LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 977.382 
 T69p 
 
 I.H.S.
 
 PAST AND PRESENT 
 
 OF 
 
 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 By JACOB L. TRAYLOR 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 "A People that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never 
 
 achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by 
 
 remote generations." — Macaulay. 
 
 CHICAGO : 
 
 THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 19 04
 
 JDeotcateb to tbe pioneers of 
 flDontgomers Counts
 
 PREFACE 
 
 Montgomery County has had history in which the people may take just pride. li> securing the 
 services of Hon. Jacob L. Traylor in the compilation of the history, the publishers feel thai they 
 have secured the one man well qualified to do justice to the work, and the citizens of the county 
 may well be congratulated on the result. 
 
 The biographical sketches incorporated with the work are of special interest, our corps of 
 writers having gone ti> the people, the men and women who have, by their enterprise and indus- 
 try, broughl this country to a rank second to none among those comprising this great and 
 noble state, and from their lips have the story of their life struggles. No more interesting or 
 instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent public. In this volume will be found 
 a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, 
 commencing life in poverty, by industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how 
 others, with limited advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and wom- 
 en, with an influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men 
 who have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have 
 become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and records 
 how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also id' many, very many, who. not 
 seeking the applause of (he world, have pursued the "even tenor of their way," content in have 
 it said of them, as Chrisl said of the woman performing a deed of mercv — "They have dour 
 what they could." It tells how many, in the pride and strength of young manhood, left the plow 
 and the anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and 
 at (heir country's eall went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through (heir efforts the 
 Onion was restored and peace mire more reigned in the land, in the life of every man and 
 of everv woman is a lesson that should not be !os1 upon those who follow after 
 
 Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from 
 the fact (hat it contains so much that would never find its way into public records and which 
 would otherwise he i naccessihlr. Greal care has been taken in the compilation of the work and 
 
 every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has I □ 
 
 written: and the publishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with few 
 errors id' consequence. In addition (o biographical sketches, portraits of a number of repre- 
 sentative citizens are given. 
 
 The fare- of some, and biographical sketches of many, will lie missed in tin.- volume. For 
 this the publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception oi the work, some refused 
 to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were imlitferent. Occasion- 
 ally some member of the family would oppose the enterprise, and on accoun( of such opposition 
 the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men never could be 
 found, though repeated calls were made at their residence or place of business. 
 
 ^ The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 
 
 December, 1904. 
 
 I I 09480
 

 
 >/^C 
 
 J^^crp^
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL 
 
 SAMUEL MOODY GRUBBS. 
 
 Samuel Moody Grubbs, for many years one 
 of the forceful and honored factors in financial 
 circles in Litchfield, and one whose influence 
 has not been a minor element among the finan- 
 ciers of .Montgomery county, attained to promi- 
 nence through the inherent force of his char- 
 acter, the exercise of his native talent and the 
 utilization of surrounding opportunity. He 
 has become a capitalist whose business careei 
 ex< ites the admiration and has won the respect 
 of his contemporaries, yet it is not this alone 
 that entith s him to rank as one of the fore- 
 most men of his day in his portion of Illinois. 
 His connection with the public interests of his 
 city has been far-reaching and beneficial, for 
 he has aided in shaping the municipal policy, 
 his patriotic citizenship and his interest in 
 community affairs taking tangible form in his 
 zealous labor for improvement while the in- 
 cumbent in various city offices. 
 
 Mr. Grubbs was born in Hillsboro in 1S35, 
 a son of Moody and Cynthia Anna (Boone) 
 Grubbs. His father, a native of Kentucky, 
 came to Montgomer} county in 1834, locating 
 m Billsboro, where he. died about 1838. He 
 was a brick-mason by trade, and was a member 
 of the Baptist church. His wife, who was born 
 in Kentucky in 1795, died in 1887 when nearly 
 ninety-two years of age. Her father was Squire 
 Boone, a nephew of Daniel Boone, the explorer 
 and pioneer. Squire Boone was one of the 
 valiant heroes of the Revolutionary war and 
 was shot in fhe thigh by a musket hall. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Grubbs were born ten children, 
 eight sons and two daughters, of whom Samuel 
 
 M. Grubbs is the youngest. The others still 
 living are Thomas lloone. who is ;i iirii k-ma-on 
 al l.em.ir. .Missouri: and Mary L., the widow of 
 Allison Corlew, of Denver, Colorado. 
 
 Mr. Grubbs of this review acquired his early 
 education in the common schools of Hillsboro 
 and afterward attended the academy there. He 
 entered upon his business career as an employe 
 in the store of W. H. Brewer, of Hillsboro, 
 for whom he clerked for three years. He after- 
 ward accepted a similar position in the store at 
 Litchfield which stood on the site now occupied 
 by the First National Bank. Its proprietors 
 were MeWilliams & Paden, and there Mr. 
 Grubbs remained until the fall of 1856. when 
 he returned to Hillsboro and opened a drug 
 
 store, which he c lucted for two years. On 
 
 the expiration of that period he purchased a 
 general store of W. IT. Brewer and carried on 
 business in that line until the spring of 1865, 
 when he again came to Litchfield and entered 
 into partnership with R. H. Peal, as proprietor 
 of a general store, in which he continued for 
 three years. In 1868 lie became interested in 
 the banking business of Davis. Haskell & Com- 
 pany, predecessors of the firm of Brewer, Sey- 
 mour & Company, Mr. Grubbs being the silent 
 partner in the latter. Upon the retirement of 
 Mr. Seymour the firm became Brewer & 
 Grubbs, and this relation was maintained until 
 1883, when Judge Brewer died and the firm 
 nam.' was changed to S. M. Grubbs & Company. 
 Under that style the banking husiness was con- 
 tinued until January. 1880. when it was merged 
 into the First National Bank and the institu- 
 tion was capitalized, for one hundred thousand
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 dollars. During the firsl year Mr. Grubbs was 
 vice-president, and since that time has been 
 president. Cinder his administration this has 
 become one of the strong and reliable financial 
 concerns of this part of the state, following a 
 very conservative policy that awakens uniform 
 confidence and yet adopting such progressive 
 measures as result to the benefit of the institu- 
 tion and tn the stockholders and depositors as 
 well. 
 
 Mr. Grubbs is a man of resourci ful business 
 ability, alert and enterprising, and his ready 
 recognition of opportunity has made him a val- 
 ued factor in business circles, while his wise 
 council and sound judgment have contributed 
 in large measure to the successful conduct of 
 various interests. He is connected financially 
 with the Litchfield Marble & Granite Works, 
 has hern treasurer of the Oil City Building & 
 I. nan Association since 1883, is interested in 
 the Litchfield Water Supply Company and is 
 a member of the firm owning the Gillespie 
 Bank, his partners being E. R. Miller and R. 
 H. Isaacs. He is also a stockholder in the 
 Hillsboro National Bank. 
 
 In 1857 Mr. Grubbs was united in marriage 
 to Miss Mary Brewer, a daughter of Judge 
 William and Delilah (Huff) Brewer. Mrs. 
 Grubbs was born in Palestine, Illinois, and died 
 in 1888 ai the age of forty-nine years. They 
 were the parents of seven children, but the sons 
 all died in infancy. Those living are Mary G., 
 the wife of Edward R. Davis, formerly of Litch- 
 field, but new cashier of the First National 
 Bank at Chicago Heights; and Delilah A., the 
 wife of Edwin 1!. Elliott, a traveling salesman 
 of Litchfield. The eldest daughter, Ella B., 
 became the wife of George W. Attfrbury and is 
 now deceased. In 1890 Mr. Grubbs was again 
 married, his second union being with Mrs. 
 Betty A. White, the widow of Gustavus L. 
 White and a daughter of Samuel Beach. She 
 was born in Gowonda, Mew York, In ls.38. 
 
 Mr. Grubbs is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, and for alums! fifty years 
 has taken a ven helpful pail in various church 
 industries, lie is mm president of the board 
 of trustees and has long hem a loyal worker 
 in the Sunday-school. Socially he is connected 
 with the Masonic fraternity, lie votes with 
 
 the Republican party and has been honored 
 with public nlliee. serving both a streasurer and 
 as mayor of the city. He is a man of action 
 rather than theory. Through the whole course 
 of his career the prime moving spirit that has 
 
 prompted all his act - seems to have been 
 
 improvement and advancement. He is a very 
 hus\ man, yet he is ever ready to pause in the 
 midst of his business duties to promote the 
 welfare and progress of the city, lie is held 
 worthy of the respect which i- accorded him, 
 for his name is synonymous with honorable 
 dealing and with all thai is elevating to the 
 city and to the individual. 
 
 ('. W. BLISS. 
 
 ('. W. l'.li>>, former president of the Illinois 
 Press Association, and a leading journalist of 
 the central section of the state, is the owner 
 and publisher of the Montgomery News, the 
 leading Democratic paper of the county. He 
 was bom in Fillmore township, where the vil- 
 lage of Fillmore now stands, January 8. 1846. 
 His father, the Rev. Alfred Bliss, was a pio- 
 neer Methodist preacher of central Illinois long 
 connected with the southern Illinois Methodist 
 Episcopal conference. His mother, who bore 
 the maiden name of Direxia Haines Knowles, 
 was married to Alfred Bliss in New Hampshire, 
 March I. L834. In 1838 Alfred Bliss and his 
 wife, accompanied by their two children, sis- 
 ters of our subject, came to Illinois, settling 
 in Fillmore township. Montgomery county, 
 where he had purchased land. The trip was 
 made by wagon, and they reached their desti- 
 nation mi the 24th of September, L838. Rev. 
 Bliss afterward acquired a large body of land 
 in Fillmore township, and was not only ex- 
 tensively engaged in farming, but was also 
 prominent in public affairs and assisted in the 
 substantial, intellectual ami moral development 
 of his community, lie was for two terms one 
 of the associate judges of the county court of 
 Montgomery county, and in 1853 he began 
 preaching, devoting the remainder of his life 
 to the itinerary, being -cut to a number of 
 charges in central and southern Illinois. His 
 wife died iii 1894, hut he passed away in 1899.
 
 C. W. BLISS
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 ['AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 1 1 
 
 C. W. Bliss attended the public schools of 
 Fillmore and in 1804 entered McKendree Col- 
 lege at Lebanon, Illinois, where he was gradu- 
 ated on the completion of the classical course 
 in 1869 with salutatorian honors of his class. 
 The degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred 
 upon him, and in 1874 he received the hon- 
 orary degree of Master of Arts from the same 
 institution. 
 
 Mr. Bliss entered upon his business career 
 as a school teacher and foil,, wed that profes- 
 sion for two years, during which time his lei- 
 sure moments were devoted to the reading of 
 law. lie was admitted to the bar at Edwards- 
 ville, Illinois, in the fall of 1871 and located 
 lor practice in Hillsboro, where for two terms 
 he held the office of city attorney, and in addi- 
 tion enjoyed a good private practice, lie has 
 been master in chancery in Montgomery county 
 for three terms and has performed other official 
 service, having in 1892 been appointed by (Jov- 
 ernor John P. Altgeld a trustee of the South- 
 ern Illinois Normal University at Carbondale, 
 serving for four years as president of that 
 board. 
 
 In February, 1892, Mr. Bliss purchased the 
 Montgomery News, the hading Democratic 
 paper of the county, and has devoted his time 
 and energies to newspaper work since then, 
 having secured the largest subscription list of 
 any paper the county has ever had and larger 
 than any other in this part of the state. The 
 News is a sixteen-page journal, all home print, 
 and the office is one of the best equipped news- 
 paper plants in (he central section of the state. 
 The building, a large brick structure, was 
 erected by Mr. liliss in 1894 as a home for 
 the News, and is furnished with a large power 
 press, job presses, folders ami other equipments 
 all operated by electricity. His standing as a 
 representative of the profession is indicated by 
 the fact that he was chosen president of (he 
 Illinois Press Association for the war 1902-3. 
 lli< business interests have not been confined 
 entirely to the law or to his newspaper work. 
 He i- a director of the First National Bank of 
 Litchfield, also of the Hillsboro National Bank 
 and of the Hillsboro Building & Improvement 
 Association, and he is the president of the 
 Montgomery County Telephone Company. He 
 
 owns about five hundred acres of land in Fill- 
 more township. 
 
 Mr. Bliss was married October 15, 1872, to 
 Miss Elizabeth W. Phillips, a daughter of Mr. 
 ami Mrs. Burrell Phillips, of Hillsboro, ami a 
 nice of Judge Jesse James Phillips of the 
 supreme curl. To this union three children 
 were horn: Noi ('electa, born July 25, 1873, 
 is the wife of Dr. II. A. Seymour, of Hillsboro; 
 ( 'hnion P., who was horn July 30, 1875, is pri- 
 vate secretary to Congressman Ben F. Caldwell, 
 of the twenty-first Illinois district: ami Mar- 
 guerite was horn May 23, 1890. 
 
 Mr. Bliss is a Mason, a member of Litchfield 
 Commandery, K. T., and is also identified with 
 the Knights of Pythias lodge and with the 
 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He 
 holds membership relations with the Methodist 
 Episcopal church of Hillsboro, and is a liberal 
 contributor I,, every public enterprise. 
 
 JOHN M. SHOEMAKER. 
 
 John M. Shoemaker, prominent ami in- 
 fluential m community interests and in busi- 
 ness life, is well known in Montgomery county, 
 and his efforts have been effective and far- 
 reaching in behalf of public welfare. He 
 stands as a high type of American citizenship, 
 one devoted to the general good, and whose 
 life history demonstrates possibilities that, arc 
 open I,, ambitious, purposeful ami determined 
 
 3 g men in America, for he started cut 
 
 empty-handed and through capable manage- 
 ment ami untiring perseverance ha- worked 
 his way up to success. 
 
 Mr. Shoemaker was horn in Lancaster, 
 Pennsylvania, on the 21st of August, 1860. 
 His father, .lac]. Shoemaker, also a native of 
 Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, was of Ger- 
 man lineage, ami throughout his active busi- 
 ness career carried on the occupation of farm- 
 ing, lie held membership in the Lutheran 
 church ami gave his political allegiam e to the 
 Democracy. 1 1 is wife, who bore the maiden 
 name of Rebecca McQueeney, was of Scotch- 
 Irish descent and was likewise a native of 
 Lancaster county. Pennsylvania. She. too, 
 held membership in the Lutheran church ami
 
 L2 
 
 PAST ANH PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 lived a consistenl Christian life. In the fam- 
 ily were four children; but only two are now 
 living: John 1... of this review ; and Elizabeth, 
 w ho resides in lVun.-i Lvania. 
 
 After acquiring his preliminary education 
 in the common schools of his native city, John 
 
 L. Shoemaker pursued the high scl ' course 
 
 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, ami later attended 
 the Millersville State Normal School of Penn- 
 sylvania. On putting aside Ins textbooks he 
 turned his attention to the business of manu- 
 facturing cigars at Manheim, Pennsylvania, 
 where ho remained for about fifteen year-, and 
 in 1S90 removed In Illinois, settling in De- 
 catur, where he worked at the cigar trade. 
 After a short period there passed, however, he 
 took up his abode in Assumption, Illinois, 
 where he engaged in tin; same business, and in 
 the fall of 1891 he removed to Nokomis, Illi- 
 nois, where he established a cigar factory of 
 his own. The success he has achieved in busi- 
 ness has resulted entirely from his close ap- 
 plication, thorough knowledge of his trade and 
 careful management. 
 
 Mr. Shoemaker has beeu prom nt and in- 
 fluential in political circles in the various 
 communities in which he has resided. While 
 residing m Manheim, Pennsylvania, he served 
 as a member of the Democratic central com- 
 mittee, and in Nokomis he filled the position of 
 city clerk for two terms. In 1898 he was 
 elected to the office of county clerk of Mont- 
 gomery county, and during the four years' 
 term discharged his duties with such faith- 
 fulness and capability that in 1902 he was re- 
 elected, so that he i- now serving for the sec- 
 ond term. fie i< systematic ami methodical 
 in the discharge of In- official duties, prompt 
 and reliable, and over his public career there 
 falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. 
 Ik was chairman id' the county Democratic 
 committee of 1900 and he ha- done much to 
 promote Hie success of his party in this por- 
 tion of the -tali'. After his election to office 
 
 lie removed to Billsboro in the spring of 1899, 
 and is well known in the county seat as a pub- 
 lic official ami as a representative business 
 man. 
 
 In 1895 occurred the marriage of John L. 
 Shoemaker ami Miss Delia A. Morgan, a 
 
 daughter of Daniel and Martha E. Morgan, 
 in whose family were eleven children. Her 
 lather was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. 
 Shoemaker was horn in Wabash, Indiana, in 
 1870, and has become the mother of three chil- 
 dren: Ophelia, Prances and Alice. Fraternally 
 
 Mr. shoe ker is connected with the Masonic 
 
 lodge and i- a charter member of Blue Cross 
 lodge, K. I'., of Assumption. He also belongs 
 to the Modem Woodmen camp and the Court 
 of Honor, and his wife i- a member of tin 1 
 Presbyterian church. His genial manner, un- 
 failing courtesy and kindly disposition have 
 made him a popular citizen, and his influeuce 
 in public affairs has been a beneficial factor, 
 contributing to the substantial progress and up- 
 building of the community. 
 
 EDWARD LANE. 
 
 A well-known jurist of Illinois has said: "In 
 the American state the great and good lawyer 
 must always he prominent, for he is one of 
 the lone- that move and control society. Pub- 
 lic confidence has generally been reposed in 
 the legal profession. It has ever been the de- 
 fend* r of public rights, the champion of free- 
 dom, regulated by law, and the firm support 
 of good government. No political preferment, 
 no mere place can add to the power or increase 
 the honor which belongs to th lueated law- 
 yer." Judge Lane is one who has been honored 
 by and is an honor to the legal fraternity of 
 Montgomery county, lie stands to-day promi- 
 nent among the leading members of tin 1 bar of 
 this portion of the state, a position to which 
 he ha- attained through marked ability. 
 
 A native of Cleveland, Ohio, he was born 
 on the 27th of March, 1842. His father. Join, 
 Lane, also a native of Ohio, was a merchant 
 and in his political affiliation- was a Democrat. 
 lie marred Catherine Harry, who was of 
 Scotch-Irish descent, and they became the pat- 
 ents of five children, bul Judge Lane is the 
 only one now living. The father died during 
 the infancy of bis son and the mother'- death 
 occurred during his boyhood. 
 
 Edward Lam' was only sixteen years old 
 when he came to Hillsboro, Illinois. Here he
 
 W ^pP|fe 
 
 $dllru4^t tfiLSKiJ
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF THE 
 ^S!TY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 13 
 
 worked at any occupation that would yield him 
 an honest living. Desirous of obtaining an 
 education he entered the academy, in which he 
 spent five years as a student, meeting his ex- 
 penses through his earnest, persistent labor. 
 Hardships and difficulties confronted him, but 
 it is only through the pressure of adversity and 
 the stimulus of opposition that the best and 
 strongest in man is brought out and developed 
 and the latent powers of Judge Lane were 
 called into use and the foundation of a self- 
 reliant character was laid. He pursued a full 
 academic course, including languages, and. leav- 
 ing that institution, he engaged m teaching for 
 one term, but lie had become imbued with a 
 desire to enter the legal profession and made 
 arrangements whereby lie entered the law office 
 el' [ la vis & Kingsbury as a student. In the 
 fall of 1864 he was admitted to the bar and 
 entered upon practice with his former precep- 
 tor, Mr. Davis, this association being main- 
 tained until the death of the senior member 
 two years afterward. Judge Lane then began 
 practice alone, in which he continued until 
 L882, when he formed a partnership with 
 George R. Cooper, with whom he is still asso- 
 ciated. The political positions which he haa 
 filled have all been in direct line with the law. 
 In 1SG6 he was chosen as city attorney for a 
 term of two years, and when lmt twenty-seven 
 years of age he was elected county judge of 
 Montgomery county, entering upon the duties 
 of the office in 1869 for a four years' term. 
 In 1886 he was elected to congress, where he 
 served for eight years, during which period he 
 was a member of the judiciary committee and 
 was widely recognized as one of the most active 
 working members of that body. He gave close 
 and earnest attention to every question which 
 came up for consideration and supported with 
 unfaltering loyalty the measures in which lie 
 believed. On his return from the legislative 
 halls of the nation he resumed the active prac- 
 tice of law in Hillsboro, where lie has -nice 
 remained. Tin'.- has been his real life work, 
 and at the War and mi lie bench he has won 
 distinction. His preparation of case- i- mosl 
 thorough and exhaustive and he seems almost 
 intuitively to grasp the strong points of law 
 aid fact. 
 
 To other fields of activity Judge Lane has 
 extended bis efforts and with equal success. He 
 is an agriculturist, giving personal supervision 
 to bis farming interests. lie is also a director 
 of the Hillsboro National Bank, of which he 
 was one of the organizers, and is a stockholder 
 in the Montgomery Loan & Trust Company, 
 lie likewise has a beautiful home in Hillsboro, 
 which is numbered among his valuable realty 
 possessions. 
 
 In is; n Judge bane was united in marriage 
 to Miss Tucie Miller, a daughter of Samuel K. 
 Miller, of Lawrenceville, Illinois. Mrs. Lane 
 was born there in 1850, and is descended from a 
 Kentucky ancestry. By her marriage she has 
 become (be mother of two children: Guy C, 
 who is a graduate of Yale College and is now 
 a practicing attorney connected with his father; 
 and Bessie, the wife of Howard Boogher. an 
 attorney of St. Louis. Judge and Mrs. Lane 
 hold membership in the Lutheran church. He 
 is a man of strong intellectual endowments 
 and of high character, standing at the head of 
 bis profession in Montgomery county. In his 
 habits he is temperate and disposition kindly, 
 and as a judge and statesman he made a repu- 
 tation which ranks him with the distinguished 
 residents of central Illinois. 
 
 JOHN W. ANDERSON. 
 
 John W. Anderson was born April 28, 1872, 
 upon the farm on which he now resides, near 
 the town of Nokomis. His parents were Henry 
 Clay ami Ellen T. (Holmes) Anderson, and 
 the former was born in Effingham county. Illi- 
 nois, while the latter was a native of Yorkshire, 
 England. Mr. Anderson carried on farming in 
 St. Clair county. Illinois, for a number of 
 years and removed to Montgomery county 
 about L867, settling in Wilt township. Later 
 he look up his abode on section 29, Nokomis 
 township, purchasing one hundred and twenty 
 acres of lamb to which he afterward added a 
 tract of fort} acre-, making a farm of one 
 hundred and sixty acres, upon which he lived 
 until bis death in 1878. Eis widow still sur- 
 vives him and is now living in Witt at the 
 age of sixty-six years. In their family were
 
 L6 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 four children: Minnie, the wife of Mercer 
 Hargitt, whoso home is in Witt; James EL, 
 who is in the employ of a mining company in 
 the Black Hills of South Dakota: John W., 
 of this review; and Lewis Clay, who died in 
 infancy. 
 
 John W. Anderson acquired his preliminary 
 education in the district schools and supple- 
 mented it by a short period of study in Witt. 
 He put aside his textbooks at the age of six- 
 teen and began work as a. farmer. In 1895 
 he began farming on his own account on the 
 Mill hell farm, one mile southwest of Witt, and 
 in 1896 lie removed to his present location. 
 where he lias since resided, having here an ex- 
 cellent tract of land, which he has cultivated 
 and improved until it is now a valuable prop- 
 erty, his well tilled Selds yielding to him 
 golden harvests, lie is also one of the direc- 
 tors of the Central Illinois Creamery Company 
 of Xokomis. 
 
 On the (ith of March, 1895, occurred the 
 marriage of John W. Anderson and Al iss Sadie 
 Bote, a daughter of Adam ami Mar; A. 
 (Zeolzer) Bote. Her father was born in Prus- 
 sia, in 1826, and the mother's birth occurred in 
 the same country in 1831. She came to the 
 United States about 1843, at which time she 
 settled in St. Louis. Missouri, and in 1846 
 Adam Bote crossed the Atlantic. They were 
 married in St. Louis in 1851 ami subsequently 
 became residents of Montgomery county. The 
 father has now passed away, but the mother 
 is still living in Witt. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Anderson have been horn three children : Ches- 
 ter t '.. eight years of age; Gladys L.. who is 
 seven years of aev ; and Foster Shelby, who 
 died in infancy and was buried in Xokomis 
 cemetery. 
 
 Mrs. Anderson is a member of the Presby- 
 terian church in Witt and is a mosl estimable 
 lady. Mr. Anderson gives his political sup- 
 port to the Republican party and is now serv- 
 ing as highway commissioner and as ~elin.il 
 director and secretary of the hoard. lie has 
 been very successful in his farming operations 
 since he started out in life for himself, and. 
 although he is yet a young man. he has never- 
 theless attained success which is enviable and 
 creditable. 
 
 T. J. W1IITTKX. M. D. 
 
 Dr. T. J. Whittcn, who is engaged in the 
 practice of medicine in Nokomis, is one of the 
 older representatives of the fraternity in the 
 county, and has long ranked with the more 
 skillful and capable physicians. He was born 
 in East Fork township, southeast of Hillsboro, 
 in 1844, and is a son of Austin and Sophia 
 Whitten. The father was a native of Kentucky 
 and came to Illinois at an early day. He se- 
 cured a tract of land in East Fork township, 
 for mam year- carrying on farming there and 
 eventually departed this life on the old family 
 homestead. His wife was also a native of Ken- 
 tucky, and by their marriage they became the 
 parents of twelve children, of whom live are 
 living. 
 
 Dr. Whitten was reared in the county of his 
 nativity under the parental roof and his early 
 education, which was acquired in the district 
 schools, was supplemented by study in the 
 Hillsboro Academy. He afterward engaged in 
 teaching school in East Fork township, but it 
 was his desire to become a member of the medi- 
 cal fraternity, and to this end he began read- 
 ing medicine in I860 in Bowling Green, Ken- 
 tucky. During the period of the Civil war, 
 however, he returned home and here enlisted in 
 defense of the Union, becoming a member of 
 Company B, One Hundred and Seventeenth 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was placed 
 mi the hospital corps at Memphis, Tennessee. 
 as steward of the Third Heavy Artillery, and 
 while acting in that capacity he received splen- 
 did schooling for his profession in the practi- 
 cal experience which came to him in the hos- 
 pital wards. He rendered efficient aid to his 
 country by the faithful performance of his 
 duty and he was mustered out at Memphis, 
 Tennessee, in 1865. When the war was over 
 Dr. Whitten returned to his home and soon 
 afterward entered upon a course of lectures in 
 the Long Island College Hospital. He was 
 graduated from the Jefferson Medical College 
 of Philadelphia with the class of 1867. and 
 has since practiced in Montgomery county, so 
 that he is therefore one of the oldest physeians 
 in continuous practice within its borders. He 
 first opened his office in Hillsboro, where he 
 remained for a year and then removed to Fill-
 
 DR. T. J. W MITTEN
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 in 
 
 more, where he spent two years. Ee resided 
 in Irving from that time until 1880, when 
 he removed to Nokomis, where he remained for 
 ten rears as a member of the medical fraternity 
 of that town. In 1890 he wen! to Jacksonville 
 to accept the sivperintendency of the David 
 Prince Sanitarium, of which he had charge 
 for eighteen months, and on the expiration of 
 that period he returned to Nokomis, where he 
 has since made Ins home. He has been very 
 successful, especially in the line of surgical 
 work, ami lie is called upon to perform the 
 most important surgical operations throughout 
 the entire county. He has very intimate and 
 accurate knowledge of anatomy and the com- 
 ponent parts of the human body, and in the per- 
 formance of an operation displays the utmost 
 precision and skill. He belongs to the Mont- 
 gomery County Medical Society, to the Central 
 Illinois Medical Society, the Southern District 
 Mcdual Society, the State Medical Society, the 
 American Medical Association, and the Inter- 
 national Railway Surgeons, and he is local sur- 
 geon for the Big Four Railroad Company. 
 
 Dr. Whitten was married in 1868, the lady 
 of Ins choice being Miss Sophia Harkey, a 
 daughter of George Harkey of Hillsboro. They 
 have four children: Harry Hood, who is a 
 practicing physician in Peoria, Illinois: George 
 C. who is engaged in the real estate business 
 at Granite, Colorado: Lelia G., at home: and 
 Lester C, who is employed in the International 
 Harvester Works at Springfield, Ohio. 
 
 Dr. Whitten is a valued member of the 
 Lutheran church, and he also belongs to the 
 Masonic lodge and the Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows at Mokomis. In his political 
 views he has long hem a stalwart Republican. 
 supporting the party since attaining his ma- 
 jority. He has never sought or desired office, 
 however, preferring to devote his undivided at- 
 tention to his professional duties. He has a 
 splendidly equipped office in Nokomis and does 
 more consultation work than any other physi- 
 cian in the county. In a calling where advance- 
 ment depends upon individual merit he has 
 steadily worked his way upward, and his repu- 
 tation is not limited by the borders of his home 
 town nor even by the county. He is known 
 throughout central Illinois as a man of superior 
 
 skill in the practice of surgery, and the profes- 
 sion as well as the public accords him high 
 rank. 
 
 WILLIAM GRAGG. 
 
 William Gragg, who is engaged in the real 
 estate business and in his operations mani- 
 fests the enterprising spirit which has been the 
 dominant factor in the upbuilding of the 
 middle west, was born in Macoupin county, 
 Illinois, mi the 10th of November, 1844. He 
 was reared to manhood in that county and re- 
 ceived the educational advantages afforded by 
 the common schools. Upon the horn.' farm he 
 
 remained until early manh 1. and when about 
 
 eighteen or nineteen years of age came to 
 Montgomery county, settling upon a farm near 
 Raymond. He rented this land for two or 
 three years and then removed to another farm 
 near Nokomis, where he carried on agricultu- 
 ral pursuits for about eight years. 
 
 William Gragg was married in Woodburn in 
 1863. when nineteen years of age, to Miss 
 Am la Drennan, a native of Macoupin coun- 
 ty, and the young couple began their domestic 
 life upon his rented farm before mentioned. 
 At a later date Mr. Gragg removed to Madison 
 county, where he continued in the operation 
 of rented land for about four years. He then 
 returned to the vicinity of Nokomis and pur- 
 chased hundred and forty acres of land. 
 
 constituting a part of the farm upon which he 
 had previously resided. There he continued 
 td engage in the tilling of the soil until 1888, 
 when lie sold the property and took up bis 
 abode in Raymond, where he began dealing in 
 grain and operating an elevator, following that 
 inn-suit for nine years. He purchased the 
 elevator, but at a later date disposed of that 
 property and went to Oklahoma, where he was 
 engaged in the grain business for a few months. 
 Returning, however, to Raymond, be pur- 
 chased a racket store, which he conducted for 
 three years and then sold out. Turning bis at- 
 tention to the real estate business, he has con- 
 ducted many important realty transfers dur- 
 ing the fifteen years of his connection with this 
 line of business activity. He has dealt in real
 
 20 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 estate in [owa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Ar- 
 kansas and South Dakota, as well as in Ray- 
 mond and the adjoining districts, and has se- 
 cured a good clientage. He has made large 
 purchases and sales, and his business has con- 
 stantly increased in volume and importance. 
 bringing to him richly merited success. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gragg has been 
 blessed with three children: Alfred, who is 
 married and resides in Litchfield; Clara, the 
 wife of Harvey Denhum, of St. Louis, Mis- 
 souri; and Fred, who is married and makes 
 his home in Raymond. They also lost one 
 child. Eddie, who died in infancy. Politically 
 Mr. Gragg has been a life-long Democrat, cast- 
 ing his first presidential vote for General 
 MeClellan and his last for W. J. Bryan. He 
 served for one term on the town board and is 
 now township clerk, hut has never been an 
 active politician in the sense of office-seeking. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the Indepen- 
 dent Onler of Dild Fellows, has filled all of 
 its chairs, and is now a past grand and was 
 twice representative to the grand lodge of the 
 state, lie is also connected with the Modern 
 Woodmen of America. Mr. Gragg is well 
 known throughout Montgomery county as a 
 man of integrity and worth, and from a humble 
 financial position he has steadily worked his 
 way upward to one of affluence, employing 
 only such luisiness methods as will hear the 
 closest investigation and scrutiny. 
 
 THOMAS C. K1BKLAND. 
 
 Thomas C. Kirkland is one of the most en- 
 terprising citizens of Litchfield, having been 
 engaged in active business here for many years, 
 and he has taken an active and interested part 
 in the maintenance of the intellectual and 
 moral as well as the material development of 
 the city. He has fostered numerous local in- 
 dustries and has contributed of his means and 
 influence to various undertakings calculated to 
 benefit the people of Montgomery county. He 
 is now practically living retired, but his in- 
 vested interests return to him a handsome in- 
 come. 
 
 Mr. Kirkland was horn in St. Louis county, 
 Missouri. July 26, 1823. His father. Isaac 
 
 Kirkland, was a native of Kentucky, and was 
 descended from Virginian ancestry, although 
 the family was established in the Blue Grass 
 state at an early epoch in its improvement. 
 Isaac Kirkland removed to St. Louis. Missouri, 
 about the time the state was admitted into the 
 Union. He was a pioneer, and followed his 
 trade in that city and at Clayton for a long 
 period, hut later engaged in agricultural pur- 
 suits. In 1835 he came to Illinois, settling on 
 a farm near Jerseyville, all of which was then 
 largely wild prairie, but several years prior to 
 his death he put aside active business cares and 
 located in Litchfield, where he spent his remain- 
 ing days with his children. He died in 1881 
 in his eighty-fifth year and thus terminated an 
 honorable and upright life, which had been in 
 consistent harmony with his professions as a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
 When in the prime of manhood he took a very 
 active part in church work. His political sup- 
 port was given to the Whig party until its dis- 
 solution, and he subsequently joined the ranks 
 of the new Republican party, but never sought 
 or desired public office. He had an elder 
 brother. Joseph Kirkland. who was a soldier 
 of the war of 1812 and died of yellow fever 
 contracted while serving under General Jack- 
 son at New Orleans. 
 
 The mother of Thomas ('. Kirkland bore 
 the maiden name of Mary Malinda .Mann. She 
 was born in Kentucky in 1m!) and died in 185S. 
 Her parents were Beverly and Mary Mann, 
 the former a farmer by occupation. His death 
 occurred in Kentucky. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Isaac Kirkland were born nine children, 
 namely: James and Mary, now deceased; 
 Thomas C. ; Mrs. Cynthia Ann Irwin, who has 
 passed away; Lucinda. the wife of Chauncey 
 Davis, of Litchfield; John B.. a n sident of 
 Litchfield; and Eliza Jane, William A. and 
 Fletcher, all three deceased. 
 
 Thomas C. Kirkland acquired his early edu- 
 cation in an old log schoolhouse in Jersey 
 county, Illinois. The path of learning was not a 
 very flowery one for him. Indeed, his school 
 privileges were quite limited, but he made good 
 use of the few opportunities he had and through 
 reading and observation greatly broadened his 
 knowledge. In his youth he assisted in the
 
 4k 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 i t
 
 OF THE 
 '\SITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COFNTY 
 
 23 
 
 operation of the home farm, and after attain- 
 ing his majority began farming on his own 
 account in Jersey county. The year 1849 wit- 
 nessed his arrival in Montgomery county, 
 where he located a land warrant, but as he had 
 no means with which to carry on the work of 
 improvement there he returned to Jersey 
 county, and it was not until 1851 that lie be- 
 gan tlic cultivation of his farm in Walshville 
 township, though as a township Walshville was 
 not then organized. He moved his family to 
 this place, the first home being a mere "shell," 
 the lumber of which was hauled from Alton 
 in 1851. Mr. Kirkland hewed the house sills 
 and other trimmings from the adjacent woods. 
 They resided upon his first farm until 1865, 
 when he purchased another tract of land nearby 
 ami I'm- twenty years made it his place of resi- 
 dence. He then came to Litchfield township 
 in 1885, hut he still has extensive landed pos- 
 sessions, owning four hundred and forty-one 
 acres in Walshville township and four hun- 
 dred acres in Pitman and Zanesville town- 
 ships. 
 
 On removing to this city Mr. Kirkland be- 
 came a very active and influential factor in 
 its public and business life. In connection with 
 S. M. Grubbs and others he organized the 
 first National Bank and has since been its 
 vice president. He was one of the organizers 
 of the Litchfield Water Supply Company, and 
 its first president ami is now one of its direct- 
 ors. He was also one of the organizers of 
 the Litchfield Marble & Granite Company and 
 from the beginning has been its president. 
 He owns stock in both of the hanks at Hills- 
 boro, is one of the largest stockholders in the 
 First National Bank of Litchfield and like- 
 wise has stock in the Mount Vernon Car Man- 
 ufacturing Company. His realty possessions, 
 including a comfortable home in Litchfield, 
 have been won entirely through his own ef- 
 forts. He has been administrator of as many 
 estates as any man in the county and has been 
 guardian for many children. 
 
 On the 18th of February. 1847, in Jersey 
 county. Mr. Kirkland was married to Miss 
 Edith Irwin, a daughter of Abijah Irwin. 
 Sin- was born in North Carolina and died 
 in 1878 at the aefe of fifty-six vears. By their 
 
 marriage there were eight children, three of 
 whom died iii infancy. The others are: Ma- 
 tilda Ellen, the deceased wife of William F. 
 Davis; Sarah E.. the wife of II. W. Ripley, 
 of Waggoner; Ann E., the wife of G. W. 
 Flint, nl' Raymond; John Hardin, a manufac- 
 turer of Decatur; and Mary, the widow of E. 
 W. Dresser, of Greenville, Illinois. Mrs. 
 Kirkland, the mother of these children, died 
 in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
 of which she was long a member. In August, 
 1SS5. Mr. Kirkland was again married, his 
 second union being with Louisa J. Peal, the 
 widow of Robert Peal, and tin.' daughter of 
 James Eddings, who was a farmer and came 
 to Montgomery county in 1850, locating in 
 North Litchfield township. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Kirkland arc identified 
 through membership relations with the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal church ami from bis boyhood 
 he has been active in church work, serving as 
 steward and trustee for many years and doing 
 all in Ins power to promote the various church 
 activities. Fraternally he is associated with 
 the Masons and politically with the Repub- 
 lican party. He has never sought public office 
 yet served as supervisor from Walshville town 
 ship and also from North Litchfield town- 
 ship. He is a man greatly beloved in the 
 county because of his kindly spirit and many 
 excellent traits of character and greatly es- 
 teemed for his probity. His life has been a 
 busy and successful one. not. however, given 
 up to self-aggrandizement, hut ever domi- 
 nated by the noble desire to aid and uplift his 
 fellow men. A man sincere, upright and con- 
 scientious in word and deed he is truly one of 
 the best citizens of Litchfield. 
 
 RILEY STEVEN'S. 
 Rilev Stevens, a farmer of Pitman town- 
 ship, is a native of the Empire state, his birth 
 having occurred in Madison county. New 
 York. April 3. 1838. His father. Richard 
 Stevens, was horn in Vermont within the sight 
 of the Green mountains, and from that state 
 removed to Madison county, where he became 
 acquainted with and married Abbie Reynolds.
 
 •.'I 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 a native of New York. It was in the county 
 of his nativity thai Rile} Stevens was reared, 
 mastering the common branc-Ties of English 
 learning in the public schools. The west, with 
 its developing business opportunities, attracted 
 him when he was a young man. anil in 1858 
 he came to Illinois, Locating first in Sangamon 
 county, where he earned his living by herding 
 sheep. He was thus employed for five years, 
 and lie worked for one year as a regular farm 
 hand. Ho afterward went to Christian coun- 
 ty, Illinois, and there he first became a land- 
 owner, investing the money which he had saved 
 from his earnings in one hundred and sixty 
 acres, which was partially improved. Upon 
 this tract lie began general farming and con- 
 tinued the work of development and cultiva- 
 tion there for four years, at the end of which 
 time In 1 sold that property and purchased an- 
 other farm of one hundred and sixty acres. 
 This lie also operated for a time, but later he 
 rented the farm and removed to the town of 
 Raymond. Montgomery county, where he pur- 
 chased two residences. These lie placed in 
 good condition and he resided in the town for 
 
 al i two years, when he sold the property 
 
 there and purchased his present farm on sec- 
 tion 3. Pitman township. Locating in Farm- 
 ersville, he improved a good residence property 
 there and made it his home I'm- a number of 
 years, but in the spring of 1904 lie took up his 
 abode upon his farm, where he has built a 
 good house within a mile of Farmersville. lie 
 owns two good farm-, the land being rich and 
 arable, so that it returns excellent harvests for 
 tin' care and labor bestowed upon the fields. 
 His home is commodious and attractive in ap- 
 pearance and everything about the place is in 
 keeping therewith, an air of neatness and 
 thri ft pen ading the entire farm. 
 
 In Springfield, Illinois, in 1862, Mr. Stevens 
 was married in Miss Lottie Wav. who was born 
 in that city. She spent her girlhood days there 
 and in Girard. Her father, John Way. was 
 one of the early settlers of Illinois, who came 
 to this state from Pennsylvania. He was a 
 plasterer and brickmason by trade. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Stevens are the parents of four children, 
 of whom three .-ire living. Annie, the wife 
 of Gaston Buchanan. ;i resident of Pitman 
 
 township, died .March 23, 1904, leaving four 
 children, including twin daughters. The eld- 
 < st. living child is Harriet, the wife of Frank 
 Flood, a farmer of Bois Dare township. Frank 
 assists in the operation of the home farm. 
 kiddy completes 1 he family. 
 
 Mr. Stevens is a Republican who has voted 
 for his party since casting his first presidential 
 ballot for Abraham Lincoln. At local elec- 
 tion.-, however, he is independent, regarding 
 only the capability of the candidate for town- 
 shi] or count; office. He and his wife are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal church at 
 Farmersville, in the work of which they take 
 an active and helpful part, and he is now serv- 
 ing mi iln official hoard. II is business careei 
 has been marked by untiring energy, crowned 
 with creditable success, for he came to the 
 west a pom- man. anxious to improve his oppor- 
 tunities. Hard and unremitting labor gave 
 him a start, and his economy made possible his 
 first purchase of land, to which he has added 
 as his financial resources have increased. He 
 is known as a man of strict and unfaltering 
 integrity, possessing many sterling character- 
 istics which he inherited from his New 
 England ancestry — a people who have ever 
 been noted for their integrity and a-erinine 
 worth. 
 
 JUDGE GEORGE R. COOPLb. 
 
 Judge George R. Cooper, a member of the 
 firm of Lane & Cooper, probably the oldest 
 law linn of southern Illinois, has attained to 
 a distinguished position in connection with his 
 profession. He was born in Greencastle, In- 
 diana, on the 25th of July, 1855. His father. 
 Jacob II. Cooper, was a native of Maysville, 
 Kentucky, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. 
 lie was a mechanic who learned and followed 
 the carpenter's trade and throughout his busi- 
 ness career commanded the respect and con- 
 liileiiee of his fellow men. He removed from 
 Kentucky to Indiana and became one of the in- 
 fluential and leading citizens of the neighbor- 
 hood. A man well informed, he kept in touch 
 with all ideas of modern progress and im- 
 provement and was the champion of every
 
 JUDGE GEORGE R. COOPEE
 
 
 OF TH€ 
 -y c !LL!N o!5
 
 PAST AND PEESBNT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT'S 
 
 27 
 
 measure that tended to promote the welfare of 
 his community. Although reared in a southern 
 state lie was an ardent abolitionist and was a 
 most consistent member of the Methodist 
 church. He died in November, L877, at the 
 age iif sixty-one years. His wife, who bore the 
 maiden name of Eliza Robinson, was also a 
 native of Kentucky and with her parents re- 
 moved to Indiana, her father becoming one of 
 the pioneer fanners of that stale. Earlier gen- 
 erations of the family resided in Virginia. Her 
 father was also a Methodist in religious faith 
 and in his political views was a Republican. 
 In 1858 Jacob R. Cooper removed with his 
 family to Illinois, settling near Coffeen. Unto 
 him and his wife were born six children: Sa- 
 rah M. became the wife of James M. Moore. 
 who served his country as a soldier in the Civil 
 war and died in 1S7S ; Mary A. became the 
 wife of Dayton T. Miller and after his death 
 married John Deitriek, of Greencastle, In- 
 diana; Louisa J. became the wife of Harmon 
 Young, a school teacher residing in Greenville, 
 Bond county. Illinois, and her death occurred 
 in August, 181 I ; William H. is a traveling 
 salesman residing in St. Louis: George R. is 
 the fifth of the family; and John R. is a coal 
 miner at Coffeen. Illinois. 
 
 In the district schools George R. Cooper ac- 
 quired his preliminary education, which was 
 supplemented by study in Hillshoro Academy. 
 He afterward engaged in teaching, following 
 that profession for two terms in Bond county 
 and for seven years in Fillmore township, hut 
 the profession of law attracted him and he en- 
 tered the office of Rice, Miller & McDavid in 
 1880. He there read for about two years, 
 teaching school in the winter months. He 
 afterward spent a year in the office of Judge 
 Edward Lane and was admitted to the bar in 
 1882. Through the succeeding winter he again 
 engaged in teaching and then entered the" of- 
 fice of .Indue Lane, hut thirty days later, en- 
 tirely without his solicitation, was elected city 
 attorney. After his first year in that office, in 
 the spring of 1883, he formed a partnership 
 with Judge Lane and the business connection 
 has continued without interruption to the pres- 
 ent time, this being probably the oldest law firm 
 in southern Illinois. Mr. Cooper was elected 
 
 twice te the office <>f eitj attorney, was chosen 
 to fill a vacancy in the position of county 
 judge occasioned by the death of . lodge Lewis 
 Allen, in November, 1891, and in 1894 was 
 chosen for the full term, lie was nominated 
 for supreme judge mi the Republican ticket 
 at Vandalia in 1901 to till a vacancy occasioned 
 by the death of Judge Jesse J. Phillips. He 
 has won distinction at the bar and on the 
 bench. A man of unimpeachable character, of 
 strong intellectual endowments, with a thor- 
 ough understanding of the law. patience, ur- 
 banity and industry, he took to the bench the 
 very highest qualifications for this responsi- 
 ble position in the state government and his 
 record as a judge has been in harmony with 
 his record as a man and a lawyer, distinguished 
 by unswerving integrity and a masterful grasp 
 of every question which was presented for 
 solution. In the private practice of law his 
 clientage has been of a most important char- 
 acter and the firm of Lane & Cooper is always 
 connected with every important litigated in- 
 terest of the district. Mr. Cooper is also a 
 director and stockholder in the Hillshoro 
 National Bank. 
 
 On the 10th of June. 1886, occurred the 
 marriage of George- R Cooper and Miss Nettie 
 Ireland, a daughter of Dr. H. M. and Sarah 
 Ireland, of Columbia City. Indiana, where 
 Mrs. Cooper was born. Her death occurred 
 February 24, 1887, when she was twenty-six 
 years of age. On the 12th of December, 1894, 
 Judge Cooper wedded Estelle S'. Allen, a 
 daughter of Professor A. P. and Josephine 
 Allen, the latter a niece of William M. 
 Springer. Her father is a graduate of Asbury 
 University of Greencastle, Indiana, and had 
 charge of the schools in Hillshoro as principal 
 for siuiie time. He and his family were resi- 
 dents of Erie. Kansas, at the time of the mar- 
 riage of Judge and Mrs. Cooper. The latter 
 was horn al Sullivan, Indiana, in 1873, and 
 was liberally educated. Judge Cooper has four 
 children: Josephine, Lane. Mary and George 
 R, Jr. 
 
 Both the Judge and his wife are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal church. He is iden- 
 tified with the Masonic fraternity, the Modern 
 Woodmen Camp and the Business Men's Club.
 
 28 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT! 
 
 In politics he is a Republican and he takes an 
 active and helpful interest in community af- 
 fairs. He was the first president of the board 
 of education under the present law and served 
 in that capacity for seven years, his labors be- 
 ing effective and greatly promoting the school 
 interests of the city. He is also one of the 
 trustees of his church, lakes a very active part 
 in church work .'111(1 is now serving as a mem- 
 ber of the official board. Faultless in honoi, 
 
 fearless in e In.-i ami stainless in reputation. 
 
 he is no less honored in public than loved in 
 private life. 
 
 PIERSON B. UPDIKE. 
 
 Pierson B. Updike, now deceased, was identi- 
 fied with the business interests of Litchfield, 
 when:' he made for himself an honorable name 
 as a representative of commercial interests. He 
 was born near Trenton. New Jersey. July 14, 
 1834, and in his early boyhood days was brought 
 by his parents to Illinois, where he was reared 
 to manhood and acquired his education. After 
 arriving at years of maturity he was married 
 in Woodburn, Macoupin county, [llinois, on 
 the 23d of October, 1856, to Miss Estella Op- 
 dyke, wdio was of Holland lineage and there was 
 a distant relationship between the Updike and 
 Opdyke families. They became the parents of 
 two children: Ella E., the wife of G. L. Settle- 
 mire, h\ whom she has two sons, David P. and 
 Wilbur Lynn, aged respectively twenty-three 
 and twenty years; and Mrs. Cora May Crafty. 
 
 Pierson B. Updike became a resilient of 
 Litchfield in 1864 and through more than 
 thirty years was connected with its commercial 
 interests as a dialer in machinery and hard- 
 ware. His patronage steadily increased and he 
 continued in the business until a couple of 
 years prior to his death, which occurred on the 
 28th of November, I sin;. During the last two 
 
 years of his life succeeding the dissoluti f 
 
 his hardware business he was receiver for the 
 Litchfield Car and Machine Company and this 
 position he was ably filling at the time of his 
 demise. Ee was always straightforward and 
 honorable in his dealing and his reputation in 
 commercial circles was unassailable. Mr. Up- 
 
 dike also took an active and helpful part in 
 community interests and his public spirit was 
 manliest in tangible way through his capable 
 service as mayor of the city. lie was three 
 times called to that office and his administra- 
 tion of municipal affairs was at once business- 
 like, practical and progressive, lie introduced 
 needed reforms and promoted various improve- 
 ments ami the city benefited by his efforts. He 
 gave his political allegiance to the Democratic 
 party for many years, hut in 189'! voted for 
 William McKinley and was thereafter promi- 
 nent in political circles until his demise. He 
 was a member of the state legislature from 1891 
 to 1S93. 
 
 Mi'. Updike was a prominent Mason and had 
 received the honors of the thirty-second degree. 
 A Presbyterian in his religious faith he held 
 membership in the church of that denomina- 
 tion in Litchfield, took a very ,'reti\e and help- 
 ful part in its work and was superintendent of 
 its Sunday-school for many years. His life 
 record covered sixty-three years and was tilled 
 with good deeds, with successful accomplish- 
 ment in business and with loyalty and honor in 
 citizenship. Mrs. Updike is a lady of strong 
 intellectual qualities, broad-minded and cul- 
 tured ami has a very large circle of friends in 
 Litchfield, where she still makes her home. 
 
 SAMUEL L. CRATTY. 
 
 Samuel L. ('ratty, who was classed with 
 Litchfield's prominent citizens, was born April 
 IT. 1858 near Walshville, Illinois, and his life 
 was passed upon a farm in that locality and 
 also near Sorento, Illinois, lie remained in 
 the latter neighborhood until his removal to 
 Litchfield in the fall of lssn. He acquired 
 his education in the public schools and follow- 
 ing his removal to Litchfield he entered the em- 
 ploy ol' Pierson B. Updike in his hardware and 
 machinery store. In 1896 after long and faith- 
 ful service with Mr. Updike he became con- 
 nected with the Mundy-Settlemire Company, 
 grain merchants, and he also extended his ef- 
 forts to another line of business activity by be- 
 eoming ;r member of the firm of Rose & Cratty, 
 insurance agents. Throughout his business
 
 LIBP. ! : 
 
 OF I 
 
 ii i >v
 
 SAMUEL L. CEATTY
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST VXD I'UKSHXT OF MONTGOMERY CO! VIA 
 
 33 
 
 career his industry and perseverance were num- 
 bered among his salient characteristics and led 
 to a gratifying measure of success. 
 
 On the 17th of March, L886, Mr. Cratty was 
 united in marriage to Miss May Updike, and 
 they became the parents of two children: Fay 
 and Grace, aged respectively seventeen and fif- 
 teen years. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Cratty was a stal- 
 wart Republican, having firm faith in the prin- 
 ciples of the party. He was popular with his 
 fellow townsmen because of his genuine worth, 
 social nature and unfailing courtesy, and when 
 he died on the 16th of May, 1899, his death 
 was deeply deplored by many friends as well 
 as his immediate family. He died very sud- 
 denly and not Long after the death of Mr. T T p- 
 dike and his loss thus came particularly hard 
 upon his wife, who had so recently Lost her 
 father. Mrs. Cratty was educated in the Litch- 
 field high school and occupies an enviable posi- 
 tion in social circles where true worth and in- 
 telligence are received as passports into good 
 society. She is a very earnest worker in the 
 Sunday-school, a most capable teacher and also 
 assists in various departments of the church 
 activities. She now lives with her mother in 
 a beautiful and commodious brick residence 
 at Xo. .V23 Union avenue. 
 
 D. W. XEISLER. 
 
 1). W. Xeisler. conducting a well improved 
 farm on section 27, Witt township, wdiere he 
 not only engages in the tilling of the soil but 
 also in the raising of stock, was born in Irv- 
 ing township. October 21. 1846. He is a son 
 of Henry Milton and Elizabeth E. (Lipe) 
 Neisler, who were natives of Knox county, 
 North Carolina. The father was a millwright 
 by trade and. thinking that he might have bet- 
 ter business opportunities in the new and grow- 
 ing west, he came to Irving township, Mont- 
 gomery county, about 1832. Few improve- 
 ments had been made here, the work of prog- 
 ress and civilization being scarcely begun, but 
 with characteristic energy he began the de- 
 velopment of a farm, securing his land from 
 the government. Not a furrow had been turned 
 
 or an improvement made thereon, but with 
 characteristic energy he undertook the task of 
 breaking the fields and planting the crops. For 
 many years he successfully carried on agri- 
 cultural pursuits, and at Length his life's labors 
 were ended in death on the 23d of August, 
 1881. His widow later became the wife of 
 Joseph Davis, uov deceased, and she resides in 
 1 rving. 
 
 I). W. Xeisler was educated in the common 
 schools of Montgomery county. He early be- 
 came familiar with all of the duties and labors 
 that fall to the Lot of the agriculturist, work- 
 ing in held and meadow through the months 
 of summer, while in the winter seasons he mas- 
 tered the branches of Learning Laughl in the 
 public schools. At the age of twenty-one years 
 he began Earming on his own account, settling 
 where he now lives. He had eighty acres of 
 land, which was then raw prairie, and he bar- 
 since made all of the improvements upon the 
 place, building fences, planting trees, erecting 
 buildings and tilling the soil. He now has a 
 line orchard of eight acres, and his fields are 
 producing excellent crops. He also has good 
 grades of stock upon his place. 
 
 On the 2.1 of December, L875, Mr. Xeisler 
 was united in marriage to Miss Ora E. Knodle, 
 a daughter of George and Margaret (Spiel- 
 man) Khodle, both of whom were natives of 
 Maryland, whence they removed to Ogle coun- 
 ty, Illinois, in 18.");. They came to Mont- 
 gomery county in the spring of 1864, locating 
 at Hillsboro, ami Mr. Knodle purchased land 
 in Witt township. He was identified with 
 farming interests for a number id' years, but 
 is now- living retired on his farm in the en- 
 joyment of a well earned rest. He is one of 
 the most venerable men of the community, hav- 
 ing reached the age of ninety-two years on 
 the 10th of April, 1001. His wife is now de- 
 ceased. 
 
 The home id' Mr. and Mrs. Xeisler has been 
 blessed with eight children: Oscar L.. born 
 Augusl 28, 1876, is a machinist with the 
 Lake Shore Railroad and is located in Chicago; 
 Henry D.. born July 31. 1878, died on the 
 28th of July. 1896; Guy K.. born January 2, 
 L882; Milton Earl, born December 17. 1883; 
 George A., born September 16. 1885; Ira E.,
 
 :;-: 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT 01 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 born March 1. 1888; Walter I., bora Decem- 
 ber S, 1889; ami Edgar Lee, bora December 
 ■.'II. LS93, are all at borne. Mr. ami Mrs. N is- 
 Ler are identified with the Lutheran church 
 through membership relations, ami he is a 
 member of tin 1 school board, on which he has 
 served I'm- a number "1 years, the cause of edu- 
 cation finding in him a warm friend. His 
 political affiliation is with the Democratic par- 
 ty, and, keeping well informed on tin' ques- 
 tions and issues of the day. he is enabled to 
 supporl his position by intelligent argument. 
 
 WILLIAM RILEY BLACKWELDER. 
 
 William Riley Blackwelder, a retired farmer 
 living in Litchfield, is numbered among Mont- 
 gomery county"? native sous, his birth having 
 occurred July 28, 1840, upon his father's farm 
 ten miles southwest of Hillsboro. He is a son 
 of Alfred and Joanna (Scherer) Blackwelder, 
 the latter a daughter of Frederick Scherer, a 
 farmer of German descent. The father. Alfred 
 Blackwelder. was horn in Cabarrus county, 
 North Carolina. July 17, 1811, and was also 
 of German lineage, ami his wife was a native 
 of the same state. In April, 1838, he became a 
 resident of Illinois and began working for 
 Judge Rountree al ten dollars per month, be- 
 ing thus employed for three years. When he 
 arrived in Illinois be owned a small sorrel 
 horse and had ten dollars in money. Though 
 poor, he possessed a courageous spirit and ever 
 made the most of bis opportunities. On the 
 19th of April. 1837'. he was married to Miss 
 Joanna Scherer. and later he rented land, on 
 which he lived until 1840. when he purchased 
 eight} acres, on which he built a house, making 
 that place his home for sixteen years, lie then 
 sold oul and bought two hundred and forty 
 acres, a part of which is now within the cor- 
 poration limits of Litchfield. He afterward 
 added one hundred and eighty acres to his 
 tract, so that his landed possessions comprised 
 four hundred and eighty acres in all. This is 
 now highly improved land, constituting one of 
 the valuable farms of the county. Mr. Black- 
 welder continued in the active management 
 
 and cultivation of the Earm until L878, when 
 he retired to private life. 
 
 Into him ami his wife were born twelve 
 children, of whom four died in early childhood, 
 while the others, who are yet living, are resi- 
 dents of Montgomery county and are identified 
 with farming interests here. These are: 
 Daniel M. ; William R. ; M inerva ( '.. who is the 
 wife of Robert Morrison; Jacob Francis; David 
 Alexander; John M . ; Harriet Louise, the wife 
 of Gid( Davis; and Samuel R. 
 
 Alfred Blackwelder was a member of the 
 Lutheran church and came of a family long 
 identified with that denomination, the repre- 
 sentatives of the name in differenl generations 
 being id' a deeply religious nature. He, too. 
 took a very active and helpful part in church 
 work ami tilled various offices in the church 
 through more than a half century. His po- 
 litical allegiance was always given to the Dem- 
 ocratic party. His wife died January 31, 
 1876, when more than sixty years of age, and 
 after a happy married life of forty years. His 
 death occurred in L900, when he was about 
 eighty-sis years of age. He was one of the 
 venerable citizens of the county and an honored 
 pioneer resident who. casting in his lot with 
 the early settlers, took an active pari in lay- 
 ing broad and deep the foundation for the 
 present development and progress of this part 
 
 of the .-late. 
 
 William Riley Blackwelder obtained his edu- 
 cation in the common schools and remained 
 under the parental roof until after the inaugu- 
 ration of the Civil war. when, in August, 1862, 
 be enlisted in Company A. Ninety-firsi Illi- 
 nois Infantry, with which he served lor about 
 three years, being mustered out in July. 1865. 
 He was promoted from the rank of third ser- 
 geant to orderly sergeant ami commissioned 
 brevet lieutenant in L865. He served under 
 Canby at the capture of Fort Hudson ami 
 Fort Blakeley. On the 28th of December, 1863, 
 at Elizabethtown, Kentucky, he was captured 
 by General Morgan's troops ami was later 
 paroled and sent to St. Louis. Missouri, where 
 he was exchanged in June. 1864, after which 
 he returned to active service. He was wound- 
 ed at the battle of Morganza and he par- 
 ticipated in the battles of Mobile. Spanish Fort
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 35 
 
 and Fort Blakeley. He was a war Democrat, 
 advocating the cause of the Democracy, yet at 
 the same time being an unfaltering supporter 
 of the Union cause. 
 
 Orj the 1st of December, L865, not long after 
 his return from the army, Mr. Blaekwelder 
 was married to Miss Mary .lane Fogleman, and 
 they became the parents of seven children: Ira 
 Ulysses, who was named in honor of General 
 Grant, was born September 25, L866, and is 
 engaged in business as a dealer in agricultural 
 implements in Raymond, where, having been 
 married, he maintains bis home. Eva J., born 
 November 19, 1867, is the wife of .1. W. Mc- 
 Cowan, of Kansas City, Missouri, and they 
 have two children. Julius A., born February 
 21. 1869, is married and resides upon his 
 father's farm. He lias five children. Amanda 
 i;.. bom December •">. L872, is the wife of 
 Frank Stuttle and resides near Raymond. John 
 W., born March 19, 1874, is a coal miner of 
 Raymond, and is married and has two children. 
 Annie M., horn December 3, 1872, died at the 
 age of twenty-one. Nellie II.. born December 
 23, 1876, died Dec-ember '24.1890. The chil- 
 dren have been provided with excellent educa- 
 tional privileges, and Ira, Eva and Rosa were 
 students in the Indiana Normal School at 
 Valparaiso and were successful school teach- 
 ers. For his second wife Mr. Blaekwelder 
 chos,. Amanda E. Fogleman, a sister of bis 
 first wife, their marriage being celebrated Au- 
 gust 6. 1878. They had three children: Mary 
 !•:.. who was born March 23, 1882, and died 
 June 22, 1883; Ella M., who was bom Janu- 
 ary 10, 1884. and died February 16, 1893; and 
 Bertha F.. horn October 5, 1886. The young- 
 est daughter will graduate from the high 
 school of Litchfield in the class of 1905. 
 
 Mr. Blaekwelder is a member of the English 
 Lutheran church, takes a most active part in 
 its work and is now a teacher in the Sun- 
 day-school. The cause of education also finds 
 in him a warm friend, and he does all in his 
 power to advance its interests. Public spirit- 
 ed, he has ably supported many measures for 
 the general good, and his efforts in behalf 
 of public progress and improvement have been 
 far-reaching and effective. His business career 
 has been attended with success, and he still 
 
 owns a Farm of one hundred and twenty acres, 
 which is in excellent condition, the land being 
 well tilled. He also raised good stock and Ins 
 business affairs were capably conducted. He 
 is new a stockholder in the First National 
 Bank of Raymond. Throughout his entire life 
 he has been known as a man of integrity and 
 unfaltering honor, and in his business dealings 
 is always straightforward and reliable; in 
 fact, his religion is manifest in his everyday 
 life and is a motive power in his kindly and 
 just treatment of his fellow men. 
 
 JESSE S. GRIFFIN. 
 
 Xo history of Nokomis would be complete 
 without mention of Jesse S. Griffin, who is 
 one of its leading merchants. In his business 
 career he has always displayed qualities which 
 ever command respect and secure patronage. 
 He was born March 6, 1865, in Morgan county. 
 Illinois, a son of E. and Sarah Griffin, both of 
 whom were uatives of England, the father's 
 birth occurring in Devonshire in 1828, while 
 ihe mother was horn in Huntingdonshire. They 
 came to America in 1850 and finally settled in 
 Illinois, the father being a merchant of Mor- 
 gan county for many years. He passed away 
 in 1878 and his widow now resides with our 
 subject in Nokomis, occupying a beautiful 
 home in the western part of the town. In the 
 family were ten children, id' whom five are 
 -nil living, Jesse S. and All' being residents of 
 Montgomery county. 
 
 Jesse S. Griffin, however, -pent his boyhood 
 days in Morgan county, assisting his father in 
 business. In the summer of 1S79 he came 
 io Nokomis and found employment with J. W. 
 Russell. Later he accepted a position in the 
 dry goods -lore of A. F. Weaver, with whom 
 he remained until 1885, when the firm of 
 Griffin Brothers was organized, succeeding to 
 ihe ownership of the store formerly the proper- 
 ty of the linn of Bliss & Griffin. The now 
 linn consisted of Alf and Jesse S. Griffin, who 
 .ariied on the business together until 1S98, 
 when the latter purchased hi- brother's inter- 
 est and his since continued alone in trade. He 
 is now sole proprietor of one of the largest
 
 36 
 
 PAST AND l'KESENT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTS 
 
 and most elaborate modern mercantile estab- 
 lishments in southern Illinois, earn Jul;' an 
 extensive line of hardware, queensware, guns, 
 furniture, buggies, etc. The building occu- 
 pied by him is built of brick, is two stories in 
 height and fifty by one hundred feet in di- 
 mensions. Besides this there is a warehouse 
 two stories in height ami twenty by seventy 
 feel, so that the entire establishment covers a 
 total of twelve thousand square feet. Every 
 foot of space is occupied and the store is spe- 
 cially arranged with reference to the con- 
 \, riient handling of a large and complete stock. 
 Mi-. Griffin has been at his present location for 
 nineteen years and his name is inseparably 
 connected with the business interests of No- 
 komis, for he has contributed in a large meas- 
 ure to the commercial prosperity and develop- 
 ment of the town. 
 
 Politically Mr. Griffin is a Democrat and is 
 the Montgomery county member of the Demo- 
 cratic congressional committee of the twenty- 
 first district of Illinois, of which committee 
 he is now serving as secretary. He is also a 
 member of the county central committee, of 
 which lie has been secretary ami treasurer and 
 is now serving for the second term as iis chair- 
 man. 
 
 C. F. EDWABDS. 
 
 C. F. Edwards, who has been closely associ- 
 ated with the business development of Mont- 
 gomery county through agricultural and finan- 
 cial interests, and who has also figured in pub- 
 lic affairs as the promoter of many measures 
 for the general good, is now engaged in bank- 
 ing in Coffeen. He was born November 4. 
 1856, in East Fork township, Montgomery 
 county, his parents being James A. and Chris- 
 tina T. Edwards. His father was horn in 
 L818 in North Carolina and was the son of 
 Thomas Edwards. In the state of his nativity 
 he was reared and educated, and when a young 
 man he came to Montgomery county. Illinois. 
 and purchased land here. Thomas Edwards be- 
 ing among the early settlers of this portion of 
 the state. From that time forward members 
 of the familv have borne an active and helpful 
 
 part in the work of general improvement and 
 upbuilding. Thomas Edwards continued as a 
 farm resident of Montgomery county until his 
 death, which occurred in 1857. 
 
 James Allen Edwards continued farming in 
 this county from the time of his arrival until 
 his demise. He was married in 1848 to Miss 
 Christina T. Cannon, a daughter of William 
 Cannon, and they became the parents of ten 
 children, of whom nine are living: William 
 T., of East Fork township; Margaret, who 
 died in infancy; John \\\. also of East Fork 
 township; Julia F.. who is the widow of John 
 W. Major; Mary T.. who is the wife of Jo- 
 seph A. Hanner; ('. I-".; Samuel II.. of Cof- 
 feen: Amos li.. of East Fork township; Ida, 
 who married William A. Boyd, of East Fork; 
 and James A., also of East Fork. The father 
 died in 1867 and was buried at Edwards 
 Chapel, which was named in honor of his 
 grandfather, who gave the land upon which 
 the church was built. James A. Edwards was 
 deeply interested in all that pertained to the 
 welfare of his community and was a co-operant 
 factor in many measures for the general good. 
 At the same time he conducted important and 
 extensive business interests, becoming one of 
 the leading landowners of the county, having 
 at the time of his death bought nine hundred 
 acres. In his political affiliation he was a 
 Democrat, taking an active interest in politics 
 and keeping well informed on the questions of 
 the day. His barn was the voting place of his 
 district. After the death of her husband Mrs. 
 James A. Edwards remained upon the home 
 farm until her children were married and then 
 removed to Coffeen. where she is now living. 
 
 C. F. Edwards was reared to farm life and 
 acquired his education in the public schools, 
 while in the summer months he assisted in the 
 labors of field and meadow. When twenty-one 
 years of age he began farming for himself on 
 bind which he inherited from his father. After 
 his marriage be settled upon a farm of one 
 hundred and sixty acres and there carried on 
 agricultural pursuits with good success for 
 about eight years. In 1888 he removed to 
 Colleen, where he purchased a lumber yard, 
 which he conducted with profit for ten years, 
 having a very extensive patronage and thereby
 
 C. V. EDWAEDS
 
 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 

 
 PAST AND l'KKSKNT OF M< >.\TC< )M FRY COUNTY 
 
 39 
 
 realizing a good return from his invesl nts 
 
 and his labors. In L898, however, he sold the 
 lumber yard. He was secretary of the Build- 
 ing & Loan Association for nine years, and in 
 1900 he built a hank, and has since conducted 
 a private hank, which has become the leading 
 financial institution of the township. He still 
 owns his farm, which is now rented. After re- 
 moi ing to ( loffeen he buill a nice residence, 
 which he occupies, and he is classed with the 
 substantia] citizens of his community. 
 
 When twenty-four years of age Mr. Edwards 
 was united in marriage to Mis- Catherine J. 
 Nichols, a daughter of Gordon Nichols, of 
 East Fork township. Her father was born in 
 Kentucky, July 3, 1826, and with his parents 
 removed to Indiana, whore he was reared. He 
 became a resident of Easl Fork- township, 
 Montgomery county, in 1857, and made for 
 himself a place among the substantia] farmers 
 of the community, becoming the owner of 
 four hundred acres of rich and valuable land. 
 At length he retired from active farming pur- 
 suits and in 1893 removed to Coffeen, where lie 
 spent his remaining days, his death occurring 
 on the 6th of March, 1901. He was married 
 in is is to Miss Jemima F. Robinson, of 
 Greeneastle, Indiana, who is now living in 
 Coffeen. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards 
 has been blessed with eight children, of whom 
 six are now living: Clarence T... Harvey C, 
 Lester Franklin, Floyd Springer. Russell 
 Wayne and Chauncey J., all of whom are ai 
 home. Rosetta and Grove Allen, the second 
 and third members of the family, died in in- 
 fancy. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Edwards belong to the Method 
 i-i church, he having become identified with 
 the Edwards Chapel prior to his marriage and 
 served in church offices since his removal to 
 Coffeen, and he is deeply interested in the va- 
 rious church activities, contributing generoush 
 to their support and doing nil in his power 
 for their upbuilding. Tn politics he is a 
 Democrat with accurate information concern- 
 ing political questions, conditions and issues, 
 and the important service which he has ren- 
 dered his party led to his selection for a 
 delegate to the state convention held in Spring- 
 field in 1904. lie was a member of the first 
 
 town board of Coffeen and is now filling that 
 position, although his service has not been con- 
 tinuous, lie has been particularly active in 
 opposition to the saloons, doing all in his 
 [lower to promote temperance sentiment here. 
 There were onlj a few houses in Coffeen when 
 he removed to the (own. and he has been a 
 very important factor in the upbuilding of the 
 plaee. He is quick to recognize and take ad- 
 vantage of opportunities Eor the public wel- 
 fare, as well as bis individual business inter- 
 ests, and his career ha- been marked by steady 
 progression and characterized by the develop- 
 ment of a life history which commands uni- 
 form respect and esteem. 
 
 GEORGE WILLIAM PAISLEY. 
 
 George William Paisley, a representative 
 business man of Montgomery county, who at 
 the head of the Montgomery Coal Company is 
 now controlling one of the important product- 
 ive industries of this section of the state, was 
 horn and reared within the borders of the 
 county and obtained his earlj education in 
 the country schools. Later he attended for 
 three short terms the Hillsboro Academy and 
 then put aside his textbooks to take up the 
 active work of the farm. At a later date. 
 however, he put aside agricultural pursuits 
 and entered upon a throe years' service in the 
 Civil war as a member of an Illinois regimi nt. 
 He did bis full duty as a soldier, and when 
 hostilities bad ceased returned to his home. 
 
 After the war Mr. Paisley took up the study 
 of law and for a time served as county sur- 
 vevor of Montgomery county, while later be 
 engaged in the publicat ion of a newspaper. 1 L 
 Pa- always been a man of much activity in 
 belli business life and in connection with pub- 
 lic affairs, and from 1881 until 1883 he was 
 a member of the lower house of the Illinois 
 legislature. In 1805 he was chosen to repre- 
 sent bis district in the slate senate, of which 
 hi> continued a member for four years. Dur- 
 ing President Cleveland's first administration 
 be was connected with the interior department 
 of the government and had charge of the land 
 offices and surveyor general's offices in the
 
 40 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 states of Michigan. Wisconsin, Minnesota, 
 Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, 
 Mississippi. Alabama and Florida. He is at 
 present engaged in the mining and production 
 of coal at Paisley, where there is a very rich 
 vein of bituminous coal. The Montgomery 
 Coal Company, the corporation with which Mr. 
 Paisley is connected, was chartered July, 1895. 
 and the first shaft was commenced in the fall 
 of the same year, while mi the 1th of July. 
 L896, coal was struck. The output is now ex- 
 tensive and the business profitable. 
 
 J. A. HAMPTON. 
 
 J. A. Hampton, a retired minister, now re- 
 siding on his farm on section 21. East Fork 
 township, was formerly closely connected with 
 agricultural interests in Montgomery county, 
 and his unfaltering purpose and strong deter- 
 mination in the face of obstacles and opposi- 
 tion enabled him to gradually advance upon 
 the high road to success. He was horn in East 
 Fork township. November 3, 1835, and is a 
 son of William E. and Nancy A. (Williams) 
 Hampton. In tin 1 maternal line he is a rep- 
 resentative of one of the oldest families of the 
 country, for the Williams home was established 
 in this portion of the state in 1818. W. E. 
 Hampton was horn in Kentucky in 1814, and 
 his wife in the same state in 1816. He was 
 twenty-one years of age when he came to Illi- 
 nois, and here lie met and married AI iss Wil- 
 liams. He was a tanner by occupation, de- 
 voting his entire life to the tilling of the soil, 
 and through his perseverance ami energy he 
 was enabled to provide a comfortable living 
 for his family, save them many of the hard- 
 ships and t rial- of pioneer life had to be met. 
 Hi- death occurred about 1893, and thus passed 
 away one who had long been associated with 
 the agricultural development of Montgomery 
 count \ . 
 
 J. A. Hampton commenced his education in 
 the old log sehoolhouse in Fast Fork township, 
 which was one of the pioneer structures of the 
 community. There were no glass windows, hut 
 a log had been removed from one side of the 
 building ami covered with greased paper, so 
 
 that light was admitted to the room in that 
 way. There was a wooden chimney and all 
 the furnishings were very primitive. The 
 methods of instruction also were rather crude 
 a- compared with the advanced methods of the 
 present day, hut Mr. Hampton laid tin- foun- 
 dation for a good practical knowledge, which 
 he has supplemented by experience, reading 
 
 and observal in later years. He started out 
 
 for himself at the age of twenty years as a 
 farmer, and made the tilling of the soil his 
 life work, although lie has given his lime ami 
 energies to a considerable extent to the labors 
 of the church. In early manhood he began 
 studying for the ministry, and while working 
 ai farm labor he would frequently take his 
 
 I k- into the field with him. He received 
 
 his license to preach when twenty-one years 
 of ago and became a local minister, preaching 
 on Sunday while continuing at farm labor 
 through the week. He was a local preacher 
 for ten years, and afterward spent thirty years 
 in connection with the southern Illinois con- 
 ference. On the expiration of that period he 
 entered upon su pern uiucra ry relations with the 
 ministry. He never ceased to conduct his farm- 
 ing interests, ami although he started out for 
 himself empty-handed he gradually worked his 
 way upward, adding to bis capital, and he now 
 own- aboul four hundred acres of land. At 
 the prose nt time In' is residing on his farm, 
 which bis son operates. 
 
 Ai the time of the Civil war J. A. Hampton 
 put aside all business and personal considera- 
 tions and with patriotic spirit enlisted in Com- 
 pany E. One Hundred and Seventeenth Illi- 
 nois Infantry. Pie participated in the Red 
 River campaign ami in the battle of Nashville. 
 was also in the fighting at Mobile at the close 
 of tin' war and. though often exposed to the 
 fire of the enemy, he was never wounded. He 
 was. however, in the hospital because of illness 
 during the last year of his service, and in 1865, 
 following the close of the war. he was mus- 
 tered out. 
 
 Mi-. Hampton was married in October. 1S55, 
 to Miss Jane Desart. a daughter of George 
 Desart. She was reared in Edgar county, ana 
 by her marriage became the mother of eight 
 children, and only two are now living: George
 
 MI! 8. J. A. HAMPTON 
 
 REV. J. A. HAMPTON
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 43 
 
 W.. ii resident of Bond county: and John M., 
 who is living upon the homestead rami. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hampton held membership in 
 the Methodist Episcopal church and lived earn- 
 est, consistent. Christian lives. He cast his 
 first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont, 
 the first candidate of the Republican party, 
 and continued one of its supporters for many 
 years, but is now a Prohibitionist. He for- 
 merly belonged to the Masonic fraternity and 
 is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- 
 public. 
 
 Ee has for many years — in fact, during the 
 entire period of his lift — been a resident of 
 Montgomi ry county, and has therefore wit- 
 nessed many of its changes as it has left be- 
 hind it the conditions of pioneer life and has 
 emerged into an advanced civilization. His 
 mother's family particularly, was one of the 
 oldest of the county, and his mother lived here 
 wben the Indians were still very numerous in 
 the locality. The rise of ground upon which 
 the farmhouse is now located was at one time 
 the site of an Indian camp. Mr. Hampton 
 made all of the improvements upon his farm. 
 lie secured a tract of land which was unculti- 
 vated and unimproved. There were no fences 
 upon the place, and over the wild prairie 
 roamed deer and wolves, but with characteris- 
 tic energy Mr. Hampton began the development 
 
 of his property and in tbe course of ti 
 
 reaped good harvests as the reward of his la- 
 bors. His life has been, indeed, an active, 
 busy, useful and honorable one, and over tbe 
 record of his entire career there falls no shadow 
 of wrong or suspicion of evil. 
 
 Jobn M. Hampton, who is now operating 
 the home farm, was born in East Fork town- 
 ship and supplemented his educational privi- 
 leges by a course of study in the McKendree 
 College at Lebanon. Illinois. He there pur- 
 sued a law course and was graduated with the 
 class of 1892. Subsequently he published a news- 
 paper and practiced law in Gillespie, Illinois. 
 His health then became poor, and he went 
 south. After returning to Illinois he resumed 
 the practice of law and published a paper at 
 Cerro Gordo, Illinois, but once more bis health 
 failed and again lie traveled south and through 
 the west, visiting both Mexico and California. 
 
 About a year ago. however, he again came to 
 Montgomery county and settled upon his 
 father's farm, where he now lives, lie is an 
 enterprising, progressive man. making the most 
 of his opportunities and in the control of his 
 business interests is displaying excellent ability 
 and enterprise. 
 
 In November, 1903. Air. Hamilton was 
 united m marriage to Miss Eva Merriwether, 
 a daughter of .lames Merriwether, of Macou- 
 pin county. His wife belongs to the Presby- 
 terian church. Mr. Eampton is identified with 
 the Knights of Pythias fraternity and with 
 the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and 
 his political allegiance is given to the Repub- 
 lican party. lie is a worthy representative of 
 a family that has long stood for progress and 
 improvement along material, social, intellec- 
 tual and moral lines and like his honored father 
 deserves mention in this volu 
 
 WILLIAM VAX HOOSER. 
 
 William Van Hooser, whose upright life 
 causes his memory to be cherished by all who 
 knew him. was born in Madison county, Illi- 
 nois, October 1, 1816, his parents being Abra- 
 ham and Nancy (Howard) Van Hooser, who 
 were pioneer settlers of Madison county. The 
 father was a farmer by occupation and owned 
 land near Collinsville. where he resided for 
 many years, his death occurring on the home- 
 stead farm there. In tbe family were twelve 
 children, seven sons and five daughters, of 
 whom William Van Hooser was the fourth in 
 order of birth and he was the last survivor of 
 the family. 
 
 In the district schools, such as were com- 
 mon at that period. William Van Hooser ac- 
 quired his education. The little temple of 
 learning was a log structure and the methods 
 of instruction were equally primitive. Ee, 
 however, bad the privilege of attending not 
 more than three months in the year, but he 
 made good use of bis opportunities during that 
 time. The remainder of the year was devoted 
 to farm work, and he early became familiar 
 with the duties and labors that fall to the lot 
 of the agriculturist. His father gave him a
 
 II 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 farm in Madison count)' of eighty acres, which 
 he sold in December, 1859, and then removed 
 to the vicinity of Staunton Station, where he 
 resided for sixteen years. He also lived for 
 two years near Troy, Illinois, and on taking 
 up his abode near Nokomis he purchased 
 eighty acres of land. He eventually moved to 
 Nokomis, where occurred his death in 1894. 
 He successfully conducted bis agricultural in- 
 terests, placing his land under a high state of 
 cultivation, and when invention brought upon 
 the market new and improved machinery he 
 purchased the better farm implements and thus 
 facilitated his work. He was a man of pro- 
 gressive spirit and everything about his place 
 was neat and thirfty in appearance. 
 
 On the 2d of February, 1840. Mr. Van 
 Hooser Tas married to Miss Jane Hawks, a 
 daughter of Drury and Mary Hawks. Mrs. 
 Van Hooser was born in Grayson county, Vir- 
 ginia, was taken in early childhood to eastern 
 Tennessee, and when quite young came with 
 her widowed mother to Illinois, arriving in 
 1838, at which time the family home was es- 
 tablished near Troy, in Madison county. There 
 her mother died in 1854. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Van Hooser were born two children: Martha 
 Jane, who died at the age of three months; 
 and Mary, who died at the age of twenty years. 
 She was married when nineteen years of age 
 to Isaac Wilson, who now resides near No- 
 komis. There was one daughter by this mar- 
 riage, Martha J., now deceased. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Van Hooser was 
 a stanch Republican from the time of the or- 
 ganization of the party until his death. He 
 was a member of the Christian church and for 
 more than sixty years was a representative of 
 its ministry. He put forth every effort in his 
 power to advance the cause of Christianity and 
 upbuild his church in his locality, and bis in- 
 fluence was widely felt. A kindly spirit and 
 sympathetic nature had endeared him to all 
 with whom he came in contact, and his memo- 
 ry is cherished by those who knew him. He 
 died in the year 1894 and his remains were 
 inferred in Nokomis cemetery. Mrs. Van 
 Hooser still survives her husband. He sold 
 the farm before his death, and his widow is 
 living in Nokomis, occupying a pleasant home. 
 
 and by reason of his industry she was left in 
 comfortable financial circumstances. She has 
 been a devoted member of the Christian church 
 for sixty-four years and her Christian life fur- 
 nishes an example that is indeed well worthy 
 of emulation. 
 
 WILLIAM A. YOUNG. 
 
 William A. Young is a native son of Mont- 
 gomery county, his birth having occurred in 
 Grisham township, one mile west of Donnell- 
 son. on the 30th day of August, 1836. Within 
 the borders of his native county he has lived 
 and labored, being one of the representative 
 farmers and leading horticulturists in this part 
 of the state. His father, William Young, came 
 to Montgomery county in 1830, having been 
 born and reared in Maury county, Tennessee, 
 near Columbia. The journey to Illinois was 
 made on horseback, and after remaining a 
 short time be purchased a claim on forty acres 
 of land, which had a pioneer's log cabin built 
 on it and a few acres under cultivation. On 
 March 12, 1832, he was married to Jane C. 
 Paisley, of Montgomery county, who was born 
 and reared in Guilford county. North Carolina. 
 Soon afterward William Young volunteered 
 for service in the Black Hawk war in 1831 as 
 a member of Captain Rountree's company, and 
 when hostilities had ceased he returned and en- 
 tered the forty acres on which he had pre- 
 viously purchased the little improvements with 
 his savings while in the service. He bought a 
 team of mule}" oxen and made for himself a 
 wagon with wooden axle and wooden wheels, 
 on which he did all of bis hauling for a num- 
 ber of years. As the years passed he pros- 
 pered, adding continually to his landed pos- 
 sessions as financial resources permitted until 
 he was the owner of about fourteen hundred 
 acres of farm land. He served twelve years as 
 justice of the peace, and in 1854 he was elected 
 as representative to the state legislature from 
 the counties of Montgomery, Bond and Clin- 
 ton. He strongly advocated the Democratic 
 principle- as set forth by Andrew Jackson, for 
 whom he cast his first vote for president 
 
 There were born to William and Jane C. 
 Young nine children, namely: James J., who
 
 WILLIAM A. YOUNG
 
 
 
 OF THE 
 DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMEEY COUNTS 
 
 47 
 
 was a practicing physician in Fremont county, 
 Iowa, for twenty years and is now deceased; 
 John W., who died near Donnellson. Illinois, 
 in 1899 ; Harriett E., who became the wife of 
 William J. McCulach and died May 22, 1901; 
 Sarah J., who married Ii. M. Powell, of Tay- 
 lorville, Illinois, and died in 1S70; Samuel, 
 who was cashier of the Haskell. Harris & Com- 
 pany Hank and died in 1881 : and three who 
 died in infancy. 
 
 William A. Young, whose name introduces 
 this record . is the only survivor of the nine 
 children. In his boyhood days he worked on 
 his fathers farm in summer, and in the winter 
 attended the subscription schools and afterward 
 continued his education in the public schools, 
 which had been organized in the meantime. 
 When nineteen years of age he entered the 
 Hillsboro Academy, in which he spent one 
 year and afterward engaged in teaching for a 
 year. In 1858 he entered McKondree College 
 and remained for two years. In I860 he read 
 law cne year in the office of the late James M. 
 Davis, of Hillsboro. On the 7th of July, L861, 
 he enlisted for service in the Civil war. be- 
 coming quartermaster sergeant of Company E. 
 First Regiment of Illinois Cavalry. He served 
 in Fremont's campaign in Missouri until the 
 surrender of Colonel Mulligan to General Price 
 at Lexington, Missouri, September 30, 1861. 
 In 1862 he resumed his studies al McKendree 
 College and was graduated with the class of 
 that year. In December. 1862, he was ap- 
 pointed deputy sheriff, which position he filled 
 with entire satisfaction for two years, and in 
 18(11 he received the nomination and was 
 elected to the office of sheriff of Montgomery 
 county by over six hundred majority. 
 
 After the expiration of his term of office 
 as sheriff and ex-officio collector of Montgomery 
 county. William A. Young was united in mar- 
 riage, November '28. 1866, to Miss Alary E. 
 Wave, daughter of Obadiah Ware. The follow- 
 ing summer the young couple moved to the 
 farm, where he at present resides. On Janu- 
 ary 1. 1870, the wife and mother was called 
 from this life, leaving two sons: Anthony O.. 
 who was born December 25. 1868, and is now 
 a leading physician in St. Louis; and William 
 A., Jr.. who was born November 9. 1869, and 
 
 is practicing medicine with marked success in 
 Springfield, Illinois. In 1871 our subject took 
 as bis second wife Miss Sarah Muenscher, of 
 Mount Vernon, Ohio, who died in 1898, leav- 
 ing four children, who are named as follows: 
 Frederica, Cornelia, Charles and Eunice. 
 
 At a meeting of the State Board of Agri- 
 culture, in 1892, Mr. Young was elected vice 
 president of that society for the seventeenth 
 congress al district and served ten years, be- 
 ing re-elected four times to succeed himself. 
 While a member of the Board of Agriculture 
 lie was appointed as superintendent of the Illi- 
 nois exhibit in the national agricultural build- 
 ing at tbi> Columbian Exposition at Chicago, 
 in 1893. Later lie served three years as super- 
 intendent of the swine department and six 
 years as superintendent of the horticultural 
 department of the State Fair at Springfield. 
 It was through bis vote and influence that the 
 State Fair was permanently located at Spring- 
 field, and he was appointed on the committee 
 to lay out the grounds and locate the buildings. 
 For more than twenty years Mr. Young was 
 associated with the Montgomery County Agri- 
 cultural Fair Association, and served continu- 
 ously as superintendent and director and three 
 years as president of the society. He was one 
 of the organizers of the County Farmers' In- 
 stitute and was elected and served for three 
 years as president of that organization. At 
 this time he is an active member of the Illi- 
 nois State Horticultural Society and Alton 
 Eorticultural Society, and is often called upon 
 to give a talk and read a paper on horticultural 
 topics before different county institute-. 
 
 Eis farm is bunted one mile north and one 
 mile east of Butler, in Butler Grove township, 
 and upon this he is engaged in breeding and 
 raising fine stock, always procuring the best 
 blood obtainable to raise from. He is, perhaps, 
 better known as a horticulturist and fruit- 
 raiser. From his boyhood he has loved trees, 
 fruits, birds and flowers, and the study of na- 
 ture is ever a fascinating and interesting pas- 
 time to him. About a quarter of a century ago 
 he attended a meeting of the Horticutural So- 
 ciety at Alton, Illinois, and flic beautiful ap- 
 ples and other fruit on display were a revela- 
 tion to him and aroused his ambition, and he
 
 48 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 said to himself, Why can aoi I produce equally 
 as fine fruit? Going home, he read and drank 
 in everything he could obtain pertaining to the 
 culture of fruit; bought textbooks; read pa- 
 pers; mid secured official reports on the sub- 
 ject. This theory he put into practice, and by 
 experimenting ami using good judgment has 
 succeeded in producing fruit that has not 
 only carried off many prize- at the state fairs 
 and horticultural meetings, btit his fruit was 
 also awarded eight gold and two silver medals 
 at the great Paris Exposition in 1900. At the 
 Pan-American Exposition, at Buffalo, in 
 L901, he was awarded a gold medal on apples 
 and peaches. He prepared and shipped twelve 
 barrels of apples to the Paris Exposition which 
 were on exhibition from May until November, 
 ami because of the size, shape and color and 
 fine flavor of the fruit it attracted wide at- 
 tention and made [llinois apples famous over 
 western Europe. It is largely due to the ef- 
 forts of Mr. Young that the attention of fruit 
 growers has been attracted to Montgomery 
 county as an apple-producing region, and thou- 
 sands of dollars have come to the county an- 
 nually to pay for fruit through the advertising 
 which he has given to them. Tn this work he 
 
 has I n eminently successful and has earned 
 
 the respect and gratitude of all fruit growers 
 in the county. 'Sir. Young is an enthusiast 
 upon the subject of forestry and thinks that 
 the growing of timber for fuel and lumber 
 will be a profitable industry in this country in 
 the future, and thinks it an excellent field 
 for a young man to engage in. He has more 
 than fifty varieties of native and foreign trees 
 growing on his grounds. 
 
 On the 31st day of August, 1890. Mr. 
 Young was married to Mrs. Emma J. Whit- 
 ing, of Kansas City, Missouri, whose maiden 
 Dame was Critchlow and who was born in 
 McKeesport. Allegheny county. Pennsylvania. 
 Her parents, Daniel G. and Emma .1. Critch- 
 low, emigrated to Illinois when she was two 
 and a half years old and settled at Caseyville, 
 Illinois. At the breaking out of the Civil war 
 Mr. Critchlow enlisted in the service in Com- 
 pany E, Second Illinois Cavalry, and was at 
 the siege of Vicksburg, where he died the day 
 after the surrender, leaving a widow and four 
 
 children. In 1861 Mrs. Critchlow, with her 
 daughter. Emma J., moved to Kansas City, 
 Missouri, the other three sisters being mar- 
 ried and living at Summerfield, Illinois, aft- 
 erward moving' to Kansas City. Mrs. Young, 
 who had resided in Kansas City for thirty-four 
 years, had witnessed the phenomenal growth 
 of that place from a small steamboat landing 
 on the Missouri river to the great metropoli- 
 tan city it is to-day. Mr. and Mrs. Young 
 have a very pleasant, home and are always de- 
 lighted to entertain their many friends and 
 visitors. "The latch-string always hangs out." 
 Socially Mr. Young is a member of the or- 
 der of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and 
 Royal Arch chapter of Hillsboro. and in poli- 
 tics is a strong adherent to the Democratic 
 doctrines as taught by Thomas Jefferson. He 
 is well known in Montgomery and adjoining 
 counties as one of its most enterprising and 
 progressive men. and he belongs to that class 
 of typical American citizens who, while ad- 
 vancing their individual prosperity, also con- 
 tribute to the general welfare of their fellow 
 men. 
 
 ISAAC A. MILNER. 
 
 Isaac A. Milner, deceased, represented one 
 of the old and honored pioneer families of 
 Montgomery county. A native of Illinois, he 
 was born in Edgar county, June 11. 1843, and 
 was a son of Robert and Mary (Desart) Mil- 
 ner, both of whom were horn in Kentucky, the 
 former April IT. 1817, and the latter Decem- 
 ber 1 1. 1822. At an early day Robert Milner 
 cam.' to Illinois and first settled in Paris, but 
 afterward removed to Montgomery county, 
 where he owned some good farming property. 
 His first wife died in 1864 and he subse- 
 quently married Mrs. Emily (Martin Brown) 
 Desart, whose death occurred in 1887. He died 
 in 1881. Religiously he was a member of the 
 Baptist church and politically was idem i Bed 
 with the Republican party. In his family were 
 eight children, all of whom are now deceased. 
 
 During his boyhood Isaac A. Milner pursued 
 his -indies in a log school house at Walnut 
 Grove and n hen not in school he \\ orked on the
 
 ME. AND MRS. 1. A. MILXEE 
 
 W. A. MILXEE 
 
 MBS. W. A. MILXEE 
 
 ME. AND MES. AAEON HAWKINS
 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 51 
 
 farm, early acquiring an excellent knowledge 
 of agricultural pursuits. At the time of the 
 Civil war he enlisted at Decatur, Macon county. 
 in 1864, as a private in the First Illinois Cav- 
 alry, but was afterward promoted to corporal, 
 and remained in the service until hostilities 
 ceased. He then returned to Montgomery 
 county and engaged in farming upon land 
 w In. li his father had given him. He purchased 
 additional property in East Fork township and 
 engaged in its operation up to the time of his 
 death, which occurred November 6, 1879, bis 
 remains being interred in Elm Point cemetery, 
 Bond county. 
 
 Mr. Milner was married December 28, 18G5, 
 near Hillsboro, to Miss Emma J. Frame, who 
 was born near Coffeeu. in East Fork township, 
 September -1. 1847. Her father, Robert T. 
 Frame, was born near Dayton, Ohio, in De- 
 cember, 1819, and at an early day came witli 
 his parents to Montgomery county. He ac- 
 cumulated considerable property. In politics 
 he was a Republican, but never desired office, 
 and in religious connection he was a member of 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He 
 died in February, 1879. His wife, who bore 
 the maiden name of Cyrena McCaslin. was 
 born in Kentucky, December 8. 1822, and is 
 still living, her home being near MeCune, 
 Crawford county, Kansas. In their family 
 were nine children, the sons and four daugh- 
 ters, of whom all are living with the except inn 
 of Maggie. 
 
 By his ballot Mr. Milner supported the Re- 
 publican party anil was eaUed upon to fill sev- 
 eral local offices. While advancing his indi- 
 vidual interests he also aided in promoting the 
 public welfare through hearty co-operation in 
 many measures and movements I'm' the general 
 trood . 
 
 W. A. MILNER. 
 
 W. A. Milner was born od the old home- 
 stead farm in East Fork township, September 
 4, 1873, a son of I. A. ami Emily J. (Frame) 
 Milner. In bis early boyhood days he pur- 
 sued his education under the instruction of J. 
 E. Traylor, and when a youth of eighteen years 
 
 he started out in life on his own account. 
 Eowever, in the meantime, when a lad of only 
 twelve years, he had been a most able assistant 
 to his mother in the management and care of 
 
 tl Id home farm and to her gave the benefit 
 
 of his services until about twenty years of age. 
 He had perhaps more advantages than some 
 an] less than others, but at all times he realized 
 that labor is the basis of all true and desir- 
 able success and because of this he has worked 
 steadily and persistently to acquire a com- 
 petence and his efforts have been rewarded, 
 for he is now one of the substantial citizens of 
 Ins community. 
 
 "On October 17, 1894, Mr. Milner was united 
 in marriage to Miss Alma Hawkins, a daugh- 
 ter of Aaron and Julia (Miller) Hawkins, of 
 East Fork township, and they now have three 
 children: Mary Eva, Julia E. and Isaac A. 
 Mi'. Milner belongs to the Knights of Pythias 
 fraternity at Coffeen and in politics he is a 
 Republican, but has never sought or desired 
 office, preferring to give his attention to his 
 business affairs, which are now bringing to 
 him a very gratifying financial return. He is 
 raising stock of all kinds for the market and 
 makes his own shipments. He has now two 
 hundred and seventy-live acres of valuable 
 laud. He learned farming through experience 
 and in his labors he has displayed not only 
 practical knowledge but excellent business 
 ability. He built all of the fences upon his 
 place and made all of the improvements and 
 now has a splendid residence, commodious 
 barns ami substantial outbuildings. He had 
 mi farm implements when he started out and 
 in fact bis capital was extremely limited. For 
 sometime he rented land ami was then enabled 
 tii purchase one hundred and forty acres, but 
 as the years advanced his work resulted in 
 bringing to him a very gratifying prosperity. 
 In addition to general fanning he began rais- 
 ing stuck and has raised some excellent mules 
 and lias owned some high-bred horses. He at 
 one time handled Illinois Boy, the highest 
 price horse in the county, it being owned by 
 his uncle. He also raises good draft horses and 
 fat stock produced on his farm is a guarantee 
 of its high grade. He is yet a young man, but 
 has already won a prosperity that many an 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 ILLINOIS LIBRAR1 
 
 <U UKBANA-CHAMPA
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 older farmer mighl well envy, and undoubt- 
 edly greater success awaits him in the future. 
 
 WILLIAM S. CHESS. 
 
 William S. Cress was born on the farm 
 where he now lives in Butler drove township, 
 his natal day being February 11, 1848. His 
 father. Jacob Cress, was horn in Indiana in 
 1818, and the grandfather. Jacob Cress, Sr., 
 was a native of North Carolina, whence he 
 started overland in 1817, but on reaching In- 
 diana he settled there, remaining in that slate 
 for a year. His son Jacob was born there in 
 the spring of 1818 and soon afterward the 
 family came to Montgomery county, Illinois, 
 settling in Butler Grove township. His grand- 
 father entered land from the government on 
 section 3.3 and upon the place built a log cabin. 
 He then began the development of a farm, 
 breaking the prairie preparatory to the tilling 
 of the soil and in due course of time gathering 
 rich harvests as the result of his labors. Ho 
 was interested in the Lutheran church and 
 contributed to it- support. His death oc- 
 curred when he had reached the advanced age 
 of eight\ -six years. In the family were eight 
 children, two sons and six daughters. 
 
 Jacob Cress, dr.. was reared upon the old 
 family homestead in Butler Grove township 
 and remained with his parents until the time 
 of his marriage, which occurred on the 23d of 
 January. 1840. Miss Helena Scherer becoming 
 his wife. She was born in Virginia in ISIS 
 and was the daughter of Rev. Daniel Scherer, 
 one of the pioneer Lutheran ministers of this 
 section id' the country. After their marriage 
 the young couple located upon the farm where 
 William Cress now resides ami the husband 
 erected a log cabin where a beautiful and com. 
 modious residence now stands. The pioneer 
 home, however, contained but one room and 
 Jacob Cress built their first table. He brought 
 
 his bride to his 1 m horseback and there 
 
 lived in true pioneer style for some time, hut 
 as the years advanced they were enabled to 
 add many of the comforts and conveniences 
 of the time to their place. In this county 
 
 Jacob Cress died at the age of eighty-six years 
 and his wife has also passed away. 
 
 William S. Cress was reared to farm life 
 upon the old family homestead and attended 
 the conn i schools, hut later he had the ad- 
 vantage of a course in the Illinois State Uni- 
 versity under the auspices of the Lutheran 
 church. He spent three years in that institu- 
 tion and at the age of twenty-four began teach- 
 ing school, being employed m several district 
 and high schools, while at one time he was. 
 principal of the schools of Butler. From 1873 
 until 1875, inclusive, he was the teacher in the 
 school which was removed from Springfield to 
 Carthage, Illinois, becoming Carthage College. 
 He was assistant to the chair of mathematics 
 in that institution for three years and in 1876-7 
 he taught in the Butler school. On the ex- 
 piration of that period he went to Hillsboro, 
 where he and his brothers were engaged in the 
 agricultural implement business for four years. 
 They then sold out and William S. Cress later 
 spent a year in St. Louis and Kansas City. He 
 afterward went to Wichita, Kansas, where he 
 was connected with an agricultural implement 
 house for four years. Later he went to Port- 
 land, Oregon, where he was engaged in the 
 real-estate business for li\e years, returning 
 thence to Wichita, where he again entered into 
 business relations with the house with which 
 he had formerly been connected. Owing to the 
 death of his younger brother he returned to 
 Montgomery county and took charge of the 
 old home place, thus relieving his father of its 
 care. 
 
 On the 4th of January, 1900, Mr. Cress was 
 united in marriage to Miss Mattie Schopf, 
 of Wichita. Kansas, and they have two chil- 
 dren: John B.. three years of age: and Marie 
 L., about two years old. There are seven hun- 
 dred and fifty-five aires of land in the home 
 farm and the entire amount is tmder the per- 
 sonal supervision of Mr. Cress, whose practical 
 training at farm labor in early years makes him 
 an agriculturist whose ability is widely recog- 
 nized, lie is extensively engaged in the rais- 
 ing of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep and now 
 has a rloek of four hundred head of merino 
 sheep. In community interests he takes an 
 active and helpful part and in 1902 served as
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 W. S. CHESS
 
 MRS. W. S. CRESS
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF THE 
 
 --ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 :.; 
 
 trusti f Butler Grove township. Ee is a 
 
 member of the Fraternal Aid Association and 
 Insurance Society; he gives his political al- 
 legiance to the Democracy and is a member <>£ 
 the Lutheran church. Ee lias had a varied 
 business experience ami has a wide ac- 
 quaintance, and in the different localities in 
 which he has resided fur any length of time 
 he has made warm friends because of his relia- 
 bility, social, genial nature and his recognition 
 of worth in others. 
 
 P. .1. BERMAN, M. D. 
 
 The medical profession of Montgomery 
 county finds a capable, conscientious and 
 worthy representative in Dr. P. J. Eerman, 
 who has hern practicing within its borders for 
 nearly a half century. A native son of Illi- 
 nois, he was horn near Chatham, Sangamon 
 county, nu the 22d of December, 1833, and 
 comes of German ancestry, the family having 
 been established in North Carolina in early 
 colonial days. David Eerman, the grand- 
 father, was there born, and David II. Eerman, 
 the father, was also a native of thai state. 
 born in 1805. About 1810 David Herman re- 
 moved with his family to Kentucky, settling 
 in Grant county, where his son, David H. Her- 
 man, grew to manhood. Ee was married there 
 to Sarah Mills, a native of that stale and a 
 daughter of Jacob Mitts, also one of the early 
 residents of Kentucky of German ancestry. Mr. 
 Herman removed to Illinois in 1830, establish- 
 ing his home in Sangamon county when it was 
 largely an unimproved district, the greater part 
 of the land being still in possession of the gov- 
 ernment, while the work of progress and im- 
 provement was scarcely begun. Tie located 
 near Chatham, where he entered a tract of 
 land and opened up a farm, which he continued 
 to make his home for more than sixty years. 
 There he reared his family and lived an active, 
 useful and honorable life, proving a valued 
 citizen of the community from which he was 
 called by death in 1891. His wife had de- 
 parted this life about ten years before. 
 
 Dr. Herman is one of a family of six sons 
 and three daughters that were reared to adult 
 
 age upon the old family homestead, and of 
 these three sons and laughter are yet liv- 
 ing. Like the others of the family, he re- 
 mained under the parental roof through the 
 period of his boyhood and youth. His com- 
 mon school advantages were supplemented by 
 a course of study in the high school at Spring- 
 field, and he entered upon preparation for his 
 profession in Chatham as a student in the 
 office of Dr. N. Wright, one of the old practi- 
 tioners of Sang; n county. He began read- 
 ing medicine in L855 and pursued his first 
 course of lectures in Rush Medical College in 
 18.58-59. Before this time he had engaged m 
 teaching in Sangamon county, but he regarded 
 this merely as an initiatory step to other pro- 
 fessional labor. After completing his first 
 course of lectures he came to Montgomery 
 county and entered upon the practice of medi- 
 cine here. In 1862 he went to Chicago and 
 completed a medical course in Rush Medical 
 College, in which he was graduated with the 
 class of 1863. Again locating in Raymond, he 
 not only practiced medicine and surgery, but 
 also conducted a drug store, in which he com- 
 pounded hi.- own medicines. His practice 
 called him to many points over a wide area and 
 he built up a large and successful business, lie 
 is now the oldest, practitioner in this part of 
 the county and has long maintained a foremost 
 position J7i Ihi' ranks of the fraternity. He 
 belongs to (he Montgomery County Medical 
 Society, ami continued reading and investiga- 
 tion bave kept him thoroughlj informed con- 
 cerning the advancement made by the profes- 
 sion. He now largely confines himself to 
 office practice, and in as far as possible is put- 
 I ing aside professional labors. 
 
 Dr. Herman was married April II. 1863, 
 to Miss Eliza A. Xeal. a native of Sangamon 
 county, who was reared in Montgomery coi □ 
 ty. Her father. Elijah B. Xeal. formerly of 
 Kentucky, became a resident of Sangamon 
 county. Illinois. Into Dr. and Mrs. Herman 
 have been horn four children, who are yet liv- 
 ing: Julia A., the wife of frank' If Schafer, 
 of Nokomis; Hattie L.. who occupies a posi- 
 tion in a mercantile establishment in Ray- 
 mond; Flora Belle, the wife of William \. 
 Ray, of Chicago; ami Blanche Mav, the wife
 
 58 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 of Stephen 0. Seward, of Montgomery coun- 
 ty. They also lost their first child, Frances 
 
 Ellen, who died in early wornanh I. 
 
 Politically Dr. Herman is a Democrat, who 
 east his first presidential vote for Franklin 
 Pierce and his last ballol for William Jennings 
 Bryan. He has never had time to seek or 
 fill public office, although he served as presi- 
 dent of the village board for three terms and 
 also as village trustee. He has ever been a 
 warm friend of the cause of education, and 
 while serving on the school hoard has put 
 forth effective effort for the upbuilding of the 
 schools and the raising of the standard of edu- 
 cation in Raymond. He is a Royal Arch 
 Mason and was one of the organizers of the 
 Masonic lodge at Raymond, of which he served 
 as master for a number of terms, while at the 
 present time he is again filling that position. 
 He has likewise represented his lodge in the 
 grand lodge of the state on three different oc- 
 casions. He belonged to Hillsboro chapter, 
 hut was afterward dimitted. His wife is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
 Dr. Herman has resided in this section of 
 Illinois throughout his entire life, and for 
 nearly fifty years lias been identified with 
 the growth, development and prosperity of 
 Raymond and Montgomery county. Few have 
 so lone- resided in this district as lias Dr. Her- 
 man, and none have a wider or more favorable 
 acquaintance. He is always an honored at- 
 tendant at the old settlers' picnics of Sanga- 
 mon and of Montgomery counties, and he is 
 well known in central Illinois as a man who 
 is entitled to the highest regard and respect 
 by reason of an upright life, as well as su- 
 perior professional skill that has rendered his 
 lifework of the utmost benefit and value to his 
 fellow men. 
 
 GEORGE N. ALLEN. 
 
 George N. Allen, one of the most progressive 
 residents of East Fork township, following 
 farming on sent ion ~>. was born in that town- 
 ship. April '.".i. 1858, a son of Robert and 
 Harriet (Ohmart) Allen. His father was 
 born in North Carolina, spent flu 1 days of his 
 
 boyhood and youth there and came to Mont- 
 gomery county when twenty-one years of age, 
 settling in East Fork township. Pioneer con- 
 ditions existed here at that early period. Much 
 of the land was still in possession of the gov- 
 ernment, having not been reclaimed for the 
 purpose of civilization. Mr. Allen, however, 
 took an active part in developing this portion 
 of the state and was recognized as one of the 
 leading men of his community, doing much 
 to promote social, religious and political inter- 
 ests, as well as the material development of 
 Montgomery county. His life was actuated by 
 high and honorable purpose and principles, 
 and he commanded the respect and good will 
 of all who knew him. He died August 1, 
 1891, leaving two sons, William A. and 
 Georue X. 
 
 George N. Allen was reared upon the old 
 family homestead, working in the fields 
 through the summer months, while in the win- 
 ter seasons he attended the public schools and 
 acquired a fair practical English education. 
 He started out in life for himself when 
 eighteen years of age. His father was then 
 in poor health and gave to him the manage- 
 ment of the farm, which he conducted as his 
 father's partner. He also purchased a tract 
 of land about the same time, incurring an in- 
 debtedness in order to do this, but within a 
 short period be discharged the obligation. Later 
 he removed to the vicinity of Donnellson, 
 where he resided for four years, but through- 
 out that period he continued as overseer of his 
 father's farm. After his father's death he 
 settled upon the home plan', where he now re- 
 sides. He has added to this farm from time to 
 time and is today the owner of a valuable 
 property of four hundred and thirty-six acres 
 in East Fork township. Much of his land is 
 under a high state of cultivation, and he an- 
 nuallv harvests good crops. For about ten 
 vears be has engaged in shipping stock, and 
 this has added materially to his income, for 
 he is an excellent judge of farm animals and 
 thus is enabled to make purchases and sales 
 which vield a good profit. He has become 
 well known as a stock-raiser, and be also han- 
 dles a pood breed of cattle, wdiich he feeds for 
 the market. He has made a close study of how
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT! 
 
 59 
 
 to import stock in the best way and in the 
 shortest time, and his knowledge is compre- 
 hensive and practical. At this writing, in 1904, 
 he owns a. herd of registered Ohio Improved 
 Chester White hogs, and he now has about sev- 
 enty hogs eligible to be registered. He has 
 also handled many sheep. He and his brother 
 had very little in boyhood and worked on a 
 threshing machine for fifty cents per day, but 
 as time passed, through industry and economy 
 Mr. Allen gradually worked his way upward 
 financially, and is today the possessor of a 
 very valuable farm and is also one of the stock- 
 holders and directors of the First National 
 Bank at Hillsboro. He and his brother also 
 own nine hundred and sixty-five acres of land 
 m Arkansas, a part of which is covered with 
 timber, while the remainder is devoted to cot- 
 ton raising. 
 
 In November, 1882. Mr. Allen was united in 
 marriage to Miss Zilphia Wilson, a daughter 
 of George Wilson, and unto them have been 
 born seven children, all of whom are living: 
 Orin K., who is now attending the State Nor- 
 mal School at Charleston, Illinois ; Cullen F. ; 
 Robert W. ; William F. ; Charlotte; Mary; and 
 Dorothy. All of the children are at home. 
 Mrs. Allen belongs to the Methodist church and 
 Mr. Allen holds membership relations with the 
 Masonic fraternity, being made a Mason atDon- 
 nellson in 1800. and with the Knights of 
 Pythias lodge and the Benevolent and Pro- 
 tective Order of Elks. He keeps well informed 
 on the political questions and issues of the 
 day, votes with the Democracy ;md has filled 
 the office of assessor, but would never consent 
 to occupy other official positions, preferring to 
 give bis time and energies to his business af- 
 fairs. He, however, takes a deep and active 
 interest in everything pertaining to the wel- 
 fare of his township and is the champion of 
 many measures that have resulted in the pub- 
 lic good. He has been a delegate to the state 
 and congressional conventions and a member 
 of the federal court at Hillsboro. He is an 
 advocate of gravel roads for the county and 
 of graded township schools instead of the dis- 
 trict schools, and he was instrumental in se- 
 curing the establishment of the rural mail de- 
 livery along its present route. His ideas, while 
 
 always progressive, are at the same time practi- 
 cal, and his efforts have proved very beneficial 
 to the county, and lie has also conducted his 
 business affairs so as t" win most gratifying 
 ami honorable success. 
 
 L. V. HILL. 
 
 L. V. Hill, who is filling the position of 
 prosecuting attorney at Hillsboro, is one of 
 the younger representatives of the Montgom- 
 ery county bar, hut his years seem no obstacle 
 in his success, which has been of a most de- 
 sirable character. He seems to have been en- 
 dowed by nature with the peculiar qualifications 
 that combine to make a successful lawyer. He 
 is patiently persevering, possesses an analytical 
 mind and one that is readily receptive and re- 
 tentive of the fundamental principles and in- 
 tricacies of the law. He applies himself with 
 great thoroughness to the mastery of his case, 
 is fearless in its alvocacy, is quick to com- 
 prehend subtle problems and logical in his 
 conclusions and thus he has won for himself 
 an enviable position as a representative of the 
 legal fraternity. 
 
 Mr. Hill is a son of Isaac and Mary (Sears) 
 Hill. His father, now residing in Joplin, Mis- 
 souri, was born in Fayette county, Illinois, and 
 in early manhood followed the occupation of 
 farming. About 1888, however, he turned his 
 attention to the lumber business and he is 
 now- extensively interested in zinc mines near 
 Joplin, Missouri. Through marked enterprise 
 and keen discrimination in business affairs he 
 has become one of the substantial citizens of 
 I he community in which be makes his home. 
 His political allegiance is given to the Democ- 
 racy. He married Mary Sears, also a native 
 of Illinois, a ml a daughter of Thomas andJoicey 
 (Alexander) Sears, who removed to Missouri 
 during the childhood of their daughter, re- 
 maining for several years in thai state. Mr. 
 Sears was :i farmer by occupation. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Hill were horn five children, of whom 
 four are yet living, the second. Louisa, hav- 
 ing passed away. Those who still survive are 
 L. Y.. of this review: .T< sse. who is a stockman 
 of Fillmore township, Montgomery county;
 
 GO 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Lona, who married Fred Hendrix arid resides 
 aear her parents; and Nora, who married 
 Houston King and is also living aear Joplin, 
 M issouri. 
 
 L. V. Jlill acquired his early education in 
 the village of Fillmore and alA rward attended 
 the Alexander school of that locality. On put- 
 ting aside his text books he engaged in the 
 lumber business at Fillmore in connection with 
 his father, remaining there until L897, whm 
 he removed to Hillsboro. hi the meantime he 
 had devoted a year to the reading of law. and 
 in May. 1897, he entered the law office of How- 
 ett & Jett, with whom lie continued his read- 
 ing until the fall of 1899, when he was ad- 
 milted to the bar. He at onee began to prac- 
 tice at Hillsboro, where he has met with very 
 desirable success, securing a clientage of a dis- 
 tinctively representative character. In 1900 be 
 was elected to (be office of states attorney of 
 Montgomery county and in the spring of l!Ni + 
 lie successfully prosecuted the work of a mur- 
 der case in which the culprit was given the 
 full extent of the law. His has bei n a remark- 
 able career in the prosecution of important 
 eases and during his term as attorney has prose- 
 cuted three murder eases in this county and bis 
 presentation of a case indicates thorough prep- 
 aration, a comprehensive knowledge of the 
 principles of jurisprudence and Ins logical de- 
 ductions, lie has gained high rank among his 
 professional brethren by bard work and by 
 evidencing bis ability to lill the position with 
 which thi people have intrusted him. Aside 
 from bis law practice be is interested in flu. 
 Eillsboro Electric Railway Company and with 
 his father lias large interests in zinc mines at 
 Joplin, Missouri. In connection with four 
 others he laid out the park subdivision to Hills- 
 boro, recently incorporated within the limits 
 of the city, lie bus been watchful of every sign 
 pointing to progress ami advancement in the 
 community, has endorsed all measures for the 
 general g 1 ami has given hearty co-opera- 
 tion to many movements which have tended 
 toward material 1" aefil to II tllsboro. 
 
 In tSPo Mr. Hill was united in marriage to 
 Mis- Josie Williams, a native of Fillmore town- 
 ship, and a daughter of Webster ami Katherine 
 Williams. Her father is a harnessmaker of 
 
 Fillmore, line child was born of this mar- 
 riage. Harold, luit lii> death occurred when be 
 was but four months old. Mr. Hill is a mem- 
 ber of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the 
 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the 
 
 Modern W Imen camp and the Knights of 
 
 the Maccabe s and bis political allegiance is 
 given to the I (emocracy. 
 
 HENRY II. WARNSING. 
 
 Henry 11. Warnsing, who devotes his time 
 and energies to auctioneering and general 
 farming, lives on section 28, Rountree town- 
 ship. He is a representative of the worthy 
 class of citizens that Germany has furnished 
 to Montgomery county, his birth having oc- 
 curred in Hanover, Germany, on the 1st of 
 December, 1844. He was Left an orphan when 
 only a year old and at the age of seven he 
 accompanied Ins grandparents on their emigra- 
 tion to the United .States, the family home 
 being established in Madison county. Illinois. 
 
 Henry II. Warnsing was educated largely in 
 Germany, having no instruction in the English 
 tongue, save that he attended an evening 
 school. At the age of sixteen years lie began 
 learning the marble-cutter's trade in Fdwards- 
 ville, Illinois, where be was employed until 
 1864, when in the month of August he en- 
 listed in Company F. One Hundred and 
 Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He 
 served for eleven months and on the expiration 
 of that period was discharged at (.'amp Butler 
 in July, 1865, for tin' war bad ended and the 
 country no longer needed bis aid. He after- 
 ward resumed farm work, being employed by 
 the month in Madison county. After two and 
 a ball' years be resolved to engage in farming 
 on In- own account and. renting a tract of bind 
 in Montgomery county, be took up his abode 
 thereon in ISM. He continued renting until 
 1873, and during that period prospered in his 
 work so that in the latter year he was enabled 
 to purchase forty acre- of land, constituting 
 tbe nucleus of his present extensive and val- 
 uable landed possessions. As opportunity has 
 increased be has made judicious purchases of 
 other land and now owns aboui seven hundred
 
 [I. II. WAENSING AND FAMILY
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF TH£ 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 G3 
 
 acres in Montgomery county, the greater part 
 in Rountree township. He has placed most of 
 the improvements upon the farm where he 
 now lives and he lias here a very attractive 
 place equipped with all modern conveniences 
 and accessories. The buildings and fences are 
 
 kept iii g I repair, the fields are well tilled 
 
 and everything about the place indicates the 
 careful supervison of an enterprising owner. 
 Be is also agent for the Home Mutual Insur- 
 ance Company and he lias been an auctioneer 
 
 for the last thirty-one years, the lir f Warn- 
 
 sing & Son being the leading auctioneers of 
 tli is section of the state. 
 
 On the 24th of February, 1871, Mr. Warh- 
 sing was united in marriage to Miss Londa 
 M. Weller, a daughter of Jacob and ( '. Weller, 
 both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Warosmg 
 have become the parents of eight children: 
 John, who died at the age of two years; Wil- 
 liam, who died at the age of a year and a half; 
 Fred, who died at the age of nine months; 
 Robert P>. ; Daniel J., of Rountree township; 
 Martin Luther, who is also living in this 
 township; Fred IT. and Lena L.. both at borne. 
 
 The parents are members of the English 
 Lutheran church and Mr. Warnsing is con- 
 nected with Cunningham Post, G. A. I!. Rec- 
 ognized as one of the influential men of his 
 township whose interest in the public affairs 
 is of an unselfish and patriotic nature, be lias 
 been called upon to fill many of the township 
 offices, perhaps serving to a greater extent in 
 such a way than any other man of the town- 
 ship. He is now school treasurer and in this 
 office as in all others that lie has filled be lias 
 discharged his duties with notable prompt- 
 ness and fidelity. Tie is a man id' genuine 
 worth, true ti> every trust reposed in him, and 
 the' sterling traits of bis character have gained 
 him warm friendship in Montgomery county. 
 
 WILLIAM SIMS. 
 
 William Sims, for many years identified with 
 agricultural interests in Montgomery county, 
 hut now living a retired life in Raymond, is 
 of Scotch birth and parentage. He was born 
 in Aberdeenshire. Scotland, May 12, 1845. a 
 
 Miii of William and Ann (Breody) Sims, both 
 of whom were natives of Scotland. The fa- 
 ther's birth occurred in Aberdeenshire in 1821 
 and in ls;>n he emigrated to the new world in 
 company with his family, locating in Bucks 
 enmity. Pennsylvania, where he purchased a 
 trait el land and engaged in farming. In 
 1851 he Mild that properly and came to Illinois, 
 settling in Clinton county, where he purchased 
 raw land and opened up a farm, residing there- 
 on lor a number of years. Later he came to 
 Monte/mii ry enmity and purchased a farm near 
 Hillsiioro. where he spent the last years of his 
 life, passing away there on the 9th of June, 
 is is. Throughout his entire business career 
 he carried on agricultural pursuits and as the 
 result of his activity and perseverance he was 
 enabled to provide a comfortable living for his 
 family. He possessed many excellent traits of 
 character which endeared him to those with 
 whom he came in contact and won for him the 
 confidence and good will of all with whom 
 be was associated. His wife survived him sev- 
 eral years, dying March 26, 1885. In their 
 family were six sons and two daughters, of 
 whom one daughter died in infancy and another 
 at the age of about five years, while live of the 
 sons are yet living. 
 
 William Sims grew to manhood upon the 
 old homestead farm and remained with his 
 father until be had attained his majority, as- 
 sisting in the labors of field and meadow as 
 bis age and strength permitted. His educa- 
 tional privileges were those afforded by the 
 common schools. He was married in Clinton 
 county. August 6, 1866, to Miss Julia Ash- 
 lock', who was horn at Belleville, Illinois, and 
 is a daughter of Robert Ashlock, a cabinet- 
 maker and one of the early settlers of the 
 -laic living in St. Clair county. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Sims located in Clin- 
 ton county, llliinus. where he carried on gen- 
 eral farming I'm- several years and about 1870 
 he came to Montgomery county, where he rent- 
 ed a tract of land for one year. He then pur- 
 chased a farm in Raymond township, consti- 
 tuting one hundred and twenty acres and this 
 he began to break and improve, adding many 
 modern equipments and placing his fields un- 
 der a high state of cultivation. Later he pur-
 
 Ill 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 chased more land from time to time until he 
 now owns two hundred and eighty acres, com- 
 prised within the borders of two well improved 
 farms. He continued in the active operation 
 of his land until 1891, when he rented the 
 farms and removed to Raymond, when' he pur- 
 chased the residence that he now occupies. He 
 lias since given his supervision to his farming 
 interests, but if not connected with the active 
 work. In Raymond he purchased a lot and 
 erected a business house and he also remodeled 
 and added to his residi nee, which is a neat 
 and attractive home. Tie also own- some val- 
 uable property in Pueblo, Colorado. Tlis busi- 
 ness affairs have claimed the greater part of 
 his time and attention, yet he has neveT been 
 remiss in the duties of citizenship and in a 
 quiet way has assisted in many measures for 
 the general good. Politically he i- a stanch 
 Republican, having given unfaltering support 
 to the party since casting his first presidential 
 y< te for U. S. Granl in 1868. 
 
 I tito Mr. and Mrs. Sims have been born 
 three children, but they lost their oldest, 
 Charles, who reached mature years, was mar- 
 ried and was successfully engaged in business 
 in Raymond at the time of his death. Their 
 daughters are Libbie and Ethel, the former the 
 wife of George It. Lynch, of Pueblo, Colo- 
 rado: and Ethel, now living with her sistei.. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sims are members of the Baptist 
 church and he is a Master Mason, belonging to 
 the lodge at Raymond. During thirty-four 
 years' residence in Montgomery county Mr. 
 Sims is widely known to many of its citizens 
 and there has been in his life record no cle- 
 ment, which awakt ns harsh criticism or con- 
 demnation. On the other hand his career has 
 been characterized by laudable ambition to 
 achieve success and honorable methods of win- 
 ning prosperity, and he certainly deserves cred- 
 it for what he has accomplished. 
 
 .lolIN W. CHAMBERLIN. 
 
 John W. Chamberlin, one of the best known 
 representatives of industrial interests in Litch- 
 field, has been identified with building opera- 
 tions here for many years, and has contributed 
 
 in large measure toward improving and beauti- 
 fying the city. lie i.- al-o engaged in the man- 
 ufacture of brick, and his business career has 
 Keen characterized by unfaltering diligence and 
 perseverance. Moreover, he is an active ad- 
 vocate .if intellectual and moral progress, and 
 as a citizen is foremost among those who 
 champion all measures for the general good. 
 
 Mr. Chamberlin was bom in Kanawha 
 county. West Virginia, April 17. 1840, a son 
 of Nathaniel and Joanna (Willis) Chamber- 
 lin. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, 
 and was of English lineage, tracing his ancestry 
 back to on,' of the band of Pilgrims who came 
 to America in the Mayflower. Nathaniel 
 Chamberlin was reared upon a farm, but be- 
 came a contractor and builder. He removed 
 to Virginia when twenty-three years of age 
 and there operated a sawmill. On his removal 
 to the west he settled in St. Louis, where he 
 began contracting and building, and was one 
 id' the leading citizens and business men of 
 the Missouri metropolis of that time. While 
 ii. Virginia he married Miss Joanna Willis, 
 who was born in Winchester, that state, a 
 daughter of William Willis, who was of Ger- 
 man birth. There was also an English strain 
 in the maternal ancestry. Her father was a 
 harnessmaker by trade and for many years fol- 
 lowed that business in Virginia, where his 
 death ultimately occurred. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Chamberlin were horn eight children, but with 
 the exception of John W., of this review, all 
 have passed away. The father died in 1863 at 
 the age of sixty-three years and the mother's 
 death occurred in Litchfield in 1890 when she 
 was seventy-six years of age. Mr. Chamber- 
 lin held membership in the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian church, while his wife was a member 
 of the Metholist Episcopal church. In politics 
 he was a radical Republican, espousing the 
 cause of the party at a time when it required 
 personal courage to uphold one's political con- 
 viction-, lie enjoyed the highest regard of all 
 with whom he was associated and his upright 
 career ami fidelity to duty made him one of 
 nature's noblemen. 
 
 In the public schools of St. Louis. Missouri, 
 John W. Chamberlin acquired his education 
 ami on putting aside his text books entered a
 
 JOHN W. CHAMBEELIN
 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 67 
 
 printing office, where he worked for a year. 
 He afterward learned the trade of brick-lay- 
 ing and throughout the greater pari of his 
 business career lias been engaged in contract- 
 ing and building. His business interest-, how- 
 ever, were put aside at the time of the Civil 
 war. fur in September, 1861, at St. Louis, he 
 enlisted in Fremont's Engineering Corps and 
 served in that organization until it was dis- 
 banded. He was then with William Hitchcock, 
 known as "Wild Bill," on a transportation 
 train through Missouri and Arkansas, trans- 
 porting provisions for the army for eighteen 
 months. In 1865 he came to Litchfield and has 
 since been identified with its building opi ra- 
 tions. He has ^rm the town grow and expand 
 and has taken a very active part in its improve- 
 ment, building many sehoolhouses, churches, 
 business blocks and private residences here and 
 also in other parts of Montgomery county ana 
 in adjoining counties. The buildings which he 
 has constructed would constitute a considerable 
 town in themselves, lie is still actively en- 
 gaged in work ami now has the contract for 
 the Carnegie library building. His success 
 is attributable to his skill in the builder's art 
 and is thoroughly reliable, for he lives fully up 
 to the terms of an agreement. As soon as bis 
 sons were old enough to become factors in in- 
 dustrial circles hi' admitted them to the firm 
 and the business is now carried on under the 
 style of .1. W. Chamberlin & Sons. In 1885 
 Mr. Chamberlin also established a brickyard 
 and manufactures a machine-made brick, em- 
 ploying twelve men in the operation of tic 
 plant. Although this is being worked to its 
 full capacity the supply is not equal to the 
 demand. 
 
 In December. 1864, Mr. Chamberlin was 
 married to Mrs. Victoria V. Keese, the widow 
 of Albert C. Keese and a daughter of Wesley 
 and Elizabeth Nelson Simmons. Her father 
 removed from Ohio to Montgomery coun- 
 ty, Illinois, in 1833. and settled three miles 
 west of Hillsboro. where he remained for 
 a short time. He afterward took up bis abode 
 in the city and from that point superintended 
 his farming operations. His death occurred in 
 Hillsboro in 1881. In 1855 he had established 
 the Simmon- Hotel, winch he conducted until 
 
 L865. His life was an honorable and upright 
 mie. covering a long span of eighty-one years, 
 ami be lived m constant harmony with bis 
 professions as a member id' the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church. His wife, also a life-long mem- 
 ber of the church, died at the age of seventy- 
 two years. Both toolc an active part in church 
 work and Mr. Simmons served as trustee and 
 steward. In their family were eighl children, 
 of whom three are now living, Mrs. Chamberlin 
 and Pilcher and Julia Simmons. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Chamberlin were born four children: 
 William S.. a brick-layer of Litchfield; Annie, 
 the wife of Marshall Titsworth. who is em- 
 ployed in the Latham store in Litchfield; Lucy, 
 at home; and Nathaniel, who is associated with 
 his father and brother in business. There are 
 now ten grandchildren. By her first mar- 
 riage Mrs. Chamberlin bad one son. who is yet 
 living, Pilcher G. Keese, who is a brick-layer. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin hold membership 
 in the Methodist Episcopal church and have 
 co-operated in its various activities, doing all 
 in their power to promote its growth and ex- 
 tend its influences. At, the present writing 
 Mr. Chamberlin is serving as one of its trustees. 
 In politics he is a Republican and is assistant 
 supervisor of North Litchfield township. He is 
 a man of high standing in the community be- 
 cause of his genuine personal worth. His mar- 
 riel life has been a happy one and his home 
 largely embodies ideals of domestic felicity. 
 Those traits of character which are esteemed 
 as of most value in character building are his 
 and he is to-day one of the most honored and 
 respected men of his adopted city. 
 
 LEE M. PAUL. 
 
 The business circles of Farmersvillc find a- 
 worthy representative in Lee M. Paul, who is 
 assistant cashier of the hanking firm of John 
 Pell & Company, in which capacity he has ac- 
 ceptably served for ten years and his unfalter- 
 ing courtesy as well as business capacity have 
 made him popular with the patrons of the 
 institution and gained him a large circle of 
 warm friends. A native of Illinois, he was 
 born in Macoupin county, September 16, 1861.
 
 68 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 His father, Jacob Paul, was born near Wheel- 
 ing, West Virginia, on the 16th of September, 
 1815, and during his early boyhood days ac- 
 companied his parents on their removal west- 
 ward, the family home being established in 
 Indianapolis, win re Jacob Paul grew to ma- 
 ture years and was married, the lady of his 
 choice being Miss Ellen McClain, a native of 
 Kentucky. In the year 1836 Jacob Paul re- 
 moved to Alton, Illinois, where he resided for 
 more than twenty yiars and on the expiration 
 of that period he purchased land and located 
 in Macoupin county, where he resided until 
 is; i. 
 
 It was upon the old family homestead there 
 that Lee 31. Paul spent his boyhood days. 
 He had good educational privileges, his course 
 in the public schools being supplemented by a 
 few terms of study in the Indianapolis high 
 school. In 1874 he returned to the home farm 
 and later removed the family to St. Louis, 
 Missouri, where they remained for two years. 
 Returning in 1876 to Illinois, the family home 
 was established upon a farm in Montgomery 
 county near the village of Parmersville and 
 there the father and son.- engaged in general 
 agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, mak- 
 ing a specialty of the raising of horses. Jacob 
 Paul, the father, was an active and capable 
 business man and continued a resident of this 
 locality until his death, which occurred Sep- 
 tember 30, 1893. His wife passed away Oc- 
 tober I. 1892. The remains of both were in- 
 terred in the Morrisonville cemetery. 
 
 After leaving school Lee M. Paul continued 
 to assist his father upon the home farm and 
 after the hitters death engaged in the culti- 
 vation of the old home place until 1894, when 
 he rented the land and removed to Farmers- 
 ville, to accept a position in the banking house 
 of John Bell & Company. He has now served 
 as assistant cashier for ten years and is very 
 efficient and faithful in the performance of 
 all the duties which devolve upon him in con- 
 nection with the conduct of this strong and 
 reliable financial institution. He is also con- 
 ducting some private business interests as a 
 dealer in real estate and as an insurance agent, 
 and he displays good business ability, hav- 
 ing tin' power to readily recognize and utilize 
 
 an opportunity. Moreover he possesses tact and 
 has a good fund of common sense, which is 
 too often lacking in the business world, and 
 has been the source of more failures than any 
 other one element. 
 
 Mi'. Paul was married in Montgomery coun- 
 ty. May 25, 1898, to Miss Hattie Carroll, a 
 native of this county and a daughter of James 
 Carroll, one of its worthy pioneers. He was 
 a prominent farmer here for some years and 
 is now living retired in Farmersville. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Paul have a pleasant home in the 
 town and the hospitality of the best families 
 in this part of the county is freely extended 
 to them. Mr. Paul is nnfalti ring in his ad- 
 vocacy of Democratic principles and is an ac- 
 tive supporter of (he party, being recognized 
 as a local leader here. He has served as vil- 
 lage treasurer for a number of years, was alsi. 
 township collector for two terms and has filled 
 other positions of honor and trust. He has 
 long been a notary public and does all such 
 work in connection with the bank. He belongs 
 to the Masonic lodge at Girard and is also 
 identified with the Loyal Neighbors and the 
 Modern Woodmen. 1 1 is interest centers in bis 
 adopted county and bis hearty co-operation is 
 given to every movement which he believes will 
 contribute to its upbuilding and improvement. 
 In manner he is unostentatious, but his gen- 
 uine worth is recognized by a large circle of 
 friends. 
 
 
 JESSE J. CAEEY. 
 
 Jesse J. Carey, who is one of the prominent 
 business men of Harvel, where he has been 
 successfully engaged in dealing in lumber for 
 the past fifteen years, has spent almost his en- 
 tire life in Illinois, dating his residence here 
 from 1837. Montgomery county has numbered 
 him among its valued citizens since 1875. He 
 was born in the city of New York, December 1, 
 1831, and was brought to this state by his 
 father, Jesse Carey, who located in Pike county 
 in 1837. There the father purchased a tract 
 of wild land and opened up a good farm. 
 Pioneer conditions existed at that time and the 
 nearest neighbor to the Carey home was three
 
 ME. AND MES. J. J. CAREY
 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 71 
 
 miles away. Hardships and difficulties were 
 to be endured, but the family persevered in 
 their efforts to build a new home on the fron- 
 tier. 
 
 Jesse J. Carey, who was the oldest son, was 
 reared on the farm in Pike county and enjoyed 
 fair school advantages, but has largely sup- 
 plemented his knowledge by lessons gained in 
 the school of experience and through reading 
 and observation. The word work would sum 
 up most concisely his entire life, for his career 
 lias been characterized by unflagging diligence. 
 Early in youth he learned lessons of industry, 
 enterprise and integrity and these have been 
 salient features in his career down to the pres- 
 ent time. In earlj manhood he was married 
 and then engaged in farming in Pike county 
 i'nr three or four years. In 1SG9 he removed to 
 Logan county, where he purchased a tract of 
 land and continued to engage in agricultural 
 pursuits until 1875. He then sub I his property 
 there and went to Christian county, arriving 
 on the 1st of March, 1875. He secured a tract 
 of land near Harvel, which he operated for a 
 number of years and then putting aside agri- 
 cultural pursuits he removed to the village in 
 1889 and bought out a lumber and coal yard 
 that he has since conducted. As the years have 
 passed he has built up a profitable trade and 
 he is now one of the active business men of his 
 community, having for fifteen years dealt in 
 coal and lumber with good success. This has 
 been sufficient time to test his capability, his 
 honorable methods and his earnest desire to 
 please his customers — qualities which have been 
 the strong elements in his prosperity. 
 
 In Pike county, Illinois. Mr. Carey was mar- 
 ried, November 5. 1863. to Miss Helen M. 
 Ross, a daughter of T. J. and Annie (Hovey) 
 Ross, early settlers of Illinois. She was born 
 in Ohio, but was reared in this state Her 
 death occurred in Harvel, February 19, 1892, 
 ami she left four children. Those still living 
 are: Phoebe, the wife of A. X. Banes, who is 
 deputy county clerk of Montgomery county; 
 Harvilla, at home; and Helen J., the wife of 
 D. A. Renning. of Girard. Kansas. One son, 
 George A., died when a young man of twenty- 
 two years. 
 
 Mr. Carey purchased an attractive home in 
 
 Harvel, which he now occupies. He is an ear- 
 nest advocate of Democratic principles and has 
 supported the parly since casting his first pres- 
 idential ballot for James Buchanan in 1856. 
 He was elected and served as supervisor in 
 Christian county for six years and for four 
 years in Montgomery county, but he has al- 
 ways rather avoided office, preferring to do 
 his public duty as a private citizen. He has 
 given his time and attention to his business 
 affair:-, which have been crowned with success. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fel- 
 lows bulge at Harvel and passed through all of 
 the chairs, is a past grand and has been repre- 
 sentative of the subordinate lodge to the grand 
 lodge of the state on two or three different oc- 
 casion.-. He belongs to the Christian church, 
 of which he is one of the elders and bis life 
 has exemplified his Christian faith, being at 
 all times honorable and straightforward. His 
 is a kindly spirit and ready sympathy and he 
 has put forth earnest effort to advance the wel- 
 fare of the church and extend its influence; 
 He is well known in the northern part of the 
 county as a respected and honorable business 
 man and Harvel classes him with its repre- 
 sentative citizens. 
 
 CARL F. BARTLING. 
 
 Carl F. Bartling. well known in Litchfield 
 and respected because of bis many sterling qual- 
 ities, is now conducting a mercantile enterprise 
 in the interest of the heirs of the Hoffman es- 
 tate. He is one of Illinois' native sons, his 
 birth having occurred in Woodburn. Macoupin 
 county, on the 13th of February. 1864. His 
 father. Henry W. Bartling, was born in Swit- 
 zerland and came to the United States in 1856, 
 locating in iVlton. In 1863 lie removed to Ma- 
 coupin county, where Ik 1 carried on general 
 farming. He married Annie Tuscher, who was 
 born in Switzerland and was a daughter of 
 Benjamin ami Elizabeth Tuscher, who came to 
 the United Slates in 1856, settling at Alton, 
 hut afterward removing to Macoupin county, 
 where they located near Hornsby. Her father 
 also carried on agricultural pursuits. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bartling were members of the
 
 72 
 
 AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 German Lutheran church. His death occurred 
 m 1870, when he was thirty-five years of age, 
 and his wife passed away in 1876, at the age 
 of thirty-eight years. They were the parents 
 of five children: Henry \\\, who is now liv- 
 ing in Litchfield; Carl I".: Elizabeth, the wife 
 of George Siegel, at Trenton, Illinois; Annie, 
 the wife of John Freloish, of Alton; and 
 Ti enie, the wife of George Smith, who is en- 
 gaged in the grocery business in Alton. 
 
 Carl F. Bartling is indebted to the district 
 schools for the early educational privileges 
 which he enjoyed and which were supplement- 
 ed by two years' study in the schools of Litch- 
 field. He then entered upon his business career 
 in the store of V. Hoffman and remained in 
 his employ until the death of Mr. Hoffman, 
 in 1899. Mr. Bartling was then appointed ex- 
 ecutor of the Hoffman estate and has since 
 been conducting the business for the heirs. 
 He is well qualified for the trust reposed in 
 him and in carrying on this enterprise has 
 displayed excellent business ability as well as 
 unremitting fidelity to the interests of those 
 whom he represents. He is also a member of 
 the firm of Bartling Brothers, wholesale deal- 
 ers in and shippers of poultry and produce. . 
 On the 18th of February, 1885, Mr. Bart- 
 ling was united in marriage to Miss Ella Hoff- 
 man, a daughter of V. and Martha Huffman 
 and a native of Litchfield, born in 1861. They 
 became the parents of five children, but Val- 
 entine. Carl. Gertrude and Mary are all now 
 deceased. The only living child is Roscoe 
 Blaine, the second in order of birth. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Bartling hold membership in the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal church and fraternally he is 
 connecti d with the Odd Fellows, the Elks and 
 the Mutual Protective League. He supports 
 the Republican party by his ballot and has 
 several times hern elected collector. He has 
 also been a member of the school board and 
 the library board and was count] treasurer 
 from 1894 until 1898, thus being closely as- 
 oeiated with the public interests of his com- 
 munity. Whatever tends to promote the gen- 
 eral welfare receives his endorsement and he 
 has been the champion of many measures 
 which have proven of great benefit to Mont- 
 gomery eonntv. His social manner and kind- 
 
 ly disposition render him popular and the circle 
 of his frit nds has been extruded by reason of 
 the fact that he is always considerate of others' 
 opinions and shows to all the deference which 
 condition and time warrant. 
 
 E. F. CANADAY. 
 
 E. V. Canaday, who as a stock dealer has 
 built up a profitable business in Coffeen, was 
 born in North Litchfield township, Au- 
 gust 5, 1869, He is a son of C. W. 
 and Martha L. Canaday. the former a 
 native of Kentucky and the latter of Illi- 
 nois. When the father was only a yeai 
 old he was brought by his parents to Mont- 
 gomery county, the family home being estab- 
 lished here in 1834 among the pioneer resi- 
 dents. The members of the Canaday house- 
 hold bore their full share in the work of early 
 development and improvement, living in true 
 pioneer style and meeting as best they could the 
 hard conditions which are always to be faced 
 by the frontier settler. After attaining to 
 man's estate C. W. Canaday began farming on 
 his own account and is a representative of ag- 
 ricultural interests of North Litchfield town- 
 ship, lie aided in surveying the land in this 
 county and could have purchased any amount of 
 it at twelve and a half cents per acre. He has 
 witnessed many changes as the years have gone 
 by and the county has emerged from primitive 
 conditions to lake its place with the leading 
 counties of this great commonwealth. 
 
 E. F. Canaday acquired his education in 
 North Litchfield township and remained upon 
 his father's farm until twenty-five years of age. 
 He then conducted a butcher shop for six years. 
 spending four years of thai time in Hillshoro 
 and tin' remaining two years at Coffeen. On 
 selling his meal market he began shipping 
 stock and now handles most of the stock sent 
 from this point, lie also raises and feeds cat- 
 tle, hogs and mules, and he is gaining a very 
 desirable success in handling stock, being an 
 excellent judge of domestic animals, so that he 
 makes judicious purchases and profitable sales. 
 
 On December 6, 1900. Mr. Canaday was 
 married to Miss Matt ir Perkins, a daughter of 
 Willis and S'amantha (Heskett) Perkins, the
 
 OF THE 
 
 FY OP ILL"* 10,10
 
 
 MRS. E. F. CANADAY
 
 E. F. CAN AD AY
 
 OF TH£ 
 HXIVEP.SITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 77 
 
 former a native of Alton, [llinois, and the 
 latter of Edwardsville, this state. The Cana- 
 day home is a hospitable one and is a Favorite 
 resorl with their many friends. Mr. Canaday 
 votes with the Democracy, but has never sought 
 or desired office, preferring to erive his undi- 
 vided attention to his business interests. 
 
 JACOB M. ELWELL. 
 
 Jacob M. Elwell, who built the first frame 
 house on the prairie on which the town of 
 Pana has been founded — a house which is still 
 standing as one of the landmarks of pioneer 
 times— has been closely associated in helpful 
 manner with the upbuilding and progress of 
 this portion of Montgomery county. He was 
 born May 1, 1832, in Bridgeton, New Jersey, 
 a son of William and Catherine (Miller) El- 
 well. The father was of English lineage, while 
 the mother was descended from a family from 
 northern Germany. Both, however, were. born 
 in New Jersey, and the father, who through- 
 out his entire life carried on agricultural pur- 
 suits, was the owner of three farms in that 
 state. His was a long, useful and active life, 
 in which he commanded the respect and trust 
 of his fellow men. He died in 1881, at the 
 advanced age of eighty years, and his wife 
 passed away in 1878, when seventy years of 
 age. They were members of the Baptist church 
 and in that faith they reared their fan i i I \ of 
 eleven children, six sons and five daughters, of 
 whom eight are now living. The record of the 
 family is as follows: Jacob N. ; Isaac, who 
 is living at Bridgeton, New Jersey; Margaret, 
 the wife of David Brooks, a resideni of Mill- 
 ville, New Jersey; William, who is married 
 and makes his home in Bridgeton, that state; 
 George, who is married and is located in Pana. 
 Illinois; Catherine, the wife of Joseph Hil- 
 liard. also of Bridgeton, New Jersey; Sally, 
 who is living in Vincentown, New Jersey; 
 Samuel S., of Bridgeton; Annie, the deceased 
 wife of Frank DuBois, who has also passed 
 away, having been killed in a wreck; Ann 
 Maria, who died in infancy; and one that died 
 unnamed. 
 
 Jacob M. Elwell attended school in his na- 
 tive town and in early youth assisted in the 
 work of the home farm, continuing to give his 
 father the benefit of bis services until twenty- 
 one years of age, when he started out in life 
 on bis own account, working by the month 
 for ten dollars as a farm hand. He afterward 
 went to .Miami county, Ohio, and in the vicin- 
 ity of Covington was employed at farm labor 
 ami in a sawmill, lie afterward drove a team 
 from that place to Audubon, Illinois, in 1855, 
 and for four years he continued in the service 
 of others in tins state, when with the capital 
 he had acquired through his own persistent 
 labor lie purehased three hundred and twenty 
 acres of land, upon which he now resides in 
 Audubon township, the purchase price being 
 ten dollars per acre. In 1856 he was engaged 
 in farming near Pontiac, where he met the 
 lad\ who aft' rward became bis wife and who 
 bore the maiden name of Sarah Jane Cilery. 
 They were married in 1860 and Mr. Elwell 
 then turned bis attention to farming upon 
 bis home place, beginning its improvement and 
 continuing the further work of cultivation and 
 development until he has produced the pres- 
 ent high state of productiveness for which 
 his farm is now noted. He broke the prairia 
 with oxen and used various farm implements 
 which now seem crude in comparison to the 
 improved machinery seen upon his farm at the 
 present day. He has utilized every facility for 
 promoting bis work along practical lines and 
 has prospered in bis undertakings. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Elwell were born five 
 children, a son and four daughters, namely: 
 Mary C, the wife of Charles C. Brown, a resi- 
 dent of Audubon township, by whom she has 
 three children; Margaret, who was a teacher 
 and died in 1891 at the age of twenty-eighl 
 years: Lottie, who also followed teaching prior 
 to her marriage to Edward Howe, by whom 
 she had one child that died in infancy; Bertie, 
 who engaged in teaching in the public schools 
 and also teaching music and is now the wife 
 of Harry Cutler, who resides near Rosemond, 
 Christian county, by whom she has three chil- 
 dren; William J., who is employed as a line- 
 man by the telephone company and resides at 
 Pana. The mother passed away July 14, 1900,
 
 78 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 at the age of fifty-seven years and her re- 
 mains were inti rred in the Rosemond ceme- 
 tery. She was a member of the Methodist 
 church, was reared in the faith of the Chris- 
 tian church and her entire life was in har- 
 mony with her religious principles and cob- 
 mi linns. She was devoted to her family and 
 loyal (n her friends, her many good 1 raits of 
 heart and mind endearing her to those with 
 v, horn she was associati d. 
 
 Mr. Elwell has joined no church, but has 
 lived an honorable, straightforward life, at- 
 tempting to follow the golden rule in Ins treat- 
 ment of his fellow men. In politics he has 
 been a stalwart Republican since casting his 
 first presidential vote for .John ('. Fremont. 
 Few men have a more intimate or accurate 
 knowledge concerning the early history of his 
 section of the county. He -a\\ the first train 
 that passed through Nokomis, running over 
 the Torre Haute & Alton Railroad, now a part 
 of the Big Four system, the town at that time 
 being called Fillmore. lie also Temembers 
 when the first load of stock was shipped over 
 the road, although Nokomis was nut founded 
 at that time. Deer and other wild game were 
 seen in large numbers upon the prairie and 
 there were many wolves throughout this sec- 
 tion of the country. Other indications of pio- 
 neer conditions were also in evidence, but grad- 
 ually these have given way before the advanc- 
 ing civilization and the result has been the 
 upbuilding of a county that is a credit to 
 its citizens and to the commonwealth at large. 
 
 CHARLES ALEXANDER RAMSEY. 
 
 In the field of political life and commer- 
 cial activity Charles Alexander Ramsey has 
 won distinction and to-day is numbered among 
 the leading, influential and honored citizens 
 of Hillsboro, while as president of the Hills- 
 boro National Bank he is occupying a promi- 
 nent position in financial circles. For many 
 years he has been engaged in helpful manner 
 in I he development of the natural resources of 
 the stati . in the upbuilding of his adopted city 
 and in the promotion of the enterprises which 
 
 add not alone to his individual prosperity, hut 
 also advance the general welfare and prosperity 
 of this city. 
 
 Mr. Ramsey was horn in Mifflin county. 
 Pennsylvania, on the 8th of January, L845, 
 his parents being William II. and Mary ( Rar- 
 er) Ramsey. The father was of Irish descent, 
 Inn his parents were of the Presbyterian faith. 
 The mother was of German lineage and both 
 were natives of Pennsylvania, where the}' spent 
 their entire lives. Mr. Ramsey was a very 
 strong and energetic man and his death re- 
 sulted from accident in 1894, when he was 
 seventy-three years of age. He followed car- 
 pentering and building hut was living retired 
 at the time of his death. His wife had died 
 in 188G. at the age of sixty-two years. 
 
 Charles A. Ramsey was educated in the com- 
 mon schools and at the Pine Grove Academy 
 in Cent r county. Pennsylvania, the institu- 
 tion being located in the town of Pine Grove 
 Mills, lie left the Keystone state in 1865 
 when twenty years of age and located in Shel- 
 by county. Illinois, where he resided for a 
 brief period. He then removed to Irving in 
 Montgomery county, where he established a 
 drug store, conducting the same for eleven 
 years. In 1877 he removed to Hillsboro, 
 where he established a hardware and imple- 
 ment business, becoming a member of the firm 
 of Challacombe & Ramsey. This relation was 
 maintained lor about fifteen years or until 
 is!!-.'. uh< n Mr. Ramsey sold out to his part- 
 ner. The entire period had been one of pros- 
 perity in which well directed business interests 
 lad resulted in the acquirement of a hand- 
 som competence. In 1882 he assisted in the 
 organization of the Hillsboro National Bank. 
 was elected its president and has since remained 
 at the head of the institution, being annually 
 re-elected. His practical and progressive spir- 
 it has made this one of the sound financial 
 concerns of the county ami the business has 
 constantly grown in volume and importance. 
 
 On the -27th of October. 1870, Mr. Ramsey 
 was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Cor- 
 ley. a daughter of l>. \Y. F. Corley, a promi- 
 nent citizen of Shelby county. Illinois, and 
 an e\i nsive farmer. This union was blessed 
 with two children. The elder, a daughter,
 
 PAST AND l'RKSFAT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 79 
 
 Mae, born in Irving in 1872, died in Hillsboro 
 in 1895. The other, a son. died in infancy. 
 
 Mr. Ramsey is a standi Republican and has 
 long been a recognized leader in the ranks 
 of the party in this Locality. He was elected 
 mayor of Hillsboro in 1891 and as the chief 
 executive officer he gave to the city a public- 
 spirited, progressive administration that re- 
 sulted in substantial benefit. In 1892 he was 
 nominated and elected to the Legislature, and 
 as a member of tlie thirty-eighth general as- 
 sembly again did good service fur his constit- 
 uents. In 1904 he was chosen a delegate to 
 the state convention which will go down in 
 history memorable because of the great dead- 
 lock that occurred over the nomination for 
 governor, the leading contestants being 
 Richard Yates, then governor of the state, 
 Prank Lowden, and Charles Deneen, state's 
 attorney of Chicago, the contest at length re- 
 sulting in the selection of the last named. 
 Mr. Ramsey has also been township super- 
 visor and was president of the board for rva, 
 terms. lie is a trustee of the Soldiers & Sail- 
 ors Widows Home at Wilmington, Illinois, and 
 has always been deeply interested in military 
 affairs and kindred subjects since the time of 
 the Civil war, tor then he espoused the cause 
 of the Union, having enlisted in 1862, as a 
 member of Company D, One Hundred and 
 Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry. He was 
 mustered out at Harrisburg in 1865 after three 
 years of service. He had been promoted to 
 the rank of sergeant major in August, 1864, 
 and to adjutant in January, 1865. He served 
 in the Army of the Potomac and participated 
 in the battle of Gettysburg and others of the 
 most hotly contested engagements of that long 
 and sanguinary struggle. Honored and re- 
 spected in every class of society, he has for 
 some time been a leader in thought and action 
 in the public life of the stale. 
 
 WILLIAM GAMLIN. 
 
 For nearly forty years William Hamlin was 
 a representative of farming interests in Mont- 
 gomery county and during that period he 
 labored to such good purpose that be acquired 
 
 a handsome competence that now enables him 
 to live a retired life in Raymond. Ho dates 
 his residence in tin- slate from 1856 and in 
 Montgomery county from 1887. He was born 
 in Somersetshire, England, November 5. 1822, 
 and spent his boyhood and youth upon a farm, 
 i lure working in the fields at an early age 
 and thus becoming familial' with the prac- 
 tical methods of carrying on agricultural pur- 
 miiIs. lie was married in his native country 
 in 1852 to Miss Mary Ann Hart, also a na- 
 tive of Somersetshire. 
 
 The yeaT 1856 witnessed the emigration of 
 Mr. Gamlin to the new world. He took pas- 
 sage at Liverpool upon a sailing vessel and 
 after five weeks spent upon the broad Atlantic, 
 during which time they encountered some se- 
 vere storms, anchor was dropped in the har- 
 bor of New York. He arrived in New York 
 in the fall of that year, but did not tarry 
 long in the eastern metropolis, coming direct 
 to Illinois. He made his way to Alton and 
 previously he had made arrangements to ope- 
 rate a farm in Macoupin county. He resided 
 upon thai place for one year and then en- 
 gaged in cultivating a rented farm for eight 
 years. He afterward removed to another farm 
 property and continued to engage in agri- 
 cultural pursuits in that county for ten years, 
 or until 1887, when he came to Montgomery 
 county and purchased a farm of one hundred 
 aid nine acres near Raymond. There he car- 
 ried mi agricultural pursuits for seven years, 
 when be sold that property and bought his pres- 
 ciu home in Raymond, erecting a neat and 
 attractive residence, his lot covering sixty 
 acres. He also bought a farm near the village 
 which be cultivated for several years and then 
 sold. He bad little capital when he came to 
 America, but lie improved the opportunities 
 which are open to all ambitious young men, 
 and through bis persistency of purpose and 
 euergv la' accumulated a handsome competence. 
 
 In the fall of 1903 Mr. Gamlin was called 
 upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed 
 away on the 7th of September. Soon after- 
 ward be started for England, sailing on the 
 28th of that month. There he visited his old 
 home and spent three months in renewing the 
 acquaintances of Ins youth and early manhood.
 
 80 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 He had a very pleasant trip and it was a 
 happy period which lie passed amid the scenes 
 iif his early life, but when his visit was over 
 he willingly returned to his adopted land. 
 Since the death of his wife his nephew John 
 G-amlin and his family have lived with Mr. 
 'iaiiilin of this review. 
 
 Politically William Gamlin is an earnest 
 Democrat and cast his first ballot for Gkrover 
 Cleveland. He is a member of the Raymond 
 Presbyterian church, to which his wife also 
 belonged. He has now reached the advanced 
 age of eighty-two years, but is yet quite hale 
 and hearty and life holds for him many en- 
 joyable moments. He has not been disap- 
 pointed in the hopes that led him to America, 
 for here he realized a handsome competence 
 from his labors, gained a good home and won 
 the friendship of many with whom he has been 
 associated. 
 
 John Gamlin. now- living in Raymond with 
 his uncle William Gamlin, was born in Som- 
 ersetshire, England, February 17. 184G. and 
 there spent the first twenty-two years of his 
 life, living upon a farm. Crossing the Atlan- 
 tic in 1868 he made his way westward to Ma- 
 coupin county, Illinois, where he joined bis 
 uncle and in that locality he was employed 
 at farm labor. He was married in Novem- 
 ber, 1868. to Miss Elizabeth Baker, who was 
 also horn in Somersetshire, England, a daugh- 
 ter of Benjamin Baker, who died in that coun- 
 try. Mrs. Gamlin came to the new world with 
 her brother's wife in 1868 and lived in Ma- 
 coupin county, Illinois, where she gave her 
 hand in marriage to Mr. Gamlin. They re- 
 mained in Macoupin county for eight years 
 ami then removed to Missouri, settling in Pet- 
 tis county near Sedalia. where Mr. Gamlin 
 owned and operated a farm, having one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land. In 1801 he sold 
 that property and took up his abode in Henry 
 county near Blairstown. hut in the fall of 1893 
 he returned to Illinois and took charge of his 
 uncle's place in Raymond, Montgomery county. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. John Gamlin have been 
 born eight children: Catherine M.. the wife 
 of William Rector, of Henry county, Mis- 
 souri ; John B., who is married and is an agri- 
 culturist of Henry county, Missouri; William 
 
 H.. of Johnson county. Missouri; Nathan A., 
 of Henry county, Missouri ; Mary Ann, the 
 wife of Gust Burke, of Henry county, Mis- 
 souri : Joseph E., a farmer of this county; 
 Virginia M. ; and Naomi E. The parents hold 
 membership in the Presbyterian church and 
 Mr. Gamlin is a man of strong temperance 
 principles who gives his political support to 
 the Prohibition party. 
 
 L. THOMAS DOYLE. 
 
 A valuable farm of five hundred and twenty 
 acres is the property of L. Thomas Doyle, who, 
 living on section 29. Raymond township, is 
 devoting his time and energies to the cultiva- 
 tion of his fields and to the raising and feeding 
 of stock. He has a wide acquaintance and his 
 popularity among his friends is indicated by 
 the fact that he is usually called Tom by thost 
 who know him. His manner is genial, his dis- 
 position kindly and cordial, and he has the 
 warm regard and genuine friendship of many 
 with whom he has been associated. 
 
 A native son of Montgomery county, Mr. 
 Doyle was horn in Raymond township. March 
 8, 1868. His father. James Doyle, was born 
 in Greene county, Illinois, in 1835. was reared 
 there in the usual manner of farm lads of the 
 period, and when he started out in life for him- 
 self he wedded Miss Julia Overby, a native of 
 Greene county, thus securing a companion and 
 helpmate for life's journey. Removing to 
 Montgomery county, he became one of the early 
 settlers of Butler township and transformed a 
 tract of raw, wild land into a good farm, the 
 richly tilled fields yielding him fine harvests. 
 There he carried on general agricultural pur- 
 suits until his death, which occurred July 5, 
 1903. His wife had died several years before. 
 They are survived by four of their seven chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Thomas Doyle spent his youth upon the home 
 farm, attending the common schools, where 
 he mastered the branches of English learning 
 usually taught in such institutions and thus 
 became well prepared for the discharge of his 
 business duties and obligations. He has always 
 followed farming as a life work. He was mar- 
 ried in Raymond township on the 14th of Feb-
 
 JAMES DOYLE 
 
 L. T. DOYLE AND FAMILY
 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 83 
 
 ruary, 1891, to Miss Fanny Seward, who spent 
 her girlhood days in this locality and attended 
 the school in which her husband was pursuing 
 his education. Eer ratlin-. Oscar Seward, was 
 one of the early settlers of Montgomery county. 
 Mrs. Doyle inherited some of her father's farm 
 and Mr. Doyle extended the boundaries of this 
 place by making extensive additional purchases 
 until he now 1ms five hundred and fifty-five 
 acres of land. He has continued the work of 
 cultivation and improvement, lias repaired and 
 remodeled the house, has built two barns, has 
 planted a young orchard and now has n very 
 valuable property, situated within two miles 
 of Raymond, so that the advantages and oppor- 
 tunities of the town are easily accessible. In 
 addition to general farming he was one of the 
 organizers of the Raymond National Bank, 
 took stock therein and is still interested in the 
 institution. He is progressive in both business 
 life and citizenship, is regarded as one of the 
 most industrious agriculturists of his locality 
 and is continually putting forth effort to im- 
 prove his farm and add to its convenience and 
 to supplement its fertility and value. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Doyle has been 
 blessed with two children: Oscar J. and Lemar 
 S. Mr. Doyle votes with the Democratic party 
 and served for one term as supervisor and also 
 as a member of the honorable county hoard. 
 He has been a delegate to the county and state 
 conventions of his party and is deeply inter- 
 ested in its succes>. doing all in hi- power to 
 promote its growth and to secure its victory. 
 He is a man of integrity and honor and his 
 character development has been along lines that 
 ever command respeel and good will. The fact 
 that his stanchest friends are among those who 
 have known him longest is an indication that 
 his career has been worthy of respect and as one 
 of the valued native son> id' Montgomery 
 county we present hi- record to our readers. 
 
 JAMES 11. ATTERBURY. 
 
 James Hardin Atterbury, of Litchfield, Illi- 
 nois, was born two miles northwest of that city, 
 March 7, 1858. The Atterbury family is of 
 English descent. The first of the name in this 
 
 country is believed to have been James Atter- 
 hurv, who lived before the Revolution at Cam- 
 den, South Carolina. lie was the lather of 
 Charles Atterbury, and the latter was the father 
 of Michael Aiterbury, the father of Ahram D. 
 Atterbury, the father of .1. 11. Atterbury, of 
 this sketch. Michael Atterbury was married 
 to Elizabeth Kissinger, a daughter of Joseph 
 Eessinger, a son of Solomon Kessinger. The 
 latter was horn near Wittenburg, Germany, 
 and died near Millerstown, Hart county, Ken- 
 tucky, in is:::, at the age of one hundred 
 years. 
 
 Ahram D. Atterbury was born in Grayson 
 county. Kentucky. February 26, 1827; came to 
 rilinois in 1850, and on October 19, 1853, at 
 Eardinsburg, in Montgomery county, was mar- 
 ried to Mrs. Julia A. Ogle, mv McEarland, the 
 widow of Joseph T. Ogle and the mother of 
 Joseph T. Ogle, now a retired farmer living 
 in the suburbs of Litchfield. Mrs. Ahram D. 
 Atterbury was the daughter of David McFar- 
 land. of near O'Fallon, in St. Clair county, 
 Illinois. The latter was the son of Donald Mc- 
 Farland, the -on of Malcomb McFarland, the 
 son of Duncan McFarland. Mrs. Ahram D. 
 Atterbury's mother was Ruth Sparks, daughter 
 if David Sparks, the son of Joseph Sparks. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Atterbury had three sons: George 
 W., of Buffalo, New York; James IT., the sub- 
 ject of this review; and Charles M., of Chicago. 
 Ahram D. Atterbury died at Litchfield, April 
 ■!', . 1898. His widow still lives in this city. 
 
 .Tame- 11. Atterbury acquired his early edu- 
 cation in the country school, and then went to 
 the high school of this city, where he lacked 
 three months of graduating. He attended Mc- 
 Kendroe College at Lebanon. Illinois, from 
 is; I to 1879, graduating in the classical course 
 in June of the latter year. He then went to 
 the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, 
 where he completed the law course in 1881. 
 He was admitted to the Michigan bar at De- 
 troit, hut returned to Litchfield and was ad- 
 mitted to the bar of Illinois in May. 1881, 
 after which for several years lie was a member 
 of the firm of Southworth X Atterbury. He 
 was afterward admitted to the liar of the su- 
 preme court of the United States at Washing- 
 ton.
 
 SI 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF UOXTGOMERY COI'XTY 
 
 As a lawyer he has been connected with some 
 important litigation, and lias represented some 
 large financial interests. In 1883 he was 
 elected secretary of the Chicago, Springfield & 
 St. Louis Railway Company, which began the 
 construction of the line now the Illinois Cen- 
 tral Railroad Company between Springfield and 
 St. Louis. In 1890 he instituted a suit result- 
 ing in the appointment of a receiver of the St. 
 Louis. Alton & Springfield Railroad Company. 
 In 1894 he organized and was elected president 
 of the Belleville Electric Railway Company, 
 which converted the horse railway to an elec- 
 tric one. In 1895 lie organized and was made 
 a director and secretary of the Williamson 
 County Coal Company. In the same year he 
 was a director ami secretary of the Chicago, 
 Paducah & Memphis Railway Company (now 
 a part of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Rail- 
 road), ami was its general solicitor, having 
 charge of its legal department, and moved his 
 family to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, where he lived 
 for three years. In 1899 he was elected a direc- 
 tor and secretary of the St. Louis, Oklahoma 
 & Southern Railway Company (now a part of 
 the Frisco system), and had charge of its legal 
 department while it constructed its line from 
 Sapulpa, Indian Territory, to Denison, Texas. 
 a distance of two hundred miles. He has since 
 practiced his profession at Litchfield, where he 
 is also active in the promotion of anything 
 which promises to lie of public good to the city. 
 
 On January 31. 1894, he was married to Miss 
 Fannie Kathan, a daughter of A. J. and Eliza 
 (Perry) Kathan. His wife was horn in St. 
 Louis, August 24, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. James 
 PL Atterbury have one son. James Hardin At- 
 terbnry, Jr.. horn December 23, L895. Mr. 
 Atterbury in politics has always been an active 
 Republican, but has never held nor sought pub- 
 lic office. 
 
 S. W. ELDRED. 
 
 S. W. Eldred, a substantial farmer and 
 stock-raiser living on section 9, Bois Dare 
 township, is the owner of extensive landed 
 possessions, his farm comprising seven hun- 
 dred acres. He is a native -on of Illinois ami 
 
 his life history is such of which the state can 
 well be proud, for in his career he has dis- 
 played the enterprising spirit which has led 
 to tin' substantial and rapid development of the 
 great west. 
 
 He was born in Greene county, Illinois, No- 
 vember 12, 1848, and is a son of Jeduthan B. 
 Eldred, whose birth occurred in Herkimer 
 county, New York. July 23, 1S20. The grand- 
 father, William Eldred, was a native of Con- 
 necticut and in 1820 he removed westward with 
 his family to Illinois, settling in Greene 
 county in 1821. He was one of the pioneer 
 residents of that part of the state, taking up 
 his abode in a locality where there were few 
 settlements, when the greater part of the land 
 was unimproved and when the now thriving 
 cities were small villages, or had not yet been 
 founded. There amid the wild scenes of fron- 
 tier life J. B. Eldred was reared and. seeking 
 a companion and helpmate for life's journey, 
 he was married in Greene county to Miss Jane 
 E. Thomas, whose birth occurred in that 
 county. June 6. 1823, and who was a daughter 
 of Samuel Thomas, said to be the first white 
 settler of that county. Mr. Eldred became an 
 active farmer of Greene county and, making 
 judicious investments in land, became the 
 owner of nearly five hundred acres. The life 
 of the farmer, especially at that day when there 
 was little improved machinery, was particularly 
 arduous, but he worked on year after war and 
 in due course of time accumulated a handsome 
 competence. He reared his family upon the 
 old homestead there and made it his place of 
 residence up to the time of his death, which 
 occurred April 13. 1887. His wife still sur- 
 vives him and now makes her home with her 
 children. 
 
 S. W. Eldred was reared under the parental 
 roof in Greene county and at the usual age he 
 entered the public schools, therein acquiring a 
 good practical education. He received man- 
 ual training at farm labor under the direction 
 of his father, whom he continued to assist upon 
 the old homestead up to the time of his mar- 
 riage. In Jacksonville. Illinois, on the 21st 
 of December, 1876, he was joined in wedlock 
 to Miss Mary .1. Robertson, a native of Mor- 
 s in eountv, Illinois, ami a daughter of John
 
 ME. AND MRS. S. W. ELDHED
 
 UBRAIW 
 
 OF ^l 
 
 m , VBS w of u*» 
 
 ;
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 87 
 
 and Mary Robertson, also natives of that 
 county. She was reared in the county of her 
 nativity, pursuing her education in the schools 
 of Jacksonville. 
 
 Mr. Eldred came to his present home in 
 1874 and began the development of his farm, 
 which at that time had few improvements 
 The place, however, was three hundred and 
 twenty acres in extent and with characteristic 
 energy he began to till the fields, construct 
 buildings and continued the farm work along 
 progressive lines that have led to substantial 
 and gratifying results. As his financial re- 
 sources increased he has bought more land from 
 time to time and he now has seven hundred 
 and fourteen aires. He has erected a large 
 two-storv residence, also three barns, corn 
 cribs, sheds and other outbuildings, has planted 
 fruit and shade trees and now has an excellent 
 property equipped with all modern conven- 
 iences and accessories and displaying in its 
 excellent appearance the careful supervision of 
 the owner. The farm is enclosed with a hedge 
 and wire fence, which also divide the place into 
 fields of convenient size. In the pastures are 
 found good grades of stock and annually he 
 ships about four carloads of fat hogs, from four 
 to six carloads of steers and two carloads of 
 sheep. He is very successful as a stock- 
 raiser and dealer and is accounted one of 
 the leading agriculturists of this part of the 
 county. He is also a stockholder and director 
 in the Carrollton Bank. His father was one 
 of the organizers of this institution and his 
 brother has been in this hank for twenty-seven 
 years as cashier. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eldred have been born 
 two sons anil a daughter: John J., who is 
 now occupying a position in the Carrollton 
 Bank; William S., who assists in the operation 
 of the home farm; and Jennie, also under the 
 parental roof. The parents hold membership 
 in the Baptist church of Bois Dare, to which 
 their children also belong and they are deeply 
 interested in the various church activities and 
 contribute generously to the support of the 
 church. Mr. Eldred cast his first presidential 
 vote in 1S72 for General Grant and has sup- 
 ported each presidential nominee of the Re- 
 publican party since that time, having firm 
 
 faith in the Republican principles and ear- 
 ne-ih desiring their adoption. He served as 
 commissioner of highways, but otherwise has 
 held no office, preferring to give his undivided 
 attention to his business affairs. He has been 
 blessed with remarkably good health, having 
 never hail to employ the services of a physician 
 for over thirty years. His entire life has been 
 passed in Illinois and he has assisted materially 
 in making Montgomery county what it is to- 
 day, never neglecting any duty of citizenship, 
 while at the same time promoting his indi- 
 vidual business interests with success. He is 
 one of the honored residents of his community, 
 having the good will and confidence of those 
 with whom he has been associated for in all his 
 trade transactions he has been strictly reliable. 
 making the most of his opportunities, yet never 
 taking advantage of the necessities of his fid- 
 low men in any business transaction. 
 
 JAMES VERRICKER. 
 
 James Yerricker. interested in fanning as 
 the owner of a rich ami arable tract of land 
 well improved with modern equipments -and 
 located on section 22, Witt township, was born 
 in County Kilkenny. Ireland, on the 15th of 
 September, 1846. His parents were Edward 
 and Margaret (Powers) Yerricker, also natives 
 of Ireland, whence they came to the United 
 States in 1850, settling in Ohio. The fathei 
 there engaged in farming for some time and 
 afterward removed to Jersey county, Illinois, 
 arriving in this state in 1855. He died in I860 
 at the age of sixty-live years, and his wife 
 passed away in Montgomery county in March, 
 1892, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. 
 
 James Yerricker is indebted to the public 
 schools of Jersey county for the educational 
 privileges which he enjoyed in his youth. He 
 was but four years of age at the time of the 
 emigration to America ami was a lad of nine 
 summers when he arrived in this state. On the 
 11th of April. 1864, when but seventeen years 
 of age, he offered his services to the country 
 in defense of the Union, enlisting in Company 
 0. One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois 
 Infantry. He participated in the battles of
 
 88 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Jackson, Mississippi, and Mobile, together with 
 several other engagements, and was honorably 
 discharged on the 7th of August, 1865, at 
 Vicksburg, Mississippi. He then returned to 
 Jersey county, but the hardships and rigors 
 of war had so undermined his health that he 
 was ill for two years and unable to do any- 
 thing. He afterward conducted a saloon at 
 Fidelia, Jersey county, but when six months 
 had passed he engaged in teaming in Macoupin 
 county, following that pursuit for a year and 
 a half. He afterward worked by the month for 
 two years and in 1871 he came to Montgomery 
 count v. where he purchased forty acres of land, 
 winch became the nucleus of his present farm. 
 He has since added to the place at different 
 times as his financial resources have permitted 
 until he now owns two hundred acres of val- 
 uable land, constituting a productive farm, 
 lie put all of the improvements on the place 
 and transformed the tract, which was at first 
 swamp land, into very arable fields, annually 
 returning to him good crops. 
 
 On the 27th of July, 1874, Mr. Verrieker 
 was married to Miss Mary Ann Gaughen, a 
 daughter of Austin and Julia (Fleming) Gau- 
 ghen, the former horn in County Mayo and the 
 latter in County Carlow, Ireland. They came 
 to the United States in 1841, settling in Will 
 county. Illinois, whence they removed to Jer- 
 sey county in 1857. There Mrs. Verrieker 
 was born on the 25th of December, of that 
 year. After three years the parents removed 
 to Montgomery county, where the father en- 
 gaged in farming for six years. He afterward 
 lived in Fayette, Illinois, and in 1875 returned 
 to Montgomery county, locating near Nokomis. 
 His wife died July lit. 1893, at the age of 
 sixty-live years, but Mr. Gaughen is still liv- 
 ing al the age of seventy-eight years and makes 
 his home with Mr. and Mrs. Verrieker. 
 
 Unto our subject and his wife have been 
 horn thirteen children: Julia, who was horn 
 December 7. 1873. and died when nine months 
 old; Margaret Mary, who was born August 11, 
 1876, and is the wife of John Lanahan, a far- 
 mer of this county: Edward James, born No- 
 vember 17, 1878, who is at home: Augustine 
 Leo, who was born April 1. 1881, and is mar- 
 ried and lives in Nokomis township; Thomas 
 
 Henry, who was born March 13. ISM: Brid- 
 get Catherine, who was horn May 1, 1887, and 
 is at home; Mary ami Alice, twins, horn Jan- 
 uary 10, 1886, who died in infancy; John Cle- 
 mont, who was horn October 1, 1889, and is 
 also at. home; William, born February 5, 1892, 
 Michael, horn March 20, 1894, Elizabeth Ellen, 
 born in July, 1896, and James, born May 15, 
 1900, are all at home. The parents are mem- 
 bers of the Catholic church of Nokomis and in 
 bis political views Mr. Verrieker is independ- 
 i nt, supporting the men whom he thinks best 
 qualified for office. 
 
 MICHAEL J. McMUERAY. 
 
 Michael J. McMurray, who for six years has 
 been a member of the bar of Montgomery 
 county, is now known as one of the strong 
 representatives of this calling in his adopted 
 county and is serving as county judge. He 
 was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 
 8th of March, 186-1. a son of Michael and 
 Mary F. (Dugan) McMurray. His father, a 
 native of Ireland, came to the United States 
 in 1848 and located in Morgan county. Illi- 
 nois, where he engaged in general farming and 
 stock-raising. In 1861 he removed to Sanga- 
 mon county, hut his last days were spent at 
 Farmersville. this county. In his political faith 
 he was a Democrat and in religious belief was 
 a Catholic. He wedded Mary E. Dugan, also 
 a native of Ireland, ami in 1850 came to the 
 United States with her parents, the family 
 home being established in Jersey county, Illi- 
 nois. Her father. Michael Dugan. was a 
 farmer by occupation and became a very ex- 
 tensive landowner. He, too, was identified 
 with the Catholic church and in that faith 
 Mrs. McMurray was reared. By her marriage 
 she became the mother of fourteen children, 
 eleven of whom are now living, seven sons and 
 four daughters. 
 
