a 
 life in harmony with his professions. He 
 was honest at all times, reliable in his busi- 
 ness transactions and faithful in his 
 friendships. Unto him and his wife were 
 born eight children, five of whom are 
 living, namely : Sylvester, of Holton, 
 Kansas; William L., of Stronghurst, Illi- 
 nois; Arthur V., of Monmouth, Illinois; 
 Mrs. Clara Van Zandt, of Roseville, Illi- 
 nois; Mrs. Charity Mesecher. of Blencoe, 
 Iowa ; and Mrs. Kimbrough. 
 
 The last named was the fourth in order 
 of birth in the family and was educated 
 in the schools of La Harpe, the academy 
 at that place and in the Normal course at 
 Carthage Cbllege. She engaged in teach- 
 ing for seven years in the schools of Han- 
 cock and Henderson counties and was 
 widely recognized as a capable educator. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kimbrough have been 
 born three children, of whom one, Jesse, 
 died in infancy. Clarence, born July 9, 
 
 1 8/6, resides upon his father's home farm 
 one section 33, Carthage township. He 
 was educated in Carthage and married 
 Miss Leah Coultas, who was born at 
 Winchester, Scott county, Illinois. They 
 have one child, Lottie.' The youngest 
 member of the Kimbrough family is 
 Arno, who was born December 17, 1891. 
 Mr. Kimbrough exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and meas- 
 ures of the Republican party but has never 
 been a politician in the sense of office 
 seeking. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kimbrough 
 are members of the Baptist church and 
 are interested in all that pertains to the 
 material, intellectual and moral progress 
 of their community. Mr. Kimbrough has 
 passed almost his entire life in Hancock 
 county, so that his record is well known 
 to his fellow citizens and in his life his- 
 tory there is much that is commendable 
 and worthy of emulation. 
 
 WILLIAM R. KIMBROUGH. 
 
 William R. Kimbrough. one of the 
 early settlers of Hancock county, residing 
 on his farm of eighty acres on section 1 1 , 
 Carthage township, is a native of Ken- 
 tucky, born in Todd county, January 24. 
 1830. He is a son of William and Susan 
 (Wyatt) Kimbrough, natives of Virginia, 
 whence they removed to Kentucky at an 
 early day. The father engaged in farm- 
 ing in Todd county until 1834. when he 
 brought his family to Hancock count}'. 
 Illinois, settling in Carthage township,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 where he purchased a farm of forty acres 
 east of the city of Carthage. He built 
 there a log cabin and began the develop- 
 ment of the property. He lived there 
 for some years and afterward sold the 
 farm, removing to a larger farm which 
 he rented. A number of years later he 
 took up his abode in Carthage, where he 
 lived retired, his death occurring there 
 when he was eighty-six years of age. He 
 was a member of the Baptist church and 
 a democrat in political views. A public 
 spirited man, he was an advocate of all 
 that tended to improve and advance the 
 community interests. He was also a 
 prosperous and progressive resident of the 
 county in his day and he was uniformly 
 respected. At the time of the war of 
 1812 he espoused the cause of his country 
 and served throughout the period of hos- 
 tilities. His widow, who was also a con- 
 sistent member of the Baptist church, sur- 
 vived him for a number of years and in 
 their family were fourteen children, who 
 grew to maturity, but William R. is the 
 only one now living. Both parents lie 
 buried in Seckman cemetery in Carthage 
 township. 
 
 William R. Kimbrough obtained his 
 education in a log schoolhouse, walking 
 six miles over the prairie to school. As a 
 young man he assisted his father upon the 
 home farm, remaining there until about 
 sixteen years of age, when he began work- 
 ing by the month as a farm hand in Carth- 
 age township. In 1853 he crossed the 
 plains to California, attracted by the gold 
 excitement there, journeying with horses 
 and ox teams, the party numbering six 
 men who had three teams. They were 
 about five and a half months in making 
 
 the trip and Mr. Kimbrough remained 
 in California for two years, his wife and 
 two children spending that time in Han- 
 cock county. As he was in limited finan- 
 cial circumstances upon his arrival he be- 
 gan operating a threshing machine at five 
 dollars per day. He was thus employed 
 during the fall, after which he drove cattle 
 across the country to the market and was 
 thus engaged until he returned to Illinois. 
 He had made his way to California with 
 the idea of mining but he did not spend 
 a day in the mines, being well satisfied 
 with the work which came to him and the 
 money which he obtained thereby. Fol- 
 lowing his return to Illinois in 1855 he 
 bought a farm southeast of Carthage in 
 Carthage township, comprising sixty 
 acres. Upon this he made his home for 
 twelve years, tilling the soil and raising 
 stock, after which he sold the place and 
 purchased his present farm on section n, 
 Carthage township. He has made his 
 home in this county for seventy-three 
 years and is one of its honored pioneer 
 residents. He put all of the improve- 
 ments upon his present farm, erecting a 
 large and substantial two-story frame 
 dwelling and also good barns and other 
 outbuildings, so that he now has a model 
 farm property. 
 
 In July, 1847, Mr. Kimbrough was 
 married to Miss Elizabeth Dale, who was 
 born in Woodfor.d county, Kentucky, a 
 daughter of Lunsford and Fanny (Bos- 
 ton) Dale, natives of Woodford county, 
 whence they came to Illinois, settling in 
 Morgan county. After some time they 
 came to Hancock county in 1846 and 
 located in Carthage township, where Mr. 
 Dale engaged in farming until his death.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 He and his wife and one daughter died 
 the same week of fever. They were sup- 
 porters of the Baptist church. Mrs. 
 Kimbrough was fourteen years of age at 
 the time she was left an orphan, after 
 which she lived with an uncle until her 
 marriage in 1847. She was born June 
 27, 1830, and is now seventy-six years of 
 age. She holds membership in the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal church and is a most 
 estimable lady. 
 
 Nine children have been born unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Kimbrough. James, who for 
 many years has been a railroad conductor 
 and resides in Denver, Colorado, married 
 Nora White and their children are James, 
 Frank and Corene. William L. is repr 
 resented elsewhere in this work. Sarah 
 Frances is the wife of Jefferson Koontz. a 
 son of John and Malinda (Smart) 
 Koontz, who were early settlers of this 
 county. Mr. and Mrs. Koontz own ninety 
 acres adjoining her father's farm. She 
 was first married to James Briley. who 
 after farming several years in Henderson 
 county removed to this county and fol- 
 lowed farming in Carthage township. 
 He died about seven years after their mar- 
 riage, leaving two sons and two daugh- 
 ters : Frank, a farmer of Carthage town- 
 ship, who married Ethel Ervin and has 
 one child, Thomas; Thomas, a resident 
 farmer of Iowa, who wedded Nellie Clay- 
 worth and has a daughter, Beulah : Esta, 
 the deceased" wife of Ralph Sowers : and 
 Elizabeth, the wife of Luther Earls, of 
 Carthage, by whom she has two chil- 
 dren. Joy and Blossom. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Koontz have been born five chil- 
 dren, three of whom are living : Fannie, 
 the wife of Wadsworth Earls, by whom 
 
 she has two daughters, Helen and Lois 
 Frances; Ross, at school; and Abba M. 
 Marinda Kimbrough. the fourth of the 
 family, is the wife of Roy Fletcher, of 
 Carthage, and had two children, 
 Charles and Blanche, the latter deceased. 
 Julia Kimbrough is the widow of 
 Thomas Ervin, who was a farmer 
 and stock buyer of Carthage town- 
 ship, and she has four children, Bruce, 
 Irene, Tressler and Thomas. George, a 
 railroad fireman on Colorado & South- 
 ern, of Denver, Colorado, married Clara 
 Swadley. Nellie Ann is the wife of 
 Henry Fleshman, proprietor of a restau- 
 rant at Hannibal, Missouri. By her 
 former marriage to John Rucker, who 
 was a farmer of Carthage township, she 
 had two children, Chloris and Rollin. 
 Thomas married Birdie Pennock and died 
 at the age of thirty-one years, leaving 
 three children, Velna, Shirley and Harlev, 
 who are living with their mother in 
 Carthage. 
 
 Mr. Kimbrough is a democrat in poli- 
 tics but has never cared for office. He 
 has seen many changes and improvements 
 made in the county which in his boyhood 
 days was a vast wild prairie, over which 
 roamed herds of deer and other wild 
 animals. He has seen the raw and un- 
 broken prairie land transformed into rich 
 fertile farms and has done his full share 
 to make the county what it is today one 
 of the richest and most productive farm- 
 ing districts of this great state. His life 
 has been a busy one, yet he has found 
 time to travel extensively throughout the 
 country and acquaint himself with his na- 
 tive land. He has just returned from a 
 visit to his old Kentucky home which
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 he left in childhood. Through persistent 
 effort and industry he has won" success 
 and has carefully reared his family, so 
 that they have become prominent and 
 influential members of society. 
 
 J. E. LOOP. 
 
 J. E. Loop, proprietor of a meat market 
 and also identified with the control of 
 municipal affairs as a member of the 
 board of city aldermen in Carthage, was 
 born in Hancock county, in 1858. his 
 parents being Simon and Rebecca 
 (Schenck) Loop. The father was born 
 in Virginia and the mother in Ohio. In 
 the year 1851, or 1852 Simon Loop, who 
 was a butcher by trade, removed to Han- 
 cock county and spent his remaining days 
 in Carthage, where he resided for thirty 
 years or more, passing away in March, 
 1882, while his wife died in 1896 and was 
 laid by his side in Carthage cemetery. 
 He voted with the Republican party but 
 had no desire for office. His religious 
 faith was that of the Methodist church, 
 while his wife belonged to the Presby- 
 terian church. In their family were seven 
 children, of "whom four are now living: 
 Mary, the wife of Samuel Camp, who re- 
 sides in Carthage ; Jennie, the wife of Wil- 
 liam Ward, of Adrian, Illinois; J. E., of 
 this review ; and James M., of this county. 
 Joseph, John and William Loop, uncles 
 of our subject, were soldiers of the Civil 
 war, enlisting from Ohio as defenders of 
 the L'nion. 
 10 
 
 Reared under the parental roof J. E. 
 Loop acquired his education in the public 
 schools of Carthage and then entered his 
 father's meat market, where he worked 
 for three years, acquiring a good, prac- 
 tical knowledge of the business. He was 
 afterward employed by other butchers 
 until 1895, when, ambitious to engage in 
 business on his own account he opened a 
 meat market, which he is still conducting 
 on Jefferson street. For a year or more 
 he was a partner of John Bertschi but is 
 now alone in business and has a well 
 equipped market well supplied with the 
 latest improved machinery for the care of 
 the meats. He keeps a high grade of 
 goods, for his patronage is constantly 
 growing. He also owns a small pasture 
 and a slaughter house. 
 
 In 1893 Mr. Loop was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Sarah J. Van Winkle, who 
 was born in Denver. Hancock county, 
 Illinois, a daughter of John and Catherine 
 (Shupman) Van Winkle. The parents 
 reside at West Point, Hancock county, 
 Illinois, and Mr. Van W r inkle is a farmer. 
 Of their family of five children four sur- 
 vive, as follows: Patience, the wife of 
 H. L. Price, of Carthage: Mrs. Loop; 
 Alice, the wife of Marion Mathews, living 
 in Augusta, Hancock county ; and Frank, 
 who lives in Hamilton, this county. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Loop have four children, all 
 born in Carthage township: Lloyd F., 
 Lola B., Lionel, James and Mary P., all 
 attending school. The parents hold mem- 
 bership in the Presbyterian church and 
 take an active and helpful part in its 
 work. Their home is in the northwest 
 part of the city. Mr. Loop is a repub- 
 lican and for the past two years has
 
 152 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 efficiently served as alderman. Frater- 
 nally, he is connected with the Knights of 
 Pythias and Independent Order of Odd 
 Fellows. He is entirely a self-made man, 
 who without family or pecuniary advan- 
 tages to aid him at the outset of his ca- 
 reer has battled earnestly and energetical- 
 ly. Modest in demeanor and in his de- 
 mands for public office, his friends, how- 
 ever, recognize his genuine worth and he 
 has a wide and favorable acquaintance 
 throughout the city and county and a 
 good trade in Carthage. 
 
 CHARLES B. LOFTON. 
 
 The students of history cannot carry 
 his investigations far into the annals of 
 Hancock county without learning of the 
 close, honorable and extended connection 
 of the Lofton family with the movements, 
 measures and business interests which 
 have promoted the growth and develop- 
 ment of this part of the state. The 
 grandparents of Charles B. Lofton 
 arrived in the '403 and Franklin Lofton, 
 an uncle of our subject, participated in the 
 Mormon war of 1844. He afterward 
 went to California at the time of the gold 
 excitement in that state, taking with him 
 ten or twelve men and a number of ox 
 teams. The grandfather was an active 
 factor in the early development of this 
 county, aiding in reclaiming the wild land 
 for the uses of civilization. He died 
 many years ago and was long survived 
 bv his wife, who bore the maiden name 
 
 of Elizabeth Seals. After her husband's 
 death she went to live with her son, Jef- 
 ferson Lofton, in whose home she died at 
 the very advanced age of one hundred and 
 two years and fourteen days, being the 
 oldest woman in the county at that time. 
 
 Jefferson Lofton, father of our subject, 
 was born in Washington county, Indiana, 
 in 1821 and was thus reared upon the 
 frontier, early becoming familiar with all 
 the hardships and experiences incident to 
 pioneer life. He removed to Hancock 
 county in 1848, settling upon a tract of 
 land of one hundred and sixty acres on 
 section 26, Dallas township. There was 
 only one house between his home and 
 Carthage at that time and only three 
 dwellings in Dallas City. The work of 
 improvement and progress seemed scarce- 
 ly begun and the most far sighted could 
 not have dreamed of the rapid changes 
 which were soon to take place and make 
 this district one of the leading counties 
 of a great commonwealth in which are 
 found all of the evidences of an advanced 
 civilization, together with the varied busi- 
 ness interests that denote material 
 progress and prosperity. Settling upon 
 his farm, he cleared the land for the erec- 
 tion of a home and then continued in the 
 work of improvement until he had de- 
 veloped a splendid property. His political 
 allegiance was given to the democracy and 
 he was prominent and influential in com- 
 munity affairs, holding a number of local 
 offices. He married Miss Elizabeth 
 Richardson for his first wife. They be- 
 came the parents of ten children, of whom 
 six are now living: Lavina, the wife of 
 Ferdinand Victor, of Kansas City, Mis- 
 souri ; Paulina, the wife of Jonah Gather,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 153 
 
 of Dallas City; Amanda, the wife of 
 Joseph Marshall, of Kansas City, Mis- 
 souri ; John, of Dallas City ; Franklin, 
 who came to Hancock county in 1840; 
 and Henry, who is living in Missouri. 
 After losing his first wife in 1855 Mr. 
 Lofton was married in 1861 to Miss 
 Sarah Merrill, who was born in Adams 
 county, Illinois, in 1841 and whose father 
 was a farmer of Hancock county. There 
 were twelve children in the Merrill family 
 but only two are now living, namely: 
 Mrs. Lofton ; and Mrs. Julia Hibbard, 
 who resides in Adams county, this state. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lofton were born 
 seven children, of whom three yet survive : 
 Rose is the wife of Fred Lavine, of Dallas 
 township, by whom she has two children, 
 Laveta and Lawrence; Manford, who 
 lives in Dallas township, and has two 
 children, Eldon and Beulah ; and Charles 
 B., of this review. Iva Lofton, the eldest 
 child of the second marriage, became the 
 wife of Mark Bailey and died May 23, 
 1905, in Chase county, Nebraska, leaving 
 seven children : Clara, Alta, Edna, Rose, 
 Velma, Gladys, Lafayette and George 
 Harlan. The father died April 6, 1901, 
 and was buried in the family cemetery on 
 his own farm but the mother is still living. 
 Charles B. Lofton has always lived 
 upon the old homestead farm where he 
 was born and now manages the place for 
 his mother. He was reared to the occu- 
 pation of farming and his practical ex- 
 perience in youth enabled him to carry on 
 the work with success when he assumed 
 the management of the property. He has 
 his fields under a high state of cultivation 
 and everything about the place is kept in 
 excellent condition. By his own efforts, 
 
 energy and honesty he has added many 
 comforts to the home place and has made 
 it a valuable farm property. He is a 
 well read man, keeping in touch with the 
 general interests of the clay and in manner 
 he is genial and jovial, having many 
 warm friends. His political allegiance 
 is given to the democracy and he has 
 served as supervisor of his township. 
 
 July 31, 1906, Mr. Lofton married Lola 
 G. High, of Fergusville, West Virginia. 
 She was born February 6, 1885, a daugh- 
 ter of John and Sarah (Hoffman) High. 
 The father was a merchant at Fergusville, 
 West Virginia, where he still lives. The 
 grandfather, Warner P. High, was one 
 of the oldest residents of Fergusville and 
 was a farmer by occupation, a republican 
 in politics as is also the father. Miss 
 High was reared at Fergusville and edu- 
 cated in the schools and continued to re- 
 side in that place until the time of her 
 marriage. 
 
 JACOB G. LUNG. 
 
 Jacob G. Lung is numbered among the 
 self-made men of Hancock county, who, 
 starting out in life without any special 
 family or pecuniary advantages, has 
 worked his way steadily upward, battling 
 earnestly and energetically and coming 
 off victor in the strife. He was born in 
 Germany April 6, 1859, a son of Got- 
 lieb and Kate (Say) Lung. The parents 
 were also natives of the fatherland and 
 were married there October 10, 1858. 
 They came to America when the subject
 
 154 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 of this review was only about a year old, 
 landing at New York, whence they made 
 their way to Ohio, where for some time 
 the father was employed as a day laborer. 
 He was born June 9, 1831, and passed 
 away in Ohio, while his wife, who was 
 born October 25, 1832, still survives him 
 and is now living in Dallas City. In their 
 family were three children : Christina 
 D., the wife of Fred Maurer, of Dallas 
 City ; Jacob G. ; and George, who died 
 at the age of eight months. 
 
 Jacob G. Lung was educated in the 
 public schools of Dallas City, having been 
 brought by his parents to this county 
 when a young lad. He remained with 
 his mother until after he had attained his 
 majority and as a companion and help- 
 mate for life's journey he chose Miss 
 Louisa Meunzenmeier. to whom he was 
 married on the 5th of April, 1885. She 
 was born in Eslingen, Germany, in 1862, 
 a daughter of Gotlieb and Margaret 
 Maurer Muenzenmeier. who were like- 
 wise natives of Germany, the former born 
 September 4, 1820, and the latter July 
 17, 1817. They came to America in 1882 
 and settled in Dallas, where Mr. Meunzen- 
 meier engaged in business as a gardener. 
 His wife died in 1897 and he passed away 
 in March, 1903, their graves being made 
 in Dallas cemetery. They were members 
 of the German Methodist Episcopal 
 church, to which the parents of Mr. Lung 
 also belonged. In the Meunzenmeier 
 family were four children : William, 
 now living in Germany ; Gotlieb, of Dallas 
 City ; Christian, who resides in Burling- 
 ton, Iowa ; and Mrs. Lung. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lung lived for several years upon a rented 
 
 farm in Durham township and in 1888 he 
 purchased seventy-eight acres of land in 
 the same township, upon which he erected 
 a house, making that farm his home for 
 nineteen years. He carried on general 
 agricultural pursuits and stock raising 
 and he brought his fields under a high 
 state of cultivation. In November, 1902, 
 be bought two hundred and ten acres of 
 land on section i, Dallas township, where 
 he now resides, and he has here a pretty 
 two-story frame residence. He has since 
 built a granary, a hen house and fences 
 and has added other modern improve- 
 ments to his farm. He still owns his 
 first farm, a part of which he now rents. 
 In his business life he has displayed un- 
 faltering energy and laudable ambition 
 and has thus worked his way upward to 
 success. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lung have been 
 born five children, four in Durham town- 
 ship and one in Dallas township. These 
 are: Laura, who was born August 17, 
 1886; Walter, May 17, 1888; Mark, May 
 25, 1890; Edith, February 29, 1896: and 
 Victor, February 6, 1902. The parents 
 are members of the German Methodist 
 Episcopal church, in the work of which 
 they take a very active and helpful part, 
 Mr. Lung serving as one of the church 
 trustees and also as a teacher in the Sun- 
 day-school. He votes with the Republi- 
 can party and has filled the office of 
 school director, the cause of education 
 finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. 
 Starting out in life empty handed, he has 
 through his perseverance and diligence 
 made steady progress toward the goal of 
 prosperity and today he is surrounded 
 by many of the comforts of life, secured
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 155 
 
 entirely through his own efforts. Both 
 he and his wife command and enjoy the 
 respect and esteem of the entire com- 
 munity. He bears an unassailable repu- 
 tation for straightforward dealing in his 
 business affairs and that he has been most 
 diligent is indicated by his present valu- 
 able farming possessions. 
 
 LEWIS SACK. 
 
 Lewis Sack, deceased, was a veteran of 
 the Civil war and a well known agri- 
 culturist of Rocky Run township. When 
 one has passed from the scene of earthly 
 activities it is common to review the life 
 record, note its salient characteristics and 
 draw lessons therefrom recording the fail- 
 ures or successes. In the record of Lewis 
 Sack there is found much that is com- 
 mendable and worthy of emulation, and 
 to his family he left not only a comfort- 
 able competence but also an untarnished 
 name, which comes to them as a priceless 
 heritage. A native of St. Charles county. 
 Missouri, he was born in 1840, and ac- 
 companied his parents on their removal 
 to Hancock county, the family home 
 being established in Rocky Run township, 
 where for some years the father followed 
 the occupation of farming. Both he and 
 his wife are now deceased. In their 
 family were eight children, six of whom 
 are living : Jacob, a resident of Warsaw ; 
 John, of California ; Charles, who resides 
 in Missouri ; William, of Rocky Run : 
 Louisa, the wife of Jacob Bradshaw, of 
 
 Burlington, Iowa ; and Delia, the widow 
 of Henry Herzog, late of Tioga, Illinois. 
 
 Lewis Sack is the second in order of 
 birth in this family and he began his 
 education in the public schools of St. 
 Louis, Missouri, while later he continued 
 his studies in Rocky Run township. To 
 his father he gave the benefit of his ser- 
 vices upon the home farm until after the 
 inauguration of the Civil war, when his 
 patriotic spirit was aroused and with loyal 
 impulse he responded to the country's 
 call, joining the boys in blue of Company 
 H, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regi- 
 ment of Illinois Infantry. He was in 
 the army for four years, during which 
 time he endured all the hardships, ex- 
 periences and privations meted out to the 
 soldier, and participated in many impor- 
 tant engagements which led up to the 
 final results of the war. 
 
 When hostilities had ceased and the 
 country no longer needed his aid Mr. 
 Sack returned to his home and resumed 
 farming. In 1869 he was married to 
 Miss Anna Eliza Weston, a native of Illi- 
 nois. They traveled life's journey to- 
 gether for about seventeen years, and 
 Mrs. Sack then passed away in 1886. Of 
 their five children four are still living: 
 Lillian, the wife of John Brenner, of 
 Iowa: Bertha, the wife of John Snyder, 
 of Quincy : Bertram, a twin of Bertha, 
 and Pearl, the wife of Harry Keith, of 
 Missouri, and Rhoda, now deceased. 
 
 In March, 1888. Mr. Sack was again 
 married, his second union being with Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Shaffner, who was born in Ger- 
 many in 1851, a daughter of George and 
 Louisa (Trautvetter) Mathes. Her par- 
 ents were natives of Germany and in her
 
 156 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV I EH' 
 
 childhood came to America. They were 
 residents of Kentucky in early life and 
 thence removed to Warsaw, Illinois, 
 where Mrs. Mathes died twenty-nine 
 years ago. Mr. Mathes, however, is still 
 living in Rocky Run township at the age 
 of eighty years. In his family were eight 
 children, six of whom survive : George, 
 who is living with Mrs. Sack; Fred, of 
 Warsaw; Rudolph, who resides in Rocky 
 Run township ; Mrs. Sack ; Henry, who is 
 with his father in Rocky Run township; 
 and Minnie, the wife of Frank Shair, also 
 on the old homestead with the father. 
 Mrs. Sack was fir'st married in 1871, be- 
 coming the wife of Jacob Shafrner, who 
 was born in Switzerland. His parents 
 both died in Germany. Coming to the 
 new world he was known for some years 
 as a thrifty farmer of Wilcox township 
 and he died there in 1886, leaving one 
 son. George J., of Rocky Run township 
 who married Miss Cora Gillham and has 
 two children. By her second marriage 
 Mrs. Sack had two children, twins, Bessie 
 May and Jessie Pay. The former is at 
 home but the latter died January 25. 
 1904, at the age of fourteen years, and 
 was buried in W r arsaw cemetery. She 
 died suddenly although she had long been 
 an invalid and during her illness had dis- 
 played a most sweet and lovable disposi- 
 tion, being a most patient sufferer, greatly 
 missed by all. 
 
 Mr. Sack was the owner of one hundred 
 and twenty acres of land in Rocky Run 
 township, whereon he built a comfortable 
 residence and one of the best barns in that 
 part of the county. He also put up other 
 good outbuildings and developed an ex- 
 cellent farm property, which is now in 
 
 possession of his widow. He was a re- 
 publican in politics and always stood 
 loyally by the party which was the de- 
 fense of the union at the time of the Civil 
 war and which has always been a party 
 of reform, progress and improvement. 
 An industrious man, frugal and careful, 
 he thus made a start in life and in later 
 years was enabled to enjoy more of life's 
 comforts and luxuries. In his business 
 affairs he was thoroughly reliable and 
 was never known to take advantage of 
 the necessities of his fellowmen in any 
 trade transaction. He was regarded as a 
 kind friend, a good neighbor and loyal 
 citizen, and thus his death was the occa- 
 sion of deep and wide spread regret, when, 
 on the 27th of November, 1900, he was 
 called to his final rest, his remains being 
 interred in Rocky Run township. Mrs. 
 Sack still survives her husband and re- 
 sides upon the farm but rents the land, 
 from which she derives a good income, 
 and she is comfortably situated in life. 
 
 R. E. GILLHAM. 
 
 R. E. Gillham, one of the substantial 
 farmers of Wilcox township, and a native 
 son of the county, was born in Rocky Run 
 township, January 13, 1855, and is a son 
 of John and Ann (Woodworth) Gillham. 
 The father was born in Kentucky in 1832, 
 and the mother was a native of Missouri. 
 When a young boy he came to Hancock 
 county, settling in Walker township, and 
 throughout the greater part of his life he
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 157 
 
 followed the occupation of farming. He 
 spent six years in California, where he en- 
 gaged in general agricultural pursuits and 
 also worked in the gold mines. He then 
 returned to his old home in Hancock 
 county and was identified with its agri- 
 cultural interests up to the time of his 
 demise which occurred in June, 1888. His 
 wife passed away in January, 1890, and 
 both were laid to rest in \Yarsaw ceme- 
 tery. Of their five children four yet sur- 
 vive, namely: R. E., of this review; 
 James, of Texas ; Lemuel, also in Texas ; 
 and Dr. Charles W. Gillham, of Warsaw, 
 Illinois. 
 
 The early educational privileges of R. 
 E. Gillham were obtained in the district 
 schools of Rocky Run township, and were 
 supplemented by a course of study in the 
 Warsaw high school. Nothing occurred 
 to vary for him the routine of farm life in 
 his boyhood days, and the practical train- 
 ing which he received in the work of the 
 fields proved of the utmost value when he 
 started out in life on his own account. 
 He was married January 14, 1875, to 
 Miss Anna M. Pell, who was born in 
 Michigan, August. 13, 1855, an d is a 
 daughter of John and Sarah Ann ( South- 
 well) Pell, both of whom were natives 
 of England. The mother, born Septem- 
 ber 21, 1835, was educated in London, 
 and when eighteen years of age crossed 
 the Atlantic to the new world. Mr. Pell, 
 who chose farming as a life work, fol- 
 lowed that pursuit for many years in 
 Lewis county, Missouri, where he passed 
 away, after which his widow became the 
 wife of Jacob Sack, who is still living in 
 Warsaw. Mrs. Sack, however, departed 
 this life. February 23, 1902. By her first 
 
 marriage she had three children, two of 
 whom survive, namely: Mrs. Gillham; 
 Halsey Pell, of Warsaw ; by second mar- 
 riage there are W,illiam Sack, also 
 of Warsaw; and Emma, the wife 
 of Thomas Daugherty, of Warsaw. 
 Robert Southwell, an uncle of Mrs. 
 Gillham on the maternal side, was a 
 soldier of the Civil war, enlisting from 
 Canton, Missouri, when he was eighteen 
 years of age to drive a team. He was 
 advanced to the position of clerk and 
 served throughout the war. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gillham has 
 been blessed with three children, all of 
 whom were born on the homestead farm 
 and the family circle yet remains un- 
 broken by the hand of death. Cora E., 
 the eldest, born November i, 1875, is the 
 wife of George Schaffner living in Rocky 
 Run township; and they have two chil- 
 dren, Carl Merle and Mary Jeannette. 
 Mary A., born May 24, 1882, is with her 
 sister. Herschel Edwin, born July 2, 
 1892, is now a student in the Warsaw 
 high school. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gillham began their do- 
 mestic life upon his father's farm, where 
 they resided until about fourteen years 
 ago, when the father died and Mr. Gill- 
 ham then purchased his present place on 
 section 28, Wilcox township, comprising 
 one hundred and eighty acres of rich and 
 productive land, on which he is still living. 
 He carries on the work of tilling the soil 
 after most progressive modern methods 
 and each step in his business career has 
 been a forward one. He likewise raises 
 stock and good grades of horses ; cattle 
 and hogs will be seen in his feed lots 
 and pastures. In the midst of a busy
 
 158 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 life he has found time and opportunity 
 to keep well informed on political ques- 
 tions and issues of the day, and he gives 
 his allegiance to the democracy. He has 
 served as school director, as highway 
 commissioner and as trustee of the 
 schools. In his business career he has 
 made a record such as any man might 
 be proud to flessess. for it is characterized 
 by sterling horie'sty and unfaltering fidelity 
 to a high s'taivefard of btisiness ethics. He 
 started at the bottom round of the ladder 
 of life and has steadily climbed upward. 
 Personally he is a large hearted man, 
 genial in disposition and kindly in manner 
 and both he and his wife are esteemed by 
 many friends throughout the township. 
 
 SAMUEL R. JONES. 
 
 Samuel R. Jones, whose home is pleas- 
 antly and conveniently located on sections 
 23 and 24, Carthage township, has one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land that is 
 well improved and in its conduct he dis- 
 plays thorough and practical knowledge 
 of the best methods of tilling the soil. A 
 native of Indiana, he was born in Putnam 
 county, January i, 1840. and there spent 
 the days of his boyhood and youth, living 
 upon the home farm of his parents. Carter 
 T. and Eliza (Roberts) Jones. Both 
 were natives of Kentucky and in early 
 life became residents of Indiana. Sub- 
 sequent to their marriage they resided in 
 Putnam county, where Carter T. Jones 
 engaged in farming for a number of years. 
 
 Later he returned to Kentucky, locating 
 in Shelby county, where he remained for 
 four years, when he came to Illinois, tak- 
 ing up his abode in Sonora township, 
 Hancock county, where the father pur- 
 chased a farm of one hundred and sixty 
 acres. This he improved, making it his 
 home until his death, which occurred 
 when he had reached the age of seventy- 
 two years. He was a member of the 
 Methodist church and was actuated by 
 high and lofty purposes and manly prin- 
 ciples. His political support was given 
 to the democracy but he had no aspira- 
 tion for office. His wife died in Indiana 
 at the age of forty-five years and he later 
 married Miss Mary Gilmore in Putnam 
 county, Indiana. She died in Chicago at 
 the home of her daughter in 1904. Of 
 the six children by the first marriage only 
 two are living, Samuel R. and William 
 R., of Oklahoma. By the second mar- 
 riage four are living, one son having died 
 in childhood. Those living are James 
 A., of Oakwood, Robert, of Washington, 
 Myra, now Mrs. Jeolidon, of Chicago, 
 and Frank, of Kansas. 
 
 Samuel R. Jones obtained his education 
 in the common schools of Putnam county 
 and as a young man assisted in the work 
 of the home farm, remaining under the 
 parental roof until 1863, which year wit- 
 nessed his arrival in Illinois. He first 
 settled in Fulton county, where he pur- 
 chased a small farm, residing there for 
 four years. He then removed to Cham- 
 paign county. Illinois, where he lived for 
 two years, and in 1869 he came to Han- 
 cock county, purchasing eighty acres of 
 land in Sonora township, which he farmed 
 for some time. He sold this and bought
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 159 
 
 a farm in Montebello township, compris- 
 ing one hundred acres, on which he lived 
 for five years. When he had again dis- 
 posed of his property he purchased his 
 present farm and has since lived thereon. 
 It was only partially improved when it 
 came into his possession and he has added 
 many modern equipments and accessories. 
 The fields are now well tilled and bring 
 him bounteous harvests, while the build- 
 ings are kept in an excellent state of re- 
 pair. He has engaged in general farming 
 and stock-raising all of his life and con- 
 centrated his energies upon his business 
 interests to the exclusion of active partici- 
 pation in politics although he gives the 
 support of his ballot to the men and meas- 
 ures of democracy. 
 
 Happy is his home life. Mr. Jones was 
 married September /, 1861, to Miss Sarah 
 Sublett, who was born in Putnam county. 
 Indiana, and is a daughter of David and 
 Mary (Marshall) Sublett. The father 
 was born in Kentucky and at an early 
 clay went to Indiana, taking up his abode 
 in Putnam county, where he followed 
 farming. That pursuit was his life work 
 and through his devotion thereto he pro- 
 vided a comfortable living for his family. 
 He died in Indiana at the age of seventy 
 years, while his wife passed away dur- 
 ing the early girlhood of Mrs. Tones, who 
 was one of a family of nine children. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born 
 seven children. Ida May. the eldest, is 
 the wife of William Crosby, a resident 
 farmer of Sonora township. Hancock 
 county, and they have . one daughter, 
 Hattie, who is the wife of Joseph 
 Shell, a farmer of Sonora township. 
 Carter T.. the second in order of birth. 
 
 follows farming in Spink county. 
 South Dakota, wedded May Smith, and 
 has three children, Robert, Floyd and 
 Ethel. Sophia is the wife of John 
 Sheets, also an agriculturist of Spink 
 county. South Dakota, and they have 
 one daughter, Madaline. Edward, who 
 is engaged in farming in Spink 
 county. South Dakota, wedded Amanda 
 Maginn, and has two children, Paul Alex- 
 ander and Opal. Albert is operating the 
 home farm. Jennie is the wife of Harvey 
 Goodrich, a resident farmer of Carthage 
 township and they have a daughter, 
 Helen. William died at the age of 
 twenty-one years. AH of the children 
 were born in Hancock county with the 
 exception of Ida and Carter, who are na- 
 tives of Fulton county. Mr. Jones has 
 seen many improvements made in Han- 
 cock county, which was just emerging 
 from pioneer conditions when he took 
 up his abode here. He has done his full 
 share in making the county what it is 
 today and though he has not sought to 
 figure in public life he has made a record 
 for good citizenship and for honesty in 
 business that is indicative of sterling prin- 
 ciples which are the motive power of his 
 actions. 
 
 HON. JOHN HAY. 
 
 It is given to few men to so fully realize 
 their ambitions as it was to Dr. Charles 
 Hay, father of John Hay, the nobility 
 of whose character is indicated in his 
 words, when in writing to one of his sons
 
 i6o 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV I EH' 
 
 upon his seventy-fifth birthday, he said, 
 "I have never been conscious of but one 
 ambition and that I have had all my days. 
 I have always wished to found a family; 
 I mean this of course not in any aristo- 
 cratic, still less in any plutocratic sense, 
 but I have hoped to leave behind me chil- 
 dren and children's children and the 
 greater the number the better I would be 
 pleased with whom intelligence, honor 
 and thrift would be matters of instinct 
 and tradition. I would prefer a certainty 
 of this in the future to any amount of 
 personal distinction for myself, if the 
 choice were left to me." 
 
 From such a stock sprang John Hay, 
 author, journalist and diplomat, and cer- 
 tainly the father's ambition found reali- 
 zation in the life of this honored son. 
 The other members of the family, too, 
 were a credit and honor to his name, but 
 in this review we have to deal more en- 
 tirely with the history of John Hay, who 
 rose to distinction through the inherent 
 force of character through the recog- 
 nition of opportunity and to a greater 
 extent, through the unfaltering de- 
 votion to duty and to high ideals 
 of citizenship which were ever recog- 
 nized as among his most salient char- 
 acteristics. He was born in Salem, 
 Indiana, October 8, 1838, and was fortu- 
 nate in that his youth and boyhood were 
 passed amid the environments of a home 
 of culture and refinement, his parents typi- 
 fying the very best in manhood and 
 womanhood. They realized the value of 
 education and spared no effort or expense 
 on their part to provide their sons and 
 daughters with every advantage in this 
 direction. He was but three years of age 
 
 at the time of the removal of the family 
 from Salem to Warsaw, Illinois, and he 
 began his education in the "little brick" 
 schoolhouse which still stands on Fourth 
 street in Warsaw and until within recent 
 years was yet in use for educational pur- 
 poses. During his early school clays he 
 was a diligent and studious boy, with a 
 taste for languages and composition and 
 versifying, and his sister. Mrs. Mary 
 Woolfolk, who still lives in Warsaw said, 
 "In his boyhood he had the habit of 
 stringing words together into rhymes." 
 He attended the little brick schoolhouse 
 until he reached the age of thirteen, learn- 
 ing literally all there was to learn from 
 Mr. Holmes and his successors. He sup- 
 plemented his studies in lessons of Greek 
 and Latin from his father. At the age 
 of thirteen he was sent to Pittsfield, Illi- 
 nois, to attend a private school for a year 
 and a half as a preparation for entrance 
 at Brown University, and when fifteen 
 years of age he became a student in that 
 institution, where he passed his examina- 
 tion in Greek and Latin so creditably that 
 his examiner made special inquiry as to 
 where he had received his preparation. 
 He answered with great pride that his 
 tutelage in ancient languages was from his 
 father. His education, however, was not 
 one continuous round of study but for 
 various reasons suffered interruptions. 
 Viewed from a financial standpoint per- 
 haps John Hay might be termed a self- 
 made man, for in his early youth his 
 father was in somewhat limited financial 
 circumstances, owning to the pecuniary 
 assistance which he had given to his 
 friends and which left him in a somewhat 
 crippled financial condition. In his youth.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 161 
 
 therefore, John Hay accepted a position as 
 newspaper carrier for the Warsaw Sig- 
 nal and his first literary productions, 
 written when a boy, appeared in that 
 paper, he being encouraged to do the 
 work by its editor, the late Thomas Gray. 
 Later, as before stated, he had the advan- 
 tages of a course of study in Brown Uni- 
 versity, .from which he was graduated 
 in 1858, and there he was a general fa- 
 vorite with class-mates and instructors, 
 promising, studious, quiet and reserved, 
 yet exceedingly loyal and steadfast in 
 friendship. 
 
 It was during his student days that he 
 produced certain poems and writings 
 which in later years made him a world- 
 famed author, although it was not until 
 several decades later that his innate mod- 
 esty permitted him to give these writings 
 to the public in published form. Mr. Hay 
 was graduated from the university in 
 1858 with high rank in scholarship. Dur- 
 ing the period between his return from 
 college and his .entrance into public life 
 his friends perceived in him an undercur- 
 rent of seriousness and religious enthu- 
 siasm. He had been reared in the Baptist 
 church but had leanings toward the Pres- 
 byterian faith and he appeared to have 
 entertained the idea of entering the minis- 
 try. At the time when his family wished 
 him to become a student of law he said 
 to one of his intimates "They would spoil 
 a second class preacher to make a third 
 class lawyer out of me." However, he 
 fell in with the plan of studying law but 
 before beginning his studies he passed 
 sometime at Pittsfield, Illinois, where 
 John Nicolay had a newspaper office. At 
 this time he made the acquaintance of 
 
 General Clark E. Carr, who afterward 
 served as minister to Denmark, and Gen- 
 eral Carr gives an account of their first 
 meeting in his recently published book, 
 The Illini. Describing a visit to Pitts- 
 field and his meeting with Mr. Hay, Gen- 
 eral Carr writes : ''A bright, rose- faced 
 young man arose and greeted us. I had 
 never seen a young man or boy who 
 charmed me as he did when he looked at 
 me with his mischievous hazel eyes from 
 under a wealth of dark brown hair." He 
 had just completed writing something at 
 the time the party entered the newspaper 
 office." Mr. Carr continues, "We all 
 joined in urging him to read what he 
 had written and he did so. I can give 
 only the substance of the editorial from 
 memory but I doubt whether its author 
 ever wrote a better one when editing the 
 New York Tribune. 
 
 John Hay took up the study of law in 
 the office of his uncle. Milton Hay, one of 
 the most distinguished attorneys that ever 
 practiced at the bar of Illinois, and a law 
 partner of Abraham Lincoln in his office 
 at Springfield. Becoming a student in 
 that office, Mr. Hay thus formed the ac- 
 quaintance of the martyred president. 
 The story of friendship has become a mat- 
 ter of history. The young man was in- 
 vited to continue his law studies in Mr. 
 Lincoln's office and he entered heartily 
 into the work of supporting the Illinois 
 presidential candidate during the cam- 
 paign of 1860. That his effective ser- 
 vice was appreciated by Mr. Lincoln is 
 shown by the fact that on going to 
 Washington the president invited Mr. 
 Hay to become assistant secretary to John 
 G. Nicolay, and from that time forward
 
 1 62 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ'IEU' 
 
 he was the able assistant of Mr. Lincoln 
 in important work having direct bearing 
 upon the administration and the nation. 
 He was entrusted with the bearing of 
 messages too momentous to commit to 
 paper. Although a warm admirer of 
 President Lincoln, it was with a certain 
 reluctance and regret that he had turned 
 from law to enter politics, but the great 
 leader of the Republican -party had 
 recognized his discernment, his judg- 
 ment, his tact and discretion, and realized 
 that his services might prove of utmost 
 value to him in Washington. He was 
 constantly with Mr. Lincoln in close con- 
 ference throughout the four years of his 
 administration save for the brief period 
 when he served, more as the president's 
 personal representative, on the staffs of 
 Generals Hunter and Gilmore and was 
 brevetted lieutenant colonel therefor. 
 Speaking of this period in the life of 
 Mr. Hay, Grandon Nevins has written 
 "No man in the president's official house- 
 hold was more overworked than the 
 young major. He slept when he could 
 and ate when he had the chance, and 
 when he was not at the front he lived at 
 the White House always at the call of 
 the president." 
 
 Mr. Hay was but twenty-six years of 
 age at the time of Mr. Lincoln's death 
 but so thoroughly had he proved his 
 worth that it was decided to retain him 
 in the employ of the government and 
 he was sent abroad first as secretary of the 
 legation at Paris under Minister Bige- 
 low, in which capacity he served from 
 1865 until 1867, while during the suc- 
 ceeding year he was charge d' affaires in 
 Vienna and later secretary of legation 
 
 at Madrid under Minister Sickles, where 
 he served until 1870. 
 
 About this time Mr. Hay gave proof 
 of public-spirited citizenship and lofty 
 patriotism in refusing a very advanta- 
 geous offer from Horace Greeley then 
 editor of the New York Tribune, saying 
 that he did not think it proper to turn 
 his work over to other hands until it was 
 completed. When he again found him- 
 self in his native country free to accept 
 the proffered position extended by Mr. 
 Greely he became editorial writer for the 
 New York Tribune. In the meantime, 
 however, he was for a few months con- 
 nected with the Springfield ( Illinois) 
 Journal, after which he succeeded Charles 
 Dana as editor of the Republican at Chi- 
 cago. For five years he was connected 
 with the New York Tribune, where he 
 demonstrated his right to rank with the 
 leading journalists of the country and also 
 as an author of considerable literary 
 merits and ability. It was at this period 
 in his career that he published the well 
 known poems, Jim Bludso and Little 
 Breeches, together with other verses 
 which were given to the public under the 
 title Pike County Ballads. His retire- 
 ment from the Tribune was followed by 
 his removal to Cleveland. Ohio, where he 
 remained for some years, and he declined 
 a most remunerative position offered him 
 as editor in chief of the New York 
 Herald, then published by James Gordon 
 Bennett. He was again for a brief period, 
 however, actively connected with journal- 
 ism, having charge of the New York 
 Tribune in 1881, during a brief absence 
 of Whitelaw Reid in Europe. Much of 
 his time during fifteen years was devoted
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 163 
 
 to the compilation and writing, in collabo- 
 ration with John G. Nicolay, of the vol- 
 ume entitled. Abraham Lincoln, A His- 
 tory, which is undoubtedly the most ex- 
 haustive, most accurate and authentic bi- 
 ography of the martyred president. As 
 a financial venture it was a. brilliant suc- 
 cess and moreover, it will always remain 
 the one authoritative work of the life of 
 Abraham Lincoln. The writings of Mr. 
 Hay have embraced a wide field, as he 
 was the author of various works, political 
 and otherwise, and many attribute to him 
 the authorship of a novel which appeared 
 anonymously in 1893 under the title of 
 The Bread Winners. His influence as 
 a journalist is immeasurable. In this 
 field of labor, however, he became recog- 
 nized as one of the master minds of the 
 nation, a man of great erudition and 
 learning, of broad investigation and origi- 
 nal thought. He never looked at great 
 questions effecting national and interna- 
 tional relations from a narrow, contracted 
 or partisan standpoint. He viewed the 
 whole subject broadly and the correctness 
 of his conclusions, time has demonstrated 
 and wisdom has acknowledged. 
 
 From his retirement in Cleveland, Mr. 
 Hay was called in 1879 to serve as as- 
 sistant secretary of state under Evarts 
 and continued in this office to the end of 
 the administration. It was sixteen years 
 later that lie was again in political office, 
 having, in March, 1897. been appointed 
 by President McKinley ambassador to 
 England. His diplomatic service is a 
 matter of history. Perhaps one secret 
 of his success lay in the fact that he recog- 
 nized while handling the affairs of in- 
 ternational importance he had to treat 
 
 with the individual and he displayed 
 a courtesy and a deference for the 
 opinions of others, while rigidly uphold- 
 ing his own honest convictions and views, 
 that won for him the warmest personal 
 regard and esteem. He managed inter- 
 national affairs during the Spanish-Amer- 
 ican war with a delicacy and tact com- 
 bined with force and discretion that 
 gained for the United States the support 
 of England, while England held in check 
 the other powers of the world. The then 
 Prince of Wales, now reigning sovereign 
 in England, recognized his great ability 
 and power and accorded him not only ad- 
 miration but strong personal friendship. 
 Near the close of the Spanish-American 
 war he returned to this country and be- 
 came secretary of state in the cabinet of 
 President McKinley, in which position he 
 was continued by President Roosevelt, 
 thus serving when stricken by death. Al- 
 though he secured the abrogation of the 
 Clayton-Bulwer treaty brought about by 
 reference of the most far-reaching ques- 
 tion in the recent Venezuela dispute 
 (priority in payment for a belligerent 
 claimant) to the international court of 
 The Hague and arranged for the peace- 
 able adjustment of the Alaskan boundary 
 question, he is known throughout the 
 world principally for the breadth and 
 foresight of his policy in Asia. His long 
 experience in the diplomatic service 
 coupled with his native abilities, his su- 
 perior attainments and his wholesome hu- 
 manity, of which he always possessed an 
 abundant store, made him not only a val- 
 uable man to the nation but to all the 
 world. He achieved much for his coun- 
 trv but more for all mankind and raised
 
 164 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 diplomacy out of the slough of deceit and 
 hypocrisy, placing it upon the high plane 
 of sincerity, integrity and plain dealing 
 and relegating to things obsolete and de- 
 testable and precepts and maxims of Tal- 
 leyrand, so long accepted as the essentials 
 of the successful diplomat. 
 
 There were other phases in the life 
 record of John Hay that perhaps were 
 not so well known. While in Europe in 
 the early days of his legation service he 
 mastered the French language, which he 
 spoke with fluency, and he became a lin- 
 guist of such superiority that one of the 
 leading educational institutions of Amer- 
 ica offered to him the chair of languages. 
 He was always a man of studious habits 
 and the breadth of his reading and the 
 extent of his knowledge were marvelous 
 but it was not these distinguishing char- 
 acteristics alone which won for Air. Hay 
 the position which he held in public re- 
 gard. There has been perhaps no man 
 in Washington or in diplomatic circles 
 more greatly loved because of his per- 
 sonal traits than John Hay. Nevins has 
 said, "To know John Hay was to love 
 him. His was one of those extremely 
 sensitive natures, which, combined with 
 firmness, go to make up the ideal man. 
 Of all the ambassadors and ministers sta- 
 tioned at Washington, not one, from the 
 Japanese minister, Mr. Takahira. to Mr. 
 Takahira's deadly political enemy, Count 
 Cassini, but was on terms of intimate 
 friendship with the American secretary, 
 and it was not merely these foreign dip- 
 lomats who were drawn irresistibly to- 
 ward this magnetic man, his cabinet 
 associates, his subordinates in the state 
 department, his social acquaintances 
 
 every one regarded him with deep affec- 
 tion. No man in all Washington was the 
 object of more general affection than was 
 Mr. Hay." 
 
 Reared in a home where all that is 
 ideal in the family relation found ex- 
 emplification, it was not surprising that 
 John Hay, like his father, found his 
 greatest source of pleasure at his own fire- 
 side. He was married in 1874 to Miss 
 Clara L. Stone, a daughter of Amasa 
 Stone, a wealthy and prominent citizen 
 of Cleveland, Ohio, and his reply "All 
 through life," to the question of a friend 
 on the night of his bachelor dinner : 
 "How long is the honeymoon going to 
 last, Hay ?" proved most true. The mar- 
 riage was blessed with four children and 
 those who knew Mr. Hay most intimately 
 recognized the fact that his great sorrow 
 over the death of his son, Adelbert, who 
 was killed by falling from a window in 
 New Haven on the eve of the Yale com- 
 mencement, proved a blow from which 
 he never recovered. He withdrew him- 
 self from social life from that time sa- T e 
 when it was demanded in his official 
 capacity. He spent his evenings with 
 Mrs. Hay, between whom there existed a 
 most ideal companionship. His daugh- 
 ter, Helen, is now the wife of Payne 
 Whitney, while Alice is the wife of James 
 W. Wadsworth, Jr., and it was to Mr. 
 Hay a matter of great rejoicing that his 
 daughters as he expressed it, "had been 
 sought by two American princes of whose 
 titles to nobility I am prouder than I 
 would be of those that come from royal 
 ancestry." For several months prior to 
 his demise Secretary Hay was in ill health 
 and sought relief through travel and med-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 ical attendants in Europe. He returned 
 to Washington to take up again the active 
 work of the business of his department 
 and the discussion with the president of 
 important pending questions. But the 
 tide of life was ebbing fast away and at 
 his summer home on Lake Sunapee, New 
 Hampshire, his labors were brought to a 
 close on the first of July, 1905. when he 
 was in the sixty-seventh year of his age. 
 Xo man in public life perhaps has had 
 so few enemies. Even those opposed to 
 him politically entertained for him the 
 warmest personal regard and admiration. 
 It is said that he never forgot a friend ; 
 the playmates of his boyhood, the asso- 
 ciates of his early manhood, those with 
 whom he labored in diplomatic circles, 
 in journalism, and in the department of 
 state were alike remembered through all 
 the years with their added responsibili- 
 ties and honors. His life record finds 
 embodiment in the words of Pope : 
 
 "Statesman, yet friend to truth ; of soul 
 
 sincere, 
 
 In action faithful and in honor clear ; 
 Who broke no promise, served no private 
 
 end. 
 Who gained no title and who lost no 
 
 friend." 
 
 HENRY W T EBER. 
 
 Henry Weber, who for many years was 
 an active, energetic and prosperous farm- 
 er of Hancock county, spent the last year 
 
 of his life in honorable retirement from 
 labor in Carthage, passing away on the 
 23d of October, 1905. As the day with 
 its morning of hope and promise, its 
 noontide of activity, its evening of ac- 
 complished and successful effort, ending 
 in the grateful rest and quiet of the night, 
 so was the life of this man. Born in 
 Appanoose township, Hancock county, on 
 the 1 7th of September, 1858, he spent his 
 entire life in this part of the state. His 
 parents were Samuel and Rosa (Bertchi) 
 Weber, both of whom were natives of 
 Switzerland, coming to America about 
 fifty years ago. The father, who was 
 born in March, 1816, was a baker by 
 trade, learning and following that pur- 
 suit in his native country, but in Han- 
 cock county he turned his attention to 
 farming. He died about 1892, at the age 
 'of seventy-six years, his .remains being 
 interred in a cemetery in this county. 
 Both he and his wife were devoted Chris- 
 tian people, holding membership in the 
 Methodist Episcopal church. After the 
 father's death the mother remained upon 
 the home farm with her children until 
 they were all married and then went to 
 Fort Madison, Iowa, to live with one of 
 her daughters. Eleven children survive 
 the father, namely : Rosa, the wife of 
 Charles Buerich, of Manier. Illinois ; 
 Fred, who is living in Denmark, Iowa ; 
 Carrie and Will, twins, the later living 
 near Nauvoo, while the former is the wife 
 of David Seguin, of Fort Madison, Iowa ; 
 Elizabeth, the wife of J. McKaig, of Fort 
 Madison ; Mary, the wife of Alva Cowles, 
 of Fort Madison; Henry of this review: 
 Albert, of Headlin, Missouri ; Sophia, the 
 wife of Herman Hess, of Neota, Illinois;
 
 1 66 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and John and Edith, twins, the former 
 a resident of Lebanon, Nebraska, while 
 the latter is the wife of Reuben Hummel, 
 of Nauvoo. 
 
 Henry Weber of this review was edu- 
 cated in the district schools of Nauvoo, 
 Illinois, and remained upon his father's 
 farm until he had attained his majority. 
 On the 3d of January, 1884, he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Sarah Luella Thomas, who 
 was born in Sonora township, Hancock 
 county, February 23, 1855, a daughter of 
 Isaac T. and Louisa (Nichols) Thomas, 
 both of whom were natives of Kentucky. 
 The father was a farmer and took up 
 his abode in Hancock county, Illinois, 
 about fifty-three years ago, settling on a 
 tract of land in Sonora township, where 
 for many years he carried on general 
 agricultural pursuits. His death occurred 
 in 1899 and his remains were interred in ' 
 that township. His widow, who is two 
 years his junior, is living in Carthage.. 
 Illinois. Mr. Thomas was a democrat 
 in politics and served as school director 
 and in other local offices. He belonged 
 to the Christian church, of which he was 
 a deacon and elder and he was widely 
 known as a worthy citizen, faithful in 
 friendship and loyal to his home ties. 
 He was a large landowner, prospering 
 in his business undertakings until he had 
 six hundred acres of land at the time of 
 his death. Mrs. Thomas also belongs to 
 the Christian church. In the family of 
 this worthy couple were nine children, of 
 whom six are now living, namely : Lil- 
 burn Thaddeus, who married Elizabeth 
 Honce, of Elvaston ; Laura, a twin sister 
 of Lilburn and now living with her 
 mother ; William Henry, who died in Feb- 
 
 ruary, 1904; Mrs. Sarah Luella Weber; 
 Naomi Jane, who is with her mother: 
 Martha Emily, the wife of Orville Honce, 
 of Montebello township; James Harvey, 
 also at home; George Milton, who died 
 at the age of two and a half years ; and 
 Purliett, now deceased. 
 
 At the time of their marriage Mr. and 
 Mrs. Weber began their domestic life 
 in Appanoose township, where they lived 
 for a year and then removed to a farm in 
 Montebello township, where they resided 
 for five years. Later they spent a year 
 and a half upon a farm west of Ferris, 
 taking up their abode there in 1890 and 
 making it their place of residence until 
 1904. He remodeled the house, built a 
 fine barn and all the necessary outbuild- 
 ings for the shelter of grain and stock 
 and was always very successful in his 
 business affairs. He raised stock quite 
 extensively and this branch of his business 
 proved profitable. Coming to Carthage 
 in November, 1904, he retired from active 
 life on account of ill health, having had 
 to leave his farm for two seasons pre- 
 vious to this. He purchased a beautiful 
 modern home on North Main street, 
 where his widow now resides and there 
 he spent his remaining days. He was 
 in ill health for about four years prior 
 to his death and was a great sufferer dur- 
 ing the last year and a half. He died 
 October 23, 1905, his remains being in- 
 terred in Moss Ridge cemetery. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Weber were born 
 but two children, both born in Hancock 
 county, namely: Grace May, the wife of 
 Frank Thornberg. who is living on her 
 father's old farm near Ferris ; and Jessie 
 Viola, the wife of Dr. Claude Thomas,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 167 
 
 a practicing dentist of Keokuk, Iowa. 
 They have one child, Lowell Weber 
 Thomas. 
 
 Mr. Weber started out in life empty 
 handed, his possessions consisting at the 
 age of twenty-one years of but one horse. 
 He possessed instead good mental and 
 physical activity and his energies and 
 labor brought to him gratifying success, 
 making him one of the substantial citizens 
 of the community. He was never known 
 to take advantage of the necessities of 
 his fellowmen in any business transac- 
 tion, but was straightforward and reliable 
 in all his dealings and thus won the un- 
 qualified confidence of those with whom 
 he was associated. He was a devoted 
 member of the Christian church, in which 
 his wife still holds membership and for 
 a number of years he served as deacon of 
 the church at Ferris. In politics he was 
 a stalwart democrat and filled the posi- 
 tions of township trustee and road su- 
 pervisor, while for several years he was a 
 school director. A man of quiet and 
 unokrusive nature and at all times un- 
 ostentatious in his demeanor, his genuine 
 personal worth nevertheless gained him 
 the esteem and honor of all with whom he 
 was associated. He was interested in 
 the welfare of the community, was a good 
 neighbor, a kind husband and loving 
 father. His name was above reproach, 
 for his religious belief permeated his 
 everyday life and actions. His word 
 was as good as any bond ever solemnized 
 by signature or seal and he stood high 
 in public estimation. He left behind an 
 honored name and a memory that will 
 long be cherished, not only by his im- 
 mediate family but also by many who 
 ii 
 
 knew him. Mrs. Weber still resides in 
 her beautiful home in Carthage and in 
 addition owns the old home farm and 
 forty acres of good land in Sonora 
 township. 
 
 EUGENE ADRIAN WALLACE. 
 
 Eugene A. Wallace, one of the most 
 enterprising and highly respected agricul- 
 turists of Durham township, is a native 
 of Missouri. He was born in Knox 
 county February 20, 1874, of the mar- 
 riage of James H. and Nancy L. (Lati- 
 mer) Wallace. Both parents were natives 
 of Kentucky and the mother is still living 
 in Missouri but the father passed away 
 in 1873. He was a minister of the Chris- 
 tian church while living in Kentucky and 
 his life was a potent influence for good in 
 the various communities where he resided. 
 In the family were four children : Ida 
 E., the wife of Henry Childers, of Mem- 
 phis, Missouri ; Mary, deceased ; Alvin 
 E., of Chicago; and Eugene A., of this 
 review. 
 
 In the public schools of Missouri 
 Eugene A. Wallace acquired his educa- 
 tion. He remained upon the home farm 
 until nearly twenty-one years of age, his 
 time being largely occupied with the 
 duties and labors of the fields. After 
 arriving at man's estate he was married 
 on the I2th of September, 1900. to Miss 
 Martha Byler, who was born March 24, 
 1871, in the house which is now her home. 
 Her parents were Jacob and Martha 
 (White) Byler. Her father was born
 
 1 68 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 in McMinn county, Tennessee, February 
 23, 1830, and when but five years of age 
 was brought to Illinois by his parents, who 
 settled in Adams county. He was reared 
 to the occupation of farming and at the 
 age of twenty-four years came to Han- 
 cock county, taking up his abode on a 
 farm of one hundred and sixty acres of 
 prairie land in Durham township, which 
 he cleared. Here he built an attractive 
 residence which he yet occupies, together 
 with Mr. and Mrs. Wallace. As the 
 years passed his labors brought him a 
 good financial return and, making further 
 investment in property, he is now the 
 owner of four hundred and forty acres 
 of valuable land and his farm is one of 
 the best in Durham township. He made 
 many excellent improvements thereon and 
 has long been known as an enterprising 
 agriculturist and good citizen, as honest 
 as the day is long. In his political views 
 he is a stalwart democrat and he is a 
 member of Dallas City Lodge, No. 235, 
 also a member of Dallas Chapter, R. & S. 
 M., as well as of the Council of Dallas 
 City. All who know him esteem him 
 for his genuine worth and he well de- 
 serves mention among the representative 
 men of Hancock county. In 1896 he 
 was called upon to mourn the loss of his 
 wife, who died on the 4th of September 
 of that year and was laid to rest in Union 
 cemetery adjoining the home farm, which 
 tract of land Mr. Byler deeded to the 
 trustees for cemetery purposes. Unto 
 this worthy couple were born nine chil- 
 dren, of whom five are now living; Wil- 
 liam H., who resides near Wheeling, Mis- 
 souri ; Andrew J., of Dallas City; Laura, 
 the wife of Adolph Herweg, a resident 
 
 of Nebraska ; Sarah, the wife of Humbert 
 Vass, of Durham township ; and Mrs. 
 Wallace. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Wallace took up their abode upon her 
 father's farm, for her mother had passed 
 away and they took charge of the home 
 and farm for the father. Mr. Wallace 
 rents the land and he has made many 
 improvements upon the property, which 
 presents a splendid appearance, being one 
 of the best farms of Durham township. 
 Large and substantial outbuildings have 
 been erected for the shelter of grain and 
 stock and everything is in keeping with 
 ideas of modern agricultural progress. 
 He built a barn, sixty by seventy feet, 
 for hay and cattle and also a hog house 
 at an expense of three hundred dollars. 
 This is one of the best in the county. 
 Everything about the place is kept in neat 
 and thrifty condition and Mr. Wallace 
 is regarded as a most enterprising and 
 successful farmer. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born three children, but Beulah Vi- 
 ola, the eldest, who was born December 
 15, 1901, died September 13, 1902. 
 Pearl Irene, born May I, 1903, and 
 Herman Le Roy, born November 28. 
 1905, are both living. All of the children 
 were born in the same house where their 
 mother's birth occurred. The parents 
 are consistent and valued members of the 
 Christian church and Mr. Wallace is con- 
 nected with the Modern Woodmen of 
 America, while his political allegiance is 
 given to the democracy. He occupies 
 an enviable position in agricultural circles 
 and has made a creditable record. Mr. 
 Bvler, the father of Mrs. Wallace, is a
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 169 
 
 self-made man, who in an early day paid 
 about five hundred dollars for his farm. 
 Neither Mr. Byler nor Mr. Wallace ever 
 inherited anything of any consequence 
 and the success of both gentlemen is due 
 to their own energy, perseyerance and 
 capable management. They are highly 
 esteemed in the community and both have 
 a host of warm friends. Mr. Byler 
 worked his way steadily upward from 
 a humble financial position to one of 
 affluence, being now recognized as a 
 wealthy resident of the county, and Mr. 
 Wallace is displaying the same sterling 
 traits of character, which promise well 
 for his future success. 
 
 JACOB P. LA MONTE. 
 
 The stock raising interests of Hancock 
 county find a worthy representative in 
 Jacob P. La Monte, who is engaged in 
 raising black Galloway cattle, good horses 
 and Duroc Jersey and Poland China 
 hogs. His business interests are carefully 
 conducted and he carries on general farm- 
 ing in addition to his stock interests. Mr. 
 La Monte has now passed the seventy- 
 eighth milestone on life's journey, but yet 
 gives active supervision to his business 
 affairs. His birth occurred in Schoharie 
 county, New York, in the town of Char- 
 lotteville, October 15, 1827, and he is a 
 representative of one of the old families 
 of the Empire state. His paternal grand- 
 parents were William and Jane (Stilwell) 
 La Monte, who were born on Long Is- 
 
 land. The grandfather was a represen- 
 tative man, active and successful in busi- 
 ness. He followed merchandising, also 
 owned and operated a water mill and 
 dealt in land. He also held various prom- 
 inent official positions in the county in 
 which he lived and was a very influential 
 resident of his section of Long Island, 
 where his death occurred. His wife be- 
 longed to one of the most representative 
 families of that island. Their son, 
 Thomas W. La Monte, was born in New 
 York and having arrived at years of ma- 
 turity was married to Miss Elizabeth M. 
 Payne, likewise a native of that state 
 and a daughter of Jacob and Lucy 
 (Austin) Payne, natives of New York 
 and of New England respectively. The 
 maternal grandfather was a farmer by 
 occupation. He held membership in the 
 Baptist church and was a strong temper- 
 ance man and was recognized in his com- 
 munity especially in those lines of activity 
 resulting in intellectual and moral prog- 
 ress. All of the grandparents of Mr. La 
 Monte of this review, as well as his par- 
 ents, lie buried at Charlotteville, New 
 York. 
 
 Jacob P. La Monte is the eldest in a 
 family of six sons and seven daughters. 
 His brother, George, who was engaged 
 in paper manufacturing in New York, 
 invented the safety banking paper and 
 now has a large establishment in New 
 York city. Four sons and three daugh- 
 ters of the family are yet living. 
 
 In the state of his nativity Mr. La 
 Monte of this review spent his boyhood 
 days and acquired a district-school educa- 
 tion. He began teaching when only sev- 
 enteen years of age and followed the pro-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ'IEU' 
 
 fession for four years during the winter 
 seasons and for one summer term. Sub- 
 sequently he turned his attention to agri- 
 cultural pursuits upon the farm which he 
 had purchased in the town of Davenport 
 in Delaware county, New York, compris- 
 ing two hundred and twenty-seven acres 
 of land. There he carried on farming 
 for some time, but at length traded his 
 property and made a sale, for he had come 
 to the west in 1854 and decided to locate 
 in Montebello township, Hancock county, 
 Illinois. Here he took up his abode in 
 1855. He traded his property in the east 
 for five buggies and one two horse car- 
 riage and in the spring of 1856 all these 
 were shipped to Keokuk, where he sold 
 all of them with- the exception of one 
 which he kept for several years for his 
 own use and then disposed of it for more 
 than he gave for it. On coming to Han- 
 cock county he invested in one hundred 
 and sixty acres of land in Wythe town- 
 ship which he afterward sold, but he has 
 acquired more land from time to time 
 in Montebello township until he has five 
 hundred acres in all, the entire amount 
 lying within the city limits of Hamilton. 
 Upon his farm in Wythe township he had 
 the best orchard in that part of the county 
 and in 1875 he set out an orchard of 
 apples and peaches, covering thirty acres. 
 He carries on general farming and in ad- 
 dition is quite extensively engaged in 
 stock raising, making a specialty of 
 horses, black Galloway cattle and Duroc 
 Jersey and Poland China hogs. He is 
 thoroughly familiar with the best methods 
 of cultivating the soil and raising stock 
 and his business interests have been so 
 carefully conducted that although he 
 
 started out in life empty handed he is now 
 one of the substantial citizens of his 
 adopted county. 
 
 On the gth of March, 1848, Mr. La 
 Monte was married to Miss Elizabeth 
 Ruth Hinman, who was born in Delaware 
 county, New York, and was educated in 
 Cazenovia Seminary of that state. Her 
 parents were Amos and Electa (Clark) 
 Hinman, natives of New York, the 
 former a son of Titus Hinman and the 
 latter a daughter of David Clark, both 
 of New York state. There was one child 
 born unto Mr. and Mrs. La Monte, \\e\- 
 lington, whose birth occurred in 1851 and 
 who died in Hamilton in 1893. The wife 
 and mother died about 1871 and in Jan- 
 uary, 1877, Mr. La Monte married Ce- 
 celia Wiggenton, who was born in La- 
 Grange, Lewis county, Missouri, and was 
 educated in a convent in St. Louis. She 
 was one of the finest musicians in this 
 part of the country. At the time of her 
 marriage to M*r. La Monte she was a 
 widow and had one son, Weston At- 
 wood, who is now engaged in the lumber 
 business in the city of Oklahoma. She 
 died about fourteen years ago. 
 
 Mr. La Monte exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and 
 measures of the Republican party, but has 
 never been a politician in the sense of 
 office seeking. He has. however, held 
 office in the Methodist Episcopal church, 
 of which he is a devoted and loyal mem- 
 ber. He has acted as steward of the 
 church and for about ten or fifteen years 
 was superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
 He has lived a life of uprightness and 
 honor and therefore can look back over 
 the past without regret. Few men of his
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 171 
 
 years continue actively in business, but 
 in spirit and interests he seems yet in 
 his prime and possesses much of the vigor 
 and enterprise of many a man of much 
 younger years. 
 
 WILLIAM A. BIDEAUX. 
 
 William A. Bideaux, who is engaged in 
 farming in Durham township, in which 
 locality he was born in 1868, is a son of 
 Francis and Catherine (Whistler) 
 Bideaux and in the paternal line comes 
 of Scotch ancestry. The father was born 
 in Stark county, Ohio, December 26, 
 1838, and was married on the 5th of Oc- 
 tober, 1862, to Catherine Whistler. He 
 was a carpenter by trade and took up 
 his abode in Hancock county over a half 
 century ago. For a long- period he was 
 identified with building operations but in 
 his later life he carried on farming, mak- 
 ing his home in Durham township. There 
 his death occurred on the gth of January, 
 1895. He was an honest, upright man, 
 possessing the confidence and trust of all 
 who knew him. Conscious that death 
 was approaching, he made his peace with 
 God and bade adieu to friends and family. 
 He was a loving husband, a good father 
 and a kind hearted neighbor and he left 
 behind an example that is in many re- 
 spects well worthy of emulation. Mrs. 
 Bideaux still survives her husband and 
 is a resident of Rock Creek township. In 
 the family were eight children : Delia, 
 now the wife of Thomas Shaw, of Dallas 
 
 township; Emma, the wife of William 
 Worden, of Fort Madison, Iowa ; Wil- 
 liam A., of this review; Frank, who is 
 living in Utah ; Kate, the wife of Lemuel 
 Bartlett, of Durham township ; Jacob and 
 French, both of whom are residents of 
 Dallas City; and Lina, who was the wife 
 of Carl Mendenhall, of Colusa, and died 
 in January, 1905, her remains being 
 interred in Myers cemetery. There were 
 two children of that marriage, Carl and 
 Catherine, and they and their father now 
 live with Mrs. Bideaux, mother of our 
 subject. 
 
 William A. Bideaux was educated in 
 Durham township as a public-school 
 student and assisted in the work of the 
 home farm until after he had attained his 
 majority. As a companion and help- 
 mate for life's journey he chose Miss 
 Henrietta Harris, whom he wedded Oc- 
 tober 9, 1892. She was born in Durham 
 township in 1874, a daughter of Eusebius 
 and Rebecca (Avery) Harris, both of 
 whom were natives of Illinois and now 
 residents of Monmouth, this state. Man- 
 ford Harris, the oldest brother of Euse- 
 bius Harris, was a soldier of the Civil 
 war and her grandfather Avery was in 
 the war of 1844 when the Mormons were 
 expelled from Hancock county. Eusebius 
 Harris followed farming in Durham 
 township, this county, until 1901, when 
 he' practically retired from business life 
 but now conducts a barber supply house 
 in Monmouth. He has voted the re- 
 publican ticket since the organization of 
 the party and in this county was. recog- 
 nized as a most worthy and respected citi- 
 zen. Unto him and his wife were born 
 four children: Cora, at home; Mrs.
 
 172 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ'IEJl' 
 
 Bideaux ; Guy, who is living near Adrian, 
 Illinois ; and Bertram, "of Monmouth. 
 
 Mr. Bideaux spent the first two years 
 of his married life as a farmer near 
 Colusa and after a residence of several 
 years upon various farms he located in 
 Durham township in 1899 anc l ^ ias si nce 
 made his home here. Unto Mr. nad Mrs. 
 Bideaux have been born three children : 
 Lawrence, who was born in Pilot Grove 
 in 1893; Virgil, in Dallas township in 
 1896; and Cecil, in Durham township in 
 1899. 
 
 Mr. Bideaux exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and meas- 
 ures of the Republican party. He and 
 his wife have worked together persist- 
 ently and energetically in order to make a 
 start in life and gain a comfortable com- 
 petence and the qualities which they have 
 displayed are such as commend them to 
 the confidence and good will of all with 
 whom they have been brought in contact. 
 
 GEORGE A. TRAUTVETTER. 
 
 George A. Trautvetter is a retired 
 farmer residing in Warsaw and he has 
 valuable and extensive landed possessions, 
 which are an indication of his well spent, 
 active and honorable business life. He 
 derives therefrom a handsome income 
 that enables him now to put aside further 
 business cares and to enjoy in quiet the 
 fruits of his former toil. A native of 
 Germany, he was born in Saxony on 
 the 1 6th of August, 1842, a son of John 
 
 George and Sophia Elizabeth (Derle) 
 Trautvetter, who were likewise natives 
 of Germany, whence they sailed for 
 America in 1853, landing at Baltimore, 
 Maryland, on the 3d of July, after forty- 
 nine days spent upon the water as pas- 
 sengers on one of the old-time sailing 
 vessels. The father was a miller by 
 trade, and making his way from the east 
 into the interior of the country, he settled 
 on section 3, Rocky Run township, Han- 
 cock county, Illinois, where he resided 
 continuously until June, 1870. He then 
 returned to his native country for a visit 
 and there died in the fall of 1871, his re- 
 mains being interred at Rota, Germany. 
 His wife, who was born in 1808, passed 
 away in this county at the age of seventy- 
 seven years and was buried in Tioga, 
 Walker township, cemetery. Mr. Traut- 
 vetter was seventy-one years of age at 
 the time of his demise, his birth having 
 occurred in 1 799. They were the parents 
 of five children, of whom three are living : 
 John M., a resident of Walker township; 
 George A. ; and Theodore Frederick, who 
 lives on section 3, Rocky Run township. 
 George A. Trautvetter was a lad of 
 about eleven years when he came with his 
 parents to the new world and his educa- 
 tion, which was begun in the fatherland, 
 was continued in the schools of Rocky 
 Run township, and of Warsaw. He re- 
 mained upon the home farm until he had 
 attained his majority, as did his two 
 brothers, and he assisted in the farm 
 work, early becoming familiar with the 
 duties of field and meadow. In March, 
 1865, however, he put aside all business 
 and personal considerations and, respond- 
 ing to the call of his adopted country for
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 173 
 
 aid, he joined the Fourteenth Illinois Vol- 
 unteer Infantry, and was attached to the 
 army corps commanded by General Sher- 
 man. He followed that intrepid leader 
 during his last campaigns and was under 
 his command in the grand .review in 
 Washington. Mr. Trautvetter afterward 
 went to Fort Leavenworth and was mus- 
 tered out in Kansas, subsequent to which 
 time he returned to Hancock county. 
 
 In 1863 Mr. Trautvetter had learned 
 the saddler's trade in Quincy, and for a 
 time he followed that pursuit in Warsaw 
 but subsequently he again took up his 
 abode upon his father's farm, where he 
 remained until the 26th of January, 1869. 
 That was his wedding day. Miss Anna E. 
 Shildman becoming his wife. She was 
 born in Germany, January 23, 1848, and 
 in 1858 came with her parents to Amer- 
 ica. Her father was a carpenter by trade 
 but after crossing the Atlantic turned his 
 attention to agricultural pursuits in 
 Walker township, Hancock county. 
 Later he lived in Rocky Run township for 
 a time but his last days 'were spent in 
 Walker township. In the family were 
 five children, of whom three are living : 
 Mrs. Trautvetter; Hannah, the wife of 
 Theodore F. Trautvetter ; and Elizabeth, 
 the wife of Henry Wemhaner, of 
 Warsaw. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Trautvet- 
 ter of this review, in 1867, purchased the 
 old home place from his father and there 
 lived until March 9, 1906, when he pur- 
 chased his present beautiful residence in 
 Warsaw and took up his abode in the city. 
 For many years he had carefully carried 
 on general agricultural pursuits and ca- 
 pably managed his business interests, and 
 
 as the result of his enterprise, diligence 
 and persistent effort, acquired a goodly 
 measure of success. As the years passed 
 he embraced his opportunities for judi- 
 cious investments in land and now owns 
 over six hundred acres, from which he 
 derives a splendid income. 
 
 On the loth of September, 1903, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Trautvetter celebrated the fif- 
 tieth anniversary of his residence upon 
 the home farm, to which he had gone with 
 his parents in 1853. He still owns the 
 five acres, also another farm of one hun- 
 home place of three hundred and forty- 
 dred and ninety-five acres and a third 
 one of ninety-five acres. His realty pos- 
 sessions include tenement houses in War- 
 saw beside his own residence. Unto him 
 and his wife have been born six children, 
 four of whom were born in .the home 
 which he erected in 1874 to replace the 
 log cabin which had been built by his 
 father and which was destroyed by fire 
 in May of that year. The family record 
 is as follows: Theodore N., the eldest, 
 born March 2, 1870, married Matilda 
 Woolbrink, and lives in Warsaw. Eliza- 
 beth, bom January 22, 1872, was married 
 in 1890 to Fred Harold, a farmer living 
 north of Hamilton; Anna Sophia, born 
 September 9, 1874, was married in 1895 
 to John Nagel, an agriculturist of Wythe 
 township and they now have two chil- 
 dren, Malinda . and George Truman 
 Kolatzky Nagel. Henry Herman, born 
 October 9, 1876, has since 1904 been liv- 
 ing in Omaha, where he is running an 
 electric car. Lillie Frances, born Sep- 
 tember n, 1879, is the wife of Harry 
 Elder, who resides two and a half miles 
 north of Elderville, Illinois. William
 
 174 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Adolph, born August 29, 1882, is a grad- 
 uate of the Gem City Business College 
 of Quincy, of the class of 1905, and is 
 now a student in the medical college at 
 Valparaiso, Indiana. The children have 
 all been given good educational privileges, 
 and Theodore N. was also a graduate of 
 the Gem City Business College, while 
 later he attended a college in Omaha to 
 learn shorthand, banking, etc. He is 
 now in partnership with Mr. Sharp as a 
 dealer in grain and stock at Warsaw. 
 In his .political views Mr. Trautvetter 
 is a stalwart republican and has been 
 honored with several positions of public 
 trust. He served for twelve years as 
 school director, was for ten years levee 
 commissioner and for three years high- 
 way commissioner. He and his wife, 
 who has indeed been a most faithful com- 
 panion and helpmate to him on life's 
 journey, are members of the Evangelical 
 church. The many comforts which they 
 are now able to enjoy in their home have 
 been gained through their own labors 
 and careful management. The business 
 record of Mr. Trautvetter should serve 
 as a source of inspiration and encourage- 
 ment to others, showing what may be ac- 
 complished by determined effort when 
 guided by sound judgment and charac- 
 terized by honorable dealing. 
 
 ERASTUS A. HAZEN. 
 
 Erastus A. Hazen is the owner of val- 
 uable farming interests and in connection 
 
 with the tilling of the soil engages in 
 raising Poland China hogs, Shropshire 
 sheep and cattle, displaying excellent busi- 
 ness ability in the management of his 
 farm and his stock. A native of Ohio, 
 he was born in Trumbull county on the 
 25th of January, 1843, and is a represen- 
 tative of old New England families. His 
 paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Hazen, 
 was a native of Connecticut, while the 
 father, James B. Hazen, was born in 
 Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. The 
 latter, having arrived at years of maturity, 
 was married at Brookfield, Trumbull 
 county, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Coon, 
 who was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, 
 and was a daughter of William and Cath- 
 erine (De Forest) Coon, of New Jersey. 
 Mr. Hazen was a cabinet maker and un- 
 dertaker and resided in Brookfield, Ohio, 
 until 1852, when he removed to Pike 
 county, Illinois, where he engaged in 
 business on his own account. There he 
 remained for five years and in 1857 he 
 came to Hancock county, Illinois, pur- 
 chasing and trading his property in Pike 
 county for sixty acres in Sonora town- 
 ship. This was timber and prairie land, 
 all unimproved. He turned the first fur- 
 rows in the fields and began the task of 
 cultivating a farm, whereon he lived until 
 his death. His wife afterward sold the 
 property and bought a farm in Montebello 
 township, where her last days were 
 passed. 
 
 Erastus A. Hazen, the fourth in order 
 of birth in a family of seven children, 
 of whom four were daughters, was edu- 
 cated in the public schools of Youngs- 
 town, Ohio, was for five years a student 
 at Perry, Pike county, Illinois, and con-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 tinued his studies in the district schools of 
 Sonora township, Hancock county. He 
 remained at home until eighteen years 
 of age, when his patriotic spirit was 
 aroused and he offered his services to the 
 government, enlisting as a member of 
 Company C, One Hundred and Eight- 
 eenth Illinois Infantry. The regiment 
 was assigned to the Army of the Missis- 
 sippi and he participated in the attack 
 at Chickasaw Bayou, where the Union 
 troops were repulsed. He was afterward 
 in the battle at Arkansas Post and sub- 
 sequently went to Young's Point and to 
 Vicksburg, where he engaged in digging 
 the canal through a long stretch of wet 
 land. The following spring the troops 
 proceeded to Richmond, Louisiana, mak- 
 ing their way to the Perkins plantation. 
 Soon the battle of Grand Gulf followed, 
 after which they proceeded to Bruins' 
 Landing, crossing the river on gun boats. 
 There they procured three days rations, 
 which was all they received for eighteen 
 days. On the succeeding day they 
 fought the battle of Thompson's Hill or 
 Port Gibson, and they were in numerous 
 skirmishes. For two days they were at 
 Raymond with Pemberton and they 
 camped at Edwards depot. The follow- 
 ing day they attacked the rebels at Black 
 river bridge and captured the fortifica- 
 tions. On the succeeding day they made 
 a charge upon Vicksburg and invested the 
 city. When two days had passed they 
 returned and fortified Black river, at 
 which point the regiment to which Mr. 
 Hazen belonged was mounted and did 
 cavalry duty from that time on. They 
 were engaged in scouting and Mr. Hazen 
 was in the second battle of Jackson, after 
 
 which he returned to Vicksburg and later 
 was transferred to the gulf department. 
 At Grand Cateau Bayou they were at- 
 tacked by the enemy and three hundred 
 of the Union troops were taken prisoners,' 
 but Mr. Hazen fortunately was not 
 among the number. With the remainder 
 of the command he returned to Vermil- 
 lion, where a battle ensued and Captain. 
 Arthur Marsh, who was commanding the 
 regiment, was killed. The Union troops 
 withdrew from the field and the rebels 
 followed. After a time the Union forces 
 turned upon their pursuers and sixty of 
 the members of the Confederate army 
 were captured. When the war was over 
 Mr. Hazen received an honorable dis- 
 charge at Baton Rogue, Louisiana, on 
 the I3th of October, 1865, and returned 
 to his old home. He was a brave and 
 loyal soldier, displaying valor equal to 
 that of many a veteran of twice his years. 
 He experienced the usual hardships, pri- 
 vations and dangers meted out to the sol- 
 dier and his military record was alto- 
 gether a very creditable one. 
 
 After living with his parents for a year 
 following the close of the war Mr. Hazen 
 was married in the fall of 1866 to Miss 
 Mary A. Layman, who was born in Dela- 
 ware county Ohio, a daughter of Elias 
 and Eva (Wolford) Layman, the former 
 a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hazen have been born 
 seven children, but Elsie, the fourth in 
 order of birth, died in infancy. The 
 others are : Almon L., who is a mail 
 clerk on the Chicago, Burlington & 
 Quincy Railroad, running from Chicago 
 to Quincy, married Lulu Radcliff and 
 lives in Quincy; Eldred E., residing in
 
 176 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Wythe township; Gissella, who married 
 Clarence C. Outhier, of Okeene, Oklaho- 
 ma; Ethie L., the wife of Delancey 
 Higby, who resides on section 5, Monte- 
 bello township; Eva O., and Zella, both 
 at home. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Hazen 
 lived for one year in Montebello town- 
 ship upon his father-in-law's place and 
 then leased one hundred and sixty acres, 
 constituting the southeast quarter of sec- 
 tion 3, Montebello township. Six years 
 later he removed to Clark county, Mis- 
 souri, where he remained for a year and 
 on returning to this township he bought 
 eighty acres on section 4, which was im- 
 proved. He has rebuilt the house, which 
 now contains ten rooms and cellar. He 
 has also added sheds to the barns and 
 has made many other substantial improve- 
 ments. Two years after making the first 
 purchase he added forty acres to his farm 
 and four years later sixty acres. Subse- 
 quently with his son, Eldred E.. he 
 bought eighty acres in Wythe township 
 and he now owns one hundred and eighty 
 acres of rich prairie land and ten acres of 
 timber land, while his wife owns sixty 
 acres of prairie and ten acres of timber. 
 Mr. Hazen carries on general farming in 
 addition to which he raises Poland China 
 hogs. He also has on hand sixty head 
 of Shropshire sheep and good cattle. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Hazen is an 
 earnest republican believing firmly in the 
 principles of the party, yet never seeking 
 office. He belongs to Russell post, No. 
 86, G. A. R. ,at Hamilton, Illinois, which 
 he joined on its organization, and he takes 
 much pleasure in meeting with his old 
 army comrades. When the grand review 
 
 occurred in Washington in 1865 a banner 
 swung across Pennslyvania avenue bore 
 the words, "The only debt which our na- 
 tion cannot pay is the national debt which 
 she owes her soldiers" and each year 
 emphasizes the truth of this remark as 
 the number of the veterans is growing 
 less and less and the feeling of gratitude 
 increases. In times of peace Mr. Hazen 
 has been equally loyal in citizenship and 
 has ever been deeply and helpfully in- 
 terested in community affairs, 
 
 ZEBDIAH WARD. 
 
 Zebdiah Ward, now deceased, was born 
 in the state of New York, March 20, 
 1816, and resided there until he reached 
 early manhood. He afterward accompa- 
 nied his parents on their removal to In- 
 diana, where he lived for several years, 
 subsequent to which time he came to Illi- 
 nois, settling in Danville, Vermilion 
 county. He was a wagon maker by trade 
 and followed that pursuit after his arrival 
 in this state. He removed from Vermil- 
 ion to Hancock county, locating at Web- 
 ster, where he resided for about fifteen 
 years, continuing to work at his trade 
 during that period. He next purchased 
 the farm on which his widow now resides, 
 making investment in this property in 
 May, 1854. The farm comprises sixty 
 acres of rich and productive land, which 
 he improved, erecting thereon buildings 
 and adding other modern equipments and 
 accessories. Mr. Ward engaged in the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 177 
 
 tilling of the soil from that time forward 
 until his death, and as the years passed 
 he prospered in his undertakings. 
 
 On the 1 3th of January, 1848, was 
 celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ward and 
 Miss Arzilla \Yright, a daughter of Hick- 
 erson and Cynthia (Donnoho) Wright. 
 The parents were both natives of Vir- 
 ginia, whence they removed to Tennessee, 
 and from that state came to Illinois in 
 May, 1834, settling in Hancock county 
 among its early residents. They lived 
 one half mile north of Webster in Foun- 
 tain Green township, where Mr. Wright 
 entered land from the government and 
 developed a farm, residing thereon until 
 his death, which occurred when he had 
 reached the venerable age of eighty-seven 
 years. He was a democrat in his political 
 views. His wife had passed away many 
 years before. In the family are twelve 
 children, seven of whom are living. 
 The family record is as follows : Mrs. 
 Ward is the eldest. Seabern A., born 
 October 9, 1824, is a farmer re- 
 siding in Fountain Green township. 
 Sen eta D., born October 19, 1826, was a 
 prominent fanner of the same township 
 but is now deceased. Martha E., who 
 was born September 14, 1828, has passed 
 away. Patrick W., born August 28, 
 1830, is also deceased. Bazil, born Au- 
 gust 16, 1832, died at the age of sixteen 
 years. Henry D., born July 27, 1834, is 
 living in California. Thomas G., born 
 May 9, 1836, has departed this life. 
 Letha J., born March 14, 1838, Charles 
 G., born June 21, 1840, and Cynthia A., 
 born September 30, 1844, are all living. 
 The youngest of the family died in 
 infancv. 
 
 Mrs. Ward was born in Smith county, 
 Tennessee, September 24, 1822, and was 
 nine years of age when her parents left 
 that state and removed to Hopkins 
 county, Kentucky, where they lived for 
 three years. They then came to Illinois 
 in May, 1834. She obtained her educa- 
 tion in the early subscription schools of 
 the county and remained at home until 
 her marriage. She became the mother 
 of three children, two of whom are liv- 
 ing. Wright, the eldest, a farmer now 
 residing in Arkansas, married Elizabeth 
 Prior and they have one daughter, Cora, 
 who is now the wife of Sanford Francis, 
 by whom she has three children. Mark 
 Ward, a farmer residing near Memphis, 
 Missouri, wedded Letha A. Thurber and 
 they have one daughter, Fay. Lorinda 
 became the wife of Benton Alton and died 
 at the age of forty-four years, leaving a 
 daughter, Anna B. 
 
 The death of Mr. Ward occurred Feb- 
 ruary 26, 1895, when he was almost 
 eighty years of age, and his remains were 
 interred in Middle Creek cemetery. He 
 voted with the democracy, held member- 
 ship in the Christian church and was one 
 of the progressive men of his day. His 
 life period covered the greater, part of 
 the ninteenth century during which time 
 he witnessed many changes, including the 
 building of the railroads, the introduc- 
 tion of the telegraph and telephone 
 and the reclamation of the wild lands 
 of the west for the purposes of civiliza- 
 tion. He did his full share in the work 
 of public progress and improvement in 
 this county and was known as one of its 
 most prominent pioneer citizens. Mrs. 
 Ward still survives her husband and lives
 
 i 7 8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 upon the old farm homestead. She too, 
 is a representative of one of the oldest 
 families of the county and no history of 
 this section of the state would be com- 
 plete without mention of her. 
 
 LEE SMITH. 
 
 Lee Smith, of Colusa, a son of \Yilliam 
 and Mary Ann (Drauch) Smith, was 
 born in Pennslyvania April 7, 1863. His 
 parents were also natives of the Keystone 
 state and the father is a farmer living in 
 Monroe county, Pennsylvania, at the age 
 of sixty-three years. His wife died in 
 1870. They were the parents of four 
 children, of whom three are now living: 
 Lee, of this review ; Anes, a resident 
 of Tioga county, Pennsylvania ; and 
 Ephraim, also living in Pennsylvania. 
 
 Lee Smith was educated in the district, 
 schools of his native state. When his 
 mother died the children of the family 
 went to live in various homes of the 
 neighborhood and his early opportunities 
 were accordingly 'somewhat limited. 
 After his school days were over he 
 worked by the month as a farm hand for 
 about four years and was afterward em- 
 ployed in the lumber regions of the north- 
 ern part of the state for four years. On 
 the 22d of July, 1890, he arrived in Co- 
 lusa and through the succeeding year was 
 employed by Henry Howard. 
 
 On New Year's eve (December 31, 
 1890) Mr. Smith was united in marriage 
 to Mrs. Flora Wildrick, who was born 
 
 in Ppntoosuc township, Hancock count}', 
 September 14, 1864, a daughter of John 
 and Mary (Littlefiar) Robinson. Her 
 father was a native of New Jersey and 
 her mother was born in Durham county, 
 England, in 1822 and came to America 
 in 1852. The year 1856 witnessed the 
 arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson in 
 Hancock count}', and the father began 
 farming in Pontoosuc township, where 
 he also purchased a mill, carrying on his 
 dual occupation until his death, which 
 occurred in 1873, when he was fifty-nine 
 years of age. He was a democrat in 
 politics and a worthy citizen, progressive 
 in public affairs and reliable in business. 
 Unto John and Mary Robinson were born 
 two children, of whom Mrs. Smith is the 
 surviving member of the family. Her 
 mother \yas twice married and by her 
 first husband, Peter Kelly, had four chil- 
 dren, of whom two are living : Mary C., 
 the wife of James Creswell, of Davenport, 
 Iowa ; William, died at Davenport, Sep- 
 tember i, 1906; and Michael R., of 
 Adrian, Illinois. 
 
 Flora Robinson, reared to womanhood 
 in this county, gave her hand in marriage, 
 in 1882, to Henry C. Wildrick, who was 
 born in Dallas township on a farm of two 
 hundred and' forty acres on section 35, 
 which is now the property of Mrs. 
 Smith and where she and her husband 
 still reside. Mr. Wildrick was a son of 
 George and Abigail (King) Wildrick, 
 well known and representative farming 
 people of their community. Henry C. 
 Wildrick was a republican in his political 
 faith and held a number of township 
 offices, to which he was called by the vote 
 of his fellow citizens, who recognized his
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 179 
 
 worth and ability. He died September 
 28. 1889, respected by all who knew him, 
 and his remains were interred in Pleasant 
 Hill cemetery. In his business affairs he 
 was industrious and enterprising. He 
 always lived upon the old home farm of 
 the family, and in the care of his property 
 displayed sound judgment and keen dis- 
 crimination. Moreover he was thor- 
 oughly reliable in all trade transactions 
 and commanded the confidence and trust 
 of all with whom he came in contact. He 
 left two children, Roxie Merle and 
 George Clayton, the latter, now nineteen 
 years of age, at home. The daughter 
 died February 19, 1906, at the age of 
 twenty-three years, and her remains were 
 laid to rest by the side of her father. She 
 passed away after three weeks of the most 
 intense suffering, occasioned by a clot of 
 blood under the knee. All that money, 
 professional skill and loving hands could 
 do was in vain in staying the hand of the 
 grim reaper and this beautiful young 
 lady, the only daughter of Mrs. Smith, 
 passed from this life. She was a most 
 beautiful character, living a life in har- 
 mony with the Christian spirit, and re- 
 maining firm and steadfast in the faith 
 of the church in which she held mem- 
 bership. Hers was a happy disposition 
 and sunshiny nature. She could readily 
 adapt herself to any circumstance or con- 
 dition and this trait made her beloved by 
 all with whom she came in contact. On 
 Saturday an operation was performed 
 and on Monday afternoon she passed 
 away, perfectly resigned and happy, bid- 
 ding mother, father and brother goodby 
 with undimmed eyes, and making all 
 arrangements for her funeral, selecting 
 
 the following friends to act as pall bear- 
 ers : Maggie Bailey, Daisy Lamb, Hope 
 Vass, Orpha H. Jamison, Virgie Owings, 
 and Maude Jacobs. Six gentlemen acted 
 as honary pall bearers : Roscoe Gracey, 
 Fred Swanson, Bern Bass, Clarence Jen- 
 nison, George Hubbard and Clark 
 Jacobs. The funeral service was con- 
 ducted by the Rev. J. B. King who paid 
 a beautiful and deserved tribute to one 
 who was so loved and faithful in her 
 home, church, Sunday-school and social 
 circles, where she is greatly missed. Rev. 
 King said : "There is no death for such 
 an experience as hers, and as it is the law 
 of Nature that the fairest and worthiest 
 forms of life shall most surely survive, 
 so we feel that a life, so manifestly sprung 
 from God, and nurtured by him as this, 
 cannot die but still survives in a still high- 
 er development in the beautiful paradise 
 of God, by the power of divine right to 
 be and live forever and by the pledge of 
 the loving Saviour, who conquered 
 through faith that we may have a right 
 to the tree of life and enter in through 
 the gates into the city." The death of 
 Roxie Merle Wildrick cast a gloom 
 throughout the entire community but her 
 memory will long be cherished in the 
 hearts of all who knew her and the re- 
 membrance of her loving deeds, kind 
 ways and many acts of thoughtfulness 
 will be a blessing for years to come to 
 her mother and the other members of the 
 family. 
 
 By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Smith there has been born a son William 
 Reine, born in Dallas township, Decem- 
 ber 8, 1896, and now in school. The res- 
 idence now occupied by Mr. and Mrs.
 
 i8o 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Smith and their family was erected by 
 her former husband, who made many im- 
 provements upon the place, which he in- 
 herited from his father. Mr. Smith con- 
 tinues the work of development and cul- 
 tivation along lines of modern agricul- 
 tural progress and is an enterprising busi- 
 ness man. His political allegiance is 
 given the democracy and he is a mem- 
 ber of the Hancock County Mutual In- 
 surance Association and of the Modern 
 Woodmen of America. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Dutch Reformed church in 
 Pennsylvania. Mrs. Smith is an intelli- 
 gent, cultured lady and in the community 
 where they reside this worthy couple have 
 many warm friends. 
 
 MATTHEW MASON JOHNSON. 
 
 Matthew Mason Johnson, deceased, 
 was a stockman who, prospering in his 
 undertakings, was accounted one of the 
 enterprising business men of Carthage 
 and his activity in public affairs made him 
 a citizen of value, so that his death, which 
 occurred on the 7th of April, .1906, was 
 the occasion of deep and widespread re- 
 gret among his many friends in Hancock 
 county. He was born in Champaign 
 county, Ohio, in 1843, his parents being 
 John T. and Maria (Wright) Johnson. 
 The grandfather, the great-grandfather 
 and the great-great-grandfather, were all 
 soldiers of the Revolutionary war and the 
 same spirit of loyalty and military ardor 
 was displayed by various cousins of our 
 
 subject in the Civil war, while his brother, 
 J. N. Johnson, was a soldier of the One 
 Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry 
 during the last year of the strife between 
 the north and the south, being stationed 
 most of the time at Baton Rouge, 
 Louisiana. 
 
 John T. Johnson was born in Cham- 
 paign county, Ohio, in 1813, and his wife 
 was born about eight miles from St. 
 Louis, Missouri, in 1818. He was a 
 farmer by occupation and on coming to 
 Hancock county, Illinois, in 1839, settled 
 near St. Mary. He had to clear the land 
 in order to have space enough on which 
 to build a log cabin. He was the first 
 man to move onto the prairie, for the pio- 
 neers in those days always settled near the 
 timber. As the years passed he improved 
 his property, building a fine barn, good 
 sheds and a modern residence. As the 
 years passed he prospered, becoming one 
 of the most extensive land owners of the 
 county and when he died, in 1883. his 
 possessions aggregated eighteen hundred 
 acres of land now worth one hundred 
 dollars per acre. His wife died in 1898 
 and they sleep side by side in the cemetery 
 at St. Mary. Mr. Johnson was a repub- 
 lican who held various township offices, 
 for his fellow citizens recognized his 
 worth and ability and thus gave evidence 
 of their confidence in him. They were 
 believers in the Baptist faith and Mr. 
 Johnson held various offices in the church. 
 Their family numbered eight children, of 
 whom five are yet living : Matthew M. ; 
 Hiram B. and Joseph T., both residents 
 of Plymouth, Illinois; J. N., who is living 
 on the old family homestead ; and Aurilla, 
 the wife of J. W. Botts, who resides upon
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 181 
 
 the prairie farm which was originally 
 owned by her parents. 
 
 Matthew M. Johnson attended the pub- 
 lic schools of St. Mary and was after- 
 ward a student in Abingdon (Illinois) 
 Hedding's College. Before attaining his 
 majority he was married, in 1863, to Miss 
 Mary Bacon, who was born in 1843 in 
 McDonough county, Illinois, a daughter 
 of Larkin and Honor (Durbin) Bacon. 
 Her parents were of southern extraction, 
 the father born in Tennessee and the 
 mother in Kentucky. Mr. Bacon came to 
 Illinois at a very early day, settling on a 
 farm in McDonough county in 1834. It 
 was wild and uncultivated land but he 
 converted it into a productive farm and 
 there he died in 1877, having for several 
 years survived his wife, who passed away 
 in February, 1864. Both were buried 
 near Hill's Grove in McDonough county. 
 Isaac Bacon, the paternal great-grand- 
 father of Mrs. Johnson, was a Revolu- 
 tionary soldier and Joseph Barnes Bacon, 
 her grandfather, was a captain in a Ten- 
 nessee regiment in the war of 1812. Her 
 father was an unfaltering advocate of 
 democracy, but though always loyal to 
 the party, never aspired to public office. 
 He and his wife held membership in the 
 Methodist church, in which he served as 
 steward, while for many years he was 
 superintendent of the Sunday-school, fill- 
 ing that office at the time of his death. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bacon had ten children, of 
 whom eight reached adult age, while five 
 still survive, namely : Mrs. Johnson ; 
 Sarah, who is the widow of Judge Tunni- 
 cliff, of Macomb. Illinois, and now re- 
 sides at No. 6018 Jackson Park avenue. 
 Chicago : Dr.. Joseph B. Bacon, a surgeon 
 
 of St. Francis Hospital of Macomb, Illi- 
 nois; James H. Bacon, president of the 
 Pacific Coast Trust Company of San 
 Francisco, California; and Harvey M. 
 Bacon, vice president of the Pacific Coast 
 Trust Company with offices at No. 708 
 Market street, San Francisco. The father 
 prospered in business and at his death left 
 fourteen hundred and thirty-six acres of 
 land. 
 
 Mrs. Johnson was a student in Hed- 
 ding College at Abingdon, Illinois, at 
 the same time Mr. Johnson attended 
 there. They had been reared within six 
 miles of each other, but it was in their 
 college days that their friendship ripened 
 into love and' was followed by marriage. 
 They began their domestic life on the old 
 Deming farm of one hundred and sixty 
 acres, which was given Mr. Johnson by 
 his father and which is still in possession 
 of the family. There they resided for 
 seventeen years, after which they spent 
 two years in Hill's Grove, but later re- 
 turned to St. Mary and purchased and im- 
 proved another farm, whereon they re- 
 sided until 1893. In that year they took 
 up their abode in Carthage. Mr. Johnson 
 purchasing a pretty home at the corner 
 of Walnut and Washington streets. 
 After his removal to the city he engaged 
 in business as a stockman, buying and 
 selling cattle on an extensive scale. He 
 also belonged to the Cattle Exchange and 
 his business interests were carefully con- 
 ducted and netted him a very gratifying 
 profit. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was a soldier of the Civil 
 war, enlisting in the Seventy-first Illinois 
 Infantry. For a time he was in the hos- 
 pital at Cairo. Although reared in the
 
 1 82 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 republican faith he was independent in his 
 political views. He served as supervisor, 
 school director and road trustee and 
 several years ago acted as alderman of 
 Carthage for two years. His name was 
 on the membership rolls of the Masonic 
 fraternity, the Modern Woodmen camp 
 and the Grand Army Post, of all of which 
 he was a worthy representative. His 
 widow is one of the charter members and 
 a director of the Daughters of the Amer- 
 ican Revolution, belongs to the Woman's 
 Relief Corps and to the Woman's Chris- 
 tian Temperance Union. Both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Johnson were devoted members of 
 the Methodist church, in which he held 
 all of the offices. Mrs. Johnson was a 
 steward in the church for twelve years, 
 or until she reared a son to take her place. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born 
 four children, of whom three are now liv- 
 ing: Drenon M., born in Hancock 
 county, July 4, 1864, is a farmer of this 
 county. He married Miss Ella A. Can- 
 non, of this county, December 28, 1887, 
 and has a daughter, Ruth M. John 
 Bacon, born March 4, 1866, in this 
 county, is a stockman and cattle feeder, 
 carrying on business near Carthage. He 
 was married to Stella Walker, of this 
 county, October 18, 1894. Damon J., 
 born January n, 1872, is a real estate 
 dealer of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He 
 was graduated from the Northwestern 
 University at Evanston, Illinois, in 1892, 
 and on returning to Carthage read law 
 with Berry Brothers and Judge Mack. 
 In 1898, he enlisted for service in the 
 Spanish-American war in the Fiftieth 
 Iowa Infantry. He became a corporal 
 and served for seven months. In 1899 
 
 he enlisted in the Thirty-second United 
 States Volunteers and went to the Philip- 
 pines, where he remained for two years, 
 being mustered out as sergeant, May 9, 
 1901. He was wounded in the knee at 
 the first battle of Angeles and was in- the 
 hospital for a long time. Mr. Johnson 
 was a representative of a prominent pio- 
 neer family of Illinois, as is his wife. 
 Their respective parents were in limited 
 circumstances on coming to this state but 
 by wise investment in land and carefully 
 directed business affairs became wealthy. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had a wide 
 acquaintance in Hancock county and were 
 gladly received in those homes where in- 
 telligence and culture are accepted as the 
 passports into good society. When called 
 to his final rest the funeral services were 
 conducted at his home in Carthage by 
 his pastor, Rev. Edwards, of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal church, assisted by Rev. 
 Young, pastor of the Presbyterian church. 
 At the conclusion of the services the re- 
 mains, escorted by the Masonic lodge and 
 Alexander Sympson post, G. A. R., were 
 conveyed to Moss Ridge cemetery, the 
 interment being made under the auspices 
 of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Johnson 
 was highly respected throughout the 
 county, where he had a wide acquaintance 
 and all who knew him gave him their 
 friendship and regard. While taking an 
 active part in politics and holding radical 
 views on many of the questions of the day, 
 he probably had as few political enemies 
 as any man of equal political prominence. 
 As a citizen he was public spirited and 
 his co-operation could be counted upon 
 for the betterment of conditions in mu- 
 nicipal and county affairs. His life was
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 183 
 
 upright and honorable, characterized by 
 high moral principles and many admirable 
 qualities, by a benevolent spirit and hu- 
 manitarian disposition. All who knew 
 him recognized his many good traits of 
 character, but his best qualities were re- 
 served for his own home and fireside, 
 where he was a most devoted husband 
 and father. 
 
 OBITUARY. 
 
 Matthew Mason Johnson, son of the 
 late John T. and Maria Johnson, was 
 born July 7, 1843, near Urbana, Ohio, 
 and died April 7, 1906, aged sixty-two 
 years and nine months. 
 
 He came with his parents in infancy 
 to a farm in St. Mary's township, Han- 
 cock county, Illinois, where he resided 
 until 1893, when he became a resident of 
 Carthage, Illinois. 
 
 He was married to Mary A. Bacon, 
 of Hills Grove, McDonough county, Illi- 
 nois, on October 27, 1863. To this union 
 were born four sons : Drenon M. and 
 John B., of this city; Damon J., of Pitts- 
 burg, Pennsylvania, and George L., who 
 died in infancy. The widow, three sons, 
 one granddaughter, three brothers, Hi- 
 ram, Joseph and Nelson, one sister, Mrs. 
 Orilla Botts and many other relatives and 
 friends mourn his departure. 
 
 He was converted and united with 
 the Methodist Episcopal church at St. 
 Marys, Illinois, in the year 1871, of which 
 church he remained a member until he 
 transferred his membership to the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal church of Carthage. 
 
 A few weeks before his death he ex- 
 12 
 
 pressed his belief that his time on earth 
 was drawing to a close and that he was 
 prepared to meet his God. While on a 
 visit to the old neighborhood with his 
 brothers and sister, he died very suddenly 
 at the home of his brother, Nelson. 
 
 He was a member of the Masonic lodge 
 of Carthage, "Grand Army of the Re- 
 public" and the Modern Woodmen of 
 America. 
 
 The funeral was held at the residence 
 Monday at 2 p. m., conducted by Rev. 
 Edwards, pastor of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church, assisted by Rev. Young, 
 pastor of the Presbyterian church. 
 
 At the conclusion of the services the 
 remains, escorted by the Masonic lodge 
 and Alexander Sympson Post, G. A. R., 
 of this city, were conveyed to Moss Ridge 
 and placed in the vault, the last sad rites 
 being conducted by the Masons. 
 
 The floral offerings were very profuse 
 and beautiful, noticeable among them be- 
 ing a wheel with one felloe missing from 
 the Stockman's club of this city of which 
 deceased was an honored member. He 
 carried $4,000 insurance, $2,000 in the 
 Modern Woodmen of America and 
 $2,000 in the Banker's Life of Des 
 Moines, Iowa. 
 
 Deceased was a man highly respected 
 all over the county, throughout which he 
 had a wide acquaintance and his friends 
 were limited only by his acquaintances. 
 While taking an active part in politics 
 and was rather radical in his views, he 
 had probably as few political enemies as 
 any man of equal political prominence. 
 As a citizen he was public-spirited and 
 in speech and in deeds was always con- 
 sistently in favor of any movement look-
 
 1 84 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ing to the betterment of conditions in 
 municipal or county affairs. 
 
 He was a man of clean morals and 
 possessed many admirable qualities, al- 
 ways willing to lend a helping hand to 
 those in need and as a husband and father 
 was an example worthy of emulation, and 
 the entire community mourns with the 
 sorrowing fanlily in the loss sustained 
 through his death. 
 
 JOHN S. COCHRAN. 
 
 John S. Cochran, editor and proprietor 
 of the Hancock County Journal, which 
 is the largest paper published in the 
 county, has since 1894 been thus con- 
 nected with the newspaper interests of 
 Carthage, where he is also conducting a 
 good job printing establishment. He is 
 one of the native sons'of the county seat, 
 born March 14, 1873, his parents being 
 L. B. and Emily (Symonds) Cochran. 
 The father was born in Kentucky in 1844 
 and the mother's birth occurred in New 
 Hampshire in 1846. At a very early day 
 Mr. Cochran came to Hancock county 
 and for a long period was identified with 
 business interests in Carthage as a mer- 
 chant. He enlisted in Company D of the 
 Sixteenth Illinois Regiment in the Civil 
 war and served throughout the period of 
 hostilities, taking part in a number of im- 
 portant engagements, the most sangui- 
 nary of which was the battle of Mission- 
 ary Ridge. For a time he was engaged 
 in recruiting service in Hancock county. 
 In his political affiliation Mr. Cochran has 
 
 always been a stalwart republican and for 
 twelve years served as postmaster of 
 Carthage, beginning about 1870. Before 
 their marriage both he and his wife were 
 teachers in the first public school in 
 Carthage and the building is still stand- 
 ing on Wabash avenue and Fayette street. 
 In his fraternal relations Mr. Cochran is 
 a Mason and passed all of the chairs in 
 the local lodge. His wife is a member of 
 the Presbyterian church. Her parents 
 were Rev. Frederick and Abbie Symonds, 
 the former a minister of the gospel, while 
 he and his family were among the found- 
 ers of the Presbyterian church in Car- 
 thage. In the family of Rev. Symonds 
 were seven children, five of whom are 
 now living : Sarah, the widow .of J. W. 
 Hawley, of Holton, Kansas ; Edwin, who 
 died in Chicago about a year ago, his 
 family, however, still living in this 
 county ; Mary, the widow of J. W. Haw- 
 ley, who was congressman from the old 
 fourteenth, or Rock Island, district of Illi- 
 nois and was comptroller of currency at 
 Washington during the Hayes adminis- 
 tration. His widow is now living in 
 Omaha, Nebraska. Emily S. is the wife 
 of L. B. Cochran. Judge W. A. Symonds 
 is living in Carthage. A. F. Symonds 
 makes his home in Peabody, Kansas, and 
 John died while serving in the Civil war 
 as a member of the regiment commanded 
 by Major McClaughrey. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. L. B. Cochran were born four chil- 
 dren : Mary, the wife of Professor R. C. 
 Crum, of Quincy, Illinois; Isabella, a 
 popular teacher of Sioux City, Iowa ; 
 Robert, who died in 1891, at the age of 
 twenty years and was buried in Carthage 
 cemetery; and John S., of this review.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 185 
 
 At the usual age John S. Cochran 
 entered the public schools and passed 
 thnnigh successive grades until he com- 
 pleted the high school course and after- 
 ward studied in Carthage College. He 
 was later associated in the newspaper 
 business with his father for a year or so, 
 they purchasing the Journal in 1892. In 
 1894, Mr Cochran bought his father's 
 interest and is still engaged in the publi- 
 cation of the Hancock County Journal, 
 which is a weekly paper and the largest 
 published in the county, being the official 
 organ of the Republican party. Its cir- 
 culation exceeds that of any other news- 
 paper and it is well worthy the public 
 patronage, being conducted along modern 
 lines of journalism. The office is on 
 Wabash avenue and in connection with 
 the department for the publication of the 
 paper he also conducts a large job print- 
 ing department and has a good patronage 
 in this line. 
 
 On the 28th of June, 1898, Mr. Coch- 
 ran was united in marriage to Miss Emily 
 M. Johnson, who was born in Omaha, 
 Nebraska. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cochran 
 has been born a little daughter, Sarah 
 Evelyn, who was born in Carthage, Feb- 
 ruary 8, 1902. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Cochran is a 
 republican and has been city clerk of 
 Carthage. He has been greatly and 
 actively interested in local and county 
 politics and has continuously served on 
 some committee in connection with the 
 management of the party affairs. Fra- 
 ternally he is connected with the Knights 
 of Pythias and the Court of Honor. He 
 has in Carthage erected several houses, 
 all of which he has sold with the excep- 
 
 tion of the last one, which he built at the 
 corner of Locust street and Quincy road. 
 He is an active, energetic man and is 
 very prosperous for one of his years. 
 His success moreover is attributable to his 
 own labors and keen business discernment. 
 He is a young man of strong intelligence, 
 who has been a student of the signs of 
 the times relating to business and polit- 
 ical development and he stands for prog- 
 ress and improvement atxall times. Both 
 he and his wife are consistent and helpful 
 members of the Presbyterian church. 
 
 DR. BRIGGS JUDD FULLER. 
 
 Briggs Judd Fuller, formerly identified 
 with the dental profession of Hancock 
 county but now living retired in Warsaw, 
 is a native of Lee, Berkshire county, 
 Massachusetts, his birth having there oc- 
 curred on the 8th of December, 1843. His 
 father, Albert Fuller, came to this county 
 in 1856, and here spent his remaining 
 days, his death having occurred February 
 6, 1880. His widow", who bore the 
 maiden name of Julia Judd, still survives 
 and now makes her home with her son, 
 Briggs J., in Warsaw. 
 
 Dr. Fuller was a lad of twelve years 
 when he accompanied his parents on their 
 removal to Hancock county, and in the 
 schools of Warsaw acquired his early 
 education. In 1864 he enlisted for ser- 
 vice in the army, joining a company which 
 was organized at Warsaw and which was 
 mustered in for service at Quincy. The
 
 1 86 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 company was assigned to duty with the 
 Army of the Tennessee and at once went 
 to Memphis, where, in the first battle in 
 which Dr. Fuller was engaged he was 
 captured and taken as a prisoner of war 
 to Cahaba, Alabama, to Castle Morgan 
 prison, and then went to Vicksburg, 
 where he was parolled and where he was 
 granted a furlough and went to Spring- 
 field, being there mustered out of service. 
 
 Choosing the profession of dentistry 
 as a life work, he entered the Missouri 
 Dental College, at St. Louis, from which 
 he was graduated in 1871 with the degree 
 of D. D. S. He afterward pursued a 
 course in the St. Louis Medical College. 
 Following his graduation he returned to 
 his home in this city, where he opened 
 an office and successfully engaged in the 
 practice of his profession for a number 
 of years in Warsaw, since which time 
 he has lived retired, now making his 
 home with his mother and' sister in this 
 city. He has here formed a very wide 
 acquaintance both professionally and so- 
 cially and is highly esteemed, for he has 
 ever been straightforward and honorable 
 in every relation of life. 
 
 A brother, Dr. Albert Homer Fuller, 
 was also in the Civil war, and enlisted in 
 1862, and served for three years. He 
 resides in St. Louis, Missouri, where he 
 is a practicing dentist. He was for many 
 years Dean of Missouri Dental College 
 of Washington University, at St. Louis, 
 Missouri, but has now retired from the 
 college. While connected with the col- 
 lege his work was very satisfactory, not 
 only to the faculty, but also to the stu- 
 dents, many of whom have become 
 distinguished. 
 
 JAMES W. McKEE. 
 
 James W. McKee, now living retired in 
 Carthage, was born in Ohio, near Ripler, 
 April 30, 1840. His father, James McKee ,1 
 Sr., was born in McKeesport, Pennsylva-I 
 nia, in 1777, and removed to Ohio when? 
 about thirty-five years of age, after which 
 he regularly visited his old home in Penn- j 
 sylvania once a year, walking one way 
 and riding horseback the other way. He j 
 was an enterprising farmer and a diligent 
 man, whose life was always characterized 
 by integrity in all business transactions. I 
 He served his country as a soldier in the I 
 war of 1812 and his life at all times coii-1 
 formed to a high standard of conduct. I 
 He was married twice and there were 
 ten children by the first marriage and 
 nine by the second, while his second wife 
 had five children by a prior marriage. 
 One of the sons, Nathaniel McKee, was 
 a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in 
 the Seventh Missouri Cavalry under , 
 Captain Miller. 
 
 James W. McKee spent the days of 
 his boyhood and youth in Ohio, and at 
 the age of seventeen years came to Illi- 
 nois with his parents, settling on a farm 
 in Carthage township, where he owned 
 one hundred acres. He has followed 
 general farming and stock-raising for 
 many years, giving his attention to that 
 calling until 1895, when he retired. He 
 made good and substantial improvements 
 upon his land, placing the fields under a 
 high state of cultivation, adding modern 
 improvements and using the latest im- 
 proved machinery for plowing, planting 
 and harvesting. As the years passed he 
 prospered in his undertakings and in 1895
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 187 
 
 ; he removed to Carthage, where he built 
 I a modern home on Schofield street and 
 is now spending the evening of life in 
 comfort, for in former years he acquired 
 a competence sufficient to supply him with 
 the necessities and many of the luxuries 
 of life. October 13, 1859, Mr. McKee 
 was married to Miss Margaret Weir, who 
 was born in Washington county, Indiana, 
 August 2i, 1840, a daughter of George 
 Weir, who was a successful farmer. 
 George Weir, one of the sons, was a sol- 
 dier of the Civil war, enlisting in the 
 One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois In- 
 fantry, and died while in service, becoming 
 ill at Jefferson Barracks. Both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Weir have passed away. Mr. and 
 Mrs. J. W. McKee have become the par- 
 ents of five children, who are now liv- 
 ing. Ida is the wife of Edward Arm- 
 strong, who occupies a position in the 
 postoffice in Chicago, and they have three 
 children, Ruth, Edna and Harry. Albert 
 Nathaniel is proprietor of a grocery store 
 in Carthage. Margaret is the wife of 
 Emanuel Gildner, a wholesale clothing 
 merchant of Chicago. Effie is the wife 
 of Charles Peirson, of Chicago, and Maud 
 is also in Chicago. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. McKee are loyal and 
 consistent members of the Presbyterian 
 church, in which he has served as an elder. 
 They take a very active and helpful part 
 in church work and Mrs. McKee has been 
 president of the Ladies' Aid Society. 
 They have a pleasant home in Carthage, 
 and in addition to this property Mr. Mc- 
 Kee owns a house, which he rents and 
 also two large farms in the county, one 
 in Carthage township and one in Hancock 
 township, from which he derives a grati- 
 
 fying income. In a review of his life it 
 will be seen that he had no assistance 
 when he started upon his business career 
 but the spirit of self-help is the source of 
 all genuine worth in the individual, and 
 placing his reliance on the substantial 
 qualities of industry and close application, 
 Mr. McKee worked his way steadily up- 
 ward until he reached the plane of afflu- 
 ence. Industry and economy constitute a 
 safe basis on which to build prosperity a 
 fact which he early recognized and which 
 he has utilized in his business career. His 
 political allegiance is given to the Repub- 
 lican party and he served as road com- 
 missioner and as school director for a 
 number of years. Both he and his wife 
 are pleasant, genial people, interested in 
 all that pertains to the welfare of their 
 city and state and to the interests of 
 mankind, and they number their friends 
 in Carthage and Hancock county by the 
 score. 
 
 ALBERT NATHANIEL McKEE. 
 
 Albert Nathaniel McKee, engaged in 
 the grocery business in Carthage, was 
 born in Hancock county, in 1864, a son 
 of James W. and Margaret (Weir) Mc- 
 Kee, who are represented elsewhere in 
 this work. His education was acquired 
 in the district schools and he entered upon 
 his business career as proprietor of a res- 
 taurant in Carthage, which he conducted 
 for a year. He then accepted a position 
 as fireman on the Chicago, Burlington & 
 Ouincy Railroad, being thus employed for
 
 1 88 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 three years, after which he was a brake- 
 man for a year on the Keokuk & Western 
 Railroad. He next went to Quincy, Illi- 
 nois, spending a year in the Electric 
 Wheel Works, after which he returned to 
 Carthage, where he devoted the succeed- 
 ing year to looking after various prop- 
 erties. Going to Chicago he operated a 
 motor car of the Chicago City Railway 
 Company for eight years, and on the expi- 
 ration of that period he removed to Ren- 
 nick, Missouri, where he devoted three 
 years to farming. He next went to 
 Moberly, Missouri, where he was em- 
 ployed in a machine shop for about a year. 
 In 1905 he returned to Carthage and pur- 
 chaged the corner property on Schofield 
 and Buchanan streets, opening the only 
 grocery store in the northern part of the 
 city. He has a well appointed store, car- 
 rying a carefully selected line of staple 
 and fancy groceries and also a well se- 
 lected stock of muslins, prints, notions 
 and novelties, it being a great convenience 
 to the entire neighborhood to have such 
 an establishment in their midst. 
 
 On the 28th of August, 1889, Mr. Mc- 
 Kee was married to Miss Alice Yetter, 
 who was born September 21, 1867, in 
 Carthage township, Hancock county, a 
 daughter of S. R. and Hester (Halbert) 
 Yetter. The father was born in Lan- 
 caster county, Pennsylvania, in 1824, and 
 the mother in Kentucky, in 1836. Mr. 
 Yetter was "a farmer by occupation and 
 was only twelve years of age when 
 brought to Illinois, where he has devoted 
 his life to agricultural pursuits. He still 
 lives on his farm but is now practically 
 living retired. His political allegiance is 
 given to the Republican party and he has 
 
 served as justice of the peace for many 
 years, proving a fair and impartial of- 
 ficer. Fraternally he is a Mason. In his 
 family were ten children, of whom seven 
 are now living, as follows : Laura, the 
 wife of Lewis Tull, a resident of Berke- 
 ley, California; Mary, the wife of Rich- 
 ard White, of Carthage, who is men- 
 tioned elesewhere in this volume; John 
 C., of Carthage; Charles, who is living, 
 in Beardstown, Illinois; Alice, now Mrs. 
 McKee; Margaret, the wife of P. H. 
 Willey, of Peabody, Kansas; and Ralph, 
 at home. Mr. and Mrs. Yetter are de- 
 voted members of the Methodist church 
 and in his younger years he filled at 
 different times all of the church offices. 
 They are people of the highest respecta- 
 bility, their upright, honorable lives hav- 
 ing gained for them the esteem and con- 
 fidence of all with whom they have been 
 associated. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McKee 
 has been blessed with four children. 
 Earl, who was born October 23, 1890, 
 in Keokuk, Iowa, and is attending the 
 high school ; Ray, who was born in Keo- 
 kuk, in 1892; Helen, born in Chicago, in 
 1895 ; and Harold, who was born in Chi- 
 cago in 1896, and died in 1897, being 
 laid to rest in Moss Ridge cemetery at 
 Carthage. The three living children are 
 all in school, the parents giving to them 
 good educational privileges. Mr. and 
 Mrs. McKee are faithful members of the 
 Presbyterian church and he belongs to the 
 Modern Woodmen camp and to the Chi- 
 cago Mutual Aid, while his political al- 
 legiance is given to the Republican party. 
 He has depended upon his own resources 
 from an early age and whatever success
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 189 
 
 he has achieved has resulted from his 
 perseverance, labor and ready adaptabil- 
 ity. He has attained a creditable meas- 
 ure of success for one of his years and 
 is now proprietor of a good store, in 
 which he is enjoying a large patronage. 
 He is located on a very pretty corner 
 which he has improved by the erection of 
 a handsome and commodious modern 
 residence on Schofield street adjoining the 
 store and he contemplates building a new 
 store building in the near future. He is 
 courteous and accommodating and his 
 business is constantly growing. He pos- 
 sesses laudable ambition and energy and 
 his wife has been of much assistance to 
 him. 
 
 FREDERICK W. MEYER. 
 
 Frederick W. Meyer, who is living in 
 Walker township, was born in Adams 
 county, Illinois, January 18, 1856, and is 
 of German lineage. His parents, Got- 
 lieb and Henrietta Yetter (Homer) 
 Meyer, were both natives of the father- 
 land. The former, born in 1829, died in 
 1895, but Mrs. Meyer is still living at the 
 home in Adams county. He was a 
 farmer, and in 1854 crossed the Atlantic 
 to the new world, making the voyage in 
 a sailing vessel, which was three weeks 
 in reaching the American port. Unto 
 him and his wife -were born eight chil- 
 dren : Caroline, the wife of Gotlieb 
 Roskamp, of Walker township; F. W., 
 of this review ; Fredericka, the wife of 
 Ernest Distlehorst, of Horton; Augusta. 
 
 the wife of Henry Slitman, of Adams 
 county, Illinois; Louisa, the wife of Ed 
 Cook, of Mendon, this state; Emma, the 
 wife of James Knox, of Adams county; 
 Anna, at home; and Gotlieb, who for 
 eight years was in the Philippine Islands, 
 but is now in St. Louis, Missouri. 
 
 F. W. Meyer pursued his education in 
 the public schools of Quincy, Illinois, and 
 at Fowler, this state. In his youth he 
 largely assisted his father in the work of 
 the home farm and eventually began earn- 
 ing his living by working as a farm hand 
 for two months in the employ of Mr. 
 Buckeder. He was married in 1883 to 
 Miss Minnie Althede, who was born in an 
 old log house standing on the farm which 
 is now the home of Mr. Meyer. Her 
 natal year was 1860, and her parents were 
 Gotlieb and Rickie (Hocker) Althede, 
 both natives of Germany. Her father 
 provided for his family by following 
 farming and feeding stock in Walker 
 township for many years but in early life 
 he learned and followed the tailor's trade. 
 He died in 1902, and his widow is now 
 living at her daughter's, Mrs. Wiebrock, 
 in Walker township. Mr., Althede served 
 in the German army in his native country 
 and was also a soldier of the Civil war 
 in this country for eight months. In his 
 family were six children who are yet liv- 
 ing: Fred, who resides in Wythe town- 
 ship; Mrs. Meyer; Henry and Gotlieb, 
 who are farmers of Walker township; 
 Mrs. Carrie Wiebrock, of Walker town- 
 ship; and John, living in the same town- 
 ship. 
 
 About a year after his marriage Mr. 
 Meyer purchased his present farm home 
 of his father-in-law, and now has eighty
 
 190 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 acres on section 4, Walker township. He 
 built his present residence in 1892, taking 
 possession on the I4th of June. In 1888 
 he built a good barn thirty-two by forty- 
 four feet and has also put up other sub- 
 stantial buildings on the place. He like- 
 wise owns eighty-three acres of land near 
 Hamilton, Illinois, which is improved, 
 and sixty-two acres of pasture land in 
 Bear Creek township, beside a store build- 
 ing in Sutter which is occupied by Wil- 
 liam Shipe, and two houses in Sutter 
 which he rents. His attention is" mainly 
 given to general agricultural pursuits and 
 stock-raising, and upon his place he has 
 a young orchard of six acres of peaches 
 and apples, only about three years old. 
 He is entirely a self-made man, who 
 started out in life in limited circumstances. 
 In his earlier years he practiced frugality 
 and industry and as the result of his 
 earnest labor he and his wife are now 
 enabled to enjoy many of the comforts 
 which go to make life worth living. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have been 
 born eleven children, of whom nine sur- 
 vive : Lydia, the wife of Charles Mur- 
 ray, who lives on her father's farm near 
 Hamilton, by whom she has two daugh- 
 ters, Elise and Edna ; Carrie, the wife of 
 Gotlieb Humke, of Wythe township; 
 Alice, who is with her parents; George, 
 eighteen years of age, at home; Bertha, 
 Rosa. Sophia, Dora and Sadie, all yet 
 under the parental roof. 
 
 Mr. Meyer is a republican, inflexible 
 in support of the principles of his party 
 yet without aspiration for office. Both 
 he and his wife are members of the Ger- 
 man church and are intelligent, well re- 
 spected citizens. He is now quite an ex- 
 
 tensive landowner and all his property 
 has been acquired through his own efforts. 
 It is a record of which he has every reason 
 to be proud and it shows what may be 
 accomplished in this country where labor 
 is unhampered by caste or class and 
 where opportunity is open to all. 
 
 FRED N. MILBY. 
 
 Fred N. Milby, editor and proprietor 
 of the Carthage Weekly Democrat, has 
 made a notable success for one of his 
 years, and in his career as a journalist 
 has kept abreast with the modern prog- 
 ress which has been manifest in late years 
 in the newspaper field. He is a native 
 son of Hancock county, having been born 
 near Carthage, March 15, 1873, his par- 
 ents being David W. and Catherine 
 (Curry) Milby. The father was born in 
 Delaware, July 12. 1831, and the 
 mother's birth ocurred in Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky, March 13, 1834. Mr. Milby was 
 a farmer by occupation and was brought 
 to Illinois in his childhood days, settling 
 with his parents at Rushville in Schuyler 
 county, whence he came to Hancock 
 county about thirty-five years ago. He 
 died in Carthage, December 22, 1895, 
 respected by all who knew him and his 
 remains were interred in Moss Ridge 
 cemetery. His political views were in 
 harmony with the principles of democ- 
 racy. His wife, a member of the Chris- 
 tian church, is now living with her son 
 Fred. They had a family of seven chil-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 191 
 
 dren, all of whom yet survive, namely : 
 Albert B., residing near Tulip, Missouri; 
 Jennie, the wife of Perry Fancher, resid- 
 ing in Carthage Missouri ; Laura, living 
 with her mother; Thomas G., of Car- 
 thage; Anna D., the wife of E. L. Yates, 
 of Perkins, Oklahoma ; Fred M. ; and 
 Carrie M., who is assisting her brother 
 Fred in his office. Thomas J. Curry, a 
 brother of Mrs. David W. Milby, was a 
 soldier in the Civil war, serving through- 
 out the period of hostilities as captain of 
 Company C, One Hundred and Eight- 
 eenth Volunteer Infantry. Two other 
 brothers, James and Duncan Curry, were 
 also members of the same regiment, so 
 that the family was well represented in 
 the army. 
 
 In the public schools of Carthage Fred 
 X. Milby acquired his education and after- 
 ward learned the printer's trade, which 
 he followed in this city as an employe until 
 1899, when he established a printing of- 
 fice of his own in the Quinby Block on 
 Jefferson street. He is also editor and 
 proprietor of the Carthage Weekly Demo- 
 crat, a paper which has a large circulation 
 in the city and county. This is one of 
 the strong democratic organs of the 
 county and in connection with its publi- 
 cation he also conducts a prosperous job- 
 bing printing business, having an office 
 well equipped for turning out first class 
 work, so that a liberal patronage is ac- 
 corded him. 
 
 On the 29th of November, 1900, Mr. 
 Milby was married to Miss Mabel G. 
 Linn, who was born in West Point, Illi- 
 nois in 1883, a daughter of George W. 
 and Irene (Browning) Linn. Her father 
 was a native of Adams county, Illinois, 
 
 and the mother was also born in this 
 state. Mr. Linn is a blacksmith by trade 
 and followed that pursuit until his death, 
 which occurred January 4, 1905. His 
 wife had passed away in July, 1896, and 
 they were buried near West Point, Illi- 
 nois. His political allegiance was given 
 to the Republican party. Mrs. Milby 
 was the youngest of their family of four 
 children, the others being George H., 
 of Carthage; Cora G., the wife of Ed- 
 ward Fletcher; and Nora. All are still 
 residents of Carthage. Mr. Milby pur- 
 chased a pretty home on Locust and 
 Washington streets, where he now resides 
 and unto him and his wife have been born 
 two children, Katharine Irene and Ken- 
 neth Richmond, the former born Decem- 
 ber 22, 1901, and the latter June 10, 1905. 
 Kenneth died March u, 1906. In con- 
 nection with his home property Mr. Milby 
 also owns several vacant lots in Carthage 
 and a business house. The spirit of self- 
 help is the source of all true worth in 
 the individual and it has been the domi- 
 nant factor in the life record of Mr. Milby 
 who had no assistance as he entered upon 
 the task of providing for his own support 
 and making for himself a place in busi- 
 ness circles. His upright life, his energy 
 and the exercise of his native talents con- 
 stitute the material from which he has 
 builded his present prosperity and he has 
 won a creditable place for one of his 
 years, while his talents bespeak for him 
 still greater achievements in the future. 
 He takes a most active interest in public 
 affairs and as a private citizen and 
 through the columns of his paper as well, 
 he labors effectively for the welfare of his 
 city and county. He has always been a
 
 192 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 champion of the democracy and is con- 
 nected with Knights of Pythias fraternity, 
 exemplifying in his life its beneficent 
 spirit. 
 
 Mr. Milby has erected a fine business 
 building on the east side of the square, 
 and the second story is now the home of 
 the Democrat, the first story being used 
 as a store. 
 
 WILLIAM A. SYMONDS. 
 
 William A. Symonds, who is now serv- 
 ing for the fifth term as justice of the 
 peace in Carthage, is one of the represen- 
 tative citizens of the county. Few men 
 are more widely known in Carthage, for 
 he has been an important factor in pro- 
 fessional, political and church circles and 
 his popularity is well deserved, as in him 
 are embraced the characteristics of an 
 unbending integrity, unabating energy 
 and industry that never flags. He is public 
 spirited and thoroughly interested in 
 whatever tends to promote the moral, in- 
 tellectual and material welfare of the 
 county. 
 
 A native of New Hampshire, William 
 A. Symonds was born in Hillsborough 
 county on the 3ist of October, 1844, his 
 parents being Frederick W. and Abbie 
 (Lawton) Symonds. The father was also 
 bom in Hillsborough county and the 
 mother's birth occurred in one of the 
 eastern states. Coming to Illinois in 
 1847, Frederick W. Symonds settled near 
 Carthage and carried on general agricul- 
 tural pursuits up to the time of his death. 
 
 Both he and his wife passed way in 1853 
 and were buried in the Carthage cemetery. 
 In their family were seven children, of 
 whom five are yet living. Two of the 
 sons were soldiers of the Civil war. Ed- 
 win K. enlisted for three years in the One 
 Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry 
 and continued with the army until the 
 close of hostilities. He died a few yeavs 
 ago. John L. Symonds, who was a mem- 
 ber of the One Hundred and Eighteenth 
 Illinois Infantry, became ill while in the 
 service and died near Vicksburg. Wil- 
 liam L. Rand, a cousin of Judge Symonds, 
 was also a member of the One Hundred 
 and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry and now 
 lives in Carthage. Another relative, L. 
 B. Cochran, a husband of Emily S. Sy- 
 monds, served throughout the war in the 
 Sixteenth Illinois Infantry and is now in 
 Missouri. John B. Hawley, who married 
 Mary F. Symonds, another sister, also 
 served in an Illinois regiment and was a 
 captain of his company. He took part 
 in the battle of Fort Donelson and lost 
 his health there on account of exposure 
 and had to resign and practiced law at 
 Rock Island, Illinois, and was elected 
 congressman from that district. He 
 served as assistant secretary of treasury 
 under Sherman. An old shot gun which 
 was used by an ancestor in the Revolu- 
 tionary war is still in possession of the 
 Symonds family. 
 
 Judge Symonds of this review, being 
 brought to Hancock county when only 
 three years of age, was educated in the 
 public schools of Carthage and also at- 
 tended college in Jacksonville, Illinois, for 
 a year. He afterward engaged in teach- 
 ing school for several years in this county,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 193 
 
 but in the fall of 1864 put aside his pro- 
 fessional duties and personal interests in 
 order to espouse the Union cause, enlist- 
 ing when twenty years of age as a mem- 
 ber of the One Hundred and Forty-sixth 
 Infantry, with which he continued until 
 peace was restored. He then returned 
 to Carthage and again taught school, 
 while later he devoted his summer months 
 to farming and in the winter seasons con- 
 tinued in the profession of teaching. In 
 1869 he took up the study of law with 
 David Mack as his preceptor, reading 
 with him for two years and afterward 
 practicing with him for a similar period. 
 He then entered upon practice alone in 
 Carthage, being city attorney for two 
 years when the city abolished saloons, and 
 followed his profession for several years, 
 when on account of ill health he retired 
 from active practice and turned his at- 
 tention to farming, believing that the out- 
 door life would prove beneficial. Grad- 
 ually, however, he resumed his law work 
 and throughout much of an active busi- 
 ness career his attention has been given 
 to the practice of law in probate court, 
 but principally in settling of estates. 
 
 In his political views Judge Symonds 
 has always been a stanch republican, sup- 
 porting the party since age conferred upon 
 him the right of franchise. In 1874 he 
 was chosen school clerk and continued 
 in the office until his removal to the farm. 
 Later he was again appointed to the same 
 position and was treasurer of the school 
 board for twelve or fifteen years, although 
 his service was not consecutive. He is 
 now filling for the fifth term the position 
 of justice of the peace, so that his in- 
 cumbency covers almost twenty years. 
 
 For many years he has been public ad- 
 ministrator of the county. He has also 
 been notary public throughout his con- 
 nection with the Hancock county bar and 
 no public trust reposed in him has ever 
 been betrayed in the slightest degree. In 
 connection with his business affairs and 
 official duties he has also been insurance 
 agent for many years. 
 
 - Mr. Symonds was married November 
 26, 1878,10 Miss Mary Spangler, a daugh- 
 ter of William M. and Sarah E. Span- 
 gler, whose sketch is also in this review. 
 Five sisters of the family are still living. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Symonds have been 
 born seven children, all natives of Car- 
 thage : The eldest, Abbie, died in infancy, 
 the rest are: Frederick W., who was 
 twenty-two years of age on the loth of 
 January, 1906, is a graduate of the Car- 
 thage high school and is now studying 
 engineering under the direction of Scran- 
 ton (Pennsylvania) Correspondence 
 School. Emily Clare, also a high school 
 graduate, is now assisting her father in 
 his office. James S. is a high school 
 student. Raymond H., Mary E. and John 
 H., the youngest now nine years of age, 
 are all in school. Mr. and Mrs. Symonds 
 reside in the southwest part of the city 
 and since purchasing his home he has 
 remodeled both the exterior and interior 
 and now has a very comfortable and at- 
 tractive property. Mr. Symonds has 
 been a Mason for many years, belonging 
 to Hancock Lodge, No. 20, Ancient 
 Free and Accepted Masons. He likewise 
 holds membership relations with the 
 Woodmen and with Alexander Post, No. 
 455, Grand Army of the Republic, in 
 which he has been adjutant for five or
 
 194 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 six years. Both he and his wife are 
 members of the Presbyterian church, in 
 which he acted as clerk for many years, 
 while for ten or twelve years he has been 
 a ruling elder, taking a most active part 
 in church work and doing all in his power 
 to promote its growth and extend its in- 
 fluence. He is widely and favorably 
 known throughout the county. The terms 
 progress and patriotism might well be 
 considered the key note of his character, 
 for throughout his career he has labored 
 for the improvement of every line of busi- 
 ness or public interest with which he has 
 been associated and at all times has been 
 actuated by a fidelity to his country and 
 her welfare. 
 
 JOHN H. HORNEY. 
 
 John H. Horney, who for many years 
 was identified with agricultural pursuits 
 in Hancock county but is now living re- 
 tired, is numbered among the early set- 
 tlers of this part of the state and has been 
 an active factor not only in business circles 
 but also in public life, several official 
 duties having been bestowed upon him, 
 the duties of which he has faithfully and 
 promptly discharged. He is now serv- 
 ing as rural mail carrier and he likewise 
 proved his loyalty and his devotion to his 
 country by active service in the Civil war. 
 The years of his residence in Hancock 
 county cover the period from 1851 to the 
 present time. 
 
 A native of \Yarren county, Illinois, 
 
 Mr. Horney was born on the 3d of Au- 
 gust, 1841, his parents being Lemuel and 
 Cynthia (Brunton) Horney. The father 
 was born in North Carolina in 1809 about 
 thirty miles from Raleigh, the capital of 
 that state. There he resided continuously 
 until 1827, when, at the age of eighteen 
 years, he became a resident of Schuyler 
 county, Illinois, having made the journey 
 to the west with his parents. He lived 
 in that county for some years after his 
 marriage and was there engaged in farm- 
 ing. Later he removed to Warren 
 county, Illinois, where, he carried on gen- 
 eral agricultural pursuits and in 1851 he 
 came with his family to Hancock county, 
 settling on section 12, Wythe township. 
 There he purchased one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land, which he transformed into 
 a good farm, making his home thereon 
 until his death, which occurred in Au- 
 gust, 1863, resulting from the kick of a 
 mule. He was at that time fifty-four 
 years of age. He had served in the 
 Black Hawk war and was one of the pio- 
 neers of the state, closely associated with 
 its early development and progress. He 
 shared in the hardships and privations in- 
 cident to life on the frontier and as the 
 years passed contributed to the develop- 
 ment and upbuilding of the localities in 
 which he lived. He was a devoted mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, in 
 which he served as a trustee and class- 
 leader for many years. He was also a 
 prosperous and progressive citizen whose 
 well directed business affairs brought to 
 him a gratifying competence. His po- 
 litical allegiance was given to the democ- 
 racy and for a number of years he served 
 as supervisor from that township. He
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 195 
 
 also acted as justice of the peace for 
 some time and during his residence in 
 Warren co*nty, Illinois, he served as ma- 
 jor in the state militia. His wife, who 
 bore the maiden name of Cynthia A. 
 Brunton, was born in Hamilton county, 
 Ohio, and was also a Methodist in her re- 
 ligious faith, taking an active and help- 
 ful part in the work of the church. She 
 survived her husband for many years 
 her death ocurring in 1900, and her re- 
 mains were then interred by the side of 
 his grave in the cemetery at Basco, Illi- 
 nois. In their family were nine children, 
 four of whom are yet living but John H. 
 Horney is the only one now residing in 
 this state. 
 
 Mr. Horney of this review was a lad 
 of about ten years when he accompanied 
 his parents on their removal to Hancock 
 county. He began his education at the 
 place of his birth and continued his studies 
 in the public schools of Wythe township. 
 After completing his own education he 
 engaged in teaching in the district schools 
 and in the village of Elvaston, success- 
 fully following that profession for 
 twenty-one years. He also carried on 
 farming in Wythe township, having pur- 
 chased a tract of land, adjoining the old 
 homestead property. He resided thereon 
 for a number of years and then went to 
 North Dakota, where he spent nearly four 
 years. On the expiration of that period 
 he returned to Hancock county, making 
 his home upon the farm belonging to his 
 father-in-law in Wythe township. There 
 he continued to reside until about five 
 years ago and was accounted one o'f the 
 enterprising agriculturists of the com- 
 munity. Since 1901, however, he has 
 
 resided in the village of Elvaston, having 
 retired from farm life but indolence and 
 idleness are utterly foreign to his nature 
 and in order to have some occupation he 
 became rural mail carrier on the only 
 route out of Elvaston. He has also done 
 considerable surveying for individuals and 
 railroad companies and also for the drain- 
 age committee and he acted as county 
 surveyor for ten years, while living upon 
 the farm. In his political views he is an 
 earnest democrat and for some time held 
 the office of president of the town board 
 of Elvaston and was assessor of Prairie 
 township for one term. No public trust 
 reposed in him has ever been betrayed in 
 the slightest degree and his efficiency and 
 capability have long been recognized. 
 
 Mr. Horney has always been a loyal 
 and public-spirited citizen and his de- 
 votion to his country was early manifest 
 by his service in the Civil war, for when 
 but twenty-one years of age he enlisted 
 on the 1 2th of August, 1862, as a member 
 of Company H, One Hundred and Eight- 
 eenth Illinois Infantry, jvith which he 
 served for about one year, when he was 
 discharged at Black River Bridge, Mis- 
 sissippi. He participated in the siege of 
 Vicksburg and an engagement at Arkan- 
 sas Post and was sergeant of his com- 
 pany but illness compelled him to leave 
 the army. He is now a member of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic and thus 
 maintains pleasant relations with his old 
 army comrades of the Civil war. 
 
 Mr. Horney was married on the 3Oth 
 of January, 1868, to Miss Clara E. Berry, 
 a daughter of Joshua C. and Mary B. 
 (Barker) Berry, the former a native of 
 New Hampshire and the latter of Massa-
 
 196 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 chusetts. They went to Ohio at an early 
 day and in 1854 came to Hancock county, 
 Illinois, settling in "\Yythe township, 
 where the father followed fanning and 
 surveying. His ability in the latter di- 
 rection led to his election to the office of 
 county surveyor for a number of terms. 
 He died at the advanced age of eighty- 
 two years, while his wife reached the ripe 
 old age of eighty-six years. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Homey have been born five 
 four of whom are now living. 
 
 , residing in Elvaston, married 
 f ft 
 
 Miss Kafe>Daw and they have two chil- 
 dren, Nellie F. and Frank D. ; Ettie A. is 
 at home. Charles H. died at the age of 
 three weeks. Eola is now the wife of 
 J. Frank Cameron, of Elvaston, and has 
 one child, Glenn. Jessie M., the young- 
 est, is a student in the public schools. 
 All of the children were born in \Yythe 
 township. The parents are members of 
 the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. 
 Horney is serving as an elder. There are 
 many chapters in his life history that are 
 worthy of emulation, for he proved a 
 brave and loyal soldier, has been equally 
 faithful in citizenship in times of peace, 
 has been straightforward in his business 
 dealings and in public office has proved 
 himself fully worthy of the trust of his 
 fellowmen. 
 
 CHARLES H. GARNETT, A. M., LL.B. 
 
 Charles H. Garnett. one of the promi- 
 nent lawyers of western Illinois, whose 
 
 ability is indicated by his extensive client- 
 age not only in Carthage but in other 
 cities as well, was born in tolmar, Mc- 
 Donough county, Illinois, January 12, 
 1873, his parents being Robert K. and 
 Annie E. (Hunter) Garnett. Robert K. 
 Garnett was a grandson in the maternal 
 line of Reuben Graves, who served as 
 a soldier of the war of 1812. The ma- 
 ternal grandparents of our subject came 
 to America from the north of Ireland 
 near Colerain when about twenty years 
 of age. Robert K. Garnett was born at 
 St. Marys, Hancock county, Illinois, Au- 
 gust 4, 1844, and for many years has been 
 a successful farmer in his native town- 
 ship where now he owns a fine farm of two 
 hundred and forty acres. He has served 
 as justice of the peace for ten or twelve 
 years and was also township collector, 
 discharging his duties of his different of- 
 fices with promptness and fidelity. His 
 political allegiance is given to the democ- 
 racy and he is recognized as a local leader 
 in the party ranks as well as an influential 
 factor in agricultural circles. He married 
 Miss Annie E. Hunter, a daughter of 
 James and Martha (Logan) Hunter, who 
 was born in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, 
 October 19, 1845, and is also living. 
 They have eight children : Mary V., the 
 wife of J. Minor Botts, of St. Marys, 
 Illinois; Lulu O., the wife of William G. 
 Botts, of Carthage; Charles H.. of this 
 review; Grace A., who is a graduate of 
 the University of Illinois of the class of 
 1901 and was for four years principal 
 of the high school at Piano, Illinois, but 
 is now teaching in the high school at 
 Prescott, Arizona: Elmer L., who is a 
 graduate of the Illinois University of the

 
 GLAUS ALBERS
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 
 
 197 
 
 class of 1904 and the Northwestern Law- 
 School of Chicago in 1906 and is now 
 with his brother, Charles H. ; Percie E., 
 a student in the State University at Cham- 
 paign, Illinois; Robert E., who is also 
 studying in that institution; and Harriet 
 E., a student in the University of Illinois 
 at Urbana, Illinois. 
 
 Like the other members of the family 
 Charles H. Garnett was afforded excellent 
 educational privileges, supplementing his 
 preliminary course by study in the Uni- 
 versity of Illinois at Champaign, from 
 which he was graduated with the degree 
 of Bachelor of Arts in the class of 1896. 
 He was elected to a fellowship in eco- 
 nomics in the universtiy, holdng the same 
 for one year. This fellowship is a scholar- 
 ship, which enabled Mr. Garnett to teach 
 at a salary of four hundred dollars per 
 year and also pursue post-graduate work, 
 at the end of which time he received the 
 degree of Master of Arts. He afterward 
 spent two years in the law department 
 at Yale College, from which he was 
 graduated in 1899 with the degree of 
 Bachelor of Laws and in December of the 
 same year he was admitted to the Illinois 
 bar. After spending the winter in Chi- 
 cago he came to Carthage in April, 1900, 
 and in November of the same year was 
 elected state's attorney of Hancock 
 county, which position he filled for the 
 full term of four years. He is now one 
 of the most successful lawyers of this city 
 with a large clientele, connecting him with 
 much important litigation. His political 
 allegiance is given to the democracy and 
 he was nominated for the second term 
 but was defeated. In 1906 he was nomi- 
 nated by the democratic senatorial con- 
 
 vention to represent his district in the 
 general assembly, subject to the general 
 elections held in November. 
 
 Mr. Garnett belongs to Hancock Lodge, 
 No. 20, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- 
 sons, in which he is now junior warden; 
 Bentley Lodge, No. 412, Independent 
 Order of Odd Fellows ; and Occidental 
 Lodge, No. 388, Knights of Pythias, in 
 which he is a past chancellor commander 
 and also belongs to the Carthage Baptist 
 church. His offices are located in the 
 AIcMahan Building, where he occupies a 
 nice suite of rooms. He is yet a young 
 man but has attained prominence in his 
 profession that many an older practitioner 
 might well envy, and a growing business 
 is indicative of the confidence reposed in 
 him by the public. June 6, 1906, Mr. 
 Garnett was married, his wife being 
 Ermine Williams, of Fort Stockton, 
 Texas, a daughter of Oscar YV. and Sarah 
 (Wheat) Williams. He was an attorney, 
 a graduate of Harvard Law School and 
 for some years a judge of Pecos Bounty, 
 Texas, while her grandfather. Jesse C. 
 Williams, has been in business in Car- 
 thage about a half century. Miss Wil- 
 liams was- educated at Carthage College. 
 
 CLAUS ALBERS. 
 
 Claus Albers, numbered among War- 
 saw's honored dead, was for many years 
 a prominent citizen. As the day with 
 its morning of hope and promise, its 
 noontide of activity, its evening of com-
 
 198 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 pleted and successful effort, ending in the 
 grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was 
 the life of this man, and when death 
 claimed him a most useful, active and 
 honorable career was ended, in which he 
 had labored not alone for hfs own ad- 
 vancement but had contributed in large 
 measure to the upbuilding of the city. 
 
 Claus Albers was born November 25, 
 1817, in Hollenhof, Amt, Zeven. in the 
 kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and was 
 the eldest son of John Dietrich and Sophia 
 Albers. He emigrated to America in 
 1836, when a young man of nineteen years 
 and became a resident of Ohio. He was 
 married in Cincinnati, on the 5th of March, 
 1839, to Miss Rebecca Knoop, who came 
 to this country with her parents in 1838. 
 She was born in Oldendorf, in the king- 
 dom of Hanover, December 26, 1818. 
 
 Following their marriage the young 
 couple removed to St. Louis, Missouri, 
 where Mr. Albers was engaged in the 
 grocery business and subsequently they 
 took up their abode upon a farm in Ben- 
 ton county, Missouri, becoming pioneer 
 residents of that locality. Mr. Albers de- 
 voted his time and energies to general 
 farming there for nearly eight years and 
 while living there he and his wife joined 
 the German Methodist church in 1844, 
 having previously been members of the 
 Lutheran church. Their home became a 
 preaching place for Methodist ministers 
 until a little society, consisting of about 
 eight families, built a log church on Mr. 
 Albers's farm. In 1847 he left Missouri, 
 and with his family removed to Milwau- 
 kee, Wisconsin, and thence to Racine, re- 
 maining only a few weeks in each place. 
 He afterward came to Hancock countv, 
 
 Illinois, settling in Xauvoo, after making 
 the journey in a covered wagon drawn by 
 an ox team. In Nauvoo he dealt in gen- 
 eral merchandising and traded with the 
 surviving Mormons, all of whom had not 
 been expelled from the state. Their mag- 
 nificent temple in Xauvoo was burned 
 during Mr. Albers's residence there. In 
 1851 he removed to Warsaw, where he 
 again engaged in general merchandising 
 for a brief period. In 1854, however, he 
 built a flouring mill on the site of the 
 present Grace Mills, having a capacity 
 of two hundred barrels daily. In 1855 
 this mill was destroyed by fire and he at 
 once made preparation for rebuilding. 
 The mill, which was called the Grace mill, 
 was established in 1856 and had a capacity 
 of from two hundred and fifty to three 
 hundred barrels of flour per day. It was 
 managed by Mr. Albers with the assist- 
 ance of his sons and at times with differ- 
 ent partners until 1883, when he retired 
 from that business and took up the man- 
 agement of his farm on Main street, to 
 which he had devoted many leisure hours 
 through a long period of years. He was 
 pleased to term it the preserver of his 
 health and he delighted to retire to this 
 farm, watching the growth of the crops 
 there and living near to nature's heart. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Albers were born 
 seven children, who survive the parents : 
 Henry, a resident and prominent busi- 
 ness man of Los Angeles, California; 
 Sophia, the wife of Dr. J. G. Van Marter, 
 of Rome, Italy; Anna, the wife of Pro- 
 fessor J. L. Kessler, of Warrenton, Mis- 
 souri ; Anna Rebecca, the wife of William 
 Zuppan ; Charles and William E., of War- 
 saw : and Homer, of Boston.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 199 
 
 The death of the father, Claus Albers, 
 occurred January 23, 1892, when he was 
 seventy-four years of age. A local jour- 
 nal said of him : "In the death of Mr. 
 Albers Warsaw lost a citizen who gave 
 the best years of his life to an enterprise 
 that contributed largely to the upbuilding 
 of the city and made it for four decades 
 the grain market for a large scope of ter- 
 ritory. It lost a citizen who thus prac- 
 tically demonstrated the vast benefit, a 
 man of enterprise, energy and capacity 
 . can be to a community when he so directs 
 those attributes. It lost a citizen whose 
 acquaintance was as wide as the commer- 
 cial reach of the city made so by a long, 
 active and useful life." His wife sur- 
 vived him until July 9, 1896, and passed 
 away at the age of seventy-seven years, 
 six months and thirteen days. Mrs. Al- 
 bers was a gentle, kindly woman, char- 
 itable in her estimate of every one and of 
 uniform affability in the treatment of all. 
 She never spoke evil of any one, and 
 always insisted that every person had his 
 good side and redeeming qualities if one 
 would only seek them. Even her re- 
 proofs were so tempered with sweetness 
 they left no sting of bitterness, and in 
 all her life it is said she never gave way 
 to temper. Patient in her consideration 
 of others, self-sacrificing and thoughtful, 
 her greatest ambition seemed to be to 
 serve her family and her greatest fear 
 that she might be a care or a burden. All 
 who knew her are full of her praises and 
 all mourn the loss of a good woman. 
 They can well sympathize with the house- 
 hold from which such a- light has gone 
 out forever. 
 
 Of their family Homer Albers has at- 
 
 13 
 
 tained national distinction. He was born 
 in Warsaw, Illinois, February 28, 1863. 
 He was educated in the public schools of 
 Warsaw; at Central Wesleyan College 
 Warrenton, Missouri, from which college 
 he was graduated with a degree of Bache- 
 lor of Arts in 1882. He then went to the 
 Boston University Law School and was 
 graduated Magna Cum Laude from this 
 institution in 1885 with the degree of 
 Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to 
 the bar in the summer of 1885 in Boston; 
 was associated in business before his ad- 
 mission, and subsequently with George 
 L. Huntress until 1888, when he became 
 a partner with Mr. Huntress which part- 
 nership has continued up to the present 
 time. Soon after receiving his degree of 
 Bachelor of Laws he was appointed an 
 instructor in the Law School, continuing, 
 however, his law practice. A few years 
 later he was made a professor and ap- 
 pointed a member of the faculty of the 
 Boston University Law School, which po- 
 sitions he continued to hold until 1902, 
 when the increasing demands of his law 
 practice made it necessary for him to cur- 
 tail his other work. At the request of the 
 university he consented to deliver a few 
 lectures each year in order that they 
 might retain his name in their list of 
 lecturers. In 1900 Mr. Albers began a 
 short course of lectures on Business Law 
 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- 
 ogy, and has continued to the present time 
 in the charge of this course in this famous 
 institution. He has been offered profes- 
 sorships in the Law Schools of University 
 of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and at the 
 Northwestern University, at Chicago, but 
 declined, preferring the active practice of
 
 200 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 law. In 1899 Mr. Albers was by Gov- 
 ernor Wolcott appointed a member of the 
 Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commis- 
 sion, and by reappointments from suc- 
 cessive governors continued to hold this 
 position until 1905. He was married 
 June 26, 1889, to Minnie B. Martin, of 
 Fredonia, New York. They reside in 
 Brookline, a most attractive village near 
 Boston. In 1903 he was by Governor 
 Bates appointed a judge of the Massachu- 
 setts superior court. In Massachusetts 
 the judges are appointed by the governor 
 for life, and an appointment to this bench 
 had, up to the time of the selection of Mr. 
 Albers for this position, been refused only 
 once in the history of Massachusetts. The 
 judges must, however, sit in different 
 places throughout the state, and Mr. Al- 
 bers was unwilling to have his happy 
 home life interferrecl with, and therefore 
 declined the proffered, unsolicited honor. 
 In an interview published in the Boston 
 Journal on September 15, 1903, his law 
 partner, George L. Huntress, said : "At 
 the time of Mr. Albers's appointment I 
 was both glad and sorry. You know why 
 I was glad. But I was sorry to lose such 
 a man from the close association of the 
 office and out of our business, which he 
 has graced and honored, and to which 
 he has given the best that is in him. Now 
 I am both glad and sorry. I am sorry 
 that he has been obliged to surrender what 
 would have been an honor to him and 
 what he would have honored to the full: 
 a place upon the bench of this common- 
 wealth. But I am glad he is going to stay 
 with me." The Lowell Courier published 
 the following : "Aside from the domestic 
 considerations which compelled Mr. Al- 
 
 bers to refuse the ermine, it is also true 
 in all probability that a man of his calibre 
 is making too great a financial sacrifice 
 in accepting a judicial position. Our 
 judges are better paid than the justices 
 of a good many states, but their salaries 
 are still far below what a good many 
 lawyers can make in practice. We can 
 only regret it as a grave error to refuse 
 attractive salaries to the judiciary. It 
 takes a large mind to make a good judge, 
 and some states find that the large minds 
 come high higher than they are willing 
 to pay." The salary in Massachusetts 
 is six thousand five hundred dollars, and 
 five hundred dollars travel. Mr. Albers's 
 practice is that of a business lawyer, 
 commercial law, corporation law, equity 
 cases including many trade mark cases. 
 He has never been a candidate for any 
 office and all appointments have come 
 unsolicited. He is the personal attorney 
 for Thomas W. Lawson in all his varied 
 and intricate affairs, and he and Mr. 
 Huntress have conducted the legal busi- 
 ness of C. I. Hood & Company, the 
 Wells & Richardson Company (Paine's 
 Celery Compound) and other prominent 
 individuals and corporations. Mr. Al- 
 bers is a director in a number of corpora- 
 tions including the Coastwise Transpor- 
 tation Company, which owns and operates 
 the largest sailing vessels in the world. 
 Although he cannot be called a "club 
 man," he is a member of the University 
 Club, the Boston Art Club and the Com- 
 monwealth Country Club, this being not 
 the least among the many forms of recre- 
 ation which he has of recuperation, which 
 is so necessary to one leading so active 
 a life.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, FLLINOIS. 201 
 
 CHARLES ALBERS. WILLIAM EDWARD ALBERS. 
 
 Charles Albers, now manager of the 
 Warsaw Milling Company, was born in 
 this city in 1857, and was educated in the 
 public schools of Warsaw and Central 
 Wesleyan College, Warrenton, Missouri, 
 and the Iowa Wesleyan University, of 
 Mt. Pleasant. Iowa. He received his 
 business training under the direction of 
 his father and has continuously been iden- 
 tified with the milling interests of War- 
 saw since that time. The business is now 
 conducted under the firm name of The 
 Warsaw Milling Company. As stated, the 
 business was established in 1856 by the 
 father of the present proprietors, and in 
 1887 was incorporate! as a stock company 
 and capitalized for fifty thousand dollars, 
 with J. H. Finlay as president; C. E. 
 Eymann, vice president ; W. E. Albers, 
 secretary and treasurer; and Charles Al- 
 bers, manager. The capacity of the plant 
 is four hundred barrels per day. The 
 mill has been in continuous operation for 
 fifty years, and all of the time has been 
 owned by the same family. It is now 
 equipped with all modern improvements 
 and the business is carefully and suc- 
 cessfully conducted along modern lines. 
 
 Charles Albers was married in 1904 to 
 Miss Cecille Dory, a daughter of Victor 
 Dory, and they have one child, Clarice 
 Cecille. Mr. Albers became a Mason in 
 1890 and has attained the Knight Templar 
 degree of the York rite. He has never 
 aspired to political honors, yet is never 
 remiss in citizenship and gives stalwart 
 support to many movements which are of 
 direct benefit not only to the village, but 
 also to the county and state. 
 
 William Edward Albers was born in 
 Illinois, July 7, 1859, and pursued his 
 education in the public schools of War- 
 saw and also in Illinois College, at Jack- 
 sonville. Subsequently he went to Bloom- 
 ington, Illinois, and later for a time op- 
 erated a coal mine at Sidell, Illinois, where 
 he remained for about three years. On 
 the expiration, of that period he sold to 
 the firm of Bishop & Springer, coal deal- 
 ers of Keokuk. He has been associated 
 with the milling business as secretary and 
 treasurer since its incorporation in 1887, 
 and while operating the mill he was large- 
 ly interested in farming. He became a 
 partner in the milling business in 1884 
 and he and his brother Charles rebuilt the 
 mill and have since conducted this busi- 
 ness, which is one of the leading indus- 
 trial enterprises of Warsaw. 
 
 W. E. Albers was married October 12, 
 1893, to Miss Mary Grace Robinson, a 
 daughter of David A. and Laura (Chan- 
 dler) Robinson, and they are prominent 
 socially in Warsaw, where they have 
 many warm friends. Politically Mr. Al- 
 bers is a republican but without aspiration 
 for office. He holds membership with 
 the Presbyterian church, of which he has 
 been a trustee for several years and he is 
 active in support of all that tends to ad- 
 vance material, intellectual and moral 
 progress. 
 
 LEWIS GOTLIEB ROSKAMP. 
 
 Lewis Gotlieb Roskamp, deceased, who 
 at one time was a successful general
 
 2O2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 farmer of Hancock county, was born in 
 Quincy, Illinois, September 2, 1852. His 
 parents, Philip and Hannah (Shassick) 
 Roskamp, were natives of Germany and 
 the family came to America about 1845 
 or 1846, settling in St. Louis, Missouri. 
 Philip Roskamp removed from Quincy, 
 Illinois, to Hancock county when his son 
 Lewis was only four or five years of age 
 and located on a farm in Walker town- 
 ship, where he reared his family and 
 carried on general agricultural pursuits. 
 His wife died in 1887, and he survived 
 until 1891, when his grave was made by 
 the side of hers in Tioga cemetery. 
 
 Lewis G. Roskamp was educated in the 
 public schools of Tioga and continued 
 under the parental roof until he had at- 
 tained his majority, when he was married 
 and started out in life for himself. On 
 the 5th of October, 1873, he wedded Miss 
 Caroline Meyer, who was born in Adams 
 county, Illinois, in 1855, a daughter of 
 Gotlieb and Henrietta (Haner) Meyer, 
 who were natives of Germany, the former 
 born May 24, 1821, and the latter De- 
 cember 29, 1829. Both came to Amer- 
 ica in childhood, and Mrs. Meyer was 
 eleven weeks on the voyage to the new 
 world. In their family were eight chil- 
 dren, namely: Mrs. Roskamp; Mrs. 
 Rickie Distlehorst, deceased; William, of 
 Walker township; Augusta, the wife of 
 Henry Schlipman, of Adams county, Illi- 
 nois; Emma, the wife of Ernest Distle- 
 horst, of Adams county ; Louisa, the wife 
 of Ed Cook, who is living near Mendon, 
 Illinois ; Anna, who makes her home with 
 her sister, Mrs. Cook; and Gotlieb, who 
 is in St. Louis, Missouri. He was twenty- 
 nine years of age on the 3Oth of May, 
 
 1906. He has been a soldier in the 
 Philippines for many years and is now 
 in a St. Louis hospital. The mother of 
 these children still survives and yet en- 
 joys good health for one of her years. 
 
 At the time of their marriage Mr. and 
 Mrs. Roskamp took up their abode in 
 a log house on a farm just across the 
 road from where she now lives, in Walker 
 township. There they lived until 1881, 
 when Mr. Roskamp erected an elegant 
 residence, which is one of the best homes 
 of the locality. In 1887 he built a fine 
 barn sixty by forty feet and also erected 
 sheds and other good outbuildings. His 
 farm comprised two hundred and seventy 
 acres on section 20, Walker township, and 
 he placed his land under a high state of 
 cultivation so that he annually gathered 
 good crops and secured a gratifying year- 
 ly income. His life was one of industry, 
 and his laudable ambition and unfaltering 
 perseverance were elements in his success. 
 As the years passed by he prospered, so 
 that he was able to secure a beautiful home 
 and surrounded his family with many 
 of the comforts of life. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Roskamp were born 
 eleven children, all of whom were born on 
 the old home place, namely : Anna, the 
 wife of Gotlieb Heineke, of Walker town- 
 ship, by whom she has two children, Alma 
 and Bertha ; Fred, a farmer who married 
 Anna Kiner, of Hamilton and has three 
 children, Bertha, Hilda and Clara ; Lydia, 
 the wife of William Kunz, of Walker 
 township, and they have one child, Al- 
 vina; John, who operates the home farm 
 for his mother; Henry, who is seventeen 
 years of age and is now in Oregon ; 
 Walter, also at home ; Carl, thirteen years
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 203 
 
 of age, Lawrence aged eleven, and Lena, 
 nine years of age, also at home with their 
 mother. 
 
 Mr. Roskamp voted with the Repub- 
 lican party but was never a politician in 
 the sense of office seeking. He held mem- 
 bership in the German Lutheran church, 
 at Tioga, where he served as trustee for 
 eight years, in the work of which he was 
 deeply and helpfully interested. His 
 death occurred August 17, 1899, and his 
 remains were buried in the Tioga ceme- 
 tery, where rests his two children. His 
 widow is likewise a member of the church 
 and still is on the old home farm, where 
 she is rearing her children, who have 
 been left in comfortable circumstances as 
 the result of enterprise and business 
 ability manifested by the husband and 
 father through the years of his active con- 
 nection with farming interests in this 
 county. 
 
 ALFRED QUICK. 
 
 Alfred Quick, engaged in general 
 farming in Wilcox township, was born in 
 Rocky Run township in 1878. His pa- 
 ternal grandfather, Alfred Quick, Sr., was 
 born in 1814, in Kentucky, and in 1834, 
 when twenty years of age, became a resi- 
 dent of this county. He settled in Rocky 
 Run township and was identified with its 
 pioneer development and progress, aiding 
 in laying broad and deep the foundation 
 for the present upbuilding and improve- 
 ment of this portion of the state. He 
 married Miss Susan Hornbeck, who was 
 
 born in Kentucky in 1809, and they be- 
 came the parents of six children, of whom 
 four are now living: Preston; Samuel, 
 of Rocky Run township ; James, of Clark 
 county, Missouri ; and Susan, the wife of 
 James Shipe, of Warsaw. Preston Quick, 
 father of our subject, was born in Ken- 
 tucky in 1842, and came to Illinois in 
 1848, at which time he took up his abode 
 in Rocky Run township. He served for 
 three and a half years as a soldier in the 
 Civil war, belonging to the One Hundred 
 and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
 try, and during a part of that time was 
 under command of General Grant. Re- 
 turning home, he resumed agricultural 
 pursuits here and was for many years an 
 enterprising farmer of this county but 
 is now living retired, making his home 
 with his children. He married Miss 
 Elizabeth Shipe, who was born in Rocky 
 Run township in 1848 and is of German 
 descent. She died in 1895. Mr. Quick 
 is a republican in his political affiliation 
 and for years served as school director, 
 the cause of education finding in him a 
 warm and stalwart friend. In their 
 family were four children, of whom three 
 are now living, namely: Clara M., the 
 wife of Thomas Williams, of Wythe 
 township; Susan, the deceased wife of 
 Lemuel Whitney; Sophronia, the wife of 
 David Webster, who is operating the old 
 Quick homestead in Rocky Run township ; 
 and Alfred. 
 
 In the public schools near his father's 
 home, Alfred Quick was educated and 
 during the periods of vacation he assisted 
 in the farm work, giving his services to 
 the benefit of his father until twenty-two 
 years of age, when he left home and was
 
 204 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RE ] 'IE W 
 
 married. It \vas on the gth of January, 
 1900, that he wedded Miss Cleota Ewing, 
 who was born in Tioga, Hancock county, 
 Illinois, November 25, 1880, a daughter 
 of Jackson and Minerva (Gray) Ewing. 
 Her father was born in Kentucky. Oc- 
 tober 28, 1837, and died September 19, 
 1886. while the mother's birth occurred 
 in this county on the i3th of Sqitember, 
 1838. He followed the occupation of 
 farming and on coming to Hancock 
 county settled in Walker township, where 
 he devoted his time to his chosen vocation 
 and also carried on a general merchan- 
 dise store at Tioga. His political sup- 
 port was given to the democracy and he 
 served in several township offices. In 
 his family were three children, of whom 
 two are living: lona, the wife of Frank 
 Harrison, of Walker township ; and Mrs. 
 Quick. Mr. Ewing departed this life in 
 1886, and the mother still survives and is 
 living in Tioga. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Quick re- 
 sided upon his father's farm for two years 
 and later spent one year near Hamilton. 
 In 1905 he purchased one hundred acres 
 of land on section 21, Wilcox township, 
 an improved farm, which he has since 
 further developed and cultivated. The 
 home has been blessed with one child, 
 Fleta Minerva, who was born in Rocky 
 Run township, January 20, 1903. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Quick have many friends 
 in this locality and their many excellent 
 traits of character are widely recognized 
 by those with whom they come in contact. 
 Mr. Quick is a republican, while frater- 
 nally he is connected with the Woodmen 
 camp. Energetic and active he is ac- 
 counted one of the progressive young 
 
 farmers of the community, who has al- 
 ready done well in his business life and 
 undoubtedly the future holds in store for 
 him further success. 
 
 CHARLES ALBERT WARNER, M.D. 
 
 Dr. Charles Albert Warner is the oldest 
 practicing physician in Hancock county. 
 He arrived here in 1853 from Germany, 
 having been born in the latter country 
 on the 1 5th of September, 1830, the place 
 of his nativity being Hesse Darmstadt. 
 His early education was acquired in the 
 public schools and the Gymnasium and 
 College University of Giesen, from which 
 he was graduated in the spring of 1852. 
 He was a youth of twenty-three years 
 when he arrived in Wisconsin, having 
 made the voyage on an old sailing vessel, 
 which was four weeks in crossing the 
 Atlantic. He proceeded to St. Louis and 
 having determined upon the practice ot 
 medicine as a life work, he entered the 
 St. Louis Medical College, where he pur- 
 sued a regular course and was graduated 
 after three years' study, two years of 
 which was passed in that institution, then 
 called Pope's College, while for one year 
 he was a student in McDowell's College. 
 Following his graduation from the St. 
 Louis Medical College, he entered upon 
 the active practice of his profession and 
 remained in St. Louis until 1862, when 
 he enlisted in the service of his country as 
 assistant surgeon, being thus engaged 
 until 1865. In that year he resigned
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, 
 
 20= 
 
 after which lie was in charge of the 
 I city hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, 
 acting in that capacity until 1866. 
 In that year he came direct to 
 Warsaw, where he has continuously 
 practiced to the present time, being now 
 the oldest physician in years of continuous 
 service in the county. He has been ac- 
 corded a liberal patronage and has done 
 a good business, which, as the years have 
 passed, has steadily increased. He has 
 always kept abreast with the progress 
 made by the medical fraternity and is 
 today a man of broad learning. He is 
 medical examiner for various life insur- 
 ance companies, including the Aetna, 
 Northwestern, New York Mutual and the 
 Metropolitan companies. Since coming 
 to Warsaw he has remained at his present 
 location at the corner of Main and Fourth 
 streets. 
 
 On the 27th of October, 1855; was 
 celebrated the marriage of Dr. Warner 
 and Miss Barbara Gerisch, a daughter of 
 Christian Gerisch. Unto them were born 
 two children. Frances and Fred, the 
 former now the wife of Dr. Franz, of St. 
 Louis. The wife and mother died De- 
 cember 24, 1890, and in 1897, Dr. Warner 
 was again married, his second union being 
 with Mrs. Elizabeth Weigand. They 
 now reside in Warsaw on East Main 
 street, where the Doctor owns a valuable 
 tract of one hundred and twenty acres 
 devoted to general farming. In 1868 he 
 was elected supervisor and held the office 
 for a number of years. He has also been 
 a member of the school board for about 
 twenty years and his loyal and progressive 
 citizenship is a well known factor in his 
 life, having been manifest by the tangible 
 
 aid which he has given to many move- 
 ments for the public good. 
 
 WESLEY CRAYTON BRIDGES. 
 
 Wesley Crayton Bridges, general fore- 
 man of the round house and shop for the 
 Wabash, Toledo, Peoria & Western rail- 
 roads at Hamilton, whose connection with 
 railroad service has continued since 1862, 
 was born in Carroll county. Tennessee, 
 July 24, 1838. His father, William 
 Alexander Bridges, was a native of Ten- 
 nessee and a son of Willis Bridges, who 
 was born in North Carolina and was a 
 minister of the Primitive Baptist church, 
 devoting forty-five years of his life to 
 that holy calling. It was in Humphreys 
 county, Tennessee, that \Villiam A. 
 Bridges was united in marriage to Miss 
 Louisa Neel Ridings, a native of that 
 state and a daughter of Joel and Penelope 
 (May) Ridings, both natives of North 
 Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. William A. 
 Bridges began their domestic life upon a 
 farm in Carroll county, Tennessee, where 
 he carried on general agricultural pur- 
 suits until his death, which occurred on 
 the 1 8th of January, 1844, when he w r as 
 a comparatively young man. In the 
 family were three children, of whom 
 Wesley C. is the eldest. Joel Willis con- 
 ducts the pumping station for the Toledo, 
 Peoria & W r estern and Wabash railroads 
 at Hamilton, while James Monroe, who 
 served as a member of Company G. Sev- 
 enth Missouri Cavalry, died April 2, 1862.
 
 2O6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Wesley Crayton Bridges spent his early 
 youth in his native state and attended the 
 subscription schools of Tennessee until 
 fourteen years of age, when he started 
 with his mother, brothers and stepfather, 
 Jacob Hicks, for Missouri. He drove 
 two yoke of oxen across the country, the 
 family intending to locate in Missouri. 
 Having reached the Mississippi river at 
 Columbus, Kentucky, they were ferried 
 across on a flat boat manned by two 
 Frenchmen with sweep oars. After vis- 
 iting Missouri, however, they recrossed 
 the river into Illinios, making their way 
 to St. Genevieve, where for the first time 
 Mr. Bridges saw a cook stove. The 
 second trip across the river was made on 
 a flat boat pulled by hand. The family 
 located in Jackson county, Illinois, and 
 there Mr. Bridges continued his educa- 
 tion. They remained in that county until 
 December, 1854, but in the previous May 
 the stepfather had died and the mother 
 and her children started again upon the 
 journey in the following December, 
 traveling with ox teams until they reached 
 Augusta, Hancock county. In this 
 county Mr. Bridges also attended school 
 to a limited extent, but worked mostly 
 as a farm hand by the month until 1862, 
 when he removed to Bowen, where a rail- 
 road was being built called the Illinois & 
 Southern Iowa Railroad. He was then 
 employed at laying the track between 
 Clayton and Carthage, working as a la- 
 borer for eight months. On the expira- 
 tion of that period he secured a position 
 as fireman and so continued for three 
 years and three months. On the 24th 
 of July, 1867, he was promoted to the 
 position of engineer and followed this 
 
 until November i, 1883, when he was 
 made general foreman of the round house 
 and shop for the Wabash and for the 
 Toledo, Peoria & Western railroads at 
 Hamilton. Since he entered the railroad 
 service he has never been reprimanded, 
 laid off or discharged and has never been 
 away from duty for a full month at a 
 time. 
 
 On the 1 4th of October, 1860, Mr. 
 Bridges was united in marriage to Miss 
 Mary Ellen Harrison, who was born in 
 Washington county, Indiana, January 25, 
 1843, a daughter of William and Alice 
 B. (Davis) Harrison, natives of Indiana. 
 She had but one sister, Louisa Jane, who 
 became the wife of J. M. Hughes, of Au- 
 gusta, and died in 1878. Mrs. Harrison 
 came to Hancock county in 1850 and 
 died in Hamilton in 1901 after more than 
 a half century's residence here. Mrs. 
 Bridges pursued her education in this 
 county and by her marriage became the 
 mother of five children. Louisa Alice, 
 born September i, 1861, is the wife of 
 Robert Watson, of Hamilton. Martha 
 Ellen, born January 23, 1863, is the wife 
 of Elmer Dennis, of Hamilton. Laura 
 Belle, born April i,' 1866, is the wife of 
 Robert S. Gordon, station agent at Hamil- 
 ton. Julia Viola, born April 6, 1870, 
 is the wife of Guy Blakeslee, who is a 
 brakesman on the Chicago, Burlington & 
 Quincy Railroad and lives at Hannibal, 
 Missouri. Abbie Ethel, born September 
 6, 1876, is the wife of Hurley Moore, of 
 Hamilton, who is a brakesman on the 
 Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad. 
 
 Mr. Bridges was one of the organizers 
 of the Building and Loan Association, of 
 Hamilton, Illinois, there being nine men
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 207 
 
 who formed this company in November, 
 1888. He was chosen its first president. 
 He has always been interested in matters 
 of public progress and improvement and 
 has co-operated in many movements for 
 the general good. His political allegiance 
 is given to the Republican party and he 
 has served as alderman of the city for two 
 years and two terms as mayor. He has 
 also been school director and for six years 
 has been a member of the cemetery board. 
 He belongs to Black Hawk Lodge, No. 
 238, of the Masonic fraternity, the Royal 
 Arch Chapter, to the council and to the 
 Knight Templar Commandery. He is 
 also connected with the Modern '\Yood- 
 men of America and the Brotherhood of 
 Locomotive Engineers, while his religious 
 allegiance is given to the Christian church, 
 of which he is a charter member. His 
 life has been an active and useful one and 
 he has displayed many sterling 'traits of 
 character which are well worthy of emu- 
 lation. 
 
 He is now serving his twenty-second 
 year as treasurer of Tecumseh Royal Arch 
 Chapter, No. 152, ancl has started on his 
 forty-fifth year in railroad service, and 
 twenty-fourth year as foreman of the 
 round house and car department at Ham- 
 ilton, Illinois. 
 
 LUCIEN S. REID. 
 
 Lucien S. Reid, whose co-operation can 
 always be counted upon as a helpful factor 
 in everything relating to the welfare of 
 
 his city, is now editor and proprietor of 
 the Dallas City Review, and has been a 
 well known factor in journalistic circles 
 in this part of the state for a number 
 of years. He was born near Plymouth, 
 in McDonough county, Illinois, Novem- 
 ber 12, 1860, his parents being L. G. and 
 Cyrena (Doyle) Reid. The father was 
 born in Covington, Kentucky, in 1813, 
 while the mother's birth occurred near 
 Lexington, that state. L. G. Reid was 
 a successful lawyer and about 1847 set ~ 
 tied in McDonough county, Illinois, 
 where he lived until 1891, when he re- 
 moved to Morrill, Kansas. After a year 
 he returned to Illinois, settling at Colches- 
 ter, McDonough county, where he died 
 in. the year 1895. He had for twenty 
 years survived his wife, who passed away 
 in 1875 and was laid to rest in the ceme- 
 tery near Plymouth, while the grave of 
 Mr. Reid was made in Colchester He 
 was a democrat in his political views and 
 served for two terms in the Illinois legis- 
 lature as a representative from his district. 
 He was township supervisor for twenty- 
 two consecutive years and had the respect 
 and unqualified confidence of his fellow 
 townsmen, who recognized his worth and 
 his loyalty to principle. Fraternally he 
 was connected with the Masonic lodge. 
 In the family were five children, of whom 
 three are now living : Lucien S. ; Ed- 
 ward, who resides at Redlands, Cali- 
 fornia; and Harry L., who is in the em- 
 ploy of the Santa Fe Railroad Company 
 and lives at Mojave, California. After 
 losing his first wife Mr. Reid was married, 
 in 1878, to Miss Lucy E. Tandy, who 
 resided near Fandon, McDonough county. 
 Lucien S. Reid was a student in the
 
 208 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 high school at Plymouth, and afterward 
 attended Knox College, at Galesburg, Illi- 
 nois, subsequent to which time he learned 
 the printer's trade, at which he first 
 worked in Plymouth. He afterward 
 went to Beatrice. Nebraska, subsequently 
 to Omaha, Nebraska, completing his trade 
 with the firm of Rand & McNally in 
 Chicago, Illinois. In 1884 he was in 
 Colchester, Illinois, and in August of that 
 year purchased the Colchester Independ- 
 ent from H. F. Stevens but after a week 
 sold it to Van L. Hampton, with whom 
 he remained until the following March, 
 when he purchased the Blandinsville Re- 
 publican, changing the name of the paper 
 to the Blandinsville Review. He con- 
 tinued its publication until September, 
 1887, when he took the plant to Dallas 
 City and established the Dallas City Re- 
 view, which is the first paper that ever 
 survived for six months in this place. 
 He has now continued its publication here 
 for almost twenty years and has made it 
 a profitable investment. The Review is 
 a weekly paper, independent in politics 
 and has a large circulation throughout 
 this and Henderson counties so that it is 
 an excellent advertising medium. In the 
 disastrous fire which swept over Dallas 
 City on the igth of December, 1905, Mr. 
 Reid lost heavily but in place of the old 
 building on Oak street there has been 
 erected a concrete monolithic building, 
 twenty-five by fifty-two feet, two stories 
 high, of pleasing architectural design. 
 The lower floor will be devoted to office 
 and editorial rooms, composing and press 
 rooms, while the upper floor is designed 
 and finished for his residence. He has 
 installed modern methods, 'including a 
 
 good cylinder press with power. It is 
 one of the first buildings of this character 
 in this part of Illinois. In connection 
 with the publication of the paper Mr. Reid 
 does all kinds of first class job printing 
 and tablet work. The Review has always 
 been very progressive and has been an 
 influential factor in the upbuilding of 
 Dallas, standing as the champion of 
 every movement or measure calculated to 
 prove of direct benefit to the city. His 
 new office will be equipped with all 
 modern machinery and in the management 
 of his business Mr. Reid is thoroughly 
 progressive and in fact has been the lead- 
 er in the adoption of many new ideas that 
 have been advanced in the world. He 
 owned the first gasoline engine used for 
 motive power in Dallas City and also 
 owned the first gasoline launch in the 
 town. He is practical in his ideas and 
 successful in his undertakings, carrying 
 forward to successful completion what- 
 ever he begins. In connection with his 
 other business interests he is a stockholder 
 in the Farmers State Exchange Bank of 
 which he was one of the organizers. 
 
 On the 1 6th of January, 1887, Mr. 
 Reid was united in marriage to Miss 
 Fannie Roberts, who was born in Col- 
 chester, Illinois, June 20, 1865. a daugh- 
 ter of Edward and Susanna (Bayless) 
 Roberts, the former a native of Wales, 
 and the latter of England. Her father 
 was engineer of the works of the Quincy 
 Coal Company, at Colchester, Illinois, for 
 a long period but both he and his wife 
 have now passed away, and were laid to 
 rest in the cemetery at Colchester. In 
 their family were five children, of whom 
 four are living : Lennie, the wife of John
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 209 
 
 Jones, who resides in Cambridge, Ohio; 
 Sarah, the wife of Thomas Moss, also 
 of Cambridge; Mrs. Eliza Tandy, the 
 widow of W. W. Tandy and a resident 
 of Colchester; and Mrs. Reid. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Reid has been born a daugh- 
 ter. Velna, who was born in Dallas City, 
 March 14, 1892, and is now a student in 
 the Dallas City high school. In addition 
 to his business property Mr. Reid owns 
 several vacant lots in Dallas City. In 
 politics he is a democrat and in 1890 and 
 1891 served as mayor of Dallas City, 
 proving a capable executive officer, whose 
 efforts in behalf of public progress were 
 effective and far-reaching. He is a Ma- 
 son and also a member of Hancock Lodge, 
 No. 56, Knights of Pythias, of which he 
 is the present chancellor, while his wife is 
 a devoted member of the Congregational 
 church. A man of strong convictions, he 
 is practical in his ideas, yet determined in 
 his course. He possesses a genial, social 
 disposition, appreciative of the worth and 
 work of others and has ready recogni- 
 tion for all movements or enterprises of 
 general benefit to the community. Both 
 he and his wife have scores of warm 
 friends, and during the years of their resi- 
 dence in Dallas City have long occupied 
 a prominent position in social circles 
 here. 
 
 HENRY GILLHAM. 
 
 Henry Gillham is a worthy representa- 
 tive of a prominent pioneer family of 
 Hancock county and his own record has 
 
 added lustre to an untarnished family 
 name. He was born in Campbell county, 
 Kentucky, January 3, 1827, and is a son 
 of Robert and Elizabeth (Walker) Gill- 
 ham, the former a native of the Blue 
 Grass state, and the latter of Pennsyl- 
 vania. Robert Gillham devoted his life 
 to general agricultural pursuits, and on 
 the nth of April, 1837, arrived at War- 
 saw, Illinois. Soon afterward he pur- 
 chased one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land in Walker township, for which he 
 paid the government price of one dollar 
 and a quarter per acre. Not a furrow 
 had been turned nor an improvement 
 made upon the place and he built a little 
 log cabin, in which he lived in true pio- 
 neer style, enjoying much happiness there, 
 at the same time sharing in the hardships 
 and privations incident to the establish- 
 ment of a home on the frontier. The 
 plows of that day had wooden mold 
 boards and the sickle and scythe were 
 leading features of the farm machinery. 
 Mr. Gillham of this review has driven 
 ox teams before a plow turning a twenty- 
 four inch furrow, and he has broken more 
 land than any other man of the county, 
 thus contributing in large measure toward 
 the agricultural development and improve- 
 ment of this part of the state. His father 
 was a democrat in his political allegiance 
 and in matters of citizenship relating to 
 the community was progressive and en- 
 terprising. He died and was buried in 
 Missouri but the mother was laid to rest 
 in Walker township. Of their family of 
 eleven children five are yet living: 
 Henry: America, the wife of Hiram 
 Cobel, of California; Cynthia A., the wife 
 of Jason Marsh, of California; Sarah E.,
 
 2IO 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the wife of William Dooley, of Missouri ; 
 and E. D. Gillham, of Warsaw. 
 
 Henry Gillham, brought to Illinois 
 when Hancock county was still a pioneer 
 district, was educated in a little log build- 
 ing in Walker township, where school was 
 conducted on the subscription plan. His 
 advantages were necessarily limited be- 
 cause of the condition of the school sys- 
 tem at that period. His training at farm 
 labor, however, was not meager and he 
 early took his place in the fields, working 
 from early dawn until after sunset in 
 order to open up a new farm on which the 
 family had located and further continued 
 its development. He remained with his 
 parents until he had reached his majority. 
 
 In October, 1849, was celebrated the 
 marriage of Henry Gillham and Miss 
 Mary Jane Ewing, who was born in 
 Brown county, Ohio, September 8, 1828, 
 a daughter of Jackson and Catherine 
 (Turner) Ewing, who are mentioned 
 elsewhere in this work in connection with 
 the sketch of John P. Ewing. The young 
 couple began their domestic life upon his 
 father's farm in W r alker township, where 
 they remained for three years and then 
 removed to a farm of forty acres else- 
 where in the township. Mr. Gillham 
 purchased this property and resided there 
 for eleven and a half years. In 1873 
 he bought one hundred and forty-three 
 acres of land on section 10, Walker town- 
 ship, and has since made his home there- 
 on. He has added to and improved the 
 house until he now has a fine residence 
 and he has also built a substantial barn 
 and two good wood-houses. His atten- 
 tion has been given to general farming 
 and the years have brought him good 
 
 crops, and as time has passed he has 
 prospered. In addition to the home place 
 he also owns fifty-five acres of good land 
 on section 1 1 . Moreover, he and his es- 
 timable wife have reared a family of ten 
 children, of whom seven are now living : 
 Mary Frances is at home with her parents. 
 Melvina Angeline is the wife of John L. 
 Brew, lives near Carthage and has three 
 children ; Lewis Brew, who married Clara 
 Van Valer and has one child, Hazel May ; 
 Ida Brew, the wife of Edward Newman, 
 who lives in Carthage and by whom she 
 has two children, Lee and Lloyd ; and Eli 
 Brew, who lives in Nebraska, is married 
 and has one daughter, Elizabeth Pearl. 
 Elizabeth A. Gillham, the third member 
 of the family, is the widow of William 
 Atkinson, and has one child, Arlie Ann. 
 Sarah Gillham is the wife of Charles 
 Thompson, of Chili township, and has 
 three children ; Henry, who married Liz- 
 zie Herbert, by whom he has one child. 
 and lives in Colorado; Ira, who married 
 Nellie Hill and lives near Bowen, Illinois; 
 and Horace Elmer. Jane Gillham is the 
 wife of William Henry Smith, living near 
 Bowen, Illinois, and they have four chil- 
 dren, Dee, Fannie, Nona and Niti Ellen. 
 John Gillham married Tena Wenhamer, 
 lives in Nebraska and has seven children, 
 \Valter, Charles, George, Eddie, Jessie, 
 Clara and Addie. Roscoe, who resides 
 at West Point, Illinois, married Martha 
 Rampley and has four children, Mabel, 
 Lela, Vera and Harold. Ellen is the wife 
 of Arthur Randall, of Nebraska, and has 
 three children, Ruth L., Earl and Loy. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Gillham hold mem- 
 bership in the Christian church in the 
 work of which they are deeply interested,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 211 
 
 while to its support they contribute gen- 
 erously according to their means. Mr. 
 Gillham is a democrat and served con- 
 tinuously as school director from the age 
 of twenty-one years until 1900, when he 
 refused to fill the office longer. He is 
 truly a self-made man, for, after paying 
 the minister and for the license at the time 
 of his marriage he had remaining only 
 two dollars and a quarter. With this 
 the young couple started out in life to- 
 gether. They possessed stout hearts, 
 however, and willing hands, and their 
 ambition and united efforts have consti- 
 tuted the secret of their success. They 
 have done well as the years have passed 
 by and now have many comforts in life. 
 At the same time they have found oppor- 
 tunity to do many kindnesses and to ex- 
 tend hospitality to many friends. In the 
 fifty-seven years of their married life no 
 one has e\er been turned from their door 
 hungry or empty-handed. Both represent 
 prominent old families of the county but 
 it is their sterling personal worth that has 
 so closely endeared them to those with 
 whom they have come in contact. 
 
 JOEL WILLIS BRIDGES. 
 
 Joel Willis Bridges, who has charge of 
 the steam pump for the Toledo, Peoria & 
 Western, the Wabash railroads at Hamil- 
 ton, was born in Carroll county, Tennes- 
 see, August 7, 1840, his parents being 
 William A. and Louisa Neel (Riding) 
 Bridges. He was the 'second of a family 
 
 of three sons and in his early youth at- 
 tended the subscription schools of Ten- 
 nessee for a short time. He afterward 
 accompanied his parents on their removal 
 to Jackson county, Illinois, and two years 
 later the family settled at Augusta, Han- 
 cock county. This was in 1854. Mr. 
 Bridges of this review started out to earn 
 his own living when sixteen years of 
 age, working by the month as a farm 
 hand. He was employed at one place 
 for three years and in 1869 he entered the 
 railroad service in the round house at 
 Hamilton, where he continued for a year. 
 Later he worked on the farm and in 1870 
 he secured the position of engine-wiper. 
 Later he engaged in firing for three years 
 and three months, at the end of which 
 time he was appointed engineer, running 
 an engine for about eighteen months. 
 About that time his health failed and he 
 went into the roundhouse as watchman. 
 In 1 88 1 he was assigned the task of run- 
 ning the steam engine for the Toledo, 
 Peoria & Western and Wabash railroads 
 at Hamilton and he has since acted in that 
 capacity. He owns several houses and 
 lots in Hamilton, having made judicious 
 investment of his earnings in real estate 
 and his property interests bring him a 
 good return. 
 
 On the 5th of January, 1868, Mr. 
 Bridges was united in marriage to Miss 
 Rebecca Ann Garwood, who was born 
 in Jasper county, Illinois, a daughter of 
 Thomas and Jane (Richards) Garwood. 
 The father was a native of Ohio and the 
 mother of Tennessee. Her death oc- 
 curred March 2, 1905, and two children 
 were left to mourn her loss : William 
 Thomas, now an engineer on the Toledo,
 
 212 , 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 Peoria & Western Railroad, residing in 
 Peoria, Illinois: and Lottie Charlotte, who 
 is a stenographer and bookkeeper in the 
 Parker Company department store of 
 Hamilton and makes her home with her 
 father. There were two other children : 
 Charles Wesley, who died in September, 
 1877, at the age of three years ; and James 
 Elbert, who died December 6, 1894, at 
 the age of twenty-three years. Mr. 
 Bridges started out in life with very few 
 advantages, educational or otherwise, but 
 has made the most of his opportunities 
 and has worked earnestly and energetical- 
 ly and, as stated, he has made judicious 
 use of his funds, thus becoming the owner 
 of considerable desirable property in 
 Hamilton. He has been a resident of 
 Hancock county for a half century. He 
 holds membership in the Christian church 
 and gives his political allegiance to the 
 democracy. He has served as school di- 
 rector, as alderman from the first ward 
 from 1896 until 1904 and has been again 
 elected on his own platform, a fact which 
 indicates that he has given able service 
 as one of the "city fathers." Fraternally 
 he is connected with Black Hawk Lodge, 
 No. 238, of the Masons, having taken the 
 degrees of the Blue lodge, chapter and of 
 the Eastern Star. 
 
 LOUIS LAMET. 
 
 Louis Lamet, one of the able members 
 of the Hancock county bar living in War- 
 saw, who with comprehensive knowledge 
 
 of the principles of jurisprudence to- 
 gether with unfaltering devotion to his 
 clients' interests, has gained a large prac- 
 tice, was born December 28, 1874, in the 
 city which is yet his home. His parents 
 were Julian and Eloise (Sylvester) 
 Lamet. At the usual age the son entered 
 the public schools, passing through suc- 
 cessive grades until he had completed the 
 high school course. He afterward en- 
 gaged in teaching in the district schools 
 of the county for three winter terms and 
 then ambitious for further intellectual 
 training, he entered the University of Illi- 
 nois and was graduated from the law de- 
 partment on the 1 2th of June, 1901. 
 About a year after he entered upon the 
 practice of his chosen profession in 
 Carthage but soon returned to his native 
 town and entered into partnership with 
 Mr. Plantz, an association which has since 
 been maintained. The firm .occupy a 
 prominent place at the Hancock county 
 bar. In the trial of cases Mr. Lamet pre- 
 pares his cause with great thoroughness 
 and care and in the courtroom is found 
 strong in argument, logical in his deduc- 
 tions and correct in his application of the 
 legal principles. 
 
 On the loth of January, 1905. was 
 celebrated the marriage of Louis Lamet 
 and Miss Amice Magdalena Lemaire, a 
 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Le- 
 maire. They now have one son, Leon. 
 Politically Mr. Lamet is a democrat, firm 
 in support of the party and thoroughly 
 conversant with the issues which divide 
 the two great national political organiza- 
 tions. He was appointed to the office 
 of city attorney in 1905 and is now acting 
 in that capacity. In 1902 he became a
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 213 
 
 member of the Modern Woodmen camp, 
 in which he has held the office of con- 
 sul. Prompted by laudable ambition he 
 has made for himself a creditable name in 
 legal circles and as a citizen is recognized 
 as one who has given tangible support to 
 many movements for the general good 
 and whose influence for public progress 
 is far-reaching and beneficial. 
 
 MARCELLUS T. CHENOWETH. 
 
 Marcellus T. Chenowethf who is en- 
 gaged in merchandising at Hickory 
 Ridge, is a native of Virginia, his birth 
 having occurred near Beverley in Ran- 
 dolph county, on October 3, 1842. His 
 parents were A. W. and Hannah (Tag- 
 gart) Chenoweth, the (former born in 
 Randolph county and the latter in Monroe 
 county, Virginia, the years of their na- 
 tivity being 1819 and 1822 respectively. 
 A. W. Chenow-eth was a carpenter by 
 trade, and in the year 1852 removed with 
 his family from the Old Dominion to 
 Hancock county. Illinois, living for 
 several years in Warsaw, after which he 
 located in Walker township in 1857. At 
 the time of the Civil war he joined the 
 Seventh Missouri Cavalry and served 
 until disabled in 1864. He participated 
 in the battle of Lone Jack, Ozark Moun- 
 tain and other engagements in that section 
 of the country. The family numbered 
 seven children, of whom three are now 
 living: M. T. : Sarah, the wife of Alfred 
 Lomax, of Warsaw, Illinois ; and Vir- 
 
 ginia, the wife of John Rigg, of Spring- 
 field, this state. The father died October 
 31, 1865, and the mother in June, 1887, 
 their remains being interred in Walker 
 township. 
 
 M. T. Chenoweth began his education 
 at St. Marys, Virginia, afterward con- 
 tinued his studies in Ohio, in Warsaw, 
 Illinois and in Bloomfield. Iowa. He en- 
 listed in 1864 in the Twenty-eighth Illi- 
 nois Volunteer Infantry as a member of 
 Company E, and served until the 3ist of 
 October, 1865, the day his father died. 
 He was on active duty near the southern 
 portion of the Mississippi river and was 
 present at the capture of Mobile. He 
 had an uncle, William Chenoweth, who 
 was a soldier in the Confederate army in 
 the Civil war, while his great-grand- 
 father, John Chenoweth, was a soldier of 
 the Revolution. Following his return 
 home M. T. Chenoweth remained with 
 his mother until after his sisters were 
 married. 
 
 In 1871 Mr. Chenoweth wedded Miss 
 Mary Isabella Rankin, who was born in 
 Adams county. Illinois, in 1844, a daugh- 
 ter of James and Sarah (Laughlin) 
 Rankin, natives of Kentucky, whence 
 they came to Illinois in January, 1834. 
 They lived in Adams county until 1848 
 and then settled upon a farm in Walker 
 township, Hancock county. The father 
 died in 1864, and the mother, long sur- 
 viving him, departed this life in 1898. 
 Both were buried in Adams county. In 
 their family were seven children but only 
 two are living : William Rankin, a resi- 
 dent of Breckenridge. Illinois : and Mrs. 
 Chenoweth. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Chenoweth
 
 214 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 .located in Warsaw, where he worked at 
 the carpenter's trade, which he had 
 learned under the direction of his father. 
 He was thus identified with building op- 
 erations until 1884, when he removed to 
 Breckenridge, where he purchased a store, 
 becoming proprietor of the leading mer- 
 cantile establishment of the village. He 
 has bought two stores since locating here 
 and has combined them. He now has 
 a large and well equipped establishment, 
 carrying a carefully selected line of gen- 
 eral goods and he has secured a liberal 
 patronage which is well merited. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chenoweth was 
 born a daughter, Claudia, who died at the 
 age of nine years, and was buried in the 
 family lot in Walker township. Her 
 death was the greatest sorrow that has 
 ever come to her parents. Mrs. Cheno- 
 weth is a member of the Christian church 
 and is an estimable lady. Mr. Cheno- 
 weth, active in business and progressive in 
 citizenship, is regarded as one of the 
 valued residents of this part of the county. 
 In politics he is a republican and for 
 eighteen years he served as postmaster, 
 or until the rural free delivery route was 
 established. He owns three acres of land 
 and lives in Hickory Ridge, and he has 
 remodeled and repaired both his store and 
 house and is now comfortably situated in 
 life. An analyzation of his record shows 
 that his prosperity is the legitimate out- 
 come of earnest labor and persistent pur- 
 pose and that he is entirely a self-made 
 man. He is now conducting a good and 
 paying business and all acknowledge that 
 the success which he is enjoying is well 
 merited, and all his friends are glad when 
 Fortune favors him. 
 
 HIRAM B. KINKADE. 
 
 Hiram B. Kinkade, who follows 
 farming near Hamilton, was born in St. 
 Albans township, Hancock county, on the 
 3d of February, 1858, and attended the 
 district schools, while spending his boy- 
 hood days under the parental roof. His 
 paternal grandparents were George W. 
 and Elizabeth (Trainer) Kinkade, both of 
 whom were natives of Virginia. They 
 became early settlers of Hancock county, 
 but in the meantime had resided in 
 Hardin county, Kentucky, where occurred 
 the birth of Lorenzo D. Kinkade, father 
 of our subject. He married Miss Harriet 
 Stewart, whd was born in Wabash county, 
 Indiana, a daughter of Cornelius and 
 Sarah (Bullard) Stewart, who were like- 
 wise pioneer residents of this county. 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo 
 Kinkade was celebrated at the residence 
 of his wife's father about 1840 and they 
 afterward removed to St. Clair county, 
 Illinois, and subsequently lived in Adams 
 county, Illinois, for a time. At a later 
 date they went to Missouri, taking up 
 their abode near Kirksville and in 1856 
 they came to Hancock county, Mr. Kink- 
 ade purchasing forty acres of unimproved 
 timber land. He cleared and cultivated 
 the tract, making many modern improve- 
 ments upon it. and there resided until 
 1872, when he sold that place to his son. 
 He afterward lived with his children up 
 to the time of his death, which occurred 
 January 16, 1879, when he was fifty-five 
 years of age. His widow still survives 
 and makes her home with her children in 
 this county, and she is honored by all who 
 know her.
 
 Hiram B. Kinkade was the seventh in 
 order of birth in a family of six sons 
 and five daughters. He was reared upon 
 the old home farm and resided with his 
 parents until his father's death, after 
 which his mother lived with him until he 
 reached the age of twenty-seven years. 
 He began his business career upon rented 
 farms in this locality and in 1896 he pur- 
 chased eight acres of land in the Oak- 
 wood addition to Hamilton. Upon this 
 tract was a small brick house, which he 
 has since rebuilt. He also has put up 
 barns and a tenant house and has given 
 much attention to horticultural pursuits, 
 planting about sixty apple trees and the 
 same number of peach trees. He also 
 has pear and plum trees, grapes and other 
 . fruit upon his place and is meeting with 
 . excellent success in the raising of fruit, 
 having thoroughly informed himself con- 
 cerning the best methods of producing 
 the various fruits, to which he gives his 
 time and attention. 
 
 On the 28th of December, 1886; Mr. 
 Kinkade was married in Emporia, Kan- 
 sas, to Miss Emma Samsel, who was born 
 in Ogle county, Illinois, March 28, 1866. 
 her parents being Ephraim and Tracy 
 (Rohrer) Samsel, who were natives of 
 Washington county, Maryland. Her 
 grandparents were Jacob and Susan 
 (Whip) Samsel, natives of Maryland, 
 and John and Susan (Pofrenbarger) 
 Rohrer. Her parents were members of 
 the Christian church. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Kinkade is 
 a democrat and in 1903 and 1904 was a 
 member of the city council of Hamilton. 
 He belongs to Montebello lodge, No. 
 697, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 215 
 
 Active in business, he has made good use 
 of his opportunities and is prospering in 
 his undertakings, so that he is now one 
 of the substantial citizens of the 
 community. 
 
 WILLIAM H. D. NOYES, AI. D. 
 
 On the list of Hancock county's 
 honored dead appears the name of Dr. 
 William H. D. Noyes, who for many 
 years was recognized as one of the prom- 
 inent members of the medical profession 
 in Carthage. His parents were Michael 
 J. and Elitha (Tate) Noyes, the former 
 a native of New Hampshire and the latter 
 of Rock Castle county, Kentucky. Dr. 
 Noyes was born in Bowling Green, Mis- 
 souri, January 24, 1834, and was reared 
 in Pittsfield, Illinois, to which city his 
 parents removed in his early boyhood 
 days, his father and mother spending the 
 remainder of their lives there. In their 
 family were twelve children, all of whom 
 are now deceased, with the exception of 
 John Noyes, who is still living in 
 Pittsfield. 
 
 Dr. Noyes acquired his preliminary 
 education in the schools of Pittsfield and 
 after completing the high school course 
 entered Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, 
 Illinois. His literary education being 
 finished he then prepared for his chosen 
 profession by study in the Missouri Med- 
 ical College, at St. Louis, from which he 
 was a graduated in the class of 1861. In 
 the same year, however, he put aside pro- 
 fessional cares in order to aid his country 
 then engaged in the Civil war, joining
 
 2l6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Company K of the Sixteenth Illinois In- 
 fantry. He was with that command for 
 only a few months, however, when he 
 was transferred to the navy as assistant 
 surgeon on the Bark Braziliera from the 
 Brooklyn navyyard. Later he was trans- 
 ferred to the steamer Southfield. also 
 doing service on the Atlantic coast. This 
 vessel proceeded southward to Norfolk, 
 Virginia, and up the James river. Mrs. 
 Noyes still has in her possession the letter 
 from John G. Nicholay, private secretary 
 to President Lincoln, transferring Dr. 
 Noyes from the infantry to the navy. 
 He had the rank of lieutenant and messed 
 with the wardroom officers. In Decem- 
 ber, 1862, on account of ill health he was 
 at home for a short time and afterward 
 went to St. Louis, where he did duty in 
 the Fifth Street Hospital and later, on 
 the hospital steamer "City of Memphis" 
 on the Mississippi river, where he again 
 acted as surgeon, remaining on duty until 
 the latter part of 1863. 
 
 Following his connection with the army 
 Dr. Noyes practiced medicine for a year 
 in Pittsfield and in 1864 removed to 
 Carthage, where he continued in active 
 practice until his demise. He was in ill 
 health, however, for several years prior 
 to his death and he passed away at Hot 
 Springs, South Dakota on the i2th of 
 June, 1894. He was long accounted one 
 of the leading and able physicians of 
 Carthage and for many years resided on 
 Wabash avenue and Fayette street. He 
 always kept well informed concerning the 
 progress of his profession as advancement 
 was made in efficiency and knowledge, 
 and that his labors were attended with 
 a high measure of success is indicated by 
 
 the fact that a most liberal patronage was 
 accorded him. 
 
 Dr. Noyes was married in the fall of 
 1863 to Miss Lizzie Lynde, of Griggsville, 
 Illinois, in which city she was born. 
 They had no children but adopted a 
 daughter, who is now Mrs. D. G. Berry, 
 of Carthage, Illinois, and has one child. 
 Catherine. Mrs. Noyes died in July, 
 1872 and her remains were interred in the 
 cemetery at Griggsville, where she was 
 visiting at the time of her death. Dr. 
 Noyes afterward married Miss Laura 
 Miller on the 271)1 of October, 1874. 
 She was born in Huntsville, Pennsylvania, 
 June 30, 1849, and was a daughter of 
 Captain Thomas C. and Martha Mary 
 (McCulloch) Miller. The ancestors of the 
 Miller family came from Scotland, settling 
 in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1720. 
 Her great-great-grandfather was John 
 Miller. He was a most prominent and 
 influential man of his day and married 
 Isabella Henry, a sister of the father of 
 Patrick Henry, whose eloquence did so 
 much in arousing the colonists to make the 
 attempt to throw off the yoke of British 
 oppression. Isabella Henry Miller died 
 a few months before her husband and both 
 . lie buried in the cemetery, which thirty 
 years before he had dedicated to "ye 
 congregation of the Presbyterian church" 
 of Neshaminy. He was also a large land- 
 owner in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. 
 William Miller, Jr., great-grandfather of 
 Mrs. Noyes, was a captain in the Revolu- 
 tionary war, having the following record : 
 Appointed ensign June 9, 1776, first 
 lieutenant March 20, 1777, captain on 
 February 2, 1778, and colonel April 17, 
 1779, in the Seventh Pennsylvania Regu-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 217 
 
 lars commanded by Captain William 
 Irvine. He also commanded at the battle 
 of Hackinsack and was camped at White 
 Plains in 1778. His regiment was paid 
 off at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in April, 
 1781. His father-in-law was Colonel 
 Thomas Craig, also of Revolutionary war 
 fame. He was second lieutenant in 
 Captain Abraham Miller's company, Col- 
 onel Thompson's battalion of riflemen. 
 In November, 1775, he was promoted to 
 first lieutenant and quartermaster . of 
 the battalion ; afterwards as quartermas- 
 ter of the Ninth Pennsylvania of the 
 Continental Line. In 1 780 he was commis- 
 sary of purchases for Buck's company. 
 He was born in 1740, passing from this 
 life in 1832. He was married in 1790 to 
 Dorothy Briner. 
 
 General T. C. Miller, grandfather of 
 Mrs. Noyes, was a resident of Gettys- 
 burg, Pennsylvania, and served in the war 
 of 1812. He also had brothers who were 
 in active duty during that war and one 
 or two died in prison ships, one passing 
 away on the Jersey. General T. C. Miller 
 was a warm, personal friend of Francis 
 Scott Key, who was the author of The 
 Star Spangled Banner. 
 
 From the "Pennsylvania Statesman," 
 published at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Sep- 
 tember 28, 1843, on me m Hamilton Li- 
 brary, Carlisle: 
 
 (General T. C. Miller was at that time 
 a candidate for associate judge- of the 
 district of Cumberland, Franklin and 
 Perry counties.) 
 
 eral Miller are confident of giving him 
 600 majority. Let Cumberland do her 
 duty and the General will be elected by 
 a handsome majority." 
 
 "General Miller. We learn from 
 Franklin county that the friends of Gen- 
 
 GENERAL THOMAS C. MILLER. 
 
 The military career of this gentleman 
 deserves some notice, and we think gives 
 him additional claims on the favor of his 
 fellow citizens. A volunteer, who served 
 with the General during the last war, has 
 furnished us with a full history of their 
 services and hardships, from which we 
 shall make a few extracts,, in order to 
 show that, whatever the "volunteers" 
 may call General Miller, he has given 
 strong proof that he is at all events, an 
 American and a patriot. 
 
 To the Editors of the Pennsylvania 
 
 Statesman, Gentlemen : 
 
 I am not in the habit of dabbling in 
 politics, but when I see the character of 
 a man with whom I have been intimate 
 through life wrongfully assailed and tra- 
 duced, I can not withhold from him my 
 feeble support. 
 
 I have been acquainted with General 
 Miller from the late war to the present 
 day, and can aver that his whole course of 
 life, which has fallen under my observa- 
 tion from that day to this, has been unex- 
 ceptionable. Of his civil services I need 
 not speak neither need I say a word in 
 relation to his character as a man. But 
 I have a soldier's feeling for a fellow- 
 soldier and I must say that if the man 
 who serves his country faithfully in the 
 hour of danger deserves the gratitude of 
 his countrymen, then will General Miller
 
 2l8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 in the present contest in your district, 
 be surrounded and supported by a host 
 of friends. I will tell you of some of the 
 services he rendered. In 1814, when the 
 news reached us that the British had 
 burned Washington, he mounted his horse 
 and never ceased his exertions until he had 
 raised a volunteer rifle company, which 
 he marched to Baltimore in forty-eight 
 hours. Besides leaving his home and 
 business, he incurred considerable ex- 
 pense in raising and marching the com- 
 pany, for which he never asked or received 
 remuneration, further than his monthly 
 pay. The night after the battle of North 
 Point, the main body of our army having 
 been driven back into their entrenchments, 
 a fragment of the army was cut off from 
 the main body by the rising of the tide 
 in an arm of the bay, and could not reach 
 the entrenchments without passing 
 through the British lines ; they were, 
 moreover, destitute of provisions, and 
 were in a very bad way. In this emer- 
 gency Colonel Cobean rode along the line 
 and asked who would volunteer to go and 
 bring the men up? Many marched out 
 and offered, but General Smith and Com- 
 modore Rogers forbade their going, saying 
 that every man would be wanted in the 
 morning. Part of Captain Miller's com- 
 pany being among those cut off, he and 
 William McClellan, now of Gettysburg, 
 although the night was wet and dark, 
 procured horses, and each taking a bag 
 of bread and some canteens of whiskey, 
 stole through the lines of the British sen- 
 tinels, reached the men, and after giving 
 them something to eat and drink, marched 
 them safely by a circuitous route into 
 the American quarters before daylight. 
 
 For this daring feat the General was nick- 
 named Jasper and McClellan was called 
 McDonald, after two famous partisan sol- 
 diers of the Revolution in truth among 
 his fellow-soldiers General Miller is, to 
 this day, called Old Jasper. His conduct 
 throughout the whole campaign met the 
 approbation of his companions in arms, 
 and he was elected by a unanimous vote 
 major of the battalion composed of his 
 own company. Captain Cobean's com- 
 pany of Gettysburg, Captain Campbell's 
 company of Gettysburg, Captain Eichel- 
 berger's company of Dillsburg, Captain 
 's company of Peach Bot- 
 tom and Captain McKinney's company of 
 Shippensburg, very many members of 
 which companies are living witnesses of 
 the fact. He has since been elected to 
 several important military offices in his 
 brigade. Immediately after the close of 
 the last war, he was elected colonel of 
 the Eigthy-sixth Regiment at Gettysburg. 
 When his term expired, he was elected 
 brigade inspector and after that was 
 twice elected brigadier general, which 
 commission I believe he held until his re- 
 moval into Cumberland county in 1840. 
 
 As a politician, I differ in some respects 
 from General Miller, but I have so much 
 confidence in the patriotism and integrity 
 of the man, and so many good reasons to 
 believe him the true friend of his country, 
 that I am sorry I am not a citizen' of your 
 district, so that I might be able to give 
 him a lift at the next election. 
 
 Signed, 
 A VOLUNTEER OF 1814. 
 
 He was elected. 
 
 Daniel Craig, one of the great-grand-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 219 
 
 fathers of Mrs. Noyes in the paternal line, 
 died in 1776. Of this family Colonel 
 Thomas Craig, son of Daniel Craig, re- 
 ceived his commission October 23, 1776, 
 as captain in the Revolutionary war and 
 rose to the rank of colonel. He married 
 Jean Jamison and his daughter, Marga- . 
 ree, married William Miller, great- 
 grandfather of Mrs. Noyes, who founded 
 Millerstown, now Fairfield, Pennsylvania, 
 and was for many years representative 
 and senator of a district in the state legis- 
 lature and was a very prominent and in- 
 fluential man. In the fall of 1814, T. C. 
 Miller raised a rifle company and marched 
 to Washington to defend the city after 
 it had been attacked by the British. He 
 was elected a few years later, brigade 
 inspector of the military section, perform- 
 ing his duties with capability and honor 
 and was afterward general of his division. 
 In 1824 he was elected high sheriff of 
 the- county and in 1835 he was appointed 
 by Governor Wolf registrar and recorder 
 to fill a vacancy in that office. He was a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity and at 
 his death was buried with military hon- 
 ors, the remains being escorted to the 
 grave by a military organization known 
 as "the Blues" and also by the fraternal 
 societies to which he belonged and a great 
 majority of the citizens of Gettysburg. 
 He owned at one time the ground on 
 which Evergreen cemetery (a part of 
 National cemetery) at Gettysburg was 
 laid out. Mrs. Noyes has in her posses- 
 sion a large oil painting of this honored 
 ancestor, which was made in colonial 
 times and which she prizes very highly. 
 Captain Thomas C. Miller, father of 
 Mrs. Noyes, was born in Gettysburg, 
 
 Pennsylvania, July I, 1827, and having 
 arrived at years of maturity wedded Mary 
 McCulloch, who was born in Dickinson, 
 Pennsylvania, July 22, 1826. He served 
 as a soldier of Company F, Seventh Mis- 
 souri Cavalry, in the Civil war and won 
 the rank of captain but was obliged to 
 resign on account of an attack of typhoid 
 fever, after which he returned home. He 
 re-enlisted, becoming a lieutenant of Com- 
 pany K, One Hundred and Forty-sixth 
 Illinois Infantry. His regiment rendez- 
 voused at Camp Butler and was on duty 
 at Springfield, Illinois, at the time of the 
 funeral services of President Lincoln. 
 Captain Miller died June 21, 1905, and 
 was buried at Moss Ridge cemetery in 
 Carthage. For a number of years prior 
 to his death he lived retired and was 
 a most respected and worthy man, who 
 enjoyed the unqualified confidence and es- 
 teem of all who knew him. His widow 
 died March 22, 1906. In the family 
 four children : Laura, now Mrs. Noyes ; 
 J. Oliver, who is living in Baconsfield, 
 Iowa; Anna, the wife of R. Herron John- 
 son, of Adams, Kansas ; and Margaretta, 
 the wife of Rev. T. S. Hawley. of Trini- 
 dad, Colorado. 
 
 Unto Dr. and Mrs. Noyes were born 
 five children, four of whom yet survive. 
 Fannie is living with her mother. Mary 
 Coyle is the wife of Ralph Harper Mc- 
 Kee, professor of chemistry at Lake For- 
 est University near Chicago. Helen Mil- 
 ler is now a teacher of languages at 
 Synodecal College, at Fulton, Missouri. 
 Julia Tate was a graduate of Wilson Col- 
 lege at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, 
 June 7, 1906. 
 
 Dr. Noyes was a prominent and valued
 
 22O 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, serving 
 as master of his lodge in Carthage for 
 many years. In his political views he 
 was an earnest and unfaltering republican, 
 and was supervisor and for two terms 
 was postmaster at Carthage. Not only 
 in the line of his profession but in public 
 and private life as well he did much ser- 
 vice of a beneficial nature for his fellow- 
 men. The sterling traits of his character, 
 his many acts of kindness and charity and 
 the honorable principles which formed the 
 basic element of all that he did and said, 
 made him a man whom to know was to 
 respect and honor, and there are many 
 residents of Carthage and Hancock 
 county who still cherish his memory. His 
 wife and daughters are members of the 
 Presbyterian church. Mrs. Noyes or- 
 ganized the society of the Daughters of 
 the American Revolution in the fall of 
 1897 an d was regent therein for three 
 years. She is a lady of innate culture and 
 refinement, of superior intelligence and 
 of most kindly purpose and the family 
 have long occupied an enviable position 
 in social circles in Carthage. 
 
 PROFESSOR JAMES E. WILLIAMS. 
 
 Professor James E. Williams, superin- 
 tendent of schools of Hancock county and 
 one of the capable educators of western 
 Illinois, was born in Hancock township, 
 October n, 1859, his parents being P. 
 D. and M. A. (Dale) Williams. The 
 paternal grandfather, Rev. Levi Williams, 
 
 was a Methodist divine, who preached for 
 many years in Hancock county and this 
 part of the state. While in New York 
 the Williams family were close neighbors 
 of the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith. 
 Rev. Levi Williams married a Miss 
 Barnes, whose father was a sergeant in 
 the war of 1812. The ancestry of the 
 Williams family can be traced back to 
 Roger Williams, the apostle of freedom, 
 who founded the colony of Rhode Is- 
 land, The father of our subject was born 
 in Wayne county. New York, May 2, 
 1836, while the mother's birth occurred 
 in Hancock township, this county, on the 
 1 2th of February, 1840. P. D. Williams 
 arrived in -this county in 1837. almost 
 seventy years ago and is now engaged in 
 business as a shoe merchant of La Harpe, 
 Illinois. Because of the fact that he lost 
 a part of his hand in a threshing machine 
 he could not go to war but was always a 
 stalwart advocate of the Union cause. 
 His political allegiance is given to the 
 democracy and he has served as justice of 
 the peace and school director. Both he 
 and his wife are earnest and helpful mem- 
 bers of the Christian church, in which 
 he is now serving as an elder and also 
 as president of the official board. People 
 of the highest respectability, they enjoy 
 the warm regard of all with whom they 
 have come in contact and are numbered 
 among the most prominent residents of 
 their town. She at one time was a pupil 
 of her husband when he was a teacher in 
 Hancock county. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, in which he has at- 
 tained the Royal Arch degree. In their 
 family were nine children. The eldest 
 is Professor Williams of this review.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 221 
 
 Emma, who taught in the district schools 
 of Hancock county for three or four years, 
 is now the wife of J. M. Preston, of 
 Fountain Green, Illinois. Ida is the wife 
 of W. F. Moyes, of Monmouth, Illinois, 
 and she, too, was a successful teacher of 
 this county, having been in one room for 
 seven years in Elvaston. Laura is the 
 wife of George B. Howes, of Peoria, Illi- 
 nois, and she, too, taught for several years 
 in Hancock county, spending two years 
 in the public schools of Carthage. Charles 
 C. is now foreman of the Journal at 
 Peoria, Illinois. . Mary, who was also a 
 capable schoolteacher following the pro- 
 fession for seven years in the public 
 schools of La Harpe, is now the wife of 
 E. I. Soule of that town. Kate, who 
 taught for five years in the schools of 
 La Harpe, is now a teacher in Bowen, 
 Illinois. 
 
 Professor Williams, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, remained at home until 
 nineteen years of age and during that 
 period pursued his education in the public 
 schools. He afterward entered Carthage 
 College, from which he was graduated 
 in the class of 1885, winning the degree 
 of Bachelor of Arts. Like his father he 
 began life as a schoolteacher, which pro- 
 fession he followed at Elvaston, where 
 his sister also taught for a number of 
 years. Professor Williams was connected 
 with the schools there in 1883. Follow- 
 ing the completion of his collegiate course 
 he taught school at Camp Point, Illinois, 
 having charge of the preparatory depart- 
 ment there. In 1886 he took charge of 
 the Burnside school and at the same time 
 he devoted his time and energies to the 
 study of law. The same year he was 
 
 elected superintendent of the public 
 schools at Ness City, Kansas, and organ- 
 ized and graded the schools of that city, 
 where he remained for four years, during 
 which time he established the system of 
 public instruction upon a safe and substan- 
 tial basis. In 1892 he removed to La- 
 crosse, Kansas, where he remained for 
 two years as superintendent of the public 
 schools, leaving that place to settle in La- 
 Harpe, Illinois, where he was engaged in 
 the dry goods business. He conducted a 
 store there for several years with good 
 success and was carrying on the trade at 
 the time he was nominated and elected to 
 his present office that of superintendent 
 of schools of Hancock county. W r hile in 
 La Harpe he was also a member of the 
 board of education for several years and 
 acted as its president for two years. The 
 cause of education has always found in 
 him a stalwart champion, who has enter- 
 tained high ideals and labored untiringly 
 for their adoption. 
 
 On the I3th of June, 1892, Mr. Wil- 
 liams was united in marriage to Miss 
 Daisy K. Brown, of Ness City, Kansas, 
 who was at one time a pupil of his in the 
 high school. She is a daughter of Cap- 
 tain J. W. and Catherine (Kouts) Brown, 
 both of whom were natives of Indiana, 
 in which state Mrs. Williams was also 
 born. Her father served as a captain 
 under Major McKinley in the Civil war 
 and was personally and intimately ac- 
 quainted with him. He was also a rela- 
 tive of John Brown, of Harper's Ferry 
 fame. His death occurred in March, 
 1892, while Mrs. Brown passed away 
 twenty-five years ago. In their family 
 were five children, all of whom are living,
 
 222 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 namely : Effie, the wife of A. W. Nu- 
 som. of Gervais, Oregon ; Mrs. Williams ; 
 George W., also of Gervais, Oregon; 
 Cora, the wife of W. A. Brooks, of that 
 place ; and Helen, who lives with Mr. and 
 Mrs. Williams and is a teacher in the 
 schools of West Point. Unto Professor 
 and Mrs. Williams have been born two 
 children : Ralph Brown, who was born 
 in La Harpe, December 13, 1895, and is 
 now a student in the public schools of 
 Carthage ; and Philip, who was born 
 April 9, 1903, in Carthage. 
 
 Professor Williams is a member of the 
 Knights of Pythias, Masonic and Odd 
 Fellow fraternities and both he and his 
 wife are members of the Christian church, 
 in which they take an active and helpful 
 part. He is now serving as one of its 
 elders and has been superintendent of 
 various Sunday-schools. The family 
 home is on North Adams and Buchanan 
 street, where about a year after coming 
 to this state he erected an attractive resi- 
 dence. His political allegiance is given 
 to the democracy. In his private and 
 public life he is methodical and systematic, 
 so directing his business interests as to 
 accomplish the best results possible. He 
 has given uniform satisfaction by the ca- 
 pable manner in which he has discharged 
 the duties of the office which he is now 
 filling. His practical experience as a 
 teacher in the schoolroom well qualified 
 him for the work and under his guidance 
 the schools of Hancock county have made 
 substantial improvements. Professor 
 Williams is devoted to his home and 
 family and is one in whom the graces 
 of culture and learning have vied in mak- 
 ing an interesting, entertaining gentleman. 
 
 DAYTOX WILLIAM REED. 
 
 Dayton William Reed is one of the ex- 
 tensive landowners of Wythe township, 
 having a valuable farm of three hundred 
 and seventy- four acres on sections 16, 17, 
 1 8 and 19. He is one of the native sons 
 of this township, his birth having oc- 
 curred on the 3Oth of September, 1854. 
 His paternal grandfather was Jacob Reed, 
 and his father, William W r allace Reed. 
 The latter became a pioneer resident of 
 Hancock county, taking up his abode in 
 \Vythe township in 1836 when but sixteen 
 years of age. He secured three hundred 
 and twenty acres of wild prairie land and 
 transformed the virgin soil into pro- 
 ductive fields, sharing in the hardships 
 and privations of pioneer life, while en- 
 gaged in the arduous task of developing 
 and improving a new farm. For more 
 than six decades he resided upon the old 
 homestead but in 1898 went to live with 
 his daughter in this vicinity. In early 
 manhood he had wedded Selena Chandler, 
 a daughter of Adolphus Chandler, and 
 she passed away in 1866. 
 
 Dayton W. Reed was the second child 
 and only son in a family of five children. 
 At the usual age he entered the district 
 schools and after completing his prelimi- 
 nary education he spent one year as a 
 student in Carthage College. Through 
 the period of his minority he largely as- 
 sisted his father in the work of the fields, 
 and when twenty-one years of age he be- 
 gan teaching school in W'ythe township, 
 following that pursuit during the winter 
 months, while in the summer seasons he 
 carried on farming for twelv6 years. In 
 the meantime, ambitious to achieve good
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 223 
 
 farming property of his own, he made in- 
 vestments in land, becoming owner of 
 three hundred and twenty acres on sec- 
 tions 17 and 1 8, Wythe township. He 
 also bought eighty acres more on section 
 1 6, and since 1894 he has resided con- 
 tinuously at his present home. His landed 
 possessions now comprise three hundred 
 and seventy- four acres on section 16, 17, 
 ' 18 and 19, Wythe township, where he 
 carries on general agricultural pursuits, 
 also raises horses and cattle. He likewise 
 feeds stock, both cattle and hogs for the 
 market, shipping about two hundred head 
 of hogs annually. He is a man of sound 
 business judgment, reliable in his dealings 
 and careful and progressive in his under- 
 takings and the goodly measure of suc- 
 cess which he is now enjoying has come 
 to him as the reward of his own labors. 
 On the loth of March, 1881, Mr. Reed 
 was married to Miss Laura Fulton, who 
 was born in Westmoreland county, Penn- 
 sylvania, October 9, 1857, a daughter of 
 Robert and Harriett (Trussell) Fulton, 
 natives of Westmoreland county, Penn- 
 sylvania and of Xew Hampshire respect- 
 ively. Her paternal grandparents were 
 William and Nancy Fulton, of Allegheny 
 county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Reed have a family of eight children: 
 Harriett, born January 30, 1882; Harry, 
 who died in infancy; Clara, born May 3, 
 1885; Frank, who died at the age of two 
 years; Jessie, born March 16, 1889; 
 Gratia, November 2, 1891 ; Laura, Decem- 
 ber 15, 1893; and Robert, April 29, 1896. 
 All of the living children are still at home. 
 Mr. Reed has served as school treasurer 
 since 1894 and is interested in the cause 
 of education to the extent of giving hearty 
 
 support to all progressive movements for 
 the benefit of the schools. He votes with 
 the Republican party and is a member of 
 the Modern Woodmen camp at Warsaw, 
 also holding membership in the Congre- 
 gational church of Wythe township, of 
 which he has been a trustee. Analyza- 
 tion of his life record shows that he has 
 placed his dependence upon the safe sub- 
 stantial qualities of energy and determi- 
 nation in order to secure success, realizing 
 that "there is no excellence without great 
 labor" and that "honesty is the best 
 policy." 
 
 ROBERT SMITH GORDON. . 
 