 Michael J. McMurray acquired his early edu- 
 cation in the public schools and afterward at- 
 tended Illinois College at Jacksonville, sub- 
 sequent, to which time he engaged in teaching 
 school for six years. He read law in the office of 
 Conklinp & Grout, of Springfield, and in 1892 
 was admitted to the bar after careful and
 
 JUDGE M. J. McMURBAY
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF \LLm06S
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 91 
 
 thorough preparation. Ee entered upon the 
 practice of his chosen profession at Litchfield, 
 Illinois, where he remained for six years, and 
 then removed to Hillsboro in 1898. He is a 
 Democrat in his political allegiance and in 
 1896 upon that ticket lie was chosen by popu- 
 lar liallut the first city attorney of Litchfield, 
 Ins predecessors having been appointed by the 
 council. In 1898 he was elected to the office 
 of county judge and was re-elected in 1902 by 
 an increase, 1 majority, so that he is new seining 
 upon the bench. In the practice of his pro- 
 fession he has been very successful and his 
 is one of the fine legal minds of this part of 
 i he state, lie is a safe e( hi nsel< >r. well versed 
 in law. ami during his two terms en tin' bench 
 has been distinguished For high Legal ability. 
 To wear the ermine worthily it is not enough 
 that one possess legal acumen, is learned in the 
 principles of jurisprudenc , familiar with 
 precedents and thoroughly honest. Many men. 
 even when actin_i uprightly, are wholly un- 
 able to divest themselves of prejudice ami are 
 unconsciously warped in tie ir judgments by 
 their own mental characteristics or educa- 
 tional peculiarities. This unconscious and 
 variable disturbing force enters more or less 
 into the judgments of all men. but in the ideal 
 jurist this factor becomes so small as not to 
 be discernible in results and loses its potency 
 as a disturbing force. Judge McMurray is 
 exceptionally free from all judicial bias. Iiis 
 varied legal learning and wide experience in 
 the courts, the patient care with which he 
 ascertains all the facts bearing upon every case 
 wdiieh comes before him, give his decisions a 
 solidity and an exhaustiveness from which no 
 member of the liar can take exception. 
 
 Judge McMurray was married in 1903 to 
 Miss .Juliet K. Fink, a daughter of Dr. Isaac 
 W. and Sarah ('. (Sawyer) Fink. She was 
 horn in Hillsboro and is a lady of superior 
 education and ability. She attended Monti- 
 cello Seminary and afterward went abroad to 
 finish her education, taking up painting and 
 other art- under some of the best instructors of 
 Europe. She has displayed much more than 
 ordinary ability as an artist. 
 
 Judge McMurray is a man of high character, 
 displaying public spirit and unfaltering loy- 
 
 alty to the obligations ami duties imposed upon 
 him by his professional ami official career. 
 His acquaintances ami friends — and they are 
 main -entertain for him that warm personal 
 regard which arises from trui aobility of char- 
 acter, kindness, genialty ami deference for the 
 opinion of others. 
 
 HENRY W. BARTLING. 
 
 Henry \V. Bartling, who was a member of 
 the firm of Bartling Brothers, is doing a whole- 
 sale business as a shipper of poultry ami pro- 
 duce at Litchfield, was born in Alton. Illi- 
 nois, in lsii'.'. ami is a son of Henry \V. Hart- 
 ling. Coming to this city in early boyhood he 
 attended its public schools and afterward 
 worked upon a f; until 1881, when he se- 
 cured a situation in the hardware store of 
 Caudry & Rhoades, of Litchfield, and here he 
 remained 'for four years, lie then went west, 
 spending two years in thai section of the 
 country, after which he returned and entered 
 the hardware store of Qpdike & ('ratty, being 
 employed therein from 1886 until 1891. In 
 1891 he formed a stock company with the 
 members of that firm and the name was 
 changed to the Updike, Cratty Hardware Com- 
 pany, with the following officers: Samuel 
 ('ratty, president; llenn W. Bartling, vice 
 president; P. F. Updike, secretary ami treas- 
 urer: and the business was capitalized for t < n 
 thousand dollars. In duly, 1894, however, 
 Mr. Bartling sold his interesi ami entered the 
 employ of II. II. Henson, a dealer in proluce 
 and poultry, with whom he remained until 
 January, 1897, when he and his brother Carl 
 purchased their employer's business, forming 
 the present well-known firm of Bartling Panth- 
 ers, wholesale shippers of poultry and produce. 
 They do a business amounting to sixty thou- 
 sand dollars a year and their business is not 
 only proving profitable to themselves but also 
 furnishes an excellent market for the surround- 
 ing districl as they make large purchases from 
 the farmers and poultry raisers. Henry W. 
 Bartling is also identified with other business 
 interests of this city, being a member of the 
 firm of II. W. Bartling & Company, dealers
 
 92 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 in ice and coal and a director in the Oil City 
 Building & Loan Association. 
 
 In 1892 occurred the marriage of Henry 
 \Y. Bartling and Miss Lena Craft, who was 
 born in Mount Olive, Illinois, in 1868. They 
 have four children: Wilmont, Arthur, Paid 
 and Henry. They also lost a daughter, Eliza- 
 beth. 
 
 Mr. Bartling gives his political support to 
 the Democracy and keeps well informed on the 
 questions and issues of the day so that by in- 
 telligent argument he can uphold his political 
 positon. He is a member of the Knights of 
 Pythias fraternity and of the Odd Fellows 
 lodge of Litchfield and Ids wife is a member 
 of the Lutheran church. His progress and ad- 
 vancement in the business world are due not 
 to any fortunate combination of circumstances, 
 but result from persistent, earnest labor, the 
 utilization of opportunity and unfaltering de- 
 termination combined with creditable ambi- 
 tion. 
 
 T. L LANE. 
 
 T. L. Lane, possessing the business enter- 
 prise which is characteristic of the middle west 
 and has been the strong element in the rapid 
 growth and development of this portion of the 
 county, is now successfully engaged in mer- 
 chandising in Fillmore. He was born in Fill- 
 more township, Montgomery county, March 2 1. 
 1850, and has passed his entire life here. His 
 parents were Jonathan B. and Sarah (Ha ins) 
 Lane, but the latter died at the birth of our 
 subject. About one years later the father mar- 
 ried Rachel Bost, a daughter of Jacob Bost, 
 one of the pioneer settlers of Montgomery 
 county. She is now living at the old home 
 place. The father was born in New Hamp- 
 shire, September 10, 1826, was reared in the 
 old Granite st'ate to the age of twelve years and 
 in 1838 came to Illinois, the family home being 
 established near Galesburg. He entered upon 
 his business career as a farmer and followed 
 that pursuit continuously until 1860, when he 
 turned his attention to merchandising, conduct- 
 ing a business upon his farm west of Fillmore. 
 He was also a very extensive farmer and at the 
 
 time of his death was the owner of five hun- 
 dred and seventy-four acres of valuable land. 
 His son, T. L. Lane, was made executor of his 
 estate. His residence in Montgomery county 
 dated from 1840, and thus he was one of its 
 earliest settlers. He took an active and helpful 
 part in community affairs, never withheld his 
 co-operation from any enterprise which tended 
 to prove of public benefit. In the month of 
 April following the twenty-first anniversary of 
 his birth he was elected justice of the peace and 
 held that office continuously for about twenty 
 years, his decisions being characterized by the 
 utmost fairness and impartiality, a fact which 
 is plainly indicated by his long continuance in 
 office. He was postmaster at Fillmore for 
 more than forty years, or until President Cleve- 
 land's administration. He died March 16, 1902, 
 and the county thus lost one of its most hon- 
 ored and valued pioneer settlers. In the family 
 were eight children, and with one exception all 
 are yet living. 
 
 T. L. Lane, whose name introduces this rec- 
 ord, was reared under the parental roof and 
 was educated in the district schools of this 
 county. He started upon his business career 
 in 1872. settling upon a farm, and there re- 
 sided until thirteen years ago, when he removed 
 to Fillmore and began clerking for the old firm 
 of J. B. Lane & Son, remaining in that employ 
 for twelve years. After his father's death he 
 purchased the store, which he is now conduct- 
 ing, it becoming his property on the 7th of 
 June, 1902. He is the sole proprietor, and 
 handles a good and well selected line of gro- 
 ceries, dry goods, notions, clothing, hats and 
 caps, boots and shoes, glassware and tinware, in 
 fact, his stock is such as is the demand of the 
 village and country trade, and his honorable 
 dealing and earnest desire to please his patrons 
 has secured to him a large and growing busi- 
 ness, which brings to him a good profit. 
 
 In October, 1872. Mr. Pane was united in 
 marriage to Miss Minerva Barringer. a daugh- 
 ter of Alfred Barringer, of East Fork township, 
 and unto them have been horn four children, 
 of whom three are living: Estella C. Lottie 
 M. and Orville B. The family are all member* 
 of the Evangelical church and Mr. Lane is 
 identified with the Knights of Pythias frater-
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF TH£ 
 '" TY OF ILLINOIS
 
 MR. AND MRS. T. L. LANK
 
 MR. AND MRS. JONATHAN B. LANE
 
 LIBRAE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 n^yppglTY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OP MONTGOMERY COI'XTY 
 
 97 
 
 nity of Fillmore. In politics he is a Republi- 
 can, and the father was one of the first to vote 
 that ticket in this district. Mr. Lane belongs 
 to that class of representative American men 
 who, while devoted to individual interests, also 
 advance the general welfare, and in Fillmore 
 and throughout the surrounding district he is 
 known as one who is thoroughly reliable, pro- 
 gressive and public-spirited. 
 
 JAMES D. KENDALL. 
 
 James 1>. Kendall, who is usually known as 
 Judge Kendall, is activelj engaged in farm- 
 ing in Zanesville township on section 11, and 
 is a recognized leader in Democratic circles 
 in Montgomery county. He was born in Jer- 
 sey county. Illinois, December 30, 1839. His 
 father. Samuel T. Kendall, was a native of the 
 adjoining state of Indiana, born in 1808, and 
 came to Illinois with bis mother in 1821, the 
 family home being established in Macoupin 
 county, where the present town of Carlim Hie 
 now stands. Mrs. Kendall and her sons. Thom- 
 as, Samuel S. and John H.. built the first 
 house in that locality. It was a rude pioneer 
 cabin, but it served to shelter the family until 
 a belter home could be erected. Samuel Ken- 
 dall was twice married, but his first wife died 
 soon after the wedding and later he was mar- 
 ried in St. Charles, Missouri, to Catherine J. 
 Sumner, a native of Tennessee. Locating in 
 Jersey county, Illinois, he there engaged in 
 farming until his death, which occurred in 
 1849. Hi- served as adjutant of an Illinois 
 regiment during the Black Hawk war and was 
 a member of the state legislature for two terms 
 when the capital was at Vandalia. In his 
 family were five sons and two daughters and 
 four of the sons and the daughters reached ma- 
 ture years, while three sons and the daughb rs 
 are yet living. 
 
 Judge Kendall spent his early youth in Jer- 
 sey county, Illinois, upon the home farm, where 
 he lived with an aunt until nineteen years of 
 age. He then began working as a farm hand 
 by the month and was employed in that way 
 for several years. When the country needed 
 the aid of its loyal sons he enlisted in Jersey 
 
 county in March, L862, joining the boys in 
 blue of the Second Illinois Cavalry. When 
 the regiment arrived at Cairo he was detailed 
 for service in the quartermaster's department 
 and acted as wagonmaster under General John 
 M. Palmer, tilling that position continuously 
 until discharged for physical disability, by or- 
 der of the secretary of war late in 18(1:!. He 
 was home on a furlough ill with typhoid fever 
 when discharged. 
 
 On recovering his health Mr. Kendall en- 
 gaged in farming in Jersey county until 1866 
 and then came to Montgomery county, where 
 he rented a tract of land which he cultivated 
 for a number of years. The capital he acquired 
 through his earnings and which he saved by 
 his commendable economy was then invested 
 in land and he began the improvement of his 
 own farm, which he has transformed into a 
 line property. It is a good place of seventy 
 acres, on which he has planted an excellent 
 orchard. He has also fenced the place and 
 made other substantial improvements and in 
 connection with general farming he has en- 
 gaged in the breeding of horses, keeping a good 
 stallion and also a jack for breeding purposes. 
 Upon his place is found only high grade stock. 
 
 On Christmas day of 1864, Judge Kendall 
 was married to Miss Elizabeth Margaret Hack- 
 ney, who was born and reared in Jersey coun- 
 ty and is a daughter of William Hackney, for- 
 merly of New York. Four sons and two 
 daughters have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Kendall: Albert A., a farmer of Montgom- 
 ery county; Harry S., of Springfield, Illinois; 
 John E., of East St. Louis; Carrie J., the 
 wife of Harry H. Birch, of Waggoner, Illi- 
 nois; George M., of East St. Louis; and Laura 
 II. White, at home. 
 
 Politically Judge Kendall is a stalwart Dem- 
 ocrat and is recognized as one of the foremost 
 representatives of his party in this portion of 
 the county. He cast his first presidential bal- 
 lot for the Little Giant of Illinois — Stephen 
 A. Douglas — in 1860, and has \oted for each 
 presidential nominee since that time and also 
 the Democratic nominees for governor and for 
 congress. lie has served as justice of the 
 peace, was deputy sheriff of the county for 
 six years and has assessed his township five
 
 98 
 
 PAST AMi PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 times. He is now serving for the eighth year 
 as a member of the honorable county board of 
 supervisors and was at one time chosen presi- 
 ded of the board. He is now serving on the 
 committees on fees and salaries and roads and 
 bridges. He was appointed postmaster of 
 Waggoner under President Cleveland's admin- 
 istration and occupied that position for three 
 years. Judge Kendall has frequently been a 
 delegate to the county and state conventions 
 of his party and has served on the Democratic 
 centra] committee of Montgomery enmity for 
 twenty-six years. He and his wife arc mem- 
 bers id' the Baptisl church, in which he i» 
 serving as a deacon, and he belongs to the 
 Masonic fraternity and the Modem Woodmen 
 camp. He is well known in Hillsboro and 
 throughout the county where he has so long 
 resided, and is justly accounted one of its pro- 
 gressive, prominent and influential residents of 
 Zanesville township, lie is proud of his rec- 
 ord a- a stanch life-long Democrat and one 
 of hi,- sterling characteristics is his unbending 
 fidelity to whatever lie believes to he right. 
 
 JOHN ROBERT CHALLACOMBE. 
 
 John Robert Challacombe, well known m 
 Montgomery county, is one whose extensive and 
 varied business interests have resulted in the 
 acquirement of a comfortable competence. To- 
 day he is engaged in contracting for the con- 
 struction of steel bridges and water towers at 
 Hillsboro, is also a director and stockholder iu 
 the Decatur Bridge Company of Decatur, Illi- 
 nois, and a partner in the firm of Challacombe 
 Brothers, dealers in farm implements at No- 
 komis. 
 
 A native son of Illinois, he was born in Ma- 
 coupin county in 1845. His father. John 
 Challacombe, was born in Devonshire, 
 England, near Ifracombe. The grandfather, 
 John Challacombe, Sr., was likewise a native 
 of the county of Devonshire, born in 1785. He 
 married Elizabeth Parminter in 1814. Her 
 father, James Parminter, was appointed super- 
 intendent to oversee the removal of the sick 
 and infirm women and children at the time 
 of the threatened invasion of England hv Na- 
 
 poleon. John Challacombe, Sr.. died at the 
 age of sixty years and was buried at Carlin- 
 ville, Illinois. Hi:- wife had departed this life 
 three years before. In their family were eight 
 children, of whom John Challacombe, Jr., \\;i- 
 the third in order of birth. He came to the 
 United State- in is:;.",, the voyage being suc- 
 eessfully accomplished, although while iu mid- 
 sea a severe storm was encountered. It was 
 the intention id' the family to locate in Illinois, 
 but they stopped first at Brockport, m western 
 New York, on the Erie canal. Not long after- 
 ward Mr. Challacombe purchased a farm iu 
 Genesee county, New York, forty miles east 
 of Buffalo. In 1840 he sold that property and 
 removed to Macoupin county, Illinois, settling 
 on the farm now known as the John M. Palmer 
 place, three miles southwest id' Carlinville. On 
 the removal westward the trip was made from 
 Buffalo to Cleveland by water, thence by way 
 of the Ohio canal to Portsmouth, thence down 
 the Ohio river and up the Mississippi and Illi- 
 nois rivers to Columbiana. Illinois, and on to 
 Carrollton. 
 
 John Challacombe, father of our subject, 
 spent the early part of his life a- a farmer and 
 was engaged in the raising of stock for a num- 
 ber of years at Alton. Finally he turned his 
 attention to the grain trade and to contracting, 
 doing paving and building. Through his well 
 directed efforts he won prosperity and at one 
 time had a large property in Alton. He died 
 in Litchfield. May '29, 1904, at the age of 
 eighty-six years. His political allegiance was 
 given to the Republican party and his re- 
 ligious belief was indicated by his member- 
 ship in the Presbyterian church. He married 
 Rachel Padgett, who was born in Virginia. 
 March 22, 1822, and died February 18, 1850, 
 at the age of twenty-eight years. Her father 
 was Robert Padgett, a native of England, who. 
 on crossing the Atlantic to America, settled in 
 Virginia, whence he afterward removed to Pal- 
 myra. Macoupin county. Illinois, where he car- 
 ried on agricultural pur-nils. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Challacombe were bom three children. 
 William Brotherton is now living in Sedalia, 
 Missouri. He was a member of the Twelfth 
 Illinois Cavalry and served throughout the 
 war. lie was detailed at headquarters most of
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 99 
 
 the time, at Sheridan's headquarters, and was 
 engaged in writing the history of the engage- 
 ments and movements of the army. John Rob- 
 ert is the next of the family. James Paxminter 
 is engaged in the implement business at 
 Xokomis. After the death of his first wife the 
 father of our subject married Elizabeth Boulter, 
 whose parents settled near Brighton, Illinois, at 
 a very early day. The children of this mar- 
 riage were Anna. George and Lizzie. The last 
 named died in 1884. 
 
 In the public schools at Alton. Illinois. John 
 Roberl Challacombe acquired his early educa- 
 tion, which was supplemented by study in Mc- 
 Kendree College at Lebanon, Illinois, and in 
 Bacon's Commercial College ai Cincinnati, 
 Ohio. After leaving school he engaged in 
 
 1 kkeeping in a wholesale grocery house at 
 
 Alton, Illinois, and was afterward employed in 
 the Alton postoffice. Subsequently he became 
 cashier and bookkeeper for L. EL Church & 
 Company, wholesale dealers in dry-goods at 
 Leavenworth, Kansas, being located there dur- 
 ing the last years of the war. In 1864 he went 
 to trying. Illinois, where he conducted a grain 
 elevator that bad been built by his father, this 
 being the first one constructed along the line 
 of the Big Four Railroad to handle grain in 
 hulk. Mr. Challacombe continued in the busi- 
 ness there for twelve years, on the expiration of 
 which period he removed to Hillsboro and the 
 firm of Challacombe & Ramsey was formed. 
 This relation was maintained for eighteen 
 years and in 1892 Mr. Challacombe purchased 
 the interest of his partner. Not long afterward 
 he sold the hardware department to the Hills- 
 boro Hardware Company, but continued in the 
 implement business until 1900, when lie sold 
 out to George W. Brown. Jr. Since then he 
 has been contracting for steel bridges and 
 water towers, with offices in connection with 
 A. A. Cress & Son. in the News building. 
 
 In IS'rl Mr. Challacombe was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Marcella hi Walter, who was 
 horn in Hillsboro in 18. r i4. To this union one 
 child was horn. Esther Challacombe. Mrs. 
 Challacombe's parents were Colonel Paul and 
 Nancy E. Walter. Her father, a farmer by 
 occupation, is now deceased, and her mother is 
 still living in Hillsboro. Mr. Challacombe be- 
 
 longs to the United Commercial Travelers' As- 
 sociation of America and to the Benevolent 
 and Protective Order of Elks, hi his political 
 views he is a Republican, a recognized leader 
 in the local ranks of his party. He has been 
 supervisor id' Irving township, has served as 
 councilman of Eillsboro and was the repre- 
 sentative front the thirty-eighth senatorial dis- 
 tr.et of Illinois to the thirty-ninth genera] as- 
 sembly. Few men are more prominent or 
 more widely known in the enterprising city 
 of Hillsboro than John Robert Challacombe. 
 lie has been an important factor in business 
 circles and his popularity is well deserved, as 
 in him are embraced the characteristics of an 
 unbending integrity, unabating energy and in- 
 dustry that never Hags. He is public-spirited 
 and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to 
 promote the moral, intellectual and material 
 welfare of Hillsboro ami Montgomery county. 
 
 W. 11. COOK. M. I). 
 
 Dr. \\ . II. Cook, whose comprehensive 
 knowledge of the principles of the medical 
 science and skill in the administration of 
 remedial agencies has made him one of the 
 prominent physicians of Coffeen and of his part 
 of the county, was horn in Shelby county, 
 Kentucky, in Is:!), his parents being F. B. 
 and M. (Roseberry) Cook. His paternal great- 
 grandfather, William Cook, served as a ser- 
 geant in Wall's Company of the Fourth Vir- 
 ginia Regiment in the Revolutionary war. This 
 fact indicates that the family was established 
 in America in colonial flays. The parents of 
 Dr. Cook were horn and reared in Shelby coun- 
 ty. Kentucky, and the father followed the oc- 
 cupation of farming up to the time of his 
 death, which occurred in 1847. 
 
 Dr. Cook acquired his early education in the 
 subscription schools of his native county ami 
 later attended the public schools. When nine- 
 teen years of age he removed to Putnam coun- 
 ty, Indiana, and was there engaged in teach- 
 ing school and in clerking in a store. lie 
 spent several years in thai locality and was a 
 medical student in a physician's office there 
 for two years. In 1861 lie came to Mont-
 
 LOO 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ginnery c-<"nmt y. where hr practiced medicine 
 with a preceptor for a time. When the war 
 was ended he entered Washington University 
 at St. Louis, Missouri, then known as the St. 
 Louis Medical College, and completed a course 
 of study by graduation with the class of LS67. 
 In 1879 he again entered that institution for 
 post-graduate work, lie possesses a splendid 
 medical library and has even kept in touch 
 with the advancement made by the profession, 
 using the latest improved instruments in his 
 surgical practice and administering those 
 remedies which modem science have demon- 
 strated to be must effective in checking the 
 ravages of disease. He has, moreover, been 
 prominent in medical organizations and is now 
 president of the County Medical Society. He 
 was one of the charter members of the District 
 Medical Society, was its secretary for two years 
 and did most of the correspondence which re- 
 sulted in the formation of the society. He 
 likewise belongs to the Illinois State Medical 
 Society and to the American Medical Associa- 
 tion, and is a member of the American Asso- 
 ciation of Life Examining Surgeons. He is 
 examiner in Coffeen for nearly all of the lead- 
 ing insurance companies and is one of the old- 
 est practitioners in Montgomery county, arriv- 
 ing here when there were but few towns within 
 the borders of the county. He is a firm be- 
 liever in higher education, advocating the best 
 mental development that can he secured by 
 each individual, and he has spent much mone] 
 in educating his children. 
 
 In September, 1856, Dr. Cook was united in 
 marriage to Miss Elizabeth F. Robinson, of 
 Indiana, and they have become the parents of 
 four children, of whom three are now liv- 
 ing: Charles Edwin is a lawyer residing in 
 Greenville, Illinois. Ella J. is married and 
 lives in Ramsey, Illinois. Melvin Thurston is 
 professor of biology in De Pauw University. 
 He was graduated from Stanford University 
 in 1894, won tin 1 master's degree at De Pauw 
 and expects to win the doctor's degree at the 
 Ohio State University. While studying in the 
 last named institution he wrote a series of ar- 
 ticles upon "Calls and Insects Producing 
 Them," which articles are to be used by him 
 as a thesis for the degree of doctor of philoso- 
 
 phy. These papers were published anil at- 
 tracted world-wide attention, lie is recognized 
 as one of the best authorities on the subject in 
 the United States, having made most extensive 
 investigations along that line. Recently he 
 has been appointed chief plant pathologist of 
 Cuba. 
 
 Dr. Cook has prospered in his professional 
 career and is now the owner of eighty acres 
 of farming land in Montgomery county and 
 also some timber land in addition to his town 
 property in Coffeen. He has always been deep- 
 ly interested in everything pertaining to the 
 welfare and progress of the county, and his 
 aid and support have been counted upon when 
 an attempt has been made to promote general 
 welfare in any way. In politics he has always 
 been a Democrat, supporting the party from 
 the time he attained his majority. For forty- 
 nine years he has been an exemplary member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife 
 are members id' the Methodist Episcopal 
 church. Not only is he one of the older mem- 
 bers of tin' medical fraternity of Montgomery 
 county, but has always maintained a foremost 
 place in the ranks of the profession, and in his 
 life has also displayed the sterling traits of 
 character which have made him a man honored 
 among his friends. 
 
 JUDGE JESSE J. PHILLIPS. 
 
 Judge Jesse J. Phillips was born in Mont- 
 gomery county, Illinois, May 22, 1837. His 
 parents came from Kentucky at an early day- 
 anil were among the pioneer settlers of Mont- 
 gomery county. Jesse received a liberal edu- 
 cation at the old Hillsboro Academy and in 
 is."); i altered the law office of Davis & Kings- 
 bury ol Hillsboro as a law student. In 1860 
 be was admitted to the bar and immediately 
 opened a law olliee in Hillsboro. He remained 
 in the practice of bis profession until the 
 breaking out of the Civil war in the spring of 
 1861. 
 
 I'pon the tirst call of President Lincoln for 
 troops Phillips hung a Hag from his office win- 
 dow and announced that be would raise a 
 company to aid in preserving the Union. He
 
 .Mix; K .1. J. l'HILUI'S
 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 FAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 103 
 
 was elected captain. Upon the organization of 
 the Ninth Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Captain 
 Phillips was elected major of the regiment. 
 At the expiration of the term of enlistment — 
 three months — the Ninth was reorganized, 
 Fhilli|is retaining his position as major. The 
 regiment was soon ordered to the front and 
 was engaged in a number of notable battles, 
 acquiring the name of the "Bloody Ninth." 
 
 On December 2, 1861, Major Phillips was 
 commissioned lieutenant colonel. For his gal- 
 lantry in the battle of Fort Donelson he was 
 publicly complimented by Genera] Grant, lie 
 participated in the memorable battle of Shi- 
 loh, April (!. 1862, and his command lost one 
 hundred and three killed on the field, two 
 hundred and eighty-seven were wounded, and 
 ten were taken prisoners. Colonel Phillips was 
 shot through the hand, permanently disabling 
 that member, and twice through the thigh. 
 
 In August, 1863, Colonel Phillips, in com- 
 mand of sixteen hundred men, raided through 
 Mississippi, carrying consternation and havoc 
 wherever he went. At the battle of Resaca, 
 in May, 1864, Colonel Phillips was shot 
 through the ankle and on September 1, 1864, 
 lie resigned, having seen, perhaps, more hard 
 fighting (ban any officer in the Union army. 
 He was always a gallant and fearless leader and 
 was idolized by his men. lie was afterward 
 brevetted brigadier general for gallant, meri- 
 torious and distinguished services. 
 
 Alter his resignation from the army he re- 
 sumed the practice of the law with great suc- 
 cess. He was soon recognized as the leading 
 lawyer of the county, if not of this part of 
 the state. 
 
 In 1866 and again in 1868 he was the Dem- 
 ocratic nominee for state treasurer. In 1879 
 he was elected circuit judge of this circuit and 
 served in that capacity thirteen years. In 1893 
 he was elected to the supreme bench, which 
 position he held when he died. 
 
 He died on the 16th of February, 1901, and 
 of the many tributes of respect paid to his 
 memorv we quote the following by Judge J. 
 G. Irwin, of Edwardsville : 
 
 "My acquaintance with Judge Phillips dates 
 from August 19. 1861. He was then twenty- 
 four years old, and was a rare example of the 
 
 qualities which lil a man for war. His pres- 
 ence was so inspiring that he had lew. if any, 
 superiors in the impersonation of the gifts 
 which make a man a leader of men while un- 
 dergoing the deprivations ami the disciplinary 
 duties of camp life, or when engaged in deadly 
 strife upon the held of battle. His individu- 
 ality marked him as a man born to he a sol- 
 dier, and distilled to win the name and fame 
 for himself and the men who Eoughl under him. 
 which the records of the Civil war now ac- 
 cord to hint and them. He had a physique 
 which never seemed to flag, much le^s succumb 
 to fatigue, hardship, exposure or the strain of 
 battle, siege, march, or raid.no mailer how long 
 emu limed nor how intense or trying the situ- 
 ation in which he or his men might lie placed 
 by i he fortunes or misfortunes of war. His 
 unconquerable spirit sustained the physical 
 man in every struggle, and made him person- 
 ally the victor over every difficulty or discom- 
 fiture, and enabled bint to vanquish bis enemies 
 at the front. It may he doubted, physically 
 speaking, whether flesh and blood was ever 
 called upon to endure more than he and his 
 men endured during the Civil war. On all oc- 
 casions, under all circumstances, in every emer- 
 jeiic\ and in every situation, in body and spirit 
 hi' most nobly fulfilled his country's expecta- 
 tions, in fullest measure, at the front in the 
 Civil war. Tic occasion forbids going info the 
 details of this record, and necessarily limits 
 
 c ment upon it except to the extent called 
 
 for by a sketch sufficiently full to show the 
 character and qualities of a soldier. He did not 
 know- what fear was. and always courted in- 
 stead of shunning danger. No field officer was 
 ever known to expose himself to the dangers of 
 the firing line with such perfect abandon and 
 such unconcern for his own personal safety 
 as Phillips. This was nol occasional, but ha- 
 bitual with him. He seemed to glory in it, 
 and was always willing t<> go where he asked 
 his men to go. He led and never took ad- 
 vantage of his privilege of following. Herein, 
 and in the magnetism of his voice, and of his 
 heroic bearing in field and camp, was the secret 
 of his power to inspire subordination and lead 
 men to death or victory. He was not a rigid 
 or severe disciplinarian, and yet there is no
 
 L04 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 instance of a spirit of insubordination, or dis- 
 position to disobey orders or rebel against the 
 requirements of superiors in the record of his 
 regiment. No matter who might be criticised 
 in private, if complaints were ever uttered 
 against Colonel Phillips, I can recall nothing 
 of the kind, and do not believe they were ever 
 entertained. He was idolized by his men, not 
 one of whom would have refused to obey or 
 follow where he led or commanded them to go. 
 This was wholly due to the inspiration of his 
 own heroic example, and was free from the 
 taint of servility. 
 
 "When to the value of his services as a 
 soldier we add that of his worth as a judge, 
 so well set forth by his associates on the bench 
 mi Hi is occasion, we can say that the state 
 has lost a citizen of pre-eminent worth, in 
 the death of Judge Phillips. He occupied a 
 large place, and rendered services which it is 
 the good fortune of few men to be able to 
 render, at a period in the progress of his coun- 
 try, which entitled him to be held in grateful 
 remembrance by his fellow citizens. Whatever 
 his faults or frailties may have been, his son- 
 ic<s as a soldier and jurist should totally ob- 
 scure them, and his name should be handed 
 down with approbation of everything that per- 
 tains to his public life and services. In these 
 respects lie was certainly true to high ideals 
 and standards of citizenship. He was conspic- 
 uously a man of honor in all the relationships 
 of camp and forum. Let us fondly and fre- 
 quently hope that the state of the soul at the 
 last gave the spirit of our lamented friend and 
 comrade entrance into the realm where war 
 and strife are unknown, and where the peace 
 that passeth understanding shall lie his ever- 
 lasting portion." 
 
 DAVID S. WARE. 
 
 David S'. Ware was numbered among the 
 early settlers of Montgomery county, having 
 made his home within its borders from 1855. 
 lie was born in New Hampshire, October 25. 
 1828, a son of David and Mary (Smith) Ware, 
 the former a native of New Hampshire and the 
 latter of Vermont. The father followed the 
 
 occupation of farming and spent his last days 
 in the state of his nativity. Unto him and his 
 wife were born four children: Theoda, the 
 wife of George Tolle; David S. ; Mary, de- 
 ceased; and Samuel B. 
 
 David S. Ware acquired his education in the 
 public schools of New Hampshire and after- 
 ward engaged in teaching school. It was in 
 1855 that he emigrated w-estward, establishing 
 his home in Montgomery county, Illinois, at 
 what is known as Ware's (J rove, in Butler 
 Grove township. He w^as for many years there- 
 after actively engaged in agricultural pursuits 
 and secured an extensive tract of land, which 
 he transformed into richly developed fields. He 
 placed many modern improvements and acces- 
 sories upon his farm, equipping it with all the 
 facilities that tended to make his labors of 
 greater avail in securing a competence. At 
 length, having acquired a good capital, he put 
 aside business cares and removed to East Hills- 
 boro to enjoy the fruits of his former toil in 
 an honorable retirement from further labor. 
 There he died in August, 1904. 
 
 Mr. Ware was twice married. He first 
 wedded Lestina Brigham, who was horn in 
 Xew Hampshire and died in 1872 at the age 
 of forty-one years. Her parents were Aaron 
 and Susan (Proctor) Brigham. the former a 
 farmer by occupation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ware were born nine children, including John, 
 who resides near Coffeen. Illinois: Arthur, who 
 is living at Ware's Grove; David, who makes 
 his home in the same locality; Lyman, who re- 
 sides on the old homestead; Beulah. the wife 
 of Albert Chickering, of New Hampshire : and 
 Emma, the wife of Jesse Osborn, who is liv- 
 ing five miles north of Hillsboro. In L872 Mr. 
 Ware was again married, bis second union 
 being with Mrs. Catharine (Dryer) Wiley, the 
 widow of Robert Wiley. She was born in Hills- 
 boro in 1829 ami was a daughter of John and 
 Mary Dryer, who came to Montgomery county 
 prior to 1824 and settled in Hillsboro. remov- 
 ing to the west from New York. He was a 
 wheelwright by trade, ami after coming to the 
 west also engaged in farming. On remov- 
 ing from Hillsboro he took- up his abode at 
 St. John. Illinois, where he resided for three 
 or four years, and final lv his death occurred 

 
 W. H. WILEY 
 
 MES. OEA .1. (WILEY) LIPE 
 
 MES. CATHAEINE ( DEYEE) WAEE 
 COEYDON CLYDE LIPE
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 107 
 
 in Montgomery comity, about six miles 
 north of Hillsboro. March 21, 1844. His wife 
 bore the maiden name of Mary Nusman and 
 was a daughter of John Nusman, the first set- 
 tler of Hillsboro and the builder of the first 
 cabin in the town. He, too, was a wheelwright 
 and farmer. Mrs. Ware's grandmother found 
 the first spring in Hillsboro, the one which now 
 furnishes water for the city. 
 
 By her first marriage Mrs. Ware had seven 
 children, of whom three are now living: Sadie 
 E., who is engaged in teaching school in S'a- 
 lida, Colorado; \V. II. Wiley, who makes his 
 home in Butler Grove township; and Hattie, 
 the wife of Charles Mann, of Lincoln, Ne- 
 braska. Mrs. Ware is a member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal church and is well known in 
 Montgomery county, being a representative of 
 one of its honored pioneer families. 
 
 Mr. Ware gave his political allegiance to the 
 Republican party and served as justice of the 
 peace, as school director and was supervisor for 
 one term. His career clearly illustrated the 
 possibilities that are open in this country to 
 earnest, persevering young men who have the 
 courage of their convictions and are determined 
 to be the architects of their own fortunes. When 
 judged by what he accomplished his right to 
 a first place among the representative citizens 
 of Hillsboro cannot be questioned. 
 
 ROBERT W. KENNEDY. 
 
 Robert W. Kennedy has been a resident of 
 Montgomery county since 1859 and few resi- 
 dents, therefore, have longer witnessed its de- 
 velopment and progress as it has emerged from 
 pioneer conditions to take its place among the 
 leading counties of this great commonwealth. 
 He resides on section 11. Raymond township, 
 where he has a well improved farm of eighty 
 acres, pleasantly situated about three miles 
 from the village of Raymond. He came to 
 this county when a young man of sixteen years 
 from Brown county. Ohio, where he had re- 
 sided for about six years. He was born in Ire- 
 land and was brought to Illinois by his parents. 
 Mr. and Mrs. William Kennedy, who purchased 
 a tract of land including the farm upon which 
 
 Robert W. Kennedy now resides. The father's 
 original purchase comprised two hundred acres 
 of swamp land and raw prairie and with char- 
 acteristic energy he began to cultivate and im- 
 prove this and in due course of time developed 
 a valuable property supplied with many of the 
 modern conveniences and accessories of farm 
 life. His last days were spent upon the old 
 homestead and his wife also died there. In 
 their family were seven children, all of whom 
 are now living and are heads of families. 
 
 Robert W. Kennedy remained upon the old 
 homestead until the father's death and during 
 that period assisted in the development and 
 cultivation of the fields. Taking up his abode 
 upon his present farm he has erected here a 
 new residence, has built a barn and other sub- 
 stantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain 
 and stock, has placed his fields under a high 
 state of cultivation and has planted forest and 
 ornamental trees. In addition to his home 
 place he cultivates one hundred and sixty acres 
 adjoining and he is raising good grades of 
 burses, cattle and hogs. His business is well 
 managed and his life is one of unfaltering in- 
 dustry. He has continuously engaged in farm- 
 ing save for the period of his service in the 
 Civil war. On the 1st of May, 1864, he re- 
 sponded to his country's call for troops, enlist- 
 ing in the One Hundred and Forty-third Illi- 
 nois Infantry as a member of Company H. 
 With his command he went south to Arkansas 
 and also saw duty in Tennessee, being mostly 
 engaged in guard duty. After the close of his 
 three months term he was honorably mustered 
 mil at Mattoon. Illinois, in September, 1864. 
 
 Mr. Kennedy was married on the 4th of 
 April. 1868, to Miss Mary E. Dickson, a na- 
 tive of Missouri, where her early girlhood days 
 were spent and then came to Illinois. Her 
 death occurred March 4, 1888. and she was laid 
 to rest in Asbury cemetery near Raymond. 
 She had seven children, of whom three are 
 now living: Maggie E., the wife of Robert 
 J. Brycc. of Indianapolis; William J., who is 
 engaged in business in San Francisco; and 
 Clara L., who is married and resides in Indian- 
 apolis. Three of the children of that marriage 
 died in early childhood. On the 6th of Feb- 
 ruarv. 1901, Mr. Kennedy was united in mar-
 
 IDS 
 
 PAST .WD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 riage to Mrs. [sabel Mey, the widow of Mil- 
 lard F. Mey. By her former marriage she had 
 two children who are now grown. 
 
 Politically Mr. Kennedy is an earnest Id 
 publican and casl his first presidential ballot 
 for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, since which 
 time he has supported each nominee of the 
 party at the head of the ticket. He has been 
 elected and served in various local offices, in- 
 cluding that of township trustee and for twen- 
 ty-four years he was a member of the school 
 board, during which time he put forth effec- 
 tive and earnest effort in behalf of the schools. 
 
 believing in the employ nt of g 1 teachers, 
 
 || ( ' has been elected and is now serving for Ins 
 third term as assessor and he has been a dele- 
 gate to various county convention- of his party. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the Grand 
 Army of the Republic ami is a Master Mason, 
 belonging to Raymond lodge. He was reared 
 in the Presbyterian faith, hut he and his wife 
 are now members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church. Mr. Kennedy has been a resident of 
 i he county lor nearly fifty years and is one of 
 the oldesl settlers of Raymond township, where 
 he has a wide acquaintance, his friends being 
 many. 
 
 WILLIAM ALLEN FRAME. 
 
 The rich prairie tracts of central Illinois 
 furnish splendid opportunity to the agricultur- 
 ist, and William Allen Frame is classed with 
 those who. taking advantage of this opportun- 
 ity have won success through indomitable per- 
 severance and untiring energy. A native of 
 Ohio, he was horn in Pickaway county. March 
 •.'(>, 1835, and is a son of George Frame, who 
 by two marriages had twelve children, six sons 
 and six daughters. In 1836 the family came 
 to Illinois, going by way of the river route to 
 St. Louis and thence across the country with 
 ox-teams to Montgomery county. They located 
 in East Fork township, where the father pur- 
 chased a claim of one hundred and sixty acres 
 of land, and upon that farm he spent his re- 
 maining days, his death occurring at the age 
 of sixty-four. In addition to general farming 
 he wa- extensively engaged in the raising of 
 
 cattle. Connected with the pioneer development 
 of the county, he bore his share in promoting 
 public progress, especially along agricultural 
 lines, and deserves mention among the early 
 settlers whose labors proved of practical and 
 far-reaching value here. 
 
 William A. Frame was only a year old when 
 brought to Montgomerj county, and his mem- 
 ory pictures many of the pioneer conditions 
 which then existed. His environment was such 
 as is usually common on the frontier when the 
 log cabin shelters tin' earh settlers, who have 
 few of the advantages of the older cast. He 
 pm sued hi- education in a log schoolhouse, to 
 which he walked a distance of two miles, and 
 when fourteen years of age he started out in 
 life for himself. His father dying, he went to 
 Alton. Illinois, and tor two years he worked on 
 a farm through the summer seasons, while in 
 the winter months he attended school. At the 
 age of sixteen he returned to Montgomery 
 enmity and worked on a farm for. lames Clot- 
 Eelter during the greater part of the time for 
 five years, receiving at first hut ten dollars per 
 month. Ife afterward spent about two years 
 a- an employe at the slaughter-house at Spring- 
 field, Illinois, and after his marriage he rented 
 land in Efillsboro township. When seven years 
 had passed he purchased one hundred and sixty 
 acres m Last Fork township, where he made 
 his home until 1901. All of the improvements 
 upon the place were the work of his hands, and 
 he transformed it into a valuable property. He 
 also extended the boundaries of that farm until 
 it comprised two hundred and fifty acres, which 
 he gave to his sons. During the first two years 
 the proceeds of his farm — largely devoted to 
 wheat-raising — paid for the old place. In 1901 
 he removed to his present farm of two hundred 
 acres in Hillsboro township. This farm is 
 now mostly in blue grass pasture, and there arc 
 living springs upon the place sufficient for one 
 thousand head of cattle. He is now largely 
 engaged in stock-raising and is conducting a 
 profitable business. 
 
 On the 17th of March. 1So9, Mr. Frame was 
 united in marriage to Zilpah Clotfelter, who 
 was born September IS. 1832, and they had 
 five children : Mary, the wife of Samuel Ed- 
 wards: James, deceased: Amos, who is living
 
 ME. AN 1 > MRS. W. A. FRAME
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 111 
 
 cm the old homestead; Milly, deceased; and 
 George, who is also on the old farm. 
 
 Mr. Frame votes with the Republican party, 
 but has never been an office-seeker, preferring 
 to give his attention to his business affairs, in 
 which he has met with excellent success. He 
 started out in life at a very tender age — a poor 
 buy, dependent entirely upon his own resources 
 for a living. He worked early and late and 
 most laboriously to gain a start, but he found 
 scope for his expanding business powers in the 
 agricultural possibilities of the county, and is 
 now one of its substantial and respected farm- 
 ers. Moreover, lie is one of the pioneer settlers 
 of the county, who for almost seventy years 
 has resided here, and has witnessed the changes 
 that have occurred as the county has put off 
 pioneer conditions and become one of the more 
 progressive counties of this great state. 
 
 II. s. SHORT, M. D. 
 
 Dr. II. S. Short, actively engaged in the 
 practice of medicine and enjoying the suc- 
 cess which is evidence of Ins skill and ability 
 in his chosen profession, was born in Ran- 
 dolph county. North Carolina. May 4. 1840, 
 bis parents being Lemuel and Mary (Hasket) 
 Short. The father, also a native of North 
 Carolina, was born in Guilford county, Feb- 
 ruary 24, 1814, and in the fall of 1853 he 
 came to Illinois. He was a teacher by profes- 
 sion, and he established bis home in Fayette 
 county east of Ramsey, where be resided for 
 about two years. On the expiration of that 
 period be removed to Shelby county. Illinois, 
 and in 1S58 went to Missouri, but was not long 
 permitted to enjoy bis new home, for his death 
 there occurred on the 6th of May, 1858. In 
 his family were eleven children, ten of whom 
 reached years of maturity, while five are now 
 living. 
 
 H. S. Short spent the first thirteen years of 
 his life in the state of his nativity and then 
 accompanied his parents on their removal to 
 Illinois. His education was acquired in the 
 common schools of Fayette and Shelby coun- 
 ties, and he also attended a Quaker institute 
 north of Indianapolis. Indiana. Having ac- 
 
 quired a good literary education to serve as 
 the foundation upon which in build the super- 
 structure of professional knowledge, he en- 
 tered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cin- 
 cinnati, Ohio, where be pursued a complete 
 course of study and was graduated with the 
 (lass ef 1873. lie had also previously studied 
 medicine at Ramsey with Dr. Jones, and he 
 practiced for four years before his graduation. 
 lie opened an office in Fillmore. Illinois, in 
 -Inly. 1869, practicing there for four year-: 
 was also at Ramsey from September, 1875. un- 
 til 1878, and in the latter year returned to 
 Fillmore, where he has since remained, being 
 now the oldest practitioner of the town. He 
 has been very successful, bis practice being at- 
 tended with excellent results. He lias always 
 made a close study of the profession, has kepi 
 abreast with the host thinking men who are 
 representatives of the medical science, and has 
 -ained a liberal patronage, which is accorded 
 him in recognition of bis ability. 
 
 Dr. Short was a young man of only about 
 twenty-one years when, on the 3d of July. 
 1861, hi' responded to the country's call for 
 aid to preserve the Union and enlisted in Com- 
 pany C. Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, from 
 Shelby county. He served until September 27. 
 1864, and was with Sherman on his campaign 
 as far as Atlanta. He participated in the bat- 
 tles of Stone River, Perryville, Chattanooga 
 and Ivnoxville. and from tin' 7th of May un- 
 til the 18th of August. 1864, was never beyond 
 i he range of the enemy's guns, being constantly 
 under fire. 
 
 On the 31st of October, 1871, Dr. Short was 
 married to Mss Sarah M. Stokes, a daughter 
 of Bird and Alary Stokes, and they have six 
 children, all of whom are living: Dr. W. T. 
 Short, who is now practicing in Stonington. 
 Illinois: Alary L., the wife of Dr. Hoyt, of 
 Fillmore: Emma E., the wife of Walter Tober- 
 man; U. S., who is now practicing in East St. 
 Louis. Illinois, ami is a graduate of the Ma- 
 rion Sims Beaumont College, having com- 
 pleted the course with honors: Walter C, who 
 is a graduate of the Illinois University and 
 was appointed by President Roosevelt to the 
 rank of second lieutenant in the LTnited States 
 Army, February 15. 1902. and is now serving
 
 112 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 as battalion quartermaster at Fort Reno, in 
 Oklahoma ; and L. Bird, who was born No- 
 vember 22, 1883, and has attended medical 
 college two years, being now a junior in the 
 Marion Sims Beaumont College at St. Louis. 
 
 Dr. Short belongs to the Masonic fraternity, 
 being made a Mason at Cowden. Illinois, in 
 Cold Spring lodge, in 1866. He is an exem- 
 plary representative of that order and is also 
 connected with the Modern Woodmen camp, 
 while his wife belongs to the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church. In politics he is a Republican 
 and has ever taken a deep and active interest 
 in the. welfare of the town, co-operating in 
 many community affairs which have for their 
 object the genera] good and the promotion of 
 the county's progress and improvement. Croat 
 changes have occurred during the period of 
 his residence hero, for he can remember when 
 a few settlements on the border of the county 
 remained only in the edge of the timber, the 
 prairie land then being considered unfit for 
 farming purposes. There were many doer and 
 many kinds of lesser game, most of the homes 
 were but pioneer cabins, and the work of im- 
 provement and progress largely lav in the fu- 
 ture. Dr. Short has I'm' many years been the 
 loved family physician in a large number of 
 the households of Fillmore and the surround- 
 ing district, and his genuine personal worth, 
 as well as his professional skill, has gained Eor 
 him the warm regard of a. large circle of 
 friends. He stands to-day among the leading 
 representatives of his profession in the county. 
 and his life has been one of great usefulness to 
 those among whom his lot has been cast. 
 
 WILLIAM DANIEL CARTER. 
 
 William Daniel Carter, living on section 20, 
 Zanesville township, where he is carrying on 
 genera] farming and stock-raising, breeding, 
 feeding and shipping thoroughbred Angus cat- 
 tle, has been a resident of Illinois since 1880 
 and has prospered in his business undertakings 
 here, becoming the owner of five hundred and 
 twenty acres of rich and arable land. A na- 
 tive of Ohio, he was born in Clinton county, 
 on the 11th of December. 1S57. and is a son 
 
 of William B. and Kate (O'Brien) Carter, 
 who were natives of Ireland, the father born 
 in 1822 and the mother in 1817. They spent 
 their youth in that country and were married 
 there. They afterward emigrated to the new 
 world, settling first in New York, whence they 
 later removed to Ohio and about 1863 came 
 to Illinois, settling in Madison county, where 
 the father developed a farm of three hundred 
 and twenty acres, placing his land under a 
 high state of cultivation and adding substantial 
 improvements in the way of good buildings. 
 It was upon the old homestead in Madison 
 county that he reared his family and there he 
 continued to reside until 1880, when he came 
 to Montgomery county. Having sold his Madi- 
 son county property he purchased five hundred 
 and twenty acres of land in Zanesville township, 
 this county, which he operated for ten years. 
 In 1890 he retired from the farm and removed 
 to St. Louis, where he died on the 2d of Decem- 
 ber, 1902. His wife still survives him and re- 
 sides in St. Louis at the age of eighty-seven 
 years, making her home with a daughter. 
 
 William D. Carter is the only son in a family 
 of five children, three of whom are living. He 
 was reared in Madison county and is indebted 
 to its public-school system for the educational 
 privileges he enjoyed. Early in youth he be- 
 came familiar with farm labor in all of its de- 
 partments and his boyhood experience has 
 proved an excellent foundation upon which to 
 build his manhood's success. 
 
 In St. Louis. Missouri, on the 4th of Novem- 
 ber. 1900. Mr. Carter was married to Miss Lil- 
 lian Hennessy. who was born in that city, a 
 daughter of Thomas and Anna (Hayes) Hen- 
 nessy, and obtained her education there. They 
 now have one daughter, Isabel, born July 10, 
 1903. 
 
 Mr. Carter located upon his present farm in 
 Zanesville township in 1880, having inherited 
 one hundred and twenty acres of this tract, 
 while the remainder he purchased from the 
 other heirs. He has made an addition to and 
 remodeled the house and now has a comfortable 
 residence. There arc also three good barns 
 upon the place and other necessary outbuildings 
 for the shelter of grain and stock. He has sel 
 out a good orchard and his farm in its various
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 \Y. I). CAIJTKI! AXD FAMILY
 
 MRS. WILLIAM U. CARTER
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 117 
 
 departments is neat and thrifty in appearance, 
 indicating his careful supervision and practi- 
 cal progressive ideas. His fields arc well tilled 
 and he also raises line stock, shipping from five 
 to leu carloads of fat stock annually. For tin' 
 pasl thirteen years he has been engaged in 
 breeding ami dealing in thoroughbred polled 
 Angus eat tli- and new has a line herd and is 
 well known as a raiser of this breed of stock. 
 He had formerly been identified with his father 
 in a similar business enterprise. He now has 
 a herd of one hundred and ten head with t\v< nty 
 head of full blooded Angus cattle and a splen- 
 did bull at the head of the herd. He also 
 makes a business of buying and selling road 
 horses of the better breeds, and raises Poland 
 China bogs, having a line thoroughbred male 
 hog and shipping on an average of two hundred 
 head annually. 
 
 Mr. Carter votes with the Democracy and 
 while interested in its success and the growth of 
 the party has never sought or desired office. He 
 and his wife wire reared in the Catholic faith 
 and are members of the church at Litchfield. 
 lie has made for himself an excellent reputa- 
 tion as a good business man and is widely known 
 throughout central [Uinois as one of the suc- 
 cessful agriculturists and leading stock-raisers 
 of Montgomery county. 
 
 GEOEGE T. SEWARD. 
 
 George T. Seward is a man of rare business 
 
 capacity, who, in his day, has I n among the 
 
 foremost in developing the mercantile and 
 municipal interests of Hillsboro. His native 
 talent has led him out of humble surroundings 
 to large worldly successes through the oppor- 
 tunity that is the pride of our American life, 
 nor has his success been such as to be meas- 
 ured by material standards alone, for he has 
 ■developed thai type of character which makes 
 for higher ethical ideals in business and in 
 society, and in his business relations and deal- 
 ings he has applied the principles which have 
 made him a most honored and honorable man 
 in private life. 
 
 George T. Seward was born near Butler, 
 Montgomery county, on the 1-lth of September, 
 
 1856, and is a representative of one of the 
 old pioneer families of this part id' i\\r state. 
 His paternal grandfather, Israel Seward, came 
 to Montgomery county at a very early epoch in 
 the development of tins portion of Illinois and 
 established Ins home near Hillsboro. lie aft- 
 erward removed to the farm near Butler. 
 
 George ( '. Seward, the lather of George T. 
 Seward, was on that farm, a mile and a half 
 north of Hillsboro, in 1820, and for forty-eight 
 years lived upon the farm which was his birth- 
 place. Ilis entire life was devoted to agri- 
 cultural pursuits and his consecutive labor and 
 unfaltering perseverance made him one of the 
 substantial citizens of the community, ami at 
 his death enabled him to leave his family in 
 comfortable circumstances. lie was regarded 
 as a trite and faithful friend to the needy and 
 was held in the highest regard by his fellow 
 citizens, lb' died January 1. 1897, when in 
 his seventy- seventh year. Me gave his political 
 allegiance to the Republican party and in all 
 matters of citizenship was progressive and 
 public-spirited. He watched with interest the 
 progress of events in the county as it emerged 
 from pioneer conditions and was the champion 
 of all measures for the general good. His wife, 
 who bore the maiden name of Unity .1. Phil- 
 lips, was a daughter of Captain Thomas Phil- 
 lips, "who served his country in the Black Hawk 
 
 war. lie was a far r during the greater part 
 
 of his life. Imt for a lime resided in Hillsboro 
 and during that period engaged in the raising 
 of horses. Both he and his wife died when in 
 their eighty-eighth year. Mrs. George <'. 
 Seward, who is still living, is a member of the 
 Presbyterian church and a lady whose many 
 good traits of heart and mind have won for 
 her the friendship of a large majority of those 
 with whom she has come in contact. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Seward were born seven chil- 
 dren: Uattie. who married Lloyd C. Wash- 
 burn, a commercial traveler, residing in South 
 Dakota; Thomas I., who is living on the old 
 
 family boniest I near Butler; Benjamin II.. 
 
 who is employed as a clerk in St. Louis; 
 George T. : Carrie, who is the wife of Dr. C. 
 W. Hickman, of Springfield; Jesse J., who is 
 engaged in carpentering in Butler; and one 
 that died in infancy.
 
 118 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 George T. Seward acquired his education in 
 the schools of Butler and in the HiJlsboro 
 Academy. He left school, however, at a com- 
 paratively early age and worked upon the home 
 farm until he attained his majority. He then 
 came to Hillsboro and accepted a position in 
 Woodruff's shoe store, but after a short time 
 became a salesman in the general store of 
 A. A. K. Sawyer, in whose employ he re- 
 mained for eight years. In 1887 he embarked 
 in the furniture business, forming a partner- 
 ship with Jesse McHenry, under the firm style 
 of Seward & McHenry. This relation was 
 continued for about two years, at the end of 
 which time Mr. Seward purchased his part- 
 ner's business and has since been alone. He 
 is now in a corner block, occupying two floors, 
 one hundred and forty by one hundred and 
 five feet, and one floor forty by seventy- 
 five feet, and he carries the largest stock of 
 general furniture in the county, and also deals 
 in carpets and does an undertaking business. 
 His trade has become extensive, his business 
 profitable, and his success is attributable en- 
 tirely to his own well directed efforts and in- 
 telligent and capable management. He has 
 otherwise extended his efforts to other fields 
 of activity, and is now the president of the 
 Hillsboro Brick & Tile Company and a di- 
 rector in the Hillsboro Building & Improve- 
 ment Association, of which he was formerly 
 vice president for two years. 
 
 In 1881 occurred the marriage of Mr. Sew- 
 ard and .Miss Katie Rohlfing, a daughter of 
 Christian and Katherine Rohlfing, both of 
 whom are natives of Germany, whence they 
 emigrated to St. Louis, and thence came to 
 Montgomery county, eventually settling in 
 Hillsboro. where they spent their remaining 
 days. Mrs. Seward was born in St. Louis in 
 1861 and has become the mother of two chil- 
 dren: <i ge LeMar and J. Frederick. The 
 
 parents are members of the Presbyterian 
 church and Mr. Seward is a Republican in his 
 political views. He has served as a member of 
 the city council for two years and has a public- 
 spirited interest in everything pertaining to 
 municipal affairs and to the improvement and 
 progress of his community. His business ca- 
 reer has been crowned with a high measure of 
 
 success. He has the dominating personality 
 and the imagination, coupled with a sure grasp 
 of affairs, that mark the progressive man who 
 does not shrink from taking large risk in the 
 hope of large reward. Besides, he has the pa- 
 tience, the wide vision and the power to recog- 
 nize and to grasp an opportunity. Because of 
 these salient 1 i-aits in his character he has won 
 for himself success and made an honorable 
 name in lutsiness circles. 
 
 A. F. WEAVER. 
 
 Of a large number of Illinois' native sons 
 now residing within the borders of the state 
 none are more deserving of mention than A. 
 I-'. Weaver, who in his community is well 
 known and highly respected. He resides in 
 Nokomis, where he is engaged in the insurance 
 business and he has secured a good clientage, 
 while at the same time he has won warm friend- 
 ship which is accorded in recognition of his per- 
 sonal traits of character. He was horn in Madi- 
 son county. Illinois, in 1838, his parents being 
 John and Ann Maria Weaver. The family 
 is of Swiss lineage. In 1804 three brothers 
 ami a sister came from Switzerland to Amer- 
 ica and two of the number settled in Ohio and 
 one in northern Indiana. To the latter 
 lirinch of the family Mr. Weaver traces his 
 ancestry. The father's birth occurred in Fair- 
 field county. Ohio, in 1816, and the mother 
 was born in Pennsylvania in 1811. He was 
 reared in the Buckeye state and in 1834 re- 
 moved to Illinois, settling near Edwardsville, 
 where he lived until about a year ago, when 
 he came to Nokomis. He is numbered among 
 tin 1 early settlers of this state, having come 
 to the Mississippi valley when this was largely 
 ,-i wilil and unimproved district. For many 
 years he carried on farming, hut is now living 
 a retired life. He lost his wife in 1891 and 
 their only living child is A. V. Weaver. 
 
 In Madison county A. F. Weaver was reared, 
 attending school there until seventeen years of 
 age, after which he went to Edwardsville. 
 Later he spent two years as a student in the 
 ( Him Wesleyan University at Delaware. Ohio.
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 119 
 
 and was there located at the time of the out- 
 break o! the Civil war. Returning to Illinois he 
 enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Com- 
 pany D, One Hundred ami Seventeenth Illinois 
 Infantry. He participated in the battles of Fort 
 De Russey, Pleasant Hills. Tupelo, Nashville, 
 Fort Blakeley and a number of skirmishes and 
 was never wounded or captured, although in 
 the battle of Nashville a shot from the artillery 
 passed directly under his foot. Through three 
 years he remained a faithful defender of the 
 old Bag and the cause it represented and in 
 August, 1865, he received an honorable dis- 
 charge ai Camp Butler near Springfield. 
 
 .Mi-. Weaver returned to his father's home 
 and there continued until January. 1866, when 
 he was married to .Miss Martha A. Dunn, of 
 Zanesville, Ohio. This union has been blessed 
 with eight children, of whom six are living: 
 Lorena, the wife of G. W. Churchill, a resident 
 of Chicago; Winnie, at home; Dunn \Y.. who is 
 occupying a position in the auditing depart- 
 ment in Marshal] Field's mercantile establish- 
 ment in Chicago; Hattie, at home; Earl, who 
 is a graduate of Brown's College and is em- 
 ployed by the Paddock Lumber Company; and 
 Harry, at home. 
 
 Alter Ins marriage Mr. Weaver located upon 
 the home farm, where he resided for two years 
 and in 1868 he removed to this county, where 
 he carried on agricultural pursuits, purchasing 
 four hundred acres of land west of the town of 
 Nokomis. This he still owns and for fifteen 
 years he was actively engaged in farming. He 
 then came to Nokomis and for six years carried 
 on general merchandising, but since 1891 he 
 has devoted his energies to the insurance busi- 
 ness and now represents seven of the old re- 
 liable fire insurance companies. He is re- 
 garded as one of the representative men of 
 Nokomis and his labors have been an active 
 factor in promoting its welfare and substantial 
 improvement. He now owns the Opera House 
 of the town and also sixty acres at the north 
 side of the town, having thereon a splendid 
 residence, which he occupies. He was also 
 one of the organizers of the bank, and after- 
 ward served as one of its directors. Mrs. Wea- 
 ve! 1 has been to her husband a faithful com- 
 panion and helpmate on the journey of life 
 
 and is a most estimable lady, who enjoys the 
 warm friendship of many with whom she has 
 come in contact. Her life is permeated by her 
 Christian faith, for she is a devoted member of 
 the Methodist church. Mr. Weaver belongs to 
 the Masonic fraternity and to the Grand Army 
 of the Republic and has been commander of 
 the post at Nokomis. In his political views 
 he is a Democrat and has tilled various public 
 offices, serving as supervisor, as town clerk and 
 as school director, occupying the last named 
 position for a number of years. He has al- 
 ways taken an active interest in politics and 
 has done much to promote the growth and 
 insure the success of his party in this lo- 
 cality. 
 
 R. M. BARRINGER. 
 
 R. M. Barringer, engaging in the livery busi- 
 ness, is active in community affairs as super- 
 visor of Witt township, in which connection be 
 has rendered signal service to his fellow citi- 
 zens. A native son of Montgomery county. 
 he was born eight miles south of Paisley, June 
 lii. 1851. His parents were Caleb and Dor- 
 thula (Fleming) Barringer, the former a na- 
 tive of North Carolina and the latter of Ten- 
 nessee. They became residents of Montgomery 
 county in 1832, locating in Fillmore township, 
 where Mr. Barringer secured land from the 
 government for twenty-five cents per acre. He 
 placed all the improvements upon his farm, 
 developed the land into productive fields and 
 made his home thereon until about 1892, when 
 he took up his abode in the village of Fillmore 
 and in 1904 he removed to Paisley, where he 
 is now living retired at the advanced age of 
 eighty years, while his wife has reached the 
 age of seventy-sis years. R. M. Barringer is 
 the second son in their family of six living 
 children, the others being: Mrs. Carrie Po- 
 land, id' Ellensburg, Washington : Sidney Ed- 
 ward, who is superintendent of the county 
 farm ; Mrs. Anna Alderson. who is living in 
 Pond Creelc. Oklahoma : Isaac N.. a farmer 
 of Fillmore township; and Mattie, the wife 
 id' Richard Holmes, of Paisley. 
 
 B. M. Barringer, having attended the com-
 
 L20 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 mon schools, afterward entered the academy at 
 Eillsboro and subsequent to putting aside his 
 text books he remained upon the home farm 
 until twenty-two years of age, alter which he 
 engaged in farming on his own account for two 
 years, lie next took up his abode in Nokomis, 
 where he was engaged in conducting a restau- 
 rant and bakery. After seven years he re- 
 turned to the farm where lie again lived for two 
 years and then removed to Sumner county, 
 Kansas, where he spent eight years in fanning 
 and in the livery business. In 1893 he made the 
 race for land in the Cherokee strip in the In- 
 dian Territory. For days people had gathered 
 around that strip and at a given signal all 
 started in a rush for the land. Mr. Barringer 
 secured a claim two miles south of Blackwell. 
 lie afterward removed to Howell county, Mis- 
 souri, where he carried on farming for two 
 years and then returned to Illinois, settling 
 in Hillsboro. In 1896 he was janitor of a 
 schoolhouse, occupying that position for two 
 years, after which he engaged in teaming for 
 a year. In 1S99 he removed to a farm south 
 of Eillsboro and on the 33d of October, 1900. 
 he took up his abode in Paisley, where he 
 worked as top man in connection with the 
 mines for a year. Later he bought the livery 
 business, which he is now conducting and he 
 has a well equipped stable and is enjoying a 
 good patronage. 
 
 On the 2d of April, 1874, Mr. Barringer was 
 married to Miss Meca L. Sanders, a daughter 
 of Elza and Sarah Sanders, early settlers of 
 this county, coming here in 1830. They had 
 twelve children, of whom Mrs. Barringer is 
 the third in order of birth. Those living are 
 Prank, who is now living in Witt; Mrs. Lena 
 Richards, of Litchfield; Ervin. who resides up- 
 on the old home place near Ohlinan; Charles, 
 who is living in Rosemond, Illinois: Edward, a 
 resident of Chicago; Jefferson, who is located 
 in Canada; and Mrs. Ella Graden. of Ne- 
 maha, Kansas. The others died in infancy. 
 The father died in 1902 at the age of eighty- 
 two years and the mother is now living in Ohl- 
 inan, at the age of seventy-six years. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Barringer have been horn three 
 children: Corwin E.. who is married and re- 
 sides in Paisley: Viola E., the wife of Homer 
 
 Sawyer, who follows farming near Paisley: 
 and Lawrence M., who died in 1899 at the age 
 of nineteen years. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Barringer are members of the 
 Lutheran church and he is a member of the 
 Mutual Protective League. His political al- 
 legiance is given to the Democracy and in the 
 spring of 1904 he was elected supervisor of 
 Witt township, which usually gives a strong Re- 
 publican majority. His election therefore is 
 indicative of the confidence reposed in him 
 and the high position which he holds in the 
 regard of his fellow townsmen. He has also 
 been a member of the school board. Possess- 
 ing a genial manner and social disposition he 
 has won many friends during the years of his 
 residence in Montgomery county. 
 
 J. J. GATES. 
 
 J. .1. Gates has figured prominently in public 
 affairs in Donnellson and Montgomery county, 
 and through his ready recognition of business 
 opportunity and his utilization of the advan- 
 tages that have come to hand he has made him- 
 self a place among the substantial residents 
 of In- pari nf the state. He was born in Rock- 
 ingham county. North Carolina, June 24, 1851. 
 His father, Philip Gates, of Coffeen, was 
 reared in North Carolina, and in that state 
 followed the occupation of farming until after 
 the Civil war, when, in November, 1866, he 
 came to Montgomery county, Illinois, settling 
 near Coffeen. Em- a number of years he was 
 actively identified with agricultural interests, 
 but is now living retired in the town. He first 
 married Miss Barbara Thomas, and after her 
 death wedded Miss Nancy Raglin, of News 
 Perry, Halifax county, Virginia. He had five 
 children, four sons and a daughter, namely: 
 Mrs. S. C. Quails and .lames P., both residents 
 of Coffeen. Illinois: Hardin, of Fillmore town- 
 ship: A. L., also of Coffeen; and J. J., of 
 this sketch. 
 
 The mother died when her son, J. J. Gates, 
 was hut ten years of age. He continued to re- 
 main upon the old home farm, however, until 
 L872, when, at the age of twenty-one years, he
 
 ME. AND MRS. J. J. GATES
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF TH€ 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 123 
 
 started out in life Tor himself, beginning work 
 as a farm hand, in which capacity he was em- 
 ployed for two or three years. On the expira- 
 tion of that period he rented land and began 
 farming for himself. When two years had 
 passed he bought a place of seventy acres in 
 Bond county, later added to it another tract 
 of seventy acres, and upon that farm he re- 
 mained for thirteen years, or until he pur- 
 chased a farm of one hundred and forty acres 
 in Montgomery county. He taught school for 
 seven terms in Bond and Montgomery counties, 
 For ten consecutive years he was engaged in the 
 operation of a threshing machine, and at one 
 time he owned a half interest in the creamery 
 at Donnellson, but sold that a short time ago. 
 He now feeds and ships slock for the market, 
 and he is quite successful in this business, mak- 
 ing judicious purchases and profitable sales. 
 
 In 1878 Mr. Gates was united in marriage to 
 Miss Mary A. Ross, of East Fork township, 
 where her early life was passed. Seven children 
 have been born unto them, of whom four are 
 living: Ethel, who is now a stenographer in 
 St. Louis; Mary, Carrie and Nellie, all at 
 home. The parents and three of their children 
 hold membership in the Presbyterian church. 
 and Mr. Gates is identified with the Modern 
 Woodman camp, the Mutual Protective League 
 and the Royal Neighbors. In politics he is a 
 Democrat, but the honors and emoluments of 
 office have no attraction for him. as he prefers 
 to give his attention to his business affairs and 
 tin 1 interests of his household. He is a self- 
 made man, having gone in debt when he pur- 
 chased land, but within the first year he had 
 discharged all his obligation. He has worked 
 on persistently and energetically, year after 
 year, and is to-day the owner of a valuable and 
 attractive property. 
 
 P. C. WOOD. 
 
 I'. ('. Wood is an honored veteran of the 
 Civil War now living on section 0, East Fork 
 township, where he carries on general farming. 
 His birth occurred in the locality where he re- 
 sides August 22, 1834, his parents being 
 
 Thomas and Anna Wood. His father was born 
 in Darlington, South Carolina, on the spot 
 where the city of Florence is located, in De- 
 eember, 1802, and was there reared. He 
 came to Montgomery county in 1823, set- 
 tling in East Fork township at a time 
 when few settlements had been made within 
 the borders of the county. Pioneer con- 
 ditions everywhere existed, much of the land 
 being still in its primitive condition, awaiting 
 the touch of the frontiersman to transform it 
 into productive fields. Mr. Wood began farm- 
 ing and while living in true pioneer style he 
 at I he same time made the most of his oppor- 
 tunities and as he found it possible secured the 
 advantages and improvements which were com- 
 mon in the older east. Unto him and Ins wife 
 were born eleven children, eight of whom 
 reached years of maturity, but P. C. Wood is 
 now the only living representative of this fam- 
 ily. His father died on Christmas day of 1S58 
 and the mother passed away in 1882. 
 
 P. C. Wood remembers clearly many experi- 
 ences of early life in Montgomery county, for 
 lie has made his home here for seventy years. 
 He acquired his education in the public schools 
 and although his advantages in that direction 
 were somewhat limited his training at farm 
 work was not meager. He started out for him- 
 self when twenty years of age, locating upon 
 the farm where he now makes his home and a 
 part of which (eighty acres) he obtained from 
 his father. He now has one hundred and sev- 
 enty acres of land and he lost two hundred 
 acres by going security for friends. He has 
 raised both stock and grain, but at the present 
 time is not very actively engaged in farming, 
 for to some extent he has put aside the arduous 
 laborers of the farm and is enjoying a well 
 merited rest. 
 
 On the 19th of April, 1801, Mr. Wood put 
 aside all business and personal considerations 
 that he might aid in the preservation of the 
 Union, and became a soldier of Company H, 
 Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He found 
 the regiment was too full, howevi r, and he was 
 assigned to Company A of the Twelfth Illinois 
 Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained 
 for three months, lie was altogether in active 
 service for three years and six months and he
 
 I'.M 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 participated in many of the most hotly con- 
 tested engagements iif the war, including the 
 battles of New Madrid, Island No. lo, luka, 
 Corinth, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills 
 and the siege of Vicksburg. He was also in 
 1 1 1 : 1 1 1 \ skirmishes and was slightly woundid. but 
 was never in the hospital. In the fall of 1864 
 he was mustered out at Vicksburg and with an 
 honorable and creditable military record he re- 
 turned to his home and resumed farming. 
 
 In April. 1856, Mr. Wood was married to 
 Mis- Elizabeth Barry, a daughter of John Bar- 
 ry, of Hillsboro township. Tin ir only child 
 died in infancy. Mr. Wood is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity and is a veteran Republi- 
 can, having been one of the original forty-six 
 members who organized the party in this county 
 in 1856. He remembers when the county was 
 very wild, few improvements having then been 
 made, lie has seen as many as fifty deer in a 
 single herd and other wild game was to be had 
 in abundance. He frequently made trips to 
 St. Louis market and camped out along the 
 way. His mind forms a connecting link be- 
 tween the primitive past and the progressive 
 present, and no man takes a more genuine de- 
 light in what has been accomplished in this 
 county than dors yir. Wood. He has always 
 been spoken of in terms of respect and esteem 
 and as one of the pioneer residents of the coun- 
 ty he ci rtainh deserves mention in this volume, 
 while his record as a soldier alone would en- 
 title him to rank with the valued citizens of 
 Illinois. 
 
 .1. I'. PEICE. 
 
 Among the well known farmers of Mont- 
 gomerj county is numbered J. P. Price, who is 
 living in East fork township, lie was horn 
 in Fayette county. Illinois. October "J".'. 1849, 
 a son of Thomas and Celia (Duncan) Price. 
 The father, a native of Virginia, remained in 
 that state until about twenty years id' age, 
 
 when he removed to Tennessee, where he ear- 
 ned on general farming, becoming one of the 
 early settlers of that locality. Prospering in 
 his business undertaking he was eventually 
 known as one of the extensive and successful 
 
 farmers and stockmen of his community. He 
 died in the year 1861. In his family were 
 eight children, three Mins and five daughters, 
 of whom four are now living. 
 
 J. P. Price remained a resident of Fayette 
 county until sixteen years of age and no event 
 of special importance occurred to vary the 
 routine of farm life for him during that period, 
 lie then came to Montgomery county and 
 started out in life for himself, earning 1 1 i - 
 living by working as a farm hand in the sum- 
 mer months. In the winter seasons he at- 
 tended school, for he realized tin' value of 
 education as a preparation for life's practical 
 duties. He first rented a farm in Fillmore 
 township, upon which he lived for six years, 
 after which he purchased land in the vicinity 
 of his present home. The boundaries of his 
 farm, however, did not continue the same year 
 after year, lmt were extended by additional pur- 
 chase as his financial resources increased until 
 he now has six hundred acres of valuable land, 
 being a holder of extensive realty possessions 
 in East Pork township. He has given his 
 entire attention to stock-raising and makes :l 
 specialty of registered Hereford cattle and 
 also registered Poland China hogs. He raises 
 eattle on an extensive scale for the markets. 
 buying and shipping for many years. The 
 volume of his business lias constantly increased 
 and he stands to-day as one of the leading 
 representatives of these departments of in- 
 dustry in the county. 
 
 Mr. Price was married December 13. 1872. 
 to Miss Helen Isabel McNitt, a daughter of 
 Thomas and Sarah (Cress) McNitt. Her 
 father was horn and reared in Pennsylvania 
 and when a young man came to Illinois, where 
 he followed the occupation of farming. He 
 settled in East Fork township among its oarlv 
 residents and there carried on general agri- 
 cultural pursuits on an extensive scale for a 
 number of years. His wife was horn in "Mont- 
 gomery county, a daughter of Jacob Cress, one 
 of its earliest settlers. Mr. McNitt died in 
 August. 1860, but his widow- still makes her 
 home in Montgomery county, although at this 
 writing, in the summer of 1004, she is visit- 
 ing in California. This worthy couple were 
 the parents of eleven children, of whom four

 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 127 
 
 are living, namely : Saphronia G, Francis, 
 Mrs. Price and Jennie Jackson, of Kansas. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Price have three children : Frank 
 F.j who is now a teacher in Bay City, Michi- 
 gan ; Gertrude, the wife of Clem Laws ; and 
 Corwin. 
 
 Mr. Price is a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, being made a Mason at Fillmore in 
 1873, and also belongs to the Modern Wood- 
 men Camp and the Mutual Protective League. 
 He served as head council in the former 
 for many years. In politics he is a 
 Democrat and has always taken a deep 
 interest in the questions concerning the 
 county, state and nation, keeping well 
 informed on the issues of the day. He 
 has been school director and supervisor and 
 he served for two years in the state legislature, 
 being elected to the fortieth general assem- 
 bly. He has never been defeated for a single 
 office and in the discharge of his duties has 
 been most prompt, faithful and reliable. At 
 present he is a member of the county central 
 committee. Every measure and movement 
 which he deems will prove of public benefit 
 receives his earnest endorsement and support 
 and he is always fearless in the advocacy of 
 his honest convictions. Whether in public or 
 private life his record is alike commendable 
 and his history will bear the closest investiga- 
 tion and scrutiny. Mrs. Price is a member of 
 the English Lutheran church of Fillmore. 
 
 JOEL JONES. 
 
 Joel Jones, whose well improved farm of 
 two hundred and thirty acres on section 10, 
 Raymond township, is pleasantly located with- 
 in three miles of the village of Raymond, was 
 born in Macoupin county. Illinois, April 11, 
 1836. His parental grandfather, Rev. William 
 Jones, was a native of Virginia and became one 
 of the first settlers of Illinois, locating in 
 Madison county about 1809, when this state 
 was still under territorial government. He 
 opened up a farm in Madison county and was 
 identified with the substantial improvement 
 and progress of the county. He was a minister 
 of the Baptist church and one of the pioneer 
 
 preachers of the middle west. He served as 
 a member of the territorial legislature and 
 exerted strong influence in behalf of public im- 
 provement and upbuilding. 
 
 His son, Simeon Jones, was born in Madison 
 county, Illinois, near Alton in 1811 and was 
 reared and educated in Madison county, expe- 
 riencing the hardships and difficulties of pio- 
 neer life. He was married in bis native coun- 
 ty to Miss Dorothy Starkey, whose birth oc- 
 curred in that county in 1812 and who was a 
 daughter of Jesse S'tarkey, also one of the 
 pioneer settlers who came to Illinois ere the ad- 
 mission of the state into the Union. Simeon 
 Jones removed to Macoupin county, where he 
 opened up a farm, entering two hundred 
 acres of land from the government. Not a 
 furrow had been turned or an improvement 
 made upon the property, but with characteristic 
 energy he began the development of the land 
 and in due course of time transformed it into 
 •rich fields. He reared his family upon that 
 place and made the farm his home until his 
 life's labors were ended in death. His wife 
 survived him for some time and died at the 
 age of seventy-seven years. 
 
 Joel Jones, who is one of a family of four 
 sons and two daughters that reached adult 
 age, spent his early youth in Macoupin county 
 upon the home farm near Bunker Hill and in 
 the winter seasons he attended the public 
 schools, while in the summer months he as- 
 sisted his father in the labor of the fields, gain- 
 ing practical knowledge of farm methods. In 
 1866 he came to Montgomery county and pur- 
 chased eighty acres of raw land and also some 
 improved land. He took up his abode upon 
 the place and kept bachelor's hall for four 
 years, during which time he devoted his ener- 
 gies to general farming and the improvement 
 of his place. He then sought a companion and 
 helpmate for life's journey and in 1871 was 
 joined in wedlock to Miss Mary C. Blackwelder, 
 who was born in Cabarrus county. North Car- 
 olina, where her girlhood days were passed. 
 Later Mr. Jones erected a large two-story resi- 
 dence upon his farm, also a good barn and 
 planted shade and ornamental trees. He also 
 set out a good orchard and inclosed his farm 
 with a neat, well trimmed hedge fence. His
 
 128 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 modern improveinents constitute this one of the 
 valuable farming properties of the community 
 and its neat and thrifty appearance indicates 
 his careful supervision. 
 
 In 1S97 Mr. Jones was called upon to mourn 
 the Loss of his wife, who died on the 23d of 
 dune of thai year. There are hut two ol' their 
 seven children living: Alva, who is operating 
 the home farm, was married in Kentucky to 
 Miss Mary P. Hamilton, a native of Macoupin 
 county, who was reared there and in Mont- 
 gomery county. She is a daughter of Andrew 
 Hamilton, a native of Scotland. Aha Jones 
 and his wife and four children: Ruth, Jewell 
 Ross, Elden and Gladys E. After his mar- 
 riage Alva Jones engaged in farming near 
 
 Hills! for several years and then returned 
 
 to the home farm after the death of his mother 
 in 189?. Emily A. Jones is the wife of Wes- 
 ley Briggs, who is engaged in ranching in Ida- 
 ho. Mr. and Mrs. Jones lost four children: 
 Herman II.. who died in childhood; Willis, 
 who died at the age of five years: Charles, who 
 departed this life at the age of eighteen ; and 
 Jesse, who died at the age of twenty-seven 
 
 - I ;l K 
 
 Politically Mr. Jones is a stanch Democrat. 
 who cast his first ballol for Stephen A. Doug- 
 las in 1860, and has supported nearly every 
 presidential candidate of the party since that 
 time. He has served as a member of the school 
 board and has been highway commissioner three 
 years. He belongs to the Baptisl church and. 
 his entire life has been in consistent harmony 
 with his professions. Well known in Mont- 
 gomi ry county he is classed with those who 
 owe their success to their own efforts and who 
 deserve their prosperity because of the honor- 
 able business methods they have ever followed. 
 
 B. F. NELCH. 
 
 B. P. Neleh, living on section 33, Pitman 
 township, is well known as a breeder of pure- 
 blooded Aberdeen-Angus cattle, having a good 
 herd in his pastures upon his fine farm. Born 
 in Springfield, Illinois, on the 4th of Novem- 
 ber, 1876, he is a son of Henry Nelch, who 
 was also a native of Illinois, his birth having 
 
 occurred in Menard county. The family, how- 
 ever, is of German lineage. Henry Nelch was 
 reared to manhood in this state and after his 
 marriage he established his home in Spring- 
 held, where he became a prominent contractor 
 on public works, conducting a successful busi- 
 ness there for a number of years. 
 
 B. 1'. Nelch was reared in the capital city, 
 attended the public schools and completed his 
 course there by graduation from the high 
 school. He afterward entered the university 
 at .Madison. Wisconsin, taking up the course 
 of study in the Agricultural College, but he 
 had to abandon this on account of ill health. 
 Returning to Illinois, he believed that outdoor 
 life would prove beneficial to him, and he took 
 charge of Ins father's farm near Springfield, 
 continuing in its cultivation for two years. 
 In 1889 he removed to Montgomery county and 
 took charge of- the farm upon which he now re- 
 sides, his father having a good tract of land 
 here of three hundred and twenty acres. In 
 connection with the tilling of the soil and the 
 
 product] E crop- besl adapted to this climate 
 
 he also began the work of breeding and deal- 
 ing in Aberdeen-Angus cattle. He at first had 
 only a few head, but he has increased his herd 
 
 l'i' year to year by breeding and purchase 
 
 and now has forty-two tine animals upon his 
 place, including many pure-blooded one-. These 
 are mostly cows, for he sells the male animals 
 from year to year. He is now well known as 
 a breeder of pure-blooded Aberdeen-Angus cattle 
 and he has also been successful as a breeder of 
 snlendid-bred horses. He farms two hundred 
 acre- of land, while his younger brother, Pred 
 G. Nelch, operates one hundred and twenty 
 acres of the farm. 
 
 B. F. Nelch was married in Springfield, Sep- 
 tember 7, 1898, to Miss Josephine Piekel. who 
 was horn, reared and educated in Sangamon 
 county and is a daughter of Joseph Piekel, a 
 well known business man of Springfield. They 
 now have two children: Franklin C. and H. 
 Pari Nelch. Fred G. Neleh. brother of our 
 subject, is also married and resides upon this 
 farm. Both are young men of good business 
 ability, practical and progressive agriculturists, 
 'who are meeting with success in their undertak- 
 ings here. Politically B. F. Nelch is a Re-
 
 B. F. NELCH AND FAMILY
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND 1'1,'KSKNT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 131 
 
 publican, and proudly cast his first presidential 
 ballot for William MeKinley. He is a young 
 man, possessing the enterprising spirit of the 
 west, and is a typical son of Illinois, alert, en- 
 ergetic and progressive. Willi good education 
 and business qualifications, he is so directing 
 his efforts as to win good results, and is now- 
 one of the valued younger representatives of 
 agricultural interests in Montgomery county. 
 
 GEORGE W. CALDWELL, M. D. 
 
 Dr. George W. Caldwell is one of the oldest 
 medical practitioners of Montgomery county. 
 where for forty-nine years he has followed his 
 profession, thus devoting his energies to a life 
 work that has proven of the utmost value to 
 his fellow men. The successful physician is 
 always a person of broad humanitarian prini i- 
 ples and it has been because of his ready sym- 
 pathy and deep interest in his fellow townsmen 
 as well as his professional skill and knowledge 
 that Dr. Caldwell has gained for himself high 
 reputation and a liberal patronage. 
 
 He was born in Morgan county, Illinois. 
 April 23, 1834. His father, John C. Caldwell. 
 whose birth occurred in Butler county. Ken- 
 tucky, in the year 1804, was a son of George 
 Caldwell, a native of Virginia and one of the 
 first settlers of Butler county, Kentucky. His 
 life span covered the latter pari of the colonial 
 history of the United States and the early part 
 of its existence as a republic and when the 
 colonists attempted to throw off the yoke of 
 British oppression he joined Hie American 
 army and fought for American liberties. John 
 C. Caldwell spent the days of his boyhood and 
 youth in the county of his nativity and when he 
 had arrived at man's estate he wedded Miss 
 Louisa Rodgers, also a native of Kentucky. 
 They removed to Illinois in 1827. Only nine 
 years had passed since the admission of the 
 state into the Union and they were pioneer 
 residents of Morgan county. Mr. Caldwell 
 was a tanner by trade and there established a 
 tanyard near Waverlv and was known as an 
 active, enterprising business man of his lo- 
 calitv. He reared his family in that neighbor- 
 
 hood and made his home there throughout his 
 remaining days. 
 
 Dr. Caldwell was reared in Morgan county, 
 pursued good educational privileges and, de- 
 siring to enter professional life, he became a 
 student in McKendree College, in which he 
 was graduated with the class of 1853. To the 
 same class belonged Samuel H. Deneen, the 
 father of Charles S. Deneen. the present Re- 
 publican candidate for governor of the state. 
 Although hi' prepared for the bar he did not 
 practice to any great extent, hut later took up 
 the study of medicine, pursuing a course of 
 lectures in Rush Medical college and finish- 
 ing his course there about 1855. 
 
 After his graduation Dr. Caldwell came to 
 Montgomery county, locating in Zanesville 
 township, where he soon built up a very ex- 
 tensive practice thai extended for miles over 
 the surrounding country. In the early days 
 a country practice involved much hardships 
 owing to long rides over the prairies in the 
 midst of winter storms or under the hot sum- 
 mer sun. hut with conscientious regard for the 
 duties of his calling he never considered his 
 persona] comfort if his aid was needed in be- 
 half of the sick and suffering. In 1900 he op- 
 ened an office in Waggoner and he is still one of 
 the active and successful physicians of the 
 county. He belongs to the Macoupin County 
 Medical Society ami he has always read along 
 lines which have added to his skill and 
 efficiency. 
 
 Mr. Caldwell was married in Morgan county. 
 Illinois. September Is. 1855, to Miss Frances 
 ('loud, a daughter of Newton Cloud, one of 
 the first residents of the state, who came here 
 from Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have 
 two living children: Bessie is the wife of 
 Samuel Kessinger, of Litchfield, and they have 
 become the parents of four children: Harold 
 Caldwell, Ruth Caldwell. Charles W. and an 
 infant daughter. Georgie Caldwell is the 
 wulow of Dr. Charles E. Allard and resides 
 with Dr. Caldwell. She has one child. Elbert 
 C. Allard. The Doctor lost two children: Jes- 
 sie, who died at the age of four years; and 
 Newton C. 
 
 Dr. Caldwell cast his first presidential ballot 
 for James Buchanan in 1856 and has voted
 
 132 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 for each presidential nominee of the Demo- 
 cratic party since that time. Political honors 
 and emoluments have had no attraction I'm 
 him, lmt he has served as a member of the 
 school board for fifteen years. A half century 
 covers Ha 1 period of his residence in Mont- 
 gomery county anil lie is one of the oldest 
 practitioners within its border, lie is familiar 
 with its history from pioneer times, his mem- 
 ory forming a connecting link between the 
 past ami present — a period during which great 
 changes have occurred and marvelous develop- 
 ment has been wrought, lie has been deeply 
 interested in the ci. unty's progress ami in as 
 far as possible lias aided in its upbuilding. 
 Moreover in the line of his profession he has 
 endeared himself In many families by the able 
 assistance he has rendered in a kindly helpful 
 spirit. 
 
 EDWAED GRIMES. 
 
 Edward Grimes, who is engaged in general 
 
 agricultural pursuits on section 9, Raymond 
 township, is a native son of the Prairie state. 
 his birth having occurred in Jersey county, mi 
 the 34th of May. 1843. His lather. Jarrett T, 
 Crimes, was born in Madison county. Illinois, 
 January "21. 1820, and was a son of Philip 
 Grimes, a native of Tennessee, in which state 
 he spent the days of his boyhood and youth. 
 He was n in rried there and then, mum ing north- 
 ward, became one of the early pioneer residents 
 of Madison county, Illinois. He served as a 
 soldier in the war of lsr.'. and was acquainted 
 with Andrew Jackson, the hero of the battle of 
 Xew Orleans. Jarrett T. Grimes, the lather, 
 was reared in Illinois and wedded Miss Charity 
 Brown, whose birth occurred in St. Charles, 
 Missouri. In order to provide for his family 
 he followed the occupation of farming and 
 stock-raising and spent his life in Jersey county, 
 although the district in which he lived was at 
 different times within the boundaries of three 
 different counties. He always lived, however, 
 upon the same farm and it is still his place of 
 residence. He owns one thousand acres of 
 valuable land, having become a wealthy agri- 
 culturist of Illinois. He has reached the ad- 
 
 vanced age of eighty-lour years and is one of 
 the honored pioneers of the state. 
 
 Edward Grimes spent his boyhood days un- 
 der the parental roof, working in field and 
 meadow when not engaged with the duties of 
 the schoolroom. His early educational privi- 
 leges were supplemented by a course of study 
 in Shurtleff College and after completing his 
 studies he came to Montgomery county in 1866 
 and located on his present farm, having here 
 one hundred and sixty acres of raw land. He 
 at once, however, began to place the fields un- 
 der cultivation and transform the unbroken 
 prairie into a rich and productive tract. He 
 
 huilt fences, also erected g 1 buildings and 
 
 added modern equipments, such as are seen 
 upon a model farm. As his financial resources 
 increased he also extended the boundaries of 
 his place until it now- comprises two hundred 
 and eighty acres. His home is a commodious 
 two-storj frame residence and nearby are two 
 large and substantial hams and other neces- 
 sary outbuildings. Upon the place is a native 
 grove ami he has planted many ornamental 
 trees. For some years be has made a specialty 
 of the grazing and feeding of cattle and raises 
 no grain, lie ships his own stock and annually 
 sells from six to eight carloads of fat cattle and 
 hogs. In 1868 he left the farm and removed 
 to Butler, where he engaged in the lumber busi- 
 ness for three years, hut subsequently returned 
 to the farm where he is now living, occupying 
 his pleasant and attractive 1 e, which is situ- 
 ated within a mile and three-quarters of Ray- 
 niond. 
 
 While in Butler Mr. Crimes was united in 
 marriage on the 7th of October, 186S, to Miss 
 Emma Sammons, a native of Xew York and a 
 daughter of Clement Sammons, of Hillsboro, 
 in which city Mrs. Grimes was reared. Seven 
 children have been horn of this marriage, of 
 whom two sons are now living: Ernest Robert, 
 at home: and Dr. Leroy Grimes, who is prac- 
 ticing medicine in St. Louis. Missouri. They 
 lost five children: Eugene, who died at the age 
 of nineteen years on the home farm: Charles 
 E., who died at the age id' twenty-two years 
 while pursuing a medical course; Frankie, who 
 died at the age of three months: and two daugh- 
 ters who died in infancy.
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY Of > i , N0 | S
 
 EDWARD GRIMES
 
 J. T. GHIMES
 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 137 
 
 The political views of Mr. Grimes are in 
 accord with the principles of the Democracy 
 and he has supported all of the presidential 
 candidates of that party since casting his first 
 rote for General George B. McClellan in L864. 
 lie was elected and served as a member of the 
 honorary county board of county supervisors 
 on several different occasions and he acted on 
 numerous important committees. He was also 
 township trustee for a uumber of years and 
 lias been president of the board of school di- 
 rectors, in which capacity he 1ms done able 
 service for the cause of education. He and 
 his family are members of the Presbyterian 
 church and he is a charter member of the 
 Masonic lodge ai Raymond, of which lie served 
 as master lor a. number of years. He also 
 belongs to Litchfield chapter and commandery, 
 has represented the blue lodge in the grand 
 lodge of the state and is an exemplary Mason, 
 portraying in his lite the beneficent spirit of his 
 craft, which has as its basic element the prin- 
 ciples id' brotherly kindness and mutual help- 
 fulness. Mr. Grimes takes quite an active and 
 prominent part in the work of the Montgomery 
 County Farmer.- Institute, of which he is now 
 serving as treasurer, and he has exerted a wide 
 influence in its behalf, lie is also prominently 
 identified with the Illinois Fanners Institute 
 and al present is a member id' the finance com- 
 mittee. 
 
 WILLIAM COHNTON. 
 
 William Counton is numbered among the 
 self-made men of Montgomery county whose 
 pro perrty is entirely attributable to their own 
 efforts and because of what he has accomplished 
 he deserves much credit. lie re-ides in section 
 I. [rving township, where he has an excellent 
 farm well improved. Hi- birth occurred in 
 \cv York city. December 25, 1857, and he is 
 a -on of Thomas and Jane (Coudroy) Counton, 
 both of whom wrvr natives of Limerick. Ire- 
 land, whence 1 1n \ came to the L 7 nited States. 
 locating in New York. The father was a tan- 
 ner by trade and continued in active business 
 until 1861, when his patriotic spirit being 
 aroused by the attempt of the south to over- 
 
 throw tin' Union he enlisted as a member of 
 the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth New York 
 Infantry, with which he served until the close 
 of the war. In 1st',; his wife departed this 
 life in I'awtucket. lihode Island. In their 
 family were lour children: William; Martin. 
 who is now living in Dodgeville, Massachusetts; 
 Mary Jane, who died at the age of seventeen 
 years; ami Thomas, who is living in this 
 county. 
 
 William Counton acquired his education in 
 the public schools and in an academy at Mun- 
 cie, Indiana. Owing to his mother's death he 
 was, when ten years of age, placed in the New 
 York Juvenile Orphan's Asylum and at the age 
 of eleven years lie was sent to make his home 
 with Nelson Lipe in Irving township, Mont- 
 gomery county. He arrived in this county 
 February 25, 1869, and lived with .Air. Lipe 
 until the age of sixteen years, when he began 
 earning his living by working as a farm hand, 
 ile was thus employed until 1882 and his in- 
 dustry and economy during that period enabled 
 him in 1883 to become the purchaser of one 
 hundred and twenty acres of land. This he 
 conducted until June. 1903, when he sold his 
 la mi. lie had. however, a good tract of land 
 well unproved and he annually harvested rich 
 ciops as (hi 1 reward for the care and labor 
 which he bestowed upon his place. 
 
 On the 3d of April. 1881, Mr. Counton was 
 married to Miss Julia King, a daughter of 
 John Wesley King and a granddaughter of 
 Andrew and Hannah King. Her father was 
 horn near Chapel Hill. Orange county. North 
 Carolina, September 29, ISM. and died near 
 Irving. Illinois, January 7, 1881. at the age 
 of sixty-six years, three months and eight days. 
 John Wesley King was only a year old when his 
 father removed to Lincoln county, Tennessee, 
 where he lived for fifteen years. In November, 
 1830, when sixteen years of age he accom- 
 panied his father and Noah Kellev from Ten- 
 nessee to Montgomery county, Illinois, the trip 
 being made on horseback. They settled near 
 Irving, the first home of Mr. King being a log 
 cabin, lie was one of the honored pioneer 
 residents of the locality and took- an active and 
 helpful part in promoting the early progress 
 and development of this portion of the state.
 
 L38 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 On the -!il of April ; 1856, lie married Mrs. 
 Julia T. Ellis, and they became the parents of 
 two children, one of whom, Frank King, is 
 now living. The wife and mother died Sep- 
 tember 29, 1859, and Mr. King afterward mar- 
 ried Miss Elizabeth Grantham, on the 12th 
 of July, 1860. They became the parents of 
 six children, of whom two are living: Julia 
 and Lula. The second wife died December 4, 
 1873, and on the 8th of May, 1873, Mr. King- 
 married Nancy Jane Nussman, who departed 
 this life on the second of June. 1879. Mr. 
 King was a man of more than ordinary ability, 
 enterprising and progressive and took an inter- 
 ested and helpful part in all that pertained to 
 the advancement of bis locality, lie held va- 
 rious county offices, was county school commis- 
 sioner and was also deputy under Hiram Greg- 
 ory, county superintendent of schools. He 
 discharged his various duties with promptness 
 and fidelity and he also practiced law in this 
 county. In 1840 the lirst schoolhonse of 
 Rountree township was built and Mr. King 
 was employed as the lirst teacher. He also 
 taught for a number of years in other parts of 
 the county and was regarded as a most aide 
 educator. When a young man he united with 
 the Lutheran church, with which he ever con- 
 tinued a. faithful member and he was thus ac- 
 tively associated with the material, intellectual 
 and mora] progress of his community. 
 
 Unto Mr. ami Mrs. Counton have been born 
 two children. Fiber! Wesley and Harold Ros- 
 lyn. The former, born January 14, 1882, is 
 married and resides in Irving, being a school 
 teacher of Irving township. The younger son. 
 born July 12, 1893, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Counton are members of the Presbyterian 
 church and he belongs to the Masonic Indue at 
 Irving; Twin City lodge. No. 62, K. P.: and 
 the Modern Woodmen camp. No. 1498, at Irv- 
 ing. A stanch Republican in his political 
 views he was elected supervisor in 1880 and 
 served continuously in that office until 1895. 
 He was also a delegate to the last Republican 
 convention held in Springfield. He is recog- 
 nized as one of the leaders of his party in his 
 township and his loyalty in citizenship is mani- 
 fest by an active co-operation in many measures 
 which have contributed to the general srood. As 
 
 the architect of his own fortunes he has budded 
 wisely and well and his life is exemplary in 
 main respects, lor he has molded his own 
 character and shaped his own destiny and has 
 won not only success, but also the high regard 
 of bis fellow men. 
 
 LOUIS WELGE. 
 
 Among those who have come from foreign 
 lands to become active in business circles of 
 EiUsboro is Louis Welge, who for man; years 
 has contributed in large measure to its com- 
 mercial prosperity. His success in all his un- 
 dertakings has been so marked that his methods 
 are of interest to the commercial world. He 
 has based bis bnsiniss principles and actions 
 upon strict adherence to the rules which gov- 
 ern industry, economy and strict, unswerving 
 integrity. His enterprise and progressive 
 spirit has made him a typical American in 
 every sense of the word and he well deserves 
 mention in her history. What he is to-day 
 he has made himself, for he begun in the 
 world with nothing but his own enorg) and 
 willing hands to aid him. 
 
 Mr. Welge is a native of the province of 
 Hanover, Germany, where bis birth occurred 
 on the 23d of October. 1826. His father ,\as 
 the owner of a large sheep ranch there and it 
 was upon this ranch that tin- son spent his 
 early boyhood days, devoting his time largely 
 to the care of the sheep and gaining the expe- 
 rience which proved of great profit to him 
 when be conducted a similar industry in this 
 county. At the age of twenty-seven years 
 he resolved to try his fortune in America and 
 accompanied by a sister he sailed for the new 
 world, being nine weeks upon the voyage, 
 which was made in one id' the old time sail- 
 ing vessels common in the middle of the nine- 
 teenth century. His love of freedom was also 
 one of the element- that proved most strong in 
 his removal and while he has never ceased to 
 cherish an affection for the fatherland he feels 
 the strongest love for the country over which 
 Hows the stars and stripes and has ever been 
 most loyal to its interests. 
 
 It was on the 10th of November, 1853, when 
 accompanied by his sister, now Mrs. Henry
 
 PAST AND 1'1,'KSKNT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 139 
 
 Haake, of Fillmore township, be landed at New 
 Orleans, but he did not tarry in that city. He 
 made his way at once to Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
 there accepted any employment which he could 
 secure that would yield him an honest living. 
 When a number of months had passed he went 
 to Springfield, Illinois, and secured employ- 
 ment on the sheep ranch of a man named Mc- 
 Condle. In the succeeding year lie was joined 
 in Springfield by his brother, Fred Welge, and 
 they determined to engage in the raising of 
 sheep. Removing then to Montgomery county 
 tlic\ purchased land east of Hillsboro and es- 
 tablished a ranch which they conducted with 
 excellent success lor fourteen years. They 
 were proprietors of the farms now owned by 
 Louis. Walter and William Welge and there is 
 no more productive soil to lie found in Mast 
 Fork township. The brothers prospered in 
 their undertaking and their annual sales of 
 sheep brought to them a very desirable financial 
 return. When they disposed of this business 
 they took up their abode in flic city of Hills- 
 boro and purchased the old furniture factory. 
 Mr. Welge was then engaged in the manufac- 
 ture of furniture for several years, employing 
 as mam as twenty-five men. The product of 
 tlie factory was shipped to all of the large 
 cities and I'm- a time found ready market but 
 Mr. Welge was eventually compelled to quit 
 business on account of the competition of the 
 larger manufacturers. He erected the build- 
 ing that was afterward occupied as a mill and 
 which stood on the site of the Hillsboro Pro- 
 duce Company and in this lie conducted a re- 
 tail furniture business until be bough! the imsi- 
 ness block of the Bryce estate and therein 
 opened a furniture store, which be carried on 
 with excellent success until about 1902, when 
 bis son Fred became his successor in this enter- 
 prise anil be retired to private life. 
 
 Mr. Welge has been married twice. He first 
 wedded Mis- Augusta Oarsten and unto them 
 were born two children, namely: Mrs. Lena 
 Dammann, who resides in Hillsboro; and Mrs. 
 Bieler, who makes her home in Raymond, Illi- 
 nois. The wife and mother passed away in 
 December, 1872, and in 1873 Mr. Welge was 
 again married, bis second union being with 
 Miss Mena Shorlimer. Their children are five 
 
 in number and all reside with their father in 
 Hillsboro. namely: Bertha, who is the libra- 
 rian of the city; Fred, who is conducting the 
 furniture store; Dora, a teacher in the public 
 schools; and hula ami Lynn, at home. 
 
 When .Mr. Welge came to Hillsboro he found 
 here a small village with little business enter- 
 prise and has lived to see a great transforma- 
 tion both in the appearance of the county seat 
 and in commercial methods which are now in 
 vogue here. He contributed in substantial 
 measure to the mercantile activity of Hills- 
 boro and as a citizen has been the champion of 
 many measures for the genera] good. His life 
 has been one of exceptional activity and useful- 
 ness and has been characterized by the most 
 unswerving integrity ami honor. He began 
 life in America with little capital ami his 
 financial valuation at present represents a large 
 figure. His competence has been won through 
 judicious investment and capable management 
 and throughout his entire career there has been 
 no action on his part to call forth adverse crit- 
 icism. In the midst of pleasant conditions 
 with many friends around him he is spending 
 the evening of life in comfort, enjoying 'he 
 fruits of his former toil. 
 
 HENRY Q. WAGGONER. 
 
 Henry Q. Waggoner i.- one of the extensive 
 landowners of Pitman township and for years 
 has been classed with the thrifty farmers of 
 Montgomery county. His life record is credit- 
 able to this county which is the place of his na- 
 tivitv. his birth having occurred upon the old 
 family homestead near the village of Wag- 
 goner on the •Mth of November, 1861. His 
 father was George Waggqner, a prominent 
 early settler and extensive and prosperous 
 farmer of this county. He was respected by 
 all because of Ins activity and success in busi- 
 ness affair- and his hearty co-operation in all 
 measures for the general good. 
 
 Xo event of special importance occurred 
 to vary the routine of farm life for Henry Q. 
 Waggoner in his youth. He had perhaps more 
 advantages than some ami less than others. He 
 received good home training and bis education
 
 HO 
 
 PAST AND l'KKSKXT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 was acquired in the public schools nearby. In 
 188.3 he was married, being then a young man 
 of twenty-one years of age. The lady of his 
 choice was Miss Virginia Street, a native of 
 Montgomery county and a daughter of Squire 
 Street, one of the prominent farmers o 1 ' Zanes- 
 ville township. 
 
 The young couple began their domestic life 
 upon a farm which he continued to operate 
 with good success for a number of years. In 
 1894, however, he was called upon to mourn 
 the loss of his wife, who passed away in that 
 year, leaving three children: Florence I., who 
 is now tlir wile nl' Park C. Pettit, a resident 
 of Waggoner; Estella B., at home; ami Henr 
 Wing, who is also with his father. In Sep- 
 tember, 1902. Mr. Waggoner was again mar- 
 ried in Montgomery county, his second union 
 being with Miss Freela D. Shires, whose birth 
 occurred in Rock Island county. Illinois, - 
 who is a daughter of D. F. Shires. Her child- 
 hood was passed in Montgomery county and to 
 its public school system she is indebted to 
 the educational privileges which she enjoyed. 
 
 Some years ago Mr. Waggoner located in 
 the village which bears his name and there 
 erected a large, attractive and substantial resi- 
 dence, which is one of the best homes of the 
 town. He now occupies it ami is living retired 
 from the more active duties of a business ca- 
 reer, lie vet gives personal supervision to his 
 farm and other business affairs, owning a val- 
 uable tract of land of five hundred acres near 
 (he town. This is kept in excellent condition, 
 is well improved with modern equipments ami 
 returns to him a good annual income. In the 
 establishment of the bank at Waggoner he be- 
 came interested as one of the original stock- 
 holders, being associated in this enterprise with 
 his brother. Horace G. Waggoner. Although 
 never an office seeker he has always kept well 
 informed on the political questions of the day 
 as every true American citizen should do and 
 hi- political belief is manifest in the stalwart 
 support which he gives to the Republican 
 party. His wife is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church and though he does not be- 
 long to any religious organization he is a 
 liberal contributor to different churches. His 
 entire life has been passed in Montgomery 
 
 county and be has witnessed much of its prog- 
 ress and development, lie has been particu- 
 larly helpful in improving Waggoner and mak- 
 ing it the enterprising village that it is to- 
 day and his support of any measure insures for 
 it a good following, because he is known as a 
 public-spirited man with clear sound judgment 
 and of unquestioned loyalty in matters of cit- 
 izenship. 
 
 WILLIAM A. LEWEY. 
 
 William A. Lewey, whose farm on section 
 17, Hillsboro township, acquired through his 
 own industry, is well developed ami highly im- 
 proved, devotes his attention to general agri- 
 cultural pursuits, and in his business career 
 displays traits of character which everywhere 
 command respect and confidence. Interested 
 in community affairs, he does all he can to 
 promote the welfare of his township, and is 
 especially active along the line of its moral 
 development. 
 
 Mr. Lewey was born in Guilford county, 
 North Carolina, September 25, 1835, and was 
 one of a family of fourteen children, two of 
 whom died in infancy and twelve came to Illi- 
 nois and settled in Montgomery county. Wil- 
 liam A. Lewey arrived in 1855 and began 
 working as a farm hand by the month, being 
 employed principally by his brother-. He 
 early learned the value of industry and energy 
 as a foundation upon which to build success, 
 
 ami his life has ever 1 n characterized by 
 
 diligence and perseverance. He was employed 
 at farm labor until after the breaking out of 
 the Civil war. when, responding to his coun- 
 try's call for troops to preserve the Union, he 
 enlisted on the 18th of August. 1862, as a 
 private of Company D, One Hundred and 
 Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
 with which he served for three years. After 
 reaching Tennessee he was taken ill and was 
 -.■in to the hospital at La Grange, Tennessee, 
 and afterward to Jacksonville, almost a year 
 having passed before he was able to resume 
 active duty. He was promoted corporal at 
 Jacksonville in 1863. He served on guard 
 duty at the supply post for some time, was also
 
 ME. AND MBS. WILLIAM A. LEWEY
 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF TH£ 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AMi PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 143 
 
 engaged in guarding railroads, and in Au- 
 gust, 1865, he was honorabh discharged and 
 mustered out of the sen ice. 
 
 Mr. Lewey has been thrice married. In 
 1867 he wed, I,., I Miss Rachel Griffith, who 
 died in March, 1878, and lie later married 
 Eebecea Chamberlin, who died in 1888. On 
 the 23d hi' October, 1891, ho was united in 
 marriage to Miss Leuvenna Thacker, a daugh- 
 ter of T. A. Thacker and a native of this 
 county. 
 
 In the fall of 1866 Mr. Lewey purchased his 
 present farm, upon which he took up hSs 
 abode the following year, and has since made 
 it his home, lie has here eighty acres of 
 arable laud on section 17, Hillsboro township, 
 and he has made all of the improvements upon 
 the plan'. It. is now well equipped with mod- 
 ern facilities and its neat and attractive ap- 
 pearance is due to his untiring energy, strong 
 determination and laudable ambition. Mr. 
 Lewey maintains pleasant relations with his old 
 army comrades through his membership in 
 Hubbell post, G. A. R. His views on the tem- 
 perance question are indicated by his support 
 of the Prohibition party and he is found as 
 the advocate of all movements which he be- 
 lirw- will elevate mankind and prove of real 
 benefit to his community, lie is an active and 
 influential member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church of Woodsboro, lias served as church 
 trustee and has lieen a class leader for many 
 years. FTis life, honorable and upright, is in 
 many respects worthy of emulation and his 
 friends and neighbors have naught to say 
 against his good name, lie has lived in this 
 county for almost a half century, and has. 
 therefore, witnessed much of its growth and 
 development, while in the work of improvement 
 he has felt a deep interest. 
 
 EDWARD ('. RICHARDS'. 
 
 Edward C. Richards, residing in Hillsboro 
 township, is a man of good business ability 
 and executive force, carrying on agricultural 
 pursuits along progressive lines on his farm of 
 one hundred and seventy-nine aire-, which is 
 well equipped with modern improvements and 
 
 accessories, lb' was limn m Boston, Massa- 
 chusetts, mi (lie 1 1th nf .May. 1S.V.'. and is a 
 son of George II. Richards, whose birth oc- 
 curred in the same city, May 5, 1816. He was 
 a representative id' Puritan ancestors, who lo- 
 cated in Massachusetts during the early de- 
 velopment of the colony. In his youth George 
 [I. Richards learned the carpenter's trade, serv- 
 ing a seven years' apprenticeship in Boston, 
 Init. believing that the west furnished better 
 business opportunities he came to Illinois in 
 1839 and established his home in Hillsboro, 
 where he soon became actively identified with 
 industrial interests as a partner of the late 
 
 A s Clotfelter in the conduct of a sawmill. 
 
 lie had carried on business here I'm- about three 
 years, when he returned to the east and was 
 married on (he 22d of December, 1842. to Miss 
 Irene II. Lincoln, a daughter of Bradford Lin- 
 coln, of Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts. lie 
 then brought his bride to Hillsboro and they 
 began their domestic life in the home which 
 he hail built for her and which is now owned 
 by B. P. Boyd. Unto this marriage were born 
 six children: Henry, who was horn April 25. 
 18-13. and died in infancy: Susan, who resides 
 in Hillsboro township: Lucy E.. who was born 
 March 15, IS IS. and died in infancy; Alice, 
 the wife of Amos Larry, of Hillsboro town- 
 ship: Edward ('..of this review; and Frederick 
 W., who was bora March 5, 1856, and also 
 died in infancy. Mrs. [rene Richards passed 
 away in 1857 ami the following year Mr. Rich- 
 ards again sought a home in the west, coming 
 to Montgomery county with hi- family. He 
 settled upon tin' farm which he bad purchased 
 during his previous residence here. While in 
 the east he had become an importer and whole- 
 sale dealer in structural iron and hardware, 
 but after bringing his family to Illinois he 
 turned his attention to general farming and 
 continued to reside upon the old family home- 
 stead up to the time of his demise. He first 
 purchased one hundred and twenty acres of 
 land, to which he afterward added sixty acres 
 anil upon his farm be placed many excellent 
 improvements, erecting substantial buildings, 
 cultivating his fields along modern progressive 
 lines and carrying on stock-raising with equal 
 ^-access. In all of bis business dealings he was
 
 144 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 strictly fair and honorable and his name came 
 to be a synonym for enterprise and integrity 
 in trade transactions. Ee never cared for po- 
 litical honors or office, and would never allow 
 his name to be used in connection with the 
 candidacy for any political position. He 
 served, however, as school director, took an ac- 
 tive interest in educational matters and was 
 a stalwart champion of the public-school sys- 
 tem. In early days he was a member of and 
 leader in the home guards. A man of fine 
 physique, lie was about six feet in height and 
 weighed about one hundred and ninety pounds 
 when in his prime. Mr. Richards possessed 
 much natural ability as a mathematician and 
 improved his talents in this direction as op- 
 portunity afforded. He took great delight in 
 discussing with Edmund Fish and A. H. Bell 
 the great mathematical principles and in this 
 connection the trio became known throughout 
 the country. Mr. Richards readied the ad- 
 vanced ago of eighty-six years, five months 
 and nineteen days, passing away at his home 
 in Montgomery county on the 31st of Jan- 
 uary. 1903. To the county lie left the record 
 of loyal citizenship, to his acquaintances the 
 memory of faithful and considerate friendship 
 and to his family lie left not only a good prop- 
 erty, but also an untarnished name. He com- 
 manded the respect of all with whom he was 
 associated, manifesting throughout his entire 
 life sterling traits of character. 
 
 Edward » '. Richards was reared upon the old 
 home farm in this county, to which he was 
 brought by his father when about five years of 
 age. His early educational privileges, ac- 
 quired in tlie common schools, were supple- 
 mented by study in the Hillshoro Academy. 
 His training at farm labor was of a practical 
 character and acquainted him with the best 
 methods of earing for the fields and raising 
 stock. As he advanced in age, experience and 
 capability, he became more ami more closelv as- 
 sociated with his father in business and in his 
 father's later years he took entire charge of 
 the home place, which he has since conducted 
 in a most capable manner. He now owns one 
 hundred and seventy-nine acres of rich land 
 devoted to diversified farming and a glance at 
 his place with its highly cultivated fields and 
 
 splendid improvements indicates to the passer- 
 by the careful supervision of a progressive 
 o\\ ner. 
 
 On the 6th of November, 1879, Mr. Rich- 
 ards was united in marriage to Miss Atclia 
 M Wharton, who was born in Guilford county, 
 North Carolina, a daughter of Jesse Wharton, 
 who came to Montgomery county in 1858. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Richards are devoted and 
 consistent members of the Presbyterian church, 
 being deeply interested in the various church 
 activities and for ten years he has served as 
 one of its elders. In 1895 he assisted in or- 
 ganizing the Farmers' Institute, with which he 
 lias since been connected, serving as secretary 
 six years and president two years. Almost 
 his entire life has been passed in this county 
 an. I with the work of substantial improvement 
 he has been closely associated. He stands to- 
 day as a typical representative of the business 
 men of the west, who recognizes and improves 
 his opportunities, conducting bis interests 
 along lines that gain him a desirable compe- 
 tence and an honored name simultaneously. 
 
 COLUMBUS ELLIOT. 
 
 One of the more progressive agriculturists of 
 Audubon township is Columbus Id Hot who is 
 numbered among the native sons of this locality 
 his birth having occurred in North Litchfii hi, 
 December 20, 1855. Ili> parents were Robert 
 M. and Elizabeth (Meyers) Elliot, who re- 
 moved from Kentucky to Illinois. The Eather 
 purchased the home farm from the original set- 
 tler and owned one hundred and twenty acres 
 of cultivable land and twenty acres of timber 
 land. He always carried on agricultural pur- 
 suits, following that calling until his death in 
 1864, when he was fifty-four years of age. His 
 wile, surviving him for several years, departed 
 this life in 1871 and was laid to rest by his 
 side in the Lutheran cemetery of North 
 Litchfield. The family, however, were identi- 
 fied with the Methodist church at the time of 
 the father's death. He and another man were 
 associated in the ownership of the Methodist 
 church property at Litchfield. His political 
 allegiance was uiven to the Democracy and be
 
 COLUMBUS ELLIOT AND FAMILY
 
 
 Of TOE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 147 
 
 voted for Stephen A. Douglas for president. 
 In the family were six children, three sons and 
 three daughters: Pamelia married M. L. 
 lllackwelder. who resides in Oklahoma City. 
 Both she and her husband were sehool teach- 
 ers and taught in Butler Grove township, 
 Montgomery county. They afterward re- 
 moved to Haddam, Washington county. 
 Kansas, where Mr. Blackwelder continued 
 teaching, and subsequently they took up 
 their abode in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma, 
 where he is now engaged in the real es- 
 tate business. They had two sons and two 
 daughters, but lost their eldest child at the 
 age nf eighteen years. Matilda Helen, (lie 
 second member of the Elliot family, became the 
 wife of Thomas Henley and died in 1879, leav- 
 ing a son, who died at the age of fifteen years. 
 Mr. Heffley has also departed this life. Kate 
 married John M. Blackwelder and is living 
 near Witt, in Witt township, where he follows 
 farming. They have three living children and 
 lost two, their eldest, a son. living in infancy, 
 while the second died at the age of twenty-one 
 years. Guy is a carpenter residing in Los An- 
 geles, California. Columbus is the fifth of the 
 family. James Milton died in childhood. 
 James Wesley was a. farmer, who died at the 
 age of twenty-four years. 
 
 Columbus Elliot is indebted to the old Bea- 
 con school in North Litchfield township for the 
 educational privileges which were afforded him. 
 When not engaged with the duties of the school- 
 room he worked upon the home farm and in 
 1Sm4 be came to Nokomis township, where he 
 was employed at farm labor. On February 24, 
 1876, he wedded Matilda H. Slocum, a daugh- 
 ter of Aaron Slocum. a native el' England, who 
 in his later life made his home with Mrs. Elliot, 
 his death occurring June l(i, 1892. His wife 
 had died in Madison county, Illinois, where the 
 family borne had been established prior to the 
 marriage of their daughter. They had three 
 children, but one died in infancy and the sister 
 of Mrs. Elliot was Sarah J. Slocum, who lie- 
 came the wife of Theodore L. Covert, a resident 
 of Webb City, Jasper county. Missouri, by whom 
 she had six children, five of whom are now liv- 
 ing. Mrs. Elliot was educated in the schools 
 of Edwardsville. Illinois, from which she was 
 
 graduated. By hi r marriage she has become the 
 mother of live children: Arthur Leroy, now 
 twenty-six years of age, married Bertha Fox 
 and is living in Bountree township, where lie 
 follows farming. Fred, twenty-two years of age, 
 was educated in the Fair Prairie school and is 
 at home. Edna Estella, twenty-one years of 
 
 age. was also educated in the Fair Prairie scl I 
 
 and is now the wife of Bennett Peach, a resi- 
 dent fanner of Ada. Minnesota, .lames Milton, 
 eleven years of age, is attending the Audubon 
 school. Lucy is a student in the same school. 
 After his marriage Mr. Elliot resided in 
 Rountree township, where be made his home for 
 fourteen years and then removed to Nokomis 
 township, where lie rented for eight years. On 
 the expiration of that period he settled in Au- 
 dubon township, where lie purchased one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres, upon which he now re- 
 sides. His property possessions have come to 
 him as the result of his persistent effort and 
 untiring diligence. He has met with fair suc- 
 cess in fanning and stock-raising and he now 
 has -a valuable tract of land, one hundred and 
 sixty aere- in Audubon township, which is well 
 improved, and also eighty acres in Bountree 
 township. In his political views he is a Demo- 
 crat, having supported the party continuously 
 since attaining bis majority. Both he and his 
 wife belong to the Zion Chape] Methodist church 
 in Audubon township and are members of the 
 Mutual Protective League, while he is also con- 
 nected with the Modern Woodmen of America. 
 
 W. L. CURRY. 
 
 \V. L. Curry, who for six years has been 
 superintendent of schools in Fillmore and is 
 accounted one of the capable educators of cen- 
 tral Illinois, was born in Walshville township, 
 Montgomery county, December 10, 1863, his 
 parents being R. J. and S. D. Curry. His great- 
 great-grandfather in the maternal line was 
 Daniel Boone, the famous explorer and hunter 
 of Kentucky. His father. R. J. Curry, was 
 born in Pike county, Missouri, and was a 
 schoolmate of llrigham Young, the noted Mor- 
 mon leader. He was also one of the mob that 
 drove Joseph Smith out of Nauvoo. Illinois,
 
 1 18 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT <>F MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 and prevented bhe planting of the Mormon col- 
 ony in this state. Mr. Curry was reared in 
 Pike county and afti r attaining man's estate 
 lie followed general farming and veterinary 
 surgery. He became an early settler of Illinois 
 and won a reputation as a stock dealer, being 
 widely known, especially for the fine borses 
 which he raised. 
 
 \V. L. Curry, whose name introduces this rec- 
 ord, spent his boyhood days under the parental 
 roof and acquired his early education in the 
 schools of Montgomery county. He afterward 
 continued his studies in Danville. Indiana, 
 where he spent three years as a student. He 
 has since devoted his time and energies to edu- 
 cational work and has taught for nineteen years 
 in Montgomery county, the entire time being 
 devoted between four schools. No higher testi- 
 monial of his capability could be given than the 
 fact that he has been so long retained as teach- 
 er in a single community. Six years ago he was 
 appointed superintendent of the schools of 
 Fillmore and has since remained in charge 
 here. He is constantly studying to improve 
 the methods of instruction so as to make school 
 work more effective and valuable as a prepara- 
 tion for life's practical duties. He has intro- 
 duced nunry new and improved methods and 
 under his guidance the schools have made satis- 
 factory and rapid progress. Professor Curry 
 is now engaged in merchandising, having 
 opened a store in the new Knights of Pythias 
 building, which was erected in Fillmore in 
 1904. 
 
 About fifteen years ago Professor Curry was 
 united in marriage to Miss Alice Green, and 
 they have become the parents of five children, 
 but only two are now living: Ralph Wayne 
 and Rolla Glenn. The parents belong to the 
 Methodist Episcopal church and are interest d 
 in its work, taking a helpful part in various 
 church activities. Professor Curry is also 
 identified with the Knights of Pythias frater- 
 nity and with the Modern Woodmen camp and 
 his political allegiance is given to the Repub- 
 lican party, for he believed that its principles 
 contain flie best elements of good government. 
 He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in 
 Montgomery county, where his entire life has 
 been passed and where he has ever labored to 
 
 advance the interests which tend to the de- 
 velopment of the high standard of citizenship 
 and of material, social, intellectual and moral 
 improvement. He is a man of strong purpose, 
 unfaltering in his support of his honest con- 
 viction- and his entire career has been actuated 
 by high and honorable motives. 
 
 REV. THOMAS MASTERSON. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Masterson, pastor of St. Agnes' 
 Roman Catholic church, of Hillsboro, was born 
 in County Longford. Ireland, February 2, 
 L850. His father, Peter Masterson, was a 
 farmer by occupation and died in 1903 at the 
 very venerable age of one hundred ami three 
 years. His wife, Margaret Sheridan, died at 
 i lie age of eighty years. They were the parents 
 of seven children, all sons, and three of the 
 number are now deceased. The living brothers 
 of Father Masterson are Bernard, who is serv- 
 ing as district judge of San Francisco, Cali- 
 fornia : Michael, who is a bookbinder of Pea- 
 body. Massachusetts : and James, who carries 
 on agricultural pursuits in Ireland. 
 
 Father Masterson began his education in the 
 public schools at Moyne, Ireland, and at the 
 
 ml I' fourteen years entered upon a classical 
 
 course there, which he completed by graduation 
 at the age of nineteen years. He next matricu- 
 lated in All Hallows College in Dublin, Ire- 
 land, from which institution he was graduated 
 at the end of five years' course of study in 
 theology. He was at that time twenty-four 
 years of age and was ordained to the priesthood 
 of the Roman Catholic church by Bishop 
 Whelan. 
 
 In 1874 Father Masterson came to the 
 United States, making his way to Alton. Illi- 
 nois, and was first in charge of St. Mary's 
 church at Mound City. Illinois, where he re- 
 mained for five year's. He then went to Cairo. 
 Illinois, where he acted as pastor of St. Pat- 
 rick's Catholic church for three years and for 
 a similar period he was pastor at Paris. Illi- 
 nois, three years at Winchester, this state, four 
 years at Carlinville, and then came to Hills- 
 boro in 1899 to accepl the pastorate of St. 
 Agnes' Catholic church, which was established 
 in 1869. There is now a membership of three
 
 EEV. THOMAS MASTERSON
 
 LIBRARV 
 
 OF TH£ 
 
 --v OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 151 
 
 hundred, which number has increased fifty per 
 cent during the incumbency of Father Mas- 
 terson. The parish and its various branches 
 of church activity arc in a flourishing condi- 
 tion and Father Masterson, in addition to bis 
 work among his people in Hillsboro, is secretary 
 of the Litchfield deanery, which embraces Mont- 
 gomery, Christian, Fayette ami Bond counties. 
 His political allegiance is given to the Democ- 
 racy and fraternally he is connected with the 1 
 Knights of Columbus. 
 
 HARoU> IlooD. 
 
 Harold II I. promoter of many of the busi- 
 ness enterprises and interests of Litchfield 
 which are now contributing to its prosperity 
 and upbuilding and conducting all affairs in 
 harmony with modern, progressive ideas, has 
 by intense and well directed activity won for 
 himself a foremost position among the leading 
 young men of the city and has also gained suc- 
 cess that enables him to control important in- 
 vestments. Litchfield is his native city and the 
 27th of May, L872, the date of bis birth. He 
 represents one of the old and prominent fam- 
 ilies of Montgomery county. In his grand- 
 father's family there were ten children, six of 
 whom reached adult age. Of these Joseph 
 Hood died in Litchfield, Illinois. John, an 
 officer of the Confederate Army, died at John- 
 son's Island. Ohio, in 1865. Griffith was 
 drowned near Grafton, Illinois, in 1850. Per- 
 haps the best known of the brothers was Benja- 
 min Smith Hood, who died February 15, 1904, 
 at the home of his son in Wellington, Kansas. 
 He settled in Montgomery county near the pres- 
 ent site of Litchfield, where be embarked in 
 the drug busim ss with his brother. Joseph, con- 
 tinuing therein for several years. He enlisted 
 in the Seventh Illinois Infantry, the first regi- 
 ment that went to the front from Illinois. In 
 1863 he became one of the promoters of the 
 Union Monitor, published at Hillsboro. and 
 did much to build up Union sentiment in what 
 was then a pro-slavery section of the slate. 
 He was editor of the paper, afterward purchased 
 the interests of his partners, and removed the 
 paper to Litchfield, where he conducted his 
 
 journal until 1872. At bis death his remains 
 were brought back and interred in the Litch- 
 field ei melon. ""lien janiin S. Hood was a 
 newspaper man who bad Eew superiors." said 
 the Wellington (Kansas) Monitor-Press. "He 
 was a ready writer, the master of a graceful 
 and pleasing style and the possessor of a wide 
 fund of information. His tastes were scholarly 
 and his ideals high." An original Abolitionist, 
 he became a stanch Republican. His first wife 
 was Miss Mary T. Jackson, who died in I860, 
 leaving two children: Charles, one of the 
 editor- and proprietors of the Monitor-Press; 
 and Mis- Mary Hood, superintendent of pri- 
 mary work in the public schools of Oak Park, 
 Illinois. In 1885 he was married to Mrs. Mary 
 Jackson, widow of a brother of his first wife, 
 and she now lives in Jerseyville, Illinois. 
 
 Harold Hood is a son of Dr. H. H. Hood, 
 who is represented elsewhere in this volume. 
 Hi' was educated in the schools of Litchfield 
 ami he entered upon bis business career in 
 L888 in the employ of the Jacksonville & St. 
 Louis Railroad as a messenger boy. Subse- 
 quently he was promoted successively to bill 
 clerk, yard clerk and cashier, and remained 
 with the road until March, 1892, when he en- 
 tered the service of the Litchfield Car & Ma- 
 chine Company, as paymaster, thus serving 
 until 1891. In that year he went to St. Louis, 
 where he entered the auditor's office of the 
 St. Louis, Peoria & Northern Railroad, now 
 the Illinois Central. In 1898 he went upon 
 the road as traveling passenger agent for the 
 Illinois Central and thus continued until 1900. 
 »beu be became agent for the road at Litch- 
 field, serving in that capacity until April, 1903. 
 Mr. Hood succeeded bis lather. Dr. H. II. Hood, 
 as secretary of the Oil City Building & Loan 
 Association, upon the latter's death, in Febru- 
 ary, 1903, ami lias since been active in the man- 
 agement of its interests. In May, L904, he or- 
 ganized a brokerage business, entering info 
 partnership with David Davis: Jacob J. Frey, 
 of Hillsboro, and James E. Calvin, also of 
 Hillsboro, under the firm name of H. Hood 
 & Company. They have interests in two hun- 
 dred acres of land southeast of the town, near 
 the plant of the American Radiator Company, 
 and they build houses for sale on the install-
 
 I 52 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 tnent plan, and have thus contributed in large 
 measure to the substantial upbuilding and im- 
 provement of that section of the city. Mr. 
 Hood is also one of the promoters, in connec- 
 tion with David Davis, of the American Radia- 
 tor Company, manufacturers of radiators. The 
 various business interests with which lie is 
 connected are proving important enterprises of 
 Litchfield and in their control lie is displaying 
 excellent business capacity and foresight. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Hood is a Re- 
 publican and is now serving as alderman from 
 the fourth ward, but does not take an active 
 pari in political work. Fraternally he is a 
 Mason, belonging to Charter Oak lodge, Xo. 
 336, A. F. & A. M., and also to the Elks lodge 
 of Litchfield. In his business career his adapta- 
 bility and energy found recognition in ready 
 promotion, and from humble surroundings he 
 has advanced to a position of prominence in 
 business circles. 
 
 GEORGE FOOKS. 
 
 The enterprising village of Waggoner num- 
 bers George Fooks among ils leading business 
 men. He lias here resided during the past 
 seven years and during the last two years has 
 been engaged in dealing in lumber and coal. 
 Realizing that success is uot a matter of ca- 
 price or el' Eortunate circumstances hut is the 
 direct result of labor guided by sound judg- 
 ment, ilr. Fooks is carrying on his business 
 affairs in a most energetic way and has there- 
 fore secured a good patronage. 
 
 Horn in Macoupin county, Illinois, on the 
 nth of June, 1861, he is a son of William Fooks, 
 a native of England. The father remained in 
 that country during (he period of his childhood 
 and early manhood and was married in his na- 
 tive land. Hearing favorable reports of Amer- 
 ica's business opportunities, lie resolved to 
 enjoy the advantages afforded in the new world 
 and in 1848 emigrated to the United States. 
 He made his way direct to Illinois, settling at 
 Bunker Hill, but misfortune overtook him dur- 
 ing his early residence there, for be lost his 
 wife and family of two children with cholera 
 in 1849. lie was there engaged in teaming 
 
 and fruit-growing. On the 36th of August, 
 L860, h<' was married again, In- second union 
 being with Jane Taggart, a native of Ireland. 
 There were three children by this marriage 
 whom she carefully reared after the death of 
 her husband, which occurred December 20, 
 is;:,. She died on the nth of April. 1886. 
 From Bunker Hill William Fooks removed to 
 Montgomery county, settling in Zanesville 
 township upon a tract of land which lie devel- 
 oped into a good farm. lie' worked in the 
 fields from the time of early spring planting 
 until after the crops were harvested in the late 
 autumn and by hi.- labor and energy succeeded 
 in transforming the place into a valuable farm 
 property of two hundred and ten acres, his 
 home being on the southwest quarter of sec- 
 tion 3, Zanesville township, wbere he continued 
 to reside up to the time of his death. 
 
 George Fooks, the only -on of the family, was 
 reared upon the homestead farm in Zanesville 
 township and attended the district school near- 
 by. The pleasures of the playground also occu- 
 pied a full share of his attention, but he did not 
 neglect the farm tasks that were assigned him. 
 and after arriving at maturity he engaged in 
 the operation of the old homestead farm, con- 
 tinuing the work of development and improve- 
 ment there. In ISSli he was united in marriage 
 to Miss Etta E. Sullivan, a native of New York 
 and a daughter of Patrick and Rose (Kelly) 
 Sullivan. They lived happily together for eight 
 years and then Mrs. Fooks was called to her 
 final rest January 14, 1895. 
 
 Not long after this Mr. Fooks rented his 
 farm and spent two years in Raymond. In 
 1897 he purchased a grain business in Wag- 
 goner, bought an elevator, and from 1897 until 
 1899 he owned the north elevator. He then 
 purchased the south elevator. He made ex- 
 tensive purchases and sales of grain, becoming 
 one of the active dealers in this line in his 
 locality, and in 190? he extended his efforts to 
 other fields of business activity by purchasing 
 a lumber and coal yard. He then conducted 
 this in connection with the grain trade until 
 1903, when he disposed of his grain business 
 and of tin 1 elevators. He. however, continues 
 to deal in lumber and coal and has a good 
 patronage, his honorable business methods and
 
 OF THE 
 
 I ITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 GEOKGE FOOKS AND FAMILY
 
 \IK. AND MRS. WILLIAM FOOKS 
 
 WWW* ) » : * *» v ' r ^ TTt / x — rr.-'y . — rv.Vi 
 
 •'/.. »«PWV/ /.'
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 "*"" r SS!TY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 i:.: 
 
 earnest desire to please his patrons having se- acres of corn and when he was still to Ins 
 cured him a growing trade. He is Likewise a teens he was familiar with every department 
 stockholder to the bank of Waggoner and lias of farm Labor and in the best methods of pro- 
 purchased good residence property in town, ducing crops and raisin- stock. That the soil 
 II,. s ti|| retains possession of the old home was nut very productive is indicated by the fact 
 place on the southwest quarter of section 3, that his father sold the entire farm of one hun- 
 Zanesville township, and has eighty acres in dred and sixty acres for twenty-five dollars 
 Pitman township, two hundred and eighty acres when he departed from West Virginia to Mi- 
 in Fayette county, Illinois, and forty acres in aois, For a number of years he had a desire 
 Montgomery county, Missouri. Ins landed pos- to seek a home in tins then far western state 
 sessions m>u aggregating five hundred and sixty and he endeavored in every possible moans to 
 acres of rich Land. All is improved with ex- gain a capital that would enable him to make 
 ception of the eighty acres in Pitman township, the journey with some degree of comfort and 
 Mr. Funk- was again married on the 19th of also enable him to gain a start in Life here. 
 A|iril. 1S99. his second union being with Miss gut crops were poor and he was unable to 
 Ruth McEeynolds, a daughter of Dee and Mary sa ve money, so he resolved to start with onl\ 
 .1. (Isabet) McEeynolds, the former a native of the meager sum thai he realized from his 
 Macoupin county, Illinois, and the latter an farm. He hitched a team to an old wagon, 
 , .; , i- 1 \ settler of that county. There Mrs. Fooks which was in a very dilapidated condition, and 
 was also horn, Imt she was reared to Montgom- then started for the Mississippi valley. Isaiah 
 erv county. There is one son by this marriage, Toberman, who was then ten years of age, 
 George Leland Fooks. Mr. Fooks advocates describes the parting with neighbors and 
 Republican principles and fraternally is eon- friends at the old Virginia home as more like 
 nected with the Knights of Pythias lodge. A a funeral than anything else. Everybody for 
 m . m of good business capacity, his honorable miles around stopped work and came to bid 
 methods have won the confidence of all and he them goodbye. Their trip was begun on the 
 is justly classed with the substantial and promt- ith of September, 1841, and Isaiah and his 
 nent business men of Waggoner. father took turns to riding one of the horses. 
 
 while the other drove. They passed success- 
 ively through Wheeling, West Virginia, and 
 Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, reaching Indian- 
 
 [SAIAH TOBERMAN, a P olis > [ndiana > "" the 25th of S " 1 ', 1 " 1 "'" ', 
 
 The money had by that tune become exhausted 
 
 [saiah Toberman, one el' the respected and a nd they resolved to remain in the vicinity of 
 worthy pioneer settlers of Montgomery county, [ndianapolis until enough could he earned to 
 well deserves representation in this volume enable them to continue the journey. They 
 and, in fact, no historj of this locality would leased a fifteen acre farm between [ndianap- 
 be complete without record of his life, lie n s :m ,| Noblesville, of which ten acres had 
 was hom September 24, 1831, near Franklin, i l( ,,. n cleared and they were to have all they 
 Pendleton county, Most Virginia, and was the C ould make Erom the farm in return for clear- 
 eldest son in a family of seven children, three i ng the other live acres. Xoi Ion- after this 
 sons and four daughters. His birthplace was t| 1( , father's health failed and because of his 
 a. farm upon which his father hail also been invalid condition his two sons, Isaiah and IV- 
 born, the family having resided in that locality ter, supported the family. Three years were 
 for many years. passed in Indiana and on the 1st of September, 
 
 [saiah Toberman had little opportunity to 1853, they again started for Illinois, this time 
 attend school for hi- services were needed on with two wagons, crossing the Wabash river 
 tin- old homestead and he worked from early near Danville. While en route they heard fa- 
 morning until late at night. He was but nine vorable reports concerning the new state of 
 vears of age when he cultivated and raised nine Iowa and derided to proceed further and in-
 
 158 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 vestigate, but after crossing the Mississippi 
 river at Burlington thej were no! favorably im- 
 pressed with the Iowa country and returned 
 to this state, traveling through Beardstown and 
 Jacksonv ille to Hillsboro. 
 
 Isaiah Toberman says that the county seat 
 was then a very unpretentious village, having 
 only two buildings worthy of note — the old 
 courthouse and the academy. At length ar- 
 rangements were made whereby they were to 
 purchase one hundred and forty acres of land 
 of Elza Sanders for one thousand dol- 
 lars, the farm being located about a quarter 
 of a mile south of Bost Hill church. When 
 Isaiah Toberman had assisted the family in 
 getting settled upon that place he returned to 
 Indianapolis, where he obtained a position at 
 running an engine for a pioneer sawmill and 
 thus gained some ready money for the family. 
 In March, 1855, he returned to Montgomery 
 
 i t\ and rented a tract of Land in Fillmore 
 
 township, upon which Eenrj Hanabarger now 
 resides. He has since been actively and suc- 
 cessfully connected with agricultural interests 
 in Montgomery county and is to-day one of the 
 most respected farmers within its borders. 
 
 After several years Mr. Toberman married, 
 being joined in wedlock on the 29th of Jan- 
 uary, 1859, to Mrs. Mary (Harris) Scribner, a 
 sister of Wboten Harris, of Hillsboro, now de- 
 ceased. He made the journey to his bride's 
 heme on horseback and after the ceremony was 
 performed they traveled in the same manner to 
 a meeting at Bost Hill. 
 
 In the meantime Mr. Toberman had saved 
 enough money to purchase sixty acres of land 
 and thus investing his capital he and his wife 
 took up their abode in a log cabin with a stick 
 and dirt chimney. Later he bought a larger 
 house of his brother-in-law, Joel Earris, for 
 twelve dollars and paid for this in coin. In 
 this house ten children were born unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Toberman. In 1861 Mr. Toberman 
 extended his labors into another department of 
 agricultural activity, purchasing a horse power 
 threshing machine and for many years lie was 
 one of the best known threshers of Mont- 
 gomery county, making regular trips through 
 tin- county and also Fayette and Bond counties 
 until the year 1900. The work proved profit- 
 
 able and thus year by year he was enabled to 
 add to his capital. In 1881 he embarked in 
 the -rain and hay business at Chapman and 
 as there was no bank nearer than Hillsboro had 
 to keep enough cash on hand to pay for grain 
 which he bought. He conducted the grain 
 trade and the threshing business and then 
 added other business interests, including the 
 cultivation of a large farm and the operation 
 of two sawmills through the winter months. 
 He possessed greal energy and business capac- 
 ity and the word fail never found a place in 
 his \ocabulary. In 1893, associated with his 
 son Marion, he purchased the elevator at fill- 
 more and afterward bought the hay barn there. 
 At present tiny own and operate elevators ana 
 bay barns at Fillmore, Chapman and Bingham, 
 and that at Chapman is considered one of the 
 be-t in the county. Mr. Toberman continued 
 to reside upon his farm until August, 1898, 
 when he removed to the village of Fillmore in 
 order to superintend his varied business in- 
 dustries with greater facility and dispatch. 
 
 Of the children born unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Toberman five are now deceased, namely: 
 Boxy, Wellington. William H., Thomas A., and 
 one that died in infancy. Thomas A., who 
 passed away at Coffeen, June 30, 1903, was a 
 wry popular young man who had already at- 
 tained prominence in business circles. Those 
 still living are: Marion F.. who is interested 
 with his father in the grain trade at Fillmore 
 and Chapman; Joel H, who is living on the old 
 homestead near Bost Hill; Benjamin E.. who 
 is engaged in the -rain trade in Coffeen: Flor- 
 ence, the wife of II. F. Williamson, of Fill- 
 more; and Waller II.. who is connected with 
 the grain business at Coffeen. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Toberman is a 
 stalwart Democrat, having continuously sup- 
 ported the party since casting his first presiden- 
 tial ballot for Franklin Pierce. He is also a 
 stanch advocate of the cause of temperance 
 and has labored earnestly for the adoption of 
 temperance principles and the suppression of 
 the liquor traffic. In 1868 he became a mem- 
 ber of the Lutheran church at Bost Hill, but 
 afterward joined the Baptist church and is 
 now an active worker therein in Fillmore. His 
 wife, an earnest Christian woman, has been his
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 159 
 
 sympathetic assistant in all church work as in 
 other walks of life and Mr. Toberman at- 
 tributes his success in no small degree to lier 
 encouragement and hearty co-operation. Thej 
 have n<>\\ reached the ages of seventy-two and 
 seventy years, respectively, but they arc well 
 preserved people, Mrs. Toberman doing her 
 own housework, while Mr. Toberman daily su- 
 perintends his varied business interests. They 
 have residence property in Fillmore and in 
 addition he owns four hundred acres of land. 
 which he has acquired through Ins earnesi toil. 
 Throughout his business career he has carried 
 forward to successful completion whatever be 
 has undertaken and his example should serve 
 as a source of inspiration and encouragement 
 to others. The Toberman household has al- 
 ways been noted for its hospitality and many 
 there are who have found in Mr. and Mrs. To- 
 berman warm friends and on many occasions 
 there have been those who have received from 
 them substantial assistance. 
 
 WASHINGTON ALEXANDER WHITE. 
 
 Washington Alexander White, whose intense 
 and well directed activity has made him one 
 
 of the fore st factors in con inity affairs in 
 
 Hillsboro, entered upon thi active duties of 
 life unaided by influential friends or advan- 
 tageous circumstances. He has been the sole 
 architect of his own fortune, molding his own 
 character and shaping his own destiny. He has 
 come to be a merchant and a man of affairs in 
 his adopted state, yet his labors have not been 
 restricted to the advancement of his personal 
 interests, for he has extended his effort to 
 various fields, in which he has championed the 
 highest interests of the municipality and of 
 the people at large. 
 
 Mr. White was born in North Carolina, as 
 were his parents, Robert R. and Bebecca (Bark- 
 ley ) White. The father was a farmer by oci u- 
 pation and at the time of the Civil war espoused 
 the cause of the south and died in the hospi- 
 tal at Richmond, Virginia, in 1804. when 
 thirty-five years of age. His political allegiance 
 was given to the Democracy anil he was a 
 member of the Reformed Presbvterian church. 
 
 His wile, who was also born in North Caro- 
 lina, was a daughter of Eobert R. and Rebecca 
 1». (Cathey) Barkley. Mrs. White died in is;;, 
 at the age of forty-two years. She was also a 
 member of the Reformed Presbyterian church 
 and was a mosi estimable lady who had the 
 warm regard of many friends. In the family 
 were five children: Mary Roberta, now deceased; 
 Nancy E., who became the wife of Frank Eagle, 
 a resident of North Carolina; Anna Delilah, 
 the widow of Wesley Bailey, of North Carolina; 
 Washington A.: and Bobbie, deceased. 
 
 Washington A. White began his education in 
 ih.' common schools of his native state and 
 continued his studies in East Fork township, 
 Montgomery county, lie came to this county 
 in 1876 with his uncle. Pink White, who located 
 at Hillsboro. Mr. White was then fifteen years 
 of age and he worked by the month on a farm in 
 summer, while in the winter seasons he attended 
 school for two years, lie afterward drove a de- 
 livery wagon for John C. Barkley for two years 
 and at the expiration of that period he entered 
 the store of A. A. K. Sawyer as a clerk in the 
 grocery department. Afterward he was em- 
 ployed in the dry-goods department, where he 
 remained for five years. Subsequently he en- 
 gaged in selling dry goods as a traveling sales- 
 man, beginning in that line in 1886 as a repre- 
 sentative of a St. Louis house. He was thus 
 engaged until 189 1 } and during the two last 
 years he was in charge of the traveling men of 
 that bouse upon the road. The firm, however, 
 retired from business in August, 1897, and Mr. 
 White again came to Hillsboro and began busi- 
 ness on his own account as a dealer in dry 
 goods, clothing, hats and caps at Hillsboro. He 
 still carries on business in this line and has 
 secured a liberal patronage which has made 
 the enterprise a profitable one. He is likewise 
 interested in the new Kortkamp Mining Com- 
 pany and is a member of the Hillsboro Building 
 & Improvement Company. 
 
 Mr. White was married in 1892 to Miss Win- 
 nie P. Brown, a daughter of George W. and 
 Henrietta Brown, who was born in Butler in 
 18G9. They had two children: Ruth H. and 
 Marjorie 1!. 
 
 In his political affiliation Mr. White is a 
 Republican, keeping well informed on the ques-
 
 ii;ii 
 
 'AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 tions and issues of the day and giving earnest 
 support to every movement that he believes will 
 contribute to the success of the part)-. He be- 
 longs to the Modern Woodmen camp and in 
 Mas -y has attained the rlnight Templar de- 
 gree. He thoroughly enjoys home Life and 
 takes great pleasure in the society of his fam- 
 ily and friends. He is always courteous, kind- 
 ly and affable, and those who know him per- 
 sonally have for him warm regard. A man of 
 great natural ability, his success in business 
 from the beginning of his residence in Hillsboro 
 has been uniform and rapid. As has been truly 
 remarked, after all that may be done for a 
 man in the way of giving him early oppor- 
 tunities for obtaining the requirements which 
 are sought in the schools and in hooks, he must 
 essentially formulate, determine and give shape 
 to his own character; and this is what Mr. 
 White has done, lie has persevered in the pur- 
 suit of a persistent purpose and gained the most 
 satisfactory reward. 
 
 DELOS VAX DEUSEN. 
 
 Delos Van Deusen has figured prominently 
 in financial circles and has aided in fostering 
 various enterprises which have for their object 
 the city's benefit and it is. therefore, imperative 
 that definite consideration he granted to Mr. 
 Van Deusen in connection with the history of 
 Montgomery county, where he has been con- 
 nected with various business affairs and has 
 so ordered his lite as to gain and retain the 
 confidence ami esteem of his fellow men. He 
 has now passed the eightieth milestone on 
 life's journey and is living in the enjoyment of 
 a well earned rest. 
 
 A native of Allegany county. New York, Mr. 
 Van Deusen was horn on the 9th id' December, 
 L823, a -on of Joshua B. and Lucia (Gros- 
 venor) Van Deusen. who were of Dutch and 
 English descent, respectively. When their son 
 was three years of age they removed to James- 
 town, New York, and in that city he was reared 
 and educated. In IS Hi he went to Dayton. 
 Ohio, where he began husiness as a dealer in 
 I ts, shoes and leather. This proved a re- 
 munerative enterprise with which he was con- 
 
 nected until 1857. In that year he made ;i trip 
 through the state of Illinois and decided to 
 become a resident of Montgomery county. 
 Litchfield was then a very small place, but 
 he recognized its possibilities and opportuni- 
 ties and resolved to cast in his lot with its 
 early settlers. From that time forward he has 
 been loyal to its interests and his labors have 
 proved a resultant factor in securing its up- 
 building and improvement. 
 
 At the time of the Civil war Mr. Van Deusen, 
 aroused by a spirit of patriotism, felt that his 
 first duty was toward his country and became 
 a member of the Sixth Missouri Volunteer In- 
 taut rv. He raised a company, of which he be- 
 came captain, the enlistment taking place at 
 the arsenal in St. Louis in June, 1861. The 
 regiment was then sent south and was kept 
 at Pilot Knob until the fall of that year, when 
 it was ordered to Tipton. Missouri, where Fre- 
 mont was in command. It was then sent to 
 Springfield in November, 1861, and afterward 
 returned to guard the Pacific Railroad until 
 the succeeding spring. Later the regiment was 
 ordered to proceed to Pittsburg Landing in 
 May-, 1862, at which time it was assigned to 
 Genera] Sherman's division and from that time 
 on until the close of the war was in active 
 duty under the intrepid Ohio leader. Mr. Van 
 Deusen was mustered out id' service in St. Louis 
 in September, 1865. He had been promoted 
 to tin' rank of lieutenant colonel in 1864 and 
 with that rank served in all of the campaigns, 
 commanding the regiment in active service 
 during the entire succeeding year. After the 
 close of the war he was made colonel by Gov- 
 ernor Fletcher. His services covered more than 
 four years ami during that entire time he was 
 never wounded, although his clothing was sev- 
 eral times pierced by bullets. 
 
 After his return to the pursuits of civil life 
 Mr. Van Deusen was made city magistrate of 
 Litchfield, occupying that position for four 
 years. In 1871 he entered the bank of Beach, 
 Davis & Company, wdio were later succeeded by 
 M. M. Martin & Company. Mr. Van Deusen 
 was cashier of this institution and held the 
 position until 1898, when the hank again 
 changed its name. For some time he was the 
 oldest hank cashier of Litchfield and wa- a
 
 DELOS VAN DEUSEN
 
 MBRABY 
 
 QF W 
 
 UNIVERSITY Of lUINOIS
 
 PAST AM) PEESENT OF M03S T TGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 163 
 
 member of the firm. Ee was also a director ol 
 the Oil City Building & Savings Association, 
 which was capitalized Eor one million dollars, 
 and as its president he capably managed the 
 a if airs of the company to the entire satisfaction 
 of its stockholders. He was likewise one of 
 the organizers of the Litchfield Homestead & 
 Loan Association and was its president. He 
 is now practically living a retired life, although 
 he lias financial interests in several leading 
 business concerns of the city. 
 
 While residing in Dayton, Ohio, Mr. Van 
 Deusen was united in marriage to Miss Hen- 
 rietta M. Snyder, a daughter of Charles and 
 Elizabeth Snyder, the wedding being cele- 
 brated on the 19th of February, 1852. Mr. 
 Van Deusen is a member of the Grand Army 
 of the Republic at Litchfield and in his politi- 
 cal views is a Republican. It is said of an 
 eminent man of old that he has done things 
 worthy to lie written : that he lias written things 
 worthy to he read; and by his life has con- 
 tributed to (lie welfare of the republit ffi trie 
 happiness of mankind. He on whom this 
 transcendant eulogy can be pronounced with 
 even partial truth is entitled to the gratitude 
 of his race. Nowhere within the broad limits 
 of the commonwealth of Illinois has there lived 
 a man about whom this might more truthfully 
 be said than Delos Van Deusen. 
 
 DANIEL POPE. 
 
 Daniel Pope, who follows farming on section 
 4, Raymond township, where he owns and cul- 
 tivates one hundred and sixty acres of land and 
 also operates an adjoining farm of one hundred 
 and seventy acres, has been a resident of Mont- 
 gomery county since August, 1868, and has 
 lived in Illinois since 1866, at which time he 
 settled in Jersey county. He was horn in 
 Devonshire, England, April 2, 1848. and re- 
 mained in that country until eighteen years of 
 age. He also spent seven years in Wales and 
 he had fair school advantages in his youth. He 
 came to America in 1866, when a young man 
 of nineteen years, and made his way at once to 
 Illinois, settling in Jersey county, where he- 
 joined an older brother. Richard Pope. He 
 
 resided in that county Tor more than a- year, 
 working as a farm hand by the month, and in 
 August, L868, he came to Montgomery county, 
 where lie improved a farm, breaking wild land 
 
 ami developing a g I property. He continued 
 
 io engage in general agricultural pursuits upon 
 the first place lor several years and the farm is 
 still occupied by his brother Richard. 
 
 In March, 1873, Daniel Pope was united in 
 marriage to Miss Josephine Corn, a native of 
 Illinois, ami here they began their domestic 
 life upon a tract of rented land, which he con- 
 tinued to cultivate lor lour years. This was 
 located near Ins brother's farm. He afterward 
 rented another farm for twelve years and on 
 the expiration of that period lie purchased the 
 property upon which he now resides, buying 
 forty acres in isss. Later he bought eighty 
 acres and subsequently an additional tract of 
 eighty acres, hut afterward sold forty acres of 
 this. 'He has also purchased ninety-nine acres 
 of land in Jersey county. His attention has 
 been given to the development and further im- 
 provement of tin- home place ami l«> the culti- 
 vation of other tracts and as before said he not 
 only operates his home farm of a quarter sec- 
 tion, but also cultivates the adjoining one hun- 
 dred and seventy acres. He is a successful 
 farmer, ever practical in his methods, follow- 
 ing progressive ideas and laboring earnestly 
 and persistently in his efforts to accumulate a 
 competency. He now owns two valuable farms, 
 one in Jersey and one m Montgomery counties, 
 and his properties are the visible evidence of 
 his life of thrift and industry. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pope have been born nine 
 children: Olivia L.. the wife of John Hitch- 
 ings, a farmer of Montgomery county; William 
 G.. who is married and follows farming with 
 his father-in-law, Henry Hitehings; Etta, the 
 wife of Ori Thompson, a resident farmer of 
 Jersey county, living upon her father's land; 
 Nellie, Bertha, Joseph, Ralla, Geneva and 
 Maude, all at home. The parents hold mem- 
 bershTp in the Baptist church and in his fra- 
 ternal relations Mr. Pope is an Odd Fellow, 
 connected with Harvel lodge, in which he has 
 filled all of the chairs and is now past grand. 
 He was also deputy for sixteen or seventeen 
 years and represented his local lodge in the
 
 n;i 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT 
 
 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 grand lodge of the state lor six terms, serving 
 for five consecutive terms. lie belongs to the 
 Knights of Pythias fraternity, of Raymond, of 
 the Court of Honor and the Modern Woodmen 
 camp and in the last named lias Idled all of 
 the offices, lie strongly endorses Republican 
 principles and has tilled the offices of highway 
 commissioner and township* treasurer, acting in 
 the latter capacity for six years. He was a 
 member of the school hoard for fifteen years-. 
 during which time he served for several years 
 as its president. He lias likewise been a dele- 
 gate to the county conventions and takes a deep 
 and active interest in the success of his party 
 and the extension of its influence. There is no 
 more loyal citizen in Montgomery county than 
 this adopted son of America, for during his 
 long residence in Illinois he has always been 
 faithful and true to its interests and at the same 
 time he has so controlled his business affairs 
 as to win the success which is the reward of 
 honesty and concentrated labor when guided by 
 sound judgment. 
 
 MARTIN LUTHER MOYER, M. D. 
 
 Dr. -Martin Luther Moyer, successfully en- 
 gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery 
 in Hillsboro, was born in Iredell county. North 
 Carolina. March 19, L850. Hi- lather. John 
 M. Moyer, was also a native of North Carolina 
 and was descended from German ancestry, the 
 family Inning been founded in Pennsylvania at 
 an early day. while later generations of the fam- 
 ily became residents of the "hi North state. 
 John M. Mover was a farmer by occupation and 
 during the Civil war he made saltpeter for the 
 Confederacy. In 1866 lie removed with his 
 family to Montgomery county, Illinois, locat- 
 ing on a farm near Coffeen. He married Mar- 
 tha A. Kimball, who lias born in Cabarrus 
 county, North Carolina, in 1825, and was of 
 Irish parentage, tracing her ancestry hack to 
 Major Buckner Kimball, who came from the 
 north of Ireland about 1750, and served in the 
 Revolutionary war with the rank that his title 
 indicates. His children were Nancy. Betsy, 
 Patsy, Eddie and Harris, all natives of Ran- 
 dolph county, North Carolina. 
 
 Harris, the youngest, married Dorcas Wood, 
 of North Carolina, and they had ten children: 
 
 • loci. Calya, Harris. William, Pihugh. Sarah, 
 Patsy, Nancy. Betty ami Polly. Of this family 
 
 • loci. s,,n of Harris Kimball, was the grand- 
 father of Dr. Mover of this review. He was 
 horn in North Carolina. August 11. 1799, and 
 died Ma] 38, L883. lie was married first to 
 Naiuy Kearns, who was horn duly 1'.'. 1301, 
 and was married in IMS at the age of seven- 
 teen. They had six children: Thomas II.. wdio 
 was horn November 19, 1819, and died Janu- 
 ary 15, 1890; Wiley .1.. who was horn April 
 ;. 1821, and died in 1900; John A., who was 
 horn May 15, 1823, and died July 17, L824; 
 Martha A., who was born April ', . 1825, and 
 died November 11. 1891; Mary P.. who was 
 born March 1. 1828, and lives in Moorsville, 
 North Carolina; Eliza ('.. who was horn Au- 
 gusl I. L830, and now lives in Mt. Gilead, North 
 Carolina. Soon after the last named was born 
 "The mother died. 
 
 "ij March 1. 1831, Joel Kimball was mar- 
 ried a second time to Miss Sarah Lentz. by 
 whom he had ten children: Henry P. born 
 December 5, 1831, now deceased; Nancy L.. 
 born April 4. 1835; David Hoyl. horn January 
 29, is:;;, and died in August. 1840; John Cal- 
 vin, horn September 5, 1839; Chrissie A., horn 
 August 29, IS I-.'; Sarah S., born October 8. 
 1844. and died April 24, 18"i I : Laura W., horn 
 March 7, is 17; William IP. born September 
 28, 1850; Joel P.. born October 5, ls:,4. Sarah 
 Kimball, the mother of the last ten children, 
 died March 16, 1902, aged ninety-four years, 
 ■ ighl months and eight days. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Moyer were members of 
 the Lutheran church and Mr. Moyer was a 
 Democrat in his political faith. They had four 
 children, of whom two died in infancy. The 
 surviving daughter. Mary P.. a resident of But- 
 ler, Illinois, is the widow- of Robert Hogsett, 
 who died in Kansas in 1895, leaving four chil- 
 dren. Mattie P... Maude C, Bertha G. and Ada 
 E. John M. Mover died December 27, 1891, 
 and his wife passed away November IP 1892. 
 
 Dr. Moyer pursued his literary education in 
 the public schools and engaged in teaching for 
 one winter. He read medicine in the office of 
 Dr. T. d. Whitten, then of Irving and now of
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 DR. M. L. MOYEE AND SON
 
 MB. AND MRS. JOHN M. MOYEE
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 of n\i 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 169 
 
 Nokomis. Later he attended lectures at the 
 College of Physicians and Surgeons, Iowa, and 
 was graduated on the compli tion of the regu- 
 lar course, March 2, 1880. He located for 
 practice in Butler, where he remained for sev- 
 enteen years, and in the fall of 1896 came to 
 Hillshoro. where he has remained since, lie 
 has a large patronage and although a general 
 practitioner, also makes a specialty of the dis- 
 ea.-es of women and children, having studied 
 LaTgely along these lines, so that his proficiency 
 in that direction is above the average. 
 
 In 1882 Dr. Moyer was married to Miss 
 Emma A. Gray, a daughter of Alexander and 
 Amanda Cray, of Butler Grove township. She 
 died December 31, L885, at the age of twenty- 
 three years, and in 188? Dr. Meyer married 
 Miss Susie L. Gray, a sister of his first wife. 
 They had twn children, Leland Gray and Har-i 
 old A., but the former is new deceased. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Moyer are members of the 
 Lutheran church, and he belongs to the Knights 
 of Pythias fraternity and to a number of in- 
 surance orders. In politics he is a Democrat 
 and has served as county coroner and in town- 
 ship offices, his public-spirited citizenship being 
 manifest by faithful service. He belongs to the 
 American, Slate. Central, District ami County 
 Medical Societies and in professional ranks he 
 occupies a position that indicates a studious. 
 careful preparation and a conscientious devo- 
 tion to the demands of a large practice. 
 
 ALBERT M. HOWELL. 
 
 Albert M. Howell, promoter of many busi- 
 ness interests which have important bearing 
 upon the substantial development and progress 
 of Hillsboro and Montgomery county, was born 
 at Bunker Bill, Macoupin county. Illinois, 
 June 23, 1854. The family is of Welsh lineage 
 and Mr. Bowell, the grandfather, was a farmer 
 of New Jersey. The ancestors of our subjeel 
 had located in the new world at an early period 
 in its colonization and Richard Howell, who 
 was an uncle of Ebenezer Howell, was governor 
 of New Jersey during the Revolutionary war. 
 while another representative of the family was 
 a genera] in the Colonial army. 
 
 Dr. Ebenezer Howell, father of Albert M. 
 Howell, was born in New Jersey, and in the 
 year ls:i."> emigrated westward, settling at Bun- 
 ker Hill, Macoupin county, Illinois, where he 
 engaged in the practice of medicine for fifty 
 year-, becoming one of the best known and suc- 
 cessful physicians of that part of the state. He 
 removed to Hillsboro in 1893 and died here the 
 following year when in the eighty-fifth year of 
 his age. He obtained a competency by reason 
 of Ins professional skill and the careful hus- 
 banding of his resources. He had a very large 
 practice and was a loved family physician in 
 many a household. His benevolent and kindly 
 spun led him to give his professional services 
 where he knew that there was no hope of re- 
 muneration and it is said that he had not an 
 enemy on earth. In his political views he was 
 an earnest Republican. Honored and respected 
 by all his memory is yet enshrined in the hearts 
 of many who knew him. In early manhood he 
 married Almira Cake, who was born in Deer- 
 field,, New Jersey, and died at the age of sev- 
 enty-six years. Her parents were David and 
 Margaret Cake and the former was a farmer 
 by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Howell became 
 the parent- of four children : George, deceased, 
 who was the first white child born at Bunker 
 Hill, Illinois; Frank and Alfred, both deceased; 
 and Albert M. 
 
 Reared under the parental roof Albert M. 
 Howell spent the days of his boyhood at Bun- 
 ker Hill and after completing the course in 
 the public schools there he attended Blackburn 
 [Tniversit] ai Carlinville, Illinois. Subsequent- 
 ly he continued his studies at Notre Dame and 
 after leaving school accepted the position of 
 bookkeeper in a wholesale house in St. Louis, 
 Missouri, where he remained for a year and a 
 half. <>n the expiration of that period he re- 
 turned to his home and engaged in clerking in 
 a dry goods store. A year later he went south 
 ami was lumber inspector in a sawmill for -i\ 
 months. He next went to Jersey City, N< w Jer- 
 sey, where he opened a wholesale lumberyard 
 as a dealer in yellow pine, continuing in that 
 business for four years. He then again came 
 io the west and entered the employ of D. P. 
 Woodman, a lumber merchant of Litchfield, as 
 bookkeeper. He acted in that capacity for four
 
 170 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 years and from Litchfield went to New Doug- 
 las. Illinois, where he established a retail lumber 
 yard in 1883. He had conducted the business 
 for about two years, when in 1885 he sold out 
 and removed to Florence, Kansas, where he 
 was proprietor of a lumberyard for two years, 
 conducting this under the firm name of Dean & 
 Howell. He then sold out and returned to 
 McLean, Illinois. There he purchased a lum- 
 beryard, which he conducted for six years and 
 once more he sold his business and bought an 
 interest in the lumberyard owned by Ed Rice, 
 of Litchfield. The Rice-Howell Lumber Com- 
 pany was thus organized and the business was 
 carried on successfully until 1893, when Mr. 
 Howell sold out and purchased the lumber busi- 
 ness of E. Y. McKnown at Hillsboro. Here he 
 has since carried on business and in February, 
 1904, he sold a half interest in his yard to 
 Howell M. Dorsey of Gillespie. Illinois. The 
 firm name is now Howell & Horsey. They carry 
 a stock of lumber valued at fifteen thousand dol- 
 lars. This is both dressed and undressed Lumber 
 ami their sales have reached a large figure, the 
 business now being very profitable. 
 
 While Mr. Howell has won success as a lum- 
 ber merchant he has also been the pri ter of 
 
 various enterprises, contributing in direct meas- 
 ure to the commercial and industrial activity 
 of the county and to its prosperity. In 1895 
 lie was one of the four organizers of the Mont- 
 gomery County Telephone Company and has 
 been its secretary and manager since 1898. He 
 is also the laxgesl stockholder. In 1901 he was 
 instrumental in forming the Commercial Club, 
 an organization thai has been pre-eminent in 
 the upbuilding of Hillsboro, and from the be- 
 ginning he has been its president, lie is one 
 of the largest stockholders in the Hillsboro 
 Hotel and is one of the promoters of (he Lvort- 
 kamp Coal ( iompany. 
 
 In L886 Mr. Howell was united in marriage 
 to ^liss Carrie S. Maeknett, a daughter of Dan- 
 iel S. an.l Rhoda (Clark) .Maeknett, the for- 
 mer a lumber dealer of Girard and Carlinville, 
 Illinois. Mrs. Howell was born in Girard in 
 1865 and has become the mother of three chil- 
 dren: Almira V,.. Alberta M. and Annell C. 
 Mr. Howell belongs to the Masonic fraternity 
 and to the Modem Woodmen camp at Hills- 
 
 boro and in his political views he is a Republi- 
 can. He is a man of excellent business ability, 
 executive force and keen discernment and car- 
 ries forward to successful completion whatever 
 he undertakes, and while he has promoted his 
 individual prosperity he also belongs to that 
 class of representative American citizen- who 
 while controlling business affairs also add to 
 the gem ral prosperity. 
 
 WALTER M. GRIMES. 
 
 Walter M. Grimes, proprietor of the Pine 
 Tree place on section 33, Nokomis township. 
 was horn October T. 1878, in Rosemond town- 
 ship, Christian county, his parents being Ste- 
 ven X. and Lucy E. (Cavender) Grimes, who 
 were natives of Macoupin county, Illinois. The 
 father was of English descent, while the 
 mother's people were Canadians. The mater- 
 nal grandfather lived to he eighty-two years of 
 age. and his wife seventy-nine years of age, 
 their last day- being spent in Macoupin county, 
 and they celebrated their golden wedding. 
 
 Steven N. Grimes was reared in Macoupin 
 county, followed the occupation of farming in 
 his boyhood under his father's instruction and 
 in 1872 removed to Christian county. Illinois, 
 where he took possession of a farm belonging 
 to his father. He afterward acquired landed 
 possessions to the extent of ten or eleven hun- 
 dred acres, lying in Rosemond and Greenwood 
 townships, Christian county, and a part in 
 Nokomis township, Montgomery county. He 
 had two <ister> who were long residents of cen- 
 tral Illinois. Mrs. E. K. Adams, now living on 
 a farm at Gillespie, and Mrs. Mary E. Beggan, 
 who dieil m Gillespie in L901. Mrs. Grimes 
 has two sisters who are yet living. Mrs. Robert 
 Huddle-ton. of Gillespie, ami Mrs. Mary Hal- 
 pin, who is living on a farm in that locality. 
 Steven X. Grimes departed this life in 1896, 
 but his wife is still living, making her home 
 with her brother, John Cavender, upon a farm 
 near Gillespie. She is now fifty-one years of 
 age. Bv her marriage she became the mother 
 of five sons and two daughers, of whom Walter 
 M. was the third in order of birth. The mem- 
 bers of this family are William N.. who re- 
 sides upon the old home farm and is a success-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 171 
 
 ful breeder of Hereford cattle; Nannie J., who 
 di.il at the age of fifteen years; Walter M.; 
 Jessie and Stephen, who died in infancy; Ira, 
 who died at the ago of one year, and Ruth May, 
 who is living with her mother m Gillespie. 
 
 Walter M. Grimes acquired his early educa- 
 i urn in the district schools and afterward attended 
 the graded schools of Rosemond, Illinois, and 
 later Blackburn University at Carlinville, Illi- 
 nois, hut while a Student there in 1894 he was 
 taken ill and did not gei to complete the course, 
 lie has since taken some correspondence work 
 and thus supplemented his school training. 
 Since putting aside his text books he has de- 
 voted his entire time and energies to agri- 
 cultural pursuits. For six years he has re- 
 sided upon hi- presenl farm, which he calls the 
 Pine Tree place. lie owns altogether eight 
 hundred acres, some id' which he inherited, 
 while the remainder he purchased. Of this hi' 
 has three quarter sections rented and the ren- 
 tal therefrom brings him a good income. His 
 own home place is splendidly improved and 
 equipped with modern facilities for carrying 
 on the farm work and with splendid buildings. 
 His life has been characterized by unfaltering 
 energy and perseverance and in the control of 
 his property interests he displays excellent busi- 
 ness management. 
 
 In 1901 .Mi'. Grimes was married to Mania 
 I). Clark, who was born in Cahokia township, 
 Macoupin county, March i, 18?8, and is a 
 daughter of M. W. and Carrie T. (Boosinger) 
 Clark, of Gillespie, Illinois; both natives of 
 Macoupin county, this state. .Mrs. Grimes at- 
 tended the country schools in her early girl- 
 hood and later became a student in the public 
 schools of Carlinville. She had three brother-, 
 but the eldesi died in infancy and Harvey M. 
 is also deceased. Frank 1!. Clark, who was 
 born in Gillespie township, is living with his 
 parents at the age id' twenty-one years. John 
 Clark, the paternal grandfather of Airs. Crimes, 
 died at the age of eighty years. Her maternal 
 grandparents, George F. and Marie A. Boo- 
 singer, however, are still living in Macoupin 
 county and they have celebrated their golden 
 w edding. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Grimes has been 
 blessed with two children, Harry M., horn 
 
 March 7, L903, and M. Melvina, horn October 
 10. 1904. The young couple are widely and 
 favorably known in Montgomery county, where 
 they have many warm friends and the hospi- 
 tality of many of the best homes is freely ac- 
 corded them. In politics he has always been a 
 Democrat and fraternally is connected with the 
 Ixnights of Pythias lodge ami the Modern 
 Woodmen camp. 
 
 ANTON W. COPY. 
 
 Anton W. Goby, living on section '.'. Zanes- 
 ville township, where he owns and opi rate- a 
 farm of two hundred and ten acres, was born 
 in Fast Friesland. Germany, on the 22d of 
 November, 1850. His youth was there passed 
 and in early life be worked at farm labor in 
 his native country. He came to the new world 
 in 1871. being then a young man of twenty- 
 one year-, and he located in Greene county, 
 Illinois, where he had a cousin living. He was 
 employed there by the month as a farm hand 
 for a year or two and it was during bis resi- 
 dence in that county that he was married on 
 the 14th of February. 1873, to Miss Sarah 
 Jones, a native of Illinois and of English 
 lineage. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Goby rented a tract 
 of land on which he carried on general farm- 
 ing for several years and on the expiration of 
 that period he purchased a part of his present 
 farm, becoming the owner of eighty acres. This 
 he at once began to cultivate and improve, and 
 when his capital had sufficiently increased to 
 enable him to make further purchase he ex- 
 tended the boundaries of his farm and has 
 added to it from time to time until he is now 
 the owner of two hundred and ten acres of 
 valuable land. He has also another tract so 
 that his landed possessions now aggregate two 
 hundred and ninety acres. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Goby were born nine children, six of whom are 
 yet with their parents, while three have started 
 out in life for themselves. Mr. Goby is a 
 stanch Republican and has never yet faltered 
 in his allegiance to the party, although political 
 preferment and public office have no attraction 
 for him. He was reared in the Lutheran faith
 
 L72 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 and his life has been characterized by honesty 
 in business and straightforward dealing with 
 his fellow men at all times. A resident of Illi- 
 nois for a third of a century he is now num- 
 bered among the prosperous farmers of Zanes- 
 ville township, but when he came to this state 
 he had no capital, possessing only a courageous 
 spirit, stout heart and willing hands. He was 
 then a young man of twenty-one years and now 
 in the prime of life he is possessed of very de- 
 sirable farming interests as the reward of his 
 capable management and diligence. 
 
 SAMUEL E. O'BANNON. 
 
 Samuel E. O'Bannon is a representative of 
 one of the old and honored families of Mont- 
 gomery county. He was born at Locust Grove, 
 ten miles east of Alton, Madison county, Illi- 
 nois, April 7, 184:'.. his parents being Richard 
 W. and Matilda (Dorsey) O'Bannon. His fa- 
 ther was born near Fairfax Courthouse, in Far- 
 quier county, Virginia, November 1, 1808, and 
 on the 29th of July. 1830, was married to 
 Matilda Dorsey, whose birth occurred in Jef- 
 ferson county, Kentucky, on the 23d of No- 
 vember, 1811. He erected the first building 
 in the city of Litchfield, in March, 1854, it 
 being used as a dry-goods store, and later built 
 his dwelling, and in November, following, was 
 joined h\ Ins family, the home being thus es- 
 tablished in a pioneer district, with the sub- 
 stantial improvement and permanent develop- 
 ment of which he became closely connected, 
 so that his name is inscribed high on the roll 
 of the real builders and promoters of the coun- 
 ty, lie carried on merchandising for many 
 fears and had a wide acquaintance in the 
 county, while his business integrity and per- 
 sona] worth pained him the favorable regard 
 of all with whom he was associated. He died 
 November II. 1883, and his wife passed away 
 January 23, 1893, and the county thus lost 
 tun of its representative pioneer people. 
 
 Samuel E. O'Bannon pursued his education 
 in the schools of Litchfield and at Eureka. 
 Woodford county. Illinois. When he was a 
 [ad of fourteen years his father placed him 
 behind the counter in his store to sell poods 
 
 and thus lie entered upon his business career. 
 Eventually he became proprietor of a dry-goods 
 store and be continued as a merchant in that 
 line for twenty-five years, when, desiring to 
 retire from commercial pursuits, he turned his 
 attention to farming in Zanesville township. 
 In 1874, however, he re-entered mercantile life 
 and was again a factor in the trade circles of 
 Litchfield for ten years, conducting a prosper- 
 ous business. On the expiration of that period 
 he resumed farming and in 1890 he purchased 
 Ins present farm of A. B. Browning. He owns 
 one hundred and six and a half acres of land, 
 constituting a well developed property, and 
 his energies and capable management have 
 transformed this into a productive tract which 
 annually yields good harvests. 
 
 On the 15th of February, 18GG, in the city 
 of Litchfield, Mr. O'Bannon was married to 
 Miss Helen Quisenberry, who was reared in Co- 
 lumbus. Missouri, ami educated at Christian 
 College. They have four children living: 
 Dr. Richard W. O'Bannon, of Hollister. Cali- 
 fornia, who is married and now practices his 
 profession there; Edward H. a resident of St. 
 Louis; Mary Bessie, now the wife of Dr. C. 
 M. Anient, of St. Louis: and Nellie Q., now 
 at home. 
 
 Mr. O'Bannon belongs to the Woodmen camp 
 at Litchfield and in bis political views is a 
 Democrat. He has held the office of township 
 collector twice, but otherwise has held no po- 
 litical office, his interest centering more largely 
 in his business affairs, which, capably managed, 
 have been resultant factors in bringing him the 
 success which is to-day his. 
 