 Robert Smith Gordon is acting as sta- 
 tion agent for the Wasbash Railroad and 
 also for the Toledo, Peoria & Western 
 Railroad at Hamilton. He was borri here 
 December 10, 1866, and belongs to one 
 of the oldest and most prominent pio- 
 neer families of this portion of the state. 
 His paternal grandfather came to where 
 the city of Hamilton now stands more 
 than seven decades ago, there being fewer 
 than five hundred people in the entire 
 county at that time. He entered one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land from the 
 government and it is upon this tract that 
 the city of Hamilton now stands. He 
 aided in reclaiming the wild land for the 
 uses of civilization and was connected 
 with the early development and progress 
 of the county here until his death, which 
 occurred in 1846, while his wife passed 
 away in 1848. In their family were but
 
 224 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ'IEU' 
 
 two sons, the younger being Samuel Gor- 
 don, father of our subject, who is men- 
 tioned elsewhere in this work. "Samuel 
 Gordon was born in Peterboro. Xew 
 Hampshire, and after arriving at years 
 , of maturity was married to Miss Per- 
 melia Alvord, who was born in Erie 
 county, Pennsylvania. Her father was a 
 Baptist minister of that state and came 
 to Hamilton at an early day, preaching 
 in this place and in the county, so that 
 he left the impress of his individuality 
 upon the moral development and progress 
 of the community. Samuel Gordon on 
 starting out in life on his own account 
 gave his attention to farming. He also 
 laid out the Gordon addition to the city 
 of Hamilton and was closely associated 
 with many movements and events which 
 have shaped the history of this part of 
 the state. He was school director of 
 Hamilton district, No. 3, and was city 
 clerk for about four years. He was also 
 alderman of the second ward for six years 
 and his co-operation could always be 
 counted upon as a helpful factor to pro- 
 mote public progress and improvement. 
 He died October 2, 1901, while his wife 
 passed away September 19, 1890. She 
 left a family of four daughters and two 
 sons : Eleanor, who is a Unitarian min- 
 ister located in Des Moines, Iowa; John 
 A., a book merchant of Hamilton, Illi- 
 nois; Alice" A., and Agnes C., who make 
 their home together in the old homestead ; 
 and Mabel B., a teacher in the public 
 schools of Hamilton. 
 
 The other member of the family is 
 Robert Smith Gordon of this review, who 
 was the fifth in order of birth. In his 
 youth he attended the public schools and 
 
 assisted his father in the work of the] 
 home farm. At the age of seventeen 
 years he put aside his textbooks and gave 
 his undivided attention to farm labor and ' 
 on the ist of May, 1886, he secured the 
 position of station agent for the Wabash 
 and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroads at 
 Hamilton, in which capacity he has since 
 been engaged. He is a courteous, oblig- 
 ing official, who has won the good will of 
 many patrons of the road and at the same 
 time he represents the corporation with 
 true fidelity and devotion. He is likewise 
 president of the Loan and Building As- 
 sociations of Hamilton, which was or- 
 ganized in 1889, while since 1901 he has 
 filled the present position. The other of- 
 ficers are A. B. Agnew, vice president; 
 J. A. Gordon, secretary; and E. M. Le- 
 Roy, treasurer. 
 
 On the 2d of October, 1903, Mr. Gor- 
 don was united in marriage to Miss Laura 
 
 B. Bridges, who was born in Hamilton, 
 April i, 1866, and is a daughter of W. 
 
 C. Bridges. They had one child, Laura 
 Ellen, born December 20, 1904, who died 
 in June, 1905. Mr. Gordon has a very 
 wide acquaintance in this part of the 
 county and is a worthy representative of 
 an honored pioneer family that has been 
 associated with the substantial develop- 
 ment and progress of this section of the 
 state from an early day. In his political 
 affiliation he is a republican and has 
 served as alderman, mayor and township 
 school trustee. Fraternally he is a Ma- 
 son, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Royal 
 Arch chapter and Order of the Eastern 
 Star of Hamilton and Knights Templar 
 of Augusta, being very highly appreciated 
 bv all the members of each fratemitv.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 225 
 
 CHARLES \V. BOSTON. 
 
 Charles \Y. Boston, who carries on 
 farming- in Carthage, his native township, 
 was born January 13, 1862, his parents 
 being Reuben J. and Sarah J. (Dale) 
 T>i iston. The father was born in Ken- 
 tucky and was brought to Illinois by his 
 parents when about eight years of age, the 
 family settling in Hancock county. The 
 grandfather purchased land in Carthage 
 township, where he made a home for him- 
 self and family and under the parental 
 roof Reuben Boston was reared to man- 
 hood, becoming familiar with the arduous 
 task of developing a new farm in a front- 
 ier district. After attaining adult age he 
 purchased the farm now owned and occu- 
 pied by his son, Charles \V., on section 33, 
 Carthage township, and comprising one 
 hundred and ten acres of rich and pro- 
 ductive land. He also bought other prop- 
 erty from time to time until he became the 
 owner of five hundred and sixty acres 
 of valuable land all lying in Carthage 
 township. He placed many improve- 
 ments on these different tracts and made 
 model farms of his property, contributing 
 in large measure to the agricultural prog- 
 ress and prosperity of this part of the 
 state. Throughout his active life he 
 carried on general farming and stock 
 raising and in his later years removed to 
 Carthage, where he lived retired, until 
 his death, which occurred when he was 
 sixty-seven years of age. His life was in 
 consistent harmony with his professions 
 as a member of the Methodist church and 
 he was never known to take advantage of 
 the necessities of his fellowmen in any 
 trade transaction. His political allegiance 
 
 was given to the democracy. His widow 
 still lives in Carthage at the age of sev- 
 enty-six "years and is a devoted Christian 
 woman, holding membership with the 
 Methodist church. 
 
 Charles W. Boston acquired his educa- 
 tion in the public schools of Carthage 
 township and during the periods of vaca- 
 tion assisted in the home work. He con- 
 tinued to aid in the labors of the farm 
 and following his father's death he as- 
 sumed its management and is now the 
 owner of two hundred and thirty acres of 
 the old estate upon which he was born. 
 He has made additional improvements 
 here, remodeling the house, and today 
 has a fine farm property equipped with 
 modern accessories and conveniences. 
 Well kept fences divide the place into 
 fields that are devoted to the raising of 
 various cereals best adapted to soil and 
 climate and the latest improved machinery 
 is used in the work of plowing, planting 
 and harvesting. He also raises high 
 grades of stock, including cattle, hogs 
 and horses, and he feeds cattle quite ex- 
 tensively for market. 
 
 Mr. Boston was married June 26, 1884, 
 to Miss Mary Rowena Yetter, a daughter 
 of William Yetter, who is now living a 
 retired life in Carthage. He was born in 
 Ohio seventy-two years ago, and in 1846 
 came with his parents, Lewis and Sarah 
 (Bear) Yetter to Hancock county. He 
 was a soldier of the One Hundered Eight- 
 eenth Illinois Volunter Infantry, and after 
 his return engaged in farming in Carthage 
 township till he returned to Carthage. 
 His wife died in 1895, at the age of fifty- 
 seven years. Mrs. Boston was born in 
 this county near Webster and in that lo-
 
 226 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 cality obtained her education. She has 
 become the mother of six children, five 
 of whom are living, namely : Ava May, 
 who was the wife of David R. Kim- 
 brough, a resident farmer of Carthage 
 township, who died September 2, 1896; 
 Golda ; Lula ; Gaylord ; Fern ; and Ernest, 
 all at home. 
 
 Mr. Boston exercises his right of fran- 
 chise in support of the men and measures 
 of the democracy but has never sought or 
 desired office for himself. He, with his 
 wife and the four eldest children belong to 
 the Baptist church and he has lived an 
 upright life, being found reliable in cit- 
 izenship, straightforward in his business 
 dealings and honorable in all of his rela- 
 tions with his fellowmen. 
 
 FRANCIS M. CUTLER. 
 
 This is a utilitarian age and the suc- 
 cessful man is he who recognizes his op- 
 portunities and utilizes the forces at hand 
 to best advantage. The laggard has no 
 place in the world today and it is pre- 
 eminently true that in America "labor is 
 king." It is therefore the men of dili- 
 gence, of enterprise and keen business dis- 
 cernment, who are continually working 
 their way to the front and to this class 
 belonged Francis M. Cutler, a grain mer- 
 chant of Carthage. He was born near 
 this city February 15, 1855, a son of Na- 
 than and Hannah (Ward) Cutler. His 
 father was born on a farm in Erie county, 
 New York, August 3, 1819, and in 1835 
 
 took up his abode upon a farm near Can- 
 ton, Fulton county, Illinois, where he re- 
 sided until 1852, when he came to Han- 
 cock county, settling four miles north of 
 Carthage. There he resided until 1854, 
 when he located upon the farm where the 
 birth of Francis M. Cutler occurred. His 
 wife was born in Wabash county. In- 
 diana, July 27, 1817. Both were con- 
 sistent members of the Baptist church, in 
 which Mr. Cutler served for a number of 
 years as deacon. His early political sup- . 
 port was given to the democracy and he 
 afterward become a stanch prohibitionist 
 because of his views upon the temperance 
 question. He filled the office of township 
 supervisor and was also a member of the 
 school board for several years. The 
 family numbered seven children, of whom 
 three died in infancy, while four are still 
 living, namely : Parkhurst W., a stock- 
 man residing near Carthage ; James C., 
 living four miles southeast of Carthage, 
 Illinois; Francis M. ; and Martha E., the 
 wife of Millard F. Turner, of Oklahoma. 
 The mother died in 1890 and the father 
 in 1898, their remains being laid to rest 
 in Carthage cemetery. 
 
 Francis M. Cutler was educated in the 
 district schools of Carthage and in Cen- 
 tral college at Pella, Iowa, which he at- 
 tended for two years. He was trained 
 to all the work of the home farm and 
 subsequently settled upon a farm of his 
 own southeast of Carthage. There for 
 many years he successfully and energet- 
 ically carried on general agricultural pur- 
 suits, but in 1891 retired from his farming 
 operations and was afterward engaged in 
 the grain trade at Carthage. He dealt in 
 grain in large quantities, having the only
 
 FRANCIS M. CUTLER
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 227 
 
 .levutor in Carthage, and his business fur- 
 
 fcished an excellent market for the farm- 
 ers. His elevator had a capacity of 
 
 '[twenty thousand bushels and in the con- 
 duct of the business Mr. Cutler met with 
 
 jvery gratifying success. After Septem- 
 ber. 1904, he also conducted a real estate 
 and emigration agency, making trips with 
 
 'people to the southwest and locating for 
 them farms in Kansas, Oklahoma and the 
 Indian Territory, but mostly in Ok- 
 lahoma. 
 
 In 1882 Mr. Cutler wedded Mary E. 
 Harnest, a native of this county and a 
 daughter of Samuel E. Harnest, of Car- 
 thage. She died May 13, 1895, leaving a 
 son who died at the age of seventeen 
 years. On the i8th of November, 1897, 
 Mr. Cutler wedded Mrs. Ida Byington, 
 (nee Talbot), -who was born on a farm 
 near Roseville, Illinois, and by her former 
 marriage had a daughter, Nellie, who was 
 born in Burlington, Iowa, and is now, at 
 the age of eighteen years, attending 
 Shurtleff College at Upper Alton, Illinois. 
 She was also a student in the Woman's 
 College at Jacksonville, Illinois, for two 
 years and is making a specialty of the 
 study of music. Mrs. Cutler was the 
 widow of Charles E. Byington, who 
 was a dealer in hats and men's furnish- 
 ing goods in Burlington, Iowa, and 
 a son of Judge Byington, of Iowa City, 
 Iowa. Mrs. Cutler bore the maiden 
 name of Ida Talbot and was a daughter 
 of John Talbot, a soldier of the Civil war, 
 who enlisted from Illinois. In his busi- 
 ness life he was an attorney at Galesburg, 
 Illinois. His widow still survives and 
 now makes her home with her daughter, 
 Mrs. Cutler. In December, 1905, Mr. 
 
 Cutler moved his family to an elegant new 
 modern residence on Main street. His 
 business interests were most carefully con- 
 ducted, his efforts being discerningly di- 
 rected along well defined lines of labor 
 that resulted in the acquirement of grati- 
 fying success. In his political views he 
 was a prohibitionist and worked with the 
 party for the past twelve or fourteen 
 years. Both he and mwwife were mem- 
 bers of the Baptist churgp and in its dif- 
 ferent activities Mrs. CutiajSftfeost help- 
 ful. She is a teacher in'^UjaSunday- 
 school, president of the missionary so- 
 ciety and is likewise vice pres%ent of the 
 P. E. O. In the city wher^they re- 
 sided both were held in high esteem and 
 their friends were many, while the hospi- 
 tality of their own home was greatly 
 enjoyed. 
 
 Mr. Cutler passed away August 10, 
 1906, and is buried at Moss Ridge ceme- 
 tery. Mr. Cutler was highly esteemed by 
 his fellowmen for his Christian manhood, 
 his generous nature, his quiet benevo- 
 lence, and his devotion to family and 
 friends. While friends may think on his 
 departure with sorrowful regret, it is the 
 home that grief has its abiding place. 
 Only last December they moved into their 
 beautiful new home on Main street. With 
 everything worth living for bound up in 
 that little family circle, death has come 
 and it can be no more the same. But 
 with grief abides also Christian faith and 
 fortitude, and no words of consolation 
 need be expressed to those who already 
 appreciate the value of the precious 
 promises given by our Creator as recorded 
 in the Scriptures both in the Old and New 
 Testament.
 
 228 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 CHARLES GERVIS CLARK. 
 
 Charles Gervis Clark, who in 1863, be- 
 came a resident of Carthage, where for 
 more than a quarter of a century he was 
 engaged in the real estate business, rank- 
 ing among the men worthy of the public 
 trust, his life work reflecting credit and 
 honor upon the state in which he made 
 his home, was born in New Berlin, New 
 York, January 8, 1820, a son of Gervis 
 and Rachel (Caple) Clark. His maternal 
 grandfather, Colonel Caple, was a soldier 
 of the Revolutionary war and an uncle of 
 our subject was a soldier in the Mexican 
 war, Gervis Clark, Sr., died when his 
 son was only four months old, leaving 
 the mother with the care of this, her only 
 child. Later she married a Mr. Stimp- 
 son and there was one daughter by that 
 union, Mrs. A. E. Alexander, who is 
 now living at Denver, Colorado. 
 
 Charles Gervis Clark of this review 
 acquired his education in the schools of 
 Jefferson and of Jamestown, New York, 
 and in both cities studied law. Follow- 
 ing his preparation for the bar he engaged 
 in active practice in Cobleskill. Schoharie 
 county, New York, where he remained for 
 eight years. He then went to Jamestown, 
 New York, where he remained for a num- 
 ber of years and was a partner of Judge 
 Abner Hazeltine. and in April. 1863, he 
 came to Carthage, where he turned his 
 attention to the real estate business. He 
 became familiar with land values and en- 
 abled many clients to make judicious and 
 satisfying investments and at the same 
 time contributed to his individual success. 
 
 Mr. Clark was married on the boundary 
 of Greene and Albany counties. New 
 
 York, at Greenville, December 3, 1846, 
 the lady of his choice being Miss Mary 
 Andrews, who was born in Worcester, 
 Otsego county, New York, April 30, 1826, 
 a daughter of Simeon J. and Clarissa 
 (Lake) Andrews. Her father was born at 
 Middlefield, Otsego county, New York, 
 and died when the daughter was only 
 eighteen months old. The mother's birth 
 occurred in Greenville, Greene county, 
 New York, and she passed away at the 
 home of her daughter, Mrs. Clark, in Car- 
 thage on the the i3th of September, 1886, 
 at the very advanced age of eighty-nine 
 years, her remains being interred in Moss 
 Ridge cemetery. She was the daughter 
 of a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. An- 
 drews was a merchant, drover and farmer 
 and was an enterprising business man. 
 Unto him and his wife were born six 
 children: Evaline, who died in child- 
 hood ; one who died in infancy ; Lucy, 
 who became the wife of Reuben Reed, 
 who resides in Kent, Orleans county. New 
 York, but both are now deceased; Am- 
 brose, who died at the home of Mrs. Clark 
 in 1873; Mary, now Mrs. Clark; and 
 Elizabeth, who became the wife of Fred- 
 erick Chapman and made her home in 
 Wisconsin, but died in Jersey City, New 
 Jersey. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Clark became the par- 
 ents of eight children. Charles Andrews 
 married Miss Jennie McCulloch and died 
 in 1905, leaving a widow and eight chil- 
 dren, Edward, Margaret, Gervis, Stewart, 
 Mary, George, Virginia and Robert. 
 Ella Lee Clark died in childhood. George, 
 Fred, Libbie, Louis, and Ada also passed 
 away in childhood. Edward, the only 
 surviving member of the family, is living
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 229 
 
 with his mother and is engaged in the 
 real estate business in Carthage. Mr. 
 Clark was a devoted member of the Pres- 
 byterian church, to which his widow also 
 belongs. She has always been a teacher 
 in the Sunday-school, being a teacher in 
 the primary department for forty years. 
 Mr. Clark took a most active and helpful 
 part in church work, doing all in his power 
 to promote its growth and extend its 
 influence. In politics he was a republican, 
 but was without aspiration for .office, pre- 
 ferring to devote his undivided time and 
 attention to his business affairs, which 
 were of an important character and 
 reached extensive proportions. He pos- 
 sessed strong, native intelligence, laudable 
 ambition and high purpose and displayed 
 many of the sterling traits of character 
 which won him recognition as one of na- 
 ture's noblemen. Although he started 
 out in life in moderate circumstances he 
 amassed considerable means and was thus 
 enabled to leave a goodly property to his 
 widow. He passed away April n, 1900, 
 his remains being interred in Moss Ridge 
 cemetery at Carthage. During the years 
 of his residence here he had won many 
 friends by reason of his straightforward 
 dealing, his consideration for others and 
 his kindly, social nature. Mrs. Clark is 
 now eighty years of age but is still quite 
 active and busies herself with reading or 
 needlework. She is indeed a very bright 
 and intelligent lady, spending the evening 
 of her days in an attractive home sur- 
 rounded by many friends. She has a 
 large circle of friends in Carthage who 
 will doubtless receive with pleasure the 
 record of her life, as published in the 
 Biographical Review of Hancock County. 
 
 HOMER J. ELSEA, D. O. 
 
 It is within comparatively recent years 
 that osteopathy has become a factor in the 
 healing of diseases but in a comparatively 
 short time it has become a universally ac- 
 knowledged power in checking the rav- 
 ages of illness and restoring health and 
 there are today many practitioners of this 
 school, not only in America but through- 
 out the country, whose work is proving 
 an inestimable boon to their fellowmen. 
 Dr. Elsea, following this profession in 
 Carthage, has an extensive patronage 
 throughout the city and this part of the 
 state and is one of the worthy and capable 
 exponents of the science. His birth oc- 
 curred, in Randolph county, Missouri, 
 February 3, 1879, his parents being Ben- 
 jamin and Telitha (Taylor) Elsea. The 
 father was born in Shenandoah county, 
 Virginia, in November, 1822. There is 
 now no surviving member of his father's 
 family. The mother of our subject was 
 born in Boyle county, Kentucky, April 
 1 6, 1841, and at an early day her father 
 removed to Missouri, where he resided 
 until after the outbreak of the Civil war, 
 when he came to Illinois, where he fol- 
 lowed farming, his death occurring in this 
 state. In his family were ten children, 
 five of whom are yet living: William 
 Taylor, a resident of Randolph county, 
 Missouri; Mrs. Telitha Elsea; Mary, the 
 wife of Thomas Heath, of St. Louis, Mis- 
 souri ; Joseph, who is living in Illinois ; 
 and Mrs. Fannie Skeggs, of this state. 
 
 Benjamin Elsea went to Missouri with 
 his father when about sixteen years of 
 age and there resided upon a farm, mak- 
 ing his home in that state until his death.
 
 230 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Although he was not a soldier during the 
 Civil war he worked for the government 
 throughout the period of the struggle, car- 
 rying the mail for the soldiers who were 
 so far away from home and friends. His 
 political allegiance was given to the de- 
 mocracy and for many years he served 
 as justice of the peace, discharging his 
 duties with fairness and impartiality. 
 Both he and his wife were members of the 
 Christian church. He was twice married, 
 his first union being with Mary Jane 
 Graff ord, who died 'in 1859, leaving five 
 children, of whom four are living: J. 
 W., Benjamin and Felix Grundy, all of 
 Randolph county, Missouri ; and John C., 
 who resides in San Francisco, California. 
 For his second wife Benjamin Elsea_ chose 
 Telitha Taylor and they had eight chil- 
 dren, of whom seven yet survive. Lydia 
 is the wife of L. P. Hatler, of Havre, 
 Montana, and has four children, Frank, 
 Iva, Ernest and Oval; David J. Elsea, a 
 graduate of the State Normal School at 
 Kirksville, Missouri, became a singing 
 evangelist and at Colchester, Illinois, was 
 ordained a minister of the Christian 
 church. He is now one of the able 
 preachers of that denomination and has 
 charge of the church in Creston, Iowa. 
 He married Miss Ruby Jameson, of 
 Abingdon, Illinois. Leona Florence is 
 the wife of W. L. Holbrook, of Jetmore, 
 Kansas. Thomas G. died at the age of 
 two and a half years. Lucy Victoria is 
 the wife of Dr. F. M. Henderson, of 
 Stronghurst, Illinois. Both are grad- 
 uates of the American School of Oste- 
 opathy at Kirksville, Missouri, and they 
 have one child, Madge Elsea Henderson, 
 ten years of age. Lena Catherine is the 
 
 wife of Dr. J. S. Barker, formerly of 
 Memphis, Missouri. They, too, are 
 graduates of the Osteopathic School at 
 Kirksville and are now living in La 
 Harpe, Illinois. Homer J. is the seventh 
 in order of birth. Lottie G. is the wife of 
 Dr. C. I. Stephenson, formerly of Lin- 
 coln, Nebraska, and now located at Au- 
 burn, Nebraska. They, too, are grad- 
 uates of the Kirkville School of Oste- 
 opathy. The have one child, Elsea Win- 
 nebeth. In the family there is one min- 
 ister of the gospel, three daughters, one 
 son and three sons-in-law, who are prac- 
 titioners of osteopathy. The mother of 
 this family is still living, making her 
 home among her children. She had two 
 brothers, William and Silas Taylor, who 
 were soldiers of the Civil war, enlisting 
 in Missouri. 
 
 Dr. Elsea, of Carthage, was a student in 
 the district schools of Randolph county, 
 Missouri, and afterward was graduated 
 from the high school of Kirksville, Mis- 
 souri, having attended school there for 
 five years. He later entered the State 
 Normal at Kirksville, where his more 
 specifically literary education was com- 
 pleted. He was afterward in a mercantile 
 school in Kirksville for six months, at the 
 end of which time he entered the Amer- 
 ican School of Osteopathy, at Kirksville, 
 from which institution he was graduated 
 on the 26th of June, 1902. He has since 
 been located in Carthage He also has 
 an office in Dallas City, Illinois, where 
 he spends each Monday and Friday. He 
 has a large city and country practice and 
 has been very successful, effecting many 
 cures among his patrons. He is well 
 qualified for the profession by reason of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 28 1 
 
 his thorough preparation and he is con- 
 tinually promoting his efficiency through 
 the knowledge which comes by experience. 
 
 Dr. Elsea was married October 2, 1904, 
 to Miss Ava Murphy, who was born near 
 Abingdon, Illinois, and is a daughter of 
 Henry and Althea Murphy. Her father 
 was a farmer and removed from Illinois 
 to Nebraska, where he lived for two years, 
 when he went to Kansas, where he died 
 seventeen years ago. Following the 
 father's death Mrs. Murphy and the chil- 
 dren returned to Abingdon, Illinois, where 
 she still makes her home. Mr. Murphy 
 was a stalwart supporter of democratic 
 principles and was a prominent member 
 of the Christian church, serving as elder 
 for many years, frequently preaching on 
 Sundays, while through the week he fol- 
 lowed farming. He served for a number 
 of years as one of the trustees of Abing- 
 don College, an institution conducted 
 under the auspices of the Christian church. 
 Unto him and his wife were bom nine 
 children, who are yet living, as follows : 
 M. C., of Abingdon, Illinois ; Adda, the 
 wife of C. W. Robinson, of Abingdon; 
 Clinnie, the wife of J. J. Armstrong, of 
 Lincoln, Nebraska; I. E., living in Love- 
 land, California; Meadie, with her mother 
 in Abingdon; J. W., of Dallas City, Illi- 
 nois ; 6. H., with his mother in Abingdon. 
 
 Both Dr. and Mrs. Elsea are faithful 
 members of the Christian church and take 
 an active part in its work. He is a stanch 
 prohibitionist, thus giving expression of 
 his belief in temperance principles, which 
 he labors to uphold in every possible way. 
 He has his office at his residence at No. 
 in Adams street. Though a young man 
 he has been very successful. He is a 
 
 gentleman of fine personal appearance, 
 reserved and dignified in manner, posses- 
 sing an enterprising spirit and laudable 
 ambition. Both he and his wife and her 
 mother are welcomed into the best social 
 circles of the city and have gained many 
 friends during the period of their resi- 
 dence here. 
 
 SAMUEL -T. STONE. 
 
 Samuel T. Stone, deceased, was a florist 
 of Carthage and conducted the only green- 
 houses in Hancock county. He was born 
 at Stone's Prairie, Adams county, Illinois, 
 September 25, 1855, his parents, Enoch 
 P. and Emily (Burke) Stone, being 
 farming people of that locality. The 
 father continued to follow farming there 
 until the spring of 1856, when he re- 
 moved to Pontoosuc township, Hancock 
 county, settling upon a farm, where he 
 made his home until 1869. He then re- 
 moved to what became the Stone home- 
 stead, where he conducted a nursery busi- 
 ness southeast of Carthage. His death 
 occurred there December 16, 1880, while 
 his wife passed away February 13, 1891, 
 the remains of both being interred in 
 Myers cemetery in Pontoosuc township. 
 Their religious faith was that of the Meth- 
 odist church. In their family were eight 
 children: E. R., now living in Kansas; 
 Eliza J., the deceased wife of Ervin Kid- 
 son ; Mary A., the wife of Richard Pome- 
 roy, of Elvaston, Illinois; Melvina, the 
 wife of Benton Hull, of Pontoosuc town- 
 ship; Ellen, who ly/es with her sister in
 
 232 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Elvaston; Irel H., of Kirksville, Mis- 
 souri; Ervin W., of Beardstown, Illinois; 
 and Samuel T., deceased. 
 
 In taking up the personal - history of 
 Samuel T. Stone we present to our readers 
 the life record of one who was a respected 
 and prominent business man in commer- 
 cial circles in Carthage for a number of 
 years. He acquired his early education 
 in the district schools and afterward at- 
 tended the Carthage high school and the 
 Carthage college. He then engaged in 
 the nursery business with his father until 
 twenty-one years of age, after which he 
 carried on a farm of his own until 1895, 
 devoting it to nursery stock. In that year 
 he added a greenhouse and more and 
 more largely concentrated his energies 
 upon the florist's business. The same 
 year he took up his abode on Main street 
 in Carthage, where he established a green- 
 house, conducting at the same time the 
 one upon his farm. This is the only 
 greenhouse in Hancock county. It is 
 steamheatecl and splendidly equipped in all 
 particulars. Mr. Stone soon secured a 
 liberal patronage and his business in this 
 line proved profitable from the beginning. 
 
 On the 1 8th of March, 1891, was cele- 
 brated the marriage of Samuel T. Stone 
 and Miss Ava L. Leighton, who was 
 born in Des Moines county, Iowa, Jan- 
 uary 31, 1867, a daughter of William E. 
 and Ella A. (Waller) Leighton. The 
 mother was born in Shellsburg, Iowa, 
 September 27, 1847, and the father, a 
 native of the same state, was bom Au- 
 gust 14, 1839. Mr. Leighton was for 
 four years connected with the commissary 
 department during the Civil war. He has 
 always been a farmer and still supervises 
 a farm in Hancock county, although he 
 
 makes his home in Carthage, having come 
 to Hancock county in 1889. Both he and 
 his wife are consistent members and 
 earnest workers in the Christian church 
 and he is a democrat in his political views. 
 In their family are four children, all of 
 whom are living, namely : Mrs. Stone ; 
 Hope, a teacher in the public schools of 
 Bowen, Illinois; George E., living in 
 Galesburg, this state; and Edith M., who 
 has successfully taught in the public 
 schools of Carthage and Hancock county. 
 Mrs. Stone is eligible to membership 
 in the Daugthers of the American Revolu- 
 tion, as among her ancestors were those 
 who fought for the independence of the 
 nation. James Leighton, a brother of her 
 father, was killed in the battle of Vicks- 
 burg. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stone were 
 born seven children: William A., Gladys 
 Ida, Edward Harold, Clifford L., Clara, 
 Gertrude A. and Adelaide Lenore, all of 
 whom are natives of Hancock county. 
 Mr. Stone died December 27, 1905, after 
 an illness of several weeks and his re- 
 mains were interred in Moss Ridge ceme- 
 tery. In manner he was quiet and re- 
 served, but was always interested in 
 modern enterprises and though he was 
 not a politician in the sense of office seek- 
 ing he did much in a quiet way to promote 
 the welfare of his party, to which he was 
 at all times loyal. He voted with the re- 
 publican organization and was connected 
 with the Modern Woodmen. He was 
 also a city fireman. Both he and his wife 
 held membership in the Methodist church 
 and did all in their power to promote its 
 welfare and growth. In his business 
 affairs Mr. Stone wrought along modem 
 lines, realizing that there is no excellence 
 without labor and his close application
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 233 
 
 and diligence made his business a profit- 
 able one. Mrs. Stone is still continuing 
 the business and she employs men to 
 keep the furnace going in the greenhouses 
 night and day. She is a bright, energetic 
 business woman, who has an intimate 
 knowledge of the trade and the needs of 
 the plants and flowers and the products 
 of the greenhouses find a ready sale on 
 the market because of beauty, color, size 
 and fragrance. In his family Mr. Stone 
 was a kind and loving husband and father 
 and for many years was a very dutiful 
 son to his aged mother, to whom he gave 
 filial care and attention. 
 
 WILLIAM H. HONCE. 
 
 William H. Honce, deceased, who in 
 public regard occupied an enviable posi- 
 tion, so that his death was the occasion 
 of uniform- regret when his life's labors 
 were ended, was a native of Monmouth 
 county, New Jersey, born on the 26th of 
 July, 1830. He remained in the place 
 of his birth until nineteen years of age 
 and acquired his education in the public 
 schools there. Thinking to have better 
 business opportunities in the west he then 
 went to Butler county, Ohio, where he 
 secured employment as a farm hand by 
 the month, residing in that county until 
 after his marriage to Miss Sarah Jane 
 McBroom, a daughter of Andrew and 
 Jane (Robinson) McBroom. The wed- 
 ding was celebrated at Middletown, Ohio, 
 
 November 27, 1851, and the young couple 
 resided upon a farm in Butler county 
 for about three years after their marriage. 
 
 On the expiration of that period they 
 removed to Adams county, Illinois, where 
 they spent two years and then came to 
 Hancock county, settling in Montebello 
 township, where Mr. Honce purchased 
 a farm of eighty acres, beginning its 
 cultivation with characteristic energy. 
 He added to this farm from time to time 
 until at his death he owned two hundred 
 acres of rich land, all of which was under 
 cultivation. The improvements were 
 placed there by him and he developed a 
 model farm property, which he carefully 
 cultivated until his demise. His fields 
 were well tilled and he annually harvested 
 good crops, while the improvements upon 
 his place were in keeping with ideas of 
 model farming. 
 
 Mrs. Honce was educated in Butler 
 county, Ohio, where her father followed 
 farming. Later he removed to Indiana, 
 spending his remaining days in that state, 
 his death occurring about twenty-six 
 years ago. His wife also passed away in 
 Indiana when Mrs. Honce -was but six 
 years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Honce 
 were born seven children, of whom Mrs. 
 W. M. Moore is the eldest. Lizzie, the 
 second daughter, is now the wife of Thad- 
 deus Thomas and has two children, Alta 
 and Lester. Mrs. William H. Thomas is 
 the third of the family and is mentioned 
 elsewhere in this work. Anna is the wife 
 of George Phipps and has three children, 
 Harry, Vera and Carl. Ollie is the wife 
 of John Marshall and has four children, 
 Clyde, Greta, Yetta and Lois. W r illiam 
 R. married Minnie Brady and has one
 
 234 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 child, Beulah. Mary L. died at the family 
 home in Montebello township, at the age 
 of nineteen years. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Honce was a 
 democrat but cared nothing for office, 
 preferring to devote his time and atten- 
 tion to his business affairs, in which he 
 met with signal success. He made a 
 creditable -record in agricultural circles 
 and left a valuable farm property to his 
 family. He died August i, 1899. 
 
 WILLIAM H. THOMAS. 
 
 William H. Thomas, deceased, was one 
 of the early settlers of Hancock county 
 and a representative farmer, whose busi- 
 ness activity and devotion to the public 
 good made him a leading and valued resi- 
 dent of this part of the state. He was 
 born near Columbus, in Adams county, 
 Illinois, November 29, 1851, and when 
 but two years of age was brought to So- 
 nora township by his parents, Isaac and 
 Louisa (Nichols) Thomas, who took up 
 their abode in this county in 1853. His 
 father was born in Kentucky and his 
 mother in Adams county, Illinois. She 
 is still living and makes her home in Car- 
 thage with three of her children. The 
 father, however, passed away upon the 
 home farm in 1901. He had for many 
 years been a prosperous and enterprising 
 agriculturist of the community, his resi- 
 dence here covering a half century. He 
 
 worked earnestly and persistently and his 
 diligence and perseverance constituted 
 strong and salient elements in his success. 
 He was a member of the Christian church 
 and his life was in harmony with his 
 professions. 
 
 William H. Thomas was reared upon 
 the old homestead farm and acquired his 
 education in the public schools of Sonora 
 township, pursuing his studies through 
 the winter months, while in the summer 
 seasons he aided in the labors of the fields. 
 He worked with his father until his mar- 
 riage, after which he purchased a farm 
 in Montebello township of two hundred 
 acres, devoting his attention to its culti- 
 vation and improvement until his removal 
 to Elvaston. He was married December 
 24, 1878, to Miss Alpharetta Honce, a 
 daughter of William H. and Sarah Jane 
 (McBroom) Honce, the former a native 
 of New Jersey and the latter of Indiana. 
 They became residents of Ohio at an early 
 day and in that state Mrs. Honce was 
 reared. About fifty-five years ago they 
 came to Illinois, settling in Montebello 
 township, Hancock county, among its pio- 
 neer residents. There Mr. Honce pur- 
 chased a tract of land and developed a 
 farm, making a good home for himself 
 and family. His remaining days were 
 devoted to the improvement of the prop- 
 erty and upon that place he passed away 
 on the ist of August. 1899, his remains 
 being interred in Montebello township. 
 His widow still survives him and now 
 resides with her children, further mention 
 being made of the family on another page 
 of this work. She had six children : 
 Lydia, now the wife of W. M. Moore, 
 of Hamilton, Illinois; Lizzie, the wife of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 235 
 
 Thaddeus Thomas, of Montebello town- 
 ship, Hancock county ; Mrs. Thomas of 
 this review ; Anna, the wife of George 
 Hliipps. of Prairie township; Ollie. the 
 wife of John Marshall; and William R., 
 who is a grain and produce merchant en- 
 gaged in business at Hamilton. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 
 was blessed with three children, all of 
 whom are yet living. George M., resid- 
 ing on the old home farm in Montebello 
 township, where he is successfully en- 
 gaged in carrying on general agricultural 
 pursuits, married Miss Stella Miller, of 
 Elvaston, a daughter of Dr. J. R. Miller, 
 of Elvaston, Illinois. Minnie Leota is the 
 wife of Frank Rohrbaugh, a farmer of 
 Elvaston. Yetta May is the wife of 
 Claude Walker, a resident farmer of 
 Prairie township. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Thomas resided in Sonora township until 
 the spring of 1881 and then removed to 
 a farm, which Mr. Thomas purchased, 
 about three miles and a half northwest 
 of Elvaston. There they resided for 
 twenty-one years, his attention being 
 given to the work of the fields and the 
 further improvement of the property but 
 in 1903 he determined to retire from 
 active business life and took up his abode 
 in Elvaston, where he erected the resi- 
 dence which is now occupied by his 
 widow. There he passed away on Sat- 
 urday, February 6, 1904, at the age of 
 fifty-two years, two months and eight 
 days. He had resided in the county for 
 more than a half century, or practically 
 throughout the period of his entire life 
 and those who had known him from his 
 boyhood days recognized in him the ster- 
 
 ling traits of character in harmony with 
 the strong and salient principles of an 
 honorable manhood. He was active and 
 industrious in business and was straight- 
 forward in his dealings. His political 
 views were in accord with democratic 
 principles but he did not care for office. 
 He held membership in the Presbyterian 
 church and was serving as one of its 
 trustees at the time of his death. He was 
 interested in all that pertained to the 
 material, intellectual or moral progress of 
 his community and his support of bene- 
 ficial public measures was never of a luke- 
 warm character but was strong and stead- 
 fast, so that he became one of the valued 
 citizens of his part of the county. 
 
 HARRISON O. KNOX. 
 
 Harrison O. Knox was the first white 
 man born in Wythe township, and it 
 would be difficult to find many residents 
 of this county who are more familiar with 
 its history or have longer resided within 
 its borders. Events which are to others 
 only matters of hearsay have been to him 
 matters of personal experience or obser- 
 vation, and he has been an. interested wit- 
 ness of the growth and development of 
 the county from pioneer times to the 
 present. His memory goes back to the 
 days when many of the homes were log 
 cabins, in which were huge fireplaces, 
 over which the cooking was done, while 
 the little home was lighted by tallow 
 candles, and the work of the fields was
 
 236 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 done with primitive farm machinery. All 
 this has changed and Mr. Knox has kept 
 pace with the onward march of progress. 
 He was born in Green Plains on sec- 
 tion 25, Wythe township, May 5, 1833. 
 His parents were Samuel and Malinda 
 (Doughty) Knox, and the maternal 
 grandfather was Thomas Doughty, a sol- 
 dier of the Revolutionary war. Relatives 
 of Mr. Knox were also members of the 
 Union army in the Civil war. The father 
 was born on the ocean while his parents 
 were coming from Scotland to the new 
 world in 1775, and his wife was a native 
 of Virginia, born in 1794. They came 
 to Illinois in 1830, and in 1832, took 
 up their abode in Hancock county, their 
 son Harrison being the first white child 
 born in the part of the county where they 
 made their home. Samuel Knox was a 
 member and minister of the Christian 
 church, and while living in Wythe town- 
 ship, preached the first sermon ever deliv- 
 ered within its borders. This was in 
 1832. He also preached in McDonough 
 and Adams counties, and in Iowa and 
 Missouri, doing much good work in the 
 spread of the gospel and in planting the 
 seeds of Christian civilization in the mid- 
 dle west. He died in the year -1865, and 
 thus passed away one whom to know was 
 to esteem and honor. The world is better 
 for his having lived and he left behind 
 a memory which is still cherished by all 
 who knew him. His wife survived until 
 1871, and both were laid to rest in Green 
 Plains cemetery in Wilcox township. 
 Their children were seven in number, of 
 whom four are now living: William, 
 who is living in California, and is eighty- 
 two years of age ; Franklin., of Kansas ; 
 
 Harrison O., of this review; and Sarah, 
 the wife of George B. Reid, of Monroe 
 City, Missouri. 
 
 Harrison O. Knox acquired his early 
 education in the schools of Green Plains 
 and afterward attended the Warsaw high 
 school. He was reared to agricultural 
 pursuits and throughout his entire life has 
 followed farming as a vocation. Hav- 
 ing reached man's estate he was married 
 in 1862 to Miss Sarah Louisa Crawford, 
 whose birth occurred in Wythe township, 
 in 1843, her parents being Thomas and 
 Jane (Stockton) Crawford, both of whom 
 are now deceased. Mrs. Knox died in 
 1875, leaving a daughter, Eva J., now the 
 wife of Charles Homer McMahan, of 
 Wilcox township. They became the par- 
 ents of five children, Carl D., Robert F., 
 William R., George H. and Francis H. 
 On the 22d of March, 1882, Mr. Knox 
 was again married, his second union being 
 with Miss Hannah W. Davidson, who 
 was born in Sussex county, Delaware, in 
 1859, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret 
 J. (Christopher) Davidson. They, too, 
 were natives of Delaware, the former 
 born September 7, 1818, and the latter 
 in 1824. The father devoted his life to 
 general agricultural pursuits, and in 1869 
 came to Hancock county, settling in Wil- 
 cox township. Thirty years later he 
 passed away, in 1899, while his wife died 
 in 1898, and they were laid to rest side 
 by side in the Congregational cemetery 
 in Wythe township. Mr. Davidson was 
 drafted for service in the Civil war but 
 was too old to go to the front. In their 
 family were seven children : Francina, 
 who died in infancy ; William Henry, of 
 Carthage; Joseph B., who lives in Basco,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 237 
 
 Illinois; Sarah Frances, and Elizabeth 
 Annetta, both deceased ; Hannah W., now 
 Mrs. Knox ; and Edward P., of Wythe 
 township. Mrs. Davidson died Novem- 
 ber 25, 1898, at the home of Mrs. Knox, 
 and Mr. Davidson passed away at Basco, 
 M^y 30, 1899. They were married in 
 1842 and were earnest Christian people, 
 respected by all who knew them. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Knox has been born one 
 son, Harrison Lucian, whose birth oc- 
 curred in 1888 in Wilcox township, and 
 he is at home with his parents. He has 
 been liberally educated and was a student 
 in Warsaw Seminary. 
 
 After his first marriage Mr. Knox lived 
 in Wythe township for two years, and 
 then removed toWarsaw, where he en- 
 gaged in the dry goods business for three 
 years. Subsequently he devoted two 
 years to the milling business and in 1873 
 he came to Wilcox township, where he 
 has since carried on general farming. In 
 1879 he bought forty acres of land on 
 section 25, where he built a home, in 
 which he has since resided, his attention 
 being given to the cultivation and devel- 
 opment of the fields. He taught school 
 in Walker, Wythe, Wilcox and Rocky 
 Run townships before his return to Wil- 
 cox township and even before his removal 
 to Warsaw, thus being identified with the 
 early educational progress of his part of 
 the county. He has never been interested 
 in the progress and development of the 
 county along material, social, intellectual 
 and moral lines and his co-operation has 
 ever been a valued factor in movements 
 for the public good. His political alle- 
 giance has been given to the Republican 
 party since its organization. His first 
 
 presidential vote was cast for Millard 
 Fillmore in the Wythe schoolhouse on 
 the 4th of November, 1856, when he was 
 defeated by James Buchanan. On the 6th 
 of November, 1860, Mr. Knox voted for 
 Abraham Lincoln at Bank's schoolhouse 
 in Rocky Run township, where he was 
 teaching in a log building, having there 
 one hundred and eight scholars, or an 
 average of sixty-two and a half for six 
 months. Since 1860 he has continuously 
 voted the republican ticket and he has 
 been honored with various local offices, 
 serving as school director, as school treas- 
 urer for sixteen years, as tax collector, 
 as assessor and as town clerk. Both he 
 and his wife are members of the Wythe 
 Christian church known as the old brick 
 church and live in harmony with their 
 professions. Mr. Knox is one whose 
 memory forms a connecting link between 
 the primitive past and the progressive 
 present and he relates in most interest- 
 ing manner many incidents of the early 
 days. Mr. Knox began life as a poor 
 boy but has worked his way steadily up- 
 ward and his life record has been charac- 
 terized by continuous progress along 
 many lines. He has gained success and 
 at the same time has developed a charac- 
 ter which makes him worthy of the trust 
 and confidence of his fellowmen. 
 
 SIMON D. WEISER. 
 
 S. D. Weiser, superintendent of the 
 Hancock County Infirmary and poor
 
 2 3 8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 farm, was born at Northumberland, 
 Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
 on the 6th of June, 1861, there residing 
 until 1872, when he came to Illinois and 
 took up his abode at Fountain Green, 
 Hancock county. His parents were Solo- 
 mon and Mary A. (Miller) Weiser, like- 
 wise natives of Northumberland county. 
 The great-grandfather, Conrad Weiser, 
 was an early resident of Pennsylvania, 
 residing near Philadelphia. He was a 
 warm personal friend of Washington and 
 served as colonel in the Revolutionary 
 war. His son, Philip Weiser. was a pio- 
 neer to Northumberland county and 
 bought a large tract of land there. He 
 was a very successful man and at the 
 time of his death, about the close of the 
 Civil war, he was considered the wealth- 
 iest man in Northumberland county. 
 Solomon Weiser was the eighth in a fam- 
 ily of nine children and was educated 
 at the high school at Gettysburg, Penn- 
 sylvania, and later he was an extensive 
 farmer and followed that ocupation 
 throughout his entire life- in order to pro- 
 vide for his family. Selling there he 
 moved his family to Hancock county and 
 purchased a tract of land in Fountain 
 Green township upon his removal to the 
 middle west in 1872, and there he re- 
 mained until his death, which occurred 
 when he was about eighty-one years of 
 age. He was a democrat in politics and 
 a public-spirited man, although not an 
 office seeker. However, he served as 
 treasurer of Northumberland county, 
 Pennsylvania, at an early day. His re- 
 mains were interred in Fountain Green 
 cemetery and his widow still makes her 
 home in the village of Fountain Green. 
 
 She is a member of the Lutheran church 
 and a most estimable lady. She was 
 born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. 
 Her father was an extensive land and 
 mine owner in the coal and iron regions 
 of Pennsylvania. 
 
 S. D. Weiser is one of a family of ten 
 children, seven of whom yet survive and 
 as stated, he came to Illinois with his par- 
 ents when a youth of eleven years. His 
 early educational privileges were supple- 
 mented by study in Carthage College and 
 he also attended the Western Illinois Nor- 
 mal School, at Macomb, this state. He 
 remained upon the home farm for some 
 years after completing his education, and 
 then became a school teacher, acting as 
 principal of the schools at Nauvoo, Illi- 
 nois, for eight years, and also teaching 
 in different places in the county. He like- 
 wise followed that profession in Kansas, 
 where he resided for several years, but 
 regarding this merely as an initial step 
 to further professional labor, he took up 
 the study of law in Carthage in the office 
 of Manier & Miller. Going to Kanas, he 
 was admitted to the bar in that state and 
 practiced for a few years, also teaching 
 school in Neosho county. Upon his re- 
 turn to Hancock county he went to 
 Nauvoo, where he engaged in teaching 
 until the spring of 1901. when he removed 
 to Carthage and became the deputy cir- 
 cuit clerk, which position he held for a 
 year. He then resigned and again re- 
 sumed school teaching, until he was nom- 
 inated for the office of circuit clerk on 
 the democratic ticket, but was defeated. 
 In December, 1904, he was appointed to 
 his present position as superintendent of 
 the Hancock County Infirmary and poor
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 239 
 
 farm by the board of county supervisors, 
 and has since acted in that capacity with 
 credit to himself and the satisfaction of 
 the public as is shown by his reappoint- 
 ment in September, 1906. He has the 
 supervision of the farm of two hundred 
 and sixty acres. He is recognized as one 
 of the progressive and influential repre- 
 sentatives of democracy in this locality, 
 his interest therein and his fitness for lead- 
 ership making him well known as a factor 
 in local democratic ranks. 
 
 On the 28th of October, 1886, Mr. 
 Weiser was married to Miss Hattie J. 
 Tyler, of Fountain Green, a daughter of 
 John H. and Amanda (Williams) Ty- 
 ler, who came to Illinois from Connecti- 
 cut, where the father was bom. Mr. Ty- 
 ler was a farmer by occupation, and also 
 an engineer and carpenter He acted as 
 engineer on the railroad for some years, 
 and he now resides at Fountain Green. 
 It was there that Mrs. Weiser obtained 
 her education. Four children grace this 
 marriage: Hazel Grace, who was born 
 in Neosho county, Kansas, and was edu- 
 cated in this county and in Carthage Col- 
 lege, is now a teacher in the public schools 
 of Carthage township. Luther C. died at 
 the age of fourteen months. \Yi11iam J. 
 B., born in Nauvoo, and Mary A., born in 
 Nauvoo, are both at home. 
 
 The parents are members of the Luth- 
 eran church at Carthage, and the mem- 
 bers of the household occupy an enviable 
 social position. Mr. Weiser is well qual- 
 ified for the office which he is now filling 
 and in which he is giving uniform satis- 
 faction in the prompt and able manner 
 in which he discharges his duties, and 
 all place confidence in him. 
 
 JOHN RICHARD GALBRAITH. 
 
 John Richard Galbraith, deceased, was 
 a well known and respected agriculturist 
 of Hancock county. His life record be- 
 gan in east Tennessee on the ist of Sep- 
 tember, 1852, and ended in El Pao, Tex- 
 as, July 15, 1905. His father, John R. 
 Galbraith, was the owner of extensive 
 landed interests and slaves in eastern Ten- 
 nessee, but owing to the Civil war he 
 lost nearly all of his property, and in the 
 fall of 1865 came with his family to 
 Illinois, hoping to retrieve his possessions 
 in the north. In March, 1866, he pur- 
 chased a farm one mile east of Ferris, 
 and thereon made his home until his death. 
 His sympathies during the period of hos- 
 tilities were with the south and his polit- 
 ical allegiance was ever given to the de- 
 mocracy. His wife, who bore the maiden 
 name of Esther X. Hagler, was born and 
 reared in eastern Tennessee, and there 
 lived until after her marriage, when she 
 came with her husband and the family 
 to this state. She. too, died on the home 
 farm near Ferris. 
 
 John Richard Galbraith was educated 
 in the common schools of Hancock coun- 
 ty, having accompanied his parents on 
 their removal to the north when thirteen 
 years of age. As a young man he as- 
 sisted in the work of the home farm and 
 later his father purchased the farm of 
 one hundred and sixty acres upon which 
 John Richard resided during the whole 
 of his married life. In the '703, John 
 Richard Galbraith and his brother, Ben- 
 jamin, went to Texas, where they engaged 
 in the cattle business for a few years, 
 when,, on account of the ill health of the
 
 240 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 former, he returned to Illinois, selling 
 his interest in the Lone Star state to his 
 brother, and thus acquiring his brother's 
 interest in the farm in Prairie township, 
 which had been given to them by their 
 father. He continued to reside upon this 
 place until his death and was one of the 
 prosperous agriculturists of the county. 
 As his financial resources increased he 
 made extensive and judicious investments 
 in property and became the owner of an- 
 other valuable farm in Hancock county. 
 At the time of his death he was also 
 one of the stockholders of the State Bank 
 of Hamilton, and held considerable prop- 
 erty at Elvaston. In connection with his 
 brother, David, he owned and operated 
 an electric light and heating plant at Min- 
 eral Wells, Texas. He possessed excel- 
 lent business ability, executive force and 
 keen discrimination, which enabled him 
 to readily recognize and utilize opportuni- 
 ties. He was always straightforward in 
 his dealings, and it was through his wise 
 investment and careful management that 
 he gained the large measure of success 
 which he enjoyed in his later years. 
 
 In December of 1880, Mr. Galbraith 
 was married to Miss Adona Hagler, a 
 daughter of John C. and Elizabeth 
 (Ethell) Hagler. Her father was born 
 in east Tennessee and when a young man 
 came to Illinois, settling in Scott county, 
 where he engaged in merchandising for 
 more than a quarter of a century, becom- 
 ing one of the leading business men of 
 that locality. During his residence there 
 he also held many public offices and po- 
 sitions of trust and was called to repre- 
 sent his district in the state legislature. 
 He became the associate and friend of 
 
 many of the distinguished men of the 
 state and entertained at his home a num- 
 ber of the prominent political leaders of 
 Illinois, including U. S. Grant and Ste- 
 phen A. Douglas. 
 
 Following his marriage, Mr. Galbraith 
 continued to engage in farming in this 
 county until failing health caused him to 
 seek a change of climate in the hope that 
 he might be benefited thereby. He went 
 to El Paso, Texas, but it proved unavail- 
 ing, and he passed away on the I5th of 
 July, 1905, after which his remains were 
 brought back to Illinois for interment in 
 Moss Ridge cemetery. He was a man 
 held in the highest esteem by all who knew 
 him, possessing a sunny, genial disposi- 
 tion which gained him many friends. He 
 voted with the democracy, but was with- 
 out political aspiration, preferring to de- 
 vote his time and attention to his business 
 interests and the society of his friends. 
 He had few, if any, enemies, being on the 
 contrary one who gained the kindly re- 
 gard of all with whom he came in con- 
 tact. He was a Christian man, but was 
 liberal in his religious views, and in his 
 will remembered several churches, and 
 during his lifetime was a willing con- 
 tributor to their support. Throughout an 
 active business career he displayed many 
 sterling traits of character, and wherever 
 he was known his name was honored. 
 To his wife he was a most devoted hus- 
 band, counting no personal effort or sac- 
 rifice on his part too great if it would 
 promote her welfare and happiness, and 
 it is in his own household that his loss 
 is most deeply felt, although it is the oc- 
 casion of wide-spread regret throughout 
 the community.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 241 
 
 DAVID AYERS. 
 
 Among the native sons of Wythe town- 
 ship who are still connected with gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising interests 
 within its borders is numbered David 
 Ayers, whose natal day was May 19, 
 1865. His father was William Ayers, 
 and his grandfather, David Ayers, both 
 of whom were natives of Ireland, the 
 former having been born in Belfast. 
 Having arrived at years of maturity, he 
 married Miss Mary Clark, likewise a na- 
 tive of Belfast, and a daughter of George 
 and Margaret (Arbuckle) Clark, the 
 former a son of David Clark, and the 
 latter a daughter of Archie Arbuckle, both 
 of whom were natives of Ireland and were 
 of Scotch ancestry. George Clark, in the 
 year 1845, became a resident of Brook- 
 lyn, New York, and in 1848 arrived in 
 Warsaw, Illinois. There he carried on 
 business for many years as a stone mason, 
 and died in that town in 1896, at the ad- 
 vanced age of ninety-two years. His 
 wife passed away in 1887, when eighty- 
 nine years of age. 
 
 The marriage of William Ayers and 
 Mary Clark was celebrated on the 3ist 
 of December, 1861. They had come to 
 Hancock county with their respective par- 
 ents when about eight years of age, and 
 were reared upon farms in Wythe town- 
 ship. Subsequent to their marriage they 
 took up their abode on a tract of land on 
 section 31, Wythe township, where they 
 lived for many years, and as his financial 
 resources permitted, Mr. Ayers kept add- 
 ing to his place from time to time and 
 extending his landed possessions until he 
 owned many acres on sections i and 2, 
 
 Rocky Run township. He died in 1889, 
 and is still survived by his wife, who 
 since 1893, nas made her home in 
 Carthage. 
 
 David Ayers, the third in a family of 
 four sons and six daughters, is indebted 
 to the Green Plains district school for the 
 educational privileges he enjoyed. His 
 boyhood and youth was passed in his 
 parents' home, his time being occupied by 
 the duties of the schoolroom, the pleas- 
 ures of the playground and the work 
 of the fields. On attaining his majority, 
 he started out in business on his own ac- 
 count, and for one year cultivated rented 
 land, after which he purchased forty acres 
 on section I , Rocky Run township. There 
 was a log house upon the place and a 
 part of the land was fenced. A portion 
 of the farm, however, was still covered 
 with the native timber. Mr. Ayers be- 
 gan its further development and improve- 
 ment, but after three years he sold that 
 property and bought one hundred and 
 seventy acres of improved prairie land on 
 section 30, Wythe township. He has since 
 resided upon this place, and has converted 
 it into rich and productive fields. His 
 wife owns eighty acres adjoining and 
 their combined tracts of land constitute 
 one of the best farms of the neighbor- 
 hood. Mr. Ayers has built a good house 
 and barn here and set out a good apple 
 orchard of eight acres. He carries on 
 general farming, also raising cattle, horses 
 and hogs, and his business in both 
 branches is proving profitable. 
 
 On the ist of March, 1887, Mr. Ayers 
 was married to Miss Minnie McMahan, 
 who was born in Wythe township, a 
 daughter of Robert and Frances (Walk-
 
 242 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 er) McMahan. Their children are: 
 Fannie, born November 18, 1889; and 
 David H., born May 22, 1893. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ayers are well known and 
 the consensus of public opinion regarding 
 them is altogether favorable. Mr. Ayers 
 belongs to one of the prominent old pio- 
 neer families of the county. Both his 
 father and his grandfather were soldiers 
 of the Mormon war, the latter having 
 taken up his abode in Hancock county in 
 1835. He retained his residence here un- 
 til his death, on the ist of December, 1887, 
 and thus passed away one who had aided 
 in the early development and progress of 
 the county, reclaiming it for the uses of 
 civilization. The work instituted by the 
 grandfather and carried on by the father, 
 is now continued by David Ayers, who is 
 accounted one of the representative agri- 
 culturists of his community. His political 
 support is given the democracy and he 
 has been road commissioner, while in the 
 spring of 1905, he was elected on the 
 democratic ticket to the office of super- 
 visor. Fraternally, he is connected with 
 the blue lodge of Masons, at Warsaw, and 
 with the Modern Woodmen camp at El- 
 derville, Illinois. 
 
 MAJOR x LEONARD A. HAY. 
 
 Warsaw will for many years be a cen- 
 ter of public interest as the home of the 
 Hay family. On the pages of military 
 history appears the name of Major 
 Leonard Augustus Hay, who rendered 
 
 signal service to his country as a volun- 
 teer in the Civil war and as a member of 
 the regular army for many years there- 
 after. He never sought political prefer- 
 ment or honors, but rendered to his na- 
 tion no less signal service by a lofty pa- 
 triotism and unfaltering loyalty to the flag 
 and to every duty incident to military 
 service, whether in the midst of sangui- 
 nary conflict or upon the frontier. 
 
 As stated in the history of his parents, 
 given before, he was the second son of 
 Dr. Charles and Helen (Leonard) Hay, 
 and was born in Salem, Indiana, Decem- 
 ber 3, 1834, spending the first six years 
 of his life in that town. He was in his 
 seventh year, when in 1841, the family 
 came to Warsaw, and in the public schools 
 of the city, he pursued his education. In 
 early manhood he was identified with 
 various business interests and was con- 
 ducting an enterprise on his own account 
 during the early period of the Civil war, 
 but on the 2d of July, 1864, feeling that 
 he could no longer content himself to re- 
 main at home while the country's safety 
 was endangered, he joined the Union 
 army as a private and was assigned to 
 duty with Company D, Third Bat- 
 talion of the Fifteenth Infantry. On 
 the 2d of July, 1864, he was ap- 
 pointed as second lieutenant in the 
 regular army and was assigned to the 
 Ninth Infantry, with which he remained 
 throughout the period of his service. On 
 the 2gth of September. 1864. he was com- 
 missioned a first lieutenant and on the 
 nth of March, 1878, he was made a 
 captain in the Ninth Regiment of Infan- 
 try. He was engaged in active duty on 
 the frontier, covering all the territory
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 243 
 
 from the Dakotas to Arizona and from 
 the Missouri river to the Pacific coast. 
 During that period there were many In- 
 dian uprisings that called the troops forth 
 to active battle. He was very popular 
 with his fellow officers and with the men 
 who served under him a fact which is 
 indicated by the records, which show that 
 there were fewer deserters from his com- 
 pany than from any other in the army. 
 He continued in command of his com- 
 pany in active service until the I5th of 
 June, 1891. when he retired for disability 
 incurred in the line of his duty. Cam- 
 paigning against the Indians upon the 
 frontier in inclement weather had im- 
 paired his health, and he retired to War- 
 saw to spend his remaining days in the 
 city in which his boyhood and youth 
 were passed. Here, in accord with an act 
 of congress conferring additional rank 
 on officers who had served in the Civil 
 war, he was made a major retired. 
 
 Major Hay was married in New York, 
 December 5, 1869. to Miss Blanche 
 d'Ormond. whose death occurred about 
 two decades ago. He left no children 
 and yet he had an especial fondness for 
 children and young people and was greatly 
 beloved by them. Of the many memen- 
 tos gathered in his lifetime none were 
 cherished more dearly than numerous 
 keepsakes of these young friends. 
 
 Major Hay was a man of superior in- 
 tellectual force, whose leisure was largely 
 devoted to reading and study and his 
 scholarly attainments and broad culture 
 made him a charming conversationalist 
 and entertaining companion. He held 
 friendship inviolable and nothing could 
 swerve him in his loyalty to a friend, 
 
 whose claims upon his time and attention 
 were at all times recognized. He was 
 always interested in the general welfare 
 of his city and served as a member of the 
 library board in 1892, but he preferred 
 that his public service should be done as 
 a private citizen rather than as an office- 
 holder. In recent years, however, the se- 
 lection of books for the public library was 
 left almost wholly to him. He was of 
 the highest type of manhood, noble and 
 chivalrous, recognizing genuine worth in 
 others and showing appreciation for all 
 admirable qualities in his friends and those 
 with whom he acme in contact in any re- 
 lation in life. In manner he was free from 
 ostentation or display. A kindly spirit 
 and generous sympathy was manifest in 
 all that he said or did and he had the un- 
 failing courtesy of a gentleman of the old 
 school. Emerson has said, "The way to 
 win a friend is to be one," and this state- 
 ment found verification in the life of 
 Major Hay. 
 
 HENRY ROBLEY DICKINSON. 
 
 No history of Hancock county would 
 be complete without mention of Henry 
 Robley Dickinson, deceased, who was one 
 of the founders of Hamilton, who estab- 
 lished a lumber business in the town in 
 1855, and for many years was one of the 
 most active and enterprising citizens of 
 the county, carrying forward to success- 
 ful completion whatever he undertook, 
 while his labors were also of a character
 
 244 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'lE}}' 
 
 that contributed not only to his own suc- 
 cess but 'also to public progress and im- 
 provement. He was born December 10, 
 1818, in Keene, New Hampshire, in which 
 state his parents, who were farming peo- 
 ple, spent their entire lives. His educa- 
 tion was acquired in the old-time subscrip- 
 tion schools of ,the Granite state and at 
 the age of twelve years he ran away from 
 home and spent six months on a sailing 
 vessel. Feeling that he had enough of the 
 sea, at the end of that time he made his 
 way to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was 
 employed at carpenter work for some 
 time. He afterward removed to Greene 
 county, Illinois, where he followed that 
 trade, and also became the owner of land- 
 ed interests. A few years later, in 1849, 
 he removed to Hancock county and took 
 up his abode in a log cabin near Iron 
 Spout Spring. There he lived for several 
 years in true pioneer style amid frontier 
 surroundings and environments. He was 
 ' one of the original promoters of the ferry 
 across the Mississippi river, belonging to 
 a company which secured its charter to 
 operate the ferry in 1850. With the work 
 of development and improvement in his 
 community and county he was closely 
 identified from that time until his death. 
 He had several landings for his ferry boat 
 as it crossed to Keokuk, Iowa, and the 
 business proved a profitable one to the lo- 
 cality in early days before many bridges 
 spanned the "father of waters" and made 
 travel by rail or private conveyance an 
 easy matter. In connection with Bryan 
 Bartlett and others, Mr. Dickinson laid 
 out the town of Hamilton and the enter- 
 prising village stands today as a monu- 
 ment to his energy and forethought. In 
 
 connection with Mr. Bartlett, who was his 
 brother-in-law, he owned nearly all of the 
 land upon which Hamilton has been built, 
 and he also became the owner of several 
 farms in the county, purchasing property 
 from time to time and thus placing his 
 money in the safest of all investments 
 real estate. In 1855 he embarked in the 
 lumber business at Hamilton and contin- 
 ued in the trade until his death, securing 
 a good patronage as the years passed by 
 and making extensive annual sales which 
 brought to him a very gratifying income. 
 His other business interests also proved 
 profitable and as the years passed away 
 he became one of the substantial citizens 
 of the county. 
 
 One of the early indications of his 
 prosperity was that in 1856 he replaced 
 his pioneer log house by a frame residence 
 of two stories, which he erected in the 
 western part of Hamilton on the bluff 
 overlooking the Mississippi river and 
 commanding a fine view of the attractive 
 scenery afforded by the broad expanse of 
 the river and the city of Keokuk beyond. 
 About two years later, in 1858, Mr. Dick- 
 inson built another large house, contain- 
 ing ten rooms beside basement and clos- 
 ets. Into this home he removed and made 
 it his place of residence throughout his 
 remaining days with the exception of a 
 brief period of three years during the Civil 
 war, when he conducted a hotel in another 
 building. On the expiration of that 
 period, however, he sold out and returned 
 to his former home and there he lived 
 in comfort for many years, his business 
 interests bringing to him all of the ne- 
 cessities and many of the luxuries of life. 
 
 Mr. Dickinson was first married in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 245 
 
 Greene county, Illinois, to Miss Wright, 
 and they had one child, Oscar, who was 
 killed while serving in defense of the 
 Union in the Civil war. The wife .and 
 mother, however, died a short time after 
 her marriage. On the 6th of April, 1843, 
 also in Greene county, Illinois, Mr. Dick- 
 inson was married to Minerva Bartlett, 
 who died soon after the birth of their 
 only child, George R. Dickinson, who for 
 a number of years resided on a farm near 
 Belfast, Iowa, where his death occurred. 
 On the 1 5th of October, 1848, Mr. Dickin- 
 son was joined in wedlock to Miss Agnes 
 Decker, a native of Greene county, Illi- 
 nois, who died in Texas, April 25, 1857. 
 There were three children of that mar- 
 riage : Joan, the wife of Henry Marck- 
 ley, of Wythe township, Hancock county ; 
 Charles O., who is living in Hamilton; 
 and Frank, who makes his home in Selina 
 county, Kansas. The fourth marriage of 
 Mr. Dickinson was celebrated on Christ- 
 mas day of 1858, when Miss Emeretta 
 Jane Hawley became his wife. She was 
 born in Onondaga county, New York, 
 February 6, 1826, and came to Ohio in 
 1836. A year later she removed to Lee 
 county, Iowa, where she lived for twenty 
 years, her home being on the bluff back 
 of Montrose, just opposite Nauvoo, com- 
 manding a scene of rare beauty, this be- 
 ing one of the most attractive districts 
 of the great Mississippi valley, and seri- 
 ous discussion has been held in political 
 circles in Washington concerning the re- 
 moval of the capital to this site. While 
 living there Mrs. Dickinson witnessed the 
 burning of the Mormon temple. She was 
 there residing at the time that Joseph and 
 Hiram Smith, the prophets and leaders 
 
 of the Mormon faith, were killed and 
 while they lay in state at Nauvoo. Mrs. 
 Dickinson is a daughter of Adna and 
 Clarissa (Smeed) Hawley, natives of 
 Vermont, in which state they were reared 
 and married. Subsequently they removed 
 to a farm in Onondaga county, New 
 York, where they resided until coming to 
 the west. By the last marriage of Mr. 
 Dickinson there were born two children. 
 The daughter, Emma, born October 20, 
 1850, was married on the 3d of May, 
 1892, to Charles Bartlett, of Hamilton, 
 and died January 30, 1896, leaving a son, 
 Lawrence D. Bartlett, who was born May 
 16, 1893, ar >d is now with his father in 
 Cedar Rapids, Iowa. John Dickinson, 
 born January 19, 1861, was drowned in 
 the Mississippi river at Hamilton, March 
 22, 1885. 
 
 Mr. Dickinson gave his political alle- 
 giance to the Republican party from the 
 time of its organization and was one of 
 its ardent and earnest supporters. His 
 fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth 
 and ability, frequently called him to pub- 
 lic office and he served as alderman, as 
 assessor and mayor of Hamilton. He was 
 also prominent in Masonry, taking the 
 degrees of the lodge, chapter and com- 
 mandery. The death of Mr. Dickinson 
 occurred October 7, 1897. He had for 
 forty-eight years been a resident of Han- 
 cock county, and was known to all the pio- 
 neer settlers in this part of the state. He 
 came here when the county was but 
 sparsely settled and when the work of 
 development and improvement lay largely 
 in the future. His name is closely asso- 
 ciated with many of the business interests 
 and public movements that have resulted
 
 246 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 beneficially to the county and at the same 
 time in his private business interests lie 
 won a gratifying measure of success. He 
 started out in life empty handed as a sailor 
 boy, but he possessed strong determina- 
 tion, unfaltering courage and resolute pur- 
 pose and upon those qualities as a foun- 
 dation builded his success. He was not 
 only an active and enterprising business 
 man, but also a thoroughly reliable one 
 and his fellow townsmen entertained for 
 him both admiration and respect. Mrs. 
 Dickinson still survives her husband, but 
 has been gradually losing her eyesight, 
 owing to a cataract, since 1896. She 
 has long been a resident of this part of 
 the country, her home being just across 
 the river in Iowa during the period of her 
 girlhood and early womanhood, while 
 since Christmas day of 1858 the date of 
 her marriage she has lived continuously 
 in Hancock county and is held in the high- 
 est esteem by many warm friends. 
 
 LEONARD THOMPSON FERRIS, 
 M D. 
 
 Dr. Leonard Thompson Ferris, de- 
 ceased, was for fifty-five years actively en- 
 gaged in the practice of medicine at Foun- 
 tain Green and his life was of utmost ben- 
 efit to his fellowmen by reason of his pro- 
 fessional skill, his kindly spirit and his 
 broad, humanitarian principles. Although 
 several years have come and gone since he 
 passed away, his memory is revered by all 
 who knew him and he left behind him an 
 
 example of professional . integrity, loyal 
 citizenship and honor in private life that 
 is indeed worthy of emulation. He came 
 to Hancock county with his parents, 
 Stephen G. and Eunice (Beebe) Ferris, 
 in December, 1832, journeying westward 
 from New York to Illinois by way of the 
 Ohio and Mississippi rivers. His parents 
 had to clear the land for a space upon 
 which to erect a log cabin and there they 
 lived in true pioneer style for many years. 
 As the years came and went they pros- 
 pered in their undertakings. They made 
 needed improvements and in course of 
 time had one of the best developed farm 
 properties in this part of the county. The 
 father was born in Norwich, Chenango 
 county, New 7 York, and the mother in 
 New London county', Connecticut. He 
 was a tanner by trade, but after coming 
 to the west followed farming, making his 
 home in Fountain Green township. He 
 died in 1876, while his wife passed away 
 in 1860, and they were both laid to rest 
 in Fountain Green cemetery. They were 
 strong and devoted members of the Bap- 
 tist church and instilled into the minds of 
 their children lessons of integrity and up- 
 rightness which bore good fruit in later 
 years. In their family were six children, 
 all of whom are now deceased. 
 
 Dr. Ferris of this review was born in 
 Steuben county. New York, in 1817, and 
 was therefore a youth of about fifteen 
 years when he came with his parents to 
 Illinois. He completed his education in 
 the schools of Fountain Green and deter- 
 mining to devote his life to the practice 
 of medicine, he attended medical lectures 
 for one winter in Jacksonville, Illinois, 
 and afterward was graduated from the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 247 
 
 St. Louis Medical College in 1848. He, 
 however, entered upon the active practice 
 of medicine in 1845, opening an office 
 in Fountain Green, where he built an of- 
 fice in 1847. He practiced there for over 
 fifty-five years, or until his death. He was 
 a successful general practitioner, making 
 progress in harmony with the advance- 
 ment that has ever characterized the med- 
 ical fraternity. He attended rich and 
 poor, high and low, never refusing to 
 respond to a call even though he knew 
 there was little hope of pecuniary remun- 
 eration. He had a most warm, charitable 
 heart, and a tale of sorrow or distress 
 awakened his ready sympathy. Through- 
 out his entire life he occupied the old Fer- 
 ris homesead in Fountain Green but 
 greatly improved the property. 
 
 On the 23d of May, 1850, Dr. Ferris 
 was married to Miss Helen M. Gilchrist, 
 who was born in Saxton River village, 
 in Rockingham county,' Vermont, October 
 23, 1831. She is a descendant in the sev- 
 enth generation of Edward A. Winslow, 
 who came over in the Mayflower. Her 
 grandfather, Samuel Gilchrist, was bom 
 in Lunenbury, Massachusetts, was a 
 farmer by occupation and lived in the old 
 Bay state until he attained his majority. 
 He married Miss Elizabeth Allen, who 
 was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, and 
 they had three sons, John, Allen and 
 Charles, all now deceased. The grand- 
 father resided at Walpole, New Hamp- 
 shire. Her father, Charles G. Gilchrist, 
 was born at Walpole, New Hampshire, in 
 1802, and there owned a farm. In Sep- 
 tember, 1837, he removed with his family 
 from Vermont to McDonough county, 
 Illinois, being over three months on the 
 16 
 
 road. They started on the nth of June, 
 reaching their destination on the I3th of 
 September. They settled on a farm in 
 McDonough county, and there Mr. Gil- 
 christ carried on agricultural pursuits as 
 long as his health would permit. He, like 
 Dr. Ferris's father, had to clear land in 
 order to have a space big enough on which 
 to build a house. He and his family lived 
 in a log cabin for many years and went 
 through the usual experiences and hard- 
 ships of pioneer life. They saw many 
 Indians and there were large herds of 
 wild deer. The county was sparsely set- 
 tled and with the development and prog- 
 ress of that section of the state Charles 
 G. Gilchrist was closely identified Charles 
 G. Gilchrist cast his first presidential vote 
 for Andrew Jackson and upon the organ- 
 ization of the Republican party joined its 
 ranks, continuing to give it his support 
 until his death, which occurred in 1880, 
 when he was eighty years of age. His 
 grave is made at Hillsgrove, McDonough 
 county, Illinois. His wife, who bore the 
 maiden name of Minerva Holton, was 
 born in Westminster, Windham county, 
 Vermont, in October, 1805, spent her 
 girlhood days in her native place and 
 afterward taught school. Benjamin Par- 
 sons, her grandfather, was a private in 
 the Revolutionary war for a number of 
 years. Mrs. Gilchrist died May 30, 1875, 
 and was buried by the side of her hus- 
 band in Hillsgrove cemetery. She was 
 a member of a Baptist church. In their 
 family were five children, of whom Mrs. 
 Ferris is the eldest. Charles A. died in 
 New York city, January 22, 1906. David 
 Van Brugh lives at the old homestead at 
 Hillsgrove, Illinois. Erastus H. is de-
 
 248 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ceased. Edward M. is a resident of Cen- 
 terville, Iowa. Of this family Charles A. 
 Gilchrist enlisted for service in the Tenth 
 Missouri Infantry in the Civil war, join- 
 ing the army as a captain. He served for 
 five years and was mustered out with the 
 rank of brigadier general, being then in 
 command of the Fiftieth Regiment of 
 Missouri Colored Troops. Edward M. 
 was also a soldier in the Civil war. 
 
 After the parents removed to Illinois, 
 Mrs. Ferris and her brothers, Charles A. 
 and VanBrugh Gilchrist, were sent back 
 to New York to be educated, and attended 
 the private school conducted by Miss Hoi- 
 ton, for four years. She was an aunt of 
 Mrs. Ferris and her school was then lo- 
 cated at No. 1 1 Amity street in New York 
 city. When Mrs. Ferris returned home 
 she brought with her a piano, which was 
 the first one in McDonough county, and 
 it is still in her possession. It is a square 
 piano, having six beautiful carved legs 
 and is much narrower than the square 
 pianos were ordinarily made. It was 
 manufactured by J. Thurston some time 
 between the years 1812 and 1817. This 
 piano was shipped from New York to 
 New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi 
 river to Warsaw, and from there hauled 
 to McDonough county. Mrs. Ferris's 
 children, grandchildren and friends still 
 love to hear her play the old-time melodies 
 with which she became familiar in her 
 
 \ 
 
 girlhood days. 
 
 Unto Dr. and Mrs. Ferris were born 
 ten children, all born in the old home in 
 Fountain Green township. Fidelia, the 
 eldest, died in childhood. Dr. Charles L. 
 Ferris, of Carthage, the second in order 
 of birth, is a graduate of the Rush Med- 
 
 ical College. He married Ella Connor, of 
 Warsaw, this county, and they have two 
 children, Helen I., a graduate of Carthage 
 College and now principal of the high 
 school in Mt. Carroll, Illinois ; and Ruth 
 A. Lelia, the third member of the family, 
 is the wife of Edward Lionberger, of 
 Fountain Green township, and they have 
 four children, Fay, Gay, John and Edith. 
 Delia died in childhood. Alice Lovina is 
 the wife of Charles R. Martin, of Car- 
 thage township, and has two sons, Leon- 
 ard Ferris and Edward Stephen Martin. 
 John Milton died in childhood. Ulysses 
 Stephen lived in Carthage township, wed- 
 ded Miss Mary White and has one son, 
 Wilber White Ferris. Ralph William 
 married Carrie Banks, lives on a farm in 
 Fountain Green township and has one 
 child, Frances. Mary H. Ferris is at 
 home with her mother. Hiram Gano is 
 traveling for Irwin Neisler, a druggist, of 
 Decatur, Illinois. The death of Dr. Fer- 
 ris occurred on the igth of July, 1900, 
 when he was eighty-three years of age. 
 In politics he was a republican, inflexible 
 in support of the party from the time of 
 its organization, but his father, his brother 
 and his brothers-in-law were all democrats. 
 He served as town clerk, as collector and 
 
 SEAV puE S.IE3X XUEUI JQJ aopajtp jooqos SE 
 instrumental in building the brick school- 
 house at Fountain Green, superintending 
 the construction of the same. Fraternally 
 he was a Mason, joining the lodge in Ma- 
 comb, McDonough county, in 1849. He 
 became a- charter member of Carthage 
 lodge, in which he passed all of the chairs. 
 His remains were interred in Fountain 
 Green township by the side of his parents 
 and all of the Ferris relatives. There was
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 249 
 
 allotted to him a long life, which was char- 
 acterized by usefulness and honor and his 
 name was to many a synonym of all that 
 is straightforward and upright in life. He 
 and his wife not only celebrated their 
 twenty-fifth wedding anniversary but also 
 their fiftieth wedding anniversary, on 
 which occasion their children and grand- 
 children were present. They traveled 
 life's journey, happily together for many 
 long years and theirs was largely an ideal 
 married relation. After Dr. Ferris passed 
 away Mrs. Ferris lived in the old home- 
 stead, which was in the same yard as the 
 Doctor's office in Fountain Green. There 
 she remained until 1902, when she re- 
 moved to Carthage, purchasing a home on 
 Madison street, which she has since great- 
 ly improved. She and her daughters, 
 Mary H. and Mrs. Martin, are all devoted 
 members of the Presbyterian church and 
 likewise belong to the Daughters of the 
 American Revolution, in which order 
 Mary Helen has been the efficient record- 
 ing secretary for the past three years. 
 Mrs. Ferris is a lady whom it is a rare 
 pleasure to meet, for she possesses a true, 
 warm heart for all mankind and strong, 
 native intelligence and a retentive mem- 
 ory combined with innate culture and re- 
 finement. She also possesses a marked 
 wit and jovial disposition and her kindly 
 humor serves to draw to her all with 
 whom she is brought in contact. She is 
 yet actively interested in matters of pub- 
 lic moment and she deserves prominent 
 mention in this volume among the resi- 
 dents who have lived in this part of Illi- 
 nois from pioneer times. She celebrated 
 her seventy-fifth birthday October 23, 
 1906. when fourteen ladies from sixty- 
 
 five to seventy-five years of age were 
 present. 
 
 MARTIN A. HENRY. 
 
 Martin A. Henry, numbered among the 
 veterans of the Civil War, who is now 
 living a retired life in Augusta, for many 
 years was actively identified with agri- 
 cultural interests. He is a native of 
 Brown county, Illinois, born on the loth 
 day of February, 1844, and there he re- 
 sided until about twenty years ago, when 
 he came to Augusta. He acquired his 
 education in the common schools of his 
 native county, where he was reared to 
 manhood, and assisted in the operation 
 of his father's farm. He is a son of Rob- 
 ert L. and Mary A. (Langdon) Henry. 
 The former was born in the state of New' 
 York, and the latter in Kentucky. Mr. 
 Henry arrived in Illinois in 1820, and his 
 wife came a few years later. They were 
 married in Brown county, this state, 
 which was then a part of Schuyler county, 
 and throughout his entire life Mr. Henry 
 carried on general agricultural pursuits 
 and also worked at the cooper's trade. 
 Following the death of his wife he lived 
 with his children and spent his last days 
 in Fulton county, Illinois, where he 
 passed away at the age of eighty years. 
 He held membership in the Presbyterian 
 church, while his wife was a devoted 
 member of the Baptist church. Both 
 were laid to rest in Brown county. Illi- 
 nois. In their family were ten children, 
 but only two are now living, the younger
 
 250 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 brother being Hiram Henry, of Fulton 
 county, Illinois.- 
 
 As before stated, Martin A. Henry was 
 reared in the usual manner of farm lads, 
 early becoming familiar with all the work 
 incident to the development and cultiva- 
 tion of the fields. When twenty-three 
 years of age he started out in life on his 
 own account and was engaged in farming 
 for'some years. He continued actively in 
 that occupation until 1885, when he sold 
 his farm and removed to Augusta. He 
 had been enterprising and progressive in 
 his methods, tilling the soil and cultivat- 
 ing his crops, and gained thereby a com- 
 fortable competence, finding a ready sale 
 on the market for all of his farm prod- 
 ucts. His labors as an agriculturist were 
 uninterrupted save when on the gth of 
 August, 1862, he responded to the coun- 
 try's call for troops, enlisting as a mem- 
 ber of Company D, One Hundred and 
 Nineteenth Illinois Infantry. He contin- 
 ued at the front until the close of the war 
 and took part in many of the principal en- 
 gagements of the Western Army, be- 
 ing frequently under fire. He was mus- 
 tered out at Mobile, Alabama, on the iSth 
 of August, 1865, and received an hon- 
 orable discharge at Springfield. He held 
 the rank of corporal and at the time he 
 was mustered out was a sergeant. He 
 now maintains pleasant relations with his 
 old army comrades through his member- 
 ship in Union post, No. 302, G. A. R.. 
 at Augusta, of which he has been com- 
 mander for five terms and is now acting 
 as quartermaster of the post. 
 
 Mr. Henry was first married on the ist 
 of December, 1866, to Miss Mary C. Cox, 
 who was bom in Brown county, Illinois, 
 
 a daughter of James Cox, one of the early 
 settlers of that locality. Mr. Cox was a 
 native of Kentucky and reared his fam- 
 ily in Brown county, where Mrs. Henry 
 acquired her education. She died there 
 on the 8th of August, 1870, at the age 
 of twenty-seven years, leaving two chil- 
 dren, Mertie M. and Joseph E. The 
 daughter is the wife of Albert H. Kin- 
 ney, of Lavonia, New York, where he is 
 engaged in merchandising. Joseph E. 
 Henry resides in St. Louis, Missouri, 
 where he is head shipping clerk for the 
 Medart Patent Pulley Company. He was 
 born in Brown county, as was his sister, 
 and he married Ellen Walsh, by whom he 
 has two children, Herbert R. and Isabelle. 
 For his second wife Mr. Henry chose 
 Eliza J. Burgesser, a daughter of George 
 W. and Margaret (Thomas) Burgesser, 
 both natives of Pennsylvania. In 1844 
 her parents came to the west, locating in 
 Brown county, Illinois, where her father 
 followed farming, and there they resided 
 until called to their final rest. Mrs. 
 Henry was born in Adams county, Ohio, 
 but was reared and educated in Brown 
 county, Illinois, being only four years of 
 age at the time of her parents' removal 
 to this state. She was first married to 
 Charles Todd, of Springfield. Illinois, 
 who died leaving a son, Ala, who died 
 when twenty-five years of age. By the 
 present marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Henry 
 there are three children: Robert E.. re- 
 siding at home, is the principal of the 
 schools at West Point, Illinois. Leltie 
 is a teacher at Warsaw, this state. How- 
 ard M. died when eight years of age. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Henry are consist- 
 ent members of the Methodist church
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 251 
 
 and he gives his political support to the 
 Republican party. He served as a mem- 
 ber of the town board for two years and 
 has been street commissioner of Augusta 
 for the past thirteen" years. He is hold- 
 ing that position at the present time, and 
 is a capable official, manifesting the same 
 loyalty whether in public office or out 
 of it that he displayed when he followed 
 the old flag upon southern battlefields 
 and defended the Union cause. His busi- 
 ness activity in former years was crowned 
 with a measure of success that now en- 
 ables him to live retired and he is spend- 
 ing his days pleasantly in Augusta amid 
 many friends, who entertain ' for him 
 warm regard. 
 
 W. H. AND J. A. PLUMB. 
 
 W. H. and J. A. Plumb, the president 
 and secretary respectively of Plumb 
 Brothers Brick & Tile Company, with 
 offices at Carthage, are prominent repre- 
 sentatives of industrial activity in this 
 county. The factory is located in Pilot 
 Grove township, between Burnside and 
 Carthage and is devoted to the manufac- 
 ture of brick and tile. The business has 
 been conducted by the present company 
 for about four years and the plant has 
 three kilns which turn out about fifty 
 thousand brick or twenty thousand tile 
 of high grade every week. The com- 
 pany is incorporated and since its estab- 
 lishment has borne an unassailable repu- 
 tation in business circles' by reason of the 
 
 honorable methods instituted and also 
 by reason of the excellence of its product. 
 
 William H. Plumb, one of the active 
 members of the corporation and the pres- 
 ident of the company, was bom in Ful- 
 ton county, Illinois, July 17, 1862. His 
 parents are Thomas J. and Elizabeth 
 (Anderson) Plumb. The father, a native 
 of London, England, came alone to the 
 United States when fourteen years of age 
 and with brave spirit and resolute pur- 
 pose sought to earn a living in the new 
 world, thinking that he might enjoy bet- 
 ter business opportunities on this side of 
 the Atlantic. One of his first positions 
 was assistant to the cook on a Missis- 
 sippi river steamboat, and he gradually 
 made advancement in the business world 
 until he became connected with the coal 
 mining interests of Illinois, continuing in 
 that field of activity until his death, which 
 occurred at Bemadotte. Fulton county, 
 this state, when he had reached the age 
 of fifty-one years. His widow still sur- 
 vives and resides in Basco, Hancock 
 county, at about the age of seventy years, 
 being now the wife of William Hen- 
 dricks, a retired farmer. 
 
 William H. Plumb pursued his edu- 
 cation in the public schools of Fulton 
 county and became a resident of Hancock 
 county in 1881. For two or three years 
 thereafter he was located in Basco and 
 then removed to Carthage, where, in con- 
 nection with his brother, he engaged in 
 the manufacture of brick and tile for 
 about twelve years, so that he had broad 
 practical experience when they organized 
 the present company and removed to Pi- 
 lot Grove township, where they reside. 
 
 William H. Plumb was married in
 
 252 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ'IEll' 
 
 1897 to Mrs. Laura E. Taylor, who was 
 born in Bear Creek township and was ed- 
 ucated there, she bearing the maiden 
 name of Laura E. Fisher, and was a 
 daughter of Greenberry Fisher, one of 
 the early settlers of the county. She was 
 the widow of Joseph Taylor, by whom 
 she had two children, Alta and Gertie, the 
 latter now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Plumb has been born one child, Norvin. 
 Mr. Plumb is a democrat in his political 
 views and he belongs to the Hancock 
 County Mutuals a fraternal insurance 
 order. 
 
 John A. Plumb, who is associated with 
 his brother in the manufacture of brick 
 and tile as secretary of the company, was 
 born in Fulton county, Illinois, November 
 8, 1864, and was educated in the common 
 schools. Since attaining his majority he 
 has been associated with his brother Wil- 
 liam in the line of business in which they 
 are still engaged. They have a well 
 equipped plant, supplied with all modern 
 machinery, and the output is of such a 
 quality as to command a ready sale on the 
 market and bring the highest prices. The 
 office of the company is located in Car- 
 thage but the factory is situated in Pilot 
 Grove township. George W. Jones is 
 treasurer of the company but the Plumb 
 Brothers hold the greater amount of 
 stock, and the enterprise has gained a 
 place among the leading manufacturing 
 interests of the county. 
 
 John A. Plumb was married to Miss 
 Katie Morris, a daughter of O. P. Mor- 
 ris, of Dallas City, Illinois, and the two 
 families are prominent socially, while in- 
 business circles the brothers have gained 
 a most commendable place. They have 
 
 the enterprise and determination which 
 enable them to overcome difficulties and 
 to solve intricate business problems and 
 their history illustrates the possibilities 
 that are open in this country to earnest, 
 persistent young men who have the cour- 
 age of their convictions and are deter- 
 mined to be the architects of their own 
 fortunes. 
 
 JOHN H. CRABILL. 
 
 John H. Crabill, a prosperous and pro- 
 gressive farmer of Fountain Green town- 
 ship, claims Ohio as the place of his na- 
 tivity, his birth having occurred in Cham- 
 paign county, September 12, 1837, and 
 in the paternal line he comes' cf German 
 ancestry, his paternal great-grandfather, 
 Jacob Crabill, having been born in the 
 fatherland, while his paternal grandpar- 
 ents, John H. and Mary (Rhodes) Cra- 
 bill, were natives of Virginia, and his 
 maternal grandparents, John and Eliza- 
 beth (Pence) Steimberger, were natives 
 of Maryland and Virginia respectively. 
 His parents, Benjamin S. and Angeline 
 (Steimberger) Crabill, were natives of 
 Culpepper county, Virginia, and Cham- 
 paign county, Ohio, the former bom in 
 1816, while the latter was born in 1814. 
 They were married in the Buckeye state, 
 where the father engaged in farming pur- 
 suits until 1849, when he made an over- 
 land journey to this township, the trip 
 covering a period of twenty-two days. 
 Here he purchased one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land located on section 5, and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 253 
 
 owned by William Dunn, one-half of the 
 tract being covered with timber, while an 
 old frame house was the only building 
 that stood on the place. He at once set 
 to work to further clear and develop the 
 land and made many improvements in the 
 way of fences and buildings. In 1858 he 
 erected a large brick' residence, and he 
 burned the brick on his place which was 
 used in the construction of the house. 
 From time to time he also increased the 
 boundaries of his farm by adding at dif- 
 ferent times two eighty-acre tracts, so 
 that in all he owned three hundred and 
 twenty acres all in one body, this being 
 placed under a very high state of culti- 
 vation, so that he annually gathered 
 abundant harvests. He was a very prom- 
 inent and influential man in his part of 
 the country, and his integrity and honesty 
 were never called into question, for he 
 was noted for his reliability and trust- 
 worthiness. His death occurred in 1896. 
 while his wife had passed away several 
 years previous to that time, her death oc- 
 curring in January, 1880. 
 
 John H. Crabill is the eldest of five 
 sons and two daughters, of whom one 
 son and both daughters have passed 
 away. He was reared in Ohio to the 
 age of twelve years, where he attended 
 the Runkel district school, and then ac- 
 companied his parents on their removal 
 to this state, where he continued his 
 studies in the Rossville district school in 
 this township, near his father's home. He 
 remained under the paternal roof until 
 twenty-four years of age, assisting his fa- 
 ther in clearing and developing new land, 
 so that he early became familiar with all 
 the duties and labors of the farm, and 
 
 shared with the family in the hardships 
 and privations, as well as the pleasures of 
 a frontier existence. 
 
 Choosing as a companion and helpmate 
 for life's journey, he mas married, Octo- 
 ber 10, 1 86 1, to Miss Prudence Tipton, 
 likewise a native of the Buckeye state, 
 her birth having occurred in Muskingum 
 county, December 10, 1842, a daughter 
 of John and Elizabeth (Dunlap) Tipton, 
 natives of Maryland and Ohio respective- 
 ly. Her mother died in 1845. when the 
 daughter was a little maiden of three 
 years, and the father was afterward mar- 
 ried again, his second union being with 
 Margaret Lloyd, a native of Ohio, where 
 they were married, and in 1856 the fa- 
 ther removed with his family to Illinois, 
 their home being established in McDon- 
 ough county, where the father passed 
 away about 1888, while his widow sur- 
 vived until 1889. when she, too, passed 
 away. 
 
 Following this marriage Mr. Crabill . 
 located on a farm on section 34, La Harpe 
 township, which he operated for one year, 
 when he removed to Sheridan county, 
 Missouri, remaining there one year, after 
 which he returned to Illinois and operated 
 leased land in McDonough and Hancock 
 counties for eleven years, when, in 1872, 
 he returned to the old homestead farm 
 and continued his farming operations 
 there until the time of his father's death, 
 when he purchased the interest of the 
 other heirs in the estate, and has here 
 continued his residence to the present 
 time. He has continued the work of de- 
 velopment and improvement which was 
 begun by his father and now has an up- 
 tordate and well improved farm property.
 
 254 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW' 
 
 From time to time he has added to his 
 landed possessions and now owns two 
 hundred and six acres all in one body, 
 lying on section 5, Fountain Green town- 
 ship, and at one .time he owned eighty 
 acres on section 4, but has since disposed 
 of this to his son Frank. In addition to 
 carrying on general farming pursuits, 
 Mr. Crabill is also engaged quite exten- 
 sively in raising stock, including Norman 
 horses. Short Horn cattle and Poland- 
 China hogs, and this branch of his busi- 
 ness is proving a profitable source of rev- 
 enue to him. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born five sons and five daughters, 
 namely : Ida, now the wife of J. W. 
 Ketchum, of Durham township; Ella, at 
 home : Benjamin, of Fountain Green 
 township; Emma, the widow of William 
 Burrow, who likewise resides in this 
 township ; Frank, who owns and operates 
 a farm in this township; Marv. the wife 
 of Edward Rich, of this township; Janie 
 and Fred, at home; Mahlon, who lives in 
 this township ; and Ray, at home. 
 
 Politically a democrat, Mr. Crabill has 
 taken a deep and helpful interest in the 
 work of the party, having served three 
 terms as assessor, while for twelve years 
 he acted as school director. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic order, belonging to 
 the lodge at La Harpe, and is popular 
 among the brethren of the craft. Having 
 resided in Illinois since the age of twelve 
 years, which covers a period of more than 
 a half century, the greater portion of 
 which has been spent in Hancock county, 
 he has here a very wide and favorable ac- 
 quaintance, for the name of Crabill has 
 long been associated with the develop- 
 
 ment and improvement of this portion of 
 the state. He is ever reliable in all trade 
 transactions and has won the confidence 
 and good will of all with whom he has 
 come in contact and is accounted one 
 of the representative agriculturists of this 
 county. 
 
 ROBERT C. GIBSON. 
 
 Robert C. Gibson is the owner of one 
 of one of the model farm properties of 
 Hancock county, situated in Pilot Grove 
 township, and is also engaged in general 
 merchandising and in the hardware busi- 
 ness at Burnside under the firm name of 
 R. C. Gibson & Company. He is like- 
 wise one of the extensive landowners of 
 the county and is a factor in its finan- 
 cial circles. The extent and importance 
 of his interests make him one of the fore- 
 most representatives of business interests 
 in this part of the state, and while promot- 
 ing individual success he has at the same 
 time contributed to general progress and 
 prosperity, which are ever dependent 
 upon the activity and enterprise of the 
 leading business men of the community. 
 
 Mr. Gibson was born on section 27, 
 Pilot Grove township, Hancock county. 
 August n, 1850. and in the common 
 schools of the township acquired his edu- 
 cation, while spending his boyhood days 
 in the home of his parents. James and An- 
 geline (Bennett) Gibson. The father, a 
 native of Ireland, came to this country 
 with his father, the mother having died 
 on the Emerald isle. He was at that time
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 only three years of age. The grandfa- 
 ther of our subject settled in New York 
 and there engaged in farming and also 
 worked on the canal. When still a young 
 lad James Gibson also began working on 
 the canal and was there employed until 
 about eighteen years of age. He at first 
 was driver on a packetboat and afterward 
 worked on what was called a scow boat, 
 utilized in dredging out and repairing the 
 canal. He continued in that labor until 
 twenty-three years of age, when he was 
 married and came to the middle west, Jo- 
 eating first near Rushville in Schuyler 
 county. Illinois, where he spent a few 
 months. He afterward went to Ray 
 county, Missouri, where he remained for 
 about two years, and then became a resi- 
 dent of McDonough county, Illinois, 
 where he purchased land and made his 
 home for about three years. On the ex- 
 piration of that period he took up his 
 abode on section 27, Pilot Grove town- 
 ship, Hancock county, and invested in 
 eighty acres of land upon which he made 
 his home, residing there for about forty 
 years. When the four decades had passed 
 he removed to section 16 of the same 
 township, where he lived for fifteen years 
 and afterward located at Burnside, where 
 for eight years he lived retired from ac- 
 tive business cares. His life had been 
 one of untiring activity and enterprise 
 through a long period and he well merited 
 the rest which came to him in the evening 
 of his days. He died at Burnside at the 
 age of eighty-nine years and was a re- 
 spected resident of the locality, for 
 he was a faithful member of the Christian 
 church and had lived in harmony with 
 its teachings and his professions. His po- 
 
 litical support was given to the democ- 
 racy. His wife passed away in 1860, at 
 the age of forty-four years. She, too, 
 was a member of the Christian church 
 and both lie buried in McKay cemetery. 
 They were the parents of four children of 
 whom two are now living. 
 
 Born and reared on the old homestead 
 Robert C. Gibson continued to reside 
 there until five years ago, when he pur- 
 chased his present farm just north of the 
 village of Burnside, comprising one hun- 
 dred and thirty-six acres. He has placed 
 all of the improvements upon it and has 
 a model farm, on which he raises the 
 cereals best adapted to soil and climate. 
 He also engages in stock raising and has 
 fed from one hundred to five hundred 
 head of cattle annually for the past thirty 
 years. He has likewise made investment 
 in property that has proved profitable and 
 is today the owner of eleven hundred and 
 forty acres of the rich farming land of 
 Hancock county, all of which is well im- 
 proved, the greater part being in Pilot 
 Grove township. He therefore stands as 
 one of the leading representatives of agri- 
 cultural interests, and his success is rich- 
 ly merited, having come to him through 
 capable business management, unfalter- 
 ing industry and close application. In 
 addition to his farming interests he has 
 many other business enterprises under his 
 control. Being a man of resourceful abil- 
 ity he readily recognizes and utilizes the 
 opportunities which surround all. He 
 engages in general merchandising and 
 also in the hardware business at Burnside 
 under the firm style of R. C. Gibson & 
 Company. For two years he was vice 
 president of the State Bank at Burnside
 
 256 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and he was one of the organizers of the 
 U'hite Cottage Telephone Company, of 
 which he has been treasurer and the offi- 
 cer of the line since its establishment. He 
 erected a large brick store building in 
 Burnside and is one of its most enter- 
 prising citizens, having contributed in 
 large and substantial measure to its 
 growth and improvement through the 
 conduct of his varied interests. 
 
 Mr. Gibson was married on the /th 
 of November, 1872, to Miss Hattie Low- 
 rey, who was born in Schuyler county, 
 Illinois, a daughter of Edward and Hat- 
 tie Lowrey, who came to Hancock county 
 about 1865. The father was for many 
 years a farmer of Carthage township and 
 died at the age of eighty-eight years, 
 while his wife passed away when eighty- 
 seven years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gibson have been born six children, all 
 of whom are living, as follows : Elmer, 
 a farmer of Pilot Grove township, where 
 he owns one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land, married Amanda Miller, by whom 
 he has a daughter, Frances. Charles C, 
 residing on section 27, Pilot Grove town- 
 ship, wedded Miss Carrie Pennock, by 
 whom he has a son, Virgil. James F. is 
 a practicing attorney in Carthage, and is 
 represented elsewhere in this volume. He 
 married Miss Birdie Tyner, and they have 
 one son, James. Iva is now the wife of 
 John Houd, their home being in Dallas, 
 Illinois. She is the mother of one child, 
 Arlo. Ida is the wife of Lesley Brad- 
 field, and has one child, Elzie. Sylvia is at 
 home, and completes the family. All were 
 born and educated in Pilot Grove tow'n- 
 ship. 
 
 Mr. Gibson is a member of the Ma- 
 
 sonic fraternity, in which he has attained 
 the Royal Arch degree and also holds 
 membership relations with the Independ- 
 ent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife is a 
 member of the Christian church and is 
 a lady of culture and refinement. They 
 have a handsome modem home upon 
 their farm, together with large barns and 
 other outbuildings, all of which are kept 
 in perfect repair and are typical of the 
 utmost spirit of progress and improve- 
 ment along agricultural lines. Mr. Gib- 
 son is widely recognized as a most public- 
 spirited man and has taken an active and 
 helpful interest in many movements 
 which have been of direct benefit to the 
 community and the county. In manner 
 he is free from ostentation and display, 
 caring not for notoriety, yet he deserves 
 the praise that is usually given a self- 
 made man and the high regard which is 
 accorded him by his friends. Among the 
 names of the prominent business men of 
 Hancock county who have been closely 
 identified with its interests and have as- 
 sisted in its rapid and substantial growth 
 he is numbered. By the force of his na- 
 tive ability and steady perseverance he 
 has raised himself to a position of wealth 
 and honor. 
 
 WILLIAM OLIVER BUTLER, 
 D. D. S. 
 
 Dr. William Oliver Butler, serving for 
 the second term as postmaster of La 
 Harpe and has for almost a third of a 
 century been an able and leading repre-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 257 
 
 sentative of the dental fraternity here, 
 was born in St. Francisville, Missouri, 
 March 25, 1850. His father, Noah B. 
 Butler, was born near Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky, and in early manhood wedded Lu- 
 cinda C. Dickenson, a native of Tennes- 
 see, whose birth occurred near Memphis. 
 His grandparents were Hezekiah and 
 Elizabeth (Payne) Butler, natives of 
 Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. 
 The father, Xoah B. Butler, became a 
 physician and in the spring of 1851 re- 
 moved to La Harpe, Illinois, accompanied 
 by his wife and then their only child, 
 \Yilliam O. For a quarter of a century 
 thereafter Dr. Butler devoted his time 
 and energies to the practice of medicine, 
 continuing an active representative of the 
 medical fraternity in this town until his 
 death, which occurred September 17, 
 1876. His widow still survives him and 
 makes her home in La Harpe. 
 
 \Yilliam Oliver Butler, the eldest in a 
 family of seven sons, spent his boyhood 
 days in La Harpe and completed his lit- 
 erary education by a course of study at 
 Knox College, at Galesburg, Illinois. He 
 afterward began preparation for the med- 
 ical profession in the Missouri Medical 
 College at St. Louis and afterward at- 
 tended the Pennsylvania Dental College. 
 Between the two periods of his college 
 work, however, he engaged in practice 
 for two years. He was graduated in the 
 spring of 1876 but had purchased the 
 practice of D. \V. Mills in 1873. While 
 he was attending his second course of 
 lectures a dentist from Burlington, Iowa, 
 took charge of his practice. He now 
 occupies one of the finest offices in the 
 state in towns of the size of La Harpe 
 
 and has a large practice, which is ac- 
 corded him in recognition of his skill and 
 ability. His equipment is unusually good 
 and he has always kept in touch with the 
 progress made by the profession as the 
 years have gone by. On the I5th of 
 June, 1882, Dr. Butler was united in 
 marriage to Miss Louella Holliday, who 
 was born in Shelbina, Missouri, June 27, 
 1854, and was educated in the public 
 schools of Blandisville, Illinois, and in 
 Lewiston Seminary in Fulton county, this 
 state. She is a daughter of Louis and 
 Mary (Parker) Holliday, both of whom 
 .were natives of Virginia. Unto Dr. and 
 Mrs. Butler have been born five daugh- 
 ters and two sons, but one of the sons is 
 now deceased. 
 
 Dr. Butler has given close attention to 
 his professional duties and ^yet has found 
 time for activity in political and fraternal 
 circles. He is a prominent Mason, be- 
 longing to the lodge, chapter and com- 
 mandery and has held the position of 
 deputy grand lecturer of the state of Illi- 
 nois since 1883. He is also a member 
 of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
 lows and he belongs to the Christian 
 church, in which he has long served as 
 deacon and has also been secretary for 
 six years. In his political views he is 
 an earnest republican and in 1901 was 
 reappointed by President Roosevelt to 
 the office of postmaster, in which position 
 he is now serving. He takes a deep in- 
 terest in clean politics, being opposed to 
 misrule in municipal affairs and feeling 
 that political business should be adminis- 
 tered with the same honesty and fidelity 
 that is demanded in industrial, commer- 
 cial or professional life. In his own ca-
 
 2 5 8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 reer he has been actuated by worthy mo- 
 tives and high principles and during al- 
 most a lifelong residence in La Harpe, 
 covering a period of fifty-five years, he 
 has commanded the uniform confidence 
 and respect of his fellowmen by his close 
 adherence to rules of conduct and action 
 that neither seek nor require disguise. 
 
 GEORGE WALKER. 
 
 Investigation into the history of any 
 community will show that a few courag- 
 eous spirits have become pioneer settlers 
 and that the work that they have insti- 
 tuted, the plans they have formed and 
 the labors they have carried forward con- 
 stitute the foundation upon which has 
 been builded all of the later progress and 
 prosperity. It was to this class of citi- 
 zens that George Walker belonged and 
 his name is inseparably interwoven with 
 the history of Warsaw and of Hancock 
 county. He was born in Maryland, Feb- 
 ruary 29, 1804, his parents being John 
 and Mary (Wilmot) Walker. He was 
 reared in the place of his nativity and 
 attended the old-time subscription schools 
 of that day, pursuing his studies for only 
 about three months each year. In the 
 school of experience, however, he learned 
 many valuable lessons and became a well 
 informed man of good practical business 
 education. He was reared to farm life 
 and in early manhood became a firm be- 
 liever in the Christian religion. When 
 but nineteen years of age he began preach- 
 
 ing as a minister of the Baptist faith and 
 for fifty years continued the work of the 
 gospel. He reared his family in that 
 faith and labored untiringly for the up- 
 building of his church. He never accept- 
 ed a dollar for marrying a couple, for 
 preaching at a funeral or for any reli- 
 gious service, but gave his time and tal- 
 ent freely to the gospel work. 
 
 While living in Kentucky Mr. Walker 
 rented land from Zachary Taylor and in 
 1831 had his goods all packed ready to 
 load and start for Illinois. He was at 
 that time taken sick with bronchitis and 
 did not come till 1833. He first lo- 
 cated at Quincy and two weeks later en- 
 tered one hundred and sixty-two acres of 
 land about twenty-two miles north of that 
 city. There he began the development 
 and improvement of a farm upon which 
 he resided through the succeeding two 
 years. On the expiration of that period. 
 in 1833, ne purchased six hundred and 
 forty acres of land from two attorneys 
 who spent the night at his home. An -in- 
 teresting fact about these attorneys is 
 that on that trip they were going from 
 Carthage to Quincy on horseback. One 
 horse gave out and they put both saddles 
 on the remaining horse and with each 
 man in a saddle on the one horse proceed- 
 ed on their way to Quincy and were thus 
 riding when they stopped over night at 
 Mr. Walker's residence. This tract was 
 located a half mile south and a quarter 
 of a mile west of the land which he had 
 entered for a dollar and a quarter per 
 acre. Upon his second purchase he built 
 a double log house with one room above 
 and two below. This was his home until 
 1849, ' n which year he built a kiln,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 259 
 
 burned brick and then erected a brick 
 residence. 
 
 Mr. Walker was closely identified with 
 the early development and progress of 
 his portion of the state and for years 
 was one of the largest land holders of 
 Hancock county. He shared in the usual 
 hardships and privations of pioneer life, 
 but as the years passed by changes were 
 wrought and he was enabled to secure all 
 of the advantages and comforts known to 
 the older civilization of the east and 
 south. For many years he engaged 6X7 
 tensively in stock raising, being one of 
 the leading representatives of this busi- 
 ness in his section of the state. He also 
 made large purchases of land and after 
 giving one hundred and sixty acres to 
 each of his seven children he had over 
 two thousand acres remaining. He was 
 perhaps the wealthiest citizen of his lo- 
 cality at this time. He improved his 
 land from its primitive condition, setting 
 out immense orchards and placing his 
 fields under a high state of cultivation. 
 
 In 1870, Mr. Walker went to Florida 
 and set out an orange orchard covering 
 five hundred acres within three miles of 
 Jacksonville. He remained there for 
 nine winters and in the tenth winter was 
 stricken with paralysis. He also "pur- 
 chased one hundred and fifty acres of 
 land adjoining the home of Harriet 
 Beecher Stowe and he and his family be- 
 came well acquainted with the Stowe 
 family, by whom they were entertained 
 for some days. He was a very industri- 
 ous man of unfaltering perseverance and 
 indeed may be numbered among the 
 world's workers. He was a man of keen 
 insight into business affairs and of un- 
 
 faltering energy and was seldom at error 
 in a matter of business judgment. He be- 
 came moreover one of the influential and 
 leading citizens of the community and in 
 1848 was elected to represent his district 
 in the state legislature of Illinois. He 
 spent two winters in Springfield and be- 
 came associated with many of the dis- 
 tinguished men of the state. During the 
 second winter in company with Stephen 
 A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln and Jacob 
 C. Davis in a hired vehicle he drove to 
 his home in Hancock county, a distance 
 of one hundred and twenty miles, to make 
 a visit over Sunday. They arrived Fri- 
 day night, and that night such a heavy 
 fall of snow took place that the next 
 Monday morning they had to drive a 
 herd of cattle ahead of them to break the 
 road to Quincy, to which place they rode 
 on horseback. They were three days in 
 getting to Springfield. Mr. Walker was 
 re-elected to the Illinois legislature in 
 1854. his family, however, remaining 
 upon the farm, while he discharged his 
 official duties in the general assembly. 
 He took an active part in the delibera- 
 tions of that body and was connected with 
 much of the constructive legislation of 
 that period. In his home community he 
 was also elected justice of the peace and 
 filled that office for fifteen years, his home 
 being his courthouse. Mrs. Robert Mc- 
 Mahan, who was an exceedingly bright 
 girl, would sit at her father's knee when 
 between the ages of eight and twelve 
 years and from his dictation would read 
 the revised statutes to the court. His po- 
 litical allegiance was given to the democ- 
 racy, but though he differed in his views 
 from many of the distinguished Illinois
 
 260 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 statesmen of that period he always en- 
 joyed their warm personal regard and 
 friendship. 
 
 In May, 1826, Mr. Walker was mar- 
 ried to Miss Rachel Clark, a daughter 
 of James and Susan (Naswanner) Clark. 
 Mrs. Walker was born in Pennsylvania 
 and by this marriage there were nine chil- 
 dren. Henry M., the eldest, lived near 
 Carthage, Illinois, but died in California 
 at the age of seventy-nine years. He had 
 four sons, one of whom, Charles Wil- 
 liam, is living in Carthage, George San- 
 ford in Missouri, Franklin W., on a 
 farm near Carthage, and one, John 
 Henry C., probate judge in Ft. Collins. 
 John E. Walker, the second of the family, 
 born in February, 1829, was a railroad 
 man and died in 1891, at the age of sixty- 
 two years, leaving a wife and two chil- 
 dren, who are residents of Boston, Mas- 
 sachusetts. Mary Jane is the wife of Dr. 
 James Caples, living about sixteen miles 
 from Sacramento, in Sacramento county, 
 California. Rebecca Ann is the widow 
 of Joseph Her and lives in Gault, Califor- 
 nia, about thirty-two miles from Sacra- 
 mento. James Ely died at the age of 
 five years. George Walker died in 1905 
 in Warsaw, leaving a son, Warren W., 
 of Joplin, Missouri, and a daughter, Mrs. 
 Lillian- Pederson. Susan Frances became 
 the wife of Robert McMahan and is men- 
 tioned later in this sketch. Henrietta 
 became the Avife of Taylor Doty and after 
 his death married James Jenkins and died 
 April 17, 1904, on the old home farm in 
 Hancock county. Charles Pierce is a 
 resident of Los Angeles, California, 
 where' he is engaged in merchandising 
 and is also vice president of a bank. The 
 
 father, George Walker, died October 9, 
 1879, at the age of seventy-five years 
 and his wife passed away October 9, 1883, 
 also when seventy-five years of age. In 
 the years of an active and useful career 
 he had become widely known and in fact 
 was one of the historic figures in Illinois 
 history during the middle portion of the 
 nineteenth century. His influence was 
 widely felt in behalf of public improve- 
 ment, his business operations were of an 
 extensive and profitable character and his 
 genuine personal worth was such as to 
 win for him the admiration, good will 
 and respect of all with whom he came 
 in contact. Though more than a quarter 
 of a century has passed away since he 
 was called to his final rest he is yet re- 
 membered by many of the early citizens 
 of the county who knew and honored 
 him. 
 
 As before stated, Susan Frances 
 Walker became the wife of Robert Mc- 
 Mahan. The latter was a son of Andrew 
 McMahan, a native of Kentucky, who 
 came to Hancock county, Illinois, in 1831. 
 This was the year of the great snow a 
 winter memorable in the history of Illi- 
 nois. There were few settlers in the 
 northern part of the state and the cen- 
 tral -and southern sections were but 
 sparsely settled. All over Illinois there 
 were great stretches of unimproved 
 lands and Mr. McMahan took up a tract 
 of government land of about one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres which was developed 
 into a good farm and remained the fam- 
 ily homestead until the death of himself 
 and wife. As the years passed by he 
 added to his original holdings until he 
 became an extensive landed proprietor
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 261 
 
 and at the time of his demise still re- 
 tained possession of six hundred acres, 
 while in the meantime he had given to 
 each of his four children a tract of one 
 hundred and sixty acres. 
 
 Three of his children are now living, 
 while Angelina, who became the wife of 
 Captain Williams, of Warsaw, died 
 March 26, 1901. 
 
 Robert William McMahan, born June 
 15, 1830, on the old family homestead in 
 Hancock county, Illinois, acquired his 
 education in the subscription schools of 
 the early day. He was reared to farm 
 life, spending the greater part of the 
 year in the labors of the field and 
 meadow, while in the winter seasons lie 
 pursued his studies. With the family he 
 shared in the hardships and privations 
 incident to the settlement of the frontier. 
 He chose as a life occupation the pursuit 
 to which he had been reared and continu- 
 ously followed farming until he reached 
 the age of sixty-six years, when he re- 
 tired from business and has since lived 
 in Warsaw, purchasing a beautiful home 
 in the city. On the I3th of July, 1859, he 
 was united in marriage to Miss Susan 
 Frances Walker, daughter of George 
 Walker, the honored pioneer, and unto 
 them have been born six children. Clara, 
 the eldest, born April 5, 1860, died June 
 26, 1864. Charles Homer, born Decem- 
 ber 4, 1861, is living in Wilcox township, 
 this county. He married Eva J. Knox 
 and they have five children living, while 
 Harry and one other died in infancy. 
 Those who still survive are Carl David, 
 Robert Francis, William R.. George 
 Howard and Francis McMahan. Cora 
 F,. McMahan died in infancy. Mary Ida 
 
 McMahan, born September 15, 1866, is 
 now the wife of David Ayers and their 
 place adjoins the old homestead. They 
 have two children, Francis and David. 
 Nellie Rachel McMahan, born November 
 25, 1875, is the wife of Howard Baker, 
 a lumberman of St. Louis, Missouri. 
 George W. W. McMahan, born July 9, 
 1873, uves upon the old homestead and 
 rents the' farm which his parents gave 
 him. He married Florence Fry .and has 
 one daughter, Anna Rozetta. 
 
 John McMahan, the second son of An- 
 drew McMahan. lives on the old home- 
 stead where he was born sixty-three years 
 ago. He married Clara Reed, now de- 
 ceased, and they had five children, of 
 whom one has passed away. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson McMahan, the 
 youngest member of the family of An- 
 drew McMahan, is living in St. Louis 
 and has been married twice, but his sec- 
 ond wife is also now deceased. 
 
 Both the Walker and McMahan fam- 
 ilies have lived in this county from pio- 
 neer times and have been closely associ- 
 ated with its history in all of its various 
 phases. Mr. Walker lived here during 
 .the Mormon siege, but did not take part 
 on either side. He saw many houses 
 burned, however, and knew of the whole 
 proceedings. Mrs. McMahan can re- 
 member seeing Joseph and Hiram Smith, 
 the Mormon prophets and leaders, who 
 were murdered. She saw the blood on 
 the floor and also the hole made through 
 the window pierced by the bullet that 
 killed Joseph Smith. Her mind bears 
 many interesting pictures of pioneer 
 days and she relates in vivid style and 
 with great accuracy many of the events
 
 262 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 which have left their impress upon the 
 annals of Hancock county. 
 
 ASA L. BENNINGTON. 
 
 Asa L. Bennington is the leading con- 
 tractor and builder of La Harpe. No 
 man has done more for the improvement 
 of the village, for the greater part of its 
 leading business houses and fine residences 
 have been erected by him and stand as 
 evidence of his skill and enterprise in the 
 line of his chosen vocation. His life rec- 
 ord began in Bloomfield, Iowa, on Christ- 
 mas day of 1 86 1, his parents being Jacob 
 S. and Emeline (Lane) Bennington, 
 the former bom in Adams county, 
 Ohio, December 5, 1826, and the latter 
 near Mount Sterling, Illinois, December 
 24, 1829. The paternal grandfather, 
 Jonathan Bennington, was born in Penn- 
 sylvania, October 20, 1789, and was 
 reared near Hagerstown, Maryland. He 
 wedded Jane C. Ramsey, who was born 
 near Boone Station, Kentucky, January 
 9. 1799, and was a daughter of Robert 
 Ramsey, who was one of Washington's 
 body guards in the Revolutionary war. 
 The maternal grandparents were Asa and 
 Matilda (Conover) Lane. On leaving 
 Ohio Jacob S. Bennington removed to 
 Davis county, Iowa, and in 1869 became 
 a resident of Henderson county, Illinois, 
 where he lived until 1892, when the fam- 
 ily removed to La Harpe. His wife 
 passed away in September. 1885. In their 
 family were the following named : Ma- 
 
 tilda, who was bom in Iowa, June 7, 
 1853; Lee J., born in Iowa, December 
 n, 1856; John F., bom in Iowa, May 
 10, 1858; Phebe M., born in Missouri, 
 August u, 1863; Jacob S., born in Mis- 
 souri, March 28, 1865; Carroll L., born 
 .in Missouri, April 6, 1867; and Charles, 
 born in Illinois, February 28, 1870. 
 
 Asa L. Bennington was reared in his 
 father's home to the age of sixteen years, 
 when he started out upon an independent 
 business career and since that time he has 
 provided entirely for his own support, 
 so that whatever success he has achieved 
 has come as the direct reward of his 
 own labors. He was employed at farm 
 work for about five years and then 
 learned the carpenter's trade under the 
 direction of his father. He has engaged 
 in building operations since that time 
 and for the past seventeen years has been 
 contracting. At the present writing, in 
 1906, he has the contract for the erection 
 of the new Carnegie library in La Harpe 
 all the business houses and large build- 
 and with a few exceptions he has built 
 ings erected in this village for the past 
 fourteen years. He keeps abreast with 
 the most modern progress as displayed 
 in the builder's art and his efforts have 
 been an important factor in the substan- 
 tial improvement of the city, greatly aug- 
 menting its attractive appearance. His 
 excellent workmanship and his fidelity to 
 the terms of a contract have been impor- 
 tant elements in his success. 
 
 In 1891 Mr. Bennington was married 
 to Miss Hattie Landis, who was born 
 April 3, 1871, and is a daughter of Isaac 
 and Finett (Levings) Landis, natives of 
 La Harpe township. They have four
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 263 
 
 children : Clair, born March 23, 1892 ; 
 Celia May, January 14, 1894; Beulah 
 Vernon, January 21, 1896; and Minnie 
 M., October 14, 1900. 
 
 Mr. Bennington votes with the Repub- 
 lican party and has served for two terms 
 as alderman at La Harpe. Community 
 affairs are of deep interest to him and 
 his co-operation can always be counted 
 upon as a 'factor to further the welfare 
 and promote the progress of his adopted 
 town. Fraternally he is connected with 
 Bristol lodge, No. 653, I. O. O. F., and 
 with the Modern Woodmen of America, 
 and in his life exemplifies the beneficent 
 spirit of these organizations. An analy- 
 zation of his character shows that his sal- 
 ient traits are such as are universally ad- 
 mired and valued and in his home town 
 they have made him a representative 
 citizen. 
 
 JAMES W. CASSINGHAM. 
 
 James W. Cassingham dates his resi- 
 dence in Hancock county since 1857. He 
 is now living retired in La Harpe but 
 was formerly identified with agricultural 
 and manufacturing interests. He was 
 born in Muskingum county, Ohio, June 
 1 6, 1840, and in the paternal line comes 
 of English ancestry, his grandfather be- 
 ing Thomas Cassingham, a native of 
 England. His father, James Cassing- 
 ham, was also born in that country and 
 came with his parents to America in 1826. 
 the family home being established upon a 
 farm in Ohio. In early life he learned 
 
 17 
 
 the shoemaker's trade, which he followed 
 throughout his entire business career. 
 He wedded Miss Martha Oden, a native 
 of Virginia and a daughter of Elias 
 Oden, and they became the parents of 
 four children, three sons and a daughter. 
 James W. Cassingham, the third in 
 order of birth, left home in 1855 when 
 only fifteen years of age and came to 
 Illinois with a family of the name of 
 Decker, settling upon a farm in McDon- 
 ough county. There Mr. Cassingham 
 remained until March, 1857, when he left 
 .the Decker family and came to Hancock 
 county, where he was employed at farm 
 labor by the month until 1861. When 
 the tocsin of war sounded and men from 
 all departments of life flocked to the 
 standard of the country, coming from the 
 workshop, the fields, the offices and the 
 counting rooms, he too gave evidence of 
 his spirit of valor and loyalty and on the 
 loth of May, 1861, enlisted in the Six- 
 teenth Illinois Infantry as a member of 
 Company F. He served for four years, 
 being mustered out at Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky, in July 8, 1865. He was once 
 wounded, though not seriously, and after 
 the close of the war, having for four 
 years been a most faithful soldier, he re- 
 turned to Hancock county, settling in La 
 Harpe township near the village of La 
 Harpe. There he purchased a farm of 
 one hundred and sixty acres, which he 
 cultivated for almost a quarter of a cen- 
 tury, or until 1889, when he took up his 
 abode in the town. In that year, in 
 connection with C. H. Ingraham and J. 
 R. Booth, he established a brick manu- 
 facturing plant in La Harpe and was en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of brick for
 
 264 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 about ten years, when he sold his interest 
 to Mr. Ingraham and retired from active 
 business. On the 26th of February, 
 1903. he sold his farm of one hundred 
 and sixty acres, all of which was under 
 cultivation. 
 
 Mr. Cassingham was married Feb- 
 ruary 4, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Bryan, 
 who was born March 22, 1839, in Penn- 
 sylvania. They became the parents of 
 six children : Arthur, who was born De- 
 cember 18, 1866, and resides in Memphis, 
 Missouri ; Martha, who was born Novem- 
 ber 10. 1868, and is the wife of Warren 
 Talbott, of Warren county, Illinois ; 
 Charlie C., who was born October 25, 
 1870, and lives in Spokane, Washington; 
 Mary D., who was born March 22, 1872. 
 and is the wife of John M. Lyon, of La 
 Harpe: Rose, who was born August 2, 
 1876, and is the wife of Herbert Locke, 
 of Blandinsville, Illinois ; and Lora, who 
 was born September 16, 1879, and who 
 is the wife of Clifford Prather. of La 
 Harpe. On the 2ist of October, 1886, 
 the family mourned the death of the wife 
 and mother, who on that day passed away 
 at the age of forty-seven years. On the 
 ist of October, 1887, Mr. Cassingham 
 wedded Mary A. Bryan, the widow of 
 Cowden M. Bryan. She was born in La 
 Harpe. April 24. 1845. It was soon 
 after his second marriage that Mr. Cas- 
 singham retired from the farm and re- 
 moved to La Harpe, where he has since 
 resided. His political affiliation is given 
 to the Republican party and in the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity he has taken the degrees 
 of the lodge and chapter. A residence 
 of almost a half century in this county 
 makes him widely known and numbers 
 
 him with its early settlers, while his ac- 
 tivity in agricultural and manufacturing 
 lines gained him considerable prominence 
 as well as a gratifying measure of success 
 in his business dealings, so that he is 
 now enabled to live retired in the enjoy- 
 ment of a rest which he has justly earned 
 and richly deserves. 
 
 SAMUEL C. VINCENT. 
 
 Samuel C. Vincent, deceased, came to 
 Hancock county in 1844 and although he 
 passed away in 1870 he is yet remem- 
 bered by many of the older settlers who 
 knew him and respected him as a man 
 of genuine personal worth. He was born 
 January 6. 1822, in West Avon', Living- 
 ston county, New York, and attended 
 school in Erie county, that state, but was 
 largely self-educated. On the 8th of Oc- 
 tober. 1843, ne wedded Mary Jj An- 
 drews, who was born, in Connecticut in 
 1821. In the spring of 1844 they re- 
 moved to La Harpe, where for about ten 
 years Mr. Vincent was engaged in teach- 
 ing school. Soon after his arrival in 
 this county, however, he purchased a 
 tract of land, to which he added at inter- 
 vals until at his death he owned one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land in the cor- 
 porate limits of La Harpe. He died Au- 
 gust 15, 1870, leaving a wife and six 
 children. He was well known among 
 the early settlers of this part of the 
 county and his interests were closely 
 allied with its progress and development.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 265 
 
 for he gave hearty support to any move- 
 ment that tended to promote the material 
 or moral welfare of his community. 
 
 The six children of the Vincent family 
 are: Mary A., born April 24, 1845, anc ' 
 now the wife of J. W. Cassingham; 
 Maria Rosabel, who was born April 10, 
 1847, am l is the w 'fe f Farmer R. Nudd ; 
 Frances A., who was born February 19, 
 1850, and is the wife of Frank James, 
 of Galesburg, Illinois ; Byron Zelotus, 
 who was born July 4, 1852, and is in 
 Shenandoah, Iowa ; Judith Keziah, who 
 was born July 8, 1855, and after her 
 marriage to Charles Sanford died in De- 
 cember. 1875; and Elma, who was born 
 September 19,' 1858. and died October 
 25. 1903. The mother, Mrs. Mary J. 
 Vincent, passed away January 28, 1890. 
 
 The eldest daughter, Mary A. Vin- 
 cent, was educated in the public schools 
 of La Harpe and at the age of fifteen 
 began teaching, which profession she fol- 
 lowed for fourteen years. She was then 
 married, on the ist of July, 1874, to 
 Cowden M. Bryan, who was born in 
 Pennsylvania. June 16, 1830, a son of 
 Jacob and Mary (Bagsley) Bryan, who 
 were likewise natives of the Keystone 
 state. Cowden M. Bryan came to La 
 Harpe township with his parents about 
 1840 and lived upon a farm until 1857, 
 when they removed to the village of La 
 Harpe. He was a natural mechanic and 
 possessed considerable genius in that di- 
 rection. At different times he was con- 
 nected with photography, gunsmithing 
 and the jewelry business and conducted 
 a jewelry store in La Harpe for about 
 fifteen years. 
 
 LInto Mr. and Mrs. Bryan was born 
 
 a daughter, Juie L. Bryan, whose birth 
 occurred March 27, 1875, and who on 
 the 2 ist of August, 1894, became the 
 wife of Frank J. Scott, now a resident of 
 Galesburg, Illinois. The death of Mr. 
 Bryan occurred December 9, 1884, and 
 on the ist of October, 1888, his widow 
 became the wife of James W. Cassing- 
 ham, of La Harpe township. 
 
 JAMES J. MOFFITT. 
 
 Few native sons of Hancock county 
 can claim so extended a residence within 
 its borders as James J. Moffit, who was 
 born on section 7, Sonora township, Feb- 
 ruary 15, 1831. This was the winter of 
 the great snow in Illinois memorable in 
 the history of the county and a year 
 prior to the Black Hawk war, a fact 
 which indicates that the Indians were 
 still numerous in this part of the Missis- 
 sippi valley. His parents were John and 
 Mary (Moffit) Moffit, natives of county 
 Sligo, Ireland. The latter was a daugh- 
 ter of Thomas Moffit. who on a sailing 
 vessel crossed the Atlantic f.-pm the 
 Emerald isle to the new world, and made 
 his way to St. Louis by the Ohio river 
 route and up the Mississippi. Eventually 
 he settled in St. clair county, Illinois, liv- 
 ing on the river,.bottom for three years, 
 after which he returned to the state of 
 New York and took up his abode in 
 Rochester. John Moffitt, father of our 
 subject, emigrated from Ireland to Amer- 
 ica in 1818, and settled in the district of
 
 266 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Harrisbu'rg, Pennsylvania, where he 
 worked at farm labor for two years. At 
 the end of that time he journeyed west- 
 ward with George Middleton and his un- 
 cle, James Mofntt, going to Galena, Illi- 
 nois, where he worked in the lead mines 
 for three years. They then left that state 
 in canoes, floating down the Mississippi 
 river. Becoming hungiy while thus mak- 
 ing their way down the stream, they one 
 evening saw a light, toward which they 
 proceeded to make their way. It was 
 upon the present site of the city of 
 Quincy, and on landing they found there 
 a camp of Indians, so that they hastily 
 made their departure. They continued 
 on their way to St. Louis, and in a short 
 time left that place for Rochester, New 
 York, making the overland journey with 
 ox teams. John Moffitt was married 
 there about 1826 to Miss Mary Moffitt, 
 and with his bride returned to St. Louis, 
 where he resided until the fall of 1828, 
 when he came to Hancock county, set- 
 tling near Nauvoo. He entered from the 
 government about three hundred and 
 twenty acres of land on sections 7 and 
 1 8, Sonora township, most of which was 
 at that time covered with timber. In the 
 midst of the forest he built a log cabin 
 and began clearing away the trees. As 
 soon as it was possible to plow he would 
 place his land under cultivation and in the 
 course of time became the owner of a well 
 developed property there. The year 1839 
 witnessed the advent of the Mormons into 
 that locality and he gave them some of 
 his land that they might improve it. The 
 pictures of pioneer life indicated exactly 
 the conditions which existed in Hancock 
 county at that period. The streams were 
 
 unbridged, the prairie was covered with 
 its native grasses, the timber was uncut, 
 and only here and there had a little clear- 
 ing been made to show that the work of 
 civilization had been begun on the fron- 
 tier, while deer was plentiful and there 
 were many wild animals roaming over 
 the prairies or in the woods. The In- 
 dians, too, were numerous and going 
 upon the warpath, Mr. Moffitt, during 
 the Black Hawk war, enlisted in the army 
 under Captain James White. He partici- 
 pated in the military movements that 
 ended in the ejection of the savages and 
 received a land warrant for his services. 
 He afterward added to his land until he 
 had about four hundred acres in Sonora 
 township. He figured prominently in 
 many events which are now recognized 
 as of historic importance and lived in this 
 locality throughout the period of the 
 Mormon difficulty. He saw them estab- 
 lish the city of Nauvoo, and later saw 
 them driven from their homes and the 
 Mormon temple destroyed by fire. He 
 died March 15, 1853, while his wife long 
 survived him, passing away March 17, 
 1881. They were the parents of eleven 
 children, of whom three sons and three 
 daughters reached mature years but the 
 daughters are all now deceased. The liv- 
 ing sons are: James J. ; John, a lawyer 
 of Chicago; and Thomas B., who is liv- 
 ing on the old home place. 
 
 James J. Moffitt lived with his parents 
 until 1852, sharing with the family in the 
 hardships and privations of pioneer life. 
 and aiding in the work of the fields when 
 plowing, planting and harvesting were 
 largely clone by hand, for the improved 
 farm machinery of the present day was
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 267 
 
 then unknown. In 1852 lie went to Cal- 
 ifornia, starting across the country with 
 ox teams, and after getting near the 
 mountains he traded his oxen for pack 
 horses. At length the party with which 
 he traveled reached Eldorado county, 
 Colorado, where he remained for a year 
 and a half. During that period his fa- 
 ther died, and his mother wishing him 
 to return home, he made the journey by 
 way of the Nicaraugua route and up the 
 Mississippi to Nauvoo. He then re- 
 mained with his mother and established a 
 general mercantile business in connection 
 with T. J. Newton, his father-in-law. 
 Three years later, on account of failing 
 health, he retired from the store and took 
 up his abode on his farm, which com- 
 prised eighty acres of the old homestead. 
 He then bought forty acres from his sis- 
 ter and subsequently made purchase of 
 another tract, so that he owned altogether 
 one hundred and seventy acres on section 
 7, Sonora township. In 1859 he erected 
 a good frame residence thereon and has 
 since made some additions to this house. 
 As a companion and helpmate for life's 
 journey Mr. Moffitt chose Miss Saman- 
 tha A. Newton, to whom he was married 
 on the I3th of February, 1855. She was 
 born in Erie, Pennsylvania, December 3. 
 1837, a daughter of Timothy J. and Fi- 
 delia (Webster) Moffitt, the former a na- 
 tive of Erie and the latter of Fredonia, 
 New York. She is also a granddaughter 
 of Thomas and Mary (Hillsgrove) New- 
 ton, natives of England, and Ebenezer 
 and Roxie (Benjamin) Webster, natives 
 of New England. Mrs. Moffitt was -the 
 eldest of seven children and accompanied 
 her parents on their removal from the 
 
 Keystone state to Canfield, Trumbull 
 county, Ohio. A year later they became 
 residents of Rochester, Iowa, where her 
 father engaged in merchandising, and in 
 May, 1847, they took up their abode in 
 Nauvoo, where the following spring Mr. 
 Newton established a general mercantile 
 store, which he conducted successfully 
 until his death on the 4th of February, 
 1860. His wife long survived him and 
 died March 24, 1891. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. 'Moffitt were born seven children: 
 Ida E., now of Billings, Montana; Fran- 
 cis E., who died at the age of one and a 
 half years ; Louis J., who is engaged in 
 mining at Wallace, Idaho; Mary F., the 
 wife of J. Henry Dover, a cattle dealer 
 and horseman of Billings, Montana : 
 James A., who died at the age of two 
 years; Julia, the wife of J. F. Ochsner, of 
 Nauvoo; and Edward P., who is cashier 
 in a bank at Anaconda, Montana. 
 
 Mr. Moffitt is a democrat and has held 
 the offices of assessor, collector and other 
 local positions. His religious faith is 
 that of the Catholic church. The name 
 of Moffitt has been interwoven with the 
 history of the county since its earliest 
 pioneer development, and he of whom we 
 write has taken an active and helpful 
 part in the progress and improvement 
 from a very early period. His mind 
 bears the impress of many of the early 
 historic annals of the county and he can 
 relate many interesting incidents of this 
 locality, when it was a frontier section 
 far removed from the older settled dis- 
 tricts of the east because of the lack of 
 all rapid transportation facilities or rapid 
 means of communication. It was then 
 the "far west," in which there were many
 
 268 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 difficulties of pioneer life to be borne, 
 while dangers were not lacking owing to 
 the proximity of the red men and their 
 opposition to the encroachments of the 
 white race upon their hunting grounds. 
 Mr. Moffitt has lived to see remarkable 
 changes here and as a worthy pioneer set- 
 tler deserves prominent mention in this 
 volume. 
 
 WILLIAM K. SMITH, M. D. 
 
 Dr. William K. Smith, successfully en- 
 gaged in the practice of medicine and sur- 
 gery in La Harpe, was born in Philadel- 
 phia, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of De- 
 cember, 1844, of Scotch parentage. 
 
 Dr. Smith completed his more specific- 
 ally literary education in a high school 
 of Iowa and having determined upon the 
 practice of medicine and surgery as a life 
 work he prepared for his chosen calling 
 in the College of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he 
 was graduated in 1875. He had, how- 
 ever, been a student in the Chicago Med- 
 ical College in the winter of 1867-8 but 
 completed his medical training in Keo- 
 kuk. He entered upon the active prac- 
 tice of medicine in Mercer county, Illi- 
 nois, and was a practitioner of Hender- 
 son county, Illinois, from 1869 to 1883, 
 when he came to La Harpe, where he has 
 since built up a good business, having to- 
 day an extensive patronage which is in- 
 dicative of the confidence reposed in his 
 skill by the general public. 
 
 In early manhood Dr. Smith enlisted 
 
 for service as a soldier of the Civil war 
 in 1861, becoming a member of the Ninth 
 Missouri Infantry, with which he served 
 until the spring of 1862, when that regi- 
 ment became the Fifty-ninth Illinois In- 
 fantry. He continued at the front for 
 three years and was honorably discharged 
 in 1864 but was afterward attached to 
 the cavalry bureau and did duty in the 
 southwest and on the frontier until 1866. 
 The same spirit of loyalty that he dis- 
 played during the dark days of the Civil 
 war has always been manifest in his citi- 
 zenship. 
 
 In January, 1873, Dr. Smith was unit- 
 ed in marriage to Miss Alice M. Hub- 
 bard, who was born in Hatfield, Hamp- 
 shire county, Massachusetts, a daughter 
 of the Hon. Elisha and Cordelia (Ran- 
 dall) Hubbard, who were natives of 
 Massachusetts. Dr. and Mrs. Smith 
 have now resided in La Harpe for twenty- 
 three years and have a wide acquaintance 
 here, the hospitality of the best homes 
 being cordially extended them. More- 
 over Dr. Smith has the respect of his pro- 
 fessional brethren, for he always closely 
 adheres to a high standard of professional 
 ethics and has that laudable ambition 
 which prompts thorough and discrimi- 
 nating study whereby his skill and effi- 
 ciency are being continually increased. 
 
 WILLIAM L. WOODSIDE. 
 
 William L. Woodside, who for many 
 years was connected with agricultural in-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 269 
 
 terests in McDonough county, Illinois, 
 but is now living" retired in La Harpe, 
 was born in Washington county, Vir- 
 ginia, February 2, 1833, a son of John G. 
 and Jane Woodside, natives of Virginia 
 and North Carolina respectively. His 
 paternal grandparents were James and 
 Mary (Goliher) Woodside, also natives 
 of Virginia. The father was a farmer 
 by occupation and at a very early period 
 in the development of Illinois made his 
 way across the country to this state from 
 Virginia, being six weeks on the road. 
 He arrived in Blandinsville township. 
 McDonough county, November 16. 1833, 
 and took up his abode in a little log 
 cabin on section 9, securing the title to 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land. Not 
 a furrow had been turned or an improve- 
 ment made upon the farm and with char- 
 acteristic energy he began its develop- 
 ment, clearing away the timber and 
 breaking the prairie land and in course 
 of time the farm was developed into a 
 good property, the fields yielding rich re- 
 turns in bounteous harvests. There the 
 father resided until his life's labors were 
 ended in death on the i8th of March, 
 1853. and his wife survived until Sep- 
 tember 23, 1871, when she, too, was 
 called to her final rest. 
 
 William L. Woodside was the young- 
 est of a family of three sons and three 
 daughters and is now the only one sur- 
 viving. He was educated in the common 
 schools of McDonough county and after 
 his father's death he purchased the inter- 
 est of the other heirs in the old home- 
 stead property, which was then partially 
 improved. In 1872 he built a large frame 
 house. He also has a large hay and horse 
 
 barn on the place and grain and^imple- 
 ment sheds. He bought at different 
 times one hundred and fifteen acres which 
 is situated on the northwest corner of the 
 old home place. The land has never been 
 out of possession of the family and 
 through the efforts of Mr. Woodside and 
 his father has been converted into a very 
 valuable and productive farm. In all of 
 his business undertakings he has been 
 practical and progressive and his labors 
 have brought him very desirable success. 
 He continued to engage in general farm- 
 ing and stock raising until October 2, 
 1899, when he was injured by a tree fall- 
 ing upon him, breaking his left leg and 
 hurting him internally. He was con- 
 fined to his bed all winter and on the 7th 
 of March, 1900, the family removed to 
 La Harpe, where he has since resided. 
 He remained upon the old homestead 
 place from November 16, 1833, until 
 March, 1900, covering a period of more 
 than two thirds of a century. He still 
 owns the farm, which he now rents for 
 six dollars per acre and this brings him 
 a very gratifying income. On the ist of 
 March, 1901, he purchased his present 
 residence on East Main street and is now 
 comfortably situated in a pleasant home 
 in La Harpe. 
 
 On the roth of April, 1859, Mr. Wood- 
 side was married to Miss Mary Isabell 
 Frits, who was born in Monroe county, 
 Indiana, August 24, 1839, a daughter of 
 Captain James Frits, who commanded 
 Company F of the Sixteenth Illinois In- 
 fantry in the Civil war and was a brave 
 and loyal soldier. Her mother bore the 
 maiden name of Julia Ann Kern and was 
 born in Indiana, while Mr. Frits was a
 
 270 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 native of Virginia. Mrs. Frits' parents 
 were Conrad and Mary A. (Berry) 
 Kern. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Woodside 
 have been born six children : Thomas 
 Franklin, who was born April i, 1860, 
 and is living in Keokuk, Iowa; Emma 
 Jane, born January i, 1862, and now the 
 wife of Nathan Ferris, of Blandinsville, 
 Illinois; Sarah Louisa, born July 23, 
 1864, and now the wife of Joel Smith, of 
 Walnut, Kansas; Mary Ella, born Janu- 
 ary n, 1868; Jennie May, who was born 
 May 14, 1870, and is the wife of J. E. 
 Quayle, of Orion, Illinois; Mina Alice, 
 who was born October 18, 1874, and is 
 the wife of Dr. C. H. Stockon, of Love- 
 land, Colorado. The wife and mother 
 passed away October 18, 1903, and was 
 laid ,to rest in La Harpe cemetery. She 
 was a most estimable lady and they had 
 traveled life's journey together for forty- 
 four years. Mr. Woodside is a member 
 of the Christian church, in the work of 
 which he has taken an active and helpful 
 interest. He served as deacon of the 
 church for many years and was clerk and 
 treasurer for ten years. His political al- 
 legiance has been given to the Republican 
 party since age conferred upon him the 
 right of franchise and he is a member of 
 the Blue lodge of Masons and of the An- 
 cient Order of United Workmen. His 
 entire life' has been passed in this section 
 of Illinois and he has a wide acquaint- 
 ance, having long been known as an en- 
 terprising farmer and one thoroughly re- 
 liable in all business transactions. His 
 success is attributable in very large meas- 
 ure to his own efforts and his persever- 
 ance and energy have enabled him to 
 work his way steadily upward until he is 
 
 numbered among the men of afflu- 
 ence living in La Harpe. 
 
 now 
 
 JOHN FAULKNER. 
 
 John Faulkner, a horticulturist and 
 agriculturist living in Sonora township, 
 is one of the worthy citizens that Penn- 
 sylvania has furnished to Hancock 
 county. His birth occurred in Chester 
 county of the Keystone state, on the 6th 
 of June, 1839, and he comes of Irish and 
 German lineage. The paternal grandfa- 
 ther, a native of the Emerald isle, took up 
 his abode in New Jersey in the latter part 
 of the eighteenth century and died soon 
 afterward. His son, James Faulkner, 
 was born in Ireland and came to the 
 United States when only eighteen months 
 old. When about fifteen years old he 
 went to sea and for five years was upon 
 the water. He was afterward married in 
 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Miss 
 Catherine Kimes, who was born in Penn- 
 sylvania and was a daughter of Jacob 
 Kimes, a native of Germany. The young 
 couple began their domestic life in the 
 Keystone state and James Faulkner 
 worked at the shoemaker's trade, which 
 he had learned after leaving the sea. In 
 the spring of 1844, however, he made his 
 way westward to Nauvoo but on reach- 
 ing his destination he found things very 
 different than had been reported and in 
 consequence thereof he removed to Au- 
 gusta, where he lived until 1848, when 
 he returned to Nauvoo. Not long after-
 
 PI AN COCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 271 
 
 ward he purchased sixty acres of land on 
 section 6. Sonora township, and ninety 
 acres in Appanoose township, where he 
 carried on general farming and also 
 raised stock. Thus his life was one of 
 activity and his industry was to him a 
 source of gratifying income. He died 
 December 28, 1870, and was laid to rest 
 in the Catholic cemetery, at Nauvoo, on 
 the first day of the year, 1871. His wife 
 survived him for exactly fifteen years, 
 passing away on the 28th of December, 
 1885. In their family were the follow- 
 ing named: Ellen, who died the wife of 
 Martin Roser. Mrs. Sarah Ritter, of 
 Fort Madison, Iowa : John, of this re- 
 view: Mrs. Catherine Fulton, of So- 
 nora township; and Mrs. Mary Webber, 
 of Las Vegas, New Mexico. 
 
 John Faulkner was only about six 
 years of age when his parents removed 
 from Pennsylvania to Hancock county, 
 so that his education was acquired in the 
 common schools of this part of the state. 
 He always remained at home with his 
 parents and following their death he pur- 
 chased the interest of the other heirs in 
 the old home property, since which time 
 he has resided upon and conducted the 
 farm. He raises peaches and grapes, 
 having six acres planted to both fruits. 
 He has followed farming with the best 
 methods of carrying on agricultural pur- 
 suits and has made a close study of the 
 work of cultivating fruit trees, so as to 
 produce the best results. He and his fa- 
 ther built a house of stone taken from 
 their place, and he also has a large barn 
 thirty-two by thirty-six feet with stone 
 basement. 
 
 On the 7th of October, 1871, Mr. 
 
 Faulkner was married to Miss Lillian 
 Ward, who was born in Middletown, 
 Ohio, August 3, 1850, a daughter of 
 James and Margaret C. (Striker) Ward, 
 natives of Ireland and New Jersey re- 
 spectively, the latter a daughter of Ste- 
 phen A. Striker. Mr. and Mrs. Ward 
 were married in Ohio in 1841, and for 
 some years he engaged in merchandising 
 in Middletown. In 1852, however, he 
 closed out his business interests in the 
 Buckeye state and came to Nauvoo, after 
 living for one year at Montrose, where 
 he conducted a tavern. Subsequent to 
 his abode in Nauvoo, he lived retired. 
 His wife died May 12, 1852, while he 
 survived until February 4, 1874. Each 
 had been previously married, this being 
 their second union. Mr. Ward had three 
 children by his first wife, and she had two 
 children by her first husband. There 
 were four children by the second union : 
 Ella, the Wife of Fred Hellerrich, of Louis- 
 ville, Kentucky; Laura S., the wife of 
 Frank Brown, of Marion county, Mis- 
 souri ; and Charles and Lillian, twins, but 
 the former died in infancy. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner 
 was blessed with nine children : Mary, 
 who was born August 26, 1872, and is 
 the wife of Thomas G. Kelly, of Rock 
 Creek township : James, who was born 
 February 16, 1874, and is now living in 
 Carthage; John, who was born April 9, 
 1876, and resides in Sonora township: 
 Helen, born July 19, 1878; William, who 
 was born . November 5, 1880, and is lo- 
 cated in Nauvoo ; Aloysius, who was born 
 December 19, 1882, and is at home: 
 Thomas, who was born April i, 1885. 
 and died in December, 1886; Lorena,
 
 272 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 bom July i, 1889; and Henry, August 8, 
 1891. The family are communicants of 
 the Catholic church at Nauvoo, and Mr. 
 Faulkner's political support is given to 
 the Democratic party. More than six 
 decades have passed since he came to this 
 county and he has therefore witnessed 
 the greater part of its growth and de- 
 velopment, for the work of progress had 
 been scarcely begun when he took up his 
 abode within its borders. He has vivid 
 recollections of the typical pioneer con- 
 ditions, for in his youth much land was 
 still uncultivated, while the log cabin 
 was no unusual feature in the landscape. 
 Now these primitive homes have been re- 
 placed by substantial farm residences and 
 there is every evidence of advancement 
 along agricultural and horticultural lines 
 as well as industrial and commercial 
 pursuits. 
 
 HUGH JACKSON. 
 
 Hugh Jackson, a prominent and pro- 
 gressive fanner, owning one hundred and 
 forty acres of valuable land situated on 
 section 23, Appanoose township, is a na- 
 tive of Fulton county, New York, his na- 
 tal day being September 23, 1837. His 
 parents, James and Mary (Ferguson) 
 Jackson, were natives of Scotland, the 
 father born near Glasgow, while the 
 mother's birth occurred on the island of 
 Bute. The paternal grandparents were 
 James and Bell (Thompson) Jackson, 
 and the maternal grandparents were 
 Hugh and Catherine (McFarlane) Fer- 
 
 guson, who located in Fulton county, 
 New York, about 1830, where he en- 
 gaged in general agricultural pursuits. 
 The father of our subject emigrated from 
 Scotland to America in 1832, his destina- 
 tion being Fulton county, in the Empire 
 state, where he was united in marriage to 
 Miss Mary Ferguson. Here he engaged 
 in farming until 1840, when he removed 
 to Albany county, where his death oc- 
 curred in November, 1861. His widow 
 then came to Hancock county in 1862, 
 where she passed away in July. 1885. In 
 their family were nine children : James, 
 who died at the age of twenty-two years ; 
 Hugh, of this review ; Peter, of Carthage 
 township, Hancock county ; John and 
 Robert, both residents of Appanoose 
 township ; William, of Orange county, 
 California ; Miller, who was drowned in 
 the Mississippi river in 1867; Lansing, 
 living near Durango, New Mexico ; and 
 Catherine, who makes her home with her 
 brothers, John and Robert, in Appanoose 
 township. 
 
 Hugh Jackson, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, acquired his education 
 in the district schools of New York, and 
 was there reared to farm life, assisting 
 his father in the operation of the home 
 farm until nineteen years of age, when 
 he came to Hancock county, where he 
 worked at farm labor, being in the em- 
 ploy of others until 1862. Saving his 
 earnings, he was at that time able to 
 make purchase of land and engage in 
 farming on his own account. He first 
 bought eighty acres situated on section 
 23, Appanoose township, which at that 
 time was wild prairie. He improved 
 his land, and placed the fields under cul-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 273 
 
 tivation. He built a small house con- 
 taining three rooms, and he also erected 
 board stables and other outbuildings for 
 the shelter of grain and stock. Here he 
 carried on agricultural pursuits and as 
 the years passed by he prospered in his 
 undertakings, so that he was later en- 
 abled to make further purchase of land, 
 adding sixty acres which adjoined his 
 original purchase, so that he now has one 
 hundred and forty acres in all. In 1870, 
 he built a kitchen to his house, and in 
 1886 remodeled and added to his dwell=- 
 ing, so that it now contains eight rooms. 
 In 1872 he built a horse and hay barn, 
 and he also has ample cattle sheds, corn 
 cribs and other outbuildings found upon 
 a model farm of the present age. In ad- 
 dition to his farming interests he former- 
 ly engaged extensively in the raising of 
 horses, cattle and hogs, shipping about 
 two carloads of cattle annually. He. 
 however, abandoned this branch of his 
 business in 1895, and since that time has 
 left the more arduous tasks to others and 
 at the present time merely gives supervi- 
 sion to his business interests. In the 
 winter of 1859-60, in company with two 
 comrades, he started with ox teams for 
 Pike's Peak, where he prospected for two 
 months and took up a mining claim, 
 which he later traded for a cow. He then 
 journeyed on to New Mexico, where he 
 dispose^ of the cow for thirty-five dol- 
 lars, which was considered a good price. 
 He then sold his oxen and bought ponies 
 and started toward home, stopping in 
 Kansas City, where he disposed of his 
 ponies and took passage on a steamer 
 for New Orleans. He then spent two 
 winters on a steamboat. In the summer 
 
 of 1860 he traveled through eastern Kan- 
 sas and southern Illinois and then re- 
 turned to New Orleans, where he spent 
 some time, subsequent to which time he 
 went to St. Louis, being in that city at 
 the time of the inauguration of President 
 Lincoln. 
 
 On the 30th of March, 1865, Mr. 
 Jackson was united in marriage to Miss 
 Mary A. Hammond, who was born in 
 Staffordshire, England, in 1840, and 
 when two years of age was brought by 
 her parents to Hancock county, where 
 the father bought three hundred acres 
 of land, situated in Pontoosuc township, 
 where they both passed away, the former 
 on the 26th of December, 1885, while 
 his wife survived for only four days, 
 passing away on the 3Oth of the same 
 month, and they were buried in the same 
 grave. In their family were ten chil- 
 dren : William, who was killed by light- 
 ning; Thomas, who was drowned in the 
 Mississippi river; John, a resident of 
 Monterey county, California; Isaac, of 
 Butler county, Kansas; Mary A., now 
 Mrs. Jackson ; James, of Lancaster 
 county, Nebraska ; Hannah, the wife of 
 John Cosgrove, of Appanoose township; 
 Fannie, who died in infancy ; Sarah, the 
 wife of J. J. Worley, of Valisca, Iowa; 
 and Martha, the widow of Thomas 
 Stretch, of Appanoose township. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been 
 born the following named : Mary Ellen, 
 born August 29, 1866, married Charles 
 A. Thompson, of Butler county, Kansas. . 
 Arthur M., born January 22, 1868, died 
 in Appanoose township June 6, 1905, 
 leaving a widow, who in her maidenhood 
 was Miss Annie Brady, and who now
 
 274 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV I Ell' 
 
 makes her home in Nauvoo. James T., 
 born November 2, 1871, is employed in a 
 lumber office in Kansas City, Missouri. 
 Ada, born August 18, 1873, is the wife 
 of L. R. Traverse, and makes her home 
 in Oquawka, Illinois. Laura, born June 
 5, 1875, is at home. 
 
 Mr. Jackson gives his political support 
 to the Democratic party, and has taken a 
 very active and helpful interest in the 
 local ranks of his party, being called to 
 fill a number of offices of public trust. 
 He was town clerk for several years, 
 served as supervisor for one year, as col- 
 lector three years and as township treas- 
 urer for twenty years, and in all of these 
 offices he discharged his duties with sat- 
 isfaction to the public and with credit to 
 himself. In his religious faith he is a 
 Presbyterian, and since 1875 has served 
 as elder of the church. 
 
 He is a public-spirited man who gives 
 his aid and co-operation to every move- 
 ment which tends for the advancement 
 of his community. He has led a very 
 busy life, and, having come to Hancock 
 county when much of the land was still 
 unimproved and uncultivated, he made 
 purchase of a tract which he improved 
 until it is today one of the fine farming 
 properties of Appanoose township. 
 
 GEORGE FRAZER. 
 
 George Frazer,, filling the office of su- 
 pervisor in Walker township, where he 
 carries on general agricultural pursuits. 
 
 is a son of Lafayette and Caroline Frazer, 
 who are mentioned elsewhere in this vol- 
 ume, in connection with the sketch of J. 
 I. Frazer. He whose name introduces 
 this record was bom in Adams county, 
 Illinois, in 1850, and following the re- 
 moval of the family to Hancock county 
 he pursued his education in the district 
 schools of Walker township. He re- 
 mained under the parental roof until the 
 time of his marriage, which was cele- 
 brated February 26, 1873, when he was 
 twenty-two years of age, the lady of his 
 choice being Miss Rebecca Shipe. who 
 was born in Rocky Run township in 
 1854, a daughter of William and Mary 
 (Shipe) Shipe, who were farming people 
 and came to Hancock county in the early 
 '505, their home being in Rocky Run 
 township. In the Shipe family are four 
 daughters: Rebecca, now Mrs. Frazer: 
 Emma, the wife of William Sauble, of 
 Adams county ; Gertrude, at home ; and 
 Catherine E., the wife of Harry Frazer, 
 of Quincy, Illinois. 
 
 At the time of his marriage Mr. Fra- 
 zer's father gave him two hundred and 
 twenty acres of good land, situated on 
 section 19, Walker township, and he has 
 made splendid improvements upon the 
 place, erecting an elegant residence in 
 1876 and building a commodious and 
 substantial barn in 1880. This structure 
 is forty by sixty feet and other buildings 
 are in keeping with it, ample shelter being 
 thus afforded to grain and stock. Mr. 
 Frazer has engaged in the raising of stock 
 quite extensively and at the same time has 
 tilled his fields so that they have brought 
 forth rich harvests. He has also added 
 to his landed possessions as the years
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 275 
 
 have passed by and his labors have in- 
 creased his financial resources. He now 
 has two hundred and sixty acres in the 
 home place, one hundred and twelve acres 
 elsewhere in Walker township, a tract of 
 one hundred and twenty acres in the same 
 township where his daughter resides, one 
 hundred acres in Rocky Run township 
 and ninety acres in Adams county, Illi- 
 nois. His holdings are therefore exten- 
 sive and indicate a life of thrift and en- 
 terprise, of good business ability and 
 keen foresight. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Frazer 
 has been blessed with six children, all 
 bom in Walker township: Mary C, who 
 died at the age of sixteen months ; James 
 L., who is a graduate of the Gem City 
 Business College at Quincy and assists in 
 the operation of the home farm; Edith, 
 the wife of William Schildman, who re- 
 sides upon her father's farm in Walker 
 township, and by whom she has had one 
 daughter ; Elberta May ; Lafayette, who 
 is living on one of his father's farms in 
 Walker township, and who married Ina 
 Tripp, by whom he has two children ; 
 Marvin, who at the age of twenty-two 
 years is at home; Elberta G.. also at 
 home. Marvin and Elberta are attending 
 the Gem City Business College at Quincy. 
 
 Mr. Frazer is a stalwart democrat in 
 his political views and is now serving as 
 supervisor of this township for the fourth 
 or fifth term a fact which is indicative 
 of the confidence reposed in him by his 
 fellow townsmen and his promptness and 
 fidelity in the discharge of his duties. He 
 has also served as school director and as 
 treasurer of the school board. Frater- 
 nally he is connected with the Odd Fel- 
 
 lows and has been treasurer of his local 
 lodge. Both he and his wife are members 
 of the Methodist church, contributing 
 generously to its support and are actively 
 interested in its work. Wherever known 
 they are held in high esteem and are rec- 
 ognized as leading people of the commu- 
 nity. Both are representatives of well 
 known and honored families of the 
 county and they have reared a family of 
 whom they have every reason to be proud. 
 They are now comfortably situated in 
 life, and with the exception of the farm 
 received from his father Mr. Frazer has 
 acquired all that he possesses. He now 
 has a most attractive home, supplied with 
 all the comforts which go to make life 
 worth living and both he and his wife 
 gladly extend the hospitality of their 
 home to their many friends. In disposi- 
 tion he is kindly and charitable and in all 
 life's relations he has been straightfor- 
 ward and honorable. He has ever been 
 a great reader and deep thinker and is 
 recognized as a man of sound judgment 
 whose opinion is often sought by friends 
 and neighbors in matters of individual or 
 public interest. 
 
 JUDGE CHARLES J. SCOFIELD. 
 
 Judge Charles J. Scofield, of Carthage, 
 whose ability as lawyer, jurist, orator and 
 author has made him widely known be- 
 yond the borders of his native county and 
 state and whose life has been one of sig- 
 nal usefulness and activity not only for
 
 276 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE]}' 
 
 the benefit of his individual interests but 
 for the benefit of his fellowmen as well, 
 was born in the city which is yet his 
 home, on Christmas day of 1853, his par- 
 ents being Charles R. and Elizabeth 
 (Crawford) Scofield. The family is of 
 English lineage and was established in 
 Stamford, Connecticut, between the years 
 of 1635 and 1640. His father was born 
 at Dewittville, Chautauqua county, New 
 York, in 1821, and spent the days of his 
 boyhood and youth in the place of his na- 
 tivity, coming when a young man to Han- 
 cock county, Illinois, where, in 1851, he 
 joined his brother, Bryant T. Scofield, 
 who was one of the prominent early at- 
 torneys of Carthage. He read law with 
 his brother and afterward entered into 
 partnership with him. On the dissolution 
 of this business connection Charles R. 
 Scofield formed a partnership with David 
 Mack under the style of Mack & Scofield 
 and this became one of the strongest and 
 most prominent law firms in the county, 
 the connection being maintained until the 
 death of Mr. Scofield in January, 1857. 
 In February, 1853, ne was married to 
 Miss Elizabeth Crawford, a native of 
 Crab Orchard, Kentucky, and a daughter 
 of Harrison Crawford, who was one of 
 the early residents of the county and who 
 at the time of Mr. Scofield's death was 
 engaged in agricultural pursuits near 
 Carthage. Mrs. Scofield had two sons, 
 Charles J. and Timothy J., and with them 
 she returned to her father's home about a 
 mile from the city. Subsequently they 
 again took up their abode in Carthage, 
 where her death occurred on the 27th of 
 May, 1877. She was a member of the 
 Christian church and she devoted her life 
 
 untiringly to the welfare of her sons, the 
 younger of whom, Timothy J. Scofield, 
 is now at the head of the trial department 
 of the Union Traction Company, of Chi- 
 cago, and was formerly assistant attorney 
 general under General Moloney. 
 
 The elder son, Charles J. Scofield, was 
 a student in the public schools of Car- 
 thage until 1868, when he matriculated in 
 the Christian University at Canton, Mis- 
 souri, from which institution he was 
 graduated in the class of 1871 with the 
 degree of Bachelor of Arts. For three 
 years thereafter he was a teacher in the 
 high school of his native city and during 
 that period devoted his leisure hours out- 
 side of the schoolroom to the study of law 
 under the direction of his uncle, Bryant 
 T. Scofield, and William C. Hooker and 
 George Edmunds, who occupied the same 
 offices. On examination he was admitted 
 to the bar in June, 1875, and in the fol- 
 lowing October was appointed master in 
 chancery of the circuit court of Hancock 
 county, which position he filled continu- 
 ously until going upon the bench. In the * 
 meantime he also entered upon the active 
 practice of law, which he continued alone 
 for four years, occupying offices, however, 
 with William E. Mason, a prominent at- 
 torney. His success came soon because 
 his equipment was unusually good. His ' 
 native and acquired abilities were soon 
 manifest in the able manner in which he 
 handled important litigation. His mind 
 is analytical, logical and deductive and 
 moreover he is a worker, recognizing that 
 close application and unfaltering indus- 
 try are concomitants for success at the bar 
 as truly as in the fields of manual labor. 
 In February, 1879, he formed a partner-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 277 
 
 ship with Henry \Y. Draper, one of the 
 most prominent lawyers of Cartilage and 
 an able politician. Under the firm style 
 of Draper & Scofield they practiced until 
 the death of the senior member, July 8, 
 1 88 1, when his brother, Timothy J., hav- 
 ing been admitted to the bar, Judge Sco- 
 field formed a partnership with him un- 
 der the firm of Scofield & Scofield. In 
 the fall of 1884 A. W. O'Hara was ad- 
 mitted to the firm as Scofield, O'Hara & 
 Scofield. which relation was continued 
 until June, 1885, when Charles J. See- 
 field was elected one of the three judges 
 of what was then the sixth judicial circuit 
 of Illinois, comprising the seven coun- 
 ties of Hancock, Adams, Pike, McDon- 
 ough, Fulton, Schuyler and Brown. On 
 the expiration of his six years term he 
 was re-elected and sat upon the bench for 
 twelve consecutive years. He was nomi- 
 nated for a third term in 1897 but in the 
 meantime the legislature had changed the 
 boundaries of the district whereby Han- 
 cock was assigned to a district so strongly 
 republican that there was no hope of 
 election for a supporter of democracy and 
 Judge Scofield, who has always been a 
 stanch democrat, therefore declined to be- 
 come a candidate. In 1893 ne was a P~ 
 pointed by the supreme court of the state 
 one of the judges of the appellate court 
 for the fourth district and sat upon that 
 bench for four years, or until the expira- 
 tion of his second term as circuit judge. 
 His legal learning, his analytical mind, 
 the readiness with which he grasps the 
 points in an argument, all combine to 
 make him one of the capable jurists of the 
 state and the public and the profession 
 acknowledge him the peer of any member 
 
 of the appellate court. Since retiring 
 from the bench Judge Scofield has en- 
 gaged in practice in Carthage, at various 
 points in the state and in other states as 
 well. His practice has been of a most 
 important character, calling him into In- 
 diana, Iowa, Missouri, to Chicago and 
 other cities. Various offers have been 
 made to him in the line of his profession 
 in Chicago, but he has preferred to main- 
 tain his residence at his old home in Car- 
 thage and from this point goes forth to 
 perform his professional service, being 
 recognized as one of the strong and able 
 members of the Illinois bar. 
 
 Judge Scofield was married Septem- 
 ber 12, 1876, to Miss Rose Spitler, the 
 adopted daughter of Dr. Adam Spitler, 
 of this city, and a graduate of Carthage 
 College. Their home is situated on the 
 same lots where his parents began their 
 domestic life and its hospitality is well 
 known to the citizens of Carthage. They 
 are members of the Christian church, in 
 the work of which they have taken a most 
 active and helpful part. In addition to 
 his law practice Judge Scofield has acted 
 as a minister of the Christian church for 
 many years, and although accepting no 
 regular pastorate has filled many pulpits 
 and is regarded as one of the strong rep- 
 resentatives of the Christian ministry. 
 He holds the degree of LL. D from Eu- 
 reka College, one of the schools conduct- 
 ed under the auspices of his denomina- 
 tion. He belongs to the Knights of 
 Pythias, to the Independent Order of Odd 
 Fellows and other fraternal organizations 
 and gives unfaltering allegiance to the 
 democracy with firm faith in the party 
 principles. He has won much more than
 
 2/8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 local fame as a writer and has published 
 two volumes, "A Subtle Adversary," a 
 leading temperance work, and "Altar 
 Stairs," a work bearing on the questions 
 of Christian faith, both of which have 
 had good sales. His ability as an orator 
 has caused his services to be much in de- 
 mand for public addresses and for the de- 
 livery of addresses before various con- 
 ventions in Boston, Chicago, Denver and 
 elsewhere. He is a fluent, earnest and 
 forcible speaker, and while he employs 
 the adornment of rhetoric with good ef- 
 fect, they are but the avenue of expression 
 for facts which he deems of vital interest 
 to the race at large or to the body which 
 he is addressing. He has frequently 
 been chosen as a delegate to the church 
 federations. In an analyzation of his 
 character it will be seen that he has 
 brought all of his native talent, acquired 
 ability and energies to bear upon the one 
 purpose of the fulfilling of his duty to 
 his fellowmen and to his country. With 
 a keen sense of individual responsibility, 
 believing that man is his brother's keeper, 
 he has labored to uphold the political and 
 legal status and to promote intellectual 
 and moral advancement, his work being 
 directed not only by a sense of duty but 
 the higher motive of principle. 
 
 JAMES L. BRADFIELD. 
 
 James L. Bradfield, a retired farmer 
 and large landowner, making his home 
 in La Harpe, was bom in Coshocton 
 
 county, Ohio, June 29, 1854. His pater- 
 nal grandfather, James Bradfield, was a 
 resident of Virginia and married a Miss 
 Nichols. Their son, James N. Bradfield, 
 was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, 
 and having arrived at. years of maturity 
 was married in Ohio, April 12, 1853, to 
 Miss Ada Wolfe, who was born in Co- 
 shocton county, Ohio, and was a daugh- 
 ter of James and Sarah (Meredith). 
 Wolfe, natives of the Buckeye state. 
 After their marriage James N. Bradfield 
 followed farming in Ohio for a year and 
 in the fall of 1854 removed to Muscatine, 
 Iowa. In Hardin county, that state, he 
 purchased a farm whereon he resided un- 
 til the fall of 1870, when he sold that 
 property and came to Hancock county, 
 Illinois. Here he invested in a tract of 
 land in Durham township, whereon he 
 resided for about twenty-one years, when 
 in 1891 he sold out and went to Ne- 
 braska, making his home in the latter 
 state until 1899. In that year he made 
 a visit to the old home place in Durham 
 township and died there on the 4th of De- 
 cember of that year. He had for a num- 
 ber of years survived his wife, who 
 passed away June 25, 1886. In their 
 family were four children : James L., 
 of this review ; William F., of La Harpe ; 
 Henry S., of this county; and Laura M., 
 the wife of Clark H. Rice, of Hancock 
 county. 
 
 James L. Bradfield spent his boyhood 
 days on the home farm under the parental 
 roof and at the age of seventeen years be- 
 gan farming on his own account upon 
 rented land, which he operated for four 
 years. On the expiration of that period 
 he established a general store at Disco,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 279 
 
 where he also engaged in the grain and 
 stock business in partnership with his fa- 
 ther. After a year he sold out and 
 through the succeeding three years op- 
 erated rented farms. He next bought 
 eighty acres of improved land in Durham 
 township, whereon he resided for six 
 years and at the end of that period in- 
 vested in one hundred and fifty-six acres 
 in La Harpe township. Taking up his 
 abode thereon he made the place his home 
 until March, 1905, when he removed to 
 La Harpe, building a fine residence, con- 
 taining ten rooms, besides halls and clos- 
 ets. It is heated with furnace, supplied 
 with bath and all modern improvements 
 and is one of the fine modern residences 
 in the city. In addition to this property 
 Mr. Bradfield has extensive landed in- 
 terests and is now the owner of four hun- 
 dred acres of valuable land in Durham 
 and La Harpe townships. He also owns 
 an interest with others in a half section of 
 coal land in Colorado and has seven hun- 
 dred acres of unimproved land in north- 
 western. Nebraska. He likewise owns 
 stock in the Waldorf Metal Mining Com- 
 pany, of Colorado, is a director in the La 
 Harpe State Bank, of which he was one 
 of the organizers, and is a stockholder of 
 the Coulson, Brundage Hardware Com- 
 pany, of which he is vice president and a 
 director. His business investments are 
 now extensive and return to him a splen- 
 did income, so Tthat he can well enjoy a 
 retired life, his property returning him 
 sufficient capital to bring him all of the 
 comforts and many of the luxuries of 
 life. 
 
 On the 1 5th of February,. 1872, Mr. 
 Bradfield was married to. Ellen Refzer, 
 18 
 
 who was born in Durham township and 
 was educated in the district schools, a 
 daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Mor- 
 ris) Retzer, natives of Lancaster and 
 Green counties, Pennsylvania, respective- 
 ly. The mother came with her parents 
 to this county in 1843, while the father 
 arrived in 1851, so that they were closely 
 connected with the county from pioneer 
 times. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bradfield 
 were born four children : Estella R., 
 born December 31, 1872, is the wife of 
 Wesley Davis, who resides upon the first 
 farm which Mr. Bradfield purchased in 
 the country. James Harvey, born De- 
 cember 17, 1875, is a practicing physi- 
 cian of Sheridan, Wyoming; Leslie S., 
 born August 30, 1869, is living in Pueblo, 
 Colorado. Mary E., born September 22, 
 1883, is the wife of Clair J. Thomas, who 
 resides upon one of her father's farms in 
 La Harpe township. 
 
 Mr. Bradfield is a member of the Meth- 
 odist Protestant church and his political 
 allegiance is given to the Republican 
 party. He has served for three years as 
 commissioner of highways of La Harpe 
 township, also as school director and jus- 
 tice of the peace of La Harpe township, 
 being elected to the last named position 
 in the spring of 1905. His interest in 
 community affairs is that of a public-spir- 
 ited citizen whose labors are actuated by 
 an earnest desire to benefit the locality 
 and promote the welfare of town and 
 county. In an active life he has displayed 
 excellent ability and keen discernment, 
 making judicious investments and gain- 
 ing gratifying success. He has earned 
 for himself an enviable reputation as a 
 careful man of business and in his deal-
 
 280 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ings is known for his prompt and honor- 
 able methods, which have won him the 
 deserved and unbounded confidence of his 
 fellowmen. 
 
 ADAM KROPP. 
 
 When a man passes on the highway of 
 life others who perhaps started out ahead 
 of him surrounded by more advantageous 
 circumstances, it is always interest- 
 ing to examine into his career and note 
 the causes of his advancement and suc- 
 cess. Mr. Kropp is one whose life rec- 
 ord has been characterized by many good 
 business traits that have resulted in his 
 winning a place among the substantial 
 residents of Hancock county, where he 
 now owns valuable farming property, 
 situated in Walker township. He 
 was born in Germany in 1831, a 
 son of Peter and Elizabeth (Carman) 
 Kropp, who were likewise natives 
 of that country, in which they spent 
 tives of that county, in which they spent 
 their entire lives. Of their family of nine 
 children Adam Kropp is the only one now- 
 living. The days of his boyhood and 
 youth were passed in his native country 
 and when twenty-two years of age he 
 came to America, the voyage consuming 
 twenty-eight days. A colony of three 
 hundred people made the trip at the same 
 time. Locating in Pennsylvania, Mr. 
 Kropp remained for two years, after 
 which he removed to Missouri and then 
 came to Hancock county, Illinois, where 
 he worked as a farm hand bv the month. 
 
 In 1862 Mr. Kropp was married to 
 Mrs. Annie Catherine Staff (nee Cress), 
 who was born in Germany, November 16, 
 1835. Her parents coming to America, 
 settled on a farm in Hancock county, but 
 both are now deceased. Their family 
 numbered six children, of whom four are 
 now living: John, a resident farmer of 
 Walker township ; Mrs. Kropp, deceased ; 
 Elizabeth, the wife of Lewis Keiner, of 
 Walker township; and another John, who 
 died in Nebraska ; Catherine, the wife of 
 Leonard Egley, living in Warsaw, Illinois ; 
 and Caroline, the wife of Fred Beeler, 
 of Walker township. Mrs. Kropp's first 
 husband was Nicholas Cress, a native of 
 Germany, who died in Warsaw, Illinois, 
 in the latter part of the '505. There were 
 three children by that marriage, of whom 
 one is now living, Caroline, the wife of 
 Lewis Brackensick, who lives in Adams 
 county, Illinois, and has four children, 
 Annie, Lewis, Irma and Albert, who are 
 with their parents on a farm. Mrs. 
 Kropp had two brothers, both named 
 John, who were soldiers in the Civil war 
 and served until its close. One of them 
 was called big John and the other little 
 John. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Kropp pur- 
 chased ninety-five acres of good land on 
 section 29, Walker township, and the 
 young couple began their domestic life 
 in a log cabin there. He afterward re- 
 placed the primitive home by a frame 
 residence, which later was destroyed by 
 fire, and he then built his present dwell- 
 ing. In addition to his farm he likewise 
 owns twenty-seven town lots in Tioga. 
 He carried on general farming and stock- 
 raising and his business was carefully
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 281 
 
 conducted, being therefore a source of 
 gratifying income. He was drafted for 
 service in the Civil war but hired a sub- 
 stitute and remained at home, concentrat- 
 ing his energies upon his business inter- 
 ests. He came to America on borrowed 
 money and while in Pennsylvania, as the 
 result of industry and frugality, paid off 
 the debt. He has since been a hard work- 
 ing man and his earnest toil and perse- 
 verance, together with the assistance of 
 his estimable wife, brought him a goodly 
 competence and he is now comfortably 
 situated. His land is rented and he prac- 
 tically lives retired from active business, 
 enjoying a well merited rest. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kropp were born 
 four children, all natives of Walker town- 
 ship, namely : Henry, a farmer of Rocky 
 Run township, who married Anna Keith 
 and has four children, Winnard, Leoline, 
 Carlton and Eugene; John, a farmer of 
 Walker township, who wedded Louisa 
 Kunz, and has five children, Ursula, Wil- 
 lis, Eva, Esther and Edith ; Elizabeth, 
 who is keeping house for her father ; and 
 Annie, the wife of Rev. P. Ott, of Calu- 
 met, Iowa, by whom she has one daugh- 
 ter, 'Lizzie. The children were all edu- 
 cated in the district schools. In 1890 the 
 family was called upon to mourn the loss 
 of wife and mother, for Mrs. Kropp 
 passed away in January of that year, 
 amid the deep regret of many friends as 
 well as her immediate family. She was a 
 member of the German church at Tioga, 
 and was laid to rest in the Tioga ceme- 
 tery. Mr. Kropp is also a member of the 
 same church and his political allegiance 
 is given to the Republican party. He has 
 justly won the broad American title of 
 
 a self-made man. He recognized the fact 
 that in America labor is king and he paid 
 his allegiance to that sovereign. Work- 
 ing persistently year after year he has 
 steadily advanced toward the goal of 
 prosperity and is now accounted one of 
 the substantial residents of Walker 
 township. 
 
 JAMES W. BOLINGER. 
 
 Among the retired farmers who now 
 make their home in Disco but who in for- 
 mer years were actively identified with the 
 agricultural development of Hancock 
 county is numbered James W. Bolinger, 
 whose birth occurred in Monroe county, 
 West Virginia, July i, 1838. When only 
 about four years of age his parents, Philip 
 and Mary Bolinger, drove with team and 
 wagon from West Virginia to Meigs 
 county, Ohio, where the father engaged 
 in farming for about ten years, and then 
 continued his journey by wagon to Ed- 
 gar county, Illinois, where he continued 
 his farming operations for several years 
 and then removed to this county, where 
 he followed the pursuits which had been 
 his occupation through many long years. 
 During their later years, however, they 
 resided for a time in the eastern part of 
 this state, but at the time of their demise 
 were making their home with our sub- 
 ject. The father passed away in 1872, 
 while the wife survived for only about 
 two years, being called to her final rest 
 in 1874. 
 
 James W. Bolinger is the fourth in or-
 
 282 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 der of birth in a family of eight daughters 
 and two sons, of whom only three sur- 
 vive, the sisters being Elizabeth, the wife 
 of John Taylor, of Hamilton, Illinois, 
 and Sarah, the wife of John Redford, a 
 resident of Terre Haute, Indiana. Mr. 
 Bolinger acquired a common school edu- 
 cation, but his advantages in this direc- 
 tion were somewhat limited. He has, 
 however, in later years added much to his 
 knowledge by reading and investigation. 
 He remained under the parental roof un- 
 til twenty-five years of age, assisting in 
 the development of the home farm, when, 
 on the 1 4th of January, 1867, he was 
 united in marriage to Miss Mariette Zer- 
 by, whose birth occurred on the farm 
 which is still her home. Her parents 
 were Daniel and Mary Zerby. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bolinger took up their abode on the farm 
 which belonged to his father-in-law, and 
 which constituted one hundred and twelve 
 acres situated on section 6, La Harpe 
 township. The land was unimproved 
 and the only building upon the place was 
 a small house, but our subject at once set 
 to work to clear the land and cultivate 
 the fields, and in due course of time he 
 gathered rich crops. The property is 
 now well improved, the fields being di- 
 vided by woven wire fences, and there are 
 likewise many substantial outbuildings 
 for the shelter of grain and stock. In 
 1891 the original home of the family was 
 replaced by a modern frame residence 
 and altogether the place is one of the at- 
 tractive country homes in this section of 
 the state. He also set out an orchard, 
 containing apple, peach and plum trees, 
 and grapes are also found upon the place. 
 
 Mr. Bolinger continued to improve and 
 cultivate his farm until 1903, when, feel- 
 ing that his labors in former years now 
 justified his retirement from the more ar- 
 duous duties of life, he purchased two lots 
 in the village of Disco, on which he 
 erected a good frame residence, contain- 
 ing eight rooms and supplied with all 
 modern conveniences and accessories and 
 here he and his wife are now living in 
 honorable retirement, the farm being con- 
 ducted by his son-in-law, Allen St. Clair. 
 In the family of this worthy couple are 
 three children : James- W., a telegraph 
 operator, being stationed at Wilburton, In- 
 dian Territory ; Minnie, the wife of Cyrus 
 Rice, a resident of Durham township; 
 and Emma, the wife of Allen St. Clair, 
 residing on the homestead farm. In his 
 political views Mr. Bolinger is a stalwart 
 democrat but has never been active in the 
 work of the party. He holds membership 
 in the Methodist Protestant church at 
 Disco, in the work of which he is a help- 
 ful and interested factor. Starting out in 
 life a poor man, he has worked diligently 
 and persistently to acquire a competence 
 that now enables him to rest from further 
 labor and he and his wife are companion- 
 able people, highly esteemed in the com- 
 munity where they have lived and labored 
 throughout the greater part of their lives. 
 
 JOHN B. HASTINGS. 
 
 John B. Hastings, who is the owner of 
 valuable farming and stock raising inter-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 283 
 
 ests in Hancock county and moreover has 
 extensive landed possessions in the west, 
 owning and conducting a very large stock 
 ranch in Kearney county, Nebraska, is a 
 native son of Illinois, his birth having oc- 
 curred in Adams county on the 3Oth of 
 December, 1842. His parents were Sam- 
 uel R. and Martha A. (Anderson) Hast- 
 ings, natives of Kentucky and Maryland 
 respectively. The father was a 7 son of 
 Benjamin and Rachel (Hitch) Hastings, 
 also natives of Maryland, and the mother 
 was a daughter of John and Elizabeth 
 (Guerrant) Anderson, who were natives 
 of Virginia, while the great-grandfather, 
 James Anderson, was also born in the 
 Old Dominion. In the year 1837 Benja- 
 min Hastings became a resident of 
 Quincy, Illinois, and John Anderson had 
 previously located in Adams county in 
 1835. entering land within two miles of 
 the present site of the city of Quincy. He 
 became the owner of an extensive and 
 valuable tract of six hundred and forty 
 acres, while Mr. Hastings owned the 
 northeast quarter of section 22, Melrose 
 township. He died in the year 1839, 
 while John Anderson survived until 1885. 
 The son of the former and the daughter 
 of the latter were married in Adams 
 county and Samuel R. Hastings became 
 the owner of two hundred acres of land 
 on section 22, Melrose township, which 
 was unimproved. He transformed it into 
 a richly cultivated tract and put up a 
 number of buildings thereon. It was tim- 
 ber land when it came into his possession, 
 but he cleared away the trees and brush 
 and while thus engaged he cultivated 
 land, which he rented. He continued to 
 rent a farm for about five years, at the 
 
 end of which time he removed to his 
 home place. In 1868 he bought one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of the southeast 
 quarter of section 15, Montebello town- 
 ship, Hancock county. This was im- 
 proved prairie land and he also invested 
 in one hundred and sixty acres in Marion 
 county, Missouri, near Palmyra, and one 
 hundred and sixty acres near Kingston, 
 Caldwell county, Missouri. He resided 
 upon the home place until he had a stroke 
 of paralysis in the spring of 1903. Los- 
 ing the use of his vocal organs thereby, 
 he has since lived with his son, John B. 
 Hastings, and on the 3d of October, 1906. 
 he will have reached the age of eighty-six 
 years. Earnest, persistent labor consti- 
 tutes the strong element in the success 
 which he has enjoyed as the years have 
 gone by and as the result of diligence and 
 perseverance he became the owner of val- 
 uable farming property. 
 
 John B. Hastings is the eldest of a fam- 
 ily of five sons and two daughters, of 
 whom three sons and one daughter are 
 yet living. He made his home with his 
 father on the old farm until twenty-two 
 years of age and acquired his education 
 in the public schools. On the i6th of 
 January, 1865, he was married to Miss 
 Martha E. Watson, who was born near 
 Quincy on the i6th of December, 1845, 
 her parents being Benjamin and Maria 
 (Tyrer) Watson, natives of Kentucky, 
 in which state also lived her grandfather, 
 James Tyrer. Mrs. Hastings was edu- 
 cated in the public schools of Quincy. For 
 two and a half years after their marriage 
 they resided upon the old Hastings farm 
 and at the end of that time Mr. Hastings 
 fitted up a freight train for the govern-
 
 284 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU* 
 
 ment to be used from the Missouri river 
 west to designated points. He was in 
 Denver, Colorado, on the i6th of June, 
 1866, at which time a public celebration 
 was held because of the turning on of the 
 first irrigation water. For two years Mr. 
 Hastings engaged in freighting in the 
 west, after which he spent the succeeding 
 year upon the old home place and in the 
 fall of 1868 he came to the farm which 
 his father had purchased in Montebello 
 township and which was given to John B. 
 Hastings and his brother, Green B. Hast- 
 ings, who have always been equal part- 
 ners in their business dealings. They se- 
 cured the home place of one hundred and 
 sixty acres and have added to it until 
 they now own four hundred acres on sec- 
 tions 14 and 15, Montebello township. 
 They own three hundred and sixty acres 
 of improved land in Faulkner township, 
 Clark county, Missouri, which is used 
 as a stock farm, and in 1887 they began 
 the importation of horses from England, 
 France and Belgium, devoting their at- 
 tention to the raising of three breeds. 
 They at first lxught twelve head and 
 since that time have made two other ship- 
 ments, one of thirty-two head and the 
 other of thirty-eight head. They contin- 
 ued in business until 1893, when they re- 
 tired from the field as importers. They 
 now raise draft horses and have one stal- 
 lion for service of the Percheron breed 
 upon the home place, and one Belgium 
 stallion on the Missouri farm. They rais; 
 from ten to twelve head of draft horses 
 each year and they raise short-horn cat- 
 tle, Poland-China hogs and Shropshire 
 sheep. Their place in Hancock county 
 is called the Montebello Stock Farm. In 
 
 addition to this property they also own 
 twelve hundred acres of land in Kearney 
 county, Nebraska, which is used as a 
 stock farm for the raising of cattle, horses 
 and hogs. They also have five hundred 
 acres of plowed land devoted to the rais- 
 ing of wheat, corn, oats and alfalfa. 
 
 Unto Mr. Hastings and his first wife 
 were born four children : Emily J., who 
 died at tffe age of twenty-one years ; Sam- 
 uel R., at the age of twenty-four; Cora 
 E., at the age of twenty-three; and An- 
 drew L., at the age of twenty-five; while 
 the wife and mother passed away in No- 
 vember, 1877. On the 8th of June, 1899, 
 Mr. Hastings was again married, his sec- 
 ond union being with Iva Simmonds, who 
 was born in Adair county, Missouri, July 
 15. 1875. and is a daughter of John S. 
 and Mary (McConnell) Simmonds, na- 
 tives of Illinois and Missouri respective- 
 ly. Her grandparents were Squire and 
 Martha A. (Cox) Simmonds, natives of 
 Indiana, while the maternal grandparents 
 were Asa and Martha V. (Peusa) Mc- 
 Connell, the former a native of Missouri 
 and the latter of France. Their children 
 are: Lessie E., born March 15, 1900: 
 Mary E., November 17, 1901; Green. 
 June 4, 1903 ; and John, September 4. 
 1905, the two sons being named for the' 
 father and the uncle, who have long been 
 partners in business. 
 
 Mr. Hastings of this review votes with 
 the democracy and has held the office of 
 road commissioner in his township, but 
 is not active as a politician, preferring to 
 leave office seeking to others, while he 
 concentrates his energies upon his busi- 
 ness affairs. Both brothers are recog- 
 nized as men of excellent business enter-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 285 
 
 prise and capacity, straightforward in 
 their dealings and quickly recognizing 
 good business opportunities and ad- 
 vantages. 
 
 CLINTON CUTLER. 
 
 Clinton Cutler, living retired in Car- 
 thage after many years' connection with 
 agricultural interests, lias now passed the 
 eighty-first milestone on life's journey, his 
 birth having occurred in Erie county, 
 New York, September 9, 1825. There 
 he lived until twelve years of age, his 
 youth being largely passed in attendance 
 at the public schools. His parents were 
 Jonas P. and Martha (Jones) Cutler, 
 both natives of Vermont, where they 
 lived until after their marriage. They 
 then removed to Erie county, New York, 
 and the father served as a justice of the 
 peace in the town of Holland. He also 
 engaged in farming there for a number of 
 years, or until his removal to the middle 
 west about 1837, in which year he lo- 
 cated in Fulton county, Illinois, where he 
 devoted his time and energies to farming 
 until 1851. He then came to Hancock 
 county, settling in Pilot Grove township, 
 where he purchased a tract of land, on 
 which he carried on general farming until 
 his death when he was sixty-eight years 
 of age. He was a member of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist church and a man whose 
 entire life was characterized by the most 
 honorable principles and manly conduct. 
 His political allegiance was given to the 
 democracy. For many years Mrs. Cut- 
 
 ler survived her husband and passed away 
 in Winterset, Iowa, at the advanced age 
 of ninety-one. She was the mother of 
 eleven children, nine of whom still sur- 
 vive. 
 
 Clinton Cutler, whose name intro- 
 duces this review, was a youth of twelve 
 summers when he accompanied his par- 
 ents on their removal from the Empire 
 state to Illinois. He attended the public 
 schools of Fulton county and through 
 the periods of vacation assisted his fa- 
 ther in the farm work, remaining with 
 his .parents until after their removal to 
 Hancock county in 1851. Subsequently 
 he lived in Pilot Grove township, where 
 he purchased one hundred and six acres 
 of land, making his home thereon for a 
 number of years or until after the death 
 of his first wife. He later purchased 
 land in several different townships of 
 this county and successfully carried on 
 farming until 1903, when he took up his 
 abode in the city of Carthage, where he 
 has since lived retired, enjoying in well 
 earned rest the fruits of his former toil. 
 His property he has divided among his 
 first children and he now occupies a 
 pleasant home in Carthage owned by 
 Mrs. Cutler. 
 
 Mr. Cutler has been married twice. He 
 first wedded Miss Mary Ann Christ, who 
 was born in Pennsylvania and became 
 the mother of six children. Charles H., 
 the eldest, now a resident of Des Moines, 
 Iowa, married Sarah Walker, who died 
 leaving a large family : Benjamin, a 
 farmer of Winfield, Kansas, died at the 
 age of forty years ; Caleb is residing in 
 Centerville, Iowa ; Joel S. makes his home 
 in Chicago; John A. died in infancy; and
 
 286 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Laura is the wife of John Lawton, a 
 blacksmith of Carthage, by whom she 
 has five children. For his second wife 
 Mr. Cutler chose Mrs. Nancy A. Booth, 
 the widow of John N. Booth, a farmer 
 who resided in Carthage township. He 
 was born in Kentucky and in his boyhood 
 days came with his parents to Hancock 
 county. At the time of his death he was 
 the owner of two hundred and thirty- 
 five acres of valuable farming land, which 
 constituted the visible evidence of a life 
 of thrift and enterprise, and through the 
 kindness and liberality of his father-in- 
 law, John Booth, she received the deed 
 of this farm. In politics he was a demo- 
 crat. Unto him and his wife were born 
 three children, Amanda M., Eddie and 
 John E., all of whom were born in Car- 
 thage township but are all now deceased. 
 Mr. Booth was forty-two years of age at 
 the time of his demise. Mrs. Cutler was 
 educated in the common schools of Car- 
 thage township. She was a daughter of 
 Edward and Mahala White (Collins) 
 Russell. Her father was born in Mary- 
 land and there resided until after his mar- 
 riage. A farmer by occupation, he fol- 
 lowed that pursuit in the south and in 
 1838 came to Illinois, settling in Car- 
 thage township, Hancock county, where 
 he became the owner of extensive prop- 
 erty interests and carried on general ag- 
 ricultural pursuits there throughout his 
 remaining days. He died at the age of 
 sixty-eight years in the faith of the 
 United Brethren church, of which he was 
 a devoted member. His political views 
 accorded with the principles of the Re- 
 publican party. His wife lived to the 
 advanced age of ninety-five years and, 
 
 having passed away on the 25th of De- 
 cember, 1899, was laid to rest by his side 
 in Franklin cemetery of Carthage town- 
 ship. Unto the second marriage of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Cutler have been born six chil- 
 dren, of whom five are yet living. Clara 
 Josephine, the eldest, is the wife of Sam- 
 uel Law, of Carthage, and they have one 
 child. . DeWitt Clinton, residing in 
 Carthage township, married Olive Rhor- 
 bough and they have two children, Clara 
 Ethel and Edith, the latter a music teach- 
 er residing at home. Edward P., living 
 in Carthage township, where he owns 
 and operates one hundred and sixty acres 
 of land, was married to Nellie Haney and 
 they have two children, Harrison H. and 
 George C. Frank Clarence, residing in 
 Carthage township, where he owns a 
 farm of eighty acres, married Matilda 
 Huey, a daughter of Robert Huey, and 
 they have two children, Paul and Leotta. 
 Ralph Cyrus, residing on the home place, 
 which he now owns, married Daisy Reno, 
 a daughter of Newton and Leonora Reno, 
 of Carthage township, and they have two 
 children, Kenneth and Mildred. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Cutler are most highlv esteemed 
 people, widely and favorably known in 
 Carthage, and during the long years of 
 his residence in Illinois, covering almost ' 
 six decades, Mr. Cutler has ever com- 
 manded the respect and good will of those 
 with whom he has been associated 
 through social, political or business rela- 
 tions. He well merits the ease and re- 
 tirement he now enjoys. Mrs. Cutler 
 from her father and husband received a 
 good estate and has arranged for the suc- 
 cess of her sons by aiding each to get a 
 start in the business world.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 287 
 
 FREDERICK MAIRE. 
 
 Frederick Maire, who for a number of 
 years was a traveling salesman for a 
 paint house but is now living retired in 
 Hamilton, was bom in Alsace, France, 
 December 31, 1844. The ancestry of the 
 family can be traced back through au- 
 thentic records to a date prior to 1700. 
 The great-grandfather was Theodore 
 Maire and the grandfather Francis Maire. 
 The latter was a captain in the French 
 army and served under Napoleon. His 
 son, Alexander Maire, also a native of 
 France, was married to Miss Mary Ann 
 Lorentz, a daughter of Ignatius Lorentz, 
 who was sergeant major in the command 
 of the Prince of Conde in the army which 
 opposed Napoleon. Alexander Maire, a 
 man of broad and liberal education and 
 strong mentality, served as professor of 
 ancient languages in the university of 
 France. In 1856 he came to America 
 with his wife and their only child Freder- 
 ick, arriving in New York, whence he 
 went to Rochester, spending one term as 
 a teacher in a seminary for young ladies. 
 He afterward removed to Basco, Han- 
 cock county, Illinois, where he purchased 
 two hundred and fifty acres of land as an 
 investment. He rented the farm, how- 
 ever, and made his home in the town, 
 where he conducted a general store for 
 several years. In 1868, however, he sold 
 all of his interests in Hancock county and 
 removed to York county, Virginia, where 
 he was engaged in the oyster business and 
 in the conduct of a general store for three 
 years. On the expiration of that period 
 he disposed of his interests in the south 
 and removed to New York city, where he 
 
 purchased a book store on Ann street, con- 
 ducting his business in the metropolis and 
 making his home across the river in New- 
 ark, New. Jersey. He continued a resi- 
 dent of New York until 1880, when he 
 returned to France, where he died in 
 1893, while his wife passed away in 1891. 
 
 Frederick Maire pursued his prelimi- 
 nary education under private tutors and 
 spent three years as a college student. He 
 was associated with his father until 1872, 
 when at the age of twenty-eight years he 
 secured a position as decorative painter, 
 which trade he had learned in France. He 
 was thus engaged until 1880 in New York 
 city and from 1886 until 1888 was ed- 
 itor of a magazine called the House 
 Painter and Decorator, which was pub- 
 lished in Philadelphia. He has also writ- 
 ten several books on painting and he is 
 certainly an expert in the art of decora- 
 tive painting. In 1880 he went to Basco, 
 where he remained until 1883, when he 
 removed to Hamilton and purchased two 
 acres of land just north of the cemetery. 
 In 1888 he bought eleven acres on the 
 bank of the Mississippi river just north 
 of the city, there residing for three years, 
 during which time he was employed by 
 Harrison Brothers & Company, of Chi- 
 cago, as a traveling salesman for paint 
 and also as an expert on paint. He con- 
 tinued with that house for eleven years, 
 being one of its most efficient and trusted 
 representatives, but in 1899 he severed 
 his connection with Harrison Brothers & 
 Company and has since been living re- 
 tired with his family in Hamilton. He is 
 one of the finest artists in the county and 
 some of his work has won high praise. 
 
 On the 24th of May, 1864, Mr. Maire
 
 288 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RE}' IE}}' 
 
 was married to Miss Hannah Fisher, who 
 was born in Rockville, Indiana, a daugh- 
 ter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Cox) Fish- 
 er, natives of Ohio. They came to Han- 
 cock county in 1856 and Mr. Fisher gave 
 his attention to general agricultural pur- 
 suits. Mr. and Mrs. Maire were married 
 in Alexandria, Missouri, and unto them 
 have been born the following named : 
 Marie, the wife of Cyprien Bedouin, a 
 captain of the French army; Renee, the 
 wife of J. V. Crum, a merchant of Ham- 
 ilton ; Elizabeth, who is the widow of Eu- 
 gene Droussent, of Hamilton; Theresa, 
 the wife of Henry Cuerden, a merchant 
 of Hamilton ; Annette, at home ; Paul M., 
 who owns a farm in Montebello town- 
 ship ; and a son and daughter, Samuel A. 
 and Louise, now deceased. 
 
 Mr. Maire is a Catholic in religious 
 faith, while his political allegiance is 
 given to the Republican party. While 
 living in Virginia he served as township 
 clerk. He gave his attention to his busi- 
 ness interests for a number of years 
 and with a desirable capital retired to 
 private life to enjoy a well-earned rest. 
 He devotes considerable time and atten- 
 tion to artistic work and his excellent 
 conception of artistic subjects, his fine 
 shading and color have made him an artist 
 of more than local fame. 
 
 HARRY R. FOLCKEMER. M. D. 
 
 Dr. Harry R. Folckemer, who though 
 a young man has attained success and 
 
 prominence in his profession that many 
 an older practitioner might well envy, is 
 now located in Dallas City, where al- 
 ready a liberal patronage has been accord- 
 ed him. He was born in Camp Point, 
 Illinois, in 1880, his parents being Henry 
 and Ellen (Craver) Folckemer. Some 
 of his ancestors were in the war of 1812 
 and his great-great-grandfather on the 
 mother's side served as a major in the 
 second war with England. The father. 
 Henry Folckemer, was born in Shrews- 
 bury, York county, Pennsylvania, in 
 1836, while his wife's birth occurred in 
 Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1845. H- e 
 learned the tinner's trade in his native 
 town and came to Illinois in 1866, set- 
 tling at Camp Point, where he established 
 a hardware store, which he is still con- 
 ducting. During the period of the Civil 
 war he served in the- Fifty-first Pennsyl- 
 vania Volunteer Infantry and was in the 
 army of the Potomac under General Mc- 
 Clellan, participating in the battle of An-, 
 tietam. He served for one year, after 
 which he returned home and has since 
 1866 been connected with the hardware 
 trade of Camp Point. In politics lie is 
 an unfaltering advocate of the democracy 
 and has held a number of local offices, 
 serving for several terms as alderman 
 and in other positions of public trust. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the Odd 
 Fellows and with the Knights of Pythias 
 and he attends the services of the Meth- 
 odist church, of which his wife is a mem- 
 ber. In their family are three living chil- 
 dren ; Paul M., who is in business with his 
 father; Harry R., of this review; and 
 Richard, who is in Indian Territory. 
 Dr. Harry R. Folckemer acquired his
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 289 
 
 early education at Camp Point and passed 
 through successive grades until he was 
 graduated from the high school. Later 
 he attended the University of Illinois at 
 Champaign for two years and acquired 
 his professional education in Chicago as 
 a student in the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons, from which he was graduated 
 in the class of 1905. In the same year he 
 came to Dallas City, where already he 
 has obtained a large city and country 
 practice. He is a regular physician, thor- 
 oughly proficient in his profession and is 
 constantly adding to his knowledge by 
 reading and observation as well as by 
 practical experience. He has a well 
 equipped office on Third street in connec- 
 tion with his home and has done excellent 
 work as a representative of the profes- 
 sion. Like his father he gives his polit- 
 ical allegiance to the democracy. He is 
 also a member of the Knights of Pythias 
 fraternity and of the Masonic lodge, and 
 of the Hancock County Medical Society 
 and the American Medical Association. 
 A young man of strong intellectual force 
 and laudable ambition, he is wide-awake 
 and enterprising and it needs no gift of 
 prophecy to foretell that a successful fu- 
 ture awaits him. 
 
 JOSEPH F. DEITRICH. 
 
 Joseph F. Deitrich, deceased, was an 
 indusrious, enterprising and representa- 
 tive citizen of Hancock county. He be- 
 came a resident of Illinois in 1865 and 
 
 of this county in 1867. He was born in 
 Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
 September 14, 1826, and passed away on 
 the i8th of December, 1901, at the age of 
 seventy-five years. His parents, Joseph 
 and Rosana (Fullmer) Deitrich, lived and 
 died in Pennsylvania, where the father 
 was a successful farmer. Unto him and 
 his wife were born ten children, but only 
 two are now living: Daniel, who resides 
 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; and 
 Sarah, the wife of John Kaiser, of Mil- 
 ton, Pennsylvania. 
 
 Joseph F. Deitrich was educated in 
 the subscription schools of his native state 
 and was reared to farm life, remaining 
 at home with his father until twenty-six 
 years of age. He was then married on 
 the 1st of January, 1852, to Miss Sarah 
 A. Benner and they have become the par- 
 ents of five children, of whom three are 
 now living : Mary, the wife of Ludwig 
 H. Foresman, of Dallas City; Ellen, the 
 wife of George M. Cummings, who is 
 mentioned elsewhere in this work; and 
 Hettie, the wife of Walter Cummings, of 
 Los Angeles, California. The wife and 
 mother died February 21, 1862, and on 
 the 1 5th of May, 1864. Mr. Deitrich was 
 married to Miss Sarah E. Wolf, who was 
 born in Northampton county, Pennsyl- 
 vania. December 28, 1845, a daughter of 
 Joseph and Mary Magdalena (Beck) 
 Wolf, who were natives of Pennsylvania. 
 Her great-grandparents in the maternal 
 line came from Germany. Her father 
 was a shoemaker by trade and thus pro- 
 vided for the support of his family. Both 
 he and his wife were members of the 
 Lutheran church and passed away in the 
 Keystone state, where they were laid to
 
 290 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 rest. Ill their family were five children, 
 but only two are now living: Joseph, 
 who resides in Williamsport, Pennsyl- 
 vania; and Mrs. Deitrich. By her mar- 
 riage Mrs. Deitrich became the mother of 
 thirteen children, of whom six are living. 
 Etta A., the wife of James Paulus, of Co- 
 lusa, has eight children; Edith, the wife 
 of Homer Matthews, of Burnside, by 
 whom she has one child, Phineas Frank- 
 lin; Grace, Joseph F., Clarence V., Vesta, 
 Edna, Irene and Ellen R., at home. El- 
 mira, the second member of the family, is 
 the wife of Warren H. Jacobs, of Mis- 
 souri, and they have two sons : Verner 
 Lloyd and Otis Cleon. William, living 
 in Dallas township, is married and has 
 one child. Susanna, Grover C. and John 
 W. are at home with their mother. 
 
 It was in the year 1865 that Mr. Deit- 
 rich came to Illinois, settling first in Mc- 
 Donough county, where he lived for two 
 years. He then came to Dallas township, 
 where he purchased sixty-nine acres of 
 land on section 13. It is upon this farm 
 that his widow yet resides. Here he car-- 
 ried on general agricultural pursuits. He 
 built a new house after his cottage was 
 destroyed by fire, also built a new barn 
 and made other needed improvements. 
 He also bought one hundred acres of land 
 across the road from his home on section 
 ii, .Dallas township. He lived a life of 
 industry and enterprise and was a model 
 farmer, keeping everything about his 
 place in neat and thrifty condition. In 
 matters of citizenship, too, he was also' 
 progressive and loyal. He gave his po- 
 litical support to the democracy and served 
 as supervisor for several years. No pub- 
 lic tras't reposed in him was ever betrayed 
 
 in the slightest degree. He belonged to 
 the Lutheran church, in which he served 
 as deacon and of which his wife is still a 
 member. Mr. Deitrich was generous al- 
 most to a fault, being particularly kind 
 and helpful to the poor and needy. In his 
 family he was a devoted husband and 
 father and wherever he was known he 
 was respected because of those sterling 
 traits of character which in every land 
 and clime command respect and admira- 
 tion. Mrs. Dietrich still survives her 
 husband and is managing the home prop- 
 erty. Like him, she has many friends in 
 the county and is well worthy of repre- 
 sentation in this volume. 
 
 ARTHUR RAY MANIFOLD. 
 
 Arthur Ray Manifold is a native son 
 of Hancock county, his birth having oc- 
 curred in La Harpe township, August I, 
 1883. and is one of the younger represent- 
 atives of agricultural interests in this por- 
 tion of the state. His father, John Mani- 
 fold, was born in Roane county, Tennes- 
 see, a son of George and Mary Manifold, 
 who, on leaving their native state came 
 to Illinois, locating on a farm on section 
 19, La Harpe township, this county. Here 
 the son John was reared to farm life and 
 after reaching man's estate was married 
 in 1854 to Miss Eliza Ann Miller, and he 
 continued to reside on the home place, 
 assisting his mother in the management 
 of her farming interests, his father having 
 died in 1836. After the death of his
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 291 
 
 mother he inherited the homestead prop- 
 erty, to which he added from time to time 
 until he possessed an extensive tract, com- 
 prising four hundred and eighty-nine 
 acres all in one body except twenty-five 
 acres situated on section 19, La Harpe 
 township. Here he engaged extensively 
 in general farming and stockraising until 
 his death, which occurred February 16, 
 1901. By this marriage there is one son, 
 William Edison, who is a resident of this 
 township. The father was married a sec- 
 ond time to Elizabeth Loretta Chapin, the 
 widow of Henry Foley, and a daughter of 
 Robert P. and Elizabeth Chapin. She 
 was a native of Ohio, and by her mar- 
 riage became the mother of Arthur Ray 
 Manifold, the subject of this sketch. Her 
 death occurred November 10, 1900. 
 
 Arthur Ray Manifold acquired his edu- 
 cation in the public schools, passing 
 through consecutive grades until he had 
 completed a high school course, subse- 
 quent to which time he pursued a course 
 of study in Gettings Seminary, at La 
 Harpe. He assisted his father in the op- 
 eration of the home farm and always re- 
 mained with his parents, and at their 
 death came into possession of a valuable 
 farm property, which he is now success- 
 fully operating. 
 
 On the 1 9th of October, 1904, our sub- 
 ject was united in marriage to Miss Alice 
 May Smith, who was born at Raritan, 
 Illinois, but was reared in Fort Madison, 
 Iowa, where she acquired her education, 
 there completing a high school course. 
 She is a daughter of Albert R. and Ella 
 (Harris) Smith, the former a native of 
 Fort Madison, Iowa, where he still re- 
 sides, being engaged in the conduct of a 
 
 dairy, and also as a dealer in real estate. 
 A daughter, Eleanor Lois, was born to 
 this union November 24, 1906. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Manifold is 
 a republican, while his religious faith is in- 
 dicated by his membership in the Chris- 
 tian church at La Harpe. He is a Mason, 
 belonging to lodge No. 195, Ancient Fret 
 and Accepted Masons, at La Harpe. Hav- 
 ing been born and reared ini Hancock 
 county Mr. Manifold has a wide acquaint- 
 ance -both in business and social circles 
 and both he and his wife are popular 
 young people, the hospitality of their 
 home being freely extended to their many 
 friends. 
 
 JOHN M. HABBEN. 
 
 John M. Habben, who is now one of the 
 most prominent German-American farm- 
 ers of Hancock county, residing in Prairie 
 township, where he owns a very rich farm 
 of three hundred twenty acres, where his 
 time and energies are devoted to general 
 agricultural pursuits, is a native of Eur- 
 ich, Hanover, Germany. He was born 
 December 13, 1859, and when but seven 
 years of age was brought to the United 
 States by his parents, Mimka and Anna 
 (Jaspers) Habben, likewise natives of 
 Germany, who, on crossing the Atlantic, 
 made their way at once to Illinois, settling 
 in Adams county. There the father rent- 
 ed land for three years, after which he 
 made purchase of one hundred and sixty 
 acres in Prairie township, Hancock 
 county the farm upon which his son
 
 292 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 John now resides. He transformed this 
 from a tract of wild land into a well im- 
 proved farm and made it his home until 
 his death, which occurred when he was 
 fifty-two years of age, his remains being 
 interred in Concord cemetery. He pros- 
 pered in his undertakings and was a self- 
 made man, whose prosperity was attribu- 
 table entirely to his own efforts. He 
 never cared for public office or sought to 
 figure prominently in any public light, 
 content to devote his attention to his busi- 
 ness affairs whereby he provided a com- 
 fortable living for his family. His widow, 
 who held membership in the Lutheran 
 church at Carthage, died at the age of 
 seventy-three years. 
 
 John M. Habben largely acquired his 
 education in the public schools of Car- 
 thage, attending both the district and city 
 schools, and in his youth assisted in the 
 work of the home farm. He has always 
 remained upon this place since his par- 
 ents took up their abode here and he now 
 owns the property which he bought in 
 1901 after the death of his mother, to- 
 gether with one hundred and sixty acres 
 adjoining the old homestead. Soon after 
 buying the farm he built one of the most 
 beautiful and commodious residences in 
 the vicinity, the main part having a front- 
 age of thirty-eight feet by sixteen feet 
 deep, two stories, and a large ell in the 
 rear. All is nicely finished and fur- 
 nished, and also has modern conveniences 
 as windmill, telephone and those acces^ 
 series usually found on the place of the 
 more successful men. His fields are all 
 under cultivation and in addition to rais- 
 ing the cereals best adapted to soil and 
 climate he devotes his attention to the 
 
 raising of high grade stock. He is well 
 known as an enterprising, successful 
 farmer, who is never idle a day and who 
 through his diligence has gained a place 
 among the substantial agriculturists of 
 the community. He has almost entirely 
 unaided brought himself to a position of 
 wealth and independence. 
 
 Mr. Habben was married April 16, 
 1 88 1, to Miss Anna Ficht. who was born 
 in Eurich, Hanover, Germany, March 8, 
 1860, and came to the United States 
 about 1868, living in Prairie township 
 until her marriage. Her parents were 
 Henry and Marie (Bruntz) Ficht. They 
 were born in Germany, and there they 
 followed the occupation of fanning and 
 all but one of their six children were 
 born. When Anna (now Mrs. Ficht). 
 was about eight years old they embarked 
 for America on one of the oldtime sail 
 vessels, being eight weeks making the 
 voyage, and after arriving in New York, 
 it took eight days to come to Illinois. He 
 rented land first hear Golden, Adams 
 county, and there he lived but a short 
 time when he moved to Prairie township, 
 his wife dying within a few years. He 
 was a farmer of Prairie township during 
 his active life. He is now living retired 
 and makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Habben at the age of eighty-three years. 
 Unto our subject arid his wife have been 
 born five children and the family circle 
 yet remains unbroken. These are: Mim- 
 ka, who aids in the operation of the 
 home farm; Man-, Louis, Henry and 
 George, all of whom are yet under the 
 parental roof. All were born upon the 
 homestead farm in Prairie township. The 
 parents are members of the German Luth-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 293 
 
 eran church of Carthage and are well 
 known residents of the community in 
 which they make their home, enjoying the 
 favorable regard of all with whom social 
 or business relations have brought them 
 in contact. 
 
 While a democrat in politics he is 
 rather independent, voting each time for 
 the best man. He does not care for office, 
 preferring to give his time to his exten- 
 sive farming interests. He has been 
 school director for a number of terms, the 
 cause of education finding in him a warm 
 friend. 
 
 JAMES F. GIBSON. 
 
 James Finley Gibson is one of the na- 
 tive sons of Hancock county, whose life 
 record stands in contradistinction to the 
 old adage that "a prophet is never with- 
 out honor save in his own country," for 
 here in the locality where he has spent his 
 entire life he has gained signal recogni- 
 tion as a lawyer of ability, who, though 
 yet a young man, has gained prominence 
 equal to that of many a practitioner of 
 twice his years. He was bom in Pilot 
 Grove township, June 19, 1879, and is a 
 son of Robert C. and Harriet (Lowrey) 
 Gibson. He is a graduate of Carthage 
 College and prepared for his chosen pro- 
 fession as a student in the law department 
 of the University of Wisconsin, from 
 which he was graduated in the class of 
 1903. He was president of his class and 
 commencement orator, the two highest 
 honors that could be bestowed in the law 
 
 school. Following his graduation Mr. 
 Gibson located at once in Carthage and 
 opened an office. He has met with very 
 gratifying success in his chosen field of 
 labor and has secured a liberal clientage 
 that has connected him with much impor- 
 tant litigation tried in the courts of his 
 district. He is a close and discriminating 
 student and has comprehensive knowl- 
 edge of the principles of jurisprudence 
 and is correct in their adaptation. In 
 1905 he was elected city attorney of 
 Carthage, which position he still fills. 
 
 On the ist of September, 1898, Mr. 
 Gibson was united in marriage to Miss 
 Sarah Alberta Tyner, who was born in 
 Pilot Grove township in 1878 and is a 
 daughter of Jared L. and Emily L. Tyner. 
 Her father was a popular druggist of 
 Burnside, where he died and is buried. 
 In the family were three children : May, 
 now the wife of George W. Rhea, of 
 Carthage ; Viola, the wife of Edward 
 Lyon, of this city; and Mrs. Gibson. 
 Unto our subject and his wife has been 
 born a son, James C., whose birth oc- 
 curred in Madison, Wisconsin, July 21, 
 1903. Her mother, Mrs. Tyner, is still 
 living and makes her home with her 
 daughters in Carthage. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Gibson hold mem- 
 bership in the Christian church and take 
 an active and helpful part in its work. He 
 served as church treasurer in 1905 and 
 has put forth effective effort in behalf of 
 the church and has contributed gener- 
 ously of his means to its support. He be- 
 longs to the Masonic fraternity, in which 
 he has served as senior deacon and he is 
 a stanch advocate of the democracy. He 
 owns one of the largest and finest law
 
 294 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 libraries, in the city, with the contents of 
 which he is largely familiar. In the prep- 
 aration of his cases he is most thorough 
 and careful, preparing for the unexpect- 
 ed which happens in the courts quite as 
 frequently as out of them. He is always 
 well armed for any point of attack and 
 is quick to notice the weak points in an 
 adversary's position. He has won many 
 notable forensic triumphs and is regarded 
 as an able member of the bar, who is mak- 
 ing rapid progress in the line of success- 
 ful practice. He and his wife are recog- 
 nized as people of culture and refinement 
 to whom an enviable social position is 
 readilv accorded. 
 
 . GOTTLIEB BOLLIN. 
 
 Gottlieb Bollin, in his farming opera- 
 tions, keeps fully abreast with the most 
 modern methods of farming, using the 
 latest improved machinery and all the 
 accessories which facilitate farm work. 
 Advancement along agricultural lines has 
 been rapid and pronounced, and Mr. Bol- 
 lin is a typical representative of this spirit 
 of progress. He resides on section 23, 
 Sonora township, where he has a tract of 
 two hundred acres, and he also owns one 
 hundred and twenty acres on section 15, 
 besides twelve acres of timber land in 
 Sonora township on the banks of the Mis- 
 sissippi river. Mr. Bollin was born in 
 Baden, Germany, September 15, 1841, 
 and is a son of Joseph and Agnes 
 (Haire) Bollin, likewise natives of the 
 
 fatherland. The father on leaving his 
 native country made his way to Cincin- 
 nati, Ohio, where he located in 1856, there 
 following farming for three years, and in 
 1859 he removed to Nauvoo, where he 
 operated rented land in Sonora township. 
 Two years later he removed to Rock 
 Creek township, where he remained for 
 three years and then came to Nauvoo, 
 where he spent. his remaining days. His 
 wife had died in Cincinnati, Ohio, leav- 
 ing six sons and three daughters. The 
 father was married a second time to Mrs. 
 Kimes, of Nauvoo, and her death oc- 
 curred in this city, while the father also 
 passed away here in the fall of 1881. 
 
 Gottlieb Bollin, the second in order of 
 birth in his father's family, pursued his 
 studies in Germany to the age of twelve 
 years, and continued his education for 
 two years after the family arrived in Cin- 
 cinnati, Ohio. He remained with his 
 parents to the age of seventeen years and 
 then started out to face the responsible 
 duties of life on his own account. He 
 began work as a farm hand in Sonora 
 township, where he was employed for one 
 season and also worked for a time in 
 Nauvoo township. In June, 1861, how- 
 ever, he put aside all business and per- 
 sonal considerations, and in response to 
 the country's call for aid offered his serv- 
 ices' to the government, enlisting as a 
 member of the First Iowa Cavalry, at 
 Keokuk. The company was mustered in 
 at Burlington in August, and did duty 
 in the state of Missouri. He served 
 in the army until the close of the war, 
 and then went with General Custer to 
 Texas, where he was honorably dis- 
 charged at Austin in the spring of 1866.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 295 
 
 After the close of hostilities Mr. Bol- 
 lin returned to his home, where he was 
 employed as a farm hand by the month 
 until 1871, when, through his industry 
 and economy, he was enabled to make 
 purchase of forty acres of land on sec- 
 tion 15, which he had hitherto rented. 
 Three years later he added another tract 
 of forty acres, adjoining on the west. 
 Later he added another forty-acre tract, 
 belonging to the estate of his father-in- 
 law, and known as the Theodore Lohr 
 farm, thus making in all one hundred and 
 twenty acres situated on section 15. Here 
 he carried on general agricultural pur- 
 suits and as the years passed by he pros- 
 pered in his undertakings, so that in 
 course of time he was able to make fur- 
 ther purchases, at one time adding eighty 
 acres situated on section 23 and at a later 
 date, eighty and then forty acres, mak- 
 ing a total of two hundred acres on sec- 
 tion 23, and one hundred and twenty acres 
 on section 15. On the two-hundred-acre 
 tract he erected a house and barn, and 
 has since made an addition to his house 
 of brick, the residence now containing 
 nine rooms, and two stories in height. 
 He built a horse and cattle barn, corn 
 cribs and all substantial outbuildings for 
 the shelter of grain and stock. He also 
 set out a fine orchard, containing apple, 
 peach and plum trees. He has a wind- 
 pump on his place, and has two wells, one 
 thirty-three feet in depth, while the other 
 is forty-three feet deep, thus furnishing 
 water for stock and for use in the house. 
 He has used both wire and Osage hedge 
 fencing in dividing his farm into fields 
 of convenient size, and thus his is one of 
 the valuable farms of this portion of the 
 19 
 
 state. He is practical and progressive 
 in all that he does and each year his finan- 
 cial resources are greatly enhanced and 
 today he is numbered among the wealthy 
 citizens of Sonora township. 
 
 On the ist of August, 1870, occurred 
 the marriage of Mr. Bollin and Miss 
 Christina Lohr, a-native of Prussia, born 
 February 9, 1848. Her mother died in 
 Germany, and Mrs. Bollin then accom- 
 panied her father to America in 1855, 
 being then a little maiden of seven sum- 
 mers, and one of three sons and two 
 daughters. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bollin 
 have been born nine children, as follows : 
 John Theodore, born March 13, 1871, 
 and a resident of Sonora township; An- 
 nie Katherine, born April i, 1873, and 
 her death occurred October 26, 1874; 
 Andrew, born December 18, 1874, and a 
 resident of Sonora township, married 
 Julia Beecher; Mary Josephine Benedic- 
 ta, whose birth occurred September 20, 
 1877; Jacob Joseph, born May 27, 1880, 
 of Sonora township, who married Miss 
 Jennie Terry, August 22, 1906; Frances 
 Louisa, born March 5, 1883, and likewise 
 a resident of this township; Nellie Ger- 
 trude, born October 30. 1886, and Wil- 
 liam Adolph and Frank Leo, twins, born 
 July 22, 1889, are still under the parental 
 roof. 
 
 Mr. Bollin's study of the political ques- 
 tions and issues of the day have led him to 
 give his support to the Republican party 
 although he has never been an office seek- 
 er, for he finds that his business affairs 
 make sufficient demand upon his time and 
 attention, and he has attained through his 
 own labors his position as one of the 
 progressive and prosperous farmers of
 
 296 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Hancock county. He is a member of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic and in reli- 
 gious faith is a Catholic. Although start- 
 ing out in life empty-handed, he possesses 
 that spirit of enterprise and industry so 
 characteristic of the German race, and by 
 the proper use of his native talents has 
 worked his way up to a position of prom- 
 inence and affluence. 
 
 GUY B. CHANDLER. 
 
 Guy B. Chandler is the owner of a fine 
 farm in Wythe township. An attractive 1 
 residence stands in the midst of fine shade 
 trees and there are ample buildings in the 
 way of barns and sheds for the shelter 
 of grain and stock. There is also an ap- 
 ple orchard of two and a half acres, while 
 the well tilled fields annually produce 
 good crops, showing that the owner is 
 thoroughly conversant with the best 
 methods of tilling the soil. 
 
 The owner, Guy B. Chandler, is one 
 of Wythe township's native sons, his birth 
 having occurred within its borders on 
 the 1 5th of September. 1842. His pater- 
 nal grandfather, Dr. Chandler, was a 
 noted physician who practiced near 
 Zanesville in Muskingum county, Ohio, 
 but died there when comparatively a 
 young man. His son, Rudolphus Chan- 
 dler, born in Vermont, was but a young 
 lad at the time of his father's demise. 
 He learned the trade of a harness maker 
 and coach finisher, and, attracted by the 
 opportunities of the growing west, in 
 
 1836, he drove across the country with 
 team and wagon and purchased one hun- 
 dred and- sixty acres of land, constituting 
 the northwest quarter of section 20, 
 Wythe township, Hancock county, Illi- 
 nois. This was all wild prairie covered 
 with the native grasses and there was 
 little indication in the entire neighborhood 
 that the work of improvement and prog- 
 ress had been begun. Mr. Chandler 
 brought with him to Illinois his family, 
 constituting wife and three children. 
 He had been married in Ohio to Miss 
 Lydia Hutchinson, a native of that state, 
 and unto them were born two sons and a 
 daughter ere they left their old home. 
 After reaching this county Mr. Chandler 
 built a log house and log stable, and in 
 true pioneer style began life here. He 
 broke the prairie with the crude imple- 
 ments then in use, finding it an arduous 
 task, but he persevered in his work and 
 continued the cultivation and improve- 
 ment of the farm until his death, which 
 occurred December 13, 1876. His wife 
 passed away January 10, 1871, and was 
 laid to rest in the Congregational church 
 cemetery in Wythe township. 
 
 Guy B. Chandler was the youngest liv- 
 ing child at the time of his father's death. 
 His early education acquired in the dis- 
 trict schools, was supplemented by three 
 terms of study in Warsaw Seminary, and 
 he remained upon the old homestead un- 
 til the time of his marriage, aiding in the 
 work of tilling the soil and caring for 
 the crops. On the I2th of March, 1864. 
 when twenty-one years of age, he wedded 
 Miss Elizabeth A. Smith, who 'was born 
 in Clark county, Indiana, March 23, 1839, 
 a daughter of William and Susan (Scott)
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 297 
 
 Smith, natives of England and Maryland 
 respectively, the former a son of John 
 Smith, and the latter a daughter of John 
 Scott. In the spring of 1856 they went 
 to Warsaw and soon afterward settled 
 with his brother, John Smith, in Wythe 
 township. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Chandler 
 purchased a farm of one hundred and 
 twenty acres in Clark county, Missouri, 
 of which sixty acres had been cleared, 
 fenced and was under cultivation. He 
 resolutely undertook the task of improv- 
 ing the remainder of the farm and there 
 lived until after his mother's death, when 
 he returned to the home place in Hancock 
 county, conducting the farm for his fa- 
 ther until the latter's demise, when he- 
 purchased one hundred and sixty acres 
 of the old homestead. Eight years later 
 he remodeled and improved the residence, 
 which his brother had built. After his 
 father's death he also fenced the place 
 with hedge and with wire fences and he 
 planted many fine shade trees, which add 
 much to the value and attractive appear- 
 ance of the farm. He also has an apple 
 orchard covering two and a half acres. 
 In 1903 he replaced the old home by a 
 fine residence, containing all modern 
 equipments and conveniences. It is sup- 
 plied with hot and cold water and heated 
 by furnace and convenient in its arrange- 
 ment and tasteful in its furnishings. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Chandler 
 has been blessed with three daughters: 
 Luella, now the wife of P. A. Fulton, of 
 Keokuk, Iowa; Nettie S., the wife of Rev. 
 Edward Montgomery, a Presbyterian min- 
 ister at Warsaw, Indiana; and Eve E., 
 the wife of Rev. W. H. Matthews, pas- 
 
 tor of a Presbyterian church in Chicago. 
 The daughters were educated in Knox 
 College, the older two pursuing the regu- 
 lar course, while the other pursued the 
 scientific course and also studied music 
 in that institution. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Chandler thus gave their children excel- 
 lent educational privileges and have lived 
 to see them well settled in life. They 
 hold membership in the Presbyterian 
 church, in the work of which they are 
 deeply interested and to the support of 
 which they contribute generously. Mr. 
 Chandler is a republican, who has served 
 as trustee of his township and also as 
 assessor, discharging the duties of these 
 offices with promptness and fidelity. His 
 entire life has been passed in Wythe 
 township and he is both widely and fa- 
 vorably known in this part of the county. 
 He has made an enviable record as a 
 business man and has achieved a measure 
 of success which is most creditable, as it 
 has been honorably won. 
 
 - CHARLES B. DOOLITTLE. 
 
 Charles B. Doolittle, owning and op- 
 erating one of the finest tracts of land 
 in Appanoose township, is a native son 
 of this township, having here been born 
 May 25. 1838, a son of Amzi and Phebe 
 (White) Doolittle, natives of New York 
 and Ohio respectively. The paternal 
 grandfather. Edward Doolittle, left New 
 York at an early day, coming to Illinois, 
 settling in Sangamon county. He
 
 298 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 brought with him his son Amzi, who was 
 then seventeen years of age. He then 
 left the son in Illinois and started back 
 to New York for his wife and the other 
 members of the family but died on the 
 way. The son Amzi worked at farm la- 
 bor in Sangamon county, receiving nine 
 dollars per month for his work. 'He was' 
 thus employed for thirteen months and 
 during that time had saved one hundred 
 dollars, which he invested in a heifer, a 
 yoke of steers and a sow. He then broke 
 eight acres of wild land, which he plant- 
 ed to corn, and in this way he gained his 
 start in life. At the end of two years, 
 having raised quite an amount of stock, 
 which he disposed of, and then removed 
 to Schuyler county, Illinois, where he also 
 broke eight acres of land, on which he 
 lived until 1826, and then came to Appa- 
 noose and built the first house in the vil- 
 lage double log cabin. Many Indians 
 were still to be found in this section of 
 the state, and Mr. Doolittle traded some 
 stock to them for a tract of land. He 
 also conducted the first ferryboat run- 
 ning from Appanoose to Fort Madison, 
 Iowa. He was married in this state to 
 Miss Phebe White and they took up their 
 abode in Appanoose. Later in company 
 with his wife and one child he started 
 for his old home in the Empire state, 
 traveling on a steamer up the Mississippi 
 and Ohio rivers, and it was not until he 
 had reached his old home that he learned 
 of his father's death, he having died 
 twelve years previous while on his way 
 to that state for his family. Mr. Doolit- 
 tle after a time returned again to Appa- 
 noose, where he continued the operation 
 of his ferry-boat. He also built a large 
 
 sawmill and in connection with two other 
 men built one of the first houses in Bur- 
 lington, Iowa. He was a very prosper- 
 ous man in all of his undertakings and 
 eventually became a large landowner, 
 having one thousand acres, situated in 
 Iowa, Missouri, and Hancock county. 
 He also conducted a merchandising en- 
 terprise and dealt in lumber. He was 
 very active in the ranks of the Democratic 
 party, serving as supervisor, as poor mas- 
 ter of the county, and during his incum- 
 bency in the office of supervisor he saved 
 the township several thousand dollars. 
 
 Charles B. Doolittle, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, was reared to farm life, 
 assisting his father in the operation of 
 the homestead property, where he re- 
 ceived practical training in all depart- 
 ments of farm labor. His educational 
 advantages, however, were very limited 
 for, owing to the unsettled condition of 
 the country in his youth, there was not a 
 good school system established, and dur- 
 ing the short time that he pursued his 
 studies the sessions of school were held 
 in private homes. In 1862, in company 
 with three comrades, he crossed the 
 plains, traveling overland with six yoke 
 of oxen, and after a long, tedious jour- 
 ney, which covered four months and five 
 days, they reached Walla Walla, W r ash- 
 ington, where he was employed in the 
 gold mines during the summer season 
 and through the winter months he worked 
 on different ranches. In October, 1866, 
 he started down the Yellowstone river 
 to Sioux City, Iowa, from which place 
 he went by stage to Denison, and there 
 boarded the first railroad train lie was 
 ever on, his destination being Fort Madi-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 299 
 
 son. He worked for his father for one 
 year following his return from the west, 
 and his father then gave him one hundred 
 and nine acres of land, situated on section 
 n, Appanoose township, of which twen- 
 ty-five acres had been cleared, while the 
 remainder was covered with timber. He 
 has since cleared much of this and now 
 has about seventy-five acres under culti- 
 vation, which each year yields abundant 
 harvests as the result of care and labor 
 he has bestowed upon the fields. He has 
 nineteen acres in oak timber, which is 
 the first growth. He has also added many 
 modern improvements upon his place, in- 
 cluding good fences and outbuildings, 
 which are kept in good state of repair, 
 so that his farm shows evidence of an en- 
 terprising and progressive owner. 
 
 In August, 1867. occurred the mar- 
 riage of Mr. C. B. Doolittle and Miss 
 Nancy Olive Atherton, a native of Appa- 
 noose township, and a daughter of Rob- 
 ert Atherton. She became the mother of 
 four sons and a daughter: Amzi. of 
 Decorra, Illinois; Cora, the wife of Wil- 
 liam Long, of Hancock county, Illinois : 
 Harry D. and Charles Roy, on the home 
 place; and John Simpson, of Xiota. Illi- 
 nois. The wife and mother died about 
 1894, and thus passed away one of the 
 highly esteemed women of Hancock 
 county, her loss being deeply regretted 
 by many friends, as well as her immediate 
 family. 
 
 Mr. Doolittle gives his political sup- 
 port to the Democratic party, and served 
 as school director for eight years, but 
 aside from this has held no public office. 
 Although deeply interested in the ad- 
 vancement of his countv and its welfare 
 
 he finds little time for holding public of- 
 fice, preferring to concentrate his ener- 
 gies upon his own private interests, in 
 which he is meeting with very desirable 
 success. Although he inherited his prop- 
 erty from his father he has worked hard 
 in clearing and improving the place until 
 today his is one of the productive and val- 
 uable tracts of his section of the .state. 
 
 WILLIAM H. HARTZELL. 
 
 William H. Hartzell is actively con- 
 nected with a profession which has im- 
 portant bearing upon the progress and 
 stable prosperity of any section or com- 
 munity and one which has long been con- 
 sidered as conserving the public welfare 
 by furthering the ends of justice nnd 
 maintaining individual rights and in his 
 practice has attained considerable promi- 
 nence, having today a distinctively rep- 
 resentative clientage. 
 
 Mr. Hartzell was born in Durham 
 township. Hancock county, November 8, 
 1869, and is a son of Noah and Rebecca 
 (Weatherington) Hartzell. The father 
 was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 
 1829, and the mother's birth occurred in 
 or near Columbus, Ohio, in the same year. 
 Mr. Hartzell was a farmer by occupation 
 and followed that pursuit following his 
 removal to Hancock county. -In religious 
 faith he was a Methodist, while his wife 
 belongs to the Baptist church. His death 
 occurred in La Harpe, while Mrs. Hart- 
 zell is now living in that town with her
 
 300 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 daughter, Belle C., who is now the wife 
 of Harry E. Claycomb and is the eldest 
 of the family. The others are: Judd 
 O., who resides in Monmouth, Illinois; 
 Franklin, who died in childhood; and 
 William H., of this review. 
 
 Reared under the parental roof Wil- 
 liam H. Hartzell pursued his education 
 in the high school at La Harpe, of which 
 he is a graduate, and in Gitting's Semi- 
 nary. In 1886, at the age of seventeen 
 years, he took up the study of law in the 
 office and under the direction of the firm 
 of O'Hara & Scofield, of Carthage, and 
 in 1890 was admitted to the bar, being 
 then twenty-one years of age. He was 
 then admitted to a partnership by his 
 former preceptors and the firm became 
 O'Hara, Scofield & Hartzell. Following 
 the dissolution of this connection Mr. 
 Hartzell joined Truman Plantz in the es- 
 tablishment of a law firm, Mr. Plantz 
 maintaining an office in Warsaw and Mr. 
 Hartzell in Carthage. The firm had an 
 existence of nine months in that form, at 
 the end of which. time William C. Hooker 
 was admitted to a partnership and so 
 continued for three years. In 1901, Mr. 
 Hartzell opened an office alone on Jack- 
 son street in Carthage, where he is now 
 located. He possesses a fine law library, 
 with the contents of which he is largely 
 familiar. A self-made man, he entered 
 business life as an employe of Charles 
 Gill, proprietor of a general store in La 
 Harpe, working in the implement depart- 
 ment through the summer vacations, on 
 Saturdays and after school hours. To- 
 day he is a leading lawyer of Carthage, 
 having one of the finest practices in jury 
 cases in the county. He is indeed a 
 
 strong and able trial lawyer and has won 
 notable successes in several criminal 
 cases. His is a natural discrimination as 
 to legal ethics and he is so thoroughly 
 well read in the minutae of the law that 
 he is able to base his arguments upon 
 thorough knowledge and familiarity with 
 precedent and to present a case upon its 
 merits, never failing to recognize the 
 main point at issue and never neglecting 
 to give a thorough preparation. He 
 served as state's attorney from 1892 un- 
 til 1896 and was also city attorney for 
 La Harpe. 
 
 On the 1 3th of June, 1891, Mr. Hart- 
 zell was married to Miss Inez E. Char- 
 ter, who was born near La Harpe in 1872, 
 a daughter of Samuel and Salina (Lov- 
 itt) Charter, both of whom were natives 
 of Muskingum county, Ohio. Her fa- 
 ther was descended from Kentucky an- 
 cestry and came to Illinois at an early 
 day, settling on a farm. He is now de- 
 ceased, while his widow resides in Los 
 Angeles, California. They were mem- 
 bers of the Christian church and to this 
 church Mrs. Hartzell also belongs. In 
 her parents' family were five children : 
 Phoebe and Ella, both deceased; Lucile, 
 wife of J. W. Mitchell, who is living in 
 Kentucky; Clara, the widow of Richard 
 Sailor, of Los Angeles, California ; and 
 Inez E., the wife of our subject. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell have been born 
 five children, Ruth, Franklin, Philip. 
 Eloise and Grace, aged respectively thir- 
 teen, eleven, eight, four and one years. 
 All were born in Carthage. The family 
 home is pleasantly located about three and 
 a half blocks northeast of the square and 
 is a beautiful residence at the comer of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 301 
 
 Jackson and Davis streets. Mrs. Hart- 
 zell is a most active and interested worker 
 in the church and is now president of the 
 Missionary Society. Mr. Hartzell usu- 
 ally votes with the Democratic party, but 
 does not consider himself bound by party 
 ties and often casts an independent bal- 
 lot. He is a jovial, warm-hearted man, 
 a true friend and an entertaining conver- 
 sationalist, who looks at life from a prac- 
 tical standpoint, appreciative of its bless- 
 ings and pleasures and never neglectful 
 of its duties. He has won a notable pjace 
 in legal circles and is respected by all 
 with whom business or social relations 
 have brought him in contact. 
 
 BREVET MAJOR GENERAL OLI- 
 VER EDWARDS. 
 
 Brevet Major General Oliver Edwards 
 was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, 
 January 30, 1835. The family has al- 
 ways furnished representatives as defend- 
 ers of the country. 
 
 Captain Oliver Edwards entered the 
 colonial service in 1775, and valiantly 
 aided in the struggle that secured the re- 
 lease of the oppressed colonies from Brit- 
 ish tyranny. He married Rachel Par- 
 sons, of Northampton, and their soif, Dr. 
 Elisha Edwards, father of the general, 
 was bom in Chesterfield, Massachusetts, 
 January 26, 1795. 
 
 When a young man, Elisha Edwards 
 went to Northampton and in the employ 
 of E. Hunt learned the apothecary busi- 
 
 ness. In 1815 he moved to Springfield, 
 Massachusetts, and engaged in business 
 on his own account. In 1820 he formed 
 a partnership with Henry Sterns, which 
 lasted until 1825, and in 1828 with 
 Charles J. Upham under the firm name of 
 C. J. Upham & Company he established 
 a wholesale drug house. He was one of 
 the subscribers to the fund that purchased 
 Court Square and was chosen one of the 
 nine original directors of the Chicopee 
 Bank of Springfield. In 1821 he was 
 united in marriage to Eunice Lombard, 
 the daughter of Daniel and Sylvia (Burt) 
 Lombard, the birth of the father occurring 
 February 4, 1764. In 1787, during 
 Shay's rebellion, Mr. Lombard was ac- 
 tive on the side of the government forces 
 in quelling the insurrection. He received 
 the commission of quartermaster of the 
 First Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer 
 Militia, from Governor Samuel Adams 
 on July 31,1 794, and was honorably dis- 
 charged January 20, 1798. He was ap- 
 pointed postmaster by Thomas Jefferson 
 in 1806 and held that office during the ad- 
 ministrations of James Madison, James 
 Monroe and John Quincy Adams until 
 June 3. 1829, a continuous service of 
 twenty-three years. He married Sylvia 
 Burt, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. 
 
 To Dr. and Mrs. Edwards were born 
 five sons and five daughters, seven of 
 whom grew to maturity: Mrs. Caroline 
 L. Smith, of Springfield, Massachusetts ; 
 Mrs. Sophia O. Johnson, of Bath, New 
 Hampshire; Mrs. Charlotte. E. Warner, 
 of Springfield, Massachusetts; William, 
 a prominent merchant of Cleveland, Ohio; 
 Mrs. Julia E. Hurd, of Dorchester, Mas- 
 sachusetts; Oliver, of Warsaw, Illinois;
 
 302 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and Mrs. Mary E. Childs, of Cleveland, 
 Ohio. 
 
 From early boyhood, Oliver Edwards, 
 of this review, had shown an undivided 
 interest in mechanics, taking delight in 
 the construction of articles from his play- 
 things. It had been his mother's inten- 
 tion to give him a collegiate education, 
 but so firmly was his heart set on mechan- 
 ism, that she at last consented for him to 
 pursue studies along that line and ar- 
 ranged for him a paid apprenticeship at 
 the Springfield Arsenal, and there he be- 
 came a master mechanic. 
 
 At the age of twenty-one, he started for 
 Dubuque. Iowa, with the intention of 
 establishing a foundry. An accident to 
 the steamer coming up the Mississippi 
 delayed him at Warsaw, Illinois, and 
 overtures were made to him to build a 
 foundry at that point. He entered a busi- 
 ness partnership known as Neberling, Ed- 
 wards & Company, a foundry was built 
 and to this work he devoted his time un- 
 til the breaking out of the Civil war. Be- 
 ing in Cleveland, Ohio, when the first 
 call for troops was made he determined 
 to return to the state where his ancestors 
 had fought to establish the Union and 
 there offer his services to aid in its pres- 
 ervation. He entered the service June 
 21, 1 86 1, as a private, but was appointed 
 adjutant of the Tenth Massachusetts 
 Regiment, but was soon detailed senior 
 aid-de-camp on the staff of General D. 
 X. Couch, commanding the division. In 
 August, 1862. he was commissioned ma- 
 jor and directed to organize the Thirty- 
 seventh Massachusetts Volunteer Regi- 
 ment and September 4, 1862, he was mus- 
 tered in as its colonel. 
 
 His ability as a commander was many 
 times demonstrated. At Salem Church, 
 Va., May 3, 1863, he was placed in com- 
 mand of his own and the Thirty-sixth 
 New York Regiment to occupy the posi- 
 tion of the extreme angle on the Federal 
 line of battle, throughout the night of 
 the 3d and the ensuing day. This exposed 
 position was one of great peril and Gen- 
 eral Sedgwick, the corps commander, ex- 
 pressed his gratification at the outcome, 
 frankly admitting that he had not expect- 
 ed to save a single man from the exposed 
 position in which it had been necessary 
 to place the command. Colonel Edwards 
 personally led his command through the 
 terrible cannonade at Gettysburg, July 3, 
 1863, and when more than thirty of his 
 men had fallen in a few minutes his reso- 
 nant words of confidence, "Steady, 
 Thirty-seventh!" rose above the din of 
 battle and held every man to his place in 
 a manner that won immediate and un- 
 qualified compliment delivered upon the 
 field by the brigade commander. On the 
 3Oth of July, 1863, an order was given 
 detailing "Four of the best disciplined 
 regiments of the Army of the Potomac" 
 for duty at New York in connection with 
 the draft temporarily suspended owing 
 to the draft riots, and the Thirty-seventh 
 Massachusetts was the first regiment 
 named in arranging for the detail. Dur- 
 ing his stay in New York Colonel Ed- 
 wardS was in command of the troops at 
 .Ft. Hamilton, consisting of his own regi- 
 ment, two regiments of New York heavy 
 artillery and some detachments of regu- 
 lars that formed the permanent garrison. 
 One incident only of the two months' stay 
 there may be repeated there, although
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 many others would make interesting read- 
 ing: Learning that prominent anti-draft 
 leaders had declared that probably no fur- 
 ther rioting would take place unless Mas- 
 sachusetts troops were brought to the 
 city, in which case not a man of them 
 would be allowed to leave alive, Colonel 
 Edwards promptly requested that he be 
 allowed to bring up his regiment as a 
 special guard for the drafting quarters, 
 that no other troops be allowed in sight 
 and that only the Massachusetts state flag 
 be displayed unless actual conflict took 
 place. The request was granted and the 
 plan fully carried out, but the .threatened 
 vengeance of the murderous wretches, 
 who a few weeks before had drenched the 
 city with blood, did not (very fortunately 
 for them) go further than sullen looks 
 and gloomy silence. The will of one fear- 
 less commander had faced a lawless ele- 
 ment boasting an organized force of 20,- 
 ooo men and had won a bloodless tri- 
 umph for law and order. 
 
 It was not until fall that an opportu- 
 nity occurred for leave of absence that 
 enabled Colonel Edwards to return to 
 Warsaw for the intended bride who had 
 waited with trunks ready packed since 
 May, the time first set for their marriage, 
 and on September 3, 1863, Oliver Ed- 
 wards was united in marriage to Ann 
 Eliza Johnston, daughter of John E. and 
 Catherine (Baldwin) Johnston, of War- 
 saw, Illinois, whose sketch appears on 
 another page of this work. 
 
 In the battle of the wilderness. May 5, 
 1864, General Wadsworth, whose divi- 
 sion had been broken and driven back in 
 some disorder, called upon Colonel Ed- 
 wards and his regiment for assistance in 
 
 checking the triumphant enemy and clear- 
 ing the field so that the broken division 
 might be reformed and put into action. 
 For nine hundred yards his single regi- 
 ment swept the field triumphantly, though 
 at a cost of one-fourth of its number. 
 
 "You have made a splendid charge, 
 your regiment has done all I wished, and 
 more than I dared hope," said General 
 Wadsworth as he rode away in search of 
 his division and to instant death. 
 
 General Edwards received the brevet 
 rank of brigadier general October 19, 
 1864, "for gallant and distinguished 
 services in the battle of Spotsylvania 
 Court House and meritorious conduct on 
 the field of battle at Winchester, Vir- 
 ginia." 
 
 At the battle of Opegnam, September 
 19, 1864, upon the death of General Rus- 
 sell and the wounding of General Upham, 
 the command of the division devolved 
 upon Colonel Edwards, which he held 
 until the close of the battle and handled 
 with such promptness and skill, with 
 such unfailing judgment as to win the ad- 
 miration of his superior officers, especially 
 General Sheridan, who as a mark of ap- 
 preciation appointed him commandant of 
 the post at Winchester, Virginia, with his 
 brigade as post garrison. It was from 
 the breakfast table at General Edwards's 
 headquarters that General Sheridan start- 
 ed on his ride to Cedar Creek to check 
 the disaster of October 19. In fact, the 
 friendship between Generals Sheridan and 
 Edwards was so close that the former 
 urged Edwards to accept the appoint- 
 ment of provost marshal general on his 
 staff and it was with great reluctance that 
 Sheridan consented for him to return to
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 his old brigade. In vain was the offer 
 of a command of a division not includ- 
 ing his old brigade made Edwards by 
 General Meade. When his return to ac- 
 tive duty was decided upon the heart of 
 the commander was with his old regi- 
 ment and he emphatically refused to take 
 any appointment which would take him 
 from them. In the assault of April 2 
 on the lines at Petersburg his brigade 
 took an active part, being the first to 
 break through the confederate works. 
 Next morning General Edwards received 
 from the mayor of Petersburg the sur- 
 render of the city very soon after the 
 evacuation of General Lee. For his serv- 
 ices at this time he received the commis- 
 sion of brevet major general to date from 
 April 5, 1865. On the I5th of January, 
 1866, he was honorably discharged from 
 the service of the United States after 
 declining an appointment for permanent 
 military advancement of which any sol- 
 dier might be proud, contentedly return- 
 ing to take up the broken threads of busi- 
 ness life. Returning to Warsaw, Illi- 
 nois, at the close of the war, he remained 
 for three years, serving the city as post- 
 master for a year and a half, a position he 
 resigned to become general agent for -the 
 Florence Machine Company at North- 
 ampton, Massachusetts, removing with 
 his family to that place, and later be- 
 came the company's general superintend- 
 ent, during which time he patented sev- 
 eral improvements on the sewing machine. 
 He invented and patented the Florence 
 spring skate, which the company manu- 
 factured, also the Florence oil stove, the 
 base of which is used in all the wick oil 
 stoves used and manufactured today. 
 
 In 1875 he retired from active business, 
 and returning to Warsaw bought the 
 house built by William H. Roosevelt, a 
 grand uncle of President Theodore 
 Roosevelt, which remains the family 
 home. 
 
 In 1882 he accepted an appointment as 
 general manager of the Gardner Machine 
 and Gun Company, of England, with 
 headquarters in that country. After a 
 year he returned to the United States for 
 his family, but two years later resigned 
 owing to ill health and again returned to 
 Warsaw. 
 
 He was always active in the advance- 
 ment of the best interests of his city, serv- 
 ing it as mayor three terms, was chosen 
 many times upon the boards of public 
 school and library, was frequently com- 
 mander of Arthur W. Marsh Post No. 
 343, Grand Army of the Republic, and 
 a member of the Masonic fraternity. In 
 politics he was a stalwart republican. 
 During the last two years of his life he 
 gathered into manuscript his recollec- 
 tions of the Civil war. An ardent lover 
 of nature, time never hung heavy for him 
 and he spent many hours in the cultiva- 
 tion of his rose garden, in growing and 
 experimenting with fruits and vegetables. 
 He was a keen sportsman with rod and 
 gun, a friend of animals, a student of 
 books, a loyal friend and an honored citi- 
 zen, following faithfully every pursuit 
 of earnest duty, content and proud to 
 pass his life modestly, sweetly, in the land 
 his valor had helped to save. 
 
 General Edwards died at his home in 
 Warsaw, April 28, 1904. There sur- 
 vive him his wife and two children: John 
 E. and Julia Katherine, the latter now
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 305 
 
 living with her mother at the home in 
 \Yarsaw. John E. received his educa- 
 tion in the public schools of Massachu- 
 setts and Illinois up to the age of four- 
 teen, when he was sent to Hanover Col- 
 lege, Hanover, Indiana, for two years, 
 and then for one year attended the Quincy 
 (Illinois) Business College. At the age 
 of seventeen, being in poor health, he 
 went to Colorado to spend the summer 
 on the ranch of his mother's uncle, Ed- 
 win Baldwin, intending to enter the Uni- 
 versity of Michigan that fall, but the 
 charm of the west held him and the fol- 
 lowing three years he spent on the ranches 
 in Colorado, Texas and Indian Territory 
 as a cowboy. In 1888 he went to Chi- 
 cago and for a year was in the employ of 
 Nelson, Morris & Company and of Swift 
 & Company, but returned to Texas and 
 drove a herd to Montana. For nine years 
 he was in the employ of Thomas Cruse 
 as foreman of an outfit and as general 
 manager of all his cattle and sheep in- 
 terests in Fergus County, Montana, re- 
 signing to go into a general merchandis- 
 ing business at Junction, Montana. A 
 year later he was appointed United States 
 Indian agent on the Crow reservation, an 
 appointment he held for three years, re- 
 signing to be appointed United States 
 Indian inspector for the northwest, from 
 which he resigned to go into business at 
 Forsyth, Montana, where he is president 
 of the Bank of Commerce, of the Electric 
 Light and Telephone Company and is 
 also engaged in irrigation and railroad 
 construction. He has recently been elect- 
 ed to represent Rosebud county as state 
 senator. In 1891 he married Julia, a 
 daughter of Reese Anderson, a ranchman 
 
 at Ft. Maginnis, Montana, and to them 
 have been Iwrn three children, two now 
 living: Annie Johnstone and Eunice 
 Irene Edwards. 
 
 (Taken from the Springfield, Massa- 
 chusetts, Repubican, date September 20, 
 1904) : At the presentation of a portrait 
 of General Edwards by Mr. Bowen to the 
 Springfield, Massachusetts, city hall col- 
 lection. 
 
 Secretary James L. Bowen, of this city, 
 who made the presentation speech, said 
 that General Edwards needed no memo- 
 rial to keep his memory enshrined in the 
 hearts of those who fought under him, 
 and with him. But it was fitting that the 
 members of General Edwards's old regi- 
 ment should leave something to serve as 
 a reminder in the city of his birth of 
 their old commander. Mr. Bowen said 
 that he should not aitempt to review the 
 life of General Edwards, for the facts 
 were too well known. His military rec- 
 ord did not need to be eulogized. From 
 the battle of Fair Oaks to the mustering 
 out in 1865 he fought bravely. General 
 Edwards had entered the service, Mr. 
 Bowen said, from civilian life, dropping 
 his business in the west on the call to 
 arms. He came to Springfield and be- 
 gan recruiting on Hampden park. And 
 when the recruits that he had collected 
 were portioned out to fill other brigades 
 General Edwards did not sulk in his tent, 
 but accepted the conditions like a true sol- 
 dier. His promotion was clue, Mr. 
 Bowen said, not to political- influence, but 
 to his own ability. 
 
 Loyal as he was to the state and city 
 of his nativity, he was equally loyal to the 
 regiment which he had organized and
 
 306 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 which had given its organizer such credit. 
 During his entire military career he ab- 
 solutely refused to accept any command 
 which did not include the Thirty-seventh 
 Massachusetts regiment. His warm 
 friend, General Sheridan, urged him, 
 while commandant of the post at Win- 
 chester, to accept an appointment which 
 meant a lifetime of service in the regular 
 army, with high rank, but it was declined, 
 and he returned to the army of the Poto- 
 mac, to renew the perils of 'active service 
 in the field. There he positively refused 
 to accept any command which did not 
 embrace you men who are gathered here 
 today. This refusal was carried to such 
 a point as to place him in antagonism 
 with officers of superior rank, but Ed- 
 wards would not swerve, and finally he 
 was assigned to the command which he 
 sought, and through the defenses of Pe- 
 tersburg he led his tried and trusted bat- 
 talions, as he did in that last terrific strug- 
 gle at Sailor's creek, where General Sher- 
 idan, not accustomed to delay in striking 
 the enemy, sat upon his horse, with the 
 battlefield before him, and waited till Ed- 
 wards and his command could be brought 
 up from a point three miles in the rear to 
 bear the brunt of the infantry fighting. 
 
 His life as a citizen was a worthy sup- 
 plement to his life as a soldier. Modest 
 in his manner, the esteem in which he was 
 held is showr^by the positions of trust 
 given him by the community in which 
 his life was passed, where every honor 
 within the gift of his constituents was 
 gratefully bestowed. Such, in brief, was 
 the life whose close we mourn as we 
 gather here today. Mr. Commander. I 
 give to your keeping this memorial. 
 
 Brevet Major General Oliver Edwards 
 peerless soldier, worthy citizen, true- 
 hearted comrade. 
 
 JOHN W. BERTSCHI. 
 
 John W. Bertschi is one of the native 
 sons of Hancock county, having first 
 opened his eyes to the light of day on 
 section 22, Appanoose township, Febru- 
 ary 12, 1852. In the years that have 
 come and gone he has proved an active 
 and enterprising citizen, giving helpful 
 support to many progressive public 
 measures and at the same time carefully 
 conducting his individual business inter- 
 ests. Little is known concerning the an- 
 cestral history of the family save that 
 earlier generations were for a long pe- 
 riod residents of Switzerland. John 
 Bertschi, the grandfather, born and 
 reared in that country, was there married 
 to Miss Steiner, and their son, William 
 Bertschi, was born in the land of the 
 Alps April 18, 1825. Having arrived at 
 years of maturity, he wedded Miss Eliza- 
 beth Walti, who was born in Switzerland. 
 July 2, 1827, and was a daughter of Ru- 
 dolph Walti. It was in the year 1849 
 that William Bertschi came to Hancock 
 county with his widowed mother and 
 brothers and sisters. He was then a 
 young man of twenty-four years, and 
 after assisting the family to get located 
 in the new world, he returned to his na- 
 tive country in 1850 and there, in the 
 spring of 1851, he was married. In the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 fall of the same year he brought his bride 
 to the United States and made his way 
 to Hancock county, Illinois, having pre- 
 viously determined to locate here where 
 the family had taken up their abode. He 
 purchased forty acres of land on section 
 22. Appanoose township, it being one of 
 the first farms of the locality. Upon it 
 was the only apple orchard in this part 
 of the county and people would come for 
 miles around to get apples, and others 
 came for long distances just to see the or- 
 chard, which was an oddity in those early 
 days. There was one frame house and 
 one log building upon the farm and also 
 two or three log stables. As Mr. Bertschi 
 could not obtain possession of his prop- 
 erty until the spring of 1852 he lived 
 with his sister, who had the adjoining 
 forty acres, during the winter. When 
 spring came, however, he took up his 
 abode upon his own place and began its 
 development and improvement. In course 
 of time he added eighty acres of prairie 
 land and forty acres of timber and at dif- 
 ferent times made purchase of twenty 
 acres on section 15, twenty acres on sec- 
 tion 1 6, and an eighty-acre tract on sec- 
 tion 27. He became well known as a 
 stockman, being particularly fond of 
 horses, and thus well qualified for their 
 care and raising. He owned the first 
 imported Percheron horse sired by Napo- 
 leon brought to this country. At differ- 
 ent times he owned many stallions and did 
 an extensive business as a breeder. He 
 died March 7, 1900, and was laid to rest 
 in Nauvoo cemetery, while his wife 
 passed away October 7, 1893. Their 
 family numbered five sons and three 
 daughters, as follows : John W. ; Her- 
 
 man and Albert, who are residing at 
 Glenwood, Washington; Carl, whose 
 home is in Niota, this county ; Lizette B., 
 the widow of Lee Miller, of Iowa ; Otillia, 
 the wife of John Kindscher, of Meeker, 
 Colorado; Emma, the wife of Louis J. 
 Bicker, who resides on the old Bertschi 
 homestead in Appanoose township; and 
 William D., also of Niota. 
 
 No event of special importance oc- 
 curred to vary the routine of farm life 
 for John W. Bertschi in his boyhood and 
 youth. He was a student in Center dis- 
 trict school of Appanoose township and 
 like other boys he enjoyed the sports 
 which were indulged in by the youth of 
 the neighborhood. He was trained to ac- 
 tive farm labor, early becoming familiar 
 with the work of the fields, and to his fa- 
 ther he gave the benefit of his services un- 
 til his marriage, remaining until that time 
 under the parental roof. He had pre- 
 viously purchased eighty acres of land on 
 section 27, Appanoose township, of 
 which he became owner in the spring of 
 1876. There was an old log house upon 
 the place that is still standing, and the 
 other improvements were of a primitive 
 nature. 
 
 It was to this pioneer home that Mr. 
 Bertschi took his bride, when on the 24th 
 of October, 1877, he was married to Miss 
 Margaret Forth, who was born in Appa- 
 noose township. May 28, 1856. Her par- 
 ents were Frederick and Dorothy E. ( Her- 
 man) Forth, natives of Hesse, Germany. 
 The father made his way. to Belleville. 
 Illinois, in 1841, and lived in St. Clair 
 county - until 1852, when he removed to 
 Nauvoo and settled upon a farm in Ap- 
 panoose township, where he spent his re-
 
 3 o8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 
 maining days, passing away on the ist of 
 December, 1894. His widow still sur- 
 vives him and is now living in St. Louis 
 with her daughter, Mrs. John Klug. As 
 stated, Mr. Bertschi took his bride to the 
 log cabin upon his farm and there lived 
 for ten years, after which they spent two 
 years in a stone house situated opposite 
 his place. In the fall of 1890 he was 
 elected treasurer of the county and re- 
 moved to Carthage, where he continued 
 to reside until 1898, when he removed to 
 the vicinity of his home place and rented 
 a house, but in that year he had a modern 
 dwelling erected, which he and his fam- 
 ily have occupied since September, 1898. 
 He has also extended the boundaries of 
 his farm by purchasing sixty acres on the 
 south. He is well known as a general 
 farmer and stock-raiser, his attention in 
 the latter direction being given largely 
 to Poland China hogs. 
 
 In 1902 Mr. Bertschi was called upon 
 to mourn the loss of his wife, who died 
 on the 28th of January, and was buried 
 in Nauvoo cemetery. Their children 
 are: William Tell, who was bom Au- 
 gust 19, 1878, and is now in Portland, 
 Oregon; Roscoe R., who was born April 
 13, 1883, and is at home; and Wallace, 
 born May 14, 1887. 
 
 Mr. Bertschi holds membership in the 
 Christian church at Carthage, and is one 
 of the prominent democrats of the county, 
 recognized as a leader in the ranks of the 
 party. He was called to various public 
 offices, the duties of which he has dis- 
 charged with promptness and fidelity. 
 He was first elected township collector, 
 serving in 1877, 1878, 1879 and 1880. 
 It was during the same period that he 
 
 acted for one year as town clerk, and he 
 has also filled the office of supervisor for 
 a numlier of terms. For three years he 
 was a director of the agricultural board 
 of the county fair at Carthage. In the 
 fall of 1890 he was chosen by popular 
 suffrage to the office of county treasurer, 
 and served for one term of four years, 
 while since 1900 he has been assessor of 
 Appanoose township. Called thus to va- 
 rious offices his re-elections have been in- 
 dications of his ability and the trust and 
 confidence reposed in him by his fellow 
 townsmen. He has wielded a wide influ- 
 ence in public affairs and be it said to his 
 credit that the weight of his influence 
 is ever on the side of right, reform, prog- 
 ress and improvement. He is a man hon- 
 orable in all life's relations and whether 
 in positions of public trust, in business 
 circles or as a representative of social 
 relations he is known as a man worthy 
 of high regard and confidence. 
 
 FRANKLIN L. McCORMICK, M. D. 
 
 He whose name initiates this review 
 has gained recognition as one of the able 
 and successful physicians of Carthage and 
 Hancock county, and by his labors, his 
 high professional attainments and his 
 sterling characteristics has justified the re- 
 spect and confidence in which he is held 
 in the medical fraternity in the local pub- 
 lic. He is one of Illinois' native sons, his 
 birth having occurred in Mount Sterling, 
 Brown countv, on the 22d dav of March,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 309 
 
 1857, his parents being Robert and Ade- 
 line (Wilson) McCormick. The father 
 was bom in Kentucky and both he and 
 his wife spent their childhood days there 
 and were married in that state. The 
 name, however, would indicate Scotch an- 
 cestry. Robert McCormick and his wife 
 came to Illinois prior to 1849, as the 
 court records show that he owned the 
 ground where the Baptist church now 
 stands prior to that day. He was a tan- 
 ner and owned a tannery in Brown coun- 
 ty, continuing in that business up to the 
 time of his death. Both he and his wife 
 were devoted members of the Pres- 
 byterian church and were people of the 
 righest respectability. The father died 
 December 24, 1861, when his son Frank- 
 lin was but four years of age, and the 
 mother was left with the care of twelve 
 children, whom she reared, giving a 
 mother's loving devotion to them. She 
 died at the advanced age of eighty years, 
 three months and three days, passing 
 away in 1896. 
 
 Dr. McCormick is the eleventh child 
 and seventh son in the family. When 
 seven years of age he left Brown county 
 and removed to Pike county, Illinois, 
 where he acquired his preliminary educa- 
 tion and afterward attaided Normal 
 school. Later he engaged in teaching but 
 regarded this merely as an initial step to 
 other professional labor, for he desired 
 to become a member of the medical fra- 
 ternity and became a student in the office 
 and under the direction of Dr. Harvey, 
 of Pittsfield. He afterward attended the 
 Missouri Medical College at St. Louis 
 and pursued one course of lectures there, 
 while later he entered the Keokuk Med- 
 
 ical College, from which he was gradu- 
 ated with the class of 1897. He located 
 for practice at Bentley, in Hancock coun- 
 ty, where he soon secured a good country 
 practice, but desiring a broader field he 
 removed to Memphis, Missouri, where he 
 remained six months. He then came to 
 Carthage on the 22d of February, 1899, 
 and has since maintained a prominent po- 
 sition in the ranks of the medical frater- 
 nity here and has a large and lucrative 
 practice. He occupies a fine suite of 
 rooms in the McMahan building and is a 
 general practitioner, well versed in all de- 
 partments of medical science and its adap- 
 tation. He belongs to the Hancock Med- 
 ical Society, the Illinois State Medical 
 Society and the American Medical Asso- 
 ciation. He is moreover grand medical 
 examiner of the Hancock County Mutual 
 Life Association, of which he was the 
 originator, and which is now known as 
 one of the most successful mutual insur- 
 ance companies of the country, and owes 
 its success largely to Dr. McCormick. 
 Dr. McCormick was married Decem- 
 ber 13, 1882, to Miss Mary E. Brown- 
 ing, of Perry, Pike county, a daughter 
 of William and Mary (Dorsey) Brown- 
 ing, who were old residents of Pike coun- 
 ty, locating there on coming from Ten- 
 nessee. Unto Dr. and Mrs. McCormick 
 have been born three children : Matie 
 A., married June 3, 1906, to Carl C, Carl- 
 ton, of Sault St. Marie, Michigan, where 
 she resides. She is a graduate of the Car- 
 thage high school; Nettie L., who is also 
 a graduate of the high school and is cash- 
 ier of the Wyman Rand Carpet Com- 
 pany of Carthage; and Grace E., who is 
 vet a student. Dr. and Mrs. McCormick
 
 3 io 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and the two elder daughters hold mem- 
 bership in the Christian church. Theirs 
 is a pleasant and attractive home on South 
 Main street, Dr. McCormick having 
 made most of the improvements there. 
 Its hospitality is justly celebrated and 
 their circle of friends is an extensive one. 
 Dr. McCormick belongs to the Odd Fel- 
 lows Society of Perry and the Knights 
 of Pythias lodge at Pittsfield, Illinois. 
 In politics he is a democrat but is too 
 busy to hold office even if he had political 
 aspirations. He is justly accounted one 
 of the strong members of the medical 
 fraternity in the county, having thor- 
 oughly acquainted himself with the sci- 
 ence of medicine, and to his knowledge he 
 is continually adding through reading and 
 investigation, while in his practice he dis- 
 plays keen power of diagnosis, so that he 
 is seldom at error in a matter of profes- 
 sional judgment. 
 
 CLARK H. RICE. 
 
 Clark H. Rice is one of the native sons 
 of Hancock county and although his resi- 
 dence here has not been continuous he 
 has yet spent the greater part of his life 
 within the borders of the county and is 
 now classed with the representative agri- 
 culturists of Pontoosuc township, owning 
 and cultivating one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land on section 33. His life 
 record began in Durham township in 
 :r866 and he is a son of Henry 
 and Elizabeth Rice, who are men- 
 
 tioned elsewhere in this volume. He 
 was educated in the Almater school 
 and in Elliott's Business College, at Bur- 
 lington, Iowa, and thus, by liberal train- 
 ing, was well equipped for the arduous 
 duties that come with one's entrance into 
 the business world. He remained at 
 home with his parents until twenty-four 
 years of age and then made arrangements 
 for having a home of his own through 
 his marriage in 1890, to Miss Laura M. 
 Bradfield, who was born in Hardin 
 county, Iowa, January 4, 1870, a daugh- 
 ter of James N. and Ada (Wolf) Brad- 
 field. Her father was born in Virginia, 
 Loudoun county, in 1833, and her mother 
 in Ohio, in 1836, and they came to Han- 
 cock comity from Iowa when their daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Rice, was a very little girl. 
 She is the youngest of their four children, 
 all yet living, the others being : James 
 L., of La Harpe; William F., also living 
 in La Harpe ; and Sherman, a resident of 
 Durham township. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rice began their domestic 
 life on a farm near Disco, Illinois, and 
 followed farming in this county until 
 1893. The succeeding three years were, 
 spent upon a farm in Nebraska and on re- 
 turning to Illinois, Mr. Rice was again 
 engaged in farming near Disco for a year. 
 He after engaged in the same pursuit 
 near Argyle, Iowa, for six years, and 
 in 1903 he purchased one hundred and 
 sixty acres of land on section 32, Pon- 
 toosuc township, where he has since re- 
 sided. The place is well improved with a 
 good residence, barn and other modern 
 equipments and as a general farmer and 
 stock-raiser Mr. Rice is meeting with 
 prosperity, as the result of his close ap-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 plication, careful management and laud- 
 able ambition. 
 
 L'nto Mr. and Mrs. Rice were born 
 four children : One died in infancy. 
 Bertha, born October 25, 1891, in Disco, 
 died July 19, 1899; Charles L., born in 
 Argyle, Iowa, April 26, 1898, is at home; 
 Eulah E., born in Pontoosuc township, 
 July 5, 1903, died on the 29th of August, 
 of that year. The parents are consistent 
 members of the Methodist church and 
 in politics he is a republican. He has no 
 desire for office, preferring to devote his 
 entire time and attention to his business 
 interest which, carefully conducted, are 
 bringing him a measure of success that 
 classes him with the men of affluence in 
 his township. 
 
 LAFAYETTE FRAZER. 
 
 Lafayette Frazer. carrying on general 
 farming in Walker township, was born 
 in Walker township in 1882, a son of 
 George W. and Elizabeth Rebecca 
 (Shipe) Frazer. The father was reared 
 to farm life and has always followed 
 agricultural pursuits. His wife, also a 
 native of Hancock county, was born in 
 Rocky Run township. They still reside 
 in Walker township and are people of 
 genuine personal worth. Their family 
 numbers six children, of whom five are 
 now living: James, a resident of Walker 
 township: Edith, the wife of William 
 Schildman. of Walker township; Lafay- 
 20 
 
 ette, of this review ; Marion and Elberta, 
 both at home. 
 
 The Oak Valley school in Walker 
 township afforded Lafayette Frazer his 
 educational privileges, which he enjoyed 
 in his youth. He remained on the old 
 homestead until he had attained his ma- 
 jority and on the ist of December. 1901, 
 he was united in marriage to Miss Ina 
 Tripp, who was born in Adams county. 
 June 13, 1881, a daughter of Alva and 
 Sallie Tripp, both of whom were natives 
 of Illinois, the former born in 1854, and 
 the latter in 1861. They are now pros- 
 perous farming people of Adams county, 
 Illinois, and in their family are four chil- 
 dren, namely : Mrs. Frazer, Clifford, 
 Verna, and Virgil. The family yet re- 
 mains unbroken by the hand of death, and 
 with the exception of Mrs. Frazer all are 
 yet under the parental roof. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Frazer 
 rented a farm of two hundred and forty 
 acres which was once owned and occu- 
 pied by his grandfather and is now the 
 property of his father. Here he engages 
 in the raising of stock in addition to the 
 cultivation of the cereals best adapted to 
 soil and climate. In his farm work he 
 is enterprising as well as diligent and his 
 persistence and determination constitute 
 the salient features in his life and argue 
 well for his success. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Frazer has 
 been blessed with two interesting chil- 
 dren : Helen, born in 1902 ; and Harold, 
 in 1904. The parents are pleasant, 
 genial people and hospitality is one of the 
 delightful features of their home. Mr. 
 Frazer exercises his right of franchise in 
 support of the democracy but has never
 
 3 I2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 been an aspirant for office, preferring to 
 concentrate his energies upon his busi- 
 ness affairs. 
 
 JOHN MORGAN KISER. 
 
 A well developed and highly improved 
 farm in Wythe township is the property 
 of John Morgan Kiser, who has spent 
 almost his entire life in Illinois. He was 
 born in Campbell county, Kentucky, Sep- 
 tember 20, 1862, being the sixth in order 
 of birth in a family of two sons and seven 
 daughters whose parents ;werei Wilson 
 and Mary (Johnson) Kiser, likewise na- 
 tives of Campbell county. The paternal 
 grandfather was Robert Kiser, and the 
 maternal grandfather, James Johnson, 
 both residents of Kentucky. In the year 
 1864, Wilson Kiser brought his family 
 to Hancock county and purchased one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land on sec- 
 tion 29, Wythe township. Upon this 
 farm was a small house and a little stable 
 and a fence had been built around the 
 place. He soon remodeled the house, 
 built a granary and barn and continued 
 the work of improving his farm which 
 in course of years became an excellent 
 property, the fields returning him golden 
 harvests in reward for the care and labor 
 which he bestowed upon them. He re- 
 mained upon this farm until' called to 
 his final rest, his wife passing away in 
 May. 1890. while he survived until Oc- 
 tober of the same year. 
 
 Brought to Wythe township when but 
 two years of age, John M. Kiser pursued 
 
 his education in the district schools of the 
 neighborhood and when not busy with 
 his text-books aided in the farm work, . 
 giving his father the benefit of his services 
 in the field and meadow until he had 
 attained his majority. He then began 
 farming on his own account, and pur- 
 chased forty acres of land on section j 
 28, Wythe township, from his father. 
 This he cultivated for six years, at 
 the end of which time he pur- 
 chased the old homestead of one hundred 
 and sixty acres from the other heirs and 
 took possession of the place. When the 
 barn was destroyed by fire in 1895 he 
 replaced it by a good barn forty by fifty 
 feet and in 1905 he further improved his 
 place by the erection of one among the 
 finest homes in the township. It is 
 heated by furnace and supplied with all 
 modern equipments, is tastefully furnished 
 and is noted for its gracious and warm 
 hearted hospitality. Mr. Kiser gives his 
 attention to the cultivation of his fields 
 and to the raising of Percheron horses 
 and good grades of cattle and hogs. He 
 also farms eighty acres of land belonging 
 to his wife, and the success which is at- 
 tending his efforts is indicative of his 
 progressive methods in carrying on the 
 farm work. 
 
 On the 2jth of August, 1883, Mr. Kiser 
 was married to Miss Rose Ewing, who 
 was born in Walker township and pur- 
 sued her education in the district schools 
 there, while spending her girlhood days 
 in the home of her parents, John and 
 Margaret (Stacker) Ewing. who were 
 natives of Kentucky and Ohio respective- 
 ly. Mr. and Mrs. Kiser now have an 
 interesting family of four children :
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Ethel, born June 2, 1887; Emma. Sep- 
 tember 10, 1893; Claud, April 23, 1898; 
 and Annie, September 20, 1900. The 
 parents hold membership in the Presby- 
 terian church and Mr. Kiser votes with 
 the democracy but he has never been an 
 aspirant for office. The fact that many 
 of his stanchest friends are those who 
 have known him from his boyhood days 
 to the present time is an indication that 
 his life has been well spent and that his 
 sterling traits of character are such as 
 command uniform confidence and good 
 will. 
 
 ALBERT BERTSCHI. 
 
 Albert Bertschi. a prominent stockman 
 of Niota, where he is engaged in handling 
 horses, cattle and sheep, is a native son 
 of Illinois, having been born in Appa- 
 noose township, September 18, 1871, of 
 Scotch and Swiss ancestry. His paternal 
 grandparents were Solomon and Eliza- 
 beth Bertschi, who emigrated from the 
 land of the Alps in an early day, bring- 
 ing with them their son Philemon, who 
 was the father of our subject. They first 
 settled in New Orleans, but in 1856 went 
 to St. Louis, where they remained one 
 winter and then removed to Illinois, lo- 
 cating in Appanoose township. Here 
 Philemon Bertschi was married in 1868 
 to Miss Margaret Mackie, the wedding 
 ceremony being performed at French- 
 town. She was a daughter of Robert 
 Mackie, whose birth occurred in Scotland, 
 and who emigrated to America, settling 
 
 in Hancock county prior to the time the 
 Mormons took up their abode in this sec- 
 tion of the state. In this county the 
 daughter, Margaret, was born and after 
 reaching womanhood gave her hand in 
 marriage to Philemon Bertschi. Her 
 father passed away in -this county in the 
 year 1870. Following his marriage 
 Philemon Bertschi, father of our subject, 
 located on a farm in Appanoose town- 
 ship, comprising one hundred and ninety- 
 eight acres, to which he added from time 
 to time until at the time of his death, 
 April 2, 1902, he left a valuable farm 
 of four hundred acres. His wife had 
 preceeded him to the home beyond, her 
 death occurring in May, 1887. 
 
 Albert Bertschi, the eldest of four sons 
 and three daughters, was reared on the 
 home farm, assisting his father in the 
 operations of his farming pursuits, so 
 that the son received practical training 
 which enabled him later in life to carry 
 on business on his own account. He ac- 
 quired his education in district school No. 
 43, near his father's home, and remained 
 with his parents until he attained his ma- 
 jority, at which time he was married and 
 started out in life on his own account. 
 He chose as a companion and helpmate 
 on life's journey Miss Bessie Briley, 
 whom he wedded on the 5th of April. 
 1892. She is a native of Appanoose 
 township, and is a daughter of William 
 and Matilda (Uhler) Briley, both na- 
 tives of the Keystone state. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Bertschi 
 took up his abode on a farm in Sonora 
 township, belonging to his father, where 
 he remained for ten years. After his 
 father's death he removed to the old
 
 3*4 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 homestead farm, which he operated until 
 A'larch, 1905. when he took up his abode 
 in Niota, where he built a large barn and 
 began dealing in horses, cattle and sheep. 
 He now has an associate in business, his 
 partner being William Ellison. The}' are 
 now engaged quite extensively in hand- 
 ling horses, cattle and sheep, shipping a 
 large amount of each, from which they 
 derive a gratifying income. He is a 
 wide-awake and enterprising business 
 man well known all over Hancock county, 
 his business interests taking him over a 
 large territory. He is ever found re- 
 liable and straightforward in all his busi- 
 ness transactions and is accounted one of 
 the leading factors of his village. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Bertschi is 
 a democrat, and for a number of years 
 served as school director. He holds 
 membership relations with the Modern 
 Woodmen of America, belonging to camp 
 No. 1654, at Xiota, and is also an Odd 
 Fellow, belonging to lodge. No. 222, at 
 Nauvoo. In his family are two children. 
 Phil Albert, born April 30, 1893; and 
 Bernice, born in March. 1895. 
 
 CHARLES T. MARTIN. 
 
 Charles T. Martin, captain on a boat 
 running from Quincy, Illinois, to Daven- 
 port, Iowa, is a worthy citizen of Niota, 
 where he owns and occupies a fine home, 
 besides other property which he rents. 
 He is a native of Columbus, Ohio, his 
 birth having occurred September 22, 
 
 1840, a son of Charles T. and Mary Jane 
 (Jackson) Martin, natives of Harper's 
 Ferry, West Virginia, and Connecticut, re- 
 spectively. Air. and Mrs. Charles T. 
 Martin had accompanied their respective 
 parents to Columbus, Ohio, during their 
 youth and were there married about 1834, 
 The father was a contractor and builder, 
 and in 1842 he removed to Fort Madison, 
 Iowa, where he continued his work as a 
 carpenter and contractor until 1853, 
 when he went to California, and his death 
 there occurred three years later. In his 
 family were two sons and four daugh- 
 ters, of whom the subject of this review 
 was the third in order of birth, and of 
 whom four yet survive, namely : Charles 
 T. ; Sarah A., the widow of Dr. George 
 Ferrard, now residing in Chicago ; 
 Helen M., the wife of W. B. Bently. and 
 a resident of Fort Madison, Iowa, and 
 A. A., also of that city. The mother, in 
 1871. married Jonathan Allen, who was a 
 retired farmer, and her death occurred 
 February 13, 1906, when she had reached 
 the very advanced age of eighty-eight 
 years, for her birth occurred April 28, 
 1818. 
 
 Charles T. Martin, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, acquired a common- 
 school education in Fort Madison, and at 
 the age of thirteen years entered a print- 
 ing office, where he was employed for one 
 year, after which he went to Davenport, 
 Iowa, and worked in a job printing office 
 for the succeeding six years. He then 
 became interested in navigation and 
 learned to be a pilot, his work being on 
 the Mississippi river. Three years later 
 he became captain of a boat running from 
 Quincy, Illinois, to Davenport, Iowa,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 315 
 
 which he has followed to the present time. 
 In the meatime, in 1883, he bought a farm 
 comprising one hundred and sixty-eight 
 acres, situated on section i, Appanoose 
 township, a portion of which was operated 
 by his sons, while the remainder he rented 
 to other parties. In the spring of 1902. 
 however, he sold this property and in- 
 vested in four lots and two houses in 
 Niota, one of which he occupies, while 
 the other he rents. He has a fine home, 
 which is supplied with all comforts and 
 conveniences and he is now comfortably 
 situated in life. 
 
 On the 3d of March. 1864, Mr. Martin 
 was married to Miss Justina M. Dellan- 
 baugh. a native of North Georgetown, 
 Columbiana count}-, Ohio, a daughter of 
 John and Sarah ( Sheets) Dellanbaugh. 
 natives of Switzerland and Pennsylvania, 
 respectively. Mrs. Martin was born June 
 3, 1846, and between the ages of four 
 and eighteen years pursued her studies 
 in a convent at Cleveland, Ohio. The liv- 
 ing members of Mr. Martin's family are 
 as follows: Charles L., who was born 
 March 13. 1865, an( l ' s a pilot on a boat 
 running on the Mississippi river and re- 
 sides in Warsaw, Illinois: Justina M., 
 born August 12, 1869, and now the wife 
 of Thomas Cosgrove, of Appanoose town- 
 ship: Anderson A., born July 31, 1876, 
 and a resident of Fort Madison, Iowa : 
 Frank E., born October 23, 1878. and p. 
 resident of Mammoth. Montana: Mary 
 H.. who was born October 4, 1880, and 
 is now the wife of Fred Jackson, of Car- 
 thage township; Royal M.. who was born 
 December 12. 1886, and resides with his 
 parents but is employed by the Atchison, 
 Topeka Santa Fe Railroad, at Fort 
 
 Madison, Iowa; Sydney L.. born Decem- 
 ber 26, 1889; Earl, born June 26. 1891. 
 Those deceased are: Harriett M., who 
 was born November 26, 1866, and died 
 July 6, 1870; Damaras C., who was 
 born May 13, 1874, and passed away Feb- 
 ruary 3, 1887; John D., who was born 
 February 10, 1872, and died February 5, 
 1888; Sarah E., who was born March 5, 
 1883. and died February 21. 1888: and 
 Raymond V., twin brother of Royal, 
 whose death occurred July 17, 1897. 
 
 Mr. Martin supports the principles of 
 the Democratic party and served as school 
 director for four years but aside from this 
 has accepted no political office. Frater- 
 nally he holds membership with the 
 Modern Woodmen of America. He has 
 been energtic and persevering in all that 
 he has undertaken and as the years have 
 passed by has accumulated a comfortable 
 competence so that he is now enabled to 
 enjoy many of the comforts of life. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Martin have reared a family of 
 children of which they have every reason 
 to be proud and they are highly esteemed 
 people of this portion of the state. 
 
 WILLIAM M. FERGUSON. 
 
 William M. Ferguson, who is engaged 
 in the livery business and is also a dealer 
 in horses in La Harpe, was born in Ayre- 
 shire, Scotland, May 29. 1867. He is a 
 son of John Ferguson, also a native of 
 Ayreshire and a grandson of Mathew 
 Earl. The former married Grace Ear!.
 
 316 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE}}' 
 
 a daughter of David and Margaret 
 ( Stevens) Earl, who were born in Ayre- 
 shire as was Mrs. Ferguson. John Fer- 
 guson was an engineer on the Glasgow 
 & Southwestern Railroad and spent his 
 entire life in his native country, there 
 passing away in 1901, having for more 
 than a decade survived his wife, who died 
 in 1890. 
 
 William M. Ferguson acquired a com- 
 mon-school education, attending until the 
 age of ten years, when he started out upon 
 his business career, working with a horse 
 buyer of the name of Crawford, at 
 Manare Head, Scotland. He was thus 
 engaged for eight years and afterward 
 removed to Inchnnan, Paisley, Scotland, 
 where 'he worked for a Mr. Taylor, a 
 horse breeder, for two years. In 1887 
 he came to America with eighteen head 
 of thoroughbred horses for John C. 
 Huston, of Blandinsville, Illinois, and was 
 in the employ of Mr. Huston for seven 
 years, the latter being one of the most 
 prominent stock breeders and dealers in 
 his section of the state. In 1895 he 
 entered the employ of W. O. Talbert, 
 feeding and caring for horses and five 
 years later, with the capital that he had 
 acquired, he began business on his own 
 account, dealing in and shipping horses 
 for himself. On the i8th of January, 
 1906, he purchased the Lancaster livery 
 barn in La Harpe, becoming owner of 
 fourteen head of horses and twelve ve- 
 hicles. He is still conducting the livery 
 business and he yet deals in horses, em- 
 ploying two men. He is an expert judge 
 of horses, seldom at error in his estimate 
 of the value of an animal and since en- 
 gaging in business on his own account 
 
 he has secured a good patronage and con- 
 ducted a profitable trade. 
 
 On the 3 ist of January, 1893, Mr. 
 Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss 
 Mary Martin, who was born in Canton, 
 Illinois, in June, 1875, and is a daughter 
 of Patrick and Belle (Haley) Martin, 
 who were natives of Ireland and her father 
 was employed in railroad work in Illinois 
 for many years. He died in August, 
 1905. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson 
 have been born three children : Grace, 
 who was born in 1894 and died at the 
 age of two years; Maggie, born in 1896 
 and died in infancy ; and Raymond, born 
 in August, 1903. 
 
 Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Chris- 
 tian church and his political allegiance is 
 given to the democracy but he has neither 
 time nor inclination to seek office, pre- 
 ferring to give his attention to his busi- 
 ness interests, in which he is now meet- 
 ing with success. He has had no oc- 
 casion to regret his determination to come 
 to America for he has found here good 
 business opportunities and through their 
 utilization has gained a comfortable 
 living. 
 
 HENRY THOMAS PITT. 
 
 Henry Thomas Pitt, a progressive agri- 
 culturist and stock-raiser of Sonora town- 
 ship, having here a fine tract of land of 
 one hundred and sixty acres of rich and 
 arable land, is a native of Herefordshire, 
 England, his natal day being July 15, 
 1836, a son of Thomas and Charlotte
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 317 
 
 (Hardwick) Pitt, likewise natives of the 
 fatherland. The son was a little lad of 
 five years, when, in the spring of 1841, 
 he accompanied his mother to America, 
 and they at once made their way to 
 Xauvoo, where they were joined by the 
 father in the following spring. The fam- 
 ily then located on a farm in Sonora town- 
 ship, where he engaged in general agricul- 
 tural pursuits. 
 
 Henry Thomas Pitt acquired his educa- 
 tion in the Elliott district school near his 
 father's home, this being the first school 
 built in the township. He remained with, 
 his parents until his marriage on the I2th 
 of December, 1861, Miss Huldah Jane 
 Stevens becoming his wife. She is a 
 native of Meigs county, Ohio, her birth 
 having occurred March 3, 1842, and when 
 eight years of age she was brought to this 
 state by her parents. Daniel and Mary 
 (Stabbord) Stevens, both natives of 
 Maine. On removing from their native 
 state they settled in Ohio, .where they 
 remained from 1840 until 1850 and at 
 that time went to Quincy, but four years 
 later removed to Sonora township, Han- 
 cock county, where he purchased a farm 
 of eighty acres which he improved and 
 his death occurred one year later in 1865. 
 while his wife survived for twelve years. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Pitt lo- 
 cated on his farm of eighty acres, lying 
 on section 14, Sonora township, of which 
 only about fifteen acres had been cleared. 
 He at once set to work to improve his 
 farm and in course of time placed his 
 fields under a high state of cultivation 
 and planted his crops, from which he an- 
 nually gathered rich harvests. On the 
 place was a log cabin, in which the family 
 
 made their home until the fall of 1866, 
 when this was replaced by a more com- 
 modious frame dwelling. He set out 
 shade trees and an orchard containing one 
 hundred and twenty fruit trees of va- 
 rious kinds, of which only two apple trees 
 remain. He has set out a second orchard, 
 as well as small fruit of all kinds, has 
 built barns and other outbuildings for 
 the shelter of stock, grain and farm ma- 
 chinery, and from time to time added to 
 his house until he today has one of the 
 finest country residences of his portion 
 of the state, being supplied with all 
 modern conveniences and accessories. In 
 1 88 1 he added an additional tract of 
 eighty acres to his home place, so that 
 he now has one hundred and sixty acres 
 of finely improved land. Here he is en- 
 gaged in general farming and stock-rais- 
 ing, including horses, cattle and Chester 
 White and Poland China hogs. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have been 
 born five sons and four daughters, as 
 follows : Alice Ann, who was born June 
 26, 1862, and died in January, 1863 ; Ed- 
 win, born March 13, 1864, a resident of 
 Rock Creek township; Orin W., born in 
 1866, and likewise a resident of Rock 
 Creek township ; Ida J., the wife of Frank 
 Stevenson, also of that township; Hattie 
 C., the wife of Charles Ross, of Mont- 
 rose, Iowa; Henry Thomas, of Van 
 Buren county, Iowa ; John Everett, resid- 
 ing in Rock Creek township ; Milton War- 
 ren, of Dallas City; and Maud Allen, the 
 wife of Harvey Hardy, of. Rock Creek 
 township. 
 
 In politics Mr. Pitt is independent, vot- 
 ing for the men whom he regards as best 
 qualified for office, regardless of party
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ties. He has served as school director 
 but aside from this has held no public 
 office. His religious faith is indicated by 
 his membership in the Latter Day Saints' 
 church. Mr. Pitt has led a busy and 
 useful life and all that he possesses has 
 been acquired through his own well di- 
 rected labors. He has worked diligently 
 and persistently as the years have gone 
 by and now has an excellent farm which 
 bears evidence of the careful supervision 
 and management of the owner. 
 
 DAVID R. SIGHTS. 
 
 Among the self-made men who are now 
 leading and influential factors in the agri- 
 cultural life of Hancock county may be 
 numbered David R. Sights, for, being left 
 an orphan at a very early age, he has 
 depended upon his own enterprise and in- 
 dustry for his success in life and the posi- 
 tion which he occupies today is due entire- 
 ly to his own well directed efforts. A 
 native of Guernsey county. Ohio, he was 
 born July 4, 1847, a son of William and 
 Martha (Sarchet) Sights, the former 
 born in Pennsylvania, and the latter a na- 
 tive of Grundy Island, France. The 
 father followed farming in the Buckeye 
 state, and in 1853 made his way to the 
 state of Iowa, the family traveling in a 
 wagon, the journey requiring six weeks, 
 at which time they arrived at Keokuk, 
 their destination. There the family made 
 their home for two years, the father being 
 employed in a brick yard, and later took 
 
 a contract to chop wood, which continued 
 to be his occupation for some time. Here 
 both the father and mother passed away, 
 their deaths occuring only a month apart. 
 
 David R. Sights, is the youngest in 
 a family of four sons and four daughters, 
 and being bereft of both parents at a very 
 early age he accompanied a neighbor to 
 La Harpe township, this county, where 
 he was employed for several years by 
 different farmers of this section of the 
 state. He was industrious and econom- 
 ical, and thus saving his earnings he was 
 in the course of time enabled to carry on 
 farming on his own account. 
 
 Considering -the subject of having a 
 home of his own, he sought and won a 
 companion December 16, 1881, by his 
 .marriage to Miss Ida Kate Nichols, 
 whose birth occurred in La Harpe town- 
 ship. May 29, 1863, a daughter of Jo- 
 seph and Thurza (Murdock) Nichols, 
 both natives of Greene county, Pennsyl- 
 vania. Her parents removed to Adams 
 county, Illinois, in 1853, and later took 
 up their abode in La Harpe township, 
 where the father purchased land and set- 
 tled on a farm on section 7. Here the 
 father engaged in general agricultural 
 pursuits and became an extensive dealer 
 in live stock. His death occurred Sep- 
 tember, 1871. His widow continued to 
 reside on the homestead property until her 
 death, which occurred October 9, 1893. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Sights 
 took up his abode on the farm of his 
 mother-in-law, which he managed until 
 her death, subsequent to which time he 
 purchased the interest of the heirs in the 
 property, thus becoming owner of fifty- 
 four acres of well improved and valuable
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 319 
 
 property. He has added to his original 
 purchase until he now owns eighty acres 
 of improved land and five acres of timber, 
 and on his place are found good substan- 
 tial outbuildings for the shelter of grain 
 and stock. On the 2d of May, 1905, the 
 house was destroyed by fire, and in the 
 fall of the same year Mr. Sights built a 
 two-story frame residence, containing 
 eight rooms, which is supplied with all 
 modern conveniences and accessories. 
 He has an orchard of three acres, which 
 is 'set out to apples, peaches, pears and 
 plums, and he likewise raises small fruits 
 of different varieties. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born three daughters : Nora Belle 
 was born April 4, 1882, and is now the 
 wife of Alvin Martin, a resident of Dur- 
 ham township. Beulah Frances, born 
 May 24, 1887, and Gladys Aldona, born 
 November 5, 1897, are both at home. 
 Politically Mr. Sights is a democrat, and 
 has served as school director for several 
 years. He belongs to the Independent 
 Order of Odd Fellows, holding member- 
 ship with .La Harpe lodge. No. 653 
 Starting out in life a poor boy with no 
 assistance and depending entirely upon 
 his own labors. Mr. Sights has worked 
 untiringly in the acquirement of a com- 
 petence and is today in possession of a 
 well improved farm property on which 
 are found all the improvements known to 
 a model farm of the twentieth century, 
 and through his honesty am 1 reliability 
 has gained a place among the represen- 
 tative and progressive agriculturists of 
 this portion of the state. He is held in 
 high esteem by all who know him, and in 
 his work is persistent and energetic. 
 
 THOMAS JEFFERSON SIGHTS. 
 
 Among the men who are interested in 
 the commercial development and progress 
 of Disco is numbered Thomas Jefferson 
 Sights who, in connection with A. N. 
 Davier. is successfully carrying on a gen- 
 eral mercantile establishment at this place. 
 He is a native of the Buckeye state, his 
 birth having occurred in Guernsey county. 
 February 15, 1839, a son of William and 
 Martha Elizabeth (Sarchet) Sights, the 
 former born in Washington county, Penn- 
 sylvania, while the latter likewise claims 
 Guernsey county as the place of her na- 
 tivity. In the paternal line our subject 
 comes from Scotch ancestry, his grand- 
 parents being David and Jane Sights, 
 natives of Pennsylvania and Scotland, re- 
 spectively, while the maternal grandpar- 
 ents were Thomas and Catherine (Mar- 
 quard) Sarchet, born on the Isle of 
 Guernsey. The parents of our subject 
 were married in Ohio, where the father 
 followed general farming until 1853. 
 when he removed to Keokuk, Iowa, 
 where he was employed for a year, sub- 
 sequent to which time he once more re- 
 sumed farming in Lee county, that state, 
 and there his death occurred in Septem- 
 ber, 1855, while his wife survived him 
 for only one month, passing away in Oc- 
 tober of the same year. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson Sights, losing his 
 parents at the early age of sixteen years, 
 was thus early thrown upon his own re- 
 sponsibilities for a livelihood. He pur- 
 sued his studies in an old log school- 
 house in his native state, the educational 
 system being quite as primitive as the 
 building in which he pursued his studies.
 
 320 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 He also attended school for a time after 
 his arrival in Hancock county. Follow- 
 ing the death of his parents he remained 
 on the farm during the succeeding winter 
 and the family then removed to Keokuk, 
 while our subject came to Hancock coun- 
 ty, where he secured employment as a 
 farm hand by the month, remaining in the 
 employ of Henry Blythe, of Durham 
 township, for seven years. Being of an 
 industrious and economical nature, and 
 watchful of opportunities for advance- 
 ment, he then rented a farm, on which he 
 was engaged in agricultural pursuits un- 
 til 1902. .In the meantime, in 1880, hav- 
 ing prospered in his undertakings, he pur- 
 chased a tract of sixty-seven acres, which 
 he conducted in connection with the prop- 
 erty which he had leased. He later sold 
 his land, and in 1902 retired from farm- 
 ing pursuits and removed to Disco, 
 where, in connection with A. N. Davier, 
 he purchased the mercantile enterprise 
 formerly owned and operated by Curtis 
 Payne, and he has since been engaged in 
 mercantile pursuits, in which he is meet- 
 ing with gratifying success. They have 
 an up-to-date stock of goods to meet the 
 tastes and fancies of the general public 
 and it is owing largely to the business 
 ability and sound judgment of Mr. Sights 
 that their store ranks among the best 
 commercial enterprises of the city or 
 county. On the loth of January, 1906, 
 Mr. Sights was appointed postmaster and 
 is proving a capable official in this re- 
 gard. 
 
 On the nth of April, 1867, Mr. Sights 
 was united in marriage to Miss Irena E. 
 Wills, whose birth occurred at Sardinia, 
 near Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a daugh- 
 
 ter of William and Jane (Gilliland) 
 Wills, likewise natives of the Buckeye 
 state. They located in Hancock county 
 in 1854, where the father purchased a 
 farm which he conducted until his death 
 in 1901. His wife survived for only 
 a few years, passing away in the present 
 year. An only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Sights died in infancy. 
 
 Mr. Sights gives his political support 
 to the Republican party and has taken an 
 active and helpful interest in public af- 
 fairs, having filled the office of assessor 
 for one term. He holds membership with 
 the Methodist Protestant church, in which 
 he has served as trustee and treasurer. 
 Mr. Sights is ever interested in any move- 
 ment that tends to the advancement of 
 his community and he and his wife are 
 highly esteemed for their sterling worth 
 and are numbered among the worthy cit- 
 izens of the county. 
 
 EDWARD ARGAST. 
 
 Edward Argast, who for many years 
 has been a representative of business life 
 in Nauvoo, where he is engaged in deal- 
 ing in grapes and other fruits, making ex- 
 tensive shipments, was born in Kehl, 
 Baden, Germany, June 18, 1834, and ac- 
 quired a common-school education while 
 spending his boyhood days in the home of 
 his parents, John F. and Salamoer 
 ( Knecht) Argast, the former a native of 
 Baden and the latter of Strasburg, France', 
 The mother died in Germany in 1851, and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 321. 
 
 the father afterward cam to America with 
 his two sons but one daughter had died 
 prior to the emigration, and Frederick 
 John, who accompanied the father on 
 the voyage, passed away in Nauvoo, Illi- 
 nois, July 10, 1880. The sailing vessel 
 on which they embarked dropped anchor 
 in the harbor of New Orleans, after which 
 John F. Argast and his sons made their 
 way up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, 
 where he worked at his trade of cabinet- 
 making until 1854, when he came to 
 Nauvoo. Here he established a whole- 
 sale store, which he conducted for about 
 eighteen years, or until his life's labors 
 were ended -in death on the 4th of Sep- 
 tember, 1872. In this country he married 
 Caroline Peters, a native of Baden. This 
 marriage was celebrated in St. Louis, and 
 Mrs. Argast passed away in that city in 
 1884. 
 
 E)dward Argast began earning his own 
 living in St. Louis, where he learned to be 
 a cook. He was thus employed in that 
 city, in New York and in New Orleans 
 until the 7th of May, 1861. when he en- 
 list for three months' service with the 
 Third Missouri United States Reserve 
 Corps. With that command he did duty 
 in St. Louis and all parts of Missouri 
 under command of John C. Fremont, and 
 also proceeded to Cairo, Illinois. He 
 was mustered out in February, 1862, his 
 first term having expired and later he 
 re-enlisted at St. Louis with the boys in 
 blue of Company F, Twenty-ninth Mis- 
 souri Infantry. Following the organiza- 
 tion of the regiment he went to Cape 
 Giranleau. Missouri, in the fall of 1862, 
 and thence on to Vicksburg, participating 
 in the first campaign there under General 
 
 Sherman. He participated in the battle of 
 Chickasaw Bayou on the .29th of De- 
 cember where one-half of the regiment 
 was lost. On the' ist of January, 1863, 
 he went to Arkansas Post, participating 
 in the engagement at that place on the 
 loth of January, at which time five 
 thousand Confederates were taken prison- 
 ers. Eventually he returned to Vicks- 
 burg, where the regiment remained until 
 the capitulation of the city, and he partici- 
 pated in the battle of Raymond, Champion 
 Hills and Jackson and was present at the 
 surrender of Vicksburg on the 4th of 
 July, 1863. He afterward returned to 
 Jackson, fighting in the battle there and 
 then went back to Vicksburg, where the 
 regiment remained for some time, later 
 proceeding to Memphis, Tennessee. They 
 were under Grant at the battle of Chero- 
 kee Station and proceeded on foot to 
 Chattanooga. The Twenty-ninth Missouri 
 participated in the memorable battle of 
 Lookout Mountain "above the clouds," 
 and afterward in the battle of Missionary 
 Ridge, proceeding thence to Ringgold, 
 Georgia, where another engagement oc- 
 curred. They went into winter quarters 
 at Woodville, Alabama, and on the ist 
 of May, 1864, started on the" Atlanta cam- 
 paign under Sherman, proceeding from 
 Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, and par- 
 ticipating in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, 
 Kenesaw Mountain, the first battle of At- 
 lanta on the 2 ist of May, and the second 
 battle there on the 28th of May, 1864. 
 The L T nion troops then besieged the city, 
 and on the ist of September made a vic- 
 torious entrance therein. The Twenty- 
 ninth Missouri afterward followed .Gen- 
 eral Hood of the Confederate army to
 
 322 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Chattanooga and subsequently returned to 
 Georgia, taking part in the Georgia cam- 
 paign and the march to the sea. They 
 were then mounted and did scout duty 
 until arriving at Savannah, where Mr. 
 Argast sustained a gunshot wound in the 
 foot. This secured him a leave of ab- 
 sence for thirty days and he returned 
 home, being sent from St. Louis to Cin- 
 cinnati in the grand officers' hospital, as 
 he was a lieutenant. He was afterward 
 assigned to like duty at Columbus, Ohio, 
 it being a part of his work to take drafted 
 men to the front. When the war was 
 over he was honorably discharged at 
 Washington on the 22d of June, 1865, 
 and sent thence to St. Louis, where he 
 was mustered out. He was in the capitol 
 city when President Lincoln was assas- 
 sinated and saw him as he lay in state in 
 the rotunda of the capitol. 
 
 Following his discharge Mr. Argast 
 came to Nauvoo, on the i2th of July. 
 1865, and removing his family here, he 
 purchased two lots and four acres of land 
 in the city. In that year he had charge 
 of his father's store, at the end of which 
 time his father again purchased it. Later 
 Mr. Argast conducted a saloon for twelve 
 years on the flat, after which he removed 
 his business to Main street, where he 
 bought a lot and erected business blocks, 
 covering one hundred feet front and two 
 hundred feet in depth. He there con- 
 ducted a saloon for about ten years, when 
 he again sold out and removed to his 
 present location on Thirteenth street a 
 half block from the corner of Main street. 
 He is now engaged in the grape and fruit 
 business and makes extensive shipments 
 of fruit. 
 
 Mr. Argast was married in St. Louis 
 to Miss Margareta Sherer, a native of 
 France, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
 John Sherer, who died of cholera in St. 
 Louis in 1849. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Argast were born three sons and a daugh- 
 ter : Edward, of Nauvoo ; Louis, a news- 
 paper man of the same city ; William, who 
 is proprietor of the Nauvoo Rustler; and 
 Cora, the wife of Joseph W T elder, of 
 Nauvoo. Mrs. Argast passed away De- 
 cember 4, 1902, and on the 25th of June, 
 1904, Mr. Argast was again married, his 
 second union being with Mrs. Caroline 
 Gabblemann Kettman, the widow of 
 Theodore Kettman, and a daughter of 
 Christian and Catherine (Hall) Gabble- 
 man. Mr. Argast is a republican and 
 has served for two terms as alderman of 
 the first ward and for many years as 
 school director. He is a Mason, belong- 
 ing to Reclamation lodge. No. 54, at 
 Xauvoo, and holds membership in the 
 Lutheran church. He proved his loyalty 
 to his adopted country by his long years 
 of faithful service in the Civil war and 
 he has always been interested in those 
 things which promote good citizenship 
 and which work for the welfare of a 
 democratic government. 
 
 FRED FORTH. 
 
 Fred Porth. a representative of the 
 farming and stock-raising interests of 
 Appanoose township, was bom within 
 the borders of this township June 13.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 323 
 
 1860, his parents being Fred and Doro- 
 thy (Florich) Forth, who were natives of 
 Germany. In early manhood the father 
 made his way to East St. Louis, Illinois, 
 where he was married, and later he en- 
 gaged in farming in St. Clair county, this 
 state, where he owned land. He came to 
 Sonora township following the expulsion 
 of the Mormons and there rented a farm, 
 while later he purchased land in Appa- 
 noose township, becoming owner of sixty 
 acres which he subsequently sold. He 
 then invested in eighty acres on section 
 34, which was improved, and he contin- 
 ued the work of further development and 
 cultivation until 1893, when he sold that 
 property, afterward living with his son 
 Fred until his death, which occurred on 
 the ist of December, 1894. His widow 
 still survives him and now resides in St. 
 Louis. The family numbered eleven chil- 
 dren, four sons and seven daughters, of 
 whom the subject of this review is the 
 eighth. 
 
 No event of special importance oc- 
 curred to vary the routine of farm life for 
 Fred Forth in the days of his boyhood 
 and youth. He attended the common 
 schools, worked in the fields and enjoyed 
 the pleasures of the playground as op- 
 portunity offered. He lived with his par- 
 ents until twenty-three years of age and 
 then, desirous that his labors should more 
 directly benefit himself, he began farm- 
 ing on his own account upon a tract of 
 rented land, lying partly in Appanoose 
 and partly in Sonora township. He aft- 
 erward operated other farms in the two 
 townships and for three years rented his 
 father's place. Following his marriage 
 he lived for two years on the old Webb 
 
 place and then again farmed the old home- 
 stead. One year previous, however, he 
 had purchased eighty acres of land on 
 section 30, Appanoose township, and 
 when about twelve months had passed 
 he took up his abode thereon. This was 
 an improved property and he has since 
 added forty acres on section 31. That 
 tract, however, he sold five years later 
 and then bought eighty acres adjoining 
 his original purchase. His time was fully 
 occupied with his farming and stock- 
 raising interests, for he engages quite ex- 
 tensively in the raising of Durham cat- 
 tle, Percheron horses and Poland China 
 hogs. As he has had opportunity, re- 
 sulting from his improved financial con- 
 dition, he has made changes in the ap- 
 pearance of his farm through the erec- 
 tion of substantial buildings. He' has re- 
 modeled the barn, making it forty by 
 forty-four feet, and he also made an ad- 
 dition to the house. In 1902 he built a 
 large barn forty by forty-four feet and 
 he has since erected a commodious two- 
 story residence, which is heated by fur- 
 nace and is supplied with many of the 
 conveniences known in city homes. 
 
 On the 1 3th of November, 1888, Mr. 
 Forth was married to Miss Catherine 
 Haas, a native of Nauvoo, where she ac- 
 quired her education in the public schools. 
 Her parents were Joseph and Catherine 
 (Emerich) Haas. The father was born 
 in Switzwald in the Black Forests, Ger- 
 many. Mr. and Mrs. Forth now have 
 one child, Annie Marie, born March 20. 
 1895. In politics Mr. Forth is an inde- 
 pendent democrat, supporting the party 
 at national elections but at local elections 
 he does not consider himself bound by
 
 324 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 party ties. He served as township col- 
 lector for one year but has never been 
 ambitious in the sense of office seeking. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the 
 Modem Woodmen of America, Nauvoo 
 camp. Having spent his entire life in 
 this locality he is widely known and he 
 has always lived as a farmer, and it has 
 been his desire to become the owner of 
 a good property that he might provide 
 his family with the comforts of life. To 
 this end he has worked steadily and per- 
 sistently and the fact that he started out 
 in life empty-handed and is now in pos- 
 session of an excellent farm and goodly 
 competence, entitles him to be classed 
 with those who have just reason to be 
 proud of the fact that they are known as 
 self-made men. 
 
 GEORGE LOCKE. 
 
 George Locke, deceased, was for many 
 years one of the successful fanners of 
 Hancock county and through his own 
 efforts won the prosperity which enabled 
 him in his later years to live retired. He 
 was born in Indiana, November 7, 1831. 
 a son of Thomas and Grazilla (Gardner) 
 Locke, both of whom were natives of 
 Ohio. During the boyhood days of their 
 son George the parents removed to Mich- 
 igan and there he resided until he at- 
 tained his majority, when he came to 
 Hancock county, Illinois, and purchased 
 a farm in Fountain Green township, 
 comprising two hundred and forty-six 
 
 acres of land. With characteristic energy 
 he began the development and improve- 
 ment of the fields and carried on his farm 
 work with success for many years, or 
 until 1893, when he retired from active 
 business life and took up his abode in 
 La Harpe, where he built a fine house, 
 making it his place of residence until his 
 death, which occurred on the ist of Oc- 
 tober, 1902.. 
 
 On the 6th of December, 1854, Mr. 
 Locke was married to Elizabeth Webster, 
 who was born in Cass county, Michigan, 
 February 15, 1826. She attended the 
 common schools of that state. Her par- 
 ents were Amos and Susanna (Wright) 
 Webster, the former a native of Rutland 
 county, New York, and the latter of Ohio. 
 The paternal grandfather was William 
 Webster, of New York, and the maternal 
 grandfather was William Wright. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Webster removed to Fulton 
 county about 1840 and there the father 
 followed the occupation of farming. In 
 the family were ten children, Mrs. Locke 
 being the sixth in the family of five sons 
 and five daughters. She gave her hand 
 in marriage to -Mr. Locke in Lewiston, 
 Fulton county, where they lived for some 
 years, subsequent to which time he be- 
 came a farmer of McDonough county and 
 was for a long period successfully con- 
 nected with agricultural interests. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Locke were born 
 five children : Thomas, born October 
 u, 1855, died April 6, 1883. Lowell 
 G., born January 31, 1851, died October 
 1 6, 1860. Clara A., born May 8, 1861, 
 is the wife of Dr. I. M. Martin, of La 
 Harpe. Gary E.. twin brother of Clara, 
 died in July, 1862. George W., born
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 325 
 
 November 28, 1869, died August 31, 
 1895. He was instructor in penmanship 
 in the Gem City Business College at 
 Ouincy, Illinois, and he was married No- 
 vember 28, 1894, to Pearl Creighton, of 
 Peoria, Illinois. The eldest son, Thomas, 
 was married June 8, 1876, to Annie Todd 
 and had one child, Clevie, born November 
 i, 1 88 1, and now attending school in St. 
 Louis, Missouri. 
 
 Mr. Locke was a member of the Chris- 
 tian church, in which he served as a 
 deacon until his death. His political sup- 
 port was given to the Democratic party. 
 His carefully directed labor was the secret 
 of his business success whereby he ad- 
 vanced to a prominent position among 
 the agriculturists of the 'county, becoming 
 the owner of a valuable farm, from which 
 he derived an income that was sufficient in 
 his later years to enable him to live re- 
 tired. Mrs. Locke still survives her hus- 
 band and yet resides in the home which 
 he built in La Harpe in 1893. 
 
 AUGUST WATERMAN. 
 
 August Waterman, who at one time 
 was actively engaged in general agricul- 
 tural pursuits in Sonora township but is 
 now living retired, although he still owns 
 his farm of one hundred and four acres 
 where he lives, is a native of Germany, 
 his birth having occurred in Leppa, Det- 
 moldt, September 19, 1837. His parents, 
 Christian and Sophia (Kielsmayer) Wa- 
 terman, were likewise natives of the fa- 
 
 therland, where the father engaged in ag- 
 ricultural pursuits and spent his entire 
 life. The paternal grandfather of our 
 subject was Christian Waterman, while 
 the maternal grandfather bore the name 
 of Frederick Kielsmayer. 
 
 August Waterman acquired his educa- 
 tion in Germany, completing the high 
 school course there. He assisted his fa- 
 ther to the age of fifteen years, when, 
 thinking that other pursuits would be 
 more congenial to him, he learned the 
 baker's trade and emigrated to the new 
 world, landing in Keokuk, Iowa, on the 
 24th of June, 1857. He crossed the At- 
 lantic on a sailing vessel which dropped 
 anchor in the harbor of New Orleans 
 and thence made his way by boat up the 
 Mississippi river to Keokuk. His brother 
 Fred had preceded him to this country 
 and was proprietor of a hotel in Keokuk, 
 and August secured work in his hostelry, 
 where he was employed for one year. He 
 then made his way to Sonora township, 
 Hancock county, where he was employed 
 as a farm hand, working by the month 
 until 1868, and in that year, having saved 
 his earnings, he made purchase of a tract 
 of land on section 24, Sonora township, 
 comprising one hundred and four acres, 
 a small portion of which had been cleared. 
 He further improved the place, placing 
 his fields under a high state of cultiva- 
 tion, fenced the place, built a house and 
 barn, dug a well, and otherwise improved 
 the place. He also set out fruit trees, 
 from which he annually gathered good 
 crops, and has since added to his fruit 
 orchard, having now sixty apple trees, 
 besides peach, plum and cherry trees, all 
 of which are in bearing. In 1886 he re-
 
 326 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 placed his first residence by a modern 
 frame house, containing six rooms and 
 having a cellar under the entire building. 
 Here he carried on general agricultural 
 pursuits, and in addition to the cultiva- 
 tion of the fields he engaged to some ex- 
 tent in the raising of high grades of 
 horses, cattle and hogs. His health be- 
 came impaired, however, and in 1900 he 
 laid aside all business pursuits and retired 
 to private life. 
 
 On the 26th of February, 1865, Mr. 
 Waterman chose a companion and help- 
 mate for life's journey, Miss Susan Hu- 
 ber, a native of St. Clair county, Illinois, 
 who was born July 24, 1841. Her par- 
 ents resided for many years in Nauvoo, 
 where the daughter pursued her studies 
 in the public schools, and here the father 
 and mother passed away, the latter dying 
 in 1848. She was a daughter of Martin 
 and Christina Huber, natives of Byer, 
 Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Waterman 
 make their home with a niece, Louisa 
 Waterman, the daughter of his brother 
 William, who still makes his home in the 
 fatherland. 
 
 Although starting out in life at the 
 early age of fifteen years and coming to 
 a new country when still a young man, 
 Mr. Waterman has allowed no difficulties 
 ^or obstacles to deter him in his labor, and 
 from an humble financial position worked 
 his way up until he is now the possessor 
 of a fine farm property, from which he 
 derives a good income, so that he and 
 his wife are able to spend the evening 
 of their days in honorable retirement. He 
 has always given his political support 
 to the Democratic party, and has taken 
 an active interest in the local ranks of 
 
 his party, having served for two terms 
 as highway commissioner of his township 
 and for three terms as school director. 
 He holds membership relations with the 
 Lutheran church at Xauvoo. 
 
 JAMES G. JOHNSON. 
 
 James G. Johnson, the inventor and 
 manufacturer of Johnson's patent corn 
 husker and a business man of energy and 
 ability, whose success is attributable en- 
 tirely to his well directed efforts, was 
 born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, De- 
 cember 24, 1827. His parents, George and 
 Eleanor (Guthrie) Johnson, were also 
 natives of the same county, the former 
 born December 15, 1779, and the latter 
 January 21, 1802. In 1774, James Guth- 
 rie. the grandfather, built a large stone 
 house on the Bardstown pike near Louis- 
 ville, Kentucky, which stood as one of 
 the landmarks of that section of the coun- 
 try until about 1896. It was known as 
 the "house of entertainment," being prac- 
 tically a hostelry but more respectable 
 than a "tavern," as no intoxicating 
 liquors were there sold. It was there that 
 many Catholic missionaries stopped on 
 their way to Bardstown. being instructed 
 in France by the priest to stop at the 
 "stone house," where other priests would 
 be sent to meet them, as it was regarded 
 as a perfectly safe place. There James 
 Guthrie made his home for many years 
 and ran a daily stage coach to several ad- 
 joining places. In the conduct of his
 
 GO 
 O 
 
 C-H 
 O 
 
 a
 
 /
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 327 
 
 business affairs he became a very wealthy 
 man and was one of the most prominent 
 and influential residents of that section 
 of the country. The maternal grandfa- 
 ther of our subject was a colonel in the 
 Revolutionary war and became one of the 
 pioneer residents of Kentucky, going 
 there when the Indians still roamed 
 through its forests, waging war upon the 
 settlers until the district became known 
 as "the dark and bloody ground." 
 
 George Johnson, father of James G. 
 Johnson, was a blacksmith by trade and 
 in 1831 removed from Kentucky to 
 Adams county, Illinois, where he carried 
 on blacksmithing, farming and the nur- 
 sery business." He died in the year 1869, 
 his wife surviving until April 10, 1887. 
 He was a member of the Christian church 
 and his wife of the Presbyterian church 
 and when called to their final rest they 
 were laid in a cemetery in Adams county, 
 Illinois. In their family were nine chil- 
 dren, of whom seven are now living: 
 James G. ; Parmelia, the wife of Thomas 
 Bailey, of Camp Point, Illinois ; Ephraim 
 P., living in Holden, Missouri; Moses C., 
 of Harrisville, Missouri; Henry C., of 
 Idaho; Mary E., the wife of Edward Ste- 
 phenson, of Ottawa, Kansas; and Urith 
 Serepta A., the wife of William Hanna, 
 of Golden, Illinois. Of this family 
 Henry C. Johnson was a soldier of the 
 Civil war for four years, enlisting in the 
 Fiftieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He 
 participated in the two battles of Corinth 
 and in many other important engage- 
 ments. 
 
 James G. Johnson was educated in the 
 schools of Columbus, Illinois, first pur- 
 suing his studies in a little log cabin 
 21 
 
 which was without a floor and which 
 stood on the bank of McGee's creek in 
 Adams county, a mile and a half from 
 Columbus. He worked upon his father's 
 farm until he had attained his majority 
 and in 1855 removed to Hancock county, 
 urchasing an improved tract of land in 
 arn township, where he carried on 
 geffei^Sarming for nine years. He then 
 remw4>t|^Elvaston, where he purchased 
 a farrJa; making it his home for four 
 years, w*jjjen he took up his abode in Car- 
 thage andijjurchased an elegant home on 
 North Main street. It is surrounded by 
 a beautiful and well kept lawn and in ad- 
 dition to this property he owns good farm 
 lands. In 1871 he invented what is 
 known as Johnson's hand corn husker, 
 upon which he took out a patent. Since 
 that time he has manufactured this de- 
 vice in Carthage and its sale extends to 
 all states in the Union. Its utility is uni- 
 versally recognized and it is regarded as 
 the best invention of its kind on the mar- 
 ket. Mr. Johnson has entire control of 
 the trade and has enjoyed a good busi- 
 ness in this way in the last twenty-five 
 years. He is still engaged in the manu- 
 facture of the husker and sells to whole- 
 sale dealers. Moreover he possesses su- 
 perior mechanical ingenuity, which is 
 manifest in many ways in his home. 
 
 On the 24th of December, 1850, Mr. 
 Johnson was married to Miss Melvina J. 
 Thomas, of Adams county, a daughter of 
 Robert Thomas, who was born in Bour- 
 bon county, Kentucky. They traveled 
 life's journey happily together for about 
 thirty-four years and were then separ- 
 ated by the death of Mrs. Johnson on the 
 3d of December, 1884. Two children
 
 328 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 of that marriage, born in Adams county, 
 are living", namely : Ella R., who is an 
 artist of considerable ability, is the wife 
 of N. P. McKee, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 
 and has two sons, William Thomas and 
 Irwin J. The former married Jessie Wal- 
 ters and lived in Cleveland, Ohio, while 
 Irwin wedded Cora Gibbins and with 
 their daughter, Marjorie Maud, they re- 
 side in Halsted, Kansas. Alice G. John- 
 son is the wife of William L. Aaron, a 
 practicing lawyer of Joplin, Missouri, 
 and has three children, Lawrence J., Ella 
 May and William. 
 
 On the 1 8th of November, 1886, Mr. 
 Johnson was married to Miss Minerva 
 Hughes, who was born in Ursa, Adams 
 county, Illinois, a daughter of Albert and 
 Sarah Ann (Taylor) Hughes. Her fa- 
 ther was a farmer by occupation. He 
 attended the Christian church and both 
 he and his wife were laid to rest in 
 Adams county. Of their three children 
 all are living, namely: Eliza J., who 
 resides with Mrs. Johnson; and Robert 
 C.. living in Ursa. 
 
 In his religious faith Mr. Johnson is 
 a Methodist and has served as elder and 
 trustee of his church, while his wife be- 
 longs to the Christian church. He holds 
 membership with the Ancient Order of 
 United Workmen and in politics is a re- 
 publican. He has served as alderman 
 of Carthage and road supervisor of his 
 township and is interested in all matters 
 relating to public progress and substan- 
 tial improvement. As proof of his in- 
 genuity can be mentioned eight beautiful 
 canes which he has made of small pieces 
 of horn strung together upon an iron 
 rod, and one of these is now in the Ma- 
 
 sonic temple of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He 
 also has made many pairs of beautifully 
 polished mounted horns which he has 
 prepared himself and which adorn his 
 walls in many rooms. He has made hat 
 racks and chairs of the horns and these 
 are articles of furniture of great value 
 and beauty. He has moreover several 
 cases of fine specimens of all kinds, in- 
 cluding shells, coins, beads, wood, iron, 
 ore specimens, minks, owls, squirrels, an 
 armadilla, sea grasses and an elaborate 
 collection of eggs of more than one hun- 
 dred kinds. He likewise has a large col- 
 lection of Indian flint arrows of all kinds. 
 He has beautiful corals and polished 
 stones and a large quantity of sea mosses 
 from the Pacific coast, all of which are 
 nicely arranged in cabinets with glass 
 doors. He has traveled from ocean to 
 ocean, has visited California two or three 
 times and wherever he has gone he has 
 gathered his specimens and his collection 
 today is doubtless worth five thousand 
 dollars. He has moreover a model in his 
 yard of the first log house his father 
 built when he came to Illinois. It stands 
 in his front yard and was made by Mr. 
 Johnson. A love of the beautiful has 
 been one of his strong characteristics all 
 through his life and this is manifest in 
 his attractive home with its fine curiosity 
 cabinets. Moreover his interest in all 
 these things indicates his broad and com- 
 prehensive knowledge and he is indeed 
 regarded as one of the best educated men 
 in the county, a fact which is due not 
 to any special educational advantages but 
 to his broad reading and investigation 
 during the leisure hours of a busy and 
 active life. He is now seventv-nine vears
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 3 2 9 
 
 of age, but is still an active and energetic 
 man and moreover he commands unquali- 
 fied esteem wherever he is known. 
 
 WILLIAM F. BRADFIELD. 
 
 William F. Bradfield, secretary and 
 treasurer of the firm of Coulson, Bntn- 
 dage & Company, hardware dealers of 
 La Harpe, and also financially interested 
 in other business affairs, although prac- 
 tically living retired from the active man- 
 agement of business interests, was born 
 in Hardin county, Iowa, near Eldora, 
 March 12, 1863. His paternal grandfa- 
 ther, James Bradfield, was a resident of 
 Virginia and married a Miss Nichols. 
 Their son, James N. Bradfield, was bom 
 in Loudoun county, Virginia, and having 
 arrived at years of maturity was married 
 in Ohio, April 12, 1853, to Miss Ada 
 Wolfe, who was born in Coshocton coun- 
 ty, Ohio, and was a daughter of James 
 and Sarah (Meredith) Wolfe, natives of 
 the Buckeye state. After their marriage 
 James N. Bradfield followed fanning in 
 Ohio for a year and in the fall of 1854 
 removed to Muscatine, Iowa. In Hardin 
 county, that state, he purchased a farm 
 whereon he resided until the fall of 1870, 
 when he sold that property and came to 
 Hancock county, Illinois. Here he in- 
 vested in a tract of land in Durham 
 township, whereon he resided for about 
 twenty-one years, when in 1891 he sold 
 out and went to Nebraska, making his 
 home in the latter state until 1899. In 
 
 that year he went on a visit to the east 
 and died there on the 4th of December 
 of that year. He had for a number of 
 years survived his wife, who passed 
 away June 25, 1886. In their family 
 were four children : James L. ; William 
 F.; Henry S., of this county; and Laura 
 M., the wife of Clark H. Rice, of Han- 
 cock county. 
 
 William F. Bradfield pursued his early 
 education in the district schools and aft- 
 erward attended Abingdon College in 
 Abingdon, Illinois. During the period 
 of his boyhood and youth he made his 
 home with his parents, who removed to 
 Hancock county in September, 1870. He 
 continued under the parental roof until 
 he had attained his majority, when he 
 went to Colorado, where he worked at 
 the carpenter's trade for a year. He aft- 
 erward returned to Hancock county and 
 began farming on rented land. He was 
 thus engaged for a few years, when with 
 the capital he had acquired through his 
 industry and perseverance he purchased 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land in 
 Durham township, which he owned for 
 four years, at the end of which time he 
 sold that property and bought three hun- 
 dred acres of the old homestead. There 
 he took up his abode, making it his place 
 of residence until February, 1904. He 
 has since bought and sold property and 
 now owns two 'hundred and forty acres 
 of land all on section 12, Durham town- 
 ship. While giving his attention to farm 
 work his close application and unabating 
 energy enabled him to gather rich crops 
 annually and to make his farm a profit- 
 able source of labor. He was also one of 
 the organizers of the State Bank at La
 
 330 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Harpe and has been one of its stockhold- 
 ers and directors. He has also been a 
 stockholder and director of the firm of 
 Coulson, Brundage & Company since its 
 incorporation in May, 1905, and is its 
 secretary and treasurer. In 1904, retir- 
 ing from his farm, he removed to La 
 Harpe, where he has since resided and 
 where he has bought residence property. 
 
 In February, 1885, Mr. Bradfield was 
 united in marriage to Miss J. Margaret 
 Schultz, who was bor"n in Durham town- 
 ship and is a daughter of Benjamin and 
 Elizabeth (Gillette) Schultz. By this 
 marriage were born three sons, J. Sher- 
 man, Charles F. and Edward L. The 
 wife and mother died October 10, 1898, 
 and on the 3Oth of January, 1900, Mr. 
 Bradfield wedded Catherine J. McManus, 
 who was born near Carthage, Illinois. 
 They had one child, Catherine M., who 
 was born October 6, 1901, and died Au- 
 gust 28, 1903. The mother passed away 
 October 14, 1901, and on the :8th of 
 June, 1905, Mr. Bradfield was again 
 married, Clara W. Burr becoming his 
 wife. She was born in Durham town- 
 ship and is a daughter of Jarvis N. and 
 Joanna (Oilman) Burr. 
 
 Mr. Bradfield is a republican in his po- 
 litical views and has taken much interest 
 in the questions of the day and in the 
 growth and development of his party. He 
 has frequently been a delegate to the con- 
 ventions of his party but is without po- 
 litical aspiration for himself. It is true 
 that his chief life work has been that 
 of a successful farmer, but the range of 
 his activities and the scope of his influ- 
 ence have reached far beyond this spe- 
 cial field. He belongs to that class of 
 
 men who wield a power which is all the 
 more potent from the fact that it is 
 moral rather than political and is exer- 
 cised for the public weal rather than for 
 personal ends. He has displayed aptitude 
 and ability in achieving results both in 
 business life and in his connection with 
 affairs of public importance. 
 
 MATHEW GODDERTZ. 
 
 Mathew Goddertz, conducting the old- 
 est harness establishment in Warsaw, was 
 born in Sichlar, Prussia, Germany, Feb- 
 ruary 2, 1840, and was educated in the 
 public schools of that country. His par- 
 ents, Edward E. and Anna C. (Quartz) 
 Goddertz, left Germany in 1850 upon a 
 sailing Vessel, which was twenty-eight 
 days in reaching the harbor of New York. 
 They proceeded to Buffalo by rail and by 
 way of the lakes to Chicago, thence by 
 canal to Peru, Indiana, and over the Ohio 
 and Mississippi rivers to Warsaw. The 
 father died soon after his arrival here. 
 His mother died in September, 1879, at 
 the age of sixty-four years. In the fam- 
 ily were three children: Mathew; Mrs. 
 William Leyhe, of Alton, Illinois, now 
 deceased ; and Catherine, the widow of 
 Henry Hertzog. 
 
 At his father's death, Mr. Goddertz, 
 then only ten years of age, began to earn 
 his own living by working on the farm of 
 A. J. Steffee, by whom he was employed 
 two years. His mother then married 
 John Leyhe and Mathew returned home,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 living with his mother for about two 
 years. Subsequently he was employed 
 at general farm labor until about thir- 
 teen years of age, when he was appren- 
 ticed to learn the trade of making har- 
 ness and saddlery with the firm of Weir 
 & Elliott. He continued with that firm 
 for about sixteen months, when the part- 
 nership was dissolved and he went with 
 .Mr. Elliott, under whom he completed 
 his trade and for whom he worked for 
 eleven years, when he bought the busi- 
 ness of his employer. He is continuing 
 in the same line today and is now pro- 
 prietor of the oldest established harness 
 business in the county. With the excep- 
 tion of three years it has continuously 
 been conducted in the same building, hav- 
 ing been located here for fifty-two years. 
 Mr. Goddertz carries a large line of har- 
 ness and saddlery and makes goods of 
 that, class of the best grades. He finds 
 a ready sale for his product and has long 
 conducted a profitable business. 
 
 On the 1 8th of March, 1860, Mr. God- 
 dertz married Rachel Beck, a daughter 
 of John and Elizabeth (Steiger) Beck. 
 They became parents of three children : 
 Catherine, who was the wife of James 
 Cox, of Ottumwa, Iowa, died May 31, 
 1906, and is buried in Oakland cemetery, 
 Warsaw, Illinois ; Josephine, who became 
 the wife of Harry Nealand, of Aspen, 
 Colorado, and died in 1903, at the age of 
 thirty-eight years; and Flora, the wife 
 of F. B. Green, of Ottumwa, Iowa. Mrs. 
 Goddertz passed away September 24, 
 1 88 1. and on the nth of December, 
 1889, Mr. Goddertz wedded Ella Peo- 
 ples, a daughter of James and Mary Anna 
 (Fox) Peoples. 
 
 Mr. Goddertz is a member of the Mod- 
 ern Woodmen, joining the order as a 
 charter member of Warsaw camp, No. 
 240. He is also connected with the Knights 
 of Pythias and his wife is a member of the 
 Christian church. He held the office of 
 alderman for one term but has never 
 sought nor desired political honors, pre- 
 ferring to concentrate his energies upon 
 his business interests, in which he has 
 made creditable success. He may truly 
 be called a self-made man and deserves 
 all the praise that that term implies, for 
 since the age of ten years he has been 
 dependent entirely upon his own re- 
 sources, and whatever success he has 
 achieved has come to him as the reward 
 of earnest, persistent labor and business 
 integrity. 
 
 GEORGE H. THOMPSON. 
 
 George H. Thompson, in whose busi- 
 ness life each step has been carefully and 
 thoughtfully made, is now conducting a 
 dry goods and grocery store in La Harpe 
 and his enterprise is one of the leading 
 commercial interests of the town. He 
 was born in Baltimore. Maryland, Janu- 
 ary 16, 1860, and largely acquired his 
 education in the public schools of that 
 city while spending his boyhood days in 
 the home of his parents, Charles H. and 
 Margaret ( Hergesheimer)' Thompson. 
 His paternal grandfather, Edward 
 Thompson, was also a native of Balti- 
 more, Maryland, while the maternal 
 grandfather, Charles Hergesheimer, was
 
 332 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 a native of New Jersey. Charles H. 
 Thompson, the father, was born in Balti- 
 more in April, 1826, and is now deceased, 
 while his wife, who was born in New 
 Jersey in March, 1828, has also passed 
 away. 
 
 When a youth of seventeen years 
 George H. Thompson of this review be- 
 came a resident of Livingston county, 
 Illinois, and for three years worked on 
 a farm. He then rented sixty-five acres 
 of land and for one year engaged in 
 farming on his own account. Feeling 
 the need, however, of better educational 
 privileges, he then went to Chicago and 
 pursued a course of study in the Metro- 
 "politan Business College of that city. 
 His education completed, he went to 
 Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he pre- 
 empted a claim of one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land, whereon he engaged in 
 farming. After residing there for two 
 years he was elected township clerk of 
 New Hope township, Brown county, 
 South Dakota, and held the office for 
 four years. He was next elected town- 
 ship assessor and acted in that capacity 
 for two terms of one year each. At 
 the same time he filled the position of 
 road commissioner and was then nomi- 
 nated as representative for the first ses- 
 sion of the general assembly held in 
 South Dakota. Before the election, 
 however, he withdrew on account of 
 private business interests and in his 
 place was nominated J. W. Scattergood, 
 who was elected. For a number of years 
 he took an active and leading part in 
 political affairs during the early epoch 
 of statehood in South Dakota and was 
 a man of influence in party ranks. He 
 
 lived upon his farm there for nine years 
 and in April, 1893, went to Salem, Ore- 
 gon, where he remained for about four 
 months, spending his time in prospecting. 
 On the expiration of that period he re- 
 turned to Fairbury. Livingston county, 
 Illinois, where he engaged in the grocery 
 and queensware business. There he re- 
 mained for three years, on the expiration 
 of which period he sold out and entered 
 the employ of the Peoria Packing and 
 Provision Company as manager of its 
 branch house at Forrest, Illinois. After 
 a year he came to La Harpe in February, 
 1898, and bought the business of the 
 Kem & Biggs Grocery Company. He. 
 afterward added a stock of dry goods 
 and notions and at present is the owner 
 of one' of the largest business enterprises 
 of the kind in La Harpe. 
 
 On the 1 6th of February, 1884, was 
 celebrated the marriage of Mr. Thomp- 
 son and Miss Sarah A. Eyre, who was 
 born January 24, 1859, in Sturgis, Mich- 
 igan, and removed to Livingston county, 
 Illinois, with her parents when about six 
 years of age. Her father, George Eyre, 
 was born in Lincolnshire, England, May 
 25, 1824, and died April 30, 1879. His 
 wife, Alice Catton, who was born in 
 Lincolnshire, England, April 20, 1825, 
 died July 9, 1901. Mr. Eyre came to 
 America about 1853, locating in Sturgis, 
 Michigan, and after about eleven years 
 spent in that state removed to Fairbury, 
 Illinois, where both he and his wife re- 
 sided until called to their final rest. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Thompson has been born a 
 son, F. Boyd Thompson, who was born 
 in Brown county, South Dakota, August 
 i, 1885. He was graduated from Git-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 333 
 
 tings Seminary at La Harpe in 1903 and 
 in September, 1904, entered Brown's 
 Business College at Peoria, from which 
 he was graduated in December, 1905. 
 He afterward entered the employ of Par- 
 lin & Orrendorf, plow manufacturers of 
 Canton, Illinois, as assistant time-keeper 
 and paymaster, and in November, 1906, 
 was promoted to sales department. He 
 was married August 5, 1906, to Vinna 
 Dickson, of Durham township, Hancock 
 county, Illinois, where her father, J. E. 
 Dickson, still resides, being a farmer of 
 that township. Her mother, who was a 
 Ballew, passed away several years ago. 
 Mr. Thompson is not only a leading 
 representative of the business life of La 
 Harpe but has also been prominently and 
 actively connected with many interests of 
 direct benefit to the community. He is 
 president of the board of trustees of 
 Gittings Seminary and also president of 
 tthe executive committee. He is like- 
 wise president of the board of stewards 
 of the Methodist Protestant church of La 
 Harpe, of which he is an active and help- 
 ful member. He votes with the Repub- 
 lican party and is a representative of the 
 Odd Fellows fraternity, belonging to the 
 lodge, encampment and the Order of Re- 
 bekahs. 
 
 HON. JESSE C. WILLIAMS. 
 
 Hon. Jesse C. Williams is the oldest 
 male resident of Carthage, having at- 
 tained the venerable age of eighty-seven 
 years. He is still hale and hearty, well 
 preserved and as straight as an arrow. 
 
 He has long been widely and favorably 
 known in this part of the state, having 
 for many years carried on business as a 
 general merchant, and at one time he rep- 
 resented his district in the state senate. 
 His birth occurred in Richmond, Madi- 
 son county, Kentucky, on the 22d of Au- 
 gust, 1819, his parents being Richard and 
 Catherine (Holder) Williams. The fa- 
 ther was born in Fredericsburg, Culpep- 
 per county, Virginia, in 1786, and the 
 mother was a native of Clark county, 
 Kentucky, her birth occurring in 1797. 
 
 Mr. Williams's maternal grandfather, 
 John Holder, and great-grandfather, Col- 
 onel Richard Callaway, joined Daniel 
 Boone at Boone's fort on the Kentucky 
 river, now in Madison county, in 1775. 
 In July, 1776, Colonel Calla way's two 
 daughters, Betsy and Fanny Callaway, 
 and Jemima Boone were in a skiff on 
 the river and were captured by a party 
 of Indians, which was concealed on the 
 river bank. They were pursued by 
 Boone, Callaway and Mr. Callaway's son, 
 Flanders. Henderson and Captain Hol- 
 der were overtaken and the girls rescued 
 by their friends and returned to the fort. 
 On their return to the fort Henderson 
 married Betsy Callaway and Flanders 
 Callaway married Jemima Boone, having 
 a double wedding, and were the ancestors 
 of the numerous Callaway family of Mis- 
 souri. Captain Holder and Fanny Cal- 
 laway were married the next year, 
 Boone's brother, a Baptist minister, offi- 
 ciating on both occasions. 
 
 Both the paternal and maternal grand- 
 fathers of Mr. Williams were soldiers of 
 the Revolutionary war, also the great-
 
 334 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 grandfather, who is known in history as 
 Colonel Richard Galloway, of Virginia, 
 who was prominent in the early develop- 
 ment and settlement of Kentucky and 
 who was a soldier in the frontier and In- 
 dian war under General Washington. 
 The grandfather of Mrs. Jesse Williams 
 in both the paternal and maternal line 
 was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, 
 one being John Collier and the other Jo- 
 seph Graves. The daughters of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Williams were therefore eligible to 
 membership with the Daughters of the 
 American Revolution and are now con- 
 nected with chapters of this organization. 
 Richard Williams learned the trade of 
 a saddler and harness-maker in the city 
 of Richmond, Virginia, and in 1808 re- 
 moved to Richmond, Kentucky, where he 
 followed his trade until 1828. He then 
 settled on a farm twenty miles from Rich- 
 mond, in Rockcastle county, Kentucky, 
 where he remained for twenty years, 
 when, in 1848, he removed to the county 
 seat of that county and lived retired un- 
 til his death. He was a warm admirer of 
 Henry 7 Clay and served several terms as 
 a magistrate in his locality. His wife was 
 of the Presbyterian faith. In their fam- 
 ily were thirteen children, of whom five 
 are yet living : Jesse, of this review ; Vir- 
 ginia, who is seventy-three years of age 
 and is the wife of James Wilson, of Mo- 
 nett. Missouri ; David, aged sixty-eight 
 years, living in Mount Vernon, Ken- 
 tucky ; William H., seventy-four years 
 of age, residing in Aztec, New Mexico; 
 and Louisa, who is the widow of James 
 Boulware, of Madison, Kentucky, and is 
 sixty-five years of age. The father of 
 this family died in January, 1878, and 
 
 their mother passed away in 1884, the 
 remains of both being interred in the 
 cemetery at Mount Vernon, Kentucky. 
 
 Jesse C. Williams acquired a limited 
 education in the district schools of his 
 native state and the next year after he 
 put aside his text-books he left home and 
 went south, and was engaged on the con- 
 struction of one of the first railroads in 
 that part of the country, the line extend- 
 ing between Atlanta and Chattanooga. 
 It was over this road that General Joe 
 Johnson made his celebrated retreat dur- 
 ing the period of the Civil war. Return- 
 ing to Kentucky Mr. Williams raised a 
 crop of com on his father's farm and 
 for several years during the winter sea- 
 sons engaged in teaching school. He aft- 
 erward turned his attention to merchan- 
 dising in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, and 
 in 1857 he removed to Carthage, where 
 he opened a general store, which he con- 
 ducted continuously until about fourteen 
 years ago, keeping a large line of general 
 goods. He was first located on the south 
 side of the public square, afterward re- 
 moving to the west side and finally erect- 
 ed a business block on the north side, in 
 which he continued until his retirement 
 from mercantile life. He was energetic 
 and diligent and as the result of his fru- 
 gality, careful management and straight- 
 forward business dealings he acquired a 
 very desirable competence, which now en- 
 ables him to live retired. 
 
 On the 5th of March, 1850, Mr. Wil- 
 liams was married to Miss Mary Col- 
 lier, who was born in Rockcastle, Ken- 
 tucky, May 8. 1826, a daughter of John 
 and Susan (Groves) Collier, both of 
 whom were natives of Culpepper county,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 335 
 
 Virginia, the former born July 4, 1782, 
 and the latter December 15, 1787. Mr. 
 Collier engaged in farming in Kentucky 
 for many years and died in that state in 
 18^3. at the age of fifty-one years, while 
 his wife passed away at the age of sixty- 
 three years. He was a soldier of the 
 war of 1812. Both he and his wife were 
 members of the Baptist church. In their 
 family were eleven children, seven of 
 whom reached adult age, but for a long 
 period Mrs. Williams has been the only 
 surviving member of the family. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Williams celebrated their golden 
 wedding six years ago, having all of 
 their children with them on this happy 
 occasion. They have now traveled life's 
 journey together as man and wife for 
 fifty-six years, sharing with each other 
 in the joys and sorrows, the adversity 
 and prosperity which comes to each indi- 
 vidual in a lung lifetime. They had 
 seven children, two of whom were born 
 in Kentucky and five in Illinois. Of this 
 number five are living: Oscar, who re- 
 sides at Fort Stockton, Texas, married 
 Sallie Wheat and has five children, Oscar, 
 Mary E., Susan C, Clayton and Jesse C. 
 William D. married Miss Jettie Pierson 
 and lives at Fort Worth, Texas. Josiah 
 J. resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Su- 
 san is at home. Jessie is the wife of 
 Archibald Hart and lives in Nora 
 Springs, Iowa. All of Mr. Williams's 
 sons are prominent and successful law- 
 yers. The eldest is a graduate of the 
 Harvard Law School and of Bethany 
 School. William D. is a graduate of Ab- 
 ingdon College and lived for a time in 
 Austin, Texas, where he studied law 
 prior to his removal to Fort Worth. Jo- 
 
 siah is a graduate of Carthage College, 
 studying law with Judge Scofield, and 
 located in Kansas City. Both of the 
 daughters have taught school in Texas 
 and both were teachers for a year in the 
 public schools of Carthage. The young- 
 er daughter, Jessie, occupied for a num- 
 ber of years an editorial position with the 
 Chapman Publishing Company, of Chi- 
 cago. 
 
 Mr. Williams built his present pretty 
 home in 1866 and has lived in it for forty 
 years. It was first a farm but the land 
 has since been divided and much of it 
 has since been sold off in town lots. He 
 began life in very humble financial cir- 
 cumstances but worked on persistently 
 year after year until now in the evening 
 of life he is surrounded by many com- 
 forts and has a very desirable compe- 
 tence. He is a Mason and he and his 
 wife are zealous members of the Chris- 
 tian church, in which he has been elder 
 and Sunday school superintendent. He 
 and his wife take a most active and help- 
 ful part in the work of the church and 
 his entire life proves the value of hon- 
 esty as a factor in winning success and 
 the respect of one's fellowmen. His po- 
 litical allegiance is given to the democ- 
 racy and in 1870 he was elected state 
 senator for Hancock and Adams coun- 
 ties, when he served for one term when 
 he refused to again become a candidate. 
 He has long been a strong temperance 
 man and at all times he exercises his of- 
 ficial prerogatives to support temperance 
 principles. He has acted for several 
 terms as alderman of Carthage and has 
 been president of the council. His in- 
 terest in community affairs has been of
 
 336 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 a helpful character and in the evening 
 of life he receives the veneration and re- 
 spect which are accorded in recognition 
 of ability, success, an honorable political 
 career and devotion to those rules of con- 
 duct which are not only in comformity 
 with a high standard of ethics, but also 
 with the high and lofty principles of 
 Christianity. 
 
 FRANCIS MARION HARRIS. 
 
 Francis Marion Harris, numbered 
 among the early settlers of Hancock coun- 
 ty, so that his memory now forms a con- 
 necting link between the past and the 
 present, and who is now residing in Au- 
 gusta, was born in Putnam county, In- 
 diana, December 7, 1834. His parents 
 were John and Ruth (Aldridge) Harris. 
 The father was born in Hawkins county, 
 Tennessee, September i, 1811, and at an 
 early day removed to Indiana, where he 
 engaged in farming. In 1847 he sold the 
 farm and removed to Schuyler county, 
 Illinois, where he purchased a tract of 
 land, making his home thereon until 
 about 1858, when he took up his abode 
 in Augusta to become identified with its 
 business interests as a dry goods and 
 grain merchant. Later he gave his at- 
 tention to the lumber trade, which he 
 followed until 1868, when, having ac- 
 quired a handsome competence that en- 
 abled him to live retired, he put aside 
 further business cares and responsibili- 
 ties and spent his remaining days in Au- 
 
 gusta in the enjoyment of a well earned 
 rest. He died November 15, 1873, in 
 the faith of the Baptist church, of which 
 he was a consistent member. His polit- 
 ical views accorded with democratic prin- 
 ciples and for some years he was a capa- 
 ble and efficient member of the town 
 board of Augusta. His widow survived 
 him for about twenty years and died in 
 Bowen, Illinois, at the age of seventy- 
 six, and was buried in Augusta cemetery 
 by the side of her husband. She was born 
 in Stokes county. North Carolina. By 
 her marriage she became the mother of 
 ten children, three of whom survive. 
 
 Francis Marion Harris acquired his 
 education in the district schools of his 
 native county and in his youth assisted 
 his father in the farm labor, coming with 
 the family to Illinois in 1847, when a 
 youth of thirteen years. He farmed upon 
 the old homestead in Schuyler county on 
 his own account in early manhood, re- 
 maining there for two years, when he sold 
 the property and came to Augusta, where 
 he spent one summer. In 1859 he went 
 to Colorado, attracted by the discovery 
 of gold in that state, and devoted a year 
 to mining, but not meeting with the suc- 
 cess he had anticipated he returned to Au- 
 gusta, where he has since continuously 
 made his home. He has been following 
 the trade of a carpenter and contractor 
 here and has been closely associated with 
 building operations, many of the substan- 
 tial structures of the town and surround- 
 ing community standing as monuments 
 to his skill and enterprise. He always 
 lives up to the terms of his contract and 
 has an unassailable business reputation. 
 
 Mr. Harris was married on the 2d of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 337 
 
 November, 1856, to Miss Susan R. Dush- 
 er, who was born in Indiana and is a 
 daughter of Jacob and Susan Dusher and 
 a member of the Methodist church. She 
 is a lady of many good traits of charac- 
 ter, her life being formulated upon lines 
 of conduct laid down by the church with 
 which she. is identified. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Harris have been born ten children, 
 six of whom are now living. Leona died 
 in infancy; Fanny, the wife of William 
 Cordell, a farmer residing near Industry, 
 Illinois, by whom she has three daugh- 
 ters and a son, Susan, Collin, Ruth and 
 Mabell; Luella, the wife of Samuel 
 Yoting, a machinist of Kewanee, Illi- 
 nois, by whom she has five children, 
 Marie, Howard, Florence, Charles and 
 Sarah; Ruth E., the wife of William H. 
 Johnson, of Augusta; \Villiam R., a car- 
 penter and wagon-maker of Lamar, Mis- 
 souri, who married Ella Jeffries, of Col- 
 chester, Illinois ; Francis M., a mechanic, 
 who married Rosa Phillips, of Oklahoma 
 City, Oklahoma, and has one son, Lo- 
 renzo; Charles L., a carpenter residing 
 in Lowell, Arizona, married to Miss Jes- 
 sie Cox, of Mt. Sterling, Illinois; two 
 daughters who died in infancy ; and John, 
 who also died -in infancy. 
 
 Mr. Harris is a member of the Meth- 
 odist church. He votes with the democ- 
 racy and has served as police constable 
 for Augusta. Throughout almost sixty 
 years he has lived in this part of the state 
 and has seen many changes in Hancock 
 county as pioneer conditions have given 
 way before the improvements of an ad- 
 vanced civilization. In matters of citi- 
 zenship he is public-spirited and he has 
 co-operated to the extent of his resources 
 
 in the movements and measures for the 
 public good. At seventy-two years of 
 age his penmanship was as regular and 
 plain as print and looked as though it 
 were copper-plate. 
 
 CARL BERTSCHI. 
 
 Carl Bertschi, the proprietor of a fine 
 meat market in Niota, where he is con- 
 ducting an excellent trade, was born in 
 Appanoose township, July 26, 1860, a 
 son of William and Elizabeth (Walte) 
 Bertschi, natives of Switzerland. 
 
 Carl Bertschi was reared to farm life 
 and acquired his education in the dis- 
 trict schools near his father's home. He 
 remained with his parents to the age of 
 sixteen years, when he started out to 
 make his own way in the world, going 
 first to Wisconsin, where he was em- 
 ployed at farm labor during the sum- 
 mer months, while in the winter season he 
 worked in the pine woods, being thus oc- 
 cupied for six years, and on the expira- 
 tion of that period he returned to the old 
 home place, where he remained for one 
 year, subsequent to which time he went 
 to Bond county, Illinois, where he was 
 employed by the month as a farm hand 
 for fourteen months, and then returned 
 again to Hancock county, where he still 
 followed that pursuit, and during the 
 threshing season he, in connection with 
 his brother, operated a threshing machine 
 from 1882 until 1892. He also operated 
 a thresher in Wisconsin and in Bond
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 county, Illinois. In this business .the 
 brothers- were quite successful, their trade 
 extending over a large territory in this 
 section of the county. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate for life's 
 journey Mr. Bertschi chose Miss Bar- 
 bara Lutz, to whom he was married June 
 26, 1886. She was born in Franklin, Lee 
 county, Iowa, October 10, 1867, a daugh- 
 ter of John and Eliza (Bertschi) Lutz, 
 both natives of Switzerland. Following 
 his marriage Mr. Bertschi lived for one 
 year with his wife's mother, and then re- 
 moved to the village of Niota, where he 
 was employed at bridge-building for the 
 Santa Fe Railroad Company for one year, 
 and on the expiration of that period he 
 went to Tyson creek and engaged in the 
 manufacture of tile, but this business ven- 
 ture did not prove a success, and he then 
 took up his abode on a farm in Appa- 
 noose township, where he was engaged in 
 general agricultural pursuits until 1893, 
 when he left the farm and removed to 
 Niota, where he invested in two lots and 
 a business block, in which he opened a 
 meat market and has since been engaged 
 In carrying on this enterprise. He con- 
 ducts the only market in Niota and has 
 an excellent trade, which returns him a 
 gratifying annual income. He handles 
 only the best class of meats and does all 
 his own butchering. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Bertschi ad- 
 vocates the principles of democracy and 
 because of his ability and his interest in 
 local affairs his fellow townsmen have 
 called him to a number of offices, having 
 served for one term as assessor, three 
 terms as supervisor, one term as school 
 director and is now serving his second 
 
 term as school trustee. He is identified 
 with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
 lows, holding membership in Lodge No. 
 222, at Nauvoo, and with Harrick lodge, 
 No. 193. of Masons. Mr. Bertschi was 
 elected sheriff of Hancock county Novem- 
 ber 6, 1906. Unto him and his 
 wife ' have been born four children, 
 of whom three survive: Caroline Ame- 
 lia, who died at the age of one and one- 
 half years; Lloyd, born March 3, 1889; 
 Palmer E., born April 17, 1894; and 
 Lona, December i, 1903. He and his 
 family are well known in Niota and the 
 surrounding country, and the hospitality 
 of their own home is greatly enjoyed by 
 their many friends. 
 
 EMIL J. BAXTER. 
 
 Emil J. Baxter is well known as a bee 
 culturist and the business which he has 
 conducted in this regard has become ex- 
 tensive and important. He carries on 
 the work along modern scientific lines and 
 in addition he engages in horticultural 
 pursuits, while in other sections of the 
 country he owns valuable landed interests. 
 He is likewise the oldest director in point 
 of continuous service of the State Bank 
 of Nauvoo, and is regarded as one of the 
 representative business men, his life of 
 activity being crowned with success, while 
 his commercial integrity stands as an un- 
 questioned fact in his career. 
 
 Mr. Baxter is a native of Newark. New 
 Jersey, a son of Emil and Annette (Pow-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 339 
 
 ell) Baxter, both natives of France, the 
 former born in St. Quintin. The paternal 
 grandparents were John and Marie Bax- 
 ter, the former born in England of Scotch 
 parentage, while the latter was of French 
 birth. John Baxter served as commander 
 of artillery at the battle of \\ aterloo 
 under the Duke of Wellington and was 
 given a medal in recognition of his able 
 military service. So well pleased with 
 France was he that he determined to re- 
 main in that country and there engaged in 
 the manufacture of lace, the product of 
 his factory being sent to New York city 
 and sold by Robert Jaffray, who estab- 
 lished the wholesale lace house of Jaffray 
 & Sons, which is today one of the largest 
 wholesale establishments of the western 
 metropolis. 
 
 About the year 1845 Emil Baxter 
 crossed the Atlantic to the new world and 
 accepted a position with the firm of Hen- 
 nequin & Company, large importers of 
 laces, dry goods, etc., in New York, and 
 also owners of a store in Paris, France. 
 He continued with that house until 1856, 
 when he removed to Nauvoo and became 
 secretary of the Icarian community. A 
 year later, however, he returned to 
 Xewark, New Jersey, and again accepted 
 a position as bookkeeper but his health 
 failed and he returned to Hancock 
 county, purchasing eight acres in the heart 
 of Nauvoo. He made a specialty of the 
 raising of grapes and the manufacture of 
 wine. The gentle slope of the Mississippi 
 river bank affords splendid opportunity 
 for grape culture and Mr. Baxter con- 
 tinued successfully in business until 1894, 
 when he removed to Keokuk to live with 
 his daughter, Mrs. Addie Kruskopf, the 
 
 widow of Ernest Krusdopf. There his 
 death occurred in June, 1895. He is sur- 
 vived by his second wife and four sons 
 and two daughters of the first marriage 
 and one daughter of the second marriage. 
 Mr. Baxter had been married on the 2gth 
 of July. 1852, at Meriden, Connecticut, 
 to Miss Annette Powell, who was en- 
 gaged in teaching in a seminary in that 
 state. Her death occurred in July, 1863. 
 Emil J. Baxter, the eldest of the chil- 
 dren, remained with his father until 1871 
 and attended the common schools of 
 Nauvoo during the winter months until 
 sixteen years of age. In 1871 he went 
 to Little Rock and to Hot Springs, 
 Arkansas, and planted one of the first 
 vineyards ever set out in that state. Sev- 
 everal months later he returned to Illinois 
 and engaged in teaching school for one 
 winter, after which he went to Chicago, 
 where he continued in the study of law 
 for one year with John Lyle King. He 
 had previously studied law at Nauvoo 
 under the direction of R. W. McKinney, 
 and returning to Nauvoo, he engaged in 
 teaching school through the winter sea- 
 sons, while in the summer months his at- 
 tention was devoted to horticultural pur- 
 suits and to the conduct of an apiary. He 
 taught through thirteen winter terms of 
 six months each and was regarded as one 
 of the capable educators of this part of 
 the state, his labors being effective in 
 promoting the standard of education. In 
 more recent years he has been making a 
 specialty of bee culture, having from two 
 hundred to three hundred hives on hand. 
 He has also been especially interested in 
 horticulture, which he has studied in all 
 its phases, including the subject of the
 
 340 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 insect enemies that attack fruit. He is 
 a life member of the Missouri and the 
 Illinois State Horticultural Societies and 
 his knowledge concerning the best meth- 
 ods of cultivating fruit is now compre- 
 hensive and accurate, his decisions being 
 largely considered authority throughout 
 this part of the state. For many years 
 he was the senior member of the firm of 
 E. Baxter & Sons, his partners being 
 Thomas P. and Cecil J. Baxter, to whom 
 he sold out in 1901. He now owns ten 
 acres in his home place in Nauvoo devoted 
 to all kinds of fruit and he also keeps 
 ninety colonies of bees at the home place. 
 He likewise owns thirty acres additional 
 within the city limits of Nauvoo, devoted 
 to fruit raising, and he has a third in- 
 terest in three hundred and twenty acres 
 of farm land in Hand county, South Da- 
 kota, and likewise owns one hundred and 
 sixty acres in Sherman county, Kansas. 
 He is one of the heavy stockholders of 
 the State Bank of Nauvoo and is its oldest 
 director in years of service, while at the 
 present time he is chairman of the loan 
 and discount committee and chairman of 
 the examining board. 
 
 On the 2 ist of June. 1877, Mr. Baxter 
 was married to Miss Eugenie S. 
 Dadant, a daughter of Charles and 
 Gabrielle (Parrisot) Dadant, natives of 
 France. Their children are: Alice A., 
 born August 26, 1880: E. Miles, Jan- 
 uary 13, 1885; Charles Bayard. Feb- 
 ruary 17, 1887; and Florence G.,' Jan- 
 uary 21, 1890. In the spring of 1905 
 Mr. Baxter erected a fine modern resi- 
 dence, supplied with all city conveniences 
 and heated with hot water and system for 
 lighting by either gas or electricity was 
 
 installed. This is one of the attractive 
 residences of Nauvoo, and its warm- 
 hearted hospitality makes it a favorite re- 
 sort with the many friends of the family. 
 Mr. Baxter is prominent politically and 
 socially as well as in business circles. 
 He is a stalwart democrat, and in 1880 
 served as supervisor of Nauvoo township, 
 while for seven terms he has served as 
 alderman of the city from the third ward 
 and was again elected in the spring of 
 1906. He has served continuously since 
 1891 as a member of the school board 
 in district No. 53, and he has been a 
 member of the township high school 
 board since 1900. His labors have been 
 effective and far-reaching in his efforts to 
 promote the intellectual progress and up- 
 hold the political status of his community 
 and he has used practical methods in 
 working toward the ideal. He belongs 
 to Temple lodge. No. 222, Independent 
 Order of Odd Fellows, of which 
 he became a charter member on its 
 organization in April. 1888. He 
 is also a member of the Rebekah lodge, 
 and belong-s to Puchechetuck camp, No. 
 7, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
 at Keokuk. Also a charter member of 
 Temple camp, Modern Woodmen of 
 America. He also served for many years 
 as representative to the grand lodge of 
 the Ancient Order of United Workmen 
 but has withdrawn from that organiza- 
 tion. His life has been a success. His 
 entire career is illustrated by the fact that 
 certain actions are followed by certain re- 
 sults. As a business man he has always 
 been enterprising, and his labors have 
 resulted in successful accomplishment. As 
 a citizen he has displayed sagacity and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 true patriotism and as a public official his 
 actions have been above reproach or criti- 
 cism. . He stands today as a worthy rep- 
 resentative of a high type of our Ameri- 
 can manhood. 
 
 S. W. HECOX. 
 
 S. W. Hecox. engaged in the livery 
 business in Carthage, was born in Adams 
 county, Illinois, April 6, 1860, a son of 
 R. C. and Mary (Lancaster) Hecox. 
 The father, a native of Illinois, resided 
 upon a farm in Adams county through- 
 out the greater part of his life. His 
 political allegiance was given to the de- 
 mocracy and in his fraternal relations 
 he was a Mason. He married Miss 
 Mary Lancaster, a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania, and they became the parents of 
 seven children, of whom six are living, 
 as follows : Rebecca, the wife of Henry 
 \Yillard, of Bowen, Illinois; S. W., of 
 this review ; George, also living in 
 Bowen ; Anna, the wife of Stuart Woods, 
 who resides near Bowen ; Oscar, who is 
 living in Golden. Adams county, Illinois : 
 and Dr. Chalmer Hecox, of Golden. The 
 mother passed away in 1877 and her re- 
 mains were interred in Ebenezer ceme- 
 'tery. The father, however, is now liv- 
 ing in vBowen. 
 
 S. W. Hecox was educated in the 
 country schools of Bowen and remained 
 with his father until of age. When a 
 young man of twenty-five years he was 
 married to Miss Lillian Parish on the 
 
 4th of October, 1885. She was also a 
 native of Adams county and a daughter 
 of Dr. Parish. Her mother died when 
 the daughter was but six years of age and 
 the father passed away in Oregon in 
 1904. He was a physician by profession 
 and served as a Union soldier in the Civil 
 war. Of their family of five children 
 Mrs. Hecox is the youngest, the others 
 being: William and Byron, who reside 
 in Oregon ; Reuben, who is living in 
 Iowa : and Elizabeth, the wife of Clark 
 Headley, of Iowa. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hecox resided upon a 
 farm in Hancock county for three and 
 a half years and afterward removed to 
 a farm in Adams county, where they 
 spent eleven and a half years, his atten- 
 tion being given to the development of 
 the fields which were highly improved. 
 
 On the 6th of March, 1900, .Mr. Hecox 
 removed to Carthage and opened a livery 
 stable, in which enterprise he was first 
 associated with Sherman Lancaster, 
 afterward with George Gardner and 
 now with Dr. E. H. Herring. He con- 
 ducts a general livery stable on Jackson 
 street and also has funeral equipment, 
 including hearse and carriages. He re- 
 ceives a liberal patronage owing to his 
 earnest effort to please his customers and 
 his -reasonable prices. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hecox have been 
 born two children : Veva Bernice, born 
 in Adams county, June 15, 1891, and 
 now a high school student ; and Chalmer 
 Rosswell, who was born March 9, 1899. 
 The parents are active members of the 
 Christian church, doing much to pro- 
 mote its growth and development and 
 are teachers in the Sundav-school. Mr.
 
 34-' 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Hecox belongs to the Odd Fellows so- 
 ciety and the Modern Woodmen camp. 
 He has served as road commissioner and 
 as a member of the school board and is 
 interested in all that pertains to public 
 progress and improvement. His polit- 
 ical allegiance is given to the Democratic 
 party ajjd his church and political rela- 
 tions indicate much of the character of 
 the man, showing that he is arrayed on 
 the side of right, justice and truth. He 
 deserves much credit for what he has 
 accomplished in a business way, for he 
 has had no assistance but has depended 
 upon his own labors and resources for 
 advancement. In manner he is kind and 
 jovial and is spoken of in terms of praise 
 and friendship by all with whom business 
 or social relations have brought him in 
 contact. 
 
 WYMAN T. WHITCOMB. 
 
 The Whitcomb family was established 
 in America when this country was still 
 numbered among the colonial possessions 
 of Great Britain. Wyman Whitcomb, 
 Sr., grandfather of our subject, was a 
 school teacher by profession and was also 
 a musician of considerable skill and repu- 
 tation. His services were in frequent de- 
 mand for political meetings, on which 
 occasions he would play the fife and 
 drum. He became one of the pioneer 
 settlers of Adams county, Illinois, in 
 1833. He had a brother who was killed 
 in Cuba in 1844, having been taken pris- 
 oner there and shot at the time of mili- 
 tary uprisings. 
 
 Dwight Whitcomb, father of our sub- 
 ject, was born in Ohio, November 12, 
 1830, and passed the age of seventy- three 
 years, departing this life January 21, 
 1904, his remains being interred in Pow- 
 ellton cemetery. He was but three years 
 of age at the time of the removal of the 
 family to Adams county and was a 
 young man of twenty-one years when he 
 located in Rock Creek township, Han- 
 cock county. His entire life was de- 
 voted to agricultural pursuits and thus 
 he provided for his family, numbering 
 wife and fifteen or sixteen children. 
 Mrs. Whitcomb bore the maiden name of 
 Mary H. Ellison, and is still living in 
 Adrian. She was born December 29, 
 1836, and has therefore reached the sev- 
 entieth milestone on life's journey. Of 
 the family only five sons are now living, 
 Wyman T., Farnum M., John D., James 
 A. and Lewis M., all residents of Rock 
 Creek township. 
 
 Wyman T. Whitcomb was born on the 
 old farm home in Rock Creek township, 
 December 21, 1856, and at the usual age 
 entered the district school not far dis- 
 tant from his father's farm. After leav- 
 ing home he began farming on his own 
 account in his native township, where 
 he has spent his entire life save for a 
 period of seven years, which he passed in 
 Colorado and Nebraska, undergoing 
 many hardships and privations incident 
 to frontier setlement there, so that he 
 was glad to return to his native county. 
 He now owns and operates seventy-nine 
 acres of rich and arable land on section 
 5, Rock Creek township, whereon he has 
 erected a good dwelling, barns and made
 
 HANCOCK COUN-TY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 343 
 
 other substantial and modern improve- 
 ments. In all of his farm work he is 
 exceedingly practical and his labors are 
 therefore the source of a goodly income. 
 
 On the 23d of March, 1879, Mr. Whit- 
 comb was united in marriage to Miss 
 Frances E. Hollingworth, who was born 
 in Keokuk, Iowa, January 17, 1860, a 
 daughter of G. W. and Ann (Slocum) 
 Hollingworth, natives of Pennsylvania 
 and Ohio, respectively. The father was 
 a printer by trade and spent much of his 
 life in Iowa, where both he and his wife 
 died. She was a member of the Metho- 
 dist church. In their family were two 
 daughters and a son, namely : Mrs. 
 Whitcomb; F. J. Hollingworth, who is 
 living in Seattle, Washington ; and Lot- 
 tie, the wife of Ray Lewis, of Des 
 Moines, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb 
 have one child, Grover F., who was born 
 in Phelps county, Nebraska, October 28, 
 1892, and is now a student in the Rock 
 Creek township schools. Mrs. Whit- 
 comb is also descended from ancestors 
 who served in the Revolutionary war and 
 her great-uncle, Samuel Slocum, was a 
 soldier of the Civil war, while David 
 Whitcomb, an uncle of our subject, was 
 a member of an Illinois regiment in the 
 same war. 
 
 Mr. Whitcomb exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and 
 measures of the democracy and has filled 
 some local offices, such as road-boss, 
 school director and township treasurer. 
 He belongs to the Loyal American, an 
 insurance company. Both he and his 
 \vife are kind-hearted, pleasant people, 
 who occupy warm places in the esteem 
 and friendship of those who know them. 
 
 22 
 
 JOHN WELLNER. 
 
 John Wellner is a worthy and well 
 known representative of horticultural and. 
 agricultural interests in Appanoose town- 
 ship. His life record began in Baden, 
 Germany, May 14, 1849, but he was 
 reared in Nauvoo, where he acquired a 
 common school education. His parents, 
 Michael and Catherine (Emerich) Well- 
 ner, were also natives of Germany, where 
 the father learned and followed the mill- 
 er's trade. In 1852, however, he came 
 with his family to the United States, 
 landing at New Orleans, where for four 
 years he was employed in a wholesale 
 sugar house. He then secured a posi- 
 tion on a river packet, and in passing 
 Nauvoo he was so well pleased with the 
 town, its site, and its prospects that he 
 resolved to make it his home and pur- 
 chased here a house and lot. In the sum- 
 mer months he worked on boats on the 
 river, and in the winter seasons was at 
 home with his family. His death, how- 
 ever, occurred in New Orleans in 1859, 
 and subsequently his widow became the 
 wife of Joseph Haas, who died in 1900. 
 She is still living in Nauvoo, at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty years. She was Mr. 
 Wellner's second wife. By a former 
 marriage he had one son and three daugh- 
 ters, and by his second marriage he had 
 two sons and two daughters. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Haas were born two sons and 
 two daughters, and by a previous mar- 
 riage Mr. Haas had three sons and a 
 daughter. 
 
 John Wellner in his youth continued 
 to make his home with his mother, but 
 worked out by the month on farms in Ap-
 
 344 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 panoose and , Nauvoo townships until his 
 marriage, which was celebrated in Octo- 
 ber, 1870, Miss Agnes Haas becoming his 
 wife. She was a daughter of his step- 
 father, Joseph Haas, and his first wife, 
 Ferona Haas, who were natives of Ger- 
 many. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wellner were 
 born the following named : Lena, the 
 wife of William Yager, of Nauvoo; Jo- 
 seph, who died at the age of eight years ; 
 Katie, who was killed when a year and a 
 half old; Charles, who died at the age of 
 three years ; Doretta, who died at the age 
 of four years; Emma, Vallie, Agatha, 
 Edwin and Vera, all at home. The three 
 children, Joseph, Mary and Charles, all 
 died of diphtheria within one week in 
 1888. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Wellner 
 rented a farm in Appanoose township and 
 lived on different farms until 1876, when 
 he invested his savings in forty-eight 
 acres of land in Nauvoo township. The 
 same year he began building a house and 
 just before its completion it was de- 
 stroyed in a severe windstorm on the 
 night of July 4. Mr. Wellner was away 
 from home at the time. His wife, how- 
 ever, was in the house with her two chil- 
 dren, and one infant, Katie, in her arms, 
 was killed. One child escaped, while Mrs. 
 Wellr.er was pinned down by the arm un- 
 der some debris, being held there from 
 i 130 a. m. in the morning until 4 o'clock, 
 when Mr. Wellner returned and released 
 her. He then took his family to Nau- 
 voo, but in thje fall again built upon his 
 farm. There were about eighteen acres 
 of timber there, while the remainder was 
 fit for cultivation and was largely de- 
 voted to the raising of grapes. There are 
 
 four acres of grapes and five acres of ap- 
 ples. His second house which he built 
 was of brick and this he remodeled in 
 1900, making it an attractive home of 
 eight rooms, heated by furnace with a 
 cellar under the entire house. In 1891 
 he purchased eighty acres of land on sec- 
 tion 31 in Appanoose township, which is 
 devoted to farming and pasturage. As 
 the years have gone by he has made many- 
 changes and improvements on the farm, 
 developing a splendid property, from 
 which he now annually harvests good 
 crops of grain and of fruit. He belongs 
 to the Catholic church and his political 
 views are in accord with the principles 
 of democracy. 
 
 JOHN D. WHITCOMB. 
 
 John D. Whitcomb, a representative 
 of the farming interests of Rock Creek- 
 township, who has owned and occupied 
 this place for thirty years, has now a good 
 tract of land of one hundred and twenty 
 acres, and in addition to tilling the soil 
 is raising stock. He is one of the native 
 sons of the township, having been born 
 September 6, 1861, upon the old home- 
 stead farm which was the property of his 
 parents, Dwight and Mary H. (Ellison) 
 Whitcomb. The father was a native of 
 Trumbull county,' Ohio, bom in 1830. 
 while the mother's birth occurred in Eng- 
 land in 1837. In 1832 he became a resi- 
 dent of Adams county, Illinois, his par- 
 ents removing to this state at that time.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 345 
 
 and about 1853 he took up his abode in 
 Hancock county, where he carried on gen- 
 eral agricultural pursuits and stock-rais- 
 ing until his death. He passed away Jan- 
 'uary 22, 1904, and his grave was made 
 in Powellton cemetery. His widow still 
 survives and is now living in Adrian. The 
 father had one brother, David Whitcomb, 
 who was a member of an Illinois regi- 
 ment in the Civil war, and is now living 
 in Adams county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Dwight Whitcomb were born fifteen chil- 
 dren, of whom five yet survive: Wyman 
 T., who is living in Rock Creek township 
 and is represented elsewhere in this vol- 
 ume ; Farnham. of the same township : 
 John D., of this review ; and James A. 
 and Lewis M., who are also living in 
 Rock Creek township. 
 
 Like the other members of the family, 
 John D. Whitcomb was reared under the 
 parental roof and the public schools of 
 his native township afforded him his edu- 
 cational privileges. When not busy with 
 his text-books he worked in the fields and 
 remained with his parents, assisting in 
 the labor of the home farm until twenty- 
 eight years of age. when, in 1890. he was 
 married and established a home of his 
 own. The lady of his choice was Miss 
 Mary L. Youngmeyer, who w.is born in 
 Nauvoo in 1870, a daughter of Joseph 
 and Elizabeth (Sibert) Youngmeyer, the 
 former a native of Prussia. Germany, and 
 the latter of Virginia. They became 
 early settlers of Hancock county, Illi- 
 nois, and for many years Mr. Young- 
 meyer followed farming but passed away 
 about five years ago. His widow, how- 
 ever, still lives in Rock Creek township. 
 In their family were eight children, of 
 
 whom two are now deceased. The others 
 are: John H., a resident of Oklahoma: 
 Mary L., now Mrs. Whitcomb; Rosetta 
 G., the wife of John Jacks, of Rock Creek 
 township; Catherine, the wife of George 
 Haislett, of East St. Louis, Illinois; Ed- 
 ward S., of Rock Creek township: and 
 Arthur W., of Oklahoma. 
 
 Mr. Whitcomb received as a gift from 
 his father eighty acres of land on section 
 14, Rock Creek township, and is now the 
 owner of one hundred and twenty acres. 
 He has lived upon this farm for twenty- 
 four years and all of the improvements 
 here are as a monument to his life of 
 thrift, enterprise and diligence. His res- 
 idence is an elegant country home, and 
 were it not for the surrounding fields 
 might well be regarded as a city dwelling, 
 and in fact would grace any town in the 
 county. He has also built good barns 
 and outbuildings for the shelter of grain 
 and stock and has successfully carried 
 on the work of tilling the soil and rais- 
 ing stock, but is now renting most of his 
 land and is largely living retired, enjoy- 
 ing a rest which is truly merited because 
 of his activity, enterprise and careful 
 management in former years. , 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb have 
 been born six children, all natives of Rock 
 Creek township, namely : Ethel May, 
 who was born April 18, 1891, and is a 
 student in the Carthage high school and 
 is also studying music : David Joseph, 
 who was born December n, 1892. and 
 died December 19. 1893;. Willis, who 
 was born December n, 1895, and passed 
 away July 9, 1896; Ruth Elizabeth, who 
 was born June 22, 1897, and died Janu- 
 *ary 17, 1904; Arthur Dwight, born July
 
 346 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 7, 1903 ; and Ada Frances, March 19, 
 1906. The three deceased children were 
 laid to rest in Powellton cemetery. Mrs. 
 Whitcomb is a member of the Methodist 
 church and Mr. Whitcomb affiliates with 
 the Odd Fellows. His political support 
 is given to the democracy, and for fifteen 
 years he has served as school director, but 
 has never been ambitious in the line of 
 office holding. Both he and his wife are 
 honest, respected people, whose life rec- 
 ords characterized by much that is up- 
 lifting-, are a credit to the county of their 
 nativity. Their pretty home is attract- 
 ively furnished and is the center of a 
 cultured society circle, their many friends 
 greatly enjoying its warm-hearted 
 hospitality. 
 
 WILLIAM WEBER. 
 
 William Weber resides on section 32. 
 Appanoose township, where he has an 
 excellent farm of one hundred and ninety 
 acres. The greater part of this is under 
 cultivation and the farm is well equipped 
 with modern accessories and conve- 
 niences. Many fruit trees upon the place 
 are a good source of income, while the 
 well tilled fields annually bring forth 
 golden harvests. It was upon section 32 
 that William Weber first opened his eyes 
 to the light of day, on the 6th of Janu- 
 ary, 1853, and a district school educa- 
 tion fitted him for life's practical and 
 responsible duties. He is of Swiss line- 
 age, his parents, Samuel and Rose 
 (Bertschi) Weber, having been born. 
 
 reared and married in Switzerland. Hop- 
 ing to enjoy better business opportunities 
 in the new world, they sailed for America 
 late in the '405, and took up their abode in 
 St. Louis, where they remained for about 
 two years, Mr. Weber doing farm work. 
 In 1850 he came to Nauvoo and his earn- 
 ings, which had been carefully saved, 
 were invested in forty acres of prairie 
 land and twenty acres of timber in Ap- 
 panoose township. Upon this place he 
 located and began the further cultivation 
 and development of a farm, making it his 
 home until about 1886, when he sold that 
 property and bought eighty acres in So- 
 nora township. There he lived until his 
 life's labors were ended in death on the 
 i8th of October, 1893. His widow has 
 since resided with her daughter, Mrs. 
 Mary Cowles, of Fort Madison. Iowa, 
 who is one of a family of five sons and 
 six daughters. 
 
 William Weber, the sixth in order of 
 birth in this family, remained under the 
 parental roof until twenty-nine years of 
 age and from his early youth gave ma- 
 terial assistance in the work of the farm. 
 At the age of twenty-two years he rented 
 his father's land and continued its culti- 
 vation on his own account for seven years. 
 He then married on the ist of January, 
 1883, Miss Annie Rentschler, a native of 
 Nauvoo, born April 12, 1852, and a 
 daughter of John M. and Annie 
 fSchnearly) Rentschler. who were na- 
 tives of Wurtemburg, Germany. They 
 made the voyage across the briny deep 
 to New Orleans, and some time later be- 
 came residents of Keokuk, Iowa. The 
 father had learned and followed the mill- 
 ing business in his native country but
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 347 
 
 after coming to the new world he en- 
 gaged in farming. He spent some time 
 in Iowa and then removed to Nauvoo, 
 purchasing a farm in Sonora township, 
 upon which he and his wife spent their 
 remaining days, her death occurring Sep- 
 tember 13, 1874, while he survived until 
 May 20, 1888. As stated, their daughter 
 Annie became the wife of William Web- 
 er, and one child has been born of this 
 union, Archie Harry, whose natal day 
 was October 8, 1883. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and 
 Mrs. Weber lived upon her father's farm. 
 Mr. Weber purchased the interest of the 
 other heirs in this property and continued 
 to cultivate the fields there until 1891. 
 when he sold that place and bought one 
 hundred and ninety acres of land situated 
 on sections 28 and 32, Appanoose town- 
 ship. Of this twenty-five acres are cov- 
 ered with timber, while the remainder is 
 improved land and the further work of 
 cultivation and development has been 
 carried forward by the present owner. 
 The buildings all stand as monuments 
 to his enterprise and thrift and include 
 barns, a two-story frame house, corn 
 cribs, and in fact everything necessary 
 for the shelter of grain, stock and farm 
 machinery. He has recently erected a 
 modern and commodious country home, 
 which is tasteful in its arrangement and 
 in its furnishings. He carries on general 
 agricultural pursuits and stock-raising 
 and he also gives considerable attention 
 to the cultivation of fruit, having upon 
 his place one hundred and fifty apple 
 trees, fifty peach trees and also cherries 
 and pears. He has made a close study of 
 the best methods of caring for the fruit 
 
 and in his farm work he follows the 
 rotation of crops and brings to bear 
 modern scientific knowledge in the prac- 
 tical work of tilling the soil. A democrat 
 in his political allegiance he has never 
 been an aspirant for office and the only 
 position of public trust he has ever held 
 was that of school director, in which he 
 served four years. He and his family at- 
 tend the Methodist Episcopal church and 
 are esteemed in the community as people 
 of genuine worth who well merit a posi- 
 tion of prominence in social circles. 
 
 GEORGE M. BRANT. 
 
 George M. Brant, owning and operat- 
 ing one hundred and sixty acres of land 
 on section 35, Sonora township, which 
 is a portion of his father's estate, is a 
 native son of this township, having here 
 been born February 6, 1868, a son of 
 Hezekiah and Isabella (Dick) Brant, the 
 former born in Indiana, January i, 1826, 
 a son of John Brant, who was a soldier 
 in the war of 1812, while the mother was 
 a daughter of James Dick. The father 
 of John Brant died when he was only 
 five years old, and in his youth he learned 
 the blacksmith's trade in his native state, 
 and about 1853 removed to Hancock 
 county, Illinois. His marriage to Miss 
 Isabella Dick occurred in -Vincennes, In- 
 diana, in 1850, and after the years spent 
 in that state, he took up his abode in So- 
 nora township, this county, where the 
 father purchased one hundred and sixty
 
 348 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEll' 
 
 acres of wild prairie land, which he im- 
 proved, and on which he erected a house. 
 From time to time he added to his landed 
 possessions until at the time of his death 
 he owned five hundred and sixty acres in 
 Sonora township and four hundred and 
 forty acres situated in Pawnee county, 
 Nebraska, His death occurred Novem- 
 ber 29, 1904, while his wife passed away 
 December 3, 1899, at the age of sixty- 
 three years, her birth having ' occurred 
 June 6, 1836. In the family of this 
 worthy couple were six sons and two 
 daughters, as follows: James D., of 
 Sumner county, Kansas; H. W., a physi- 
 cian of Cardston, in the province of Al- 
 berta, Canada; C. M., a stockman of 
 Hamilton, Illinois; Mina S., the wife of 
 William Spence, of Hamilton ; John M., 
 a resident of Bushnell ; Herman, resid- 
 ing on the home place; George M., of this 
 review ; and Jessie, the wife of George 
 Ludington, also on the home place. 
 
 George M. Brant acquired his early 
 education in the district schools and later 
 pursued a course of study in an academy 
 at Denmark, Iowa, and at Eureka (Illi- 
 .nois) College, subsequent to which time 
 he pursued a business course in Gem City 
 Business College at Quincy, from which 
 he was graduated December 15. 1892. 
 He remained at home until he had 
 reached the age of twenty-eight years, 
 when he was married, July 3, 1896, Miss 
 Elizabeth Marguerite Schell becoming his 
 wife. She is a native of Montebello 
 township, this county, and is a daughter 
 of Peter A. and Jennie (Le Clere) Schell, 
 the former born in Germany, and the lat- 
 ter in Montebello township. Her pater- 
 nal grandparents were Frank and Mar- 
 
 guerite Schell, while the maternal grand- 
 parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (An- 
 slet) Le Clere, both natives of France. 
 
 Following his marriage George M. 
 Brant took up his abode on a farm be- 
 longing to his father, and here remained 
 until the latter's death, when the land was 
 divided among his children, his son, 
 George M., falling heir to a tract of one 
 hundred and sixty acres, being the north- 
 west quarter of section 35, Sonora town- 
 ship. .Here he has since continued to re- 
 side, and has added many improvements 
 to the place. When he first took possession 
 of the farm there had been a little cottage 
 erected thereon, but Mr. Brant has en- 
 larged this, and has also put up a wind- 
 mill, built corn cribs and other outbuild- 
 ings, so that lie now has a finely im- 
 proved farm property. In addition to 
 carrying on general agricultural pursuits 
 he is also engaged in the raising of cat- 
 tle, Percheron horses and Poland China 
 hogs, and this branch of his business is 
 proving very profitable. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brant has been 
 born a daughter, Golda Mary, whose 
 birth occurred November 13, 1898. Mr. 
 Brant is independent in politics, voting" 
 for the men whom he things best quali- 
 fied for office regardless of party ties and 
 affiliation. He holds membership in the 
 Christian church at Golden Point, and 
 fraternally is connected with the Masonic 
 order, holding membership with Black 
 Hawk lodge, No. 238, at Hamilton. 
 Having received a good business educa- 
 tion in his youth, Mr. Brant is well quali- 
 fied to carry on his private interests in a 
 very successful manner. Although he 
 came into possession of an excellent farm-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 349 
 
 ing property through inheritance, he has, 
 through industry .and well directed labor, 
 so managed his affairs that he is now 
 numbered among the well-to-do and pros- 
 perous agriculturists of this section -of 
 the state, and both he and his wife enjoy 
 the warm regard of a host of friends for 
 they are well and favorably known 
 throughout Hancock county, having here 
 spent their entire lives. 
 
 BURNETT SCHAFER. 
 
 Burnett Schafer is the owner of a good 
 farm property of one hundred and twenty 
 acres in Appanoose township. It was in 
 this township that he was born on the 
 nth day of January, 1862, his parents 
 being Marcus and Martha (Myers) 
 Schafer, both of whom were natives of 
 Baden, Germany. The father was a son 
 of Fabian Schafer, and the mother was 
 a daughter of John Myers. In the year 
 1844 Marcus Schafer became a resident 
 of Madison county, Illinois, and in St. 
 Louis, Missouri, he wedded Miss Mar- 
 tha Myers. He had come to America 
 with friends about 1845 ar >d met her in 
 St. Louis. In 1849 they removed to Nau- 
 voo, and for a time Mr. Schafer engaged 
 in teaming, but as he had opportunity to 
 purchase a farm, owing to his industry 
 and economy in former years, he made inr 
 vestment in forty acres of land on sec- 
 tion 26, Appanoose township. He 
 moved to this farm from Nauvoo, a dis- 
 tance of seven miles, a frame house 
 
 which he placed upon the farm, and when 
 a home had thus been arranged for his 
 family he resolutely undertook the task 
 of clearing and cultivating his fields. He 
 worked persistently and energetically 
 and prospered as the years went by, so 
 that in 1865 he was enabled to add one 
 hundred and sixty acres 'on section 35, 
 Appanoose township, to his holdings. 
 Soon afterward, however, he sold eighty 
 acres to his brother Vitus and later he 
 bought one hundred and sixty acres on 
 section 31, Rock Creek township. He 
 was closely and actively associated with 
 farming interests for many years, and in 
 1890 he removed to Nauvoo, where he 
 died February 13, 1894. Subsequent to 
 this time his property was sold and the 
 proceeds divided among his children. 
 His wife passed away August 13, 1903. 
 In their family were eleven children : 
 Cassie, who became the wife of Christian 
 Hotz, and died in Madison county, Illi- 
 nois, in 1884; Mary, the wife of John 
 Webber, of Mercer county, California; 
 William, who is a traveling representa- 
 tive for a New York house; Annie, the 
 second wife of Christian Hotz, of south- 
 ern Minnesota ; Henry, who is living in 
 Fillmore county, Nebraska ; Burnett ; 
 Minnie, the wife of S. G. McBride, of 
 Pontoosuc township, this county; Emma, 
 the wife of Philip Farren, of Henderson 
 county, Illinois; Ferdinand, who died at 
 the age of eleven years ; John, who was 
 accidentally shot and killed in Nauvoo in 
 1892; and George, who died when a year 
 and a half old. 
 
 At the usual age Burnett Schafer be- 
 gan his education, attending first the dis- 
 trict schools, and afterward Bailey's Busi-
 
 350 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ness College, at Keokuk, Iowa. He was 
 a student there from the fall of 1876 un- 
 til the spring of 1877, and again in the 
 fall of 1880, being graduated March i, 
 1 88 1. He was thus well qualified by 
 school training for life's practical duties 
 and the responsibilities of a business ca- 
 reer. He made his home with his parents 
 until twenty-five years of age, when, 
 thinking that he might enjoy better busi- 
 ness opportunities in the newer west, he 
 went to Kansas in 1882 and secured a 
 homestead claim in Grove county, where 
 he remained for six months. He did not 
 prove up the property, however, but re- 
 turned to Hancock county. When only 
 a half year had passed, however, he once 
 more went to Grove county,. Kansas, 
 where he had some cattle. There he re- 
 mained for three months, when he sold 
 his cattle and once more came to Han- 
 cock county, being employed on the home 
 farm until the time of his marriage. Fol- 
 lowing his marriage he rented the home 
 place until 1900, when he bought one 
 hundred and twenty acres of that farm 
 and has since engaged in the tilling of the 
 soil and in the raising of French Norman 
 draft horses. He also has other fine 
 grades of stock and is known as one of 
 the leading stock breeders and dealers of 
 this part of the state. In 1885 he and 
 his father imported two stallions and a 
 mare, since which time he has bred all 
 of the stock raised upon his place. He 
 now owns three stallions, a jackass, and 
 one American coach horse and also has 
 valuable French draft horses. He has 
 gained more than local reputation as a 
 breeder of fine stock, and this branch of 
 his business is to him a profitable source 
 of revenue. 
 
 On the 27th of December, 1887, Mr. 
 Schafer was married to Miss Minnie 
 Marsh, who was born in Appanoose 
 township, November 20, 1869, a daugh- 
 ter of James and Mildred (Lott) Marsh, 
 the former a native of Clark county, Mis- 
 souri, and the latter of Kentucky. They 
 gave their daughter good educational 
 privileges, and after attending the district 
 schools she continued her education 
 in Johnson's College, at Fort Madi- 
 son, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Schafer have been born six chil- 
 dren : Genevieve, born November 6, 
 1888; Lsal>ell. September 6, 1890; Marie. 
 August 4, 1892; Verona, February 20, 
 1898; Eulalia, July 4, 1902; and Loret- 
 ta, November 20, 1905, who died August 
 20, 1906. The family are communicants 
 of the Catholic church, at Nauvoo, and 
 in his fraternal relations Mr. Schafer is 
 a Modern Woodman, belonging to the 
 camp at Powellton, of which he has been 
 past counsel since 1903. He was pre- 
 viously counsel for four years and is a 
 worthy representative of that order. 
 Prominent in the local ranks of the Dem- 
 ocratic party, he has served as a member 
 of the central committee, and in the 
 spring of 1906 was elected on that ticket 
 to the office of assessor. 
 
 WILLIAM S. BEARD. 
 
 William S. Beard, whose residence in 
 Hancock county dates from 1876. at
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 which time he located in Augusta, and 
 who is now one of the extensive land- 
 owners of Augusta township, where he 
 makes his home in the village, was born 
 in Vinton county, Ohio, September 17, 
 1854. His parents were A. L. and Emma 
 (Plenkharp) Beard. The maternal 
 grandparents, as the name indicates, 
 were of Swiss birth and ancestry, and 
 having married in Switzerland, they aft- 
 erward came to America, crossing the 
 Atlantic in one of the old-time sailing 
 vessels. 
 
 A. L. Beard was born February 2, 
 1816, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and 
 his wife's birth occurred in Hocking 
 county, Ohio, November 8, 1822. She 
 had eight brothers, all of whom were sol- 
 diers of the Civil war. Born and reared 
 on a farm, A. L. Beard followed agri- 
 cultural pursuits in his earlier life, but 
 afterward became a manufacturer of pig 
 iron in Ohio, owning and operating a 
 smelting works in Hamden, that state. 
 In 1870 he removed to Schuyler county, 
 Illinois, where he was largely engaged 
 in the live stock business. In 1880 he 
 became a resident of Augusta, where he 
 continued his operations as a live stock 
 dealer. His political allegiance is given 
 to the Republican party and he has held 
 various local offices of honor and trust, 
 serving as supervisor of Schuyler coun- 
 ty, and also in Augusta township. His 
 life has been characterized by unremitting 
 industry and close application in his 
 business affairs, and although he started 
 out empty-handed a poor boy, having 
 been left fatherless at an early age he 
 became one of the largest landowners of 
 this part of the county and also owned 
 
 much land in the west. Both he and his 
 wife were devoted members of the Meth- 
 odist church and his life record proved 
 that prosperity and honesty might go 
 hand in hand. Of the ten children born 
 of this worthy couple only three are liv- 
 ing: Margaret A., the wife of Dr. 
 George Wiles, a resident of Schuyler 
 county, Illinois; William S., of this re- 
 view ; and Addie I. Beard, also of Au- 
 gusta. The father died August 25, 1891, 
 and was buried in the Huntsville ceme- 
 tery, being laid by the side of his wife, 
 who had passed away on the iQth of 
 June, 1890. They were most worthy peo- 
 ple, esteemed and honored by all who 
 knew them because of their many excel- 
 lent traits of character and their fidelity 
 to their confessions as Christians. Mr. 
 Beard certainly deserved much credit for 
 what he accomplished and his life was a 
 living illustration of what ability, energy 
 and force of character can accomplish. A 
 community is ever enriched by such an 
 example and while winning success he at 
 the same time bore an honored name. 
 While prosperous, he was also generous, 
 and his wife possessed many good traits 
 of heart and mind that made her beloved 
 by all. 
 
 William S. Beard, whose name intro- 
 duces this review, supplemented his early 
 education, acquired in the schools of 
 Hamden, Ohio, by study in the public 
 schools of Augusta, Illinois, and he re- 
 mained with his father until he attained 
 his majority. He took up hjs abode here 
 in 1876 and became proprietor of a gen- 
 eral store, continuing active in merchan- 
 dising until 1886. The following year 
 he was married and at once began farm-
 
 352 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ing and stock-raising in Augusta town- 
 ship, locating on land which he inher- 
 ited and to which he added by purchase. 
 He has been more than ordinarily success- 
 ful in his farming and stock-raising p- 
 erations and is now one of the largest 
 landowners of the county. At one time 
 his possessions aggregated eight hundred 
 and fourteen acres and he still owns 
 seven hundred and twenty-four acres, all 
 of which is well improved and under cul- 
 tivation. He resided upon his farm until 
 1895, when he again took up his abode 
 in Augusta, but he still operates his land, 
 employing help by the month, and is 
 therefore one of the most prominent rep- 
 resentatives of agricultural interests in 
 Hancock county. 
 
 In May, 1887, was celebrated the mar- 
 riage of Mr. Beard and Miss Cornelia C. 
 Nicholson, of Plymouth, Illinois, who 
 was born in Essex county. New York, 
 October 9, 1855, a daughter of Homer 
 and Mary A. (Parkell) Nicholson. Her 
 parents were both natives of New York, 
 where Mr. Nicholson engaged in farming 
 until his removal to this county about 
 1857 or 1858. He settled in Hancock 
 township upon a farm and devoted his 
 remaining days to its improvement, never 
 seeking or desiring office, although he 
 gave a stalwart support to the principles 
 of the Republican party. His wife held 
 membership in the Presbyterian church 
 and he contributed to its support, living 
 a life in which he recognized small ob- 
 ligations and upheld high principles. His 
 death occurred February 9. 1892, while 
 his wife passed away October 20, 1880, 
 and they were laid to rest in Plymouth 
 cemetery. They had two daughters, the 
 
 sister of Mrs. Beard being Mary A. Nich- 
 olson, who became the wife of Oscar Pad- 
 dock, and lived in Racine, Wisconsin, un- 
 til her death on the 7th of October, 1905. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beard has been born 
 a son, Fred W., who was born in Au- 
 gusta township, December 6, 1889, and 
 will complete the course of the high 
 school in Augusta with the class of 1907, 
 after which it is intended that he shall 
 enjoy the benefit of a college education. 
 He is a member of the Augusta band, 
 belongs to the Presbyterian church and 
 is a son of whom the parents have every 
 reason to be proud. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
 Beard are devoted members of the Pres- 
 byterian church, in the work of which 
 they take an active and helpful part, con- 
 tributing generously to its support. Mr. 
 Beard is serving as a chairman on the 
 building committee, which now has in 
 charge the erection of a new house of 
 worship. His political allegiance is given 
 to the Republican party but he has never 
 taken a very active part in its work. At 
 the death of his parents he purchased their 
 old home on Center street and the family 
 are now pleasantly located in a good mod- 
 ern brick residence there. Mr. Beard is 
 one in whom nature and culture have vied 
 in making an interesting, entertaining 
 gentleman. A man of large physique, he 
 is warm-hearted, kindly in purpose and 
 charitable in his opinions. He is also 
 correct in his judgment and he believes 
 in enjoying life to the full such enjoy- 
 ment as worked for the development of 
 character. He is fond of music and pos- 
 sesses a good voice, so that he is always 
 a valued addition to musical gatherings. 
 Both he and his wife are very widely
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 353 
 
 known in this county and their friends 
 are legion. His example is worthy of em- 
 ulation in many respects and like his fa- 
 ther his record proves that success and 
 an honored name may be won simultan- 
 eously. 
 
 FRED M. WALTON. 
 
 Fred M. Walton, a farmer of Har- 
 mony township, was born in St. Mary's 
 township, this county, July 20, 1869, the 
 family having been established in this 
 part of the state during the pioneer 
 epoch in its history. His great-grandpar- 
 ents, William and Barbara Walton, were 
 of Welsh and German descent respect- 
 ively and became early residents of Ken- 
 tucky, where their son, Frederick M. 
 Walton, was born January 9, 1809. He 
 married Emily Rice, also a native of Ma- 
 son county, Kentucky, and in 1835 he 
 came to Hancock county, Illinois, settling 
 on section 3, Augusta township, where 
 for many years he made his home, his 
 death there occurring April 9, 1880. He 
 secured large property interests, owning 
 at one time over one thousand acres of 
 land. In his younger days he was very 
 active in public life and wielded a wide 
 influence, filling many positions of pub- 
 lic honor and trust in most creditable 
 manner. 
 
 William C. Walton, father of Fred M. 
 Walton, was born on section 27, Au- 
 gusta township, Hancock county, Au- 
 gust 15, 1844, and was married on the 
 i4th of February, 1867, to Miss Mary 
 
 Clark, also a native of this county and a 
 daughter of Andrew Jackson and Biddie 
 M. (McCoy) Clark, the former a native 
 of Kentucky and the latter of Ireland. 
 Mr. and Mrs. William C. Walton became 
 the parents of two sons and two daugh- 
 ters, of whom Fred is the eldest, the oth- 
 ers being: Anna, a resident of Quincy, 
 Illinois; Ettie, the wife of Frank John- 
 son, of Camp Point, Illinois; and Roy 
 C., who with his sister Anna lives in 
 Quincy. 
 
 In the Liberty district school Fred M. 
 Walton acquired the education which 
 prepared him for life's practical duties 
 and through the assistance which he ren- 
 dered his father in the days of his boy- 
 hood and youth he became familiar with 
 all the duties and labors that fall to the 
 lot of the agriculturist. He made his 
 home with his parents until his mar- 
 riage, which was celebrated September 
 14, 1892, the lady of his choice being 
 Miss Eva Keyser, who was born in Car- 
 thage township June 8, 1872, and, after 
 obtaining her preliminary education in 
 the district school attended Kaboka (Mis- 
 souri) College. She is a daughter of 
 John H. and Eliza (Tolman) Keyser, the 
 former a native of Page county, Virginia, 
 and a son of Alexander and Nancy 
 (Koontz) Keyser, of the Old Dominion, 
 while the mother was born near Dayton. 
 Montgomery county, Ohio, a daughter of 
 Osee and Elizabeth (Loman) Tolman, of 
 Ohio. John Keyser, leaving his native 
 state, removed to McDonough county, 
 Illinois, settling in Hire township, where 
 he was married and made his home until 
 1862, when he sold his property there 
 and removed to Carthage township, Han-
 
 354 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 cock county. He died in December, 1894, 
 and his widow now resides in Kansas 
 City, Missouri. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Walton took 
 up his abode on a farm belonging to his 
 father about a half mile from the home 
 place, where he lived until 1904, when he 
 came into possession of ninety acres of the 
 old homestead. His father improved this 
 place, comprising two hundred acres, to 
 which he added one hundred and sixty 
 acres adjoining on the east. Fred Wal- 
 ton has ten acres of timber land, while 
 the remainder of his farm is devoted to 
 the cultivation of his crops or is used for 
 pasture for his stock. He raises horses, 
 cattle and hogs, and keeps good grades 
 upon his place. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. W'alton has 
 been graced with a little daughter, Alma, 
 born February 7, 1896. They are well 
 known socially and have a host of warm 
 friends. Fraternally Mr. Walton is con- 
 nected with the Modern \Voodmen of 
 America, also the Odd Fellows, while his 
 political allegiance is given the Repub- 
 lican party. 
 
 JAMES P. YEAGER. 
 
 James P. Yeager, owning and operat- 
 ing an extensive farm comprising five 
 hundred and forty acres, situated in Foun- 
 tain Green township, was born on the 
 place which is yet his home, his natal 
 day being August I, 1845. His paternal 
 grandfather bore the name of Nicholas 
 Yeager, and was born in Virginia, while 
 
 his parents, James and Nancy (Hayden) 
 Yeager, were natives of Washingtoi 
 county, Kentucky, where they wen 
 married, the father there engaging ir 
 farming pursuits until 1835, when h< 
 made his way by steamer up the Ohk 
 and Mississippi rivers to Keokuk, Iowa 
 from which city he traveled overland tc 
 Fountain Green township, Hancock coun- 
 ty, and entered one hundred and sixtj 
 acres of land, for which he paid the usua 
 government price of one dollar and ; 
 quarter per acre. This tract was situ 
 ated on section 8, and was all coverec 
 with timber when it came into his posses 
 sion. He at once began the arduous tasl 
 of clearing and developing the land, plow 
 ing his fields and planting his crops, am 
 in due course of time gathered abundan 
 harvests. He also erected a log house 
 in which the family took up their abode 
 and in which they lived for many years 
 enduring all the hardships and privation: 
 of life on the frontier. The red men wen 
 still to be found here, while the Mormon: 
 were the principal white people who hac 
 located here. There were also many kind: 
 of wild beasts roaming through the for 
 ests and over the prairies and wild garni 
 was to be had in abundance, so that th< 
 settlers could indulge in their love of thi 
 sport of hunting, and supply the famih 
 board with meats. Mr. Yeager possessec 
 a determined and resolute spirit' and al 
 lowed no obstacle to deter him in the ac 
 quirement of a competence, and thus yeai 
 by year he carried on the work of th< 
 fields and from time to time added to hi: 
 possessions as his financial resources per 
 mitted. After a few years he added an- 
 other tract of one hundred and sixty acre:
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 355 
 
 tuated on section 17, which, with the 
 <sistance of his sons, he cleared and de- 
 eloped, making it a finely improved 
 roperty. Thus through many years the 
 imily bore the hardships and inconve- 
 iences of pioneer life, the nearest mills 
 eing located at Quincy and Nauvoo, 
 rhere they had to go to secure bread- 
 tuff. The father continued his residence 
 ere until his death, which occurred in 
 )ctober, 1880, when he had reached the 
 ge of seventy-two years. After his 
 eath the widow resided for a time on the 
 ome farm and then lived for ten years 
 nth her son, James P., but now makes 
 ier home with her son William, at Bur- 
 ington, Iowa. She has now reached the 
 xtreme old age of ninety-one years, her 
 lirth having occurred in 1815, but she is 
 till a hale and hearty old lady, possessing 
 ier physical powers and mental faculties 
 o a remarkable degree. 
 
 James P. Yeager pursued his educa- 
 ion in district school No. 93, near his 
 ather's home, and is the eighth in order 
 if birth in a family of eight sons and six 
 laughters, of whom ten still survive. He 
 emained under the parental roof until his 
 'ather's death, when he took possession 
 >f the homestead property and his mother 
 ived with him for the succeeding ten 
 fears. Later he purchased the interest 
 )f the other heirs in the home farm, com- 
 ng into possession of all except twenty- 
 :hree acres, which are owned by his 
 jrother William. He here continues the 
 .vork of development and improvement 
 ivhich was carried on for many years by 
 nis father, and on the place is a com- 
 nodious frame residence, which was 
 erected by his father in 1855, to replace 
 
 the log house which was built upon the 
 establishment of the family home here. 
 Mr. Yeager has laid about eight hundred 
 rods of tiling, so that the fields are well 
 drained, and he has built barns and sheds 
 for the shelter of grain and stock and 
 thus has a finely improved tract of land. 
 
 Choosing as a companion and helpmate 
 for life's journey, Mr. Yeager wedded 
 Miss Alice F. Daily, a native of Fulton 
 county, this state, who was born Septem- 
 ber 20, 1860, a daughter of Patrick and 
 Margaret (Henry) Daily, natives of 
 Ireland, whom he wedded on the nth of 
 January, 1886. The children born of this 
 marriage are : Marie, born August 6, 
 1892; Earl, born March 15, 1894; Carl, 
 born April 14, 1895; Roy, January 30, 
 1904; and Joseph Merlin, who was born 
 February 8, 1906. 
 
 Mr. Yeager's study of the political 
 questions and issues of the day has led him 
 to give hearty support to the Democratic 
 party, while in religious faith he is a 
 Catholic. He has ever been reliable and 
 straightforward in his relations with his 
 fellowmen and thereby has won the high 
 regard of all with whom he has come in 
 contact. Having spent his entire life in 
 this county, covering a period of more 
 than six decades, he is widely known and 
 is today classed among the well-to-do and 
 influential factors of this section of the 
 state. 
 
 CHARLES A. DOWNING. 
 
 Charles A. Downing, until recently ac- 
 tively connected with agricultural interests
 
 356 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and now living in Bowen, is a represen- 
 tative of a prominent family of Adams 
 county. He was born in Adams county, 
 Illinois, in 1861, and is a son of R. H. 
 and Rebecca (Bennett) Downing. The 
 family is noted for longevity, as the 
 grandfather and grandmother of our sub- 
 ject reached a very advanced age and 
 they had several children that lived to 
 be over ninety years of age. The father 
 was born in Indiana in 1827, while the 
 mother's birth occurred in Indiana in 1832 
 R. H. Downing was a farmer by occu- 
 pation and was only ten years of age 
 when he became a resident of Illinois, his 
 remaining days being spent in Adams 
 county. His political allegiance was 
 given to the Republican party, he being 
 elected to the legislature on the republican 
 ticket. He had a brother who was elected 
 on the democratic ticket to the Illinois 
 legislature. In public affairs R. H. 
 Downing was very prominent and influ- 
 ential and he was also successful in his 
 business life. He won a place of promi- 
 nence in the community where he resided 
 and was esteemed and honored by all 
 who knew him. His death occurred in 
 1897 and he is still survived by his wife, 
 who is living in Golden, this state. Both 
 were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and lived upright, consistent lives. 
 In their family were eleven children, of 
 whom nine are yet living: John R.. and 
 W. O., residents of York county, Xe- 
 braska; Nannie E., the wife of L. A. 
 Smith, of Adams county, Illinois : Charles 
 A., of this review: Mary E., wife of A. 
 O. Wallace, of Adams county, Illinois ; 
 Florence, who is living with her aged and 
 invalid mother: Laura, the wife of D. W. 
 
 Whitford, of Adams county; Cora, at 
 home; and Warren W. R., who is living 
 upon the old homestead in Adams count}'. 
 
 Charles A. Downing began his educa- 
 tion in the district schools near his father's 
 home and pursued his studies there until 
 twenty-one years of age. When twenty- 
 five years of age he was married to Miss 
 Fannie C. Whitford, who was born in 
 Adams county, 1865, a daughter of Henry 
 S. and Myra (Clark) Whitford, the 
 former a native of Rhode Island and the 
 latter of New York. Mr. Whitford was 
 a tailor by trade and on removing to the 
 west settled upon a farm in Adams county, 
 Illinois. He eventually became quite 
 wealthy through the careful conduct of 
 his business affairs, his enterprise and un- 
 remitting diligence. He was married 
 three times and by his first wife, who bore 
 the maiden name of James, had one child. 
 Mary C., living in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
 vania. His second wife was Mary Down- 
 ing, an aunt of our subject, and they be- 
 came the parents of nine children, of 
 whom four are now living : James, a 
 resident of Missouri ; Lydia. the wife of 
 Abner Peden. of Missouri ; E. C. ; and 
 John, also of that state. Following the 
 death of his second wife Mr. Whitford 
 wedded Miss Myra Clark, and they had 
 five children, namely: Henry R., who 
 is living in Adams county: Alice, the wife 
 of J. S. Wallace, of Wichita, Kansas: 
 Dora A., wife of W. G. Stafler, of Adams 
 county: Fannie G., now Mrs. Downing: 
 and D. W.. who is living in Adams county. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Whitford have passed 
 away. 
 
 For a year after their marriage Mr. 
 and Mrs. Downing lived in Adams
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 357 
 
 county, and in 1887 removed to Han- 
 cock county, residing for several years 
 in Augusta township upon a rented farm. 
 Later he purchased one hundred and 
 eighty acres of land on section 19, Au- 
 gusta township, which was improved. 
 To this he added from time to time and 
 he now has eighty acres in Augusta town- 
 ship on section 19, and one hundred and 
 sixty acres on section 36, Chili township. 
 In 1903, he built an elegant home, modern 
 in every respect. It is the most attract- 
 ive residence in Bowen and stands in 
 Nash's addition to the town. He has also 
 otherwise improved the property, which 
 is a valuable piece of real estate. While 
 upon the farm Mr. Downing carried on 
 general agricultural pursuits and stock- 
 raising but his health caused him to re- 
 tire to private life in the enjoyment of the 
 fruits of his former toil. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Downing has been 
 born a daughter, Helen R., who was born 
 in Augusta township. Hancock county, in 
 1899, and is now a student in the public 
 schools of Bowen. The parents are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
 In the work of the church they are deeply 
 and actively interested and they have done 
 much to advance its growth and promote 
 its upbuilding. Mr. Downing has always 
 been industrious and upright and by rea- 
 son of his laudable ambition and good 
 judgment, combined with his straightfor- 
 ward dealings he has gained .a goodly 
 measure of success, which, together with 
 his wife's inheritance makes them com- 
 fortably situated in life. Both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Downing are very prominent social- 
 ly, being recognized leaders of society 
 in Bowen and this part of the county. 
 
 while their own beautiful and attractive 
 home is noted for its gracious and warm- 
 hearted hospitality, which is freely ex- 
 tended to their many friends. 
 
 FRANCIS M. HUFF. 
 
 Francis M. Huff, who holds extensive 
 landed interests and successfully carries 
 on farming in St. Mary's township, is 
 a son of William A. and Betsey Ann 
 (Teaney) Huff. He was born April 13, 
 1846, in Brooklet township, Schuyler 
 county, Illinois. His father, a native of 
 Guilford county. North Carolina, was 
 born in 1808, while the mother's birth 
 occurred in Virginia in 1812. She went 
 from the Old Dominion to Tennessee when 
 a very small girl. William A. Huff, a 
 farmer by occupatian, removed from the 
 south to Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1836, 
 Both he and his wife were members of 
 the Methodist church and after coming to 
 this state remained residents thereof until 
 called to their final rest. His death oc- 
 curred in 1869. while his wife passed 
 away in 1903, and was buried in Scott's 
 church cemetery in McDonough county. 
 In their family were eight children : 
 Mary E., the wife of E. David Clampett. 
 of Kansas; Amanda C., the wife of T. 
 P. Lionberger, of McDonough county ; 
 Maria, the wife of Thomas Fisher, of 
 Creston. Iowa ; Francis, of this review ; 
 George, who is living on the old home 
 place in Schuyler county: Homer, a resi- 
 dent of St. Mary's township; Perry, of
 
 358 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Schuyler county ; and Eliza, the wife of 
 Wisdom Welborn, of McDonough county. 
 
 Francis M. Huff was a student in the 
 Guineau school of Brooklyn township, 
 Schuyler county, until seventeen years of 
 age, when he obtained his father's per- 
 mission for his enlistment in the Civil 
 war and went to the front as a member 
 of Company D, One Hundred and 
 Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
 try. He served for two years, partici- 
 pating in the battles of Vicksburg, Jack- 
 son and Spanish Fort. He was at Mobile 
 for thirteen days and the siege of Spanish 
 Fort was his last active military service. 
 When the war was over, although still in 
 his teens, he returned home with a most 
 creditable record as a soldier. He then 
 engaged in farming for two years near 
 Carthage, Illinois. 
 
 In 1873 Mr. Huff was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Annette Melvin, who was 
 born in Henderson county, Illinois, De- 
 cember 8, 1850, a daughter of Milton and 
 Elizabeth (Beaver) Melvin, who were 
 natives of Tennessee and came with 
 their respective parents to Illinois, 
 settling in Henderson county. Mrs. 
 Huff was left an orphan when only three 
 years of age and was the elder of two 
 children, her brother being Milton Mel- 
 vin, of Henderson county, Illinois. Fol- 
 lowing his marriage Mr. Huff purchased 
 a farm in Augusta township, where he 
 resided for fifteen years and then came to 
 St. Mary's township, purchasing two hun- 
 dred acres of land on section 36.- He 
 has since added to the property from time 
 to time until he now owns seven hundred 
 and twenty acres, the greater part of 
 which is in St. Mary's township, although 
 
 one hundred and sixty acres lies in Au- 
 gusta township. He has since greatly 
 improved the property by adding the 
 modern accessories of a model farm and 
 his time and energies are given to the 
 cultivation of the fields and the raising 
 of stock. He raises and ships his own 
 cattle and does quite an extensive busi- 
 ness in this particular. He is one who 
 has through his economy and enterprise 
 made a creditable place in the business 
 world and secured valuable property in 
 terests as the reward of his labor. He 
 started out in life with only two horses 
 and a wagon but today owns hundreds 
 of acres of land. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huff have been 
 born seven children, who are yet living: 
 Sidney E., of Augusta, who is married 
 and has two children, Roscoe and Newell ; 
 George M., of Augusta township, who 
 is married and has two children, Clyde 
 and Clare; William, of St. Mary's town- 
 ship, who has two children, Frances and 
 Pearl ; Arthur, who is living in Augusta 
 township and has one child, Glen; 
 Blanche, the wife of George Monk, of 
 St. Mary's township ; Claude and Leora, 
 both at home. They also lost one daugh- 
 ter, Clara Belle, who was their third child. 
 She died November 3, 1896, at the age of 
 seventeen years and was laid to rest in 
 Plymouth cemetery. She belonged to the 
 Christian church and was a most estimable 
 young lady, esteemed by many friends 
 and loved in her own home where her 
 loss was most deeply felt. 
 
 In politics Mr. Huff is a republican and 
 has served as school director for many 
 years but is not an incumbent in office 
 at the present time. His wife is a mem-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 359 
 
 ber of the Christian church and he be- 
 longs to the Grand Army of the Republic, 
 thus maintaining pleasant relations with 
 his old army comrades who wore the blue 
 upon the battle-fields of the south. The 
 home of this worthy couple indicate re- 
 finement and comfort, and is all the more 
 attractive from the fact that the residence 
 and all that it contains represent the life 
 of activity and enterprise of the owner, 
 who has been a most energetic and there- 
 fore most successful business man. 
 
 HENRY THORNBER. 
 
 Henry Thornber, deceased, was a self- 
 made man, deserving of all the praise 
 that the term implies, for when but a 
 young lad he was forced to start out 
 in life for himself. He fought its battles 
 unaided and came off victorious in the 
 strife. A native, of Lancashire, England, 
 he was born in the town of Downing, in 
 1816, a son of Richard and Hannah 
 (Lord) Thornber. When a young man 
 of twenty-nine years he crossed the At- 
 lantic and settled in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 
 1842. Before leaving his native country 
 he had learned the shoemaker's trade and 
 had followed that in connection with 
 farming. Aside from two trips which he 
 made to his native country, one covering 
 two years, and the other six months, he 
 resided continuously in Hancock county, 
 after first crossing the Atlantic and de- 
 voted the greater part of the time to farm- 
 ing in Rock Creek township. He was 
 23 
 
 very prosperous and owned at the time 
 of his death twelve hundred acres of land, 
 his possessions being scarcely equalled by 
 that of any resident of his part of the 
 county. He transferred raw prairie land 
 into richly productive fields and made all 
 of the improvements upon the farm in- 
 cluding the erection of a commodious and 
 comfortable residence. In all that he did 
 he was eminently practical and accom- 
 plished results that were indicative of his 
 business enterprise, unfaltering diligence 
 and executive skill. 
 
 In 1846, Mr. Thornber was married 
 to Miss Lucy Ellison, who was born in 
 Yorkshire, England, and died in 1865. 
 Of the eight children of that marriage five 
 are still living, namely : David R., a resi- 
 dent of Montana; Mary A., the wife of 
 Isaac Siegfried, of Rock Creek township ; 
 John, who is living in Sonora township 
 near the old homestead; William Henry, 
 of the same township ; and James M., who 
 is a physician by profession but is now 
 engaged in the printing business in Fort 
 Madison, Iowa. In 1868, Mr. Thornber 
 was again married, his second union being 
 with Margaret Pilkington, who was born 
 in Bolton La Moors, Lancashire, Eng- 
 land, in 1837, a daughter of Adam and 
 Jane (Garside) Pilkington, who were also 
 natives of Bolton La Moors. The father 
 came to America in 1842 and the mother 
 in 1844, settling in Hancock county. 
 They were well known as farming people 
 of Sonora township but ere his emigra- 
 tion to the United States Mr. Pilk- 
 ington had been employed as a bleacher in 
 his native country. His political alle- 
 giance was given to the democracy and 
 both he and his wife were members of
 
 3 6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the Church of England, while in their 
 native land, and before coming to Amer- 
 ica became identified with the church of 
 the Latter Day Saints. The death of Mr. 
 Pilkington occurred in 1856, and his wife 
 survived until 1880, when she was laid by 
 his side in Sonora township. They had 
 six children but only three are now living : 
 Mrs. Thornber; Alice, the wife of Wil- 
 liam Lambert, of Rock Creek township ; 
 and Mary, the wife of William Weber, of 
 Prairie township. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thornber was born 
 one son, Amos Joseph, whose birth oc- 
 curred in Rock Creek township in 1869, 
 and he is now a successful practicing phy- 
 sician at Burlington, Iowa. He married 
 Catherine Reiter, who died in 1898 leav- 
 ing two children, Gladys and Geraldine, 
 and for his second wife he married Miss 
 Anna Shank. Although devoting his en- 
 ergies to the practice of medicine he is 
 also the owner of one hundred and sixty 
 acres of good farm land in Rock Creek 
 township. 
 
 Mr. Thornber continued actively in 
 farm work until his life's labors were 
 ended in death on the ijth of February, 
 1887. He was a member of the church 
 of the Latter Day Saints, and in England 
 had been identified with the Odd Fellows 
 society. Starting out in life with a few 
 advantages he became imbued with the 
 laudable ambition to attain something bet- 
 ter and steadily advanced in those walks 
 of life demanding business ability and 
 fidelity. He became one of the largest 
 landowners of his township, making ju- 
 dicious investments, while at all times his 
 business career was characterized by un- 
 questioned probity. He passed away 
 
 February 17, 1887, honored and respected 
 by all who knew him and such a life 
 record as his should serve as a source of 
 inspiration and encouragement to others, 
 showing what may be accomplished 
 through industry and perseverance 
 qualities that may be cultivated by all. 
 Mrs. Thornber continued to reside upon 
 the home farm until 1901, when she pur- 
 chased a beautiful residence on Maple 
 street in Ferris. She is there residing 
 together with her niece and grandson, 
 David McCollom, whom she has reared 
 to the age of eighteen years. Mrs. 
 Thornber is a member of the Methodist 
 Protestant church. Mr. Thornber was 
 a republican in politics but though he 
 held several offices did not seek promi- 
 mence along that line, being content to de- 
 vote his time and energies to his business, 
 in which he met with signal success. 
 
 ANDREW J. HARRIS. 
 
 Andrew J. Harris has spent his entire 
 life in La Harpe township, Hancock coun- 
 ty, his birth having here occurred Jan- 
 uary 8, 1854, on the farm which he now 
 owns and occupies, so that he has through 
 long years been interested in the agricul- 
 tural development and progress of this 
 portion of the state. He is a son of Isaac 
 and Marthina (Atwater) Harris, both of 
 whom were born in Tennessee. His pa- 
 ternal grandparents, Reuben and Allie 
 (Wolf) Harris, were likewise natives of 
 Tennessee, while the maternal grandpar-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 361 
 
 ents, Joseph and Rachel (Duncan) At- 
 water were natives of Connecticut and 
 Tennessee respectively. Both the pater- 
 nal and maternal grandparents became 
 early settlers of this state, having re- 
 moved from the south to Schuyler county 
 in 1833, and after a year Reuben Harris, 
 removed to McDonough county, where 
 he entered government land, which he 
 cleared and improved and on which he 
 resided until his death. Joseph Atwater 
 likewise removed to McDonough county, 
 and it was in this county that his daugh- 
 ter, Marthina, gave her hand in marriage 
 to Isaac, the son of Reuben Harris, the 
 wedding ceremony being performed No- 
 vember 22, 1840. The father of our sub- 
 ject participated in the Mormon war of 
 1844, which resulted in the expulsion of 
 that religious sect from this part of the 
 state. Following his marriage Isaac 
 Harris took up his abode in McDonough 
 county, but in 1843 removed with his 
 family to La Harpe township, Hancock 
 county, where he purchased a farm of 
 forty acres, to which he added from time 
 to time until he came into possession of 
 one hundred and eleven acres all lying on 
 section 36. This was all covered with 
 timber when he made the purchase but 
 with characteristic energy he at once un- 
 dertook the task of clearing the land and 
 preparing it for the plow, which in course 
 of time he accomplished, and from which 
 he gathered abundant crops, so that at his 
 death, which occurred April 14, 1900, he 
 left to his family a valuable estate. He 
 was born February 12, 1822, and there- 
 fore at the time of his death had reached 
 the advanced age of seventy-eight years, 
 while his wife, who was born May 5. 
 
 1824, passed away February 6, 1866, at 
 the comparatively early age of forty-two 
 years. In their family were twelve chil- 
 dren but only five are living. The record 
 is as follows : John, who died at the age 
 of twenty-three years ; Campbell, who 
 died when three years old ; Durinda, the 
 wife of James Brown, a resident of Mis- 
 souri ; Andrew J.. of this review ; Reuben, 
 who died when two years of age : Martha, 
 who died at the age of nine months ; 
 Rachel, who became the wife of George 
 Carter, of La Harpe township, and passed 
 away at the early age of eighteen years; 
 James, who resides on the old homestead ; 
 Allie E., the wife of Warren Addison, of 
 Trenton, Missouri; Martina Jane, the 
 wife of William Faylor, of Canton, Illi- 
 nois ; Marthina, who became the wife of 
 Joseph Fry, and passed away June 3, 
 1892 ; and Matilda, who was born March 
 1 8, 1864, and died February 14, 1881. 
 
 Andrew J. Harris acquired a district- 
 school education, and remained with his 
 parents, assisting his father in the opera- 
 tion of the family homestead until the 
 tatter's death, when he bought the interest 
 cf the other heirs in the home place and 
 is here engaged in general farming and 
 stock-raising, having good grades of 
 horses, cattle and hogs upon his farm. 
 He has made many modern improvements 
 upon the farm, having built an addition 
 to the house, making it a fine country 
 home, and he has also built fences, and 
 otherwise added to the attractive appear- 
 ance of the place, so that it is today a 
 model farm property. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate on life's 
 journey Mr. Harris chose Miss Alice 
 Severns, to whom he was married Sep-
 
 362 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 tember 25, 1873. Her birth occurred in 
 Schuyler county, this state, July 5, 1854, 
 and she acquired her education in the 
 schools of Astoria. She is a daughter 
 of James and Nancy (Ogle) Severns, 
 natives of Coshocton county, Ohio, while 
 her paternal grandparents were Daniel 
 and Mary (Buteer) Severns, and her 
 maternal grandparents bore the names of 
 Mordecai and Elizabeth (Yarington) 
 Ogle. They located in Fulton county, 
 Illinois, in 1837, where Mr. Ogle con- 
 ducted a sawmill until his death, which 
 occurred December 24, 1840. James 
 Severn, Mrs. Harris's father, was a 
 carpenter and died in Astoria, July 29. 
 1897. Her mother still survives and now 
 makes her home in Astoria. 
 
 In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Harris 
 are four sons and a daughter: James 
 Edward, who was born July 28, 1874, and 
 makes his home in La Harpe township; 
 Isaac Elmer, born October 31, 1875, and 
 is at home; William Lloyd Harris, born 
 December 28, 1877, married and lives in 
 La Harpe; Zada May, who was born 
 April i, 1884, and is now the wife of 
 Samuel Flickinger, and resides at Middle- 
 town, this state; and Ralph S., whose 
 birth occurred December 31, 1893, and is 
 at home. 
 
 Politically Mr. Harris is a democrat 
 and served as school director for twelve 
 years. He possesses the enterprising 
 spirit which has proved an essential ele- 
 ment in the upbuilding of this portion of 
 the state and by his reliable and straight- 
 forward dealing in all transactions has 
 gained the esteem and good will of all 
 with whom he has come in contact, in so- 
 cial or business life. 
 
 BLAIR KELLY, M. D. 
 
 Dr. Blair Kelly, engaged in the general 
 practice of medicine in the village of 
 Ferris, is a native of Hancock county, 
 having been born in Dallas township, 
 February 28, 1876. He is a son of 
 Allison G. and Fanny (Ballinger) Kelly, 
 the former a native of Pennsylvania, and 
 the latter of Kentucky. The father came 
 to Illinois in 1854 and located in Hancock 
 county, devoting his time and energies 
 to farming in Pontoosuc township, where 
 he rented land for some years, or until 
 his earnings justified his purchase of a 
 farm in Dallas township, where he con- 
 tinued to carry on general agricultural 
 pursuits during his active life. He is 
 now living retired at the age of seventy 
 years. His wife passed away in 1887 
 at the age of forty-five years, leaving 
 four children, all of whom still survive. 
 
 Dr. Kelly acquired his early education 
 in the common schools of his native town- 
 ship, and afterward continued his studies 
 in Bushnell, Illinois, and Carthage Col- 
 lege. His literary course completed he 
 then took up the study of medicine, enter- 
 ing the Keokuk Medical College, from 
 which institution he was graduated in the 
 class of 1902. He located for practice 
 at Clio, Iowa, where he remained for two 
 years and then returned to Hancock 
 county, establishing his office in Ferris, 
 where he has since engaged in active prac- 
 tice. He has also pursued a post-grad- 
 uate course in the Chicago Polyclinic. 
 He has a general practice, which is con- 
 stantly increasing in volume and impor- 
 tance, and which might well be envied by 
 many an older practitioner. Thoroughly
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 363 
 
 conversant with the most modern methods 
 known to the members of the medical and 
 surgical profession he has brought to bear 
 in his work not only broad scientific 
 knowledge but also that practical com- 
 mon sense which is an indispensable con- 
 comitant of the successful physician, and 
 the results which have followed his labors 
 have been satisfactory, gaining for him 
 the trust and confidence of the public at 
 large and his professional brethren as 
 well. 
 
 Dr. Kelly is a member of the Christian 
 church and is a democrat in politics. He 
 has never sought or desired office outside 
 the strict path of his profession but at the 
 present writing is serving as village phy- 
 sician of Ferris and as health officer. 
 He is making substantial progress for 
 one of his years and the future undoubt- 
 edly holds in store for him still greater 
 successes. 
 
 JOHN W. GRANT. 
 
 John W. Grant, the proprietor of the 
 Grant Hotel at Warsaw, is a representa- 
 tive of one of the old pioneer families of 
 this part of the state. He was born Au- 
 gust 5, 1849, in a log cabin, which was 
 the home of his parents, Harrison and 
 Emily (Eason) Grant. The paternal 
 great-great-grandfather came from Scot- 
 land and settled in Virginia, whence later 
 representatives of the family went to 
 Kentucky. The great-grandfather, Noah 
 Grant, was with Washington throughout 
 the Revolutionary war and had a long 
 and interesting military career. He was 
 also a slaveholder and became one of the 
 
 pioneer settlers of Hartford, Kentucky. 
 Noah Grant was the grandfather of 'Gen- 
 eral U. S. Grant, the latter being a second 
 cousin of our subject. The father was 
 born in Bullet county, Kentucky, Decem- 
 ber 1 6, 1822, and came to Hancock 
 county in the fall of 1848, after his mar- 
 riage to Emily Eason. About a year 
 later he bought twenty acres of land for 
 a dollar and a half per acre and paid for 
 the same by cutting rails at thirty-seven 
 and a half cents per hundred, during 
 which time he boarded himself. With 
 the little twenty-acre tract as the nucleus 
 of a farm he kept adding to his property 
 from time to time until he had two hun- 
 dred acres of good land in the old home- 
 stead, and was also the owner of one 
 hundred acres in Arkansas. He likewise 
 carried on general agricultural pursuits 
 and continued to reside upon the home 
 farm in Hancock county save for the 
 period between the years of 1890 and 
 1895, when he lived on his farm in the 
 south. He then returned to Warsaw and 
 made his home with his son in the hotel 
 until his death, which occurred on the 
 7th of November, 1895. He had long 
 survived his wife, who died upon the 
 old homestead, January i, 1865, when 
 thirty-eight years of age. She was the 
 mother of eight children : William A., 
 now living in Arkansas; John W., of this 
 review ; Henry Washington, of Lorain, 
 Illinois; Mary E., deceased; Martha Ann, 
 the deceased wife of Peter Suit; and 
 Emily Ellen, the wife of William Mc- 
 Intyre, of Arkansas. After losing his 
 first wife the father married Rebecca 
 lies, by whom he had a daughter, Mrs. 
 Anna Mueller, now of Crawford county,
 
 364 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Kansas. His third wife was Rebecca 
 Whitledge, and for his fourth wife he 
 chose Agnes Boggs. 
 
 Harrison Grant made many improve- 
 ments upon his farm. He lived first in a 
 log cabin which had been built by the Mor- 
 mons and later he built and occupied a 
 hewed log house, which continued to be 
 his home as long as he remained upon the 
 farm. He experienced all the hardships 
 and difficulties incident to pioneer life 
 and aided in laying the foundation for 
 the present development and progress of 
 the county by performing the arduous 
 tasks connected with early development. 
 Politically he was a democrat in early 
 life, at one time gave his support to the 
 Know Nothing party, and in 1864 became 
 a supporter of Abraham Lincoln, after 
 which he continued to vote with the Re- 
 publican party until his demise. 
 
 John W. Grant was reared on his fa- 
 ther's farm and assisted in the onerous 
 work of the fields. In February, 1869, in 
 company with his two brothers, he went to 
 Kansas and took up pre-emption claim, 
 remaining in the Sunflower state for four 
 years and in Cedarville he built the first 
 dwellings. That was an entirely new 
 country and he had many exciting adven- 
 tures with the Indians, at one time he and 
 about twenty comrades being surrounded 
 by five hundred red men. They finally, 
 however, succeeded in making their es- 
 cape without recourse to the force of arms 
 but on other occasions Mr. Grant has had 
 fights with the red-skins, in which several 
 men have been killed. After four years' 
 experience on the frontier he returned to 
 the old homestead and continued to en- 
 gage actively and successfully in farming 
 
 until his health became impaired and he 
 removed to Warsaw on the I5th of July, 
 1888. He then purchased an eating- 
 house from John Boscow, which he has 
 enlarged and converted into a hotel, now 
 known as the Grant Hotel, located on 
 Main street, between Fifth and Sixth 
 streets. The structure is eighty-one by 
 seventy-two feet and contains thirty sleep- 
 ings rooms and is a well equipped model 
 property. In addition to his hotel prop- 
 erty Mr. Grant now owns one hundred 
 and six acres of the two-hundred-acre 
 tract which was formerly his father's 
 farm and which adjoins the first twenty 
 acres which the father bought. The 
 farm is located on section 7, Walker 
 to\vnship, and is devoted to general agri- 
 cultural purposes. In 1900 he built there- 
 on a good residence of seven rooms and 
 has erected barns and other farm build- 
 ings. He has also re-fenced the place 
 since it came into his possession and it is 
 now a valuable and well improved 
 property. 
 
 On the 23d of February, 1876, Mr. 
 Grant was married to Miss Malissa Jane 
 Suit, a daughter of Henry and Cynthia 
 (Troutman) Suit. They have become 
 the parents of five children ; Harrison 
 H., now a merchant of Warsaw; Myrtle 
 Pearl, Mary J., and Lula Jeanette, all at 
 home; and Waunnetta Luciele, born Feb- 
 ruary 22, 1906, and died September 5, 
 1906. 
 
 Mr. Grant is a member of Warsaw 
 lodge, I. O. O. F., and has passed all of 
 the chairs in both the subordinate lodge 
 and the encampment. He is likewise con- 
 nected with the Rebekah lodge and has 
 three times represented the local order
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 365 
 
 in the grand .lodge, first in 1896, again 
 in 1898 and a third time in 1902, showing 
 that he is one of the most prominent, pop- 
 ular and valued members of the organiza- 
 tion. Politically he is a republican where 
 national questions are involved but casts 
 an independent local ballot. From pio- 
 neer days he has been a witness of the 
 growth and development of the county 
 and has rejoiced in the changes which 
 have marked the work of public progress 
 and' improvement. At the same time he 
 has borne his part in the task of develop- 
 ing the county and stands at all times firm 
 in support of those interests which are a 
 matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. 
 
 JOHN WILKENS. 
 
 John YVilkens, deceased, devoting his 
 life to farming, manifested in his busi- 
 ness and social relations- such sterling 
 qualities as commended him to the friend- 
 ship and regard of those who knew him. 
 He was born in Hanover, Germany, in 
 September, 1828, and acquired his educa- 
 tion in the common schools of that coun- 
 try. His mother died in Germany when 
 the son was but a little lad, and the father, 
 William Wilkens, in 1846, accompanied 
 by his son John and two daughters 
 crossed the Atlantic and made his way to 
 Nauvoo, Illinois, where he established his 
 home and spent his remaining days, 
 passing away there about 1896. He was 
 married a second time and had two sons 
 and two daughters by that marriage, 
 namely : Charles, living in Sonora town- 
 ship; Gabriel, of Kansas; Mrs. Mary 
 
 Childers, of Nauvoo; and Mrs. Margaret 
 Sugars, of Appanoose township. 
 
 John Wilkens was a youth of about 
 eighteen years when he accompanied his 
 father on the emigration to the new world 
 and with him he resided in Appanoose 
 township until he attained the age of 
 thirty years, when he secured employment 
 at farm labor in the neighborhood. He 
 was thus engaged up to the time of his 
 marriage, which was celebrated in Feb- 
 ruary, 1863, Miss Cynthia Konance be- 
 coming his wife. She was born in Ger- 
 many, June 21, 1841, a daughter of 
 Anthony and Catherine (Wolf) Konance, 
 who in 1847, having emigrated to the 
 new world, established their home in 
 Clinton county, Indiana, where the father 
 followed farming for seven years. In 
 1854 he removed to Wapello, Iowa, where 
 he purchased one hundred and thirty 
 acres of farm land, making his home 
 thereon through the succeeding decade. 
 He then sold his property there and came 
 to Nauvoo, purchasing a residence in the 
 town. His wife died in Nauvoo about 
 1870, and he afterward went to live with 
 a daughter in Ottumwa. where he died 
 in 1 890. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Wilkens bought 
 seventy-two acres of land and later added 
 a tract of seventeen and a half acres to 
 his farm. His entire life was given to 
 general agricultural pursuits and 'he con- 
 tinued the work of tilling the soil and 
 caring for his crops until his life's labors 
 were ended in death on the 6th of May, 
 1891. He was always straightforward 
 in his business relations and thoroughly 
 reliable in all his trade transactions, so 
 that he enjoyed the full confidence and
 
 366 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 good will of those with whom he was 
 associated. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilkens were born 
 six children : Mary, now the wife of 
 John Bruegger, a resident of Nauvoo; 
 Frank, of Sonora; Annie, the wife of 
 John Nickowash, of Minnesota ; Agnes, 
 the wife of Victor Banarx, of Rock Creek 
 township; and Joseph and Edward, both 
 of whom are at home, and carry on the 
 work of the farm. Mr. Wilkens was a 
 communicant of the Catholic church, and 
 was a democrat in his political belief and 
 adherence. He lived continuously in this 
 county from the age of eighteen years and 
 witnessed the greater part of its growth 
 and progress for it was still a frontier 
 region when the family came and he lived 
 to see it converted into one of the rich 
 agricultural districts of this great state. 
 He made a creditable record as a busi- 
 ness man, as a citizen and as a friend, and 
 thus his death was the occasion of wide- 
 spread regret to many who knew him as 
 well as to his immediate family. 
 
 JACOB MICHAEL GROSS. 
 
 Jacob Michael Gross, who is engaged 
 in the raising of grapes and the manu- 
 facture of wine at Nauvoo, is a business 
 man of enterprise whose intense and well 
 directed activity has led to a gratifying 
 measure of success. He was born in 
 Sheboygan, Wisconsin, January 12, 1863, 
 and is a son of John and Catherina 
 (Hauptman) Gross, who were natives of 
 Alsace. France. The paternal grandpar- 
 ents were George and Barbara (See- 
 
 wagon) Gross, while the maternal grand- 
 parents were John and Marie (Lamb) 
 Hauptman, and the former was a son of 
 Michael Hauptman. George Gross owned 
 a large farm and also conducted a tavern, 
 while John Hauptman had extensive agri- 
 cultural interests. 
 
 John Gross was the youngest in a fam- 
 ily of three daughters and two sons. Hav- 
 ing arived at years of maturity, he 
 wedded Catherina Hauptman, who was 
 born November 3, 1823, in Melscheim. 
 Alsace, France, while his birth occurred 
 on the 24th of December, 1820. Fol- 
 lowing their marriage they remained resi- 
 dents of their native country until Jan- 
 uary, 1855, and Mr. Gross there con- 
 ducted a tavern and also followed the 
 cooper's trade. Making arrangements 
 to come to America, they sailed for New 
 York in 1855, and after reaching the 
 eastern metropolis made their way to 
 Buffalo and proceeded around the lakes 
 to Wisconsin. In that state John Gross 
 purchased a farm and carried on general 
 agricultural pursuits until 1865, when he 
 sold his property and removed to Nauvoo, 
 where he purchased four acres of land 
 and later four acres additional. Here he 
 began raising grapes and manufacturing 
 wine, continuing in the business until his 
 death, which occurred December 13, 1900. 
 His widow still survives and now makes 
 her home with her son, Jacob M., who is 
 the next to the youngest in a family of 
 six sons and three daughters but only 
 two sons and one daughter are now liv- 
 ing, these being: John G., of Appa- 
 noose township ; Jacob M. ; and Mary 
 Ann, the wife of Henry Argast, a painter 
 of Nauvoo.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 367 
 
 Jacob Michael Gross has always resided 
 with his parents, and on the 2d of Jan- 
 uary, 1891, he purchased four acres of 
 land in the city of Nauvoo, on which he 
 has since engaged in the cultivation of 
 grapes and the manufacture of wine, his 
 output being from two to seven thousand 
 gallons of native wine annually. He has 
 a fine cellar which holds about seven 
 thousand gallons and upon his place he 
 also has a comfortable brick residence 
 and other improvements. He has been 
 familiar with his present line of business 
 from his boyhood days and his capable 
 management is bringing him a gratify- 
 ing measure of success. 
 
 On the 25th of November, 1890, oc- 
 curred the marriage of Jacob M. Gross 
 and Miss Caroline Sherz, who was born 
 in Hannibal, Missouri, a daughter of An- 
 drew and Julia Sherz. Their children 
 are: Carl John, born September 22, 
 1891 ; and Theodore J., November 6, 
 1893. Mr. Gross was educated in the 
 English and German schools of Nauvoo, 
 and is a well informed man of enterprise 
 and activity in his business. He is a 
 democrat in his political faith and has 
 served as township collector for two 
 terms, while for four years he has been 
 school director. He holds membership 
 with Nauvoo camp, No. 905, Modern 
 Woodmen of America, and is a member 
 of the Lutheran church. 
 
 AMOS H. WORTHEN. 
 
 Amos H. Worthen, scientist, and for 
 thirty years state geologist of Illinois, 
 
 contributed through his written works, 
 volumes of the utmost value to the scien- 
 tific world. He was one of the pioneers 
 in the task of collecting fossils and geolog- 
 ical specimens of the middle west and 
 with other laborers in the same field of 
 investigation made practically a new 
 science of geology. He is one of the 
 distinguished citizens who have made 
 Warsaw famous, having for more than a 
 half century been a resident of that city. 
 Born in the town of Bradford, Orange 
 county, Vermont, on the 3ist of Oc- 
 tober. 1813, he was a son of Thomas and 
 Susannah (Adams) Worthen, whose 
 family numbered twelve children, Amos 
 being the eleventh in order of birth. Lit- 
 tle is known concerning the ancestral his- 
 tory of the Worthens. The father was a 
 representative of a Massachusetts family, 
 the descendants of which are scattered 
 through a number of states of the Union. 
 In early manhood he went with his young 
 wife to Bradford, Vermont, and pur- 
 chased a farm upon what was known as 
 the south road, a few miles west of the 
 village, where they made a permanent 
 home and reared their family. He was 
 born August 24, 1765, and died October 
 21, 1851. His wife, Susannah, was born 
 December 24, 1768, and passed away 
 March 17, 1843. She was the eldest child 
 of Abraham Adams, a descendant of 
 Henry Adams, who came from England 
 and settled at Mount Wollaston, now 
 Quincy, Massachusetts, and who was the 
 founder in America of the celebrated 
 Adams family that has included two presi- 
 dents of the United States. She was a 
 woman of great energy and tact and it 
 is evident that it was largely from her
 
 368 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 that her son Amos inherited the force of 
 character and adherence to a definite pur- 
 pose which distinguished him. 
 
 The childhood and early youth of Amos 
 Worthen were spent continuously- upon 
 the home farm where he was employed 
 during the warm months in such of its 
 labors as were suitable to his strength. 
 while in the winter seasons he attended 
 the district schools of the neighborhood. 
 His well directed labor and the sports 
 which the surrounding fields and forests 
 afforded, resulted in the development of 
 a vigorous physical manhood, and his 
 winter schooling for the Vermont dis- 
 trict schools were among the best of their 
 class gave him the foundation of that 
 mental development that afterward dis- 
 tinguished him. As his youth progressed 
 and he had mastered the rudiments taught 
 in the district schools he desired to enter 
 Bradford Academy, since merged with 
 the Bradford high school, which was lo- 
 cated at the village a few miles from his 
 home. He obtained the means to gratify 
 his wish, and it was at this institution 
 that young Worthen received the last of 
 his school training. During his attend- 
 ance at Bradford Academy he boarded in 
 the family of his sister Mary, who was 
 older than himself and who had married 
 Captain Ellis Bliss, an extensive farmer 
 in the Connecticut valley. While prose- 
 cuting his studies at the academy young 
 Worthen also prosecuted his suit for the 
 hand of Miss Sarah B. Kimball, of War- 
 ren, New Hampshire, and they were mar- 
 ried" on January 14, 1834, at which time 
 he was in his twenty-first year. The 
 union was a fortunate one and lasted fifty- 
 three years, when it was broken by the 
 
 death of his faithful wife, which occurred 
 only a little more than a year previous 
 to his own. Seven children were born to 
 them one daughter and six sons. The 
 daughter died in childhood. All of the 
 six sons, Lafayette Shaw, George B., 
 Thomas A., Amos H., Charles K. and 
 John B., were living at the time of the 
 father's death and were the pallbearers 
 at the funeral. Of this number La- 
 fayette and Thomas have since passed 
 away. 
 
 About the time of his marriage Mr. 
 Worthen decided to make his home in 
 what was then called the far west. Such 
 a journey was then a serious undertaking, 
 most of it being through a comparative 
 wilderness and by slow means of trans- 
 portation, for railroads were yet in an 
 experimental condition and none of the 
 few then existing was available for any 
 portion of it. His eldest brother, Enoch, 
 had already moved with his family to 
 Cynthiana, Kentucky, and thither Amos 
 also decided to go. His stay at Cyn- 
 thiana seems to have been short, for we 
 learn that in the next year after leaving 
 his New England home he was teaching 
 at Cumminsville, near Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 He remained at Cumminsville until June, 
 1836, when he joined the tide of emigra- 
 tion which had begun to flow into the 
 Mississippi valley and settled at Warsaw, 
 Illinois. Here, with the exception of an 
 interval of two years, 1842 to 1844, 
 which he, together with his family, spent 
 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and about 
 three years, 1857 to 1860, in Springfield, 
 Illinois, he lived continuously until his 
 death. Some of his wife's family, the 
 Kimballs, had preceded the young couple
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 369 
 
 to Warsaw and its vicinity, and with two 
 of her brothers Mr. Worthen formed a 
 partnership in the mercantile business. 
 This business, with the exception of sever- 
 al changes and interruptions, he continued 
 until 1855, after which time he devoted 
 himself entirely to the scientific pursuits 
 for which he had been preparing him- 
 self ever since his arrival- in Warsaw. It 
 is a fact, but not a surprising one, that 
 Mr. Worthen's career as a merchant was 
 not successful as success is usually counted 
 in such occupations. Business as . such 
 had no attractions for him or none be- 
 yond the fact that it yielded him the 
 moderate means of meeting the necessary 
 demands of his growing family, but un- 
 consciously to his friends, who were some- 
 times inclined to censure him for what 
 to them was a lack of business enterprise, 
 it was giving him an opportunity to ac- 
 complish far more than this. His in- 
 herent predilection for natural science had 
 from his boyhood been subdued or kept 
 latent by the pressure of duties to the 
 demands of which he was ever ready to 
 respond but it found at his new home and 
 in its vicinity an unwonted and irresistible 
 stimulation. The forests of the Missis- 
 sippi valley and the adjacent broad prai- 
 ries afforded him a boundless field for 
 study and observation, and, above all, the 
 fossiliferous rocks of the Lower Carbon- 
 iferous series, which prevail in that region 
 and some of which are well exposed at 
 and around his home, were his especial 
 delight. He began at once the study of 
 this great series of strata and the collec- 
 tion of its fossils and minerals. A con- 
 temporary biographer has said of him : 
 "With no education beyond that acquired 
 
 at the common schools of New England, 
 and no scientific training, he took up the 
 study of geology and mastered it to an 
 extent excelled by few, and this, too, after 
 his settlement in Warsaw, and amid the 
 cares of a family and while engaged in 
 business. His attention was drawn to 
 the science of geology by observing the 
 interesting minerals and fossils that were 
 met with in such profusion on every hand. 
 We well remember seeing him out in the 
 morning or evening, with basket and 
 hammer rambling over the bluffs and 
 among the ravines collecting specimens, 
 and then thought he was unprofitably en- 
 gaged. The ravines were then full of 
 geodes that had weathered out of the de- 
 composing shales of the geode beds and 
 the beautiful crystals with which they were 
 lined were objects of great interest. The 
 limestone was also full of fossils and al- 
 though the forms of organic life they 
 presented were entirely new to him, they 
 excited an intense desire to know some- 
 thing of their history and of the specific 
 character of the animals to which they 
 once belonged. There had been no ele- 
 mentary work on geology published in 
 this country at that time, and the first 
 books he was able to obtain that contained 
 any account of fossils were a copy of Dr. 
 Mantell's 'Medals of Creation' and 
 'Wonders of Geology,' published in Eng- 
 land. These, though they threw no light 
 on the specific character of the specimens 
 he gathered in his excursions among the 
 rocks here gave some insight into the 
 manner in which the rocks were formed 
 and how the remains of living beings 
 came to be preserved in them. By collect- 
 ing the minerals and fossils that were
 
 370 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 found in the vicinity of Warsaw, and 
 exchanging them for other collections 
 he gradually acquired the information so 
 much desired. Through these collections 
 and exchanges and by other means Pro- 
 fessor Worthen obtained a valuable geo- 
 logical museum, which, when he was 
 called to Springfield, thousands would not 
 have purchased. Subsequently the first 
 volumes of the Paleontology of New 
 York were published, affording the first 
 figures and descriptions of American fos- 
 sils that he had been able to obtain. Those 
 who commence the study of geology now, 
 when the characteristic fossils of every 
 formation on the North American conti- 
 nent have been figured and described in 
 published works, that are accessible to the 
 student, in public and private libraries, 
 can form but little idea of the difficulties 
 with which students in the same fields 
 had to contend forty years ago. Profes- 
 sor Worthen's labor as state geologist re- 
 sulted in an extended survey of every 
 county in the state, and the publication 
 of seven large volumes as a record of the 
 work, a publication deemed of great 
 value to the scientific world." 
 
 It was in 1851 that Professor Worthen 
 accepted an appointment as assistant geol- 
 ogist in the Illinois geological survey, con- 
 tinuing in that position for three years. 
 In 1855 he was appointed ad assistant in 
 the geological survey of Iowa by Gover- 
 nor Bissell. In that position he continued 
 until it was abolished, when he was ap- 
 pointed curator in the State Historical 
 Library and Natural History Museum 
 by Governor Cullom, which position he. 
 was holding at the time of his death. In 
 that position he amassed a magnificent 
 
 collection which is the admiration of all 
 visitors to the state capitol. From and 
 after the time he entered upon his duties 
 as state geologist of Illinois, the current 
 of his life, although extending through 
 thirty years, was too uniform to require 
 a material extension of this biographical 
 notice. During all that time his labor 
 was constant and severe, and he took few 
 vacations beyond his attendance upon 
 scientific meetings but his great physical 
 strength made him equal to his self-im- 
 posed tasks. His delight in his work and 
 in his home was such that his share of 
 happiness was greater than that which 
 falls to the lot of most men and he de- 
 sired no addition to it. But his continued 
 success was not due to the absence of 
 adverse conditions. Again and again his 
 work was in danger of suspension by the 
 threatened failure of the necessary ap- 
 propriations by the legislature and more 
 than once they were so far reduced that 
 only the most careful management averted 
 disaster. Once, indeed, appropriations 
 failed entirely, for the years 1875 to 1877. 
 When appropriations were resumed in the 
 last named year provision was -made for 
 .the establishment of the Illinois State His- 
 torical Library and Natural History Mu- 
 seum, and Mr. Worthem became its cu- 
 rator as well as state geologist. He. 
 however, continued his work without 
 compensation and with such evident sin- 
 cerity of purpose that they were resumed 
 by the next legislature. One by one his 
 volumes of reports were published and 
 gladly accepted by the scientific world ; 
 one by one the great difficulties he en- 
 countered were overcome and he was per- 
 mitted to finish his work to the great ad-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 vantage of science and the satisfaction 
 of the most exacting economist. As his 
 work approached completion old age was 
 coming upon him but he retained his 
 mental vigor, and in a great measure his 
 accustomed good health until his final ill- 
 ness, which prostrated him suddenly and 
 terminated in death within a few days. 
 He died on Sunday, May 6, 1888, in the 
 seventy-fifth year of his age, surrounded 
 by people who respected and honored him 
 and among whom he had lived a full half 
 century. Personally Mr. \Yorthen was 
 of manly presence and kindly, candid, and 
 unpretentious in manner. He was im- 
 pulsively generous to his friends and char- 
 itable, even to those with w r hom he had 
 little sympathy but he was uncompromis- 
 ing in his love of justice and scientific 
 truth. The only proper standard by 
 which to judge of his scientific labors is 
 and must always be his published works, 
 which are his monument and the records 
 by which his name will be known in fu- 
 ture years. 
 
 \V. W. HUGHES. 
 
 W. W. Hughes, deceased, who was one 
 of the worthy and respected citizens of 
 Carthage, where his memory is still cher- 
 ished by all who knew him, was born in 
 Bourbon county, Kentucky, September 
 15, 1821, a son of Mr. and Mrs. William 
 Hughes. The father was a native of 
 Maryland and was a cabinet-maker by 
 trade. Removing to Kentucky he spent 
 his remaining days there, both he and his 
 wife passing away in that state. In their 
 
 family were five children, all of whom are 
 now deceased. 
 
 W. W. Hughes of this review attended 
 the common schools in his boyhood days 
 and afterward was a student in the Col- 
 lege of Kentucky. He worked in his 
 father's cabinet-shop for a short time and 
 later learned the harness-maker's trade 
 in Kentucky, from which state he re- 
 moved to Illinois in 1854, settling in 
 Carthage. Here he followed harness- 
 making for several years and then turned 
 his attention to the drug business, estab- 
 lishing a store which he conducted suc- 
 cessfully for some time. Later he was 
 proprietor of a photograph gallery and 
 in that business also prospered. When 
 his well directed labors, enterprise and 
 careful management had brought him a 
 desirable competency he retired from busi- 
 ness life and spent his remaining days 
 in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. 
 
 Mr. Hughes was married October 16, 
 1846, to Miss Sarah E. Payne, who was 
 born in Kentucky, October 16, 1825, a 
 daughter of John and C. (Hughes) 
 Payne. The mother though of the 
 same name was not a relative of the 
 Hughes family of which our subject 
 is a member. Her birth occurred in 
 Maryland, while Mr. Payne was born in 
 Virginia. His life was devoted to agri- 
 cultural pursuits and he passed away in 
 Kentucky at a ripe old age. In their 
 family were nine children, of whom Mrs. 
 Hughes of this review is the only sur- 
 viving member. By her marriage she 
 became the mother of six children. Perry 
 B., the eldest, born September 4, 1847, 
 married Missouri Belle Scott on the 2d 
 of September, 1868, and died January 13,
 
 372 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 1897, leaving two daughters, Belle and 
 Minnie. The former is the wife of a 
 Mr. Parker, of Brookfiekl, Missouri, and 
 has two children, Marion and Hugh 
 Parker. Minnie Hughes became the wife 
 of Dr. Bynum, of Memphis. Tennessee, 
 and has two children, Woodfield and Eliz- 
 abeth. Albert G. Hughes, the second 
 surviving member of the family of Mr. 
 and Mrs. W. \V. Hughes, was born De- 
 cember 28, 1848, and was married May 
 26, 1872, to Miss Fannie Logan, their 
 home being in Dighton, Lane county, 
 Kansas. They have one child, Mrs. 
 Maud King, who is living in Waukeena, 
 Kansas. Henry F. Hughes, born Decem- 
 ber 22, 1853, married Miss Katie Apple- 
 gate, by whom he has four children, their 
 home being in Missouri. William S. 
 Hughes, born December 15, 1859, was 
 married June 10, 1881, to Miss Ina Ed- 
 wards ana resides in Carthage. They 
 have two sons, William Woodfield and 
 Paul. The other members of the Hughes 
 family are deceased. 
 
 In his fraternal relations Mr. Hughes 
 was an earnest Mason and passed all of 
 the chairs in the local lodge. He was 
 for many years an active and influential 
 member of the Christian church, doing all 
 in his power to promote its growth and in- 
 sure its success. His political allegiance 
 was given to the democracy but he never 
 sought or desired office. By his energy 
 and unfaltering perseverance he accumu- 
 lated a considerable competence and thus 
 left his family in comfortable circum- 
 stances. He built a beautiful home about 
 fifteen years ago and in this his widow 
 still resides. Mr. Hughes passed away 
 December 12, 1898. at the advanced age 
 
 of eighty-seven years and the county 
 thereby Jost one of its most venerable, 
 honored and worthy citizens. His life 
 at all times was characterized by high 
 principles and worthy motives and he 
 enjoyed the unqualified regard and good 
 will of all with whom he came in contact. 
 Benevolence was one of the strong and 
 salient features of his character but in 
 his charitable acts he was always quiet 
 and unostentatious, never seeking the 
 praise of men. In his home he was a 
 devoted and loving husband and father 
 and for fifty-two years he and his wife 
 traveled life's journey happily together. 
 While he was active and reliable in citi- 
 zenship and in business and faithful in 
 friendship, his best traits were always 
 reserved for his family. Some years prior 
 to his death Mr. and Mrs. Hughes built 
 a vault in Moss Ridge cemetery in Car- 
 thage, where his remains were interred. 
 Mrs. Hughes, now nearly eighty-one 
 years of age. still survives her husband 
 and is yet an active and well preserved 
 lady, who is spending the evening of her 
 life in comfort amid many warm friends, 
 who have known her for long years and 
 who entertain for her the deepest esteem 
 and affection. 
 
 LEON CHEVILLON. 
 
 Leon Chevillon is the senior member 
 of the firm of Chevillon & Clere, of Car- 
 thage, who are conducting the largest 
 business in Hancock county in implements 
 farm machinery, carriages and buggies 
 and the firm is not onlv foremost in the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 373 
 
 extent of its trade but also occupies a lead- 
 ing position because of the reliability, en- 
 terprise and business activity of the 
 house. Mr. Chevillon is one of the na- 
 tive sons of the county, his birth having 
 occurred in Nauvoo on the 2Oth of April, 
 iSsi, his parents being Eugene and An- 
 gelia (Xaegelin) Chevillon. Both par- 
 ents were natives of France and the ma- 
 ternal grandfather was interested in the 
 French revolution of 1848. The father of 
 our subject came to America about 1849 
 or 1850, settling in Nauvoo after the 
 Mormons had left for their western home 
 in Utah. He was a farmer by occupa- 
 tion and subsequently worked at the tin- 
 ner's trade. Both he and his wife spent 
 their last days in Hancock county. In his 
 fraternal relations Eugene Chevillon was 
 an Odd Fellow and he held membership 
 in the Catholic church, while his wife was 
 a Presbyterian in religious faith. In their 
 family were four children, of whom three 
 are living : Leon, of this review ; Hena. 
 the wife of Thomas Crow, of Kansas : and 
 Victoria, the wife of Thomas Cecil, who 
 is living in Oklahoma. 
 
 Leon -Chevillon was educated, in the 
 public schools of Keokuk, Iowa, and re- 
 mained upon his father's farm for some 
 time. He was only ten years of age at the 
 time of his mother's death and he and 
 his sister kept house together and he 
 farmed the home place until twenty-three 
 years of age, but thinking that he would 
 find commercial pursuits more congenial, 
 in 1876 he entered the employ of an im- 
 plement house of Keokuk, Iowa, which 
 he represented upon the road as a travel- 
 ing salesman. After traveling for three 
 different firms of that city he finally repre- 
 
 sented a New York firm and eventually 
 traveled for an Ohio house and then with 
 the capital saved from his earnings he 
 made investment in a mercantile enter- 
 prise and in January, 1901, opened a large 
 implement house in Carthage, having in 
 the meantime made his home in this city, 
 while traveling for a number of years. 
 This is not only the largest implement 
 house in Carthage but of the county as 
 well and in addition he handles hard- 
 ware. He is the "senior member of the 
 firm of Chevillon & Clere and they deal 
 extensively in farm machinery, carriages, 
 buggies and wagons, selling to the retail 
 trade. Their place of business is on Main 
 street and employment is furnished to 
 three salesmen. The trade has gradually 
 grown until it has now reached very ex- 
 tensive and profitable proportions and the 
 business is constantly developing along 
 substantial lines. 
 
 In 1879. Mr. Chevillon was married to 
 Miss Sophia Clere, who was born in Han- 
 cock county, Illinois, a daughter of Frank 
 and Josephine (Miller) Clere. Her father 
 was a native of France and her mother 
 of Ohio. Mr. Clere, however, was but 
 eight years of age when he came to 
 America and throughout his active busi- 
 ness life he followed farming, living at 
 different times in Ohio. Hancock county, 
 Illinois, and in Arkansas. He died in the 
 last named state in 1891 and was laid to 
 rest in a cemetery there by the side of 
 his wife, who had. passed away in 1873. 
 They were the parents of three children. 
 Mary, deceased: Frank H., of Bluffs, 
 Illinois, and Sophia, wife of our subject. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chevillon have 
 been born five children, all of whom are
 
 374 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 living: Frank and Fred, twins, now in 
 school; Leonore and Blanche, twins, at 
 home; and Ruth, who is also attending 
 school. Fred will graduate from the 
 high school in the class of 1906, and the 
 daughter is now studying bookkeeping in 
 a business college. The family residence 
 is on Cherry and Main streets, where Mr. 
 Chevillon purchased a nice home. He 
 and his wife are devoted members of the 
 Presbyterian church and he belongs to the 
 Odd Fellows society. His political alle- 
 giance is given to the Republican party, 
 but his business interests leave him no 
 leisure for political preferment or office 
 holding. He has concentrated his ener- 
 gies upon the development of his business, 
 which has grown rapidly and along sub- 
 stantial lines. He is methodical in all 
 that he does, has systematized his inter- 
 ests and in his trade relations is found 
 thoroughly reliable, his name being a syn- 
 onym for business integrity in commercial 
 circles in Carthage. The history of the 
 American people is replete with illustra- 
 tions of the fact that it is only under the 
 pressure of adversity and the stimulus of 
 opposition that the best and strongest in 
 men is brought out and developed. If 
 anything can inspire the youth of our 
 country to persistent, honest and laudable 
 endeavor, it should be the life record of 
 such men as he of whom we write. 
 
 J. I. FRAZER. 
 
 J. I. Frazer, one of the most promi- 
 nent and prosperous residents of Rocky 
 
 Run township, has devoted his entire life 
 to general agricultural pursuits and his 
 intense and well directed energy has been 
 the salient element in his success. He is 
 seldom if ever at error in a matter of 
 business judgment and his keen sagacity 
 has enabled him to make judicious invest- 
 ments, which, viewed from a financial 
 standpoint have resulted beneficially. His 
 life record began in Adams county, Illi- 
 nois, September 8, 1848. He was the 
 elder of two sons born unto Lafayette 
 Harrison and Caroline (Wilson) Frazer. 
 The father was born in Kentucky in 1818, 
 and was a little lad of eight years, when, 
 in 1826, he came with his parents to Illi- 
 nois, the family home being established 
 in Adams county, near Quincy. He ar- 
 rived in Hancock county in 1846, and cast 
 in his lot with its pioneer residents. He 
 first purchased two hundred and sixty 
 acres of land in Walker township and 
 there lived in true pioneer style, his home 
 being a log cabin. He served in the Mor- 
 mon war in 1844 when the attempt was 
 made to drive the followers of Brigham 
 Young from the county, and he took part 
 in many other events which are now of 
 historic importance. He shared in all the 
 hardships and privations incident to pio- 
 neer life while converting raw prairie land 
 into a good farm, and he assisted in the 
 material development and upbuilding of 
 the county, which recognized in him a 
 valued citizen. His political support was 
 always given to the democracy but he 
 never sought or desired office. His wife 
 was born in Ohio in 1829, and their mar- 
 riage was celebrated in this state. Her 
 death occurred in September, 1882, and 
 Mr. Frazer passed away in January, 1886,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 375 
 
 He was a splendid type of an enterprising, 
 sturdy citizen of high principles, beloved 
 by all who knew him. Both he and his 
 wife were laid to rest in a cemetery in 
 Rocky Run township. They had two sons, 
 the younger being George W., who is now- 
 living in Walker township. 
 
 J. I. Frazer was educated in the schools 
 of Walker township and remained under 
 the parental roof until twenty-four years 
 of age. He assisted in the arduous task 
 of developing a new farm. His birth 
 place was a log cabin, in which his parents 
 lived during the pioneer epoch in the his- 
 tory of the county and from personal 
 recollection he can relate many incidents 
 of pioneer times and tell of the conditions 
 of life which then existed when the 
 frontier homes were heated with huge 
 fireplaces and lighted by candles, and 
 when the farm work was largely done by 
 hand, for the fine machinery of the pres- 
 ent day was then unknown. 
 