 J. H. ROB LETS. 
 
 .1. ||. Roberts, a representative of the real 
 estate interests of Montgomery county, was 
 horn in 1882 in Grisham township, a son of 
 X. .!. ami Margaret Roberts. The father was 
 born in Rockingham county. North Carolina, 
 November 10. 1848, his parents being Richard 
 and Man Roberts. The grandfather, also a 
 native of North Carolina, made farming his 
 life work and died in his native state. N. J. 
 Roberts came to Montgomery county. Illinois,
 
 S. E. O'BANNON
 
 yum 
 
 $ m 
 
 mmtmn m§
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT'S 
 
 L75 
 
 in 1869 and attended school for two winters 
 here. He was employed as a farm laborer for 
 one year and then began farming on his own 
 account, an occupation which he followed with 
 good success until 1903, when he removed to 
 Colleen, lie worked earnestly and persistently 
 in former years and justly earned the rest 
 which is now accorded him. In 1 s - ; 1 he was 
 united m marriage to .Mis- Margaret Beck, a 
 native of Grisham township, and they became 
 the parents of seven children: Jessie, who 
 married P. J>. Smith, of Colleen; Walter E., 
 who is the publisher of the Mount Vernon 
 Times: Lola, who is the wife of O. M. Hamil- 
 ton, of Hillsboro; and .1. II.. Charles P.. Chloe 
 and Owen, all at home. The parents hold mem- 
 bership in the Cumberland Presbyterian church 
 and are well known and highl) respected peo- 
 ple o I the community, interested in many meas- 
 ures for the general good. In his political af- 
 filiation Mr. Roberts is a Demoeral and fra- 
 ternally he is connected with the Modern Wood- 
 men ami with the Mutual Protective Lague, r 
 
 J. H. Roberts was reared under the parental 
 nmf ami acquired Ins early education iji the 
 schools ni' Grisham township, lie afterward 
 continued his studies in Coffeen and was gradu- 
 ated lu re. Later he was a student in the law 
 department of Cumberland University at Leba- 
 non, Tennessee, but has never engaged in prac- 
 tice. Removing to Coffeen. he began operating 
 in nal estate and later he purchased the Mont- 
 gomery Democrat from his brother W. E. Rob- 
 erts. This was the only newspaper published 
 in the township and it had a good circulation 
 among the people of the community. It was 
 established in 1892 and conducted along modern 
 newspaper lines, being an enterprising journal 
 devoted to the interests of the locality as well 
 as to the dissemination of general news. Mr. 
 Roberts sold his interest in the paper June 1. 
 1904. and has opened a real estate office in 
 Coffeen. Having been for about one year in 
 that business before he bought the newspaper 
 his success in this enterprise is assured. 
 
 Mr. Roberts is a member of the Knights of 
 Pythias fraternity and of the Modern Ameri- 
 can. His political support is given to the 
 Democracy. In the county where his entire 
 life has been passed he is known as a popular 
 
 young man. having man) sterling character- 
 istics which have gained him man)' friends. 
 
 PHILIP STAUDER. 
 
 Philip Stauder, who is engaged in general 
 farming on section 13, Irving township, and 
 who bas served as game warden of Montgomery 
 county, was born in St. Clair county, Illinois. 
 January 13, 1867. lie is a son of Joseph and 
 Catherine (Heilman) Stauder, both of whom 
 were natives of Illinois. The mother died dur- 
 ing the infancy of her -mi Philip, and the 
 father passed away November 4, 1896, at the 
 age of li ft v-si\ years. 
 
 Philip Stauder received good educational 
 privileges, lie attended tin 1 public schools and 
 afterward became a student in McKendree Col- 
 lege at Lebanon, Illinois, and when he put aside 
 his text books he entered upon his business 
 career, accepting a clerkship in the emplo) of 
 I he .Simmons Hardware Company, of St. Lour-. 
 Missouri, lie also worked for different news- 
 paper houses of that city and later learned the 
 blacksmith's trade. After two years, however, 
 he came to Montgomery count)- in August, 
 1881, and began Earming. In 1893 he removed 
 to his present home where he now owns one 
 hundred and fourteen acres of good land, all 
 of which he has improved. His farm is at- 
 tractive in appearance because of (he good build- 
 ings upon it and the highl) cultivated condition 
 of the fields. He is thoroughly conversanl 
 with the most improved and modern methods 
 of farming and that his efforts are practical is 
 indicated by the good financial return which 
 comes to him. He was appointed the first game 
 warden in Montgomery county and filled that 
 position for four years. His political allegiance 
 was given to the Democratic party, which he 
 has supported since attaining his majority. 
 
 On the 12th of February, L888, Mr. Stauder 
 was united in marriage to Miss Mar) A. Meyer, 
 a daughter of John and Mar\' Meyer, of i\A'- 
 feen. They arc the parents of four children: 
 Arthur Harry. Eugene Louis. Isabella Gene- 
 vieve and Lawrence Leo. Mr. and Mrs. Stau- 
 der are members of the Catholic church of 
 Hillsboro and he also has membership relations
 
 i;t; 
 
 I 'AS']' AND 1'1,'FsFXT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 with the Modern Woodmen camp at [rving. 
 He lias worked earnestly and persistently to 
 
 gain a comfortable c petence and as the years 
 
 have passed his labors have been crowned with 
 a lair measure of success. 
 
 J. S. MOODY. 
 
 J. 8. Moody, now deceased, was a citizen of 
 Montgomery county, whose value was recog- 
 nized by all who knew him and whose loss was 
 therefore deeply regretted throughout the entire 
 community in which he lived. He was horn in 
 Franklin county. Indiana. April 19, 1836, his 
 parents being John D. and Jane Moody. His 
 father was a shot maker by trade and followed 
 that pursuit in early life, but later purchased 
 a farm at Salem, Illinois, and there carried on 
 agricultural pursuits, assisted by his son J. S. 
 The latter was reared in this state, spend- 
 in,-- his early youth at Monticello. When ten 
 years of age he accompanied his parents on- 
 their removal to Salem, Marion county, and 
 there he assisted in the improvement of the 
 home farm. He never followed anv other occu- 
 pation than that to which he was reared and 
 lived a quiet hut useful, active and honorable 
 career. 
 
 In 1858 J. S. Moody was united in marriage 
 to Miss Eliza A. Bliss, a daughter of Alfred 
 and Direxia (Knowles) Bliss. They became the 
 parents of nine ehillren: Katie, deceased wife 
 of Dr. William H. Harris, of Kiola. Kansas; 
 Ida. a resident of Effingham, Illinois: Jennie, 
 the wife of Edward Killian. of St. Louis; 
 Alice, the wife of C. 11. Eicks; Charles, who 
 married Florence Card and is engaged in farm- 
 ing for his mother, though he also owns three 
 hundred and forty acres; Margaret, at home; 
 Blanche, who is engaged in teaching in Noko- 
 mis; Dora, the wife of Berton Holloway. of 
 Fillmore; and Leila, formerly a teacher in 
 county schools, now at home. 
 
 .1. S. Moody endorsed the principles of the 
 Republican party and supported its men and 
 measures by his ballot. He belonged to the 
 Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association and was 
 deeply interested in all that pertained to the 
 agricultural development of the county. In 
 
 his business relations he was trustworthy and 
 he owed his success to his indefatigable energy 
 and strong purpose. His death occurred April 
 5, 1891. and was the occasion of sincere and 
 deep regret to many of his friends, because he 
 had always displayed in his life record the 
 qualities of upright man] d. His widow he- 
 longs to the Methodist Episcopal church. 
 
 Charles Moody, since his father's death, has 
 been operating the home farm, comprising two 
 hundred and forty acres of land. Upon the 
 place is a good residence and modern equip- 
 ments and the home was erected by Mrs. Moody, 
 who was horn in Bradford. Vermont, and was 
 brought to Illinois by her parents when only 
 four years of age, the family home being estab- 
 lished in Fillmore township. They lived in a 
 log cabin until a more modern residence could 
 he built. Mrs. Moody was reared in Fillmore 
 township amid the condition-; and environments 
 of pioneer life and attended school in the home 
 .neighborhood. Her first teacher was Lowell 
 , Fairbanks and the school building was an old 
 fashioned structure built of logs with a punch- 
 eon Hour and seated with slab benches hav- 
 ing no hacks. She afterward became a student 
 in the college at Salem, Illinois, and was grad- 
 uated with the class of 1858. Few of the resi- 
 dents of Montgomery county have so long been 
 witnesses of its development as has Mrs. Moody, 
 whose mind pictures forth many events and 
 conditions id' those early days. She relates 
 many interesting incidents concerning early life 
 here ami she certainly deserves mention among 
 the worthy pioneer women. She still resides 
 upon the old home farm, which is now being 
 operated by her -on. both -rain ami stock being 
 raised thereon. 
 
 SINGLETOX D. CAVE. 
 
 Singleton I). Cave, whose genial manner, 
 cordial disposition and unfailing courtesy have 
 made him popular in Litchfield and Mont- 
 gomery county, was born on bis father's farm 
 in this county, on the 26th of February. 1835, 
 his parents being Thomas and Lucinda (Dar- 
 nielle) Cave. The father was of English lineage 
 and claimed Sir Edward Cave as a remote an-
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 "".SITY OF ILL
 
 ME. AND MRS. J. S. MOODY
 
 MR. AND MRS. ALFRED BLISS
 
 LIBRARY 
 QF I BE 
 
 f 1 v OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COl'XTY 
 
 1S1 
 
 cestor. Hi' was born in 1804, became an at- 
 torney and engaged in the practice of law at 
 Mount Sterling, Montgomery county, Ken- 
 tucky. On leaving that state in 1841, be re- 
 moved to Madison county, Illinois, settling 
 near Edwardsville upon a farm. Lakr he i n- 
 gaged in law practice in Memphis, Scotland 
 count)-, Missouri, until 18-18, when he took up 
 his abode in Jersey county, Illinois, living with 
 his children until his death, which occurred 
 July 16, 1849. His wife was born in Washing- 
 ton county. Kentucky. January 14, 1808, and 
 was a daughter of Archibald Darnielle, a farmer 
 and landowner. She died in Litchfield, August 
 5, 1900. at the age of ninety-two years and sis 
 months. 
 
 Singleton 1). Cave acquired his education in 
 Illinois and .Missouri, being given special ad- 
 vantages by his lather, who took great interest 
 in educating his son. He did not. howevi r. at- 
 tend an academy or college, and through travel, 
 through experience, reading and observation he 
 has greatly broadened his knowledge. When he 
 was seventeen years of age he ran away from 
 home, being attracted by the discover] ol gold 
 in California. He walked acress the plains as 
 the driver of a six-bull team, and it required 
 om' hundred and fifty days to cover the dis- 
 tance between Memphis, Missouri, and Sacra- 
 mento, lie became a prospector and dug out 
 nine hundred dollars in gold dust. Becoming 
 homesick he concluded to return and wont to 
 San Francisco, hut circumstances caused him 
 to change his plans and he remained for thir- 
 teen years or until 1866, mining and farming, 
 sometimes successfully and again meeting with 
 financial reverses. In one business deal he 
 made eighty thousand dollars, but this was Inst 
 in other transactions. 
 
 In 1866 Mr. Cave returned to visit his 
 mother, who lived in Litchfield. In 1873 he 
 became a dry-goods merchant of Litchfii hi as 
 a partner of a Mr. Little. They opened stores 
 in several towns and would then sell and re- 
 move to another town, but in 181 I they failed 
 in business. Mr. Cave also engaged in the 
 wholesale and retail liquor business, hut that 
 also proved unprofitable. In 1890 he went to 
 Indianapolis. Indiana, where he opened a cafe, 
 entrusting the management to his partner, 
 
 J. W. Little, and again he lost all he had, in 
 IS'.*'.'. lie then retired from business enter- 
 prises and has since confined his attention to 
 speculation, in which he is much more success- 
 ful than in the conduct of mercantile interests. 
 He has made profitable investments in this way 
 and lias secured a good financial return. 
 
 Mr. Cave was married October 10, 1867, to 
 Miss llattie Ellen Porter, a daughter of Isaac 
 Newton Porter, who was horn in Ohio and spent 
 the later years of his life in Macoupin county, 
 Illinois, his death occurring m Gillespie, iu 
 1857, win n he was thirty-six years of age. He 
 was a blacksmith and wagonmaKer. He mar- 
 ried a Miss Alexander, a daughter of Andrew 
 and Esther (McGill) Alexander, all of Scotch 
 descent. Mr. Alexander was a merchant of 
 Alton, at the time of the assassination of Owen 
 Lovejoy. The family were Presbyterians in re- 
 ligious faith. Mrs. Porter died in Jerseyville, 
 Illinois, February 2, 1900. Mrs. Cave was born 
 in Woodburn, Macoupin county. Illinois. Janu- 
 ary '.'it, L850, and by her marriage has become 
 i lie mother of two children: Chauneey Lee, 
 'who was horn February 6, 1869, and is a stenog- 
 rapher; and Blanche, the wife of J. Frank 
 Jacobs, of ( 'hicago, Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Cave has traveled over much of this 
 country and can relate many interesting inci- 
 dents concerning his experiences in the far 
 west. He is of genial manner and social dispo- 
 sition — qualities which have rendered him popu- 
 lar in many communities. 
 
 CHARLES MAST. 
 
 Charles Mast, who is engaged in general farm- 
 ing on section 23, Witt township, was born in 
 Baden, Germany, May 12, 1817. his parents 
 being John T. and Magdalene (Zeigler) Mast, 
 who in the year 1852 came to the United States, 
 locating in St. Clair county, Illinois. Both 
 parents, however, are now deceased. The son, 
 Charles Mast, was a little lad of only five sum- 
 mers al the time of the emigration to the u< w 
 world and was reared in St. Clair county, where 
 he acquired his education. He remained at 
 home until twenty-seven years of age and in 
 1861 came to Montgomery county. Illinois,
 
 L82 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT ol 
 
 MoNTOOMKRY OOIXTY 
 
 where he lias since made his home, covering a 
 period of thirty-seven year-. Jn 1873 he pur- 
 chased his present farm and took up his abode 
 thereon. Ee has made all of the improvements 
 upon the place, including the erection of a fine 
 residence and a commodious ham. He has two 
 hundred acres of good land, rich and arable, 
 and in his work has followed the most progres- 
 sive farming methods and utilized the modern 
 implements and improved machinery. He is 
 well known for Ids industry and also for his 
 reliability in business affairs, and he deserves 
 and receives the respect and confidence of his 
 fellow men. 
 
 On the 10th of February, 1874, Mr. .Mast was 
 united in marriage with Miss Katie Cabrick, a 
 daughter of Jacob Cabrick, of CofEeen, Illinois. 
 They now have five children: Mary, the wife 
 of Frank A. Spinner, of this county; Paulina, 
 the wife of Louis Spinner, also of this county; 
 Francis, at home: Matilda, also at home: and 
 Katie, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Mast 
 are communicants of the Catholic church in 
 Nokomis. His political allegiance is given to 
 the Republican party and he keeps well in- 
 formed on the questions and issues of the day, 
 as every true American citizen should do, be- 
 ing thus able to give an intelligent reason for 
 the political faith which he entertains. His 
 farm, now extensive and well improved, is the 
 visible evidence of a well spent life and an 
 active ami honorable business career. 
 
 M. F. TOBERMAN. 
 
 M. F. Toberman, who is dealing extensively 
 in hay and grain, was horn July L">. 1861, in 
 the township which is still his home. His 
 parents "ere Isaiah and Mary Toberman, who 
 in 1898 removed to Fillmore, where they are 
 now living. Mr. Toberman was for man) years 
 identified with agricultural pursuits and is now 
 interested with his son in the hay and grain 
 business. 
 
 M. F. Toberman was reared upon the old 
 family homestead in Fillmore township, five 
 miles northwest of the village of Fillmore. He 
 attended school there and in his youth also 
 assist* d in the labor- of field and meadow. 
 
 Abou! twenty-one ytars ago he began the grain 
 business in connection with Ins father at Chap- 
 man, Illinois, and has continued to engage in 
 the purchase and sale of grain at that point up 
 to the present. In November, 1891, however, 
 he removed to Fillmore, where lie began deal- 
 ing in gram, while B. E. Tobi rniaii acts as man- 
 ager of the business at Chapman. Few grain 
 dealers along the line of the Illinois Central 
 Railroad handle more hay than do Mr. Tober- 
 man and his father. In 1903 they shipped one 
 hundred and forty- live carloads in five weeks. 
 Their business is continually growing in volume 
 and importance and the extent of their trade 
 has secured to them a good patronage. The 
 company owns an elevator and hay barn at 
 Chapman. In 1901 they had the misfortune 
 to have the hay barn at Fillmore destroyed by 
 fire, causing a total loss of fifty-three hundred 
 dollars, but they now have the best hay barn in 
 this part of the country and one of the best 
 in the state. 
 
 M. F. Toberman was married on the 5th of 
 December, 1889, to Miss Laura Cress, a daugh- 
 ter of Eli and Sallie ( Holzehouser) Cress. Her 
 father was a native of Cabarrus county. North 
 Carolina, horn in 1826, and his death occurred 
 in 1896, when he was seventy years of age. 
 His wife, who was born in Rowan county. North 
 Carolina, died in June. L892, at the age of 
 seventy-four years. They came to Illinois in 
 1855, settling in Fillmore township, Mont- 
 gomery county, where Mr. Cress became exten- 
 sivelv engaged in farming, conducting a busi- 
 ness that brought to him a gratifying income. 
 He was very progressive and energetic and his 
 careful management proved one of the strong 
 elements in his success. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cress were born twelve children, of whom nine 
 are living, namely: A. J., who is a resident of 
 Oklahoma: 0. II. : Mrs. L. S. Sanders, of Fill- 
 more; F. L.. of Oklahoma: C. 11.. of New 
 York; T. W., a resident of Fillmore township: 
 Mrs. S. M. Harp, who is living in Parmers- 
 ville, Illinois; P. W., who is located in Fill- 
 more township: and Mrs. Toberman. Mrs. 
 Toberman was born and reared in Montgomery 
 county ami by her marriage has become the 
 mother of five children, of whom three are liv- 
 ing: Macon. Maurice, and Marvin. The sec-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 is:; 
 
 ond child, Muriel, died at the age of nine years 
 and the youngest, Murry, died al the age of 
 three years. The parents hold membership in 
 the United Baptist church and in his fraternal 
 affiliation Mr. Toberman is a Woodman and 
 is also connected with the Knights of Pythias 
 Lodge at Fillmore, while his wife belongs to the 
 Court of Honor. Ee exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the Democracy and 
 keeps will informed on the questions and issues 
 of the day. hut lias never sought or desired of- 
 fice, although he was highway commissioner 
 for two terms. He has preferred to give his 
 undivided attention to his business affairs, in 
 which he is now meeting with very creditable 
 and desirable success. 
 
 JACOB HAhLKK. 
 
 Jacob Haller. who carries on general farm- 
 ing on section '!'*. Nokomis township, was born 
 hi Ross county, Ohio, in 1834, and is a son of 
 Henry and Sarah Haller. The father was a 
 native of Pennsylvania, horn in 1805, and the 
 mother's birth occurred in Xew Jersey, Henry 
 Haller was reared in the Keystone state and 
 became a fanner there. Subsequently he re- 
 moved to Ohio, where he carried on agricultural 
 pursuits until 1845, when he came to Illinois, 
 settling in East Fork township among its early 
 residents. There he secured a tract of land 
 and in due course of time became an extensive 
 fanner and stock-raiser on a large scale He 
 was a man of energy and was recognized as one 
 of the hading representatives of agricultural 
 interests in his district. In community affairs 
 he was also deeply interested and in pioneer 
 days assisted materially in the early develop- 
 ment of the county. Unto him and his wife 
 were horn six children who are yet living and 
 one child died in infancy. The father died 
 in 1875 and the mother passed away in 1843. 
 
 Jacob Haller was reared in Ohio until ten 
 years of age, when he accompanied his father 
 on his removal to Illinois. He attended si hool 
 in East Fork township, becoming a student in 
 one of the old-fashioned schoolhouses built of 
 logs and -eat- d with slab benches, while the re- 
 moval of a low from one side of the room served 
 
 to let in light for the building. Jacob Haller 
 
 remained in Illinois for eight years and then 
 with his brother went to California, traveling 
 with an ox team in 1852. There be engaged 
 in mining for gold for loin- years and made 
 good wages, lie also farmed there for eleven 
 years. He returned to Illinois in L8Ci and set- 
 tled in Audubon township. He then purchased 
 tin' home place where he now lives after selling 
 his property in Audubon township. The pur- 
 chase which he made when he returned to Illi- 
 nois covered more than four hundred acres. He 
 built a house and barn, made some of the im- 
 provements upon his land and now has a well 
 developed property. He raises both grain and 
 stock, having high grades of horses, cattle and 
 hogs upon his place, and his wife raisis a great 
 many chickens. Great changes have occurred 
 in fanning methods during the time of his 
 resilience here. When he arrived in the county 
 then were many deer ami great flocks of prairie 
 chickens were to he seen. Tins portion of the 
 state was largely unsettled and there were no 
 near markets so that the family had to drive 
 hogs to St. Louis, it requiring six days to make 
 the trip. The neighbors often went together on 
 such trips so that it did not cost them much 
 in go lo St. Louis, and there the price of a dol- 
 lar and a half or one dollar and seventy-five 
 cents per hundred was paid for the hogs after 
 they were butchered. 
 
 Mr. Haller started in life with little capital 
 and he has always been a man of industry and 
 enterprise, so that his success is the legitimate 
 reward of his own labor. He has worked hard. 
 every day finding him in the fields or attending 
 to other labor of the farm, and he also attri- 
 butes his success in part to the able and willing 
 assistance of his estimable wife lie is one 
 of the largest corn raisers of this part of the 
 state and bis farm presents a splendid appear- 
 ance, neatness and thrift characterizing every 
 portion of it. He has also become identified 
 with financial interests in the county, having 
 assisted in organizing the National Bank of 
 Nokomis, of which he has been a director from 
 the beginning. Only two of the original stock- 
 holders are still connected with the institution. 
 
 In 1859 Mr. Haller was united in marriage 
 to Miss Ann Abrahamson. who was reared in
 
 1SI 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Norway. They are the parents of nine chil- 
 dren, six of whom arc living: Catharine, the 
 wife of Dr. G. S. Easterday, of California; 
 Caroline, the wife of David Best, who resides 
 near Nokomis; Nancy Ann, at home; Eugene, 
 who is living near Nokomis; Milton, at home; 
 and Camilla, the wife of L. M. Mclntyre, a 
 resident, of Kansas. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Haller hold membership in the 
 Methodist Episcopal church of Nokomis and 
 he belongs to the Masonic lodge in that town. 
 For many years he voted the Democratic ticket, 
 hut in recent years has given his support to 
 the Prohibition party, being a strong advocate 
 of the temperance cause. He has served as col- 
 lector of Audubon township, but has never been 
 active in search for public office, preferring to 
 discharge his public duties as a private citizen. 
 He has intimate knowledge of pioneer experi- 
 ences in this county and also of the frontier 
 life during the early mining days m California 
 and has taken commendable interest in ad- 
 vancement which has been made here and in 
 other sections of the country. He feels a local 
 pride in what Montgomery county has accom- 
 plished and his mory forms a connecting 
 
 link between the primitive past and the pres- 
 ent with its modern progressiveness. 
 
 FRANCIS MARION ENTREKIN, M. D. 
 
 Dr. Francis Marion Entrekin, whose capa- 
 bility as a medical practitioner is demonstrated 
 by the liberal patronage accorded him. was born 
 March 5, 1844, in Clinton county. Illinois, 
 and is a son of Asa and Eliza Entrekin. The 
 father, who was horn in Kentucky, on remov- 
 ing to Illinois cast in his lot with the early 
 settlers of Clinton county. Accompanied by 
 his wife, lie traveled in a wagon drawn by oxen 
 in the primitive manner of the times. There 
 were only a lew cabins in Clinton county and 
 in one ..I' these Mr. Entrekin and his family 
 took up their abode. They had to go eighteen 
 miles in order to purchase something to eat. 
 Kinallv Mr. Entrekin secured a farm and in 
 connection with the cultivation of his land 
 I,,. also conducted a carpenter and blacksmith 
 shop. He made all of the implements that 
 
 were used in that locality ami conducted a suc- 
 ei ssful business, which made him one of the 
 leading men of his community. Prospering 
 
 in his undertakings he made judicious invest- 
 ments in real estate and at the time of his 
 death, which occurred in 1860, was the owner 
 of one thousand acres of land. He had borne 
 a very helpful and important part in the early 
 development and substantial improvement of 
 his adopted county and his loss in the com- 
 munity was the occasion of deep regret. 
 
 Francis M. Entrekin acquired his early edu- 
 cation in the schools of Clinton county and 
 afterward attended Shurtleff. College of Alton, 
 Illinois, thus acquiring a good education. Sub- 
 sequently he engaged in teaching school for 
 nine winters and through experience and in- 
 vestigation he constantly broadened his knowl- 
 edge. Eater he entered upon a course of study 
 in the College of Physicians & Surgeons of 
 Keokuk. Iowa, and was graduated with the 
 class of 1878. Locating for practice in Bond 
 county. Illinois, he there remained for eight 
 years and on the expiration of that period came 
 to Colleen, where he has since been classed with 
 the successful practitioners of Montgomery 
 county. Fully realizing the importance of the 
 profession ami the responsibility which devolves 
 upon him, lie is very careful ami accurate in the 
 diagnosis of a ease and his efforts have proved 
 a potent factor in the restoration of health in 
 this locality. He is a member of the Mont- 
 gomery County Medical Society, the Fayette 
 County Medical Society and the Illinois State 
 Medical Society and by reading and study he is 
 constantly adding to his knowledge concerning 
 the bes! methods of medical and surgical prac- 
 tice. 
 
 In 1865 occurred the marriage of Francis 
 Marion Entrekin and Miss Lueretia A. Cole, 
 and unto them were horn four children: Ma. 
 Jessie, Rub] and Eunice. The wife and moth- 
 er died m 1897, her death being deeply regret- 
 ted by many friends. Dr. Entrekin was again 
 married in ISP!), his second union being with 
 Eosa A. Wilson, and they have a pleasant home 
 in Coffeen, the hospitality of which is greatly 
 enjoyed by their neighbors and social acquaint- 
 ances. 
 
 hi-. Entrekin belongs to the Modem Wood-
 
 DR. F. M. EXTREKIN
 
 LIBRAHV 
 
 OF IH£ 
 
 UNIVERSE OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 187 
 
 men camp and is a charter member of the 
 Knights of Pythias lodge of Coffeen. He votes 
 with the Democracy and in his religious faith 
 is a Baptist, holding membership relations with 
 the church of that denomination in the village 
 in which he makes his home. In a profession 
 where success depends upon individual merit 
 and whore advancement comes as the result of 
 broad and comprehensive information and its 
 correct application to the needs of suffering 
 humanity he has won an enviable reputation 
 and is enjoying a practice of considerable ex- 
 tent and importance. 
 
 SAMUEL T. ROBINSON, B. S. 
 
 Professor Samuel T. Robinson, who for a 
 number of years has ocenpied a prominent posi- 
 tion in connection with public education in Illi- 
 nois, and is now superintendent of the schools 
 of Hillsboro, was born at Hartford, Saline 
 county, Illinois, in 1866. He is descended from 
 English ancestry, representatives of the name 
 having emigrated from the merrie isle to Vir- 
 ginia about the close of the seventeenth century 
 and at a later date one branch of the family 
 removed to Mississippi, where early in the nine- 
 teenth century the grandfather opened an ex- 
 tensive plantation near the state capital. Jack- 
 sou, which was operated by the family till the 
 invasion of the south by the Union army, when 
 their slaves were freed, and plantation build- 
 ings destroyed. Soon thereafter most of the 
 family moved to Illinois, one aunt still living 
 in Jackson. His father, Michael D. Robinson, 
 was born in Mississippi and at the close of his 
 colhge course went to Keokuk. Iowa, to at- 
 tend medical lectures, where he completed his 
 course in 18.">s. locating at Harrisburg, Illinois. 
 Saline county. In that county he spent his life, 
 devoting his time to his chosen profession and 
 the management of his farm. During the 
 period of the Civil war he erected a temporary 
 hospital at Stone Fort, Saline county, Illinois. 
 ami there administered to the soldiers as they 
 came home from the front. He was very loyal 
 to the Union cause and he possessed, moreover, 
 a broad humanitarian spirit that prompted him 
 to give generous aid to those who needed his 
 
 professional assistance. He belonged to the 
 Baptist church, took an active and helpful part 
 in its work and was an exemplary member of 
 the Masonic fraternity. In polities he was a 
 Democrat. lie married Amanda Spencer, a 
 daughter of Dr. Thomas 11. and Martha ( Barks- 
 dale) Spencer. Her father came to Illinois at 
 an early day from Virginia and her mother 
 from Tennessee. The Spencer family is of 
 English lineage. Mrs. Robinson was born in 
 Illinois in 1842 and is a member of the Baptist 
 church. Dr. Robinson passed away in 1SS!) in 
 the fifty-tin I'd year of his age. This worthy 
 couple were the parents of seven children: Iva, 
 the wife of Dr. M. D. Empson, of Hartford, 
 Illinois; William, who is engaged in railroad 
 work in De Soto, Missouri; Samuel T., of this 
 review; Gertrude, the wife of Judge Allien G. 
 Ahney, of Harrisburg, Illinois; Lorene May, 
 Thomas II. and Charles A., all deceased. 
 
 In the public schools Samuel T. Robinson 
 acquired his early education, which was sup- 
 plemented by study in the Southern Illinois 
 State Normal University at Carbondale, Illi- 
 nois, lie entered that institution in 1889 and 
 was graduated on the completion of the scien- 
 tific course with the class id' 1896. During this 
 pel ioiI he engaged in teaching through the win- 
 ter months. In the fall succeeding his gradua- 
 tion he accepted the position of superintendent 
 of the public schools of Benton. Franklin coun- 
 ty. Illinois, where he remained for three years 
 and in the fall of 1899 he came to Hillsboro as 
 superintendent of the publis schools here, since 
 which time he has acted in that capacity. In 
 i he spring of 1900 he returned to Ewing Col- 
 lege and was graduated, receiving tin' degree of 
 Bachelor of Science. He has three schools un- 
 der his charge, including twelve rooms in ad- 
 dition to the high school, in which four teach- 
 ers are employed. A pupil graduating from the 
 public schools of Hillsboro may enter the State 
 University and all normal schools without fur- 
 ther examination. Under the guidance of Pro- 
 Eessor Robinson excellent advancement has been 
 made, for he keeps in touch with the modern 
 spii'it of the times ami has introduced many 
 improved and practical methods, which have 
 been of great value in advancing the high stan- 
 dard of the schools here. He is a member of
 
 L88 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 the National Educational Association, has been 
 a member of the Southern Illinois Teachers' As- 
 sociation for the past ten years and of the State 
 Teachers' Association for six years. He is 
 likewise a stockholder in the Galatia Coal Com- 
 pany in Saline county and is one of the mem- 
 bers of the Pan-American Exploration Com- 
 pany wiih mines in old Mexico. Professor 
 Robinson is identified with the Masonic and 
 Knights of Pythias fraternities and he belongs 
 to the Baptist church. His reputation in edu- 
 cational circles places him with the leading 
 representatives of this great department of pro- 
 fessional activity in southern and central Illi- 
 nois anil his zeal and interest in the work" have 
 resulti il in much benefit to his community. 
 
 HENRY FRIEDMEYER. 
 
 Henry Friedmeyer, who has extensive landed 
 possessions in Montgomery county and is now 
 living a retired life in Hillsboro. was born in 
 Germany in 1829, a son of Bombard Fried- 
 meyer, who was likewise a native of that coun- 
 try. The father was a farmer by occupation 
 and came to the United States in 1S44, but 
 afterward returned to his native land, where 
 he and his wife now lie buried. They bad ten 
 children, of whom four arc still living. 
 
 In the public schools of Germany Henry 
 Friedmeyer acquired his education, and in the 
 fall of 1844. when fifteen years of age, came 
 to the United States with his father, the family 
 borne being established in St. Louis. He had 
 assisted bis father in farm work in Germany, 
 but in the United States became identified with 
 mercantile interests and for fifteen years was 
 connected with commercial affairs in St. Louis. 
 In the spring of 1863 he removed to Mont- 
 gomery county and began fanning in Roun- 
 tree township, where lie lived for twenty-three 
 years. Here be secured a small tract of land 
 and with characteristic energy began its de- 
 velopment. Raising good crops, which found 
 a ready sale on the market, he was afterward 
 enabled to add to his original purchase and 
 accumulated three hundred and sixty-five acres 
 of land in Rountree township and one hun- 
 dred and forty-six acres in Irving township, 
 
 making live hundred and eleven acres in all. 
 lie devoted his energies to the cultivation of 
 the fields until 1885, when he retired from the 
 fa rin and has since made his home in Hills- 
 hnro, enjoying the fruits of his former toil, 
 while the income from his property is sufficient 
 to supply him with all of the necessities and 
 many of the comforts and luxuries of life. 
 
 On the 7th of March, 1856, Mr. Friedmeyer 
 was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Welge. 
 a daughter of Christian Welge, who, leaving 
 Ins native country, established bis home in St. 
 Louis. Missouri, in 1845. Five years later he 
 located in Montgomery county. Illinois, settling 
 in Butler Grove township. He there owned 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land, and upon 
 the farm which he occupied and improved be and 
 his wife. Mrs. Sophia (Myer) Welge, spent their 
 remaining days. They were the parents of ten 
 children, hut only two are living, Mrs. Fried- 
 meyer and Henry. The former was born in 
 Brunswick, Germany, June 4, 1830. and when 
 a maiden of fifteen summers was brought to 
 America by her parents. Here she married 
 Mr. Friedmeyer. They had four children: 
 Louise Emily, the wife of Albert Frickey; 
 Henry C, deceased; Wilhelmina Etta, deceased; 
 and .John G.. an attorney at law of Springfield. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Friedmeyer hold membership 
 with the Lutheran church, and he votes with 
 the Republican party. He has served as justice 
 of the peace and was supervisor from Roun- 
 tree township for six terms. His public duties 
 were capably performed and in earlier years he 
 figured quite prominently in local politics. The 
 success of his life is due to no inherited fortune 
 Hi- to advantageous circumstances, but is en- 
 tirely due to his steady application, studious 
 habits, tireless industry and sterling integrity. 
 
 LUKE C. WEBER. 
 
 Luke C. Weber, whose farming interests con- 
 nect him with the leading agriculturists of 
 Rountree township, makes his home on section 
 '25. He is also serving as supervisor of his 
 township. He was born in Germany, October 
 23, 1857, his parents being Cornelius and Anke 
 (Kramer) Weber, both of whom are natives
 
 ME. AND MES. HENRY FBIEICMKYER
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF THE 
 " ITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 191 
 
 of the fatherland, the former born on the 24th 
 of September, 183U, and the latter on the 31st 
 of October, 1834. They came to the United 
 States in 1S7 <; and located m Rountree town- 
 ship, where the father is still engaged in farm- 
 ing, his home being on section 24. 
 
 In the public schools of Germany Luke C. 
 Weber began his early education, which he con- 
 tinued in the schools of Montgomery comity af- 
 ter the emigration of the family to the new 
 world. lie arrived in the United States in 
 1875 and, establishing his home in Rountree 
 township, worked by the month as a farm hand 
 for two years, lb' afterward worked with his 
 father for one year and on the expiration of 
 that period he rented a farm. He continued to 
 cultivate rented land in Montgomery and Chris- 
 tian counties for five years and in 1884, with 
 the capital which he had saved from his earn- 
 ings he purchased one hundred and fifteen acres 
 of land in Rountree township. In 1&01 he 
 bought sixty acres in Nokomis township and 
 now lias a valuable property. He placed all of 
 the improvements upon his farm, including the 
 house and bains, the fences and trees. He deeds 
 good grades of shorthorn cattle and also good 
 hmses and his stock-raising and dealing inter- 
 ests as well as the grain raising department of 
 his business return to him a good income. 
 
 On the 20th of November. 1880, Mr. Weber 
 was united in marriage to Miss Catherine John- 
 son, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Tlieen) 
 Johnson, of Germany, who on coming to the 
 Tinted States settled in Madison county, Illi- 
 nois, where they are still living. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Weber have been born live children: Anna 
 G., now twenty years of age ; Henry C, a youth 
 of eighteen years; Lena A., aged eleven years: 
 Emma M., eight years of age; and Herman C, 
 a little lad of five summers. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Weber are members of St. 
 Paul's Lutheran church ami in polities he is 
 a stalwart Kepublican. who keeps well informed 
 on the questions and issues of the day and gives 
 to his party an intelligent and loyal support. 
 He was elected supervisor of Eountree town- 
 ship in 1902 and discharged the duties so 
 capably that in 1904 he was re-elected and is 
 now filling the office. Hi' has also been road 
 commissioner and served on the school board 
 
 for nine years. His residence in this part of 
 the state covers almost thirty years and he is 
 uniformly known as a representative and < nter- 
 prising farmer ami as a progressive citizen. 
 
 ROBERT T. EUSBAND. 
 
 Robert 'V. Husband, a representative of the 
 industrial interests of Litchfield, was born in 
 St. Louis. Missouri, on the 15th of December, 
 1867, ami is a son of Ezekial A. and Margaret 
 (Ingalls) Husband, the former a native of 
 Philadelphia and the latter of New York. The 
 father removed to St. Louis. Missouri, in 1843. 
 lie was a ship-builder by trade and in St. Louis 
 he engaged in the lumber business, becoming 
 at one time the owner of considerable property. 
 He saw active military service during the Civil 
 war, being connected with the Union army 
 for three years. His political support was given 
 to the Republican party, which he joined upon 
 Ms organization, never faltering in his support 
 of its- principles. He died May 30, 1903, at 
 •the age of - sixty-five years. His wife accom- 
 panied her parents on their removal from the 
 fan pi re state to Little Rock, Arkansas, prior 
 to the Civil war and it was in that city that 
 ilr. Husband formed her acquaintance and 
 they were married. They became the parents of 
 three children: Minnie D. ; Alice M., the wife 
 of James H. Brown, who is engaged in the car- 
 riage business in St. Louis: and Robert T. 
 
 In the public schools of St. Louis Robert T. 
 Husband acquired his early education and af- 
 terward continued his studies in Litchfield. 
 On leaving school he entered the shops of the 
 Litchfield Foundry & Machine Compan} in 
 1884 and there learned the machinist's trade. 
 Subsequently he worked in different places, but 
 afterward returned to Litchfield and has been 
 again connected with the shops here for ten 
 years. lie is a practical workman with thor- 
 ough understanding of the business and those 
 whom he represents find his services valuable. 
 
 On the 12th of October, 1891. occurred the 
 marriage of Mr. Husband and Miss Emma 
 Dapper, a daughter of William and Catherine 
 Dapper, the former a merchant tailor who con- 
 ducted business for manv vears in Litchfield.
 
 L92 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF .MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Mrs. Husband was born in 1874. There are 
 two children of this marriage: Robert M. and 
 Catherine Feme. Mr. Husband belongs to the 
 Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Modern 
 Woodmen camp and his wife is a member of 
 the Lutheran church. His study of the politi- 
 cal issues and questions of the day lias led him 
 to give his support to the Republican party and 
 In i- now serving as a member of '.lie city coun- 
 cil from the fifth wan!. Questions which af- 
 fect the welfare of this city elicit his attention 
 ami consideration and he has withheld his sup- 
 porl from no movement or measure which has 
 for its object public progress and substantial 
 upbuilding. 
 
 HORACE Cr. WAGGONER. 
 
 In the death of Horace G. Waggoner Mont- 
 gomery county lost one of its enterprising and 
 highly respected young business men. one whose 
 worth was widely acknowledged by his many 
 friend- and whose activity in agricultural and 
 financial circles made him a valued factor in 
 public life. He was born in Pitman township, 
 September 5, 1856, and was a brother of John 
 M., Henry and George B. Waggoner, who are 
 represented elsewhere in this volume. He was 
 reared upon tlie old homestead farm by his 
 mother, who survives her husband and now 
 resides in the village of Waggoner. The son 
 was provided with good educational privileges, 
 attending the common and higher schools of his 
 locality, and for two or three years he was a 
 student in the college at Carlinville, Illinois. 
 In the bom,' he was trained to habits of in- 
 dustry and integrity and thus laid the founda- 
 tion for his successful and honorable career. 
 
 On arriving at years of maturity Horace 
 Waggoner was married in Jacksonville. Illi- 
 nois, on the 2d of January, L88 I. to Miss Sarah 
 E. Street, whose birth occurred in Montgomery 
 county, Illinois, the family home being in Pit- 
 man township, where her girth 1 days were 
 
 passed. Her father. Wesley Street, was a na- 
 tive of Kentucky and when a young man came 
 to Macoupin county, where he ivas married to 
 Miss Margaret Williamson, a native of that 
 
 county. Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner began their 
 domestic life upon the farm, where -he and her 
 sons now reside. Mr. Waggoner owned a valua- 
 able trad of land of more than five hundred 
 acres, which he developed into a splendidly im- 
 proved place. He was very successful as a 
 general farmer, stock-raiser and feeder. He 
 
 thoroughly understood the i Is of the soil, the 
 
 effects id' the climate and the value of the rota- 
 tion of crops and in all of his farming methods 
 he was progressive, keeping in touch with the 
 advancement that is continually being made by 
 the agricultural class. He also raised and fed 
 good grades of stock and made large annual 
 shipments to the city markets. He possi — d 
 excellent qualification- as a financier, was a man 
 of keen discernment and marked enterprise. 
 He organized and founded the Bank of Wag- 
 goner in 1896 and served as president of that 
 institution until his death, making it one of 
 the strong and reliable financial concerns of 
 the county. 
 
 Unto Horace G. and Sarah Waggoner wire 
 born five sons. By a former marriage he had 
 one daughter. Bertha, who is now the wife of 
 W. C. Barnett. There are but two of the sons 
 of the latter marriage now living. Willis ami 
 Wallace, twins, having died in infancy, while 
 Ray Street died in his third year. Those still 
 living are Horace C.ailen and Loren Stanley, 
 both at home. 
 
 Mr. Waggoner was an active member and 
 faithful worker in the Methodist Episcopal 
 church, largely promoting the various church 
 activities and also the work of the Sunday- 
 school. He likewise exemplified in his life the 
 beneficent spirit of the Masonic fraternity, be- 
 ing a Master Mason with membership in the 
 blue lodge at Raymond. He belonged to the 
 
 Modern W linei) camp of Waggoner and was 
 
 on,' of the organizers of the Mutual Protective 
 League, in which he served as suprema 
 treasurer until his death. In his busi- 
 ness affairs lie was thoroughly reliable and 
 trustworthy, conducting all business transac- 
 tions in a manner to win the confidence and 
 esfiem id' the public. He was a faithful friend 
 and, in his home a devoted husband and father, 
 finding his greatest happiness in promoting the 
 welfare of his wife and children. He passed
 
 HORACE G. WAGGONER 
 
 MRS. SARAH E. WAGGONER 
 
 II. G. WAGGONER 
 
 MRS. BERTHA W. BARNETT 
 
 LOREN S. WAGGONER
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF IHE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 195 
 
 away September 19, 1901, and his loss was 
 deeply deplored, for he endeared himself to all 
 with whom lie was associated, whether iu busi- 
 ness or social relations. 
 
 Since the death of her husband Mrs. Wag- 
 goner has taken chaTge of and carried on the 
 home farm and she also retains In r interest in 
 the Bank of Waggoner, being one of its large 
 stockholders. She is a successful business 
 women, her ability being manifest and de- 
 veloped through the necessity which devolved 
 upon her in earing for the estate after her hus- 
 band's demise. She gives careful supervision 
 to her farming interests and the home place 
 presents a much neateT and better condition 
 than the ureal majority of the farms in the 
 county. She is greatly attached to the home, 
 where her married life lias hem passed and where 
 she has enjoyed the companionsip and love of 
 husband and children. She is a member of 
 the Christian church of Waggoner and is a 
 lady of many excellent traits of character, of 
 kindly spirit and cheerful disposition and her 
 many good qualities of heart and mind have 
 won her the highest regard and friendship 
 of all. 
 
 JOHN McCALLTJM. 
 
 John McCallum has been a resident of Illi- 
 nois since the spring of 1858 and has been 
 identified with the interests of Montgomery 
 county since March, 1862. He is now classed 
 with the thrifty and energetic farmers and 
 stock-raisers of Raymond township, owning a 
 valuable tract of land of two hundred and 
 forty acres on sections 1 and 12. He is 
 numbered among the worthy citizens that Scot- 
 land has furnished to the new world, his birth 
 having occurred in Ayreshire on the 15th of 
 January, 1853. His father, Archibald McCal- 
 lum. was also a native of that country and was 
 descended from a long line of worthy Scotch 
 ancestors. He married Cecelia Prentis, also a 
 native of the land of the hills and heather. 
 Mr. McCallum was an engineer, being employed 
 in the operation of a stationary engine for a 
 number of years. Three children were born 
 
 unto him and his wife in their native country 
 and in 1858 they bade adieu to friends and 
 native land and sailed for America, making 
 their way direct to Illinois. They located in 
 Madison county, where Mr. McCallum joined 
 his uncle and a brother. He began working 
 upon his uncle's farm, being employed there for 
 four years and in March, 1862, he came to 
 Montgomery county, locating in Rountree town- 
 ship, where his uncle owned a farm which 
 Mr. McCallum cultivated for several years. 
 His last days, however, were spent in the vil- 
 lage of Raymond, where he died on the 6th 
 of March, 1904, after a brief residence in the 
 town. His wife died in this county July 7, 
 1862. In their family were four children, of 
 wl i John McCallum is the eldest. The oth- 
 ers are Jeanette, the wife of Joe Kessinger, a 
 butcher of Raymond; Mary, the wife of Charles 
 Peebles, a prominent and influential citizen of 
 Decatur. Illinois; and Archibald, a successful 
 agriculturist and well-known citizen of Roun- 
 tree township. 
 
 John: McCallum spent the first five years of 
 his life in his native hind and was then brought 
 by his parents to America, becoming a resident 
 of Montgomery county when a youth of nine, 
 years. Here he was reared and after attending 
 the common schools later spent one term in the 
 Alton high school. He began earning his own 
 Living by working as a farm hand by the 
 month, being thus employed for two years and 
 on the expiration of that period he began farm- 
 ing on his own account by renting a tract of 
 land in Rountree township. After his mar- 
 riage he continued to operate rented land in 
 that township for about eleven years and then 
 with the capital which he had acquired through 
 Ins industry, economy and good management, 
 lie purchased two hundred acres of land, upon 
 which he now resides. Taking up his abode 
 upon that place he began to farm his property 
 and add to its improvements. He has since 
 built a good house and barn, has planted an 
 orchard which is now in good bearing condi- 
 tion, and has also set out maple, ash. walnut 
 and other trees, which add to the value and at- 
 tractive appearance of the place. He has great- 
 ly improved his property, making it one of 
 the best farms of the community and in addi-
 
 196 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY CO! VIA 
 
 lion In' also owns eighty acres of land in Roun- 
 t ree township. 
 
 ()n the 23d of March, 1882, Mr. McCallum 
 was married to Mis? Emma Walters, of Roun- 
 tree township, a daughter of Joseph Walters. 
 Tin \ now have three children: Hugh, Bessie 
 and Mandie. Mrs. McCallum is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Mc- 
 Callum attends services there and contributes 
 tn the support of the church, although he was 
 reared in the Presbyterian faith. Politically he 
 i- a Republican where national issues are in-" 
 reived, and since casting his first ballot for 
 James A. Garfield he has supported each presi- 
 dential nominee of the party, but at local elec- 
 tions he rotes independently, regarding only the 
 capability of the candidate. In Eountree town- 
 ship he served as collector for two terms and 
 as road commissioner for seven years, but he 
 has never been a politician in the sense of 
 office seeking, preferring to give his time and 
 attention to his farm and the enjoyment of the 
 home, lie is a member of the Woodmen, a fra- 
 ternal insurance order. During a residence of 
 more than a third of a century he has aided 
 materially in building up and improving the 
 county and has been thoroughly and closely 
 identified with its development, its prosperity 
 and its upbuilding, lie is a loyal son of his 
 adopted land, a courteous, genial gentleman, an 
 honest yeoman and a credit to the community 
 in which he makes his home. 
 
 ROBERT BRYCE. 
 Robert Bryce, whose position in public con- 
 fidence and regard is indicated by the fact that 
 for Eorty-three years he has served as treas- 
 urer of Butler Grove township, is to-day the 
 owner of one of the fines! farms of Montgomery 
 county, splendidly equipped with all modern 
 improvements. The tract covers two hundred 
 and sixt] acres, part of which is lying within 
 the corporation limits of Butler. Mr. Bryce 
 was born in Doune, Perthshire, Scotland, on 
 the 22d of September, 1821, and is one of a 
 family of ten children, seven sons and three 
 daughters. When sixteen years of age he be- 
 gan working at the blacksmith's trade, serving 
 
 a three years' apprenticeship in his lather's 
 blacksmith shop. He remained at home until 
 1849, when, at the age of twenty-eight years, 
 he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, for 
 he bad heard favorable report- concerning busi- 
 ness opportunities in this country and believed 
 that he might find better conditions and ad- 
 vantage- here, lie settled first in Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, in the spring oJ L850, and there con- 
 ducted a blacksmith shop for sis years. In 
 1856 he arrived in Montgomery county, where 
 he again opened a shop, which he conducted for 
 a year. Later he built the blacksmith shop in 
 which he has since continuously carried on 
 business, working at In- trade in addition to 
 farming. In 1863 he wenl upon his farm near 
 Butler and there resided continuously until 
 L895, when he took up his abode in the vil- 
 lage, lie owns one of the best farms in the 
 county, and its improvements are of a splendid 
 character and were all made by him. The place 
 covers two hundred and sixty acres of very 
 rich land, and upon this property he was en- 
 gaged in the raising of Holstein cattle, which 
 branch of his business proved very successful. 
 
 In 1852 Mr. Bryce was united in marriage 
 to Miss Sophia Heath, and unto them were 
 born three children: Eliza, who died in 1884; 
 Robert, who is now living in California, being 
 a conductor on the Southern Pacific Railroad; 
 and George M., deceased. In 1861 Mr. Bryce 
 was again married, his second union being with 
 Sarah McMurtry. They had three children: 
 Maggie, the wife of J. A. Wallis; Mamie, the 
 wife of George V. Ware: and Thomas L., a 
 machinisi of Springfield, Illinois, who is su- 
 perintendent and director of the Aetna Ma- 
 chine Works of that city. 
 
 When eighteen years of age Mr. Bryce be- 
 came a member of the Presbyterian church, 
 with which he was connected until 1850, when 
 he united with the Associated Reformed church. 
 In 1856, when the Presbyterian church of But- 
 ler was organized, he beca one of its origi- 
 nal fourteen members and was ordained a rul- 
 ing elder, in which position he ha- since served. 
 The church has found him a liberal supporter 
 and active worker, and he has put forth every 
 effort in his power to advance its interests and 
 promote its activities. In polities he is a very
 
 ROBERT BKYCE
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Of- I HE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 1.99 
 
 stench Republican, unfaltering in his support 
 of the party, and in 1861 he was elected town- 
 ship treasurer of Butler Grove township, which 
 office he lias since filled, covering a period of 
 forty-three consecutive wars. Certainly no 
 higher testimonial of his faithfulness could be 
 giveu than the fact that lie has been so long 
 retained in office. He is now well advanced in 
 years, having readied the eighty-third mile- 
 stone on life's journey, ami his has been an 
 honorable career, actuated by high principles 
 ami worthy motives. There are in his life 
 record many elements that are worthy of emu- 
 lation and should serve as a source "I' encour- 
 agement ami inspiration to those who desire 
 success and at the same time have a just regard 
 for the value of character. 
 
 HON. EDWARD A. EICE. 
 
 Hon. Edward A. Rice, whose intelligence 
 and well directed energy have led to substantial 
 sueci sses in business, is also equally prominent 
 in political circles, his recognized ability and 
 personal popularity winning him high honors 
 so that he is now serving for the second term 
 as a member of the Illinois legislature. To 
 trace the history of ;t successful life, lie it in 
 the electrical world of business where competi- 
 tion is rife: in the intellectual field where 
 devotees open up the wider realms of knowl- 
 edge; or in a public sphere, where is directed 
 the course of government and where arc formed 
 the policies that sway state and nation, must 
 ever prove profitable and satisfying indulgence, 
 for the history of the individual is the history 
 of the community and the history of the com- 
 munity is the history of the state. Under the 
 initial element of this category may wo direct 
 attention to the life of him whose name initiates 
 this review. He has achieved desirable success 
 in commercial circles, has gained high reputa- 
 tion in bis political career and at the same time 
 his private life has been exemplary and worthy 
 of emulation. 
 
 "Mr. Rice was born in Gillespie, Macoupin 
 county. Illinois, in 1863. His father. Hugh 
 Rice, was a native of Ireland and came to the 
 United States in 1833, locating first in Alton, 
 
 where he remained until 1849. Then at the 
 time of the gold excitement in California he 
 made bis way to the mines upon the Pacific 
 roust, but on the expiration of two or three 
 
 years he retur I to Illinois and invested the 
 
 money which he had obtained in his "diggings" 
 in a farm near Gillespie and. turning his at- 
 tention to agricultural pursuits, be continued 
 to cultivate the property until his death. He 
 possessed excellent, business ability, keen fore- 
 sight ami energy, and while he was always 
 straightforward in his business transactions he 
 yet conducted his affairs so as to win large 
 successes, and at his death was the owner of 
 about fifteen hundred acres id' valuable land. 
 He was a Catholic in his religious faith and 
 a Mason in bis fraternal relations, lie served 
 as a soldier in the Mexican war and was one 
 of its pensioners. His political allegiance was 
 given the Democracy, lie married Christiana 
 Boosinger, who was born in Pennsylvania and 
 whose father was a farmer and one of the early- 
 settlers of Macoupin county. Illinois. Mrs. 
 Rice was an Episcopalian in religious faith, 
 and her death occurred in 1879, when she was 
 fifty-two years of age, while Mr. Rice, surviv- 
 ing her about twenty years, died in 1899, at 
 the ripe old age of eighty-two years. They were 
 the parents of eleven children: Emmet, a 
 farmer of Gillespie, who is now serving as 
 treasurer of Macoupin county: Mary, the wife 
 of William Steidley, an insurance man of Den- 
 ver, Colorado: Henry 11.. a resident farmer of 
 Gillespie; .lames, a miner of Joplin, "Missouri; 
 Kate, the wife of Louis 1 >. Zenor, an account- 
 ant of Los Angeles, California: Edward A.; 
 I. aura, the wife of M. .1. Gainy, a merchant of 
 Gillespie; May, deceased; William H. a farmer 
 of Gillespie; one that died in infancy; and 
 Maude, the wife of Edward [bbetson, a real- 
 estate dealer of Los Angeles, California. 
 
 In bis native town Edward A. Rice pursued 
 bis education and afterward went upon a farm, 
 being engaged in agricultural pursuits at No- 
 komis. Illinois, for ten years. In 1892 lie came 
 to Litchfield and was engaged in the lumber 
 business for eleven years, conducting the en- 
 terprise with good SUCCeSS. lie then sold out 
 and had no active business connection for two 
 years. In 1903, however, he embarked in the
 
 ,,., 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 gram trade, which now claims his attention. 
 His business furnishes a good market for the 
 grain producers of this Ideality and his annual 
 purchases and sales are extensive and are so 
 judiciously conducted that Ids business lias 
 proved a gratifying source of profit. 
 
 In 1885 Mr. Rice was united in marriage to 
 Miss Stella Durdy, who was born in St. Louis, 
 Missouri, in 1866, and is a daughter of Alex- 
 ander ( !. and Josephine ( Burbaeh) Durdy. 
 Her father was a gram dealer at Ohlman in 
 Montgomery county. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have 
 six children: L'ual. Cleo, Emmet, Addis, Ralph 
 and Josephine. Mrs. Rice is a member of the 
 Catholic church and Mr. Rice holds member- 
 ship relations with the Benevolent Protective 
 Order of Elks. He is recognized as one of 
 the leaders of the Democracy in Montgomery 
 count] and has been a member of the board of 
 education of Litchfield. In 1900 he was elected 
 t<> represent his district in the state legislature 
 and in 1902 was re-elected, being the third 
 representative from the county that has ever 
 been chosen for a second term. In all of the 
 positions of honor ami trust either of business 
 or political nature to which he has been called 
 he has distinguished himself. His honesty and 
 integrity have been unquestioned, while time 
 has proven the soundness ami wisdom of most 
 of the measures which he has advocated. In 
 the general assembly he lias been an earnest, 
 zealous and untiring worker, and the public 
 g I and not self-aggrandizement has domi- 
 nated his course. 
 
 RANTER HAYNES, M. D. 
 
 In the practice of medicine Dr. Baxter 
 Hawies has become widely known and his pro- 
 fessional skill and personal worth have won 
 for him an enviable position in the public re- 
 gard. He is now living in Fillmore township, 
 and is a native of Barren county, Kentucky, 
 bom December 20, 1827. His parents were 
 William and Annie (Henley) Haynes. His 
 paternal -rand I'al her. John llavnes, was born 
 in England, and when sixteen years of age 
 came to America, settling in this country whin 
 it was still numbered among the colonial pos- 
 
 sessions of Great Britain. He served lor three 
 years during the latter part of tin' Revolution- 
 ary war. He was married in North Carolina 
 to Miss Mary Stice, who was born in Germany 
 and was brought to the n,» world when thir- 
 teen years of age. They removed from the Old 
 North state to Kentucky at an early period in 
 its development. He followed {farming 
 throughout bis entire life and lived to be one 
 hundred ami two years of age, while his wife 
 passed away in Kentucky when in the nineties. 
 
 It was in North Carolina that William 
 llavnes was reared, lie was born there, and 
 when a youth of thirteen accompanied his par- 
 ents on their removal to the Blue Grass state. 
 He was a farmer by occupation, and also be- 
 eame a minister of the Baptisl church. In 
 1829 he left Kentucky and removed to Illinois, 
 settling in .Morgan county among its early resi- 
 dents. Like his neighbors he had to face the 
 hardships and trials incident to pioneer life, 
 but he made the most of his opportunities and 
 succeeded in laying the foundation for a good 
 home for his family. He there died in 1831. 
 He hail married Miss Annie Henley, a daughter 
 of Timothy and Mary (Mosler) Henley. They 
 were of Irish birth and were married in North 
 Carolina. Timothy Henley was killed two 
 years after his marriage, and was supposed to 
 have been murdered in the Blue Eidge mount- 
 ains. His widow- afterward became the wife 
 of William Totty and removed to Kentucky, 
 the family home being established upon a farm 
 there. Mrs. Totty spent her remaining days 
 in that locality, passing away when more than 
 ninety years of age. Rev. and Mrs. llavnes 
 were the parents of twelve children, but only 
 three are now living. 
 
 Dr. Haynes was only about two years old 
 when taken by bis parents to Illinois, and was 
 reared upon a farm in Morgan county. He 
 afterward began life on his own account on a 
 tract of land which he secured from the gov- 
 ernment and there lie carried on general farm- 
 ing until twenty-eight years of age. He then 
 studied under Dr. V. L. Raustick, of Seottville, 
 Illinois, and having prepared for the practice 
 of medicine he opened an office in Dallas 
 county. Texas, where he remained for one year, 
 or until the fall of 185b. He then returned
 
 DR. AND MRS. BAXTER 1IAYNKS
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 r-""" f"Y 3F [LUNQSS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 203 
 
 to this state and settled in Montgomery county 
 in 1863, since which time he lias practiced 
 within its borders. He attended lectures at 
 Rush Medical College in 1864-5 and was gradu- 
 ated from the College of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons at St. Louis thirty years ago. He has 
 read broadly concerning bis profession, has 
 kept in touch with the improvements and prog- 
 ress that have been made in connection with 
 the medical science and in his practice has 
 been very successful, carrying comfort into 
 many a household as he ably ministered to the 
 needs of the sick and suffering. 
 
 On the 4th of January, 1849, Dr. Haynes 
 was united in marriage to Miss Susan Bull, 
 who died in March. 1863, and on the 20th of 
 February. 1864, he was again married, his sec- 
 ond union being with Margaret J. Brown, of 
 Hillsboro. lie had five children by the first 
 marriage and four children by the second mar- 
 riage, and seven of the Dumber are now livin°\ 
 namely : Moses, Mrs. Jane Nichols, Mrs. Annie 
 Lynn, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith. William. Mrs. 
 Carolyne Estella Smithfield and Mrs. Effie May 
 Jett. 
 
 Dr. Haynes proved his loyalty to the gov- 
 ernment in two wars, serving his country in 
 the war with Mexico, as a member of Company 
 G, First Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and in 
 the Rebellion he was captain of Company E. 
 <»ne Eimdred and Twenty-second Illinois In- 
 fantry, with which he served for two years. 
 He organized this company in 1862, and with 
 his command he participated in the battles of 
 Parkers Crossroads, Tupelo, Fort Blakely and 
 many skirmishes. He was never wounded, nor 
 was he in the hospital, and after three years 
 of honorable and active service hi was mus- 
 tered out in 1864. Tie has always been as true 
 and loyal to bis country and her best interests 
 as be was when he followed the old flag upon 
 the battle-fields of the south. 
 
 Roth Dr. and Mrs. Haynes are members of 
 the Baptist church and he is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, being made a Mason in 
 1866 at Donnellson, Illinois. His political al- 
 legiance is given to the Democracy. When he 
 arrived in Montgomery county he purchased 
 forty acres of land and is now the possessor 
 of three hundred iH thirty-seven and a half 
 
 acres, constituting one of the valuable farms 
 of the county. II is wife also owns forty 
 acres in her own name. Dr. Haynes has 
 made iiinst of the improvements upon his 
 property ami lias capably conducted his agri- 
 cultural interests as well as bis profession. 
 He bas long been accounted f the suc- 
 cessful physicians of Ibis portion of the state 
 and be has kept informed concerning ad- 
 vaneed ideas relative to the medical practice 
 through bis membership in the county, dis- 
 trict and state medical societies. lie is now 
 the second oblest practitioner of the county, and 
 although he has now passed the Psalmist's span 
 of three score years and ten be is yet to some 
 extent engaged in practice, responding to the 
 calls of many who have for years been num- 
 bered among bis patients. 
 
 W. II. II. BLACKBURN. 
 
 W. II. II. Blackburn, who carries on general 
 farming in Bast Fork- township, is one of 
 Ohio's dative sons, bis birth having occurred 
 in Clark county, August 5, 1836. His parents 
 were George W. ami Ann (Fuller) Blackburn, 
 the former a native of Virginia, where be spenl 
 his boyhood days and was reared to the occu- 
 pation of farming. In early manhood be re- 
 moved to Ohio, where he was married, and sub- 
 sequently he went with bis family to Indiana, 
 whence he afterward came to Illinois, settling 
 in Montgomery county. This was in 1840 and 
 he was one of the early pioneer residents of this 
 portion of the state. For more than a half 
 century he remained in Illinois and bis mind 
 bore the impress of main pictures of piomer 
 experiences and conditions. 
 
 W. II. II. Blackburn was reared upon the 
 old family homestead in Fast Fork township, 
 working in the fields and meadows through the 
 summer months, while in the winter seasons 
 he mastered Hie branches of learning taught in 
 the public schools. When twenty-one years of 
 age he entered upon his business career, being 
 first engaged in the manufacture of lumber in 
 a. sawmill. He devoted six years to that in- 
 dustry and then began farming upon the [dace 
 wh iv he now resides. Tie broke tin' sod and
 
 204 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 after turning the furrows planted his crops, 
 which in course of time brought forth good 
 harvests. Year alter war he continued his 
 labors, working from earl)' morning until late 
 at night. He has one hundred and eighty acres 
 in the home place, and one hundred and eighty 
 acres in Fillmore township, and also forty acres 
 m East Fork township, so that his landed pos- 
 sessions now comprise four hundred acres, 
 which is the visible evidence of his life of thrift 
 and industry. He has been the builder of four 
 houses, two in Coffeen and two in Fillmore 
 township. In the early days he hauled rails 
 over the wild prairie when there were few roads 
 and win n fences had not been built to indicate 
 the individual owner of property. Mr. Black- 
 burn received five hundred dollars from his 
 father to aid him in starting out in life, but 
 with this exception all that he now possesses, 
 both realty and personal property, has been 
 acquired through his own labors. 
 
 In 1859 Mr. Blackburn was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Miranda Wood, who died in ls.M. 
 leaving three children: Frank, who is living 
 in Missouri; Annie, who married Hardy Gates 
 and resides in Montgomery county ; and Flora, 
 the wife of Martin Mason, a merchant of Fill- 
 more. Mr. Blackburn was again married, his 
 second union being with Tabitha Gates, of 
 North Carolina. They have four children, who 
 were reared in Montgomery county: John Em- 
 mett; Addie, who in 19CM married Willet Nich- 
 ols and resides at Coffeen : Harry : and Fay. 
 Mrs. Blackburn is a member of the ('umber- 
 land Presbyterian church. Mr. Blackburn 
 votes with the Democracy and keeps in touch 
 with the questions ami issues of the day, but has 
 never sought or desired office as the reward for 
 party fealty. His attention is chiefly given, 
 however, to his business affairs and he is rais- 
 ing both grain and stock with good success. 
 
 CHARLES H. POLAND. 
 Charles 11. Poland, who follows farming and 
 stock-raising, is one of the active sons of 
 Montgomery county, whose present place of 
 residence was also his birthplace. He was born 
 April 13, 1861, and is a son of Jacob and Sal- 
 
 lie M. N. (Stokes) Poland. His parents were 
 natives of Tennessee and came thence to Illi- 
 nois, settling in Fayette county. The father 
 removed to this state with his parents when 
 thirteen years of age, and he afterward became 
 the owner of a farm, upon which the town of 
 Ramsey, Illinois, has been built. He came to 
 Montgomery county in 1856, locating on the 
 farm which is now- the home of his son, Charles 
 H. Here he began the development of his land, 
 comprising two hundred and forty acres, and 
 he continued its cultivation until he had made 
 it a very productive and valuable property. He 
 died August 29, 1898, at the age of eighty-two 
 years, and his widow, who still survives him, 
 is living in Fillmore, Illinois, at the age of 
 eighty years. 
 
 Charles 11. Poland, having acquired his pre- 
 liminary education in the common schools of 
 Montgomery county, afterward spent two terms 
 as a student in the Northern Indiana Normal 
 College at Valparaiso. He then returned home 
 and engaged in farming until 1900, when he 
 went to Metcalf, Illinois, where he conducted 
 a general mercantile store for about two years. 
 In 190-?. however, he sold his property there 
 and returned to his farm. He has two hun- 
 dred and forty acres of well improved land, 
 and this is very rich ami arable, the well tilled 
 fields yielding to him splendid harvests in re- 
 turn for the care ami labor he bestows upon 
 them. He has good improvements upon his 
 property and is widely known as an enterpris- 
 ing agriculturist. 
 
 On the 10th of January, 1886, Mr. Poland 
 was united in marriage to Miss Amanda E. 
 Craig, a daughter of John and Nancy Craig, 
 of Fayette county. Illinois. They became the 
 parents of two children, Can-oil and Roxie, and 
 Mrs. Poland died on the 16th of August. 1898. 
 On the 27th of March. 1902, Mr. Poland was 
 again married, his second union being with 
 Maude Knowles, a daughter of William and 
 Mahala Knowles. who were early settlers of 
 Montgomery county, and the father is now liv- 
 ing in Fillmore. 
 
 Mr. Poland and wife are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, and he also be- 
 longs to the Court of Honor. He votes with 
 the Republican party, has served on the village
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF THE 
 IRSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 C. H. POLAND
 
 MR. AND MRS. JACOB POLAND
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 01- I HE 
 UNIVERSIU Of '.'.LiNOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 209 
 
 board of Fillmore, has been township collector 
 and was on the school board for six years. The 
 public duties thus placed upon him have ever 
 been faithfully discharged, and he is ever loyal 
 to a trust, whether of a public or a private 
 nature. In his business relations he is thor- 
 oughly reliable, and he deserves to he classed 
 among the representative fanners of Witt 
 township. 
 
 HENRY KEITH AUS. 
 
 Henry Neuhaus. who for eight years has been 
 engaged in general merchandising in Farmers- 
 ville, w-as born in Madison county. Illinois, 
 August 18, 1869. His father. Henry Neuhaus, 
 St., was a native of Germany and spent the 
 days of his youth in that country and was 
 married there ere his emigration to the new 
 world. The year 1864 witnessed his arrival 
 in America. Crossing the Atlantic, he made 
 his way direct to Madison county, Illinois, 
 where he located upon a farm and still makes 
 bis home, being one of the prosperous and high- 
 ly respected agriculturists of that community. 
 Henry Neuhaus. whose name forms the cap- 
 tion of this review, was born and reared in 
 Madison county and remained upon the farm 
 with his father until he had attained his ma- 
 jority. He had fair common-school advantages, 
 pursuing his education through the winter 
 months, while during the summer season he 
 assisted in the labors of plowing, planting and 
 harvesting. He made the most of his oppor- 
 tunities in the schoolroom, being an apt scholar, 
 and broad reading and experience in later 
 years have also largely added to his knowledge. 
 While residing in Madison county Mr. Neu- 
 haus was married in 1892 to Miss Sophia 
 Linker, who was horn in that county and was 
 of'German parentage. Her girlhood days were 
 spent in the same neighborhood in which Mr. 
 Neuhaus resided and as hoy and girl they at- 
 tended school together. Following their mar- 
 riage they began (heir domestic life upon a 
 farm in Madison county and there resided for 
 five years, his attention being devoted to the 
 tilling of the soil. In 1897, however, believing 
 that he would prefer a mercantile career, he 
 
 bought out an established business in Farmers- 
 Mile and has since been identified with the 
 commercial interests of the town. He now 
 carries a well -elected stock id' general goods, 
 including dry goods and groceries, and his pat- 
 ronage has constantly increased until he has 
 become one of the prosperous business men of 
 his locality, lie owns his own store building, 
 which is a neat, well arranged and well lighted 
 business house ami his unfaltering courtesy to 
 his patrons and his earnest desire to render 
 satisfaction in all trade relations have secured 
 to him a business that is represented by a large 
 figure annually, in addition to his store he 
 also owns a neat residence which he has re- 
 built and remodeled, making a delightfully 
 comfortable home. 
 
 Unto Mr. and .Mrs. Neuhaus have been born 
 four children: Paul. Albert, Bertha and Marie. 
 The parents were reared in the Lutheran faith 
 and arc members of the church of that denom- 
 ination in Farmersville. Politically Mr. Neu- 
 haus is a Republican and is now serving as a 
 member of the village board, having been 
 elected on that ticket, lie exercises his official 
 prerogatives in support of measures which he 
 deems will prove of benefit to the town and 
 whether in or out of office gives loyal allegiance 
 to everything pertaining to the general wel- 
 fare. In his trade relations he has made an 
 honorable name, for he has never been known 
 to take advantage of the necessities of his fel- 
 low men. lives faithfully up to the terms of 
 every contract and fulfills every obligation. 
 
 JOSHUA OSBORN. 
 Joshua Osborn, interested in general farming 
 in Audubon township, was born on the 9th of 
 April, 1836, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his 
 parents being William and Sarah (Manwaring) 
 Osborn. The father came from England. He 
 was a shoemaker by trade and followed that 
 calling in Philadelphia prior to the Mexican 
 war. When there was need of military service 
 he responded to the call of his adopted coun- 
 try and joined the army, but his health became 
 impaired from wounds and disease contracted 
 while at the front and be died when bis son
 
 '.'Ill 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 .Joshua was but ten years of age. He had mar- 
 ried Sarah Manwaring, whose father was of 
 English birth, while her mother, whose maiden 
 name was Piatt, was of French descent. He 
 died when ninety-six years of age and his wife 
 reached the age of seventy-six years. It will 
 thus be seen that Mrs. Sarah Osborn came of 
 a family noted for longevity and she reached 
 the venerable age of eighty-six years and at 
 her death, which occurred at the home of her 
 son Joshua, she was laid to rest in the cemetery 
 near Mountainburg, Arkansas. In the family 
 were two sons, the elder being John L. Osborn, 
 who conducts a general store in Oscoda, Michi- 
 gan. He is married and has two children. 
 
 Joshua Osborn was educated in Michigan. 
 In early childhood his family had removed 
 from Philadelphia to Mount Holly, New Jer- 
 sey, and when he was a lad of six summers the 
 family home was established at Rochester, 
 Michigan, twenty-five miles north of Detroit. 
 There Mr. Osborn attended the public schools 
 until sixteen years of age. when he entered 
 upon life's practical duties by learning the shoe- 
 maker's trade, which he Followed for four years, 
 lie arrived in Audubon township. Montgomery 
 county, Illinois, in 1856, and purchased eighty 
 acres of land in Hurricane township, Fayette 
 county. Illinois, but never resided upon that 
 place. For six years after his arrival here he 
 was employed by (Mis Little, three years before 
 entering the army anil three years after his 
 return from the front. 
 
 Prompted by a spirit of partiotism Mr. Os- 
 born responded to tin 1 president's call for troops 
 and on the 3d of July. 1861, enlisted in de- 
 fense of the Union as a private of the Thirty- 
 fifth Illinois Infantry, being mustered in at 
 Jefferson Barracks. He served as commissary 
 sergeant and was honorably discharged Sep- 
 tember 27, 1864, after more than three years' 
 connection with the army. He took part in 
 the battles of Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone 
 River, Chiekamauga, Missionary Ridge and all 
 of the battles of the Atlanta campaign until 
 the capitulation of that city. He was very 
 fortunate in that he was never captured nor 
 wounded, yet be never faltered in the perform- 
 ance nf any duty, although it called him into 
 the thickest of the fight. 
 
 Mr. Osborn was married on the 20th of Feb- 
 ruary. 1868, to Miss Emma F. Bishop, a 
 daughter id' Robert K. Bishop, of Audubon 
 township. Mrs. Osborn was the elder of their 
 two children and Frank Bishop was the young- 
 er. By her marriage she lias become the moth- 
 er of three children : Frank J., who married 
 Eva West, a representative of one of the old 
 families of Audubon township, is living in 
 Ohlman and has one child. Otis Ray. Howard 
 L. is a resident of Jacksonville, Illinois. Eva 
 M. has completed the course in the district 
 schools and expects to continue her education 
 in a high school. 
 
 After coining to Montgomery county Mr. 
 Osborn purchased eighty acres of land. Later 
 he removed to Ford county, Kansas, where he 
 secured a homestead claim of one hundred and 
 sixty acres, going to that state in 1884. In 
 1886 he removed his family to the claim and 
 proved it up by living upon it for five years. 
 He afterward traded that land for a farm of 
 one hundred and four acres in Arkansas, where 
 he also spent five years, coming, however, to 
 Montgomery county upon the expiration of that 
 period. He has been quite successful here in 
 his fanning operations and now has a good 
 property of eighty acres, which is well im- 
 proved and is kept in excellent condition. He 
 has been connected to greater or less extent 
 with the county since 1856 and is therefore 
 known to many of its older settlers as well as 
 its later citizens. While bis life lias been quiet- 
 ly passed it has exemplified a spirit of industry 
 and enterprise that is most commendable and 
 has been the basic element of his present com- 
 fortable competence. 
 
 MARSHALL DKISKELL. 
 
 'Idle name id' Driskell is one well known in 
 Montgomery county, for the subject of this 
 review and others of the family have been act- 
 ivelv and successfully engaged in farming here 
 for many years. 'Marshall Driskell. now re- 
 siding on section 21, Zanesville township, is 
 living a retired life, enjoying a rest which he 
 has truly earned and richly deserves, for 
 through many vears he was an active factor in
 
 MR. AND MRS. MARSHALL D1MSKELL
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF TH£ 
 UNIVERSITY OF '.LLiNOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 213 
 
 farming interests and he became the owner of 
 a well improved tract of land of one hundred 
 and sixty acres. 
 
 Mr. Driskell lias intimate knowledge of the 
 history of Illinois through a long period, for 
 he became a resident of the state about 1835 
 and has lived in Montgomery county since 
 1851. He was born in Gallatin county, Ken- 
 tucky. December 27, 1825, and was a son of 
 William Driskell, who was born and reared in 
 that state and was there married to Sarah 
 Owens, also a native of Kentucky. The father 
 carried on agricultural pursuits in Kentucky, 
 and both he and his wife died there. They 
 were the parents of three children and they 
 departed this life during the early boyhood of 
 their son Marshall. 
 
 Thus left an orphan at a tender age, Mar- 
 shall Driskell was reared by bis uncle. John 
 Owens, and with him came to [llinois in 1833, 
 settling in Macoupin county, where he attained 
 his majority. Desiring a companion and help- 
 mate for the journey of life, he was married 
 in that county in 1850 to Miss Louisa Davis, 
 who was born and spent her girlh 1 in Ken- 
 tucky, whence she came to Illinois. In L851 
 Mr. Driskell brought his young wife to Mont- 
 gomery county and purchased eighty acres of 
 land, comprising both timber and raw prairie 
 land. This lie at once began to clear and im- 
 prove, and he opened up an excellent farm. He 
 afterward bought another eighty acre tract ad- 
 joining, and with characteristic energy he be- 
 gan the development of Ids property. In the 
 early days he underwent many of the hard- 
 ships and adversities incident to pioneer life 
 when one lias but limited capital, but as the 
 years passed by he was enabled to enjoy many 
 of the comforts ami conveniences known to the 
 older east. He built a neat and substantial 
 residence, a good barn and other necessary 
 buildings upon his place. He also planted an 
 orchard, made fences, cultivated his fields and 
 raised good stock. As he found opportunity 
 he extended the boundaries of bis farm by 
 additional purchase until he owned two hun- 
 dred and forty acres, but be has since given 
 his son an eighty acre tract and now retains 
 possession of one hundred and sixty acres on 
 section 21. Zanesville township. Tn raising 
 
 both grain and stock he was successful, and at 
 length be had saved from his earnings and the 
 sale of his products a capital sufficient to en- 
 able him to put aside further active farm labor 
 and live m the enjoyment of a well earned 
 rest. 
 
 In 1894 Mr. Driskell lost his wife, who had 
 for many years been a faithful companion and 
 helpmate to him on life's journey. They were 
 the parents of six children, but they lost their 
 youngest, a daughter, in early childhood. The 
 others are John, who is conducting the home 
 farm and is represented elsewhere in this vol- 
 ume; Alice E.. the wife of George Martin; 
 •fames M., who owns and operates a well im- 
 proved farm adjoining his father's land in 
 Zanesville township; Sarah Catherine, who is 
 acting as her father's housekeeper; and Net- 
 tie L., the wife of Robert Allen, a resident 
 farmer of Zanesville township. 
 
 Politically Mr. Driskell is a, stanch Demo- 
 crat, believing firmly in the principles of the 
 party and never desiring office as a reward for 
 his political allegiance. He belongs to the 
 Christian church, in which he is serving as 
 an elder, and in its work- he takes an active in- 
 terest. As one of the pioneer settlers of the 
 -tati'. be certainly deserves mention in this 
 volume, for his residence lure covers almost 
 seventy years. This has been a period of the 
 marvelous growth and development in Illinois, 
 and no one feels greater pride in what has 
 been accomplished along substantia] lines than 
 does Mr. I (risked, while in the community 
 where he has long made bis home he lias ever 
 borne his part in the work of improvement and 
 upbuilding. 
 
 THEODORE BUMANN. 
 
 Theodore Bumann, an inventor and manufac- 
 turer, operating an extensive productive in- 
 dustry of Litchfield, was born in Bunker Hill, 
 Macoupin county, in 1857. and is of German 
 lineage. His parents, Frederick and Catherine 
 (Knlil) Bumann. were both natives of Ger- 
 many and the father emigrated to the United 
 States in 1848. He finally located at Bunker 
 Hill, where he became a grain merchant and
 
 214 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 also made extensive investments in farm prop- 
 erty until he is now a large landowner. By 
 trade he is a plasterer, but was a grain mer- 
 chant from the time of the Civil war until he 
 retired from active business life. He is now 
 living in the enjoyment of a comfortable com- 
 petence that has been acquired entirely through 
 his enterprising efforts. As a business man he 
 has figured prominently in commercial circles 
 and in political life has also been recognized as 
 a local leader. He has served as a member of 
 the council and as mayor of Bunker Hill and 
 his devotion to the general good has been mani- 
 fest by active co-operation in the measures 
 which have had for their object the substantial 
 improvement of his city. He has been called 
 to office as a Republican candidate, having long 
 supported the party. Fraternally he is identi- 
 fied with the Odd Fellows lodge. His wife is 
 also living and is now seventy-seven years of 
 age. In the family were nine children, four of 
 whom yet survive. 
 
 Theodore Bumann having obtained his edu- 
 cation in the public schools of Bunker Hill 
 was later engaged in the hardware business 
 there, conducting his store for about fifteen 
 years. lie early displayed considerable me- 
 chanical ability and inventive ingenuity and he 
 continued his experiments until he had per- 
 fected a siphon oil can, upon which he received 
 a patent in 1892. The following year ho came 
 to Litchfield and built a factory for the manu- 
 facture of tins can. His establishment com- 
 prises a large plant, the building being twenty- 
 six by one hundred and fifty feet and with the 
 others he occupies four thousand six hundred 
 feet of floor space and employs twenty-five peo- 
 ple, including traveling salesmen. The product 
 of (lie factory is shipped to almost every state 
 in the Union. Everything about the place is 
 m a flourishing condition ami although the fac- 
 tory is being operated to its full capacity the 
 supply is not equal to the demand. Mr. Bu- 
 mann also invented .in improved mouse trap 
 which lie manufactures, and other products of 
 tin Eactory are various kinds of sheet metal 
 ware. Altogether lie makes over twenty-five dif- 
 ferent articles, hut the principal output are oil 
 cans, pails and traps. Unlike many men of in- 
 ventive genius Mr. Bumann also |>"?sesses good 
 
 business and executive ability and has made his 
 enterprise a profitable one. His brother, A. 
 M. Bumann, who is a teacher of manual train- 
 ing in the normal school in Pittsburg, Kansas, 
 is financially interested in the business. 
 
 In 1885 Mr. Bumann was united in marriage 
 to Miss Caroline Hintz. who was born in Ger- 
 many, a daughter of E. C. F. Hintz, who was 
 a cabinet-maker by trade and settled in Bunker 
 Hill in the "70s. .Mr. ami -Mrs. Bumann have 
 three children: Harry, Doris E. and Albert. 
 Mr. Biimann is connected with the Modern 
 Woodmen camp at Bunker Hill, and he exer- 
 cises his right of franchise in support of men 
 and measures of the Republican party. He 
 belongs to that class of representative American 
 citizens who, while promoting their individual 
 interests, also advance the general welfare, and 
 he is new a leading factor in manufacturing 
 circles in this city. 
 
 JOHN W. RITCHIE. 
 
 John W. Ritchie has been a resident of Mont- 
 gomery county for almost a half century, hav- 
 ing located here in 1855. He was born August 
 14. 1834, his parents being John and Seeley 
 (Blackwelder) Ritchie, who were natives of 
 North Carolina, horn in Cabarrus county. The 
 grandparents had been residents of Pennsyl- 
 vania, whence they removed to the Old North 
 state, founding the family there. They were 
 fanning people, living in a manner common in 
 colonial days, and their religious faith was that 
 of the Lutheran church. 
 
 John Ritchie was born in 1T98 and died in 
 the year 1854. His wife passed away in the 
 same year and they wen' laid to resi near their 
 home in North Carolina. Mr. Ritchie had 
 been a farmer and miller and he was also the 
 owner of slaves, having twelve negroes at the 
 time of his death who were worth one thou- 
 sand dollars each. These were sold together 
 with the land and the proceeds of the estate 
 was then divided among the children. In the 
 family were six children, of whom John W. 
 was the fifth in order of birth. Mary Ann be- 
 came the wife of Wilson Ridenhour and after 
 bis deatli married Milas Bond, who is also
 
 JOHN W. RITCHIE
 
 LlBRAHY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF '.LLiNOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 217 
 
 deceased^ but his widow is yet living in North 
 Carolina. Elizabeth married Jacob A. Cruse 
 and both died in North Carolina. Martin A. 
 is living in North Litchfield township, Mont- 
 gomery county. Daniel M. was killed by a 
 horse in childhood. Sallie. who married Jacob 
 A. Cruse, died in North Carolina in 1884 at 
 the age of forty-eight years. 
 
 John W. Ritchie was educated in the state 
 of his nativity, attending both subscription and 
 free schools and later continuing his studies 
 in the schools of Illinois. He came to this 
 state m 1855 with his brother and his family, 
 settling on section 15, North Litchfield town- 
 ship. Later lie purchased a tract of land of 
 more than two hundred acres and as a com- 
 panion and helpmate on life's journey he chose 
 Miss Rachel S. Cress, a daughter of George 
 Henry Cress, of North Carolina, while her 
 grandparents were from Pennsylvania. Her 
 parents resided in Cabarrus county. North 
 Carolina, near Concord, and her father was a 
 farmer and slaveholder. He died in the Old 
 North state and his land was afterward sold 
 and his widow came to Illinois, arriving here in 
 1855. She then made her home with her chil- 
 dren until her death, which occurred Septem- 
 ber 7. 1901, when her remains were interred 
 in the Lutheran cemetery in Litchfield. She 
 bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Fogleman 
 and belonged to one of the old and prominent 
 families of North Carolina. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Cress were born five children, of whom 
 the eldest was Mrs. Ritchie, who was educated 
 in North Carolina and was married the year 
 following her arrival in Illinois. Eliza, the 
 second daughter, became the wife of M. A. 
 Ritchie and died in North Carolina in 1854. 
 Martha afterward married M. A. Ritchie and 
 is still living. Helena is the wife of D. M. 
 Blackwelder, of Litchfield. Lotus C. died in 
 is 15 at the age of three years and was buried 
 in North Carolina. 
 
 John W. Ritchie and his brother purchased 
 about three hundred and eighty acres of land 
 after they completed the payment on the prop- 
 erty it was divided between them. Our subject 
 has since made additional purchases until his 
 landed possessions now aggregate four hundred 
 and fifty acres. He has greatly improved the 
 
 home farm, upon which lie resides, making it 
 a very productive and valuable tract of land, 
 equipped with substantial buildings and sup- 
 plied with modern facilities and the latest 
 improved machinery to promote the farm work. 
 
 Unto -Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie were born eleven 
 children: George A., who died in infancy; 
 James M.. at home; .Lira J., who died in in- 
 fancy; Mary E. and Sarah E., at home; Joel 
 K.. who died in infancy ; C. A., a grocer of 
 Litchfield, who married Margaret Taulbee; 
 Flora P.. who is the wife of William E. Bowles, 
 of North Litchfield township, by whom she has 
 two children, Ruth P. and J. Stanley; Alice 
 Ann. at home; Louise E., who died in infancy; 
 and Albert L., of North Litchfield township, 
 who married Anna Wahlrop and has two chil- 
 dren, Morris G. and John M. 
 
 Mr. Ritchie has always been an earnest Demo- 
 crat. Ins first presidential ballot being cast for 
 Stephen A. Douglas, since wdiich time he has 
 never faltered iii the allegiance to his party. 
 IP' and his wife are members of the Evangel- 
 ical church, of Litchfield. They have long 
 traveled life's journey together, sharing with 
 each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity 
 and prosperity. They reared a family of chil- 
 dren of whom they have every reason to be 
 proud and to them they have given good edu- 
 cational privileges and in addition to attend- 
 ing the common schools James and Charles 
 have been students in Litchfield and Albert in 
 Valparaiso. Indiana. Mr. Ritchie has also been 
 interested in the upbuilding and development of 
 the county, furthering all measures for the 
 practical good and at the same time conduct- 
 ing his private business affairs so as to win 
 success. 
 
 HENRY CRESS. 
 
 Henry Cress, who has attained deserved 
 financial success by reason of an active busi- 
 ness career, was born in Fillmore township, 
 Montgomery county, in 1865. His father, Dan- 
 iel Cress, was a native of North Carolina, born 
 in 1835 and in 18,56 he came to Illinois, set- 
 tling in Fillmore township, this county, where 
 he carried on agricultural pursuits, residing on
 
 218 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 one farm for forty-three years. In 1900, how- 
 ever, he removed to his present farm in the 
 same township. He lias been very successful in 
 conducting agricultural interests and is now 
 the owner of five hundred acres of valuable 
 land. His political allegiance is given to the 
 Democracy and his religious faith is indicated 
 by his membership in the Lutheran church. 
 He wedded Mary J. Sanders, a daughter of 
 Alva and Chloe Sanders. Her father was a 
 farmer by occupation and was a great traveler, 
 visiting many parts of the new world and gain- 
 ing thereby broad knowledge and experience. 
 He, too, supported the Democracy. Mrs. Cress 
 was born in Audubon township, Montgomery 
 county, and died at the age of thirty-six years. 
 By her marriage she became the mother of ten 
 children, nine of whom reached years of ma- 
 turity : Bettie, who is the wife of T. C. Dough- 
 erty, of Auburn, Nebraska ; Katie, who married 
 Claypole Whitten and is living on the old home- 
 stead; Martin, a farmer who makes his home 
 in Hillsboro ; Henry ; Lillie, the wife of Robert 
 Wright, a farmer who resides near Irving; 
 Hattie, the wife of J. W. Harvey, an agricul- 
 turist of Nebraska; Peter, at home: William, 
 who is living with his brother; and Luvena, 
 who is the widow of T. F. Haven and is liv- 
 ing in Fillmore township. 
 
 Henry Cress acquired his education in the 
 district schools near his home, being reared to 
 manhood upon the old farmstead. He assisted 
 his father in its operation until twenty-five 
 years of age, when he came to Hillsboro and 
 began clerking, but in 1903 he began business 
 for himself. He has prospered in his undertak- 
 ings and is interested in the Hillsboro Electric 
 Railway Company. 
 
 In 1898 Mr. Cress was united in marriage 
 with Miss Julia Lohr. a daughter of William 
 Lohr, who was a farmer by occupation. He 
 was born in Germany and at an early day came 
 to Montgomery county, Illinois, casting in his 
 lot with its pioneer settlers. He soon became 
 recognized as one of the leading and influential 
 residents of this locality. Mrs. Cress was born 
 in Witt township. Montgomery county, in 1873, 
 and by her marriage lias become the mother of 
 one child, Foster, who was born in Hillsboro 
 in 1S99. Mrs. Cress holds membership in the 
 
 Presbyterian church. Mr. Cress gives his po- 
 litical allegiance to the Democracy and while 
 deeply interested in the success of his party 
 has never sought or desired office. He and his 
 family have a beautiful home in Hillsboro and 
 enjoy the warm regard of a large circle of 
 friends. 
 
 A. K. VANDEVEE. 
 
 A. K. Vandever, the editor of the Irving 
 Time- and also proprietor of the Irving furni- 
 ture store, was burn in Moweaqua, Illinois, 
 September 14, 1855. His parents were Aaron 
 S. and Isabella Vandever, the former a prac- 
 ticing physician at Oconee, Illinois. He was 
 following bis profession there when in response 
 to his country's need he enlisted in Company I, 
 Thirteenth .Missouri Infantry, and was wound- 
 ed at the battle of Fort Donelson. In 1863 
 be came to Irving, Illinois, but he never re- 
 covered from bis wound and ultimately it 
 caused bis death in 1868. He was then but 
 forty-four years of age. His widow, long sur- 
 viving him, departed this life in 1895, at the 
 age of sixty-four years. 
 
 A. K. Vandever acquired his early educa- 
 tion in flic public schools and afterward at- 
 tended the Central Normal College of Dan- 
 ville. Indiana. When twenty-seven years of 
 age he began teaching school in Montgomery 
 county ami in 1900 he turned his attention to 
 journalistic work in connection with S. J. 
 Cottrell. ,A year later he purchased his part- 
 ner's interest in the Irving Times, which is an 
 excellent local newspaper that keeps apace with 
 the progressive spirit of journalism and which 
 is devoted to the best interests of the home 
 locality. Mr. Vandever. however, has not con- 
 fined his attention alone to this line, but is 
 an act i vi' factor in the commercial interests of 
 the town, conducting a good furniture store. 
 
 In 1884 Mr. Vandever was married to Miss 
 Mamie Haller, a daughter of E. L. Haller, of 
 Illinois, ami to them were born three children: 
 A. E., who is eighteen years of age; Lester K., 
 a youth of fourteen: and Frankie, who died 
 at the age of three months. The parents are 
 members of the Presbyterian church and Mr.
 
 LESTER K. VANDEVEE 
 
 A. K. VANDEVEE 
 
 MKS. A. K. VANDEVEE 
 
 A. EDWAED VANDEVEE
 
 LiBRAHY 
 
 OF I HE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 221 
 
 Vandever is now serving as a member of the 
 building committee for the erection of the new 
 church, lie belongs to Irving lodge. No. 455, 
 A. F. & A. M., ami to the Mutual Protective 
 League, No. 8, of which he is now secretary, 
 lie has been active in public life ami has filled 
 various offices, serving as police judge, as super- 
 visor for two terms, as assessor, as a member of 
 the school board and for two terms as justice 
 of the peace, being elected to these positions on 
 the Republican ticket. He advocates the prin- 
 ciples of the party by active service in political 
 campaigns and he is found as the champion 
 of every measure which is dominated by a spir- 
 ii of progress and improvement in behalf of 
 the community. 
 
 JOHN C. CRABTREE. 
 
 For almost sixty years — the entire period 
 of his life — John ('. Crabtree has been a resi- 
 dent of Montgomery county. He was born 
 November 1. 1847, in Smith Litchfield town- 
 ship, upon the farm where John Simpson now 
 resides. II i> lather. John Crabtree, came 
 from Kentucky to Illinois when a young man 
 and was one of the honored pioneer settlers. 
 He lived here when the greater part of the 
 land was still unimproved and when the work 
 of progress and development lay Largely in the 
 future. There were many hardships and trials 
 to be borne in establishing homes in this lo- 
 cality, but with resolute spirit lie met all diffi- 
 culties and triumphed over many obstacles. 
 He married Miss Nancy Griffith, and he car- 
 ried his household goods across a footlog 
 which spanned the Long branch. They lived 
 in a little rail shack until a cabin could be 
 erected, and Mr. Crabtree carried water from 
 a spring a mile and three-quarters from his 
 home, hut both he ami his wife bravely met 
 the pioneer conditions and in course of time 
 were enabled to enjoy many more of the com- 
 forts and conveniences of life. As the years 
 passed they became the parents of twelve chil- 
 dren, seven sons and five daughters, all of 
 whom reached adult age and were married 
 with the exception of the youngest two. The 
 three eldest are now deceased, but eight of 
 
 the number arc now living. Both parents, 
 however, are deceased. 
 
 Upon the old homestead farm John C. 
 Crabtree spent the da_\s of Ins boyhood and 
 youth and assisted in the arduous task of de- 
 veloping new fields, lie attended the com- 
 mon schools in the winter months and in the 
 summer seasons gave his father the benefit of 
 his labors. In 1868 lie was united in mar- 
 riage to ,Mis> Esther Witmer, ami they be- 
 came the' parents of Jive children: Fanny, the 
 wife of Charles Wethers; Hettie, the wile of 
 Rufus Gamble, a resident of Seattle. Wash- 
 ington; Chris, who is located at Great Falls, 
 Montana; John Q., who is engaged in the ope- 
 raliou of a. sawmill in California; and David, 
 who is in the Treadwell mines in Alaska. 
 
 At the time of bis marriage Mr. Crabtree 
 received from his father a gift of forty acres 
 of land near Litchfield and resided thereon 
 for a year. He then purchased a farm on sec- 
 tion 28, Hillsboro township, and has since 
 blade it bis home. It comprises one hundred 
 and nineteen acres of land, about live and a 
 half miles southwest of Hillsboro. and the 
 fields are under a high state of cultivation, 
 while in the pastures are found good grades 
 of stock. He raises cattle and hogs and bis 
 sales bring to him a good profit on his in- 
 vestment. His is a well equipped farm, and 
 wiih the exception of the assistance which be 
 received from In- father at time of his mar- 
 riage Mr. Crabtree has made bis way unaided 
 in the business world and deserves considerable 
 credit for what he has accomplished. In 
 politics he is a Democrat, and while he keeps 
 well informed on the questions and issues of 
 the day. as every true American citizen should 
 do. He has no ambition for public office, pre- 
 ferring to devote his undivided attention to 
 In- business interests, in which be is meeting 
 with well merited success. 
 
 POY A. RHINE. 
 
 Poy A. Rhine, who was born June 28, IPSO, 
 upon the farm where he now resides, is a rep- 
 resentative of one of the old families of Illinois. 
 His paternal grandfather was born in this
 
 222 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 state and was a farmer by occupation. His 
 children wore Charles. William, Gardner, Riley, 
 Jesse. Arthur, George T.,, Mrs. Lillie Hupp and 
 Mrs. Alice Hupp. The sisters are yet living. 
 His father, George T. Rhine, is also a native 
 of Illinois, born in Macoupin county. Septem- 
 ber 10', 1847, and of German lineage. He wed- 
 ded Mary Spear, a native of New Jersey and 
 of English lineage, her birth occurring October 
 26, 1850. The father developed his farm from 
 the raw prairie and made all of the improve- 
 ments thereon, transforming it from a tract 
 of wild land into a place of rich fertility, the 
 fields yielding good harvests. He died April 
 16, 1899, and his wife on the 24th of March, 
 of the same year. They had four children, but 
 Frank died in infancy. Charles died in April, 
 1899, at the age of twenty-four years; Luther 
 died March 31, 1899. and thus the parents 
 and the two sons passed away within a month, 
 the physicians being unable to determine the 
 disease which caused their deaths. 
 
 Roy A. Rhine spent his boyhood days under 
 the parental roof and acquired his education in 
 the Walker school in Nokomis. He has always 
 carried on agricultural pursuits from the time 
 when he was trained to farm labor by work- 
 ing in his father's fields. He began farming 
 on his own account upon the place where he 
 now resides, having here eighty acres of land. 
 He is the only survivor of his father's family. 
 In his farming operations he has been energetic 
 and purposeful ami by means of his untiring 
 industry he has won a fair measure of success. 
 On the 17th of July, 1901. Mr. Rhine was 
 married to Miss Flora Eddington, a daughter 
 of Wesley and Ella Eddington, of Macoupin 
 county. Illinois. She is of English descent and 
 her parents were early settlers of Macoupin 
 countv. Mr. and Mrs. Rhine now have two 
 sons: George Wesley, who was born in Jan- 
 uary, 1902; and Benjamin, born February 1, 
 1904. Mrs. Rhine acquired her literary educa- 
 tion in the town schools of Macoupin county, 
 has been liberally educated in music and is an 
 excellent performer on the piano. Mr. Rhine 
 ■ votes with the Democracy, but while he keeps 
 well informed on the questions and issues of 
 the day so as to cast an intelligent ballot he 
 has never sought or desired office, preferring to 
 
 give his undivided attention to his business 
 affairs. 
 
 WILLIAM T. QUARTLEY. 
 
 William T. Quartley, one of the early set- 
 tlers of Montgomery county, whose residence 
 here dates from 1877, is living on section 32, 
 Raymond township, where he has a well im- 
 proved and valuable farming property of two 
 hundred acres. He was born in Somerset- 
 shire, England, July 4, 1853. His father, 
 Thomas Quartley, was descended from a long 
 line of English ancestors, and in his native 
 land was married to Miss Harriet Hooper, 
 also born on the "merrie isle.'' Mr. Quartley 
 reared his family in England and continued a 
 resident of that country until called to his 
 final rest. 
 
 William T. Quartley was there reared, at- 
 tending public schools, and in early manhood 
 became imbued with the desire to seek a home 
 and fortune in the new world, having heard 
 favorable reports concerning the opportunities 
 here afforded. He was twenty-three years of 
 age when, in 1S77, he crossed the Atlantic and 
 located in Montgomery county, Illinois. Hav- 
 ing no capital with which to purchase land, he 
 began work as a. farm hand and was thus em- 
 ployed for two years, alter which he rented a 
 farm for several years. Subsequently he pur- 
 chased a part of his present farm, becoming 
 the owner of an improved place of one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres, and with characteristic 
 energv he began i is further cultivation ami de- 
 velopment. At a later date he extended its 
 boundaries by the purchase of an additional 
 tract nf forty acres. He has been raising good 
 graded shorthorn cattle, boss and horses, and 
 as a stock-raiser and dealer he has met with 
 gratifying and well merited success. He con- 
 tinued his labors uninterruptedly until 1889, 
 when he returned to his native country and 
 visited his parents and friends, remaining for 
 one year in the Old World. He also went to 
 Scotland and Ireland, visiting the important 
 cities of those countries and other points of 
 historic and modern interest, and also spent 
 two weeks in the city of London. In 1890
 
 ME. AND MRS. W. T. QUARTLEY
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Of THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OE MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 225 
 
 he again came to America, and in 189*2 he 
 made a second visit to England, where he re- 
 newed the friendships of his youth. 
 
 Mr. Quartley married while abroad, having 
 for fourteen years been in eorespondence with 
 the lady whom he made his wife. It was on 
 the 1th of February, 1893, that he was joined 
 in wedlock to Miss Marian Pish, who was born 
 in England, hut was of Scotch lineage. Her 
 father was a farmer of England, and they were 
 married in the "Id church in her native town. 
 She was born in Elworthy and had remained 
 under the parental roof until she gave her 
 hand in marriage- to Mr. Quartley. They 
 sailed from Liverpool on the 8th of February, 
 and on the steamship Majestic they arrived in 
 the New York harbor on the 16th of that 
 month. They then went south on a wedding 
 trip and afterward came to Illinois, where a 
 reception was held I'm- them on the 26th of 
 February by a half-brother at his home in 
 Macoupin county. 
 
 Politically Mr. Quartley is a stanch Repub- 
 lican where national questions and issues are 
 involved, hut at local elections he votes inde- 
 pendently. He lias never sought or desired 
 office for himself, hut has given his undivided 
 attention to his business affairs, in which he 
 lias prospered, lie was reared in the faith of 
 tlie Methodist Episcopal church. His wife 
 was reared in the Episcopal faith, hut since 
 coming to America has joined the Methodist 
 church with her husband. Mr. Quartley is an 
 industrious and successful farmer and has 
 made for himself an honored name in the land 
 of his adoption. He has many sterling traits 
 of character, being of kindly spirit, of gener- 
 ous disposition and of strong manhood and 
 honorable purpose. He and his estimable wife 
 are much esteemed in the community, and 
 with pleasure we present the record of their 
 careers to the readers of this volume. 
 
 THOMAS H. WOOD. 
 
 Thomas H. Wood, the efficient police magis- 
 trate of Litchfield, who is also extensively ope- 
 rating in real estate, carrying on business as a 
 member of the firm of Wood Brothers, was 
 
 born June 28, L857, in Montgomery county, 
 his parents being John and Elizabeth (Wil- 
 liams) Wood, lie remained upon the home 
 farm until twenty-six years of age and in 1885 
 he became a resident of Raymond, where he 
 began business as a contractor and builder, 
 erecting many buildings there and elsewhere. 
 In 1893 he became actively and extensively en- 
 gaged in real estate operations by building an 
 addition to Raymond and purchasing the land. 
 which he divided and sold as town lots or in 
 small trail.- of about a quarter of a block each. 
 He also traded for the Park View addition to 
 the town and closed out that subdivision. He 
 has owned various kinds of property including 
 unimproved swamp land, coal mines, farm 
 lands and business property and he has prob- 
 ably bought and sold more property than any 
 other one man in the county. Realizing the dis- 
 advantages attending the conduct of his busi- 
 ness in a small town, Raymond having only a 
 population of about fifteen hundred, he re- 
 moved to Litchfield in order that he might 
 have better railroad and other facilities, taking 
 up his abode here March 12, 1901. 
 
 In connection with bis real estate interests 
 Mr. Wood has conducted an insurance business 
 as agent for different fire, life and accident in- 
 surance companies, representing the John Han- 
 cock, the Mutual Life, the Aetna Accident and 
 also large fire insurance companies. 
 
 Mr. Wood was elected police magistrate on 
 the 19th of April. 1904, and in this capacity he 
 has charge of all criminal business in the city 
 and manages the civil business. He has made 
 a most enviable record in office, having had 
 jurisdiction over one hundred and thirty cases 
 in a month. He was elected for a term of four 
 years and his course has been entirely satis- 
 factory to the public. In bis political affilia- 
 tion he is a stalwart Democrat and was very 
 active in politics until about five years ago, 
 since which time his attention has been given 
 more largely to his business affairs. In Ray- 
 mond he served as deputy sheriff and was also 
 constable and assessor of the township. He 
 made a new set. of books for Raymond under 
 the new \:\\\ . which was taken as the basis of 
 equalization for the entire county. Three mem-
 
 826 
 
 PAST AMi PEESENT OF Mo.NTOO.M EEY C()l NTY 
 
 bers of the board of review appointed by the 
 county judge never made a change in the books 
 of assessment which were gotten up by Mr. 
 Wood while assessor of Kaymond in 1896, and 
 he was the only one of eighteen assessors who 
 performed a work of this character so that his 
 book was taken as a basis by the board of 
 equalization for the entire county. He was a 
 candidate for the office on the Democratic 
 ticket and was the only one of his party on 
 the entire city ticket that was elected. In both 
 his business and political career he has dis- 
 played marked ability and rare capacity for 
 successful effort and has made for himself an 
 enviable record. 
 
 JOHN HENRY BREMEE. 
 
 John Benry Bremer, of Hillsboro, is well 
 known in industrial and agricultural circles of 
 Montgomery county, lie possesses untiring en- 
 ergy, is quick of perception, forms his plans 
 readily and is determined in their execution; 
 and his close application to business ami his 
 excellent management have brought I" him the 
 high degree of prosperity which is to-day hi= 
 It is true that he became interested in a busi- 
 ness already established, but in controlling ami 
 enlarging such an enterprise many a man of 
 even considerable resolute purpose, courage ami 
 industry would have failed; ami lie has demon- 
 strated the truth of the saying that success i.- 
 mit the result of genius, hut the outcome <<( a 
 clear judgment and experience. 
 
 Mr. Bremer was born in Hanover. Germany, 
 on the 9th of November, 1850, and came to 
 the United States in June, ls;>7. with his par- 
 ents, William II. and Mary (Bartoff) Bremer. 
 Hi- father was born in Hanover and in 1857 
 made arrangements whereby he left his native 
 country and brought his family to the new 
 world, locating upon a farm a half mile north 
 of Hillsboro. There he carried on agricultural 
 pursuits for many years and was a resident 
 of the same locality until his death, which 
 occurred in 1899, when he was seventy-four 
 years of age. He held membership in the 
 Lutheran church and belonged to the church 
 council for a quarter of a century. He took 
 
 a very active and helpful part in religious work 
 and did everything in his power to promote the 
 cause of Christianity and extend its influence in 
 Montgomery county. His study of the political 
 issues ami questions of the day led him to give 
 earnest allegiance to the Republican party. His 
 wife, also a native of Hanover, and a consistent 
 member of the Lujtheran church, died in 18(51 
 at the age of thirty-two years. They were the 
 pari nts of live children : Johanna, the wife of 
 Herman Wiegand, a shoemaker residing in Mor- 
 risonville ; John Henry, of this review ; Minnie 
 ami Ida. both deceased; and Sophia. 
 
 John Henry Bremer was a student in the 
 district schools and entered the public schools 
 of Hillsboro in his boyhood days, but his edu- 
 cational privileges were somewhat limited, as 
 his services were needed upon the home farm. 
 In IS!i5 he came into possi ssion of the Hills- 
 boro roller mills and has since been engaged in 
 the manufacture of flour in connection with the 
 operation of his farm. The mill has been re- 
 cently remodeled and supplied with the latest 
 improved machinery for the manufacture of 
 high grade Hour, of breakfast foods and of meal. 
 This is one of the large mills of the county. 
 having a capacity of one hundred and fifty bar- 
 rels pel' day, ami the business is successfully 
 conducted under the able supervision of Mr. 
 Bremer. In the spring of 1904 he extended his 
 activities into other fields of labor and formed 
 a partnership with Daniel Tee and engaged 
 in the lumbering business, establishing a yard 
 on the east side of the mill on South Main 
 street. There the firm handles all kinds of 
 dressed and undressed lumber and its patronage 
 is now extensive. The farm which Mr. Bremer 
 owns comprises three hundred acres of \en 
 highly improved land. Upon the [dace are mod- 
 ern buildings, including a handsome residence 
 equipped with all modern conveniences. The 
 land is splendidly drained, the fields are under 
 a high state of cultivation and the place is 
 stocked with high grades of cattle. 
 
 In L878 occurred the marriage of Mr. Br< mer 
 and Miss Minnie Brinker, who was born in Ger- 
 many in 1856 and came to the United State* 
 when but seven years of age with her parents, 
 Louis and Minnie Brinker. who located in St. 
 Louis. Missouri. Mr. Bremer was a carpenter
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 J. H. BREMER
 
 WILLIAM H. BREMEK
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 23] 
 
 by trade, but subsequently purchased a farm 
 in Butler Grove township, Montgomery count)'. 
 where he carried on agricultural pursuits until 
 1899. He then retired from business and has 
 since made his home with his daughter. 1 nto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bremer were born nine children: 
 Mamie. George, Ida. Henriette, Minnie. Otto, 
 Henry, Louis and Frederick. The last named 
 is now deceased and the mother passed away in 
 July, 1897. In 190] Mr. Bremer was again 
 married, his second union being with Miss Alice 
 Currier, a daughter of August Currier, an archi- 
 tect. Both of her parents are now deceased. 
 Mrs. Bremer was born in Hillsboro in 18G4 
 and has two children, Jesse and Lawrence. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Bremer are members of 
 the Lutheran church and in politics he is a 
 Ri publican. He has served as highway commis- 
 sioner for nine years and has also been a church 
 official, acting as trustee and a member of the 
 church council, lie takes a very active and help- 
 ful interest in church affairs, contributing gen- 
 erously to the support of the organization and 
 doing all in his power to promote its growth 
 and extend its influence. Almost bis entire 
 life has been passed iii Montgomery county, 
 where he has so directed bis labors as to win 
 good results, while bis integrity as well as Ins 
 industry stands a- an unquestioned fact in his 
 business career. 
 
 CHARLES A. BOST. 
 
 Charles A. Bost. representing agricultural 
 and horticultural interests of Montgomery 
 county, is living on section 28, Rountree town- 
 ship. His birth occurred within the corporation 
 limits of this township, on the old family home- 
 stead, October 7, 1866, his parents being Daniel 
 and Amanda S. (Ridenhour) Bost. both of 
 whom were natives of North Carolina, whence 
 they came to Montgomery county in 1833, lo- 
 cal mil; in Rountree township among its earliest 
 settlers. As there were no good roads at that 
 time the journey was made on horseback and 
 for a number of years they lived in true pio- 
 neer style, performing the arduous task of es- 
 tablishing a new home upon the frontier. Sub- 
 sequently they resided in Butler for a short 
 
 period and about eight years ago they took up 
 their abode in Nokomis, where .Mr. Bost is now 
 living retired at the advanced age of eighty- 
 eighl years. His wife is now sixty-five years 
 of age. 
 
 Charles A. Bost pursued his education in 
 the schools of Butler Grove township and after- 
 ward accompanied bis parents on their removal 
 to Butler, lie remained at home until eighteen 
 years of age, when he began earning his own 
 livelihood by working by the month as a farm 
 band, being thus employed until 1888. He 
 then went to Missouri and in the following year 
 he removed to Kansas and afterward to Okla- 
 homa, lie secured a lot at Crescent City and 
 assisted in laying out the town. He was also 
 assistant postmaster there and took an active 
 and helpful part in the early development of 
 ' that place, but in March, 1890, he sold his in- 
 terests there and returned to Montgomery coun- 
 ty. Here he followed farming for a year, after 
 which he worked at the carpenter's trade for 
 about five years. On the expiration of that 
 period he took up his abode at bis present place 
 of residence on section 28, Rountree township. 
 At first he rented a tract of land here, but he 
 now owns one hundred and twenty acres. When 
 he took up his abode at this place he at once 
 began the improvement and development of the 
 property and he now has a good house, a com- 
 modious and substantial barn and many mod- 
 ern equipments. Shade trees add to the value 
 and attractive appearance of the place and the 
 land is divided into fields of convenient size 
 by well kept fences. He was entirely without 
 capital when he took up his abode upon this 
 farm and he had no stock, but upon the place 
 are now seen good grades of cattle, horses and 
 hogs and bis fields annually return to him good 
 harvests, while among his other possessions is 
 a fine young orchard of one thousand trees. 
 
 While Mi'. Bost has led a very busy and use- 
 ful life in his efforts to accumulate a comfor- 
 table competence for his family he has also 
 found time and opportunity to serve his fel- 
 low townsmen in positions of public trust. He 
 was elected town clerk in 1900 and is now 
 filling that position and also the office of school 
 director, lie is likewise a member of the cen- 
 tral committee of bis township and has given
 
 .,.;., 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 unfaltering support to the principles of the 
 Republican party since attaining his majority. 
 
 On the 23d of October, 1890, Mr. Bost was 
 married to Miss Elizabeth C. Nussman, a 
 daughter of Eli and Sarah E. (Liticker) Nuss- 
 man, who are residents of Eountree township. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bost are the parents of five chil- 
 dren: Florence Elmira, born June 25, 1887; 
 Edna P., November 18, 1891; Warner (!., No- 
 vember Id, 1892; Hazel L., January 18, 1895; 
 and Archibald, who was born February 11, 
 1896, and died on the 20th of July of the 
 same year. The parents attend the Lutheran 
 church and Mr. Most belongs to the Modern 
 Woodmen camp at Nokomis and Rountree 
 Council No. 131, M. P. L.. which was organ- 
 ized in Eountree township. In politics he is a 
 stalwart Eepublican and he was the father of 
 the mail route of this locality. He also wrote 
 the first hunting license of his township. Hav- 
 ing spent his entire life here he has been deeply 
 interested in what has been accomplished, in 
 the progress that has been made and in the 
 development which has marked the transition 
 of the county from pioneer conditions to a 
 state of advanced modern civilization. In his 
 business he has prospered as the result of his 
 untiring diligence and enterprise and well mer- 
 its the success that has come to him 
 
 It will be interesting in this connection to 
 note something id' the early history of Eli 
 Nussman, the father of Mrs. Bost. He was the 
 first white child horn where the city of Hills- 
 boro now stands, there opening his eyes to the 
 light of day in a little cabin located not far 
 from the Rountree spring, which furnishes the 
 water for the present water works system of 
 Hillsboro. His natal day was April 9, 1824. 
 Two years after Illinois had been admitted to 
 the Union as a state his father, John Nussman. 
 left his home in Cabarrus county. North Caro- 
 lina, and came with his family to Illinois, being 
 the first white man to settle among the hills and 
 primeval forests of Hillsboro. His rude cabin 
 was the first building erected at the future 
 county seat. When his son Eli was six years of 
 age the father determined to better his fortunes 
 by taking up some of the wild land that lay 
 north of Hillsboro. There were few settlers in 
 the entire county and the rich prairies of the 
 
 northern portion, which now sell for from sev- 
 enty to one hundred dollars per acre, were then 
 considered worthless lands. In his native state 
 John Nussman had followed farming, but after 
 his arrival in this county he conducted a wagon 
 shop. He determined, however, to return to 
 his former vocation and this led to his change 
 in location. In 1830 he removed to what is 
 now Rountree township and upon the farm 
 which he there developed he reared his family 
 of eleven children, of whom Eli Nussman was 
 the youngest. The wife and mother, who bore 
 the maiden name of Kathryn Fogleman, died 
 August 13, 1846, wdiile John Nussman survived 
 until May '.';, 1852, passing away when about 
 seventy-five years of age. When he removed to 
 his farm in 1830 he was the only white man 
 in the county north of Irving township. There 
 was much wild game and venison was a com- 
 mon dish upon the family table, while wild 
 turkey, prairie chickens and honey were also 
 easily secured. Near the family home was a 
 camping place for the Kiekapoo Indians, who 
 were friendly to their white neighbors, fre- 
 quently making them presents of small trink- 
 ets and trading them deer skins and venison 
 for ammunition and bacon. Mrs. Nussman 
 made all the wearing apparel for the family, 
 manufacturing the cloth as well as the gar- 
 ments. This consisted of thick, heavy jeans, 
 linsey and a coarse cloth made from cotton 
 grown on the place, for in those days cotton 
 was raised to considerable extent by the pio- 
 neers of this county. Eli Nussman received but 
 limited educational advantages, for there were 
 no schools worth mentioning in his locality 
 and the knowledge he gained was received 
 through contact with his fellow men and by 
 observation and experience. In this way. how- 
 ever, he has gained much valuable learning and 
 has become a well informed man. In his youth 
 he delighted in hunting and found great pleas- 
 ure in the sport long after attaining man's 
 estate. He has long been regarded as one of 
 the best practical farmers of the county and 
 at one time he owned four hundred acres of 
 land, upon which he raised all kinds of stock 
 to be found on a well regulated stock farm. 
 When nearly four score years of age he planted 
 and cultivated thirty-five acres of corn. In
 
 PAST AND EEESENT OF -MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ■»:;:; 
 
 his younger years he was remarkably strong 
 ami vigorous and boasts that he killed Ins two 
 deer before breakfast and often as many as 
 four a day. He also tells of making rails for 
 twenty-five cents a hundred and regarded it 
 as a good price. 
 
 Mr. N'ussman married Miss Sarah Liticker, 
 a daughter id' Mr. and Mrs. Arba Liticker, who 
 were early settlers of Fillmore township. They 
 were married May • '.. 1858, when Mrs. Xuss- 
 111:111 was eighteen years of age, her birth hav- 
 ing occurred April (i, 1840. They became the 
 parents id' six children, three of whom are liv- 
 ing: Harriet Catharine, the wife of George 
 Caulk; Mary Emeline, wile of Tom Bost; and 
 Elizabeth Nora, the wife of Charles Bost. Mr. 
 Nussman has never taken a verj active interest 
 in politics, but has always been identified with 
 the Democracy, lie has ever been known as a 
 man of strong integrity, honest and honorable 
 in all of his transactions and popular among 
 those who knew him. He has always bad the 
 warm affection of his family and is numbered 
 among the honored pioneers of Montgomery 
 count v. 
 
 G. A. RICHMOND. 
 G. A. Richmond, a well known cattle-raiser 
 
 and one of the substantial citizens id' Fill- 
 more township, was bom upon the place where 
 he now resides, his natal day being October 
 8, 1851. His parents were Gideon and 
 Harriet (Knowles) Richmond. His father, 
 now deceased, was born in Licking county, 
 Ohio, in 1820, and was a son id Henry and 
 Eliza. F. Richmond, I be former burn in Mas- 
 sachusetts and the latter in New Jersey. 
 Gideon Richmond was reared in the state of 
 bis nativity and afterward Eollowed (be occu- 
 pation of farming there until 1845, when be 
 came to Montgomery county and settled upon 
 the lull in Fillmore township. He was one 
 of the early resident- of that locality. lie 
 purchased the old homestead at the time of his 
 arrival, began transforming the wild laud into 
 richly cultivated fields, and in due course of 
 time, owing to the success which be achieved 
 through his own efforts, he became known as 
 
 an extensive farmer. He gave particular at- 
 tention to the raising of wheal and to some 
 extent, produced corn. lie also engaged in 
 stock-raising, and whatever be undertook be 
 earned forward I" successful completion. He 
 
 possessed, reover, good business ability and 
 
 sound judgment, and be carefully considered 
 every advance move. At the time of liis death 
 he owned over five hundred acres of land. He 
 was respected by all for his many good quali- 
 ties, and bis example is well worthy of emu- 
 lation, proving what can be accomplished by 
 strong and determined purpose when supple- 
 mented by honorable business methods. He 
 was married in 1848 to Miss Harriet Knowles, 
 who was bom in New Hampshire and came to 
 Montgomery county, Illinois, when eight years 
 nf age with her parents, Joseph and Hannah 
 Knowles. There were only a few houses 
 within the borders of the county at the time 
 nf her arrival, and the town of Fillmore had 
 imt been established. There were only three 
 dwellings within a mile of this place, and al- 
 most tl ntire country was a section of wild 
 
 prairie, upon which mil a furrow bad been 
 turned or an improvement made. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Richmond were born four children, 
 but only two are living: (f. A., of this review; 
 and Dora, the widow of Ora E. Lane, of Fill- 
 more, iir. Richmond was always a Demo- 
 crat in bis political views, and he never fal- 
 tered in support of the partj in which he be- 
 lieved, lie died as the result of a stroke of 
 paralysis in 1895, ami since that time his 
 widow lias made her home with her son. C. A. 
 Richmond. Her youngest son, Ernest, died in 
 1903. 
 
 G. A. Richmond pursued bis education in 
 the district school near his father'- home, and 
 in bis boyhood and youth worked upon the 
 bnnie farm, assisting in the various labor- thai 
 fall to the lot of the agriculturist. When 
 twenty-five years of age be began operating bis 
 father's land on bis own account and dial he 
 has prospered in bis business undertakings as 
 the years have gone by is shown by the fact 
 that be is now the owner of throe hundred 
 acres of valuable land, well improved and 
 equipped with all modern conveniences. Upon 
 his place is a good bouse and substantial barn.
 
 23 I 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 He is devoting the greater part of his time 
 and attention to the raising of cattle and owns 
 a thoroughbred shorthorn bull. All the cattle 
 which he sells are raised upon his farm, and 
 his business interests have become extensive, 
 so that he is now one of the prosperous men 
 of his community. He has placed his de- 
 pendence, not upon any fortunate combina- 
 tion of circumstances, hut with a realization 
 that labor is the basis of all prosperity he has 
 worked earnestly and indomitably, and is now 
 one of the well known and substantial stock- 
 dealers of his community. 
 
 G. A. Richmond was married about twenty- 
 five years ago to .Miss Ada Bost, a daughter 
 of John J. Bost. .She spent her girlhood days 
 in Montgomery county and has become the 
 mother of three children: Nellie, now the wife 
 of R. Sanders, of Fillmore; Zella, who married 
 Frank Woleott ; and Kent, who resides at 
 home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Richmond have a wide and 
 favorable acquaintance in Montgomery coun- 
 ty. Both hold membership in the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, take an active interest in its 
 work and delight in its growth and tin' ex- 
 tension of its influence. Mr. Richmond also 
 belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being made 
 a Mason in 1886 at Fillmore lodge. No. 670, 
 and he is also connected with the Woodmen 
 camp and the Court of Honor, and his political 
 views are in accord with the principles of the 
 Democracy. Those who have known him from 
 boyhood and have been daily witnesses of his 
 life are numbered among his stanches! friends, 
 a fact which indicates that his career has ever 
 been guided by upright principles, and while 
 he has won prosperity he lias also gained an 
 untarnished name. 
 
 CHARLES B. McKINNEY. 
 
 Charles B. McKinney, a representative of 
 the business interests of Irving as a dealer in 
 general merchandise, was horn in Center coun- 
 ty. Pennsylvania. January 2. 1856, his parents 
 being Edward C. and Eliza A. (Brown) Mc- 
 Kinney. both of whom were natives of the 
 Kovstone state, the father born in Mifflin 
 
 county and the mother in Dauphin county. 
 They became residents of Montgomery county, 
 Illinois, in November, 1883, and subsequently 
 removed to Decatur, this state, where the fa- 
 ther's death occurred in July, 1885. His widow 
 removed to Chicago, where she now makes hei 
 home. 
 
 Charles B. McKinney was educated in the 
 common schools of Pennsylvania and in Penn 
 Hall Academy. He later engaged in teach- 
 ing through the winter months, while in the 
 summer seasons he continued his studies, in 
 May, 1878, he went to Kansas, where he taught 
 school for two years and on the 31st of May, 
 1880, he arrived in Montgomery county, 
 locating at Irving. Here he resumed teaching 
 and he also worked at carpentering and farm- 
 ing. In November. 188?. however, he became 
 a factor in the commercial life of the town by 
 con ring into partnership with James L. Mc- 
 David under the firm name of McDavid & 
 McKinney, proprietors of a general mercantile 
 store. This relationship was maintained until 
 July. 1892, when Mr. McDavid sold his interest 
 to James S. Kelly, and they were partners until 
 the 1st of March, 1895, when Mr. McKinney 
 bought out Mr. Kelly's interest. He now has 
 the largest stock of goods in the town and is 
 doing a very profitable business. Ids trade still 
 increasing. His methods recommend him to 
 the potronage of the public and the support of 
 a customer, when once secured, is always re- 
 tained, because of his honorable treatment of 
 his customers and his earnest desire to please. 
 
 On the 10th of April, 1881, Mr. McKinney 
 was united in marriage to Idella W. Kelley, 
 a daughter of Harvey M. Kelley. They had 
 two children: Darwin Pay. who is a clerk in 
 his father's store; and Owen LaMar, also in 
 the -tore. Mrs. McKinney died September 12, 
 L889, and on the 21st of January, 1891, Mr. 
 McKinney married Mrs. .Jennie Townsend, of 
 Staunton. Illinois. Their children are Harold 
 Verne, who was born August 1. 1893; and 
 Claude Belaud, horn December 2d. 1895. 
 
 Mr. McKinney is an adherent of Democratic 
 principles and served as a member of the 
 school hoard of his town for six years, while at 
 the present time he i- serving as a member of 
 the council. He belongs to the Mutual Pro-
 
 Mil. AND MRS. C. B. MrKIXXKY
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESBNT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 -:;; 
 
 tective League; the Court of Honor, No. 333; 
 the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 1498; the 
 [rving lodge, Mo. 155, A. P. & A. M.. of which 
 he has been master for a number of years; and 
 to the Presbyterian church. He is well known 
 in fraternal circles, where his close adherence 
 to the helpful and benevolent spirit of the dif- 
 ferent orders has made him widely known as a 
 representat ive member. 
 
 SAMUEL A. MERIWETHER. 
 
 Samuel A. Meriwether, who follows farm- 
 ing and stock-raising on section 30, Harvel 
 township, has a good tract of land of one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres, constituting a valuable 
 farm, which is pleasantly located within four 
 miles of Raymond, Harvel and Waggoner, so 
 that the advantages of town life are easily ob- 
 tained, while he is at the same time enjoy- 
 ing the liberty of a country home. Born in 
 Illinois, Mr. Meriwether is a native of Greene 
 county, the date of his birth being February 
 5, 1843. He represents an old family of the 
 south, his father. Henry \V. Meriwether, hav- 
 ing been born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, 
 in 1791, soon after the admission of that state 
 into the Union and not long after the close 
 of the Revolutionary war. He was reared 
 amid frontier scenes in Kentucky, and be- 
 cause of the responsibilities that devolved upon 
 him and the labor that he performed he de- 
 veloped a self-reliant character. Having ar- 
 rived at years of maturity, he married Jane 
 Meriwether. March 17, 1811. She died Au- 
 gust 18, 1828, and on October 22, 1829, he 
 was again married, his second union being with 
 Miss Dorothea Lewis Hill, who was the mother 
 of our subject. She was burn in Virginia, hut 
 was largely reared in Kentucky. Mr. Meri- 
 wether became a prominent and successful 
 business man of Jefferson county and took an 
 active interest in public affairs, serving at 
 one time as sheriff of his county. He re- 
 moved to Illinois in 1835, settling in Greene 
 countv. where he purchased land and ultimate- 
 ly became the owner of two farms, which he 
 developed and improved. In 1814 he removed 
 
 to Macoupin county, where lie also became the 
 owner of a farm, making it hi,- hem,' until his 
 life's labors wen' ended in death. April 2, 
 L856, when be was sixty-six years of age. His 
 wile, surviving him some lime, passed away 
 September 'A I860. 
 
 In retrospecct one can see Samuel .V. Meri- 
 wether as a farm boy of Macoupin count) 
 working in the fields through the summer 
 months, while in the winter seasons he attend- 
 ed the public schools. After completing the 
 course of instruction in the district schools he 
 entered the high school at Carrollton, Greene 
 county. In 1864 he went to the west, spend- 
 Lng a year in mining in Montana am! Idaho, 
 after which he returned to this -late. 
 
 It was in Kentucky, however, thai Mr. Meri- 
 wether was married, the wedding ceremony be- 
 ing performed in Cumberland county on the 
 20th of January, 1870, on which occasion Miss 
 Sarah Laker became his wife. She was born 
 ami reared in Kentucky and was a daughter 
 of Daniel and Lucy (Chetham) Laker. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Meri- 
 wether located in Auburn, Kentucky, where 
 he worked at the carpenter's trade for one year 
 and on the expiration of that period he re- 
 turned to Illinois, settling in Macoupin coun- 
 ty, where he carried on farming with oood suc- 
 cess for four vears. His unfaltering indus- 
 try and capable management during that pe- 
 riod brought to him the capital Unit enabled 
 him to purchase the farm upon which he now 
 resides on section 30, Harvel township. Opon 
 that place at that time was an old house, hut 
 he has since replaced it by a large, substantial 
 and modern residence. He located here in 
 1878 and began to farm and improve this 
 place, the rich, productive soil yielding to him 
 good harvests. He has also other outbuild- 
 ings ami hi' has five acres in an orchard. He 
 has also tilled some of his land and fenced a 
 part of it. and now has a good place, the rich 
 fields promising golden harvests in the late 
 autumn. In connection with general farm- 
 ing he raises good stock, making a specialty 
 of pure-blooded Cottswold sheep. He is well 
 known as a br ler and dealer in -beep in Mont- 
 gomery county, and has some very fine ani- 
 mals, while his annual sales return to him
 
 338 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 good income. He is also a director of the Vir- 
 den Mutual Fire Insurance Company. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Meriwether have five children: 
 Arthur, who is married and is a farmer of 
 Pitman township; Dorothea, who is success- 
 fully engaged in teaching in this county and 
 resides at home; Lucy, who is with her par- 
 ents; Elizabeth, who is engaged in teaching 
 music and is at home; and Owen \V., who as- 
 sists in the operation of the farm. 
 
 Mr. Meriwether east his first presidential 
 vote for Peter Cooper and is a stalwart Demo- 
 crat, being now in sympathy with the princi- 
 ples and policy of that party, lie has never 
 sought or desired office, preferring to give his 
 time and energies to his business affairs. He 
 is, however, a believer in good schools and in 
 the employment of competent teachers, and 
 for nine years he has served on the school 
 board, during which time he has put forth 
 effective efforl in behalf of the cause of edu- 
 cation. He and Ins wife and all of their 
 family are members of the Presbyterian 
 church, in the work of which they take a 
 very active and helpful part. Mr. Meriwether 
 is serving as an elder in the church and is also 
 a very active and helpful Sunday school 
 worker, having served as superintendent for 
 twenty years, while for two years he has been 
 president of the County Sunday School Asso- 
 ciation. His influence is ever on the side of 
 right, of truth and justice, and he does every- 
 thing in his power to pr »te the moral de- 
 velopment of the county. 
 
 heathen races of that country. His wife, who 
 was born in Eastport, Maine, died when her 
 -on Dr. Johnson was but three weeks old, but 
 
 the father sun ived until 181 
 
 He was a sec- 
 
 ('. \V. JOHNSON, M. 1>. 
 
 |)i- C. VY. Johnson, of Litchfield, now en- 
 
 gaged in the practice of i licine, has made 
 
 his work of greal value to his fellow men. He 
 was born in Hong Kong. China, in 1848, his 
 parents Icing Rev. John \Y. and Anna 
 (Stephens) Johnson. The father was a Bap- 
 tist minister, born in New Hampshire in 1820. 
 lie completed his education in Dartmouth 
 College and afterward went as missionary of 
 tin' Baptist church tn China, where he lived and 
 labored for many years, his efforts proving a 
 potent influence in the Christianizing of the 
 
 ond lime married in 1859 and afterward re- 
 lumed to China, where he lived until 1863, 
 when he again came to America. His death, 
 however, occurred at Swatow, China, where 
 he was engaged in missionary work, and flags 
 in that place were lowered at half-masl because 
 he was beloved by all. 11 is son afterward 
 formed the acquaintance of Captain Lowell, 
 who was commander of a ship and who at- 
 tended the funeral of Rev. Johnson. The In 3 
 
 of Rev. Johnson was the headquarters of all 
 Americans visiting or residing in Hong Kong 
 for any length of time. 
 
 Dr. Johnson came from China to the United 
 States in order to pursue his education in the 
 schools of this country. The ship on which 
 he -ailed was attacked by the Confederate 
 pirate ship Florida on the 15th of February, 
 1863. The passengers and crew were put to 
 ever) inconvenience and after everything of 
 value was taken a torch was applied and the 
 vessel burned to the water's edge. Dr. John- 
 son pursued his preliminary education in 
 Thilips College at Exeter, New Hampshire. 
 lie afterward went to Providence, Rhode 
 Island, where he completed a course in the 
 University grammar school, and he afterward 
 attended Scofield Business College, from 
 which he won a diploma on the 11th of Novem- 
 ber, 1867. Determining to engage in the prac- 
 tice of medicine as his life work, he entered 
 Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, 
 Pennsylvania, and was graduated witli the 
 class of ISC', lie was afterward appointed a 
 trustee of the insane hospital at Augusta. 
 Maine, where he remained from 1880 to 1883, 
 after which he was offered a position as assist- 
 ant superintendent, hid declined. Entering 
 upon the active practice of medicine, he there 
 engaged in the prosecution of his profession 
 for a number of years, lie was appointed a 
 justice of the peace in Maine by Governor 
 Davis on the 5th of January. 1881, and on the 
 Cith of April. 1882, he was appointed examin- 
 ing surgeon as a member of the pension hoard, 
 lie located in Litchfield April 22, 1886. and
 
 DK. C. W. JOHNSON
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF 1HE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 0/ ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AM) PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT'S 
 
 241 
 
 has since been a member of the profession here, 
 active in practice and laboring with success in 
 the alleviation of human suffering. The pub- 
 lic and the medical fraternity accord him high 
 rank and bis acknowledged skill has won him 
 a very liberal patronage. 
 
 On the 7th of June, is; I. in Lubec, Maine, 
 Dr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss 
 Allie Ryerson, and unto them were born two 
 children. Simeon Ryerson, the elder, is a 
 practicing physician at Divernon, Illinois, and 
 was named in honor of bis maternal grand- 
 father. He is a graduate of DeP'auw Uni- 
 versity of Indiana, where he completed bis 
 course in 1895, and also of the University of 
 Illinois, completing a course in the medical 
 department with the class of 1898. The 
 younger child, a daughter, died when seventeen 
 months old. 
 
 In bis political views Dr. Johnson is a stal- 
 wart Republican and keeps well informed on 
 the [--ues of the day. lie lias in bis possession 
 Ins father's library, which contains three vol- 
 umes concerning the United States expedition 
 
 of ( oini lore M. ('. Perry, published in 185G. 
 
 Dr. Johnson lias made his home in Litchfield 
 for eighteen years and is well known here as a 
 representative member of the profession. 
 
 JAMES W. KIRKPATRICK. 
 
 • lame- W. Kirkpatriek. superintendent of 
 the plant of the Illinois Brick & Tile Company 
 at Litchfield, was born in Alton, this stale, in 
 L858, and his ancestry, both lineal and col- 
 lateral, for many generations has been dis- 
 tinctively American. He is a great-grandson 
 of .lames Kirkpatriek. who served as a cap- 
 tain in the Revolutionary war and was killed 
 while the troops were engaged in skirmishing 
 wiili the British. He was shot while at his 
 dinner table with nine of his children around 
 him. His son. Thomas Kirkpatriek, was the 
 first settler of Madison county. Illinois, and 
 assisted in the erection of the first I'ort iii the 
 count \ which was built to protect the pioneer 
 residents against the Indians. He had re- 
 moved from Tennessee to Madison county in 
 1802 and was very prominent and influential 
 
 in molding its policy and shaping its pioneer 
 history, lie served as the firs! judge of the 
 county and was one of the thirty-six delegates 
 that weiii to Kaskaskia. Illinois — then the 
 capital of the territory — to formulate plans for 
 the admission of the state into the Union. Ho 
 accumulated a large properly for those days, 
 and the town of Edwardsville has been built 
 upon the land winch he at one time owned. 
 
 Samuel I). Kirkpatriek. father of .lames W. 
 Kirkpatriek, was bom near Edwardsville, Illi- 
 nois, and is now living in Portland, Oregon, 
 at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He 
 was a lumber merchant and soon after the close 
 of the Civil war came to Litchfield, where 
 he remained until 1879, when he removed to 
 
 Oregon, where he has since made bis h e. 
 
 lie belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church 
 and for many years has been one of its active 
 and helpful workers. Fraternally he is con- 
 nected with the Masonic lodge and with the 
 A. K. T. His wife, who bore the maiden 
 name of Mary Jane Elsworthy, was born 
 near London, England, and is now sixty- 
 nine years of age. She came to the United 
 States with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. William 
 Elsworthy; when a little maiden of five sum- 
 mers, the family home being established in 
 Alton. Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatriek be- 
 came the parents of six children: Carrie, de- 
 ceased; Annie, the wife of Rev. M. G. Cole- 
 man, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church 
 at Paris, Illinois; James W. ; Edward, de- 
 ceased; and Myrtle, the wife of Edward Haz- 
 zard, who is cashier of the bank at Lake 
 ( 'harles. Louisiana. 
 
 To the public-school system of Litchfield 
 James W. Kirkpatriek is indebted for the edu- 
 cational privileges which he enjoyed. He 
 afterward began learning the trade of brick- 
 making and has s i n ce followed that pursuit as 
 a life occupation. For five years he was as- 
 sociated with George Matthews, in the manu- 
 facture of brick and <m the expiration of that 
 period they sold out to J. W. Chamberlain & 
 Son, while Mr. Kirkpatriek accepted the posi- 
 tion as superintendent with the Litchfield Brick 
 & Tile Company, with which he remained for 
 four years. On the expiration of that period 
 he was made superintendent of the brick and
 
 '.' 1 2 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTdoMKIiV COFXTY 
 
 tile works of Monticello, Piatt County, whore 
 he continued for lour years and in 1896 he 
 returned to Litchfield to accept the superin- 
 tendency of the brick works owned by David 
 Davis, Sr. He is still identified in the same 
 capacity with that productive industry. In 
 1902, however, the concern was incorporated 
 under the name of the Illinois Brick & Tile 
 Company, with David Davis, Jr., as president, 
 Mrs. Blanche K. Davis as treasurer, Regina 
 Davis as secretary and James YV. Kirkpatriek 
 as superintendent. The company was capital- 
 ized for twenty thousand dollars and employ- 
 ment is furnished to from twenty to twenty- 
 five men. The product of the factory is both 
 building and paving brick and drain tile and 
 the capacity is twenty thousand brick per day. 
 The plant is well equipped with modern ap- 
 pliances and machinery and the output is now 
 extensive and of such excellent quality that 
 n finds a ready sale on the market. 
 
 In 1881 Mr. Kirkpatriek was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Hattie Ringwald, who was born 
 in Germany in 1862 and in 1870 was brought 
 to America by her parents, who located in 
 Alton, her father following the occupation of 
 farming in that locality. Three children have 
 been horn of this union: Harry, who is a fire- 
 man on tlie Big Four Railroad, now living at 
 Mattoon, Illinois; Edward, deceased; and one 
 that died in infancy. Mr. Kirkpatriek belongs 
 to the Odd Fellows Lodge, his wife to the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal church, and he is a Republican 
 in his political affiliation His life has been char- 
 acterized by untiring diligence ami one ele- 
 ment of the success which he has achieved is 
 the fait that he has persevered in the calling 
 which as a young tradesman he embarked, con- 
 centrating his energies alone this one line with 
 good result. 
 
 SOLOMOX IIAAKF. 
 Solomon Haake was horn June .">. "lSti?. in 
 Fillmore township, upon the farm where he 
 now makes his home, and throughout his 
 active business career he has carried on agri- 
 cultural pursuits. The family, as the name in- 
 dicates, i« of German lineage. His parents 
 
 were Henry ami II; ah (Welge) Haake. The 
 
 father was horn in the province of Hanover, 
 Germany, in 1821, and there remained until 
 aboul thirty years of age. He, too, was a 
 farmer by occupation and on crossing the At- 
 lantic to the new world he made his way west- 
 ward to Illinois, settling m Macoupin coun- 
 ty, whence he afterward removed to Mont- 
 gomery county. Here he purchased one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres of land in Fillmore 
 township, constituting a part of the farm upon 
 which Solomon Haake now resides. He worked 
 earnestly in order to gain a comfortable com- 
 petence and established a good home for his 
 family, and a- i he years advanced he was en- 
 ahled to extend the boundaries of his farm by 
 additional purchases until he was the owner of 
 a valuable tract of five hundred and five acres 
 of rich land, the productive condition of which 
 enabled him to garner good harvests each fall. 
 He was married to Miss Hannah Welge, a sis- 
 ter of Louis Welge, of Hillsboro. and they be- 
 came the parents of four children, of whom 
 one child died at the age of three years. Those 
 living are Mrs. Ida. Wolters. Otto and Solo- 
 mon. The father died in 1899 at the age of 
 seventy-eighi years, hut the mother is still liv- 
 ing, residing with a brother upon the old 
 homestead. Mr. Haake was a Democrat in 
 his political views, hut he had neither time nor 
 inclination for public office, as his business 
 affairs claimed all of his attention. When he 
 arrived in Montgomery county he worked for 
 ten dollars per month and all that he possessed 
 was acquired through his untiring effort. He 
 possessed good business ability and keen fore- 
 sight and judiciously invested his earnings 
 until he stood as one of the substantial resi- 
 dents of his adopted county. 
 
 Solomon Haake was reared on the old fami- 
 ly homestead and at the usual age entered the 
 public schools, wherein he gained a fair knowl- 
 edge of the common branches of English learn- 
 ing. His training at farm labor was not 
 meager, for bis father instructed him in the 
 various duties of the farm and he gained prac- 
 tical knowledge of this work in all of its de- 
 pa rt incuts. He continued to assist his father 
 until the hitter's death and then entered upon 
 an independent business career. He raises
 
 OF TH£ 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 ME. AND MRS. SOLOMON HAAKE
 
 ME. AND MBS. HENEY HAAKE
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOM K1!Y COUNTY 
 
 '.' ! 7 
 
 both grain and stock, having taken up the lat- 
 ter In-. inch of business since Ins father's death. 
 He lias made all of the improvements upon 
 his home place, including the erection of a 
 substantial residence and good bams. There 
 was not even a fence upon the land when he 
 took possession of it, and he has since divided 
 the place into fields of convenient size by well 
 kept fences, has secured modern machinery to 
 facilitate the farm work and has carried on his 
 labors along progressive lines. He owns two 
 hundred and fifty acres of land, which he re- 
 ceived as his share of his father's estate, while 
 his brother also received an equal amount. 'The 
 boys had assisted their father in paying off his 
 indebtedness and in developing the farm, and 
 the property came to them as the legitimate 
 reward of their labor. 
 
 On the 10th of February. L897, occurred the 
 marriage of Mr. Haake and Miss Effie Fesser, 
 and they have become the parents of three 
 children: Graydon Paul, born January 4, 
 1898; Maude Elberta, born December 26, 
 1902; and Solomon Kay, born June 23, 1904. 
 Mrs. Ilaake's father, August Fesser, is a na- 
 tive of Hanover. Germany, and on coming tq 
 America in 1S65 located in Christian county, 
 Illinois, but a year later came to Montgomery 
 county and purchased eighty acres of land in 
 Fillmore township. As time passed he pros- 
 pered in his farming operations and is to-day 
 the owner of four hundred and eighteen acres 
 of fine farming land. He married Adaline 
 Livingston, a native of this county, and to 
 them were born sis children, five of whom are 
 still living. In politics Mr. Fesser is a Re- 
 publican, while Mr. Haake votes with the 
 Democracy, but is not an active politician, for 
 his interests are concentrated upon his busi- 
 ness affairs, which, being managed capably, 
 have brought to him a very desirable financial 
 return. 
 
 GEORGE W. DUFFER. 
 
 George W. Huffer, who is engaged in real 
 estate dealing in Coffeen, was born on the 
 99th of February. 1864, in Shelbyville, Shelby 
 county, Illinois, his parents being Noah and 
 
 Catharine Huffer. The father was born in 
 Heading. Berks county. Pennsylvania, on the 
 3d of April, 1898, and when ten years of age 
 became a resident of Ohio. He remained m 
 that state until twenty-one years of age, and 
 during that time learned the blacksmith's 
 trade. On attaining his majority he removed 
 to Shelbyville. Illinois, where he engaged m 
 the manufacture of plows and carriages. He 
 also made the first scrapers and graders for the 
 Big Four Railroad Company, for at that time 
 there were no iron fenders in operation. He 
 invented what was known as Hurler's corn- 
 planter, which was patented on the 8th of 
 February, 1861. It was the first planter ever 
 made that covered two rows. Mr. Huffer of 
 this review now has the patent which was 
 issued to his father. After perfecting his in- 
 vention Mr. Huffer began contract work and 
 remained in this until his death, which oc- 
 curred April 29, 1899. He never reaped the 
 just reward of his invention, for the papers 
 were not drawn up properly by his lawyer, 
 and other men used his ideas by making 
 slight changes in the machine. On the 2d 
 of August, 18%3, Noah Huffer married Miss 
 Catharine Dush, who was horn in Wooster 
 county, Ohio, February 7, 1834, and died June 
 15, 1901. They became the parents of four 
 children : Catharine Elizabeth, who married 
 Joseph Wade and died in 1885; Simon, who 
 lives in Decatur: George W. ; and Mary L., 
 who is married and lives at Cowden. 
 
 George W. Huffer acquired his early edu- 
 cation in the district schools in Shelby county. 
 He afterward learned telegraphy, and in April, 
 L884, as a telegraph operator he entered the 
 employ of the Toledo. Cincinnati & St. Louis 
 Railroad at Cowden. Illinois. His wife also 
 learned telegraphy and they worked in the 
 same office for seven years. Mr. Huffer con- 
 tinued in the railroad employ for almost twen- 
 ty years, giving excellent satisfaction to the 
 corporations which he represented. In con- 
 nection with A. Studebaker he opened the 
 American Exchange Bank in Coffeen in 1900, 
 but afterward sold out to his partner. He 
 then turned Ids attention to the real estate and 
 insurance business in Coffeen. in which he 
 his since been engaged. lie has secured a
 
 v 1 8 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTUO.MEKY COFNTY 
 
 good clientage in this Line and has negotiated 
 many importanl real estate transfers and writ- 
 ten considerable insurance. 
 
 On the 23d of November, 1887, Mr. llull'er 
 was united in marriage to Miss Inez L. Stude- 
 baker, a daughter oi A. Studebaker, of Cof- 
 feen, and to them one child has been born, 1!. 
 Hortense. Mrs. Euffer belongs to the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian church. Mr. Huffer 
 gives Ins political allegiance to the Repub- 
 lican party and both he and bis wife are fa- 
 v.orably known in the social circles of Coffeen, 
 having gained many warm friends during their 
 residence here. 
 
 A. T. STRANGE. 
 
 A. T. Strange, living on a farm in Grisham 
 township, is one of the prominent and in- 
 fluential citizens of Montgomery county, con- 
 trolling important business interests and at 
 the same time taking an active part in com- 
 munity affairs, Ins efforts proving beneficial 
 and far-reaching. ELs public spirit is manifest 
 by co-operation in many helpful public move- 
 ments, and his integrity in both citizenship 
 and m business life is above question. 
 
 Mr. Strange was horn in Floyd county. 
 Georgia, on the 6th of July, L850, a son of 
 John A. and Fidello A. (Grisham) Strange, 
 who in his boyhood days removed to Blount 
 county. Tennessee, so that the period of his 
 youth was passed in the two states. At the 
 age of twenty-one years he began teaching 
 school and at the same time continued his own 
 studies. In the fall of 1st;; he came to Illi- 
 nois going to Reno, Bond county, where lived 
 Ins maternal grandfather, Archibald Grisham. 
 lie secured a position as a teacher in Bond 
 county, and in 1872 he came to Montgomery 
 county, where he followed the same profession 
 for several years and subsequently engaged in 
 teaching only through the winter months, while 
 the summer seasons were devoted to other labor. 
 chiefly farming. 
 
 On the 22d of August. 1872, Mr. Strange 
 was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Copeland, a 
 daughter of Samuel Copeland, and they re- 
 moved to the farm in Grisham town-hip upon 
 
 which they now reside. To the development 
 ol his land and the improvement of Ins farm 
 he devoted his energies i'r early spring un- 
 til after crops were harvested m the autumn, 
 while in the months ol winter he labored in the 
 
 scl lroom, hut in 1884 he gave up teaching 
 
 altogether and bis entire attention was devoted 
 to agricultural pursuits until 1891. In IstlU 
 he became one of the organizers of the Hills- 
 boro Mutual Fanners' Insurance Company, 
 was chosen its first secretary and has since 
 held that office. Under his able management 
 the business has increased from one hundred 
 and sixty thousand dollars' worth of property 
 insured in 1900 to over one and a quarter mill- 
 ions. In 1894 he aided in organizing the 
 I'ana Cyclone Mutual Insurance Company and 
 was made its secretary, so that he now repre- 
 sents both companies in that capacity. The 
 latter company also has grown rapidly from a 
 small beginning to its present amount of near- 
 ly one and a half millions in force. In 1895 
 he began merchandising at Walshville and has 
 since conducted his store with good success, 
 hut makes his home upon his farm, which is 
 pleasantly and conveniently situated aboul two 
 miles east of Walshville, and which comprises 
 one hundred and forty-four acres of rich and 
 valuable land, now under a high state of culti- 
 vation. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mis. Strange were born four 
 children, of whom two are deceased. The liv- 
 ing sons are twiiis — Algy F. and Eury B. 
 Strange. The former is now a practicing den- 
 tin of Litchfield, while the latter is now a 
 student in the Marion Sims Dental College at 
 St. Louis. Missouri. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Strange is a Re- 
 publican, stalwart in support of the party. He 
 served as township clerk for three years and 
 later was supervisor of his township for three 
 terms. He is a prominent member of Walsh- 
 ville lodge. A. F. & A. M.. was made a Mason 
 therein in 1871, and for twenty-nine years was 
 worshipful master. He then resigned and was 
 succeeded by his son. His devotion to the craft 
 is above question, and in his life he exemplifies 
 its beneficent spirit and its principles of broth- 
 erly kindness and helpfulness. He is a trustee 
 of the William Jordan educational trust fund
 
 A. T. STRANGE
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF FH£. 
 
 {DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OK MONTiio.M EKY COUNTY 
 
 25] 
 
 a fund of twelve thousand dollars, the income 
 from which goes for educational purposes in 
 the township. Ee lias also been trustee and 
 
 administrator of man\ estates, which shows how 
 high is the position which tie has attained in 
 the public regard and confidence. Never has 
 any trust reposed in him been betrayed in the 
 slightest degree, for he is a man of unflinching 
 honor and business reliability, and in his 
 adopted county his name is a synonym for 
 si raight forward dealing. 
 
 AUGUST T. DOERR. 
 
 August T. Doerr, living on section 1, Ray- 
 mond township, is one of the progressive and 
 thrifty agriculturists of his community and 
 his land, covering one hundred and forty acres, 
 is highly cultivated and well improved. His 
 life record began on the 22d day of May, 1856, 
 in Madison county, Illinois, on which date he 
 first opened his eyes to the light of day. His 
 parents were Peter and Joanna (Volbrecht) 
 Doerr. The father was a native of Germany 
 and when a young man came to the new world, 
 going to Missouri in is 14. at the time of high 
 
 DC O 
 
 water in that state. Ee was married in St. 
 Charles, Missouri, in 1846, to Joanna Vol- 
 brecht, who was also a native of Germany, and 
 they resided for two years in St. Charles, after 
 which they spent seven years in St. Louis. 
 Subsequently they removed to Edwardsville, 
 Illinois, and Mr. Doerr was then' engaged in 
 business as a brick-mason, contractor and 
 builder, which pursuit he had also followed in 
 Missouri. He afterward bought land in L854, 
 becoming the owner of a tract upon which his 
 son August T. now resides. In the spring of 
 1851 he took up his abode thereon, broke the 
 fields, planted crops and in course of time 
 garnered rich harvests. Be also built a house 
 and moved his family to the farm from Ed- 
 wardsville in the spring of 1858. Through 
 many a succeeding year he was numbered 
 among the enterprising agriculturists of his 
 community and spent his last days upon the 
 old homestead there, dying in 1893 at the ripe 
 old age of seventy-two years. His wife de- 
 parted this life in 1897. In their family were 
 
 seven children, three sons ami four daughters, 
 of whom six are yet h\ ing. 
 
 August T. Doerr was reared under the 
 parental roof, largely spending his youth upon 
 the home farm, ami when not engaged with the 
 labors of the Held he attended the common 
 schools near Ins home ami the graded schools 
 of Butler. When he .-tailed out upon an in- 
 dependent liusiness career he desired to have a 
 companion ami helpmate for the journey of life 
 ami on the l.Mh of October, 1879, he was united 
 in marriage to Miss Alice R. Williamson, a 
 native of Montgomery county, where her girl- 
 hood days were passed. Shi' acquired a fair 
 education and engaged in teaching school prior 
 to her marriage. She is a daughter of William 
 Williamson, formerly of Hamilton county, 
 Ohio, ami one of the early settlers of Montgom- 
 ery county. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Doerr has been blessed with five living chil- 
 dren: Elmer, who is married and is a draughts- 
 man in the steel works at Granite City; Walter, 
 who is foreman of the water works at I.emar, 
 Iowa: Mabel, William and Nellie, at home. 
 Thev lost one daughter, their youngest child, 
 Anna, who died at the age of two years. 
 
 Mr. Doerr sine led to a part of the old 
 
 homestead and after coming into possession 
 of this property he built a good home thereon 
 and continued the work of further cultivation 
 and improvement, making the farm one of the 
 desirable properties of the neighborhood. In 
 connection with the raising of grain he i- also 
 engaged in the raising and Eeeding of stock, and 
 both branches id' his business have proved a 
 good source of income. He finds time for the 
 discharge of public duties and as a citizen he 
 is public-spirited and progressive, unfaltering 
 in his allegiance to the Republican party. lie 
 cast his tirst presidential ballot for General 
 James A. Garfield and for each of its nominees 
 since that time. He was elected and served 
 as drainage commissioner for two years, has 
 been a member of the school hoard and has been 
 a delegate to various county conventions, and 
 as every true American citizen should do. he 
 takes a deep interest in politics, earnestly desir- 
 ing the success of the principles which he be- 
 lieves to contain the best elements of good gov- 
 ernment. He has frequently attended the agri-
 
 253 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 cultural institutes and is a most progressive 
 farmer, laboring earnestly for the betterment 
 of the agricultural class. lie recognized the 
 value of the interchange of thought and ex- 
 perience that comes in agricultural institutes 
 and has done much to make the organization in 
 Montgomery county a success. For the past 
 six years hi' has made a study of the raising of 
 different kinds of corn and has developed some 
 well known varieties and also propagated some 
 new varieties. He and his wife arc members 
 of the Methodisi Episcopal church, in the work 
 of winch they take an active and helpful inter- 
 est, lie has served as Sunday-school superin- 
 tendent for more than twenty years, has been 
 a teacher in the Sunday-school and is active 
 in behalf of the Christian education of the 
 young. Km- six years he has been a member of 
 the Woodmen camp. Progress and advance- 
 ment are terms synonymous with the business 
 record i<( Mr. Doerr, who since starting out in 
 life for himself has put forth every effort to 
 make his labors effective and resultant. He 
 has worked earnestly and along modern lines 
 and lias not only followed advanced methods 
 instituted by ethers, hut has been the promoter 
 of agricultural interests, especially along the 
 line of producing new varieties of corn and 
 demonstrating the possibilities of the state for 
 production of this cereal. 
 
 CHARLES GILLMAN. 
 
 Charles Gillman, a practical, progressive ami 
 intelligent farmer and stock-raiser of Mont- 
 gomery county, living on section 8, Pitman 
 township, is the owner of valuable landed pos- 
 sessions, In- farm comprising seven hundred 
 acres, lie is also classed with the pioneer resi- 
 dents of Illinois, having established bis home 
 in Sangamon county in 1854, while since 1862 
 he has lived in Montgomery county. He is one 
 of the worthy citizens that Germany has fur- 
 nished to this country, and he possesses many 
 of thi' strict and sterling characteristics of its 
 people. 
 
 He was born in Brunswick, July 17, 1835. 
 and had good school advantages in bis youth. 
 His knowledge of English, however, has been 
 
 acquired since he arrived in ibis state. When 
 a young man he was employed as a sheep herder 
 in Brunswick, Germany, but he did not regard 
 the business outlook as very encouraging and 
 believed thai he tnighl enjoy better opportuni- 
 ties in the new world. At the age of nineteen, 
 therefore, he crossed the Atlantic and in 185* 
 became a resident of Sangamon county, Illi- 
 nois, where he joined some German friends 
 who had previously come to the United States. 
 There Mr. Gillman entered the employ of ('. T. 
 Hoppin, his duty being to herd and care for a 
 large thick of sheep numbering fifteen hundred 
 head. He continued in this employ for more 
 than four years, during which time he made 
 good wages, which he carefully saved, and then 
 with the capital he had acquired through his 
 own efforts he embarked in the sheep-raising 
 business on his own account. He resided in 
 Sangamon county for three years, making his 
 home near Auburn, and in 1862 he purchased 
 land where he now resides, becoming the owner 
 of a tract, of three hundred and six acres, of 
 which one hundred and sixty acres is partially 
 improved. He at once began its further de- 
 velopment and cultivation and in connection 
 with the tilling of the soil he was engaged in 
 the raising, feeding and fattening of cattle, 
 hogs and sheep for the market. As he pros- 
 pered in his undertakings he purchased more 
 land from time to lime, and is now the owner 
 of seven hundred acres. At one time his realty 
 holdings comprised one thousand acres, but be 
 has since sold about three hundred acres. He 
 i.- one of the largest feeders and shippers of fat 
 stock in the northern part of Montgomery 
 county, shipping from one hundred to two hun- 
 dred head el' fat cattle annually, besides several 
 carloads of hogs and sheep. Mr. Gillman has 
 bis place well improved. He has creeled a 
 large, substantial and attractive residence, built 
 in modern style of architecture and surrounded 
 by a well-kepi lawn inclosed within an iron 
 fence. There are many beautiful forest, shade 
 and ornamental trees on the place, and in the 
 rear of the home are good barns ami outbuild- 
 ings. The latest improved machinery is used 
 in cultivating the fields and harvesting the \ 
 crops, and all modern equipments are found 
 upon fins well conducted farm.
 
 MR. AND MRS. CHARLES GILLMAN
 
 LIBRARY 
 Of [HE 
 
 university of Illinois
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ■?:>:, 
 
 In Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1862, Mr. 
 Gillman married Miss Anna Handley. also a 
 native of German}', and they became the par- 
 ents of five sons and five daughters: Frank, a 
 substantial farmer of Montgomery county; 
 Henry, a traveling salesman; John, a pros- 
 perous merchant of Farmersville ; Emma, the 
 wife of George Cardenbaek; Ella, the wife of 
 I. ale Bristo, a resident of Missouri; Carrie, the 
 wife of Grant Rodgers, a farmer of Pitman 
 township; Flora and Anna, at home; and two 
 suns, deceased. Of these William died at the 
 age of twenty-seven years and George at the 
 age of twenty-four years. 
 
 Mr. Gillman, interested in the progress of 
 his county along man) lines, gives liberally to 
 the support of different churches as well as to 
 the Lutheran church at Farmersville, of which 
 he and Ins wife are consistent and active mem- 
 bers. He votes with the Republican party, hut 
 has never desired political preferment. Forty- 
 two years have come and gone since he arrived 
 in Montgomery county. He landed in America 
 a poor young man. empty-handed and amid 
 strangers, he worked his way upward, his 
 labor and enterprise making for him success, 
 while his straightforward dealing has secured 
 him an untarnished name. His business record 
 
 is i ml I creditable and his life history proves 
 
 conclusively what can be accomplished if one 
 has determination and is not afraid to work. 
 In his private relations he is kindly and cour- 
 teous, an agreeable companion and true friend. 
 
 R. FOREST LINGLE. 
 
 R. forest Lingle, a representative farmer of 
 Montgomery county whose enterprise and in- 
 dustry are typical of the progressive spirit of 
 the west, resides en section 15, Irving town- 
 ship. He is a native son of the county, his 
 birth having occurred in Rountree township, 
 March 1 1. 1865. 1 1 is parents are \. II. M. 
 and Harriet ( '. Lingle, natives <d' North Caro- 
 lina and Illinois, respectively. The father was 
 one of the early settlers of Montgomery county 
 and in 1853 he went to California attracted 
 by the discovery of gold upon the Pacific slope. 
 He drove to the far off state with an ox team 
 
 and spent one year in that section of the coun- 
 try, lie i- now living in Rountree township, 
 where he owns four hundred acres of land ana 
 eighty in Irving township, lie is seventy-three 
 years id' age and his wife has reached the age 
 of sixty-three years. In their family were eight 
 children, all of whom an 1 yet living with the 
 exception of the eldest. Albert A., who died 
 at the age of two years. The others in order 
 of birth arc II. Forest; Linnie May and Lula 
 Belle, twins, tin' former the wife of Jacob C. 
 Snider, and the latter the wife of William 
 Bryce; Joseph <>.. who is living upon the home 
 place; Elva (!.. the wife id' Frank Berry, of 
 Irving township; Alma 1,.. the wife of Asa 
 Black, of Auburn, Illinois; and Hubert G., who 
 married Viola Masters, and is living in Roun- 
 tree township. 
 
 R. Forest Lingle was a public school student 
 in Rountree township in his early boyhood days 
 and he received mental training in farm labor 
 upon the old homestead, where he remained un- 
 til twenty-five years of age. He then deter- 
 mined to follow as a life pursuit the occupation 
 to which he had been reared and began farming 
 fin- himself in Rountree township. After five 
 years had passed he purchased eighty acres of 
 land, where he now lives. He has a well de- 
 veloped property, upon which he has made ex- 
 cellent improvements, so that his farm is now 
 productive and his labor profitable. For four- 
 teen years he has been operating a threshing 
 machine and a clover huller, being his own en- 
 gineer, ami his labors in this direction have 
 added materially to his income. 
 
 On the 24th of September, 1889, Mr. Lingle 
 was united in marriage to Miss Ettie A. Cham- 
 bers, a daughter of Francis and Elizabeth A. 
 Chambers, both of whom were natives of Ohio 
 and became early settlers of Fayette county, 
 Illinois. In 1885 they removed to Nokomis, 
 Montgomery county, where Mr. Chambers is 
 still living, hut in 1901 he was called upon to 
 mourn the loss id' his wife, who died at the 
 age of sixty-two years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lingle have been horn two children: Ivan M., 
 who is eleven years of age. and Francis F., one 
 year old. 'the parents are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Lingle is 
 a Republican in his political views. He is in-
 
 256 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 terested in all that pertains to the county's prog- 
 ress and upbuilding and has given his aid and 
 co-operation to many measures for the general 
 good, so that for his value in citizenship as 
 well as his estimable traits of character in 
 private life he is held in high esteem by his 
 manv friends. 
 
 JOHN RUSSELL. 
 
 John Russell, the owner of a farm of three 
 hundred and eighty acres in Audubon township, 
 is one of the honored pioneer settlers, whose 
 memory goes back to the time of the log cabins 
 and uncleared fields in Montgomery county. 
 He was born on the 25th of April, 1822, on 
 the east fork of the creek northeast of Coffeen. 
 His parents were John and Charlotte (Britt) 
 Russell. The father was born in Johnson 
 county, North Carolina, in 1797, and removed 
 thence to Kentucky, where he resided for two 
 or three years. He afterward spent one year 
 mi the Missouri river about two hundred miles 
 above St. Louis, after which he decided to re- 
 turn to Kentucky. He proceeded down the 
 Missouri river, thence crossed the country of 
 Montgomery county. Being pleased with this 
 locality lie decided to remain and in 1821 set- 
 tled upon a tract of land near Coffeen, where he 
 raised a crop. He did not purchase land for 
 the settlers then believed that they would never 
 need to, but speculators came in ami made the 
 purchases and Mr. Russell thus obtained no 
 property from the government. These were 
 early pioneer times when existing conditions 
 were iii marked contrast to those of the present 
 daw There were many wolves in the county 
 and the hark houses of the Indian wire still 
 standing during the boyhood clays of John 
 Russell. Jr. Large herds of deer were frequent- 
 ly seen in forests or upon the prairie ami there 
 weiv many wild turkeys and other feathered 
 game. When the prairie was burned over it 
 was found to be thickly strewn with buffalo 
 bones. There were no schoolhouses ami no 
 churches and. in fact, the privileges of the pio- 
 neer -elt lia's were very few. The clothing was 
 made out of flax, wool and cotton, and thread 
 spun and cloth woven by the women of the 
 
 household. John Russell. Sr., died upon the 
 farm on which the subject of this review now 
 resides. 
 
 His son, John Russell, assisted in cutting 
 the logs and building the old house, which still 
 stands upon the place. There was much timber 
 in this district and Mr. Russell acquired a part 
 of his presi nt farm. At. one time he owned two 
 hundred acres of timber land and one hundred 
 and sixty acres of prairie land. He still owns 
 the latter tract and he lias altogether three 
 hundred and eighty acres at this writing. He 
 was reared as were the other members of the 
 family, numbering live brothers and four sis- 
 ters. Those still living are Mrs. Martha Davis, 
 eighty-four years of age, a resilient of Decatur; 
 and Joseph, also living in Decatur. 
 
 Mr. Russell has been twice married, his first 
 wife being Miss Elizabeth Beck, by whom he 
 had two children. Susan and William 1*. Af- 
 ter her death lie was married on the 18th of 
 July, 1858, to her sister. Miss Nancy Beck, who 
 was born December 8, 1832, and pursued her 
 education in a log schoolhouse such as was com- 
 mon at that day. Her parents were John and 
 Nancy (Blair) Beck, both natives of Illinois, 
 the former of German descent and the latter 
 of English lineage. The children born of our 
 subject's second marriage are: Belle, the wife 
 of John Moyer, of Pana, Illinois; Florence, the 
 wife of Ed Betzel, of Pana: John; Luzena, the 
 wife of John Pacock. a resident of Audubon 
 township; Ollie, the wife of Charles Sarles; 
 Alice, at home: Edward: ami Mabel, the wife 
 of .lames Monaghan, of Audubon township. 
 
 Mr. Russell has always been a Democrat in 
 his political affiliation and he east his first vote 
 for .lames K. Polk. His wife is a member of 
 tlir Christian church. His entire life has been 
 )ia><eil in Montgomery county and his memory 
 forms a connecting link between the pioneer 
 past and the progressive present. He has wit- 
 nessed wonderful changes and the difference is 
 no more marked in any line of life than in 
 farming, for the old crude hand implements 
 have been replaced by modern machinery, 
 whereby a man's daily work is greatly increased 
 in amount ami lessened in actual manual labor. 
 No longer are the log cabins seen, for they have 
 been replaced by commodious and substantial
 
 ME AND MRS. JOHN RUSSELL

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 251) 
 
 modem dwellings and do more are the i \ idences 
 of pioneer Life seen. While Mr. Russell has 
 man} pleasant memories of the olden days he 
 has rejoiced in the progress that has been made. 
 
 CHARLES E. MORGAN. 
 
 Charles E. Morgan, well known in financial 
 circles in Montgomery county, is the capable 
 cashier of the Litchfield Bank & Trust Com- 
 pany. He was hern in Springfield, [llinois, 
 on the 2d of April, L862, and is a sun of Walter 
 1'. and Mary (Brockman) Morgan. His father 
 was i tected with the Wabash Railroad Com- 
 pany for thirty-three years, occupying his po- 
 sition up to the time of his death and two 
 uncles of our siiliject were also identified with 
 the operating department of railroad service. 
 
 The mother of Charles E. Morgan died when 
 he was but three years of age and he was reared 
 by Ins paternal grandfather, Horace Morgan. 
 In issl he entered the First National Bank of 
 Springfield, Illinois, as errand hoy and col- 
 lector, remaining in that institution for three 
 and a half years, during which time he gamed 
 a practical knowledge of the banking business. 
 He afterward went to work on the railroad as 
 a hrakenian on the passenger train and fol- 
 lowing the death of his father he was made 
 conductor on a dining car. running between 
 Forty Wayne, Indiana, and Decatur, over the 
 Wabash line. On the 1st of June, 1892, he re- 
 moved from Fort Wayne to Lichfield, Illinois, 
 and here he entered what was originally the 
 Bank of Litchfield, then the property of Beach, 
 Davis & Company. Later this firm was suc- 
 ceeded by Beach, Martin & Company, and from 
 ISO? until 100? the business was conducted 
 under the firm style of M. M. Martin & Com- 
 pany. On the Ith of September, of tin' latter 
 roar, the present Litchfield Bank- & Trust Com- 
 pany was organized as an incorporated state 
 bank and Charles F. Morgan has since served 
 as cashier of the institution, a position which 
 he ably fills. He had become connected with 
 this institution as assistant cashier and was 
 promoted to cashier in 1S07. succeeding Colonel 
 Van Duzen, who had served in that capacity for 
 a nnmher of years. Mr. Morgan is popular 
 
 with the patrons of the hank because of his 
 promptness and dispatch in discharging his 
 business duties and also because of his obliging 
 manner and unfailing courtesy. 
 
 On the 2d of September, L890, occurred the 
 marriage of Mr. .Morgan and Miss Mattie A. 
 Martin, a daughter of M. M. Martin, general 
 superintendent of the ear department of the 
 Wabash Railroad Company at Decatur. Her 
 father also held numerous valuable properties 
 in Litchfield, was the owner of the hank and 
 was also the leading partner in the Litchfield 
 Foundry & Machine Company. Mrs. Morgan 
 - the oldest daughter and was educated in the 
 Litchfield public schools, and by her marriage 
 has hoc. inn- the mother of two children, Harold 
 and Mabel, aged respectively thirteen and nine 
 years. 
 
 In Ins political views Mr. Morgan is a stai- 
 n-art Republ can ami has served a- president of 
 rhe school hoard, as member of the city council 
 and as city treasurer. He is also treasurer 
 of the Homestead Loan & Building Association. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent 
 Protective Order of Elks and is serving as 
 treasurer pf the lodge in Litchfield. He and 
 his wife have many warm friends in this city 
 and the hospitality of the best homes is ex- 
 tended to them, for they are people of genuine 
 worth, enjoying in large measure the esteem 
 of those with whom thev have been associated. 
 
 JOHN T. SH1NDLER. 
 John T. Shindler, yard ami hill clerk with 
 the Wabash Railroad Compan} at Litchfield, 
 was horn on the 3d of October. 1868 in Ma- 
 coupin county, Illinois, ami is a son of George 
 ('. and Elizabeth Shindler. Hi- early youth 
 was spent upon a farm and his education was 
 acquired in the district schools of the home 
 neighborhood. He continued to assist in the 
 cultivation and improvement of his father's 
 land until twenty-one years, after which he re- 
 moved to Litchfield and entered the employ 
 of the American Express Company, with which 
 he continued for a year. He next entered the 
 dry-goods business, with which he was identi- 
 fied for nine voars as a clerk for Mr. Towey in
 
 260 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 the New York store. On the expiration of that 
 period he entered the employ of the Big Four 
 Railroad Company, with which he continued 
 for a year and a half and on the 1st of Jan- 
 uary, 1903, he became connected with the Wa- 
 bash Railroad Company as yard clerk and bill 
 clerk. He yet occupies these positions and the 
 responsibility which devolves upon him is ably 
 met, owing to his business activity, capacity 
 and energy. 
 
 On the 1st of March, 1896, Mr. Shindler was 
 united in marriage to Miss Jennie Allen, a 
 native of Litchfield, who was born and reared 
 in this city, where she has always made her 
 home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. .Shindler have been 
 born two children : Harold A., who was born 
 February 13, 1897, and is now seven years of 
 age; and George Melvin, born June 4, 1902. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Shindler is a 
 Democrat. Earnest in his advocacy of his 
 party he believes firmly in its principles. He 
 was township clerk of North Litchfield town- 
 ship in 1901 and 1902 while with the Big Four 
 Railroad Company. Fraternally he is con- 
 neeted with the Tribe of Ben Hur. a beneficent 
 insurance order. He belongs to the First Bap- 
 tist church of Litchfield and while connected 
 with mercantile interests served as a teacher 
 in the Sunday-school, but the important and 
 responsible duties which now devolve upon him 
 leave him little opportunity for such work. 
 
 JAMES W. CLOTFELTER. 
 
 James Washington Clotfelter, one of the re- 
 spected and reliable citizens of Hillsboro, is 
 still interested in the stock business, although 
 he has passed the seventy-ninth milestone on 
 life's journey. His has been an eventful career, 
 full of many interesting incidents. He is 
 familiar with the pioneer experiences of Mis- 
 souri. Illinois and of California, has known 
 what it is to meet the hardships and trials inci- 
 dent to frontier life, to undergo hunger and to 
 f.irr danger. He is new spending the evening 
 of bis life amid the comforts which have been 
 won through capable business management and 
 unfaltering energy and in Hillsboro and Mont- 
 
 gomery county the circle of his friends is almost 
 co-extensive with the circle of bis acquaintance. 
 
 Mr. Clotfelter was born in Iredell county, 
 North Carolina, May 25, 1825, and on the 1st of 
 March, 1833, started with his parents from that 
 state to Missouri, but during the first week of 
 the journey the father died. The widowed 
 mother, with her nine children, continued on 
 their way and at length settled at Cape Girar- 
 deau, Missouri, but in the autumn of the same 
 year they removed to Hillsboro, making an 
 overland trip to this city. While enroute they 
 camped one night on Silver creek and the mem- 
 bers of the family with the exception of Mr. 
 Clotfelter of this review, who was sleeping, 
 witnessed one of the most remarkable phenome- 
 non that nature has displayed — the shower of 
 falling meteors, in which it seemed that the 
 heavens were falling. Mr. Clotfelter and 
 others of the family spent their first night in 
 Montgomery county in the house now owned 
 by Charles Baxter on the street in Hillsboro 
 leading to ( Iress Hill. 
 
 Soon after their arrival the mother moved 
 into a cabin on the Charles Miller farm. There 
 were then two cabins there connected by a shed 
 and Mrs. Clotfelter and her nine children oc- 
 cupied one of these, while a family almost as 
 numerous lived in the other. When two years 
 bad passed the Clot Teller family removed to 
 the old Andrew Burk farm south of the city, 
 and purchased the cabin and improvements for 
 one hundred and fifteen dollars. As the years 
 passed the children married and moved to 
 Innnes of their own until there were left only 
 the mother, one sister, who is dow Mrs. William 
 
 Pri and James W., of this review. In L846 
 
 the mother died and the household being thus 
 broken up James W. Clotfelter started out in 
 life on bis own account. He was then twenty- 
 one years of age. In the autumn of that year 
 he went with his brother to Missouri, but soon 
 returned to Montgomery county and entered 
 the employ of a Mr. Haller. In company with 
 others, he then started for Wisconsin, driving 
 five hundred head of cattle to that state. Two 
 months were consumed in making the trip and 
 for his services Mr. Clotfelter was paid nine 
 dollars per month. He accomplished the re- 
 turn journey on horseback in fifteen days and
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 MRS. JAMES W. CLOTFELTER
 
 JAMES W. CLOTFELTER
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF IHt 
 
 UNIVERSITY Of 'aiflOlS
 
 FAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMEEY COUNTY 
 
 365 
 
 on the way he stopped at Sycamore, where he 
 worked for two weeks in a brickyard, receiving 
 his board in compensation for his services. The 
 following year he purchased nine horses, which 
 he took to Chicago, Milwaukee and other cities, 
 endeavoring to effect a sale, but in those days 
 horses were not in demand and prices were Low, 
 most farmers preferring to use oxen in the 
 tilling of the soil. Had the price of Iced been 
 anything like it is today he would have lost 
 money in this venture, but he states that he 
 spent one night in Chicago and thai (lie lull 
 for sheltering Ins horses and himself was one 
 dollar and a half. After visiting two or three 
 cities he at length succeeded in selling seven of 
 his horses and the remaining two he traded for 
 two yoke of oxen, which he sold for eighty 
 dollars, and the price that he asked was so low 
 that the purchaser thought he had stolen them, 
 Mr. Clotfelter having a hard time in convincing 
 him that he had traded for them. At length 
 he arrived in Hillsboro with an old bugg] and 
 a part of the money which he had received in 
 payment for the horses. 
 
 Three times Mr. Clotfelter has journeyed to ' 
 California, making the first trip in 1850 in 
 company witli William and Ben Wilton. The 
 tales of fiction can hardly rival the story of the 
 hardships and trials which he endured. The 
 three men started with others, but had gone 
 only a short distance when William Wilton was 
 taken ill and they were compelled to wait for 
 two weeks until he had recovered sufficiently 
 to resume the journey. The food supply also 
 became low and Mr. Clotfelter and Mr. Ilan- 
 kerson determined that they would travel on 
 alone, hoping that fate would lie kind enough 
 to assist them in getting through. Leaving 
 their companions they started on foot for Cali- 
 fornia. The first half of their trip was made 
 in good time with few hardships for game was 
 plentiful and furnished them a good supply of 
 food, but the farther they went the scarcer (lie 
 game became. After tra-veling some time they 
 were joined by another man. from Springfield, 
 Illinois. When they arrived at the desert they 
 were nearly without food and had it not been 
 for the berries that they occasionally found 
 along the way they would have starved to death. 
 When they had succeeded in crossing the desert 
 
 ilr. Clotfelter's companions were almost ex- 
 hausted and it was decided that he should go 
 on alone and wait for them at a place where 
 ihe\ could secure something to eat. After a 
 
 I ly trip he arrived one night at a wayside 
 
 inn and. applying for something to eat, he was 
 informed that he could get something if he 
 was able t<> pay for it. lie pn-sessed only a 
 five dollar bill, which he gave in exchange for 
 two biscuits and a place to spend the night. 
 The next morning lie asked for work and was 
 given a jcli at carrying hay. There he awaited 
 his companions, who on their arrival were also 
 given employment and the three stayed there 
 about a day until they had rested. When they 
 were ready to leave the proprietor told them 
 that lhe\ could easily make plenty of money in 
 California and as they had no money to pay 
 their board he agreed In lake their notes. While 
 Mr. Hankerson was making out a note for forty 
 dollars Mr. Clotfelter succeeded in getting 
 possession of sixteen biscuits through the kind- 
 
 ueSS 'd the COOk and the\ r inipi'e resinned 
 
 their journey, luil as his companions were too 
 weak in keep it up. it was decided that each 
 should shift fur himself ami the} parted com- 
 pany in meet again in California. On leaving 
 the inn they had a wagon and three yoke of 
 oxen luil when afterward seen the oxen had 
 disappeared, being consumed as food, and tin' 
 wagon left behind. Mr. Clotfelter traveled 
 night and day without a gun In protect himself, 
 from the wild animals or the Indians, and it 
 was a desolate, lonely trip. One night, while 
 traveling along the Carson river, he stopped 
 near the seventeen mile desert and laid down to 
 sleep. hi the morning he found that he had 
 used as a couch the hollow between two newly 
 made graves. 
 
 After arriving at Weaverville, California, he 
 began prospecting for gold and succeeded in 
 making- enough with which In return to Tlli- 
 nois. In 1853 he again made a trip to Cali- 
 fornia and once more visited the Golden state 
 in 1859. During the years of his residence in 
 Montgomery county lie has been engaged in 
 the stock business and few dealers of this part 
 of tlie state are better known. He is still en- 
 gaged with his son Ralph in buying and selling 
 stock and has conducted an extensive and pro-
 
 266 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 titable business. In all trade transactions he 
 is alert and enterprising, yet lias never Wren 
 known to take advantage of the necessities of 
 his fellow men in any business dealing. 
 
 In 1854 occurred the marriage of Mr. Clot- 
 felter and Miss Dorcas Bost, a daughter of Mr. 
 and .Mrs. Jacob Bost. They became the parents 
 of ten children, eight of whom are now Living, 
 
 na 1\: Mrs. Thomas Williams: Mrs. Aimer 
 
 Cress, Mrs. Thomas M. Jett, Mrs. .lames P. 
 Brown. Lizzie. Minnie, Ralph and Mrs. Dr. 
 William A. Allen. The mother died in 1S92 
 and Mr. Clotfelter has since resided with one 
 of his daughters in Hillsboro. He is one of 
 its oldest citizens and has watched its develop- 
 ment from a little village situated in a wild and 
 desolate district to one of the best residence 
 towns of the state, lie has been deeply in- 
 terested in all that has been accomplished here 
 and has borne his full share in the work of 
 
 progress. His has, indeed. I □ an eventful 
 
 career and his life history, if written in detail, 
 would constitute a thrilling story. He can re- 
 late manv interesting incidents of early pioneer 
 experience in Illinois as well as of his mining 
 life in California. His business career has 
 been characterized by unflagging perseverance 
 and indefatigable energy and today ho stands 
 as one of the substantial residents of Mont- 
 gomery county because of his capable manage- 
 ment and unfaltering effort. 
 
 J. P. CHAPMAN. 
 
 J. H. Chapman, who is a representative 
 farmer of Raymond township Living on section 
 !». is also classed with the public-spirited ami 
 prominent men of liis community, where he is 
 now serving for the second term as justice of 
 the peace. His life record began in Greene 
 county. Illinois, where he first opened his eyes 
 to the light of day on the 1st of August, 1843. 
 Descended from English ancestry, he i- a 
 grandson of Luke Chapman, who was horn in 
 England ami emigrated to the United States 
 in L824, settling in West Virginia near Wheel- 
 ing, although the state had not at that time 
 been divided from the Old Dominion. He 
 reared his family there and died about 1832. 
 
 His son. Judge William Chapman, who was 
 horn in Yorkshire, England, in 1817, was only 
 about seven years of age at the time the fam- 
 ily crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He 
 remained in West Virginia until ls:;:i, when 
 in early manhood he sought a home in the 
 west, believing that this less thickly settled dis- 
 trict would afford better business opportunities. 
 He made his way to Greene county, Illinois, 
 where he was employed as a civil engineer in 
 connection with the construction of the Great 
 Western Railroad, now a part of the Wabash 
 Railroad system. He was also a teacher and in 
 this connection was actively identified with the 
 educational development of his community. In 
 Greene county he was married to Miss Ann M. 
 Alverson, who was horn and reared in Ken- 
 tucky, and in 1852 they removed to Mont- 
 gomery county, locating near Raymond, wdiere 
 tin- father entered land from the government, 
 securing a claim of three hundred and sixty 
 acres. Although not a furrow had been turned 
 or an improvement made upon that place he at 
 once began its development and continued its 
 cultivation until it had become a productive 
 tract. He also extended the boundaries of his 
 farm until it comprised more than six hundred 
 acres, lie reared his family and spent his 
 life there, being called to the home beyond 
 in January, 1896. He was one of the promi- 
 nent men of the county, serving as township 
 treasurer for twenty years, also as supervisor 
 and for four years as associate judge. His 
 public duties were discharged with the utmost 
 fidelity and capability and he took an active 
 and helpful pail in shaping the early policy 
 of the county and in promoting its substantial 
 upbuilding. He had a wide acquaintance and, 
 moreover, received the respect and confidence 
 of the entire community by reason of his up- 
 right life and general usefulness. 
 
 J. P. Chapman spent the days of his youth 
 in Montgomery county upon the old family 
 homestead and shared in the hardships and pri- 
 vations of pioneer life, assisted in the arduous 
 task of developing a new farm and also enjoyed 
 to the fullest extent the pleasures that were 
 common among the pioneer people at a time 
 when hospitality reigned supreme in every 
 frontier home. TTis educational advantages
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 267 
 
 were somewhat limited, but reading, experience 
 and observation have added greatly to his 
 knowledge in later years and have made him 
 a well informed man. He remained with his 
 father until he had attained his majority and 
 then offered his services to the government, en- 
 listing in May, 1864, when twenty years of age 
 as a member of Company 11. One Hundred and 
 Forty-lli i rd Illinois Infantry for one hundred 
 days. He went south and participated in sev- 
 eral skirmishes in Arkansas and Tennessee, but 
 was largely engaged in guard and garrison 
 <luty. He continued with the regiment until 
 honorably discharged in January, 1864, and 
 then returned to his home. Farming lias been 
 his life work and in his business career he has 
 displayed unfaltering perseverence as well as 
 keen business sagacity and energy. lie broke 
 the land upon which he lives and developed his 
 present fine farm, comprising two hundred 
 acres of very rich and productive land, situated 
 within two miles of Raymond. 
 
 In 1861 Mr. Chapman was united in mar- 
 riage td .Miss Catherine Hendrickson, a native 
 of Ohio, who was reared in that state. Sin- 
 died July 22, 1878, leaving lliree suns. Kobert 
 it. Chapman, who is now a resident of Denver, 
 Colorado; Professor Gideon P. Chapman, who 
 is principal of the high school at Divernon, 
 Illinois; and Byron Chapman, who is engaged 
 in the machinist business in Omaha, Nebraska. 
 Prior to his marriage .Mr. Chapman had pur- 
 chased the farm ami had also rented land 
 there for a few years. At the time of his 
 marriage he took his bride to the home which 
 he had prepared and they lived happily t> 
 gether there for about fourteen years. In July. 
 lssn. Mr. Chapman was again married, his 
 second union being with Isabella Rogers, who 
 was born m Macoupin county. Illinois, but was 
 reared in Montgomery county. Slie passed 
 away on the 15tb of March, 1903. By this 
 marriage there were the following children: 
 Grace, at home; Ethel, the wife of Archibald 
 Rhodes, a farmer of Raymond township; 
 George, who assists in the operation of the 
 home farm; Mary, Benjamin. Joseph R., John, 
 Emma, Ann and Jessie, all with their father. 
 
 In matters of citizenship Mr. Chapman is 
 public-spirited and progressive and in 1864 as 
 
 a supporter of tin- Republican party he proudly 
 cast Ins first presidential ballot for Abraham 
 Lincoln. He has since been unfaltering in his 
 devotion to the party and upon that ticket he 
 was elected a member of the school board, serv- 
 ing lor eighteen consecutive years, lie is now 
 serving his third term as justice of the peace, 
 having been first elected in 1900 and in the dis- 
 charge of bis duties he displays unbiased judg- 
 ment, strict equity and unfaltering devotion 
 to the trust reposed in him. Fraternally he 
 is connected with the Knights of Pythias lodge 
 in which he has filled all of the offices and is 
 now a past chancellor, while in the grand lodge 
 he has represented the subordinate organiza- 
 tion. He is also a member of the Modern 
 Woodmen camp and the Grand Army post, and 
 in the latter lias tilled many positions, is also 
 a past commander and has been a representa- 
 tive to tin- national encampment. His ac- 
 quaintance throughout the county is extensive, 
 for almost his entire life has been passed within 
 its borders and his activity in business and pub 
 lie affairs has been such as to extend his ac- 
 quaintance and win for him the highest regard 
 and esteem. 
 
 GEORGE SIMS. 
 
 George Sims, who is engaged in general farm- 
 ing on section 30, Rountree township, was born 
 m Banffshire, Scotland. November 27, 184S, 
 bis parents being William and Ann (Broady) 
 Sims, who in the year 185] bade adieu to the 
 land of the heather and crossed the Atlantic 
 to tbe new world. They located in Pennsyl- 
 vania, whence they afterward removed to Clin- 
 ton county, Illinois, and in 1867 they arrived 
 in Montgomery county, where they spent their 
 remaining days, both passing away in Roun- 
 tree township. Mrs. Sims died in 1885, at the 
 age of sixty-three years, and "Mr. Sims passed 
 away in 1878, at the age of fifty-six years. 
 
 George Sims, whose name introduces this 
 record, was a young lad when he accompanied 
 his parents on their removal to Illinois, hav- 
 ing been but two years of age when brought by 
 bis parents to the United States. He pursued 
 bis e, location in the public schools of Clinton
 
 368 
 
 IWST AM) 1'BESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 county and was reared to farm life, early be- 
 coming familiar with the various duties and 
 labors that fall to the Lot of the agriculturist. 
 At the age of twenty-one years he began farm- 
 ing on his own account and he now owns two 
 hundred and twenty acres of line land, all of 
 which is well improved. Tins farm is the visi- 
 ble evidence of his life of industry and thrift, 
 for it has come to him as the result of his 
 energy, careful management and good business 
 and executive ability, lie has labored earnest- 
 ly as the years have gone by and is now one of 
 the substantial residents of his community. 
 
 On the 12th of October, 1893, Mr. Suns was 
 united in marriage to Miss Florence Colvin, a 
 daughter of James and Rachel (Davis) Colvin, 
 the former a native of Ireland and the latter 
 of Indiana. Mr. Colvin came to the United 
 States when fifteen years of age and established 
 his home in Indiana, where he followed the 
 cabinet maker's trade. In 1872 he came to 
 Montgomery county, locating near Butler, 
 where he spent his remaining days, passing 
 away in 1901, at the age of eighty years. His 
 wife departed tins life in 1875. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Sims have been born five children: Lil- 
 lie. Nellie. Dewey. Cora and Lora. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Sims hold membership with the Presby- 
 terian church and lie gives his political support 
 to the Republican party, but has never sought 
 or desired office, preferring to give his undi- 
 vided attention to his business affairs. 
 
 HIRAM C CUNDIFF. 
 Hiram C. Cundiff, who is conducting a livery 
 
 stable in Coffeen, is oi f the native sons of 
 
 Montgomery county, bis birth having occurred 
 in Fillmore township on the 1Kb of April, 
 is 1 1. His father. William Cundiff. was bom 
 in Kentucky, while the mother of our subject 
 was a native of South Carolina. William 
 Cundiff arrived in Montgomery county during 
 the period of its early settlement and develop- 
 ment and assisted in opening up tin- region 
 to civilization. Tie particularly aided in re- 
 claiming the wild land for cultivation and be- 
 came an extensive farmer, owning six hundred 
 and sixty acres, which he made very productive, 
 
 owing to the care and labor which he bestowed 
 upon his fields. He was also extensively en- 
 gaged in raising stock and always had high- 
 grade animals upon his farm. His worth as 
 a citizen and business man were widely ac- 
 knowledged and made him one of the valued 
 residents of this portion of the state. His 
 death occurred in L862, and he is now sur- 
 vived by only two of his thirteen children. 
 
 I liram ('. Cundiff was reared in Montgomery 
 county and is indebted to its public school sys- 
 tem for the early educational privilege- which 
 he enjoyed. He started out in life on his own 
 account when twenty-three year- of age, hav- 
 ing by this time gained practical experience in 
 the work id' the farm in its various depart- 
 ments, lie began farming and stock-raising 
 on his own account, cultivating the cereals best 
 adapted to soil and climate and having good 
 grades of cattle, horses and hogs. He pur- 
 chased a farm of one hundred ami sixty acres 
 in Fillmore township and then removed to 
 Hillsboro, where he lived tor a short tune. Soon 
 afterward, however, he bought a farm lying in 
 Fillmore and East Fork townships. For twen- 
 tv-one years, however, he has made his home 
 in Coffeen. He built the first house in the 
 town and conducted a hotel for a number of 
 years. When the first passenger train ran 
 through the town it stopped here and the 
 passengers took dinner at Mr. Cundiff's home. 
 He now owns two houses in the town and is 
 proprietor of a livery stable which he is con- 
 ducting. He also built the first livery stable in 
 Witt. He made all of the improvements upon 
 his farms, assisting materially in developing the 
 county, ami in his business life has so managed 
 bis affairs as to receive a good financial return. 
 
 In L863 Mr. Cundiff was united in marriage 
 to Miss Mildred Knight, a daughter of Joseph 
 Knight, and they became the parents of four 
 children, but Alma B. died at the age of twen- 
 ty-three years, being accidentally killed by the 
 train in Hillsboro in June, L894. Those still liv- 
 ing are: Mary Ellen, the wife of Milton Salli- 
 day, of Litchfield; Dora, the wife of Bainey 
 Mathewson, of Coffeen: and Charles, who is 
 married and lives in Coffeen. 
 
 Mrs. Cundiff belongs to the Free Methodist 
 church, while Mr. Cundiff is identified with the
 
 MR. AND MRS. H. C. CUNDIFF
 
 UBRARV 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF \UlNOL
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 21 1 
 
 Modern W Imen camp. He votes with the 
 
 Democracy and is interested in the success of 
 his party, but has never sought or desired office, 
 preferring in give his time ami energies in his 
 business affairs. Saving always lived in Mont- 
 gomery county, he has a wide acquaintance 
 within its borders, and that many who have 
 known him from early boyhood are numbered 
 among his stanchest friends is an indication 
 that his has been an honorable and upright ca- 
 reer. 
 
 JAM PS P. BANDY. 
 
 James P. Bandy, who i> successfully en- 
 gaged m farming in North Litchfield township, 
 was born December 30, 1845, in Macon county, 
 
 Tennessee, his parents being Wesley and Pris- 
 cilla (Ozbun) Bandy, also natives of Tennes- 
 see. The father was of French descent ami 
 both the paternal and the maternal great-grand- 
 fathers were Revolutionary soldiers, serving 
 under General Washington. The paternal 
 great-grandfather served with Washington for 
 seven years and fourteen days and the maternal 
 great-grand father was a member of the army 
 for almost as lone- a period. The maternal 
 grandfather of Mr. Bandy served in the Crete 
 war in Florida and in the south. His daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Bandy, often saw Andrew Jackson 
 pass by her father's home, which was situated 
 on the regularly traveled road. 
 
 Wesley Bandy remained a resident of Ten- 
 nessee until 1851, when he removed to Greene 
 county. Illinois, where he resided for three 
 years, and in 1854 lie came to Montgomery 
 county, settling a half mile northeast of where 
 his son, James P. Bandy, the subject of this 
 sketch, now resides, lie was accompanied mi 
 his trip to this state by four of his children. 
 He purchased sixty-three acres of land at fixe 
 dollars per acre and at the time of his death 
 he was the owner of one hundred and thirty 
 acre-. Tie arrived just after the Big Four Rail- 
 road had been laid from Alton to Litchfield 
 and there were six bouses in what is now the 
 largest city of the county, lie took an active 
 interest in what was accomplished as the coun- 
 ty merged from pioneer conditions to take its 
 
 place aniiiiie- the leading counties of the c - 
 
 monwealth and he always bore his full share 
 in the work of public progress, lie dud April 
 •2s, 1901, at the age of eighty-three years, and 
 his wife passed away May 5, 1901, at the 
 age nf eighty-five, their remains being interred 
 m Honey Bend cemetery nf Montgomery coun- 
 ty. Mr. Bandy was always an advocate of 
 Democratic principles. His wife was a Meth- 
 odist in religious faith and both enjoyed the 
 esteem of many friends. They had nine chil- 
 dren: Elizabeth, who is the widow of J. S. 
 Bowles, and resides at Honey Bend; John F., 
 who died in 1872 ; dames P.; B. W., who mar- 
 ried Kemmie Blaekwelder and is living in 
 North Litchfield township; Margaret, the 
 widow of James T. Gordon, and a resident of 
 Litchfield; Lucy .1.. who married Bird Briggs, 
 but both are now deceased, her death having 
 occurred in 18S"2. since which time her son 
 Fred P. Briggs has lived with dames P. Bandy; 
 ami three children who died in infancy. 
 
 Tn taking up the personal history of James 
 P. B,andy,"we present tn our readers the life 
 record of one who i- widely and favorably 
 known in Montgomery county. In early life 
 be was brought to this state and has since been 
 deeply interested in what has been accomplished 
 here along all lines of progress and substantial 
 development, lie was married in December, 
 1894, to Lucy P. Shawn, a daughter of John 
 K. and Catherine (Adkinson) Shawn, the 
 former a native of Ohio and the latter of Ten- 
 nessee. The father died when Mrs. Bandy was 
 quite voung. passing away in 1877. His 
 widow still siir\i\cs and is now the wife of 
 Robert Briggs. of North Litchfield. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Shawn were born ten children: Wil- 
 liam, who died in infancy; Thomas, who died 
 and was buried in California when twenty-one 
 years of age; Fannie, who is the widow of 
 Thomas Nevins and rcsules in Litchfield : 
 James M., who married Anna Clanton and 
 since her death makes bis home with his 
 mother: George M., who wedded Mary Vine- 
 yard and died in April. 1901. being survived 
 by his wife and six children, his widow now 
 living at Fort Smith. Arkansas: Joseph ('.. 
 who married Flora Sawyer and is a farmer at 
 Sitka. Oklahoma : Eugene, who died at the age
 
 ■;:■> 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OE MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 of thirteen years; Riley, who died at the age 
 of live years; John W., who died in childhood: 
 and Lucy R. 
 
 •fames P. Bandy began farming for his father 
 in 1870 ami they continued in agricultural pur- 
 suits together until the father's death. The 
 son is now the owner of one hundred and six- 
 ty-three and a third acres of well improved land 
 and carries on general farming with good suc- 
 cess. In his political views he is a Democrat 
 and religiously his wife is connected with the 
 Baptist church at New Eope. Their home has 
 been blessed \\\(\\ three children: Lester W., 
 hum June 28. 1896; Joseph P., born June 4, 
 line.-; and Jesse E.. horn October 30. 1903. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Handy have many friends in this 
 locality who will receive with pleasure this 
 record of their lives. 
 
 EICHAED F. BENNETT, M. D. 
 Dr. Richard E. Bennett, engaged in the prac- 
 tice of medicine and surgery in Litchfield, hav- 
 ing much more than local reputation as an able 
 member of the profession, is a native of Shelby 
 county, Illinois, his birth having occurred upon 
 a farm there October 2, L839. His parents were 
 William B. and Lavina Bennett, who afforded 
 their son such advantages and privileges as they 
 could, especially in the line of education. He 
 attended the common schools and afterward the 
 Moultrie County Seminary and when but sev- 
 ■ titeen years of age he began teaching in his 
 native county, following this pursuit in order 
 that he might obtain the means to continue his 
 own education and prepare for a successful 
 business career. For three years he followed 
 teaching and then entered upon a previously 
 conceived plan to study medicine. He read 
 diligently and persistently, completing his 
 course by graduation from the medical school of 
 Cincinnati with the class of 1861. His pro- 
 fessional career has been one of continuous 
 progression, reading and investigation keeping 
 him in touch with the progress that is continu- 
 ally being made by the members of the medical 
 fraternity. He has ever been conscientious 
 in the performance of his professional duties, 
 diagnosing his cases with great care and mani- 
 
 festing in his chosen work a knowledge that has 
 classed him with the leading representatives of 
 the calling in southern Illinois. He has prac- 
 ticed almost continuously in Litchfield since 
 1862. save when various professional duties 
 have called him into other parts of the state. 
 
 Dr. Bennett is well known in political cir- 
 cles as a stalwart Republican, being long reeocr- 
 nized as a leader of his party in his community. 
 He has given (lie same earnest thoughl toward 
 understanding the political questions, issues and 
 condition- of the day that ha- characterized 
 his professional career and largely has a states- 
 man's grasp of affairs. In the spring of 1871 
 he received the party nomination for alderman 
 in Litchfield and although living in a Demo- 
 cratic ward received a majority that was at 
 once large and complimentary, indicating his 
 personal popularity and the confidence reposed 
 in him by those who knew him best. Elected 
 for a second term, he proved during his in- 
 cumbency in the office his deep interest in com- 
 munity affairs by the loyal support which he 
 gave to further progressive measures that had 
 for their object the substantial upbuilding and 
 improvement of the city. So popular and ef- 
 ficient did he prove as a member of the council 
 that he was then nominated for mayor and 
 again he received the public endorsement, be- 
 ing chosen for the office by successive elections 
 until he had served as chief executive of Litch- 
 field for five consecutive terms. His adminis- 
 tration was ever business-like, he managing 
 the affairs of his office with due regard to the 
 interests of the citizens at large. For almost a 
 quarter of a century he has been a member of 
 the school hoard id' Litchfield and the cause 
 of education has found in him a warm friend 
 who ha.- put forth effective effort in employing 
 competent teachers and raising tin 1 standard 
 of the public schools. Iii isss he received the 
 Republican nomination for state senator in the 
 thirteenth Illinois district and although the 
 Democratic victory was a foregone conclusion 
 he. nevertheless, made a strong canvass and re- 
 duced the usual Democratic majority more than 
 one-half. Subsequently he was elected a state 
 committeeman from the eighteenth congres- 
 sional district and served in that capacity for 
 four years. He has always been urged to be-
 
 DR. E. F. BENNETT
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 -■; 5 
 
 come a congressional candidate, but has re- 
 fused, preferring to remain in the active prac- 
 tice of his profession. Further political honors 
 came to him in connection with his profession. 
 In January, 1897, he was appointed a trustee 
 of the Incurable Insane Hospital al Peoria and 
 in January, 1898, he resigned to accept a posi- 
 tion on the state hoard of health, of which he 
 was the treasurer for two years. In October, 
 190D. he was appointed superintendent of the 
 [llinois Southern Hospital fur the Insane at 
 Anna. Illinois, the appointment coming to him 
 from Governor Tanner without his solicitation. 
 He tried to decline this, hut was strongly urged 
 to accept by the Governor, who was a warm 
 personal friend, and he ultimately decided to 
 enter upon his duties there, which position he 
 filled until the latter part of 1903. This is 
 one of the best institutions of the kind in the 
 state and under the capable control of Dr. Ben- 
 nett and his four assistants excellent improve- 
 ments were made in the institution and in the 
 methods of earing for the unfortunate ones 
 there. Since his retirement from the office he 
 has largely devoted his time to rest and recrea- 
 tion, spending considerable time in visiting his 
 son, Dr. H. F. Bennett, in Chicago, lie has 
 financial interests in Litchfield, having Eor more 
 than a decade been president of the Oil City 
 Building & Loan Association and the pro- 
 moter of other important commercial and in- 
 dustrial concerns lure. 
 
 Tn the year of his graduation from medical 
 college Dr. Bennett was married to Miss Eliza- 
 beth J. Storm, of Shelby county. Illinois, and 
 unto them have been horn a son and daughter. 
 'The former. Dr. II. I''. Bennett, of Chicago, was 
 graduated from a medical college of that cm 
 in 1894 and immediately afterward began prac- 
 tice there. At the completion of hi, college 
 course he successfully passed a competitive ex- 
 amination whereby he was appointed to the 
 position of interne in the Cook County Hos- 
 pital and after serving for a year and a half 
 in that capacity he was made a member of the 
 visiting stall' id' the institution and ha- been 
 connected therewith for the past six years. He 
 is also professor of orthopaedic surgery in Ben- 
 nett Medical College, but in October of the pres- 
 ent year (1904 ) lie expects to come to Litchfield 
 
 to enter upon the active practice of medicine 
 with his father. His nine years' experience in 
 connection with the Cook County Hospital as 
 well as the duties of a good private practice 
 in Chicago have well qualified him for his 
 chosen life work and his services will prove 
 invaluable in this community. The daughter, 
 Marie Bennett, is a graduate of the North- 
 western University at Evanston. Illinois, with 
 the class of June, 1899. 
 
 Dr. Bennett has various fraternal relations 
 in Litchfield, being a member of the Masonic. 
 Odd Fellows, and Knights id' Pythias lodges 
 and the Modern Woodmen camp. After some 
 months of rest and recreation he has recently 
 resumed the practice of his profession in Litch- 
 field, commanding a patronage which indicates 
 the consensus of public opinion in regard to 
 his superior professional skill, lie has a wide 
 acquaintance among prominent physicians and 
 the noted political leaders of the state and has 
 pained the friendship and warm regard of 
 manv of the Leading men of Illinois. 
 
 W. II. CASSELBERRY. 
 
 W. II. Casselberry, who is one of the owners 
 of the electric light plant at Nokomis and an 
 active energetic husiness man. was horn near 
 Bellevue, Illinois, in 1860, and is a son of 
 Charles and Louisa Casselberry. Hi- father 
 was horn in Indiana in 1815, spent his youth 
 there and afterward removed to Illinois, set- 
 tling near Belleville, where he carried on pen- 
 oral farming. In 1866 he came to Mont- 
 gomery county, taking up hi- abode near Hills- 
 horn, where he purchased a tract of land, be- 
 eoming one of the extensive farmers of that 
 locality. His attention was largely given to 
 the raising of grain. In politics lie was a 
 Democrat, but he never sought office. Being a 
 man of quiet demeanor and reserved disposi- 
 tion he never -might to figure in any light be- 
 f re the public. He died in 1883, while his 
 wife passed away in 1872. They were the 
 parents of nine children, of whom eight are 
 now living. 
 
 W. II. Casselberry was reared in Montgomery 
 county and is indebted to its public-school sys-
 
 276 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 tem for the educational privileges he enjo}'ed. 
 He began farming with his father and con- 
 tinued to engage in agricultural pursuits until 
 about December, 1901, when he removed to 
 Nokomis. He had cultivated three hundred 
 acres of land and was largely engaged in the 
 raising of cattle for the market. Most of the 
 grain which he produced was fed to his stock. 
 Although he entered upon his business career 
 with no capital he is now the owner of two 
 hundred and eighty acres of valuable farming 
 land — a fact which indicates his business abil- 
 ity, careful management and indefatigable in- 
 industrv. Upon his removal to Nokomis he 
 engaged in the electric lighting business in con- 
 neetion with J. II. Crickenberger and they are 
 still partners in this enterprise. The plant was 
 incorporated in 1894 by George Bliss and E. E. 
 Cornelius and they do a business in commercial, 
 street and residence lighting, having a well 
 equipped plant. In fact theirs is one of the 
 best of the kind to be found in Montgomery 
 county and has been continuously operated with 
 a break of only fifteen minutes in five years. 
 They give excellent service to their patrons and 
 their business is continually increasing. Mr. 
 Casselberry purchased a half interest in the 
 plant with Mr. Crickenberger and they have 
 since been associated in its operation. He also 
 derives a good income from his farm, which he 
 now rents. It is one of the best improved farm- 
 ing properties in Montgomery county, he hav- 
 ing spent much time and money in its develop- 
 ment, and upon the place is a fine residence 
 which was erected at a cost of four thousand 
 dollars. 
 
 In August, 1886, Mr. Casselberry was mar- 
 ried to Miss Bosella Gray, a daughter of I. 
 N. Gray, of Nokomis, who was reared in this 
 county. They became the parents of five chil- 
 dren, of whom four are living, namely : Eos- 
 ella. Euth Ann, Agnes Kittie and Josephine, 
 all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Casselberry hold 
 membership in the Baptist church and he is 
 identified with the Odd Fellows, the Masons 
 and the Woodmen of Nokomis. while his po- 
 litical allegiance is given to the Democracy. He 
 purchased a residence in Xokomis on his re- 
 moval to the town and the home is noted for its 
 generous hospitality, which is freely extended 
 
 to the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Cassel- 
 berry. 
 
 OLIVEE LEWEY. 
 
 Prominent among the honored early settlers 
 of Montgomery county was numbered Oliver 
 Lewey, who was born in Guilford county, North 
 Carolina, June 16, 1813. and was reared upon 
 a farm in that slate. Although he never served 
 an apprenticeship to either trade he became 
 proficient as a shoemaker and carpenter. When 
 a young man lie left North Carolina for Illi- 
 nois and on reaching Montgomery county he 
 entered from the government the tract of land 
 on which his son Christopher was born. It 
 comprised ninety acres, wild and unimproved, 
 and with characteristic energy he began to de- 
 vi 'lop the fields. 
 
 Mr. Lewey married Miss Jane Stephenson, a 
 native of Tennessee and a daughter of William 
 Stephenson, one of the early settlers of Mont- 
 gomery county. They became the parents of 
 seven children, namely: William, now de- 
 ceased; Albert, who lives on the home farm; 
 Mary, wife of John Grassell, of Butler Grove 
 township : Christopher C, a fanner of Hills- 
 boro township; Mattie, wife of Euf'us Paden. 
 of Hillsboro township; and two who died in 
 infancy. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lewey began their domestic 
 life upon the original claim which he had 
 secured in Hillsboro township, but about 1860 
 removed to another farm, upon which he spent 
 In- remaining days. He was successful in busi- 
 ness affairs, developing a valuable property and 
 deriving a good income from his crops. His 
 political support was given the Eepublican 
 party ami he was a man of many good qualities 
 which won the respect of those with whom he 
 was associated. His death occurred in 1886, 
 while his wife passed away in 1S72. 
 
 (IIEISTOPHEE C. LEWEY. 
 
 Christopher C. Lewey lias spent his entire 
 life in Montgomery county, identified with agri- 
 cultural pursuits throughout the years of his
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 MR. AND MRS. C. C. LEWEY
 
 Mlf. AND Ml'iS. OI.IVKI! LEWEY
 
 LIBHARt 
 OF THE 
 •WEP.SlTYOnU.lSO 
 
 10
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 •.'si 
 
 manhood, and his industry has formed the basis 
 of very desirable and gratifying success. His 
 birth occurred December 10, 1855, on section 
 28, Eillsboro township. His father was Oliver 
 Lewey, whose sketch appears on another page 
 of this volume. 
 
 The boyhood days of Christopher C. Lewey 
 passed in the usual manner of farmer lads, in 
 attendance on the district schools and in farm 
 work, for he early became familiar with the 
 labor of field and meadow. He has never 
 soughi to change his occupation but has always 
 engaged in the tilling of the soil, and has found 
 it a profitable source of income, because he has 
 labored diligently and persistently. The farm 
 which lie now occupies has been his home since 
 he was five years of age, with the exception 
 of eleven months spent in Hillsboro, and he 
 has imc hundred and seventy acres in his home 
 place and eight; acres on section 25. of the 
 same township. He carries on general farming 
 and stock-raising, and his farm is located on 
 the Greenville and Jacksonville road, three 
 miles south and one mile west of Hillsboro. 
 
 Mr. Lewey was married April 4. 1883, to 
 Miss Mary Blackburn, of Litchfield township, 
 a daughter of Jabez and Mary (Smith) Black- 
 burn. Her father was horn in England, No- 
 vember ;. 1823, and was brought to America 
 by his parents in 1831. After two years spent 
 in \ew York they removed to St. Louis, where 
 they also remained for two years. In 1853 
 the\ came to Montgomery county, settling in 
 Litchfield, and in 1866 took up their abode 
 in Hillsboro township, where Mr. Blackburn 
 followed farming for a number of years. His 
 last years, however, were spent in retirement 
 from labor in Hillsboro. where he died Jan- 
 uary 5, 1805. His wife, who was born in St. 
 Clair county, Illinois. May 1, 1830. is living 
 with our subject. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Lewey is a Re- 
 publican but has never been an aspirant for 
 office, preferring to devote his attention to bis 
 business all'airs. in which he has met with well 
 merited success. He belongs to the Mutual Pro- 
 tective League and he and bis wife are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal church in 
 Hillsboro. In that city and in their home lo- 
 eality they have many friends, won by those 
 
 sterling traits of character which everywhere 
 command respect and confidence. 
 
 RICHARD LEE WILTON. 
 
 Richard Lee Wilton is a representative of 
 one of the distinguished families of .Montgom- 
 ery county and is well known in business cir- 
 cles in Hillsboro. He was born in Bond coun- 
 ty, Illinois, about four miles north of Green- 
 ville, on the 19th of December. 1858. His 
 father, Benjamin Franklin Wilton, was born 
 in Carlisle. Clinton county. Illinois, in 1830, 
 while the grandfather, Harry Wilton, was a na- 
 tiev of England and was brought to America 
 by his parents in his infancy, at which time 
 the family home was established in Kaskaskia. 
 Benjamin F. Wilton acquired his education in 
 one of the early academies of Illinois and in his 
 boyhood days he accompanied bis parents on 
 their removal to Hillsboro. where the father 
 owned what is now known as the Tillson place. 
 The son became proprietor of the first livery 
 stable in Montgomery county in Hillsboro and 
 continued with good success until 1880. In 
 1885 he wen! to Mexico, where he conducted a 
 livery business for a year, but remained in that 
 eountrv for nine years, being interested in mill- 
 ing all'airs during the greater pari of the time. 
 He bad been identified with the mining develop- 
 ment of California during the era following 
 i he discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, hav- 
 ing journeyed to that far off state in 1850. He 
 prospered in his search for the precious metal 
 and brought back with him a nugget valued at 
 si\ hundred and seventy-four dollars. He bad 
 spent two years in the mines and with a com- 
 fortable competence he returned to Illinois and 
 became a factor in the business life of Hills- 
 boro, where be remained until 1881, when he 
 retired to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. 
 
 In is:.:; Benjamin 1'. Wilton was married to 
 Sarah < '. Earkey, a daughter of Solomon 
 Harkey, who was born in North Carolina in 
 1801k He entered upon bis business career as 
 ;i tanner and in 1833 be removed to Hillsboro, 
 Illinois, where he conducted a tanning enter- 
 prise foi ten years. He then turned bis at-
 
 282 
 
 l'AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 tention to fanning and became the owner of 
 six hundred and fifty-three acres of land in 
 Hillsboro township, Montgomery county, and 
 two hundred acres in Wisconsin. Ee was also 
 a noted horseman and owned some of the fast- 
 est horses raised in this portion of the state. 
 He married Sophia Cress, a sister of Jacob 
 Cress, who had married Mrs. Eleanor T. (Mc- 
 Henry) Evans. Mr. and Mrs. Barkey became 
 the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. 
 Wilton was the third in order of birth. The 
 children of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Wilton 
 were seven in number, five of whom reached 
 mature years, namely: William, who con- 
 ducts a goat and horse ranch in Arizona; Rich- 
 ard L. ; Benjamin, who is a railroad conductor 
 in Mexico ; Harry, a commercial traveler re- 
 siding in Hillsboro; and Katherine, the wife of 
 Lewis Whitmore, of El Paso. Texas. The 
 parents an- members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and Mr. Wilton is a Democrat in his 
 political affiliations. He served for a number 
 of years as constable and has ever been active 
 in support of public measures that have for 
 their object the welfare and progress of the 
 community in which almost his entire life lias 
 been passed. 
 
 Richard 1-. Wilton acquired his education in 
 the schools of Hillsboro, and at the early age 
 of twelve years began working in lis father's 
 livery ham. being there employed until 1882. 
 Having then attained his majority he engaged 
 in the livery business on his own account in 
 connection with John Edwards and they built 
 the Harkey ham mi Depot street. In the fall 
 of 1882 Mr. Wilton traded Ins interest in the 
 building to Jacob Harkey, his uncle, for the 
 stock-. Mr. Harkey having previously purchased 
 Mr. Edwards' interest. Mr. Wilton then con- 
 ducted business alone in the Harkey harm 
 until 1801. when he purchased the large brick 
 barn, then incomplete, on the northwest corner 
 of the courthouse square, where he is to-day 
 engaged in business. He has a fine stable, a 
 large line of modem vehicles of all descriptions 
 and a number of good horses so that he is well 
 prepared to meet the demands of the public in 
 tli s line. He has secured a liberal patronage 
 and he has also extended his efforts to other 
 business enterprises, being one of the stock- 
 
 holders in the Hillsboro Hotel and also in the 
 Hillsboro Electric Railway Company. 
 
 In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. 
 Wilton and .Miss Ida Isabel Yamer, a daughter 
 of Zachariah Yamer, who became a resident 
 of Hillsboro in 1882. Her father was a farmer 
 by occupation. Mrs. Wilton was horn in Moul- 
 trie county. Illinois, in 1868, and by her mar- 
 riage has become the mother of two children: 
 Foster Lynn and Clara Marie. Mr. Wilton is 
 connected with the Modern Woodmen camp, 
 while his wife is a member of the ladies' aux- 
 iliary. He votes with the Democracy and while 
 keeping well informed on the questions and is- 
 sues of the day has never sought public office, 
 preferring to give his attention to his business 
 affairs, which, capably conducted, have brought 
 to him a very desirable measure of success. 
 
 FRANK SPINNER. 
 
 Frank Spinner, possessing many of the sterb. 
 ing characteristics of Ids German ancestry, has 
 prospered in his business career until he is 
 now the owner of a valuable farm of two hun- 
 dred acres, situated in Last fork township, 
 Montgomery county. He was horn in Baden, 
 Germany, June 11, 1842. and his parents, Val- 
 entine and Teresa (Walley) Spinner, were na- 
 tives of the fatherland. The former was a 
 farmer by occupation ami died in Germany. 
 
 Frank Spinner spent twenty-five years in his 
 native country, during which time he attended 
 the public schools and was early taught the 
 force of industry and economy in the active 
 affairs of life. Hearing favorable reports con- 
 cerning the opportunities of the new world he 
 resolved to seek his fortune in America and in 
 1867 he crossed the Atlantic. He arrived in 
 Montgomery county in 1869 and purchased the 
 farm upon which Amos Frame now resides. 
 He planted every tree ami made all of the im- 
 provements upon the phnc In 1890. however, 
 he purchased the home place of two hundred 
 acres, which he now occupies. The buildings 
 were in very bad condition and tearing down 
 the structures which were used in the pioneer 
 days he replaced them with modern buildings 
 and now has a good resilience, a substantial
 
 AST AND PBESENT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 283 
 
 barn and good sheds. He raises both grain 
 and stock and in his fields are seen good crops, 
 while in the pastures are found high grade 
 cattle and horses. He had to pay three hun- 
 dred and fifty dollars Cor a team in the early 
 days of his residence here, while cum was 
 purchased at one dollar per bushel and oats at 
 seventy-five cents per bushel. He thus started 
 out in Life at a time when prices were very 
 high, hut he persevered in Ins undertakings, 
 displayed capable management in his affairs 
 and as the result of his energy and perseverance 
 made steady progress and is now one of the 
 substantia] farmers of his county. 
 
 In 1861 Mr. Spinner was united in marriage 
 to Miss Mary Welle, a native of Baden, Ger- 
 many, who came to America at the same time 
 Mr. Spinner crossed the Atlantic. They have 
 become the parents of twelve children, of whom 
 seven are now living, namely: Frank I!., who 
 is married and resides in this county. Henry; 
 Eva. who is also married : Lizzie, Joseph, Anion 
 and Louis, all at home. The parents and chil- 
 dren are communicants of the Catholic church. 
 Mr. Spinner's study of the questions and issues 
 of the day has led him to give his political 
 support in America to the Democracy, but he 
 has never sought or desired office, preferring to 
 give his attention to his business affairs. The 
 hope that led him to America has been more 
 than realized for here he found the business 
 opportunities he sought, which, by the way. 
 are always open to any ambitious young man 
 and through the force of his character, his un- 
 faltering determination and his capable man- 
 age nl he has gained prosperity, being now 
 
 the possessor of one of the fine farms of the 
 county. 
 
 JOHN W. DRTS'KELL. 
 
 Among the intelligent, enterprising and pro- 
 gressive farmers of Zanesville township is nuni- 
 bered John W. Driskell. who resides m section 
 21 and is there engaged in the raising of grain 
 and stock, having a farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres, which indicates his careful super- 
 vision in its neat and thrifty appearance. He 
 was horn in Macoupin county. Illinois, March 
 
 26, 1851, and is the son of .Marshall Driskell, 
 who is mentioned on another page of this vol- 
 ume. His boyhood days were spent on his 
 father's farm and he mastered the branches of 
 English learning taught in the public schools 
 when not occupied with the duties of the home 
 farm. His labors are largely given to his 
 father ami he assisted in the cultivation of the 
 old homestead until twenty-eight years of 
 age. 
 
 .Mr. Driskell was married in Montgomery 
 county in 1878 to Miss Ella K. Rogers, who 
 was horn and reared in Indiana ami is a daugh- 
 ter id' John Rogers, one of the early settlers 
 
 of the I lousier state, where he s] it'll I his last, 
 
 days. Mr. Driskell purchased one hundred 
 and twenty acres of land, which he at once be- 
 gan to cultivate and upon this place made some 
 substantia] improvements before he was mar- 
 ried. He took his bride to this farm and as 
 his linancial resources increased, owing to his 
 earnest labor and careful management, he 
 bought more land, lie also built a good house 
 and barn and planted fruit trees. He placed 
 his fields under a high state of cultivation and 
 raised high grades of stock, making a spe- 
 cialty of feeding cattle and hogs for the mar- 
 ket. 
 
 In 1895 Mr. Driskell was called upon lo 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 
 hone farm on the 6th of January of that 
 year, leaving one son. Cecil, who is now a stu- 
 dent in St. Louis. They also lost two chil- 
 dren. After the death of his wife Mr. Driskell 
 returned to Ids father's farm and rented a large 
 part of his own land, lie now farms his 
 father's place, Imt also gives his supervision to 
 his own property and is widely acknowledged 
 in tin's community as an enterprising agricul- 
 turist, whose business methods are practical and 
 at the same time have ever been in keeping 
 with the modern ideas of progress. 
 
 Politically he is a stanch Democrat, support- 
 ing the men and measures of his party, yet 
 never seeking or desiring office. He served 
 however, for four years as township school 
 trustee. lie is a member of the Christian 
 church and his life has ever been honorable and 
 upright. Tn his business career be has never 
 been known to take advantage of the neces-
 
 38 I 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 sities of his fellow men, but has been straight- 
 forward in his dealings arid his integrity in 
 business transactions has been one of the sa- 
 lient features in his success. 
 
 ALBERT FISHER. 
 
 Albert Fisher, who is one of the prominent 
 farmers and stock-raisers and feeders of Zanes- 
 ville township, owning and cultivating a farm 
 of one hundred and fifty-eight acres on section 
 16, is classed with the successful agriculturists 
 of central Illinois and is one of the native sons 
 of the state. He was born in Greene county. 
 February 9, 1850, and is a son of Reuben and 
 Mary A. (Dabbs) Fisher. The father was like- 
 wise born in Greene Gounty, while the grand- 
 father, John Fisher, was a native of Kentucky, 
 lie came from the south to Illinois when 
 
 pioneer c litions existed in Greene county 
 
 and therehe cast in bis lot with the early resi- 
 dents. Reuben Fisher was reared to manhood 
 upon the old homestead farm there and assisted 
 in the arduous task of its primitive develop- 
 ment, working at farm labor when the ma- 
 chinery used necessitated much hand work, 
 there being few of the highly improved ma- 
 chines that now render the labor of the agri- 
 culturist comparatively easy. He was mar- 
 vied to Miss Mary A. Dabbs and they began 
 their domestic life in Greene county, where he 
 carried on agricultural pursuits for a number 
 of years and where our subject was born. Hop- 
 ing that his financial condition might be bene- 
 fitted by a removal to Montgomery county, he 
 took up bis abode in North Litchfield township 
 in 1852, but was not long permitted to enjoy 
 his new home, his death there occurring about 
 ls.~, l or 1855. His widow, surviving him, 
 reared her children and later married again 
 and she lived for some time after the death 
 of her second husband. 
 
 Albert Fisher, whose name introduces this 
 record, spent his boyhood days in Montgomery 
 county, early becoming familiar with farm 
 work. He had fair common-school advantages 
 and his training in the labors of the fields was 
 by no mean- meager, bu1 brought to him an ex- 
 perience that has proven of much value to 
 
 him, as be has carried on agricultural pursuits 
 in later life. He commenced for himself in a 
 small way. first purchasing forty acres of land 
 in North Litchfield township, where he located 
 after his marriage. The purchase was made on 
 the installment plan, but in due course of time 
 he discharged the indebtedness and he contin- 
 ued to cultivate his own and also rent land, car- 
 rying <m farming there with a fair measure of 
 success for a number of years. At length, how- 
 ever, he sold that property and bought one 
 hundred and sixty acres in Zanesville township. 
 where he resided for four years. Then again 
 selling he bought bis present farm, which is 
 situated on section 16, Zanesville township. 
 Here he has carried on general fanning until 
 bis fields are highly cultivated and return 
 golden harvests for the care and labor bestowed 
 upon them. He has also engaged in raising 
 good grades of stock- ami he feeds and fattens 
 stmk for the market. The seerel of his suc- 
 cess is found in the one word "work," for he 
 has Labored earnestly and persistently year after 
 year. When the sale of his crops brought to 
 him a financial return greater than was neces- 
 sary for the immediate needs of his family he 
 would make investment in land and in addi- 
 tion to the home farm he now owns four hun- 
 dred acres of land in Marshall county. Minne- 
 sota, which is also improved. 
 
 In 187] in Hillsboro occurred the marriage 
 of Mr. Fisher and Miss Martha Hughes, who 
 was born in Jersey county, Illinois. They trav- 
 eled life's journey together for about twenty- 
 two years and in 1893 Mr. Fisher was called 
 upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died, 
 leaving two sons and two daughters. Elmer G., 
 the eldest of the family, was horn August 25, 
 1872, and died January 15, 1879. Those still 
 living are: liattic 1!.. born December 17^ 
 1874; Reuben IT., born dune 1. 1878; Fred L., 
 born December 19, 1880; and Flora E., born 
 July 28, 1887. All are married and have gone 
 to homes of their own with exception of Flora, 
 who is still with her father. 
 
 In November, L895, Mr. Fisher was again 
 married, his second union being with Miss 
 Emma Osborn, a daughter of James and Mary 
 E. (Moore) Osborn. Her birth occurred in 
 Kansas, but she was reared in this state. There
 
 ALBERT FISHER 
 
 !
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF TH£ 
 
 *'?v!VEPSITV OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 287 
 
 are two children by this marriage: Ferris, 
 burn October 13, 1896 ; and Fern, born Septem- 
 ber 13, 1900. 
 
 Politically Mr. Fisher is a Republican and 
 his reading and study of political issues has 
 enabled him to give intelligent support to the 
 party and to uphold Ins position by strong argu- 
 ment. His first presidential vote was probably 
 cast for General Grant in 1872, and although 
 he has never wavered in allegiance to the party 
 he has never sought or desired office. He and 
 his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church of Raymond. Living in tiie 
 countv which has been his home from his youth 
 down to the present time, he has borne himself 
 as an active and progressive citizen, co-operating 
 in many measures for the public good, while at 
 the same time he has carried on his business 
 affairs in a capable manner that has resulted in 
 the acquirement of a handsome competence. 
 
 HENRY II. HITCHINGS. 
 Henry H. Hitchings is one of the sub- 
 stantial and successful farmers and stock-rais- 
 ers and stock-dealers of Raymond township, 
 making his home on section 14, where he has a 
 valuable tract of land of three hundred and 
 sixty-five acres. He also owns five hundred 
 acres more in different tracts, all in Mont- 
 gomery county, and his property is well im- 
 proved, the land being rich and productive. 
 His has been an active and useful business ca- 
 reer and he dates his residence in the county 
 from 1857, so that he is numbered among the 
 honored pioneer residents of this portion of 
 the state. 
 
 Mr. Hitchings was born in Syracuse, New 
 York, December 27. 1837, and was a son of 
 Hon. J. P. Hitchings, who during the boy- 
 hood days of his son, Henry H., removed with 
 his family from New York to Michigan, set- 
 tling in Jackson county, where he secured a 
 tract of raw land and opened up a farm. There 
 he reared his family, successfully conducted 
 agricultural interests and at the same time 
 found opportunity to assist materially in the 
 early development, and progress of this portion 
 of the state. 
 
 His son, Henry II. ll.tchings, was the sec- 
 ond in order of birth in a family of ten chil- 
 dren, seven sons and three daughters, all of 
 whom reached mature years, while one sister 
 and five brothers are yet living. The father 
 with his family removed to Illinois in 1857, 
 settling in Montgomery county, where he se- 
 cured a tract, of wild land, which he trans- 
 formed into rich fields. He was the first su- 
 pervisor of his township and was influential 
 in shaping the public policy and promoting 
 the early pioneer development of this portion 
 of the state. He served for two years as a 
 member of the Michigan legislature. He was 
 a well educated man and served as a teacher 
 in both Michigan and Illinois, his labors prov- 
 ing a marked benefit in promoting the intel- 
 lectual progress of the state at an early day. 
 
 Henry EL Hitchings was reared to manhood 
 in Michigan and when a young man came to 
 Illinois, making his way to Montgomery county 
 in 1857. He began working on a farm by the 
 month and was thus employed for three years, 
 during which time he saved his earnings and 
 thus accumulated the capital which enabled 
 him to purchase a small place of thirty acres. 
 Afterward he bought forty acres additional of 
 swamp land and at once began to improve 
 his property. Alter cultivating the tract Pot 
 some years he sold that property and bought 
 raw land where he now resides, covering a tract 
 of two hundred acres. This land was entirely 
 unimproved, but with characteristic energy he 
 began to break the fields and plant crops and in 
 course of time be gathered good harvests. As 
 his financial resources increased ho bought more 
 land from time to time and has become one of 
 the most extensive property owners of the coun- 
 ty, now owning nearly one thousand acres in 
 three different tracts, all of which are well im- 
 proved. He has been engaged in the raising 
 and feeding of stock for many years and an- 
 nually feeds and ships about five carloads of 
 fat cattle. In 1895 he established a store at 
 Hand, which is now conducted by his daugh- 
 ter. Clara E. Hitchings. who is a partner in 
 this enterprise. Mr. Hitchings displays excel- 
 lent business ability, is quick to recognize op- 
 portunities and through his business foresight
 
 288 
 
 PAST AND PEESEJSTT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 and energy he has won very gratifying and 
 enviable success. 
 
 In 186] Mr. Bitchings was married in 
 Montgomery county to Miss Martha E. Welker, 
 who was born m Illinois and spent her girlhood 
 days in Montgomery county and her death oc- 
 curred about 1865. There were two children 
 by this union: George 11., who is now a 
 farmer in Nebraska; and Clara, who is her 
 father's partner in the store previously men- 
 tioned. Mr. Hitchings was again married, his 
 second union occurring in the fall of 1871, 
 when Margaret J. King became his wife. She 
 was born and reared m Indiana and by her 
 marriage has become the mother of seven chil- 
 dren: John M., who is married; Eliza J., the 
 wife of William C. Redham, a fanner of Ray- 
 mond township; John Marshall, who is mar- 
 ried and is an agriculturist of this county; Ella 
 Jan.'. the wile of Willi- Pope, who follows 
 farming near Harvel; William, who conducts 
 a barber shop in Harvel; and Catherine and 
 Carleton, at home. 
 
 Mr. Eitchings was one of the organizers of 
 the Fanners' Mutual Insurance Company in 
 1892, formed as an insurance protection for 
 residents of Montgomery and Bond counties. 
 He was elected and has served as one of its 
 directors from the organization and is also 
 treasurer. Politically he is a stanch Demo- 
 crat, supporting the party since casting his 
 first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas 
 in 1860. He was elected and served as su- 
 pervisor for one term, but has never been ac- 
 tive in political circles as an office-seeker, pre- 
 ferring to give his time and attention to his 
 business interests. He has proved himself a 
 successful fanner and capable business man 
 and is well known in Flillsboro. Litchfield aud 
 Montgomery county as a gentleman of in- 
 tegrity, whose word is considered as good as 
 any bond thai was ever solemnized by signa- 
 ture or seal. He stands as a man among men, 
 having I'd an active, useful and honorable life 
 ami through unremitting diligence and care- 
 ful management he has become one of the 
 wealthy agriculturists of his community. A 
 Master Mason, he belongs to the lodge at Ray- 
 mond and he is a member of the Baptist church, 
 which receive- Ids earnest endorsement and lib- 
 
 eral support. Mrs. Hitchings is a member of 
 the Methodist church. 
 
 G. F. GAINS. 
 
 G. F. Gains, well known in Montgomery 
 county, is engaged in the manufacture of lum- 
 ber and also in general fanning in Fast Fork 
 township. He i.s a native son of Illinois, his 
 birth having occurred in Bond county, May 
 18, 1873, his parents being George and Louisa 
 Almira (Hamilton) Gains. His father was 
 born in Andersonville, Kentucky, but was 
 reared in Montgomery county. Illinois, becom- 
 ing one of the early residents of this part of 
 the state, being brought here by his parents. 
 He followed fanning for many years and grad- 
 ually added to his income through his strong 
 purpose, indomitable energy and lm-iness abil- 
 ity. In politics he was a Republican, but al- 
 ways refused office. He died in 1S84, but his 
 widow still survives him and is now residing in 
 Donnellson. They were the parents of three 
 children, two of whom are now living. G. 1'... 
 ot this review: and l.illie. wife of John Wright, 
 of East Fork township. 
 
 Although born in Bond county. G. E. Gains 
 was reared in East Fork township and he pur- 
 sued his education in its district schools. When 
 not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom 
 and the pleasures of the playground his time 
 was largely occupied witli the work of the 
 fields, for he received practical training in 
 farm labor and had close and intimate knowl- 
 edge of agriculture and its various depart- 
 ments when he -tarted out in life for himself 
 at the age of twenty years. He now manages 
 his mother's farm of one hundred and thirty 
 acres in Fast Fork township. He has recently 
 completed a new barn. He raises grain and 
 stock and he also has a portable sawmill, to the 
 operation of which he gives considerable time 
 and attention. His life record has been char- 
 acterized by indefatigable energy and lie has 
 ne\iT jumped to hasty conclusions, hut has 
 (riven due consideration to all business mat- 
 ters that have come up for settlement and has 
 made therefore few mistakes in his career as 
 an agriculturist and lumberman.
 
 ME. AND MRS. GEORGE CAINS 
 
 G. E. GAINS 
 
 MRS. G. E. GAINS 
 
 MR. AND MRS. JAMES SNOW
 
 UBRMK 
 
 OF THE 
 nv.V"SlTY OF ILLISOU
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 29] 
 
 On the 20th of September, 1893, Mr. Cams 
 was married to Miss Anna Snow, who was born 
 in this county. December 23, 1876, her parents 
 being James and Catherine (Kimbro) Snow, 
 both Datives of Bond county. Illinois. They 
 came to Montgomery county in 1902 and now 
 reside in Coffeen. In their family were ten 
 children, six of whom are still living. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gains have been born five chil- 
 dren: Ileal rice C, born March 14. 1895; 
 Ruby A., bom October 29, 1896; Harry lv. 
 who was born August 30, 1898, ami died July 
 18, 1900; May, horn March 12, 1901; and 
 Ruth, horn September ;. 1903. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gains belong to the Methodist 
 Episcopal church at Donnellson and are inter- 
 ested in its work and progress, bearing a help- 
 ful part in many of the church activities. As 
 every true American citizen should do. Mr. 
 Gains keeps well informed on the political 
 questions and i»urs of the day and as his 
 ideas are in harmony with principles of the 
 Republican part) lie gives to that organization 
 a stalwart support. Although yet a young 
 man. he has gained a success that many an 
 older one might well envy and he has made in 
 this county, which has so long been his home, 
 an enviable reputation for straightforward 
 dealing. 
 
 MARVIN THUMP.. 
 
 Marvin Thumb now occupies a line brick 
 residence situated on a farm on section 19, 
 Witt township, ami the home with its surround- 
 ings is indicative of the enterprising and pro- 
 gressive spirit of the owner, who is a native 
 of the Empire state. His birth occurred in 
 what was then Montgomery county, New York, 
 hut is now Fulton county. New York, March 
 II. 1830. His parents. Levi ami Mary (Flan- 
 der) Thumb, were also natives of New York, 
 hut were of German descent. The father was 
 a farmer liv occupation and in the spring of 
 is:,:, I,,, removed from New York to Mont- 
 gomery county, Illinois, devoting his energies 
 tn agricultural pursuits in Witt township. 
 About ten years prior to his death he retired 
 from business life and removed to [rving, where 
 he passed away in 1889 at the age of eighty- 
 
 one years. His wife passed away about is.",.", 
 at the age of forty-five years. 
 
 Marvin Thumb aftei attending the common 
 schools became a student in Watertown Col- 
 lege of New York, and later engaged in farm- 
 ing willi his father, lie came to Montgomery 
 county. Illinois, a few weeks after his father's 
 arrival and engaged in the cultivation of the 
 latter's land for a number of years. In 1869 he 
 erected the house which he now occupies, a large 
 and commodious brick residence, which is taste- 
 fully furnished and makes a very comfortable 
 and attractive home for his family. He now 
 
 owns hundred and fifty-four acres of land, 
 
 which is well improved, being naturally arable 
 and productive and responding quickly to the 
 care and cultivation bestowed upon it by tin' 
 owner. 
 
 On the Huh of March, is;,:;, Mr. Thumb was 
 joined in wedlock to Miss Sarah Cross, a 
 daughter of .lames and Deborah (Slocum) 
 Cross, also natives of New York. Her father 
 died in 1860, at the age of sixty years, and 
 her mother passed away in 1865, at the age 
 of filtv-nino years. Mr. ami Mrs. Thumb be- 
 came the parents of I'm' children: .Fames, who 
 was born November ".':>. 1853, and died in 
 IS?:!; Mary, who was horn May 14, 1sr>.">, and 
 is the wife of Thomas Johnson, who reside.- 
 west of Irving; Helen, who was horn December 
 •'id. 1859, and is the wife id' Irving Gregory 
 of Oklahoma: Libby, who was born June 1(1. 
 lSi;v. and is the wife of William Rausdell, of 
 Witt township; and Ralph, who was horn De- 
 cember 23, 1871, and is living upon the home 
 farm, which he is operating. He was married 
 January 4. 1898, to Emma Lipe, and they 
 have two children. Mabel and Mary. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Thumb attend the Lutheran 
 church ami he became a member of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity at Chaumont, New York, in 
 1851, hut has in recent years taken a dimit. 
 
 Before tl rganization of the township he 
 
 was appointed supervisor by the county judge. 
 He has always given his political allegiance to 
 the Democracy and has had firm faith in the 
 principles of that party. At the time of Ihe 
 Civil war he responded to the country's call 
 for troops in September, 1864, enlisting in 
 Company D. Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
 
 292 
 
 FAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 He participated in the capture of Mobile and 
 several other engagements and was discharged 
 at Mobile, December 5, 1865. lie is now a 
 member of Knight Post, No. 266, G. A. R. 
 Having long made his home in this county he 
 has a wide acquaintance and the sterling traits 
 of his character are so many and so commenda- 
 ble that his circle of friends has continually 
 increased. 
 
 WILLIAM L. SEYMOUE. 
 
 William L. Seymour is one of the prominent 
 business men id' Montgomery county, actively 
 and successfully engaged in business in Ray- 
 naud, where li<> lias been located for sixteen 
 years. He was born near Hillsboro. November 
 lil. 1865, and is a son of William D. Seymour, 
 whose birth occurred in Lawrence county, 
 South Carolina, in 1823. His paternal grand- 
 father. Wesley Seymour, was born in 1798 and 
 is of English ancestry, the family having been 
 established in Alabama when the first represen- 
 tatives of the name crossed the Atlantic to the 
 new world. Wesley Seymour removed from 
 the south to Illinois, becoming one of the earl- 
 iest, settlers of Montgomery county, easting in 
 his lot with tiie pioneer residents about 1825. 
 He opened up a farm in the vicinity of Ilills- 
 boro and there resided for about fifty years, 
 during which time he took an active and help- 
 ful part in promoting the substantial improve- 
 ment and upbuilding of the county. In 1875 
 he removed to Kansas and spent his last years 
 al Columbus, where he died in 1891 at the ad- 
 vanced age of ninety-two years. 
 
 William I>. Seymour was reared to man- 
 hood in Montgomer} county upon the old fam- 
 ily homestead and aided in the arduous task 
 of developing the fields. Ilis education was 
 acquired in the Hillsboro Academy and with 
 broad knowledge to aid him in the active af- 
 fairs of life lie entered upon his business career, 
 wherein he w-on success by unremitting dili- 
 gence ami unfaltering perseverance, lie was 
 married in this county to Elizabeth Christian, 
 a native of Kentucky, who came to Illinois in 
 early womanhood. Her father, Thomas Chris- 
 dan, was one of the pio r residents in this 
 
 community. Mr. Seymour carried on fanning 
 in Montgomery county and here reared his fam- 
 ily. He was respected among the prominent 
 and substantial citizens, for he ever manifested 
 a deep interest in general progress, co-operat- 
 ing in many measures for public benefit, and 
 in his business life was always straightforward 
 and honorable. He served as school commis- 
 sioner of the county .ami the cause of educa- 
 tion found in him a warm friend. He died 
 November 12. 1886, at the age of sixty-three 
 years. In his family were eight children who 
 reached adult age, while three sons and four 
 daughters are yet living. 
 
 William L. Seymour was reared upon the old 
 borne farm in lite usual manner of lads of 
 the period, having perhaps better advantages 
 than some and less than others. After attend- 
 ing the country schools he became a student in 
 the Hillsboro high school. He remained with 
 his father until the latter's death and wdien 
 lii.iretecn years of age he began teaching, which 
 .profession he followed for three years. In 
 1888 he came to Raymond with his brother 
 Dr. .'. R. Seymour and purchased a drugstore, 
 which they conducted together until February, 
 1893, when W. L. Seymour purchased his 
 brother's interest and continued the business 
 until L894, when lie sold out. Later, how- 
 ever, he again purchased a drug store and has 
 since continued in this line of trade, building 
 up a good establishment and enjoying a liberal 
 share of the public patronage. 
 
 In community affairs Mr. Seymour has ex- 
 erted considerable influence and is recognized 
 as an important factor in public progress here. 
 He cast his first presidential ballot for Ben- 
 jamin Harrison and has always been deeply in- 
 terested in the success ami growth of the Re- 
 publican party. Ho served on the Republican 
 central committee for a number of years and 
 during two years of that lime was its chair- 
 man. He was elected tax collector for 1891 
 and 1892 and in 1894 was chosen by popular 
 suffrage for the position of county clerk, which 
 position he capably filled for four years. Dur- 
 ing that period be resided in Hillsboro. He 
 (hen returned to Raymond and, purchasing a 
 drug store, resumed business as one of the 
 enterprising merchants of the tow r n. He has
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF THE
 
 W. L. SEYMOUB
 
 ME. AND MRS. WILLIAM D. SEYMOUE
 
 LIBRAE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FWVEPSITY OF HUXCE
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT'S 
 
 29? 
 
 since served as a member of the school board 
 here and was its president for two years. Ee 
 is now a member of the village board and in 
 1902 he was appointed postmaster, which posi- 
 tion he still holds. No public trust reposed in 
 him has evei been betrayed in the slightest de- 
 gree, his loyalty in citizenship being one of 
 the salient features in his career. 
 
 On the 29th of January, 1890, Mr. Seymour 
 was married in Raymond to Miss Cora A. 
 Parrott, a daughter of D. J. Parrott, one of 
 the early settlers of Montgomery county, re- 
 moving from Kentucky. Mrs. Seymour was 
 born, reared and educated in Raymond and by 
 her marriage has become the mother of four 
 living sons: Robert IT., W. Burress, Kenneth 
 L. and Harold R. They also lost two children 
 in infancy, Berniee and Hubert. 
 
 Mr. Seymour is a member of the Inde- 
 pendent Orlcr of Odd Fellows, has filled all of 
 the chairs in Raymond lodge and is a past 
 grand. lie is also connected with the 
 Knights of Pythias fraternity, is a charter 
 member and is now master of the exchecquor. 
 His entire life has been passed in Montgomery 
 county and be deserves mention not only as 
 a representative of one of the oldest and most 
 honored pioneer families, but also because of 
 the active ami helpful pan which he lias taken 
 in community affairs along business and 
 financial lines. He is thoroughly identified 
 with the interests of the people and the ma- 
 terial, social and intellectual progress have 
 been promoted through his co-operation. 
 
 EARRY WILTON. 
 
 As the progress or prosperity of a nation is 
 the result of the aggregate endeavor of its in- 
 dividual citizens, so the history of a nation 
 is the record of the aggregate achievements of 
 its people. Biography thus becomes the very 
 foundation upon which must rest all general 
 history of mankind. The importance of mak- 
 ing permanent record of the life work- of men 
 who are worthy such distinction can not be 
 overestimated. No record of Montgomery 
 county would be complete without mention of 
 Earry Wilton, who was for manv years identi- 
 
 fied with agricultural interests but was more 
 widely known as a Democratic leader, bis labors 
 and counsel largely shaping the policy of the 
 party in Illinois. He was the friend and as- 
 sociate id' many of the st distinguished po- 
 litical leaders of the state and he left the im- 
 press of his individuality upon public progress. 
 A native of Cambridgeshire, England, he was 
 born on the 4th of July, 1794, at Stapleford, 
 about five miles from the famous Cambridge 
 University. His father, Henry Wilton, was a 
 farmer owning a tract of hind there which he 
 sold when his son Harry was but three years 
 of age. He then emigrated with his family 
 to the new world, settling in Delaware coun- 
 ty. New York, where he purchased a farm, suc- 
 cessfully continuing its cultivation for some 
 time. Later he sold there and started for Illi- 
 nois with the intention of settling in Kaskaskia, 
 but journeyed no further than Shawneetown. 
 It was in May. 1811, that the family started 
 from Sew York, but an accident delayed their 
 arrival until fall of that year, when the mother 
 died. 
 
 Harry Wilton received but limited educa- 
 tional privileges. He attended school, how- 
 ever, for three months in Kaskaskia. where he 
 was the guest of Samuel Pope, then secretary to 
 the territory of Illinois. In his youth be was 
 engaged in cutting wood for thirty-seven cents 
 per cord, and when nineteen years of age he 
 earned the mail mi horseback between St. Gene- 
 vieve, Missouri, and Morganfield, Kentucky, 
 being thus engaged for two ami a half years. 
 He then conducted the store owned by Hon. 
 Leonard White, who was then agent for the 
 United States Salt Work- al Equality, Galatin 
 county. In 1817 he removed to Carlisle, pur- 
 chased an old French right and subsequently 
 entered two sections of land, upon which he set- 
 tled, carrying on farming operations for eight 
 years. Hi- deep interest in public affairs and 
 his fitness for leadership caused him to be 
 called from the retirement of tin 1 farm to pub- 
 lic life anil in 1818 be was elected first 
 sheriff of Washington county. In 1825 he was 
 appointed deputy circuit clerk and in 1R27 was 
 appointed circuit clerk", which position he filled 
 for several years. At the same time he was 
 postmaster of Carlisle, was justice of the peace
 
 VMS 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMEEY COUNTY 
 
 and postmaster of the Clinton county militia. 
 He tilled the office of recorder of deeds, was 
 United Status deputy marshal and judge of the 
 county court, serving upon the bench in all for 
 four years. He then resigned for two reasons, 
 one that the salary was not sufficient to support 
 Ins family, the lees amounting only to about 
 two hundred dollars a year, while secondly he 
 did not consider himself competent to discharge 
 the duties of the office in setting judgment 
 upon his fellow men. He was entirely without 
 self-conceit and while always willing to do his 
 duty he never wished to hold an office if he felt 
 that others were better qualified to discharge 
 the duties thereof. In 1833, entirely without his 
 solicitation, his friends seemed for him from 
 President Andrew Jackson the appointment to 
 the position of United States marshal of the 
 state of Illinois and his splendid record in that 
 office won him re-appolntment under the same 
 administration and also from Martin Van Bu- 
 ren and Franklin Pierce. Jle resigned about 
 the middle of the administration of President 
 Pierce after an incumbency that covered four- 
 teen years. He was prompted to this step by 
 his repugnance to the fugitive slave law, which 
 at times he was called upon to enforce. One 
 act of his service while tilling the position of 
 United States marshal won him national fame. 
 He was instructed by the secretary of war. Jef- 
 ferson Davis, to call out the United Stales 
 troops to remove the squatters and trespassers 
 from Hock Island, which was a government 
 reservation. The trespassers were employes of 
 the state of Illinois engaged in constructing a 
 bridge across the Mississippi river at that point. 
 Mr. Wilton refused to obey orders vi et armis, 
 believing it to be not only unconstitutional, 
 hut a harsh and irritating measure. Caleb 
 Cushing, who was then attorney general, gave 
 the opinion that hi' had the legal right to use 
 force, [nstead of acting upon this opinion Mr. 
 Wilton persuaded Hie secretary of war to bring 
 suit on ejectment and received instructions for 
 this course. The case was finally taken to 
 Washington, Reverdy Johnson representing the 
 Rock Island Railroad Company, who were vir- 
 tuallv the defendants, while Caleb Cushing con- 
 ducted the suit for the government. The case 
 went for the defendants ami was then looked 
 
 upon as a triumph of state rights. In the 
 meantime the squatters had left Eock Island. 
 .Mr. Wilton's common sense and moderation 
 in this instance saved the government thou- 
 sands of dollars and many lives, and his fame 
 and wisdom spread through the land. 
 
 It was during this period m his life that 
 Mr. Wilton became a very prominent and in- 
 llueiit.al factor in Illinois politics. Simul- 
 taneously with the visit of Fresident Van Bu- 
 ren to Springfield in 1842 occurred the death 
 ot the Democratic num. nee for governor — 
 Adam W. Snyder — and a meeting to choose 
 his successor was held. Mr. Wilton was the 
 unanimous choice for chairman of the meet- 
 ing and on motion of Murray MeConnell he was 
 empowered to secure a committee to nominate 
 a new candidate. Having appointed the com- 
 mittee his own name was by unanimous vote 
 added to it and finally the choice of the candi- 
 date was left entirely to him. He named 
 Thomas Ford, who was elected. Mr. Wilton 
 also virtually nominated Governor French and 
 it was through his influence that Stephen A. 
 Douglas was appointed to the first public office 
 which he held — that of district attorney for the 
 judicial district which included Morgan, San- 
 gamon and other counties. Mr. Wilton was 
 also the first to suggest the name of the Little 
 Giant of Illinois for United States senator and 
 was mainly instrumental in securing his elec- 
 tion. He afterward received letters from the 
 distinguished statesman thankfully acknowledg- 
 ing his aid and expressing the deepest obliga- 
 tion lor his active friendship. Mr. Wilton was 
 on terms of intimacy with the leading statesmen 
 of his time, covering the period from the ad- 
 ministration of Andrew Jackson to that of 
 James Buchanan. In the latter be served as 
 United States pension examiner for the state 
 of Illinois, but while he held many positions 
 h's effort was probably most strongly felt 
 through his influence in molding public policy 
 and shaping public opinion. 
 
 Mr. Wilton was married on the "24th of Au- 
 gust, IMS. to Miss Elizabeth Allen, a daughter 
 of Benjamin Allen, who was a noted wood 
 ranger during the war of 1812. They became 
 the parents of twelve children, of whom Benja- 
 m'n and Thomas are residents of Hillsbord and
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 299 
 
 the former is the father oi R. L. Wilton, a well 
 known and leading business man of Hillsboro, 
 who is represented elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 Harry Wilton deserved and received the re- 
 spect and confidence of the men of all political 
 parties. His honesty was proverbial and he 
 was generous to a fault. Notwithstanding the 
 many responsible offices winch he held he did 
 not save a dollar and he retired to private life 
 a poor man. Finally he returned to the farm 
 and in his agricultural pursuits was more suc- 
 cessful, at one time being worth about fifty 
 thousand dollars. lie endorsed papers for his 
 friends, however, and thirty thousand dollars 
 of his fortune went in payments of security 
 debts and in return he never received a cent. 
 In religious belief he was a Methodist and his 
 Christian Faith was exemplified in Ins daily life. 
 He never gambled nor used intoxicants nor to- 
 bacco. He lived a blameless life, character- 
 ized by lofty patriotism and by devotion to high 
 ideals, and he regarded his self-respect and the 
 confidence of his friends as infinitely more to 
 be desired than wealth or national reputation. 
 
 DANIEL HOST. 
 
 Une of the honored pioneers and venerable 
 citizens of Montgomery county is Daniel Bost, 
 who is now living retired in Nokomis. He was 
 born in Rowan county. North Carolina, De- 
 cember 31, 1815. His parents, John and 
 Rachel Bost, also natives of the Old North 
 state, have passed ayaw. His education was 
 acquired in the schools of North Carolina and 
 h ' came to Montgomery county by team in 
 1837, when about twenty-one years of age. 
 Here he engaged in working by the month. 
 There were no farmers at that time on the 
 prairie land which was considered unlit for 
 cultivation, but a few farms had been estab- 
 lished in the midst of the forest tracts. About 
 1847 Mr. Bost purchased his first land from 
 the government — a tract of forty acres — and 
 later he added an additional tract of one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres from the government. 
 His third purchase made him the owner of 
 forty acres more and again he bought eighty 
 acres. Eor many rears be successfully car- 
 
 ried on agricultural pursuits, keeping apace 
 with the progress made in the methods of farm- 
 ing and m the improved machinery. As time 
 passed he prospered in his undertakings, ac- 
 cumulating a comfortable competence. Event- 
 ually, however, lie sold his farm land and 
 bought two lot:- and a house, where he now lives, 
 in Nokomis. He removed to this place in De- 
 cemher, 1899, and has since lived a retired life, 
 enjoying a well merited rest. 
 
 On th.e 5th of March, 1840, .Mr. Bost was 
 married to Miss Ellen Lipp, and unto them 
 were horn six children, id' whom two died in 
 infancy. The living are Peter Francis, who is 
 engaged in farming in Texas; Rachel, the wife 
 of Thomas Lipp, of Texas; and Joshua, a car- 
 penter of Alton. Illinois. One daughter, Eliza, 
 (lied at the age ol forty-two years. Tin- mother 
 passed away February 25, 1865, when forty- 
 nme years of age. On the 26th of .May, 1865, 
 Mr. Host was again married, his second union 
 being with Mrs. Amanda Cooper. The chil- 
 dren of tin.- marriage are Charles A. who is 
 represented elsewhere in this work; Artellisa, 
 the wife of Noah Lell'e, of koimtreo town- 
 ship; Ella, tin' wife of Joseph Cruze, of Roun- 
 tree township; Thomas, of (he same township; 
 George, who is a mail carrier of Nokomis; 
 Gertrude, the wife of Claude Davidson, of 
 Hillsboro; ami Fred, who is a mail carrier in 
 the rural \'v lelivery from Nokomis. 
 
 Mr. Bost i> a member of the Lutheran 
 church, with which he has been identified for 
 sixty-five years, living an upright life in con- 
 sistent harmony with his professions. In poli- 
 ties he is a Republican and has voted sixteen 
 times for president. 
 
 THOMAS K. WESTCOTT. 
 
 Thomas K. Westeott, whose fanning and 
 stockraising interests in Butler Grove township 
 are valuable and profitable, was born in North 
 Scituate, Rhode Island, on the 50th of Sep- 
 tember. 1Stl?. his parents being Charles M. and 
 Elizabeth (Ware) Westeott. the latter a daugh- 
 ter of Obediab Ware. Charles M. Westeott 
 came to Montgomery county when a young 
 man. and. having previously learned the car-
 
 301) 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 penteFs trade, was well fitted to enter upon a 
 business carrer here. He was married in this 
 county, but afterward returned to the east, 
 where occurred the birth of Thomas K. West- 
 cott. Later, however, the father returned to 
 Montgomery county and became a contractor 
 and builder of Butler. In 1869 he removed 
 to a farm in Butler Grove township and in 
 1870 took up his abode upon the farm on which 
 his son Thomas now resides. There he spent 
 his remaining days and his work, long con- 
 tinued, practically transformed his land into 
 productive fields, constituting one of the best 
 farming properties of this portion of the state. 
 He died there in 1S89 at the age of sixty- 
 six years. He was a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, to which his wife also be- 
 longed. In their family were four children : 
 Thomas K. ; Eliza, who died in 1883; Lillie. 
 the deceased wife of P. J. Stout ; and Grace, 
 the wife of Robert Grantham, of Butler Grove 
 township. 
 
 Thomas K. Westeott was reared upon the old 
 farm, being eight years of age when his father 
 removed to the property which he now owns 
 and occupies. His early education was sup- 
 plemented by study in the Friends boarding 
 school of Providence. Rhode Island, where he 
 spent four years, and after his education was 
 completed he returned to the old homestead. 
 assisting his father until the latters death 
 and then taking charge of the farm. He has 
 worked earnestly and persistently, concentrat- 
 ing Ins efforts tn agricultural pursuits and thus 
 pointing his energies in one direction he has 
 won success through careful management and 
 diligence. His home farm comprises one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres on section 14. Butler 
 Grove township, and he also has another farm 
 of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 
 2 and 3 of the same township. Tie carries on 
 . neral farming, stock-raising and feeding and 
 has met with very creditable and desirable suc- 
 cess. 
 
 In 1801 occurred the marriage of Mi. West- 
 eott and Miss Amelia Dale, of Hillsln.ro. and 
 they have five children: Nathan TF. Faith. 
 Charlie M., Mary J., and Lucy. Mr. West- 
 eott is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and is serving as its treasurer. He is 
 
 not a party man in politics, voting independ- 
 ently as lie thinks best. He is, however, a man 
 true to his honest convictions, loyal in defense 
 of what he believes to be right and reliable in 
 his business transactions. 
 
 LOUIS SEDENTOP. 
 
 Louis Sedentop. who is now living a retired 
 life in Farmersville, where he owns a well im- 
 proved tract of land of three hundred and 
 twenty acres adjoining the corporation limits of 
 the village, is the oldest settler in Bois Dare 
 township, having resided within its borders 
 since 1853. Great have been the changes that 
 have occurred since that time, for primitive 
 conditions existed here then. He laid out the 
 town in the spring of 1887 and has watched 
 with interest the growth of the village, the de- 
 velopment of the farming and commercial in- 
 terests, and in as far as possible he lias borne 
 his share in the work of development and public 
 progress. 
 
 A native of Germany, he was born in Bruns- 
 wick on the 4th of May, 1835, and remained in 
 the fatherland until seventeen years of age, 
 during which time he received good educational 
 privileges in the public schools there. He is, 
 however, almost entirely self-educated in Eng- 
 lish since coming to the United States, the year 
 1852 witnessing the emigration of Mr. Seden- 
 top to the new world. He located first in St. 
 Louis, hut soon afterward made his way to 
 Montgomery county and began work on a farm 
 by the month in Zanesville township, being 
 thus employed for seven year-;. 
 
 In 1859 Mr. Sedentop was married in 
 Springfield. Illinois, to Miss Honora Leonard, 
 who was horn in Ireland, but came to the new 
 world when a child ami was reared in Illinois 
 IV the age of sixteen years. After his mar- 
 riage Mi'. Sedentop rented land near Zanes- 
 ville. which he cultivated for three years and 
 then with the capital he had acquired through 
 his earnest labor and economy he purchased 
 eighty acres of land, which he also farmed for 
 three vears. On the expiration of that period 
 lie sold his property and bought near where he 
 now resides, investing in a tract of eighty acres.
 
 Ml?. AND MES. LOUIS SEDENTOP
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 "M'VEP.SITY OF HUSKS
 
 PAST AND PRESILXT <>!•' MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 303 
 
 In the fall of 1869, however, he again sold oul 
 and then bought his present farm, comprising 
 three hundred and twenty acres, on which he 
 located the following spring. This had many 
 years before been placed under the plow, hut 
 had become much run down. Mr. Sedentop be- 
 gan its further cultivation and improvement, 
 erecting the buildings and continuing the task 
 of tilling the fields until he now lias one of 
 the neatest, best arranged and well improved 
 farms in this part of the county. He has added 
 to and remodeled the house until it is now a 
 comfortable and attractive residence and he has 
 also built a large barn and other good outbuild- 
 ings. He has likewise planted an orchard and 
 shade trees, has fenced the place and has made 
 many other substantial improvements until his 
 farm is splendidly equipped. In addition to 
 this he owns an adjoining farm of one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres and another tract of 
 a quarter section elsewhere in the county. 
 All are valuable and his property holdings 
 make him one of the substantial residents' 
 of the community. He laid out a town site 
 of sixty acres about 1886, erected business 
 houses and residences, gave a little park to the 
 town and through bis energy, enterprise and 
 liberality has made the village of Farmersville 
 and it to-day stands as a monument to bis en- 
 terprise and progressive spirit, lie is indeed 
 the lather of the town and is justly accounted 
 one of its most active and public-spirited citi- 
 zens, co-operating in all measures for its public 
 
 g 1. His home is just inside the corporation 
 
 limits and bis interests center in the village as 
 well as in the county at large. An accident 
 which he sustained in the winter of 1903-4 has 
 prevented his active participation in public 
 affairs to the extent to which he was formerly 
 engaged. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sedentop have been horn 
 eight children, who are yet living, two sons 
 and six daughters, and with the exception of a 
 young lady daughter now at home all are mar- 
 ried. The parents were reared in the Catholic 
 faith and are members of the church of that 
 denomination at Farmersville. He has con- 
 tributed mosl generously to the support of all 
 churches and donated tl e land on which all the 
 churches of Farmersville stand. He has never 
 
 sought or desired office, but consented to serve 
 on the village board because of the urgent 
 solicitation of his friends. He is a stanch advo- 
 cate of the principles of Democracy and since 
 casting his lirst presidential ballot for Stephen 
 A. Douglas in 1860 he has supported each presi- 
 dential nominee of the party. Coming to Amer- 
 ica empty-handed, he has labored earnestly and 
 persistently and to-day he stands among those 
 who are the architects of their own fortunes 
 and have builded wisely and well. For fifty- 
 one years he has lived in Montgomery county 
 and when judged by what he has accomplished 
 his right to a first place among the representa- 
 tive citizens of Farmersville and Montgomery 
 county can not be questioned. 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN F. GLENN. 
 
 Captain John F. Glenn, a veteran of the 
 Civil war, figured prominently in business cir- 
 chs in Montgomery county as the owner of an 
 extensive and valuable ranch and as vice-presi- 
 dent of the Montgomery County Loan & Trust 
 Bank. He is living in Hillsboro and is a native 
 of Ireland, his birth having occurred in County 
 Tyrone on the 20th of September. 1836. The 
 following year his parents. .lames R. and Cathe- 
 rine J. (Robinson) Glenn, came to America, 
 settling in Louisville, Kentucky, where they 
 lived for four years. In 1840 they established 
 their home in Alton, where the father engaged 
 in merchandising for one year, but, not long 
 afterward coming to Illinois, he settled upon a 
 farm near Brighton. His last days, however, 
 were spent in Hillsboro, where he died in 1882, 
 at the advanced age of eighty-two years, and 
 his wife passed away in 1887, when eightv-two 
 years of age. In their family were six chil- 
 dren: Catherine .1.. the wife id' Robert Stew- 
 art : James R. ; John F. ; William J., deceased; 
 Emma, the wife of Dr. Canine; and Thomas S.. 
 who died in 1864. 
 
 John F. Glenn attended the public scbools 
 until 1853, when he began earning his own liv- 
 ing by working as a farm band by the month. 
 Through the winter he attended school until 
 the winter of 1R.">b\ when he began working in 
 the woods near Duluth. Minnesota. He was
 
 ;;ul 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY Col \ n 
 
 employed in the lumber regions of that district 
 for three years and then returned to Mont- 
 gomery county. Desirous of attaining a better 
 education he entered Shurtliff College, where he 
 continued his studies until the outbreak of the 
 Civil war. Studying the situation of the coun- 
 try and feeling that his duty was to the 
 Union, he responded to the call of the govern- 
 ment on the 9th of August, 1861, and became a 
 private of Company E, Twenty-seventh Illinois 
 Infantry. He went to the front as second 
 Eergeant and participated in many important 
 engagements, including the battles of Island 
 No. 10, Farmington, Stone River, Chickamauga, 
 Mission Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Mud Creek, 
 Stonington, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree 
 Creek and the siege of Atlanta. His valor and 
 meritorious conduct on the field of battle had 
 won him promotion to the rank of captain and 
 at the close of his three years' term of service 
 he was honorably discharged on the 20th of 
 September, 1864. 
 
 After the war Captain Glenn came to Hills- 
 boro and was engaged in general merchandising 
 for a year - . He afterward joined his two broth- 
 ers in the building and operation of the Hills- 
 boro flouring mill, and later he erected a mill 
 at Morrisonville and also one at Carrollton, 
 Missouri. He built a mill at East St. Louis 
 and conducted each of these for a few years, 
 after which he sold all with the exception of 
 the Hillsboro mill, which he conducted for thir- 
 ty years, it being one of the leading productive 
 industries of the city. In this business he was 
 associated with his brothers William and James 
 Glenn. Owing to the excellent quality of the 
 flour, the product of the mill found a ready sale 
 on the market and the business continually 
 grew until having readied profitable propor- 
 tions it returned to the owners a very desirable 
 annual income. As his financial resources in- 
 creased Mr. Glenn also made judicious invest- 
 ment in real estate and is now the owner of 
 fourteen hundred acres of land in one body, 
 constituting a fine orchard about two miles 
 north of Hillsboro. When the Montgomery 
 County Loan & Trust Company was organized 
 he and his brothers took about one-third of the 
 stock of the institution and for three years 
 Captain Glenn has veen the vice president. 
 
 On the Gth of June, 1865, Captain Glenn was 
 married to Miss Elizabeth Allen and they have 
 five children: Allen P., who is a traveling 
 salesman; Addie (A. the wife of Charles E. 
 McGowan, of Monmouth, Illinois; Fannie E., 
 at, home: Bessie, the wife of Frank 0. John- 
 son, of Monmouth, Illinois; and William L., 
 who is associated with his father in the business 
 of breeding Aberdeen and polled Angus cattle. 
 
 The business interests of Captain Glenn have 
 been such as have contributed to the general 
 prosperity of the country as well as to his 
 individual success and he is, therefore, one of 
 the valued representative men of this portion 
 of the state. He has also taken an active and 
 helpful inten st in community affairs, serving 
 as an alderman of Hillsboro and also as mayor 
 of the city for two years. He was likewise 
 supervisor for eight years and was prominent 
 in local political circles as a leader of the Re- 
 publican party. He was a delegate to the state 
 convention in 1904 and chairman of the Yates 
 delegation. He belongs to F. D. Huddle Post, 
 G. A. R., of Hillsboro, of which he was formerly 
 commander. His unswerving purpose, his un- 
 questioned fidelity, his unfaltering interest and 
 his unchanging will have commanded the high- 
 est respect of all. He has been a leader in the 
 cause of labor, of freedom and of progress and 
 his hearty co-operation has ever been given to 
 that which tends to advance the best interests 
 of his adopted county. 
 
 FEED A. RACHOW. 
 
 Fred A. Rachow, proprietor of a livery barn 
 and feed and sale stable in Litchfield, was born 
 in Bond county. Illinois, near the county seat, 
 in March, 1870, his parents being Frederick 
 and Mary (Stafford) Rachow. The father died 
 February '^. 1876, at the age of twenty-eight 
 years, leaving six children, of whom Fred A. 
 is the youngest. The mother still survives and 
 now makes her home near Greenville, Bond 
 count v. 
 
 Fred A. Rachow was reared to agricultural 
 pursuits and has followed farming during the 
 greater part of his life, continuing in thai occu- 
 pation until the beginning of 1003, when he
 
 FRED A. RACHOW
 
 OF I HE
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 307 
 
 came to Litchfield, arriving hen' on the 20th 
 of January. He established his present [ivery 
 barn and has since conducted the business. He 
 keeps a good line of carriages, buggies and 
 horses, having about fourteen head of horses, 
 which he rents mil. lie also feeds and sells 
 horses ami this branch of his business lias 
 proved to him a lair source of income, though 
 his great specialty is in his fine line of drivng 
 and saddle horses. Horseback riding lias come 
 to he quite a Ead in Litchfield and to this par- 
 ticular trade he successfully eaters. 
 
 In 1898 Mr. Rachow was united in marriage 
 to Miss Bertha M. Bickel anil unto them were 
 horn two children: Ursula and Opal, aged re- 
 spectively six and four years. In In- political 
 views Mr. Rachow is a Republican, ami though 
 interested in the success and growth of his party 
 has had neither time nor inclination to seek 
 public office. He ami his wife are members of 
 the Methodisi Episcopal church, although be 
 was reared in the Lutheran faith, his parents 
 being identified with that denomination. "Fra- 
 ternally he is connected with the Court of 
 Honor ami the OrdeT of Eagles. He has also 
 recently joined the North American Accident 
 Insurance Company. 
 
 CHARLES W. JENKINS. 
 
 Charles W. Jenkins, deceased, formerly fol- 
 lowed farming in Montgomery county. lie was 
 born in Darlington. South Carolina. May 29, 
 1827, and was left an orphan when live years 
 of age, after which he lived with relatives. In 
 1837 his aunt, Mrs. Thomas Woods, sent her 
 son to South Carolina to bring Mr. Jenkins, 
 his brother and two sisters to Illinois. He was 
 the youngest of the four children and the jour- 
 ney was made in a wagon. Mr. Jenkins was 
 then reared by his aunt and uncle and remained 
 upon the Woods farm until 1844, during which 
 time he acquired his education by attending the 
 country schools. In 1846 he went to Spring- 
 field and foi' >i\ vears was employed in the 
 postoffice there, after which he accepted the 
 position of mail clerk on the Chicago & Alton 
 Railroad, entering upon the duties of that of- 
 fice about 1853. Later he returned to the post- 
 
 office at Springfield, where he remained until 
 1857. In that year he came to Butler township 
 and turned his attention to agricultural pur- 
 suits by renting a farm which belonged to his 
 father-in-law. 
 
 On the 27th of April, 1854, Mr. Jenkins was 
 united in marriage to Miss Camilla Burnap. 
 who was born on this farm in 1832, a daugh- 
 ter of George and Martha (Seward) Burnap, 
 the former a native of New York and the latter 
 of New Jersey. They were married in Ohio 
 and in 1830 came to Illinois, purchasinig the 
 farm upon which Mrs. Jenkins now lives, of 
 her mother's brother, who had entered the land 
 from the government. Upon this farm was the 
 first bearing orchard in the county. Mr. Bur- 
 nap died upon the old homestead here in 1874 
 at the advanced age of eighty-four years and 
 his wife, who was born in 1800, passed away in 
 1865. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins were born 
 seyjen children: Mary, the deceased wife of 
 \V. II. Hamilton; Camilla, at home: Prances 
 the wife of J. I). Chisholm ; Roland P.. who is 
 superintending the home place'; Emma, the 
 deceased wife of E. George Franklin, a teacher 
 of Minnesota; Frederick A., who is a teacher 
 in the military schools of Minnesota; and 
 Maria, the wife of J. J. Ludeman, of Nebraska. 
 
 For many years Mr. Jenkins actively and suc- 
 cessfully carried on agricultural pursuits and 
 became the owner of a valuable tract of land of 
 four hundred acres. lie carried mi general 
 farming and stock-raising ami the sale of his 
 crops and of his stock brought him a good 
 financial return each Mar. Indolence and 
 idleness were utterly foreign to his nature and 
 whatever lie undertook he carried forward to 
 completion. His interest in the public wel- 
 fare was deep and sincere and took tangible 
 form in his efforts in behalf of public progress. 
 He was elected circuit clerk" in 1868 for a term 
 of four years, served as township supervisor of 
 Butler Grove township and held other positions, 
 to which he was elected upon the Democratic 
 ticket. He was a member of the Masonic order 
 for many vears and his life exemplified its 
 i cachings. He died August 22, 1882, respected 
 by all who knew him. for throughoul the long 
 vears of his residence in Montgomery county he 
 had so lived as to merit the warm regard, good
 
 303 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 will and trust of those with whom he has been 
 associated. 
 
 HENRY NOBBE. 
 
 Henry Nobbe, who has been i ngaged in the 
 grain and flour business at Farmersville for a 
 number of years in connection with his brother 
 Charles H. Nobbe, has developed a commercial 
 enterprise of considerable extent and impor- 
 tance, the volume of their trade having reached 
 a large figure. lie is also deeply interested in 
 community affairs to the extent that lie gives 
 his hearty support and co-operation to all 
 measures which he deems of practical value in 
 promoting the welfare and progress of the town 
 and county. Mr. Nobbe was born in South 
 Litchfield township. April 9, 1865. and is of 
 German lineage, his father, Charles Nobbe, hav- 
 ing been a native of Germany, whence he came 
 to the new world and cast his lot among the 
 early settlers of Montgomery county. He took 
 up the occupation of farming as a life work and 
 for a number of years successfully carried on 
 agricultural pursuits. In 1881. however, he 
 retired from farm life and removed to Litch- 
 lielil. where in connection with his son Henry he 
 owned an elevator and engaged in the grain 
 business. He came to Farmersville in 1887 
 and here erected the elevator which is now 
 operated by his sons. He also built the first 
 residence in Farmersville and lias helped to 
 make the town what it is to-day. He owns sev- 
 eral business houses and residences here and 
 possesses excellent financial ability, keen fore- 
 sight and unfaltering enterprise. He also owns 
 farm land to the amount of two hundred and 
 eighty acres and is one of the substantial resi- 
 dents of this part of the state. His life is 
 indicative of the fact that success is not a mat- 
 ter of genius, but is rather the outcome of ex- 
 perience and sound judgment and has as its 
 basic element untiring effort. 
 
 Henry Nobbe in his boyhood days livid upon 
 the home farm and early became familiar with 
 the work involved in caring for the fields and 
 raising the stock. He was educated in the com- 
 mon schools and in Bryant & Stratton Business 
 College at St. Louis, Missouri, and earlv in his 
 
 business career he became identified with the 
 hardware and lumber trades, conducting a store 
 and yard in Farmersville for two years. He 
 sold out at the end cf that time and took charge 
 of the elevator on the north side of the road, 
 which he controlled one year. He had previous- 
 ly been engaged in the grain business with his 
 father at Litchfield as mentioned above. In 
 partnership with his father and brother he 
 subsequently bought the south elevator at Farm- 
 ersville and together they carried on the busi- 
 ness for two years. The sons then had control 
 of the elevators, which the father deeded to 
 them later. They now handle large quantities 
 of grain, including corn, oats and wheat, and 
 are also doing a retail business in flour, which 
 they handle on an extensive scale. They have 
 ever been watchful of opportunities and in- 
 dications pointing to success, have carefully 
 made their purchases, and because of their large 
 sales they acquired a comfortable competence, 
 resulting from careful business management. 
 In February, 1903, Henry Nobbe extended the 
 field of his business activity by entering into 
 a partnership in the ownership and conduct of 
 a general store. Later his father, Charles 
 Nobbe. Sr., purchased his partner's interest 
 and became a member of the firm with his son 
 Henry. This was continued for a time and then 
 Henry Xobbe bought his father's interest and 
 now controls the busiin ss alone. He carries 
 a large and carefully selected stock of general 
 merchandise and has built up a good trade be- 
 cause of his reasonable prices and earnest desire 
 to please his patrons. 
 
 On the 5th of July, 1891, Mr. Nobbe was 
 married to Miss Anna Stelter, a native of 
 Montgomery county, and they now have one 
 child. Dora Nobbe. Politically Mr. Nobbe is 
 a Republican and his first presidential ballot 
 was cast for Benjamin Harrison, while each 
 candidate at the head of the national ticket 
 has since received his support, save that he 
 voted once for Grover Cleveland. He has never 
 voted for a president but the one who has been 
 elected. He takes an active part in local poli- 
 ties, but has never been an aspirant for office, 
 preferring to give his undivided attention to 
 his business interests. He lias, however, never 
 neglected any duty of citizenship and has given
 
 ME. AND MBS. CHARLES XOBBE, SB.
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF TH€ 
 /EP.SSTY OF ILL'MC!"
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 311 
 
 loyal support to many progressive public meas- reared in the Lutheran faith and are now mem- 
 ares. The success of his life is due to qo in- bers of the church of that denomination in 
 herited fortune or to any happy succession of Farmersville. An earnest, persevering young 
 advantageous circumstances, but to Ids own man who has the courage of his convictions at 
 sturdy will, steady application, tireless industry all times he is carving out an honorable name 
 and sterling integrity. for himself and also an enviable position in 
 
 the business world of this community. 
 
 CHARLES II. XOBBE. 
 
 Charles H. Nobbe, well known in trade cir- 
 cles as a member of the firm of Nobbe Broth- 
 ers, dealers in grain and flour, was born in 
 Litchfield, July 27, 1871. He attended the 
 public schools, acquiring a fair knowledge of 
 the English branches that fit one to meet the 
 duties of a business career. When a young 
 man he assisted his lather in the store ami un- 
 der his direction received good lmsimss train- 
 ing, gaining practical knowledge of the methods 
 in vogue in commercial circles, lie has been 
 identified with various commercial and indus- 
 trial concerns that have contributed to the 
 business development of Ids town, lie was a 
 partner in the Farmersville Brick iV Tile Fac- 
 tory, an important industry here, and his sound 
 judgment and enterprise were valued factors in 
 the successful control id' the plant for a num- 
 ber of years. At length, however, he sold out 
 and he is now associated with his brother, 
 Henry Nobbe, in the flour and grain trade. 
 They own a good elevator, make extensive ship- 
 ments of corn, oats and wheat and also han- 
 dle a large amount id' flour annually, lie like- 
 wise owns several business houses and r< si- 
 dences in Farmersville and is thoroughly identi- 
 fied with the development and upbuilding of 
 the place. 
 
 <>n the 11th of December, 1898, was cele- 
 brated the marriage of Charles II. Nobbe ami 
 Miss Minnie Brockmeyer, a daughter of Au- 
 gust Brockmeyer, a farmer of Pitman township. 
 She was born and reared in Illinois. There is 
 one daughter by tins union. Vera Nobbe. Like 
 his brother, Charles H. Nobbe is a true blue 
 Republican, taking an active part in local poli- 
 tics and deeply interested in the national suc- 
 cess of the party. He served for two years on 
 the village hoard and has been city treasurer 
 for three or four years. The brothers were 
 
 .MICHAEL L. ROBERTSON. 
 
 .Michael L. Robertson, residing in Hillsboro, 
 is identified with stock-raising interests in 
 Montgomery county, where he formerly owned 
 and occupied an extensive farm, lie was born 
 in Carroll county. Tennessee, near Memphis, 
 on the 1 Ith of September, L851, and in the fall 
 of 1863, when a youth of hut twelve years, ac- 
 companied his lather'.- family on their removal 
 to Montgomery county. For three years the 
 father. Stanford Robertson, rented land in East 
 Fork township and tin n removed to Butler 
 Crove township, settling mi section 13, wdtere 
 In- son, George <*.. now lives. Stanford Rob- 
 ertson served as colonel of the state militia in 
 the early days and while living in the south 
 served as count} judge, lie was likewise promi- 
 nent in community affairs in Montgomery 
 county and gave hearty co-operation to many 
 movements which have for their object the wel- 
 fare of this portion of the state. Hi: died in 
 1893 al the age of eighty-three years and his 
 wife also passed away on the old homestead in 
 L882 at the age of sixty-eight years. They 
 were the parents of nim children, three sons 
 and six daughters. 
 
 Michael L. Robertson acquired a comtnon- 
 school education and remained upon the home 
 farm until twenty-one years of age, being 
 trained there to habits of industry and economy. 
 Farm work in every department became fa- 
 miliar to him and the practical experience 
 which In- there gained proved if much value to 
 him when he started out for himself at a later 
 date. On the :ilsf of October, is;-.', he married 
 Julia A. Harris and they took up their abode 
 upon her father's farm, she being the only 
 daughter of Thomas E. Harris, a prominent 
 and influential citizen, who was at one time 
 county superintendent of the schools of "Mont-
 
 312 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 gomery county. Mr. Robertson lived upon that 
 farm until December, 1889, when lie removed 
 to Hillsboro, and he was engaged in stock- 
 
 raising. He became the 
 
 owner of three 
 
 hundred and sixty acres of land, which, like 
 most of the other Montgomery county farms, 
 was very valuable and productive. When he 
 removed to llillsboro a year later he engaged 
 in the implement business, which he conducted 
 for two years and then sold his store to PI. C. 
 Latham. On the 20th of June, 1904, he pur- 
 chased a grain and feed establishment in llills- 
 boro, which he now carries in connection with 
 his son William E., in addition to his stock- 
 raising interests. 
 
 In 1902 Mr. Robertson was called upon to 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 
 29th of June of that year. They had become 
 the parenfs of seven children: William E., 
 who is in business with his father; Mary E.. 
 the wife of W. S. Perkins, of the same town- 
 ship ; George 0., who is living in Butler Grove 
 township; Hattie L.; Zelia E. ; Cora E. ; and 
 Fred W. 
 
 Mr. Robertson, whose ability and loyalty in 
 citizenship have been recognized by his fellow- 
 townsmen, has been called to several public 
 positions. In 1903 he was elected alderman of 
 Hillshoro and while living in Butler Grove 
 township he served as school director for eigh- 
 teen years. He was also highway commissioner 
 for nine years, was supervisor for four years 
 and was filling that position at the time of his 
 removal from his farm to the city. He has 
 given his political allegiance to the Republi- 
 can party since attaining his majority. Fra- 
 ternally lie is connected with the Modern Wood- 
 men. In former years Mi'. Robertson so con- 
 ducted his business affairs that lie won a gratify- 
 ing competence that now enables him largely to 
 live a retired life. 
 
 ROBERT A McPHERON. 
 Robert A. McPheron, who is engaged in the 
 business of raising flowers and vegetable plants 
 at Litchfield, was born in Carrollton. Illinois, 
 in 1863. Hs father, James A. McPheron, a 
 native of Tennessee, is now living in Carroll- 
 ton at the advanced age of seventy-seven wars. 
 
 At an eaih daj he accompanied his father on 
 Ins removal from Tennessee to Greene county, 
 Illinois, and he. too. became a florist and gar- 
 dener and has always followed that business 
 as a life work, being still connected with the 
 trade in Carrollton. He married Amanda C. 
 Cato, a daughter of William and Euphemia 
 Cain. The former was a farmer and settled 
 near Carrollton, entering land from the gov- 
 ernment there in pioneer times, his place being 
 loeated about eight miles east of Carrollton. 
 His sons were soldiers of the southern army 
 and one died a prisoner of war at Alton, Illi- 
 nois. Mrs. MePherson was born near Nashville, 
 Tennessee, and lias now reached the age of 
 seventy-five years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mc- 
 Pheron hold membership in the Methodist 
 Episcopal church and he gives his political sup- 
 port to the Democracy. In their family were 
 six children: Edwin N., who is a jeweler' of 
 Greenfield. Illinois; Ella, the wife of John 
 Scruby, ;r harniss-maker at Roodhouse, Illi- 
 nois; Anna, the deceased wife of L. W. Loomis, 
 a jeweler, who lias also passed away; Laura, the 
 wife of John Clough, a farmer and stockman 
 of Carrollton; Robert A.; ami James G, a 
 florist of Carrollton. 
 
 Robert A. McPheron acquired his education 
 in the public schools of Carrollton and after- 
 ward learned tin' florist business with his father. 
 He put aside his text books when seventeen 
 years of age ami later built a greenhouse on 
 his father's place. There he conducted busi- 
 ngs on his own account for about five years, 
 on the expiration of which period he went to 
 St. Loin- ami was associated with L. Arm- 
 strong, a leading florist of that city. Subse- 
 quently he came to Litchfield and purchased the 
 place that he now owns in 1889. He has since 
 been engaged in a business here as a florist and 
 is the only, representative of this line of trade 
 in or near the city. He has a large plant and 
 dees an extensive business, shipping flowers 
 and vegetable plants to many different cities 
 throughout the country. His place of business 
 is at lloi Union avenue and a constantly grow- 
 ing trade has made him one of the successful 
 business men of the city. 
 
 In 1885 Mr. McPheron was married to Miss 
 Maggie E. Camp. She was born in Greene
 
 HENRY NOBBE AND FAMILY
 
 CHARLES H. NOBBE AND FAMILY 

 
 OF THE 
 
 |,,V!\/rDQ|JV OF IL'JNO"
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OE MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 317 
 
 county, Illinois, and died in 1890 at the age 
 of twenty-three years. For his second wife Mr. 
 McPheron chose Miss Julia B. Wilton, a daugh- 
 ter of James Wilton, a fanner. Mrs. McPheron 
 was born west of Litchfield and the marriage 
 was celebrated in 1892. There arc two chil- 
 dren by this union: J. Wilton, born in 1893; 
 and Ruth, born in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- 
 Pheron hold membership in the Methodist 
 Episcopal church and he belongs to the Mutual 
 Protective League. He is a Democrat in his 
 political views, but has never had time or in- 
 clination to seek public office, preferring to de- 
 vote his attention and energy to his business 
 affairs. 
 
 JAMES H. RIPLEY. 
 
 Numbered among the substantial fanners of 
 Raymond township, James 11. Ripley owns and 
 cultivates two hundred and forty acres of land 
 on section 27. He has now passed the seventy- 
 ninth milestone on Life's journey, but is yet 
 actively interested in business affairs, super- 
 vising his farm, which has become a valuable 
 property owing to the excellent improvements 
 which he lias placed upon it. 
 
 Pew men of his years can claim Illinois as 
 the state of their nativity, but Mr. Ripley was 
 born in St. Clair county on the loth of Sep- 
 tember, L825, his parents being William and 
 Elizabeth (Murray) Ripley. His paternal 
 grandfather, James Ripley, was a native of 
 Ireland and became the founder of the family 
 in America, settling in Virginia. His sun, 
 William Ripley, was born in Boutetourt county, 
 that state, and was married in the Old Domin- 
 ion to .Miss Elizabeth Murray, also a native of 
 Virginia. They brgan their domestic life upon 
 a farm which they occupied for a number of 
 years and then removed to Illinois, settling in 
 Jackson county about 1820. Later they took 
 up their abode in St. Clair county, where Mr. 
 Ripley secured a tract of wild land, which he 
 transformed into a good farm located just south 
 of In lleville. There he reared his family and 
 continued to make his home until his life's la- 
 bors were ended in death. He had six daugh- 
 ters and three sons, all of whom reached ma- 
 
 ture years, while a son and daughter in addi- 
 tion to J. II. Ripley are new living, the former 
 being our subject's twin brother. 
 
 The old family homestead in St. Clair county 
 was the birthplace of James II. Ripley, who 
 also spent his boyhood days there, aiding in 
 the cultivation of the fields throughout the 
 greater part of the year. His educational privi- 
 leges were quite limited as far as attendance at 
 school was concerned, but through experience 
 he mastered many valuable lessons and bicame 
 a well informed man. He was married on the 
 27th of May, 1858, in the county of his na- 
 tivity to Miss Susan Merrill, whose birth oc- 
 curred in St. Clair county. Illinois. She is 
 also a twin and her twin sister is still living. 
 After his marriage Mr. Ripley engaged in 
 farming in St. Clair county for seven years 
 and he owned a good farm of eighty acres, to 
 which he afterward added as his financial re- 
 sources increased until the boundaries of his 
 farm included one hundred acres. He sold 
 that property in 1881 and took up his abode in 
 Montgomery county, purchasing four hundred 
 acres of land, constituting one of the largest 
 improved places in Raymond township. Here 
 he resumed agricultural pursuits and continued 
 the further improvement and development of 
 the place. He has since erected a large two 
 story residence, a substantial barn and other 
 outbuildings and has added all modern acces- 
 sories. There is a g 1 orchard upon the place. 
 
 a grove of forest trees and many ornamental 
 trees which add to the attractive appearance 
 and value of the home. There have been great 
 changes in farming methods since he entered 
 upon his active business career. In his early 
 manhood all the labor was done by hand, there 
 being none of the improved machinery to re- 
 lieve the farmer of his arduous toil. He worked 
 with tin 1 scythe and the hand plow, but as the 
 years advanced and the ingenuity of man 
 brought forth many labor-saving devices Mr. 
 Ripley utilized these improved conditions in 
 his farming operations and as the result of his 
 progressive methods and unfaltering diligence 
 he accumulated a handsome competence. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ripley were born two 
 children: Charles II., a lawyer of Chicago; 
 and Susan, the wife of Samuel Sorrells, who 
 
 viniiM'i" /-» '» * ' • 
 
 •*V. •''•'• «\" ...'•"• •W.V/* • • 
 
 v» • J I ,
 
 318 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 is farming the Ripley place and by whom she 
 has one child. Mr. and Mrs. Ripley are ear- 
 nest and consistent members of the Baptist 
 church and he is a Republican in his political 
 belief, giving strong support to the party and 
 its candidates. His has been an exemplary and 
 honorable career and through a quarter of a 
 century he hits lived in Montgomery county. 
 His life record proves the value and force of 
 economy and industry in the active affairs of 
 business and without pecuniary or family as- 
 sistance to aid him at the outset of his career 
 he gradually worked his way upward to the 
 plane of affluence, gaining a handsome com- 
 petence by his own labor. He is now largely 
 leaving the hard labor and care of the farm to 
 younger hands, while he is enjoying a rest which 
 he has richly merited and truly deserves. 
 
 J. J. LIFE. 
 
 One of the rich agricultural districts of Illi- 
 nois is the territory embraced within the boun- 
 daries of Montgomery county and on one of the 
 well improved farms of that district J. J. Lipe 
 was born. The old home place on section 34, 
 Rountree township, is still the place of his resi- 
 dence. His natal day was September 19, 1870, 
 and he is a representative of an old southern 
 family. His father. John G. Lipe. was born 
 on the 13th of October. 1827. in Cabarrus 
 county, North Carolina, and with his father 
 came to Illinois in 1831, the family home being 
 establish! d in Hillsboro. The grandfather 
 turned his attention to farming and the father 
 began in the same pursuit when he had attained 
 years of maturity. He continued farming in 
 this county until L850, when he took his de- 
 parture for California and for nine months he 
 worked in the mines upon the Pacific coast. 
 In the spring of 1851, however, he returned to 
 Montgomery enmity and in 1852 he was married 
 to Miss Annie Louisa Lingle. also a native of 
 North Carolina. Her birth occurred June 16. 
 1829, and on the 3d of June. 1885, she passed 
 away at the age of fifty-six years. Mir. Lipe 
 survived his wife for about four years, dying 
 on the 16th of July. 1889, at the age of sixty- 
 two years. 
 
 J. J. Lipe pursued his education in the pub- 
 lic schools of Montgomery county and at the 
 age of nineteen years he began 1 arming upon 
 the old home place. After his father's death 
 he assumed the management of the homestead, 
 which he now owns, having here two hundred 
 and fifty acres of valuable land, which is well 
 improved and is highly cultivated. 
 
 tin the 12th of February, 1890, .Mr. Lipe was 
 united in marriage to Miss Minnie A. Yeske, 
 a daughter of C. H. and M. L. (Clabonda) 
 Yeske. Her father, who was horn December 
 27, 1833. died December lti. 1890, and the 
 mother, who was born January 11. 1830, is 
 now living near Irving at the age of seventy- 
 four years. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lipe 
 has been blessed with four children: Edna 
 Frances, who was born July 24, 1892 : Esther 
 May, born May 15, 1897 ; Elizabeth Laura, 
 February 10. 1901 ; and Godfrey Martin, born 
 February 20, 1903. 
 
 Mr. Lipe votes with the Republican party 
 and has served as trustee of his township, while 
 at the present writing he is filling the position 
 of school director. While always interested in 
 everything pertaining to general progress and 
 improvement and never remiss in performing 
 the duties of citizenship he yet gives his at- 
 tention chiefly to his business affairs and the 
 practical training which he received in early 
 boyhood has enabled him to carry forward his 
 farming interests with excellent success, so 
 that he is now a prosperous agriculturist of his 
 native township. 
 
 W. W. ADAMS. 
 
 \V. W. Adams is the owner of a good farming 
 property covering one hundred acres on section 
 32. Harvel township, and is accounted one of 
 the enterprising business men. having success- 
 fully conducted various business enterprii-es 
 during the past sixteen years, having the force 
 of character that enables him to carry forward 
 to successful completion whatever he under- 
 takes. One of Illinois' native sons, his birth oc- 
 curred in Macoupin county on the 28th of Sep- 
 tember. 1836. His father. Giles M. Adams, 
 was born in Kentuokv, where he spent his early 
 
 «*TT*
 
 W. W. ADAMS' 
 
 v. w ' V.M " " f. ' .m ' . ' , ' ' >s.\ ' . ' . '■ v.v ' . ' . ' , ' , v.m ■ ■ . ■ /, >.'. i ;v,v'. 1 .-.';,;, ,,/* *>\»,
 
 LIBRARY 
 OF THE 
 PSlTY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 321 
 
 youth, acquired his education and was after- 
 ward married. He arrived in Illinois in 1829, 
 only eleven years after the admission of the 
 state into the Union. The central and north- 
 ern portions were then largely wild and un- 
 improved. He settled in Madison county, 
 where he remained but one year. He then went 
 to Macoupin county, where he has spent many 
 years, but during the evening of his life he 
 crossed the border line into Montgomery coun- 
 ty and resided with his sons during his later 
 years. His wife survived him for a few years, 
 but has also passed away. He was familiar 
 with the pioneer history of this section of the 
 state, having arrived when much of the prairie 
 was still in its primitive condition and when 
 the forests were uncut. He performed the 
 arduous task of developing a new farm and 
 continued his labors, which resulted not only 
 in benefit to himself, but also proved of value 
 in tin 1 reclamation of a wild district for the 
 purposes of civilization. 
 
 W. W. Adams was one of four children who 
 reached mature years, and one brother and sis : 
 ter are yet living. His early youth was passed 
 in Macoupin county upon the old home farm, 
 and lie hail common school advantages, attend- 
 ing school through the winter months, although 
 he is large!; self-educated. He came to Mont- 
 gomery county in 1860 and purchased land 
 in Harvel township, which was wild and un- 
 cultivated, but lie at once broke this and opened 
 up a farm of four hundred acres. Carrying on 
 tlie work of cultivation and improvement year 
 after year, he became the owner <>( a well de- 
 veloped property and harvested good crops, 
 which annually brought to Inn a desirable in- 
 come when placed upon the market. At length 
 be sold out anil purchased his present residence, 
 having eighty acres in the home place and 
 twenty acres in another tract. He farmed for 
 a number of years, and about 1888 he turned 
 bis attention to the grain business in Harvel. 
 He has since rebuilt the elevator and still car- 
 ries on his operations in that line. He has 
 now been a grain merchant of the town for six- 
 teen years ami is well known as a progressive 
 business man whose commercial interests prove 
 of value to the locality by furnishing a good 
 market to the farmers for their products. 
 
 Politically .Mr. Adams is a stanch Demo- 
 crat, and his first ballot was cast for .lames 
 liuchanan. while since thai tune he lias sup- 
 ported each presidential nominee of tin' party. 
 He has served for four consecutive terms as 
 supervisor and was a member id' many of the 
 important committees of the board. More than 
 four decades have passed since he arrived in 
 Montgomery county. He has killed deer and 
 wolves in this county, living here at a time 
 when its unsettled condition made it possible 
 for the hunter to enjoy his sport with the gun. 
 He broke thi' virgin soil and helped to make 
 the county what it is to-day — one id' the richest 
 agricultural districts of this great stale. 
 
 C. A. LEWEY. 
 
 C. A. Lewey. interested in business affairs in 
 Coffeen as proprietor of a meat market, was 
 born in Hillsboro m L876. His father, Albert 
 Lewey, is also a native of that city, born in 
 1851. He now follows fanning in Hillsboro 
 township, win re he owns ninety acres of land. 
 Unto him and his wife. Sarah Lewey, have been 
 born seven children, six of whom wrvf bom in 
 Montgomery county. Allien Lewey is num- 
 bered among the early settlers of this pan of 
 the state and has been an interested witness of 
 the progress that has been made in promoting 
 agricultural ami commercial development of 
 his locality. Ilis political support is given to 
 i he I lemocracy. 
 
 At the usual age ('. A. Lewey entered school 
 ami for a tnm- n;i? a student in Hillsboro town- 
 ship, lb afterward devoted his attention to 
 farm work upon bis father's land and later 
 turned his attention to engineering, operating 
 a sawmill until be was twenty-five years of age. 
 He then went to Hillsboro. where he remained 
 for three months and in 1901 he came to Cof- 
 feen. Here he worked for a year in a butcher 
 shop owned by Frank Canaday and on the ex- 
 piration of thai period he purchased the busi- 
 ness which he has since been conducting. It 
 is the only meat market in the town and he 
 has a good patronage, which he deserves by 
 reason of his honorable business methods and 
 by his earnest desire to please his patrons. 
 
 . .' * B ?!T^^T f !'^*TTr f T TTf 7'7!V "'J. 1 .'^' *"/,*.'. " "/JL'A" ' V*' \ I •
 
 ...,., 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 On the 12th of June, 1901, Mr. Lewey was 
 niarried to Miss May Hamilton, a daughter of 
 Thomas Plamilton, of Hillsboro township. He 
 votes with the Democracy and socially is con- 
 nected with the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 
 367, n[ Coffeen. He is a representative of one 
 ol the old families of Montgomery county and 
 us one of the enterprising young business men 
 of Coffeen he is well known and certainly de- 
 serves representation in this volume. 
 
 JABEZ BLACKBURN. 
 
 For over fifty years this gentleman made 
 his home in Montgomery county and was num- 
 bered ai ig its honored and highly respected 
 
 citizens. He was a native of England, where 
 he spent the first eight years of his life, and 
 then accompanied his parents on their emi- 
 gration to America. The greater part of his 
 youth was passed in the vicinity of Alton. 
 Illinois, and, after arriving at years of ma- 
 t-urity, he was there married to Mrs. Mary A. 
 Hook, whose maiden name was Smith. 
 
 In 1851 Mr. Blackburn came to Montgom- 
 ery county, settling in South Litchfield town- 
 ship. This was more than a half century ago, 
 when the work of improvement and progress 
 that have marked the rapid advance and up- 
 building of the county had scarcely been be- 
 gun and for many years he witnessed the 
 changes which occurred here and bore his 
 share in the work of upbuilding. He con- 
 tinued to engage in farming in South Litch- 
 field township until 1866, when he came to 
 Hillsboro township and settled upon a farm 
 which is now the property of his son James R. 
 There he lived for seventeen years or until 
 1883, when he took up his abode in Litchfield. 
 but a year and a half later he removed to Hills- 
 lioi'i). where he spent his remaining days, his 
 death there occurring on the 5th of January, 
 1895, when he was seventy-one years of age. 
 His widow still survives him and now makes 
 her home with her children. As pioneer people 
 they were well known and Mr. Blackburn was 
 regarded as a reliable business man, energetic, 
 enterprising and trustworthy. 
 
 JAMES R. BLACKBURN. 
 
 James R. Blackburn, who carries on general 
 farming with good success in Hillsboro town- 
 ship, was born in South Litchfield township, 
 Montgomery county, on the 15th of October, 
 1856, and is a son of Jabez Blackburn. He 
 was a lad of ten years when he took up his 
 abode upon the farm which is now his home, 
 lie was educated in the district schools, which 
 he attended when not engaged with the duties 
 of the farm. In iss:i he took active charge 
 of the farm, his father moving away at that 
 time, and in this he was associated with his 
 brother J. Frank Blackburn for about a year, 
 when James R. Blackburn became sole man- 
 ager of the place. He is to-day the owner of 
 one hundred and seventy-nine acres of valu- 
 able land of which one hundred and nineteen 
 aires is located on his homestead about three 
 mile- west and a half mile south of Hillsboro. 
 There he carries mi general farming and he 
 has placed his fields under a high state of cul- 
 tivation, while in his pastures are seen good 
 grades of stock. He raises the cereals best 
 adapted to soil and climate, and as he follows 
 
 i lem farming methods he secures good crops. 
 
 which annually return to him a desirable in- 
 come. 
 
 On the 9th of March, 1887, Mr. Blackburn 
 was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hart- 
 groves and they have two sons. Frederick and 
 Karl, both of whom are at home. The parents 
 are consistent and faithful members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. 
 Blackburn is serving as trustee and steward. 
 He contributes generously to the support of 
 the church and does all in his power to pro- 
 mote the growth and extend the influence of 
 his denomination. His study of the political 
 issues and questions of the day has led him to 
 give earnest allegiance to the Republican party, 
 for he believes that its principles contain the 
 best elements of good government. Having 
 spent his entire life in Montgomery county he 
 is well known here and he possesses many ex- 
 cellent traits of character, which have won him 
 a large circle of friends. He is kindly in 
 manner, social in disposition, charitable in 
 thought and shows ready and courteous defer- 
 ence for the opinions of others.
 
 OF THE 
 DIVERSITY OF ILL!J!0!S 
 
 
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 A* » *• 
 
 1 W.i ' ' ' ' W>l * ' " W.i " " W.l * ' V W.l "
 
 ME. AND MRS. JABEZ BLACKBURN
 
 MR. AND MRS. JAMES R. BLACKBURN 
 
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 ■i ■ 'JAM 1 1 1 1 JAM" U WA ' ' ' 'V^ I . I . I . I W 1 . 1 . 1 '^!. 1
 
 LiBK 
 OF FH€ 
 DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 327 
 
 J. II. CIUCKKXKEKGKR. 
 
 J. 11. Crickenberger, one of Montgomery 
 county's self-made men, is part owner of the 
 electric light plant of Nokomis and in connec- 
 tion therewith has developed a business that has 
 now reached profitable and gratifying propor- 
 tions. He was born in Augusta county, Vir- 
 ginia, in 1652, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah 
 Crickenberger. The father was born in Rock- 
 ingham county. Virginia, was there reared to 
 the occupation of farming and followed that 
 pursuit throughout his entire life in the county 
 of his nativity. His wife, who was also born 
 in Virginia, passed away in 1862. There were 
 six children in the family, of whom five are 
 now living, but J. H. Crickenberger is the only 
 one in Illinois. 
 
 Under the parental roof Mr. Crickenberger 
 of this review spent the days of his childhood 
 and in the schools of the neighborhood bo ac- 
 quired his education. In early manhood he 
 was connected with the operation of a thresh- 
 ing machine and was afterward engaged in tin.' 
 sawmill business fur about six years, lie then 
 went to Texas, where be spent six weeks and m 
 October, is? ?. he came to Illinois, settling in 
 Nokomis township. Montgomery county upon 
 a farm which he rented for live or six wars. 
 On the expiration of that period In purchased 
 eighty acres of land and he also continued to 
 rent land for sixteen years. As a farmer he 
 was progressive, following advanced ideas of 
 agriculture and his labors resulted in the ac- 
 quirement of fair success. In February, L894, 
 he came to Nokomis and has since been con- 
 nected with the operation of the electric light 
 plant. He was engineer for about six months, 
 at. the end of which time in connection with B. 
 F. McGrue he purchased the business which 
 they conducted together for about two years. 
 At the end of that time Mr. Crickenberger be- 
 came sole proprietor and continued the busi- 
 ness alone for four year.-, at the end of which 
 time he sold a half interest to W. IT. Cassel- 
 berrv. This business association has since been 
 maintained and the business is growing sti adily, 
 they now having the best plant in this part of 
 the country for excellent service. The ma- 
 chinery has been in continuous operation for 
 five years with the exception of a brief inter- 
 
 val of fifteen minutes, and few companies can 
 show as creditable a record. In addition to his 
 business here .Mr. Crickenberger now owns three 
 hundred and twenty acres of wild land in Min- 
 nesota and be is general agent for the Pioneer 
 hand & Loan Company of that state. 
 
 In 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Crick- 
 enberger and Miss Laura Wells, a daughter of 
 John Wells of this county. He and his wife 
 hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and he also belongs to the Masonic fra- 
 ternity and the Odd Fellows lodge at Nokomis, 
 while m his political affiliation he is a Prohibi- 
 tionist. He has taken quite an active interest 
 in the affairs of his party in this county and 
 all matters pertaining to the general welfare 
 are of concern to him. for he is a public-spirited 
 citizen, desiring the best and most substantial 
 development of the county. His own history is 
 in many respects worthy of emulation. He in- 
 luritedfroin his father live hundred and forty 
 dollars and with this exception all that he pos- 
 sesses has been won through his own labor, so 
 that he is a self-made man. His life proves the 
 business possibilities thai Montgomery count} 
 affords to its residents and while he has profited 
 by its advantages lie has also contributed in no 
 small degree to the upbuilding and progress of 
 Ins community by bis generous support of and 
 co-operation m every movement, calculated to 
 benefit the town and county. 
 
 WILLIAM VAWTEE. 
 
 William Vawter, who has won an enviable 
 position in business circles in Hillsboro. was 
 born in Monroe county. Kentucky, November 
 27, is 12, a son id' Thomas S. ami Nancy (Chap- 
 man) Vawter, both of whom were natives of 
 Virginia, the latter having been born near Hali- 
 fax, that state. The father, whose birth oc- 
 curred in L815, removed with his family from 
 Kentucky to Montgomery county, Illinois, in 
 1851, making the journey by ox team and bring- 
 ing with him his household goods. He located 
 four miles southwest of Hillsboro upon a farm 
 .,„,] there earned on agricultural pursuits. This 
 portion of the state was still wild and unim- 
 proved and de( r and other wild game was plen- 
 tiful. In fact, he had to gather com early in 
 
 Trm*m m i ■ ' j ii i ' » ' 'jam " ■ » JA'.i * ' ' } W&*V}KW \VJhW\\ l *h l WJ
 
 35! 8 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 order to keep the deer from devouring it. In 
 Ins political views he was an old line Whig and 
 was bitterly opposed to slavery. lie ranked 
 high in the estimation of friends and neighbors 
 and his death, which occurred in 1854, when 
 he was thirty-six years of age, was di eply re- 
 gretted by those who knew him. His wife passed 
 away in 181 I. when about fifty years of age. 
 She was a daughter of William and Polly 
 (Mathis) Chapman, who came here about 1830. 
 Her lather was one of the heroes of the Revo- 
 lutionary war and received two laud warrants 
 in compensation for his services. With one of 
 these he made claim to eighty acres of land in 
 South Litchfield township, Montgomery coun- 
 ty, and the other he sold to his son-in-law. 
 Throughout his business career he devoted his 
 energies to agricultural pursuits. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Vawter were born two children, the 
 daughter being Martha, who became the wife 
 of Matthew Alman and died in 1861. 
 
 William Vawter spent the first eight years of 
 his life m the state of his nativity ami then 
 accompanied his parents on their removal to 
 Montgomery county, Illinois, where he acquired 
 a common-school education. His privileges in 
 that direction were somewhat limited, however, 
 owing to his father's early death. His mother 
 removed with her children to HillsDoro in 1857 
 and Mr. Vawter, then a youth of fifteen, se- 
 cured employment in the Watson mill in 1862, 
 where he remained for seven years. On the ex- 
 piration of that period he purchased a team and 
 worked lor the agent of the American Express 
 Company, delivering goods. He was thus em- 
 ployed for thirteen years. After hauling ex- 
 press for two years he purchased in 1872 the 
 omnibus business of T. S. Whitesides and has 
 been running the business for the past thirty- 
 two years with practically no opposition. He 
 has carried the United States mail all that time 
 and has been asked but once by the government 
 for a statement. No fault has ever bei n found 
 with him because of his services and he is prob- 
 ably the oldest mail carrier of Illinois to-day 
 when viewed from point of continuous service. 
 Through careful management and the husband- 
 ing of his resources Mr. Vawter has gained con- 
 siderable property and now owns a valuable 
 business building and other realty in llillsboro. 
 
 He was also a charter member of the Oil City 
 Building & Loan Association of Litchfield and 
 servid as one of its directors for twelve years. 
 He is a member of the Hillsboro Building & 
 Loan Association and has been both its presi- 
 dent and vice-president, while for the past nine 
 years he has been one of its directors. He is 
 likewise a stockholder in the Hillsboro Hotel 
 Company and is now president of its board of 
 directors. Thus he is identified with many 
 business enterprises of the city and county and 
 his wise counsel is an important element in the 
 successful conduct of various institutions. 
 
 On the 10th of January, 18G4, Mr. Vawter 
 was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Jane 
 Burke, a daughter of Rili y and Margaret (Mc- 
 Phail ) Burke. The father, a farmer by occupa- 
 tion, was numbered among the pioneer settlers 
 of .Montgomery county, removing to this por- 
 tion of Illinois from Tennessee at a very early 
 day. Mrs. Vawter was born near Walsh ville, 
 Illinois, in 1840. There were six children born 
 of this marriage, three of whom are now living: 
 Ida, the wife of Eugene Smith, who is a mail 
 carrier upon a rural route from Hillsboro; 
 Emma, the wife of Charles Baxter, a coal dealer 
 and farmer of Hillsboro ; and John W., who has 
 charge of the bus line. As each one of the chil- 
 dren have married Mr. Vawter has deeded to 
 them a house and lot and all are now living in 
 homes adjoining his own. 
 
 In political and public affairs Mr. Vawter has 
 been somewhat prominent, having been three 
 times elected to the board of aldermen from 
 the first ward of Hillsboro, so that he has served 
 for six years. He was also supervisor of Hills- 
 boro township for on.^ term and to these posi- 
 tions was elected upon the Bepublican ticket, 
 lie lias long been a supporter of the party and 
 its principles, believing that its platform con- 
 tains tin' best elements of good government. 
 Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic lodge 
 and both he and his wife are connected with the 
 Order of the Eastern Star. They hold mem- 
 bership in the Methodist Episcopal church and 
 receive frii ndly recognition and regard in many 
 of the besf homes in Hillsboro. On the list of 
 the prominent business men of this city ap- 
 pears the name of Mr. Vawter because he has 
 been closely identified with its interests, has
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT"* 
 
 3ay 
 
 assisted in its growth and while helping to up- 
 build the city tie has also made lor himself an 
 enviable reputation by his activity ami stead)' 
 perseverance. His life history illustrates in a 
 marked degree what may he accomplished by 
 well directed effort and strict business princi- 
 pies. 
 
 JOHN FATH. 
 
 John Fath, living in East Fork township, is 
 identified with agricultural pursuits and has 
 also been a representative of educational in- 
 terests in Montgomery county. He was born 
 in Perry county, Missouri, in 1841, a son of 
 Leonard and Margaret Fath. As the name in- 
 dicates the family is of German origin and the 
 father was born on the river Ehine, spending 
 his boyhood days in the vicinity of that far- 
 famed water course. Attracted by the business 
 opportunities of the new world, however, he 
 came to America- on attaining his majority, 
 making his way to St. Louis, Missouri. He 
 soon afterward located in Perry county, Mis- 
 souri, where ho resided until 18G4. when he 
 came to Montgomery county. Prior to this time 
 he had engaged in blacksmithing, but upon his 
 removal to East Fork township, Montgomery 
 county, Illinois, he turned his attention to 
 agricultural pursuits, purchasing a section of 
 land, upon a part of which his son John now 
 resides. He labored earnestly and energetically 
 as a farmer and for some years had the capable 
 assistance of his son. 
 
 John Fath arrived in Montgomery county in 
 March, 1865, at which time he began farming 
 with his father. He had taught school in Mis- 
 souri when nineteen years of age and ho fol- 
 lowed that profession through twenty-two con- 
 secutive winter terms and also taught to some 
 extent in the summer months. He has thus 
 
 1 n closely and helpfully eonnected with the 
 
 educational interests of East Fork township. 
 Montgomery county, and he made an excellent 
 reputation as a teacher, for he has the ability 
 to impart readily, clearly and concisely to oth- 
 ers the knowledge that he has acquired. He 
 always studied to introduce advanced educa- 
 tional methods and at the same time made his 
 
 school ol a practical character. Tnrough much 
 of the summer his attention was given to farm 
 labor in connection with his father and the un- 
 faltering energy and enterprise of the younger 
 proved a valued supplement to the experience 
 of the father. After the father's death the 
 home farm was divided and Mr. Fath of this 
 review is now the owner of one hundred and 
 sixty acres, of which eighty acres is a part of 
 that place. He raises both slock and grain and 
 he has line farm animals, while on his place 
 are seen good crops of the various cereals best 
 adapted to the soil and climate. 
 
 In I860 occurred the marriage of Mr. Fath 
 and Miss Martha Mary Nugent, a daughter of 
 John II. and Ruth .Nugent. They had ten 
 children, of whom eight are living: Mcdora, 
 who is married and resides in Hillsboro; Luke 
 A., who is married and resides on the old home- 
 stead ; Charles E., who is married and makes 
 his home in Eillsboro; Laura A., who is mar- 
 ried and resides in the count] seat; Florence 
 Maude; Ethel Irene; Guy L. ; and Eugene L. 
 The parents are members of the Presbyterian 
 church and their influence is ever found on the 
 side of progress, improvement and right. Mr. 
 Fath gives his political allegiance to the 
 Democracy, of which his father was also a sup- 
 porter, and lie has been called to public office, 
 serving his fellow citizens as circuit clerk. The 
 public trust reposed in him has never been be- 
 trayed in the slightest degree and in all life's 
 relations he has been found as an honorable, 
 upright gentleman worthy of the regard and 
 good will of hi- fellow men. 
 
 N. B. ALLEN. 
 N. B. Allen is a wide-awake and progressive 
 business man dealing in hardware, imple- 
 ments, furniture and undertaking goods in 
 Fillmore and while there have been no ex- 
 citing chapters in his life history it yet con- 
 tains elements of interest because he is a rep- 
 resentative American citizen, energetic and en- 
 terprising in business and interested in the 
 public welfare to the extent of giving hearty 
 co-operation to many measures for the general 
 good. He was born in Minnesota. January 10, 
 
 AJM%miAAA 
 
 r»» *.'. ^ 
 
 TW^'WTT" ' J.'.'J" ' '/JW ' * '/•\ i . 1 ^ *
 
 330 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT! 
 
 1866, his parents being L. C. and Alice 1). 
 (Bliss) Allen. He was but two years of age 
 at the time of his parents' removal to Mont- 
 gomery county, the home being established in 
 Fillmore. He attended school in Fillmore 
 township and for a year was a student in the 
 academy at Hillsboro. He also spent two and 
 a half years in the college at Carthage, Illinois, 
 conducted under the auspices of the Lutheran 
 church, and was thus well qualified by edu- 
 cational training to meet the responsible duties 
 of a business career. 
 
 On putting aside his text books he came to 
 Fillmore and entered the general store which 
 had been opened by his father in 1883. He has 
 since bien identified with the business and now 
 carries a large and well selected stock of hard- 
 ware, farm implements and furniture, making 
 his purchases with a view of meeting the 
 varied tastes represented by the town and coun- 
 try trade. He also conducts an undertaking 
 business. In his career as a merchant he has 
 met with a gratifying measure of success which 
 is accorded him in recognition of his straight- 
 forward, honorable methods and his earnest pur- 
 pose to ably conduct a good store. This is the 
 second largest business house in Fillmore. In 
 addition to owning and conducting a store Mr. 
 Allen is identified with agricultural interests, 
 having three hundred acres of land in Mdnt- 
 giuiK rv and Fayette counties. He employs a 
 man by the year to conduct his farm and he 
 keeps upon his place good grades of cattle and 
 hogs and feeds considerable stock to sell, which 
 adds materially to his annual income. lie is 
 also one of the owners of the Fillmore Bank. 
 
 In 1889 Mr. Alhu was united in marriage 
 to Miss Anna Downs, a daughter of R. F. 
 Downs. She is an estimable lady, holding 
 membership in the Methodist Episcopal church 
 and in social circles occupies an enviable po- 
 sition. Mr. Allen votes with the Democracy 
 and lias served as justice of the peace and as 
 town clerk, filling these positions in a credit- 
 able manner, his official service being character- 
 ized by promptness and fidelity. Anything 
 calculated to benefit the town elicits his atten- 
 tion and support and he has borne a helpful 
 part in community interests. His life record 
 will bear the closest, investigation and scrutinv 
 
 and during his long residence in Montgomery 
 county he has gained the warm friendship of 
 many with whom social and business relations 
 has brought him in contact. 
 
 W. A. BLACK. 
 
 Not many men who are active and successful 
 in the business world have assistance at the 
 beginning of their careers. The greater ma- 
 jority of those who depend upon their own re- 
 sources improve their opportunities and advance 
 to success by reason of their energy and inherent 
 force of character. Such a one is Mr. Black, 
 wdio follows farming in East Fork township. 
 He was born about three miles east of his 
 present residence in 1834, his parents being J. 
 B. and Mary G. (McCaslin) Black. His 
 father was born in Humphrey county. Ten- 
 ne-sce. was there reared and in that locality 
 followed the occupation of farming for some 
 time. In 1830, however, he arrived in Illinois, 
 settling in Bond county, where he remained 
 until 1833. when he took up his abode in East 
 Fork township, Montgomery county. Here he 
 purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
 which was entirely unimproved, but with char- 
 acteristic energy he began the development of 
 a farm and made his home thereon until the 
 spring of 1856. Then he removed to Donnell- 
 son, where he remained until 1865, when he 
 took up his abode in Litchfield, where he spent 
 his remaining days, passing away in 1876. The 
 county thus lost one of its pioneer residents, 
 for he located in this section of the slate when 
 the work of progress ami improvement had 
 been scarcely begun. Much of the land was 
 still unclaimed and uncultivated, and where are 
 now seen nourishing towns and villages then 
 grew the wild prairie grasses. In the family 
 were four children, of whom three are living. 
 
 YV. A. Black spent his boyhood days in the 
 usual manner of farmer lads, working in the 
 fields and meadows through the summer 
 months, while in the remainder of the year 
 he attended school in Bond county and latei 
 for a short time in East Fork township, this 
 county. Since attaining his majority he has 
 been dependent upon his own resources for an
 
 J. B. BLACK 
 
 MES. SAEAH J. (BLACK) II IT< '1IINS0N 
 W. A. BLACK T. G. BLACK 
 
 v » j . » ;, . . t w>, . . ,nV.v. ...v ' . '.v.. v^v.v w . ^y// w ^:»>?w^>v
 
 LIB!. 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MOXTOOM FRY COUNTY 
 
 333 
 
 that he has possessed and enjoyed, and his life 
 has been characterized by diligence and perse- 
 verance. After his marriage he started for him- 
 self by purchasing the old family homestead 
 in 1856. He lived thereon for one year and 
 then, selling that place, removed to Hillsboro 
 and afterward to Irving', Illinois. In the latter 
 place he was engaged in merchandising, but 
 subsequently he returned to Hillsboro, where 
 he conducted a livery stable. At a later date 
 he purchased his present home, first becoming 
 the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of 
 land, the greater part of which lies within the 
 borders of Montgomery county, and upon this 
 he is engaged in general farming and stock- 
 raising. He has seen the entire prairie settled. 
 There were few houses when lie arrived in Illi- 
 nois, the country being wild and unimproved. 
 He has also seen all the railroads built and the 
 modern improvements introduced, including 
 the telegraph and telephone. Equally remark- 
 able changes have been noted in farm methods 
 and especially in the kinds of machinery used 
 in the development of the fields. Mr. Black 
 has kept apace with modern progress and is to- 
 day one of the leading agriculturists of his 
 community. 
 
 In September. 1s.V>, occurred the marriage 
 of Mr. Black and Miss S. E. Whitledge, and 
 unto them were horn six children, of whom 
 three are living: Florence Etta, the wife of 
 Benton Bendure, who resides in Oklahoma; 
 and Margaret and J. A.. a1 home. In 1868 
 Mr. Black was again married, hi- second union 
 being with Eveline Foster, who was born in 
 Greenville, Illinois, and was reared in Bond 
 county. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Edwin Foster, both of whom came from Ver- 
 mont to Illinois as early settlers of Bond 
 comity, establishing their home there in 183S. 
 The ancestry of her mother's people can be 
 traced back through eight hundred years. Mrs. 
 Foster bore the maiden name of Elizabeth C. 
 Norton, and is a representative of the Norton 
 family of which Mine. Nordica, the famous 
 singer, was related. Mr. and Mrs. Black had 
 six children, of whom three are living: D. H. 
 B., Lura A. and Albert F. The parents are 
 worthy Christian people, belonging to the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian church at Donnellson, 
 
 and Mr. Black is a Democrat in his political 
 views. He has ever been fearless in advocating 
 his own opinions, yet never bitterly aggressive 
 and his influence has ever been given on the 
 side of right, progress, n form and improve- 
 ment. 
 
 OTIS CLINTON COLBY, D. M. U. 
 
 Dr. Otis Clinton Colby, who is successfully 
 engaged in the practice of dentistry in Hills- 
 boro, his large patronage being indicative of 
 his high standing in public regard, was born 
 upon a farm near Zanesville, Illinois, on the 
 8th of November, 1874, his parents being Joel 
 and Emma Colby. The mother was a daughter 
 of Jefferson Darvis and a native of Walshville, 
 Illinois. The father spent his early life as a 
 teacher and afterward engaged in agricultural 
 pursuits, thus providing for his family for 
 many years. He followed educational work 
 in Greene county and in Zanesville, being thus 
 associated" with the intellectual development of 
 the state for ten years. He also lived in 
 Montgomery count}- for about twenty-nine years, 
 teaching about five years of that time, and then 
 gave his entire attention to agricultural pur- 
 suits. For about twelve years prior to his 
 death, however, he livi d a retired life in Litch- 
 field and he passed away in Sullivan, Florida, 
 on the 17th of December, 1893. His widow 
 still resides in Litchfield at the age of forty- 
 seven years. In the family are four sons and 
 two daughters, who are yet living, and the 
 family home is at No. 802 Union avenue. Those 
 who still survive are William Walter, Oliver 
 Roy, Edgar Elmer. Bertha Alma, Letha Lea 
 and Otis C. 
 
 Dr. Colby acquired his education in the 
 schools of Zanesville, Illinois, and in the high 
 school of Litchfield. After the comphtion of 
 his literary course he took up the study of 
 telegraphy, in which he was graduated in 
 
 Janesville, Wisi sin,on the 22nd of November, 
 
 1892. He then occupied the position of tele- 
 graph operator on the Wabash Railroad for 
 about two years, but, determining to devote his 
 attention to professional labors he entered the 
 office of Dr. BaTefoot, of Litchfield, who di- 
 
 r % vN^^7?^. % s\%%V / . > .vV'/.v / ..,x'/r/ / .. %s v'.%'/ / .,\\V./ / .. ,V.' .V)V.\V.V/77.V\V.'
 
 33 l 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 rected his studies and instructed him in tin- 
 practical work of the office for one year. Later 
 he entered the Wesleyan Dental College at 
 Kansas City, .Missouri, where he remained for 
 a year and subsequently matriculated in the 
 Missouri Dental College of Washington Uni- 
 versity at St. Louis, where he was graduated 
 on the 28th of April. L898. On the 4th of 
 May following, he opened his office in Hills- 
 hoio. whore he has since resided, and although 
 one of the younger members of the profession, 
 he has gained a large patronage which is indica- 
 tive of his skill and ability, showing that his 
 work has been satisfactory to his many patrons. 
 He keeps in touch with the advanced ideas of 
 the profession with its latest improvements and 
 has put his knowledge to the practical test 
 in his practice in a way that has made his labor 
 profitable. 
 
 LOT IS WOLTERS. 
 
 Louis Wolters is a retired farmer now living 
 in 1 1 illslioro. lie still has extensive landed 
 possessions in Montgomery county, and his 
 property is the visible evidence of his life of 
 enterprise and thrift, for he came to America 
 empty-handed and through the utilization of 
 opportunity and by unfaltering perseverance he 
 won the competence thai now- enables him to 
 resi from further labors. He was horn in 
 Germany in 1827, a son id' Frederick and Eliza 
 (Van Rogge) Wolters, both of whom were na- 
 tives of the fatherland. Mr. Wolters was a 
 
 farmer h\ occupati mil was prominent in 
 
 his community, holding office under the Ger- 
 man government. He served as mayor id' his 
 home town, also as collector of taxes, and was 
 a soldier, serving under Napoleon at the battle 
 of Waterloo. Unto him and his wife were 
 born seven children, of whom three reached 
 years of maturity, hut Henry is now deceased. 
 The others are Frederick, who is now living a 
 retired life in Havana, Illinois; and Louis, of 
 this re\ ii w . 
 
 In the public schools of his native town 
 Louis Wolters mastered the common branches 
 of learning, but his educational privileges were 
 somewhat limited ami his knowledge has been 
 
 largely self-a-ipnre.l through reading, experi- 
 ence and observation. He remained in his na- 
 tive country until twenty-six years of age, and 
 in 1852 was married in Eamburg to Miss 
 Elizabeth Heitman. The following year they 
 sailed for the new world. They located in 
 Cincinnati. Ohio, where Mr. Wolters worked 
 at his trade of cabinet-making in a factory, 
 spending five years in that city. On the expi- 
 ration <d' that period he removed to Carlinville, 
 Illinois, where he remained for seven years, 
 conducting a general mercantile establishment. 
 He next took up his abode upon a farm in 
 East fork township. Montgomery county, 
 where he carried on agricultural pursuits until 
 1887 and then came In Hillsboro. Retiring 
 from active business life he is now occupying 
 a pleasant home and is enjoying a well-earned 
 rest from active business pursuits. As his 
 financial resources increased he made judicious 
 investments in real estate, becoming the owner 
 of valuable farming property. He now owns 
 five. hundred and eighty acres of land in East 
 fork and Rountree townships, and from his 
 farms he derives a good income. 
 
 In 1895 Mr. Wolters was called upon to 
 mourn the loss of his wile, who died in Ilills- 
 horo on the 29th of March of that year, at the 
 age of seventy-four. She was born at Lutein, 
 Oldenburg, Germany, and by her marriage she 
 became the mother of four children: Hugo, 
 wdio is living upon his father's farm in Last 
 Fork township: Robert, who occupies and op- 
 erates his father's farm in Rountree town- 
 ship; Thomas, a wagon-maker and dealer in 
 agricultural implements at Nokomis, Illinois; 
 and Edward, who is also in hnsiness in No- 
 komis. 
 
 Mr. Wolters is a member of the Lutheran 
 church ami socially is connected with the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity. He votes with the Republi- 
 can party and during his residence in Hills- 
 horn has taken an active and helpful part in 
 community interests. He served for six years 
 as a member of the city council and exercised 
 his official prerogatives in support of every 
 measure which he believed would contribute to 
 the genera] good. His business career was char- 
 acterized by unflagging diligence and perse- 
 verance, resulting in a creditable measure of
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF TH€ 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 M.W* ..v\Wi/ . • v^.'.V. •. vvV.'/ A . . v w,'// 1 in\v. , v .. . v\v ^ZO>v«V/V.\\V.
 
 LOUIS WOLTEES
 
 MRS. LOUIS' WOLTERS 
 
 v^''^V.\ v »''''VA» xw "V,v.^'* v '^
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 339 
 
 prosperity. Educational, church and social in- 
 terests owe their promotion in a degree to Ins 
 aid. Seventeen years lias Hillsboro been Ins 
 home — years Largely devoted to the public 
 good. 
 
 ZACHARIAH ENSOE. 
 Zachariah Ensor, who is now practically liv- 
 ing retired in Coffeen, but in former years was 
 identified with agricultural interests in Mont- 
 gomery county, was born in Maryland, March 
 4. 1843, his parents being Charles and Cath- 
 erine Ensor. His father, also a native of Mary- 
 land, followed the occupation of farming and 
 in 1859 removed from the Atlantic coast to the 
 interior of the country, spending several years 
 in Montgomery county, but later he went to 
 Fayette county, where his remaining days were 
 passed. 
 
 Zachariah Ensor came to Illinois with Ids 
 parents in 1S59 when a youth of sixteen. He 
 had in the meantime acquired his edueationin 
 the public schools of Wayne county, Indiana, 
 and when he entered upon his business career 
 it was as a farm hand m the employ of Joshua 
 Wilson, with whom he remained for seven 
 years, working by the month. Hi.- long con- 
 tinuance in the one service certainly indicates 
 his fidelity and capability. He entered Mr. 
 Wilson's employ in dune. 1861, ami there re- 
 mained until 1869 with the exception of the 
 period of his services in the Civil war. lie 
 responded to Ins country's call as a defender 
 of the Union, enlisting in the Seventh Mis- 
 souri Cavalry, which was later consolidated to 
 the First Missouri Cavalry. He participated 
 in some of the engagement- of the Eed Eiver 
 expedition and was afterward with the Army 
 of the Cumberland under General Fred Ste< le 
 in the Seventh Army Corps. He was mustered 
 out iii September, 1865, and returned home with 
 a creditable military record. For eight week- 
 he was in the hospital on account of an injury 
 in his ankle, but on his recovery he again joined 
 his regiment. 
 
 Upon his return from the war Mr. Ensor 
 again entered the employ of Mr. Wilson, with 
 whom be remained until 1SG9. He was then 
 
 married to Mr- 1!. 1- Shaffer ami they became 
 the parents of four children: Laura Crites, 
 Hattie Campbell, Ollie Welge and Lyma. In 
 L900 Mr. Ensor was again married, his second 
 union being with Miss Luella W. Griffin. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Fnsor continued 
 farming lor others until he was able to secure 
 a farm «£ his own. He engaged in raising 
 grain and stock, making a specialty of horses 
 and he placed all of the improvements upon 
 his land, converting it into a valuable and pro- 
 ductive tract. In September, 1888, he came 
 to Coffeen, being one of the early citizens of 
 the town and purchased the home which he 
 now occupies. He is practically living retired 
 except he engages to some extent in garden- 
 ing. Whatever success he has achieved is the 
 direct result and reward of his labors, for he 
 started out in life empty-handed. Gradually 
 he worked his way upward, overcoming all dif- 
 ficulties and obstacles in his path and he is now 
 ,} K , possessor of a comfortable competence, 
 which enables him to live in practical retire- 
 ment from further business life. He has al- 
 wavs taken an active interest in the welfare of 
 the town and his co-operation in its public 
 affairs has been an element in its upbuilding. 
 He has served on the hoard of health for four 
 years, has also been president id' the board and 
 as a private citizen has contributed to the gen- 
 eral improvement. He votes with the Repub- 
 lican party and fraternally he is connected with 
 the Modem Woodmen, while his religious faith 
 is indicated by his membership in the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian church. 
 
 J. J. HOST. 
 J. J. Host is the owner of a fine farm of three 
 mmdred and sixty acres located in Fillmore 
 township, but is now practically living retired, 
 having lor ten wars made his home in Fillmore, 
 where he is enjoying a well merited rest. He was 
 lorn in Cabarrus county, North Carolina, in 
 L836, Ins parents being Jacob and Margaret 
 (Cress) l'.ost. The father, also a native of the 
 old North state, was a farmer by occupation 
 and on removing westward to Illinois settled a 
 mile and a half south of where Fillmore is now
 
 340 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 located. He purchased his larul of .John J. 
 Alexander, one of the early settlers of the 
 county and upon his farm spent Ins remaining 
 days, being one of the well known ami valued 
 agriculturists of his community. 
 
 J. J. Bost was only nmo months of age at 
 the time of his parents" removal to Illinois 
 and here he was reared and educated, attending 
 the public schools. The little temple of learn- 
 ing was a log structure, crudely furnished and 
 the methods of instruction were also somewhat 
 primitive. When twenty-two \ears of age Mr. 
 Bost started out in life on his own account. 
 His farm is splendidly improved, being 
 equipped with many modern accessories. The 
 house w^as built by his father, while J. J. Bost 
 built the barn. In addition to general farm- 
 ing Mr. Bost engaged in the raising of cattle 
 on an extensive scale and he now has a herd 
 of fine Angus cattle. He has owned many 
 head of registered stock and in all of his deal- 
 ings he has met with success which should 
 ever crown persistent and honorable effort. He 
 continued farming on the old homestead there 
 for many years, his business having b< en in- 
 terrupted by a period of only four years, which 
 years were passed in Ramsey. About ten 
 years ago he left the farm and took up his 
 abode in Fillmore, where he now resides, hut 
 he still retains the ownership of Ins valua- 
 ble tract of land of three hundred ami sixty 
 acres. 
 
 In October, 1857, Mr. Bost was united in 
 marriage to Miss Rebecca Sanders, a daughter 
 of John Sanders, of this county. Eer father 
 was an early settler of the county. He was 
 born in North Carolina and when three years 
 of age was taken by his parents to Kentucky. 
 where he was reared and educated. He came 
 to Illinois about seventy-five years ago, set- 
 tling in Fillmore township. His death oc- 
 curred in February. 1852, and thus passed away 
 one of the honored pioneer settlers, wdiose ef- 
 forts were of value in the development of the 
 countv along progressive lines. In Ins family 
 were- seven children, of whom two are now liv- 
 ing, including Mrs. Bost. Mr. and Mrs. Bost 
 became the parents of six children, of whom 
 four are now living: Mrs. Ada Richmond, 
 Airs. Kate Miller. .7. Q. and Cada Williams. 
 
 Mrs. Bost is a member of the Lutheran 
 church and is a most estimable lady, having 
 proved a faithful companion and helpmate to 
 her husband in the journey of life. Mr. Bost 
 exercises his right of franchise in support of the 
 men and measures of the Democracy and he has 
 served as school director for twelve year-. 
 Long years have passed since he became a res- 
 ident of this county and great changes have 
 occumd owing to the efforts of the settlers 
 who have been a class of worthy pioneers. He 
 has taken a deep interest in everything that 
 has been accomplished for the welfare of the 
 community and his mind bears the impress of 
 the early historic annals of the county. He 
 can relate many interesting incidents concern- 
 ing pioni er times here and remembers with 
 pleasure many events which occurred within 
 that period, vet no man has taken a greater 
 part in what has been accomplished as the years 
 have passed and as progress has wrought its 
 effect in obliterating pioneer conditions and 
 bringing about the more modern civilization 
 of the present day. 
 
 WILLIAM M. RHODES. 
 
 William M. Rhodes, the owner of two valu- 
 able farms in Montgomery county, is an en- 
 terprising agriculturist, living on section IT. 
 Raymond township, where he has sixty-nine 
 acres of land that are situated about a mile 
 from the village of Raymond. He also has 
 two hundred and forty acres of the old Rhodes 
 homestead, which is likewise a well improved 
 property. His business career has been char- 
 acterized by admirable qualities, for in his 
 dealings with his fellow men he is ever 
 straightforward and honorable, and in the con- 
 trol of his business interests he is most ener- 
 gel ie and enterprising. 
 
 Mr. Rhodes was born in Kentucky, April 1, 
 1844, and is of Irish lineage. His paternal 
 grandfather. George Rhodes, was also born in 
 Kentucky, where the family was established at 
 a very early day. He was there reared and 
 married, and among his children was Hillerv 
 Rhodes, also a native of Kentucky. The last 
 named spent his youth in the usual manner of
 
 ME. AND MRS. W. M. KlIoDES
 
 LIBftAM 
 
 OF TH€ 
 
 >JH1V P B81TY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTI 
 
 343 
 
 fanner lads of thai period and when lie had 
 attained to man's estate he was married to 
 Miss Louisa Mattingly, a native of Kentucky. 
 They heeanie the parents of ten children, all 
 of whom were born in that state. Mrs. Rhodes 
 died there about lsil-l and Mr. Rhodes after- 
 ward came to Illinois, joining his son. William 
 M. Rhodes, who had located here in 1862. The 
 father spent his remaining days in this state 
 anil was again married here, after which he 
 became a resident of Macoupin county, where 
 he remained until called to his linal rest. 
 
 William M. Rhodes was a resident of Ken- 
 tucky until twenty years of age. His advan- 
 tages and opportunities in youth were very 
 meager. He attended school to only a limited 
 extent and his time was largely devoted to 
 farm work, which gave him little chance for 
 self-culture at home. However, experience has 
 taught him many valuable lessons and reading 
 and observation have also added to his knowl- 
 edge, so that he is now a well developed man 
 and he has kept well informed on many of the 
 questions and issues of the day. Leaving Ken- 
 tucky in 1862, he located in Macoupin county. 
 Illinois, when a young man id' twenty years, 
 and there began working as a farm hand by 
 the month. Having been employed in that 
 capacity for several years, he afterward rented 
 land, which he cultivated for some time 1 . He 
 worked earnestly, saved his earnings, and when 
 his financial resources had sufficiently accumu- 
 lated he purchased a tract of timber land. 
 Clearing ten acres of this, lie built a house 
 thereon and later he cleared and cultivated 
 sixty acres more, continuing the work' of im- 
 provement there until he hail a very desirable 
 property. Afterward, however, he sold that 
 farm and bought another tract of eighty acres, 
 on which he lived for eight years. lie has 
 bought and sold several farms, making sub- 
 stantial improvements on all. and in 1885 
 he came to Montgomery county, where he in- 
 vested in eighty acres of land in Tfavmond 
 township. About a year later he bought an 
 adjoining tract of eighty acres and began to 
 farm bis land. He afterward added another 
 eighty-acre tract and now has two hundred and 
 forty acres, on which lie has erected a good 
 residence and substantial outbuildings for the 
 
 shelter of main and stock. He has also plant- 
 ed an orchard, has secured the latest improved 
 machinery to facilitate farm work, and has 
 carried on his Labors along progressive lines, 
 which have resulted in making him one of the 
 prosperous agriculturists of his community. 
 Around his farm are nearly three miles of good 
 hedge fence, and fences also divide the place 
 into lields of convenient size. Two sets of 
 farm buildings, the two orchards, the well 
 tilled fields and the high grades of stock raised 
 thereon all constitute this one of the best farms 
 of the community. In addition to the cultiva- 
 tion of cereals best adapted to soil and climate, 
 Mr. Rhodes engaged in the raising and feed- 
 ing of stock and found that a profitable source 
 of income. lie continued his labors there un- 
 til 1903, when he left his two -ons upon that 
 place and purchased a tract of land of sixty- 
 nine acres nearer the town. lie then took up 
 his abode thereon and has made this a well 
 improved property. 
 
 On the 3d of December, 1868, Mr. Rhodes 
 was united in marriage to Miss Ambrosia 
 Smith, a native of Scott county. Illinois. 
 where she was reared and educated. She died 
 upon the old homestead. March 23, 1903, 
 deeply regretted by many friends who had 
 learned to love her for her many excellent 
 traits of character. There were nine children 
 horn of this marriage, six sons and three 
 daughters, namely: Fletcher, a resident farmer 
 of Montgomery county; William, who is mar- 
 ried and lives upon the old homestead; Archie, 
 who is married and resides upon the old home 
 farm: Frank, who is married and is a resident 
 farmer of Raymond township; Henry, who is 
 living with his father upon the old home 
 place; Shelby, who is married and is farming 
 his father's land: Flora, the wife of Charles 
 Vincent, of Rountree township, by whom she 
 has four children, Laura. Edward. Arthur and 
 Floyd: Mary, the wife of Robert Moore, of 
 Raymond township: and Sadie, who is acting 
 as her father's housekeeper. 
 
 Mr. Rhodes is a member of the Baptist 
 church and his life has been an exemplification 
 of his Christian faith and belief. Fraternally 
 he is connected with the Modern Woodmen and
 
 34 \ 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 politically he is ;i Democrat, giving continu- 
 ous support to the party since casting his first 
 presidential ballot for General George IS. Mc- 
 Clellan. His life has been characterized by 
 truth and steady progression. When he en- 
 tered upon his business career he bad no capi- 
 tal, but lie plaeed his dependence upon the 
 substantial qualities of energy, strong deter- 
 mination and capable management. To-day 
 he is the possessor of two valuable farms, and 
 certainly as the architect of his own fortunes 
 he lias builded wisely and well. 
 
 WILLIAM M. ATTEBERY. 
 
 William M. Attebery, deceased, was for many 
 years a well known resident of Montgomery 
 county and helped to drive the first stake in 
 laying out the city of Litchfield. A native of 
 Illinois, he was horn in Macoupin county, Au- 
 gust 22, 1835, was reared upon a farm and 
 when a young man removed to the vicinity of 
 Litchfield. He started out in life a poor boy, ' 
 with no financial resources, but a strong and 
 determined spirit stood him instead of capital, 
 and as the Years advanced he prospered in his 
 undertakings. 
 
 Seeking a companion and helpmate on the 
 journey of life, Mr. Attebery was married. Jan- 
 uary l. L857, to Miss Mary J. Beeler. a daugh- 
 ter of Jacob Beeler. who was one of the early 
 settlers of Montgomery county and assisted in 
 its pioneer development. The daughter was 
 born in Hamilton county, Ohio, and came to 
 this county when eighteen years of age. Unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Attebery were born ten children, 
 namely : Luella E., who is residing in Hills- 
 boro; William J., a farmer of Hillsboro town- 
 ship; David P.. a resident of Grisham town- 
 ship; Sarah M.. the wife of George Rainey, of 
 Hillsboro township; Lavina, wife of John 
 Loucks, of the same township; Charles B., who 
 is living mar Dexter, Missouri; Eva B.. wife 
 of Edwin Thompson, a school teacher of Illi- 
 nois; Mamie, who died in 1868 at the age of 
 twenty-one years; and two that died in in- 
 fancy. 
 
 Soon after his marriage Mr. Attebery took 
 his young wife to Hillsboro township and pur- 
 ehased one hundred acres of land now owned 
 
 by the Ault I'state. Alter a few years -there 
 passed he sold that property and removed to 
 the farm which is now the property of his son, 
 William J., taking up his abode thereon in 
 1865. When three years had passed he settled 
 on the Zimmerman farm, where George Rainey 
 is now living, and improved that property, 
 making it his place of residence for twenty- 
 eight years, during which time he placed the 
 land under a very high state of cultivation and 
 also added good buildings to the farm. At 
 length he retired from active agricultural pur- 
 suits and removed to Litchfield, where his 
 death occurred November 13, 1895. His wife, 
 surviving him a few years, died January 19, 
 1901. 
 
 Mr. Attebery was a devoted member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, with which he 
 united in 1869. In matters of citizenship he 
 was public spirited and loyal, and at the time 
 of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause, 
 enlisting, in 1862, as a. private. He served for 
 one year and was then honorably discharged 
 on account of disability. Viewed from a busi- 
 uess standpoint also, his life is worthy of 
 emulation, for through honorable methods and 
 persistency of purpose he gained prosperity and 
 at the time of his death was the owner of about 
 one thousand acres id' land. 
 
 WILLIAM J. ATTEBERY. 
 
 Among the representative and progressive 
 farmers of Hillsboro township is numbered 
 William J. Attebery. a representative of one 
 of the old pioneer families of the state. He 
 was born in the township which is still his 
 home, his natal day being March IS, 1861. His 
 father was William M. Attebery. represented 
 elsewhere in this work. 
 
 Well known in Montgomery county, where 
 he has spent his entire life. William J. Atte- 
 bery deserves mention in this volume as one 
 of the leading agriculturists and a reliable 
 business man. He was reared to farm life, 
 and the occupation which claimed his time and 
 energies in youth has also demanded his at- 
 tention since he attained man's estate. The 
 public schools afforded him his educational
 
 OF THE 
 
 ' 'M'VEPSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 ME. AND MBS. W. J. ATTEBEEY
 
 MB. AND MBS. W. M. ATTEBEBY
 
 LltSl. 
 
 OP !H£ 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 ['AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 349 
 
 privileges, and in the period of vacation he 
 continued to assist his lather in the operation 
 of the old home place, remaining under the 
 parental roof until his marriage. 
 
 On the 17th of March, 1^87, Mr. Attebery 
 was married to Miss Lula Bailey, and they have 
 live children: Clara. Charles, Homer, Hazel 
 and Edgar. Mr. Attebery removed with his 
 bride to a farm which he purchased of his 
 father, comprising one hundred and eight acres 
 of land, and upon that he lived until 1901, 
 when he took up his abode on the place he now 
 occupies, comprising three hundred and fifty- 
 four acres of rich and arable land, lie also 
 owns another farm of "lie hundred and twenty 
 acres, so that his landed possessions aggregate 
 four hundred and seventy-four acres, consti- 
 tuting a very desirable and valuable property, 
 lie engaged in general farming and utilizes 
 modem methods. Hi.- place is equipped with 
 the latest improved machinery, ami everything 
 about the place indicates the careful supervision 
 of a progressive o\i tier. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Attebery is a 
 Democrat, and while he keeps well in- 
 formed on the questions and ir-suo> of the 
 day has never sought office, preferring to 
 "i,e undivided attention to his business in- 
 terests, lie belongs to the Modem Wood- 
 men camp at Billsboro, and his place is 
 pleasantly located about four miles south ami 
 
 e||e mile West of tile ell V. 
 
 OTTO I1AAKE. 
 Otto llaake. uumbered among the substan- 
 tial and intelligent fanners of Fillmore town- 
 ship, is tl wner of a rich and productive tract 
 
 of land on which is a line residence and mod- 
 ern equipments, lie was horn in Macoupin 
 county. Illinois, in 1860, his parents being 
 Henry and Hannah (Welge) llaake. who are 
 ntioned elsewhere in this volume in connec- 
 tion with tin.' history of Solomon Haake. He 
 was only four years old when brought by his 
 parent- in Montgomery county ami here he 
 pursued his education in a log schoolhouse, 
 gaining a knowledge of the branches of Eng- 
 lish learning usually taught in the public 
 
 schools. His training at farm labor was not 
 
 meager, for at an early age he assisted in the 
 development of the fields and the care of the 
 stock. After attaining his majority he resided 
 for five years upon the farm which is now oc- 
 cupied by his brother, Solomon llaake, and 
 on the expiration of that period he removed 
 to the place which he now occupies and 
 operates on section 15, Fillmore township. His 
 father resided with him until his death. Otto 
 Haake now has a splendid farm upon which 
 is a line residence which was built by the father 
 just prior to his demise. The farm comprises 
 two hundred and fifty acres id' land and much 
 of it is under a high state of cultivation, re- 
 turning to the owner goldi n harvests as a reward 
 for the care and lahor he bestows upon his 
 place. He also gives some attention to the 
 raising of cattle and hogs and this adds to his 
 income. He has made an excellent n putation 
 as an enterprising agriculturist and his farm- 
 ing methods are in many respects most com- 
 mendable. 
 
 " In 1NH1 .Mi-. Haake was united in marriage 
 to Miss riivke Yi ske, who was horn in Germany 
 and crossed the Atlantic ocean with her parents 
 when four years of age. the family home being 
 established near Sillsboro, Illinois. Two chil- 
 dren have been born of this union, of whom 
 Merrill is now living. Mr. Haake votes with 
 the Democracy, having supported the party 
 -nice attaining his majority and like every 
 true American citizen should do he keeps well 
 informed on the questions of the day and is thus 
 able to uphold his political position by intelli- 
 gent argument. The years pass quickly and 
 happily lor him and his life is a busy and hon- 
 orable one. Through consecutive lahor. sup- 
 plemented liv sound business judgment he has 
 gained prosperity in his undertakings and is 
 well known as one of flic leading farmers of 
 Fillmore township. 
 
 SAMUEL SHOEMAKER. 
 
 In taking up the pi rsonal history of Samuel 
 
 SI maker we present to our readers the life 
 
 record of one who is widely known in Nokomis 
 township, where he owns and operafes a val-
 
 35U 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY cnl'NTY 
 
 uable farm im section 26. His birth occurred 
 m Jefferson county, Ohio, in 184;!, his parents 
 being Adam and Elizabeth Shoemaker. The 
 father was born in Bedford county. Pennsyl- 
 vania, where he was reared until ten or twelve 
 years of age, when lie went with his parents 
 to Ohio, the family becoming early settlers 
 m that locality. Adam Shoemaker followed 
 the occupation of farming and was numbered 
 among the prominent men of his community, 
 esteemed not only for his success but for his 
 absolute honesty, his name becoming a syno- 
 nym for integrity in both word and deed. Al- 
 most his entire life was passed in Ohio, save 
 for the brief period of ten years in his early 
 Liny hood. 
 
 Samuel Shoemaker was reared in tin Buck- 
 eye state and attended school there. He began 
 earning his living as a school teacher "1 Ohio. 
 Later he came to 111 nois, settling upon tin 
 prairie in Montgomery county, east of Noko- 
 mis, in the spring of 1867. That summer be 
 purchased one hundred ami sixty acres of land 
 and at once began its improvement. As a 
 farmer he has been very successful and be 
 continued to cultivate his fields until 1879, 
 when be removed to Nokomis. although he 
 still retained the ownership of bis farm. He 
 bail twenty-six acres of land in the town and 
 lie resided there for ten years, at the end of 
 which time hi' traded his town property for 
 forty acres of land, upon which he now lives, 
 tins coming into his possession in 1889. He 
 has made splendid improvements upon the 
 home place, has planted orchards and now 
 has a valuable fruit farm. He is also con- 
 ducting a dairy ami finds this a profitable 
 source of income. He likewise owns a quarter 
 section of land in Ford county. Kansas, ami 
 be is actively interested in mining. 
 
 In January, 1869, Mr. Shoemaker was mar- 
 ried to Miss Mary Elizabeth Swaney, a native 
 of Virginia and a daughter of Rev. D. D. 
 Swaney. They had ten children, of whom 
 eight are living: Minnie E-, wife of Dr. 
 George Wilson, of Nokomis; Jennie 1.. wife of 
 Will McAfee; Alice M.. the wife of Andrew 
 Van Buren, of Cooperstown, New York; Olin, 
 who died at the age of twenty-seven years; 
 Bruce 0. and Marv, ai home: Samuel, who 
 
 is attending the [ndiana Dental College; Ed- 
 gar A. Elmer P. and Homer, triplets, who 
 were born August 20, 1880, but the last named 
 died at tlie age of ni in- months. 
 
 In Ins political affiliations .Mr. Shoemaker 
 is a Democrat and has served as collector of 
 Audubon township. He is the secretary of 
 the Home Insurance Company doing business 
 in this township. This furnishes protection 
 against fires and lightning and is a reliable, 
 trustworthy organization. During the Civil 
 war he enlisted May 2, 1864, in Company D, 
 One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Ohio National 
 Guards, and was on duty at Columbus. Ohio, 
 for four months. Both he and his wife are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
 of Nokomis and their children are also identi- 
 fied with that denomination. He is numbered 
 among the early settlers of that town, wide' 
 was a mere village when he took up his abode 
 there and the surrounding district was nearly 
 all wild prairie, lie has aided in the agricul- 
 tural development id' the county and through 
 his labors has won a comfortable competence. 
 
 ALBERT M. PADKX. 
 
 Albert Milton l'aden, who owns and operates 
 a farm of eighty acres of section l(i. Hillsboro 
 township, was born m this township. April 27, 
 1864, and is a son of James M. and Mary 
 (McLean) l'aden. The father, a native of 
 Kentucky, came to Montgomery county at an 
 early day and settled upon a farm in Hillsboro 
 township, carrying on agricultural pursuits 
 and at the same time aiding in the advance- 
 ment ami upbuilding of the county by per- 
 forming faithfully the duties of citizenship 
 until his death in 1868. 
 
 Until about seventeen years of age Albert 
 M. l'aden pursued bis education in tin' district 
 schools near his father's home and later he 
 spent one year in the high school at Hillsboro 
 and for one term was a student in Brown's 
 Business College, at Jacksonville, Illinois. He 
 then resumed farm work, in which he had re- 
 ceived ample training in the cultivation and 
 improvement of the old homestead. He re- 
 mained at home until twentv vears of age and
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 351 
 
 was then married, on the 1 Itli "1 May, L884, 
 to .Miss Dora Emery, a daughter of Robert and 
 Ruth (Wilson) Emery. Her lather was horn 
 near Fillmore, Illinois, and was a carpenter by 
 occupation, following that pursuit as a life 
 work. He died about the year 1868 but his 
 widow is still living, making her home in 
 Hillsboro township. In their family were two 
 children, the son being Sebron Emery, who is 
 now living in Hillsboro. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Paden have been born 
 three children: James Carl, born January 31 
 1885; Albert Hoy. born October 7, 1886; and 
 Bertha, bom December II. 1891. The parents 
 attend the Presbyterian church and in his 
 political views Mr. Paden is an earnest Ee- 
 publican. He held the office of assessor for one 
 term, but has never been an aspirant for politi- 
 cal honors, preferring to give his undivided 
 attention to his farming interests. He is now 
 the owner of eighty acres of land, which he 
 has placed under a high state of cultivation, 
 and his farm, on section 16, Hillsboro town- 
 ship, is a well improved property, supplied with 
 all modern farm equipments. 
 
 WILLIAM FRICKE. 
 In a record of the agricultural development 
 of Raymond township. William Fricke should 
 find mention for he is one of the most progres- 
 sive, enterprising and intelligent young farm- 
 ers of his locality. He lives on section 25 and 
 is the owner of a well improved farm of two 
 hundred acres equipped with all modern con- 
 veniences. He was born in Madison county, 
 Illinois. September 18, 1865, and is of Ger- 
 man Lineage. His father, Christian Fricke, a 
 native of Germany, came to the United States 
 when a young man, attracted by the business 
 opportunities and advantages of the new world, 
 lie made his way to St. Louis, Missouri, and 
 while there residing was married to Dorothea 
 Eppers, also a native of Germany. Mr. Fricke 
 engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi for 
 a number of years and also worked at railroad 
 construction. He afterward established his 
 home in Madison county, Illinois, where he 
 carried on farming for a few years and during 
 Ihe residence of the family there four chil- 
 
 dren were added to the household. Jn 186? 
 he came to Montgomery county, purchasing 
 eight) acres of land, and began the develop- 
 ment of a farm. That he prospered in Ins un- 
 dertaking is indicated by the tact that he grad- 
 ually extended the boundaries of his place and 
 eventually he had eight hundred and lilt)' acres 
 included within five tracts, lie was a very 
 prominent, successful ami capable agricultur- 
 ist and his life demonstrated the possibilities 
 of accomplishment when one has strong de- 
 termination ami is willing to work earnestly 
 ami persistently in order to win prosperity. He 
 spent his hist years iii Montgomery count), de- 
 parting this Life on the L9th of April, L893. 
 His wife survives him and now resides in 
 Nokomis. Unto this worth) couple were born 
 lour sons and two daughters, all of whom are 
 now living and are heads of families. 
 