 On the i5th of April, 1873, Mr. Frazer 
 was united in marriage to Miss Jincy Re- 
 becca Crenshaw, who was born in Lima, 
 Hancock county, Illinois, in 1852, a 
 daughter of Theophilus and Martha 
 (Martin) Crenshaw, both of whom were 
 natives of the southern part of this state. 
 The father was a farmer by occupation 
 and removed from southern Illinois to 
 Adams county. The grandfather of Mrs. 
 Frazer lived for a time in Hancock 
 county, and her father was a soldier of 
 the Mormon war of 1844 and also partici- 
 pated in the Indian warfare of 1848. His 
 name was thus closely associated with 
 pioneer events and he left the impress of 
 his individuality upon the early develop- 
 ment and progress of the county. Both 
 24 
 
 he and "his wife are now deceased, their 
 graves having been made in Holden 
 cemetery in Rocky Run township. In 
 their family were six children but only 
 two are now living : Celatha, the wife of 
 F. M. Jacobs, of Lima, Adams county ; 
 and Mrs. Frazer. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Frazer re- 
 ceived as a gift from his father two hun- 
 dred acres of land on section 36, Rocky 
 Run township, bordering on the southern 
 boundary of the township. Since then he 
 has added to his original holdings until 
 he was at one time owner of over seven 
 hundred and seventy acres but he has 
 given to each of his children two hundred 
 acres. In 1888 he built his large, beauti- 
 ful and modern residence, and he has also 
 built a fine barn forty by sixty feet. The 
 home is surrounded by a well kept lawn 
 and there are many modern improvements 
 and accessories upon the "farm, all indi- 
 cating the progressive spirit and enter- 
 prise of the owner. He has been very 
 successful in his farming operations. 
 Since 1898 he has practically retired from 
 active farming and rents most of his land. 
 With a good start received from his 
 father he has made steady progress in 
 business affairs, adding largely to his 
 holdings until he has become one of the 
 extensive landowners of his township. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Frazer have every reason 
 to be proud of their family of two sons 
 who are an honor to their family. Lafay- 
 ette Harison Frazer, the elder, married 
 Miss Catherine E. Shipe, by whom he has 
 two children, Caroline and Lafayette 
 Harrison Frazer, Jr. Their home is in 
 Quincy, Illinois. William T. Frazer, 
 born August 15, 1884, is a graduate of
 
 376 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the Gem City high school at Quincy of 
 the class of 1902. He is now at home 
 with his parents. 
 
 Mr. Frazer gives his political support 
 to the democracy and is serving for the 
 second term as supervisor of his township 
 and chairman of the board. He has 
 passed all of the chairs in the Masonic 
 lodge to which he belongs and has several 
 times been master. Both he and his wife 
 are members of the Southern Methodist 
 church, of which he is trustee and they 
 contribute generously to its support and 
 take an active and helpful interest in its 
 work. Their home is noted far and wide 
 for its generous and warm-hearted hos- 
 pitality. It is most beautifully and taste- 
 fully furnished and moreover is the em- 
 bodiment of good cheer and kindly spirit. 
 Their friends are numerous and the warm 
 regard in which they are uniformly held 
 is justly merited. They have done much 
 for the township in which they make their 
 home, never living selfishly to themselves 
 but standing for progress and improve- 
 ment along all lines which benefit the com- 
 munity at large. July 4, 1906, while at 
 the breakfast table he was stricken with 
 paralysis and although all was done that 
 skill could do, he passed away on July 
 6th. He is laid to rest in the family lot in 
 Fletcher cemetery in Rocky Run 
 township. 
 
 JOHN F. ANTOINE. 
 
 John F. Antoine is a retired farmer 
 living in Basco, the years of his former 
 
 toil making it possible for him to live' 
 in leisurely manner without recourse to 
 further labor. He was born in the village 
 of Many, Department of Meurthe and 
 Moselle, France, in 1838. He came to 
 America in 1856 with his mother and 
 family, consisting of an uncle and a 
 brother and sister. All these have passed 
 away except Mr. Antoine. and the resting 
 place of their mortal remains is in Basco 
 cemetery. The family settled upon a 
 farm in Bear Creek township, Hancock 
 county, Illinois, where he worked until 
 1867. He then began to consider the 
 subject of having a home of his own and 
 consummated his purpose through his 
 marriage to Miss Celina Ancelet, who 
 was born in the village of Le Sourd. in 
 the department of Aisne, France. Her 
 parents were also natives of that coun- 
 try and her father, who was a weaver by 
 trade, .settled in Bear Creek township. 
 Hancock county, upon his emigration to 
 America in 1855. Purchasing land, he 
 then carried on general farming and 
 stock-raising until his death, which oc- 
 curred in 1877. His wife survived him 
 until 1893 and both lie buried in Basco 
 cemetery. In their native land they were 
 communicants of the Catholic church. 
 Their family numbered four children, of 
 whom three are living: Ernest and 
 Adonis, both of whom reside in Bear 
 Creek township; and Mrs. Antoine. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Antoine 
 lived upon a farm in Bear Creek town- 
 ship for thirty-five years and carefully 
 cultivated the fields and managed his 
 property until it brought to him a good 
 financial reward. He then sold his farm 
 and in Basco built a pretty cottage. He
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 377 
 
 owns forty acres of land there and is en- 
 gaged in raising vegetables. He and his 
 bride began life on limited financial cir- 
 cumstances but through their united ef- 
 forts they have accumulated a comfortable 
 competence and are now well situated 
 financially. They also own twenty acres 
 of timber land. In the community they 
 stand high in the regard of those who 
 know them. Mrs: Antoine is a lady of 
 domestic tastes, devoted to her home and 
 is especially fond of reading, from which 
 she derives much benefit, as she possesses 
 an excellent memory. In politics Mr. An- 
 toine is a republican, but has never cared 
 for office and the concentration of his 
 energies upon his business affairs to the 
 exclusion of other interests resulted in 
 the acquirement of a measure of success 
 that now enables him to enjoy life in 
 quiet and retirement. 
 
 THEOPHILUS OUTHIER. 
 
 Theophilus Outhier, whose home is on 
 section i, Montebello township, for many 
 years has resided in the township where 
 he has carried on general agricultural 
 pursuits and the raising of high grade 
 stock. He was born in France, October 
 5, 1830, and is a son of Francis and Fran- 
 ces (Gandard) Outhier, and a grandson 
 of Pierre Gandard. The father was a 
 farmer of France, where he followed ag- 
 ricultural pursuits until 1847. when he 
 came with his family to America, sailing 
 to New Orleans and thence proceeding up 
 
 the Mississippi river to Keokuk. He lo- 
 cated in Henry county, Illinois, and soon 
 afterward purchased sixty-five acres of 
 land on section 20, Sonora township, 
 Hancock county, a part of which was 
 timber and part prairie land. The farm 
 was located a mile from the Mississippi 
 river and thereon he devoted his energies 
 to general agricultural pursuits until 
 1856, when he sold that property and re- 
 moved to another farm of one hundred 
 and sixty acres on section 34, Sonora 
 township. This was prairie land which 
 he soon brought under a high state of 
 cultivation, also erecting there a good 
 residence, substantial outbuildings, to- 
 gether with well kept fences, which di- 
 vided the place into fields of convenient 
 size. He was not long permitted to en- 
 joy his new home, however, for. his death 
 occurred in 1857. He had for ten years 
 survived his wife, who died about 1847. 
 Theophilus Outhier was the eldest of 
 a family of three sons and two daughters, 
 and only two are now living, his brother 
 being Amiel Outhier, who resides in 
 Adams county, Iowa. Our subject was 
 educated in the public schools of his na- 
 tive country and Illinois and was reared 
 to farm life. He came to the United 
 States with his parents when sixteen 
 years of age and remained under the 
 parental roof until his marriage on the 
 2Oth of November, 1856, to Miss Susan 
 Haycraft, a native of Kentucky and a 
 daughter of John and Lydia Ann (Ash) 
 Haycraft. Following his marriage Mr. 
 Outhier removed to a farm of forty acres, 
 constituting a part of the second farm 
 which his father had purchased. He im- 
 proved all of his father's land and hauled
 
 378 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the lumber from Nauvoo for building 
 fences and making other improvements 
 upon the farm. He also erected a house 
 upon that forty-acre tract, which his fa- 
 ther gave him and he there carried on 
 general fanning for about two years, 
 after which he traded it for one hundred 
 and sixty acres of land on section 36, So- 
 nora township. This was only partially 
 improved. There was a small house and 
 well upon the place and a little orchard 
 of about thirty-five trees had been set out. 
 Mr. Outhier's next purchase of land made 
 him owner of one hundred and sixty acres 
 on section i, Montebello township. This 
 tract came into his possession in 1864. 
 and he continuously carried on farm 
 work there. He built a two-story frame 
 residence and in 1875 built a large barn 
 thirty-two by sixty feet. He also built 
 'a double corn crib thirty-two by thirty 
 feet and he set out many soft maple trees, 
 covering about four acres. The land has 
 natural drainage and the farm is well 
 equipped with all modern accessories and 
 conveniences. In 1903 Mr. Outhier pur- 
 chased one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land on section 36, Sonora township, all 
 of which had been placed under a high 
 state of cultivation, while a good house 
 and barn had been built. Here he car- 
 ries on general agricultural pursuits and 
 also raises Norman and Percheron 
 horses, Durham cattle and Poland China 
 hogs, keeping between two and three hun- 
 dred head of hogs on his farm annually. 
 He also has about three acres planted to 
 apples, peaches, plums, cherries and pears 
 and he likewise raises the various small 
 fruits adapted to soil and climate. His 
 farm is a well developed property and in 
 
 its neat and thrifty appearance gives evi- 
 dence of the careful supervision of the 
 owner. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Outhier 
 has been blessed with the following 
 named : Emma, the wife of James 
 Jones, of Hamilton, Illinois; Arthur 
 Douglas, who is living in Elaine county, 
 Oklahoma; Mrs. Addie Emmons, of Prai- 
 rie township ; Albert, of Gage county, Ne- 
 braska; Frank, of Montebello township; 
 George, of Prairie township; Justin, who 
 is in the commission business in Ferris, 
 Illinois; Estella, the wife of George Ale- 
 shire, of Carthage; Clarence and Bert- 
 rand, who are residents of Elaine county, 
 Oklahoma ; and Elsie, the wife of Erastus 
 Hanson, of Hamilton, Illinois. The par- 
 ents have reared a family of which they 
 have every reason to be proud, as their 
 sons and daughters have become respect- 
 ed men and women esteemed in the va- 
 rious localities where they reside. Mr. 
 Outhier has served as school director and 
 as overseer of roads and is interested in 
 public affairs to the extent of not only 
 giving his approbation to many move- 
 ments for the general good but also a 
 hearty and generous support. 
 
 WILLIAM ROASA. 
 
 \Yilliam Roasa, who since 1892 has 
 resided upon his present farm on section 
 I, Wythe township, was born in Keokuk, 
 Iowa, August 1 6. 1860. He is of Ger- 
 man lineage, his parents, Charles and 
 Elizabeth (Kaufman) Roasa, being na- 
 tives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 379 
 
 They were married, however, in Phillips- 
 burg, Pennsylvania, where thev were liv- 
 ing at that time. The father was a stone- 
 mason by trade, and following his mar- 
 riage removed to Louisville, Kentucky, 
 where he worked at his trade until 1854, 
 and then went to Keokuk, Iowa, where 
 he worked as a stonemason until 1861. 
 Following the outbreak of the Civil war 
 he enlisted in the Fifteenth Regiment of 
 Missouri Volunteers at St. Louis and 
 was in the service for ten months, at the 
 end of which time he sustained injuries 
 in his back that necessitated his discharge. 
 He then returned to Keokuk, where he 
 again followed his trade until 1865, in 
 which year he removed to Elvaston, Illi- 
 nois, and for four years cultivated a rent- 
 ed farm. On the expiration of that pe- 
 riod with the capital he had saved from 
 his earnings he purchased two hundred 
 acres of land in Clark county, Missouri, 
 whereon he resided until 1880, carrying 
 on general agricultural pursuits. In the 
 year mentioned he traded that farm for 
 eighty-two acres of land in Prairie town- 
 ship, Hancock county, a mile and a quar- 
 ter south of Elvaston, to which he after- 
 ward added ten acres. There he contin- 
 ued to carry on general agricultural pur- 
 suits until his death on the 27th of Sep- 
 tember. 1893. This was occasioned by 
 injuries sustained by being thrown from 
 a wagon while on a trip to Scotland coun- 
 ty, Missouri. His wife survived him and 
 died upon the old home place October 5, 
 1904. 
 
 \Yilliam Roasa.'the seventh in order of 
 birth in a family of four sons and six 
 daughters, made his home with his par- 
 ents until he had attained the age of 
 
 twenty-four years, and in the meantime 
 acquired a district school education in 
 Clark county, Missouri, and in this county. 
 On starting out in life on his own account 
 he worked by the month as a farm hand, 
 and about two years later he made ar- 
 rangements for establishing a home of his 
 own through his marriage on the 5th of 
 October, 1886, to Miss Amelia Heagy, 
 who was born in Montebello township, 
 Hancock county, December 23, 1865. 
 She acquired her education in the public 
 schools of Elvaston, while spending her 
 girlhood days in the home of her par- 
 ents, George and Theresa (Bauer) 
 Heagy, the former a native of Alsace, 
 Germany, and the latter of Waldurn, Ba- 
 den, Germany. The maternal grandfa- 
 ther was Joseph Bauer. Both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Heagy's paternal grandfathers came 
 to the United States, and the latter estab- 
 lished his home in Ohio, where he spent 
 his remaining days. Mr. Bauer, how- 
 ever, died in Hamilton, Ontario, Can- 
 ada. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Heagy was celebrated in Pittsburg, Penn- 
 sylvania, on the 24th of June, 1852. and 
 in the following year they removed to 
 Keokuk, Iowa, where Mr. Heagy worked 
 at his trade until 1854. He then pur- 
 chased land in Montebello township and 
 began farming, in connection with which 
 he continued to work at his trade until 
 1866, when he purchased sixty-two acres 
 of land in Prairie township. There he 
 still resides, being one of the respected 
 and well known agriculturists of his com- 
 munity, but in 1895 he was called upon to 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who died in 
 August of that year. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Roasa estab-
 
 3 8o 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 lished his home in Wythe township and 
 also operated rented land in Prairie town- 
 ship. He was thus engaged until 1892 
 when he "purchased his present place of 
 forty acres on section i, Wythe township. 
 They have resided upon this farm con- 
 tinuously since their marriage, and in the 
 fall of 1905 Mr. Roasa added to his pos- 
 sessions through the purchase of the place 
 of ninety-two acres in Prairie and Bear 
 Creek townships, which he had previ- 
 ously rented. He carries on general agri- 
 cultural pursuits and stock-raising and 
 finds both branches of his business profit- 
 able, owning to his careful management 
 and his indefatigable enterprise. In 1892 
 he purchased one hundred and twenty 
 acres of land in Hodgeman county, Kan- 
 sas, which he rents out for pasture. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Roasa has 
 been blessed with four children : Olga 
 Louisa, born April 14, 1887; Wilma 
 Amelia, December 31, 1888; Gretta Juan- 
 ita, February 10, 1895; and William 
 Ivan, February 5, 1893. The family at- 
 tend the Evangelical chuich at Hamilton, 
 of which the parents are members, and 
 Mr. Roasa is identified through member- 
 ship relations with the Modern Woodmen 
 of America at Elvaston, while his polit- 
 ical support is given to the Republican 
 party. He deserves much credit for what 
 he has accomplished, as he started out in 
 life empty-handed, brooking no obstacles 
 that could be overcome by determined 
 purpose and honest effort, and he has 
 gradually worked his way upward from a 
 humble financial position to one of 
 affluence, having an excellent farming 
 property in Hancock county, Illinois, on 
 which he resides. 
 
 WILLIAM EDGAR LYON. 
 
 The business enterprises of Carthage 
 find a worthy representative in William 
 E. Lyon, who figured prominently in com- 
 mercial and industrial circles here, his 
 wise counsel and unflagging industry be- 
 ing the dominant factors in the success- 
 ful control of a large lumber and house 
 finishing business and at the same time 
 he is a dealer in coal and wood and as a 
 member of the firm of W. E. Lyon & 
 Company is engaged in the manufacture 
 of brick and tile. Of resourceful busi- 
 ness ability and strong determination, he 
 carries forward to successful completion 
 whatever he undertakes if his end can be 
 accomplished by honorable means. 
 
 Mr. Lyon is yet a young man, for his 
 birth occurred in Burlington, Iowa, on 
 the 5th of April, 1870, his parents being 
 William and Mary (Barkley) Lyon. His 
 father was born in Linden, Washington 
 county, Pennsylvania, in 1851 and the 
 mother's birth occurred in the same 
 county. The former was a grandson 
 of a Presbyterian minister, Dr. McMillan, 
 who was one of the first preachers of the 
 gospel west of the Alleghany mountains 
 and established the Washington College 
 in Washington county, Pennsylvania. He 
 preached for many years, riding the cir- 
 cuit on horseback. He was over six feet 
 tall, weighed three hundred pounds and 
 was a most jovial and good-hearted man 
 and very witty. Moreover his earnest- 
 ness of purpose and his strong humani- 
 tarian principles were manifest in his un- 
 tiring efforts to promote the cause of re- 
 ligion. A great-uncle of our subject on 
 the paternal side was a soldier of the war
 
 WILLIAM E. LYON
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, 
 
 of 1812 and his father has in his posses- 
 sion the old German rifle mounted in sil- 
 ver belonging to his uncle and which will 
 eventually be inherited by Mr. Lyon of 
 this review. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. William Lyon have re- 
 sided in Burlington, Iowa, for the past 
 thirty-seven years and for a considerable 
 period he was engaged in business as a 
 carpenter and contractor, but eventually 
 turned his attention to the lumber trade, 
 becoming a member of the Burlington 
 Lumber Company. At the time of the 
 Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, 
 running away from home to become a 
 drummer boy, and he remained at the 
 front until the close of hostilities. Fra- 
 ternally he is an Odd Fellow and has 
 passed all of the chairs in the local lodge. 
 Both he and his wife are devoted and ac- 
 tive members of the Presbyterian church 
 of Burlington, in which Mr. Lyon has 
 served as elder for many years. When 
 Mr. Lyon arrived in Burlington the joint 
 capital of himself and wife was but ten 
 dollars. He is today a wealthy man, 
 owning a fine residence and in control of 
 an extensive and profitable business. His 
 aged father still lives in Pennsylvania. 
 William Lyon is a self-made- man in the 
 truest and best sense of the term and his 
 well-directed labors have been the source 
 of his prosperity. He is seldom at error 
 in matters of business judgment, has the 
 power to co-ordinate plans and forces and 
 through the utilization of opportunity 
 has developed extensive trade interests 
 until the name of William Lyon com- 
 mands respect and admiration wherever 
 it is heard. His political allegiance is 
 given to the Republican party and for 
 
 several years he has served as alderman 
 of Burlington and has also been a mem- 
 ber of the school board, filling those po- 
 sitions with dignity and honor. Unto 
 him and his wife have been bom seven 
 children, of whom five are yet living. John 
 M. is engaged in the lumber business in 
 La Harpe and is a graduate of Parsons 
 College, of Fairfield, Iowa. William E. 
 is the second of the family. Lydia B., 
 also a graduate of Parsons College, of 
 Fairfield, is residing with her parents in 
 Burlington. Charles, who is a graduate 
 of Elliott's Business College, of Burling- 
 ton, is now engaged in the lumber busi- 
 ness in Palmyra, Missouri. Bessie, who 
 has been attending Parson's College at 
 Fairfield, is at home with her parents. 
 
 William E. Lyon was a public school 
 student in his native city and for two 
 winters attended Elliott's Business Col- 
 lege. He was afterward bill clerk and 
 stenographer for the Burlington Lumber 
 Company for four years. While attend- 
 ing school he began to handle saws and 
 tools in the sawmill, working when quite 
 a young boy for fifty cents a day. He 
 spent his vacations and Saturdays in this 
 way and gained an intimate knowledge 
 and interest in the trade with which his 
 father was connected. He did all kinds 
 of work in the sawmill in order to ac- 
 quaint himself with the business and be- 
 come qualified for a position in connection 
 therewith. After four years spent as bill 
 clerk and stenographer for the Burling- 
 ton Lumber Company he came to Car- . 
 thage in February, 1892, when not quite 
 twenty-one years of age and established 
 a lumber yard, having an office on Main 
 street. He handles sash, doors, molding,
 
 3 82 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 nails, barbed wire, fencing wire and all 
 grades of lumber, and in 1901 he enlarged 
 his business by adding to it a coal office, 
 dealing in wood and both anthracite and 
 bituminous coal. He has the largest lum- 
 ber plant in the city and has established 
 a fine business. In 1902 he purchased 
 the brick and tile plant of Plumb Broth- 
 ers and has since conducted that enter- 
 prise under the firm style of W. E. Lyon 
 & Company. They have enlarged and re- 
 built the tile plant and make shipments 
 of their output to various points in Illi- 
 nois. There is also a large home de- 
 mand for their tile and brick. They like- 
 wise deal in lime, cement and patent plas- 
 ter and also handle sewer pipe. 
 
 On the 20th of December. 1894, Mr. 
 Lyon was married to Miss Viola Susan 
 Tyner, who was born in Burnside, Han- 
 cock county, Illinois, a daughter of Jared 
 and Emily (McGahan) Tyner, both of 
 whom were natives of Hancock county, 
 Illinois. The father, who was a drug- 
 gist at Burnside, passed away a number 
 of years ago, but the mother is still liv- 
 ing and is a member of the Christian 
 church, to which Mr. Tyner also be- 
 longed. They had three children : Mary, 
 the wife of George W. Ray, superintend- 
 ent of the Lyon brick plant at Carthage : 
 Airs. Lyon; and Birdie, the wife of James 
 F. Gibson, of Carthage. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lyon have three children, all born in Car- 
 thage : Emily Margaret, aged eight 
 years ; Orville. six years of age ; and 
 Jared Edgar, three years old. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Lyon reside on Wabash avenue with 
 her mother, Mrs. Tyner. 
 
 Mr. Lyon belongs to the Masonic fra- 
 ternitv and is also an Odd Fellow and 
 
 Knight of Pythias. He and his wife are 
 devoted Christian people, his membership 
 being with the Presbyterian church, while 
 his wife belongs to the Christian church. 
 He is serving as elder and clerk of the 
 session and is also teacher of the men's 
 Bible class. He gives his political sup- 
 port to the Republican party, but has 
 never aspired to office. While he has 
 never been a public man in social or po- 
 litical life he has always been quite 
 prominent in church circles and there is 
 no good work either in the name of char- 
 ity or the advancement of religion which 
 does not find in him an earnest and ma- 
 terial helper. That his tastes have not 
 led him into public walks is the only rea- 
 son why he has not been honored by his 
 fellow townsmen with office and political 
 preferment. Like his ancestors, he is a 
 man of large proportions and is equally 
 large-hearted. Of genial good nature, 
 pleasant and jovial, he is always a gen- 
 tleman and numbers his friends and ad- 
 mirers among all classes of people. He 
 has made a notable success in business 
 for one of his years and his success is 
 due chiefly to his natural ability and his 
 thorough insight into the business in 
 which as a young tradesman he embarked. 
 
 L. THADDEUS THOMAS. 
 
 L. Thaddeus Thomas is the owner of 
 an excellent farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres, constituting the northeast 
 quarter of section 24. Montebello town-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 383 
 
 ship, where he has lived since the spring 
 of [900. His home, a commodious frame 
 residence, stands in the midst of a fine 
 lawn, ornamented with beautiful shade 
 trees and about fifteen rods from the road 
 that divides Montebello and Prairie town- 
 ships. Mr. Thomas is a native of Adams 
 county, Illinois, born December i; 1849. 
 His father, Isaac Thomas, was born in 
 Bourbon county, Kentucky, and was a 
 son of James and Abigail (Langsford) 
 Thomas, who were likewise natives of 
 Kentucky. Isaac Thomas came with his 
 parents to Illinois in 1831, the family 
 home being established in Adams county 
 near Quincy. and in that locality, after 
 attaining his majority, he married Miss 
 Louisa Nichols, likewise a native of 
 Bourbon county, Kentucky, and a daugh- 
 ter of John and Kittie (Carter) Nichols, 
 who were born in the Blue Grass state. 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Isaac Thomas began their domestic life 
 upon a rented farm in Adams county, 
 where they remained until 1851, when 
 they removed to Sonora township, Han- 
 cock county, making purchase of eighty 
 acres of land. This Mr. Thomas im- 
 proved and cultivated, erecting thereon a 
 frame residence and extending the bound- 
 aries of his farm by additional purchase 
 from time to time. Eventually he became 
 one of the extensive landowners of the 
 county; his holdings covering about seven 
 hundred acres. He used the place for 
 stock-raising and general farming, rais- 
 ing large numbers of cattle, horses and 
 hogs. His business interests were a 
 source of large revenue to him, owing to 
 his capable conduct of his farm and his 
 thorough understanding of the best meth- 
 
 ods of tilling the soil and caring for the 
 stock. He died upon the old homestead 
 in April, 1901, at the age of seventy- four 
 years, and in the spring of 1906 his 
 widow removed from the farm to Car- 
 thage, where she is now living at the age 
 of seventy-seven years. 
 
 L. Thaddeus Thomas was one of twins, 
 the sister being Laura Ann Thomas, who 
 is now with her mother in Carthage. 
 They were the parents of eight children, 
 six of whom are yet living, the others be- 
 ing : Luella, who is the widow of Henry 
 \Yebber, and resides in Carthage; Nao- 
 ma Jane, who is with her mother; Mar- 
 tha, the wife of Orville Honce, of Mon- 
 tebello township; and James Harvey, of 
 Carthage. 
 
 In his boyhood days L. Thaddeus 
 Thomas remained upon the old homestead 
 farm, acquiring his education in the dis- 
 trict schools, but his opportunities in that 
 direction were somewhat limited. He 
 was married April 15, 1886, to Miss Eliz- 
 abeth Honce. who was born in Adams 
 county, Illinois, a daughter of Henry 
 and Sarah (McBroom) Honce, natives 
 of Butler county, Ohio, who in 1850 ar- 
 rived in Adams county, Illinois, where 
 they resided for a few years and then 
 came to Montebello township. Mr. 
 Honce' purchased a farm upon which he 
 lived until his death in August, 1899, 
 while his wife now makes her home 
 among her children. 
 
 , Following his marriage Mr. Thomas 
 purchased eighty acres of land on sec- 
 tion 13, Montebello township, which was 
 an improved prairie farm. He built a 
 barn forty by sixty feet and added other 
 modern structures and equipments. He
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 also extended the boundaries of his place 
 until he owns over two hundred and forty 
 acres all in one body, but he now rents 
 the land, while he gives his personal su- 
 pervision to his farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres on section 24, Montebello 
 township, which he purchased in the 
 spring of 1900. This place was well 
 improved when it came into his posses- 
 sion. He has here a very pleasant and 
 comfortable home and a two-story frame 
 residence which is situated in the midst 
 of a fine growth of ornamental and shade 
 trees. There are also well tilled fields, 
 the grain ripening under the summer sun 
 and promising abundant harvests. In 
 the barnyards and pastures are seen good 
 grades of shorthorn cattle and Poland 
 China hogs for his stock-raising inter- 
 ests prove an important department of his 
 business. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has 
 been blessed with two children : Alta 
 Pearl, born January 26, 1889; and Les- 
 ter Earl, born October 5, 1891. Both 
 are attending school in Hamilton. The 
 parents hold membership in the Presby- 
 terian church at Elvaston, in the work 
 of which they take an active and helpful 
 part, while since 1905 Mr. Thomas has 
 served as one of the church trustees. 
 His political support is given to the 
 democracy. 
 
 SAMUEL DAVID GNANN. 
 
 The attractiveness of Hancock county 
 as a place of residence is plainly indicated 
 
 by the fact that many of its native sons' 
 have remained within its borders since 
 attaining adult life to enjoy its privileges 
 and benefit through the improvement of 
 its business conditions. Such a one is 
 Samuel David Gnann, a resident fanner 
 of Appanoose township. He was born 
 - in this township, January 30, 1869, his 
 parents being Benedict and Ursula (Sut- 
 ter) Gnann, natives of Prussia and of 
 Switzerland respectively. About 1858, 
 the father leaving Germany, crossed the 
 Atlantic to the new world and took up 
 his abode in Wisconsin, where he was 
 employed at farm labor. Mr. Gnann, 
 however, had learned and followed the 
 baker's trade. He removed to Iowa, lo- 
 cating in Keokuk, where he was em- 
 ployed in various ways for three years 
 and on the expiration of that period came 
 to Appanoose township, and invested the 
 money which he had saved from his earn- 
 ings in one hundred and twenty acres of 
 land on section 33. The farm had been 
 placed under cultivation and upon it .was 
 a brick dwelling. He was married in 
 Keokuk to his brother's widow. She had 
 accompanied her first husband to that 
 city, and by that marriage had become 
 the mother of one child, Hannah, who is 
 now the wife of John Gross, of this town- 
 ship. The death of Mrs. Ursula Gnann 
 occurred in November, 1892, and in the 
 spring of 1894 Benedict Gnann was 
 again married, his second union being 
 with Mrs. Minnie (Lutz) Blum, the 
 widow of Carl Blum. Since their mar- 
 riage they have resided in Nauvoo. 
 
 Samuel David Gnann, the only son in 
 a family of seven children, has always re- 
 sided upon the old homestead and on the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 385 
 
 1 2th of April, 1900, he purchased one 
 hundred and twenty acres of this place. 
 He attended the Maple Grove township 
 school, wherein he acquired his elemen- 
 tary education and subsequently he was a 
 student in the high school at Nauvoo. 
 Since beginning business on his own ac- 
 count he has made substantial improve- 
 ment upon his farm, not the least impor- 
 tant of which is a fine residence, which 
 was erected in 1905. 
 
 On the 24th of October, 1895, Mr. 
 Gnann was married to Miss Nellie May 
 Webb, a native of Appanoose township, 
 and a daughter of William G. and Laura 
 (Davis) Webb, the former born in Han- 
 cock county and the latter in Ohio. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Gnann now have two sons : 
 Everett Ervin, born August 20, 1896: 
 and Merle Edgar, born August 9, 1903. 
 In religious faith Mr. Gnann is a Lu- 
 theran, having been confirmed in the 
 church when fifteen years of age. He 
 votes with the democracy, has served as 
 township clerk for three years and has 
 been school treasurer since 1894. His 
 aid and co-operation can always be count- 
 ed upon for supporting movements for 
 the general good. Fraternally he is iden- 
 tified with Temple lodge. No. 222, Inde- 
 pendent Order of Odd Fellows, at Nau- 
 voo, and also is a member of the Mod- 
 ern Woodmen of America at Niota. 
 
 CHARLES WILKENS. 
 
 Charles Wilkens, who is the owner of 
 an excellent farming property in Sonora 
 
 township, and because of his activity and 
 success in business making him a repre- 
 sentative citizen and by reason of the fact 
 that he is a native son of Hancock coun- 
 ty, well deserves mention in this volume. 
 He was born in Appanoose township, 
 February 2, 1857, an d is the eldest in a 
 family of two sons and three daughters, 
 whose parents were William and Mar- 
 garet (Zimmerman) Wilkens, the former 
 a native of Hanover, Germany, and the 
 latter of Bavaria. His rnaternal grand- 
 father was Charles Zimmerman. Wil- 
 liam Wilkens emigrating from Germany 
 to America in 1846, made his way to St. 
 Louis, accompanied by a son and two 
 daughters born of his first marriage, the 
 wife and mother having died prior to that 
 date. He was employed in a brickyard 
 in St. Louis .for a time, and after the 
 Mormon war came to Appanoose town- 
 ship, Hancock county, and purchased 
 eighty acres of land two and a half miles 
 northeast of Nauvoo, which had been 
 placed under cultivation. Subsequently, 
 in connection with a Mr. Bryant, he pur- 
 chased one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land and later bought several acres more. 
 He improved these different places and 
 continued to engage actively in farming 
 un*il 1882, when he sold out and removed 
 to the town of Nauvoo, spending his re- 
 maining days in the enjoyment of a well 
 earned rest. His wife died September 
 19, 1875, an d his death occurred July 
 ii, 1885. 
 
 Charles Wilkens acquainted himself 
 with the common branches of English 
 learning by attending the district schools, 
 but his educational privileges were some- 
 what meager, as in his youth he had as-
 
 386 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RE J-' I EH' 
 
 sisted his father in clearing the land and 
 cultivating the fields. He swung the cra- 
 dle during many harvest seasons and per- 
 formed all the work incidental to devel- 
 oping the fields and cultivating crops. 
 Following his first marriage he bought 
 eighty acres of land in Rock Creek town- 
 ship, where he lived for seven years. He 
 then sold out and bought eighty acres on 
 section 29, Sonora township, all under 
 cultivation save for about seven acres of 
 timber which he has since secured and 
 placed under the plow. The improve- 
 ments upon the farm constituted a stone 
 dwelling of eight rooms and a stone bam, 
 which he has since remodeled, adding 
 thereto sheds and granaries. In 1904 he 
 also built a new bam and has improved 
 his property until it is now a fine farm. 
 It :s well supplied with water, for he has 
 dug four wells and two cisterns, which 
 furnish an unbounded water supply for 
 the house and for the stock. He has a 
 fine house upon the place and various ac- 
 cessories and conveniences which go to 
 make up a model farm of the twentieth 
 century. On the 23d of May, 1903, he 
 added ninety-seven acres to his farm ad- 
 joining the original tract on the south 
 and purchased from the estate of Joseph 
 Miller. It is situated on section 32, So- 
 nora township, and he also bought ninety- 
 eiglr: and seven-tenths acres on section 
 31. of which forty acres was under cul- 
 tivation, while the remainder was cov- 
 ered with timber and brush. He carries 
 on general fanning and raises shorthorn 
 cattle, Poland China hogs of good grades. 
 He is well known as an extensive feeder. 
 On the i/th of February. 1881, Mr. 
 Wilkens married Miss Carrie Kahler, a 
 
 native of Nauvoo, who died March 29, 
 1888, leaving two children: George 
 William, who was born November 25, 
 1 88 1 ; and David F., born February 17, 
 1885. Another son, Bernard, died in in- 
 fancy. On the 2d of May, 1889, Mr. 
 Wilkens married Mary Schmidt, who 
 was born in Nauvoo, a daughter of John 
 and Mary (Blockberger) Schmidt, na- 
 tives of Austria. The children of this 
 marriage are: Valley M., born April 
 22, 1890; Charles and Gabriel, twins, 
 born May 4, 1892; John, May 5, 1898; 
 Ralph O., October 10, 1899; and Eulia, 
 born January 8, 1903. 
 
 When only six years of age Mr. Wil- 
 kens made frequent trips to Nauvoo, 
 walking two and a half miles, and he re- 
 members seeing the county when there 
 were still many evidences of frontier life 
 and the work of improvement has been 
 carried on until this is one of the rich 
 agricultural centers of the state of Illi- 
 nois, nor is it lacking in its commercial 
 and industrial advantages. He belongs 
 to the Catholic church at Nauvoo, and is 
 a supporter of the Democratic party, on 
 which ticket he has been elected to the 
 office of highway commissioner. He has 
 also served as school director and is 
 known for his devotion to matters that 
 are of material interest to the county. 
 
 COLLINS BRUNTON. 
 
 Collins Brunton, deceased, was an early 
 settler of Illinois, whose memory com-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 387 
 
 passes the greater period of development, 
 progress and improvement in this part of 
 the state. He bore, too, an active 
 and helpful part in the work of 
 general improvement, especially along 
 material lines and he justly merited 
 the success which came to him and 
 the high regard which was uniformly 
 tendered him by those with whom he was 
 associated. He was born near Cincin- 
 nati, Ohio, May 14, 1818, his parents 
 being Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brunton. 
 The father was born in Scotland, while 
 his mother had her birthplace among the 
 Pennsylvania Dutch. About 1830 the 
 parents removed from Ohio to Indiana, 
 and in 1840 became residents of Mc- 
 Donough county, Illinois, but soon after- 
 ward took up their abode in Adams 
 county, this state, where the mother died. 
 The members of the family then became 
 scattered and Collins Brunton came to 
 Wythe township, Hancock county. He 
 was a youth of about twelve years at the 
 time of the removal to Indiana and his 
 education was largely acquired in the pub- 
 lic schools of that state. Following the 
 death of his mother he came to this county 
 in 1850, purchasing three hundred and 
 twenty acres of land on section 26, Wythe 
 township, of which about one hundred 
 acres was covered with timber. He after- 
 ward, however, disposed of much of the 
 timber tract but two hundred and fifty 
 acres are still comprised within the- old 
 homestead farm. When he came into pos- 
 session of this property there was no 
 building upon it save a log house, which 
 had been erected by the Mormons, while 
 forty acres of the land had been placed 
 under the plow. In 1851 he erected a 
 
 residence of eleven rooms and as the years 
 passed he placed upon his farm all modem 
 improvements which are many. There 
 is also a house for tenants and a fine tim- 
 ber tract of thirty or forty acres. Good 
 barns and outbuildings are a feature of 
 the farm and during the active manage- 
 ment of Mr. Brunton everything about 
 the place was kept in most thrifty 
 condition. 
 
 On the 28th of March, 1852, occurred 
 the marriage of Collins Brunton and Miss 
 Nancy N: McGee, who was born in Mc- 
 Donough county, Illinois, March 31, 
 1832, and was educated in the district 
 schools there. Her parents were Samuel 
 and Elizabeth (Bullington) McGee, na- 
 tives of Kentucky, whence they removed 
 to Indiana in their childhood days. They 
 were married in the latter state and sev- 
 eral children were born to them ere their 
 removal to McDonough county, Illinois, 
 about 1829. They located there just 
 prior to the winter of the great snow 
 an incident memorable in the history of 
 this state. It brought on very hard times 
 and the MeGee family had to go to Jack- 
 sonville, about eighty miles, to get bread 
 stuff, having to break a road through the 
 snow with ox teams. Sometimes such a 
 trip would require three weeks. Mr. Mc- 
 Gee had lost his first wife in Indiana, and 
 at her death she left six children. The 
 second wife was the mother of Mrs. 
 Brunton, and there were twelve children 
 by this marriage. Altogether fifteen of 
 his children lived to mature years but only 
 four are now living, namely : Mrs. 
 Brunton; Sarah E., the wife of Isaac 
 Wilson, of Carthage; Francis Marion, of 
 Elvaston; and Andrew Jackson, who is
 
 388 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 living in Bear Creek township. Mr. 
 McGee passed away May 31, 1864, while 
 his wife survived until August 21, 1882. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Brunton 
 located upon what has since been known 
 as the old homestead and there he tilled 
 the soil and raised cattle, horses and hogs, 
 while during the period of the Civil war 
 he also kept sheep. In early days there 
 were many wild animals in the forests and 
 various evidences of frontier life were 
 still to be found in Hancock county. His 
 wife had located in Bear Creek township 
 in 1846, and was here during the Mor- 
 mon war, while her half-brother, Henry, 
 and her eldest brother, Elisha, partici- 
 pated in the effort which resulted in the 
 expulsion of the Mormons from the 
 county. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brunton became the par- 
 ents of two children, Henrietta Evelyn 
 and Minnie Frances. The former was 
 born March 21, 1855, lost her hearing 
 when eighteen years of age and has al- 
 ways remained at home with her mother. 
 Minnie F., born November 25, 1859, is 
 the wife of Nelson Comfort, of Carthage, 
 and she is now sending two daughters 
 to school there, Marie Evelyn, born April 
 17, 1885; and Annetta Grace, born Sep- 
 tember 15, .1890. 
 
 Mr. Brunton was a devoted member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal church for many 
 years but afterward joined the Baptist 
 church, in the faith of which he passed 
 away. He belonged to the Masonic fra- 
 ternity in Warsaw and gave his political 
 allegiance to the Republican party. His 
 death resulted from heart trouble, occa- 
 sioned by lagrippe, and he passed away 
 March 17, 1896, his remains being in- 
 
 terred in McGee cemetery on the old 
 home place in Wythe township. He was 
 then in the seventy-eighth year of his 
 age, and was accounted one of the most 
 respected and venerable of the worthy 
 pioneer settlers of this part of the state. 
 He had lived in Hancock county from the 
 early '405 and had been a landowner here 
 from 1850. A life of diligence and en- 
 terprise was crowned with a goodly 
 measure of success and through his hon- 
 orable dealings he became known as a 
 man of unquestioned integrity who closely 
 adhered to the golden rule in all of his 
 business and social relations. 
 
 JOHN T. THORNBER. 
 
 John T. Thornber, who is engaged ex- 
 tensively in agricultural pursuits in Han- 
 cock county, owning a farm of two hun- 
 dred and fifty acres situated in Sonora 
 and Rock Creek townships, a portion of 
 which was the property of his father, is 
 a native of Lancashire, England, born 
 October 16, 1854, a son of Henry and 
 Lucy (Ellison) Thornber, also natives of 
 that country, the former bom in Lanca- 
 shire, while the latter's birth occurred in 
 Yorkshire. The maternal grandfather of 
 Mr. Thornber was Mathew Ellison. 
 Henry Thornber, father of our subject, 
 on leaving England emigrated to Amer-. 
 ica, and at once made his way to Hancock 
 county, the year of his arrival being 1843. 
 Here he bought forty acres of land lying 
 in Rock Creek township, and two years
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 389 
 
 later was married to Miss Lucy Ellison, 
 her parents having emigrated from Eng- 
 land to this portion of the state. In 1853 
 the father returned to his native land, but 
 two years later made his way once more 
 to Rock Creek township, Hancock coun- 
 ty, where he purchased considerable land 
 and engaged in general agricultural pur- 
 suits. His death occurred in February, 
 1887. while his wife had passed away 
 many years before, her death occurring 
 on Christmas day, 1865. The father was 
 married a second time, in February, 1868, 
 his union being with Margaret Pilking- 
 ton, likewise a native of England, and of 
 this marriage there is one son, Amos J., 
 a practicing physician of Burlington, 
 Iowa. Of the father's first marriage there 
 were born six children, of whom our sub- 
 ject is a member, namely: David R., a 
 resident of Chateau county, Montana ; 
 Mary H., the wife of Isaac Seigfreid, of 
 Rock Creek township; John T.. whose 
 name introduces this review ; Lucy M., 
 who became the wife of C. H. McCollom, 
 of Carthage, Illinois, where her death oc- 
 curred in December, 1886; W. H., a res- 
 ident farmer of Sonora township: and 
 James H., a printer of Fort Madison, 
 Iowa. At the time of the father's death 
 he left his family a valuable estate, com- 
 prising twelve hundred acres of land, sit- 
 uated in Rock Creek, Sonora and Pon- 
 toosuc townships, of which our. subject 
 fell heir to one hundred and thirty-one 
 acres lying on section 12, Sonora town- 
 ship. 
 
 Mr. Thornber of this review acquired 
 his education in the district schools of 
 Rock Creek township, and during his 
 boyhood and youth assisted his father in 
 
 the operation of the home farm. 
 At the age of twenty-three years 
 he located on the farm which he 
 inherited from the father's estate, and 
 here he added many modern improve- 
 ments, including a nice home, good barns 
 and other substantial outbuildings for the 
 shelter of grain and stock, and here he 
 took up the work of general farming and 
 stock-raising, meeting with very gratify- 
 ing success, so that he was eventually 
 able to add to his original holdings by 
 the purchase of more land, lying on sec- 
 tions I and 12, Sonora township, and he 
 also owns ten acres of timber land in 
 Pontoosuc township. In 1905 he erect- 
 ed a barn forty by fifty feet, for the shel- 
 ter of horses, grain and hay. On his 
 farm he has also erected a tenant house 
 which is now occupied by his son-in-law, 
 Harry H. Martin, who assists Mr. 
 Thornber in the operation of the farm. 
 He has also set out many shade and fruit 
 trees, having an orchard of two acres 
 planted to apples, cherries and peaches, 
 and many varieties of smaller fruit. 
 
 In September, 1877, Mr. Thornber 
 chose as a companion on life's journey 
 Miss Flora B. Berdine, a native of Mar- 
 shall county, Illinois, and a daughter of 
 Jacob S. and Mary (Randolph) Berdine, 
 both natives of New Jersey, and the lat- 
 ter a daughter of Isaac Randolph. Unto 
 our subject and his wife have been born 
 four children: Grace, who was born 
 August ii, 1878, is the wife of Harry H. 
 Martin, and they live on 'her father's 
 farm. Frank was born October 20, 1883. 
 and married Grace Weber, and resides in 
 Rock Creek township. Edrie, born Oc- 
 tober 24, 1888, is engaged in teaching
 
 390 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 school in Sonora township; Henry, bom 
 in January, 1880, died in August of the 
 following year. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Thornber is 
 a republican and served one year as high- 
 way commissioner. He has never been 
 active in politics, preferring to give his 
 undivided attention to his own private 
 interests. Although he inherited a por- 
 tion of his property, he has worked hard 
 in the improvement of this and in his 
 work met with success so that he was able 
 to add many more acres to his original 
 holdings and is today accounted one of 
 the prominent and prosperous farmers of 
 his section of the county. He has spent 
 the greater part of his life in the com- 
 munity where he yet resides and has so 
 lived as to win the respect and confidence 
 of all with whom he has come in contact. 
 
 JOHN B. WORTHEN. 
 
 John B. Worthen, a leading merchant 
 of Warsaw, owning and conducting a 
 grocery store, was born in this city, Feb- 
 ruary 4, 1855, a son of Amos H. and 
 Sarah B. (Kimball) Worthen. His 
 father, the distinguished geologist and 
 scientist, came to Warsaw in 1836, and in 
 the public schools of this city the son, John 
 B., acquired his early education, which 
 was supplemented by study in the State 
 University, at Champaign. After com- 
 pleting his education he went to Salt Lake 
 City, where in 1872 and 1873, he was em- 
 ployed as bookkeeper in a commercial 
 
 house. He then returned to Keokuk, 
 Iowa, and accepted a clerical position at. 
 the depot of the Keokuk & Northwestern 
 Railroad and remained there until 1876, 
 when he went to Centerville. Iowa, as 
 agent on the Minnesota, Iowa & Nebraska 
 Railroad. In 1878 he was agent at 
 Hokah, Minnesota, for the Canadian 
 Southern Railroad, where he remained 
 until 1879, when he returned to Warsaw, 
 and in partnership with W. B. Hill opened 
 a grocery store. In 1881 Mr. Hill sold 
 his interest to Charles K. Worthen and 
 the firm name of Worthen Brothers was 
 then assumed. In 1882, however, John 
 
 B. Worthen purchased his brother's in- 
 terest and since that time has conducted 
 the business alone, having at the present 
 time the largest grocery house in War- 
 saw. He occupies a store building forty 
 by seventy feet with a complete line of 
 staple and fancy groceries and the extent 
 of his stock is indicative of the growth of 
 his trade, which is now very important 
 
 " and brings him a gratifying income. 
 
 In 1882 Mr. Worthen was married to 
 Belle S. Connor, who was born in Luray, 
 Missouri, in 1857, a daughter of Benja- 
 min F. and Elizabeth (Lamb) Connor. 
 They have five children : Ella E., born 
 in 1883; Jeannette L., in 1887; Marie, in 
 1891; Helen Eunice, in 1893; and John 
 
 C, in 1899. Mrs. Worthen and the fam- 
 ily are members of the Episcopal church. 
 Mr. Worthen affiliates with the Masonic 
 fraternity, in which he has taken the de- 
 grees of the blue lodge, chapter and com- 
 mandery. For four years he acted as 
 master of the lodge, has filled other offices 
 therein and at this writing is treasurer. 
 Having spent almost his entire life in his
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 native city he has a wide acquaintance 
 and his salient characteristics are such 
 as have gained for him a position of 
 prominence in public regard. 
 
 CHARLES K. WORTHEN. 
 
 Charles K. Worthen, who since 1867 
 has devoted the greater part of his life 
 to scientific research and the collection of 
 animals and birds for the various natural 
 historical museums of this country and 
 Europe, was born in Warsaw, Illinois, 
 September 6, 1850. He has a natural 
 predilection for the tasks to which he is 
 now devoting his energies, his inherited 
 tendency coming to him from his father, 
 Amos H. Worthen, scientist and geolo- 
 gist, who for many years stood as one 
 of the foremost representatives of geolog- 
 ical research in America. The son was 
 educated in the public schools of Warsaw 
 and of Springfield, the family removing 
 to the latter city in 1858. In 1861, how- 
 ever, they returned to Warsaw, and in 
 1867 Charles K. Worthen began the work 
 of illustrating the geological reports pub- 
 lished by his father. He devoted ten 
 years to that task and then went to Bow- 
 doin College in Brunswick, Maine, where 
 he illustrated Lieutenant Wheeler's Ex- 
 pedition West of the One Hundredth Me- 
 ridian under Professor Charles A. White. 
 He afterward went to the Cambridge 
 (Massachusetts) Museum of Compara- 
 tive Zoology, where he became associated 
 with Professor Louis Agassiz, illustrating 
 the fishes and fish teeth of Illinois fos- 
 sils. A part of the work was done for 
 Professor Agassiz and part for the Illi- 
 nois geological survey. While at Cam- 
 25 
 
 bridge he began his work in natural his- 
 tory, which he has followed since that 
 time, his energies being devoted to labors 
 along the line of natural history and tax- 
 idermy. He has supplied various mu- 
 seums of this country and of Europe with 
 their animal and bird specimens, having 
 collectors in all parts of the world, se- 
 curing material for his work. His scien- 
 tific knowledge along these lines is broad 
 and comprehensive and his opinions are 
 largely received as authority. 
 
 In May, 1873, Charles K. Worthen 
 was married to Clara F. Waugh, a daugh- 
 ter of John M. and Mary A. (Ellis) 
 Waugh, who were natives of Rock Is- 
 land. She was born in Waughtown, ad- 
 jacent to Rock Island, June 15, 1855, and 
 was educated in the schools of Rock Is- 
 land and of Warsaw, accompanying her 
 parents on their removal to the latter city 
 in her early girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Worthen now have four children. Frank 
 F., born March 10, 1874, is vice president 
 of the O'Brien-Worthen Company, of 
 Keokuk, Iowa, manufacturers of dental 
 and surgical goods and supplies. He is 
 a graduate of Washington University, at 
 St. Louis, Missouri, and practiced 
 dentistry in Warsaw for eight years. 
 The other members of the family are 
 Bertha V., who was born February 14, 
 1876, and died February 3, 1901 ; Aimee 
 W., born August 24, 1880; and Mabel 
 R., born November 26, 1883. 
 
 AMOS H. WORTHEN. 
 
 Amos H. Worthen, proprietor of a 
 grocery store in Warsaw, was born in 
 Charlestown, Massachusetts, February
 
 392 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 2T. 1844, and was educated in the schools 
 of Warsaw and of Springfield, Illinois. 
 At the age of seventeen years he en- 
 listed in August, 1861, as a member of 
 the Seventh Missouri Cavalry and served 
 until the 2ist of November, 1864, when 
 he was mustered out with the rank of 
 first sergeant. He participated in the 
 battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Decem- 
 ber 7, 1863, and was there captured and 
 sent as a prisoner of war to Fort Smith, 
 Arkansas, where he remained for about 
 two weeks, when he was paroled. Later 
 he was exchanged and returned to his 
 regiment, where-he served until mustered 
 out. After returning from the war in 
 1864 he made his home in Warsaw, where 
 he filled the office of tax collector for 
 a year. In 1867 he bought a farm of 
 forty acres four miles south of Warsaw, 
 where he engaged in raising grapes and 
 fruit, his attention being devoted to horti- 
 cultural pursuits until 1894, when he 
 again took up- his abode in Warsaw and 
 clerked for his brother, J. B. Worthen, 
 until 1904. In that year he purchased 
 the store of Homer Schaefer and is now 
 conducting a grocery house, carrying a 
 complete line of staple and fancy gro- 
 ceries and enjoying a good patronage. 
 
 On the 2d of May, 1867, Mr. Worthen 
 was married to Miss Jennie M. Brown, a 
 daughter of Peter Brown, of Indianapolis, 
 Indiana. She was born August 10, 1846, 
 and in her girlhood days came to War- 
 saw, residing with her uncle, Isaac H. 
 Brown, until her marriage. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Amos H. Worthen have six children. 
 Bernard H., born in 1869. is now a dealer 
 in sporting goods at Atlanta, Georgia. 
 Robert B. is proprietor of a restaurant at 
 
 Lake Arthur, Louisiana. Kate S. is the 
 wife of Charles H. Bolte, of Cripple 
 Creek, Colorado. Helen S. is conducting 
 a millinery establishment at Cripple 
 Creek. Hubbard B. is a painter at 
 Boulder, Colorado, and Mary is assistant 
 chief operator in the telephone office at 
 Warsaw. 
 
 GEORGE COLUMBUS McCORD. 
 
 George Columbus McCord is the owner 
 of valuable farming property in La Harpe 
 township, where he owns and operates 
 one hundred and eighty-two and a half 
 acres, which was formerly the property 
 of his father, and he is one of the re- 
 spected and worthy citizens of Hancock 
 county. His birth occurred on the farm 
 which is now his home, February 22, 
 1845, a son of J. W. and Nancy (Mani- 
 fold) McCord, the former born in Over- 
 ton county, Tennessee, July I, 1815. The 
 paternal grandfather. John McCord, lo- 
 cated in Morgan county, Illinois, in 1830, 
 but a year later took up his abode in Mc- 
 Donough county, this state, where his 
 death occurred. His wife bore the maid- 
 en name of Mary Willard. The maternal 
 grandparents of our subject, George and 
 Mary (Pursley) Manifold, became resi- 
 dents of Hancock county in 1836, at 
 which time they settled in La Harpe 
 township, where the death of George 
 Manifold occurred about one year later. 
 J. W. McCord and Nancy Manifold were 
 married in this county on the T5th of 
 March, 1835. and at once began their
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 393 
 
 domestic life in McDonough county, 
 where the father operated a tract of land 
 which he rented, and on which they made 
 their home during the succeeding three 
 years, subsequent to which time they 
 came to La Harpe township, this county, 
 where the father purchased forty acres 
 of land lying on section 20. As he pros- 
 pered in his undertakings he added to his 
 original holdings until he owned one hun- 
 dred and eighty-two and a half acres all 
 in La Harpe township, and in addition to 
 this he owned a tract of ninety-four acres 
 situated in Fountain Green township. He 
 participated in the Mormon war of 1844, 
 which resulted in the expulsion of this 
 religious sect from this section of Illi- 
 nois. He was a democrat in his political 
 views, and cast his first presidential vote 
 for Martin Van Buren in 1836. He and 
 his wife were both devoted members of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 
 The mother of our subject died October 
 8, 1899, while the father survived until 
 April 9, 1901, when he, too, was called 
 to bis final rest. 
 
 George C. McCord, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, is the fourth in order 
 of birth in a family of four sons and 
 four daughters. He was reared to farm 
 life in this county, assisting his father in 
 the various tasks of carrying on general 
 agricultural pursuits, and during his boy- 
 hood and youth attended the common 
 schools near his father's home. He re- 
 mained under the parental roof until he 
 had attained the age of twenty-two years, 
 when he started out in life on his own 
 account, first going to McDonough coun- 
 ty, where he bought a farm of eighty 
 acres situated in Hire township. He later 
 
 added a tract of forty acres and had one 
 of the finely improved farms of his por- 
 tion of the state. He continued to make 
 his home here until 1893, when he dis- 
 posed of this property and bought the 
 homestead property in Hancock county, 
 which comprises one hundred and eighty- 
 two and a half acres, to which he re- 
 moved, and here he has resided to the 
 present time, his energies being devoted 
 to general agricultural pursuits and the 
 raising of stock. He has been very pro- 
 gressive and practical in his work so that 
 he has accomplished whatever he has un- 
 dertaken and is now in possession of four 
 hundred and twenty-one acres of valua- 
 ble land partly in La Harpe township 
 and partly in Fountain Green township. 
 Mr. McCord has been three times mar- 
 ried, his first union being with Miss Han- 
 nah Moore, their marriage being cele- 
 brated in 1865. She was born in Terre 
 Haute. Illinois, a daughter of James 
 Moore, and by her marriage became the 
 mother of one son, Arthur, who was born 
 in 1867 and died in infancy. The mother 
 passed away in March, 1868, and for his 
 second wife Mr. McCord chose Amanda 
 Murray, their marriage being celebrated 
 in October, 1873. Her birth occurred at 
 Lebanon, Kentucky, a daughter of Ben- 
 jamin F. and Mary Elta (Wilson) Mur- 
 ray, who were likewise natives of Leb- 
 anon. The children of this marriage are : 
 Willis, who was born September 4, 1874, 
 and who married Daisy DeHaven. To 
 them were born two children, Edna, now 
 at home, and a son Fay, who died in in- 
 fancy. Her death occurred November 
 8, 1902, and Willis McCord then wedded 
 Lela Barret, by whom he has one son.
 
 394 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Harry. Lula Etta McCord, bo.rn Janu- 
 ary i, 1877, is the wife of Joseph Cam- 
 eron, a resident of Fountain Green town- 
 ship. They 'have two children, Vernon 
 and Mamie. Two of the children by Mr. 
 McCord's second marriage died in in- 
 fancy. Mr. McCord's second wife passed 
 away February 22, 1882. For his third 
 wife Mr. McCord chose Ellen C. Wilson, 
 to whom he was married May 3, 1883. 
 She was born in Hire township, McDon- 
 ough county, this state, January 17, 1852, 
 and was educated in the district schools 
 near her home. She is a daughter of 
 Thomas and Sallie (Hungate) Wilson, 
 natives of Kentucky, while her paternal 
 grandparents were James and Nancy 
 (Dougherty) Wilson and William and 
 Nancy (White) Hungate, respectively, 
 all natives of the Blue Grass state. By 
 the last marriage of Mr. McCord there 
 have been born six children, of whom 
 two are deceased. Herma Mahala, born 
 May 15, 1884, was married January 25, 
 1905, to Joseph Freeman. Lloyd Elmer, 
 born October 8. 1886, died August 6, 
 1896. Alpha M., born May 18, 1887, 
 is with her parents. Fronia Hazel, the 
 next member of the family, was born 
 March 22, 1890. Wilson A., born June 
 14. 1892, died March 22, 1893. Elva 
 Leona, the youngest, was born March 29, 
 1894. 
 
 In his political views Mr. McCord is a 
 democrat but is not active in the work of 
 the party, preferring to give his undi- 
 vided attention to his business interests, 
 which are quite extensive. Starting out 
 in life on his own account he possessed 
 a strong determination to succeed in the 
 business world and with this end in view 
 
 worked diligently and energetically until 
 he is now one of the prosperous represent- 
 ative agriculturists of Hancock county: 
 In his relations with his fellowmen he 
 has commanded the respect of all and be- 
 cause of his straightforward and honor- 
 able dealing his success has been worth- 
 ily won. 
 
 GEORGE BYRON WORTHEN. 
 
 George Byron Worthen is well known 
 in \Varsaw, being a representative of one 
 of its prominent pioneer families and a na- 
 tive son of the city. He was borrl June 
 30, 1837, his parents being Amos H. and 
 Sarah B. (Kimball) Worthen. His fa- 
 father for thirty years state geologist of 
 Illinois, is mentioned on another page of 
 this work. At the usual age George B. 
 \Vorthen began his education in the pub- 
 lic schools and when a youth of fifteen 
 years learned the tinner's trade, which he 
 followed through the succeeding decade. 
 He then turned his attention to the culti- 
 vation of a vineyard and fruit farm in 
 Wilcox township, where he resided for 
 thirty-seven years, being a very successful 
 in that line of business. In 1901 he again 
 took up his abode in W r arsaw and is now 
 living at the corner of Eighth and Clark 
 streets, his activity and enterprise in for- 
 mer years having brought him a compe- 
 tence that now enables him to live retired. 
 
 On December 23, 1868, Mr. Worthen 
 was married to Mrs. Mary L. Death, nee 
 Bedell, then the widow of Absalom Death. 
 She is descended from an old colonial fain-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 395 
 
 ily. Her great-grandfather in the pater- 
 nal line was in the Revolutionary war, 
 and her Grandfather Bedell served in the 
 war of 1812. The great-grandfather was 
 a French Huguenot, and a man of much 
 prominence. Mrs. Worthen was born in 
 Warsaw, in 1839, a daughter of Edward 
 A. and Elizabeth (Montgomery) Bedell. 
 Her father's birth occurred in Syracuse, 
 New York, in 1818, and her mother was 
 born in Ireland in 1819. He came to Illi- 
 nois when only eight years of age, arriv- 
 ing in 1826, and eventually became one 
 of the prominent and prosperous residents 
 of Warsaw, where he followed merchan- 
 dising and the real estate business, at one 
 time owning nearly the entire town. He 
 afterward went to Utah, where he was 
 Indian agent at the time of his death, 
 serving under appointment of President 
 Franklin Pierce. He passed away in 1853, 
 when on his way home from Utah. In 
 politics he was a Douglas democrat, and 
 was frequently a delegate to the conven- 
 tions of his party, wielding a wide influ- 
 ence in local political circles. His wife 
 died at the home of her daughter in Keo- 
 kuk. Iowa, in 1899, although she always 
 made Warsaw her place of residence. She 
 held membership in the Presbyterian 
 church, while Mr. Bedell was a Methodist 
 in religious faith. He was one of the 
 most prominent residents of Warsaw for 
 many years and wielded a wide influence 
 over public thought and action. In the 
 family were seven children : Mrs. 
 Worthen ; Helen, who died at the age of 
 five years ; Edward A., who was a sol- 
 dier of the One Hundred and Eighteenth 
 Illinois Regiment and is now connected 
 with the dispensary department at the Vet- 
 
 erans' Home in Colorado; Elizabeth 
 Montgomery, the wife of Edmund H. 
 Jones, who resides at San Juan, Porto 
 Rico; LaFayette, who died in childhood; 
 Louis Peyton, of California ; and Warren 
 Ashley, who died in childhood. Mrs. 
 Bedell lived in Fort Edwards which was 
 located on a point in the northwest part 
 of Warsaw, when she came to Hancock 
 county in 1835. There was little else 
 in the locality save this fort, which had 
 been erected for protection against the 
 Indians. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Worthen have become the 
 parents of seven children, all born in this 
 county, namely : Henry Knox, who died 
 in infancy: Jesse M., a civil engineer liv- 
 ing in Quincy, who married Luella New- 
 ell, and has a daughter, Frances Lucile, 
 now seven years of age ; two children who 
 died in infancy; George B., a successful 
 attorney at law in Iowa City, Iowa, who 
 married Etta Horstman, and has a daugh- 
 ter, Mary Theye ; Amos Henry, who died 
 in infancy ; and Edmund Louis. The last 
 named is a graduate of the State Univer- 
 sity at Champaign, Illinois, and of Cor- 
 nell College, and is now in the employ of 
 the United States government, located at 
 Washington, D. C. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Worthen were playmates together in 
 childhood days and are now spending the 
 evening of life together, having traveled 
 life's journey together as man and wife 
 for almost forty years. Mr. Worthen has 
 prospered in his business undertakings 
 and whatever success he has achieved is 
 attributable entirely to his own labors. In 
 politics he is a republican and has served 
 as tax collector of Warsaw and a member 
 of the school board in his township, but
 
 396 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 has never Ijeen ambitious for political hon- 
 ors. The home which he and his wife oc- 
 cupy was built in 1847, an< ^ is n e of the 
 old landmarks of the city. It was former- 
 ly owned by Mrs. Worthen's mother after 
 her father's death. Mr. and Mrs. Worthen 
 spend much time in travel, largely passing 
 the winter months in Porto Rico, Florida, 
 Texas and other winter resorts. Their 
 home contains many beautiful, rare and 
 tasteful souvenirs of their trips, including 
 a screen which is made of shells and was 
 secured in Porto Rico, together with a 
 set of hangings made of shells of the 
 same kind. 
 
 DAVID MACK. 
 
 David Mack, deceased, was for many 
 years a distinguished and able lawyer, 
 practicing at the Carthage bar, and his 
 ability in his profession, his devotion to 
 and co-operation in matters of public 
 ' progress and citizenship and his genuine 
 personal worth endeared him to so large 
 a percentage of the people of this city 
 and county that his death came as a per- 
 sonal bereavement to the great majority. 
 He was born in Adams county, Penn- 
 sylvania, May 15, 1817, his parents be- 
 ing Alexander and Susanna (Fisher) 
 Mack, also of Adams county. The fa- 
 ther was the owner of a large farm in 
 Pennsylvania and he came to the west 
 when seventy-six years of age. In the 
 family were seven sons and three daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 David Mack was a self-made man, who 
 
 depended upon his own resources for his 
 education as well as the material things 
 of life. He remained with his father 
 until seventeen years of age, working at 
 farm labor. One day, however, he tied 
 his horse and plow to the fence and said, 
 "Father, I am going to college. I have 
 plowed my last row." The father 
 thought he must have been affected by 
 the heat of the sun and made that state- 
 ment, but the young man replied, "No, I 
 am going tonight." He had thought the 
 matter over carefully and earnestly and 
 carried out his plan by at once entering 
 Miami College in Ohio. He made a state- 
 ment to the president of his financial con- 
 dition and also of his ambition to pur- 
 sue a collegiate course, and arrangements 
 were made whereby he was able to teach 
 in the summer seasons and attend col- 
 lege in the winter months. This he did 
 until he had completed the course in Mi- 
 ami College by graduation. Much of the 
 elemental strength of his character was 
 thus shown forth and as the years passed 
 he developed his latent energies and tal- 
 ents and added to his ability by research, 
 investigation and broad reading. 
 
 In 1846 Mr. Mack made his way to 
 Springfield, Illinois, to study law and was 
 there graduated, as was his son a number 
 of years afterward. In 1848 he came to 
 Carthage, where he afterward entered 
 into partnership with Bryant T. Scofield, 
 a connection that was continued for a 
 number of years. He was at different 
 times a partner of Mr. Peterson, Henry 
 Draper and William Baird and later ad- 
 mitted his son, Judge Mack, to a partner- 
 ship. The favorable opinion which the 
 public passed upon him at the outset of
 
 HAXCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 397 
 
 liis career was in no degree set aside or 
 modified as the years went by, but on the 
 contrary was strengthened as he gave 
 evidence of his ability to handle intricate 
 litigated interests. He won notable vic- 
 tories before court or jury and the rec- 
 ords give evidence of his connection with 
 most of the important litigation tried in 
 the courts of his district. 
 
 On the loth of March, 1851, Mr. Mack 
 was united in marriage to Miss Augusta 
 Ulrich, who was born on the Hudson 
 river, at Fishkill, New York, on the 27th 
 of November, 1824, a daughter of Louis 
 and Henrietta (Von Reisenkampff) Ul- 
 rich. The father died at the home on the 
 Hudson river, where Mrs. Mack was 
 born, when she was fifteen years of age. 
 He was the owner of a large manufactur- 
 ing plant there and was a very prominent 
 and influential business man. In the 
 family were eight children, all of whom 
 are now deceased with the exception of 
 Mrs. Mack and her brother, E. R. Ul- 
 rich, who is now living in Springfield. 
 By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mack 
 were born five children, of whom four 
 are yet living: Anna became the wife 
 of William Simms Knight, a Presbyte- 
 rian minister, who died in 1906. She is 
 now living in Carthage, Missouri, and has 
 three children, Augusta, Ellen and Da- 
 vid. Henrietta Mack, who resides at 
 home. David E. Mack married Miss El- 
 len Carey and with their son Edward yet 
 reside in Carthage. Susanna is the wife 
 of John Firey, a wholesale druggist of 
 Aberdeen, South Dakota, and they have 
 two children, Carl and Margaret. 
 
 Mr. Mack gave his early political alle- 
 giance to the democracy and after the 
 
 war became a stalwart republican, but 
 would never accept any political office, 
 although many have been proffered him. 
 He held membership in the Presbyterian 
 church, to which his wife now belongs 
 and in which he served as an elder for 
 many years, taking an active and helpful 
 part in church work. In his early years 
 he was a Mason and at all times he was 
 a conscientious and upright man and an 
 enterprising and prominent citizen whose 
 efforts in behalf of public progress were 
 far-reaching and beneficial. He was 
 honored and respected by all and deep 
 regret was felt when his life work 
 was ended on the 2oth of September, 
 1897. Mrs. Mack still survives her hus- 
 band and occupies the old and beautiful 
 home which he built some years prior to 
 his death. She is a cultured and intelli- 
 gent woman, greatly admired by those 
 who know her as she bears her eighty- 
 two years lightly. 
 
 David Mack was afflicted with near- 
 sighted eyes, and for this reason he was 
 unable to join the ranks of the defenders 
 of the Union during the Civil war, but 
 gave his attention and money to assist 
 the widows and orphans, to which many 
 now living in Carthage can testify. 
 
 JAMES BRIDE. 
 
 James Bride is now the owner of what 
 is known as the old Bride homestead, for- 
 merly in possession of his father and 
 which he received through inheritance. He
 
 398 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 was born in St. Albaris township, this 
 county, May 28, 1848, a son of Samuel 
 and Esther J. (Dyer) Bride, both of 
 whom were natives of Rutland, Vermont, 
 the former born January 4, 1810, and the 
 latter in October, 1812. The paternal 
 grandfather, William Bride, was a native 
 of Scotland, and married Miss Scripture, 
 who was likewise born in the land of hills 
 and heather. The maternal grandfather 
 was Jonathan Dyer, a native of Vermont. 
 The marriage of Samuel Bride and Esther 
 J. Dyer was celebrated in the Green Moun- 
 tain state in 1835, and a year later they 
 started with teams for Illinois, traveling 
 across the country by slow stages, often 
 camping by the roadside at night and thus 
 they made their way across the prairies 
 and through the forests until they at 
 length reached Hancock county. They 
 located in St. Albans township, where 
 Mr. Bride purchased a tract of raw prairie 
 land upon which he established his home 
 and began the development of a farm. In 
 1841, however, he sold that property and 
 removed to Wythe township, purchasing 
 one hundred and sixty acres on section 
 21. This was all open prairie land, not 
 a furrow having been turned nor an im- 
 provement made upon the place, but he 
 at once began to fence his property, erect- 
 ing buildings and breaking the prairie. 
 He turned the sod on many an acre, 
 dropped the seed, and in due -course of 
 time gathered good harvests. He contin- 
 uously and successfully engaged in gen- 
 eral farming until 1871, when he retired 
 from active agricultural pursuits and pur- 
 chased a residence and about fifteen acres 
 of land in Warsaw. He then gave his at- 
 tention to the further development and im- 
 
 provement of that place until his death, 
 which occurred on the 24th of December, 
 1893. H' s widow afterward made her 
 home among her children until she too 
 passed away in January, 1900, subsequent 
 to which time the old home in Warsaw 
 was sold. Mr. Bride was a stalwart re- 
 publican from the time of the organiza- 
 tion of the. party and always, took an ac- 
 tive and helpful interest in politics but 
 was never an office seeker. As a citizen, 
 however, he greatly desired general im- 
 provement and progress and did what he 
 could to promote the best interests of his 
 community and his county. Unto him and 
 his wife were born four children : Lercy. 
 who died in infancy in Vermont ; Frances 
 E., the wife of Albert Shinn, of Ottawa, 
 Franklin county, Kansas; Wallace S., who 
 is living in Warsaw ; James, of this re- 
 view. 
 
 James Bride has always resided upon 
 the old home place in Wythe township, 
 which he inherited from his father while 
 his brother Wallace was given one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land adjoining our 
 subject's farm on the west. In his bay- 
 hood days James Bride attended the dis- 
 trict schools of Wythe township, where 
 he mastered the common branches of Eng- 
 lish learning and through the periods of 
 vacation he received ample training at 
 farm work, assisting in the labors of field 
 and meadow. Since inheriting the old 
 home property he has erected various 
 buildings upon it. The house was built 
 in 1890 and contains nine rooms. He has 
 planted apple, pear and cherry trees, so 
 that he has considerable fruit upon his 
 place and in addition to the development 
 of the fields he raises stock. His home
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 399 
 
 stands in the midst of a well kept lawn, 
 adorned with fine shade trees and is one 
 of the attractive farm properties of this 
 part of the county. 
 
 On the 20th of April, 1871, Mr. Bride 
 was married to Miss Julia Warne, whose 
 birth occurred in Muskingum county, 
 Ohio, May 23, 1847. Her paternal 
 grandparents were Llewellyn and Sarah 
 (Beach) Warne, natives of Pennsylvania. 
 Her father, Abram Warne, was born in 
 Ohio, and having arrived at years of ma- 
 turity was married to Miss Nancy Allen, 
 also a native of that state, and a daughter 
 of Samuel and Sarah Allen. The death 
 of Abram Warne occurred December 3, 
 1899, while his wife survived until May 
 18, 1906. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bride has been blessed with three sons 
 and two daughters : Samuel Elmer, who 
 was horn June 25. 1872, and is living in 
 Callaway county. Missouri ; Cora Esther, 
 who was born October 30, 1874, and is 
 the wife of Joseph Gray, of Wythe town- 
 ship; Florence May, who was born May 
 ii. 1878, and is at home; Frank E., who 
 was born April 3. 1882, and is engaged 
 in the feed business in Keokuk, Iowa; 
 a.nd James K.. who was born June 22, 
 1885, and completes the family. 
 
 Politically a republican, Mr. Bride 
 keeps well informed on the questions and 
 issues of the day and is recognized as a 
 local leader in the ranks of his party. He 
 has served for three terms as assessor and 
 has been school trustee since 1900. His 
 religious faith is that of the Presbyterian 
 church and he is a most active and helpful 
 worker therein, serving at the present 
 time as elder, deacon and treasurer. The 
 church finds in him a devoted member 
 
 and he stands for all that is just, true and 
 right in man's relations with his fellow 
 man. 
 
 OSCAR EMMET RICHART. 
 
 Oscar Emmet Richart, who was a self- 
 made man, his example illustrating what 
 may be accomplished through determina- 
 tion and energy in the active affairs of 
 life, was for many years identified with 
 farming interests in Hancock county and 
 at his death he left not -only a very de- 
 sirable property but also an untarnished 
 name. He was born in Akron, Ohio, 
 February 21, 1837, a son of Thomas and 
 Armina (Capron) Richart. The father 
 was born in Pennsylvania, September 14, 
 1810, and the mother in the same state 
 October 7, 1811. They were married in 
 1831 and in 1848 became residents of 
 Hancock county, taking up their abode in 
 what is now called Dallas City but was 
 then East Bend. The father was a stone 
 mason by trade and for several years 
 lived in Dallas City, after which he spent 
 a few years in Kansas. Subsequently he 
 went to Chicago, but his death occurred in 
 Dallas City, November 29, 1893, when 
 he was eighty-three years of age. His 
 political support was given to the Repub- 
 lican party. His wife survived him only 
 a few days, passing away December 9, 
 1893. Of their five children only one is 
 now living, George Richart, who resides 
 in Chicago. 
 
 Oscar E. Richart, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, was educated in the
 
 4OO 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REI'IEIV 
 
 public schools of Dallas City and in the 
 district schools of Dallas township. He 
 remained at home with his mother while 
 his father was in Kansas and at the out- 
 break of the Civil war, responding to his 
 country's call for aid, he enlisted in 1862 
 as a member of Company K, Fifteenth 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but after two 
 years' active service he became ill and 
 was forced to return home. 
 
 On the 25th of March, 1865, Mr. 
 Richart was married to Miss Caroline 
 Ramsay, whose birth occurred in Mar- 
 shall county, Illinois, May I, 1844, her 
 parents being Samuel and Lovisa (Terry) 
 Ramsay. Her father, a native of Mary- 
 land, was born in 1818, while her mother's 
 birth occurred in Ohio in 1820. They 
 spent much of their younger years in 
 Marshall county, Illinois, and in 1856, re- 
 moved to Hancock county, settling in 
 Dallas township. Mr. Ramsay gave his 
 political support to the democracy and was 
 a citizen of worth, who took deep interest 
 in everything pertaining to general prog- 
 ress and improvement. His wife died in 
 1874. Of their family of eight children 
 seven are yet living, namely : Mrs. 
 Richart; William, of Dallas City; Mary, 
 the wife of Andrew Byers, of Dallas City; 
 Addison, of Kansas; Elizabeth, the wife 
 of John Layton, of Stronghurst, Penel- 
 ope, deceased; Stephenson, who is living 
 in Durham township; and Andrew ]., of 
 St. Louis, Missouri. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Richart 
 purchased one hundred and sixty acres 
 of land on section 14, Dallas township. 
 It was covered with timber but he cleared 
 away the trees and brush and in 1889 
 erected a pleasant residence thereon. He 
 
 was then engaged in general farming 
 until his death, which occurred May 28, 
 1890, his remains being interred ir 
 Harris cemetery. He was a man of en- 
 terprising spirit, carefully conducted his 
 business affairs and his success was at- 
 tributable in large measure to his owr 
 efforts. He was a mere boy when he 
 started out in life on his own account anc 
 he always assisted his mother during hei 
 life time. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Richarl 
 was blessed with six children, of whorr 
 five are still living and all were born upor 
 the old homestead farm. These are 
 Frank C., who lives with his mother 
 Nellie A., the wife of James Foresman 
 of Pontoosuc township, by whom she ha< 
 four children, Harry, Lloyd, Hugh anc 
 Ruth ; Eunice, the wife of William Kyle 
 of Dallas township, by whom she has fivt 
 children, Corwin, Isabelle, Chester 
 Ernest and Caroll, while Roxy Ma> 
 was born of Mr. Kyle's first marriage 
 Ernest, a resident farmer of Pontoosuc 
 township, who married Amy Holmes anc 
 has one son, Glenn ; and Ellice, who is 
 at home with her mother. 
 
 Mr. Richart belonged to the Granc 
 Army post and was a republican in his 
 political views. "He held various town- 
 ship offices and in all life's relations was 
 found to be a man worthy of the trust 
 reposed in him. He was faithful in cit- 
 izenship, progressive and reliable in his 
 business life and trustworthy in his 
 friendships. Since her husband's death 
 Mrs. Richart has continued the work oi 
 the farm and has erected a barn and 
 granary. In addition to the home place 
 of one hundred and sixty acres she owns
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 401 
 
 sixty-three acres in Dallas township about 
 a half mile west of her place of residence. 
 She is a refined, intelligent woman, kind- 
 hearted and loyal, and she and her family 
 occupy an enviable position in public re- 
 gard in the community where they reside. 
 
 CHARLES C. CRAWFORD. 
 
 Charles C. Crawford is the youngest 
 member of an old, prominent and highly 
 respected family of Hancock county, ever 
 characterized by great industry, fair deal- 
 ing and courteous and obliging treatment 
 of all with whom they have been associ- 
 ated: Like the others of the family he 
 has made rapid strides in his business ca- 
 reer and is one of the successful mer- 
 chants of the town. 
 
 His parents, Thomas and Serepta 
 (Daugherty) Crawford, were both repre- 
 sentatives of old families of Kentucky, 
 and were born in Bourbon county, the fa- 
 ther on the 2d of September, 1812, and 
 the mother on the 23d of April, 1829. 
 Thomas Crawford came with his parents 
 to this county in 1832, the family home 
 being established in Walker township, 
 since which time the name of Crawford 
 has figured prominently and honorably in 
 connection with the substantial growth 
 and development of this part of the state. 
 After some years Thomas Crawford en- 
 tered a large tract of land in Walker 
 township, there carrying on farming very 
 successfully for many years. Subsequent- 
 ly he purchased a good farm in Wilcox 
 
 township, where his aged widow now re- 
 sides with her son and daughter. He was 
 a stalwart republican in his political views 
 and held various township offices, being 
 justice of the peace for some years, in 
 which capacity he rendered fair and im- 
 partial decisions. He was a man of 
 strong character, of good heart and of 
 marked individuality. He was greatly in- 
 terested in all that tended to advance the 
 county and promote the welfare of its peo- 
 ple, and wherever he was known he com- 
 manded the respect and good will of those 
 with whom he was associated. He spent 
 nearly his entire life in Walker township, 
 but prior to his death purchased a farm 
 in Wilcox township, whereon his widow 
 still makes her home. His death occurred 
 March 23. 1875, and he was laid to rest 
 in Green Plain cemetery. Mr. Crawford 
 was twice married, and by the first union 
 had three children, of whom two are now 
 living : Alice, the wife of John Stockton, 
 of Denver, Colorado; and Laura, the wid- 
 ow of Uriah Seaton, also of Denver. The 
 children of the second marriage are nine 
 in number, of whom eight reached years 
 of maturity : Mary, the wife of Frank C. 
 Andrews, of Warsaw; Margaret E., who 
 became the wife of Aquila Daugherty, 
 and at her death was laid to rest by her 
 father's side; Virginia, who died in in- 
 fancy ; James F. ; William T. and John C, 
 all of Warsaw ; Fannie, the wife of L. W. 
 Berry, of Carthage ; Cora, who is with her 
 mother; and Charles C., who completes 
 the family. 
 
 The last named was bom upon the old 
 farm homestead in Walker township, 
 which was also the birthplace of all his 
 brothers and sisters, in the year 1870. He
 
 4O2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 acquired his education in the district 
 schools near his home and in the public 
 schools of Warsaw, while later he became 
 a student in Parson's College, at Fair- 
 field, Iowa. He then returned to his home 
 and for a brief period was busy upon the 
 home farm but soon afterward entered 
 into partnership with John M. Cherry and 
 opened a drug and book store on Main 
 and Fourth streets in Warsaw. From the 
 beginning success has attended this ven- 
 ture and they now have a profitable trade. 
 The store is thoroughly modern in every 
 particular, and in addition to the line of 
 drugs and books which they carry they 
 also keep a fine line of cut glass and 
 queensware, paints and other commodities, 
 and have a beautiful soda fountain. Their 
 business is one of the leading commercial 
 enterprises of the city and the proprietors 
 are classed with the representative busi- 
 ness men. 
 
 On the nth of October, 1905, Mr. 
 Crawford was united in marriage to Miss 
 Blanche Pond, of Blandinsville, Illinois, 
 a daughter of Albert and Ida (Griffin) 
 Pond, the former a native of Ohio, and 
 the latter of McDonough county, Illinois. 
 They still reside in Blandinsville, where 
 Mr. Pond is a successful druggist. They 
 have four children, three sons and a 
 daughter : Blanche, now Mrs. Crawford ; 
 Charles, who is in the store with his fa- 
 ther; Rollo and Robert, both at home. 
 Mr. Crawford has an attractive residence 
 between Fifth and Sixth on Crawford 
 street, and its hospitality is greatly en- 
 joyed by their many friends. Mr. Craw- 
 ford is a Mason and pastmaster of his 
 lodge. His father was one of the first 
 Masons of Hancock county and his father 
 
 and his brothers, James F. and John C., 
 have all been masters in the fraternity. 
 Charles C. Crawford likewise holds mem- 
 bership with the Maccabees and is a val- 
 ued representative of these organizations. 
 His business life is characterized by alert- 
 ness and enteq^rise which enable him to 
 readily appreciate and improve on oppor- 
 tunity, and through his well directed ef- 
 forts and unfaltering diligence he is 
 steadily working his way upward. The 
 consensus of public opinion regarding 
 him as a business man is altogether favor- 
 able, while socially he is popular and his 
 wife, during the brief period of her resi- 
 dence here, has likewise made many warm 
 friends. 
 
 ANTHONY P. LAYTON. 
 
 Anthony P.. Layton, of Dallas town- 
 ship, is proprietor of the largest nursery 
 in Hancock county and his business is 
 constantly growing in accordance with 
 the spirit of enterprise and close applica- 
 tion which he manifests in its control. A 
 native of Burlington, Iowa, he was born 
 July 22, 1864, and is a son of Biard and 
 Margaret (Rose) Layton. The father, 
 born July 2, 1818, is now eighty-eight 
 years of age and is practically living re- 
 tired in Dallas. His wife, however, died 
 in 1891, at the age of seventy-six years. 
 They came to Hancock county when their 
 son, Anthony P. Layton, was only a 
 year old and the father establishing in 
 business as a nurseryman and farmer. In 
 the family were nine children : William,
 
 \COCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 403 
 
 of Carthage; Samuel, of Batavia, Iowa; 
 Joseph, of Deadwood, South Dakota ; 
 John, of Stronghurst, Illinois; George, 
 also living in Stronghurst; Millard, whose 
 home is in Fairfield, Iowa ; Margaret, the 
 wife of John Gathers, of Dallas; Anthony 
 P., and Clara, the wife of Newton Byler, 
 of Durham, Illinois. James, the second 
 eldest child, was killed in the battle of 
 Vicksburg and William served as a team- 
 ster in the Civil war. 
 
 Anthony P. Layton was educated in the 
 district schools of Hancock county and 
 worked with his father in the nursery 
 business until he attained his majority. 
 He afterward became a partner in the 
 enterprise and they are still associated in 
 the ownership of the nursery, although 
 the father has retired from active busi- 
 ness life. Mr. Layton of this review 
 occupies sixty-four acres of land on sec- 
 tion 12, Dallas township, which is still 
 owned by his father, and he also owns 
 some unimproved lots in Dallas City. 
 He sells trees, shrubbery, small fruit, 
 plants, and makes a specialty of roses and 
 his nursery business is the most extensive 
 in the county. In earlier days they em- 
 ployed salesmen to dispose of their stock 
 but it has now become so well and fa- 
 vorably known that he now depends on 
 the reputation of his product and a good 
 catalog issued annually to sell his trees 
 and shrubs. He is thoroughly conver- 
 sant with the best methods of carrying on 
 this /work, having had practical expe- 
 rience from his boyhood days to the pres- 
 ent time, and the nursery stock which he 
 ships is always of the best quality, so that 
 his goods command a ready sale on the 
 market. In his business he is very suc- 
 
 cessful owing to his fine nursery stock and 
 his capable management. 
 
 In November, 1905, was celebrated the 
 marriage of Mr. Layton and Miss Laura 
 Coman, who was born in Keokuk, Iowa. 
 Mrs. Layton is a member of the Presby- 
 terian church and a most estimable lady, 
 who has gained many warm friends dur- 
 ing her residence in this county. Mr. 
 Layton belongs to Knigths of Pythias 
 fraternity and is also a member of Dallas 
 City lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted 
 Masons, No. 235, of Dallas, of which he 
 served as master for three years and as 
 representative to the grand lodge for three 
 years. His political allegiance is given 
 to the democracy, but he has never sought 
 or desired political office, as his business 
 interests claim his time and attention, 
 making him one of the prosperous and 
 representative residents of his part of the 
 county. The name of Layton has long 
 been associated with the nursery business 
 in this locality and has ever stood as a 
 synonym for commercial integrity and 
 enterprise. 
 
 JOHN CHARLES GOEHRING. 
 
 In studying the lives and characters of 
 prominent men we are naturally led to in- 
 quire into the secret of their success and 
 the motives that prompted their actions. 
 When we trace the career of those whom 
 the world acknowledges as successful and 
 of those who 'stand highest in public es- 
 teem we find that in almost every case they 
 are those who have risen gradually by
 
 404 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 their own efforts, their diligence and per- 
 severance. These qualities are undoubt- 
 edly based in a large measure by the gen- 
 tleman whose name introduces this re- 
 view, and added to these is a devotion to 
 principle that may well be termed the key- 
 note of his character. It is this which 
 commands the confidence and respect so 
 uniformly given him, and it was this that 
 secured him the liberal patronage which 
 was accorded him during the long period 
 of his connection with commercial inter- 
 ests in Warsaw. Now he is living retired, 
 enjoying a well earned rest. He was 
 born in Saxony, Germany, March 2, 1836, 
 and was educated in the public schools. 
 In 1866 he came to America, landing in 
 New York and after three weeks he went 
 to New Jersey and thence to Philadelphia. 
 The year 1868 witnessed his arrival in 
 Warsaw, where he has since lived. He 
 was for a time connected with the 
 woolen mills as a weaver, working there 
 for about four years, and on the expiration 
 of that period he began business on his 
 own account as a dry goods merchant, 
 conducting his store continuously and suc- 
 cessfully until 1906, when he sold out. His 
 business grew from a small beginning to 
 an enterprise of large proportions, being 
 .the most extensive store oT its kind in 
 Warsaw. His methods were such as 
 would always bear close investigation and 
 scrutiny. He sought success along hon- 
 orable lines, believing that it would come 
 to him if he was straightforward in his 
 dealings, resolute in his purpose and en- 
 ergetic in all that he undertook. 
 
 On the 24th of July, 1872, Mr. Goeh- 
 ring was married to Miss Amalie Kol- 
 julzky. a daughter of John and Margaret 
 
 (Spleict) Koladzky. She was born in 
 Holstein, Germany, August 24, 1842, and 
 came alone to Hancock county when 
 twenty-one years of age. Here, how- 
 ever, she joined a sister and an uncle, who 
 had previously crossed the Atlantic, and 
 since that time she has continuously lived 
 in this part of the state. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Goehring were born six children 
 but three have passed away Marie, who 
 died at the age of two ears; Henry 7 , at 
 the age of nine months ; and Amanda 
 when three years old. Those who still 
 survive are : John ; Emily, the wife of 
 Dr. J. R. Blan, a practicing physician 
 at Eliza, Illinois; and Hannah, at home. 
 In 1886 Mr. Goehring purchased a fine 
 residence of Mr. Miller and now has one 
 of the beautiful homes in Warsaw, which 
 he occupies, in the enjoyment of a well 
 earned rest, surrounded by many of the 
 comforts and luxuries that go to -make 
 life worth living. He is a member. of 
 the Lutheran church and where national 
 issues are involved he votes with the Re- 
 publican party but otherwise casts an in- 
 dependent ballot. Mr. Goehring has been 
 a man of commanding influence in the 
 community and county and is widely 
 known and honored. He is always on 
 the right side of questions affecting moral 
 and educational interests and is known as 
 a man of sterling integrity. He has a 
 wide acquaintance and his friends are 
 numerous, having been gained by his 
 personal worth and his outspoken devo- 
 tion to the best interests of the commu- 
 nity. In the summer of 1906 Mr. Goeh- 
 ring made a visit to his old home in Sax- 
 ony, Germany, where he renewed ac- 
 quaintance with a few old friends.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 405 
 
 SMITH F. BRYAN. 
 
 Smith F. Bryan, one of the representa- 
 tive and prominent agriculturists of 
 Hancock county, is a native of Mercer 
 county, Pennsylvania, where his birth 
 occurred November 17, 1832. He is 
 a son of Jacob and Mary (Bagley) 
 Bryan, the former a native of New Jer- 
 sey, while the latter was born in New 
 York. His paternal grandparents were 
 William and Mary (Suphon) Bryan, like- 
 wise natives of New Jersey, while the 
 maternal grandparents were Daniel and 
 Elizabeth (Showerman) Bagley. During 
 his residence in the Keystone state, the 
 father, Jacob Bryan, followed the occu- 
 pation of farming, and also engaged to 
 some extent in shoemaking, doing work 
 of this character for his own family and 
 for his neighbors during his evenings 
 after his work in the fields was done. 
 Hoping to enjoy better business opportu- 
 nities in the new and unimproved regions 
 of the west, Jacob Bryan removed with 
 his family in 1840, to Illinois, traveling 
 by steamer down the Ohio and up the Mis- 
 sissippi rivers to Warsaw, where they ar- 
 rived May 1 2th of that year. They then 
 continued their journey overland to La 
 Harpe, where they took up their abode on 
 land known as the Gettings farm, which 
 was situated four miles north of the city. 
 He rented that place for two years, and 
 then having saved sufficient capital to jus- 
 tify the purchase of land, he invested in a 
 tract of two hundred acres, lying on sec- 
 tion 3, La Harpe township, and forty 
 acres of timber land lying on section 10. 
 The tract of two hundred acres was all 
 wild prairie, and Mr. Bryan at once set 
 
 to work to clear the fields and further im- 
 prove the place by the erection of a home 
 and out buildings. The first house which 
 the family ocupied was made of sod, in 
 which they continued their residence for 
 three years, when a more substantial 
 frame house was erected. He continued 
 the arduous task of developing and culti- 
 vating new land by his careful manage- 
 ment and well directed energy he at length 
 gathered good crops and was thus enabled 
 form time to time to increase his landed 
 possessions and further improve his place. 
 During this time, however, the family 
 endured many hardships and privations 
 incident to life in a new and undeveloped 
 region but as the years passed by and 
 other settlements were made they were 
 enabled to enjoy more conveniences and 
 comforts of life. Mr. Bryan purchased 
 one hundred and sixty acres adjoining 
 his original purchase, and also bought 
 a tract of one hundred and sixty acres 
 in Henderson county, besides purchasing 
 other tracts of both improved and timber 
 land from time to time. On the 2d of 
 November, 1857. however, he purchased 
 a tract of twenty acres located near La 
 Harpe. for which he paid one hundred 
 dollars per acre, and on which he took up 
 his abode, his death there occurring March 
 26. 1881, when he had reached the very 
 venerable age of eighty-seven years, for 
 his birth had occurred August 15, 1794. 
 In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob 
 Bryan were born six children, as follows : 
 Rice B., born June 4, 1826, passed away 
 in Kansas. Hannah, who was born July 
 9. 1828, met her death in a runaway Oc- 
 tober 22, 1850. Cowden M., born June 
 1 6. 1830, died December 9, 1884. Smith
 
 406 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 F., whose name introduces this record, is 
 the next of the family. John F., born 
 January 3, 1836, died March 8, 1864, 
 while serving his country in the Civil war, 
 having enlisted as a member of Company 
 G, One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois 
 Volunteers. Elizabeth B.. born March 
 22, 1839, became the wife of J. \Y. Cas- 
 singham, and her death occurred October 
 21, 1886. After the death of the father, 
 the mother made her home with her 
 daughter, Mrs. Cassingham, until the lat- 
 ter's death, when she went to live with our 
 subject, where she remained until her 
 death, February 21, 1898, when she had 
 reached the very advanced age of ninety- 
 three years, her birth having occurred 
 March 26, 1805. 
 
 Smith F. Bryan shared with the family 
 in the hardships of life on the frontier 
 and assisted his father in the arduous task 
 of developing and cultivating his land. 
 He began his education in the early sub- 
 scription schools of Pennsylvania and 
 after the removal of the family to this 
 state continued his studies in the common 
 schools, but his advantages in this direc- 
 tion were very limited, owning to the un- 
 settled condition of the country and the 
 meager facilities that were offered along 
 educational lines. He has, however, in 
 later life through reading and investiga- 
 tion become a well informed man. He 
 continued under the parental roof until 
 the time of his marriage, January 28, 
 1859, at which time he was married to 
 Miss Delina Painter, whose birth occurred 
 November 13, 1836, she being the fifth 
 white female child born in Hancock 
 county. She is a daughter of Joseph T. 
 and Phebe (Rea) Painter, the former 
 
 born in Philadelphia. March 25, 1800, 
 while the mother's birth occurred in Mer- 
 cer county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 
 1809. The paternal great-great-grand- 
 father of Mrs. Bryan came to the United 
 States on the Mayflower, and his son, 
 Robert Painter, was one of the signers of 
 the Declaration of Independence. Her 
 paternal grandparents bore the names of 
 William and Martha (Torton) Painter, 
 natives of the Keystone state, while her 
 maternal grandparents were John and 
 Anna (White) Rea, the latter a daughter 
 of William and Mary (Webster) White. 
 The father of Mrs. Bryan, Joseph T. 
 Painter, on leaving Pennsylvania removed 
 to Missouri in 1816, making the journey 
 on a flat boat down the Ohio river. In 
 January, 1823, however, he returned to 
 his native state, where he continued to re- 
 side until June, 1836, at which time he 
 made his way to Illinois, landing in Han- 
 cock county, where the town of Pontoosuc 
 is now located. He and his family then 
 walked to La Harpe a distance of twelve 
 miles, where the father purchased one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land located 
 on section 9, and a tract of eighty acres 
 in timber on the same section. Here 
 he hewed the lumber with which to erect 
 a home for himself and family, and began 
 the work of clearing and cultivating his 
 land. This proved an arduous task but 
 he possessed a resolute spirit and by the 
 assistance of his estimable wife he soon 
 had a well developed farm, on which he 
 had placed many improvements. In 1838 
 he built the first sawmill in Hancock 
 county, and his brother-in-law, Henry 
 Reynolds, built the first grist mill in this 
 section of the country, both being run by
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 water power. This pioneer couple con- 
 tinued to make their home in Hancock 
 county throughout their remaining days, 
 the mother passing 1 away August 29, 
 1842, while the father survived for many 
 years, his death occurring September 9, 
 
 1875. ' 
 
 Following his marriage Smith F. 
 Bryan removed to a farm near La Harpe, 
 which he rented for several years, and 
 then made purchase of the farm formerly 
 owned by his father-in-law, Mr. Painter. 
 At the outbreak of the Civil war, how- 
 ever, Mr. Bryan put aside all business and 
 personal considerations, and enlisted as a 
 member of Company G, One Hundred 
 and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
 try, joining the company at Terre Haute, 
 Illinois, on the I4th of August, 1862. 
 They were assigned to duty with the 
 Thirteenth Army Corps under General 
 Me. Clernard, General Osterhause acting 
 as brigadier commander. Mr. Bryan 
 participated in many of the important and 
 hard-fought battles, including the siege 
 of Vicksburg and Grand Gulf, the siege 
 at Jackson, and many other places. Dur- 
 ing his service he was injured in the left 
 hip by the explosion of a shell, after which 
 he was sent to a hospital in Keokuk in 
 April, 1865. He had many very narrow 
 escapes while at the front. He received 
 an honorable discharge June 5, 1865, after 
 which he returned to his home, and re- 
 sumed his farming operations, and has 
 here continued to make his home to the 
 present time, being now one of the valued 
 factors in the agricultural life of Hancock 
 county. Mrs. Bryan also had two broth- 
 ers who served their country in the Civil 
 war. Charles T., born February 18, 
 26 
 
 1831, enlisted in the same company in 
 which her husband did duty, and he was 
 promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. 
 His death occurred in Terre Haute, May 
 30, 1892. The other brother, Arion, who 
 was born January 25, 1842, became a 
 member of Company B, Twenty-eighth 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died dur- 
 ing the service, in the Marine Hospital 
 at Cincinnati, April 26, 1862. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife were 
 born five sons and three daughters, 
 namely: Emma V., who was born De- 
 cember 6, 1859, and is now the wife of 
 James T. Brown, a resident of La Harpe ; 
 Ida May, who was born July 28, 1861, 
 and died October 25. 1865 ; Joseph P., 
 who was born December 9, 1862, and 
 died August 10, 1891 ; John F.. who was 
 born July 25, 1865, and now resides in 
 La Harpe township; \Yilliam E., living 
 on the home farm, born September 4, 
 1867; James R., who was born Septem- 
 ber 15, 1869, and is a resident of Belfast, 
 Iowa; Mary A., born June 13, 1872, who 
 is the widow of Elmer Spiker, and re- 
 sides at Waterloo, Iowa; and Charles C., 
 who was born March 14, 1876, and is a 
 barber residing at Terre Haute, Illinois. 
 
 Politically Mr. Bryan has always given 
 stanch support to the Republican party 
 and served as assessor of his township for 
 one term. His religious faith is indicated 
 by his membership in the Christian church 
 at La Harpe, and his life is guided by 
 high principles and good deeds. His 
 military record is one of which he has 
 every reason to be proud for during the 
 service of his country he displayed un- 
 faltering loyalty on the battle-fields of the 
 south. As a pioneer of this portion of
 
 408 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the state he has seen many wonderful 
 changes as the work of transformation 
 and development has been carried on 
 along all lines of agricultural, industrial 
 and commercial activity, and in the ad- 
 vancement of the agricultural life of the 
 county no man has taken a more active 
 and helpful part than he whose name in- 
 troduces this review. Having spent the 
 greater part of his life here he has a 
 wide and favorable acquaintance and both 
 he and his estimable wife enjoy the high 
 esteem of all with whom they are brought 
 in contact. 
 
 DAVID ALLEN ROBINSON. 
 
 David Allen Robinson, one of the ven- 
 erable citizens of Wythe township, has 
 passed the eightieth milestone on life's 
 journey, his birth having occurred in 
 Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 2d of 
 April, 1826. His paternal grandfather, 
 Israel Robinson, married a Miss Hedge, 
 and their son Silas, father of our sub- 
 ject, was born in Virginia, and wedded 
 Polly Warne, a native of Pennsylvania, 
 and a daughter of Abram and Sarah 
 (Pierce) Warne. 
 
 David Allen Robinson pursued his ed- 
 ucation in the common schools of Ohio, 
 and when a young man of twenty-two 
 years left home in 1-848, and with a com- 
 rade traveled by stage to Colorado and 
 thence on one of the old-time railroads 
 to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they took 
 passage on a steamer,, the E. W. Ste- 
 vens, that proceeded down the Ohio and 
 
 Mississippi rivers to St. Louis. At St. 
 Louis they boarded the Edward Bates, 
 which was blown up a short time after- 
 ward. Upon the latter vessel they pro- 
 ceeded to Warsaw, Illinois, and Mr. Rob- 
 inson soon secured employment as a book 
 agent. After a month or two, however, 
 he began chopping wood and continued at 
 that work during the winter for about five 
 years, while in the summer seasons he 
 engaged in breaking prairie. Thus he 
 made his start upon the frontier. Sub- 
 sequently he worked as a farm hand un- 
 til he and his brother Barzillai were able 
 to purchase one hundred and sixty acres 
 of land, constituting the northeast quar- 
 ter of section 8, Wythe township. This 
 was a tract of wild prairie, on which not 
 a furrow had been turned nor an improve- 
 ment made. They built a rail fence and 
 broke the land and also erected thereon a 
 frame house. When arrangements had 
 been thus far completed for the develop- 
 ment of their home they were joined by 
 their father, mother and another brother, 
 Abram Robinson, who came from Ohio. 
 Soon after the marriage of David A. 
 Robinson the land was divided among the 
 members of the family, his tract compris- 
 ing four hundred and eighty acres in all. 
 The first one hundred and sixty acres 
 which had been purchased fell to the 
 share of his brother Barzillai, while Mr. 
 Robinson took as his share one hundred 
 and sixty acres just south. The third 
 brother, Abram, secured the southwest 
 quarter of the same section, and thus the 
 three brothers continued to reside in the 
 same neighborhood and were prominent 
 and active forces in the development of 
 this part of the county. Upon the land
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 409 
 
 which. David A. Robinson secured there 
 was an old house, while forty acres had 
 been broken, but there were no fences. 
 He at once began fencing the place and 
 he broke the remainder of the land. He 
 also made additions and improvements 
 to the house from time to time and as the 
 years passed transformed his property 
 into a valuable and well improved farm, 
 bringing the fields under a high state of 
 cultivation and adding many modern im- 
 provements. 
 
 On the 8th of January, 1856, Mr. 
 Robinson won as a companion and help- 
 mate for life's journey Miss Laura D. 
 Chandler, who was born in Muskingum 
 county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel and 
 Lorinda (Bliss) Chandler ; who came to 
 Hancock county by canal through Ohio, 
 and thence by the Ohio and Mississippi 
 rivers to Warsaw. They settled in Wil- 
 cox township among its earliest residents 
 and shared in the hardships and priva- 
 tions of pioneer life while assisting in the 
 work of establishing a home upon the 
 frontier. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Robinson was blessed with seven chil- 
 dren : Nira, at home ; Harriet, who is 
 the widow of Fred Wood and resides 
 with her parents; Grace, the wife of Ed- 
 ward Albers, of Warsaw; Florence, at 
 home; Laura, the wife of C. A. McFet- 
 ters, of Bolton, Missouri ; Chandler, who 
 is living in southern Minnesota; and Al- 
 len, who deals in horses and mules at 
 Hamilton. 
 
 Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Rob- 
 inson added eighty acres to his place and 
 later purchased one hundred and twenty 
 acres more in this county. He also be- 
 came the owner of four hundred and 
 
 forty acres in Gentry county, Missouri, 
 and two hundred and forty acres in Sher- 
 man county, Nebraska, thus making ju- 
 dicious and extensive investments in real 
 estate as his financial resources have per- 
 mitted. He has also carried on general 
 farming and stock-raising. At two dif- 
 ferent times he has lived in Warsaw for 
 two years each time, but has remained 
 for the most part upon his farm, and has 
 transformed it into one of the best im- 
 proved farm properties in the county. In 
 1885 he erected a fine residence, contain- 
 ing ten rooms, and he has planted all of 
 the shade and fruit -trees upon the place, 
 having an orchard of three acres. He 
 also has a large barn eighty by forty 
 feet, with twenty-four-foot posts, afford- 
 ing ample shelter for grain and stock. 
 In 1887 he sank an artesian well to the 
 depth of eight hundred and twenty-six 
 feet. When the drilling was completed 
 it spouted twenty feet in the air, but the 
 stream has been gradually receding un- 
 til now it is eighteen feet below the sur- 
 face. He has the water piped about a 
 half mile for the benefit of the stock upon 
 his place. All of the improvements are 
 in keeping with ideas of progress along 
 agricultural lines and his extensive hold- 
 ings are the visible evidence of a life of 
 enterprise and thrift. Now in the even- 
 ing of his days he has a fine property, 
 from which he derives a good income, 
 supplying him with all of the comforts 
 and many of the luxuries of life a fitting 
 reward for his earnest and indefatigable 
 toil in former years. In his political 
 views he is a republican and in religious 
 faith a Presbyterian. He has ever lived 
 so as to command the respect and good
 
 4io 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEW 
 
 will of his fellowmen, his life exemplify- 
 ing most honorable principles. 
 
 PHILLIP DALLAM. 
 
 Phillip Dallam, editor and proprietor of 
 the Warsaw Bulletin, was born in St. 
 Louis, May 22, 1853. His father, Fran- 
 cis A. Dallam, was a native of Butler, 
 Kentucky, born in November, 1824. His 
 education was acquired in St. Louis, 
 where he went when a young boy, and 
 when still but a lad he became connected 
 with newspaper work and subsequently 
 was owner and editor of various 
 journals at Potosi, Missouri, Quincy, 
 Illinois, Oquawka, Illinois, and finally 
 at Warsaw, Illinois. At the time of 
 the Civil war he took the first com- 
 pany from Henderson county, Illinois, 
 this being known as Company E of the 
 Tenth Illinois Infantry, and after serving 
 for some time as captain he was promoted 
 to the rank of major, and still later to ad- 
 jutant general on the staff of General L. 
 F. Ross. After about eighteen months' 
 active service he was forced to leave the 
 army on account of ill health and went to 
 Nevada and California to recuperate. 
 While in Nevada he was on the editorial 
 staff of the Virginia City Enterprise, and 
 during that time he served as a member 
 of the constitutional convention, which 
 made Nevada a state. He continued his 
 residence in the west for about two and a 
 half years, after which he returned to 
 Oquawka, Illinois. He was fond of 
 
 change, however, and lived at various 
 places, coming in May, 1867, to Warsaw, 
 where he died in March, 1868. He mar- I 
 ried Miss Anna M. McKee, whose parents 
 were early residents of St. Louis. In their 
 family were nine children : Frank M., 
 now of Loomis, Washington; William 
 H., deceased ; Philip ; Guy M. and Thomas 
 A., who have passed away; Nellie B., the 
 deceased wife of Truman Plantz, who is 
 attorney general of the Modern Woodmen 
 of America, and is represented elsewhere 
 in this volume; Richard, who is in the 
 printing business in St. Louis; Anna, the 
 wife of John P. Hill, of Minnesota; and 
 John E., who is an Episcopal clergyman 
 and is now chaplain in the regular army, 
 having resigned his charge in Minnesota 
 and enlisted for service in the Philippines. 
 The mother still survives and makes her 
 home with her daughter, Mrs. Hill, of 
 Minnesota. 
 
 Philip Dallam largely acquired his edu- 
 cation in the public schools of Oquawka, 
 Quincy and Warsaw, becoming a resident 
 of the last named place when a youth of 
 fourteen years. Soon afterward he took 
 up the newspaper work, entering the office 
 of the Warsaw Bulletin on the ist of Jan- 
 uary, 1868. He has since been continu- 
 ously connected with this paper save for 
 the period of his service in the Spanish- 
 American war, when he served as pay- 
 master under appointment of President 
 McKinley for nearly a year. The Bulle- 
 tin, formerly the Record, was established 
 in August. 1865. by Henry Lick, who 
 conducted it until May, 1867, with two 
 partners, Messrs. Blyth and Schiffger. In 
 1867 F. A. Dallam became proprietor and 
 conducted the paper for ten months, and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 411 
 
 he \vas succeeded by his son, Frank M. 
 Dallam, who took charge in March, 1868, 
 and remained as editor and proprietor un- 
 til May I, 1875, when he was succeeded 
 by his brother, Philip Dallam, who is the 
 oldest editor in consecutive service in the 
 county, having published the Bulletin as 
 proprietor for thirty-one years, while his 
 connection therewith covers a period of 
 almost thirty-nine years. In 1891 he 
 erected the present building in which the 
 paper is published and enlarged the plant. 
 The paper today has a much greater cir- 
 culation than it had when Mr. Dallam 
 took charge, and is gradually increasing. 
 
 Mr. Dallam has never aspired to polit- 
 ical honors. He has been a member of 
 the library board for more than twenty 
 years and has been president of the Young 
 Men's Homestead and Loan Association 
 since its organization in 1883. 
 
 On the 1 7th of March. 1880, Philip 
 Dallam was married to Miss Eugenia A. 
 Hunt, a daughter of Milton T. and Helen 
 M. (Baldwin) Hunt. Their family has 
 numbered six children: Philip H., now 
 in the state auditor's office at Springfield, 
 Illinois; Edith E.. who is a graduate of 
 the New England Musical College, at 
 Boston, and also of Oberlin College, of 
 Ohio, and is now a teacher of music in 
 Howard College, Gallatin, Tennessee: 
 Clara H.. a teacher in the public schools 
 of Warsaw: Milton H., who died at the 
 age of five months ; Anna Therese, a stu- 
 dent in the public schools of Warsaw ; and 
 Erances Paca, who died October 20. 1900. 
 at the age of six years. The mother passed 
 away on the 25th of April of the succeed- 
 ing year at the age of forty-two, com- 
 paratively a young woman. 
 
 LINUS CRUISE. 
 
 Linus Cruise, attorney-at-law of the 
 Carthage bar, was born in Connersville, 
 Indiana, April 5, 1859, a son of John 
 and Margaret (Moore) Cruise. The fa- 
 ther was born in Pennsylvania in 1826, 
 while the mother's birth occurred in 
 Morgan county, Ohio, in 1825. He re- 
 moved from the Keystone state to Ohio 
 and afterward to Connersville, Indiana, 
 where he engaged in merchandising un- 
 til the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861 
 he enlisted in response to the country's 
 call for troops as a member of an Indiana 
 regiment and participated in several bat- 
 tles. At the battle of Chickamauga he 
 lost his life and was buried upon the field, 
 there being about thirteen thousand 
 Union men killed in that engagement. It 
 was the day the Union line was extended 
 and the rebels took advantage of the 
 same. In his political views Mr. Cruise 
 was a democrat but without aspiration 
 for office. His wife survived him for 
 many years, passing away on the I3th of 
 February, 1899. In 1865 she removed 
 with her seven children to Adams coun- 
 ty, Illinois, where she located upon a 
 farm, there residing until her children 
 reached adult age, while later she took up 
 her abode in Hancock county, settling 
 near Burnside. The following is the 
 record of the family : R. B. is living 
 in Burnside. Isabella became the wife 
 of John J. Walker, who died some years 
 prior to the death of his wife, who passed 
 away in i88i : leaving one child, Ella,, 
 who is now the wife of Frank Wilkes, a 
 resident of Adams county, Illinois. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Wilkes have four children, Mer-
 
 412 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 lin, Wesley, Maude and Olive. George 
 W. Cruise, the third member of the fam- 
 ily, now living in Dallas, Texas, mar- 
 ried Francis Lanier, who is deceased. In 
 their family were nine children : Elsie, 
 who is married and has two children ; 
 Alva, Eddie, Estey (deceased), Claude, 
 Palmer, Ruth, Francis and Sidney. Fan- 
 nie Cruise is acting as housekeeper for 
 her two brothers at Burnside, Illinois. 
 John is living in Burnside. Linus is the 
 next of the family. Margaret is the wife 
 of F. M. Hammerick, of Burnside, and 
 has two sons, Harold and Aubrey, aged 
 respectively twelve and six years. 
 
 Mr. Cruise of this review was educated 
 in the district schools of Adams county, 
 in the Camp Point high school and in 
 the State Xormal University at Normal, 
 Illinois. He pursued his law course in 
 Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, 
 from which he was graduated in 1897. 
 In the fall of that same year he opened 
 a law office in Carthage and is a gen- 
 eral practitioner in this city and county. 
 From the beginning he has enjoyed a 
 good clientage and his business has con- 
 stantly increased along safe and gratify- 
 ing lines and he has in more recent years 
 been connected with much of the im- 
 portant litigation tried in the courts of 
 his district and is regarded as a safe coun- 
 selor and strong advocate. 
 
 In 1890 Mr. Cruise was married to 
 Miss Anna H. Gentry, who was born in 
 Bloomington, Monroe county, Indiana, 
 January 26, 1863, a daughter of John T. 
 and Harriet J. (Shreves) Gentry. Her 
 mother was born in Indiana and her fa- 
 ther was a native of North Carolina. 
 Mr. Gentry was a farmer by occupation 
 
 and when Mrs. Cruise was two months | 
 of age he removed to Pilot Grove town- 
 ship, Illinois, where he carried on gen- 
 eral agricultural pursuits. His political I 
 allegiance was given to the Republican ] 
 party, of which he was a stanch advocate. 
 He died January 14, 1873, while his wife 
 passed away January 9, 1903, the for- 
 mer being laid to rest in Pilot Grove 
 cemetery and the latter in Ross Ridge 
 cemetery in Carthage. They were mem- 
 bers of the Baptist church and were peo- 
 ple of the highest respectability. In their 
 family were six children. William R. 
 Gentry, the eldest, died in Hancock coun- 
 ty, Illinois, in 1881, leaving a widow, 
 who in her maidenhood was Malinda J. 
 Scott, and two children, William M. and 
 Lillian. The former married Grace Dag- 
 gert, resides in Denver, Colorado, and 
 has one child, Vivian Mildred, now five 
 years of age. Joshua N. Gentry, now 
 residing near McMinnville, Oregon, mar- 
 ried Miss Mary A. Brechtel, who died 
 in Norton, Kansas, in 1902, leaving two 
 children, Orin C, who married Miss 
 Helen Burnett, of Norton, Kansas ; and 
 Mabel, the wife of August Ford, resid- 
 ing at McMinnville, Oregon. Mary died 
 in infancy. John M. Gentry, the third 
 member of the family, now living at Hy- 
 annis, Nebraska, married Miss Fannie 
 Monnahan and has three children : Car- 
 ver, aged fifteen ; John, who died in in- 
 fancy; and Raymond, aged six years. 
 Mrs. Cruise is the next of the family. 
 Fannie J. Gentry became the wife of 
 Thomas J. McFarland and they reside in 
 Carthage. 
 
 Mrs. Cruise began her education in the 
 district schools of Pilot Grove township
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 and was graduated from the State Nor- 
 mal School at Terre Haute, Indiana, in 
 the class of 1884. She successfully 
 taught school for several years in Han- 
 cock county. By her marriage she has 
 become the mother of one son, Orville 
 Gentry Cruise, who was born December 
 17, 1890, in Pilot Grove township and 
 died January 17, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cruise are devoted members of the Chris- 
 tian church, in which he has served as 
 deacon and for two years has been one 
 of its elders. His wife belongs to the 
 Society of Willing Workers and the 
 Missionary Society, while Mr. Cruise has 
 been assistant superintendent of the Sun- 
 day-school. They both take a very ac- 
 tive and helpful part in the work of the 
 church and Sunday-school and their la- 
 bors have been effective and far-reach- 
 ing. Mrs. Cruise read law at home with 
 her husband while he was pursuing his 
 law course in Des Moines and is an able 
 assistant to him in his profession. They 
 reside on Madison street, north of the 
 public square, where Mr. Cruise pur- 
 chased a home several years ago. In a 
 profession where advancement depends 
 entirely upon individual merit he has 
 worked his way steadily upward and to- 
 day occupies a prominent position in pro- 
 fessional circles in Carthage. In his po- 
 litical views he is a democrat, but has 
 never been an aspirant for office, serving 
 on the school board for several years 
 but in no other official positions. He has 
 preferred to give his undivided time and 
 attention to his practice and his devotion 
 to his clients' interests is proverbial. He 
 has a comprehensive knowledge of law, 
 is correct in its adaptation and in the trial 
 
 of a case shows great strength by reason 
 of his earnest study, his analytical mind 
 and his logical deductions. 
 
 HENRY G. LINNENBURGER. 
 
 Henry G. Linnenburger possesses much 
 mechanical genius and is one of the en- 
 terprising agriculturists of Walker town- 
 ship, where he now has a splendidly im- 
 proved property, his farm with all of its 
 fine equipments being the visible evidence 
 of his life of thrift, enterprise and capabil- 
 ity, and he justly merits the success that 
 he has achieved and is well worthy of the 
 esteem and admiration which are tendered 
 him by his friends and neighbors for what 
 he has accomplished. Mr. Linnenburger 
 is a native of Walker township, having 
 been born here in 1862. His parents, 
 Charles and Mary (Susick) Linnenbur- 
 ger, were natives of Germany, born in the 
 year 1829. They came to America in 
 early life, crossing the Atlantic on one of 
 the old-time sailing vessels, which re- 
 quired weeks to make a voyage that is 
 now accomplished in about the same num- 
 ber of days, making their way to Han- 
 cock county, settling in Walker township. 
 After several years' residence here upon 
 a farm he was married. He has since de- 
 voted his attention to the general agricul- 
 tural pursuits in this part of the county, 
 and both he and his wife are yet living in 
 Walker township. His political support 
 is given to the Republican party, but he 
 has never been an office seeker. In the
 
 414 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 family are six children : Minnie, who be- 
 came the wife of Henry Altheide, and 
 died in 1888 ; Henry, of this review ; 
 Elizabeth, the wife of Gotlieb Haner, liv- 
 ing in Walker township ; Mary, the widow 
 of Joseph Altheide, also a resident of 
 Walker township; Matilda, the wife of 
 William Wallbrink, of Wythe township; 
 and Annie, the wife of Edward Wall- 
 brink, of Rocky Run township. 
 
 Henry Linnenburger had somewhat 
 limited educational privileges, although 
 he attended school to some extent in 
 Rocky Run township. He engaged in 
 farming on his own account to some ex- 
 tent before he attained his majority, hav- 
 ing been reared to the occupation and 
 trained to habits of industry, economy and 
 perseverance. In 1883 he was united in 
 marriage to Miss Anna Eliza Whitledge, 
 who was born in Kentucky in 1862. a 
 daughter of Overall K. and Frances 
 (Wheeler) Whitledge, also natives of the 
 Blue Grass state. The father died during 
 the early girlhood of his daughter, Mrs. 
 Linnenburger, and the mother afterward 
 came to Hancock county in 1872, settling 
 in Walker township. At a later date, 
 however, she returned to Kentucky, where 
 she now resides. She was the mother of 
 five children but only two are now living, 
 Robert Whitledge, of Warsaw, and Mrs. 
 Linnenburger. 
 
 For a year after his marriage Mr. Lin- 
 nenburger resided in Rocky Run township, 
 and then purchased one hundred and thir- 
 ty-five acres of land, of which sixty acres 
 is on section 6, and seventy-five acres on 
 section 7, Walker township. In 1885 he 
 erected here a cottage and he has made all 
 of the other substantial improvements 
 
 upon the place. He has forty acres of tim- 
 ber land on section 27, Walker township, 
 in addition to his home property and he 
 is regarded as a successful farmer and 
 stock-raiser. He possesses much more 
 than ordinary mechanical ingenuity. In 
 fact, his ability is such as may well entitle 
 him to be called a genius. His large, mod- 
 ern granary, tool house, blacksmith shop 
 and summer house are substantial and at- 
 tractive buildings which are an ornament 
 to his farm and a monument to his own 
 labor, for he built them all with his own 
 hands. Beside thorough understanding 
 of the carpenter's trade he is equally pro- 
 ficient as -a. blacksmith and does all of his 
 own horse shoeing and other blacksmith- 
 ing work. He also has one or two pri- 
 vate telephone lines, putting in his own 
 switchboard and doing all of this work 
 himself. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Linnenburger 
 have been born three children : Lelia, the 
 wife of Charles Ewing, of Walker town- 
 ship, by whom she has one son, Truman ; 
 Charles, who was born in 1888, and is at 
 home ; and Winnard, twelve years of age. 
 also at home. Mr. and Mrs. Linnenburger 
 have also reared an adopted son. John 
 Homer, who married Lina Hastings, by 
 whom he has one child, John Henry. He 
 and his family now reside in Walker 
 township. Mr. and Mrs. Linnenburger 
 also received into their home in 19x16 a 
 little girl, Ethel Climer, ten years of age. 
 Thus out of the kindness of their hearts 
 they have given homes to two children, a 
 fact for which they deserve much credit. 
 They are both members of the Christian 
 church, and those who know them and 
 know aught of their kindly purposes and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 415 
 
 their main' good deeds as well as their 
 fidelity to high principles, know them to 
 be most consistent Christian people. Mr. 
 Linnenburger is also a member of the 
 Modern Woodmen of America at War- 
 saw and for six years he has served as 
 a school director. His political allegiance 
 is given to the Republican paity. It is 
 rarely that one finds a more chivalrous 
 man, and it is needless to say that his is a 
 happy home. With few advantages in 
 his youth and with little material assist- 
 ance during his business life he has stead- 
 ily worked his way upward and is today 
 one of the substantial farmers of the 
 county with a splendid property as proof 
 of his well directed labors and capable 
 management. 
 
 GEORGE C. 
 
 George C. LaCroix is a representative 
 farmer of Appanoose, his native township. 
 He was born on section 32, his natal day 
 being September 20. 1848. His parents 
 were Andrew and Chloe Ann (Osborn) 
 LaCroix, the former a native of France. 
 and the latter of Bainbridge, Ohio. By 
 a former marriage to a Mr. Henry, Mrs. 
 LaCroix had two daughters : Josephine. 
 now deceased : and Adelaide, the wife of 
 Leonard Hobbs. of Nauvoo. In 1844, 
 Andrew LaCroix came to Nauvoo. He 
 had one son by his first marriage. Isaac 
 LaCroix, who died in the army in 1864. 
 He was married a second time in Rush- 
 ville, Schuvler countv. Illinois. Follow- 
 
 ing his arrival in Nauvoo he purchased 
 seventy-six acres on section 32, Appa- 
 noose township, and later his wife bought 
 ten acres adjoining. He began building 
 a house but had only completed it to the 
 first story, when, in 1850, he started for 
 California, traveling across the plains 
 with teams. He spent two years on the 
 Pacific coast and then returned by way 
 of the isthmus route to New Orleans. 
 In that city he contracted a cold which 
 caused his death April 31, 1853. He 
 brought back with him twenty-two hun- 
 dred dollars as the result of his two years' 
 labor in the Golden state. His wife sur- 
 vived him for more than two decades and 
 passed away July 31, 1875. 
 
 George C. LaCroix was the younger 
 of two sons, his brother being James La- 
 Croix, of Los Angeles, California. 
 George C. LaCroix remained with his 
 mother on the old homestead until her 
 death and then bought the interest of the 
 other heirs in the property, to which he 
 has since added sixty-six acres all on 
 section 32, Appanoose township. He 
 now has one hundred and ten acres in 
 the home place and forty acres on the 
 northeast corner of the same section, to- 
 gether with ten acres of timber on section 
 22. Appanoose township. A house, a 
 story and a half construction of eight 
 rooms, was built by his father, and to 
 this Mr. LaCroix has made additions, 
 converting it into a good modern home. 
 He carries on general farming and stock- 
 raising and is careful in the management 
 of his business interests, which are re- 
 sulting profitably to him. His farm is 
 an old historic place in Hancock county, 
 for the battle with the Mormons took
 
 416 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 place right in front of his house and 
 the father witnessed the engagement from 
 the housetop. 
 
 On the 23d of March, 1871, Mr. La- 
 Croix was married to Miss Caroline Rent- 
 schler, a native of Nauvoo, and a daugh- 
 ter of John M. and /ftinie (Snearlery) 
 Rentschler, natives of Wurtemberg. Ger- 
 many. In their family were four chil- 
 dren, who are yet living, while the family 
 record is as follows : Christ, a resident 
 of California ; John, who died in Colo- 
 rado, in September, 1895, leaving a wife 
 and five children ; George, who died 
 March 30, 1903, in Corning, Arkansas; 
 Fred, of Denver, Colorado, who is mar- 
 ried and has two children ; Mrs. LaCroix ; 
 and Anne and Sophia, twins. The former 
 is the wife of William Webber, and" the 
 latter is the widow of George Bressler, of 
 Breckenridge, Colorado. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. LaCroix 
 was blessed with three sons and three 
 daughters. Chloe Adelaide, born Octo- 
 ber 5, 1872, was married December 25, 
 1905, to Charles Smith, of Cripple Creek, 
 Colorado. Harry A., born September 
 10, 1874, married Grace McCullom in 
 December, 1905. Minnie E., who was 
 born December 14, 1876, was married 
 February n. 1902, to Ed Ainsworth, of 
 Mason City, Illinois. Fred C, born May 
 8, 1882, resides in Cripple Creek, Colo- 
 rado. Jesse Raymond, born August 17, 
 1887, and Mildred Helen, December 25, 
 1892, are at home. 
 
 Mr. LaCroix exercises his right of fran- 
 chise in support of the men and measures 
 of the democracy, and in his frateral re- 
 lations he is a Mason, who exemplifies in 
 his life the beneficent spirit of the craft, 
 
 which is based upon mutual helpfulness 
 and brotherly kindness. He has always 
 lived upon the old homestead and the les- 
 sons of industry and integrity which he 
 learned in his youth have been carefully 
 followed and have made him a prosperous 
 and honored business man and farmer of 
 Appanoose township. 
 
 ROBERT L.-CARLTON. 
 
 Robert L. Carlton, proprietor of a re- 
 tanrant in Carthage, his business making 
 him a foremost representative cf this line 
 of commercial activity, was born in Car- 
 thage, September 9, 1868, his parents be- 
 ing George W. and Nancy (Boyles) 
 Carlton, natives of Maryland and Penn- 
 sylvania respectively. The father was a 
 farmer by occupation and removed from 
 Kentucky to Woodville, Illinois, in the 
 year 1840. There he followed farming 
 for a number of years and in 1851 came 
 to Carthage, Hancock county. Soon aft- 
 erward he settled upon a farm near the 
 city, on which he made maany substantial 
 improvements, but this farm has now been 
 cut up into town lots. He died in the 
 year 1896 and his wife survived until 
 February, 1905, both being buried in Moss 
 Ridge cemetery. Her brother, Archibald 
 Boyles, served throughout the Civil War 
 with the Union army and was with Sher- 
 man on the celebrated march to the sea 
 and also participated in the grand review 
 in Washington, D. C. Unto George Carl- 
 ton bv his first wife there were born five
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 417 
 
 children, four of whom are living : A. I., 
 a resident of Carthage; Susan, the wife 
 of John T. Davis ; O. P., ; and Marietta, 
 the wife of Thomas W. Davis. All are 
 living in Carthage. Mr. Carlton's second 
 wife was the mother of our subject and 
 in their family were ten children, of whom 
 eight are living: George E., who resides 
 in the state of Washington; Edward, of 
 Galesburg, Illinois ; Eliza, the wife of J. 
 H. McOuary, of Monett, Missouri ; Alice, 
 the wife of Richard McCrellias, of Car- 
 thage, Illinois : William H., of Monett, 
 Missouri; Robert L. ; Minerva E., the 
 wife of Charles A. Starkey; and Richard 
 B. Carlton, whose home is in Keokuk, 
 Iowa. One son of the family. O. P. Carl- 
 ton, served during the latter part of the 
 Civil war. 
 
 Robert L. Carlton at the usual age en- 
 tered the public schools and therein con- 
 tinued his studies until he was well 
 equipped for life's practical and responsi- 
 ble duties. He resided upon his father's 
 farm until twenty vears of age, when 
 
 J J o * 
 
 he was married. It was in March. 1888, 
 that he wedded Miss Ella Smith, a native 
 of this county and a daughter of John 
 Smith, who was a carpenter by trade but 
 lias been dead for many years. Her moth- 
 er has also passed away and both were 
 buried in Oak Grove cemetery. Their 
 seven living children are: .Henry, a resi- 
 dent of Oklahoma: Sylvester, who is liv- 
 ing in Carthage; A. B., residing in this 
 city: Edward, of Oklahoma; Homer, of 
 Missouri: Mrs. Carlton: and Emma, the 
 wife of Harvey Ellington, of Keokuk, 
 Towa. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Carlton 
 lived for nine years, on one of his father's 
 
 farms, where he engaged in general agri- 
 cultural pursuits and stock-raising and his 
 business activity and careful management 
 constitute the basis of a very gratifying 
 success. In 1898 he was called upon to 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who died on 
 the 5th of January of that year and was 
 laid to rest in Moss Ridge cemetery. She 
 was a devoted member of the Christian 
 church, was a kind friend, a good neigh- 
 tor and a devoted and loving wife and 
 mother. She left two children, Hazel E. 
 and Claude, aged respectively fourteen 
 and eleven years and now students in the 
 public schools. In February, 1900, Mr. 
 Carlton was married to Miss Alda J. Mos- 
 ley, who was born in Hancock township 
 and is a daughter of Samuel and Mar- 
 garet (Gibson) Mosley. The father is a 
 farmer of Hancock county and is an advo- 
 cate of the democracy. In the family are 
 seven living children : Arthur, who 
 makes his home in this county; Taylor, 
 Luther, both of Carthage ; Mrs. Alda 
 Carlton ; Ida, the wife of Homer Nelson, 
 of Fountain Green, Illinois; Lawrence, 
 who is with his father in Hancock town- 
 ship : and Dena, at home with her parents. 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carlton 
 has been blessed with four children : Edith, 
 five years of age ; Kenneth and Ruth, aged 
 respectively four and two years ; and Leah 
 less than a year old. Since 1900 Mr. Carl- 
 ton has been engaged in the restaurant 
 business on Main street and has a larger 
 patronage than any other merchant in this 
 line in the city. He serves regular meals 
 and lunches, ice cream and soda water 
 and his establishment is a favorite resort 
 with those who have patronage to bestow. 
 His close application to his business and
 
 418 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 his earnest desire to please his patrons 
 have been strong elements in his growing 
 trade. He votes with the democracy and 
 fraternally is connected with the Knights 
 of Pythias and with the Modern Wood- 
 men. His wife is a sincere member of 
 the Christian church. They occupy his 
 father's old home place, which he pur- 
 chased and which is situated on Wabash 
 avenue. Mr. Carlton is a jovial, pleasant 
 gentleman of good principles, affable in 
 manner and friendly in disposition and 
 both he and his wife are popular in the 
 community. 
 
 JOHN E. COCHRAN. 
 
 John E. Cochran. a highly respected 
 farmer of Wythe township, is numbered 
 among the residents that Pennsylvania 
 has furnished to Hancock county. He 
 was born in Westmoreland county, of the 
 Keystone state, September 9, 1841, a son 
 of James and Nancy (Elder) Cochran, 
 who were also born in that county. His 
 paternal grandfather. John Cochran. was 
 a native of Fayette county, Pennsylva- 
 nia, while the maternal grandparents, 
 John and Sarah (Rose) Elder, were na- 
 tives of Pennsylvania, but were of Eng- 
 lish lineage, the family having been es- 
 tablished in Pennsylvania at an early 
 day. James Cochran, father of our sub- 
 ject, followed the occupation of farming 
 and conducted salt works in Pennsylva- 
 nia for many years, but at length, attract- 
 ed by the opportunities of the new and 
 
 growing west, he came to Hancock coun- 
 ty, arriving in Bear Creek township, on 
 the 1 4th of November, 1862. There he 
 lived for eighteen years and became the 
 owner of a valuable farm of three hun- 
 dred and twenty acres of prairie and tim- 
 ber land. It was unimproved when it 
 came into his possession, but he placed it 
 under a high state of cultivation, devel- 
 oping an excellent farm property. As 
 his son, John E. Cochran, was the eldest 
 of the family, much of the work devolved 
 upon him. In 1870 the parents removed 
 to Wythe township, where they purchased 
 one hundred and forty acres of land on 
 section 16, and thereon made their home 
 until called to their final rest. The fa- 
 ther died on the I4th of August, 1895, 
 while his wife survived until the 2d of 
 November, 1900. They were most high- 
 ly esteemed people .and during the long 
 years of their residence in this county 
 won the friendship and high regard of 
 many with whom they were brought in 
 contact. In their family were five sons 
 and two daughters. 
 
 John E. Cochran. the eldest, spent his 
 youth in Pennsylvania and acquired a dis- 
 trict school education there. He was a 
 young man of about twenty-one years at 
 the time of the removal of the family to 
 Illinois, and he did much of the arduous 
 work connected with the development of 
 a new farm, turning the first furrows on 
 many an acre. At length he began, farm- 
 ing on his own account and eventually 
 he traded a sixty-acre farm as partial 
 payment for a tract of two hundred and 
 forty acres. He lived upon the latter 
 place until 1882, when he came to Wythe 
 township and bought one hundred and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 419 
 
 sixty acres on section 22. the purchase 
 price being nine thousand dollars. He 
 sold his first place in 1887 for seven thou- 
 sand dollars, and in the spring of 1906 it 
 was sold for nineteen thousand. On re- 
 m< iving to his present property Mr. Coch- 
 ran at once began its further cultivation 
 and development. He had dug a forty- 
 foot well, which is the finest in the town- 
 ship. He now has twenty feet of water 
 in the well and has erected in connection 
 therewith a windmill. He has also built 
 a two-story frame residence of eight 
 rooms with cellar of cement sides and 
 floor. He has also installed an acetylene 
 gas lighting plant and altogether has one 
 of the most modern and attractive homes 
 of this part of the county. He has like- 
 wise built a large barn forty .by sixty 
 feet with twenty-four-foot posts, and it 
 has capacity for two thousand bushels of 
 corn? He has a nice house, carriage sheds 
 and various other buildings upon his 
 farm, and altogether it is a model prop- 
 erty, lacking in none of the equipments 
 and accessories known to the best farms 
 of the twentieth century. There is a fine 
 apple orchard and everything about the 
 place indicates the careful supervision of 
 the owner through its neat and thrifty 
 appearance. 
 
 On the 7th of March, 1867, Mr. Coch- 
 ran was married to Miss Rachel Moore, 
 who .was born about a mile and a half 
 north of Basco in Bear Creek township. 
 Her parents, Andrew and Abigail 
 (Tweed) Moore, were natives of Dela- 
 ware, and in 1835 became residents of 
 Bear Creek township, where the father 
 purchased and improved one hundred and 
 sixty acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Coch- 
 
 ran have become the parents of seven chil- 
 dren, but only one is now living, Newton 
 M., of Wythe township, who was born in 
 Bear Creek township, August 4, 1868. 
 The others Elmer, Harry, Annie, Nan- 
 nie, Jessie and Charles all died in in- 
 fancy. Mr. Cochran is a republican in his 
 political allegiance and his religious faith 
 is indicated by his membership in the 
 Presbyterian church. He has always 
 been deeply interested in the subject of 
 agriculture and in anything pertaining 
 to progress along that line and has not 
 only been a follower but a leader in the 
 work of general improvement in farm 
 life in Hancock county. His own pro- 
 gressive spirit is indicated in the splen- 
 did appearance of his place and his fine 
 farm is the just reward of his life of in- 
 tense and well directed activity. 
 
 REASON A. NELSON. 
 
 Reason A. Nelson, of La Harpe, is an 
 extensive landowner, having seven hun- 
 dred acres in Illinois besides valuable 
 property elsewhere. He was born near 
 Pittsfield, Pike county, Illinois, January 
 26, 1846. His paternal grandfather, 
 Elisha Nelson, was a native of Ireland and 
 after coming to the new world settled in 
 Ohio. His son, George C. Nelson, was 
 born about ten miles from Cadiz, Ohio, 
 March 28, 1825, and when but seventeen 
 years of age was married to Charlotte 
 Carnes, who was born in the same lo- 
 cality. They became the parents of five
 
 42O 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 children, of whom three are still living, 
 the second being the subject of this re- 
 view. The wife and mother, however, 
 passed away in 1850 and in 1853 George 
 C. Nelson married Sarah A. Irving, who 
 was born in Harrison county, Ohio, No- 
 vember 12, 1833. Her paternal grand- 
 parents were James and Elizabeth 
 (Barnes) Irving, both of whom were na- 
 tives of Maryland. Her father, James 
 Irving, was born in Harrison county, 
 Ohio, and having arrived at years of 
 maturity was married to Martha Dun- 
 ham, also a native of that county and a 
 daughter of William and Mary 
 (Chauncy) Dunham, natives of Virginia. 
 Mr. and Mrs. James Irving lived upon a 
 farm in Ohio until 1844, when he sold 
 his property there and removed to Pike 
 county, Illinois. There he purchased a 
 tract of land upon which he lived until 
 his death about two years later. It was 
 in 1853 that his daughter Sarah Ann be- 
 came the wife of George C. Nelson, then 
 of Henderson county, Illinois. At the 
 time of his first marriage Mr. Nelson 
 was but seventeen years of age and for 
 four years thereafter he continued to 
 work for his father. When he attained 
 his majority he was the owner of two 
 steers costing thirteen dollars and a half, 
 which he had earned through extra labor. 
 Continuing to work hard and saving his 
 earnings, he was at length enabled to pur- 
 chase forty acres of land in Pike county, 
 Illinois, which he tilled with one horse 
 and an ox. In 1854 he sold out and re- 
 moved to Henderson county, where he 
 purchased a half section of farm land 
 and ten acres of timber, paying one half 
 down and the balance on time. After 
 
 that change he met with success and be- 
 came one of the most extensive landown- 
 ers of the state, having about three 
 thousand acres. He was also the owner 
 of one hundred and fifty head of blooded 
 horses and many head of cattle, sheep 
 and hogs and was thus one of the leading 
 stock-raisers as well as large landowners 
 of Henderson county. He continued ac- 
 tively in business until his death, which 
 occurred November I, 1894. The chil- 
 dren of the second marriage are : Wil- 
 liam S., born November 12, 1854; 
 Charles H. ; Elmer R. ; Grace M., the wife 
 of Andrew James, of La Harpe, Illinois; 
 Bessie S., who became the wife of Ernest 
 Hull and died August 30, 1905 ; and 
 Quinton Ward. There were also six 
 children who died in infancy. The 
 spring following the death of Mr. Nelson 
 his widow and the children removed to 
 La Harpe, where she is now residing. 
 
 Reason A. Nelson acquired his educa- 
 tion in the public schools of Henderson 
 county, Illinois, and was reared to the 
 occupation of farming. He remained 
 under the parental roof and assisted in 
 the work of field and meadow until 1871, 
 or for a year after his marriage, when he 
 rented one of his father's farms, consist- 
 ing of two hundred acres. He then re- 
 moved to that place, whereon he remained 
 for three years, when he rented two hun- 
 dred and eighty-five acres near Terre 
 Haute, Illinois. This he continued to 
 lease for eight years at a rental of one 
 thousand dollars per year and at the end 
 of that time he bought the farm for sixty- 
 two and a half dollars per acre. The 
 west half of Terre Haute comprised a 
 part of his original farm. After selling
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 421 
 
 that tract for city lots he bought eighty 
 acres lying west of the north half of his 
 first purchase and later he added six and a 
 half acres adjoining on which stood a 
 house, barn and other good farm build- 
 ings. As the years passed he has pros- 
 pered through his judicious investment, 
 through his careful management of his 
 business affairs and through his unremit- 
 ting diligence, so that when the La Harpe 
 district fair was established he was able 
 to loan five thousand dollars towards its 
 promotion. He has continued adding to 
 his property until he now owns seven 
 hundred and twenty acres of farm land in 
 Illinois, together with city property, and 
 he also has an interest of one hundred and 
 sixty acres in Kansas. About 1900 he 
 bought eighty acres of land in Henderson 
 county, for which he paid sfx thousand 
 dollars, and after stocking it with every- 
 thing necessary for a complete farm he 
 presented it to his eldest son, who lived 
 there for about two years, when he sold 
 the property for seven thousand dollars 
 and removed to La Harpe. 
 
 On the 29th "of October, 1870, Mr. 
 Nelson was united in marriage to Miss 
 Susan R. Ruckman, who was born in 
 Newark, New Jersey, November 25, 1846, 
 a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen 
 Ruckman and the fourth of a family of 
 eight children. About 1864 her mother 
 and stepfather removed to Hancock 
 county, settling near La Harpe, and later 
 they took up their abode at Bloomfield, 
 Iowa, where Mrs. Nelson was living at 
 the time of her marriage. This union 
 was blessed with eight children, four sons 
 and four daughters, but three of the num- 
 ber died in infancy. Those still living 
 
 are: 'Mrs. Jerusha M. Berkshire, of 
 Terre Haute, Illinois, who was born in 
 September, 1876; Le Roy E., who was 
 born in August, 1879, and is now in La 
 Harpe; Mrs. Maude E. Kerr, who was 
 born in March, 1881, and lives in La 
 Harpe township; George C., who was 
 born January 4, 1884, and is also in La 
 Harpe; and Mrs. Charlotte Elston, who 
 was born March n, 1886, and is now on 
 the old home place at Terre Haute, Illi- 
 nois. Mrs. Nelson departed this life 
 June 5, 1904. In May, 1904, the family 
 had removed to La Harpe, where a month 
 later Mrs. Nelson died. Mr. Nelson has 
 since resided in La Harpe, from which 
 town he superintends his business inter- 
 ests. His eldest son, after selling the farm 
 which was a gift from his father, clerked 
 for two years in a grocery store owned 
 by his uncle in La Harpe and then bought 
 a third interest in the Keef Clothing 
 Company in this place. He also owns a 
 third interest in a farm of one hundred 
 and sixty acres in Iowa. 
 
 Mr. Nelson votes with the Republican 
 party and fraternally is identified with 
 the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
 and the Rebekah lodge. His entire life 
 has been passed in Illinois and for many 
 years he has resided in Hancock county, 
 where his labors, directed by intelligence 
 and sound judgment, have proven im- 
 portant factors in a very desirable success. 
 
 The sons of Mr. Nelson belong to the 
 Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
 all of his daughters belong to Rebekah 
 lodge, and are also members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal church of La Harpe, and 
 all are held in the highest esteem by all 
 who know them.
 
 422 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 JOHN HAIGH. 
 
 John Haigh, a pioneer farmer of Appa- 
 noose township, where he owns two hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of rich and produc- 
 tive land situated on section 14, was born 
 in Frankford, near Philadelphia, Penn- 
 sylvania, July 26, 1821, and conies of 
 English lineage, his paternal grandfather 
 having been born in Yorkshire. England. 
 whence he removed to Pennsylvania in 
 1815, where he 'conducted a cotton manu- 
 factory. His death there occurred in 
 1844, his wife having passed away many 
 years previous. The subject of this sketch 
 is a son of John and Mary Haigh, in 
 whose family were four sons and two 
 daughters, of whom our subject is the 
 third in order of birth. 
 
 John Haigh. whose name introduces this 
 review, was reared in the Keystone state, 
 and was there educated in the common 
 schools. When a small hoy he assisted 
 his father in a cotton mill, and later 
 learned the trade of dressing morocco used 
 for making ladies' shoes, being employed 
 in this way for twelve or fifteen years. He 
 was there married in 1841 to Miss Sarah 
 Folcrod, who was born in Philadelphia, 
 and her death occurred about a year after 
 their marriage, leaving a son, Louis. On 
 the 1 2th of February, 1846, Mr. Haigh 
 was married a second time, his union be- 
 ing with Miss Sarah Sheward,- who was 
 torn in Chester county, Pennsylvania, 
 September 28, 1828, a daughter of War- 
 rick and Ann Sheward. Following his 
 marriage he lived in Philadelphia until 
 1853, when he went to Pittsbmg by rail, 
 where he took passage on a steamer for 
 Ouincy. Illinois, where Mrs. Haigh's par- 
 
 ents were then living. After a very brief 
 stay in that city they came to Hancock 
 county, and made purchase of forty acres 
 of land situated on section 18, Pontoosuc 
 township, a portion of which had been 
 cleared, while the remainder was covered 
 with timber. This he cleared, placing his 
 land under a high state of cultivation. On 
 the place was a log house, in which the 
 family made their home for two years. 
 He then removed to a farm in Appanoose 
 township, to which he moved his log 
 house. As the years passed by he pros- 
 pered in his business affairs and was soon 
 enabled to purchase more land, adding 
 sixty acres. On this he erected a frame 
 house containing three rooms, to which 
 he has since added so that he now has a 
 comfortable home supplied with every 
 convenience. He has added to his landed 
 possessions from time to time so that he 
 now owns two hundred and sixty acres of 
 rich prairie land, situated on section 14, 
 Appanoose township. Here he is en- 
 gaged in the work of general farming, and 
 also 'raises cattle, horses, hogs and sheep, 
 arid finds this branch of his business a 
 very profitable source of income. When 
 he took possession of his property it was 
 all wild and unimproved but he soon broke 
 the prairie, placed his fields under cultiva- 
 tion and added all of the buildings which 
 are here found, so that he now has a 
 model farm of the twentieth century. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Haigh have been 
 torn the following named : John, of Ap- 
 panoose township; William, of Holt 
 county. Nebraska; Annie, the wife of Wil- 
 liam Seigrist, also residing in Appanoose 
 township ; Jennie, the wife of David R. 
 Thornber, who now makes her home with
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 423 
 
 parents; George, on the home farm; Tru- 
 man, of Los Angeles, California ; Mary 
 Emma, the wife of Nimrod Woody, of 
 Los Angeles, California ; Rachel, the wife 
 of Peter Mclntosh, of Alton, Oregon 
 county, Missouri; Sherman, likewise a 
 resident of Los Angeles ; Morris, who died 
 at the age of thirty-two years; James, of 
 Bogard, Missouri ; and Benjamin, who 
 died at the age of thirteen years. Louis, 
 the son of the first marriage, resides at 
 Niota, Illinois. 
 
 In politics Mr. Haigh is a republican 
 but is not an active worker in the work 
 of the party. While still a resident of the 
 Keystone state he became a member of the 
 Odd Fellows order and also of the Ameri- 
 can Mechanics. When he located in Han- 
 cock county much of the land was still un- 
 claimed and uncultivated, and deer and 
 wolves were still roaming over the 
 prairies and through the forests, while 
 prairie chickens, wild turkeys and other 
 game was to be had in abundance. He 
 has lived to see many changes here, the 
 land having been reclaimed by the set- 
 tlers and all modern improvements are 
 here seen. His life has been quietly 
 passed, and yet his record contains many 
 lessons worthy of emulation, for he has 
 been found persistent, active and honor- 
 able in all life's relations, and having 
 lived in this section of the state for more 
 than a half century he has a wide and 
 favorable acraiaintance. 
 
 Since the above was written Mr. Haigh 
 has passed away, his death occurring on 
 November 6, 1906, at the home place after 
 a short sickness. He is buried in the 
 Jackson graveyard in Appanoose town- 
 ship. 
 27 
 
 WILLIAM O. SANFORD. 
 
 William O. Sanford is now living re- 
 tired in Hamilton and belongs to that 
 class of men who have found in the pres- 
 sure of adversity and the stimulus of op- 
 position incentive for bringing forth their 
 best and strongest efforts and thereby 
 winning success. Mr. Sanford is one 
 of the oldest citizens of Hamilton, hav- 
 ing passed the eighty-fourth milestone on 
 life's journey, his birth having occurred 
 in Tioga county, New York, July 21, 
 1822. His parents were Timothy and 
 Lucinda (Teal) Sanford, the former a 
 native of Connecticut and the latter of 
 New Hampshire. In the paternal line he 
 comes of one of the old New England 
 families. His grandfather was Ebenezer 
 Sanford, also a native of Connecticut, and 
 a son of Ebenezer Sanford, Sr, who was 
 born in England. The last named, in 
 company with three brothers, came to the 
 United States, settling here before the 
 Revolutionary war when this country 
 was still numbered among the colonial 
 possessions of Great Britain. He became 
 connected with the navy during the pe- 
 riod of hostilities, which led to the es- 
 tablishment of the republic and was killed 
 in an effort to prevent the British from 
 reaching West Point, New York. Eb- 
 enezer Sanford, Jr., lived in Connecticut 
 and later removed to Candor, Tioga 
 county. New York, where he resided for 
 a few years, when he removed to Mon- 
 roe county, Michigan, where he died. 
 He married Rhoda North, who was a 
 granddaughter of Lord Norton, of Eng- 
 land, and their son, Timothy Sanford, 
 was reared in Hartford county, Connect-
 
 424 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 icut, removing thence to Tioga county, 
 New York, after he had attained his ma- 
 jority. In the latter place he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Lucinda Teal, a daughter 
 of Rev. Benjamin Teal. At the time of 
 the war of 1812 he espoused the cause 
 of the United States and valiantly fought 
 during the second period of hostilities 
 with England. He continued to remain 
 a resident of New York up to the time of 
 his demise, which occurred in 1891. He 
 had long survived his wife, who passed 
 away in 1837. 
 
 William O. Sanford was the second in 
 order of birth in the family of six sons 
 and two daughters. He assisted his fa- 
 ther in a sawmill business which the lat- 
 ter was operating in the midst of the tim- 
 bered regions, as that country was cov- 
 ered with hemlock and pine trees. He 
 also learned the trade of cabinet making, 
 entering upon an apprenticeship when 
 seventeen years of age and working for 
 four years in that way. He and his 
 brother afterward removed to Akron, 
 Ohio, where they conducted a cabinet 
 making business until 1855, when Wil- 
 liam O. Sanford sold out to his brother, 
 who carried on the business until his 
 death in 1896. After disposing of his 
 cabinet making interests Mr. Sanford of 
 this review came to Illinois and spent 
 about two years in looking for a favora- 
 ble location on the Mississippi river. 
 .Finally he located at Hamilton, where he 
 spent many years, being employed as dis- 
 tributing agent and also overseeing the 
 construction of depots. He erected sev- 
 eral of the older houses in Hamilton, 
 and now owns three of them. He trav- 
 eled over about five hundred miles of the 
 
 Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 
 assisting in the construction of all of the 
 buildings on its line. For about three- 
 years he conducted a mercantile business, 
 being thus engaged subsequent to the 
 Civil war. 
 
 When the country was engaged in hos- 
 tility between the north and the south 
 Mr. Sanford enlisted in defense of the 
 Union, becoming a member of Company 
 G, Twenty-third Illinois Infantry, called 
 Mulligan's Irish Brigade of the Second 
 Division and Twenty-third Regiment of 
 the Twenty-fourth Army Corps. He 
 was one of those who guarded Libby 
 Prison for three months. He enlisted in 
 1 86 1 for the purpose of driving the Con- 
 federates from the northeastern part of 
 Missouri and in the winter of 1864-5 ne 
 re-enlisted with the same command and 
 was honorably discharged in August of 
 the latter year. 
 
 Following the war Mr. Sanford re- 
 turned to Hamilton and entered the serv- 
 ice of the railroad, remaining in that po- 
 sition for about four years. He had 
 charge of the mechanical department of 
 the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad 
 when it was built to Keokuk. He assisted 
 in the construction of the bridges and de- 
 pots on the road. That he has prospered 
 in his undertakings is indicated by the 
 fact that he now owns three houses and 
 lots in addition to his attractive residence 
 in Hamilton. Since 1892 he has lived 
 retired amid many of the comforts and 
 some of the luxuries of life which have 
 been gained through his own efforts. 
 
 Mr. Sanford was first married in Oc- 
 tober, 1849. to Miss Joanna Baker, who 
 was born in New York. Thev had one
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 425 
 
 child, Charles B. Sanford, who died in 
 Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1888. while 
 the wife and mother passed away in 
 April, 1852. On the ist of January, 
 1857, Mr. Sanford was again married, 
 his second union being with Sarah A. 
 Kauffman, who was born near Dayton, 
 Ohio, March 4, 1829, a daughter of 
 Christian and Hester (Whitmore) Kauff- 
 man, natives of Pennsylvania. The chil- 
 dren of this marriage were as follows: 
 Arthur J., who died at the age of two and 
 a half years; Emma Luella, who died 
 when three and a half years of age; Orion 
 H., who died in San Antonio, Texas, 
 March 6, 1892, at the age of twenty- 
 seven years; and Orion H., who was born 
 September 21, 1863. and died March 6, 
 1892. The last named attended the 
 Pierce Business College at Keokuk and 
 was afterward clerk for the Standard Oil 
 Company at Keokuk for about a year, 
 when he was transferred to Davenport, 
 where he was employed for six years. 
 His health then failed him and with his 
 parents he traveled to California and 
 Texas, but was taken with grip in the 
 last named state after his health had be- 
 come partially improved. This disease, 
 however, terminated fatally. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Sanford is 
 a stalwart republican. He was elected as 
 a member of the city council at Akron, 
 Ohio, served for two terms and an unex- 
 pired term as clerk and also filled out 
 an unexpired term as mayor, acting in the 
 latter capacity for nearly a year. He was 
 a very prominent resident of Akron, 
 Ohio, and was connected with the ma- 
 jority of its leading organizations. After 
 coming to Hamilton he was elected and 
 
 served as alderman here. He wrote the 
 first city charter and succeeded in secur- 
 ing its passage through the legislature. 
 He was the second mayor of Hamilton 
 and served for three terms, while for ten 
 terms he filled the position of alderman. 
 His public service has been most capa- 
 ble and over the record of his official ca- 
 reer there falls no shadow of wrong or 
 suspicion of evil. In his business affairs 
 he has prospered as the years have gone 
 by and is now in possession of property 
 which indicates a well-directed activity 
 and enterprise in former years. He has 
 made a close and discriminating study of 
 the needs and possibilities of his town and 
 county and in his official capacities has 
 labored earnestly and effectively to pro- 
 duce the best results. Living retired in 
 Hamilton, he has a wide and favorable 
 acquaintance in this part of the county 
 and his labors have at all times been so 
 honorable that he has won not only suc- 
 cess but also an untarnished name. 
 
 JAMES W. WESTFALL. 
 
 Oh the roster of county officials in Han- 
 cock county appears the name of James 
 \Y. Westfall, who is filling the position 
 of county clerk. Carthage has been fa- 
 vored in the class of men who have oc- 
 cupied her official positions, for there has 
 been little corruption in public office here 
 such as is more common in large cities. 
 In fact the business duties connected with 
 the city and county have been performed
 
 426 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RE I' I El I' 
 
 in a most favorable manner by men of 
 broad integrity and worth and of this 
 class James \Y. Westfall is a worthy rep- 
 resentative. He is a son of Calvin and 
 Elizabeth (McCullough) Westfall and 
 was born near Lacrosse in Hancock 
 county, November 30, 1861. His par- 
 ents are also natives of this county and 
 the father for many years followed the 
 occupation of farming but at length re- 
 tired from active business life and died 
 in Burnside. Illinois, December n, 1893. 
 His widow still resides there. In their 
 family were four children, of whom three 
 are now living : ' Mary, who died at the 
 age of four years ; Ellen, now the wife of 
 T. G. Wright, of Burnside; James W. : 
 and George X., who resides in Marcel ine, 
 Missouri. 
 
 Mr. Westfall of this review pursued 
 his early education in the public schools 
 in Pilot Grove township and afterward 
 attended a business college at Keokuk, 
 Iowa. When his schools days were over 
 he became a successful telegraphic op- 
 erator for the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw 
 Railroad, occupying positions at various 
 places for ten years. He was also post- 
 master at Burnside for four years and 
 was engaged in the hardware business 
 there for four years. He came to Car- 
 thage to make his home in 1898 and was 
 here elected to the office of county clerk, 
 which position he is still filling. He is a 
 stanch democrat in politics and has served 
 in several official positions, acting as 
 township clerk in Pilot Grove township. 
 
 On the 20th of February, 1887, Mr. 
 Westfall was married to Miss Laura 
 Mills, of Durham township, Hancock 
 county, a daughter of John and Elizabeth 
 
 Mills, whose parents were old settlers of 
 that township, where her father followed 
 farming. They are still living and now 
 make their home with their children. 
 They had two daughters : Mrs. West- 
 fall; and Emma, the wife of O. D. Wick- 
 izer, of Chinook, Montana. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Westfall have six sons, four of 
 whom were born in Burnside and the 
 youngest in Carthage. These are : Ver- 
 non, born March 28, 1888; Bruce, in De- 
 cember, 1889"; Paul, December 18, 1894; 
 Mills, July 22, 1897; and James, born 
 July 21, 1900. Lewis, born April 13, 
 1906. The parents are prominent and 
 influential members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, in which Mr. Westfall 
 is serving as steward, while his wife be- 
 longs to the various church societies. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the Ma- 
 sonic lodge of Burnside and with the 
 chapter at Carthage and he also belongs 
 to Bentley lodge, No. 412, Independent 
 Order of Odd Fellows in which he 
 has passed all of the chairs. He 
 is likewise a member of the Woodmen 
 of the World and the Court of Honor and 
 is popular in these various organizations. 
 He is now proving a capable officer, dis- 
 charging his duties with promptness and 
 fidelity such as indicates his loyal citizen- 
 ship and progressive spirit. 
 
 THOMAS RUGGLES. 
 
 No history of Hamilton would be com- 
 plete without mention of Thomas Rug-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 427 
 
 gles, who for fifty years lias been a dry 
 goods merchant of this city and since 
 1848 has resided here. He came to Illi- 
 nois when it was a pioneer district, trav- 
 eling across the country when one would 
 ride for miles and miles without seeing a 
 habitation or evidences that the seeds of 
 civilization had been planted on the west- 
 ern frontier. He is thoroughly familiar 
 with the history of the county and events. 
 which to most people are matters of his- 
 tory, have been witnessed by him or have 
 been matters of experience with him. He 
 was born in Daviess county. Indiana, De- 
 cember 13, 1825. His paternal grandfa- 
 ther. Thomas Ruggles. was a native of 
 North Carolina and married Rachel Free- 
 land, who was torn in Maryland. Their 
 son, Jacob Ruggles, was born in Bourbon 
 county, Kentucky, where the family lived 
 for a number of years. Having arrived 
 at adult age. he married Miss Henrietta 
 McDonald, who was also born in Ken- 
 tucky and was a daughter of Francis and 
 Eleanor (Hamilton) McDonald, the for- 
 mer a native of Maryland and the latter 
 of Delaware. Francis McDonald was a 
 Revolutionary soldier and was taken on a 
 British man of war to the new world. 
 When they landed at Charleston. South 
 Carolina, he deserted the British troops 
 and joined the colonial army. He was 
 only a boy at that time. He fought, for 
 the independence of the colonies and after 
 the establishment of the republic he emi- 
 grated to Kentucky at an early day and 
 lived there for a number of years. Subse- 
 quently he removed to Indiana, where his 
 last days were passed. Thomas Ruggles 
 was also a pioneer settler of Indiana, liv- 
 ing there at a time when in the midst of 
 
 the little settlement was an old log fort, to 
 which all of the citizens would go to seek 
 protection from the Indians when there 
 would be an uprising among the red 
 people. 
 
 Jacob Ruggles, father of our subject, 
 lived upon the farm in Indiana for many 
 years. In 1851 he wait to California, 
 where he remained for nine years, return- 
 ing to Indiana in the fall of 1860. 
 
 Thomas Ruggles, whose name intro- 
 duces this review, began his education in 
 one of the old-time subscription schools 
 which met in a log cabin in Indiana. He 
 spent the days of his boyhood and youth 
 on the old homestead farm in that state, 
 living with his parents until 1847. At the 
 age of twenty-three years he came to Illi- 
 nois, making his way to Hamilton. He 
 traveled on horseback alone, being two 
 weeks upon the way. He would travel all 
 day at times and not see more than two 
 or three houses. He stopped at first at 
 Montebello and in the spring of 1849 went 
 to work on a farm, where he farmed for 
 six years. Before removing to Illinois, 
 however, he had studied law with an uncle 
 in Indiana. He fanned the first year in 
 Illinois and worked with the man who 
 helped lay out the town of Hamilton, be- 
 ing employed at carpentering. In 1856 he 
 established a general mercantile business 
 in the new town of Hamilton and has con- 
 tinued in active connection with commer- 
 cial interests to the present time, although 
 various changes have occurred in the 
 partnership. He was first associated with 
 John K. Allen 'and in 1860 he sold out. 
 In 1861 he began business again at Oak- 
 wood, where he continued until 1870. He 
 then entered upon the active practice of
 
 428 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 law, having been admitted to the bar in 
 1867, and he also engaged in farming a 
 tract of land until 1875. In that year he 
 again established a general store, which 
 he conducted until 1881, since which time 
 he has given his attention only to the gro- 
 cery trade. He is a pioneer in business 
 in Hamilton and no man today connected 
 with its business interests has been for a 
 longer period actively associated with 
 commercial life here. He now has a good 
 store, well equipped with a carefully se- 
 lected stock of staple and fancv groceries 
 and has a gratifying patronage. 
 
 In December, 1849, Mr. Ruggles was 
 united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wal- 
 ler, who was born in Indiana, a daughter 
 of George and Catherine (McDonald) 
 Waller. Their children were George, who 
 was born in 1851 and died at the age of 
 five years, Homer, who was born in 1852, 
 and died at the age of four years ; Cather- 
 ine, who was born in 1854 and died at the 
 age of thirty-five years; and Henrietta, 
 who was born in 1855 and died when 
 eighteen years of age. The wife and 
 mother passed away in June, 1857. In 
 July, 1858, Mr. Ruggles was again mar- 
 ried, his second union being with Hannah 
 L. Choate, who was born in Adams coun- 
 ty, Illinois, and is a daughter of Langdon 
 and Deborah (Jones) Choate. There 
 were six children of this marriage, of 
 whom one daughter died in infancy. The 
 others are : Thomas, who was born in 
 1863 and died at the age of thirty years ; 
 Clara, the wife of Robert Hall, who is en- 
 gaged in the insurance business in Hamil- 
 ton ; Edinond, who died at the age of thir- 
 ty-five years; Leon, of Hancock county; 
 and Alice, who died in infancy. The wife 
 
 and mother passed away in June, 1872, ! 
 and in April, 1874, Mr. Ruggles was mar-<j 
 ried to Mrs. Anna B. Christfield Mason, 
 the widow of Dr. John Mason, who was 
 a dentist of Keokuk. 
 
 In his political affiliation Mr. Ruggles 
 has long been a republican, supporting the 
 party since its organization. He was one 
 of the first school directors of this district, 
 was trustee of Hamilton during the sec- 
 ond year of the existence of the village 
 and was alderman for about twelve years. 
 In 1858 he was elected justice of the peace 
 and filled the position of supervisor the 
 same year. He continued in the latter of- 
 fice for eight terms and was also school 
 trustee for a number of years and has con- 
 tinued as a justice of the peace with the 
 exception of two terms up to the present 
 time. The fact that he has long been re- 
 tained in the public service is indication 
 of his capability and fidelity. He is a Ma- 
 son, being the only charter member of 
 Hamilton lodge now living. This is 
 known as Black Hawk lodge. No. 
 238, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,' 
 and he is also connected with the 
 Royal Arch chapter and the Eastern 
 Star. He is now in his eighty-first year 
 and is a well known citizen, who at all 
 times has enjoyed the fullest confidence 
 and respect of his fellowmen and has mer- 
 ited their regard and good will. 
 
 AUSTIN COLEMAN WOOLFOLK. 
 
 Austin Coleman Woolfolk was born in 
 Farmington, Missouri, on the i6th of De-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 429 
 
 cember, 1836, a son of George and Ma- 
 tilda (Taylor) \Yoolfolk. In his early 
 boyhood days the family removed to Pike 
 county, Illinois. The father died during 
 the infancy of his son and the mother 
 passed away when Austin C. \Yoolfolk 
 was but sixteen years of age. He was 
 thus early deprived of parental care and 
 attention. In his youth he attended the 
 public schools of Pike county and his 
 collegiate course was pursued in Bethany , 
 College of Virginia, after which he re- 
 turned to Pittsfield, Illinois, and took up 
 the study of law under the Hon. Milton 
 Hay, one of the most distinguished legists 
 that has ever practiced at the bar of Illi- 
 nois. His deep interest was aroused by 
 the momentous questions which awakened 
 public attention in anti-bellum days. He 
 was a student of the signs of the times, 
 noted the growing dissatisfaction in the 
 south and the threatening attitude and 
 his patriotic spirit was aroused in defense 
 of the Federal government and its su- 
 premacy. Therefore it was not strange 
 that when Fort Sumter was fired upon, 
 like many other young attorneys, he put 
 aside his law books that he might aid 
 his country in the preservation of the 
 Union. He enlisted and was instru- 
 mental in raising a company which was 
 attached to the Seventeenth Illinois Vol- 
 unteer Infantry. The command was sent 
 to Alton and he was on active duty with 
 the regiment for a year, at the end of 
 which time he was transferred to the 
 quartermaster's department and later as- 
 signed to the United States service. He 
 participated in two of the most hotly 
 contested battles that occurred in the mid- 
 dle west Fort Donelson and Corinth, 
 
 where he suffered from strangulation and 
 forever afterward was a sufferer from 
 asthma. He continued with the army 
 from 1 86 1 until 1866, faithfully perform- 
 ing every task that devolved upon him 
 no matter how hazardous was its nature 
 or what risks he had to incur in perform- 
 ing the duty assigned him. He was then 
 honorably discharged at Cairo, Illinois, 
 after sending in his resignation. 
 > Resuming the pursuits of civic life, Mr. 
 Woolf.lk once more entered upon the 
 practice"' *af law, locating in Mankato, 
 Minnesota';* and there he soon gained 
 recognition as an able lawyer, who pre- 
 pared his*i?ases with thoroughness and 
 care, was logical in his reasonings, sound 
 in argument and forceful in his presenta- 
 tion of his cause. His ability attracted 
 to him wide attention and led to his ap- 
 pointment by the governor to the position 
 of district judge of the sixth judicial dis- 
 trict of Minnesota. His legal learning, 
 his analytical mind, the readiness with 
 which he grasped the points in an argu- 
 ment, all combined to make him one of the 
 most capable jurists of that district. His 
 decisions indicated strong mentality, care- 
 ful analyzation, a thorough knowledge 
 of the law and an unbiased judgment. 
 He was widely recognized as a man of 
 well balanced intellect and discharged 
 with impartiality and equity the duties 
 of the office to which life, property, right 
 and liberty must look for protection. At 
 length, however, he resigned his position 
 as district judge and went to Colorado, 
 where through the succeeding six years 
 he devoted his attention to the private 
 practice of law. 
 
 On the 8th of October, 1863, Mr.
 
 43 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEIl' 
 
 Woolfolk had been married to Miss Mary 
 Pierce Hay, a daughter of Dr. Charles 
 and Helen (Leonard) Hay, a history of 
 whom is given elsewhere in this work 
 together with the history of her brothers. 
 Major Leonard Hay, of the United 
 States army and Hon. John Hay, late 
 secretary of state under McKinley and 
 Roosevelt. Mrs. Woolfolk was born in 
 Salem, Indiana, and with her parents re- 
 moved to Warsaw. Mr. and Mrs. Wool- 
 folk remained residents of Colorado until 
 the death of the husband on the i5th 
 of February, 1880, after which his re- 
 mains were returned to Warsaw for in- 
 terment and here Mrs. Woolfolk has since 
 made her home. In an active life he dis- 
 played many sterling traits of character 
 not only the qualities which insured prog- 
 ress and success in his chosen profession 
 but also those personal traits of character 
 which win confidence and regard in every 
 land and clime. The spirit of loyalty 
 which prompted his enlistment for ser- 
 vice in the Civil war was ever manifested 
 in all his duties of citizenship and among 
 his friends and they were many he was 
 recognized as a most congenial spirit be- 
 cause of his intellectual force, his kindly 
 disposition, his genial manner and his sin- 
 cere and genuine interest in the welfare 
 of others. 
 
 SOLOMON J. SALISBURY. 
 
 Solomon J. Salisbury is the owner of 
 a farm of one hundred and two acres 
 in Pilot Grove township, which he has 
 
 placed under a high state of cultivation, 
 making it a well improved place. He was 
 bprn in Kirkland. Lake county. Ohio, 
 .September 18, 1835, and when three 
 years of age came to Hancock county, 
 Illinois, with his parents, Wilkins J. and 
 Catherine (Smith) Salisbury. The fa- 
 ther was born in the state of New York, 
 and the mother in Vermont, and follow- 
 ing their marriage they removed to Ohio, 
 where they lived until coming to Illinois 
 in 1838. The mother was a sister of Jo- 
 seph and Hiram Smith. On arriving in 
 Illinois they settled first in Plymouth, 
 where the father followed the black- 
 smith's trade. He afterward became a 
 blacksmith at Webster, Illinois, where he 
 continued until his death, which occurred 
 when he was about forty-three years of 
 age. His wife continued to live at Web- 
 ster, and there passed away at the age of 
 eighty-three years. She was reared in 
 the Mormon church and continued in that 
 belief until her demise. In early life Mr. 
 Smith was also a member of the Mormon 
 church. 
 
 Solomon J. Salisbury acquired his pre- 
 liminary education in the schools of 
 Plymouth, but at the time of the upris- 
 ing of the people against the Mormons 
 the family was expelled from there in 
 1846 and removed to Alexandria. Mis- 
 souri. In 1847. however, they returned 
 to Hancock county, settling at Warsaw, 
 and later removed to Webster, where they 
 made their home. In his early youth 
 Solomon J. Salisbury began work as a 
 farm hand by the month and was thus 
 employed until about the time when he 
 attained his majority, when he purchased 
 land in Pilot Grove township. He has
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 431 
 
 since owned and operated a number of 
 different farms and about twenty years 
 ago he purchased his present farm, which 
 lie improved and upon which he has since 
 lived. Here he engages in general agri- 
 cultural pursuits and in feeding cattle and 
 hogs. In his business affairs he has been 
 quite successful and is the owner of a 
 valuable place which is indicative of his 
 unremitting diligence and ceaseless toil, 
 whereby he has advanced to a place 
 among the men of affluence in the county. 
 Twice married, Mr. Salisbury first 
 wedded Elizabeth Swisher, and unto them 
 were born three children. Ella, the eld- 
 est, is now the wife of Ransom Sherman, 
 of Keewaunee, Illinois, and their chil- 
 dren are Elmer, Robert. Eliza. Effie and 
 Ruby. Robert resides in Pilot Grove 
 township, where he owns a farm of one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land. He 
 married Margaret Jones, has two chil- 
 dren, Eliza and Ella, the former now the 
 wife of Elmer Grotts. by whom she has 
 two children, Eva and Earl. Tames, the 
 youngest of the family, resides in Pilot 
 Grove township, where he owns a farm 
 of eighty-three acres. He wedded Mary 
 L. Roush. and they have one child, Ar- 
 thur. Mrs. Salisbury died and was 
 buried at Webster and Mr. Salisbury has 
 since wedded Margaret Swisher, who was 
 born in Gallia county, Ohio, and is a 
 sister of his first wife. Their parents 
 were Jacob and Mary (Rife) Swisher, 
 the former a native of Virginia and the 
 latter of Kentucky. Following their 
 marriage Mr. and Mrs. Swisher came to 
 Hancock county, settling in Pilot Grove 
 township, where the father engaged in 
 farming and made his home until his 
 
 death at the age of seventy-three years. 
 He was laid to rest in La Harpe, and his 
 wife, who died at the age of fifty-five 
 years, was buried at Webster. They were 
 the parents of eleven children, Mrs. Mar- 
 garet Swisher being the youngest. By 
 her marriage she has three children : 
 Mary B., now the wife of Doud Furrow, 
 a farmer of Pilot Grove township, who 
 owns ninety acres and by whom she has 
 four children, Hulen, Millie, Ruth and 
 Raymond ; William H., who owns and 
 cultivates sixty acres of land in Pilot 
 Grove township and who married Ger- 
 trude Dailey. by whom she has four chil- 
 dren, Ona, Otie, Lulu and Solomon. 
 Don Carlos, who has a farm of eighty 
 acres in Pilot Grove township, wedded 
 Zua Marrill, and has three children. Ev- 
 erett. Herbert and June. 
 
 Mr. Salisbury has been an elder of the 
 Mormon church for the past thirty-five 
 years. With a number of others he or- 
 ganized what is known as the reorganized 
 church and has aided in the establishment 
 of various congregations of this faith in 
 Hancock county. In politics he is a dem- 
 ocrat and has held some township offices, 
 sewing as supervisor, collector and jus- 
 tice of the peace. He has also practiced 
 before the justice courts but has never 
 been admitted to the bar. During the 
 long years of his residence in Hancock 
 count}' he has seen many improvements 
 made here and has borne his share in the 
 work of development along agricultural 
 lines and also as a citizen has labored di- 
 rectly for the benefit of the community, 
 and is held in the highest esteem by all 
 with whom he comes in contact, either in 
 social or business relations.
 
 432 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 SETH M. BAKER. 
 
 Seth M. Baker, farmer and stock-rais- 
 er, was born in Maryland in 1846, his 
 parents being Seth W. and Martha (Mur- 
 ray) Baker, who were likewise natives of 
 that state. The father was born in 1804, 
 and died in 1871, at the age of sixty-seven 
 years, while the mother, born in 1815, 
 passed away in February, 1899. He was 
 a farmer by occupation and came to Han- 
 cock county in 1852, settling upon the 
 farm which is now owned and occupied 
 by his son, Seth. His political support 
 was given to the democracy. In the fam- 
 ily were nine children, of whom seven are 
 now living: James L. T., who is living 
 in the state of Washington; Nancy H., 
 the wife of Joel Clark, of Washington; 
 Seth M. ; Jane M., the wife of James 
 Gardner, of Walker township; Angeline, 
 the wife of Ira Bowens, of Adams county, 
 Illinois ; Ollie, the wife of Alvin Carr, of 
 Stillwell, Illinois ; and Severn, also of Ad- 
 ams county. 
 
 Seth M. Baker was a youth of but six 
 years when brought by his parents to Illi- 
 nois and in the district schools of Walker 
 township he was educated. He remained 
 at home with his parents until after he 
 had attained his majority, and at times 
 was engaged in the operation of the home 
 farm and at other times devoted his ener- 
 gies to stock-raising. He still continues 
 to reside upon the old homestead prop- 
 erty, comprising one hundred and five 
 acres on section 23, Walker township, and 
 upon this place in 1904 he erected a pretty 
 residence. He also has a good barn twen- 
 ty-eight by thirty-six feet and other sub- 
 stantial improvements. He is a general 
 
 fanner and stock-raiser and his success is 
 attributable to his own labors, for with 
 the exception of twelve acres of land 
 which he inherited in 1899 all that he now 
 possesses has been acquired through his 
 persistency of purpose and unfaltering 
 diligence. 
 
 In 1892 Mr. Baker was married to Miss 
 Belle Mitchell, who was born in Wheel- 
 ing, West Virginia, in 1854. Her grand- 
 father in the maternal line was a soldier 
 of the Revolutionary war. Her parents 
 were David and Rebecca Mitchell, the 
 former born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 
 1826, and the latter in Ohio in 1830. Mr. 
 Mitchell was a farmer and spent many 
 years in Adams county, Illinois, where his 
 death occurred. He served throughout 
 the Civil war as a stalwart champion of 
 the Union cause and thus proved his loy- 
 alty to his adopted country. Both he and 
 his wife now rest in the cemetery in Lima 
 township, Adams county. They became 
 residents of Illinois in 1864, and Mrs. 
 Mitchell died in 1871, while the death of 
 Mr. Mitchell occurred in 1901. In their 
 family were four children, of whom three 
 are living : Belle, now Mrs. Baker ; John 
 D. and J. W., both of Adams county. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Baker reared <* niece <~>f Mr? 
 Baker's, a Miss Lillian McCune, who re- 
 ceived a good education and became a 
 teacher in the schools of Hancock county, 
 Illinois. She married Archie Woodworth 
 and now lives in Fernita, Colorado. Mrs. 
 Baker is the owner of a good farm prop- 
 erty in Adams county. Both our subject 
 and his wife hold membership in the 
 Methodist church and are highly esteemed 
 people, whose circle of friends is almost 
 co-extensive with their acquaintance.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 433 
 
 JAMES MCCARTY. 
 
 James McCarty, manager of the grain 
 and elevator business owned by F. M. Cut- 
 ter and also carrying on a store of his own 
 for the sale of canned fruits, confection- 
 ery, tobacco and staple and fancy gro- 
 ceries, was born in Hamilton, Butler 
 county, Ohio, May 29, 1862, his parents 
 being James and Mary (O'Donell) Mc- 
 Carty. The parents were natives of 
 county Leitrem, Ireland, and the former 
 came to America when fifteen years of 
 age and the latter when eight years of age. 
 In 1859, James McCarty, Sr., took up his 
 abode in Pilot Grove township, Hancock 
 county, where he engaged in farming 
 for a year or more and in 1861 returned 
 to Ohio, where he remained until 1869, 
 when he again came to Hancock county 
 and continued one of its residents up to 
 the time of his death, which occurred 
 June 6, 1903. His wife passed away May 
 23, 1898, and he was laid to rest by her 
 side in the cemetery of this county. In 
 1861 he had enlisted for service in the 
 Civil war with the Seventy- fourth Ohio 
 Volunteer Infantry and defended the 
 Union cause until after the surrender at 
 Appomattox. He was wounded at the 
 battle of Atlanta and participated in the 
 engagements of Mission Ridge, Vicks- 
 burg and the celebrated march to the sea 
 under Sherman and also the Grand Re- 
 view in Washington, where the president 
 and other noted officials of the nation 
 watched the parade of the victorious 
 troops, whose long and arduous service 
 had upheld the Union. Mr. McCarty 
 was a democrat in his political affiliation, 
 but neither held nor sought public office. 
 
 Both he and his wife were members of the 
 Catholic church. In the family were sev- 
 en children, of whom five are now living : 
 John ; James ; Thomas, who is conducting 
 a restaurant at Grand Junction, Colora- 
 do; Charles, in the railroad service at 
 Grand Junction; and George, also a rail- 
 road employe living at that place. 
 
 James McCarty of this review was a 
 young lad when brought by his parents 
 to this county and was educated in the 
 public schools of Carthage. He entered 
 business life as a brakesman on the rail- 
 road, being thus employed for about a 
 year. He was afterward section fore- 
 man for ten or twelve years at Peters- 
 burg, Illinois, at Hannibal, Missouri, and 
 in the state of Colorado. In 1898 he as- 
 sumed the duties of a responsible position 
 as manager for the grain and elevator 
 business of F. M. Cutler at Carthage and 
 in this connection he conducts a store of 
 his own, dealing in staple and fancy 
 groceries, canned fruits, confectionery, 
 tobacco and other supplies. His business 
 career has been marked by a steady ad- 
 vance and each step has been carefully and 
 thoughtfully made. 
 
 On the 1 6th of February, 1887, Mr. 
 McCarty wedded Miss Winifred B. Kel- 
 ly, a native of Menard county, Illinois, 
 and a daughter of Patrick and Mary 
 Kelly. Her father was born in Ireland 
 but her mother was born in Menard 
 county. He has for many years been 
 engaged in mining and he and his wife 
 are now living in the county of her na- 
 tivity. Both are devoted members of the 
 Catholic church. They have ten living 
 children: Winifred B., now Mrs. Mc- 
 Carty ; Thomas, of Chicago ; Catherine,
 
 434 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEll' 
 
 the wife of Edward Guahn, of Peters- 
 burg, Illinois; Edward, of Chicago; Pat- 
 rick, of Roodhouse, this state ; Andrew, 
 of Petersburg, Illinois ; Daniel of Rood- 
 house: Xellie, who is with her parents; 
 Robert, of Petersburg; and Frank and 
 George, both at home. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCarty have been 
 born six children, all of whom are living, 
 the two eldest being in Petersburg, while 
 four are in Hancock county. These are : 
 James D. and Thomas Leo, both in 
 school ; Mary Catherine and John, who 
 are also attending school ; W. J. Bryan, 
 known as Bryan McCarty : and Elizabeth 
 Alice, who completes the family. The 
 parents are members of the Catholic 
 church. Mr. McCarty is a democrat 
 and has served as township collector. He 
 belongs to the Odd Fellows society and 
 to the Modern Woodmen camp of Car- 
 thage. He is a self-made man in the 
 truest and best sense of the term. He 
 started out in life empty-handed and 
 through his energy, ambition and honest 
 dealing has accumulated a competence 
 that enables him to provide his family 
 with many comforts. He is a pleasant 
 spoken, kind-hearted and home-loving 
 man. of much natural wit and is a pleas- 
 ant and genial companion, while in busi- 
 ness circles he is known for his upright 
 principles and steady business habits. 
 
 FLOYD N. CASBURN. 
 
 Floyd N. Casburn is cashier of the 
 Farmers State Bank at Ferris. His life 
 
 has been one of continuous activity, in 
 which has been accorded due recognition 
 of labor, and today he is numbered among 
 the substantial citizens of the county. He 
 was born March 22, 1876, and his par- 
 ents are A. J. and Victoria (Bailey) Cas- 
 burn. The father's birth occurred in 
 Cambridgeshire, England, April 30, 1848, 
 and when a lad of but three years he came 
 to America with his parents, the family 
 home being established in Monroe county, 
 New York. They afterward removed to 
 Ohio, where he remained until 1869, when 
 he came to Ferris, where he still resides, 
 his home being on almost the same site of 
 his first residence here. He carries on gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising, and has 
 one hundred and sixty acres of good land 
 in Rock Creek township, where he has 
 made many substantial and modern im- 
 provements. He still lives upon the farm 
 but has rented his land and is now prac- 
 tically retired from business cares. His 
 wife is also of English birth and was a 
 daughter of Wright Bailey. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Casburn have been born six chil- 
 dren, and the family circle yet remains 
 unbroken by the hand of death. These 
 are : May, now the wife of C. D. Tay- 
 lor, a farmer living near Ferris ; Floyd N. ; 
 Frank E.. who married Mabel Hyndman. 
 and is a successful practicing physician 
 near Kansas City. Missouri : A. L.. who 
 wedded Ada Richardson, and is an able 
 member of the medical fraternity at Bent- 
 ley, Illinois ; and Nellie and Edith, who 
 are attending school in Ferris. The father 
 is an honored Mason and Odd Fellow and 
 has passed all of the chairs in both lodges. 
 He and his wife hold membership in the 
 Methodist church at Ferris, of which the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 435 
 
 family are also members, regularly at- 
 tending its services and contributing gen- 
 erously to its support. 
 
 Floyd X. Casburn supplemented his 
 early educational privileges by a fcur 
 years' course in Carthage College, after 
 which he engaged in teaching school in 
 Rock Creek and Pontoosuc townships for 
 thiee years. On the expiration of that 
 period he invested his savings in eighty 
 acres of land on section 35, Rock Creek 
 township, which he still owns and there 
 he carried on general agricultural pur- 
 suits for four years, or until 10,03, when 
 he was elected assistant cashier of the 
 Farmers State Bank at Ferris. He be- 
 came one of the largest stockholders and 
 in February of the same year he was ap- 
 pointed cashier, which position he is still 
 successfully filling and is a popular bank 
 offitial. whose courtesy to the patrons of 
 the institution and whose obliging manner 
 have gained for him high regard, while 
 his devotion to the interests of the bank 
 have won for him the entire confidence of 
 the stockholders. 
 
 On the igth of July, 1899, Mr. Cas- 
 burn was married to Miss Rachel Wilson, 
 a daughter of Alexander and Isabella 
 (Griffin) Wilson. Mrs. Casburn was 
 tern at Niota, Illinois. September 22, 
 1877, and her father was a native of Ire- 
 land, while her mother's birth occurred in 
 Ohio. They became early and representa- 
 tive fanning people of Appanoose town- 
 ship but passed a\vay some years ago. In 
 their family were eleven children, all of 
 whom survive, namely-: Albert, a resi- 
 dent of Weber. Kansas : James, of Beaver, 
 Texas; John, of Denver, Colorado; Sarah, 
 the wife of I. T. Lewis, of Powellton, Illi- 
 
 nois; Robert H., of Niota, this state; Dil- 
 lie, the wife of John Shank, of Ferris; 
 Daniel, of Montrose, Iowa ; George 
 Franklin, of Ferris; Rachel, now Mrs. 
 Casburn ; Jesse, of York, Nebraska ; and 
 Laura, who attends the Western College 
 for Ladies, at Oxford, Ohio. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Casburn have an inter- 
 esting little daughter, lola Fern, who was 
 born November 2, 1905, in their pleasant 
 home in Ferris, which stands in the west- 
 ern part of the town, and is the property 
 of Mr. Casburn. They are devoted mem- 
 bers of the Methodist church and Mr. Cas- 
 burn is now noble grand in the Odd Fel- 
 lows lodge at Ferris. He is the possessor 
 of a fine automobile which he has recently 
 purchased and which is the only one in 
 the town. In spirit and interests he is 
 most progressive, as is manifest in his 
 business relations and social life, and both 
 he and his wife occupy an enviable posi- 
 tion in societv circles in Ferris. 
 
 GEORGE COULSON. 
 
 George Coulson. for thirty-eight years 
 connected with commercial and manufac- 
 turing interests in La Harpe, his native 
 city, and still financially interested in an 
 important business enterprise under the 
 firm style of Coulson, Brundage & Com- 
 pany, hardware dealers, was born Feb- 
 ruary 17, 1843. His parents, Dr. George 
 and Nancy A. (Cossitt) Coulson, were 
 natives of Pennsylvania and Connecticut 
 respectively. They were married in the
 
 436 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Keystone state and in 1833 made their 
 way westward to Illinois, settling on the 
 present site of La Harpe. They built 
 one of the first houses here and lived in 
 it until 1846. 
 
 George Coulson when a child was 
 taken to Council Bluffs, where he re- 
 mained until 1852, when he was taken 
 to Salt Lake Valley, Utah. He acquired 
 his education in the common schools of 
 Ogden, Utah, and remained in Utah until 
 1857, when he recrossed the plains and 
 returned to La Harpe, where he spent 
 two years. He then went to Texas with 
 an older brother and a year later made 
 his way to California, crossing the plains 
 with mules. On the Pacific coast he was 
 employed in and about the mines for four 
 years and then again made the long and 
 arduous journey across the plains. At 
 length he safely reached La Harpe and 
 here he embarked in the grocery business 
 in 1869. He was thus connected with 
 trade interests until 1875, when, on ac- 
 count of poor health, he sold out and 
 went to Colorado, where he spent six 
 months. Again returning he once more 
 embarked in the grocery business, in 
 which he continued until 1878, when he 
 sold his grocery stock but continued in 
 commercial circles as a representative of 
 the hardware business. In the new en- 
 terprise he prospered and in 1881 he sold 
 a third interest to Israel Brundage, con- 
 tinuing the business under the name of 
 Coulson & Brundage until 1896, when 
 other partners were admitted. The busi- 
 ness was incorporated in May, 1905, un- 
 der the name of Coulson, Brundage & 
 Company, of which George Coulson is 
 president; J. L. Bradfield, vice president; 
 
 W. F. Bradfield, secretary; and R. L. 
 Widney, manager. The business was 
 capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, and 
 continued the manufacture of a chicken 
 watering fountain patented by R. L. Wid- 
 ney, and the buying and selling of hard- 
 ware. This manufacturing department 
 of the business has become quite exten- 
 sive and the output is shipped all over 
 the western states and to various points 
 in the east, being sent as far west as Cali- 
 fornia and as far east as Massachusetts. 
 Since 1896 Mr. Coulson has engaged in 
 the fire insurance business and the buying 
 and shipping of grain. 
 
 In November, 1868, Mr. Coulson was 
 united in marriage to Miss Maggie Bain- 
 ter, who was born in Fountain Green 
 township, Hancock county, and is a 
 daughter of Daniel M. Bainter. Three 
 children were born of this union : George, 
 who died in 1889, at the age of nineteen 
 years; Mary L., the wife of R. L. Wid- 
 ney, of La Harpe; and Charles, who died 
 in 1875 when three years old. The wife 
 and mother passed away in 1876 and Mr. 
 Coulson was again married in July, 1877, 
 his second union being with Rebecca 
 Mayor, who was born in La Harpe and 
 is a daughter of John and Eliza A. 
 Mayor, who came from England to 
 America in 1842 and settled in La Harpe, 
 Illinois. Mrs. Rebecca Coulson passed 
 away in December, 1891, and in April, 
 1897, Mr. Coulson wedded Martha May- 
 or, a sister of his second wife. They 
 have a pleasant home in La Harpe and 
 are highly esteemed by all who know 
 them, while the hospitality of the best 
 homes of the town is accorded them. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Coulson has
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 437 
 
 long been a democrat where national is- 
 sues are involved but at local elections 
 casts an independent ballot. He has 
 served as county supervisor for three 
 years, as collector for one year, township 
 assessor for four years, justice of the 
 peace one term, mayor one term and al- 
 derman of La Harpe, and in these va- 
 rious offices has discharged his duties 
 with promptness, capability and fidelity. 
 He co-operates in many measures for the 
 general good and is a progressive, public- 
 spirited citizen. Fraternally he is a Ma- 
 son and also connected with the Inde- 
 pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and has 
 been treasurer of their lodge at La Harpe 
 for the past twenty-five years, and the 
 Modern Woodmen of America. Al- 
 though he has several times left La Harpe 
 he has always returned here, finding a 
 pleasant home in the city and good busi- 
 ness opportunities. He has been an im- 
 portant factor in its business life, and 
 while promoting his individual success 
 has also contributed to public prosperity 
 and improvement. 
 
 JOHN E. DE GROOT. 
 
 John E. De Groot, who at one time was 
 engaged in the practice of dentistry but is 
 now giving his supervision to agricultural 
 interests, makes his home in Augusta and 
 is widely recognized throughout the com- 
 munity as a man of keen business discern- 
 ment and enterprise, who possesses the 
 strong principles and determination that 
 
 enables him to carry forward to success- 
 ful completion whatever he undertakes. 
 He was born in Northeast township, Ad- 
 ams county, April 6, 1842, his parents be- 
 ing John and Margaret (Harvey) De 
 Groot. The father was born in New York 
 city and came to Illinois by the way of 
 the overland route in 1836, settling at 
 Ouincy, Adams county, where he re- 
 mained for one year. He then purchased 
 a farm in Northeast township, that county, 
 comprising one hundred and sixty acres 
 of new and unimproved land and with 
 characteristic energy he undertook the 
 task of developing and cultivating this 
 tract. He was successful in his under- 
 takings and continued to make his home 
 upon that place until his death, which oc- 
 curred in 1889, when he had reached the 
 age of eighty-one years, for he was born 
 in 1808. As the years had passed he hac! 
 made extensive investments in property, 
 his landed interests aggregating about 
 eighteen hundred acres, all of which was 
 in Adams county and in addition he had 
 some city property. Starting out in life 
 on his own account he displayed excellent 
 business ability, keen discernment and a 
 readiness to solve intricate business prob- 
 lems that brought him a very gratifying 
 measure of prosperity. He voted with the 
 democracy and held membership in the 
 Christian church of Augusta. His wife 
 was also born in New York city and died 
 alxnit three years prior to her husband's 
 death. She, too, held membership 'in the 
 Christian church and her life was in har- 
 mony with her professions. In the family 
 were seven children, five of whom are yet 
 living, although John E. De Groot is the 
 only one now residing in Hancock county.
 
 438 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 The family record is as follows : William 
 H. De Groot. residing in Quincy, Illinois, 
 is a surveyor of Adams county. Mary W. 
 died. Phoebe E. is the wife of Rev. J. C. 
 Stark, a minister of the Christian church 
 at Hamilton, Illinois. Edward H., of 
 Downer's Grove, Illinois, is one of the 
 oldest conductors in service of the Chi- 
 cago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad, hav- 
 ing represented the company for over 
 forty years. Clarissa is the wife of W. R. 
 Gordon, a retired farmer living in Red 
 Oak, Iowa. John E. is the next of the 
 family. Jacob died at the age of thirteen 
 years. 
 
 In the schools of his native county Dr. 
 De Groot was educated, being reared upon 
 the home farm, where he remained until 
 1859. He was at that time a youth of 
 seventeen years and thinking that he 
 would find other pursuits more congenial 
 than farm work he went to Quincy. where 
 he took up the study of dentistry and after 
 the completion of this course he entered 
 upon the active practice of his chosen pro- 
 fession, continuing there until 1875. In 
 that year he removed to Augusta. Han- 
 cock county, where he opened an office and 
 was engaged in practice until 1877, when 
 he retired from the active work of his pro- 
 fession and took up the management of 
 his father's farms, located in Adams coun- 
 ty. He has continued to make his home 
 in Augusta, however, and still manages 
 the farming interests, being now an ex- 
 tensive feeder of cattle and hogs. After 
 the death of his father and the estate was 
 divided Dr. De Groot continued the man- 
 agement of his inheritance, also having 
 charge of the farms belonging to his 
 brother and sister. He has now alxiut 
 
 five hundred acres of very valuable land 
 in Adams county and in Augusta he owns 
 some village property. 
 
 Dr. De Groot was married October 7, 
 1874, to Miss Josephine Davis, of Abing- 
 don, Illinois, a daughter of Asenath and 
 Elizabeth (Price) Davis, who came from 
 the east to Illinois at an early day, prob- 
 ably in 1836, at which time they located 
 in Warren county. The father was a 
 blacksmith by trade and subsequently took 
 up his abode in Abingdon, where his chil- 
 dren were educated. He died in that 
 town in 1872 and was survived by his 
 wife until 1900, her death occurring at 
 the home of her daughter. Mrs. DeGroot, 
 in Augusta, when she was eighty-four 
 years of age. In the family of this worthy 
 couple were six children, but only two are 
 now living. The two oldest died in in- 
 fancy. John W., who became a member 
 of Company E, Thirty-third Illinois In- 
 fantry, was wounded at Vicksburg and 
 died ten days later on the 6th of June, 
 1863, his remains being interred at Mem- 
 phis. James H. was killed at the siege of 
 Vicksburg and was buried on the battle- 
 field on the 22d of May, 1863. Eugene A. 
 is a farmer, residing at Garden City, 
 Kansas. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. De Groot have been 
 born four children and the family circle 
 yet remains unbroken by the hand of 
 death. Maud, the eldest, is the wife of A. 
 J. Laughl'in, a confectioner of Macomb. 
 Illinois, by whom she has two children, 
 Josephine and Raymond. Bertha is the 
 wife of Dr. R. B. Roberts, of Augusta, 
 and they have two children, Brockway D. 
 and Elise. Clarence E. is a physician re- 
 siding in Muskogee. Indian Territory.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 439 
 
 Mabel is the wife of Frank Deiley, an op- 
 erator in. tlie Western Union Telegraph 
 office in Chicago. All of the children 
 were torn in Illinois, where Mr. De Groot 
 still resides. He and his wife are promi- 
 nent and influential residents of the city, 
 occupying an enviable position in social 
 circles and giving of their aid and influ- 
 ence to the various measures which tend 
 to uplift humanity and advance the moral 
 welfare. They hold membership in the 
 Methodist church of Augusta and Mr. De 
 Groot is a prohibitionist in his political af- 
 filiation, being a warm advocate of the 
 cause of temperance. \Yhile connected 
 with his profession he was an able practi- 
 tioner, but the demands made ' upon his 
 time and attention by his property inter- 
 ests led him to concentrate his energies 
 upon the management of his farm and 
 stock and he is today a leading representa- 
 tive* of agricultural life in this section of 
 the state. He does not take charge of the 
 active work of the farm but gives to it 
 his personal supervision and his excellent 
 business qualifications are manifest in the 
 desirable results which are attending his 
 efforts. 
 
 JOHN SHUTWELL. 
 
 Among the citizens of Hancock county 
 who were born across the water and who 
 through many long years have aided in 
 the development of the rich agricultural 
 resources of this section of the state, is 
 numbered John Shut well, whose birth 
 occurred in Yorkshire, England, August 
 5, 1828. His parents, Frances and Eliz- 
 28 
 
 abeth (Norwood) Shutwell, were like- 
 wise natives of the fatherland, the former 
 a son of John Shutwell, and the latter 
 a daughter of Robert Norwood. Francis 
 Shutwell was a carpenter and joiner by 
 trade, and, having heard favorable reports 
 concerning the new world, he, with his 
 family crossed the Atlantic on a sailing 
 vessel in the winter of 1828. They re- 
 sided for a short time at Toronto, Canada, 
 and Buffalo, New York, and Dresden, and 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky, later traveling on the Ohio, Missis- 
 sippi and Illinois rivers until they reached 
 Jacksonville, this state, where lived a 
 brother-in-law of Francis Shutwell, who 
 bore the name of Adam Allison, who had 
 located here some years previous and was 
 engaged in the conduct of a grist mill. 
 He purchased forty acres of land situated 
 about six miles west of where the city of 
 Jacksonville now stands. He there worked 
 at his trade, and was an active factor in 
 the erection of many substantial buildings 
 of this portion of the state. In connec- 
 tion with others he executed many large 
 contracts. In 1852, having decided to 
 engage in agricultural pursuits, he came 
 with his family to Hancock county, the 
 journey being made with team and 
 wagons, where the father purchased two 
 hundred and seventy-six acres of land ly- 
 ing on section 6, La Harpe township. 
 The land had been cleared but there were 
 few improvements upon the place, it being 
 wild prairie, and deer and many other 
 wild animals were to be found roaming 
 over the prairie and through the forests. 
 The father at once undertook the work 
 of transforming his land into a cultivable 
 tract, broke the land, plowed the fields,
 
 440 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 planted his crops, and in due course of 
 time gathered abundant harvests as the re- 
 sult of his care and labor bestowed upon 
 the fields. He made many improvements 
 in the way of fences, outbuildings and a 
 large country residence. He worked dili- 
 gently and persistently year after year in 
 carrying on his farming operations and 
 thus made his property one of the rich 
 and valuable tracts of this section of the 
 state. His death occurred on the home 
 place in 1885, when he had reached the 
 very venerable age of ninety years. His 
 widow continued to make her home there 
 for a year and a half but at the time of 
 her death, in 1898, was residing with her 
 son John. She had reached the extreme 
 old age of ninety-six years, and thus the 
 county lost two of its most venerable 
 pioneers. 
 
 John Shutwell is the second in order 
 of birth of three children, and the only 
 surviving member of his father's family, 
 his sisters being Mary, who became the 
 wife of Daniel L. Dixon, and died many 
 years ago, and Jane, who wedded James 
 Eckles and is also deceased. John Shut- 
 well was reared upon the old homestead 
 amid the scenes of frontier life, and 
 shared with the family in the hardships 
 and privations of a pioneer existence. He 
 was early trained to the duties of the farm, 
 and during the winter months pursued 
 his studies in an old log cabin, which was 
 used for a school house, the furnishings 
 being of the most primitive character. 
 He remained under the parental roof until 
 the time of his marriage, August 12, 
 1858, when Miss Sarah Jane Bland be- 
 came his wife. She was a native of 
 Greene county, Pennsylvania, her natal 
 
 day being March 3, 1836. Her parents, 
 Thomas and Elizabeth (McCulahy) 
 Bland, were natives of England and Ire- 
 land respectively, and the father served 
 as soldier in the war of 1812. Both 
 passed away in the Keystone state, after 
 which the daughter, Elizabeth, accompa- 
 nied the family of Jonathan Whitlash to 
 Hancock county, where she met and mar- 
 ried John Shutwell. 
 
 Following their marriage our subject 
 and his wife began their domestic life 
 in a small house located on his father's 
 farm, and here he continued to assist his 
 father in the operation of the home place. 
 In 1876 their primitive home was re- 
 placed by a more commodious and sub- 
 stantial residence, and purchased seventy 
 acres of the home farm, continuing its 
 operation until the death of his father, 
 when he purchased the interest of the 
 other heirs and came into possession of 
 the entire tract, his holdings comprising 
 one hundred and eighty-six acres, of which 
 sixty acres adjoined the village of Disco, 
 and a portion of this has since been platted 
 and sold in town lots. He engaged in 
 the work of general farming for many 
 years, and in addition to his other inter- 
 ests was extensively engaged in the rais- 
 ing of hogs. Through his careful man- 
 agement and unremitting diligence he ac- 
 quired a comfortable competence, so that 
 in 1902 he retired from all active busi- 
 ness pursuits and now rents his land, from 
 which he derives an income sufficient to 
 supply himself and family with all the 
 comforts and many of the luxuries of life. 
 He and his wife, however, continue to 
 reside on the home farm. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 441 
 
 been born three sons and two daughters, 
 as follows : Frank, who wedded Mar- 
 garet Manifold and resides in Page 
 county. Iowa; Mary, now the wife of 
 John R. Blythe, of Morris county, Kan- 
 sas ; Robert, who married Catherine 
 Blythe and makes his home near La 
 Harpe; John Irwin. who wedded Bessie 
 Freeland and is now living near Black- 
 well, Oklahoma; and Emma Jane, the 
 wife of Dr. Roy Hurdle, a practicing 
 dentist of Mount Sterling, Illinois. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Shutwell have reared a family 
 of whom they have every reason to be 
 proud and have lived to see all of them 
 married and comfortably situated in life. 
 In his political views Mr. Shutwell is 
 a stanch republican and aside from hold- 
 ing the office of school director for one 
 term has taken no active part in public 
 affairs. Many wonderful changes have 
 occurred since he took up his abode in 
 this county as the forests have been 
 cleared and in their stead are now seen 
 valuable and productive tracts of land, 
 in the midst of which many thriving 
 towns and villages have sprung into ex- 
 istence, and progress has been made along 
 all lines of commercial, industrial and 
 agricultural development, and in this work 
 Mr. Shutwell has taken an active and 
 helpful part. He has spent a very busy 
 and active life and with the assistance of 
 his estimable wife they have accumulated 
 a competence which now enables them 
 to live in honorable retirement, enjoying 
 the fruits of their former toil. They 
 are excellent people, highly esteemed 
 throughout the county, where they are 
 known for their many excellent traits 
 of heart and mind. 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY MOORE. 
 
 William Henry Moore, a retired farmer 
 living in ' Carthage, enjoying in well 
 earned ease the fruits of his former toil, 
 is a native of Delaware, having been 
 born in Newcastle county, on the 26th of 
 March, 1832, his parents being Andrew 
 and Abigail (Tweed) Moore. His par- 
 ents were likewise natives of that coun- 
 ty, the former born January 13. 1805, 
 and the latter on the i6th of July, 1805. 
 The father was a tanner by trade, and 
 hoping to enjoy better business opportu- 
 nities in the new and growing west where 
 competition was not so great, he removed 
 to Hancock county, Illinois, where he ar- 
 rived on the 28th of May, 1837. He 
 found himself on the frontier, the work 
 of improvement and progress being 
 scarcely begun. Much of the land was 
 still unclaimed and uncultivated and the 
 task of development largely lay in the 
 future. He resided upon a farm in Bear 
 Creek township, finding a claim upon 
 which a log* cabin had been built. Soon 
 afterward, however, he removed to a 
 prairie claim, where he built a log house. 
 The homes of the settlers were widely 
 scattered and the countryside was cov- 
 ered with timber or else by the native 
 prairie grasses. The pioneer condition 
 of the district is evidenced by the fact 
 that there were many wild deer, and less- 
 er game was to be had in abundance. 
 Venison was no unusual dish on the ta- 
 ble of the early settlers and turkeys, prai- 
 rie chickens and quail furnished many a 
 meal for the residents of that period. An- 
 drew Moore followed farming in Bear 
 Creek township until 1865, when he re-
 
 442 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 tired from active life, sold his property 
 and removed to Marion county, Illinois, 
 where he spent his remaining days. He 
 died in February, 1882, at the age of 
 seventy-seven years, and was buried in 
 Moss Ridge cemetery, at Carthage. His 
 wife survived until June 22, 1890, and 
 was then laid to rest by the side of her 
 husband. Mr. Moore had voted with the 
 Republican party, which he joined on its 
 organization, and he served as township 
 clerk and justice of the peace. Both he 
 and his wife were members of the Meth- 
 odist church, in which Mr. Moore held 
 all of the offices and in the work of which 
 they took an active and helpful part. In 
 the family were seven children : William 
 Henry, of this review; Mary Elizabeth, 
 who is the widow of Wesley C. Williams, 
 and lives with her brother William ; Levi 
 B., who resides in Denison, Texas; Anna 
 Maria, the wife of Calender Rohrbaugh, 
 of Kinmundy, Marion county, Illinois ; 
 and Rachel, the wife of John E. Coch- 
 ran, of Elderville, Hancock county. One 
 son Levi B. Moore, was a soldier of the 
 Civil war, enlisting in the One Hundred 
 and Eighteenth Regiment of Illinois 
 Mounted Cavalry. He remained from 
 1862 until 1865 in the service and par- 
 ticipated in the siege of Vicksburg un- 
 der Grant. 
 
 William Henry Moore, reared amid 
 pioneer surroundings, acquired his educa- 
 tion in the old-time log schoolhouses of 
 Hancock county, where instruction was 
 given in reading, writing, arithmetic and 
 perhaps a few other of the elementary 
 branches of learning. In 1849, attracted 
 by the discovery of gold in California, he 
 made his way to the mining regions, 
 
 spending several years upon the Pacific 
 coast. In May, 185.5, ne returned to 
 Hancock county and began farming in 
 Prairie township. His experience in 
 youth as an assistant in his father's fields 
 now came in good play and he carefully 
 and systematically directed his farm 
 work, which he carried on successfully 
 until 1890. As the years passed by his 
 capital was increased until he became a 
 man in affluent circumstances. In 1890 
 he retired from further business cares. In 
 1883 he removed to Carthage and pur- 
 chased a beautiful home on Head street, 
 since which time he has lived in this city, 
 now enjoying the comforts which have 
 come to him as the result of his active 
 labor in former years. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate for life's 
 journey Mr. Moore chose Miss Helen 
 Maria Page, whom he wedded on the 
 ist of February, 1860, and who was born 
 in Vermont, December 16, 1839, her par- 
 ents being Ozra and Elmira (Morse) 
 Page, also natives of the Green Mountain 
 state. Her father was a farmer by occu- 
 pation, and in 1848 came to Carthage, but 
 was not long permitted to enjoy his new 
 home, for he died July 19, 1851. His 
 wife survived him until 1857, and lies 
 buried in the Basco (Illinois) cemetery, 
 while Mr. Page was laid to rest in 
 Carthage cemetery. They were both 
 earnest Christian people and held 
 membership in the Methodist church. 
 In their family were five children : 
 Helen Maria, now Mrs. Page; Henry 
 W., who is living near Arbela, Mis- 
 souri; and Cynthia, the wife of George 
 Rand, of Nebraska. Henry W. Page 
 was a soldier of the Civil war, serv-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 443 
 
 ing in the One Hundred and Eighteenth 
 Illinois Regiment. His brother, Zeno D. 
 Page, now deceased, was also a defender 
 of the Union cause, enlisting in the 
 Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Moore have been born four children, 
 all natives of Hancock county, of whom 
 three are now living. Frank E. is a 
 hardware merchant residing in Sulphur, 
 Indian Territory. Lewis A. resides in 
 Evanston, and is general adjuster for 
 the Traders Insurance Company, is mar- 
 ried and has two sons, Leonard Page and 
 William C, aged respectively seven and 
 two years. Anna Laura is the wife of 
 William Bruce, who was killed in the 
 Chicago switchyards in 1899. She now 
 lives with her father and has two chil- 
 dren : Helen, who was born September 
 24, 1895, and William Ronald, who was 
 born August 9. 1898. Their father, Wil- 
 liam Bruce, was a native of New York. 
 
 Mr. Moore owns two improved farms 
 in Hancock county, which bring to him 
 a good financial return. One comprises 
 a quarter section in Prairie township, 
 and the other embraces one hundred and 
 sixty acres in Bear Creek township and 
 both are now rented advantageously. In 
 his political views Mr. Moore is. an 
 earnest republican, and in 1880 served as 
 road supervisor. He has also been path 
 master and alderman of Carthage for two 
 terms, discharging his official duties in 
 prompt and capable manner. He is an 
 Odd Fellow and has passed all of the 
 chairs in the subordinate lodge. Both he 
 and his wife are members of the Meth- 
 odist church and are actively interested 
 in its work, doing all in their power to 
 promote its growth and extend its influ- 
 
 ence. Mr. Moore is a man of good heart, 
 honest and kindly and of upright prin- 
 ciples, and has made it the aim of his 
 life to follow the golden rule. 
 
 JOSEPHUS NEWELL. 
 
 Josephus Newell, a farmer and stock- 
 raiser living on section 6, Wythe town- 
 ship, was born in Van Buren county, 
 Iowa, July 31, 1839. His parents were 
 David and Rebecca (Carson) Newell, the 
 former born in Kentucky, May 16. 1803, 
 and the latter in Indiana. January 31, 
 1807. They were married in Danville, 
 Illinois, at which time Mrs. Newell was 
 the widow of Mr. Doubleday. By her 
 former marriage she had one daughter, 
 now Mrs. Mary Ann Byard. The year 
 1835 witnessed the arrival of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Newell in Van Buren county, Iowa. 
 They cast in their lot with the pioneer set- 
 tlers in a region where Indians were still 
 numerous and which was infested with 
 wild beasts. They lived in true pioneer 
 style, sharing in the hardships and priva- 
 tions that usually fall to the lot of those 
 who establish homes on the frontier and 
 bearing their share in the work of general 
 improvement. On leaving Van Buren 
 county they removed to Davis county, 
 Iowa, where they resided until 1851, when 
 they liecame residents of Wythe town- 
 ship. Hancock county, Illinois. 
 
 Here Mr. Newell rented a farm until
 
 444 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ'IEU' 
 
 1860, when he purchased eighty acres of 
 land upon which he spent his remaining 
 days, his death occurring on the 4th of 
 June, 1874. Many years before he had 
 lost his first wife, who died February 13, 
 1848, and subsequently he had married 
 Catherine Rose, who passed away about 
 1867. 
 
 Josephus Newell was the fourth in or- 
 der of birth in a family of five sons and 
 two daughters. He lived with his father to 
 the age of eighteen years and in a district 
 school of Wythe township mastered the 
 usual branches of learning therein taught. 
 When eighteen years of age he started out 
 in life on his own account, working as a 
 farm hand until 1862, when he made his 
 way westward to Denver, Colorado, and 
 thence into the mountains where he en- 
 gaged in mining and in herding cattle. 
 Also during his sojourn in the west he 
 freighted across the plains from Denver 
 to the Missouri river. After four years 
 of that somewhat wild and dangerous life, 
 during which he experienced many of the 
 hardships and excitements incident to life 
 on the borders of civilization, he returned 
 to the old homestead and assisted his fa- 
 ther until the latter's death. He contin- 
 ued to reside upon the home farm until 
 1881. when he sold that place, and in con- 
 nection with his brother James purchased 
 one hundred acres of land on section 6, 
 Wythe township. This was partially cov- 
 ered with timber. The brothers cultivated 
 the farm for a time, but in the spring of 
 1902 James Newell sold his half of the 
 farm and went to Oklahoma, where he 
 now resides.' 
 
 Mr. Newell of this review is here carry- 
 ing on general agricultural pursuits and 
 
 stock-raising, keeping horses, cattle and 
 hogs upon his place. Through the rota- 
 tion of crops and other advanced methods 
 of farming, he has made his land very 
 productive and everything about the farm 
 is indicative of the skill and supervision 
 of the owner, who is both practical and 
 progressive in his methods. 
 
 In September, 1879, Mr. Newell was 
 married to Mary Simpson, a native of 
 Buffalo, New York, and the widow of 
 Anthony Ritenauer. By her former mar- 
 riage she had two children : Anthony, 
 who died in infancy; and Annie E., now 
 the wife of Alexander Magness, of Bel- 
 fast, Iowa. To her marriage to Mr. New- 
 ell one child was torn, Adelaide, whose 
 birth occurred July 14, 1880. Mrs. New- 
 ell passed away July 19, 1886, and was 
 laid to rest in the Wythe cemetery. 
 
 Mr. Newell is independent in politics 
 nor has he ever sought or desired public 
 office. He has concentrated his efforts 
 upon his business interests and has lived a 
 life of unremitting diligence and persever- 
 ance, working hard year after year to ac- 
 cumulate a comfortable competence. 
 
 WILLIAM HARVEY MARSHALL. 
 
 William Harvey Marshall, a leading 
 representative of agricultural interests in 
 Hancock county, with his home farm in 
 Montebello township and adjoining prop- 
 erty in Prairie township, was born in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 445 
 
 Richland county, Ohio, November 21, 
 1848, his parents being William and 
 Nancy (Thompson) Marshall, who were 
 natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfa- 
 ther, James Marshall, was likewise born 
 in the Keystone state and the paternal 
 and maternal grandparents of our sub- 
 ject removed from the east to Ohio, the 
 former settling in Richland and the lat- 
 ter in Wayne county. At a later date 
 James Marshall went to Marion county, 
 Iowa, where he secured land and spent 
 his remaining days. His grandson and 
 namesake, James Marshall, Jr., the eld- 
 est brother of our subject, was visiting 
 him in Iowa at the time of the breaking 
 out of the Civil war and there, his pa- 
 triotic spirit aroused, he enlisted in the de- 
 fense of the Union as a member of the 
 Eighth Iowa Infantry. In the first day 
 of the battle of Shiloh he was wounded 
 in the leg and was captured by the Con- 
 federates, remaining in their hands until 
 they were repulsed. He did not receive 
 proper medical attention, but was taken 
 to an old house, where his leg was ampu- 
 tated. He was then placed on board a 
 Mississippi river steamboat, which was 
 used for hospital purposes and which was 
 bound for Keokuk, but he died about four 
 miles below that city, and was buried in 
 the soldiers' cemetery at Keokuk. His 
 father, in Ohio, learning of his son's 
 wound, started to look for him in the 
 hospitals at Cincinnati, and not finding 
 him there went to St. Louis, Missouri, 
 where he examined the hospitals. Still 
 unsuccessful in his search he proceeded 
 up the river to Keokuk, where he learned 
 that his son had died and was buried. 
 The father then started upon the return 
 
 trip and passed through Hancock coun- 
 ty. He was so greatly impressed with 
 the country and its possibilities and pros- 
 pects that after the war he disposed of 
 his property in Ohio and purchased one 
 hundred acres of land in Montebello 
 township, which was an improved prairie 
 farm. He then took up his abode upon 
 that place and the following winter 
 bought one hundred and eighty acres of 
 land in Wythe township but never resided 
 on the latter tract. Eventually he re- 
 tired from active business life and re- 
 moved to Elvaston, where he died Decem- 
 ber 27, 1895, having for several years 
 survived his wife, who passed away in 
 October, 1889. They were the parents 
 of five sons and five daughters : Me- 
 lissa, the wife of Captain M. Geddes, of 
 Butler county, Kansas; Lula, the wife of 
 George Hastings, of the city of Okla- 
 homa ; Archibald L., of Knox county, 
 Missouri ; William Harvey, of this re- 
 view; Willis, who is living in Mon- 
 mouth, Illinois; and John W., also a resi- 
 dent of Oklahoma. 
 
 William Harvey Marshall largely ac- 
 quired his education in the district schools 
 of Ashland county, Ohio, and spent one 
 term as a student in the academy at 
 Hayesville, Ohio. He remained with his 
 parents until 1875 and assisted in the 
 farm work, gaining thorough and prac- 
 tical knowledge of the best methods of 
 tilling the soil and caring for the crops. 
 On starting out in life on his own ac- 
 count he rented a farm of eighty acres 
 on section 13, Montebello- township, and 
 a year later he secured a companion and 
 helpmate for life's journey by his mar- 
 riage on the 2Oth of January, 1876, to
 
 446 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU" 
 
 Miss Annette Harper, a native of Tennes- 
 see, and a daughter of Frank and Eliza- 
 beth (Johnson) Harper. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Marshall were born two children 
 Ruby, who was born November i, 1876, 
 and is now the wife of Herbert L. Camp- 
 bell, of Montebello township, and Mabel 
 A., who was born December 5, 1877. and 
 is now a teacher in the public schools at 
 Camp Point, Illinois. The wife and 
 mother died December 14. 1877, and on 
 the 29th of October, 1881, Mr. Marshall 
 wedded Ettie May Kirkpatrick, who was 
 born in Adams county, Illinois, May i, 
 1857. a daughter of Benjamin J. and 
 Mary Turner (Orr) Kirkpatrick, natives 
 of Tennessee and Kentucky respectively. 
 Her paternal grandparents were John and 
 Eliza (Cox) Kirkpatrick, natives of 
 North Carolina, and her maternal grand- 
 parents were William and Mary (Tur- 
 ner) Orr, who were natives of Kentucky. 
 By the second marriage of Mr. Marshall 
 there are six children: William F., born 
 February 5, 1883; Mary Josephine, born 
 April 25, 1885; Frederick Lee, April 25. 
 1887; Harvey Paul, February 14, 1889; 
 Geraldine, July 28, 1891 ; and Jeanette, 
 March 29, 1892. , 
 
 Following his marriage William H. 
 Marshall purchased eighty acres of land 
 from his father. There were some build- 
 ings upon the place but he has set out 
 all of the trees and has erected his pres- 
 ent residence, a two-story frame dwelling. 
 He also built a large barn in 1889 and 
 has since put an addition thereto, making 
 it a commodious structure 'sixty-two by 
 thirty-six feet. He now owns one hun- 
 dred and five acres of land on section 19. 
 Prairie township, which corners with his 
 
 home place, and in 1892 he set out a fine, 
 apple orchard and also has fifty peach 
 trees upon his farm. He raises the ce- 
 reals best adapted to soil and climate and 
 also raises cattle and Poland China hogs. 
 His farm is now a splendidly developed 
 property and from the sale of his prod- 
 ucts he derives a good income. He votes 
 with the Republican party but is without 
 aspiration for office and his religious faith 
 is indicated by his membership in the 
 Presbyterian church. 
 
 WILLIAM PERRIN. 
 
 William Perrin, who since 1871 has 
 been a resident of La Harpe and for many 
 years was closely associated with its com- 
 mercial interests as proprietor of a drug 
 store but is now living retired, was born 
 in Stockbridge, England, November 30, 
 1836, his parents being William and Eliz- 
 abeth (Gulliver) Perrin, both of whom 
 were natives of Stockridge. the former 
 born October 20, 1803, and the latter 
 September 20, 1810. The paternal 
 grandparents were Richard and Catherine 
 (Hulbert) Perrin, both of whom were 
 natives of Hampshire. England, and the 
 maternal grandfather, George Gulliver, 
 was also born in England. In his early 
 youth William Perrin, Sr., worked with 
 his father at the shoemaker's trade for 
 several years and afterward turned his 
 attention to commercial pursuits, being
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 447 
 
 engaged in the grocery and dry goods 
 business with a brother. In this he con- 
 tinued until the spring of 1847, when, 
 crossing the Atlantic to the new world 
 to enjoy its broader business opportunities, 
 he made his way to Monmouth. Illinois, 
 where he arrived on the 27th of June. 
 Soon afterward he purchased a farm three 
 miles northwest of that city, took up his 
 abode thereon and made it his home until 
 1856, when he sold the property and re- 
 moved to Monmouth, where he lived for 
 a number of years. During the period 
 of the Civil war, however, he traded some 
 town property for a farm four miles 
 northwest of the city and removed to that 
 place, whereon his wife died August 20, 
 1868. He later traded that farm for real 
 estate in Monmouth and continued to re- 
 side there until his death, which occurred 
 July 10, 1886. 
 
 William Perrin of this review was the 
 second in a family of three sons and six 
 daughters. No event of special impor- 
 tance occurred to vary the routine of farm 
 life for him in his youth after coming to 
 America with his parents when about 
 eleven years of age. He continued under 
 the parental roof until 1860. when he be- 
 gan farming on his own account by rent- 
 ing forty acres of land four miles west 
 of Monmouth. He afterwards rented 
 another farm the next season and his first 
 crop was a good one but the second one 
 was a failure, for the season was very 
 wet. About that time he put aside all 
 personal and business considerations in 
 order to respond to his country's call for 
 aid to crush out the rebellion in the south 
 and on the 6th of August. 1862. he en- 
 listed as a member of Company F, 
 
 Eighty-third Regiment of Illinois Infan- 
 try, under command of Captain John T. 
 Morgan and Colonel A. C. Harding. 
 This regiment was assigned to the Army 
 of the Cumberland and the troops pro- 
 ceeded from Burlington by boat to St. 
 Louis, Missouri, where they were trans- 
 ferred to a larger boat and taken to Cairo, 
 Illinois. On the 3d of September they 
 took a steamer to Fort Henry and after- 
 ward went to Fort Donelson. Tennessee. 
 They were in the battle on the 3d of 
 February, 1863, the Union troops engag- 
 ing generals Forrest and Wheeler with 
 eight thousand men. Mr. Perrin's 
 brother-in-law was standing by his 
 side and was shot. He was then taken 
 to the hospital at Paducah, Kentucky, and 
 there died from lock-jaw on the 23d of 
 February, 1864. 
 
 At the close of the war he was taken 
 to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was 
 mustered out June 26, 1865. and with 
 his regiment went to Chicago, where the 
 men received their pay and were dis- 
 charged July 4, 1865. He made a cred- 
 itable military record, being always at his 
 post of duty whether on the lonely picket 
 line or on the firing line. After being 
 discharged he started for his father's 
 home near Monmouth. Not long after- 
 ward he made arrangements to enter 
 business life by purchasing a stock of 
 drugs, which he offered for sale in the 
 Seminary block in Monmouth. There he 
 carried on business until he sold out to 
 Dr. Cuthburt, who afterward sold to Dr. 
 A. V. T. Gilbert. In the summer of 
 1871, Mr. Perrin came to La Harpe, 
 where he purchased the drug stock of 
 Dr. Sutton and continued in business until
 
 44 8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 December 14, 1900, when he sold out to 
 J. N. Campbell. He was for almost 
 thirty years a leading druggist in this 
 town and conducted a profitable business, 
 having a well appointed store and doing 
 everything in his power to meet the wishes 
 of his patrons, so that he enjoyed a large 
 trade. After selling his stock he con- 
 ducted the business, however, for one 
 year for Mr. Campbell and then clerked 
 for two years for Mr. Knappenberger. 
 Since that time he has lived retired, en- 
 joying a well-earned rest. He owns a 
 fine brick residence in La Harpe and also 
 the south half of the Masonic block, 
 which is two stories in height and 
 which contains a store building. This 
 brings him a good income. 
 
 On the 4th of October, 1866, Mr. Per- 
 rin was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
 Todd, who was born in Burlington, Iowa, 
 May 31, 1845, and is a daughter of Miles 
 and Eunice (Haight) Todd, natives of 
 Ohio. The children of this marriage are 
 as follows : Flora Emma, born August 
 6, 1867; Mary E., born November 10, 
 1870, and now the wife of E. G. Braymen, 
 of Monett, Missouri ; William Miles, who 
 was born January 30, 1873, and died Feb- 
 ruary 17, 1874; Harriet Eunice, who was 
 born November 27, 1874, and is at home; 
 Arthur E., who was born October 5, 
 1876, and is living in Monett, Missouri; 
 George Gulliver, born October 28, 1878, 
 and now a student in the University of 
 Chicago: and Fleming Allen, born April 
 29, 1884, and is now a student in 
 Champaign. 
 
 Mr. Perrin is a member of the Christian 
 church, in which he has served as elder 
 since 1899 and also as clerk. He takes 
 
 an active interest in church work and does 
 all in his power to extend its influence 
 and promote its growth. In politics he is 
 a republican and served as school director 
 in La Harpe township, but otherwise has 
 sought nor desired public office. His un- 
 divided attention in former years was 
 given to his business interests, which, be- 
 ing carefully managed, brought to him 
 a good financial return and now, with a 
 comfortable competence gained through 
 his own labors, he is living retired in the 
 enjoyment of well-earned ease. 
 
 C. A. ECKLES. 
 
 C. A. Eckles is the owner of a fine farm- 
 ing property comprising three hundred 
 and eighty-seven acres in Durham town- 
 ship on section 13, and he also has eighty 
 acres on section 7, La Harpe township, to- 
 gether with five acres of timber in the 
 latter township. Starting out in life on 
 his own account at the age of fourteen 
 years, and providing to a considerable ex- 
 tent for his mother and sisters, he certain- 
 ly deserves much credit for the success he 
 has achieved and his life record should 
 serve as a source of inspiration to others, 
 proving what may be accomplished 
 through perseverance and close adherence 
 to the rules which govern unfaltering dili- 
 gence and unswerving integrity. 
 
 A native of Adams county, Illinois, 
 he was born in 1853, and is a son of Sam- 
 uel and Diana (Hopson) Eckles, the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 449 
 
 former a native of Virginia and the lat- 
 ter of Ohio. Both were married twice. 
 The father was a carpenter by trade and 
 removed to Illinois in 1851, becoming a 
 resident of Durham township, Hancock 
 county, in the fall of 1854. He lived the 
 life of an honest, upright and enterpris- 
 ing farmer, was loyal to the best inter- 
 ests of the community and gave his po- 
 litical support to the democracy. He died 
 in 1876. while the mother of our subject 
 passed away in 1872. Both were interred 
 in Durham cemetery. After losing her 
 first husband the mother became the wife 
 of Samuel Eckles. Unto Samuel and 
 Diana Eckles were born six children; 
 C. A. ; Emma C, who died at the age of 
 eleven years; Narcissa B., deceased wife 
 of Horace Dodd, who has also passed 
 away ; Johanna, the wife of Isaac G. Kil- 
 gore, of La Harpe; Ella, the wife of John 
 Kilgore. of Nebraska; and Mahala, the 
 wife of Charles Cambron, living in La- 
 Crosse, Illinois. 
 
 C. A. Eckles was only about a year old 
 when his parents removed from Adams 
 county to Durham township and here in 
 the public schools he was educated. He 
 lost his father when fourteen years of age 
 and remained with his mother, assisting 
 her in the work of the farm, until twenty- 
 six years of age, when, he went to Colo- 
 rado, working in the Leadville mines for 
 two years. Following his marriage he set- 
 tled on the old homestead in Durham 
 township and lived in the old house until 
 1902, when he erected an elegant country 
 home, supplied with all modern improve- 
 ments and conveniences. He has also 
 built fine barns and sheds, has built fences 
 and put up windmills and is now the 
 
 owner of one of the model farms of the 
 county, comprising three hundred and 
 eighty-seven acres on section 13, Durham 
 township, and eighty acres on section 7, La 
 Harpe township, in addition to which he 
 owns a five-acre timber tract. He is a gen- 
 eral farmer and also raises considerable 
 stock, his farming interests being so care- 
 fully, systematically and admirably man- 
 aged that he seems to have realized the 
 utmost possibility for successful ac- 
 complishment. 
 
 In 1882 Mr. Eckles was married to 
 Miss Erances B. Nichols, who was born 
 in La Harpe township, in 1859, a daugh- 
 ter of Joseph and Thirza (Murdock) 
 Nichols, both of whom were natives of 
 Pennsylvania and came to Hancock coun- 
 ty in 1852, the father settling en a farm 
 in La Harpe township, where he became 
 an extensive dealer in stock. Both he and 
 his wife have now passed away. Of their 
 seven children, only two are living: Mrs. 
 Eckles ; and Ida, wife of David R. Sights, 
 of La Harpe township. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Eckles had four children : Amy, Ada and 
 Marion, all at home ; and Inez, who died 
 at the age of two years. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Eckles are members of 
 the Methodist Protestant church and he 
 belongs to the Durham Lodge of Wood- 
 men and to the La Harpe Lodge of Odd 
 Fellows, in which he has passed all the 
 chairs. In politics he is a democrat and 
 has served for two terms as supervisor 
 of Durham township, also as highway 
 commissioner and as a member of the 
 school board. . His fellow townsmen have 
 also given other evidences of their confi- 
 dence in him and he is in every way 
 worthy of their trust.
 
 450 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 WILLIAM JAMES TOMLINSON. 
 
 \\~illiam James Tomlinson, whose life 
 has been one of earnest labor character- 
 ized by fidelity to duty and straightfor- 
 ward dealing in all relations, makes his 
 home in Augusta, where he is now acting 
 as sexton of the Christian church. He 
 was born in Humphreys county, Tennes- 
 see, August 9, 1837, a sen of Daniel and 
 Emily (Ridings) Tomlinson, the former 
 a native of South Carolina and the latter 
 of North Carolina. The father removed 
 to Tennessee when a schoolboy and the 
 mother became a resident of that state 
 when only three years of age. Mr. Tom- 
 linson engaged in farming throughout 
 the period of his residence there and in 
 1852 he came to Illinois, making an over- 
 land journey with horse teams. He set- 
 tled in Jackson county, this state, where 
 he purchased eighty acres of land, which 
 he cultivated and improved, making a 
 good home there for himself and family. 
 In 1854, however, he removed to Augus- 
 ta township, Hancock county, where he 
 rented land and continued farming until 
 1859. when, on the 2Oth of October of 
 that year, his life's labors were ended in 
 death. He passed away at the age of fif- 
 ty-three years and ten days. He was a 
 democrat in politics and was known as a 
 man of thorough reliability. His wife 
 long survived him and passed away March 
 22, 1895, on the old homestead west of 
 Augusta at the advanced age of eighty-six 
 years. She was a member of the Baptist 
 church and was laid to rest by the side 
 of her husband in Pulaski cemetery. In 
 the family were nine children, but only 
 two are now living. 
 