 William Fricke was reared m Montgomery 
 county and is indebted to the puhlic-school 
 system for the educational privileges which he 
 enjoyed. lie attended the Union Brick 
 school and when he had mastered the elemen- 
 tary branches id' learning therein he entered 
 the school of experience, in which he has also 
 Learned man) valuable Lessons. He continued 
 to assist his rather in the operation of the 
 old home place until the hitter's death and then 
 succeeded to the ownership of one hundred 
 and twenty acres of the home farm. lie also 
 bought eight)' acres additional and he now has 
 a well improved and valuable property. He 
 raises good stock anil also feeds some stock 
 for the market. He is known throughout this 
 section of the county as a successful farmer 
 and he has won his reputation by hard, per- 
 sistent Labor. His entire life has been charac- 
 terized by unfaltering diligence and industry, 
 for he realizes that this is the hasis of all sub- 
 stantial success and advancement in the busi- 
 ness world. 
 
 Mr. Fricke was married in Raymond town- 
 ship on the 19th of January, 1898, to Miss 
 Mollie Weller, the youngesi daughter of Daniel 
 Weller, one of the early settlers of this county 
 and township, owning and operating a farm 
 adjoining the Fricke place. Three children 
 grace this marriage: Lvdia. Louise and 
 
 Helen.
 
 352 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Mr. Fricke was reared m the Lutheran faith, 
 his wife in the Methodist church, and both 
 now attend the services of the Methodist de- 
 numination. Although he has never sought 
 or desired public office he takes a public-spir- 
 ited interest in political questions and has 
 served as a delegate to the county conventions 
 of the Republican party. His life history is 
 well known to many of his friends for he has 
 long resided in Montgomery county. There 
 have been no exciting chapters in his life rec- 
 ord that he wishes to cover up, but all has been 
 open and above board, and his straightforward 
 dealings have made him a respected and valued 
 resident of Raymond township. 
 
 HARRY C STUTTLE. 
 
 Among the younger lawyers practicing at 
 the Montgomery county bar is Harry C. Stut- 
 tle, of Litchfield, who has followed his profes- 
 sion in his native city and with good success. 
 He was born February 35, 1879. His father, 
 Joseph Stuttle, was born in Edwardsville, Illi- 
 nois, and is a representative of one of the 
 pioneer families of the state, his parents hav- 
 ing come from Austria at an early day and es- 
 tablished their home upon a farm in Madison 
 county. When their son Joseph was but ten 
 years of age they removed to Montgomery 
 county, settling in Fillmore township, where 
 Joseph Stuttle continued to reside until about 
 thirty years of age. He then took up his abode 
 in Litchfield, where he is now living at the 
 age of fifty-two years. He was a poor boy, en- 
 joying but lew advantages, and at the outset 
 of his career he hail no pecuniary assistance, 
 but through perseverance ami energy lie has 
 accumulated a competence and is now the 
 owner of four hundred and fifty acres of land 
 adjoining Litchfield, together with city prop- 
 erty. Hi 1 is likewise a stockholder in the 
 Litchfield Bank & Trust Company and is one 
 of the esteemed citizens of Montgomery coun- 
 tv. where ho has so directed his labors as to 
 win honorable prosperity, lie votes with the 
 Democracy. His wife, who bore the maiden 
 name of Hannah "Heeler, died in 1884, in the 
 faith of the Lutheran church, in which she 
 
 held membership. Her father. Jacob Beeler, 
 was a large property holder and capitalist who 
 became one of the early residents of Litchfield 
 ami was one of its promoters and upbuilders. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Stuttle became the parents of 
 three children: Harry C. ; Joseph S.. who is 
 residing upon the old home farm; and Charles 
 F.. a practicing dentist of St. Louis, Mis- 
 souri. 
 
 Mr. Stuttle id' this review pursued his early 
 education in the old Beacon schoolhouse near 
 Litchfield and i* a graduate of the high school 
 of this city of the class of 1898. He afterward 
 engaged in teaching for a year and then en- 
 tered the University of Illinois at I'rbana in 
 the fall of 1899. lie spent one year there and 
 subsequently entered the law office of Zink 
 & Hinder at Litchfield, but completed his law 
 studies in the office of M. M. Creighton. In 
 the fall of 1903 he was admitted to the bar and 
 ha- since been practicing in Litchfield with 
 good success, having already obtained a client- 
 age that many an older practitioner might well 
 envy. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias 
 fraternity, the Benevolent & Protective Order 
 of Elks, the Mutual Protective League, and 
 in his political views is a Democrat. He is 
 well known m the city of his nativity and is 
 popular with a large circle of friends. 
 
 URBAN E. KINTZ. 
 Urban E. Kintz, who is a representative of 
 
 industrial interests in Litchfield, was born in 
 Terre Haute. Indiana, in 1870. His father. 
 Charles Kintz, was a native of Ohio, born on 
 the 10th of February, is is. and his death oc- 
 curred on the 26th of February. 1874, He was 
 a carpenter by trade and in an early day ho re- 
 moved with two brothers to Terre Haute. In- 
 diana, where he spent tin 1 remainder of his 
 life. He held membership with the Catholic 
 church and in his political views he was a 
 Democrat. He married Catherine Martha Mil- 
 liken, who was born January oft, 18.13. and 
 is also deceased. Their marriage was cele- 
 brated March 13. 18(19. and they became the 
 parent- of three children: Urban E. : Blanche, 
 who was born in 187? and has passed away;
 
 HARRY C. STUTTLE
 
 LIBRAE 
 
 OF TH£ 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PBESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 355 
 
 Evoy Josephina, who was born in is; I and is 
 deceased. 
 
 Urban E. Kintz acquired bis education in the 
 parochial schools near Terre llautc, Indiana, 
 but his opportunities in that direction were 
 somewhat limited. He learned the carpenter's 
 trade in his native place, beginning work at 
 twenty-five cents per day and boarding himself. 
 He was employed as a journeyman for five 
 years and afterward worked at his trade in 
 Van Buren, Missouri, for a similar period. 
 On the expiration of that time he returned to 
 Terre Haute, Indiana, and was employed at 
 farm labor for two years, but afterward re- 
 sumed carpentering, lie came to Litchfield 
 in 189] ami worked in the coach shop of the 
 Big Four Eailroad Company until the plant 
 was removed from this city. Ee afterward fol- 
 lowed his trade in S't. Louis. Missouri, but 
 later again came to Litchfield and entered into 
 partnership with George ( '. Fellner in 1902. 
 This relation has since been maintained and 
 as contractors and builders they are doing a 
 good business, having a liberal share? of the 
 public patronage. 
 
 ()n the 20th of July, 1902, Mr. Kintz was 
 married to Mis- Fannie Grace Weatherford, 
 who was bom October 28, 1868, in Litchfield, 
 and is a daughter of Hardin and Martha 
 (Reams) Weatherford. In his younger days 
 his father was a farmer and at the time of the 
 Civil war he offered his services to the govern- 
 ment, enlisting at Carlinville, Illinois, in 1861, 
 as a member of Company K, One Eundred and 
 Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, with which be 
 served until the close of the war. He was sec- 
 ond lieutenant and he participated in a num- 
 ber of important engagements. In one battle 
 be was shot in the temple. He is now a char- 
 ter member of Sidney Philip Post. G. A. h\, 
 and has filled all of the positions in the post. 
 Tn his family were eleven children, of whom 
 'Mrs. Kintz is the eighth in order of birth. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kintz have been born 
 four children: Roy Eugene, who was bom in 
 Litchfield, October 6, 1893; Pauline Maw bom 
 in St. Louis. Missouri, February 18. iSOfi: 
 Charles Hardin, born in Litchfield, March 6, 
 1000: and Martha, born July 2. 190°,. Mrs. 
 Kintz is a member of the Lutheran church 
 
 and Mr. Kintz is connected fraternally with the 
 Knights of Pythias lodge and the Order of the 
 Eagles. Politically be is a Republican. Dur- 
 ing tl„. greater part of bis life be has continued 
 in the business in which be embarked as a 
 young tradesman and bis skill and efficiency 
 have increased with the passing years, so that 
 be is worthy the patronage which is extended 
 him. His business has been constantly growing 
 since be entered into his present partnership 
 in Litchfield ami many substantial structures 
 here stand as evidences of bis handiwork. 
 
 WILLIAM B. POTTS. 
 
 William B. Potts, i of the intelligent, en- 
 terprising ami successful farmers of Mont- 
 gomery county, is Living «>n section 3-1, Zanes- 
 ville township, ami is the owner of valuable 
 landed possession- comprising three hundred 
 a lie-, nf which two hundred and fifty acres 
 is in the home place. A native son of this 
 county, be was bom in Zanesville township, 
 October Mo. L858, a son of K. J. Potts, whose 
 birth occurred in Macoupin county. Illinois, 
 where the days of bis boyhood and youth were 
 passed. lie was married here to Miss Agnes 
 Ann Allen, who was born in Zanesville town- 
 ship, Montgomery county, and he opened tip 
 a [arm in Zanesville township, breaking his 
 land, planting bis crop- and in due course 
 of time gathering rich harvests. He used four 
 yoke id' oxen to the breaking plow and he 
 broke hundreds of acres in this county, thus 
 assisting in large measure in the substantial 
 improvement and agricultural development of 
 this portion of the state. Upon the old home- 
 tead farm be reared bis family but subse- 
 qui ntlv lie sold his property in Montgomery 
 county ami went to Evansville, Indiana, where 
 he is now living retired. 
 
 William P>. Potts was reared upon the old 
 family homestead in (be usual manner of 
 farmer lads of that period and remained with 
 hi- father until twenty-three years of age, as- 
 sisting in the labors of field and meadow. 
 During the winter months he attended the 
 public schools, thus acquiring a fair educa- 
 tion. Tlr wis married in Litchfield on the
 
 356 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY GOIANTY 
 
 5th of February, 1882, to Miss Olive Belle 
 Rushton, a native of Bond county, Illinois, 
 born at Mulberry Grove, her parents being 
 Came- and .Martha Rushton. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Potts located upon 
 a farm in Raymond township, where he rented 
 a tract of land and carried on agricultural 
 pursuits for four years. He then purchased 
 a small place of twenty-five acres covered with 
 stumps and brush, but with characteristic en- 
 ergy he began to clear the land and develop his 
 farm. He worked on day after day, earnestly 
 and persistently, and as time passed his efforts 
 were rewarded with good success. Later he 
 purchased more land from time to time in 
 ten and fifteen acre tracts until he was the 
 owner of one hundred and thirty acres, which 
 he had cleared, fenced and developed into 
 productive fields. He then sold that property 
 and purchased his present home on section 34, 
 Zanesville township, where he has two hundred 
 and fifty acres. The place was somewhat 
 dilapidated, however, when it came into his 
 possession in 1900, but he has continued the 
 work of improvement here and now has a good 
 property well equipped with modern buildings 
 and all the accessories needed to carry on the 
 farm work. In addition to the raising of grain 
 he also raises and feeds stock for the market. 
 Mr. Potts began his Inisiness life without a 
 dollar and he has made what he possesses 
 through his labor, frugality and enterprise. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Potts were born eight 
 children: Agnes A.; Henry J., who became a 
 member of the United States navy; Carrie 
 Mac: Albert Leroy ; Alice G. ; Joseph E. ; and 
 Florence 0. They also lost a son, William W-, 
 who died at the age of four years. 
 
 Politically Mr. Potts is a Democrat when 
 voting upon national issues and he east his 
 first presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland 
 and his last for William Jennings Bryan. At 
 local elections, however, ho votes independently, 
 supporting the candidate whom he think- host 
 qualified for the office. He has been elected 
 ami served as commissioner of highways, has 
 been a member of the school hoard and is now 
 serving as it< president. Ho was also for two 
 tonus county commissioner and he has served 
 ns a delegate to the countv conventions of his 
 
 party. He is one of the organizers and direct- 
 ors of tin' Farmers .Mutual Telephone line. 
 Mrs. Potts and their two oldest (laughters are 
 members of the Christian church. Mr. Potts 
 has boon identified with the growth and devel- 
 opment of the county throughout his entire 
 life and he has been a hard working, indus- 
 trious man, attending strictly to his business 
 affairs and through bis persistent purpose win- 
 ning the success which is the just reward of 
 untiring labor. 
 
 A. SUMNER BARRY. 
 
 The name of Barry figures conspicuously in 
 connection with the history of Montgomery 
 county, for at an early period in the develop- 
 ment of tin- portion of the state the grand- 
 parents of A. Sumner Harry located here, and 
 since that time their descendants have been fac- 
 tors in the agricultural progress, and in mat- 
 ters of citizenship have been Loyal to high ideals 
 resulting to the ecod of the community. 
 
 Mr. Barry of this review was born upon his 
 father's farm in Hillsboro township. Decem- 
 ber 25, is:,;, a -on of John W. Marry, a native 
 of Barren county, Kentucky, born October 3. 
 L830. The grandfather, Richard Barry, was 
 born in Wythe county, Virginia, in January, 
 L785, and there resided until eighteen years 
 of age, when he removed to Kentucky. In that 
 state he married Nancy Smith, whose birth 
 occurred in North Carolina in 1789. They 
 were the parents of nine children, five sons and 
 four daughters: Nellie. Joseph, Polly, Alford, 
 Michael S., Nancy, Emily, .lames T. and John 
 W. The last named, the father of A. Sumner 
 Barry, was brought by his parents to Mont- 
 gomery county in 1831, the journey being made 
 by team and wagon m accordance with the 
 primitive methods of travel of that daw The 
 grandfather entered from the government one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land, by purchasing 
 a squatter's right to a claim on which a small 
 rude cabin had been built. To the development 
 and improvement of this property Richard 
 I'.arn devoted his energies until his death 
 which occurred June 30, 1S48. His wife died
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 ME. AND MBS. A. SUMNER BAEEY
 
 JOHN W. BARKY 
 
 ADDISON McLAIN 
 
 MES. ADDISON McLAIN
 
 OF THE 
 UHWERSW OF H.UWMS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF .MONTGOMERY COl'NTY 
 
 301 
 
 at the home of Smith Barry, February 11, 
 1867. 
 
 Amid the wild scenes of frontier life John 
 W. Barry was reared; early becoming familiar 
 with all the duties and Labors that fall to the 
 lot of the agriculturist. Ee married Sarah C. 
 Newcomb, who was born in Wythe county, Vir- 
 ginia, December L8, L831, and came to Mont- 
 gomery county with her parents, William A. 
 and Mary A. (Aimbester) Newcomb, both of 
 whom were natives of the old Dominion. The 
 father, who was born in Prince George county, 
 came t<> Montgomery county. Illinois, in 1837, 
 and thus it is that A. Sumner Barry is de- 
 scended from pioneer families of Illinois in 
 both the paternal and maternal lines. Unto 
 his parents were horn nine children, but the 
 eldest died in infancy. The others are: Mary, 
 the wife of Joseph B. Nail, of Litchfield; Jane, 
 who died April 2,1904; William, who died at 
 the age of a year and a half ; A. Sumner; Lou. 
 who married John F. White and died October 
 18. 1890; Henry W. ; Amanda A., the wife of 
 Edward Bailey, of Grisham township; and 
 George, who died at the age of ten months. 
 Upon the old family homestead John W. Barry- 
 reared his family. He lived there during the 
 period of his own youth, in fact, the farm was 
 his place of residence from 1831 until his death, 
 which occurred on the 11th of June, 1899. He 
 gave his political allegiance to the Republican 
 party and held some local offices, the duties of 
 which he ably discharged, but his atten- 
 tion was chiefly directed to his business inter- 
 ests, in which he met with good success. He 
 had long survived his wife, who died March 
 15, 1866; 
 
 Reared on the old farm on section 35, Hills- 
 boro township, Sumner Barry received his 
 practical training in farm work by assisting 
 his father in the labors of the fields, and he 
 early came to understand the value of industry, 
 perseverance and honesty in active business 
 life. His literary education was received in 
 the public schools, and when his time was not 
 occupied with his textbooks he aided in the 
 work of the fields. 
 
 On the 6th of September, 1882, Mr. Barry 
 was married to Miss Dora McLain, a daughter 
 of Addison and Catherine McLain. Her 
 
 father was horn in North Carolina, October 
 .">. 1811, and was married September 17, 1834. 
 About two years later he came to this county 
 and settled in Eillsboro township, lie followed 
 fanning throughout life, and died hen' August 
 25, L873. Lis wife passed away July 13, 1903. 
 In their family were eleven children, namely: 
 Mary A., Isabel, Sarah J., Nancy, William A., 
 Catherine A., John 1L. .lames C, David M., 
 Dora 1'.. and one that died in infancy. Three 
 of the children are now deceased. Mr. McLain 
 was a supporter of the Republican party, and 
 both he and his wife were members of the 
 Presbyterian church. Four children have 
 been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Harry: Nellie, the 
 wife of Chester Holmes, of East Fork town- 
 ship; Earl, Roscoe and Florence. 
 
 After his marriage our subject rented the 
 Smith Barry farm for three years and then 
 took- up his abode on the place where he now 
 resides. He owns one hundred and ten acres 
 here, and also a half interest in his father's 
 old farm of one hundred and seventy-nine 
 acres. He carries on general fanning, follows 
 modern business methods, and Ins agricultural 
 labors are returning to him a g I annual in- 
 come. 
 
 Mr. Barry has taken an active and helpful 
 part in community interests. He served as 
 highway commissioner for three terms and was 
 school director for twelve years. His political 
 support is given to the Republican party, and 
 fraternally he is connected with the Modern 
 Woodmen of America. He possesses many 
 sterling traits of character which command 
 for him uniform regard. 
 
 GEORGE A. PARTLOW. 
 
 Among the residents of Montgomery county 
 who have conic to Illinois from the south is 
 George A. Partlow, who resides in Audubon 
 township. He was born in Rappahannock 
 county. Virginia. June L9, 1858, a son of Wil- 
 liam W. and Sarah J. (Rudaeill) Partlow. The 
 ancestral home of the family was in the Old 
 Dominion, where were born the father, grand- 
 father, and great-grandfather of George A. 
 Partlow. The family, however, is of Scotch-
 
 ;iC2 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 [rish Lineage. The grandfather and father al- 
 ways resided in the Old Dominion, where they 
 carried on agricultural pursuits and were 
 known there as extensive planters and slave 
 owners, the father having large landed posses- 
 sions in his native state. 
 
 In early youth George A. Partlow became 
 familiar with agricultural labors. His educa- 
 tion was acquired in the subscription schools 
 and he remained at home until 1879, when at 
 the age of twenty-one years he went to Clark 
 county, Virginia, where he begin working for 
 ten dollars per month as a farm hand. He 
 was thus employed for three years and during 
 the last year was paid one hundred and twenty- 
 five dollars. At the end of that time he was 
 married, June 1. 1882, to Miss Jennie Mc- 
 Donald, who was of Scotch-Irish lineage, her 
 parental grandfather having come from Scot- 
 land to America. Her father was James Mc- 
 Donald and her mother bore the name of Mrs. 
 Priscilla S'pade Moreland prior to her marriage 
 with Mr. McDonald. They, too, were native 
 residents of Virginia, and her father was a 
 Confederate soldier, who served in Lee's army, 
 participating in the battle of the Wilderness 
 and many other important engagements, which 
 occurred in Virginia. He died in 1S86 and 
 was buried upon his farm in Culpeper county, 
 that state, where the mother's remains were also 
 interred when she was called to her final rest. 
 In their family were fifteen children, eight 
 sons and seven daughters: .lames W., who is 
 living upon the home farm in Culpeper county. 
 Virginia; John R., of Williamson county, 
 Texas; Mrs. Nellie M. Carpenter, of Brandy 
 Station, Culpeper county. Virginia: Mrs. Jen- 
 nie R. Calvert, who lives in Palmer, Christian 
 county, Illinois: Mrs. Partlow; William H., 
 who resides in Prince William county, Vir- 
 ginia; Lucy ML, deceased, who was buried at 
 Woodville, Virginia; Wallace E., who is mar- 
 ried and follows blacksmithing at Culpeper 
 Courthouse, Virginia; Mrs. Carrie Livergood. 
 of Taylorville. Illinois: Edward J., who re- 
 sides with his brother, James, upon the old 
 family homestead; Mrs. Lizzie K. Best, who 
 is residing in Nokomis, Illinois: Mrs. Belle 
 Kibler, who died and was buried at Woodville. 
 Virginia: Annie M.. who died in infancy and 
 
 was buried in Rappahannock county, Virginia; 
 Charles H., who is married and is located in 
 Williamson county, Texas; and Horace L., 
 who is also married and makes his home in 
 Williamson county. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Partlow are parents of two 
 children: Nellie M., born May 11, 1883, at- 
 tended the common schools, was educated in 
 music in Pana. and is now teaching large 
 music classes in Ohlnian, Rosemond and other 
 parts of Montgomery county. Bertha C. was 
 born March 4. 1885, on the day on which Pres- 
 ident Cleveland was- first inaugurated. She 
 attended the district school, also spent one 
 term as a student in the high school at 
 Nokomis and is now a teacher in the 
 home school at Prairie Chapel. The 
 parents and daughters are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. 
 Partlow is identified with the Court of 
 Honor and with the Republican party. He has 
 been school director for nine years and was as- 
 sessor for one year. He has always been a 
 church trustee, has been Sunday school su- 
 perintendent and has thus taken a very 
 active and helpful part in the moral as well 
 as the educational and material development 
 of his community. He owns a farm of eighty 
 acres, upon which he has made most of the 
 improvements, bringing it up to its present 
 state of development. His influence has ever 
 been exerted on the side of right, truth, justice, 
 reform and progress and therefore he is a man 
 whom to know is to respect and honor and 
 whose friendship is prized by those who have 
 gained his favor and confidence. 
 
 WILLIAM SHOEMAKER. 
 
 Among the retired farmers of Raymond is 
 William Shoemaker, who for a period of thirty 
 years was actively and successfully engaged in 
 agricultural pursuits in Montgomery county. 
 owning three hundred and twenty acres of land 
 in Nokomis township. His residence in this 
 
 county dates fi 1866, so that he is numbered 
 
 among its early settlers. His birth occurred in 
 Jefferson oeunty, Ohio. March 20, 1838, and his 
 father, Adam Shoemaker, was born in Bedford
 
 ill?. AND MRS. WILLIAM SHOEMAKER
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 365 
 
 county, Pennsylvania, in ls.li). The parental 
 grandfather was John Shoemaker and the 
 family is of German lineage. John Shoemaker 
 removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1816. 
 becoming one of the early residents of Jeffer- 
 son county. Adam Shoemaker was there 
 reared and in that county lie married Eliza- 
 beth Albaugh, a native of Ohio. He followed 
 farming in Jefferson county, where he opened 
 up and developed two tracts of land, becoming 
 "in of the successful, enterprising and inde- 
 fatigable agriculturists of his community. 
 There he reared his family and his last days 
 were spent in that county, his death there oc- 
 curring in 1886. His wife, surviving him for 
 a few- years, passed away in 1892. 
 
 William Shoemaker was reared to manhood 
 in Jefferson county and his educational privi- 
 leges were very limited, because of the primi- 
 tive condition of the schools and also because 
 his services were needed upon the home farm. 
 His training in the labors of the held was not 
 meager ami lie early gained the practical ex- 
 perience which proved the foundation for his 
 success in later life. Hi: was married in Gal- 
 lia county, Ohio, January 0, 1862, to Miss 
 Margaret Graden, who was born in Harrison 
 county, Ohio. After his marriage lie engaged 
 in the operation of a flouring and grist mill 
 for one year, after which he carried on general 
 agricultural pursuits lor two years. In 1866 
 he removed to Illinois, locating in Montgomery 
 county near Nokomis. There he purchased 
 raw land and opened up a farm which he con- 
 tinued to improve for several years. He had 
 at first a tract of one hundred and sixty 
 acres, to which he afterward added by purchase 
 sixty acres. He improved the entire amount 
 and cultivated it for some time, lint later sold 
 that property and bought a farm of three hun- 
 dred and twenty acres near Nokomis. This 
 he placed under a high state of cultivation, 
 adding all modern equipments which are found 
 upon a model farm. He worked persistently 
 and energetically in placing his farm in the 
 best possible condition and lie continued its 
 active operation until 1903, when he removed 
 to Raymond and purchased residence property 
 which he now occupies. The history of his 
 business career is the account of steady pro- 
 
 gression from humble financial surroundings 
 to affluence. He followed methods such as 
 any man might employ, his business life be- 
 ing characterized by industry and integrity. 
 
 In 1884 Mr. Shoemaker was called upon to 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away 
 on the 24th of December of that year. There 
 were seven children of that marriage: Ella 
 M., the wife of Cornelius Pocock, a well-to- 
 do farmer of Montgomery county; Amos A., 
 who owns a good farm ami is engaged in the 
 creamery business at Nokomis; Luther F., a 
 business man of .Raymond; Leora M., the, 
 wife of J. F. Kellogg, of Jacksonville; Adam 
 R., who died in childhood ; John \\\. who is 
 living in Greenfield, Illinois; and Jerome, who 
 died in infancy. In September, 1S86, Mr. 
 Shoemaker was married in this county to Ma- 
 tilda \. Gibson, who was horn in Montgomery 
 county and is a daughter of E. E. Gibson, one 
 of tin' early settlers of this portion of the state, 
 arriving from Maryland in 186;?. 
 
 Politically, because of his strong sympathy 
 with the temperance cause, Mr. Shoemaker 
 gives an ardent support to the Prohibition 
 party, hut political honors and emoluments 
 have had no attraction for him. He served, 
 however, as school treasurer of Audubon town- 
 ship for six years, but otherwise has filled no 
 public positions. He was reared in the Lu- 
 theran faith, while his wife is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church. He was formerly 
 a member of the Masonic fraternity but is now 
 dimitted. For thirty-eight years he has been 
 a resident of the county and lias seen many 
 changes, bringing about a modern develop- 
 ment and advanced civilization. He occupies 
 a pleasant home in Raymond and still owns 
 the house and two lots in Nokomis. He is now 
 enabled to enjoy a well merited rest. 
 
 JOSJAII BIXLER. 
 Josiah Bixler, editor ami proprietor of the 
 Eillsboro Journal, was born in Tuscarawas 
 county, Ohio, in 1859. The family, of Ger- 
 man origin, has been largely represented in 
 Pennsylvania and Ohio through many genera- 
 tions. The first of the name in America set-
 
 366 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 tied in Maryland, and later others of the fam- 
 ily went to the Keystone state. Daniel Bixler, 
 the lather of Josiah Bixler, was born in Ohio, 
 followed the occupation of farming throughout 
 his business career and died in 1894 at the age 
 of sixty-nine years. He was a member of the 
 United Brethren church and in his political 
 views was a Republican. He was influential 
 and prominent in his community and held a 
 number of minor positions. He married Sa- 
 rah Kanaga, wdio was born in Tuscarawas 
 county, Ohio, and is now living on the old 
 homestead near Bolivar, that state, at the age 
 of seventy-five years. She, too, was of German 
 lineage and her father was a minister. Unto 
 Daniel Bixler and his wife were born three 
 children: Amos, who is living in Bolivar; 
 Josiah ; and Abraham Lincoln, deceased. 
 
 Josiah Bixler acquired his preliminary edu- 
 cation in the country schools of Ohio and 
 afterward entered the normal school at Ada, 
 that state, remaining as a student there from 
 1883 until 1887. when he was graduated. For 
 nineteen years he was actively identified with 
 educational interests as a teacher, spending 
 seven years of that time in Ohio and twelve 
 years in Illinois. The fall following his grad- 
 uation be came to this state and located in 
 Sangamon county, becoming principal of the 
 schools of Mechanicshurg. Subsequently he re- 
 turned to Jefferson, Ohio, and was principal of 
 the high school there for one year, when he 
 resigned to accept the superintendency of the 
 Hillsboro schools, remaining at the head of the 
 public school system of this city for six years. 
 He then resigned and purchased the Hillsboro 
 Journal in 1898 from B. F. Boyd & Company. 
 He has prospered in his new venture and in 
 the six years of his journalistic experience he 
 has more than doubled the subscription of his 
 paper and has made it the official paper of the 
 Republican party in Montgomery county. 
 
 In November. 1898, Mr. Bixler was mar- 
 ried to Miss Anna Witherspoon. a daughter of 
 William and Sarah B. (Blackwelder) Wither- 
 spoon. She was born m Hillsbojo in 18G9 and 
 they now have one child. Sarah Louise. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Bixler are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church and he is an active worker in 
 the church and Sunday school, serving as one 
 
 of the officers in the former and doing all in his 
 power to promote the growth and extend the 
 influence of the church. He is also prominent 
 in Masonic circles in Hillsboro, has been Mas- 
 ter of his lodge lour years, and is the present 
 high priest of the chapter. 
 
 JAMES R. OSBORN. 
 
 During a life span of more than seventy-two 
 years James R. Osboru lias been a resident of 
 Montgomery county, his birth having occurred 
 in Butler Grove township, on the 2d of March, 
 1832. lie is a son of Levi and Mary (Corn- 
 best) Osborn, both of whom were natives of 
 Kentucky, the father having been born Feb- 
 ruary 26, 1808, and the mother on the 10th 
 of January. 1810. In the fall of 1830 they 
 started overland, making the journey on horse- 
 back and bringing with them their only child. 
 Mr. Osborn settled in Butler Grove township, 
 securing a claim of eighty acres from the gov- 
 ernment. The land had never been cultivated 
 and a breaking plow prepared the fields for 
 the planting. He built a log cabin of one room 
 and in this pioneer home began life in Illi- 
 nois, com inning the work of the fields until 
 he had made his land a productive tract that 
 yielded him good profit. He died August 6, 
 1851 . after about twenty-one years of active and 
 helpful connection in the pioneer development 
 of the county. His wife, surviving him for 
 a quarter of a century, passed away May 22, 
 1876. The) were the parents of eleven chil- 
 dren, of whom three died in infancy, while 
 eight reached years of maturity. 
 
 James 1!. Osborn. living upon the home farm 
 in bis early boyhood days, started out in life 
 for himself in the fall of 1851, when nineteen 
 years of age lie began to earn his living by 
 teaching in a school which was conducted on 
 the subscription plan, each scholar paying two 
 and a half dollars per term. He continued his 
 educational work at intervals until 1861. In 
 the fall of 1862, his spirit of patriotism being 
 aroused by the continued attempt of the south 
 to overthrow the Union, he enlisted and be- 
 came a corporal of Company F, One Hundred 
 and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 JAMES R. OSBOKN
 
 MIN. JAMES R. OSBORN
 
 
 LIBRAfW 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 .■571 
 
 The regiment did dut} in Tennessee, being 
 largely engaged in garrison duty and in guard- 
 ing railroads. With this command Mr. Os- 
 born served until the close of the war. after 
 which he returned to Montgomery county and 
 again engaged in teaching during the winter 
 months until 1875. hi the following year he 
 located upon the farm which lias since Keen his 
 home, and in its conduct he has displayed good 
 ability as an agriculturist. He owns one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of cultivable land in the 
 home place and thirty-seven acres of timber 
 
 in Irving township, lie lias g 1 equipments 
 
 upon his farm, including the latest improved 
 machinery, and annually harvests fair crops as 
 the reward for his labors. 
 
 On the 1th of April, 1878, Mr. Osborn was 
 united in marriage to Miss Margarei L. Eppes, 
 a native of North Carolina, who died April 24, 
 1881. Unto them -were born two sons: John 
 M. and James, both at home. The latter is now 
 serving as township assessor. Mr. Osborn of 
 this review was the first township assessor of 
 Butler Grove township, and in matters per- 
 taining in public progress and improvement he 
 has always been deeply interested and has borne 
 a helpful part. He has been school director, 
 and the cause of education has found in him 
 a warm friend. His political support is given 
 to the Republican party, and he is a consistent 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
 whose life has been honorable and upright and 
 whose sterling worth is recognized by his many 
 acquaintances, who give him their warm friend- 
 ship and hold him in high esteem. 
 
 DANIEL WELLER. 
 
 Daniel Weller, a representative farmer of 
 Raymond township, living on section 36, was 
 at one time very actively engaged in agricul- 
 tural pursuits, but is now largely leaving to 
 others the wort of the farm, while he is enjoy- 
 ing a well earned rest. He has one hundred 
 
 and ninety acres of land and the income fi i 
 
 the property is sufficient to supply him with 
 
 , all of the comforts and many of the luxuries 
 
 of life. One of the old settlers of Tlknois. his 
 
 residence in the countv dates from 1840 and 
 
 few oi its citizens have longer been witnesses 
 of it > growth and upbuilding, while at all 
 times he has borne his full share in the work 
 of public progress. 
 
 .Mr. Weller was horn in Canton. Ohio, on 
 the 28th of October, 1832. II s father, John 
 Weller. was a native of Maryland, born in 1T8S, 
 and when his country became involved in the 
 second war with England he joined the Amer- 
 ican army and served as a soldier in the war 
 of 1812. lie was married in Ohio to .Miss 
 Mary Linkefelter, a native of Maryland, and 
 for several years thereafter he carried on farm- 
 ing in Ohio. Nine children were horn unto 
 him and his wife in that state and in 1840 lie 
 came with his family to Illinois, settling in 
 Montgomery county in what is now Irving 
 township. The work of improvement had 
 scarcely been begun in this section of the state 
 at that time. The homes of the early residents 
 were largely log cabins situated in the edge 
 of the forest, for it was not thought that the 
 prairie -land was of much value. Mr. Weller 
 purchased a farm of five hundred acres and 
 began its cultivation, planting the seed that in 
 due course of time brought forth rich crops. 
 He carried on his farm work in a modern way 
 until his life's labors were ended in death in 
 the spring of 1843. His widow survived him 
 for a long period and reared her family upon 
 the old homestead, doing a mother's full part 
 by her children. She died in 1886 at the age 
 of eighty-four years, lint her memory is yet 
 enshrined in the hearts of her sons and daugh- 
 ters and ninny friends who esteem her for her 
 many excellent traits of character. 
 
 Daniel Weller is one of the two sons and two 
 daughters of the family, who are yet living. 
 He was a lad of only about eight years when 
 brought by bis parents to Illinois and on the 
 homo farm bis youth was passed. He had few 
 advantages and privileges during that period. 
 To some extent be attended the public schools, 
 lint bis labors were largely needed in carrying 
 on the farm work and lie early became familiar 
 with all the duties that fall to the lot of the 
 agriculturist. After attaining his majority he 
 desired to establish a home of his own and was 
 married in Montgomery county. March 29, 
 I860, to Miss Lydia Heflev, wr-o was born and
 
 ■3 : 2 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 reared in this county and is a daughter of Til- 
 man Hefley. The young couple began theii 
 domestic life upon the farm which he yet owns, 
 but which at that time comprised only eight 
 acres of land, which was raw and unimproved. 
 This he began to break and when the plowing 
 was done he planted his seed and in due course 
 of lime garnered rich crops. These early 
 years and fraught with unremitting toil, but 
 he possessed the determinat on to persevere in 
 his work and as the years passed by his finan- 
 cial resources increased, enabling him to buy 
 land from time to time until he became the 
 owner of four hundred acres. Upon his farm 
 he erected a. large two-story residence of pleas- 
 ing appearance and he also built two substan- 
 tial barns. He likewise put out orchards, one 
 of which is now in excellent bearing condition 
 and he planted maple and evergreen trees, 
 which are a pleasing feature of the home. As 
 his children have grown he has divided his land 
 and po.-sessions with them, hut still retains 
 possession of one hundred and ninety acres of 
 the old home place, constituting a very val- 
 uable farm, which would bring a high market 
 price. 
 
 In 1902 Mr. Weller lost his wife, who de- 
 parted this life on the 2nd of January of that 
 year. Eleven of their children are living, 
 namely: Emma, the wife of Rolla Rolf, of 
 Logan county; Mrs. Ellen Wilson, a widow re- 
 siding in Irving; Lewis, of Irving township; 
 John and George, who are living in St. Louis; 
 Noah, a resident farmer of Raymond town- 
 ship; Mrs. Maggie Frame, who is living near 
 Hillsboro; Mrs. Mollie Fricke. wife of Wil- 
 liam Fricke. who is represented elsewhere in 
 this work; Herbert. Otto and Ross, all at 
 home. 
 
 In his political affiliation Mr. Weller is a 
 Republican. He cast his first presidential vote 
 for Fremont in 1856. and in 1SG0 supported 
 Lincoln. He has voted the national ticket at 
 each presidential election since that time, 
 while at local elections he supports tin' candi- 
 date whom he thinks best qualified for office, 
 regardless of party affiliation. He belongs to 
 the Methodist Episcopal church, hut was 
 reared in the Lutheran faith. Long years have 
 umie and gone since he became a resident of 
 
 Montgomery county in his early boyhood days 
 and he has watched with interest its growth 
 and development a- the county has merged 
 from the swamp and the wilderness to take- 
 its place with the most productive agricul- 
 tural district of this great grain-growing state. 
 His mind bears many pictures of early pioneer 
 conditions and of the progress that has been 
 wrought as the years have gone by and no one 
 takes more pride in what has been accomplished 
 than Daniel Weller, who has at all times 
 favored substantial ami practical development. 
 
 WILLIAM 11. McLEAN. 
 
 A rich and productive farm of four hun- 
 dred and ten acres adjoining the village of 
 Farmersville is the property of William II. 
 McLean. It is located on section 33, Bois Dare 
 township, and the cultivation and improvi meiit 
 which he bestowed upon it has made it a valu- 
 able property, notable even in a district famous 
 for its line farms. Mr. McLean has been a resi- 
 dent of Illinois since 1864, coming to this state 
 when a youth of about fourteen years. His 
 birth occurred in Middlesex county, New Jersey* 
 July 10. 1850. 
 
 His father, Martin McLean, was born in 
 Ireland and came to America, the family home 
 being established in New Jersey, whi re he re- 
 sided until 1864. Having in the meantime mar- 
 ried and become the father of three children 
 he removul with his family in that year to 
 Montgomery county, Illinois, where he pur- 
 chased the land upon which his son William 
 H. now resides. There he carried on general 
 farming and stock-raising, meeting with excel- 
 lent success in his undertakings so that he 
 was enabled to add to his landed possessions and 
 eventually became the owner of eight hundred 
 acres. He spent his last years upon this farm, 
 passing away about 1898. His wife, who bore 
 the maiden name of Mary Carey, died some 
 years prior to his demise. In their family were 
 three children: J. J., who is now a resident 
 of St. Louis, was at one time county treasurer 
 of Montgomery county, served for two terms 
 as circuit clerk and was a prominent and in- 
 fluential ciJzen of Hillsboro and this portion
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 373 
 
 of the state; William H. is the second of the 
 l';nuil\ ; and Margaret is the wife of Charles 
 MeAnamry, of Farmers^ ille. 
 
 William H. McLean came to Illinois when 
 in his fourteenth year and was reared upon the 
 old homestead farm, continuing in the public 
 schools of the neighborhood his education which 
 had been begun in New Jersey. He remained 
 with his lather until about twenty-nine years of 
 age and received manual training at farm la- 
 bor, beginning work in the fields in early youth. 
 Ih was taught how to plant the seed, cultivate 
 the crops ami gather the harvests and also 
 drilled in the best methods of earing for the 
 stock, so that when he began business on his 
 own account he had ample experience to aid 
 him. After his marriage he located upon a 
 part of the old home farm and subsequent to 
 his father's death he became the owner of a 
 larger portion id' (his by purchasing the inti rests 
 of the other heirs. He has since continued the 
 work of further development and improvement 
 here and he now has broad fields giving promise 
 of excellent crops. He has intimate knowledge 
 of the best methods of tilling the soil so as to 
 produce good harvests and in connection with 
 the raising of grain he is successfully engaged 
 in the raising of good grades of stock, lie Fat- 
 tens several carloads of western sheep i uallv 
 
 aiid also fattens some cattle and hogs, which 
 he ships to the city markets. 
 
 Pleasantly situated as regards his home life, 
 Mr. McLean was married on the 4th of July, 
 L880, to Mi-- Mary Gaul, who was horn in 
 Jersey county. Illinois, hut -pent her girlhood 
 days in Montgomery county. Six children have 
 graced this union: Martin I' 1 .. at home; Katie. 
 i fe wife of John Gillman, a merchant of Far- 
 in rsville; J. .1.. William L., Allen and Ella, 
 who arc yet with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. 
 McLean were reared in the Catholic faith and 
 are members of the church of that denomination 
 in Parmersville. For forty years he has lived 
 upon the same farm in Montgomery county, 
 during which time he has witnessed much of 
 the growth and development of this part of the 
 state. He has seen its wild lands reclaimed and 
 transformed into productive fields, has seen the 
 growth of towns and villages and the introduc- 
 tion of all improvements known to the older 
 
 east, lie takes quite an active interest in 
 local political affairs, as an advocate of the 
 Democracy, ami was elected ami served for 
 three term- as supervisor and was chairman 
 of the finance and poor claims committees, lie 
 has also served on the village school board for 
 a number of years, has been a member of the 
 town board, of which he was president, and has 
 been selected as a delegate to the county and 
 congressional conventions, hi all of tlnse posi- 
 tions he has discharged his duties faithfully, 
 promptly and capably and his public record, 
 like his private life, is above reproach. 
 
 WILLIAM .1. YESKE. 
 William .1. Yeske, who is engaged in general 
 
 tanning on section 2, [rving township, was 
 horn in Germany, August 1. I860, and is a son 
 of Christlicb and Minnie (Clabonda) Yeske, 
 
 both of wl i were natives of Germany, whence 
 
 t he\ came to the United States in 1872, locating 
 in ILillshoro. Illinois. The father engaged in 
 Earming and remained a resident of Montgomerj 
 county until his death in 1898. when he was 
 sixty-four years of age. Ili> widow still re- 
 sides upon the old homestead at the age of 
 seventy-four year-. 
 
 William .1. Yeske was a youth of twelve 
 years when he accompanied his parents on their 
 emigration to the United States. He contin- 
 ued his education begun in Germany as a stu- 
 dent in the common schools of Irving township 
 ami lived at home until twenty-five \ears of 
 age, during which time he received practical 
 training in farm work by assisting in the labors 
 of fields and meadow. On leaving home he 
 began farming on his own account by renting 
 a tract of land of George W. Paisley. He lived 
 upon tins lor six years ami then removed to 
 southwestern Minnesota, where he purchased 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land. He there 
 resided lor ,-ix years, after which he sold that 
 property in 1892 and bought one hundred and 
 forty acres in section 2, Irving township. This 
 ha- since been his place of abode ami he has 
 extended the boundaries of his farm by the pur- 
 chase of an additional tract of forty acres, mak- 
 ing now altogether one hundred and eighty
 
 374 
 
 PAST AND PRFSEXT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 acres. His farm is well equipped with modern 
 machinery and accessories and his land is richly 
 cultivated so that the fields annually return 
 to him a good harvest, making him one of the 
 substantial citizens of his community. 
 
 On the 16th of May, 1894. Mr. Yeske was 
 united in marriage to .Miss Minnie Heffley, a 
 daughter of D. T. and Myra Heffley, early set- 
 tlers of this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yeske 
 have been born three children: Verna, eight 
 years old; Shurley, born August 14. 1898; 
 and Vera, born duly 29, 1900. The wife and 
 mother died March 23, 1903, at the age of twen- 
 ty-nine years and two days. Mr. Yeske is a 
 member of St. John's Lutheran church and 
 of the Modern Woodmen camp at Irving. In 
 politics he is a Republican and will have served 
 as a member of the school board for six years 
 when his present term expires. He takes a 
 deep interest in the cause of education, believ- 
 ing it to be the bulwark of the nation and he 
 does everything in his power to secure good 
 schools and competent teachers in bis district. 
 He has a patriotic interest in all that pertains 
 to public progress and improvement and while 
 capably managing his private business affairs he 
 has yet found time to aid in the advancement 
 of measures which have for their object the 
 general good. 
 
 EMERY WRIGHT. 
 
 Success depends upon the individual and 
 not upon environment, fortunate circum- 
 stances or inheritance. In this land where op- 
 portunity is open to all, the great majority of 
 our successful men are those who have been 
 dependent upon their own resources and capa- 
 bilities from early age and it is to this class 
 that Emery Wright, now a successful general 
 merchant, belongs, lie was born in Fillmore 
 township, May s. 1853, and is a son of Jarrett 
 and Mary (Whitten) Wright. His father, also 
 a native of Fillmore township, was born March 
 In. 1819, and represented one id' the oldest 
 pioneer families of Montgomery county. The 
 grandfather. Joseph Wright, settled in Ibis 
 county when there were few residents within its 
 borders and when the work of improvement 
 
 and progress lay largely in the future. Reared 
 to manhood amid the wild scenes of the fron- 
 tier. Jarrett Wright began farming on attain- 
 ing bis majority and through a long period 
 successfully carried on agricultural pursuits, 
 becoming one of the extensive farmers of this 
 community. As his financial resources in- 
 creased he invested in land, becoming the 
 owner of over eight hundred acres, of which 
 more than six bundled acres was in Mont- 
 gomery county. lb' was also prominent in 
 public affairs and exerted strong influence in 
 behalf of upbuilding and substantial improve- 
 ment. He served in the war with Mexico and 
 bis political support was givej) to the Democ- 
 racy. He was married in IS 19 to Mis- Mary 
 Whitten, a daughter of Kastnn Whitten, one 
 of the oldest pioneer fam lies of the county. 
 Her father served in the Rliek Hawk war, 
 I "nt o Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett Wright were born 
 six children, five of whom arc now living in 
 Fillmore township. Mr. Wright passed away 
 on the 2d of March. 1890, and bis wife sur- 
 vived him until 1897. He was a self-made 
 man. whose unfaltering industry and strong 
 purpose proved the basis of bis success, and 
 throughout an active and useful career be was 
 always found to be honorable and straightfor- 
 ward, never taking advantage of the necessities 
 of bis fellow men in any trade transaction. 
 
 Emery Wright began his education in the, 
 public schools of Fillmore township and after- 
 ward continued his studies in Hillsboro, thus 
 acquiring a good practical education. He 
 taught school for one term and then turned his 
 attention to the cultivation of his father's 
 farm, which he continued to operate and im- 
 prove until 1884, devoting In- attention mostly 
 to the cultivation of grain. In that year he 
 went to Serento and spent a year and a half 
 in general merchandising, after which be re- 
 turned home and again began farming. In the 
 fall of 1886 he was appointed to the position 
 of deputy county clerk' and served in that ca- 
 pacity until June. L891. He then remained 
 upon the home farm until 18.92, when he was 
 elected to the position of circuit clerk and re- 
 sided in Hillsboro through the succeeding four 
 years or until 1896, when his term of office 
 expired, and he returned to the old homestead.
 
 EMERY WRIGHT 
 
 MR. AND MRS. JARRETT WRIGHT
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT 01 
 
 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 :;;; 
 
 In 1900 he opened a genera] store, which he 
 conducted with fair success for aboul twenty 
 months. He then sold out, hut afterward again 
 i Qgaged in merchandising and he now con- 
 ducts a well equipped general mercantile estab- 
 lishment, carrying a well selected line of g Is 
 
 such ns arc demanded by the country trade. 
 
 Mr. Wright is a charter member of the 
 Knights of Pythias lodge at Hillsboro. Ee en- 
 dorses I lie principles of the Democracy and 
 always takes an active interest in politics, do- 
 ing everything in his power to promote the 
 growth and insure the success of his party. In 
 the positions which he has filled he has ever 
 been found true to the trust reposed in him 
 and in all relations of Life he has faithfully 
 met every obligation ami duty. 
 
 CALVIN II. MACK. 
 
 One ef the younger representative farmers 
 and progressive stock-raisers ol Raymond town- 
 ship is Calvin II. Mack, whose property of two- 
 hundred and eighty acres is located on paction 
 :::>. It forms one of the pleasing features in 
 the landscape because of the well tilled fields, 
 the substantia] buildings and the air of neat- 
 uess and thrift which pervades the place. Mr. 
 Mack is a native son of the county and was 
 horn upon the farm where he' now resides 
 January P.'. L861. lie is a son of Oscar C. 
 Mack, whose birth occurred at Gilson, New 
 Hampshire, in 1829. 
 
 The grandfather. Calvin Mack, who for many 
 
 years resided in the Old Granite state, ci to 
 
 Illinois in 1838, settling in Montgomery county. 
 He established his home in Butler Grove town- 
 ship near Ware's Grove, where he transformed a 
 tract of wild land into richly cultivated fields, 
 opening up a farm on which his son Oscar C. 
 Mack grew to mature years. When manhood 
 had been attained the latter was married in 
 Montgomery county to Miss Elizabeth Eugg, 
 a native of New Jersey, whose girlhood days, 
 however, were passed in Illinois, the family 
 arriving here about L844. Eer father was 
 Si | ii iro Hugg. one of the honored pioneer resi- 
 dents of the state. Oscar C. Mack purchased 
 laud and located upon the farm which is now 
 
 the home of his son Calvin. This became his 
 residence properly in 1860 and his labors 
 wrought a great transformation in (he appear- 
 ance of the farm, which was in :r primitive con- 
 dition when it came into his possession. The 
 work of plowing, planting and harvesting was 
 carried on year after year ami in due course of 
 time the fields became ver; productive, so that 
 the sales of his crops brought to him a good 
 income and enabled him to add to his place 
 until he hail four hundred acres. Upon his 
 farm he reared his family, hut in later years 
 he removed to Raymond, where in L892 he pur- 
 chased a home, in which he spent his remaining 
 days, passing away there in 1902. Jlis wife 
 survives him ami still resides in Raymond, one 
 of the worthy business women of Montgomery 
 county whose mind is a connecting link between 
 the primitive conditions of the past and the 
 progressive prcseni with its advanced modern 
 civilization. In the family of this worthy couple 
 were five children, of whom Calvin II. is the 
 eldest and the only son. The others are: Alice 
 .lane, the wife of Lewis A. Wiley, of Raymond 
 lowuship; Fannie, the wife of Chester Berry, of 
 Raymond township; Charlotte, the wife of Da- 
 vid Ware of Butler Grove township; and Mary 
 Roselina, who died when hut six years of age 
 
 Calvin II. Mack spent Ins boyhood days in 
 the usual manner of farmer lads of the period, 
 enjoying some advantages and pleasures, and 
 at the same lime sharing with the family in the 
 hard work of the farm. He attended the 
 common schools and in the' summer months 
 worked in held and meadow. lie has never 
 desired to engage in other occupation than that 
 to which he was reared and he succeeded to I In' 
 ownership of the old homestead partly by inheri- 
 tance and partly by purchase of the interests 
 of the other heirs. He now carries on general 
 farming and stock-rais ng and also feeds some 
 stock for the market. His place covers two hun- 
 dred ami eighty acres of the rich and arable 
 land of Raymond township. The soil is very 
 productive and responds readily to the cultiva- 
 tion which he bestows upon il and therefore 
 he annually harvests good crops. 
 
 In Butler township in 18,87 was celebrated 
 the marriage of Mr. Mack and Miss Laura M. 
 Wiley, who was born near Hillsboro and spent
 
 378 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 her girlhood days in Butler Grove and Raymond 
 townships, her parents being John and Sophia 
 Wiley, who were residents of this state. The 
 mother is still living and makes her home with 
 her daughter Mrs. Mack. Three children grace 
 this marriage, of whom two are Living, Beulah 
 and Roscoe, while Mary died in infancy. 
 
 Inti rested in the political sentiment of the 
 country and desiring all that is best for the 
 nation Mr. Mack gives his political support to 
 tlu Democracy, believing that its principles con- 
 tain the best elements of good government. His 
 first presidential ballot was cast for Grover 
 Cleveland. He was elected and served as com- 
 missioner of highways for seven consecutive 
 years and as a member of the school board for 
 ten years he had opportunity to set forth his 
 progressive ideas concerning education and the 
 advantages which should be afforded to children 
 for advancement in this direction. He is now 
 president of the district school board. He has 
 served as a delegate to the county and districCi 
 conventions of his party and is recognized' as a 
 local leader of the Democracy. He and his wife 
 are faithful members of the Lutheran church 
 and he belongs to the Odd Fellows society, 
 which he joined in Butler. He has filled many 
 of its positions and is now a past grand. Born 
 on the farm where he now resides, his entire 
 life has here been spent and he is deeply at- 
 tached to the place, because of its pioneer as- 
 sociations as well as because of its later-day 
 interests. It has been the scene of his manhood 
 activity and has yielded to him a good income 
 as the result of his carefully managed and pro- 
 gressive farming methods and straightforward 
 business dealings. He stands high as a business 
 man. is equally prominent in the regard of his 
 fellow citizens socially, and in all life's rela- 
 tions lie has been found true to the trust reposed 
 in him. 
 
 CHAP.LES L. LAWS. 
 
 Charles L. Laws, living on section 20, East 
 Fork township, is identified with general 
 fanning and stock-raising interests, making a 
 specialty, however, of the breeding of fine farm 
 animals. He was horn in Montgomery county 
 
 upon the farm which is now his home, Septem- 
 ber 6, 1862, his parents being William and 
 Mary (McCaslin) Laws. His father was born 
 in Kentucky, in November, 1826, and when 
 three years of age he came to Illinois with his 
 parents, the family home being established in 
 what is now called Jett Prairie in Bond county. 
 When a young man William Laws began work- 
 ing upon a farm and throughout his entire life 
 he has carried on agricultural pursuits. He 
 had nothing to aid him as he started out upon 
 an independent business career, and all that he 
 possesses has been acquired through his own 
 efforts. In his farming operations, howevei, 
 he has been quite successful, has added to his 
 place from time to time, and is now extensively 
 engaged in general agricultural pursuits and 
 stock-raising, being now the owner of a good 
 property of this character, about three hun- 
 dred acres, hut the management of the place 
 and the active work is largely left to others, 
 while he is enjoying a well merited rest. He 
 lias long been regarded as one of the leading 
 men in his township, interested in its welfare 
 and active in support of all enterprises for the 
 general good. His political allegiance is given 
 to the Republican party. In 1854 he was unit- 
 ed in marriage to Miss Mary McCaslin, and un- 
 to them were born nine children, of whom live 
 are now living. The mother died May 30, 1903. 
 Upon the old family homestead Charles L. 
 Laws was reared, early becoming familiar with 
 the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the 
 agriculturist. He acquired his education in 
 the public schools near his home and started 
 out in life for himself when twenty-four years 
 of age, by operating the old homestead farm, 
 upon which he n sides. In former years he 
 was quite extensively engaged in the raising of 
 grain, but now devotes his attention more 
 largely to the raising of stock. He always 
 handles high grades, raises good sheep and 
 horses and also buys and ships stock. He has 
 the reputation of being a very successful, ener- 
 getic and able farmer, and has prospered in 
 his undertakings, and although he had no 
 pecuniary assistance at the outset of his career 
 he is now the owner of two hundred and thirty 
 acres of land, constituting a valuable farm and 
 one which returns him an excellent income.
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 MR. AND MRS. CHARLES L. LAWS
 
 ME. AND MRS. WILLIAM LAWS
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COl'NTY 
 
 3S3 
 
 On the 18th of March, 1886, in East Fork 
 township, Mr. Laws was united in marriage to 
 Miss Mary F. Traylor, who was born in that 
 township, February 18, 18G7, a daughter of 
 Joel C. Traylor, whose sketch appears else- 
 where in this volume. The children born of 
 this union are: Effie May, born August 3, 
 1889; Lena Myrtle, February 23, 1892; Wil- 
 liam Joel, February 23, 1894; Sarah Camilla, 
 June 9, 1897; and Mary. July 19. 1904. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Laws hold membership in the 
 Presbyterian church of Donnellson, and in his 
 political views Mr. Laws is a Republican who 
 has given stalwart support to the party since 
 he attained his majority. Fur ten years he 
 has filled the office of school treasurer, and he 
 takes a deep interest in everything relating to 
 community interests and to the substantial up- 
 building of his locality. He has a wide ac- 
 quaintance in this part of the state, where his 
 entire life lias been passed, and the fact that 
 many of his warmest friends are those who 
 have known him from boyhood is an indication 
 that bis has been an upright career worthy of 
 the confidence that is uniformly i xtended him: : 
 
 JAMES E. CRAWFORD. 
 
 James E. Crawford, whose home farm on sec- 
 tion 34, Zanesville township, covers one hundred 
 and fifteen acres of land which is rich and 
 arable, was born January 10, 18G5, in the neigh- 
 borhood which is still his home and because his 
 <nt ire life has been passed in this locality he 
 has a wide acquaintance here. His father, 
 James M. Crawford, was a native of Tennessee 
 and a son of James Crawford, one of the early 
 Millers of Montgomerv county, coining to Illi- 
 nois from Tennessee about L830. The father 
 Ox our subject was here reared and after arriv- 
 ing at man's estate he wedded Susan Thomson, 
 who was born in Ohio, but was reared here. In 
 order to provide for his family .Mr. Crawford 
 carried on agricultural pursuits, securing a tract 
 of wild land, which he cultivated until he made 
 it one of the good farms of Zanesville township. 
 Prospering in his undertakings he added to his 
 landed possessions from time to time until he 
 was the owm r of nearly four hundred acres. 
 
 making him one of the substantial citizens of 
 his community. His death occurred here about 
 1882 or 1883 and the county thus lost one of 
 its pioneer settlers, who had long witnessed its 
 growth and improvements and had taken a help- 
 ful part in its substantial development along 
 agricultural lines. Mrs. Crawford survived her 
 husband for a number of years and passed away 
 in April, 1904. 
 
 James E. Crawford, one of a family of five 
 children, of whom four are yet living, spent 
 the days of his boyhood and youth upon the 
 old home farm and was educated in the Honey 
 Bend school at Litchfield. In early boyhood he 
 was trained to habits of industry and economy 
 and became his father's assistant upon the 
 farm, continuing to render him valuable aid 
 until his death, after which lie was manager 
 of the farm for a number of years. Following 
 his marriage he located upon his present farm 
 on section 34, Zanesville township. He suc- 
 ceeded to a part of the old homestead, purchased 
 more land and now has one hundred and fifteen 
 acres. He built a good house, substantial out- 
 buildings and has now a well improved property. 
 Iir Connection witli general farming he is en- 
 gaged in -the dairy business, milking fifteen cows 
 and making daily shipments of cream to St. 
 Louis. He has followed this business for four 
 years and finds this a profitable source of in- 
 come. In addition to his farming interests 
 he was one of the organizers and is a stockholder 
 in the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company, 
 fully recognizing the value of telephonic com- 
 munication in rural districts as a help to busi- 
 ness interests as well as social intercourse. 
 
 Mr. Crawford was married in Hillsboro on 
 the 23d of December, 1884, to Miss Etta A. 
 Grisham, who was born near Greenville, Illinois, 
 and was reared in Bond county. They began 
 their domestic life upon the farm which has 
 since been their home and they have become the 
 parents of the following children : Edith J. ; 
 James A., who died at the age of eleven years; 
 Susan M. : John II. ; Mabel E. : Nellie Leora ; 
 Hattie Julia, who died at the age of six months; 
 Martha E.; Ruth ; Gussie Viola: and James Q. 
 
 Mr. Crawford exercises his right of franchise 
 in support of the Democracy, of which he is a 
 stanch advocate, never failing to vote for the
 
 :!s| 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 party candidate since casting his first presi- 
 dential ballot for Grover Cleveland, lie has 
 
 never aspired to office, but has given his atten- 
 tion to business. He is a member of the Presby- 
 terian church. Mrs. Crawford belongs to the 
 Free Methodisi church. Their lives, in con- 
 sistent harmony with their professions, have 
 won them the confidence and esteem of their 
 main' friends. 
 
 FERDINAND MOUSE. 
 
 Ferdinand Morse has a wide acquaintance 
 throughout Illinois because of his active con- 
 nection with the Modern American Fraternal 
 Order. Be is serving as its state deputy and 
 his Labors in this connection have made him 
 widely known, while the inherent worth of his 
 character has gained for him the high regard 
 of his fellow men. He makes his home in 
 CotlVen and is numbered anion- the native sons 
 of Illinois, his birth having occurred in High- 
 land. Madison county, in 1855. His parents 
 were Simon and Anna Morse. The father, who 
 was born in Ohio, was a farmer by occupa- 
 tion and came to Illinois about fifty-five years 
 ago, casting in his lot with the eariy settlers 
 of this portion of the stale, his residence here 
 covering a quarter of a century, and his wife, 
 surviving him for seme time, died about fifteen 
 years ago. She was reared in Pennsylvania 
 and to the family she proved a devoted wife 
 ami mother. They had two children: Ferdi- 
 nand and Charles, who is an extensive land 
 owner in Butler county, Kansas, where he now 
 owns a nice ranch. 
 
 Ferdinand Morse entered the public schools 
 of Madison county when but six years of age 
 ami mastered the elementary branches of learn- 
 ing there. Subsequently he entered McKendree 
 College at Lebanon, Illinois, and on the com- 
 pletion of a scientific course was graduated 
 with the class of 1KS7. Having enjoyed ex- 
 cellent educational privileges he then engaged 
 in teaching school for several years in Bond 
 and Plymouth counties and because of bis 
 ability to maintain discipline and impart readily 
 and precisely to others the knowledge that he 
 had acquired, be was accounted one of the 
 
 successful educators of bis locality. On leav- 
 ing the schoolroom lie turned his attention to 
 merchandising in Macoupin county, conduct- 
 ing a store in Smithsboro and Atwater for five 
 years. On the expiration of that period he 
 began farming, which he followed in Bond 
 county near Greenville, Illinois, for ten years. 
 He next came to Coffeen, where he embarked 
 in tin' lumber business, but after four years he 
 sold bis lumberyard to Mr. Morgan and in 
 1902 iie opened a general store which is now 
 managed by his son, Arthur B., while Mr. 
 Morse gives his attention to the organization 
 
 of lodges in connection with the Modern A r- 
 
 iean Fraternal Order of Effingham, Illinois. 
 He was made state deputy and bis labors in 
 founding lodges have been very successful. 
 This keeps him upon the road much of the 
 time and is continually broadening his ac- 
 quaintance. He has a deep interest in the 
 fraternal and helpful spirit which underlies 
 the organization and is an able exponent of its 
 principles. 
 
 In 1871 occurred the marriage of Mr. Morse 
 and Miss .lane Etta Burnham, id' Quincy, Illi- 
 nois. They became the parents of six chil- 
 dren, of whom four are living: Mabel M., the 
 wife of Justin Eduards; Arthur B.. who is 
 i n '\\ twenty-one years of age and manages his 
 father'- -tore: Lela Gertrude, who is thirteen 
 years of age; and Berniee F., aged eleven. 
 
 All of the family belong to the Methodist 
 Episcopal church and Mr. Morse is also a 
 member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. 
 the Modern Woodmen of America, the Modern 
 American Fraternal Order, the Royal Neigh- 
 bors and the Mutual Protective League. He 
 lake- a. deep interesl in secret societies and is 
 a -i long advocate of fraternal insurance, recog- 
 nizing its value in providing for the families 
 of its deceased members. In bis political views 
 he was ,-i Populist and in 1 SOS be was honored 
 by his party with the nomination for congress 
 on its ticket, on which occasion he received tin 1 
 full party vote. When the Populist party does 
 not have a ticket in the field he gives In- politi- 
 cal support to tin"' Democracy. He is a man 
 of very progressive ideas and has never been 
 connected with anything that has proved a 
 failure. He carries forward to successful com-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MOXTGO.M Hl.'Y COIXTY 
 
 385 
 
 pletion whatever he undertakes and bis busi- 
 ness methods arc always such as will bear the 
 closest investigation and scrutiny. 
 
 .1. M. 110 YT, M. I). 
 
 Among the successful representatives of the 
 medical fraternity in Montgomery county is 
 Dr. .1. M. Hoyt, of Fillmore. In a profession 
 where advancement depends upon individual 
 merit he lias steadily worked his way upward 
 U reason of his close application, his compre- 
 hensive knowledge of the principles of medicine 
 and surgery and his correct application of them 
 in his professional labors. Or. Hoyt was horn 
 in Rossville, Kansas, in is;-.', and is a son of 
 T. M. and ('. 0. Hoyt. both natives of New 
 York. T. M. Hoyt became a railroad con- 
 tractor and in that line of business went to 
 Kansas, lie built the Kansas City, Ft. Scott 
 & Memphis Railroad and was putting in a new 
 road from Memphis, a branch of the Iron 
 Mountain Railroad, when lie became ill. suffer- 
 ing an attack of smallpox, which terminated his 
 life near Gilmore, Arkansas. In Ins family 
 were four children, of whom three are living. 
 Dr. J. M. Boyi spent the days of his youth 
 i.t Wisconsin and then accompanied his mother 
 on her removal to Ramsey, Illinois, where he 
 remained for five years. Fourteen years ago 
 b ■ became a resident of Fillmore. He attended 
 the schools of this place, also graduated at 
 Hayward's Business College at S't. Louis and 
 then, determining to make the practice of med- 
 icine his life work, he entered upon a course 
 of study and for one year was a student in the 
 College of Physicians & Surgeons of Keokuk. 
 Iowa. He then matriculated in the Marion 
 Sims College at St. Louis and was graduated 
 on the 10th nf April. 1899. Returning to Fill- 
 more, he entered upon the practice of medicine 
 in this place and has built up an excellent 
 business, a liberal practice having been ac- 
 corded him in recognition of his accurate and 
 comprehensive knowledge of the principles of 
 medicine and his skill in diagnosing and treat- 
 ing his eases. He roads broadly concerning the 
 science of medicine, keeps in constant touch 
 with the progress made by the profession and 
 
 lias a good medical library at his home. He 
 also adds to his knowledge through the inter- 
 change of thought and experience in the 
 county, district and state medical societies. 
 
 On the 17th of August, 1898, Dr. Hoyt was 
 married to Miss Lutie Short, a daughter of Dr. 
 Short, and unto them were horn two children, 
 hut Marion is the only one now living. Dr. 
 Hoyt is a member of the Christian church and 
 fraternally is connected with the Knights of 
 Pythias lodge at Fillmore. In politics he is 
 a Republican, interested in (he success and 
 growth of his party and in 1901 he was ap- 
 pointed postmaster of Fillmore, which position 
 he is now filling, giving general satisfaction 
 in his administration of the affairs of the 
 office. He is a young man of laudable ambition 
 and indefatigable energy and already he has 
 won a. reputation in his chosen life work that 
 many an older physician might well envy. 
 
 J. S. KILLPATRICK. 
 
 d. S. Killpatriek. who for more than twenty- 
 two years has resided upon his present farm on 
 section I. Eillsboro township, which was the 
 old homestead of bis grandfather, was born 
 on that section. April 2, 1858. His father, 
 William Killpatriek, was a native of Macoupin 
 county. Illinois, and in his boyhood days came 
 to Montgomery county, where he was reared 
 and educated ami eventually began farming 
 for himself, lb' married .Miss Margaret llurd, 
 and they became the parents of three children: 
 Ella, who married Augusl Yeske ami is new 
 deceased; J. S., of this review; and Alice, who 
 has also passed away. The mother died in 1868, 
 ami the father, surviving her for about twelve 
 year-, died en the 10th of March, 1880, when 
 in the fiftieth year of bis age. 
 
 Quietly, in the usual manner of farmer lads, 
 .1. S. Killpatriek spenl the days of his boy- 
 hood and youth, but he gained practical ex- 
 perience concerning farm work during that 
 period and was thereby well qualified to en- 
 gage in genera] farming on his own account 
 when be attained man'- estate. He continued 
 with bis father until twenty-two years of age 
 and was then in the west for a year. On the
 
 38G 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 5th oi March, 1882, he was united in marriage 
 to Miss Carrie L. Seymour, and the} began 
 their domestic life upon the farm which they 
 now occupy and which was once the home of his 
 parental grandfather, John Kill pa trick, one 
 of the honored pioneer settlers of the county. 
 Our subject here owns one hundred and eighty- 
 six acres of land on what is the old Hillsboro 
 and Litchfield road, about two and a half miles 
 west of Hillsboro, and the place is a valuable 
 property, with its rich pasture lands and well 
 cultivated fields. There is no liner farm in- 
 land anywhere than is to be found in central 
 Illinois and Mr. Killpatriek owns one of the 
 good farms. He feeds cattle and hogs, and be- 
 cause of the excellent condition of his stock never 
 finds it difficult to make a sale when he places 
 his stock on the market. He also produces good 
 crops, and his farm is well improved and valua- 
 ble. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Killpatriek has 
 been blessed with two children : Essie and 
 William Earl, the latter one of the youngest 
 boy graduates to complete the high school course 
 in Hillsboro. Mr. and Mrs. Killpatriek are 
 well known in this county, where they have 
 a large circle of friends, and many of the best 
 homes of the locality extend to them hearty 
 hospitality. Mr. Killpatriek belongs to the 
 Mutual Protection League. In his political 
 views he is a stanch Democrat and has served 
 as highway commissioner for two terms, dis- 
 charging his duties in a prompt and capable 
 manner. 
 
 JOHN H. MILLER. 
 
 John H. Miller, to whom has been vouch- 
 safed honorable retirement from labor, and 
 who is now making his home in Raymond, was 
 born in Orecne county. Illinois, on the 14th 
 of January, 1846. His father, Lemuel G. 
 Miller, was also a native of that county, born 
 August 11. 1820, and was a son of James 
 Miller, one of the honored pioneer residents 
 of that section of the state. Lemuel Miller 
 grew to manhood amid the wild scenes of fron- 
 tier life and assisted in the arduous task of 
 developing a new farm. He was married in 
 
 Ins native county to Miss Lucinda M. Lee, who 
 was also born in Greene county. They began 
 their domestic life upon a farm and he con- 
 tinued to engage actively in agricultural pur- 
 suits until his death, which was occasioned by 
 an accident in 1ST9. His wife still survives 
 him and is now enjoying excellent health at 
 the age of eighty years. They became resi- 
 dents of Montgomery county in 18.34 and 
 opened up a farm near the old town of Zanes- 
 ville, but later removed to a farm in the vicinity 
 of Raymond, whereon Mr. Miller spent his last 
 days. 
 
 John H. Miller was reared to the occupation 
 of farming and pursued a common school edu- 
 cation. No event of special importance occurred 
 to vary the routine of farm life for him in 
 his youth. After attaining his majority he 
 sought a- companion and helpmate for life's 
 journey and on the 15th of September, 1809, 
 he was married to Miss Lizzie J. Mitts, a na- 
 tive of Montgomery county and a daughter of 
 Jesse Mitts. Mr. Miller has owned and oper- 
 ated several farms and in his agricultural pur- 
 suits he won prosperity. His last farm com- 
 prised two hundred and ten acres of land lying 
 near Raymond, and upon that place he made 
 excellent improvements and built substantial 
 buildings that furnished ample shelter for grain 
 and stock. His fields were well tilled and in 
 his pastures were seen good grades of cattle, 
 horses and hogs. He continued to reside upon 
 the farm until 1902, when he sold the property 
 and removed to Raymond, where he purchased 
 a new- residence. He also bought a hardware 
 store, in which he installed his son as man- 
 ager, and while he is still financially interested 
 in the enterprise he is not actively engaged in 
 the conduct of the store. He has been very suc- 
 cessful as a farmer and stoek-raiser and breeder, 
 and with a comfortable competence to supply 
 him with all the necessities and many of the 
 luxuries of life, he is now living retired. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born 
 five children: Jesse I., a resident of St. Louis, 
 Missouri; George J., who is conducting a hard- 
 ware store in Raymond; Clifford E., living in 
 Raymond, Illinois; Leonora, the wife of Oscar 
 Edwards, a merchant of Coffeen; and Lemuel 
 G. who is a resident of Raymond.
 
 MBS. J. H. MILLER 
 
 J. H. MILLER 
 
 MRS. ZERELDA MITTS 
 
 L. G. MILLER 
 
 MRS'. L. G. MILLER
 
 UBHAHY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 m ^m of u ms 
 
 '!V
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 389 
 
 Politically Mr. Miller is a stanch Democrat, 
 and was circled and served for one term on 
 the county board of supervisors. Tic lias also 
 been highway commissioner and was township 
 school trustee for a number of terms. Public 
 interests relating to the welfare and upbuilding 
 of the entire community always receive his at- 
 tention and he gives to many measures for 
 
 the public g 1 his hearty co-operation. Since 
 
 a lad of eight years he has been a resident of 
 Montgomery county, has witnessed much of its 
 growth and development and has taken great 
 pride in what has been accomplished. His ster- 
 ling character and worth have made him widely 
 and favorably known anil he well deserves rep- 
 n sentat ion in this volume. 
 
 LEWIS A. WILEY. 
 
 Lewis A. Wiley, who own- a farm of "lie 
 hundred and twenty acres on section 35, Ray- 
 mond township, is a very intelligent and en- 
 terprising agriculturist and is numbered among 
 Montgomery county "s native sons, his lite rec- 
 ord being a credit to his locality, lie was bora 
 in Butler Grove township, January 30, 1863, 
 and is descended from one id' the old families of 
 North Carolina. His grandfather, Zachariah 
 \\ iley, was born in that state and. coming to III- 
 inois at an early day. established his home upon 
 a farm in Monteomen county, where he reared 
 his family. At the same lime lie improved his 
 land anil although he had only the crude farm- 
 ing implements at that time he transformed 
 the wild prairie into productive fields. His 
 son, John 1'. Wiley, was horn and reared upon 
 that farm, spending his youth amid the wild 
 scenes of frontier life and aiding in the ar- 
 duous task of developing his father's land, 
 lie married Miss Pachcl Scherer. a daughter of 
 Squire Scherer. and they began their domestic 
 life upon a farm in Butler Grove township, 
 while subsequently they removed to Raymond 
 township and there reared their family, con- 
 sisting;: of three sons and lour daughters. Mr. 
 Wiley continued to engage in agricultural 
 piir>uits until his death, which occurred May 
 '.':'.. L883. Hi- widow still survives him and 
 now resides with her daughter Mrs. ('. TL 
 
 Mack, who is mentioned on another page of 
 tins volume. The children of the family are 
 Mary .1.. the deceased wife of I. Van Wright; 
 Laura, the wile of Calvin Mack, who is men- 
 tioned elsewhere in this volume; Lewis A., of 
 this review; (diaries I!., a prominent farmer of 
 Barber county, Kansas; frank, an electrician 
 of Chicago; Ella, the wife of Jesse I. Miller, 
 of St. Louis. Missouri; and Nellie, a twin 
 sister of Ella and the wife of James Osborn, 
 of Butler Grove township. 
 
 The boyh I ami youth of Lewis A. Wiley 
 
 were quietly passed, lie was reared to man- 
 
 I I in Butler Grove and Raymond townships, 
 
 performing such duties as were allotted to him 
 on the home farm until he had become familiar 
 with agricultural pursuits in every department. 
 II,. continued upon the old home place until 
 twenty-five years of age ami worked the farm 
 both before and alter his father's demise. After 
 his marriage he rented a tract of land, which 
 he cultivated for ten years and in 1889 he 
 bought the place where he now- resides and 
 
 built there comfortable residence, taking 
 
 up his abode here in March, 1900. He has 
 also built a good ham and other substantial 
 outbuildings and has made modern improve- 
 ments which constitute this one of the best 
 farms of the locality. Ho has planted fruit 
 trees until he now has a line orchard and has 
 set out forest and ornamental trees, which 
 make his farm attractive in appearance and 
 which also add to its worth. 
 
 On the lib of April, L888, Mr. Wiley was 
 married to Miss Alice J. Mack, a sister of C. 
 II. Mack. They now have four children: 
 Rosella, Warren. Hazel and Esther. 
 
 Mr. Wiley votes with the Democracy and 
 though he has never been an office seeker he 
 was elected as township clerk, serving' for three 
 consecutive years, lie has also been a member 
 of the school hoard for twelve years and has 
 been district clerk. His wife is a member of the 
 Ware Grove Lutheran church and be is an ad- 
 vocate of all that tends to benefit bis com- 
 munity along material, social, intellectual and 
 moral lines. His life has been a busy and use- 
 ful one and this is indicated by the fact that 
 within four years' time he has put all of the 
 buildings upon his farm and made the many
 
 390 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 substantia] improvements that are there seen 
 to-day. He now has a neat home as the result 
 of his frugality and industry and the years are 
 bringing to him creditable success which will 
 undoubtedly increase as time goes by, because 
 he possesses the elements so essential to pros- 
 perity — willingness to work aud careful man- 
 agement in the control of his investments and 
 business interests. 
 
 .HtllX B. TURNER. 
 
 John B. Turner is the owner of extensive 
 landed interests covering eleven hundred and 
 eight acres and upon his farm he is en- 
 gaged in the breeding and raising of Here- 
 ford rattle. He was horn in Jacksonville, Illi- 
 nois. January 6, 1838, a son of Jonathan 
 Tinner, who was born in Pendleton. Massa- 
 chusetts, and there spent his early years. In 
 the '30s he came west, settling at Jacksonville, 
 and was prominently identified with the early 
 educational development of the state. A 'Yale 
 graduate, he accepted a professorship in Jack- 
 sonville College, and he was afterward one of 
 the organizers of the Champaign Agricultural 
 College. His time and energies during the 
 greater part of his life were devoted to educa- 
 tional work along agricultural lines and his 
 labors proved of the utmost value in the devel- 
 opment of Illinois. He married Miss Adolpha 
 S. Kibby, and they became the parents of seven 
 children. Professor Turner, who was horn 
 in 1805, reached the very advanced age of 
 ninety-throe years, ami his wife, who was 
 born in 1808, passed away on the fith of Janu- 
 ary, 1880. 
 
 John B. Turner, horn and reared in Jack- 
 sonville, is a graduate of the Jacksonville Col- 
 lege of the class of 18(10. The following year 
 he engaged in teaching school, and in 18tH 
 he and his brother William came to the farm 
 upon which John B. Turner now resides and 
 which had been purchased by their father in 
 the '50s. The brothers continued in the part- 
 nership until the death of William Turner in 
 1883. He was also a graduate of Jacksonville 
 College and was a gentleman of Lrood business 
 ability and enterprise. Together thin' began 
 
 l he raising of Hereford cattle, and to this 
 branch of business Mr. Turner has devoted his 
 energies for many years. He now has a very 
 tine herd, bred from thoroughbred animals, 
 and has also given considerable attention to 
 sheep-raising, making a specialty of Shrop- 
 shires. and annually breeds three hundred 
 ewes. His ranch covers eleven hundred and 
 eight acres of fine land. This is. indeed, one 
 of the best farms of Montgomery county, and 
 is pleasantly located in Butler township, a 
 mile and a half west and one mile north of 
 the village of Butler. There has been no cle- 
 ment of chance in his life record, for every 
 move has been carefully studied and thought- 
 fully made, and he is thoroughly familiar with 
 the best methods of caring for stock and keep- 
 ing them in excellent condition for the mar- 
 ket. In addition to his property in Mont- 
 gomery county Mr. Turner own< a ranch of 
 five thousand acres in Coleman county, Texas. 
 On the '.".M of September. 1888, was cele- 
 brated the marriage of John B. Turner and 
 the widow of his brother William. They have 
 two children: Adolphus K. and Frank. Mr. 
 Turner is not a party man in polities, but 
 votes as he thinks best, supporting the candi- 
 dates whom he regards as best qualified for 
 office and advocating the principles which he 
 believes contains the best elements of good 
 government Fraternally he is connected with 
 the Modern Woodmen of America. His ex- 
 tensive interests, capably managed, return to 
 him an excellent income, making him one of 
 the substantial citizens of his adopted county. 
 
 J. M. CORLEW. 
 
 J. Morgan Corlew, who follows farming on 
 section 23, Zanesville town-hip. has spent his 
 entire life in Montgomery county, his birth- 
 having occurred within its borders on the 20th 
 of March, 1852. His father. Philip Corlew, 
 was also a native of Illinois, born in 1822, 
 and the family was established in the state at 
 an earlv day. The grandfather, Philip Cor- 
 lew. Sr., was of French lineage and. becoming 
 one of the pioneers of Illinois, established his 
 home in "Madison county when the work of im-
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 
 JOHN B. TUENEE
 
 WILLIAM TURNED
 
 HflWtno 
 
 L\ttftM« 
 
 ( OF \UJ** U
 
 l'AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 395 
 
 provement and development seemed scarcely 
 begun. He afterward took up his abode in 
 Montgomery county and it was here thai Philip 
 Curlew, Jr., was reared amid the wild scenes 
 of the frontier. He was married in this county 
 to Elizabeth Barlow, and. desirous of provid- 
 ing a g 1 Imiiie tor his wife and family, he 
 
 energetically carried on agricultural pursuits, 
 developing a new tract of land into a good 
 farm, upon which he made his home until his 
 death, which occurred in 1855, when lie was a 
 comparatively young man of thirty-three years. 
 His wife survived him lor about four years 
 and was married a second time. There were 
 three children by the first marriage: .1. Mor- 
 gan Corlew, of this review.; Nancy Ann. the 
 wife of Fletcher Beck, of Litchfield, Illinois; 
 and Emma Jane, deceased. 
 
 J. Morgan Curlew was reared in Montgomery 
 county, spending his boyhood days on the old 
 home farm, where he worked in the field and 
 meadow when not engaged with the duties of 
 tin' schoolroom. He was united in marriage. 
 December 28, 1876, to Miss Susan E. Roberts, 
 also a native of this county and a daughter of 
 .lame- Roberts, one of the early settlers of this 
 portion of the state. 
 
 Alter his marriage Mr. Curlew took up his 
 abode upon a farm near I.itchlield. where he 
 owned a tract of eight] acres of land, which 
 ha improved, carrying on agricultural pursuits 
 there for eight years. In 1884 he sold that 
 property and purchased one hundred and twenty 
 acres nf land, on section 23, Zanesville town- 
 ship, where he now resides. He at once began 
 the further improvement and development of 
 this place and his farm is now valuable and 
 equipped with modern conveniences. Mr. Cur- 
 lew makes a l>usinos> of raisins good stock and 
 annually makes shipments of tine cattle to the 
 city market, but is more especially engaged in 
 the raising of hogs. Hi- farm i< one of the 
 neatest iii the township, everything being in 
 gond order and first class condition. He has 
 a substantial residence and barns and other 
 outbuildings, a bearing orchard and a nice va- 
 riety of other fruits. There is also a beautiful 
 g7-ove of forest trees, an avenue of these trees 
 fronting the house. An air of thrift and com- 
 fort pervades the home and everything about 
 
 the place indicates that Mr. Corlew is a suc- 
 eessful farmer. 
 
 To Mr. ami Mrs. Corlew have been born six 
 children: Effie, who is the widow of Jacob 
 File, of Colleen, Illinois; Fred, who is mar- 
 ried and follows farming in this county; Willis 
 and Jesse, who assist in the operation of the 
 home farm: Philip and Joseph, also at home. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Corlew are worthy Christian 
 people, the former holding membership in the 
 Baptist church, while the hitler is a member of 
 the Free Methodist church. 
 
 Politically Mr. Corlew is a stanch Democrat, 
 giving unfaltering support to the party since 
 casting his first presidential ballot for Samuel 
 J. Tilden in 1876. He has filled several local 
 positions of honor and trust, to which he has 
 been called by the vote of his townsmen who 
 recognized his ability ami his loyalty in citi- 
 zen-hip. He has, however, never been an as- 
 pirant for office, caring little for political pre- 
 ferment. At this writing he is a member of 
 the school board and the cause of education 
 finds in him a warm friend. He has known no 
 other home than Montgomery county, his entire 
 life having been passed here and he has there- 
 fore been a witness to much of its growth 
 and development. He is well known in Hills- 
 horo and Litchfield and throughout the north- 
 ern and western sections of the count v and he 
 has the good will and esteem of those with 
 whom business or social relations have brought 
 him in contact. 
 
 DANIEL F. BROWN. 
 
 Daniel F. Brown, county treasurer of Mont- 
 gomery county, who since the fall of 1902 has 
 made his home in Hillshoro in order to better 
 discharge his official duties, was horn in Harvel 
 township, Montgomery county, in 1870. His 
 father. Martin Brown, was horn in Ireland, and 
 is now living in Harvel township, at the age 
 of seventy-four years. He came to the United 
 states in 1856, locating in Greene county, 
 Illinois, where he worked on the farm for eight 
 dollars per month. Two years after his arrival 
 he purchased a tract of land which was practi- 
 cally in the swamps, hut he made the most of
 
 396 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Ins opportunities ami I ■ \ draining and cultiva- 
 tion placed bis farm in excellent bearing condi- 
 tion. When his labors brought to him increased 
 financial resources he made added investments 
 in real estate and he is now the owner of one 
 thousand acres, the greater part of which is in 
 Harvel township, although three hundred and 
 sixty acres is in Pitman township. He was 
 a pioneer, strong, sturdy and persevering and 
 he has made all that he has through his own 
 industry. He dealt extensively in stock and as 
 the years have advanced he has become one of 
 the wealthy men of the county. Upon his 
 home he has a comfortable farm residence and 
 is now enabled to enjoy not only the necessi- 
 ties but many of the luxuries of life. Mr. 
 Brown is a communicant of the Catholic church 
 and in his political views is a stalwart Demo- 
 crat, upon which ticket he has been elected 
 and re-elected township treasurer until his in- 
 cumbency in the office covers twenty-four years. 
 He married Annie M. Hoistead, who was 
 born in Ireland and is now sixty-three years 
 of age. She came to the United States in 1863 
 with her widowed mother and brother, who lo- 
 cated in Missouri. She, too, is a member of the 
 Catholic church and by her marriage she has 
 become the mother of seven children, of whom 
 two are now deceased. Those living are: 
 Daniel F. ; James W., who is living on the 
 home farm ; Cornelia, who is the wife of John 
 Whelan, a farmer of Pitman township; Sarah, 
 the wife of James Leonard, a farmer of Harvel 
 township; and Rose, the wife of Edward 
 Whelan, a farmer. 
 
 Daniel F. Brown, in early boyhood days, at- 
 tended the district schools and in 1890 was 
 graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal 
 School at Valparaiso. He afterward attended 
 Bryant & Stratton Business College in St. 
 Louis. Missouri, and then entered upon his 
 business career in Farmersville as a dealer in 
 grain and agricultural implements. He re- 
 mained at thai place for five years, at the end 
 of which time he sold out and was thereafter 
 identified with educational interests as a 
 teacher until 1902. In the latter year he was 
 elected county treasurer and is now serving 
 as the custodian of the public funds of Mont- 
 gomery county. He had formerly been col- 
 
 lector of taxes in Iims l.)arc township for three 
 years. 
 
 On the 30th of September, 1896, Daniel F.- 
 Brown was married to Catherine Aherin. She 
 was born in Girard, Illinois, in 1871, and there 
 is one child of this marriage, Martin Harold. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Cath- 
 olic church and he is connected with the 
 Knights of the Maccabees, while politically he 
 is a Democrat. His official record is one which 
 will bear close investigation ami scrutiny and 
 he has given entire satisfaction to people of all 
 parlies by his capability ami prompt discharge 
 of duty. 
 
 ROBERT WOLTERS. 
 
 Robert Wolters, who is serving as township 
 assessor and who follows farming on section 1, 
 Rountree township, is a native son of Ohio, 
 his birth having occurred in Cincinnati, on 
 the 2nd of June, 1855. His parents are Mr. 
 and Mrs. Louis Wolters, residents of llills- 
 boro, who are represented elsewhere in this 
 volume. Robert Wolters attended the common 
 schools of Montgomery county ami also the 
 Fairview shcool. He was reared to farm life, 
 early becoming familiar with the tasks incident 
 to the development of the fields. He lived at 
 home until twenty-six years of age ami then 
 began farming for himself on the place which 
 is now his home, lie has one hundred ami sixty 
 aires of fine land under cultivation, consti- 
 tuting an excellent property, which he has ac- 
 quired as the result of his business sagacity, 
 keen discrimination ami unfaltering industry. 
 lie has labored earnestly year by year ami is 
 widely known in the community as a represen- 
 tative farmer. 
 
 In January. 1881, Mr. Wolters was married 
 to At iss Minnie Ahrens, a daughter of Henry 
 Ahrens. She was born in Macoupin county, 
 Illinois, in 1851. Her father is now living 
 with her at the advanced age of eighty-six years. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wolters have been born 
 eight children, but their eldest, Henry, died at 
 the age of six weeks. Those still living are 
 Louisa. Anna. Ilulda. Irena. Robert. Albert 
 and Lester, all of whom are at home.
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY ('(tl'NTY 
 
 397 
 
 The parents are identified through member- 
 ship relations with the German Lutheran 
 church and Mr. Wolters is a Republican in his 
 political views and allegiance. He has served 
 as supervisor of his township for six years, has 
 been assessor for four terms and is now filling 
 the latter office. He was likewise collector for 
 t.vo years, was justice of the peace for twelve 
 years and during a long period has been a mem- 
 ber of the school board. Every duty of a pub- 
 lic nature devolving upon him has been faith- 
 fully met and his active co-operation in meas- 
 ures for the public good has been a valued fac- 
 tor in promoting general progress and im- 
 provement. 
 
 C. H. TIFFIN. 
 
 C. H. Tiffin is numbered among the honored 
 veterans of the Civil war. having proven his 
 loyalty to the Union cause by service upon the 
 battle-fields of the south during that long and 
 sanguinary conflict. A native of Ohio, he was 
 born in Pickaway county on the 17th of No- 
 vember, 1843, his parents being Madison and 
 Abigail (Crabill) Tiffin. His father was a 
 nephew of Hon. Edward Tiffin, the first gov- 
 ernor of Ohio, who came from England to 
 America and settled in the Buckeye state when 
 it was considered to be upon the far western 
 frontier. Madison Tiffin removed from Ohio 
 to Moultrie county. Illinois, in 1847 and there 
 remained for about seven years, or until 1854, 
 when he came to Montgomery county. After 
 a short period had passed, however, he went to 
 Madison county. Illinois, where he lived until 
 1866. In that year he returned to Montgomery 
 county, settling in Walshville, where he be- 
 came identified with farming interests. 
 
 C. H. Tiffin of this review accompanied his 
 parents on their various removals until after 
 the outbreak of the Civil war. He was 
 eighteen years of age when in response to his 
 country's call for troops to crush out the re- 
 bellion in the south he enlisted on the 12th of 
 August, 1862, becoming corporal of Company 
 I, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois 
 Infantry. He remained with the army for three 
 years and was in many important battles. The 
 
 first engagement in which he participated was 
 at Tupelo, Mississippi, and later he was at 
 Nashville, Tennessee, and in the battle of Fort 
 Blakeley. He was the second man in his brig- 
 ade inside the garrison after the capture of the 
 fort and he was detailed as color guard. He 
 served until the close of the war and from Fort 
 Blakeley went to Montgomery, Alabama, and 
 thence lu Mobile. Proceeding northward after 
 the close of hostilities he was honorably dis- 
 charged at Springfield in August. 1865. 
 
 When the country no longer needed his ser- 
 vices Mr. Tiffin returned to Madison enmity, 
 Illinois, and resumed the pursuits of civil life. 
 After a short time, however, he came to Mont- 
 gomery county, moving to this locality at the 
 time of bis father's return here. Ee settled in 
 Walshville and on the 3rd of October, 1867, 
 he was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. 
 Garland, a daughter of Dr. Garland. At this 
 time he purchased a. farm in Walshville town- 
 ship, to which he took his bride and they re- 
 sided there for fifteen consecutive years, or 
 until 1882, when they removed to Hillshoro 
 township and Mr. Tiffin rented a farm for two 
 y ears . ||e then took up his abode upon his 
 presenl farm in August, 1886, and has since 
 carried on agricultural pursuits here with 
 good success. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Tiffin was blessed 
 with three sons: Frank M., Charlie C. and 
 Joseph W. In 1900 Mr. Tiffin was called upon 
 to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 
 i:i,h of Octoher of that year. He has since mar- 
 ried Gertrude Edwards and they now occupy 
 the farm in Hillshoro township which com- 
 prises one hundred and forty acres of rich and 
 arable land. Mr. Tiffin is a member of the Free 
 Methodisl church and has lived an upright, 
 honorable life and now does everything in his 
 power to advance the cause of Christianity in 
 the community where he makes his home. 
 
 OTTO FUNK. 
 
 Otto Funk has perhaps done more than any 
 other individual to promote musical culture 
 in Montgomery county, having for a number of 
 years engaged in teaching music in East Fork
 
 398 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 township. He was born in St. Louis, Mis- 
 souri, October 6, L868, a son of Benjamin and 
 Caroline (Krause) Funk, both of whom are 
 natives of Germany. They became residents of 
 Montgomery county in L881, at which time 
 they settled upon the Jackson farm of four 
 hundred acres, Mr. Funk continuing in its cul- 
 tivation with good success until 1892, when he 
 removed to Hillsboro, since which time his son 
 Otto has been operating the rami, while the 
 father is now living a retired life in the county 
 seat. 
 
 Otto Funk whs reared in St. Louis and re- 
 ceived four years' training in music there and 
 four years at Konigsburg, Germany, under such 
 distinguished musical educators as Max Brodi, 
 Robert Goldbeck and Theodore Oesten. After 
 studying for some time abroad Mr. Funk re- 
 turned to the United Slates and spent two years 
 as a teacher and concert player in St. Louis. 
 He it was who laid the foundation for the love 
 o-f classical music in Montgomery county. He 
 was instrumental in having the famous quin- 
 tette club of St. Louis give high class musical 
 entertainments here. The leading members of 
 the chili were George Herrick and Alfred G. 
 Robyn. Mr. Funk realized that he could not 
 derive financial benefit from this, hut for the 
 love id' music ami because of a public-spirited 
 desire to educate the people he made a financial 
 sacrifice in order to bring superior musical tal- 
 ent to Montgomery county. At one time he had 
 a very large class of pupils in music, giving 
 as many as two hundred lessens in a month, 
 but he now has only a few scholars as his at- 
 tention is given to his farming interests. He 
 teaches seven branches of music and is widely 
 recognized as one of the famous representatives 
 of the art in this pari of the state, having de- 
 veloped his native powers ami talents until he 
 is a superior performer, lie plays three hun- 
 dred selections from memory and when studying 
 he practiced ten hours a day. His income is 
 derived principally from his farm and he is 
 prepared to shelter three hundred head of stock. 
 One winter he sheltered Pawnee Bill's entire 
 wild west show. He has a fish lake upon his 
 farm covering six acres and the water is eight 
 feet deep. Tt is his ambition to create a line 
 summer resort and fishery second to none and 
 
 m one consignment he received two hundred 
 thousand fish, lie also operates the second 
 largest ice plant 111 the county and this is com- 
 plete in every detail. In his business he dis- 
 plays marked ability, enterprise, sound judg- 
 ment and unfaltering diligence and he is 
 justly accounted one of the most progressive 
 men of Montgomery county. 
 
 On the 20th of May. 1894, Mr. Funk was 
 united in marriage to Miss Leila Edwards, a 
 daughter of ('. 11. Edwards, of Donnellson, 
 and they had four children: Viola, Olga, Rosa 
 and Benjamin. Mr. Funk is a member of the 
 Modern Woodmen camp, also the Mutual Pro- 
 tective League, the Hankers Life Association, 
 the Washington Life Association. His politi- 
 cal support is given to the Prohibition party 
 and he is a stanch advocate of the cause of 
 temperance. In fact, he favors every move- 
 ment that tends to elevate mankind and to 
 promote the best character development. 
 
 ANTON ('. GEES. 
 
 Anton C. (ices, a veterinary surgeon of Ray- 
 mond, Illinois, whose well known ability in this 
 profession has brought to him an extensive 
 and profitable business during the thirty years 
 of his practice in Montgomery and adjoining 
 counties, has been a resident of Illinois since 
 September, 1870. He was horn across the 
 water, however, his birth having occurred in 
 Westphalia. Germany, on the 20th of Septem- 
 ber, 1845. His pari nt- were Henry and Mary 
 (Broeckling) Gees, who spent their entire lives 
 in that country, the father dying in 1861 and 
 the mother in 1875. 
 
 The boyhood and youth of our subject were 
 passed in Germany and he studied veterinary 
 surgery in his native land. The favorable re- 
 ports which hi' heard, however, concerning the 
 opportunities of the new world led him to see]; 
 a home in America and on the 16th of May, 
 1870, he arrived in St. Louis. Missouri. The 
 same year he went to Iowa and afterward to 
 Minnesota, where he worked at harvesting and 
 haying and in the autumn of 1870 be came to 
 Montgomery county, Illinois, where he secured 
 employment as a farm hand, being thus en-
 
 MB. AND MRS. ANTON C. GEES
 
 s * T ona««s
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 •101 
 
 gaged for two years in the service of Henry 
 Friedmeyer. He then entered upon the prac- 
 tice of liis profession and as a veterinary sur- 
 geon he has won creditable success. He is now 
 one of the oldest practitioners in this line in 
 the count} ami Ins business has constantly 
 grown in volume and importance, bringing to 
 him very desirable financial return. Purchas- 
 ing land, he located upon a farm which he 
 continued to cultivate for several years, hut 
 during the past twenty years he has resided 
 in the town of Raymond, where he erected a 
 neat residence, lie also owns a nice piece of 
 land and has a well improved place in addi- 
 tion to his farm property which lie has in this 
 county. His financial resources were limited 
 when he emigrated to America, hut his busi- 
 ness ability, his capable management and his 
 
 laudable ambition have I n the foundation 
 
 upon which lie has reared the superstructure 
 of success. 
 
 In January. 1880, Mr. Gees was united in 
 marriage in Montgomery county to Mrs. Har- 
 riet Trott, a native of England, horn in Smii- 
 
 ersetshire, where her girlh 1 days were passed. 
 
 She came to the new world in 1870. joining 
 her fathers' family here. Her parents were 
 both natives of England and on coming to 
 America in 1871 first located in Wisconsin, but 
 four years later came to Montgomery county, 
 Illinois, settling upon a trad id' land in Zanes- 
 ville township, where they made their home un- 
 til death. Both died in L886, the mother on 
 the 13th nf April, and the father on the 27th 
 of December. Mr. and Mrs. Gees have two 
 living children : Sophia, who is a fine musician 
 and is a leader of the choir in the Catholic 
 church in Raymond : ami Frank. They also 
 lost two children. Hen Adolphus and Henry. 
 who died in childhood. 
 
 Politically Mr. Gees is an earnest Demo- 
 crat, well informed on the questions ami issues 
 of the day, and since casting his presidential 
 ballot I'm' Samuel .1. Tilden in 1876 he has 
 never faltered in his allegiance to the party. 
 He was elected and served for one term on 
 the town board, but he otherwise bus never 
 sought in- held office, preferring to give his 
 undivided attention to his professional duties 
 and business interests. lie and his wife were 
 
 reared in the Catholic faith and are members 
 of the church of thai denomination at Ray- 
 mond. For more than one-third of a century 
 he has been a resident of Montgomery county, 
 witnessing the changes which have marked its 
 progress toward an advanced civilization. As 
 the years have passed the circle of his friends 
 has been extended with the growth of the 
 circle of his acquaintances and he enjoys in 
 high measure the good will and regard of many 
 with whom he has been brought in contact. 
 
 ROBERT J. POTTS. 
 
 Roberl .1. l'otts is (he owner of two valuable 
 and well improved farms, comprising three 
 hundred and twenty-nine acres of land, which 
 is productive, owing to the care and cultivation 
 which he bestows upon his fields. His home 
 is mi section ■.".'. Zanesville township, and lie 
 ranks among the substantial agriculturists of 
 his community. He was horn October 29, 
 1872, a sou of Richard D. and Mary A. E. 
 (Leyerly) Potts. The lather's birth occurred 
 in Macoupin county, this state, in the year 
 is:;:,. Tb,. paternal grandfather, W. B. l'otts, 
 was one of the early residents of Illinois, es- 
 tablishing his home in Macoupin county When 
 its land was largely unclaimed and much of it 
 was still in its primitive condition awaiting the 
 cultivation of the white man to become arable 
 and valuable. Richard D. l'otts was brought 
 to Montgomery county in his early youth, was 
 reared here, ami when he had arrived at years 
 of maturity was joined in wedlock to Miss 
 Mary Leyerly, who was also a native of Ma- 
 coupin county. They took up their abode upon 
 a tract of new and undeveloped land, but he 
 soon placed the farm under cultivation and 
 worked persistently day after day and year 
 after year until prosperity crowned his efforts 
 and he became the owner of nearly five hun- 
 dred acres of land having a high market value. 
 Upon his place he remained until called to his 
 liual resl on the 28th of December. 1902. His 
 widow, now surviving him. is enjoying good 
 health at the age of sixty-three years. 
 
 Roberl .1. l'otts is their only living child, al- 
 though Iwo of their children reached mature
 
 10'.' 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 years. At the usual age he entered the public 
 schools, wherein he mastered the elementary 
 branches of learning and later he became a 
 student in Blackburn University at Carlinville. 
 When not occupied with his studies or the pleas- 
 ures of the playground he worked in the iields 
 as his age and strength permitted and remained 
 with his father until after he had attained his 
 majority, carrying on the home farm work for 
 a number of years. 
 
 On the 18th of June, L900, occurred the 
 marriage of Mr. Potts and Miss Caroline Eart- 
 lnann. who was horn and reared in St. Loins, 
 Missouri, and is a daughter of William Henry 
 and Eleanor Eartmann, of that city, whose 
 birth occurred in Germany. Mr. Potts began 
 opening up the farm upon which he now lives, 
 and he took his bride to his new home, con- 
 tinuing the work of further development and 
 improvement there until he has now a very 
 valuable property, Ins landed possessions ag- 
 gregating three hundred and twenty-nine acres. 
 He has three barns upon his place, has set out 
 an orchard and has a great variety of fruit; 
 which furnishes many an attractive disli for the 
 table, lie now routs considerable of his land, 
 hut is still actively engaged in fanning, and 
 each springtime gives promise of golden liar- 
 vests in the autumn in return for the plowing 
 and planting in which he is engaged in the 
 early days of the season. In addition to agri- 
 cultural interests he is a stockholder and direc- 
 tor in the Raymond National Bank, and he 
 assisted in the organization id' the People's 
 Mutual Telephone Company and is likewise a 
 stockholder in the Farmers' Mutual Insurance 
 < 'on i pan v. 
 
 The home of Mr. ami Mrs. Potts has keen 
 blessed with one sou. James Garrett. The par- 
 ents have many friends among the younger peo- 
 ple of Zanesville township, as well as the older 
 residents, and the hospitality of many of the 
 host homes of this section of the county is 
 freely accorded them. In his political views 
 Mr. Potts is an earnest Democrat where national 
 issues are involved, hut at local elections he 
 votes independently, lie has served for two 
 terms as township assessor, and as a citizen is 
 public-spirited and progressive, being deeply in- 
 terested in everything that pertains to the wel- 
 
 fare and substantial upbuilding id' this part 
 of the state. A young man id' good business 
 ability and strict integrity, of exemplary habits 
 and upright life, all who know him give him 
 their confidence and regard, and he well deserves 
 mention in this volume. 
 
 S. E. GERLACH. 
 S. E. Gerlaeh, one of the prominent busi- 
 ne.-s men of Waggoner, where he is conducting 
 a general mercantile establishment, has been 
 a resident of Illinois since 1869. Born m 
 Ohio, he first opened his eyes to the light of 
 day in Northampton, Clark county, on the 8th 
 of January, 1867, his parents being Michael 
 and Druscilla (Overpack) Gerlaeh. The father, 
 a native of Pennsylvania, was there reared, 
 and when a. young man he removed to Ohio, 
 where he formed the acquaintance of Druscilla 
 Overpack. whose hand he sought in marriage. 
 She was born in the Buckeye state and they 
 began their domestic life upon a farm there, 
 .Mr. Gerlaeh continuing the cultivation of land 
 in Clark county until 1869, when he removed 
 westward to Illinois, settling in Macoupin 
 county. He lived there for a Ion years ami 
 then came to Montgomery county. 
 
 S. E. Gerlaeh was reared as are most farm 
 boys, working in the Iields during the time of 
 spring planting and when crop?, were harvested 
 in the fall. In the winter months he attended 
 the public schools, and by reading and expe- 
 rience in later years he has added greatly to 
 his knowledge, becoming a well informed man. 
 The home life of Mr. Gerlaeh has been very 
 pleasant, lie was married on the 16th of Xo- 
 vember, 1887, in Zanesville township. Mont- 
 gomery county, to Miss Jane Fooks, who was 
 horn December 9, 1864, a sister of George 
 Fooks, who is represented elsewhere in this 
 volume. After their marriage Mr. Gerlaeh con- 
 tinued to engage in general farming for eight 
 years, meeting with fair success, lie then de- 
 termined to turn his attention to other busi- 
 ness interests and became a part owner in a 
 lumber business in Waggoner. Removing to 
 the town, he was actively connected with the 
 conduct of that enterprise until January. 1001,
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF TH€ 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 S. E. GEBLACH AND FAMILY
 
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 MICHAEL GERLACB AND FAMILY
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OE MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 -Kir 
 
 when he sold mil and purchased a general mer- 
 cantile establishment, which he has since con- 
 ducted. He now carries a large and well se- 
 lected line of good- suitable for the town and 
 country trade, and he has built up a good busi- 
 ness, having a large and constantly growing 
 patronage. He lias won a good reputation, not 
 only for excellent lioo.Is. Iml also for straight- 
 forward dealing, and he has made it his 
 earnest effort to please his customers and make 
 them entirely satisfied in their trade relations 
 with him. Hi' has improved and built resi- 
 dence property here and he has also bought a 
 good business house. 
 
 Mr. and .Mrs. Gerlacb have two children: 
 Ethel Ann. horn March 1.'!. 1890; and George 
 William, horn August •-»;. 1893. The parents 
 hold membership in the Baptist church. Po- 
 litically Mr. Gerlach is a Republican, taking an 
 active interest in the work otf his parly. He 
 has been elected and served as township col- 
 lector and is a friend of good schools, believing 
 in the employment of competent teachers. He 
 served on the school board for several years, 
 anil during thai lime rendered effective aid to 
 the cause of education. He has been a resident 
 of this portion of the county from his youth 
 to the present time, and the fact that many of 
 his stanchest friends are those who have known 
 him from boyhood i> an indication that his 
 ha- been a career worthy of regard and one 
 that will hear the closest investigation and 
 scrutiny. 
 
 HON. A. F. McEWEN. 
 lion. A. h. McEwen, superintendent of the 
 Litchfield Marble & Granite Works ami one of 
 the honored veterans of the Civil war ami in 
 days id' peace has been equally loyal to his 
 country ami her best interests, was horn in 
 Hillsboro on the 17th of March, 1842. His 
 parents were John and Lydia (Fitch) Mc- 
 Ewen. The former was a native of North 
 Carolina and was of Scotch-Irish extraction, 
 manifesting in his life the sterling honesty 
 and rugged character of the people from whom 
 he was descended. John McEwen came to 
 Montgomery county in 1839. Tie had been 
 
 married in his native stale hut his wife had 
 died there. As a pioneer he made his way into 
 this district of Illinois ami when it was largely 
 a wilderness with hut few settlements and al- 
 most no improvements. He was a blacksmith 
 by trade and followed that pursuit throughout 
 his entire business career. He took an active 
 ami helpful pari in the work of progress and 
 improvement here and for many years prior 
 to Ills death, which occurred in IS |S. he Idled 
 the office of justice of the peace. He dis- 
 charged his duliis in the court without tear or 
 favor ami he also solemnized many marriages 
 among the earlier settlers of the county. His 
 death occurred at the comparatively early age 
 of thirty-nine years. He was an earnest Pres- 
 byterian m religious faith and through his 
 efforts in behalf of the church contributed to 
 the moral as well as material development of 
 his adopted county. His widow afterward be- 
 came the wile of Rev. William J. Boone, of 
 Shelbyville, Illinois. Her death occurred in 
 1881 and was deeply deplored by many friends 
 for she had the love and esteem of all wdio 
 knew her. I>y her first marriage there were 
 four children, two sons and two daughters, one 
 sister residing in Hillsboro, one in Springfield, 
 Ohio, and the brother of our subject in St. 
 Louis. 
 
 Aloiizo F. McEwen was only sis years of age 
 ai I he time of his father's death. Four chil- 
 dren were left to the care of the widowed mother 
 and it became necessary thai the sons should 
 early start out in life, so that the subject of 
 this review soon learned to face the hardships 
 and difficulties incident to farming, lie was 
 put to work that he might help his mother 
 and he entered the employ of Mr. Hayward, a 
 noble character of Montgomery county, wdio 
 was known as old "twelve per cent." Mr. Hay- 
 ward was an extensive landowner and Mr. Mc- 
 Ewen entertained for him the greatest respect 
 and gratitude, for at the hands of his em- 
 ployer he met only kindness. Mr. Hayward 
 paid him seven dollars per month, which Mr. 
 McEwen says was the old man's way of helping 
 Ins mother, for the hoy had little to do and was 
 sent to school throughout the winter. In his 
 youth, however, he assisted in the plowing and 
 as he did his work barefooted he was constantly
 
 1 1 IS 
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 on the lookout for snakes, which infested the 
 tall prairie grass. There were also many 
 wolves, panthers and wild eats in the locality 
 and large herds of deer were seen, while smaller 
 game was to be hail in abundance. His earnest 
 toil awakened a good appetite and brought on 
 sound sleep and these two did much to de- 
 velop in Mr. McEwen the strong constitution 
 which ha- enabled him to do an immense 
 amount of hard work in his life and conduct 
 important business interests. After leaving 
 the farm he learned the trade of a marble cut- 
 ter, at which he had worked hut a short time 
 when he became imbued with the "spirit of '61" 
 and enlisted in the famous Ninth Illinois In- 
 Eantry as a member of Company H. on the 
 23rd of April. 1861. 
 
 This regiment was transferred to Cairo, 
 where the first one hundred days of his services 
 were -pent. He re-enlisted at the end of that 
 time and participated in all the memorable 
 battles and stirring incidents with which that 
 regiment was connected. This was one of the 
 most renowned commands of the entire army. 
 With his comrade- lie re-enlisted July 26, 1861, 
 for three years' service and under General 
 Grant the Ninth and Twelfth Illinois Regi- 
 ments went to Kentucky. From the landing 
 at Paducah, until the opening of the Fort 
 Henry and Fort Donelson campaign — Septem- 
 ber 5, 1861, to February 6, 1862 — the time 
 was taken up in squad, company and battalion 
 drills and no better drilled troops did the state 
 send to the front than the Ninth regiment. 
 Ai fort Henry this command landed opposite 
 th i fort on the Tennessee river. The stream 
 was very high at that time and the bottoms 
 were covered with hack waters so that wading 
 was necessary. The boys had to place their 
 cartridge boxes on their beads and thus pro- 
 ceed under difficulties, hut when the high land 
 was reached fort Henry was taken on the 
 double quick. Snow, rain and exposure left 
 many ill in the hospital. On the 12th of 
 February the regiment crossed the river and 
 took its position in (lie rear of Fort Donelson. 
 The Ninth was one of the first to meet the Con- 
 federate force- when they tried to evacuate the 
 fori on the morning of the 15th. Many were 
 killed and wounded ami a few were taken 
 
 prisoners. The battle of Shiloh followed and 
 only live hundred and seventy-eight members 
 of the regiment were able to respond for duty 
 and only two hundred and nine came out un- 
 scathed, one hundred and three being killed, 
 while two hundred and sixty-six were wounded. 
 There .Mr. McEwen was hit three times, once 
 in tin 1 head, a second time in the shoulder and 
 the third time in the leg. On Friday. April 
 4. lS(i"i. the Ninth regiment, which had for- 
 merly been uniformed in a gray suit with a 
 still', high gray hat. was furnished with new 
 Mm' uniforms, which thev wore on Sunday 
 morning in the battle of Shiloh for the first 
 time. The regiment was commanded by Colo- 
 nel Jesse J. Phillips, the brigade by Colonel 
 August Marsey, while General W. W. Wallace 
 was in charge of the division. At the battle 
 of Shiloh the Ninth held position near a ravine 
 not far from the place where General Albert 
 Sidney Johnston was killed. It was recorded 
 that not one straggler from the ranks of the 
 Ninth regiment was found after the engage- 
 ment at that place — a fact of which no other 
 regiment dining the entire war could boast. 
 Colonel box -ays in his Regimental Losses in 
 the American Civil War. "It has now become 
 clear that the greatest loss sustained h\ any 
 infantry regiment in any battle of the war oc- 
 curred at Shiloh in the Ninth Illinois. This 
 gallant regiment fought on that field at the 
 deadly point known as the 'Hornets 5 Nest,' 
 when it suffered a loss of three hundred and 
 sixty-six men out of five hundred and seventy- 
 eight engaged, one hundred and three being 
 killed outright."' Its gallant Colonel Phillips 
 was conspicuous in the fray and was wounded 
 while his horse was killed from under him. 
 At the noted battle of Balaklava the Light 
 Brigade of six hundred made its famous charge 
 with a loss of two hundred and forty-seven, or 
 thirty-six per cent, while the Ninth Illinois 
 losi sixty-three per cent in the face of a mus- 
 ketry that was more terrible than the cannon- 
 ading at Balaklava. During the war the Ninth 
 suffered a total loss of seven hundred and 
 sixty-six men in one hundred and ten engage- 
 ments out of a total enrollment of fourteen 
 hundred and ninety-three. In the regiment 
 there were many officers and privates of Ger-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 H)!l 
 
 111:111, French and American descent but as Illi- 
 nois citizens their glory will never fade. After 
 the battle of Shiloh Mr. MeEwen was sent home 
 on a furlough of six weeks, but on the expira- 
 tion of that period he returned to his regiment 
 and with it went to Atlanta and on the famous 
 march to the sea. Not long after this he was 
 mustered out and returned home with a most 
 creditable and honorable military record. 
 
 Not long after his return Mr. MeEwen was 
 married at Eillsboro on the 8th of June, 1865, 
 in Miss Maria M. Abbott, a daughter of Stephen 
 Abbott, one of the prominent citizens of Hills- 
 boro, and a sister of Hon. William Abbott, an 
 attorney of this city. In the spring of 1866 
 they removed to Litchfield and Mr. MeEwen 
 opened a marble shop on the north side of the 
 public square, where he was located in business 
 for twelve years. In 1878 he established a 
 grocery store, which he conducted for two years, 
 but in 1880 he again engaged in the marble 
 business and in 1888 he assisted in organizing 
 the Litchfield Marble & Granite Works, with 
 Hon. T. C. Kirkland as president and Hon. S. 
 M. Grubbs as treasurer, while Mr. MeEwen 
 Ik came superintendent and has since acted in 
 that capacity. This is one of the leading firms 
 in tins line of business in central Illinois and 
 Mr. MeEwen's long experience has well quali- 
 fied him for the conduct of the extensive and 
 important business which is now accorded to 
 the company. 
 
 Into Mr. and Mrs. MeEwen have been born 
 five children: Minnie H.. born March 1, 1866, 
 is now the wife of John J. Munson. of Minne- 
 apolis. Minnesota, and they have one child, an 
 infant ; Grace is the wife of James P. Robin- 
 son, of Hillsboro. and they have one son and 
 two daughters; Maude A. is the wife of Will- 
 iam Wilkes; Alonzo F. is employed in his 
 father's shop : Florence is at home. 
 
 In his political views Mr. MeEwen is a stal- 
 wart Democrat, and upon that ticket was elect- 
 ed to the city council from the third ward in 
 18,1 and 1875. He was appointed by Governor 
 Tanner, of Illinois, a member of the Shiloh 
 battlefield commission and has served in that 
 capacity since September 4. 1897. The mem- 
 bers of this commission are to mark positions 
 of the Illinois regiment on the battlefield and 
 
 erect appropriate monuments to the memory 
 of those brave men who fell there. The mem- 
 bers "I' the commission at the present writing, 
 in 1904, are Captain George A. Busse, presi- 
 dent; Major George Mason, secretary; Colonel 
 J. B. Nulton, Captain Thomas A. Weisner, 
 Captain Benson Wood, Captain J. B. Ramsey, 
 
 Captain Ti tin Slattery, Eon. Isaac Yantis, 
 
 Hon. A. F. MeEwen and Hon. Sheldon A. 
 Ayres. In 1900 Mr. MeEwen was appointed 
 chairman of the committee on designs and ma- 
 terials by Major General John A. McClernand, 
 president of the hoard, and as the result of 
 Mr. MeEwen's committee efforts forty magnifi- 
 cent monuments now mark the positions of 
 twenty-eight regiments of infantry, eleven bat- 
 teries and four detachments of cavalry on the 
 field of Shiloh. He set up the first regimental 
 monument in honor of the Ninth Illinois in 
 the battlefield of Shiloh. He is a prominent 
 and interested member of the Grand Army of 
 Hie Republic and greatly enjoys meeting with 
 his old comrades at the annual reunions. He 
 also belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp, 
 No. 379. He has been a successful business 
 man and has a host of warm friends, by whom 
 he is loved and respected as a soldier, citizen 
 and substantia] man of affairs. Few men are 
 better known in Montgomery county, and none 
 deserve in higher degree the esteem and good 
 will of those with whom they are associated 
 than does Alonzo F. MeEwen. 
 
 HENRY WARE. 
 
 Henry Ware, who is interested in farming 
 in Butler Grove township, was bom on the 4th 
 <>f May. 1845, in the same township, upon a 
 farm which is now the home of W. A. Young. 
 His father. Obediah Ware, was horn in Atkin- 
 son, New Hampshire, and was married in that 
 state to Miss Electa 1'ost. He removed from 
 New England to Missouri and thence came to 
 Montgomery county. Illinois, settling here in 
 L823. From the government he entered the 
 html upon which he established his home, de- 
 veloping the farm that was the birthplace of 
 Henry Ware. The part which he took in the 
 development and improvement of the county
 
 ■110 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 was very helpful, for he assisted in laying out 
 
 the roads and reclaiming the wild land for 
 civilization and in instituting many public 
 measures that have proved beneficial. In his 
 family were ten children, one son and nine 
 daughters, hut only two are now living, the 
 sister of our subject being Mrs. Baldwin, who 
 resides in Butler Grove township. The father 
 died at the advanced age of eighty-two years, 
 while his wife passed away in 1859 at the age 
 of forty-nine years. 
 
 The boyhood days of Henry Ware were quiet- 
 ly passed. He worked in the fields through the 
 summer months and attended the public schools 
 in the winter season, and he gained practical 
 experience in all of the varied duties which 
 fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After at- 
 taining early manhood he married Miss Louisa 
 Morrison and for a year thereafter rented a 
 farm. He then began the operations of the 
 home place and subsequently removed to the 
 farm which is now his home. Here he has two 
 hundred and forty acres of rich land on sec- 
 tions 13 and 23. Butler Grove township; his 
 residence, however, stands on the latter section. 
 He follows general farming along progressive 
 lines and the work of plowing, planting and 
 harvesting results in bringing to him a very 
 good income: In his political views lie is a 
 Republican, but the honors ami emoluments of 
 office have had no attraction for him. as he has 
 preferred to devote bis energies to his business 
 affairs. 
 
 DAVID Y. SCHERER. 
 
 David Y. Scherer, living upon a farm on 
 section 2-1, Raymond township, is engaged in 
 the raising of grain and stuck and lias im- 
 proved a property of one hundred and twenty 
 acres until in its equipments his place is equal 
 to that nf any in the community- The farm 
 is situated about three and a half miles from 
 Raw 1. Mr. Scherer was born in this town- 
 ship, February 3, 1842, and is a son of David 
 and Mary (Waggoner) Scherer, both of whom 
 were natives of North Carolina. The father's 
 birth occurred in Guilford county in 1802, 
 and there he was reared and married. Five 
 
 children were horn ere the removal of the pa- 
 rents from North Carolina to Illinois. On 
 reaching this slate the father established his 
 home in Montgomery county, securing a tract 
 of land in Raymond township, which he en- 
 tered from the government. It was all wild 
 ami unimproved, but he undertook its culti- 
 vation with strong determination and in course 
 of time was gathering rich harvests where a few 
 years before were seen the wild prairie grasses. 
 As the years advanced he prospered in his 
 undertakings and he made judicious invest- 
 ment of his capital in real estate until he was 
 the owner of nearly one thousand acres. He 
 was a prominent man of his community, in- 
 fluencing public opinion along progressive 
 lines and lending substantial aid for the de- 
 velopment and upbuilding of the county. He 
 died about 1858 and thus passed away one 
 whose value as a citizen was acknowledged by 
 all who knew him. His wife survived him 
 for many years and reached the advanced age 
 of ninety-three. 
 
 David Y. Scherer, belonging to a family of 
 twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, 
 who reached mature years, enjoyed the privi- 
 leges and also faced the hardships which usu- 
 ally come to a household of large numbers when 
 the parents are only in medium financial cir- 
 cumstances. He has but one surviving brother, 
 Joseph Scherer, who is living in Texas, and 
 two sisters. He attended the common schools 
 in his youth and when not engaged with his 
 textbooks he assisted in the labors of field 
 and meadow, taking his place at an early age 
 behind the plow. He became familiar with all 
 departments of farm work and his practical 
 experience afterward proved of much value to 
 him when he began farming on his own ac- 
 count. Following his marriage he took charge 
 of the old home place and cared for his mother 
 for many years. On the expiration of that 
 period he bought a tract of land on section 21, 
 Raymond township, and removed to this farm. 
 The land was but partially broken and he con- 
 tinued to place it under the plow. He also 
 built fences and continued the work of culti- 
 vation and development until almost the en- 
 tire amount was transformed into productive 
 fields, lie erected a good house and substan-
 
 ME. AXD MRS. DAVID SCHEEEE, SB.
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 413 
 
 tial barn, planted shade and ornamental trees 
 and set out two orchards, which have yielded 
 an abundance of fruit. Everything about bis 
 place is neat and attractive in appearance. 
 There is a fine well of running water for his 
 stock and also good springs upon the place. 
 Ee raises high grade cattle, hogs and horses, 
 and, in fact, everything about his place is in 
 the finest condition, for he believes in progres- 
 sion and is continually improving his methods 
 of farming in keeping with the advanced ideas 
 of the time. Besides bis farm he owns twelve 
 lots in Butler, on one of which is a barn and 
 on another is a two-story house. 
 
 Mr. Seherer was married in Rountree town- 
 ship, December 11, 1863, to Miss Louisa M. 
 Morrell, who was born in Hancock county, 
 Ohio, and is one of the twelve children, eight 
 sons and four daughters, all yet living, of Rob- 
 ert Morrell, who came to Montgomery county 
 about 1859. Her father purchased a farm in 
 Rountree township and thereon reared his fam- 
 ily, the children leaving the old homestead as 
 they married and established homes <>f their' 
 own. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seherer have been 
 born seven children, of whom live are living: 
 Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Mitchell, 
 who resides near Vandalia; William .7.. a busi- 
 ness man and miner of California; Oliver F.. 
 who is married and resides in Los Angeles, 
 California; Alice R., a music teacher; and Elsie 
 E., at home. The last two are accomplished 
 young ladies. Mr. and Mrs. Seherer also lost 
 two children: Robert I!., who died when about 
 thirty years of age; and May Leota, who died 
 in infancy. 
 
 Mr. Seherer exercises his right of franchise 
 in support of the men ami measures of the 
 Republican party and he proudly cast bis first 
 presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 
 1864. He is a friend of (be cause of educa- 
 tion, believing in the establishment of good 
 schools and the employment of competent 
 teachers, and his opinions in this regard were 
 evidenced bv bis service on the school board 
 for several years. Both he and his wife were 
 reared in the Lutheran faith and are now mem- 
 bers of Ware's Grove Lutheran church, where 
 "Mr. Seherer is also identified with the Modern 
 Woodmen. The Seherer home is neat and at- 
 
 tractive in appearance, indicating thrift and 
 good taste. The bouse is surrounded by a tine 
 grove of forest and evergreen trees and beauti- 
 ful shrubbery. Hospitality is one of the not- 
 able features of the household and an air of 
 culture and refinement pervade.- the place, so 
 thai the home has become a favorite resort with 
 many friends, who represent the best element 
 in Montgomery county's citizenship. 
 
 CHARLES II. WITHERS'] X. 
 
 Charles II. Witherspoon, whose connection 
 with business interests of Hillsboro covers many 
 years, in which he lias successfully conducted a 
 jewelry store, was born in the city which is yet 
 his home in 1846. His father, William Wither- 
 
 sp i. was a native of North Carolina and in 
 
 L830 became a resident of Hillsboro. here be 
 conducted the first tailoring establishment of 
 _tbe then pioneer town, lie was also a carpen- 
 ter and wagonrnaker and figured prominently 
 in business circles at an early day. His po- 
 litical support was given to the Win? party, 
 and because of his belief in the abolition prin- 
 ciples he joined the Republican party when it 
 was formed to prevent the further extension of 
 slavery. He held membership in the Presby- 
 terian church and his life was ever honorable 
 and upright, winning him the confidence and 
 regard of hi- fellow men. lie died in Hills- 
 boro in 1886 at the advanced age of eighty-one 
 years. In early manhood he wedded Elizabeth 
 .Morrison, who was born in North Carolina and 
 accompanied her husband on bis removal to 
 the west. She. too. spent her remaining days 
 in Hillsboro, while her death occurred in 1883 
 when she was seventy-nine years of age. They 
 were the parents of nine children, but for thirty 
 
 years Charles II. Witherspoon has 1 n the onlj 
 
 living representative of the family. In the pub- 
 lic schools of his native city Mr. Witherspoon 
 of this review acquired his preliminary educa- 
 tion and afterward attended the old academy. 
 When his education was completed he began 
 clerking in a stoic and subsequently he learned 
 the jeweler's trade with Frederick- Noterman, 
 with whom he remained for five or six years, 
 becoming very proficient in the line of his
 
 414 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 chosen vocation, tie then established a jewelry 
 business on his own account and has remained 
 in this line continuously since, covering a pe- 
 riod of almost one-third of a century. He has 
 
 a large and well (-elected line of goods and a 
 finely equipped store for a city of tins size and 
 enjoys a good patronage, his business being a 
 profitable one. 
 
 In 1SSG Mr. Witherspoon was married to 
 Miss Alice thinning, a daughter of John C. 
 Gunning, a wagonmaker and one of the early 
 settlers of Montgomery county. Mrs. Wither- 
 spoon was horn in Hillshoro, and by her mar- 
 riage has become the mother of one child. Nell 
 E. Witherspoon. The parents are members of 
 the Presbyterian church, and fraternally Mr. 
 Witherspoon is identified with the Modern 
 Woodmen and with the Tribe of Ben Hur. He 
 believes in the principles of the Republican 
 party and supports his belief by bis ballot. His 
 worth as a citizen and his deep interest in pub- 
 lic affairs has been recognized by his fellow men 
 in his election to several local positions, includ- 
 ing that of city treasurer and councilman. His 
 entire life having been passed in Hillshoro, he 
 has a very wide acquaintance here and knows 
 and is known to almost all of its citizen .. While 
 there have been no exciting chapters in his 
 history, he is respected for his activity and re- 
 liability in business, his fidelity in public office 
 and the many admirable traits which he displays 
 in private life. 
 
 DAVID WARE. JR. 
 
 David Ware. Jr., who carries on general 
 farming in Butler Grove township, was born 
 August 2, IStiU. upon the farm which is now 
 his home. The common schools of the neigh- 
 borhood a Honied him his educational privileges 
 and he received ample training in farm labor, 
 working in the lielcls from the time of early- 
 spring planting until after crops were har- 
 vested in the late autumn. He assisted his 
 father up to the time of his marriage, which 
 occurred on the 17th of December. 1890, Miss 
 Lottie Mack, a daughter of 0. C. Mack, be- 
 coming his wife After their marriage they re- 
 moved to the farm upon which they now reside, 
 
 constituting a part of the old home place. 
 Here Mr. Ware owns two hundred acres on 
 section 10, Butler Grove township, and is en- 
 gaged in genera I farming and stock-raising. He 
 keep.- on hand good grades of cattle and hogs, 
 and his farm is neat and attractive in appear- 
 ance, indicating his careful supervision. 
 
 Mr. Ware served as school trustee for ten 
 years and was conscientious and capable in the 
 discharge of his duties, doing all in his power 
 to secure good school privileges for the chil- 
 dren of the neighborhood. In politics he is a 
 Republican, ami. as every true American citizen 
 should do, keeps well informed on the questions 
 and issues of the day. thus being able to sup- 
 port his position by intelligent argument. He 
 is a member id' the Ware Grove Lutheran 
 church and fraternally is identified with the 
 Modern Woodmen lodge at Butler. He repre- 
 sents a family long connected with the county, 
 widely and favorably known within its borders, 
 ami his record is in keeping with the family 
 reputation for integrity, for activity and re- 
 liability in business and for loyalty in citizen- 
 ship. 
 
 MIC II HALL. 
 
 Hugh Hall, who is conducting a cigar store 
 in Litchfield, is one of the active business men 
 of the city, possessing the enterprise so char- 
 acteristic of the middle west and while he has 
 utilized his opportunities for business advance- 
 ment he has also been mindful of bis duties of 
 citizenship and has aided in the material prog- 
 ress of Litchfield and in the promotion of many 
 interests which have contributed to the general 
 good. He was born in Fremont. Ohio, in 1865, 
 a son of John and Bridget Hall, who were na- 
 tives of Ireland. In early life the father came 
 to the United States, establishing his home in 
 Fremont, where he followed the stone-mason's 
 trade until his death. Hugh Hall was the only 
 child of their marriage, but the mother had five 
 children by a previous marriage. 
 
 In early life Mr. Hall was placed in St. 
 Vincent's convent at Cleveland. Ohio, where he 
 remained until eleven years of age. He then 
 returned to Fremont and afterward attended
 
 HUGH HALL
 
 UHWEft 
 
 OF T^ 
 ,£RS«n of ^«D-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 •117 
 
 school through the winter seasons, while in the 
 summer months his time was devoted to farm 
 labor, at which he was engaged until twenty- 
 one years of age. He then made his way west- 
 ward to Kansas, where lie pre-empted one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land, spending eight 
 months in that state in order to gain his title 
 to the property. In 1881 he came to Litchfield 
 and aided in the building of Rhodes* Opera 
 House, where a few years later he became man- 
 ager and held that position for several years, 
 lie also did an advertising business and for lie- 
 past sixteen years has had the bill-posting 
 privileges of the town. For the past three 
 years he has conducted the largest distinct cigar 
 and tobacco emporium in Litchfield, known as 
 the Buzzards Roost, and of this he is -nil 
 proprietor, having a profitable business, which 
 he has developed to extensive proportions. 
 
 In June. 180!). Mr. Hall was married to Miss 
 Lulu M. Finley, a daughter of .lames and 
 Elizabeth Finley and an adopted daughter of 
 George W. Amsden. She was horn in Indiana 
 and they now have a little son. George. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Hall are identified with the Gajhplic 
 church and he is connected with the Knights of 
 Pythias fraternity and tin' Benevolent 
 Protective Order of Elks. A Democral in his 
 political affiliation, he was elected to the of- 
 fice of clerk of the city court at the establish- 
 ment of the court in the city of Litchfield, and 
 is still holding thai position. In 1*90 he was 
 chosen city clerk and held that office for two 
 years, lie is a member of the Montgomery 
 county central committee of the Democratic 
 party and is its secretary. Tlis interest in 
 political questions is deep and he puts forth 
 effective and earnest, effort in behalf of the 
 principles in which he believes. 
 
 FRANK .1. SCHEFFEL. 
 
 Frank .1. Scheffel, who is engaged in the 
 butchering business and in the manufacture 
 of -ail-aim at Litchfield, was born in northern 
 Germany. January 21, 1S49. His father, also a 
 native of Germany, remained a resident of that 
 country until 1870, when he sailed with his 
 wife for America, arriving- in Illinois on the 
 
 L3th of May, accompanied by his sons. He 
 located at Brighton, this state, where he spent 
 his remaining days, passing away in 1896 at 
 the age of seventy-three years. He had never 
 been iil m all his life until his last sickness. 
 His widow still survives him at the age of 
 eighty years and is living in a little cottage 
 by herself. In their family were four sons. 
 
 Frank J. Scheffel was reared and educated 
 in his native country, ami, crossing the Atlantic 
 to America, arrived in Ilinois on the 26th of 
 April. ISM. He resided in Alton until 1872, 
 when he took up his abode at Medora, Macou- 
 pin county, where he spent six years. In 1882 
 he arrived in Litchfield and purchased a meat 
 market, from McReynolds on Kirkham street. 
 Hi- afterward conducted business on State 
 .-I reel for fifteen years, ami in 1904 he removed 
 to his present location on Kirkham street, where 
 he is conducting business as proprietor of a 
 meat market and as a sausage manufacturer. 
 The good quality of meats which he carries has 
 insured him a liberal patronage, and a cus- 
 tomer once secured is always retained by him 
 heeause of his honorable business methods. 
 
 Mr. s, liei], I was married at Brighton, Illi- 
 nois, on the 26th of April, is" 1. to Mi- Mary 
 C. Thole, a daughter of John Thole. Mrs. 
 Scheffel was horn Ma} 5, 1854, at Brighton, 
 Illinois, and by her marriage has become the 
 mother of the following children: Emma died 
 at the age of lour weeks. Edward A. was born 
 November 30, 187.6, and died February 9, 190 1. 
 ai the age of twenty-eight years, lie was en- 
 gaged in the butchering business at Alton at 
 
 that ti He had married in that city and 
 
 left a widow am] two children. Walter William. 
 born in Medora, Illinois, dune 7, 1880, is as- 
 sociated with his father in business. Annie 
 died in Medora al the age of twenty-two months 
 and was buried at Sommerfield, Macoupin 
 county. Godfred died May 11. 1882. at the 
 age of five months. Louisa, horn in L883, is 
 at home. Mary died at the age of three months. 
 Harry, horn in 1SS7. is with his parents. John 
 died at the age of eight months. Dolly passed 
 away at the age of twelve years. Paul died 
 at the age of nine months. Francis is now 
 nine years of age. One child died when hut 
 five or six weeks old.
 
 -LIS 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Mr. Scheffel is a Democrat in his political 
 views ami he took an active part in politics in 
 Jerseyville, Illinois. He is a Lutheran in his 
 religious faith, having been roared in that 
 church by his parents, who were also members. 
 Coming to America in early manhood, his busi- 
 ness life has here been passed, and whatever suc- 
 cess lie has achieved lias come as the direct re- 
 ward of his honest labor. In addition to his 
 business in Litchfield he owns a farm about a 
 mile from the town. 
 
 ALBERT Pi. LEWEY. 
 
 The attractiveness of Montgomery county as 
 a place "1 residence is indicated by the fact 
 that so many of her native sons still make 
 their homes within her borders and are closely 
 identified with her business interests and pub- 
 lic affairs. Anion-' this number is Albert P. 
 Lewey, who first opened his eyes to the light 
 of day October '.'. L850, upon the rami where 
 he now lives. He is indebted to the public. 
 
 scl 1 system for the educational privileges 
 
 be enjoyed while under (he parental roof; les- 
 sons of industry, economy and integrity were 
 instilled into his mind and have borne fruit in 
 Ins active and honorable career. 
 
 On the -JDh .if March. 1872, Mr. Lewey was 
 united in marriage to Miss Sarah Lavina 
 Beeler. Her father. William Peeler, came to 
 Montgomery county in 1863, but after residing 
 here for one year he returned to Ohio. In 1871, 
 however, he again came to this county and took 
 up his abode in Hillsboro township, where he 
 followed farming I'm- -nine time. Eventually 
 he removed to Indiana, and both he and his 
 wile died in that, state. In their family were 
 ten children: George. Mary, Hannah, Enos, 
 Joseph, Sarah Lavina. Daniel. Anna. Samuel 
 ami Martha. 
 
 At the time of his marriage Mr. Lewey was 
 about twenty-two years of age. and ho then took 
 charge of the old home farm, which he has 
 since operated, placing it under a high state 
 of cultivation and making many fine and mod- 
 ern improvements upon ii. until it is now con- 
 sidered one of the best equipped Farming prop- 
 erties in Hillsboro township. It is situated 
 
 on section 28, about five miles south and one 
 mile wesl of Hillsboro, and comprises ninety 
 acres of land, which is very rich and arable 
 and therefore responds readily to the modern 
 farming methods which he employs in the cul- 
 tivation of bis crops. He is a man of deter- 
 mined purpose and carries forward to suc- 
 cessful completion whatever he undertakes, and 
 he bears an unassailable business record. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lewey have been born 
 seven children: Oliver, who lives in Bozeman. 
 Montana: ('barley, who is conducting a meat 
 market at Colleen, this county: Millie. a\1u> 
 has engaged in teaching school lor a few years: 
 Laura, al home: Everett E., a school teacher 
 of this county. Jessie and Daniel, also with 
 their parents. Mr. Lewey is a Democrat as 
 the result of his study of the questions and 
 issues of the day, hut the honors and emolu- 
 ments id' office have little attraction for him, 
 although be is never remiss in the duties of 
 citizenship and co-operates in many public 
 "•measures for the general good. His life has 
 been 'honorable and upright, his action- manly 
 and sincere, and hi' has a wide and favorable 
 acquaintance in his native county. 
 
 Z. V. KIMBALL, M. D. 
 
 Dr. Z. V. Kimball, engaged in the practice 
 of medicine in Hillsboro, where he has given 
 substantia] proof of ability and knowledge that 
 have enabled him to cope successfully with the 
 intricate problems which continually confront 
 the physician, was horn in North Carolina on 
 the 26th of October, L879. He is a representa- 
 tive of one of the old and prominent families 
 of his native state, tracing his ancestry hack 
 to Major Buckner Kimball, who came from 
 the north of Ireland about 1750 and served in 
 the Revolutionary war with the rank that bis 
 title indicates. His children were Nancy, 
 Betsy, Patsy, Eddie and Harris, all natives of 
 Randolph county. North Carolina. Harris 
 Kimball, the youngest, married Miss Dorcas 
 Wood, of North Carolina, and they had ten 
 children: Joel, Colya, Harris, William. Elihu, 
 Sarah. Patsy, Nancy. Petty and Polly. Of this 
 family Joel, son of Harris Kimball, was the
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 MR. AND MRS. A. E. LEWEY
 
 MB. AND MRS. WILLIAM BEELBE
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF TH€ 
 
 DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 423 
 
 grandfather of Dr. Kimball of this review. Se 
 was born in North Carolina, August 11, 1799, 
 
 and died May 28, 1883. He was married first 
 to Nancy Kearns, who was born duly 12, 1801, 
 and was married in ISIS at the age of seven- 
 teen. They had six children: Thomas II.. who 
 was born November 19, 1819, and died Janu- 
 ary 15, 1890; Wiley J., who was born April 
 7, 1821, and died in 1900; John A., who was 
 born .May 15, 1823, and died July 17, 1824; 
 Martha A., who was born April 1. 1825, and 
 died November 11, 1891; Man 1,.. who was 
 horn March 1. 1828, and lives in Moorsville, 
 North Carolina: and Eliza, horn August 4, 
 1830, and now living in Mount Gilead, North 
 Carolina. S'oon after the birth of the last 
 named the mother died, and on the 1st of 
 March, 1831. Joel Kimball married Sarah 
 Lent/., by whom he had ten children: Henry 1.. 
 who was born December 5, IS:; 1. ami died 
 March, 1900: Nancy L., born April 8, 1833; 
 lime;,. A., born April 4. 1835; David Hoyl, 
 who was born January 29, 1837, and died in 
 August, 1840; John Calvin, horn September 
 5, 1839; Chrissie A.. August '29. 1842; Sarah"* 
 S., October 8, 1844 : William II.. September -.'s. 
 1850; Laura W., March L 1847; and Joel L., 
 October •">. 1854. Sarah Kimball, mother of 
 the las! ten children, died March 16, 1902, 
 aged ninety-four years, eight months and eight 
 days. 
 
 John Calvin Kimball, fifth child of Joel and 
 Sarah (Lent/.) Kimball, and father of Dr. 
 Kimball, of Hillsboro, was born in North Caro- 
 lina. September •">. 1839, and throughout bis 
 entire life has followed the occupation of farm- 
 ing. Me has recently removed from his native 
 state to Hillsboro, although at a former date 
 he had lived here for ten years. He was mar- 
 ried to Lueretia Ann Gheen ami they became 
 the parents of twehe children: George H.. 
 horn April 6, ISC.-), died April 29. 18(i(i: 
 Charles W., born November 18, 1866, died 
 February 22, 1890; Mary Bell, born May 8. 
 1869, was married December 29, 1886. to J. P. 
 Barkley, and they hail one child, Gordon Kim- 
 ball Barkley, bom in 1888. In 1900 she be- 
 came the wife of Dr. O. Avon, of Bristol, Ten- 
 nessee. .7(1.4 L.. born January 29. 1871, was 
 married in 1900 to Lula Polfin^. Major F.. 
 
 born January Li. 1873, died November 15, 
 Is; I. Edward II., born January 11, ls7(i, died 
 June 12, 1894. Matlie I-'., horn February Hi, 
 is;;, was married to R. L. Snyder, October 
 19, 1896. She died August 1-"'. 1903. leaving 
 two children, Lois and Cathline. Z. Y. Kim- 
 hall is the eighth of the family. Clarence M. 
 was born November 3, 1881. Daisy L.. horn 
 November Hi. 1883, was married in 1901 to 
 Ode J!. Snyder, and they have twins. Hazel 
 and Helen, horn in March. 1904. Sarah L. 
 was born February 21, 1886, and married B. F. 
 Rolfing, March, 1904. Pearl G. was horn 
 April 15, 1892. 
 
 Dr. Z. V. Kimball was a student in the pub- 
 lic schools of North Carolina and of Hillsboro 
 and afterward attended the Marion-Sims- 
 Beaumont College of Medicine at St. Louis. 
 
 Missouri, where be was graduated on the 1st 
 of May, 19H-2. He entered the office of Dr. 
 M. L. Mover in June of thai year and has since 
 engaged in practice, winning for himself a 
 creditable position in the ranks of the medical 
 fraternity of Hillsboro, his years being no bar 
 'to bis ability and success, although he is one of 
 the 'YoiiiiL'-ef. members of the medical fraternity 
 here. He is thoroughly conversant with modern 
 ideas and the improved methods of medical 
 practice, and by reading and study is con- 
 stantly broadening his knowledge. 
 
 GEORGE W. BROWN. JR. 
 
 George W. Brown. Jr.. is the owner of one 
 hundred and forty acres of land just outside 
 the corporation limits of Butler, and upon this 
 farm he resides. IK was born near Hills- 
 boro, Montgomery county, on the 30th of 
 May. 1843. His father. George W. Brown, Sr., 
 came to this county about 1836 in company 
 with Ins father, Nicodemus Brown, who with 
 his family settled near Hillsboro upon the farm 
 now owned by Professor Williams. George W. 
 Brown, Sr.. was horn in Ohio, and after arriv- 
 ing at years of maturity he married Sarah A. 
 Jenkins. Unto them were horn -i\ children: 
 George W. and (diaries 0., residents of But- 
 ler: James A., of Mattoon, Illinois: Camilla, 
 of Hillsboro; A. Y., who is agent for the Big
 
 I VI 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Fmir Railroad Company at Litchfield; and Al- 
 bert J I., who is with the same railroad com- 
 pany at Hillsboro. The father died December 
 20, 1903, in the eighty-fifth year of bis age, 
 and the mother passed awaj May 25, 1902, in 
 her eighty-third year. 
 
 George \V. Brown, Jr., spent his youth on a 
 farm until ten years of age, when the father 
 removed with his family to Hillsboro, and be 
 there had the privilege of attending the Hills- 
 boro Academy. In 1861, however, when eighteen 
 years of age, he started upon his business career 
 as an employe of the firm of Glenn & Pinkney, 
 dealers in merchandise and grain. He con- 
 tinued with these gentlemen until 1864 and 
 afterward spent a year in the service of the 
 firm of Clotfelter & Barnett. In March, 1865, 
 he came to Butler, where he worked for Joseph 
 Baum & Company in a general mercantile es- 
 tablishment for two years, and in 1861 be 
 began business on his own account as a grocer. 
 Not long afterward his brother, C. 0. Brown, 
 joined him in business and the partnership was 
 continued until 1881, when they sold out to 
 Boes Brothers. In 1886, however, he once 
 more turned his attention to general merchan- 
 dising, opening a store in Butler. He has also 
 continued to buy grain here since 1879 and now 
 conducts a business which is constantly growing 
 in volume and becoming more remunerative. 
 In 1894 lie purchased the stock of the Mc- 
 Henry Hardware Company at Hillsboro, and he 
 now conducts one of the largest business en- 
 terprises of the kind in this section of the 
 country. In 1898 he bought the implement 
 stock of the firm of Paden & Wilson, of Hills- 
 boro, and in 1900 he purchased the J. 1!. Chal- 
 lacombe implement stock. Mis son. James P., 
 manages the hardware department and Frank 
 II. manages the implement business, while Mr. 
 Brown gives his personal supervision to the 
 other branches and is carrying on a very de- 
 sirable business. 
 
 On the -till of January, 1865, in Cincinnati, 
 Ohio. Mr. Ili'own was united in marriage to 
 i\li>s Henrietta M. Judson, a native of New 
 Jersey, who was educated in the Hillsboro 
 Academy. They have six children: James P., 
 who is residing in Hillsboro; Winnie, the wife 
 of W. A. White, of the same city; Charles J., 
 
 a dry-goods merchant at Weather ford, Okla- 
 homa; Frank 11., at Hillsboro; Louis S.. a 
 p'.aeticing physician of St. Louis; and Roland 
 ().. who is in the -tore with his father at But- 
 ler. 
 
 Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic or- 
 der of Hillsboro, having been initiated into the 
 lodge in December, L864. After coming to 
 Butler he dimitted to the lodge at this place 
 and has held many positions therein, also serv- 
 ing as representative to the grand lodge. Mr. 
 Brown is a man of keen business foresight, and 
 his ready recognition and utilization of busi- 
 ness opportunities have been one of the force- 
 ful elements in his success. Mr. Brown's ac- 
 tions have, during his life, been such as to 
 distinctively entitle him to a place in this pub- 
 lication, and although his career has not been 
 filled with thrilling incidents, probably no 
 biography published in this hook can serve as 
 a better illustration to young men of the power 
 of honesty and integrity in insuring success. 
 
 FRANCIS MARION SAWYER. 
 
 Francis Marion Sawyer, who is engaged in 
 the transfer and express business in Nokomis 
 and is serving as supervisor of Nokomis town- 
 ship, has been a resident of Montgomery coun- 
 ty for thirty-six years, having located within 
 its holders in 1868. He was then a young 
 man, his birth having occurred in Macoupin 
 county, Illinois, near Staunton. January 17, 
 Is in. His parents were Valentine and Mary 
 Ann (Spence) Sawyer, both of whom were 
 natives of North Carolina, whence they came 
 to Illinois in 1832. The father was a farmer 
 by occupation and established his home in Ma- 
 coupin county, where for many years he car- 
 ried on agricultural pursuits. In 1866, how- 
 ever, he removed to Bell county. Texas, where 
 his remaining days were passed, his death thei - e 
 occurring on the 1st of January, 1873. when he 
 was seventy-nine years of age. His wife died 
 in 1853 in Macoupin county at the age of fifty- 
 one years. 
 
 Francis M. Sawyer was educated in the com- 
 mon schools and a subscription school of Ma- 
 coupin county. When fourteen years of age
 
 PAST AiND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 125 
 
 he began breaking prairie with an ox team, and 
 after rive years he devoted the winter seasons to 
 hauling logs to a sawmill. He then had work 
 at teaming from Bethel, Bond county, to St. 
 Louis, earning butter and eggs to the city 
 market ami bringing back goods to the store. 
 After one vear he rented a farm and turned 
 his attention to agricultural pursuit- on his 
 own account in Macoupin county. At the time 
 of the Civil war he responded to the country's 
 eall for aid and enlisted for three years' service 
 in the Third Illinois Cavalry, hut during the 
 time that he was waiting to lie called to the 
 front he cut his foot while chopping wood, 
 and this so disabled him that he was unable to 
 work or to engage in military service for two 
 years. For a year after his recovery he was 
 connected with farming interests in Illinois, 
 and in 1866 he went to Texas with his father, 
 remaining in that state through the succeed- 
 ing winter. In the spring he returned to Ma- 
 coupin county, where he engaged in farming 
 for two years, and the next year he herded cat- 
 tle in Montgomery county, Illinois. In Janu- 
 ary, 1868, he removed to this county, locating 
 about nine miles south of Nokomis, in Irving 
 township, where he carried mi general farm- 
 ing for several years. In Is;:, he removed to 
 a farm near Ohlnian. but after one year took 
 up his abode in Nokomis in 187<i. Since that 
 time he has been engaged in the transfer and 
 express business in the town, and in 1882 he 
 also began dealing in coal, operating in that 
 commodity for fifteen years. He also conduct- 
 ed a farm a part id' the time. He owns a 
 business block in Nokomis and several bouses 
 which he rents, and also has a nice modern 
 home which he occupies, and a farm of two 
 hundred acres in Bell county. Texas. His 
 properly and business interests in Nokomis 
 are valuable and somewhat extensive. Mr. 
 Sawyer was elected tax collector for three 
 terms, being chosen to the office about 1885. 
 About 1890 he was elected supervisor for one 
 year, and in 1902 and again in 10(1 1 lie was 
 chosen for that office, which position be is now 
 filling. No public trust reposed in him has 
 ever been betrayed in the slightest degree, and 
 all know him as a loyal citizen, interested in 
 everything pertaining to general progress. 
 
 On the 20th of January, 1861, Mr. Sawyer 
 was married to Miss Elizabeth Bissel, a daugh- 
 ter of William Bissel. who is a brother of Gov- 
 ernor Bissel. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Sawyer were: Francis A., a policeman of 
 Nokomis; William L, a druggist of Chicago; 
 Ida A., the wife of Thomas Kinney, of No- 
 konris; and Andrew Jackson, who died in 1878 
 at the age of seven yens. Mrs. Sawyer died in 
 1872 at the age of thirty-two years, and on the 
 11th of September, ls;;i, Mr. Sawyer was again 
 married, bis second union being with Sena I. 
 Birt, a daughter of John Birt, of Montgomery 
 county, who was born in Ohio. By the second 
 marriage of Mr. Sawyer there are three chil- 
 dren: Eva, the wife of Harry Powers, a fore- 
 man of the Waukegan Wire Works, of that 
 place; Ethel and Lester, both at home. Mrs. 
 Sawyer is a member of the Presbyterian church 
 and Mr. Sawyer belongs to the Masonic lodge. 
 His political allegiance is given to the Democ- 
 racy and he is recognized as one of the local 
 party leaders. 
 
 ARTHUE WARE. 
 
 Arthur Ware, born on the old Ware home- 
 stead in Butler Grove township, is a son of 
 David Ware, of Hillsboro, who is represented 
 elsewhere in this volume. The old home farm 
 is now occupied by Lyman Ware, his brother, 
 and it was there, on the 18th of November, 
 L858, that Arthur Ware was born. He early 
 became familiar with farm work there, and in 
 the public school of the neighborhood acquired 
 his education. When twenty-three years of 
 age he was married to Addie Aten, of the same 
 neighborhood, who bad been a schoolmate of 
 his in her girlhood days. She was a daughter 
 of T. ('. Aten, who came to Montgomery coun- 
 ty in the '60s. Not long after their marriage 
 the young couple removed to the farm upon 
 which they have since resided, and this is now 
 one of the best improved and most productive 
 tracts of land in Butler Grove township. Mr. 
 Ware has two hundred and forty acres in the 
 home place on section 10, about two miles 
 north and one mile east of the village of But- 
 ler. He is enlaced in general farming, in the
 
 r.'i, 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 raising of Holstein cattle and in the dairy busi- 
 ness. He feeds both hogs and cattle, and he has 
 the finest thoroughbred registered Holstein cat- 
 tle to be found in the county. His business is 
 well managed and his careful supervision, un- 
 tiring diligence and laudable ambition consti- 
 tute the basis of his success. Whatever he un- 
 deretakes he carries forward to successful com- 
 pletion, forms his plans readily and will brook 
 no obstacle that can be overcome by persistent 
 and honorable effort. 
 
 I nto Mr. and Mrs. Ware have been born four 
 children: Frank, Roy. Mabel and Wilma. The 
 sons have attended college and expect to enter 
 the Agricultural College at Champaign. Mr. 
 Ware has been president of the Montgomery 
 County Farmers' Institute and is now one of its 
 directors. His political support is given to 
 the Republican party, but the honors and 
 emoluments of office have had no attraction for 
 him. He is a member of the Ware Grove Lu- 
 theran church, in which he is now serving as 
 an elder. His interest in everything pertain- 
 ing to the social, intellectual, material and 
 moral welfare of his community is deep and sin- 
 core and is manifest by hearty co-operation in 
 iminv movements for the general good. 
 
 MRS. MART E. SORRELL. 
 
 Mrs. Mary E. Son-ell is living on section 0. 
 Raymond township. The ladies of a com- 
 munity usually figure less prominently before 
 the public than the fathers, husbands and 
 brothers, but they perform a no less important 
 part in the world's work in the management of 
 the household affairs and the rearing of their 
 families ami in shaping social conditions, and 
 when called upon they have displayed the 
 same strong and commendable business charac- 
 teristics that are usually accorded to the other 
 sex. Mrs. Sorrel! is residing upon a farm 
 which has been her home for thirty-six years 
 and in its control she displays excellent ability 
 and keen business foresight. She is numbered 
 among the early settlers of Illinois, dating her 
 residence in the state from 1839 and in Mont- 
 gomery county from 1844. Few have so long 
 remained within the borders of this county and 
 
 her memory forms a connecting link between 
 the primitive past with its pioneer conditions 
 and the progressive present with all of its in- 
 dications of modern civilization. 
 
 Mrs. Sorrell was horn in Cabarrus county, 
 North Carolina, January 27, 1834. Her father, 
 Lewis Carriker. was also horn in North Caro- 
 lina, was reared in that state and was married 
 there to Miss Elizabeth Pitts, also a native of 
 North Carolina. Mr. Carriker was a farmer by 
 occupation and carried on agricultural pur- 
 suits in the old North state for a number of 
 years or until after the birth of eight of his 
 children. In 1839 be removed with his family 
 to the west, settling first in Fayette county, 
 Illinois, where he purchased three hundred and 
 twenty aens of land, upon which a log cabin 
 had been built. The town of Fillmore now 
 stands upon a portion of the old family home- 
 stead there. With characteristic energy Mr. 
 Carriker began the development ami improve- 
 ment of his farm and continued to reside there- 
 on for a number of years, hut later sold that 
 property and in 4844 came to Montgomery 
 county. Here he bought a half section of land 
 about nine miles north of the city of Hillsboro 
 and opened up another farm, upon which he 
 reared his family and remained until called to 
 his final rest. His wife survived him for a 
 number of years and passed away in L882. 
 Thus the county lost two of its most respected 
 pioneer citizens, hut they are yet remembered 
 by many of their early friends and neighbors 
 and their name should be enduringly inscribed 
 upon the pages of Montgomery county's his- 
 tory. 
 
 Mrs. Sorrell was reared in Montgomery 
 county and was instructed in the usual house- 
 hold tasks, while in the public schools she 
 acquired her education. In earl\ womanhood 
 she gave her hand in marriage in 1855 to New- 
 Ion Wiley, a native of this state, and they be- 
 gan their domestic life upon a farm. Mr. Wiley 
 continuing its cultivation and development un- 
 til his death, which occurred in February. 1862. 
 lie was a grandson of Newton Coffey, one of 
 the first settlers of Montgomery county, who 
 came to Illinois from Kentucky. He was 
 actively associated with the pioneer develop- 
 ment of this portion of the state and he deeded
 
 MR. AND MRS. HENRY SORRELL
 
 LUN01S
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 429 
 
 to the comity the land upon which the present 
 courthouse now stands. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Wiley were born four children, but they lost 
 their eldest, Marie, who died in infancy. The 
 others are Alice, the wife of Hinton Whittaker, 
 of Waggoner, Illinois; Charles B., who is mar- 
 ried and follows fanning in Baymond town- 
 ship: and Lewis, who is a farmer and resides 
 with his mother, but operates a tract of land 
 of his own. After losing her first husband 
 Mrs. Wiley was again married in 1868, becom- 
 ing the wife of Henry Sorrell, a native of In- 
 diana, in which state he was reared, coming 
 thence to Illinois in early manhood. Here he 
 purchased a tract of raw land and improved the 
 farm upon which his widow now resides. After 
 his marriage he brought his wife to the home 
 farm and here they lived in content and happi- 
 ness until Mr. Sorrell was called to his final 
 home. He owned eighty acres of rich land and 
 the care and labor which he bestowed upon it 
 brought to him a good annual income. Upon 
 this place he reared his family and here he 
 spent his remaining days, passing away on the 
 20th of March, 1901. Three daughters were 
 born of this marriage: Kittie. who died at the 
 age of thirteen years; Lydia, who died at the 
 age of fifteen months: and Eosa. the wife of 
 A. A. Kendall, a resident farmer of Raymond 
 township. 
 
 Mrs. Sorrel] resides upon the old homestead 
 and rents the land to her son. She formerly 
 belonged to the Lutheran church, which she 
 joined when eighteen years of nee. but she is 
 now a member of the Baptist church. For 
 sixty-five years she has made her home in Illi- 
 nois and through sixty years has lived in Mont- 
 gomery county, being one of few remaining 
 early settlers who has witnessed the growth 
 and development of Ibis section of the state as 
 it has emerged from primitive conditions and 
 pioneer surroundings. She has done well her 
 part in the labor of establishing a home and 
 like others she endured the hardships and trials 
 of frontier life. She is much beloved by those 
 who know her and her friendship is prized by 
 those with whom she has been associated, for 
 her life ha- been characterized by kind words 
 and deeds. She has helped to lift the burdens 
 from the weak, has shared the troubles of others 
 
 and by her sympathy has lightened many 
 
 sorrows. 
 
 GEOEGE C. FELL N HI!. 
 
 Success is always the result of untiring ef- 
 fort, close application, and the life record 
 which the American people hold in greatest es- 
 teem is that of individual accomplishment 
 where prosperity results from personal labor, 
 capable management and close conformity to 
 commercial ethics. These qualities have been 
 manifest in the career of Mr. Fellner, now well 
 known as a contractor and builder of Litch- 
 field, his native city, lie was born in 1866, 
 a son of Frederick and Margaret (Grassel) 
 Fellner. The lather was born in Bavaria. Ger- 
 many, ami when eighteen years of age came to 
 the United States, locating in Cincinnati. Ohio, 
 where he worked at his trade of cabinetmaking 
 until 1863. In that year he removed to Litch- 
 field, where he began business as a carpenter 
 and contractor, being thus identified with build- 
 ing operations in this city until 18S6. He 
 then removed to Los Angeles. California, where 
 he continued in business up to the time of 
 his death, which occurred in 1900. Through 
 bis activity and energy he had accumulated a 
 comfortable competence. At the time of the 
 Civil war lie responded to the first call for 
 troops and became one of Fremont's bodyguard. 
 At tlie organization of the Republican party he 
 had indorsed its principles because it was 
 formed to prevent the further extension of 
 slavery — an institution to which Mr. Fellner 
 was strongly opposed. He belonged to the odd 
 Fellows society and to the English Lutheran 
 church and took an active part in church work, 
 serving for some time as an officer. Tlis wife, 
 a daughter of George and Catherine Grassel, 
 was born in Kentucky ami died in 1880 at the 
 age of thirty-six years. She. too. was a member 
 of the Lutheran church. In their family were 
 four children: Charles, deceased: George C. ; 
 William, who has passed away; and Katie, the 
 wife of Hugo Theobold, of Lns Angeles, Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 Tn the public schools of Litchfield and in 
 Cincinnati George C. Fellner acquired his edu-
 
 1:30 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 cation. He afterward learned the carpenter's 
 trade with his father, with whom he worked 
 for three years. He then went to Los Angeles, 
 California, but For the past fourteen years has 
 been numbered among the contractors and 
 builders of Litchfield, for lie has erected a 
 number of the best buildings, being very suc- 
 eessful in his labors here. He executes a 
 contract with promptness and fidelity, is true 
 to the terms of an agreement, and by reason of 
 his reliable methods and enterprise has won 
 creditable success. 
 
 On the 1st of October, L900, Mr. Fellner 
 was married to Josie Allen, a daughter of 
 Charles and Lucretia Allen, who was born in 
 Litchfield in 1870. The father was a painter 
 and a resident of this city. Mr. Fellner and 
 his wife are members of the Lutheran church, 
 and fraternally he is connected with the 
 Knights of Pythias lodge ami the Odd Fellows 
 society. His study of political issues has led 
 him to give his support to the Republican par- 
 ty, but the honors and emoluments of office 
 have little attraction for him. as lie prefers 
 to give his undivided attention to his business 
 a [fairs. 
 
 LYMAN WAEE. 
 
 One of the old families of Montgomery coun- 
 ty is that of which Lyman Ware is a repre- 
 sentative, and his birthplace was the farm 
 upon which he now resides, lie was horn Feb- 
 ruary 15. 1865, ami in his youth attended the 
 public schools. In 1893 his father removed to 
 the town of Hillsboro and Lyman 'Ware then 
 took charge of the old home place — a work for 
 which he was well qualified by his previous 
 training and experience in the fields. From 
 early boyhood In' assisted in the task of plow- 
 ing, planting and harvesting and to this work 
 he has devoted his energies throughout his en- 
 tire life. Mis I ie place comprises one hundred 
 
 and eighh acres, and he is also engaged in the 
 management and operation of a farm id' two 
 hundred acres in frving township. He carries 
 on general agricultural pursuits, raising the 
 cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and 
 
 he is also successfully engaged in stock-raising, 
 making a specialty of shorthorn cattle. 
 
 On the '.".'d of November, 1S95, Mr. Ware 
 was united in marriage to Miss Ida Linger, 
 and they have one child, Jennie L., who is 
 now seven years of age. The parents are 
 members of the Ware Grove Lutheran church 
 and Mr. Ware is a Republican in his political 
 affiliation, having supported the party since 
 attaining his majority. His entire life has 
 been passed in Montgomery county, so that he 
 is well known, and with its agricultural in- 
 terests he has been closely connected through- 
 out his entire life. 
 
 DEWITT 0. BURRIS. 
 
 Dewitt 0. Burris, now deceased, was horn in 
 Jackson county. Ohio, on the 3d of April, 1826, 
 and was reared upon a farm. His educational 
 privileges were those afforded by the early 
 schools of his native state, which was then a 
 frontier region cut oil' from the advantages and 
 improvements of the older west by the moun- 
 tain ranges of Pennsylvania. When twenty- 
 one years of age he began earning his own liv- 
 ing, and. thinking that he might have better 
 chances to gain a start in a still more western 
 region, he wen! from Ohio to Indiana and aft- 
 erward ci to Illinois, settling in Montgom- 
 ery county when a young man during the early 
 '50s. 
 
 As a companion and helpmate for life's jour- 
 ney Mr. Burris chose Miss Koselma Mack, who 
 was born in New Hampshire ami was a daugh- 
 ter of Calvin Mack, who came with his family 
 to Montgomery county, Illinois, at a very early 
 period in its development, traveling by wagon. 
 He had two wagons, in which the family jour- 
 neyed and carried their household effects. The 
 Mack home was established in Butler Grove 
 township, and under the parental roof the 
 daughter Roselma remained until she gave her 
 hand in marriage to Mr. Burris on the 7th of 
 April. 1857. Not long after this the young 
 couple removed to Christian county, Illinois, 
 where be operated a sawmill for a year. They 
 then returned to Montgomery county and lie 
 gave his attention to agricultural pursuits in
 
 UNIVi
 
 DEW ITT C. BURETS
 
 MKS. DEWITT C. BURHIS
 
 ■ ■ 
 
 UNtv; - G ' s
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 t35 
 
 Butler Grove tow nship, Lmproving a good farm. 
 In 1803 he removed to the farm upon which his 
 widow now resides and made that place his 
 home for nineteen years, or until the time of 
 his death. He prospered in his undertaking, 
 becoming one of the well-to-do citizens of this 
 part of the state. As his financial resources 
 increased he added to his land until lie was 
 the owner of six hundred acres, representing a 
 large investment, which made' him one of the 
 substantial residents of his Locality, lie de- 
 served much credit for what lie accomplished 
 because all that he possessed was acquired 
 through his own efforts, guided by sound judg- 
 ment and prompted by laudable ambition. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burris were horn four 
 children who are still living: Carrie A., the 
 wife of A. C. Sammons; Elzina. the wife of 
 W. E. Kendall, of Oklahoma; Charles, who is 
 living upon the home farm; and Wesley, also 
 at home. Those who have passed away are 
 George, Emma, ETattie and Willie. 
 
 Mr. Burris died January 4. 1ST0. and many 
 who know him mourn his loss, for they had 
 found in him a faithful friend ami a straight- 
 forward business man. while in his family he 
 was a devoted husband ami father. He held 
 office in his township and gave his political 
 allegiance to the Democracy. Mrs. Burris, 
 who still survives her husband and vol re- 
 sides upon the old homestead, is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal church. 
 
 E. HAKIMS. 
 
 Among the mosl energetic, wide-awake and 
 representative Imsiness men of Montgomery 
 county is numbered E. Harris, of Coll'cen. who 
 i- engaged in the conduct of a furniture store 
 and is also manager for the Mutual Telephone 
 System, which operates eight hundred and fifty 
 telephones. He was horn in Fillmore township, 
 Montgomery county, in 1867, his parents being 
 William M. and Lourana J. (Sears) Harris. 
 The paternal grandfather, William B. Harris, 
 arrived in Montgomery county in 182 1 /, being 
 one of its first settlers. The greater part of 
 the land was still unclaimed and uncultivated, 
 
 and where are now seen flourishing towns and 
 villages there was only unbroken prairie. His 
 father was horn in Bond county, Illinois, in 
 1828, and in early life followed agricultural 
 pursuits. lie also engaged in merchandising 
 in Fayette count} - , Illinois, and became one of 
 the active factors in the business life of his 
 community. In 184'J he was united in mar- 
 riage' to Miss Lourana J. Sears, also a repre- 
 sentative of one of the oldest families of this 
 part ol the state. At the time of his mar- 
 riage Mr. Harris located in Montgomery coun- 
 ty, where he resided continuously until 1872, 
 hut is now a resident of Bingham, Fayette 
 county. Into him and his wife have been born 
 seven children, of whom four are now living. 
 
 E. Harris acquired his education in the 
 schools of Fayette county, Illinois, where he 
 spent the early part of his life. In 1891 he 
 came to Colleen and established a furniture 
 store, which he has since conducted. In addi- 
 tion he carries on an undertaking establishment, 
 holding state embalmer's license No. 555, 
 and both branches of his Imsiness have proved 
 remunerative. He carries a large and well se- 
 lected line of furniture calculated to meet the 
 varied demands of the town and country trade, 
 and his reasonable prices, fair dealing and un- 
 faltering determination to win an honorable 
 success have been the potent elements in his 
 prosperity. He is to-day the oldest merchant 
 in continued business in Coffeen. He is also 
 the manager of the Mutual Telephone System, 
 which has proven id' much value to the county, 
 being a source of great convenience, not only 
 in business, but in social life. Eight hundred 
 an. I fifty telephones are in operation under the 
 management of this company. Mr. Flarris is 
 to-day considered the most prosperous business 
 man of Coffeen, and he certainly deserves his 
 success, as if has come to him as the direct re- 
 ward of his unfaltering diligence, capable man- 
 agement and recognition of opportunity. 
 
 In 1889 Mr. Harris was married to Miss 
 Victoria Hicks, id' East Fork township, and 
 they have two children. Ruby M. and Frank C. 
 Mr. Harris belongs to the Woodmen fraternity 
 and in his political views he is a Democrat. 
 Upon his party ticket he was elected assessor 
 and supervisor, discharging his duties with
 
 136 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 capability and promptness. He belongs to that 
 class of representative American men who, 
 while promoting their individual interests, also 
 advance the general welfare, and Coffeen classes 
 him among its valued citizens, in that he is 
 deeply interested in her welfare and that his 
 co-operation may be counted upon to advance 
 every measure for the general good. 
 
 ROBERT J. KICK. 
 
 Robert Jefferson Rice, whose business energy 
 and activity are important factors in the com- 
 mercial life of Waggoner, is conducting a 
 hardware and implement store, of which he has 
 been proprietor for five years. He is also well 
 known in connection with the hotel business, 
 which he has conducted for ten years, and a 
 genial, pleasant manner and unfaltering 
 courtesy, combined with his sagacity, perse- 
 verance and business foresight, have led to his 
 success and made him one of the popular resi- 
 dents of this community. 
 
 Mr. Rice was born in Macoupin county, Illi- 
 nois. May 1, 1856. His father. William A. 
 Rice, was a native of Green county, Kentucky, 
 born <>n the 24th of April, 1826, and the grand- 
 father was George Rice, who was a native of 
 Virginia and a soldier of the Revolutionary 
 war. lie followed farming nl Kentucky after 
 his removal to the Old Dominion, and subse- 
 quently lie took up his abode in Illinois, about 
 1829. He opened a farm in Macoupin county, 
 near Palmira, and upon the old homestead 
 tic re. in the midst of the scenes of frontier life, 
 William A. Rice was reared. The hardships 
 ami difficulties which confront the pioneer be- 
 came familiar to him and lie also enjoved pleas- 
 ures which are known only in the new settle- 
 ments of the west. He was married in that 
 count} to Cynthia Patton, a native of Ten- 
 nessee and a daughter of Robert Patton. whose 
 wife was an own cousin of Henry Clay. Mr. 
 Rice became a farmer of Macoupin county, 
 where he resided for many years, rearing his 
 family upon the old homestead there. lie died, 
 however, in Nebraska at the home of his daugh- 
 ter in 180? and his wife passed away in 1800. 
 
 The\ were the parents of three sons and one 
 daughter. 
 
 Robert J. Rice spent his boyhood days in 
 the usual manner of farmer lads of that pe- 
 riod, working in the fields through the sum- 
 mer months and attending school in the winter 
 seasons. He afterward enjoyed the advantages 
 of a course in the Northern Indiana Normal 
 school at Valparaiso and in a business college 
 at Jacksonville and Later he became a teacher 
 in Macoupin county. Illinois, where he fol- 
 lowed that profession for three years, while 
 for live years he was thus connected with the 
 schools of Morgan county. He afterward en- 
 gaged in farming in Macoupin county, where he 
 owned and operated a good tract of land for 
 about seven or eight years. He then sold out 
 and in the spring of 1895 removed to Waggoner. 
 where he purchased a hotel ami livery stable, 
 entering upon that business here. In 1899 he 
 sold the livery stable, hut still continues as 
 proprietor of a hotel and in this same year 
 he extended his efforts to other lines of busi- 
 ness activity by the purchase of a hardware 
 store on the 1th of duly, lie has since been 
 numbered among the active and successful 
 merchants of bhe town, having built up a good 
 trade by fair dealing, earnest desire to please 
 his customers and reasonable prices. 
 
 Mr. Rice was married in Morgan county, 
 Illinois, August is. 1886, to Miss Cora Belle 
 Copley, who was born in Greene county, Illi- 
 nois, but was reared in Morgan county near 
 Waverlv. Her father. Napoleon Copley, was a 
 native of England, bom in Berkshire on the 
 2d of February, 1835. The home of Air. and 
 All's. Rice has been blessed with live children : 
 Verna, Ward. Benton, Clinton and Robert A. 
 The members of the family occupy an enviable 
 position in social circles and their home is 
 noted for a generous and attractive hospitality. 
 Mr. Rice proudly east his first presidential vote 
 for .lames A. Garfield and has supported each 
 nominee at the bead of the national Republican 
 ticket since that time. His fellow townsmen 
 recognizing his worth and ability and his deep 
 mil icst in the welfare of his community have 
 elected him to public office, lie has served as 
 president of the village board of Waggoner for 
 four Years, was assessor in 1896 and in the
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 i:;; 
 
 spring of L903 was elected county supervisor, 
 so that he is now serving on the county board. 
 He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Raymond, 
 having joined the fraternity at Waverly, Illi- 
 nois, in L883. He exercises strong influence in 
 local political and public affairs and his public 
 career is most commendable, having been 
 marked by the faithful performance of every 
 duty devolving upon him. 
 
 ALEXANDER C. DURDY. 
 Alexander C. Durdy, who is justly classed with 
 
 the leading business men of (Jhlinan. where he 
 is engaged in dealing in grain and hay, was 
 horn in St. Louis, Missouri, October 3, 1864, 
 his parents being Alexander C. and Josephine 
 (Burbach) Durdy. The father, who was born 
 in Hagerstown, Maryland, was ol Scotch-Irish 
 descent and his wife was of German lineage. 
 He removed to St. Louis, Missouri, about 1854, 
 and there reared his I'anily. There were nine 
 children: Mrs. William Schaper, of Indianap- 
 olis, Indiana; Alexander ( '. ; .Mrs. Ed Rice, of 
 Litchfield, Illinois, whose husband is represent- 
 ing his district in the state legislature; Mrs. 
 Ed Umpley, of Nokomis, whose husband con- 
 duits a machine shop; Mrs. Ed Sanders, who 
 lives in Chicago; Mrs. Charles Laws, of No- 
 komis; Mrs. Charles Singer, of Nokomis; Louis, 
 who married Louise Waggoner, of Tana, and 
 lives in Ohlman; and Leon, a resident of In- 
 dianapolis. Indiana. 
 
 Alexander ('. Durdy was for a time a pupil 
 of the schools of St. Louis. lie afterward at- 
 tended the schools of Montgomery county, sub- 
 sequent to his parents' removal to this locality, 
 pursuing his studies in Ohlman. When but 
 sixteen years of aire he put aside his text hooks 
 and gave his entire attention to the grain trade, 
 having begun the purchase of grain in the 
 previous year. For almost a quarter of a cen- 
 tury he has been identified with this business 
 in Ohlman. purchasing grain and haled hay, 
 which is shipped to the city markets. He first 
 instituted the planters' compress business and 
 was general superintendent nf the compresses at 
 Pana, Nokomis and Ohlman. After occupy- 
 ing that position for some time he resigned 
 
 and now gives his entire attention to the grain 
 and hay business, being a member of the iirm 
 ol Metzger, Hill Company, a commission firm 
 of Cincinnati. Ohio, of which he is the vice 
 president. 
 
 In L890 Mr. Durdy wedded -Miss Anna Rest, 
 a daughter of II. A. and Margaret (Powers) 
 Rest, who resided in Rainier, Illinois. Mrs. 
 Durdy was educated in Nokomis and is now- 
 well known in the social circles of Ohlman, 
 she and her husband receiving hearty welcome 
 in the best homes of the town. They have 
 become the parents of five children: Harry 
 B., who was horn September 13, L891, and at- 
 tends school in Ohlman; Merrill, horn dune 
 10, 1893; Vivian ().. born January 3, 1895; 
 LaVonne, born April 23, 1896; and Alexander 
 ('., bom March 13, 1899. 
 
 Mr. Durdy is a valued member of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias lodge 
 and the Modern Woodmen camp. His po- 
 litical views are in accord with the principles 
 of Democracy and he has served as supervisor, 
 having been appointed to Jill out an unex- 
 pired term of his father. He is well known 
 in Montgomery county, where he has spent the 
 greater part of his life and where he has so 
 directed his efforts as not only to win a com- 
 petence, hut also gain the good will and trust 
 of his fellow men. 
 
 CHARLES H. LOCKHART, M. D. 
 