 William J. Tomlinson acquired his 
 early education in a log schoolhouse at 
 the place of his nativity and in his youth 
 assisted his father upon the home farm. 
 He afterward attended school in Augusta 
 for a short time and when eighteen years 
 of age he began working as a section hand 
 on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
 Railroad. There his capability and trust- 
 worthiness gained him promotion and for 
 twenty-two years he had charge of section 
 43 at Augusta, filling the. position con- 
 tinuously until 1898. Since his retirement 
 from the railroad service he has acted as 
 sexton of the Christian church at Augus- 
 ta. He has always lived a busy life inter- 
 rupted only by his .service in the Civil war, 
 for which he enlisted on the I2th of Au- 
 gust, 1862, becoming a member of Corn- 
 pan}- A, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, 
 with which he served until the close of hos- 
 tilities, when he was mustered out with his 
 regiment at Nashville, Tennessee, June 
 10, 1865. He participated in the battles 
 of Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary 
 Ridge, Lookout Mountain and the Atlanta 
 campaign, also the engagements at Frank- 
 lin and Nashville and many others of less- 
 er importance. He was wounded at Pick- 
 ett's Mills, Georgia. As a soldier he was 
 brave and loyal, always at his post of duty 
 whether it called him to the firing line or 
 the lonely picket line. He is now a mem- 
 ber of Union Post, No. 302. Grand Army 
 of the Republic, at Augusta and served 
 for some time as its quartermaster. 
 
 Following his return from the army Mr. 
 Tomlinson was married at Augusta on 
 the 2d of Tune. 1867. to Miss Anjaline 
 Booker, a daughter of Samuel J. and 
 Sarah W. (Haworth) Booker. Her fa-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 ther was born in West Virginia and when 
 seven years of age became a resident of 
 Vermilion county, Illinois. Throughout 
 his entire life he followed the occupation 
 of farming and his last days were spent 
 in Adams county. He, too, was a soldier 
 of the Civil war, serving with the boys 
 in blue of Company C, Seventy -eighth Il- 
 linois Infantry. His wife died in Law- 
 rence, Kansas, at the age of sixty-five 
 years. Mrs. Tomlinson was educated in 
 Augusta and has lived in the village since 
 1864. By this marriage there have been 
 born nine children : Ella G., who died 
 at the age of thirteen months ; August F., 
 police magistrate at Galesburg, Illinois, 
 who married Susie Raymond and has five 
 children Kenneth C., William Carroll, 
 Charles L., deceased, Lois and Jesse L. ; 
 Rosette M., a teacher in the public schools 
 of Elvaston ; Effie, who became the wife 
 of Elmer J. Bellew and died leaving one 
 son, Chellis; Jennie, who died at the age 
 of three years ; Bertha, who is a typesetter 
 in the office of the Augusta Eagle; Mary, 
 who died at the age of seven years ; Jessie, 
 who died at the age of eight years; and 
 James Robert, at home. All of the chil- 
 dren were born in the residence which the 
 parents yet occupy, Mr. Tomlinson having 
 built the home in 1868. He and his wife 
 are members of the Christian church and 
 he belongs to Augusta camp, No. 
 527, Modern Woodmen of America. 
 His political allegiance is given to the 
 Republican party, which was the de- 
 fense of the Union in the Civil war and 
 which has always been the party of reform 
 and progress. He is today a valued and 
 respected citizen of Augusta and in public 
 affairs has manifested the same loyal and 
 
 progressive spirit which characterized his 
 military service on the battlefields of the 
 south. 
 
 WILLIAM C. STIDUM. 
 
 William C. Stidum. residing on his 
 farm of one hundred and sixty acres on 
 section 18, Pilot Grove township, is a 
 native of Hancock county, Kentucky, 
 born April 17, 1843. His parents were 
 Henry and Sarah (Marene) Stidum, the 
 former a native of Tennessee and the lat- 
 ter of Indiana. They removed from Ken- 
 tucky to Perry county, Indiana, where 
 both passed away. 
 
 William C. Stidum resided in his na- 
 tive county until he had attained his ma- 
 jority and his education was acquired in 
 the common schools. His mother died 
 in 1854, when he was only eleven years 
 of age and he soon afterward started out 
 in life on his own account, working on 
 various farms until after the outbreak of 
 the Civil war, when, in 1861, he enlisted 
 as a member of Company B, Seventeenth 
 Kentucky Regiment, and served until the 
 close of hostilities. He was in the bat- 
 tle of Fort Donelson, Corinth, Shiloh, 
 Missionary Ridge and other important 
 military movements, including the march 
 from Atlanta to the sea, and was honor- 
 ably discharged and mustered out at Lou- 
 isville, Kentucky, having made a credit- 
 able record as a soldier by his unfalter- 
 ing bravery and loyalty. He enlisted as 
 a private soldier but in about one month's 
 time he was promoted to the duties of 
 colorbearer for his regiment.
 
 452 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 After the war Mr. Stidum returned 
 to Hancock county, Kentucky, where he 
 engaged in farming for about two years. 
 He then came to Illinois, settling at To- 
 lono, Champaign county, where he also 
 spent about two years, after which he 
 came to Hancock county, taking up his 
 abode in Durham township, where he fol- 
 lowed farming on rented land for five 
 years. He next removed to Pilot Grove 
 township, where he purchased a farm of 
 one hundred and sixty acres of par- 
 tially improved land, whereon he made a 
 home for himself and family. For thirteen 
 years he lived upon that farm, after 
 which he sold the property and bought 
 his present place, which at that time was 
 only partially improved. He has here 
 erected a good residence, barns and other 
 outbuildings and has developed a model 
 farm property equipped with all modern 
 accessories and conveniences. In addi- 
 tion he owns eighty acres adjoining the 
 homestead property and throughout his 
 entire life he has carried on general farm- 
 ing and stock-raising, meeting with a 
 creditable measure of success. 
 
 On the 8th of November, 1876, Mr. 
 Stidum was married to Mrs. Sarah E. 
 Haley, a native of Durham township, 
 Hancock county, Illinois, and a daughter 
 of Samuel and Jane (Phillips) Shinn, na- 
 tives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. 
 Her parents came to Illinois about 1854, 
 settling in Durham township, where Mr. 
 Shinn engaged in farming where he lived 
 until his death. He died at about the 
 age of eighty-two years and his wife sur- 
 vived him for about three weeks, passing 
 away at the age of sixty-eight. He was 
 one of the prosperous men of his day. 
 
 Their daughter Sarah was educated in 
 the schools of Durham township and . 
 there reared to womanhood. She first 
 married a Mr. Haley, by whom she had 
 one daughter, Stella, now the wife of 
 James Bassett, a farmer of Dallas town- 
 ship, by whom she has three children. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stidum have been 
 born three children. Jesse D. resides on 
 his father's farm, which he operates. He 
 is now twenty-seven years of age and he 
 - married Miss Pearl Wright, a daughter 
 of John Wright, of Webster, Illinois, by 
 whom he had one child, who died in in- 
 fancy. In politics he is a Republican and 
 belongs to the Independent Order of Odd 
 Fellows. William S. resides upon the 
 home farm. Roy E. is a farmer of Pilot 
 Grove township, renting forty acres of 
 land, and he also aids in the operation of 
 the old home place. Roy E. is twenty- 
 three 'years of age and recently married 
 Miss Inez Towles, daughter of Mr. Ster- 
 ling Towles, of Plymouth, Illinois. 
 
 In politics Mr. Stidum is a republican, 
 but is without aspiration for office, pre- 
 ferring to concentrate his energies upon 
 his business affairs and other interests. 
 
 JACOB GROVE. 
 
 Jacob Grove was one of the earliest 
 settlers of Hancock county, where he took 
 up his abode in April. 1836. From that 
 time until his death he was closely as- 
 sociated with the early development of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 453 
 
 the county and although more than sixty 
 years have been added to the cycle of the 
 centuries since he passed away, he should 
 be mentioned and honored as one of those 
 who aided in laying the foundation for 
 the present development and progress of 
 this part of the state. 
 
 A native of Page county, Virginia, he 
 was born in October, 1809, a son of 
 Christian and Mary (Gochenour) Grove, 
 who were likewise natives of the Old 
 Dominion. Educated in the subscription 
 schools, Jacob Grove afterward learned 
 and followed the miller's trade in Vir- 
 ginia, where he owned a grist mill. 
 While still residing in that state he was 
 married to Miss Rebecca Lionberger, who 
 was born in Page county, Virginia, June 
 10, 1816, a daughter of Joseph and 
 Esther (Burner) Lionberger, natives of 
 the same county, and a granddaughter of 
 John and Barbara (Hershberger) Lion- 
 berger, who were born in Pennsylvania. 
 The maternal grandparents were John 
 and Lythia (Young) Burner, natives of 
 Virginia. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Grove 
 was celebrated January 16, 1834. and for 
 a year thereafter they remained in their 
 native state, after which they sold their 
 property there and started with team and 
 wagon for Illinois. They left their old 
 home in September and in November 
 reached Sangamon county, where they 
 spent the winter, coming in April, 1836, 
 to Hancock county where for two years 
 Mr. Grove operated a rented farm. He 
 then, in company with Joseph Lionberger, 
 bought three hundred and twenty acres 
 of land in Pilot Grove township, where 
 they built the saw and grist mill on 
 
 Crooked creek. About this time they 
 owned and operated a dry goods store in 
 La Harpe, taking produce of all kinds in 
 exchange for goods which they shipped 
 on flatboats to New Orleans. 
 
 In 1842 he went to New Orleans 
 to sell flour and bacon, making the jour- 
 ney down the Mississippi on a flat- 
 boat and while there he contracted a 
 fever, which terminated his life three days 
 after his return home, his death occurring 
 July 15, 1842. He was a member of the 
 Baptist church and a democrat in his polit- 
 ical views. Men who knew him respected 
 and honored him, for he was always just 
 and upright in all life's relations. 
 Following his death the mill was con- 
 ducted by Joseph Lionberger until the 
 time of the Civil war, when it was washed 
 away in an overflow of the creek and 
 never rebuilt. 
 
 After the death of her husband Mrs. 
 Grove lived with her father who also 
 came to Hancock county in April, 1836, 
 and owned the land where the town of 
 La Crosse - now stands. She continued 
 to live with her father until after her 
 children were grown and following his 
 death, in January, 1868, she bought sixty 
 acres of prairie land on section 7, Foun- 
 tain Green township and forty acres of 
 timber on section i. Pilot Grove township. 
 With the help of her children she con- 
 ducted the farm and the business was 
 carefully managed. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Grove had 
 been born the following named : Benja- 
 min F., born in Virginia, November 7, 
 1834, is a partner of his brothers, W. 
 Scott and Joseph N., in the owner- 
 ship of the home place, where they live.
 
 454 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REI'lEU'. 
 
 William Harrison, who was born Sep- 
 tember i, 1837, and was married and re- 
 sided in Pilot Grove township, died May 
 31, 1897, leaving five sons and a daughter. 
 Mary V., born May 19, 1839, is the wid- 
 ow of Calvin Phelps and resides in Pilot 
 Grove township. Winfield Scott, born 
 August 3, 1841, is a partner of his brother 
 Benjamin. In 1872 these brothers 
 bought one hundred and eighty-six acres 
 of the home place and have since con- 
 ducted their farming interests in partner- 
 ship. In connection with the tilling of 
 the soil they have raised Percheron horses 
 since 1886, when they imported two stal- 
 lions and two mares. They now keep 
 two full-blooded Percheron stallions and 
 they also keep and raise Durham cattle 
 and Poland China hogs. They are well 
 known and successful stockmen, with 
 large business interests, which they are 
 capably conducting. 
 
 FARMER NUDD. 
 
 Farmer Nudd, who is an extensive land- 
 owner and makes his home in La Harpe, 
 is numbered among the native sons of 
 La Harpe township, where his birth oc- 
 curred on the ist of November, 1844. His 
 parents, Joseph and Sarah (Wales) 
 Nudd, were both natives of New Eng- 
 land, the former born in Massachusetts 
 and the latter in New Hampshire. The 
 paternal grandfather, Robert Nudd, was 
 a native of Scotland and married a Miss 
 
 Pinkham, who was also born in that coun- 
 try. The maternal grandfather was Sam- 
 uel Wales, a native of the old Granite 
 state. 
 
 Joseph Warren Nudd, removing from 
 New England in 1832, became a resident 
 of Quincy, Illinois, where he remained un- 
 til 1834. He was married there and aft- 
 erward removed to La Harpe, which then 
 contained but two houses and the little 
 hamlet was called Franklin. He entered 
 three hundred and twenty acres of land 
 a half mile south and one mile west of the 
 village on section 20, La Harpe town- 
 ship, and began to till the soil, improving 
 the place until he had brought the farm 
 under a high state of cultivation. He 
 lived there until 1855. when he sold the 
 property and took up his abode in La 
 Harpe. He was the owner of two hun- 
 dred and forty acres of valuable and pro- 
 ductive land two miles south of the town 
 and he also owned twenty-seven acres in 
 La Harpe, extending from the square to 
 the depot, which has since been divided 
 and sold off in town lots. He lived in a 
 house on the south side of the square, 
 which is still standing and is one of the 
 old landmarks of the town, it being one of 
 the first dwellings which were erected in 
 the village. He was closely associated 
 with many of the events of the early days 
 which indicate the trend of public prog- 
 ress and improvement and he always gave 
 his support to any measure or movement 
 that was calculated to advance the general 
 welfare. He held several positions of po- 
 litical preferment, including that of justice 
 of the peace and was also school treasurer 
 in his township for many years. His wife 
 passed away December 3, 1868, and he
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 455 
 
 spent his last years with his daughter, 
 Mrs. Sarah C. Gochenour, who lived two 
 and a half miles south and a half mile east 
 of La Harpe. There his death occurred 
 in January, 1890, and thus passed away 
 one of the prominent and honored pioneers 
 of the county, who had resided in this sec- 
 tion of the state for fifty-six years. Their 
 children were: Joseph Warren, who died 
 in 1865, at the age of twenty-five years; 
 Farmer, the subject of this review ; Ham- 
 mond Woodman, who died in 1890, at the 
 age of forty-five years ; Pinkham Wales, a 
 resident of London, Arkansas ; and Sarah 
 Emma, the wife of David Gochenour, of 
 La Harpe township. 
 
 Farmer Nudd, whose name introduces 
 this record, pursued his education in the 
 public schools of La Harpe and at the age 
 of eighteen years started out in life on 
 his own account. He went to the west 
 with a company of men including Sydney 
 Tuttle, Israel Brundage, James N. 
 Younger, Charles Thompson and several 
 others, being one hundred and six days 
 on the way to Virginia City. He started 
 to work in the gold mines, receiving at 
 different times six, ten and twelve dollars 
 per day. He also took up claims and 
 worked for himself, remaining a resident 
 of Montana until the fall of 1866. With 
 his companions he built a flatboat and they 
 thus made their way down the Missouri 
 river from Fort Benton to Omaha, Ne- 
 braska, in company with twelve others. At 
 the last named point they took a steamer 
 to St. Joseph, Missouri, and thus proceed- 
 ed to Keokuk, Iowa, from which point Mr. 
 Nudd made his way to his home in Han- 
 cock county. Illinois. Here he turned his 
 attention to farming and for two years op- 
 29 
 
 crated a rented farm. He then pur- 
 chased forty acres of land on section 32, 
 La Harpe township, which he afterward 
 traded to his father for the home place 
 of three hundred and forty acres. He re- 
 moved to the latter farm and thereon en- 
 gaged in the tilling of the soil and in 
 stock-raising. He still owns that place, 
 which is now being conducted by his son 
 Harry and his son also lives upon the old 
 homestead. Since his return from the 
 west Mr. Nudd has enjoyed a very suc- 
 cessful career. He worked diligently and 
 energetically to bring his farm under a 
 high state of cultivation and as the result 
 of the care and labor which he bestowed 
 upon the fields he reaped bounteous har- 
 vests. From time to time he made judi- 
 cious investment in property until his land- 
 ed possessions now aggregate seven hun- 
 dred acres, of which three hundred and 
 eighty acres is in La Harpe township and 
 the remainder in Fountain Green town- 
 ship. He lived upon the home farm until 
 the spring of 1899, when he purchased a 
 fine residence in the central part of La 
 Harpe. It is one of the most attractive 
 and best located homes in the village and 
 here he resides with his wife and son Clay. 
 On the 8th of March, 1868, Mr. Nudd 
 was united in marriage to Miss Rosabelle 
 Vincent, who was born in La Harpe town- 
 ship, April 8, 1847, upon the site of the 
 present fair ground. She was educated in 
 the public schools and became a successful 
 teacher, being connected with the work of 
 the schoolroom from 1864 until 1868. She 
 is a daughter of Samuel C. Vincent, who 
 was born near Buffalo, New York, and 
 married Jane Andrews, whose birth oc- 
 curred at Great Barrington, Connecticut.
 
 456 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Her parents were married in the Empire 
 state and removing westward settled in 
 Elgin. Illinois, where they remained for a 
 short time. They then came to this town- 
 ship and purchased land on the west of the 
 town, where Mr. Vincent lived up to the 
 time of his death, which occurred on the 
 1 5th of August, 1870. For twenty years 
 he was engaged in teaching in the public 
 schools of Hancock county through the 
 winter seasons. He was a well educated 
 man and a successful educator, imparting 
 readily and clearly to others the knowl- 
 edge that he had acquired, so that he gave 
 excellent satisfaction in his school work. 
 His wife passed away in January, 1890. 
 In their family were the following named : 
 Alary Adell, who married Cowden Bryan 
 and after his death wedded Wesley Cas- 
 singham, and resides in La Harpe, Illi- 
 nois ; Rosabell, now Mrs. Nudd ; Frances 
 Adelaide, the wife of Frank James, a resi- 
 dent of Galesburg, Illinois: Byron Z., of 
 Shenandoah, Iowa : Juie, who became the 
 wife of Charles Sanford. and died in No- 
 vember, 1876; and Elma, who died in La 
 Harpe, October 25. 1903. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nudd have been 
 born four children, as follows : Joseph 
 Samuel, Harry and Clay, all residing in 
 La Harpe township; and May, who was 
 born May 17. 1880, and died February 
 17. 1906. In his political views Mr. Nudd 
 is a stalwart democrat and has served as 
 commissioner of highways, as assessor of 
 his township and as supervisor since 1902, 
 his last term expiring on the 3d of April, 
 1906. In all of his public service he has 
 been found faithful, capable, prompt and 
 efficient. He belongs to the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, in which he has attained the 
 
 Royal Arch degree and he is well known 
 in La Harpe as a man of many good traits 
 of character, whose business success has 
 been worthily achieved and honorably won 
 and now in possession of splendid prop- 
 erty interests which yield him a good in- 
 come he is living retired in one of the 
 beautiful homes of La Harpe, surrounded 
 by all of the comforts and many of the 
 luxuries which go to make life worth 
 living. 
 
 ANDREW KIRBY. 
 
 Andrew Kirby, conducting a real es- 
 tate and loan agency business at Dallas 
 City, was born near Lomax, in Hender- 
 son county, Illinois. March 8, 1858. a 
 son of Joseph and Jane (Swymer) Kir- 
 by. The father was born June 8, 1822, 
 on the eastern shore of Maryland, and 
 the mother's birth occurred in Downing- 
 ton, Chester county, Pennsylvania, on the 
 1 4th of February, 1822. Joseph Kirby 
 was a farmer by occupation, and in 1838 
 removed to Henderson county, Illinois, 
 where he engaged in tilling the soil until 
 his death, with the exception of a period 
 of four or five years spent in the mining 
 regions of California. He died June 19, 
 1879, and is still survived by his wife, 
 who lives at the old home. In their fam- 
 ily were four children, of whom two are 
 living: Minerva, the wife of G. H. Mes- 
 sick, who resides near Lomax. Illinois : 
 and Andrew. 
 
 Having acquired his preliminary edu- 
 cation in the public schools. Andrew Kir-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 457 
 
 by afterward attended Denmark Academy 
 in Iowa and Elliott's Business College, at 
 Burlington, Iowa. He afterward re- 
 mained upon the home farm until he had 
 attained his majority and subsequently 
 engaged in farming on his own account 
 in Henderson county until 1896. He was 
 afterward engaged in the conduct of a 
 meat market and grocery store for sev- 
 eral years but had been connected to a 
 greater or less extent with real estate op- 
 erations and has recently opened a real 
 estate office and loan agency, in which he 
 has met with splendid success. His sales 
 of land exceed the business of many an- 
 other real estate dealer of the county and 
 he is represented in various sections by 
 agents selling Texas land. He has thor- 
 oughly acquainted himself with property 
 values in Dallas City and Hancock coun- 
 ty, as well as in the southwest, and has a 
 large clientage, so that his annual sales 
 of real estate are now extensive. He is 
 also conducting a loan agency and is en- 
 gaged in the insurance business, repre- 
 senting the following insurance com- 
 panies : National of Hartford, the Fire 
 Association of Philadelphia, and the Ger- 
 man Alliance, of New York, and he now 
 writes a large amount of insurance annu- 
 ally and has a good business in its various 
 departments, his offices being pleasantly 
 located in the Byers Building on Oak 
 street. He has laid out three additions 
 to Dallas City, which he now owns. The 
 first was laid out in the western part of 
 the town in 1903, the second lies west of 
 the first and was platted in 1904, and the 
 third lies south of the first addition and 
 was platted in 1906. This is being rap- 
 
 idly built up and his real estate operations 
 are now extensive and profitable. 
 
 On the 23d of December, 1886, Mr. 
 Kirby was married to Miss Hattie Helen 
 Lowry, who was born in Lomax, Hender- 
 son county, in 1868, a daughter of Al- 
 bert H. and Jennie Lowry, who still lives 
 on a farm near Lomax. Her father was 
 a soldier of the war of the rebellion, en- 
 listing in an Illinois regiment, with which 
 he was connected for a year, being sta- 
 tioned on the Rio Grande river. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Lowry have three children : Fred, 
 living in Williamsfield, Illinois ; Mrs. 
 Blanch White, a widow who makes her 
 home with her parents ; and Mrs. Kirby. 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born four children, all natives of 
 Henderson county. Carl Raymond, who 
 was born November 13, 1887, and is a 
 student in the Dallas City high school; 
 Guy. born August 5, 1891 ; Hugh, born 
 in 1894; and Helen, in 1896. Mr. Kirby 
 purchased the old Rallonoson mansion, 
 which was later destroyed by fire, and he 
 then erected a pretty, modern home in the 
 western part of the town. In politics he 
 is a republican and has twice served as as- 
 sessor of his township. He has also been 
 a school director and is now secretary of 
 the school board of Dallas City. Socially 
 he is a Chapter Mason, and his wife is a 
 member of the Congregational church. 
 In their home is a good library and a fine 
 collection of various ores. The home is 
 one of culture and refinement and the 
 members of the household occupy an en- 
 viable position in social circles. Mr. 
 Kirby is ambitious, energetic and enter- 
 prising qualities which are concomi-
 
 458 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEU' 
 
 tants to success and form a splendid 
 basis upon which to build prosperity. 
 
 JAMES B. LEACH. 
 
 In a history of the pioneer residents 
 of Hancock county it is commensurate 
 that mention be made of James B. Leach, 
 who is now living a retired life in the 
 village of Augusta but who in former 
 years was actively and prominently con- 
 nected with business affairs and his life 
 stands in exemplification of the fact that 
 earnest purpose and unfaltering industry 
 will bring a comfortable competence and 
 gain simultaneously an honored name. 
 He has now passed the seventy-seventh 
 milestone on life's journey and well merits 
 the rest which he is enjoying. He was 
 born in Mason county, Kentucky, Novem- 
 ber 2, 1828, a son of Thomas and Docia 
 Ann (Davis) Leach, the former a na- 
 tive of Virginia and the latter of Ken- 
 tucky. They were married in the Blue 
 Grass state and throughout the greater 
 part of his active business life the father 
 engaged in farming but during his last 
 three or four years he operated a coal 
 bank within a mile and a half of Augusta. 
 He died at the age of sixty-five years and 
 twenty-two days, passing away March 
 9, 1864, in the faith of the Methodist 
 church, of which he was a devoted and 
 loyal member. His early political alle- 
 giance was given to the democracy but 
 later he joined the ranks of the Repub- 
 lican party. His wife, long surviving 
 him. passed away in 1892, at the advanced 
 age of eighty-two years. The remains 
 
 of both .were interred in Augusta ceme- 
 tery. In the family of this worthy couple 
 were eleven children, four of whom are 
 yet living, namely : James B., of this 
 review ; Mary, the wife of Thomas E. B. 
 Rice, of- California; Orange, who is a 
 plasterer and brick mason of Augusta ; 
 and Alice J., who makes her home with 
 her elder brother. 
 
 James B. Leach remained in Kentucky 
 until eight years of age, when he came 
 to Illinois with his grandfather, Benja- 
 min Davis, who settled in Schuyler 
 county near Camden, where Mr. Leach 
 remained for five years. His father, hav- 
 ing come to the west, he then removed 
 with him to Augusta, Illinois, but in the 
 meantime had spent four years with his 
 father upon the farm in Schuyler county, 
 at the end of which time their home was 
 established in close proximity to the vil- 
 lage of Augusta. He started out in life 
 on his own account when twenty-one 
 years of age and for a year was employed 
 on a farm in Sangamon county this state, 
 after which he spent two years at farm 
 labor in Adams county, whence he re- 
 moved to Hancock county and worked 
 on a farm near the village of Augusta 
 for some time. Later he began learning 
 the trade of a painter and paper-hanger 
 under James Cooper and continued his 
 active connection with that department of 
 industrial labor until he put aside busi- 
 ness cares. 
 
 Mr. Leach was married October 7. 
 1856, to Miss Mary M. Rice, who was 
 born in Adams county, Illinois, and is 
 a daughter of David H. and Clarinda 
 (Wilson) Rice, who were early settlers 
 of that county. Her father followed
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 459 
 
 farming during the greater part of his life 
 but after removing from Adams county 
 to Augusta he carried on blacksmithing, 
 his death occurring in this village when he 
 was seventy-two years of age. His wife 
 passed away here some years before. One 
 of their sons, Henry H. Rice, is a harness- 
 maker, residing in Augusta. Mrs. Leach 
 was a devoted member of the Methodist 
 church and took an active and helpful part 
 in its work. Her life was at all times 
 characterized by an earnest Christian 
 spirit and devotion to the right and she 
 performed many deeds of kindness and 
 acts of charity for those less fortunate 
 than herself. She died in Augusta, Feb- 
 ruary 9, 1894, and her remains were in- 
 terred in the Augusta cemetery. In the 
 family were three children, two of whom 
 died in infancy; Carrie May and Lu- 
 ther L., who were the youngest and oldest 
 respectively. One daughter, Fannie B., 
 became the wife of James H. Coffman, 
 present postmaster of Augusta and died 
 at the age of thirty-five years. The chil- 
 dren of this family were all born in Au- 
 gusta in the house which Mr. Leach yet 
 occupies. 
 
 In his religious views he is a Metho- 
 dist and his political support is given to 
 the Republican party. He has never 
 been active as a politician in the sense 
 of office-seeking yet served for five years 
 as collector of the village. He has been 
 a witness of nearly all of the improve- 
 ments which have been made in Hancock 
 county and has watched its development 
 from a wild prairie to a highly cultivated 
 farming district with here and there thriv- 
 ing towns and cities. He has done his 
 full share to bring about this desired re- 
 
 sult and is classed among the worthy 
 pioneer residents who in a long life has 
 ever deserved and commanded the respect 
 and good will of all with whom he has 
 come in contact. 
 
 ISAAC FRANKLIN LANDIS. 
 
 Isaac Franklin Landis, a prominent and 
 influential factor of Hancock county, has 
 been engaged in various commercial and 
 industrial enterprises of this portion of 
 the state, and is now engaged in general 
 agricultural pursuits in La Harpe town- 
 ship, where he conducts a large farm on 
 section 26. His birth occurred in this 
 township, August 12, 1844, and with the 
 exception of a brief period spent in Mis- 
 souri, has always resided in this state. His 
 paternal grandparents, Joseph and Eliza- 
 beth (Kline) Landis, were both natives 
 of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and in 
 1842 removed to Hancock county, thus 
 becoming pioneer settlers of this portion 
 of the state, where they entered land from 
 the government and engaged in farming, 
 and here they spent their remaining days. 
 The maternal grandparents, Isaac and 
 Hester Ann Funk, were likewise natives 
 of the Keystone state, their births having 
 occurred in Bucks county, that state. Like 
 the Landis family, they, too, became num- 
 bered among the early settlers of Hancock 
 county and here passed away. The par- 
 ents of our subject, Jacob and Mary 
 (Funk) Landis, accompanied their re- 
 spective parents to Hancock county from 
 the east, and were here married in 1843, 
 after which they took up their abode on
 
 460 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REI'IEIV 
 
 a tract of forty acres which the father 
 had -purchased, this being located on sec- 
 tion 35. It was covered with timber and 
 brush when he made the purchase but 
 with characteristic energy Jacob Landis 
 undertook the work of development and 
 in course of time had cleared his land and 
 placed the fields under a high state of cul- 
 tivation. After about ten years here 
 passed, the family removed to Nauvoo, 
 where for three years the father conduct- 
 ed a stone quarry and lime kiln, and on 
 the expiration of that period he again 
 resumed farming operations on a tract of 
 land of forty-two acres which he had 
 purchased, this being in the same neigh- 
 borhood where he had formerly lived. 
 In addition to his farming operations he 
 also conducted a stone quarry and lime 
 kiln until the fall of 1860, at which time 
 he took up his abode in the city of La 
 Harpe. Watching with interest the great 
 questions which were then affecting the 
 nation, and heeding the call for troops 
 at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlist- 
 ed as a member of the Fiftieth Illinois In- 
 fantry, and at once went to the front, 
 where he lost his life in the battle of Fort 
 Donelson, February 16, 1863, and his re- 
 mains were interred at Nashville, Ten- 
 nessee. He had also served in the Semi- 
 nole war in Florida, and was thus a loyal 
 patriot of his country. In the family of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Landis were born 
 eight children, of whom our subject is the 
 eldest, the others being in order of birth : 
 Joseph, who died March 16, 1902, at the 
 age of fifty-seven years; Hester A., the 
 wife of Martin Ruckman. of Denver, 
 Missouri ; Catherine, who died at the age 
 of two years; Amanda, now the wife of 
 
 0. McDonald, a resident of La Harpe; 
 Hannah, the wife of Smith Wade, a resi- 
 dent of La Harpe; Elizabeth, the widow 
 of Asbury Evans, and a resident of Nel- 
 son, Nebraska ; and Dora, the wife of 
 Michael Collins, and a resident of La 
 Harpe. After the death of the father the 
 mother was married a second time, her 
 union being with Louis Long, and her 
 death occurred January 4, 1887. 
 
 Isaac F. Landis pursued his studies in 
 the Maynard district school near his fa- 
 ther's home and spent his boyhood and 
 youth under the parental roof, remaining 
 with his mother after his father's death 
 until the time of his marriage, August 
 
 1, 1869, when he chose as a companion 
 and helpmate on life's journey, Miss 
 Frances Finett Leavings, a native of 
 Warren county, this state, where she ac- 
 quired her education in the district 
 schools of that section and also in Foun- 
 tain Green township. Her maternal 
 grandfather, Benamin Gates, was born in 
 New York, served in the war of 1812 and 
 located in Hancock county about 1832. 
 Her paternal grandparents, John D. and 
 Abigail (Brown) Leavings, were natives 
 of Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, New 
 York, and the latter lived to the extreme 
 old age of one hundred and two years. 
 Her parents, John D. and Minerva E. 
 (Gates) Leavings, were born in Chautau- 
 qua county, New York, the former Octo- 
 ber 12, 1811, and the latter January 30, 
 1822. They accompanied their respective 
 parents from the east to Hancock county, 
 the former arriving about 1832, and in 
 this county they were married, the wed- 
 ding ceremony being performed on the 
 nth of November, 1841, at Carthage.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 461 
 
 The father had learned the cabinet-mak- 
 er's trade in the east but never followed 
 that business after his arrival in Hancock 
 county. He followed general agricul- 
 tural pursuits in various sections of this 
 county until 1888, when he removed to 
 La Harpe, where he purchased property 
 and lived retired until his death, June 4, 
 1891, when he had reached the age of 
 eighty years. His wife survived until 
 February 16, 1901. when she, too, was 
 called to her final rest, having reached the 
 age of seventy-nine years. Thus passed 
 away a highly esteemed couple of this 
 section of the state. In their family were 
 three sons and five daughters, of whom 
 one son and two daughters survive : My- 
 ron A., born September 4, 1843, died Sep- 
 tember 5, 1897; Harriett C., who was 
 born September 6, 1845, and passed away 
 February 2, 1847; Lorenzo E., who was 
 born October 6, 1849, ant l died January 8, 
 1876; Frances Finett, who was born April 
 20, 1850, and is now the wife of our sub- 
 ject; Seth Gates, who was born January 
 2, 1852, and resides in Monroe county, 
 Missouri ; Rosa Bell, who was born Sep- 
 tember 32, 1855, and died July 16, 1860; 
 Lois Nora, who was born July 8, 1858, 
 and died January 22, 1859; and Minnie 
 Ella, who was born October 22, 1860, and 
 is now the wife of T. G. Head, a resident 
 of Idaho. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Landis lo- 
 cated on a farm in La Harpe township, 
 but a year later removed to Fountain 
 Green township, where he continued in 
 the same line of pursuits for ten years and 
 then took up his abode in the city of La 
 Harpe, where he dealt in grain and stock 
 until 1885, meeting with very desirable 
 
 success in this business venture. He once 
 more resumed farming operations, living 
 on different farms which he bought in 
 this and in Henderson counties until 1892, 
 when he once more removed to La Harpe 
 and engaged in the butcher business, con- 
 ducting a meat market there for four 
 years, when he disposed of his business 
 there and removed to Lancaster, Missouri, 
 where he engaged in the same line of trade 
 for a short time, and again returned to this 
 county, taking up his abode in La Harpe 
 where he engaged in the live stock busi- 
 ness, buying and shipping several car- 
 loads of stock annually. In 1900 he dis- 
 posed of all his busines interests and real- 
 estate and removed to the farm of Wil- 
 liam Comstock, the place constituting two 
 hundred and thirty acres, and being lo- 
 cated on section 26, La Harpe township. 
 Here he has since resided and is engaged 
 in general farming, his labors bringing 
 him very gratifying returns. For the past 
 twenty-three years he has conducted a 
 threshing machine, being the first man to 
 own a traction engine in Hancock county. 
 He is thoroughly familiar with the du- 
 ties of a thresher and in this connection 
 is employed by farmers all over the coun- 
 ty. He likewise continues as a dealer in 
 live stock, and each year handles a large 
 amount of stock, which he ships to the city 
 markets. It will thus be seen that he has 
 not confined his energies to any one line 
 but his ability and sound judgment en- 
 able him to carry on successfully his 
 varied business interests, thus placing him 
 among the foremost and influential fac- 
 tors of his- community. In his political 
 views and affiliations Mr. Landis is a re- 
 publican, and his co-operation can always
 
 462 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 be counted upon to further any movement 
 which tends to advance the general inter- 
 ests of his locality. He has taken an ac- 
 tive and beneficial interest in public affairs 
 and being popular among his fellow 
 townsmen has been called to fill a number 
 of offices, having served as road commis- 
 sioner, as assessor for fifteen terms, as 
 alderman of La Harpe, and for two terms 
 he acted as mayor of the city, the duties 
 of which he has always discharged with 
 capability and fidelity to every trust re- 
 posed in him. In the spring of 1906 he 
 was elected supervisor of his township and 
 as the present incumbent is loyal to the 
 best interests of the general public. He is 
 a member of the Masonic order, belong- 
 ing to La Harpe lodge, No. 195. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born two sons and three daughters, 
 of whom the eldest is deceased : Vernon 
 Denison, who was born May 23, 1870, 
 and died January 3, 1897; Lottie Helen, 
 who was born April 3, 1876, and is now 
 the wife of Charles Maynard, a resident 
 of Henderson county; Hattie Ellen, twin 
 sister of Lottie H., who is now the wife 
 of Asa Bennington, a contractor and 
 builder of buildings and bridges, and a 
 resident of La Harpe ; Minnie Emma, who 
 was born October 19, 1880, and is now 
 the wife of Willis Hazelwood, of Hen- 
 derson county ; and Quinton Herbert, who 
 was born May 14. 1882, and is at home. 
 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BLACK. 
 
 Benjamin Franklin Black, whose name 
 is on the roll of Hancock countv's honored 
 
 dead, was considered to have been one of 
 the most prominent residents of Dallas 
 City, and the extent and importance of his 
 business interests were a most prominent 
 factor in the commercial development and 
 prosperity of the town. Because of this 
 and also by reason of many other excel- 
 lent traits of character, his life was one of 
 signal usefulness and benefit to his fellow- 
 men, and to his family he left not only a 
 handsome competence, but also an untar- 
 nished name. For many years his name 
 was recognized as a synonym for busi- 
 ness enterprise and integrity. 
 
 A native of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, 
 Mr. Black was born on the 28th of Octo- 
 ber, 1854, a son of Henry Farnwaldt and 
 Mary Newell (Bliss) Black, who are 
 mentioned on another page of this volume. 
 The father, a prominent lumber merchant, 
 placed his lumber interests at Carthage 
 in care of his son, Dr. Black, when the 
 latter was but seventeen years of age, but 
 thinking that he would find a professional 
 career more congenial. Dr. Black turned 
 his attention to the task of preparing him- 
 self for such a career. His education 
 was acquired in the college at Jackson- 
 ville, Illinois, and in Denmark Academy, 
 in Iowa, after which he took up the study 
 of medicine in Quincy, Illinois, in the 
 office and under the direction of Dr. 
 Curtis. Later he attended medical 
 lectures in Keokuk Medical College, and 
 spent two years in the Michigan State 
 University, at Ann Arbor. He after- 
 ward matriculated in the Long Island 
 College Hospital, at Brooklyn, New York, 
 and was there graduated in 1876. Later 
 he pursued a post-graduate course in 
 Rush Medical College, in Chicago, in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 463 
 
 1880. Following his graduation he prac- 
 ticed for eight years in Dallas City as a 
 regular physician and surgeon and was 
 accorded a liberal patronage, which at- 
 tested his skill and ability, and showed 
 him worthy of the public trust reposed 
 in his professional prowess. In 1885, 
 however, he gave up the practice of medi- 
 cine and took charge of his father's busi- 
 ness interests as a partner. His father 
 was not only the pioneer lumberman of 
 Dallas but also of a wide territory em- 
 bracing several counties on this side of 
 the river. In 1888 the father's health 
 failed and Dr. Black purchased his inter- 
 est in the business. As the years passed 
 by he extended the scope of his activities 
 and in 1892 became associated with L. M. 
 Loomis in the ownership and control of 
 a lumber business at Stronghurst, Illi- 
 nois. Later they purchased the lumber- 
 yard at Media and Smithshire, and in 
 1897 these interests were incorporated 
 under the name of the Loomis Lumber 
 and Coal Company, with headquarters at 
 Stronghurst. In 1901 the firm style was 
 changed to the Black & Loomis Com- 
 pany, with the principal office in Dallas 
 City and they also purchased the Dallas 
 City lumberyard. The* lumber business 
 became a large and profitable one under 
 the capable direction of Dr. Black and 
 his associates, but he did not confine him- 
 self entirely to this line of trade, for in 
 1891 he became a member of the firm of 
 Black, Leinbaugh & Burg in the establish- 
 ment of a private bank, which after a 
 time was conducted under the style of 
 Black & Company, and so continued until 
 1900, when the First National Bank was 
 organized and acquired the old private 
 
 bank by purchase. This financial insti- 
 tution was of the greatest importance to 
 Dallas City, which up to that time was 
 deficient in its banking interests. In 
 1901. largely through the efforts of Dr. 
 Black, the Dallas Printing Company was 
 organized and thus was added another 
 factor in the development and industrial 
 activity of the city. 
 
 On the 1 5th of April, 1883, Dr. Black 
 was married to Miss Elizabeth Rebhon, 
 who was born in Germany, July 22, 1864, 
 a daughter of George and Margaret 
 (Motschmann) Rebhon. who were also 
 natives of Germany, the father born 
 March 30, 1833, and the mother August 
 2, 1827. Mr. Rebhon was a miller and 
 cabinet-maker by trade and died in the 
 year 1864. His wife afterward came to 
 Hancock county, Illinois, having in the 
 meantime married George Weber, of 
 Dallas, Illinois. They settled on a farm 
 in this county and Mr. Weber died Feb- 
 ruary 23, 1883. His widow is still living 
 and makes her home with Mrs. Black. 
 Mr. Weber was a democrat in his polit- 
 ical views although not an office seeker. 
 He held membership in and served as 
 one of the elders of the Lutheran church, 
 and his remains were interred in Meyers 
 cemetery. Mrs. Weber is also a member 
 of the Lutheran -church. By her first 
 marriage she had two children, one son 
 dying in infancy, the other being Mrs. 
 Black. 
 
 Unto Dr. and Mrs. Black there were 
 born three sons. Henry F., born in 
 Dallas City, September 14, 1887, is now 
 a student in Kemper Military College, at 
 Boonville, Missouri. George F., born 
 February 23, 1889, is attending the same
 
 464 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 college. Arthur H., born March 26, 
 1891, is likewise a student in that in- 
 stitution. The two elder sons will grad- 
 uate in 1906 and the youngest son is in 
 the freshman year. 
 
 While Dr. Black controlled important 
 business enterprises he yet found time to 
 devote to the public welfare and was a 
 strong and stalwart friend of the cause of 
 education. He was one of a few men to 
 whose force and enterprise is due the 
 erection of the splendid school building, 
 in which all citizens of Dallas City take 
 just pride. He co-operated in many 
 progressive movements that have resulted 
 beneficially to this city and county and 
 his efforts could always be counted upon 
 to support every measure which had for 
 its object the public good. He belonged 
 to Dallas City lodge, No. 2, to Alamo 
 commandery, Knight Templar, of Illi- 
 nois, and to Modern Woodmen camp, 
 No. 1496, at Dallas. He contributed ' 
 generously to the support of churches, es- 
 pecially to the Congregational church, of 
 which his wife and all of their sons are 
 now members. In December, 1905, he 
 contracted pneumonia and sank rapidly in 
 spite of all that the best medical skill 
 could do. He passed away Tuesday 
 evening, December 19, 1905, and the 
 funeral services were conducted by the 
 Rev. J. B. King, who also performed the 
 sad task of conducting the funeral service 
 of Anna CeHa Shipman. a niece of Dr. 
 Black, who passd away on the same day 
 as her uncle, their remains being interred 
 in Dallas cemetery. The death of Dr. 
 Black came as an irreparable loss in his 
 home and was most deeply felt in busi- 
 ness and social circles not only in Dallas 
 
 City but throughout the entire surround- 
 ing country. He was very widely known 
 and was uniformly regarded as a man 
 of unfaltering integrity and of genuine 
 personal worth. As a student he was 
 quick to perceive and understand and he 
 was endowed with a fund of common- 
 sense and practical ideas that brought 
 him success in all that he undertook. He 
 was kindly in manner, charitable in dis- 
 position, generous in impulse and per- 
 haps no man in the county was more fre- 
 quently consulted by others concerning 
 important business transactions, for those 
 who knew him reposed in him the ut- 
 most confidence and knew that he would 
 advise with the same fidelity that he 
 would have conducted his own private 
 business affairs. He did much to pro- 
 mote the general welfare and his interest 
 in his fellowmen was deep and sincere. 
 "Of the countless gifts which God be- 
 stows upon man the rarest and divinest 
 is the one that takes supreme interest in 
 human welfare." He was an earnest, 
 honest and incorruptible man with a 
 frank, genial manner, which won and re- 
 tained friendship and in consequence his 
 death was sincerely mourned by a large 
 number of appreciative friends and ac- 
 quaintances with whom his long public 
 service and business career had placed 
 upon terms of intimacy. He deserves 
 most honorable mention at the hands of 
 his fellowmen, for his life record shows 
 the value and sure rewards of character, 
 and he was regarded as one of Hancock 
 county's most worthy citizens. Mrs. 
 Black makes her home in Dallas City. 
 Her father owned a great deal of prop- 
 erty here, including the store known as
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 465 
 
 Finch's store, and in 1892 she remodeled 
 and occupied it. This is now one of the 
 most attractive and pleasant modern 
 homes in the city situated on Front ave- 
 nue and Oak street. Mrs. Black takes a 
 most active and helpful interest in church 
 work and she retains her interest in the 
 lumber business, which is now being con- 
 ducted by Mr. Loomis, and she also owns 
 the lots that are now occupied by the 
 lumberyard. She has three tenant houses 
 and half of the property called the En- 
 terprise and she is also a large stock- 
 holder in the First National Bank. In 
 manner while rather reserved she is also 
 most kindly and pleasant and is greatly 
 beloved and admired by all for her good 
 deeds. 
 
 NOTE On December 17, 1905, a dis- 
 astrous fire at Dallas destroyed the bank 
 building. A new Milwaukee pressed 
 brick, three-story building has been 
 erected, and the bank will occupy the 
 whole of the first floor. 
 
 CHARLES M. McCOLLOM. 
 
 Charles M. McCollom, a carpenter of 
 Carthage, residing at No. 201 Main 
 street, is a son of Henry B. and Nancy 
 (Davidson) McCollom, and was born in 
 Hancock county, in 1851. His parents, 
 however, were natives of Cumberland 
 county, Kentucky, born February 10, 
 1813. and November 9, 1810, respective- 
 ly. The father was a farmer by occu- 
 pation and in the year 1844 arrived in 
 Illinois, while in 1850 he came to Han- 
 
 cock county. He engaged in farming in 
 Bear Creek township until 1865, when 
 he removed to western Iowa, where he 
 engaged to a greater or less extent in 
 farming, his death occurring, however, 
 in Mount Pleasant, Henry county, in 
 1875. His wife had passed away April 
 14, 1864, in Illinois, and was buried in 
 this state, while the father's grave was 
 made in Mount Pleasant. He was a 
 republican in his political views, and a 
 Cumberland Presbyterian in his religious 
 faith. In the family were eleven chil- 
 dren, of whom four are now living. 
 Mary J. is the widow of John Phelps, and 
 resides in Taylor county, Iowa. Wilbern 
 Porter, who was a member of the Seventh 
 Kansas Cavalry and served throughout 
 the greater part of the Civil war, is now 
 living in Adams county, Washington. 
 Charles is the third surviving member. 
 Irvin Sylvester resides in Gorin, Missouri. 
 Charles M. McCollom was educated in 
 the common schools of Hancock county, 
 Illinois, and of Adams county, Iowa, and 
 remained upon his father's farm until 
 twenty years of age, after which he was 
 employed by the month by various farm- 
 ers for some time. He began farming 
 on his own account on a tract of land 
 in Sonora township, Hancock county, 
 where he remained for nineteen years, 
 and in 1895 he removed to Carthage 
 where he has since resided, having in the 
 previous year built his present pretty 
 home at No. 201 Main street. He has 
 here engaged in contracting and building 
 and has erected many of the substantial 
 structures of the city, including the fine 
 residence of Joseph Dorsey and a tenant
 
 4 66 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 house for him, the residence of Mrs. At- 
 
 v 
 
 wood on Main street, Edward Booth, two 
 houses for James Corbin, one for Harry 
 Corbin and various other fine structures 
 of the city. He has met with good suc- 
 cess since becoming identified with build- 
 ing operations in Carthaage and a liberal 
 patronage has been accorded him. He 
 has thus prospered in his undertakings 
 and in addition to his home property he 
 owns eighty acres of good farm land in 
 Prairie township, while his shop is situ- 
 ated on the same lot as his residence. 
 
 On the I4th of December, 1874. Mr. 
 McCollom was married to Miss Lucy M. 
 Thornber, who was born in this county 
 and is a daughter of Henry and Lucy 
 (Ellison) Thornber, who were natives of 
 England, and came to Illinois in 1842, 
 the father following the occupation of 
 farming here. Both he and his wife are 
 now deceased. Mrs. McCollom died De- 
 cember 1 6, 1888, and her remains were 
 interred in Sonora township. By her 
 marriage she had become the mother of 
 four children : Charles H., who married 
 Alice Snitz and lives in Scotland county, 
 Missouri, has two children, Yolande and 
 Patrice. James P. of Sonora township, 
 married Augusta Beger, and has one 
 child, Noretta Margaret. Carrie M., a 
 graduate of the high school and of Car- 
 thage college, is now a teacher in the 
 public schools of the county seat. David 
 F. is still a^ student in school. On the 
 27th of May, 1891, Mr. McCollom was 
 married to Miss Jennie Baird, who was 
 born in Warsaw, this county, in Feb- 
 ruary, 1866, and is a daughter of Robert 
 and Margaret A. (Brook) Baird, both of 
 whom were natives of Maryland, the 
 
 father born in 1819, and the mother in 
 1825. He was a carpenter by trade and 
 on leaving the south came to Hancock 
 county, in 1853, after which he worked 
 at his trade in Warsaw until he retired 
 from active business life. His wife died 
 in 1905 but he is still living at the ven- 
 erable age of eighty-seven years. A 
 stanch advocate of the cause of temper- 
 ance he votes with the Prohibition party 
 and he holds membership in the Metho- 
 dist church, to which his wife also be- 
 longed, both being very active in church 
 work, Mr. Baird having held a number 
 of offices therein. In his family were 
 eleven children, all of whom are yet liv- 
 ing : Henry, who resides near Warsaw ; 
 David O., of Oilman City, Missouri ; 
 Mary E., a competent nurse who makes 
 her home in Warsaw although her duties 
 largely call her to Carthage; Charles E., 
 living in Oilman City, Missouri; Marga- 
 ret A., who was a successful teacher in 
 various places for many years but is now 
 at home with her aged father: Robert J.. 
 who is engaged in the insurance business 
 in Des Moines, Iowa; Phoebe E., the wife 
 of Charles Curry, of Atlanta, Georgia ; 
 Richard, of Pasedena, California; Mrs. 
 Jennie McCollom; Frank, a grocer of Des 
 Moines, Iowa; and Ella H., who is a 
 stenographer in Des Moines. 
 
 The second marriage of Mr. McCollom 
 has been blessed with three children, all 
 born in Hancock county : Florence I., 
 who was born in 1892 and is attending 
 school in Carthage: Winifred, .who was 
 born in 1893 and is also in school; and 
 Aldo Baird. who was born in 1901. 
 
 Mr. McCollom is a strong and earnest 
 advocate of temperance principles and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 467 
 
 votes with the Prohibition party. Social- 
 ly he is connected with the Odd Fellows 
 lodge, and both he and his wife are de- 
 voted members of the Methodist church, 
 in which he is serving as a trustee. He 
 has never received any assistance in his 
 business career but has had to work for 
 all that he has possessed and enjoyed and 
 in his business life has been found a 
 thoroughly reliable, competent and honest 
 workman and as a contractor has secured 
 a good patronage which is indicative of 
 the trust reposed in him by his fellow 
 townsmen. 
 
 JOSEPH D. RITER. 
 
 Joseph D. Riter is a resident of Pon- 
 toostic township, living upon a farm, al- 
 though he has practically retired from 
 business cares. He has had a somewhat 
 eventful life and his broad travels and 
 varied experiences enrich his conversation 
 and make him an entertaining compan- 
 ion. Born in Berks county, Pennsylva- 
 nia, on the i8th of April, 1830, he is a 
 son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Beidler) 
 Riter, both natives of Chester county, 
 Pennsylvania, the father born July 26, 
 1801, and the mother January 15, 1795. 
 It was in the last of April. 1846, that 
 they became residents of Nauvoo, Illinois, 
 where they resided until 1855, when they 
 removed to the prairie, and Mr. Riter 
 engaged in farming in Appanoose town- 
 ship up to the time of his retirement from 
 active business cares. He died November 
 23. 1884', having long survived his wife. 
 
 who passed away February 15, 1868.' 
 Both were laid to rest in Nauvoo ceme- 
 tery. Of their family of five children 
 only two are living, the younger brother 
 being William W. Riter, of Fort Madi- 
 son, Iowa. 
 
 In the schools of his native state Jo- 
 seph D. Riter acquired his education and 
 remained with his parents until seventeen 
 or eighteen years of age. He came with 
 them to Hancock county in 1846, and in 
 1848 went to the northern part of Wis- 
 consin, spending three and a half years 
 in connection with the lumber business in 
 that part of the country. In 1851 he 
 went to California, and in 1853 made a 
 trip to Australia, returning the following 
 year by way of the Society Islands, re- 
 maining there one summer. He then 
 again made his way to California, remain- 
 ing in San Francisco until 1858, when 
 he went to the Frazer river in British 
 Columbia. In 1859 he was in Portland, 
 Oregon, where he purchased cattle, which 
 he drove to the Frazer river. In the fall 
 of the same year, however, he returned 
 to Illinois and has since made his home 
 in Pontoosuc township, Hancock county. 
 A detailed account of his travels would 
 make interesting reading. He was on the 
 Pacific coast during the early days of 
 mining excitement and is familiar with 
 the history of that period because of the 
 experiences which he himself met in the 
 middle of the century. 
 
 On the ist of May, 1861, Mr. Riter 
 was married to Miss Edith Davis, who 
 was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, 
 January 8, 1832, a daughter of Isaac and 
 Edith (Richards) Davis, both of whom 
 were natives of West Virginia. The fa-
 
 468 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE}}' 
 
 ther was born February 10, 1783, and 
 the mother on March 16, 1794, and both 
 have now passed away. Mr. Davis first 
 went to Ohio from West Virginia and in 
 that state his ten children were born. 
 Later he removed to Iowa, where he lo- 
 cated in 1840, there devoting his time and 
 energies to farming for a considerable 
 period. He died in the eastern part of 
 Nebraska in 1847, after a residence there 
 of about a year, and his wife passed away 
 in the western part of Iowa in 1872. Of 
 their ten children only two are living, the 
 elder being Eli Davis, who resides in 
 Yuba City, California. Both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Davis were members of the Society 
 of Friends, or Quakers, and were most 
 worthy people, their lives being in har- 
 mony with the teachings of the sect whose 
 followers are justly celebrated for their 
 kindliness, gentleness and uprightness. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Riter pur- 
 chased a small farm in Appanoose town- 
 ship, where he resided for about a year, 
 and in 1862 he purchased sixty-one acres 
 on the northwest quarter of section 31, 
 Pontoosuc township. Subsequently he 
 bought sixty acres on the southwest quar- 
 ter of the same section, and aftenvard he 
 bought his brother's interest in the old 
 home place, securing one hundred and 
 six acres on section 36, Appanoose 
 township. He also invested in eighty- 
 three acres in Sonora township and his 
 holdings are therefore very extensive. In 
 1902 he built a comfortable residence 
 upon his farm and he has a large barn 
 one hundred and thirty-two feet long, to- 
 gether with other good and substantial 
 outbuildings furnishing ample shelter for 
 grain, stock and farm machinery. He has 
 
 carried on the tilling of the soil and also 
 raised high grades of stock, but in 1892 
 he practically retired from farm life and 
 now^ rents his land. In politics he is 
 rather independent, although he usually 
 gives his support to the Prohibition party. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Riter have had no chil- 
 dren of their own, but reared Sadie Smith, 
 who is now the wife of Christopher San- 
 ders, and lives in Kansas. She has nine 
 children. Receiving very little assistance 
 in the way of an inheritance Mr. Riter has 
 gained his property through his own 
 well directed labors and unremitting 
 efforts. He is now very comfortably 
 situated in life and has by reason 
 of the competence that he has ac- 
 quired the opportunity to indulge his love 
 of travel. He has frequently gone to Cal- 
 ifornia, making two trips by way of the 
 isthmus, and his extensive journeyings 
 have made him a man of broad general 
 culture and wide experience. Since his 
 retirement from active business cares he 
 and his wife have traveled quite exten- 
 sively, visiting many points of interest in 
 this country. 
 
 THOMAS G. FRENCH. 
 
 Thomas G. French, a general farmer 
 and stock-raiser living on the southeast 
 quarter of section i, Wythe township, has 
 always resided in the middle west, his 
 birth having occurred in Orange county, 
 Indiana, May 13, 1839. He is a son of 
 Samuel and Julia (Daugherty) French, 
 natives of Barron county. Kentuckv, who
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 469 
 
 removed to Indiana about 1830 when In- 
 dians still lived in that locality, the re- 
 gion being a pioneer district in which the 
 work of civilization had scarcely begun. 
 Samuel French secured timber land from 
 the government, and in the midst of the 
 forest undertook the task of hewing out 
 a farm. There he resided until his death, 
 which occurred in 1842, and his wife 
 passed away on the old homestead in 
 
 1854- 
 
 Thomas G. French, of a family of nine 
 children, five sons and four daughters, 
 was but three years of age at the time 
 of his father's demise and was left an or- 
 phan when a youth of fifteen. He went 
 to Knox county, Illinois, with his brother, 
 John C., and after living there for five 
 years, started out in life on his own ac- 
 count, working by the month as a farm 
 hand in Mercer county. His education 
 was acquired in the common schools of 
 Knox ;and Mercer counties, and after 
 spending some time in the employ of 
 others at farm labor began farming on his 
 own account and had followed that pur- 
 suit for two years, when, in response to 
 the country's call for aid he enlisted in 
 defense of the Union, on the I3th of Au- 
 gust, 1862, as a member of Company A, 
 One Hundred and Second Illinois Vol- 
 unteer Infantry. The regiment was as- 
 signed to the Army of the Cumberland 
 under General Rosecrans, and made a 
 forced march from Louisville, Kentucky, 
 to Gallatin, Tennessee, during which time 
 Mr. French became ill with the measles 
 and was confined in the hospital until 
 January 17, 1863, when he was honor- 
 ably discharged at Gallatin on account of 
 disability. 
 
 - He at once returned to his old home 
 in Mercer county and the following spring 
 began farming on rented land, where 
 he resided until 1865. He then removed 
 to Warren county, Illinois, where he en- 
 gaged in farming for two years, after 
 which he returned to Knox county, where 
 he purchased a forty-acre farm. There 
 he engaged in the tilling of the soil for 
 two years, and on the expiration of that 
 period he sold the property but bought 
 eighty acres adjoining. There he fol- 
 lowed farming until 1875, when he went 
 to Taylor county, Iowa, where he pur- 
 chased one hundred and sixty acres of 
 farm land, which he cultivated for six 
 years. He then traded that property for 
 a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, 
 one-half in Wythe township, Hancock 
 county, and the remainder in Bear Creek 
 township. He also bought eighty acres 
 more in Wythe township, adjoining his 
 place on the south. .The farm was then 
 well improved and in good shape and he 
 has since kept everything up to a high 
 standard of agricultural development. 
 He lives on the southeast quarter of sec- 
 tion i, Wythe township, and here he car- 
 ries on general farming and his fields pro- 
 duce rich crops, while in the pastures 
 are seen good grades of cattle, horses 
 and hogs. 
 
 On September 15, 1862, while in 
 camp at Knoxville, Illinois, Mr. French 
 was united in marriage to Miss Jane 
 Brown, of Mercer county. Illinois. She 
 was born in that county, July 8. 1846, 
 and attended school there while spending 
 her girlhood days in the home of her par- 
 ents. Benjamin and Louvisa (McMur- 
 tv) Brown, natives of Indiana and Ken-
 
 470 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 tucky, respectively. For a number of 
 years Mrs. French was troubled with 
 cancer and went to various places for 
 medical treatment and for the benefit of 
 her health. At length she received X-ray 
 treatment in Chicago and afterward in 
 Quincy, but everything was unavailing to 
 check the ravages of the disease and she 
 died January 23, 1906, her remains be- 
 ing interred at Rio, Knox county, Illi- 
 nois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. French were 
 born four children : Helen Matilda, who 
 died when only a month old; Otis A., 
 who was bom in March, 1865, and is a 
 business man of Quincy, Illinois; Orvil 
 B., who was born in Knox county, July 4, 
 1872, and is now in Quincy; and Capeles 
 C, who was born January 30, 1884, and 
 js conducting the home farm. Mr. French 
 is thus relieved of much of the arduous 
 labor connected with farm work, although 
 he still gives his personal supervision to 
 the management of his property, while 
 he has never sought or desired public of- 
 fice he is a stalwart champion of demo- 
 cratic principles and fraternally he is con- 
 nected with the blue lodge and the East- 
 ern Star chapter of Masonry in Elvaston. 
 and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
 church there, associations which indi- 
 cate much of the character of the man 
 and the principles which guide his 
 conduct. 
 
 ROBERT D. MATTHEWS. 
 
 Robert D. Matthews, who has spent the 
 greater part of his life in Hancock coun- 
 
 ty, and who in his business career has 
 worked his. way steadily upward to a po- 
 sition of affluence, now owning altogether 
 two hundred and ten acres of rich land, 
 was born in Indiana, in December, 1845. 
 His paternal grandfather, William Mat- 
 thews, was a Welshman, while his wife 
 was of Gentian birth. Both lived to an 
 advanced age and were hale and hearty 
 old people, the wife passing away at the 
 advanced age of ninety years. He was 
 a republican in politics and a most high- 
 ly respected man. He was a soldier of 
 the war of 1812, and our subject can well 
 remember of his relating incidents of the 
 time when he was stationed at Chicago 
 which then contained only a few log cab- 
 ins at Fort Dearborn. His son, William 
 Jackson Matthews, was a captain in the 
 Civil war and also served as a member of 
 the legislature in Oregon. 
 
 Alfred B. Matthews, father of our 
 subject, was born in Ohio in 1817, and 
 became a farmer of Indiana. He mar- 
 ried Miss Diana V. Kalley, who was born 
 in Parke county, Indiana, in 1827, and on 
 leaving the Hoosier state they removed 
 to Hancock county, Illinois, in 1851, set- 
 tling in the vicinity of Warsaw. After- 
 ward they took up their abode in Augus- 
 ta township, where Alfred B. Matthews 
 spent his remaining days. In his early 
 life his political allegiance was given to 
 the democracy, but when the slavery 
 question became a paramount issue before 
 the people and the Republican party was 
 formed to prevent the further extension 
 of slavery he joined its ranks and con- 
 tinued one of its stalwart advocates. He 
 was twice married, his first union being 
 with Emily Davis, by whom he had one
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 daughter, Manclane, now the wife of John 
 T. Jones, of Oregon. Her mother hav- 
 ing passed away Mr. Matthews wedded 
 Diana V. Kalley, and they became the 
 parents of nine children: Robert D. ; 
 Miles Irby, now living in Oklahoma ; 
 Fernando Cortez, deceased ; Susan Cath- 
 erine, the wife of John A. Campbell, a 
 resident farmer of Augusta township, 
 mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Wil- 
 liam Jackson, of Iowa ; Harvey Allen, of 
 Chili township; Edna Emeline, the wife 
 of Lincoln S. Smith, now living in Chili 
 township; Daniel M., of Augusta town- 
 ship; and Cassius, deceased. The father 
 passed away in 1891 and the mother in 
 April, 1892, and their graves were made 
 in Irwin cemetery. He lived and died in 
 a log house and there he began life on 
 his own account with very small means 
 but at the time of his death he owned one 
 hundred and ninety acres of very rich 
 and productive land. 
 
 Robert D. Matthews was educated in 
 the district schools of Augusta township 
 and displayed special aptitude in master- 
 ing his studies. He had opportunities 
 when he might have taught, but he did 
 not like teaching and so always declined. 
 He lived with his parents until he at- 
 tained his majority, when he began work 
 as a farm hand for a neighbor, being 
 thus employed for a year. On the expira- 
 tion of that period he commenced farm- 
 ing on his own account and rented land 
 until twenty-five years of age or until his 
 labor had brought him sufficient capi- 
 tal to enable him to purchase a farm. He 
 won, as a companion and helpmate for 
 life's journey, Miss Lucinda Catherine 
 Sparks, to whom he was married Janu- 
 30 
 
 .ary 5, 1871. She was born in Tennessee 
 in 1850, a daughter of William Leander 
 and Elizabeth (Shook) Sparks, both of 
 whom were natives of Tennessee, while 
 the latter was of German lineage. Her 
 father was a man of real genius. It was 
 said that he could "do anything from be- 
 ing an expert detective to running a 
 blacksmith shop, trying a case at law or 
 successfully conducting a store." He 
 came to Illinois in 1853 an( l settled in 
 Adams county. At Quincy after the out- 
 break of the Civil war he enlisted for 
 service and was for three years a mem- 
 ber of the Union army. He then re- 
 turned to his home and remained in Ad- 
 ams county until his death in 1898. His 
 wife had died when their daughter, Mrs. 
 Matthews, was only two years of age 
 and was buried in Tennessee. .They had 
 two children, of whom one died in child- 
 hood. After losing his first wife, Mr. 
 Sparks wedded Miss Elizabeth Ellwood in 
 1855, and they had nine children, of 
 whom five are living: William, a resi- 
 dent of Liberty, Illinois ; Annie, the wife 
 of George Griffitts, of Augusta ; John, of 
 Hannibal, Missouri; Belle, the wife of 
 Preston Golliher, of Adams county ; and 
 Frank, who is living with his mother in 
 Adams county. Mrs. Matthews losing her 
 mother when very young, was reared by 
 her paternal grandparents, who brought 
 her to Illinois from Tennessee in an old 
 wagon borne by ox teams and she car- 
 ried a pet chicken with her all the way. 
 Mrs. Sparks was quite an expert in weav- 
 ing and spinning and Mrs. Matthews now 
 has cards which she used. She also taught 
 her granddaughter to weave and spin and 
 trained her in the duties of the household.
 
 4/2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 The grandfather, Mr. Sparks, although 
 a Southern man, was also a strong repub- 
 lican. In the early "muster days" in 
 Tennessee he was a drummer, while his 
 wife acted as a fifer in the Tennessee mar- 
 tial band. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Matthews 
 rented a tract of land on section 6, Au- 
 gusta township, and before the year of 
 lease had expired he purchased it, becom- 
 ing owner of forty acres, upon which he 
 lived until 1874. He then bought eighty 
 acres on section 5 of the same township 
 and on that place erected his home, to- 
 gether with three barns and other im- 
 provements. He likewise has eighty acres 
 on section 8 and ten acres on section 6, 
 his landed possessions aggregating two 
 hundred and ten acres. He follows both 
 farming and stock-raising, selling to the 
 home market, and is a wide-awake, ener- 
 getic business man who placed his depend- 
 ence solely on his own efforts and has 
 looked for no outside aid or influence to 
 assist him in his business affairs. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews 
 has been blessed with four children, all 
 born in Augusta township: Robert El- 
 mer, born in October, 1871, and still at 
 home; Alfred Leander, who was born in 
 1873. and died in 1875; Tina Roberta, 
 who was born September 28, 18 , and 
 died November 17, 1902; and Troy Ma- 
 rion, born in February, 1891. The par- 
 ents are members of the Christian church 
 at Bowen and their deceased daughter 
 was also a member of that church, and 
 was laid to rest by her sisters in that or- 
 ganization. Mr. Matthews is a stalwart 
 republican but an active business career 
 has left him little time to seek office even 
 
 had he so desired. He and his wife have 
 thoroughly realized the deprivations and 
 hardships incident to the development of 
 a home on the frontier and since their 
 marriage they have by their joint energy, 
 economy and upright living come into 
 possession of a good farm as the reward 
 of their labor. 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON WEBB. 
 
 George Washington Webb was born on 
 section 34, Appanoose township, July 4, 
 1850, and it is in the same township that 
 he now follows the occupation of farm- 
 ing, being accorded a place among the 
 representative agriculturists of the com- 
 munity. He is of English lineage, a 
 grandson of Giles Webb, a native of Eng- 
 land. His father, William Webb, was 
 also born in that country, and was mar- 
 ried there to Harriet Baldwin, a daugh- 
 ter of James Baldwin. In 1841 William 
 Webb became a resident of Hancock 
 county, settling in La Harpe, and he after- 
 ward opened the first coal mine in Mc- 
 Donough county, at Colchester. His 
 time was largely devoted to well digging 
 in earlier years and eventually he took 
 up his abode in Appanoose township, 
 where he purchased forty acres of land 
 on section 34, and forty acres on section 
 33. He built a log house on the latter 
 section, where a portion of his land was 
 covered with timber. As the years passed 
 he added to his property until he secured 
 about two hundred and eighty acres lying
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 473 
 
 in one body, a tract of forty acres, and an- 
 other of eighty acres. His time and ener- 
 gies were given to the cultivation of the 
 cereals best adapted to the soil and he 
 likewise raised stock. Later he added 
 dairying to his work and sold his butter 
 in Keokuk. Thus he lived a life of in- 
 dustry and perseverance and his prosper- 
 ity was attributable entirely to his own 
 well directed labor. He died Octobers. 
 1882, while his wife passed away April 
 16, 1884. In their family were three 
 sons and a daughter: James, William 
 and George, all residents of Appanoose 
 township; and Sarah, the wife of Emmet 
 Horton, of Red Willow county, Ne- 
 braska. 
 
 George W. Webb spent his boyhood 
 days on the old home place where he con- 
 tinued to live until six years after his 
 marriage. It was on the I2th of Janu- 
 ary, 1875, that he wedded Ella E. Lewis, 
 who was born in Lynnville, Chester coun- 
 ty, Pennsylvania, and who was educated 
 in this state. Her natal day was April 
 n, 1853, and her parents were Morgan 
 R. and Mary Ann (Downing) Lewis, 
 natives of Chester county, Pennsylvania. 
 Her father was a son of Henry and Ele- 
 nore (Evans) Lewis, while her mother 
 was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth 
 (Beidler) Downing, natives of Pennsyl- 
 vania, and a granddaughter of Thomas 
 Lewis and Sarah (Smith) Downing, who 
 were natives of England and were Quak- 
 ers, or Friends, in religious faith. In Oc- 
 tober, 1853, Morgan R. Lewis removed 
 with his family to Nauvoo, and purchased 
 a farm on section n, Sonora township, 
 where he engaged in the tilling of the 
 soil and in raising stock. He also con- 
 
 ducted a dairy business, selling butter in 
 Keokuk. He owned eighty acres of 
 prairie land in Sonora township, and six- 
 teen acres of land in Appanoose town- 
 ship. He died February 8, 1894, while 
 his wife passed away February 5, 1875. 
 
 After residing with his parents six 
 years subsequent to his marriage, Mr. 
 Webb purchased eighty acres of land, con- 
 stituting the south half of the northeast 
 quarter of section 34, Appanoose town- 
 ship. There were no trees or buildings 
 upon the place at that time and he soon 
 erected a residence and has since built 
 two barns, one in 1893 forty-eight by 
 fifty feet and the other in 1900, forty-four 
 by forty-four feet. He has other build- 
 ings upon his place for the shelter of 
 farm machinery and stock and altogether 
 has a model property. Many shade, or- 
 namental and fruit trees have been planted 
 by him and he now has much fruit upon 
 his place, deriving a considerable income 
 from its sale as well as from the other 
 departments of his farm labor. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Webb have been 
 born four sons and a daughter. Morgan 
 Lewis, born December 15, 1876, is pastor 
 of the English Lutheran church, now lo- 
 cated at Murphysboro, Illinois; Blanche 
 Edith, born December 18, 1880. is the 
 wife of Frederick Earl Schofield, the 
 physical director in the Young Men's 
 Christian Association, of Burlington, 
 Iowa. William, born November 24, 1885, 
 is at home. Frank, born November 12, 
 1888, died August n, 1889. Jasper 
 Kent, born December 25, 1893, completes 
 the family. 
 
 Politically a democrat, Mr. Webb has 
 always refused to accept public office save
 
 474 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 that of school trustee and director. He 
 has lived continuously in the county from 
 his infancy to the present time and great 
 changes have occurred during this period 
 of more than a half century. At the 
 same time he has carefully conducted 
 business interests that have resulted in 
 bringing him a substantial competence. 
 
 JOHN HENRY BUCKERT. 
 
 John Henry Buckert, deceased, was 
 bom in Firstenberg, Waltbeck, Germany, 
 in the year 1831 and acquired his educa- 
 tion in the public schools of his native 
 country. He was employed in a hotel 
 in Germany until twenty-five years of age, 
 when he crossed the Atlantic to America 
 and took up his abode in Warsaw, Illi- 
 nois. He was thai employed on river 
 boats and was also in the service of a 
 grain commission company, utilizing ev- 
 ery opportunity for advancement and to 
 gain a start in the new world. 
 
 On the 1 6th of October, 1865, Mr. 
 Buckert was married to Miss Annie Cath- 
 erina Spitza, who was born in Ada, 
 Brinkhausen, Hesse, Germany, December 
 1 6, 1839, and with her parents came to 
 the United .States in 1847, the family 
 home being established in Warsaw, where 
 Mrs. Buckert attended the public schools/ 
 She is a daughter of John Henry and 
 Dora Dell (Walker) Spitza. Her father 
 was a mason contractor and did much 
 business in the line of building in War- 
 saw and vicinity. He had learned his 
 
 trade in Germany and after coming to the 
 new world he built the old distilleries near 
 Warsaw. In fact he erected nearly all 
 of the principal buildings of his locality 
 at an early day. His death occurred in 
 Warsaw, June 19, 1856, while his wife 
 passed away about two years later. She 
 was the mother of fourteen children, two 
 of whom were born of her first marriage. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Buckert began their do- 
 mestic life in Warsaw, where he was em- 
 ployed in connection with the grain trade. 
 He continued to reside there until his 
 death, which occurred on the 3Oth of 
 May, 1875. Mrs. Buckert lived with 
 her family in Warsaw for a year there- 
 after and then rented a farm near the 
 town for three years, after which she re- 
 mored to a place south of Warsaw, 
 where she also lived for three years. She 
 next bought ninety-three acres in Wythe 
 township, where five years later she sold 
 out and bought one hundred and sixty 
 acres in Montebello township. There she 
 lived for five years, when she again dis- 
 posed of her farm and invested in eighty 
 acres of land, formerly the property of 
 Dr. Spence, of Liberty, Adams county, 
 of which forty acres lay on section 33 
 and forty acres on section 34, Montebello 
 township. Here she has resided contin- 
 uously since 1900 and the farm is oper- 
 ated by her youngest son, Daniel. Mrs. 
 Buckert is a lady of excellent business 
 ability and executive force and her capa- 
 ble management of her business interests 
 has brought her a good return. At the 
 same time she has "carefully reared her 
 family. Eight children were- born unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Buckert: John F., who is 
 now living in Nauvoo, Illinois ; Adam,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 475 
 
 who resides in Trenton, Missouri ; George 
 and Gustav, who are also residents of 
 Nauvoo : Christian, who is employed by 
 the Moline Plow Company at Rock 
 Island, Illinois ; Henry, of Hamilton : An- 
 nie, the wife of George Montgomery, also 
 of Hamilton, Illinois; and Daniel, at 
 home, now superintending the farm. 
 
 Mr. Buckert was a member of the 
 Lutheran church of Warsaw and he gave 
 his political support to the democracy, 
 but never sought or desired office. He 
 was a man of genuine personal worth and 
 gained the respect of those who knew him 
 and the family have many warm friends 
 in this part of the county. 
 
 J. HARVEY NORRIS. 
 
 J. Harvey Norris. who owns and oper- 
 ates a well kept farm in Chili township, 
 was bom upon this place June 27, 1877. 
 and is a son of James W. and Elizabeth 
 (Sterrett) Norris. His father's birth oc- 
 curred in Baltimore county. Maryland, 
 February 17, 1840. He became a farmer 
 by occupation and was a resident of Ad- 
 ams county, Illinois, from 1850 until 
 June. 1876. when he removed to Han- 
 cock county. He wedded Miss Elizabeth 
 Sterrett. whose birth occurred in Hart- 
 ford county, Maryland, February TQ. 
 1856, and they had three children but J. 
 Harvey Norris is the only one now liv- 
 ing. The father died February 10, 1906, 
 and the mother passed away September 
 5, 1884. Both were faithful members of 
 
 the Methodist church. Mr. Norris was a 
 man who possessed in marked degree the 
 trust and good will of his fellowmen. He 
 is said never to have had an enemy. He 
 was always kind and sympathetic and he 
 knew no distress within his reach that he 
 did not try to relieve. He was a friend 
 to all the churches and was a believer in 
 the Christian religion. In his family he 
 was a devoted husband and father and 
 among his neighbors was known as a loyal 
 friend. His good qualities were many 
 and have made his name an honored one. 
 In the city schools of Bowen J. Harvey 
 Norris acquired his education and under 
 the parental roof spent the days of his 
 boyhood and youth, early becoming fa- 
 miliar with the duties and labors that fall 
 to the lot of the agriculturist. In 1902 
 his marriage to Miss Nellie Manlove was 
 consummated, and he started out in life 
 on his own account. She was born in 
 this county July 31, 1881, a daughter of 
 Wilfred and Sarah (Waggoner) Man- 
 love, the former born in Knox county, 
 Illinois, in 1841, and the latter in Han- 
 cock county in 1849. The Manloves were . 
 of French and Welsh extraction. William 
 Manlove, an uncle of Mrs. Norris. was 
 killed at Missionary Ridge in the Civil 
 war while defending the Union cause. 
 She also had a great-uncle, Henry Cecil, 
 who was a soldier of the Civil war and 
 her maternal uncles, Ephraim and Cyrus 
 Waggoner, were also numbered among 
 the boys in blue. In the year 1867 Wil- 
 fred Manlove, father of Mrs. Norris. ar- 
 rived in Hancock county, settling on sec- 
 tion 29. Chili township. He. too, was a 
 veteran of the war. having enlisted as a 
 member of Company D. Seventy-seventh
 
 476 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Illinois Regiment under Captain Black. 
 His life was exemplary in many respects, 
 for he was ever faithful and honorable in 
 all his relations with his fellowmen, was 
 honest, active and industrious in business 
 and lived an upright life. He possessed 
 the confidence of his fellow citizens to an 
 unusual degree. He passed away July 8, 
 1905, and was laid to rest in Bowen ceme- 
 tery. In the family were four children: 
 Linn, now living in Chili township ; 
 George, of Bowen ; Mrs. Morris ; and 
 Ada, the wife of Curtis Powell, of 
 Bowen. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Norris make their home 
 on section 29, Chili township. The resi- 
 dence here was erected by his father in 
 1897. The place comprises two hundred 
 and eighty acres of arable land, and thir- 
 ty acres of timber, and will come into 
 possession of Mr. Norris, as he is his 
 mother's only heir. He now gives his 
 time and energies to general agricultural 
 pursuits and stock-raising, making a spe- 
 cialty of the breeding and raising of thor- 
 oughbred Duroc hogs. As a business 
 man he is reliable and enterprising and 
 has already made a creditable place in ag- 
 ricultural circles, although he is numbered 
 among the younger farmers of the town- 
 ship. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Norris has 
 been born one son, Gerald William, whose 
 birth occurred May i, 1903, on the same 
 farm on which his father's birth occurred. 
 This is also the place on which the par- 
 ents of Mr. Norris and also the parents 
 of Mrs. Norris began housekeeping. In 
 his political views Mr. Norris is a stal- 
 wart republican but without aspiration for 
 office. Socially he is connected with the 
 Masons and the Odd Fellows. 
 
 JOHN PARKER EWING. 
 
 Death often removes from our midst 
 those whom we can ill afford to lose, and 
 it was with the feeling of universal re- 
 gret that the news of the demise of John 
 P. Ewing was received in Hancock coun- 
 ty. He had lived and labored here for 
 many years and was one of the worthy 
 pioneer settlers, who as time passed, stood 
 for progress and improvement in all lines 
 relating to the county's welfare and up- 
 building. At the same time he displayed 
 in his business career those commendable 
 traits which lead to success and he became 
 one of the extensive landowners of the 
 county, while his life work proved that 
 prosperity and an honorable name may be 
 won simultaneously. A native of Brown 
 county, Ohio, he was born on the 8th of 
 March, 1824, being one of the seven chil- 
 dren of Jackson and Catherine (Turner) 
 Ewing. The family is of Irish lineage, 
 the grandfather having been born on the 
 Emerald Isle, whence he came to Amer- 
 ica, founding the family in new world. 
 His son, Jackson Ewing, was born in 
 Prussia and was a farmer by occupation. 
 He removed to Hancock county in 1846 
 and his home was one of the pioneer log 
 cabins of Walker township. He also 
 spent some time in Schuyler county, Illi- 
 nois, but died in this county in 1876. 
 His widow, surviving him for several 
 years, passed away at the home of her 
 daughter, Mrs. H. Gillham, in Walker 
 township in 1883. In his political views 
 Mr. Ewing was a democrat. In the fam- 
 ily were seven children : Margaret Ann, 
 who is the wife of Charles Laughlin and 
 lives in Walker township ; Sarah Newton,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 477 
 
 the wife of Samuel Guyman, of Missouri ; 
 Mary Jane, the wife of Henry Gillham, 
 of Walker township; and four who have 
 passed away. The parents were both 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church, in which they took an active 
 and helpful interest, Mr. Ewing serving 
 for some time as classleader. 
 
 John Parker Ewing, educated in the 
 public schools of New York, was reared 
 to farm life and having removed to the 
 west engaged in general agricultural pur- 
 suits in Walker township. He was fa- 
 miliar with all of the experiences of pio- 
 neer life, with its hardships and its priva- 
 tions, its pleasures and its opportunities. 
 In his business he prospered as the years 
 went by, and by his energy and economy 
 he was enabled to add to his possessions 
 from time to time, and, making judicious 
 investments in real-estate eventually be- 
 came the owner of fifteen hundred acres 
 of rich farm land that has made Illinois 
 one of the greatest agricultural states of 
 the union. He also gave to each of his 
 children a good farm, and in addition 
 left a goodly sum of money to the family. 
 He was known as one of the wealthy men 
 of the county but moreover, he was 
 known, too, as one of its most honorable 
 men, being ever straightforward and re- 
 liable in his business transactions. 
 
 Mr. Ewing was united in marriage to 
 Miss Elizabeth Fuller, and they became 
 the parents of five children : John, now 
 living near Basco, Illinois; William, 
 whose home is near Sutter, Hancock 
 county, Illinois; Sarah E., the wife of 
 John Wallace, living near Bowen, Illi- 
 nois ; Margaret Ella, the wife of John 
 Battles; and Perry, deceased. The wife 
 
 and mother passed away in September, 
 1865, and Mr. Ewing was again married, 
 his second union being with Margaret 
 Jane Stucker, who was born near Car- 
 thage, March 5, 1858, a daughter of 
 David and Nancy (Ewing) Stucker. By 
 the death of her parents she was left an 
 orphan when only nine years of age. Her 
 father was a farmer by occupation and 
 lived at different times in Iowa, in Kan- 
 sas, and in Schuyler county, Illinois, 
 while eventually he removed to Hancock 
 county. Politically he was a stalwart re- 
 publican, and both he and his wife were 
 devoted and faithful members of the 
 Methodist church, living lives in harmony 
 with their professions and doing many 
 good deeds which endeared them to all 
 who knew them. When called to their 
 final rest their remains were interred near 
 Keokuk in Lee county, Iowa. In their 
 family were five children : John W., who 
 is living in Warsaw; Samuel S., who re- 
 sides in Higgins, Texas; Sarah A., the 
 wife of Thomas McLain, of Exira, Iowa ; 
 Lydia A., the deceased wife of Abraham 
 Wells, who lives in Miami county, Kan- 
 sas ; and Mrs. Ewing. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ewing were born 
 eight children : Rosetta, the wife of 
 John Kiser, of Warsaw, Illinois, by 
 whom she has four children, Ethel, Irma, 
 Anna L. and Claude; Robert S., who 
 married Rhoda Whittaker, a resident of 
 Hamilton, Illinois; Charles W,, living in 
 Sutter, who married Fannie McCracken, 
 and has two sons, Lorren and Carroll ; 
 Viola A., the wife of Charles Rampley, 
 of Warsaw; Lemuel M., who lives in 
 Warsaw and married Anna Schlenk, by 
 whom he has one son, Cecil ; Maude Belle,
 
 478 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 who died at the age of four years and 
 was laid to rest in the cemetery by her 
 father's side: Grover C., who lives in 
 Sutter and married Lyclia Hinerhoff, by 
 whom he has one son, Marvin ; and Vic- 
 toria, who is at home with her mother. 
 It was on the ist of July, 1903, that Mr. 
 Ewing was called from this life, passing 
 away on the home farm near Sutter, his 
 remains being interred in Walker ceme- 
 tery. Mrs. Ewing's youngest daughter 
 still owns a part of the home place, and 
 one son the other part. Her husband built 
 the residence thereon and made all of the 
 improvements. In April, 1904, Mrs. 
 Ewing purchased a pretty residence on 
 Eighth and Webster streets in Warsaw, 
 where she is now comfortably situated 
 and she has many friends in the commu- 
 nity friends who know her as a most 
 kind-hearted woman and a good neigh- 
 bor. Mr. Ewing lived to attain the age 
 of seventy-nine years and his was a use- 
 ful, active and upright life, standing in 
 exemplification of what may be accom- 
 plished by unfaltering industry and unre- 
 mitting diligence. His wealth was 
 worthily won so that the most envious 
 could not grudge him his success and his 
 record is one which reflects credit upon 
 the county in which he so long made his 
 home. 
 
 JUDGE GEORGE W. JONES. 
 
 Judge George W. Jones represents one 
 of the old and prominent pioneer fami- 
 lies of Hancock county, his parents being 
 
 Emmanuel and Mary Ann (Rees) Jones, 
 who are mentioned elsewhere in this work 
 and in connection with their life history is 
 given an account of the ancestral history 
 of the family. He left Ohio in 1856 with 
 his father's family and proceeded by boat 
 down the Ohio and up the Mississippi 
 river to St. Louis, the family remaining 
 for three weeks at Canton. There were 
 about eighty families aboard the steam- 
 boat, named "Ben Bolt." Emmanuel 
 Jones left his wife and children with his 
 brother-in-law, Lloyd Rees, while he 
 came to Carthage and investigated the 
 land, which he had previously purchased. 
 He then in company with his son, George 
 W., and an uncle of the latter made a 
 trip with a yoke of oxen and a mule to 
 Alexandria, crossing to Warsaw on the 
 ferry boat. There they waited for the 
 family, who came up on the packet, and 
 at the same time they accidentally came 
 across a cousin of Mr. Jones' mother, who 
 lived about twelve miles from that place. 
 The family traveled across the prairie 
 with ox teams to Carthage and on the 
 entire trip did not pass a single home un- 
 til they came to the old Comer place, 
 which is still standing. They remained 
 all night at the Wells tavern, which was 
 torn down about two years ago. The 
 first house they came to in Carthage stood 
 where the James Black residence is now 
 seen and was a little one-story structure 
 weatherboarded with clapboards. Going 
 from Carthage to the tract they did not 
 pass another house for two miles, when 
 they saw a little log cabin. About two 
 miles northeast of this stood the little 
 house of Ned Russell and these were the 
 only houses between Carthage and the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 479 
 
 old homestead farm, upon which the 
 Jones family located. Emmanuel Jones 
 built his house, requiring about four 
 months to complete the work. The tract 
 was wild and unimproved. Wild tur- 
 keys and geese could be had in abundance 
 and deer were also plentiful. Judge 
 Jones of this review has a very retentive 
 memory and relates in most interesting 
 style events of pioneer times and the way 
 in which they lived. He well remembers 
 the conversation that occurred on that 
 overland trip fifty years ago. Soon after 
 reaching their new home five out of the 
 family of six were ill with malaria and 
 it was almost impossible to get any one 
 to wait on them. An old neighbor wo- 
 man came to them to render assistance. 
 She lived four miles away and she said 
 she would undertake their care if they 
 would turn off their physician and get 
 hers. Mr. Jones did this and the new 
 physician, Dr. Booz. greatly assisted 
 them and remained the family physician 
 until his death. Judge Jones has in his 
 possession a medal which he picked up 
 in the dust when a barefoot boy. It rep- 
 resents the campaign when William H. 
 Harrison was presidential nominee. He 
 also has many coins over seventy-five 
 years old and other interesting curios. 
 His education was largely acquired in the 
 district schools, such as were common at 
 an early day in Illinois. He learned his 
 lessons while seated on a sycamore slab, 
 the seat being formed by placing such a 
 slab upon wooden pins which were in- 
 serted into the slab. The writing desk 
 was formed much after the same manner, 
 a long board being hung upon hinges fas- 
 tened to the window sills, and when writ- 
 
 ing was to be done they just raised one 
 side of the board and through an auger 
 hole they placed a stick to hold it up. In 
 the summer months he worked in the 
 fields, taking his place behind the plow as 
 soon as his age and strength permitted. 
 Later he carried on farming on his own 
 account through the summer months and 
 in the winter seasons for five years en- 
 gaged in teaching. 
 
 On the 25th of September, 1864, Mr. 
 Jones was married to Miss Emeline Dale, 
 who was born on section 30, Hancock 
 township, March 4, 1846, her parents be- 
 ing George W. and Martha (Booz) Dale, 
 who were natives of Kentucky, in which 
 state Mr. Dale carried on farming. They 
 came to Illinois at an early day and Mr. 
 Dale died in 1862 from the effects of in- 
 juries received in a runaway. He was an 
 industrious, enterprising man, kindly and 
 considerate of others. His wife, who 
 made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Jones 
 for seven years, passed away February 
 12, 1 88 1, at the age of seventy-five years. 
 She was a member of the Christian 
 church and was a most estimable lady. 
 Mr. Dale filled several township offices. 
 In their family were seven children, four 
 of whom are now living, namely : James, 
 who resides in Carthage : Margaret, the 
 wife of Phil D. Williams, of La Haqie, 
 Illinois; Emeline, now Mrs. Jones: and 
 John, who is living on section 31, Han- 
 cock township. 
 
 Five years after his marriage Judge 
 Jones of this review abandoned farming 
 and devoted five years thereafter to teach- 
 ing, with the exception of one winter, 
 that of 1868-69, which he spent as a stu- 
 dent in Abingdon College. In the sum-
 
 480 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 mer of 1869 and the winter of 1870 he 
 taught at Oak Grove and through the 
 following summer and winter was a 
 teacher in the Independence school. In 
 1871 he purchased a lot in Carthage on 
 Main street and built his home, which he 
 has since rebuilt and greatly enlarged. 
 He then returned to Middle creek, where 
 he taught through the winter of 1871-72. 
 which ended his career as an educator. 
 He had, however, proved a very capable 
 instructor and the schools of which he 
 had charge made substantial progress un- 
 der his direction but his ambitions lay 
 in other directions. While teaching he 
 had served for two terms as town clerk 
 in Hancock township, in 1855 and 1856. 
 In his political views he is a democrat 
 and has long been recognized as one of 
 the leaders of the party in his county. 
 On the 3 ist of March, 1874, he became 
 deputy sheriff and served to the end of the 
 term under John D. Stevens and also was 
 deputy sheriff for two terms, or four 
 years, under C. T. Cannon, filling the po- 
 sition until December, 1882. In the 
 meantime he was also constable of Car- 
 thage township for eight years, acting in 
 that capacity until 1883, when he was 
 elected magistrate of the city and resigned 
 the former position. He acted as mag- 
 istrate for four terms, or sixteen years, 
 being chosen to the office on the anti- 
 license ticket, and it was this position 
 which won him the title by which he is 
 uniformly known Judge Jones. While 
 acting as police magistrate he married one 
 hundred and sixty-six couples and since 
 taking the office of justice of the peace in 
 April, 1905, he has performed sixteen 
 marriage ceremonies. He has also served 
 
 as a member of the city school board 
 and the cause of education has found in 
 him a warm and stalwart friend. ^He 
 maintains his justice court on Main 
 street and in addition to his other duties 
 he has for the past thirty years worked 
 at the court house extending taxes on the 
 tax books. He has many times been dep- 
 uty county clerk and has also been em- 
 ployed in the office of county superintend- 
 ent and that of city treasurer. Since 1883 
 he has been the efficient and trusted school 
 treasurer of Carthage township, being ap- 
 pointed by a board of two republicans and 
 one prohibitionist, while he is a stanch 
 democrat. The appointment came to him 
 on the 7th of March, 1883, and he still 
 continues in the office. In 1892 he was 
 chosen superintendent of the fair grounds 
 for a term of one year and was assistant 
 secretary of the Fair Association prior to 
 this time. He has assisted for three years 
 in distributing the poor fund of the city 
 and thus he has filled many places of pub- 
 lic trust and responsibility, being always 
 found thoroughly reliable and enterpris- 
 ing. He has moreover frequently been 
 called to assist in the bank when extra 
 help has been needed. Like his father he 
 has always been an earnest and stalwart 
 democrat. He is undoubtedly one of the 
 most methodical men of the county and 
 state, having kept an account of all his 
 doings ever since he entered business life. 
 He is a fine writer and splendid account- 
 ant and has been well qualified for the 
 discharge of the various duties that have 
 devolved upon him. Upon the organiza- 
 tion of Plum Brothers Brick and Tile 
 Company of Carthage, Mr. Jones became 
 treasurer and has served in this position
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 481 
 
 continuously since, or for three years. 
 He was administrator of his father's es- 
 tate, has also acted as administrator, 
 guardian, trustee and conservator of 
 many estates for many years and in this 
 connection has settled many intricate 
 business problems. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones has been 
 born a son, Emmanuel W., whose birth 
 occurred in Hancock county, March 31, 
 1871. He pursued his education here, 
 passing through successive grades until 
 he had completed the high school work, 
 and he also attended a year and a half 
 at Carthage College. He afterward at- 
 tended Eureka College at Eureka, Illi- 
 nois, for nearly two years, when his 
 health failed and he returned home. He 
 is a carpenter and contractor and is an 
 expert mechanic. He spent six years 
 working at his trade in Omaha, Nebraska, 
 with a prominent builder, going there in 
 1899 or 1900. During the winter of 
 1905-06 he worked on the tax books at 
 Carthage. He wedded Miss Mary Chris- 
 tensen, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1903, 
 and they make their home in Carthage. 
 Like his father he is a stalwart democrat 
 and is a man of good education. 
 
 Both Judge Jones and his wife are con- 
 sistent members of the Christian church. 
 He became identified therewith October 
 26, 1862, and beginning in 1873 he served 
 for two years as an elder in Oak Grove 
 church and was also assistant superin- 
 tendent of the Sunday-school for one year 
 and superintendent for one year of that 
 school. He served as deacon in the church 
 at Carthage from 1877 until 1879 and 
 since that time has been elder, being again 
 and aeain re-elected. He was assistant su- 
 
 perintendent of the Sunday-school in Car- 
 thage for three years and a half and for 
 many years has been superintendent and 
 continuously has served as a teacher when 
 not in the former position. He has also 
 been church treasurer, and in fact has la- 
 bored untiringly for the benefit of the 
 church whether in office or out of it and 
 has contributed in direct measure to its 
 improvement. His wife is also deeply in- 
 terested in the church, sharing with him 
 in all of his work in its behalf. Mr. Jones 
 is an honored member of the Odd Fellows 
 society, belonging to Bentley lodge, No. 
 412, of which he served as secretary for 
 two years. He belongs to the Knights of 
 Pythias lodge, No. 388, and for five terms 
 has served as keeper of the records and 
 has been both chancellor commander and 
 vice chancellor. 
 
 Judge Jones has spent nearly his entire 
 life in this county and few men are more 
 widely known and none are held in higher 
 esteem because of a life of uprightness, 
 honor, integrity and kindly purpose. His 
 life has been filled with many good deeds 
 and benevolent actions. He is pleasant 
 and genial and the number of his friends 
 is almost co-extensive with the number 
 of his acquaintances. 
 
 EMMANUEL JONES. 
 
 Emmanuel Jones, deceased, was born 
 in Reiley township, Butler county, Ohio, 
 December 25, 1813, and was a son of 
 Nicholas and Mary (Farnsworth) Jones,
 
 482 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 who removed from Northumberland 
 
 county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio after the 
 war of 1812, in which Nicholas Jones 
 had participated. He had three brothers 
 who served in that war, under General 
 Anthony Wayne. On removing west- 
 ward to Ohio Nicholas Jones arrived at 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, which was a village of 
 log cabins on the bottom then called Lo- 
 santville. He did not like it there. He 
 then went back thirty miles and settled 
 in the midst of a timbered tract in Butler 
 county, three miles south of where Ox- 
 ford now stands, the trees growing so 
 thick that it was necessary to remove 
 them before he could build a log cabin. 
 The family there lived in true pioneer 
 style. There was no glass for windows 
 and instead greased paper was used. In 
 the cabin were large, broad chimneys and 
 they hung their candles in the chimneys 
 so the Indians could not see the lights, 
 for the red men were still numerous in 
 the neighborhood and were a constant 
 menace to life and property. The first 
 tax which Nicholas Jones paid was fifty 
 cents on his quarter section of land. He 
 won the half dollar by driving a heifer 
 which a neighbor had sold to a man at 
 the county-seat, a distance of ten miles, 
 but while walking back home he lost the 
 money. There were many privations and 
 hardships incident to pioneer life which 
 were borne by the family but as the years 
 passed they succeeded in converting the 
 place into a good and well improved 
 farm. 
 
 Emmanuel Jones spent his boyhood 
 days upon the old homestead farm in 
 Butler county and in his youth learned 
 the trade of a carpenter and millwright. 
 
 He afterward spent ten years in Venice, 
 Ohio, and in May, 1856, removed west- 
 ward to Carthage, Illinois, where he re- 
 sided continuously until his death, which 
 occurred in 1900. He was a fife major 
 in the second regiment of the Third 
 Battalion of the Ohio Militia. This com- 
 mission was dated September 14. 1831. 
 He played the fife throughout his entire 
 life, his services in that direction being 
 much in demand at different celebrations. 
 He did duty as a fifer under Colonel 
 Griffin Halstead, the father of Murat 
 Halstead, of Cincinnati, Ohio, the official 
 historian of the war department. Mr. 
 Jones received his appointment as fifer 
 from L. D. Kennard. lieutenant colonel, 
 attested by L. D. Campbell, adjutant and 
 the commission papers are now in posses- 
 sion of his son. Judge George W. Jones, 
 of Carthage. (This commission was 
 dated Hamilton, Ohio, October 17. 1835), 
 In the year 1857, Emmanuel Jones served 
 as collector in Hancock township, Han- 
 cock county, and he was in many ways 
 identified with the public life of the com- 
 munity and the development and prog- 
 ress of this portion-of the state. He was 
 also one of the school trustees of said 
 township. 
 
 In early manhood Emmanuel Jones 
 was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann 
 Rees, a daughter of John Rees. who came 
 from Wales to America in company with 
 a brother in the latter part of the eight- 
 eenth century. The}' landed in New 
 York and John Rees at once associated 
 himself with the English people of the 
 new world, so as to become familiar with 
 the language spoken. He worked for a 
 man who was a whig. One day his land-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 483 
 
 lord asked him how lie was going to vote, 
 telling him the whigs were in favor of 
 the landlords. Rees replied "If that is 
 the case I will not investigate farther but 
 will vote against them" and so voted the 
 democratic ticket all his life. He was 
 married in New York to Miss Sarah 
 Lloyd and together with his brother they 
 removed to Kentucky, where Mrs. Rees 
 died. John Rees afterward wedded Miss 
 Ann Laing and removed to Rossville, 
 Ohio, which is now a part of West Hamil- 
 ton. Ohio. There he worked at his trade 
 of blacksmithing, which he had perfected 
 in a seven years' apprenticeship in Wales. 
 After a residence of several years in 
 Hamilton, Butler county, he took up his 
 abode upon a farm in Butler township, 
 that county, where he conducted a black- 
 smith shop and also carried on general 
 farming until he retired from active busi- 
 ness life. He was influential in commu- 
 nity affairs and served as assessor for 
 many years in Ohio. He was also cap- 
 tain in one of the old militia companies 
 and was always known by that title. He 
 came to America in order to escape com- 
 pulsory military service in the English 
 army but was so well pleased with the 
 country that he never returned. The 
 last letter he ever received from home 
 was written by his mother, who was then 
 one hundred and five years of age. He 
 died in 1853, at the age of seventy-six 
 years. George W. Jones has in his pos- 
 session the Bible in the Welsh language 
 that was given to John Rees by his mother 
 when he left Wales. It was his daugh- 
 ter, Mary Ann, who became the wife of 
 Emmanuel Jones. Her grandmother, 
 Sarah Chamberlain, who married John. 
 
 Laing, at one time kept the Americans 
 and British from meeting at her home in 
 New Jersey, being at that time a little 
 girl. When the British marauders went 
 around over the country demanding 
 everything that they cared to use, they 
 saw her one day out in the yard and told 
 her they wanted honey. She advised 
 them to go to the house for it but instead 
 of that they knocked the hives to pieces 
 and took the honey. Mrs. (Chamberlain) 
 Laing also remembered of seeing General 
 Washington. She died in Union county, 
 Indiana, when between ninety-seven and 
 ninety-eight years of age. Mrs. Laing's 
 mother's maiden name was Hannah 
 Lawrence. Her ancestors had settled on 
 Long Island at a very early day, one of 
 them being John Lawrence, an English- 
 man. 
 
 Mary Ann Rees, wife of Emmanuel 
 Jones, was born in Rossville, now West 
 Hamilton, Ohio, April 7, 1818, and on the 
 1 2th of March, 1835, gave her hand in 
 marriage to Mr Jones, with whom she 
 lived happily for fifty-six years. She, 
 with her husband, became members of 
 the Christian church in 1857, being bap- 
 tized by Elder Thomas S. Brockman, in 
 Crooked creek near their home. She was 
 a kind-hearted woman, was never known 
 to do an unkindly act in her life and she 
 was greatly beloved by all. Her funeral 
 sermon as well as that of her husband was 
 preached by Elder Charles Scofield. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Jones became the parents of nine 
 children, of whom four are now living: 
 George W., .mentioned elsewhere in this 
 work ; Jerome B., who is living in Car- 
 thage township: Anna M., the wife of 
 Alfred Adams, who resides upon the old
 
 4 8 4 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 homestead farm in Hancock township; 
 and Tylee R. Jones, who is living with 
 his sister on the old homestead. The 
 parents were devoted members of the 
 Christian church, in which Mr. Jones 
 served as an elder for thirty years. In 
 the work of the church they took a very 
 active and helpful part and their influ- 
 ence proved a potent element for good. 
 Mr. Jones was a quiet unostentatious man 
 and good citizen, who was well respected 
 by all who knew him. A devoted Chris- 
 tian gentleman, he did much to promote 
 the cause of the church at Oak Grove and 
 largely aided in the erection of the sub- 
 stantial frame building there. He fur- 
 nished every piece of timber for the frame 
 work and heavy sills and hauled them to 
 the place of building over a miserably 
 poor road for a distance of four or five 
 miles, in which he had to cross two creeks. 
 The timber was hewed by George W. 
 Jones and his brother and was framed 
 for the church by the father. He also 
 worked by the day as a carpenter on the 
 building, likewise gave money for its con- 
 struction and was never known to refuse 
 a call for aid in worthy Christian work 
 or benevolent purpose. He was one of 
 the first converts under the teaching of 
 General T. S. Brockman in 1857 and 
 throughout his entire life his actions were 
 guided by high purpose and worthy mo- 
 tives. His Christianity was not in reserve 
 for Sunday use but permeated his every- 
 day life and work and found exemplifi- 
 cation in his business. He was a very 
 industrious man and could never be in- 
 duced to execute a poor job. He was 
 always at work, rain or shine, and did 
 all of the work for Norman Hobart, who 
 
 had the best mill ever erected in the 
 county. He also built other mills and 
 he wove thousands of yards of carpet, 
 operating looms in an early day. A man 
 of domestic tastes he had great love for 
 his home and in his family displayed the 
 most kindly, generous spirit. All who 
 knew him respected him for his genuine 
 worth and his history well deserves men- 
 tion in this volume, as he was one of the 
 early settlers of the county and did much 
 to promote its upbuilding and develop- 
 ment. 
 
 He and his wife lived upon the farm 
 until their children prevailed upon them 
 to leave it and take up their abode in Car- 
 thage, where they remained until called 
 to their final rest. They experienced 
 many privations and hardships during 
 their early life as pioneers in Illinois. He 
 first built his house on the hill at the 
 advice of friends but had to move it down, 
 so that the neighbors hitched twenty 
 yoke of oxen to it and in this way took 
 it to its present site, hauling the building 
 with very strong chains. The number 
 of their friends was almost co-extensive 
 with the number of their acquaintances 
 and they were classed among the most 
 respected and worthy pioneer residents of 
 the county. 
 
 HENRY C. WILLIAMS. 
 
 Henry C. Williams, one of the promi- 
 nent residents of Walker township, who 
 has attained a goodly measure of suc- 
 cess in his farming operations, was born
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 485 
 
 in Kentucky on September 20, 1829, his 
 parents being Levi and Mary (Reid) 
 Williams, who were likewise natives of 
 Kentucky. Both were born in Madison 
 county, the father in 1794 and the mother 
 in 1796. His life was given to the work 
 of the farm, and thinking to more readily 
 achieve success by establishing a home 
 on the frontier he came to Hancock 
 county in 1832, settling in Walker town- 
 ship. The land was largely unbroken prai- 
 rie or uncut forests, and he lived in a little 
 log cabin for some years in true pioneer 
 style, sharing in the hardships and pri- 
 vations, the pleasures and the opportuni- 
 ties which come to those who establish 
 homes on the frontier. He had previous- 
 ly served his country as a soldier in the 
 war of 1812, and again his military spirit 
 was manifest in the attempt which was 
 made by the settlers to drive the Mor- 
 mons from the county in 1844, resulting 
 in the expulsion of the sect whose polyg- 
 amous practices were obnoxious to the 
 law-abiding citizens. He was also a 
 member of the Illinois militia and served 
 with the rank of colonel, commanding a 
 regiment. His political allegiance was 
 given to the whig party and his last pres- 
 idential vote was cast for Abraham Lin- 
 coln. He died in the year 1860, while 
 his wife passed away in 1872, and they 
 were laid to rest in Walker township. 
 People of the highest respectability, they 
 won the hearty esteem and confidence of 
 all with whom they were associated. In 
 their family were five children, of whom 
 three are now living: John R., of War- 
 saw ; Rice C., of Peoria, Illinois ; and 
 Henry C., of this review. 
 
 When only three years of age Henry C. 
 
 Williams was brought by his parents to 
 Hancock county, and in the primitive 
 schools of Walker township he acquired 
 a knowledge of the common branches of 
 English learning. His training at farm 
 labor was not meager, for he early as- 
 sisted in the arduous task of developing 
 new land and remained upon the old 
 homestead with his parents until long 
 after he had attained his majority. At 
 the time of the early gold excitement in 
 California he made a trip to the Pacific 
 coast, spending three years in the mines 
 and in traveling over that part of the 
 country. Following his return to Han- 
 cock county he engaged in fanning in 
 Walker township and throughout the 
 greater part of his life has continuously 
 followed general agricultural pursuits. 
 He completed his arrangements for hav- 
 ing a home of his own, by his marriage in 
 1858. to Miss Martha J. Quick, who was 
 born in Bullet county, Kentucky, in 1840, 
 a daughter of Alfred and Susan E. Quick, 
 both of whom were born about twenty- 
 five miles from Louisville, Kentucky, 
 whence they came to Hancock county in 
 1847, settling in Rocky Run township. 
 Her father was a stalwart republican but 
 not an office seeker. In his family were 
 seven children : Preston X. Quick, now 
 living in Rocky Run township; Samuel, 
 of the same township; James A., a resi- 
 dent of Missouri ; Susan, the wife of 
 James Shipe, of Warsaw; and three who 
 have passed away. The mother's death 
 occurred in July, 1892, and the father died 
 in 1895, his remains being then interred 
 by her side in a cemetery in Rocky Run 
 township. 
 
 Prior to his marriage Mr. Williams
 
 4 86 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEU' 
 
 purchased one hundred and thirteen acres 
 of land in Walker township and upon 
 this farm he has made all of the improve- 
 ments, erecting a pretty home in 1879, 
 and at different times other substantial 
 structures in the way of barns and sheds 
 for the shelter of grain and stock. He 
 was quite successful in the work of tilling 
 the soil and has also raised some stock. 
 At the same time he has not been neglect- 
 ful of public duties and interests and has 
 served as school trustee and director. 
 His political allegiance is given to the 
 Republican party. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born 
 five children, the birthplace of all being 
 the present home farm. These are: 
 Rosa A., the wife of J. C. Perry, of 
 Bowen. Illinois, by whom she has three 
 children, Russell. Stella and Grace; Rob- 
 ert M., who wedded Anna Denton, by 
 whom he has three children, Earl, Lo- 
 vetta, and Dolores, their home being in 
 the state of Missouri ; William P., who 
 resides in- W r ythe township, and married 
 Etta Lane, by whom he has two sons, 
 Ralph and Lloyd; lona J., who is acting 
 as her father's housekeeper; and Luella 
 M., the wife of John T. Gabel, of \Vythe 
 township, by whom she has two chil- 
 dren, Harold and Edna. The wife and 
 mother died April 22, 1895, and was laid 
 to rest in Wilcox cemetery. She passed 
 away in the faith of the Christian church, 
 of which she was a devoted and faithful 
 member. In her life she exemplified 
 many sterling traits of character and thus 
 left behind her many warm friends who 
 yet cherish her memory. Mr. Williams 
 is also a devoted member of the Christian 
 church, in which he has served as deacon 
 
 and treasurer for some time. He began 
 life with limited resources but through 
 economy, upright life and business ability, 
 and the aid of his wife, who was indeed 
 a faithful companion and helpmate to him 
 on life's journey, he has accumulated a 
 comfortable competence and is now en- 
 abled to enjoy many of the comforts of 
 life, while in the community he stands 
 high in public regard as one who is 
 worthy of the ties of home and friendship 
 and to the duties of citizenship as well 
 as to the obligations of the business 
 world. 
 
 JOSEPH E. HELFRICH. 
 
 Joseph E. Helfrich, postmaster of Car- 
 thage, was born in this city November 
 15, 1860, a son of John and Josephine 
 (Loring) Helfrich. The father was born 
 and reared in Germany and in 1857 came 
 to the United States to avoid compulsory 
 military service in his country, settling 
 first in Ohio, but soon afterward remov- 
 ing to Carthage. Here he met and mar- 
 ried Miss Loring, a daughter of Fred- 
 erick Loring, who came to Illinois from 
 Vermont. Mr. Helf rich's desire to avoid 
 military service was not from any lack 
 of courage on his part as was soon, dem- 
 onstrated by the patriotism and loyalty 
 he displayed to his native country when 
 the United States became involved in the 
 Civil war. \Vith firm belief in the right- 
 eousness of the Union cause, he enlisted 
 in 1861 as a member of Company B, One 
 Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Volun-
 
 JOSEPH E. HELFRICH
 
 ^
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 487 
 
 teer Infantry and served until the close 
 of the hostilities without hospital record. 
 He was always at his post of duty and 
 participated in many important engage- 
 ments. Returning to the north when the 
 war was over he opened a meat market 
 in Carthage in 1865 and continued in that 
 business successfully until his death in 
 1887. He was a very active and earnest 
 worker in support of the Republican party 
 but not an aspirant for office. That he 
 gave his aid willingly and freely to the 
 country in the dark days of the Civil war 
 is not only indicated by his valorous ser- 
 vice on the field of battle but also by his 
 refusal to apply for a pension. He was 
 nominated on the republican ticket for 
 the office of sheriff when the county had 
 a normal democratic majority of one 
 thousand and his personal duty and the 
 confidence reposed in him by his fellow 
 townsmen is indicated by the fact that 
 he was defeated by only sixty-two votes. 
 He was reared in the" faith of the Catho- 
 lic church, while his wife was a member of 
 the Christian church. She is still living 
 and is a most active, effective and earnest 
 worker in the Christian church and' its at- 
 tendant societies. She is greatly re- 
 spected and admired among the older 
 residents of the city, where she has many 
 friends. In the family were seven sons 
 and two daughters, all of whom are now 
 living in Carthage: Joseph E., of this re- 
 view; Mary C., the wife of J. L. Wolfe; 
 Estella, the wife of L. G. Gerard ; Charles 
 N. ; George V., state's attorney for Han- 
 cock county ; John F. ; Albert H. ; Leo L. ; 
 and Oliver C. Helfrich. 
 
 Joseph E. Helfrich, the eldest of the 
 family, was educated in the public schools 
 
 and afterward became his father's assist- 
 ant in the meat market and subsequent to 
 the father's death purchased the business, 
 which has been conducted in the same 
 .buildjjjg for forty years. It is situated 
 on the sqjffihjglfeof the square and is now 
 the propert/jc^^Sy. Helfrich of this re- 
 view, the enterprise being the oldest busi- 
 ness conducted urkter the same name in 
 the city. Mr. Helfwch enjoys an unas- 
 sailable reputation in business circles for 
 his reliability and enterprise. He is ever 
 straightforward in his dealings and well 
 merits the success which has come to 
 him, for it has resulted from close ap- 
 plication and unfaltering energy. 
 
 Mr. Helfrich was married September 
 i, 1 88 1, to Miss Ida May Cudney,- of Car- 
 thage, a daughter of Peter Cudney, one 
 of the earlier residents of the county, who 
 came here from Michigan. They now 
 have three children: Mabel A., the wife 
 of Alva M. Williams, a resident of Breck- 
 enridge, this county; and Edith Lyle and 
 Otis Lloyd, both at home. All have re- 
 ceived good educational privileges. The 
 family residence is at the corner of Main 
 and College avenue and the parents and 
 children attend and support the Christian 
 church. 
 
 Mr. Helfrich is a member of Hancock 
 lodge, No. 20, Ancient Free and Accepted 
 Masons, of which he has been worshipful 
 master for two terms and also representa- 
 tive to the grand lodge. He belongs to 
 Carthage chapter, Royal Arch Masons, 
 to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
 the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the 
 Modern Woodmen camp, Ancient Order 
 of United Workmen and Court of Honor 
 and is a worthy exemplar of these va-
 
 4 88 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 rious organizations which have their basic 
 element in mutual helpfulness and broth- 
 erly kindness. In politics Mr. Helfrich 
 has always been an active and earnest 
 republican from the time he attained his 
 majority and lias been a member of the 
 district central committee and for a num- 
 ber of years, chairman of the township 
 central committee. The first office to 
 which he was elected was that of town- 
 ship clerk, while later he was supervisor 
 of Carthage township for two terms. He 
 has attended as a delegate the various 
 county and congressional conventions but 
 has never been active as a politician in 
 the usually accepted sense of the term. 
 He is, however, now filling the position 
 of postmaster, to which he was appointed 
 by President Roosevelt in 1902. During 
 his incumbency the postoffice has been 
 advanced from a third to a second class 
 and four new rural free delivery routes 
 have been established, while there has 
 been a large increase in the amount of 
 business done, the revenue being increased 
 twenty-five per cent. There are three 
 assistants employed in the office and Mr. 
 Helfrich was re-appointed, May, 1906. 
 which is entirely satisfactory to the citi- 
 zens at large, for his administration has 
 been acceptable to all, owing to his 
 promptness and reliability in the discharge 
 of his duties. His residence in the city 
 covers the entire period of his life and he 
 is one of its most respected and worthy 
 business men and officers. 
 
 On the President's call for volunteers 
 for the Spanish- American war in 1898, 
 Mr. Helfrich organized a company of 
 one hundred and thirty men, known as 
 the Hancock County Volunteers, and the 
 
 whole company was very much disap- 
 pointed on finding that the quota for the. 
 state had been filled when their regiment 
 was enlisted. Mr. Helfrich served nine 
 years in the state militia, resigning the 
 captaincy of his company, owing to lack 
 of time. 
 
 JOHN B. JOHNSON. 
 
 John B. Johnson, who since 1901 has 
 resided in Carthage, prior to which date 
 he was engaged in farming and stock- 
 raising in Hancock county, was bom in 
 St. Mary's township, March 4, 1867, his 
 parents being M. M. and Mary (Bacon) 
 Johnson. The father's birth also occurred 
 in St. Mary's township, Hancock county, 
 while the mother was born in Tennessee 
 township, McDonough county. The fa- 
 ther died April 7. 1906, and the mother 
 lives at Carthage. Further mention is 
 made of the family in connection with 
 the sketch of the father on another page 
 of this work. 
 
 John B. Johnson was educated in the 
 district schools of St. Mary's township, 
 in Carthage College and in Bloomington 
 College in this state. During the periods 
 of vacation he assisted in the labors of 
 the farm and remained with his parents 
 upon the old homestead until he had at- 
 tained his majority, giving his attention 
 to farming and stock-raising. In Octo- 
 ber, 1894, he was united in marriage to 
 Miss Stella Walker, a daughter of Thom- 
 as I. and Mary (Atchinson) Walker, and 
 a native of St. Mary's, Hancock county.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 489 
 
 where she was born October 3, 1870, and 
 made her home until she came to live in 
 Carthage. Her father is also a resident 
 of Carthage but her mother passed away 
 February I, 1905. Mrs. Johnson contin- 
 ued her education in the high schools and 
 in the college of Carthage and is a well 
 informed lady of innate culture and re- 
 finement, who presides with gracious hos- 
 pitality over their pleasant home. For 
 seven years after their marriage Mr. and 
 Mrs. Johnson lived upon a farm in St. 
 Mary's township, but in 1901 removed 
 to -the city, purchasing a new house at 
 the corner of Adams and Buchanan 
 streets. Mr. Johnson is still engaged in 
 farming and stock-raising, but superin- 
 tends his business interests while living in 
 Carthage. He feeds about three hundred 
 head of cattle a year and also a large 
 number of hogs and deals quite exten- 
 sively in horses. He also owns some lots 
 in Carthage in addition to his residence 
 property and he has his office at the Stock 
 Exchange in the McMahon building on 
 Adams street. He likewise has an im- 
 proved farm of two hundred and forty 
 acres of land in Carthage township and 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land in 
 St. Mary's township. He is yet a young 
 man but has attained considerable suc- 
 cess in business affairs and has accumu- 
 lated a very desirable competence. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Johnson is 
 a democrat and has served as supervisor 
 and school director. He belongs to the 
 Woodmen camp and he and his wife are 
 devoted, active and faithful members of 
 the Methodist church, in which he is serv- 
 ing as steward. Both are eligible to 
 membership with the Sons and Daugh- 
 
 ters of the American Revolution, being 
 descended from ancestors who fought for 
 the independence of the nation. They 
 have an attractive home, tastefully fur- 
 nished, and books and music indicate the 
 interests of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. She 
 has greatly aided her husband in all of 
 his undertakings and both enjoy in large 
 measure the esteem and good will of 
 many friends. He has already attained a 
 creditable place in business circles and yet 
 is hardly in the prime of life, so that the 
 future probably holds in store for him 
 greater successes. 
 
 CHARLES F. SPENCE. 
 
 Charles F. Spence, engaged in general 
 farming and stock-raising in Montebello 
 township, is one of Illinois' native sons, 
 and from his youth has resided largely 
 in Hancock county. His birth, however, 
 occurred in Adams county on the 26th 
 of July, 1 86 1, his parents being Abram 
 and Angeline (Hulse) Spence, both na- 
 tives of Ohio. The maternal grandpar- 
 ents, Thomas and Elizabeth Hulse, were 
 likewise natives of the Buckeye state. 
 Abram Spence, in his early manhood re- 
 moved from Ohio to Adams county, Illi- 
 nois, where he was married and there his 
 death occurred in 1862. Following his 
 demise his widow made her home near 
 Beverly, Illinois, where she engaged ih 
 teaching school, and in 1866, she gave 
 her hand in marriage to Peter Williams, 
 a farmer of that locality. By this union
 
 490 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE}}' 
 
 there were born four children, two sons 
 and two daughters, of whom three are 
 now living, Mary Etta, William G. and 
 Frank E., all of whom are residents of 
 Camp Point, Illinois, while Melissa, who 
 was the second in order of birth, died at 
 the age of two years. By the mother's 
 first marriage there were two sons, the 
 elder being Dr. John T. Spence, who is a 
 practicing physician at Camp Point, Illi- 
 nois. The death of Mrs. Spence occurred 
 April 28, 1899. 
 
 Charles F. Spence lived with his 
 mother to the age of seventeen years, 
 when he began earning his own living by 
 working by the month as a farm hand in 
 Adams and Hancock counties. He was 
 thus employed until a year prior to his 
 marriage, when he purchased seventy-nine 
 acres of land on section 26, Walker town- 
 ship, Hancock county, whereon he re- 
 sided for four years. He then purchased 
 one hundred acres on section 35, Monte- 
 bello township and the year following his 
 removal to his new purchase he sold his 
 property in \Valker township. The one- 
 hundred-acre tract was quite well im- 
 proved when he took possession. It was 
 a stock farm and Mr. Spence has here en- 
 gaged extensively in raising stock. He 
 has an eight-ton stock scale upon his place, 
 and from time to time he has made sub- 
 stantial improvements. He also built 
 two corn-cribs, one a double crib. Later 
 he built two more cribs and afterward 
 a hay barn twenty-six by thirty-six feet 
 with a nine foot shed on three sides. In 
 1896 he had a well drilled to the depth 
 of one hundred and twenty-six feet. He 
 farms very little upon his place, having 
 eighteen acres only in corn, while the 
 
 remainder of his land is used for pastur- 
 age or for the raising of hay. However, 
 he gives his personal supervision to the 
 conduct of a farm of seventy-seven acres 
 on section 34-, Montebello township, culti- 
 vating the fields for the purpose of rais- 
 ing the cereals best adapted to soil and 
 climate. ' He is, however, best known as 
 a stockman and raises horses, hogs and 
 cattle. He also buys and deals in cattle, 
 feeding and shipping about eighty or one 
 hundred head annually. He also deals 
 quite extensively in hogs, feeding about 
 three hundred head per year. 
 
 On the 1 7th of February, 1886, Mr. 
 Spence was married to Miss Dora Har- 
 rison, who was born in Walker town- 
 ship, Hancock county, September 16, 
 
 1864. She is a granddaughter of John 
 and Martha (Ainsworth) Harrison, na- 
 tives of Lancashire, England, and came 
 to America about 1842, and settled in 
 Walker^township in 1842. It was in that 
 township that their son, William Har- 
 rison, who was eighteen years of age 
 when he came to America, the year before 
 his parents, was united in marriage to 
 Miss Maria Kirkendall, October 19, 1851. 
 She was born in Pennsylvania, and a 
 daughter of David Kirkendall, who was 
 born in Scotland. The death of Mrs. 
 Maria Harrison occurred August 25, 
 
 1865, and the father afterward married 
 again. His death occurred January 8, 
 1901. By his first marriage he had four 
 sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. 
 Spence is the youngest. By her marriage 
 she became the mother of three children, 
 of whom two died in infancy, while Carl 
 H., the eldest, was born November 8, 
 1894, and died February 16, 1895. The
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 491 
 
 only living child is Charles W., who was 
 .born June 13, 1897. 
 
 Mr. Spence gives his political support 
 to the democracy and is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, having taken the de- 
 grees of the lodge and chapter in Elvas- 
 ton. Starting out in life on his own ac- 
 count when seventeen years of age he has 
 always been dependent upon his own re- 
 sources and investigation into his life 
 history will show that his success is at- 
 tributable to his own labors. He has 
 never been idle for a single day and indo- 
 lence is utterly foreign to his nature. He 
 has worked persistently making the best 
 possible use of his opportunities and he 
 is justly accounted one of the foremost 
 citizens and representative agriculturists 
 of Montebello township. 
 
 WILLIAM DICKSON BRADSHAW. 
 
 William Dickson Bradshaw is a prom- 
 inent pioneer of Hancock county, where 
 he owns and operates large landed pos- 
 sessions and is also engaged quite exten- 
 sively in the raising of cattle. He was 
 born in Jacksonville, Morgan county, 
 this state, March 30, 1837. His father, 
 Joel Bradshaw, was born in Sparta, 
 White county, Tennessee, in 1812, and 
 when a little lad of seven years was 
 brought from the south to Illinois by his 
 parents, John and Mary (Morgan) 
 Bradshaw, natives of Tennessee and Ken- 
 tucky respectively, the family home being 
 established in Morgan county, near Jack- 
 
 sonville. Here the father spent his boy- 
 hood and youth, and after reaching man's 
 estate was there married to Miss Cather- 
 ine Dickson, who was born in Tennessee 
 in 1815, a daughter of Hugh J. and Mar- 
 garet (Tunk) Dickson, the former a na- 
 tive of Baltimore, Maryland, while the 
 latter claimed the Keystone state as the 
 place of her nativity, and upon leaving 
 the south they, too, located in Morgan 
 county, in 1817, their home being near 
 the Bradshaws. Hugh J. Dickson served 
 as a soldier in the Seminole war in Flor- 
 ida. After his marriage, which occurred 
 March 20, 1834, the father of our sub- 
 ject then removed from Morgan county 
 to this county, the time of his arrival be- 
 ing about August 20, 1837. He located 
 in La Harpe township, where he pur- 
 chased six hundred acres of wild and un- 
 improved land, and taking up his abode 
 here he at once began the work of de- 
 veloping and cultivating the land, erect- 
 ing many buildings and otherwise im- 
 proving the place until he made it a very 
 valuable and productive farm property. 
 In addition to his farming interests he 
 engaged quite extensively in the raising 
 of horses, cattle and hogs, keeping only 
 the best grades of stock upon his farm. 
 He was a very prominent and influential 
 man in his day and was a leader in the 
 upbuilding and development of this por- 
 tion of the state, and here his death oc- 
 curred November 5th at the age of seven- 
 ty-nine. In the family of this worthy pio- 
 neer couple were born ten children, but 
 only two brothers and one sister of our 
 subject are now living. The family rec- 
 ord is as follows : Jane, who was born 
 March 14, 1835, and is now deceased;
 
 492 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU 7 
 
 \\"illiam D., of this review ; Mary Jane, 
 who was bom January 3, 1839, and be- 
 came the wife of Frank Hine, of Jack- 
 sonville, Illinois, but is now deceased; 
 George W., who was born January I, 
 
 1841, and is a resident of La Harpe; Su- 
 sanna E., who was born December 18, 
 
 1842, and died at the age of six years; 
 Sarah L., who was born January 14, 
 1845, an d became the wife of William C. 
 Bainter, but is now deceased ; Emma E., 
 who was born February 8, 1847, and the 
 widow of James Davis, now making her 
 home in La Harpe; Elvina G., who was 
 born May 20, 1849, and passed away at 
 the age of six years; Joel G., who was 
 born October 2, 1852, and passed away 
 in 1894; and James M., who was born 
 December 20, 1855, and now occupies the 
 old homestead farm. The mother died 
 in 1859. 
 
 William D. Bradshaw pursued his edu- 
 cation in the common schools of Morgan 
 county, but his educational privileges 
 were very limited owing to the unsettled 
 condition of the country and the lack of 
 a good school system. He has, however, 
 through reading and observation added 
 to his fund of knowledge until he has be- 
 come a well informed man. He was early 
 trained to the duties of farm labor, as- 
 sisting his father in the arduous work of 
 breaking and cultivating wild land, and 
 sharing with the family in all of the 
 hardships and privations, as well as the 
 pleasures of a frontier existence. When 
 he came to this county deer and other 
 wild beasts were to be seen roaming 
 through the forest, and there was much 
 wild game of all kinds to be had, so that 
 the early settlers could indulge in hunt- 
 
 ing in those days, and thus the family 
 board was frequently supplied with wild 
 meat of various kinds. He remained with 
 his parents until the time of his marriage, 
 when on the 22d of December, 1867, he 
 was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. 
 Bainter, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah 
 (Huston) Bainter, who, after their mar- 
 riage in Ohio, made an overland trip to 
 this state, the year of their arrival being 
 1835. Thus, like the Bradshaws, they 
 were numbered among the early pioneer 
 settlers of this portion of the state. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Bradshaw 
 purchased a farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres, on which he has placed many 
 improvements in the way of fences, sub- 
 stantial outbuildings and a fine country 
 residence, and here he has continued to 
 make his home to the present time. He 
 has added a tract of one hundred and fifty 
 acres, located on section 31, so that he 
 has here extensive holdings, on which he 
 is engaged in general farming and has 
 raised cattle to quite an extent, this 
 branch of his business proving a gratify- 
 ing source of income. His place is well 
 tiled and the land is placed under a high 
 state of cultivation, so that he annually 
 gathers abundant crops as the result of 
 the care and labor he bestows upon the 
 fields. He follows only the best methods 
 of farming and uses the latest improved 
 farm implements to facilitate his work. 
 Unto our subject and his wife was born 
 one daughter, Sarah Margaret, who was 
 bom November 4, 1868. Her death oc- 
 curred in June, 1894, she having been a 
 great sufferer from rheumatism for many 
 years prior to her death. 
 
 Mr. Bradshaw's study of the current
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 493 
 
 events of the nation has led him to give 
 heart}- support to the Democratic party. 
 For twenty years he served as school 
 treasurer of La Harpe township, and in 
 many ways has given active and helpful 
 support to local advancement and prog- 
 ress. He has now almost reached the 
 seventieth milestone on life's journey and 
 during the long years of his residence 
 here has seen marvelous changes as the 
 wild land has been converted into rich 
 farming property, towns and villages 
 have sprung into existence and the work 
 of development and improvement along 
 commercial, industrial and agricultural 
 lines has been carried forward, and he 
 has not only been a witness of all this 
 but has been an active participant and a 
 leader in many movements whereby the 
 general public has benefited. He and his 
 wife are worthy pioneer people, highly 
 esteemed throughout the county where 
 they have so long lived and labored and 
 where they enjoy the good will and con- 
 fidence of a host of friends, to whom 
 they have become endeared by reason of 
 the many excellent traits of character 
 which they possess. 
 
 GEORGE CLERE. 
 
 George Clere, who is engaged in gen- 
 eral farming in Bear Creek township, has 
 a place that is well kept, denoting his 
 great neatness, thrift and enterprise. He 
 was born upon this farm April 30, 1872, 
 and is a son of Theodore and Catherine 
 
 (Miller) Clere. His father was born 
 in France and crossed the ocean when 
 ten years of age with his parents. Soon, 
 however, they became residents of Cler- 
 mont county, Ohio. At a later date 
 Theodore Clere went to California, where 
 he remained for ten years, and in 1869, 
 he was married and came to Illinois. His 
 wife was born and reared in Highland 
 county, Ohio, and both Mr. and Mrs. 
 Clere are now living in Basco. Although 
 a blacksmith by trade Mr. Clere has fol- 
 lowed farming for many years and is 
 now associated with his son George in 
 the conduct of agricultural interests. 
 Mrs. Clere had one brother, Henry Miller, 
 who was a soldier in the Civil war for 
 three years, enlisting from Ohio. He lost 
 his eyesight in the service. He was not 
 in any battles but was an expert bridge- 
 builder, who with other workmen of this 
 character went ahead of the army and 
 built bridges and other such work, so that 
 the armies could continue their progress. 
 While thus engaged he was shot at many 
 times. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Clere 
 have been born four children : George, 
 of this review ; Emma, the wife of Charles 
 Hays, who is living near Carthage ; Eliza- 
 beth, the wife of Albert Hartman, resid- 
 ing in Bear Creek township ; and Cath- 
 erine, the wife of Dr. William Rankin, 
 of Basco, Illinois. 
 
 George Clere pursued his education in 
 the schools of Basco and during the fall 
 and winter of 1890-91 was a student in 
 the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, 
 Illinois. He then returned to the old 
 home farm and assisted his father in its 
 operation, continuing thereon after his
 
 494 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 marriage. He is now a partner of his 
 father and they deal very extensively in 
 stock, feeding and shipping large quanti- 
 ties of cattle. 
 
 On the 1 8th of October, 1898, Mr. 
 Clere was united in marriage to Miss 
 Birdie Rohrbaugh, who was born near 
 Basco, October 3, 1876, and is a daughter 
 of Solomon and Mary (Tanner) Rohr- 
 baugh. Her maternal grandfather was a 
 soldier of the war of 1812. Her father 
 was born in Virginia, while the mother's 
 birth occurred near Plymouth, Hancock 
 county, Illinois. Mr. Rohrbaugh came 
 to this state when quite young and is 
 now living in Oquawka, in Henderson 
 county, Illinois. His wife died, how- 
 ever, when their daughter, Mrs. Clere, 
 was a little maiden. They had three chil- 
 dren : Birdie; Clarence, who is living in 
 Leavenworth, Kansas ; and Albert, who 
 died at the age of fourteen years. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Clere began their do- 
 mestic life upon the old homestead farm, 
 comprising three hundred and seventy 
 acres of valuable land situated on sections 
 22 and 23, Bear Creek township. It is 
 very valuable and the fields are productive 
 because of the care and cultivation that 
 has been bestowed upon them. There 
 are also good buildings upon the place 
 and everything is indicative of the super- 
 vision of the owner. In his political 
 views George Clere is a stalwart demo- 
 crat, yet has ^never been an aspirant for 
 office. He is an Odd Fellow and has 
 passed all of the chairs in the local lodge 
 and has twice been representative to the 
 grand lodge. He also holds membership 
 relations with the Modern Woodmen of 
 America, and he and his wife are devoted 
 
 members of the Baptist church. The 
 marriage of this worthy couple has been 
 blessed with one son, Leslie, who was 
 born January 17, 1900, on the same farm 
 where the father's birth occurred and 
 where the family are still residing. 
 
 Mr. Clere has led a life of activity and 
 usefulness and much that he possesses has 
 been acquired through his own labor. 
 He has worked diligently and persistently 
 as the years have gone by and his farm 
 bears every evidence of his care and 
 supervision. 
 
 JOHN J. BODDEKER. 
 
 The man whose name introduces this 
 review is one of the prosperous farmers 
 of Appanoose township that Germany has 
 furnished to this state. Born in Prussia, 
 Germany, his natal day was March 6, 
 1848, his parents being Joseph and Jo- 
 sephine (Lengenman) Boddeker. He 
 acquired his education in the fatherland, 
 and at the age of twenty-three years en- 
 listed for service in the German army, in 
 which he served for six months, at the end 
 of which time, having heard favorable 
 reports concerning the advantages and 
 opportunities to be enjoyed in the new 
 world, he decided to leave his native land, 
 and accordingly in 1871, emigrated to 
 America, making his way at once to Han- 
 cock county, where he spent the succeed- 
 ing three years as a farm hand, working 
 by the month for various farmers of this 
 locality. Possessing the energetic, in-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 495 
 
 dustrious and economical spirit so char- 
 acteristic of the German element, at the 
 end of three years he was enabled to en- 
 gage in farming on his own account and 
 then removed to Knox county, Missouri, 
 where he lived on a rented farm for eight 
 years. Here he carried on general agri- 
 cultural pursuits and met with such good 
 success that on the expiration of that 
 period he had capital sufficient to justify 
 the purchase of land, and then returned 
 again to Appanoose township, where he 
 bought eighty-eight acres, situated on sec- 
 tion 14. This was but partially improved 
 but he at once set to work to further im- 
 prove the land, placing his fields under 
 cultivation, from which he annually gath- 
 ered good crops. He has erected all of 
 the buildings which are today found upon 
 his farm, and from time to time has 
 added to his landed possessions, having 
 in 1888 added forty acres to his original 
 purchase, and also twenty-four acres of 
 timber land, and in 1899 he bought an 
 additional eighty-acre tract, so that he 
 now has two hundred and thirty-two acres 
 in all, of which one hundred acres is un- 
 der a high state of cultivation. The re- 
 mainder is covered with timber or used 
 as pasture land, on which are found high 
 grades of horses, shorthorn cattle and 
 Chester White hogs. He engages quite 
 extensively in the raising of live stock, 
 and this branch of his business is like- 
 wise proving a good source of revenue to 
 him. In 1898 he built a fine country 
 residence, containing nine rooms, and 
 supplied with all modern conveniences for 
 the comfort and convenience of the in- 
 mates. In 1903 he built a large barn 
 seventy by fifty feet, which furnishes 
 
 ample room for horses, cattle and hay, 
 and he also has many other outbuildings 
 for the shelter of grain and stock, and 
 which add to the attractive appearance 
 of his place. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate on life's 
 journey Mr. Boddeker chose Miss Mary 
 Ponnaburg, to whom he was married on 
 the ist of January, 1875. She is a native 
 of this township, and a daughter of Henry 
 and Mary Ann Catherine (Moss) Ponna- 
 burg, natives of Prussia. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Boddeker have become the parents of six 
 sons and five daughters, namely : Annie, 
 who was born April 7, 1876, and is now 
 the wife of Henry Schneider, of Appa- 
 noose township; Joseph, born March 6, 
 1878, likewise a resident of this township ; 
 Henry, born March 25, 1881, and a resi- 
 dent of Pontoosuc township; John, born 
 March 3, 1884, at home; Jennetta, born 
 March 18, 1886, and now the wife of 
 George Hisler, residing near Dallas, Illi- 
 nois; Antony, born June n, 1888, Jo- 
 sephine, December 5, 1890, Ferdinand, 
 July 31, 1892, Florence, March 15, 1896, 
 Isabella, November 13, 1899, and Albert, 
 born March 7, 1903, all at home with 
 their parents. 
 
 Coming to America thirty-five years 
 ago, possessing little capital, and without 
 knowledge of the language or customs of 
 the new world. John J. Boddeker, soon 
 acquired the English tongue and was 
 quick to note and improve any opportu- 
 nity that presented itself for advancement 
 and as the years have passed he has grad- 
 ually worked his' way up until he is now 
 in possession of a comfortable property. 
 He gives his political support to the 
 Democratic party and is a communicant
 
 496 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEl}' 
 
 of the Catholic church. Aside from hold- 
 ing the office of school director he has 
 served in no other official capacity, pre- 
 ferring to give his undivided attention 
 to his farming interests, in which he is 
 meeting with unbounded success and is 
 today numbered among the prosperous 
 and progressve agriculturists of Appa- 
 noose township. 
 
 WILLIAM G. MILBORN, JR. 
 
 William G. Milborn, Jr., figures prom- 
 inently in political circles in Carthage, 
 where he is now serving as city treasurer 
 and also occupies an enviable position in 
 business circles as one of the proprietors 
 of the Rand-Milborn Cigar Manufactur- 
 ers. He dates his residence in Carthage 
 from 1873, tne Y ear f his birth, his par- 
 ents being William G. and Barbara 
 (Workman) Milborn. The father, a na- 
 tive of Germany, came to America when 
 a young man about twenty-one years of 
 age, landing at New York. He is a cab- 
 inetmaker by trade and at the present 
 writing is employed in J. Nace's furni- 
 ture factory in Carthage, having made 
 his home in this city since 1870. He is 
 now sixty-two years of age and his wife 
 is also living. They have six children 
 who still liver five having died in child- 
 hood, the record of the sons and daugh- 
 ters still living being as follows: Wil- 
 liam G., J r - ! Charles, who is living with 
 his parents ; Caroline, who is employed in 
 a store in Peoria, Illinois ; Emma, An- 
 tone and Esther, all at home. 
 
 At the usual age William G. Milborn, 
 Jr.. entered the public schools and there- 
 in pursued his studies until he entered 
 business life, being first employed in a 
 restaurant for a period of four years. 
 He afterward learned the trade of a cigar- 
 maker in Carthage and on the 3d of Feb- 
 ruary, 1906, embarked in business on his 
 own account in a building in which he 
 had been employed for twelve years. The 
 firm is now known as the Rand-Milborn 
 Cigar Company, and they manufacture 
 cigars, having the largest factory of the 
 kind in the city, employing ten assistants 
 in Carthage, while they have upon the 
 road a traveling salesman. They sell to 
 both the wholesale and retail trade and 
 the business has reached extensive pro- 
 portions, making it a profitable enterprise. 
 Mr. Milborn has closely applied himself 
 to his trade, which he has mastered in 
 principle and detail, and is thus compe- 
 tent to ably direct the labors of those 
 whom he now employs. 
 
 In 1894 Mr. Milborn was married to 
 Miss Sarah M. Marvel, who was bom 
 in Chili township, September 25, 1871, a 
 daughter of William B. and Mary (Pow- 
 ell) Marvel, who were of Scotch descent. 
 Her father is a retired farmer now living 
 in Carthage and in the family are five 
 daughters : Eva ; Mollie, the wife of 
 Cleophus O'Harra, of Rapid City, South 
 Dakota ; Mrs. Sarah Milborn ; Alice ; and 
 Phillena, the wife of John Rand, Jr., a 
 nephew of the partner of our subject. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Milborn have one son, 
 William Marvel Milborn. who was bom 
 in Carthage. April 26, 1905. Mr. Mil- 
 born has recently completed a handsome 
 residence on North Adams street and he
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 497 
 
 and his wife occupy an enviable position 
 in social circles, while the gracious hos- 
 pitality of their own home has made it 
 a favorite resort with their many friends. 
 Mr. Milborn is a Knight of Pythias and 
 has served as chancellor in the Court of 
 Honor, which position he still holds. In 
 politics he has always been a stanch dem- 
 ocrat and in 1905 was elected city treas- 
 urer of Carthage, in which position he 
 has discharged his duties in prompt and 
 faithful manner. He is deeply interested 
 in the success of his party and does all 
 in his power to insure its growth. Both 
 he and his wife are faithful members of 
 the Presbyterian church. His success in 
 business is largely due to his energy, abil- 
 ity and genuine uprightness. 
 
 ALEXANDER PHILLIPPI. 
 
 Alexander Phillippi is a retired farmer 
 living in Colusa. He dates his residence 
 in this county since 1868, during which 
 time he has formed a wide and favorable 
 acquaintance among the residents of this 
 part of the state. He was born in West- 
 moreland county, Pennsylvania, Decem- 
 ber 26, 1833, his parents being George 
 and Mary (McMillan) Phillippi. Both 
 were natives of the Keystone state and 
 the father, who was born in October, 
 1802, followed the occupation of farming 
 as a life work. He always lived in the 
 vicinity of his birthplace and both he 
 and his wife have now passed away. Of 
 
 their four children two are living : Eliza- 
 beth, the widow of Lewis F. Ambrose 
 and a resident of Indiana ; and Alexander, 
 of this review. 
 
 To the district school system of his na- 
 tive state Alexander Phillippi is indebted 
 for the educational privileges he enjoyed. 
 He remained under the parental roof until 
 he had attained his majority and in 1856 
 came to Illinois, working for four years 
 by the month as a farm hand in Fulton 
 county. He afterward engaged in farm- 
 ing on the shares in that county until 
 March, 1868, when he came to Hancock 
 county, Illinois, settling on a farm of 
 eighty acres in Pilot Grove township, 
 which he had purchased the year before 
 and where he lived until 1886. He then 
 exchanged his original property for a 
 quarter section of land also on section 5, 
 Pilot Grove township, which he still owns. 
 His time and energies were devoted to its 
 further cultivation and improvement until 
 1897, when he retired from farming and 
 removed to Colusa, building there a pretty 
 cottage which he now occupies. 
 
 In early manhood Mr. Phillippi was 
 married to Miss Martha Burnett, who 
 was born October 2, 1841, and was reared 
 in Fulton county, Illinois. Her death 
 occurred in 1865 and of the two children 
 born of that marriage only one is now 
 living: George M., who was born in 
 1863 and resides in Nebraska. Mrs. 
 Phillippi was a member of the United 
 Brethren church and was an estimable 
 lady who had many friends. In October, 
 1868, Mr. Phillippi was again married, 
 his second union being with Mrs. Mary 
 Fry, widow of Isaac Fry, who was a sol- 
 dier of the Civil war. Mrs. Phillippi was
 
 498 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- 
 vania, a daughter of Henry and Marga- 
 ret Swartz. She had two children by 
 her first marriage; Emma, the wife of 
 Edward Weirather, of St. Louis; and 
 Alma, the wife of William Robertson, of 
 Kansas. By the second marriage there 
 are two children: Mary E., who is the 
 wife of U. S. Swigert, of Colusa, and is 
 postmistress; and Francis M., of Nash- 
 ville, Tennessee. 
 
 Mr. Phillippi exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and meas- 
 ures of the democracy and has held a 
 number of township offices, including 
 that of road supervisor. He has also 
 been a member of the school board and 
 is interested in all that pertains to ma- 
 terial, intellectual and moral progress in 
 his community. Throughout his entire 
 life he has commanded and enjoyed the 
 respect of his fellowmen and is one whose 
 word is as good as his bond. A life of 
 energy and activity has been crowned 
 with well-earned rest and he is now spend- 
 ing the evening of his days in a pleasant 
 home in Colusa surrounded by many of 
 life's comforts. 
 
 ANDREW W. BYERS. 
 
 Andrew W. Byers, the late owner and 
 proprietor of Riverside Hotel in Dallas 
 City, displayed many progressive meth- 
 ods in the conduct of his hostelry, which 
 he kept thoroughly modern in its equip- 
 ments, while putting forth effective and 
 
 earnest effort for the comfort and wel- 
 fare of his patrons. His business quali- 
 fications and his genial manner made him 
 a favorite with many travelers and he was 
 popular with all who found entertain- 
 ment at the Riverside Hotel. His life 
 record began in Fayette county, Penn- 
 sylvania, in 1849, -and ended in Dallas 
 City, September 17, 1906, his parents be- 
 ing William and Esther (Cochran) By- 
 ers, the former a native of Westmore- 
 land county, and the latter of Fayette 
 county, Pennsylvania. William Byers 
 was a farmer by occupation and in the 
 year 1858 came to Hancock county, Illi- 
 nois, settling upon a farm, his remaining 
 days being devoted to general agricul- 
 tural pursuits in this part of the state. 
 His political support was given to the 
 democracy. He died in May, 1878, and 
 when in December, 1894, his wife also 
 passed away, she was laid to rest by his 
 side in Union cemetery. Their family 
 numbered seven children and four have 
 departed this life, while those now living 
 are as follows : Nancy, the wife of Al- 
 fred Nelson, a resident of Oklahoma : 
 Samuel, who is living in Hancock county ; 
 and Margaret, the wife of Charles Hull, 
 of La Harpe. 
 
 Andrew W. Byers was educated in the 
 district schools of Hancock county and 
 remained upon the old home farm until 
 his father's death, after which he engaged 
 in the cultivation and management of the 
 property. In 1888, however, he left the 
 farm and came to Dallas City, where for 
 a year and a half he conducted a hotel 
 and livery barn. He then removed to 
 Fort Madison, Iowa, where he was pro- 
 prietor of a livery stable for nine years.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 499 
 
 and on the expiration of that period he 
 conducted a hotel and livery business in 
 La Harpe, Illinois, for a year and a half. 
 In 1902 he returned to Dallas City and 
 with wide experience in the hotel busi- 
 ness took charge of the Riverside Hotel 
 on Oak and Front streets. This is a 
 modern hostelry, first class in every re- 
 spect, and both Mr. and Mrs. Byers did 
 everything in their power for the wel- 
 fare and comfort of their patrons during 
 his life, and since his death Mrs. Byers 
 with her son Lester have continued the 
 business, which has increased rapidly of 
 late, they much of the time having more 
 than they can accommodate. The present 
 manager being a natural hotel man, cour- 
 teous, accommodating and genial in ways, 
 giving his patrons better than is often 
 found in much larger towns, it is a nat- 
 ural result that the business is increasing. 
 In August, 1874, Mr. Byers was mar- 
 ried to Miss Mary Ramsey, who was born 
 in Marshall county, Illinois, in 1851, a 
 daughter of Samuel and Louisa (Terry) 
 Ramsey, the former a native of Maryland 
 and the latter of the state of New York. 
 The father was a farmer by occupation 
 and in 1851 came to Illinois, settling on 
 a farm in Hancock county. His days 
 were devoted to tilling the soil and he 
 placed his land under a high state of cul- 
 tivation so that rich crops were annually 
 gathered therefrom. His political sup- 
 port was given to the democracy. His 
 wife died in the year 1875 an< ^ ne passed 
 away in 1883, his remains being laid to 
 rest in the Harris cemetery in Dallas 
 township. In their family were eight 
 children, of whom seven are living, 
 namely: Caroline, the wife of Oscar 
 
 Rich, of Hancock county ; William, a res- 
 ident of Dallas City; Mrs. Byers; Addi- 
 son, living in Kansas; Elizabeth, the wife 
 of John Leighton, of Stronghurst, Illi- 
 nois; Stephen, whose home is in this 
 county ; and Andrew, a carpenter of St. 
 Louis, Missouri. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Byers were the parents 
 of seven children, all born on the farm 
 in Hancock county with the exception 
 of the youngest. The family record is as 
 follows : Roy married Grace McKee- 
 han, lives in Seattle, Washington, and has 
 two children, John and Dorothy. Wil-' 
 liam died at the age of twenty-one years 
 and was buried at Fort Madison. Josie 
 is the wife of Harry Bradshaw and re- 
 sides in La Harpe, Illinois. Samuel went 
 to Chicago at the age of eighteen and 
 died at the age of twenty-three. Lester, 
 who married Miss Grace Hart and has 
 one daughter, Mary, is now manager of 
 the hotel. Nell is at home with her 
 mother, and Frank, twelve years of age. 
 is attending school in Dallas City. The 
 death of their son Samuel, who at the 
 age of twenty-three years went to Chi- 
 cago, and at the time of his demise was 
 occupying a fine position with a live stock 
 company in that city, having worked his 
 way steadily upward to a very responsi- 
 ble place, was a great blow to the fam- 
 ily. About Thanksgiving in 1905 he con- 
 tracted a severe cold, which developed 
 into consumption. His brother Lester 
 took him to El Paso, Texas, but he found 
 no relief in that sunny clime and passed 
 away March 6, 1906, at the age of 
 twenty-three years, six months and eight- 
 een days, his remains being interred in 
 Dallas City cemetery. He was a dutiful
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE]]' 
 
 and loving son, a trusted employe and a 
 general favorite among his associates. 
 The company by which he was employed 
 felt the deepest sorrow at his death and 
 spoke most feelingly of his good qualities 
 not only because of his business capacity 
 but also because of his honorable dealings 
 and trustworthy character. These quali- 
 ties as well as the social side of his na- 
 ture were manifest in all life's relations 
 and he was genuinely esteemed by all 
 who knew him. His personality was 
 such as to make him popular with all who 
 knew him. He was a young man of fine 
 personal appearance, of high principles, 
 generous and kindly spirit, and his death 
 came as a great loss to his many friends 
 as well as his immediate family. 
 
 Mr. Byers voted with the democracy. 
 His widow is a devoted member of the 
 Christian church and stands high in pub- 
 lic regard throughout the community in 
 which she resides. Mr. Byers depended 
 largely upon his own resources for the 
 success that he achieved, having inherited 
 nothing from relatives nor did he place 
 his dependence upon fortunate circum- 
 stances, but relied upon diligence and en- 
 terprise to win him the success which is 
 the goal of all business endeavor. 
 
 BENJAMIN F. BENNER. 
 
 Benjamin F. Benner, who gave his life 
 as a sacrifice to his country in the Civil 
 war, was born in Stark county. Ohio. 
 May 27, 1836, a son of Elias and Chris- 
 
 tina (Cramer) Benner. In the year 
 1839, his parents came to Illinois but 
 afterward returned to Ohio and in that 
 state the mother died. Benjamin F. 
 Benner spent his boyhood and youth 
 there, remaining a resident of Ohio until 
 about 1855, when he-removed to Sonora, 
 Illinois, where he conducted a blacksmith 
 shop, having previously learned the trade 
 in the Buckeye state. He was a good 
 workman and soon secured a liberal pat- 
 ronage, leading a busy and industrious 
 life. He was also appointed to the posi- 
 tion of postmaster of Sonora, in which 
 capacity he served for two years, when 
 he resigned in August, 1862, and enlisted 
 for service in the Civil war, being as- 
 signed to duty with the boys in blue of 
 Company C, One Hundred and Eight- 
 eenth Illinois Infantry. He served with 
 that command until his death, which oc- 
 curred at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on 
 the 5th of February, 1865. 
 
 On the gth of November, 1861, Mr. 
 Benner was united in marriage to Miss 
 Mary A. Forney, who was born at 
 Sonora, Hancock county, on the 23d of 
 September, 1843, and pursued her educa- 
 tion in the district schools. Her father, 
 Jacob^ Forney, was born in Stark county, 
 Ohio, April 17, 1816, and was a son of 
 John and Mary (Smith) Forney, both 
 of whom were natives of Ohio. With 
 his parents he removed from Ohio to Ray 
 county, Missouri, in 1835, making the 
 journey westward with ox teams and it 
 was in Missouri that he was married on 
 the 1 5th of April. 1838, to Miss Margaret 
 Smith, whose birth occurred in Stark 
 county, Ohio, December 22. 1821, her 
 parents being John and Betsey (Clapper)
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Smith, who were natives of Pennsylvania. 
 She, too, had accompanied her parents 
 from Ohio to Missouri, traveling after 
 the primitive manner of the times. At 
 their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jacob For- 
 ney settled upon a farm of eighty acres 
 in Missouri, but in 1839 sold that prop- 
 erty and in the spring of that year re- 
 moved to Adams county, Illinois. In the 
 succeeding autumn they removed to So- 
 nora, becoming pioneer residents of this 
 part of the state. They found an unim- 
 proved district, the land being raw and 
 uncultivated, while every evidence of pio- 
 neer life was to be found here. Mr. For- 
 ney saw many deer and much wild game, 
 whereby many a pioneer table was sup- 
 plied with meat. There were a number 
 of wild animals and the Indians were also 
 frequently seen, having not yet left this 
 district for their reservations farther 
 west. Mr. Forney purchased a tax title 
 to one hundred and sixty acres of land 
 which was wild and unimproved. He 
 located on the prairie and also bought 
 eighty acres more. Subsequently he 
 purchased eleven and a half acres of 
 timber land and afterward invested in five 
 acres more of timber. He also bought 
 two more eighty-acre tracts which he sub- 
 sequently sold to his sons. He improved 
 his first farm and carried on general agri- 
 cultural pursuits and stock-raising, bring- 
 ing the fields under a high state of culti- 
 vation and adding the equipments and 
 accessories which are found upon a model 
 farm. He continued to reside there until 
 he came to Hamilton, where he now re- 
 sides, making his home with his daughter. 
 Mrs. Brenner. His wife, however, passed 
 away on the 8th of June. 1887. Mr. 
 
 Forney still owns two hundred and forty 
 acres of prairie land in Sonora township, 
 which he now rents and from which he 
 derives a good income. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Forney were born four daughters 
 and three sons. Elizabeth Sarah became 
 the wife of Franklin Bradley, who died 
 in Hancock county, after which she re- 
 moved to Osborne county, Kansas, where 
 she now resides. Aaron H. died in Os- 
 borne county, Kansas, in 1903. Mary A. 
 is now Mrs. Benner. Emerilla is the 
 widow of George C. Waggonner, of 
 Hamilton, who died March 8, 1904. 
 Bianca L. is the wife of Wilson J. Powers, 
 who is living in Osborne county, Kan- 
 sas. Chauncey S. is a practicing physi- 
 cian of Dallas City, Illinois, and Ervin 
 L. is living in Roger Mills county, 
 Oklahoma. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Benner had but one child, 
 Austin F., who was born November 3, 
 1862, and died of typhoid fever Novem- 
 ber 19, 1879. They had been to Kan- 
 sas and taken a claim of one hundred 
 and sixty acres in Mitchell county, there 
 living for a short time, after which they 
 returned to Hancock county. In April, 
 1879, they again went to Kansas, where 
 they remained until November, when they 
 again came to Hancock county and with- 
 in a few days the son passed away. Mrs. 
 Benner still owns five acres of land in the 
 village of Sonora, where she has two 
 houses which she rents. She bought two 
 lots in Hamilton and in the fall of 1902 
 built a residence, to which she removed 
 in 1903 and she and her father are now 
 living together. She is a representative 
 of one of the old pioneer families of this 
 section of the state and has a wide ac-
 
 5 02 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 quaintance here. She has witnessed much 
 of the development and progress of Han- 
 cock county from pioneer times down to 
 the present and can relate many interest- 
 ing incidents of the early days. 
 
 JAMES A. PAUL. 
 
 James A. Paul, who dates his residence 
 in this county from 1885, at which time 
 he took up his abode upon his present 
 farm in Pontoosuc township, is a native 
 of Ohio, having been born in Ross county, 
 in 1849, a son f Hugh H. and Margery 
 (Nichols) Paul. The father was born 
 in Virginia, on September 2, 1821, and 
 the mother's birth occurred in Ohio, Jan- 
 uary i, 1823. For some years after their 
 marriage they remained in the Buckeye 
 state and in 1861 became residents of 
 Henderson county, Illinois, where the 
 father died April i, 1866. His wife long 
 survived him and passed away December 
 17, 1 88 1, when her grave was made by 
 his side in a cemetery at Burlington, Iowa. 
 Three of their five children survive, our 
 subject and the daughters being Eliza 
 Ann, the wife of Benjamin Long, of 
 Burlington, and Victoria, the wife of 
 Merton Galvin, of Burlington. Two 
 uncles of our subject, James F. and 
 Thomas Paul, were soldiers of the Civil 
 war. 
 
 James A. Paul was educated in the 
 public schools of Henderson county, Illi- 
 nois, and of Burlington, Iowa, and re- 
 mained with his mother as long as she 
 
 lived. He was married January 4, 1883. 
 to Miss Junie Haworth, whose birth oc- 
 curred in Pontoosuc, this county, March 
 12, 1865, a daughter of Reese and Eliza- 
 beth (Kidson) Haworth. Her father 
 was born in Iowa, where he still lives, 
 but her mother, a native of Ohio, is 
 deceased. He served for a year or more 
 as a soldier of an Indiana regiment dur- 
 ing the Civil war and in 1863 came to 
 this county, settling in Pontoosuc town- 
 ship. In his family were two children 
 but one has passed away. After their 
 marriage Mr. and Mrs. Paul lived for two 
 years on a farm near Burlington, Iowa, 
 and in 1885 settled on a farm on section 
 2i, Pontoosuc township, Mr. Paul pur- 
 chasing eighty acres of land, on which 
 he built a good house, barn and fences, 
 and which he owned until October i, 
 1906, when he sold at good advantage 
 and will buy a larger farm where land is 
 not so costly. He actively carries on the 
 farm work of the fields and also raises 
 good stock, both branches of his business 
 proving profitable. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Paul have been 
 born eight children, of whom seven are 
 living: Jennie M., the wife of Otto 
 Englehard, of Pontoosuc township, by 
 whom she has one daughter, Clara ; Jessie 
 E., the wife of Albert Krause, a resident 
 farmer of Dallas township, by whom she 
 has one child, Paul; Reese M., Ruth Ann, 
 Hugh F., Bertha Grove and Junie Mae, 
 all at home. The parents are devoted 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church at Shiloh, in which he is serving 
 as trustee; and upon the republican ticket, 
 which he always votes, he has been elected 
 to various township offices, including
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 those of assessor, commissioner and road 
 overseer. He finds in the faithful per- 
 formance of each day's duties, whether of 
 a public or private nature, inspiration and 
 encouragement for the labors of the suc- 
 ceeding day and while rather retiring in 
 disposition both Mr. and Mrs. Paul are 
 recognized as possessing many sterling 
 traits of character. 
 
 G. M. HUMPHREY. 
 
 G. M. Humphrey was widely known 
 as the proprietor of the Shoreham Hotel 
 in Carthage. He was born in Burton, 
 Adams county, this state. March 30, 
 1850, his parents being William and 
 Frances (Richards) Humphrey. His 
 paternal great-grandfather was a soldier 
 of the war of 1812, while his uncle, Abner 
 Humphrey, was a soldier of the Civil war. 
 William Humphrey, the father, was born 
 in Loudoun county, Virginia, and the 
 mother's birth also occurred in the Old 
 Dominion. He devoted his time and en- 
 ergies to farming and was only about 
 eleven years of age when he came to Illi- 
 nois. His political support was given to 
 the democracy and during and after the 
 war he served as sheriff of Adams county. 
 He was drafted for service with the 
 Union army but hired a substitute, to 
 whom he paid one thousand dollars. He 
 acted as constable and was also a member 
 of the school board in his home locality 
 and in local affairs took an active and 
 helpful interest. His first wife died when 
 32 
 
 about fifty-one years of age and three 
 years later Mr. Humphrey married Cy- 
 drilla Childers. By the first union there 
 were two children : M. E., now the 
 widow of Tom Spense, of Chicago; and 
 G. M., deceased, of this review. Five 
 children were born of the second marriage 
 and are yet living, namely : Thomas, 
 who resides in Macomb, Illinois ; Alice, 
 the wife of George Muhl, of Indiana ; 
 James, who is living in the Black Hills; 
 Charles, who resides in Missouri ; and 
 Blanche, the wife of William Laramore, 
 of Adams county, Illinois. 
 
 G. M. .Humphrey was indebted to the 
 public school system of Adams county 
 for the early educational privileges he 
 enjoyed. Later he attended the high 
 school at Quincy and after putting aside 
 his text books remained with his father 
 and grandfather, devoting his time to 
 farming until he had attained the age of 
 eighteen years. He then rented land and 
 followed farming until the last four years, 
 in Adams, McDonough and Hancock 
 counties, becoming a well known agri- 
 culturist and meeting with success in his 
 cultivation of the rich land of Illinois. 
 
 In 1876, Mr. Humphrey was married 
 to Miss Belle Hungate. who was born in 
 McDonough county, this state. Their 
 only child died at the age of two years 
 and Mrs. Humphrey died in 1878, her 
 remains being interred in her native coun- 
 ty. On the 23d of January, 1881, Mr. 
 Humphrey wedded Miss Maggie E. Yet- 
 ter, who was born in Fountain Green 
 township, Hancock county, in 1863, a 
 daughter of Lewis and Martha E. 
 (Wright) Yetter. Her mother was born 
 in Tennessee and was brought to Illinois
 
 504 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 when three years of age. Her father, a na- 
 tive of Pennsylvania, became a resident of 
 Hancock county at the age of seven years 
 and in manhood followed farming and 
 stock-raising. Both he and his wife died 
 and were buried in this county. He was 
 a Mason and also connected with the 
 Modern Woodmen of America and both 
 he and his wife were devoted Methodists. 
 For forty-two years Mr. Yetter served as 
 class-leader and was also superintendent 
 of the Sunday-school for a long period. 
 He. too, was drafted for service in the 
 war but sent a substitute to the front. 
 His political allegiance was given to the 
 democracy but he never aspired to office. 
 In the family were eight children, seven 
 of whom are yet living, namely : C. A. 
 Yetter, a resident farmer of Fountain 
 Green township; T. B., a merchant of the 
 same township; J. B., a wholesale grocer 
 of Galesburg, Illinois ; Mrs. Humphrey ; 
 Ella F., the wife of William Day, of 
 Fountain Green; Morris H., a resident 
 farmer of Fountain Green : and Susie, 
 the wife of William Fortney. of Mis- 
 souri. To Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey were 
 born two children, both born in Hancock 
 county : Arda L., who was born January 
 8, 1882, and is a clerk in the Hotel Shore- 
 ham ; and Martha F., a student in the 
 Carthage schools. 
 
 Mr. Humphrey was always a democrat 
 but without political aspiration. He be- 
 longed to the Woodmen and was a 
 worthy representative of the order. In 
 December, 1902, he removed from Foun- 
 tain Green to Carthage, where he and 
 his wife conducted the Shoreham Hotel 
 on the American plan, having entertain- 
 ment for sixty guests. Mr. Humphrey 
 
 was a wide-awake business man, upright 
 citizen and genial and pleasant gentleman, 
 popular with his guests and the commu- 
 nity at large. That he had the support of 
 the public is shown by the fact that every 
 week he was forced to turn away people 
 for lack of room. His wife ably assisted 
 him, doing much of the office work and 
 both put forth every effort in their power 
 to promote the comfort of their guests. 
 Mr. Humphrey died May 9, 1906, at 
 1:15 A. M., and his remains were laid 
 to rest in the home cemetery, at Mayor- 
 ville, Illinois. He is greatly mourned 
 and missed, not only by his immediate 
 family, but also by his many friends and 
 acquaintances who were accustomed to 
 his genial face and hospitable manner, 
 when guests at the Shoreham Hotel. 
 Mrs. Humphrey and her daughter are 
 still managing the business in a very 
 efficient manner. 
 
 SILVANUS E. SIMPSON. 
 
 When ambition is satisfied and every 
 ultimate aim accomplished then will labor 
 cease and inactivity become the common 
 law of man, when ambition holds forth 
 its promises industry seeks its reward. 
 Numbered among the energetic, wide- 
 awake agriculturists of Montebello town- 
 ship is Silvanus E. Simpson, who was 
 born upon the farm where he now re- 
 sides, constituting the southeast quarter 
 of section 8, June 30,^1862. This fact 
 indicates that his parents were early set-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY,- ILLINOIS. 
 
 505 
 
 tiers of the county and the name has long 
 been known here. The father, Silvanus 
 E. Simpson, was born in Seneca county, 
 Ohio, January 5, 1823, and accompanied 
 his parents on their removal from the 
 Buckeye state to New York. After a few 
 years, however, they returned to Ohio, 
 where thev carried on general agricul- 
 
 - L> O 
 
 tural pursuits. There are two surviving 
 sons of the family and a daughter, name- 
 ly : Elmer, who is living at Applegate 
 Station in California; Volney A., of Los 
 Angeles, California; and Mary, whose 
 home is in San Francisco, California. 
 Silvanus E. Simpson, Sr., however, again 
 leaving his native state went to Galena, 
 Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and from that 
 place engaged in teaming to Shullsburg, 
 Wisconsin. At the latter place he read 
 law and also taught school, but after a 
 few years returned again to Ohio. In 
 1853 he started from Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 with provisions and other equipments 
 and boarded a river steamer, thence pro- 
 ceeding down the Ohio and up the Mis- 
 sissippi and Missouri rivers to St. Joseph, 
 Missouri, where he bought an outfit of 
 cattle and with his brother Elmer and his 
 wife started for California, attracted by 
 the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope. 
 They joined a wagon train and were six 
 months upon the way, at the end of which 
 time they located in Placer county. Cali- 
 fornia. Mr. Simpson engaged in mining 
 during the winter months and also 
 worked in the redwood forests. He was 
 also employed in harvest fields, using cra- 
 dles, as the more modern machinery had 
 not yet come into use. Prior to 1857 he 
 started for Mexico, where he was cap- 
 tured by some Mexicans and held a pris- 
 
 oner for sixty days, together with sixty 
 other American citizens. At length they 
 were put on board a United States ship 
 and sent back to San Francisco. In 1857 
 Mr. Simpson again started for his old 
 home, crossing the isthmus of Panama 
 and then proceeded by steamer to New 
 York, whence he returned across the 
 country to Ohio, continuing a resident 
 of that state until 1860. Once more he 
 started for California, stopping on his 
 way to visit his mother, who lived in 
 Hamilton. He had with him the sum 
 of two thousand dollars and this he in- 
 vested in the farm upon which his son 
 Silvanus now resides. Giving up the idea 
 of going to California he married and 
 built a house upon his farm and there he 
 lived until the I2th of December, 1871, 
 when his home was destroyed by fire. He 
 afterward built a portion of the present 
 residence and subsequently made other 
 additions. There were few improvements 
 on the farm when it came into his pos- 
 session, but he worked earnestly and en- 
 ergetically to reclaim the wild land and 
 transform it into richly cultivated fields. 
 There he carried on general farming for 
 many years, living upon the old home- 
 stead until his demise, which occurred on 
 the iQth of January, 1904. His wife had 
 departed this life many years previously, 
 her death having occurred September 24, 
 1886. They had three sons: Silvanus 
 E. ; Cassius A., living in Montebello 
 township ; and Empire, who lives with the 
 subject of this review. 
 
 Silvanus E. Simpson, whose name in- 
 troduces this record, has always lived 
 upon the home place and before his fa- 
 ther's death the land was divided and Mr.
 
 5 6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Simpson came into possession of eighty 
 acres of the homestead, while Empire 
 Simpson secured the other eighty acres. 
 About 1888 Silvanus E. Simpson went to. 
 South Dakota on a prospecting trip and 
 in October, 1893, ne an d h* 5 father took 
 a trip to Houston, Galveston and other 
 points in Texas. He owns two town lots 
 in Laporte, Texas, and thirty acres of 
 land there. With the exception of these 
 brief periods, however, he has always re- 
 mained in Montebello township and the 
 old homestead farm has continually been 
 his place of residence. As the years have 
 passed by he has carried on general ag- 
 ricultural pursuits in successful manner 
 and now has a- well equipped farm prop- 
 erty, from which he annually derives a 
 good income. 
 
 On the 25th of October, 1882, oc- 
 curred the marriage of Mr. Simpson and 
 Miss Martha Frances Self, who was born 
 in Callaway county, Missouri, September 
 24, 1865, and was educated in the schools 
 of her native state. Her parents were 
 John G. and Mattie J, (Davis) Self, the 
 former a native of Boone county, Mis- 
 souri, and the latter of Callaway county. 
 Her paternal grandparents were Jenkin 
 and Martha (Black) Self, of Kentucky, 
 and her maternal grandparents were 
 James and Frances (Davis) Davis, who 
 were own cousins and were also natives 
 of Kentucky. The marriage of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Simpson has been blessed with six 
 children : Ressie E., born June 7, 1885 ; 
 Elmer B., born January 14, 1889; Ever- 
 ett Ray, born May 12, 1892; Ora L. and 
 Mora B., twins, born March 4, 1895; 
 and William Donald, born December 16, 
 1904. 
 
 Mr. Simpson exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and 
 measures of the democracy. He belongs 
 to the Odd Fellows lodge at Hamilton 
 and is interested in fraternity and in va- 
 rious matters relating to public progress 
 and general improvement. He has a wide 
 acquaintance in the county where his en- 
 tire life has been passed and the fact that 
 many of the acquaintances of his youth 
 are still numbered among his warmest 
 friends is an indication that his life has 
 been worthy of all respect. 
 
 W. O. SHARP. 
 
 W. O. Sharp, editor and owner of the 
 Carthage Gazette, was born November 
 2, 1854, in Warsaw,- Hancock county, 
 Illinois, a son of Thomas C. and Hannah 
 (Hardy) Sharp. He comes of a family 
 to which belonged Governor Sharp of 
 Maryland, and whose old residence, called 
 Sharp's Folly, is still standing near Rich- 
 mond, Virginia. It was so termed be- 
 cause of the fact that he imported the 
 brick used in its construction from Eu- 
 rope. It is one of the attractive old 
 colonial homes of the south and a noted 
 landmark in the district in which it is lo- 
 cated. 
 
 W. O. Sharp, following _the removal of 
 his parents to Carthage, was educated in 
 the public schools there and in Carthage 
 College and on putting aside his text- 
 books entered the printing office with his 
 father, where he remained until after his
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 507 
 
 marriage, completely mastering the print- 
 er's trade. In April, 1-878, he was joined 
 in wedlock to Miss Georgiana S. Cannon, 
 who was born near Carthage, a daughter 
 of Cornelius and Nancy A. Cannon, who 
 were natives of Illinois and Iowa respect- 
 ively. Her father, a farmer by occupa- 
 tion, removed to Carthage, where he 
 served at different times as deputy sheriff 
 and sheriff, being elected to the latter posi- 
 tion on the democratic ticket. He was 
 also identified with commercial interests 
 in Carthage, being associated with Wil- 
 liam Dale in the dry-goods business. 
 Later he bought a ranch in Texas with 
 his brother and acted as its manager until 
 his death. His wife has also passed 
 away. In his fraternal relations he was 
 connected with the Odd Fellows and the 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen and 
 both he and his wife were members of the 
 Christian church. In their family were 
 nine children, of whom six are living : 
 Alwilda, the wife of J. W. Dale, a resi- 
 dent of Indianapolis. Indiana : Georgiana 
 S., now Mrs. Sharp; Rolla, of California; 
 Lena, the wife of W. C. Newton, of Car- 
 thage; Robert, who is living with his sis- 
 ter, Mrs. Sharp ; and Richard, who re- 
 sides in Decatur, Illinois. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Sharp was en- 
 gaged in the conduct of a photograph 
 gallery for ten years, spending six years 
 of that time in Washington. Illinois, 
 while for four years he conducted a studio 
 in Carthage. In 1888 he re-entered the 
 printing business in connection with his 
 father and by the terms of the father's 
 will inherited the Gazette office at his 
 death and has since published the paper. 
 The Gazette was established in 1865 and 
 
 is the largest paper in the county. It is 
 issued each Friday and is an enterprising 
 journal, devoted to the dissemination of 
 general and local news. In connection 
 therewith Mr. Sharp also owns and con- 
 ducts a good job printing office and is 
 making his business a commercial success. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sharp have been 
 born two children : Ethel K., who is a 
 graduate of the public schools of Car- 
 thage and is at home: and Maud S., the 
 wife of William Helfrich, of New York 
 city, who has charge of the typewriting 
 and stenographic department of a large 
 business college there. Mrs. Helfrich is 
 a graduate in typewriting and ste- 
 nography of the Gem City Business Col- 
 lege of Quincy. The Sharp family resi- 
 dence is situated in the northern part of 
 Carthage on Washington street, where 
 Mr. Sharp has erected a handsome home. 
 In politics he is a republican but without 
 aspiration for office. He and his wife are 
 members of the American Protective 
 League and Mrs. Sharp belongs to the 
 Christian church. By reason of his ac- 
 commodating disposition and kindly man- 
 ner he is popular in the city in which al- 
 most his entire life has been passed. 
 
 LORENZO YOUNG. 
 
 Lorenzo Young, a prominent and pro- 
 gressive farmer of Hancock county, own- 
 ing two hundred and fifteen acres of land 
 in Rock Creek township and a tract of 
 eighty-five acres in Montebello township, 
 is one of the worthy citizens that Ger- 
 many has furnished to this section of the
 
 5 o8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IEU' 
 
 state. He is a native of Baden, his na- 
 tal day being August 26, 1832, and a son 
 of Jacob and Magdalena ( Bartz ) Young, 
 who carried on general agricultural pur- 
 suits on a large scale in Germany. 
 
 To avoid service in the German army 
 .Lorenzo Young emigrated to America at 
 the age of nineteen years, having acquired 
 his education in the schools of his native 
 country during his boyhood and youth. 
 On his arrival in this country he landed 
 in New York and went at once to Buf- 
 falo, and from there made his way to Mil- 
 waukee, Wisconsin, and pn to Chicago, 
 Illinois, where he spent one month in the 
 employ of a railroad company. From 
 that city he made his way to Cairo, Illi- 
 nois, and spent a year and a half in the 
 employ of the Illinois Central Railroad 
 Company. He was then taken sick with 
 typhoid fever and was taken to a hos- 
 pital in St. Louis, where he was forced to 
 remain for three months, and on his recov- 
 ery he made his way again to Chicago in 
 the hope of recuperating his health. After 
 a time he. secured employment in a lum- 
 ber yard at that place, where he spent a 
 time and then made his way to McLean 
 county, where he was employed as a farm 
 hand for three years. During this time 
 he had saved some money which he in- 
 vested in land, having at different times 
 purchased three eighty-acre tracts. In 
 that county he fed cattle and received an 
 eighty-acre tract in payment for his serv- 
 ices. However, he had watched with 
 keen interest the condition of affairs in 
 his adopted country and when the Civil 
 war broke out, his patriotic spirit being 
 aroused, he offered his services to the 
 government, enlisting at Lincoln, Illi- 
 
 nois, in the summer of 1862, joining 
 Company C, One Hundred and Six of the 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served 
 until the close of the war. At the battle 
 of Yazoo river, Arkansas, he was wound- 
 ed by a shell in the forehead which in- 
 capacitated him for a few days, but aside 
 from this he was always on active duty, 
 returning home with a most creditable 
 military record. 
 
 When his services were no longer 
 needed by the government he at once made 
 his way to Logan county, Illinois, and 
 disposed of his land, and made his way 
 to Kansas, where he spent six months 
 traveling over the state recuperating from 
 his army service. He then made his way 
 to Ferris, this state, where he rented a 
 farm. He later bought a tract of wild 
 prairie on section 36, Sonora township, 
 which comprised one hundred and sixty 
 acres. He at once set to work to develop 
 and cultivate his land and also built there- 
 on a house, which in that day was consid- 
 ered a very good one. From time to 
 time as his financial resources increased 
 he added to his landed possessions, be- 
 coming the possessor of land in Rock 
 Creek township, so that he has altogether 
 two hundred and fifteen acres of land 
 there besides a tract of eighty-five acres 
 in Montebello township. He has im- 
 proved his home place, erecting the build- 
 ings which are here found, and has set 
 out an orchard containing apple, peach 
 and plum trees, and he also raises grapes 
 and small fruits of various kinds. He 
 is engaged in general farming and stock- 
 raising, fine grades of horses, cattle and 
 hogs being seen in his pastures. 
 
 On the i8th of June, 1868, Mr. Young
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 509 
 
 was united in marriage to Miss Catherine 
 Yung, the wedding ceremony being per- 
 formed at Carthage. She was born in 
 Bavaria, Germany, July 16, 1846, a 
 daughter of Jacob and Elijabeth (Kee- 
 fer) Yung, likewise natives of the father- 
 land. Her paternal grandfather bore the 
 name of Jacob Yung, while the maternal 
 grandfather was Peter Keefer. Mrs. 
 Young's father died in Germany in the 
 summer of 1870. The daughter had 
 come to America in 1866 in company 
 with her brother Jacob. After landing 
 in New York they at once made their 
 way by rail to Keokuk, Iowa, where Mrs. 
 Young had a sister, Eva, the wife of 
 Adam Trautvetter, with whom she lived 
 until the time of her marriage. After 
 the father's death the mother likewise 
 came to America, bringing with her a 
 daughter, Charlotte, the year of their 
 arrival being 1881. They also went to 
 live with Mrs. Trautvetter, and Mrs. 
 Yung there passed away in June, 1892. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born four daughters and two sons : 
 Elizabeth, born January 28, 1870; Louis, 
 born April 19, 1872; and Carrie, born 
 November i, 1874, all are at home. 
 Mary, who was born February 28, 1876, 
 is now the wife of B. M. Bolton, and re- 
 sides in Sonora township. Lena, born 
 October 12, 1877, is the wife of Millard 
 Shenk, also living in Sonora township. 
 George, born November 27, 1879, re- 
 sides in Rock Creek township. 
 
 Mr. Young is a republican in his po- 
 litical allegiance but has never been ac- 
 tive in the local ranks of his party, for 
 he finds that his private interests demand 
 his entire attention. He has worked 
 
 earnestly and persistently and as the 
 years have gone by has accumulated a 
 comfortable competence so that he is to- 
 day numbered among the well-to-do farm- 
 ers of this section of the state. 
 
 GEORGE LEVI RICHARDSON. 
 
 George Levi Richardson, who has been 
 called from this life, was born in Mary- 
 land. January 29, 1815, and during his 
 infancy was taken by his parents, Jere- 
 miah and Susan Richardson, to West 
 Virginia, where he attended the subscrip- 
 tion schools. He lost his father during 
 his early youth, but continued to work 
 with his mother on the home farm until 
 he had attained his majority. Starting 
 out in life on his own account, he chose 
 the occupation to which he had been 
 reared as a source of livelihood and 
 bought a farm in West Virginia, which 
 he continued to cultivate and improve 
 until the spring of 1869. He then sold 
 out and came to Hancock county. Here 
 he made investment in a farm two miles 
 north of Elvaston in Prairie township, 
 comprising eighty acres. It came into 
 his possession in 1873 and was somewhat 
 improved at the time. He resided there- 
 on for about six years, when he sold that 
 place and for two years thereafter 
 operated a rented farm and also gave his 
 attention to teaming and other business 
 interests. In. 1881 he bought twenty-one 
 acres of land in the Oakwood addition to 
 Hamilton, upon which a house was stand- 
 ing. There he afterward engaged in the 
 cultivation of fruit and, vegetables and
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 also followed teaming to some extent and 
 his business interests brought to him a 
 good living. 
 
 In the year 1840 Mr. Richardson was 
 married to a lady who had been born in 
 West Virginia, and they became the par- 
 ents of eight children, five daughters and 
 three sons. Two of the sons are now in 
 Kansas and one in Ferris, Illinois, while 
 one daughter is in Oklahoma and another 
 in Iowa. The wife and mother passed 
 away in Hancock county in the fall of 
 1869 and on the 28th of December, 1871, 
 Mr. Richardson was again married, his 
 second union being with Miss Susan 
 Knapp, who was born in Chautauqua 
 county. New York, January 14, 1835, 
 a daughter of Moses and Susan (Morse) 
 Knapp, both of whom were natives of the 
 Empire state, where also lived her mater- 
 nal grandfather, Charles Morse. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Richardson became the parents 
 of two daughters. Laura Belle, born 
 June 28, 1873, died August 18. 1874. 
 Martha Alice, born September 10, 1876, 
 is the wife of William Smith, a mer- 
 chant and postmaster at Middle Creek, 
 this county. They have three children, 
 Lowell, Ruby, and an infant daughter. 
 
 Mr. Richardson carried on his business 
 interests in Hamilton up to the time of his 
 death, which occurred February 8, 1902, 
 when he was about eighty-seven years of 
 age. He was buried in Oakwood ceme- 
 tery and thus was laid to rest a man whom 
 to know had been to respect and honor 
 because of his fidelity to the principles 
 which guided his life. His political alle- 
 giance was given to the democracy until 
 the period of the Civil war, after which 
 he became a stalwart republican. He 
 
 was for almost a third of a century a resi- 
 dent of Hancock county and had become 
 widely known as an active and enterpris- 
 ing business man and one who was thor- 
 oughly reliable in all of his dealings. 
 
 CHARLES FORTH. 
 
 A well developed farm property, 
 equipped with all modern conveniences 
 and accessories, is the property of Charles 
 Forth, and lies on section 22, Appanoose 
 township. The owner was born in St. 
 Clair county, Illinois, March 23, 1851, 
 and acquired a district school education 
 while spending his boyhood days in the 
 home of his parents, Fred and Dorothy 
 (Herman) Forth, the former a native of 
 Hesse Darmstadt, and the latter of Nas- 
 sau, Germany. The parents made their 
 way to St. Louis, Missouri, via New Or- 
 leans, becoming acquainted on board the 
 ship on which they sailed to the new 
 world. They were married in St. Clair 
 county, Missouri, where they engaged in 
 farming until 1854, when they came to 
 Sonora township, living upon a rented 
 farm for some time. The father after- 
 ward purchased sixty acres on section 
 28, Appanoose township, and a few years 
 later he sold and bought eighty acres on 
 section 34, which was improved land. 
 In 1876 he erected a two-story frame res- 
 idence, which he occupied until 1893, 
 when he sold that property and made his 
 home with his sons, Charles and Fred. 
 He died at the home of the latter De- 
 cember 3, 1894. His widow still sur-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 vives and is now living with her daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Mary Clug, in St. Louis, Mis- 
 souri. In the family were eleven chil- 
 dren : Elizabeth, the wife of Julius Gru- 
 now, of Dallas, Oregon ; George, of Ham- 
 ilton, Illinois; Louisa, who became the 
 wife of John Schroeder, and died in June, 
 1898; Margaret, who was the wife of 
 John Bertschi, and died in February, 
 1902; Mary, the wife of John Clug, of 
 St. Louis; Helen, who was the wife of 
 William Rohkar. and died September 26, 
 1904; Fred, of Appanoose township; 
 Mrs. Armina Simmons, of Los Angeles, 
 California; Carrie, the wife of Humbolt 
 Hoffmeister, of Los Angeles; and Wil- 
 liam, of Kansas City, Missouri. 
 
 Charles Forth made his home with his 
 parents until his marriage on the 28th 
 of February, 1878, to Miss Anna Desney, 
 a daughter of William and Barbara (Wy- 
 man) Desney, who were natives of Ger- 
 many, and the latter was a daughter of 
 Peter Wyinan. William Desney came 
 with his parents to Nauvoo, Illinois, 
 when the Mormons were there and his 
 wife accompanied her parents on their 
 removal to Hancock county. They were 
 married in Nauvoo and took up their 
 abode there, Mr. Desney carrying on 
 business as a brick and stone mason and 
 well digger. He died in Nauvoo and his 
 wife still lives there, being now the wife 
 of Philip Weisner. Mr. Weisner's first 
 wife was Catherine Gittelman. a second 
 cousin of Mrs. Forth, and their children 
 were Fred, Mary and Annie. Unto the 
 parents of Mrs. Forth were born the fol- 
 lowing named : Herman, a resident of 
 Lee county, Iowa : Annie, the wife of our 
 subject ; Christina, the wife of Andrew 
 
 Cooper, of Strout, Oklahoma ; William, 
 of Wahoo, Nebraska ; Peter, who died at 
 the age of three and a half years; John, 
 a resident farmer of Sonora township; 
 Louisa, who was the wife of John Snider, 
 of Wahoo, Nebraska, and died there in 
 1891, leaving a baby boy; and Katie, the 
 wife of John Bernhardt, of Nauvoo. 
 
 After his marriage Charles Forth re- 
 moved to a farm of forty acres, which he 
 owned on section 34, Appanoose town- 
 ship. He had purchased this from John 
 Cheese and after occupying it for seven 
 years he sold to Arnold Soland. He then 
 bought one hundred acres on section 22 
 of the same township, all under cultiva- 
 tion, while upon the place was an old 
 frame house which had been built by the 
 Mormons. He occupied it for five years, 
 and in the spring of 1891 built a two- 
 story frame residence, to which he has 
 since made an addition. He also built a 
 good barn in 1891 and made an addition 
 thereto in 1898. He likewise has a tool 
 house and corn crib upon the place with a 
 large platform scale of eight tons capac- 
 ity. Ample shelter is provided for grain 
 and stock, and the farm is one of the best 
 located in the township. Mr. Forth cul- 
 tivates the cereals best adapted to the cli- 
 matic conditions which are here found 
 and he also raises Chester White hogs, 
 keeping about forty head per year. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Forth has been 
 born one son, William Fred, born Janu- 
 ary 6, 1879. He married Ida Radel on Oc- 
 tober 25, 1906. She was born in Sonora 
 township, Hancock county. In his reli- 
 gious faith Air. Forth is a Presbyterian and 
 in the work of the church takes an active 
 and helpful part, serving as trustee since
 
 512 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REJ'IEIl' 
 
 the spring of 1906. He was reared, how- 
 ever, in the faith of the Lutheran church. 
 His political support is given to the de- 
 mocracy. His life has been a busy, ac- 
 tive and useful one and his efforts have 
 largely been concentrated upon his busi- 
 ness interests. In 1905, however, he had 
 the pleasure of an extended trip to the 
 Pacific coast, visiting on the way Denver 
 and many points of scenic interest in the 
 Rocky mountains. They stopped at 
 Rifle, Colorado, and traveled by stage to 
 Meacher, that state, passed through Salt 
 Lake City and Ogden, Utah, and on to 
 the Dalles on the Columbia river in Ore- 
 gon. They passed through the fine pine 
 woods of Washington and afterward at- 
 tended the exposition at Portland, like- 
 wise visited Tacoma, Washington, and 
 from Seattle went to San Francisco, Cali- 
 fornia, and on to Los Angeles. The re- 
 turn trip embraced a visit to the Grand 
 Canon of the Colorado. All this was well 
 described by Mr. Porth in a letter to his 
 home paper, and many years will have 
 come and gone before the scenes which 
 he saw will have faded from the mem- 
 ory of Mr. Porth. 
 
 JOSEPH DORSEY. 
 
 Joseph Dorsey. a merchant living in 
 Carthage, Illinois, was born in Muskin- 
 gum county, Ohio, January 31, 1828, his 
 parents being William and Rebecca (Gor- 
 such) Dorsey. The father was born in 
 Virginia in 1803 and the mother in Mary- 
 
 land in 1805. Removing from the south 
 to Ohio they there resided until 1857, 
 when they became residents of Adams 
 county, Illinois, settling on a farm. Wil- 
 liam Dorsey spent the last few years of 
 his life in the home of his son, Joseph, 
 who was then a resident of Denver, Han- 
 cock county, Illinois, and there the father 
 died in January, 1876. In politics he was 
 a democrat and he was one of the early 
 Masons of Ohio. His first wife had died 
 in Ohio and was buried in Shannon, that 
 state. The father married again and his 
 second wife, who was an estimable 
 woman, held membership in the Baptist 
 church. Mrs. Rebecca Dorsey had passed 
 away October 30, 1831, leaving two chil- 
 dren, but our subject is the only one now 
 living. The father afterward married 
 Eliza Cooksey, of Ohio, and she died at 
 the home of our subject in October, 1875. 
 By this marriage there were six children, 
 of whom two are now living: Orin, a 
 resident of Minnesota ; and Celesta E., the 
 wife of Green Fisher, who is living in 
 Basco, Illinois. 
 
 Joseph Dorsey acquired his early edu- 
 cation in the district schools of Ohio and 
 in an academy of that state. He re- 
 mained with his father until after he had 
 attained his majority and in his early 
 manhood he assisted in the labors of the 
 home farm during the summer months, 
 while in the winter seasons he engaged 
 in teaching. His time was thus occupied 
 for four years in Ohio and afterward for 
 seven years in Illinois. In 1864 he 
 opened a dry-goods store in Woodville, 
 this state, and in 1869 removed to Denver, 
 Illinois, where he continued in the same 
 line of business, also serving as post-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 513 
 
 master there for four years. He was 
 justice of the peace in Woodville, Illinois, 
 for eight years and for two years in 
 Denver, Illinois, and was also notary pub- 
 lic for eight years, thus being closely iden- 
 tified with the public interests of the 
 towns as well as with the commercial ac- 
 
 J3AU9Q }p[ au ' 
 and removed to Augusta, Hancock coun- 
 ty, where he opened a store which he 
 successfully conducted for about twelve 
 years or more, when he sold out and came 
 to Carthage. Here he has since lived 
 retired in the enjoyment of a rest which 
 has been well earned and is richly 
 deserved. 
 
 In September, 1860, Air. Dorsey was 
 married to Miss Eveline Lovitt, who was 
 born in Muskingum county, Ohio, April 
 19, 1838, a daughter of Daniel and 
 Deborah (Burch) Lovitt, who were na- 
 tives of the Buckeye state. Her father was 
 a farmer and came to Illinois in 1869, set- 
 tling in Hancock county. Both he and 
 his wife died in Augusta and their re- 
 mains were interred in the cemetery there. 
 They were people of the highest respec- 
 tability and held membership in the Chris- 
 tian church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lovitt 
 were born seven children. Elizabeth is 
 the widow of David Waters and resides 
 in Kansas. Eveline became Mrs. Dorsey. 
 Rezin Lovitt is living in California. 
 Maria J. is the widow of John Beal and 
 resides in Beatrice, Nebraska. Andrew- 
 is living in Crab Orchard, Nebraska and 
 the others have passed away. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Dorsey were born six children, 
 of whom two are now living, three hav- 
 ing been born in Adams county and three 
 in Hancock county. These are : Jennie, 
 
 Ella, Bertha and Myrta, twins, all of 
 whom are now deceased ; Cora, the wife 
 of John A. McGuire, of Hiawatha, Kan- 
 sas, by whom she has two children, J. D. 
 and Evelyn McGuire; and Pearl, the wife 
 of Edward Hotch, proprietor of a book 
 store in Carthage. They live with her 
 father and have one child, Helen Hotch, 
 now four years of age. In 1904, Mr. 
 Dorsey was called upon to mourn the loss 
 of his wife, who died on the 3<Dth of 
 April of that year at the age of sixty-six 
 and was laid to rest in Carthage ceme- 
 tery. She was a faithful and devoted 
 member of the Christian church, doing all 
 in her power to advance the church work 
 and was a most kind-hearted woman, 
 a good neighbor and a loving wife and 
 devoted mother. For some years prior 
 to her demise, however, she suffered from 
 nervous prostration but died after a very 
 brief complicated illness. She was a 
 lady of fine personality, of good intellect- 
 ual force and kindly spirit and her death 
 was deeply regretted by all who knew her. 
 Mr. Dorsey is a devoted member of the 
 Christian church, in which he has been an 
 elder for twenty-five years and also a 
 teacher in the Sunday-school. He is now 
 the senior elder of the church and he 
 makes his religion a part of his every day 
 life, not a garment to be assumed on 
 Sunday alone. His entire career has 
 been actuated by high and honorable 
 principles and by close adherence to the 
 Golden Rule. In 1904 he built his hand- 
 some residence on Wabash avenue, which 
 was planned by Mrs. Dorsey. In his po- 
 litical affiliation Mr. Dorsey is a prohi- 
 bitionist and the cause of temperance finds 
 in him a warm friend and at all times he
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 is ready to assist in every movement or 
 measure that tends to uplift humanity or 
 ameliorate the hard conditions of life. 
 He started out on his own account, work- 
 ing at eleven dollars per month and may 
 well be termed a self-made man, his suc- 
 cess being due in large measure to his 
 earnest labors. For years he was an en- 
 terprising merchant of the county and 
 now he is living retired in the enjoyment 
 of a well earned rest, having passed the 
 seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey. 
 
 WILLIAM LINNIUS HEBERER. 
 
 William Linnius Heberer is the own- 
 er of a splendidly improved farm prop- 
 erty whereon he has resided since the 
 spring of 1903. None of the accessories 
 of a model farm are there lacking and its 
 neat and thrifty appearance indicates his 
 careful supervision and good manage- 
 ment. Born in Sonora township, on the 
 28th of July. 1878. Mr. Heberer comes 
 of German lineage, his paternal grand- 
 father being John Andrew Heberer, a na- 
 tive of Germany. His son. Charles F. 
 Heberer, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, 
 and when only nine years of age lost his 
 mother. Following her death the father, 
 Adam Heberer, was married to Elvira 
 Bennett, and they resided in Sonora 
 township until his demise, which occurred 
 in the early part of March, 1892. 
 
 Charles F. Heberer was reared under 
 the paternal roof, remaining at home un- 
 til his marriage, which was celebrated in 
 
 May, 1875, Miss Margaretta Bucher be- 
 coming his wife. She was born in Penn- 
 sylvania, and was a daughter of David 
 and Catherine (Bennett) Bucher. Fol- 
 lowing his marriage he purchased a farm 
 in Sonora township, comprising a little 
 more than one hundred and eight acres, 
 and there he carried on general agricul- 
 tural pursuits until the spring of 1901, 
 when he sold that property and removed 
 to Lee county, Iowa, becoming the owner 
 of a farm of three hundred and ninety 
 acres. There he has successfully en- 
 gaged in business as a stockman,- feed- 
 ing hogs and cattle. In his family were 
 five sons : John Albert, also living in Lee 
 county ; William, of this review ; Thomas 
 Charles, Walter Martin and Clarence 
 Howard, all residents of Lee county. 
 
 William L. Heberer when a youth of 
 six years began attending the Pleasant 
 Hill district school and he remained un- 
 der the parental roof until his marriage. 
 The work of the fields early became fa- 
 miliar to him, as he assisted in the task 
 of plowing, planting and harvesting. On 
 the ist of January, 1900, he took a com- 
 panion and helpmate for life's journey, 
 being married to Miss Hattie Belle Bri- 
 ley, who was born in Appanoose town- 
 ship, June 24, 1879, a daughter of Wil- 
 liam and Matilda Briley. Her father was 
 born in Maryland in 1826, and was a son 
 of Peter and Mary (Rollins) Briley. The 
 mother, also a native of Maryland, was 
 born in 1834, and was a daughter of Da- 
 vid Uhler. Both Mr. and Mrs. Briley 
 are now deceased, the former having 
 passed away in December, 1899, and the 
 latter in May, 1902. He was one of the 
 earliest settlers of this locality to take
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 515 
 
 part in the Mormon war whereby that 
 religious sect was expelled from the 
 county, and participated in other events 
 which have become of historic impor- 
 tance and mark the growth and develop- 
 ment of the county. He had two sisters : 
 Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tull, who after the 
 death of her first husband became the 
 wife of Bayard Layton, of Dallas, Illi- 
 nois; and Mary, who was the wife of 
 George Yetter, a farmer living two miles 
 east of Carthage. Her death occurred in 
 Februaiy, 1905. .In the family of Mr. 
 and Airs. William Briley were thirteen 
 children : James ; Margaret, the wife of 
 Daniel Jordan ; Henry, who died at the 
 age of forty-three years; Geoge \V., Wil- 
 liam F. ; Peter R., who died in infancy; 
 David Uhler; Albert Alden; Bessie M., 
 the wife of Albert Bertschi; Mary M.. 
 the wife of Talcott Howard ; Louis R. ; 
 Hattie B., now Mrs. Heberer; and La- 
 veta A., who is a nurse in Marietta 
 Phelps Hospital at Macomb, Illinois. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Heberer lived for a year upon his father's 
 farm in Sonora township, after which he 
 operated his father-in-law's farm in Ap- 
 panoose township from the ist of March 
 until July. He then removed to Iowa, 
 where he continued with his father until 
 the following spring, and subsequently 
 he operated rented land in Iowa for a 
 year. In the spring of 1903 he bought 
 the home place from his wife's parents, 
 comprising eighty acres on the southeast 
 quarter of section 21, Appanoose town- 
 ship. He has since placed many rods of 
 wire fencing on the farm and he keeps 
 everything in a state of first class repair. 
 In addition to cultivating the cereals best 
 
 adapted to soil and climate he likewise 
 raises cattle and also feeds Duroc Jersey 
 hogs and engages to some extent in the 
 poultry business. He is a wide-awake 
 and progressive business man whose la- 
 bors have been the basis upon which he 
 has builded his success. Unto him and 
 his wife have been born no children but 
 they have reared his brother-in-law's 
 daughter, Gladys Marie Briley. Mr 
 Heberer is a democrat in his political 
 views but without aspiration for office, 
 preferring to give his time and energies 
 to his business affairs which are well 
 managed. 
 
 JOHN NELSON HURDLE. 
 
 John Nelson Hurdle, deceased, was 
 for many years one of the highly re- 
 spected citizens of La Harpe township. 
 Hancock county, where he owned and 
 conducted valuable farming property. 
 He was a native of Muskingum county, 
 Ohio, his birth having occurred Febru- 
 ary 15, 1831. His paternal grandfather 
 was John Hurdle, and his parents were 
 William and Mary (Kinney) Hurdle, 
 who were likewise natives of the Buck- 
 eye state, where the father always en- 
 gaged in farming pursuits. 
 
 John Nelson Hurdle was reared to 
 farm life in his native state, assisting his 
 father in the work of the fields, and in the 
 common schools acquired his education. 
 He remained with his father until his 
 marriage, and subsequent to that time, 
 hoping to enjoy better opportunities in
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the new and undeveloped districts of Illi- 
 nois, made his way in the spring of 1854 
 to Henderson county, traveling with a 
 team and wagon. He made his way to 
 the western portion of the county, where 
 he had previously purchased a tract of 
 land comprising one hundred and sixty 
 acres. There he made his home for a 
 few years and then disposing of that 
 property, made his way to La Harpe 
 township, Hancock county, where he pur- 
 chased one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land lying on section 5 and a tract of 
 one hundred and sixty acres lying on sec- 
 tion 8. There were no fences upon the 
 place and the only buildings consisted of 
 an old house and a stable. Mr. Hurdle 
 with characteristic energy at once set to 
 work to further improve his place by 
 building fences, sheds and other outbuild- 
 ings, and soon placed his land under a 
 high state of cultivation and planted his 
 crops, which in due course of time yield- 
 ed him abundant harvests. Thus, adding 
 to his financial income as the years passed 
 by, he was enabled to increase his landed 
 possessions, by adding a tract of two 
 hundred and forty acres also situated on 
 section 8 and a tract of timber land con- 
 stituting forty acres. In addition to this 
 he invested his capital in a half section of 
 land located in Durham township, near 
 Disco, this county. In 1873 he also re- 
 placed his original home by a ten-room 
 house, this being one of the fine homes of 
 his section of the state. In addition to 
 his general farming interests he also en- 
 gaged extensively in the raising of stock, 
 fine grades of horses, cattle, sheep and 
 hogs being seen in his pastures. He was 
 ever practical and systematic in his work 
 
 and in all that he did he was successful, 
 so that at his death he left to his family 
 a valuable estate. 
 
 Mr. Hurdle was twice married. On 
 the 1 5th of December, 1853, he was 
 joined in wedlock with Miss Mary M. 
 Wolf, who was likewise a native of Mus- 
 kingum county, Ohio. Her birth oc- 
 curred June 2, 1830, and she was reared 
 in her parents' home near Zanesville, that 
 state. By this marriage there were two 
 daughters and a son but the daughters 
 are both now deceased. Laura Jane, 
 born August 7, 1855, died on the 23d of 
 November following. Edgar Fremont, 
 born July 13, 1856, is a resident of Hart- 
 ville, Wyoming. Emma F., born Au- 
 gust 18, 1858, became the wife of John 
 A. Goodin, of Eaton, Colorado, where 
 her death occurred. The mother of these 
 children died in La Harpe township on 
 the gth of August, 1860, at the early age 
 of thirty years, and Mr. Hurdle was 
 again married, his second union being 
 with Elmira Ann Barr, who was born 
 June 2, 1836, in Breckenridge, Kentucky, 
 and there pursued a common school edu- 
 cation. The paternal grandparents of 
 Mrs. Hurdle were Adam and Mary 
 (Claycomb) Barr, natives of Maryland, 
 while the maternal grandfather was Jerry 
 Boam Beauchamp. It was his daughter, 
 Sallie A., who became the wife of Elias 
 Barr, the father of Mrs. Hurdle. Pre- 
 vious to their marriage the parents had 
 removed from the south to Hancock 
 county, and it was here that their mar- 
 riage occurred. The father bought land 
 in 1859 in Dallas township and here the 
 family home was established. The death 
 of our subject occurred October 28, 1887,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 517 
 
 when he had reached the age of fifty-six 
 years. 
 
 By the marriage of John Nelson and 
 Ehnira Hurdle there were born five 
 daughters and three sons, but one daugh- 
 ter has passed away. The family record 
 is as follows : Lulu B., who was born 
 March 19, 1862, is now the wife of Dr. 
 T. W. Bath, of Bloomington, Illinois. 
 Sarah Olive, born July 19, 1863, is the 
 wife of Luther James and they make their 
 home in La Harpe township. Maggie C., 
 who was born October 2, 1865, is now 
 the wife of C. D. Rice, of Disco, Han- 
 cock county. Carrie E., born June 14, 
 1868, died July 16, 1888, at the age of 
 twenty years. William E., who was born 
 January 24, 1870, makes his home in 
 Fort Collins, Colorado. Dora K., born 
 February 20, 1872, is the wife of W. E. 
 Miller, who resides in Durham township 
 near Disco. H. Al., born March 5, 1876, 
 is at home with his mother. John F. 
 who was born November 21, 1877, re- 
 sides at Colusa, Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Hurdle was a republican in his po- 
 litical affiliation, and held membership 
 with the Methodist Protestant church at 
 Morris Chapel, having filled all of the 
 offices in that organization. He was al- 
 ways deeply interested in the work of the 
 church and the moral development of the 
 community, and at the time of the erec- 
 tion of the church edifice contributed one 
 thousand dollars and was always one of 
 its most generous supporters. In his 
 family he was a devoted husband and fa- 
 ther, was loyal in citizenship and faithful 
 to the ties of friendship, so that his death 
 was the occasion of deep and widespread 
 regret when he was called from this life, 
 
 for his labors had been of great benefit to 
 his community and through his honorable 
 methods and straightforward dealing in 
 all relations with his fellowmen he had 
 gained numerous and lasting friends. 
 His widow still resides on the farm, in 
 the management of which she is assisted 
 by her son Al, and by her many good 
 traits of heart and mind she has won the 
 good will and confidence of all with 
 whom she is brought in contact. 
 
 EDWIN WRIGHT HOSFORD. 
 
 Edwin Wright Hosford, born in 
 Wythe township, May 26, 1857, is among 
 those citizens who indicate the attrac- 
 tiveness of Hancock county as a place 
 of residence by the fact that they have 
 always continued to reside in this locality 
 in which they were born and in which 
 their boyhood days were passed. In both 
 the paternal and maternal lines he comes 
 of Scotch lineage. His paternal grand- 
 parents were Truman and Elizabeth Hos- 
 ford, natives of Scotland, and in the land 
 of hills and heather his maternal grand- 
 parents, William and Annie (Wilson) 
 Wright, were also born. Having emi- 
 grated to America, Harlow Hosford, the 
 son of the former couple, was born in 
 Ohio, and Mary Wright, the daughter of 
 the latter couple, was born in Scotland, 
 and came to the United States when six- 
 teen years of age. Harlow Hosford came 
 to Hancock county, Illinois, with his par- 
 ents in 1835, the family being one of the
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 earliest to locate in this section of the 
 state, for in that year Warsaw contained 
 but one house and it. was a log cabin. He 
 was born in 1824 and was therefore a 
 youth of eleven years at the time of his 
 arrival. He shared with the family in 
 the usual experiences and hardships in- 
 cident to pioneer life and assisted his fa- 
 ther in the arduous task of clearing and 
 developing a farm from the timber. The 
 grandfather continued the work of im- 
 proving his place until 1849, when at- 
 tracted by the discovery of gold in Cal- 
 ifornia he started for that state with two 
 yoke of oxen and while engaged in 
 searching for the precious metal on the 
 Pacific coast he was murdered there by 
 his partner. In the following year Har- 
 low Hosford married Miss Wright and 
 settled in Wilcox township upon his fa- 
 ther's old farm, where he lived for two 
 years. Subsequently he removed to 
 Wythe township and on selling his sec- 
 ond place he bought eighty acres about 
 two miles south of Hamilton, residing 
 thereon until 1868, when he once more 
 sold out and came to Montebello town- 
 ship, investing in one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land on section 10. This was 
 unimproved, but the resolute spirit and 
 indefatigable energy of Mr. Hosford en- 
 abled him to soon transform the wild 
 tract into richly cultivated fields. At the 
 time of his purchase there was a small 
 house upon It with a stable at one end. 
 He fenced the land, placed the fields un- 
 der the plow, added modern equipments 
 and in due course of time extended the 
 boundaries of his property by the addi- 
 tional purchase of two hundred and sev- 
 
 cultivation. He was widely known as an 
 enterprising farmer and stock raiser and 
 for many years successfully continued in 
 business, gaining thereby a very gratify- 
 ing competence which enabled him in his 
 later years to live retired from business 
 cares. In 1890 he and his wife removed 
 to Hamilton, where Mrs. Hosford passed 
 away in April, 1895, while the death of 
 Mr. Hosford occurred on the i6th of 
 January, 1897. 
 
 Edwin W. Hosford was the fourth in 
 a family of three sons and three daugh- 
 ters, all of whom are yet living. He has 
 a brother now residing in Urbana, Illi- 
 nois, while one sister, Mrs. Fleck, is liv- 
 ing in Sterling, this state, and another 
 sister, Mrs. Hanson, in Taylor county, 
 Iowa. The others are all residents of 
 Hancock county. Edwin Hosford spent 
 his boyhood days from the age of ten 
 years upon the farm which is yet his 
 home. Hs attended the district schools 
 and supplemented his preliminary knowl- 
 edge by two years' study in Carthage Col- 
 lege. He has always kept well informed 
 on current questions and the issues of the 
 day through reading and investigation 
 and is a well informed man. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate for life's 
 journey Mr. Hosford chose Miss Mary 
 Leith Morris, who was born in Edin- 
 burgh, Scotland, and who became his wife 
 on the 2 ist of June, 1892. The children 
 of this marriage are : Edwin L., born 
 October 12, 1893; Daisy Olive, born Sep- 
 tember 22, 1895; Harlow Newton, March 
 22, 1898; Charles Truman, January 16, 
 1901 ; and Floyd Morris, March 19, 1904. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Hosford 
 
 enty acres, one-half of which was under rented the old home farm, which he con-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 519 
 
 tinued thus to operate until his father's 
 death, when he inherited the property. 
 He now owns three hundred and twenty 
 acres of land which is very rich and pro- 
 ductive, the alluvial soil responding read- 
 ily to the care and labor which he be- 
 stows upon it, his work being crowned 
 with golden harvests. He also raises 
 stock, including cattle, hogs and horses, 
 and this adds materially to his yearly in- 
 come. He votes with the Republican 
 party and has twice served by appoint- 
 ment as road commissioner, while at the 
 present writing he is a school director. 
 He belongs to the Modern Woodmen 
 camp at Hamilton and is a resident of 
 wide acquaintance in Hancock county, 
 where his entire life has been passed. His 
 labors have been followed with the ut- 
 most regard to a high standard of busi- 
 ness ethics and he has never been known 
 to take advantage of the necessities of his 
 fellowmen in any trade transaction. 
 
 FRED A. WILKINSON. 
 
 Fred A. Wilkinson, who throughout 
 his entire business life, has been a repre- 
 sentative of printing interest and is now 
 half owner of The Quill, published in La 
 Harpe, his native city, was born October 
 15, 1862, and acquired a public school 
 education while spending his boyhood 
 days in the home of his parents, John 
 and Jane (Nance) Wilkinson. His 
 paternal grandfather was John Wilkin- 
 son, a native of Pennsylvania. His son, 
 
 33 
 
 John Wilkinson, Jr., was born in Phila- 
 delphia, January 16, 1806, and after 
 reaching years of maturity married Jane 
 Nance, who was born in New Albany, 
 Indiana, in 1825. In the year 1837, John 
 Wilkinson arrived in La Harpe township 
 and located on one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land about a mile and a half 
 west of La Harpe, where he engaged in 
 farming and also operated a sawmill. 
 After several years he took up his abode 
 in the town, where he built a residence 
 and engaged in general merchandising, 
 continuing actively in the business until 
 1883, when he retired, enjoying through 
 his remaining days the comforts of life 
 earned by earlier toil. He died in 1893. 
 Fred A. Wilkinson, the ninth in order 
 of birth in a family of fourteen children, 
 of whom six are still living, after finishing 
 his education, entered a printing office 
 in the fall of 1877 an d nas smce been con- 
 nected with that line of business, owning 
 at the present time a half interest in the 
 Quill, a weekly paper published at La 
 Harpe. 
 
 On the 29* of November, 1888, Mr. 
 Wilkinson was united in marriage to Miss 
 Emma Walter, who was born in Indiana, 
 July 30, 1860, a daughter of William and 
 Sallie B. (Sweazy) Walter, natives of 
 Kentucky, who removed to Blandinsville, 
 Illinois, during the early girlhood of their 
 daughter Emma. Two children have 
 been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson : 
 Maud E., born February 2, 1890, and 
 Ruth E., October 29, 1891. The family 
 home stands upon a lot, five by ten rods, 
 which was purchased by Mr. Wilkinson's 
 father in 1839, for seventy-five dollars, 
 and which has since been in possession of
 
 520 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the family. Mr. Wilkinson is a member 
 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
 Bristol lodge, of La Harpe, No. 653, hav- 
 ing joined the order in 1888. 
 
 He is a stanch democrat and has been- 
 alderman of the city for three terms. 
 
 WILLIAM ROSENSTENGEL, D. D. 
 
 Rev. William Rosenstengel, pastor of 
 the German Lutheran church at Car- 
 thage, was born in the village of- Asel in 
 the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt on 
 Christmas day of 1846, his parents being 
 John and Catherine (Best) Rosenstengel. 
 who were likewise natives of Hesse 
 Darmstadt, the father conducting a hotel 
 in Asel. They never came to America, 
 but continued to reside in Germany until 
 called to their final rest. 
 
 Rev. Rosenstengel is the only surviv- 
 ing member of their family of five chil- 
 dren. He was reared and educated in 
 his native country and came to America 
 on the old-time sailing vessel, Atler, 
 which, after a voyage of five weeks, 
 dropped anchor in the harbor of New 
 York in 1867. He at once made his way 
 toward the interior of the country and 
 worked at farm labor in Illinois until 
 1871, when he entered Carthage College, 
 spending five years as a student there. 
 He afterward matriculated in the Get- 
 tysburg (Pennsylvania) Theological 
 Seminary, where he was graduated on the 
 completion of a three years' course and 
 thus having prepared for the active work 
 
 of the ministry he entered at once upon 
 the labor connected with this holy call- 
 ing. His first charge was in Fulton 
 county, Illinois, where he remained for 
 three years. It was during this time that 
 Rev. Rosenstengel was married, in 1881, 
 to Miss Margaret Walter, who was born 
 in Illinois, October 4, 1854, a daughter 
 of George Henry and Catherine (Muhl) 
 Walter, both natives of Germany. Her 
 father was a tradesman in the old coun- 
 try and followed the occupation of farm- 
 ing after coming to Illinois. In the fam- 
 ily were ten children, of whom seven are 
 living: Philip, residing in Des Moines 
 county, Iowa ; Henry, who lives near 
 Bushnell, Illinois ; Catherine, the wife of 
 Philip Rock, residing on the old home- 
 stead in Fulton county ; Ernest, living in 
 Canton, this state; George, who makes 
 his home near Canton; Mrs. Rosensten- 
 gel : and Peter, who resides in Fairview, 
 Illinois. The parents were members of 
 the Lutheran church and for some years 
 the father was in the church council. In 
 his political affiliations Mr. Walter is a 
 democrat. 
 
 On leaving his first pastorate in Ful- 
 ton county Dr. Rosenstengel accepted a 
 church in Nebraska City, Nebraska, and 
 afterward was pastor at Grand Island, 
 Nebraska. From there he went to Al- 
 buquerque, New Mexico, where he or- 
 ganized the church and erected the church 
 edifice, and upon his return to the north 
 was called to the First Lutheran church 
 of Beardstown, Illinois, where he also 
 erected a fine church. In 1899 he came 
 to Carthage, where he has since remained 
 as pastor of the German Lutheran church 
 in this city, doing great good among the
 
 WILLIAM ROSENSTENGEL, D.D.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 people with whom he labors for charac- 
 ter development and spiritual advance- 
 ment. He is also editor of a German pa- 
 per known as Lutheritcher Cions Bote, 
 which in English means Science Messen- 
 ger, a paper of sixteen pages published 
 bi-monthly and devoted to church work. 
 He is untiring in his efforts for the church 
 and the dissemination of the principles 
 of the Christian religion and his labors 
 have been far-reaching and beneficial. 
 
 Unto Dr. and Mrs. Rosenstengel have 
 been born four children, all of whom were 
 born in Nebraska, while three are yet 
 living. Marie, a graduate of Carthage 
 College of the class of 1905, is now a suc- 
 cessful teacher in Plymouth school in this 
 county. Margaret, a graduate of the 
 high school, attended Carthage College 
 for a year and afterward a business col- 
 lege, where she learned shorthand. She 
 is now a stenographer in the law office 
 of A. W. O'Harra in Carthage. Min- 
 nie is now a senior in the high school. 
 August 23, 1906, Dr. and Mrs. Rosen- 
 Stengel celebrated their twenty-fifth wed- 
 ding anniversary, the members of his 
 church being present, and in token of 
 their high esteem presented them with a 
 fine silver tea set. 
 
 In his political views Dr. Rosenstengel 
 is a republican, believing firmly in the 
 principles of the party. He is an hon- 
 ored trustee of Carthage College, having 
 occupied the position for many years, and 
 he is president of the German Worthberg 
 synod. At the late meeting of the 
 Worthberg synod in Mt. Pulaski. Illi- 
 nois, he was for the sixth time elected 
 president of that body. At the com- 
 mencement exercises of Carthage Col- 
 
 lege in 1905 the board of trustees con- 
 ferred upon him the degree of Doctor of 
 Divinity, an honor which was well mer- 
 ited. He is a cultured, intelligent man 
 of scholarly attainments and broad learn- 
 ing and there is in him an abiding char- 
 ity and kindly sympathy which have 
 made him honored and respected by all. 
 He has done much work in connection 
 with the ministry, performing many 
 burial and marriage ceremonies among 
 his friends of both the German and 
 American people. His wife is a lady of 
 culture and intelligence and of warm 
 heart, who has been of much assistance 
 to her husband in his work. Dr. Rosen- 
 stengel has purchased a lot at the cor- 
 ner of Buchanan and First streets near 
 the college and built a fine residence 
 thereon in the spring of 1906. The fam- 
 ily home is a happy one and is the center 
 of many delightful social gatherings. 
 That Dr. Rosenstengel is held in highest 
 regard by his parishioners is shown by 
 the fact that his church people in Beards- 
 town presented him with a beautiful gold 
 watch December 15, 1898, upon his de- 
 parture for Carthage, as a testimonial 
 of the high esteem in which he was held 
 during his stay among them. All who 
 know him learn to love and respect him 
 and recognize the fact that his life is de- 
 voted to his work in behalf of the church. 
 
 EDWARD HARRISON. 
 
 Edward Harrison, whose life has been 
 devoted to general farming and who is
 
 522 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 now pleasantly located in \Yalker town- 
 ship, was born in Bursleim, Staffordshire, 
 England, in 1827. His parents, John and 
 Martha (Fitten) Harrison, were likewise 
 natives of that country and in 1842 they 
 came to America as passengers on an old 
 sailing vessel which after sixty days on 
 the voyage dropped anchor in the harbor 
 of New Orleans. Making their way 
 northward they became residents of 
 Walker township, Hancock county, Illi- 
 nois, and here the father purchased a farm 
 and built a log cabin. He was an in- 
 dustrious, successful agriculturist and 
 aided in the early development of the 
 county along that line. His death oc- 
 curred in 1864, and his wife passed away 
 in 1856, both being laid to rest in Walker 
 township. 
 
 Edward Harrison is the only living 
 member of their family of seven children. 
 He was a youth of about eleven years at 
 the time of the emigration to the new 
 world, and his education was largely ac- 
 quired in the common schools of Walker 
 township, while during the summer 
 months he aided in the farm work. He 
 remained at home with his parents until 
 thirty-two years of age, and in the mean- 
 time became manager of the farm, which 
 he cultivated successfully. He was mar- 
 ried in 1858 to Miss Adaline York, who 
 was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, 
 April 25, 1841. a daughter of Larkin A. 
 and Eliza (Bastian) York. Her father 
 was born in the state of New York, June 
 2, 1814, while his wife was born in Hol- 
 land, August 18. 1818. He was a farmer 
 and lived for a time in Missouri before 
 coming to Illinois. Following his re- 
 moval to this state he located in Walker 
 
 township, where he and his wife made 
 many warm friends, becoming representa- 
 tive and valued citizens of that commu- 
 nity. Mr. York was a member of the 
 Baptist church, while his wife held mem- 
 bership in the Methodist church. They 
 lived here in early pioneer times and were 
 familiar with many of the events that 
 culminated in the Mormon war. In their 
 family were six children, but only two are 
 now living, Mrs. Harrison, and James 
 Monroe York, a resident of Washington 
 county, Idaho. The mother died Jan- 
 uary 2, 1849, and the father passed away 
 August n, 1852, being then laid to rest 
 by her side in Walker township. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Harrison 
 purchased a farm of one hundred and ten 
 acres on section 15, Walker township, and 
 his first home there was a log cabin. He 
 has since made all of the improvements 
 upon the property and now has a splen- 
 didly developed farm. In 1862 he and his 
 wife made a trip across the plains, going 
 overland to Oregon, which trip required 
 seven months. They lived upon a farm 
 in Willamette valley for a time and greatly 
 enjoyed the journey westward and their 
 sojourn on the coast. They visited many 
 large cities on this trip and returned home 
 by way of New York, being passengers 
 on a large boat, Constitution, to Panama, 
 They were accompanied on the trip by 
 their two eldest children. On again reach- 
 ing Hancock county Mr. Harrison re- 
 sumed farming here and has since given 
 his attention to general agricultural pur- 
 suits. He now has a well improved farm 
 property and derives therefrom a good 
 income. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harrison has
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 523 
 
 been born a most interesting family of 
 six daughters: Flora M., born in 1859, 
 and educated in Hamilton, is the wife of 
 Augustus Davis, of Los Angeles, Cali- 
 fornia, and has one son, Loy A. Smith, 
 twenty-three years of age, who married 
 Anna Schultz and lives in Los Angeles. 
 Sophia Adaleine, born in 1862, is the wife 
 of Harry York, of St. Alban's township 
 and they have two sons, Gay and Shirley. 
 Eva B., born in 1866, was educated in 
 Warsaw, afterward engaged in teaching 
 school, and is now the wife of B. F. Clark, 
 a resident of St. Alban's township, by 
 whom she has two sons, Glenn and Car- 
 roll. Oral is the wife of Walter Hem- 
 mings, of Keokuk, Iowa, and prior to 
 her marriage was a successful teacher. 
 Nora B., born in 1872, and a graduate 
 of Hamilton high school, after which she 
 engaged in teaching school, is now the 
 wife of John Kirkendall, of Keokuk, 
 Iowa, and has two children, Wayne and 
 Fern. Ollie B., born in 1876, was edu- 
 cated in Hamilton and is the wife of Jesse 
 Tracey, of Macomb, Illinois, by whom she 
 had a son, Clyle E., who died at the age 
 of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison 
 have every reason to be proud of their 
 family of daughters, most of whom have 
 been capable teachers and are now com- 
 fortably situated in life in homes of their 
 own. Mrs. Harrison, the daughters and 
 grand-daughters are all eligible to mem- 
 bership in the society of the Daughters 
 of the Revolution, for her paternal grand- 
 father was a soldier of the Revolution. 
 She also had two brothers, Jesse and Mart 
 York, who were soldiers of the Civil war, 
 enlisting from Illinois. Mrs. Harrison 
 is a lady of literary tastes, who has been 
 
 a broad reader. Both our subject and 
 his wife have traveled to a considerable 
 extent, visiting various parts of the west. 
 At the same time he has lived an active 
 business life and broke much of the land 
 of his farm with ox teams. He has ad- 
 vanced step by step in his business inter- 
 ests and is now comfortably situated in 
 life, having a good farm which returns 
 him a gratifying annual income. 
 
 GEN. CHARLES A. GILCHRIST. 
 
 General Charles A. Gilchrist, at one 
 time a resident of Carthage, was respect- 
 ed and esteemed in this community and 
 wherever he was known because of his 
 possession of sterling traits of character. 
 His public spirit and his devotion to the 
 general good stood as an unquestioned 
 fact in his life and in the greatest crisis 
 in the country's history his manhood, his 
 loyalty and his valor were so manifest 
 that his military record became an honor 
 to the state which he represented. His 
 life was varied in its activity, honorable 
 in its purpose and far-reaching and ben- 
 eficial in its effects. 
 
 General Gilchrist was born at Saxton's 
 River, Vermont, February 13, 1834, and 
 was but three years of age when, in 1837, 
 his parents removed to Hills Grove, Mc- 
 Donough county, Illinois. In his early 
 boyhood he attended a school taught by 
 Isaac Holton in a log cabin at Hills 
 Grove, which was called the "Seminary" 
 by the people there. In 1849 he contin-
 
 524 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ued his studies in Galesburg, Illinois, and 
 the following year taught a district school 
 in McDonough county. In 1851-52 he 
 attended school in New York city, and in 
 1853 entered upon his business career in 
 connection with the engineering depart- 
 ment of the Northern Cross Railroad, 
 then building from Galesburg to Quincy. 
 In 1855 he was elected and served as sur- 
 veyor of McDonough county. He then 
 turned his attention to the lumber busi- 
 ness in Macomb, Illinois, but that ven- 
 ture proved disastrous financially. 
 
 In the meantime General Gilchrist was 
 married, on the ist of October. 1857, to 
 Miss Lucy Ellen Walker, of McDonough 
 county, a daughter of Joseph Gilmer and 
 Susan Pope (Bell) Walker, the former 
 a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia. 
 The mother was a descendant of Nathan- 
 iel Pope, an own cousin of George Wash- 
 ington. Joseph Gilmer Walker was close- 
 ly and prominently identified with the 
 early history of Illinois and especially of 
 McDonough county, where he resided 
 with his family and practiced law until 
 his death in 1842. Histories of early Illi- 
 nois associate four names in legal and po- 
 litical prominence in that period : Abra- 
 ham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, Jo- 
 seph Gilmer Walker and Cyrus Walker, 
 his brother. His son, Pinckney H. Wal- 
 ker, of Rushville. Illinois, a brother of 
 Mrs. Gilchrist, was judge of the supreme 
 court for many years. Mrs. Gilchrist 
 died in 1898 and was buried near her 
 childhood home at Scottsburg, McDon- 
 ough county. 
 
 Following the outbreak of the Civil 
 war General Gilchrist promptly respond- 
 ed, when, in 1861, the call was made for 
 
 troops. The Illinois quota being full he 
 enlisted in the Tenth Missouri Infantry 
 and was elected and commissioned cap- 
 tain of Company A. On the pth of 
 March, 1862, he took the examination at 
 St. Louis for promotion. Four days prior 
 to this time he studied eighteen hours out 
 of twenty-four the book of tactics and 
 was under examination four consecutive 
 hours. The thoroughness of his meth- 
 ods, his great determination and tenacity 
 were here exemplified. He answered 
 correctly two hundred and forty-four 
 questions out of two hundred and fifty 
 and was complimented upon his exami- 
 nation. He also answered satisfactorily 
 in artillery and fortifications. By spe- 
 cial order, No. 23, from the war depart- 
 ment he was appointed colonel of the 
 Fiftieth Louisiana Colored Infantry with 
 headquarters near Vicksburg, Mississippi. 
 He lacked but three days of serving five 
 years and was mustered out in 1866 as 
 colonel and breveted brigadier general, 
 commanding the Fiftieth United States 
 Infantry. As a soldier he won credit in 
 every position in which he served. The 
 troops under his command before Vicks- 
 burg were stationed for a long time in 
 an unhealthy location in a marshy spot, 
 with no water fit to drink and the most 
 deplorable sanitary conditions, while the 
 shelter afforded was entirely inadequate. 
 The surgeons attached to his regiment 
 were inexperienced eastern political ap- 
 pointees, who soon deserted or were 
 transferred through political pull to more 
 agreeable locations and he was left with 
 but a nurse or two. His men were dying 
 like flies from typhoid and dysentery. An 
 appeal to the commanding general
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 525 
 
 brought no relief. The adjutant general 
 snubbed him outright. He threatened to 
 bring- the matter personally before Gen- 
 eral Grant. The adjutant threatened to 
 have him arrested for insubordination. 
 Colonel Gilchrist left the adjutant's tent, 
 mounted a mule, rode post haste to Gen- 
 eral Grant's headquarters. He was re- 
 fused admission by the guard at the door. 
 He slipped around to the rear of the tent, 
 went in through another opening and 
 found himself in the presence of General 
 Grant, alone. He was covered with mud 
 and his uniform of an indifferent nature. 
 His case was a desperate one and he came 
 to attention before General Grant, saluted 
 and poured out his story. A loud com- 
 motion was made at the door and an or- 
 derly came in with the information that 
 an officer wished to see him at once. 
 General Grant told him to wait and turn- 
 ing to General Gilchrist said, "What you 
 say is no doubt correct, but we have no 
 surgeons." "General, my men are dy- 
 ing. They are brave men and are hold- 
 ing uncomplainingly the worst place be- 
 fore Vicksburg. I must have surgeons if 
 any are left to guard." "All right," said 
 Grant, "I will send you surgeons. "Can 
 I have two today?" "Yes." "Can I have 
 four" "Yes." "Can I have them in an 
 hour?" "Yes." With a salute, Colonel 
 Gilchrist passed out the front way almost 
 into the arms of the adjutant, who was 
 impatiently waiting to see General Grant 
 about his arrest for insubordination. The 
 surgeons came and later he succeeded in 
 having his regiment moved to higher 
 ground. This incident was typical of his 
 dogged and determined nature under dif- 
 ficulties. Within his breast burned the 
 
 fires of patriotism and loyalty and de- 
 votion, and he wrote home cheery and 
 optimistic letters of his work and the . 
 ultimate outcome of the war. 
 