 Among the younger representatives of the 
 medical fraternity in Montgomery county is 
 numbered Charles H. Lockhart, whose success 
 would seem to indicate that he had advanced 
 further on life's journey than the thirty-third 
 milestone. lie was born, however, in Butler 
 on the 31st of August, 1871, and in his practice 
 in Witt lie has secured the support of many of its 
 leading citizens. His parents were Henry A. 
 and Elizabeth (Dunbar) Lockhart. the former a 
 native of Ohio and the latter of Missouri. The 
 father came to this state in the early '40s and 
 was engaged in merchandising. He was also 
 one of the first residents of Butler and was well 
 known in Montgomery county as the promoter 
 of business activity and of the substantial
 
 4:38 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 growth of the community. His death occurred 
 in Alaska about 1873. 
 
 Dr. Charles H. Loekhart was educated in 
 Hillsboro and entered upon his business career 
 in a drug stun' in that city owned by Dr. E. 
 Douglas. He was thus employed for eight 
 years, during which time he had become in- 
 terested in the science of medicine and resolved 
 to make its practice his life work. Accordingly 
 he entered the Missouri Medical College at St. 
 Louis and was graduated from that institution 
 in March, L898. On the 10th of May of the 
 same year he located for practice in Witt. He 
 has a modern office, carries his own Line of 
 drugs and has built up an excellent practice, 
 which comes from the best people of the town 
 and surrounding district. In 1902 he took a 
 post-graduate course in the New ^ ork Poly- 
 clinic, in New York city, and he lias always 
 read and studied in order to keep in touch with 
 tin' advanced thought of the profession, which 
 has made him a well informed ami capable 
 physician, lie is a member of the Montgomery 
 County Medical Society, the Illinois State 
 Medical Society, the District Medical Society of 
 Central Illinois and the American Association. 
 Fraternally he is connected with the Modern 
 Woodmen camp, Xo. 5628, belongs to the 
 Mutual Protective League, No. 90, and is ex- 
 amining physician for a number of the old-line 
 and fraternal insurance companies. 
 
 JOEL C. TRAYLOR. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was horn in Shel- 
 by county, Kentucky, October 6, 181 1. He 
 was the second of a family of four -on- horn 
 to James and Nancy (Cardwell) Traylor, who 
 had emigrated to that section from Virginia 
 about the year 1810. The Traylor family are 
 of French Huguenot ancestry. As early as 
 ]i;;i William Trounillard, a Huguenot, lied 
 before the persecution of Catholic fanaticism, 
 which at that time raged in France, and sought 
 an asylum in the wilds of America. He set- 
 tled near Petersburg ami afterward married 
 Judith Archer, a Virginia girl, and the records 
 show that Peter Jones, the founder of Peters- 
 burs, was surety on his marriage bond. James 
 
 Traylor married Nancy Cardwell. daughter of 
 George Cardwell and a sister to Wyatt and 
 Peter Cardwell, men well known in Virginia 
 history. Wyatt Cardwell, a. first cousin to 
 John Randolph, of Roanoke, was administrator 
 of that, famous statesman and carried out the 
 peculiar provisions of his will. The sons of 
 James Traylor were Caleb. Joel Cozens. Wil- 
 liam and John. Caleb, the elder son, accom- 
 panied by his father, removed from Kentucky 
 to Illinois about 1835. John ami William came 
 about 1840 and Joel in 1844. 
 
 Previous to this time the last named had 
 been in business in a small way in the city 
 of Louisville, Kentucky. When he came to 
 Illinois hi' at once embarked in merchandising 
 in the smith part of Montgomery county. 
 Within a few years he had established a very 
 wide trade, as his was the only store kept 
 within a radius of eight or ten miles. From 
 his early youth Joel ('. Traylor had been se- 
 verely crippled by disease, and through all his 
 life was compelled to walk with the assistance 
 of crutches and a cane, yet he possessed a spirit 
 of such independence that physical ailment did 
 not stand between him and a desire to succeed 
 m the world. b\-w men in Montgomery coun- 
 ty have influenced the community in which 
 they lived in an educational and moral way 
 more than has the subject of this sketch. 
 
 His first wife was a Miss Judith Gibbs, by 
 whom he bad three children, two having died 
 in infancy: the elder, .lame-, accompanied his 
 parents to Illinois. In the autumn of 1S44, 
 when Mr. Traylor had been but a U'\\ months 
 in his new home, his wife died, leaving the 
 latin r and little son alone In i home some- 
 what separated from neighbors and friends. 
 In 1846 Mi-. Traylor took for a second wife 
 Sarah A. Ohmart. a Pennsylvania German 
 girl of nineteen summers. To this helpmeet 
 Mr. Traylor owed much of his since--. By 
 his wife Sarah he reared a large family of 
 children, seven id' whom lived to reach man- 
 hood and womanhood. The oldest boy, men- 
 tioned as a child by his first wife, was drowned 
 in .Menard county while visiting with Hm 
 grandfather. The oldest by bis wife Sarah 
 was Margaret E., wife of the late Thomas H. 
 Wilson. She was a very popular girl and for
 
 
 ~4jS&|W 
 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 
 £ f; 
 
 
 g&m ' 1 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 ME. AND MES. JOEL C. TBAYLOB.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF IlLiNOtf 
 URBANA
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 441 
 
 many years was chief clerk in her lather's store. 
 In tins way her acquaintance was as wide as 
 the extensive business which be carried on. 
 She died about ten years ago. leaving a son 
 and daughter, lna M. and Frank K. Wilson, 
 of Coii'een. Illinois. The second daughter, 
 Harriet E., Lives with her widowed mother in 
 the same village. M. B. Traylor, the oldest 
 son and formerly a merchant of Colleen, is 
 at present residing in the city of Denver, Colo- 
 rado. He has a family consisting of a wife, 
 Dora, nee McDavid, and three sons. Joel, 
 Frank and Edward. Jacob 1... second son. is 
 a resident of Coffeen. The greater part of his 
 life since a hoy of seventeen has been spent 
 in the work id' teaching. In L890 he was elect- 
 ed county superintendent of schools, in which 
 capacity he served until 1SD4. In 1895-97 he 
 was superintendent of the village schools of 
 Coffeen. In 1898 he established the Coffeen 
 Normal School and Academy and was proprie- 
 tor of that institution until 1900. He has been 
 engaged during the last three years in selling 
 life assurance for the Equitable Life Assu- 
 rance Society of Xew York. Jacoh L. Tray- 
 lor was married in 1878 to Miss Mary F Hicks, 
 and to them three sons and five daughters have 
 been horn. The eldest. Lew Randolph, is en- 
 gaged in real estate business in Coffeen. Ly- 
 man E.. second son. is a clerk in the store of 
 0. A. Edwards. Paul, the third boy, is a lad 
 of twelve, at present in the public school. 
 Claire, the eldest daughter, died March .V 1004. 
 Slu> was a girl of unusual prominence, a 
 thorough scholar in the academic branches and 
 a- a musician had few equals. She was Latin 
 teacher during the last year of the Coffeen 
 Normal School and Academy, after which she 
 gave private lessons in music to some of her 
 near relatives and friends. Her death was 
 not only a loss to her immediate family, hut to 
 the entire community in which she lived. The 
 second daughter. Jessie, is al present a teacher 
 in the public schools, and Alma, the third 
 daughter, will complete the high school course 
 in the village schools this year. Ruth, a girl 
 of twelve and twin to Paul, before mentioned, 
 is a pupil with him in the intermediate depart- 
 ment of the school. Blanch, the baby girl, 
 entered school this session for the first time. 
 
 A. E. Traylor, the third son of Joe] C. Tray- 
 lor, lives on a farm near the old homestead. 
 II*' married Miss Ollie Hill and to them have 
 come two sons ami two daughters. Chloe and 
 Maud are young girls, just budding into wom- 
 anhood, h'oss and Guy, his two boys, are fine 
 litth: fellows, just beginning school life. A. E. 
 Traylor was for some years a teacher in the 
 public schools of Montgomery county, hut he 
 lias given his entire attention id' late to farm- 
 ing and stock-raising. Elora, the third daugh- 
 ter of Joel ('. Traylor. is the wife .4' Charles 
 Laws, whose biography and portrait appear in 
 this volume. They have one son. .loci, who is 
 a hoy of ten. and four daughters. The eldest, 
 Miss Effie, is a young lady of seventeen; Lena, 
 tin- second girl, is about twelve years old, and 
 Camilla, is a little tot of eight, while Marian 
 is the baby. Clement A. Traylor, the young- 
 est son id' Joel C. Traylor. is at present en- 
 gaged in the hardware business in the village 
 of Coffeen. He is the youngest member of 
 his father's family and is at present thirty-five 
 years old. Some eight years ago he was mar- 
 ried to Miss lone Sporry. of Xokomis. and to 
 them have been horn two >ons. George and 
 Elmer. George, the elder, is taking his first 
 lesson- in the public school. Elmer, a bright 
 little fellow, wonders why he can't go, too. 
 Both C A. Traylor and his wife were for 
 some years engaged in teaching in the public 
 schools id' the county. By strict adherence 
 to husiness methods Mr. Traylor is regarded 
 to-day in husiness circles as a safe and con- 
 servative man. lie enjoys a large patronage, 
 and by fair dealing his patrons have become 
 his friends. 
 
 .lolIN K. BEAT. 
 
 John K. Heal, who is engaged in general 
 farming and stock-raising, conducting his busi- 
 ness alone' modern lines which lead to success, 
 was horn in Butler count v. Ohio, near Hamil- 
 ton. February 6, 1865, and there spent the first 
 seven years of his life, after which he came 
 to "Montgomery county. Illinois, with his par- 
 ents, the family home being established in 
 North Litchfield township in 1872. After
 
 442 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 three years there passed, the family removed to 
 Eillsboro township, where the father began 
 farming, and upon the old homestead there 
 John K. Beal was reared to manhood in the 
 usual manner of farmer lads of the period. He 
 attended the common schools and assisted in 
 the labors of field and meadow, continuing with 
 his father until twenty-four years of age, when 
 he began farming for himself. He purchased 
 forty acres of land in 1892 and .-till owns that 
 property. To his original purchase he has 
 added, however, until lie now has a valuable 
 farm ol one hundred and seventy-three acres, 
 of which eighty acres is bottom land. In addi- 
 tion in tin' production of the cereals besl adapt- 
 ed tn soil and climate, he is engaged in the 
 raising of horses, mules and cattle, and has 
 some line annual- upon his place. 
 
 On the l."dh of December. 1898, Mr. Beal was 
 united in marriage to Miss Jennie McAdams. 
 They had two children, hut one died at the age 
 of two and a half years, the other when four 
 years of age. Mr. Heal takes quite an active 
 and helpful interest in community affairs, sup- 
 porting every movement which he believes will 
 contribute to the public good and the general 
 progress. He is a Democrat in his political 
 affiliation and has served as highway commis- 
 sioner in Hillsboro township. He is a valued 
 member of Montgomery lodge. No. 40, I. 0. 0. 
 F.. of Hillsboro, and his standing among his 
 brethren of the fraternity is indicated by the 
 fact that he has been called to fill all the chairs 
 in the lodge. A resident of the county through 
 almost a third of a century, he i? well known 
 here and has been a witness of much of the 
 modern growth and progress. His many friends 
 know him as a reliable business man and one 
 worthy their regard and confidence. 
 
 ZENO J. RIYES. 
 
 Zeno d. Rives, lawyer and congressman, was 
 horn in Hancock county. Indiana, on the 22nd 
 of February, 1874. His father. Alfred J. 
 Rives, who is now living in Litchfield at the 
 age of fifty-four years, was a native of North 
 Carolina and came to Montgomery county in 
 L880. He loeatel in the citv which is still 
 
 his home and for a time carried on a general 
 contracting business. lie has taken an active 
 and belpful part in community interests; serv- 
 ing as superintendent of streets and also as 
 superintendent id' waterworks and in these 
 capacities has labored for the best interests of 
 his city. His political views are in accord with 
 the principles of the Republican party and in 
 his fraternal relations he is a Woodman. lie 
 married Lettice S. Heath, who was born in 
 North Carolina and is now Living at the age 
 of sixty-one years. She is a member of the 
 Baptist church and an estimable lady whose 
 
 g 1 qualities of heart and mind have endeared 
 
 her to many friends. In the family were four 
 children, of whom William T. and Sarah I. 
 are now deceased. The others are Terry and 
 Zeno J., both residents of Litchfield. 
 
 Zeno J. Rives was but six years of age at the 
 time of his removal to Litchfield and obtained 
 bis education in the public schools of. this city. 
 After putting aside his text book- he worked 
 at any labor that would yield him an honest 
 living, but soon after took up the reading of 
 law. lie was admitted to the bar on the 12th 
 of October. 1901, and then entered into part- 
 nership with the late P. A. Wilhite. since which 
 time he has keen practicing with success. In 
 March. 1904, his partner died and Mr. Rives 
 has since been alone in the practice. He was 
 appointed to till the office of city clerk in Au- 
 gust, 1903, and served in that position with 
 satisfaction to all concerned. 
 
 For the practice of law Mr. Rives is well 
 titled by reason of his natural attributes and 
 his thorough preparation and research. Real- 
 izing that in this calling more than in almost 
 any other, success depends 11)1011 the efforts of 
 the individual, and also in an unusual degree 
 to keenness, power of analysis and logical sum- 
 marizing of the chief points in a case are essen- 
 tial, he has attained a credible position which 
 he now holds as a representative of the Mont- 
 gomery county bar. He entered upon practice 
 in 1901 and his success tame soon because his 
 equipments were unusually good, he having 
 been a close and earnesl student of the funda- 
 mental principles of law. Nature endowed him 
 with strong mentality and he has acquired that 
 persistent energy and close application with-
 
 JpLt^o-'tf 3- VX^y—L^)
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 445 
 
 out which there is no success. Along with these 
 qualities he also possesses the rare gift of ora- 
 tory. His advancement has been continuous 
 and he is recognized as one of the leaders in 
 his chosen calling. 
 
 In the summer of 1904, without solicitation, 
 Mr. Rives was nominated to represent the 
 twenty-first district in congress. The district 
 was supposed to be hopelessly Democratic. 
 The Democrats nominated the strongest man 
 they had in the district, Hon. Ben F. Cald- 
 well, who had been elected to the same office 
 by a plurality of three thousand seven hundred 
 and seventy-six in the same district two years 
 before. The mottling of November 9th showed 
 the wisdom of the nomination and that Mr. 
 Rives had been elected by the decided majority 
 of one thousand and seventy-seven over his 
 strong Democratic opponent. His great popu- 
 larity at home was manifested a few days after 
 the election by a splendid meeting at the opera 
 house in Litchfield in which the whole people 
 met. irrespective of politics, to offer Mr. Rives 
 their congratulations. 
 
 Mr. Rives is a member of the Knights of 
 Pythias and is also a very active and consistent 
 member of the Presbyterian church; in fact 
 his labors in this direction have been far-reach- 
 ing and effective in the various departments of 
 church work; in the Sunday-school and else- 
 where the results of his efforts are conspicuous. 
 
 JACOB E. 1 1 ALTER. 
 
 Jacob E. Ilaller. who is interested in general 
 farming and stock-raising, finding in this de- 
 partment of business activity opportunity for 
 successful accomplishment, was horn September 
 Ki. 1868, in Audubon township, Montgomery 
 county. 'Idle family is of German lineage and 
 his parents. Jacob and Annie (Abrahamson) 
 Hal ler. are still living. 
 
 Jacob E. Ilaller pursued his education in the 
 Si hools of Audubon township and Oak Grove. 
 south of Nokomis, and also spent three years in 
 the high school at Nokomis. He was reared 
 upon the home farm in the usual manner of 
 lads of the period, gaining practical knowledge 
 of the work of field and meadow through the 
 
 assistance which he rendered his father. In 
 the fall, when he was twent) years of age, he 
 went, to Sacramento and to San Francisco, Cali- 
 fornia, greatly enjoying his visit upon the Pa- 
 cific coast. He then returned home and en- 
 gaged in the operation of the home farm for 
 two years, after which his father returned to the 
 old homestead, but Jacob E. Ilaller continued 
 to operate the place for two years longer. He 
 then removed to what is known as the Best 
 farm, west of Nokomis. comprising two hun- 
 dred and forty acre-, which his father owned. 
 He afterward spent two years upon the farm 
 that is now occupied by his father, later lived 
 upon the .lames Scott place for two years, and 
 then removed to the Casselberry farm, where 
 he has now resided for three years. This place 
 comprises two hundred and eighty acres, but 
 in connection with general agricultural pur- 
 suits he is engaging successfully and extensive- 
 ly in the raising of stock. He makes a spe- 
 cialty of thoroughbred Duroc hogs, having thir- 
 ty head, lie and his brother-in-law purchased 
 a very fine hog in Iowa, which they will keep 
 for breeding purposes. They held a sale of 
 line hogs mi the 28th of September, 1903, and 
 also sold a number of horses. Mr. Ilaller is 
 equallv successful as a raiser of thoroughbred 
 Jersey cattle with Pedro at the head of his 
 herd. The sire of Pedro was a very valuable 
 animal, which sold for fifteen hundred dollars. 
 Mr. Haller's farm is well equipped with all 
 modern conveniences and accessories, and every- 
 thing about the place indicates his careful su- 
 pervision and progressive spirit. 
 
 On the 23d of February, 1898, was cele- 
 brated the marriage of Mr. Ilaller and Miss 
 Maude Ilarkev. a daughter of Jacob Ilarkev, 
 of Witt township. Her father was born May 
 5. 1850, in Montgomery county, while her 
 mother's birth occurred near Fairfield. St. 
 Clair count v. September 23, 1855. They have 
 one hundred and twenty acres of land in Witt 
 township and are well known farming people of 
 that locality. Mrs. Haller was born Decem- 
 ber 10. 1877, and is the second in order of birth 
 in a family of six children. The others are 
 Charlie, who married Ko-\ Nelson, of Win- 
 side, Nebraska, where he now makes his home; 
 Nellie May. who was bom March 27, 1881,
 
 i Hi 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ami is with her parents; Edna Grace, born 
 January 1, 1883; Mattie Blanche, born ( )ci<>- 
 ber 11. 1885; ami Glenn Martin, born June 
 is. 1888. .Mr. and Mrs. Haller have one child, 
 Jai nil. born January 8, 1901. 
 
 In In- political views .Mr. Haller is a Demo- 
 crat ami filled the office of highway commis- 
 sioner for six years, while in 1903 he was elect- 
 ed collector, although his district usually has a 
 strong Republican majority. He has been a 
 member id' the Masonic fraternity since 1890, 
 belonging mm to lodge No. 456, and he also 
 has membership relations with the Knights of 
 Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. 
 With a full realization that labor is the only 
 safe foundation upon which to build success, he 
 has worked perseveringly and untiringly in the 
 conduct id' Ins farming interests and has re- 
 ceived a good financial reward. 
 
 EL] CRESS. 
 
 Eli Cress, deceased, who was a respected 
 farmer of Montgomery county, living a quiet, 
 uneventful bin honorable life, which won the 
 esteem of all. was bom February 25, 1838, in 
 what is now Fillmore township. His father. 
 Peter Cress, came to this country at an early 
 day ami settled in Fillmore township, where he 
 reared his family. In ls:!ii he married Miss 
 Catherine Nusman, theirs being the first re- 
 corded marriage in Rountree township, and 
 her father. John Nusman, was the first white 
 man to establish bis home within the limits of 
 that township. Mrs. Cress died about 1860. 
 She was the mother of four children: Eli, 
 Harriet. Jane and one that died in infancy. 
 
 In the public schools near his borne Eli 
 Cress acquired bis education, and under his 
 father'-; direction he gained intimate knowl- 
 edge of farm work in all its departments, so 
 that practical experience qualified him to man- 
 age bis a If airs when he began farming on his 
 own account. He continued on the old home- 
 stead until after the outbreak of the Civil war, 
 when, in response to his country's call, he 
 donned the blue uniform and went forth to 
 defend the nation's starry banner and the cause 
 it represented. He became a member of Com- 
 
 pany B, One Hundred and Seventeenth Illi- 
 nois Infantry, enlisting at Hillsboro in Au- 
 gust. 1862. lie went with his command to 
 Meridian and hack to Yicksburg, Mississippi, 
 in February, 1864, this being General Sher- 
 man's first "grand march." In the lied River 
 campaign he was under General A. J. Smith, 
 of the Sixteenth Army Corps, in March, 
 April and .May of 1864; was m Arkansas and 
 Tennessee in June, 1864; in the Tupelo cam- 
 paign in August of the same year; in the 
 Price campaign in Missouri in September, Oc- 
 tober and November: against Hood in middle 
 Tennessee in December. 1864, and January, 
 1865; in the Mobile campaign in March and 
 early April. 1865; and thence to Montgomery, 
 Alabama, on the 24th of April, 1865, the regi- 
 ment being stationed there at the time of the 
 close of the war. He carried the colors in the 
 following battles: Fort de Russey, March 14, 
 L864; Pleasant Hill, April !> : Tupelo, July 
 14; Nashville, December 15-16, 1864; Blake- 
 ley and Mobile. Alabama. April lb 1865; and 
 thirty-three skirmishes. I luring its term of serv- 
 ice the regiment inarched twenty-three hun- 
 dred and seven miles, traveled by rail seven 
 hundred and se\ cut \ -eight miles, by water 
 sixty-one hundred and ninety-one miles, mak- 
 ing a total distance of nine thousand two hun- 
 dred and seventy-six miles. They captured 
 two stands of colors, four hundred and forty- 
 two prisoners and eight pieces of artillery. At 
 tin 1 close of the war Mr. Cress was mustered 
 out at Camp Butler. August 6. 1S65. He was 
 a faithful soldier, never faltering in the per- 
 formance id' any task assigned him and on 
 more than one occasion helped carry the colors 
 forward to victory. 
 
 Returning home when the country no longer 
 needed his aid. Mi-. Cress again took up the 
 work of the farm, which he continued to carry 
 mi throughout his remaining days. He made 
 further [(reparation for having a home of his 
 own by marriage, on the 24th of May, 1866, 
 to Miss S'ophronia C. McNitt, a daughter of 
 Thomas B. and Sarah (Cress) McNitt. Mrs. 
 Cress was born on the old home farm Septem- 
 ber 17, 1842. Her father died in 1860. but 
 her mother is still living and makes her home 
 with her daughter at the advanced age of

 
 ELI CRESS 
 
 MRS'. ELT CRESS 
 
 PETER CRESS 
 
 MRS. SARAH (McNITT) CHAMBERS 
 
 THOMAS B. McNITT
 
 H. E. CEESS AND FAMILY
 
 UNIVI : ILLINOIS 
 
 . ANA
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 451 
 
 eighty-four years. She is a woman of remark- 
 able energy for one of her years, and in 1903 
 made a trip to California alone. She is the 
 eldest native daughter now living in Mont- 
 gomery county. She is the mother o1 eleven 
 children, of whom seven died in infancy. Those 
 still living are: Francis T.. who is living in 
 Centralia, Washington ; Helen, wife of J. P. 
 Price; Jennie, wife of J. C. Jackson, of Gar- 
 nett, Kansas ; and M rs. ( iress. 
 
 Eli Cress continued to follow farming on 
 thf old family homestead until his death, 
 which occurred January 28, 18?]. his remains 
 being interred ai Bosi Hill. He was a Re- 
 publican in politics ami a loyal citizen, being 
 as true to his country in days of peace as when 
 he valiantly followed the old flag on southern 
 battlefields. Men respected him because he 
 was true to his honest conviction, because of 
 his freedom from self-praise and ostentation, 
 and because he was honorable in all his rela- 
 tions with his IVIlow men. 
 
 He is survived by his widow, who yet re- 
 sides on the homestead farm, and their son, 
 Howard E. Cress, who was born October '.'. 
 1867. IK' was educated in the common schools 
 and has always carried en agricultural pursuits, 
 havng charge of the home farm, comprising 
 two hundred ami seventy acres of land, located 
 in Fillmore and Fast Fork townships. lie 
 was married on the 18th of September, 1896, 
 to Miss Xora E. Opchurch, a daughter of A. F. 
 Upchurch, who has been a resident el' Mont- 
 gomery county fiu- forty-six years. His wife 
 bore the maiden name of Mary Yennv and is 
 a native of this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Howard F. Cress have been born two children: 
 Estelle and Orin, both attending school. How- 
 ard Cress is a Republican and a progressive and 
 public-spirited citizen, interested in affairs of 
 moment to the community, and he likewise 
 enjoys the confidence id' the business commu- 
 nity. 
 
 JESSE W. OSBORX. 
 
 Jesse W. Oshorn. through his connection with 
 the Hillsboro Creamery, is identified with one 
 of the leading productive industries of Mont- 
 
 gomery county, lie was born mi the farm on 
 which he new resides on section 14, Butler 
 Grove township, his natal day being November 
 1!', 1865. lie is a son of Samuel C. Osborn, 
 who settled upon this farm in the early "60s ami 
 who was a native of Montgomerj county. The 
 grandfather. Levi Osborn. located in this coun- 
 try at a very early day. arriving here about 
 1830 from Kentucky, lie was accompanied by 
 his wile and one child, making the journey on 
 horseback. 11 is wife, with a babj in her arms, 
 rode one horse and upon another horse carried 
 her household goods — as much as they brought 
 with them. Mi-. Osborn walked the entire dis- 
 tance and at length the journey was completed 
 and be undertook the task of establishing a 
 home in this wild region, where pioneer con- 
 ditions existed and where the work of im- 
 provement and progress had been scarcely be- 
 gun. From the governmenl s. C. Osborn se- 
 cured a claim covering eighty acres of land on 
 section I I. Butler drove township, and on this 
 he built a log cabin, containing one room.. 
 Many hardships and trials were to he borne 
 in those early days and with characteristic en- 
 erg\ be persevered in his work and in due 
 course of time his farm returned to him a good 
 living. Ili> wife boie the maiden name of 
 Lydia Kendrick and they were the parents of 
 eighi children: I.. I)., who is conducting the 
 creamery at Butler; Charles J., a stockman re- 
 siding in Nebraska; .lesse W. ; Mary E., the 
 wife of George Robinson, who is residing near 
 bis brother in Butler Grove township; Etta, 
 the wife of Leslie X. Smith, who is conducting 
 the Hillsboro creamery; Bertie, Ilattie and 
 
 Sarah, all deceased. At the tii if the Civil 
 
 war S. ( '. ((shorn enlisted in 1863, serving as 
 a private for about a year. He then returned 
 to his family and farm in Montgomerv county 
 and continued to carry on agricultural pur- 
 suits until his death, which occurred in 1876. 
 His wife died many years later, passing away on 
 the 1st of August. 1901, when sixty years of 
 age. 
 
 Upon tin 1 old family homestead Jesse W. Os- 
 horn speni the days of his boyhood arid youth 
 and in the public schools acquired his education. 
 He took charge of his father's farm when eigh- 
 teen years of age and subsequeni to his mother's
 
 I.V.' 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 death hie purchased the interesl of the other 
 heirs in the old homestead. He now owns one 
 hundred acres of land and farms altogether 
 three hundred acres, raising general crops and 
 buying and selling hay, corn, cattle and hogs. 
 In 190] he established the Hillshoro creamery 
 and in 1902 established the creamery in Butler, 
 while the following year he put in operation 
 the creamery at Witt. All of these are under 
 Ins supervision. He receives each month about 
 twenty thousand pounds of milk daily and ships 
 cream to the value of about five thousand dol- 
 lars monthly. His business interests are ex- 
 tensive and important and. owing to his capable 
 control, have made him one of the prosperous 
 men of his community. In all of his business 
 interests he is practical, far-sighted and ener- 
 getii and upon these qualities he has builded his 
 success. 
 
 On November 30, 1890, Mr. Osborn was mar- 
 ried to Miss Emma Ware, a daughter of David 
 Ware, one of the honored and valued pioneer 
 settlers of Montgomery county. They now 
 have an interesting family of four children: 
 Wesley W.. (trace. Clarence A. and Harold M. 
 Politically Mr. Osborn is a Republican and has 
 three times been elected township supervisor of 
 Butler Grove township. He is also a school direc- 
 tor and is secretary and treasurer of the cemetery 
 association. Plis interest in community affairs 
 has been manifest by active co-operation in 
 many measures for the general good and in 
 tangible support of different movements which 
 have for their object the upbuilding of the 
 county. 
 
 ALFRED \. BANES. 
 Alfred N. Banes, prominent as a representa- 
 tive of fraternal circles and a leader in com- 
 munity interests in Hillshoro. having for Pour 
 vears been a member of the board of education 
 and now serving as its secretary, was horn in 
 Hamilton county. Illinois. July 1. 1866. His 
 father, diaries Edward Italics, was a native of 
 Tennessee, and is now living in McLeansboro, 
 Illinois, at the age of seventy years. He came 
 to this state from Tennessee with his parents 
 when five years of age. the family home being 
 
 established in Hamilton county, where he was 
 reared amid the scenes of frontier life. He 
 was a farmer throughout the years of his active 
 business career, but at the time of the Civil 
 war he put aside agricultural pursuits in order 
 to espouse the cause of the Hnion, enlisting in 
 
 (' pany A, of the Fortieth Illinois Volunteer 
 
 [nfantry. He was enrolled at Springfield in 
 1861 and served until the close of the war. par- 
 ticipating in many important engagements and 
 thus displaying his valor and loyalty on many 
 a southern battlefield. In his political allegi- 
 ance he is a Republican, and he maintains 
 pleasant relations with his old army comrades 
 through his membership in the Grand Army 
 of the Republic. In early manhood he mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Perry, who was born in Illinois 
 and died September 6, 1872, at the age of 
 thirty-six years. She was a daughter of Leroy 
 Jackson Perry, an early resilient of lliis state. 
 
 Alfred X. Bancs, one of a family of five 
 children, acquired his education in the public 
 schools and completed his preparation for life's 
 practical and responsible duties by pursuing a 
 course of study in the business college at Dixon, 
 Illinois. He afterward pursued a teacher's 
 
 rse at Covington. Indiana, ami then engaged 
 
 in teaching school for eight years in Christian 
 county. Illinois. During the last three wars 
 of that period he was principal of the scloils 
 at Harvel. On the expiration of that period 
 he began editing the Harvel Era, which he 
 conducted for three years and at the same 
 tunc was connected with J. J. Carey in the 
 lumber business at that place. In December, 
 L898, he was appointed deputy county clerk of 
 Montgomery county under John M. Shoemaker 
 and has served in that capacity to the present 
 time, proving a capable and faithful officer. 
 
 Tn 1895 Mr. Banes was united in marriage 
 in Miss Phoebe A. Carey, a daughter of Jes e 
 J. and Helen (Ross) Carey. Her father was 
 a farmer and merchant of Harvel, who removed 
 from Pike county to Christian county and 
 thence to Montgomery county. His political 
 views were in accord with the principles ,,f 
 Democracy and he served as a member of the 
 board of supervisors for three terms, acting as 
 chairman of the board in 1898. He is now 
 engaged in the lumber business at Harvel and
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 153 
 
 is a man of considerable means, having directed 
 his business interests with such care that he 
 has acquired a handsome competency. Mrs. 
 Bancs was bom in Pike county, Illinois, in 
 1865, ami bas become the mother of five daugh- 
 ters: Ada E., Myra F... Havilla J., Gladys 
 ami Eunice. 
 
 The parents air members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, and Mr. Banes belongs to 
 tbo Knights of Pythias fraternity, Independent 
 Order of Odd Fellows ami the Modern Wood- 
 men of America, lie is very prominenl in these 
 organizations ami has represented each local 
 lodge in the grand lodge. In his political views 
 be is a Democrat ami does everything in his 
 power to promote the growth and insure the 
 success of his party. His entire life has been 
 passed in Illinois, and during much of the time 
 he has lived in Montgomery county, where he 
 has a wide acquaintance. He is known for his 
 reliability in business, his faithfulness in office, 
 his progressiveness in citizenship and bis fidel- 
 ity in friendship, and these qualities have made 
 him a valued resident of Ilillsboro ami Mont- 
 gomery county. 
 
 LEROY F. WOOD. 
 
 Leroy F. Wood, a member of the firm of 
 Wood Brothers, real-estate dealers in Litchfield, 
 conducting extensive and profitable business 
 operations in Land and improved property, was 
 horn en tin' 25th of .lanuan . IS I 1. in North 
 Litchfield township, and is the eldest son of 
 Elder John and Elizabeth W. (Williams) 
 Wood, the former a Baptist minister. The 
 paternal grandfather was Bennett Wood, who 
 was born in Virginia, ami died in Montgomery 
 county, Illinois, lie had a family of ten chil- 
 dren, including Elder John Wood, whose birth 
 occurred in Knox county. Tennessee, in 1818, 
 and died in this county in 1883. His educa- 
 tional privileges were very limited, lie being 
 unable to read until after his marriage, when 
 he was taught by his wife. He came to Illinois 
 with his parents in 1828, and for many years 
 he devoted much of his time to the work of 
 the ministry, being a Regular Baptist and a 
 local elder ordained to that office in the Regu- 
 
 lar Baptisl church, lie was a successful busi- 
 ness man. owing to his enterprise and unfalter- 
 ing perseverance and courage, tie worked for 
 one man at leu dollars per month until he bad 
 earned enough money to pay for eighty acres 
 of land, which he hail entered from the govern- 
 ment and lor which he had to pay the usual 
 price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. He 
 married Elizabeth W. Williams, March 25, 
 1840, and they became the parents of twelve 
 children, those now living being Leroy F., Mrs. 
 Namy Bewley, .Mrs. Rachel S. Baker, Mrs. 
 Martha M. Post. Francis P.. McCurley, Wil- 
 liam S. and Thomas 1 1. 
 
 Leroy F. Wood was reared under the parental 
 roof and in his early manhood was married to 
 Luraney E. Ward, a native of Vigo county, 
 Indiana, the marriage being celebrated on the 
 25th id' February, ls:>s. In their family were 
 five children: Mrs. Sarah P. Roberts, the eld- 
 est, whose husband is a farmer and resides near 
 Litchfield, has live children, one of whom is 
 married ; Rufus P.. who is also married, is em- 
 ployed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance 
 Company ami resides in Litchfield; Rettie, who 
 is the wife of K. II. CofVcy. a paperhanger, and 
 they have one child; John S., thirty years of 
 age. is now in his father's office; .'esse A. is 
 married and resides in Holiday, Kansas, where 
 he is now engaged in farming. At the time of 
 the Spanish-American war he enlisted in the 
 United States Army for three years, ami for 
 two years was in the Philippines with Battery 
 of the Sixth United States Eeavy Artillery. 
 After his marriage Leroy F. Wood began 
 farming and followed thai pursuit until after 
 the inauguration of the Civil war, when he re- 
 sponded to his country's call for aid. enlisting 
 on the llth of August. 1862, a- a member of 
 Company A. Ninety-first Illinois Infantry. He 
 served us a non-commissioned officer lor three 
 years and was in the department of the Rio 
 Grande in the southwest. He look part in a 
 number of important battles and was always 
 faithful to the cause which he espoused, lie 
 was wounded at Spanish port. Alabama. March 
 27, 1865, and discharged June 19, 1865. After 
 the war he relumed to his family and resumed 
 farming in Montgomery county, hut suhse- 
 quently he learned the carpenter's trade, which
 
 -1 5 I 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 he followed for a Eew years. At a later date 
 he turned his attention to the insurance busi- 
 ness and since 1882 has been a representative 
 of this field of activity, lie has also operated 
 in real estate, and in March, 1891, he was joined 
 by his brother in the establishment of the pres- 
 en1 firm of Weed Brothers. They have dealt 
 extensively in farm and city property and have 
 enjoyed a large clientage. 
 
 Mr. Weed became a member of the Christian 
 church in 1858, and tor twelve years was con- 
 nected with the ministry, putting forth earnest 
 ami conscientious effort in behalf of the cause. 
 He was elected justice id' the peace in 1886 Eor 
 a term of four years, has also been assistant 
 suprevisor, and was on the county hoard of 
 supervisors from 1 ss I until 1886, being elected 
 to these various positions on the Democratic 
 ticket. 
 
 JUDGE EDWARD YOUNG RICE. 
 
 Judge Edward Young Rice was born in Lo- 
 gan county. Kentucky. February 8, 1820. In 
 his native state he remained until about fifteen 
 years of age, when he removed with his parents 
 to Macoupin county. Illinois. His lather. 
 Francis Rice, was a native of Caswell county. 
 North Carolina. He was engaged in a minis- 
 terial Life, and identified with agricultural and 
 mercantile pursuits. His death occurred in 
 August, 1837, aged about sixty-three years. 
 lli> wife was Mary Gooch, also a native of Cas- 
 well eounty. North Carolina, and a daughter of 
 William and Mrs. (Carr) Gooch. Both were 
 among the prominent families of North Caro- 
 lina. The parents of our subject had seven 
 sons and four daughters, of whom the Judge 
 was the youngest. 
 
 The Judge received a limited education in 
 the common schools, with the addition id' about 
 two years at Shurtleff College. He then taught 
 school and studied law with Governor Palmer, 
 at Carlinville, from which place he was admit- 
 ted to the bar in February, 1844. In Septem- 
 ber of the following year be came to Hillsboro, 
 where he practiced hi- profession until in Oc- 
 tober. 1 SSI . when he entered into partnership 
 with Judge A. X. J. Crook, at Springfield. Illi- 
 
 nois. While engaged in the practice of his pro- 
 fession he has always been honored with a 
 large and lucrative practice. In 184? he was 
 
 elected to the ollice of recorder of deeds of 
 
 Montgomery county. In November, 1848, he 
 was honored with an election to the lower house 
 of the [llinois legislature, a special session car- 
 rving him to the year 1851, and in that year 
 be was elected to the ollice of county judge 
 to fill tin' unexpired term caused by the resig- 
 nation of Joseph Ralston, and during the years 
 1853 to is:.;, he was master in chancery. In 
 April, 1857, be was elected to the office of cir- 
 cuit judge for a term of four years, but by 
 the formation of a new circuit, composed of 
 Sangamon, Macoupin, Montgomery and Chris- 
 tian counties, he was re-elected for a term of 
 six years, ami in 1st;; for a term of six years 
 longer, but before the term expired he resigned 
 his office to accept the nomination for congress 
 from the •'old tenth district." In that position 
 he served until in March, is;:!, and it was 
 during bis term that the state was re-districted. 
 He was a member of the constitutional conven- 
 tion which assembled in December, 1869, and 
 completed its work in May, 1870. In this con- 
 vention be served upon many important com- 
 mittees. In the early part of 1874, he. in 
 connection with his son-in-law, Amos Miller, 
 , .peiied their present law ollice in Hillsboro, 
 now under the firm name of Rice. Miller & 
 McDavid. He was married November 29, 
 1840, to Mr-. Susan I,'. I Allen I Coudy, a na- 
 tive of Clark eounty, Kentucky. She bad one 
 child— Isabella, wile of F. C. Bolton, a rail- 
 road operator in Indianapolis. By this mar- 
 riage, the Judge has two children living — Mary, 
 wife of Amos Miller, and James E. Y., who is 
 attending Blackburn University. He is a Dem- 
 ocrat in political tenets, and. with his wife. 
 belongs to the Presbyterian church. 
 
 MOSES E. BERRY. 
 Moses F. Berrv, the owivt of a productive 
 farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres ,,„ 
 section '.'I. r.utle" Grove township, is one of 
 the worthy citizens that Ohio lias furnished to 
 Montgomery county, his birth having occurred
 

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 i.-.: 
 
 in the city of Cincinnati on the 4th <la\ of 
 Deei iiilier, 1855. He was only a year old, how- 
 ever, when brought by his parents to Illinois, 
 ami was reared in this comity upon a farm, his 
 boyhood days being passed in the usual manner 
 of farmer lads. He acquired a common-school 
 education and through the summer months 
 worked in the fields. Since attaining manhood 
 he has Eollowed the pursuit to which he was 
 reared, and he is now the owner of a very de- 
 sirable property, comprising two hundred and 
 seventy-five acres of land, which is very pro- 
 ductive. It constitutes a valuable farm, which 
 is highly cultivated and is improved with all 
 modern equipments, for the owner is abreast 
 with the progressive spirit of the times. 
 
 Mi-. Berry was married September '.'1. is", 
 to Miss Tillie S. Schroeder, ami they now have 
 four children: Chester, Arthur. Annetta and 
 Harry. The parents hold membership in the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Berry 
 belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp. His 
 position mi the temperance question is indicated 
 by the fact of his earnest and unfaltering sup- 
 port of the Prohibition party. He is thoroughly 
 in sympathy with all that is tending to elevate 
 mankind and to advance the moral condition 
 of the people, and to aid in a substantial and 
 honorable character development, ami his own 
 career is guided by high principles, which make 
 him a respected citizen of his community. 
 
 ELI AS X. PRAY. 
 
 Elias N. Pray, interested in general farm- 
 ing, his landed possessions embracing three 
 hundred and sixty acres of choice prairie land 
 in Audubon township, is also well known be- 
 cause of the active and helpful interest he has 
 taken in community affairs. He was born mi 
 the 25th of September, Is.">T. in Uniondale, 
 Dutchess county. New York, his parents bring 
 George D. and Nancy (Baker) Pray, both of 
 whom were natives of the Empire state, ami 
 were of English and Scotch lineage, respect- 
 ively, although both the paternal and the ma- 
 ternal grandparents were likewise horn in Xew 
 York. The Pray family was represented in 
 the Colonial Armv during the Revolutionarv 
 
 war. two of the great-unelcs of our subject he- 
 me- killed while defending the interests of the 
 colonists in that lone' struggle with Great Brit- 
 ain that resulted in the establishment of the 
 Republic. Their remains were interred in the 
 cemetery of Beekuian. New York. 
 
 George D. Pray had three sisters ami three 
 brothers, hul all are now decease, I. lie devoted 
 his energies to agricultural pursuits and was 
 the owner of a farm of two hundred and ten 
 acres, which he conducted with excellenl suc- 
 cess, hut since his death it has been sold. He 
 died when forty-five years of age ami his wife 
 passed away at the age of forty-three years, 
 their remains being interred in Verbank ceme- 
 tery in Uniondale. In their family were two 
 sons and two daughters who are yet living, and 
 one son who is deceased, Elias N. being the 
 eldest of the family. George died in Chicago 
 in August, 1883. Ida is the wife of Charley 
 Duncan, a resident of Pleasant Valley, Dutch- 
 ess county. New York. Martha resides at 
 Chestnutridge, in Dutchess county. Seward. 
 the youngest, married Cassie Chase, of Rose- 
 mond, Illinois, and he is employed as baggage- 
 man by the Illinois Central Railroad Company 
 at Chicago. 
 
 To the public school system of his native 
 county Elias X. Pray is indebted for the early 
 educational privileges which he enjoyed. He 
 afterward spent two years in a boarding school 
 and one year in a military school at Pough- 
 keepsie, Xew York, and later continued his 
 studies for a year in DeGarmo Institute and 
 one year at Moore's Male Institute. When his 
 education was completed ami his text-hooks laid 
 as'de he entered business life to learn its prac- 
 tical and difficult lessons. He began farming 
 in eastern Xew York, cultivating a tract of 
 land in Dutchess county which belonged to an 
 uncle, ami there he remained for six years, 
 after which he operated a cousin's farm for one 
 year and later rented land for a year. This 
 was in 1879, and after leaving the rented farm 
 lie came to Montgomery county, Illinois, in 
 March, lsso. where be bad previously pur- 
 chased two hundred and sixty acres. The boun- 
 daries '<( bis place he has since extended until 
 he now has three hundred and sixty acres, and 
 all of the improvements upon the farm have
 
 458 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT1 
 
 been made by him and stand as monuments to 
 his thrift and enterprise. He planted the en- 
 tir -chard save a feu trees, and has been suc- 
 cessfully engaged in horticultural pursuits as 
 well a* agricultural pursuits. The farm is well 
 equipped with modern accessories, and his life 
 has been one of unwearied diligence, which lias 
 formed the basis of his richly merited prosper- 
 ity, lie is likewise the \ue president of the 
 Audubon Detective Association. 
 
 tin the 22d of February, L883, Mr. Pray 
 was married to Miss Etta Conant, a daughter 
 of P. H. Conant, of Springfield, Illinois. They 
 became the parents id' nine children: Ida. who 
 died December 11, 1896, at the age of thirteen 
 years; Elmer 1!.. who died December 11. 1887, 
 at the age of two years; Sadie V.. who died 
 March 15, 1801. when two years old; Nellie, 
 horn January 30, 1891 ; Harry, horn July 2, 
 1892; Gladys, horn May 21, 1894; Mabel, hem 
 January 1. 1896; Pearl Marie, horn September 
 18, 1897; and Helen Adelaide, horn December 
 1<>. 1900. The parents hold membership in 
 the Congregational church at Rosemond, and 
 Mr. Pray is a recognized leader of the local 
 ranks of the Democracy, taking an active part 
 in its work and doing all in his power to pro- 
 mote thi' growth and success of the party. He 
 was assessor for two years, collector for one 
 year and is township treasurer at this writing. 
 His otficial service has always been acceptable 
 to his fellow townsmen, being characterized by 
 conscientious and capable performance of dutv. 
 
 EASTON W. WHITTEN. 
 
 The desirability of Montgomery county as a 
 place of residence is indicated by the feci thai 
 man}- of her native sons have remained to be- 
 come substantia] residents of this part of the 
 stale. Mr. Whitten, now following farming in 
 Fillmore township, was born September 23, 
 1848, near the present place of his residence, 
 and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Kirk) 
 Whitten, who were early settlers of the county. 
 The father was born in Kentucky and came to 
 Illinois with his parents among its earliest 
 residents. He was then hut a boy, and amid 
 the wild Fcenes of frontier life he was reared. 
 
 sharing with the family in the hardships and 
 trials which fall to the lot of those who seek 
 .oid establish homes in a frontier district, lie 
 assisted in the arduous task of developing a 
 new farm, and throughout his entire business 
 career he carried on agricultural pursuits, 
 which he found to be a good source of revenue. 
 He became the owner of two hundred and 
 forty acres of rich land, • constituting a fine 
 farm, in Fillmore township, and thereon he 
 ,-peiii his remaining days. In his family were 
 -imp children, of whom five are now living, 
 namely : Cinor, the wife of John Allen, a 
 resilient of Fillmore township; Willmuth, wife 
 of Benjamin Roberts, of the same township; 
 Easton W., of this review: Thomas J., also 
 a resident of Fillmore township; and Eliz'a- 
 beth, wife of Thomas Wilson, of Fillmore. 
 
 Easton W. Whitten remained under the 
 parental roof during the period of his minority 
 and acquired his education in the public 
 schools, the duties of the school room and the 
 pleasures of the playground largely occupying 
 his attention until he became his father's 
 active assistant in the labors of the farm. He 
 continued to carry on agricultural pursuits 
 on the old homestead until thirty years of age. 
 when he removed to his present place of resi- 
 dence. Here he at lirst had but twenty acres. 
 but as opportunity has afforded he has added 
 to his possessions, extending the boundaries 
 of his farm until he now owns six hundred and 
 seventy-eight acres. He raises both grain and 
 stock for the market and he has a well devel- 
 oped place, the fields being carefully tilled, 
 
 while in his pastures are found g 1 grades of 
 
 cattle, hogs and horses. He has erected a good 
 residence, built a commodious ham and other 
 necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain 
 and stock, cleared the land, has planted trees, 
 and now has a farm which is very productive 
 in appearance and is worthy of considerable 
 mention. 
 
 On the 22d of April, 1880, at the home of 
 the bride, Rev. J. Williford performed the 
 wedding ceremony that made Easton W. Whit- 
 leu and Oelestia Wright man and wife. The 
 lady was born September 11. 1855, and is a 
 daughter of Elijah and Druscilla (Lynn) 
 Wright, nor father is a native of Fillmore
 
 UNIVE
 
 E. \V. WIIITTKX AND FAMILY
 
 ME. AND MBS. THOMAS \Y KITTEN 
 
 MB. AND MBS. ELIJAH WEIGHT
 
 .INOiS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 163 
 
 township, this c unity, his parents having come 
 here at an early day from Kentucky, and her 
 mother is a native of Knit inky. Mr. Wright 
 owned a valuable farm of about five hundred 
 acres in Fillmore township and built the brick 
 house which stands on a part of our subject's 
 farm. Jn his political views he is a Demo- 
 crat, but has never cared for the honors or 
 emoluments of public office. He and Ids wife 
 now make their home in the town of Fillmore. 
 Of their seven children five are living, namely: 
 Camilla, wife of Robert Nelson, of Fillmore 
 township; Celestia, new Mrs. Whitten; Jo- 
 seph .'.. a resident of Ramsey; Sarah Eliza- 
 beth, wife el' Frank Blackburn, who lives near 
 Quincy, Missouri; and Emerson, a resident el' 
 Eouston, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Whitten have 
 become the parents of five children: Perry <>.. 
 who was born May 28, L881, and new lives en 
 a farm near Quincy, Missouri; Elijah 0.. born 
 December L6, 1882; Thomas <).. who was born 
 August '.'1. 1885, and died September 23, 
 L885 ; Denver G., born June 20, 189] ; and 
 [ma, born December 29, 1892. All are at heme 
 
 with the exception Of the eldest -en. 
 
 Mr. Whitten supports the Democratic party, 
 hut political positions and honors have no at- 
 traction for him, as his life has been devoted 
 to farming and stock-raising interests. When 
 he came into possession of his place it was 
 largely covered with timber, and to clear this 
 and make the fields productive has been his 
 real lifework. 
 
 JOSEPH ROBERT GRANTHAM. 
 
 J. Rohert Grantham, new living in Butler 
 Grove township, was born in Irving township, 
 Montgomery county, on the 30th of November, 
 L869. His father. Joseph Grantham, died 
 when the son was hut seven years of age, leav- 
 ing his widow, Mrs. Alary M. Grantham, with a 
 family of six children, the youngest being hut 
 six months old. The Grantham family is one 
 of the oldest of Montgomery county, having 
 been established here at a very early day by the 
 
 grandfather, .la s Grantham, who settled in 
 
 Irving township. All around was wild and 
 unimproved ami he assisted in laying the foun- 
 
 dation for its present develppmenl and up- 
 building. His son, Joseph Grantham, was 
 horn upon the eld farm place in [rving town- 
 ship. 
 
 In his youth •!. Roberl Grantham of this re- 
 new had few privileges and advantages. He 
 was hut ten years of age when he and his elder 
 lu-otlier. then a youth of twelve years, took 
 
 charge of the h e farm for their mother. 
 
 They worked together until he was fifteen 
 years of age, when he assumed the entire man- 
 agement of the heme place, his brother hiring 
 out to assist in caring lor the family. As op- 
 portunity afforded he attended school, remain- 
 ing a student in the common -e] Is until six- 
 teen years el' age, when he entered the Irving 
 high school. All this time hi' continued his 
 farm work. When twenty-three years of age 
 he began teaching and seen afterward he en- 
 tered the Wesleyan University, where he spent 
 one term. He was a teacher in the public 
 schools of I r\ ing for one t> rm, and I hus he 
 supplemented the income derived from Ins 
 farming operations. He continued to carry en 
 agricultural pursuits there until 1895, covering 
 a long period, characterized by unfaltering dili- 
 gence and perseverance. 
 
 On April I. 1895, Mr. Grantham was mar- 
 ried to Miss Grace M. Westcott, of Butler Grove 
 township, and with her started one week later 
 on a tour of California and the west, returning 
 the last of June following, when they took up 
 the labors of building and improving their 
 home. Their landed estate consists el' two 
 hundred and thirty-two and one-half acres, one 
 hundred and eighty acres id' which is in thi-. 
 heme farm, lie has made all of the improve- 
 ments upon the place, and in connection with 
 genera] farming has carried en stock-raising, 
 making a specialty of shorthorn cattle. He 
 owns some line cattle, and this department of 
 his business has proved a good source of income 
 to him. 
 
 In politics he is a Prohibitionist and in reli- 
 gion a Methodist, and has served as superin- 
 tendent of the Sunday-school for many years 
 and taken a helpful part in other church activi- 
 ties. Hi- life has been one of continued and 
 persistent industry crowned with success. The 
 dutie- which generally come with manhood
 
 464 
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 fell upon him in the days of his youth, and 
 as the years advanced he made the most of his 
 opportunities, so shaping his business career 
 as to win \ rn desirable prosperitj . 
 
 WILLIAM ROBERT BIVENS. 
 
 William Robert Bivens, who is freight cash- 
 ier on the Wabash Railroad at Litchfield, and is 
 popular with the employes of that road as well 
 as his fellow townsmen, wis born in Milledge- 
 ville, Georgia, on the 22d of June, 1850, Ins 
 parents being William R. and Ann A. Bivens. 
 William R. Bivens spent his early youth in his 
 native state and attended school there, but his 
 educational privileges were somewhat limited, 
 as at an early age he began to earn his own 
 livelihood. He was also a railroad agent in 
 central Georgia. He entered the railroad ser- 
 vice in April, 1863, as check clerk during the 
 period of the Civil war. In 1871 he removed 
 from that state to Texas, where he engaged in 
 herding horses and cattle until 1872, going 
 over the prairie to Denver, Colorado. In the 
 latter city he spent the winter of L872-73 and 
 next went to Pueblo, but in the spring of 1873 
 he left Colorado for Kansas, where he remained 
 until the succeeding autumn, going thence to 
 Texas in the latter part of that year. In the 
 Lone Star state he was engaged in fanning 
 for one year, and afterward engaged in freight- 
 ing for six years, owning his teams and outfit. 
 From 1882 until 1894 he was again in Georgia 
 in the employ of the Central Georgia Railroad 
 Company, with which he continued for eight 
 years, and was also with Stevens Brothers & 
 Company, extensive manufacturers of sewer 
 pipe, tile and ether clay work. With that corn- 
 pan} lie occupied the position of bookkeeper 
 and cashier, and from the latter office he came 
 to Litchfield, Illinois, arriving in this cit\ en 
 the 2d of September, 1894. lie lias since oc- 
 cupied the position of freight cashier with the 
 Wabash Railroad Company, and is one of the 
 popular officials in that line, his uniform cour- 
 tesy ami obliging manner as well as capability 
 in the performance of his duties winning him 
 me friendship and respeel of the employers as 
 well as the patrons of the road. 
 
 In LST4 Mr. Bivens was united in marriage 
 to Miss Lydia A. Tomlinson, who was horn 
 near Rome, Georgia. The] became the parents 
 of six children: Nona, now the wife of II. B. 
 Molyneaux, of Omaha. Nebraska, by whom she- 
 has one chihl; Louise, at home; Mary, the wife 
 of John Hendrickson, of Litchfield; Joseph, a 
 druggist residing in Uuldridge, Nebraska; 
 Henrietta, at home: ami Annette, who is at- 
 tending school. 
 
 While in Georgia Mr. Bivens was a standi 
 supporter of the Republican party, and in L896 
 cast his ballot for McKinlcy. hut locally he 
 votes independently of party ties. He was 
 appointed a member of the school hoard of 
 Litchfield, and in 1903 he was a candidate on 
 the Republican ticket for alderman for the 
 second ward of Litchfield. He was reared in 
 the faith of the Methodist church and always 
 took an active part in its work, and is still in- 
 terested in everything pertaining to the moral 
 development of his community, but his husiness 
 cares are too great to allow him to become a 
 very active factor in such work. He has led 
 an extremely busy and useful life, and his 
 present responsible position is t]vt to his in- 
 dustry and integrity. 
 
 ABNER SAMMONS. 
 . Miner Sammons, well known in his neighbor- 
 hood as a man trustworthy in husiness and en- 
 ergetic in the conduct of his farming interests, 
 
 is tl wner of two hundred and forty acres of 
 
 land in ButleT drove township, lie was horn 
 in Morgan county. Illinois, near the city of 
 Jacksonville, on the Ith of April, 1829, and 
 there he spent the days of his boyhood and 
 youth. When he luul attained to man's estate 
 he was married in that county to Miss Nancy 
 Keiner. who was born on the 13th of Septem- 
 ber, 1828, and gave her hand in marriage to 
 him in 1850. lie took- his bride to hi- father',- 
 farm ami continued the management of that 
 property and the cultivation of the fields until 
 1853. after which he leased a farm in Morgan 
 county and there resided until 1864. In the 
 hitler year he removed to the farm in Butler 
 Grove township. Montgomery county, upon
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 165 
 
 which he mm resides and which has been his 
 Inline for forty years. He has purchased one 
 hundred and forty acres on section ;, Butler 
 Grove township, and he owns altogether two 
 hundred and fort; acres of land, on which he 
 is carrying on general farming and stock-rais- 
 ing, although he lias passed the seventy-fifth 
 milestone on life's journey. Such a record of 
 activity and continued business usefulness 
 should put to shame many a man of younger 
 years, who, tired of the burdens and responsi- 
 bilities of business life, would leave to others 
 the tasks which he should perform for himself. 
 Mr. Sammons has made all of the improve- 
 ments upon his farm, and now has substantial 
 buildings upon the place, well tilled Belds, 
 modern farm machinery and. in fact, all of the 
 equipments found upon a model place of the 
 twentieth century. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sammons have been 
 horn seven children: John, who carries on 
 agricultural pursuits in the home neighbor- 
 hood; Ellen, the wife of Thomas Briggs, a 
 resident of Idaho; Mary and Albert, who are 
 deceased; William, a stock-buyer of Litchfield; 
 dames, a stock-buyer and farmer: and Arthur. 
 who is farming near the old home place. Mr. 
 Sammons has served as a school director, but 
 has never sough! or desired public office, pre- 
 ferring to give his attention to his business 
 affairs. He is a self-made man who, without 
 fortunate environment or any inheritance in 
 his youth, started out to make his own way in 
 the world and has steadily progressed by reason 
 of Irs determination and unfaltering purpose. 
 
 JOSEPH HACKNEY. 
 
 Joseph Hackney, who owns and occupies a 
 part of the old homestead farm on section 31, 
 Pitman township, is a native of Illinois, his 
 birth having occurred near Delhi City in Jer- 
 sey county on the 6th day of January, 1.S49. 
 His father. William Hackney, was born in 
 Tion. Xew York, dune 30, 1820, and was a 
 son of William Hackney, Sr., a native of Scot- 
 land, who in the year 1836 removed from the 
 Empire state to the Mississippi, there taking 
 up his home in Jersey county. Illinois, where 
 
 be assisted materially in the substantial devel- 
 opment of the locality in which he made his 
 home. His miii. William Hackney, dr., was 
 then a youth of sixteen years. He aided in 
 tin 1 arduous ta.sk of developing a new farm and 
 after arriving at man's estate be was married 
 in Delhi to Mi<~ Caroline Wilkins, whose birth 
 occurred in Jersey county, Illinois. They set- 
 tled upon a farm in that county and during 
 the years of their resilience there several chil- 
 dren were horn unto them. In 1873 they re- 
 moved to Montgomery county, where Mi-. 
 Hackney purchased a tract of land upon which 
 his son Joseph now resides, lie became the 
 owner of two hundred and fifty acres, which 
 he cultivated and further improved, cultivating 
 the soil year after year and keeping everything 
 about bis place in good repair. lie also kept 
 apace with the progressive spirit of the times, 
 using modern agricultural methods in his work 
 ami thus gaining success in his well-managed 
 affairs. He resided upon the old homestead 
 here until his death, which occurred July ".".', 
 
 1895, while his wife passed away in January, 
 
 1896. In their family were nine children, as 
 follows: Margaret, the wife of .1. D. Kendall, 
 of Zanesville township, who is serving a- town 
 supervisor ami is mentioned elsewhere in this 
 volume: Sarah .1.. the wife (if \V. 1.. King, of 
 Irving, Illinois: Joseph, of this review; Ma- 
 thew, who died in is; I in early manhood; 
 John W., who resides with his brother Joseph; 
 Carrie, the wife of I-]. P. Michaels, of Carbon- 
 dale. Illinois: Henry I>.. a farmer of Pitman 
 township: Udolpho, who died when twenty- 
 eight years of age; ami Kate Gracia, the wife 
 of F. O. Rogers, a substantia] farmer, who 
 owns a well improved tract of land, adjoining 
 the Hackney homestead. 
 
 Joseph Hackney spent his boyhood days in 
 
 the usual manner of far r hols, living on the 
 
 old homestead and attending the public schools 
 of the neighborhood. He remained with his 
 father until about thirty years of age and as- 
 sisted in tin 1 cultivation of the farm, hut in 
 1878 he went to Nebraska, where he pun-based 
 land and carried on agricultural pursuits for 
 two years. He next went to Colorado, anil he 
 spent two years in Idaho. Returning to Mont- 
 goinerv county in 1883 he took charge of the
 
 leu 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 home farm, here inherited a [.art of the tract 
 ami. by purchasing the interest of the other 
 heirs, succeeded in the ownership of the home 
 Farm, winch has since been his place of resi- 
 dence. He is an aetive ; energetic farmer, eon- 
 ducting his business affairs in a capable man- 
 ner ami deriving therefrom a good income. In 
 politics he is a stanch Democrat, lie displays 
 in his Life many of the sterling characteristics 
 lit In- Scutch ancestry, including the persever- 
 ance, activity ami business integrity. 
 
 W. SCOTT ROMINE. 
 
 W. Scott Romine, interested in farming and 
 stock-raising on section 35, Irving township. 
 was born m Hamilton county. Illinois. May 26, 
 I Slit, his parents being James M. and 
 Catherine (Shaw) Romine, the former a na- 
 tive of Ohio ami the latter of Indiana. They 
 became residents of Illinois in 1856, and in 
 L865 removed to Montgomery county, locating 
 in Irving township, where the father carried 
 on agricultural pursuits until his death, own- 
 ing one hundred and forty acres, lie died in 
 1882, when he was fifty-four years of age. and 
 his wife passed away September li, 190 1. al 
 the age of seventy-four year-. 
 
 W. Scott 1! me began his education in the 
 
 public schools of Irving ami remained at home 
 
 with his ther until twenty- four years of 
 
 age. when he removed to hi- present home in 
 Irving township, where be now owns a valu- 
 able farm of two hundred am! twenty acres. 
 The land is rich and productive, and. being 
 carefully cultivated by him. returns to him 
 large harvests. lie labors earnestly for the 
 improvement of his farm, and upon his place 
 are good buildings and modern equipments, 
 which indicate to the passerby thai the owner 
 is a man of progressive spirit. 
 
 On tin' 3d of May. 1885, Mr. Romine was 
 united in marriage to Mi^-s Laura .1. Xeisler, 
 a daughter of Henry Milton and Elizabeth 
 (Lipe) Noisier. The father was a native of 
 North Carolina and came to Illinois at an early 
 day. 1 1 is wife was a daughter of John Lipe, 
 also a native of North Carolina, who removed 
 to Montgomery cottntv in 1S32. Here Henry 
 
 Milton Neisler and Elizabeth Lipe were mar- 
 ried in 1839. They had little with which to 
 commence housekeeping, hut they possessed 
 courage and determination. Their first home 
 was a log cabin of two rooms that stood upon 
 the site of the present home of our subject. 
 Their neighbors were separated from them by 
 long distances and all around were pioneer con- 
 ditions and environments. Mr. Neisler wn- a 
 millwright by trade, hut he turned his atten- 
 tion to farming and entered forty acres of land. 
 He aiso bought eighty acres on the installment 
 plan, ami as the years passed he prospered in 
 his undertakings and made investment in prop- 
 erty until at the time of bis death he owned 
 nine hundred acres of land, though at one time 
 lie owned over twelve hundred acres. 1 mo 
 him and his wife were horn fifteen children. 
 Mr. Neisler departed this life in 1881 at Ihe 
 age of sixty-four years, and in 1893 Mrs. Neis- 
 ler became the wife of Joseph Davis, who died 
 in 189!). She is now living at the age of 
 eighty-one years and is enjoying remarkably 
 good health for one of her age. 
 
 Into Mr. and Mrs. Romine have been born 
 two children: Doy L. and Guy E. Mr. Romine 
 is a member of the Presbyterian church, ami he 
 belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp. No. 
 1498. and to the Mutual Protective League, 
 No. 8. He was a member of the Irving town 
 board for two years and is a Republican in bis 
 political views. In his business affairs be is 
 loyal ami enterprising, watchful of opportunity 
 and making the most of bis advantages, so that 
 as a farmer and stock-raiser he has met with a 
 fair measure of success. 
 
 WILLIAM T. THORP. 
 William T. Thorp, who is serving for the 
 second term as postmaster of Litchfield, was 
 horn in this city in 1869. His father. Edwin 
 C. Thorp, was born near Woodburn, Macoupin 
 county. Illinois, and is now living in Litchfield 
 in bis sixty-firs! year. He was identified with 
 merchandising for a long period, served as 
 postmaster undi r President Harrison's admin- 
 istration and is now acting as an assistant to 
 bis son in the Litchfield postoffiee. At the time
 
 W. S. UUMINE AND FAMILY
 
 UNIVi 1IN0IS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT <iF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Kill 
 
 of the Civil war he proved Ins Loyalty to the 
 government by enlisting in defense of the 
 Union cause as a member of Company D, 
 Eightieth Illinois Infantry, al Alton. He 
 served for two years and ten months and par- 
 ticipated in twenty-three important engage- 
 ments, including the battles of Missionary 
 Ridge, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Perry- 
 ville, Milton. Franklin, Resaea, the siege of 
 Atlanta and Joncshoro. He was captured near 
 Rome, Georgia, at which tunc his command 
 was two hundred and fifty miles from the main 
 line in the heart of the Confederacy and was 
 surrounded by the troops under General Forest, 
 General Edmundson and others. Mr. Thorp 
 was taken to Rome and thence to Belle Isle, 
 but after a few days spent at the latter place 
 he was paroled. Thirty days after receiving 
 the parole be was exchanged and then went 
 back to the front, after which he continued in 
 active service until mustered out after the close 
 of the war in Tennessee in June, 1865. In 
 early manhood be married Rachel L. Tyler, a 
 daughter of Ezra and Maria (Conway) Tyler, 
 the former a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Thorp 
 was horn in Indiana in September, 1842, and 
 by her marriage became the mother of six chil- 
 dren, of whom four are now living: Addison 
 C, who is in the postoffice in Litchfield; Wil- 
 liam T. : Edwin G., also in the postoffice; and 
 Bertha A., who is assistant postmaster. 
 
 William T. Thorp, the subject of this sketch, 
 was a student in the public schools of Litchfield 
 from the age of six years until he put aside his 
 text-books to become a clerk in his father's 
 store. Tie was thus employed for five or sis 
 years and for some time he has been prominent 
 in official life in the city, carefully caring for 
 the interests of bis constituents and of the pub- 
 lic in general. He was for one year city clerk. 
 Later be was appointed to a clerical position 
 in the office of the roadmaster of the Big Four 
 Railroad Company, and in 1899 he was chosen 
 postmaster at Litchfield, to which position he 
 has since been reappointed, so that he is now 
 serving for his second term. His administra- 
 tion of the office is characterized by business- 
 like methods, by promptness and fidelity. Mr. 
 Thorp is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and fraternally is connected with the 
 
 Masons and the Elks, while his political affilia- 
 tion is indicated by his appointment to office 
 under Republican administrations. 
 
 HENRY P. KASTIKX. 
 
 Henry 1'. Kastien, who for eighteen years 
 has been engaged in merchandising in Harvel, 
 
 has made his home in Montgomery county since 
 the spring of 1883, but his residence in llli- 
 Qois dates from 1865, at which time he took 
 up his abode in Madison county, so that he 
 has long been familiar with this portion of the 
 -tale. Pie is a native id' Germany, where his 
 birth occurred September 13, 1849. His father, 
 Frank J. Kastien, also born in that country, 
 was married there to Louisa Schreve. a native 
 of Germany. They became the parents of four 
 sons and four daughters, who reached mature 
 years, and three sons and four daughters are 
 yet living. The second oldest son came to the 
 new world, locating first in St. Louis. The 
 father spent his last years in Madison county, 
 Illinois, where he died in 190] at the age of 
 eighty-seven years, while his wife passed away 
 in 1S74 at the age of sixty years. 
 
 Henry I'. Kastien spent the first seven years 
 of his life in his native country. He had but 
 limited school privileges there and. aside from 
 a short course at a private German school in 
 St. Louis, hi' is largely a self-educated as well 
 as self-made man. He crossed the Atlantic to 
 the new world in 1855, arriving in St. Louis. 
 Missouri, on the 31st of December of that year. 
 Subsequently he went to Madison county, Illi- 
 nois, where he began work as a farm band, con- 
 tinuing his residence in that locality until 1883, 
 when he came to Rountree township. Mont- 
 gomery county. Here he continued to engage 
 in agricultural pursuits for four years, at the 
 end of which time he purchased a mercantile 
 establishment in Harvel, containing a line of 
 dry goods ami groceries. This he afterward 
 traded for a stock of hardware, and is now 
 engaged in the hardware and implement busi- 
 ness, in which la' lias built up a g 1 trade, 
 
 which is constantly increasing. lie is well 
 known in Harvel and the surrounding com- 
 niuuitv. is thoroughly identified with its pro-
 
 470 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 gressive interests, and in his business career 
 displays the sterling traits which command con- 
 fidence and respect. 
 
 Mr. Kastien was married inMadison county, 
 Illinois, Jul] 8, is; i. to Miss Emma Kjums- 
 sik, who was born in Madison county, Illinois, 
 and is of German lineage. They have throe 
 children: Delia, the wife of E. \Y. Boekewitz. 
 of Hanoi: Frank, who follows the painter's 
 i rade : and Celia, at home-. 
 
 Politically Mr. Kastien is independent in his 
 voting at local elections, but where national 
 issues are involved he supports the Democratic 
 party. He has been elected and served as 
 president of the village hoard, has also been 
 alderman and tax collector, and for four con- 
 secutive years filled the latter office, lie be- 
 longs to Earvel Lodge, L 0.0. 1'".. in which he 
 has filled all the offices and is a past grand, and 
 is likewise a member of the Woodmen Camp at 
 Litchfield and the Mutual Protective League. 
 lli> residence in Harvel now covers more than 
 twenty years, during which time he has made 
 here a good home, developed an excellent husi- 
 ness and won an honored name. 
 
 MOSES BERRY. 
 
 Starting out in life lor himself as a farm 
 hand ami working at ten dollars per month. 
 Moses Berry has in the conrse id' years gradu- 
 ally advanced in financial circles until he is 
 to-day one of the substantia] citizens of the 
 village of Butler, possessing a handsome eom- 
 petenee which has been acquired through his 
 own labors. He was born in Hamilton county. 
 Ohio. March IE is-, 1 :;, anil when three years of 
 age was taken by his father to Springdale in 
 the same county, lie is a son of Thomas and 
 Susan Berry and the latter died when her -on 
 Moses was only seven months old. In their 
 family were eleven children. After the death 
 of his first wife the father married again and 
 there were four children hv that marriage. 
 
 Moses Berry was reared upon a farm. He 
 remained in the services of one family for 
 three years ami then went to Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 where he secured employment in a pork pack- 
 ing establishment. He was tints engaged dur- 
 
 ing loui- winter seasons, while in the summer 
 months he was employed at farm labor. On 
 the expiration of that period he purchased 
 teams and began draying in Cincinnati, follow- 
 ing that pursuil for ten years. In 1855 he 
 came by way of the river to Illinois, landing 
 at Alton. He there purchased four horses and 
 two wagons ami continued his journey to But- 
 ler. Montgomery county, lie then purchased 
 his farm, at first becoming the owner of one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining his 
 present farm. There he engaged in e.cneral 
 agricultural pursuits and also bough! stock 
 and fed cattle. In the course of time he sold 
 the original property hut made investment in 
 other land and now owns three hundred acres, 
 constituting one of the valuable farms of the 
 county, upon which he made line improvements. 
 The place is now thoroughly equipped with all 
 
 i lern accessories and the income from his 
 
 property enables him to live in partial retire- 
 ment from labor. 
 
 On September 20, 1846, Mr. Berry was unit- 
 ed in marriage to Miss Eliza Van Sant, a 
 native of Kentucky, and they have now traveled 
 life's journey together for over fifty-eight years. 
 Unto them have been horn four children who 
 are vet living: M. E., who resides upon the 
 home farm: E. Illinois, the wife of William 
 Cannon, of But lei- : Ida B., the wife of Alonzo 
 Beatty, a resident of Paisley; and Ann. the 
 wife of Jacob Culler, of Raymond. They also 
 lost two sons. William and George. 
 
 Mr. Berry now has in his possession an anvil 
 upon which scythes were sharpened ami which 
 was used by his father and grandfather in the 
 days before grinding stands were to he had 
 for that purpose, lie started out in life a poor 
 hoy. hut has worked his way upward undeterred 
 by obstacles and difficulties. That he lias pros- 
 pered is shown by the fact that he lias now 
 a very valuable farm property in addition to 
 his home in Butler. He contributed gener- 
 ously to the building of the MethodisI Episco- 
 pal church in Butler, to which he belongs and 
 in which he is serving as a trustee. In politics 
 he is a Prohibitionist, taking a deep interest in 
 the temperance question. He has held the 
 office of supervisor and was school director 
 for thirty-six years. Mr. Berry has now passed
 
 LIBRARY 
 UNlVEi INOIS
 
 MOSES BEERY
 
 _ - 
 
 *• - \ 
 
 MI!S. MOSES BERRY
 
 - 
 
 UNIVERi 

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 i ; 5 
 
 the eighty-first milestone on the journey of 
 life and lias, therefore, been a witness of many 
 of tlic changes which have occurred anil have 
 shaped the history of the country. He receives 
 the veneration and respeci wieh should ever be 
 accorded to advanced age and which is due 
 liiin because of his upright, honorable life. 
 
 EARL lil.ACKMAN TRUITT, D. V. S. 
 
 Dr. Earl Blaekman Truitt is engaged in the 
 practice of veterinary surgery in Hillsboro and 
 is also proprietor of the leading livery barn of 
 the city. Be is well known as a representative 
 of .in old and prominent family and as one 
 of the native sons of the city, his birth having 
 here occurred in 1875. His father, James M. 
 Truitt, was a distinguished lawyer, a man of 
 rare attainments and a citizen of state-wide 
 reputation. He was born in Trimble county. 
 Kentucky, on the 28th of February. L842, and 
 was a son of Samuel and Cynthia A. (Carr) 
 Truitt, the former born in Henry county, Ken- 
 tucky, in 1818, while the latter was horn in In- 
 diana in the same year. Samuel Truitt was of 
 English Lineage, while his wife was supposed to 
 be of Scotch descent. He followed the occu- 
 pation of farming with excellent success and 
 was thus enabled to provide a comfortable home 
 for his family, numbering a wife and seven 
 children. 
 
 James M. Truitt. the second in order of 
 birth, was but three years of age when his pai« 
 ents removed to Greene county, Illinois, and lie 
 began his education in the old time subscrip- 
 tion school at Fayette, that county. He re- 
 mained upon the home farm, assisting his fa- 
 ther in its development and cultivation until 
 1862, when he enlisted in defense of the old 
 flag, being a stanch supporter of the Union 
 cause. He was assigned to duty with the boys 
 in blue of Company B, One hundred and Sev- 
 enteenth Illinois Infantry, and shortly after- 
 ward was promoted from the ranks to the posi- 
 tion of orderly sergeant. Two years later he 
 was commissioned second lieutenant and served 
 in that capacity until the close of the war. 
 He part ieipated in many severe battles, including 
 the engagements at Fort Blakeley, and he was 
 mustered out of service at Springfield. Illinois. 
 
 on the 5th of August, 1865. Subsequently he 
 spenl some time in McKendree College ai 
 Lebanon, Illinois, and in 18G6 he came to 
 Hillsboro, where he entered upon the study of 
 law iii the office of Judge .'esse .1. Phillips, with 
 whom lie remained until 1ST".', in the mean- 
 time gaining comprehensive knowledge of the 
 principles of jurisprudence and demonstrating 
 his ability to successfully cope with the in- 
 tricate problems of the law. Se practiced his 
 profession up to the time of his death and in 
 the trial of a ease he was strong and was recog- 
 nized as possessing the qualities which go to 
 make up the successful advocate. In manner 
 he was forceful, in speech was eloquent and 
 with his strong personality and strength of 
 character he won friends among the prominent 
 members of the bar of Illinois, lie was logical 
 iu reason, in debate forceful ami in statement 
 decisive. His marked ability for leadership led 
 to his selection for positions of prominence in 
 connection with state affairs. In ls;-.> he was 
 elected to the twenty-eighth genera] assembly 
 and served as a member of the house for two 
 years, lie then returned to Hillsboro, where 
 he continued ill the practice of law up to 'lie 
 time of his death, having a distinctively repre- 
 sentative clientage that connected him with 
 much of the important litigation tried in the 
 courts in central Illinois. He was the owner of 
 one of the finest libraries in the state and Ins 
 studious habits made him largely familiar with 
 it- contents. He did much toward molding tin' 
 policy of the Republican party in Illinois, but 
 sought not the rewards of office in recognition 
 of party fealty. In 1876 he was one of the 
 electors id' the Republican party ami in L880 
 was a Republican elector at large id' the -taie. 
 while in the same year and again in 1884 he 
 was a delegate to the Republican national con- 
 vention. Mr. Truitt was also one of the oldesl 
 members of the Grand Army of Illinois, belong- 
 ing to F. D. Hubbell Post. No. 403, of which 
 he served as commander. He likewise held 
 membership relations with Hillsboro Lodge. 
 No. .".1. A. F. & A. M. 
 
 on the l-t of October, 1m:;. .lames M. Truitt 
 married Mi>s Jennie Blaekman, a native of 
 TTillshoro. born on the 7th of May. 1847, and a 
 daughter of George and Hannah J. Blaekman.
 
 i;t; 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 They had two children: Ear] B., and Ida. who 
 resides with her mother in Hillsboro. The hus- 
 band and Father died July 25, 1900, at which 
 time he was serving as census enumerator of 
 Montgomery county. With a capacity and ex- 
 perience thai would have enabled him to ful- 
 fill any trust to which he might have been 
 chosen, he never sought to advance himself in 
 office, but was content to do his duty where he 
 could and left the self-seeking to others. He 
 was a man of very strong convictions and his 
 integrity stood as an unquestioned fact in his 
 career. Tie was always a student with a scope 
 and breadth of knowledge which rendered him 
 a charming conversationalist. Full of sympathy 
 with tin 1 greal movements of the world about 
 him. he watched the progress of events with 
 
 the keenest interest. He was recognized liv 
 
 those who knew him well as a man of most 
 kindly heart, of sterling worth and integrity 
 and incorruptible in all his professional and 
 social relations. 
 
 Fail B. Truitt, reared in his parents' home. 
 acquired hi? literary education in the public 
 schools id' Hillsboro and in 1896 entered the 
 Ontario Veterinary College, where lie was grad- 
 uated with the class of 1898. IF at once began 
 the practice of his profession and the follow- 
 ing year he also opened a livery stable, which 
 he is conducting, lie has just erected a fine 
 new brick stable, three stories in height with a 
 basement, in which are the Mails. The build- 
 ing i- fifty by one hundred feet and was com- 
 pleted at a cosi of six thousand dollars, being 
 the finest structure of the kind in Montgomery 
 county. IF? patronage is extensive and well 
 merited, because of hi- reliable business prin- 
 ciple- and his earnesl efforts to please his cus- 
 tomer-. 
 
 In September. L902, Mr. Truitt was married 
 to Mis- Maude Sim.-, a daughter of Alexander 
 Sims, a fanner now residing in Butler Grove 
 township. Mrs. Truitt was born on the home 
 farm north of Hillsboro in 1884, i- a member 
 of the Lutheran church and is well known in 
 this city and county. Mr. TruitI holds mem- 
 bership relations with the Knights of Pythias 
 and with the Modern Woodmen of America, 
 and he gives his political allegiance lo the 
 Republican party. 
 
 PLEASANT BEIGGS. 
 
 Pleasanl Briggs, an intelligent, enterprising 
 
 and well known farmer of North Litchfield 
 township, is numbered among Montgomery 
 county's native sons, his birth having occurred 
 in Zanesville township. March 15, 1851. He 
 is a son of Robert and Penelope ( Petty i 
 Briggs, the former a native of Illinois and the 
 latter of Tennessee. .Mr. Briggs was of Scotch- 
 Irish lineage, and was born in North Litch- 
 field township, Montgomery county, on the 11th 
 of May, 1824, being then a representative of 
 one id' the oldesi families id' this portion of 
 the state. He became a farmer and owned 
 forty-one acres of land in this township. He 
 married Miss Petty, whose people bad come 
 from Tennessee to Illinois, while the Briggs 
 family came from Ohio to Montgomery county. 
 Into the parents of our subject were horn 
 three children, but one died in infancy, and 
 Burd Briggs died December 31, 1901, in 
 Wayne county. Missouri. He married Lucy J. 
 Brandy, and after her death wedded Mrs. Max- 
 well, of Missouri, who is still living. 
 
 I'leasant Briggs largely acquired his educa- 
 tion in the Ritchie school near his home, and 
 he afterward engaged in teaching school for 
 two years there. He then turned his attention 
 to farming ami began agricultural pursuits on 
 hi.- own account on In- pre-cnt farm, where he 
 owns ninety acres of as fine land as can be 
 found in Montgomery county. It is bottom 
 land, rich and productive, and. owing to his 
 skillful cultivation, he annually harvests good 
 crops, which return to him a gratifying income. 
 
 On the loth of February, 1872, Mr. Briggs 
 was married to Mis- Mary Alice Roberts, a 
 daughter of dames ( '. Roberts, who lived in 
 
 Xorth Litchfield township and belonged t ie 
 
 of the old families of that locality. Two chil- 
 dren graced this union: Harmon E., who at- 
 tended the Beacon school, and spent two terms 
 in the Ritchie .school, since which time he has 
 been engaged in farming; ami Anna, who died 
 in infancy. 
 
 Mr. Briggs' father was a Democrat in his 
 early life and afterward joined the ranks of 
 i be Republican party, and Pleasant Briggs nas 
 always been an advocate of the principles of 
 thai greal political organization. He and his
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 4*> K 
 
 wife belong to Phillips Chapel of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal church and arc I rue to its teach- 
 ings, exemplifying in their lives their Chris- 
 tian faith. 
 
 LEMUEL DOYLE. 
 
 Lemuel Doyle is one of the younger repre- 
 sentatives of farming interests in Montgomery 
 county, and was born on section 3, Butler 
 Grove township, where he yet resides. His 
 birth occurred October 14, 1870, his parents 
 being [saac and Mary ( Mnts) Doyle. The 
 former was born in Greene comity. Illinois, 
 January 14, 1842, and was a son of Thomas 
 and Mary (Coates) Doyle, who were natives 
 of Kentucky, whence they removed to Greene 
 county in the year 1832. Isaac Doyle was 
 reared in the county of his nativity and came 
 to Montgomery county in the '60s. His 
 father purchased this farm and had given it to 
 him several years before, lie began the cul- 
 tivation of the land and continued its im- 
 provement for many years, erecting excellent 
 buildings and adding all modern equipments. 
 On the loth of September, 1869, he was united 
 in marriage to Miss Mary Mitts, who was born 
 in Sangamon county. Illinois. March 15, 1844, 
 a daughter of Jesse ami Zerelda Mitts. There 
 were two children born of this union: Lemuel 
 and Noah E., the latter a resident of Raymond 
 township. The father dad July 29, 1S00. He 
 was a member of the Masonic fraternity, being 
 connected with the lodge at Butler for many 
 years. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat 
 aiul he held the office of township supervisor 
 for three terms. Tie was also trustee for many 
 many years. His time and attention, however, 
 were chiefly devoted to his farm and the stock- 
 raising interests which he conducted upon the 
 home farm about four miles north ami one 
 mile east id' Butler. 
 
 Lemuel Doyle, whose name introduces this 
 record, spent the days of his boyhood and 
 youth under the parental roof, attended the 
 public schools, and also pursued his studies in 
 Carlinville and the Danville Normal College. 
 He as<isted his father in early boyhood days 
 and together they carried on the farm until 
 
 the father's death. Mr. Doyle. Sr., was the 
 owner of three hundred and forty acres of 
 valuable land, of which one hundred and sixty 
 acres is comprised in the home place 
 
 On the 6th of July, 1896, Mr. Doyle was 
 united in marriage to Miss Clara Molohon. and 
 tho\ have one son. Edgar, horn September 8, 
 1898. Mr. Doyle belongs to the Knights of 
 Pythias fraternity at Raymond and enjoys the 
 warm regard of his brethren of that order. He 
 is a young man possessing the enterprising 
 spirit of the age and of the middle west, and 
 in his iiiisiness affairs is found to he energetic 
 and determined, carrying forward with strong 
 purpose and by honorable methods whatever 
 he undertakes. 
 
 SAMUEL A. K1ME. 
 
 Samuel A. Kime, who has been active in 
 community affairs and is the supporter of 
 many movements for the general good, so that 
 he is numbered among the valued citizens of 
 Montgomery county, was horn in Litchfield 
 township on the 2d of November, 1857. His 
 father. Joshua Kime. was a native of North 
 Carolina, and in early manhood removed from 
 that state to Illinois, settling in Montgomery 
 county. He married Miss Cornelia Wagner, 
 ami look up his abode in Hillsboro township 
 about 1861. There he rented a farm for two 
 years, and on the expiration of that period 
 purchased the farm which is now occupied by 
 George Ferguson, comprising eighty acres of 
 land. To the further development and culti- 
 vation of this place he devoted his energies 
 until his death, and was one of the enterpris- 
 ing agriculturists of his community — a man 
 very reliable in husiness affairs. He died in 
 October, tssu, when but sixty-seven years of 
 age. his birth having occurred in 1822. His 
 wife survived him for two years and departed 
 this life in 1891. when fifty-four years i.i age. 
 Both were members of the Lutheran church 
 and were people "( the highest respectability, 
 enjoying the confidence and warm regard of 
 all with whom they were associated. They 
 had two children, the daughter being Mary F., 
 now- the wife of George L. Fer<ruson.
 
 t> 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF .Mo.XTi ;<).M KI!V riU'XTY 
 
 Samuel A. Kime, the son and the elder 
 child, acquired a common school education and 
 was trained to habits of industry and economy 
 upon the old homestead. When he had arrived 
 at years of maturity he took charge of the farm, 
 which he operated on shares, and there re- 
 mained until bis mother's death. He was mar- 
 ried on the 55th of February. 1891. to Miss 
 Mary Johnson and they have two children: 
 Mary J. and Henry Frederick. 
 
 Mr. Ivime owns altogether one hundred and 
 four acres of land and his property is valuable. 
 His house stands on section 27, Hillsboro tov\ □- 
 ship, about one mile west and four and a half 
 miles south of the city of Hillsboro. There 
 lie carries on general farming. A glance at 
 his place indicates to the passerby that the 
 owner is a man of enterprise and thrift, care- 
 ful in his work and practical in his methods. 
 His fellow townsmen have called him to pub- 
 lic office and for two years he served as justice 
 of the peace, while for nine years he has been 
 a school director. In politics he is a Republi- 
 can; fraternally is connected with the Modern 
 Woodmen of America : and religiously with 
 the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his 
 wife is also a member. 
 
 GEORGE W. BATEMAN". 
 George W. Bateman, who devotes bis time 
 ami energies to general farming and stock- 
 raising, bis home being cm section 35, Witt 
 township, was born upon this farm October 
 '.'I. 1851, bis parents being John ami Eliza- 
 beth (White) Bateman, who were natives of 
 Delaware. When they came to the west, set- 
 tling in Montgomery county, in the '40s, there 
 were no houses in their immediate neighbor- 
 
 1 1 ami many of the conditions of pioneer 
 
 life existed. They spent their remaining days 
 here, the father passing away en the 23d of 
 March. 1 897. when be bad reached the age of 
 eighty-three years, three months and twenty- 
 three days. His wife died en tin 1 17th of 
 September, 1886, at the age el' seventy-seven 
 years, five months and nine days. In their 
 family were six children: dames A., who 
 was born April I. is.",';, and is now living in 
 
 Indian Territory; William, who was born on 
 the Mb of August, 1839, and .lied on the 1st 
 el' November, following; Sarah Ann, who was 
 born May 29, 1841, and died at the age of 
 li fly-nine years; John W.. who was bom Feb- 
 ruary 19. 184."). and died November 14. 1870; 
 Henry, who was born July 1".\ 1847. and died 
 January •"). 1864; George \Y.. of this review. 
 
 George W. Bateman was a student in the 
 district schools of Witt township, the duties 
 of the school room, the pleasures of the play- 
 ground and the work of the home farm occu- 
 pying his time and attention through boy- 
 hood ami youth. He has always lived :ipon the 
 home farm and when be attained bis majority 
 he took charge of the property and has since 
 engaged in the further development and im- 
 provement of this place. He is an enterpris- 
 ing agriculturist who realizes the value of ro- 
 tating crops and of using the best improved 
 machinery to facilitate bis farm work. He 
 has made good improvements upon his place 
 and in its appearance it is neat and attrac- 
 tive. 
 
 On the 14th of October. 1875, Mr. Bate- 
 man was united in marriage to Miss Sarah 
 Lucinda haws, who was born in June, 1856. 
 and is a daughter of Thomas Laws, who was 
 a native of Illinois and is now deceased. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Bateman became the parents of four 
 children, but their first born, Dallas B., born 
 August 22, 1876, died on the 1st of December. 
 1876. Lorenzo Dow, bom July 22, 1878; is 
 now engaged in farming in Fayette county. 
 Illinois. Xoi Essie, bom September 16. 1880, 
 is now acting as her father's housekeeper. 
 Kerna Clement, born March 25, 1S82, was 
 married September is. 1904, to Dora Casey. 
 The wile and mother died February 19. 1905. 
 and her death was deeply regretted by many 
 friends. Mr. Bateman belongs to the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal church and has lived a life in 
 consistent harmony with his professions, lie 
 lias served as a member of the school board 
 for a number of years and the cause of edu- 
 cation finds in him a warm friend. He is 
 deeply interested in everything that pertains 
 to the intellectual and moral development 
 as well as the material upbuilding of bis 
 community and because of his sterling worth
 
 mi;, and mes. geobge w. hatkmax
 
 RARY 
 UMfV: ■ INOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 IM 
 
 he has gained the warm regard of many with 
 whom lie lias been associated. 
 
 HIRAM B. SPERRY. 
 
 Hiram 1!. Sperry is the owner of a valuable 
 and well improved farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres, which he lias developed from the 
 wild prairie. A native of Ohio, his birth oc- 
 curred November 27, 1833, near Chillicothe, in 
 Ross county. His parents were John and 
 Catherine (Snyder) Sperry, both of whom 
 were of German lineage, the father's birth hav- 
 ing occurred in Virginia, while the mother 
 was a native of Pennsylvania. John Sperry 
 spent his early youth in Rockingham county. 
 The grandfather of our subject served in the 
 war of 1812, and removed from Virginia to 
 Ohio in 1815, at which time he was twenty 
 years of age, his birth having occurred in 1795. 
 The grandfather purchased land, which he de- 
 veloped into a good farm, making it the family 
 borne, and John Sperry afterward purchased 
 the property, on which he lived for seventy 
 years. lie then sold out and removed to 
 Greenfield, Ohio, where he died in 1878 at the 
 age of eighty-three years. His wife passed 
 away in 1879 and both were Laid to rest in 
 Ohio. Throughout his entire business career 
 John Sperry had carried on agricultural pur- 
 suits and lived an upright, honorable life. 
 His political allegiance was given to the Dem- 
 ocracy, but later he voted with the Abolition 
 party, subsequently with the Free Soil party 
 and when the Republican party was formed 
 to prevent the further extension of slavery he 
 joined its ranks and continued one of its sup- 
 poi iei- nut d in- death, lb 1 \\ a- a member of 
 the .Missionary Baptisl church. In the I'amilv 
 were fourteen children, of whom Hiram Sperry 
 was the seventh in order of birth. Eight are 
 still living, four sons and four daughters: 
 Abraham, the eldest, who was a teacher, is de- 
 ceased. Isaac, also a teacher, was a member 
 of the Seventy-third Ohio Infantry in the Civil 
 war and was killed at the battle of Gettys- 
 burg, his remains being interred in the Na- 
 tional cemetery there. Mary has also passed 
 awav. Jacob is living in Koss county, Ohio. 
 
 Elizabeth and John are deceased. Hiram B. 
 is the next younger. Sarah, who was a. teacher, 
 married Steven Whittaker and resides in Pike 
 county. Illinois. .Martha married Isaac Gray 
 ami lives in Nokomis. Rebecca and Nancj 
 wire twin.-. The former, who was also a 
 teacher, is now the wife of Samuel Wilson and 
 resides in Greenfield, while Mrs. Nancy Baker 
 is living al Chalklevel, Missouri. William, who 
 al-o followed teaching, was a member of an 
 Illinois regiment in the Civil war. Janus, a 
 soldier of tin' Seventy-third Ohio Infantry, 
 was wounded at Lookout Mountain, but recov- 
 ered and is living in Pike county. Illinois. 
 Judson is living at Chalklevel. 
 
 Hiram II. Sperry acquired his education in 
 the public schools of Ko^s county, Ohio, where 
 he afterward began farming, and throughout 
 In- entire lite In' has carried on agricultural 
 pursuits. He came to Illinois in 1857, settling 
 upon a. tract of land in Pike county. The fol- 
 lowing year he was married to Miss Mary A. 
 Doran, a native of Ohio. They became the 
 parents of eleven children. Cicero J., who 
 was educated in the Danville, Indiana. Nor- 
 mal school and who taughl for five years, foui 
 years in Illinois ami one year in Florida, mar- 
 ried Gillie A. Caraway and is now living at 
 Apalachicola, Florida. He is engaged in busi- 
 iii'-- as a ship carpenter. Normau J. died 
 when fourteen years of age. J. Milo married 
 Margaret Barber and lives on section 31, Au- 
 dubon township. Minnie, who engaged in 
 teaching for seven years in Illinois, is now the 
 wife of Emery Pennypacker, of Nokomis. 
 Mary is the wife of Millard Graden, of Audu- 
 bon. Mallie. who was a successful teacher in 
 Illinois for li\e years, is the wife of Wilson 
 Huddleston, living in Nokomis township. 
 lone, who was a teacher for seven years, is the 
 wife of Clem Travlor, of Colleen. J. Clarence 
 married Hattie Webber and is living in Audu- 
 bon. Edward married Carrie Scott, resides in 
 Nokomis town-hip and is engaged in school 
 teaching. Nettie i- the wife of William Louns- 
 herry, id' Witt township. May, who has en- 
 gaged in teaching for two years, resides at 
 home. 
 
 Mr. Sperry is tin' owner of a farm of one 
 hundred and sixty acre-, which he has devel-
 
 182 
 
 PAST AMi PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 oped from the raw prairie, making all of the 
 improvements thereon. He broke this land, 
 ami after placing it under the plow planted 
 Ins seed and in due season reaped good har- 
 vests. He has since carried on agricultural 
 pursuits and as the years have gone by he has 
 met with a Fair measure of prosperity. He 
 taughl school for eleven years, following the 
 profession in Ohio for five years and in Illi- 
 nois for sis years and was thus identified with 
 the earl} educational interests of this state, 
 lie has lived to see great changes here, for 
 at the time of his arrival wild animal,- were 
 yet found upon the prairie, deer being seen in 
 large numbers and many kinds of feathered 
 game were to be seen. As time has passed the 
 pioneer dwellings have been replaced by large 
 and substantial homes. excellent farms 
 have been improved and modern equipments 
 have made Montgomery county one of the leaci- 
 ing agricultural districts of this great com- 
 monwealth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sperry arc 
 members of the Baptist church, and he is a 
 stanch Republican. He has now reached the 
 age of seventy-one years and is a hale and 
 hearty man. enjoying life and maintaining a 
 keen interest in the affairs of his county and 
 its upbuilding. 
 
 DANIEL CRESS, JR. 
 
 Daniel Cress, Jr., living in Fillmore town- 
 ship, was horn on the old homestead farm 
 which he now occupies April 29, 1846, his pa- 
 rents being Moses and Crissa (Barringer) 
 Cress, both natives of North Carolina, the for- 
 mer born May 8, 1800, and the latter November 
 1. 1804. They were married in that slate May 
 25, L825, and in 1831 earn.' to Montgomery 
 county, Illinois, being among the early resi- 
 dents of this locality. The homes of tin' set- 
 tlers were then widely scattered and the work 
 of progress and improvement seemed scarceh 
 begun. The cities were then mere h>w ns and 
 many of the villages hail not vet sprung into 
 existence. Pioneer conditions existed through- 
 out the county and there were many difficulties 
 and trials to he met by the early settlers. Mr. 
 ('res- purchased his land from Pleasant Shep- 
 
 herd, tin' father of Hiram Shepherd, and event- 
 ually became the owner of seven hundred acres, 
 earning on farming on an extensive scale. 
 Ho was prominenl ami influential in commu- 
 nity affairs in an early da\ and his name should 
 he recorded on the pages of history devoted to 
 tin' early and honored pioneer residents. lie 
 died on tin 1 12th of September, 1850, and his 
 wife, who long survived him. passed away Sep- 
 ieniher 6, 1883. In their family were the 
 following children: One. who was horn March 
 5, 1826, and died in infancy: Betsy Louise, 
 born February 15, 1827: Edward C, horn April 
 10, 1S29'. Richard !>.. who was horn August 
 li. ts:it. and was only four weeks old when the 
 family came to Montgomery county: Peggy 
 Maria, born December 8, is:'.:;: George Henry, 
 horn January 26, 1836; Caroline C. born June 
 3,1838; Mary Ann, born duly 8,1840; Sarah 
 Catherine, horn March •.':;. 1843; and Daniel, 
 horn April 29, 1846. All arc now deceased 
 with exception of our subject. 
 
 Daniel Cress attended school here at an early 
 day. pursuing his studies through the winter 
 months, while in the summer season he worked 
 at farm labor. After the age of sixteen be 
 never attended school, but gave his attention 
 to agricultural pursuits ami has remained con- 
 tinuously upon the old home place. The Cress 
 farm is now one of the largest in the county 
 and is also one of the best developed. Mr. 
 Cress started with four hundred aires of land 
 and now has over sis hundred acre-. Much of 
 bis father's old homestead has been sold, while 
 lie retained possession of the home and also 
 of some land surrounding il. lie has made 
 substantia] improvements upon the farm, in- 
 cluding the erection of g 1 buildings and his 
 
 property is neat and thrifty in appearance. 
 His ham is one of the best in the entire coun- 
 ty ami the other equipments upon the place 
 are in keeping with the day. He gives most of 
 his attention to the raising of stock and has 
 never sold a carload of corn in his life. Tie 
 bears a national reputation as a breeder of 
 Percheron horses and he is also extensively en- 
 ea'jeil in raising brown Swiss cattle. Poland 
 China hogs and Shropshire sheep. He owns 
 four stallions all black Percherons and one 
 jack and he raised three of the stallions him-
 
 UNIVf
 
 FRANK CRESS 
 
 DANIEL CRESS, JR. 
 
 MRS. DANIEL CRESS, JR.
 
 MRS. CKISSA CRESS' 
 
 LEVI WHITTEN 
 
 MRS. JANE WHITTEN
 
 UNIVI
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OE MONTGOMEEY COUNTY 
 
 -1ST 
 
 self. He conducts a breeding stable in seasons 
 and In' has many registered animals upon his 
 farm, including horses, cattle and sheep, lie 
 has nut a cheap horse upon the place, nearly 
 all being pure blooded, while thirty are pure 
 bred. He also keeps a supply of young stock 
 of all kinds on hand and he owns the only herd 
 of Swiss cattle in the county, lie has built up 
 an enviable reputation as a breeder ami has 
 gained success by unfaltering perseverance and 
 earnest labor. 
 
 On the oil of October, 1867, when twenty- 
 one years of age, Mr. Cress was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Jane Whitten, a daughter of Levi 
 ami Priscilla (Hill) Whitten. Her father was 
 born in Kentucky, February 1. 1822, ami died 
 September I. L885, while her mother was born 
 in this county, March 27, 1823, and died De- 
 cember 1, 1888. The] were married on the 
 15th of January, 1841. ami wore the parents 
 of the following named children: John P.. 
 who was born December 31, 1841. and died 
 August 24, 1851; Henry J., who was horn 
 November 12, 1843, and also died on the 24th 
 of August, 1851 : Austin F.. who was born 
 March '.',. 1846; Keziah .lane, who was horn 
 November 1 I. 1848, and is now the wife of 
 our subject; one who was horn June 1. 1850, 
 ami died the following day unnamed; Peter W., 
 who was horn November in. is;.:',: Chloe 
 Louisa who was horn February is. 1855, and 
 married Elijah Tackaberry; Stephen ('.. who 
 was horn August '.'I. 1S.~>7: one who was born 
 and died on the 24th of June, 1860; Thomas, 
 who was horn August 21, 1861 ; and Mary 
 Luvena, who was horn Augusl '.'1. 1864, and 
 died June 15, 1903. Mr. and ^Irs. Cress have 
 become the parents of three children: Clara 
 Minnie, born Juh 27, 1868, is now the wife of 
 Alexander Bost, of Fillmore township, and 
 fa- -i\ children, four sons and two daughters. 
 Myrtie May, born January 7. 1879. died the 
 following April Frank Edward born Septem- 
 ber s. lssn. is al home. 
 
 Mr. Cress is a supporter of Democratic prin- 
 ciples and in religious faith his wife is con- 
 nected with the Lutheran church. Both are 
 widely known in Montgomery county and have 
 a large number of friends who esteem them 
 highly and neeord them a leading position in 
 
 the soeial circles of the community. As a 
 business man Mr. Cress is known far beyond 
 the limits id' Montgomery county ami lie has 
 ever enjoyed the reputation I'm- honorable deal- 
 ing that is indeed commendable and gratifying. 
 
 ALGY F. STEANGE, D. I >. S. 
 
 Dr. Algy I'. Strange, engaged in the prac- 
 tice of dentistry in Litchfield and thoroughly 
 familiar with the modern methols of this sci- 
 ence, was born at Walshville, Illinois, in 1871 
 and i> a son of Alexander T. Strange, who is 
 represented elsewhere in this work. To the 
 district -el 1 system of the count} he is in- 
 debted for the early educational privileges he 
 enjoyed, lie afterward pursued a course in 
 the Litchfield high school and was engaged in 
 teaching for two years, lie next entered the 
 dental department of Washington University 
 at St. Louis in 1897, spending two years there 
 ami then in order to further prepare for the 
 profession which he had determined to make 
 his life work he matriculated in the Marion 
 Sims Dental College m 1900 ami was gradu- 
 ated with the cdass of 1901. In .May of the 
 latter year he opened an office, remaining in 
 Litchfield in active practice until 1902, when 
 be accepted the position of demonstrator of 
 operative dentistr] in his alma mater, there 
 remaining until the spring of 1903, when he 
 resumed his practice in Litchfield, lie has a 
 well equipped office and has already secured a 
 patronage which is large ami profitable. The 
 lines are being constantly tightened around the 
 professions and greater ability is demanded of 
 the men who enter this class of life. The 
 knowledge is being continually broadened, and 
 in order to attain success one musl have a 
 comprehensive understanding of important 
 principles and methods and musl apply his 
 learning in practical manner to the needs of 
 i hose who desire professional sen ice. I >r. 
 Strange is accorded a leading place in the ranks 
 of the dental fraternity in Montgomery coun- 
 l\ and the work which he has done has given 
 such excellent satisfaction thai bis patronage 
 - continually increasing. 
 
 In September, is:i". was celebrated the mar- 
 riage of Dr. Strange and Miss Lulu Hope, a
 
 1,88 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 daughter of James and .Man (Chamberlin) 
 Hope. She was born in Hillsboro township and 
 thej now have two children, Russell and Ar- 
 trude. The parents arc members of the Pres- 
 byterian church ami Dr. Strange is identified 
 with the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent 
 Protective Order of Elks and the Delta Sigma 
 Delta. In politics he is a Republican. He is 
 also a member of the Illinois and Missouri 
 Dental Associations, the Springfield Society and 
 the Southern Illinois Branch of the Society. 
 lie has been named as a delegate to the fourth 
 international dental convention to he held in 
 St. Louis in October, 1904, and he is certainly 
 one of the rising young members of the pro- 
 fession. 
 
 DAVID P. ATTEBERY. 
 
 David P. Attebery is one of the active and 
 enterprising business men of Montgomery 
 county. He has been closely identified with in- 
 dustrial interests, has taken important con- 
 tracts in connection with railroad building, 
 and a- a farmer and stork dealer has conducted 
 an extensive and prosperous business. He 
 stands as a representative id' one of the lead- 
 ing types of American citizens— alert, enter- 
 prising and progressive, watchful of opportu- 
 nities and making the most of his advantages. 
 At the same time he has maintained a high 
 reputation for honorable dealing and has come 
 to be known as one of the trustworthy citizens 
 of Grisham township. 
 
 Born in Litchfield, January 16, 1864, Mr. 
 Attebery became a resident of Hillsboro town- 
 ship when only a year old. hi- parent- locating 
 upon a farm at that time. He obtained his 
 education in the public schools, assisted in the 
 farm work through the periods of vacation, 
 and when nineteen years of age joined his 
 brother, W. -T. Attebery, in a partnership. 
 They operated their father's farm on the 
 -hare- for three years, and at the age of twen- 
 ty-two David P. Attebery went to Kansas. 
 where lie secured a homestead claim, upon 
 which lie lived for two years. He afterward 
 -prni one year upon a farm in Grisham town- 
 ship, Montgomery county, and then, locating 
 
 in Litchfield, became a buyer for Wilton & 
 Pierce, stock dealers, lie had been in their 
 
 employ for eight years when he was admitted 
 In a partnership that continued for two years. 
 (In (he expiration of that period Mr. Attebery 
 removed to the farm upon which he now re- 
 sides, hut engaged in buying stock and grain 
 at Walshville in partner-hip with A. I'.. Cope- 
 land. He afterward purchased a sawmill in 
 Grisham township, which he operated for three 
 years, ami in this way cleared up eight] acres 
 of heavy timber, lie has since engaged in 
 general farming and in trading m -lock, al- 
 though he has in a measure extended his ef- 
 forts to other Inn- of activity. In 1903 he 
 took a contract to furnish rock lor thi hridges 
 on the railroad lor the cutoff, lie hauled iron 
 for sixteen miles of the cutoff, to he used in 
 building culvert.- for the railroad. Some of 
 these pipes weighed as much as ten tons, and 
 .Mr. Attebery did the hauling with steam en- 
 gines. He also took the contract for cutting 
 out and hauling the dirt on the regular Big 
 Four cutoff. He now owns two hundred acres 
 of land mi sections 5 and 6, Grisham township, 
 and has his farm under a high state "f culti- 
 vation and well supplied with modem equip- 
 ments and accessories which facilitate farm- 
 ing. 
 
 Mr. Attebery has been married twice, in 
 is-,; he wedded Mi-- Essie Davenport, and 
 they had three children : Bessie E.. Nellie 
 Pearl and David E., aged respectively thir- 
 teen, eleven and nine years. The mother died 
 at the birth of her youngest child, and in ls;i; 
 Mr. Attebery was again married, his second 
 union being with Cora McAdams, widow of 
 William A. slaughter, who by her first mar- 
 riage had one son. Yornio R., now ten years 
 of age. By the second marriage there are two 
 children: Willie otto, lour year- of age: and 
 ( lharles F... two years old. 
 
 Mr. Attebery does n ,,i affiliate with any po- 
 litical party, hut votes to support the meas- 
 ures which he believes will work the greatest 
 good for the majority, and for the men whom 
 he thinks best qualified for office. His energy 
 and unremitting industry have formed the 
 salient features of Ids life history and have 
 proven the basis of his success. IFving al-
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 48!) 
 
 ways lived in Montgomery county, he is well 
 known here, has many friends and enjoys the 
 confidence of the business public. 
 
 lolIX ('. GEASSEL. 
 
 John ('. Grassel, whose farm of two hundred 
 acres on section 32, Butler Grove township, is 
 the visible evidence of his life of thrifi and 
 industry, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb- 
 ruary L5, 1852. His lather, George Grassel, 
 was a native of Bavaria, Germany, bom in 
 1806. In early life he learned the trade of 
 blacksmithing, at which he served a four years' 
 apprenticeship. Thinking that better business 
 opportunities were afforded in America, he 
 crossed the Atlantic tn the United States in 
 ix:!i; when luil thirty-six years of age. Land- 
 ing at New York, lie afterward worked his way 
 in the west, doing blacksmithing at various 
 places along the way. Finally establishing his 
 his home in Cincinnati. Ohio, he there con- 
 ducted a blacksmith shop for thirty years and 
 on the expiration of that period he removed to 
 Kentucky, settling near Covington, where he 
 followed gardening for seven years. lie then 
 came in Montgomery county, Illinois, and with 
 the proceeds of his labor in former wars lie 
 purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land 
 in Hillsboro township, upon which he lived 
 until 1887. In that year he took up his abode 
 in the city id' Eillsboro, where he remained un- 
 til his death, which occurred in 1894. His life 
 was crowned with a high measure of prosper- 
 ity and his success was due entirely to his own 
 
 efforts. He ca in A rica empty-handed 
 
 save that he had a good knowledge of the trade. 
 He worked earnestly and persistently, allowing 
 nothing to interfere with his labor, and as the 
 years advanced he accumulated a handsome 
 competence which he judiciouslv invested in 
 land until hewas at one time the owner of eleven 
 hundred acres in Hillsboro and Butler Grove 
 townships. This he afterward divided among 
 his children. He carried on general farming 
 and stock-raising and his practical knowledge 
 and untiring efforts enabled him to so conduct 
 his business affairs a.- to gain the besi possible 
 return for his labors. In communitv affairs 
 
 he was interested, taking an active part in 
 many measures and movements for the general 
 
 g I- He served as a .-clu.nl director and both 
 
 he and his wife were devoted members of the 
 Lutheran church. Mrs. Grassel passed away 
 in L901 at the age of eighty-six years. She bore 
 the maiden name of Catherine Esperl and to 
 her husband she was a devoted companion and 
 helpmate on the journey of life, ably assist- 
 ing him in his efforts to secure a handsome 
 competency. There was little resemblance be- 
 tween hi.- condition in later rears, when sur- 
 rounded by his own extensive fanning lands, 
 and Ins financial condition when he arrived 
 in America w ith only a dollar and a half and 
 his clothes wrapped up in a handkerchief. Un- 
 to Mr. and Mrs. Grassel were horn ten chil- 
 dren: Barbara, the wife of Henry Swartz; 
 George F., a dry-goods merchant of Cincin- 
 nati, Ohio: Margaret, the deceased wife of 
 Fred Fellner; Mary, tin wife of Albert Fore- 
 man, of Cincinnati. Ohio; Emma, deceased; 
 John ( '. : Edward, who is living in Butler Grove 
 township; Henry, who conducts a creamery in 
 Litchfield; Carrie, deceased; and Charles, who 
 reside,- iii II illsboro. 
 
 John C. Grassel, of this review, was but eight 
 years of age at the time of the removal of his 
 parents to Montgomery county. He acquired 
 his education in the common schools and as- 
 sisted his father in the farm work, being early 
 taught the lessons of honesty, industry and 
 economy. Two years prior to his marriage he 
 located upon the farm which he vet occupies, 
 keeping bachelor hall until he procured a com- 
 panion and helpmate on the journey of life 
 by bis marriage in 1879 to Miss Mary Lewej 
 Their home has been blessed with five children: 
 Harry, Albert. Walter, Etta and Frederick. 
 
 Mr. Grassel owns two hundred and seventy 
 acre,- of land, of which two hundred acres is 
 comprised within Hie home farm on section 32, 
 Butler Grove township, where he is engaged in 
 the tilling of the soil and in the raising of 
 stock. Tie makes a specialty of shorthorn 
 cattle and he is also engaged in the dairy busi- 
 ness. His active business career has made bis 
 I il'e a useful one and be has now a well im- 
 proved property, indicating his careful super- 
 vision and progressive methods. His fellow
 
 I '.HI 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 townsmen, recognizing his worth, have fre- 
 quently called him to office. He served for nine 
 years as road commissioner and then after an 
 interval of six years was again elected to that 
 office, in which he is now serving. He has been 
 school director at different times, altogether 
 covering a period of about fifteen years and no 
 public trust reposed in him has ever been be- 
 trayed in the slightest degree. He feels deeply 
 interested in the success of the Republican party 
 and in the promotion of conimunitv interests, 
 ami fraternally In 1 is connected wit!', the Wood- 
 men lodge. Having long resided in Mont- 
 gomery county, lie is well known to its citizens 
 ami tho fact that those who have known him 
 Longest are numbered among his stanchest 
 friends is indicative of an honorable career. 
 
 JAMES F. M. GREENE. 
 
 James F. M. Greene, who is filling the posi- 
 tion of postmaster at Hillsboro. takes an active 
 part in community interests ami i^ known as 
 an advocate of progressive measures contrib- 
 uting to the substantial upbuilding and the in- 
 tellectual and moral development of the city, 
 llr was born in Circleville, Ohio, on the 12th 
 of September, 1855. His father, Daniel 
 Greene, also a native of Circleville, was a 
 farmer by occupation and at the time of the 
 Civil war espoused the cause of the Union, 
 enlisting in his native city in 1SC1 as a mem- 
 ber of Company C. Kightv-eighth Ohio In- 
 fantry. He was mustered out at Camp Chase. 
 Columbus, July 8, 1865, with the rank of first 
 sergeant. The company was stationed at Camp 
 Chase during the war. Subsequent to this time 
 Mr. Greene removed to Indianapolis. Indiana, 
 where he worked at the carpenter's trade, spend- 
 ing his remaining days in that city. He was 
 very prominent and influential in religious cir- 
 cles as a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and his efforts in behalf of the cause 
 of Christianity were far-reaching and bene- 
 ficial, lie died in 1891 at the age of sixty-five 
 years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of 
 Ma iv E. McCoy, was born in Circleville, Ohio, 
 in 1832, was of Scotch lineage and died in 
 1888 at the age of fifty-six vears. Her father, 
 
 .lames McCoy, was a farmer. Like her hus- 
 band. Mrs. Greene held membership in the 
 Methodist Episcopal church and her children, 
 eight in number, were therefore reared amid 
 the refining influences of a good Christian 
 home. The family numbered three sons and 
 five daughters, namely: .lames F. ; Robert E., 
 who is engaged in the poultry business in Car- 
 linville. Illinois; Martha J., who is the wife of 
 David G. Kennedy, a clerk in Litchfield : 
 Phoebe Ellen, deceased ; Sarah E.. who has also 
 passed away; Charles M., who is superintendenl 
 of a coal mine at Atchison: Carrie May, who is 
 a trained nurse at Hillsboro and a graduate of 
 the Chicago School for Nurses: and Mary 
 Olive, who. following the same profession, is a 
 graduate of the Rebecca Hospital in St. Louis. 
 Mr. Greene acquired a common school edu- 
 cation and after completing his own course 
 engaged in teaching in Montgomery ami Ma- 
 coupin counties, following the profession for 
 eight vears, his capability securing him good 
 positions in connection with educational work. 
 Subsequently he accepted a clerkship in the 
 New York store at Litchfield, where he re- 
 mained for five years, and in December. 1894, 
 he was appointed deputy county clerk by Wil- 
 liam L. Seymour, holding the position for four 
 years. On the expiration of that period he 
 entered the hardware store of George W. 
 Brown, with whom he remained until 1902, 
 when he was appointed postmaster by Presi- 
 dent Roosevelt and is now occupying that posi- 
 tion. J u business life he was respected for his 
 thorough reliability as well as capable service 
 and in office he has made a creditable record 
 as one who in the discharge of his duty is ever 
 prompt and faithful. He had come to Mont- 
 gomery county with his parents on the 12th 
 of September. 1865, the family home being 
 located at Butler, where bis father engaged in 
 farming for twenty years aitd then took up his 
 abode in Hillsboro. Mr. Greene, of this re- 
 view, has therefore long been a resident of the 
 county and has a wide acquaintance here. 
 
 Tn 1897 was celebrated the marriage of 
 James F. M. Greene and Miss Nellie L. Young, 
 who was born in Greenville. Illinois, in 1872. 
 Her parents were .1. II. and Louisa (Cooper) 
 Y'oung. Her mother died when Mrs. Greene
 
 J. h\ M. GREENE
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 ,
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 493 
 
 was liiii three weeks nld and she was reared by 
 tier grandmother, Mrs. Cooper, the mother of 
 Judge Cooper. Mr. Young was identified with 
 educational interests, following school teach- 
 ing in his later years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Greene have been born two children: .lames 
 Cooper and Ruth ( 'aniline. 
 
 The parents are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, take a very active and help- 
 ful pari in its work and for twenty years Mr. 
 Greene has served as superintendent of the 
 Sunday-school and is a member of the official 
 board. He is identified with the Masonic fra- 
 ternity and with White Cross Lodge, No. 66, 
 K. P., of Litchfield. His political allegiance 
 is given to the Republican part}', and in addi- 
 tion le the office of postmaster he served as 
 tax collector of North Litchfield township for 
 two years, as city treasurer of Litchfield for 
 two years and as city clerk of Hillsboro for 
 two years. In office he has given undivided 
 attention to the duties which have devolved 
 upon him and has ever been reliable, prompt 
 and trustworthy. He is a genial, courteous 
 gentleman, pleasant and entertaining compan- 
 ion, and has many stanch and admiring friends 
 among all classes. As an energetic and consci- 
 entious official and a gentleman of attractive 
 soeial qualities he stands high in the estimation 
 of the entire community. 
 
 WILLIAM C. GOODIN. 
 
 William C. Goodin, whose record for fidel- 
 ity and capable service as chief of police of 
 Litchfield is unsurpassed, received substantial 
 evidence of the trust reposed in him when at 
 his re-election he was given the largest vote 
 that has ever been east for any incumbent of 
 that office. He was horn in Bond county, Illi- 
 nois. July 3, 1866. His father. Charles M. 
 Goodin, was a native of Ohio and was of 
 Irish lineage, his parents having emigrated 
 from Ireland at an early day and established 
 their home in Ohio. Charles M. Goodin re- 
 mained in the Buckeye state until 1857, when 
 lie removed to Illinois, settling in Bond county 
 upon a farm which he cultivated and improved 
 
 until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then 
 enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry as a mem- 
 ber of C pany D, being enrolled at Green- 
 ville for three years' service. lie took part 
 in the battle of Pea Ridge and other en- 
 gagements and never faltered in his allegiance 
 to the nation's starry banner and the cause it 
 represented. When the war was over he be- 
 gan taking contracts lor public work in Louis- 
 iana and Mississippi, building levees along the 
 Father of Water, from St. Louis to Louisiana. 
 Later he engaged in the dairy business at 
 Greenville and there his death occurred mi the 
 Fib oi March, 1894, when he was sixty-four 
 years of age. He was a member of the Green- 
 ville Post, G. A. R. His political allegiance 
 was given to the Democracy until the outbreak 
 o|' lb.' war. when, being a great admirer of 
 John A. Logan, he voted with him and became 
 a Republican, remaining a stanch advocate 
 of tin principles of the party until his demise. 
 His funeral was one of the most largely at- 
 tended in Greenville in many years, a fait 
 which indicated his personal popularity and the 
 high regard in which he was uniformly held. 
 lie was married in early manhood to Miss 
 Mary E. Gillespie, who was born in Bond coun- 
 ty, Illinois, ami is now living with her son, 
 William ('.. in Litchfield at I he age of sixty- 
 seven years. Her father was .lames E. Gilles- 
 pie, a farmer and one of the early settlers of 
 Bond county, who served as the first constable 
 
 there. Mrs. (J lin in her younger days was 
 
 a school teacher in Bond county and took a 
 great interest in her work. She has been a 
 life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church and a most earnest and consistent 
 Christian woman. By her marriage she be- 
 came the mother of six children : Jeanette, 
 John. Ella and Lee. all of whom have passed 
 away; William C. ; and Maggie, the wife of 
 Jonah Dodson, of Mayfield, Kentucky. 
 
 William ('. Goodin acquired his education 
 partly in Tennessee and partly in Greenville, 
 Illinois. After leaving school he was employed 
 for two years on a farm and in 1885 he came 
 to Litchfield, where he learned the bla< ksmith's 
 trade following that pursuit for -eveiitecn 
 years in the employ of the Litchfield Foundry 
 & Machine Company. Tie afterward worked
 
 I'.M 
 
 PAST .VXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 for a year for the Conneaul & Pittsburg Dock 
 ( lompany at ( lonneaut, < >hio. 
 
 Since attaining his majority Mi. Goodin has 
 been an advocate of Republican principles, 
 stanch in his support of the party and its 
 platform, hi the spring of L903 he was elect- 
 ed chief of police of Litchfield and was re- 
 elected in the spring of 1904. Me has made 
 a clean record and won a notable reputation for 
 fearlessness and fidelity. Because of his capa- 
 ble service lie is a menace to all lawbreakers, 
 while the law abiding community have the ut- 
 most confidence and trust in him. 
 
 On the nth of January. 1901, Mr. Goodin 
 was married to Miss Lottie E. Trice, a daugh- 
 ter of Evan and Ann Price, the former a 
 miner. Mrs. Goodin was horn in England in 
 1SG7. Mr. Goodin holds membership with the 
 Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus 
 and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, 
 lie i- popular in Litchfield among all classes 
 and has a large circle of friends who esteem 
 him highly. 
 
 WILLIAM F. RAINEY. 
 
 William Franklin Rainey, who for many 
 years was identified with agricultural interests 
 in Montgomery county ami has long been very 
 active in church work, is now living in Litch- 
 field, lie was horn in Clinton county. Illinois, 
 December 9, 1836. His father, William W. 
 Rainey. was born in South Carolina, October 5. 
 1805, and when twelve years of age accom- 
 panied his father mi the removal to Tennessee, 
 the family home being established near Nash- 
 ville. When twenty-two years of age William 
 W. Rainey was married to Miss Cynthia Hicks, 
 of middle Tennessee, and soon afterward they 
 removed to Illinois, locating in Clinton county 
 seven miles northwest of Carlisle, the county 
 seat. Ten children, five sons and five daugh- 
 ters, were horn unto them. The father was a 
 successful farmer and stock-raiser, keeping and 
 dealing in high grade stock, lie ami his wife 
 were charter members of one of the first Bap- 
 tist churches of Illinois. Air. Rainey serving 
 as one of its deacons. The maternal erand- 
 
 father of William F. Rainey was a resident of 
 
 South Carolina, served in the Revolutionary 
 war until its close and died at an advanced 
 age in middle Tennessee in the faith of the 
 Baptist church. 
 
 William F. Rainey was reared to farm life 
 and in his youth enjoyed hunting deer and 
 turkey, which were numerous in the locality 
 in which he resided. In early manhood he 
 was given a farm upon which he resided until 
 the period of the Civil war. when he sold that 
 property and removed to Jefferson county. 
 There he again engaged in farming and stock- 
 raising remaining there three years. lie then 
 disposed of that farm and purchased his old 
 home in Clinton county. Illinois. When about 
 thirty-two years of age he came to Montgomery 
 county and for a time worked at his trade of 
 carpentering and building in Litchfield. He 
 then bought land northwest of Raymond. Illi- 
 nois, but sold that property after two years 
 and removed to Shaws Point, Macoupin county, 
 Illinois, where he rented a farm for a time. 
 He then bought land on Shoal creek ten miles 
 southeast id' Litchfield, upon which he remained 
 for ten years and on the expiration of that 
 decade lie sold his farm and has since been a 
 resident of Litchfield. 
 
 On the 24th of December. 1859, Mr. Rainey 
 married Miss Liny T. Thompson, a daughter 
 of Archibald W. and Mary Thompson, formerly 
 of Virginia. Her father enlisted at the age of 
 eighteen vears and served through the war oi 
 1812. He was with General Jackson at New 
 Orleans, assisted in building the breastworks 
 there of cotton bales and sand from which he 
 said the enemy's cannon balls would hound hack 
 toward them. He was there when the English 
 commander sent a note to Jackson that he 
 "would breakfast in New Orleans or hell the 
 next morning." Jackson replied, "Tell your 
 general he will breakfast in hell then." Air. 
 Thompson removed from tin' south to Illinois. 
 His first wife, a Miss James of Virginia, was 
 the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. His 
 second wife was a "Miss Bennett, the mother 
 of Mrs. Rainey. By his two marriages Mr. 
 Thompson had twenty-two children. He was 
 never ill a day in his life and he reached the 
 advanced age of eighty-eight vears. Pairing
 
 ".RY 
 UNIVE:
 
 Ml?. AND MRS. W. F. RAINEY
 
 ME. AND MRS. G. W. 1JAINEY

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 499 
 
 the greater part of his life he was a faithful 
 Baptist. 
 
 By his first wife Mr. Rainey had twelve chil- 
 dren, seven sons and five daughters. The moth- 
 er was a devoted Christian woman, belonging 
 to the Baptist church. After her death Mr. 
 Rainey married Sarah, daughter of Israel and 
 Jane (Corlew) Fogleman, and they had five 
 daughters and two sons. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Rainey are members of 
 the Baptist church, he having been actively 
 identified with the church for forty-eighl years. 
 and during thirty years of that time in the 
 ministry, doing missionary work, according to 
 the teachings of John the Baptist. lie was 
 reared in the Democratic faith and for some 
 time supported that party, but during the past 
 twelve years has voted with the Prohibition 
 part} because of its stanch opposition to the 
 liquor traffic. For a time he belonged to the 
 American Protective Association and is still 
 strong in that belief. While on the farm he 
 was a member id' the Farmers' Mutual Benefit 
 Association and was chaplain of his township 
 and county lodges. Ili^ has been an honorable 
 and useful career and he to-day commands the 
 respect of all with whom he has been asso- 
 ciated. 
 
 GEORGE W. RAINEY. 
 
 George W. Rainey, whose business interests, 
 carefully conducted, have made him one of the 
 prosperous citizens of Hillsboro township, is 
 now engaged in general farming and stock- 
 raising, also following horticultural pursuits 
 and the raising of sugar cane and the man- 
 ufacture of syrup. A native of Illinois, he 
 possesses the enterprising spirit so character- 
 istic of the middle west. He was born in 
 Clinton county, near Carlisle, November 8, 
 1861, and is a son of William F. Rainey, who 
 is represented elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 In the common schools George W. Rainey 
 acquired his education and when his time was 
 no1 occupied with the duties of the schoolroom 
 and the pleasures of the playground, he as- 
 sisted in the labors of the fields on the old 
 home place. When twenty-one years of age 
 
 he began working by the month as a farm 
 hand, and when two years hail thus passed he 
 purchased teams with the money he had saved 
 from his earnings and began Earming on his 
 own account on rented land in Macoupin 
 county. At the end of a year he rented his 
 father's farm in Hillsboro township for a year, 
 and afterward operated a rented farm in But- 
 ler township fur a year. The year following 
 his marriage he moved to a rented farm in 
 Hillsboro township, where he lived for two 
 years, when he bought eight} acres of land in 
 Macoupin county, devoting his time and cn- 
 ergies to Us cultivation ami improvement for 
 five years, when he sold that property at a 
 good profit ami purchased land in East Fork 
 township, Montgomery county, which he after- 
 wards disposed of at a profit, investing the 
 amount in a fine ranch of four hundred and 
 eighty aires in Butler county, Kansas. He 
 never lived on either place, however, and soon 
 afterward removed to his present home on 
 section 17, Hillsboro township, where he now 
 has one hundred and sixty acres of rich and 
 arable land. This is the old Attebery home- 
 stead, known as the Wild Wood farm, where 
 the Fanners Mutual Benefit Association has 
 held annual picnics for the past seven years. 
 Mrs. Rainey was only two years old when her 
 parents located there. The place is pleasantly 
 located five miles from the city of Hillsboro. 
 and here Mr. Rainey follows general farming 
 and stock raising. He also lias about fifty 
 acres in orchard-, of early and late planting, 
 and for about fourteen years has engaged in 
 the raising id' fruit, principally apples of the 
 winter varieties. He also has from thirty to 
 fifty acres planted to sugar cane, from which 
 he makes sorghum molasses, using a steam 
 process in converting this into syrup. This 
 was the first mill of the kind in the county and 
 has a capacity of three hundred gallons per 
 day or thirty gallons per hour. The product 
 of Mr. Rainey's sugar cane fields and orchards 
 add materially to his income, and as a general 
 farmer and stock-raiser he i- also meeting with 
 success. 
 
 (in the l-.'th of April. 1888, Mr. Rainey was 
 united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Attebery. 
 who was born in flu- county, April 10. 1866,
 
 .-,1)11 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 and they have become the parents of seven 
 children, namely: William Walter, born in 
 Butler Grove township, February 7, 1889; 
 Elmer Edwin, burn in Honey Point township, 
 Macoupin county. June 22, 189] ; George Leo, 
 born in the same township, September 1, 1893; 
 Marshall Truman, also bom in Macoupin 
 county, October 29, 1895; Cleda May, who was 
 born in Montgomery county, December 11, 
 L897, ami died December 34. 1897; Charles P., 
 burn in Montgomery county. September 11, 
 1900; and Mabel Marie, bom in this county, 
 January 12, 1903. The family is well known 
 in the county and Mr. and Mrs. Rainey have 
 many friends who esteem them highly. The 
 wife and mother is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church at Woodboro, Illinois, which 
 she joined March I, 1877, at eleven years of 
 age. 
 
 Mr. Rainey is connected with the Mutual 
 Protective League and also with Enterprise 
 Lodge, No. 2,031, P. M, R. A., since the year 
 1890. and is a Democrat in his political affilia- 
 tions, lie was one of the organizers of the 
 Peoples Mutual Telephone Company, was its 
 first secretary and is now one of its directors 
 and treasurer. There are now over one thous- 
 and members and the line has been of the ut- 
 most benefit, to the county, connecting its rural 
 population with the cities. Mr. Rainey is 
 always quick to adopt progressive ideas of a 
 practical nature, and he endorses all measures 
 
 for the public g 1. giving his active support 
 
 to many movements which have for their ob- 
 ject the general welfare. 
 
 REV. PATRICK P. CARROLL. 
 
 Rev. Patrick F. Carroll, of St. Mary's 
 Catholic church at Litchfield, was born in 
 
 J: sville, Wisconsin, September 10, 1856. 1 1 1- 
 
 father, William Carroll, was born in Ireland 
 and came to the United States in 1845, locating 
 a1 Janesville, Wisconsin, where he followed the 
 occupation of farming. He married Alice Cas- 
 siday, also a native of Ireland. She came to 
 the United States in L853. Both were members 
 of the Catholic church. The father died De- 
 cember 26, 1876, at the age of sixty-five vears, 
 
 while the mother passed away April 9, 1890, 
 at the age of sixty-seven years. They were 
 the parents of six children, of whom five are 
 now living. 
 
 Father Carroll acquired bis early education 
 m the public schools of Janesville. and in Sep- 
 tember, 1862, entered St. Francis Seminary 
 at Milwaukee, where he was graduated in June, 
 1881. On the 29th of .June of the same year 
 he was ordained by Bishop Baltes and for a 
 short time was stationed at the cathedral at 
 Alton. Illinois, lie afterward spent a brief pe- 
 riod at Paris, Illinois, and on the 1st of August, 
 188"?. be was appointed in charge of St. Mary's 
 parish at Litchfield, where he has since re- 
 mained. 
 
 This charge was established about L859. 
 Previous to the organization of the church the 
 
 spiritual wants of the people bad I n cared 
 
 for by visiting priests. The regular priests 
 have been successively Fathers Colton, Gonant, 
 Vogt, Moczygemba, Meckel, Cluse and Weis, 
 the last named remaining in charge until the 
 appointment of the present pastor. Father Car- 
 roll. The first services were held in the houses 
 of the members and afterward in the city hall. 
 In 1860 a brick church was built on the south- 
 east corner of the block in which stands the 
 present, house of worship. It was sixty-five by 
 thirty feet and served until 1884, when the 
 foundation of the new church was laid. Two 
 years later building operations were begun, 
 and on Christmas day of the same year the 
 first services were held in the new church. The 
 structure is one hundred and thirty-two by 
 fifty-six feet and is built of brick ami stone. 
 in Gothic style of architecture, with the cen- 
 ter nave fifty feet in height. It was erected 
 at a cost id' twenty-six thousand dollars, and in 
 1903 the congregation spent about ten thou- 
 sand dollars in completing and decorating the 
 church. Tbe decorating was done by Leber 
 Brothers, of Louisville. Kentucky, and the 
 work is on a par with that of am church in the 
 county, having cost sixteen hundred dollars. 
 The high altar was the gift of C. R. Mundy. 
 of Litchfield, and is of pure Gothic design, 
 richly decorated in white and burnished gold 
 and onyx. It is illuminated by four hundred 
 and twenty-six electric lights and cost eigh-
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 501 
 
 teen hundred dollars. The altar of the virgin 
 was the gift of the Sodality and the St. Jo- 
 seph's altar was a memorial erected in memo- 
 ry of Simon and Margarei Kniery. The Holy 
 Family group was donated by the family of 
 John and Margaret Doran; St. Anthony's altar 
 is tin' gift of Mrs. 1). Wiegreffe; the Sacred 
 Heart statue was given by Mrs. M. Nolan; St. 
 Ann's statue by Mr*. C. B. Mundy. The in- 
 terior of the church is most beautiful, and in 
 fact is one of the finest in Illinois. The par- 
 sonage is a commodious brick structure, which 
 was erected in 1890 at a cost of five thousand 
 dollars. In 1870 St. Mary's parochial school 
 was established ami a sehoolhouse built. The 
 teachers at that time were the Ursuline Sisters 
 of Alton, and they remained in charge until 
 June, 1890. In September of that year the 
 Dominican Sisters of Springfield took charge 
 anil have since conducted the school, which is 
 an efficient one. doing the various work of 
 the grade and high schools. There are now 
 one hundred and twenty-live pupils. St. Fran- 
 cis Hospital was established in 1875 and is 
 conducted by the Sisters of S't. Francis of 
 Springfield. The church has a membership 
 nf mic hundred ami fifty families, and its va- 
 rious societies and departments of church 
 work are in a thriving condition. The choir 
 of this church enjoys the distinction of being 
 among the best in the diocese, rendering masses 
 of the best authors, as well as the Gregorian 
 plain chant. 
 
 WILLIAM A. GRAY 
 
 William A. Gray, identified with farming in- 
 terests in Montgomery county, is filling the po- 
 sition of county coroner ami makes his home 
 in Butler Grove township, lie was born on 
 the :;,| of April, 1855, on the old family home- 
 stead in that township, his parents being Alex- 
 ander ami Amanda (Choate) Gray, the former 
 born in Virginia and the latter in Kentucky. 
 The father was a farmer by occupation, thus 
 providing for his family through the years of 
 an active business career. There were, however, 
 smiie chapters in his life history which were 
 mere eventful than the period covered h\ ag- 
 
 ricultural pursuits. He served in the Black 
 
 Hawk war. and after the discovery of gold in 
 California he made an overland trip to the 
 Pacific cast in the early '50s. Eventually, 
 however, he located in Montgomery county, 
 Illinois. In Kentucky he had married Miss 
 Amanda Choate, ami they became the parents 
 uf seven children, of whom time are now liv- 
 ing: William A., of this review. Dr. II. H. 
 Gray, a physician of Keokuk. Iowa: ami Susan 
 L., wife of Dr. M. L. Mover, of llillsln.ro. 
 
 Mr. Gray of this review was reared to farm 
 life, pursuing his education in the district 
 schools and has always followed the occupation 
 of farming, lie now resides about one mile 
 west of Butler, on a farm comprising seventy- 
 seven acres, and devotes Ins energies to general 
 agricultural pursuits, lie has placed his land 
 under a high state of cultivation, ami the well- 
 tilled fields return to him good harvests, while 
 upon the market his crops find a ready sale. 
 
 Mr. Cray has been married twice. In 1875 
 he wedded Miss Maggie Aten, a daughter of 
 Jacob C. Aten, a resident farmer of Montgom- 
 ery county. They became tin' parents of five 
 children: Clara, who is the wife of Harry 
 Brookman and resides in Butler; George A., 
 who married Emma Cockelnace ami lives in 
 Litchfield; Myrtle, at home: Albert ('.. who 
 is attending medical college in Keokuk. Iowa, 
 and resides with his uncle: anil Essie, at home. 
 It was in IS'.):; that Mr. Gray was called upon 
 to mourn the loss of his first wife. He after- 
 ward married olive J. Chaney, of Litchfield, 
 a daughter of Mrs. Jane Chaney, of thai city. 
 Her father had died during her early girlhood. 
 The second marriage of Mr. Gray was cele- 
 brated in 1897, and he and his wife now have 
 a pleasant home near Butler and enjoy the 
 warm regard of many friends. 
 
 In his political affiliations Mr. Gray is a 
 stanch Democrat and has been prominent in 
 local political circles. In 1900 be «;h elected 
 
 coroner of Montgomery county for a term of 
 four years, and mi the expiration of that pe- 
 riod he was renominated in 1904. He has also 
 keen assessor of Butler Crow township for 
 two terms, and his public duties have been dis- 
 charged with a fidelity and ability that are 
 above question. Fraternally he is connected
 
 502 
 
 PAST A\H PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 wiili the Modem Woodmen of America, and 
 
 his religious faith is indicated by his member- 
 ship in the Methodist church. 
 
 JOHN GOSHEN* WILSON. 
 
 More than half a century lias passed since 
 John Goshen Wilson came to Montgomery 
 county, for he dales his residence here from 
 the spring of 1853. For many years he car- 
 ried on agricultural pursuits, while the county 
 advanced in progress and upbuilding, and 
 while carefully managing' his individual in- 
 terests, he has always manifested a public-spir- 
 ited interest in what has been accomplished in 
 the county, as conditions of frontier life have 
 been replaced by (hose of the most modern 
 ci\ ilization. 
 
 Mr. Wilson lias now passed the seventy-sev- 
 enth milestone on life's journey. He was horn 
 in North Carolina. March ".'. 1827, a son of 
 William and Elizabeth (Keller) Wilson, the 
 former a native of Pennsylvania and the lat- 
 ter of North Carolina. His youth was passed 
 in Jersey county. Illinois, and in April, 1851, 
 he was married in thai county to Miss Mary 
 Jane Mclntyre. Turning his attention to 
 tanning, he entered land from the government, 
 securing two hundred acres in Walshville 
 township, Montgomery county. Illinois. This 
 was still in its primitive condition, but he soon 
 transformed the raw trait into productive fields 
 which he placed under a high state of cultiva- 
 tion. This he eventually sold and then bought 
 one hundred and fifty-three acres in the same 
 township, also placing this under cultivation. 
 When he had disposed of that propert} he 
 bought one hundred and eighty acres in North 
 Litchfield township and his next purchase cov- 
 ered one hundred and ten acres adjoining 
 Litchfield. The sale of that farm was followed 
 by the purchase of one hundred and twenty 
 acres in Hillsboro township and in L898 he 
 took up his abode in the city of Hillsboro, where 
 he has since made his home. 
 
 Mr. Wilson, by his first marriage, had thir- 
 teen children: Silas Riley. George Luther; 
 Ellen E. ; Jennie A.; Alice: William Douglas; 
 dames Commodore; Martha L : John G., de- 
 
 ceased; Charles, who has also passed away; 
 Emma and Edward, twins, both deceased; and 
 Cora, deceased. The mother died in 1876 and 
 Mr. Wilson was again married, his second union 
 being with Miss Alice Kelso, who died six 
 week- later. His present wife was formerly 
 Mrs. Chloe Fellers, widow of Dr. Feller-, of 
 Nokomis. Her maiden name was Hill. By 
 their marriage there is a daughter. Vesta 
 Mabel. 
 
 Mr. Wilson is a Democrat in politics and has 
 voted with that party since age gave to him 
 the right of franchise, lie served as assistant 
 supervisor, hut has never been a politician in 
 the sense of otlice seeking. He has long been 
 a resident of Montgomery county, has been an 
 active factor in its agricultural development, 
 and is one of the valued citizens, well deserving 
 rd' mention among the representative men of 
 this part of the state. 
 
 STEPHEN DAVID CANADAY. 
 
 Stephen David Canaday, whose business 
 activity and success classes him with the repre- 
 sentative citizens of Montgomery county, is 
 an abstractor and real estate and loan agent. 
 Hillsboro claims him as one of its progres ive 
 and influential citizens and he is numbered 
 among the native sons of the county, his birth 
 having occurred four miles east of Litchfield, 
 on the 3d of March, 1865. His father. Caleb 
 Warren Canaday, was born in Casey county, 
 Kentucky. January 5, 1833, and in 1835 was 
 brought to Montgomery county by bis parents, 
 John and 1'ina M. (Sapp) Canaday. also of 
 ( 'a-e\ county. Kentucky. The mother was a 
 sister of Warren Sapp. who with Ahart Tierce 
 entered from the government the land upon 
 which the city of Litchfield is built. The 
 grandfather secured a tract of two hundred 
 and eighty acres, lying in North Litchfield and 
 Butler drove townships, and this tract lie de- 
 veloped into a well improved and highly culti- 
 vated farm. 
 
 Caleb W. Canaday was reared on the old 
 family homestead and was early inured to the 
 arduous labor of developing a farm in the 
 midst of a sparsely settled district offering few
 
 LfBRARY 
 UNI
 
 JOHN G. WILSON 
 
 C. W. CANADAY 
 
 MES. C. W. CANADAY
 
 S. D. CAN A DAY AND FAMILY
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 URBANA
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OE MoXTCOMLl.'Y COl'XTY 
 
 :,n; 
 
 advantages to its people. The occupation which 
 claimed bis attention in early youth he also 
 made his Life work and became the ow iier of one 
 hundred acres of land in North Litchfield and 
 Butler Grove townships. He married Martha 
 L. II. Starr, a daughter of David B. Starr. She 
 was born three miles west of Hillsboro on i lie 
 27th of March, 1842, and is of German and 
 French lineage, while her husband was of 
 Scotch-Irish descent. Her grandfather, James 
 Street, was a Baptist minister, who preached 
 the first sermon ever delivered in Montgomery 
 county, this event taking place soon after the 
 organization of the county. He also married 
 the couple that obtained the first marriage 
 License issued in this county and he was actively 
 identified with the moral development and with 
 the growth of religious sentiment in this part 
 of the county. Caleb W. Canaday gave his 
 political allegiance to the Democracy, but he 
 sough! no official positions, preferring to de- 
 vote his undivided attention to his business 
 affairs. He remained a resident of Mont- 
 gomery county until his death, which occurred 
 October '.'•">. I'.Hil. when he was sixty-eight years 
 of age. His widow still survives him and yet 
 resides on the old homestead. They were the 
 parents of eleven children : James M., who 
 died October 25, 1880, at the age of eighteen 
 years; Stephen D. : John Sidney, who is en- 
 gaged in the butchering business in Litchfield; 
 E. Franklin, a dealer in live stock and hay at 
 Coffeen; Julia Alice, the wife of Dayton D. 
 Garver, a farmer residing at Republican, Ne- 
 braska: William L., who makes his home m a 
 farm at Butler, Illinois; Lewis W., who is liv- 
 ing on the old homstead : Robert N., a prac- 
 ticing physician at Butler; Otic, who died in 
 infancy: Harriet C., who is living on the old 
 homestead farm ; and Martha J., the wife of 
 John Nail, a farmer living six miles northwest 
 of Litchfield. All are married with the excep- 
 tion of Hattie. 
 
 Stephen D. Canaday acquired his education 
 in the country school and the public schools of 
 Butler and Litchfield and was graduated from 
 the Litchfield high school with the class of 
 1886. He afterward obtained a position in (lie 
 Litchfield Planet Mill as shipping clerk, con- 
 tinuing there until December 24. 1887. Two 
 
 days later be came to Hillsboro and accepted 
 the position of deputy county clerk under 
 Brewer A. Hendricks, continuing in that of- 
 fice until May. 1892, when, accompanied by his 
 wife, be went t<> Portland, Oregon. Not liking 
 that country, however, he returned in a short 
 time and again entered the office of the countv 
 clerk, where be remained for several months, 
 when he opened a real estate, abstract and loan 
 
 office 111 the office with Judge Jess.' J. Phillips. 
 
 This was in 1893 and he has since conducted 
 the business with very gratifying success, hav- 
 ing gained a large clientage. II.' was also one 
 of the organizers of the People's Mutual Tele- 
 phone Company, of which he was at one tine 
 the treasurer and a director. 
 
 On the 27th of July. 1890. Mr. ('ami. lav was 
 married to Miss Mattie I. Wilson, a daughter 
 of John G. and Jane (Mclntyre) Wilson. Hot- 
 father was a farmer win. removed from North 
 Carolina to this state in 1830 and settled in 
 G tie county, while in 1853 be came to Mont- 
 gomery county, lie makes his home with Mr. 
 and Mrs. ('ana. lay. at the age of seventy-seven 
 years, and is >till a hale and hearty man. He 
 followed farming in this county for a number 
 of years and at one time owned two hundred 
 and forty acre- north of Litchfield. His wife 
 was of Irish lineage. Mrs. Canaday was horn 
 near Litchfield, December 6. L868, ami 1>\ her 
 marriage has become the mother of four chil- 
 dren, but Amos and Wayne are now deceased. 
 Those still living are Warren and Raymond. 
 
 Mr. Canaday was one of the charter members 
 and organizers of the Mutual Protection 
 League of Litchfield, acted as supreme director 
 of the league for four and a half years and was 
 supreme treasurer for a year and a half. He 
 also belongs to the Court of Honor. His 
 political allegiance i> given the Democracy and 
 he served twice as clerk of his township. Tn 
 1894 he was candidate for count} treasurer on 
 the Democratic ticket, but thai was the year 
 of the Republican landslide and not a Democrat 
 was elected in Montgomery county on the en- 
 tire ticket. lie was elected, however, to repre- 
 sent the thirty-eighth district of Illinois in the 
 slate legislature, November S. 1904. His ad- 
 vancement in the business world is due entirely 
 to the careful husbanding of his resources.
 
 508 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 keen discrimination and executive force. He 
 has won success in this way and is to-day num- 
 bered among the leading, influential and hon- 
 ored citizens of Hillsboro. The greater part 
 of his life has been passed within the borders 
 of this county and many of his stanchest 
 friends are those who have known him from 
 bovhood. 
 
 JOSEPH McLEAN BAKER. 
 
 The true measure of success is determined 
 
 by what one has accomplished, and, as taken 
 in contradistinction to the old adage that a 
 prophet is not without honor save in his own 
 country, there is particular interest attach- 
 ing to the career of the subject of (his review. 
 since he is a. native son of the place where he 
 has passed his active lite and so directed his 
 ability and efforts as to gain recognition as one 
 of tin' representative citizens of Montgomery 
 county. lie is actively connected with a pro- 
 fession which has important bearing upon the 
 progress and stable prosperity of any section 
 or community, and one which has long been 
 considered as conserving the public welfare 
 by furthering the ends of justice and maintain- 
 ing individual rights. 
 
 Mr. Baker, a native son of Montgomery 
 county, was born in Grisham township on the 
 5th of October, 1 860. His paternal grandfather 
 was William I). Baker, a native of North 
 Carolina and later a resident of Macon 
 county. Illinois. His father, Rev. William P. 
 Baker, was horn in Macon county. Illinois, near 
 Decatur, and is now Living at the age of sixty- 
 eight years. After his marriage hi' lived at 
 Mirious places and engaged in preaching the 
 gospel as a minister of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian church. At one time he had charge 
 in Alton and is now pastor at Witt. He came 
 
 to Montgomery county to make his hi i about 
 
 L878 and is now living in Hillsboro. His in- 
 terest in the church and its upbuilding, how- 
 ever, has never abated, ami he is the staled 
 clerk of the Vandalia Presbytery, lie owns a 
 farm of one hundred ami seventy acres in 
 Grisham township, and to the improvement and 
 cultivation of the land he gave his supervision, 
 
 luit now rents the property. In matter- of citi- 
 zenship lie is public-spirited and progressive, 
 and believing that the Republican party eon- 
 tains the best elements id' good government he 
 gives to it an earnest and unfaltering alle- 
 giance. He first married Mis- .lane McLean, 
 who was born in Grisham township. Montgom- 
 ery county, and for his second wife married 
 Margaret McLean, who is now sixty-seven years 
 of age. Her father was Joseph McLean, who 
 removed from North Carolina to Montgomery 
 county at a very early period iu the settlement 
 and development of this portion of the state. 
 Rev. William P. Baker was twice married and 
 by his first wife. Mrs. Mary Baker, had two 
 children: William C, now deceased; and Ora 
 I)., the wii'e of George Donnell, who is living 
 in Snohomish. Washington. The two chil- 
 dren id' the second marriage are Joseph Mc- 
 Lean and Mary J., the latter at home. William 
 E. Baker, a nephew id' mir subject, was a mem- 
 ber of General Funston's celebrated Twentieth 
 Kansas Regimen! and was with that command 
 in the Philippines, where he was detailed most 
 of the time to ad as a clerk at the regimental 
 headquarters. 
 
 Mr. Baker is a graduate of the Hillsboro 
 high school and for three year- after his gradu- 
 ation he wa- successfully engaged in teach- 
 ing, hut, determining to enter other profes- 
 sional lines of labor, he became a student in 
 the law office of .lame- M. Truitt, of Hillsboro, 
 in 1886. He read law through the summer 
 months and in the winter season- engaged in 
 teaching school until his study had prepared 
 him for admission to the bar. and he success- 
 fully passed an examination in the fall of 
 1889. He then entered upon the practice of 
 In- profession in the same office that he now 
 occupies, and success has continuously attended 
 his efforts. An earnest manner, marked 
 strength of character, a thorough grasp of the 
 law and the ability to accurately apply its 
 principles have made him an effective and sttc- 
 cessful advocate, and he has been connected 
 with much of the most important litigation 
 tried in the courts of his county for eighteen 
 vears. He served as city attorney of Hillsboro 
 I'm- three terms, being first elected in 189.3 and 
 re-elected in 1895. Tn 1899 he was appointed
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 509 
 
 to fill a vacancy, for his previous public service 
 had wel] evidenced his ability to Faithfully and 
 promptly discharge the duties of the office. He 
 was a delegate to the state Republican conven- 
 tion in 1900 and is a stalwart advocate of the 
 party, doing everything in his power to pro- 
 Diote it- growth and insure its success. At 
 present he is ehairnian of the county Repub- 
 lican committee. 
 
 Aside from his legal interests Mr. Baker has 
 business affairs of importance. He is the vice- 
 president of the Hillsboro Building & Im- 
 provement Association and is a stockholder in 
 the Hillsboro Hotel Company. He likewise 
 has other interests in property in a mining 
 location nearby, known as Kortkamp. Spend- 
 ing his entire life in Montgomery county, he 
 has a wide acquaintance, which is also a fa- 
 vorable one because of his public-spirited in- 
 terest in community affairs and because of his 
 capability and reliability in the profession 
 which he lias chosen as a life-work. He is a 
 prominent and active member of the Presbyte- 
 rian church and is now serving as elder and 
 chorister. 
 
 A. L. ELLINGTON. 
 
 Almost every state in the Union has fur- 
 nished its representatives to Montgomery coun- 
 ty, and among those who have come from 
 North Carolina is A. L. Ellington, who was 
 horn in Rockingham county, in that state, 
 near Wentworth, December ;. 1852. His par- 
 ents were Charles \V. and Ellen (Allen) 
 Ellington, and the father, also a native 
 of Rockingham county, died in prison at 
 Point Lookout. Maryland, in 18G5, when 
 a Confederate prisoner of war. He was 
 a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit 
 throughout his entire business career. His 
 wiilnw passed away in 1874. They were the 
 parents of nine children, of whom eight are 
 yet living. 
 
 A. L. Ellington remained a resident of Rock- 
 ingham county until 1867, when, at the age 
 of fifteen years, he came with hi- mother and 
 other members of the family to Illinois, set- 
 tling in Montgomery county, ami when twenty- 
 one vcars of ace he started out in life on his 
 
 nun account, being' employed by Ins mother, 
 with whom he remained until 1873. The fain- 
 tly was very poor ami he had no advantages 
 to assist him at the outset of his career. He 
 began farming lor himself in Fillmore town- 
 ship, where he remained for four years, and 
 -line that time he has lived in East Fork town- 
 ship. For fifteen years he has resided upon 
 the farm which is now his home. He con- 
 tinued to rent land lor sixteen years and then 
 purchased one hundred and forty acres where 
 he now resides. This is a valuable property 
 and he is extensively engaged in the raising of 
 stock, making a specialty of high grade hogs. 
 He has won a good reputation throughoul the 
 county for his success in this direction, and 
 his stock always commands the highesl market 
 prices. In his business affairs he is discrimi- 
 nating and his sound judgment has been one 
 of the salient features in his success. All of 
 the improvements upon bis farm have been 
 made by him with the exception of the house, 
 and the attractive appearance of the place is 
 an indication of his careful supervision and 
 progressive modern methods. 
 
 (in the 8th of January, 1874, Mr. Ellington 
 was united in marriage to Miss Lamira C. 
 Campbell, who was horn in Perry county. Mis- 
 souri. October 22, 1855, a daughter of George 
 C. and Mary (Smith) Campbell. In 1863 her 
 family moved to Montgomery county, Illinois, 
 ami located live miles north of Coffeen. Mr. 
 Campbell died in 1891 and his widow now 
 makes her home in Coffeen. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Ellington have been horn seven children, 
 of whom six are living: Clement L., who is 
 married and resides in Alton, Illinois; 01 He 
 1'... the wife of 0. B. Root, of Charleston, Illi- 
 nois; Esther May, Ellen. Joseph Perry and 
 Opal, all at home. They lost their third child. 
 George C, who died in infamy. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ellington hold membership re- 
 lations in the Cumberland Presbyterian church 
 at Donnellson, having always been identified 
 with that organization, and its teachings and 
 principles form a strong motive element in 
 their lives. Mr. Ellington is also connected 
 with the Modern Woodmen of America and 
 the Court of Honor. In politics be has always 
 been a Democrat, but has strong prohibition
 
 510 
 
 PAST .VXD PRESENT OE MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 tendencies and lias ever been an advocate of 
 temperance principles. He stands to-day among 
 the successful men of his community, who, as 
 the architect of Ins own fortunes, lias builded 
 wisely and well. Without any special family 
 or pecuniary advantages to aid him at the out- 
 set of his career, he has labored energetically 
 and persistently and Ins course has been char- 
 acterized by continued and laudable advance- 
 ment. 
 
 JACOB J. PREY. 
 
 Jacob J. Erey, for a number of years num- 
 bered among the prominent and progressive 
 citizens of Hillsboro, may well be termed one 
 of the founders of the city, for he has been 
 the promoter of many leading business enter- 
 prises, and the growth and development of a 
 city depend upon its commercial and industrial 
 activity. His connection with any undertak- 
 ing insures a. prosperous outcome of the same, 
 for it is in his nature to carry forward to suc- 
 cessful completion whatever he is associated 
 with. He has earned for himself an enviable 
 reputation as a careful man of business, and 
 in his dealings is known for hi- prompt and 
 honorable methods, which have won him the 
 deserved confidence of his fellow men. 
 
 A native of Ohio. Mr. Erey was born in the 
 city of Cincinnati. February 16, 1866. His 
 father, George A. Frey, also born in that city. 
 died at the age of thirty-eighi years. He con- 
 ducted a cigar manufactory and was also a 
 trunk manufacturer. In 1860 he removed 
 from Ohio to St. Louis, Missouri, and the fol- 
 lowing year he enlisted in the Fourth Missouri 
 Cavalry as a member of Company 1. thus serv- 
 ing until the close of the war. He joined the 
 army as a private, hut was promoted through 
 
 - ssive ranks until he attained that of 
 
 major. He participated in the battle of Mis- 
 sionan Ridge and other important engage- 
 ments ami was mustered out at the close of 
 tic war at St. Louis. In one battle be received 
 a gunshol wound, which caused him to lose 
 part of his hand. Tn 1864 he was captured by 
 the rebel troops, spent eleven months in An- 
 dersonville prison and came out almost a 
 
 physical wreck, but by careful nursing and 
 attention he finally recovered his health. When 
 the war was ended and he was mustered out 
 of the service he turned his attention to the 
 manufacture of cigars in St. Louis, where he 
 remained until 1866, when he removed to Cin- 
 cinnati. Ohio, spending about a year there. 
 He then returned to St. Louis, and in 1870 he 
 came to Hillsboro, where he established a cigar 
 factory which he conducted with good success 
 up to the time of his death, which occurred in 
 1876. In his fraternal relations he was an 
 t)t\i\ fellow and politically was a Republican. 
 lie married Miss Clara Benkler, a. daughter 
 of John Benkler, a native of Germany^ in 
 which country he served as a judge. Both he 
 and his wife died in the fatherland. Mrs. 
 Frey was horn near Bremen. Germany, in 
 1839, and is now living in Hillsboro with a 
 daughter. She was a most devoted wife and 
 mother and made many sacrifices for her chil- 
 dren after her husband's death. She holds 
 membership with the Lutheran church and her 
 entire life has been in consistent harmony with 
 her profession. Unto Mr. and Mrs. George 
 A. Frey were born four children: Jacob, of 
 this review; Katie, the wife of John 0. Mil- 
 ler; George, who was a member of Company 
 E, Fifth Illinois Infantry, and served in the 
 Spanish-American war. after which he re- 
 turned home and re-enlisted for service in the 
 Philippines, where his death occurred in Au- 
 gust, 100?. when he was twenty-four years of 
 age, his remains, however, being interred in 
 the cemetery at Hillsboro; and Tda F., who is 
 the wile of George Dunn, who is in the office 
 with Mr. Frew of this review. 
 
 Jacob J. Frey was brought to Hillsboro by 
 his parents in 1870 and his early education 
 was acquired in the public school- here. He 
 was only about ten year- of age at the time of 
 his father's death. His mother afterward met 
 with financial reverses and found it very diffi- 
 cult to provide for her children, of whom Ja- 
 cob is the eldest. She then found it necessary 
 to do laundry work in order to keep the larder 
 supplied. She received able and willing as- 
 sistance, however, from her son Jacob, who 
 did chores for Mi-. Stewart in order to help 
 pay the rent, and he also did any other honest
 
 JACOB J. FEEY
 
 UNSVE LINOiS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 513 
 
 work that he could secure that would help his 
 mother. At one time the school board passed 
 a rule that children having no books should be 
 prohibited from attending school. A kind 
 friend, knowing that Mr. Frey had to leave 
 school because of the measure passed, told him 
 
 to get what I ks he i led, and if ever able to 
 
 pay him hack he could do so. The years passed 
 and Mr. Frey. because of his unflagging indus- 
 try and perseverance, prospered and long since 
 he has discharged the indebtedness to his bene- 
 factor and also assisted him at a time when 
 business difficulties pressed him hard. This 
 instance is another proof of the old saying that 
 "bread east upon the waters will return after 
 many days." Mr. Frey was very desirous of 
 obtaining an education, realizing its value as a 
 preparation for life's practical and responsible 
 duties and after leaving public schools he and 
 three other young men employed a teacher who 
 instructed them for two years. In the mean- 
 time he clerked Eot C. B. Rhoades in a dry- 
 g Is store and on leaving that employ he ac- 
 cepted a position as salesman in the hardware 
 store of Stewart & Linxwiler, continuing there 
 for about a year, lmt the work proved too 
 severe a -train upon his health and he returned 
 to tin 1 employ of Mr. Rhoades, remaining there 
 until L885. He then concluded that he would 
 learn the real estate business and obtained a 
 leave of absence from the store for a year 
 with the privilege of returning at the end 
 of that time if he desired to do so. lie then 
 went to Topeka, Kansas, where he spent a year 
 and was employed .as a clerk in a real estate 
 office of that city. On the expiration of that 
 period he returned to Hillsboro, when' he 
 opened an office. He had been quite successful 
 in Kansas, lmt sickness compelled him to use 
 most of his good money, lie had lmt little 
 capital upon his return to Hillsboro, hut the 
 determination and enterprise which have been 
 noticeable among his strongest characteristics 
 from his early boyhood were again manifest 
 and his labors as a real estate agent have met 
 with marked success. In fact, he i- now doing 
 tin 1 largest business of his kind in the county 
 and his business activity has been an important 
 factor in the upbuildinsr, progress and improve- 
 ment of this portion of the state. TTe lias 
 
 taken an active part in laying out Prairie 
 Eeights and his efforts have been very effective 
 in promoting the substantia] improvement of 
 Hillsboro. During hi.- business career he has 
 made no foreclosure of a mortgage that has not 
 been what is known as a "friendly foreclosure." 
 
 To man; other lines of business activity Mr. 
 Frey has extended his energy with good result, 
 lie was one of the incorporators of the Hills- 
 boro Brick & Tile Company and in connection 
 with C. A. Ramsey he incorporated the Mont- 
 gomery County Telephone Company. In con- 
 nection with W. A. Ilowett he secured the fran- 
 chise lor an electric light plant in Hillsboro, 
 costing thirty thousand dollars and in the pres- 
 ent year, 1904, he secured a franchise for an 
 electric light plant for Raymond and rebuilt the 
 plant there, which is now in operation. He 
 has just received a franchise from Montgom- 
 ery county for the use of the roads and streets 
 for stringing wires with the intention of fur- 
 nishing lighl and power for the county from 
 one central station. In connection with oth- 
 ers In- laid out lots in the vicinity of the new 
 radiator plant at Litchfield and was one of 
 the incorporators of the new organization of 
 the electric light company at Litchfield. Mr. 
 Frey is one of the incorporators of the Hills- 
 boro Hotel and was one of the promoters and 
 developers of the Kortkamp Coal Company and 
 helped lay out the village of Kortkamp. 
 
 Mi. Frey was married June \'i. 1891, to Miss 
 Minnie II. Witherspoon, a daughter of William 
 aiul Sarah .1. Witherspoon, who was born in 
 Hillsboro in 1866. Her father was a merchant 
 of this place and died during the Civil war. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Frey has 1 n born one 
 
 child. Ahline. The parents are members of the 
 Lutheran church, take a very active part in 
 church work" and Mr. Frey is serving as deacon 
 and treasurer. lie was also a member of and 
 treasurer of the building committee at the time 
 of the erection of the new house of worship 
 Socialh he is connected with the Knights of 
 Pythias fraternity and in politic- he i= a Re- 
 publican. His success in all bis undertakings 
 has been so marked that his methods are of 
 interest to the commercial world. He has based 
 his business principles and actions upon strict 
 adherence to the rules which govern industry,
 
 514 
 
 PAST AMi PBESEJSTT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 economy and strict unswerving integrity. 11 it- 
 enterprise and progressive spirit have made him 
 a typical American in every sense of the word 
 and lie well deserves mention in history. What 
 he is to-ila\ lie has made himself, for he began 
 in the world with nothing but his own energy 
 ami willing hands to aid him. By constant exer- 
 tion, associated with good judgment, he lias 
 raised himself to the prominent position which 
 he now holds, having the friendship of many 
 and the respect of all who know him. 
 
 WILLIAM NEECE. 
 
 William Neece, who carries on general tann- 
 ing on sections Hi and 21, Audubon township, 
 was horn June 24. 1841, in Guilford county, 
 North Carolina, near the town of Greensboro. 
 Hi- parents, Cornelius and Ruth (Pike) Neece, 
 were also natives of thai state. The paternal 
 grandfather, Jacob Neeee, and great-grandfa- 
 ther were natives of Germany and were sol- 
 diers of the Revolutionary war. going through 
 that long-continued struggle without sustaining 
 a wound. Jacob Neece was also in tin- Mexican 
 war and drew a pension in recognition of his 
 services, lie married Jennie Eague, of North 
 Carolina, a relative of Madison Hague, who was 
 one of the pioneer settlers of Montgomery 
 county. Illinois, living at Hillsboro ai an early 
 day. Jacob Neeee also came to [llinois in the 
 'Mis. hut after residing tor about two years in 
 Tana he returned to North Carolina, where he 
 died two years later ami his wife about six years 
 later. lie received a good education in the 
 German language, but could also speak English, 
 and ho was a wealthy ami influential man of his 
 community. J'>\ occupation he was both a 
 farmer and blacksmith, and in political senti- 
 ment was a Whig. While bunting hi' was crip- 
 pled in a tight with a deer. 
 
 Cornelius Neece, the father of our subject, 
 was a guard in Salisbury prison in the service 
 of the- Confederate States for six months during 
 the Civil war. having been conscripted as was 
 also William Neece, who was detailed to make 
 hats for the Southern Army. Tie was in the 
 Service for three years anil had to deliver one 
 hundred and fifty hats every month, carrying 
 
 tin m a distance of sixty miles. Because hi* 
 entire time was taken up with this work the 
 ladies of the family had to do the work in the 
 fields andsupport the children. General Wheeler 
 first laid waste to his property and that of his 
 neighbors and afterward Sherman's army de- 
 vastated tin- same district. William Neece was 
 not loyal to the south, for he believed that the 
 Union should be preserved intact and because of 
 this he left North Carolina and made his way 
 northward to Indiana, where he worked one 
 si ason. 
 
 After being released from his position as 
 guard in tin- Salisbury prison, Cornelius Neece 
 returned to bis home m North Carolina and 
 two years later removed to Pana, Illinois, where 
 he operated a rented farm in connection with 
 his son. In ISM be bought a farm of eighty 
 acres in Audubon township. Montgomi ry 
 county, and afterward added to it an adjoining 
 eighty-acre tract, which was wild and unim- 
 proved, 1ml he converted it into a good farm. 
 making bis home thereon until his death, which 
 occurred January 1".'. 1901. His first wife died 
 in 1868, ami In- subsequently married Eliza 
 Williams, of North Carolina, who departed this 
 life in 1887. Politically he was identified with 
 the Republican party and religiously was first 
 connected with the Methodist Episcopal church 
 and later with the Free Methodist church. 
 
 Coming to Illinois. William Neece settled at 
 Pana mi tin- 24th of December, 1865. When he 
 hail spent four years as an employe in a brick- 
 yard he rented a farm of three hundred acres 
 and in this was more successful, making monej 
 quite rapidly. Tie raised ten thousand bushels 
 of corn which he sold for forty-two cents per 
 bushel, and with the proceeds of this large crop 
 be paid for the nucleus of his present farm 
 in 1871. To his first purchase he has added 
 from time to time as his financial resources 
 have permitted until he now has over live hiin- 
 'I red a- res ami i In- im ome from his property 
 is sufficient to enable him to now live retired 
 from business cares. IK- leaves the active work 
 of the fields to others, merely giving his super- 
 vision In the farm labor. 
 
 Mr. Neece was married in early manhood to 
 Pyrena F. Williams, and they became the 
 parents of eight children, five pons and three
 
 UN1VL !LL!riC!3 
 
 URL
 
 ME. AND MBS. WILLIAM NEECB
 
 JACOB NEECE 
 
 MRS. JACOB NEECE 
 
 CORNELIUS NEECE 
 
 MRS. SILAS PRESNELL 
 
 SILAS PRESNELL

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 519 
 
 daughters, but two arc deceased, twins, a boy 
 and a girl, having died in infancy. Those liv- 
 ing arc as follows: Minnie married Henry 
 Tabor, residing in Audubon near the old gov- 
 ernment grant, and they have four children. 
 (icurgc married Lola Sanders and resides with 
 his father on the old homestead. John 1). mar- 
 ried Norma Wilson and they reside south of 
 Nokomis in Witt township. Lodusca is the wife 
 of Douglas Young and with their three chil- 
 dren, two sons and a daughter, they reside 
 south of Hillsboro, on section 7, East Fork 
 township. Bert married Jessie Brown, by 
 whom he lias a daughter, and they reside a 
 mile south of the Christian county line, on sec- 
 tion 3, Audubon township, near the Prairie 
 Chape] church. Fred married Flattie Price, 
 of Donnellson. and lives in Witt township. 
 For his second wife Mr. Xmr chose Miss Molly 
 Presnell, a daughter of Silas and Dica Diana 
 (Sowel) Presnell. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Neece hold membership in the 
 Free Methodist or Holiness church. When a 
 young man he was identified with the Masonic 
 fraternity, but has not continued his active con- 
 nection therewith. He spent one winter in 
 North Carolina teaching the doctrine of Holi- 
 ness and he has labored untiringly to advance 
 the cause of his church. His business career 
 has been very successful and all that he pos- 
 sesses has been acquired through his own per- 
 sistent and honorable effort. In politics he 
 was Formerly a Republican hut is now a Prohi- 
 bitionist. 
 
 AMOS S. BARRY. 
 
 The birthplace of Amos S. Barry was the old 
 homestead Farm on which his grandfather 
 Richard Barry, located in pioneeT inner-, lie 
 arrived in Montgomery county about 1826. 
 when this portion of the state was very sparsely 
 settled, and since that time representatives of 
 tin' name have carried forward the work which 
 he begun of developing the county along sub- 
 stantial lines. Here be reared his family of 
 seven children. Michael S. Barry, the father 
 of our subject, was horn in Barren county. 
 
 Kentucky, in 1818. He made the journey by 
 team to Illinois, for the date of his arrival ante- 
 dated the period of railroad building here, 
 and with the early agricultural development 
 of Montgomery county he was identified. Ha 
 married Elizabeth Clot feller and they had 
 three children: Emily, the widow of George 
 Beck, of Hillsboro ; John Richard, deceased; 
 and Amos S. By his second wife. Clara Dale, 
 the father had five children, but all are now 
 deceased. By bis third wife be had one child. 
 Carrie. Michael Barry lived to be mere than 
 eighty years of age, and as one of the hon- 
 ored pioneers and revered patriarchs of the 
 county is yet well remembered by many citizens 
 of this part- id' the state. 
 
 Tin' natal day of Amos S. Barry was Janu- 
 ary 11, 1848. He was reared to farm life, edu- 
 cated principally in the public schools and was 
 graduated at Bryant & Stratton Business < al- 
 lege of Chicago. When twenty-one years of 
 age be started out for himself, going to Texas 
 ami the southwest, where he spent the greater 
 part of two years. He afterward located in 
 St. Louis and Kansas City. Missouri, where he 
 was engaged in the commission business until 
 Is; I. when he was married and returned to 
 Montgomery county, settling in East fork 
 township, where he remained for four years. 
 On the expiration of thai period he came to the 
 farm which he now owns and occupies, com- 
 prising about three hundred acres of land in 
 Hillsboro township. The place is well im- 
 proved and highly cultivated, and the accesso- 
 ries and conveniences of tin- model farm of 
 the twentieth century are found thereon. He 
 
 ,- nally harvests good crops and also raises 
 
 high-grade stock for market. 
 
 On December 31. 1874, Mr. Barry was 
 united in marriage to Miss Alice B. Richards, 
 a daughter of George H. Richards, who is rep- 
 resented elsewhere in this work. They have 
 live children: Ccorge I,'.. who graduated at 
 the State University and is now assistant en- 
 gineer for the Pittsburg, Cincinnati. Chicago 
 & St. Louis Railroad at Columbus, Ohio; Har- 
 old B., who was also educated at the State 
 University and is a civil engineer in the em- 
 ploy of the Southern Pacific Railroad, residing 
 at Dudleyville, Arizona: Irene A., who is a
 
 5 a 
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 graduate of the Hillsboro high school; and 
 Arthur A. and Edward II.. both at home. 
 
 For aiuiii a quarter of a century .Mi'. Barry 
 has resided upon his present farm and is 
 known as a reliable and enterprising business 
 man. and as a worthy representative of an hon- 
 ored pioneer family lie also deserves mention 
 in tins volume. 
 
 LEWIS II. THOMAS. 
 
 Lewis H. Thomas, Living on section 10. 
 Bois d'Arc township, is one of the well-known 
 agriculturists of Montgomery county, and his 
 farm of six hundred and forty acres is one 
 of the best improved places in this part of the 
 state. He was born in Greene county, Illinois, 
 May '.'I. is-.':, and was reared to manhood 
 
 ther i tin' home farm and enjoyed excellent 
 
 educational advantages, his preliminary train- 
 ing, received iii the district schools, being sup- 
 plemented by study in Carrollton Academy. 
 
 Mr. Thomas was united in marriage, on the 
 11th id' November, 1863, in Greene county, to 
 Miss Ann Linder, who was born in that coun- 
 ty, March .".. 1842. lie bad previously entered 
 land from the government and begun the devel- 
 opment of the farm upon which be now resides 
 By claiming purchase he became the owner of 
 seventeen hundred acres, and upon this farm 
 be settled in 1855, beginning its development 
 and improvement with characteristic energy. 
 He has added all modern equipments and ac- 
 cessories, erected a large two-story brick resi- 
 dence, which was afterward destroyed by tire, 
 and later he built bis present line home, which 
 is also a two-story brick residence. The ma- 
 terial for the brick in the first residence and 
 the fuel for making them were products of the 
 farm. In IS.".:! Mr. Thomas planted ten acres 
 of locust «eed and two years later this was 
 supplemented by the planting of fifteen acres 
 
 mere of the same kind of seed. The oldest of 
 
 this weed was. therefore, but thirteen years 
 when Mr. Thomas began to burn bis first kiln 
 of brick, yet the twenty-five acres of locust 
 furnished all the necessary fuel for the three 
 hundred ami ten thousand brick that were 
 used in the const met imi of the first brick' 
 
 bouse. The present house is heated by furnace", 
 secures its water supply from waterworks, and 
 is most beautifully furnished, having many 
 
 modern conveniences which go t akc up the 
 
 model home of the twentieth century. Around 
 the house is a well-kept lawn, shaded k\ forest 
 ami evergreen tree- and adorned with flowers 
 and shrubbery. In the rear of the bouse is a 
 large barn and other necessan outbuildings for 
 the shelter of grain and stock. Ther.' is also 
 a grove of walnut, chestnut, pecan, hickory, 
 ode, ash, cottonwood. hack! errv. elm. honey- 
 locust, mulberry and soft maple of seventeen 
 acres, which was planted and cultivated by Mr. 
 Thomas. This took the coveted prize of the 
 gold medal from the Slate Agricultural Society 
 in 1858 as being "the best grove of cultivated 
 timber in the state." For fourteen consecutive 
 years annual Sunday-school picnics gathered 
 here, and they were abandoned because an un- 
 precedented heavy sleet caused such dam- 
 age to the timber as to make the clearing-up a 
 herculean task. Of trees and shrubs there are 
 sixty-three varieties on the place. There is 
 also a good orchard and considerable small 
 fruit. In connection with his Earming inter- 
 ests Mr. Thomas has engaged in raising high- 
 graded stock. Be has sold a part of bis origi- 
 nal tract of land, but he still owns over six 
 hundred acres, constituting a valuable farm. 
 
 Mr. Thomas lost his wife in Montgomery 
 county. They were the parents of five chil- 
 dren : Etta, the wife of Edward L. Kendrick, 
 of Buffalo, New York; John 1.. who is en- 
 gaged in ranching in Colorado; Mary L., the 
 wife of Robert 0. Scott, who carries on mer- 
 ehandising in Colorado; Samuel, al home; and 
 Minerva C, who is attending Illinois College 
 at Jacksonville. On the 3d of October, 1889, 
 Mr. Thomas wedded Miss Agnes E. Ball, a 
 sister of John Ball, a prominent banker and 
 agriculturist, conducting business in Fann- 
 ersville. Mrs. Thomas is a native of Wales, 
 was brought to America during her childhood 
 days and was reared in Yirden, Macoupin 
 county. She is a lady of superior educational 
 attainments and was successfully engaged in 
 teaching for a number of years, being con- 
 nected with the Washington school in Chicago 
 Illinois, for seven years.
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 52 1 
 
 Politically Mr. Thomas has been a lifelong 
 Democrat, but has never aspired to office, al- 
 though he has supported each presidential 
 nominee on the national ticket for fifty-six 
 years. He served on the honorable county 
 board as supervisor and was a mem- 
 ber of several importani committees, lit 1 has 
 also been township school treasurer for some 
 years. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, 
 being affiliated with the blue lodge at Virden, 
 with Girard chapter and the commandery at 
 Springfield. He holds membership in the Bap- 
 tist church and lias been one of its officers for 
 many years. His life lias been in harmon\ 
 with Ms professions and he is numbered among 
 
 the In 'I'd pioneer residents of Montgomery 
 
 county, having for more than a half century 
 resided upon his present farm. He has aidud 
 materially in opening up and developing the 
 county and is one of the few remaining early 
 settlers. He is widely known throughout cen- 
 tral Illinois as a man of sterling character and 
 worth, a public-spirited citizen, having the con- 
 fidence and good will of all. and he and his 
 estimable wife are greatly esteemed in the com- 
 munity in which they make their home. 
 