 For a year after the war General Gil- 
 christ remained in the south, but was un- 
 successful in his attempt to raise cotton. 
 In 1867 he removed his family to Car- 
 thage and here established a lumber busi- 
 ness, in which he was successful. The 
 following year he was employed as engi- 
 neer in charge of the construction of the 
 Carthage & Burlington Railroad, and 
 subsequently built the road to Ouincy 
 and also the La Harpe & Burlington 
 branch of the Toledo, Peoria & Western 
 Railroad. Extending his activity into 
 other fields of business, he was chosen 
 president of the Rand Boot and Shoe 
 Company upon its organization in Car- 
 thage, and in the interests of the house 
 made various trips over the country. To 
 make time and save expense he often 
 walked from one point to another and the 
 failure of the enterprise was due to no 
 lack of judgment or energy on his part. 
 In 1872 he made the survey for a road 
 to run from Grinnell to Webster City, 
 Iowa, a distance of over one hundred 
 miles, and in 1874 he made surveys and 
 accumulated data for an atlas of Han- 
 cock county, that today is regarded as 
 the most accurate in existence. In 1880 
 and 1 88 1 he was employed on a survey 
 of the route of the Hennepin canal feeder 
 from Sterling to a point near Sheffield 
 at the mouth of Rock river, and walked 
 from Chicago to Rock Island examining 
 the topography of northern Illinois for 
 a feasible live river canal route. He also 
 traveled in the same manner from Chi-
 
 526 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 cago to Minneapolis and farther west on 
 an engineering tour, the purport of which 
 he was never informed by his employers. 
 Going to Dakota to locate some land 
 under the soldier's claim law General Gil- 
 christ found the country in a chaotic con- 
 dition and speculation rife. He acted as 
 commissioner there and his official du- 
 ties involved him in the county seat fights 
 and all the troubles incident to the set- 
 tlement of government land. He sur- 
 veyed and built the Fort Madison and the 
 Northwestern and the Keokuk and 
 Mount Pleasant roads and as the receiver 
 of the former attended to the business of 
 the road for five years, successfully op- 
 erating it until the line was sold. He 
 then went to Texas, where he surveyed 
 a line from Lampasas to Llano. During 
 the World's Columbian Exposition in 
 Chicago he was employed by the Watt- 
 kesha Mineral Company in running a 
 pipe line from Waukesha, Wisconsin, into 
 the fair grounds in Chicago. About the 
 same time he became associated with the 
 Bannings in the Florida phosphate beds 
 and went to the south to assume the man- 
 agement in the development of the mines. 
 He introduced the placer method for min- 
 ing phosphate that has since been adopted 
 in all phosphate mines. Other mines 
 were located that could furnish phosphate 
 more cheaply and the mine in Florida was 
 abandoned by, the owners. General Gil- 
 christ then went to New York city, where 
 his remaining days were spent with his 
 children. In his last years he perfected 
 a rail joint and was engaged in its man- 
 ufacture at the time of his death. He 
 died in New York city, January 22, 1906, 
 and was buried at Scottsburg, McDon- 
 
 ough county, Illinois, by the side of his 
 wife. They were the parents of eight 
 children : Joseph G,, who is living in 
 Brookfield, Missouri; Mrs. Lansing P. 
 Wood, of New York ; Charles, died in in- 
 fancy; Mrs. Leslie L. Cleveland, of 
 Keene, New Hampshire; Ellen F., died 
 in Florida in 1895 ; Allen R., who is now 
 city engineer at Montgomery, Alabama ; 
 Edward P., an attorney in New York ; 
 and Ann M., who is dean of the Woman's 
 Department, University of Tennessee, at 
 Knoxville. 
 
 In his life he made the best use of his 
 talents and his opportunities. In his pro- 
 fession he possessed broad, scientific 
 knowledge as well as the practical attain- 
 ments which are indispensable to the best 
 work. In every relation of life, whether 
 of a business nature or otherwise, he was 
 true to duty and a high standard of con- 
 duct. He possessed rare personal bravery 
 and a determined spirit that enabled him 
 to face dangers and hardships unflinch- 
 ingly and death came to him in his pro- 
 fessional career. He was conscientious 
 in the fulfillment of his duty as a man 
 in his relations to his fellowmen and as 
 a citizen in his relations to his locality, his 
 state and his country. 
 
 S. G. McBRIDE. 
 
 S. G. McBride is a representative of one 
 of the early families of the county and is 
 numbered among the native sons of Ap- 
 panoose township, where his birth oc-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY; ILLINOIS. 
 
 527 
 
 curred in 1862. He is now devoting 
 his time and energies to general farming 
 in this township, where two hundred and 
 forty acres of land pay tribute to him, 
 as the reward of his labors and enterprise 
 in the fields. His parents, John and Ann 
 Elizabeth (Shields) McBride, were na- 
 tives of Ireland and in early life came to 
 America. The father, a farmer by occu- 
 pation, came to Hancock county at a prim- 
 itive period in the development of this 
 part of the state and settled first in Appa- 
 noose township, where he aided in re- 
 claiming wild land and converting it into 
 valuable farms. When he married Ann 
 Elizabeth Shields his capital consisted of 
 only twenty cents and ere his death he was 
 able to give to each of his sons a quarter 
 section of land, at Wichita, Kansas, ex- 
 cept S. G., he being the youngest, re- 
 ceived fifty-one acres in Pontoosuc town- 
 ship, so that one can see how he 
 progressed step by step in the business 
 world, adding to his possessions as the 
 result of his industry, frugality and care- 
 ful investment, until his holdings were 
 extensive and valuable. He raised and 
 sold corn for ten cents per bushel in an 
 early day and used the proceeds to pur- 
 chase horses and other stock or for farm 
 machinery. His untiring energy was one 
 of the strongest elements in his success 
 and he left behind him not only a valuable 
 property but also an untarnished name 
 and a record well worthy of emulation. 
 About eighteen years ago he removed 
 from his farm to Nauvoo, where he lived 
 retired until his death, which occurred 
 August 17. 1901, when he had reached 
 the age of eighty-four years, seven months 
 and twenty-four days, while his wife died 
 
 December 5, 1897, aged seventy-six years, 
 two months and nineteen days. Of their 
 ten children, four are living: Hannah, 
 wife of Daniel Harrington, of Keokuk, 
 Iowa ; Ellen, wife of George Burke, of 
 Nauvoo ; Anna Belle, wife of Guss Well- 
 ner, of Sidney, Nebraska; and S. G., of 
 this review. 
 
 The last named remained upon the 
 home farm with his father until twenty- 
 one years of age when his father gave him 
 fifty-one acres of good land on section 
 22, Pontoosuc township. For three years 
 he boarded while operating his land and 
 then his sister kept house for him for two 
 and a half years. He has added to his 
 original holdings until he now owns two 
 hundred and forty acres of farm land and 
 five acres of timber, the latter in Appa- 
 noose township. In 1905 he built a part 
 of his present home, which is a neat resi- 
 dence, and he has also built barns and 
 made many other substantial improve- 
 ments. 
 
 Mr. McBride was married June 12, 
 1888, to Miss Minnie L. Schaefer, who 
 was born in Appanoose township in 
 1864, a daughter of Marcus and Martha 
 (Myers) Schaefer, who were natives of 
 Germany and in early life came to the 
 United States. About 1858 or 1860 they 
 settled on a farm in this county and after 
 many years' identification with agricul- 
 tural interests here, they removed to Nau- 
 voo, where they lived retired. The 
 father died February 16, 1894, at the age 
 of sixty-six years, and the mother August 
 1 6, 1904, aged seventy-one years and 
 fourteen days. They had eleven children, 
 seven now living: Mary, the wife of 
 John Weber, of Mercer county. Cali-
 
 528 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 fornia; William, a resident of New York; 
 Ann, wife of Christ Hutts. of North Da- 
 kota; Henry, of Geneva, Nebraska; Ber- 
 nard, who resides on the old home farm 
 in Appanoose township ; Mrs. McBride, 
 of Colusa, Illinois : and Emma, wife of 
 Phillip Farren, of Henderson county. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. McBride 
 has been blessed with five children, all 
 born in Pontoosuc township: Elmer, 
 born June 19. 1889; Maurice, February 
 17, 1891 ; Leo, December 28, 1893; Guy, 
 June 23, 1898; and Joseph, March 4, 
 1904. The family are pleasantly located 
 on the home farm near Colusa and in ad- 
 dition to tilling the soil Mr. McBride 
 feeds cattle and hogs, shipping five or six 
 carloads of stock to Chicago each year, 
 where he always receives good prices. Tn 
 politics a democrat, he has held township 
 offices and filled other positions of public 
 trust. He was administrator of his 
 father's estate and recently he and Ber- 
 nard Shaefer have closed up the Shaefer 
 estate as administrators. He has accu- 
 mulated a nice property and is classed not 
 only with the men of affluence of his com- 
 munity but also with them whose business 
 methods are straightforward and whose 
 rules of conduct are in harmony with high 
 principles. He and his family are com- 
 municants of the Catholic church. 
 
 SELAH G. HART. 
 
 Selah G. Hart is the owner of an ex- 
 cellent farm in Montebello township and 
 
 its splendidly improved condition is at- 
 tributable entirely to his earnest efforts. 
 A native of New York, he was born at 
 Candor, Tioga county, January 31, 1829, 
 his parents being Samuel and Lois (Grid- 
 ley) Hart, natives of New York and of 
 Connecticut respectively. His paternal 
 grandparents were Abel and Rachel ( Sey- 
 mour) Hart, the former born in Eng- 
 land, and the latter in Pennsylvania. The 
 maternal grandfather, Selah Gridley, was 
 also a native of England, and like Abel 
 Hart, was a soldier of the Revolutionary 
 war, aiding valianty in the cause of in- 
 dependence. Samuel Hart, the father, 
 was a wealthy landowner, having about 
 six hundred acres of land, and in addi- 
 tion to carrying on general agricultural 
 pursuits he conducted a sawmall. He 
 died when his son Selah G. was fourteen 
 years of age. and two years later, Her- 
 man Hart, the elder brother of our sub- 
 ject, went to Wisconsin, where he pur- 
 chased eighty acres of land, covering what 
 is now the central part of Fond clu Lac. 
 Later he sold this all out in town lots 
 and he now lives in Michigan, where he 
 purchased a large farm and set it out to 
 fruit. After his brother left home Selah 
 G. Hart remained with his mother until 
 he reached the age of twenty-four years, 
 when, thinking that he would have better 
 business opportunities in the middle west, 
 he made his way to Newark, Kendall 
 county, Illinois, where he arrived in 1853. 
 Soon afterward he rented land there and 
 engaged in farming for two years. On 
 the expiration of that period he came to 
 Hancock county and for seven years 
 operated a rented farm in Montebello 
 township, at the end of which time he
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 529 
 
 bought forty acres of timber land on 
 section 6. He built a cabin in the midst 
 of the forest and at once began clearing 
 away the trees in order that he might plow 
 the land and convert it into productive 
 fields. He kept adding to this place from 
 time to time as his financial resources per- 
 mitted until he now owns forty acres on 
 section 6, and fifty-two and a half acres 
 on section 31, Sonora township. He 
 planted extensive orchards of apples, 
 peaches, pears and plums and also set out 
 much small fruit, and in addition to the 
 conduct of his horticultural interests he 
 is now engaged in cultivating about forty- 
 five acres planted to corn. He has put all 
 of the improvements upon the place and 
 after living in a little log cabin for about 
 fifteen years he erected his present frame 
 residence. He has good buildings upon 
 the farm and everything is in keeping 
 with modern ideas of progressive agri- 
 culture. 
 
 Since coming to the west Mr. Hart has 
 continuously followed farming save for 
 the period of his services in the Civil war. 
 He enlisted in February, 1864, as a mem- 
 ber of Company I, One Hundred and 
 Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, the regiment 
 being assigned to Sherman's division of 
 the Army of the Cumberland. He did 
 guard duty at Nashville, Memphis and 
 Chattanooga, and was honorably dis- 
 charged at Nashville, September 30, 1865, 
 after which he was mustered out at Mem- 
 phis. On one occasion while attending 
 the sick he did not receive relief as he 
 should have done and became overheated. 
 This underminded his health and he was 
 able to do little service from June until 
 cold weather. 
 
 When the war was over Mr. Hart at 
 once returned to Illinois and joined his 
 family in this county. He had been mar- 
 ried in Spencer, Tioga county, New York, 
 November i, 1851, to Miss Emeline Van 
 Etten, a native of Spencer, in which place 
 she acquired her education in the public 
 schools. Her father was killed while en- 
 gaged in logging during the infancy of 
 his daughter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hart 
 were born three children: Albert B., at 
 home; Mary E., the wife of William 
 Peak, of Montebello township; and 
 George H., who is engaged in farming 
 and raising and shipping fruit at 
 Nauvoo. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Hart is a 
 stalwart republican and has served as 
 school director for twenty-one years and 
 also acted as road overseer. He attends 
 the Christian church and is an upright, 
 honorable man, whose well-spent life has 
 gained for him the regard and friendship 
 of many with whom he has come in 
 contact. 
 
 JOSEPH E. LORD. 
 
 Joseph E. Lord, who is now practically 
 living a retired life, making his home 
 upon a farm of seventy-two acres which 
 adjoins Augusta on the west, was born 
 in that village on the corner where now 
 stands the First National Bank, his natal 
 day being the loth of June, 1842. His 
 paternal grandparents were Thomas and 
 Elizabeth Lord, in whose family were 
 eleven children, all of whom are now de-
 
 530 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REl'IE]}' 
 
 ceased. Among the number was one who 
 became a missionary to Natal, South Af- 
 rica, and sent his children back to this 
 country, where they were educated, being 
 graduates of Oberlin College, Ohio. His 
 parents were Robert B. and Elizabeth 
 (Ireland) Lord. The father was born 
 in Abingdon, Connecticut, where he lived 
 until coming to the west about 1836, mak- 
 ing and overland journey. He located in 
 Jacksonville. Illinois, and subsequently re- 
 moved to Augusta, purchasing a tract of 
 land south of the village in Adams county 
 of one hundred and sixty acres. He 
 bought this from the government and it 
 was wild and unimproved, but with char- 
 acteristic energy he began its cultivation 
 and improvement and made a good home 
 for himself and family. He remained 
 thereon for only a few years and then 
 went to Quincy, where he spent his re- 
 maining days, his death occurring Oc- 
 tober 2, 1875, when he was sixty-five 
 years of age, his remains being interred 
 in a Quincy cemetery. While living in 
 the city he followed the carpenter's trade 
 and was known as a reliable and skilled 
 workman. He held membership in the 
 Presbyterian church and during his resi- 
 dence in Augusta served as one of the 
 deacons and also as choir master and at 
 all times he was deeply and actively in- 
 terested in the material, intellectual and 
 moral progress of the community in 
 which he made his home. In politics he 
 was a republican but never sought or de- 
 sired office, although he was a public- 
 spirited man and kept well informed on 
 the current topics and political issues of 
 the day and was an advocate of all that 
 tended to advance the best interests of his 
 
 adopted city. His wife was born in Eng- 
 land and came to America in her child- 
 hood days, her father being Thomas Ire- 
 land, who was a paper manufacturer, 
 owning a large paper mill in New York 
 city. After operating this successfully 
 for a number of years the mill was de- 
 stroyed by fire and with his family he 
 removed to Hancock county, Illinois, set- 
 tling at Augusta, where he engaged in 
 farming for a considerable period. He 
 afterward took up his abode in Quincy, 
 where he engaged in the dairy business, 
 there making his home until his death, 
 which occurred when he had reached an 
 advanced age. He was a man of honor- 
 able principle and high Christian char- 
 acter and for some years served as a dea- 
 con in the Presbyterian church in Quincy. 
 His wife, Miss Elizabeth Ireland, was 
 also a native of England and was a lady 
 of more than average culture, education 
 and refinement. Her father, Rev. Lacon 
 Ireland, was a minister of England, and 
 the grandmother of Joseph E. Lord was 
 a descendant of Phillip Henry, a promi- 
 nent and talented divine of that country. 
 In the family of R. B. and Elizabeth (Ire- 
 land) Lord were four children. 
 
 Joseph E. Lord, the only one now sur- 
 viving, was. reared in Augusta and ac- 
 quired his early education in the village 
 schools. He removed with his parents to 
 Quincy, where he continued his studies 
 and after putting aside his text-books he 
 began learning the tinner's trade, which 
 he followed until after the outbreak of the 
 Civil war. when, in 1864, in response to 
 his country's need, he joined the boys in 
 blue of Company C, Forty-seventh Illi- 
 nois Volunteer Infantry, with which reg-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 531 
 
 iment he served until the close of hostili- 
 ties. He participated in a number of im- 
 portant battles and skirmishes and was 
 discharged and mustered out at Mobile, 
 Alabama. He still maintains pleasant re- 
 lations with his old army comrades 
 through his membership in Augusta post, 
 \i>. 302, Grand Army of the Republic, 
 of which he is now chaplain. 
 
 When the war was over Mr. Lord re- 
 turned to Quincy, where he engaged in 
 the manufacture of a patent spring bed, 
 of which he was the inventor. In 1879 
 he removed his business to Augusta and 
 continued the operation of his factory at 
 this point until it was destroyed by fire. 
 Later he embarked in the hardware trade, 
 conducting a store in Augusta for four 
 years, when he sold out and turned his 
 attention to farming, having a good prop- 
 erty of seventy-two acres adjoining the 
 village of Augusta on the west. He is 
 also connected with the business con- 
 ducted under the firm name of J. E. Lord 
 & Company, manufacturers of Lord's Im- 
 proved United States Metallic Steel 
 Spring Bed, which was made at Quincy. 
 The business was established in 1867 and 
 has become an important industry of this 
 city in which it is located. Mr. Lord re- 
 ceived a medal from the Centennial Ex- 
 position at Philadelphia in 1876 for his 
 bed. 
 
 Mr. Lord was married on the 2Oth of 
 May, 1874, to Miss Anna Augusta Mead, 
 a daughter of Horace and Mary B. 
 (Mead) Mead, both of whom were na- 
 tives of Greenwich, Connecticut, and 
 there resided until after their marriage, 
 coming to Illinois on their wedding trip. 
 They located in Augusta, where they re- 
 
 sided until called to their final rest, their 
 home being the house which is now occu- 
 pied by Mr. and Mrs. Lord and which 
 was built by Mr. Mead. He was a farm- 
 er by occupation and also engaged in the 
 real estate business. He filled the posi- 
 tion of justice of the peace for many 
 years, his decisions being strictly fair and 
 impartial, and his death occurred in Au- 
 gusta at the age of fifty-nine years, while 
 his wife passed away at the very ad- 
 vanced age of ninety-four years, being 
 one of the oldest and most highly es- 
 teemed citizens of the county. Both were 
 members of the Presbyterian church and 
 their lives were in harmony with their 
 professions. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mead 
 were born three children : William H., 
 an attorney of Augusta; Silas K., who 
 died at the age of fifteen years ; and Mrs. 
 Lord. Five children graced the union of 
 our subject and his wife, all of whom 
 were born in Augusta, namely: Mary E., 
 who died at the age of twenty years ; Ar- 
 thur R., a farmer living in Augusta town- 
 ship, who married Myrta Allen and 
 has three children, Dorothy, Ethel Dar- 
 lene and Donald; Frederick H., who is 
 operating the home farm, belonging to 
 his father; and William and Augusta, 
 twins, who died in infancy. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Lord has 
 always been an earnest republican and 
 fraternally he is connected with the Mod- 
 ern Woodmen of America, while he and 
 his wife hold membership in the Presby- 
 terian church. These associations indi- 
 cate something of the character of the 
 man, who has been an advocate of all 
 that tends to benefit humanity and pro- 
 mote the general welfare. His influence
 
 S3 2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 is ever given on the side of right, justice 
 and truth and he stands as a representa- 
 tive of a high type of American man- 
 hood and chivalry. He has spent his en- 
 tire life in this part of the county and his 
 history is an open book which all may 
 read. He is a witness of many changes 
 that have occurred here and in so far as 
 possible has given active co-operation to 
 measures and movements for public 
 progress and improvement. 
 
 AMOS DAVIS, JR. 
 
 Amos Davis, a prominent and progress- 
 ive farmer and stock-raiser residing in 
 Appanoose township, was born in this 
 township on section 25, on the 2ist of 
 January, 1867, a son of Amos and Mary 
 Jane (Isenberger) Davis, natives of Ver- 
 mont and Ohio respectively, the latter 
 a daughter of Jacob and Rachel Isenber- 
 ger. The father on leaving the Green 
 Mountain state located in Nauvoo, Illi- 
 nois, where he was engaged in merchan- 
 dising during the time the Mormons lived 
 in this section of the state. He pur- 
 chased land in Appanoose and Pontoosuc 
 townships and made his home in the for- 
 mer township, being located on section 
 25. Here he engaged quite extensively 
 in the raising of stock, including horses, 
 cattle, hogs and sheep. He was a very 
 prosperous man and at the time of his 
 death was the owner of fourteen hundred 
 acres of very valuable land. He was 
 three times married. Bv the first mar- 
 
 riage there were two children, of whom 
 one daughter survives, Bell, the wife of 
 Gus Alley, of Fort Madison, Iowa. By 
 the second marriage there were three 
 sons and one daughter, of whom the 
 eldest, Ethan, died several years ago. 
 The surviving members are : George 
 Edmund, of Rock Creek township ; Rich- 
 ard, of Appanoose township ; and Chloe, 
 the wife of Frank Weber, of Fort Madi- 
 son, Iowa. By the third marriage there 
 are three sons and a daughter, of whom 
 our subject is the eldest, the -others being: 
 Jacob Wells, of Coffey county, Kansas; 
 Mary J., the wife of George Ellison, of 
 Prairie township, Hancock county; and 
 Guy, who occupies a part of the old home- 
 stead in Appanoose township. The father 
 of these children died March 22, 1872, 
 at the age of fifty-six years, six months 
 
 o J J 
 
 and twenty-two days, and was laid to rest 
 in the family cemetery on the home farm. 
 After his death the widow was again 
 married, her second union being with 
 Robert Hulen, and they now reside at 
 Rush Springs. Oklahoma. She has be- 
 come the mother of four children, Roy. 
 Grace, William and Sherley, all yet under 
 the parental roof. 
 
 Amos Davis, whose name introduces 
 this record was reared to farm life and 
 acquired his early education in the district 
 schools near his father's home, which was 
 supplemented by a course of study in the 
 high school at Carthage. He remained 
 at home until twenty years of age, and at 
 that time went to live with his brother 
 George, with whom he remained for two 
 years. . He then started out in life on his 
 own account, locating on one hundred and 
 twelve acres of the old family homestead.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 533 
 
 which was inherited from his father's 
 estate. Here he has resided continuously 
 since and is engaged in general agricul- 
 tural pursuits, and also raises a large 
 amount of stock, including Percheron 
 horses, Durham cattle, hogs and Shrop- 
 shire sheep. He also owns two registered 
 Percheron stallions which he uses for 
 breeding purposes, and he also has two 
 full-blooded Percheron mares. 
 
 On the 25th anniversary of his birth 
 Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss 
 Catherine Rose Schilson, a native of So- 
 nora township, and a daughter of John 
 and Angelina (Laufer) Schilson, natives 
 of Germany, the place of their nativity 
 being Hesse Darmstadt. They were 
 married in that country, and on their 
 emigration to America located on land 
 in Sonora townhsip, Hancock county, but 
 they now make their home in Nauvoo, 
 where the father owns ten acres of land 
 and is engaged in the raising of fruit. In 
 their family are the following named : 
 Angeline, the wife of John Rose, of Con- 
 nellsville, Pennsylvania; George, a resi- 
 dent of Montebello township, near Hamil- 
 ton ; Mrs. Davis ; John, of Prairie town- 
 ship ; Joseph, of Nauvoo ; and Ernest, at 
 home. Pauline, the sixth in order of 
 birth died at the age of twelve years. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have been 
 born two daughters : Leah, born July 1.2, 
 1894, and Ada May, born February 8, 
 1897. In his political views Mr. Davis 
 is a democrat, and has taken an active in- 
 terest in the local ranks of his party, hav- 
 ing served as assessor four years and 
 as school director from 1902 to 1905. 
 Fraternally he is a member of the Modern 
 Woodmen of America. During his early 
 
 youth Mr. Davis suffered from a severe 
 spell of illness, which rendered him a crip- 
 ple, although he is active in the pursuits 
 of his farm, giving careful supervision to 
 his farming and stock-raising interests. 
 He inherited a good tract of land from 
 his father's estate and on this are found 
 good improvements, his buildings and 
 fences being kept in an excellent state of 
 repair. He is prospering in his business 
 interests and is today numbered among 
 the alert and enterprising agriculturists 
 of Hancock county, where he has a wide 
 and favorable acquaintance, having spent 
 his entire life here. 
 
 JOSEPH M. MILLER. 
 
 At the time of the Civil war Illinois 
 sent its full quota of soldiers to the front. 
 They were brave men, who made splendid 
 records upon the battle-fields of the south 
 and among this number was Joseph M. 
 Miller, who now resides upon a farm near 
 Augusta, and who is classed with the 
 honored veterans of the war. He was 
 born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1838, a 
 son of Nathan and Eleanor (Engart) 
 Miller. The family has a most creditable 
 military record. Joseph Miller, the grand- 
 father, was one of the heroes of the Revo- 
 lution as was Joseph Engart, the maternal 
 grandfather, while Daniel and \Yilliam, 
 brothers of our subject, were soldiers of 
 the Civil war, the former being in the 
 One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois 
 Regiment, and the other in the Thirty-
 
 534 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 second Illinois Infantry. The father 
 was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 
 1813, and devoted his life to general agri- 
 cultural pursuits. In the spring of 1855 
 he removed to Adams county, Illinois, 
 where he spent his remaining days, pass- 
 ing away in 1876, while his wife, who was 
 born in Pennsylvania, in 1817, died in 
 1889, and was laid to rest by his side in 
 Adams county. She was a member ot 
 the Methodist church, while the father's 
 Christian belief was indicated by his identi- 
 fication with the United Brethren church. 
 They had ten children, of whom five are 
 now living : Joseph M. ; Daniel, a resi- 
 dent of Cdlwell county, Missouri ; Mar- 
 garet, the wife of Frank Potter, of Bates 
 county, Missouri; Nancy E., the wife of 
 Edward Maryin, of Tyler, Texas; and 
 Leander J., who resides in Kansas City, 
 Missouri. 
 
 Joseph M. Miller was educated in the 
 public schools and assisted his father in 
 the work of the home farm until he had 
 attained his majority, when he started out 
 in life on his own account. In August, 
 1862, he responded to the country's call 
 for aid, enlisting in the Seventy-eighth 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which 
 he served until the close of the war. He 
 was in Franklin, Tennessee, and Chicka- 
 mauga, two of the hotly contested battles 
 of the war, and was with Sherman on 
 the march to the sea. He also partici- 
 pated in the grand review in Washington, 
 the culminating event of a war which 
 meant the perservation of the Union and 
 the establishment of the republic on a 
 more solid basis than ever before. 
 
 In the fall of 1865, Mr. Miller was 
 married to Miss Elizabeth Kelly, who 
 
 was born in Kentucky, December 28. 
 
 1844. Her grandfather, Samuel Kelly, 
 was a soldier of the war of 1812 and she 
 had one brother who was in the Civil war, 
 together with an uncle, James Allen Sea- 
 ton, and several cousins, Samuel Lewis 
 being in the Sixteenth Illinois Regiment. 
 Mrs. Miller is a daughter of Joseph and 
 Jane (Seaton) Kelly, who were natives 
 of Kentucky. The latter was born in 
 March, 1827, and is now living in Okla- 
 homa, to which territory she recently 
 removed, having up to that time made her 
 home with Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Mr. 
 Kelly, who was born in 1816, and was a 
 farmer by occupation, came to Illinois in 
 
 1845, settling in Adams county, where he 
 followed farming up to the time of his 
 death, which occurred in November, 1855. 
 Mrs. Kelly is a devoted member of the 
 Christian church. In their family were 
 six children, all of whom are now living : 
 Mrs. Miller ; Samuel, of Hancock county ; 
 Mrs. Sarah L. Davis, who is living in 
 Rice county, Kansas ; Charles H., of Sax- 
 mon, Kansas; George W., of Custer, Ok- 
 lahoma; and Johanna, the wife of Lewis 
 Steinbeck, of Hutchinson, Kansas. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Miller began their do- 
 mestic life upon a farm in Adams county, 
 Illinois, where they lived until 1881, when 
 they came to Hancock county. Here Mr. 
 Miller purchased one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land on section 19, Augusta 
 township, on which he has placed many 
 modern improvements. His time and 
 energies have been given to the tilling 
 of the soil and the raising of stock, and he 
 also owns eighty acres on section 29, 
 Augusta township, whereon a good resi- 
 dence has been erected. The home of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 535 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Miller has been blessed with 
 eight children, all of whom were born in 
 Adams county with the exception of the 
 youngest two, and six of the number are 
 yet living: Nathan E., the eldest, died 
 when nine months old and was buried in 
 Adams county. Elnora J. is the wife of 
 John T. Robertson, and resides in Chili 
 township, and they have three children, 
 Lola E., Roy M., and Juanita. James P., 
 who marreid Martha Pierce and lives in 
 Macomb, Illinois, has five children, Ruby 
 I., Alma, May, Nina and Joseph. Lillie 
 Ellen died at the age of three years. 
 Samuel L. married Ethel Davis, by whom 
 he has a son, Joseph L., and follows farm- 
 ing on his father's farm of eighty acres 
 in Augusta township. Vanette Irene is 
 a trained nurse who was graduated in 
 September, 1905, from the Chicago 
 Hahnemann Hospital at Chicago, after 
 three years devoted to study, whereby 
 she became very proficient in her chosen 
 life work. Albert L. and Ernest Sid- 
 ney are both at home and assist their 
 father in the operation of the farm. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Miller have worked earn- 
 estly and harmoniously together in the 
 establishment of a home and the rearing 
 of their family and are now comfortably 
 situated in life. Both are worthy and 
 pleasant people and are much esteemed 
 by all who know them. Mrs. Miller is of 
 a family of which there are four living 
 generations, while twelve years ago there 
 were five generations represented. The 
 four now living are Mrs. Jane Kelly, the 
 mother of Mrs. Miller; Mrs. Elenora 
 Robertson, the daughter of the latter; 
 and Lola Robertson, the granddaughter 
 of Mrs. Miller. In matters of citizen- 
 34 
 
 ship Mr. Miller has ever ben public- 
 spirited and progressive, stanchly sup- 
 porting the interests and measures which 
 are calculated to prove of benefit to the 
 community, and manifesting the same 
 loyalty which he displayed upon southern 
 battle-fields. In his business career he 
 has made steady advancement and is now 
 holding large landed interests in this 
 county. 
 
 MICHAEL BAUMERT, SR. 
 
 Michael Baumert, Sr., an honored vet- 
 eran of the Civil war, engaged in the 
 real estate and insurance business in Nau- 
 voo, is numbered among the worthy resi- 
 dents of Hancock county who claim the 
 fatherland as the place of their nativity* 
 Born in Baden, Germany, October I, 
 1833, he is a son of Michael Baumert, 
 while his father also bore the same name. 
 The latter married Magdalena Schut- 
 terle, who was also born in Baden and 
 was a daughter of George Schutterle. 
 
 Michael Baumert, of this review, ac- 
 quired his education largely in the com- 
 mon schools of his native country and 
 when eighteen years of age came to 
 America on a sailing vessel, the Arcadia, 
 which dropped anchor in the harbor of 
 New Orleans. Two days later he started 
 on a trip up the Mississippi river to St. 
 Louis, Missouri, where he arrived on the 
 22d of April, 1852. Later he attended 
 night schools in this country. He and 
 his father worked at the stone mason's 
 trade in St. Louis for more than two
 
 536 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 years and in June, 1854, the son came to 
 Nauvoo on a steamer and here began 
 business as a mason contractor, building 
 the foundation for the Lutheran church. 
 Believing that the town afforded good 
 business opportunities he sent for his fa- 
 ther who came with the family in July 
 and he remained a resident of this place 
 until his death, which occurred in July, 
 1886, when he was seventy-eight year's 
 of age. The mother died at the age of 
 sixty-three years in August, 1868. 
 
 Following the removal of the family 
 to Nauvoo Michael Baumert, Sr., whose 
 name introduces this record, lived with 
 his parents until his marriage, which was 
 celebrated on the I5th of March, 1857. 
 Miss Mary Schini becoming his wife. 
 She was born in Alsace, France, a daugh- 
 ter of Michael and Annie (Israel) Schini, 
 who were likewise natives of Alsace, and 
 . made the voyage to America in 1854. In 
 the fall of 1854 they, too, became resi- 
 dents of Nauvoo. After his marriage 
 Mr. Baumert rented a home in Nauvoo, 
 which he occupied until 1858, after which 
 he spent a year in his father-in-law's 
 home and then removed to the home of 
 his parents. In 1860 he purchased a lot 
 at the corner of Mulholland and Fif- 
 teenth street, on which there was a brick 
 residence and he has since added to it a 
 frame addition. He followed the mason's 
 trade, doing work as a contractor and 
 builder until after the outbreak of the 
 Civil war and he had at that time a fam- 
 ily of four children and he felt that his 
 first duty was to provide for their sup- 
 port, so that he could not enter the serv- 
 ice until the 22cl of March, 1865. 
 
 At that date, however, he enlisted in 
 
 Chicago as a member of Company G, 
 Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
 try, which was a part of Mulligan's bri- 
 gade. The regiment was divided and a 
 portion participated in the battle of Pe- 
 tersburg, Virginia, while Mr. Baumert 
 with his company went to Richmond, 
 Virginia, where they were on detailed 
 service doing guard duty most of the 
 time until mustered out on the 24th of 
 July, 1865. They arrived at Chicago on 
 the 3d of August following, and were 
 there honorably discharged. Company 
 G on the return trip was the only Ger- 
 man company in the crowd of soldiers, 
 the remainder being Irish, and these with 
 all of their officers became intoxicated so 
 that Company G had to guard them all 
 and prevent the fights which were con- 
 tinually breaking out. In passing through 
 Pittsburg a fine supper was served to all 
 of the troops by the ladies of that city, 
 who thus provided for the soldiers at all 
 times by day and by night. Mr. Baumert 
 well remembers the return trip, on which 
 all of the veterans had small flags pinned 
 on their coats together with Confederate 
 bills sometimes of one hundred and some- 
 times of five hundred dollars but which 
 had become worthless currency. 
 
 Whai mustered out of the army Mr. 
 Baumert returned to Nauvoo and was 
 ill until the fall, when he went into the 
 saloon business, which he followed until 
 1871. He then sold out and again 
 worked at his trade until 1895, when he 
 turned his attention to the real estate busi- 
 ness and also became a notary public. He 
 has since dealt in property, negotiating 
 many important realty transfers, and since 
 the fall of 1905 he has conducted an in-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 537 
 
 surance business as agent for the Ger- 
 mania Fire, Cyclone and Tornado In- 
 surance Company of New York. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baumert have been 
 born nine children : Charles, who died 
 July 4, 1865. at the age of six months; 
 John F., who died in 1872, at the age of 
 six years; Jacob, who died in 1873, at 
 the age of twenty months; George, who 
 conducts an independent newspaper in 
 Nauvoo; Mary, at home; Julia, the wife 
 of Louis Boquet, of Keokuk, Iowa; 
 Michael, who is connected with the pub- 
 lication of an independent newspaper at 
 Nauvoo ; Annie, of Keokuk, Iowa : and 
 Emma, the wife of Alfred Haganer, of 
 Keokuk. Mr. Baumert is well known in 
 Nauvoo, where for many years he has 
 made his home. He has taken an active 
 and prominent part in community affairs 
 and his fellow townsmen recognizing his 
 worth and ability have frequently called 
 him to public office. He served for three 
 years as alderman of the city, for one 
 year as city treasurer and for four years 
 as township school treasurer, while for 
 six years he was township tax collector. 
 In 1890 he was made census enumerator 
 and since that year has also been notary 
 public. All of the duties devolving upon 
 him in that connection have been dis- 
 charged with promptness and fidelity. 
 
 ARTHUR McNEALL. 
 
 Arthur McNeall, one of the worthy 
 and prominent residents of Chili town- 
 
 ship living in Bowen, has displayed in his 
 business and private life those traits of 
 character which ever command respect, 
 good will and confidence. He was born 
 in Clermont county, Ohio, August 29, 
 1837, a son of Mathias and Elizabeth 
 (Brown) McNeall. His paternal grand- 
 parents were A. and Elizabeth (Boyer) 
 McNeall, the former born in Pennsyl- 
 vania, and the latter a native of Mary- 
 land. The Boyer family is of German 
 lineage, while the McNealls come of 
 Scotch-Irish ancestry. 
 
 Mathias McNeall was born in Clermont 
 county, Ohio, January 24, 1812, and dur- 
 ing the greater part of his life carried on 
 general farming. He also worked at the 
 carpenter's trade when not busy with the 
 duties of the fields. He went to Adams 
 county, Illinois, in 1847, an d in 1864, set- 
 tled in Chili township, Hancock county. 
 He was a democrat in his political views 
 and served as justice of the peace for a 
 number of years. He was well posted on 
 current topics and was a public-spirited 
 and progressive citizen. He was also a 
 Methodist preacher and was known as the 
 railroad preacher from the fact that he 
 was railroad agent at Bowen for thirteen 
 years. He married Miss Elizabeth 
 Brown, and they became the parents of 
 seven children : Those living are : 
 Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph Dalton, of 
 Missouri; Letitia, the wife of Jesse Pal- 
 mer, a resident of Minnesota ; Matilda, the 
 wife of Milton Rist, of Morgan, Minne- 
 sota ; Permelia, who is the widow of 
 George Butler and lives at Camp Point, 
 Illinois; and Arthur, of this review. The 
 mother of these children died in Adams 
 county in 1855 and lies buried there.
 
 ' BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 After her death Mr. McNeall wedded her 
 sister, Letitia Brown, who is also de- 
 ceased. There were no children by that 
 marriage. Mathias McNeall passed away 
 December 7, 1900, in BoWen, where he 
 was laid to rest. Dr. McNeall, an uncle 
 of our subject, enlisted from Pike county, 
 Illinois, for service in the Civil war. He 
 was senior assistant surgeon of the Nine- 
 ty-ninth Regiment of. Illinois Infantry, 
 and died in 1904. In 1864 he was nom- 
 inated for the legislature from the dis- 
 trict comprising Pike and Green counties 
 and was defeated by a very small 
 majority. 
 
 In the public schools of Ohio, Arthur 
 McNeall acquired his early education, 
 which was supplemented by study in 
 Adams county. He was married in 1862 
 to Miss Mary Shepherd, a daughter of 
 Austin and Rebecca Shepherd, who were 
 natives of West Virginia, in which state 
 Mrs. McNeall was born. There was one 
 child by that marriage, Ida Belle,, the 
 wife of William T. Gillis, who resides 
 in Bowen, and they have three children, 
 Everett Mack, Ruth Letitia and Leah 
 Gertrude Gillis. Mrs. MeNeall died in 
 1864 and was laid to rest at Columbus, 
 Adams county, Illinois. On the igth of 
 April, 1866, Mr. McNeall was again mar- 
 ried, his second union being with Mar- 
 garet S. Livingood, who was born in 
 Missouri in 1843, a daughter of Andrew 
 and Mary (Taggart) Livingood, both of 
 whom were natives of North Carolina, 
 the former born November 6, 1810, and 
 the latter May 22, 1816. Mr. Livingood 
 was a cabinet-maker and lived in Missouri 
 until after the outbreak of the Civil war, 
 when he removed to Hancock county, Illi- 
 
 nois. Of the seven children of that mar- 
 riage four are now living: Martitia 
 Jane, the widow of William Rowe, of 
 Kansas City, Missouri; Sarah Rebecca, 
 the widow of Melvin Davis, of Idaho; 
 Mrs. McNeall ; and Rachel E., the wife of 
 Dr. Thomas Whray, of Golden, Illinois. 
 The eldest member of the family, John 
 M. Livingood, died October i, 1903, and 
 was buried at Cordor, Missouri. The 
 father of Mrs. McNeall passed away No- 
 vember 15, 1902, and the mother's death 
 occurred on the 23d of August of the 
 same year, the remains being interred in 
 Bowen cemetery. They were members 
 of the Congregational church, in which 
 Mr. Livingood served as deacon for many 
 years and they were most worthy Chris- 
 tian people, devoted to the upbuilding of 
 the cause with which they were connected. 
 Mr. McNeall, following his marriage, 
 settled on a farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres in Chili township, owned by 
 his father. In after years, he and his 
 father entered into a partnership, the son 
 managing the farm and the father carry- 
 ing on business in Bowen. In 1888 he 
 built on the farm a nice home and also 
 erected good barns and made other sub- 
 stantial improvements. He carried on 
 general farm work and stock-raising and 
 in his business affairs has met with a 
 goodly measure of success, for his strong 
 determination and resolute will has en- 
 abled him to carry fonvard to a success- 
 ful completion, much that he has under- 
 taken. At the dissolution of the partner- 
 ship, caused by the death of his father, 
 he is the owner of two hundred and five 
 acres of land on section 26, but at this 
 time has retired from active farm work.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 539 
 
 His political allegiance is given to the 
 democracy and he keeps well informed on 
 the questions and issues of the day, al- 
 though he does not seek 'or desire office. 
 His wife is a member of the Methodist 
 church. Unto them were born seven chil- 
 dren : Oliver, who died at the age of 
 ten months; Fannie Maud, who is the 
 wife of Danby Harrison, of Adams 
 county, and by whom she has three chil- 
 dren, Arthur Thomas, Margaret Adeline, 
 and Paul Leonard ; Ada May, who died at 
 the age of ten years; Mary S., who is a 
 graduate of Wesley Hospital and Train- 
 ing School for nurses, of Chicago, in the 
 class of 1903, and who is successfully fol- 
 lowing her profession in that city ; Tina 
 P., Eva D., and Grace E., all at home 
 with their parents. The latter is a grad- 
 uate of Bowen high school and has 
 studied music in Quincy and Chicago, and 
 is now teaching music in Bowen. 
 
 Mr. McNeall is recognized as a man of 
 high principles and genuine personal 
 worth and is respected by all who know 
 him. In manner he is quiet and unpre- 
 tentious, yet kind and warm-hearted and 
 he and his family are greatly esteemed 
 throughout the community in which they 
 live. 
 
 JAMES C. COULSOX. 
 
 James C. Coulson, editor and proprie- 
 tor of The La Harper, is a native son 
 of this city, his birth having here oc- 
 curred September 24, 1847, where he 
 was educated in the common schools. He 
 
 is a son of Dr. George and Nancy Ann 
 (Cossitt) Coulson, the former born in 
 Trumbull county, Ohio, and the latter in 
 Hartford, Connecticut. In 1852 James 
 C. Coulson, in company with his mother 
 and brother George, made a trip to Salt 
 Lake City, Utah, returning overland to 
 La Harpe, in 1857, the return journey 
 covering a period of two months. In 
 1863 he went to Raritan, Henderson 
 county, where he was employed as a clerk 
 in various stores for sixteen years, and 
 for one year he taught school in that lo- 
 cality, after which he returned to his 
 home in La Harpe, and purchased The 
 La Harper, the paper having been estab- 
 lished in 1874 by L. S. Coggswell and 
 is the oldest paper of the city. When he 
 assumed the editorship the printing was 
 done by an old hand press but in course 
 of time, as his business increased he was 
 enabled to add modern equipments and 
 accessories and in 1886 purchased a 
 steam press. In 1893, however, the city 
 suffered a disastrous fire whereby the 
 main business' district was destroyed, 
 including the building in which Mr. Coul- 
 son was located. However, he had his 
 paper issued at Bushnell until he could 
 established himself again in business. He 
 then erected a new building to replace the 
 one which had been destroyed by 
 fire, this being twenty-two by sixty- 
 five feet and two stories in height, 
 and installed a Potter press, which 
 is run by a gasoline engine. He has con- 
 tinued as editor of The La Harper to the 
 present time, being assisted in his work 
 by his daughter, Erfie M.. who has charge 
 of the local department. 
 
 Mr. Coulson has been twice married.
 
 540 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RFA'IEU' 
 
 He first wedded Miss Anna B. Stans- 
 bury, June 25, 1868, at Raritan. She was 
 a native of Urbana, Ohio, having been 
 bom November 19, 1848, a daughter of 
 C. H. and Sidney E. (Humes) Stans- 
 bury, natives of Maryland and Virginia 
 respectively. She became the mother of 
 a son and daughter : Efne M., who is as- 
 sisting her father in the management of 
 the paper; and Charles Sidney, who is a 
 teacher in Gettings Seminary, of this city. 
 The mother of these children passed away 
 April 8, 1882, her remains being interred 
 in the cemetery at Raritan. On the 28th 
 of October, 1885, Mr. Coulson was mar- 
 ried a second time, this union being with 
 Alice M. Corzatt. the widow of Nelson 
 Corzatt. She is a native of Harrison 
 county, Missouri, born November 15, 
 1860, a daughter of John Armstrong. Of 
 this marriage there are three children, 
 Margie C, George C. and Edna C., all 
 yet under the parental roof. 
 
 In politics Mr. Coulson is a democrat, 
 while fraternally he is identified with the 
 Modern Woodmen of America, the 
 United Workmen, Court of Honor of the 
 Odd Fellows society, having belonged to 
 the latter organization since 1873. He has 
 been representative to the Head Camp of 
 the Modern Woodmen ten times. He acted 
 as postmaster at La Harpe under Cleve- 
 land's first administration, in which ca- 
 pacity he gave general satisfaction. Mr. 
 Coulson is one of the influential factors 
 of this city, and has a wide and favor- 
 able acquaintance throughout Hancock 
 county. 
 
 He has been a member of the Illinois 
 Press Association since 1882 and served 
 as first vice-president one term. He is also 
 
 a member of the National Editorial Asso- 
 ciation since 1886, and has attended each 
 year since 1886 except one year when his 
 daughter attended and in 1905 when his 
 son attended. 
 
 HENRY STURM. 
 
 The German-American element has al- 
 ways been an important one in our citi- 
 zenship, for the representatives of the 
 Teutonic race have everywhere they have 
 gone readily adapted themselves to 
 changed conditions, and at the same time 
 have brought to bear in business life the 
 spirit of perseverance which is one of the 
 chief characteristics of the fatherland, 
 and which is always a strong and invalu- 
 able element in success. Henry Sturm 
 is one of the residents of Appanoose 
 township that the fatherland has fur- 
 nished to Hancock county. He was born 
 in Alsace, Germany, April i, 1864, and 
 his parents, Louis and Salma (Wohl- 
 huter) Sturm, were likewise natives of 
 that province. The paternal grandfather 
 was Jacob Sturm, and the maternal 
 grandfather, Henry Wohlhuter. Reared 
 in his native country, Henry Sturm 
 learned the cabinet-maker's trade in Al- 
 sace, following that pursuit until sixteen 
 years of age. In 1881, attracted by the 
 broader business opportunities of the 
 new world, he crossed the Atlantic to 
 America and made his way to Cape Gi- 
 rardeau, Missouri, where he worked as a 
 carpenter. He was also employed at
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 54i 
 
 farm labor for three years and thus util- 
 ized every means that would bring him 
 an honorable living and enable him to 
 gain a start in life. In 1884 he came to 
 Hancock county, where he again se- 
 cured employment at farm work, being 
 thus engaged for four years. Desirous 
 that his labors should more directly bene- 
 fit himself, he rented land in Appamx^e 
 township, and thus cultivated a farm for 
 six years, during which time his economy 
 and industry brought him sufficient capi- 
 tal to justify his purchase, in 1892, of 
 one hundred and thirty acres of land on 
 section 36. This had already been culti- 
 vated and improved, but he further car- 
 ried forward the work of development 
 and improvement and all of the buildings 
 upon the place stand as monuments to his 
 thrift and enterprise, having been erected 
 by him. He built a house of eight rooms 
 and has also put up good barns, corn 
 cribs, wagon sheds and other structures 
 necessary for the shelter of grain, stock 
 and farm machinery. He has a good 
 orchard and vineyard, and the fields are 
 carefully tilled, bringing him good crops 
 of the various cereals best adapted to soil 
 and climate. ' 
 
 On the I3th of March, 1888, Mr. 
 Sturm was married to Miss Minnie 
 Gnann, who was born in Appanoose 
 township, and is a daughter of Benedict 
 and Ursula (Sutter) Gnann, the former 
 a native of Germany, and the latter of 
 Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Sturm now 
 have three children : Olia, born October 
 20, 1888; Elvyn, born January 10, 1891, 
 and Vera, born March 25. 1896. Mr. 
 Sturm belongs to the Modem Woodmen 
 camp at Niota, and he was reared in the 
 
 faith of the Lutheran church, to which 
 he has always adhered. In politics he is 
 independent but has no aspiration for of- 
 fice. He has never had occasion to re- 
 gret his determination to seek a home 
 in America and here through the im- 
 provement of business conditions and 
 the utilization of his opportunities he has 
 worked his way upward from a humble 
 financial position until now his property 
 interests class him with the substantial 
 residents of Appanoose township. 
 
 LEWIS D. HAIGH. 
 
 Lewis D. Haigh, who has followed 
 agricultural pursuits during the greater 
 part of his life but is now living in the 
 village of Niota, is a native of the Key- 
 stone state, his birth having occurred in 
 Philadelphia, April 23, 1844, a son of 
 John and Sarah (Folkrod) Haigh, of 
 whom more extended mention is made 
 in connection with the sketch of John 
 Haigh on another page of this work. 
 Losing his mother during his infancy, 
 the father was again marred, his second 
 union being with Sarah Sheward. 
 
 Lewis D. Haigh accompanied his father 
 and step-mother on the removal from the 
 east to Hancock county, Illinois, the 
 family settling on a farm in Appanoose 
 township. He had begun his education 
 in the schools of his native city and at- 
 tended for only a short period after his 
 arrival in Appanoose township, attending 
 in all only about a year. He has, how-
 
 542 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ever, through reading and investigation 
 added largely to his knowledge so that he 
 is a self-educated man. He remained with 
 his father until the age of seventeen years, 
 when, responding to the country's call for 
 aid during the Civil war, he enlisted on 
 the 1 7th of February, 1862, as a member 
 of Company D, Seventeenth Iowa Volun- 
 teer Infantry, joining the company at 
 Fort Madison, being under command of 
 Generals Grant and Sherman. He was 
 in the skirmish at Corinth, Mississippi, 
 Vicksburg, Rodney, Lick Creek Church, 
 Mississippi, and at Coleman's Plantation 
 and Duck River, Tennessee, the latter 
 place being the last battle in which he 
 participated. He was on picket duty on 
 a gunboat. Autocrat, on the Mississippi 
 river near Ashton Landing, Mississippi. 
 During his service he was wounded in the 
 right foot, and was honorably discharged 
 in November, 1865. having spent almost 
 three years in the service of his country, 
 where he proved himself a loyal and faith- 
 ful soldier. 
 
 Upon his return from the war he made 
 his way to the home of his father, where 
 he remained until the spring of 1866. 
 when he started out in life on his own ac- 
 count, being employed for a time at farm 
 labor by the month. He then rented bot- 
 tom land opposite Fort Madison, where 
 he engaged in farming operations until 
 1873, when he removed to Montgomery 
 county, Kansas, where he operated rented 
 land for one season and once more re- 
 turned to Hancock county, where he lo- 
 cated on a rented tract of land in Pon- 
 toosuc township, which he operated until 
 1879, and then removed to the sand 
 prairie in Lee county, Iowa, where he 
 
 remained for three years, subsequent to 
 which time he again returned to Pon- 
 toosuc township and farmed land which 
 he rented until the spring of 1887, when 
 he removed to a farm of sixty-one and a 
 half acres, lying on section 18, Pontoosuc 
 township, which he had purchased in 
 1886. Here he continued his agricultural 
 pursuits until 1895, when he sold his farm 
 and invested the money in town property 
 in Niota, consisting of two lots, a house 
 containing six rooms, and a story and 
 two-thirds in height, and here he has 
 since continued to make his home to the 
 present time. 
 
 On the 1 7th of April, 1873, Mr. Haigh 
 was united in marriage to Miss Minerva 
 Ballinger, who was born February 8, 
 1854, in Mifflinville, Franklin county. 
 Ohio, a daughter of Orish and Elizabeth 
 (Canfield) Ballinger, also natives of 
 Franklin county. Her paternal grand- 
 parents were William and Elizabeth 
 (Green) Ballinger, while the maternal 
 grandparents were Henry and Elizabeth 
 (Montgomery) Canfield. Her father on 
 leaving the Buckeye state removed to 
 Nauvoo in 1859, where for two years he 
 followed agricultural pursuits, and then 
 removed to Columbus. Ohio, where he 
 likewise engaged in farming until 1866, 
 when he once more came to Hancock 
 county, renting a farm in Pontoosuc 
 township, and here his death occurred in 
 November, 1896. His wife still survives 
 and now makes her home in the village 
 of Niota. In their family were two sons 
 and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Haigh 
 is the eldest. 
 
 In his political allegiance Mr. Haigh 
 is a republican, while for twenty years
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY. ILLINOIS. 
 
 543 
 
 he was a member of the Grand Army of 
 the Republic at Xiota, or until the lodge 
 disbanded in 1904. 
 
 ALEXANDER BOLTON. 
 
 Alexander Bolton, a prominent and 
 progressive farmer of Sonora township, 
 where he owns extensive landed posses- 
 sions, is a native of Hull, England, having 
 there been born on the 1 3th of March, 
 1837, a son of Peter and Mary (Brier) 
 Bolton, also natives of the fatherland, 
 and the former a son of Richard Bolton. 
 The father, hearing favorable reports of 
 the new country and the opportunities 
 here afforded, decided to try his fortune 
 in America, and, accordingly, in 1844, he 
 took passage on a sailing vessel bound for 
 this country. He made his way at once 
 to Canada, locating near Montreal, being 
 accompanied by his son George. The son 
 there remained but his father returned 
 again to England, where he spent a time 
 with his family and once more made his 
 way to America, this time coining to Han- 
 cock county, where he purchased ninety- 
 two acres of land, lying on section 19, So- 
 nora township. In 1845 he returned a 
 second time to England, and in the spring 
 of 1847 sent two f his sons, William and 
 Charles, to America, the sons making 
 their way at once to the farm which had 
 been purchased by the father previous to 
 his return to the old country. In the fall 
 of the same year. 1847, the father with 
 the remainder of his family came to the 
 
 United States, this time making a per- 
 manent location on his farm in Sonora 
 township. This tract had formerly been 
 in possession of the Mormons, and here 
 Mr. Bolton made many improvements, 
 and cultivated his fields, each year har- 
 vesting good crops. Here, with the as- 
 sistance of his sons, he carried on agri- 
 cultural pursuits until his death, which 
 occurred in 1865, while his wife sur- 
 vived him for about six years and passed 
 away in 1871. In their family were 
 seven sons and three daughters, of whom 
 five sons yet survive: James, Charles, 
 William and Alexander, all of Sonora 
 township, and Joseph, a resident of Rice 
 county, Kansas. 
 
 Alexander Bolton, the seventh in order 
 of birth in his father's family, began his 
 education in England before the removal 
 of the family to Hancock county, and 
 here continued his studies. During the 
 periods of vacation and in the summer 
 months he assisted in the work of the 
 home farm, and remained with his par- 
 ents to the age of sixteen years, when he 
 started out to make his own way in the 
 business world, being employed for one 
 season by his brother George, with whom 
 he made his home for two years, and then 
 began farming on his own account by 
 renting land until 1859, in which year he 
 made purchase of eighty acres of wild 
 land lying on section 22, Sonora township. 
 Later, in connection with a Mr. Forney, 
 he purchased an additional one hundred 
 and sixty acres, for which they paid fif- 
 teen hundred dollars. After fifteen years 
 Mr. Bolton gave his partner sixty dollars 
 for a choice of eighty acres of this tract, 
 and he then continued his farming inter-
 
 544 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ests alone. He improved his land and 
 built a house thereon, containing four 
 rooms, this being erected in the year 1860. 
 He fenced his fields and set out many 
 kinds of fruit trees, having in all about 
 thirty-six different varieties of choice fruit 
 trees on his place, of which two apple 
 trees and one pear tree are still standing. 
 In the fall of 1865, he bought an addi- 
 tional one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract, 
 adjoining his original purchase, but lo- 
 cated on section 26. This was all wild 
 prairie and he at once undertook the task 
 of breaking the sod and planting his crops, 
 which in due course of time brought forth 
 abundant harvests. In 1873, having ac- 
 cumulated considerable capital from his 
 business interests, he was enabled to again 
 make purchase of land, this time coming 
 into possession of an eighty-acre tract on 
 section 23, adjoining his original pur- 
 chase, the entire tract comprising one 
 hundred and sixty acres, of which his 
 brother Charles was joint owner. In 
 March, 1892, Mr. Bolton purchased an- 
 other one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract on 
 the southeast quarter of section 26,. this 
 land being improved, so that he now has 
 an extensive tract of five hundred and 
 sixty acres, all lying in one body. Here 
 he is engaged in general agricultural pur- 
 suits and in addition raises considerable 
 stock, consisting of horses, shorthorn cat- 
 tle and hogs. He is ever practical in all 
 his work, following the most progressive 
 methods of farming and uses all the latest 
 improved machinery in the cultivation of 
 his fields. He occupies a fine country 
 residence, in which are found all modern 
 conveniences and his is one of the highly 
 productive and attractive farms of this 
 section of the county. 
 
 On the 30th of October, 1864, Mr. 
 Bolton was united in holy bonds of wed- 
 lock to a companion and helpmate on life's 
 journey, Miss Phedora Dort, who was 
 born in Union county, Ohio, August n, 
 1839, a daughter of Calvin and Mary 
 (Clark) Dort, natives of Vermont. They 
 removed from the Green Mountain state 
 to Fulton county, Illinois, where they re- 
 mained for two years and then went to 
 Burnside, Hancock county. They then 
 removed to a farm belonging to our sub- 
 ject, situated on section 26, where her 
 father's death occurred in 1879. His 
 wife, however, had passed away in Ohio, 
 being killed by the upsetting of a buggy. 
 In their family were three daughters and 
 one son. After the mother's death the 
 father was married a second time and by 
 that marriage had one son and a daughter. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bolton were born 
 the following named : Florence, born 
 August 13, 1865, became the wife of 
 David C. Clark, of Fairfield, Iowa, and 
 her death occurred one year later. F. 
 Belle, bom August 8. 1866, is at home. 
 William C, born January 9, 1868, makes 
 his home in Sonora township. Mary A., 
 born June 23, 1869, is also at home. 
 Maggie R., the next of the family, was 
 born January 5, 1871, and gave her hand 
 in marriage to Edward B. Bollin, a resi- 
 dent of Sonora township. Edgar A., 
 born October 18, 1872, is with his father. 
 M. Burns, born March I, 1874, resides in 
 Sonora township. Charles O., born 
 April 9, 1876, resided in Sonora town- 
 ship, where his death occurred March 10, 
 1906. The wife and mother passed away 
 August 27, 1905, and her death was the 
 occasion of deep and wide-spread regret 
 among her many friends as well as in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS'. 
 
 545 
 
 her own household, where she was un- 
 tiring" in her labors for the interests of her 
 family. She was a most estimable lady, 
 possessing many traits of heart and mind 
 which endeared her to all with whom she 
 came in contact. 
 
 In his political allegiance Mr. Bolton 
 is a stalwart republican but not an active 
 office seeker, prefering to give his undi- 
 vided attention to his private business 
 interests. Starting out in life without 
 financial assistance, and working as a 
 farm hand, he has gradually worked his 
 way up from year to year until today he 
 has one of the best improved properties 
 of this part of the state, for here are found 
 all modern improvements which consti- 
 tute a model farm of the twentieth cen- 
 tury. Mr. Bolton, too, has been found 
 reliable and straightforward in all busi- 
 ness transactions so that his success has 
 been richly merited and honorably won. 
 
 GEORGE W. BAILEY. 
 
 George W. Bailey, carrying on gen- 
 eral fanning in Rock Creek township, 
 was born in West Virginia, August 21, 
 1849, and is one of a family of nine chil- 
 dren whose parents were Wright B. and 
 Malinda (Bailey) Bailey, who, though of 
 the same name, were not relatives. The 
 father, who was born in Harrison coun- 
 ty, Virginia, October 7, 1810, was a son 
 of Samuel and Agnes (Hudson) Bailey, 
 
 the latter a descendant of the noted Henry 
 Hudson, who first discovered and sailed 
 up the river which now bears his name. 
 Wright B. Bailey was educated in the 
 old-time subscription schools, his text- 
 books constituting a New Testament, 
 speller and arithmetic. He was so anx- 
 ious to learn that he dressed a soapstone 
 ' which he had taken from the creek and 
 had his friends make him copies of the 
 alphabet upon it and he worked with 
 assiduity and accomplished the task that 
 was thus set for him. He never had a 
 grammar lesson in his life, but his ambi- 
 tion enabled him to learn in the school 
 of experience many valuable lessons. He 
 came to Hancock county, November 14, 
 1851, settling in Wythe township, where 
 he followed farming. In 1864 he re- 
 moved to Rock Creek township, where he 
 spent his remaining days, passing away 
 September 23, 1888, at the age of sev- 
 enty-seven years, eleven months and six- 
 teen days. He was married April 19, 
 1838, to Miss Malinda Bailey, and they 
 lived to celebrate their golden wedding. 
 For. fifty years he was a devoted member 
 of the Missionary Baptist church and 
 lived an earnest, consistent Christian life. 
 He had no enemies and he was ever ready 
 to speak a good word for all. Rev. Ward 
 assisted Rev. Doud in preaching his fu- 
 neral sermon. His wife was also a mem- 
 ber of the Baptist church and when called 
 to the home beyond their remains were 
 interred in Moss Ridge cemetery at Car- 
 thage. Of their family of nine children 
 six are now living: Sarah, the wife of 
 Eugene Nair, of Kansas ; Colbert, of 
 Brashear, Missouri ; Maria, the wife of 
 George Jackson, of David City, Nebras-
 
 546 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL RE! 'I El T 
 
 ka ; George W. ; J. M. C., who is living in 
 Laplata, Missouri ; and Victoria, the wife 
 of A. J. Casburn, of Ferris. 
 
 George W. Bailey was a student in the 
 schools of Rock Creek township and re- 
 mained with his parents until twenty-two 
 years of age, never being away from 
 home for two weeks at a time during the 
 period of his minority. On the 2ist of 
 December, 1871, he wedded Mary Eliza 
 Ward, who was born in La Harpe, Illi- 
 nois, January 8, 1853, a daughter of Rev. 
 William and Isabelle (Johnson) Ward. 
 Her father was born in Northhampton- 
 shire, England, in 1827, and came to 
 America immediately after his marriage 
 as a passenger on an old-time sailing ves- 
 sel, which was sixteen weeks in making 
 the voyage. He is now a superannuated 
 minister of the Northern Illinois confer- 
 ence. In his childhood days he attended 
 the Church of England, and, at the age 
 of nineteen years was converted and 
 joined the Wesleyan Methodist church, 
 wherein he labored faithfully, leading 
 many to a knowledge of the better life. 
 After his marriage he came to America, 
 settling m Illinois, where his experiences 
 were those that usually fall to the lot of 
 the pioneer minister. On one occasion 
 he went to a love-feast which was held 
 behind bolted doors. Quite a number of 
 the Christian ladies of the neighborhood, 
 together with Mr. Ward, were shut out 
 because they were too late. This dis- 
 tressed the ladies greatly and Mr. Ward 
 tried to comfort them by saying that 
 when they reached the church triumphant 
 they would always find the doors open. 
 After an experience of this kind in the 
 Wesleyan Methodist church it was but 
 
 natural that he seek a church where the 
 lines were not so strictly drawn and he 
 therefore joined the Methodist Protestant 
 church, whose love-feasts were open, free 
 to all. He entered the ministry of that 
 denomination by uniting with the Illinois 
 conference in 1851, and from that time 
 until he entered upon superannuated re- 
 lations proved a faithful and efficient' 
 preacher of the conference, acting as pas- 
 tor of some of the most important 
 charges of the conference. He was a 
 popular minister who held the affections 
 of his people and the seeds of spiritual 
 truth which he had sown bore rich fruit 
 in later years. His home life has always 
 been a most beautiful and largely ideal 
 one and he is today one of the most hon- 
 ored representatives of the Methodist 
 ministry in this state. He now resides 
 in Ferris and his membership is with 
 the church of his denomination there. In 
 his family were nine children, of whom 
 seven are now living: J. W., a resident 
 of Argyle, Iowa; Mary E., of this re- 
 view; W. H., of Adrian, Illinois; C. B.. 
 of Rock Island ; Fannie, the wife of J. 
 A. Van Nelson, of Woodlawn, Illinois : 
 Belle, the widow of Senator W. F. Har- 
 ris, and a resident of Carthage ; and D. 
 r \ .. of Niota, Missouri. The parents are 
 now residents of Ferris and they have a 
 wide acquaintance in the state, where 
 they have lived and labored to such good- 
 ly ends. 
 
 For a year after their marriage Mr. and 
 Mrs. Bailey lived upon a farm west of 
 Ferris, and after three removals returned 
 to his father's farm, where they resided 
 for twelve years. During the succeeding 
 fourteen years they lived upon a farm
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 547 
 
 northeast of Ferris, which was owned by 
 our subject, and in September, 1902, lie 
 bought one hundred and sixty acres on 
 section 13, Rock Creek township, and re- 
 modeled the house into a beautiful coun- 
 try residence and added many modern 
 equipments. Here he has since carried 
 on general farming and stock-raising. 
 He is also a large stockholder in the ele- 
 vator at Adrian, and a director of the 
 Seminary at La Harpe, Illinois, while his 
 wife is the owner of four lots in Okla- 
 homa. In his business interests he has 
 displayed a watchfulness and alertness 
 which argue well for success and his in- 
 dustry and probity are unquestioned fac- 
 tors in his business career. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bailey at their 
 home in Rock Creek township have been 
 born six children, of whom five are now 
 living: W. W. Bailey, the eldest, born 
 October 16, 1873, an ^ now living in 
 Bushnell, Illinois, married Louie Mason, 
 and has two children, Pearl and Charles. 
 Estella L., born November 4, 1877, and 
 a graduate of the La Harpe Seminary, is 
 now the wife of J. F. Weber, of Ottum- 
 wa, Iowa, and has one son, John Francis. 
 Lillian Emma, bom November 14, 1881, 
 is a public school teacher, but now at 
 home. Charles T., born March 8, 1884, 
 died on the 29th of October of the same 
 year. Everett G., born October 23, 1887. 
 is attending the academy which is the pre- 
 paratory department of the Carthage Col- 
 lege. H. F., born June 29, 1890, is a 
 student in Carthage College academic 
 course. 
 
 Mr. Bailey is independent in politics 
 and has held some township offices. He 
 is a third degree Mason, belongs to the 
 
 Modern Woodmen camp at Carthage and 
 has passed all of the chairs in the local 
 lodge of Odd Fellows. Both he and his 
 wife are zealous members of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal church, of which he is serv- 
 ing as a trustee, and their influence and 
 acts ' uphold the moral and legal status 
 of the community. A self-made man 
 his success stands in incontrovertible 
 proof of his life of well directed and con- 
 tinuous activity. He has been both in- 
 dustrious and frugal and these qualities 
 have been the source of a gratifying pros- 
 perity. It is proverbial that no one goes 
 hungry from his door. In fact hospi- 
 tality is one of the chief elements in Mr. 
 Bailey's home and the good cheer of the 
 household is greatly enjoyed by the many 
 friends of the family, who are legion. 
 
 JULIUS CHARPENTIER. 
 
 The many good traits of character of 
 Julius Charpentier were well worthy of 
 emulation and made him worthy the trib- 
 ute of respect and honor that was tendered 
 him in life and is a credit to his memory 
 since he has passed away. He was born 
 in Paris, France, November 8, 1839, a 
 son of Henri and Lucy (Fountaine) 
 Charpentier, who were likewise natives 
 of France. The father was a book- 
 binder by trade and also engaged in the 
 sale of religious tracts. He died in 1869, 
 while his wife passed away in 1890. 
 They always remained residents of their 
 native land. In their familv were seven
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 children, of whom five are yet living: 
 Marie, the wife of General Thomas, of 
 Paris, who was in command of the city 
 at the time of the Franco-Prussian war; 
 Madame Aline Viltard, the widow of Ed- 
 mund Viltard, who was a distinguished 
 linguist, novelist and play-writer of Paris, 
 where she still makes her home; Claire, 
 the wife of a Mr. Perois, proprietor of a 
 large book store in Paris ; and George 
 and Emile, who came to Illinois in 1870. 
 the former being now in West Point and 
 the latter in Texas. 
 
 Julius Charpentier, the third member of 
 the family, came to America in 1866, 
 landing at New York. He first settled 
 at Keokuk, Iowa, where he resided for a 
 year, and on the 3Oth of August, 1867, 
 arrived in Illinois. Here he was married 
 to Miss .Marie Bouquet, who was born in 
 the village of Sourd, France, February 
 15, 1847, a daughter of Ferdinand and 
 Marie Rose (Boidin) Bouquet. Her 
 father was born in Leemee, France, 
 March 18, 1806. They came to America 
 in 1855, landing at Xew Orleans and set- 
 tled near Basco, Illinois, April i, 1856. 
 They had arrived in Hancock county, 
 however, in the previous fall, having 
 reached Nauvoo on the 5th of November, 
 1855. The father was a weaver by trade. 
 They had four children but Mrs. Char- 
 pentier is the only one living. Ferdinand, 
 the eldest, died at Memphis, Tennessee, 
 while on. the way to Illinois, January 24, 
 1855, anf l was buried there. Louis Bou- 
 quet, who first engaged in farming in 
 Prairie township and afterward was in 
 business in Warsaw, subsequently re- 
 moved to Quincy, Illinois, where he con- 
 ducted business as a dealer in poultry, 
 
 butter and eggs. He died December 27, 
 1897. and was buried in Graceland ceme- 
 tery in Quincy. The father died in Basco, 
 August 19, 1875, and the mother's death 
 there occurred January 15, 1891. Their 
 remains were interred in Sylvandale 
 cemetery. They were members of the 
 Catholic church, of which they were faith- 
 ful communicants. 
 
 Julius Charpentier was educated in 
 Paris, and after his marriage settled on 
 a farm near Basco, where he lived for 
 twenty years. In 1888 he came to West 
 Point and built a store there, engaging 
 in general merchandise until his death. 
 June 23. 1895. The business was first 
 conducted by the firm of Cacheux & Char- 
 pentier. which relation was maintained 
 until February 24, 1895, when Mr. Char- 
 pentier purchased his partner's interest 
 and admitted his sons to partnership 
 under the firm style of J. Charpentier & 
 Sons. In his business life he was en- 
 terprising and alert, always watching for 
 opportunities for honorable advancement 
 and using the means at hand to the best 
 advantage. While on the farm he car- 
 ried on general agricultural pursuits and 
 his widow still owns two hundred acres 
 of good land, constituting the old home- 
 stead in Wythe township. In his polit- 
 ical views he was a democrat and both 
 he and his wife w r ere devout members of 
 the Catholic church. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Charpentier had three 
 children, the eldest being Henri, \vho was 
 born in Wythe township, July 27, 1868. 
 He married Miss Gane Moulin, who was 
 born in London, April 5, 1878. Her broth- 
 er, George Simon, is an explorer in Hin- 
 doo, China. He is a lieutenant on a vessel
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 549 
 
 in the French navy and is the first white 
 man that ever went up the McKane river. 
 Henri Charpentier and Gane Moulin were 
 married in Paris, November 12, 1904, 
 after which they came to America and 
 spent the winter with his mother, Mrs. 
 Charpentier and then returned to Paris, 
 where he represents the Milwaukee Har- 
 vesting Machine Company. He repre-' 
 sented the company at the Paris Exposi- 
 tion in 1900 and has also been to Tunis, 
 Africa, in the same interest. He is a 
 most enterprising business man, possess- 
 ing in large measure that quality which 
 for want of better term has been called 
 commercial sense. He is well known in 
 business circles in Illinois and in many 
 places of this country as well as abroad, 
 where he is operating. He belongs to the 
 Masonic and Odd Fellows societies, in 
 which he has passed all of the chairs, anc4 
 when in America gives his political sup- 
 port to the democracy. Unto him and his 
 wife has been born a son, Gean, whose 
 birth occurred August 29, 1905. Edmund 
 Lois, born February 4, 1872. near Basco, 
 in Wythe township, married Arminna 
 McLarty, who was born August 25, 
 1868, in Bowen. and they have one son, 
 Julius Alexander, who was born at West 
 Point. June 18, 1897. After the death 
 of the father Henri Charpentier sold his 
 interest in the store which is now owned 
 by Edmund and his mother, the business 
 being still conducted under the firm style 
 of J. Charpentier & Son. Edmund Char- 
 pentier is an energetic and successful busi- 
 ness man, prominent in the community 
 where he resides. In 1903 he made a 
 trip to France for business and pleasure. 
 He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and 
 
 has a wide and favorable acquaintance in 
 Hancock county. Claire, born January 
 20, 1889, in West Point, was graduated 
 from the West Point high school with 
 the class of 1906 and is at home with 
 her mother. The family all speak French 
 as well as English and the sons and 
 daughter have all been providd with ex- 
 cellent educational privileges, Claire hav- 
 ing been a student in St. Mary's Institute 
 in Quincy. 
 
 Before leaving his native country Mr. 
 Charpentier served for two years with 
 the French army in Algiers and other 
 points in Africa, and was also with the 
 army in France for a year and for four 
 years in Mexico, taking part in the war 
 against that country between 1859 and 
 1865. He made an excellent military 
 record by his loyalty and bravery quali- 
 ties which were manifest throughout his 
 entire life. They were evident in his at- 
 tachment^to his adopted country, while in 
 community affairs he manifested a deep 
 and loyal interest in all that pertained to 
 the welfare of this part of the state. He 
 was ill for two years prior to his demise 
 and when called from this life was laid to 
 rest inSylvandale cemetery. All who knew 
 him respected and esteemed him. He 
 was faithful in citizenship and had a very 
 wide and favorable acquaintance in this 
 part of the county. His best traits, how- 
 ever, were reserved for his family, to 
 whom he was a most devoted husband and 
 father. Mrs. Charpentier has been a resi- 
 dent of America since November, 1855. 
 She is a lady of excellent business ability 
 as well as many social qualities and in all 
 that she does is very methodical and 
 systematic. Moreover, she has many
 
 550 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 friends in this community and is accorded 
 social prominence. 
 
 T. J. GARWOOD. 
 
 T. J. Garwood, a prosperous and prom- 
 inent farmer of Augusta township, re- 
 sides on section 5, where he owns and 
 cultivates one hundred and eighty acres 
 of rich and productive land. He has 
 erected here a substantial residence, good 
 barns and other outbuildings, and the 
 improvements are all in keeping with 
 ideas of modern farming. He likewise 
 owns another tract of one hundred and 
 eighty acres on sections 16, 8 and 17 of 
 the same township, and is thus one of the 
 large landholders of the county, his pos- 
 sessions making him a substantial citi- 
 zen of this part of the state. 
 
 A native of Jasper county, Illinois, 
 born in 1843, Mr. Garwood is a son of 
 Thomas and Jane (Richards) Garwood. 
 The father was born near Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, in 1810, while the mother's birth 
 occurred near Nashville, Tennessee, in 
 1817. He devoted his life to general ag- 
 ricultural pursuits and in 1856 became 
 a resident of Adams county, Illinois, 
 where he resided until 1860, when he 
 took up his abode on the farm in Au- 
 gusta township, Hancock county, that is 
 now occupied by his son, T. J. Garwood. 
 There he carefully conducted general 
 farming, with the result that his labors 
 were attended with success. Both he and 
 his wife were devoted and loyal members 
 of the Christian church and died in that 
 
 faith, the father passing away February 
 4, 1869, and the mother March 9, 1898. 
 Both were laid to rest in the Pulaski 
 cemetery. Of their eleven children six 
 yet survive : T. J. ; James, of Augusta 
 township; Benjamin and Lorenzo, who 
 are living in California; Mary, the wife 
 of Robert Young, of Ely, Missouri ; and 
 Charles, of the state of Washington. 
 Two uncles of our subject, John and Al- 
 fred Richards, were soldiers of the Civil 
 war. John served as a member of a reg- 
 iment of Illinois infantry under General 
 Grant, and Alfred was killed in the bat- 
 tle of Murfreesboro. 
 
 T. J. Garwood was educated in the 
 schools of Adams and of Hancock coun- 
 ties, the little "temples of learning" being 
 partly log structures. He remained on 
 the home farm until the time of his mar- 
 riage, which important event was cele- 
 brated on the i8th of January, 1872, the 
 lady of his choice being Miss Julia Wei- 
 born, who was born in Augusta town- 
 ship, in 1850, a daughter of Henry and 
 Phoebe (Horney) Welborn, natives of 
 North Carolina, the former born Novem- 
 ber 30, 1817, and the latter September 
 14, 1826. Her father, who devoted his 
 life to farming, located in Augusta town- 
 ship, Hancock county, in 1850. His po- 
 litical support was given to the democ- 
 racy, and he was a member of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity, while his religious faith 
 was indicated by his membership in the 
 Baptist church. He died in February, 
 1891, having long survived his wife, who 
 passed away in January, 1851. They 
 had but two children, Mrs. Garwood and 
 John Welborn. who is now living in Mis- 
 souri.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Garwood began their do- 
 mestic life upon the farm on which they 
 now reside on section 5, Augusta town- 
 ship, comprising one hundred and eighty 
 acres of rich and productive land. He 
 has carried on general farming and stock- 
 raising but now rents much of his land. 
 He cultivates, however, the tract of one 
 hundred and eighty acres about two miles 
 from his home on sections 16, 8 and 17, 
 Augusta township. He had very little 
 capital at the time of his marriage, but 
 by economy, industry and honorable busi- 
 ness methods has accumulated a prop- 
 erty which is very desirable and which 
 now enables him and his family to enjoy 
 many of life's comforts and luxuries. 
 They have become the parents of four 
 children, all born on the old home place, 
 where they have lived for thirty-five years, 
 namely : Henry, Leonard, John and Maie. 
 All attended the district schools of Au- 
 gusta township and the daughter will 
 graduate from the high school of the vil- 
 lage of Augusta in 1907. The parents 
 are both highly respected people, affable 
 and pleasant in manner, and the hospi- 
 tality of their home is greatly enjoyed by 
 their many friends. 
 
 CHARLES CARTER. 
 
 Charles Carter, a prominent and well- 
 to-do citizen and farmer of Walker town- 
 ship, represents one of the old historic 
 families of Hancock county. He was 
 
 35 
 
 born in Lowell, Massachusetts, November 
 6, 1846, and is a son of Philip L. and 
 Martha E. (York) Carter, both of whom 
 were natives of Oxford county, Maine, 
 the former born January 17, 1813, and 
 the latter September 9, 1814. The pater- 
 nal grandparents of our subject were resi- 
 dents of Maine, and were among the early 
 Mormons of the country. With a band 
 of colonists they came westward to Han- 
 cock county at an early day and were 
 owners of a cottage which was torn down 
 during an attack made upon the Mormons 
 by settlers of this part of the state. Wil- 
 liam. F. Carter, an uncle of our subject, 
 was one of the first Mormon elders and 
 carried the teachings of the sect across 
 the Pacific, coming to this country from 
 Calcutta. The father of our subject was 
 a blacksmith in Massachusetts and re- 
 moved from New England to the middle 
 west, settling in Hancock county in May, 
 1851. He took up his abode on the farm 
 which is now occupied by his son, Charles, 
 in Walker township, and there he engaged 
 in general agricultural pursuits and stock- 
 raising up to the time of his death, which 
 occurred July 27, 1876. His wife sur- 
 vived him for about two decades, and died 
 at the home of her son Charles in January, 
 1897, when her remains were interred in 
 the family graveyard on the farm by the 
 side of her husband. They were both 
 highly esteemed people and enjoyed the 
 warm personal regard of those with 
 whom they were associated. 
 
 Charles Carter was educated in the 
 schools of Walker and Lima townships, 
 and remained with his father, assisting 
 him in the farm work until the latter's 
 death and acting as manager of the farm
 
 552 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 during the last year or so. He was mar- 
 ried December 23, 1877, to Miss Marietta 
 Archer, who was born in Lima, Adams 
 county, Illinois, in 1851, a daughter of 
 Harrison and Mary Ann Archer, natives 
 of Kentucky and Ohio respectively. Her 
 father was a wagon-maker by trade and 
 removed from Adams county to War- 
 saw, where he lived for many years, con- 
 ducting a wagon shop there. Mrs. Archer 
 died in 1870, while Mr. Archer passed 
 away in 1896, and both were laid to rest 
 in Lima cemetery. They were the par- 
 ents of nine children but only four are 
 living, namely: Mrs. Carter; Ida, the 
 wife of M. Fawbush, of Wichita, Kan- 
 sas; Martha A., wife of J. A> Califf. of 
 Carthage, Illinois; and Harry, who is on 
 the farm with our subject. One brother, 
 John Albert Archer, was killed in battle 
 in the Civil war on the banks of the Red 
 river, while serving as a member of Com- 
 pany G, One Hundred and Nineteenth 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry. 
 
 Following his marriage Charles Carter 
 continued to live upon the old home place, 
 which comprises three hundred and ten 
 acres of productive and valuable land on 
 sections 31 and 32, Walker township. He 
 has built a house here and has made other 
 modern and substantial improvements, 
 while year by year his labors are given 
 exclusively to the work of tilling the soil 
 and raising stock. The home of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Carter has been blessed with four 
 children, all born in Walker township, 
 namely : Ida Mabel, the wife of H. W. 
 Osgood, of Labelle, Missouri, by whom 
 she has two children, Stella M. and 
 Charles S. ; Philip L., Dora A. and John 
 Archer, all at home. 
 
 Mr. Carter votes with the Republican 
 party and has served in some local offices, 
 acting as supervisor, while for many years 
 he has been school director. A part of 
 his land was once occupied by the Mor- 
 mon cottages which were burned down 
 and this is old historic ground. Mr. 
 Carter's memory compasses a long period 
 in the history of the county and he is well 
 informed concerning many of the events 
 which find record in its annals. He and 
 his family are highly esteemed and his 
 acquaintance is wide and favorable in his 
 part of the county. 
 
 HERMAN HAASE. 
 
 Herman Haase, owning and operating 
 one hundred and sixty-four acres of val- 
 uable land lying in Appanoose township, 
 a part of which is the old family home- 
 stead, was born in Walker township. 
 Hancock county, June 21, 1862, of Ger- 
 man parentage, his parents being Conrad 
 and Barbara (Siphery) Haase, natives 
 of the fatherland, the former born in 
 Hesse Cassel, while the latter's birth oc- 
 curred in Saxony. The father on leaving 
 his native land crossed the Atlantic in a 
 sailing vessel, which dropped anchor in 
 the. harbor of New Orleans, and after a 
 brief stay in that city he removed, in 
 1853, to Galveston, Texas, where he was 
 employed in a warehouse, handling 
 freight. After spending some time in the 
 south he came to Illinois, traveling by 
 steamer up the Mississippi river, settling
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 553 
 
 first at Warsaw, where he learned and 
 followed the cooper's trade for a number 
 of years. In 1859 he was married in 
 Tioga, Hancock county, to Miss Barbara 
 Siphery, where he was conducting a 
 cooper shop at that time. He then made 
 purchase of sixty acres of land which he 
 conducted in addition to doing cooper 
 work. He later traded this tract of land 
 to Ira Allen for one hundred acres on 
 section 22, Appanoose township, which 
 adjoined another tract of sixty acres 
 which he had previously owned. He car- 
 ried on the work of his farm in connec- 
 tion with his cooper shop for many years, 
 and later returned to his native country 
 on a visit. He made a second trip to 
 Germany, thus crossing the Atlantic five 
 times. After he removed to his farm in 
 Appanoose township in September. 1880, 
 he discontinued his work as a cooper and 
 gave his entire attention to his general 
 agricultural -pursuits, which he continued 
 to follow until his death on the 28th of 
 March, 1904, when he had reached the 
 advanced age of eighty-six years, for his 
 birth occurred December 2, 1817. He 
 had survived his wife for only about a 
 year, she having passed away on the 8th 
 of April, 1903. In their family were two 
 sons and two daughters, of whom our 
 subject is the eldest son and second child, 
 the others being : Lena, the wife of 
 George A. Baker, a resident of Hitch- 
 cock county, Nebraska ; Conrad, also of 
 Hitchcock county, Nebraska ; and Annie, 
 who makes her home in Fort Madison, 
 Iowa. 
 
 Herman Haase acquired his early ed- 
 ucation in the district schools of Walker 
 township, which was later supplemented 
 
 by study in the schools at Cropp and 
 Tioga. He was reared to the occupation 
 of farming and has always followed gen- 
 eral agricultural pursuits since engaging 
 in business on his own account. He re- 
 mained with his parents until the time 
 of his marriage, which was celebrated 
 May 3, 1891, Miss Sophia Weber be- 
 coming his wife. She was born in Ap- 
 panoose township on the farm which is 
 now owned by Mr. Haase, a daughter 
 of Samuel and Rosa (Bertschi) Weber, 
 natives of Switzerland, the former a son 
 of Fred Weber, and the latter a daugh- 
 ter of Samuel Bertschi. A year previous 
 to his marriage Mr. Haase had purchased 
 from his father sixty-four acres of land, 
 the contract being made on the 7th of 
 August, 1890. There were no buildings 
 or improvements of any kind on this tract 
 when it came into his possession, but 
 he bought an old house which he moved 
 to this tract. He also fenced the place 
 and erected outbuildings, including a 
 barn, cattle shed, tool house and gran- 
 ary. Here he engaged in general agricul- 
 tural pursuits, bringing his land under a 
 good state of cultivation, from which he 
 annually harvested good crops as the re- 
 sult of the care which he bestowed upon 
 the fields. He derived sufficient capital 
 from his farming interests, so that at his 
 father's death he was able to purchase 
 the interest of the other heirs in the old 
 homestead farm, which comprised one 
 hundred acres, so that he has now alto- 
 gether one hundred and sixty-four acres. 
 He has refenced the entire place with 
 wire fencing, and there are now only 
 about two hundred rods of hedge fencing 
 on the place. He keeps his farm and
 
 554 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 buildings in excellent condition so that 
 he now has an attractive and productive 
 tract of land. In -addition to carrying on 
 the work of the fields he also engages to 
 some extent in the raising of horses, cat- 
 tle and Poland China hogs. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Haase have been 
 born a son and daughter : Samuel Con- 
 rad, bom February 9, 1893 ; and Leah 
 Ruth, whose birth occurred December 3, 
 1895. He gives his political support to 
 the Democratic party and takes a deep 
 and helpful interest in the work of his 
 party, having served as constable for 
 seven years, while for three years he was 
 road commissioner. Socially he is iden- 
 tified with the Modern Woodmen of 
 America and the Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows. Having spent his entire 
 life in Hancock county Mr. Haase is 
 widely and favorably known, where both 
 social and business friends speak of him 
 in terms of highest praise, for he has 
 ever been straightforward in all his deal- 
 ings with his fellowmen. His wife, too, 
 is popular among her many friends, hav- 
 ing been born and reared in the locality 
 where she now makes her home, and the 
 hospitality of the best homes of this com- 
 munity is freely accorded them. 
 
 AUGUST H. DISSELHORST. 
 
 August H. Disselhorst, who is conduct- 
 ing the Pine Grove farm, the old home- 
 stead property of his father, was born in 
 Adams county, Illinois, September 30, 
 
 1882. In both the paternal and maternal 
 lines he comes of German lineage. His 
 father, Ernest Disselhorst, was born in 
 Germany, and, emigrating to America, 
 was married at Fowler, Adams county. 
 Illinois, to Miss Rickie Meyers, a native 
 of that county. Her father, Gotlieb 
 Meyers, was born in Germany and made 
 his way to Quincy, Illinois, when there 
 were not more than a half dozen houses 
 in the town. He began farming in that 
 locality and was married there to Miss 
 Heaner. They began their domestic life 
 upon a farm about nine miles east of 
 Quincy and for many years Mr. Meyers 
 there carried on agricultural pursuits but 
 died several years ago. Following his 
 marriage Ernest Disselhorst rented' land 
 for fourteen years, and in 1894 he pur- 
 chased one hundred and fifty-eight acres 
 on section 5, Wythe township, Hancock 
 county, and also fifty-seven acres in Wil- 
 cox township. Some improvements had 
 been made upon his first purchase, there 
 was a comfortable residence there and 
 other buildings. Later, however, the 
 father erected a large barn sixty by forty 
 feet. This was in 1899, and 1904, he 
 built a second barn fifty by forty-two feet. 
 He has also added other buildings and 
 modern equipment to his place and he 
 there carried on general farming and 
 raising cattle, horses and hogs. In 1902 
 he was called upon to mourn the loss of 
 his wife, who died on the 25th of Feb- 
 ruary of that year. He continued to re- 
 side upon the old homestead until the 
 spring of 1906, when he married Emma 
 Knox, and now lives upon her farm of 
 eighty acres in Adams county. There 
 were two children by his former mar-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 555 
 
 riage, the daughter being Lydia, who was 
 born February 28, 1879, and is now the 
 wife of Edward Trautvetter, living in 
 Alontebello township about two miles 
 north of Hamilton. 
 
 August H. Disselhorst pursued a pub- 
 lic school education and was reared in the 
 usual manner of farm lads, early becom- 
 ing familiar with the duties and labors 
 that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. 
 He took his place behind the plow when 
 but a young boy and as the years have 
 passed has gained practical experience 
 in the best methods of tilling the soil and 
 caring for the crops. He is now, con- 
 ducting the Pine Grove farm, which is a 
 valuable property and which under his 
 careful supervision is returning a grati- 
 fying income. 
 
 On the Qth of May, 1906, Mr. Dissel- 
 horst was married to Miss Laura Mabel 
 Dralle, a native of Adams county, and a 
 daughter of Henry Dralle. He votes 
 with the Republican party and manifests 
 a public-spirited interest in community 
 affairs but has neither time nor desire for 
 office as his attention is fully occupied 
 with the interests and improvement of 
 the home farm. 
 
 JOHN A. CAMPBELL. 
 
 John A. Campbell is the owner of a 
 good farm of two hundred and forty acres 
 situated near Augusta. It is a well de- 
 veloped property constantly increasing in 
 value bv. reason of the care and labor he 
 
 bestows upon it and because of the mod- 
 ern improvements which he has added 
 thereto. He was borrr in Parke county, 
 Indiana, in 1844, and is descended from 
 Scotch ancestry. His father, Gustavus 
 Campbell, was born in Scotland and died 
 when his son John A. was a very small 
 boy. The mother bore the maiden name 
 of Octavie Payne, and was born in Vir- 
 ginia. Her father was an owner of slaves 
 and a part of her dowry was composed 
 of negro servants. For twelve years Gus- 
 tavus Campbell followed the sea as a 
 sailor and then removed to Indiana, 
 where he engaged in farming. His wife 
 long survived him and then passed away 
 in 1877. Of their family of nine chil- 
 dren six are living as follows : James, a 
 resident of Augusta, Illinois; Richard, 
 living at Coal Bluff, Indiana ; John A. ; 
 Allen, George and Charles, also of In- 
 diana. 
 
 In the district schools of his native 
 state John A. Campbell acquired his edu- 
 cation and after leaving school went to 
 live with his brother, working on a farm 
 and also spending some time as a farm 
 hand in the employ of others. He was 
 ambitious, however, to make a start in 
 life and eagerly availed himself of every 
 opportunity for his own business ad- 
 vancement. In July, 1868, he chose a 
 companion and helpmate for life's jour- 
 ney, being married to Miss Susan Mat- 
 thews, who was born in Hancock county, 
 Illinois, in 1853. Her grandfather in the 
 paternal line was a soldier of the Revo- 
 lutionary war and Mrs. Campbell can re- 
 late many interesting stories which he told 
 her concerning that struggle. She is a 
 daughter of A. B. and D. V. (Kalley)
 
 556 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Matthews. Her father was born in Ohio 
 in 1817 and her mother in Parke county, 
 Indiana, in 1827. He devoted his life to 
 farm work and in 1851 removed to this 
 county, spending much of his time here in 
 Augusta township. He died in 1891 in 
 the faith of the Christian church, of which 
 he was a devoted member. His wife also 
 belongs to that church. Eight of their 
 ten children still survive, namely : Man- 
 dane, the wife of John Jones, of Oregon ; 
 Robert, of Augusta township; Miles, of 
 Oklahoma; Mrs. Susan Campbell; Wil- 
 liam Jackson, of Cass county, Iowa; 
 Harvey, of Hancock county ; Edna, the 
 wife of Lincoln Smith, of Hancock coun- 
 ty; and Marion, also of this county. 
 
 Mr. Campbell arrived in this county 
 about 1864 or 1865, and lived in Au- 
 gusta township for two years, after his 
 marriage. He then removed to Indiana, 
 where he carried on farming for two 
 years, after which he returned to Augusta 
 township and invested his little capital in 
 twenty acres of land also on section 7. 
 Here he has since added to his property 
 from time to time as his financial re- 
 sources have increased until he now owns 
 two hundred and forty acres of rich and 
 arable land on sections 7 and 9. His 
 first home here was a log cabin and he 
 also lived in a log house in Indiana. He 
 had to clear his place in order to have 
 sufficient ground upon which to erect a 
 home. He has built barns and outbuild- 
 ings and now has a well improved prop- 
 erty although when it came into his pos- 
 session it was largely covered with hazel 
 brush. His attention has been given to 
 the raising of grain and stock and his 
 fields are richly tilled, bringing forth 
 
 good harvests. The home of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Campbell has been blessed with 
 three children, all born in Augusta town- 
 ship: Harvey, who was born in 1869, 
 and married Miss Mary Young, of Au- 
 gusta township, by whom he has one son, 
 Wayne; Dovie, who was born in 1876, 
 and died in 1896, the interment being 
 made in Irwin cemetery; and Charles, 
 who was born in 1880 and lives upon a 
 farm adjoining his father's place. He 
 married Etta Little and has three chil- 
 dren, Herschel and Mark, aged respect- 
 ively six and four years, and baby Eva, 
 two weeks old. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Campbell endured many 
 hardships and privations in the early days 
 of their married life but have gradually 
 climbed the ladder of success and are now 
 comfortably situated. No longer the 
 owner of twenty acres of land he has 
 more than ten times that amount and his 
 farm is a well improved place, being one 
 of the attractive features of the landscape. 
 In manner genial and jovial, these quali- 
 ties make him popular with a large circle 
 of friends. Both he and his wife are 
 worthy people and they hold membership 
 in the Congregational church, in which 
 he has efficiently served as deacon for 
 many years. His political endorsement 
 is given to the democracy. 
 
 ANDREW JACKSON HARRIS. 
 
 Andrew Jackson Harris is in control 
 of varied and important business enter-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 557 
 
 prises whereby he is classed as one of the 
 representative men of the community. In 
 addition to his agricultural pursuits he is 
 vice president of the Burnside Bank, and 
 a director in the Adrian Elevator Com- 
 pany, and moreover, he is prominent and 
 influential in community affairs, serving 
 at the present writing in the office of 
 justice of the peace for the second term. 
 A native of Adams county, Illinois, he 
 was born October 2, 1862, and his par- 
 ents, Jackson and Louisa (Hardy) Har- 
 ris, were also natives of the same county. 
 The father, a farmer by occupation, took 
 up his abode in Rock Creek township 
 upon his removal to Hancock county in 
 1866, and carried on the work of tilling 
 the soil there until a recent date but now 
 makes his home with his children, living 
 on some of his farms. His wife died in 
 March, 1905, and was laid to rest in Moss 
 Ridge cemetery at Carthage. She was a 
 lady of many good traits of heart and 
 mind and thus her loss was the occasion 
 of wide-spread regret among her many 
 friends, as well as in her immediate fam- 
 ily. Mr. Harris is a man of genuine per- 
 sonal worth, who has been accorded high 
 regard in recognition of his salient and 
 commendable characteristics. His polit- 
 ical allegiance is given to the democracy 
 and he has filled several township offices, 
 well meriting the trust reposed in him by 
 his election thereto. In his family were 
 seven children, of whom five are now 
 living, namely : Andrew ; Tamar, the 
 wife of G. F. Wilson, of Rock Creek 
 township; George E., who is living in 
 Denver, Illinois; Mary E., the wife of 
 L. J. Fry, living on the old home place; 
 and Sarah E., the wife of Clyde Shep- 
 herd, of Rock Creek township. 
 
 At the usual age Andrew J. Harris be- 
 gan his education, becoming a student in 
 Rock Creek township schools. He after- 
 ward attended Carthage College, and also 
 Chaddock College, in Quincy, Illinois. 
 Thus liberally educated he was well quali- 
 fied for the profession of teaching, upon 
 which he entered after the completion of 
 his college course. For six months he 
 was thus engaged in Pilot Grove town- 
 ship and he also taught in various other 
 townships of Hancock county, his identi- 
 fication with the work of public instruc- 
 tion covering four years. He afterward 
 became associated with his brother in the 
 ownership and conduct of a general store 
 at Adrian for ten years, during which 
 period he likewise served as postmaster 
 of the town for two terms. On the expi- 
 ration of that period he had eighty acres 
 of land in Rock Creek township, given 
 him by his father, and to this property he 
 has since added until he now owns two 
 hundred acres altogether, situated on sec- 
 tions 13 and 23. He has built there a 
 good residence and substantial outbuild- 
 ings and has a well improved farm prop- 
 erty, carrying on general agricultural pur- 
 suits and stock-raising with results that 
 are highly satisfactory when viewed from 
 a financial standpoint. The spirit of enter- 
 prise which brooks no obstacle but pushes 
 steadily forward to the goal of success 
 is his and his record as a representative 
 of agricultural interests is most creditable. 
 He has also extended his efforts into other 
 fields of activity and is now vice president 
 of the Burnside Bank and a director in 
 the Adrian Elevator Company. 
 
 On the 1 2th of March, 1891, Mr. 
 Harris was united in marriage to Miss 
 Nellie Burr, who was born in Durham
 
 558 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 township in 1879, a daughter of Jonathan 
 and Sarah (Terrell) Burr. The mother 
 was a native of Virginia, born in 1841, 
 and died at the age of thirty-seven years. 
 The father, a native of Connecticut, was 
 a farmer by occupation, and for many 
 years a resident of Durham township, 
 when, in 1905, he removed to Winfield. 
 Kansas, where he is now living at the age 
 of sixty-seven years. He is a republican, 
 firm in support of party principles yet 
 without aspiration for office. He left be- 
 hind him in Hancock county many warm 
 friends who knew him to be a genial gen- 
 tleman, courteous and considerate to 
 others and reliable in his business trans- 
 actions. His wife, too, had many warm 
 friends here, so that her death was deeply 
 regretted. In their family were five chil- 
 dren as follows : Rev. Edward S. Burr, 
 who is now living in Nebraska: Minnie, 
 the wife of W. T. Dugger, of Dallas City ; 
 Mrs. Harris; Clarence, of Durham town- 
 ship ; and John, of Lomax. After losing 
 his first wife Mr. Burr wedded Miss 
 Amanda Clark, who still survives, and 
 their children, five in number, are Walter, 
 Mary, Wesley, Arthur and Ellis. - 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Harris 
 has been blessed with six children, all born 
 in Hancock county: Albert B., born 
 September 25, 1892; Orville F., who was 
 born December 22, 1894, and died De- 
 cember 1 6, 1895; Ernest Roy. born No- 
 vember 5, 1896; Esther Louisa, October 
 7. 1898; Edward J., March 21, 1901 ; and 
 Sarah Alice, January 16, 1903. The fam- 
 ily have a lovely home, pleasantly situated 
 near Ferris. Mr. Harris is a Master Ma- 
 son and both he and his wife are earnest 
 Christian people. He belongs to the 
 
 Primitive Baptist church, in which he is 
 serving as deacon, while Mrs. Harris is a 
 member of the Methodist church. His 
 political support is given to the Demo- 
 cratic party and he is now serving his 
 second term as justice of the peace, while 
 for some years he has also been a member 
 of the school board. In the former office 
 he has rendered decisions which are recog- 
 nized as strictly fair and impartial and 
 thus he has "won golden opinions from 
 all sorts of people." 
 
 ISAAC W. CASSELL. 
 
 Isaac W. Cassell, who in former years 
 was connected with educational work in 
 Illinois and Nebraska but is now owning 
 and operating extensive landed posses- 
 sions in La Harpe township. Hancock 
 county, is an influential factor in this sec- 
 tion of the state. He is a native of Ohio, 
 his birth having occurred in Knox coun- 
 ty, December 26, 1839, and comes of 
 German lineage. His paternal great- 
 grandfather was Henry Cassell, a native 
 of Hesse Cassel, Germany, who, on em- 
 igrating to the United States, settled in 
 Maryland, the family home being estab- 
 lished in Carroll county. There the fa- 
 ther of our subject, Isaac Cassell, was 
 born and reared and was married to Miss 
 Lydia Nicodemus, likewise a native of 
 Carroll county, Maryland, and a daughter 
 of John Nicodemus, who was also born in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 559 
 
 that state. Isaac Cassell removed from 
 his native state to Knox county, Ohio, 
 about the year 1834. and there purchased 
 three hundred acres of timber land, which 
 lie cleared and improved and on which he 
 made his home until his death, which oc- 
 curred in 1885, while his wife had pre- 
 ceded him to the home beyond, her death 
 having occurred in 1871. 
 
 Isaac W. Cassell is the youngest of five 
 sons and seven daughters, and two of his 
 sisters yet survive. He pursued his edu- 
 cation in the public schools of Ohio, and 
 was reared to farm life, assisting his fa- 
 ther in the duties of the home place. He 
 remained with his parents until the 3d 
 of September, 1861, when, his patriotic 
 spirit being aroused during the Civil war, 
 he enlisted as a member of Company A, 
 Twentieth Ohio Infantry, joining at 
 Fredericktown. The command was as- 
 signed to the Army of the Cumberland 
 and at once went to the front. Mr. Cas- 
 sell was loyal in the discharge of every 
 duty that was assigned him, and for mer- 
 itorious service was promoted in the 
 ranks, being given a lieutenant's commis- 
 sion on the 1 2th of September. 1862, of 
 the Ninety-sixth Ohio Infantry, but on 
 account of illness he was forced to resign 
 and then returned to his home in Ohio. 
 His health had become so badly impaired 
 during his service in the army that he was 
 unable to resume farm work, and, real- 
 izing the need of better educational facili- 
 ties that would fit him for other business, 
 he decided to pursue a collegiate course, 
 and entered Wittenburg College, at 
 Springfield, Ohio, from which he was 
 graduated in June, 1866. He then ac- 
 cepted a professorship in Adrian Col- 
 
 lege, at Adrian, Michigan, there having 
 charge of the Latin and. Greek classes un- 
 til June, 1872, when he went to Lincoln, 
 Nebraska, and organized the public 
 school system at that place. He was then 
 elected superintendent of schools at that 
 place, filling the position two years, and 
 during one year, viz., 1874. was also 
 county superintendent of schools in Lan- 
 caster county, that state, and in all of 
 these positions he gave excellent satis- 
 faction, his ability as an educator being 
 recognized by all with whom he was as- 
 sociated. 
 
 On the' 3d of August, 1871, Mr. Cas- 
 sell was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
 J. Gittings, a native of La Harpe town- 
 ship, whose birth occurred April 7, 1851. 
 Her parents were James and Susanna 
 (Thompson) Gittings. Her paternal 
 grandparents were Ason and Elizabeth 
 (Clark) Gittings, natives of Maryland, 
 while the maternal grandparents were 
 John and Libbie Thompson, natives of 
 Stokes county, North Carolina. Her fa- 
 ther, James Gittings, had come to Illinois 
 from Zanesville, Ohio, in 1836, and had 
 entered land in La Harpe township, hav- 
 ing a half section situated on section 5. 
 for which he paid the usual government 
 price of one dollar and a quarter per 
 acre. He added to this tract, however, 
 from time to time until he was the owner 
 of two thousand acres of valuable land in 
 La Harpe township besides owning seven 
 hundred acres in the northwestern part of 
 Missouri. The daughter, Mrs. Cassell. 
 supplemented her early educational privi- 
 leges by a course of study in Denmark 
 Academy, at Denmark, Iowa, and later 
 pursued a course of study in Adrian Col-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 lege, at Adrian, Michigan. Both her 
 parents are now deceased, the father hav- 
 ing passed away November 18, 1882, 
 while the mother survived for about ten 
 years, passing away January 23, 1892. 
 
 Our subject and his wife, after remain- 
 ing for a number of years in the west, 
 where he was connected with educational 
 interests, then returned to his native 
 township to assist in the management of 
 the extensive landed interests of his fa- 
 ther-in-law, James Gittings. He took 
 up his abode on a farm of two hundred 
 and forty acres, which he successfully 
 managed until the fall of 1879, when he 
 again resumed his former work as an ed- 
 ucator, becoming principal of La Harpe 
 Seminary, which position he filled until 
 1884, when the building was destroyed by 
 fire, and he then removed to a farm north 
 of La Harpe, which comprised two hun- 
 dred and fifty acres, and since 1891 has 
 continued to reside on this place. His 
 wife inherited a portion of her father's 
 estate upon his death, and together they 
 now have four hundred and ninety acres, 
 all of which with the exception of about 
 fifty acres is cultivable. Here he is en- 
 gaged in general farming, in which he is 
 meeting with very gratifying success. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born nine children, four having died 
 in infancy. The five living are: Abbie, 
 who was born December 18, 1872, and is 
 now the wife x>f Judd Hartzell, engaged 
 in the insurance business at Monmouth, 
 Illinois; Robert, born February 22, 1874, 
 and a resident of La Harpe township; 
 Ort, born February 2, 1877, Mayme, 
 born December 18, 1881, and Susannah 
 G., born October 10, 1887, all of whom 
 are yet under the parental roof. 
 
 Mr. Cassell holds membership with the 
 Congregational church at La Harpe, in 
 which he has filled all of the offices of the 
 organization. He is identified with the 
 Masonic fraternity, holding membership 
 with the Blue lodge and chapter at La 
 Harpe, and the commandery at Macomb. 
 In April, 1905, he was granted a pension 
 by the government, and is now receiving 
 six dollars per month. He has always 
 been deeply interested in educational ad- 
 vancement in his county and has given 
 active and helpful support in all move- 
 ments along those lines. In his political 
 views he is a republican, actively inter- 
 ested in the work of his party. He has 
 a wide and favorable acquaintance in 
 Hancock county, where he has so long 
 resided, and he is today classed among 
 the wide-awake and prosperous represent- 
 atives of agricultural interests in his 
 section of the state. Both Mr. Cassell 
 and his wife are people of culture and re- 
 finement and their pleasant home is noted 
 for its gracious and warm-hearted 
 hospitality. 
 
 WILLIAM C. HOOKER. 
 
 William C. Hooker, who has conferred 
 honor and dignity upon the legal pro- 
 fession of Hancock county, with which 
 he has long been connected, being for 
 many years classed with the prominent 
 attorneys of Carthage, where he has re- 
 sided for more than a half century, was 
 born in Auburn, New York, September
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 13, 1828. His parents, Harley Hooker 
 and Mary Beardsley Hooker, were both 
 natives of Connecticut and he is a lineal 
 descendant of Rev. Thomas Hooker, who 
 in 1636 led the colony which settled New- 
 town, now Hartford, in that state. 
 
 His father, a physician of extensive 
 and successful practice, in 1839, removed 
 to Pecatonica,. now Rockton, Illinois. 
 From that time, except 'pccasional at- 
 tendance during winter months at the dis- 
 trict school, and "one year at Onondaga 
 Academy, New York, he was engaged on 
 his father's farm and in teaming to Chi- 
 cago and other lake ports, until the fall 
 of 1847, when he entered Beloit College 
 from which institution he graduated in 
 1851, being a member of the first class to 
 complete the college course there. Sub- 
 sequently he engaged in teaching school 
 and his leisure hours were devoted to 
 reading law, thus preparing for the bar 
 in Syracuse, New York, Milwaukee, Wis- 
 consin and other places, where he was en- 
 gaged in teaching. He completed his 
 preliminary reading at Quincy, Illinois, in 
 the fall of 1853 an d in the spring of 
 1854 was admitted to the bar. 
 
 The following June he located at Nau- 
 voo, and soon after became a law partner 
 of Milton M. Morrill. In March, 1858, 
 he removed to Carthage and formed a 
 partnership for the practice of law with 
 Hiram G. Ferris and George Edmunds, 
 under the name of Ferris, Hooker & Ed- 
 munds. This relationship continued 
 about four years, the firm being promi- 
 nent in the early history of the county. 
 Since then he has remained in Carthage 
 and continued as a general practitioner. 
 He has a fine office and library and al- 
 
 though he has passed the seventy-eighth 
 milestone on life's journey is yet active 
 in the practice of law. He had been a 
 resident of the county for only a brief 
 period when a good clientage was ac- 
 corded him and through the succeeding 
 years he has maintained a foremost place 
 at the bar. 
 
 Iii 1856 William C. Hooker was mar- 
 ried to Anna M. Hume, of Clark county, 
 Kentucky, who died in 1857. In Decem- 
 ber, 1862, he wedded Mary Catherine 
 McQuary, of Carthage, and unto them 
 were born two daughters and two sons : 
 Mary, who was the wife of Charles J. 
 Daoust, of Defiance, Ohio, and died in 
 1896; Frances, who became the wife of 
 Michael C. Flynn, and died in 1898; Har- 
 ley J., who is engaged in the land busi- 
 ness in Oklahoma; and Chellis E., who 
 was an attorney and in 1898 was elected 
 county judge but died in July, 1901, his 
 father filling out his unexpired term. 
 Mrs. Hooker departed this life February 
 5, 1900. Her many excellent qualities 
 of heart and mind had gained her leader- 
 ship in social circles and the number of 
 her friends was almost co-extensive with 
 the number of her acquaintances. 
 
 Mr. Hooker has been a democrat from 
 the time he cast his first vote in 1854. 
 He served as a member of the central com- 
 mittee of the county for a number of 
 years and for some years was a member 
 of the democratic state central committee, 
 frequently he has been a delegate to the 
 local, congressional and state conventions 
 of the party. Never an aspirant for office 
 he has held no public position outside the 
 strict path of his profession but was mas- 
 ter in chancery for twelve years, begin-
 
 562 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV I Ell' 
 
 ning in 1863 and again for three or four 
 years, beginning in 1895. He was made a 
 Mason in Alabama during, the winter of 
 1852-3 and is now a member of Hancock 
 lodge. No. 20, Ancient Free and Accepted 
 Masons. He served as worshipful master 
 of Reclamation lodge, No. 54, at Nauvoo, 
 He also belongs to Carthage chapter, No. 
 33, Royal Arch Masons, has for several 
 terms served as high priest, was a member 
 of the council and is a member of 
 the commandery at Quincy. Mr. Hook- 
 er has figured for many years as one 
 of the most prominent and representa- 
 tive citizens of Carthage, whose career 
 reflects credit upon its legal history 
 while his private life has been exemplary 
 of all that constitutes the true citizen. 
 His nature is kindly, his temperament 
 genial and his manner courteous and he 
 has not only been found a most congenial 
 spirit among men of broad learning and 
 culture but one whose words of wisdom 
 and kindly counsel have been a source of 
 encouragement and inspiration. 
 
 JUDGE CHELLIS E. HOOKER. 
 
 Judge Chellis E. Hooker, elected to 
 the bench of the county court of Han- 
 cock county when only twenty-eight years 
 of age and distinguished as one of the 
 foremost representatives of the bar of 
 this part of the state, his career cut short 
 by his untimely death, which was the oc- 
 casion of most deep and widespread re- 
 gret, was a son of William C. Hooker and 
 a native resident of Carthage. He ac- 
 
 quired his preliminary education in the 
 common schools of this city, while his 
 more specifically literary education was 
 obtained as a student in Carthage Col- 
 lege. In 1887 he went to St. Louis, Mis- 
 souri, and subsequently was for some 
 time in Kansas City, Omaha and Mon- 
 tana as a clothing salesman. From Col- 
 orado Junction he returned to Carthage 
 and entered his father's office as a 
 law student in 1890. The following 
 year he matriculated in the law depart- 
 ment of the Northwestern University at 
 Chicago, and was graduated with the de- 
 gree of Bachelor of Law in the class of 
 1893. During the March term prior to 
 his graduation he successfully passed the 
 examination before the supreme court 
 and was admitted to the bar. Returning 
 to his native city he entered into partner- 
 ship with his father under the style of 
 William C. Hooker & Son, and came into 
 almost immediate distinction as a mem- 
 ber of the firm. His position at the bar 
 is indicated by the resolutions passed by 
 the County Judges' Association as given 
 below. 
 
 Judge Hooker was a member of the In- 
 dependent Order of Odd Fellows, in 
 which he held various offices and in the 
 work of which he took an active, helpful 
 and prominent part. He was also active 
 in the ranks of the Democratic party and 
 was identified with the Episcopal church, 
 in which he served for a number of years 
 as lay reader. His distinctive character- 
 istics were a strong logical mind, a 
 marked devotion to every cause which he 
 espoused and a high sense of honor in 
 every relation of life. No better evi- 
 dence of his work and the position which
 
 CHELLIS E. HOOKER
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 563 
 
 lie occupied in the public regard can be 
 given than in presenting the resolutions 
 prepared by Judge Carl E. Epler and 
 passed by the County Judges' Association 
 at .its meeting in Springfield in 1902. 
 These resolutions read as follows : 
 
 "A ruling Providence has first taken 
 from our number one of the youngest of 
 our members, Chellis E. Hooker, county 
 judge of Hancock county, died at Car- 
 thage, Illinois, July 23, 1901, of laryng 
 consumption. He was born at Carthage! 
 November 9, 1870, and, therefore, he was 
 not thirty-one years of age at his untime- 
 ly death. He was unmarried. The son 
 of William C. Hooker, an honored mem- 
 ber of the Hancock county bar, he was 
 reared the idol of his family. He was 
 devoted to his mother, whose gentle in- 
 fluence was removed by the hand of death 
 a few years ago. 
 
 "Going west in 1887, and returning sev- 
 eral years after, young Hooker studied 
 law in his father's office, and also at- 
 tended the Northwestern Law School at 
 Chicago, where he graduated in 1893, 
 having already been examined and been 
 admitted to the bar in March of that 
 year. He then commenced the practice 
 of law as a partner with his father, un- 
 der favorable auspices. In 1897 ne was 
 elected city attorney of Carthage, win- 
 ning such popular esteem that in 1898 
 he was elected county judge of Hancock 
 county, when but twenty-eight years of 
 age. He joined in organizing this asso- 
 ciation. He gave general satisfaction in 
 the discharge of his official duties. The 
 high personal regard borne for him and 
 his family led all parties to unite in elect- 
 ing, without opposition, his father, Wil- 
 
 Ham C. Hooker, as his successor in office 
 for the unexpired term a deserved but 
 unusual tribute. 
 
 "Of fine instincts, ambitions and intel- 
 ligence, by dint of energy and industry, 
 Judge C. E. Hooker stood well forward 
 at the Hancock county bar, long noted for 
 its ability and high character. Sincere 
 and lovable, gifted with all manly quali- 
 ties, his home life was ideal. True to his 
 friends, generous and charitable in dis- 
 ,pqsffcon, affable in his official work, he 
 ^^"'fteservedly popular in the commu- 
 ni^'tv*fiere he lived and with all with 
 who'Hj, he came in contact. His career, 
 able arfijionorable, but all too brief, com- 
 mands our highest eulogy. He lived no- 
 bly. We pay him fitting tribute. His 
 life work is done. He rests in peace. 
 
 "To his venerable father, Hon. William 
 C. Hooker, chosen by a grateful public as 
 his son's successor, we extend our heart- ' 
 felt sympathy in his recent and bitter be- 
 reavements, with regret that his son's as- 
 pirations had no longer term in which to 
 realize more fully his professional ideals." 
 
 JOEL BAILEY. 
 
 Joel Bailey, residing on a farm of one 
 hundred and two acres in Pilot Grave 
 township, which he is cultivating in con- 
 nection with his son, was born in La 
 Harpe township, this county, January 22, 
 1842, his parents being John F. and Mary 
 (Thompson) Bailey. The father was 
 born in Ohio, and the mother in Virginia,
 
 564 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the year 1836 witnessing their arrival in 
 Illinois, at which time they located in 
 Pilot Grove township. After some years 
 the}' removed to La Harpe township 
 where they resided for three years but 
 returned to Pilot Grove township. The 
 maternal grandfather, Elton Thompson, 
 was the owner of one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land. Upon his death this property 
 was inherited by his daughter, Mrs. 
 Bailey, who was his only heir. The fam- 
 ily then removed to the farm, which Mr. 
 Bailey cultivated for many years. At 
 length the property was sold and another 
 farm was purchased near Burnside, com- 
 prising sixty-nine acres, upon which Mr. 
 Bailey continued to reside for a consid- 
 erable period. He died near Adrian in 
 Rock Creek township, at the age of sev- 
 enty-nine years and thus passed away one 
 of the well known pioneer settlers of the 
 county. His early political support was 
 given to the Whig party and on its dis- 
 solution he became a republican. For 
 several years he filled the office of justice 
 of the peace. He belonged to the Bap- 
 tist church, while his wife held member- 
 ship in the Methodist church. 
 
 Joel Bailey remained with his parents 
 until about fourteen years of age, when 
 his mother died and the household was 
 broken up. He afterward worked for a 
 short time on a neighboring farm and 
 then began learning the blacksmith's 
 trade but when the Civil war was inaugu- 
 rated he responded to the country's call, 
 enlisting in July, 1861, as a member of 
 Company G, Second Illinois Cavalry. 
 When his term with that regiment had 
 expired he joined Company K, of the 
 One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois In- 
 
 fantry and served until the close of the 
 war, being sergeant of his company. He 
 was one of the soldiers who guarded the 
 body of Abraham Lincoln while it lay. 
 in state at the capitol at Springfield, and 
 also acted as guard at the tomb. He 
 took part in a number of battles and en- 
 gagements, including the siege of Vicks- 
 burg. After the war he returned to this 
 
 
 
 county, where he has since lived, giving 
 his time and attention to general farm- 
 ing and also working at the blacksmith's 
 trade and at painting, which he has fol- 
 lowed for many years. For three years 
 he followed his trade in Carthage and 
 then returned to Pilot Grove township, 
 where at different times he has owned 
 a number of farms, having now one hun- 
 dred and ten acres of good land which 
 which he is operating in connection with 
 his son. 
 
 Mr. Bailey was married January i, 
 1867, to Miss Carrie E. Phelps, who was 
 born in New York. They have become 
 the parents of seven children, of whom 
 five are living. Maud is the wife of 
 Jacob Schneider, of Niota, Illinois, and 
 has two children, Joel Dean and Robert 
 Kent. Leonard resides in Oklahoma. 
 William P. resides on the home farm and 
 aids in its operation. Florence is the wife 
 of Guy Harris, a farmer of Rock Creek 
 township, and has two children, Thelma 
 and Ercell. James died at the age of 
 eleven years. John died at the age of 
 fourteen years. Pearl, the youngest 
 child, resides at home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are members of 
 the Methodist church and he votes with 
 the Republican party but has never cared 
 for office. He has seen many important
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 565 
 
 changes made in Hancock county and has 
 done his full share toward its improve- 
 ment. At the same time he made a cred- 
 itable record in military service of his 
 country and throughout his life has mani- 
 tested a spirit of loyalty that is most 
 commendable. 
 
 JOHN H. GARNER. 
 
 John H. Garner, comfortably situated 
 in life as the result of his capable busi- 
 ness management and enterprise, his 
 home being Augusta township, was born 
 near Clayton, in Adams county, Illinois, 
 May 15, 1846. His parents, William 
 and Elizabeth (Garner) Garner, were 
 natives of Indiana, born in the vicinity 
 of Terre Haute. They were representa- 
 tives of pioneer families of that part of 
 the county, and the grandfather and the 
 father of our subject both lived in log 
 houses, which were covered with shingles 
 that they themselves shaved. William 
 Garner, the grandfather, was ninety-five 
 years of age when he passed away at his 
 son's home near Denver, Illinois. He 
 was a soldier in the war of 1812, and he 
 lived under every presidential adminis- 
 tration from Washington to Cleveland, 
 his death occurring in 1888. He was 
 married in 1817 to Sarah Robbinson and 
 emigrated westward to Illinois in 1831, 
 becoming a pioneer resident of Hancock 
 county and one who contributed in sub- 
 stantial measure to its early development, 
 when it was still a frontier district. He 
 
 was not the only member of the family 
 who has done military service for the 
 country, for James and George Garner, 
 brothers of our subject, were soldiers of 
 the Union army in the Civil war, the lat- 
 ter serving for about eight months. The 
 former enlisted in 1861, and being cap- 
 tured, was held as a prisoner in both 
 Libby and Andersonville prisons. Mr. 
 Garner of this review also occupied a 
 home in his early life that was built of 
 logs. William Garner was a farmer by 
 occupation and coming to Illinois when 
 about twenty-two years of age settled in 
 Adams county when it was a frontier dis- 
 trict. In 1848 he removed to Hancock 
 county, where he lived until his death. 
 He was laid to rest in West Point ceme- 
 tery, while his wife was buried in Adams 
 county near Hebron church. Both were 
 members of the Methodist church and 
 were people of the highest respectability 
 and worth. They had seven children, of 
 whom the following still survive: Fran- 
 ces, the widow of Rev. N. A. Walker, 
 and a resident of Beloit, Kansas ; James 
 R., living in West Point, Illinois; John 
 H., of this review; George, of Red Cloud, 
 Nebraska ; and Fletcher, of Quincy, Illi- 
 nois. 
 
 John H. Garner at the usual age be- 
 gan his education, pursuing his studies in 
 West Point (Illinois) district schools. 
 He afterward remained with his parents 
 until twenty years of age and was then 
 married, in 1866, to Miss Angeline Blake, 
 who was born in this county, December 
 28, 1846, a daughter of Gideon and Mary 
 Blake. Her father was of German par- 
 entage, while her mother was born in the 
 east. He followed farming in order to
 
 5 66 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 provide for his family and both he and 
 his wife have now passed away, his death 
 having occurred about fifteen years ago, 
 while his wife died twenty years ago. 
 They had ten children, four of whom are 
 now living : Ellen, the wife of Marion 
 Bagley, of Chicago ; Joseph, of Kansas ; 
 Cora, the wife of John Adams, of John- 
 son county, Missouri; and Enoch, who 
 lives in Colorado. 
 
 On the 4th of July, 1873, Mrs. Garner 
 departed this life, leaving a son, James 
 Edward, who was born in Chili township, 
 December 23, 1866. He married Miss 
 Rosa Symmonds, and lives in Monroe 
 county, Missouri. They have four chil- 
 dren, Helen Ethel, Ernest Ell wood (de- 
 ceased), Luella and John Edward. On 
 the 3d of December, 1874, Mr. Gamer 
 was again married, his second union be- 
 ing with Miss Mary F. Dudman, who 
 was born in Clark county, Indiana, Sep- 
 tember 17, 1846, a daughter of Robert 
 Jackson and Phoebe Ann (Mills) Dud- 
 man, the former born in Adams county, 
 Indiana, March 13, 1821, and the latter 
 in Pennsylvania, October 30, 1818. Mr. 
 Dudman was a cooper by trade and also 
 followed the occupation of farming. In 
 1849 he became a resident of Adams 
 county, Illinois, and while carrying on 
 general agricultural pursuits there he also 
 found time and opportunity to take an 
 active part in the work of the Methodist 
 church, of which he was a member and 
 in which he served as class leader and 
 steward. He died December 28, 1873. 
 leaving his family the priceless heritage 
 of an untarnished name, and his wife, 
 a most estimable lady, passed away May 
 25, 1861, both being laid to rest in Chili 
 
 cemetery. They had eight children, of 
 whom five are now living: Mrs. Gar- 
 ner; Thomas, of Macomb, Illinois; Anna 
 E., the wife of J. A. Veach, of Blooming- 
 ton, Illinois; Lizzie Koehler, of Eltler- 
 ville, Illinois ; and William Finley, who 
 lives in Roanoke, this state, and is a min- 
 ister of the Methodist church. 
 
 At the time of his first marriage Mr. 
 Garner located in Chili township, where 
 he lived until 1869, when he removed to 
 a farm in Johnson county, Missouri, there 
 spending three years. In 1873 he re- 
 turned to Hancock county and for six- 
 teen years made his home upon another 
 farm in Chili township, coming thence to 
 Augusta township in 1892, when he pur- 
 chased forty acres of land on section 18, 
 and twenty-five acres on section 7. He 
 has since added to the home place and 
 he now owns forty acres on section 8. 
 He has improved his residence, built good 
 barns and outbuildings and has a well 
 equipped farm property, the main fea- 
 tures of which indicate his careful su- 
 pervision and spirit of thrift and enter- 
 prise. His attention is given not only to 
 the development of the fields but also to 
 stock-raising, and he likewise has four 
 acres in a peach orchard, containing one 
 thousand fine young trees, which in the 
 present year, 1906, have borne bounti- 
 fully. This is one of the finest orchards 
 in the county. In the work of carrying 
 on his farm he displays thorough knowl- 
 edge of agricultural interests and as all 
 who know him are aware, his property 
 has come to him as the legitimate reward 
 of his persistence and labor. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Garner are the parents 
 of a daughter and two sons, all born in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 567 
 
 Chili township but Helen Ann, who was 
 born December I, 1875, died April 15, 
 1895. Orville Ellwood, born June 13, 
 1878, is mail carrier on the Augusta 
 rural route No. 2. Fred Garfield, born 
 June 25, 1880, married Mittie Catherine 
 McGinnis, and lives in Augusta township. 
 They have two children, Martin Henry 
 and Elbert Ellwood. Besides their own 
 children Mr. and Mrs. Gamer have 
 reared a little daughter, Ruth Tucker, 
 who came to them when two years of age 
 and is now twelve years old. She was 
 born November 28, 1894. Mr. Garner 
 votes with the Republican party and has 
 served as township collector and as a 
 member of the school board. He and 
 his wife are members of the Methodist 
 church and their salient characteristics 
 are such that all who know them speak 
 of them in terms of warm regard and 
 admiration. They have worked persist- 
 ently together in the building of a home 
 and the acquirement of a comfortable 
 competence and are now pleasantly situ- 
 ated in life. 
 
 WILLIAM BAGBY. 
 
 Long years have come and gone since 
 William Bagby took up his abode in Han- 
 cock county and few men are more fa- 
 miliar with the history of its development 
 and upbuilding. What to others are mat- 
 ters of history are to him events of ac- 
 tual experience or else he has been a wit- 
 ness of those movements which have left 
 36 
 
 their impress upon the development and 
 progress of the county. He passed the 
 ninetieth year of his age on October II, 
 1906, and is one of the most venerable 
 and honored citizens of this part of the 
 state. His birth occurred in Lewis 
 county, Kentucky, October 11, 1816, and 
 he there resided until twenty-two years 
 of age, his parents being Robert and 
 Frances Bagby, both of whom were na- 
 tives of Virginia, whence they removed 
 to Kentucky in an early period in the de- 
 velopment of the latter state. The father 
 engaged in farming throughout his entire 
 life and both he and his wife passed 
 away in Kentucky, his death occurring 
 when he was about forty-five years of 
 age, while his wife reached the advanced 
 age of seventy years. In religious faith 
 they were connected with the Methodist 
 church. 
 
 William Bagby acquired his education 
 in the county of his nativity. No event 
 of special importance occurred to vary the 
 routine of farm life for him in his boy- 
 hood days. He assisted in the labors of 
 the 'farm and met the usual experiences 
 of life in" a frontier community. In May, 
 1838, he came to Illinois to visit his sister 
 and brother-in-law, who had removed to 
 this state in 1836. Here he formed the 
 acquaintance of Miss Eliza Warring, a 
 daughter of Basel and Sarah (Thomp- 
 son) Warring, and they were united in 
 marriage on the 29th of November, 1838. 
 Her parents were natives of Greenup 
 county, Kentucky, where they spent near- 
 ly their entire lives, the father following 
 the occupation of farming (throughout 
 his entire business career. They came to 
 Illinois in 1835, settling in Adams county,
 
 568 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 where he devoted his energies to general 
 agricultural pursuits until his death. 
 Both he and his wife died at an advanced 
 age. Mrs. Bagby was educated in the 
 schools of Adams county, where she lived 
 until her marriage. In April, 1839, Mr. 
 ' and Mrs. Bagby started on their way to 
 Kentucky, traveling on horseback. They 
 went as far as Frederick on the Illinois 
 river and there took a boat for St. Louis, 
 Missouri. On the way down the river, 
 the night being quite dark, the boat ran 
 upon a snag and sprang a leak. The 
 pilot, being informed of the accident, 
 made for the shore where the deck hands 
 succeeded in fastening a hauser rope on 
 the outside and over the hurricane roof 
 and made fast to a nearby tree. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Bagby were the first passengers to 
 leave the boat and they remained sitting 
 on their baggage for two hours, when an- 
 other boat came along on the way to 
 Cincinnati, which took all passengers on 
 the illfated boat aboard, so that they soon 
 arrived safely in Cincinnati. In 1840 
 their first child was born and they honored 
 it with the names of both grandmothers, 
 calling the little girl Sarah Frances. 
 Soon after this Mr. and Mrs. Bagby re- 
 turned to Illinois and settled in Adams 
 county, where he engaged in farming and 
 later purchased forty acres in Hancock 
 county, afterward an eighty-acre tract in 
 this county and also one hundred and 
 sixty acres in^\dams county. He placed 
 many improvements upon his farm, mak- 
 ing his home in Adams county for a num- 
 ber of years, after which he removed to 
 Augusta township just east of the village 
 of Augusta. In 1854 he took up his abode 
 in the village, where he conducted a tavern 
 
 for a number of years called the Augusta 
 Tavern, which was the predecessor of the 
 Commercial Hotel. As a landlord he be- 
 came widely known to the early settlers 
 and entertained a number of prominent 
 men in his day. At length, however, he 
 traded the tavern for a farm west of 
 Augusta, whereon he resided for about 
 six years. About 1885 he again located 
 in the village of Augusta, where he has 
 since lived a retired life, occupying a 
 pleasant home in which he is surrounded 
 by the comforts and luxuries that go to 
 make life worth the living. 
 
 Nine children, five daughters and foir 
 sons were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Bagby. 
 Sarah Frances, the eldest, born June 16, 
 1840, is now the wife of William Mcr 
 and resides in Estherville, Iowa. She has 
 three children. Emmet, Maud and Homer. 
 Mary Caroline, born November 21, 1842, 
 is the widow of William Pickens and has 
 six children, Frank, Luella, Nettie, Ora, 
 Bertie and William. William Wallace, 
 born May 23, 1845, died May 5, 1878. 
 He left one child, Edgar, who is still liv- 
 ing. Cynthia Ellen, born October 7, 1850, 
 is the wife of Samuel Osgood, of Ewing. 
 Missouri, and they have the follow- 
 ing children : George, Frederick, Harry, 
 May, Frank, Nellie, James, Edward, 
 Earl and Pearl, twins, and Gladys. Mar- 
 garet Elizabeth, born November 22, 1848, 
 is the widow of William Wade and they 
 have two children, Lida and Edward. 
 John C. had one child, Myrtie. John C. 
 died at the age of thirty-three years. 
 Charles F. is a farmer residing in Mis-" 
 souri. He has three children, Harold. 
 William and Effie. Basil, born May 31, 
 1 86 1, is a merchant of Skidmore, Mis-
 
 PI AN COCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 569 
 
 souri. He has six children, Minnie, 
 Homer, James, Addie and two others. 
 Addie L., born January 21, 1864, is the 
 widow of James Byrns, of Brown county, 
 Illinois. She has three children, Edna, 
 Harvey and Bennie. 
 
 Xovember 29, 1898, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bagby celebrated their sixtieth wedding 
 anniversary and on Thanksgiving day, 
 November 29, 1906. their sixty-eighth. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Bagby are members 
 of the Christian church. In politics Mr. 
 Bagby is a republican and for many years 
 was a school director in Augusta town- 
 ship but otherwise sought or held no 
 office, although he is a most public-spirited 
 citizen and has been the champion of 
 many movements which have been of di- 
 rect benefit to his town and county. He 
 and his wife reside in a pleasant home in 
 Augusta and although he is ninety years 
 of age he is a well preserved man, retain- 
 ing his mental faculties unimpaired and 
 in spirit and interests seems yet in his 
 prime. He has never worn eyeglasses 
 and writes a hand that few today can 
 equal and he is able to read well by lamp- 
 light. He uses no tobacco in any form 
 or intoxicating liquors and his good 
 health is undoubtedly attributable largely 
 to his abstemious habits and his life of 
 sobrietv arid virtue. 
 
 JOSEPH W. BOTTS. 
 
 Joseph W. Botts is the owner of a 
 most beautiful home on St. Marys Prai- 
 
 rie and is one of the leading and influen- 
 tial residents of the city and county. He 
 was born in Hancock township in 1863, 
 and is a representative of one of the old- 
 est pioneer families of the county, his fa- 
 ther, Absalom Botts, having lived for 
 seventy consecutive years in Hancock 
 township. He was born in Boone county, 
 Kentucky, June 7, 1828, and with his 
 parents came to Illinois in 1836. His en- 
 tire life has been devoted to agricultural 
 pursuits and he has contributed in large 
 measure to the development of the county 
 along this line. In community affairs 
 he has also taken an active and helpful 
 part and has served as justice of the 
 peace, as a member of the school board, 
 as road commissioner, as assessor, treas- 
 urer of his township and village trustee. 
 He married Miss Sarah White, and they 
 became the parents of six children, of 
 whom five are living: Maria, the wife 
 of Frank Yates, of Oklahoma ; Belle, the 
 wife of Robert Cloud, a druggist of 
 Plymouth ; Joseph W. ; J. C, who wedded 
 Verna Cannon and lives in Plymouth; 
 and Ira, who was educated in Carthage 
 and in Macomb, Illinois, and in the Chi 
 cago Medical College, and is now engaged 
 in the practice of medicine in Doddsville, 
 this state. He married Clara Wheeler. 
 The parents continued to reside upon the 
 old home farm until 1891, when they re- 
 moved to Plymouth and for some time 
 Mr. Botts conducted a cider and feed 
 mill there but is now living retired. After 
 losing his first wife he married Mrs. 
 Rachel Crump, the widow of Dr. Morris 
 Crump, and a sister of his first wife. Her 
 parents were Joseph and Maria (Arm- 
 strong) White. The family has a cred-
 
 570 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 itable military record. Mills Kelts, a 
 great-uncle of our subject, was a soldier 
 of the war of 1812, and the great-grand- 
 father in the maternal line was one of the 
 heroes of the Revolution, while Simeon, 
 Oscar and Sidney Botts, cousins of our 
 subject, entered the Civil war from Han- 
 cock county, while one other cousin, Sid- 
 ney Botts, was a member of the Eight- 
 eenth Illinois Infantry. 
 
 In taking up the personal history of 
 Joseph W. Botts we present to our read- 
 ers the life record of one who has a wide 
 and favorable acquaintance in Hancock 
 county. The district schools of St. 
 Marys township afforded him his early 
 educational privileges and he afterward 
 spent one term as a student in Macomb, 
 Illinois. He then remained upon his fa- 
 ther's farm until he had attained his ma- 
 jority, when he engaged in farming on 
 his own account and has since devoted his 
 time and energies to agricultural pur- 
 suits. In 1893 Mr. Botts wedded Mrs. 
 Orrilla Gould, the widow of Lewis Gould, 
 She bore the maiden name of Orrilla 
 Johnson, and was born in St. Marys 
 township in 1856. Her paternal grand- 
 father was Otho Johnson, who was born 
 February 18, 1787, and came to Illinois 
 at a very early day, settling in St. Marys 
 township, where the youngest brother of 
 Mrs. Botts now lives. He married Mar- 
 garet Turner, who was born August 9, 
 1793, and who passed away in 1838, 
 while his death occurred September 15, 
 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Botts now live on 
 the old Johnson homestead, which be- 
 longed to her parents and where her 
 grandfather, Mr. Otho Johnson, died. 
 Mrs. Botts is a daughter of John T. and 
 
 Marie (Wright) Johnson, both of whom 
 were natives of Ohio, born in 1813 and 
 1818 respectively. They became resi- 
 dents of St. Marys township in 1840, and 
 Mr. Johnson participated in the Mormon 
 war. His death occurred in 1883, and 
 his wife passed away in 1898. They were 
 devoted members of St. Marys Baptist 
 church. Of their family of ten children 
 four are living: Hiram and Joseph, res- 
 idents of Plymouth ; John Nelson, of St. 
 Marys township; and Mrs. Botts. By 
 her first marriage Mrs. Botts had two 
 children : John Gould, who is a mechan- 
 ical engineer in St. Louis, Missouri ; and 
 Nellie Gould, who is living with her 
 mother. The son attended Carthage Col- 
 lege for four years and is a graduate of 
 Cornell College at Ithaca, New York. 
 He is a man of much ability and is now 
 holding a responsible position in St. 
 Louis, which reflects great credit upon his 
 early training. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Botts set- 
 tled on section 10, St. Marys township, 
 where he and his wife own three hundred 
 and sixty-eight acres of valuable land in 
 the midst of which stands one of the 
 finest homes in the township. It is mod- 
 ern in all its equipments and appoint- 
 ments and is most beautifully furnished, 
 indicating the refined and cultured taste 
 of the inmates. Mr. Botts gives his at- 
 tention to general farming and is also 
 extensively engaged in raising stock, 
 carefully conducting his business affairs 
 with the result that his efforts are prov- 
 ing very profitable. Unto the marriage 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Botts has been born one 
 son, Paul, whose birth occurred Septem- 
 ber 15, 1895, and who is now attending
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 school. In his political views Mr. Botts 
 is rather independent, voting for men 
 and measures rather than party. He is 
 now serving on the school board but has 
 never sought or desired office. In 1900 
 he built his fine residence, which would 
 be a credit to any city, for it contains all 
 of the conveniences and accessories of 
 a city home and gives every evidence of 
 the wealth and culture of those who oc- 
 cupy it. 
 
 ANDREW J. KETCHUM. 
 
 Andrew J. Ketchum is the well known 
 and popular proprietor of the Wildwood 
 farm in Augusta township, where he is 
 successfully engaged in the breeding and 
 raising of fine horses. His life record be- 
 gan on the 29th of March, 1836, the place 
 of his nativity being near Goshen, Orange 
 county, New York. His parents were 
 Edmund and Jane (Curry) Ketchum. 
 The father was born December 31, 1811, 
 and the mother's birth occurred about 
 1816 or 1818. They were also natives of 
 Orange county, where the father fol- 
 lowed farming until 1838, when he 
 brought his family to this county, set- 
 tling in Augusta township, his home be- 
 ing a log cabin on the frontier. The fam- 
 ily shared in many of the hardships and 
 privations as well as the pleasures and 
 opportunities incident to pioneer life, and 
 Mr. Ketchum figured in the events which 
 are known in history as the Mormon war. - 
 He voted with the Republican party. He 
 passed away in 1896, being buried at 
 
 Postsville, Iowa, while his wife departed 
 this life in Chicago, at the age of thirty- 
 six years. They were the parents of 
 seven children, all of whom still survive, 
 and in 1905 they held a reunion in Iowa, 
 representing seven states. These are: 
 Mary R., the wife of Lyonsville, of -Cook 
 county, Illinois; Andrew J. ; Phineas R., 
 living in Idaho ; Eugene died at Wa- 
 verly, Iowa, November 17, 1906; Amos 
 K., of Clarion, Iowa; Stella B., the 
 wife of William Stewart, of Fayette, 
 Iowa; Ellen, the wife of William Marten, 
 of Oklahoma ; Florence, the wife of Fred 
 Burling, of Postville, Iowa ; and Jo- 
 sephine, the wife of H. Moody, of Greens- 
 burg, Indiana. The two last named were 
 children of a second marriage. 
 
 Andrew J. Ketchum was educated in 
 the early schools of Chicago, and also 
 in the district schools in this state. At 
 the age of fourteen years, however, he 
 began to earn his own living, spending 
 three years in the service of a horseman 
 in Chicago and three years with a black- 
 smith near that city, with whom he 
 learned the trade. He afterward fol- 
 lowed that pursuit for one year in Pu- 
 laski, and for ten years conducted a black- 
 smith shop in LaPrairie, Illinois. In Au- 
 gust. 1862, he enlisted in response to the 
 country's call for aid, becoming a mem- 
 ber of the One Hundred and Nineteenth 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which 
 he served until honorably discharged -in 
 September, 1865. He was in the Red 
 river campaign, the battle of Pleasant 
 Hill and Yellow Bayou, was with Sher- 
 man on the march to the sea and was cap- 
 tured in Tennessee, after which he was 
 paroled in St. Louis. He was a brave
 
 572 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIRIV 
 
 and loyal soldier, never faltering in the 
 performance of any military duty, and 
 made a record of which he has every rea- 
 son to be proud as one of the defenders 
 of the Union during the Civil war. 
 
 Soon after his return home Mr. 
 Ketchum was married in March, 1866, 
 to Miss Annie Sickles, who was born 
 in Augusta township in 1844, a daughter 
 of William and Caroline (Van Antwerp) 
 Sickles. Her father was born in New 
 York city in 1805, and the mother in 
 1822. In 1840 he became a resident of 
 Hancock county, where they were after- 
 ward married, and in the Mormon war of 
 1844 they took part. He was a tailor by 
 trade but following his removal to the 
 middle west engaged in farming in Au- 
 gusta township. He voted with the Re- 
 publican party, and held membership in 
 the United Brethren church, while his 
 wife belonged to the Methodist church. 
 In their family were eight children, of 
 whom five are living : Mary, the wife of 
 William H. Ketchum, whose home is near 
 Durango, Colorado; Margaret, of New 
 York ; Sarah, living near St. Louis ; and 
 William, of this county. The father died 
 in 1873 and was then laid to rest in Au- 
 gusta cemetery, where his wife had slept 
 since 1852. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ketchum settled in LaPrairie, where he 
 conducted a blacksmith shop for ten or 
 twelve years, after which they located on 
 the Sickles farm. This property he sold, 
 however, in 1905, and in 1904 he pur- 
 chased his present farm of one hundred 
 and forty acres on section 32, and three 
 hundred and twenty acres on sections 33 
 and 34, Augusta township. He is there- 
 
 fore one of the large landowners of the 
 county and is extensively engaged in gen- 
 eral farming, conducting his business with 
 excellent success. In 1905 he erected a 
 commodious, substantial and attractive 
 modern residence, and he also has large 
 outbuildings for the shelter of grain and 
 stock. His improvements are entirely 
 modem and indicate the progressive spirit 
 of the owner. He uses the latest im- 
 proved machinery to facilitate the work 
 of the fields and he manifests a spirit of 
 thrift in all departments of farm work. 
 He is, however, perhaps best known as a 
 dealer in fine horses. He rents his land, 
 while he gives his attention to his live 
 stock interests, which are now very im- 
 portant and profitable. He raised and 
 owns the horse, Star Alerton, 2:ij l /4, 
 quite a popular horse. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ketchum have 
 been born eight children, of whom seven 
 are living, the second child, Ellis, having 
 been born November 17, 1867, and died 
 at the age of eight months. The others 
 are as follows : Eugene, born December 
 10, 1866, married Iva Robbins, has one 
 son, Frederick, lives in Adams county, 
 Illinois. Florence, born December 13, 
 1868, is the wife of C. F. Tenhaeff, of La- 
 Prairie, Illinois, and they have three 
 sons, Arthur, Hale and Ralph. Loretta, 
 born February 5, 1873, is the wife of Rev. 
 Joseph Leidy, a Methodist minister 
 preaching in Benson, Nebraska, and they 
 have three children, Grace, Edna and 
 Paul. Richard B., born June 10, 1875, 
 married Lulu Pierce, and lives on the 
 western boundary of Idaho. He is a divi- 
 sion engineer on the Oregon Short Line 
 Railroad and thev have one son. Pierce.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 573 
 
 lulna, born September i. 1877, is a ste- 
 nographer and typewriter at Walla Walla, 
 Washington. Adele, born August 24, 
 1879, has taught school and is a gradu- 
 ate of the law class of 1900 of the State 
 University, and is at home at present. 
 She was admitted to the bar in this state 
 in 1901. Ellen, born December 16, 1885, 
 is a graduate of the State University and 
 now a practicing physician at Walla 
 Walla, Washington. Richard, also a 
 graduate of the State' University, is a 
 civil and architectural engineer. The 
 parents are members of the Methodist 
 church, in which Mr. Ketchum is serving 
 as trustee, and he belongs to the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity, while in politics he is 
 a Bryan democrat. In manner he is ge- 
 nial and jovial, and these qualities make 
 him popular with all with whom he comes 
 in contact, and as an enterprising busi- 
 ness man and progressive citizen and a 
 loyal friend he is well known in the com- 
 munity where is extended to him the 
 warm regard of all with whom he comes 
 in contact. 
 
 D. L. FRAZEE, D. D. S. 
 
 Dr. D. L. Frazee is the mayor of Ply- 
 mouth and a most prominent citizen there. 
 He wields a wide influence in public 
 affairs and his efforts have been far-reach- 
 ing and beneficial, while in his profes- 
 sional career he has gained more than 
 local reputation by his able understanding 
 of the scientific principles which underlie 
 his work and his correct application of 
 
 his theoretical knowledge to the needs of 
 his patrons. Born in St. Mary's town- 
 ship, Hancock county, in 1874, he is a 
 .son of S. G. and Eliza (Kurry) Frazee. 
 The father's birth occurred in Hancock 
 county, Illinois, in 1843, and the mother 
 was born here in the same year. Mr. 
 Frazee is a farmer by occupation and still 
 lives upon the old homestead, which was 
 his birthplace. Both he and his wife are 
 leading members of the Providence Bap- 
 tist church, in which he is serving as 
 clerk and deacon. In their family are 
 four children, of whom three are living : 
 Mary F., now the wife of William Win- 
 termeyer, a resident of Plymouth ; Emma 
 J., the wife of William Clary, of Coshoc- 
 ton, Ohio; and D. L., of this review. 
 
 Dr. Frazee supplemented his early edu- 
 cational privileges by study in the Gem 
 City Business College, at Quincy. and in 
 a dental college at St. Louis. He was 
 also a student in the dental department of 
 the Illinois University at Chicago and 
 entered upon the active practice of his 
 profession in Quincy, where he remained 
 for three years. In February, 1901, he 
 came to Plymouth, where he has since 
 been located and here he is enjoying a 
 constantly increasing patronage, so that 
 his practice is now of large extent and 
 importance. 
 
 On the 25th of January, ' 1904, was 
 celebrated the marriage of Dr. Frazee 
 and Miss Sarah Shinkle, who was born 
 in Harmony township, Hancock county, 
 March 27, 1876, and is a daughter of G. 
 W. and Ruth A. (Southwick) Shinkle, 
 the former a native of Ohio, and the latter 
 of Massachusetts. The father, who was 
 born in 1832, departed this life in 1902,
 
 574 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 while his wife, whose birth occurred in 
 1839, still lives upon the old home place 
 in Harmony township, this county. Mr. 
 Shinkle was president of the Harmony 
 Mutual Insurance Comapny at the time of 
 his death and he had held various town- 
 ship offices. In his family were three chil- 
 dren, all yet living: Mary, now the wife 
 of J. W. Fleming, of Harmony town- 
 ship; George B., of the same township; 
 and Mrs. Frazee. 
 
 L'nto the Doctor and his wife has been 
 born a daughter, Dorothy, whose birth 
 occurred May 20, 1905. The parents are 
 prominent socially and their own home 
 is justly celebrated for its warm-hearted 
 hospitality. Dr. Frazee is very promi- 
 nent in the public life of Plymouth, and 
 his influence has been far-reaching, while 
 his efforts have been of direct benefit to 
 the city in many ways. He is a stalwart 
 champion of the democracy and upon the 
 party ticket has twice been elected mayor 
 of the town, filling the position at the 
 present time and giving his fellow citizens 
 a public-spirited, progressive and busi- 
 ness-like administration. Fraternally he 
 is connected with the Masonic lodge, in 
 which he is a senior warden and his wife 
 is a member of the Congregational church. 
 They have a pleasant home in Plymouth 
 and are widely and favorably known 
 there. The 'Doctor is now devoting his 
 energies to a profession wherein advance- 
 ment must depend upon individual merit. 
 It cannot be obtained through influence or 
 purchase and by reason of his capability 
 and broad and accurate knowledge the 
 Doctor has gained a foremost place among 
 the ranks of the dental fraternity of this 
 part of the state. 
 
 JAMES M. BRADSHAW. 
 
 Among the wealthy citizens of Han- 
 cock county, who have formerly been rep- 
 resentatives of extensive agricultural 
 interests, is numbered James M. Brad- 
 shaw, owner of the Prairie stock farm, 
 which constitutes one of the valuable 
 properties of this section of the state, 
 comprising several hundred acres of land. 
 He was born in the township in which 
 he still makes his home, December 20. 
 1855, a son of Joel and Catherine (Dick- 
 son) Bradshaw, both natives of Tennes- 
 see, in whose family are four sons and 
 three daughters, of whom our subject is 
 the youngest. 
 
 James M. Bradshaw supplemented his 
 early education, acquired in the district 
 schools, by a course of study at the Illinois 
 College, at Jacksonville, and later pursued 
 a business course in a college at Jackson- 
 ville, from which he was graduated. He 
 remained with his parents until his mar- 
 riage, February 13, 1878, to Miss Tillie E. 
 Manifold, whose birth occurred August 
 2, 1859, a native of Durham township, 
 this county, and a daughter of Benjamin 
 Jasper and Cornelia (Hutton) Manifold, 
 natives of Tennessee and New York re- 
 spectively. Her paternal grandparents 
 were George and Mary (Persley) Mani- 
 fold, while her maternal grandfather was 
 a native of New York and bore the name 
 of Samuel Hutton. 
 
 Following his marriage our subject lo- 
 cated on a farm of one hundred and five 
 acres situated on section 30, La Harpe 
 township, on which were no improve- 
 ments save a house and stable, and some 
 fences, and altogether was in a dilapidated
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 575 
 
 and run-down condition. He at once be- 
 gan the work of further developing and 
 improving his place by tilling the land, 
 building barns and sheds for the shelter 
 of grain and stock and in course of time 
 placed his land under a high state of cul- 
 tivation, from which he annually gathered 
 good crops. As the years passed he 
 prospered in his undertakings, each year 
 adding to his financial resources, so that 
 from time to time he increased the bound- 
 aries of his farm and enlarged the scope 
 of his business activity. In 1894 he pur- 
 chased an additional tract of one hundred 
 and forty-five acres, located on the south- 
 western part of section 30, La Harpe 
 township, being the old homestead place, 
 and the following year removed to this 
 place, where he has continued his resi- 
 dence to the present time. He has like- 
 wise improved this place and has added 
 to it from time to time until today he is 
 in possession of five hundred acres of 
 valuable land all in one body and known 
 as the Prairie stock farm. Besides this 
 tract he owns one hundred acres on section 
 36, Durham township, and twenty acres 
 on section 19, La Harpe township, which 
 is used for pasturage. Mr. Bradshaw has 
 set out two fine orchards, containing va- 
 rious kinds of fruit trees, from which he 
 gathers good crops in their season, and he 
 erected a large country residence, con- 
 taining nine rooms, modern in all its 
 equipments and tastefully furnished, his 
 being one of the attractive country homes 
 of this part of the county. This place is 
 now occupied by his eldest son, James F. 
 Bradshaw. The place is surrounded by 
 a well-kept lawn, and adorned with large 
 shade trees, so that in its neat appearance 
 
 it at once gives evidence of the thrift and 
 capable management of the owner. He 
 has also built several barns, corn-cribs, 
 and other substantial outbuildings and has 
 drilled two wells, one of which is eighty 
 feet in depth, while the other is one hun- 
 dred and ninety-one feet deep, the water 
 in this standing to within thirty feet of 
 the surface, and thus furnishing an abun- 
 dant supply of water for use at the house 
 as well as for the stock, in the pastures 
 of which are seen Hereford and Polled 
 Angus cattle and Poland China hogs. It 
 will thus be seen that Mr. Bradshaw has 
 led a very busy, active and useful life, 
 which has been crowned with an unbound- 
 ed measure of success, which now enables 
 him to rest from the more arduous duties 
 of a rural existence, for since the spring 
 of 1906 he has left the conduct of the 
 farm to his sons, who, owing to the care- 
 ful instruction which they received from 
 their father, are now proving valuable 
 assistants to him in his later life. Beside 
 his extensive landed interests, Mr. Brad- 
 shaw is also a stockholder in the Waldorf 
 Mill and Mining Company, at George- 
 town. Colorado, buying stock in Decem- 
 ber, 1903, since which time the company 
 has been paying a good dividend. 
 
 Mr. Bradshaw is an extensive raiser 
 of high grade cattle and hogs and is also 
 a large feeder and shipper of stock to 
 the Chicago markets. He is a stockholder 
 in the First National Bank of La Harpe, 
 and is one of the directors of the bank. 
 
 Of the marriage of James M. and 
 Tillie E. (Manifold) Bradshaw there 
 were born two sons and a daughter, name- 
 ly : Lillian, who was born in November, 
 1879, and died in infancy: James F., who
 
 576 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 was born April 29, 1881, married Emma 
 May Goodrich, of Carthage, Illinois, and 
 has three children, James Franklin, Helen 
 May, and Charles Wesley; and Ouinton 
 M., who was born March 29, 1887, mar- 
 ried Bessie Maynard and has one child, 
 Florence Tillie. Both sons are farmers 
 and live in La Harpe township. The 
 mother of these children passed away No- 
 vember 17, 1903, and on the 25th of Oc- 
 tober, 1905, Mr. Bradshaw was married 
 again, his second union being with Ollie 
 Blanche Kelly, who was born at Zanes- 
 ville, in Muskingum county, Ohio. July 
 2 3> ^73- a daughter of Simeon and 
 Nancy (Williams) Kelly, likewise natives 
 of Muskingum county. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Bradshaw is a 
 democrat but has never been a politician 
 in the sense of office seeking. He has 
 always been an energetic, industrious 
 man, possessing strong purpose and deter- 
 mination, and has by his own well directed 
 labor and close application worked his 
 way steadily upward in the business 
 world, for his success has been worthily 
 won, and he is now numbered among the 
 wealthy and influential citizens of Han- 
 cock county. He and his wife are hospit- 
 able people and their pleasant home is the 
 favorite resort of a host of warm friends. 
 
 LAWRENCE TIMASHESKE. 
 
 Lawrence Timasheske, occupying a 
 good farm pleasantly located near Au- 
 gusta, is one of the adopted sons of Amer- 
 
 ica, who came to this country from the 
 fair land of Poland, and, improving the 
 opportunities offered, has advanced from 
 a humble position to one in which he 
 is enabled to surround himself and his 
 family with the comforts that go to make 
 life worth living. He was born in Po- 
 land in 1845, and is a son of Caisma and 
 Zofkar Kriskstofk Timasheske. who were 
 likewise natives of Poland. They came 
 to America in 1875, settling in La Salle 
 county, Illinois, where the father fol- 
 lowed the occupation of farming. In 
 their family were eleven children, of 
 whom seven are living : Andrew, Rosa, 
 Lawrence, Mahala, Buda, Nancy and 
 Karlof. The father died in 1901, while 
 his wife passed away in 1886, and both 
 were laid to rest at La Salle, Illinois. 
 
 Lawrence Timasheske acquired his ed- 
 ucation in the schools of Poland and re- 
 mained with his parents until he had at- 
 tained his majority, after which he served 
 in the German army in France and Ger- 
 many from 1871. The year 1873 wit- 
 nessed his emigration to the new world. 
 He settled upon a farm in Iowa, and in 
 1874 he located in Augusta, where for 
 some time he was employed by a Mr. Dex- 
 ter. In 1876 he chose a companion 
 and helpmate for life's journey, being 
 married in that year to Miss Martha 
 Woods, who was born in Hancock county, 
 Illinois, July 31, 1855, a daughter of 
 the Rev. Joseph and Orlena (Kirk) 
 Woods, the former a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania and the latter of Ohio. They came 
 at an early day to Illinois, and in their 
 family were seventeen children. In the 
 family of the maternal grandparents of 
 Mrs. Timasheske there were five sons
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 577 
 
 who were ministers of the gospel. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Woods were born nine chil- 
 dren : Martha, now the wife of our sub- 
 ject; Susan, the wife of George Holt, 
 of Augusta; Emma, the wife of Herbert 
 \\oods, of Galesburg; Amanda, the wife 
 of Thomas Cain, of Basco, Illinois; Jen- 
 nie, the wife of Charles Knott, of Basco, 
 Illinois; Belle, at home; James, residing 
 in Griggsville. Illinois; William, living in 
 Kansas City, Missouri ; and Melvin, of 
 Augusta, this county. Mr. Woods died 
 in 1905, and was buried in Plymouth, 
 where his widow still resides. 
 
 For seven years after his marriage Mr. 
 Tirnasheske resided upon a farm near 
 Augusta and then removed to the farm 
 whereon he now lives, purchasing two 
 hundred and forty acres of good land on 
 sections 16 and 17. He has greatly im- 
 proved and enlarged the home since that 
 time and has made many other substantial 
 additions to the farm in the way of good 
 buildings. He is a general farmer and 
 stock-raiser and each year he derives from 
 his labors a goodly living, owing to his 
 careful management and well directed ef- 
 forts. Unto him and his wife have been 
 born three children : Etta and Effie, 
 twins, born in 1878; and Damon, born 
 in 1886. All were born in Augusta town- 
 ship. Effie is the wife of Arland Web- 
 ster, who resides near Bowen, Illinois. 
 Damon wedded Dollie Dexter, and lives 
 in Augusta township. Mr. Timasheske 
 came to America a poor boy, but he read- 
 ily adapted himself to the changed condi- 
 tions of the new world, mastered the lan- 
 guage and has worked his way upward 
 through his energy and ability, stimu- 
 lated by a laudable ambition. He has 
 
 also been greatly assisted by his estima- 
 ble wife, who has indeed been a faithful 
 companion and helpmate to him on life's 
 journey. In the early days of his resi- 
 dence in this country he was very lone- 
 some and strongly desired to return to 
 his native land, but he persisted in his 
 purpose of establishing a new home in the 
 new world and is today most loyal in his 
 patriotism for his adopted country, where 
 he has found good opportunities that 
 have led to his success. Mr. Timasheske 
 has recently purchased residence property 
 in Augusta and now resides in that place. 
 
 HENRY FARNWALT BLACK. 
 
 To win the respect of one's fellowmen 
 is to live worthily and to enjoy the friend- 
 ship of those with whom he comes in con- 
 tact and is an indication of consideration 
 and kindliness on the part of the individ- 
 ual for his fellowmen. Such was the 
 career of Henry Farnwalt Black, who 
 did much to promote the good and pros- 
 perity of his county, while advancing his 
 private business interests. Viewed in any 
 relation of life his was an honorable ca- 
 reer and one of which his family have 
 every reason to be proud. He was born 
 in Milton, Northumberland county, 
 Pennsylvania, October 26, 1823, and was 
 there reared to manhood, coming to the 
 west in 1849 when about twenty-six 
 years of age. He spent some time in 
 Galena. Illinois, after which he made his
 
 5/8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 way to the pineries of Wisconsin, and was 
 there engaged in the lumber business for 
 six years. In 1857 he located in Dal- 
 las City, Illinois, and the following year 
 removed his family to his new home. He 
 continued in the lumber business in this 
 place for thirty years, or until 1888, when 
 on account of failing health he retired. 
 In 1890 he removed to Ness City, Kan- 
 sas, where he built a grain warehouse and 
 was furthermore connected with the com- 
 mercial and financial interests of that 
 place as president of the First National 
 Bank. At length, however, failing health 
 compelled him to retire from business al- 
 together. His life was one of activity 
 and enterprise, however, and his careful 
 management and keen discrimination 
 in business affairs combined with his dili- 
 gence and close application resulted in 
 the acquirement of a very handsome com- 
 petence, so that he was enabled to leave 
 his family in most comfortable circum- 
 stances. 
 
 On the isth of October, 1851, Mr. 
 Black was united in marriage to Miss 
 Mary Newel Bliss, at Warrensville, Du 
 Page county, Illinois, the wedding cere- 
 mony being performed by the Rev. Silas 
 Tucker. Mrs. Black was born in Berk- 
 shire county, Massachusetts, June 15, 
 1829, a daughter of Moses and Polly 
 (Carpenter) Bliss. In the maternal line 
 she was descended from ancestors who 
 fought in the Revolutionary war. while 
 her father was a soldier of the war of 
 1812. Mr. Bliss came west with his_fam- 
 ily when his daughter, Mrs. Black, was 
 but ten years of age, and the days of her 
 girlhood were passed in Warrensville. 
 An ideal marriage relation existed be- 
 
 tween herself and her husband, their mu- 
 tual love and confidence increasing as the 
 years went by. They had the rare privi- 
 lege of celebrating their golden wedding 
 at their old home in Dallas City, which 
 was then and is still occupied by their 
 daughter, Mrs. Charles Savage Shipman. 
 Almost another year of happy wedded life 
 was vouchsafed to them but on the i8th 
 of September, 1902, Mr. Black at his 
 home in Ness City, Kansas, departed this 
 life. His remains were brought back to 
 Dallas City for interment and he had so 
 endeared himself to the people of this 
 place and Hancock county that his death 
 was the occasion of uniform regret wher- 
 ever he was known. He was truly a self- 
 made man, for his parents died when he 
 was quite young and he was then thrown 
 upon his own resources. As the years 
 passed by his watchfulness of opportunity 
 and his utilization of the resources at his 
 command enabled him to make steady 
 progress in the business world and each 
 forward step brought him a broader out- 
 look and brighter opportunities. For 
 many years he controlled prosperous busi- 
 ness interests and thus left to his family 
 a handsome inheritance, but moreover he 
 gave to them as a priceless heritage an 
 untarnished name. In his home he was a 
 tender and devoted husband and a loving 
 father. He was faithful as a friend and 
 was generous to a fault but his benevo- 
 lence was of such a quiet and unostenta- 
 tious character that many times only the 
 recipients of his bounty were conscious 
 of it. He indeed in spirit and truth fol- 
 lowed the admonition not to let his- left 
 hand know what his right hand had done. 
 His life work was filled with manv deeds
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 579 
 
 of kindness and acts of mercy which en- 
 deared him to all who knew him. 
 
 As the years passed by six children were 
 added to the household of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Black, but only two are now living. Wil- 
 liam Henry, the eldest, died at the age 
 of two years. Benjamin F., deceased, 
 was the second in the family, and made 
 his home in Dallas, where he died De- 
 cember 19, 1905. Harry and Catherine 
 Farmvalt were twins, and the former died 
 at the age of two and a half years, while 
 the latter is the wife of Charles S. Ship- 
 man, of Dallas City, who is mentioned 
 elsewhere in this work. Philo Carpenter, 
 who died at the age of twenty-nine years, 
 was a graduate of Yale College and of 
 the Columbia Law School of New York. 
 He practiced law in Ness City, Kansas, 
 where he was elected county attorney, but 
 he died at the old family home in Dallas 
 City, Illinois, October 29, 1889. He had 
 been attending the Triennial Masonic 
 Conclave at Washington, D. C., and stop- 
 ping at his old home here he passed away 
 at the comparatively early age of twenty- 
 nine years, and was laid to rest in Dal- 
 las cemetery. Mary C., the youngest of 
 the family, is the wife of Samuel Bennett, 
 of Ness City, Kansas. She was born in 
 Dallas, January 9, 1862, and was edu- 
 cated at Rockford, Illinois, and in New 
 York city, being a graduate of one of 
 the best schools of the eastern metrop- 
 olis. In her girlhood days she was a 
 schoolmate of Mrs. William Jennings 
 Bryan, and acted as her bridesmaid, since 
 which time she has entertained Mrs. 
 Bryan in her own home. On the 2Qth of 
 February, 1888, Mary C. Black gave her 
 hand in marriage to George Burton, and 
 
 after his death she was married Decem- 
 ber 25, 1904, at the home of Mrs. B. F. 
 Black, in Dallas City, to Samuel Bennett, 
 a lumber and grain merchant of Ness 
 City, Kansas. Mrs. Bennett ivent into 
 the First National Bank of Ness City, 
 working for a salary of ten dollars per 
 month. She acted in that capacity for 
 a year, and at the end of the second year 
 bought out the owner of the bank and is 
 now the largest stockholder and also presi- 
 dent. She is also vice president of the 
 bank at Ransom, Kansas, and owns a cat- 
 tle ranch in that state. She is widely 
 recognized as a thorough and capable 
 business woman. She has been regent of 
 a chapter of the Daughters of the Ameri- 
 can Revolution, at Topeka, Kansas, and 
 is going to organize a chapter in Ness 
 City. . Mr. and Mrs. Black were charter 
 members of the Congregational church in 
 Dallas City, which was established in 
 1859, and Mrs. Black is now the only sur- 
 viving charter member. For many years 
 her husband was deacon in the church 
 and for a quarter of a century was Sun- 
 day-school superintendent. His polit- 
 ical allegiance was given to the Repub- 
 lican party but he never aspired to office. 
 As a private citizen, however, he did 
 much for public progress and for civic 
 virtue and ever co-operated in any move- 
 ment that was instituted for the public 
 good. His life was honorable, his actions 
 manly and sincere, and his motives pure 
 and upright. Mrs. Black shared with 
 her husband in all of his good work and 
 is of a kindly disposition, her many good 
 qualities having endeared her to all who 
 know her. She has ever been deeply 
 thoughtful of others and possesses a ready
 
 S8o 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 tact which arises only from true sympa- 
 thy. She makes her home with her 
 daughter, Mrs. Charles S. Shipman, of 
 Dallas, and with her daughter, Mrs. Ben- 
 nett, of Ness City, Kansas. 
 
 BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON. 
 
 Benjamin F. Johnson, deceased, was 
 one of the most distinguished residents of 
 Hancock county, not alone on account of 
 the splendid success he achieved and 
 which made him owner of twenty-three 
 hundred acres of land, but also on account 
 of his spirit of benevolence and philan- 
 thropy which prompted his bequest 
 to found and maintain a school in La 
 Harpe. In this he builded to his memory 
 a monument more enduring than any of 
 bronze or stone, for as long as the institu- 
 tion endures, its founder will be honored 
 by those who have benefited by his bene- 
 faction. 
 
 Tracing back the ancestry of the fam- 
 ily, it is found that early representatives 
 of the name lived in New England in 
 colonial days. His father, Joseph John- 
 son, who was born in Maine, in 1791, died 
 January 12, 1880, at a very venerable age. 
 He was married to Miss Betsey Mussic, 
 who was born in Maine, and died April 
 1 6, 1876. In 1836 they came west, jour- 
 neying in the slow stages of water travel, 
 and after reaching St. Louis, proceeded 
 up the river to Warsaw, and thence across 
 the country to La Harpe, where they con- 
 ducted a hotel for a number of years. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was a thrifty, hard-working 
 man and accumulated considerable prop- 
 erty, being considered a wealthy man at 
 the time of his death. Unto him and his 
 wife were born six children : Edwin R.. 
 born March 22, 1814, died August 29, 
 1835. A son died in infancy. Mrs. Har- 
 riet O. Hughes, born December 25, 1816. 
 died January 17, 1901. Augusta, wife of 
 Daniel Garner, was born March 24, 1819. 
 and died August 8. 1842. Mrs. Mary YV. 
 Wood, "born March 18, 1821, died in 
 Denver, Colorado, December 23, 1899. 
 Joseph, born March 15, 1823, left home 
 for the southwest to buy land, when a 
 young man and is supposed to have been 
 murdered. 
 
 Benjamin F. Johnson, whose name be- 
 gins this article was born in Maine, Jan- 
 uary 1 8, 1825, and came to Illinois with 
 his parents when ten years of age. He 
 was a student in the La Harpe schools, 
 for four years, after which he put aside 
 his text-books and gave his entire atten- 
 tion to work on his father's farm. At the 
 age of sixteen he became an apprentice in 
 his brother-in-law's blacksmith shop and 
 worked there until about 1846, when he 
 Went to California, where for several 
 years he was engaged in sheep-raising. 
 He returned to La Harpe a wealthy man 
 and invested his money in farm land and 
 stock. His first farm consisted of three 
 hundred and twenty acres adjoining the 
 village of Colusa, to which place he gave 
 the name. He continued adding to his 
 original purchase until at his death he 
 was the owner of over twenty-three hun- 
 dred acres in various parts of Hancock- 
 county. He also raised large herds of 
 Jersey cattle and many mules, but would
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, 
 
 never have hogs upon his place. He made 
 his second trip to California in 1852, 
 again going overland, and in later years 
 he made another trip with his wife, this 
 time traveling by rail. He remained for 
 a year in the Golden state and then re- 
 turned to La Harpe. About 1890 he 
 retired from active business and built a 
 home in La Harpe, where he remained 
 until his death. 
 
 Although he left school when quite 
 young Mr. Johnson was always a great 
 reader and thus became one of the best 
 educated men in his township, possessing 
 a wonderfully retentive memory. He 
 was never an office seeker but was re- 
 peatedly elected supervisor of his town- 
 ship and during his long term of service 
 never missed a meeting of the board. He 
 lived and loved a strenuous life and his 
 spacious farm, with its orchards, gardens, 
 lawns and fine buildings, was a model of 
 comfort and utility. When thus sur- 
 rounded by all that goes to make life 
 worth living he met with an accident 
 which rendered him a cripple. While 
 driving home with a load of lumber, the 
 wagon overturned and he was crushed 
 beneath the load, his hip being badly 
 injured". 
 
 Having secured a legal separation from 
 his wife Mr. Johnson, after several years, 
 married Mrs. Phoebe Green, who still 
 survives him. That marriage was cele- 
 brated October 19, 1874. She was born 
 in La Harpe township, April 26, 1839, 
 and was educated in the public schools. 
 Her parents were John and Flora L. 
 (Otman) Sperry, natives of Ohio, where 
 they were married, and then, in company 
 with their parents they came to this 
 
 county, casting in their lot with the early 
 settlers of La Harpe township. After op- 
 erating a rented farm for several years 
 they removed to La Harpe where Mr. 
 Sperry resumed work at the gunsmith's 
 trade, conducting a shop for a number of 
 years. Mr. Johnson, after a gradual de- 
 cline, lasting about a year, passed away 
 February 18, 1906, leaving a widow and 
 one daughter by his former marriage 
 Mrs. Clara (Johnson) Laswell,- for whom 
 he liberally provided through the terms 
 of his will during their lifetime. His 
 philanthropic spirit was manifest in his 
 generous gift of one hundred and fifty 
 thousand dollars for the maintenance of 
 a school in La Harpe, the tuition of which 
 must be free. What more fitting monu- 
 ment to the life of one who was himself 
 deprived of liberal educational advan- 
 tages and yet always had the utmost 
 interest in the schools and a high apprecia- 
 tion of their value as one of the bulwarks 
 of the nation. 
 
 M. E. RANDALL. 
 
 M. E. Randall, who is 'engaged ex- 
 tensively in buying, feeding and shipping 
 stock, resides in Augusta township, and 
 it was in this township that he was born 
 in 1864, his parents being John and 
 Sarah E. (Graham) Randall, both of 
 whom were natives of Ohio, the former 
 born in 1828, and the latter in 1838. 
 Choosing agricultural pursuits as a life 
 work John Randall was thus engaged in
 
 5 8 2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Ohio until 1850, when he came to Illinois 
 and made permanent location in Hancock 
 county. In 1852 he settled in Augusta 
 township, living first in a log cabin and it 
 was in such a pioneer home that the 
 birth of M. E. Randall occurred. The 
 father usually voted for the republican 
 candidates but was rather independent in 
 his political views and affiliation and fre- 
 quently cast his ballot for the men whom 
 he regarded as* best qualified for office 
 at local elections. He belonged to the 
 Methodist church, was active in the ex- 
 tension of its influence and served as one 
 of its trustees. He died in 1900 and was 
 buried in Augusta cemetery, while his 
 widow still lives, a resident of Bowen, 
 Illinois. In their family were five chil- 
 dren : James, deceased ; Hannah, who 
 died in infancy; Laura B., the wife of 
 Benjamin Garwood, of California; M. 
 E. ; and Mary F., the wife of R. J. Wil- 
 son, who lives near Augusta. 
 
 In the district schools M. E. Randall 
 began his education and subsequently be- 
 came a high school student in Augusta, 
 leaving that institution only two weeks 
 before graduation. He remained under 
 the parental roof until twenty-six years 
 of age and gave active assistance to his 
 father in the work of the home farm. 
 Following his marriage he purchased the 
 old homestead, locating on sections 7 and 
 1 8, Augusta township, and comprising 
 one hundred^ and eighty acres of land. 
 He also owns eighty acres on section 8, 
 and forty acres on section 16, thus culti- 
 vating altogether three hundred acres. 
 He raises considerable stock, and also 
 buys and feeds, shipping from seven to 
 nine carloads of stock annually, his mar- 
 
 ket being Chicago. On one of his farms 
 is a fine substantial brick residence, to- 
 gether with other modern improvements. 
 
 In 1890 was celebrated the marriage 
 of M. E. Randall and Miss Katie Kin- 
 near, who was born in Pennsylvania in 
 1871, and is a daughter of J. W. and 
 Susan Kinnear, both of whom were na- 
 tives of the Keystone state. The father 
 came to Hancock county with his family 
 in 1885, settling in Augusta township. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Randall was born one 
 child, who died at the age of twenty 
 months, and the mother also died about 
 a year after her marriage, and was laid 
 to rest in Augusta cemetery. In 1896 
 Mr. Randall wedded Miss Cora Hale, 
 who was born in Schuyler county, Illi- 
 nois, in 1868, a daughter of Joshua and 
 Elizabeth (Bartlow) Hale, both of whom 
 were natives of Schuyler county. They 
 were married in 1847, an d Mrs. Hale 
 who was born October 27, 1826, died Au- 
 gust 24, 1887, while Mr. Hale, whose 
 birth occurred in 1825, died in 1897. 
 Both were buried in Schuyler county. 
 His political support was given to the 
 democracy. In their family were eight 
 children, of. whom four are living: 
 Letha, the widow of George Ross, of 
 Augusta township; Jesse, of Schuyler 
 county ; Sarah, the wife of John Deweese, 
 of Hamilton, Illinois; Cora, now Mrs. 
 Randall. By the second marriage of our 
 subject there are two sons : Claude, born 
 June 5, 1897; and Chellis, November 18. 
 1900. 
 
 Mr. Randall votes for the best men 
 rather than for party. He has served as 
 school director and is interested in many 
 progressive measures. He was elected to
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY,. ILLINOIS: 
 
 583 
 
 the school board the day after he attained 
 his majority and has served in that capac- 
 ity to the present time. He is also sec- 
 retary of the Hancock County Telephone 
 Company and secretary and treasurer of 
 the Illinois State Alliance, of which he 
 served as president for two years. His 
 acquaintance in this county is wide and 
 favorable, for he has spent almost his 
 entire life here and both he and his wife 
 are esteemed by a wide circle of friends. 
 He represents one of the old families of 
 the county, his father having lived here 
 during the period of the Mormon war, 
 in which he was much interested. Many 
 changes in the county have occurred dur- 
 ing the years of the son's connection 
 therewith and he has not only been a wit- 
 ness of its growth and progress but has 
 co-operated in many movements which 
 have had direct bearing upon its welfare. 
 
 ROBERT NETHERY. 
 
 Robert Nethery, deceased, was a man 
 of such genuine worth of character as to 
 make his death the occasion for deepest 
 regret wherever he was known. For 
 many years he resided in Hancock county 
 and is classed among the men of the past 
 and present who have contributed to gen- 
 eral progress and improvement here by 
 upholding the legal and political status of 
 the community and advancing its ma- 
 terial, intellectual and moral progress. 
 His parents were James and Mary (Wil- 
 son) Nethery, natives of Ireland, in 
 
 37 
 
 which country the father died. The son 
 was there 15orn in June, 1855, and when 
 thirteen years of age came with his 
 mother to the United States, the family 
 home being established on a farm in In- 
 diana. The mother died about fifteen 
 years ago, passing away in Nebraska. In 
 the family were ten children, of whom 
 six are living: Eliza, married William 
 Wilson and resides in Indiana; Mrs. 
 Maria Stewart, of Ireland ; Margaret, the 
 widow of James Nethery, of Ireland; 
 William, of Wyoming; Thomas, of Ne- 
 braska; and Matilda, the wife of James 
 Holpa, also of Nebraska. 
 
 Robert Nethery began his education 
 in the district schools of Ireland and con- 
 tinued his studies in Indiana. In his 
 youth his time was also devoted largely 
 to farm labor, as he assisted in the culti- 
 vation and improvement of the home 
 property in Indiana, remaining with his 
 mother until his marriage, which im- 
 portant event in his life was celebrated on 
 the ist of January, 1883, when he won 
 the hand of Miss Rebecca Singleton, who 
 was born in Hancock county, Illinois, a 
 daughter of George and Rebecca (Wil- 
 son) Singleton. Mrs. Nethery was born 
 in March, 1856. Her parents were both 
 natives of Ireland, and in early life came 
 to America, being married in Philadel- 
 phia, Pennsylvania, about 1850. The fa- 
 ther was a farmer by occupation, and in 
 the spring of 1853 came to Hancock 
 county, where he purchased a farm near 
 Adrian. There he carried on business as 
 a general farmer and stock-raiser, remain- 
 ing a respected and prominent resident 
 of that locality until his death, which oc- 
 curred in November, 1890. His wife
 
 584 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 survived him for ten years, departing this 
 life in November, 1900, and both were 
 buried in Moss Ridge cemetery. Mr. 
 Singleton was a republican in his polit- 
 ical views and served on the school board, 
 being a warm friend of the cause of edu- 
 cation but he did not care for office. 
 Both parents were devoted members of 
 the Presbyterian church and Mr. Single- 
 ton filled several official positions therein. 
 In the family were seven children, and 
 with the exception of the eldest all were 
 born in Hancock county and all are yet 
 living, as follows : Anna, who was born 
 in Philadelphia, and is the wife of John 
 Bailey, a resident of Colusa, Illinois ; 
 Margaret, who is living at the old home 
 near Adrain ; Thomas, also living at 
 Adrian ; Elmira, the wife of Perry Hub- 
 bard, of Colusa, Illinois: George, living 
 at Adrian ; and William, who lives at 
 Nauvoo and is in the State Bank there. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Nethery located on a farm in Indiana, 
 where they remained for three years, and 
 in 1886 they came to Hancock county, 
 Illinois, settling on a farm east of Colusa. 
 where they fived for ten years, and which 
 Air. Nethery improved according to 
 modern methods of agriculture. He af- 
 terward removed to Carthage township, 
 where he made his home upon the farm 
 for three years, and in 1899 he took up 
 his abode in the city of Carthage, where 
 he erected a- beautiful residence on Main 
 street. He and his wife planned their 
 town residence and it is a very convenient 
 and attractive home. Mr. Nethery con- 
 tinued to reside in the county seat until 
 his demise, which occurred January 19, 
 1903, his remains being interred in Moss 
 
 Ridge cemetery. He voted with the Re- 
 publican party, and as every true Amer- 
 ican citizen should do, kept well informed 
 on the questions and issues of the day 
 but he did not desire office as a reward 
 for party fealty. He held membership 
 in the Presbyterian church, to which his 
 wife also belongs and was deeply inter- 
 ested in church work and its various ac- 
 tivities. In a review of his life it will 
 be seen that he was a man of untiring 
 industry and enterprise and that his own 
 energy, ambition and honesty constituted 
 the foundation upon which he builded the 
 superstructure of his success. In addi- 
 tion to the home place in Carthage he left 
 to his family one hundred and sixty acres 
 of good farm land well improved, in Car- 
 thage township, and Mrs. Nethery also 
 owns a quarter section and another tract 
 of eighty acres in Prairie township, to- 
 gether with two hundred acres of land in 
 Dallas township. Three of the eighty- 
 acre tracts were inherited by her from 
 her father. She also owns a lot and 
 two houses, which she rents, in the south 
 part of Carthage. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nethery were born 
 two sons, twins, James W. and George 
 W., both in the high school. Mrs. Neth- 
 ery is a lady of quiet, courteous demeanor, - 
 greatly beloved by her old neighbors in 
 the country and also in Carthage. She 
 is held in high esteem by all with whom 
 she has come in contact and she is a rep- 
 resentative of one of the prominent and 
 honored pioneer families of the county. 
 Her landed possessions are now extensive 
 and valuable and bring to her a handsome 
 income, enabling her to enjoy all of the 
 comforts and inanv of the luxuries of life.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 585 
 
 LEWIS F. MILLER. 
 
 Lewis F. Miller, who follows the oc- 
 cupation of farming near Bowen, his 
 home being in Chili township, was born 
 in Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1864, a son 
 of August and Dora (Yaap) Miller. The 
 parents were both natives of Prussia. 
 The father born in 1828, and the mother's 
 birth occurred in 1837. He devoted his 
 life to general agricultural pursuits and 
 on coming to the United States in 1861, 
 settled in Littleton, Schuyler county, Illi- 
 nois. His political support was given to 
 the Republican party and he remained 
 one of its stanch champions until his. 
 death, which occurred in 1901, his re- 
 mains being interred at Littleton. His 
 widow still survives. In their family 
 were nine children, of whom five are yet 
 living : Paulina, the wife of Andrew 
 Hughes, a resident of Schuyler county, 
 Illinois; August, living at Table Grove, 
 this state ; Lewis, of this review ; Frank, 
 of Littleton, Illinois ; and Laura, at home. 
 
 The public school system of Schuyler 
 county afforded to Mr. Miller of this re- 
 view his educational privileges and he 
 remained upon the old homestead until 
 he had attained his majority, early be- 
 coming familiar with the duties and labors 
 of the home farm. He was married 
 January i, 1889, to Miss Mary Burrows, 
 whose birth occurred in Vermont, Illinois, 
 in 1867, her parents being Benjamin and 
 Rachel Ann (Dawson) Burrows, natives 
 of Illinois. Her father, however, repre- 
 sented an old Pennsylvania family and 
 by trade was a carpenter, which pursuit 
 he followed in order to provide for his 
 family that numbered two children, the 
 
 elder being Malinda, the wife of James 
 Sloan, who resides at Long Beach, 
 California. 
 
 For ten years after their marriage Mr. 
 and Mrs. Miller lived upon a farm in 
 Schuyler county, and in 1899 removed to 
 Chili township, Hancock county, where he 
 purchased one hundred and twenty acres 
 lying on section 21. This was a well 
 improved property and he has carried on 
 the work of further development, being 
 numbered among the able and prosperous 
 general farmers and stock-raisers. His 
 live stock interests are an important 
 branch of his business and contribute 
 largely to his annual revenue. He de- 
 serves considerable credit for what he has 
 acquired and the success to which he has 
 attained in a business world, for he was 
 in limited financial circumstances at the 
 time of his marriage and is now comfort- 
 ably situated in life. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been 
 born two children but they lost one. 
 Their surviving son is Guy, who was 
 born on the I5th of November, 1899, and 
 is now a student in the -high school of 
 Bowen. Mr. Miller is a Mason in his 
 fraternal relations and he and his wife are 
 faithful and consistent members of the 
 Christian church. His political support 
 is given to the Republican party and he 
 has served as road commissioner, while 
 since attaining his majority he has been 
 a member of the school board. Both he 
 and his wife are people of genuine per- 
 sonal worth with a wide and favorable 
 acquaintance in Chili township. Both be- 
 long to the Order of the Eastern Star 
 and while they have many friends within 
 that organization they are also greatly
 
 5 86 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 esteemed by those who know them outside 
 of the lodge. 
 
 JAMES EATON JOHNSTON, M. D. 
 
 Dr. James Eaton Johnston, who in the 
 practice of medicine and osteopathy has 
 become recognized as one whose labors 
 have been of the utmost value to the peo- 
 ple of his locality, was born in Philadel- 
 phia, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1845, a son 
 of James E. and Cynthia (Belfield) John- 
 ston. The father's birth occurred in 
 Glasglow, Scotland, in September, 1812, 
 while the mother was born in Notting- 
 ham, England, in 1814. Mr. Johnson 
 was a millwright by trade and operated 
 a planing mill. He also operated the 
 first machine that ever made tongued and 
 grooved flooring. He was a leading wit- 
 ness in the famous Woodworth-Planer 
 patent right infringement case, in which 
 Rufus Choate was the most prominent 
 attorney and in his plea brought tears to 
 the eyes of all who heard him. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Johnston came to Amer- 
 ica in childhood, the former locating in 
 Philadelphia, and the latter in Baltimore. 
 Removing to the west they resided in 
 Springfield, Illinois, from 1855 until 1860, 
 when they went to St. Louis, Missouri, 
 where Mr. Johnston was connected with 
 lumber interests being foreman of va- 
 rious large planing mills. His wife died 
 in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1876, while his 
 death occurred in St. Louis, in 1878. He 
 was a man of intense patriotism and did 
 great good as a home-guard in St. Louis 
 
 at the time of the Civil wai. He was out- 
 spoken in defense of the Union and did 
 everything in his power to support the 
 cause. His wife held membership with 
 the Presbyterian church and was a most 
 earnest Christian woman. In their family 
 were five children : James E. ; Wilfred 
 Hall, who died at the age of two years; 
 Jane and Anna M. E. who are living in 
 Chicago, the latter being bookkeeper for 
 a large barrel and stave business in that 
 city; and Walter Lincoln, who resides in 
 Portland, Oregon, and is credit man and 
 bookkeeper of John Deere Plow Com- 
 pany, of Moline, Illinois, who have a 
 branch at Portland. 
 
 Dr. Johnston attended the public 
 schools of Springfield, Illinois, and when 
 but a youth of sixteen years he enlisted 
 at St. Louis, Missouri, in the hospital 
 corps, for a period of one year, serving as 
 nurse and surgeon's assistant and being 
 the youngest of one hundred employes in 
 the City General Hospital, at the corner 
 of Fifth and Chestnut streets in St. Louis, 
 where he remained for sixteen months. 
 During that time he was detailed as nurse 
 on the steamer, D. A. January, which was 
 fitted up by patriotic citizens of St. Louis 
 and sent with supplies to Grant's army at 
 Vicksburg. He returned with some 
 twelve hundred sick and wounded on the 
 boat. He afterward remained in the hos- 
 pital much of the time until the expira- 
 tion of his term. He had always had a 
 desire to take up the study of medicine 
 and his hospital experience strengthened 
 this. While in the government service 
 he had to dress wounds under a physi- 
 cian's instruction, having a regular num- 
 ber of patients. At one time the hospital
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 587 
 
 was in great danger of fire but he and 
 three or four others quickly extinguished 
 the flames without creating any excite- 
 ment among the patients an incident 
 which displayed his ability as one well 
 fitted to deal with emergencies. He, 
 however, was severely burned on his 
 hands. Before the war closed he enlisted 
 in the Missouri Militia for home guard 
 duty and was thus engaged for two years. 
 In the second year the troops were sent 
 out after Price. Subsequently he re- 
 mained in St. Louis and assisted his fa- 
 ther in business and also attended a com- 
 mercial college there. 
 
 On the 1 7th of December, 1867, Dr. 
 Johnson went to Keokuk, Iowa, where for 
 a year and a half he was employed as time 
 keeper and assistant bookkeeper on the 
 government canal. Leaving there he im- 
 mediately accepted a position as shipping 
 clerk and later bill clerk, of the Des 
 Moines Valley Railroad, at Keokuk, and 
 during sixteen years was in the employ 
 of railroads there, holding responsible po- 
 sitions, most of the time as local cashier, 
 handling large amounts of money. In 
 1889 he was enabled to carry out his 
 long cherished desire of preparing for 
 the practice of medicine, and he was grad- 
 uated from the Chicago Homeopathic 
 College, in March, 1891. He located for 
 practice at Hammond, Indiana, where he 
 remained for one and a half years, at the 
 end of which time he took up the study 
 of osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, 
 since which time he has practiced along 
 that line. He spent a brief period in St. 
 Louis, and in July, 1895, located in War- 
 saw, being the only osteopathic practi- 
 tioner in Warsaw. As the years have 
 
 come and gone he has done much for hu- 
 manity as a practitioner, employing both 
 homeopathy and osteopathy in his efforts 
 to alleviate human suffering. He was 
 very successful and his cures in the latter 
 department of the healing art seem al- 
 most miraculous, and during 1900 he pur- 
 sued a post-graduate course in Chicago. 
 On the 26th of April, 1905, he received 
 the Ad Eundem degree from the Hahne- 
 mann Medical College, of that city. He 
 is a member of the Homeopathic Medical 
 Societies of Chicago, State of Indiana 
 and State of Illinois, and is constantly 
 broadening his knowledge and promoting 
 his efficiency through reading and investi- 
 gation. 
 
 On the 7th of November, 1882, Dr. 
 Johnston was married to Miss Mary A. 
 Williams, a native of Warsaw, and a 
 daughter of Captain John R. and Ange- 
 line A. Williams. They have no children 
 of their own but are rearing a nephew, 
 who is now eight years of age. Dr. and 
 Mrs. Johnston are members of the Pres- 
 byterian church and in politics he has al- 
 ways been a stalwart republican. Fra- 
 ternally he is connected with the Knights 
 of .Pythias, and for eight years has been 
 clerk of the Woodman camp, No. 340, 
 holding a certificate of efficiency from the 
 head camp clerk of Woodmen. He is a 
 man of kindly disposition, generous al- 
 most to a fault and has the reputation in 
 his community of living for others. He 
 possesses a cheery manner and a disposi- 
 tion that enables him to shed around him 
 much of the sunshine of life and he has 
 always been most helpful to those with 
 whom he has come in contact. While in 
 the railroad service he was instrumental
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 in starting more than a half dozen youths 
 upon the upward road and they are now 
 occupying honorable positions in connec- 
 tion with railroad work. He also edu- 
 cated and reared his younger brother, who 
 is now occupying a good position in Port- 
 land, Oregon. He has also worked for 
 the general improvement of his town and 
 community and is secretary of the War- 
 saw Improvement Association. He has 
 been correspondent to .various newspa- 
 pers and in this connection has become 
 well known. He was for a number of 
 years medical examiner of Warsaw camp, 
 No. 340, Modern Woodmen of America, 
 and is at the present time medical exami- 
 ner of the Prudential Insurance Company 
 of America, of Newark, New Jersey. A 
 man of liberal views, of advanced ideas, 
 and of broad humanitarian principles, he 
 is always preaching in his life work the 
 gospel of good cheer, of advancement and 
 progress, and no man is more honored or 
 more deserving the respect of his fellow 
 citizens than Dr. James E. Johnston. 
 
 ADOLPH SIEGRIST. 
 
 Adolph Siegrist, deceased, was for 
 many years one of the prominent repre- 
 sentatives of agricultural interests in Ap- 
 panoose township, and his death was 
 deeply deplored by his many friends 
 throughout Hancock county, as well as 
 by the members of his own household. 
 He was a native of Switzerland, his natal 
 year being 1841. He was a son of Ru- 
 
 dolph and Mary (Amsler) Siegrist, who 
 emigrated from the land of the Alps to 
 America at an early day, settling first in 
 Ohio, where they remained for a few 
 years and then removed to Nauvoo, 
 Illinois. 
 
 Aclolph Siegrist was but a young lad 
 when he was brought by his parents from 
 the old country to Illinois. He entered 
 the common schools during the residence 
 of his parents in Ohio and attended school 
 to some extent after the removal to Nau- 
 voo. In 1863, however, in response to 
 the country's call for aid during the Civil 
 war he offered his services to the govern- 
 ment, enlisting as a member of Company 
 A, Second Regiment of Illinois Artillery, 
 and going to the front he served until the 
 close of hostilities, having been a loyal and 
 faithful soldier. 
 
 Upon his return from the war he re- 
 turned to the home farm, where he as- 
 sisted his father in the operation of the 
 farm until his marriage, November 15, 
 1872, to Miss Theresia Klinglemiller, a 
 native of Austria, born December 29, 
 1850, a daughter of Wolfgang and Eliza- 
 beth (Sachhuver) Klingmiller. Her 
 parents came to Nauvoo in 1853 from 
 Jonesboro, where they had spent the win- 
 ter previous, having come to that city 
 from their native land. The father 
 bought a farm in Sonora township, on 
 which he located, and here his death oc- 
 curred in June, 1894, while his wife had 
 died many years before, she having passed 
 away in 1854, the year after their arrival 
 in Illinois. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Siegrist 
 located on land in Appanoose township, 
 which he rented, of which twenty acres
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 589 
 
 was situated on section 23, and fortv 
 acres on section 26, making in all a tract 
 of sixty acres. He rented this tract for 
 about six years, and at the end of that 
 time, having prospered in his agricultural 
 interests, he was enabled to purchase the 
 farm, and here he continued his farming 
 operations until his death, which occurred 
 November n, 1888, from paralysis, 
 which was contracted during his service 
 in the army. Unto him and his wife had 
 been born seven sons and two daughters, 
 as follows : Carl Henry, of Appanoose 
 township; John, a resident of Lee county, 
 Iowa ; Ida, the wife of Albert Xestle, liv- 
 ing on her father's old home property; 
 Joseph, at home; William, of Xiota, Illi- 
 nois : Minnie, Edward, Charles and 
 Walter, twins, all at home with their 
 mother. 
 
 In 1iis political views Mr. Siegrist was 
 an earnest republican, unfaltering in his 
 allegiance to the party yet not active as 
 an office seeker. In his religious faith 
 he was a Lutheran, while his fraternal re- 
 lations were with the Grand Army of the 
 Republic, at Niota. He was a man of up- 
 right and honorable principles, ever loyal 
 in citizenship and faithful to the ties of 
 friendship, and thus his death was the 
 occasion of deep regret throughout the 
 community in which he had so long lived 
 and labored. 
 
 HIRAM KOONTZ. 
 
 Hiram Koontz, deceased, who, coming 
 to Hancock county at an early day, opened 
 
 up a new farm which he developed and 
 cultivated successfully for many years, 
 was born in Portage county, Ohio, De- 
 cember 14, 1841, his parents being Wil- 
 liam and Catherine (Stanbaugh) Koontz. 
 The father was a farmer and plasterer 
 and came to Illinois in the early '505, 
 settling at Camden, Schuyler county, 
 where they lived for many years. There 
 the mother died in August, 1876, while 
 the father's death occurred in Astoria, 
 this state, in 1889. Both were members 
 of the United Brethren church. Their 
 family numbered sixteen children, of 
 whom three are living: William, a resi- 
 dent of Camden; Dora, the wife of Jo- 
 seph Dunham, of Pittsfield, Illinois; and 
 David, of East St. Louis, Illinois. 
 
 Hiram Koontz was a young lad at the 
 time of the parents' removal to Illinois 
 and his education was largely acquired 
 in the public schools of Camden. When 
 not busy with his text-books he assisted 
 his father in the work of the farm and 
 remained with his parents until nearly 
 twenty-one years of age. He spent a 
 year and a half in St. Louis, Missouri, 
 where he learned the trade of a broom 
 maker and later he engaged in farming 
 for a year or more at Camden. On the 
 expiration of that period he settled on a 
 farm on sections 10 and n in Augusta 
 township, which he purchased from his 
 father, comprising two hundred and one 
 and a half acres of land that was then 
 covered with timber. He cut away the 
 trees, took out the stumps and placed all 
 of the improvements upon the . property, 
 transferring it from a wild tract into one 
 of rich fertility, from which he annually 
 gathered goods crops. He was a general
 
 590 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 farmer, carrying on his business with 
 good success. In his work he displayed 
 close application and unremitting dili- 
 gence, which are always substantial ele- 
 ments upon which to build prosperity. 
 
 On the 3Oth of May, 1874, Mr. Koontz 
 was married to Miss Ethalinda Miller, 
 who was born in Millwood, Knox county, 
 Ohio, December 8, 1849, a daughter of 
 Michael H. and Mary Ann (Garrett) 
 Miller. Her father was born in Cham- 
 bersburg, Pennsylvania, February 8, 
 1819, and died in Dallas City, Illinois, 
 March 26, 1906, at the age of eighty- 
 seven years. In early life he learned the 
 tailor's trade and visited every state in 
 the Union before settling at Millwood, 
 Ohio. He wedded Miss Mary A. Gar- 
 rett, September 19, 1843, and they be- 
 came the parents of seven children, of 
 whom two died in infancy, the others 
 being: William A., now of La Harpe, 
 Illinois ; Elizabeth, the wife of Marion 
 Walker, of Dallas City; Ethalinda, now 
 Mrs. Koontz ; Jacob, who resides in Dal- 
 las City ; and Anna, the wife of L. K. 
 Symmonds, of Dallas township. In 1854 
 Mr. Miller removed with his family from 
 Ohio to Dallas City, Illinois. He had 
 previously served as postmaster and cor- 
 oner at Millwood and his political alle- 
 giance was given to the democracy. In 
 Dallas City he filled the office of justice 
 of the peace. He likewise had a military 
 record, having been appointed captain of 
 Company C, of the First Rifles of the 
 Second Brigade during the Mexican war 
 but the command was never sent to the 
 front. In 1902 he was converted and bap- 
 tized. His wife, who was born in Martins- 
 burg, Knox county, Ohio, in 1826, was a 
 
 daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Schaff- 
 ner) Garrett, in whose family were ten 
 children, of whom two are living, Mrs. 
 Miller, and William, who resides in the 
 Indian Territory. Mr. and Mrs. Miller 
 lived together as man and wife for sixty- 
 two years and at his death he left a widow, 
 twenty grandchildren, nineteen great- 
 grandchildren and three great-great- 
 grandchildren. He was buried in Dallas 
 City cemetery and thus departed this life 
 a good man honored by everyone where- 
 ever known. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Koontz became the par- 
 ents of seven children, all of whom were 
 born on the farm in Augusta township, 
 where she now resides. These are : Wil- 
 liam, born July 30, 1875; Clara, Decem- 
 ber 24, 1876; Lottie M., June 25, 1879; 
 Laura Ellen, January 18, 1881 ; Lewis H., 
 January 7, 1883; Daisy E., October 20, 
 1884; and Jesse A., July 3, 1888. Of 
 this number three have passed away. All 
 were educated at Augusta and the living 
 members of the family are yet at home. 
 
 Mr. Koontz voted with the Republican 
 party and regarded it as the duty as well 
 as the privilege of every American citi- 
 zen to - cast a ballot in support of the 
 measures which he deemed most con- 
 ducive to good government. He did not 
 seek nor desire office, however, as a re- 
 ward for party fealty. He held member- 
 ship in the Methodist church of Augusta, 
 of which his wife was also a devoted 
 member and his Christian faith was one 
 of the strong elements in his life. More- 
 over he was a most enterprising man who 
 worked hard and long in order to secure 
 a good home for his family, and at his 
 death, which occurred on the igth of Au-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 gust, 1889, he was enabled to leave to his 
 family a comfortable competence. He 
 was respected and esteemed wherever 
 known and most of all was best liked 
 where best known a fact which indi- 
 cates that his life was upright and honor- 
 able. He had many friends who as well 
 as his wife and children deeply regretted 
 his death. Mrs. Koontz still lives upon 
 the home farm and owns two hundred 
 and forty-one and a half acres of excel- 
 lent land, from which she derives a good 
 income. She likewise owns town prop- 
 erty in Plymouth and she is devoting her 
 life to the careful rearing of her family 
 who are a credit to her name. 
 
 S. H. ALDRIDGE. 
 
 S. H. Aldridge, filling the position of 
 postmaster at Plymouth, is also engaged 
 in the insurance and real estate business, 
 and as an official and business man has 
 made a creditable record. He was born 
 in Windsor, Shelby county, Illinois, 
 March 23, 1857, ar >d is a son of Dr. 
 Hugh Hunter and Mary Jane (Harlan) 
 Aldridge. The ancestry can be traced 
 back to Geoffrey Aldridge, who wedded 
 Mary Jones, a lady of Irish birth. His 
 paternal grandfather, Joel Aldridge, was 
 born in Petersburg, Virginia, February 
 22, 1794, and wedded Mary Ann Hunter, 
 also of that place, on the 24th of April, 
 1816. They were farming people, and 
 in 1830 removed to Kentucky, whence 
 in 1835 they went to Macoupin county, 
 Illinois. Dr. H. H. Aldridge was born in 
 
 Petersburg, Virginia, February 6, 1817, 
 and was reared in Kentucky. He came 
 to Illinois when about twenty-one years 
 of age, and engaged in carpentering in 
 Macoupin county. He was married in 
 Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1848, to 
 Miss Mary Jane Harlan, who was born 
 in that county, and it was subsequent to 
 his marriage that he took up the study of 
 medicine and engaged in its practice. He 
 lost his first wife in 1863, and later he 
 married Miss Elizabeth Edwards, a na- 
 tive of Illinois, whose father was county 
 clerk of Coles county, this state. By the 
 first marriage there were six children, of 
 whom four are now living: Hattie, the 
 wife of James A. Price, who is living 
 near Windsor, Illinois; Illinois L., the 
 wife of John P. Rose, who also resides 
 near Windsor; S. H., of this review; and 
 Georgia M., who is a trained nurse in 
 Brooklyn, New York. Unto Dr. Ald- 
 ridge by his second marriage there were 
 born four daughters : Florence N., Ina 
 M., Adella M., and Sue D., only. one of 
 whom, Florence N., who is Mrs. W. B. 
 Brown, of Woods county, Oklahoma, 
 with whom the mother is now living. 
 
 S. H. Aldridge acquired his education 
 in the public schools of his native town 
 and afterward became connected with the 
 drug trade there, in which he continued 
 until about eighteen years ago, when he 
 came to Plymouth. Here he established 
 a drug store, conducting the business until 
 1897, when he was appointed postmaster 
 of Plymouth, in which capacity he has 
 since served, having been reappointed. 
 He has also engaged in the insurance and 
 real estate business, and as a land agent 
 has secured a good clientage.
 
 592 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 In 1885 Air. Aldridge was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Maude M. Flowers, who 
 was born in Ohio, in 1857, a daughter of 
 Benjamin Flowers, who was a native of 
 Ohio. The father was a miller, farmer 
 and engineer, and lived and died in Wind- 
 sor, Illinois. His family numbered five 
 children, of whom four are living : Hat- 
 tie, now a resident of Ohio; Leila, the wife 
 of Amos Messer, an ex-sheriff of Coles 
 county, Illinois, and a retired farmer; 
 Mrs. Aldridge ; Lydia, the wife of George 
 McCain, who is part owner of an elevator 
 in Coles county, Illinois; and Augustus, 
 who is clerking in Mattoon, this state. 
 The death of Mrs. Aldridge occurred in 
 July, 1887, and her remains were laid to 
 rest in the cemetery at Windsor. She 
 left one daughter, Maude E. Aldridge, 
 who was graduated in June, 1906, from 
 the Plymouth high school. On Thanks- 
 giving day of 1892. Mr. Aldridge was 
 married to Miss Lena Parker, who was 
 born in Ohio, in 1870, and is a daughter 
 of Willis and Eliza Parker, natives of 
 Ohio. Her father is now deceased, and 
 the mother spends a part of her time with 
 Mrs. Aldridge, who is the youngest of a 
 family of five children, the others being: 
 Etta, the wife of L. V. Brown, of Ply- 
 mouth ; Nora, the wife of DeForest Hub- 
 bard, of Chicago ; Ambrose, living in 
 Richmond, Indiana ; and Raleigh, a resi- 
 dent of Logansport, Indiana. By his 
 second marriage Mr. Aldrige has had two 
 children, both born in Plymouth; Murrel, 
 who was four years of age in July, 1906. 
 and Maurine, who was two years of age 
 in December, 1906. Mrs. Aldridge is a 
 member of the Congregational church. 
 Theirs is a pleasant and attractive resi- 
 
 dence on Virginia street in Plymouth, and 
 Mr. Aldridge is one of the prominent 
 men of the town, taking an active interest 
 in all that pertains to its growth, devel- 
 opment and substantial improvement. He 
 possesses a generous spirit and kindly dis- 
 position, and is recognized as a man of 
 much ability. 
 
 TRUMAN PLANTZ. 
 
 Truman Plantz, a resident of Warsaw 
 and engaged in the practice of law, was 
 born in Fulton county, New York, No- 
 vember 17, 1860, and came to Warsaw 
 at the age of six years. 
 
 His parents were Peter W. and Jea- 
 nette (Higbee) Plantz, who removed with 
 their family to this state, where they re- 
 sided for many years and here the father 
 died in 1896, at the age of seventy-eight 
 years. Peter W. Plantz was an attorney, 
 practicing in the state of New York, but 
 never followed the profession actively 
 after coming to the west, his attention 
 being given to civil engineering. His 
 wife survived him until 1901, dying at 
 the age of seventy-seven years. In their 
 family were five children : Oliver, who 
 died in infancy; Charles B., who is chief 
 train dispatcher for the Toledo, Peoria & 
 Western Railroad, resides in Peoria v Illi- 
 nois; Fannie M., the widow of Charles 
 S. Green, residing in Warsaw ; William, 
 who died in 1879, at the age of twenty- 
 one years ; and Truman.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 593 
 
 Truman Plantz was educated in the 
 public schools of Warsaw and after put- 
 ting aside his text-books, devoted eleven 
 years to railroad work, acting at differ- 
 ent times as telegraph operator, baggage- 
 man, brakeman and conductor, filling the 
 last mentioned position during the last 
 seven years of his connection with the rail- 
 road service, with the Toledo, Peoria & 
 Western Railroad. In 1890 he withdrew 
 from that position, having determined to 
 become a member of the bar. In the 
 meantime he had taken up the study of 
 law, and for about six months pursued his 
 reading in the office of D. F. Miller, Jr., 
 of Keokuk, Iowa. 
 
 In 1891 he was admitted to the bar 
 at Springfield, and at once entered into 
 the practice of law in Warsaw. He was 
 for some time a member of the firm of 
 Plantz & Hartzell, and afterwards of the 
 firm of Hooker, Plantz & Hartzell. He 
 is now the senior partner of the firm of 
 Plantz & Lamet. Mr. Plantz is the gen- 
 eral attorney for the Modern Woodmen 
 of America, the largest fraternal benefi- 
 ciary society in the United States, having 
 been elected to the office in March 1903. 
 He became a member of this order in 
 1895, joining at Warsaw and has held 
 the office of Consul in the local lodge and 
 was appointed and served as one of the 
 law committee of the society for six years 
 prior to becoming general attorney. 
 
 Mr. Plantz is also a member of the 
 Order of the Railway Conductors. He 
 has been prominent and influential in local 
 political circles and for several years was 
 alderman of this city. He has also been 
 mayor for three terms, retiring from the 
 office about 1898. The fact that he was 
 
 twice re-elected is an indication of his 
 capability and the confidence reposed in 
 him by his fellow townsmen. He was a 
 candidate for congress on the democratic 
 ticket in 1892 and 1894 and is now a 
 member of the democratic state commit- 
 tee. For the past ten years he has been 
 president of the board of education, the 
 cause of education finding in him a stal- 
 wart advocate, who has done effective 
 work in behalf of the public schools. 
 
 On the 1 8th of August, 1890, Mr. 
 Plantz was married to Miss Helen 
 Dallam, a daughter of Francis and Anna 
 M. Dallam. They had born to them one 
 child, Truman, who is a student in the 
 Warsaw schools. Mrs. Plantz died No- 
 vember 15, 1904, at Warsaw. Mr. 
 Plantz is kind, unaffected and approach- 
 able and every comer has a claim upon his 
 attention. 
 
 CARTHAGE FREE PUBLIC 
 LIBRARY. 
 
 This institution was founded in 1893 
 through the efforts of a few women of 
 Carthage, organized as the Columbian 
 Library Association and having a dollar 
 and a half in their treasury. Mrs. Wil- 
 liam C. Hooker, the president and an 
 enthusiast in the work, called a meeting 
 of the citizens at the home of Mrs. 
 Amanda E. Shultz. At this meeting 
 Ex-Mayor A. W. O'Harra encouraged 
 the women to continue their efforts. For 
 several months receptions and market 
 days were held. Dr. E. M. Robbins,
 
 594 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 mayor, being appealed to for help, ap- 
 pointed a board of directors as follows : 
 Messrs. M. P. Berry, A. N. Cherrill, C. 
 J. Scofield and D. E. Mack and Mesdames 
 William C. Hooker, S. L. Botts, Mary 
 Robbins, Elizabeth Cherill and Mrs. 
 Duane Pennock. Mrs. William C. Hook- 
 er was made president of this board and 
 held the position until her death in Feb- 
 ruary, 1900. 
 
 M. P. Berry offered to give the sum of 
 five hundred dollars toward starting a 
 public library, providing a like sum to 
 be given by the citizens. In a short time 
 six hundred and twelve dollars were 
 subscribed to insure Mr. Berry's gift. 
 The library, now being an assured fact, 
 was opened to the public March 10, 1894, 
 with two thousand one hundred and thir- 
 ty-six books on the shelves. Two courses 
 of lectures were arranged for, several of 
 our prominent men and women giving 
 time and talent toward the success of this 
 enterprise. A third course was given by 
 M. P. Berry on his trip to Europe. The 
 different churches were offered free of 
 charge for these lectures and accepted by 
 the Carthage Library Association. The 
 first year of the library's existence was 
 spent in a room owned by John Culkin 
 and given by him free of rent. The new 
 city hall being completed soon after this, 
 the library moved into two rooms up- 
 stairs furnished by the city. Mrs. M. P. 
 Berry was elected to fill Mrs. Hooker's 
 place as president of the Carthage Li- 
 brary Association and held office until 
 her death, November 6, 1902. Novem- 
 ber, 1900, the library was moved an>I 
 permanently located in the lower room 
 of the city hall, Mr. M. P. Berry having 
 
 offered to fit up this room, providing the 
 city make it the home of the library, and 
 it now has very pleasant quarters. 
 
 The library now consists of forty-four 
 hundred volumes, the average number 
 loaned per week being two hundred. 
 The circulating department is open every 
 Saturday afternoon from one to five and 
 from seven to nine p. m. The reading 
 room is open every evening during the 
 week from seven to nine o'clock. The 
 reference rooms and current literature of 
 this room are free for the use of all who 
 may desire to come to the library. Lega- 
 cies have been received by the library 
 as follows: August 9, 1898, from the 
 Swartz estate, one hundred and forty-six 
 dollars and twenty cents; November 10, 
 1900. one thousand dollars by the will of 
 Willis Bernethy; in 1902, thirty-five dol- 
 lars by the will of Judge Chellis Hooker, 
 and July 6, 1906, five hundred dollars 
 was left by Mrs. Elizabeth Cherrill to the 
 general fund. The city by appropriation 
 provides for the running expenses of the 
 library. The books are free to the resi- 
 dents and non-residents can purchase 
 membership tickets at two dollars per 
 year. The Carthage Library Association 
 still continues its work for the library 
 with Mrs. A. W. O'Harra as president, 
 she having held this position since Mrs. 
 Berry's death. Mrs. Duane Pennock is 
 and has been librarian ever since the li- 
 brary has been opened. Although she 
 has never received a very large compen- 
 sation for her services, yet she has been 
 faithful and untiring in the discharge erf 
 her many duties and her efforts have 
 aided very materially in making the li- 
 brary what it is today.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 595 
 
 C. J. ROBINSON. 
 
 C. J. Robinson, in whose business in- 
 tegrity and enterprise are found the secret 
 of his success, is now conducting a gen- 
 eral merchandise store in Pontoosuc, and 
 is accounted one of the leading business 
 men of the village. A son of William 
 and Mary Ann (Howard) Robinson, his 
 birth occurred in an old log house in Dal- 
 las township, July 5, 1873. His parents 
 were also natives of the same township. 
 The father, who was born in 1849, was a 
 farmer by occupation and served in the 
 Civil war as a member of the Sixty-fifth 
 Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. Both 
 he and his wife are now living at Colusa. 
 In their family were nine children : Wil- 
 liam H., deceased ; C. J., of this review ; 
 Leonette, the wife of William B. Thaner, 
 of Mason City, Illinois ; Emma, the wife 
 of Clarence Dry, of Burnside, Illinois; 
 Clara, who married John Lamb, of Pon- 
 toosuc, Illinois; Mintie, who died at the 
 age of thirteen years; Mary A., the wife 
 of George Lamb, formerly of Pontoosuc, 
 but now of Colusa ; Gladys, at home ; and 
 Christina, who died in infancy. 
 
 C. J. Robinson attended the Pontoosuc 
 schools from the age of nine years until 
 nineteen years of age. Then his parents 
 moving to Colusa, he attended the Camp 
 Creek school, where he studied book- 
 keeping under the direction of his 
 mother's cousin, Dwight Hubbard, until 
 twenty-one years of age, and remained at 
 home during that time. He then took 
 up his abode in the village of Pontoosuc 
 and secured employment in the Snake 
 Den stone quarries where he was em- 
 ployed in the fall of 1894. On Decem- 
 
 ber 2, 1904, he secured a clerkship in the 
 store of Charles Price, of Pontoosuc. A 
 short time afterward he became a clerk in 
 the Star shoe store in Fort Madison, Iowa, 
 On the 8th of April, 1895, he opened in 
 Pontoosuc a branch store for the firm of 
 Rollosson Brothers, of Dallas City, and 
 continued as manager until the i3th of 
 June, 1900, when he purchased the store, 
 which he has since conducted with con- 
 stantly growing success. It is now one 
 of the leading stores in the village and he 
 has built up a good trade, which is con- 
 stantly increasing. He carries a large 
 line of carefully selected goods, endeavors 
 earnestly to meet the wishes of his patrons 
 and by reason of fair prices and honorable 
 dealing has won a goodly share of the 
 patronage. 
 
 In the spring of 1898 Mr. Robinson 
 was married to Miss Ella M. Congrove, 
 who was born in Ohio, August 19, 1879, 
 and is a daughter of A. V. and Caroline 
 (Harper) Congrove, both of whom are 
 natives of Ohio. Her father was owner 
 and proprietor of a threshing machine, 
 which he operated for twenty-seven sea- 
 sons in Hancock county and he is now 
 running a huckster wagon for his son- 
 in-law, Mr. Robinson, with whom he 
 lives. His wife died about 1896, when 
 forty-six or forty-seven years of age. In 
 their family were five children : Hilas, 
 now living in Bendena, Kansas; Lorena, 
 the wife of Casper Clark, of Dallas City, 
 Illinois; E. H., of Bendena, Kansas; Ari- 
 zona, the wife of Fred Urban, of Pontoo- 
 suc; and Mrs. R'obinson. 
 
 Our subject and his wife now have a 
 pleasant home at the corner of Mercer 
 and Fifth streets, which property he owns.
 
 596 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 They are now parents of two children : 
 Millie Beatrice, born in Pontoosuc, June 
 2, 1898; and William H., born February 
 7, 1902. Mr. Robinson is a republican, 
 active in the ranks of the party and he has 
 served as village treasurer and also as 
 village clerk. He belongs to the Modern 
 Woodmen camp, which he joined on its 
 organization and for four or five years 
 thereafter he served as its clerk. He like- 
 wise belongs to the Illinois Bankers' Life 
 Association, and his wife is a member of 
 the Christian church, also the Royal 
 Neighbors. Both are representatives of 
 families which have creditable military 
 histories. John A. Robinson, an uncle 
 of our subject, served throughout the 
 Civil war, while Franklin Pierce, an uncle 
 of Mr. Robinson, was in the Spanish- 
 American war, being one of the Rough 
 Riders of Colonel Roosevelt. He died in 
 Wichita, Kansas, December i, 1900. 
 Major Robinson, the grandfather of C. 
 J. Robinson, was active in the Mormon 
 war of 1844. The family is an old and 
 prominent one of this part of the state 
 and from pioneer times the representa- 
 tives of the name have been loyal to the 
 best interests of the community and have 
 co-operated in many movements resulting 
 in its material progress. 
 
 DE WITT C. WOOD. 
 
 De Witt C. Wood, who for many years 
 has resided in Hancock county and is 
 now living retired in Augusta, was born 
 
 in Orange county, New York, about for- 
 ty miles from New York city on the 8th 
 of March, 1827, a son of Jesse and Jane 
 (Tunison) Wood. The father was a na- 
 tive of New York state and throughout 
 his entire life followed fanning, spending 
 his last years upon the farm where his 
 birth occurred. He had then reached the 
 age of eighty-three years and nine 
 months. His wife, a native of New Jer- 
 sey, was a daughter of Garrett Tunison, 
 who served as a sergeant in the American 
 Army in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. 
 Wood also died upon the old homestead 
 farm in Orange county. She was the 
 mother of thirteen children, of whom two 
 are now living. 
 
 De Witt C. Wood acquired his edu- 
 cation in the schools of his native town- 
 ship and in the academy at Chester, New 
 York, and when liberal advantages had 
 well qualified him for life's practical and 
 responsible duties he resumed work upon 
 his father's farm, where he remained for 
 several years. He then turned his atten- 
 tion to railroading as a brakeman on the 
 Erie Railroad, occupying that position for 
 fourteen months, when he became fore- 
 man on a construction train. He con- 
 tinued in that service until 1853, when 
 he came to Illinois attracted by its op- 
 portunities and business development of 
 the new and growing west. Locating at 
 Joliet he worked on the Chicago & Alton 
 Railroad, making a cut of twenty-two 
 feet. He afterward returned to the Em- 
 pire state in 1854, but later in" that year 
 again came to Illinois and was train 
 baggageman from Chicago to St. Louis 
 on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, occu- 
 pying that position for almost a year.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 597 
 
 Again he went to New York and for 
 twelve years thereafter worked upon his 
 father's farm. Thus he resided in his 
 native state almost continuously for for- 
 ty-two years, after which he again came 
 to Illinois, arriving in 1869 in the village 
 of Augusta, where he now resides. Here 
 he has been engaged principally in gar- 
 dening and has well cultivated gardens, 
 the products of which find a ready sale 
 on the market because of size, quality 
 and flavor in addition to the honorable 
 business methods of Mr. Wood. A life 
 of industry has brought to him a fair 
 measure of success. 
 
 In 1849 Mr. Wood was married to 
 Miss Elizabeth Hallock, who was born 
 at Sugarloaf, New York, and died leav- 
 ing two children. Charles H. died of 
 heart failure when twenty years of age 
 while attending the services of the Chris- 
 tian church in Augusta. Elizabeth is the 
 wife of Frank Nation, a resident of Chi- 
 cago and they have three children, Ralph, 
 Clinton and Charles. Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Wood died and was buried at the old 
 home place in New York. For his second 
 wife Mr. Wood chose Miss Jane Cogan, 
 who was born in Troy, New York, and 
 was a daughter of John and Ann (Foy) 
 Cogan, both of whom were natives of Ire- 
 land, whence they came to the United 
 States on their wedding trip. They lo- 
 cated in New York city, where they re- 
 sided for some time and afterward re- 
 moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
 Both parents, however, passed away in 
 the Empire state, the mother being killed 
 by the cars. Mrs. Wood was educated in 
 New York and was one of a family of 
 nine children, three of whom are yet 
 
 living. By her marriage she became the 
 mother of two children, Daisy and Wini- 
 fred. The former was born in Augusta 
 in the house in which Mr. Wood now re- 
 sides. She is a teacher in the public 
 schools here, having followed the pro- 
 fession for seven years, subsequent to her 
 graduation from the high school. She 
 also possesses considerable artistic talent 
 and does very good work in pastel paint- 
 ing. Winifred, also born in the home in 
 which she is living, acquired her early ed- 
 ucation in the schools of Augusta and 
 afterward attended the Northern Indiana 
 Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. 
 She is now clerk in the large department 
 store of F. M. King, of Augusta. 
 
 Mr. Wood is a republican from princi- 
 ple but does not seek office as a reward for 
 party fealty. He is well known in the 
 town where he resides, having long made 
 his home here and the family is one of 
 social prominence, occupying an enviable 
 position where culture and intelligence 
 are received as passports into good 
 societv. 
 
 WILLIAM G. WEBB. 
 
 William G. Webb is a native of Appa- 
 noose township where he still makes his 
 home. His birth occurred January 5, 
 1848, and he is the second son in a family 
 of three sons and one daughter, whose 
 parents were William and Harriett (Bald- 
 win) Webb. This was the father's second 
 marriage. In his boyhood days William 
 G. Webb remained upon the home farm
 
 598 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and from an early age was compelled to 
 work in the fields. When but a young 
 lad he would rake and bind grain and do 
 all kinds of tasks incident to the raising 
 of crops. As his age and strength per- 
 mitted he undertook greater responsibili- 
 ties and more arduous duties in connection 
 with the farm work and he thus early 
 became familiar with agricultural inter- 
 ests in every department. His school 
 privileges were somewhat limited but he 
 has become a well informed man through 
 reading, observation and experience in 
 later years. He remained at home until 
 twenty-four years of age, when he was 
 married to Miss Laura V. Davis, the wed- 
 ding being celebrated on the 28th of 
 February, 1872. Mrs. Webb was born in 
 Columbiana county, Ohio, July i, 1852, 
 and was about three years old when she 
 accompanied her parents on their removal 
 to Hancock county. She, too, acquired 
 a common-school education, while spend- 
 ing her girlhood days in the home of her 
 parents, John T. and Elenore (Burton) 
 Davis, the former a native of Maryland, 
 and the latter of Ohio. Her maternal 
 grandparents were William and Rebecca 
 (Stoddard) Burton. The marriage of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Webb was blessed with a 
 family of seven children : Elenore May, 
 who was born November 22, 1872, and 
 is the wife of Samuel Gnann, of Appa- 
 noose township; Albert Erwin, who was 
 born February 7, 1874, and is living in 
 the same township; Florence Laura, who 
 was born February 9, 1876, and is the 
 wife of Henry Siegrist, of Appanoose 
 township; Josephine Harriet, who was 
 born August 7, 1878, and is at home; 
 Vincent Giles, who was born January 7, 
 
 1887, and died January 22, 1898; Orville 
 C. Wayne, who was born February 4, 
 1890, and is yet with his parents; and 
 Sydney Thomas, who was born June 21, 
 1892, and completes the family. 
 
 It was subsequent to his marriage that 
 Mr. Webb invested his earnings in eighty 
 acres of land on the south half of a quar- 
 ter section, upon which he had previously 
 lived. It was an improved place, at one 
 time occupied by the Mormons and all of 
 the buildings which he there found have 
 been replaced by more commodious and 
 modern structures. The residence is a 
 substantial frame one of seven rooms and 
 there are good barns and other outbuild- 
 ings. Mr. Webb at once undertook the 
 task of developing and improving his 
 place and the fields are now richly tilled, 
 so that the threshing season is a busy 
 time upon the Webb farm, while in the 
 later autumn good crops of corn are also 
 gathered. He likewise raises shorthorn 
 cattle, Poland China hogs and Shropshire 
 sheep. Following his father's death Mr. 
 Webb inherited eighty acres of land on 
 section 35, Appanoose township, and he 
 also bought eighty acres, of which one 
 half is on section 34, and the remainder 
 on section 33, Appanoose township. This, 
 however, he sold to his son, Albert E. 
 Webb, in the fall of 1899. Still actively 
 engaged in the management of his farm, 
 he is a business man whose alert and en- 
 terprising spirit has been manifest in his 
 capable conduct of his interests as the 
 years have gone by. He was early 
 trained to habits of industry and economy 
 and these proved important factors in his 
 success in after years. A faithful mem- 
 ber of the Presbyterian church, he has
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 599 
 
 served as elder since 1903. He belongs 
 to Temple lodge, No. 222, Independent 
 Order of Odd Fellows, at Nauvoo, and to 
 the Modern Woodmen camp there. 
 Interested in politics to the extent of 
 giving hearty and earnest support to the 
 principles which he believes are most con- 
 ducive to good government, his fellow 
 townsmen have recognized his devotion 
 to the public good and have elected him 
 to some local offices. For twelve years 
 he served as commissioner of highways 
 and as collecto'r for one year, in which 
 connection his duties have been promptly 
 and faithfully performed. 
 
 GEORGE H. SLINGERLAND. 
 
 George H. Slingerland owns and op- 
 erates a farm of one hundred and sixty 
 acres on sections 15 and 10, Augusta 
 township. He was born in Sloansville, 
 Schoharie county, New York, Novem- 
 ber 14, 1849, an d his parents, Henry and 
 Maria (Machin) Slingerland, were like- 
 wise natives of the same locality. The 
 mother was a daughter of Thomas 
 Machin, who defended the interests of 
 the colonies as a captain in the Revolu-. 
 tionary war. In 1856 the father brought 
 his family to Hancock county, Illinois, 
 where he followed the occupation of 
 fanning, to which he had also given his 
 attention in the Empire state. He died 
 in the early '8os, while his wife survived 
 until 1896 and both were buried in Au- 
 gusta cemetery. 
 38 
 
 George H. SKngerland is the only one 
 of their five children now living. He 
 was a lad of six years when brought to 
 this county and his early education was 
 acquired in Augusta, while later he con- 
 tinued his studies in Union Classical In- 
 stitute and Union College, Schenectady, 
 New York. He continued under the 
 parental roof until of age and then start- 
 ed out in life on his own account. On 
 the i3th of January, 1885, he married 
 Jennie Reynolds, who was born in Ne- 
 braska in 1859, a daughter of David and 
 Elizabeth (Lock) Reynolds. Her fa- 
 ther, a native of New York, came to Illi- 
 nois in 1855. He devoted his life to 
 school teaching and farming and passed 
 away in 1872, his remains being laid to 
 rest in Greeley, Colorado. His widow, 
 who was born in Schuyler county, Illi- 
 nois, is now living in Kansas. Their 
 children were: Hattie, now the wife of 
 John McFarlan, of Colby, Kansas; and 
 Jennie, the wife of our subject. The 
 great-grandfather and two great-uncles 
 of Mrs. Slingerland were valiant soldiers 
 of the Revolutionary war. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. Slinger- 
 land settled on a farm in Augusta town- 
 ship, comprising one hundred and sixty 
 acres on sections 15 and 10. Here he 
 has since engaged in tilling the soil and 
 raising stock. He is a republican but 
 without aspiration for office, and fra- 
 ternally he is a Mason, Knight of Pythias 
 and Woodman. In all these orders he is 
 a valued factor, for his life is in harmony 
 with the principles and tenets of the dif- 
 ferent societies. In a review of his life 
 it will be seen that he merits the compli- 
 ment implied in the term a "self-made
 
 6oo 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 man," for all that he possesses has been 
 obtained through his own labor. 
 
 ABNER MURPHY. 
 
 Abner Murphy, whose memory is cher- 
 ished in Augusta, where he made his 
 home,- by many friends who long enter- 
 tained for him warm regard and respect, 
 was born in Adams county, Ohio, No- 
 vember 15, 1822, and died in this village 
 September u, 1898. He was the young- 
 est in a family of eleven children bom 
 unto Robert and Elizabeth (Clifford) 
 Murphy, the former a native of Penn- 
 sylvania and the latter of Ohio. The fa- 
 ther was a farmer by occupation and be- 
 came one of the early settlers of Adams 
 county, Ohio, where he lived until his 
 death, his wife also passing away at the 
 old homestead in that county. Both were 
 well advanced in years, the mother hav- 
 ing reached the venerable age of ninety 
 years when called to her final rest. 
 
 Abner Murphy acquired his education 
 in the place of his nativity, after which 
 he engaged in teaching in the : district 
 schools in his native county. He re- 
 mained a resident of Ohio until about 
 twenty-seven years of age, when, in 1850, 
 he came to Illinois and was engaged in 
 teaching for a number of years in Brown 
 and Schuyler counties. 
 
 In 1860 Mr. Murphy was united in 
 marriage to Miss Bethania Billiter, who 
 was born in Butler county, Ohio, a 
 daughter of John and Mary (Stroup) 
 Billiter, both of whom were natives of 
 
 North Carolina, whence they removed to 
 Kentucky, remaining in this state for a 
 short time, while later they resided in 
 Butler county, Ohio, where the father 
 engaged in farming for a number of 
 \ears. He then removed with his family 
 to Clay county, Indiana, where he also 
 engaged in agricultural pursuits and 
 some years later he came to Illinois, lo- 
 cating near Camden, where he engaged in 
 farming until his death, which occurred 
 when he was sixty-five years of age. The 
 mother survived him for a number of 
 years and passed away at the age of sev- 
 enty-five. 
 
 Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Mur- 
 phy spent a year in Missouri, after which 
 he returned to Illinois and came to Au- 
 gusta in 1876, having in the meantime 
 lived in various places. He followed 
 farming in Adams county, the greater 
 part of his land extending over the bor- 
 der line into that county although his 
 home was in Hancock county. He re- 
 mained there for about four years before 
 coming to Augusta and he owned eighty 
 acres of land, which he sold before tak- 
 ing up his abode in this village, where 
 his remaining days were passed. For 
 about thirteen years his brother and sis- 
 ter. Robert and Rebecca Murphy made 
 their home with him until they were 
 called to their final rest about two years 
 before his demise. Shortly before com- 
 ing to Augusta Mr. Murphy of this re- 
 view purchased a home in the northern 
 part of the village, where his widow still 
 resides and here he lived retired in the 
 enjoyment of a well earned rest. He 
 made an addition to the house and trans- 
 formed it into a very comfortable home.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 601 
 
 Mr. Murphy was a man of sterling 
 business integrity and industry and was 
 always true to his convictions as a citi- 
 zen and faithful to his professions as' a 
 believer in the Christian faith. In his 
 family he was devoted to the welfare of 
 the members of his household and was 
 considerate of all who knew him in ev- 
 ery relation of life. The poor and needy 
 found in him a warm friend, whose sym- 
 pathy was often manifest by his assist- 
 ance. He held membership in the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity, being a charter member 
 of the blue lodge at Camden, Illinois, 
 and throughout his entire life he mani- 
 fested the beneficent spirit of the craft. 
 His political allegiance was given to the 
 democracy and for one term he held the 
 office of supervisor of Augusta township. 
 His remains were interred in the ceme- 
 tery at Augusta and his death was deeply 
 deplored by all who knew him, because 
 he had ever displayed the sterling traits 
 of character which win warm friendships 
 and strong regard. 
 
 THOMAS CRAWFORD. 
 
 Thomas Crawford devoted his life to 
 general farming and stock-raising and 
 while carrying on his business interests 
 developed a character that made him an 
 exemplary citizen and a man whom to 
 know was to respect and honor. He 
 guided his life by high principles, was 
 kind-hearted, generous and enterprising, 
 
 and at all times and under all relations 
 commanded the respect and esteem of 
 those with whom he was associated. 
 Born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, 
 July 8, 1812, he was a son of William and 
 Alzira (Doughty) Crawford. The father 
 a Kentucky farmer, went to Adams coun- 
 ty, Illinois, in 1831, and lived in Quincy 
 until the spring of 1832, while later he 
 entered land in Wythe township, Hancock 
 county, for a dollar and a quarter per acre. 
 He lived in a log house and knew all of 
 the experiences and hardship of pioneer 
 life. Indians were still seen in the neigh- 
 borhood and there was much wild game, 
 including deer. He was a man of brave 
 and resolute spirit, as manifest in his pio- 
 neer life. His death occurred in Mis- 
 souri in 1869, while his wife passed away 
 in 1846. He was buried in Wilcox town- 
 ship and his wife in Walker township in 
 a private burying-ground known as the 
 Hatchett burying-ground. In their fam- 
 ily were seven children. The parents 
 were most highly esteemed as worthy 
 pioneer people, who contributed in large 
 and substantial measure to the early de- 
 velopment of the county and whose in- 
 fluence was ever given on the side of 
 right, progress, justice and truth.' 
 
 Thomas Crawford was educated in the 
 public schools of Kentucky and when 
 eighteen years of age accompanied his 
 parents on their removal to Illinois. In 
 1839 he wedded Jane M. Stockton, a 
 native of Tennessee and a daughter of 
 Samuel and Sarah Stockton, who were 
 also born in that state and have now 
 passed away. In their family were eleven 
 children. The father was a soldier of the 
 war of 1812. Mrs. Crawford died in 1847,
 
 602 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 leaving five children, of whom two are 
 now living: Laura A., the widow of 
 Uriah C. Seaton and a resident of Colo- 
 rado, having one daughter, Jessie, who 
 is a trained nurse in that state; Alzira F., 
 who is the wife of John K. Stockton, of 
 Colorado, by whom she has three chil- 
 dren ; Sarah, who married H. O. Knox 
 and died in 1875. On the 25th of March, 
 1849, Mr. Crawford wedded Serepta J. 
 Doughty, who was born in Kentucky in 
 1829, a daughter of James and Mary 
 (McMahan) Doughty, natives of Ken- 
 tucky. Her father, a farmer by occupa- 
 tion, located in Wilcox township, Han- 
 cock county, Illinois, in 1843 and his 
 original home here was a log cabin, but 
 as the years passed he prospered and be- 
 came owner of a comfortable modern 
 residence. Both he and his wife were 
 members of the Christian church. Their 
 family numbered seven children, but only 
 two are living: Mrs. Crawford; and 
 Ann, the wife of Benjamin F. Howes, of 
 Bragmer, Missouri. 
 
 Following his first marriage Mr. Craw- 
 ford entered land in Walker township on 
 several different sections and became an 
 extensive proptery holder. He had one 
 hundred and sixty acres in his home place, 
 which he improved, transforming it into 
 a very fine farm. As his financial re- 
 sources increased he kept adding to his 
 property until at one time he owned the 
 greater part of Sutter. He displayed 
 keen discernment in his investments and 
 was a man of excellent business ability 
 and executive force. He never inherited 
 anything but was very enterprising and 
 progressive and with the assistance of his 
 estimable wife, who was indeed a great 
 
 helpmate to him, he advanced from a 
 humble financial position to one of 
 affluence. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crawford were born 
 nine children, all natives of Walker town- 
 ship : Mrs. Mary Jane Andrews, the eld- 
 est, lives with her mother and has four 
 children ; Clarence, Claude, Bay, and 
 Harry. James F. is postmaster of War- 
 saw. Margaret Ella was the wife of 
 Aquilla J. Dougherty, who was consul to 
 Peru, South America, and was in the in- 
 ternal revenue office at Peoria, Illinois. 
 His wife died November 15, 1881, while 
 his death occurred in 1904. Virginia 
 Crawford died in 1859, at the age of three 
 years. William T. is assistant postmaster 
 at Warsaw. John Coleman operates the 
 farm for his mother. Fannie is the wife 
 of Leon W. Berry, a jeweler of Carthage, 
 and they have three children : Freda, 
 Kenneth and Leonard Coleman. Cora 
 M. is at home, and Charles C. is a drug- 
 gist of Warsaw. 
 
 About 1874 Mr. Crawford built for his 
 family a comfortable and commodious 
 brick residence upon the farm in Wilcox 
 township. He was, however, not per- 
 mitted to enjoy his new home for he died 
 before it was completed, passing away 
 March 23, 1875. In politics he was a re- 
 publican and served as justice of the- 
 peace. He was also an enrolling officer 
 in the Civil war. He was one of the early 
 Masons of this part of the state and in 
 his life exemplified the beneficent spirit 
 of the craft. He was a temperate man 
 and at all times discouraged the excessive 
 use of intoxicants. In his business af- 
 fairs he was strictly honorable and reliable 
 and was never known to take advantage
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 603 
 
 of the necessities of another in a business 
 transaction. Generous by nature, kindly 
 in disposition and warm-hearted, he 
 would rather be imposed upon than to in- 
 jure another, and his life record proved 
 that wealth and an honored name may be 
 won simultaneously. He became one of 
 the prosperous landowners -of the county 
 and though he attained wealth he never 
 allowed it to effect in any way his re- 
 lations toward those less fortunate and 
 was ever ready to respond quickly to the 
 call of the poor and needy. In 1866 he 
 became a member of the Christian church 
 of Wythe township and his religious faith 
 was at all times manifest in his life and 
 in his relations with his fellowman. Mrs. 
 Crawford yet resides upon the home farm 
 and is the owner of more than five hun- 
 dred acres of valuable land in this county, 
 her husband having left her a very de- 
 sirable competence. 
 
 THOMAS McFARLAND. 
 
 When an individual passes on the high- 
 way of life others, who perhaps started 
 out in advance of him or had more ad- 
 vantageous environments it is interest- 
 ing to examine into his life record and 
 know the elements which have contrib- 
 uted to his success. In a review of the 
 life history of Thomas McFarland we 
 note that in early youth his opportuni- 
 ties were limited and without financial 
 assistance he entered upon the field of 
 business activity wherein as the years ad- 
 
 vanced he won a very desirable compe- 
 tence that now enables him to live re- 
 tired. He made judicious investments in 
 property and is the owner of large land 
 interests, including five hundred and 
 eight acres in Prairie township. He like- 
 wise has farm property in Kansas and a 
 home and business in Carthage, and his 
 property interests are the visible evidence 
 of a life of industry and energy. 
 
 Mr. McFarland was born -in Clermont 
 county, Ohio, May 7, 1837, and his par- 
 ents, John and Phebe (Smith) McFar- 
 land, were likewise natives of that state, 
 the mother born June 16, 1816. They 
 were married September 16, 1834. The 
 father was a farmer and cooper, who in 
 1842 brought his family to Illinois, set- 
 tling on a farm in Adams county. He 
 cleared land in order to have a space 
 large enough upon which to build a log 
 cabin. After a brief period he was called 
 upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who 
 died on the 29th of June, 1844, and he 
 soon afterward left the original farm and 
 removed to another farm in Adams coun- 
 ty. In later years he took up his abode in 
 Mendon, Illinois, where he died in 1891, 
 and was buried, while his wife was laid 
 to rest in Adams county. His political 
 allegiance was given to the democracy 
 but he held no office nor did he seek po- 
 litical preferment. By his first marriage 
 there were five children : David, who 
 was born October 13, 1835, and is living 
 in Appanoose county, Iowa; Thomas, of 
 this review; Elizabeth Jane, who was 
 born October 22, 1839, and is the wife 
 of Mr. Ganzert, of Walnut Creek, Cali- 
 fornia ; Ephraim, who was born Novem- 
 ber i, 1841, and died December 23, 1844;
 
 604 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and Josephine, who was born March 20, 
 1844, and is the wife of Dr. James S. 
 Akins, of Quinlan, Oklahoma. 
 
 The public schools afforded Thomas 
 McFarland the early educational advan- 
 tages he enjoyed. He was only about 
 five years of age when the family removed 
 to Illinois, and was seven years of age at 
 the time of his mother's death. He then 
 went to Hancock county with Mr. and 
 Mrs. George Walker, who were relatives 
 of his mother and who provided him 
 with educational privileges and clothing 
 until he attained his majority. He after- 
 ward earned the money which enabled 
 him to spend one'year in the seminary, at 
 Warsaw, and subsequently he engaged 
 in farm labor by the month in Hancock 
 county for a year. In 1863 he bought a 
 farm of sixty acres in Carthage town- 
 ship, where he remained for a year, after 
 which he took a trip of eight months to 
 the gold mines in Virginia City, Mon- 
 tana, leaving Carthage on the i8th of 
 February, 1864. Having returned to 
 Hancock county he has since given his 
 attention to agricultural pursuits. After 
 owning and selling several farms in Car- 
 thage township he invested in farm land 
 on sections 2 and 15, Prairie township, 
 having two hundred and twenty-six acres 
 on section 2, and two hundred and forty 
 acres on section 15. He made his home 
 on section 2 until September, 1888, when 
 he took up his abode in Carthage. He 
 still gives his supervision to his farming 
 interests, however, and in addition to 
 cultivating the fields is also engaged in 
 stock-raising, employing men to care for 
 the fields and the stock. He now lives at 
 
 No. 36 . North Adams street, where he 
 purchased property. 
 
 On the 1 5th of January, 1862. Mr. 
 McFarland was married to Miss Maria 
 Louise McColm, who was born in Cler- 
 mont county, Ohio, March 15, 1843, a 
 daughter of John and Nancy McColm. 
 The mother died December 10, 1850, 
 and the father, May 23, 1853. He was 
 a farmer by occupation and spent his 
 last days in Ohio. In their family were 
 five children : Erastus, who was born 
 January 4, 1838,- and is living in Car- 
 thage; David R., who was born Febru- 
 ary 15, 1839, and is deceased; Melissa 
 Jane, who was born June 2, 1841, and 
 is the wife of Allen Glancy, a resident 
 of Batavia, Clermont county, Ohio; 
 Mrs. McFarland ; and Albert Asbury Mc- 
 Colm, who was born January 10, 1848, 
 .and lives in Chino, California. Mrs. Mc- 
 Farland departed this life April 25, 1899, 
 amid the deep regret of many friends, 
 and her remains were interred in Moss 
 Ridge cemetery. There had been six 
 children born of this marriage, all natives 
 of Hancock county. John Dennis, born 
 December 23, 1862, died March 6, 1863, 
 and was buried in the Walker cemetery 
 in AValker township. Albert Homer, 
 born March I, 1864, married Miss Anna 
 McColm and lives in Ottumwa, Iowa. 
 Charles Thomas, born November 21, 
 1867, married Frances Pomroy, lives at 
 Fabius, Missouri, and has four children. 
 Roy, Mary, Ida and Wilbur Thomas. 
 Jennie Rachel, born May 17, 1869, mar- 
 ried Edward Harris, lives at Herrick, 
 South Dakota, and has three living chil- 
 dren, Thomas, Lucia and Cleophas,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 605 
 
 while Ruth and Harold are deceased. 
 Ethel Louisa May, bom May 17, 1872, 
 is t'he wife of David Bluebaugh, of Kan- 
 sas City, Missouri, and has two chil- 
 dren, Ray and Blanche. Jesse Edward, 
 born November 7, 1882, married Elsie 
 Belle Vail, April 5, 1904, and has one 
 son, Thomas McFarland, who was born 
 March 3, 1905, in Prairie township, the 
 parents living on one of our subject's 
 farms in that township. The mother of 
 Mrs. Thomas McFarland was a devoted 
 member of the Christian church and died 
 in that faith. She was a home-loving 
 woman and devoted to her family, and 
 her efforts and her many excellent traits 
 of character won her the kindly regard 
 of all with whom she came in contact. 
 On the nth of July, 1900, Mr. McFar- 
 land married Miss Fanny Jane Gentry, 
 who was born in Pilot Grove township, 
 Hancock county, October 7, 1865, a 
 daughter of John Thornton and Harriet 
 Jane (Shreve) Gentry. Her father was 
 born in Madison, Stokes county, North 
 Carolina, October 26, 1821, and in 1835 
 went with his widowed mother to Mon- 
 roe county, Indiana, where he settled on 
 a farm. On the 3<Dth of September, 1863, 
 he came to Hancock county, settling on 
 a farm in Pilot 'Grove township, where 
 lie died suddenly on the i/jlli of January, 
 1873, his remains being interred in Mc- 
 Kay cemetery. Mrs. Gentry was born 
 in Monroe county, Indiana, June 12, 
 1821, and on the 26th of March, 1846, 
 was married. She died at Carthage, 
 January 9, 1903, and her grave was 
 made in Moss Ridge cemetery. In the 
 family were six children : William 
 Richard, who was born in Monroe coun- 
 
 ty, Indiana, January 17, 1847, an( i was 
 a railroad agent at Hamilton, Illinois, 
 died there September 7, 1881. Joshua 
 Newton, born December 15, 1851, in 
 Monroe -county, Indiana, is now living at 
 McMinnville, Oregon. Mary Catherine, 
 born in Monroe county, Indiana, August 
 7, 1854, died October i, 1858, and was 
 buried in her native county in the Ver- 
 nal Baptist church cemetery. John Mc- 
 Vicar Shreve Gentry was born in Mon- 
 roe county, March 16, 1858. Anna Har- 
 riet, born July 26, 1863, is the wife of 
 Linus Cruise, of Carthage, Illinois, who 
 is represented elsewhere in this volume. 
 Fannie Jane, the youngest of the family, 
 is now the wife of Thomas McFarland. 
 
 In his political affiliation Mr. McFar- 
 land is a democrat and has served as col- 
 lector of Prairie township and as road 
 supervisor. His wife belongs to the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist church, with which she 
 united on the 23d of September, 1894, 
 and she is also a member of the Woman's 
 Home and Foreign Missionary Societies. 
 The family residence is at No. 36 North 
 Adams street, which property was pur- 
 chased by Mr. McFarland. He also 
 owns a lot at No. 17 Main street oppo- 
 site the Shoreham Hotel and one hundred 
 and sixty acres of land in Kansas in ad- 
 dition to his valuable farming properties 
 in Prairie Grove township, while his 
 wife owns sixty acres of land in Pilot 
 Grove township. In 1888 he made a 
 trip to Europe for the purpose of pur- 
 chasing horses and secured fourteen 
 while in England and some in France. He 
 bought English, Norman and one hack- 
 ney and was absent for about two months, 
 during which time he visited Liverpool,
 
 6o6 
 
 'BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 London and Paris, returning by the way 
 of the St. Lawrence and Thousand 
 Islands. His is a commendable business 
 
 N 
 
 record, showing what can be accom- 
 plished by energy and determination, for 
 he is now in possession of valuable prop- 
 erty interests although he started out in 
 life empty-handed. He is a gentleman 
 of pleasant manner, while his wife is an 
 intelligent lady of literary tastes and both 
 have a host of warm friends in Carthage. 
 
 GEORGE W. YETTER. 
 
 George W. Yetter is the owner of a 
 valuable farm property of three hundred 
 acres on section 15, Carthage township, 
 and with its modern equipments is a mon- 
 ument to the skill and enterprise of the 
 owner, whose well directed activity has 
 been the source of his success. He was 
 born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 
 January 26, 1835, and was only two years 
 of age when brought to Illinois by his 
 parents, William and Lydia (Rock) Yet- 
 ter, who settled in Hancock county and 
 are mentioned on another page of this 
 work in connection with the sketch of S. 
 R. Yetter. 
 
 At the usual age George W. Yetter 
 began his education in the common 
 schools of Carthage township and con- 
 tinued his studies in the city schools. 
 When not busy with his text-books he as- 
 sisted in the work of the home farm, re- 
 maining there until about seventeen years 
 of age although he lost his father two 
 years before. Leaving the old home place 
 he worked for one year at the carpenter's 
 
 trade but not finding it a congenial pur- 
 suit he sought and obtained employment 
 as a farm hand and worked by the month 
 in that way for a year. Ambitions to 
 engage in farming on his own account hi 
 next rented eighty acres of land in Car- 
 thage township, which he cultivated and 
 improved for four years, during which 
 time his indefatigable energy and frugal- 
 ity had brought him capital sufficient to 
 justify his purchase of eighty acres of land 
 on section 15, Carthage township, consti- 
 tuting a part of his present homestead. 
 About twenty acres at that time had been 
 placed under cultivation but he soon 
 turned the furcows in the fields and in 
 course of time gathered abundant har- 
 vests. He also erected a good substantial 
 dwelling and other buildings and has con- 
 tinuously lived upon this farm since mak- 
 ing his purchase in 1865. The years have 
 witnessed his prosperity, resulting from 
 . carefully directed labor and good business 
 sagacity and he has added to his acreage 
 from time to time until he is now the 
 owner of a valuable property of three hun- 
 dred and forty-seven acres, nearly all of 
 which has been placed under a high state 
 of cultivation. Practically all his life he 
 has engaged in general farming and stock- 
 raising, keeping good grades of cattle, 
 horses and hogs upon his place yet not 
 making a specialty of blooded stock. 
 Whatever he undertakes he carries for- 
 ward to successful completion and in this 
 largely lies the secret of his success. 
 
 In 1862 Mr. Yetter chose as a com- 
 panion and helpmate on life's journey 
 Miss Mary A. Briley, who was born in 
 Ohio and came to Illinois with her par- 
 ents when a young child. She was a
 
 o 
 o 
 
 
 
 td 
 3 
 
 Kj
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 607 
 
 daughter of Peter and Mary Briley, na- 
 tives of Maryland, and the father, who 
 was an agriculturist, engaged in farming 
 in Hancock township up to the time of 
 his death. His widow suljwyed him and 
 died in Appanoose townslr^ 
 daughter, Mrs. Yetter, was t 
 the common schools of Hancock 
 ship, and by her marriage has becoftj 
 the mother of five children and the family^ 
 circle yet remains unbroken by the hand 
 of death. Calvin R., the eldest, born in 
 Carthage township, resides upon and op- 
 erates the old home place. Lewis G. re- 
 sides on section 15, Carthage township, 
 where he owns seventy-five acres of land 
 and who is holding the office of school 
 director, married Mary Harter Kim- 
 brough. a daughter of William Kim- 
 brough and they have two children, Ber- 
 tha and Eva. Elizabeth Yetter is the 
 wife of Ashford Perry, a farmer of Car- 
 thage township, owning one hundred and 
 twenty acres of land on section 14, which 
 he purchased of his father-in-law. They 
 have three children, Herschel, Howard 
 and Mary. William R. resides at home. 
 Estella is the wife of James Kimbrough, 
 a teamster of Carthage. The wife and 
 mother died upon the old home place 
 February 22, 1905, at the age of sixty- 
 nine years. She was a woman of many 
 excellent traits of heart and mind and 
 was held in highest esteem by all who 
 knew her. In her family she was a de- 
 voted and loving wife and mother and 
 all who knew her found in her a faithful 
 friend. 
 
 . Mr. Yetter holds membership in the 
 Methodist Episcopal church and takes an 
 active part in its work and the extension 
 
 of its influence. For many years he has 
 acted as trustee of the church and is still 
 filling that position. In politics he is a 
 republican and has held the office of road 
 commissioner, while for a long period he 
 has served as school directer. No move- 
 ment for the general good seeks his aid 
 in vain and his efforts have been a valued 
 factor in general improvement. He has 
 witnessed the greater part of the growth 
 and development of Hancock county, 
 which was largely a wild prairie during 
 the period of his early recollection. He 
 has seen this changed into richly culti- 
 vated farms and has done his full share in 
 the line of agricultural improvement, aid- 
 ing in making this one of the richest farm- 
 ing districts in the great state of Illinois. 
 
 HON. CHARLES COOKE. 
 
 Death often removes from our midst 
 those whom we can ill afford to lose, and 
 there was a feeling of universal regret 
 when Charles Cooke was called from 
 this life, for in Hancock county, where he 
 long resided, he made a most creditable 
 record as a representative of agricultural 
 and commercial interests, and also as a 
 factor in public life. In all relations he 
 was upright and honorable, and his in- 
 fluence was far-reaching and beneficial. 
 A native of Southfield, Michigan, he was 
 born October 24, 1837, and was a son of 
 Dr. Noah and Elizabeth Cooke. His 
 father was a native of Massachusetts and 
 the moth&r was also born in the east. Dr.
 
 6o8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Noah Cooke devoted his life to the work 
 of the Presbyterian ministry and also en- 
 gaged in the practice of medicine and sur- 
 gery. After the death of his first wife 
 he resided in Hancock county, Illinois, 
 until his death, which occurred in Bowen 
 about thirty-five years ago. His remains 
 were interred in Chili cemetery. In the 
 family were five children, but only one 
 is now living, namely, Camillus Cooke, a 
 resident of Truckee, California. One 
 daughter of the family became the wife 
 of a Congregational minister at Payson, 
 Illinois. 
 
 Charles Cooke was a young lad when 
 brought to Illinois, his education being 
 acquired in the schools of this state. His 
 opportunities in that direction were some- 
 what limited, but in later years he read 
 broadly and thought deeply and as the 
 result of his investigation, his experience 
 and his observation he became a well in- 
 formed man. He was reared under the 
 parental roof and when he attained his 
 majority he went westward to California, 
 where he was engaged in surveying for 
 gold. It was in that state that he made 
 his real start in business life. For eight 
 years he remained in the mining districts 
 and then returned to Bowen, Illinois, 
 where he invested his capital in a busi- 
 ness enterprise, becoming proprietor of a, 
 lumberyard and agricultural implement 
 store. He also owned a farm of-one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of good land before 
 he went to the west, and following his re- 
 turn he devoted a portion of his time and 
 energies to agricultural interests. He 
 carried on general farming and stock- 
 raising and likewise continued in the lum- 
 ber trade and in the sale of agriculturab 
 
 implements, being thus closely associated 
 with fanning and commercial pursuits 
 until his death. He erected a beautiful 
 residence in 1871 on a part of what was 
 then his farm and is now in the southern 
 portion of Bowen. The home is most 
 beautifully and tastefully furnished and is 
 still the property of Mrs. Cooke, who 
 also owns one hundred and seventeen 
 acres of the farm. 
 
 On the 1 7th of April, 1872, occurred the 
 marriage of Mr. Cooke and Miss Inez 
 Amelia Patchen, who was born in Chili 
 township, February 4, 1854, a daughter 
 of Levi G. and Catherine (Gumbell) 
 Patchen. Her father was born in Dutch- 
 ess county, New York, August 16, 1822, 
 and the mother's birth occurred in New 
 York city May 18, 1826. Levi Patchen 
 was a farmer by occupation and came to 
 Hancock county, Illinois, in 1845, se t~ 
 tling in Chili township, where he pur- 
 chased land from the government and 
 built a log house on the prairie there, liv- 
 ing in true pioneer style in the early 
 days. He contributed in substantial 
 measure to the development and progress 
 of the county as it emerged from pio- 
 neer conditions and took on all the evi- 
 dences of advanced civilization. For 
 many years he successfully carried on 
 general agricultural pursuits and then re- 
 tired to Bowen, where he spent his re- 
 maining days in the enjoyment of a well 
 earned rest. When coming to the west 
 he and his wife lost all of their goods 
 and clothing and their possessions at the 
 time of their arrival consisted only of the 
 clothing they wore and about a dollar in 
 money. As the years passed, however, 
 they prospered, and when called from this
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 609 
 
 life were in possession of a very comfort- 
 able competence. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Patchen was 
 a stalwart democrat and his fellow citi- 
 zens, recognizing his worth and ability, 
 called him to public office. He served as 
 justice of the peace, was highway com- 
 missioner and for many years was school 
 director, and in all of these offices dis- 
 played capability and fidelity that won 
 him warm commendation. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Patchen were born twelve children : 
 Olin. who resides in Oklahoma; Sarah 
 Maria, the wife of Samuel Garnett, of 
 Rock Island, Illinois ; Alvah, who lives 
 at Chandler, Oklahoma ; Daniel, who is 
 located at Lewiston, Missouri ; Franklin 
 J., a practicing physician at Albuquerque, 
 New Mexico; Inez A., now the widow of 
 Charles Cooke, and a resident of Bowen ; 
 Anna Augusta, the wife of Rev. Henry 
 V. Tull, a Congregational minister lo- 
 cated at Jonesboro, Arkansas ; Frederick 
 B., who lives at Bowen; Lillian, also of 
 Bowen ; Charles W., who is. a resident 
 of Colorado Springs, Colorado ; and Ida, 
 the wife of George B. Oder, of Kansas 
 City, Missouri. The parents were mar- 
 ried in 1844, and for more than half a 
 century traveled life's journey together. 
 The death of Mr. Patchen occurred 
 March 5, 1898, while his wife survived 
 until March 12, 1905, and was laid to 
 rest by his side in the cemetery at Bowen. 
 She was a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church and both were good and 
 upright people, deserving the warm re- 
 gard and friendship which was extended 
 them. They were among the early resi- 
 dents of Illinois, and no pioneer did more 
 
 to improve the county and pave the way 
 for the privileges and blessings which- 
 the inhabitants now enjoy than did Levi 
 Patchen. He was an honest man under 
 all circumstances. He possessed, more- 
 over, great energy and was a public- 
 spirited citizen. He never upheld evil 
 of any kind but on the contrary stood for 
 righteousness and progress and was es- 
 pecially interested in the training of the 
 young. He also befriended any institu- 
 tion or influence that would help young 
 people and he was generous in his sup- 
 port of the church. In his later years he 
 was a regular attendant at church serv- 
 ices and his life was ever honorable and 
 upright. In manner he was jovial and 
 pleasant and was a most companionable 
 gentleman, uniformly respected and loved 
 by his neighbors and friends for his sin- 
 cerity and his true manliness. His wife 
 was one of the charter members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church and in her 
 life exemplified her faith and belief. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and 
 Mrs. Cooke at once began housekeeping 
 in the residence which she still occupies 
 and there seven children came to bless 
 their home, namely: Jessie E., who at- 
 tended school at Grinnell, Iowa, and is 
 now the wife of Dr. D. D. Nine, of Bow- 
 en, by whom she has two children, Her- 
 bert C. and Madaline J. ; Freddie, who 
 died in infancy; Ralph W.. who is a 
 graduate of the Illinois College at Jack- 
 sonville, and is secretary of the Young 
 Men's Christian Association at Chicago, 
 being deeply interested in the work ; Inez, 
 the wife of Duane Bennett, of Bowen, 
 Illinois; Mary, who died when only two
 
 6io 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 weeks old ; Edmund, who is attending 
 college at Champaign, Illinois; and Gay- 
 lord, deceased. 
 
 Mr. Cooke gave his political support 
 to the Republican party, but was without 
 aspiration for office. He was truly a 
 self-made man and deserved all the praise 
 that that term implies. Without special 
 family or pecuniary advantages to aid 
 him at the outset of his career he worked 
 his way steadily upward, and was much 
 esteemed and respected by young and old, 
 rich and poor. He possessed a kindly, 
 charitable nature, and was a regular at- 
 tendant at the services of the Congrega- 
 tional church, of which his wife is a de- 
 voted member. He was always much in- 
 terested in the work of the Sunday-school 
 as a teacher therein and was very liberal 
 in giving to the church. He possessed 
 sterling qualities that combined to make 
 an upright, noble man. Believing in ed- 
 ucation, he gave his children good ad- 
 vantages in that direction. In early days, 
 while engaged in mining, he made sev- 
 eral trips to California and was always 
 interested in that state, so that in the lat- 
 ter part of his life he frequently traveled 
 to the Pacific coast, looking after the in- 
 terests of his brother's mine there and 
 also greatly enjoying his sojourn in that 
 sunny clime. The death of Mr. Cooke 
 occurred on April 28, 1892, and he left 
 behind a valued name as well as a com- 
 fortable competence for his family. His 
 memory is cherished by all who knew him 
 and he had many friends in the commu- 
 nity. His children seem to have inherited 
 many of his good traits and are standing 
 nobly by the side of their mother, who is 
 a lady of sweet and kindly disposition. 
 
 now living with her daughter and son-in- 
 law, Dr. and Mrs. Nice. 
 
 HON. JOHN W. MARSH. 
 
 Hon. John W. Marsh was at the time 
 of his demise the oldest practitioner at 
 the bar of Hancock county, having for 
 fifty-five years been a representative of the 
 legal profession at Warsaw. A student 
 of law in the office of Judge Logan, a 
 partner of Abraham Lincoln, the con- 
 temporary in practice of many of the dis- 
 tinguished lawyers of the middle and lat- 
 ter half of the nineteenth century, he at 
 all times commanded the respect and en- 
 joyed the friendship of those with whom 
 he was associated in his professional la- 
 bors, for his strong mentality and intel- 
 lectual energy made him their equal on 
 the mental plane. He, too, perhaps might 
 have attained marked prominence in po- 
 litical circles had he lived in a commu- 
 nity where his party was in power and 
 had not his ambition been in the line of 
 his profession, which he regarded as 
 abundantly worthy of his best efforts. 
 He felt, too, that deep interest in local 
 affairs, which led to his hearty co-opera- 
 tion in movements for general progress 
 and improvement and many tangible prin- 
 ciples were brought forth, his efforts in 
 this direction leading to most commend- 
 able results. He lived in the county for 
 sixty-four years, which period virtually 
 covers its history and he was familiar 
 with its development in every phase. 
 Born in New Brunswick, on the\2oth of 
 August, 1815, John W. Marsh was a son
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 611 
 
 of Benjamin F. and Ruth (Wetmore) 
 Marsh. The father was born at Weath- 
 ersfield, Vermont, December n, 1792, 
 and when a young man went to New 
 Brunswick. After the outbreak of the war 
 of 1812, which cut off all communication 
 between the English province and the 
 United States, he did not hear from his 
 home for three years. At St. Johns he 
 entered mercantile life and continued ac- 
 tively in business there until 1833. He 
 became a successful dealer in merchandise 
 and a very successful man. During his 
 residence in New Brunswick he married 
 Miss Ruth Wetmore, whose parents were 
 Tories and were loyal to the crown of 
 England. Following the revolution they 
 went to New Brunswick, and the govern- 
 ment of England recompensed them in 
 part for the property which had been con- 
 fiscated during the Revolutionary war 
 in the United States. .The old Wetmore 
 home was at Rye, New York. 
 
 In N^w Brunswick Benjamin F. Marsh 
 was an influential business man but feel- 
 ing that he wished to live again under 
 the old flag he returned to the United 
 States, in 1832, spending the first winter 
 thereafter in St. Louis, Missouri. Dur- 
 ing that period he examined the coun- 
 try on horseback, eventually reached old 
 Fort Edward and taking up his abode in 
 one of the old houses there, he purchased 
 a farm of several hundred acres, where- 
 on he erected a house in the spring. He 
 then brought his family to Hancock coun- 
 ty and the name of Marsh has been in- 
 separately interwoven with the history of 
 this part of the state since the spring of 
 1833. The father improved and develop- 
 ed a farm and built a residence, which 
 
 he occupied until the time of the Civil 
 war. In ante-bellum days he was a 
 strong whig and upon the dissolution of 
 the party joined the ranks of the Repub- 
 lican party, which was formed to pre- 
 vent further extension of slavery. He 
 was a stanch advocate of the Union cause 
 and was interested in local political prog- 
 ress although never an aspirant for office 
 himself. For some years, however, he 
 was county school commissioner, having 
 charge at that time of the school lands. 
 He was also one of the early members 
 of the Masonic fraternity in this portion 
 of the state. He died in Warsaw, in 
 1864, while his wife passed away in 1837. 
 In their family were seven children, who 
 reached adult age: Charles Carroll; 
 John W. ; Sophia, the deceased wife of 
 Cyrus Felt; Elizabeth, the deceased wife 
 of Chauncey Richmond; Charlotte, who 
 married James Luzadder; Caroline, the 
 wife of Henry Richmond ; Colonel Benja- 
 min F. Marsh, who for many years was 
 a distinguished representative of this dis- 
 trict in congress; Arthur W. The last 
 named, together with his brother, Benja- 
 min, enlisted for service in the Second 
 Illinois Cavalry, and Arthur was killed 
 while serving as colonel of the One Hun- 
 dred and Eighteenth Volunteer Infantry. 
 Mrs. Marsh was a member of the Episco- 
 pal church, and her husband contributed 
 generously to its support. 
 
 John Wellington Marsh acquired his 
 preliminary education in St. Johns, New 
 Brunswick, and subsequently was grad- 
 uated from Kenyon College, in Ohio, 
 which he entered as a sophomore in the 
 class of 1836, being graduated with vale- 
 dictorian honors in the class of 1839. In
 
 6l2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the meantime his parents had removed 
 from New Brunswick to St. Louis and 
 as stated, became residents of Hancock 
 county in the spring of 1833. At that 
 time Warsaw had not been laid out and 
 the only families here were those of Mark 
 Aldrich, John R. Wilcox and Isham 
 Cochran. For many years the family 
 home was maintained upon a farm four 
 miles east of Warsaw and at the time of 
 his death Judge Marsh still owned a por- 
 tion of the original farm, on which stands 
 the old log house which was a pretentious 
 structure when erected. Mr. Marsh 
 shared with the family in the usual ex- 
 periences and hardships of life on the 
 frontier, for Illinois was then on a border 
 of civilization. He assisted in the 
 arduous task of developing new land and 
 turning the first furrows in the fields until 
 he entered college and following his 
 graduation, having determined upon a 
 professional career, he went to Spring- 
 field. Illinois, where he became a law 
 student in the office of Judge Logan, a 
 partner of Abraham Lincoln. In fact 
 it was while he was in the office that the 
 partnership was formed and under the 
 direction of those two distinguished law- 
 yers he gained his first knowledge of the 
 principles of jurisprudence, while Judge 
 Logan and Judge Trumbull were among 
 those who examined him when he was 
 finally admitted to the bar. 
 
 Judge Marsh entered upon the active 
 practice of law in Carthage in 1842, and 
 for fifty-five years was recognized as 
 one of the ablest members of the Han- 
 cock county bar, exceeding, at the time of 
 his death, in years of practice as well as in 
 ability, all who were connected with the 
 
 bar of the county at that time. He was 
 regarded as one of the most able lawyers 
 of this section of the state, standing 
 among the leaders of the profession in 
 western Illinois. He was retained as 
 counsel on many of the important cases 
 and met with remarkable success. When 
 he accepted a case he bent every energy 
 toward winning it but he never sacrificed 
 right and principle to do so. His ad- 
 dresses always showed thorough and 
 painstaking preparation and at once in- 
 dicated that he was master of the situa- 
 tion. He was a man of keen power of 
 perception and of analytical mind, which 
 enabled him to quickly discover the weak 
 points in aji opponent's argument and at 
 once attack his position thereon. He was 
 thoroughly versed in the fundamental 
 principles of common law and was never 
 at a loss to cite an authority or precedent. 
 His style of address was dignified, candid 
 and straightforward with never an at- 
 tempt to juggle with a jury or entrap the 
 court. It has been said that in his ad- 
 dresses the listener was first interested, 
 then captivated and finally convinced that 
 every word of the argument was in aid 
 of justice. 
 
 Judge Marsh was never an aspirant for 
 office yet was always interested in the 
 great questions involving the weal or woe 
 of the nation. He became a republican 
 on the organization of the party, and 
 while strong in his convictions and 
 prompt and effective in maintaining them, 
 he did so without being offensive to those 
 who differed from him. In 1855 he was 
 a candidate for circuit judge in a district 
 with an abnormally large democratic ma- 
 jority and while unsuccessful, he greatly
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 613 
 
 reduced that majority and made a strong 
 canvass although defeated. About 1886 
 he was nominated and elected county 
 judge but was defeated for a second term 
 because of the very strong democratic 
 strength in Hancock county. As a jurist 
 he made a splendid record, his decisions 
 being strictly fair and impartial and based 
 upon a comprehensive knowledge of the 
 law and correct adaptation thereof. 
 
 On the 27th of November, 1849, Judge 
 Marsh was married to Eudocia Baldwin, 
 a daughter of Epaphras B. Baldwin, and 
 their married life was a most happy one. 
 In 1 854 they removed to Warsaw and 
 Judge Marsh remained a resident of that 
 city until his demise. He passed away 
 July 12, 1897, leaving a widow and five 
 children, but one daughter, Miss Cara 
 Potwin, has since departed this life. 
 Those still living are: Mary Eudocia; 
 Mrs. Helen S. Bardens, of Warsaw, Illi- 
 nois; Aclele Rose, the wife of A. H. Mac- 
 Gregor, of Warsaw ; and John Wetmore 
 Marsh. Two sons and two daughters 
 of the family had died in infancy. The 
 family have occupied a beautiful home 
 in Warsaw since 1876 and in addition to 
 this property Judge Marsh owned val- 
 uable farm lands in this section of the 
 state, having placed his money in the 
 safest of all investments real estate. 
 
 While his life was a busy one and his 
 profession made heavy demands upon his 
 time and energies, Judge Marsh yet 
 found opportunity to aid in many move- 
 ments having direct benefit upon the wel- 
 fare and progress of his city and county. 
 He became one of the original members 
 of St. Paul's Episcopal church and from 
 its early existence was a member of its 
 
 vestry and for thirty years was senior 
 warden. He contributed generously to its 
 support and often acted as lay reader dur- 
 ing the absence of a regular pastor. For 
 years he was chancellor of the Quincy 
 diocese. At the time of his death he was 
 serving as a director and vice president 
 of the Warsaw free public library, and 
 he was a member of the city council from 
 1860 until 1862, and afterward a member 
 of the board of education. All of those 
 interests which are a matter of civic pride 
 and virtue received his endorsement and 
 co-operation and his public-spirited citi- 
 zenship stood as an unquestioned fact in 
 his career. . He was an interested witness 
 of the epochal events in Hancock county's 
 history and in many cases was an active 
 participant therein. Pioneer life in its 
 various phases was familiar to him and he 
 likewise passed through the trying period 
 of the Mormon troubles, his office in Car- 
 thage at that time being a meeting place 
 for the anti-Mormons, who molded their 
 bullets there. He was an active member 
 of the Union League in the clays of the 
 Rebellion and his aid could be counted 
 upon to further the material, intellectual 
 and moral progress of the community 
 throughout the sixty-four years of his 
 residence in Hancock county. 
 
 The Warsaw Bulletin in its editorial 
 upon his death said : "The death of 
 Judge Marsh elicited a universal expres- 
 sion of sorrow. Known to all, respected 
 by all, the one feeling was that of regret 
 and sympathy regret at the loss of such 
 a citizen and sympathy for the family 
 who have thus been bereft of a kind, 
 thoughtful, considerate husband and 
 father, for Judge Marsh was character-
 
 614 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 istically a home man, a man who was 
 intensely devoted to his wife and children 
 and spent his unemployed hours with 
 them. *.*-** In his public life 
 Judge Marsh was careful and conscien- 
 tious in the discharge of every duty. In 
 his private life he was upright and hon- 
 orable. In every relation he was irre- 
 proachable. Of even temperament, he 
 lived a gentle, blameless life, and dying 
 leaves a blessed heritage to those nearest 
 and dearest, and an example of pure, clean 
 citizenship that may be emulated by 
 others with profit to the community. 
 Such a life builds for all time, and the 
 world is the better for his having lived 
 it it." In all places and under all cir- 
 cumstances he was loyal to truth, honor 
 and right, justly valuing his own self- 
 respect as infinitely more profitable than 
 wealth, fame and position. In those finer 
 traits of character which combine to form 
 that which we call friendship, which en- 
 dear and attach man to man in most inti- 
 mate bonds, which triumph and shine 
 brightest in the hour of adversity in 
 these qualities he was royally endowed. 
 
 ISAAC McCOY MARTIN, M. D. 
 
 Dr. Isaac McCoy Martin, who is the 
 second oldest medical practitioner of La 
 Harpe in years of continuous connection 
 with the profession in this place, was 
 born in Macomb, Illinois, September 9, 
 1853, a son of Joseph Morris and Hen- 
 rietta Girard (Westfall) Martin, both of 
 whom were natives of Miami county, 
 Ohio. The father was born January 6, 
 
 1823, and was a son of Abiah and Cath- 
 erine (Wilson) Martin, of Miami county. 
 Henrietta G. Westfall was born March 
 18, 1823, and was a daughter of Levi 
 and Margaret (Pettit) Westfall. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Martin were reared 
 in Boone county, Indiana, and were mar- 
 ried in the town of Lebanon. They re- 
 sided for a time at Thorntown, where 
 Mr. Martin followed the carpenter's 
 trade. They left Indiana in one of the 
 oldtime moving wagons, which were the 
 only means of travel across the country 
 at that day, and took up their abode in 
 Macomb, Illinois, about 1850. For many 
 years Mr. Martin carried on business 
 there as a contractor and builder, hav- 
 ing a large patronage and erecting many 
 of the substantial structures of the town 
 and surrounding country. He continued 
 in active connection with his trade until 
 his death, which occurred February 21, 
 1893. When in the prime of life he was 
 one of the prominent and influential resi- 
 dents of the town, served in various pub- 
 lic offices and several times acted as 
 mayor. He and his wife were among the 
 charter members of the Universalist 
 church and always took an interest in its 
 work. Mrs. Martin still resides in Ma- 
 comb, making her home with her daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Henrietta A. Campbell, and is 
 the oldest surviving member of the Uni- 
 versalist church there. In their family 
 were four sons and four daughters. 
 
 Dr. Martin, of La Harpe, is the fifth 
 in order of birth. He was educated in 
 the Macomb schools, being graduated 
 from the high school, and in early man- 
 hood he engaged in teaching. He also 
 took up the study of medicine while in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Macomb and in 1876 he went to Eyota, 
 Minnesota, where he engaged in study- 
 ing and practicing with his uncle, Dr. I. 
 M. Westfall. After two years he re- 
 turned to Macomb, where he engaged in 
 teaching school until he entered Hahne- 
 man College, of Chicago, from which 
 he won his diploma on the 24th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1881. He located for practice at 
 Macomb, where he resided until 1887, 
 since which time he has been practicing 
 in La Harpe, being the second oldest 
 practicing physician here. 
 
 In September, 1883. Dr. Martin was 
 married to Elsie Taylor, who was bom 
 at Mt. Sterling, Illinois, a daughter of 
 Colonel Samuel E. and Nancy (McCor- 
 mick) Taylor, who were residents of Col- 
 chester. Her father was captain of Com- 
 pany E, Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer In- 
 fantry, but was transferred to the One 
 Hundred and Ninteenth Illinois Volun- 
 teer Infantry as Lieutenant-Colonel, en- 
 listing from Mt. Sterling at the time of 
 the Civil war. Mrs. Martin was edu- 
 cated in the schools of Quincy. By this 
 marriage there were two children : Mor- 
 ris Carl, born July 27, 1884; and Edgar 
 Scott, born June 3, 1886. They are now 
 associated with their father in the publi- 
 cation of The La Harpe Times in La 
 Harpe. The wife and mother died July 
 30, 1888. On the 5th of December, 1889, 
 Dr. Martin married Clara A. Locke, who 
 was born in Blandinsville township, Mc- 
 Donough county, Illinois, and was edu- 
 cated in the public schools of La Harpe. 
 her parents being George and Mary E. 
 (Webster) Locke, natives of Michigan. 
 There are two daughters of this mar- 
 riage: Mary E., born August 17, 1891; 
 39 
 
 and Esther Pearl, born November 23, 
 1898. 
 
 Dr. Martin is a member of the Uni- 
 versalist church and is a republican in 
 politics, being prominent in the local 
 ranks of the party. He was city clerk of 
 Macomb for five consecutive years, from 
 1882 until 1886, inclusive, and since his 
 removal to La Harpe has served as city 
 attorney in 1890-91, tax collector in 
 1894-95 and in 1905 was elected alder- 
 man from the first ward for a two years' 
 term. He has also been a member of 
 the board of education for ten years and 
 has been its president for two years. His 
 fraternal relations are with the Independ- 
 ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern 
 Woodmen of America, the Mystic Work- 
 ers, the Ancient Order of United Work- 
 men and the Knights of Pythias. 
 
 ANDREW J. GRIFFITH, M. D. 
 
 Andrew Jackson Griffith, now deceased, 
 was one of the pioneer physicians of Han- 
 cock county, following his profession here 
 when such a service demanded great per- 
 sonal sacrifice because of the unsettled 
 condition of this part of the state. Later 
 he became widely known in banking cir- 
 cles and at all times he stooc 1 as a high 
 type of American manhood. 
 
 Dr. Griffith was born February 4, 1820, 
 in the eastern part of Ohio, where his 
 parents were temporarily located. He 
 was a son of Llewellyn and Hannah 
 (Hope) Griffith. The parents were of 
 Welsh ancestry and had formerly been 
 residents of Easton, Pennsylvania. Fol-
 
 6i6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 lowing the birth of their son they re- 
 turned to Philadelphia and Llewellyn 
 Griffith there followed the wagon-making 
 trade during the youth of the Doctor but 
 later removed with his family to Berna- 
 dotte, Fulton county, Illinois, where his 
 wife died. Subsequently he came to Car- 
 thage to make his home with his son and 
 here spent his remaining days. 
 
 Dr. Griffith acquired his early education 
 in Philadelphia and later continued his 
 studies in Illinois but subsequently re- 
 turned to Philadelphia, where he became a 
 student in Jefferson Medical College. He 
 almost completed the course there but be- 
 fore the time of graduation came again to 
 the west and pursued a collegiate course 
 in the St. Louis Medical College. He lo- 
 cated for practice in Hancock county, 
 settling first at Fountain Green, where he 
 soon secured a large country practice, 
 riding over an extended section of the 
 country. In 1854, however, he removed 
 to Carthage and almost immediately won 
 renown as an able physician, his busi- 
 ness reaching large proportions. He con- 
 tinued in active practice until late in the 
 '6os, when he retired from professional 
 ranks to become one of the founders of 
 the Hancock National Bank, of which he 
 served as vice president for a number of 
 years, occupying the position at the time 
 of his death. 
 
 Dr. Griffith married Miss Margaret 
 McClaughry of this county, a daughter 
 of Matthew McClaughry, a pioneer of 
 Illinois from New York. Mrs. Griffith 
 still survives her husband, who died 
 March 19, 1884. He was a member of 
 the Masonic fraternity and in his practice 
 had ample opportunity to exemplify the 
 
 beneficent and helpful spirit of the craft. 
 With the improvement of Carthage he 
 was actively connected, being deeply inter- 
 ested in everything pertaining to its wel- 
 fare and progress. He was one of the 
 original committee for the organization 
 of the Carthage College and assisted in 
 raising the fund to erect the first build- 
 ings, also giving the ground for the col- 
 lege campus. He was one of the first 
 board of directors and also at the head 
 of building committee when the first build- 
 ing, now known as Main building was 
 erected. He continued a most helpful ad- 
 vocate and worker in behalf of the 
 college and remained the head of the 
 board until within a short time of 
 his death and in addition to his labor he 
 contributed liberally of his means to its 
 support. His life was at all times of 
 intense usefulness to his fellowmen and 
 his name became a synonym for improve- 
 ment and development in public matters 
 in this county. He commanded the re- 
 spect of all by his genuine, personal 
 worth and his death was the occasion of 
 deep and widespread regret. 
 
 CHARLES H. VAN AERNAM. 
 
 Charles H. Van Aernam is the owner 
 of good farming property in Hancock 
 county and has resided at his present 
 place of residence in Montebello town- 
 ship since 1854. He was born in Lewis 
 county. New York, June 16, 1848, his 
 parents being Anthony and Susan 
 (Wardwell) Van Aernam, both of whom
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 617 
 
 were natives of New York. The grand- 
 father, William Van Aernam, was also a 
 resident of the Empire state. The ma- 
 ternal grandparents were Dennis and Ly- 
 dia (Church) Wardwell, the former a 
 native of Pennsylvania and the latter of 
 Ohio. In the year 1842 Austin Ward- 
 well, a brother of Dennis Wardwell, came 
 to Hancock county, settling in Monte- 
 bello township. He took part in the 
 Mormon war under the command of Col- 
 onel Smith, who afterward served in the 
 Civil war. Leaving the east, Anthony 
 Van Aernam and his family started for 
 Illinois, making the journey by railroad 
 to Chicago, whence they proceeded to 
 Rock Island and down the Mississippi 
 river to Keokuk, where they arrived on 
 the 2d of October, 1854. In Montebello 
 township Mr. Van Aernam purchased 
 eighty acres on section 22. It was wild 
 land and there were still deer and wolves 
 in the county, while all kinds of wild 
 fowl could be had in abundance, showing 
 that the work of improvement had scarce- 
 ly been begun and that many conditions 
 and evidences of pioneer life were still 
 to be seen here. Mr. Van Aernam built 
 a house, sixteen by twenty feet, and put 
 other improvements upon his place. 
 With characteristic energy he began cul- 
 tivating the soil and as the years passed 
 and he prospered in his undertakings he 
 added to his possessions until he owned 
 two hundred and forty acres of rich and 
 productive land at the time of his death, 
 which occurred on the 23d of August, 
 1904. His wife passed away December 
 23, 1893. 1 their family were four 
 sons: George, Charles H., William and 
 Ransom. 
 
 Charles H. Van Aernam made his 
 home with his parents until twenty-one 
 years of age and acquired his education 
 in the public schools, while the periods of 
 vacation were largely devoted to farm la- 
 bor. On attaining his majority he went 
 to Audubon county, Iowa, where he was 
 engaged in trading in land and also in 
 the stock business. Five years later he 
 returned to his home place in this town- 
 ship and has since lived here. After 
 about fifteen years he sold the property, 
 which up to that time he had owned and 
 cultivated, to his brother. He had a 
 tract of eighty acres adjoining the home 
 place and which had been inherited from 
 his father, from whom he also received 
 the personal property. On selling his 
 original farm Mr. Van Aernam pur- 
 chased his brother William's farm of 
 eighty acres. He has altogether two 
 hundred and forty acres of rich and pro- 
 ductive land, making him one of the sub- 
 stantial agriculturists of the community, 
 and to his work he brings intelligence and 
 enterprise that have resulted in the ac- 
 quirement of a handsome property. He 
 has a barn, thirty by one hundred and 
 twenty feet, a scale house and other mod- 
 em equipments, and the well developed 
 property returns to him a gratifying in- 
 come. Having never married, he makes 
 his home with his brother Ransom. His 
 political views are in accord with repub- 
 lican principles and although he is not 
 a politician in the sense of office seeking, 
 he keeps well informed on the questions 
 and issues of the day. 
 
 Ransom D. Van Aernam, rated with 
 the representative and prosperous fann- 
 ers of Montebello township, was born in
 
 6i8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Lewis county, New York, April 16, 1852, 
 and was educated in the district schools 
 of Hancock county. He was reared in 
 the usual manner of farm lads and the 
 history of his family is given in connec- 
 tion with that of his brother, Charles H. 
 Van Aemam, which appears above. He 
 lived upon the home farm until twenty- 
 two years of age and on the i/th of 
 April, 1873, he was united in marriage 
 to Miss Robenia Morrison, who was born 
 in Glasgow, Scotland, October 7, 1853, 
 hef parents being John and Robenia 
 (Glenn) Morrison. The mother died 
 during the infancy of her daughter and 
 the father afterward wedded Mary Robin- 
 son, a native of Scotland. In the year 
 1865 he brought his family to America, 
 settling at Hamilton in Hancock county, 
 Illinois, where he lived for a year and 
 then removed to Montebello township. 
 He made his home in Iowa for five years 
 with his daughter, Mrs. Van Aernam, 
 and afterward returned to Hamilton, 
 where he passed away on the gth of Au- 
 gust, 1885. His second wife still sur- 
 vives and is now residing in Kansas. 
 Mrs. Van Aernam pursued her educa- 
 tion in the common schools of Scotland 
 and of Hancock county, Illinois, having 
 been about eleven years of age when she 
 came with her father to the United States. 
 Two years after their marriage Mr. and 
 Mrs. Van Aemam removed to Audubon 
 county, Iowa," and for seven years he 
 rented his father's farm there and engaged 
 in its cultivation and improvement. He 
 afterward removed to Villisca, Montgom- 
 ery county, Iowa, where he purchased a 
 house and lot and made his home for 
 
 twenty years. He was in the employ of 
 a hardware and implement firm for seven 
 years during that period and for one year 
 had charge of the county bridge work. 
 He still owns property in Villisca, but 
 in 1902 removed to his portion of the 
 home place, comprising eighty acres. He 
 has in his possession the first eighty-acre 
 tract which his father secured on coming 
 to Montebello township. On the farm is 
 a barn, thirty by thirty-six feet and six- 
 teen feet posts, which has replaced a 
 barn that was destroyed by fire in 1895. 
 He has a corn crib, granary and wagon 
 shed and also a tool house, and thus his 
 farm is well equipped, being supplied with 
 all modern accessories and conveniences. 
 Mr. Van Aernam also owns property in 
 Hamilton, having purchased two vacant 
 lots there in the spring of 1906. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born three children. William A., 
 born May 20, 1874, married Anna Niell, 
 of Iowa. In November, 1902, he cut his 
 knee with a corn knife and later blood 
 poisoning set in, resulting in his death on 
 the 2gth of that month. Frankie A., 
 born August 16, 1875, died of diptheria 
 in June, 1888. Jessie May, born in 1890, 
 died July 4, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Van 
 Aerman joined the Methodist Episcopal 
 church in the winter of 1882 and she is 
 now a member of the Ladies' Aid So- 
 ciety. The family has long been well 
 known in this county and the Van Aernam 
 brothers are prominently connected with 
 . agricultural pursuits, being known as en- 
 terprising and reliable business men, and 
 are held in the highest esteem by all who 
 know them.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 619 
 
 AUGUST C. WILKE. 
 
 The gentleman whose name introduces 
 this record is one of the worthy citizens 
 that Germany has furnished to Hancock 
 county, and through his energy and well 
 directed labors he has worked his way 
 steadily upward until he is now in pos- 
 session of a valuable tract of land. His 
 birth occurred in Mecklenburg, of the 
 fatherland, February i, 1861, a son of 
 Carl and Wilhelmina (Wolgast) Wilke. 
 The paternal grandfather bore the name 
 of John Wilke, while the maternal grand- 
 father of our subject was John Wolgast. 
 Carl Wilke was born in the fatherland, 
 September 29, 1828, and was there mar- 
 ried, April 20, 1860, to Miss Wilhelmina 
 Wolgast, whose birth occurred March 
 4, 1830. They remained in their native 
 country until 1871, when the father, hear- 
 ing favorable reports concerning the ad- 
 vantages to be found in the new and 
 growing country, decided to cross the 
 Atlantic, and accordingly in that year 
 took passage on a sailing vessel which 
 landed in New York, from which place 
 they traveled by rail to Dallas, this state, 
 and from that place the father made his 
 way to La Harpe township, where he 
 rented a farm, on which the family took 
 up their abode and which continued to 
 be their home for eleven years. Having 
 prospered in his undertakings during 
 these years, Mr. Wilke then felt justified 
 in purchasing land and establishing a 
 home of his own, and accordingly bought 
 one hundred and fifty-four acres on sec- 
 tion 35, of which all except fourteen acres 
 was cultivable land. He carried on the 
 work of general farming from year to 
 
 year and as the result of his careful man- 
 agement added to his income annually, so 
 that when he was called from this life he 
 left to his family a valuable estate. His 
 death occurred January 22, 1906, when 
 he had reached the advanced age of sev- 
 enty-eight years, and his remains were 
 interred in the La Harpe cemetery. His 
 widow continues her residence on the 
 homestead property, which is now being 
 managed by her son, Ludwig. In the 
 family are three sons and one daughter, 
 of whom our subject is the eldest, the 
 others being: William C., who was born 
 May 10, 1862, and is a resident farmer of 
 Bushirell, Illinois; Louisa, who was born 
 April 28, 1864, and is now the wife of 
 Ransford Bennett, of Durham township; 
 and Ludwig, who was born August 27, 
 1868, and is operating the home farm. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate for life's 
 journey August C. Wilke chose Miss Em- 
 ma Bedker, whom he wedded November 
 30, 1882. She is a native of Beaver Dam, 
 Wisconsin, born April 5, 1861, and ac- 
 quired her education in the schools of that 
 place. She is a daughter of William and 
 Mary (Kurt) Bedker, natives of Ger- 
 many, while the paternal grandfather, 
 Carl Bedker, and the maternal grand- 
 parents, Jochim and Mary (Hoot) Kurt, 
 were likewise natives of the fatherland. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Wilke re- 
 mained with his parents on the home 
 farm, assisting in its operation for five 
 years, and he then removed to a farm 
 which he rented in La Harpe township 
 for four years, after which, having saved 
 a capital sufficient to justify the purchase 
 of land, he invested his money in one 
 hundred and sixty acres, of which one
 
 62O 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 hundred and fifteen acres are located on 
 section 25, La Harpe township, and the 
 remainder is situated on section 36. He 
 then removed his family to the new home 
 and is here engaged in general farming 
 and stock-raising, having placed one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres under a high state 
 of cultivation, while the remainder of 
 the farm is devoted to pasturage. Since 
 locating on the place Mr. Wilke has made 
 many improvements, including wire 
 fences, the erection of barns and sheds for 
 the shelter of grain, stock and farm ma- 
 chinery, and he recently erected a fine 
 residence, modern in its equipments and 
 accessories, to which the family removed 
 on the ist of January, of the present year. 
 There is a fine orchard on the place con- 
 taining different varieties of fruit trees, 
 from which good crops are gathered in 
 their season. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born a son and daughter : Louis C. 
 W., born February 6, 1884, and Mayme 
 E., born February 22, 1888, both at home. 
 Mr. Wilke is a republican in his political 
 views and affiliations and he holds mem- 
 bership with the German Methodist Epis- 
 copal church in La Harpe township. He 
 takes a helpful interest in educational af- 
 fairs, having served as school director 
 continuously since 1894. Having ac- 
 companied his parents from the father- 
 land when only ten years of age, he has 
 here spent the greater part of his life, and 
 enjoyed the educational advantages of 
 this country, although he had attended 
 school to some extent in Germany. He 
 was early trained to habits of industry 
 and economy, and possessing a strong 
 determination to win success he applied 
 
 himself diligently to his work and has 
 availed himself of every opportunity that 
 presented itself whereby he might ad- 
 vance until he is today numbered among 
 the prosperous and progressive agricul- 
 turists of this section of the state, and all 
 the success that he has achieved has been 
 won through his own efforts. Both he 
 and his wife are highly esteemed people 
 and enjoy the warm regard of a large 
 circle of friends. 
 
 WILLIAM J. RIGGINS. 
 
 William J. Riggins, who is engaged 
 in business as a contractor and builder 
 of La Harpe, was born in La Harpe town- 
 ship, Hancock county, in December, 1836. 
 His paternal grandfather was John Rig- 
 gins and his father was Wright Riggins, 
 who was a native of North Carolina and 
 wedded Mary Bradshaw, whose birth oc- 
 curred in Warren county, Illinois, while 
 her father, Joel Bradshaw, was a native of 
 Tennessee. In the year 1828, Wright 
 Riggins went to McDonough county, Illi- 
 nois, and was numbered among its pioneer 
 settlers who journeyed toward the ever 
 receding west and aided in the reclama- 
 tion of a wild and unimproved district 
 for the purposes of civilization. The In- 
 dians were still numerous in the state and 
 he aided in defending the frontier in the 
 Black Hawk war. Even prior to this 
 time lie had lived for several years in 
 Illinois, for when he removed from North 
 Carolina he took up his abode in Madison
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 621 
 
 county and later lived in Morgan county, 
 Illinois, where he worked. After spend- 
 ing about three years in McDonough 
 county he settled in La Harpe township, 
 Hancock county, in 1831, and purchased 
 about eight hundred acres of land from, 
 the government, securing his title to the 
 same from the land office in Quincy, Illi- 
 nois. All was wild and uncultivated and 
 about two hundred acres of it was cov- 
 ered with timber. He took up the task 
 of breaking the sod and improving the 
 farm, having the first improved farm west 
 of La Harpe. For many years he was 
 successfully and actively engaged in gen- 
 eral agricultural pursuits, bringing his 
 farm under a high state of cultivation 
 and finding that through care it could be 
 made into a productive place, the well 
 tilled fields yielding bounteous harvests. 
 He continued to reside upon the farm 
 in this county until his death, which oc- 
 curred in January, 1876, while his wife 
 passed away in April, 1844. 
 
 William J. Riggins is the only surviv- 
 ing member of a family of three daugh- 
 ters and four sons, of whom one son and 
 one daughter were older than himself. 
 He was reared amid the environments 
 and surroundings of pioneer life and be- 
 gan his education in a little log school- 
 house, while later he attended school in 
 La Harpe. He spent his boyhood days 
 with his parents and from the time of 
 early spring planting until crops were 
 gathered in the late autumn he aided in 
 the work of the fields. He was thus en- 
 gaged until twenty-one years of age, when 
 he started out in life on his own account 
 and completed his arrangements for hav- 
 ing a home of his own by his marriage 
 
 in October, 1858, to Miss Eliza Ann 
 Peck, who was born in Galloway county, 
 Ohio, in 1835, and was a daughter of 
 Peter Peck. Unto this marriage were 
 born seven children : William Riley, 
 who died at the age of twenty- four years ; 
 Pernila, the wife of Jacob Hesh, of Mc- 
 Donough county, Illinois; Roena Belle, 
 who became the wife of Samuel Owings 
 and died in the spring of 1896, in Han- 
 cock county; Arali, the wife of Gillard 
 Tiltoh, of La Harpe, Illinois; Wesley, a 
 carpenter, of Peoria, Illinois; Edwin J., 
 also a carpenter, residing at Peoria ; and 
 Abigail, the wife of A. B. Barlow, an en- 
 gineer on the Toledo, Peoria & Western 
 Railroad. The wife and mother passed 
 away in August, 1871, and Mr. Riggins 
 was again married on the 3d of Decem- 
 ber, 1873, his second union being with 
 Miss Amelia Bush, who was born Feb- 
 ruary u, 1844, in Cumberland county, 
 Pennsylvania, and acquired her educa- 
 tion in the common schools of that state. 
 Her parents, John C. and Henrietta 
 (Schmidt) Bush, were both natives of 
 Germany. The children of the second 
 marriage are : Carolina, at home ; James 
 Albert, who died . at the age of twenty 
 years ; and Ernest Weaver, who died in 
 infancy. 
 
 Following his first marriage Mr. Rig- 
 gins located upon one hundred acres of 
 the home farm, which he purchased from 
 his father and there he resided continu- 
 ously until September, 1876, when he sold 
 that property and bought one hundred and 
 sixty acres of land in Pontoosuc township, 
 Hancock county, making his home there- 
 on for a decade, or until September, 1886. 
 when he also sold this farm. He then pur-
 
 622 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 chased one acre of land in La Harpe, on 
 which he erected his present residence, 
 having since made it his home. He also 
 built four other houses but has sold all 
 except the one which he now occupies 
 and one which he rents. On removing 
 to La Harpe he purchased a butcher shop, 
 which he conducted for two years and 
 then became identified with building op- 
 erations as a carpenter and contractor. 
 He still continues actively in this line of 
 business and has erected a number of the 
 important structures of La Harpe and 
 vicinity. He also bought four lots in 
 Peoria and has built two houses thereon. 
 Mr. Riggins is a democrat in his po- 
 litical affiliation and has served as super- 
 visor and also as assessor. In the 
 spring of 1906 he was elected as mayor 
 of the city of La Harpe to fill the va- 
 cancy caused by the resignation of C. 
 A. Knappenberger. He has led a life 
 characterized by industry and carries 
 forward to successful completion what- 
 ever he undertakes. He has always 
 lived in this section of the state and the 
 fact that many \vho have known him from 
 his boyhood to the present are numbered 
 among his stanchest friends, is an indi- 
 cation that he has displayed many sterling 
 traits of character as the years have gone 
 by. 
 
 EDWARD BRINES. 
 
 From an early period in the develop- 
 ment of Hancock county to the present 
 time Edward Brines has been numbered 
 
 among its residents and is now living 
 in Augusta. He was born in Schuyler 
 county, near Rushville, Illinois, October 
 29, 1829, and has therefore attained the 
 seventy-sixth milestone pn life's journey. 
 He was only two years of age when his 
 parents removed with their family to Wa- 
 bash county, Illinois, where the father 
 engaged in farming, and in the public 
 schools there the son acquired his educa- 
 tion and in the summer months assisted in 
 the labors of the farm. He resided there 
 until twenty-one years of age, performing 
 the various tasks incident to the raising 
 of the crops and the care of the stock. 
 In the fall of 1850 he returned to his na- 
 tive county, where he engaged in farm- 
 ing on his own account, cultivating a 
 tract of rented land. He there resided 
 until the spring of 1874, when he came 
 to Hancock county and took up his abode 
 in Augusta township, about three and a 
 half miles southeast of the village of Au- 
 gusta. Here he also rented a farm until 
 the spring of 1878, when he located in 
 Augusta, where he has since resided. He 
 has been totally blind for the past twenty 
 years but has learned to do some kinds of 
 work, such as caning chairs and occu- 
 pies much of his time in this way. 
 
 Mr. Brines was married on the 2ist 
 of August, 1851, to Miss Mary Jane 
 Curry, who was born in Kentucky, 
 whence she came to Illinois with her par- 
 ents when six years of age, the family 
 home being established near Rushville, 
 where she was reared and educated. The 
 family resided on a farm about two miles 
 east of Rushville and there she remained 
 until her marriage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Brines were born eight children. Nancy
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 623 
 
 Susan, the eldest, is the widow of John 
 N. Stark, who was a farmer of Augusta 
 township. She now resides in California 
 and has two children, Earl, of Chicago, 
 and Kitty, who is the wife of Neal Thron- 
 son, of Minnesota, and has three children, 
 Elvira, Norma and Newman. George 
 H. Brines resides in Kansas, where he fol- 
 lows farming and merchandising in At- 
 tica. He married Miss Ollie Manson and 
 has three children, Haeey, Carl and 
 Helen. Charles Brines died at the age of 
 four years, Edgar at the age of three, Ma- 
 bel at the age of two and three other chil- 
 dren died unnamed in infancy. 
 
 Mr. Brines exercises his right of fran- 
 chise in support of the men and measures 
 of the democracy but never sought or 
 desired office, preferring always to give 
 his undivided attention to his business 
 interests and until blindness overtook him 
 he led a very busy and useful life. Both 
 he and his wife are members of the Chris- 
 tian church and are well known in Au- 
 gusta, being classed with the worthy and 
 respected citizens here. 
 
 GEORGE KLINEFELTER. 
 
 George Klinefelter, devoting his time 
 and energies to general agricultural pur- 
 suits in Chili township, was born in Penn- 
 sylvania, in 1852. and is one of the four 
 children and only living representative 
 of the family of John .and Rebecca (Wor- 
 rell) Klinefelter. The father's birth oc- 
 curred in Mount Bethel, Northampton 
 
 county, Pennsylvania. He was a prac- 
 ticing physician as was also the grand- 
 father of our subject, who was a native 
 of the same state. Dr. John Klinefelter 
 was born in 1826, and died in 1868, at 
 the comparatively early age of forty-two 
 years, his remains being interred in Penn- 
 sylvania. His widow, who was born 
 September 8, 1830, came to Illinois after 
 the death of her husband and died in 1885, 
 being laid to rest in Chili cemetery. She 
 was a member of the Presbyterian church 
 and was a most estimable lady. Her son, 
 Joseph, who died in Minnesota, July 21, 
 1906, was brought to this county for 
 interment in Chili cemetery and was laid 
 by the side of his mother. Mr. Kline- 
 felter had an uncle on his father's side 
 who was a soldier of the Revolutionary 
 war, while two of his uncles in the ma- 
 ternal line were soldiers of the Civil war. 
 George Klinefelter acquired his educa- 
 tion in the schools of Pennsylvania. He 
 came to Illinois, however, in 1867, at the 
 age of fourteen years and lived with his 
 mother in Chili township, Hancock coun- 
 ty, until he had attained his majority. He 
 early became familiar with the duties and 
 labors that fall to the lot of the agricul- 
 turist and throughout his entire life has 
 carried on general farming. In 1877 he 
 was united in marriage to Miss Alice Par- 
 ker, who was born in Chili township in 
 1849, a daughter of David and Sarah 
 (Todd) Parker, the former born in Penn- 
 sylvania in 1806, and the latter in Con- 
 necticut in 1821. Her father followed 
 agricultural pursuits and on coming to 
 Hancock county settled in Chili township, 
 where he resided until his death. He was 
 in the Mormon war of 1844 an d was
 
 624 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 connected with other events of early his- 
 toric importance. In his family were 
 four children, namely: Mrs. Klinefelter; 
 B. F. Parker, of Chili ; and two who 
 have passed away. The father died in 
 1894, while his wife departed this life 
 in December, 1868. Both were members 
 of the Presbyterian church and were de- 
 voted Christian people. When Mr. Par- 
 ker arrived in Hancock county in 1837 
 it was all open prairie and Indians could 
 be seen daily in their tramps through 
 this part of the state. There were many 
 wolves and herds of wild deer were fre- 
 quently seen, venison being no unusual 
 dish upon the pioneer table. There were 
 many kinds of lesser game and every evi- 
 dence of frontier life could here be found. 
 There were few houses between Chili and 
 Carthage and the work of development 
 and improvement seemed scarcely begun 
 but Mr. Parker and other pioneer settlers 
 laid broad and deep the foundation for 
 the present development and progress of 
 the county. 
 
 For some years after their marriage 
 Mr. Klinefelter and his wife lived with 
 her parents. He is now the owner of 
 seventy-five acres of land on section 30, 
 Chili township, and he built thereon his 
 present residence, together with substan- 
 tial barns and other outbuildings. He is 
 now carrying on general farming and also 
 raises some stock and trie work of the 
 fields is carefully conducted and results 
 in rich harvests. He has never had time 
 nor inclination to seek public office but 
 has always given a stalwart support to 
 the Republican party and its principles. 
 Both he and his wife are members of the 
 Presbyterian church and are interested 
 
 in its work. They are esteemed in the 
 community as people of genuine personal 
 worth, their good qualities of heart and 
 mind winning for them the friendship and 
 regard of those with whom they have 
 been associated. 
 
 MAX LAUBERSHEIMER. 
 
 Occupying a leading position among 
 the prominent and influential farmers of 
 Appanoose township, Hancock county, 
 Illinois, is the subject of this sketch, Max 
 Laubersheimer, who was born across the 
 water, his natal day being November 1 1 , 
 1839, and the place of his nativity Rheim, 
 Bavaria, Germany. When a youth of 
 eighteen years he accompanied his par- 
 ents, Laurence and Barbara (Ballinger) 
 Laubersheimer, to the new world, their 
 destination being New Orleans, in which 
 city they remained for only six months, 
 at the end of which time, in the spring of 
 1858, they went to St. Louis, where they 
 spent the succeeding six months, and in 
 the fall of that year removed to Nauvoo, 
 Illinois. Previous to the removal of the 
 family to the United States the father 
 had engaged in farming in his native 
 country and also conducted a grocery 
 store there. After his arrival in Nauvoo 
 he purchased a house and an acre of 
 ground and in this city his death occurred 
 in February, 1883, while his wife survived 
 him for only a short period, passing 
 away on the 3ist of November following. 
 Franz Schreiber's father conducted three
 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 625 
 
 very large hotels in the Alps, and after 
 coming to this country located for a time 
 in Missouri, where he was watch-maker, 
 but he later came to Nauvoo, where he 
 followed his trade, and was here joined 
 by his family in 1853. His death here oc- 
 curred in 1873, while his wife had passed 
 away on the loth of December. 1854. In 
 the family of Mr. and Mrs. Laubershei- 
 mer there were three sons and a daughter, 
 of whom the subject of this review is the 
 eldest, and he also has a half sister. 
 
 Max Laubersheimer, on his arrival 
 with his parents in New Orleans, was em- 
 ployed for one month in a hotel in that 
 city and for five months was a bartender. 
 After the removal of the family to St. 
 Louis he learned the barber's trade, which 
 he followed fer some time before coming 
 to Nauvoo. In 1865, however, he put 
 aside all business and personal considera- 
 tions, and responded to the country's call 
 for aid by his enlistment at Chicago in the 
 Twenty-third Illinois Infantry, being as- 
 signed to duty in Company G of that com- 
 mand. He participated in the siege of 
 Richmond with the army of the Potomac, 
 and was honorably discharged in August 
 of that year, having served from March 
 preceding. While at Richmond he was 
 poisoned by mistake and for a time was 
 in a serious condition and after his re- 
 turn home was confined to his bed for 
 three months, and he has never entirely 
 recovered from its effects, having been in 
 poor health ever since his service in the 
 army. 
 
 About a year after his return home 
 from the war Mr. Laubersheimer again 
 resumed his trade as a barber, which he 
 continued to follow until 1885. In the 
 
 meantime he had purchased a tract of 
 land of one hundred and eleven acres, sit- 
 uated on section 19, Appanoose township, 
 of which only twenty acres had been 
 cleared of the timber. The only building 
 on the place consisted of an old log house, 
 and, having made a small addition to the 
 house, he made this his home until 1899, 
 and this primitive dwelling was then re- 
 placed by a modern frame residence, con- 
 taining eight rooms and supplied with all 
 conveniences for the comfort of the fam- 
 ily. He has cleared about fifty acres of 
 timber and has placed many modern im- 
 provements on his land, and here with 
 the assistance of his eldest son he is en- 
 gaged in general agricultural pursuits 
 and stock-raising, having fine grades of - 
 horses, cattle and hogs, and both branches 
 of his business are proving a gratifying 
 source of income to him. In former 
 years he was engaged to some extent in 
 the raising of fruit, mostly of berries, but 
 is not now engaged in horticultural pur- 
 suits. His farm is one of the attractive 
 features of the landscape, being situated 
 on a high point, commanding an excellent 
 view of the Mississippi river, of the city 
 of Fort Madison six miles distant and of 
 Montrose, Iowa, three and a half miles 
 distant. 
 
 On the 6th of January, 1861, Mr. Lau- 
 bersheimer was united in marriage to 
 Miss Catherine Schreiber, a native of 
 Switzerland, born September 24, 1842, 
 and a daughter of Franz and Barbara 
 Ann (Weber) Schreiber. Her paternal 
 grandfather was Franz Schreiber, while 
 the maternal grandfather was Sebastian 
 Antone Weber. Mrs. Laubersheimer ac- 
 quired her education in the schools of her
 
 626 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 native country and also in the schools of 
 Nauvoo. Unto our subject and his wife 
 have been born four sons and eight daugh- 
 ters, namely : George, born October 4, 
 1 86 1, and assisting his father in the op- 
 eration of the home farm; Matilda, bom 
 November 31, 1862, who died in infancy; 
 Valentine, who was born September II, 
 1864, and also died in infancy; Emilia A., 
 born September 27, 1866, and is now the 
 wife of John E. Schaefer, of Burlington, 
 Iowa; John, who was born April 4, 1868, 
 and is now engaged in merchandising in 
 Nauvoo; Valentine, born July 15, 1870, 
 and died in infancy; Bertha A., who was 
 born October 13, 1872, and is now the 
 wife of Albert Herbert, of Appanoose 
 township : Sophia Adel, who was born 
 April i, 1874, and is now the wife of 
 Frank A. Wilkins, of Sonora township; 
 Dena, born September 9, 1876, and is the 
 wife of William Clark, of Pontoosuc 
 township; Marie Edith, born January 4, 
 1878, and now the wife of Joseph T. 
 Boeddeker, of Niota. Illinois ; Josephine 
 Elizabeth, born June 20, 1880, and now 
 the wife of Henry J. Boeddeker, of Appa- 
 noose township; and Florence Gertrude, 
 born May 8, 1883, and now the wife of 
 Henry A. Boeddeker, of Appanoose 
 township. 
 
 Mr. Laubersheimer acquired his edu- 
 cation in the common schools of his na- 
 tive country and later pursued a six 
 months' course- of study in a college of 
 Germany before accompanying his par- 
 ents to the United States. He was reared 
 in the faith of the Republican party and 
 has taken an active interest in the ranks 
 of his party, having served as alderman 
 of the second ward in Nauvoo, as citv 
 
 treasurer for seven years and as school 
 directoj- for nine years, in all of which 
 positions he was loyal to the best inter- 
 ests of the public at large. Although 
 starting out in life on his own account 
 in a strange land, without financial assist- 
 ance, Mr. Laubersheimer started at the 
 bottom round of the ladder and through 
 his persistency of purpose and his lauda- 
 ble ambition he has worked his way stead- 
 ily upward until he occupies a foremost 
 place among the leading agriculturists of 
 his adopted county. 
 
 SAMUEL SWEENEY. 
 
 Samuel Sweeney, engaged in business 
 in Carthage as a stone mason and also 
 conducting a general teaming business, 
 was born in Preble county, Ohio, October 
 10, 1846, his parents being George and 
 Elizabeth (Hoover) Sweeney. The fa- 
 ther was born in Fredericksburg, Mary- 
 land, and the mother near Gettysburg, 
 Pennsylvania. George Sweeney was a 
 farmer by occupation and on leaving 
 Ohio, where he resided for a number of 
 years, traveled across the country with 
 team to Hancock county, Illinois, in 1852, 
 being fifteen days upon the way. He set- 
 tled on a farm in Carthage township, liv- 
 ing in a log house for some time and with 
 characteristic energy and purpose he im- 
 proved his farm, placing it under a high 
 state of cultivation. In 1870 he built a 
 large modern residence and made other 
 improvements, transforming the place
 
 HANCOCK CO UNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 627 
 
 into an excellent farm property, which 
 he continued to cultivate until November, 
 1886, when he retired and took up his 
 abode in the city of Carthage. He voted 
 with the Republican party and served 
 as school director and road supervisor. 
 Both he and his wife were faithful mem- 
 bers and active workers in the Presby- 
 terian church, in which he served as an 
 elder from 1854 until the time of his 
 death, his labor proving a source of much 
 benefit in various church activities. He 
 died honored and respected by all, March 
 27, 1891, and his wife, who was a most 
 estimable lady, passed away in November. 
 1889. Both were laid to rest in Moss 
 Ridge cemetery. In their family were 
 nine children : Jacob and William, both 
 deceased; Susan, the wife of Milton 
 \Yieder, of Carthage: George, who is liv- 
 ing in Carthage ; Elizabeth, the wife of 
 Henry Biery, of Carthage; Reader, who 
 died in the Civil war while serving in the 
 Seventh Missouri Cavalry ; Samuel, of 
 this review 7 ; Alexander M., who is living 
 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Mary, the 
 wife of Thomas Metcalf, of Carthage. 
 Samuel Sweeney was educated in the 
 public school called the Mount Zion 
 school, north of Carthage, and when not 
 busy with his text-books worked at farm 
 labor. He lived with his parents until 
 twenty-eight years of age, although for 
 a short time previous he was engaged in 
 farming on his own account. On the 
 24th of March, 1874, he married Miss 
 Alice Jordan, who was born in Muskin- 
 gum county, Ohio, June 26, 1851, a 
 daughter of Aaron and Mergeline (Rob- 
 inson) Jordan, who were likewise natives 
 of the Buckeye state. The father was a 
 
 schoolteacher and followed the profession 
 of teaching in the public schools of Ohio 
 for many years. He also engaged in 
 merchandising there for some time and 
 was a man of marked intellectual force 
 and business ability. In 1859 he came to 
 Hancock county, settling near Warsaw, 
 where he taught school and also engaged 
 in farming until 1870, when he took up 
 his abode upon a farm near Carthage, 
 there residing until his death, which oc- 
 curred on the 26th of November, 1876. 
 His wife had passed away June 23, 1872, 
 and both were buried in Wythe township 
 cemetery. Mr. Jordan in his political 
 views was a stalwart republican and held 
 various positions in Ohio and also in this 
 county, ever proving faithful to the trust 
 reposed in him. In his fraternal relations 
 he was a Mason and Odd Fellow and took 
 a very prominent part in the work of the 
 lodges in the Buckeye state. Both he and 
 his wife held membership in the Presby- 
 terian church and he acted as an elder 
 from his twenty-first year until his death. 
 In the work of the thurch he was very 
 greatly interested and took an active part 
 in advancing the growth and extending 
 the influence of his denomination. His 
 wife, too, shared with him in the good 
 work and both were earnest Christian peo- 
 ple, enjoying in unqualified measure the 
 good will and respect of those with whom 
 they were associated. In their family 
 were ten children, of whom seven are now 
 living : Mary L. Jordan, who for thirty 
 years engaged in teaching school in Illi- 
 nois and Kansas, but is now living in 
 Anthony, Kansas; Plummer, who died in 
 May, 1867; Mrs. Sweeney; Mercy, the 
 wife of Benoine Warne, who resides in
 
 628 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 South Zanesville, Ohio; Merritt Jordan, 
 living in Kansas City, Kansas; Harriet 
 Jordan, who resides in Anthony, Kansas, 
 where she is a successful music teacher; 
 Silas R., who died in Kansas in 1892; J. 
 Arthur, who lives in Freeport, Kansas; 
 Abraham and Grace, the former living 
 in Anthony, Kansas, with his two sisters, 
 while the latter died in 1888, after having 
 taught school successfully for seven years 
 in Harper county, Kansas. 
 
 Silas Robinson, the great-grandfather 
 of Mrs. Sweeney, served with the militia 
 during the Revolutionary war, and his son 
 and namesake, the grandfather of Mrs. 
 Sweeney, was a soldier of the war of 
 1812, while two of his brothers, Isaac and 
 Aaron, also fought for the American 
 interests in that struggle. Aaron Jordan, 
 father of Mrs. Sweeney, had seventeen 
 relatives in the Civil war. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Sweeney lived for four years in a log 
 cabin, which his parents had built when 
 they came to Illinois. In 1878 they re- 
 moved to Sumner county, Kansas, settling 
 on a frontier farm forty miles from a 
 railroad and sharing in the usual expe- 
 riences and hardships of pioneer life. 
 They remained for three and a half years 
 in the Sunflower state and then returned 
 to Hancock county, after which they spent 
 a similar period upon a farm in Car- 
 thage township. Later they resided again 
 in Kansas for ten years and in 1895 they 
 took up their abode in the city of Car- 
 thage, where Mr. Sweeney has since en- 
 gaged in teaming and also working as a 
 stone mason. They purchased a pretty 
 home at No. 904 Buchanan street in 1900 
 and have here since lived. They are con- 
 
 sistent and helpful members of the Presby- 
 terian church, in which Mr. Sweeney has 
 served as an elder since 1885, while Mrs. 
 Sweeney is a popular teacher in the Sun- 
 day-school. She was also a teacher in the 
 public schools for a part of five years 
 prior to her marriage. Mr. Sweeney 
 votes with the Republican party and his 
 interest in community affairs is that of a 
 public-spirited citizen. Unto this worthy 
 couple have been born six children. Mer- 
 geline E., born in Hancock county, was 
 formerly a teacher in this county but has 
 been in the telephone exchange for the 
 past five years. Hattie M., born in Sum- 
 ner county, Kansas, died there in 1897. 
 Grace E., born in Sumner county, is a 
 stenographer, bookkeeper and cashier for 
 the Western Electric Company, at Kan- 
 sas City, Missouri, with which she has 
 been connected for three years. Minnie 
 Alice, born in Hancock county, is also in 
 the telephone exchange here. George A., 
 born in Kansas, in October, 1885, is liv- 
 ing at Shawnee, Oklahoma. Carrie Helen, 
 born in Kansas, is now a sophomore in 
 the high school at Carthage. Minnie is 
 a graduate of the high school and all are 
 members of the Presbyterian church. 
 
 Mr. Sweeney is classed with those busi- 
 ness men who are known as self-made, 
 having started in life without family or 
 pecuniary assistance, placing his depend- 
 ence upon industry and enterprise to 
 gain him a living. His Christian faith 
 has prompted him to follow the golden 
 rule at all times in business transactions 
 as well as in social relations. In manner 
 he is quiet and unostentatious but pos- 
 sesses sterling traits of character that 
 have won him warm regard. He now
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 629 
 
 has a comfortable home in Carthage and 
 has provided a good living for his family, 
 and both Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney occupy 
 a very enviable position in the friendship 
 of those with whom they have come in 
 contact. Their religious faith has per- 
 meated their lives and has been the de- 
 cisive factor which has governed their 
 actions on many occasions. 
 
 JOSIAH C. BELL. 
 
 Josiah C. Bell, a highly respected citi- 
 zen of Warsaw, where he is living retired, 
 was born in Tyler county, West Virginia, 
 September 5, 1834. His father, William 
 H. Bell, was born in Lancaster county, 
 Pennsylvania, March 5, 1801, and was 
 there married, on the I2th of September, 
 1826, to Miss Rebecca Coyn, whose birth 
 occurred in Allegheny county, September 
 27, 1801. Following their marriage they 
 removed to Tyler county, West Virginia, 
 where they located on a farm, there re- 
 maining until the spring of 1835, when 
 they removed to Ohio, settling in Monroe 
 county, where the father purchased a farm 
 of one hundred and ten acres, which he 
 operated until 1857, when he disposed of 
 his property and came to Warsaw, Illi- 
 nois, where he lived retired throughout 
 his remaining days, his death occurring 
 April 15, 1877. His wife, however, had 
 preceded him to the home beyond, she 
 having passed away October 22, 1858. In 
 their family were seven children, five sons 
 and two daughters, and three of the sons 
 
 were valiant and loyal soldiers in the 
 Civil war, one of the number having en- 
 listed in West Virginia, a second in Ohio, 
 and the third in Warsaw. 
 
 Josiah C. Bell, the fourth in order of 
 birth in his father's family, spent his boy- 
 hood and youth in the home of his par- 
 ents, accompanying them on their various 
 removals, and during the years of their 
 residence in Ohio he acquired his educa- 
 tion in the public schools. He was there 
 reared to farm life, assisting his father in 
 the operation of the home farm when not 
 busy with his text-books, and thus gained 
 practical knowledge of the best methods 
 of cultivating the soil. During the sea- 
 sons of the year when his services were 
 not required on the farm he also worked 
 on various boats which plied on the Ohio 
 river, first being employed as cabin boy, 
 but by faithful service and capability he 
 was promoted from time to time until he 
 became steward of the boat. He likewise 
 learned the stone-cutter's trade in the 
 Buckeye state and was employed in that 
 line of work there for one year. When 
 his father disposed of the farm property 
 there the son, Josiah, attended to the busi- 
 ness in connection therewith and then ac- 
 companied his parents on their removal 
 to this state, being thai a young man of 
 twenty-three years. 
 
 Following his arrival in Warsaw Mr. 
 Bell continued his work as a stone-cutter, 
 being employed by others in this way for 
 about thirteen years, or until 1870, when, 
 in company with Henry Beach, he opened 
 a marble yard in the village, which was 
 successfully conducted until 1884. In 
 that year Mr. Bell disposed of his busi- 
 ness interests and made a contract to de-
 
 630 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 liver the mail on the Star route, radiating 
 from the city, which position he held dur- 
 ing the succeeding four years, since which 
 time he has lived retired, occupying a 
 pleasant home which is located on the cor- 
 ner of Fifth and Jackson streets. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate for life's 
 journey Mr. Bell chose Miss Sarah E. 
 French, to whom he was married on the 
 28th of April, 1861. She was born near 
 Nashville, Tennessee, January 30, 1839, a 
 daughter of John and Mary J. (Fowler) 
 French, the former born near Nashville, 
 and the latter in South Carolina. When 
 Mrs. Bell was a child her parents removed 
 to Missouri, and there her father's death 
 occurred in 1850. The following year, 
 1851, at the time of a flood caused by the 
 overflowing of the Missouri river, the 
 family lost all their property and personal 
 effects and the mother with her children 
 came to Warsaw, Illinois, where she has 
 since resided. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born nine children, of whom two are 
 deceased : Emma Jane, who was born 
 April 9, 1862, is a teacher of English and 
 history in the Lutheran College at Car- 
 thage. Illinois; Clara died in infancy. 
 Flora G., the next member of the family, 
 was born March 30, 1865. Carrol M., 
 who was born March 25^ 1867, is an en- 
 gineer, being located at Greencastle, In- 
 diana. Rose E., who was bom August 
 17, 1869, was- engaged in teaching for 
 eight years but is now pursuing a course 
 in a college in Chicago to prepare her for 
 work as a deaconess. Guy E.. born De- 
 cember 7, 1874, is a photographer of Keo- 
 kuk, Iowa. Alberta, who was born De- 
 cember 21, 1876, died in infancy. The 
 
 two younger members of the family are 
 Eugenia M., who was born May 10, 1879, 
 and Jessie Mildred, born May 16, 1881. 
 Besides rearing their own family Mr. and 
 Mrs. Bell have reared two children, which 
 they adopted as their own, these being 
 Robert Turnpaugh, who was born May 
 22, 1884, and Mildred McKinney, whose 
 birth occurred February 21, 1887. 
 
 Mr. Bell is a prohibitionist in his po- 
 litical affiliation, thus indicating his views 
 on the temperance question. He has 
 served on the board of health at Warsaw 
 for fifteen years and for two years was 
 truant officer. In his religious faith he is 
 a Methodist, holding membership with 
 that organization in his city, and he is 
 likewise a charter member of the Ancient 
 Order of United Workmen lodge of War- 
 saw, having become identified with the 
 order September 21, 1877. 
 
 Having spent the greater part of his 
 life in Hancock county, covering a period 
 of almost a half century, Mr. Bell is wide- 
 ly known and commands the respect 
 and good will of all with whom he is 
 associated. 
 
 JAMES F. CRAWFORD. 
 
 James F. Crawford, well deserving of 
 mention in the history of Hancock coun- 
 ty, as one of its progressive and repre- 
 sentative citizens, has served as post- 
 master of Warsaw since 1897 and for 
 some years has been identified with its 
 business interests. Born in this county, 
 September 2, 1851, he is a son of Thomas
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 631 
 
 and Serepta J. (Doughty) Crawford, 
 who are mentioned on another page of 
 this work in connection with the sketch 
 of Charles C. Crawford. 
 
 In the district schools James F. Craw- 
 ford began his education, which was con- 
 tinued in the Christian University, at 
 Canton, Missouri. His father died soon 
 afterward and as James was the eldest son 
 of the family upon him devolved the care 
 of his widowed mother and younger 
 brothers and sisters. He remained upon 
 the home farm, carefully conducting the 
 work until his marriage, which was cele- 
 brated October 10, 1876, Mary E. Tappe 
 becoming his wife. They were married 
 in Quincy. Mrs. Crawford was born Oc- 
 tober 10, 1857, a daughter of Colonel 
 William D. and Belinda (Shinn) Tappe. 
 Her father was editing a newspaper in 
 Virginia at the time of the outbreak of the 
 Civil war and became a colonel in the 
 Confederate army. After the war he re- 
 moved to Illinois, where he died in 1903, 
 while his widow yet resides in Quincy. 
 Their family numbered four children : 
 Mrs. Crawford ; William and John Lewis, 
 of Quincy; and Mrs. Lucy Pringle, who 
 is with her mother. 
 
 In 1880 Mr. Crawford took up his 
 abode in Warsaw, where he engaged in 
 the hay and grain business until 1890, 
 when he turned his attention to real es- 
 tate dealing, in which he has since con- 
 tinued, negotiating many important realty 
 transfers. He has been a stalwart repub- 
 lican since age conferred upon him the 
 right of franchise and since the ist of 
 October, 1897, has served as postmaster 
 of Warsaw, his administration of the 
 affairs of the office being prompt and 
 40 
 
 businesslike. He has also been city clerk 
 and supervisor and his official service re- 
 flects credit upon his party. For four- 
 teen years he has been chairman of the 
 republican congressional committee and is 
 recognized as one of the republican lead- 
 ers of this part of the state, his labors 
 having been far-reaching and beneficial 
 in support of the principles in which he 
 believes so firmly. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have 
 been born four children : Erie Thomas, 
 located' in Forsyth, Montana; William R., 
 of St. Louis, Missouri ; James L., ste- 
 nographer, and Lucy Gladys, at home. 
 All of the the sons are graduates of' the 
 Warsaw schools and have received train- 
 ing in business colleges. The mother and 
 children are communicants of the Episco- 
 pal church and Mr. Crawford was reared 
 in the Christian church, although he is 
 not a member. He has attained the 
 Knight Templar degree in Masonry, has 
 filled all the offices in the local lodge and 
 has been identified with the Odd Fellows. 
 Accommodating, and reliable in the dis- 
 charge of his official duties, genial and 
 friendly in disposition, he is a popular 
 man in Warsaw and in political circles 
 throughout this part of the state. 
 
 JOHN HERBERT. 
 
 John Herbert, who departed this life 
 at the venerable age of eighty-three years, 
 was for a long period a well known farm- 
 er of Hancock county. He was born in
 
 6 3 2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Hanover, Germany, September 22, 1811, 
 and acquired a common-school education 
 there. Having reached adult age, he was 
 married in Germany to Miss Catherine 
 Trenton, and they became the parents of 
 six children, of whom two are now liv- 
 ing: Henry, who resides in Oklahoma; 
 and Martin, who makes his home in Mis- 
 souri. In the year 1847 Mr. and Mrs. 
 Herbert bade adieu to friends and native 
 land and sailed for the new world, for 
 favorable reports had been received by 
 them concerning the opportunities that 
 were offered in this country, and believ- 
 ing that they might more readily attain 
 success they crossed the briny deep. The 
 death of Mrs. Herbert occurred in St. 
 Louis, in 1849, resulting from an attack 
 of cholera which in that year was epidemic 
 in the country. 
 
 On the 2d of December, 1850, Mr. 
 Herbert wedded Miss Mary E. Derlan, 
 who was born in Prussia, June i, 1828. 
 For a year and a half after his first mar- 
 riage he remained in St. Louis, and in 
 
 1852 removed to Adams county, Illinois, 
 where he rented a farm for one year. In 
 
 1853 ne came to Nauvoo and purchased 
 two and a half acres in the southeast 
 part of the Kimball addition. There he 
 lived for eight years, when he bought 
 twenty acres in Nauvoo township. In 
 1869 he became owner of forty acres in 
 Appanoose township, and in 1880 he 
 bought ten acres more. Upon that place 
 he carried on the work of tilling the soil 
 and cultivating fruit, having three acres 
 planted to grapes, while he also had many 
 peach and other fruit trees upon the place. 
 He kept in touch with modern progress, 
 concerning agricultural and horticultural 
 
 interests, and not the least important fea- 
 ture of his success was his unfaltering 
 industry. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Herbert were born 
 three sons and a daughter: Frank, who 
 was born February 10, 1853, and is now 
 living in Appanoose township; Agnes, 
 who was born December 27, 1855, and is 
 the wife of William Arenz, a resident of 
 Holyoke, Phillips county, Colorado; Al- 
 bert, who was born February 22, 1861, 
 and makes his home in Appanoose town- 
 ship; and Louis, who was born Novem- 
 ber 13, 1860, and was drowned July 8, 
 1878. The death of the father occurred 
 February 16, 1895, when he was in the 
 eighty-fourth year of his age, and his re- 
 mains were interred in the Catholic ceme- 
 tery at Nauvoo. He had been a life-long 
 communicant of the Catholic church, and 
 was a democrat in his political allegiance. 
 He was thoroughly in sympathy with 
 American institutions and with the spirit - 
 of republican government and in the com- 
 munity where he made his home he took 
 an active and helpful interest in many 
 movements for general progress. He was 
 devoted to his family and through his 
 business affairs secured to them a good 
 property and comfortable competence. In 
 September, 1889, Mrs. Herbert pur- 
 chased eight acres of land in Sonora 
 township, on which is a residence and 
 barn, and she now rents this property to 
 John Faulkner. She still makes her 
 home on the old farm which her husband 
 purchased many years ago, and her resi- 
 dence in the county covers more than a 
 half century, for it was still an early 
 period in the development of this part of 
 the state when she accompanied her hus-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 633 
 
 band on his removal from Adams to Han- 
 cock county. She has therefore been a 
 witness of many of the changes which 
 have occurred and the events that have 
 taken place in the county, and deserves 
 mention in this volume as one of the 
 worthy pioneer women. 
 
 GEORGE SMITH. 
 
 Among the residents of Hancock coun- 
 ty of foreign birth is numbered George 
 Smith, who was born in Banffshire, Scot- 
 land, on the nth of October, 1834. He 
 is a grandson of George Smith, and a 
 son of David and Margaret (Duff) 
 Smith. The father was a resident farmer 
 of Scotland and died in his native country 
 in the year 1853. His wife also passed 
 away there. 
 
 George Smith acquired his education 
 in the parish schools of his native coun- 
 try, was reared to the occupation of farm- 
 ing and continued to assist his father in 
 general agricultural pursuits until the 
 latter's death. He was a young man of 
 about twenty-two years when in 1856 he 
 crossed the ocean to America, making his 
 way to Quebec, Canada, where he worked 
 at farm labor for a year. He afterward 
 went to Montreal, Canada, whence he 
 took a boat up the St. Lawrence river and 
 across Lake Ontario to Hamilton, 
 Canada. From that point he proceeded 
 by rail to" Detroit, Michigan, and on to 
 Chicago, to Rock Island and down the 
 Mississippi river to Montrose, Iowa, 
 
 whence he continued the journey by rail 
 to Keokuk. Thence he came to Mon- 
 tebello township, Hancock county, where 
 he worked for two and a half years by 
 the month as a farm hand. In 1860 he 
 rented a farm, whereon he resided for 
 .eight years and later he lived upon an- 
 other place for two years and upon a third 
 farm for six years. In 1874 he invested 
 his earnings in eighty acres of land on 
 section 14, Montebello township, Han- 
 cock county. This was partially improved 
 and in 1876 he added thereto eighty 
 acres more. He built a house of seven 
 rooms and he has put up barns and like- 
 wise fences. He has now many rods of 
 fine hedge fence. He has carried on gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising, making 
 a specialty of cattle and hogs, and his 
 well developed farm property returns to 
 him an excellent income. 
 
 On the :8th of August, 1854, Mr. 
 Smith was united in marriage to Miss 
 Margaret McDonald, who was born Sep- 
 tember 25, 1833, and is a daughter of 
 John and Jane (Donald) McDonald, who 
 lived and died in Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Smith had one child, David, who was born 
 in Scotland, February i, 1856, and died 
 near Montreal, Canada, February 18, 
 
 While in his native country Mr. Smith 
 held membership in the Presbyterian 
 church. He votes with the democracy 
 and keeps well informed on the questions 
 and issues of the day. He is in fact in 
 hearty sympathy with the institutions of 
 this republic and has never had occasion 
 to regret his determination to seek a home 
 in the new world, realizing the advan- 
 tages that are here offered where labor
 
 634 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 is not hampered by caste or class. He 
 has steadily made substantial progress in 
 his business career and is now in pos- 
 session of a very comfortable home and 
 good property. 
 
 WILLIAM C. REIMBOLD. 
 
 William C. Reimbold, owner and pro- 
 prietor of a hotel in Nauvoo, his native 
 city, was here bom November 27, 1860, 
 a son of Casper W. and Elizabeth (Bush) 
 Reimbold, both natives of Cologne, Ger- 
 many, the former a son of William and 
 Christina (Bruner) Reimbold. The fa- 
 ther on coming to Hancock county in 
 1849, settled in Nauvoo, where he en- 
 gaged in a merchandising enterprise. 
 After residing here for a number of years 
 he went to New York city, there engaging 
 in the manufacture of confectionery, 
 which he continued for three years, and 
 then went to Chicago, where he continued 
 in the same line of trade for a year. He 
 then again came to Nauvoo, where he con- 
 ducted a confectionery store, and also 
 conducted a freighting outfit until his 
 death, which here occurred July 23, 1903, 
 and thus passed away one of the worthy 
 citizens of this city, where he had for 
 many years been a factor in business life. 
 He is still survived by his widow, who yet 
 makes her home in Nauvoo. 
 
 William C. Reimbold attended the 
 common schools of Nauvoo to the age of 
 thirteen years, and at that time became 
 his father's assistant, driving a transfer 
 
 wagon for him for several years. He 
 then, in 1891, purchased the business 
 from his father and conducted the busi- 
 ness on his own account until March, 
 1901. In the meantime, in January, 1894, 
 he had purchased what was known as the 
 Swartz residence, which he remodeled and 
 added to, converting the place into a ho- 
 tel, which he called the Oriental Hotel. 
 This is the only hotel in Nauvoo and un- 
 der the management of Mr. Reimbold it 
 enjoys a very large trade from the trav- 
 eling public, for it is an up-to-date house, 
 supplied with every convenience and com- 
 fort for the convenience of the patrons. 
 
 On the 27th of October, 1887. Mr. 
 Reimbold was united in marriage to Miss 
 Elizabeth Hillisheim, a native of Sonora 
 township, bom September 13, 1861, and 
 a daughter of Garrett and Margaret Hill- 
 isheim, natives of Hanover and Bavaria, 
 Germany, respectively. Mrs. Reimbold 
 acquired her education in the common 
 schools and by her marriage has become 
 the mother of one son, William C., born 
 January 12, 1899. 
 
 In politics Mr. Reimbold is independ- 
 ent, supporting men rather than adhering 
 to party ties, while in his fraternal rela- 
 tions he is a member of the Modem 
 Woodmen of America, belonging to the 
 lodge at Nauvoo. He possesses a ge- 
 nial, kindly manner. 
 
 JAMES A. ROSEBERRY. 
 
 James A. Roseberry, a prominent 
 farmer and stock-raiser of Sonora town-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 635 
 
 ship, represents one of the pioneer families 
 of Illinois, his parents having removed 
 from Kentucky in May, 1832, and lo- 
 cated in Adams county, where the father 
 entered land at Columbus, near Ouincy. 
 He there engaged in farming until his 
 life's labors were ended in death and 
 there he passed away in 1881, having sur- 
 vived his wife for only five days. 
 
 James A. Roseberry, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, is the eldest in a family 
 of seven sons and two daughters, his birth 
 having occurred near Louisville. Ken- 
 tucky, on the 4th of July, 1830. He was 
 only two years of age when brought to 
 Illinois by has parents, the family home 
 being located in Adams county at Colum- 
 bus, where he acquired his education in 
 the common schools. He remained with 
 his parents until twenty-two years of age 
 and then started out in life on his own ac- 
 count by engaging in the work to which 
 he had been reared. He first operated 
 rented land in Adams county for two 
 years, and on the 25th of April, 1857, 
 arrived in Sonora township, Hancock- 
 county, where he purchased eighty acres 
 of land on section 34. This was unim- 
 proved when it came into his possession 
 but he at once set to work to develop and 
 cultivate his fields. He also built fences, 
 and erected a dwelling, set out fruit trees 
 and otherwise improved his property. At 
 a later date his first residence was replaced 
 by a larger dwelling and he has now one 
 of the fine country homes of this section 
 of the county, and is engaged in general 
 farming and stock-raising, including 
 horses, cattle and hogs, of which he has 
 good grades. 
 
 On the loth of March, 1854, occurred 
 the marriage of Mr. Roseberry and Miss 
 Emily Jane Payne, a native of Adams 
 county, and a daughter of Henry and 
 Anna (Pounds) Payne, natives of the 
 Blue Grass state. Of this marriage four 
 sons and two daughters were born, 
 namely : William, a resident of Okla- 
 homa ; Annie, the wife of Edward Utter- 
 back, a resident of Kansas; Henry, of 
 Osceola, Nebraska; Everett and Lincoln, 
 both of Portland, Oregon; and Emma, 
 the wife of Martin Egan, of Hamilton, 
 this state. The mother of these children 
 passed away in December, 1866, and in 
 October, 1868, the father was again mar- 
 ried, his second union being with Miss 
 Mary Roseberry, a native of Adams 
 county, Illinois, and a daughter of John 
 and Mary (McElhenny) Roseberry. The 
 surviving son of this marriage is Edward, 
 who assists in the operation of the farm, 
 while the daughter, Cora, became the wife 
 of Frank Nowles, of Almira, Washing- 
 ton, and died 111.1904. leaving one son 
 and three daughters. 
 
 Mr. Roseberry supports the Republican 
 party and has served as school director 
 and trustee, but aside from being inter- 
 ested in the educational development of 
 his community has taken no active inter- 
 est in public office. His religious faith 
 is indicated by his membership in the 
 Christian church at Sonora. He has 
 worked earnestly and persistently in his 
 efforts to accumulate a good property, 
 for, though starting out in life without 
 capital he is today in possession of an 
 excellent farm on which are found all 
 modern improvements, and by honesty
 
 6 3 6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and fair dealing has won, a place among 
 the highly esteemed residents of this por- 
 tion of the state. 
 
 Since the above was written Mr. Rose- 
 berry has passed away, his death occur- 
 ring at the home place on October 20, 
 1906, and is buried at Curry cemetery in 
 Sonora township. 
 
 THOMAS J. BAINTER. 
 
 Thomas J. Bainter, residing in the city 
 of La Harpe, where he owns a nice home, 
 and where he is acting as janitor of the 
 Christian church, is a native of Muskin- 
 gum county, Ohio, his birth having there 
 occurred October 31, 1834, a' son of 
 George and Lucy (Meater) Bainter, both 
 natives of Pennsylvania, the former born 
 August 14, 1771, a son of Godfrey Bain- 
 ter. The father of our subject was en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of chairs in 
 Ohio for many years, but both he and his 
 wife are now deceased, the former hav- 
 ing passed away September 13, 1849, 
 while his wife survived until October 20, 
 1857. The father had been married pre- 
 viously, his first union being with Miss 
 Lydia Sprague, who was born September 
 28, 1777, and to whom he was married 
 August 9, 1796. The children of this 
 marriage were: John S., who was born 
 August 12, 1797; Ellis, born October 23, 
 1799; James, January 6, 1802; Sprague. 
 September 17, 1804; Anson, October 8, 
 1806; Calvery, September 20, 1808; Be- 
 linda M., September 14, 1811; Mary S., 
 April 3, 1814; and Lydia C., September 
 15, 1817. After losing his first wife the 
 
 father was then married, in 1830, to Lucy 
 Meater, who became the mother of our 
 subject and who is the second in order of 
 birth, his surviving brother being George 
 W., who was born June 4, 1832, while 
 Henry, who was born August 14, 1836, 
 died at the age of six years. 
 
 Thomas J. Bainter, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, pursued his studies in 
 the district schools of Ohio, and remained 
 with his parents to the age of twenty-one 
 years, when, leaving his native state, he 
 made his way to Burlington, Iowa, where 
 he remained for a time, and later contin- 
 ued his journey to La Harpe, this county, 
 where he was employed at farm labor un- 
 til 1857. He then again made his way 
 to Iowa, locating in Johnson county, 
 where he was employed in a hotel for a 
 year. In the spring of 1858 he once more 
 came to La Harpe, where he was mar- 
 ried on the 5th of August following, Miss 
 Elmira Gray becoming his wife. She was 
 a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and 
 a daughter of David Gray, who was born 
 in the Buckeye state, June 20, 1.811, while 
 her mother, who bore the maiden name of 
 Henrietta Richard, was there born Octo- 
 ber 30, 1812, and on the 28th of March, 
 1823, was united in marriage to David 
 Gray. 
 
 Of the first marriage of Mr. Bainter 
 there were born two sons and two daugh- 
 ters, all of whom survive, namely : Ron- 
 aldo, who was born May 7, 1859, and is 
 now a resident of Story county, Iowa; 
 Sarah Ellen, who was born September 
 n, 1861, and is now the wife of George 
 Carter, a resident of Durham township; 
 John H., born November 23, 1863 ; and 
 Jennie A., who was born November 25.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 637 
 
 1866, and is the widow of Charles Ander- 
 son, residing in La Harpe. The mother 
 of these children passed away June 26, 
 1900, and her remains were interred in 
 the cemetery at La Harpe. For his sec-; 
 ond wife Mr. Bainter then chose Mrs. An- 
 geline Scott, whom he wedded December 
 
 25, 1901. She was born in Champaign 
 county, Ohio, December 12, 1832, and 
 was the widow of George Scott, to whom 
 she was married December 24, 1858, and 
 who, in 1860, had gone with a company 
 to California, where he was drowned 
 three years later. By this marriage 
 there is one son, Isaac Scott, who was 
 born in October, 1859, and is now a 
 resident of Fremont county, Iowa. Mrs. 
 Bainter is a daughter of Louis and Eliza 
 (Anderson) Long, natives of Shippens- 
 burg, Pennsylvania, the former born July 
 
 26, 1803, a son of Sephenar Long, like- 
 wise a native of the Keystone state, while 
 the mother's birth occurred March 7, 
 1806. Unto Louis and Eliza Long were 
 born the following named : Elizabeth 
 Ann, who became the wife of James 
 Smith, and died in Kansas; Caroline, 
 who became the wife of M. Porter, and 
 also passed away in that state; David, 
 who passed away in La Harpe ; Angeline, 
 now the wife of our subject; Joseph, who 
 died in Sciota, Illinois; Mrs. Lavonia 
 Minnick, a resident of California; Mary 
 C., the wife of Z. Birch, and a resident 
 of Burlington, Iowa; Louis E., who died 
 at La Harpe ; Charles, of Good Hope, Illi- 
 nois; Eleanor J., the widow of L. Oakes, 
 and a resident of Nebraska ; Laura and 
 Bathsheba, twins, who died in infancy; 
 Annette, the wife of James Marshall, of 
 Whiting, Kansas; and Henrietta, twin 
 
 sister of Annette, and the wife of John 
 Gray, a resident of Nebraska. By a sec- 
 ond marriage of Louis Long there are two 
 sons and a daughter : Louis, of La Harpe 
 township; George, of Henderson county, 
 Illinois; and Daisy, the wife of Marion 
 Huston, of La Harpe. 
 
 Following his first marriage Mr. Bain- 
 ter continuously followed general agricul- 
 tural pursuits until 1895, when he re- 
 moved to La Harpe, where he had pur- 
 chased a house and two lots in 1892. 
 Since locating here he has greatly im- 
 proved the place, having set out many 
 shade and fruit trees, has erected a barn 
 and tool sheds, and has a nice residence, 
 which stands in the midst of a well kept 
 lawn, and altogether has one of the best 
 homes in the city. In his political views 
 Mr. Bainter is a democrat, and in his re- 
 ligious faith is identified with the Chris- 
 tian church at La Harpe, of which he is 
 now acting as janitor. 
 
 Mr. Bainter has resided in Hancock 
 county for almost a half century and ow- 
 ing to his reliable and straightforward 
 dealing is accounted one of the highly re- 
 spected citizens of his community. He 
 has now passed the seventy-second mile- 
 stone on life's journey but is still a hale 
 and hearty man, beloved by all with 
 whom he has come in contact. 
 
 ROY B. ROBERTS, M. D. 
 
 Dr. Roy B. Roberts, who is enjoying 
 very gratifying success in the practice of
 
 6 3 8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 medicine for one of his years, having al- 
 ready attained a reputation which many 
 an older practitioner might well envy, 
 was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Sep- 
 tember 17, 1875. His father, Dr. Charles 
 B. Roberts, was bom on a farm in Ohio 
 in 1848, and is a graduate of the Ens- 
 worth Medical College of Missouri. He 
 was a minister of the Baptist church prior 
 to the time that he took up the profession 
 of medicine, preaching in Illinois and Mis- 
 souri with great success. He now makes 
 his home in McLean county, Illinois, and 
 is practically retired. He married Miss 
 Sarah Ellen Bulkley, who was born in 
 Upper Alton, Illinois, in 1854, and like 
 him, she is a devoted member of the 
 Baptist church. In their family were 
 seven children : Hazelteen Ruth, the wife 
 of Harry Tilburg, of Towanda, Illinois; 
 Roy B. ; Luther, deceased ; Alice M., the 
 wife of Arthur L. Rainalter, of St. Jo- 
 seph, Missouri; Francis X., who lives in 
 the Alberta district of Canada ; Lathrop 
 E. and Horace B., also of Canada. 
 
 Dr. Roberts of this review, having ac- 
 quired a good preliminary education re- 
 solved to make the practice of medicine 
 his life work and is a graduate of the 
 Ensworth Medical College of Missouri, 
 and of the Rush Medical College, of Chi- 
 cago. He first practiced in Brooklyn, 
 Illinois, where he remained for two years, 
 and in August, 1901, located in Augusta, 
 where he has met with excellent success, 
 having a large practice in both the town, 
 and county. He keeps in touch with 
 the progress of the medical fraternity and 
 is continually broadening his knowledge 
 and efficiency by reading and investiga- 
 tion. He has demonstrated his ability to 
 
 successfully solve intricate problems con- 
 nected with the restoration of health, and 
 he has the regard of his professional 
 brethren by reason of his conformity to a 
 high standard of professional ethics. 
 
 Dr. Roberts \vas married in 1902 to 
 Miss Bertha A. DeGroot, who was born 
 in Augusta, January 7, 1876, and is a 
 daughter of John E. and Mary Josephine 
 (Davis) DeGroot, residents of this state. 
 Her father is a native of Ouincy, and is 
 a retired farmer now sixty-three years 
 of age, while her mother has reached 
 the age of fifty-five years. In their fam- 
 ily are four children, and the circle yet 
 remains unbroken by the hand of death. 
 These are : Maude, the wife of Arthur 
 J. Laughlin, of Macomb, Illinois; Mrs. 
 Roberts ; Eugene, a practicing physician 
 living at Muskogee, Oklahoma ; and 
 Mabel, the wife of Frank Deiley, of Ber- 
 wyn, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. DeGroot 
 are members of the Methodist church. 
 For many years he was a dentist, engaged 
 actively in practice for a long period. Dr. 
 and Mrs. Roberts now have two children : 
 Brockway DeGrott, born in Augusta, 
 April 6, 1903 ; and Elsie Monica, born 
 January 26, 1906. 
 
 Dr. Roberts votes with the Republican 
 party but is not active in its ranks. He 
 belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and he 
 and his wife are consistent and faithful 
 members of the Methodist church. They 
 are prominent socially in Augusta and 
 their own home is justly celebrated for 
 its gracious and attractive hospitality, 
 professionally and fraternally Dr. Roberts 
 is popular and has made an excellent 
 record as a medical practitioner for one of 
 his years.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 39 
 
 SAMUEL H. ATHEY. 
 
 Samuel H. Athey. deceased, who was 
 engaged in carriage making in Hamilton, 
 was born in Washington county, Ohio, 
 May 1 6, 1831, a son of Walter and Clara 
 (Goldsmith) Athey, who were natives of 
 Maryland. In that state they were mar- 
 ried, after which they crossed the moun- 
 tains to Ohio on horseback, spending their 
 remaining days in the Buckeye state. 
 
 Samuel H. Athey was reared under the 
 parental roof and acquired his education 
 in the public schools in Washington coun- 
 ty. He lived with his parents until the 
 23d of November, 1852, and was then 
 married to Miss Sarah M. Campbell, who 
 was born near Marietta, Wood county. 
 West Virginia, a daughter of Robert and 
 Letitia (Wright) Campbell, the former a 
 native of Ireland and the latter of Hunt- 
 ington county, Pennsylvania. Their mar- 
 riage was celebrated in the Keystone state 
 and they afterward removed to Virginia, 
 where Mr. Campbell purchased four hun- 
 dred acres of land. He was a shoemaker 
 by trade, but in the Old Dominion gave 
 his attention to agricultural pursuits. 
 Subsequently he resided for a time in Erie 
 county, Pennsylvania, but afterward re- 
 turned to Virginia, where he and his wife 
 spent their remaining days. In their fam- 
 ily were five sons and six daughters. 
 
 After his marriage Samuel H. Athey 
 and his bride began their domestic life in 
 his father's old home, where they lived 
 until 1855, when they removed to the 
 vicinity of Keokuk, settling upon a rented 
 farm. There Mr. Athey carried on gen- 
 eral agricultural pursuits and taught 
 school for a year. He afterward went to 
 
 St. Francisville, Missouri, where he re- 
 sided until 1864, when he came to Ham- 
 ilton and purchased fifteen acres of land 
 in the northern part of the city. Here 
 he was first employed at carpentering, but 
 later turned his attention to carriage 
 building and was thus engaged during the 
 latter part of his life. 
 
 In the same year of his removal to 
 Hamilton, Mr. Athey enlisted for service 
 in the Civil war, joining Company C of 
 the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois 
 Infantry in the spring of 1864. He 
 served until the end of the war but was 
 fifteen months in the hospital at Baton 
 Rouge, Louisiana, and was discharged at 
 Springfield, Illinois, after the close of hos- 
 tilities. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Athey were born 
 three daughters and three sons: Clara, 
 the wife of William Morgan Oakley, of 
 Ouincy, Illinois; Addie, at home; Mary, 
 who became the wife of John Finley Mal- 
 colm, and died at Libertyville, Illinois, in 
 1895; Robert, of Hamilton; and Eugene, 
 who is a painter and paper hanger of 
 Hamilton. The husband and father died 
 March 24, 1893, when about sixty-two 
 years of age. He was a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church and his po- 
 litical views were in accord with repub- 
 lican principles. He served as constable 
 in Lee county, Iowa, but was never an of- 
 fice seeker, preferring to give his time and 
 attention to his business interests. He 
 led a busy, active and useful life and all 
 that he possessed was obtained through 
 his own persistent efforts. In citizenship 
 he ever manifested the same loyalty which 
 he displayed when upon southern battle- 
 fields.
 
 640 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 MRS. JANE L. HAWLEY. 
 
 Mrs. Jane L. Hawley, living in Hamil- 
 ton, was born in Hector, New York, in 
 May, 1831, a daughter of Jeremiah and 
 Martella (Kelly) Robinson, both of 
 whom were natives of New York. Re- 
 moving westward, the parents settled in 
 the vicinity of Connersville, Indiana, in 
 1837, taking up their abode upon a farm 
 there. The mother's death occurred in 
 1838 and the father passed away in 1856. 
 Mrs. Hawley spent her girlhood days 
 under the parental roof, acquired a public 
 school education and was carefully trained 
 in the duties of the household, so that 
 she was well qualified to take care of a 
 home of her own at the time of her mar- 
 riage. She left Indiana in 1843 and went 
 to McLean county, Illinois, where she 
 lived with a sister, Mrs. Harriet Trow- 
 bridge, until seventeen years of age. She 
 afterward returned to Indiana and was 
 there married in October, 1849, to Jo- 
 seph Laramore, who was born in 1810 
 and was a son of Daniel and Mary 
 Brooks. Her husband was conducting a 
 hotel in the village of Eagle, Boone coun- 
 ty, Indiana, and in 1856 came to Adams 
 county, settling at West Point, where he 
 purchased a farm and resided until iE62, 
 when he sold that property and bought 
 a farm in Wythe township, Hancock 
 county. He was engaged in its cultiva- 
 tion and development until 1875, when 
 he sold the property and bought a large 
 brick house with a. store front on Main 
 street in Hamilton. Here Mr. Laramore 
 died in August, 1877, leaving one daugh- 
 ter, Celesta, who was born in January, 
 1852, and became the wife of Trever 
 
 Slattery. She died in 1881, leaving two 
 daughters, of whom one is yet living, Iva, 
 now the wife of Edward McQuarry, of 
 West Point, Illinois. By a former mar- 
 riage Joseph Laramore had two sons : 
 Thomas, who died at the age of forty 
 years; and James, a practicing physician 
 residing in Greenfield, Indiana. Having 
 lost her first husband, Mrs. Laramore was 
 again married in August, 1881, becoming 
 the wife of George A. Hawley, who was 
 born in the state of New York in 1820, 
 He was an attorney at law, who practiced 
 in Iowa for many years. He had been 
 married before and had one son who died 
 in infancy. Mr. Hawley passed away 
 March 31, 1902, since which time his 
 widow has been living alone in Hamilton. 
 She is well known here as a lady of many 
 excellent traits of character that have 
 gained for her a wide circle of friends. 
 
 J. L. ESSLEY. 
 
 J. L. Essley, of Dallas City, was born 
 in Washington, Iowa, on the gth of De- 
 cember, 1880, and is a son of Mark and 
 Emma Essley, who are residing upon a 
 farm near Washington. They have four 
 children : Estella, the wife of Lester 
 Rank, a resident of Oklahoma; J. L., of 
 this review; Oliver and Esther, both at 
 home. 
 
 J. L. Essley was educated in the Uni- 
 versity at Iowa City, completing a busi- 
 ness course there by graduation. He was 
 afterward employed in a grocery store for
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 641 
 
 two years at Washington, Iowa, in the 
 capacity- of bookkeeper and clerk. On the 
 nth of December, 1900, he was united in 
 marriage to Miss Minnie Moss, who was 
 born in West Virginia, in 1881, and is a 
 daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Rhea) 
 Moss, both of whom were natives of West 
 Virginia, and in 1891 became residents of 
 Hancock county, Illinois, settling upon a 
 farm in Dallas township, where they are 
 now living. In their family were four 
 children, all born in West Virginia : Eva, 
 at home; Iva, the wife of Lloyd Moss, 
 living in Arrowsmith, Illinois : and Mrs. 
 Essley of this review. The last named 
 was educated in the public schools of Dal- 
 las City and in her girlhood days learned 
 the milliner's trade. In 1901 she em- 
 barked in the millinery business in Dal- 
 las City, and in the spring and fall of 1904 
 employed a manager to conduct her place 
 in this city, while she managed a branch 
 store in Lone Tree, Iowa. She has the 
 largest patronage of any millinery estab- 
 lishment in this city and draws her trade 
 from the surrounding country as well. 
 Her place of business is pleasantly and 
 conveniently located on Oak street and 
 she keeps an excellent line of goods, em- 
 ploying a trimmer from Quincy during 
 the busy seasons. Her store is indeed 
 modern and up-to-date in every particu- 
 lar and is tastefully arranged and conve- 
 niently equipped. She well merits the lib- 
 eral patronage which is accorded her, her 
 business being one of the leading commer- 
 cial enterprises of the city. She suffered 
 losses in the disastrous fire which swept 
 over the city -on the i7th of December, 
 1905, but she at once resumed business 
 as a milliner and has a good trade. 
 
 Mr. Essley was connected with a but- 
 ton factory of Dallas City for three years 
 and is now with a well drilling company. 
 He votes with the Republican party and 
 his wife is a member of the Methodist 
 church, in which she acted as organist for 
 eight or nine years. Mr. Essley pur- 
 chased a pleasant home on West Third 
 street and this worthy couple has a son, 
 Jesse, who was born in Dallas City, No- 
 vember 9, 1901. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ess- 
 ley stand well in the community where 
 they make their home and have the warm 
 regard of many friends. 
 
 JOHN REID WILLIAMS. 
 
 John Reid Williams, a resident of War- 
 saw, has for many years been one of the 
 leading factors in business life in this 
 city. He was a captain on the Mississippi 
 river in the old picturesque days of steam- 
 boat travel upon the father of waters and 
 following his retrrement in 1887 he has 
 made extensive and judicious investments 
 in property, becoming one of the large 
 landowners of this part of the state. He 
 is now spending his days in well-earned 
 ease, having through well conducted busi- 
 ness affairs become possessor of a very 
 gratifying competence. 
 
 Mr. Williams was born in Madison 
 county, Kentucky, March 28, 1816, a son 
 of Levi and Mary (Reid) Williams. In 
 the year 1831, the parents removed with 
 their family to Hancock, settling three
 
 642 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 miles below Warsaw on the bluff road, 
 while later they took up their abode on 
 the prairie six miles southeast of the city, 
 Levi Williams there entering one hun- 
 dred and thirteen acres of land, which was 
 at that time wild and unimproved, but 
 which he transformed into a valuable and 
 productive farm. He was a ranger up 
 and down the river during the Black 
 Hawk war and was connected with many 
 interesting events of early history which 
 have shaped the policy and promoted the 
 progress of this portion of the state. He 
 lived upon the old homestead farm until 
 his death, which occurred November 27, 
 1860, when he was sixty-six years of age 
 and his wife survived until the 2d of De- 
 cember, 1872. In their family were nine 
 children, of whom three are now living : 
 Rice C., who resides at Peoria : Henry, 
 who is living on the old homestead ; and 
 John Reid, of this review. Those who 
 have passed away are William, Thomas, 
 Jane, Theresa M., Elizabeth and two who 
 died in infancy. 
 
 John Reid Williams pursued his educa- 
 tion in the old-time subscription schools 
 and was reared to agricultural pursuits. 
 He devoted the winter months to the 
 mastery of the branches of learning 
 taught in the early educational institutions 
 of those days, while the remainder of 
 the year was given to farm work from 
 the time of early spring planting until 
 crops were harvested in the late autumn. 
 During the years of his early manhood 
 his attention was given to farming and 
 he afterward began boating on the Mis- 
 sissippi river, eventually becoming a cap- 
 tain of one of the old-time crafts. Before 
 the era of railroad travel the river was 
 
 the great highway between the north and 
 the south and with its tributaries formed 
 the source of communication for all points 
 of the middle west and the gulf ports. It 
 is within the memory of many men, when 
 the river crafts were "floating palaces" 
 and a trip down the Mississippi was a 
 most enjoyable occasion, for as the boat 
 proceeded slowly down the stream there 
 was ample time for the forming of new 
 acquaintances, many of which ripened into 
 warm friendships. There was laughter 
 and music aboard and the dance was often 
 a feature of the evening entertainment. 
 As the boat put up at different landings 
 to take on or discharge its cargo the 
 negroes would perform the task of load- 
 ing and unloading, keeping time to a 
 rythmic chant or song. The Mississippi 
 formed not only the highway for pas- 
 senger travel but also for all traffic. The 
 products of many great states that lie in 
 the Mississippi basin were shipped by 
 boat down the father of waters and this 
 method of transportation proved a profit- 
 able business. As before stated, Mr. 
 Williams became captain of a Mississippi 
 river steamer and for some time his run 
 was from St. Louis to Keokuk. He later 
 purchased an interest in the Eagle Packet 
 Company, holding office of president of 
 this company while he was interested, in 
 which he remained a stockholder until 
 '1887, when he disposed of his holdings 
 and retired to private life, since which 
 time he has given his attention merely to 
 the supervision of his private business 
 affairs. As his financial resources had 
 increased he had made judicious invest- 
 ments in property and is now the owner 
 of about seven hundred acres of farming
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 643 
 
 land in Hancock county. He also owns 
 considerable valuable city property and 
 the old homestead, which was once the 
 property of his father. At one time he 
 owned nine hundred and fifty acres of 
 farming land, but later disposed of two 
 hundred and fifty acres. 
 
 Aside from his experiences on the river 
 in what forms one of the most attractive 
 and picturesque periods in the history of 
 the middle west Captain Williams has had 
 other interesting experiences and adven- 
 tures. In 1852 he went to California, at- 
 tracted by the discovery of gold on the 
 Pacific coast and had the usual life of the 
 western miner with its hardships and 
 dangers during the several months which 
 he spent in California ere returning to Illi- 
 nois. He was also in the Mormon war 
 which occurred in the '405 and took an 
 active interest in affairs of that time. 
 The Mormons, coming from the east, 
 endeavored to establish a colony in Han- 
 cock county, but their practices of polyga- 
 my were so abhorent to the citizens of this 
 part of the state that they rose against 
 the sect and drove them from the state. 
 Captain Williams was in the suburbs of 
 the city of Carthage when Joseph Smith 
 and his brother Hiram, Mormon prohets 
 and leaders, were shot. While acting as 
 deputy sheriff he slept many nights in the 
 room where Joseph Smith lost his life. 
 
 In 1849 occurred the marriage of Cap-, 
 tain Williams and Miss Angeline McMa- 
 han, a daughter of Andrew and Mary 
 (Crawford) McMahan. Nine children 
 were born of this union : Mary, who is 
 now the wife of Dr. J. Eaton Johnston, 
 of Warsaw, Illinois ; Flora, who married 
 Thomas F. Howard and is living with 
 
 her father; Thomas, who resides on a 
 farm in Wise township; and six children 
 who died in early youth. The wife and 
 mother passed away March 28, 1901, at 
 the age of seventy-two years. She was a 
 native of Kentucky and came to Illinois 
 with her parents the year following the 
 arrival of the Williams family, the Mc- 
 Mahan family settling upon an adjoining 
 farm, and it was upon that farm that 
 Captain and Mrs. Williams were married. 
 In his political views Captain Williams 
 was in early life a whig and cast his first 
 presidential ballot for William Henry 
 Harrison. Upon the dissolution of the 
 party he joined the ranks of the new 
 Republican party, of which he has since 
 been a stanch advocate. He was elected 
 coroner, at one time served as deputy 
 sheriff and was also constable for a num- 
 ber of years, discharging the varied duties 
 which devolved upon him with prompt- 
 ness and fidelity. He is a member of the 
 Christian church and is one of the most 
 esteemed and honored citizens of War- 
 saw. He is a venerable man of ninety 
 years and his life has been one of activity 
 crowned with success. He lived in this 
 county during early pioneer times when 
 many of. the homes were log cabins and 
 these were widely scattered, there being 
 long distances betwen the farms. The 
 farm machinery was primitive and the 
 household utensils were equally so. Can- 
 dles were in use for lighting and cooking 
 was largely done over the fireplace, while 
 the sickle and scythe were seen in the har- 
 vest fields and the sheaves were bound by 
 hand. Great changes have occurred in 
 all lines of business life within the mem- 
 ory of Captain Williams. As an honored
 
 644 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 pioneer settler he well deserves mention 
 in this volume, for few have been longer 
 connected, with Hancock county, its de- 
 velopment and progress. 
 
 O. F. WEISENBORN. 
 
 Otto F. Weisenborn, viewing life from 
 the standpoint of a practical, enterprising 
 man, has won a position in business cir- 
 cles that has gained for him simultaneous- 
 ly a good name and creditable success. 
 He is today the senior partner in the firm 
 of Weisenborn & Company, of Carthage, 
 dealers in farm lands in Hancock county, 
 in residence property in Carthage, and 
 also in lands in New Mexico, Oklahoma, 
 Kansas, Iowa and Texas. He was born 
 at Lentner, Missouri, in 1870, his parents 
 being Conrad and Rebecca (Altdater) 
 Weisenborn. The father, a native of 
 Germany, born in 1832, was twenty years 
 of age when he came to America with his 
 parents, settling near Quincy, Illinois, at 
 a place called Mill Creek. He is a farmer 
 by occupation and now makes his home 
 with his children, being at present in Ma- 
 con, Missouri. His early political alle- 
 giance was given to the democracy, but 
 he now votes with the Republican party. 
 For a number of years he was a member 
 of the police force of Quincy. He holds 
 membership in the German Lutheran 
 church, to which his wife also belonged. 
 She passed away in 1882, her remains be- 
 ing interred in South Union cemetery 
 near Zion church in the vicinity of Clar- 
 
 ence, Missouri, at which time Otto F. 
 Weisenborn was but fourteen years of 
 age. In the family were six children, of 
 whom four are now living, as follows : 
 George, who is a manufacturer at Indian- 
 apolis, Ind. ; Henry C., an expert me- 
 chanic of Macon, Missouri; Theodore A., 
 a traveling salesman of Peoria, Illinois; 
 and Otto F., of this review. 
 
 A graduate of the high school of Clar- 
 ence, Missouri, Otto F. Weisenborn thus 
 completed his education, after which he 
 engaged in the operation of rented farms, 
 for several years in Missouri. Subse- 
 quently he spent a few years as a com- 
 mercial traveler and in 1900 as the result 
 of study, investigation and experiment, he 
 invented a patent wire stretcher, upon 
 which he secured a United States patent in 
 April, 1905. He then began the manufac- 
 ture of this device, which he sold in all 
 states of the Union. He disposed of a half 
 interest in the business to L. A. Shipton, 
 of Carthage, and later Becher Jackson, of 
 Adrian, Illinois, became interested with 
 him in the business. He is still engaged 
 in the manufacture of his invention at De- 
 troit, Michigan, and has other patents 
 pending. This wire stretcher is consid- 
 ered the best on the market and took first 
 premium at the St. Louis exposition in 
 1900. Mr. Weisenborn possesses consid- 
 erable mechanical ingenuity and original 
 ideas and has brought forth several use- 
 ful devices. After selling a half interest 
 in his patent he entered into general mer- 
 chandising in Carthage, but after a year 
 sold out and lived retired for a few years. 
 He is now, however, engaged in the real 
 estate business with offices in the Mc- 
 Mahon block on Main and Adams streets
 
 r
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 645 
 
 in Carthage. He is associated with 
 Charles H. Garnett under the firm style 
 of Weisenborn & Company and is one of 
 the leading land dealers of this part of 
 the state, making a specialty of Hancock 
 county farm lands. He also handles resir 
 dence property in Carthage and is agent 
 for the Pecos valley lands in New Mex- 
 ico and also for property in Oklahoma, 
 Kansas, Iowa and Texas. He has charge 
 of Santa Fe excursions to the southwest 
 and has made extensive sales of property 
 not only in this county but in adjoining 
 states and in Texas and Oklahoma* He 
 is largely conversant with property vafijes 
 and has thus engaged many important 
 realty transfers. 
 
 On the 26th of February, 1902, Mr. 
 W T eisenborn was married to Miss Alice 
 M. White at her home near Bentley, Illi- 
 nois. She was born in McDonough 
 county, Illinois, in 1871, a daughter of 
 James and Amelia (Boyd) White. Her 
 parents were natives of Ohio and the fa- 
 ther, a farmer by occupation, lived upon 
 a farm in this state for over thirty years. 
 In his political views he was a strong 
 democrat. He died August 10, 1905. 
 while his widow now resides with her 
 daughter, Mrs. BottsT In their family 
 were seven children, of whom six are now 
 living : Morris, who resides in St. Marys, 
 Illinois; Laura, the wife of Robert Botts, 
 living in Carthage; Martha, the wife of 
 Tom Stevens, of Dallas City, Illinois ; 
 Jane, the wife of William Ewing, of 
 Dighton, Kansas; Katherine, the wife of 
 George Crump, of St. Marys. Illinois; 
 and Mrs. Weisenborn. The last named 
 was a graduate of the Carthage high 
 school and attended Carthage College. 
 
 She gained a teacher's certificate but never 
 followed that profession. She was, how- 
 ever, a successful stenographer for four 
 years in the law office of Miller & Wil- 
 liams at Carthage. She was reared in the 
 faith of the Christian church but alter 
 her marriage joined the Presbyterian 
 church with her husband. She took a 
 deep, active and helpful interest in church 
 work and prior to her marriage vyas a 
 teacher in the Sunday-school. In 1904 
 she became ill with typhoid fever and on 
 the 4th of July of that year passed away, 
 .er remains being interred in Moss Ridge 
 . Her death was deeply regret- 
 many friends, for by her excellent 
 f heart and mind she had endeared 
 herseff ty all who knew her. 
 
 Mr. Weisenborn is a republican but 
 without aspiration for office and he be- 
 longs to the Presbyterian church. When 
 he became a factor in business life his 
 capital consisted of not more than sev- 
 enty-five or eighty cents, but honest la- 
 bor, ambition and energy have enabled 
 him to overcome all the difficulties and ob- 
 stacles in his path. In fact, these have 
 seemed to serve as a stimulus for renewed 
 effort and concentration and he is today 
 in possession of a comfortable compe- 
 tence. He has a fine automobile which 
 he uses in his business and he owns a 
 beautiful home on North Main street. 
 Whatever he undertakes receives his en- 
 tire attention and his strong purpose, ca- 
 pable methods and energy constitute the 
 secret of a well deserved and gratifying 
 success. He is the kind of man that gives 
 strength and high standing to any 
 community, and because of his sterling 
 qualities is held in great esteem.
 
 646 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 GEORGE W. KINKADE. 
 
 George W. Kinkade has at different 
 times been closely associated with mer- 
 cantile, industrial and agricultural inter- 
 ests in Hancock county but is now living 
 retired in Hamilton. He was born in 
 Adams county, Illinois, September 21, 
 1847, and attended the district schools 
 of both Adams and Hancock counties, 
 while spending his boyhood days under 
 the parental roof. He is a son of Lo- 
 renzo D. and Harriett (Stewart) 
 Kinkade, the former born in Hardin 
 county, Kentucky, near Elizabeth, and the 
 latter near Evansville, Indiana. George 
 W. Kinkade, the paternal grandfather of 
 our subject, was born near Lynchburg, 
 Virginia, while his parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Robert Kinkade, settled in the Old Do- 
 minion at a very early day and later went 
 to Kentucky. They had been married in 
 Ireland prior to their emigration to the 
 new world. There were two brothers 
 who came together from the Emerald 
 Isle to the United States, one of these be- 
 ing James Kinkade, who died in 
 Kentucky. 
 
 Accompanying his parents on their re- 
 moval from Virginia to Kentucky, George 
 W. Kinkade, grandfather of our subject, 
 was married in Hardin county to Miss 
 Sarah Trainer, also a native of Virginia. 
 Leaving Kentucky, he settled upon a farm 
 in Clay county, Illinois, casting in his lot 
 with its pioneer residents, and eventually 
 he removed from Clay county to Pike 
 county, Illinois, in 1844. A year later 
 he took up his abode in Adams county 
 and two years afterward settled at War- 
 saw, Hancock county. In 1853 he went 
 
 to Calhoun county, where he died in De- 
 cember, 1854. His wife had passed away 
 during their residence in Clay county, 
 Illinois. 
 
 Lorenzo D. Kinkade, father of our sub- 
 ject, was the second in order of birth in 
 a family of nine children, seven sons and 
 two daughters. He accompanied his par- 
 ents on their removal from Kentucky to 
 Illinois and having arrived at years of 
 maturity was married in Richland county, 
 this state, to Miss Harriet Stewart, a 
 daughter of Cornelius and Sarah (Bui- 
 lard) Stewart, both of whom were natives 
 of South Carolina. Soon after their mar- 
 riage Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo D. Kinkade 
 removed to Pike county, Illinois, where 
 he operated a rented farm for a year and 
 in 1846 he removed to the northeastern 
 part of Adams county, where he engaged 
 in farming until 1852. In that year he 
 came to Hancock county, settling in 
 Wythe township, where he farmed 
 through one summer and later he removed 
 to Clarksville, Adair county, Missouri. 
 There he purchased eighty acres of farm 
 land which was all wild prairie, but with 
 characteristic energy he began its cultiva- 
 tion and development and improved the 
 place, living thereon for three years, wherr 
 he sold out and returned to Hancock 
 county, Illinois. This time he setteled 
 near West Point and bought forty acres 
 of unimproved land, where he trans- 
 formed into a richly cultivated tract, mak- 
 ing his home thereon until 1871, when he 
 sold the place to his son, George W. He 
 then took up his abode in Keene township, 
 Adams county, where he rented land and 
 made his home until his death, which oc- 
 curred January 16, 1876. His widow
 
 HAN.COCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 647 
 
 still survives him and makes her home 
 among her children, three sons and three 
 daughters, all of whom are living in this 
 vicinity. She is a member of the Chris- 
 tian church, to which Mr. Kinkade also 
 belonged. 
 
 George W. Kinkade was the second in 
 order of birth in a family of eleven chil- 
 dren, six sons and five daughters. He 
 was reared to farm life, was educated in 
 the public schools and lived with his par- 
 ents until twenty years of age. In the 
 meantime, in February, 1865, when only 
 seventeen years of age, he enlisted in de- 
 tense of his country, becoming a member 
 of Company B, Thirty-fourth Illinois In- 
 fantry. He joined the Second Brigade 
 of the Second Division of the Fourteenth 
 Army Corps at Quincy, Illinois, and was 
 assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, 
 first doing duty at Camp Butler and later 
 at Wilmington, North Carolina, where 
 he was taken ill with smallpox. He was 
 then sent to the hospital at Cleveland, 
 Ohio, where he was honorably discharged 
 June 9, 1865. Mr. Kinkade returned to his 
 father's home, where he remained until 
 twenty years of age, after which he 
 worked on a farm in Hancock county for 
 two years. He then purchased forty 
 acres of land from his father and operated 
 that place until 1879, when he sold out 
 and removed to Breckenridge, where he 
 purchased a drug store, which he con- 
 ducted for five years. He then disposed 
 of his store and turned his attention to the 
 operation of a saw mill and the timber 
 business, in which he was associated with 
 his two brothers, J. A. and H. B. Kinkade. 
 In 1898 he and his brother, H. B., sold 
 their interest to J. A. Kinkade and the 
 41 
 
 subject of this review then rented a farm 
 near Bentley, where, with his brother, H. 
 B. Kinkade, carried on general agricul- 
 tural pursuits for three years. The latter 
 then removed to Hamilton, after which 
 George W. Kinkade continued farming 
 until 1904, when he let his son-in-law, 
 R. G. Crume, have the place. Mr. Kin- 
 kade then came to Hamilton and pur- 
 chased the Houston property, since which 
 time he has made his home in this city. 
 On the 26th of June, 1869, Mr. Kin- 
 kade was married to Miss Nancy A. 
 Lockwood, who was born in Aurora, In- 
 diana, in February, 1852, a daughter of 
 Dr. I. F. Lockwood, whose birth oc- 
 curred near Rochester, New York, while 
 her mother, Annie M. (Riggin) Lock- 
 wood, was a native of Aurora, Indiana 4 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kinkade were born 
 three children : Orlena E., who was born 
 September 20, 1870, and is the wife of 
 J. W. Dunsworth, a farmer near Bentley, 
 Illinois; Harry L., who was born Octo- 
 ber 17, 1876, and died in March, 1878; 
 Cordelia I., who was born September 15, 
 1879, and is the wife of Ralph G. Crume, 
 a resident farmer of Hancock county. 
 The wife and mother died July 23, 1881, 
 and her remains were interred in the 
 cemetery in Walker township. Mr. Kin- 
 kade now makes his home in Ham- 
 ilton, where he is pleasantly situated. 
 His life has been one of activity and he 
 has been thorough in all that he has un- 
 dertaken, believing that what is worth 
 doing at all is worth doing well. His 
 diligence and business capacity have en- 
 abled him to steadily advance and he is 
 now enjoying a well-merited rest, sur- 
 rounded by many comforts of life.
 
 648 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 DON C. S. MILLIKIN. 
 
 Don C. S. Millikin a resident farmer 
 of Montebello township, was born in 
 Saco, Yorkshire county, North Carolina, 
 October 13, 1843. His parents were Ar- 
 thur and Lucy (Smith) Millikin, the lat- 
 ter a native of Vermont, while the for- 
 mer was born in the same building in 
 which the birth of his son Don occurred. 
 The maternal grandparents were Joseph 
 and Lucy (Mack) Smith, natives of the 
 Green Mountain state, and it was their 
 son, Joseph Smith, who became the dis- 
 tinguished leader of the church of the 
 Latter Day Saints, and was killed to- 
 gether with his brother Hiram at Car- 
 thage, Illinois, in the war against the 
 Mormons in 1844. Arthur Millikin 
 joined the Mormon church and at the age 
 of fourteen years left home, going to Fort 
 Leavenworth, Kansas, and on to Mis- 
 souri. He was married, however, at Nau- 
 voo, Illinois, to Miss Lucy Smith and they 
 were visiting in Maine at the time of the 
 birth of their son Don. They made their 
 home in Nauvoo, being residents there 
 at the time that the Mormon temple was 
 burned. Subsequently they removed to 
 Fountain Green, where they lived for 
 some time, and later they took up their 
 abode in Colchester, Illinois, where the 
 father owned coal lands. There both he 
 and his wife passed away. 
 
 Don C. S. Millikin is the eldest of nine 
 children, four sons and five daughters, 
 who attended the common schools of 
 Fountain Green until the removal of the 
 family to Colchester, McDonough county, 
 Illinois, whence he continued his educa- 
 tion there. He remained under the pa- 
 
 rental roof until February, 1865, when, in 
 response to the country's call for aid he 
 enlisted as a member of Company H, One 
 Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois Volun- 
 teer Infantry. The regiment was as- 
 signed to the Army of the Cumberland 
 and he did duty in Georgia and other 
 places in the south until honorably dis- 
 charged after the close of the war. He re- 
 turned to Colchester, where he worked in 
 the coal mines until 1873, when he came 
 to Montebello township, Hancock county. 
 He lived upon a rented farm for three 
 years and then with the capital which he 
 had acquired through his economy and 
 industry he made purchase of eighty acres 
 of land on section n, Montebello town- 
 ship. This was in 1876 and he has since 
 made his home thereon, carrying on gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising. 
 
 Mr. Millikin has been married three 
 times. He first wedded Sophia Gridley, 
 a native of Montebello township, and a 
 daughter of Timothy and Roxanna (Es- 
 terbrook) Gridley. By this union there 
 were four children: Clara A., the wife 
 of Caleb Smith, of McLean, Texas ; Ar- 
 thur, who died at the age of fifteen 
 months; George, who died in infancy; 
 and Mary F., the wife of John Pitts, of 
 Keokuk. The wife and mother passed 
 away April 17, 1881, and Mr. Millikin 
 afterward wedded Mary Elvie Durfee, 
 who was born at Good Hope, McDon- 
 ough county, Illinois, a daughter of Jo- 
 seph and Sarah (McGee) Durfee. The 
 second marriage was celebrated in 1886, 
 and in 1899 Mrs. Millikin passed away. In 
 September. 1900, Mr. Millikin was mar- 
 ried to Miss Emma Smith, a native of 
 Rock Creek township, but a resident of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 649 
 
 Montebello township, this county, and a 
 daughter of James H. and Nancy (Som- 
 mers) Smith, the former a native of Han- 
 cock county and the latter of Adams coun- 
 ty, Illinois. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Millikin is 
 a stalwart republican and is now serving 
 as justice of the peace for the .third term, 
 while since 1886 he has been postmaster 
 at Millikin postoffke. He belongs to the 
 church of the Latter Day Saints and fra- 
 ternally is connected with Montebello 
 lodge, No. 697, Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows, at Hamilton, and the Re- 
 bekah lodge there, and also with Russell 
 post, Grand Army of the Republic, at 
 Hamilton. He is now accounted one of 
 the enterprising and leading agricultur- 
 ists and citizens of Montebello township 
 and is a representative of one of the most 
 historic and prominent families of Han- 
 cock county. 
 
 JOHN McCRORY. 
 
 John MCrory, now living retired upon 
 a farm in Montebello township, has de- 
 voted the greater part of his life to the 
 plastering trade, but since 1905 has rele- 
 gated all active labor to others and is 
 now enjoying a well-earned rest. For 
 eighty-four years he has traveled life's 
 journey, his birth having occurred in 
 Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 
 29, 1822. On the paternal side he is of 
 Scotch-Irish descent. His parents were 
 Samuel and Hannah (Martin) McCrory, 
 
 the former a native of South Carolina 
 and the latter of Ohio. James McCrory, 
 the grandfather on the paternal side, was 
 a soldier of the Revolutionary war for 
 seven years, valiantly aiding in the strug- 
 gle for independence. Following the ces- 
 sation of hostilities he always lived in 
 Washington county, Pennsylvania, until 
 called to his final rest. His son, Samuel 
 McCrory, was born in South Carolina, 
 but in early life accompanied his parents 
 on their removal to Washington county, 
 Pennsylvania. There he was married to 
 Miss Hannah Martin, a native of Ohio 
 and of English descent. Following their 
 marriage the young couple established 
 their home in Washington county, where 
 they resided continuously until 1851, 
 when they made their way westward by 
 boat down the Ohio and up the Missis- 
 sippi rives to Quincy, Illinois. There 
 they spent their remaining days with one 
 of their children, passing away in Adams 
 county. 
 
 In his youth John McCrory of this re- 
 view learned the plasterer's trade and con- 
 ducted a large business in Pennsylvania. 
 His education was obtained in the sub- 
 scription schools and when his text-books 
 were put aside he concentrated his ener- 
 gies entirely upon his business affairs. In 
 the year 1847, attracted by the opportu- 
 nities of the new and growing west, he 
 started by steamer down the Ohio and up 
 the Mississippi rivers to Quincy. While 
 on the boat he became ill with measles 
 and almost died. He was very weak 
 when he arrived in Quincy, but after 
 about three weeks he was able to resume 
 work at his trade. He continued to en- 
 gage in plastering for a year and then
 
 650 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 went to Wheeling, Virginia, traveling in 
 that vicinity for about three years. In 
 1851 he located in Hancock county and 
 bought land near Elvaston. This he con- 
 tinued to cultivate and improve for a 
 time, but eventually he sold out and in- 
 vested in one hundred and sixty acres, 
 constituting the northeast quarter of sec- 
 tion 3, also ten acres of timber in 
 Sonora township. He resided in Hamil- 
 ton in 1857 and in 1858 he was elected as 
 one of the first alderman but would not 
 qualify for that position. When he 
 bought a farm on section 3 it was all wild 
 prairie land, on which no improvements 
 had been made. There he began the cul- 
 tivation of the fields, turning the first 
 furrows on many an acre. He built the 
 first house on this place in 1854, planted 
 hedge fences and erected all of the build- 
 ings. He now lives to enjoy his de- 
 clining years upon this farm amid the 
 comforts and luxuries which go to make 
 life worth living. He has always fol- 
 lowed the plasterer's trade as the years 
 have gone by, renting his farm to others 
 and thus he was closely associated with 
 business affairs until 1905. 
 
 On the ist of January, 1851, Mr. Mc- 
 Crory was married to Miss Joanna Pease, 
 who was born in Washington county, 
 Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois with 
 Mr. McCrory. A year later she died, 
 leaving a young child, who was reared 
 by our subject and to whom .he gave the 
 name of Joanna P. She married Emile 
 Colino and had a son, John, who lived 
 with his grandfather, John McCrory, until 
 his death, which occurred when he was 
 nineteen years of age. His mother died 
 when he was two years of age. 
 
 On the 27th of February, 1855, Mr. 
 McCrory was again married, his second 
 union being with Miss Emeline Carson, 
 a native of Blount county, Tennessee, and 
 a daughter of Alexander and Jane 
 (Weir) Carson, who were likewise na- 
 tives of Tennessee. The children of Mr. 
 and Mrs. McCrory are : Alexander, now 
 living in Montebello township; Alfonso, 
 who is upon the home place ; James, living 
 in Sonora township; Helen, the wife of 
 Oscar Duncan, of Columbus Junction, 
 Iowa; John H., who died at the age of 
 eighteen years; Edith, the wife of Jacob 
 Smith, whose home is in Sonora town- 
 ship; and Lottie, at home. 
 
 Mr. McCrory has long since passed the 
 psalmist's span of three score years and 
 ten and at an advanced age is now living 
 retired, but for many years was an active 
 factor in industrial life, gaining through 
 his persistency of purpose and his dili- 
 gence the competence which now enables 
 him to live retired. He is a member of 
 the Christian church and his political 
 views accord with democratic principles. 
 He is today one of the most venerable 
 citizens of the county and a life of activity 
 and integrity well entitle him to repre- 
 sentation in this volume. 
 
 JOHN W. MARSH, D. M. D. 
 
 One of the leaders among the young 
 professional men of Warsaw is Dr. John 
 W. Marsh, engaged actively and success-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 651 
 
 fully in the practice of dentistry. He was 
 born in this city July 23, 1872, a son of 
 Judge John W. Marsh. His education 
 was acquired in the public schools of this 
 city and in St. John's Military Academy 
 at Delafield, Wisconsin, from which he 
 was graduated in the class of 1890. He 
 then entered upon preparation for a pro- 
 fessional career by matriculation in the 
 dental department of Washington Uni- 
 versity, at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1892, 
 and was graduated therefrom with the 
 class of 1895, on which occasion the de- 
 gree of D. M. D. was conferred upon 
 him. He was then connected with the 
 college for one year as an instructor and 
 this gave him marked advantage as a 
 training for his later practical experience 
 in the profession. In the spring of 1896 
 he opened an office in Warsaw and is now 
 splendidly established in his chosen field 
 of labor, being numbered among the 
 leading dentists of the county. He has 
 elegantly equipped offices in the Winnard 
 Building, supplied with all of the mod- 
 ern appliances that facilitate the work 
 and promote the efficiency of the dentist. 
 He is thoroughly conversant with the 
 most modern methods of practice and has 
 kept in touch with the trend of thought 
 and progress made by the dental frater- 
 nity. He belongs to Adams and Hancock 
 Counties Dental Society, and is president 
 of the First District Dental Society, and 
 is recognized as one of the able repre- 
 sentatives of the profession, the consen- 
 sus of public opinion being indicated by 
 the large patronage extended to him. 
 
 On the 1 2th of June, 1902, Dr. Marsh 
 was married to Miss Lucy Scholl Cher- 
 rill, of Carthage, a daughter of Edward 
 
 and Susan A. (Sholl) Cherrill, well 
 known residents of Carthage. Dr. and 
 Mrs. Marsh have two children, John 
 Cherrill and Susan Sholl. The parents 
 are members of the Protestant Episcopal 
 church, of which Dr. Marsh is now se- 
 nior warden. He has also been a mem- 
 ber of the library board of Warsaw for 
 nine years, and during this time has acted 
 as secretary. A life-long republican he 
 has kept well informed on the questions 
 of the day and has represented his ward 
 in the city council but has never been an 
 aspirant for office. He belongs to War- 
 saw lodge, No. 257, Ancient Free and 
 Accepted Masons, and is its present wor- 
 shipful master, and on a number of oc- 
 casions he has attended the sessions of 
 the grand lodge. The fact that he has 
 been continuously chosen to official pref- 
 erment in the various organizations with 
 which he is connected indicates his stand- 
 ing in the regard of those with whom he 
 is associated and his professional and so- 
 cial prominence are both widely recog- 
 nized in the city where his entire life has 
 been passed. 
 
 Since the above was written Dr. Marsh 
 has moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where he is 
 secretary of the dental department of the 
 Keokuk Medical Department. 
 
 J. E. DICKSON. 
 
 J. E. Dickson, of Durham township, 
 bears an enviable reputation in the com- 
 munity in which he lives, his name stand-
 
 652 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ing for unquestionable honesty, integrity, 
 and firmness of purpose. He is the son 
 of Daniel and Mary (Shutwell) Dickson, 
 his birth occurring in Durham township, 
 Hancock county, December 28, 1855. 
 His father was born in East Tennessee, 
 May 1 8, 1817, and the mother in England. 
 Daniel Dickson was the son of Hugh 
 and Margaret (Leib) Dickson, both na- 
 tives of Pennsylvania, who came to Han- 
 cock county in 1843, settling in La Harpe 
 tonwship, where Mr. Dickson carried on 
 the industry of farming for many years. 
 He served in the Black Hawk war and he 
 and his wife died at the advanced ages of 
 seventy-four and seventy-five years re- 
 spectively. The Dickson family is of 
 Irish extraction, and was probably found- 
 ed in the United States in the early colo- 
 nial period. Daniel Dickson, the father 
 of our sketch, came to Hancock county 
 in 1838 where he purchased one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land in La Harpe 
 township, which he farmed for some time, 
 later selling it and buying a quarter sec- 
 tion in Durham township. He kept add- 
 ing to this as he could until he owned 
 one thousand acres of fine farming land. 
 He was always a successful farmer, which 
 vocation he followed until 1883, when he 
 sold part of his land and purchased a 
 handsome residence on Third street in 
 Dallas City, which is now a hotel known 
 as "Park House," and also bought the 
 entire block of land on which that 
 hostelry now stands. He was united in 
 marriage to Miss May Shutwell, of Mor- 
 gan county, Illinois, in 1837. To this 
 union were born nine children, four of 
 whom are now living: H. S. lives in 
 Waco, Texas; J. E., our subject; D. D., 
 
 now living in Fair Oaks, California; and 
 Fred J., of Dallas City. The mother 
 died in 1867, and later the father married 
 Miss Lucinda Adams, who still resides in 
 Dallas City. Daniel Dickson was one of 
 the first prairie settlers in Hancock county 
 and during his life he saw the wild lands 
 transformed into beautiful farms and 
 homes, and its hamlets develop into thriv- 
 ing cities, and progress and civilization 
 carried on so rapidly that the county at 
 his death on February 17, 1895, bore little 
 resemblance to the county of fifty years 
 before. He was an enterprising man, en- 
 tirely self-made, and at the time of his 
 death was a very wealthy man, his pos- 
 sessions being monuments of his thrift 
 and energy. 
 
 J. E. Dickson received his early educa- 
 tion in the district school. On October 
 19, 1880, Mr. Dickson was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Sarah L. Bellew, from near 
 Adrian, Illinois. Her birth occurred on 
 April ii, 1862, and she was the daughter 
 of Jadiah and Nancy (Grant) Bellew, 
 both parents were born near Camp Point, 
 Illinois, coming to Hancock county at an 
 early day, where the father was a pros- 
 perous farmer. They were the parents 
 of seven children, three of whom are still 
 living: Alice, wife of W. A. Davis, of 
 Des Moines, Iowa ; Cora, wife of Everett 
 Turney, of Chapman, Nebraska; and 
 Elmer, living in Des Moines, Iowa. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Dickson were born 
 ten children, eight of whom are now liv- 
 ing: Rolla, born September 3, 1881, 
 married Forrest Eimmler, of Durham 
 township; Vinnie A., born March 17, 
 1884, and keeps house for her father; 
 Lloyd, born January 26, 1886, at home;
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 653 
 
 Harry, born September 19, 1887; Clar- 
 ence, born March 17, 1889; Ruby, born 
 November 16, 1890, died April 4, 1893; 
 Ernest, born September 26, 1892; Ruth, 
 born November n, 1894; and Mildred 
 and Merlyn, twins, born April n, 1900, 
 Mildred dying October 3, 1900. On the 
 1 5th of April, 1900, the unrelenting hand 
 of death for the second time entered the 
 home of Mr. Dickson and claimed the 
 faithful wife and mother. This was a 
 great blow to the husband and children 
 as well as to her many friends and neigh- 
 bors. Mrs. Dickson was a model mother, 
 a kind and loving wife and a gentle 
 woman well beloved by all who knew 
 her. Her earthly remains were sorrow- 
 fully laid to rest in the La Harpe ceme- 
 tery to await the call of the last day. 
 She was a devoted member of the Chris- 
 tian church. After his marriage Mr. 
 Dickson bought a farm of one hundred 
 and twenty acres on section 10, Durham 
 township, upon which he has built a good 
 house, and has added to his possessions 
 until he now has two hundred and forty 
 acres on section 10 and sixty acres of 
 good land in Texas. Besides general 
 farming, at which he has been very suc- 
 cessful, Mr. Dickson carries on stock- 
 raising quite extensively and handles 
 grain. He is a man that is interested in 
 local affairs of his county and township, 
 doing everything in his power to advance 
 the cause of education and the well-being 
 of the community at large. The confi- 
 dence which his contemporaries place in 
 his ability and judgment is evidenced by 
 the position of trust and responsibility 
 which they bestow upon him. He is an 
 ardent member of the Democratic party, 
 
 taking quite an active interest in the wel- 
 fare of that party, especially in this coun- 
 ty. He has served as assessor, collector, 
 and justice of the peace, being elected on 
 the democratic ticket to these offices and 
 rendered upright, conscientious and high- 
 ly satisfactory service in these capacities. 
 He has repeatedly served as school di- 
 rector in his dictrict, and fraternally is 
 connected with the Modern Woodmen of 
 America. 
 
 He believes in giving his children ad- 
 vantage of such facilities as the time 
 affords, his oldest son being educated in 
 the Carthage College, in the La Harpe 
 Academy, and in the school at Urbana, 
 Illinois. His daughter also attends the 
 La Harpe seminary. Mr. Dickson is 
 considered one of the foremost men in 
 Durham township, has a very quiet and 
 kind disposition and yet is firm, exceed- 
 ingly energetic, and above all truly honest, 
 and the kind of man that gives strength 
 and high standing to any community. 
 
 EDWIN BROWN. 
 
 Edwin Brown, occupying a farm in Ap- 
 panoose township, where he is engaged 
 in general farming and stock-raising, was 
 born in Jefferson county, Iowa, his natal 
 day being October 8, 1850, a son of Da- 
 vid and Martha (Rudisill) Brown. His 
 mother was born in Ohio but it was in 
 Iowa oh the 8th of January, 1846, that 
 she gave her hand in marriage to David 
 Brown. Here the father carried on gen-
 
 654 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 eral agricultural pursuits until 1850, when 
 he removed to Dallas, Illinois, where his 
 death occurred February 23, 1856. The 
 mother still survives and makes her home 
 in Niota. She has now reached an ad- 
 vanced age and is a sufferer from 
 paralysis. 
 
 Edwin Brown is the younger of two 
 children bom unto his parents, his sister 
 being Helen, who was born June 21, 1848, 
 and is now the wife of George Skyles, 
 and resides in the western part of Ne- 
 braska. Mr. Brown attended the com- 
 mon schools of Iowa in his youth, and 
 during the periods of vacation and in the 
 summer months aided his father in the 
 work of the home farm, receiving prac- 
 tical training which later enabled him to 
 carry on work of this character on his 
 own account. He is now operating one 
 hundred and twenty acres situated in Ap- 
 panoose township, of which fifty acres 
 is pasture land, while the balance is de- 
 voted to the raising of grain. In addi- 
 tion to his farming pursuits he raises 
 stock to quite an extent, and both 
 branches of his business are proving a 
 profitable source of revenue. 
 
 Mr. Brown chose as a companion and 
 helpmate for life's journey Miss Flor- 
 ence Doolittle, to whom he was married 
 November 3, 1880. She is a native of 
 Appanoose township, and is a daughter 
 of Amzi and Sarah M. (Welch) Doolit- 
 tle, natives of New York and Tennessee 
 respectively. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown 
 have been born two sons : Frank, born 
 June 8, 1883, and John, born October 
 ii, 1888, both with their parents. Mr. 
 Brown gives his political support to the 
 Democratic party and has served as school 
 
 director of his township. He has ever 
 been diligent and persevering in all that 
 he has undertaken and through industry 
 and economy is working his way upward, 
 being classed among the progressive ag- 
 riculturists of Hancock county. 
 
 BENJAMIN F. THATCHER. 
 
 Benjamin F. Thatcher, representing 
 the agricultural interests of Hancock 
 county, was born January 7, 1861, in 
 Adams county, Ohio. His father, like- 
 wise a native of the Buckeye state, was a 
 blacksmith by trade and served as a val- 
 iant soldier during the Civil war, enlist- 
 ing as a member of the Seventieth Ohio 
 Regiment. He died in a southern hos- 
 pital during his service at the front. The 
 mother bore the maiden name of Rowan- 
 na Palmer, and was also born in Adams 
 county, of the Buckeye state. By her 
 marriage she became the. mother of seven 
 children, four sons and three daughters, 
 of whom our subject is the sixth in or- 
 der of birth. 
 
 Benjamin F. Thatcher acquired his ed- 
 ucation in the common schools of his 
 native state and spent his boyhood and 
 youth under the parental roof. For a 
 time after leaving home he lived with a 
 family by the name of Shaffer in Darke 
 county, Ohio, and on attaining his ma- 
 jority, in company with George W. 
 Holmes, he went to Kearney, Nebraska, 
 where he was employed in various ways 
 for six years, a part of that time being
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 6SS 
 
 spent on a ranch there. It was during his 
 residence in the west that he was mar- 
 ried, July 13, 1885, to Miss Ella Nelson, 
 who was born in Hancock county, but 
 was then making" her home in Buffalo 
 county, Nebraska. She is a daughter of 
 Elisha and Elizabeth (Wade) Nelson, 
 both natives of Illinois, while her pater- 
 nal grandfather, George C. Nelson, and 
 the maternal grandparents, Greenberry 
 and Margaret (Scott) Wade, were born 
 in Kentucky. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Thatcher 
 remained for several years in the west 
 but in 1892 returned with his family to 
 Hancock county, the journey being made 
 with team and wagon. He arrived in 
 La Harpe township in May of that year 
 and in the following September went to 
 Ottumwa, Iowa, being employed for sev- 
 eral months on the construction of a rail- 
 road there. He then returned home, 
 where he engaged in agricultural pur- 
 suits, leasing land until 1900, subsequent 
 to which time he purchased a tract of 
 fifty-three acres, located on section 36, La 
 Harpe township. There were few im- 
 provements upon the place when he took 
 possession but he has erected good build- 
 ings, set out an orchard, containing apple, 
 peach, plum and cherry trees, has fenced 
 the place, and altogether has an excellent 
 farm property, of which forty acres are 
 devoted to general farming, while the re- 
 mainder is fine pasture land, in which are 
 seen good grades of stock, including Po- 
 land China hogs and Polled Angus cattle. 
 He also raises poultry, making a specialty 
 of the Plymouth Rock breed, and he finds 
 this branch of his business is proving very 
 profitable. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born two sons and three daughters, 
 namely : George David, who was born 
 May 5, 1886; Millie May, born April 10, 
 1888; Claud C, July 13, 1893; Lillie 
 Goldie E., April 28, 1900; and Dorothy 
 F., October 10, 1903. While Mr. Thatch- 
 er supports democratic principles he is not 
 active in the work of the party, preferring 
 to give his undivided time to his busi- 
 ness interests. He holds membership 
 with the Christian Union church at La 
 Harpe. Starting out in life on his own 
 responsibility without capital he has 
 worked his way upward from a humble 
 financial position and whatever success he 
 has achieved is due entirely to his own 
 well directed labors and strong purpose. 
 
 NOAH McCORD. 
 
 Noah McCord represents the rich agri- 
 cultural district of Hancock county, where 
 he is carrying on general farming and 
 stock-raising. He is a native son of this 
 county, his natal day being February 8, 
 1854, a son of John W. and Nancy (Man- 
 ifold) McCord, both natives of Tennes- 
 see. In their family are four sons and 
 four daughters, of whom our subject is 
 the seventh in order of birth. . 
 
 Noah McCord acquired his education 
 in the Bradshaw district school near his 
 father's home, and during his boyhood 
 and youth assisted his father in the op- 
 eration of the home farm, remaining with 
 his parents until his marriage, Septem-
 
 6 5 6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 her 27, 1877, at which time Miss Frances 
 Long became his wife. She is likewise 
 a native of Hancock county, her birth 
 having here occurred January 6, 1858, a 
 daughter of David and Mildred (Child- 
 ress) Long, the former a native of Ohio, 
 and the latter born in Fountain Green 
 township, this county. Her father accom- 
 panied his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis 
 Long, on the removal to Henderson coun- 
 ty, this state, in the year 1840, and her 
 parents were married in this county, thus 
 becoming early settlers of this portion of 
 the state. The father passed away Oc- 
 tober 22, 1895, while the mother survived 
 until October 14, 1896, when she, too, 
 was called to her final rest, having reached 
 the age of fifty-three years, her birth hav- 
 ing occurred in 1843. 
 
 Following his marriage our subject 
 rented a farm in McDonough county, to 
 which he took his bride, their home being 
 in Hire township. One year latter he re- 
 moved to another farm, this being lo- 
 cated near La Crosse, and he there con- 
 tinued his farming operations for six 
 years, subsequent to which time he re- 
 moved to La Harpe township, Hancock 
 county, where he operated rented land 
 during the succeeding six years, and 
 through his industry and economy at the 
 end of that time he was enabled to invest 
 in property, becoming possessor, in 1892, 
 of one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
 lying on section 10. This was a partially 
 improved tract but since Mr. McCord has 
 taken up his abode here he has made many 
 modern and substantial improvements. 
 He has added to the original residence 
 so that he now has a modern country 
 home, and has also erected barns and 
 
 sheds, has fenced the place with wire fenc- 
 ing, and has set out a good orchard, 
 from which he gathers good crops of 
 fruit in season. In 1902 he added to his 
 original holdings by the purchase of an 
 eighty-acre tract lying on section 9, and 
 in 1905 added a second eighty-acre tract 
 but in the spring of the present year he 
 disposed of eighty acres, so that he now 
 has two hundred and forty acres, and his 
 is one of the finely improved and pro- 
 ductive tracts of this section of the state. 
 In addition to his agricultural pursuits he 
 also engages in the raising of cattle, horses 
 and hogs, and this branch of his business, 
 is proving a profitable source of revenue 
 to him. 
 
 In the family of Mr. and Mrs. McCord 
 have been born four children, of whom 
 two died in infancy. Those who survive 
 are: Mabel, born January i, 1882, the 
 wife of Roy E. Hancock, engaged in the 
 dray business at La Harpe; and Cleola 
 May, born January 29, 1887, and now 
 the wife of Clarence Ketchum, of La 
 Harpe. The deceased are : Ardie Clark, 
 who was born July 18, 1878, and died 
 June 29, 1880; and Atley Clyde, who was 
 born March 17, 1896, and died October 
 24, 1898. 
 
 Mr. McCord's study of the political 
 questions and issues of the day has led 
 him to give his support to the Democratic 
 party. He held the office of school di- 
 rector for nine years but aside from this 
 has never been active in public affairs. 
 Fraternally he is identified with the Inde- 
 pendent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging 
 to lodge No. 653, at La Harpe. His 
 integrity and energy have been salient 
 characteristics in his business life and he
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 657 
 
 enjoys the full confidence of all with 
 whom he comes in contact. 
 
 JOSEPH V. MANUSSIER. 
 
 Joseph V. Manussier, well-known in 
 Hancock county as a prosperous and 
 prominent resident of Basco, and as a 
 business man, who has controlled and still 
 has important interests, was born in Mar- 
 tigny les Lamarche, France, in 1848, and 
 his parents, Claude and Marguerite 
 (Poincot) Manussier, were also natives 
 of that country, the former born in 1826 
 and the latter in 1820. The father came 
 to America in 1852 but returned in 1855. 
 However, he once more crossed the At- 
 lantic to the United States in 1859 with 
 his family and remained in this country 
 until 1873. In that year he and his 
 wife re-visited the land of his birth and 
 on March i, 1861, he settled in the vil- 
 lage of Basco. During the first three 
 years of his residence in America he lived 
 in Ohio, but throughout the remaining 
 time spent in this country he made his 
 home in Basco, where he continued to re- 
 side until his death, which occurred in 
 1880. In his fraternal relations he was 
 a Mason. His wife came to America in 
 1859 and made a visit to France with her 
 husband in 1873. She died in 1893 and 
 they lie buried in Basco cemetery. Of 
 their three children two were born in 
 France, Joseph V. and Charles, the latter 
 now a resident of France. One son, Au- 
 gust, was born in this country and lives 
 in Basco. 
 
 Joseph V. Manussier acquired his early 
 education in France, and came to America 
 with his parents in 1859. He remained 
 with his father until twenty-two years of 
 age and then started out in life on his own 
 account, completing his arrangements for 
 having a home of his own by his mar- 
 riage to Miss Ermence Sylvester, who 
 was born in Ohio, in 1855, and is a 
 daughter of Joseph- and Pelagic (Sirrey) 
 Sylvester, who were also natives of 
 France. The father was a wagonmaker 
 by trade and arrived in America in 1852^ 
 settling in Ohio. Later he became a resi- 
 dent of Warsaw, Illinois, where he died 
 about 1861. His widow still survives 
 him and has reached the age of eighty- 
 three years. She died October 20, 1906. 
 They have two daughters, both living, the 
 elder being Eloise, the wife of Julius Lan- 
 net, of Warsaw. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Manussier 
 rented land from his father and thereon 
 engaged in farming for five years. In 
 1870 he removed to Basco, and in 1876 
 became connected with C. Cachuex in a 
 business enterprise which they continued 
 for eighteen months. The partnership 
 was then dissolved in 1877 and for ten 
 years thereafter the firm was Doty & 
 Manussier, the partner of our subject be- 
 ing Lyman Doty. They conducted a gen- 
 eral store with good success and when 
 Mr. Doty retired the firm became Ma- 
 nussier & Naeglin, while the succeeding 
 change in partnership has led to the as- 
 sumption of the title of Manussier, Naeg- 
 lin & Company. In 1896, however, Mr. 
 Manussier withdrew from the firm, and 
 selling his interest, embarked in the grain 
 business under the firm name of Damron
 
 6 5 8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Si Manussier, which was continued for 
 two years and then became Manussier & 
 Son. An admission of another son to the 
 business has made the firm style of Ma- 
 nussier & Sons. They own and control 
 the only elevator in the village, with a ca- 
 pacity of twenty thousand bushels of grain 
 and they handle both grain and stock. 
 Mr. Manussier is likewise president of the 
 Basco Bank. His business interests have 
 thus been varied as well as important and 
 he is continually enlarging the scope of 
 his activities', each step in his career being 
 a forward one and bringing him a broad- 
 er outlook and greater opportunities. He 
 has accomplished whatever he has under- 
 taken by reason of his force of charac- 
 ter, his unfaltering perseverance and his 
 unflagging industry. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Manussier have 
 been born five children, all bom in Bear' 
 Creek township, and three are now living. 
 Charles, who married Minnie Tieman, 
 and has a daughter, Vera, is engaged in 
 business with his father. Joseph married 
 Lulu Biggs, by whom he has a daughter, 
 Fairy, and their home is in Basco. Jen- 
 nie, who attended a private school in 
 Chicago, a student of music under Emil 
 Liebling, a famous pianist, is now en- 
 gaged in teaching music in Basco, and 
 likewise has pupils at West Point and at 
 Bentley. In 1890 Mr. Manussier built 
 an elegant home on Main street in Bnsco. 
 It is the largest residence in the village 
 and one of the most attractive features. 
 The scene of a cultured society circle, one 
 of its chief charms is its warm-hearted and 
 gracious hospitality. Mr. Manussier also 
 has a fine vineyard and owns one hundred 
 and fifty-four acres of ground in Bear 
 
 Creek township. He also has twelve acres 
 north of Basco where his creamery stands, 
 eighty acres below Warsaw and several 
 lots in Basco. He is largely a self-made 
 man. His wife received fifty dollars from 
 his father as a present and he was given 
 a team of horses by his father. This was 
 all the inheritance which they received and 
 thus they practically started out in life 
 empty-handed. Today Mr. Manussier is 
 one of the prosperous residents of the 
 county, due to his fidelity and enterprise. 
 He has readily recognized and utilized op- 
 portunities, and constantly broadening 
 the scope of his activity, has, through his 
 well directed energy, gained a place 
 among the leading business men of this 
 locality. Never making engagements 
 that he has not filled nor incurring obli- 
 gations that he has not met, he enjoys to 
 the full extent the respect and good will 
 of those with whom he has been associ- 
 ated. In politics he is a democrat and 
 has served as school director, while he and 
 his wife are devout members of the Cath- 
 olic church and their social prominence 
 places them among the leaders in society 
 interests in Basco and this part of the 
 county. 
 
 SCOTT G. LIONBERGER. 
 
 Scott G. Lionberger. whose farming 
 interests are represented in an excellent 
 tract of land in Fountain Green township, 
 which was the old family homestead, was 
 born in Pilot Grove township, this county,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 659 
 
 November 22, 1854, and is the second 
 in order of birth in a family of four chil- 
 dren, whose parents were Hamilton and 
 Eliza (Bainter) Lionberger. The father 
 was born in Page county, Virginia, Sep- 
 tember 2, 1817, and the mother, a daugh- 
 ter of John Bainter, was born in Madison 
 county, Ohio, January 24, 1822. Hamil- 
 ton Lionberger came to this county in the 
 spring of 1836 and settled in Pilot Grove 
 township with his parents. He was mar- 
 ried November 23, 1852, after which he 
 purchased one hundred and sixty acres 
 of land in the same township. Two years 
 later he sold that property and bought 
 two hundred and forty-six acres on sec- 
 tion 6, Fountain Green township, about 
 one-half of which was under cultivation 
 while the remainder was covered with 
 timber. He erected some new buildings 
 and also remodeled those that were al- 
 ready there, carrying on the work of im- 
 provement along many lines. He set out 
 many soft maples for shade and put the 
 place in fine shape. He died there August 
 6, 1884, and his wife passed away April 
 29, 1890. In their family were four chil- 
 dren : John, who was born December 24, 
 1853, and died in infancy; Scott G. ; 
 Carlos, of Scotland county, Missouri ; and 
 Amelia, the wife of G. W. Schlackett, of 
 Memphis, Missouri. 
 
 Reared to the occupation of farming, 
 Scott G. Lionberger attended the Ross- 
 ville district school and was also a student 
 in Carthage College for six months. He 
 remained upon the home farm until his 
 marriage, which was celebrated March 
 25, 1880, Miss Fannie A. Parker becom- 
 ing his wife. She was born in Harpers- 
 field, Delaware county, New York, and 
 
 was educated in the district schools and 
 the high school at Fountain Green. Her 
 parents were William and Mary (Young) 
 Parker. Her father was born in Bain- 
 bridge, New York, September 5, 1827, 
 and was a son of James and Sarah (Mc- 
 Cauley) Parker, while her mother was 
 born in Delaware county, July 12, 1827, 
 a daughter of Hugh and Sarah (Camp- 
 bell) Young. Mrs. Lionberger's parents 
 came to Fountain Green township in the 
 spring of 1867, and the father purchased 
 eighty acres of land, which he cultivated 
 for some time and then sold. He then 
 removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he died 
 February 14, 1890, while his wife passed 
 away May 23, 1888. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lionberger have been born three children : 
 Harvey Loy, who was born February i, 
 1 88 1, and is now in Spokane, Washing- 
 ton; Hubert Earl, who was born Decem- 
 ber 26, 1883, and is in Fountain Green 
 township; and Mary Frances, born June 
 5, 1893. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Lionberger be- 
 gan operating the old home place and 
 subsequent to his parents' death he pur- 
 chased the interest of the other heirs in 
 the home property. There is now about 
 fifty acres of timber land, while the re- 
 mainder is used for pasture land and for 
 general farming. In addition to tilling 
 the soil and raising the crops best adapted 
 to climatic conditions here, he also raises 
 shorthorn cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and 
 Morgan and Percheron horses, having 
 high grades of stock upon his place, this 
 branch of his business being an important 
 source of revenue to him. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Lionberger 
 is a democrat and is conversant with the
 
 66o 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 dominant party issues. Fraternally he is 
 connected with the Masons and he is a 
 member of the Christian church at La 
 Crosse, in which he has served as a 
 deacon since 1902. He is interested in it? 
 work and does all in his power to pro- 
 mote its progress. 
 
 LEWIS F. GEORGE. 
 
 Lewis F. George is the owner of one 
 of the finest farms in Hancock county and 
 western Illinois. It is situated in Foun- 
 tain Green township, and the beautiful 
 modern residence which stands in its 
 midst is indicative of the spirit of prog- 
 ress which dominates the owner. His 
 stock, too, is of the highest grades and 
 everything about the farm is in keeping 
 therewith and shows Mr. George to be 
 a man of excellent business ability and 
 executive force. 
 
 Born in Fountain Green township, 
 April 19, 1868, Ke is a son of Henry and 
 Martha (Balsley) George. The father 
 was born in Weisenhasel Hesse Cassel, 
 Germany, June 24, 1825, and the mother's 
 birth occurred near Staunton, Augusta 
 county, Virginia, June 22, 1831. The 
 former-was a son of Henry and Elizabeth 
 (Schaffer) George, and the latter a 
 daughter of Jonathan Balsley. In 1848 
 Henry George, Jr., came with his parents 
 to America from the fatherland and set- 
 tled in Augusta county, Virginia, where 
 they were fanning people and continued 
 to reside until 1867. The father of our 
 
 subject then removed with his family to 
 McDonough county, Illinois, where he 
 lived for one year, and then came to 
 Fountain Green township, purchasing 
 eighty acres of land on section 13, then 
 under cultivation, while a house and barn 
 had also been erected. The parents of 
 our subject had been maried in Sherando, 
 Virginia, February 28, 1854. and had 
 lived upon rented farms there until com- 
 ing to Illinois. Mr. George lost heavily 
 through the depreciation of Confederate 
 money at the time of the Civil war and 
 after coming to the west he lived upon a 
 farm upon which his father died, and 
 whereon he and his wife spent their re- 
 maining days, his death occurring March 
 14, 1899, while his wife passed away Feb- 
 ruary 26, 1904. In their family were 
 four children : Mary, the wife of Man- 
 sel White, of Blandinsville, Illinois ; Mrs. 
 Elenora Virginia White, of La Plata, 
 Missouri; and Emma, the wife of F. S. 
 McElherne, an attorney of Chicago. 
 
 Lewis George, the only son, attended the 
 Hickory Grove district school, and spent 
 the days of his boyhood and youth in his 
 parent's home. When twenty-one years 
 of age he rented a farm in Fountain Green 
 township and continued its operation until 
 the death of his father, when he came into 
 possession of the old home farm of nine- 
 ty-three and a half acres, of which eighty 
 acres lies on section 13, and the remainder 
 on section 23, Fountain Green township. 
 About seventy acres were under cultiva- 
 tion and the remainder in timber and pas- 
 ture. Mr. George has carried on general 
 farming. One year before his marriage 
 he purchased eighty acres on section 14, 
 of the same township, nearly all of which
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 661 
 
 was cleared. Upon it stood an old 
 frame house which \vas built by his 
 wife's grandfather as a school house 
 in the '305. It was he who also built 
 the first frame barn in the county. 
 Mr. George and his wife occupied 
 the old frame house until 1893, when he 
 erected a large modern residence, heated 
 with hot water. He has also an appliance 
 for making gas from gasoline, used for 
 both lighting and cooking and he has air 
 pressure system for forcing water to any 
 part of the house. Outside of the cities 
 there is no finer home in Hancock county, 
 and its furnishings are both luxuriant and 
 comfortable without evidences of display, 
 but on the contrary, indicating a refined 
 taste. In 1896 he built a large barn and 
 in 1898 purchased an old church which he 
 converted into a granary. In 1905 he 
 built a cattle shed and he has a large Fair- 
 bank's wagon scale, installed in 1896. He 
 has put up a large windmill, and a well 
 over one hundred feet deep supplies the 
 house and stock with water. The farm is 
 most complete in every detail and indi- 
 cates the most modern progress in agri- 
 cultural lines. Mr. George, in connection 
 with the cultivation of the fields, raises 
 Belgium draft horses, also road horses, 
 shorthorn cattle and Duroc and Poland 
 China hogs. His business interests are 
 also further represented by six rural tele- 
 phone lines which he owns. 
 
 On the 7th of June, 1893, Mr. George 
 was married to Miss Nellie B. White, who 
 was born in Warsaw, Illinois, January 15, 
 1867, and was educated in the public 
 and high schools there. Her parents 
 were William Harrison and Eunice F. 
 (Beebe) White, the former born in Al- 
 
 legany county, New York, March 9, 
 1817, a son of Jary and Lucinda White, 
 while Eunice F. Beebe was born March 
 31, 1827, in Cattaraugus county, New 
 York, a daughter of Jabez and Sophia A. 
 (Waite) Beebe. Jabez Beebe was born 
 in January, 1799, and died in 1871. 
 After the death of his first wife he mar- 
 ried her sister, Martha Waite. He came 
 to this township in 1832, among its ear- 
 liest settlers and gave to it the name of 
 Fountain Green. He was the owner of 
 the land whereon the village now stands 
 and also owned tracts for miles around. 
 Jary White came with ox teams from 
 New York in 1835 and settled in the same 
 locality, where he lived until his death. 
 William H. White first married Irene 
 L. Foy, a native of New York, who died 
 April 27, 1851. They had two children 
 one who did in infancy, the other, 
 Emory B. White, of Clarion, Iowa. The 
 mother of Mrs. George died December 7, 
 1874. Her living children are: W. 
 Scott, of Muscatine, Iowa; Henry C, of 
 Spokane, Washington; Mrs. George; and 
 Lucy M., the wife of Wesley Engel, of 
 Brighton, Iowa. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. George have been 
 born two children : Philip Earl, born De- 
 cember 8, 1898; and Martha Ruth, No- 
 vember 20, 1900. The parents are liberal 
 contributors to the Christian church, of 
 which Mr. George has been a trustee since 
 1903, He votes the republican ticket 
 and in the spring of 1906 was elected 
 road commissioner for a two years' term. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the 
 Modern Woodmen of Fountain Green 
 and the Odd Fellows of Blandinsville. 
 Well known in the county where his en-
 
 662 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 tire life has been passed he is thoroughly 
 in touch with the most modern methods 
 of fanning and his business experience 
 and sound judgment are elements in a 
 success which places him in the foremost 
 rank among the representatives of agri- 
 culture in Hancock county. 
 
 HENRY BRICKER. 
 
 Henry Bricker, who since the age of 
 fourteen years has been dependent upon 
 his own resources- so that the success 
 which he has achieved and enjoyed has 
 come as the merited reward of his earnest 
 labor and perseverance, is now living in 
 Montebello township, . where he owns a 
 good farming property on section 34. He 
 is one of Hancock county's native sons, 
 for he was bom in the old historic town 
 of Warsaw, November 23, 1865. His 
 parents were John and Elizabeth (Het- 
 rick) Bricker, both of whom were na- 
 tives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. 
 They became residents of Warsaw early 
 in 1864, in which year they crossed the 
 Atlantic from the fatherland to the new 
 world, hoping in this country to secure a 
 more substantial pecuniary reward for la- 
 bor than could be obtained in their native 
 land. Mr. Bricker purchased^ thirty, acres 
 of land, whereon he engaged in general 
 gardening, in raising grapes and in the 
 manufacture of wine. At a later date he 
 sold that property and purchased a resi- 
 dence in Warsaw, where he now makes 
 his home. His wife, however, passed 
 
 away in 1892. In their family were four 
 children, namely : Henry, of this review ; 
 Annie, the wife of C. A. Wegenhenkel, of 
 Wythe township; Otto, of Lura, Mis- 
 souri ; and Amelia, the wife of J. D. Pig- 
 gott. 
 
 Henry Bricker was a student of the 
 public schools of Warsaw in his early 
 boyhood days, and at the age of fourteen 
 started out to earn his own living, be- 
 ginning work in this vicinity in the em- 
 ploy of Owen Pence, of Keokuk, and A. 
 L. Miller, of Hamilton, who were pro- 
 prietors of a dairy. From that time aft- 
 . erward Mr. Bricker has provided for his 
 own support, and following his marriage 
 he took up his abode upon a farm oi 
 eighty acres in Prairie township. The 
 only improvements upon the farm were a 
 small house, which was surrounded by a 
 fence. In later years Mr. Bricker made 
 additions to and remodeled the house 
 built a barn, fenced his place and other- 
 wise improved it, transforming it into a 
 good property. After two years he sole 
 that property and bought seventy-sever 
 acres on section 34, Montebello township 
 He has a good set of farm buildings anc 
 his residence stands well back from th< 
 road with a fine lawn in front, adornec 
 with shade trees. It shows every evidence 
 of care and improvement, and Mr. Brickei 
 is numbered among the progressive agri- 
 culturists who keep in touch with moderr 
 ideas of farm life in all his work. The 
 fields are devoted to the cereals best adapt- 
 ed to soil and climate and he also raise; 
 Durham cows and Poland China hogs. 
 
 On the 5th of March, 1891, Mr. Brick 
 er was married to Miss Caroline Egley 
 who was bom in Warsaw, January i
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 663 
 
 1871, a daughter of George and Catherine 
 (Straling) Egley, who were natives of 
 Germany, but were married in Warsaw, 
 where they still reside. The paternal 
 grandparents were Henry and Catherine 
 Egley, who were likewise residents of 
 Warsaw, where the latter passed away in 
 1 88 1, and the former in 1886. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bricker have an inter- 
 esting family of two sons and a daugh- 
 ter: Marion J., bom December 7, 1891 ; 
 George H., September 10, 1895; and 
 Clara Ida, August 25, 1898. Politically 
 Mr. Bricker is a republican and he and 
 his family attend the German Congrega- 
 tional church, of which he is a member. 
 He has always displayed a resolute spirit 
 and strong determination in carrying on 
 his business interests, while in public mat- 
 ters he has given evidence of a progres- 
 sive spirit in the manner in which he has 
 supported all movements for the general 
 good. 
 
 DICK HERBERT DAVIS. 
 
 Dick Herbert Davis, carrying on gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising in Appa- 
 noose, his native township, was born Au- 
 gust 7, 1860. He was educated in the 
 Mound district school, in the high school 
 at Carthage and in the Carthage College, 
 which he attended for a year. His par- 
 ents were Amos and Harriet L. (An- 
 drus) Davis, the former a native of Ver- 
 mont, and the latter of Michigan. The fa- 
 ther came from the Green Mountain state 
 with a cousin to the eastern part of Illi- 
 nois and afterward went to St. Louis, 
 42 
 
 Missouri, where he entered the employ 
 of a firm that established a branch store 
 in Nauvoo. This he conducted for a 
 time, after which he purchased the prop- 
 erty. He was conducting the store at the 
 time the Mormons were driven from their 
 stronghold there. He afterward traded 
 his stock -of goods for land in Appanoose 
 township, and in 1849 ne went to Cali- 
 fornia, attracted by the discovery of gold 
 on the Pacific coast. He then returned by 
 way of the Cape of Good Hope but later 
 again went to California, where he re- 
 mained for some time. He was there 
 during the days of early mining excite- 
 ment and was familiar with all of the ex- 
 periences which are to be met in a district 
 before the organization of courts when the 
 lawless take advantage of the opportuni- 
 ties they offer them for the perpetratiori 
 of crime. At length returning to Han- 
 cock county he lived upon his farm until 
 death, which occurred March 22, 1872, 
 while his wife passed away in January, 
 1866. Their children were Ethan, who 
 died at the age of twenty-six years; 
 George E., of Rock' Creek township; 
 Dick H., of this review; and Chloe E., 
 the wife of F. H.- Weber, of Fort Madi- 
 son, Iowa. 
 
 Mr. Davis of this review made his 
 home on his father's farm until after the 
 latter's death, after which he spent ten 
 months in Quincy. He then returned to 
 the old homestead and remained with his 
 step-mother for several years although at 
 intervals he was occupied with business 
 duties elsewhere. At the age of seven- 
 teen years he began work on the farm of 
 Hugh Jackson, where he remained one 
 summer, and in the fall of 1879 he went
 
 664 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 to Kansas but on the 7th of June, 1880, 
 returned to Hancock county. Here he 
 began farming on his own account on one 
 hundred and twenty acres of land which 
 he owned on section 29, Pontoosuc town- 
 ship. Three years later he took up his 
 abode near North Platte, Nebraska, 
 where he followed ranching for three 
 years. He then secured a homestead of 
 one hundred and sixty acres which he 
 proved up and on the 2Oth of March, 
 1894, he rented that place and removed 
 to North Platte, where he worked for the 
 Union Pacific Railroad Company for ten 
 months. On the 2ist of January, 1895, 
 he again located on the ranch, where he 
 spent sixteen months, and on the 24th 
 of May, 1897, he again entered the em- 
 ploy of the railroad company, living at 
 North Platte for a year thereafter in that 
 capacity. He was afterward appointed 
 city marshal and served until May, 1900. 
 subsequnt to which time he was again an 
 employe of the Union Pacific Railroad 
 Company until June 21, 1902. Remov- 
 ing to Fort Madison he was employed by 
 the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail- 
 road Company from August 1 , 1902, until 
 April 6, 1903, when he rented a farm of 
 one hundred and twenty acres on section 
 25, Appanoose township, from Mrs. Sa- 
 rah Hoxworth. Here he carries on gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising. 
 
 Mr. Davis was married July 2, 1888, 
 in Perkins county, Nebraska, to Viola 
 M. Smith, who was born in Lawrence 
 county, Indiana, a daughter of James and 
 Euphemia (Nation) Smith. Their chil- 
 dren are: Chloe E., born June 21, 1889 ; 
 Marie F., January 28, 1900; and Mabel 
 A., March 17, 1905. 
 
 BERNHARD GIESE. 
 
 Bernhard Giese, a veteran of the Civil 
 war, who though not a native son of 
 America displayed a loyalty as great as 
 that of any of the soldiers who were born 
 under the stars and stripes, now makes 
 his home in Hamilton. His birth oc- 
 curred in Hanover, Germany, in 1828, 
 his parents being Bernhardt and Angela 
 (Schultz) Giese, also of the fatherland. 
 In early manhood Mr. Giese of this re- 
 view enlisted for service in the German 
 Army but after two years he deserted, 
 wishing to make his home in the "land 
 of the free." Crossing the Atlantic, he 
 took up his abode in Quincy, Illinois, 
 where he was employed in various ways 
 until after his marriage on the igth of 
 April, 1853, Miss Mary Ann Eising be- 
 coming his wife. She was born in Prus- 
 sia, March 27, 1835, a daughter of Bern- 
 hard and Elizabeth (Steining) Eising 
 both natives of Prussia. Her parents, 
 leaving the fatherland, sailed for New 
 Orleans, where they resided for two years 
 and in 1844 made their way northward to 
 Quincy, Illinois, where Mr. Eising was 
 employed as a laborer for seven years. 
 He then purchased a farm in Marion 
 county, Missouri, where he spent a year 
 and a half engaged in general agricultural 
 pursuits. On the expiration of that pe- 
 riod he returned to Quincy, where he 
 lived until 1865, when he removed to 
 Warsaw, Illinois, making his home there 
 until his death on the 8th of December, 
 1888, when he was ninety-three years of 
 age. His wife passed away September 
 12. 1884, when she was seventy-one 
 years of age.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 665 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Giese resided in different places, but their 
 children, seven in number, were all born 
 in Quincy. These are: Elizabeth, now 
 Mrs. W. A. Sherman, a widow; Bern- 
 hard, a resident of Quincy; Anthony; 
 Frank, who died at the age of twenty-two 
 years; Mollie, who died at the age of 
 eighteen years; Katie, the wife of Henry 
 Lefers, of Quincy, Illinois ; and one died 
 in infancy. 
 
 At the time of the Civil war Mr. Giese 
 responded to the country's call for troops, 
 enlisting in 1865 as a member of Com- 
 pany H, Forty-third Illinois Infantry. 
 He served for one year and was then 
 honorably discharged and in recognition 
 of conditions brought about by his mili- 
 tary service he has been granted a pension 
 of twelve dollars per month since 1892. 
 In 1895 he removed with his family to 
 Hamilton and purchased four lots in Oak- 
 wood, which is Safford's addition to the 
 city. Here he has since lived retired and 
 he has become well known here, gaining 
 many warm friends during the period 
 of his residence in Hancock county. 
 
 RUDOLPH WILSON ALVORD. 
 
 Rudolph Wilson Alvord, one of the 
 venerable citizens of Hamilton, who re- 
 ceives and merits the respect and good 
 will of all. was born in Niagara county. 
 New York, December 29, 1823. His 
 parents were Samuel and Ursula (Smith) 
 Alvord, natives of Massachusetts and 
 
 Connecticut respectively. His maternal 
 grandfather,- Oliver Smith, was a resident 
 of Canada and was a great trader, being 
 engaged in merchandising also for a num- 
 ber of years. The paternal grandfather 
 was a farmer, always resided in Massa- 
 chusetts and was a soldier of the Revolu- 
 tionary war. 
 
 Samuel Alvord, following the occupa- 
 tion of farming, was also a local preacher 
 in Massachusetts, where he resided to the 
 age of thirty-five years, when he removed 
 to Niagara county, New York. He was 
 ordained a minister of the Baptist church 
 at Casnovia, New York, and engaged in 
 preaching the gospel in that state until 
 1847, when he removed to Montebello 
 township, Hancock county, Illinois, 
 where he made his home until his death, 
 which occurred about 1873, when he had 
 reached the very advanced age of eighty- 
 eight years. He had long survived his 
 wife, who died about 1858. 
 
 Rudolph Wilson Alvord, the fifth in 
 order of birth in a family of ten children, 
 two sons and eight daughters, was reared 
 to farm life. He remained with his par- 
 ents until twenty-four years of age, when 
 he returned to Chautauqua county, New- 
 York, and was there married in May, 
 1852, to Miss Angeline Sullivan, whose 
 birth occurred in that county, her parents 
 being Rev. Benjamin and Amy Sullivan, 
 the former a minister of the Reformed 
 church. ' Following his marriage Mr. Al- 
 vord brought his bride to Hancock coun- 
 ty, Illinois, and unto them were born four 
 children, but three have passed away: 
 Benjamin, who died at the age of fifteen 
 months ; Charles, at the age of six years ; 
 and Wilson, at the age of sixteen years.
 
 666 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 The surviving member of the family is 
 Susanna, the wife of Amassa Hagar, of 
 Hamilton. 
 
 Following his return to Hancock coun- 
 ty Mr. Alvord lived upon the farm which 
 he owned in Montebello township, making 
 his home there for two years, when he 
 purchased another place of nine acres in 
 the eastern part of Hamilton. He has 
 since divided this and has sold off six 
 town lots. He began raising fruit and 
 after some years he sold his prairie farm. 
 Having lost his first wife in the fall of 
 1876, he was married to Julia (Johnson) 
 Chapin, a widow, who was born in Con- 
 necticut. They had two sons, Milton and 
 Horace Alvord, both residents of Illinois. 
 The wife and mother died in 1880 and in 
 1883 Mr. Alvord wedded Mary Jane Wil- 
 son at Keokuk, Iowa. She was bom in 
 Ohio and her death occurred in Hamilton, 
 April 17, 1902. Mr. Alvord's daughter 
 has been a widow since 1890 and has re- 
 sided with her father since the death of 
 her daughter in 1902. She was married 
 December 2, 1874, to Amassa Hagar, 
 who was born in Whitehall, Illinois, July 
 27, 1850. There were four children of 
 that marriage: Mary, who was born in 
 August, 1876, and died in infancy; Nel- 
 lie Belle, who was born December 2, 1878, 
 and died April 4, 1901. She was the 
 wife of Frank Worth, a native of Jersey- 
 ville, Illinois, and now a cigar maker at 
 Canton, Missouri. They had o'ne child, 
 Amassa Hagar Worth, born June 3, 1898. 
 Frances Ada was born July 4, 1883, and 
 the wife of George Janeway, cashier of 
 the bank at Skiatook, Indian Territory. 
 Angelina was born September 9, 1888. 
 The death of Mr. Hagar occurred March 
 
 22, 1890. He was engaged in the grain 
 and live stock business at Marysville, 
 Kansas, where he resided with his family 
 for many years, and after his demise Mrs. 
 Hagar continued to remain there until her 
 father lost his wife, when she returned 
 and has since lived with him in Hamilton. 
 Mr. Alvord has for a number of years 
 lived retired at his pleasant home in Ham- 
 ilton. He has led a busy and useful life 
 and his rest is well merited. There have 
 been no exciting chapters in his history, 
 but he has always been faithful to the du- 
 ties of citizenship and the ties of home and 
 wherever known is held in high esteem 
 in recognition of his genuine personal 
 worth. 
 
 WILLIAM F. TRAVERSE. 
 
 William F. Traverse, owning and op- 
 erating two hundred acres of land called 
 the Twin Hill Stock Farm, situated in 
 Appanoose, his native township, was born 
 February 27, 1868. His paternal grand- 
 father bore the name of Hiel Traverse, 
 and his father, William F. Traverse, who 
 was born in Kentucky, December 15, 
 1827, arrived in Appanoose township in 
 1847, where he purchased land, and was 
 here married May 4, 1865, to Miss Emily 
 Willsey, who was born April 2. 1842. and 
 her father, Peter Willsey, was numbered 
 among the very early settlers of this 
 county. William F. Traverse owned 
 three hundred and twenty acres of land 
 on section 26. Appanoose township, and 
 he likewise owned two other tracts, one of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 667 
 
 twenty and the other containing sixty 
 acres, situated near Niota. His land was 
 all wild and unimproved when it came 
 into his possession but he developed and 
 cultivated the fields, and erected a fine 
 home and many substantial outbuildings, 
 thus making his farm one of the valuable 
 properties of this section of the state. He 
 was thus actively and helpfully identified 
 with much of the improvement and up- 
 building of the county in its early pioneer 
 development. In addition to his farm- 
 ing interests he also engaged quite exten- 
 sively in the raising of draft horses. In 
 his family were three sons and one daugh- 
 ter, namely: John Q., who was born 
 June 23, 1866, was married and resided 
 in Quincy, Illinois, there passing away 
 November 8, 1897. William F. is the 
 next of the family. Isaac W.. who was 
 born October 22, 1872, is a physician and 
 surgeon, practicing at Fort Madison, 
 Iowa. Emily J., born December 13, 1876, 
 is now the wife of C. L. W. Silver- 
 schmidt, and resides in San Francisco, 
 California. The mother of this family 
 died June 29, 1878, and her remains were 
 interred in Tull cemetery in Pontoosuc 
 township. The father 'survived until Oc- 
 tober 4, 1901, when he was laid to rest by 
 the side of his wife. 
 
 After the death of the parents the land 
 was divided among the children, and our 
 subject and his brother, Isaac W., pur- 
 chased the interest of their sister in the 
 estate, so that William F. Traverse came 
 into possession of two hundred acres of 
 the old homestead property, and he like- 
 wise owns sixty-eight acres on section 
 9 and ten acres of timber land on sec- 
 tion 15. 
 
 William F. Traverse received liberal 
 educational advantages, having supple- 
 mented his early education by a course 
 of study at the Fort Madison Business 
 College and also at the Northern Illinois 
 Normal School, at Dixon. At the age of 
 twenty-two years, having completed his 
 education, he engaged in the fire and life 
 insurance business at Fort Madison, con- 
 tinuing in that business for four years. 
 Subsequent to that time he and his 
 brother, John Q., now deceased, engaged 
 in the wholesale and retail shoe business, 
 having an establishment in Medina Tem- 
 ple, at the corner of Jackson and Fifth 
 avenue, Chicago. A year later he dis- 
 posed of his shoe business and went to 
 Joplin, Missouri, where he conducted a 
 steam drill for two years, and following 
 that period he then for a year represented 
 the Joplin Machine Works on the road, 
 selling mining and other machinery in 
 the state of Missouri. His father's health 
 having failed, Mr. Traverse then returned 
 again to the old home farm and assumed 
 its management until his father's death, 
 after which, as stated, he came into pos- 
 session of two hundred acres of the old 
 homestead property, known as the Twin 
 Hill Stock Farm, being so called from 
 the fact that the house stands on one hill, 
 while the barn is located on an opposite 
 hill. In addition to carrying on general 
 farming he is also engaged in raising 
 Chester White hogs, raising about one 
 hundred and fifty annually. 
 
 On the 8th of November, 1901, Mr. 
 Traverse secured as a companion and 
 helpmate Miss Jennie O. Hobbs, a daugh- 
 ter of Leonard Hobbs. She was born, 
 reared and educated in Appanoose town-
 
 668 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ship, and by her marriage has become 
 the mother of one daughter, Emily J., 
 whose birth occurred September 5, 1902. 
 Politically Mr. Traverse is a democrat, 
 while his religious faith is that of the 
 Presbyterian church. He is a Mason, be- 
 longing to the lodge at Pontoosuc, while 
 he also holds membership with the Mod- 
 ern Woodmen camp at Fort Madison, 
 Iowa. 
 
 JOHN M. BERRY. 
 
 John M. Berry, better known as J. 
 M. Berry in Carthage, where he has long 
 made his home, was born in Macoupin 
 county, Illinois, October 31, 1834, his par- 
 ents being Jesse and Mary (Collins) 
 Berry, both of whom were natives of 
 Kentucky. In an early day they removed 
 from that state to Macoupin county, 
 where the father engaged in farming until 
 his death, which ocurred when he was 
 sixty-nine years of age. His widow 
 afterward removed to Carthage, where 
 her last days were passed. Both were 
 members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 church. In their family were eight chil- 
 dren but only two are now living : J. M. ; 
 and Mary S., the latter the wife of Wil- 
 liam Clark, of Carlinville, Illinois. One 
 son of the family, David M. Berry, served 
 for four years as a soldier in the Civil 
 war. 
 
 J. M. Berry is indebted to the public 
 sch'ool system of Macoupin county for the 
 early educational privileges he enjoyed 
 and when not occupied with his text-books 
 
 he engaged in farming upon his father's 
 land. His attention was given to gen- 
 eral agricultural pursuits until 1861, so 
 that he lived upon the home farm for five 
 years after his marriage. In 1861 he 
 came to Carthage and, owning a team, he 
 engaged in teaming for six years. He 
 then engaged in the grocery business, 
 which he successfully followed for a 
 quarter of a century and was also en- 
 gaged with the coal and grain trade, giv- 
 ing his attention, however, more largely 
 to the coal business. Later he conducted 
 a jewelry store in Carthage for two years, 
 but during the past six years has lived 
 retired. 
 
 Mr. Berry was married January 24, 
 1856, to Miss Mary Crawford, who was 
 born in Macoupin county, Illinois, De-> 
 cember 22, 1827, her parents being Joseph 
 and Rebecca (Ledford) Crawford. Her 
 father was a farmer and for many years 
 was engaged in the tilling of the soil 
 in Macoupin county, both he and his wif* 
 coming to Illinois from Tennessee at an 
 early day. They were both prominent 
 and influential members of the Methodist 
 church, in which he filled nearly all of 
 the offices. In their family were ten chil- 
 dren, of whom three have passed away. 
 Those still living are: S. M., a resident 
 of La Plata, Missouri ; Mary, now Mrs. 
 Berry; Jesse, of Beloit, Kansas; Joseph, 
 of Gerard, Illinois; James, of Palmyra 
 Illinois; and Jonathan and Elijah, who 
 are also residents of Palmyra. Five sons 
 in that family served in the Civil war 
 for four full years, these being John, S. 
 M., Jesse, James and Joseph Crawford. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Berry have been 
 born eight children, of whom three died
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 669 
 
 in infancy, while the others reached years 
 of maturity. L. \V. Berry, the eldest sur- 
 viving member of the family, married 
 Fannie Crawford, lives in Carthage and 
 has three children : Freddie Corine, 
 Kenneth and Leonard Coleman. Naomi 
 F. is the wife of Walter VanZile, of Car- 
 thage, Illinois, and they have five chil- 
 dren: Roy H., Leon, Jesse, Mary and 
 Signa. Duwane G. married Hattie 
 Noyes, of Carthage, and has one child, 
 Catherine. Rosa B. is the wife of 
 Charles McCool, of Jacksonville, Illinois, 
 and has four children. Oscar V. married 
 Mary E. Frazier, by whom he has one 
 child, J. M. Berry, named for his grand- 
 father. Their home is in Peoria, where 
 Oscar V. Perry is an optician. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Berry are devoted mem- 
 bers of the Methodist church, of which 
 he has served as trustee and steward for 
 many years. His early political affiliation 
 was given to the Republican party but he 
 is now a prohibitionist, having long been 
 a stalwart supporter of the cause of tem- 
 perance. In 1892 he purchased his pres- 
 ent cottage on Main street and is com- 
 fortably settled in life. On the 24th of 
 January, 1906, he and his wife celebrated 
 their golden wedding, all of their children 
 and the greater number of their grand- 
 children being gathered around the fam- 
 ily board, while a reception was held for 
 them in the Methodist church. It was 
 largely attended and the event was a very 
 happy one. This worthy couple well de- 
 serve the esteem and admiration which 
 are so uniformly accorded them. Mr. 
 Berry has lived in Carthage for over 
 forty-five years, coming here when the 
 city was but a village. He has witnessed 
 
 many changes here and throughout the 
 county and has an intimate knowledge of 
 the events which have molded the history 
 and shaped the policy of this part of the 
 state. He had no special advantages in 
 his youth nor any superior educational 
 privileges and his life has been character- 
 ized by steady and determined purpose 
 and by unimpeachable integrity. In man- 
 ner he is modest arid quiet and is an en- 
 tertaining conversationalist. He devoted 
 much time to reading until the failure of 
 his eyesight and is a well informed man, 
 who, having passed the seventy-second 
 milestone on life's journey, is now en- 
 joying a well-earned rest at his home in 
 Carthage. 
 
 WESLEY WILLIAMS. 
 
 The name of Williams, borne by suc- 
 cessive generations, is inseparably inter- 
 woven with the history of Carthage and 
 Hancock county and he whose name in- 
 troduces this review was one of the pio- 
 neers of this part of the state, arriving 
 here from Kentucky in 1828. He was 
 one of a family of twelve children, most 
 of whom became residents of Illinois, 
 where many of their descendants are still 
 found. Wesley Williams was born in 
 Bourbon county, Kentucky, the family 
 emigrating from Virginia to the Blue 
 Grass state. It is probable that they are 
 descendants of Roger Williams and at 
 all events it is definitely known that the 
 family has been represented in America 
 through many generations, the ancestry
 
 670 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 being traced, .ba,gk to early colonial days. 
 Reared in the state of his nativity Wes- 
 ley Williams was there married and 
 brought two children with him on his re- 
 moval from Kentucky to Illinois. His 
 second wife was Mrs. Ruth Scobey and 
 they lived for a time at what is known 
 as the old town of Montebello, now de- 
 serted. There their first child was bom, 
 after which they removed to Carthage, 
 where occurred the birth of their second 
 child, Wesley C. Williams, who bore the 
 distinction of being the first child born 
 at the new county seat. 
 
 For a number of years Mr. Williams 
 operated a mill on Crooked creek, this 
 being one of the first grist mills of the 
 county and an old landmark. He was 
 one of the prominent and influential resi- 
 dents of the county at an early day, fill- 
 ing various positions of public trust, to 
 which he was called by his fellow towns- 
 men, who recognized his worth and his 
 fidelity to duty. He acted as circuit clerk 
 and recorder from 1828 until 1841 and 
 later was judge of the county commis- 
 sioners' court. Removing to Elvaston, 
 Illinois, he occupied the position of post- 
 master at that place. His political alle- 
 giance was given to the Whig party until 
 its dissolution, when he joined the ranks 
 of the new Republican party. He spent his 
 last years with his children, passing away 
 in 1870 after a residence of more than 
 four decades in Illinois. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and 
 his life was permeated by his Christian 
 faith. He was a typical pioneer settler 
 of courageous spirit and earnest purpose, 
 who bravely met the difficulties and hard- 
 ships of pioneer life and aided in plant- 
 
 ing the seeds of civilization here. He 
 recognized the possibilities of the county, 
 labored earnestly for its development and 
 left the impress of his individuality for 
 good upon public thought and action. 
 
 WESLEY C. WILLIAMS. 
 
 Wesley C. Williams has the distinction 
 of being the first white child born in Car- 
 thage, his natal day being August 13, 
 1833. The old family home, in which 
 he first opened his eyes to the light of 
 day, stood near the present site of the 
 Presbyterian church. His father was 
 Wesley Williams, an honored pioneer set- 
 tler, who is mentioned elsewhere in this 
 volume. His education was acquired in 
 such schools as were found in pioneer 
 communities and when about eighteen 
 years of age he went to California, at- 
 tracted by the discovery of gold on the 
 Pacific coast. He made the overland trip, 
 his father fitting out an ox team for that 
 purpose and there he carried on freighting 
 business between Shasta City and Yreka 
 with good success. He operated six 
 mule teams and had a large and profitable 
 business. He was recognized as one of 
 the prominent citizens of his part of the 
 state in an early day and aided in its 
 preliminary development and improve- 
 ment. Remaining in the west for several 
 years, he returned to Hancock county 
 about 1858 and began farming in Prairie 
 township, where he secured a tract of 
 raw land, on which not a furrow had

 
 JOHN W. WILLIAMS
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 671 
 
 been turned nor an improvement made. 
 There he carried on the work of the 
 fields for some time but afterward re- 
 moved to Bear Creek township, where 
 he prospered in his undertakings. 
 
 While living in Bear Creek township 
 Mr. Williams was married on the 6th of 
 June, 1860, to Miss Mary E. Moore, also 
 a native of this county and a daughter of 
 Andrew and Abigal (Tweed) Moore, 
 pioneer residents who came to Hancock 
 county from Delaware in 1836. Mr. 
 Williams continued his farming opera- 
 tions in Bear Creek township until after 
 the outbreak of the Civil war, when, in 
 response to his country's need he offered 
 his services to the government and became 
 a member of Company G, Eighteenth Illi- 
 nois Cavalry. While serving with that 
 command he was captured at Harper's 
 Ferry and after being held a prisoner for 
 a time was paroled and later honorably 
 discharged. At the close of his military 
 service he resumed farming in Bear Creek- 
 township, where he resided until 1871, 
 bringing his fields under a high state of 
 cultivation and making many improve- 
 ments upon his farm. In the year men- 
 tioned, however, he put aside agricultural 
 pursuits and removed to Carthage, where 
 he engaged in the livery business until 
 1873. He then located in Prarie town- 
 ship, where he continued farming until 
 his death on the 4th of November, 1891. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born 
 six children, two of whom died in infancy, 
 while four are yet living: Homer G., 
 who is cashier of the People's State 
 Bank of Hamilton, Illinois; Judge J. W r . 
 Williams, county judge of Hancock- 
 county; Archibald C., a resident farmer 
 
 of Prairie township and a member of the 
 county board of supervisors, of which 
 he has also been chairman ; and Robert, 
 who is a practicing physician at Alden, 
 Minnesota. All of the sons have become 
 prominent in the various walks of life 
 which they have chosen. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Williams was 
 an earnest democrat, always supporting 
 the candidates of the party save when at 
 the time of the Civil war he cast his ballot 
 for Abraham Lincoln. He was supervi- 
 sor from Bear Creek township, also from 
 Carthage and Prairie township and for 
 one year was chairman of the board. In 
 1886 he was elected to represent his dis- 
 trict in the state legislature and served 
 through the ensuing term. In 1888 he 
 was again nominated by the democracy 
 of the old twenty-fourth district but was 
 defeated owing to the fact that this is a 
 strong republican district. No one ques- 
 tioned his ability nor his fidelity in any 
 office which he filled. He was a man of 
 honor in public and private life, reliable 
 and enterprising in business and progres- 
 sive in citizenship. He attended and con- 
 tributed to the support of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Wil- 
 liams, who is now living in Carthage with 
 her brother, W. H. Moore, is an active 
 and faithful member. 
 
 JUDGE JOHN WESLEY WILLIAMS. 
 
 With few opportunities or advantages 
 that he has not secured for himself Judge
 
 672 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Williams has made steady advancement in 
 those lines of life demanding intellectu- 
 ality, business ability and fidelity and to- 
 day commands a respect and esteem not 
 only of his community but throughout 
 the state. He has won prominence at the 
 bar and is serving as county judge of 
 Hancock county. His labors have been 
 as well a source of direct and immediate 
 benefit to the county along many lines of 
 progress and improvement, much of his 
 work having been done without any 
 thought of remuneration but solely for the 
 love of the work. 
 
 Born in Bear Creek township, this 
 county, on the i8th of November, 1865, 
 he is a representative of one of its old- 
 est and most prominent families. His fa- 
 ther was Wesley C. Williams, the first 
 white child born in Carthage, mention 
 of whom is made on another page of this 
 work. Judge Williams acquired his early 
 education in Carthage and in Prairie 
 township and in early manhood engaged 
 in teaching school. He also attended 
 teachers' institutes and continued private 
 study at home, alternating his time be- 
 tween teaching school and farm work un- 
 til 1888. In that year he entered the 
 office of the firm of Manier & Miller to 
 read law and also attended the Union 
 College of Law, the law department of 
 the Northwestern University, being ad- 
 mitted to practice in 1891 on examination 
 before the appellate court at Mount Ver- 
 non. Returning to Carthage he entered 
 into partnership with his former precept- 
 ors, Messrs. Manier and Miller, under the 
 firm style of Manier, Miller & Williams. 
 This soon became recognized as one of the 
 leading law firms of the county, having 
 
 the best library in this part of the state 
 and usually representing either the de- 
 fense or prosecution of every important 
 litigated interest tried in the courts of the 
 district. 
 
 In April, 1891, Judge Williams was 
 elected city attorney and filled the office 
 for three terms. He continued in pri- 
 vate law practice with the firm of Manier 
 & Miller and following the death of the 
 senior partner, Mr. Manier, in 1897, the 
 firm of Miller & Williams was formed 
 and continued to enjoy a large and dis- 
 tinctively representative clientage. In 
 1902 Mr. Williams was nominated and 
 elected county judge of Hancock county, 
 at which time he withdrew from the part- 
 nership. He has filled the office with 
 credit to himself and satisfaction to the 
 general public, his decisions being strict- 
 ly fair and impartial. He has proven him- 
 self correct in his understanding and adap- 
 tation of the law and is a worthy con- 
 servator of the rights of the people who 
 must look to those of position for the 
 protection of their rights and liberties of 
 life and property. Judge Williams also 
 continues in private practice aside from 
 the duties of his judicial position. He 
 has moreover exerted a wide influence in 
 public affairs, standing in support of im- 
 provement and advancement at all times. 
 He served as a member of the city coun- 
 cil in 1901-02, during which time he was 
 instrumental in securing the passage of a 
 measure for paving the streets, making 
 the first motion in favor of such an or- 
 dinance. He is a member of the board 
 of education and it was in great measure 
 due to his efforts that the new high school 
 building, the finest building in the county
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 673 
 
 of its kind, was erected, while in other 
 ways he has stood for the betterment of 
 the schools and the upbuilding of a high 
 standard of public instruction. His po- 
 litical allegiance is given to the Dem- 
 ocratic party and he is an earnest, log- 
 ical and convincing speaker upon many 
 of the questions and issues of the day in 
 the campaigns. 
 
 Judge Williams was married June 27, 
 1894, to Miss Adda Prentice, a daughter 
 of Luke P. and Lydia A. (Quimby) 
 Prentice, her father having been one of 
 the early settlers of the county and later 
 a resident of Carthage. Judge and Mrs. 
 Williams have a daughter, Miriam E., 
 and a son, Wesley Prentice. They are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and occupy a pleasant and attract- 
 ive home on Jackson street. He is a 
 prominent Mason, belonging to Hancock 
 lodge, No. 20, Ancient Free and Accept- 
 ed Masons, in which he has been secre- 
 tary and senior deacon and he is likewise 
 a member of Carthage chapter, No. 33, 
 Royal Arch Masons, and the Order of the 
 Eastern Star, of which he has been 
 worthy patron. He is also a charter 
 member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, 
 of which he is past chancellor commander 
 and belongs to the Woodmen and other 
 fraternal organizations. His entire life 
 has been passed in Carthage and his rec- 
 ord is another verification of the assertion 
 of the German philosopher and poet that 
 "merit and success go linked together." 
 He has made a lasting impression upon 
 the bar of the county both for legal abil- 
 ity of a high order and for the individu- 
 ality of a personal character which im- 
 presses itself upon a community. 
 
 ELI D. GILLHAM. 
 
 Eli D. Gillham, who was numbered 
 among the California miners that flocked 
 to the Pacific coast following the discov- 
 ery of gold there, and who in Hancock 
 county is living the more quiet life of a 
 prosperous agriculturist, now makes his 
 home in Warsaw. He is no longer en- 
 gaged in the active business duties, for 
 his former toil and capable management 
 brought him a competence sufficient to 
 enable him to enjoy in rest and quiet the 
 fruits of former years. Born in Camp- 
 bell county, Kentucky, April 22, 1832, 
 he is descended from old southern fami- 
 lies. His paternal grandfather, Robinson 
 Gillham, was a native of Charleston, 
 South Carolina, whence he removed to 
 Kentucky, where his son, Robert Gillham, 
 was born. The latter, having arrived at 
 adult age, was married in that state to 
 Elizabeth Walker, who was born in Ken- 
 tucky, and was a daughter of John and 
 Mary Walker, natives of Maryland, their 
 birthplace being in the vicinity of Balti- 
 more. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gillham 
 were farming people in the Blue Grass 
 state until the spring of 1836, when they 
 started for Illinois, traveling by the Ohio 
 and Mississippi river route and arriving 
 at Warsaw on the nth of April. Mr. 
 Gillham purchased one hundred and six- 
 ty-five acres of land in Walker township, 
 of which about sixty acres was timber 
 land, while the remainder was unculti- 
 vated prairie. Deer were so numerous 
 that venison was a common dish upon the 
 pioneer table and there were many wolves, 
 panthers and other wild animals in the 
 forests, while Indians were yet frequently
 
 6/4 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 seen. Mr. Gillham built a log cabin in 
 the midst of the green woods and reso- 
 lutely undertook the task of clearing and 
 improving his place. Year by year saw 
 the fields placed under the plow and as 
 opportunity offered he added to his land 
 until he owned about six hundred acres 
 all in Walker township. He kept about 
 eighty acres in timber but improved all 
 of the prairie land, bringing his fields 
 under a high state of cultivation. There 
 he lived until 1873. when he sold his 
 property in Walker township and removed 
 to Monroe county, Missouri, where he 
 purchased about three hundred acres of 
 land, making his .home thereon until his 
 death in April, 1879. His wife had 
 passed away in October, 1856. 
 
 Eli D. Gillham, the seventh in their 
 family of six sons and seven daughters, 
 of whom two sons and three daughters 
 are yet living, spent his boyhood days 
 upon the farm in Walker township, hav- 
 ing been a little lad of four years when 
 brought by his parents to Illinois. The 
 district schools near by afforded him his 
 educational privileges and he received 
 ample training in the work of the fields, 
 assisting each summer in the task of plow- 
 ing, planting and harvesting upon the old 
 homestead until 1850, when in company 
 with his brother John, he started for Cali- 
 fornia, crossing the plains with a team 
 of horses. They left home on the loth 
 of April and after a long and wearisome 
 trip across the hot stretches of sand and 
 over the mountain passes arrived at Hang- 
 town, now called Placerville. There they 
 engaged in placer mining and Mr. Gill- 
 ham of this review remained for two 
 years but his brother returned home prior 
 
 to that time. Eli Gillham made the re- 
 turn trip by way of the isthmus route, 
 riding from Panama to Chagres on a 
 pony, and floated down Chagres river in a 
 small boat to Gargonia, thence by rail to 
 Aspinwall, now Colon, to New Orleans 
 and the Mississippi river, arriving event- 
 ually at Warsaw. He came back broke. 
 He later rented a farm in Walker town- 
 ship for five years, and with the capital 
 which he had saved from his earnings 
 during that period, he made purchase of 
 eighty acres on section 9, Walker town- 
 ship, where he lived from 1858 until 
 April, 1863. In that year he and his 
 brother Robeson, and his brother-in-law 
 drove twenty-six head of horses across the 
 plains to the Pacific coast. After reach- 
 ing California they sold their stock and 
 soon returned by way of the isthmus, 
 which they crossed by rail. They then 
 bought steamer tickets for New York but 
 encountering very severe weather during 
 the voyage they left the ship at Fortress 
 Monroe, Virginia, proceeded thence to 
 Baltimore and on home. On again reach- 
 ing Hancock county Mr. Gillham pur- 
 chased the old homestead farm from his 
 father and resided there continuously 
 until March 15, 1906, when he purchased 
 a residence in Warsaw, where he is now 
 living retired. He still, however, owns 
 three hundred and eighty-four acres of 
 valuable farming land, of which one hun- 
 dred and eighty-three acres lies in Wythe 
 township. 
 
 On the 5th of January, 1858, Mr. Gill- 
 ham was married to Sarah Woodworth, 
 who was born in Rocky Run township, 
 this county, a daughter of Hiram and 
 Polly (Glenn) \Voodworth, natives of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 675 
 
 Kentucky. The children born of this 
 marriage are: Charles M., who was 
 born in December, 1858, and died in Feb- 
 ruary, 1875; Belle, the wife of Isaac 
 Baker, of Wythe township; Elizabeth, 
 who was born August 22, 1862, and died 
 November 1 1 , 1 873 ; Emma died in in- 
 fancy ; and Ida, at home. 
 
 Mr. Gillham is a stalwart democrat and 
 has been honored with the various town- 
 ship offices, the duties of which he has 
 discharged with promptness and fidelity, 
 indicative of his loyal and patriotic citizen- 
 ship. He is a self-made man whose pros- 
 perity is justly attributed to his own la- 
 bors and perseverance. He has had an 
 interesting and varied life in many ways, 
 owing to his journeys across the plains 
 ere the building of railroads and his resi- 
 dence upon the Pacific coast during the 
 days of early mining excitement. While 
 living more quietly in Hancock county 
 he has made a creditable record as a busi- 
 ness man, whose close application and un- 
 remitting attention to his interests have 
 been the source of a gratifying success. 
 
 In 1890 Mr. Gillham and his wife took 
 another trip to the Pacific coast, taking in 
 Washington, Oregon and California, vis- 
 iting with relatives in all of those states, 
 going by Northern Pacific and returned 
 by Southern Pacific. They were gone all 
 winter. 
 
 WILLIAM ROSWELL FAIRCHILD. 
 
 William Roswell Fairchild is a factor 
 in business circles in Warsaw, where 
 
 he has lived for years, and where he 
 is dealing in coal. He was born eleven 
 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio, on the 23d 
 of January, 1840, and is a son of Levi 
 and Dierdama (Barber) Fairchild, who, 
 when their son was a lad of nine years, 
 removed from Ohio to Augusta, Hancock 
 county, Illinois. There the father pur- 
 chased eighty acres of land and began 
 fanning, making his home upon that place 
 until his death, which occurred in 1869. 
 His wife also died on the old homestead 
 property in the winter of 1897-98. 
 
 It was at Augusta that Mr. Fairchild 
 acquired his education in the subscription 
 and the free schools. He was reared to 
 the occupation of farming, which he fol- 
 lowed continuously until twenty-two years 
 of age, when he. put aside all business and 
 personal considerations, and on the 7th 
 of August, 1862, offered his services to 
 the government, enlisting as a member 
 of Company H, Seventy-second Illinois 
 Infantry at Augusta. With others he was 
 sent to fill out a regiment at Chicago, 
 where he was mustered into service. He 
 did active duty at Vicksburg, Nashville, 
 Franklin, Mobile and Champion Hills. 
 At the last he saw the ground covered 
 with the bodies of the slain, charge after 
 charge being made, the fight lasting for 
 hours, continuing with undetermined fe- 
 rocity. The regiment to which he be- 
 longed was assigned to the Army of the 
 Tennessee, subsequently to the Army of 
 the Cumberland and afterward to the De- 
 partment of the Gulf. When he had 
 served for three years Mr. Fairchild was 
 honorably discharged at Chicago and was 
 mustered out at Vicksburg. He saw 
 much arduous military services, and with
 
 6;6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 a creditable record as a soldier returned 
 to his home. 
 
 Again making his way to Augusta, Mr. 
 Fairchild remained there for eighteen 
 months and then went to St. Louis, where 
 he. worked for the Pacific Railroad Com- 
 pany as car loader for a year and a half. 
 In 1868 he came to Warsaw, where, in 
 connection with his two brothers, he pur- 
 chased a threshing outfit which they op- 
 erated for three years, when he sold out. 
 He then turned his attention to teaming 
 and farming and for twenty-five years he 
 was connected with the coal trade, han- 
 dling both hard and soft coal, in which 
 connection he has enjoyed a large busi- 
 ness. His sheds are located at the To- 
 ledo, Peoria & Warsaw station and he has 
 a capacity of one hundred cars of both 
 kinds of coal annually. 
 
 Mr. Fairchild was married in St. Louis 
 to Miss Anna D. Ruger, a daughter of 
 Martin and Anna Ruger. While he is 
 in sympathy with the principles of the Re- 
 publican party he does not feel himself 
 bound by party ties nor does he always 
 vote for its candidates at local elections 
 where no issue is involved. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Grand Army post at Warsaw, 
 in which he has held most of the offices, 
 being sergeant-major at the present time. 
 He is likewise connected with the Mod- 
 ern Woodmen camp at Warsaw, of which 
 he was one of the organizers and for 
 seven years he acted as presiding officer 
 and has held several other offices there- 
 in. He is as loyal to his country in days 
 of peace as in days of war and he made 
 'a most creditable record when on south- 
 ern battlefields he followed the stars and 
 stripes. 
 
 W. R. HARRIS. 
 
 Success is usually a criterion of indi- 
 vidual ability and is certainly so in the 
 case of Mr. Harris who, without specia 
 pecuniary or family advantages at the out- 
 set of his career, has worked his waj 
 steadily upward, making a business recorc 
 which any man might be proud to pos- 
 sess. He has never made engagement! 
 that he has not filled or incurred obliga 
 tions that he has not met, and thus he 
 has won the respect and admiration of hi: 
 fellowmen, while at the same time he ha: 
 gained a goodly measure of prosperit) 
 and is now one of the large landowner: 
 of the county. He was born in Indiana 
 in 1837, a son of John and Ruth (Aid- 
 ridge) Harris, the former a native ol 
 Tennessee and the latter of North Caro- 
 lina. The father was a grain and lumbei 
 merchant and came to Illinois in 1844 
 settling in Schuyler county, while latei 
 he removed to Augusta, where he con- 
 tinued to deal in grain and lumber foi 
 ten or fifteen years prior to his death 
 In the family were nine children but onh 
 three are now living: Francis M., a 
 resident of Augusta ; Tabatha E., the wife 
 of E. J. Sims, of Brookfield, Missouri 
 and W. R., of this review. 
 
 In the public schools of Schuylei 
 county W. R. Harris acquired his educa- 
 tion. He remained upon the home farn 
 until he attained his majority, assisting 
 in the work of field and meadow and ther 
 went to Colorado, where he engaged ir 
 mining. He afterward proceeded west- 
 ward to Oregon, where he followed the 
 same business and later he was in Idaho 
 spending seven years altogether in the
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 677 
 
 west. On the expiration of that period 
 he returned to Chili township, Hancock 
 county, Illinois, where he resided for 
 thirty years as a farmer and stock- raiser. 
 During that period he made all of the 
 improvements upon his farm but when 
 three decades had passed he sold the home 
 place. He still owns, however, between 
 six and seven hundred acres of very rich 
 and valuable land, from which he derives 
 a most excellent income. His investments 
 have been judiciously made and bring him 
 therefore a good financial return. Tn 
 1904 he erected an elegant residence in 
 the south part of Bowen and there he 
 now resides. The home is modern in all 
 of its appointments and is one of the most 
 attractive dwellings of the town. Since 
 that time Mr. Harris has lived retired 
 and is enjoying in well merited rest the 
 fruits of his former toil. 
 