 GUILFORD BAS'S. 
 
 Guilford Bass, whose very successful ca- 
 reer indicates what may be accomplished by a 
 man of strong purpose and honorable business 
 principles, is now the owner of valuable farm- 
 ing interests in Audubon township. He was 
 born September 26, 1835, in Fayette county 
 near Vandalia, four miles south of Ramsey. 
 His parents were Guilford and Mary (Proctor) 
 Bass, natives of Kentucky and of English 
 descent. The father was horn in 1794 and re- 
 mained a resident of Kentucky until after his 
 marriage, when he removed with his young 
 wife to the vicinity of Nashville. Tennessee, 
 there living for three or four years. On the 
 expiration of that period he went to Fayette 
 county, Illinois, in the fall of 1827, and se- 
 cured land from the government. Few settle- 
 ments had been made in that part of the state 
 and the wild and unimproved condition of the 
 country afforded ample opportunity to the am- 
 
 bitious and industrious agriculturists. Mr. 
 Bass secured forty acres and at once began the 
 development of a farm. Throughout the 
 greater part of his life he carried on agricul- 
 tural pursuits, although he had learned the 
 cooper's trade in early life. He served his 
 country in the war of 1812, participating in 
 the battle of New Orleans on the 8th of Janu- 
 ary, 1S1."]. and he was never wounded nor cap- 
 tured during the second war with England. He 
 died in is I I. and his wife long surviving him, 
 passed away in 1873 and was buried in the 
 Tennessee cemetery southwest of Oconee, while 
 Mr. liass was laid to rest in the cemetery on 
 the old family homestead in Fayette county. 
 They were the parents of twelve children, ten 
 -on- ami two daughters: John died in Marion 
 county, where he had followed farming and 
 reared his family of two children. Jacob, who 
 was a farmer and hail a family of eleven chil- 
 dren, died and was buried near Kinmundy. 
 Illinois. William, who was the owner of land 
 in Clinton and Bond counties and had a fam- 
 ily ,,f live children, who are vet living, made 
 his home in Wisetown, Illinois. James W., 
 who was married and had >ix children, lived 
 in Montgomery county and was also the owner 
 of farm property in Shelby county. David, 
 wdio had a family of nine children, was a 
 farmer by occupation and died in St. Louis, 
 Missouri. Henry, whose family numbered ten 
 children, resided in Bond county and his re- 
 mains were interred at Camp Ground, (inil- 
 ford is the next of the family. Elijah, who 
 follows fanning in Shelby county, Illinois, has 
 a family of five children, four sons and a 
 daughter. Francis, who follows farming in 
 Newton county, near Grangeville, Missouri, 
 lias a family of six children. Josiah. now de- 
 ceased, was a resident of Montgomery county 
 and his remains were interred in Tennessee 
 cemetery. He had a family of nine children. 
 Mary died when thirteen years of age. and 
 Martha died when eight years of age. being 
 buried in the old homestead cemetery in Fay- 
 ette county. 
 
 Guilford Bass was reared in the usual man- 
 ner of farmer lads and was early trained to 
 habits of industry and integrity. He was 
 married October 1. 1855, to Keziah Jane Hill,
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Massey) 
 Hill, natives of North Carolina, who removed 
 to -Illinois prior to tin- birth of their daughter 
 and settled in Shelby county, their home being 
 mi a farm east of Oconee. They had ten chil- 
 dren: Senry, who served under General Scott 
 and died in the Mexican war: Sarah, the de- 
 ceased wile iif Lewis Scribner, a farmer of 
 Shelby county; Joel Hill, a farmer residing 
 north hi' Bingham, in Fayette county, Illinois; 
 John, deceased, who resided southwest of Ram- 
 sey and hail a wife and one child; Elizabeth, 
 who is now Mrs. S'eago and is living in Audu- 
 bon; Jackson Hill, a stock-dealer of Irving, 
 who has eight children; Thomas, a farmer of 
 this county, who has one child; .Mrs. Bass; 
 Amanda, who is the widow of Basil Prater, of 
 Edinburg, and has six children; and William 
 I-'., who died in infancy. 
 
 Guilford Bass has at different times pur- 
 chased land in Montgomery county. He first 
 bought forty acres of William Smith in 1856 
 and his next forty was purchased from the 
 father of Joseph Whitmore. His third forty 
 acre tract was bought at twelve dollars and a 
 half per acre, and he next purchased eighty 
 acres at sixteen dollars per acre. Hater be 
 bought another forty acre tract and at other 
 (inn's made purchases until bis landed posses- 
 sions now aggregate three hundred and six- 
 teen and a half acres. As he had no assist- 
 ance in starting out in HIV. bis success indi- 
 cates clearly that he has worked industriously 
 and persistently to acquire a competence 
 overcoming all difficulties and obstacles in his 
 path by determined purpose. The homo of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bass has been blessed with 
 twelve children: William Franklin, the eldest- 
 died in infancy. Henry M. married Susan 
 MeNiehols and has one child living, Roy S. 
 Amanda F. is the wife of Jacob Layman and 
 has one son. Edgar. Joseph M. married Flora 
 Piddle and has one daughter, Mabel. Mary is 
 the wife of Oscar Thompson and has four 
 children: Vernon, Burleigh. Eulalia and Veda, 
 Martha is the wife of Funnel Whitmer. Nancy 
 1.. and Ella are at home. Emma is the wife 
 of Edward Walker and has one child. Veda. 
 Albert died September 22, 190:i. Nettie is 
 the wife of Samuel Jollv and has three living 
 
 children: Ruth, (ail and Paul. Edgar married 
 ( !lara Neathery. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bass are members of the Bap- 
 tist church and are people of the highest re- 
 spectability, commanding the warm regard of 
 many friends. In polities he has ever been 
 a standi Democrat since casting bis first presi- 
 dential ballot lor dames Buchanan, but he has 
 never sought or desired office, preferring to give 
 his time and energies to bis business affairs, 
 and by reason of bis close application and un- 
 faltering diligence be has become the possessor 
 of a farm which is extensive and valuable. 
 
 HENRY II AY NFS. 
 
 Henry Eayhes, who is a representative of the 
 farming interest.- of Pitman township, where 
 he owns and operates a tract of land of one 
 hundred and sixty acres, was born upon this 
 farm. July 12, 1857. He is a son of John 
 and Harriet (Seymour) Haynes and a grand- 
 son of William Baynes, who was one of the 
 pioneer settlers of Illinois, establishing his 
 home in t'ass county when the work of improve- 
 ment and progress bad scarcely been begun in 
 that part of the state. 
 
 John Haynes was born in Indiana and was 
 reared in Cass county. Illinois. Later be re- 
 moved to Morgan county, where he met and 
 married Miss Harriet Seymour, a native of 
 North Carolina. Subsequently they removed to 
 Montgomery county, establishing their home 
 within its borders about 1854. Mr. Haynes 
 purchased the land upon which his son Henry 
 now resides and al once began to (dear the place, 
 which was then largely covered with timber 
 and brush. He also fenced the tields and when 
 the plowing was done he planted the seed which 
 in due time produced good crops. He also put 
 good buildings upon the place and other sub- 
 stantial improvements and there he reared his 
 family, spending his last years upon the old 
 homestead. His death occurred January 16, 
 1891. His wife si ill survives him and is now 
 keeping bouse for her son Greene, enjoying good 
 health al the age of eighty-five years and doing 
 all her own house work. In their family were 
 seven children, as follows: Hreene. who owns
 
 UM 
 
 iirjois
 
 HENRY HAYNES AND FAMILY
 
 MR. AND MRS'. JOHN HAYNES
 
 UNIV.
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 527 
 
 and operates a part of the old home farm ; 
 Mary, the wife of S. T. Caldwell, of Edgar, 
 Nebraska; Alexander, who is living near Hoxie, 
 Kansas; Henry, of tins review; John, of Colo- 
 rado; James, who died in March, 1893; and 
 Sarah, who was the wife of \V. L. King and 
 died January 30, 1873. 
 
 Henry Haynes was reared upon the old 
 homestead and continued to assist his father in 
 its cultivation and improvement until lie at- 
 tained his majority, lie attended the common 
 schools in early life and no event of special im- 
 portance occurred to vary the routine of farm 
 life tor him in his youth. He was married in 
 Macoupin county. April 3, 1879. to Miss Ella 
 Seymour, a daughter of W. B. and Elizabeth 
 (Bull) Seymour. She was horn in Morgan 
 county. Illinois. July 7. IS.jS. and spent her 
 girlhood days in that county and in Macoupin 
 county. 
 
 The young couple began housekeeping upon 
 a rented farm, which he continued to culti- 
 vate for a few years. After his father's death 
 Mr. Haynes purchased the interest of some of 
 the other heirs of the family and succeeded to 
 a part of the old farm, including that portion 
 upon which stands the family residence. To 
 the further development and cultivation of the 
 place he has devoted his time and energies. He 
 has repaired and remodeled the house and now 
 has a neat and comfortable residence, while 
 
 in the rear stand g I barns and outbuildings. 
 
 giving ample shelter for grain and stock. There 
 is an orchard with a large variety of fruit, and 
 modern farm machinery facilitate bis work in 
 the fields. In connection with the raising of 
 grain he makes a business of raising good 
 graded stock and is successful in bis production 
 of both grain and stock. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Haynes has been 
 blessed with two children : William Herman, 
 born August 28, 1883; and Hattie Evelyn, horn 
 December 22, 1895. The parents are well 
 known in this county and the hospitality of 
 many of the best homes of Pitman township is 
 extended to them. Mr. Haynes exercises bis 
 right of franchise in support of the men and 
 measures of the Democracy. He is accounted 
 one of the leaders of bis party in this locality 
 and has been honored with several positions of 
 
 political preferment, having served for three 
 terms as highway commissioner, being now in 
 the seventh year of bis incumbency in that 
 office. Be has also been school director for a 
 number of years and he believes in the em- 
 ployment of capable teachers and the establish- 
 ment of good schools. Fraternally he is con- 
 nected wiib the Knights of Pythias lodge at 
 Raymond, lie has always lived within the bor- 
 ders lit Montgomery county and the old home- 
 stead, which was the place of his birth, is still 
 
 the place of his residence. -<> that it is endeared 
 
 to him through the association of his boyhood 
 
 as well as of later vears. 
 
 HENRY ABSALOM CRESS. 
 
 Henry Absalom Cress, who is engaged in 
 general farming and stock-raising in Hillsboro 
 townshipj. was born on the farm where he now 
 resides, the date of his birth being August 12, 
 L859. 'His father, George H. Cress, was also 
 born in Butler Grove township, where his 
 father located at an early day. George H. 
 Cress was married to Miss Jane E. Corey and 
 Henry A. Cress was the only child of that mar- 
 riage. From the government the father entered 
 the homestead farm and at once began trans- 
 forming the wild and uncultivated prairie into 
 productive fields. He continued to make that 
 place his boiiie from the time of his marriage 
 until bis death, and passed away at a compara- 
 tively eai]\ age of twenty-four years. His 
 widow afterward became the wife of William 
 W. Keeley, and now resides in Pueblo. Colo- 
 rado. 
 
 Henry A. Cress speni the days of his boy- 
 hood and youth in the county of his nativity 
 and attended the public schools, thus laying 
 the foundation fur bis successful career by pre- 
 paration that fitted him to cope with the re- 
 sponsible duties that came in later life. He 
 was married on the 19th of March, 1882, to 
 Miss Annie Clotfelter, a daughter of J. W. 
 Clotfelter, and they have three children, Henry 
 A.. Jr.. Eubert and James W. The family 
 reside in Hillsboro township, where the farm 
 now owned by Henry A. Cress comprises a 
 valuable tract of land of Eour hundred and
 
 528 
 
 PAST AXI' PRESENT OE MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 forty acres, all in one body, aboul a mile from 
 Hillsboro. He carries on general farming, 
 feeds both cattle ami hogs ami engages in the 
 (lain business, having a herd of Hereford cat- 
 tle lei- that purpose. The various branches of 
 his business have brought to him a good in- 
 come and his life of intense ami well directed 
 activity has made him one of the representa- 
 tive agriculturists of his community. He is a 
 director of the Hillsboro Farmers' Insurance 
 Company. He has held the office of school 
 director for fifteen years, has been highway 
 commissioner, ami in polities is a Democrat. 
 Mr. Cress is widely ami favorablj known in 
 the county where his entire life lias been passed 
 and his strength of purpose and unfaltering 
 diligence in his business interests have been 
 notable elements in his career. 
 
 JAMES S. BONK. 
 
 James S. Hone is numbered among the pion- 
 eer settlers and honored dead whose life work 
 proved a benefit to his community through 
 the practical assistance which he rendered in 
 promoting the upbuilding ami progress id' his 
 community during the long years of his resi- 
 dence in Montgomery county, lie was horn 
 in Lebanon. Ohio. September 1<>. 1815, his par- 
 ents being David and Prudence Bone. The 
 father was a farmer and lawyer, following his 
 profession with success and at the same time 
 carrying on agricultural interests. He served 
 his country as a soldier of the war of 1812. 
 When the government became involved in mili- 
 tary difficulties with Mexico he again offered 
 his services ami was commissioned colonel of 
 an Ohio regiment in the Mexican war. lie 
 afterward exerted strong and beneficial influ- 
 ence in securing the passage of all the Mexican 
 claims through congress in 1850 and 1853. In 
 his family were thirteen children. 
 
 dames S. Bone was ri ared in Ohio in the usual 
 manner of farmer lads of that early period, the 
 state presenting the same pioneer conditions 
 which have always been features of the west 
 in the early period of its colonization and im- 
 provement. He came to Illinois in 1864, bring- 
 ing with him live stock and a wagon. Here 
 
 he engaged in farming and he also in 186? built 
 the Prairie House in Nokomis, which was de- 
 stroyed by fire in 1881. He purchased four 
 hundred acres of land on sections 20 and 21, 
 Nokomis township, hut later sold two hundred 
 acres to Mr. Argo. and this is now known as 
 the Casselberry place. When it came into Mr. 
 Bone's possession it was all wild and unim- 
 proved, lie purchased it of the Illinois Central 
 Railroad Company for eight dollars per acre 
 and with characteristic energy he began its de- 
 velopment, making excellent improvements 
 thereon. 
 
 In 1839 Mr. Bone was united in marriage to 
 Miss Mary Jane Miller, a daughter of Henry 
 and Catherina Miller, of Lebanon. Ohio. She 
 died in 1852 and in 1854 he wedded Mary L. 
 Boss, a daughter of Mathias Boss, who was 
 chief clerk in the dead Letter office at Washing- 
 ton through the administrations of Presidents 
 Madison, Jackson, Van Buren and Harrison. 
 
 He was a close and intimate friend of Th as 
 
 Corwin and was well known to prominent po- 
 litical leaders. He also served as collector of 
 revenue in the war of 1812. Her grandfather. 
 Colonel Benjamin Boss, commanded a regiment 
 in tin' Revolutionary war and Mrs. Bone is now 
 eligible to membership in the society known as 
 Laughters of the American Revolution. She 
 was horn in Lebanon, Ohio, in 1815, was edu- 
 cated in Cincinnati, that state, and resided in 
 Washington during her father's connection with 
 official service there. During that time she 
 attended many important receptions, balls and 
 parties given by the leading members of the 
 highest social circles of the city. She passed 
 the eighty-ninth mile-stone on life's journey on 
 the loth of March. 1904, hut she has not a 
 gray hair — which has been a characteristic 
 throughout her entire family — and only recent- 
 ly she has used glasses in reading. [Into Mr. and 
 Mrs. Bone were horn four children, two sons 
 and two daughters. Alice P.. the eldest, mar- 
 ried Madison T. Stuekev. who was assessor and 
 treasurer of St. Clair county, Illinois, and was 
 president of the Electric Light Company, at the 
 time of his death. They had one child that died 
 in infancy; Virginia married Cassius Shotwell, 
 who lives in Chicago, being connected with 
 Lav id K utter, a coal dealer of that eitv. Thev
 
 UNiVi :^o;s
 
 JAMES S. BONE
 
 MRS. JAMES S. BONE.

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 533 
 
 have four children, three 1 sons and a daughter, 
 one son being in St. Louis, Missouri, another 
 in Pittsburg, while the third son and the daugh- 
 ter are at home in Chicago. David II. Bone, 
 the third member of the family, resides in No- 
 komis and at one time was engaged as a hominy 
 manufacturer of St. Louis, having a mill on 
 Jefferson and Lucas streets. He married Laura 
 Wickersham, who was born in St. Louis, and 
 they have four children: Stewart, who is mar- 
 ried and has been with the Missouri Pacific 
 Railroad Company for fourteen years, being 
 now chief clerk for thai line at Seventh and 
 Poplar streets in St. Louis; Austin B., who 
 is in the cashier's office of the Illinois Central 
 Railroad Company in Chicago, which position 
 he has occupied for seven years; and Aline and 
 Annie at home. David Bone is a member of 
 the Odd Fellows' Society and is widely and 
 farvorably known in this county. William Bone, 
 the youngest of the family, was deputy sheriff 
 for four years and took an active interest in 
 political affairs, being a recognized leader in 
 the local ranks of the Democracy, lie died at 
 Kingman, Kansas, March 14. 1885, and was 
 laid to rest in Prospect Hill cemetery at No- 
 komis. 
 
 James S. Bone gave bis political allegiance to 
 the Republican party after its formation and 
 be served as president of the town board for 
 eight years, being continued in the office by re- 
 election, his supporters recognizing his capa- 
 bility and faithfulness in the position. He 
 belonged to the Methodist church and he died 
 in that faith in 1896, when in his eighty-first 
 year. His was a long, useful and honorable 
 life, characterized by upright principles, worthy 
 motives and successful accomplishment and his 
 memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of many 
 who knew him in Montgomery county, while 
 upon the pages of it- history his name should be 
 enduringly inscribed. 
 
 P. II. YOUNG. 
 
 P. II. Young, tin' owner of a farm of one' 
 hundred and sixty acres in East Fork town- 
 ship, was born near Donnellson, May "?!>. 1863. 
 a son of William and Eva (Brown) Young. 
 
 He represents an old southern family, his 
 father, William Young, having been born in 
 Tennessee in October, 1810. In that state he 
 was reared until the fall of 1832, when the 
 family home was established near Donnellson, 
 Montgomery county, Illinois. He followed the, 
 occupation of farming in Grisham township 
 when that was a pioneer locality. Many of 
 the hardships and trials incident to frontier 
 life had to be met by him, but he possessed 
 unfaltering courage and determination and per- 
 severed in his work until he became an ex- 
 tensive and prosperous farmer and stock-raiser. 
 Hardly a furrow had been turned or an im- 
 provement made upon bis land when it eamn 
 into his possession, but he added modern 
 equipments and in course of time the once wild 
 land was made to yield to him good harvests. 
 He owned about fourteen hundred acres of 
 land. In polities he was a Democrat, active 
 and influential in the ranks of his party, and 
 about 1,851 he served for one term as a mem- 
 ber of the stab' legislature. His wife was born 
 in North Carolina and in her early girlhood 
 days was brought to Illinois, where she formed 
 the acquaintance of Mr. Young, to whom she 
 gave her hand in marriage. His death oc- 
 curred on the 6th of May. 1900, but Mrs. 
 Young is still living ami now makes her home 
 in Hillsboro. Few have a more intimate 
 knowledge of the early history of the county 
 than she. and many interesting incidents of 
 pioneer life are related by her, giving one a 
 true and faithful picture of conditions that ex- 
 isted at that early day. 
 
 F. 11. Young was one of three children. He 
 was reared upon the old home farm in Grisham 
 township and attended the nearest district 
 school, but while his educational privileges 
 were not very great he was carefully trained to 
 habits of industry and economy upon the home 
 farm, and in the school of experience he has 
 learned many valuable lessons through reading, 
 observation and contact with men in business 
 life. He continued to assist his father until 
 twenty-three years of age and then began 
 farming I'm- himself in East Pork township 
 upon land belonging to his father. lie took 
 up his abode upon his present home place in 
 March, 1893, having here one hundred and
 
 ;i 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY uil'NTY 
 
 sixty acres given him by his father. He has 
 made improvements from time to time here 
 and now has a well-equipped farm, supplied 
 with all modern accessories and conveniences 
 which facilitate farm work and add to the 
 productiveness of the place. He follows di- 
 versified farming, having rich fields of grain 
 and good -tuck, and his energy and careful 
 management are salient features in his success. 
 In December, L886, Mr. Young was united 
 in marriage to Miss Clara Edwards, a daughter 
 of C. 11. Edwards, of Grisham township. They 
 new have three children : Jennie, Roger How- 
 ard and Randall, all at heme. The parents held 
 membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 church of Coffeen and Mr. Young is identified 
 with the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fra- 
 ternities, the Modern W.oodmen camp and the 
 Royal Neighbors of America, lie was made a 
 Mason in 1900 in Mounl Maria lodge, No. 51, 
 of Hillsboro. In his political affiliations he 
 decs not consider himself hound by party ties 
 hni votes for the candidate whom he thinks 
 hesl qualified for office. He has always been 
 true to his honest convictions, straightforward 
 in his relations with his fellow men and [oval 
 in friendship and in citizenship. 
 
 WILLIAM CHRISTIE. 
 
 William Christie, the senior member of 
 tin' linn id' Christie & Laub, contractors and 
 builders of Litchfield, was lorn in Truro, Nova 
 Scotia, in 1858. The northern countries of 
 America have furnished to the United States 
 mam brighl and enterprising young men who 
 have left their dative land to enter the business 
 circles of this country, with its more progress- 
 ive methods, livelier competition ami advance- 
 ment more quickly secured. Among this num- 
 ber is Mr. Christie, who in early manhood 
 sought wider fields in order to give full scope 
 to his ambition and industry — his dominant 
 qualities. lie found the opportunity he sought 
 in the freedom and appreciation of the growing 
 western portion of tin- country. Though bom 
 across the bonier, he is thoroughly American 
 in thought and feeling and is patriotic and 
 
 sincere in Ins love For the stars and stripes. His 
 career is closely identified with the history of 
 Litchfield, where hi' has acquired a comfortable 
 competence ami where he is now an honored 
 and respected citizen. 
 
 Mr. ('hristie is a son of Robert and Harriet 
 (Cox) Christie, both id' whom were natives 
 of Truro. Neva Scotia. The father was a 
 farmer by occupation and owned three go.od 
 tracts of land there. Hnth he and bis wife 
 held membership in the Presbyterian church, 
 in which he filled several positions and in the 
 work of which hi' took a very active and help- 
 ful part. His death occurred in 1890 as the 
 result of an accident when be was sixty-five 
 years of age. and bis widow is still living in 
 Nova Scotia. She is of English lineage, while 
 her husband was of Scotch descent. In their 
 family were six children: Nancy, the wife of 
 John Miller, of Nova Scotia: George, a con- 
 tractor, who is also operating a planing mill 
 in Nova Scotia: William, of this review; Hat- 
 tie and Henry, at home: and Charles, who is 
 a railroad employe of Boston, Massachusetts. 
 
 William Christie acquired his education in 
 the public school,- .if Nova Scotia, and when 
 his attention was no longer claimed by his 
 textbooks he learned the carpenter's trade, 
 which he followed in his native land for a 
 ■ Imrl lime. In 1881, however, he came to 
 Litchfield and worked on the Planet mill, erect- 
 ing the building and placing the machinery, 
 lie was thus occupied for two years. < >n the 
 expiration of that period he went tn St. Louis 
 and in 1889 he returned to Litchfield and be- 
 gan the business for himself as a contractor 
 and builder. Tin- he has followed with marked 
 success and is now one of the leading repre- 
 sentatives of his line in the city, employing a 
 dozen workmen. In 1899 he formed a part- 
 nership with William Laub under the linn 
 style of Christie & Laub. As a business man he 
 has teen conspicuous among his associates, not 
 only for bis success, hut for his probity, fair- 
 ness and honorable methods, anil in everything 
 hi' has undertaken he has been eminently prac- 
 tical. 
 
 In 1885 Mr. Christie was united in marriage 
 to Miss Etura Wright, who was born in Mont- 
 gomery countv in lSoO and is a daughter of
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 535 
 
 Carroll Wright, who was a farmer by occupa- 
 tion and one of the earliest settlers of this por- 
 tion of the state. Mr. and .Mrs. Christie now 
 have four children: Blanche, who is a member 
 of the class of 1895 of the Litchfield high 
 scl I: Eazel; Irene; and Charles. Mrs. Chris- 
 tie belongs to the Presbyterian church and Mr. 
 Christie is connected with the Mutual Protect- 
 ive League, while he exercises his right of 
 franchise in support of the men and measures 
 of the Republican party. Time has proven the 
 wisdom of his determination to come to the 
 [Jnited S'tates that he might enjoy its better 
 business opportunities, for here his capability 
 lias found recognition and the good wages paid 
 for labor have enabled him to advance to a 
 iMi-ii ion of affluence. 
 
 JUSTUS II. WARE. 
 
 There is no better proof of the desirability 
 of Montgomery county as a place of residence 
 or stronger indication of the fact that it affords 
 excellent opportunities and advantages to its 
 citizens than the fad thai many of its native 
 sons still reside within its borders. Of this 
 class .Instils II. Ware i> a representative for his 
 birth occurred July 11. 1834, upon the farm 
 which is still his home and which had been 
 entered from the government by his father. 
 Benjamin Ware, in 182-1. Benjamin Ware was 
 born in Gilsum, New Hampshire, and when a 
 young man left the old Granite state, going to 
 Xew York. He afterward made his way west- 
 ward to Indiana, settling near Vincennes and 
 later be went to Missouri, where he met his 
 older brother, Obediah. Afterward he proceed- 
 ed on horseback to Montgomery count,' in the 
 spring of 1824 and secured from the govern- 
 ment eighty acres of land in Butler Grove 
 township. On March 12, 1828, he was united 
 in marriage to Miss Sarah Slaybaek, who came 
 to Montgomery county in an early day with her 
 uncle. Israel Seward, removing to this locaiitj 
 from the vicinity of Hamilton, Ohio. She was 
 born in Kentucky and by her marriage became 
 the mother of two children, hut the elder, Aus- 
 tin, is now deceased. For many years Benja- 
 min Ware carried on agricultural pursuits upon 
 
 the old homestead and thereon he died, Julj 
 31, 1855, at the age of fifty-nine years. His 
 wil'e long survived him and passed away April 
 ■„'. 1S83, at the age of seventy-eight years. 
 
 Justus II. Ware was twenty-one years of age 
 at the time of his father's death and he then 
 took charge of the home farm. lie had previ- 
 ously attended school as opportunity afforded 
 and he had been trained to the various duties 
 and labors of the farm so that practical ex- 
 perience guided him as be undertook the task 
 of managing the home property. His entire 
 liie of seventy years has been passed upon tin 
 farm where he was horn. He owns one hun- 
 dred and sixty aires of the original homestead, 
 which was entered from the government by hi? 
 father, and also has eighty acre- of timber land. 
 In Fact his landed possessions now aggregate 
 three hundred and sixty acres and the farm 
 at the present time is managed by his son, Mr. 
 Ware thus being relieved to a great extent of 
 the labors and responsibilities incident thereto. 
 His home is situated on section 15, Butler 
 Grove township, about two miles north and 
 one mile east of the village of Butler. 
 
 On the 26tb of September, 1860, Mr. V are 
 was united in marriage to Miss Luceva A. 
 Brigham, who came to Montgomery county as 
 a school teacher from New Alslead. \e\v Hump- 
 shire, where her birth occurred August 25, 
 1836. She is a daughter of Aaron and Susan 
 (Proctor) Brigham, pioneers of that locality. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Ware were born four children : 
 Mary Flora, bom November 29, 1862, is at 
 home; Carrie Susan, horn May 5, 1864, died 
 December 1. 1866; George Vincent, horn Sep- 
 tember 25, L867, i~ living on the home farm, 
 and was married December 12, 1893, to Mamie 
 Grace Bryce, a daughter of Robert and Sarah 
 (McMurtry) Bryce; Amy Lillian, bom April 
 24, IS!:!, was married October In. 1900, to .1 
 A. Bushy, who was born December 15, 1871, 
 and they live in Litchfield. They have two 
 children. Leland Ware, horn November '24, 
 1901, ami Evelyn, born April 17, 1904. 
 
 Mr. Ware gives his political allegiance to 
 the Republican party, the principles of which 
 he has long endorsed. He and his wife are 
 connected with the Lutheran denomination as
 
 536 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 members of Ware's Grove church and for sev- 
 eral years he served as an elder in the church. 
 He was also township supervisor for two years 
 and takes an active and interested part in all 
 that pertains to public progress and improve- 
 ment here. Having .-pent his entire life in the 
 county, he is deeply interested in its growth 
 and development and feels a just pride in what 
 has been accomplished as the years have gone 
 
 iiY. 
 
 ALEXANDER A. CRESS. 
 
 Alexander A. ( Iress, well known as a real es- 
 tate operator of Hillsboro, whose developing 
 business lias led to substantial success, result- 
 ing from enterprising methods in keeping with 
 the progressive spirit of the times, is a native 
 son of Montgomery county. He was horn about 
 two and a half miles northwest of Hillsboro, 
 December 7, 1840, and is of German ancestry. 
 His father. Jacob Cress, was horn in Indiana 
 in 1818 and died July 1. 1903, at the advanced 
 age of eighty-five years. Hi' was brought to 
 .Montgomery county by his parent.-. Jacob and 
 Catherine Cress, when hut six weeks old, and 
 they located about a mile west of Hillsboro, 
 where the grand lather of our subject entered 
 land, thus becoming the owner of several hun- 
 dred acres. Jacob Cress, the father, was reared 
 amid the wild scenes of frontier life, and he, 
 too. became an agriculturist and accumulated 
 large Landed interests, hut divided much of 
 his property among his children prior to his 
 death. He was a Democrat in his political 
 views and was a member of the Lutheran 
 church. He contributed in substantial manner 
 to the upbuilding and improvement of the 
 county, especially along agricultural lines, and 
 took an abiding interest in whatever pertained 
 to the welfare and substantia] upbuilding of 
 
 the c miinity. lie married Miss Helena 
 
 Soberer, who was horn in Virginia in 1818 
 ami died on the -.'1st of March. 1902. Her 
 parent- were Daniel and Rachel Scherer. The 
 former was a minister of the Lutheran church 
 and in 1833 hi' re ved to Montgomery coun- 
 ty, locating in Hillsboro. He was one of the 
 first ministers of his denomination in the state 
 
 of Illinois, organized the church in Hillsboro 
 and became its first pastor. He was a cir- 
 cuit riiler in the early days when preachers of 
 the gospel traveled from place to place, and in 
 this way he visited Kentucky. His political 
 allegiance was given to the Whig party. He 
 died at Mount Carmel, Illinois, having left 
 the impress of his individuality upon the com- 
 munity in which he labored, while his efforts 
 resulted in the moral development of the peo- 
 ple. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cress were born 
 eleven children, of whom seven are yet living. 
 They were as follows: Alexander A.; John 
 M.. deceased; Jacob 1).. a. farmer of Califor- 
 nia ; William S'., who is living on the old 
 homestead ; Samuel E., a hardware merchant 
 and hanker of Sorento, Illinois; Benjamin L.. 
 who i- deputy United States mineral surveyor 
 of Red Cliff. Colorado; Sophia L.. who is the 
 wife of Dr. 0. B. Blackman, of Dixon, Illi- 
 nois; Joseph E., a farmer living in South Da- 
 kota ; Thomas .1.. deceased: and two that died 
 in infancy. 
 
 Alexander A. Cress supplemented his early 
 educational advantages by study in the Hills- 
 boro Academy, and when his school life was 
 completed he engaged in clerking in the store 
 of Davis & Marshall lor two years. On the 
 expiration of that period he purchased an in- 
 terest in the store and the firm name was 
 changed to Davis & Cress. Tin- relationship 
 was maintained for two years, when Mr. Cress 
 sold out to his brother John, but later he re- 
 turned to the store and there engaged as a 
 clerk for some time. In 1871 he formed a 
 partnership with W. 11. Stoddard in the gro- 
 cery business, in which he continued for three 
 years. He then sold out to his partner and 
 opened a grocery -tore on his own account, 
 which he conducted for two years. After dis- 
 posing of that store be was once more em- 
 ployed as a salesman and continued his con- 
 nection with commercial pursuits in that way 
 for eight years. In 188.3 he went into the real 
 estate business, and is now one of the leading 
 representatives of this line of activity in Mont- 
 gomery county. For the past eleven years his 
 son. Edward A., has been associated with him 
 in business and the firm has conducted many 
 important real estate transfers and negotiated
 
 MR. AND MRS. JACOB CBESS, SB. 
 
 MR. AND MRS. JACOB CRESS. JR.

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 539 
 
 large sales. Mr. Cress lias a most accurate 
 knowledge of really values and property 
 throughout the county, and has secured a good 
 clientage, which lias brought to him a verj 
 gratifying measure of prosperity. 
 
 Mi-. Cress lias been twice married. In L865 
 he wedded Miss Sarah M. Bridge. She was 
 horn in Oregon. Illinois, and died dune IS. 
 L882, ai the age of fifty years, passing away 
 in the faith of the Lutheran church, in which 
 she held membership. Her father was a 
 farmer by occupation and served his country 
 as a soldier in the l'i\il war. Unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Cress wvrr horn four children. The third. 
 Edward A., horn December Hi, 1870, in Hills- 
 boro. attended the public schools of this city 
 and afterward entered the law department of 
 the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor. 
 matriculating there in 1890. lie had previous- 
 ly read law- in the office of Lane & Cooper for 
 two years, and in 1891 he was admitted to the 
 bar. lie entered upon the practice of bis pro- 
 fession in Chicago, where he remained until 
 the fall id' 1893, when he then returned to 
 llillshoro. where he opened an office and has 
 since engaged in the practice of law with ex- 
 cellent success. He was married in the fall 
 of 1893 to Miss Jennie Linxwiler, a daugh- 
 ter of George W. Linxwiler, formerly a farmer 
 and merchant of llillshoro. hut now a resident 
 of California. Unto E. A. Civs- and his wife 
 have been horn two daughters. Gertrude and 
 Elizabeth. The parents are members of the 
 Lutheran church and Mr. Cress is identified 
 with the Knights of Pythias and several in- 
 surance fraternities. In politics he is a Demo- 
 crat and at this writing in 1904 is filling the 
 office of city attorney. In 1898 Alexander A. 
 Cress was again married, his second union be- 
 ing with Augusta E. Lewey, a daughter of 
 .T. Bowers Lane, also a merchant and farmer 
 of Fillmore, Illinois. She was horn in Fill- 
 more in 1856 and first married George Lewey, 
 
 whose widow she was at (he time she beci \ 
 
 the wife of Mr. < Iress. 
 
 Our subject and bis wife attend the Lu- 
 theran church and he is a Mason in bis fra- 
 ternal relations. Politically he is a Demo- 
 crat and has served as a member of the city 
 council, as a member of the school hoard and 
 
 as justice of the peace. Representing one of 
 the oldest pioneer families id' the county and 
 having spent, bis entire life here, he is well 
 known in his portion of the state and has been 
 an interested witness of the growth and ad- 
 vancement that have here been made. To 
 many measures instituted for the good of the 
 county he has given hearty co-operation and 
 support, ami as a business man and citizen 
 he is well worthy id' mention in this volume. 
 
 W. II. WILEY. 
 
 W. II. Wiley is a representative of one 
 of the old pioneer families of Montgomery 
 county, and bis father's farm, which was en- 
 tered as a claim from the government, was his 
 birthplace. He is a son of R. J. Wiley, who 
 came from Kentucky to Illinois with his par- 
 ents, James and Sarah (Mann) Wiley. They 
 reached Montgomery county in 1827, and sev- 
 eral brothers with their respective families 
 came ;it the same time. K. •'. Wiley, the father 
 of our subject, was married in this county to 
 AI iss Catherine Dryer, and in 1850 he removed 
 to the farm upon which his son W. II. Wiley 
 was horn. There he continued to carry on ag- 
 ricultural pursuits until his life's labors were 
 ended in death on the L7th of October, 1862. 
 His widow still survives him and is now the 
 wife of David Ware, who is mentioned on an- 
 other page of this volume. 
 
 W. II. Wile\ is indebted to the public schools 
 
 tor the early educational privileges which he 
 enjoyed, and later be attended the llillshoro 
 Academy. He afterward took charge of the 
 farm lor his mother. When seventeen vears of 
 age he began earning his living by working by 
 the month a- a farm band, and be also attended 
 school in flu' winter seasons. On attaining his 
 majority he assumed the management of the old 
 hoine place and continued there until 1903, 
 when he came to the farm upon which he now 
 resides. lie owns one hundred and twenty 
 acres of prairie land and twenty-seven acres 
 of timber land mi sections 25 and '.'fi. Butler 
 Grove township, not far from the city of TTills- 
 
 boro. His diligence has been one of his strong 
 
 characteristics and bis unfaltering energy
 
 540 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 proves the basis of the desirable success which 
 he has gained as the years have gone by. 
 
 On the 11th of February, 1875, Mr. Wiley 
 was united in marriage to Miss Julia Robert- 
 son, and they have three children: Owen II., 
 who is living on the homestead farm: Jessie, 
 the wife of \Y. D. Lipe, of Litchfield; and 
 Charles, who is also at home. Mr. Wiley is a 
 Democrat and for eighteen years has served as 
 school director, lie belongs to the Methodist 
 Episcopal church and to the Modern Woodman 
 camp, and lias a wide acquaintance in Mont- 
 gomery county, where his circle of friends is 
 continually growing, owing to his sincere in- 
 terest in the welfare of his fellow men and his 
 integrity in all business transactions. 
 
 JAMES P. BROWN. 
 
 .lames P. Brown, who in business affairs is 
 energetic, prompt and notably reliable, has ex- 
 tended his efforts tn several fields of commercial 
 activity and has found in this the opportunity 
 for the exercise of his business capacity, keen 
 discrimination and enterprise. Through the 
 years of his active career he has been watchful 
 of all the details of his business and of all 
 indications pointing toward prosperity and 
 from the beginning has had an abiding faith 
 in the ultimate success of his labors, but while 
 lie has gained prosperity he lias also been a 
 representative of thai class of valued American 
 citizens who promote the general good while 
 advancing individual interests. 
 
 James P. Brown was horn in Butler, Illinois, 
 in 1866. His father. George W. Brown, Jr., 
 was born in Hillsboro, Montgomery county, in 
 L849, and was a son of George W. Brown, Sr., 
 a native of Virginia, who came to Montgomery 
 county at a very early day. locating near Hills- 
 boro. He was a farmer by occupation and upon 
 the old family homestead his son and namesake 
 was reared. The latter is mentioned at length 
 on another page of this volume. lie is still 
 living at Butler, where he is engaged in mer- 
 chandising and in the grain trade. In Ma- 
 sonry he has attained the Royal Arch degree 
 and is a worthy examplar of that fraternity. 
 In his political views he is a Democrat, has 
 
 served as justice of the peace and has held other 
 positions in this village, including that of post- 
 master. He owns the old homestead farm near 
 Butler, and has been engaged in business in 
 that locality since 1SGG and through the care- 
 ful conduct of his business affairs he has won 
 a competence that classes him with the most 
 substantial citizens of his community. He was 
 married in early manhood to Miss Henrietta 
 M. Judson. who was born in Middletown. New 
 Jersey, in L851. Her father was James P. 
 Judson, a native of that state who removed to 
 St. Louis. Missouri, at an early day and prior 
 to the Civil war settled in Houston, Texas, 
 where he engaged in the manufacture of car- 
 riages. His death there occurred. His wife, 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Judson. was a native of New 
 York. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born 
 six children : James P.. of this review ; Winnie 
 P.. the wife of W. A. White, a merchant of 
 Hillsboro: Charles J., who is engaged in mer- 
 chandising in Weatherford. Oklahoma : Frank 
 II.. who is conducting an implement business 
 and carriage repository at Hillsboro: Louis S.. 
 a practicing physician and surgeon of St. Louis, 
 Missouri ; and Roland 0., who is with his father 
 in business at Butler. 
 
 In taking up the personal history of James 
 P. Brown we present to our readers the life 
 record of one who is widely and favorably 
 known in Hillsboro and throughout Montgom- 
 ery county. He continued his education in the 
 schools of Butler until lie had completed the 
 high school course and lie afterward attended 
 the state high school at Normal, Illinois. On 
 putting aside his text hooks he entered the office 
 of the countv clerk, serving as deputy. There 
 he remained for two years, after which he went 
 to Butler and entered his father's store, assist- 
 in" in the business there until 1889. In that 
 veir Mr. Brown went to California and to Ore- 
 gon, spending three years on the Pacific coast. 
 during which time he was engaged in the hard- 
 ware business. In 1894 they purchased the 
 stock of tin' McHenry Hardware Company at 
 Hillsboro and have been conducting the busi- 
 ness continuously since. This is now one of 
 the largest hardware stores in this part of the 
 county and the firm also carries on an exten- 
 sive implement business, which is in charge of
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 54] 
 
 the brother Frank. The firm of George \\ . 
 Brown. Jr., is a large one, carrying a stock 
 valued at twenty thousand dollars, and the an- 
 nual sales roach the sum of one hundred thou- 
 sand dollars. When the Brown Brothers look 
 charge of this enterprise in Hillsboro they had 
 comparatively small mercantile interests, but 
 by their efforts and superior business tact and 
 judgment they have developed splendid com- 
 mercial enterprises and the hardware business 
 is second to none in this portion of the state. 
 James P. Brown is also president of the Hills- 
 boro Electric Light & Power Company, is a 
 stockholder of the Hillsboro Hotel Company 
 and also of the Kortkamp Town Site Company. 
 
 In 1895 Mr. Brown was united in marriagu 
 to Miss Kitty C. Clotfelter, a daughter of 
 James W. and Dorcas Clotfelter. She was 
 born near Eillsboro in 1S?1 and is a graduate 
 of the high school of Hillsboro and of the Jack- 
 sonville Female Academy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Brown have been horn three children: Kath- 
 rvn D.j Marcia Judson. deceased; and Patricia. 
 
 Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, in which he lias attained the Knight 
 Templar degree and he is familiar with the 
 teachings and tenets of the craft. In politics 
 he is a Democrat. Mr. Brown has made good 
 use of his opportunities, he lias prospered from 
 year to year, and has conducted all business 
 matters carefully and successfully, and in all 
 his acts displays an aptitude for successful man- 
 agement, lie has not permitted the accumu- 
 lation of a competence to affect in any way his 
 actions toward those less successful llian he, 
 and has always a cheerful word and pleasant 
 smile for all with whom he comes in contact. 
 
 To the public-school system of his native 
 town Frank II. Brown is indebted for the edu- 
 cational privileges which he enjoyed in his 
 youth and when his school life was completed 
 be worked upon a farm for three or four Mars. 
 Subsequently he engaged in clerking in bis 
 father's store in Butler for two or three years 
 and then in 1894 came to Hillsboro, where his 
 father purchased the stock of the MeHenry 
 Hardware Company. In 1898 he purchased 
 the Paden & Wilson stock of farm implements, 
 machinery, buggies, etc., on South Main street. 
 Frank Brown and his brother were placed in 
 charge of both concerns and continued the 
 implement business at the original location un- 
 til 1900, when the father purchased the J. P. 
 Challacombe stock of farm implements. In 
 the same year most of the Challacombe stock 
 was sold to M. L. Robertson, and Frank Brown 
 removed the stock of farm machinery into the 
 Brewer building, formerly occupied by Mr. 
 Challacombe. There he is now conducting a 
 successful business, while his brother has charge 
 of the hardware business. 
 
 In 1898 occurred the marriage of Mr. Brown 
 and Miss Emma Fields, a daughter of Dr. S. 
 and Louisa Fields. They have two children: 
 Beatrice and Don. Mr. Brown is a Mason and 
 is connected with the Knights of Pythias fra- 
 ternity and in social circles he has won many 
 friends. He is a young man of notable en- 
 ergy and strong determination, forms his [dans 
 readily and is determined ill their execution, 
 lie represents a family closely and actively asso- 
 ciated with commercial development in Moiit- 
 gomory county ami his own life record is a 
 most creditable one. 
 
 FRANK HAROLD BROWN. 
 
 Associated in business with his brother, 
 dames P. Brown, in Hillsboro and one of the 
 most enterprising young business men of the 
 city, Frank Harold Brown was horn in Butler, 
 August 31. 1ST-.'. A sketch of his father, 
 George W. Brown, dr.. who has long figured 
 in public life and business circles of Mont- 
 gomery county, is given on another pape of this 
 work. 
 
 JOHN M. CLOTFELTER. 
 
 John M. Clotfelter. interested iii all matters 
 of citizenship affecting the welfare and progress 
 of Hillsboro and Montgomery county, is now 
 serving for the fourth term as a member of 
 the hoard of supervisors. He is. moreover, 
 identified with commercial interests of bis city, 
 conducting a grocery store with good success, 
 A native son of Hillsboro. he was born in 1859 
 and is a son of William S. and Susan B.
 
 5 1 2 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 (Scherer) Clotfelter. The father, who was 
 
 born m North Carolina, came to Montg ery 
 
 county with his parents in 1833, settling in 
 Hillsboro. The journey was made through 
 Missouri by team. There were five brothers 
 who came at that time: Lee, Amos L., Wil- 
 liam S., D. Stokes and .lames W. All became 
 substantia] citizens, being good business men 
 displaying careful management and executive 
 ability. The last named, however, is the only 
 one now living. William S. Clotfelter was a 
 farmer by occupation and also conducted a 
 sawmill and the careful management of his 
 business interests enabled him to accumulate 
 considerable property, lie was a Republican 
 in his political affiliations ami though he kept 
 well informed on the questions ami issues of 
 the day he never soughl or desired public office. 
 His death occurred in May. 1890. His wile 
 was a daughter of the Rev. Daniel Scherer, one 
 of the first Lutheran ministers of Montgomery 
 county ami in that church she held member- 
 ship. She died in 1896, at the age of seventy- 
 six years. They were the parents id' eleven 
 children, as follows: Louise, who became the 
 wife of William Boager and resides in Hill-- 
 
 boro; Jennie, who is the wile of Frank Cress 
 living a mile and a half northwest of Hills- 
 boro on the old homestead; Emma; Ida. who 
 is the widow of Thomas Martin and lives in 
 Hillsboro; Ella, the deceased wife of I-:. L. 
 Waggoner; William II.. who also reside- in 
 Hillsboro; John M.; .lames E., who is living 
 in St. Louis. Missouri; Charles, who makes 
 his home in Los Angeles, California: Frank 
 of Hillsboro; and one that died in infancy. 
 
 In tin 1 public schools of hi.- native city John 
 M. Clotfelter acquired his education and when 
 it was completed he secured a position as clerk 
 in a grocery store, where he was employed until 
 l.ss?. He then became a representative of 
 mercantile interests in Hillsboro as a member 
 of the firm of Neath & Clotfelter, grocers, and 
 in 1889 he purchased his partner's interests 
 
 and has since I □ alone in business, condiiet- 
 
 ing a good store on South Main street. 
 
 In 1894 was celebrated the marriage of Mr 
 Clotfelter and Miss Ethel Nelson, a daughter 
 of Samuel Nelson, of Hillsboro. Her father 
 was a miller and came to this city about the 
 
 li if the Civil war. He is still living in 
 
 Hillsboro. Mrs. Clotfelter was horn in this 
 city in ISC', was a member of the Methodist 
 church and died in that faith in 1895, her 
 death being deeply regretted by many friends. 
 Mi-. Clotfelter is a member of the Maccabees 
 and of the Commercial Club. His political 
 views are in accord with the principles of the 
 Republican party and in 1897 he was elected 
 upon that ticket to represent Hillsboro town- 
 ship on the board of supervisors, in which ho 
 is now serving for the fourth term. A- a pub- 
 lic official he is reliable, having the best in- 
 terests of the community at heart and his labors 
 in behalf of the county have been of a prac- 
 tical, beneficial nature. 
 
 CYRUS FITZJERRELL. 
 
 Cyrus Fit/.jerrell. whose activity in husim ss 
 affairs has resulted in the acquirement of a 
 handsome competence, is now engaged in buy- 
 ing and shipping stock at Raymond, and the 
 volume of his business insures him a g 1 an- 
 nual income. He was horn in Jersey county. 
 Illinois. November (i. 1846, and is a son of 
 Judge William Fitzjerrell, whose birth occur- 
 red 111 Ohio on tile 3d of October, is];,. Eli 
 Fitzjerrell, the paternal grandfather of our 
 subject, was a native id' New Jersey, ami was of 
 Scotch-Irish descent, his ancestors having lo- 
 cated in New Jersey during the colonial epoch 
 in our country's history. Eli Pitzjerrell came 
 to Illinois in 1830, settling in Macoupin county 
 ami there his son. Judge William Fitzjerrell, 
 was reared to manhood and as a companion and 
 helpmate on life's journey he chose Mis< Eliza- 
 beth Courtney, who was born in "Madison coun- 
 ty, Illinois. They removed to Montgomery 
 county in 1856, locating in Zanesville town- 
 ship, where Judge Fitzjerrell opened u]i a tract 
 of land and improved an excellent farm, carry- 
 ing on agricultural pursuits with -access for 
 many years. Upon that place he reared his 
 family and spent many years, hut his last days 
 were passed in Raymond in honorable retire- 
 ment from labor. He died there May 7. 1900, 
 while his wife passed away February 14. 1883. 
 He had been active and influential in com-
 
 univl linois
 
 ME. AND Mils'. ('VIMS F1TZJERRELL
 
 ME. AND MRS. WILLIAM F1TZJERRELL
 
 UNiVt
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ".4? 
 
 lnunitv affairs and his labors proved of benefit 
 to tlic locality. He was one of the associate 
 judges of the county and served in other Local 
 offices, discharging his duties so promptly and 
 capably thai no word of condemnation was ever 
 uttered against his official career. In his family 
 were three suns and three daughters, of whom 
 two sons and two daughters are yet living. 
 
 Cyrus Fitzjerrell was reared in Zanesville 
 township upon the nld home farm and assisted 
 in its operation, working in field and meadow 
 as soon as his age and strength permitted. He 
 attended the common schools ti> some extent, 
 hut is largely self-educated, adding t<> his 
 knowledge through reading, observation and ex- 
 perience since attaining adult age. He was 
 married in Zanesville township. September 12, 
 1867, tn Miss Eliza A. Greenwood, a native of 
 Kentucky and a daughter of Joseph Green- 
 wood, who removed from ihe Blue Grass state 
 to Illinois, becoming one of the early residents 
 of Macoupin county, where Mrs. Fitzjerrell was 
 reared and educated. The young couple began 
 their domestic life upon the old home farm. Mr. 
 Fitzjerrell succeeding to the ownership of a 
 valuable tract of four hundred acres. He built 
 
 a g 1 residence, added other buildings, kept 
 
 everything about his place in neat repair and 
 in addition to the cultivation of the cereals best 
 adapted to soil and climate he also engaged in 
 the raising and feeding of stock, continuing in 
 this business until 1903. He then placed the 
 farm in charge of his son and removed to Ray- 
 mond, where he is now engaged in the buying 
 and shipping of stock. He has followed this 
 business for many years and makes weekly ship- 
 ments of both cattle and hogs, sending out 
 aboui one hundred carloads annually. His busi- 
 ness has now reached extensive proportions and 
 because of his correct estimate of the value of 
 the stock he is enabled to make judicious pur- 
 chases and profitable sales. Mr. Fitzjerrell is 
 al.-o Snancially interested in the Raymond Na- 
 tional Bank, which he assisted in organizing 
 and of which he is now a director and vice 
 president. 
 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzjerrell has 
 been blessed with three children: Etta, now 
 the wife of Dr. W. F. Waggoner, a physician of 
 Carrollton, Illinois; Harry !>.. who is married 
 
 and was a medical student in the Northwestern 
 University at Chicago, completing his course 
 with the class of June, 1904 : and William Ross, 
 who is married and operates Ihe home farm. 
 Thc\ also lost two sons in infancy, Frankie and 
 ( lyrus Newton. 
 
 Politically Mr. Fitzjerrell is a stanch Demo- 
 crat and in Zanesville township he was elected 
 I'm' two terms to represent his district mi the 
 county board of supervisors, lie has been a 
 
 delegate to m nuis conventions of his parl\ 
 
 and earnestly desires Democratic success, doing 
 all in his power to secure the growth of the 
 party organization. Fraternally he is a Master 
 Mason. His standing in the county is that of 
 an honorable, enterprising business man and 
 reliable citizen, and in the control of his pri- 
 vate interests he has won both prosperity and 
 an honored name. 
 
 CHARLES L. BROWN. 
 
 ihailo L. Brown, who is engaged in the 
 cultivation of one hundred and thirty acres 
 of land on section 29, Witt township, about 
 one-half of which he owns, was horn one mile 
 east of his present place of resilience on the 
 1 Ith of January, 1870, his parents being 
 Thomas .1. and Virginia E. (Me('amant) 
 Brown, who were also natives of Illinois. The 
 father, horn in Montgomery county, June 7. 
 1843, and carried on Earming until 1902, but 
 is now living in Litchfield. The mother, who 
 was horn in Fulton county in 1847, died in 
 IS) ■>. Her parents were natives of West Vir- 
 ginia and came to Illinois in the early '40s. 
 Our subject's paternal grandparents were horn 
 in Tennessee and removed to this state in 1830. 
 The grandfather, who was a fanner by occu- 
 pation, died in 1846 at the age of forty-four 
 years, and the grandmother passed away in 
 1889 at the age of seventy-nine. 
 
 At the usual age Charles I,. Brown began his 
 education, attending Starr school, in Witt 
 township, district 73. In the summer months 
 he worked in the fields and enjoyed the sports 
 in which farmer lads usually indulged. lie 
 remained at home until twenty-six years of 
 age and then started out in life on his own
 
 548 
 
 PAST AMi PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 account. Ee had no assistance, but has be- 
 come the owner of a neat little farm of sixty 
 acres, which is well improved with good build- 
 ings and an orchard and which represents an 
 industrious career. Be is farming one hun- 
 dred and thirty acres, and all id' the land is 
 now highly cultivated and returns to him good 
 
 e l'o ] is. 
 
 i)ii the -.'1st of April, 1896, Mi-. Brown was 
 united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Hoehn, 
 who was born in Clinton county, Illinois, Feb- 
 ruary II. L873, a daughter id' Andrew and 
 Bertha (Oberle) Hoehn, of Witt township, 
 who are natives of Germany and came to 
 Montgomery county in 1875. The father is 
 here engaged in farming. Three children have 
 been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown, two sons 
 and a daughter: Walter T.. seven years of 
 age: Celia B.. a little maiden of live years: 
 ami Bay A., a lad of two summers. The par- 
 ents are communicants of the Catholic church. 
 Mr. Brown served as a member of the school 
 hoard for four years and in his political views 
 is a Democrat, lie has a wide acquaintance 
 m the county which has always been his home 
 and has gained the warm friendship of many 
 with whom he has been brought in contact. 
 
 CONRAD WIEGAND. 
 
 No country has furnished a more desirable 
 class of citizens to America than has Germany. 
 The sons of the fatherland are usiirl.v men 
 of enterprise, capable in business, reliable in 
 citizenship and with strong home-loving ten- 
 dencies. Mr. Wiegand represents ini- cla-s. 
 lie was horn in Saxony, Germany, Pel rr.arv 15, 
 1842. a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Wiegand; 
 who came to America when he was nine years 
 of age. They took passage on a westward 
 hound sailing vessel, which was three week* in 
 making the trip and then dropped anchor in 
 the harbor of New York. Thev did nol tarry 
 long in the eastern metropolis, however, but 
 went at once to Butler county. Pennsylvania, 
 where they resided upon a farm. There the 
 father died when his son Conrad was hut thir- 
 teen years of age and the subject of this review 
 soon afterward started out in life on his own 
 
 account, lie secured employment on a steam- 
 boa! sailing from Louisville, Kentucky, to New 
 Orleans and was thus employed between the 
 ages of thirteen and nineteen years. When the 
 Civil war broke out he was in the latter city, 
 hut he managed to make his way to Indiana. 
 He had watched with interest the progress of 
 events and being in entire sympathy with the 
 Union cause he enlisted as a member of Com- 
 pany 1. Thirteenth Indiana Volunteer Infant- 
 ry, joining the regiment at Xew Albany. Aft- 
 er two months there passed the command pro- 
 
 c led to Richmond, and at a mountain pass in 
 
 Wist Virginia he and fifteen comrades were 
 captured. They were then taken to Libby 
 prison, where they were incarcerated for nine 
 months and were then transferred to Tusca- 
 loosa, Alabama, where they remained for three 
 months and were then paroled. Mr. Wiegand 
 -tailed to return, hut he proceeded only as fai 
 as Raleigh, when he was again captured and 
 was imprisoned in Salisbury. North Carolina, 
 where he remained for three months and was 
 then exchanged. He was sent to Governor's 
 Island and thence went home on a furlough. 
 Later he went to Columbus, Ohio, where in 
 September, 1862, he enlisted in the Tenth Ohio 
 Cavalry and served until the close of the war. 
 He was in the battle of Chickamauga, one of 
 the most hotly contested engagements, and was 
 also with Sherman on the celebrated march to 
 the sea. lie served throughout the entire pe- 
 riod of hostilities as a private and although he 
 was frequently in the thickest of the fight he 
 was never wounded, notwithstanding the fact 
 that he had three horses shot from under him. 
 Brave and loyal, he never faltered in the per- 
 formance of his duty, but was ever true to the 
 old flag and the cause it represented. 
 
 Not long after the war Mr. Wiegand went to 
 Belleville, where he worked m the coal mines 
 for two years. On the expiration of that 
 period he came to Montgomery county, where 
 be began renting land and in 1883 with the 
 capital he had acquired through bis own labor 
 he purchased forty acre-, where he now resides. 
 To this he has since added as bis financial re- 
 sources have given him opportunity until now 
 he owns two hundred and ninety-nine acres 
 Iving in Ilillshoro and in Grisham township.
 
 PAST AM> PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 549 
 
 The home farm comprises one hundred and ricultural life, and as the result of his per- 
 
 ainety-nine acres on sections 10 and 3, Grisham sistenl labor and careful management lie ac- 
 
 township, and is a valuable property with well cumulated a handsome competence that now 
 
 tilled fields, in which he uses the latest im- enables him to live retired. He is a resident of 
 
 proved machinery, with rich meadow lands. Marvel at tins writing, occupying a nice home 
 
 good buildings and, in fact, all modem equip- there. Unto him and Ins wife "ere born eight 
 
 ments and accessories such as are found upon sons and seven daughters, all of whom reached 
 
 the lei farm of the twentieth century. years of maturity and the suns and six of the 
 
 In .Mine. 1876, Mr. Wiegand was united in daughters are married. 
 
 marriage to Mis- Caroline Kala ami their William C. Smith spent his boyhood days on 
 
 union has I n blessed with five children, three Ins lather's farm in Raymond township and at- 
 
 daughtefs and two sons : Mary, who is now the tended the public schools, acquiring a fair 
 
 wife of Henry Niemann; Annie, the wife of English education, which qualified him to meet 
 
 John Boge; Sophia, the wife of Walter Bobe; the practical and responsible duties of busi- 
 
 George, who is at home engaged in general 1U ' SS life - During the months of vacation he 
 
 farming; and Theodore, who died at the age assisted bis father in the farm work and con- 
 
 of six years and was buried in Waveland eeme- ll1 ""'' 1 <" S ive llM " the benefit of his services 
 
 tery. The parents are members of tin' Ger- iml ' 1 l "' had attained Ins majority and was 
 
 man Lutheran church ami Mr. Wiegand gives married. In L885 he was joined in wedlock to 
 
 h,s political support to the Republican party. Miss s '°P hia w '' 1 - 1 '- a nallvr of R l i ''' v 
 
 He displays in Ins life many of the sterling '' l,mi,v - who s P en1 '"''' mtire life here > P assin " 
 
 characteristics of his German ancestry, but he awa ? " n the ,;tl ' " r February, 1893. She left 
 
 ,s thoroughly American in thought and spirit three children: Krna Louise, Anna ami K- 
 
 aml in matters of citizenship, too. he is as true tella. The first two are at home with then' 
 
 and loyal to-day as when he follow., 1 the old father and lh " Y^ngest daughter is now l,v- 
 
 ing with her maternal grandmother. On the 
 I llh of March. 1896, in Butler Grove town- 
 ship. Mr. Smith was again married, his second 
 union being with Miss Minnie Ricke, a native 
 WILLIAM C. SMITH. f Butler Grove township and a daughter of 
 William ('. Smith, a general farmer and William Ricke, who was horn in Germany and 
 stock-raiser of Raymond township, was horn in became one of tin' early residents of Mont- 
 Sangamon county, Illinois, not far from the gomery county. By the second marriage there 
 village of Raymond, May 17, 1865. His father, are two children, Johnnie ami Roscoe. 
 William Smith, was born in Germany and came After his first marriage Mr. Smith began 
 to the United States when a lad of fourteen farming in Raymond township, commencing 
 years, lie made his way direct to Illinois and with one hundred and twenty acres of land, 
 afterward worked by the month near St. Louis, which he continued to cultivate for several 
 Subsequently be took up his abode in Sanga- years, lie afterward operated the old family 
 innii county, where he attained Ins majority homestead for four years a ml in January, 189], 
 ami was married, the lady of hi- choice being he purchased his present property and look up 
 Miss Hannah Schelpe, a native of Germany, his abode thereon. It is a farm of one hundred 
 A farmer by occupation, the father carried on anil sixty acres on section 25, Raymond town- 
 general agricultural pursuits in Sangamon ship. He has since rebuilt and remodeled the 
 county for a few years, during which lime two house, has fenced the place and made many 
 children were'added to the household. About substantial improvements, including the plant- 
 1870 he removed to Montgomery county, set- ing of a good orchard. His farm is now well 
 tling in Raymond township, where he opened improved, constituting a desirable property, but 
 up a farm upon which he reared his family, when it came into his possession it was much 
 For many years he continued actively in ag- run down and the buildings were all in poor 
 
 ag upon the battle-fields of the south.
 
 ',11 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 repair. He has worked earnestly and energet- 
 ically in bring aboul this transformation which 
 has since occurred. 
 
 Politically Mr. Smith is au earnest Demo- 
 crat, keeping well informed on the questions 
 and issues of the day. but giving his time and 
 attention principally to the business affairs. 
 lie has held do )>uh]ic office save that of school 
 director. He and his wife arc members of the 
 Lutheran church and wen' reared in that faith. 
 Mr. Smith also belongs to the Modern Wood- 
 men camp ami is well known to his brethren 
 of that fraternity, lie i^ classed with the in- 
 dustrious, frugal, careful ami successful farm- 
 ers ami he keeps everything about his place in 
 excellenl condition and the neat appearance of 
 his buildings ami the highly cultivated fields 
 indicate his enterprise. He is a man of good 
 liahits. thoroughly reliable in business tran- 
 sact ion- and honorable in all his relations with 
 his Fellow men ami his upright character lias 
 gained him favorable acquaintance. 
 
 GEORGE s. WILSON, M. D. 
 
 Dr. George S. Wilson, whose successful ca- 
 reer as a member of the medical fraternity is 
 the direct result of careful preparation and 
 conscientious purposes combined with a thor- 
 ough and comprehensive knowledge of the 
 principles of medicine ami a humanitarian de- 
 votion lo the need- of lii- patients, is also well 
 known in Nokomis ami Montgomery county as 
 a successful investor in mining and ml stocks. 
 He has. moreover; an agreeable manner, an 
 unfailing courtesj ami a kindly disposition 
 that render him popular with all and the cir- 
 cle of his friendship is continually broadening. 
 
 Dr. Wilson was horn in Richmond, Jefferson 
 county. Ohio, on the :ilst of January, 1865, his 
 parents being John T. and Susan (Graden) 
 Wilson. His paternal grandfather, a native of 
 [reland, came to America in 1812 and it is 
 supposed that the great-grandfather in the pa- 
 ternal line was killed in the second war with 
 England, lie left landed estate in County 
 I town, [reland. The grandfather, John Wil- 
 son, was united in marriage to a daughter of 
 Peter Taylor, id' County Down. Ireland, and 
 
 her death occurred in L872, when she had 
 reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. 
 Their son. John T. Wilson, was born No- 
 vember '.'. is-.'."), and after arriving at years 
 id' maturity he followed farming m Jefferson 
 county. Ohio, where he owned one hundred and 
 twenty acres of land in the vicinity of Rich- 
 mond. This property was later sold to a sis- 
 ter of our subject. John T. Wilson was united 
 in marriage to Miss Susan Graden, whose birth 
 occurred in 1834. She lost her mother during 
 her early girlhood and when hut twelve years 
 of age was left an orphan by the death of her 
 father, who died near Germano in Jefferson 
 county. Ohio, in 1846. Of her brothers, Aleck- 
 ami John Graden died in Nokomis. James 
 Graden was a congressman of the state of 
 Washington. He was very prominent and in- 
 fluential in the northwest and he laid out the 
 town of Walla Walla. Jacob Graden now 
 resides m Kansas City, while Thomas is a sheep 
 man of the west and both are wealthy. For 
 many years John T. and Susan (Graden) Wil- 
 son traveled life's journey together and they 
 were separated by death for only a brief period, 
 the father dying on the 7th day of March. 
 1903, while the mother passed away on the 14th 
 of April, of the same year. They were laid 
 
 to rest in Ohio near the old I e where they 
 
 had so long lived. Both were consistent mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and 
 Mr. Wilson was a Republican in his political 
 views. They were the parents of six children. 
 
 <d' wl i Dr. Wilson is the fifth in order of 
 
 birth. Thomas A., the eldest, was married to 
 Mauilane Anderson and resides in Nokomis. 
 Mary .lane died at the age of nineteen years. 
 Maggie A. became the wife of John Ramsey, 
 who died in 1890, ami his widow now resides 
 
 upon fl Id Wilson homestead in Jefferson 
 
 county, Ohio. James E. is a carpenter and 
 mechanical engineer of Nokomis. John \\ .. 
 the youngest of the family, married Amy Sut- 
 ton and resides in Carroll county. Ohio, where 
 he follows Earming and is also serving as a 
 
 justice of the peace. 
 
 Dr. Wilson acquired his early education in 
 the district schools id' Jefferson county. Ohio. 
 and afterward attended Richmond College in 
 his native town, from which institution he
 
 DR. G. S. WILSON
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 .-.."..I 
 
 was graduated on the completion of a com- 
 mercial course. It was his intention, however, 
 to prepare for the practice of medicine and 
 soon afterward he entered upon a course of 
 lectures in the Columbus Medical College and 
 was graduated on the 2d of March. 1892, from 
 this institution. He is an alumnus of the Stal- 
 ling Medical College of Columbus, one of the 
 oldest medical colleges of the state, its ex- 
 istence covering more than sixty years. He prac- 
 ticed medicine during the summer of L892 and 
 then matriculated in the Medical College of 
 Indiana, now connected with the University 
 of [ndianapolis. He was graduated from that 
 institution on the 30th of March. 1893. He 
 took his final examinations on the 28th of that 
 month and began practice two days later at 
 Rosemond, Illinois, where he remained until 
 .lime 14. 1899, when he removed to Nokomis, 
 where he still resides, having gained here a 
 large and lucrative practice. He belongs to 
 the Central Illinois Medical Society, and in 
 addition to the work of a general practitioner 
 he has his full share id' consultation work and 
 i< examiner for various life insurance com- 
 panies, including tin' New York Mutual, the 
 Home of New York, the John Hancock and 
 the Bankers' Life. He is also examiner for 
 the Modem Woodmen Camp, the Court of 
 Honor and the Loyal Circle. Ho has a splen- 
 didly equipped office and possesses the only 
 static electricity and X-ray machine in 
 Nokomis and. in fact, was the first one to in- 
 troduce the improved helps to the medical pro- 
 fession in Montgomery county, lie also has a 
 
 special neiillhe/er. with which he treats the 
 
 nose and ear. His practice has been attended 
 with a creditable measure of success and his 
 fellow practitioners as well as the public ac- 
 cord him high rank as a representative of the 
 medical fraternity of Montgomery county. He 
 belongs to the Central Illinois Medical Fra- 
 ternity of Montgomery county. lie belongs 
 to the Central Illinois Medical Society ami 
 is also a fellow of the Sydenham Society, an 
 association formed in the College id' Indiana. 
 As Dr. Wilson has prospered in his practice 
 and his financial resources have been thereby 
 increased, he has made judicious investment 
 and is now the treasurer of the Kevstone Min- 
 
 ing & Milling Company of Decatur, owning 
 mining property in New Mexico. There are 
 only ten men interested in this enterprise and 
 thus the profits are proportionately greater 
 than in the companies where there are many 
 stockholders. Dr. Wilson is also a director 
 in the Bradshaw Copper Company, of Arizona. 
 and is the president of the Xokonus Crude Oil 
 Company, having property in Kansas, whicu 
 tin' company is now developing. 
 
 EDWARD U. HESS. 
 
 Much of the surface land of Montgomery 
 
 county is underlaid with rich coal deposits and 
 the develop lit of the coal fields has hecomc 
 
 an important source of revenue in this part of 
 the state. Mr. Hess, as manager of the Mont- 
 gomery Coal Company, i> well known in busi- 
 ness circles and his position is a responsible 
 and important one. lie was horn in Macoupin 
 county. Illinois. July 28, I si;;, his parents be- 
 ing Samuel S'. and Susan (Doty) Hess, both 
 .it whom were natives of this state In 1868 
 they located in Christian county near Mor- 
 risonville, where the father engaged in farm- 
 ing tor some time and where he and his wife 
 now live. 
 
 Edward I'.. Hess is indebted to the public- 
 school svsiein of Morrisonville for the educa- 
 tional privileges which he enjoyed. At the age 
 of twenty-one years he started out as an engi- 
 neer ami in 1895 he came to Witt township. 
 Montgomery county, where he accepted a po- 
 sition as engineer with the Montgomery Coal 
 Company. In 1896 he became a stockholder 
 in (hi' coal company and has been its secretary 
 since July, 1897. Throughout this period he 
 has also been manager and the successful con- 
 duct of the business is largely attributable to 
 In- efforts, his practical knowledge of the best 
 methods of mining coal and of placing the prod- 
 uct on the market, lie is also a stockholder 
 in the Hillsboro Electric Light Company. 
 
 on the 5th of June. 1900, Mr. Hess was 
 united in marriage to Miss Annie Paisley, a 
 daughter of G. W. Paisley, who is represented 
 elsewhere in this work. Her death occurred 
 June 5, 1001. and was deeply regretted through-
 
 55 I 
 
 PAST AM) PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 out the community, for she had many warm 
 friends. Mr. Hess belongs to Twin City lodge. 
 No. 622, K. P., and he attends the Presby- 
 terian church. His political support is given 
 In tlic I (emocracy. 
 
 Fred S. Hess, brother of Edward B. Hess., 
 serving as weighmaster for the Montgomery 
 Coal Company, was born in Morrisonville, Illi- 
 nois. December 16, L878, and also attended the 
 schools there. He spent one year as a janitor 
 in Oak Park. Illinois, and in 1899 lie came 
 to Paisley, where he has since horn weighmaster 
 
 wiih the Montgi rv Coal Company, lie was 
 
 married December L6, 1901, to Bessie McBride. 
 a daughter of Richard McBride, of Morrison- 
 ville, and tin 1 brothers reside together. Fred 
 Hess is also connected with Twin City lodge, 
 No. ii"?'?. K. P.. and his political allegiance is 
 given to the Democracy. The brothers are well 
 known young business men of Paisley and are 
 making steady and substantial advance in in- 
 dustrial circles. 
 
 WILLIAM AXJLT. 
 
 William Ault. now deceased, was a respected 
 fanner of Montgomery county, whose entire 
 life was actuated l>y honorable principle- as 
 manifested by his fidelity in citizenship, his 
 trustworthiness in business relations, Ins faith- 
 fulness in frendship and in his devotion to his 
 family. 
 
 Mr. Ault was born in Hardy county, West 
 Virgina, in 1840, and there spent the days of 
 his boyhood and youth. He remained at home 
 until after the inauguration of the ('ivil war. 
 when in 1862, prompted by a spirit of loyalty to 
 the I 'nion. he enlisted as a member of ( Jompany 
 B, First Regiment, P. II. I'... Maryland Cavalry. 
 with which he served for three years, lacking 
 two months. He participated in the siege of 
 Petersburg and carried dispatches to Williams- 
 port during that battle. At the battle of 
 ( lhancellorsville he and a comrade were sent out 
 as spies to investigate the position and strength 
 of Stonewall Jackson's forces, and in returning 
 he was captured by Union soldiers who be- 
 lieved him to he a Rebel spy and put a rope 
 
 around his neck, intending to hang him. but 
 just at the last moment bis life was saved by a 
 Union officer. He was a brave and intrepid 
 
 soldier, often found ill the thickest of tile fighl 
 
 in many hard fought battles, and at the close 
 of the war was honorably discharged with the 
 rank of corporal. 
 
 Following the close of hostilities Mr. Ault 
 
 -pent a year in Ohio and then came to Mont- 
 gomery county. Illinois, where lie continued to 
 reside until called to his final rest. He was 
 married here on the 20th of September, 1875, 
 to Miss Mary Curlew, a daughter of Rev. Wil- 
 liam II. Curlew, who was born in Illinois, and 
 was brought to Montgomery county by his 
 father. Philip Corlew, who was one of the 
 earliest of the pioneer settlers. William II. 
 Corlew became a minister of the Baptist church 
 and engaged in preaching the gospel for many 
 years, lie was also a prominent man in public 
 affairs and for a long period served as justice 
 o|' the peace, bis decisions being strictly fair 
 and impartial. He was always true to every 
 trust and bis high moral worth and his active 
 interest in the welfare of his fellow men made 
 him a valued and highly respected citizen. He 
 married Eliza A. Black and they became the 
 parents of seven children: Henrietta, the wife 
 of I!. Ivessinger, of Kansas; Martha, deceased 
 wile of .lames Sims; Mrs. Ault; Amanda, de- 
 ceased; Fdiza and Lucy, who are living in 
 Colorado; and Lottie, the wife of Addison 
 Applegate, who is residing upon the old home 
 farm of the family. Rev. Corlew. who was 
 born in 1819, died March •'!. 1897, and his wife, 
 whose birth occurred in Illinois. January 12, 
 is-.' I. passed away mi the 7th of April. 190 I. 
 Like her husband she was a most consistent 
 Christian. In early life she joined the Chris- 
 tian church and her religious faith was mani- 
 fest in her kind and generous spirit and many 
 deeds of helfulness and id' mercy. On the .Mli 
 of February, 1846, she gave her hand in mar- 
 riage to Rev. Curlew and was thereafter a most 
 devoted companion and helpmate to him on the 
 journey of li fe. 
 
 The hon E Mr. and Mrs. Ault was blessed 
 
 with six children: Annie, who died at the age 
 of (wo years: Daisy, who died in childhood; 
 Maggie ami Retta, who are engaged in teaching
 
 ■■■ " ">y 
 
 mm moi5
 
 ME. AND MRS. WILLIAM AULT
 
 MR. AND MRS. W. H. CORLEW
 
 .ANA
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 559 
 
 school; Verna and \'< • j i;i , who are attending 
 school in ( lharleston, [llinois. 
 
 At the time of his marriage Mr. Auli took 
 his bride to his farm and continued to engage 
 in agricultural pursuits until his labors were 
 ended in death. Ee was very practical as well 
 as progressive in his farm work and as the 
 years passed accumulated a handsome compe- 
 tence, leaving at the tunc of his death three 
 hundred and twentj acres of land, to which his 
 wife has since added by purchase a trad of 
 eight acre-, -e i li.it she new has four hundred 
 acre-, sis miles southwest of Hillsboro. She 
 superintends this place and displa)'s excellent 
 business ability thereby. On the 2nd day of 
 June. 1896, Mr. Auli was driving a team of 
 mules ami leading another from the field where 
 he had been working, when death came to him. 
 His team continued mi In the barnyard gate 
 and there stopped, ami sunn afterward Mr. Ault 
 was discovered by his little daughter. lie had 
 previously suffered from heart trouble, which 
 was undoubtedly the cause of his death, lie 
 had been a member of the Masonic fraternitj 
 and iii politics was a stalwart Republican, giv- 
 ing unfaltering support to the principles of the 
 party, lie held membership in the Methodist 
 church, In which his widow belongs, and his 
 life was actuated b\ high principles and honor- 
 able motives. 
 
 HUMPHREY II. HOOD, M. D. 
 
 Mr. Humphrey Hughes Hood, fourth nl' the 
 ten children of Lambert ami Sarah (Hughes) 
 Hood, was born September 19, 1823, in Phila- 
 delphia, ef which ci]\ In- father's famih had 
 been residents for four preceding generations. 
 lli> mother was <>( Welsh nativity, coming with 
 her parents to this country in early childhood. 
 
 In 1831 the family removed t<> Alton, Illi- 
 nois, ami afterward In utter Creek Prairie 
 then in Greene, now in Jersey county. Their 
 stay in the west was only fur about eighteen 
 months, at the end of which lime they returned 
 to Philadelphia. In is is, after reading with 
 a. tutor, Dr. I lend entered Jefferson Medical 
 College, id' Philadelphia, and was graduated 
 in the spring of 1851. The following autumn 
 
 found him in Jersey county, Illinois, where he 
 had lived a short time during hi^ boyhood. In 
 the summer of Is:, i he removed to the new 
 lown of Litchfield, which had been laid out 
 the preceding autumn, where he engaged in the 
 practice of his profession, and. excepting one 
 year's residence in Taylorville, remained a resi- 
 dent there until his death. 
 
 In June, 1855, he was married to Miss Ma- 
 tilda W Iliiuise Jackson, eldest daughter of 
 
 Mr. (diaries s. Jackson, of Jerseyville. Five 
 children were horn of ibis union, of whom 
 three survive: George Perry Hood, of Grand 
 Rapids, Michigan, and Misses Sarah Prances 
 
 Hood and Annie Hughes II I. of Litchfield. 
 
 Dr. Hood became a widower January ".'. 1867 
 and in July, 1869, was married to Mrs. Abi- 
 gail Elvira Paden, daughter of the late Mr. 
 Joseph Torrey, of Springfield. Their chil- 
 dren, both living, are : I [arold Hood, of Litch- 
 field; and Mrs. Louise Rahmeyer, of Manila., 
 Philippine Islands. 
 
 In September, 1862, Dr. Hood entered the 
 army with the appointment of assistant fiii 1 - 
 geon of the One Hundred and Seventeenth 
 Illinois Volunteer [nfantry, and alter our year 
 was appointed surgeon of the 'Third United 
 States Heavy Artillery, with headquarters at 
 Fort Pickering. Memphis, Tennessee, holding 
 that position during the three remaining years 
 of his service, a part of which time he was also 
 on the staff of Genera] John E. Smith as sur- 
 geon-in-chief of the district of west Tennessee. 
 
 see. 
 
 When a boy. during his short residence in 
 and near Alton, in is::; and 1838, his atten- 
 tion was first drawn to the subject of American 
 slavery by the action of the pro-slavery mobs 
 that destroyed the presses of the Alton oh- 
 server ami finally murdered its anti-slavery 
 editor, the Rev. Elijah Lovejoy. Dr Hood 
 was relating the story of the incidents of this 
 outrage to some friends ai a little social gather- 
 ing and made mention of his coining up the 
 river on a steamer from St. Louis to Alton ami 
 overhearing a portion of a conversation by son)'? 
 of these depredators. This was a short time 
 previous to the occurrence of the outrage, but 
 not enough was gathered of a nature sufficiently 
 tangible to cause him to take prior action
 
 560 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 against the parties to the crime. These out- 
 rages, committed with impunity, together with 
 the bitterly prescriptive and murderous spirit 
 exhibited by many people toward those who 
 condemned them, made the subject oi this 
 sketch an abolitionist for life. He, however, 
 before the Civil war, never favored any federal 
 interference with slavery in the states where ii 
 existed, lie did believe that its introduction into 
 the territories should lie forbidden and that no 
 more slave states should he admitted into tile 
 Union. He identified himself with the Free- 
 soil party, whose platform enunciated these 
 wew- ami whose battle cry was, "Free soil, free 
 speech, free press, free labor and free men." 
 He followed (hat party in 1856, when it was 
 merged into the newly organized Republican 
 party. He voted for the Republican nominees 
 at every presidential election from L856 to 
 L900, inclusive. 
 
 Hi 1 . Ilo. id was never a seeker after public po- 
 sition, hnt. nevertheless, was not infrequently 
 chosen fur office. He was three times elected 
 an alderman of the city of Litchfield and once 
 supervisor of North Litchfield township. Ik 
 served main years as a member of the Litch- 
 field hoard of education, and fur much of that 
 time was its secretary. In 1 ss-l he was elected 
 as the Republican minority representative for 
 the legislative district composed of Christian 
 and Montgomer} counties, in the general as- 
 sembly, and was one of the memorable One 
 Hundred and Three by whose votes John A. 
 Logan was. I'm- the last time, returned to the 
 United States senate. Ilis official duties in 
 ever] case were discharged with the most scru- 
 pulous and careful consideration I'm' the inter- 
 ests nf his constituents and the people of the 
 state. The same adherence to his convictions 
 of duty ami a close observance of the golden 
 rule in his business and social relations, to- 
 gether with a warm fidelity to the interests of 
 his friends, characterized his conduct in pri- 
 vate life. 
 
 I>r. Hood was from childhood a regular at- 
 tendant upon religious services, and after his 
 removal to Illinois, in 1852, upon those of the 
 Presbyterian church, to the support of which 
 he freely contributed, hut did not unite with 
 that communion until 1890. During his re- 
 
 maining years he was active in church and 
 Sunday-school work. 
 
 His death occurred in his eightieth year, on 
 Friday, February •.'<). L903, after an illness of 
 hut four days. Although failing in health for 
 ten years or longer, he had been giving unre- 
 mitting attention to his business, and on the 
 day preceding the fatal attack, was apparently 
 in more than ordinarily good health. His fu- 
 neral, under the direction of the Post of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic, took place at 
 the Litchfield Presbyterian church, on the Sun- 
 day following his decease, and was largely at- 
 tended. 
 
 HON. I-:. II. DONALDSON. 
 
 lion. E. II. Donaldson, now residing in Fill- 
 more, is one of the prominent and influential 
 citizens of Montgomery county, taking an ac- 
 tive part in community affairs and in public 
 office demonstrating his loyalty to the general 
 g I by active co-operation in many move- 
 ment which have formed the hasi?. of the coun- 
 ty's prosperity and upbuilding. 
 
 Mr. Donaldson was horn in Fayette county, 
 Illinois. November L0, 1836, his parents being 
 William C. and Elvina (Hicks) Donaldson, 
 both natives of Tennessee. His paternal great- 
 grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Donaldson, 
 came to this country from near Glasgow, Scot- 
 land, about the time of the I (evolutionary war. 
 and espousing the cause of the colonists Robert 
 Donaldson entered the army under General 
 George Washington. He was wounded in the 
 thigh by a musket hall which fractured the 
 hone and I'm- three months he lay in the hos- 
 pital, after which he rejoined his regiment and 
 continued in active service until the close of 
 the war. Later he engaged in farming in 
 North Carolina and from there moved his fam- 
 ily to Tennessee, where his death occurred. 
 Our subject's grandfather, Barnett Donaldson, 
 was a soldier of the war of 1812 and died in 
 Fayette county. Illinois, as did his first wife, 
 who bore the maiden name of Mary Andrews, 
 After her death he married Mrs. Charity 
 Breeze, of Jefferson county, Illinois, who also 
 died iii Fayette county.
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 561 
 
 William C. Donaldson, the father of our sub- On the 3d of January., 1856, Mr. Donaldson 
 
 jcct, was born in Carrol] county, Tennessee, in was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann 
 
 1817, and he remained in the state of his na- Rhodes, a native of Fayette county, Illinois, 
 
 tiyity until about fifteen years of age, when, in and they have become the parents of five chil- 
 
 1832, he came to Illinois, settling in Fayette dren: William A., who was engaged in ag- 
 
 county among its pioneer residents. There he ricultural pursuits, married Emma .lane Craig 
 
 attained his majority and afterward engaged in and died June 14, 1900, Leaving a widow and 
 
 farming and merchandising, lie spent his re- six children, three sons and three daughters, 
 
 maining days there, passing away in 1872. lie .lames M., the youngest, died at the age of 
 
 was a man of public-spirited interest in general seven years. Of those livingj Mary E. is the 
 
 progress and his influence was ever on the sick; wife of William Hard. Aaron B., who married 
 
 of improvement. Hi' served as county emu- Celia Ann Craig and is living in St. Louis, 
 
 missioner and as justice of the peace and in the was a minister of the Methodisi church lor 
 
 discharge id' his duties he was ever prompt, fourteen years, hut is now president of the 
 
 faithful and reliable. Onto him and his wife International Leather Company. Lena J. is 
 
 were horn the following children: Elijah II., the wife of Judson Solomon, of Washington 
 
 nf tin- review; Presley 0.. a retired farmer of county. Arkansas. 
 
 Fillmore, who married Elizabeth Lovegrove Mi-, and Mrs. Donaldson hold membership in 
 
 and had three children, two sous now living; the Methodist Episcopal church and lie is an 
 
 Mary E., who married Henry Cassey, and both exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, 
 
 are now deceased: Martha .1.. deceased wife being made a Mason in 1863 ai Ramsey Lodge, 
 
 <>f .1. W. Hieks. of Witt township; Mahala I'.. \n. (-05, m Ramsey, Illinois, and now belonging 
 
 deceased wife of 'I'. .1. Hill, a merchant, of i,, Fillmore Lodge, No. 670, of Fillmore, of 
 
 Fillmore: Nancy, wh arried dames Harris which he has served as master for three terms 
 
 and both are now deceased ; James C, who mar- ilM( | has also been representative to the grand 
 
 nod Esther S'chirl, now deceased, and resides [ dge. \\\> political support is given to the 
 
 in Ramsey, Illinois: and Sarah 1!.. wife of I). Democracy and upon that ticket he has been 
 
 M. Griggs, of Fillmore. elected to various public positions of honor 
 
 Elijah II. Donaldson spent the days of his and trust, lie served as supervisor for three 
 
 boyhood and youth in Ins parents' home ami years; was assessor four years; road commis- 
 
 pursued his education in the schools of Fay- -inner two years, school trustee eight years, 
 
 ette county, lie afterward engaged in teach- school director twenty years, and in 1890 was 
 
 in»- there ami was also identified with mer- elected to represent his district in the thirtv- 
 
 cantile interests for four years. On the ex- seventh genera] assembly of Illinois. While in 
 
 piration of that period he removed in Mont- the house he proved one of the active working 
 
 gomery county, sottlin.u in Witt township. members of the Democratic party, giving to 
 
 where he purchased a farm of two hundred each question which came up for settlemenl 
 
 acres. There he engaged in the raising of grain his careful consideration ami advocating it with 
 
 ami continued to carry on agricultural pur- unfaltering purpose if he believed in its value 
 
 suits until live years ago, when he removed to to the state, or opposing it with equal earnest- 
 
 Fillmore, though he still owns the farm, which ness when he deemed it detrimental to the in- 
 
 is to-day a valuable ami well improved place, terests of the commonwealth, lie was one of 
 
 After his removal to the village he turned the famous "101" Democratic members in the 
 
 his attention to the insurance business, repre- great senatorial contesl in 1891, when General 
 
 senting tin. Phoenix, the German, the North John M. Palmer was elected, ami a gold medal 
 
 American and Connecticut Companies. Delias was presented to him by the Democracy of 
 
 secured a large clientage and is now in con- Springfield as one of the "101." While in 
 
 trol of the business which is extensive and the legislature he served as chairman of the 
 
 profitable. He also operates in real estate and commit! n roads ami bridges, ami was also 
 
 servos as notary public. a member of the committees on military affairs,
 
 562 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF .MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 live stock and drainage and state charitable 
 institutions. He has also served as police mag- 
 istrate for some i iini' ami in any public posi- 
 tion which he has been called upon to fill he 
 has proved loyal, discharging his duties with 
 due regard to the interests of the community 
 hi large. 
 
 Mr. Donaldson lias spent his entire life in 
 Illinois and has been a witness of many of the 
 changes which have occurred in Montgomery 
 county. He has seen as many as twenty-four 
 deer in a single herd, while prairie chickens 
 were as numerous as English sparrows are to- 
 day. The country was but sparsely settled and 
 \'rw advantages were to be enjoyed. The early 
 settlers had to go long distances to mill and 
 then had to use their own teams as power to 
 grind their corn. As pioneer conditions have 
 hern replaced by the improvements of modern 
 civilization Mr. Donaldson has watched with in- 
 terest the changes and has kept abreast with 
 the uniform advancement and upbuilding. He 
 stands to-da) as one of the representative men 
 of his county, respected and honored because 
 of his reliability in business, his fidelity in 
 friendship and his loyalty in citizenship. 
 
 JUDGE AMOS MILLER 
 
 Judge Amos Miller, an attorney of Hillsboro 
 and former county judge, whose influence has 
 been a forceful element in the educational and 
 moral development of his community, was horn 
 in Carroll county. Ohio. January 25, L845. He 
 is a son of Joseph W. and [sahel ( McClintoek) 
 Miller, the former of German lineage and the 
 latter of Scotch-Irish descent. The father was 
 horn in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and 
 became a farmer, following that pursuit for 
 many years. His political allegiance was 
 given the Democracy and he was a member of 
 the Lutheran church. His wife, who was born 
 in Harrison county. Ohio, is now living in Ray- 
 mond. 1 11 i ii< .is. with her daughter, Mrs. B. F. 
 Culp, at the age of eighty-nine years. She is 
 a faithful Christian, holding membership in the 
 Lutheran church. Her father. Th as Mc- 
 Clintoek, was horn in Ireland, while her 
 mother, who in her maidenhood was Miss 
 
 Fisher, was horn in Germany. Joseph W. and 
 Isabel (McClintoek-) Miller, were the parents 
 of seven children, six sons and a daughter, bui 
 two of the sons died iii infancy. The sister 
 i- Mrs. P>. F. Culp. of Raymond, whose hus- 
 band is a hanker and leading business man 
 there The sons are: Martin, who is a min- 
 ister of the Methodist Episcopal church in 
 Fresno county, California: Eli, the cashier of 
 the First National Hank, of Litchfield; John, 
 who is serving as sheriff of Montgomery 
 county; and Amos. 
 
 Judge Miller spent his early boyhood days 
 in Ohio, and in the spring of 1862 accompa- 
 nied his parents on their removal to Illinois. 
 the I'amih home being established upon the 
 farm east of Nokomis. II is preliminary edu- 
 cation was acquired in the district schools, and 
 he afterward spent two years in what was then 
 known as the Illinois State University, a 
 school under the general synod of the English 
 Lutheran church. He afterward worked for 
 three summers at the carpenter's trade and in 
 the winter season engaged in teaching school. 
 On the 1st of August, 1866, he arrived in 
 Hillsboro and after locating here he pursued 
 the study of mathematics, astronomy and lit- 
 erature under the direction of L. F. M. Easter- 
 day. He secured a position in the county 
 clerk's office as deputy under W. D. Shirley, 
 filling that position most acceptably for seven 
 and a hall* years, and while thus engaged he 
 also took up the study of law at the suggestion 
 and under the direction of Judge Edward Fane. 
 When he had read for some time he was ad- 
 mitted to the bar in 1869, but he continued 
 in the clerk's office until L874. In the spring 
 of that year he formed a partnership with his 
 father-in-law, the late Judge E. Y. Rice, for 
 the practice of his profession al Hillsboro and 
 tins relation was continued until the death of 
 Judge Rice in 1883. In the meantime Joel 
 
 K. McDavid had bee ' a student in the office 
 
 ami later a partner in the linn, and the busi- 
 ness relation between Judge Miller and Mr. 
 McDavid was continued until 1886, when the 
 former was elected to the county bench, filling 
 that position tor one term. His decisions were 
 fair and impartial, being characterized by a 
 comprehensive understanding of the law and
 
 JUDGE AMOS MILLER
 
 :rjois
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 565 
 
 comet application of its principles to the point 
 in litigation. Upon bis retirement from the 
 bench he resumed tin' private practice of law, 
 winning and retaining fur himself a notable 
 position as a member el' the .Montgomery 
 county liar. 
 
 Judge Miller has lung in en a recognized 
 leader m public thought and action in Ilills- 
 li.u-o, and hi.- efforts have contributed in tan- 
 gible way td the substantia] development of 
 the enmity along many lines. For fifteen years 
 he has been a member of the school board, and 
 is now its president. In 1874 be was elected 
 city attorney of Hillsboro, and in 1876 he was 
 elected states attorney, and was re-elected the 
 following term. After a lapse of several years 
 he was again elected to that office in 1884, and 
 he left the impress of his individuality upon 
 the legislation enacted during these two terms, 
 for be upheld strenuously every measure which 
 lie believed would benefit the commonwealth 
 and strongly opposed every act that he believed 
 would prove detrimental to the community. In 
 the fall of 1903 he was appointed the Demo- 
 cratic member of the board of voting machine 
 commissioners by Governor Yates. 
 
 In September, 1871, Judge Miller was mar- 
 ried to Miss Man R. Rice, a daughter of Ed- 
 ward V. and Susan (Allen) Rice. Mrs. Miller 
 was born in llillsboro in 1850, is a graduate 
 of the Sacred Heart Convent of St. Louis, and 
 lias become the mother of two children, Isa 
 and Rice. The elder, a graduate of the llills- 
 boro high school and also of Eosmer Hall, in 
 St. Louis. Missouri, is now the wife of Harry 
 O. Pinkerton, a traveling salesman of Mar- 
 shalltown, Iowa, now of Gillespie, Illinois. 
 Rice, after graduating from the high school of 
 Hillsboro, spent three years in Cornell Col- 
 lege and was graduated from the law depart- 
 ment with the class of 1899. He then formed 
 a partnership with bis father, which continued 
 until the fall of 1901, when he took charge of 
 the business of the Hillsboro Coal Company 
 as its secretary and treasurer. He married 
 Winnifred Wool, of Hillsboro, and they have 
 one child. Rice Wool Miller. 
 
 Judge and Mrs. Miller are prominent mem- 
 bers and active workers in the Lutheran church, 
 of which he is serving as elder, and with the 
 
 exception of a period of two years he has con- 
 tinuously served as superintendent of its Sun- 
 day-school since 1868. He has several times 
 been a delegate from the central Illinois synod 
 to the general synod, and was appointed a mem- 
 ber of the board of education in the church and 
 assisted iii the .-election and location of Mid- 
 land College at Atchison. Kansas, which insti- 
 tution is now in a nourishing condition, lie 
 stands for all that is honorable in man's rela- 
 tions with his fellow men. as the advocate of 
 higher education and a.- the exponent of a pro- 
 gressive citizenship, and his course as a lawyer 
 as well as in private life has drawn to him the 
 admiration and respi ct of his fellow men. 
 
 C. H. HILL. 
 
 The growth and prosperity of any community 
 
 depends upon its business activity and the 
 men who are prominent in its upbuilding are 
 those who successfully control its commercial, 
 industrial ami professional interests. Of this 
 class C. H. Hill is a worthy representative and 
 Fillmore is indebted to him for what he has 
 accomplished in its behalf. He is a native 
 son of Fillmore township, born November "31. 
 1880. 
 
 His father. \V. II. Hill, was born four miles 
 
 east of Fill 'e in Fayette county and was 
 
 a son of Elijah Hill, a pioneer of that locality. 
 
 The family is one of tl blest in this part of 
 
 1 1 1 < ■ state ami in the early develo] nt of Illi- 
 nois bore a helpful part. W. II. Hill was 
 reared in the county of bis nativity, became fa- 
 miliar with agricultural pursuits in youth, and 
 after attaining bis majority followed farming 
 for some tiiiu. When the Clover Leaf Rail- 
 road was built through Fillmore he removed to 
 that place and embarked in the agricultural 
 implement business. Later he turned his at- 
 tention to the lumber trade and on disposing 
 of hi.- interests in that line engaged in buying 
 and shipping stock. His labors were attended 
 with success and be annually made large sales. 
 In 1891 be also began merchandising, purchas- 
 ing the store of .1. (). Lost & Company. Owing 
 to ill health he went to Colorado in 1904 and 
 there died on the 12th of July, that year. By
 
 566 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 his ballot he supported the Democratic party tucky in 1837, bui was reared in Zanesville 
 
 and served as supervisor four terms. Fra- township, Montgomery county, Illinois. His 
 ternally he was connected with the Modern father, Robert Allen, was one of the first set- 
 Woodmen of America. In early manhood he tiers who came to tins pan of the state from 
 
 married Miss Louisa C. Alexander, a daughter Kentucky and established his I e in a district 
 
 of the late John Alexander, of Fill re town- which was wild and unimproved, bu1 in course 
 
 ship, and to them were born thirteen children, of time he developed a good farm from the un- 
 hid only three are now living. broken prairie. His son was here reared and 
 (*. II. Hill was reared under the parental became active in carrying on agricultural pur- 
 roof, pursued his education in the schools of -nils. For years he filled the office of justice 
 
 Fillmore and afterward went to Colorado of the peace and his decis 3 were strictly fair 
 
 where he spent six months, being employed in and impartial. He also served as township 
 
 a store. He then returned to Fillmore and for clerk for eleven years and in the discharge of 
 
 four years has been connected with a store in every public trust that has ever been given to 
 
 this town. As a merchant he is enterprising him he has proved himself faithful and able, 
 
 and, carrying a large line of goods, he has also In lsi;i he moved to the west, making the 
 
 endeavored to please bis patrons by honorable overland trip across the plains to California. 
 
 methods and has therefore secured a good pat- He then resided in the Golden state for two 
 
 rename. years, after which he returned to the cast by 
 
 Mr. Hill i- identified with the Modern W 1- way of the Pacific, the isthmus of Panama and 
 
 men of America and with the Knights of Pyth- New York city. 
 
 ias fraternity and gives his political support P. B. Allen, whose name introduces this rec- 
 to the Democracy. Having spent almost his ord, spent Ids boyh 1 days upon bis father's 
 
 entire life in this locality he has a wide ac- farm and was early trained to the work of the 
 
 quaintance and his genial manner and many tield and meadow, while in the district schools 
 
 excellent traits of character have rendered him he acquired the education that fitted him for 
 
 popular with a large circle of friends. He life's practical duties and the prosecution of 
 
 represents one of the old families. of this por- business interests. He started out in life for 
 
 Imn of the state and the Hill family is also himself when nineteen years of age, work- 
 
 11111111 rous. there being twenty-three voters by ing as a farm band by the month and was em- 
 
 the name in Fillmore township. ployed in that way for seven years. He then 
 
 rented a tract of land which he farmed for 
 one year and thus, having made a start in life, 
 he sought a companion and helpmate for the re- 
 li. I>. ALI.hV mainder of life's journey. He was married in 
 Among the native sons of Montgomery county Zanesville township, September 8. 1890, to Miss 
 who have been successful in their business af- Nettie Driskell, a native of Zanesville town- 
 fairs and are now capably controlling valu- ship and a daughter of Marshall Driskell, who 
 able farming interests R. B. Allen is num- is represented elsewhere in this work. 
 bered. lie lives on section 22, Zanesville town-r Mr. and Mrs. Allen began their domestic life 
 ship, where he owns and operates one hundred upon a little farm of twenty acres and in eon- 
 and fifty aerosol' rich farming land, lie was nection with its cultivation Mr. Allen also 
 born December 22, 1861, a representative of operated rented land, lie sold his property in 
 one of the pioneer families of the county. His 1896 and bought where be now resides on sec- 
 father, Squire S. II. Allen, was a pioneer here tion •.'•.'. Zanesville township. This he began to 
 and for sixty-two years lias been one of the improve ami he built a good neat residence and 
 public-spirited citizens of this part of the -late, large ami substantial outbuildings. He has a 
 aiding in laying broad and deep the foundation good orchard that yields its fruits in season and 
 for the present prosperity and upbuilding of the equipments of his farm arc excellent, he 
 Montgomerv county. lie was horn in Ken- using the latest improved machinery to carry
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 5G< 
 
 on the work of the fields. In connection with 
 the tilling of the soil he is engaged in the rais- 
 ing of high graded stock and he breeds and 
 deals in pure-blooded Berkshire hogs, tie is 
 known as a successful farmer and stock-raiser 
 and Ins prosperity is attributable entirely to his 
 own efforts, for he began life as do the majority 
 of American citizens, without financial assist- 
 ance. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born 
 four children : Josephine D., Robert Marshall, 
 Willard T. and Lester L. The parents are 
 consistent and faithful members of the Chris- 
 tian church, taking an active and helpful part 
 in its work and he lias served as an elder in the 
 church during the past sis years. He is also 
 active in the Sunday-school and was its super- 
 intendent for ten years, llr votes with the 
 Democracy and keeps well informed on the 
 questions and issues of the day. but has never 
 sought or desired office. He lias not only lived 
 in Montgomery coivnty throughout Ins entire 
 life, but has always made his home in the same 
 township and school district and he is thor- 
 oughly identified with its interests, desiring its 
 best development and contributing his share 
 to the upbuilding and progress. 
 
 JOEL K. M< 'DAVID. 
 
 Joel l\. McDavid, whose extensive property 
 holdings class him with the substantial citizens 
 of Montgomery county and who is also a factoi 
 in its financial interests, was born upon a farm 
 two and a half miles east of Hillsboro, October 
 31, is.".:!. The family is of Scotch-Irish lin- 
 eage ami through \arious generations its mem- 
 bers have 1 n farming people. 1 1 is paternal 
 
 grandfather, William McDavid, came from 
 Tennessee to Illinois at a very early period in 
 the development of this portion of the state, 
 making a settlement east of Coffeen. Hi- ->'U. 
 John T. McDavid, was born in Montgomery 
 county, upon ;i farm a mile west of Coffeen, to 
 which Ins parents had in the meantime re- 
 moved, lie i- now living in Irving at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-two years. Through tin' 
 greater part of his active business career he 
 carried on agricultural pursuits, ami. prosper- 
 
 ing in his undertaking, became one of the well- 
 to-do citizens of Ins community. In his polit- 
 ical views he has long 1 n a stalwart Democrat 
 
 and lias served as supervisor of his township, 
 while in 1868 he was elected to the office of 
 county sheriff, discharging Ins duties without 
 fear or favor, lie was formerly actively identi- 
 fied with the Masonic fraternity and the odd 
 Fellows lodge and he is a consistent member of 
 the Cumberland Presb}'terian church. Hemar- 
 mciI Mir-- Edna J. Knight, who was born in 
 Montgomery county ami died in March, 1870, 
 at the age of forty-three years. She was a 
 daughter of William Knight, who came to this 
 county at an early day and followed agricul- 
 tural pursuits. 1I«' was of German lineage and 
 was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 church. Onto Mr. and Mrs. McDavid were 
 bom six children: Albin B.. who is a minister 
 ami also an agriculturist of Sullivan: William 
 J., who is filling the position of county super- 
 intendent of schools; John T., dr.. a stock- 
 buyer of Irving; duel 1\.; Augustus P... a 
 farmer of Irving: and James L., a hardware 
 merchant of Hillsboro. After the death of his 
 first wife. John T. McDavid was married to 
 Mis^ Malinda Snell, and they became the par- 
 ents of .mi' -mi. Frank 1... who is now assistant 
 cashier of the Montgomery County Loan & 
 Trust Company. 
 
 duel K. McDavid acquired his early educa- 
 tion in the district schools and afterward at- 
 tended Hillsboro Academy and the Lincoln 
 University at Lincoln, Illinois, lie was gradu- 
 ated fr the latter institution with the class 
 
 of 1878 on completing the Latin scientific 
 course. After leaving school he entered the 
 office of Rice & Miller, attorneys of Hillsboro, 
 with whom he read law and in 1880 he was ad- 
 mitted in the bar. lie then became a member 
 of flic linn and practiced successfully for a 
 number of years, hut in more recent years has 
 been devoting his time and energies to the 
 supervision of his large property interests, hav- 
 ing placed much of his capital in that safest 
 of all investments, real estate. He is. however. 
 . |o-el\ associated with financial concerns of the 
 county and in 1900 was chosen president of the 
 Montgomery County Loan & Trust Company's 
 Bank the oldesl hank of the count v. in which
 
 568 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 position he has since served. He is, likewise, removed to Stark county, Ohio, where he mar- 
 tin' president of the Eillsborb Building iV Loan ried Miss Mary Lingofelter, also a native of 
 Association, wliieh is capitalized for two mil- Maryland. He first came to Illinois in ltSo'J 
 lion dollars and is one of the largest concerns and walked all the way back to Ohio in the 
 of the kind in the slate. He and Ins wife have winter of 1839-40. in the latter year he re- 
 twenty-three hundred acres of land and be moved to this county, making the journey by 
 is also interested in the McDavid Hardware steamboat down the Ohio river and up the 
 Company. He stands to-day as the type of the Mississippi to St. Louis, where his goods were 
 American business man of the middle west, unloaded. One of his horses fell off the boat 
 alert and enterprising, watchful of opportuni- into the river at that place but was rescued 
 tits and so utilizing the means at hand as to by ropes. From St. Louis he proceeded over- 
 gain gratifying success. At the same time his land to Montgomery county. He and his fam- 
 business methods are in close conformity to ily took up their abode in a log cabin in the 
 the ethics of the business world and he has thus northwest corner of Irving township, where they 
 made for himself an honored name while win- were surrounded by dense forests, inhabited by 
 nine' Hi,, confidence of his fellow- men by the wolves and other wild animals that would gather 
 prosperity that he has achieved. round I he hut at night and howl as though 
 In September, 1879, Mr. McDavid was mar- they were going to take posses-inn. It was a 
 ried to Miss Emma Tiffin, a representative of very common thing in those days to see the 
 the family to which Judge Edward Tiffin, the red man skulking through the woods in his 
 first governor of Ohio, belonged. She was savage state. Mr. Weller was not long per- 
 liorn in Madison county, Illinois, in I860, a milted to enjoy Ins new home, however, for 
 daughter of William and Alcinda (Blackwell) he died three years after his removal to this 
 Tiffin, formerly a farmer ami stock-buyer of state, leaving a widow and nine children, of 
 Madison county. Mr. and Mr-. McDavid have whom Mr-. Lipe was the youngest, being then 
 one child, Edward I'., who was a graduate from a little over two years old. The others id' the 
 the Missouri Valley College at Marshall. Mis- Eamily were Jacob ; John ; Elizabeth ; Mary and 
 souri. in June, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. McDavid Sarah, who are now deceased; Daniel, a resident 
 are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian of Raymond township: Adam, of Rountree 
 church and his political support is given to the township; and Mrs. Edward Tester, of Irving. 
 Democracy. He is a man of enterprise, posi- After the death of her first husband Mrs. Weller 
 tive character, indomitable energy, strict integ- was married again to Jos ph Weber, who also 
 rity and liberal views and has been fully died about ten years after their marriage. She 
 identified with the growth and prosperity of the lived to the advanced age of eighty-four years, 
 county of his nativitv in which his entire life dying in the winter of 1886. 
 has been passed. John S. Lipe, the father of our subject, was 
 
 born December '.'•">. 1839, a -on of Nelson and 
 Xancv (Hoffner) Lipe. who were both horn in 
 North Carolina in 1812, the former mi the 1st 
 of November ami the latter on the 4th of 
 
 OfTAPLES FEANCIS LIFE. 
 
 Charles Francis Lipe. whose well improved February. They were married in that state 
 
 farm is a proof of his enterprising spirit and September 8, 1831, and the following day started 
 
 useful career, resides on section 11. Irving for Illinois. Coming direct to Montgomery 
 
 township. His birth occurred on this farm county, they located on section 4. Irving town- 
 
 January 16, 1872, his parents being John S. and ship. Nelson Lipe followed both farming and 
 
 Catherine Louisa (Weller) Lipe. They were milling, his mill being operated by horse-power, 
 
 also natives id' Montgomery county, represent- ami in business affairs he was very energetic 
 
 ing early pioneer families of this portion of the and successful, lie die, I on the 24th of Novem- 
 
 state. The maternal grandfather. John Weller. her. 1880, and his wife passed away May 6, 
 
 was born in Maryland in 1792 and in early life 1895. They were the parents of eleven children,
 
 J. S. LIPE 
 
 MES. .1. S. LIPE 
 
 ME. AND MES. C. F. LIPE 
 
 ME. AND MES'. E. D. LITE 
 
 .MKS. NELSON LIl'K 
 
 MBS. JOHN WELLEE
 
 mm
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OF MONTGOMEEY COUNTS ;,; l 
 
 but only four are now Living, namely: .Mrs. tively early age of thirty-nine years, and Mrs. 
 
 Sarah Carriker, of Rountree townships and Lipe still resides on the old home farm at the 
 
 Jacob L. Lipe, Mrs. Mary Blackwelder and Mrs. age of sixty-four years. 
 
 Maria Hefley, of Irving township. Nelson Lipe Charles F. Lipe supplemented his early cdu- 
 
 has three sisters still living: Mrs. Delilah rational privileges by study in the Irving hiofi 
 
 Walcher, now in her eighty-fifth year; Mrs. school. In his youth he assisted in the 
 
 Elizabeth Davis; and Mrs. Diana Pite. Itis farm work and he remained at home until 
 
 parents were Mr. and Mrs. John Lipe, who also twenty-one years of age. In 1895 he went to 
 
 came to Montgomery county in LS33 and settled Cedar county, Iowa, where he followed farming 
 
 on what is known as the D. T. Befley Earm for two years, and on his return to Montgomery 
 
 in [rving township. John Lipe was a soldier of county began farming on the place where he 
 
 the Revolutionary war and was the father of now resides. He has made excellent improve- 
 
 thirteen children. John Lipe, the father of our ments hero, including the erection of a good 
 
 subject, was reared in this locality. In L861 house and barn, and he owns ninety acres of 
 
 he unlisted as a private in Company B, First land, the greater part of which is now under 
 
 Illinois Cavalry, under Captain Paul Walter-, a high state of cultivation. lie has hail a 
 
 and was mustered in at Benton Barracks. He brief experience in merchandising, for when he 
 
 participated in a number of engagements of completed echoo] 1 otered the store of Brook- 
 
 the Civil war and was taken prisoner at the man & Lipe, thus becoming a partner in ;r ^en- 
 battle id' Lexington, where his horse was shot era] mercantile establishment. After a year, 
 from under him. hut was soon paroled and however, he resumed agricultural pursuits, 
 sent home. o n cne \>d of September, L900, Mr. Lipe was 
 On the 9th of April. 1863, John S. Lipe married to Miss Miary B. Carriker, a daughter of 
 was united m marriage to Miss Catherine L. John T. and Alice Carriker, of Irving township. 
 Weller, who was horn November 3, 1840, and Her father, who now follows farming on section 
 they became the parents of nine children, of II. was born in Irving township, November 28, 
 whom (diaries F. is the sixth in order of birth. ISIS, his parents being dames and Prudence 
 Two of the number, George C. and William I!., Carriker. who were natives of North Carolina 
 dieil in infancy. Those -till living are Anna and Tennessee, respectively, .lames Carriker 
 I*'., the wife of c. \Y. Hefiey, of Irving; Albert came to Montgomery county about 1832 and 
 X.. id' Paisley; John L., of Litchfield; Ephraim east in his lot with its early settlers. He resided 
 Ik. of [rving township; Charles F. ; Herbert here until his death in 1852 and his wife passed 
 S., at home; and Nancy E., the wile of Ralph away in 1888 at the advanced age of seventy- 
 Thumb, of Witt township. After his marriage two years. Their son John T. Carriker was 
 the father engaged in farming <>n the old educated in [rving township and lived at home 
 homestead where In- widow vet resides. When until twenty-seven years of age. He has devoted 
 the place first came into possession of the fam- his entire life to agricultural pursuits and now 
 ily it was considered almost worthless, it being has a farm of forty acres in [rving township. 
 swampy and largely under water. Besides the which is well equipped with modern improve- 
 ducks and fish that there abounded there were ments. lie has held all of the official positions 
 moccasins, rattlesnakes and other poisonous rep- of the township, has keen a member of the 
 ides. Init Mr. Lipe converted the place into a school hoard and gives Ins political support to 
 very desirable property. At the time of his the Republican party, believing firmly in its 
 death he was the owner id' three hundred and principles. <>u the 20th of December, is; I. he 
 thirty-seven acres of rich land, which had been married Miss Alice Kelly, a daughter of S. 
 accumulated as the result of his industry and Kelly, id' this county, also one of its pioneer 
 capable management, I'm- at the time of his residents. To Mr. and Mrs. Carriker were born 
 marriage he had only fifteen dollars and a team live children: .lame- Frederick, of [rving 
 of horses and was in debt for one of them, lie township ; Mary B., the wife of Charles F. Lipe; 
 passed away December 30, 1878, at the compara- Albert Harris, who is living in the stale of
 
 572 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Washington; George Francis, who is in the 
 employ of the government at St. Louis; and 
 John Homer, at home. 
 
 Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lipe have 
 resided on the farm which they now occupy 
 and with characteristic energy he is devoting 
 his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, 
 Ids labors being attended with good and profit- 
 able returns. He votes with the Republican 
 party, but never seeks or desires public office, 
 preferring to give his time and attention to 
 his business affairs. 
 
 EPHRAIM D. LIPE 
 
 Ephraim D. Lipe, whose farm of one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres on section 11, Irving 
 
 township, is well improved, was horn upon that 
 section December 2, 1870 and is a son of John 
 S. ami Catherine (Weller) Lipe, of whom 
 extended mention is made in the sketch of 
 Charles F. Lipe. The son pursued his edu- 
 cation in the Oak Grove school of his native 
 township and in the summer month.-, when 
 school was not in session, lie assisted in the 
 labors of the fields, early gaining extensive and 
 practical experience concerning farming meth- 
 ods. He remained at home until twenty-one 
 years id' age and then started out in life for 
 himself, purchasing eighty acres two miles east 
 .if [rving. Upon this tract he engaged in farm- 
 ing, but after three years he sold the property 
 and purchased sevent] acres of land when 1 he 
 new Lives on section 11. Irving township. In 
 1901 lie made an addii ional purchase of fifty 
 acres and now has a good farm of one hundred 
 and twenty acres. He has erected two sub- 
 stantial barns ami keep- everything about his 
 place in good repair. His fields are well tilled, 
 his farm machinery is id' modern construction 
 .•iml his careful supervision of the place is evi- 
 dent to tlie passerby at a single glance. 
 
 On the 4th of November. 1891, Mr. Lipe was 
 united in marriage to Miss Cora A. Cook, who 
 was horn in Champaign county. Illinois. Sep- 
 tember 10, 1870, her parents being Charles and 
 Martha A. ( Freeman) Cook, of Champaign 
 county, where her mother died September IS, 
 1874. About two years later her father re- 
 
 moved to Montgomery county and is now en- 
 gaged in farming in [rving township. During 
 the early days of the gold excitement in Cali- 
 fornia he went to the Pacific slope with his 
 father. Jesse Cook, who crossed the plains four 
 times. Unto Mi', and Mrs. Lipe was horn a son, 
 Earl C. November I, 1902, win. died August s, 
 1903, at the age of nine months and four days. 
 Mr. Lipe exercises bis right of franchise in sup- 
 port of the men and measures of the Republican 
 party, but is not an office seeker, preferring to 
 give his undivided attention to his business af- 
 fairs, which, being carefully conducted, are 
 bringing to him a good financial return. 
 
 JOHN C. SHOUT. 
 
 John C. Short, who carries on general fann- 
 ing upon a tract of land of one hundred and 
 sixty acres in East Fork township, was horn 
 in southeastern Missouri, August 2, 1S44. II is 
 father, Aimer Short, was a native of North 
 Carolina, spent his boyhood in that state and 
 with his parents removed westward to Missouri. 
 There he formed the acquaintance of Miss Jane 
 Campbell, also a native of North Carolina, and 
 they were married in Missouri, beginning their 
 domestic life there upon a farm. Subsequently 
 they removed to Illinois in 1857, settling two 
 miles north of the farm upon which their son 
 John C. Short now makes his home. There the 
 father carried on general agricultural pursuits 
 throughout his remaining days, passing away 
 mi the 25th of January, 1884, when seventy 
 years and ten months of age. He was one of 
 the early -ettlers of the county who had long 
 resided within its borders and was familiar 
 with its history, while of its development he 
 bad been an eve witness. His entire life record 
 was such as commended him to the confidence 
 and good will of those with whom he was asso- 
 ciated and his loss was therefore deeply de- 
 plored. In the family were six children, of 
 whom three are now li\ ing. 
 
 John C. Short was brought to Illinois in 
 early boyhood days by his parents and upon his 
 father's farm here was reared. No event of 
 special importance occurred to vary the routine 
 ,,!' farm life for him in his youth, for he worked
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMEBY COUNTY 573 
 
 in lirlil and meadow when not occupied with jed and his wife, of whom four arc living: 
 
 the duties of the schoolroom. Like other boys, Mabel Agnes, Myrtle Fidelia, Roberta Blanche 
 
 lie enjoyed the pleasures of the playground, and Ralph Moody. The} losl their third child, 
 
 luit he was thoroughly taught the value of Orpha Dayton, who died in infancy. The liv- 
 
 industry and integrity in the active affairs of ing children are all graduates of the Hillsboro 
 
 life When alioui twenty-three years of age high scl I ami Mabel has been a successful 
 
 he left home I'm' a time and worked at tin- teacher in the schools of Coffeen, Irving and 
 carpenter's trade, lb' afterward engaged in Montgomery, having taught fur three consecu- 
 clerking I'm' six months ami then resumed five terms ai the last named place. Blanche 
 farming, purchasing forty acres "I' land. AI a has been a teacher of the Victor schoolhouse 
 Inter date he sold tins and bought the home ami Ralph is assisting bis father in the opera- 
 place nl' one hundred and sixty acres, which is tion of the home farm. 
 
 devoted to the raising of both grain ami stuck. Mi-, ami Mrs. Shorl belong in the Presby- 
 
 There is a good house and barn upon Ins land terian church id' Hillsboro, reared their chil- 
 
 aml he uses the latest improved machinery in dren in thai faith and have had the satisfaction 
 
 the cultivation of the fields, lie is practical in id' seeing them all become church members. Mi'. 
 
 all that he undertakes and his efforts have been Short is a mber id' the Hillsboro Mutual 
 
 crowned with a measure of success thai make- Farmers League. He gives his political sup- 
 
 him one of the substantia] residents of his com- porl t<> the Democracy, lias served as school 
 
 niiinilv. lie is a director of the Hillsboro director and is well known as a warm friend 
 
 Farmers Mutual Association, formed to insure of the cause of education, putting forth every 
 
 farmers againsl lire and lightning, lie has effort in his power to advance the cause of the 
 
 seen great changes in methods of agriculture, schools, lie has always given loyal adherence 
 
 for when he came here he saw prairie broken and substantial support to movements to ad- 
 
 with five or six yoke of oxen, and the plow vance the welfare of the county in other di- 
 
 which was used was very crude in comparison rections ami is known as a progressive citizen 
 
 to those in use at the present day. lie saw deer as well as a successful business man. 
 upon the prairie and lie can remember when 
 
 the leading towns of the state were mere vil- 
 lages, while others had not sprung into ex- 
 
 istence. T - J - HILL " 
 
 on the 28th ol January, is;:;. Mr. Short T. .1. Hill, a member of the firm of Hill 
 
 was married to Miss .lane Louisa Turner, a Brothers, general merchants of Fillmore was 
 
 daughter of McKinsey Turner, of Montgomery born in Missouri, in L845, his parents being 
 
 county. Her lather came from Tennessee to Elijah and Hannah Hill. The father, a na- 
 
 lllinois. was numbered among the early set- tive of Kentucky, was reared in Allen county, 
 
 tiers here, at one time served as sheriff of the that state, and upon his removal to Illinois 
 
 county and was widely known throughout this settled in Fayette county in is.'!'.'. There were 
 
 pari of the state, lie was a strong Democrat in (r\\ settlers within the borders of the county al 
 
 politics and was identified with the Masonic that time and the Hill family took an active 
 
 fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal church, ami helpful part in reclaiming the wild dis- 
 
 to which the mother of Mrs. Short also he- trie! lor the uses of civilization. The father 
 
 longed. Mr. Turner was twice married, his carried on agricultural pursuits with success for 
 
 first wife being Rachel Ward, by wl i he had main" vears. hut liis life's labors "ere ended in 
 
 three sons and one daughter. 11 is second wife death ill .'line. 1871. In his family were ten 
 
 was Malissa Bennett, a native of Massachusetts, children, of whom six are now living. Isaac 
 
 and by that union there were two sons and five Hill, a brother of Jack Hill, was born in 1852, 
 
 daughters, including Mrs. Short. The father was reared in Montgomery county and built 
 
 died in 1862 and the mother in ISTfi. the firs! house in the town of Fillmore llu 
 
 Five children have been born unto our sub- also built the first business house and began
 
 51 I 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 dealing in Lumber, carrying on trade along 
 that Hue until he sold out and removed to the 
 west, lie is now located near Joplin, Missouri, 
 where he is engaged in lead and zinc mining 
 and has made an excellent success in this busi- 
 ness. 
 
 T. J. Hill spent the days of his boyhood 
 and youth in Fayette county and remained a 
 resident of that portion of tin- state until about 
 ten years ago. He then spent one year in 
 Texas and afterward came to Fillmore, where 
 he became connected with mercantile interests 
 as a partner in the firm of Grigg & Hill. Later 
 he sold his interest to Mr. Grigg and then 
 in connection with his brother, W. II. Hill, pur- 
 chased tlii- store formerly owned by John Q. 
 Bost. The firm of Hill Brothers was organized 
 and they have sim e engaged in business as gen- 
 eral merchants, having a well appointed store, 
 containing a large and carefully selected line 
 nf genera] merchandise. 
 
 It February, 1872, T. J. Hill was united in 
 marriage to Miss Maliala Donaldson, who died 
 in 1876 and in 1880 he was married to Miss 
 Rebecca Robertson, lie had four children, but 
 Joseph, the eldest, is now deceased. Those 
 still living are Osian, Ethel and Jessie. Mrs. 
 Hill belongs to the (Jniversalist church and Mr. 
 Hill gives his political support to the Dem- 
 ocracy. 
 
 PERRY COMMODORE OLLER. 
 
 Perry Commodore oiler, who was one of 
 America's most distinguished Indian scouts 
 an d whose life record formed a most interest- 
 ing chapter in the annals of the great west, 
 was horn in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on 
 the 4th of February, 1819, a son of George 
 and Elizabeth (Taylor) Oiler, the latter a 
 ii, Mi- relative of President Taylor. He was de- 
 scended Horn an ancestry honorable and dis- 
 tinguished, being related to the Taylors, John- 
 sons, Clays. Jacksons, Putnams, Bullochs and 
 others of the foremost families of Kentucky and 
 Virginia and the original colonies. When he 
 was hut twelve years of age his parents re- 
 moved to Illinois and the family was attacked 
 bv Indians near Swan lake. It was then that 
 
 Mr. Oiler entered upon a course of life which 
 involved his entire career. The fearless hoy 
 carried a message to Kaskaskia, seventy miles 
 through an unknown wilderness, seeking as- 
 sistance. and successfully accomplishing his mis- 
 sion, lie faced the dangers and hardships of 
 pioneer life m this state and was early iden- 
 tified with agricultural interests. On the 6th 
 of April, 1855, he married Elizabeth Snook, 
 a daughter of Amos Snook, whose grandfather 
 was one of Washington's bodyguards. Mrs. 
 oiler did m 1862, leaving three sons. Amos, 
 Thomas and Jacob. 
 
 Placing his children in the care of their 
 grandmother, Mr. Oiler started for the far 
 west, conducting -a wagon train across the 
 plain.-. During an absence of eight years no 
 word was received from him by his relatives. 
 In the meantime he was engaged in the peril- 
 on- duties of scouting and carrying messages 
 for the various army officers of the west and 
 gained an intimate knowledge of the red man, 
 his habits of living and hi- means of warfare, 
 lie was then detailed to carry an important 
 message from Portland. Oregon, to St. Louis, 
 through two thousand miles of country in- 
 habited by hostile Indians. His business suc- 
 cessfully completed, he returned to the west in 
 1869. W<- has engaged in scouting from the 
 Yukon valley m Alaska to Mexico, and for 
 thirty-eight years his relatives, receiving no 
 communication from him. supposed that he 
 was dead. He was known anion;.;' the Indians 
 as "Cult us Boston Man"— a bad tighter. Some- 
 thing of his bravery, daring and his skill in 
 horsemanship and with the rifle is indicated 
 by the Eaci that when a boy be won a live hun- 
 dred dollar wager by riding erect on a wild 
 colt, bareback, carrying a horse-pistol in one 
 hand and a rifle in the other, and killing on 
 the wing two pigeons thrown from a trap 
 simultaneously, one with a pistol and the other 
 with the rifle. He also won one thousand dol- 
 lars and gained the championship of St. Louis 
 by killing ten pigeons on the wing in nine 
 shots, thrown from traps two at a time. On 
 another occasion he was captured by Indians 
 and was to he burned alive at the stake, but 
 when the red men came to untie him from the 
 tree he slipped bis band through the noose,
 
 m *l LINOiS
 
 PERKY COMMODORE OLLER
 
 JUDGE AMOS OLDER 
 
 DAVID S. OLDER
 
 
 UNiv:
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 jerked a knife from an Indian's belt, thrust it 
 into his captor's body, picked up pistols 
 dropped by bis foe and, quicker than thought, 
 started a dozen braves on their way to the 
 happy limiting grounds and escaped. The only 
 act for which he ever claimed any credit, and 
 certainly one of the bravesi of ins many brave 
 deeds, was that of dashing, single-handed into a 
 band of Indians and rescuing two children 
 destined to burn at the stake. On another 
 occasion he found two babies scalped and try- 
 ing to nurse their mother, who with their 
 father had been killed several hours before. 
 Mr. Oiler followed the trail of the savages 
 and brought back the scalps of the children 
 and their parents and also those of live de- 
 mons who had done the bloody deed. Not 
 long after the death of Custer a band of Sit- 
 ting Bull's braves captured two children after 
 butchering their parents in cold blood. Oiler 
 followed their trail Eor several days and finally 
 succeeded in locating the band. Leading a 
 horse, he boldly rode into their camp. After 
 disarming suspicion he had a smoke with the 
 chief and managed to drop a note where the 
 oldest child could find it. Before leaving the 
 camp he secreted his rifle and revolvers in the 
 brush about fifty rods away. The mite in- 
 structed the children to mount one of the 
 horsi s in sport, getting on and off so as not to 
 amuse suspicion. The scheme worked like a 
 charm. In a short tune the Indians grew care- 
 less, and before they could realize what was 
 happening he had leaped into the saddle and 
 was off like a slmt. the other horse following 
 with the children. Securing; his arms ami 
 ammunition, he held the savages at bay and 
 rode night and day until he reached the set- 
 tlement. 
 
 These are Ian U>w of the many tabs which 
 might he told of his bravery, his strategy and 
 bis diplomacy while scouting on the plains of 
 the west. After an absence of almost four 
 decade. Mr. oiler returned to Illinois, where 
 his family received him as one from the dead. 
 Hi' resembles greatly some of the characters 
 that figure in Cooper's western tales, ami the 
 story of his life reads like a romance, prov- 
 ing again the old adage that truth is st rancor 
 than fiction. His last days were soeni at the 
 
 Imnie of his son, .Indue Oiler, and he reached 
 the very advanced age id' eighty-six years, pass- 
 ing awa\ mi the 1 1th of January, 1901:. In 
 his last days be remarked: "The Lord has 
 been good to me. and 1 am ready for the roll 
 call when reveille sounds." A publication, the 
 Catling (lun. writing of Mr. Oiler in October, 
 1902, says : 
 
 "In conversation with Mr. oiler one feels 
 that he is talking with a man of the heroic age, 
 to the companion of Kenton, Boone and 
 Crockett, lb- is a perfect type of the men 
 of brawn and brain and iron who blazed the 
 way through I he wilderness for advancing civ- 
 ilization from Jamestown to the Golden Gate. 
 He is now making his home with his son, 
 Judge Allies Oiler, of Litchfield, one of the 
 
 best infort I and brightest men it has ever 
 
 been our pleasure to meet." 
 
 JUDGE AMOS OLLER. 
 
 Judge Amos Oiler, city attorney of Litch- 
 field and one of the leading lawyers of the 
 Montgomery county liar, was born April 16, 
 1856, at the old Amos Snook homestead, four 
 miles southwest of Litchfield, in Macoupin 
 county, Illinois. He is the eldest son of Perry 
 ( '. and Elizabeth (Snook) Oiler, and was but 
 five years of age when bis mother died. She 
 Left three children, who were then placed in 
 the care of their grandfather, while the father 
 went to the far west to act as an Indian scout, 
 and long years passed ere he was again heard 
 from. In the meantime Judge Oiler had ac- 
 quired an education, largely through his own 
 -Units, had prepared I'm - the bar and had won 
 a place of prominence in the legal fraternity 
 of Montgomery county. 
 
 The Judge began his studies in the district 
 school near his home and afterward attended 
 the Northwestern Normal School at Valparaiso, 
 while in 1878 he entered the Indiana State 
 Norma) School at Terre Haute. On complet- 
 ing his literary course he took up the study of 
 law under the direction of United States Sena- 
 tor Daniel Vorhees and was admitted to the 
 bar of Illinois. He also attended the Wes- 
 levan Law Universitv at Bloomington and
 
 580 
 
 PAST AXL) PP.HSEXT OF MONTGOMERY COLNTY 
 
 was graduated with honors, winning the prize 
 for the highesi scholarship at the examination 
 in 1881. 
 
 Judge Oiler entered upon the practice of 
 law. which he followed in Macoupin county 
 and in Litchfield, and in order to further per- 
 fect himself in Ins chosen calling he devoted 
 one year to post-graduate work in the Wash- 
 ington Law School at St. Louis. Missouri. Ee- 
 suming practice in Litchfield, he has since re- 
 mained an active member of the bar and has 
 easily maintained a position of prominence 
 among the members of the legal fraternity. 
 Hi- clientage has been large and of a distinct- 
 ively representative character, and in the prepa- 
 ration of his cases he is thorough and pains- 
 taking, while in the presentation of his cause 
 he is forceful and logical, giving strong and 
 convincing reason for his position by a logical 
 presentation of facts and the law applicable 
 thereto. In 1898 he was elected to the bench 
 of the newly constituted city court of Litch- 
 field and made a remarkable record in that he 
 never hail a jury to disagree; never granted a 
 new trial; and no decision which he rendered 
 was ever reversed. He filled the office for one 
 term and then returned to the private prac- 
 tice of law, which he found more remunerative. 
 He is the present city attorney of Litchfield 
 and he also has a large private practice, indica- 
 tive of the reputation which he bears for legal 
 learning and for power as an advocate and 
 counselor. 
 
 On the 19th of January, 181 0. Judge Oiler 
 was married to Miss Ida Efuddleston, who was 
 not fifteen years of age until the 2"2d of July 
 following, and who belonged to one of the 
 wealthiest families of Macoupin county. Seven 
 children were born unto them: George Ellis, 
 who was born October "J'.'. 1879, and is now 
 a section chief in the census office at Washing- 
 ton. 1). ('.: Lolah Maic. now deceased; David 
 Samuel; Ola Belle; Jesse Bennett, deceased; 
 Bertha Ann; and Marion Jennings. The 
 mother died May 1. 1904, at the age of forty- 
 one years anil in the faith id' the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, to which she and Judge 
 oiler had long belonged. The Judge is a 
 member of the Modern Woodmen camp and 
 the Mutual Protective League. Politically 
 
 he is a Bryan Democrat, lie has ever studied 
 closely the questions and issues of the day 
 and has taken an advanced stand on manv 
 subjects affecting the general welfare. He has 
 always been a leader among labor organizations, 
 and in early manhood was mobbed for his ad- 
 vocacy of the union. He was the first judge of 
 the state ever elected on the labor ticket and 
 
 hi' has ever been the champi I' the interests 
 
 id' the marl who labors with hi- hands for a 
 livelihood. He ranks among the ablest jurists 
 and scholars id' Illinois — a man of strong men- 
 tal attainments, of studious habits, whose opin- 
 ions, formed as the result of careful investiga- 
 tion, are upheld with tenacity and courage. 
 
 DAVID SAMUEL OLLEE. 
 
 it is difficult, indeed, to write a sketch con- 
 cerning a young man ; a youth who has all of 
 life before him, and while of acknowledged 
 worth and ability, has not as yet had the full 
 opportunity of showing what is in him. Yet, 
 if we were called upon to select a young man 
 whose future might Well be magnified, judg- 
 ing from his past, we would not hesitate to 
 pick the subject of this sketch. He was born 
 in Staunton. Illinois, September 15, isst. and 
 came to Litchfield with his parents, Judge and 
 Mrs. Amos Oiler, in the fall of 1887. 
 
 His education was received in the schools of 
 Litchfield, and from the very first he showed 
 -lun- of precocity and genius. He passed 
 through the grades, and the high school, grad- 
 uating in 1903 with high honors. After grad- 
 uating he accepted a position with the Xew 
 York Store and was shortly promoted to the 
 position of head clerk and assistant purchasing 
 agent in the clothing department. With his 
 friendly disposition and jovial manners he has 
 won a host of friends, and commands a large 
 patronage for the establishment by which he 
 is employed. 
 
 While not yet of age he has the appearance 
 of being older, and in the fall of 11)0 1 was se- 
 lected as a petit juryman in the Litchfield city 
 court. lie was not challenged, and served in 
 several important cases, being made foreman 
 of the jury in each instance, and the verdicts
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 581 
 
 returned were confirmed by the higher courts, 
 lie is very popular in the younger society of 
 the city, which, while regretting li is absence 
 from many a social function as a bachelor will 
 congratulate' him on his marriage, which oc- 
 curred on Thanksgiving day. 1904. The bride 
 is Miss Mary Walton, daughter of Mr. ami Mrs. 
 George Walton, well known residents of Ma- 
 coupin county. She is a graduate of the Car- 
 linville high school, and .if the Litchfield Busi- 
 ness College. They will make their future 
 home in this city. 
 
 WILLIAM E. NEWSOME. 
 
 More than half a century ago George 11. 
 Xewsome was born in the county of Wieklow, 
 Ireland, near the little village of Johnstown, 
 and on an adjacent farm to thai on which he 
 was reared Mary .1. Smith was born February 
 23, 1855. It was here amidst rural scenes that 
 the Irish lad and lassie learned to love each 
 other and in the fullness of years, when man- 
 hood and womanhood's estate were reached, 
 these two hearts were united in the holy bonds 
 of wedlock. The ceremony was celebrated in 
 St. Peter's church, Dublin, in L871. Two days 
 thereafter they set their faces toward the ■•Land 
 of the Free" and after a journey of ten days 
 on the steamer St. Andrew were landed safeh 
 at Quebec. The greater part of the following 
 summer was spent in Canada, seeking a suit- 
 able place in which to commence their home 
 life together. In the autumn of this year they 
 passed over to Syracuse. New York, where Mr. 
 Xewsome remained but a short time, wdien, 
 lured by stories from the west, he commenced 
 the journey toward that region of great possi- 
 bilities. Interested in the work of coal mining, 
 Mr. Newsome settled at Collinsville. Illinois, 
 where he secured employment in connection 
 with the mines at that place. He and his wife 
 remained in Collinsville for some years and 
 several children were bom to them while here. 
 In company with IF F. Dingle, the shaft of the 
 Ilillsboro coal mine was sunk about 1887, after 
 which he assisted Mr. I tingle in sinking the 
 shaft at Coffeen. In 1SSS he moved bis fam- 
 ilv to the latter place and assumed the man- 
 
 agement id' the mine here, which position he 
 held until January 11. 1892. On this .late he 
 was killed by the falling of the cage on which 
 lie was entering the shaft. Mrs. Newsome. thus 
 left alone, a widow with eight children, most of 
 whom were young and unable to assist in earn- 
 ing a livelihood, presented a serious problem 
 as to how she should be able to keep her little 
 Hock together. She went to work, however, 
 with a will and with the aid of the older ones 
 has succeeded in not only caring for and edu 
 eating her children, but she has the satisfac- 
 tion of knowing that with the exception of the 
 two younger, who are in school, that her chil- 
 dren are comfortably fixed in the world. Hat- 
 tie H. was for eleven years a teacher in the pub- 
 lic schools of Coffeen, at the end of which time 
 she retired to the regret of those who know of 
 her excellent qualities as a teacher. Mae. also 
 a teacher in the public schools of the county. 
 is now the wife of Charles 1'".. Clark, editor of 
 tin' Winchester Standard. George IF. the sec- 
 ond son. is connected with an insurance com- 
 pany in the city of St. Louis. Robert Emmet, 
 recently graduated from the Chicago College 
 of Pharmacy, is at present employed as a drug- 
 gist in that city. John is a grocery clerk in 
 Coffeen. Leroy is attending college at Val- 
 paraiso. Indiana, and Albert, the youngest son. 
 is a student in the Coffeen high school. 
 
 We now conic to the biography of William E., 
 the oldest son of George Xewsome. This young 
 and energetic business man was born February 
 S. 1878. Schooled in necessity, he learned 
 when but a mere hoy the value of a dollar, and 
 the habit of thrift, begun in childhood, has been 
 I be key by which he has achieved his success in 
 the business world. William is a shrewd, far- 
 seeing business man and his investments have 
 always been well placed so that at the age of 
 twenty-six he is in command of quite a little 
 fortune. He owns several good paying proper- 
 ties in the little city of Coffeen and is on the 
 alert and ready to buy any piece of real estate 
 in which he feels there is reason to believe 
 there will be an appreciation in price. While 
 Mr. Newsome is not a communicant at any 
 church, yet his attendance is usually at the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian. While his people 
 an' of Irish origin, -till they were of the Church
 
 582 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 of England. Their connection, however, since 
 residing in Coffeen has been with the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian church at this place. Wil- 
 liam Newsome is an illustration of what lies, 
 before any industrious American boy. That the 
 I'm ui-e holds a deserving place for him is the 
 belief of his many friends, and though he has 
 been frugal, he has not been parsimonious, 
 for to all laudable causes he has subscribed in 
 proportion to his ability, and in securing an 
 additional shaft at Coffeen he was one of the 
 heaviest subscribers to that public donation. 
 Personally Mr. Newsome is of pleasing ad- 
 dress and his affability ami courteous treatment 
 of everybody makes him everybody's friend. 
 
 Mr. Newsome is at present the central com- 
 mitteeman of the Republican party for East 
 Fork township. In 1903 he was elected to the 
 office of town clerk although the township is 
 heavily Democratic. In fraternal circles Mr. 
 Newsome is recognized as a Knight of Pythias 
 and a member of the Masonic order. In these 
 he takes considerable interest and doubtless en- 
 joys the secret work of the lodge room. We 
 anticipate, however, that before many moons 
 have waned that Mr. Newsome will be able to 
 find even greater pleasure in the home-lodge 
 which he is amply able to establish. 
 
 JOSEPH WHITMORE. 
 
 Joseph Whitmore, one of the native sons of 
 Montgomery county, was born in Audubon 
 township. March 29, L847, and is now living 
 on section 22 of the same township, devoting 
 his time and energies to agricultural pursuits. 
 1 1 is parents were Amos H. and Mary (Wells) 
 Whitmore, the former a native of London, 
 England, and the latter of Virginia. His pa- 
 ternal grandfather was Nathaniel Whitmore. 
 who was also born in London and belonged to 
 the English nobility, the family owning a large 
 estate in that country. In 1812 Amos H. Whit- 
 more came to America on a prospecting tour 
 for his father, who afterward crossed the At- 
 lantic and located in Vermont, whence he sub- 
 sequently removed to Ohio, settling near the 
 iiiining town of Wheelersburg, Scioto county. 
 
 where be owned a farm of two hundred acres 
 which is still in possession of one of his de- 
 scendants of the name of Nathaniel Preston. 
 Our subject lias in his possession a document 
 in bis grandfather's hand writing drawn up 
 at Piermont, Grafton county. New Eampshire, 
 November 1".'. 1811, giving power of attorney 
 to his son, Amos II. Lin- was recorded in the 
 recorder's office in Athens county, Ohio. De- 
 cember lit. 1813-, Vol. II. page 117. E. Per- 
 kins, register. The handwriting is exception- 
 ally good. Our subject also has a letter written 
 by Joseph Dana to his father. Amos II. Whit- 
 more, on the 5th of November, 1818. 
 
 Amid pioneer surroundings Amos Whit- 
 more was reared and lie assisted in the slow and 
 laborious task of improving a new farm and 
 developing the wild land into productive fields. 
 For some years he made his home near Colum- 
 bus. Union county. Ohio, and there reared the 
 children of his first marriage, his wife being- 
 Miss Sarah Smith. After her death he wedded 
 Miss Man Wells in 1838, and they became the 
 parents of two sons and three daughters: 
 John, who married Marian Brown and resides 
 in Xokoinis township, this county; Mrs. Mary 
 M. 1 1 Ml. of Nokomis; Mrs. Abigail Kellogg, 
 whose husband is living retired in Nokomis; 
 Mrs. Athalinda Lease, a resident of Nokomis 
 township ; and Joseph. 
 
 In the fall of 1845 Amos H. Whitmore came 
 to Illinois and purchased raw land, securing 
 seventeen hundred and twenty acres from the 
 government and land companies, for which he 
 paid from fifty-eight cents to three dollars 
 per acre. The country was wild and the work 
 of improvement and progress seemed scarcely 
 begun. There were large herds of deer roam- 
 ing over the prairie and there were many wild 
 turkeys and smaller game. Wolves were also 
 seen in great numbers and rattlesnakes were 
 heard in the wild prairie grass. There were no 
 feme- at that time and one could drive across 
 the prairie to Pana without coming to a fence 
 or building to impede progress. The prairie 
 grass grew as high as a horse and almost as 
 far as the eye could reach there was one bound- 
 less stretch of this waving grass, having the 
 appearance of a billowy sea. In early days Mr. 
 Whitmore raised hogs, which he drove to St.
 
 JOSEPH WHITMOEE AND FAMILY
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 URB
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 585 
 
 Louis, Missouri, when' ha gpld them for from 
 a dollar and a half to two and a hail' per hun- 
 dred weight. He would take a load of dressed 
 hogs to the city and bring back a line id' mer- 
 chandise for the business men of Audubon, 
 which town at thai tune contained about fif- 
 teen houses and one large store. Later more 
 houses were 1 in i It and three stores and two 
 hotels established, hut like so many other places 
 il was killed by the railroad. In early days 
 Audubon ami Hillsboro were really the only 
 large towns between Mr. Whitmore's farm and 
 St. Louis, lie continued to make Ins home in 
 
 Aiidul township until his death, which oc- 
 
 curred in 1857 in the house where our subject 
 now lives. 
 
 Joseph Whitmore attended the district 
 schools near his home until eighteen years of 
 age, I he winter month- being devoted to study, 
 while throughout the summer he aided in tin 
 work of the farm. After his father's death he 
 operated the farm for his mother until the 
 fall that he was twenty-one, when he was mar- 
 ried ami began farming for himself upon one 
 hundred acres. After his mother passed away 
 he boughl the old home place and has always 
 lived upon the same quarter section. He now 
 has a valuable farm of two hundred and forty 
 acres on section 22, Audubon township, its 
 excellent appearance indicating his careful su- 
 pervision and attention and proving that bis 
 life has been one of industry ami earnest toil. 
 On the 25th of October, 1868, Mr. Whitmore 
 married Miss Cornelia Drake, who was reared 
 in the vicinity of Portsmouth, Ohio, and in 
 1866 came to Illinois with her parents. Austin 
 and Sarah (Wells) Drake, the family home be- 
 ing established in Audubon township, where 
 her tat her engaged in tannine. Hi' was a line 
 judge of stock and also practiced veterinary 
 surgery. Leaving here in 1876, he lived in 
 various places until 1884, when lie removed to 
 Springfield, Illinois, where he is now living 
 retired. During the Civil war he served for 
 three years with the Army of the Cumberland. 
 and is to-day a stanch Republican, taking an 
 active interest in politics. Religiously he is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
 Tlis wife died in February, 1888, and was 
 buried in Nokomis cemetery. Of their eight 
 
 children four sons and one daughter are still 
 living, the latter being Mrs. Whitmore. 
 
 Unto Mr. ami Mrs. Whitmore have been born 
 five children: Hettie, who was engaged in 
 teaching in the public schools of Montgomery 
 county for live years and is now the wife of 
 Dr. Elmer E. Wells, of [ronton, Ohio; Mamie 
 and Lester, wdio died in infancy: Noma, tin' 
 wife of James Stewart, a resident farmer of 
 Montgomery county; and Grover, at home. 
 The parents are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church and have a wide acquaintance 
 in Montgomery county, where they have long 
 resided. Mr. Whitmore's mind bears many pic- 
 tures of I he early days with its varied experi- 
 ences such as are common in frontier settle- 
 ments, and he feels a commendable pride in 
 wdiat has been accomplished by Montgomery 
 countv's progressive citizens, among whom he 
 is justly numbered. 
 
 LEVI ASA IILSSEV 
 
 Levi Asa Hussey, well known in commercial 
 circles in Montgomery county, and connected 
 with the V. Hoffman estate, of Litchfield, was 
 horn m this city in 1869, his parents being 
 Charles W. ami Matilda (Stephens) Hussey. 
 The mother was a second cousin of Alexander 
 Stephens, at one time vice president of the 
 Southern Confederacy, and a daughter of Asa 
 Stephens, who was a carpenter by occupation, 
 Charles W. Hussey was bom in New Hamp- 
 shire, is a machinist by trade and still follows 
 that pursuit. lie came west to Illinois in 
 1865, locating at Litchfield and is now cum 
 ployed in the shops of the Hie four Railroad 
 Company ai Mattoon, Illinois, lie has reached 
 the age of seventy-five years ami his has been 
 an active and useful career. His political 
 support is given to the Democracy. His wife, 
 who was horn in South Carolina, has now 
 reached the age of sixty-seven years. She is a 
 mi inker of the Baptisi church and a consistent 
 Christian woman. In her family were six 
 children: Henry W.. who is a shoemaker re- 
 siding in Litchfield; George W., a miller living 
 in Kansas City: Levi Asa; Sarah E.. who is 
 engaged in the millinery business and resides
 
 586 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 with her parents; Mary A., at home: and Ma- 
 tilda A., now deceased. 
 
 During his early boyhood Levi A. Hussey 
 attended the public schools of Litchfield and 
 then entered upon his business career as a 
 clerk in the store of Valentine Hoffman. lie 
 has been continually connected with this es- 
 tablishment and from a humble capacity worked 
 his way steadily upward. He is now one of 
 the partners in the store and ranks among the 
 more progressive, enterprising and successful 
 business nun of the city. 
 
 In July, 1892, Mr. Hussey was united in 
 marriage to Miss Ida M. Hoffman, who was 
 born in 1872 and is a daughter of Valentine 
 and Marie Hoffman. They now have one child, 
 Lottie L. They hold membership with the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Hussey serv- 
 ing on its official board and in the various de- 
 partments of church activity they lake a help- 
 ful interest. He is a Democrat and has I n 
 
 tax collector for two terms and i- now serving 
 as alderman from the second ward, proving a 
 capable member of the city council and one v\ ho 
 places the good of the municipality before par- 
 tisanship or personal aggrandizement. Social- 
 ly he is identified with the Odd Fellows lodge at 
 Litchfield, lie is a man of broad sympathies, 
 and the poor and needy have found in him 
 a friend. The difficulties which lie had to en- 
 counter in his own business career have made 
 him ever ready to extend a helping hand to 
 those who try to aid themselves, and in his 
 business lie ever rewards faithful services on 
 the part of his employes when opportunity 
 offers. 
 
 JAMES c. HOPE. 
 
 • Mie .if the beautiful country homer- of Mont- 
 gomery county is the property of James ( '. 
 Hope. It was erected by him and stands in the 
 midst of a line farm of two hundred and sixty 
 acres of land, about four miles south id' Hills- 
 boro. The place i- equipped with all modern 
 conveniences and accessories and hut a glance 
 is needed to indicate to the passer-by that the 
 owner is a man of business enterprise, progres- 
 sive ami practical in his farm work. 
 
 It was upon tin- farm, on section '<!(;, Hills- 
 boro township, that James C. Hope was born 
 February I. 1851. The family were among 
 the early settlers of North Carolina and he 
 trace- his ancestry hack to Robert and Cath- 
 arine (Allison) Hope. The former was born 
 November 2, 1750, and died October 11, 1805, 
 while his wife was horn September "?. 1750, and 
 and died December 22, is;;;. They were mar- 
 ried November 21, L771, and became the par- 
 ents of the following children: Margaret, born 
 October 5, 1 772; James. December 12, 1774; 
 Abner, December 28, 1776; Allison. May 27, 
 L779; Catharine, February 3, 1782; Silas, Feb- 
 ruary ::. lis-?: Thomas. December 14. 1783: 
 Robert, March 22, 1786; Agnes, September 19. 
 L788; John. Octol <-v 23, 1790; and Levi. Sep- 
 tember 1:!. 1795. There- was one. X amy. whose 
 
 nai Iocs not appear on the registers of births 
 
 hut does appear on that of deaths. She died 
 June 14, 1796, probably quite voung. Mar- 
 garet, the eldest of this family, married a Mr. 
 Alexander, and one of her sons lived at Oxford. 
 Mississippi, for a time, and it i- thought moved 
 from there to Texas. James and Abner went 
 to Missouri and it is from tin 1 latter that our 
 subject is descended. Allison removed to 
 South Carolina and lie and his family after him 
 were people of wealth and high social standing. 
 Catharine married David Crawford and her 
 daughter, Mrs. Thomas Robinson lived at Ox- 
 ford, Mississippi, until its occupation by Gen- 
 eral Grant in 1862, when they returned to the 
 old Dr. Robinson homestead at Poplar Tent in 
 Cabarrus county. North Carolina, and lived 
 tlure until her death. Her -mi and daughter 
 afterward kept a hotel at Salisbury. North 
 Carolina. Another son, Rev. ( '. W Robinson 
 was a Presbyterian minister in that state. Silas 
 Hope probably died young. Thomas died in 
 N'ortli Carolina. Robert was a lawyer at Con- 
 cord, that state, and was the father of old Dr. 
 Bob Hope, a man of prominence at Rmk Hill, 
 South Carolina. Amies probably died young. 
 John was at one time a wealthy and prominent 
 planter of Alabama and was a member of the 
 board of trustees of the University of Alabama. 
 
 law i Hope died at the home of his sen. James 
 Edward Hope, four miles from Oxford. Missis- 
 sippi, at the age of ninety-five years, lie mar-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 5S" 
 
 ried Melissa Harris, an aunt of Dr. Sam Mar- 
 ias, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Of their 
 eleven children nine reached middle age. Cath- 
 arine married William [vimmons, a farmer, 
 who resided eight miles from Oxford, and died 
 at the age of thirty-five. Cornelia married his 
 brother, Dr. II. II. Ivimmons. Roberl died 
 when a young man. a graduate of medicine and 
 a talented, accomplished and magnificent speci- 
 men of a man. though inclined to be dissipated. 
 Charles died in Water Valley, Mississippi, after 
 the Civil war. John died during the war. 
 Frank died at his home after the war. George, 
 fresh from college, was killed in the battle of 
 Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Ed was badly 
 wounded in the battle of franklin. Tennessee, 
 Inn is still living. His son, Leighton Hope. 
 was for several years inspector of pensions in 
 the ut\ of New Orleans. Elam, who was a 
 physician of high standing in Morehouse par- 
 ish, Louisiana, died with yellow fever in L878 
 ai the age of seventy-nine wars, leaving a large 
 family. For main years Levi Hope was an 
 elder in the Presbyterian church ami those of 
 his children who were connected with any 
 church were also Presbyterians. 
 
 Aimer Hope, the grandfather of our subject, 
 removed from North Carolina to Cape Girar- 
 deau county, Missouri, about 1827, and about 
 is:;:, came to Illinois, settling in Montgomery 
 county. He entered land Erom the government 
 and developed and resided upon the farm which 
 is ii'iu occupied by R. C. Richards. He took 
 an active and helpful part in the early pioneer 
 progress of the county and aided in laying the 
 foundation for the present prosperity and up- 
 building of this portion of the statu. Here 
 In- death occurred in 1840. 
 
 Robert Hope, the father of .Tamos ('.. was 
 born in [redell county. North Carolina, in 
 July, L818, and was therefore about seven years 
 of age when the family removed to Missouri. 
 Lali r he came with his father to Illinois and 
 was identified with the early development of 
 
 Montg ay county. He married Miss Mary 
 
 A. Clotfelter and removed to the farm on which 
 our subject now resides. There he made his 
 home I'm- many years and reared bis family, 
 numbering five children: Tirza, who died at 
 the age of twenty-two years: Harriet, deceased 
 
 wife of John A. Mitchell ; Mary, tie wife of 
 
 John Sands, of Litchfield; -I es ('.; and 
 
 George, who resides in East Fork township. 
 The first ho of Robert Hope after his mar- 
 riage was a log cabin, hut in course of time 
 In' was enabled to add more modern improve- 
 ments to his farm, upon which he spent the 
 entire period of his married life. lie had 
 two hundred acres of land ami lived a most 
 industrious, useful and honorable life. His 
 death occurred in lssi and his wife passed 
 away in 1889. They were members of the 
 Presbyterian church and took an active pail 
 in church work'. 
 
 From boyhood James ('. Hope has been fa- 
 miliar with the history of Montgomery county. 
 has >rrw the inauv changes which have oc- 
 curred here, and has known and been known 
 by its people. He attended the common schools 
 in his Youth anil worked at farm labor on the 
 place where In' still resides. At the time ot 
 his marriage he settled upon a part of the 
 old homestead and now has two hundred ami 
 sixty acres of valuable land, the fields yielding 
 to him good crops in return for his care ami 
 cultivation. Hi' is also engaged in the feeding, 
 buying and selling of cattle and finds this a 
 profitable branch of his business, for he is an 
 excellent judge of stock and therefore makes 
 judicious purchases and sells to good advantage. 
 Moreover be is thoroughly reliable and lias 
 never been known to take advantage of the ne- 
 cessities of his fellow men in any trade transac- 
 tion. 
 
 On Christmas day of L873 Mr. Hope was 
 married to Miss Mary Chamberlain, who was 
 horn in Indiana, a daughter of Samuel ami 
 Orilla Chamberlain. They have eight chil- 
 dren: Oscar L. : Cora A., the wife of Herman 
 Cowan: Hula M., the wife of Algy Strange; 
 Laura, Pearl. Howard. Edgar and Ethel, all 
 at home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hope are consistent members 
 of the Presbyterian church of Hillsboro. He 
 is a Republican in his political views, is active 
 and influential in community interests and is 
 now serving for the fifth year as highway com- 
 missioner. Fraternally he is connected with 
 the Modern Woodmen of America, and in all 
 matters pertaining to the general welfare bo
 
 588 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 is deeply interested and gives many measures 
 a public-spirited support. 
 
 LOLIS II. MKV. 
 
 Louis II. Mey, a representative of the lead- 
 ing productive industries of Eillsboro, being 
 extensively engaged in the manufacture of car- 
 riages ami wagons, was born in Peine, Han- 
 over, Germany, mi the 30th of June, L850, ami 
 was brought to America in L851 by bis parents, 
 August II. ami Dorethea Mey, also natives of 
 Germany. The father was born in Uardegsen, 
 Hanover, March 15, L823, and the mother was 
 born in Peine, Hanover, March 22. 1828. The 
 family home was established in St. Louis, but 
 after three months the father, who was a wa- 
 gon-maker by trade, brought bis family to 
 Hillsboro, arriving here October 15, 1851. He 
 continued work in bis chosen field of labor up 
 to the time of bis death, which occurred April 
 25, 1899. His wife died December '.'. 1894. 
 
 In the early days before the advent of rail- 
 roads when the wagon-making business did no! 
 demand all of bis time and attention, August 
 II. Mey wmdd haul produce by team to St. 
 Louis, and upon his return would bring bark 
 groceries for the three merchants who were 
 then doing business in Hillsboro. In early life 
 he bad been left an orphan with the care of a 
 sister devolving upon him. He learned the 
 trade of wagon-making in Germany and there 
 conducted a shop ere his emigration to Amer- 
 ica. Throughout bis entire life he continued 
 in the same line of business and bis persistency 
 nf purpose as well as bis capable workmanship 
 was a strong element in bis success. lie estab- 
 lished the carriage and wagon factory now 
 owned ami conducted by bis son Louis II. He 
 was a member of the Lutheran church, to which 
 bis wife also belonged, and in public affairs be 
 was prominent and influential, lie gave his 
 political allegiance to the Democracy and served 
 as a member of (be city council for a number 
 of years. Unto him and In- wife were born 
 four children: Louise, who became the wife 
 of Louis Welge and after bis death married 
 Frank Brandes, of Raymond, Illinois: Emma, 
 (be wife of Fred Brandes of Hillsboro; Louis 
 
 II.. of this review; ami August G., who died 
 April '.'. 1900. ' 
 
 Brought to Hillsboro in bis infancy, Louis 
 H. Mey was reared in tins city and after at- 
 tending the public schools continued bis edu- 
 cation in the Hillsboro Academy until fourteen 
 years of age, when be put aside bis text books 
 and entered bis father's shop in order to learn 
 the wagon and carriage making trade. When 
 
 twenty-one years of nee be becan wner of a 
 
 ball' interest m the business and after bis fath- 
 er's death lie assumed entire control and has 
 continued in this line up to the present time. 
 Mi- enterprise has been characterized by con- 
 tinuous development and expansion and be now 
 occupies three buildings, one being a two-story 
 brick structure forty by sixty feet. The black- 
 smith shop is ,-i one-story brick building twenty- 
 four by sixty feet and the wood-working shop 
 is a two-story structure built of brick and frame 
 and is twenty-four by eighty-two feet. Mr. 
 Mey manufactures both wagons and carriages 
 of ii superior grade and bis is one of the old- 
 est as well as most prosperous industrial con- 
 cerns of the county. lie has a thorough and 
 intimate knowledge of the business, has kept 
 pace with the progress made alone' that line 
 and places upon the market a fine line of car- 
 riages and wagons, which be -ells at reasonable 
 pi'iees. so that be has gained a very liberal and 
 desirable patronage. 
 
 On the 27th of December. 1871, Mr. Mey was 
 united in marriage to Miss Barbara Anna 
 Sherer, who was born in Maryland, November 
 30, 1852. I lei- father. Henry Sherer, who was 
 a blacksmith by trade, was bom in Pennsyl- 
 vania December '.'. 1814, and was married on 
 on the 9th of November, 1843, to Miss Caro- 
 line Tracy, who was born May IT. 1828 They 
 became the parents of eleven children, five sons 
 and six daughters, of whom tin' eldest was born 
 in Pennsylvania, just across the line from 
 Maryland : the next four in Maryland; and the 
 others in Ohio. In order of birth they were as 
 follows: John; George L., September '?'?. 
 is Hi: Mary F... November 8, 1848; Jacob J., 
 October Hi. 1850; Barbara A.. November 30, 
 1852; Lorre F., May 23, 1854; Phoebe A.. 
 March '.' 1856; Robert P. M.. December 10, 
 1858: Eleanor B., November Hi. 1860; William
 
 LOUIS H. MEY
 
 MRS. LOUIS H. MEY
 
 iNOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 593 
 
 II.. June 15, L8C2; and Laura ('.. April 14. 
 1865. The Sherer family lived in Preble coun- 
 ty, Ohio, for sixteen years and then eame to 
 Illinois, Locating in Montgomery county in 
 1867. The son George L. now lives on the old 
 homestead. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mey were born 
 eighl children: Walter R., who is associated 
 with Ins father in business; Edward A., who is 
 also with his father; Arthur L., deceased; Law- 
 rence P. and Charles II., who are assisting their 
 father; Dorothea Emma. Jesse W. and Helen 
 B., at home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Mey hold membership in the 
 Lutheran church and Mr. Mey is a Democrat 
 in his political affiliations. He has served as a 
 member of the city council and is deeply in- 
 terested in everything pertaining to the wel- 
 fare and progress of Hillsboro, where almost 
 Ins entire life has been passed. Those who 
 know him — and his friends are many — enter-, 
 tain for him the warm personal regard which 
 is prompted by an honorable business career 
 and by a loyal citizenship. 
 
 WILLIAM II. WILSON'. 
 
 The farming interests of East Fork town- 
 ship find a worthy representative in William 11. 
 Wilson, who is one of the native sons of the 
 locality, his birth having occurred on section 
 1 of the township, duly 2 1 . 1846, his parents 
 being Joshua II. and Emma (McDavid) Wilson. 
 The father was horn in the vicinity of Louis- 
 ville, Kentucky, and when a youth of eight 
 years accompanied his parents on their re- 
 moval to Montgomery county. Illinois, the 
 family home being established on section 1, 
 East Fork township, where the grandfather 
 carried on agricultural pursuits. Here he fol- 
 lowed farming until lus death, which occurred 
 
 on the 17th of September, 1873. He r oved 
 
 to the vicinity of the home of William II. Wil- 
 son and there became an extensive farmer. In 
 his family were fifteen children, live sons and 
 ten daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, 
 hut only two are now living: Joseph C'.. a 
 veteran of the Mexican war and a resident of 
 Irving. Illinois: and Lydia. wife of William 
 C. McDavid. living near Coffeen. 
 
 Joshua H. Wilson was reared to farm labor, 
 earl\ becoming familiar with the best methods 
 of caring for the crops and also the best meth- 
 ods of raising stock, and when he entered upon 
 his business career he followed the occupation 
 to which he had been trained in youth. Suc- 
 cess attended his efforts and he became one of 
 the extensive farmers and stockmen of his 
 locality, having a large and well improved tract 
 of land and raising high grades of cattle and 
 horses. He married Miss Emma McDavid. a 
 daughter of William McDavid, and they became 
 the parents of two children. After the death 
 of his first wife, Joshua II. Wilson was again 
 married, his second union being with Sarah 
 Hutchinson, of Greenville, Illinois. They had 
 four children, of whom only one is now living; 
 Martha J., the widow of William A. McDavid. 
 She is now conducting the Hillsboro House. 
 Mr. Wilson was one of the leading men of his 
 county and deserved greal credit for what he 
 accomplished, for he had no financial assistance 
 in his early manhood. Business conditions, 
 however, were favorable and he had the sagacity 
 and foresight to improve these. As time passed 
 and his financial resources increased he made 
 judicious investment in land and was the owner 
 of about twenty-six hundred acres at the time 
 of his death. Mr. Wilson of this review, how- 
 ever, can remember when his father only had 
 one hundred and twenty-five acres under culti- 
 vation and at that time there were hut few set- 
 tlements between the family '.residence and 
 1 1 illshoro. 
 
 William II. Wilson has herded cattle on what 
 is now the (dd homestead and he drove an 
 ox team in his boyhood days, hut greal changes 
 have occurred in farm life and in the methods 
 of cultivating the fields. Machinery has been 
 improved and many farm implements have been 
 invented and at all times Mr. Wilson has kept 
 apace with the general progress. He attended 
 school in his boyhood days through the win- 
 ter months, hut in the summer seasons assisted 
 in the work of liehl and meadow and thus 
 gained practical experience, which proved of 
 much value to him when he started out in busi- 
 ness life for himself, when about twenty-three 
 years. He began farming upon the old home- 
 stead, the place hcine- divided, William 11.
 
 59 I 
 
 PAST AXD PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Wilson receiving four hundred and thirty-nine 
 and a half acres, while one brother received 
 four hundred and twenty-nine and his sister 
 six hundred and eleven acres. That Mr. Wil- 
 son has Led a busy life and one crowned by 
 successful accomplishment is indicated by the 
 fact that his landed possessions now cover 
 twelve hundred and ten and a half acres. He 
 is engaged in farming and stock-raising with 
 good success, his labors annually returning to 
 him a handsome income. 
 
 On the 9th of December, 1869, occurred the 
 marriage of William 0. Wilson and Miss Martha 
 E. Newberry, a daughter <>f Cornelius New- 
 berry. She was reared near [rving, Illinois, 
 and liv her marriage became the mother of two 
 children, hut only one, Ollie 1!.. is new living. 
 The daughter has been carefully educated in 
 music and has recently completed a course oi 
 study in Epstein Conservatory of Music in St. 
 Louis. The parents belong to the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian church, taking an active pari in 
 its work ami contributing generously to its 
 support. In his political views Mr. Wilson is 
 a Republican and keeps well informed on the 
 issues of the day and <jjves an earnest allegiance 
 to his party. His time and attention, however. 
 have never been given to seeking public office, 
 for he has preferred to devote his energies to 
 his husimss affairs and he stands to-day as 
 one of the most successful and honored agri- 
 culturists of his community. He ha- never 
 taken advantage of the necessities of his fellow 
 men in any trade transaction, hut lias followed 
 legitimate business lines and by his fail' deal- 
 ing and reliability has not only won prosperity, 
 but has also won the enviable regard and re- 
 spect of those with whom lie has been asso- 
 ciated. 
 
 V. A. HOST. 
 
 V. A. Bost, the owner of a good farm of 
 three hundred and thirty acres in Fillmore 
 town-hip. Montgomery county, was horn in 
 Fayette county. Illinois. September 15, 1853. 
 His father, Henry Bost, was a native of North 
 Carolina, horn September 17, 1820, and was a 
 son of Jacob "Rost. who was born in Cabarrus 
 
 county, that state, on the 4th of April, 1794, 
 and died near Bost Ilill in Fillmore township, 
 this county. October 7, 1884, when over ninety 
 years of age. At the age of twenty-two he mar- 
 ried Miss Margaret Cress, also a native of 
 Cabarrus county. North Carolina, who died in 
 this county on the 25th of May. 1853. On the 
 14th of February, 1854, he was married in 
 this county to Miss Elizabeth Try. also a na- 
 me id' Cabarrus county, who came to this coun- 
 ty with her father. John Cry. She died August 
 L2, 1883. Jacob Host brought his family to 
 this county in 1836 and made his home upon 
 a farm in Fillmore township throughout the 
 remainder of Ids life. He was survived by 
 five children, namely: Susan. Jacob, Monroe, 
 Dorcas and John J. Elvira, the eldest of the 
 family, died in childhood in North Carolina, 
 ami Henry, Martin and Kate died in this 
 state after having reared families of their own. 
 Henry Bost, the father of our subject, was 
 principally reared and educated in his native 
 state, being about sixteen years of age at the 
 time of the removal of the family to Montgom- 
 erv county. Illinois, lie wrote of the journey, 
 September 1. 1836, as follows: "We left our 
 old home in North Carolina. Cabarrus county, 
 forty-nine miles to Lincoln we traveled through 
 on the fourth day: thence to Betherford forty- 
 four miles we traveled through on the sixth 
 day. We crossed the Blue Ridge mountains at 
 tie Dickon mountain gap on the eighth day; 
 their e to Ashville, forty-one miles, we went 
 through on the ninth day; thence to the Faint- 
 ed Rock, forty-six miles; thence to Beens Sta- 
 tion, fifty miles; thence to Croparchet in Ken- 
 tucky, ninety-five miles: thence to Danville, 
 twenty-two miles: thence to Louisville, eighty- 
 five milo: thence to Arleans, forty-nine miles: 
 thence to the Wabash at Terro Haute, ninety- 
 five miles; thence to Paris, twenty miles; thence 
 to Charleston, twenty-eight miles; thence to 
 Shelhyville, thirty-four miles; thence to Hills- 
 boro, forty miles: in all seven hundred and 
 twenty-sis miles from Concord to Hillsboro. 
 We landed here October 12. 1836." At that 
 time much of the land was still in possession 
 of the government and Henry Bost entered a 
 tract, thus laving the foundation for his later 
 prosperity and business advancement. He was
 
 BAST AND FRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 595 
 
 one of the first settlers of the county and 
 assisted materially in its growth, lie was ac- 
 tive in reclaiming the wild land for uses of 
 civilization and he co-operated with his fellow 
 townsmen in promoting many measures Eor the 
 general good. At the same time he so conduct- 
 ed his business affairs as to win most gratifying 
 success ami as his financial resources increased 
 lie extended the boundaries of his place and 
 added to his realty holdings until at the time 
 of his death he owned sixteen hundred acres of 
 land. His death occurred February 28, 1876, 
 and he is now survived by four of his children. 
 His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Bost, was born Feb- 
 ruary 17. 1825. and passed away September 
 12, 1857. 
 
 A'. A. Bost was reared in Fayette county. 
 Illinois, but came to Montgomery county when 
 twenty-two years of age, settling upon what 
 is now his home place. He secured two hun- 
 dred acres of land from his father and he has 
 since added to his property until he now has 
 three hundred and thirty acres in one body. 
 He has made improvements upon his land and 
 has recently erected a good stock barn: in fact, 
 he has all of the equipments and facilities 
 needed to promote Ins business affairs and 
 throughout the community he is recognized as 
 a representative stock dealer. He raises cattle. 
 sheep and hogs and also line horses, mostly of 
 the Norman breed. lie also raises a good 
 grade of cattle for market and as a farmer has 
 ever been successful, conducting bis business 
 affairs with due regard to the ethics of com- 
 mercial life. He has always been familial' with 
 the diseases of horses and cattle and has been 
 very successful in his treatment of the same. 
 In 1903 he passed the examination as a veteri- 
 nary surgeon ami received a diploma from the 
 Southern Illinois Veterinary and Medical Asso- 
 ciation. 
 
 On the 25th of November, 1875. Mr. Bost 
 was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Scherer, 
 who was born in Montgomery county, duly L2, 
 1855. Her father. Simeon Scherer. was a na- 
 tive df North Carolina, and cue of the early 
 settlers of this county, locating at Hillsboro. 
 He engaged in farming and the manufacture of 
 brick; was a Republican in polities; and a 
 member of the Lutheran church of Hillsboro. 
 
 which he helped to build. He died on the 
 24th of January, 1856, and his wife, who bore 
 the maiden name of Mary Blackwood and was 
 horn in Montgomery county. November 26, 
 is;;:;, departed this life January 20, 1900. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Host have had ten children: 
 Lula I... who was born March 1'9, ]s;7, and 
 was married February 11. 1904, to Homer Har- 
 ris, of Fillmore township; Mary M., born Aug- 
 ust 15. 1878; Daisy E., bom December 1. 1879; 
 A.la <>.. born November is. 1880; William Boy, 
 born April 22, 1883; Ralph S., bom January 
 -1. 1885; a twin of Ralph S. who died in in- 
 famy; Bessie B.. born dune I. 1887; Letta O., 
 who was born October 2. 1890, and died August 
 10. 1891; and Leva ML born September 6, 
 1S9L 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bost are members of the Luth- 
 eran church, are interested in its upbuilding 
 and generous in its support. Their children 
 also belong to the church. Mr. Bost has served 
 as president of the Montgomery County Sun- 
 day-school Association ami he does all in his 
 power to promote the various church activities 
 and extend the cause of Christianity in his 
 locality. He belongs to the Court of Honor 
 and the Masonic fraternity, being made a Ma- 
 son at Fillmore lodge, No. 670, in 1871. and 
 gives his political support to the Democratic 
 party. 
 
 WALTER II. TOBERMAN. 
 
 Walter 11. Toberman, who is engaged in the 
 grain business ami in the operation of the grain 
 elevator al Coffeen, was bom April 19. 1879, 
 in Fillmore township. Montgomery county, anil 
 is a son of Isaiah ami Mary Toberman, who are 
 represented elsewhere in this work. He ac- 
 quired his early education in the country schools 
 of bis native township and was afterward 
 graduated from the high school of Fillmore 
 with the class of 1898. In 1900 he entered 
 into partnership with his brother T. A. Tober- 
 man in the creamery business, which they con- 
 ducted at both Fillmore and Chapman, re- 
 maining in that line of business for a year. 
 Thev then established a grain and hay commis- 
 sion business at St. Louis, where thev remained
 
 596 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 in 1902 and a pari of 1903. In the latter year 
 they purchased the elevator at Coffeen and em- 
 barked in the grain business here under the 
 firm style of Toberman Brothers. This rela- 
 tion was continued until the 30th of dune., 
 1903, when T. A. Toberman died. Walter H. 
 Toberman has since been alone in business and 
 he handles a large amount of grain annually. 
 Ins enterprise furnishing an excellent market 
 for farmers of the surrounding district. 
 
 On the 16th of September. 1903, Mr. Tober- 
 man was united in marriage to Miss Stella 
 Short, a daughter of Dr. II. S. Short, id' Fill- 
 more. He belongs to the Baptist church, while 
 his wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church of Fillmore. Fraternally he is 
 connected with the Knights of Pythias lodge 
 and the Modern Woodmen camp, both of Fill- 
 more, and in his political affiliations he is a 
 Democrat. In Coffeen and other portions of 
 Montgomery county he is accounted a success- 
 ful young business man. well liked and highly 
 respected. He possesses creditable ambition, 
 strong purpose and untiring diligence, and in 
 this way is developing a grain business which 
 lias already reached extensive and profitable 
 proportions. 
 
 HARVEY BECHTEL. 
 
 Harvey Bechfel. who follows farming on sec- 
 tion 10, Raymond township, where his place 
 of one hundred and si\t\ acres is well improved 
 and valuable, was born in Mid. can county, Illi- 
 nois, near Leroy, on the 20th of May. 1865. 
 His father. Samuel Bechtel, was a native of 
 Ohio, born in Piqua county. August 13. 1823, 
 and spent the days of his boyhood and youth 
 in that state He was the second in order of 
 birth in a family of five children, whose par- 
 ents were John and Esther Bechtel. In Knox 
 county. Ohio, he was married in 1848 to Cath- 
 erine Koutz, who was born in Pennsylvania 
 and in childhood removed to Ohio with her 
 parents. Samuel Bechtel carried on agricul- 
 tural pursuits in Knox county. Ohio, for a 
 number of years and in 1853 upon his removal 
 westward settled in McLean county, Illinois, 
 near the village of Leroy, where he opened up 
 
 a farm upon which he reared his family and 
 remained until called to his final rest, bis death 
 occurring January :!. 1901. His wife depart- 
 ed this life October 28, 1898, at the age of sev- 
 enty-seven years. She left five children: 
 George. Samuel, Joseph, Harvey and Mrs. L. 
 A. Kill ion. The family originally numbered 
 four sons and six daughters, but five daughters 
 died in infancy. 
 
 Harvey Bechtel, the youngest of the family, 
 was reared upon the old family homestead and 
 mastered the elementary branches of English 
 learning in the district schools of the neigh- 
 borhood, lie was also trained to farm work, 
 assisting his father in the cultivation and de- 
 velopnienl of the fields until after he had 
 reached man's estate, lie was married in Mc- 
 Lean county December 8, 1891, to Miss Minnie 
 Eskew, who was born in that county and spent 
 her girlhood days there. Tier parents. James 
 M. and Mary A. (Collins) Eskew, were pioneer 
 settlers of McLean county. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. Bechtel carried on 
 the old home place for several years and then 
 removed to Shelby county, where he purchased 
 a farm of eighty aero, which he improved for 
 a year. In November. 1002. lie purchased his 
 present property mi section 10, Raymond town- 
 ship, and he now lias a well improved farm, 
 lie ha- added to his house a good summer kitch- 
 en and his place is one of the neatest and most 
 attractive in appearance in this part of the 
 county. In addition to his commodious resi- 
 dence he has two good barns and all flu 1 out- 
 buildings necessary for the shelter of grain and 
 stock. There is a large bearing orchard, con- 
 taining many varieties of fruit frees and around 
 the place is a well trimmed hedge fence. The 
 lawn is adorned with fine shade trees, and the 
 farm presents a most attractive appearance. 
 In addition to the cultivation of grain Mr. 
 Bechtel is also engaged in the raising of good 
 grades of stock. 
 