 On the 3 ist of October, 1866, was cel- 
 ebrated the marriage of W. R. Harris and 
 Miss Mary E. Hall, who was born in 
 Virginia, in 1842, a daughter of Thomas 
 and Edith (Martin) Hall, both of whom 
 were natives of Virginia. The father 
 was a farmer by occupation and removed 
 to Hancock county in 1851, settling in 
 Augusta township. His political views 
 endorsed the principles of democracy, and 
 both he and his wife were active and 
 devoted members of the Methodist 
 church, in which he held various offices. 
 In their family were ten children, of 
 whom seven are living, namely : Louisa, 
 the wife of Dr. Benjamin Thayer, of Kan- 
 sas ; Mrs. Harris : Bessie, the wife of 
 Elijah Knotts, of Missouri ; Miss Kate 
 Hall, of Bowen : James W., who is living 
 in Topeka, Kansas; Howard L., of 
 
 Bowen ; Mrs. Lillie Callison, a widow, 
 living in Kirksville, Missouri. 
 
 Mr. Harris holds membership with the 
 Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows 
 lodge in Bowen and has passed all of 
 the chairs in the latter. He votes with 
 the democracy but has never aspired to 
 office and has served in no public posi- 
 tions of that character save that he was 
 school director, and is a man who in all 
 life's relations has commanded and en- 
 joyed the respect and confidence of those 
 with whom he has been associated. He 
 has worked earnestly and persistently for 
 what he has accomplished, and in the 
 evening of his days is surrounded by all 
 of the comforts that go to make life worth 
 living. His friends entertain for him the 
 warmest esteem because of his pleasant, 
 jovial manner and those qualities which 
 ever render any individual popular. 
 
 LUCIAN W. CRAVENS. 
 
 Lucian W. Cravens, carrying on gen- 
 eral farming in St. Mary's township, was 
 born in Woodford county, Kentucky, in 
 1865, and is the youngest living of the 
 seven children of James D. and Catheryn 
 (Blackford) Cravens, who were likewise 
 natives of Kentucky and members of the 
 Presbyterian church, the former born 
 January 24, 1829, and the latter May 
 15, 1831. In the spring of 1877 he be- 
 came a resident of McDonough county, 
 Illinois, where he died June 30, 1901, his 
 remains being interred in St. Mary's cem-
 
 6;8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 etery. His wife had passed away in Ken- 
 tucky, January 5, 1867, and was there laid 
 to rest. Only five of their children are 
 living: Josie, the wife of Robert Sacre, 
 of Kentucky ; Xannie, the widow of Silas 
 Aubrey, living in Plymouth; Thomas, of 
 Missouri; Bennie, wife of Henry Reans, 
 of Christian county ; and Lucian W. 
 The last named was a youth of twelve 
 years when brought by his father to Illi- 
 nois, and in the schools of McDonough 
 county he was educated. He remained 
 with his father until seventeen years of 
 age. after which he lived with his sister, 
 Mrs. Aubrey, and worked upon the farm 
 for some time. He made arrangements 
 for having a home of his own by his mar- 
 riage, in 1889, to Miss Phoebe Halbert, 
 who was born in this county in 1871, a 
 daughter of Silas and Loretta (Hobart). 
 Halbert, the former born in Springfield, 
 Illinois, in 1831, and the latter near Car- 
 thage, in 1835. Mr. Halbert was brought 
 to Hancock county in 1834 and resided 
 in Hancock township until a few years 
 prior to his death, which occurred Feb- 
 ruary 3, 1905. His wife died on the 5th 
 of the same month and both were buried 
 in St. Mary's cemetery. They were faith- 
 ful members of the Baptist church and the 
 latter was a representative of a prominent 
 pioneer family of this part of the state. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Halbert were born 
 seven children : Mary, who died twenty- 
 six years ago, when nineteen years of 
 age; Helen, the wife of Robert Huey, a 
 resident of Plymouth ; Francis, who died 
 in 1875, at the age of nine years ; William, 
 a Baptist minister living at Cascade. 
 Iowa ; Mrs. Cravens ; Walter, who is liv- 
 ing on the old homestead in St. Mary's 
 
 township; and an infant daughter who 
 died unnamed. E. L. Hobart, a brother 
 of Mrs. Cravens' mother, was a soldier 
 of the Civil war from the beginning until 
 its close. The Hobarts are a well known 
 and prominent family of this county and 
 Mrs. Polly Hobart, a great-aunt of Mrs. 
 Cravens, is now living in Webster, and 
 has reached the very venerable age of 
 ninety-eight years. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hobart were born in log houses and lived 
 in a log cabin for long years after their 
 marriage. They were thoroughly fa- 
 miliar with all of the experiences of pio- 
 neer life and the name is inseparably in- 
 terwoven with the early history of the 
 county. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cravens have been 
 born five children and the family circle 
 yet remains unbroken by the hand of 
 death : Ruey, who was born September 
 13, 1890, and is now a student in Ply- 
 mouth school; Homer, born June 16, 
 1892; Clara, October 21, 1895; Marion, 
 February 17. 1898; and Leslie, March 
 20, 1901. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Cravens 
 settled in Hancock township, where he 
 lived for three years, and in 1893 he pur- 
 chased seventy-seven acres on section 2, 
 St. Mary's township, on which stood a 
 brick residence. He has since erected a 
 barn and other substantial outbuildings 
 and has added nearly ninety acres to his 
 home, thus making substantial and valu- 
 able improvements upon his farm. His 
 efforts are devoted to the tilling of the soil 
 and to stock-raising and he is meeting 
 with a goodly measure of success in his 
 undertakings. His political support is 
 given to the democracy and he has served
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 679 
 
 as school director but has never been a pol- 
 itician in the sense of office seeking. His 
 wife and daughters are members of the 
 Baptist church and they are well known 
 in the community where they reside and 
 where they have a host of warm friends. 
 
 JOHN D. KASER. 
 
 John D. Kaser, deceased, was born near 
 Dubuque, Iowa, May 2, 1854, a son of 
 John and Rosa (Bertschi) Kaser. Both 
 parents were born in Switzerland and 
 came to America when very young. The 
 father engaged in merchandising in St. 
 Louis and afterward at Dubuque, Iowa. 
 His death occurred in St. Louis, where his 
 remains were interred, while his wife was 
 laid to rest in Appanoose township, 
 Hancock county, where they resided for 
 a time. In their family were seven chil- 
 dren : Fred, now living in Kirksville, Mis- 
 souri; William H., of Baring, Missouri; 
 John D., of this review; Carrie L., the 
 widow of John McBride, of Galesburg, 
 Illinois; L. M., of Xiota, Illinois: Theo- 
 dore, of Adair county; and Rosa, the 
 wife of James Mackey, of Summitville, 
 Iowa. 
 
 With the exception of John D. Kaser 
 all are yet living. His educational priv- 
 ileges were afforded by the public schools 
 of Hancock county but were necessarily 
 somewhat limited, owing to the fact that 
 he was but a young lad at the time of his 
 parents' death. The children were then 
 scattered and he was reared by a farmer 
 43 
 
 in the southern part of Hancock county 
 When eighteen years of age he and his 
 brother went to Missouri, where he en- 
 gaged in farming for a number of years, 
 but about 1875 or 1876 he returned to 
 Hancock county and purchased a forty- 
 acre farm in Appanoose township, where 
 for some years he carried on general ag- 
 ricultural pursuits. 
 
 On the 23d of October. 1883. Mr. 
 Kaser was married to Miss Hattie L. 
 Cheadle, who was born in Pontoosuc 
 township, Hancock county, October 26, 
 1864, a daughter of Richard and Phoebe 
 (McKee) Cheadle. The father was born 
 in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1821, and 
 the mother near Cairo, Illinois, in 1832. 
 In early manhood he was an engineer and 
 in 1851 he bought land in Pontoosuc 
 township. In politics he was a democrat 
 and served in some township offices and 
 at all times he was loyal and progressive 
 in citizenship. For over thirty years he 
 was a faithful member of the Masonic 
 fraternity and exemplified in his life the 
 principles of brotherly kindness and mu- 
 tual helpfulness upon which the craft is 
 based. Both he and his wife in their 
 younger years were members of the Meth- 
 odist church, but in later years were mem- 
 bers of the Christian church. His death 
 occurred in Pontoosuc township, Febru- 
 ary 12, 1899, and his remains were in- 
 terred there. In the family were five chil- 
 dren. Joseph R. Cheadle, the eldest, was 
 born April 15, 1858, and is living in Sa- 
 lem, Marion county, Illinois. He married 
 Ida M. Abise and they became the parents 
 of five children, as follows : Leon, Harry, 
 Thomas, Mary and William. Charles B. 
 Cheadle, the second of the family, was
 
 68o 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 born May 9, 1862, and is a lawyer of 
 prominence living in Joliet, Illinois. He 
 married Miss Elizabeth Ruple and has 
 three children, Genevieve, Charles and 
 Richard. Hattie L. Cheadle, born Octo- 
 ber 26, 1864, is now the widow of John 
 D. Kaser. Dr. Clarence M. Cheadle, born 
 August 27, 1869, is a capable physician 
 and surgeon of Ashton, Illinois. He mar- 
 ried Miss Maggie McCormick and his six 
 children Genevieve, Clarence, Gertrude, 
 Mildred, Harold and Grace. Thomas A. 
 Cheadle, of Lockport, Illinois, was born 
 July n, 1871, and has for some years 
 been editor and proprietor of one of the 
 leading newspapers of that place. He 
 married and has three children, Bruce, 
 Arthur and Anna May. 
 
 Richard Cheadle, father of Mrs. Kaser, 
 was twice married. His first union was 
 with Miss Hanna Coleman, who died Sep- 
 tember 25, 1856, leaving four children 
 who were reared by his second wife. 
 These are as follows : S. R., who was bom 
 April 3, 1847, n ' ves m Ottumwa, Iowa, 
 and is married and has four children, 
 Clarence, Albert, Corinne and Willard. 
 George, born January 8, 1849, died July 
 
 28, 1885. Edwin F., born May 5, 1852, 
 and now living at Niota, Illinois, where 
 he is agent for the Santa Fe Railroad 
 Company, married Miss Sarah Way and 
 has eight children, Charles, Clarence. 
 Mina, John, Elmer, Dora, Ruth and 
 Frank. Mina, the youngest child of the 
 father's first marriage, was born March 
 
 29, 1855, and died in early childhood. 
 Thus Mrs. Cheadle, the mother of Mrs. 
 Kaser, has reared a family of eight chil- 
 dren, who are now a great joy and source 
 of comfort to her in her old age. Her 
 
 sons are exemplary men, both in business 
 and private life, not one of them ever 
 using liquor or tobacco in any form. 
 Mrs. Cheadle- is an active and well pre- 
 served woman, very intelligent and kind- 
 hearted. She makes her home with her 
 daughter, Mrs. Kaser, as does her invalid 
 sister, Margaret, the widow of Henry A. 
 Van Noy. They are the last survivors 
 of a family of ten children, seven of 
 whom reached adult age. Mrs. Van Noy 
 had three sons, all of whom are deceased, 
 but she has grandsons and great-grand- 
 sons in Ohio. Mrs. Cheadle has thirty- 
 five grandchildren in all. Mrs. Cheadle, 
 Mrs. Van Noy and Mrs. Kaser are all 
 eligible to membership with the Daughters 
 of the American Revolution, for Mrs. 
 Kaser's great-great-grandfather was a 
 soldier in the war of independence under 
 General Putnam and the father of Mrs. 
 Cheadle was a soldier of the war of 1812. 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Kaser lived for two and a half years in 
 Appanoose township and then removed to 
 a farm in Scotland county, Missouri, 
 where Mr. Kaser was successfully en- 
 gaged in general farming and stock rais- 
 there on the 6th of January, 1806, and 
 his remains were interred in a cemetery in 
 that county. He was a citizen of substan 
 tial worth and was entirely a self-made 
 man, for at an early age he was thrown 
 upon his own resources by the death of his 
 parents. He was not a politician, but he 
 was ready to assist in furthering the po- 
 litical principles in which he believed and 
 he stood at all times for progressive citi- 
 zenship. He was a devoted husband, kind 
 father and true friend and in his house- 
 bold his death caused a great vacancy.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 68 1 
 
 His good name and his upright acts will 
 stand as a monument to his memory for 
 years to come. He held membership in 
 the Christian church, of which his wife is 
 also a devoted member. Unto them had 
 been born six children, all of whom are 
 yet living. Olive M., born August 6, 
 1885, in Appanoose township, is a grad- 
 uate of the high school of Dallas and now 
 a student in Knox Conservatory of Music 
 of Galesburg, Illinois. Rose B., born Oc- 
 tober 29, 1886, in Scotland county, Mis- 
 souri, is a student in Dallas high school. 
 Everett D., born August 12, 1888, in Mis- 
 souri, is also attending the high school. 
 Elmer L., born in Missouri, July 23, 
 1890, is likewise a high school student. 
 Nellie, born in Missouri, March 20, 1894, 
 is pursuing her education in Dallas; and 
 John D., born in Pontoosuc township, 
 July 1 6, 1896, is attending the city 
 schools. 
 
 In the fall following her husband's 
 death Mrs. Kaser returned to Hancock 
 county and purchased a good home one 
 mile west of Dallas City adjoining the 
 city limits. Here she has thirty-five acres 
 of land on which she has erected a hand- 
 some residence which she has improved, 
 making it one of the most attractive sub- 
 urban homes of Dallas City. She still 
 owns the farm in Missouri and a house 
 which she rents in Dallas. She possesses 
 excellent business ability and executive 
 force and is one of the sterling women 
 of Dallas, of keen mental strength, ca- 
 pable and enterprising. She is giving her 
 children excellent educational advantages 
 and in addition to this she is caring for 
 her mother and her aunt. All who know 
 her esteem her for her many excellent 
 
 traits of character and she certainly de- 
 serves much credit for what she is accom- 
 plishing in the home circle. 
 
 JOSHUA COCHRAN. 
 
 Joshua Cochran, owner of the old 
 Cochran homestead in Wythe township, 
 is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth 
 having occurred in Westmoreland county, 
 on the loth of March, 1849. He is a son 
 of James Cochran, and a grandson of 
 John Cochran, and a representative of one 
 of the early families of the Keystone 
 state. James Cochran was born, reared 
 and married in Westmoreland county, the 
 lady of his choice being Nancy Elder, a 
 native of the same county and a daugh- 
 ter of John Elder. He engaged in the 
 manufacture of salt in Pennsylvania for 
 a number of years and eventually traded 
 his business there for a farm in Missouri 
 but never lived upon that place. About 
 ten years later he traded his Missouri 
 land for eighty acres and personal prop- 
 erty in Bear Creek township, Hancock 
 county, Illinois, which tract was situated 
 about four miles from a farm of three 
 hundred and twenty acres, which had been 
 given him by his father. In 1862 he 
 came to his place in Bear Creek township, 
 which at that time was partially im- 
 proved, and he completed the work of de- 
 velopment and cultivation, making his 
 home thereon for some time. Later, how- 
 ever, he sold out there and removed to
 
 682 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Wythe township, purchasing one hun- 
 dred and forty acres on section 16. This 
 farm was equipped with good buildings 
 and the land was well tilled. He had five 
 sons and assisted each to become the 
 owner of a farm in this locality. His 
 life was characterized by unremitting dili- 
 gence and thrift and he prospered in his 
 work as the years went by. His death 
 occurred in 1898, and his wife passed 
 away in 1900, both reaching the advanced 
 age of eighty years. Their children were : 
 John, of Wythe township; James, of El- 
 vaston ; Caleb and Joshua, twins, the for- 
 mer living in Jacksonville, Illinois; Wil- 
 , Ham, of Boulder, Colorado ; Eliza Jane, 
 twin sister of William, and a resident of 
 Hamilton, Illinois ; Lucy, who is the 
 widow of William Weyand and resides 
 with her sister Eliza in Hamilton ; and 
 Newton, who died at the age of seven 
 years. 
 
 Joshua Cochran early became familiar 
 with the work of farming, planting and 
 harvesting, as he assisted in the operation 
 of the old homestead farm in the days of 
 his boyhood and youth. He attended the 
 district schools of Pennsylvania and Illi- 
 nois, and on attaining his majority he 
 started out in life on his own account, 
 his father giving him eighty acres of par- 
 tially improved land on section 21, Wythe 
 township. About the first thing which 
 he did was to build a barn for the shelter 
 of hay and stock. He later erected a 
 commodious residence of nine rooms and 
 has since built an extensive barn forty 
 by twenty-five feet with twenty-five feet 
 posts. He has set out many trees and 
 has thus beautified the place and there 
 are various other accessories which add 
 
 to the value and attractive appearance of 
 the farm. In 1891 he made purchase of 
 eighty acres additional and afterward se- 
 cured sixty acres more of the old home- 
 stead on section 16. He next bought one 
 hundred and sixty acres adjoining on the 
 south but afterward sold that property 
 and then purchased the remainder of the 
 old homestead eighty acres. His is such 
 a place as has won for Illinois its splen- 
 did reputation as one of the greatest farm- 
 ing states of the Union. 
 
 On the 22d of February, 1874, Joshua 
 Cochran wedded Harriett Hill, who was 
 born in Walker township, and acquired a 
 district school education, while living with 
 her parents, John and Julia A. (Haw- 
 kins) Hill, who were natives of England 
 and Pennsylvania respectively. The mar- 
 riage of Mr. and Mrs. Cochran was cele- 
 brated in Wythe township and has been 
 blessed with three children : John H., 
 who was born October 4, 1875, and is liv- 
 ing on the old homestead ; James Ray, 
 born August 4, 1884; and Ida Pearl, born 
 in September, 1887. 
 
 The parents hold membership in" the 
 Presbyterian church of Wythe and since 
 1886 Mr. Cochran has continuously 
 served as one of its elders, a fact which 
 indicates his position in the church as a 
 leading and helpful member. His polit- 
 ical views are in accord with republican 
 principles. Though he received some as- 
 sistance in starting out in- life he has con- 
 tinuously enlarged the scope of his busi- 
 ness activity and has added to his prop- 
 erty holdings until he is now one of 
 the substantial agriculturists of his 
 community, where he has so long resided, 
 and where he is held in esteem.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 683 
 
 WILLIAM R. HAMILTON. 
 
 William R. Hamilton, one of the oldest 
 residents of Carthage, was born in Johns- 
 town, New York, November 5, 1829, a 
 son of Artois and Atta (Bentley) Hamil- 
 ton. The father was born in Tolland. 
 Massachusetts, August 15, 1795, and 
 spent his early boyhood there, after which 
 he removed to Johnstown, New York. 
 He was married in Mayfield, a suburb of 
 Johnstown, to Miss Atta Bentley, a 
 daughter of Elisha Bentley. While re- 
 siding in the Empire state Mr. Hamilton 
 engaged in the tanning business and was 
 also a raftsman on the river. He came 
 west in 1835, reaching Carthage on the 
 1 4th of August of that year, driving 
 across the country with horse teams. 
 Here he opened the first tavern in the 
 place and he owned and operated two 
 large farms in the county. In his little 
 hostelry he entertained many of the prom- 
 inent men of that day, including Abraham 
 Lincoln. He conducted his hotel from 
 1835 until 1851 and afterward concen- 
 trated his energies upon agricultural pur- 
 suits. He lost his wife during the cholera 
 epidemic in 1851, her death occurring on 
 the 1 8th of July of that year, while he 
 survived until July 4. 1873. 
 
 William R. Hamilton, being brought 
 to Illinois in his early boyhood days, com- 
 pleted his education in a private school 
 for the public school system had not been 
 established at that time. When he put 
 aside his text-books he became his father's 
 assistant in his farming operations and 
 later he began farming on his own ac- 
 count. He married Miss Martha H. 
 Miller on the 8th of June, 1854. Her 
 
 parents, Warren and Phoebe (Strong) 
 Miller, came to this county in 1846 from 
 Adams county, Illinois, but their home 
 was originally in Elmira, New York. 
 
 It was subsequent to his marriage that 
 he was elected sheriff on the Democratic 
 ticket in 1858 for a two years' term. The 
 law at that time did not permit of re- 
 election. His duties were very arduous, 
 owing to the events that followed the 
 panic of 1857. He continued to serve 
 until December, 1860. and then retired 
 to his farm, where he successfully carried 
 on agricultural pursuits for more than 
 two decades. In 1882, however, he sold 
 his property and went to the west, making 
 his way to Oregon. Washington and 
 other places on the Pacific coast. After 
 a few months, however, he returned to 
 Hancock county and purchased a home 
 in Carthage. About that time Mr. Ferris 
 died and Mr. Hamilton was elected as his 
 successsor in the office of magistrate, 
 which position he filled for ten years. 
 In 1893 he was appointed under Grover 
 Cleveland to the position of postmaster 
 of. Carthage, which position he filled for 
 four years and during his incumbency the 
 business of the office was largely in- 
 creased. It was just at the close of his 
 term that the government plans were 
 changed and the postoffice room was pro- 
 vided. Since his retirement from office 
 Mr. Hamilton has engaged in no active 
 business pursuits but has enjoyed a well 
 earned rest. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born three children, who still live, 
 three having died in childhood : Willard 
 C., who is now in the National Bank ; Ida, 
 at home; and Herbert, who is an under-
 
 68 4 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 taker. The family attend and support the 
 Presbyterian church, of which Mrs. Ham- 
 ilton is a member. Mr. Hamilton be- 
 longs to the Independent Order of Odd 
 Fellows and Hancock lodge, No. 20, 
 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in 
 which he is a past master, having been the 
 first worshipful master in the lodge at 
 Hancock. He was made a Mason here 
 in 1852 and he took the Royal Arch de- 
 gree in Stapleton chapter in Rushville in 
 1853, afterward serving for ten years 
 as its high priest in Carthage Chapter No. 
 33. In 1877 he beame a member of Car- 
 thage council, Scottish Rite Mason, and 
 in 1884 attained the Knight Templar de- 
 gree in Almoner commandery. He has 
 been associated with business, political 
 and fraternal interests in the county and 
 for more than the allotted psalmist's span 
 of three score years and ten has been 
 a resident of the state, watching with 
 interest its progress and development and 
 doing much to assist in its upbuilding. 
 Few have longer resided in the county 
 and none are more familiar with events 
 which have shaped its history and molded 
 its policy than William R. Hamilton, who 
 at all times has been regarded as one of 
 the most prominent, valued and influential 
 citizens here. 
 
 J. B. MONROE. 
 
 J. B. Monroe, a prosperous merchant 
 of Powellton, where he is engaged in deal- 
 ing in all kinds of agricultural imple- 
 
 ments, vehicles, etc., is a native son of 
 Hancock county, his birth having oc- 
 curred in Appanoose township, March i, 
 1862. His parents, Martin and Marguer- 
 ite (Fitzgerald) Monroe, were both na- 
 tives of Ireland, the former born in Tuam, 
 County Galway, in 1829, while the moth- 
 er's birth occurred at Limerick, in 1831. 
 The father, a stonemason by trade, left 
 the fatherland in 1851, and upon landing 
 in New York, at once made his way to 
 Wisconsin, where he remained until 1855, 
 when he went to Fort Madison, Iowa, 
 and there worked at his trade. On the 
 4th of June, 1860, he was married in that 
 city to Mrs. Marguerite Stack, who had 
 emigrated from the fatherland to Keo- 
 kuk, Iowa, in 1852, and in 1856 was 
 there married to James Stack, whose 
 death occurred in 1858. By that mar- 
 riage one son survives, James Stack, who 
 resides in Sonora township, this county. 
 After the death of her first husband Mrs. 
 Stack then removed to Fort Madison, 
 Iowa, and as stated was there married to 
 Martin Monroe, the father of our sub- 
 ject. The parents then removed to a farm 
 in Appanoose township, and in 1870 the 
 father purchased a farm of two hundred 
 and sixty acres, situated on section n. 
 He developed and cultivated the property 
 and erected all of the buildings thereon, 
 including many substantial outbuildings, 
 and a fine home containing ten rooms, and 
 costing twenty-two hundred dollars. He 
 was a stanch democrat in his political 
 views. In 1864 he enlisted for service 
 in the Civil war, and was with Sherman 
 on his celebrated march to the sea, being 
 honorably discharged at the close of hos- 
 tilities, when he returned to his home and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 685 
 
 there spent his remaining days, his deatli 
 occurring November 20, 1896, while his 
 wife had passed away September 15, 
 1888. 
 
 J. B. Monroe is the eldest of three sons 
 and two daughters born of his father's 
 family, but of this number one son and 
 a daughter are now deceased : Henry, 
 who died in 1896, at the age of thirty- 
 three years, and Mary, who passed away 
 May 3, 1887, when twenty-one years of 
 age. One brother, George, who was born 
 June 4, 1868, makes his home with our 
 subject. 
 
 Mr. Monroe acquired his education in 
 the public schools at Powellton, and re- 
 mained with his parents on the home- 
 stead farm until September, 1884, when 
 he went to Sheridan county, Nebraska, 
 and took up a homestead claim of one 
 hundred and sixty acres, and remained on 
 the place until January 16, 1890, since 
 which time he has rented the land. At 
 that time he again returned to Hancock 
 county and rented his father's farm, 
 which he operated for a few years, but 
 in 1895 ne to k up his abode in the vil- 
 lage of Powellton, where he has since 
 successfully conducted a business enter- 
 prise, dealing in agricultural implements, 
 the Deering harvesters, vehicles of all 
 kinds and grass seeds, and the business 
 has now increased from six thousand dol- 
 lars to from twenty-six thousand to thirty 
 thousand dollars, which indicates the care- 
 ful management and executive ability of 
 the owner. 
 
 On the 1 6th of August, 1892, Mr. 
 Monroe was united in marriage to Miss 
 Ida E. Ewing, who was born in Carthage 
 township, where she acquired her early 
 
 education, while later she attended school 
 in the city of Carthage for two terms. 
 Her parents, James and Angeline (Mc- 
 Kee) Ewing, are natives of Ohio and Vir- 
 ginia respectively. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born five sons and three daughters, 
 namely : Morris E., Catherine A., Helen, 
 Henry, Louis, Geneva, Leslie and John 
 B., Jr. In his political views Mr. Mon- 
 roe is a stanch democrat and held the of- 
 fice of collector of Sonora township for 
 one term, while for three years he served 
 as school trustee. He is a communicant 
 of the Catholic church at Nauvoo. 
 
 JAMES OGDEN. 
 
 James Ogden, now practically living re- 
 tired on his farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres on section 5, Sonora township, 
 is a native of Lancashire, England, his 
 birth having there occurred March 30, 
 1828. His father, Dennis Ogden, died 
 in England, and following his demise the 
 mother, who bore the maiden name of 
 Elizabeth Madder, emigrated with her 
 children to the United States, landing in 
 Nauvoo, May 22, 1842. In their family 
 were three sons and. two daughters, of 
 whom our subject is the eldest, the others 
 being : Samuel, a resident of California ; 
 Sarah, the widow of Cord Bradley, re- 
 siding near Davis City, Iowa ; Ann, the 
 wife of Mathias Wellington, of Parsons, 
 Kansas ; and William, a resident of Leon, 
 Iowa. After coming to this state the
 
 686 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEIV 
 
 mother of these children was again mar- 
 ried, her second union being with George 
 Nelson, by whom she had two sons, John 
 and Joseph, the latter being in the bank 
 at Nauvoo. Her death occurred in 1850. 
 James Ogden remained with his mother 
 until the time of her second marriage, 
 when, in 1843, ne went to Schuyler coun- 
 ty, this state, where he was employed by 
 Squire Dron at farm labor for six years, 
 and he always made that place his home 
 until the time of his marriage. In 1850, 
 in company with Erasmus Cady and a 
 Mr. Taylor, he made the overland trip 
 to California, the journey requiring three 
 months. He remained at Hangtown, now 
 Placerville, fifty miles southeast of Sac- 
 ramento, and was there employed until 
 1854, when he started on the return trip, 
 traveling by way of the Nicaragua route 
 to New York, from which city he returned 
 to Nauvoo, where he bought one hundred 
 and sixty acres of land, located on sec- 
 tion 5, Sonora township, only a quarter 
 of which had been cleared, while the re- 
 mainder was covered with its native 
 growth of timber. On the place had been 
 erected five cottages, in which the Mor- 
 mons had lived. Here Mr. Ogden took 
 up his abode, remaining on the place un- 
 til 1855, when he made a second trip, to 
 the Pacific coast, traveling by way of the 
 isthmus of Panama. He was in various 
 places during his sojourn in the west but 
 made his headquarters at St. Louis, in 
 Sierra county, California. After remain- 
 ing in the west for a year he again start- 
 ed on his homeward journey, traveling by 
 way of the isthmus route to New York 
 citv. where he boarded a railroad train 
 
 for St. Louis, Missouri, from which city 
 he traveled by steamer to Nauvoo. 
 
 On the 7th of March, 1859, Mr. Ogden 
 was united in marriage to Miss Frances 
 E. Risse, who was bom in Baden, Ger- 
 many, a daughter of Lawrence and Wil- 
 helmina Risse. He took his bride to his 
 farm and then for the third time made 
 his way to the west, making the overland 
 journey with mule team, his destination 
 being Walla Walla, Washington, where 
 he and a Mr. Dovenspeck went into the 
 mountains and there engaged in the man- 
 ufacture of shingles and clapboards, but 
 for this work they were never compen- 
 sated, and they then went into the gold 
 mines. In the meantime they had dis- 
 posed of their mules and purchased 
 ponies, tools, etc. At one time during 
 their journey in the far west the two 
 men were compelled to travel through 
 snow to the depth of four feet. They dis- 
 posed of their ponies March 20, 1863. 
 and Mr. Ogden there entered a claim, on 
 which he remained for six months, and 
 then disposed of it to good advantage. 
 He then purchased two ponies and in com- 
 pany with fifteen others started on the re- 
 turn trip to Illinois. While traveling 
 over the plains he got lost and was forced 
 to lie out two nights, but finally made 
 his way to Fort Boise, where he remained 
 four days, and replenished his stock of 
 supplies and then continued on the jour- 
 ney, arriving home in September, 1863. 
 In January, 1864, Mr. Ogden made an- 
 other trip to the west, this time traveling 
 by rail to New York, where he boarded 
 a steamer and made his way to San Fran- 
 cisco, and from there went to St. Louis,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 687 
 
 in Sierra county, where he worked on 
 some of his old claims, and returned home 
 in the early fall of the same year, and 
 once more resumed farming on his own 
 property. He engaged in farming and 
 stock-raising for a number of years, but 
 is now practically living retired, leaving 
 the actual work of the farm to his son, 
 James L. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born five sons and one daughter: 
 Eliza, the wife of Joseph Weber, of So- 
 nora township ; James L., who operates 
 the homestead farm; Samuel, a resident 
 of Nauvoo; William, of Seattle, Wash- 
 ington ; Bernard, of Salt Lake City, Utah ; 
 and Levi, a resident of Jacksonville, Illi- 
 nois. In his political views Mr. Ogden 
 is a democrat, and has served as highway 
 commissioner and school director, while 
 he has filled the office of deputy sheriff 
 for several terms. He is a Mason, and 
 held membership with the Blue lodge at 
 Nauvoo until the lodge was discontinued. 
 
 WALLACE DIVER. 
 
 Wallace Diver, postmaster at Dallas 
 City, was born May 19, 1876, in Hen- 
 derson county, Illinois, a son of Murray 
 W. and Elizabeth M. (Hazen) Diver. 
 The father was born in Illinois and the 
 mother in Ohio. He was a farmer by 
 occupation and always carried on agri- 
 cultural pursuits in Henderson county. 
 At the time of the Civil" war he en- 
 listed for active service in the Twenty- 
 eighth Illinois Infantry, with which he 
 
 was connected for three years. He was 
 unable to do much work after this great 
 conflict, his health having been impaired 
 through his military experience and he 
 died in 1870. His wife passed away 
 April 10, 1894, and both were buried in 
 Henderson county cemetery. Mrs. Diver 
 was a member of the Methodist church. 
 In their family were four children, of 
 whom three are now living. The eldest. 
 Celia, married Lewis Moore and died 
 April i, 1900, leaving four children, who 
 live with their father in Henderson coun- 
 ty, Illinois. Amanda is the wife of Felix 
 Shain, of the state of Washington, and 
 they have one daughter. Wallace -is the 
 next of the family. Clayton Diver is a 
 farmer in Idaho. 
 
 Wallace Diver acquired his early educa- 
 tion in what is known as the Tiwappity 
 school in Dallas precinct, Henderson 
 county. Illinois, and afterward attended 
 school in Missouri, while for a time he was 
 a high school student in Stronghurst. 
 Illinois. He remained with his widowed 
 mother until about sixteen or seventeen 
 years of age, when he began to provide 
 for his own support by working as a farm 
 hand on various farms in Hancock county 
 spending four or five years in Durham 
 township. He afterward operated hi? 
 brother-in-law's farm in Henderson coun- 
 ty for one year, after which he spent a 
 year as a fireman in the employ of the 
 Big Four and the Santa Fe Railrpad com- 
 panies. On the 2 ist of August. 1901, he 
 began carrying the rural mail from Dalla? 
 City and was thus engaged for two and a 
 half years, or until November 14, 1903. 
 when he was appointed to a position in the 
 postoffice in Dallas City. On the ist of
 
 688 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 April, 1905, he received the appointment 
 to the position of postmaster and is now 
 acting in that capacity. Since that time 
 the postoffice has been moved to the new 
 building, corner of Oak and Second 
 streets, where he installed a thoroughly 
 modern equipment throughout and also 
 has two rural routes. 
 
 Mr. Diver was married June 4, 1902, 
 to Miss Lillie May Hull, who was born 
 in Mineral county, West Virginia, in 
 1878, a daughter of J. O. and Jennie 
 (Arnold) Hull, of Dallas, both of whom 
 were natives of Virginia. Her father 
 was engaged in farming in the Old Do- 
 minion for many years and came to Han- 
 cock county about twenty years ago, here 
 carrying on general agricultural pursuits 
 until 1905, when he retired and removed 
 to Dallas. He served in the Civil war. 
 In his political views he is a republican 
 and for many years was sheriff of Mineral 
 county, Virginia. He has been a school 
 director of this county for the past ten 
 years and has been road supervisor. He 
 and his wife attend the Methodist church, 
 of which Mrs. Hull is a member. They 
 have had five children : Lulu, the wife 
 of Charles Rice, a resident farmer of Dur- 
 ham township; -William, living in Dur- 
 ham township; Mrs. Lillie Diver; Guy, 
 a resident of Dallas; and Nina, who is 
 at home with her parents. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Diver have one son, Iris 
 J., who was born in Dallas, October n, 
 1903. Their home is on Fifth street, 
 where they have a nice residence which 
 he purchased two years ago. In his po- 
 litical views he is an earnest republican 
 and is proving a capable and efficient of- 
 ficer. His energy, ambition and determi- 
 
 nation have enabled him to work his way 
 steadily upward and though he started 
 out in life empty-handed when about six- 
 teen years of age, he is now one of the 
 substantial residents of Dallas City, re- 
 spected by all for what he has accom- 
 plished and the place he has made for 
 himself. 
 
 SAMUEL P. McGAW. 
 
 Samuel P. McGaw, now living a re- 
 tired life at his pleasant home in Elvas- 
 tori; was for many years actively identi- 
 fied with farming interests in Hancock 
 county and his record is also commend- 
 able from the fact that he rendered val- 
 ued aid to his country in the Civil war 
 and as a public officer in the position of 
 county sheriff he has ably represented 
 his community. A native of South Caro- 
 lina he was born in Abbeville on the 5th 
 of October, 1827, and when only five 
 years of age was taken by his parents to 
 Ohio. A year later the family came to 
 Illinois, settling first at Oquawka, Hen- 
 derson county, Illinois, where Mr. Mc- 
 Gaw remained until the death of his fa- 
 ther and mother, John and Agnes (Mc- 
 Gaw) McGaw. Both were natives of 
 South Carolina, the former born Sep- 
 tember 20, 1 80 1, and the latter on the 
 2 ist of September, 1803. The father was 
 a carpenter and millwright and followed 
 that occupation until his death, which oc- 
 curred on an island a short distance from 
 Oquawka on the 3<Dth of June, 1838. His 
 wife passed away on the 7th of July of
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 689 
 
 the same year, so that they were separ- 
 ated for only about a week by death. 
 They were members of what was then 
 known as the Associate Reform church, 
 now the United Presbyterian church. 
 
 Samuel P. McGaw is the only member 
 of the family now living in Hancock 
 county. He acquired his education in 
 the common schools of Henderson coun- 
 ty, Illinois, and worked on farms in the 
 neighborhood while still in his teens. Un- 
 der the direction of an uncle he after- 
 ward learned the tailor's trade in 
 Oquawka and was there engaged in busi- 
 ness for several years. Before he at- 
 tained his majority he purchased the busi- 
 ness of the man for whom he was -work- 
 ing and conducted a tailoring establish- 
 ment on his own account. While thus 
 engaged he was elected sheriff of Hen- 
 derson county in 1852 and served for two 
 years. Following his retirement from 
 the office he purchased a tract of land in 
 that county, where he carried on farming 
 until 1866, save for the period of his 
 service in the Civil war. In the year 
 mentioned he sold his property in Hen- 
 derson county and came to Hancock coun- 
 ty and purchased a farm adjoining the 
 village of Elvaston, where he carried 
 on general agricultural pursuits for more 
 than twenty years, or until about 1888, 
 when he took up his abode in the village, 
 where he has since resided. In all of 
 his farm work he was thoroughly prac- 
 tical and enterprising, keeping in touch 
 with lines of modern progress, and 
 through his capable direction and enter- 
 prise won the competence that now en- 
 ables him to live retired. 
 
 His business interests, however, were 
 
 interrupted by active service in the Civil 
 war, for in August, 1862, in response to 
 the country's call, Mr. McGaw enlisted as 
 a member of Company K, Eighty-fourth 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which 
 he served until 1864. He took part in the 
 battle of Stone River and was wounded 
 at the battle of Chickamauga, being 
 honorably discharged on the 25th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1864, on account of injuries he 
 had sustained. He was then sergeant of 
 his company. 
 
 When the war was over Mr. McGaw 
 returned to his farm and resumed his 
 farming operations. He had been mar- 
 ried on the i4th of October, 1851, to Miss 
 Elvira J. Hopkins, a daughter of Isaac 
 and Jane (Kinkade) Hopkins, early set- 
 tlers of Henderson county, Illinois. Mrs. 
 McGaw died April 5, 1855, leaving two 
 children, but the younger, John H., who 
 was born December 25, 1853, survived 
 the mother until the 2d of October, 1855. 
 The daughter, Sarah L., is now the wife 
 of Thomas J. Ruddell, of Elvaston, and 
 they have one child, Clarence M., who 
 was born in Elvaston. Mr. McGaw mar- 
 ried for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth 
 McGaw, nee Leslie, who died at their 
 home in Elvaston, November 6, 1904. 
 There were eight children born of that 
 marriage. Alexander F., the eldest, now 
 a Presbyterian minister at Keokuk, Iowa, 
 married Jane Millar and has four chil- 
 dren, Agatha, Lelia, Frances and Foster. 
 James W. McGaw, a farmer residing in 
 Prairie township, Hancock county, wed- 
 ded Nettie Puntenney and has two daugh- 
 ters, Leota and Grace. Alice Leslie Mc- 
 Gaw is the wife of George J. Hersman, a 
 farmer of Hersman, Illinois, and their
 
 690 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 children are Frank, Bessie E., Ernest G. 
 and Gladys E. Hersman. Albert G. Mc- 
 Ga\v, a missionary of the Presbyterian 
 church now stationed at Etah, India, 
 where he has been for eleven years, mar- 
 ried Ella Hersman and they have three 
 children, Miriam, Wilbert and Gordon. 
 Mary Agnes McGaw is the wife of Rev. 
 J. Albert Miller, a missionary of the Pres- 
 byterian church stationed at Pautingfu, 
 China, and has four children, Zenos, 
 Ralph, Porter and Paul Miller. Clara 
 and Clarence, twins, are deceased. Grace 
 E., the youngest member of the McGaw 
 family, is the wife of D. W. Lyon, of 
 Shanghai, China, who was sent to that 
 country as a missionary by the Young 
 Men's Christian Association and has there 
 remained for eleven, years. They have 
 four children, David, Scovel, Jean and 
 Lawrence. The second wife of- Mr. Mc- 
 Gaw had one child by her first husband, 
 Malissa McGaw, now the wife of Rev. R. 
 J. Pressley, who was a minister of the 
 Presbyterian church and died leaving 
 three children, Lorena, John W. and Es- 
 tella E. 
 
 Mr. McGaw is a member, of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic. In politics he is 
 a stalwart republican and in 1870 was 
 appointed census taker for the west half 
 of Hancock county. He was also super- 
 visor of Prairie township for two terms 
 and under the Harrison administration 
 was appointed postmaster of Elvaston. 
 Following the interval of the Cleveland 
 ?dmistration he was again appointed 
 postmaster and served from that time 
 until he resigned in 1905, since 
 which time he has had no business 
 nor official connections. He is a member 
 
 of the Presbyterian church, in which he 
 has served as elder. His life has been 
 actuated by high and honorable princi- 
 ples and worthy motives leading to just 
 treatment of his fellowmen in all business 
 and social relations and at the same time 
 displaying those kindly and considerate 
 qualities which rise above mere justice. 
 His business career is another exemplifi- 
 cation of the fact as stated by a German 
 philosopher that "Merit and success go 
 linked together." 
 
 FRED REYER. 
 
 Fred Reyer, who is engaged in the 
 plumbing and steam-heating business in 
 Carthage, was born in Hamilton, Han- 
 cock county, on the 7th of May, 1861. 
 His parents were natives of Germany 
 and came to America in early life, settling 
 first in Cincinnati, Ohio, whence they 
 afterward removed to Pike's Peak, Colo- 
 rado, and subsequently to Keokuk, Iowa. 
 First they made their way to Hamilton 
 and in 1862 came to Carthage. The fa- 
 ther was a hardware merchant, in which 
 business he continued until his death, 
 which occurred in Carthage in 1892, his 
 remains being interred in the Carthage 
 cemetery. He was one of the pioneer 
 Odd Fellows of this section of the state 
 and passed all of the chairs in the local 
 lodge. Both he and his wife were de- 
 voted members of the German Lutheran
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 691 
 
 church, in which he served as trustee for 
 many years. His widow still survives at 
 about the age of seventy-two years and 
 is yet quite active, her home being in Car- 
 thage with her daughter. In the family 
 were six children : Anna Reyer, who 
 lives with her mother; Fred, of this re- 
 view; Henry, deceased; Herman A., of 
 Denver, Colorado; Edward, of Scranton, 
 Pennsylvania; and Augustus, -who died 
 in infancy. 
 
 Fred Reyer was educated in the public 
 schools of Carthage, his family removing 
 from Hamilton to this city when he was 
 but a year old. He afterward learned the 
 tinner's trade here, his father being en- 
 gaged in the hardware and tinsmith busi- 
 ness as a member of the firm of Scholl & 
 Reyer. The son remained with that 
 house for seventeen years and in 1892 em- 
 barked in business on his own account as 
 a dealer in plumbing and heating ap- 
 paratus. He takes contracts for install- 
 ing such plants and has done excellent 
 work in all parts of this and adjoining 
 counties, placing bath room fixtures, hot 
 air plants and general plumbing. He has 
 been very successful since beginning busi- 
 ness and has a liberal patronage, his trade 
 growing annually, for his reliability and 
 enterprise are recognized by the general 
 public. 
 
 In September. 1885, occurred the mar- 
 riage of Mr. Reyer and Miss Sarah Conk- 
 lin, who was born in Carthage. Illinois, 
 in 1865, a daughter of Elliott and Laura 
 (L'ittle) Conklin, both of whom were 
 natives of Tennessee. They came to Illi- 
 nois at an early day and for a number of 
 years the father conducted a brickyard in 
 Carthage. He was a republican but with- 
 
 out political aspiration. His wife was an 
 earnest and untiring worker in the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal church, in which she held 
 membership and she also belonged to the 
 Woman's Relief Corps. Both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Conklin have passed away, their re- 
 mains being interred in the Carthage 
 cemetery. They had a family of nine chil- 
 dren : Viola, the wife of George Mc- 
 Clintock, of Carthage, Illinois ; Henry, 
 deceased; David C, of Hamilton, Illinois; 
 Elizabeth, the widow of George E. John- 
 son, who was a lawyer, practicing at the 
 Chicago bar; Mrs. Sarah Reyer; Mary, 
 deceased ; Sidney E., who is living in 
 Butte, Montana ; Dr. B. A. Conklin, a 
 dentist of Chicago ; and Mabel, the wife 
 of Rex Goodrich, of Carthage. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Reyer have two children, both born 
 in Carthage, namely : H. L., who was 
 born in October, 1886, and assists his 
 father in his office; and Elizabeth L., who 
 was born in September, 1895, and is now 
 in school. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Reyer is a 
 republican and has served as tax collector. 
 Fraternally he is a Mason and Odd Fel- 
 low, a member of the Modern Woodmen 
 camp, the Court of Honor and the Tribe 
 of Ben Hur and Knights of Pythias. In 
 the Odd Fellows lodge he has passed all 
 of the chairs. Both he and his wife are 
 zealous members of the Presbyterian, 
 church, in which he is serving as a trustee. 
 In September, 1904, he erected an elegant 
 modern residence on Main street and has 
 a very happy home. In addition to this 
 property he owns a business lot in Car- 
 thage and a farm in Carthage township. 
 He began life on his own responsibility 
 at the age of seventeen years and without
 
 692 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 pecuniary assistance has labored earnest- 
 ly and consecutively until he has now ac- 
 cumulated a comfortable competence, his 
 business supplying him with a gratifying 
 income. He has been chief of the fire de- 
 partment of Carthage for the past fifteen 
 years and is actively interested in progres- 
 sive public measures, withholding his sup- 
 port from no movement that is calculated 
 to benefit the community or any feasible 
 plan that promises substantial advance- 
 ment, He is jovial by nature, warm- 
 hearted and genial and at all times his 
 life is actuated by high and manly 
 principles. 
 
 ETIENNE CABET. 
 
 Etienne Cabet was born in Dijon De- 
 partment, Cote d' Orr, France, January 
 I, 1788. His father was a cooper by 
 trade. The son acquired a liberal educa- 
 tion in his native country, and in 1825 
 went to Paris, where he was a leader in 
 democratic investment. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Carbonaris secret society, and 
 was an active participant in the revolu- 
 tionary movement of 1830, after which 
 he was appointed provincial general in 
 Corsica. In 1834 he was elected deputy 
 in the lower chamber but his opposition 
 was so intense that it could not be tol- 
 erated by the leaders and he was given his 
 choice of two years in prison or five years 
 exile, and choosing the last he went to 
 England, where he studied various books 
 and languages, and in 1840 wrote the vol- 
 ume entitled "Voyage to Icaria." In 
 
 1841 he published a paper, the Populaire, 
 in which he brought his theory before the 
 public. In 1846 he asked permission of 
 the French government to appoint his 
 theory to practice in France but this being 
 denied him, in 1848, he made a proposi- 
 tion to his followers -to emigrate to the 
 United States, which company numbered 
 more than six hundred thousand although 
 he had supposed he could get a million. 
 Having obtained a concession of one mil- 
 lion acres of land in Texas, on the ijth of 
 January, 1848, he announced that state 
 to be the place of their settlement, and 
 on the 3d of February following, sixty- 
 nine men volunteered to emigrate to this 
 country and under the leadership of 
 Gouhenant, who was appointed by Cabet. 
 the company started. Gouhenant, how- 
 ever, proved to be a traitor. While he 
 was ill letters were found in his trunk 
 which proved him to be a member of the 
 Society of Jesus. His head was then 
 shaved and he was driven away, after 
 their arrival at New Orleans, on the 27th 
 of March. The second advance left 
 France, June 3, 1848. The first com- 
 pany that had come to the United States 
 then went to Sulphur Prairie, where they 
 obtained ten thousand, two hundred and 
 forty acres of land instead of one milllion 
 acres; and there they remained for four 
 months but in the meantime all became ill 
 and retreated to Shreveport, Louisiana, 
 where they met the second advance. 
 Cabet embarked from France December 
 15, arriving in New Orleans the follow- 
 ing January with the first company of 
 women and childen. They sent a com- 
 mission up the Mississippi river, and 
 found that Nauvoo. had been deserted bv
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 693 
 
 the Mormons, so Cabet's followers de- 
 cided to locate here, the date of their 
 arrival being March 15, 1849. A branch 
 was then started at Corning, Iowa. In 
 1850 they began rebuilding the Mormon 
 temple but after three days the country 
 was visited by a hurricane, which de- 
 stroyed the north wall of the temple, this 
 being on the 28th of June of that year. 
 The building of the structure was then 
 discontinued. In 1855 Cabet made his 
 famous proposition for a president for 
 four years but he was defeated by J. B. 
 Gerard, who became the president. Cabet, 
 however, succeeded in his contest after 
 a long struggle. He later left Nauvoo 
 and went to Cheltenham. In 1852 Cabet 
 was back in France to answer an accusa- 
 tion of embezzlement by some of his mem- 
 bers who had returned to that country 
 but he was vindicated and again returned 
 to this country. He passed away in St. 
 Louis, Missouri, in 1856, his death being 
 occasioned by a stroke of apoplexy. He 
 was the author of several works, includ- 
 ing. "The History of the French Revolu- 
 tion," published in five volumes, "True 
 Christianita," "Voyage in Icaria," "So- 
 cial Contact," "Twelve Letters to a Com- 
 munist," and" several others. 
 
 REV. JOHN STAHL. 
 
 Rev. John Stahl, one of the early set- 
 tlers of Hancock county, who for many 
 years has been active in the ministry of 
 the United Brethren church but for two 
 
 years has lived retired, was born near 
 Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, October 
 24, 1820. He has therefore passed the 
 eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey 
 and in the evening of his days can look 
 back over the past without regret and 
 forward to the future without fear, be- 
 cause his life has been permeated by the 
 highest principles and has been charac- 
 terized by many good deeds and by un- 
 tiring devotion to the welfare of his fel- 
 lowmen. 
 
 His parents, Jacob and Jane (Melloy) 
 Stahl, were also natives of the Keystone 
 state and the mother died in Pennsyl- 
 vania, after which the father married 
 again and removed to Iowa, where he 
 lived until his death, which occurred when 
 he had reached the advanced age of 
 eighty-three years. He always devoted 
 his energies to farming and thus provided 
 for his family. He was a man of strpng 
 temperance views and gave his political 
 support to the Prohibition party. 
 
 Rev. Stahl of this review spent the 
 days of his boyhood and youth in his na- 
 tive state and acquired his education in 
 the public schools of his home town. 
 When seventeen years of age he entered 
 mercantile life as a clerk in Mount Pleas- 
 ant, Pennsylvania, and afterward en- 
 gaged in merchandising on his own ac- 
 count in that city until 1854, when, be- 
 lieving that he might have better busi- 
 ness opportunities in the west, he came 
 to Illinois, taking up his abode near Fow- 
 ler, in Adams county, where he purchased 
 eighty acres of land. The tract was un- 
 cultivated and he placed all of the im- 
 provements upon it, making a good home 
 there for himself and family. He resided
 
 694 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 upon that property until the spring of 
 of 1870 and was engaged in general farm- 
 ing, while frequently on Sundays he 
 preached the gospel, continuing an active 
 and earnest worker in the United Breth- 
 ren church. In 1870 he removed to Fow- 
 ler, Adams county, and while living there 
 was pastor of the United Brethren church, 
 situated a short distance from the town. 
 He continued at that town until 1873, 
 when he removed to Elmwood, in Peoria 
 county, and was presiding elder of the 
 district, making his home there for about 
 eight years. In 1883 he took up his abode 
 in Augusta, where he has resided contin- 
 uously since and during much of this 
 time has engaged in preaching. Here he 
 built a home for himself and family and 
 during the past few years has lived a re- 
 tired life. 
 
 It was in February, 1845, that ^ r - 
 Stahl was united in marriage at Mount 
 Pleasant, Pennsylvania, to Miss Anna 
 Worman, who was born at that place, a 
 daughter of George and Elizabeth (Trax- 
 el) Worman, both of whom were natives 
 of Pennsylvania, born in Mount Pleasant, 
 where they spent the greater part of their 
 lives. The father died in the Keystone 
 state and subsequent to that time the 
 mother removed with her family to Illi- 
 nois in 1850 and spent her last days in 
 Hancock county. Unto Rev. and Mrs. 
 Stahl were born three children, but only 
 one is now living, Hanby, whose birth 
 occurred in Mount Pleasant, Westmore- 
 land county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1849. 
 He was educated at Otterbein University, 
 near Columbus, Ohio, and was for some 
 years a teacher in the public schools of 
 Illinois. Later he engaged in the drug 
 
 business in Fowler and afterward be- 
 came proprietor of a general mercantile 
 store. He was married July 30, 1878, to 
 Miss Ella T. Thayer, who was born in 
 Canton, Missouri, a daughter of David 
 W. and Cynthia (Daniels) Thayer, the 
 former a native of Connecticut and the 
 latter of Indiana. Mrs. Thayer died at 
 Canton, Missouri, while Mr. Thayer laid 
 down his life on the altar of his country 
 while serving as a soldier of the Civil 
 war. He was with the army for some 
 time and his death occurred during the 
 latter part of the war. Hanby Stahl is 
 now located at Golden, Adams county, 
 Illinois, being a pharmacist for Hecox 
 Brothers, of that place. Unto him and 
 his wife have been born four children : 
 Ida May, who died at the age of twenty 
 years ; Elmer Roy, who is a student in the 
 Xormal University at Bloomington, Illi- 
 nois; Floyd M., a student in the North- 
 western University at Chicago ; and Myr- 
 le S., who is a student in the high school 
 at Augusta. The parents of these chil- 
 dren are members of the United Breth- 
 ren church. Wallace Melloy, the second 
 son of Rev. and Mrs. Stahl, died at the 
 age of four years, and Ida May, the only 
 daughter, died at the age of twelve years 
 and six months. She was born in Illi- 
 nois and the other children in Pennsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 Rev. Stahl is a prohibitionist in his po- 
 litical views. He is a most earnest ad- 
 vocate of the cause of temperance and has 
 furthered its interests both by precept and 
 example. In the work of the church he 
 has been untiring and his zeal and devo- 
 tion have contributed to the development 
 of the churches with which he has been
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 695 
 
 connected. He stands today as one of 
 the most respected and honored residents 
 of the county and is also one of its most 
 venerable citizens. 
 
 DELOS L. CUTLER. 
 
 Delos L. Cutler, who started out in life 
 on his own account at an early age has by 
 energy, ambition and upright living suc- 
 ceeded in his undertakings and acquired 
 a comfortable competence, is engaged in 
 painting and paper-hanging in Carthage. 
 He was born in Erie county, New York, 
 in 1849, an< 3 several of his ancestors were 
 soldiers of the Revolutionary war. His 
 parents were Albert and Permelia (Hill) 
 Cutler, both of whom were natives of the 
 Empire state and came to Hancock coun- 
 ty, Illinois, in the spring of 1869. Here 
 Mr. Cutler opened a wagon-shop in Car- 
 thage, which he conducted for a number 
 of years and was thus closely associated 
 with the industrial interests of the city. 
 He voted with the democracy and was 
 township collector. In the family were 
 five children, of whom two are now liv- 
 ing : Howard Cutler, who is residing in 
 Carthage, Illinois; and Delos, of this re- 
 view. The parents still reside in the 
 county seat where they have a wide 
 acquaintance. 
 
 Delos L. Cutler was educated in the 
 public schools and in a private institution 
 of learning in New York, and learned the 
 trade of carriage-making with his father 
 in that state. He followed that pursuit 
 44 
 
 in the east and also during the early 
 period of his residence in Carthage. He 
 arrived in this city in 1868 and for more 
 than thirty years has engaged in paper- 
 hanging and painting, having a shop on 
 the same lot on which his house stands. 
 Thus almost his entire life has been de- 
 voted to his line of industrial activity and 
 his excellent workmanship has secured 
 him a liberal patronage, many of his pa- 
 trons having given him their business sup- 
 port through a long period. 
 
 On the 23d of October, 1871, Mr. Cut- 
 ler was married to Miss Laura Davies, 
 who was born near Seven Mile, Ohio, a 
 daughter of Elliott and Evelina (Scott) 
 Davies, the latter a native of the Buckeye 
 state. The father was a farmer by oc- 
 cupation and became an early settler of 
 this county, making his way to Carthage 
 in 1856. He owned a goodly tract of 
 land inside the corporation limits of the 
 city as well as considerable farming land 
 outside, and he built the first grist mill in 
 Carthage. For about twenty years he 
 engaged in farming here, and in 1877 re- 
 moved to Kansas, settling on a farm, 
 where his death occurred, passing away 
 at Kearney, Nebraska. His wife sur- 
 vived him for some time and both were 
 buried in the cemetery at Kearney. In 
 their family were ten children, of whom 
 seven are now living: Elliott, residing 
 in Emporia, Kansas; James, also of Em- 
 poria ; Mary, the wife of Edward Jewett, 
 of Kansas City, Missouri ; Ella, of Pueblo, 
 Colorado; Josephine, the wife of J. W. 
 Crawford, of Carthage, Illinois; Aurelia, 
 the wife of David Vance, of Lincoln, Ne- 
 braska; and Mrs. Cutler. Isaac Davies, 
 a brother of Mrs. Cutler, was a captain
 
 696 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illi- 
 nois Infantry during the Civil war, and 
 Samuel Davies, another brother, was a 
 member of the Sixteenth Illinois Regi- 
 ment. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cutler have been 
 born three children, all born in Carthage. 
 Carena, who attended the high school and 
 Carthage College, married Charles 
 Owens, and lived in Johnson county, 
 Iowa. She died abo it eight years ago 
 and was buried in M> >ss Ridge cemetery. 
 Neta is the wife of C. A. Weber, of Iowa 
 City, Iowa, and has a son, Russell Lovell 
 Weber. Ferrill, a musician of the Car- 
 thage Band, has taken a business course 
 in the Gem City Business College at 
 Ouincy, Illinois, and assists his father in 
 paper-hanging. 
 
 Mr. Cutler exercises his right of fran- 
 chise in support of the men and measure 1 
 of the Republican party. He is a valued 
 and prominent member of the Woodmen 
 camp at Carthage, served as clerk for nine 
 years and served as Venerable Counsel 
 for three years. Both he and his wiftt 
 are devoted members of the Presbyterian 
 church and for the past quarter of a cen- 
 tury he has been secretary of the Sunday- 
 school, doing all in his power to promote 
 its interests, feeling the value of Chris- 
 tian education as a preparation for the 
 youth in their life work. Both he and 
 his wife are people of intelligence and 
 culture, esteemed by all who know them. 
 As the years have gone by his labors have 
 been carefully directed an'd his position 
 in business circles is an enviable one, 
 owing to the unqualified trust reposed in 
 him by all with whom he has become 
 acquainted. 
 
 MORRIS JOHNSON LEE. 
 
 Among the prominent representatives 
 of farming and stock-raising interests in 
 Hancock county is classed Morris John- 
 son Lee, who is a native son of this 
 county, his birth having occurred in Dur- 
 ham township, April 2, 1866. His pater- 
 nal grandparents were Morris and Mary 
 (Ryan) Lee, both of whom were natives 
 of County Tipperary, Ireland, while the 
 maternal grandfather was Patrick Dunn. 
 His parents, Patrick and Bridget (Dunn) 
 Lee, were likewise natives of County Tip- 
 perary, Ireland, both born in 1840. They 
 accompanied their respective parents to 
 the United States and were married in 
 New Haven, Connecticut, about 1860, 
 where the father was employed as a ma- 
 chinist until the spring of 1864, at which 
 time he took up his abode in Hancock 
 county, locating on a farm in Durham 
 township, where, two years later, he pur- 
 chased fifty acres of timber land, situated 
 on section 36. This he cleared and de- 
 veloped, placing his fields under a high 
 state of cultivation, and as the years 
 passed and his financial resources permit- 
 ted, he added to the boundaries of his 
 farm until he possessed two hundred and 
 twenty acres in Durham township and 
 one hundred acres in Pilot Grove town- 
 ship, of which seventy-two acres was prai- 
 rie land when it came into his possession, 
 but he placed it all under cultivation ex- 
 cept about twenty-five acres, which is still 
 covered with timber. He spent his re- 
 maining days on this farm, passing away 
 May 3, 1905. He is still survived by his 
 widow, who yet resides on the homestead 
 farm.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 697 
 
 Morris J. Lee, whose name introduces 
 this record, is the second in order of birth 
 in a family of three sons and four daugh- 
 ters. He acquired his early education in 
 the district schools near his father's home, 
 and later pursued a course of study for 
 one year in the Macomb (Illinois) Nor- 
 mal College, thus being well fitted for the 
 practical and responsible duties of life. 
 He was early trained to the duties of 
 field and meadow and his father benefited 
 by his services until he had reached the 
 age of twenty-two years, when, ambitious 
 to engage in business on his own account, 
 he operated leased land for three years, 
 this belonging to D. L. Dixon. At the 
 end of that time, through his economy 
 and careful management, he had saved 
 capital sufficient to justify the purchase 
 of land, and he therefore bought a tract 
 of one hundred and sixty acres, situated 
 on section 3 1 , Durham township, of which 
 forty acres was covered with timber, 
 while the remainder was improved land. 
 There were no buildings upon the place 
 when he took possession of it, but Mr. 
 I.ee purchased a house which he removed 
 to his farm, and has since added to and 
 remodeled the house until it is now a mod- 
 ern and commodious country residence. 
 In 1895 he erected a horse and hay bam, 
 thirty-six by forty feet,, but this was de- 
 stroyed by fire in June, 1906. He like- 
 wise has various kinds of fruits, having 
 about two acres devoted to horticulture. 
 He has also set out many maple trees, 
 thus furnishing shade around the home 
 and adding to the attractive and neat ap- 
 pearance of the place. He is engaged in 
 general farming, following only the most 
 modern and practical methods in the pur- 
 
 suit of his labors. He engages quite ex- 
 tensively in stock-raising interests, hav- 
 ing Percheron horses, shorthorn cattle, 
 Poland China hogs and Shropshire sheep, 
 the latter being registered. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate on life's 
 journey Mr. Lee chose Miss Teressa Mc- 
 Gan, whom he wedded November 29, 
 1893. Her paternal grandparents are 
 Patrick and Mary (Ryan) McGan, while 
 the maternal grandparents are Richard 
 and Bridget (Carens) Simmons. Mrs. 
 Lee is a native of McDonough county, 
 Illinois, while her parents, Michael and 
 Catherine (Simmons) McGan, were born 
 in County Roscommon, Ireland. Unto 
 our subject and his wife have been born 
 four sons and one daughter, of whom one 
 son is deceased : Francis, who was born 
 February 13, 1895; Charles, born Feb- 
 ruary 26, 1896; Morris Earl, who was 
 born April 2, 1898, and died on the 24th 
 of the same month ; Richard Harold, born 
 October i, 1901 ; and Teressa Helen, born 
 December 30, 1904. 
 
 Mr. Lee is a democrat in his political 
 views and affiliations, and since 1904 has 
 filled the offices of school director and 
 commissioner of highways, faithfully 
 discharging the duties which devolve upon 
 him in this connection. 
 
 PHILIP PENCE. 
 
 Death Often removes from our midst 
 those whom we can ill afford to lose and 
 such was' the feeling of deep and uni-
 
 6 9 8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 form regret throughout Dallas City when 
 the news of the demise of Philip Pence 
 was received. Cut down in the prime 
 of life when it seemed that many more 
 years of usefulness were before him, he 
 nevertheless left to his family a profitable 
 business and an untarnished name. All 
 who knew him respected him for his many 
 strong traits of character, such as won for 
 him the warmest regard and confidence. 
 A native of Pennsylvania, he was born 
 in Lycoming county on the ipth of No- 
 vember, 1833, his parents being John and 
 Hannah (Pence) Pence. The parents 
 were natives of the same county in Penn- 
 sylvania and came to the west in 1838, 
 settling on a farm in Henderson county, 
 when this section of the state was largely 
 an unimproved district. They aided in 
 subjugating the wilderness and in extend- 
 ing the frontier and as the years passed 
 by Mr. Pence contributed in substantial 
 measure to the agricultural development. 
 He was a member of the Baptist church 
 and passed away in Henderson county 
 about fifty years ago. His wife long 
 survived him, passing away in 1881. In 
 their .family were six children, three of 
 whom are* now living and with the ex- 
 ception of our subject all were born in 
 Illinois. Those who still survive are: 
 Robert, who lives near Lomax, Hender- 
 son county; Louisa, the wife of James 
 Harwood, of Garrison, Iowa; and Anna- 
 bel, the wife of Eli Pickering, of Kear- 
 ney, Nebraska. 
 
 In the district schools of Henderson 
 county, Illinois, Philip Pence was edu- 
 cated and after putting aside his text- 
 books he remained upon his father's farm 
 until the latter's death, after which he con- 
 
 ducted the home place for many years. 
 Subsequently he sold the home farm to his 
 brother and removed to Kearney, Ne- 
 braska, where for four or five years he 
 was successfully engaged in the grocery 
 business. At the end of that time he dis- 
 posed of his store and bought land in 
 Marshall county, Kansas. In 1899 in 
 connection with Mr. Lynberger he estab- 
 lished the button factory in Dallas City, 
 Illinois, and a year later by the purchase 
 of his present interest became sole proprie- 
 tor and removed to this city to make his 
 home. In 1904 the button department 
 and the finishing plant were consolidated 
 and incorporated under the state law, the 
 name of the Pence Button Company being 
 assumed. In 1905 the stockholders sold 
 out to Mr. Pence, who was the sole owner, 
 at the time of his death, and the enter- 
 prise is still owned by his widow. This 
 plant has thirty machines in the cutting 
 and ten in the finishing departments and 
 furnishes employment to forty-five people, 
 including a number of girls who work in 
 the finishing department. Since the death 
 of Mr. Pence the factory has been con- 
 ducted by Mr. Tandy, the bookkeeper- 
 and E. Harvey, son of Mrs. Pence, who 
 is administrator of the estate. 
 
 On the 7th of November, 1900, Mr. 
 Pence was united in marriage to Mrs. 
 Mary E. Harvey, the widow of Thomas 
 Harvey, of Lomax, Illinois, who in her 
 maidenhood bore the name of Mary Mc- 
 Daniel and was born near Lomax in 
 1842. Her parents were Isaac and Mar- 
 garet (Thompson) McDaniel, both na- 
 tives of Ohio, whence they removed at an 
 early day to Lomax, settling on a farm, 
 on which they remained until called to
 
 , 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 699 
 
 heir final rest. They had five children 
 but all are now deceased with the ex- 
 ception of Mrs. Pence. In early woman- 
 hood she gave her hand in marriage tc 
 Thomas Harvey, who was born in Ly- 
 coming county, Pennsylvania. He was a 
 farmer by occupation and dealt in grain 
 and stock and also agricultural imple- 
 ments at Terre Haute, Indiana, and at 
 Disco, Illinois, and in the latter part of 
 his life, at Lomax, where he died De- 
 cember 28, 1888, his remains being in- 
 terred in the cemetery there. In his fra- 
 ternal relations he was a Mason. He left 
 one son, Elsworth Harvey, who was born 
 in Lomax in 1861, and married Miss 
 Jennie Babcock, by whom he has two chil- 
 dren, Bird and Tom, both at home with 
 their parents. Mr. Harvey is a grain and 
 implement dealer and since the death of 
 Mr. Pence has acted as administrator of 
 the estate. In 1900 Mr. Pence purchased 
 an attractive home on Third street, where 
 his widow still resides and she also owns 
 the button factory. 
 
 Mr. Pence was largely a self-made man, 
 winning success through his own efforts. 
 He realized the value and force of untir- 
 ing industry and close application as re- 
 sultant factors in a business career and 
 he worked persistently and energetically 
 to establish a modern and prosperous busi- 
 ness enterprise. He was exceptionally 
 methodical, finishing up each day's 
 work as though it was to be his last and 
 in fact the end came very suddenly, for 
 he passed away March 13, 1906, without 
 previous illness. In politics he was a 
 democrat but without aspiration for office 
 and in the Masonic fraternity he became 
 connected with the blue lodge and the 
 
 Order of the Eastern Star. He was a 
 man who took great delight in doing good 
 deeds and was ever considerate of the 
 comfort and happiness of others. His in- 
 tegrity stood as an unquestioned fact in 
 his career and no act of his was an in- 
 fraction to this rule in the slightest degree. 
 Plain in manner and unassuming in speech 
 and dress, he had no fads, disliked sham 
 and pretense but lived so as to enjoy the 
 full respect and confidence of all by reason 
 of the sterling traits of his character. At 
 the time of his demise his remains were 
 taken back to Lomax for interment. 
 Dallas City mourned the loss of one of 
 its representative men, for he had become 
 an important factor in its industrial life 
 and was also well known in connection 
 with his support of many measures which 
 had direct bearing upon the welfare and 
 progress of the city. His best traits of 
 character, however, were reserved for 
 his family and his interests centered in 
 his home. He was very devoted to his 
 wife and theirs was largely an ideal mar- 
 ried relation. Mrs. Pence has left to her 
 the son of her first marriage, who is 
 an enterprising business man, well-known 
 in Dallas City. She also has many 
 friends here and the hospitality of the 
 best homes of the city is freely accorded 
 her. 
 
 MRS. JOSHUA S. WEATHERS. 
 
 Mrs. Joshua S. Weathers, residing in 
 Augusta, was born in Morgan county, 
 Illinois, on the loth of November, 1833,
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and is a daughter of Reuben and Betsey 
 (Lake) Moore, both of whom were na- 
 tives of Kentucky, whence they came to 
 Illinois after their marriage. The father 
 was a farmer and purchased a tract of 
 land in Cass county, this state. Here he 
 engaged in farming until his death, and 
 placed all of the improvements upon his 
 property. He had one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land which he brought under a 
 high state of cultivation. He passed 
 away in 1839, at the age of fifty years, 
 and his wife departed this life the pre- 
 vious year, both being laid to rest in 
 Cass county. In their family were six 
 children, only two of whom are now 
 living : Precious, the widow of Joshua 
 S. Weathers ; and Elizabeth, the wife of 
 Frederick Muntman, a farmer of Morgan 
 county, Illinois. 
 
 . Mrs. Weathers obtained her education 
 in Morgan county, this state, and re- 
 mained there until her marriage. On the 
 9th of November, 1851, she gave her 
 hand in marriage to Joshua S. Weathers, 
 who was born in Kentucky and when a 
 small boy came to Illinois, casting in his 
 lot among the early settlers of this state. 
 He located in Morgan county, where he 
 was educated and later engaged in farm- 
 ing there until 1864, when, in response 
 to the country's call for aid, he enlisted 
 as a member of Company K, Twenty- 
 eighth Illinois Infantry, with which he 
 served for three months, when, on the 
 28th of May, 1865, he passed away at 
 Greenville, Louisiana, his death resulting 
 from illness contracted at the front. He 
 was thus about forty-five years of age and 
 he gave his life as a ransom for the 
 Union. His political allegiance was given 
 
 to the Republican party. He was devoted 
 to the welfare of his family and was a 
 man of many sterling traits of character, 
 who enjoyed in high measure the regard 
 and good will of those with whom he 
 came in contact. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Weathers were born four children, of 
 whom three are now living: Alice S., 
 the wife of William Happy, who is clerk 
 in a general mercantile establishment at 
 Denver, Colorado, where they reside with 
 their one daughter, Alma; Elizabeth J., 
 who is clerk in Venable's dry goods store 
 in Augusta; and John F., a teamster, re- 
 siding in Galesburg. He wedded Mary 
 Sward, of Augusta, and they have two 
 children, Otto and Maegy. The eldest 
 child of the family, Josephine, died when 
 only three months old. All of the chil- 
 dren except Alice were born in Morgan 
 county, her birth having occurred in 
 Brown county. 
 
 At the death of her husband, Mrs. 
 Weathers was left with the care of her 
 little family. She continued to reside in 
 Morgan county for some time and thirty- 
 two years ago came to Augusta, where 
 she has since resided. She purchased a 
 lot here and erected thereon a neat and 
 pleasant residence, which she has since oc- 
 cupied. She has gained many warm 
 friends during the period in which she 
 has made her home here, possessing ex- 
 cellent traits of character which have en- 
 deared her to those with whom she has 
 come in contact. In the rearing of her 
 family and the management of her prop- 
 erty interests she has displayed excellent 
 business ability, executive force and sound 
 judgment, and deserves much credit for 
 what she has accomplished.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 701 
 
 WILLIAM J. WILKE. 
 
 William J. Wilke, engaged in agricul- 
 tural pursuits in La Harpe township, 
 where he owns fifty acres of land, sit- 
 uated on section 34, was born in Meck- 
 lenburg, Germany, May 18, 1841, a son. 
 of John and Christine (Rechline) Wilke, 
 who always remained in the fatherland 
 and both are now deceased. 
 
 William J. Wilke, whose name intro- 
 duces this review, was educated in the 
 common schools of Germany and spent 
 his boyhood and youth under the parental 
 roof. Starting out in life for himself, 
 he went to Hamburg, where he was em- 
 ployed in a sugar refinery for a few years. 
 He had heard favorable reports of the 
 advantages and opportunities to be en- 
 joyed in the United States, and, deciding 
 to try his fortune in the new world, ac- 
 cordingly took passage on a sailing vessel 
 bound for the new world, the year 1865 
 witnessing his arrival in New York. He 
 at once made his way to Jersey City, New 
 Jersey, where he was employed for two 
 years in a sugar refinery. In the meatime 
 his brother Carl had likewise come to 
 America and the two brothers then made 
 their way to Hancock county, and fol- 
 lowing the great fire of Chicago in the 
 year 1871, our subject then made his way 
 to that place, where he was employed in 
 a lime kiln for two years, and for two 
 years worked at that occupation in Bur- 
 lington, Iowa, being employed by a Mr. 
 Patterson. He then returned to Han- 
 cock county, locating in La Harpe town- 
 ship, where, in the spring of 1882, he was 
 united in marriage to Mrs. Christina 
 (Walter) Richter, the widow of Henry 
 
 Richter. By her first marriage she had 
 become the mother of a son and two 
 daughters : Lena, now the wife of Ed 
 Moore, of Lomax, Illinois ; John, of 
 Avery, Iowa; and Christina, who died in 
 infancy. Unto our subject and his wife 
 have been born two sons : William, born 
 February 16, 1883, and George, born in 
 September, 1885, and both under the 
 parental roof. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Wilke op- 
 erated a farm of thirty acres, belonging 
 tc his wife, and he likewise cultivates a 
 tract of forty acres adjoining, which is 
 the property of his mother-in-law, while 
 Mr. Wilke has since purchased fifty acres 
 adjoining, which is situated on section 
 34, La Harpe township, and here he is 
 carrying on general farming pursuits and 
 raises stock to some extent. For the past 
 few years, however, Mr. Wilke has suf- 
 fered from rheumatism which has in- 
 capacitated him for hard labor, so that he 
 merely gives supervison to his business 
 interests, the work of the farm being left 
 to his two sons, who are valuable assist- 
 ants to him. 
 
 Mr. Wilke gives his political support 
 to the Republican party, in the work of 
 which he takes an active and helpful part. 
 For four years he served as road com- 
 missioner, while for six years he filled 
 the office of school director. He holds 
 membership with the German Methodist 
 Episcopal church, in the work of which 
 he is deeply interested, having served as 
 assistant superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school and as a teacher therein for many 
 years. Coming to America when a young 
 man, ignorant of the manners and cus- 
 toms of the new world, he readily
 
 702 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 adapted himself to the changed conditions 
 herein found, soon acquired the English 
 tongue, and eagerly availed himself of 
 every opportunity, for advancement, thus 
 working his way up from a humble be- 
 ginning to a position of affluence, and 
 he is today classed among the highly es- 
 teemed German-American citizens of 
 Hancock county. 
 
 JACOB E. SHINDEL. 
 
 Every community has its representative 
 citizens men who perhaps are not widely 
 known beyond the borders of their own 
 town but who in their respective Commu- 
 nities are enterprising and progressive, 
 contributing to the general improvement 
 and upbuilding. Such a one was Jacob E. 
 Shindel, deceased, of Augusta, and his 
 death was deeply deplored by all who 
 knew him. He was born in Lebanon, 
 Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, February 
 2, 1845, an d remained at the place of his 
 birth until about twenty-one years of age. 
 His parents both died in the Keystone 
 state. There the son acquired his edu- 
 cation in the public schools and after put- 
 ting aside his text-books learned the 
 blacksmith's trade, which he followed 
 throughout his active business career. 
 The first work which he did in that line 
 in the west was at Burlington, Iowa, and 
 he afterward came to Augusta on the 
 2Oth of March, 1867, and here entered 
 the employ of Winfield, Leach & Seems. 
 Later he purchased a shop, which he con- 
 
 ducted on his own account, continuing in 
 the business there until his death. He en- 
 joyed a liberal patronage because of his 
 excellent workmanship and his straight- 
 forward business dealings. He was a 
 man of untiring industry and persever- 
 ance and to these qualities were attributa- 
 ble the success which he enjoyed. 
 
 Mr. Shindel was married on Christmas 
 day of 1869 to Miss Belle Nelson, a 
 daughter of George and Julia . (Robert- 
 son) Nelson. The father was born in 
 Scotland and was for some time a sailor 
 on the high seas but afterward came to 
 America, where his first business position 
 was that of clerk in a store in St. Louis, 
 Missouri. Later he removed to Rushville, 
 Illinois, where he engaged in merchandis- 
 ing, being connected with the dry goods 
 store until five years prior to his death. 
 He died at the age of seventy-three years, 
 while his wife, who was a native of Lex- 
 ington, Kentucky, passed away at the age 
 of forty-five years. The marriage of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Shindel was blessed with six 
 children. Elizabeth, who was born in 
 Augusta, became the wife of Edwin Em- 
 erett, of Galesburg, Illinois, and died at 
 the age of twenty-six years. George, who 
 learned the blacksmith's trade with his 
 father, carried on the shop after his 
 death until February, 1905, is now en- 
 gaged in the nursery business. Delia be- 
 came the wife of Arthur Denny, a farmer 
 of Schuyler county, Illinois, and died 
 leaving two children, Roy and Esmond. 
 Bruce is now teaching for the fourth year 
 in Ambrose, Adams county, Illinois. 
 Mary K. is the wife of L. M. Barrett, a 
 shoe merchant of Kansas City, Missouri. 
 Ross died in 1896, at the age of eleven
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 703 
 
 years. All of the children were born in 
 Augusta. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Shindel was 
 an earnest republican and was honored 
 by his fellow townsmen with several pub- 
 lic offices. For several terms he was a 
 member of the town council and was twice 
 its president. He was first elected to the 
 board of trustees in 1884 and again in 
 1890 and was president in 1891-92 and 
 once more in 1898-99. He labored earn- 
 estly for the welfare of the village and 
 exercised his official prerogatives in sup- 
 port of various measures which he deemed 
 would prove of public benefit He held 
 membership with the Masonic fraternity 
 and the Ancient Order of United Work- 
 men and was also a devoted member of 
 
 i 
 
 the Presbyterian church. He purchased 
 for his family a substantial frame dwell- 
 ing, which his widow now occupies, and 
 there his death occurred January 14, 
 1901, when he was in his fifty-sixth year. 
 He was a man who easily made friends 
 and who retained their high regard by 
 reason of an upright life, genial manner, 
 affable spirit and kindly disposition. He 
 had a wide acquaintance throughout the 
 county and as he enjoyed the esteem of 
 all who knew him his death was the occa- 
 sion of deep and widespread regret. 
 
 JOHN HENRY BAINTER. 
 
 John Henry Bainter, owning and op- 
 erating a valuable tract of land constitut- 
 ing one hundred and sixty acres, sit- 
 
 uated on section 14, La Harpe township, 
 is a native son of this township, his natal 
 day being November 23, 1863. His 
 grandparents, George and Lucy Bainter, 
 were natives of Ohio, and it was their 
 son, Thomas J., who is the father of our 
 subject. He was born in Muskingum 
 county, of the Buckeye state and after 
 coming to Illinois was here married to 
 Miss Elmira Gray, on the 5th of August, 
 1857, she having accompanied her father, 
 David Gray, to this state. Her mother 
 had departed this life in Ohio, previous 
 to the removal of the family to Illinois, 
 while the father died in 1863, while serv- 
 ing his country in the Civil war. Fol- 
 lowing his marriage Thomas J. Bainter 
 began farming on rented land near La 
 Harpe, and lived on different farms in 
 this locality until March, 1894, at which 
 time he purchased a house and two lots 
 in the village of La Harpe, where he yet 
 makes his home but his wife was called 
 to her final rest, June 26, 1900. In the 
 family are 'four children : Ronaldo M., 
 residing in Story county, Iowa ; Ella, the 
 wife of George Carter, a resident farmer 
 of Dallas. Illinois; John Henry, of this 
 review ; and Jennie, now the widow of 
 Charles Anderson, and a resident of La 
 Harpe. John Henry Bainter was reared 
 to the occupation of farming and at- 
 tended the district schools near his fa- 
 ther's home for only a short period, his 
 advantages in that direction being very 
 meager, for his services were needed on 
 the home farm. He has, however, 
 through reading and investigation added 
 largely to his fund of knowledge and is 
 now a well-read man. He remained un- 
 der the parental roof, assisting in the work
 
 74 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 of the fields until he attained his majority, 
 when, on the 4th of February, 1885, he 
 was united in marriage to Miss Malinda 
 Bolton. She was born June 7, 1864, at 
 Terre Haute, Henderson county, this 
 state, and pursued her early education in 
 the district schools near her father's home, 
 and later attended St. Mary's Academy 
 at Nauvoo. She is a daughter of Wil- 
 liam and Sarah (Neighbors) Bolton, na- 
 tives of Hardin county, Kentucky, the 
 former a son of William and Ann 
 (Mudd) Bolton, natives of England and 
 Kentucky, respectively, while the mater- 
 nal grandparents bore the names of Wil- 
 liam and Malinda (Cash) Neighbors, of 
 whom the former was born in Virginia, 
 and the latter in Maryland. The parents 
 of Mrs. Bainter were reared and married 
 in the Blue Grass state, and after a few 
 years there spent the father made an 
 overland trip to Henderson county, this 
 state, the journey being made in 1859. 
 He was soon joined by his wife and two 
 children, he having purchased land in that 
 county, on which the family took up their 
 abode. The mother there passed away 
 June 6, 1878, while the father survived 
 until February 6, 1891. In the family of 
 this worthy couple were born eight chil- 
 dren, five daughters and three sons, name- 
 ly: James W., a resident of Texas; An- 
 nie E., who became the wife of Joseph 
 Dunham, and passed away at her home in 
 Canton, Illinois, in 1904; Lafayette, like- 
 wise a resident of Canton ; Malinda, now 
 Mrs. Bolton.; Mary, the wife of Charles 
 Gieseker, a resident of Terre Haute, Illi- 
 nois ; Clara, the wife of Oliver Livingston, 
 a resident of Canton; Rosa, who became 
 the wife of George Rogers, and passed 
 
 away at the home of Mrs. Bainter in 
 1900; and Raymond, a resident of Canton. 
 
 Following the marriage of our subject 
 and his wife they took up their abode 
 upon a rented farm in Henderson county, 
 where they continued their residence dur- 
 ing the succeeding six years, and on the 
 expiration of that period, having accumu- 
 lated a handsome competence owing to his 
 careful management, Mr. Bainter was 
 then enabled to purchase land, coming 
 into possession of one hundred and sixty 
 acres in Terre Haute township, that coun- 
 ty, but he later disposed of that tract and 
 removed to this county, where he invested 
 in another tract of one hundred and sixty 
 acres situated on section 14, La Harpe 
 township. This land was improved when 
 he took possession but since taking up his 
 residence here he has added many acces- 
 sories and conveniences, has fenced the 
 place with woven wire fencing, has tiled 
 some of the land and has built an addi- 
 tion to the house, so that today his is one 
 of the well-kept and productive farm prop- 
 erties of this community. He is engaged 
 in general farming, following only the 
 most practical and progressive methods 
 in the management of his business inter- 
 ests, and his farm shows every evidence 
 of the thrift and enterprise of the owner. 
 In addition to his other work, Mr. Bain- 
 ter also engages to some extent in stock- 
 raising, having Norman horses, shorthorn 
 cattle, and Poland China hogs upon his 
 farm, and he finds this an important and 
 profitable branch of his business. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife has been 
 born an interesting little daughter, whose 
 birth" occurred August 5, 1896, and who 
 bears the name of Ruby Eleanor. Mr.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 705 
 
 Bainter's study of the questions and is- 
 sues of the day has led him to give his sup- 
 port to the democratic party, while fra- 
 ternally he is identified with the Independ- 
 ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Mod- 
 ern Woodmen of America at La Harpe. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bainter are well-known and 
 highly respected residents of their locality, 
 where they enjoy the hospitality of the 
 best homes, and their many sterling traits 
 of character have endeared them to many 
 with whom they have been associated. 
 
 ROBERT H. MIZNER. 
 
 Among the progressive farmers and 
 stock-raisers of Hancock county who rep- 
 resent pioneer families of this portion of 
 the state is numbered Robert H. Mizner, 
 a native son of La Harpe township, his 
 natal day being May 9, 1857. His ma- 
 ternal grandfather, Henry Spiker, lo- 
 cated in this township about 1836, where 
 he entered eighty acres of land situated 
 on section n. His wife bore the maiden 
 name of Rachel Hucle, whose father was 
 Joseph Hucle. The paternal grandpar- 
 ents were John and Mary (McGee) Miz- 
 ner. and it was their son Henry who 
 married Maria Spiker and who became 
 the parents of our subject. The father 
 was born in Maryland, while the mother's 
 birth occurred in the state of Virginia. 
 They located in Hancock county about 
 1854, coming here with their respective 
 parents, and it was in this county that 
 they met and married, the wedding being 
 
 celebrated May 15, 1856. Following their 
 marriage they lived on rented farms until 
 the spring of 1872, when the father pur- 
 chased twenty acres of timber land on 
 section 12, La Harpe township. This he 
 cleared and improved and carried on the 
 work of general fanning until his death, 
 which occurred May 27, 1898, when he 
 had reached the age of sixty-three years, 
 his birth having occurred November 18, 
 1825. His widow still survives at the 
 age of sixty-eight years, her birth hav- 
 ing occurred April 28, 1838, and now 
 makes her home with her son, Robert H. 
 With them resides the grandmother of 
 our subject, Mrs. Rachel Spiker, who has 
 reached the very venerable age of nipety 
 years, for her birth occurred October 25, 
 1816. 
 
 Robert H. Mizner is the eldest of two 
 sons and two daughters, born of his fa- 
 ther's family, the others being: Alfred 
 H., a resident of Stronghurst, Illinois; 
 James, the wife of R. J. Owsley, a resi- 
 dent of this township; and Rachel Lu- 
 cinda, the wife of Clarence H. Ferris, 
 likewise residing in La Harpe township. 
 
 Our subject pursued his studies in the 
 district schools to the age of eighteen 
 years, and during the periods of vacation 
 assisted his father in the work of the 
 farm, thus gaining practical knowledge 
 of the best methods of agricultural pur- 
 suits, which in later life has enabled him 
 to carry on business in a successful man- 
 ner. When he attained his majority he 
 purchased ten acres of land but later sold 
 that to good advantage and invested in 
 a tract of thirty acres, to which he has 
 added from time to time as his financial 
 resources have permitted until he is now
 
 706 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 in possession of one hundred and fifteen 
 acres of rich farming land located on sec- 
 tion 12, La Harpe township. When this 
 tract came into his possession it was all 
 covered with timber and brush, but with 
 characteristic energy he began the work 
 of clearing his land, plowing the fields 
 and planting his crops, until in due course 
 of time he made it a productive property, 
 from which he annually gathers rich 
 crops. He also raises stock to some ex- 
 tent and this branch of his business is 
 proving a good source of income to him. 
 He has never married and remained with 
 his father until his death and now fur- 
 nishes a good home for his mother. In 
 his political affiliation he is a democrat, 
 giving stalwart support to the party, yet 
 never active in the way of seeking office. 
 Mr. Mizner is a splendid type of the 
 self-made man, for, early becoming im- 
 bued with a desire to possess land, he 
 saved his earnings, which he invested in 
 property, and as the years have passed 
 he has prospered and has worked his way 
 steadily upward until he is now classed 
 with the substantial, prosperous and hon- 
 ored citizens of Hancock countv. 
 
 DWIGHT CLINTON CUTLER. 
 
 There are in every community quiet, re- 
 tiriilg men who, nevertheless ,exert a 
 strong and beneficial influence in public 
 affairs and such a one was Dwight Clinton 
 Cutler, who for many years was engaged 
 in the drug business in Carthage. At his 
 
 death a feeling of deep regret spread 
 throughout the community, for all who 
 had been associated with him in business 
 or social relations had learned to respect 
 and honor him for his genuine worth 
 and in a quiet and unostentatious way 
 he exerted a strong influence by reason 
 of the strength of his character and his 
 fidelity to high principles. He was born 
 in Holland, New York, February 13, 
 1848, a son of Albert and Pamelia (Hill) 
 Cutler, both of whom were natives of the 
 Empire state. They left Buffalo, New 
 York, for Illinois, where they arrived at 
 an early period in the development of 
 Hancock county. The father was a 
 wagon-maker, following that pursuit in 
 Carthage in pioneer times. He is now 
 living retired in the enjoyment of a rest 
 which he has truly earned and richly 
 deserves. He votes with the democracy 
 and both he and his wife are members 
 of the Methodist church. In their family 
 were five children, of whom two are now 
 living: Howard, proprietor of Hotel 
 Cutler, of Carthage; and De Loss, also 
 residing in Carthage. 
 
 Dwight C. Cutler began his education 
 in the public schools of his native state 
 and after coming to Illinois attended the 
 Aurora Seminary. He entered upon his 
 business career as a clerk in a store in 
 Buffalo, New York, and in 1869 returned 
 to Carthage, where he purchased a drug 
 store, which he conducted successfully for 
 twenty-three years, or until 1891, when 
 failing health compelled him to dispose of 
 the store and he sold out to Mr. Cain. 
 In his business life he was possessed of 
 ?. spirit of enterprise, such as brooks no 
 obstacles but overcomes all difficulties bv
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 707 
 
 determined, honest and earnest effort. 
 He had a well appointed establishment 
 which was attractive in its neat and taste- 
 ful arrangement and which won a liberal 
 patronage by reason of his straightfor- 
 ward business methods. 
 
 On the 8th clay of July, 1875, Mr. Cut- 
 ler was married to Miss Elizabeth Show- 
 ers, a native of Winchester, Preble coun- 
 ty, Ohio, born December 12, 1848, a 
 daughter of Emanuel and Sarah Jane 
 (Wilson) Showers. Her father was 
 born in Pennsylvania, November 26, 
 1814, while the mother's birth occurred 
 in 1820. Mr. Showers was a carpenter 
 by trade and while living in Ohio also 
 did business as a peddler. In 1852 with 
 three other gentlemen he made an over- 
 land trip from Ohio to Carthage and se- 
 lected a site for the original Presbyterian 
 church of this city. The other gentle- 
 men were Mr. Sneeny, who is deceased, 
 and Mr. Swan, the first minister of the 
 Presbyterian church, who resigned his 
 charge in the east and preached in Car- 
 thage for twelve or fourteen years. Mr. 
 Showers was elder in the church for many 
 years, acted as Sunday-school superin- 
 tendent and in fact all of the offices of the 
 church and school with the exception of 
 that of minister. His wife also belonged to 
 the church and both took a very active and 
 helpful part in its work, doing all in their 
 power to promote the moral development 
 of the community and to advance those 
 interests which are beneficial to the race. 
 Both have now passed away, their remains 
 being interred in the old cemetery at Car- 
 thage. Mrs. Showers died at the home 
 of her daughter, Mrs. Cutler, in 1888. 
 Mr. Showers was a democrat in his polit- 
 
 ical views and served as town clerk in 
 Carthage and also as sheriff and deputy 
 sheriff. In the family were seven chil- 
 dren. Mary is the widow of John 
 Spangler and resides at Long Beach, Cali- 
 fornia. Her husband served as a soldier 
 in the Civil war. He was at one time a 
 druggist of Carthage and was also su- 
 perintendent of schools. He occupied a 
 position in Joliet prison, while his wife 
 was matron there for three years and he 
 died in Joliet. Sidney, the second mem- 
 ber of the Showers family, is deceased. 
 Elizabeth became Mrs. Cutler. Edgar, 
 who married Miss Fannie Baker, resides 
 in Chicago and is proprietor of a dry 
 goods store, in which he sells on the in- 
 stallment plan. Willie and the other 
 members of the family have also passed 
 away. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cutler were born 
 four children. Elsie is the wife of Wil- 
 liam Borz, of Carthage, and has two chil- 
 dren, Albert Byron and Mary Elizabeth. 
 Homer Cutler, of Chicago, married Grace 
 Metcalf and their daughter Catherine is 
 a stenographer in Chicago in what is the 
 largest building in the world. Clyde Cut- 
 ler is in the undertaking business in Chi- 
 cago. Edgar Dwight is a high school 
 student in Carthage. The husband and 
 father died July 8,' 1894, and his remains 
 were interred in the Carthage cemetery. 
 He held membership with the Masonic 
 fraternity, with the Ancient Order of 
 United Workmen and the Modern Wood- 
 men camp and his political support was 
 given to the democracy but he never 
 sought or desired office. In manner he 
 was quiet and retiring, he was careful in 
 all of his business interests, systematic
 
 708 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and methodical and at all times thorough- 
 ly trustworthy. While he never sought 
 to figure prominently in public life him- 
 self he was nevertheless an enterprising 
 citizen who gave of his time and means 
 for the town's progress. He possessed 
 a warm heart, a kindly disposition, a 
 genial manner and was prepossessing in 
 appearance. When his health failed he 
 traveled through the west in the hope of 
 being benefited by a change of climate but 
 this proved unavailing. In his family 
 he was a devoted husband and father and 
 was likewise a kind neighbor. In him 
 were embodied many virtues virtues to 
 which the splendid civilization of Amer- 
 ica is indebted for its wonderful develop- 
 ment and its glorious progress. 
 
 Mrs. Cutler and her son Clyde now re- 
 side at the corner of Adams and Walnut 
 streets in a very comfortable home, which 
 her husband purchased twenty-five years 
 ago and which was erected about sixty- 
 five years ago. The property then covered 
 a half block, or six lots, and Mrs. Cutler 
 still retains one lot and the house, in which 
 her daughter, Mrs. Borz, lives in addition 
 to the home property. She also owns a 
 store building on Main street which is 
 now occupied by the Boscoe Grocery 
 Company. The son was a student in the 
 high school at Carthage and is a grad- 
 uate of Carthage College of the class of 
 1902. Mrs. Cutler is a very conscien- 
 tious woman,, possessed of innate culture, 
 refinement and tact, who has displayed ex- 
 cellent qualifications in the management 
 of her business interests and at the same 
 time has those thorough womanly traits 
 of character which render her prominent 
 in social circles. She is a devoted mem- 
 
 ber of the Presbyterian church and also 
 belongs to the Eastern Star, of which she 
 is now matron; For long years she has 
 resided in Carthage and the circle of her 
 friends is an extensive one. 
 
 HENRY CARNES. 
 
 Henry Carnes, a well-to-do and influ- 
 ential agriculturist of Hancock county, 
 has been interested in the agricultural de- 
 velopment of the rich farming lands of 
 Illinois throughout his entire life. He is 
 a native son of this state, his birth hav- 
 ing occurred in Pike county, on the 4th of 
 July, 1844. His parents, Thomas and 
 Elizabeth (McCartney) Carnes, were na- 
 tives of Ohio, and his grandfather, Rea- 
 son Carnes, was likewise born in the 
 Buckeye state. His parents were reared 
 and married in their native state, after 
 which they removed to Pike county, Illi- 
 nois, where the father purchased forty 
 acres of land, which he retained until 
 1858, when he removed with his family 
 to McDonough county, where he pur- 
 chased a tract of one hundred and sixty 
 acres. Later he made his home in Iowa, 
 where he owned and operated a farm, 
 and on disposing of that property once 
 more took up his abode in this state, com- 
 ing to Hancock county. He purchased a 
 farm of forty acres on section 12, La 
 Harpe township, and added to this from 
 time to time until he owned one hundred 
 and sixty-seven and a half acres, which 
 he improved and 'cultivated, making it a
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 709 
 
 valuable piece of property. He died on 
 the farm in April, 1901, while his wife 
 had passed away in Schuyler county, this 
 state, in 1870. 
 
 Henry Carnes, whose name introduces 
 this record, is the third in a family of 
 three sons and two daughters, and is a 
 self-educated man. At a very early age 
 he took his place in the fields, assisting 
 his father in the arduous task of clearing 
 wild land and transforming it into cul- 
 tivable fields. In those early days the 
 farm machinery was very crude as com- 
 pared with the modern implements used 
 at the present time. He continued under 
 the parental roof until the outbreak of the 
 Civil war, when, his patriotic spirit being 
 aroused by the attempt of the south to 
 overthrow the Union, he offered his serv- 
 ices to the government, enlisting as a 
 member of Company D, Fifty-third Illi- 
 nois Volunteer Infantry. He was mus- 
 tered into service at Quincy, and the com- 
 mand went at once to New York, where 
 they embarked for Morehead, North Car- 
 olina, being seven days and nights on the 
 water. He saw much arduous duty dur- 
 ing his service, participating in many im- 
 portant engagements, including the battle 
 at Raleigh, and from there the company 
 marched to Washington, D. C, where 
 Mr. Carnes took part in the grand review 
 at the close of hostilities, and after being 
 honorably discharged at Chicago, re- 
 turned to his home, having made a most 
 creditable military record. 
 
 Following his return home he re- 
 sumed the occupation to which he had 
 been reared, and in November, 1868, was 
 united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann 
 Cass, a native of Ohio, who was born 
 
 November 12, 1854, a daughter of Sam- 
 uel and Jennetta (Duboid) Cass, who lo- 
 cated in Hancock county about 1855. In 
 1886 Mr. Games purchased the old home 
 farm of his father, and has since added 
 many modern and substantial improve- 
 ments to the place. His fields are divided 
 by woven wire fencing, and in 1890 he 
 built a nice home. In addition to his 
 fanning operations, our subject is also 
 engaged quite extensively in the raising 
 of fruit and now owns a fine orchard, 
 containing two hundred apple, one hun- 
 dred peach, seventy-five pear and fifteen 
 cherry trees, and he likewise raises small 
 fruit and berries. In 1896 Mr. Carnes 
 purchased one hundred and forty acres 
 of land lying on section 13. La Harpe 
 township. This he improved by the erec- 
 tion of a house and other substantial 
 buildings and also set out a large orchard. 
 For this tract he paid three thousand, 
 three hundred and seventy-five dollars, 
 and in 1904 he disposed of the property 
 for seventy-eight hundred dollars, the 
 place having more than doubled in value, 
 owing to the many improvements which 
 he had placed upon it. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have 
 been born five sons and three daughters, 
 of whom seven still survive : Melzer 
 Adelbert, who died at the age of nearly 
 two years; Jesse, a resident of Mount 
 Union, Henry county, Iowa ; Ernest, of 
 La Harpe ; Effie, now the wife of Thomas 
 Scanlan. residing near Lacrosse. Illinois ; 
 Grover, who assists his father in the op- 
 eration of the home place ; Jennetta, the 
 wife of Alvin Thompson, residing in this 
 township; Mamie, the wife of Ward Mel- 
 vin, of Dallas City; and John, who at the
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 age of fourteen years is yet under the pa- 
 rental roof. 
 
 Mr. Carnes is a republican in his polit- 
 ical affiliation, and is identified with the 
 Methodist Protestant church at La Harpe, 
 while fraternally he is connected with the 
 Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
 the Grand Army of the Republic, both 
 at La Harpe. Having accompanied his 
 parents to Illinois during his early youth, 
 Mr. Carnes came here at a very early day, 
 and during the long years of his residence 
 in this section of the state has seen many 
 changes as the work of development and 
 progress has been carried steadily for- 
 ward. He has killed many deer and 
 wolves, for wild game of all kinds was 
 plentiful in the early days. Taking his 
 place in the fields almost as soon as he 
 was old enough to reach the plow handles, 
 he was early trained to the work of the 
 farm, and has always continued in this 
 line of activity. Having been deprived of 
 educational privileges in his youth, much 
 credit is due him for what he has accom- 
 plished in a business way, for he displays 
 excellent ability in the management of his 
 affairs and is today one of the wealthy 
 and highly esteemed citizens of Hancock 
 county. 
 
 E. H. RAND. 
 
 E. H. Rand is a man of marked busi- 
 ness enterprise, carefully and successfully 
 conducting varied interests at the present 
 time. He is a general merchant of Pon- 
 toosuc, is also carrying on an extensive 
 
 poultry business and likewise farms 
 two hundred acres of valuable land. He 
 was born in Denmark, Iowa, in 1842, a 
 son of Thomas and Mary S. (Badger) 
 Rand. The mother was born in Boston, 
 and the father in Keene, New Hampshire. 
 He became a clerk in Boston in early 
 life, and in 1835 sought a home in the 
 middle west, settling in Quincy, Illinois. 
 Subsequently lie became a farmer of Pay- 
 son, Illinois, and he died in September, 
 1842, a short time prior to the 
 birth of E. H. Rand of this review. 
 He was then forty-two years of age, 
 having been born in 1800. His wife, 
 who was born in 1808, passed away 
 in Chicago, in 1893, and her grave 
 was made in Quincy, Illinois. In their 
 family were five children, of whom four 
 are now living: Thomas Henry, a resi- 
 dent of Boise City; Idaho; L. B., living 
 in Kansas City, Missouri; Martha J., the 
 widow of Fry Thompson, and a resident 
 of California; and E. H., of this review. 
 One daughter, Mary E., who was the 
 third of the family, became the wife of 
 James Noyes, of Kansas, and is deceased! 
 E. H. Rand acquired his education in 
 the schools of Denmark, Quincy, Illinois, 
 and Pontoosuc. He remained with his 
 widowed mother until he had attained his 
 majority, and when twenty-two years of 
 age he married Miss Mary Louisa Har- 
 per, who was born in New York state in 
 1844, a daughter of Abraham and Mary 
 S. Harper, the former a native of New 
 Hampshire. Her father was a merchant 
 and speculator and at a very early epoch 
 in the history of Hancock county settled 
 at La Harpe, whence he afterward re- 
 moved to Pontoosuc, living there for forty
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 711 
 
 years. He died in Burlington, Iowa, 
 about twenty-five years ago, while his 
 wife died in that city in 1905. They were 
 the parents of six children: Warren, 
 who passed away in Burlington, where 
 he had lived for a number of years ; Car- 
 rie, the wife of L. B. Rand, a brother of 
 our subject, residing in Kansas City, Mis- 
 souri ; Mrs. E. H. Rand ; Seymour, of 
 Oklahoma ; Lewis, of Kansas City ; and 
 Emma, the deceased wife of John 
 Campbell. 
 
 Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Rand began their domestic life in Pon- 
 toosuc, where for a number of years he 
 was engaged in the lumber and grain 
 trades. He afterward spent twenty years 
 in- Mississippi, being captain and pilot of 
 various boats. He then began dealing in 
 poultry, butter and eggs, and is still carry- 
 ing on an extensive business in this line 
 in connection with a general store at Pon- 
 toosuc, and also one at Fountain Green. 
 In both his mercantile enterprises he has 
 met with success and now has two well 
 appointed general stores, carrying a large 
 and carefully selected line of goods, for 
 which he finds a ready sale. He has the 
 principal market for butter and eggs in 
 his part of the county, and in addition to 
 his operations in that business he is also 
 well known as a prosperous and enter- 
 prising farmer, owning and operating two 
 hundred acres of rich land on sections 4 
 and 5, Pontoosuc township. He readily 
 comprehends intricate business situations 
 and finds a solution for difficult business 
 problems, and his diligence and persever- 
 ance have constituted salient features in 
 his prosperity. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rand have been 
 45 
 
 born eight children : Frank, who died in 
 infancy; Addie B., who was born in 1867, 
 and is the wife of Perry Sines, of Pontoo- 
 suc, by whom she has a daughter, Grace; 
 Charles H., who was born in 1869, and 
 is in business with his father in Pontoosuc, 
 where he makes his home, having mar- 
 ried Delia M. Richardson, by whom he 
 has one daughter, Leona G. ; Pearl, who 
 was born in 1871, and lives with her par- 
 ents ; Carrie, who was born in September, 
 1873, and is the wife of John Barker, of 
 Pontoosuc township, by whom she has 
 two sons, Howard and Carroll ; Nellie, 
 who was born in 1875, and is the wife of 
 Claude Daily, of Pontoosuc, by whom she 
 has one child, Osborne; Frederick, who 
 was born in 1879, and was a soldier of 
 the Spanish-American war, going to the 
 Philippines, since which time he has oc- 
 cupied a responsible position as clerk in 
 the office of the president of the Santa Fe 
 Railroad, of Chicago, where he resides, 
 having married Mabel Evans, by whom 
 he has one son, Evans; and Harry S., 
 who was born in 1885 and is living at 
 home. Mrs. Rand is a devoted member 
 of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Rand 
 is a republican and has served as mayor 
 of Pontoosuc for one or two terms, also 
 as trustee of the village and as a member 
 of the school board. He faithfully per- 
 forms every duty incumbent upon him as 
 a public-spirited citizen and is one of the 
 most highly respected as well as most 
 progressive residents of this part of the 
 county. His life history reflects credit 
 upon one of the pioneer families of this 
 portion of the state, for his unabating 
 energy and his industry that never flags 
 have constituted the secret of his success,
 
 712 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 while his straightforward dealing has 
 gained for him the respect and confidence 
 which are uniformly extended him. 
 
 CHARLES E. CRUM. 
 
 Charles E. Crum, a resident farmer of 
 La Harpe township, where he is engaged 
 in general agricultural pursuits and 
 stock-raising, is a native son of this town- 
 ship, his natal day being August i, 1879. 
 He is a son of Charles P. and Salina 
 (James) Crum, the former born in 
 Arensville, Cass county, Illinois, April 
 n, 1853, while the mother's birth oc- 
 curred in this township September 8, 
 1856. The paternal grandparents of our 
 subject were James and Christina Crum, 
 while the maternal grandparents were An- 
 drew J. and Sydney (Pigman) James. 
 The father of our subject went from his 
 native county to Adrian, Michigan. 
 It was while attending college there 
 that he met his wife, and later 
 they were married in this township. Fol- 
 lowing his marriage he carried on general 
 agricultural pursuits in this township, 
 owning considerable land both in Hancock 
 and Henderson counties. For a time he 
 was engaged in a mercantile enterprise 
 at Disco, his partner being his brother- 
 in-law, Evan James, but eventually dis- 
 posed of his business interests in the vil- 
 lage and once more engaged in agricul- 
 tural pursuits and stock-raising, which 
 continued to be his occupation until March 
 25. 1885, when he met his death in a rail- 
 road accident while on his way home from 
 
 Missouri. At one time Mr. Crum was 
 engaged in teaching in Gittings Seminary 
 at La Harpe, and he and his family were 
 residing in this city where he was 
 teaching at the time of his death. 
 His widow continued her residence here 
 until March, 1893, when she removed 
 to the farm property, where she has 
 since been located. In their family 
 were born four sons and one daughter : 
 Ray Ream, born April 8, 1877, is now en- 
 gaged in the drug business at Sutherland, 
 Iowa. He was married December 28, 
 1901, to Miss Belle Todd, of Des Moines, 
 Iowa. James E. and Charles E., of this 
 review, twins, were born August I, 1879. 
 The former was married October 30, 
 1905, to Miss Catherine Yager, a native 
 of Durham township, this county, and 
 their home is in Chicago. Mabel C, 
 born December 7, 1881, is now the wife 
 of E. R. McManiman, and resides at 
 Galesburg. Virgil A., born March 30, 
 1884. is with his mother on the home 
 farm. 
 
 During the time of his parents' resi- 
 dence in La Harpe, Charles E. Crum at- 
 tended the public schools, and clerked in 
 various stores in the city during his boy- 
 hood and youth, or until the removal of 
 his mother to the farm after the death of 
 his father. He then assisted in the op- 
 eration of the fields and the raising of 
 stock, and has here continued to the pres- 
 ent time, being accounted one of the young 
 and prosperous farmers of this commu- 
 nity. 
 
 Choosing a companion and helpmate 
 for life's journey, he was married Sep- 
 tember 25, 1901, to Miss Catherine C. 
 Eradshaw, likewise a native of Hancock
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 713 
 
 county, where she pursued her early edu- 
 cation, which was supplemented by a 
 course of study in St. Mary's Academy, 
 at Nauvoo. She is a daughter of George 
 W. and Delia (Manifold) Bradshaw, the 
 former born in La Harpe, January I, 
 1841, a son of Joel and Catherine (Dix- 
 on) Bradshaw, while the mother, who 
 was born in Durham township, February 
 /, 1853, is a daughter of Benjamin Jas- 
 per and Cornelia (Hutton) Manifold, and 
 it was here that their daughter Delia gave 
 her hand in marriage to George Brad- 
 shaw, on the 1st of January, 1880. Unto 
 our subject and his wife have been born 
 one son and two daughters: Charles 
 Pierce, born September 20, 1902; Ruth 
 Darlyn, born September 4, 1903 ; and Ma- 
 bel Catherine, August 18, 1905. 
 
 Mr. Crum's study of the political ques- 
 tions and issues of the day has led him to 
 give stalwart support to the Republican 
 party, while in his fraternal relations he is 
 identified with the Odd Fellows lodge, 
 No. 688, and the Modern Woodmen 
 camp, both at Disco. He and his wife are 
 popular young people and have a host of 
 warm friends, to whom they have become 
 endeared by reason of their many traits 
 of character. 
 
 KINZY H. BOWEN. 
 
 Kinzy W. Bowen is the owner of an 
 excellent farm of one hundred and fifty 
 acres on sections 8 and 9, Fountain Green 
 township, all of which is under cultiva- 
 
 tion save about fifteen acres of timber 
 land on the latter section. His home 
 stands on section 8, and the entire farm 
 presents a well-kept appearance. The 
 owner was born in Terre Haute township, 
 Henderson county, Illinois, October 21, 
 1866. His paternal grandparents were 
 John and Pollie Bowen, natives of Vir- 
 ginia. They became early settlers of 
 Terre Haute township, where John 
 Bowen secured land by entering a claim 
 from the government on the boundary 
 line between Henderson and Hancock 
 counties. He broke many acres of prairie 
 in that vicinity, and added to his posses- 
 sions until he had an entire section of 
 prairie land, one-half in Terre Haute 
 township and the remainder in Raritan 
 township. 
 
 Thomas LaFayette Bowen, father of 
 our subject, was born in Henderson coun- 
 ty, and was married in Terre Haute, in 
 1862, to Miss Sarah D. Knowles, also a 
 native of that county. Her parents, 
 Philip and Martha Knowles, were of Eng- 
 lish descent. The former was a minister 
 of the United Brethren church and was 
 one of the early settlers of this part of 
 the state. Thomas L. Bowen followed 
 the occupation of farming as a life work 
 and still resides on the old home place at 
 the age of sixty-six years, but his wife 
 died in January, 1902. Their children 
 were : Warren, who is living in Yuma 
 county, California; K. H., of this review; 
 Dora, who died in 1881, at the age of 
 twelve years and seven months ; Allie, the 
 wife of C. E. Harris, of Los Angeles, 
 California. 
 
 Kinzy H. Bowen was educated in the 
 district schools and made his home with
 
 714 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 his parents until March 19, 1888 his 
 wedding day. He married Anna M. 
 Finch, who was born in Terre Haute 
 township, December 20, 1870, a daughter 
 of William and Ellen (Pennie) Finch, na- 
 tives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, re- 
 spectively. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Bowen lived 
 upon a rented farm in Henderson county 
 for a year and then removed to Blandins- 
 ville township, McDonough county, where 
 he rented the John Mustain farm for six 
 years. He afterward leased and operated 
 the farm of C. H. Nelson in Henderson 
 county, but after four years returned to 
 McDonough county and purchased a farm 
 of one hundred acres in Emmet township. 
 He cultivated it for three years and then 
 sold out, after which, in September, 1902, 
 he purchased his present farm of one hun- 
 dred and fifty-five acres in Hancock coun- 
 ty, all of which is under a high state of 
 cultivation and yields good crops save 
 for a small tract of timber land of fifteen 
 acres. One of the first improvements he 
 made was putting up seven hundred rods 
 of woven wire fence. He is extensively 
 engaged in raising Poland China hogs, 
 and for their shelter built a house sixty- 
 four by sixteen feet. He has also built 
 u large barn for horses and hay and a 
 poultry house, thirty-two by fourteen feet. 
 He has a granary, buggy and implement 
 house and workshop on his place, together 
 with a comfortable residence, and every- 
 thing on the farm presents an attractive 
 appearance, indicative of the care and su- 
 pervison of the owner. In all that he 
 does he is practical and therefore success- 
 ful. He deals extensively in draft horses, 
 keeping about fifteen head on his farm. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bowen ha 
 been blessed with eight children : Gu; 
 Franklin, born August 8, 1889; Eula Mil 
 licent, July 2, 1891 ; Roy Glenn, Septem 
 her 10, 1892; Elive Esther, December 20 
 1894; Leta May, May 14, 1896; Walte 
 Jennings, May 26, 1897; Ralph William 
 who was born February 7, 1899, and die< 
 August 2, 1901 ; and Sarah Ellen, bon 
 August 2, 1901. 
 
 Mr. Bowen votes with the democracy 
 and holds membership with the Moden 
 Woodmen camp at Blandinsville. He ha 
 always lived in this part of the state, an< 
 since starting out in business on his owi 
 account he has worked persistently am 
 energetically in order to provide a gooc 
 home for his family. His laudable am 
 bition has been crowned with success, anc 
 his enterprise and diligence have come of 
 conqueror in the strife which confront; 
 every man in the business world. 
 
 ANTONE DAVIER. 
 
 Antone Davier, starting out in life for 
 himself at the early age of twelve years, 
 and realizing that labor is the foundation 
 for honorable success, has worked his way 
 steadily upward from a humble beginning 
 until he is today in control of varied busi- 
 ness interests in Hancock county. A na- 
 tive of St. Teene, France, his birth oc- 
 curred September 21, 1856, and when 
 only two years of age was brought by his 
 parents, Antone and Frances Davier, to
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 715 
 
 America, the home being established at 
 Nauvoo. After a time the parents re- 
 moved to La Harpe, and the father then 
 went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
 where he secured employment as a silk 
 weaver. In 1865, while returning from 
 Pennsylvania to his family in La Harpe, 
 his death occurred on the train. His 
 wife continued to reside in La Harpe 
 until her death, which occurred in the 
 spring of 1880. In the family were only 
 two children, the sister of our subject 
 being Mary Davier, who resides in Disco. 
 Antone Davier began work as a farm 
 hand at the early age of twelve years, 
 and was employed in that way during the 
 summer months until he had reached the 
 age of eighteen, while during the winter 
 seasons he attended school. Having been 
 trained to habits of industry and economy 
 by saving his earnings he was enabled to 
 start out upon an independent business ca- 
 reer when eighteen years of age, by rent- 
 ing a farm belonging to James Gittings, 
 which later became the property of I. \Y. 
 Cassell, and on this farm Mr. Davier con- 
 tinued to reside for twenty years. Pros- 
 pering in his undertakings he was then 
 justified in making purchase of land, 
 when, in 1898, he became the owner of 
 one hundred and seventy-three acres, sit- 
 uated on section 7, La Harpe township. 
 He there took up his abode and con- 
 tinued the work of general agricultural 
 pursuits until 1904, when he leased his 
 property and removed to Disco, where he 
 bought the elevator formerly owned by 
 T. W. Kimler, and he is now conducting 
 a prosperous business, dealing in all kinds 
 of grain and stock, thus furnishing a mar- 
 ket for the local trade. He also deals in 
 
 both hard and soft coal, and this branch 
 of his business is likewise proving a profit- 
 able source of revenue to him. In 1902, 
 in company with T. G. Sights, Mr. Davier 
 purchased the mercantile establishment 
 owned by Charles Collins, in which our 
 subject owns a half interest. Both are 
 men of enterprise and carry a stock of 
 general merchandise to meet the demands 
 of the general public. In addition to the 
 farm which he formerly occupied, Mr. 
 Davier also owns an eighty-acre tract sit- 
 uated on section 5, La Harpe township, 
 and a second eighty-acres tract situated 
 on section 16, of the same township. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Davier is a 
 republican but is not active in the work 
 of the party for aside from his personal 
 business interests he has little time for 
 office holding. He has, however, served 
 as road supervisor of his township. He 
 can well be termed a self-made man, for, 
 starting out in life at a very early age, 
 without capital or assistance of any kind, 
 he has gradually worked his way upward 
 until he is today one of the leading factors 
 in business and financial circles of Han- 
 cock county. He follows only the strict- 
 est business principles in the conduct of 
 his varied interests, and is a man of genial 
 disposition and pleasing manner. 
 
 JOHN PITT. 
 
 Former years of prosperity now enables 
 John Pitt to live retired in Nauvoo, in 
 the enjoyment of a well earned rest.
 
 7 i6 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Since 1885 he has made his home in this 
 county, where he owns considerable val- 
 uable property. He has now passed the 
 seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey, 
 his birth having occurred in Dymock, 
 Gloucestershire, England, December 30, 
 1827. His paternal grandfather, Robert 
 Pitt, married a Miss Hill, and their son 
 Thomas, who became the father of our 
 subject, was also a native of Gloucester- 
 shire. Having reached adult age he was 
 married in his native country to Miss 
 Charlotte Hadwick, whose birth occurred 
 in Herfordshire, England. Ten children 
 were born unto them ere they crossed the 
 Atlantic to America. Mr. Pitt came to 
 Nauvoo in the spring of 1841 with her 
 mother-in-law, Mrs. Robert Pitt, who 
 died during that summer. It was the 
 intention of Thomas Pitt to make the voy- 
 age in the fall of 1841 but he was delayed 
 by business complications until the spring 
 of 1842. 
 
 John Pitt, whose name introduces this 
 record, made the trip to the new world 
 with friends, who sailed to New Orleans, 
 from which town he proceeded up the 
 Mississippi river to St. Louis, where he 
 arrived after two weeks. This was in the 
 fall, of 1841. He soon made his way to 
 Warsaw but it was some time before the 
 party could secure wagons to bring them 
 on to Nauvoo. After arriving at this 
 place Mr. Pitt made his home with his 
 mother and did tithing by working on the 
 Nauvoo House, which is partially stand- 
 ing today. The Mormon temple had re- 
 cently been begun and was completed to 
 such an extent that services could be held 
 therein. The father arrived in the spring 
 of 1842 and purchased forty acres of land 
 
 on section II, Sonora township, which 
 at that time was wild prairie. He then 
 hauled a load of lumber to the place, left 
 it there and started for a second load. 
 Upon his return, however, he was a long 
 time locating the first load on account of 
 the height of the prairie grass. With 
 characteristic energy he began turning the 
 sod and cultivating the fields, continuing 
 the work of development and improve- 
 ment throughout his remaining days. He 
 there established a good home for his 
 family and was identified with general 
 agricultural pursuits in Sonora township 
 up to the time of his demise, which oc- 
 curred in 1887. His wife survived him 
 for a number of years, passing away 
 about 1898. There was one child born 
 unto them after their arrival in this 
 county. 
 
 John Pitt was the sixth in a family of 
 five sons and six daughters. He pur- 
 sued his education in the schools of his 
 native country and after coming to Amer- 
 ica assisted in the work of the home farm 
 until 1853, when he was married to Miss 
 Mary Jane Chadsey, whose birth occurred 
 in Vincennes, Indiana. She was a daugh- 
 ter of John Milton and Margaret 
 (Mitchell) Chadsey, likewise natives of 
 the Hoosier state. During the Mormon 
 troubles her parents were allowed to re- 
 main, owing to the fact that Mr. Chadsey 
 was a mechanic, although they had been 
 ordered to depart. 
 
 Following his marriage Mr. Pitt 
 bought thirty-four acres of land to which 
 he kept adding from time to time until 
 his possessions comprised five hundred 
 acres, becoming one of the extensive land- 
 owners of the community. Subsequently
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 717 
 
 he deeded eighty acres to each of his four 
 sons and he now owns about one hundred 
 and sixty acres in different tracts in Rock 
 Creek and Sonora townships. Most of 
 the land was unimproved when it came 
 into possession but in later years he pur- 
 chased improved property. Indolence and 
 idleness being utterly foreign to his na- 
 ture he resolutely undertook the task of 
 bringing his property under a high state 
 of cultivation and in the course of years 
 gathered good harvests, where had for- 
 merly been seen the native prairie grasses. 
 He also erected a fine brick residence to 
 replace the frame house that was 
 destroyed by fire and this is now occupied 
 by his son William, who purchased it 
 from his father. Mr. Pitt carried on gen- 
 eral farming continuously and success- 
 fully until 1885, when he removed to 
 Nauvoo, where he now owns several 
 houses and lots. He also has several 
 business blocks in the city and his real 
 estate interests return him a good income. 
 He makes his home with his son Charles. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pitt have been born 
 the following named: James Albert, 
 who is living in Los Angeles, California ; 
 Lottie, the wife of Duncan Cummins, of 
 Bardsdale, California; Mary, the wife of 
 William Chadsey, of Los Angeles, Cali- 
 fornia; William H., of Sonora township; 
 John Franklin, superintendent of the oil 
 wells at Tulsa, Indian Territory; Charles 
 Robert, who is living in Nauvoo; Fred, 
 who is in Rock Creek township, where 
 he follows farming; Lillian, who became 
 the wife of Frank Chadsey, and died in 
 California about 1892; Eva, the wife of 
 George Brown, of Los Angeles, Cali- 
 fornia; and Mrs. Cora Sanders, who re- 
 
 sides upon a ranch near Los Angeles. 
 Mr. Pitt and his family are conencted 
 with the church of the Latter Day Saints 
 at Nauvoo. He is a republican and has 
 served as school director, as constable and 
 overseer. In the community where he 
 has spent the greater part of his life he is 
 known as a respected and worthy citizen 
 who has lived at peace with his fellowmen 
 and has been straightforward and honor- 
 able in his dealings. He has prospered, 
 and an anajyzation into his life record 
 shows that his success has been the legiti- 
 mate outcome of his earnest purpose and 
 his unremitting industry. 
 
 CECIL JOHN SHERMAN BAXTER. 
 
 The raising of grapes and the manu- 
 facture of wine are important industries 
 of Nauvoo and the surrounding districts, 
 being large sources of revenue for the 
 residents of the town and locality. The 
 land, a gentle slope toward the Missis- 
 sippi, is especially adapted to grape cul- 
 ture, and no finer grapes can be produced 
 in all the country than come from the 
 vineyards of this section of the state. 
 
 Cecil John Sherman Baxter is among 
 the number who are carrying on business 
 as a vineyardist and manufacturer of 
 wine. He was born in Nauvoo, Feb- 
 ruary 1 6, 1 86 1, and is a son of Emil and 
 Annette (Powell) Baxter, the former 
 born near Paris, France, and the latter in 
 England. Further mention of them is 
 made on another page of this work in
 
 7 i8 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 connection with the sketch of Emil Bax- 
 ter. The father engaged in the raising 
 of grapes and the manufacture of wine, 
 and in his youth the subject of this re- 
 view became familiar with the business in 
 its various details and was admitted to a 
 partnership with his father and brothers, 
 Emil J. and Thomas, in 1882, under the 
 firm style of E. Baxter's Sons. He had 
 acquired his preliminary education in the 
 schools of Nauvoo and had attended Car- 
 thage College for one term. He then 
 entered busines life as previously stated 
 and the enterprise is still conducted under 
 the firm style of E. Baxter & Sons. In 
 connection with his brother Thomas he 
 now owns ninty-six acres of land in the 
 city of Nauvoo, which is devoted to the 
 raising of grapes. After the father's 
 death the business was continued by the 
 three sons until 1902, when Emil J. sold 
 his interest to Cecil and Thomas, who 
 now conduct the business along modern 
 scientific lines resulting in success. They 
 make from ten to twenty thousand gallons 
 of wine annually, and have a cellerage 
 capacity of twenty thousand gallons. 
 They are conducting an exclusively 
 wholesale business and ship their output 
 largely to the south, where, because of its 
 excellent quality it finds a ready sale on 
 the market. 
 
 On the loth of May, 1883, Mr. Baxter 
 was married to Miss Elenora Knithan, 
 who was born- in Nauvoo, and obtained 
 her preliminary education in the public 
 schools, while later she attended St. 
 Mary's Convent. She also pursued the 
 study of music in Burlington under Pro- 
 fessor Richards and also under Profes- 
 sor W. H. Sherwood, spending several 
 
 years in that city. She also spent one 
 summer at Bielefeld, Prussia, Germany, 
 pursuing her musical education, and she 
 has much more than ordinary talent in 
 this direction. She is a daughter of 
 Frederick and Elizabeth (Peters) 
 Knithan, the former a native of Dort- 
 mund, Prussia, and the latter of Marietta, 
 Ohio. Her grandfather Knithan was a 
 prominent musician, and he with Paganini 
 played before the Emperor of Prussia. 
 Frederick Knithan came to the United 
 States by way of South America, having 
 spent a few years in touring the islands 
 of Tierra del Fuego. In 1857 he settled 
 at Nauvoo. While in Germany he had 
 studied and become a practitioner of med- 
 icine and after locating in Hancock coun- 
 ty engaged in practice for a number of 
 years at Nauvoo. In 1870 he removed 
 to Burlington, Iowa, where he practiced 
 in partnership with Dr. Harvey, and con- 
 tinued an active representative of the 
 medical fraternity of that city until 1898, 
 when he retired from professional life and 
 made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Bax- 
 ter until his death, which occurred De- 
 cember 13, 1904. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baxter have been 
 born six children : Harriet Alta, born 
 January 17, 1885: Salome Elizabeth, Oc- 
 tober 21, 1886; Cecil John, April 21, 
 1888; Fred Knithan, September 17, 1893; 
 Anita Elenore, January 9, 1894; and 
 Emil Oscar, September 6, 1895. The 
 family home is one of the fine residences 
 of Nauvoo. It was built of brick in the 
 fall of 1900 and contains eleven rooms. 
 It is lighted by acetylene gas and supplied 
 with all modern conveniences and acces- 
 sories. It stands in the midst of a beau-
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 719 
 
 tiful lawn, adorned with fine shade trees, 
 and in addition to this property Mr. Bax- 
 ter owns in connection with his two broth- 
 ers three hundred and twenty acres of 
 land in Hand county, South Dakota, also 
 one hundred and sixty acres in Sherman 
 county, Kansas, and one hundred and 
 sixty acres in Lee county, Iowa, just 
 outside the city limits of Fort Madi- 
 son and it is his intention to plant 
 this farm entirely to fruit, owing 
 to the splendid adaptability of this sec- 
 tion of the country for fruit culture. In 
 seeking for the causes which have con- 
 tributed to his success we find them not 
 so much in their rarity as in their harmo- 
 nious union and they may be briefly 
 summed up by saying that he has the 
 tastes of a scholar, the manners of a gen- 
 tleman and the habits of a man of busi- 
 ness a combination of qualities that are 
 bound to produce the best results. He is 
 a republican but without aspiration for 
 office, as his time is fully occupied by his 
 constantly increasing business interests. 
 
 DR. DAVID LOY TRESSLER, PH. D. 
 
 There are few men whose lives are 
 crowned with the honor and respect which 
 was uniformly accorded to Professor 
 David Loy Tressler. but through many 
 years' connection with the history of Car- 
 thage his was an unblemished character. 
 With him advancement in life was reached 
 through his sterling qualities of mind and 
 a heart true to every manly principle. He 
 never deviated from what his judgment 
 
 would indicate to be right and hororable 
 between his fellowmen and himself ; never 
 swerved from the path of duty and con- 
 stantly put forth earnest and effective 
 effort to lift his fellowmen to a recogni- 
 tion and following of the high ideals 
 which directed his own life. He was 
 moreover a man of broad scholarly attain- 
 ments and his intellectual and moral force 
 made him a power for good not only in 
 the educational institution with which he 
 was so long connected but in Carthage, 
 the county, and wherever he was known. 
 A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Tressler 
 was born in the village of Loysville, Feb- 
 ruary 15, 1839. His father died in 1859. 
 The son was provided with liberal edu- 
 cational privileges, his father having been 
 a noted educator of his day, with keen 
 recognition of the value of thorough in- 
 tellectual training as a preparation for 
 life's practical and responsible duties. 
 Dr. Tressler therefore prepared for col- 
 lege in Loysville Academy, an institution 
 founded by his father. He subsequently 
 entered Pennsylvania College at Gettys- 
 burg, from which he was granuated in 
 1860 with the valedictorian honors of his 
 class and soon afterward he took charge 
 of Loysville Academy, where he was en- 
 gaged in teaching at the time of the out- 
 break of the Civil war. He enlisted for 
 service in the Union army and was com- 
 missioned a captain of the One Hundred 
 and Thirty-third Regiment of Pennsyl- 
 vania Volunteers, with which he partici- 
 pated in the battles of Fredericksburg, 
 Antietam, South Mountain and others, 
 often inspiring his men with his own cour- 
 age, zeal and- loyalty. He was twice 
 wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg
 
 720 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and on the expiration of his term of ser- 
 vice in 1864, he was tendered a colonelcy 
 but thought best to decline the honor and 
 returned to Pennsylvania, where he was 
 again actively connected with educational 
 work. 
 
 Dr. Tressler entered upon the active 
 work of the ministry in 1870 at Lena, 
 Illinois, and in 1872 was elected to a pro- 
 fessorship in Carthage College, while in 
 1873 he was chosen the first president of 
 the institution. In connection with the 
 duties of this office he had charge of its 
 financial affairs which gave him additional 
 care and labor and he was likewise pastor 
 of the Trinity Lutheran church of Car- 
 thage. He did much in building up both 
 the church and the college and was deeply, 
 earnestly and zealously interested in his 
 chosen work, doing' all in his power to 
 plant the seeds of intellectual and moral 
 culture and thus to lift man to a high 
 standard of living with principles which 
 work for the best character development. 
 He responded readily and willingly to all 
 calls which were made upon him in behalf 
 of his fellowmen and it was one of these 
 missions of helpfulness that he incurred 
 the illness which terminated his life's la- 
 bors when he was yet in the prime of life. 
 He made a trip to West Point on horse- 
 back and becoming very fatigued he con- 
 tracted a severe cold, resulting in pneu- 
 monia. He was unable to throw off the 
 disease and passed away on the 2oth of 
 February, 1880. In early manhood Dr v 
 Tressler was married to Miss Ada Jo- 
 sephine Mclntire, also a native of Penn- 
 sylvania. She was a granddaughter of a 
 Revolutionary soldier and represented one 
 of the old and prominent families of the 
 
 Keystone state. To her husband she was 
 a very faithful companion and helpmate 
 on life's journey, sharing with him in all 
 his efforts to benefit mankind and inspir- 
 ing him with her encouraging words and 
 active co-operation. Unto Dr. and Mrs. 
 Tressler were born five children. Mary 
 Loretta is now the wife of Professor Cy- 
 rus B. Newcomer, of Carthage College, 
 who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. 
 Elizabeth Agnes is the wife of James 
 Sumner Maloney, a resident of Polo, Illi- 
 nois ; Charles J. is an able lawyer, repre- 
 senting the firm of Swift & Company, of 
 Chicago. The other members of the 
 family are deceased. 
 
 Dr. Tressler possessed a rare combina- 
 tion of excellent qualities which admirably 
 fitted him for the position which he filled. 
 He was a man of indomitable energy, keen 
 intellectuality, of ready tact and excellent 
 business ability, all of which qualities are 
 needed in the successful management of 
 an educational institution. He possessed 
 a kindly, generous and sympathetic nature 
 and cheerful and optimistic disposition, 
 being inclined always to look upon the 
 bright side. He was also a man of ready 
 and pleasing address, capable of easily 
 adapting himself to all classes of people 
 and making the humblest feel at ease in 
 his presence. In his efforts and unflag- 
 ing zeal for Carthage College and the 
 advancement of the Christian kingdom he 
 sacrificed his life and the church and 
 college lost in his death one of the most 
 efficient leaders and useful servants. His 
 memory, however, is yet cherished by all 
 who knew him and remains as a blessed 
 benediction to all who were associated 
 with him in his work or came under his
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 721 
 
 teaching. In the pulpit and on the lecture 
 platform he was a fluent speaker, having 
 his subject thoroughly in hand and ad- 
 dressing his audiences in the logical, con- 
 vincing manner which never fails to leave 
 a deep impress upon the minds of the 
 hearers. He had but just entered upon 
 his forty-second year when called to his 
 final rest. The funeral services, con- 
 ducted by the Rev. Mr. Kuhl and Dr. 
 Rhodes, of St. Louis, were largely at- 
 tended by many ministers and friends out- 
 side of the city as well as by a large con- 
 course of Carthage people. No man in 
 Hancock county was ever more respected 
 or enjoyed more fully the confidence of 
 the public or better deserved such respect 
 and confidence. In his lifetime those who 
 knew him, recognizing his worth, rejoiced 
 in his advancement and in the honors to 
 which he attained and since his death they 
 have cherished his memory. 
 
 F. H. C. NEWCOMB. 
 
 F. H. C. Newcomb, whose life has been 
 devoted to general farming and stock- 
 raising, was born in Colchester, Vermont, 
 March 16, 1828, and has therefore 
 reached the age of seventy-eight years, 
 being one of the esteemed and venerable 
 citizens of his part of Hancock county. 
 His parents were P. P. and Sarah Ann 
 f Munson) Newcomb. The father was. 
 born in Bardstown, Massachusetts, May 
 19, 1804, and in 1839 removed from 
 Colchester, Vermont, to Rushville, Illi- 
 
 nois, while in 1836 he became a resident 
 of Pulaski, Hancock county. When he 
 arrived there he built a log cabin twelve 
 by twelve feet, in which he lived until he 
 erected the first frame house in the town. 
 For miles around there was not another 
 home but in the course of years the coun- 
 try became thickly settled and he con- 
 tinued to reside in Pulaski until his death, 
 one of its most valued and prominent pio- 
 neers. He was reared to farm life and 
 engaged in teaching school in both the 
 east and in Illinois. He also worked at 
 the carpenter's and joiner's trade in Pu- 
 laski as well as at cabinet-making and was 
 thus early identified with the industrial 
 interests of the town. After 1850 he 
 turned his attention to merchandising and 
 he also owned an interest in the bank at 
 Dexter, at Newomb and at Augusta. He 
 thus figured quite prominently in business 
 circles and was thus closely associated 
 with the commercial and industrial de- 
 velopment of this part of the state. For 
 six years he filled the office of justice of 
 the peace, was postmaster for twenty-four 
 years, school treasurer for twenty-three 
 years and supervisor for four years, and 
 his long continuance in these different of- 
 fices is an indication of his capable service 
 and of his fidelity. His political alle- 
 giance was given to the Republican party 
 and his religious faith was indicated by 
 his membership in the Methodist church, 
 in which he served as steward and re- 
 corder. He married Miss Sarah Ann 
 Munson, a daughter of Theodore and 
 Lydia (Philbrook) Munson. Mrs. Mun- 
 son was born in Dover, New Hampshire. 
 She was poisoned from virus from the 
 wounds of her son William, who was
 
 722 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 mortally wounded at the battle of Frank- 
 lin, and only lived for six days afterward, 
 while Mrs. Munson passed away Sep- 
 tember 20, 1865, and now sleeps beside 
 her patriot sons. Mr. Munson also passed 
 away. Both were people of the highest 
 respectability and genuine worth, es- 
 teemed for their many good qualities. 
 They had a family of seven children : 
 Abigail Parmeter, who is now the wife 
 of William Reynolds ; Francis ; Henry 
 Clay, of this review ; Sarah Pherona, the 
 wife of Dr. H. E. Elliott; Proctor Peter, 
 who married Nancy Compton, and lives in 
 Augusta, Illinois ; Wilbur Fisk, who mar- 
 ried Fannie W. Gordon ; William Lan- 
 don ; and John Locke. The son Wilbur 
 enlisted August 10, 1862. in Company C, 
 Seventy-second Illinois Volunteer In- 
 fantry and at the assault at Vicksburg on 
 the 22d of May, 1863, was mortally 
 wounded in the head and died on the 3ist 
 of May. His remains were disinterred 
 by his brother. Proctor P.. and his broth- 
 er-in-law, Dr. Elliott, and brought home, 
 being laid to rest within sight of his birth- 
 place. W. L. also enlisted at the same 
 time of his brother and in the same regi- 
 ment and was mortally wounded at the 
 battle of Franklin, Tennessee, November 
 30, 1864. He was brought home Janu- 
 ary 6, 1865, and died on the I4th of the 
 same month, so that his remains were in- 
 terred by his brother's side in Augusta 
 cemetery. 
 
 F. H. C. Newcomb was a very young 
 lad when he accompanied his parents on 
 their removal to Illinois. He was reared 
 in Pulaski and acquired his education in 
 the public schools. On the 2ist of Feb- 
 ruary, 1860, he married Miss Sarah Eliza- 
 
 beth Gordon, who was born in the city 
 of New York in 1839, a daughter of Ed- 
 win and Martha Ann Gordon, both na- 
 tives of New York. The father was a 
 farmer by occupation and settled in 
 Adams county, Illinois, at an early day. 
 In their family were ten children, of 
 whom eight are living : William, now of 
 Iowa ; Anna, the wife of Rodman Foster, 
 of Augusta; Fannie, the wife of Joe 
 Smith, of Augusta ; Neally, the widow 
 of Samuel Fisher, of Augusta ; Mahla, 
 the widow of Frank Bacon, also 
 a resident of Augusta ; Charles and 
 Ed, who are living in the same place; 
 and Sarah E., now Mrs. Newcomb. 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. New- 
 comb has been blessed with six chil- 
 dren : John Elliott, born March 29, 
 : 86 1, is at home. Wilbur Fisk, born Au- 
 gust 21, 1863, died September 16, 1864. 
 Fannie, twin sister of Wilbur, died Octo- 
 ber 7, 1864. Sarah A., born January 6, 
 
 1865, is the wife of Morris Grain, of 
 Washington, and they have one child, 
 Helen. Susan, born November 30, 
 
 1866, is the wife of Frank Williams, of 
 Pulaski, and they have five children, 
 Grace, Lela, Roy, Carl, and Abbie. Mar- 
 tha, born December 29, 1871, is the wife 
 of Fred Grain, living near Pulaski, and 
 they have two children, Donald and 
 Dorothy. 
 
 Mr. Newcomb is a republican and has 
 served as tax collector. He is one of the 
 early representatives of the Odd Fellows 
 and Masons lodges in this locality and 
 his wife is a member of the Methodist 
 church. Their home is a farm of two 
 hundred and forty acres on section 36, 
 Augusta township, and their residence
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: 
 
 723 
 
 was erected thereon in 1893. Mr. New- 
 comb has added to the property until 
 he now owns five hundred and twenty- 
 five acres in Augusta township, the great- 
 er part of which is under a high state of 
 cultivation. He has made all of the im- 
 provements upon the farm and it is now 
 one of the attractive features of the land- 
 scape. He has carried on the general 
 work of tilling the soil and has also en- 
 gaged in stock-raising, formerly dealing 
 quite extensively in horses. He never in- 
 herited a dollar in his life but is now com- 
 fortably situated, his land having in- 
 creased in value owing to the rapid settle- 
 ment of the county and also due to the 
 many improvements he has placed upon 
 it until he is now comfortably situated. 
 There was no home between this place 
 and Huntsville when his father arrived 
 and there were no fences or other evi- 
 dences to show that the work of civiliza- 
 tion had been begun. The entire coun- 
 try-side was covered with the native prai- 
 rie grasses and Mr. Newcomb has seen it 
 developed from such a stage to its present 
 advanced condition of improvement. He 
 is thoroughly familiar with pioneer life 
 and its experiences in this portion of the 
 country and he relates many interesting 
 incidents of the early days. 
 
 T. A. HALLAM. 
 
 T. A. Hallam, who for almost a half 
 century has resided in this section of Illi- 
 nois, is one of the esteemed residents of 
 
 Pulaski a man whom to know is to re- 
 spect and honor. He has now passed the 
 seventy-eighth milestone on life's jour- 
 ney, and looking back over the past he 
 finds little occasion for regret over lost 
 opportunities. On the contrary his 
 friends know him to be a man worthy 
 of their confidence and regard because of 
 the active, upright life he has lived. He 
 was born in Allenton, Lincolnshire, Eng- 
 land, in 1828, and is a son of Thomas 
 Allen and Elizabeth (Bell) Hallam. The 
 father was born in Eden, Lancastershire, 
 England, and in that country was en- 
 gaged in the clothing business. He spent 
 his entire life in his native land as did 
 his wife, who was born in Allenton, 
 Lincolnshire. In their family were nine 
 children. 
 
 T. A. Hallam was educated in the 
 schools of his native country and remained 
 upon the farm until eighteen years of age, 
 when he left home and was employed in 
 various ways in order to earn an honest 
 living. He spent three years in France 
 as a civil engineer, being for two years 
 of that time in Paris, and then having 
 carefully considered the matter of emi- 
 grating to America he became convinced 
 that he would have better opportunities 
 in the new world and accordingly made 
 arrangements to seek a home beyond the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 Before he sailed, however, Mr. Hallam 
 was married in 1857 to Miss Anna Cook, 
 who was born in Lincolnshire, England, 
 in 1832, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Samuel Cook. Her father died when she 
 was a child. He was foreman of a large 
 estate in his native country and there 
 reared his family of seven children but
 
 724 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 only three are now living : Mrs. Hallam ; 
 Jabez ; and Joseph, who has been con- 
 nected with the public library at Quincy, 
 Illinois, since its opening. 
 
 Immediately after his marriage Mr. 
 Hallam and his bride sailed for the new 
 world and came to Ilinois. Since that 
 time they have resided in Quincy, in Au- 
 gusta, and in Nebraska, at different 
 periods, and in 1881 Mr. Hallam pur- 
 chased ten acres of land in Pulaski, where 
 he now makes his home. For many 
 years he was actively engaged in farm- 
 ing but has now retired ' from business 
 cares and enjoys a well earned rest. He 
 lived a life of activity and enterprise, and 
 his well directed labors brought him a 
 measure of success which is most cred 
 itable and gratifying and which now sup- 
 plies him with all of the comforts and 
 some of the luxuries of life. On becom- 
 ing a naturalized American citizen he 
 - gave his political allegiance to the Repub- 
 lican party, of which he has ever been 
 a stalwart advocate. He and his wife are 
 now pleasantly located in Pulaski and in 
 addition to their home here Mr. Hallam 
 owns a house and lot in Augusta, which 
 he rents. They are people who are es- 
 teemed by young and old, rich and poor, 
 and claim many friends among the chil- 
 dren, all of whom delight to visit at their 
 home. They are both well read upon cur- 
 rent topics and though Mr. Hallam has 
 passed the psalmist's alloted span of three 
 score years and ten, in spirit and inter- 
 ests he seems yet in his prime. His 
 ready adaptability and strong purpose en- 
 abled him to make steady advancement in 
 business life after coming to the new 
 world. 
 
 WILLIAM MILLER SPANGLER. 
 
 William Miller Spangler, one of the 
 oldest pioneer settlers of Hancock county, 
 now living in Carthage at the age of 
 eighty-four years, has not only been a wit- 
 ness of many changes that have occurred 
 in the city and county but has also been 
 a participant in many events which have 
 left their impress upon the annals of the 
 county. His name is inseparably inter- 
 woven with the history of this part of the 
 state and this volume would be incom- 
 plete without mention of him. His. natal 
 year was 1822 and the place of his birth 
 Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. His 
 father. Samuel Spangler, was born in 
 Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April i, 
 1787, and on the isth of October, 1812, 
 was maried to Miss Rebecca Trego, who 
 was born in the same state April 27, 1788. 
 The father was an expert mechanic and 
 engaged in manufacturing wagons, plows 
 and farm implements. He cast in his 
 lot with the early settlers of Hancock 
 county, Illinois, in 1838, and shared in 
 the hardships and trials incident to fron- 
 tier life. He served as a soldier of the 
 war of 1812 and at all times was progres- 
 sive and loyal in citizenship. He served 
 as school director and was interested in 
 the movements relating to the county's 
 development and upbuilding. He died in 
 Hancock township over thirty years ago 
 and his wife had passed away a number 
 of years previous, the remains being in- 
 terred in Hancock township. In their 
 family were nine children, Margaret 
 Eleanor, Mary Matilda, Joseph Trego, 
 Samuel Lewis, William Miller, Rebecca 
 Skiles, Emeline Hannah, John Skiles and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 725 
 
 Elizabeth Verdelia. Of this number John 
 was a soldier of the Civil war, serving 
 for three years. He enlisted in the 
 One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois 
 Infantry. 
 
 William M. Spangler, the only surviv- 
 ing member of the family, was educated 
 in the public schools of Pennsylvania and 
 at the age of sixteen years came to Han- 
 cock county, where he arrived to find a 
 district that was but sparsely settled and 
 in which the work of civilization and 
 progress seemed scarcely begun. He can 
 well remember the important incidents 
 of the early days, including the troubles 
 which arose over the settlement of the 
 Mormons in this part of the state. He 
 has a vivid recollection of the time when 
 Joseph and Hiram Smith, the leaders of 
 the Mormon church were killed. As the 
 years went by he watched with interest 
 the settlements that were made and the 
 progress that was carried on as wild lands 
 were converted into productive farms and 
 as towns and cities were built, bringing 
 with them all of the industrial and com- 
 mercial interests of the older east. In his 
 youth he aided in the arduous task of 
 developing the new land at a time when 
 one had to walk in the furrows after the 
 plow and when much of the farm labor 
 was done by hand. He continued with 
 his parents until 1844, in which year he 
 was married to Miss Emily Renshaw, a 
 native of Sangamon county, Illinois, and 
 a daughter of James and Nancy Renshaw, 
 natives of North Carolina, the former 
 born September 30, 1803, and the latter 
 September i, 1805. They were married 
 June 17, 1824, and had a family of five 
 children, all of whom have now passed 
 
 away. Sarah Emily, who became Mrs. 
 Spangler, was born July i, 1825, in Ken- 
 tucky, and died July 20. 1899. Matilda 
 Renshaw was born December 12, 1826. 
 Martha Avalene, born October 22, 1828, 
 died March 7, 1856. Elizabeth, born 
 March 2, 1831, died September 27, 1854. 
 Elijah, twin brother of Elizabeth, died 
 May 1 6, 1831, aged two months and 
 fourteen days. The father died May 22, 
 1885, and his wife at the age of eighty-six 
 years. This aged couple were devout 
 members of the Methodist church and 
 were exceedingly active in religious work. 
 Their home was for many years the place 
 of entertainment for visiting preachers to 
 their neighborhood and church services 
 were frequently held in their house. 
 They were kind and charitable people, 
 giving freely to assist the poor and needy 
 and doing much to help their fellowmen. 
 Following his marriage Mr. Spangler 
 was given a farm in Fountain Green 
 township, where he lived until 1856. This 
 was government land entered by his fa- 
 ther and on it a log cabin had been built. 
 In this Mr. Spangler lived until a new 
 house could be erected. Afterward he 
 removed to Carthage, where he lived for 
 a few years but in 1860 returned to Foun- 
 tain Green township. Later he again lo- 
 cated in Carthage, where he and his broth- 
 er owned a dry groods store and for a 
 time he also clerked for Jesse Williams, 
 who conducted a store there. It was sub- 
 sequent to this time that Mr. Spangler 
 embarked in business on his own account. 
 Later he engaged in dealing in wagons 
 and subsequently his attention was again 
 given to farming interests until 1886, 
 since which time he has lived retired. In
 
 726 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REV IE]}-' 
 
 1865 he purchased his present home, 
 which he has occupied continuously. In 
 his business career he has ever been found 
 straightforward and honorable, treating 
 all men in a fair and impartial manner 
 and his business integrity and enterprise 
 constitute the strong element in his 
 success. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Spangler were born 
 eight children, all born in Hancock coun- 
 ty. Matilda, the eldest, born April 18, 
 1845, was married November 10, 1869, 
 to William Henry and lives in Emmetts- 
 burg, Iowa. They had five children, 
 namely: Claud M., of Redfield, South 
 Dakota, who wedded L. Genevieve Show- 
 er and has a daughter, Claudia Maxine 
 Henry ; Frank Edmunds Henry, who is 
 a Congregational preacher of Garner, 
 Iowa, who wedded Anna Cameron and 
 has one child, Glenn Cameron Henry; 
 Mrs. Mabel Armstrong, who is living in 
 Dakota and has one child; Glenn, who 
 was the twin brother of Frank and died 
 at the age of six months; and Lena. 
 Evelyn Verdelia, the second daughter of 
 Mr. Spangler, was born December 19, 
 1847, was married in 1896 to William C. 
 Taylor and lives in Brown county, Kan- 
 sas. Virginia Rebecca, now of Enderlin, 
 North Dakota, born June 7, 1850, became 
 the wife of William Cruff, who died Oc- 
 tober 23, 1904. They had been married 
 in March, 1871, and had five children: 
 James R. ; William, who is married and 
 has five children, his home being in Lucca, 
 North Dakota; Arthur Cruff, who died 
 in 1900; Frank Cruff, who is living with 
 his parents ; and Mary Cruff, deceased. 
 Josephine Emily Spangler, the fourth 
 member of the Spangler family, was born 
 
 April 24, 1853, and was married Decem- 
 ber 26, 1872, to Oliver Miller, their home 
 being now in Beaconsfield, Ringgold coun- 
 ty, Iowa. They have five living children : 
 Madge, the wife of Dr. A. R. Mulcahy, 
 of Beaconsfield, Iowa, by whom she has a 
 son, Rex; Fred Miller, at home; Nellie, 
 who married and lives in Beaconsfield ; 
 Coyle and Thomas, both at home. Mary 
 Susan Spangler, the fifth member of the 
 family, born January 29, 1857, is the 
 wife of W. A. Symonds, of Carthage, to 
 whom she was married November 26, 
 1878. She was one of the first graduates 
 of the Carthage high school, completing 
 her course there about thirty years ago. 
 She has six children, Frederick W., 
 Emily Clare, James Spangler, Raymond 
 Hyde, Mary Evelyn and John Hawley. 
 James Renshaw Spangler, the sixth mem- 
 ber of the family, born May 20, 1861, 
 died March 6, 1886. Nellie Skile Span- 
 gler, born April 1 1, 1863, has acted as her 
 father's housekeeper since her mother's 
 death. 
 
 Mr. Spangler is a prominent member 
 of the Presbyterian church, to which his 
 wife also belonged. He is now its oldest 
 member and for the past twenty-three 
 years has served as one of its elders. He 
 has always taken a very active part in 
 church work and his wife was his associate 
 in all his Christian labors. She served as 
 treasurer for many years of the Ladies' 
 Missionary Society and their daughter 
 Nellie is now secretary of the literature 
 committee of the Missionary Society, in 
 which capacity she has acted for, several 
 years and was also treasurer of the Chris- 
 tian Endeavor Society for ten years. Her 
 maternal grandmother, Mrs. Renshaw,
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 727 
 
 took several shares in a Bible tract so- 
 ciety. Mrs. Spangler was a very active 
 and earnest church worker, was a home 
 loving woman and did everything in her 
 power to promote the happiness of her 
 husband and children. She and her son 
 were laid to rest in Moss Ridge cemetery 
 at Carthage, while her memory remains 
 as a blessed benediction to many who 
 knew her and came within the influence of 
 her noble character, her gentle spirit and 
 Christian life. Mr. Spangler has always 
 been a republican since the organization 
 of the party and was tax collector of Han- 
 cock township but has never sought to 
 become prominent in public affairs. His 
 wife inherited some property from her 
 father and by economy and industry Mr. 
 Spangler has accumulated a competence. 
 He is a well preserved man, possessing a 
 retentive memory and few citizens of 
 Hancock county have more intimate or 
 accurate knowledge of the events which 
 mark its history. He is highly respected 
 in the city and county and his good quali- 
 ties makes his example one well worthy 
 of emulation. 
 
 Since the above was written Mr. 
 Spangler passed away October 9, 1906, 
 and was buried in Moss Ridge cemetery 
 at Carthage, Illinois. 
 
 JOHN E. JOHNSTONS. 
 
 John E. Johnstone, deceased, was born 
 near Belfast, Ireland, July 12, 1812, a son 
 of Robert and Eliza (Mathews) John- 
 stone, and came to America with his par- 
 46 
 
 ents when only -ten years of age. His 
 parents located at Elkton, Maryland. 
 The father was a contractor and builder 
 of railways and followed this line of work 
 as long as he was in active business life. 
 The grandfather of our subject had been 
 proprietor of extensive cotton mills in 
 Ireland. 
 
 John E. Johnstone at the age of eight- 
 een went to Baltimore and for a time was 
 a clerk in a mercantile establishment, and 
 later he engaged in a retail mercantile 
 business for himself. He became ac- 
 quainted with a prominent attorney, Bev- 
 erly Johnson, who took a great liking for 
 him and made him a member of his fam- 
 ily, and throughout his young manhood, 
 was a warm personal friend and adviser. 
 Later John Johnstone went to Hercu- 
 laneum, Missouri, and there engaged in 
 business with a Dr. Johnson, later engag- 
 ing in the mercantile business in St. Louis, 
 for a short time. 
 
 In 1839 he came to Warsaw and estab- 
 lished himself in the same line in this city, 
 in the same year a Miss Catherine Bald- 
 win, daughter of Epiphras Bull and Hebe 
 (Brown) Baldwin, of Carthage, Illinois, 
 came to Warsaw to visit an aunt, and 
 while here all her girl friends were anx- 
 ious to introduce her to the new merchant, 
 Mr. Johnstone, from Baltimore. He was 
 very popular, but little did his lady friends 
 think they were introducing'some one who 
 would prove a successful rival. They 
 were married at her home in Carthage 
 December 15, 1840. They made their 
 home in Warsaw and Mr. Johnstone con- 
 tinued in'business for many years. 
 
 Of the nine children born unto them, 
 five grew to years of maturity. Ann
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Eliza, became the wife of Gen Oliver Ed- 
 wards, whose sketch appears in this work; 
 Emily Jeanette married Horace A. Scott, 
 and departed this life at Osceola, Ne- 
 braska; James E. married Clara Black 
 and died in Wichita, Kansas, leaving four 
 children : Frances Ellen married Alonzo 
 H. McGregor, and spent the last few years 
 of her life and died in Warsaw ; John 
 Charles married Anna Kreipkie and lives 
 in St. Louis. 
 
 John E. Johnstone was a whig and later, 
 a very stanch republican. He took an 
 active part in the Mormon war and re- 
 ceived a commission from the governor 
 of the state as quarter-master, during 
 those troublous times. He retired from 
 the mercantile business and served as post- 
 master several years, being appointed by 
 President Grant, and served until after 
 Cleveland went into office. He became 
 identified with the Presbyterian church 
 and served as a trustee in that body. He 
 was closely identified with the growth of 
 Warsaw from its infancy doing all that 
 came to his notice to aid in the progress 
 and upbuilding of the community. He 
 was a member of the Masonic fraternity 
 and took great interest in the work of 
 that order. His death occurred August 
 5, 1887. His widow is still active at the 
 advanced age of eighty-seven years. 
 
 STEPHEN H. FERRIS. 
 
 Stephen H. Ferris, whose activity has 
 largely touched the general interests of 
 
 city and of muncipality, is well known in 
 Carthage as cashier of the Hancock Coun- 
 ty National Bank, as a friend and pro- 
 moter of Carthage College and as one 
 of the factors of the Building and Loan 
 Association, which has proven of value 
 in the upbuilding of the city and also as 
 a valued mayor. He was born here Sep- 
 tember 13, 1862, a son of H. G.' Ferris, 
 and in the public schools of Carthage he 
 began his education, passing through suc- 
 cessive grades until he became a high 
 school student. Later he entered Car- 
 thage College, from which he was grad- 
 uated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts 
 in the class of 1882, while subsequently 
 the degree of Master of Arts was con- 
 ferred upon him. He also attended East- 
 man's Business College, of Poughkeepsie, 
 New York, where he was graduated, and 
 soon after his return home he entered 
 actively upon business life in connection 
 with the Hancock County National Bank, 
 becoming bookkeeper of the institution in 
 January, 1884. He so continued until 
 elected director on the 23d of July, 1884, 
 and at the annual meeting held January 
 19, 1884, he was chosen assistant cashier. 
 He also held the office of vice president 
 from the nth of January, 1898, until the 
 1 4th of January, 1902, when he was 
 chosen cashier, in which capacity he has 
 since served, and in connection with his 
 brother, J. C. Ferris, he has the active 
 management of the bank which is largely 
 known throughout the county as the Fer- 
 ris Bank. 
 
 A democrat in his political affiliation, 
 Mr. Ferris has never been an aspirant for 
 political honors and yet his fellow txnvns- 
 men have called upon him to serve in some
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 729 
 
 positions of public trust. From May, 
 1903, until May, 1905, he was mayor of 
 the city, being elected on the street paving 
 issue. Mr. Ferris was in favor of perma- 
 nent improvements and under his admin- 
 istration the first real work in street pav- 
 ing was done, including the laying of the 
 pavement around the public square and 
 to the depot, at an outlay of between 
 thirty and forty thousand dollars. His 
 fellow citizens recognizing his stand in 
 support of improvements of this character, 
 he was nominated for the office and ac- 
 cepted it in order that he might put into 
 practice his views regarding municipal 
 improvements. He placed the affairs of 
 the city upon a strictly business basis and 
 while working for an economical adminis- 
 tration he also labored effectively for 
 progress. While not an active politician 
 he has always been interested in anything 
 for the public benefit and his labors have 
 been of far-reaching importance. He has 
 been one of the active members in school 
 affairs, has served as a member of the 
 school board from April, 1897, and dur- 
 ing this time labored effectively and suc- 
 cessfully for the erection of the high 
 school building. . He believes in the em- 
 ployment of competent teachers and the 
 utilization of advanced ideas in regard to 
 public education and this has been mani- 
 fest in many tangible results. He has 
 likewise been treasurer of Carthage Col- 
 lege since 1884 and is still acting in that 
 capacity. He was largely instrumental 
 in organizing the Carthage Building and 
 Loan Association in 1885, in which move- 
 ment he was associated with W. H. 
 Davidson, who did the first preliminary 
 work in bringing matters about. At the 
 
 first meeting the following officers were 
 elected: A. W. O'Harra, Thomas F. 
 Dunn, Edward Cherrill, E. C. Quimby, 
 W. C. Hooker, M. P. Berry, George W. 
 Payne, Frank Halbower and H. G. Ferris. 
 Mr. Ferris was elected secretary and has 
 since filled the position. Splendid success 
 has attended the organization and a large 
 local business has been conducted. Nine- 
 teen series have matured and the associa- 
 tion has been the means of bringing about 
 much substantial improvements and build- 
 ing in Carthage. His fraternal relations 
 are with Hancock lodge. No. 20, Ancient 
 Free and Accepted Masons, of which he 
 has been master and he is also president 
 of the Citizens Association. Wherever 
 there is a public-spirited attempt to do 
 away with misrule in municipal affairs 
 he is to be found working with the leaders 
 of the movement and he furthermore 
 knows how to utilize the practical methods 
 at hand in working for the ideal. 
 
 Mr. Ferris was maried to Miss Helen 
 B. Durkes, of Warsaw, on the 28th of 
 October, 1885, and they have become the 
 parents of seven children, Dorothy L., 
 Ellen D., Adelaide A., Stephen Hunt, 
 Julia, Phoebe and John D. The family 
 attend and support the Episcopal church 
 of which Mr. Ferris is a trustee and they 
 occupy a fine home on Fayette street. 
 The life record of him whose name intro- 
 duces this review stands in contradistinc- 
 tion to the old adage that "a prophet is 
 never without honor save in his own 
 country," for in the city where his entire 
 life has been passed Mr. Ferris is accorded 
 leadership in recognition of a public 
 spirit which places the general good be- 
 fore personal aggrandizement and which
 
 730 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 labors unselfishly for the best interests 
 of the community at large. 
 
 HIRAM G. FERRIS. 
 
 Hiram G. Ferris, coming to Hancock 
 county when it contained a population of 
 less than two hundred, engaged actively 
 upon the work of upbuilding and prog- 
 ress and left the impress of his individual- 
 ity upon many historic events and upon 
 the material development of this portion 
 of the state. He figured for a long period 
 as one of the leading attorneys and later 
 as a prominent banker of Carthage, and 
 he aided in laying broad and deep the 
 foundation for the present development, 
 progress and prosperity of the city. His 
 birth occurred near Howard, Steuben 
 county, New York, May 13, 1822, his 
 parents being Stephen G. and Emma 
 (Beebe) Ferris. The first authentic in- 
 formation obtainable concerning the Fer- 
 ris family in America shows that they 
 were residents of Connecticut, living, 
 however, not far from New York city, 
 during an early period in the settlement 
 of that part of the country. Representa- 
 tives of the name participated in the 
 Colonial wars and the war for inde- 
 pendence. 
 
 Stephen Gano Ferris, grandfather of 
 our subject, was born in Hillsdale, Colum- 
 bia county, New York, in August, 1788, 
 and was there reared. He afterward be- 
 came a resident of North Norwich, 
 Chenango county, New York, when it was 
 
 a frontier district, and there learned the 
 tanner's and furrier's trade, which he fol- 
 lowed until his father's removal to Yates 
 county, New York, about 1810 or 1812. 
 In the latter county Stephen G. Ferris 
 devoted his time and energies to farm- 
 ing. On the nth of August, 1814, the 
 twenty-third anniversary of his birth, he 
 was married to Miss Emma Beebe, a na- 
 tive of Chenango county, New York. 
 He retained his residence in Yates coun- 
 ty until 1820, when he removed to How- 
 ard, New York, where he resided until 
 1832, when, through the persuasion of 
 his brother-in-law, Jabez A. Beebe, he 
 made his way to Illinois. Mr. Beebe had 
 come to this state and taken up his abode 
 where Fountain Green now stands. 
 Stephen G. Ferris purchased land in this 
 state and with his family, consisting of- 
 wife and six children, started westward 
 by way of the river route, proceeding 
 down the Allegheny river to Pittsburg on 
 a flatboat, it requiring nine weeks to make 
 that trip. He then took passage on the 
 steamer Niagara bound for St. Louis, 
 where he arrived about the ist of Decem- 
 ber. The lateness of the year made it 
 almost impossible for him to get a flat- 
 boat to convey himself and family north- 
 ward but they eventually reached Trad- 
 ers' Point, now Keokuk, Iowa, where 
 they arrived about the loth or nth of 
 December. The place at that time con- 
 sisted of only three or four log cabins at 
 the base of the hill. These were occu- 
 pied by three or four traders and their 
 families and there were about one hun- 
 dred Indians camped in the neighborhood. 
 There were no houses at Hamilton, and 
 Fort Edwards, now Warsaw, contained
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 but one dwelling the home of Abraham 
 Smith. It cost Mr. Ferris sixteen dollars 
 to have himself and family ferried across 
 the river on the i3th of December, 1832. 
 Accompanied by his son, John M. Ferris, 
 he afterward walked to Horseback Grove, 
 now Fountain Green, a distance of twen- 
 ty-two miles. There he employed a man 
 to go for his family and goods, the jour- 
 ney being made with a one-horse wagon 
 and ox team, Fountain Green being 
 reached on the I5th of December, 1832. 
 
 The brother-in-law, Mr. Beebe, and his 
 family having arrived the year before had 
 a comfortable double log house, which he 
 shared with Mr. Ferris until spring. The 
 latter then purchased one hundred and 
 ten acres of land of Mr. Beebe, on which 
 he erected a good, substantial pioneer 
 residence. In 1833 he began opening up 
 his farm and also built a small tannery 
 but the latter enterprise was not a success 
 on account of the lack of bark. He also 
 built a sawmill but that did not prove a 
 profitable venture and in 1836 he sold his 
 farm. 
 
 On the i4th of September, 1860, his 
 wife died at Fountain Green, and he after- 
 ward came to Carthage, where he made 
 his home with his son, Hiram G. Ferris, 
 'residing there almost continuously until 
 his death, which occurred, however, on 
 the evening of November 29, 1876, while 
 on a visit to his son, Dr. L. T. Ferris, at 
 Fountain Green. He was then over 
 eighty-eight years of age, and his grave 
 was made by the side of his wife in Foun- 
 tain Green cemetery. He was one of the 
 early Baptists of the county and did much 
 for that denomination, while in other 
 wavs he contributed to the substantial im- 
 
 provement and moral advancement of hi? 
 community. 
 
 Hiram G. Ferris, whose name intro- 
 duces this record, was a lad of about ten 
 years when he came to this county. Here 
 he was reared amid the wild scenes and 
 environment of pioneer life, and shared 
 with the family in the task of reclaiming 
 a tract of wild land for the purposes of 
 civilization. His early education was ac- 
 quired in the public schools and he after- 
 ward entered Knox College, at Galesburg. 
 where he completed the work of the junior 
 year. Afterward in company with. David 
 D. Holton he made an overland trip to 
 California in 1850, driving a team of 
 horses. He first engaged in placer min- 
 ing in northern California, following that 
 pursuit for a year or two, after which he 
 was appointed one of the commissioners 
 who organized Siskiyou county. Later 
 he was elected and served for two years 
 as county clerk, which office then also em- 
 braced the duties of county register. At 
 the same time General Colton was sheriff 
 of the county, which at that time harbored, 
 many rough characters attracted by the 
 opportunities of lawlessness upon the 
 frontier. About that time a mob tried to 
 rescue a member of their gang from jail 
 but General Colton and Mr. Ferris kept 
 them back with drawn revolvers. 
 
 After a number of years spent on the 
 coast Hiram G. Ferris, in 1856, returned 
 to Hancock county. Having previously 
 read and studied law he made application 
 to the supreme court of Illinois and was 
 admitted to the bar. Not long afterward 
 he formed a partnership with William C. 
 Hooker, George Edmunds, Jr., under the 
 firm name of Hooker, Ferris & Edmunds,
 
 73 2 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 which relation \vas continued until 1873, 
 when the partnership was dissolved. The 
 firm of Ferris & Hooker then practiced 
 until 1864, when Mr. Ferris became as- 
 sociated with Francis M. Corby and or- 
 ganized a banking institution under the 
 firm name of Ferris & Corby. They were 
 also interested in large real estate transac- 
 tions, operating extensively in land and 
 improved property. The bank was con- 
 tinued as a private institution until it was 
 incorporated under the name of the Han- 
 cock County National Bank, on the i8th 
 of May, 1865. At that time the firm of 
 Ferris & Corby passed out of existence 
 and the bank took its place with the fol- 
 lowing directors, who also had signed the 
 application : Francis M. Corby, Hiram 
 G. Ferris, Bryant T. Scofield, Andrew J. 
 Griffith and Edward Cherrill. The board 
 elected the following officers : H. G. Fer- 
 ris, president; F. M. Corby, vice presi- 
 dent ; and Edward Cherrill. cashier. On 
 the i6th of January, 1863, Mr. Corby re- 
 tired and Dr. Griffith was elected vice 
 president, retaining the office until his 
 death in 1884, after which he was suc- 
 ceeded by David Mack. Mr. Ferris con- 
 tinued as president until his demise on the 
 20th of August, 1893. The first state- 
 ment issued by the Hancock County Na- 
 tional Bank in 1865 showed a business of 
 about one hundred and seventy-five thou- 
 sand dollars, and the last statement issued 
 by this institution showed half a million. 
 Its growth therefore has been steady and 
 healthy and it is safe to say that in its 
 forty years existence it has handled be- 
 tween twelve and fifteen million dollars 
 of the people's money and not a cent has 
 been lost by a depositor and not a mo- 
 
 ment has the bank closed its doors on ac- 
 count of financial stringencies which in 
 that period temporarily embarrassed many 
 very good banking institutions. The 
 bank was first incorporated with a capital 
 stock of fifty thousand dollars, which was 
 afterward increased to sevtaty-five thou- 
 sand dollars. Later, however, it was re- 
 duced again to fifty thousand dollars but 
 recently has once more been raised to sev- 
 enty-five thousand dollars. It is now the 
 oldest banking institution in the county 
 and was the first national bank in 
 Carthage. 
 
 Mr. Ferris continued as president up to 
 the time of his death and was also the 
 owner of extensive real estate interests. 
 The bank built a fine two-story brick- 
 structure on the corner of Main and Madi- 
 son streets and occupy the ground floor. 
 This was in 1871, and individually Mr. 
 Ferris also had extensive realty holdings. 
 
 In his political views a stalwart demo- 
 crat, Mr. Ferris was for a number of 
 terms a member of the board of super- 
 visors and for many years served on the 
 school board, taking a great interest in 
 the cause of public education in Carthage. 
 He was also president of the town council 
 and his aid and co-operation could be 
 counted upon to further every progressive 
 measure for the good of the community. 
 He was always a stalwart advocate of the 
 temperance cause and strongly opposed 
 licensed saloons in Carthage. In fact he 
 stood for all that promotes honorable, up- 
 right manhood. He was made a Mason 
 in 1850 and later became a member of 
 Hancock lodge, No. 20, Ancient Free and 
 Accepted Masons, serving as master for 
 a number of terms. He was likewise a
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 733 
 
 member of the chapter and council and 
 Almoner commandery, Knight Templar, 
 at Augusta. While in California he 
 served as senior grand deacon of the 
 grand lodge of the state for one year. 
 
 On the 2Oth of August, 1857, Mr. Fer- 
 ris was married to Miss Julia E. Holton, 
 at Hill's Grove, McDonough county, a 
 daughter of Isaac and Phoebe (Arnold) 
 Holton. They became the parents of nine 
 children, all of whom are yet living, 
 namely: Junius C., now president of the 
 Hancock County National Bank ; Esther 
 Maude, the wife of Frank H. Graves, one 
 of the leading attorneys of Spokane, 
 Washington ; Stephen H., cashier of the 
 Hancock County National Bank ; Julia, 
 the wife of L. P. Hobbs, of Oregon; 
 Ellen, the wife of Ralph E. Scofield, an 
 attorney-at-law, at Kansas City, Mis- 
 souri ; Phoebe, the wife of George W. 
 Worcester, of Grand Forks, British 
 Columbia; Hiram B., of Spokane, Wash- 
 ington; Joel E., of St. Louis, Missouri; 
 and Harold G., of Chicago. 
 
 Mr. Ferris has left worthy successors 
 in his sons, who are prominent business 
 men of various localities. He was a 
 typical citizen of pioneer times and kept 
 in touch with the general progress as man- 
 ifest in business development and in pub- 
 lic thought and action. He was particu- 
 larly active in the support of Carthage 
 College, was for several years a member 
 of its board of trustees, acted as treas- 
 urer for a time and was one of its stanch 
 supporters, taking a most helpful interest 
 in its welfare. No movement for the 
 benefit of the city or county sought his 
 aid in vain. He was also the president 
 of the Masonic fraternal order for a num- 
 
 ber of years and while his attention was 
 mainly given to his business interests, 
 which became extensive and important, 
 making him one of the prosperous resi- 
 dents of the community, he allowed the 
 accumulation to in no wise affect his re- 
 lations with those less fortunate and re- 
 garded his prosperity merely as a means to 
 ;md end, delighting in the opportunities 
 which it gave him for providing for his 
 family and for assisting in matters of pub- 
 lic moment. His name has thus become 
 inseparably interwoven with the history 
 of Carthage and Hancock county, where 
 for more than sixty years he made his 
 home, passing away August 20, 1893. 
 His widow still occupies the old home- 
 stead, which he had greatly beautified as 
 the years went by. It was one of the 
 early fine homes of the city and is located 
 at the southeast corner of Madison and 
 Locust streets. 
 
 JUNIUS C. FERRIS. 
 
 Junius C. Ferris, president of the Han- 
 cock County National Bank, and the eld- 
 est son of the late Hiram G. Ferris, pio- 
 neer, attorney and banker, whose enter- 
 prise was a dominant factor in the early 
 development of the city, was born in Car- 
 thage, June 24, 1858. The public schools 
 afforded him his preliminary educational 
 advantages and he was graduated from 
 Carthage College in 1878 with the degree 
 of Bachelor of Arts. He afterward pur- 
 sued a course in the School of Mines of
 
 734 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 the Columbia College, of New York city, 
 c'.ncl was graduated as mining engineer in 
 1883. Returning to his home, he became 
 associated with his father in the conduct 
 of the Hancock County National Bank, 
 and in 1887 was elected assistant cashier, 
 while in 1894 he was chosen vice presi- 
 dent and in 1898 was elected president 
 of the institution. Prior to this time 
 he had been a member of the board 
 of directors and with his brother has 
 had the active management of the bank 
 since 1894. This is now one of the larger 
 and more conservative financial institu- 
 tions of the county and Mr. Ferris has 
 devoted his time almost exclusively to its 
 conduct. The charter of the bank was 
 extended February 13, 1906, and the cap- 
 ital stock was raised to seventy-five 
 thousand dollars, with the following of- 
 ficers in charge: Junius C. Ferris, pres- 
 ident ; Charles S. Dehart, vice president ; 
 and S. H. Ferris, cashier. These three 
 gentlemen are also on the board of di- 
 rectors, together with David E. Mack and 
 A. W. O'Harra. The deposits now 
 amount to three million, five hundred 
 thousand dollars. They do a strictly 
 commercial business and also have a sav- 
 ings department in connection. The bank 
 has had an unusually successful existence. 
 It has stood firm in times of financial 
 storm and a safe conservative policy was 
 instituted at its foundation by H. G. Fer- 
 ris and his partner, Mr. Corby. The 
 same straightforward policy has ever been 
 maintained and the business has been con- 
 ducted along practical lines broadening 
 the sphere of usefulness as the business 
 has increased and modern conditions have 
 demanded. Mr. Ferris of this review 
 
 was one of the incorporators of the Elec- 
 tric Light Company, which was estab- 
 lished in 1888. He became one of its 
 first directors and has been treasurer 
 since its organization. This has been one 
 of the successful public utility concerns. 
 On the 27th of June, 1899, Mr. Ferris 
 was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide 
 Elaine, of Monmouth, Illinois, and they 
 have one child, Mary B. The family at- 
 tend and support the Presbyterian church, 
 of which Mrs. Ferris is a member. Mr. 
 Ferris belongs to Hancock lodge, No. 20, 
 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of 
 which he is a past master and he belongs 
 to Carthage chapter, No. 13, Royal Arch 
 Masons, and formerly to Carthage coun- 
 cil, No. 47, Royal and Select Masons, 
 which, however, has surrendered its char- 
 ter. He was at one time a member of Al- 
 moner commandery, Knights Templar, at 
 Augusta, but has demitted. He votes 
 with the democracy and was at one time 
 a member of the city council but the hon- 
 ors of office have little attraction for him. 
 However, he is a most public-spirited citi- 
 zen, and the name of Ferris has been a 
 potent one in connection with municipal 
 improvement and development. 
 
 HON. M, P. BERRY. 
 
 Hon. M. P. Berry is a reognized leader 
 in all public affairs in Carthage and has 
 been specially strong in his advocacy of 
 those interests which are matters of civic
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 735 
 
 pride. He is well known as a lawyer, 
 having for many years been a practitioner 
 at the bar, while at this writing he is 
 cashier of the Dime Savings Bank. Born 
 in McDonough county, Illinois, May 25, 
 1853, he is a son of Lee and Martha (Mc- 
 Connell) Berry and a brother of Senator 
 O. F. Berry, now representing this dis- 
 trict in the upper house of the general as- 
 sembly. His literary education was com- 
 pleted in Carthage College after leaving 
 the public schools and for four years he 
 engaged in teaching in Hancock county at 
 Webster and Burnside. Following his 
 preparation for the bar he practiced law 
 with his brother, O. F. Berry, their pro- 
 fessional interests being continuously in 
 common until the retirement of M. P. 
 Berry from the bar. The court records 
 show the standing of the firm. In no pro 1 
 fession is there a career more open to tal- 
 ent than in that of the law and in no field 
 of endeavor is there demanded a more 
 areful preparation, more thorough ap- 
 preciation of the absolute ethics of life 
 or of the underlying principles which 
 form the basis of all human rights and 
 privileges. Possessing the requisite qual- 
 ities of the able lawyer, Mr. Berry stead- 
 ily advanced until, leaving the ranks of 
 the many, he stood among the successful 
 few as a practitioner. Associated with 
 his brother, he established the Dime Sav- 
 ings Bank of Carthage and has since been 
 active in its management as the cashier, 
 while his brother is serving as president. 
 In 1874, was celebrated the marriage 
 of M. P. Berry and Miss Harriet Camp- 
 bell, a native of McDonough county, Illi- 
 nois, and a daughter of W. S. Campbell, 
 D. D., who was a Cumberland Presby- 
 
 terian minister, spending many years in 
 McDonough county, where his death oc- 
 . curred. His wife bore the maiden name 
 of Virginia Kirkpatrick. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Berry had one daughter, Leota R., who 
 was born in Hancock county and later 
 passed away. Mrs. Berry passed away 
 in November, 1902, and mother and 
 daughter were laid to rest in Moss Ridge 
 cemetery. She possessed innate culture 
 and refinement, which made her always 
 thoughtful and considerate of others and 
 she was avery active and helpful member 
 in the church, holding all of the different 
 offices in various societies with which she 
 was connected. She was also deeply 
 interested in the public library and was 
 president of the Library Club at the time 
 of her demise. Her influence was ever 
 an elevating force, never aggressively 
 exerted but always quietly and modestly 
 put forth. Her many good deeds and 
 commendable characteristics won her the 
 love and esteem of all with whom she was 
 brought in contact. In November, 1904, 
 Mr. Berry wedded Miss Lillian Black- 
 more, who was born in Hamilton, Illinois, 
 the only daughter of Mark and Fred- 
 ericka Blackmore, both of whom are now 
 deceased. 
 
 In politics Mr. Berry is a stalwart re- 
 publican, who has made a close and dis- 
 criminating study of the questions and 
 issues of the day. He has several times 
 been mayor of the city and for fifteen 
 years has served on the school board, act- 
 ing as a part of that time as its president. 
 He was also a member of the Librarv 
 Club for several years and it will' thus 
 be seen that his co-operation has been an 
 active factor in many of the movements
 
 736 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 which are of direct benefit to the city. He 
 is a prominent Odd Fellow and has 
 served as grandmaster of his lodge. He 
 and his wife hold membership in the 
 Presbyterian church, in which he has filled 
 all of the church offices and has frequently 
 addressed audiences from the pulpit in the 
 absence of a pastor. He is chairman of 
 the devotional committee and has labored 
 zealously and untiringly for the growth 
 and the extension of its influence. His 
 wife is a teacher in the Sunday-school 
 and shares with him in all of his labors 
 for the church and for benevolent and 
 charitable interests. She is eligible to 
 membership with the Daughters of the 
 American Revolution and is a member of 
 P. E. O., in which she has been vice presi- 
 dent and president. In 1905, Mr. Berry 
 built an elegant residence at No. 405 
 Cherry street at the corner of Marian 
 street and he also owns much other valu- 
 able property in Carthage. Theirs is one 
 of the beautiful homes of the city in its 
 exterior adornments and interior furnish- 
 ings, displaying an artistic taste that 
 argues well for the culture of its posses- 
 sors. Its hospitality, too, is one of its 
 most attractive features and is cordially 
 extended to their many friends. The 
 consensus of public opinion is unanimous 
 regarding Mr. Berry's worth as a citizen 
 and business man. All acknowledge the 
 indebtedness of the public to him for his 
 co-operation in measures for the general 
 good, his labors at all times being of a 
 practical nature and at the same time of a 
 character that makes steady advance to- 
 ward high ideals in civic virtue, in the 
 adornment of the city and in intellectual 
 progress. He is justly accorded promi- 
 
 nence yet wears his honors with becoming 
 modesty. Few residents of Carthage 
 have done as much for mankind as has 
 Mr. Berry but it would never be known 
 were it left for him to tell. 
 
 PROF. CYRUS B. NEWCOMER 
 
 While the disposition to do honor to 
 those who have served well their race or 
 their nation is prevalent among all en- 
 lightened people and is of great value 
 everywhere and under all forms of gov- 
 ernment, it is particularly appropriate to 
 and to be fostered in this country, where 
 no man is born to public office or to public 
 honor, or comes to either by inheritance, 
 but where all men are equal before the 
 law, where the race for distinction is over 
 the road of public usefulness and is open 
 to every one who chooses to enter and 
 where the advantageous circumstances of 
 family or wealth count in the vast ma- 
 jority of cases for but little or naught. 
 Under our system, whose very existence 
 depends upon the virtue of the people 
 themselves, those who have distinguished 
 themselves in public service, whether in 
 citizenship or in arms or in the path of 
 civil usefulness, should not fail of recog- 
 nition, and in this regard Professor New- 
 comer deserves mention, his life in its 
 professional connections being of great 
 value to his fellowmen. He is now prin- 
 cipal of the normal department of Car- 
 thage College and since 1902 has been
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 737 
 
 professor of ancient languages in that in- 
 stitution. 
 
 A native son of Illinois, Professor 
 Newcomer was born in Mount Morris, 
 Ogle county, October 28, 1866, a son of 
 Cyrus Barr and Elizabeth (Hause) New- 
 comer. The father was born September 
 2, 1829, in Greene county, Pennsylvania, 
 and the mother's birth occurred in Chews- 
 ville, Washington county, Maryland, in 
 February, 1835. He was a cooper by 
 trade and for thirteen years he taught 
 school, most of the time in Pennsylvania. 
 In the spring of 1861, however, he came 
 to Illinois, settling in Ogle county, where 
 he engaged to some extent in teaching. 
 Much of his life, however, in this state 
 was devoted to farming and he remained 
 a resident of Ogle county until his death. 
 In politics he was earnest in his advocacy 
 of republican principles but never sought 
 office as a reward for party fealty. He 
 lived a consistent Christian life and in 
 early days was connected with the River 
 Brethren, but afterward became a mem- 
 ber of the Church of God. He died in 
 Upper Alton, in 1896, his remains being 
 interred in Mount Morris. His widow 
 still survives him and now resides with 
 her children, spending much of her time, 
 however, in Upper Alton. There were 
 eight children in the family : Daniel 
 Hause, a farmer residing near Mount 
 Morris; Samuel Martin, who resides at 
 Polo, in Ogle county; William Tell, de- 
 ceased; Barbara Ellen, the wife of Lewis 
 Leak, of Polo ; Cyrus B. ; William Tell, 
 the second of the family, also deceased ; 
 John David, of Mount Morris, Illinois; 
 and Mary Almeda, the wife of Alvin 
 Finney, of Forest, Illinois. 
 
 Professor Newcomer began his edu- 
 cation in Coon Creek schoolhouse in his 
 home district in Ogle county and after- 
 ward spent one year as a student in the 
 public schools of Mount Morris, contin- 
 uing his education in Mount Morris Col- 
 lege, from which he was graduated in 
 1885. He then entered Carthage Col- 
 lege and was graduated with the class of 
 1889, while later he matriculated in the 
 State University of Michigan at Ann Ar- 
 bor, from which he won his Master's de- 
 gree in 1895. He pursued .two post- 
 graduate courses of study in the Chicago 
 University in 1899. During the interval 
 between the attendance at Mount Morris 
 College and Carthage College he taught 
 school for a year, being a part of the time 
 in the West Branch school and the re- 
 mainder of the time in the Coon Creek 
 school in Ogle county. After his gradu- 
 ation from Carthage College he went to 
 Peabody, Kansas, where he was located 
 for three years as principal of the high 
 school, and in the fall of 1892 he entered 
 the Michigan University. Early in the 
 year 1895 he became principal of the high 
 school of Belleville, Kansas, and it was 
 in the same year that he received his 
 Master's degree at Ann Arbor. In the 
 fall of that year he was elected to a pro- 
 fessorship in Carthage College and also 
 made principal of the normal department 
 in this institution, which is under the aus- 
 pices of a general synod of the Lutheran 
 church. In 1902 he was elected asso- 
 ciate professor of ancient languages and 
 still fills that position and in the summer 
 months he frequently teaches privately. 
 He is recognized as one of the strong and 
 able educators of this part of the state
 
 738 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 and during the eleven years of his con- 
 nection with Carthage College has done 
 much to advance its standard of pro- 
 ficiency and scholarship. Professor New- 
 comer finds an interesting and pleasant 
 occupation in raising ginseng, called the 
 gold miner from the fact that the root is 
 somewhat the shape of a man. It is re- 
 garded as a panacea for many ills by the 
 Chinese and when properly raised sells 
 for ten or twelve dollars per pound and 
 in China brings its weight in gold. Pro- 
 fessor Newcomer has made a study of the 
 plant for three years and is now devoting 
 an entire lot to the raising of ginseng. 
 He has purchased seed and hopes to have 
 his first crop for sale in 1906. This plant 
 requires shade like a forest and is very 
 difficult to produce. 
 
 Professor Newcomer was married De- 
 cember 19, 1895, to Miss Mary Loretta 
 Tressler, who was born in New Bloom- 
 field, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1867. 
 and is a daughter of Professor David L. 
 and Ada Josephine (Mclntire) Tress- 
 ler, who are mentioned on another page 
 of this work. Mrs. Newcomer is a grad- 
 uate of Carthage College and taught for 
 one term at Chili, Hancock county, while 
 for five years she was a teacher in the 
 public schools of this city. She .was also 
 a competent stenographer in the law office 
 of Scofield, O'Hara & Scofield in Car- 
 thage. She is connected with the Daugh- 
 ters of the American Revolution, being 
 regent of the chapter in Carthage, being 
 entitled to membership in this order from 
 the fact that her maternal grandfather, 
 John Mclntire. was a soldier of the 
 American army in the war for independ- 
 ence. She has in her possession a piece 
 
 of Revolutionary money which came to 
 her from her grandfather Mclntire and 
 which is now worth four dollars. It 
 was issued in 1774. She is a lady of su- 
 perior intelligence and culture and of in- 
 nate refinement. 
 
 Professor Newcomer is a republican in 
 his political views. Both he and his wife 
 are devoted members of the Trinity Lu- 
 theran church and he has served as dea- 
 con, as financial secretary in the council, 
 as superintendent of the Sunday-school 
 and director of the choir. He possesses 
 a fine voice and also plays the cornet, hav- 
 ing two superior instruments of that 
 kind. In 1900 he built a beautiful mod- 
 ern residence on College avenue, having 
 one of the finest homes in the city. It 
 contains an extensive library and all the 
 furnishings that go to make a beautiful 
 and attractive home. Professor New- 
 comer is pleasant, genial and affable in 
 manner, is popular with his students as 
 well as with the general public and is 
 splendidly qualified for the important po- 
 sition which he is occupying in educa- 
 tional circles of western Illinois. At this 
 point it would be almost tautological to 
 enter into any series of statements as 
 showing him to be a man of broad in- 
 telligence and genuine public spirit, for 
 these have been shadowed forth between 
 the lines of this review. Strong in his 
 individuality he never lacks the courage 
 of his convictions but there are as deter- 
 mining elements in this individuality a 
 lively human sympathy and an abiding 
 charity which, as taken in connection 
 with the sterling integrity and honor of 
 his character, have naturally gained for 
 him the respect and good will of men.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 739 
 
 WILLIAM R. PHELPS. 
 
 William R. Phelps is living retired in 
 Plymouth but for many years was actively 
 associated with farming interests in Han- 
 cock county, and devoted his time and 
 energies to the improvement of a good 
 property, which he brought under a high 
 state of cultivation. He was born in 
 Dutchess county, New York, in 1830, a 
 son of Elijah B. and Jane (Wright) 
 Phelps, the former a native of New Mil- 
 ford, Connecticut, and the latter of Fish- 
 kill, Putnam county, New York. The 
 father engaged in school teaching in early 
 manhood and for fourteen years devoted 
 his energies to the task of grinding 
 scythes. He died in his native county 
 in 1855, while his wife passed away Janu- 
 ary i, 1866, and was buried near Burn- 
 side, Illinois, after making her home with 
 her son William for some years prior to 
 her death. In the family were fourteen 
 children, of whom seven are now living : 
 Eliza, the widow of Arthur McArthur, 
 and a resident of Massachusetts ; Charles, 
 of Augusta, Illinois; Tamar, the wife of 
 William Scott, who resides near Hunts- 
 ville in Schuyler county, Illinois ; Carrie, 
 the wife of Joseph Bailey, living near 
 Burnside, this state; and John, of Cali- 
 fornia. Four sons of the family were 
 soldiers of the Civil war. James and 
 . John were members of the Sixteenth Illi- 
 nois Volunteer Infantry, and the former 
 was killed in battle, while the latter served 
 throughout the period of hostilities. 
 Chauncey and Robert both enlisted for 
 service from Massachusetts. 
 
 William R. Phelps was educated in 
 Dutchess county, New York, to the age of 
 
 fourteen years, when necessity demanded 
 that he provide for his own support, and 
 he began work as a farm hand, being em- 
 ployed upon various farms in that section 
 of the country until twenty-four years 
 of age. He then determined to seek a 
 home in the middle west and on the 4th of 
 December, 1854, arrived in Wisconsin. 
 Soon afterward he made his way to Free- 
 port, Illinois, and for three years he was 
 engaged in peddling stoves for a Wiscon- 
 sin firm. He then settled upon a rented 
 farm near Huntsville, Illinois, where he 
 lived for three years, after which he came 
 to Hancock county and invested his sav- 
 ings in a farm of one hundred and sixty 
 acres, upon which he' also lived for three 
 years. He then sold that property and 
 purchased two hundred and forty acres 
 on sections 5 and 8, Schuyler county, Illi- 
 nois. He built thereon a residence and 
 added many other substantial improve- 
 ments, carrying on general farm work 
 until about seventeen years ago, when he 
 located in Plymouth, where he has since 
 lived retired, building a pretty and at- 
 tractive home on Sumner street. While 
 on the farm he also engaged in stock- 
 raising and both branches of his business 
 proved a good source of revenue. 
 
 In 1863 occurred the 'marriage of Mr. 
 Phelps and Miss Harriet Atkins, who 
 was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, on 
 a farm which Mr. Phelps still owns there. 
 The year of .her birth was 1839, and her 
 parents were David and Asenath (Kent) 
 Atkins, natives of Connecticut. The fa- 
 ther, a carpenter and farmer, came to 
 Illinois in 1844, and three of the brothers 
 of Mrs. Phelps were in the Mormon war. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Atkins died in Schuy-
 
 740 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 ler county, where they were buried. 
 They had seven children, four sons and 
 three daughters but only two are now 
 living, the elder daughter being Cornelia, 
 the wife of George Fitch, a resident of 
 Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps have had 
 three children, the eldest born in Hancock 
 county and the other two in Schuyler 
 county. Mary became the wife of Albert 
 Walter and lived in Colchester, Illinois, 
 where she died June 8, 1906, leaving 
 three sons, Ralph, Elmer and Glenn. 
 Fred W. married Lillie Wade, lives at 
 Plymouth and has two children, Hattie 
 and Leona. L. R. is living on his father's 
 old farm, and married Miss Alice War- 
 wick, who died in 1889, leaving two chil- 
 dren, Harry, fifteen years of age, who is 
 now with his father, and Eva, eleven years 
 of age, who is living with her grandfather 
 Phelps. For his second wife L. R. Phelps 
 chose Vesta Cooper. 
 
 Politically a republican, Mr. Phelps has 
 always kept well informed on the ques- 
 tions and issues of the day but has never 
 sought or desired office. He belongs to 
 the Congregational church and is a mem- 
 ber of the finance committee, while in the 
 various departments of church work he 
 is interested. 
 
 From the age of fourteen years he has 
 been dependent entirely upon his' own 
 resources and started out in life on his 
 own account at a salary of five dollars 
 per month, while the highest wage which 
 he ever received for his farm labor was 
 fifteen dollars per month. As the result 
 of his energy and ambition, together with 
 the assistance of his estimable wife, he has 
 accumulated a goodly share of the com- 
 forts of life and in the evening of his days 
 
 is now enabled to live without recourse 
 to further labor, occupying a pleasant and 
 attractive home in Plymouth. He has 
 passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's 
 journey and warm regard is -extended to 
 him by all with whom he has come in 
 contact. 
 
 JOHN M. OWEN. 
 
 John M. Owen, who is conducting a 
 livery stable in Carthage on Wabash 
 avenue and is also one of the "city fa- 
 thers," serving at the present writing, in 
 1906, as alderman, was born in Chili 
 township, this county, in 1852, his parents 
 being Archibald and Elizabeth (Mustain) 
 Owen, the former a native of Paris, Ken- 
 tucky, and the latter of Virginia. The 
 grandfather, John Stephen Owen, came to 
 Illinois in 1832, at which time there was 
 no city of Carthage and but few houses in 
 the county. The Indians were far more 
 numerous than the white settlers and wild 
 deer roamed everywhere. The Owen 
 family thus became closely associated with 
 the pioneer development of the county and 
 the name has ever stood as a synonym 
 for progress and improvement as the 
 years have gone by. The father, when 
 eight years of age, came to Illinois with 
 his parents who settled in Chili township, 
 where he lived on a farm until 1867, 
 when he was called to his final rest. He 
 was a democrat in his political views and 
 was honored with a number of township 
 offices. Both he and his wife were faith- 
 ful members of the Methodist church, in
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 which he served as trustee and elder. 
 His wife died in 1879 and they were laid 
 to rest in the old cemetery in Chili town- 
 ship. In their family were eight chil- 
 dren : Nancy, now the wife of Charles 
 B. Griffith, of Carthage, Illinois ; Stephen 
 Owen, who was drowned in 1872, when 
 out fishing; John M. ; Thomas, who is 
 living in Iowa; Laura, the wife of Wil- 
 liam Williams, of Chili township; Eliza- 
 beth, the wife of Christopher Williams 
 and a resident of Chili township ; Loretta, 
 the wife of James Conley, of West Point, 
 Iowa; and Anna, of Chili township. 
 Peter La Grande, a maternal uncle of our 
 subject, served in the Revolutionary war. 
 
 John M. Owen was educated in the 
 public schools of Chili township, after 
 which he operated a farm there for some 
 years. On selling that property he es- 
 tablished a general store in Stillwell, Han- 
 cock county, which he conducted until 
 1899, when he disposed of his store and 
 removed to Carthage, where for two years 
 he was engaged in dealing in agricultural 
 implements and farm machinery. In 
 1903, however, he turned his attention 
 to the conduct of a livery barn and sales 
 stable in connection with Homer C. John- 
 son and they now have an office and stable 
 on Jefferson street, buying and selling 
 horses all through the county and state. 
 
 In 1 884 John M. Owen was married to 
 Miss Wealthy M. Gay, who was born in 
 Adams county, Illinois, a daughter of 
 Vickson and Axie (Davis) Gay, the lat- 
 ter a native of the state of New York: 
 The father came to Hancock county at 
 an early day and followed farming until 
 his death, which occurred in 1880. His 
 wife passed away in 1887 and both were 
 
 buried in the Camp Point cemetery. Mr. 
 Gay was a republican in his political views 
 and allegiance and capably served in va- 
 roius township offices, to which he was 
 called by the vote of his fellow townsmen, 
 who recognized his worth and ability. 
 Both he and his wife were members of 
 the Methodist church. He had three chil- 
 dren by his first wife and two by his 
 second wife and with the exception of one 
 child of the second marriage all are yet 
 living, these being Charles V., a banker 
 at. Camp Point, Illinois ; Albert, of Camp 
 Point, who is interested in a farm in 
 Adams county, Illinois; Sophronia, the 
 widow of Clayton McGill, of Bowen, this 
 county; and Mrs. Owen. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Owen have been born two sons, both 
 natives of Hancock county : Gay, who 
 will graduate from the high school in 
 1907, at the age of eighteen years; and 
 Archibald, who at the age of sixteen years 
 is a high school student in Carthage. 
 The parents are members of the Presby- 
 terian church, in which Mr. Owen is serv- 
 ing as trustee and in the church work they 
 take an active and helpful part, being iden- 
 tified with its various societies and the 
 plans which it has instituted for the up- 
 lifting of humanity. In his social rela- 
 tions Mr. Owen is an Odd Fellow, has 
 passed all of the chairs of the lodge and 
 i:< the honored treasurer of the Masonic 
 lodge of Carthage. Prominent in local 
 democratic circles he has held various po- 
 sitions of public trust, serving as collector, 
 as a member of the school board and now 
 as. alderman from the first ward of Car- 
 thage. He and his family live at the cor- 
 ner of Wabash and Scofield streets, where 
 he has purchased a pretty home and in
 
 742 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 addition .to this property he and his part- 
 ner own a building ninety-five feet front, 
 in which they carry on their livery busi- 
 ness. He also has three hundred and 
 twenty acres of farm land in Kansas and 
 one hundred acres of farm land in Han- 
 cock county and his real estate interests 
 are thus valuable. He is largely a self- 
 made man and has been very active and 
 energetic since he left school, his limited 
 financial resources and his enterprise be- 
 ing the stimulus to a business career that 
 has now been crowned with a gratifying 
 measure of success. He is a large, portly 
 man, of warm heart and kindly disposi- 
 tion and he is held in high esteem in Car- 
 thage, where he is now comfortably sit- 
 uated in life. 
 
 SAMUEL RUSSEL. 
 
 Samuel Russel, deceased, was one of 
 the substantial farmers and respected cit- 
 izens of Hancock county. He was early 
 left an orphan and had no inheritance but 
 possessed an energetic nature and by up- 
 right living, careful management and the 
 assistance of his good wife, was enabled 
 to make steady progress in business, and 
 at the time of his death gave to each of 
 his children a good farm of eighty acres 
 or more. He was born on the Emerald 
 Isle in 1816, and when a lad of fourteen 
 years came to America. Here he was 
 bound out to a farmer who reared him, 
 as his parents had both died on the Em- 
 
 erald Isle. He acquired a taste for house- 
 building and learned the carpenter's 
 trade, which he followed for many years. 
 He afterward, however, concentrated his 
 energies upon general farming, which he 
 conducted in Bear Creek township for 
 fifty years or more. 
 
 Mr. Russel was united in marriage to 
 Miss Jemima A. Hickman, who was born 
 in New Jersey in 1823. Daniel and Jo- 
 seph Hickman, brothers of Mrs. Russel, 
 were soldiers in the Civil war, entering 
 the army from Illinois and remaining at 
 the front throughout the period of hos- 
 tilities. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Russel were 
 born ten children, but only four are now 
 living: James, a resident of Kansas; 
 Nancy, the widow of Isaac A. O'Haver; 
 Mary Jane, the wife of John O'Haver, a 
 resident of Harmony township; and Jo- 
 seph, who married Miss Belle Clampet, 
 and has five children, three daughters and 
 two sons. Their home is in Bear Creek 
 township. The death of Mr. Russel oc- 
 curred October 17, 1895, when he was 
 about seventy-nine years of age, and he 
 was laid to rest in Graham cemetery. He 
 left a valuable farm as well as an untar- 
 nished name to his wife and children. He 
 had started out in life empty-handed and 
 was always dependent upon his own la- 
 bors and business ability for the success 
 he achieved. He worked persistently and 
 earnestly year after year until he had 
 gained a good start and was enabled to 
 purchase a farm. He then devoted a half 
 century to general agricultural pursuits 
 and his work was attended with a gratify- 
 ing measure of success. His name became 
 an honored one and he well deserved the 
 praise and confidence that were given him.
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 743 
 
 Mrs. Russel, though eighty-three years of 
 age, is still very active and accomplishes 
 a great deal. She is extremely neat in 
 appearance and in all that she does 
 is a most intelligent and interesting lady. 
 She still owns ninety acres of good land 
 in Bear Creek township, which she rents, 
 while she makes her home with her chil- 
 dren, now living with her daughter, Mrs. 
 O'Haver. 
 
 This daughter, Nancy Russel, was born 
 in St. Albans township, Hancock county, 
 in 1855, an d in 1879 gave her hand in 
 marriage to Isaac A. O'Haver, who was 
 born in Montrose. Iowa, in 1855. He 
 was educated in Missouri, and in 1872 
 became a resident of Bear Creek township, 
 Hancock county, Illinois, where he fol- 
 lowed the occupation of farming. After 
 coming to Illinois, Isaac A. O'Haver de- 
 voted his time and energies to general 
 farming and stock-raising and had one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land on section 
 27, Bear Creek township, where were to 
 be seen good and substantial improve- 
 ments. His political views accorded with 
 democratic principles and he held several 
 township offices. He and his wife were 
 devoted and faithful members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, to the sup- 
 port of which they contributed liberally. 
 Mr. O'Haver died and was laid to rest in 
 Graham cemetery. Of the six children 
 born of this marriage five are now living, 
 namely : Josie, who is engaged in teach- 
 ing in the public schools of this county ; 
 Mary, the wife of Frank Swain, of Car- 
 thage, and the mother of two children, 
 Merle and Leonore; Joseph, who is op- 
 erating the home farm : James, who is as- 
 sociated with his brother Joseph in the 
 47 
 
 work ; and Esther, now twelve years of 
 age. The families of Russel and 
 O'Haver have always commanded respect 
 in this county and both Mr. Russel and 
 Mr. O'Haver were business men of enter- 
 prise and integrity. 
 
 JOSEPH YARNELL. 
 
 Joseph Yarnell, who passed away on 
 the 8th of August, 1893, left behind a 
 most creditable record because of a life 
 of honesty and industry crowned with 
 success and the esteem of his fellowmen. 
 He was born in Uniontown, Lancaster 
 county, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1841, 
 his parents being David and Margaret 
 (Neal) Yarnell. The father was reared 
 in the faith of the Society of Friends, or 
 Quakers, and represented an old family 
 of the Keystone state. In 1850 he re- 
 moved westward to Illinois, settling in St. 
 Albans township, Hancock county. In 
 the family were seven children, of whom 
 four are living : William, who resides in 
 Milan, Kansas, and was a soldier of the 
 Civil war; Edward Louisa, the wife of 
 James Lament, living in the west; and 
 Hattie, the wife of James Wirtz, of Colo- 
 rado. The parents are now deceased and 
 were laid to rest in Chili township. 
 
 Joseph Yarnell was a youth of eleven 
 years when he came to Illinois with his 
 parents. He was educated in the public 
 schools and remained under the parental 
 roof until 1861, when, at the age of twen- 
 ty years he responded to the country's 
 call for troops and joined the army. He
 
 744 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 afterward re-enlisted as a member of 
 Company B, Seventy-eighth Illinois Vol- 
 unteers and was discharged in 1865 at 
 the close of hostilities. He served with 
 an engineer corps and was a most loyal 
 defender of the Union cause. When the 
 country no longer needed his aid he re- 
 turned to his home and remained with his 
 parents until he reached the age of thirty- 
 one years, caring for the farm. 
 
 In 1872, however, Mr. Yamell left 
 home to establish a home of his own, be- 
 ing married in that year to Miss Mary 
 E. Boeshenz, who was born in Peoria, 
 Illinois, October 18, 1849, a daughter of 
 Mathew and Magdalena (Yoerger) 
 Boeshenz. The father was born in Ger- 
 many, March 8, 1821, and the mother's 
 birth occurred in France, July 14, 1827. 
 Mr. Boeshenz came to America when fif- 
 teen years of age with his father, the 
 family home being established in Ohio, 
 whence he afterward removed to Peoria, 
 Illinois, where he learned the blacksmith's 
 trade. In 1854 he became a resident of 
 Chili township, Hancock county; where 
 he conducted the village smithy. In his 
 family were twelve children but only 
 three are now living : Mrs. Yarnell ; Ma- 
 tilda, the wife of Charles Graham, a resi- 
 dent of St. Albans township; and Alfred, 
 of Chili township. The parents were 
 members' of the Presbyterian church and 
 in its work took an active interest, Mr. 
 Boeshenz serving as superintendent of 
 the Sunday-school. His political support 
 was given to the Republican party. He 
 died in 1874, while his wife passed away 
 in 1873, and their graves were made in 
 Chili cemetery. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 Yarnell purchased forty-nine acres of land 
 on section 28, Chili township, and later 
 he purchased the interest of the other 
 heirs in his father's home property and 
 erected thereon a nice residence, together 
 with substantial barns and outbuildings, 
 thus furnishing ample shelter for grain 
 and stock. In his business interests he 
 became very prosperous and was widely 
 known as an able and successful farmer 
 and stock-raiser. His political views 
 were in accord with republican principles 
 and he served as school director but other- 
 wise neither sought nor held public office. 
 In all his business transaction he was 
 strictly fair and reliable and his advance- 
 ment in the business world was due to his 
 unfaltering energy and laudable ambition. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yarnell were bom 
 ten children : Margaret, who was former- 
 ly a teacher in Chili township, is now the 
 wife of Mark Parsons, a farmer of that 
 township. Mathew, who was also a 
 teacher in the township, is now operating 
 his mother's farm. Benjamin, who died 
 in Chili township, married Margaret 
 King and lives in Wenona, Illinois. Lena 
 is a graduate of the Woman's College, at 
 Jacksonville, Illinois, and now teaches in 
 Auburn, this state. Lizzie was formerly 
 a student in the high school in Bowen and 
 is now teaching in that city. Jacob 
 Henry, a graduate o fthe Bowen high 
 school, is attending the State University, 
 at Champaign, Illinois. Mary, who 
 taught in Hancock county in 1906, is 
 also a student in the university at Cham- 
 paign. Bessie, Archibald and Jeseph, are 
 all at home. 
 
 Fraternally Mr. Yarnell was connected 
 with the Grand Army of the Republic and
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 745 
 
 had the warm regard of his brethren of 
 the post. He lived a life of business ac- 
 tivity and enterprise, and although he 
 started out on his own account a poor 
 boy he worked his way upward and at the 
 time of his demise was well-to-do. He 
 was a man most highly respected, for in 
 all life's relations he was honorable and 
 upright. He thus left to his family the 
 priceless heritage of an untarnished name. 
 In his home he was a devoted husband 
 and father and his neighbors found him a 
 faithful friend and the community a val- 
 ued citizen. Mrs. Yarnell is a member of 
 the Methodist church and a most esti- 
 mable lady. In addition to the home 
 property she owns eighty acres adjoining 
 this place, which is operated by her son 
 and also thirty-six acres of timber land. 
 Her children have all been carefully and 
 liberally educated and all of the elder 
 members of the family have taught in the 
 public schools. She has every reason to 
 be proud of her family of sons and daugh- 
 ters as they are a credit to her name. 
 
 W. T. HUFF. 
 
 W. T. Huff, who is engaged in the 
 livery business in Carthage, was born in 
 Basco, Hancock county, in 1864, a son of 
 J. E. and Rebecca (Bryant) Huff, the 
 former born in 1837 and the latter in 
 1840. His grandfather, who came from 
 North Carolina, settled on the first farm 
 which was developed between Carthage 
 and Basco, known as the old Huff place 
 
 and J. E. Huff has been an active farmer 
 of Hancock county for many years and 
 now conducts a livery and hoted business 
 in Basco. The Huffs have always been 
 advocates of the democracy but have 
 never been aspirants for office and both 
 Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Huff are devoted 
 members of the Methodist church. In 
 their family were three sons : Lymon, 
 who is living in Basco ; Charles, who was 
 telegraph operator at Golden, Illinois, for 
 a number of years but is now deceased; 
 and W. T. 
 
 In the public schools of Basco, W. T. 
 Huff acquired his education, remaining 
 upon the home farm with his father until 
 the time of his marriage, on the I7th of 
 February, 1887. The lady of his choice 
 was Miss Florey Foster, who was born 
 in Hancock county in 1869, a daughter 
 of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Foster. Her 
 parents were natives of Ohio and came 
 to this state at an early day. The father 
 first engaged in teaching school at Ply- 
 mouth, Illinois, and afterward settled up- 
 on a farm in Hancock county. Later he 
 was a teacher in the high school of Can- 
 ton, Missouri, for a number of years and 
 after another period devoted to farming 
 he retired from business life and removed 
 to Basco. At the time of the Civil war 
 he enlisted in the Union army and be- 
 came a general of the Illinois Volunteers. 
 His political support is given to the Re- 
 publican party and he is an exemplary rep- 
 resentative of the Masonic fraternity, hav- 
 ing passed all of the chairs in the local 
 lodge, while frequently he is a delegate 
 to the conventions of the organization. 
 Both he and his wife are members of the 
 Methodist church and he has frequently
 
 746 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 filled the pulpit in the absence of the regu- 
 lar pastor. In the Foster family were 
 four children : Ida, the wife of Gilbert 
 Kirkpatrick, who died fifteen years ago, 
 while her death occurred eighteen years 
 ago ; Mrs. Huff ; Belle, the wfie of W. O. 
 Fisher, of Basco, Illinois ; and Roy, who 
 died at the age of five years. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Huff began his 
 domestic life on a farm near Bentley. 
 where he remained one year and then 
 purchased a tract of land near Basco, 
 where he followed farming for two years. 
 He paid ten dollars per acre for that prop- 
 erty, cleared the timber away and trans- 
 formed the land into productive fields. 
 Later he sold the property to good ad- 
 vantage and in 1890 removed to Carthage, 
 where he established a livery business. 
 For the last ten years he has been located 
 on Main street. He has horses and car- 
 riages to rent and he also buys and sells 
 horses. He is in fact conducting a gen- 
 eral livery business and has been a repre- 
 sentative of this line of activity for a 
 longer period than any other liveryman of 
 Carthage. He now has a good business, 
 which has grown in extent until he derives 
 therefrom a gratifying annual income. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huff have been 
 born seven children, all of whom were 
 born in Hancock county, namely : 
 Vernon, deceased; Roy, who will grad- 
 uate from the Carthage high school in 
 the class of 1906; Jessie, Minnie and 
 Leslie, all in school ; Leona ; and Harold. 
 
 Mr. Huff belongs to the Modern Wood- 
 men camp and he and his wife hold mem- 
 bership in the Methodist church, to the 
 support of which they have contributed 
 liberally and in the work of which they 
 
 take an active and helpful part. In 
 politics Mr. Huff is a democrat but has no 
 desire for office. In connection with his 
 father-in-law he owns the building in 
 which he is now carrying on the livery 
 business. He is an intelligent gentleman, 
 and has a retentive memory and as his 
 entire life has been passed in this county 
 he is familiar with its history through 
 more than four decades. He can well 
 remember the tornado which occurred on 
 the 3d of July, 1871. Although he was 
 but seven years of age at the time. The 
 storm came up about six o'clock in the 
 afternoon, his father being away from 
 home at the village at the time. His 
 mother and two cousins were ironing on 
 the east porch and his two brothers were 
 plowing in the field. Seeing the ap- 
 proaching storm they came to the house 
 to inform their mother and soon the wind 
 was blowing a terrific gale. The barn 
 was blown down and the family had bare- 
 ly gotten the doors and windows fastened 
 when the roof was lifted off of the kitchen 
 and the top taken off the stove. The 
 mother at once emptied the teakettle of 
 water in the stove to prevent fire. Then 
 the family proceeded to the cellar, for in a 
 few moments the whole house, a large 
 two-story frame structure, was lifted en- 
 tirely off the foundation and hurled to 
 pieces, as were also twelve or fifteen other 
 houses in the neighborhood, while the 
 greater number of the young trees in 
 the orchard were torn up by the 
 roots, or broken up and piled in 
 a heap in the cellar doorway. The 
 members of the Huff family were 
 unhurt, much to the joy of the husband 
 and father on his return. Neighbors
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 747 
 
 nearby were killed, however, and members by ambition, energy and upright dealing 
 of other families were injured and Mr. has succeeded in building up a good busi- 
 Huff had to rebuild his home. W. T. ness and secured many of the comforts 
 Huff of this review has never had a dollar of life. He is a pleasant, genial gentle- 
 given him in his life. He started out in man and one highly respected in the 
 very limited financial circumstances but community.
 
 
 Index to Biographical Sketches. 
 
 Albers, Charles 201 
 
 Albers, Glaus 197 
 
 Albers, William Edward 201 
 
 Aldridge, S. H 591 
 
 Alvord, Rudolph W 665 
 
 Antoine, John F 376 
 
 Argast, Edward 320 
 
 Ash, William J 141 
 
 Athey, Samuel H 639 
 
 Ayers, David 241 
 
 Babcock, James 25 
 
 Bagby, William 567 
 
 Bailey, George W 545 
 
 Bailey, Joel 563 
 
 Bainter, John H 703 
 
 Bainter, Thomas J 636 
 
 Baker, Seth M 432 
 
 Balsley, Jacob C 145 
 
 Barr, George W 21 
 
 Barr, Robert A 94 
 
 Bascow, 'Alex W 48 
 
 Baumert, Michael, Sr 535 
 
 Baxter, Cecil J. S 717 
 
 Baxter, Emil J 338 
 
 Beard, William S 350 
 
 Bell, Josiah C 629 
 
 Benner, Benjamin F 500 
 
 Bennington, Asa L 262 
 
 Berry, .!ohn M 668 
 
 Berry, Hon. M. P 734 
 
 Berry, Hon. O. F 53 
 
 Bertschi, Albert 313 
 
 Bertschi, Carl 337 
 
 Bertschi, John W 306 
 
 Bideaux, William A 171 
 
 Black, Benjamin F 462 
 
 Black, ilenry F 577 
 
 Boddekar, John J 494 
 
 Bolinger, James W 280 
 
 Bollin, Gottlieb 294 
 
 Bolton, Alexander 543 
 
 Boston, Charles W 225 
 
 Botts, Joseph .W 569 
 
 Bowen, Kinzy H 713 
 
 Bradfleld, James L 278 
 
 Bradfield, William F 329 
 
 Bradshaw, James M 574 
 
 Bradshaw, William D 491 
 
 Brant, George M 347 
 
 Bricker, Henry 662 
 
 Bride, James 397 
 
 Bridges, Jcel W 211 
 
 Bridges, Wesley C 205 
 
 Brines, Edward 622 
 
 Brown, Edwin 653 
 
 Brown, Homer D 82 
 
 Brunton, Collins 386 
 
 Bryan, Smith F 405 
 
 Buckert, John H 474 
 
 Buell, l.overett W 86 
 
 Burr, CMcar H 101 
 
 Butler, Dr. William 256 
 
 Byers, Andrew W 498 
 
 Byler, Henry C 55 
 
 Cabet, Etienne 692 
 
 Campbell, John A 555 
 
 Carlton, Robert L 416 
 
 Games, Henry 708 
 
 Carter, Charles 551 
 
 Casburn, Floyd N 434 
 
 Cassell, Isaac W 558 
 
 Cassingham, James W 263 
 
 Chandler, Guy B 296 
 
 Chapman, Samuel S 136 
 
 Charpentier, Julius 547 
 
 Chenowjth, Marcellus T. . . 213 
 
 Cherrill, Edward 32 
 
 Chevillon, Leon 372 
 
 Clark, Charles E 96 
 
 Clark, Charles G 228 
 
 Clark-, James H. 134 
 
 Clere, George 493 
 
 Cochran, John 418 
 
 Coohran, John S 184 
 
 Cochran, Joshua 681 
 
 Conner, Benjamin F 138 
 
 Cooke, Hon. Charles 607 
 
 Coulson, George 435 
 
 Coulson, James C 539 
 
 Crabill, John H 252 
 
 Cravens, Lucian W 677 
 
 Crawford, C. C 401 
 
 Crawford, James F 630 
 
 Crawford, Thomas 601 
 
 Cruise, Linus 411 
 
 Crum, Charles E 712 
 
 Cummings, George M 40 
 
 Cutler, Francis M 226 
 
 Cutler, Clinton 285 
 
 Cutler, Deles L 695 
 
 Cutler, L-wight C 706 
 
 Cutler, I-arkhurst W 114 
 
 Dadant, Camille P 91 
 
 Dallam, Phillip 410 
 
 Davier, Antone 714 
 
 Davis, Amos, Jr 532 
 
 Davis, Dick H 663 
 
 Den ton, Edmond P 66 
 
 DeGroot, John E 437 
 
 Deitrich, Joseph F 289 
 
 Dickinson, Henry R 243 
 
 Disselhorst, August H 554 
 
 Diver, Wallace 687 
 
 Dickson, J. E 651 
 
 Doolittle, Charles B 297 
 
 Downing, Charles A 355 
 
 Dorsey, Joseph 512 
 
 Dye, William T 89 
 
 Echbohm, Martin C 112 
 
 Eckles, C. A 448 
 
 Edwards, Maj. Gen. Oliver. 301 
 
 Ellefritz, Thaddeus J 81 
 
 Ellison, Ralph 120 
 
 Elsea, Dr. Homer J 229 
 
 Essley, J. L 640 
 
 Ewing, John P 476
 
 750 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 
 
 Fail-child, William R 675 
 
 Faught, Verrieus R 107 
 
 Faulkner, John 270 
 
 Ferguson, William M 315 
 
 Ferris, Hiram G 730 
 
 Ferris, Junius C 733 
 
 Ferris, Leonard T 246 
 
 Ferris, Stephen H 728 
 
 Fletcher, John A 102 
 
 Folckemer, Dr. Harry R 288 
 
 Frazee, Dr. D. L 573 
 
 Frazer, J. 1 374 
 
 Frazer, LaFayette 311 
 
 Frazer, George 274 
 
 French, Thomas G 468 
 
 Fuller, Dr. Briggs J 185 
 
 Galbraith, John R 239 
 
 Garner, John H 565 
 
 Garnett, Charles H 196 
 
 Garwood, T. J 550 
 
 George, Lewis F 660 
 
 Gibson, James F 293 
 
 Gibson, Robert C 254 
 
 Giese, Bernhard 664 
 
 Gilchrist, Gen. Charles A.. 523 
 
 Gillham, Eli D 673 
 
 Gillham, Henry 209 
 
 Gillham, R. E 156 
 
 Gnann, Samuel D 384 
 
 Goddertz, Mathew 330 
 
 Goehring, John C 403 
 
 Gordon, Robert S 223 
 
 Gordon, Samuel 128 
 
 Grant, John W 363 
 
 Griffith, Andrew 615 
 
 Gross, Jacob M '. . . 366 
 
 Grove, Jacob 452 
 
 Grove, Joseph N 453 
 
 Haase, Herman 552 
 
 Habben, John M 291 
 
 Haigh, John 422 
 
 Haigh, Lewis D 541 
 
 Hallam, T. A 723 
 
 Hamilton, William R 683 
 
 Hanson, Henry C 119 
 
 Harnest, S. E 97 
 
 Harris, Andrew J 360 
 
 Harris, Andrew Jackson . . . 556 
 
 Harris, Francis M 336 
 
 Harris, W. R 676 
 
 Harrison, Edward 521 
 
 Hart, Selah G 528 
 
 Hartzell, William H 299 
 
 Hastings, John B 282 
 
 Hawley, Mrs. Jane L 640 
 
 Hay, Dr. Charles 11 
 
 Hay, Hon. John 159 
 
 Hay, Maj. Leonard A 242 
 
 Hazen, Erastus A 174 
 
 Heberar, William L 514 
 
 Hecox, S W 341 
 
 Heisler, John 1 36 
 
 Helfrich, Joseph E 486 
 
 Henry, Martin A 249 
 
 Herbert, John 631 
 
 Hewitt, Cyrus M 122 
 
 Hill, Prof. William K 19 
 
 Hobart, Isaac N 84 
 
 Honce, William H 233 
 
 Hooker, Chellis E 562 
 
 Hooker, William C 560 
 
 Homey, John H 194 
 
 Hosford, Edwin W 517 
 
 Huff, Francis M 357 
 
 Huff, W. T 745 
 
 Hughes, W. W 371 
 
 Humphrey, G. M 503 
 
 Hurdle, John N 515 
 
 Jackson, Hugh 272 
 
 Jackson, Peter 137 
 
 Jenkins, Henry 105 
 
 Jones, Emmanuel 481 
 
 Jones, Judge George W. . . . 478 
 
 Jones, Samuel R 158 
 
 Johnson, Benjamin F 580 
 
 Johnson, James G 326 
 
 Johnson, John B 488 
 
 Johnson, Matthew M 180 
 
 Johnston, Dr. James E 586 
 
 Johnstone, John E 727 
 
 Kaser, John D 679 
 
 Kelly, Dr. Blair 362 
 
 Ketchum, Andrew J 571 
 
 Kimbrough, Robert M 79 
 
 Kimbrough, William L 147 
 
 Kimbrough, William R 148 
 
 Kinkade, George W 646 
 
 Kinkade, Hiram B 214 
 
 Kirby, Andrew 456 
 
 Kizer, John M 312 
 
 Klinefelter, George 623 
 
 Knox, Harrison 235 
 
 Koontz, Hiram 589 
 
 Kropp, Adam 280 
 
 LaCroix, George C 415 
 
 Lamet, Louis 212 
 
 La Monte, Jacob P 169 
 
 Landis, Isaac F 459 
 
 Laubersheimer, Max 624 
 
 Layton, Anthony P 402 
 
 Leach, James B 458 
 
 Lee, Morris J 696 
 
 Library, Carthage Public . . . 593 
 
 Linnenburger, Henry G. . . . 413 
 
 Lionberger, Scott G 658 
 
 Little, Franklin C 23 
 
 Little, Lorenzo D 68 
 
 Locke, George 324 
 
 Lofton, Charles B 152 
 
 Loop, J. E 151 
 
 Lord, Joseph E 529 
 
 Lung, Jacob G 153 
 
 Lyon, William E 380 
 
 Mack, David 396 
 
 Maire, Frederick 287 
 
 Manifold, Arthur R 290 
 
 Manussier, Joseph V 657 
 
 Marsh, Col. Benjamin F. . . 61 
 
 Marsh, Hon. John W 610 
 
 Marsh, Dr. John W 650 
 
 Marshall, William H 444 
 
 Martin, Charles T 314 
 
 Martin, Dr. Isaac McCoy. . . 614 
 
 Matthews, Robert D , 470 
 
 McBride, S. G 526 
 
 McCarty, James 433 
 
 McCollom, Charles M 465 
 
 McCord, George C 392 
 
 McCord, Noah 655 
 
 McCormick, Dr. Franklin L. 308 
 
 McCrory, John 649 
 
 McFarland, Thomas 603 
 
 McGaw, Samuel P 688 
 
 McKee, Albert N 187 
 
 McKee, James W 186 
 
 McNeall, Arthur 537 
 
 Meyer, Frederick W 189 
 
 Milborn, William G., Jr 496 
 
 Milby, Fred N 190 
 
 Miller, D. H 42 
 
 Miller, Lewis F 585 
 
 Miller, Joseph M 033 
 
 Millikin, Don C. S 648 
 
 Mizner, Robert H 705 
 
 Moffitt, James J 265 
 
 Morrison, James E 51 
 
 Monroe, J. B 684 
 
 Moore, William H 441 
 
 Murphy, Abner 600 
 
 Myers, Lewis M 60 
 
 Nelson, Reason A 419 
 
 Nethery, Robert 583
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
 
 Newcomb, P. H. C 721 
 
 Newcomber, Prof. Cyrus B. 736 
 
 Newton, Lewis L 118 
 
 Newell, Josephus 443 
 
 Norris, John H 475 
 
 Noyes, Dr. William H. D. . 215 
 
 Nudd, Farmer 454 
 
 Ogden, James 685 
 
 O'Harra, A. W 28 
 
 Outhier, Theophilus 377 
 
 Owen, John M 740 
 
 Paul, James A 502 
 
 Payne, George W 125 
 
 Pence, Philip 697 
 
 Perrin, William 446 
 
 Pershing, Dr. Francis O... 34 
 
 Phelps, William R 739 
 
 Phillippi, Alex 497 
 
 Pitt, Henry T 316 
 
 Pitt, John 715 
 
 Plantz, Truman 592 
 
 Plumb, J. A 251 
 
 Plumb, W. H 251 
 
 Forth, Charles 510 
 
 Forth, Fred 322 
 
 Puntenney, Ahimaaz 143 
 
 Quick, Alfred 203 
 
 Rand, E H 710 
 
 Randall, M. E 581 
 
 Ray, Daniel T 27 
 
 Reed, Dayton W 222 
 
 Reid, Lucien S 207 
 
 Reimbold, William C 634 
 
 Reiselt, Jacob 58 
 
 Reyer, Fred 690 
 
 Rice, Clark H 310 
 
 Rice, Henry 69 
 
 Richardson, George L 509 
 
 Richart, Oscar E 399 
 
 Riggins, William J 620 
 
 Ritchey, Josiah 73 
 
 Ritter, Joseph D 467 
 
 Roasa, William 378 
 
 Roberts, Dr. Roy B 637 
 
 Robinson, C. J 595 
 
 Robinson, Barzillai 87 
 
 Robinson, David A 408 
 
 Roseberry, James A 634 
 
 Roskarup, Lewis Gotlieb 201 
 
 Rosenstengel, Rev. William. 520 
 
 Rowe, Edwin P 124 
 
 Rucker, Ezekiel 50 
 
 Ruggles, Thomas 426 
 
 Russel, Samuel 742 
 
 Sack, Lewis 155 
 
 Salisbury, Solomon J 430 
 
 Sanford, William 423 
 
 Schafer, Burnett 349 
 
 Scofleld, Charles J 275 
 
 Sharp, Judge Thomas C 108 
 
 Sharp, W. 506 
 
 Shipman, Charles S 17 
 
 Shindel, Jacob E 702 
 
 Shipton, John S 43 
 
 Shutwell, John 439 
 
 Siegrist, Adolph 588 
 
 Sights, David R 318 
 
 Sights, Thomas J 319 
 
 Simpson, Silvanus E 504 
 
 Slingerland, George H 599 
 
 Smith, George 633 
 
 Smith, Lee 178 
 
 Smith, Dr. William K 268 
 
 Spangler, William M 724 
 
 Spence, Charles F 489 
 
 Stahl, Rev. John 693 
 
 Stewart, Robert P 116 
 
 Stidum, William C 451 
 
 Stone, Samuel T 231 
 
 Sturm, Henry 540 
 
 Sweeney, Samuel 626 
 
 Symonds, William A 192 
 
 Thatcher, Benjamin F 654 
 
 Thomas, L. Thaddeus 382 
 
 Thomas, William H 234 
 
 Thompson, George H 331 
 
 Thornber, John T 388 
 
 Thornber, Henry 359 
 
 Timasheske, Lawrence 576 
 
 Tomlinson, William J 450 
 
 Trautvetter, George A 172 
 
 Traverse, William F 666 
 
 Tressler, Dr. David L 719 
 
 Van Aernam, Charles H 616 
 
 Van Aernam, Ransom D. . . 617 
 Vaughn, Luke M 39 
 
 Vincent, Samuel C 264 
 
 Walker, Frank W 132 
 
 Walker, George 258 
 
 Walker, Thomas 1 46 
 
 Wallace, Eugene A 167 
 
 Walton, Fred M 353 
 
 Ward, Zebdiah 176 
 
 Warner, Dr. Charles ' A. ... 204 
 
 Waterman, August 325 , 
 
 Watt, Lyman W 126 
 
 Weathers, Mrs. Joshua S . . 699 
 
 Webb, George W 472 
 
 Webb, William C 597 
 
 Weber, Henry 165 
 
 Weber, William 346 
 
 Weisenborn, Otto F 644 
 
 Weiser, Simon D 237 
 
 Wellner, John 343 
 
 Westfall, James W 425 
 
 Whitcomb, John D 344 
 
 Whitcomb, Wyman T 342 
 
 White, Zimri 71 
 
 Wilke, August C 619 
 
 Wilke, William J 701 
 
 Wilkens, Charles 385 
 
 Wilkens, John 365 
 
 Wilkinson, Fred A 519 
 
 Willey, Jonathon C 77 
 
 Williams, Henry C 484 
 
 Williams, Prof. James E 220 
 
 Williams, Hon. Jesse C 333 
 
 Williams, John R 641 
 
 Williams, John Wesley 671 
 
 Williams, Wesley 669 
 
 Williams, Wesley C 670 
 
 Wood, De Witt C 596 
 
 Woodside, William L 268 
 
 Woolfolk, Austin C 426 
 
 Worthen, Amos H 367 
 
 Worthen, Amos H 391 
 
 Worthen, Charles 391 
 
 Worthen, George B 394 
 
 Worthen, John B 390 
 
 Yarnell, Joseph 743 
 
 Yeager, James P 354 
 
 Yetter, George W 606 
 
 Yetter, Samuel R 130 
 
 Young, Lorenzo 507
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF HANCOCK COUNTY i