 Into Mr. and Mrs. Bechtel have been horn 
 three children, who are yet living: Samuel 
 M.. Harvey F. and Flora L. They also lost 
 two children: Catherine A., who died at the 
 age of four years, and one that died in in- 
 fancy. The parents arc members of the Chris- 
 tian church at Hand and he is serving as one
 
 MR. AND MRS. HARVEY BECHTEL
 
 UNIVi : ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 599 
 
 of Us elders and also on its official board. In 
 politics he is a stanch Republican, where na- 
 tional issues are involved, liut he has never 
 sought or desired office, as his business affairs 
 have claimed his entire attention. He lias 
 worked hard as the years have gone by and 
 as the result of his indefatigable energy he is 
 now the owner of valuable property. 
 
 WILLIAM GREENWOOD. 
 
 William Greenwood, a resident of Fillmore 
 township, is one of the most extensive land- 
 owners of Montgomery county, his holdings 
 comprising eight hundred acres, but it is not 
 alone his posesssions that enable him to rank 
 with the representative men of Montgomery 
 county. He lias always commanded the con- 
 fidence and good will of those with whom he 
 has been associated and his business affairs have 
 been conducted along lines which have proven 
 of benefit to the county as well as a source of 
 individual profit. Mr. Greenwood is a native of 
 Germany, bora January 1. 1840, and with his 
 parents he crossed the Atlantic to America, the 
 family home being established in New Jersey, 
 lie is a son of William and (Catherine Green- 
 wood, who were also horn in Germany. The 
 father learned and followed the carpentei - 
 trade in that country, hut after coming to the 
 1'nited States he carried on agricultural pur- 
 suits. Several years were passed in New Jersey 
 and be then came with his family to Mont- 
 gomery county. Illinois, about 1850, hut in 
 1857 he removed to Alton, this state. In 1867, 
 however, he located near Nokoniis, where his 
 death occurred in is;:!. lie had lost his wife 
 during the early boyhood days ,,f their son. 
 William. 
 
 William Greenwood ace panied bis parents 
 
 on their various removals, going to N"okomis 
 in 18(57. Since 1881 be has resided upon what 
 is now his home property in Fillmore township 
 He started nut in life for himself on attaining 
 his majority, first earning bis living as a farm 
 hand, in which capacity he was employed for 
 four years. He then rented land for two years 
 and on the expiration of that period purchased 
 onp hundred and fifty acres on the prairie at 
 
 Nokomis. On leaving there in 1881 he came 
 to his present farm, buying a tract of one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land from Mr. Landers. 
 This formed the nucleus of his present ex- 
 tensive possessions. His diligence and perse- 
 verance resulted in producing good crops and 
 the profit which accrued from his sales enabled 
 him to invest in more land from time to time 
 until he is now the owner of eight hundred 
 acres, constituting a very valuable and desir- 
 able property. He raises both grain and stock 
 and has a well equipped farm, supplied with all 
 modern conveniences ami the facilities that will 
 promote his business along profitable lines. 
 His present desirable financial condition is in 
 greal contrast to his surroundings in youth, 
 for he began working as a farm hand at eleven 
 dollars per month. He also worked in brick- 
 yards ami on a steamboat and thus by follow- 
 ing any pursuit that would yield him an honest 
 living be gained a good start in life. He has 
 won success in his agricultural operations and 
 he has also assisted his sons in gaining a start, 
 for in former years they aided him to the best 
 of their ability. 
 
 On the 1 1th of March. 1865, Mr. Greenwood 
 was united in marriage to Miss Christine Krum- 
 mell, id' Madison county, Illinois, and unto 
 them were born eight children, all of whom are 
 now living: Emma, born May 23, 1866, mar- 
 ried William Boekstruck, a resident of Bond 
 county, and has three children. Henry, horn 
 August '.'1. 1867, married Bertie Boekstruck, 
 by whom he has two sons, and they reside in 
 Bond county. Mary, born October 17, 1st;:), 
 is at home with her parents. William ('.. born 
 October 1. 1871, married Kosa Jenserous, by 
 whom he has four children and they live in 
 Fillmore township. August, born January '.':'>. 
 is;:!, is mentioned below. Louis, born De- 
 cember 1. 1874, married Anna Becker, by whom 
 he has three children, and they live in Fillmore 
 township, otto, horn January 11. 1877, was 
 married Oct. .her 87, 1904, t" Dora S. Bracke- 
 liuscb. a cousin of bis brother August's 
 wife, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew 
 Brackebusch, who are prosperous farming peo- 
 ple of Fayette county. Otto Greenwood fol- 
 lows farming and stock-raising and supports the 
 Republican party, and both he and bis wife are
 
 1,1 HI 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 members of the German Methodisl Episcopal 
 .lunch. Bertha, bom .March L5, 1879, is the 
 wife of August Brackebusch, of Pillmore 
 township, and they have two daughters. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs: Greenwood belong to the Meth- 
 odist church and are deeply interested in its 
 promotion and growth. Be is a Local preacher, 
 having engaged in Uie work of the ministry 
 in Nokomis and ether parts of Montgomery 
 county. Whatever tends to advance the cause 
 of Christianity receives h's earnest endorsement 
 and in as Ear as possible his co-operation. 
 The cause of education also finds in him a 
 warm friend and he believes in providing good 
 schools that will give to the children excellent 
 educational privileges. Por thirty years he 
 has been a school director. His political sup- 
 port is given tlie Republican party. Mr. Green- 
 wood is a man whom to knew is to respect and 
 honor, for his entire life has been straightfor- 
 ward ami unassailable. His history will bear 
 the closest investigation and scrutiny and. in 
 fact, is well worth} of study by these who have, 
 r, -aid for the value of character and who wish 
 to progress in life along lines that net only 
 win success, hut also gain an untarnished 
 name. 
 
 with his father until L899, when he removed 
 tn the place upon which he new resides. He 
 and Ins brother each have one hundred and five 
 acres el' land, which was given them by their 
 father and August Greenwood now devotes his 
 attention to the raising of both grain and 
 stock. His fields are well tilled and in his 
 pastures are found high grades of cattle, horses 
 an. I hogs. On the 6th of January, 1902, he 
 was appointed administrator for the estate of 
 Henr\ Bockstruek, of Van Burensburg. 
 
 On the 19th ..I February, 1 s;t!». Mr. Green- 
 wood was married to Miss Emma Brackebusch, 
 a daughter of Henry Brackebusch, of Fayette 
 county. She is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church and. like her husband, she 
 has gained the friendship of many with whom 
 she has been brought in contact. Mr. Green- 
 wood votes with the Republican party and in 
 1890 he was appointed to take the census for 
 town 8 in Fillmore township. He is well 
 known, having a wide circle of acquaintance 
 and is classed with the representative young 
 farmers of Montgomerv county. 
 
 AUGUST GREENWOOD. 
 
 August Greenwood, son of William Green- 
 wood, one of the leading pioneer settlers of 
 Montgomery county, was horn in Christian 
 county, Illinois, near Nokomis, January 23, 
 ls,:i. and was a youth of seven years when his 
 parents removed to the old homestead in Fill- 
 more township. He attended school in Van 
 Burensburg and later was a student in Dan- 
 Mile College in Indiana ami in the Central 
 Normal College, being graduated on the com- 
 pletion of a commercial course with the class 
 of 1893. He was reared to the occupation of 
 farming, early becoming familiar with the 
 duties and labors that fall to the lot of the 
 agriculturist and has always carried on gen- 
 eral farming pursuits with the exception of 
 one winter, in which he was engaged in selling 
 hooks. He then returned home and farmed 
 
 T. II. EDWARDS. 
 
 T. II. Edwards, who is engaged in coal min- 
 ing and makes his home in Coffeen, was born 
 in Grisham township. Montgomery county, in 
 1866 and is a representative of one of the old 
 families of this part of the state, his parents 
 being George and Sarah (Clark) Edwards. 
 His father was also horn in Grisham township 
 at Edwards Chapel and during his business 
 career has followed the occupation of farming, 
 owning and occupying a farm which is situated 
 on the boundary line between Bond and Mont- 
 gomery counties, lying partly in Grisham town- 
 ship. The first of the name living in this 
 county was T. H. Edwards, the grandfather 
 of our subject, and since that time representa- 
 tives of the family have home an active and 
 helpful part in the work of upbuilding here. 
 George Edwards i- a Democrat in hi- political 
 views and affiliations and takes a deep interest 
 in the questions and issues of the .lav. keeping 
 well informed thereon so that he is able to give 
 intelligent rcson for his political position.
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 601 
 
 T. II. Edwards remained in Grisham town- his home in St. Louis. About a year prior to 
 ship until about sixteen years of age. when he his death he Left the river and took up his 
 entered upon his business career in the employ abode in Hillsboro, where he passed away on 
 of J. W. Majors, with whom he made h s home the 23d of October, 1896, at the age of fifty 
 until his marriage. On the 11th of October, years. In his fraternal relations he was a 
 1891, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Flor- Mason and also a Modern Woodman, and his 
 ence Hendricks, a daughter of Dr. Hendricks, of political allegiance was given to the Republican 
 Coffeen, and their home has been blessed with party. Through his business capacity and 
 two children, Harry Alfred and Ruby Belle, careful management lie accumulated a compe- 
 ars. Edwards is a daughter of Dr. Hendricks tence, and he was ever open-handed and liberal, 
 and Tillie (Coffeen) Hendricks, the latter a his generosity being one of the salient traits 
 daughter of the founder of the town of Coffeen. of his character. His wife, who bore the 
 
 Upon removing to Coffeen Mr. Edwards eon- maiden nana' of Johnanna ('line, was horn in 
 ducted a I, ut. her shop for about a year. Hi' s t- Louis in 1849, and was a daughter id' John 
 then began work in a coal mine an, I has since D. and Nancy M. (Tne. Her lather built the 
 been employed in that capacity. His business first frame house in Hillsboro and was actively 
 career has been attended by success and he now identified with the early development ami prog- 
 owns seven lots in the town, upon which he ress of the city. Unto Mr. and Mr-. Chacey 
 lnnlt a pretty home on removing to Coffeen. were born four children : Ezra C. ; Anna Olive, 
 He also owns forty acres of land in East Fork who was graduated from the University of 
 township. Of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Illinois with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. 
 this plaee he is a charter member and in his and is now assistant in the Hillsboro high 
 political views he is a Democrat. At the pres- school; Blanche Holmes; and Geneva Rhodes, 
 ent writ in- he i- serving as a member id' the Captain Chacey, of this review, was afforded 
 school board of the town and is interested in excellent educational privileges, for after corn- 
 public affairs and this has prompted his co- pleting a high school course in Hillsboro by 
 operation in many measures for the general graduation he entered the University of llh- 
 ,,,„„] nois, where he spent the years h s !>"> and 1896. 
 
 On Leaving that institution he entered the 
 
 engineering department of the Missouri River 
 
 & Bonne Torre Railroad in Missouri, where he 
 
 .,,„.,.. ,,.,,., , ,„,„„,, remained for a year, lie spent one year in 
 
 CAPTAIN EZRA C. CHACEY. TT . n , ,. ■ , ,. , , ! . ,, , ,, 
 
 Hillsboro alter the death of Ins lather and then 
 
 Captain Ezra ('. Chacey, a leading druggisl entered the service of the Spanish- American 
 of Hillsboro, and prominent in the military war. He was second lieutenant of Company 
 circles of the state as a member of the Illinois E of the Fifth Regimenl of Illinois National 
 National Guard, was horn in St. Louis. Mis- Guard. This regiment was accepted and. with 
 souri. September 'id. 1878. His father. Ezra his command. Captain Chacey went to Camp 
 .1. Chacey, was a native id' Ohio, and was one Tanner at Springfield and afterward to Chick- 
 of a family of seven children, four sons and amauga Park, Tennessee, on to Newport News, 
 three daughters. Two of his brothers were later to Lexington, Kentucky, and then re- 
 soldiers in the Civil war and one of these, turned to Camp Lincoln. When at Camp Tan- 
 I'. 1>. Chacey. is now a member of the state ncr he was elected by bis company to the rank 
 legislature of North Dakota, while the other, of captain, but owing to his youth — he was then 
 Washington, died at his home following the hut nineteen year- of age— Governor Tanner 
 
 war. his health having I n impaired by his would not issue the commission. In January, 
 
 service. Both were with Sherman on the cele- 1899, he was again elected captain of the com- 
 
 brated march to the sea. Ezra .1. Chacey was pany, and this time was commissioned, while in 
 
 a captain on the Mississippi river throughout 1902, he was re-elected, lie is ven prominent 
 
 almost his entire life and for many years made and popular among the officers of the regimenl
 
 602 
 
 \ST AND 
 
 RESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 and the men of his own command, is an excel- 
 lent disciplinarian and is thoroughly conversant 
 with the tactics of war. On the 8th of March, 
 1899, following the return of the regiment. 
 .Mr. Chacej purchased the drugstore formerly 
 owned by Edwards & Company, and is now 
 
 proprietor thereof. He is conducting a g 1 
 
 business, having a well equipped establishment 
 and, through his enterprising efforts, he lias se- 
 cured a good pat ronage. 
 
 Mr. Chacey was married on the 24th of April. 
 1901. to Miss Sarah B. Allen, a daughter of 
 Mr. and Mrs. William M. Allen, of Pilot Grove. 
 Missouri. Her father was horn at Lexington, 
 Kentucky, and was a member of Shelby Cavalry 
 Corps in the Confederate service during the 
 Civil war. Mrs. Chacey is a cousin of Roar 
 Admiral James E. Jouett, who was known as 
 Bghting Jim Jouett. Mr. and Mrs. Chacey 
 have one child, Sara Menefee. Mrs. Chacey is 
 a member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
 there. Fraternally. Mr. Chacey is connected 
 with the Knights of Pythias lodge, with the 
 Order of the Maccabees and with the Spanish- 
 American War Veteran's Association. I lis po- 
 litical allegiance is given to the Republican 
 party. Well known in Hillsboro, he is held in 
 high esteem by many friends, is popular with 
 all who know him and, although a young man, 
 he already occupies a notable position in busi- 
 ness and military circles. 
 
 RUFUS ('. PADEN. 
 
 Rufus C. Pader is proprietor of an excellent 
 farm of one hundred and sixteen acres in tlills- 
 boro township and is numbered among the sue- 
 cessful agriculturists of his community. He 
 has placed his dependence upon the substantial 
 qualities of energy, strong determination and 
 laudable ambition and has gradually worked his 
 way upward until he is one of the prosperous 
 residents of his locality. Moreover, he is a 
 native son of Montgomery county and has for 
 almost 1 alf a century witnessed tin- growth and 
 development of this portion of the state. 
 
 Mr. Paden was born in Hillsboro township 
 mi the Ith of February, 1856, a son of James 
 and Mary Paden. IPs father died in 1871 
 
 at about the age of forty-four years, but the 
 mother, who is now Mrs. McHenry, is still liv- 
 ing, making her home in Hillsboro. Rufus C. 
 Paden acquired a common school education and 
 when not occupied with the duties of the school- 
 room he assisted in the labors of the home 
 farm, becoming familiar with all of the duties 
 that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. When 
 twenty-one years of age he began business on 
 Ins own account by operating the home farm in 
 connection with his brothers. He was at one 
 time associated with his brothers in the owner- 
 ship and control of a lumberyard in Hillsboro, 
 continuing that business for four years. Later 
 he was connected with the agricultural imple- 
 nu nt business for two years and about the time 
 of his marriage he took up his abode upon the 
 farm which is now his home. He here owns 
 one hundred and sixteen acres of rich land de- 
 voted to general farming. He raises diversified 
 crops and as the result of modern methods and 
 careful management he has won desirable 
 success. 
 
 On the 4th of November, 1885. Mr. Paden 
 was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Lewey 
 and they have one son. Lester Lewey, born 
 November 9, 1890. In his political affiliations 
 Mr. Paden is a Republican and keeps well in- 
 formed on the questions and issues of the day. 
 He has served for three terms as highway com- 
 missioner, but otherwise has not sought nor 
 held office, preferring to give his attention to 
 bis business affairs. He was made a Mason in 
 L882, belongs to the lodge at Hillsboro and has 
 served as junior warden, lie is thoroughly in 
 sympathy with the teachings and tenets of (be 
 craft and in bis life exemplifies its beneficent 
 
 principles. 
 
 HON. ROBERT M< WILLIAMS. 
 
 Robert MeWilliams, of Litchfield, is one of 
 
 Montgomery county's most distinguished citi- 
 zens and has Left the impress of his individu- 
 ality upon public interests here. He was born 
 in Dalton, Wayne county. Ohio, in 1830, and. 
 removing to Illinois, joined his brother Amzi 
 MeWilliams in Bloomington in 1854. dust 
 prior (o his arrival here he bad been admitted to
 
 UNIVI INOJS
 
 ME. AM) .MRS. R. C. PADEN.
 
 ME. AMI MKS. JAMES I'ADEN.
 
 UN !V; ILLINOIS
 
 •AST AND PKESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 GO", 
 
 the bar in Coshocton, Ohio. At a later date 
 he established his home in Sullivan, Moultrie 
 county, ami thence removed to Shelby, Illinois, 
 where he entered into partnership with Judg 
 Anthony Thornton and was engaged in the 
 practice of law for two years. 
 
 On the expiration of that period Mr. Me- 
 Williarns took up Ins abode in Hillsboro, where 
 he lived until the outbreak of the Civil war, 
 being at that time associated in a law practice 
 with Judge Jesse J. Phillips. In 1862 he 
 started in a wagon with life and drum, canvass- 
 ing the county for recruits. A man distribut- 
 ing Union bills preceded him. Be succeeded 
 in raising great enthusiasm and raised three 
 companies of men. In Springfield they were 
 mustered into service and Mr. McWilliams was 
 
 elected captain of oi E the companies, which 
 
 became Company B, One Hundred and Seven- 
 teenth Illinois Infantry. With this command 
 he served until the close of the war and in the 
 meantime was promoted to the rank' of major. 
 lie did loyal and valuable service in the Red 
 River expedition and other campaigns. 
 
 Mr. McWilliams wedded Miss Mary Allen, 
 who was born in Bond county, Illinois, in 1836. 
 a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Burn- 
 side) Allen. Her father was a farmer by occu- 
 pation and was a representative of one of the 
 old families of North Carolina and became one 
 of the early residents of Montgomery county. 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams were born three 
 children: Benjamin, an attorney of Chicago; 
 Grace, who died in 1898; and Paul, now city 
 judge of Litchfield. 
 
 Mr. McWilliams" patriotic citizenship has 
 been manifest in days of peace as well as in 
 days of strife and his devotion to the general 
 good was shown by his service as a member of 
 the state legislature, being called to represent 
 Montgomery county in the general assembly. 
 Resuming the practice of law upon his return 
 to Litchfield, he easily maintained a foremost 
 position in the ranks of the legal fraternity 
 and was in active practice until 1898, when he 
 retired from the profession. He has been con- 
 nected with much of the important litigation 
 tried in the courts of his district, was logical 
 in his reasoning and ever presented a strong 
 ease to judge or jury because of his careful 
 
 preparation and his thorough understanding 
 
 of the facts and the law applicable thereto. In 
 his political \iews he has ever been a stalwarl 
 Republican, endorsing the principles of the 
 party since its organization, and he is a mem- 
 ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. Re- 
 ligiously lie i> connected with the I 'resl i yt erian 
 church and for many years has served as one id' 
 its trustees. 
 
 JOSEPH MITCHELL. 
 
 Joseph Mitchell, who is engaged in general 
 merchandising in Paisley, and whose influence 
 in behalf of the moral development of the 
 communitv has keen far-reaching and effective 
 was horn in England on the 20th of October, 
 1874. He was brought to the United States 
 in his infancy and his education was acquired 
 in the common schools of Montgomery county 
 and in Nokomis. He remained at home until, 
 twenty-one years of age. and then began farm- 
 in"- for himself on a tract of land a half mile 
 
 O 
 
 west of Witt. After a year he removed to a 
 place about two and a half mile- west of that 
 town ami continued its cultivation and improve- 
 ment for three years. He ne\t sold that prop- 
 erty ami took up his abode in Paisley, where 
 he became identified with commercial pursuits 
 as a general merchant. His busines here had 
 grown and he carries a large and well selected 
 line of goods, such as is demanded by the gen- 
 eral trade. His success is well merited, because 
 in his business dealings he has never been 
 known to take advantage of the necessities of 
 his fellow men and he also puts forth earnest 
 effort to please his customers. 
 
 On the 26th id' January, 1896, Mr. Mitchell 
 was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth May- 
 Settle, a daughter id' John Settle, of Oconee, 
 Illinois. They have one child. Mildred E. 
 who is now six years of age Mr. Mitchell and 
 his wife belong to the Presbyterian church and 
 
 he has taken a very active and pi inent part 
 
 in its work, serving as Sunday-school superin- 
 tendent for the past three years, and also as 
 president of the Christian Endeavor for that 
 period. He is likewise president of the town- 
 ship Sunday-school Association and lie con-
 
 G08 PAST WD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 tributes generously to the support of the church aiile track upon his farm, on which he trains 
 
 and does everything in his power to promote its h s horses. He imu owns a three-year-old, 
 
 activities. He belongs to Quinn City lodge, Highlander, which is registered in class A, Vol- 
 
 No. 622, K. P., and he is now a school trustee nine l. He has gained a reputation throughout 
 
 of Witt township. In politics he is a Re- tins portion of Illinois as a breeder of fine 
 
 publican and in all matters of citizenship lie horses and has made sales of some very valuable 
 
 is progressive and enterprising. stock. Everything about his place is neat and 
 
 attractive in appearance, giving indication of 
 
 the careful supervision of a progressive owner. 
 
 In ls;n Mr. Boyd was united in marriage t<| 
 
 W. A. BOYD. Miss Ida Edwards, a daughter of William Allen 
 
 W. A. Boyd is the owner id' a valuable farm Edwards, and they became the parents of three 
 of two hundred aires situated on section 22, children, of whom two are now living, Iva and 
 East fork townhsip, and to the propertv he has Nellie, both at home. The parents belong to 
 added all modern improvements and accesso- ''"' Methodist Episcopai church at Goffeen and 
 ries, which constitute one of the host farms of Mr Boyd is identified with the Court of Honor. 
 the locality. Hi' was horn In Coles countv, Deeply interested in political questions and 
 Illinois, in 1854, and is a son of A. .1. and the success of the Republican party he gives to 
 Sarah Boyd. His father was a native of Ken- '' il " unfaltering support and docs everything 
 tueky, spending his boyhood days in that slate '" Mls power to promote its growth ami insure 
 and in Indiana. Removing then to Illinois. t s success. lie has never sought office, how- 
 he settled in Coles countv. where he engaged ever ; as ;| reward for party fealty, preferring 
 in carpentering and in 1874 he removed to l" give his time and enemies to his business 
 Kansas, where he died. He led a useful, active cfi'airs. which are now crowned with prosperity. 
 and honorable life, although he never soughl to He certainly deserves great credit for what he 
 figure prominent l\ in public affairs. has accomplished and he may well he called a 
 
 W. A. Boyd was reared in Coles county and self-made man. for he owe- his prosperity not 
 
 pursued his education in the schools id' Mat- to any fortunate combination of circumstances 
 
 toon. Illinois. When he was hut eleven vears ' l, t his own determination, capable manage- 
 
 of age his mother died ami about the same time incut and husiness foresight. He has perse- 
 
 his father lost all that he had by going security vered in the face of obstacles and by the utiliza- 
 
 I'or a supposed friend. It was thus necessary Hon of his opportunities he has steadily worked 
 
 that the subject id' this review earn his own ''is way upward from a humble financial posi- 
 
 living and at that tender agehe started out in lion to one of affluence. 
 
 life For himself, securing employment on a 
 
 farm. He worked in the fields, fed and 
 
 handled fancy horses, being employed l>v the 
 
 at i 1 finn i i , \ FRANK \\ . \ I EI' T. 
 month. In 1880 he came to his present home 
 
 where his wife owned eighty acres of land. Frank' W. Xieft. who follows farming on sec- 
 Mr. Boyd purchased eighty acres additional, tion 9, Witt township, was horn in Jefferson 
 erected a good residence and barn and added county, Kentucky, .lime 15, 1864, ids parents 
 "'her modern equipments. He now owns two being Car] and Henrietta (Ernest) Xieft. hoth 
 hundred acres of rich land, well improved, hi.-; of whom were natives of Germany, whence thev 
 farm being iii excellent condition. Upon it is came to the United States about 1845. They 
 found good machinery to facilitate the labors located in Kentucky, where thev remained for 
 ol the fields and he annually harvests good crops s vera! years, and thence came to Montgomery 
 as the reward for the care and labor which he county. Illinois, in the spring of 1866. The 
 bestows upon his place. However, he is giving father purchased a farm from the railroad 111111- 
 "nieh attention to the raising of stock, making pany and he is still living upon a tract of land, 
 ■'' specialty of line horses and lie has a half which he there developed and improved, making
 
 PAST AND PBESENT OF MONTGOMEEY COUNTY 609 
 
 it a good and productive property. He is now added to Ins property. He arrived m tnis 
 
 seventy-six years of age, but Ins wife passed country ere he attained his majority and in its 
 
 awa\ in 1892 at the age of sixty years. business conditions he found the opportunity 
 
 Frank W. Nieft is indebted to the public- for success which he desired and which led him 
 
 school system of this county for the educational from humble financial c litions to one of 
 
 privileges which he enjoyed in his youth. At affluence and he died in L89-J upon the farm, 
 
 the age of twenty-one years he began farming where his son George was born and upon which 
 
 on his own account on the old 1 lestead and his widow is still residing. In their family 
 
 in 1895 he purchased one hundred acres of land were ten children, of whom George W. is the 
 where he now resides on section 9, Witl town- oldest. The others are Minnie, who died when 
 ship. His entire Life has been devoted to agri- about six years of age; Emma, who died at the 
 cultural pursuits and he now has a well im- age of one year; Charlie J., who married Louisa 
 proved property, Ins land being highly culti- Movers and resides in [rving township; Henry 
 vated and returning to him -cod harvests. F.. of [rving; Frank II.. who is living with Ins 
 On the 29th of October, 1895, occurred the mother; Etta M.. Lewis II.. Jesse and Joseph- 
 marriage of Mr. Xiel't ami Miss Anna lloilm. me. all at home. 
 
 a daughter of Bernard Hoehn, who is now liv- George W. Fesser, having acquired his edu- 
 
 ing retired in Paisley. Unto Mr. and Mrs. cation in the district schools, has followed 
 
 Xiel't have been bom four children: Clarence, farming throughout Ins entire life, having 
 
 Irene. Mattie and Walter, aged respectively gained practical knowledge of the work in early 
 
 eight, six. four and two years. The parents are boyh I l>\ assisting Ins father in the labors 
 
 members of the Catholic church of Nokomis of field and meadow. He has one hundred and 
 ami Mr. Xiel't belongs to the Mutual Protective sixty acres where he resides, a part of which 
 League, No. 90, of Witt. He is a Republican he has rented and the other part he farms him- 
 in his political views and served as collector of self. He has bough! improved land, has built 
 his township for two terms, while for seven three barns ami has otherwise carried on the 
 vears he was assessor and for three vears town- work of improvement until he now has an ex- 
 ship trustee, lie has also been a member of cellent farm property and is meeting with a 
 the school board for three years and is deeply merited degree of success as a farmer and 
 interested in everything pertaining to the sub- stock-dealer. 
 
 stantial upbuilding; and improvement of the On the 22d of September, 1899, Mr. Fesser 
 
 locality, in which he has so long made his was united in marriage to Miss Minnie L. 
 
 home, his residence in the county covering nl- Morain, a daughter of dames M. Morain, of 
 
 most the entire period of his life [rving township, who came from Ohio in an 
 
 early day and purchased land in Montgomery 
 
 — county. Both he and his wife are now de- 
 ceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fesser have been 
 
 GEOEGE W. FESSEE. ,„„.„ |iv( . ,,„,,,,,,„ . ,,„, M . ,„„,, May ,,. 
 
 George W. Fesser, numbered among the sue- 1890; Lester 1L. January 1, 1893; Viola L.. 
 
 cessfnl and enterprising farmers of Nokomis November 3, 189'J : G - ge W., November 12, 
 
 township, was born on the 8th of September, 1901; and Ivan. June I, 1904. The family 
 
 1865 in Rountree township, and has always circle yet remains unbroken by the hand id 
 
 lived in Montgomery county. His parents, death and the first three children are attend- 
 
 llenrv and Mary (Westphal) Fesser, were na- ing school, it being the desire of Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 tives of Germany and the father, on emigrating Fesser to provide their children with g I 
 
 to America, established his homo in Sangamon educational privileges and thereby lit them for 
 
 county, whence he afterward removed to Mont- life's practical duties. In politics he is a Ee- 
 
 o-omery county during the period of its early publican. Tie has served as highway commis- 
 
 settlement and development. lie purchased sioner and school director ami manifests a 
 
 four hundred acres of land and afterward helpful interest in matters pertaining to the
 
 CIO 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY OOLNTY 
 
 genera] good and the welfare of his community. 
 In addition to his farming pursuits he has pro- 
 vided for Ins family by carrying a policy in 
 the New York Life Insurance Company. In 
 his business he is manifesting the sterling traits 
 of character which always lead to success and he 
 is accounted one of the able and enterprising 
 farmers of Nokomis township. 
 
 CHARLES A. TOLLE. 
 
 Charles A. Tulle who is closely associated 
 with business interest.- in Litchfield as manu- 
 facturer of soda and mineral waters, his busi- 
 ness having reached extensive and profitable 
 proportions, so that it is a valued factor in the 
 commercial life of the city, was born in Han- 
 over. Germany, in 1863, his parents being 
 Louis and Caroline Tolle, both of whom were 
 natives of Germany. The father was a miller 
 by occupation, who conducted that business in 
 his native land until Ins death, which occurred 
 in 1881, when he was forty-seven years of age. 
 He had served his country in the German war 
 of 1866. His wife, who still survives him, is 
 now living in Hanover at the age of seventy- 
 three years, and (diaries A. Tolle paid a visit 
 to her in the winter of 1903-4. In their fam- 
 ily were seven children, of whom five are yet 
 living, and with the exception of the subject 
 of this review all are vet residents of the 
 fatherland. 
 
 Charles A. Tolle acquired his education in 
 the schools of Germany and there learned the 
 miller's trade, hut the opportunities of the new 
 world attracted him and. hoping that he might 
 benefit by the business advantages of America, 
 he came to the United States in 1880 when 
 seventeen years of age, locating in St. Louis, 
 Missouri, lie there worked at the miller's 
 trade for two years and on the expiration of 
 that period removed to Greene county. Illinois. 
 where he was employed in a mill for one year. 
 He afterward spent three or four years in a 
 similar way in Carlinville, Illinois, and snhse- 
 quently went to Mount Olive where he worked 
 at his trade for six months. He next located 
 at Union, Missouri, where he also spent six 
 months as an employe in a mill and in 1888 
 
 lie turned his attention to the grain trade, con- 
 ducting Ins own business on his own account 
 lor two years. 
 
 In 1890 he came to Litchfield and estab- 
 lished a bottling business for the manufacture 
 of soda and mineral waters, ginger ale. cider 
 and vinegar. He also has a distilled water 
 plant, which is one of tin.' important depart- 
 ments of Ins business. He has been very suc- 
 cessful in this new undertaking and his trade 
 covers a large territory, extending over a ra- 
 dius of sixty miles from Litchfield. This is 
 the only enterprise of the kind in the city, 
 lie has a well equipped plant and his manu- 
 factures are absolutely chemically pure and are 
 recommended by physicians because of the ex- 
 cellence of the quality and the fair dealing of 
 the proprietor. The bucruess has continually 
 increased and Mr. Tolle is realizing therefrom 
 a very gratifying profit. 
 
 In 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr. Tolle 
 and Miss Kate Houser, a daughter of Christian 
 and Virginia Houser. She was horn in Walsh- 
 ville May 4. 18G0. Her father was a harness- 
 maker and also owned considerable land. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Tolle were the parents of three chil- 
 dren, of whom two are now living. Florence 
 and Julia. They are members of the Lutheran 
 church and Mr. Tolle belongs to the Knights 
 of Pythias fraternity, tin' Modern Woodmen 
 camp and the Mutual Protective League, the 
 Fire Association and the United State> Com- 
 mercial Travelers. He i^ interested in all that 
 pertains to the city's progress and his political 
 allegiance is given to the Republican party. He 
 has served as alderman of the fourth ward, 
 has acted as treasurer of the fire department 
 and Litchfield numbers him among her enter- 
 pri.-ing business men. 
 
 MICHAEL d. BUS'CHER. 
 Among the more enterprising and capable 
 young business men of Montgomery county is 
 numbered Michael .1. Buscher, the secretary 
 
 and assistant cashier of the Litchfield Bank. 
 He was born April 13, 1875, in Atlanta. In- 
 diana, bis birthplace being his father's farm, on 
 which he spent the first seventeen years of his
 
 L'HAHLES A. TOLLE.
 
 JNOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS G13 
 
 life, early becoming familiar with the duties !!<■ was born m Calhoun county, Illinois, and 
 
 ;i,i,l labors thai fall to the Loi of the agricul- when he was bu1 eleven iths old his parents 
 
 turist. During thai period he acquired his edu- removed to Douglas county, settling near Tus- 
 cation m the public schools and he afterward cola, upon a farm. There he remained until 
 began teaching in the country and city schools, sixteen years of age. At thai time he lost Ins 
 following thai profession for five years, during father and he began earning his own living by 
 which lime he gave excellent satisfaction be- working as a farm hand by the month in Doug- 
 cause he had the ability to impart clearly and las county. After a shorl time he removed to 
 readily to others the knowledge thai he had Montgomery county, settling in Litchfield town- 
 acquired. He, in 1894, came to Illinois and ship, where he was employed as a farm laborer 
 entered the services of the Mundy-Settlemin by the month until he attained Ins majority. 
 Grain Company, of Litchfield, in the capacity On the expiration of that period he began runt- 
 
 of secretary and I kkeeper. He was thus en- ing land, thus starting out upon an independent 
 
 gaged until 1902, in which year he entered the business career. Not leng afterward he went 
 services of the Litchfield Bank & Trust Com- to Springfield, where he remained for sixteen 
 pany, and is now secretary and assistant cashier, years and, during thai time, he was engaged 
 His position at first was practically that of in carpentering and in conducting a meat mar- 
 office boy, but his business capacity and faith- ket and grocery store. He continued a resident 
 fulness won ready recognition in promotion and of that city until 1889, when he took up his 
 he has teen advanced from time to time until abode upon the farm which he now occupies. 
 he is now occupying a responsible pos'tion in and to its development and cultivation he has 
 connection with the institution. sine,, devoted his energies with good success. 
 On the loth of July, L903, Mr. Buscher was lie has one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
 married to Miss Eliza C. MeElligott, a daugh- which is arable and productive, situated on 
 ter of John MeElligott, of Litchfield. They section 1. Grisham township. In addition to 
 have one son. John Paul, whose birth occurred general farming he is also engaged in the dairy 
 April 27, 1904. The parents are members of business and milks about twenty cows. 
 the Catholic church and Mr. Buscher is a F. Marion Jones was married to Catherine 
 
 D,. -r-it in his political views, but is not bit- Lovely, and they have two children, Laura 
 
 terly partisan. He belongs to the Elks lodge. B. and Ray S. Alter losing his first wife 
 
 of Litchfield, and also holds membership re- he welded Mrs. Laura B. Beck, the widow of 
 
 lations with the Knights of Columbus, lie has George Beck, and a daughter of Hiram Long, 
 
 steadily worked his way upward by study, close who was one of the early pioneer residents oi 
 
 application, by intelligent effort and by cour- Montg ery county, born in Kentucky, whence 
 
 teous treatment to these with whom he is as- be came to Illinois, settling firsl near Litch- 
 
 sociated in the business world. He is well field, lie afterward removed to Hillsboro 
 
 rked by all and be and his accomplished and township, where his remaining days were passed, 
 
 amiable wife occupy an enviable position in the By her first marriage Mrs. Jones had three 
 
 social circles of their adopted city. children: Jessie T.. G. Clarence ami [ola G. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones has been horn a 
 
 son, Harold K. In his political affiliations Mr. 
 
 ,l,,nes is a Republican ami has served as con- 
 
 F. MARION JONES. st . lU( . .,,„, ., s sch( Hreetor. He is also con- 
 
 F. Marion Jones is the owner of „ farm of nected with the Red Men and his brethren of 
 
 one hundred ami sixty acres, and is also con- these fraternities esteem him because of Ins 
 
 ducting a dairy of twenty cows. He is alert, fidelity to the principles of the organization, 
 
 enterprising and farsighted in business affair- Dependent upon his own resource, from the 
 
 and his strong determination ha.- enabled him age of sixteen years, his advancement in hie 
 
 to overcome difficulties and obstacles such as an s success in business are attr. billable to 
 
 come to every individual in a business career, bis own efforts.
 
 014 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 WILLIAM A. ALLEN, M. I). 
 
 Dr. William A. Allen, who is interested in the 
 practice of medicine and in agricultural pur- 
 suits as well, resides two miles south of Don- 
 nellson and in the town and throughout the 
 surrounding district has acquired a large 
 patronage which is indicative of the confidence 
 reposed in his professional skill by his fellow 
 citizens. He was born in Fast Fork township, 
 January 28, 1856, his parents being Robert S. 
 and Harriet (Ohmart) Allen. The father was 
 bom in North Carolina in L832 and was a 
 young man of about twenty-two years when 
 in 1854 he emigrated westward to Illinois, set- 
 tling in East Fork township, Montgomery 
 county. Developing a farm there, he reared his 
 family upon that place and William A. Allen 
 spent the days of his boyhood and youth there 
 and attended the district schools of the town- 
 ship. He afterward engaged in teaching school 
 for two years, but regarded this merely a* an 
 initiatory step to further professional labor. 
 Desirous of making the practice of medicine 
 his life worlc, he began reading with Dr. 
 Haynes and subsequently he attended the Mis- 
 souri Medical College of St. Louis, in which 
 institution he was graduated with the class of 
 1878. He then located where George Allen 
 now resides and practiced there for many years. 
 In 1882 he opened an office in Donnellson, 
 where he maintained his home, until 1899. when 
 he removed to his presenl location. He has 
 been verj successful in practice, for he is care- 
 ful in the diagnosis of a case and in the admin- 
 istration of medicines, and his knowledge is 
 proven by the excellent results which have at- 
 tended him in his professional labors. H^ 
 also continues farming ami stock-raising in 
 Montgomery county ami in addition to his 
 property here be has twelve hundred acres of 
 land in the northern part of Bond county. 
 
 On the 5th of May, 1881, Dr. Allen was 
 united in marriage to Miss Clara Clotfeltei-, 
 of Hillsboro, who is a most estimable lady, hav- 
 ing many warm friends in Montgomery county 
 She is a daughter of James W. Clotl'elter, 
 whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. 
 She belongs to the Presbyterian church ami by 
 her marriage she has become the mother of one 
 daughter, Rubie Dr. Allen affiliates with the 
 
 Knights of Pythias fraternity and with the 
 Masonic lodge at Sorento. In politics he is 
 a Democrat, Km lias never sought or desired 
 public office, preferring to devote bis attention 
 to his professional labors and other business 
 interests. Anything that tends to bring to man 
 a more comprehensive knowledge of the science 
 of medicine and thus render bis labors more ef- 
 fective in checking the ravages of disease is ot 
 interest to Dr. Allen, who is continually broad- 
 ening bis knowledge by reading and investiga- 
 tion. He belongs to the P>ond and Montgomery 
 Counties Medical Societies and also to the Dis- 
 trici Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical 
 Society and the American Medical Association. 
 He is now numbered among the prosperous 
 residents of the county and yet all that he has 
 acquired has been won through his own un- 
 aided efforts during a quarter of a century. 
 
 JOHN IT. LOTJCKS. 
 
 John II. Loucks, a lifelong resident of Mont- 
 gomery county, whose activity as an agricul- 
 turist has led to substantial success, was born 
 in Hillsboro township, December 31, 1866, his 
 parents being William and Louisa (Langford) 
 Loucks, who remoyed from Indianapolis. In- 
 diana, to Montgomery county in 1864. Thej 
 located on a farm two mile- west of Hillsboro, 
 ami at the old home place John II. Loucks was 
 reared. His education was acquired in the 
 common schools and when twenty years of age 
 be began earning bis own living. He has made 
 agricultural pursuits his principal occupation 
 since attaining manhood. lie is very indus- 
 trious and is both practical and progressive in 
 his methods of farming. The farm consists of 
 
 two hundred acres in Monti; er\ county, of 
 
 ulccb one hundred and thirty acres is the home 
 place Mr. Loucks has made many improve- 
 ments upon the farm, which is now a model 
 property, supplied with all the equipments and 
 accessories needed to facilitate farm work and 
 render his efforts more effective in gaining a 
 good living from the soil. He raises various 
 cereals and is also raising stock of good grades. 
 The farm is located about fixe mile- southwest 
 of Hillsboro and its neat and thrifty appear
 
 
 
 
 iS
 
 JOHN II. LOUCKS AND KAMI I. V
 
 ME. AND MRS. WILLIAM LOUCKS.
 
 UN1VI
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 619 
 
 anee renders it one of the attractive features 
 (if the landscape. 
 
 On November 30, 1892, at Litchfield, Illi- 
 nois, Mr. Loucks was united in marriage to 
 Miss Lavina Atterbury, a daughter of William 
 Atterbury, and they have two children, Omar 
 and Paris. The parents are members of the 
 Woodsboro Methodisl Episcopal church and 
 take a helpful interest in many of the church 
 activities. Mr. Loucks is now serving as super- 
 intendent of the Sunday-school and he con- 
 tributes generously to the support of the church 
 and does all in his power to promote its growth 
 and extend its influence. He is also church 
 treasurer ami clerk of the board of trustees. 
 Politically a Democrat, lie has never held office 
 and is yet a public-spirited citizen. His life 
 shows the power of industry in achieving suc- 
 cess, and of honesty in winning an untarnished 
 name. 
 
 M. I). HOLMES. 
 
 M. P. Holmes, now living in Hillsboro, is a 
 representative of the farming interests of 
 Montgomery county, owning and operating a 
 tract el' hind on sect inn 31, Easi Pork town- 
 ship. He is one id' the native sons df the 
 enmity, his birth having here occurred in 1848, 
 his parents being Joel D ami Miranda I). 
 Holmes. The father was born in Maine and at 
 an early age was left an orphan, lie was then 
 reared in New York, where lie remained until 
 twenty-one years of age, when lie came across 
 the country and purchased what is now known 
 as the old family homestead. He was one of 
 i he earliest settlers in East Fork township, and 
 though he had to endure hardships and trials 
 incident to pioneer life in early days lie gradu- 
 ally won success through his enterprising labors 
 and was enabled to secure the advantages mid 
 conveniences known to the older east. He was 
 ii progressive man, a fact which was mani- 
 fested in his business career ns well as in citi- 
 zenship, and he became an extensive farmer, 
 owning about nine hundred acres of land at the 
 time of his death. He was accounted one of 
 the leading men of his community, respected 
 for his fidelity in citizenship, his interest in 
 
 business transactions and his loyalty to his 
 home ties. In his political views he was a 
 Republican, lie died in 1871, while his wife, 
 surviving him lor about twelve years, passed 
 away in 1883. They are survived by three liv- 
 ing children, hut M. I >. Holmes is the only one 
 residing in Montgomery county. 
 
 On the old family homestead M. D. Holmes 
 spent the days of his boyhood and youth. 
 Me was reared to farm life, early becoming fa- 
 miliar with the duties and labors that fall to 
 the lot of an agriculturist. His prelimi- 
 nary education was acquired in the schools 
 of his township and when he had mastered 
 the branches of learning therein taught he 
 entered the Hillsboro Academy, where he 
 spent one winter. He began business life upon 
 a farm which his father gave him when he 
 was twenty-two years of age and there car- 
 ried on agricultural pursuits for five years, 
 at tin' end of which time he traded the prop- 
 erty to his In-other, who was living on the 
 home place, and since then Mr. Holmes has 
 resided upon the old family farm. He has 
 given most of his attention to stock-raising, 
 feeding cattle for the market for many years. 
 At the present writing he is practically living 
 retired. while his sons conduct the farm. 
 His rest is well earned because he has been 
 a busy man. diligent in his business affairs 
 mill conducting all interests so as to merit the 
 esteem and confidence of his fellow men. 
 
 In October. 1871, occurred the marriage of 
 Mr. Holmes to Miss Amanda Barnett, a 
 daughter of Jesse Barnett. Their marriage 
 was blessed with eight children. hut only 
 three are now living: Fred D., who lives at 
 Raymond; Chester D.. who is living on the 
 home place; and Hiram Marshall, who resides 
 in Missouri. Mi's. Holmes was horn in Mis- 
 souri. 1 ut was reared in Montgomery county 
 and her death occurred here in August. 1898. 
 She was laid to rest in Waverly Cemetery 
 ;i mid the deep regret of many friends. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Holmes held membership in 
 the Presbyterian church and he is a Republi- 
 can in his political views. Tin home farm 
 comprises two hundred and twelve acres of 
 land, well equipped with modern conveniences 
 and accessories, the buildings beinc substan-
 
 W. F. BOTE. 
 
 620 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMEBY COUNTY 
 
 iial and i lern. Mr. Holmes has worked Leeame the wife of George Neece, of Nokomis 
 
 earnestly and persistently year after year to township, and ditd in 1895; Bertha, who is the 
 obtain a comfortable competence. lie lias wife of X. I. Fitgner and resides on the old 
 realized that there is no royal mail to wealth homestead; Liddie, the wife id' Aaron Piatt, of 
 and that there is no excellence without labor Witt: W. V.. of this review; and Sadie, the 
 and by his persistent industry he has grad- wife of John Andersen, of Nokomis township, 
 ually advanced financially, at the same time \\ . |-\ Bote was educated in the district 
 gaining the trust of his fellow men by his schools of his township and at the age of nine- 
 honorable business methods. teen years started upon his business career as 
 
 a lirakcman on the Big hour Railroad, being 
 ilus employed for six months. He later en- 
 gaged in farming for two years and subse- 
 quently he assisted in sinking the Montgomery 
 
 W. V. Bote, who is filling the position of coal shaft. He has been working there since 
 
 check weighman with the Montgomery Coal that time and in 1900 he was appointed to his 
 
 Company, was born in Madison county near present position as check weighman. He has 
 
 Bethalto, Illinois, on the 17th of May, 1871. also conducted a restaurant in Witt and is one 
 
 lie is a son of A. lam and Man (Zolzar) Hole, " r lllr enterprising, industrious business men of 
 
 both of whom were natives of Germany, whence '" s locality. 
 
 they came to America in 1845, locating at St. On the 1st of December, IS!)."), Mr. Bote was 
 
 Louis, Missouri. There the father conducted married to Miss Anna Holmes, a daughter of 
 
 a blacksmith shop for eighteen years and on William and .lane ( Roberts) Holmes, the 
 
 the expiration of that period removed to Madi- former an engi] r. Mr. and Mrs. Bote now 
 
 son county. Illinois, in 1863. He purchased have three children : Newell S., seven years of 
 two hundred and forty acres of land and en- age; Mildred May, a little daughter of four 
 gaged in farming thereon until February, is;;, summers; and Floyd C, two years old. The 
 when he sold that property and came to Mont- parents are members of the Presbyterian 
 gomery county, purchasing a farm of two hun- church and ^\lr. Bote belongs to Twin City 
 dred and twenty acres a half mile southeast of lodge, Xo. 622, K. 1'.. of Witt : to the 
 Witt. It is now located within the corporal ion Modern Woodman camp, No, 5628, of Witt: 
 limit- of the town and a portion of it has been and to the United Mine Workers, Xo. 167. His 
 subdivided and sold as town lots. Adam Bote political allegiance is given to the Republican 
 was for almost a quarter of a century a re- party and he keep.- well informed on the <|iies- 
 spected and valued resident of Montgomery tions and issue.- of' the day. thus being able to 
 county and his death here occurred November support his position by intelligent argument. 
 27, 1900, at the age of seventy-three years. His lie has lone resided in this locality, where his 
 widow still survives and is now living in the sterling worth has made him widely and favor- 
 town of Witt at tin' a Lie of seventy-two years. ahlv known as a reliable and trustworthy busi- 
 fhe anniversary of her birth being June 8, 1904. ncss man. 
 Mr. Bote was deeply interested in church work, 
 took a very active pari in promoting the cause 
 
 of Christianity in his community and was .. 
 also influential in public affairs relating to the 
 
 government of bis township, filling various I. M. Chamberlin, who is engaged in general 
 
 township offices. In the familv of this worthy Farming in Hillsboro township and owes his 
 
 couple were the following children: Katie. prosperity to his own intelligently directed 
 
 who died at the age of twentv-seven years ; Dan- efforts ami unfaltering diligence, was horn in 
 
 iel, a resident of Nokomis : Mrs. Mary E. Bert, South Litchfield township. October 15, 1*64. 
 
 who is living in Nokomis. where her husband IDs boyhood days were unmarked by any event 
 
 is filling the office of postmaster: Lizzie, who of special importance that varied the routine
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 621 
 
 of farm life for him. lie worked in the lielils 
 and pursued his education in the public schools 
 of Litchfield, and throughout his entire life 
 has been connected with farming interests. 
 The experience which he gained in youth lias 
 proven of practical value to him since he be- 
 gan farming on Ins own account, and his work 
 is carried on along progressive lines, leading 
 tn desirable results. 
 
 On the 22d of December, 188S, Mr. Cham- 
 berlin was united in marriage to Miss Flor- 
 ence Simpson, and they became the parents of 
 one child, Vonnie. The wife and mother died 
 in lsoi and in 1892 Mr. Chamberlin was again 
 married, his second union being villi Miss 
 Mary Sims. They have three children, Inez, 
 Delbert and Edna. 
 
 A1 the time of his first marriage Mr. Cham- 
 berlin located upon a farm which he rented for 
 a year, when his father purchased the prop- 
 erty. He continued renting until 1897, when 
 with the capital he had acquired through his 
 own labors, economy and careful management 
 he purchased two hundred and eighteen acres 
 of land, of which eighty acres is rich bottom 
 land. The place is now well tilled and the 
 fields return to him good crops. In addition to 
 general farming he is engaged in the feeding of 
 cattle and hogs, and the sale of his stock adds 
 materially to his annual income. TT is farm is 
 situated on sections 21 and 28, Eillsboro town- 
 ship, about five miles from Hillsboro. Hi? 
 political support is given the Democracy, but 
 lie has neither time nor inclination for public 
 office, prefering to devote his energies to his 
 business affairs, which, capably conducted, have 
 made him one of the substantial citizens of the 
 community. Having always lived in this coun- 
 ty, he has witnessed many changes here, has 
 seen its rapid development in the last forty 
 years, and has felt just pride in what has been 
 accomplished. 
 
 CnRTSTf AX D. ZUBER. 
 
 Christian I >. Zuber, who is engaged in the 
 manufacture of cigars in Litchfield, is also 
 actively interested in the welfare and develop- 
 ment of the city and has been a co-operant 
 
 factor in many movements which produce com- 
 mercial stability and promote the progress and 
 improvement of the city. Fie has spent his 
 entire life here, his birth having occurred in 
 latch held .March L7, 1872. His father. Chris- 
 tian Zuber, Sr.. was born in Germany, and 
 when fourteen years of age came to the United 
 States. After spending a short time in St. 
 Louis and other places, he came to Litchfield 
 in LSol). He was a butcher by trade ami car- 
 ried on business along that line until 1881, 
 when he retired From active life. He married 
 Amelia Warebolt, who was horn in St. Louis, 
 and they became the parents of five children, 
 
 two sons and thr laughters. Mr. Zuber voted 
 
 with the Republican party ami fraternally was 
 identified with the (>t\ t \ Fellows lodge. He 
 died January 12. 1898, at the age of fiity-eighl 
 years, and his widow is still living in Litch- 
 field at the age of fifty-four. 
 
 Christian I). Zuber continued his studies un- 
 til he had mastered the branches of [earning 
 taught in tin' high school of Litchfield. He 
 afterward learned the trade of cigar-making 
 and in 1896 engaged in business for himself, 
 having at first hut one employe. That he has 
 prospered and his business grown is indicated 
 by the fact that he now employs seven journey- 
 men cigar-makers and the output of his factory 
 is a half million cigars per year. The brands 
 of cigars which he manufactures are Zuber's 
 Favorite, a five-cent cigar: Fl Triumpho, a 
 feii-cenf cigar; and also the Blue Bonnet and 
 ('. I). Z. He sells largely throughout the sur- 
 rounding territory ami has established a g 1 
 
 market for his product, the sale of which 
 brings to him a very desirable financial return. 
 
 Mr. Zuber was married May :!. 1899, to Dora 
 I'.alke. who was horn af Mount Olive, Macoupin 
 county, Illinois, in 1875, a daughter of Henry 
 Balke, who was a mining boss. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Zuber have two sons. Carl and Arthur. 
 The] arc members of the Lutheran church and 
 Mr. Zuber belongs to the Benevolent Protective 
 Order of Elks, the Odd Fellows society. 
 Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Modern 
 Woodmen camp and the Cigar-Makers Union. 
 He is also a member of the Litchfield tire de- 
 partment and his political support is given the 
 Republican party. He is well known in the
 
 622 
 
 PAST AM) PKESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 city which has always been his home and his 
 genial manner and deference for the opinions 
 of others have made him popular in the social, 
 circles in which he moves. 
 
 SETH E. WASHBURN. 
 
 Seth E. Washbnrn, who follows farming on 
 section 32. Irving township, was horn in Syra- 
 cuse. New York. April IS. 1847. His parents 
 were Thomas D. and Roxanna M. (Joslin) 
 Washburn, both horn on the 25th of April, 
 1819. The father was a graduate of Burr Sem- 
 inary of Vermont, of Phillip Academy, the 
 Andover Academy and Harvard College. He 
 completed a course in Harvard Medical Col- 
 lege and also attended the New York Univer- 
 sity, and in the year 1849 he came to Illinois, 
 establishing his home in Grayviile, but in 1851 
 be removed to Lawrenceville. and in 1856 came 
 to Hillshoro, where he afterward made his home, 
 practicing his profession continuously with the 
 exception of a short period spent in the mili- 
 tarv service of his country. In 1862 he joined 
 the Union Army as assistant surgeon of the 
 One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Vol- 
 unteer Infantry ami during the last eighteen 
 months of the war was post surgeon at Little 
 Rock, Arkansas, lie was always deeply inter- 
 ested in his profession and its advancement, 
 and was likewise active in support of many 
 measures for public progress and improvement 
 in his community. He died September 30, 
 1893, after almost forty years' residence in 
 Montgomery county, in which period he had 
 proved himself a valued citizen. His wife 
 passed away dune 25, L904, at the age of eighty- 
 five years and two months, 
 
 Seth E. Washburn supplemented bis early 
 educational privileges by study in the academy 
 at Hillshoro and also in Jacksonville College. 
 When hut fourteen years of agejie joined the 
 Union army as a messenger boy at Alton. Illi- 
 nois, and in 1864 he regularly enlisted, becom- 
 ing a member of Company H. One Hundred 
 and Forty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. 
 After the close of the war he spent three years 
 in Missouri and three in Kansas, after which 
 he returned to Montgomery county. He has 
 
 made agriculture his life work and about 1875 
 he removed to the place upon which lie now 
 resides, comprising one hundred and nineteen 
 acres of land, which, now under a high state 
 of culivation. is very productive. He also 
 breeds Jersey cattle and has some fine stock 
 upon his place. 
 
 On the 3d of November, 1874. Mr. Wash- 
 burn Mas united in marriage to Miss Josephine 
 M. Richmond, who was born in 1850 and is 
 a daughter of William and Harriet Newell 
 (Doty) Richmond. The father was born in 
 Licking county, Ohio, in 1822. and followed 
 the occupation of farming. The mother was 
 horn in 1824 and died in 1855, being bug 
 survived by Mr. Richmond, who departed this 
 life in 1886. He had come to Montgomery 
 county with his parents. Henry W. and Eliza 
 Richmond, in the early '40s. and the grand- 
 father of Mrs. Washburn died here in 1874, 
 while his wife, who was a native of Trenton. 
 New Jersey, passed away in ls80. Unto Mr. 
 and Mrs. Washburn have been horn three chil- 
 dren: Ruth, who died at the age of eleven 
 months; Harriet E., the wife of J. B. Turner, 
 Jr.. of Montgomery county; and William B., 
 who is married and lives in Hillshoro, Illinois. 
 Mr. Washburn belongs to F. D. Hubble Post, 
 No. in". G. A. R.. of Hillshoro, and the Mod- 
 ern Woodmen Camp, while his wife is a mem- 
 ber of the Congregational church. His political 
 allegiance is given to the Republican party 
 and he is now highway commissioner, also school 
 trustee and has been assessor of his township. 
 Few men of his age can boast of military ex- 
 perience and service in the Civil war. Since 
 that time he has lived the quiet but useful and 
 honorable life of the farmer and in his busi- 
 ness career has not onl\ gained success but 
 has also made a name which is synonymous 
 with straightforward dealing in his community. 
 
 W. F. SCHLUCKEBIER. 
 
 W. F. Schluckebier, who is living in Fast 
 Fork township on what is the old family 
 homestead, was born May 21, 1871, his par- 
 ents lieing Christian and Fredericka ( Ort- 
 niver) Schluckebier. His father was born in
 
 S. E. WASHBURN. 
 
 MRS. S. E. WASHBURN. 
 
 WILLIAM RICHMOND. 
 
 MRS. T. I). WASHBURN. 
 
 DR. T. D. WASHBURN.
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 .ANA
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 625 
 
 Waldeek, Prussia, Germany, on the 22d of 
 February, 1829, and is, therefore, seventy-five 
 years of age. lie remained in his native 
 country during the period of his boyhood and 
 youth and for some years after attaining his 
 majority, hut when twenty-eight years of age 
 arrived in St. Louis, .Missouri. He secured 
 employment as a farm hand in the vicinity 
 of thai city, where he remained for about live 
 or six years. On the expiration of that 
 period he took a half interest with the Krumel 
 Brothers in a rented farm of forty-five acres. 
 now lying within the corporation limits of 
 St. Louis, which they operated in 1861 and 
 1862. They paid for this a rental of four 
 hundred dollars per year and Mr. Sehlucke- 
 hier remained thereon for about ten years. He 
 then came to the old home place in East Fork 
 township, Montgomery county, establishing 
 his home thereon aboui thirty-four years ago. 
 'The place comprised one hundred ami twenty- 
 two acres at the time of his purchase, hut lie 
 afterward added to this until he had four 
 hundred and twenty-four acres in the home 
 tract and one hundred and twenty acre- in 
 Bond county. Upon his farm he was largely 
 engaged in the raising id' cattle and hay. 
 When he arrived in St. Louis he had hut 
 three dollars. lie is a self-made man for all 
 thai he now possesses has been acquired 
 through his unfaltering enterprise and labor. 
 He made enough within ten years to pn\ lor 
 one hundred and twenty acres of land and his 
 example is one well worthy of emulation, show- 
 ing what can he ace plished by unfaltering 
 
 diligence, careful economy and strong pur- 
 pose. <»n the l.Mh of October, 1861, in St. 
 Louis, he married Fredericka Ortmyer, who 
 was born in Germany in 1834, and died De- 
 cember 26, 1873. In June of the following 
 year he was again married in Shelby county, 
 Illinois, his second anion being with Doretta 
 Hazelmyer, who died January 18, 1878. Il'i 
 now resides upon the old home place with the 
 subject of this review and has retired from 
 farm life, enjoying now a well merited rest. 
 Of his three children. Julia, who died Au- 
 gusl 25, 1903, was the wife of Omer Cooper, 
 Mary F., the older daughter, is the wife of 
 Allie Edwards. 
 
 W. I''. Schluekebier, the only son, attended 
 school in Donnellson, Illinois, pursuing his 
 studies through tin' winter months, while in 
 the summer seasons he worked upon the old 
 home farm. At the age of twenty-two years he 
 entered upon an independent hiisiness career 
 by renting Land from his father. This he 
 operated for eight years. Me then purchased 
 half of the tract and his father gave liini the 
 other half, so that he now lias four hundred 
 and twenty-four acres. His sister was given 
 one hundred ami twenty-five acres of another 
 farm, lie has Mwavs been very successful as 
 a farmer and his familiar.! v with modern 
 husiness methods is shown by his capable and 
 successful conduct of his farm. He built the 
 barn upon his place, 1ml his father erected 
 the rest of the buildings except the house. 
 This is now ;i well improved property and Mr. 
 Schluekebier keeps everything about the 
 place in excellent repair. 
 
 Near Donnellson, February Li, 1898, was 
 celebrated the marriage of W. 1-'. Schluekebier 
 and Miss Louisa M. Heckel, who was born in 
 Grisham township. October 27, 1868. Her 
 parents were Jacob ami Wilhelmina (Hei- 
 fers) Meckel, the former born in Alsace-Lor- 
 raine, Germany, August IS, 1840, and the lat- 
 ter near Hanover, Germany, June 6, 1851. 
 The father came to America in 1841 and first 
 settled near Belleville, Illinois, hut in 1866 
 came lo Montgomery county and he and his 
 wife are now living in Grisham township. 
 Of their seven children four are still living, 
 namely: Louisa M., wife of our subject; 
 
 Lotta, wile of Fred Km I. of Gris'iam 
 
 township; and John and Bertha, both at 
 home. Mr. and Mrs. Schluekebier have four 
 children: Nellie M., horn January 22, L899; 
 Charles ('.. horn October 21, 1900; Minnie A.. 
 horn . I line 22, 1902; ami Mary L.. horn Feb- 
 ruary (I, 1904. 
 
 ilrs. Schluekebier is a member of the Pres- 
 byterian church ami Mr. Schluekebier gives 
 his political support to (lie Republican pari v. 
 of which his father has also been an advocate 
 for a long period. Mr. Schluekebier is an old 
 settler, representing one of the pioneer fami- 
 lies of the county and his life-long experience 
 at farming has made him very capable m the
 
 626 
 
 PAST AMi PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 department of industry which he has chosen 
 as his regular occupation. 
 
 MRS. MARY EMILY BECK. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Emily Beck, residing in Hills- 
 bo ro, is one of the native citizens of Mont- 
 gomery county and has lung been a witness of 
 the development and [ingress here that have 
 wrought great changes and placed this county 
 on a par with the leading counties of the com- 
 monwealth. Mrs. Beck was born in Hillsboro 
 township in 1842. Her father, Michael Smith 
 Harry, was a native of Kentucky, born in 1818, 
 and when fourteen years of age he was 
 brought Id Montgomery county by his parents, 
 Richard and Nancy (Smith) Barry, who lo- 
 cated in Hillsboro township, where the grand- 
 father of Mrs. Beck followed the occupation of 
 farming. The family is of English lineage and 
 representatives of the name moved from Vir- 
 ginia to Kentucky at an early period in the de- 
 velopment of the latter state. 
 
 Michael S. Barry was reared on the old 
 family homestead in Montgomery county, also 
 became a farmer by occupation and for many 
 years carried on agricultural pursuits, thus 
 acquiring a competency and providing a com- 
 fortable living fo r his family. lie was reared 
 in the Baptist faith, and in his political views 
 he was originally a Whig, hut upon the or- 
 ganization of the Republican party he joined 
 its ranks. His death occurred in L899, when 
 be was more than eighty years of age. His 
 wife, wlio bore the maiden name of Elizabeth 
 Clotfelter, was horn in North Carolina in 1815 
 and died in 1858. She was the daughter of 
 David and Nancy (Short) Clotfelter. Her 
 father started for Montgomery county when 
 this district was just opening up to civilization, 
 but died ere he reached his destination. The 
 others of the family came to the west. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Barn became the parents of three chil- 
 dren: Mary Emily: John Richard, who died 
 in early manhood in 1872; and Amos, a resident 
 farmer of Hillsboro township. 
 
 Mary Emily Barry spent her childhood days 
 in her parents' home and was trained to the 
 duties of the household. She acquired her edu- 
 
 cation m the district schools and afterward en- 
 gaged in teaching, but in 1864 she gave her 
 hand in marriage to George W. Beck, who was 
 born in Maine in 1837. He was brought to 
 Montgomery county, Illinois, when but three 
 years of age by his parents, Thomas and 
 Isabel Beek. In their family were nine 
 children. George W. Beck acquired Ins educa- 
 tion in the district schools, was trained to farm 
 labor, and throughout the greater part of his 
 life carried on agricultural pursuits. lie was 
 seventeen years of age at the time of his 
 father's death ami he then started out to make 
 his own way in the world. He had no capital, 
 but he possesssed strong resolution, determined 
 courage and energy, and as the years passed he 
 succeeded in acquiring a competency, and in 
 1886 he put aside business cares and removed 
 to Hillsboro. where he lived retired until called 
 to bis final home on April 20, 1896. 
 
 At the time of the Civil war Mr. Beck 
 espoused the Union cause and enlisted, in 
 July. 1861, as a member of Company E of the 
 First Illinois Cavalry. He was taken prisoner 
 at Lexington. Missouri, in 1862, and ^oon aft- 
 erward was given his parole. He then returned 
 home, and in 1864 he was drafted for service, 
 but having a parole he sent a substitute. He 
 held the rank of first sergeant and was mus- 
 tered out at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, after 
 which he was honorably discharged, lie had 
 one \erv narrow escape in battle, his collar but- 
 ton being shot away by a rebel bullet. Had the 
 bullet swerved even a fractional part of an 
 inch he would have been wounded. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beck were bom seven 
 children: Carrie Adelaide, who married Amos 
 Edwards and lives in East Fork township ; Amy 
 Alice, who became the wife of George Seymour 
 and died in 1898: Elizabeth, who married S'e- 
 born Emery and is living in Hillsboro; Edith 
 ('., the wife of Fred Ludwig, a merchant of 
 St. Louis: Charles II.. who died in infancy; 
 Roscoe E.. who is living on the old homestead; 
 ami Man Isabel, who is at home with her 
 mother. 
 
 Mr. Beck was reared in the faith of the Meth- 
 odist church, with which he was long identified, 
 hut in his later years he joined the Presbyte- 
 rian church, to which his widow now belongs.
 
 UNiV! JNOIS
 
 GEORGE W. BECK.
 
 MRS. MAEY E. BECK.
 
 UNWEPT GF HXH
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OF MOXTCOM KKY Col'NTY 
 
 63 J 
 
 His life was ever upright and honorable, being 
 in consistent harmony with his professions. 
 There were no exciting chapters in his career, 
 yet his history proves the force of energy and 
 capable management in the active affairs of 
 life. Wishing to gain a competence, he placed 
 his dependence upon the substantial qualities 
 of untiring labor, careful management, and 
 upon these foundation stones he built Ids suc- 
 cess, lie won the warm regard of his many 
 friends by his fidelity to every duty, and in 
 his own home he was a devoted husband and 
 father. 
 
 II. C. HAWKINS. 
 
 11. ( '. Hawkins, a retired farmer now re- 
 siding in Donnellson. is enjoying the fruits 
 of his former toil, for in earlier years he fol- 
 lowed agricultural pursuits and worked ear- 
 nestly and energetically to gain a competence 
 to be enjoyed by him in the evening of life. 
 He is one of Illinois' native sons, his birth 
 having occurred in Georgetown, Vermilion 
 county, January 21. 1845. His parents were 
 Cozba and Sarah (Milner) Hawkins. His 
 father was horn in Kentucky, September 26. 
 1815, and with his parents came to Illinois 
 where amid pioneer conditions he was reared. 
 After attaining his majority he married Miss 
 Sarah Milner. who was also born in Kentucky. 
 June 24, 1813, and they became the parents 
 of seven children, of whom two are now living: 
 H. C. and Madison, who is a resident of Ok- 
 lahoma. The father died November 6, 1889, 
 and the mother passed away April 1. 1893, 
 The Hawkins family was established in Illi- 
 nois at a \er\ early period in its development, 
 for the grandfather of our subject settled 
 within the herders of the state before Chicago 
 was a town. The great prairies were unbroken 
 and over them roamed wild deer. Almost the 
 entire state still waited the awakening touch 
 of civilization to make the field productive. 
 
 Mr. Hawkins was reared in Montgomery 
 county from the age of twelve years, for his 
 father brought the family to this county in 
 March, 1857. He was but a youth of seven- 
 teen years when he responded to the country's 
 
 call for aid, his patriotic spirit being aroused 
 by the attempt of the south to overthrow 
 the Union. He enlisted in Company B, One 
 Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, 
 and was always with Ids company, participat- 
 ing in many important, engagements, includ- 
 ing the battles of Tupelo, Nashville, Port 
 Blakeley, and many others, over thirty in all. 
 lie was also in the movements of the Red River 
 Campaign and the battle id' Mobile. He was 
 never wounded or captured, although he was 
 in a number of hotly contested engagements 
 and never faltered in the performance of any 
 duty. When the company was organized he was 
 then the youngest member and after the close 
 of the war he was mustered out, receiving an 
 honorable discharge in Springfield in 1865. 
 He now has in his possession three cents in 
 paper money, which he drew from the pay- 
 master at Montgomery, Alabama, while in 
 the army. 
 
 11. ('. Hawkins then returned to Montgomery 
 county and in connection with his brother 
 rented his father's farm, while later he began 
 farming on his own account, continuing to 
 conduct the old homestead alone for six years. 
 He then purchased eighty acres of land in 
 East Fork township and afterward added 
 forty aires additional. Still he continued to 
 aihl to the place as opportunity afforded and 
 his financial resources permitted until he now 
 has two hundred and forty acres in East Pork 
 township. Il>' also has some property in Don- 
 nellson and in Grisham township where he was 
 engaged in general farming and stock-raising. 
 
 On the 27th of November, 1867, Mr. Haw- 
 kins was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. 
 Donnell, who was horn April 25, 1847. Her 
 father. T. ( '. Donnell, was born in Greenbury. 
 Guilford county. North Carolina, August 12 
 1812, and died March 21, 1904, in this county. 
 The town of Donnellson was named in his 
 honor, for he entered the land from the gov- 
 ernment and resided thereon for sixty-six 
 years, being ninety-one years of age at the 
 time of his death. He was one of the most 
 venerable and honored citizens of the county 
 ami took a very active and helpful part in pro- 
 moting its progress and upbuilding. A strong 
 Republican in politics, he never missed an
 
 632 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 election but did nut care for office. Religiously 
 both he and his wife were members of the 
 Presbyterian church. She bore the maiden 
 name of Jane Findley, was hum in Wilson 
 county, Tennessee, March 11, 1812, ami died 
 July 31. 1900. Thc\ were married on Pleas- 
 ant Prairie, two miles northwest of Sorento, 
 Illinois, and were the parents of ten children, 
 iif whom two died in infancy, while eight 
 grew to mature years and seven are still liv- 
 ing, namely: Nancy, the wile of Rev. W. \\ . 
 M. Barber, of Windsor, Illinois; John M., a 
 resident of Wilber, Oregon: George W., of 
 Shelbyville, Illinois; James G., of Donnellson; 
 Sarah, wife of B. F. McLean, living near 
 Donnellson; Mary .1.. wife of our subject; 
 and Thomas E., living near Donnellson. 
 
 Both Mr. ami Mrs. Hawkins belong to the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian church and Mr. 
 Hawkins is also a member of the Grand Army 
 Posi of Hillsboro. In politics he is a Repub- 
 lican and while he has never sought or desired 
 office for himself he has vet given stalwart 
 support to the principles of bis party and 
 keeps well informed on the questions and is- 
 sues of the day. He is. moreover, an enter- 
 prising business man who deserves much 
 credit for what he has accomplished as be 
 bad only three dollars when he started out in 
 life for himself; Nearly all that be possesses 
 has been acquired through Ins diligence and 
 capable management and his farming property 
 is the visible evidence of bis life of thrift and 
 industrv. 
 
 .TOITX M. WAGGONER. 
 
 Prominent at ig the business men of Wag- 
 goner and the representatives of farming inter- 
 est- in the northwest part of Montgomery 
 county is John M. Waggoner, a man of rare 
 capacity and enterprise, who lias been an im- 
 portant factor in community interests and 
 wdiose labors have resulted not only in benefit to 
 himself, but have also promoted general prog- 
 ress and the substantial growth of his locality. 
 He is the president of the Bank of Waggcner 
 and as a farmer and stoekdealer has extensive 
 interests, owning a large and well improved 
 
 tract of land, covering more than six hundred 
 acn s. 
 
 The life record of ibis gentleman is a credit 
 to Montgomery county, for he is numbered 
 among her native sons, his birth having oc- 
 curred on the old family homestead in Pitman 
 township on the 8th of March. 1864. His 
 father, George W. Waggoner, was born in 
 Hardin county. Kentucky, October S. 1826, and 
 was a -on of Adam and Mary A. (Terry) Wag- 
 goner, who were among the early settlers that 
 removed from theBlueGrass state to Illinois. 
 Adam Waggoner established his home in Jersey 
 county when its population was limited, the 
 work of upbuilding and development being 
 scarcely begun there. It was in Jersey county 
 that George W. Waggoner was reared. He was 
 united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth McCul- 
 lougb. who was born in Rockingham county, 
 Virginia. March 22, IS'.';, and in 1833 re- 
 moved to Macoupin county, Illinois, where they 
 were married on the 2d day of December, 1851. 
 
 Early in the '.Mis George W. Waggoner pur- 
 chased land in Pitman township. Montgomery 
 county, also entered some land from the gov- 
 ernment and thus acquired possession of sev- 
 eral hundred acres. Before him lay the ardu- 
 ous task of developing a new farm, but be reso- 
 lutely set to work to reclaim the tract for the 
 purposes of cultivation and in due course of 
 time reaped harvests as the reward of bis labors. 
 He died in the prime of life, passing away 
 September 29, 1866, a! the age of forty year-, 
 hut already he had achieved success that many 
 an older man might well envy. His wife, sur- 
 viving him. capably reared their family, doing 
 a mother's full duty to her children. Their 
 family numbered four sons, all of whom reached 
 mature years. Horace G., who was the eldest, 
 was married and was then engaged in farming 
 and stock-raising. He later established the 
 Banli at Waggoner and was the president and 
 manager of that institution until his death in 
 September, 1901. His loss was deeply deplored 
 by many friends and was also felt in the busi- 
 ness circles of the town. George P. Waggoner, 
 the second son. is a prominent farmer of Pit- 
 man township: and Henry Q. Waggoner is the 
 third son. Sketches of these gentlemen will 
 be found elsewhere in this volume.
 
 MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. WAGGONER.

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 635 
 
 John M. Waggoner, the youngest son, was 
 
 reared to maul I on tl M homestead and 
 
 as soon as old enough took charge of the farm, 
 which lie operated successfully for a number of 
 years. At length he succeeded to a part of the 
 estate, including the old home and he yet owns 
 that property. In connection with his farm 
 interests he lias been very actively and largely 
 engaged in the stock business, raising, feeding, 
 buying and shipping stock, his broad and prac- 
 tical experience in youth making him well 
 qualified to carry on business on his own ac- 
 count and his farming interests are now ex- 
 tensive and valuable, while the products of Iris 
 place bring a gratifying financial return, owing 
 to the careful management which he displays 
 in his stock-raising interests and the capable 
 manner in which the fields are cultivated. After 
 the death of his eldest brother he succeeded 
 to the presidency of the Bank of Waggoner, 
 but continued to reside upon the farm until the 
 fall of 1903, when he removed to an attractive 
 residence in the village. He, however, con- 
 tinues to supervise his agricultural interests and 
 yet buys and ships stock. His life is indicative 
 of the progressive, enterprising spirit of the 
 middle west, which lias led to the rapid and 
 substantia] development of this section of the 
 country. 
 
 John M. Waggoner was married on the 7th 
 of November, 1887, to Miss Ella Wall, a native 
 of Montgomery county, who was reared and 
 educated here and is a daughter of John and 
 Sarah Wall, of Pitman township. Mr. and 
 Mi-. Waggoner have had three children: 
 Maude F.. born January 3, 1889; Alice, who 
 was born March 26, 1892, and died June 13, 
 Is'.''.': and J. Marcus, hem October 6, 1899. 
 
 Mr. Waggoner \<>\r* with the Republican 
 party and has firm faith in iis principles, hut 
 has ii" desire for political preferment. His 
 wife is a member of the Christian church and 
 he also attends its services and contributes to 
 its support. Every measure for the genera] 
 good receives his endorsement and in matters 
 of citizenship he is public-spirited, his inter- 
 est in his community being manifest in tangible 
 way by the helpful part he has taken in pro- 
 moting its business development and substantial 
 growth. He is a man of strong individuality, 
 
 of native force of character and persevering 
 spirit and he carries forward to successful com- 
 pletion whatever he undertakes. 
 
 GEORGE SPINNER. 
 
 George Spinner, deceased, who for over 
 thirty years was an honored resident of Mont- 
 gomery county, was born in Baden, Germany, 
 on the 25th of October. 1838, and was a son of 
 Valentine Spinner, also a native of that coun- 
 try. Reared in Baden, George Spinner there 
 became familiar with farming methods, but be- 
 lieving that he might have better business op- 
 portunities in the new world, he disposed of his 
 interests in his native country and crossed the 
 Atlantic to the United Stales, arriving on the 
 tth of July, 1864. 
 
 Making his way into the interior of the 
 country, Mr. Spinner settle,! in Clinton county, 
 Illinois, where he worked by the month for a 
 year and a half, and then engaged in operating 
 rented land for about two years. On the ex- 
 piration of that period he came to Montgomery 
 county in the spring of 1869 and established 
 his homo in East Fork township, renting the 
 farm on which his brother Frank Spinner now 
 resides. In 1871 be purchased the home place 
 which i^ now occupied by his son Louis Spinner. 
 At first he had but seventy acres, which, how- 
 ever, proved the nucleus of more extensive pos- 
 sessions, As bis financial resources increased 
 be added to his property until he bad one hun- 
 dred and seventy acres am] likewise a house 
 and iwo lots in Hillsboro and a house in Cof- 
 fecn at the time of his death, lie brought to 
 this country about eight hundred dollars in 
 gold, which was then at a premium and could 
 have been exchanged for twenty-one hundred 
 dollars in other currency, but he kept il until 
 after tie Civil war was over, at which time lie 
 was i nabled to obtain only a small premium. 
 This money, however, he invested in a team of 
 horses ami besran farming. Tie made for him- 
 self all that he possessed and his life demon- 
 strated the value of industry and perseverance 
 in overcoming obstacles and difficulties in win- 
 nine- prosperity. 
 
 Mr Spinner was married in the spring of 
 lSf>f> to Ernestine Huber and thov became the
 
 636 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 parents of three children, who arc yet living: 
 Louis and Joseph, who are both represented 
 elsewhere in this relume; and Mrs. Ann Buber, 
 a resident of Easl Fork township. Mr. Spin- 
 ner was a Democrat in his political views and 
 was accounted one of the representative men of 
 his township 1 m t always refused to hold public 
 office, lie died January 14. 1901, honored 
 and respected by all who knew him, but his 
 widow is still living, making her home in Hills- 
 boro. 
 
 EDWAED HILT. 
 
 Edward Hilt, a fanner and breeder of fine 
 stock, is living on section 16, Rountree town- 
 ship. He was bom in New Jersey. April 2, 
 1851, a son of Phil and Emma (Ross) Hilt, 
 who were natives of Germany. After emigrat- 
 ing to America they became residents of New 
 Jersey and in lsso they arrived in Montgom- 
 ery county. Illinois, where the father spent his 
 remaining days, his death occurring in 1899, 
 when he was sixty-seven years of age. His first 
 wife died in is:,; and he afterward married 
 her sister Louisa, who is now living in Irv- 
 ing township at the age of sixty-three years. 
 
 Edward Hilt was educated in Jersey county, 
 Illinois, and remained with his parents in his 
 boyhood days, working as a farm lad when not 
 engaged with the duties of the school room, 
 lie was afterward employed as a farm hand 
 by the month until twenty-two years of age 
 ami in 1872 he came to Montgomery county. 
 Here he rented a farm in Rountree township 
 and with characteristic energy and determin- 
 ation began the task of acquiring a capital 
 that would enable him at some future dale to 
 hicnie a landowner. Winn ten years had 
 passed he purchased fifty-three acres and later 
 he sold that property and bought one hundred 
 and seventeen acres, where he now lives, also 
 forty acres additional. He has placed some of 
 the improvements upon this property and has 
 a good farm well equipped with modern con- 
 veniences. He i- engaged in the breeding of 
 Duroc Jersey hogs, having many full blooded 
 animals, and lie also breeds the red polled cattle 
 and keeps a high grade of horses. His fences 
 
 constitute one of the attractive features of his 
 place ami yet his well cultivated fields are 
 worthy of attention and indicate his careful 
 supervision and progressive methods. 
 
 (tn the 10th of July. 1872, Mr. Hilt was 
 married to Miss Haidee Bridge, a daughter of 
 Thomas and Margaret (Parker) Bridge, both 
 of whom were natives of England who came 
 to America about 1849 ami located in Jersey 
 county, Illinois, where they bought land and 
 continued to live until death, dying during the 
 earh girlhood of their daughter. Mrs. Hilt 
 ha- made two trip- to England, where she has 
 enjoyed pleasant visits. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hilt have been horn eleven children: Charles, 
 who is living in Raymond. Illinois; Tessie, 
 the wife of 11. J. Warnsing, of Rountree town- 
 ship; Celia, the wife of William House, of this 
 township: Katie, the wife of John Shore, of 
 the same township: Mabel. Etta. Essie. James, 
 Charlotte and Frances, all at home; and Walter, 
 wdio died at the age of two years. 
 
 Mr. Hilt is a member of the Lutheran 
 church and also belongs to the Mutual Protec- 
 tive League, Xo. 131. of Rountree. His polit- 
 ical views an- in accord with the principles of 
 the Democracy and be has served in some local 
 positions, having been assessor, town master 
 and a member of the school board. In his busi- 
 ness affairs he has won the prosperity which 
 is the direei result of untiring effort and capa- 
 ble management and in his business career he 
 has also gained the respeel and confidence of 
 his fellow men by reason of his straightforward 
 methods. 
 
 BEX ROHLFING. 
 
 Ben Rohlfing, a liquor dealer in Paisley 
 was born in St. Louis, Missouri, September 
 31. 1878, his parents being Christ and Dora 
 (Cassily) Rohlfing. Her father was a brother 
 of Mrs. George T. Seward, of Hillsboro, who 
 is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Christ 
 Rohlfing was born in Hillsboro. while bis 
 wife was a native of Germany. He became a 
 bookkeeper for a commission company of St. 
 Louis, Missouri, and was retained in that po- 
 sition up to the time of his death, which oc-
 
 MB. AND MRS. EDWAED HILT.
 
 LIBRARY 
 UWVi. ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 639 
 
 curred in 1882, when lie was thirty-seven years 
 of age. In the family were five children: 
 William, who is now a gate keeper at the 
 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis; 
 Lulu, the wife of J. L. Kimball, who is en- 
 gineer with the Montgomery Coal Company ; 
 Ben, of this review; George, a shoemaker of 
 St. Louis; and Christ, who died when only 
 two weeks old. 
 
 Ben Rohlfing acquired his education in the 
 schools of St. Louis and after putting aside 
 his textbooks he learned the trade of paper- 
 hanging, which he followed continually until 
 1901, when he came to Paisley and began 
 working in the mines for the Montgomery Coal 
 Company. He was thus employed for two 
 years or until December 10, 1903. He estab- 
 lished a saloon which he is now conducting, 
 having secured a good trade in Paisley which 
 makes his business a profitable one. 
 
 On the 10th of March, 190-1, Mr. Rohlfing 
 was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Lorena 
 Kimball, a daughter of Calvin and Lneretia 
 (Gbeen) Kimball, who were natives of North 
 Carolina and came to Montgomery county 
 about 1869. The father was engaged in farm- 
 ing here for a number of years, but he and his 
 wife are now living in Hillsboro. Mr. Rohl- 
 fing is a member of the Mine Workers' Union 
 and he gives his political allegiance to the 
 Democracy. 
 
 LEWIS McPHERSON. 
 
 Lewis MePherson, a representative farmer 
 and a native son el* Montgomery county, is also 
 
 well known as a member of one of t! Id 
 
 and honored pioneer families of this portion 
 of the state. He was born in Litchfield on 
 the loth of January, L867. His father, .lames 
 II. MePherson, was born in Kentucky, De- 
 cember 13. 1826. and there remained until 
 about twelve years of age, when he accom- 
 panied his parents on their removal to Greene 
 county. Illinois. He was there reared upon a 
 farm amid scenes of frontier life for the work 
 of development and progress was then in its 
 primitive stages in the locality in which the 
 family home was established. He was mar- 
 
 ried there to Rebecca J. Ash ami after his 
 marriage be devoted his attention to the oper- 
 ation of his grist and saw mill. Subsequently 
 he built the first saw mill in Litchfield and 
 did the sawing for the first building of the 
 town. His mill stood near the site of the old 
 Planet mill. In partnership with his brother, 
 William A., he continued in the manufacture 
 of lumber for many years, conducting a suc- 
 cessful business. They removed the saw mill 
 from Litchfield to Zanesville and subsequently 
 to Grisbam township, continuing the business 
 on Slioal creek. There Mr. MePherson was 
 in partnership with William A. Lewis and 
 this relation was maintained from L861 until 
 1885, when he retired from business. About 
 1870 he removed to the farm where he now 
 lives and where he has made his home contin- 
 uously since, with the exception of two years 
 spent near Walshville. His wife passed away 
 in the year 1870. There were six children by 
 that marriage: George, who resides in SI. 
 Louis, where he is shipping agent for the Em- 
 bree & McLean Carriage Company; .Matilda, 
 the wife of Isaac Price, of Hillsboro; Lewi-;; 
 Henrietta, deceased; Lucy; and one' that died 
 in infancy. In his business affairs James 11. 
 MePherson has been very successful and at one 
 time was the owner of eight hundred acres of 
 land, of which he has now about four hundred 
 and forty acres. Of this three hundred acres 
 is bottom land and is very rich and valuable. 
 In 1902 he suffered from a paralytic stroke, 
 which has since confined him to the house. 
 
 Lewis MePherson obtained his education in 
 the common schools and in the business college 
 at Jacksonville. He was married in 1889 to 
 Miss Sarah E. Stevens, ami they have three 
 sens: James S.. Lewis O. and Albert S. 
 
 Mr. MePherson of this review is the owner 
 of one hundred acres id' land adjoining the 
 old homestead and in addition to the operation 
 of his farm he has the managemenl of bis 
 father's estate. Throughout his entire life 
 he has been connected with agricultural in- 
 terests and the practical experience which lie 
 gained in youth has proven of much value to 
 him as be has conducted his private interest-; 
 in later life. In his work be is very progres- 
 sive and determined and hi' utilizes the various
 
 640 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 model methods of farming, which have 
 proven of practical benefit in his work. 
 
 s. W. KESSINGER. 
 S. W. Kessinger, the well known and popular 
 editor of the Litchfield Monitor, who lias been 
 called the historian of Litchfield, was born in 
 that city, September 25, L867, and is a son of 
 Thomas G. and Rebecca I*;. Kessinger. The 
 southern Illinois conference of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church convened in tins city on the 
 da\ of Ins birth and shaped his name to Sam- 
 uel W., the middle initial standing for a name 
 highly honored and respected in Methodist 
 circles. He attended school hero from 1873 
 until 1875. and as the family removed to But- 
 ler in the fall of the latter year he continued 
 his studies in the schools of thai place for four 
 months, hut in January, 1876, they took up 
 their abode in Raymond. Mr. Kessinger re- 
 sinned his education at Litchfield on the 1st 
 of January, 1883, but quit school in March, 
 1884, and entered Blackburn University at Car- 
 linville as a member of the class of 1887. In 
 March, 1887, he lefi college to lake possession 
 of The Monitor, bul was graduated at Black- 
 burn University in dime. 1888, being given 
 the Master's degree by his alma mater in 1894. 
 On the 27th of .Tune. 1888, Mr. Kessinger was 
 united in marriage to Miss Bessie E. Cald- 
 well, of Zanesville, and to them have been 
 horn four children, namely: Harold. Ruth, 
 Samuel W., Jr., and Elizabeth. 
 
 Mr. Kessinger at first leased The Monitor for 
 four years and a half but purchased it from 
 B. S. Hood September 1. 1891, and has now 
 published the paper for eighteen years. This 
 journal is the outgrowth of the Hillsboro Free- 
 Press, established in 1850. In the campaign 
 of 1860 the Free-Press suspended publication 
 and early in the summer of 1863 the Union 
 Monitor was established by the Republicans of 
 this county with John W. Kitchell, of llillshoro 
 and recently of Tana, as editor. Tt published 
 a Litchfield edition, of which B. S. Hood was 
 editor. After undergoing many changes the 
 office was moved to Litchfield in 1807. Since 
 that time it has swallowed several competitors 
 
 and was swallowed h\ a competitor in 1873, 
 hut the name of Monitor was still used. The 
 Monitor has had the following editors: J. W. 
 Kitchell, 1863 to 1865; E. J. C. Alexander, 
 
 1865 to 1867; 1'.. S. II I. 1867 to 1870; 
 
 BaiiL> & Gray, 1870 to 1872; H. A. Coolidge, 
 is;-.' (Kimball & Taylor, owners); Edward 
 Feagan, 1872 (Taylor owner); A. J. Coolidge 
 and George B. Litchfield, L873 to 1874; H. A. 
 Coolidge, 1874 to 1878; 1'.. S. Hood and ('. A. 
 Walker. 1878; B. S. Hood. 1879 to 1881; B. ' 
 
 S. II 1 and John 0. Campbell, 1881 to 1883; 
 
 John <;. Campbell and Charles Hood. 1884 to 
 1885; 1'.. S. Hood. 1885 to 1887 ; Kessinger & 
 Warden, March 1 to November 1, 1885; and 
 S. W. Kessinger, tss; to tin' present time. 
 It will thus he seen that The Monitor has had 
 a number of editors. Xn matter what his 
 abilities may or may not he. it is easy to see 
 that the present editor ha- been at the helm 
 for a longer period than any of his predeces- 
 sors. When lie took control The Monitor was 
 issued weekly, on Saturdays, hut after a vear 
 he changed the day of publication to Friday. 
 In April. 1892, the Daily Monitor was estab- 
 lished and the weekly issued on Thursdays. 
 The Cleveland times struck the country, and 
 this particular section of it. with severity. On 
 the 3d of January. 1896, the daily was discon- 
 tinued and for three years The Monitor was 
 issued weekly, on Thursdays. On the 1st of 
 January. 1899, a somi-weoklv issue of the pa- 
 per was begun, on Tuesday and Friday of each 
 week, and this has been continued up to the 
 present time. 
 
 LEIGHTON W. CLINE. 
 Leighton W. ('line is the proprietor of a 
 Large department store in Litchfield and in his 
 life history he displays the force of business 
 enterprise, capability and keen foresight, for 
 he owes hi- success to hi- own efforts and bis 
 record demonstrates the possibilities that are 
 open to young men of strong determination 
 and ambition. lie is numbered among the na- 
 tive sons of Madison county. Illinois, where 
 his birth occurred in 1866. His father. James 
 W. Cline, was horn in Montgomery county
 
 S. W. KESSTNGEE.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 URBANA
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 643 
 
 near Walshville and became a farmer and 
 stockman. He was also engaged in mercan- 
 tile business at one time and at his death he 
 lilt a good farm and other realty. At the 
 tune of the Civil war he responded to his 
 country's call for aid. enlisting in Company 
 E of the First f llinois Cavalry near the be- 
 ginning of hostilities. He was captured at 
 Lexington, Missouri, by Price, but was after- 
 ward paroled. Subsequently he was drafted, 
 but on account of his parole was discharged. 
 He took part in several engagements and sub- 
 sequent to the war he became a valued mem- 
 ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. He 
 gave his political support to the Republican 
 parti and he was a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church. In early manhood he 
 wedded Mary E. Thompson, a daughter of 
 Rudolph and Susan Thompson. She was horn 
 in Ohio and is living in Litchfield at the age 
 of sixty-live years. Her father was a farmer 
 and came from Ohio to Illinois at an early 
 day, settling in Jersey county, where his last 
 davs were spent. Mr. and Mrs. Cline trav- 
 eled life's journey together for many years 
 and were separated by death in March, 1904, 
 when James W. Cline in his sixth-eighth 
 year was called to bis final rest. They were 
 the parents of four children: Leighton W. ; 
 Chassie, who married F. W. Cooper and is 
 living at Xihvood Illinois: Cullen. who is 
 employed in his brother's store: and J. Sun- 
 ley, who is local editor for the Daily Herald. 
 
 Leighton W. Cline acquired bis education 
 at Carbondale, Illinois, in the State Univer- 
 sity, in the Wesleyan University at Blooming- 
 ton, and in the Blackburn University at Car- 
 linville, Illinois. On leaving school he (al- 
 tered the employ of 1!. F. Milner, a druggist 
 of Litchfield, for whom he worked for nine 
 months. In LSS7 he became identified with 
 business interests of this city as a. merchant. 
 purchasing the grocery store of M. A. Par- 
 rish. There he conducted business Eot seven 
 years as a grocery merchant and then began 
 adding other lines of goods, but bis stock de- 
 veloped from what was a small business in 
 L881 to his fine department store, which is 
 one of the largest enterprises of the kind in 
 this portion of Illinois. He carries a stock 
 
 valued at forty thousand dollars and his store 
 building is forty-four by one hundred and 
 thirty feet, two stories in height with basement, 
 lb' owns this business and he employs twenty- 
 seven people in the conduct of his enterprise. 
 In 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr. Cline 
 ami Miss Delina Cooper, a daughter of Henry 
 and Mary Cooper. Her father is a railroad 
 contractor, is also interested in coal mines and 
 is a large landowner. He is now living at 
 Xihvood and it was in the vicinity of that, 
 town in Macoupin county that Mrs. Cline 
 was bom in 18G6. By her marriage she has 
 become the mother of two children: Gladys 
 and Leighton W. In his political views Mr. 
 Cline is a Republican, who has comprehensive 
 knowledge of the political situation in the 
 country and the questions and issues of the 
 day, but has never soughl office, preferring to 
 devote his attention to his business interests 
 which have developed rapidly under his care- 
 ful management, honorable methods and un- 
 faltering enterprise. He is yet a young man. 
 but has attained a success that many a man 
 of twice his years might well envy. 
 
 GEORGE W. COLLINS. 
 
 George W. Collins, who is the proprietor of 
 a good farm of eighty acres on section 14, 
 Witt township, was born in Urbana, Illinois. 
 onthel5thof October, 1858, his parents being 
 Peter S. and Susan C. (Starling) Collins, 
 who were natives of Lancaster, Fairfield 
 county. Ohio. They started from that place 
 for Oregon, but at Covington, Indiana, while 
 en route, members of the family were taken 
 ill and they remained there for two years. 
 On the expiration of that period they removed 
 to Urbana. where the father engaged in con- 
 tracting and building. He took the contract 
 for the construction of the first street railway. 
 extending from Champaign to Urbana, the 
 motive power for the road being furnished by 
 horses. He also built under contract the first 
 university building at Champaign. He after- 
 ward bought a farm four miles west of Cham- 
 paign, upon which he took up his abode and 
 there he spent his remaining days, dying in
 
 644 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 1mm ;it the age of forty-one years. His wife 
 was again married in July, 1875, becoming the 
 wife of J. H. Van Gundy. Her death also oc- 
 curred near Champaign on the 29th of June, 
 1895, when she was sixty-four years of age. 
 
 George W. Collins was educated in the com- 
 mon schools of Champaign county and in the 
 academv at Logan, Ohio, where he remained 
 until 1875. He then returned to Champaign 
 county, where he made his home until Feb- 
 ruary, 1901, when he came to Montgomery 
 county and purchased eighty acres of land on 
 section 14, Witt township, upon which he now 
 resides. He was also among those who pur- 
 ehased coal lands in this county in (ho spring 
 of 1904. Trior to coming to this county he 
 spent fourteen years as a traveling salesman, 
 first selling school supplies and later hard- 
 ware and machinery. He has made for him- 
 self an enviable record as an honorable busi- 
 uess man and is now displaying the same char- 
 acteristic enterprise and perseverance in the 
 control of his agricultural interests. 
 
 On the Huh of February, 1882, Mr. Col- 
 lins was married to Miss Lida M. Gehrig, a 
 daughter of Charles F. and Johanna M. Geh- 
 rig, both of whom were natives of Baden. 
 Germany. After a residence of some time in 
 Michigan they removed to Champaign county, 
 Illinois, in 1871, and the father there engaged 
 in farming, although ho was a millwright by 
 trade. On the 1 3 th of November, L895, when 
 sixty-three years of age, ho was called to his 
 final rest, hut his widow is still living and 
 makes her homo at Seymour, Illinois, at the 
 age of seventy-two years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
 Collins have been born four children: Charles 
 P.. who is twenty-one years of ago: Jesse J., 
 aged seventeen years; Frank II.. fifteen years 
 old; anfl Floyd S., who is four years of age. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Collins hold membership in 
 the Methodist Episcopal church, taking an 
 interested and helpful part in its various ac- 
 tivities, and Mr. Collins is superintendent of 
 the Union Sunday school at Prairie Chapel. 
 Ho is also a school trustee of Witt township 
 and he gives his political allegiance to the 
 Republican party. Fraternally he is eon- 
 Etei I'd with Seymour lodge. No. 507. T. O. O. 
 F. Without an\ special family or pecuniary 
 
 advantages to aid him at the outset of his ca- 
 reer he has steadily worked his way upward 
 in the business world and is now the possessor 
 of a good farm. lie has also, by a genial 
 manner and unfailing courtesy, gained many 
 friends, who entertain for him genuine re- 
 spect. 
 
 FEED MONDHINK. 
 
 I' I'd Mondhink is a prominent fanner and 
 stock-feeder and shipper of Montgomery coun- 
 ty. That his business affairs bave been capa- 
 bly conducted along modern, progressive lines 
 is indicated by the fact that his possessions have 
 been increased and he is now the owner of four 
 hundred and twenty acres of land which is pro- 
 ductive and yields to him good harvests. He 
 was horn in .Madison county. Illinois. .March 
 25, 1849, his parents being Henry and Char- 
 lotta Mondhink. The father was a native of 
 Germany and there spent the days of his boy- 
 fa I and youth, while in that country he was 
 
 also married. Believing that he might have bet- 
 ter business opportunities in the new world, he 
 severed the tics that hound him to his native 
 land and crossed the Atlantic to the United 
 States. Making his way direct to Illinois, he 
 settled in Madison county and there reared his 
 family. 
 
 Fred Mondhink spent the days of his early 
 youth on i\\r old family homestead in Madison 
 county and in Litchfield. Hi- educational 
 privileges were quite limited, ami in fad he is 
 largely a self-educated man. lie began work- 
 ing when a small boy for neighboring fanners. 
 and being employed in the fields ho assisted in 
 the plowing and planting, receiving for his 
 services twenty-five cents per day. lie worked 
 as a farm hand both before and after the Civil 
 war. and later he rented a tract of hind which 
 he cultivated for twelve years. His economy 
 and careful management during that period 
 brought to him the capital that enabled him. 
 in 1881, to become the purchaser of a tract 
 of land of one hundred and sixty acres. He lo- 
 cated upon this farm in 1882 and it has since 
 been his home. That quarter section formed 
 the nucleus of his present valuable possessions.
 
 UNIV; ILLINOIS
 
 MR. AND MRS. FRED MoNMII \ K
 
 ME. AND MRS. HENRY M()NI>III\K.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 649 
 
 As his financial resources increased he extended 
 the boundaries of his farm from time to time 
 by additional purchases until he now has four 
 hundred and twenty acres of as rich land as 
 can be found in central [llinois, and no better 
 farming country is seen in all the United States 
 than is here found. He lias erected a large 
 residence, attractive in appearance, and has 
 also built substantia] barns and made other im- 
 provements which add to the value and attract- 
 ive appearance of the place and also indicate 
 his progressive, practical spirit. He is dealing 
 
 in stock-, buying, shipping and £ ling, and 
 
 he always lias good grades of cattle and horses 
 upon his place. In recent years he has fed 
 from three 1" four carloads each year, and his 
 stock-deal in^' interests have proven an im- 
 portant source of income to him. < In cue oc- 
 casion he shipped five carloads and at another 
 time he purchased seven carloads of cattle 
 from niie person, lie is now one of the most 
 extensive stock-dealers in this part of Illinois, 
 and the purchase just mentioned was one of the 
 largest ever made by a stock-dealer of this 
 locality. Tn July. 1903, he formed a partner- 
 ship with ('. F. Mondhink. 
 
 Mr. Mondhink was married on the farm 
 which is new Ins home, October 26, 1871, the 
 lady nf his choice being Ann Eliza Wray, a 
 native of Montgomery county, born upon this 
 farm and a daughter of James W. Wray, whose 
 birth occurred in Sangamon county and who 
 became one of the early settlers of this part of 
 the slate. Sis children ha\e been horn unto 
 Mr. and Mrs. Mondhink: Mary, who died at 
 the age of three months: Lulu, who reached 
 mature years, was married and died at the age 
 of twenty-three years; Lottie: Charles II., 
 Harry II. : and Perlie. 
 
 Mr. Miiiidliink's study of the political ques- 
 tions and issues of the day has led him to give 
 his vote to the Republican parly, but he never 
 peeks nor desires office, preferring to give his 
 undivided attention to his business affairs. He 
 is a Master Mason, belonging to the blue lodge 
 at Raymond. Throughout his entire life he 
 has resided in Illinois and is closely identified 
 with the people and the development of Mont- 
 gomery county. He started upon his business 
 career empty-handed and had no assistance 
 
 from friends or Family, but he realized the 
 value of unfaltering labor and economy, and 
 owing to his frugality and good business judg- 
 ment has worked his way steadily upward un- 
 til he is now one of the substantial men of his 
 community, who has gained not only success, 
 luil also has won the honorable name that is 
 the result of strict integrity and an upright 
 character. 
 
 A. G. BUTLER. 
 
 A. (i. Butler, who has been active and prom- 
 inent in public affairs in Montgomery county, 
 being recognized as one of the leaders of the 
 Democratic party, is now the owner of a well 
 improved farm of three hundred and twenty 
 acres in Fillmore township, and his business 
 career, like his political record, is creditable 
 and commendable. A native of Tennessee, he 
 was born in Buenavista, Carroll county, 
 January 1, 1839, and is a son of ('. ,1. and 
 Martha .1. Butler. lli^ father was born in 
 North Carolina, but was reared m Tennessee, 
 in winch state he began farming on bis own 
 account, lie remained there until 1865, when 
 he came to Illinois, settling near Ramsey, 
 where he spent his remaining days. His wile 
 died several years after the establishment of 
 their home near Ramsey. 
 
 A. G. Butler is indebted to the public 
 school system of his native stale for the edu- 
 cational privileges he enjoyed. lie was reared 
 upon his father's farm and in 1860 he came 
 to Montgomery county, Illinois, with Ins 
 elder brother, arriving here during the time 
 of the political campaign when Lincoln was 
 candidate for the presidency. He started in 
 business with an uncle in a store at Donnell- 
 son and continued in that for three years. 
 
 About that linn Mr. Butler was married, 
 being in March. L866, joined in wedlock to 
 Miss V. J. Casey, a daughter of John G. and 
 Dmiisa Casey, who were residents of Fillmore 
 township. Her father was an early settler 
 and very prominent man and had a wide ac- 
 quaintance in (he community where he made 
 his home. Mrs. Butler was an only child and 
 by her marriage she has become the mother 
 of five children, of whom two died in infancy.
 
 650 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 while three are still living, namely: Charles 
 F., who resides upon the home farm; Ora J., 
 who is living near Chapman; and Louisa, the 
 wife of J. J. Alexander, Jr., of Fillmore 
 township. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Butler began farm- 
 ing upon the old family homestead and has 
 made most of the improvements there. He 
 now owns three hundred and twenty acres of 
 land and he gave to each of his three children 
 eighty acres, lie is largely devoting his at- 
 tention to the raising of stock, having line 
 cattle, hogs and sheep upon his place and the 
 grain which he raises is used for feeding. Be- 
 ing an excellent judge of stock he always 
 makes judicious purchases and because his an- 
 imals arc of good breeds the\ find a ready 
 salo upon tire market. Moreover, he is al- 
 ways reliable in his business transactions and 
 as his word is trustworthy he has in business 
 circles a reputation which is enviable. 
 
 Since L863 Mr. Butler has been a member 
 of the Masonic lodge at Fillmore and prior to 
 that time he held membership relations with 
 the Masons at Ramsey, Payette county. He 
 also took the chapter degrees in Eillsboro and 
 is now a Royal Arch Mason. He likewise be- 
 longs to the Modern Woodmen camp and in 
 his life he exemplifies the beneficent spirit of 
 these fraternities. His study of political 
 questions has led him to give earnest alle- 
 giance to the Democracy and on that ticket be 
 has been elected to several positions, including 
 that of a highway commissioner. He was 
 supervisor for a number of years and in 1878 
 he was elected sheriff of Montgomery county, 
 receiving the largest majority of any man ever 
 elected in the county, his opponent Icing Wil- 
 liam Bolles. In office lie lias always been loyal 
 to the duties which have devolved upon him 
 and bis fidelity has been one of the notable 
 elements in his career. He has ever taken an 
 active interest in all that he has believed would 
 prove beneficial to the town and county and 
 has been the promoter of many public enter 
 prises. About six years ago be removed from 
 his farm to Fillmore and now employs a man 
 to conduct the place, while be gives to it gen- 
 era] supervision, hut is not actively engaged 
 in the labor of raisins grain and slock-. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Butler hold member- 
 ship in the Methodist Episcopal church, with 
 which they have been identified for twelve or 
 fourteen years and the) have taken a most 
 helpful interest in church work in Fillmore, 
 contributing generously to its support and 
 doing all in their power to advance the causa 
 of Christianity. Mr. Butler's life has at all 
 times been in harmony with his professions 
 and his is. therefore, an untarnished career, 
 such as commands good will and confidence 
 in every land. 
 
 DAVID DAVIS. 
 
 David Davis, deceased, was one of the early 
 pioneers who did much to promote the welfare 
 and growth id' the city of Litchfield. In young 
 manhood he settled in this city, and throughout 
 a business career covering more than forty 
 rears. was connected with almost every pro- 
 ject for the advancement of the city. He was 
 born in Madison county. Illinois, in December, 
 1838, and received his education in that coun- 
 ty. At tbi' age id' sixteen years lie came to 
 Litchfield with hi- father. David Davis, Sr., 
 and after serving various merchants as book- 
 keeper for a period of about two years, lie em- 
 harked in the grocery business in an old frame 
 building on East Edwards street. He was one 
 of the first grocers in the city, and prospered 
 from the start. In 1871 ho erected a large 
 three-story brick building at the corner of State 
 and Edwards streets, and embarked in the 
 
 wholesale business. 
 
 In 1870 he became a stockholder in the 
 Litchfield Bank, and the following year became 
 president of that institution. Shortly after- 
 ward the concern was reorganized under the 
 name of Beach. Davis & Company, and Mr. 
 Davis was actively engaged in the management 
 of the business until he retired from business, 
 about the year 1892. 
 
 He was an uncompromising Republican and 
 filled many positions of trust, lie served sev- 
 eral terms as mayor, and was at one time presi- 
 dent of the school board, lie also served sev- 
 eral terms as alderman. On December 23, 
 L867, he married Miss Blanche Keating, of 
 Rockbridge. Greene county, who with four
 
 ££^?, 
 
 u 
 
 a^y-i^
 
 

 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY (OIVI'Y 
 
 653 
 
 children: Captain David Davis, of Litchfield; 
 Lieutenanl Edward Davis, Eleventh Cavalry, 
 United States Amu ; Miss Etegina Davis, and 
 Mrs. Blanche Crabb, of Litchfield, survive him. 
 Mr. Davis died in April. 1898, the evening be- 
 fore In- sons were to Leave for the front in the 
 Spanish-American war. 
 
 David Davis, the father oi the above, was 
 born near Genoa, Italy, of Welsh parents, in 
 1785, and a1 the age of fourteen years came to 
 the United States. In thecityof NewYork he 
 [earned the baker's trade and came west, locat- 
 ing in St. Louis when it was nothing more than 
 a typical French village. He served for five 
 years in the regular army, during which time 
 hr participated in the war of 1812. In the 
 battle of Queenstown he was wounded by a saber 
 and was taken prisoner and as such was taken 
 to Boston, where he endured all of the hard- 
 ships of war. At the close of the war lie re- 
 turned to St. Louis, where he resided until about 
 1837, when he moved to Madison county, Illi- 
 nois, and engaged in farming. In 1856, two 
 years after the establishment of the town, he 
 moved to Litchfield, and for years was engaged 
 in business with his son. He died in 1872, at 
 the advanced age of eighty-seven years, re- 
 spected by all who knew him. 
 
 The present David Davis was horn in Litch- 
 field. September 1'.'. 1868, and was reared and 
 educated here. At an early age lie accepted a 
 position in the bank with which his father was 
 associated, remaining there until he became 
 connected with the Litchfield Gas & Electric 
 Company, of which he is secretary and man- 
 ager, lie is also largely interested in the 
 Reach & Lang Milling Company, and in the 
 Illinois Brick & Tile Company. He is also 
 
 chairman of the committe i industries of the 
 
 Litchfield Hoard .if Trade, and to his untiring 
 efforts is ilue the location of the Litchfield 
 plant of the American Radiator Company, an 
 institution which has done much to lift Litch- 
 field from a state of great financial depression. 
 Mr. Davis is a tireless worker, making the in- 
 terests of Litchfield his own. and depending en- 
 tirely for Ins own success upon the success of 
 his home cil \ . 
 
 lie served during the Spanish-American war 
 as captain of Company K. Fourth Illinois Vol- 
 
 unteer Infantry. He has just completed a 
 term as commander of United Spanish War 
 Veterans, Department of Illinois. He is well 
 known throughout the state in electric circles, 
 as well as others where his extensive business 
 engagements have given him a wide acquain- 
 tance, lie was married February 11. 1893, to 
 Miss Estella Beach, daughter of Henry H. 
 Beach, one of the early citizens and manufac- 
 turers, of Litchfield, who is now a resident of 
 ( 'anon ( 'it v. ( 'olorado. 
 
 His brother, Lieutenant Edward Davis, of 
 the Eleventh Cavalry, United States Army, was 
 also reared and educated hen', graduating from 
 tin 1 Litchfield high school in 1891, and from 
 Cornell University four years later. lie then 
 studied law and began its practice in Chicago. 
 lb' went to the Spanish-American war as sec- 
 ond lieutenant of Company A, First Illinois 
 Volunteer Infantry, and saw service in the cam- 
 paign at Santiago. At the close of the war 
 he enlisted in the Thirty-third United States 
 Volunteers with the rank of captain, and served 
 for almost two years in the Philippines. At 
 the expiration of his term of enlistment he 
 joined the Eleventh cavalry with the rank' of 
 firsi lieutenant. 
 
 JOSEPH SPTXNER. 
 
 Among the resident farmers of East Fork 
 township is numbered Joseph Spinner, who 
 was horn in Clinton county. Illinois, in 1868, 
 and is a son of George ami Ernestine (Huber) 
 Spinner, of whom mention is made on another 
 page of this volume, lie was reareclin East 
 Fork township, where he also attended school. 
 
 g\ g a lair practical English education. In 
 
 hi- youth be assisted in the labors of the home 
 farm and when twenty-five wars of age he 
 started out in life on his own account by as- 
 suming the management of the home place. 
 lie has made many excellent im pro\ ements 
 here and now has a property which is neat 
 and thrifty in appearance, a glance indicat- 
 ing to the passerby the careful supervision of 
 the owner. Mr. Spinner has eighty-five acres 
 of land in East Fork township and he also 
 owns one hundred and eighty acres in Fillmore
 
 65 I 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 township. Ik- has been very successful while 
 farming here, raising both grain and stock, 
 and each branch of his business returns to 
 him a desirable income. He has also made 
 excellent improvements upon the farm in 
 Fillmore township and both properties are 
 valuable. 
 
 Mr. Spinner was married April 11, 1893. 
 by Rev. Father Storp, at St. Louis' Catholic 
 church, Xokomis. to .Miss Lena Huber, a 
 daughter of Andrew Huber, of Witt township, 
 and they now have three living children: 
 Minnie, Genevieve and George. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Spinner are communicants of St. Agnes' Cath- 
 olic church in Hillsboro and he is a Democral 
 in his political affiliations. He is connected 
 with the Equitable Life Insurance Company. 
 Almost his entire life has been passed in East 
 Fork township, so that he has a wide ac- 
 quaintance and Ins many excellent traits of 
 character have made the opinion in which he 
 is uniformly held a favorable one. 
 
 GEORGE ELLIS OLLER. 
 
 George Ellis Oiler, eldest son of his parents. 
 Judge Amos Odor and Ida E. Oiler, was horn 
 October 22, 1879, at the residence of hi- 
 grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Huddleston, 
 nine miles south of Carlinville, Macoupin 
 county. Illinois, lie lias been noted all his 
 Life for his physical and intellectual strength, 
 happy disposition and devotion to his parents, 
 grandparents, brothers and sisters, and for be- 
 ing one of the best workers wherever em- 
 ployed, either in school or on the farm, fac- 
 tory or office of any of bis co-laborers. As 
 -nun a- vacation commenced every season dur- 
 ing his scl I days, from the time he was old 
 
 enough to attend school, hi' speni his holidays 
 on the farm with his grandparents or in some 
 of the factories of the city, earning his own 
 spending money, and when thirteen years old 
 In- grandmother made him foreman of her 
 large stock and grain farm, consisting of over 
 a. sect ion of land. 
 
 At the age of fifteen lie had hauled off and 
 marketed aboul a thousand bushels of wheat. 
 collected the money for liis grandmother, but 
 
 H was after hanking hours, and, having some 
 errands to attend to in the city, he sent his 
 teams out with the other hands and was m- 
 tending to drive out in the buggy after some 
 neees-an repair.- had been made thereon. 
 which detained him until after dark, lie no- 
 ticed a couple of suspicions characters watch- 
 ing him while he was paying the blacksmith for 
 the work, which necessitated him showing the 
 large roll of bills he carried in In.- pocket. 
 Becoming alarmed, but never the least fright- 
 ened, he went and bought a Smith & Wesson 
 revolver, loaded it ami started home, and while 
 passing through a dark and lonely spot in Ma- 
 coupin creek bottom, a mile south of Carlin- 
 ville, he was stopped by two men, one catch- 
 ing hold of the horse's reins and the other pre- 
 senting a pistol toward him. telling him to 
 throw up his hands, hut he had been taught 
 to always carry his weapon in his hand when 
 expecting danger, lie was a crack snapshot 
 and (pucker than a Hash he had tired twice, 
 each shot taking effect on the bandits. The 
 horse, a high-blooded animal, made a lunge, 
 jerked from the one holding it and started 
 down the road at lull speed. He drove heme. 
 delivered the money to bis grandmother, said 
 nothing about what had happened, for fear it 
 might frighten her. hut drove to Litchfield 
 immediately, a distance of twelve miles, to 
 inform bis father of what had transpired. His 
 father secured the services of a noted character, 
 whom he had once defended, to go to Carlin- 
 ville and sei' if be could learn from any of his 
 pals the result id' the shots, and afterward 
 learned that each of the robbers had been se- 
 riously but not fatally wounded and had been 
 taken to a private hospital at St. Louis for 
 treatment, but he could never find out the 
 identity of the parties. That his old client 
 would never reveal. 
 
 Mr. Oiler graduated from the Litchfield 
 high -el I in tin' class of 1899, and soon there- 
 after passed a civil service examination and ac- 
 cepted an appointment under (he Hon. Thomas 
 M. Jett, member of congress, in the census 
 bureau, where he has continued to be promoted 
 from time to time until he is now section chief, 
 and for the past season has been assigned to 
 special work for the department in Iowa, Ne-
 
 GEORGE E. OLLER
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 657 
 
 braska and South Dakota. While in Washing- 
 ton he lias worked sixteen hours a day. eighl 
 of which he lias devoted to his duties in the 
 office and eight attending tin 1 Georgetown Law 
 University, where lie has attended two years, 
 passing high grade examination, and will com- 
 plete the course next spring. 
 
 Mr. Oiler lias no bad habits, and says that 
 in public life he lias been brought in con- 
 tact with all classes of people, but never Eound 
 it necessary to drink in order to associate with 
 his chums. All persons acquainted with Mr. 
 Oiler predict for him a glorious future. 
 
 ROBERT P. BARNARD. 
 
 Robert P. Barnard, classed with the diligent 
 and thrifty fanners of Nokomis township. 
 was horn in Livonia. Livingston county. New 
 York, September II. 1858. His father. Ron- 
 ton Barnard, was also a native of the Empire 
 state and was a lineal descendant of John 
 Alden and Priseilla Mullen-, who came to 
 America in the Mayflower and whose romantic 
 history has formed the basis of many an in- 
 teresting tale. Others of his ancestors were 
 numbered among the heroes of the Revolution- 
 ary war. who fought for independence and 
 Roperl P. Barnard is therefore eligible to 
 membership in the Sons of the American 
 Revolution. Benton Barnard married Lillis 
 P. Smaller and on removing to Illinois in 
 1879 settled in Montgomery county, where he 
 purchased a farm March 2, 1868. One of his 
 sons had already come to this state. He and 
 his wife died upon the farm which is now the 
 home of their son. Robert, the father passirjg 
 away on October, 19, 1885, and the mother on 
 the 10th of November, 1896, hut their remains 
 were taken hack to Livonia. New York, for 
 interment. There were five children in the 
 family: Melvin Monroe, who married Emma 
 Smalley, of Bunker Hill. Illinois, is n<>\\ a 
 farmer of Caldwell, Kansas. Solorj Smalley 
 died and was buried at Livonia. New York. 
 Lillis J. is the wife of George Hoppough, of 
 Livingston county. New York. One son died 
 in infancy. 
 
 Bohert P. Barnard, the youngest, was af- 
 
 forded excellent educational privileges, at- 
 tending the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary of 
 Lima. New York, and completing a course in 
 a business college at Lima by graduation. He 
 afterward spent a year here ami then went to 
 Kansas and later to Oklahoma, where he en- 
 tered into the stock business, which he fol- 
 lowed for two years. He purchased five hun- 
 dred acres of land at that time and has since 
 added one hundred and forty acres to his pos- 
 sessions, which he still owns, lie has carried 
 on farming on his present, place since Decem- 
 ber 17, 1879, and is largely devoting his farm 
 in Kansas to the raising of wheat, securing ex- 
 cellent crops annually, so that lie derives a 
 good income therefrom. He is very progres- 
 sive in his methods, using the latest improved 
 machinery and carries forward his work along 
 modern business lines that indicate his fore- 
 sight and enterprise and have led to his suc- 
 cess. At the present writing Mr. Barnard is 
 filling the position of secretary and general 
 manager of the Peoples Mutual Telephone 
 Company, with lines extending into Christian, 
 Fayette. Bond. Madison and Macoupin coun- 
 ties, with head office in Hillsbcro, Montgomery 
 county, Illinois. 
 
 On the 7th of April, 1891, Mr. Barnard 
 was married to Miss Adelaide 1'. Hamlin, a 
 daughter of Palmer and Jennie (Squire) 
 Hamlin, the former a native of New York 
 and the latter of England. Mr. and Mrs. Bar- 
 nard are the parents of three children, but 
 Virgie. the second, born September 26, 1893, 
 is the only one now living. Leon, horn 
 August 15, 1892, died on the '.'1st of October, 
 of the same year and was buried in Nokomis 
 cemetery. Robert Parker, born January 17, 
 1902. died nn the 20th of the same month. 
 In his political views Mr. Barnard is a Re- 
 publican without political ambition, yet hav- 
 ing a citizen's true interest in the success of 
 his party, because he believes that its plat- 
 form contains the best elements of good gov- 
 ernment. He holds membership with the 
 Mutual Protective League and also with the 
 Methodist church and his career has not only 
 been a successful one, but has also been char- 
 acterized by the commendable qualities which 
 everywhere command respect and confidence.
 
 658 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 BENRY P. KASTIEN. 
 
 Henry P. Kastien, who for eighteen years 
 has been engaged in merchandising in Earvel, 
 has made his home in Montgomery county since 
 the spring of 1883, but his residence in Illi- 
 nois dates from 1865, at which ti he took 
 
 up his abode in Madison county, so that he 
 has long been familiar with this portion of the 
 state, lie is a native of Germany, where his 
 birth occurred September 13, 1849. His lather. 
 Frank ,1. Kastien, also born in that country, 
 was married there to Louisa Sehreve, a native 
 of Germany. They became the parents of four 
 sons anil four daughters, who readied mature 
 years, anil three sons and four daughters are 
 yet living. The second oldesi son came to the 
 new world, Locating first in St. Louis. The 
 father -pent his last years in Madison county. 
 Illinois, where he died in 1901 at the age of 
 eighty-seven years, while his wife passed awa\ 
 in 187 4 at. the age of sixty years. 
 
 Henry P. Kastien spent the firs! seven years 
 of his life in his native country. He had but 
 a short course at a private German school in 
 St. Louis, he is largely a self-educated as well 
 as self-made man. lie crossed the Atlantic to 
 the new world in 1855, arriving in St. Louis, 
 Missouri, on the 31st of December of that year 
 Subsequently he went to Madison county, Illi- 
 nois, where he began work as a farm hand, con- 
 tinuing his residence in that locality until 1883, 
 when he came to Rountree township, Montgom- 
 ery county. Here he continued to engage in 
 agricultural pursuits for four years, at the 
 end of which time he purchased a mercantile 
 establishment in Earvel, containing a line of 
 
 dr\ g Is ami groceries. This he afterward 
 
 traded for a stock of hardware, and is now 
 engaged in the hardware and implement Imsi- 
 ness, in which he has built up a good trade. 
 which is constantly increasing. lie is well 
 Known in Earvel and the surrounding com- 
 munity, is thoroughly identified with its pro- 
 gressive interests, and in his business career 
 displays the sterling traits which command 
 confidence and respect. 
 
 Mr. Kastien was married in Madison county, 
 Illinois. July s. Is; i. to Miss Emma Krums- 
 sik. who was horn in Madison countv. Illinois. 
 
 and is of German lineage They have three 
 children: Delia, the wife of E. W. Bockewitz, 
 of Earvel; Frank, who follows the painter's 
 trade : and Celia, at home. 
 
 Politically Mr. Kastien is independent in his 
 rating at local elections, hut where national 
 issues are involved he supports the Democratic 
 
 party. He has 1 n elected and served as 
 
 president id' the village board, has also been 
 alderman and tax collector, and for four con- 
 secutive years tilled the latter office, lie be- 
 longs to Harvel Lodge, L 0. 0. F.. in which he 
 has filled all the offices and is a past grand, 
 and is likewise u member of the Woodmen 
 Lamp at Litchfield and the Mutual Protective 
 League. His residence in Harvel now covers 
 more than twenty years, during which time lie 
 has made here a good home, developed an ex- 
 cellent husincss and won an honored name. 
 
 WILLIAM S. GRUBBS. 
 
 William S. Grubbs. one of the early set- 
 tlers id' Montgomery county, dates his resi- 
 dence in this locality from 1858, and his en- 
 terprising efforts as a general farmer and 
 stock-raiser have made him one of the sub- 
 stantial citizens of the community. He was 
 horn in St. Clair county, Illinois, near Belle- 
 ville, on the 25th of September, 1854, and 
 v. hen lour year- of agi was brought to Mont- 
 gomery county by his parents. Edwin and 
 Sarah (McAdams) Grubbs, who settled upon 
 the farm which is now the home of their son 
 William. They had five children, and after 
 the death of his first wife, wdio piassed away 
 in 1852, the father was again married. At his 
 death the county lost one of its honored pioneer 
 settlers and leading farmers. 
 
 In the usual manner of farmer lads Wil- 
 liam S. Grubbs was reared. Ee attended the 
 public schools, his time occupied by his text- 
 books and the pleasures of the playground, 
 and he was also instructed in the work of the 
 fields, becoming familiar with every labor in- 
 cident to the development and cultivation of 
 a farm from (he time id' early spring planting 
 until after crops were harvested in late 
 autumn. He remained at home until twenty-
 
 H. P. KAST1EN
 
 LIBRARY 
 UNIV! : 'NO!S
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 CGI 
 
 four years of age. when he went to Colorado, 
 where he remained our summer, and after his 
 return he rented land near New Corners for 
 two years. Ee afterward spent one year in 
 South Litchfield, and one year in Hillsboro, 
 alter which lie returned to the old homestead, 
 where he has since remained, with the excep- 
 tion of a year passed in Kansas, lie now owns 
 one hundred and eighty acres of land in three 
 tracts, one hundred acres being in the home 
 farm on section 9, Billsboro township, about 
 two miles west of the county seat on the old 
 Hillsboro and Litchfield road. Here he car- 
 ries on general farming, and for fourteen 
 years he has been engaged in feeding cattle 
 and hogs for the market. He has good build- 
 ings upon his place and his carefully directed 
 labors enabled him to keep everything upon 
 his farm in good condition. lie utilizes the 
 latest improved machinery in the cultivation 
 of the fields and the care of the crops and 
 his energy and ambition have been the means 
 of bringing to him very creditable and grat- 
 ifying success. He votes with the Republican 
 party, with firm faith in its principles, but 
 has never sought office as a reward for party 
 fealty. 
 
 LEOPOLD SCHRATJT. 
 
 Leopold Schraut. an enterprising business 
 man of Hillsboro, is successfully conducting 
 a meat market and in his business career has 
 demonstrated what it is possible to accom- 
 plish through energy, enterprise and careful 
 management, for he started out in life empty 
 banded and his success, therefore, is attributed 
 entirely to his own efforts. He was born in 
 Baden. Germany, in 1851, a son of Joseph 
 Schraut, who was a farmer by occupation. 
 Leopold Schraut acquired bis education in 
 the schools of bis native country and there 
 learned the butchering trade. 
 
 In 1871 he bade adieu to friends and fam- 
 ily and sailed for the new world that he 
 might take advantage of the business condi- 
 tions in America, concerning which he had 
 beard favorable reports. Locating in East S't. 
 Louis, be there remained for twelve vears en- 
 
 gaged m the butchering business and he also 
 spent some time in the employ of the Clover 
 Leal' Railroad. Removing from East St. Louis, 
 he took up Ins abode in the city of St. Louis, 
 where he conducted a meat market until L881. 
 In 1882 he established a butchering business 
 at Donnellson, Illinois, and in 1893 came to 
 Hillsboro. where be established a market that 
 be has since conducted with gratifying suc- 
 cess. He now has a tine establishment and a 
 very liberal patronage which is constantly 
 growing. At one time be was proprietor of 
 three shops, one in Coffeen, another in Don- 
 nellson and (he third in Hillsboro. His busi- 
 ness methods will bear the closest scrutiny 
 ami investigation and his reliable dealing has 
 been one source id' his prosperity. He now 
 owns a pretty home south of town and 
 grounds covering seven acres. 
 
 In L882 Mr. Schraut was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Frances Windhalt, a daughter 
 of Fred. 'rick and Jerusha (Stanley) Wind- 
 halt, the former a farmer by occupation. Mrs. 
 Schraut was born near Coffeen in 1864 and 
 by this marriage there an- (hive children: 
 Charles. Annie and Lena. Mr. Schraut be- 
 longs tii the Catholic church, while his wife 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church. Fraternally he is connected with 
 the Masonic lodge, the Court of Honor and 
 the Mutual Protective League. His study of 
 the political issue and questions which affect 
 America's welfare has led him to give his al- 
 legiance to the Democracy. He has never bad 
 occasion to regret bis determination to seek a 
 home in America for he found that the re- 
 ports of business conditions were not exagger- 
 ated and that the new world offered excellent 
 opportunity to the young men id' determina- 
 tion and resolute purpose. 
 
 LOUIS SPINNEE. 
 Louis Spinner is one of the younger farm- 
 ers of East Fork township, but his years do 
 not seem any bar to his ability and in carry- 
 ing on agricultural pursuits he has gained 
 very gratifying success. He was born in East 
 Fork township. October 27. 1S7.T. and is a
 
 662 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 son of George and Ernestine (Huber) Spin- 
 ner, who are represented on another page of 
 this volume. In that township he was reared 
 and attended school. Be started out in life 
 for himself when twenty-five years of age, up 
 to which time he assisted in the development 
 of the home farm, as did his brother. In his 
 business career he lias been successful because 
 of his perseverance and earnest labor. He has 
 eighty acres in the old homestead and lie 
 raises both grain and stock. His father made 
 all of the improvements upon the place, save 
 in the fall of 1904 Mr. Spinner erected a 
 good residence upon the place. 
 
 In 1900 at St. Louis" Catholic church in No- 
 komis, Mr. Spinner was married by Rev. C. 
 Johannes, to Miss Paulina Mast, a daughter 
 of Charles Mast, of Witt township, and they 
 have two children: Cyril Francis and Ma- 
 tilda Frances. The parents are members of 
 St. Agnes' Catholic church at Hillsboro. and 
 Mr. Spinner is a Democrat in his political 
 views. lie served as collector in 1901 and 
 1903, 1 >ii t has never been active as a politician 
 in the sense of office seeking. Me has. how- 
 ever, been deeply interested in Hie success of 
 his party and for several years he has been 
 elected by a large majority to the position of 
 school trustee. Fraternally he is connected 
 with the Modern Woodmen camp and with 
 the Equitable Fife Insurance Company. He 
 has always lived in Montgomery county, is 
 well known to its settlers, especially in East 
 Fork town-hip, and in his life has displayed 
 man; strong characteristics that have ren- 
 dered him popular with his many friends. 
 
 WILLIAM ('. GOODIN. 
 
 William C. Goodin, whose record for fidel- 
 ity ami capable service as chief of police of 
 Litchfield is unsurpassed, received substantia] 
 evidence of the trust reposed in him when at 
 his re-election he was given the largesl vote 
 that has ever been east for any incumbent of 
 that office. He was born in Bond county. Illi- 
 nois. July 3, 1866. His father, Charles M. 
 Goodin, was a native of Ohio and was of 
 Irish lineage, his parents having emigrated 
 
 from Ireland at an early day and established 
 their home in Ohio. Charles M. Goodin re- 
 mained in the Buckeye state until 1857, when 
 he removed to Illinois, settling in Bond county 
 upon a farm which he cultivated and improved 
 until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then 
 enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry as a mem- 
 ber of Company D, being enrolled at Green- 
 ville for three years' service. He took part 
 in the battle of Pea Ridge and other en- 
 gagements and never faltered in his allegiance 
 to the nation's starry banner and the cause it 
 represented. When the war was over he be- 
 gan taking contracts for public work in Louis- 
 iana and Mississippi, building levees along th» 
 Father of Waters from St. Louis to Louisiana. 
 Later he engaged in the dairy business at 
 Greenville and there his death occurred on the 
 17th of March. 1894, when he was sixty-four 
 years of age. Be was a member of the Green- 
 ville I'ost. O. A. l«. His political allegiance 
 was given to the Democracy until the outbreak 
 of the war. when, being a great admirer of 
 John A.Logan, he voted with him ami became 
 a Republican, remaining a stanch advocate 
 of the principles of the party until his demise. 
 His funeral was one of the most largely at- 
 tended in Greenville in many years, a fad 
 which indicated his personal popularity and 
 the high regard in which he was uniformly 
 held. He was married in early manhood to 
 Miss Mary E. Gillespie, who was horn in Bond 
 county, Illinois, and is now living with her 
 son, William ('.. in Litchfield, at the age of 
 sixty-seven years. Her father was James E. 
 Gillespie, a farmer and one of the early set- 
 tlers of Bond county, who served as the first 
 constable there. Mrs. Goodin in her younger 
 days wa- a school teacher in Bond county and 
 took- a ureal interest in her work. She has 
 Hen a lifelong member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church ami a most earnest and consist- 
 i el Christian woman. By Inn- marriage she be- 
 came the mother of six children: Jeanette, 
 John, Ella ami lee. all of whom have passed 
 away; William O. : and Maggie, the wife of 
 Jonah Dodson, of Mayfield, Kentucky. 
 
 William ('. Goodin acquired his education 
 partly in Tennessee and partly in Greenville. 
 Illinois. After leaving school he wa- employed
 
 W. ('. (iOoDIX
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 URBANA
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 665 
 
 for two years on a farm and in L885 he eame 
 to Litchfield, where lie [earned the blacksmith's 
 trade, following that pursuit for seventeen 
 years in the employ of the Litchfield Foundry 
 & Machine Company. He afterward worked 
 
 for a year for the C leaul & Pittsburg Dock 
 
 (' pany a1 Conneaut, < >hio. 
 
 Since attaining his majority Mr. Goodin has 
 
 I n an advocate of Republican principles, 
 
 standi in his support of the party and its 
 platform. In the spring of 1903 he was elect- 
 ed chief of police of Litchfield and was re- 
 elected in the spring of 1904. He lias made 
 a clean record and won a notable reputation 
 for fearlessness and fidelity. Because of his 
 capable service he is a menace to all law- 
 breakers, while the law-abiding community 
 has the utmost confidence and trust in him. 
 
 On the 9th of January, 1901, Mr. Goodin 
 was married to Miss Lottie E. Price, a daugh- 
 ter of Evan and Ann Price, the former a 
 miner. Mrs. Goodin was burn in England in 
 1867. Mr. Goodin holds membership with the 
 Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus 
 and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. 
 He is popular in Litchfield among all classes 
 and has a large circle of friends who esteem 
 him highly. 
 
 ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL. 
 
 St. Francis Hospital was established about 
 1ST:., with Sister Freileline as the sister su- 
 perior, the mother house being at St. Mauritz, 
 Minster, Germany. There were twenty sis- 
 ters who came from Germany in that year, leav- 
 ing that country on account of religious 
 
 troubles there. They arrived in Litchfield at 
 il e tune of the pastorate of Father Michel, who 
 is now located al Alton. Illinois, and they be- 
 gan their work in a little frame bouse where 
 they continued until 1889. The building lots 
 for the new hospital were purchased on the 
 L2th of April. 1889, and in the same year they 
 in,, \mI into their present building, which is a 
 large three-story, brick structure, in which they 
 are treating twenty patients, with accommoda- 
 tions for thirty. The hospital is fitted up with 
 all modern appliances and conveniences for the 
 care of the sick, with baths, hotwater heat, 
 electric lights and everything to facilitate the 
 
 work of caring for the patients. The r is are 
 
 pleasant, light and airy, are cool in summer 
 and warm in winter, and there is a reading 
 room supplied with interesting literature. 
 There is a beautiful lawn surrounding the 
 building, which was erected at a cost of ten 
 thousand dollars, and in the summer of 1905 
 I here will be an addition made, costing a sim- 
 ilar amount. There are now nine sisters in 
 charge and the sister superior is Sister Gerome, 
 who came in 1900 from St. Francis. Spring- 
 field, while Father Unison is director. Mother 
 Pauler is mother superior of the whole St. 
 Fraud- congregation in the United States and 
 in Springfield there is a training school for the 
 sisters. The institution first had a struggle for 
 existence but it is now on a substantial basis 
 and it is the only hospital in this section, so 
 that patients come to it from long distances. 
 The new building was dedicated September 17. 
 1891. by Rev. L. Huison, director, and since 
 thai time its efficiency has been continually pro- 
 moted and the work has I a constantly ex- 
 tended.
 
 ■ 
 
 UNIVtKSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 mna
 
 JACOB L. TBAYLOR
 
 HISTORICAL 
 
 By JACOB L TRAYLOR 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 "The pleasant hooks that silently among 
 Our household treasures take familial places 
 
 And are to us as if a living tongue 
 Spake from the printed loaves or pictured 
 faees." 
 
 As we Look upon the picture of the past, per- 
 spective lengthens the lines of fact until they 
 seem lust in the haze of traditions. In our 
 preparation of the presenl volume we have tried 
 to presenl from the mass of materia] at hand 
 onlv the credible. Where we have allowed some 
 interesting anecdote to creep in, it has been 
 done but to illustrate phases of character that 
 have hail to iln with the story of a people. It 
 would seem an easy task to write the history 
 of some particular place or state, especially if 
 appearance in time, were easily determined, vol 
 wo find it not a little difficult to gather proofs 
 concerning important events in the historj of 
 our own county. It is much easier to get cor- 
 rect biography of our worthy pioneers than to 
 get data that has to do with the experiences 
 of those brave ami noble spirits. Our purpose, 
 however, is in assist tin- reader in bringing him- 
 self into such close association with the fathers 
 that we may he able to share his joys, his 
 sorrows, his bounty ami his privation. The 
 years that lill up the gap between the Then and 
 Now we shall attempt to draw aside and present 
 I ho picture which shall tell the story of a 
 plain people, struggling in establish for them- 
 
 selves and for their children, a home m the 
 wilderness. In other words, wo hope to pre- 
 serve In other generations at least a glance into 
 the practical life of the fathers. That all 
 those who came to settle the prairies and wood- 
 lands of Illinois wore model characters, we shall 
 mil attempt to establish, hut that quite all were 
 men ami women of sturdy habits ami unques- 
 
 ii I virtue, is matter of absolute knowledge. 
 
 Almost a century has gone by since the first 
 settlers rami' from Virginia, Kentucky ami the 
 Carolinas to plant civilization in the wilds of 
 what, is now Montgomery county. That these 
 performed well their part in laying the founda- 
 tion nf our preseni social, political and moral 
 conditions, that their hopes were fully realized. 
 that their aspirations have long since realized 
 their fruition furnishes fur our picture its 
 
 -i delicate coloring and affords to us. their 
 
 children, the keener appreciation of what they 
 have done. From the stately and palatial 
 homes that cover our land to-day is but a nar- 
 row space that separates between the settler's 
 cabin with its privations and the former with 
 all the comforts and convenience of a modern 
 home. Nowhere in the annals of story do we 
 lind a tale so pleasing, so full nf adventure anil 
 interest as is 1" he found in a study of the 
 experiences nf the pioneers in American life. 
 The men and I he women who braved (he wilder- 
 ness "civ peculiarly fitted for the self-imposed 
 task' nf subduing the wild woodlands ami (be 
 broad extending prairies into safe habitations 
 fur men. The wild beasts thai prowled about
 
 670 
 
 PAST AM) PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 the settler's cabin and made night hideous with 
 their howlings, the treacherous red man. who 
 yel lingered in the forests, doubtless filled with 
 forebodings the settler and his family. While 
 we have no evidence of midnight massacres. 
 yei the story of their atrocities lingered in the 
 minds of the early settlers. We know, however, 
 thai the Indian children often soughi the play- 
 grounds of the pioneer schools to mingle with 
 the boys and girls of that early day. it is not 
 surprising to us that the red man yielded the 
 hunting grounds id' Illinois under great protest 
 and when the struggle for his removal beyond 
 the Mississippi came in 1832, quite a number 
 of Montgomery county's pioneers were called 
 upon to take part in what i- known as Black 
 Hawk's war id' 1832. In the preparation of 
 this work, however, it is not our province to 
 
 discuss the justice of the removal of the Sacs 
 and Fox Indians from the territory of Illi- 
 nois. We shall content ourselves with the sim- 
 ple narrative without embellishment of our 
 earlier inhabitants as we find it told in the sto- 
 ries, legends and traditions, extant among our 
 people. I acknowledge indebtedness to many of 
 
 our older citizens, t" I k- and papers in which 
 
 they have left records of their experiences. If 
 this volume meets the approbation of the chil- 
 dren and children's children of those who strug- 
 gled, ami who-,, triumph is told in these pages, 
 I shall feel repaid for whatever effort has been 
 made to collect some of the more interesting 
 facts concerning the fathers. I am. 
 
 Very truly yours 
 
 Jacob L. Traylor.
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 A broad and fertile plateau, bounded on the 
 west by the Mississippi, upon the south by 
 the Ohio and the oust by the Wabash, gives us 
 the stato of Illinois. Possibly nowhere in the 
 world is an area of fertile soil of such extent. 
 In the earlier history of the country it at- 
 tracted the attention of the French and their 
 occupation of it is evidence that they con- 
 sidered it of greal importance in the building 
 
 up of "New France." Fort Chartres, the si 
 
 impregnable fortress theri known in the western 
 world, was built by France thai her claim to 
 the Illinois countn inigW nol be disputed. The 
 earlier settlements of Illinois were made by the 
 French at Kaskaskia, Prairie Du Rocher and 
 Cahokia. Ii was here thai the} remained in 
 undisputed possess.on, until 1759, at the close 
 of the French ami Indian war, when by the 
 treaty terminating that struggle, it came into 
 possi ssion of England. The bitterness of the 
 Indians in this special territory toward the Eng- 
 lish made it somewhat difficull to establish Eng- 
 lish rule over the different Indian tribes of 
 this section. The passing of tin- territory from 
 the possession of the French to that of the 
 English i- marked byafierce and bloody strug- 
 gle on the part of the Indian tribe, who were 
 friends of the former ami hitter foes of the 
 English. One of the mosl persistent and stub- 
 born resistance- to English rule was made by 
 Pontiac, possibly the greatest Indian leader ever 
 known to the northwest. Although the English 
 held this territory from 1763 until the close 
 of the Revolutionary war. little was done to 
 
 colonize it or to take advantage of the greal 
 opportunities for building up an English em- 
 pire in Illinois territory. The French popula- 
 tion of Illinois villages in L763 was about 2,000. 
 There were also about five hundred slaves, which 
 latter fact establishes the point that Illinois, 
 under the French, was slave territory. In the 
 autumn of 1765 the Forty-second Highlanders, 
 consisting of one hundred and twenty men 
 under Captain Sterling, arrived at Fort Char- 
 tres, and on the loth day of October, lor the 
 first time within the limits of the state of 
 Illinois, thi' Lillies of France were displaced 
 by the Cross of St. George. The early French 
 people were law-abiding, simple and happy 
 folks. The first English governor of Illinois 
 was Captain Sterling, who lived hut three 
 months a Iter receiving his commission. He was 
 succeeded by Major Frazier, who in turn cave 
 «a\ io Colonel Reed. The latter made him- 
 self so odious to the inhabitants by his op- 
 pressive military edicts that he was soon dis- 
 placed and the command was given to Colonel 
 Wilkins. who established a court of justice of 
 seven judges. This was the first English court 
 ever convened in Illinois, and held its lir-l ses- 
 sion at Fort Chartres, December 9, 1 r68. The 
 proclamations issued by George III clearh -h<>» 
 that be intended to divide tin' Illinois country 
 into baronial estates. Private ownership to 
 the -od was forbidden, and had it nol been for 
 the Canadian Frenchmen, such an attempt to 
 establish feudalism mighl have been successful 
 in Ibis greal northwestern territory. In 17T1
 
 672 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 the British parliamen! passed the Quebec bill. 
 
 which extended 'the limits of Canada so as to 
 include all the territory north of the Ohio 
 river. This was the f i i .- 1 feudal act of parlia- 
 ment, to which the colonists took offence. The 
 Virginia colony, which claimed the territory 
 north of the olno. took exception to this act of 
 intrusion upon territory belonging to thai col- 
 ony. It would seem that at the dose of Wil- 
 kins' term that the English soldiery were with- 
 drawn from the Illinois country, that the sweet- 
 spirited French priest, S't. Ange, returned to 
 take charge of the post deserted by the English 
 conquerors. Following St. Ange in the govern- 
 ment of the settlement comes Rocheblave, who 
 was in command of the Illinois country at the 
 time of the conquest by George Sogers Clark. 
 This adventurous spirit was a native of Albe- 
 marle county. Virginia, but had joined the Ken- 
 tucky settlements prior to October 17. 1777, on 
 which date we find him arguing before Pat- 
 rick Henry, governor of Virginia, for a com- 
 mission to invade the Illinois country. 
 
 After several interviews Governor Henry 
 yielded his consent to the plans of Colonel 
 Rogers, who immediately thereafter set about 
 the execution of them. It was absolutely neces- 
 sary that secrecy as to the purpose of lingers 
 should be maintained, and covering his real 
 purpose by rumors that his expedition was to 
 defend the Kentucky settlemenl against the at- 
 tack of the Indians, enabled him to deceive the 
 English who might have thwarted his purposes 
 by strengthening the post which in reality he 
 expected to capture. Colonel Clark's expedi- 
 tion embarked at Pittsburg, and after an une- 
 ventful journey down the Ohio, they '•shot the 
 falls" at Louisville and, on the 24th of .Tunc. 
 landed a little above Fori Massac From this 
 point he marched directly across the country to 
 Kaskaskia. It was on the evening of the 4th 
 of July that Clark arrived at his destination. 
 The complete surprise of the garrison made it 
 a bloodless victory. It has been rumored that 
 the surprise was nol altogether unpleasant to 
 the French inhabitants. The broad humanity 
 of Colonel Clark was shown in his treatment of 
 this people. Seine had expected to be driven 
 from their homes, to be plundered of their prop- 
 erty and to bo denied the rights of their re- 
 
 ligion, hut. when Clark assured them that 
 Americans left every man free to settle bis re- 
 ligious matters with his Cod. a shout of re- 
 joicing went up from the assembled multitude, 
 and when Clark further told them that France 
 was allied to the new government, which they 
 sought to establish, they very readily promised 
 allegiance. Cabokia and all the adjacent towns 
 promptly yielded to Clark's authority, and the 
 young republic became firmly established, and 
 on the soil of Illinois. Clark's conquesl forever 
 settled the destiny of Illinois. The tieat\ of 
 Can.-. 1783, all rights to this territory was 
 ceded to America. The general assembly of 
 Virginia, 1778, provided a temporary govern- 
 ment, and in 1779 Illinois became a comity of 
 Virginia, styled the Illinois county. John 
 Todd, a colonel under Clark', administered the 
 affairs of government. In L782 Todd was suc- 
 ceeded by Timothy Montbrun, a French priest. 
 From this time until the occupation by St. 
 Claire, the records are silent and we are led to 
 infer that the priestTj government was eminent- 
 ly satisfactory, both to the state of Virginia 
 and to the people of Illinois county. The first 
 American settlement made in Illinois was made 
 at a place named New Design, and is located in 
 tin' present county of Monroe. Five families, 
 consisting of that of James Moore. Shadrack 
 Bond, James Garrison, Roberl Kid and Larkin 
 Rullaford, made tip this firsi primitive settle- 
 ment. Kid and Rullaford had been soldiers in 
 General Clark's army. This notable settlement 
 was made in the summer of 1781. Having 
 crossed the Allegheny mountains from their 
 homes in Virginia, they embarked from Pitts- 
 burg on a vessel called the Ark. and on reach- 
 ing the mouth of the Ohio river.no little dif- 
 ficulty was found in directing their crude vessel 
 up the current of the Mississippi. These Vir- 
 ginia settlers had no sympathy for the Indians 
 and in consequence, a spirit of hostility soon 
 manifested itself, ami it became necessary to 
 build block houses for protection. In 1784 the 
 stale of Virginia ceded all her rights in the 
 northwest country to the general government, 
 thus severing her connection with the territory 
 which at no distant day should lead in the grand 
 galaxy of states. In 17'S.~> lands purchased from 
 the Indians were, by previous act of congress,
 
 PAST AM) PEESENT OF MONTGOMEEY COUNTY 
 
 G73 
 
 to be surveyed so as to facilitate settlements 
 and guarantee to the purchaser such lands as 
 he selected and paid for. it was at this time 
 that the system of public surveys began. One 
 Thomas Hutchins mapped out the territory 
 along the Ohio and formulated .1 basis of de- 
 scription that obtains in every farm and village 
 lot in the entire northwest. In L781 Arthur St. 
 Claire, a venerable Revolutionary soldier, re- 
 ceived the appointment of governor of all the 
 country north of the Ohio river, which was 
 designated as the northwest territory. In 1790 
 the governor, with Winthrop Sargent, secre- 
 tary of the territory, organized the settled por- 
 tions of the Illinois country into the county of 
 St. Claire. In 1795 settlements had so in- 
 creased as to make the organization of a new 
 county necessary and Randolph county was laid 
 out, occupying the territory south of an east 
 and west line drawn through the settlement of 
 New Design Erom the Mississippi to the Wabash 
 river, all territory north of this Line was Si. 
 Claire county, all south of this line was Ran- 
 dolph county. In 1S09 Illinois territory was 
 separated from the Indiana territory ami Ni- 
 nian Edwards appointed governor, his commis- 
 Biou bearing dale April 24, 1809. The seat 
 of government was fixed at Kaskaskia, where it 
 remained until 1820, when it was removed to 
 Vandalia. By act of congress May, 1812, the 
 first grade government, which consisted only 
 nf governor and judges, gave way to what was 
 known as the second grade government. Under 
 tin' first grade government all county and town 
 officers had been appointed by the governor, 
 hut under the second grade government these 
 officers were to he elected by the people, hut the 
 right of suffrage was granted only to tax payers. 
 The counties of Madison, Gallatin and John- 
 son were organized at this time and an election 
 was ordered in each of the five counties, to 
 elect members of the legislative council, seven 
 representatives and one delegate to congress. 
 The first delegate to congress elected by the 
 people was Shadrack Bond. Illinois was in- 
 
 d I fortunate during the period of its early 
 
 settlement by being comparatively free from 
 the ravages of Indian wars. In this her his- 
 torv is unlike that of Ohio and Indiana, whose 
 story is one of bloody atrocities on the pari of 
 
 the red men. The immunity which Illinois en- 
 joyed we must, accredit to the kindly office of 
 the French priest, whose dominance over the 
 savage tribes inhabiting the territory was al- 
 most absolute. Another reason existed for 
 the protection of the Illinois settler, be- 
 ing further away from Canada than Ohio 
 and Indiana. British gold hail not been 
 used so extensively to poison the minds 
 of the Indians against the settler. It had 
 been with feelings of great reluctance that 
 the English hail given up the region of the 
 northwest territory that borders on the Great 
 Lakes, and they had hopefully looked forward 
 to a. time when they mighl again come into 
 possession of that very desirable territory. Nor 
 had tin' British been careful to preserve the 
 treaty stipulations between America and Eng- 
 land, ami a state of border warfare had ex- 
 isted from 1789 until 1812, when America for 
 this and other causes felt compelled to issue a 
 second declaration of war against Croat Britain. 
 The history of this war does not effect to any 
 great extent the condition of the Illinois set- 
 tler. The part played by the Illinois settlers 
 in the war of 1812 is hardly commendable when 
 reviewed in the light of present historical fact. 
 Unfortunately Governor Edwards lean! his in- 
 fluence to the destruction of the French settle- 
 ments along the Illinois river and accordingly 
 with a small force of Kentucky and Illinois 
 rangers under command of General Hopkins 
 and Governor Edwards, the several French set- 
 tlements along the Illinois, including thai of 
 Peoria, were destroyed. The French inhabi- 
 tants were made prisoners and transported 
 down the Illinois river to its junction with the 
 Mississippi, where these luckless people were 
 
 abandi I by their heartless captor- on the 
 
 banks of the Mississippi. The sufferings of 
 these outcasts have been (old in the French 
 story I ks ilail contain narratives of the ex- 
 periences of the French in the wilds of America. 
 Many of these French people found their way 
 hack' to their old home, and hen 1 amid the ashes 
 they laid the foundations anew of what to da\ 
 is the second city in point of population and 
 wealth within the borders of our great State. 
 
 Early in ISIS the territorial legislature pe- 
 titioned congress for admission into the Union,
 
 <;; i 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 as an independent state. Our delegate at that 
 time, Nathanial Pope, by his activity, secured 
 an early recognition of the petition and in De- 
 cember of that year, an act was passed by which 
 the territory of Illinois became a sovereign 
 slate. In July, 1818, a convention had been 
 called at Kaskaskia to draft a constitution. 
 Jesse B. Thomas was president and William C. 
 Greenup secretary, and the following are the 
 names of the counties then in existence which 
 were represented in that convention: Ran- 
 dolph, .Madison. Gallatin, Johnson, Pope, Jack- 
 son. Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington and 
 Franklin, being in all. at the time of the ad- 
 mission of the state of Illinois, hut eleven or- 
 ganized counties. This constitution was not 
 submitted to a vote of the people, for by its 
 provisions judges, prosecuting attorneys, county 
 and circuit judges, recorders and justices of 
 the peace were all appointed by the governor 
 or tlie legislature instead of being elected by 
 the people. In September, 1818, as a result 
 of the lirst election, under the lirst constitu- 
 tion. Shadrack Bond was elected as the first 
 governor of the state of Illinois. Pierre Me- 
 nard was elected lieutenant governor and to- 
 gether they were inaugurated October 6. 1818. 
 Idle seat of government was removed to Van- 
 dalia in 1820, and one among the lirst acts of 
 the legislature was to create the Illinois State 
 Bank, with a capital of half a million dollars, 
 based on the credit of the state. In 1822 
 Edward Coles succeeded Bond on the governor- 
 ship and it was in (his election thai a contest 
 over the question of slavery was finally settled 
 in harmony of the ordinance of 1787. The 
 reader will remember thai this ordinance, pre- 
 pared by Jefferson, prohibited slavery in the 
 entire territory of the northwest, of which 
 Illinois was a part. However, slavery had ex- 
 isted in Illinois through various subterfuges 
 until after the election of Governor Coles. This 
 able and uncompromising advocate of freedom 
 doubtless preserved to Illinois the spirit of the 
 ordinance of 1787. Those who advocated slav- 
 ery made ,-i determined effort to have the con- 
 stitution amended so as to provide for the 
 institution id' slavery, hut in the election which 
 had been called at the behest of the slavery 
 party, the pause of freedom triumphed in a vote 
 
 of six thousand six hundred and forty against 
 that of four thousand nine hundred and sev- 
 enty-two in favor of slavery. To (iovernor 
 Coles more than to any other man is due this 
 signal victory which placed Illinois for all time 
 in the column of free states. When General 
 LaFayette was visiting America in 1825, by in- 
 vitation, he became the guest of (iovernor Coles 
 at Vandalia. This signal recognition of the 
 Illinois people cemented a friendship between 
 the French ami the American settler. Xinian 
 Edwards was elected governor to succeed Gov- 
 ernor Coles, ami during his administration of 
 four years we find hut little that would interesl 
 the student of history, save that the finances 
 of the state \\ere much improved during his 
 term. John Reynolds, in 1830, was elected gov- 
 ernor, and it was during his administration 
 that the war commonly known as Black Hawk's 
 war occurred. The Hawks and Fox Indians 
 had occupied the territory between the Rock 
 and Mississippi rivers, hut by treaty, in 1804, 
 had ceded these lands to the United States. 
 One id' the provisions of the treaty allowed the 
 Indians to retain their land until they should 
 he wanted for settlement, hut during the war 
 of 1812 a part of the tribe, under Black Hawk, 
 had allied themselves to the British, while Ke- 
 okuk, the principal chief of the tribe, had re- 
 
 mai I true to the United Stales. Black 
 
 Hawk's village was on the tongue of hum at 
 the mouth of the Rock river, between it and 
 the Mississippi, and after peace had been de- 
 clared, at the dose of the war of 1812, amica- 
 ble relations existed with the Indian,- until 
 1830, when Keokuk made a final cession of all 
 the lands held by his tribe east of the Mis-i<- 
 -ippi river. Black Hawk opposed this cession 
 and used all his powers id' oratory to pursuade 
 tin' different tribes from Canada to the Mis- 
 sissippi to aid linn in resisting the removal of 
 the Sauks and Foxes to the west of the Missis- 
 sippi. During the winter of 1830, when Black 
 Hawk, with his tribe, were on a hunting expe- 
 dition, the pale face- took possession of his vil- 
 lage and even the fur trader at Rock Island. 
 who had formerly purchased his furs, and 
 whom Black Hawk had regarded as an especial 
 friend, had made an arrangement by which he 
 was to cultivate the corn field outlying the vil-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 UYO 
 
 lage. A compromise was made by which the 
 fields were to be divided equally between the 
 ueu claimants and the former Indian owners. 
 This truce did not prevent disputes and the 
 trespassing on each others' rights Led to a me- 
 morial signed by the white settlers, selling 
 forth their grievances and asking for the re- 
 moval or their Indian neighbors. Governor 
 Reynolds, in the spring of 1831, issued a call 
 for seven hundred volunteers to protect the 
 white settlers along the Rock river. To the 
 governor's call one thousand six hundred volun- 
 teers promptly responded, and under General 
 Caiues. were dispatched to the scene of the 
 trouble. Black Hawk yielded to the situation 
 and crossed to the wesl side of the Mississippi 
 river. Ai a time of year when the Indian 
 should have planted his maize that in the com- 
 ing winter he should have bread, Black Hawk, 
 with his starving followers, was camping upon 
 the western shores of the Mississippi river. I fere 
 a treaty was held with him on the 30th of 
 May and. under its terms, he gave up Ins inten- 
 tions of returning to his Illinois home. Ra- 
 tions were dealt out to the submissive Indians 
 and the volunteers were dismissed. Early in 
 the spring of the following year. 18:53, Black 
 Hawk, in an evil hour, recrossed the Mississippi. 
 under pretense of paying a visit to his Winne- 
 bago friends in Wisconsin, and to plant corn 
 in their country. General Atkinson, then in 
 command at Fort Armstrong, sent messengers 
 after him to warn him back, hut Black Hawk 
 paid no attention to these, but continued on his 
 way until he reached Dixon's ferry, where he 
 established his camp. During bis stay at this 
 place. Mrs. Dixon invited Black Hawk to dine 
 with her I'amiK and Black Hawk afterward 
 related the circumstance, showing that he felt 
 complimented by the attentions paid him by 
 this noble woman. On learning of Black 
 Hawk's return to Illinois. Governor Reynolds 
 immediately issued a call for volunteers, and 
 General Whiteside, with one thousand eight 
 hundred men, was immediately sent after the 
 enemy. Black Hawk had in the meantime 
 changed his encampment to the banks of Syca- 
 more creek, a tributary of "Rock- river, some 
 fhirtv miles above Dixon. Two days after the 
 arrival of the volunteers at Dixon, under Gen- 
 
 eral Whitesides, he dispatched Major Stillman 
 to make a reeonno.sance on Black Hawk's camp. 
 Black Hawk was entertaining his Winnebago 
 friends at a dog least when the volunteers ap- 
 proached bis camp and he sent a party of six 
 oin to meet Major Stillman under the protec- 
 tion of a while flag, 'l'be undisciplined volun- 
 teers fired upon the little party of Indians, 
 killing two of them during tin- retreat. Black 
 Hawk, justly indignant at the treatment of his 
 commissioners, raised the war-wiioop and re- 
 pelled the attack with his accustomed spirit. 
 This was the first blood drawn in tin Black 
 Hawk war. After this engagemenl Black Hawk 
 immediately broke camp ami had fled north- 
 ward, whither was not known. The two thou- 
 sand four hundred men who had volunteered in 
 (be service bad now seen enough Indian light- 
 ing to satisfy their curiosity, and their term 
 of service having nearly expired, thej were dis- 
 charged. The part that was taken by volun- 
 teers from Montgomery county will be set forth 
 in an article under the caption of the Illinois 
 Soldier Boy. It is sufficient to know that Black 
 Hawk was defeated and the Indian power 
 broken through the efforts of General Scott of 
 the Federal forces, and not as some of us have 
 been led to believe, by the earl-, Illinois set- 
 tler. In fact, it might not be out of place to 
 remark' that the settlers in the Illinois country 
 had nol developed a penchant for fighting In- 
 dians. Black' Hawk was made prisoner and 
 sent to fortress Monroe, where on the 26th of 
 April. 1833, he was discharged from further 
 imprisonment ami returned to his people. 
 Nothing worse than honorable warfare could be 
 charged againsi him. The large cities through 
 which he passed mi route to his new homo 
 poured forth much of its population to see this 
 aged Indian. Tn broken English amusing, 
 earnest, and sometimes ludicrous, this old vet- 
 eran of the forests and prairies would philoso- 
 phize on the absurd and foolish customs of 
 civilization, lie prophesied that the white man 
 would see the day that their courts of justice 
 and their prisons would he insufficient to pro- 
 tect tlu> community against the criminals that 
 civilization would develop. Black Hawk died 
 October 3, 1835, at his home on the Dot Moines 
 river, near the present village of Iowaville. He
 
 676 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 was buried in a sitting posture and a large 
 mound of earth raised above him. This marks 
 the resting place of him who may with pro- 
 priety be called the last native defender of the 
 soil of Illinois. Joseph Duncan was elected 
 governor in 1834 ami. under his administration, 
 a new state bank was chartered with a capital 
 of one million five hundred thousand dollars. 
 The capital stock of this bank was afterward 
 increased to two million dollars, and also an 
 assumption of the stock of the Shawneetown 
 branch of this bank, to the amount of one mil- 
 lion dollars more. These financial schemes 
 were to enable the state to make certain in- 
 ternal improvements. The building of rail- 
 roads, digging of canals were cherished objects 
 during this period of our state history. To di- 
 vert the trade from St. Louis to Alton was a 
 part of the state policy, but, as usually happens. 
 the over capitalization of the banks resulted in 
 a suspension of specie payments and panic se- 
 vere and awful swept over Illinois. Nor was 
 the financial depression confined alone to the 
 western country, for it is a matter of history 
 that the whole country felt the depression of 
 1831 as much, and in some instances even to 
 a greater degree, than did Illinois. In the 
 autumn of 1838 Thomas Carlin was elected 
 governor and the state was casting about in 
 every direction for relief from the financial em- 
 barrassments into which she had lately been 
 plunged. Instead, however, of retrenching tax- 
 ation by abandoning a portion of the public 
 works previously undertaken, in order to secure 
 the completion of at least a portion of them. 
 the legislature very unwisely made additional 
 appropriations. Among these fanciful schemes 
 we note that the governor was authorized to 
 negotiate a loan of four million dollars to 
 prosecute the work on the Illinois and Michi- 
 gan canal. This, with other foolish expendi- 
 tures, tended to destroy public confidence in the 
 credit of the state. After July. 1841, the state 
 actually made no further efforts to pay the in- 
 terest on its public debt and the state hanks 
 necessarily went into bankruptcy. The public 
 debt of Illinois at this time was in the neigh- 
 borhood of fourteen million dollars, a large 
 sum indeed for the young -date, in its poverty 
 of both means and credit, to attempt to floal 
 
 tt was at this time that state bonds were offered 
 at fourteen cents on the dollar without so much 
 as finding a, buyer. Thomas Ford was elected 
 governor in August. 1842, and not only the 
 financial embarrassment, against which he had 
 to contend, but a disturbing factor in the .Mor- 
 mons, who had settled atNauvoo in 1840, made 
 his administration one of much responsibility 
 and care. The Illinois and Michigan canal, 
 during his administration, was 'n\ act of con- 
 gress mortgaged to a body of eastern bond- 
 holders for a sufficiency of money to complete 
 it. This gave relief to the state treasury and 
 work on the canal was immediately resumed, 
 but it was not completed until April. 1848. 
 It was during this administration that the Mex- 
 ican war was declared and the first regiment 
 of Illinois volunteers ever enrolled lor field serv- 
 ice was sent to tins war. and in passing, wi will 
 remark that Montgomery county's quota to tin' 
 Mexican war will receive especial notice in the 
 article previously referred to. In June, 1847, 
 a convention was called in Springfield for the 
 purpose of framing a new constitution. This 
 convention was ratified by the people m March, 
 1848. This convention concluded its labors 
 in August of that year and the new con- 
 stitution was ratified by the people in 
 March, 1848. Previous to the constitution 
 id' 1848 there bad been no subdivisions of 
 counties into civil townships, and conse- 
 quently no township organization. This ma- 
 chinery for the establishment of local gov- 
 ernment was authorized by the new consti- 
 tution and was perfected in 1851, according to 
 the system now in practice. In 1852 Joe] Mat- 
 teson was elected governor, and it was in this 
 election thai a new clement in polities made its 
 appearance. The Abolition party presented the 
 name of Dexter A. Knowlton as a candidate 
 for governor. This was the first attempt to 
 recognize that party politically in the state. 
 This same year, however, at the November 
 election, E. P>. Washburn was elected to con- 
 gress, by an alliance formed between the old 
 Whig party and the new Anti-slavery party. A 
 notable event during Governor Matteson's ad- 
 ministration was a state law for the support 
 of public schools, passed on the 15th of Febru- 
 ary, 1855, and of which we will have occasion
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 677 
 
 to speak later. At the November election in 
 1856 William II. Bissel] was elected governor 
 on the Republican ticket. His administration 
 was a strong one and both branches of the legis- 
 lature could boast of men of exceptional power 
 and prestige. Jn the winter of 1S58-9 a United 
 .States senator was to be chosen to till the place 
 of Judge Douglas 5 expiring term. This re- 
 markable man and exponent of state sovereignty 
 felt thai his re-election as a vindication of his 
 position on the Kansas-Nebraska bill was of ab- 
 solute necessity at this time. The Republican 
 party meanwhile, elated at the rapid rise and 
 growth of their party, felt themselves compe- 
 tent to contest before the people the question at 
 issue between themselves and their able op- 
 ponent. The choice of the Republicans fell 
 upon Abraham Lincoln as a candidate to op- 
 pose Judge Douglas for the senatorship. That 
 the people might the better form an opinion as 
 to the question at issue, it was arranged that 
 these able contestants should present their 
 views in joint debate before the people of the 
 state. Both Lincoln and Douglas were cham- 
 pions each in his cause, and their powers upon 
 
 the -i p could scarcely have been equalled by 
 
 any other two representatives of their parties 
 to he found in the United States. Judge Doug- 
 las won the election by a small majority in the 
 legislature, while Mr. Lincoln hail a small ma- 
 jority of the voters, hut this very defeat made 
 him the idol of the anti-slavi rv men and finally 
 gave him the presidency of the republic. In 
 1860 the national Republican convention met 
 at Chicago, and on the third ballot at this con- 
 vention Abraham Lincoln received the nomina- 
 tion for the presidency, and Hannibal Hamlin 
 was nominated as candidate for the vice-presi- 
 dency. The results of the election in the au- 
 tumn id' Isiiil were favorable to the Republic- 
 ans, and Abraham Lincoln, having received a 
 majority of the votes in the electoral college, was 
 inaugurated president of the United Stale- mi 
 the -Ith day of March, 1861. Richard Yates 
 was elected governor of Illinois at the November 
 election, and on the 1-lth of January. 1861, was 
 duly inaugurated. The alarm of Civil war had 
 sounded throughout the south, hut not until 
 Fort Sumter was fired upon did these alarms 
 take tangible form. That a crisis was at hand 
 
 the nmst conservative of our statesmen were 
 compelled to acknowledge, and the time had 
 come when men measured their patriotism by 
 a love of state or their desire in perpetuate the 
 Union. It was a time when men of force like 
 Douglas, Logan and other Democrats had to 
 choose between secession and the preservation 
 of the federal Union. Then it was that our 
 Illinois senator, Stephen A. Douglas, won his 
 greatest glory and honored his state by a hearty 
 endorsement of the policies of .Mr. Lincoln. Al- 
 though he soon afterward died, he had sei a 
 noble example of patriotism and magnanimity 
 to his party, which undoubtedly effected the is- 
 sues of the war. While we shall in another 
 chapter give the roster of the Montgomery 
 county soldier hoys of 18(11, it is wid) here to 
 state in round numbers the number of troops 
 furnished by the state of Illinois during the 
 war of 1861-5, one hundred and eighty-five 
 thousand nine hundred and forty-one infantry, 
 thirty-two thousand eighty-two cavalry and -ev- 
 en thousand two hundred and seventy-two ar- 
 tillery, making an aggregate of two hundred 
 and twenty-five thousand three hundred men 
 of all arms furnished by the state during that 
 war. As leaders of armies in the field or as 
 promoters of public opinion from the platform, 
 there is doubtless nn state that leads our own 
 in the worthy characters whose names are writ- 
 ten on the pages of American history in letters 
 of enduring fame than are the sons of Illinois. 
 Lincoln, Grant, Douglas, Logan. Washburn 
 and a host of others who appeared at this im- 
 mediate period of our history have added to an 
 already large list of pioneer soldiers and states- 
 men additional luster and honor. Richard J. 
 Oglesby succeeded Richard Yates in the govern- 
 orship in January. 1865, and it was in the fol- 
 lowing April, on the morning of the "I "Hi. 'hat 
 news came of I he assassinal ion of Abraham Lin- 
 coln by John Wilkes Booth, at Ford's Theater, 
 
 on tl pening before. No stale in the Union 
 
 felt (lie force of this blow so keenly as did 
 Illinois. Lincoln was her especial pride, her 
 most honored son, and his untimely death oc- 
 casioned such an outburst of grief as had not 
 been witnessed before mi the death of any pub- 
 lic man. For a. while all manner of husiness 
 was laid aside, the stores were closed without
 
 6?8 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 public order to do so, and in solemn proces- 
 sion, men in every walk of Life were to be seen 
 wending their way to their several places oJ re- 
 ligious worship, in hold memorial service, in 
 honor of their beloved dead. Jonn M. Palmer 
 succeeded to the governorship of Illinois Jan- 
 uary, 1869, and a most notable event of his 
 administration was the constitutional conven- 
 tion, which met in Springfield in December "I 
 that year. No changes had been made in the 
 organic Law of the state since 18 L8, and changed 
 conditions required some changes in the con- 
 stitution, and accordingly, a new constitution 
 was framed and submitted to the people for 
 adoption in 1870. Special Legislation, reckless- 
 ness on the part of the state, county or mu- 
 nicipality to incur debt was forbidden in the 
 new law. Restrictions upon the power of the 
 legislature were very marked and provision 
 for the representation of the minority in every 
 county was made under the new law. We 
 might state that no constitution of any other 
 state embraces so many inhibitions and none 
 so many direct mandates. Richard J. Oglesby 
 became governor again in 1873, hut shortly 
 afterward resigned, having been elected to the 
 United Slate- senate, John L. Beverage, the 
 lieutenant governor, succeeding to the office of 
 governor on the resignation of Mr. Oglesby. 
 The administration of Mr. Beverage was marked 
 by no especial feature of interest and he was 
 succeeded January 8, 1877, by Shelby M. Cttl- 
 lom. During the administration of Mr. Cul- 
 lom the period of depression in finance, which 
 had been most marked since 1873, culminated 
 in the financial panic of is;;. To the student 
 of finance it is not a long way to discover the 
 underlying causes which led to the panic of 
 1877. It is not the purpose of this treatise to 
 inquire into these causes. It is sufficient, how- 
 ever, to note that extravagance and waste is 
 always followed by a period oT poverty and 
 want. Further, history hears us out in estab- 
 lishing an analogy in the affairs of man to the 
 physical law of action and reaction. In other 
 words, an unparalleled expenditure of human 
 energy and force has always been followed by a 
 period of lasitude or rest, ami il is the opinion 
 of the writer that these recurring periods of 
 prosperity and depression are in obedience to 
 
 a law as fixed a.- we find It in the physical 
 world. When we have emerged from these pe- 
 riods of depress, ou. we ha\e swung to financial 
 heights much greater than we had ever known 
 before. This condition can be noted m a coun- 
 try whose natural resources are as yet but par- 
 tially developed, and 1 am safe in prophesying 
 that, though we may have our financial panics 
 
 recurring with aut tie precision every twenty 
 
 years, yel we will conic forth from each of them 
 with renewed spirit, with higher aspiration and 
 with strengthened purpose, which shall enable 
 up as a ] pie to realize conditions of pros- 
 perity and happiness such as has been un- 
 known to any people that have lived before us. 
 Among the many things that have contributed 
 to the development of the state, has been her 
 great trunk line? of railroad that cross and re- 
 cross the stale in almost every direction. By 
 means of these arteries of commerce, the pro- 
 ducts of her field and her factory have always 
 been accessible to the best markets. The first 
 strike on the part of labor, of which we have an 
 account, occurred during the first administra- 
 tion of Mr. ('idiom. Centers of disturbance 
 were Chicago, East S't. Louis and Braidwood. 
 These disturbances were soon quelled ami the 
 wheels of industry again set in motion. Cov- 
 er • Cullom, having 1 n re-elected in the fall 
 
 of 1880, was inaugurated January lit. 1881. In 
 his message lie announced to the people that 
 the last dollar of the state debt had been paid or 
 provided for. The only amounts not paid wire 
 twenty-three thousand dollars, upon which in- 
 terest had -topped, and which had never been 
 presented Eor collection and supposed to have 
 been lost. There is about nine hundred and 
 lift\ thousand dollars due from the stale to the 
 school fund, and which can not be paid, as this 
 fund only requires the interest on the amount. 
 As the state annually collects and pays out the 
 sum of one million dollars to the i ounties. to be 
 distributed per capita for school purposes, it is 
 simply a legal fiction to regard the former as 
 a debt. The term of David Davis, as senator 
 from Illinois, having expired, Governor Cullom 
 was chosen to lill his place and this promoted 
 Lieutenant Governor John M. Hamilton to the 
 position made vacant by the resignation of the 
 governor. Governor Hamilton's administration
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 679 
 
 is rather meager of events that would be of ployes of the several roads converging in the 
 interest to the reader. lh i was succeeded in city of Chicago, li was during tins period 
 L885 by Uncle Dick Oglesby, who for the third that the national administration assumed the 
 time had been elected to the office of governor of right to employ the Federal army in the sup- 
 the state. Succeeding to the governorship at a pression of riot in a sovereign stal i over the pro- 
 time when much political il seonteni manifested tests ol its governor. It would seem strange to 
 itself, proves the affection in which the people the student of history to find thai the represen- 
 of the state held the venerable soldier, bul the tative of the Democratic party, in the person <>f 
 political skies were beginning to darken and the the president of the United States, setting at 
 hold of the Republican party had begun to lose naught what had been regarded as a cardinal 
 its grasp upon the independent voter. We Bnd principle of that part} since the formation of 
 at this time Elijah .M. Haines, an independent, the government. It is not within the province 
 elected to the speakership of the Legislature by of this paper to take issue with either of the 
 a Democratic vote, and this marked the begin- parties to tins contest. Suffice it. however, that 
 ning of a struggle which finally culminated in we may remark that we consider the able de- 
 tbe election of a Democrat in the person of fence of Governor Altgeld as unparalleled in 
 John M. Palmer to the United States senate, the array of argument which he produces to 
 Joseph W. Filer became governor of the state maintain the position which he took, and again, 
 in 1SS0, alter one of t!ie most spirited canvasses we might say that it ill-becomes the retired 
 between the Democratic party, represented by president to attack the position of his late an- 
 .lohn ,\l. Palmer, ami the successful candidate, tagonist, who by the circumstance of death is 
 Mr. Filer, representing the Republicans. Mr. not in a position to reply to his hitter anath- 
 Fifer received but twelve thousand plurality emas. It might not be oul of place in corn- 
 over Genera] Palmer in this election. General menting upon the administration of John P. 
 Pifer, while a mosl estimable man. seems to Altgeld to observe that, while there -"ems to 
 have lacked that force of character which leads have been lack of appreciation of the reforms 
 to a strong and forceful administration. While which he inaugurated, of the evidences which 
 his incumbence of the office of governor is free he gave of a devotion to duty and a fearless dis- 
 fi'om scandal and corruption, yet it lacked pop- charge of those duties, regardless of personal in- 
 ular approval at the succeeding election John terest, that the careful student will give to the 
 P. Altgeld, of Cook- county, a German born, yet efforts of Mr. Altgeld a place in the affairs of 
 American raised citizen, was nominated by the state thai will be as enduring as our fabric of 
 Democrats to oppose Governor Fifer. The flag government. Governor Altgeld was re-nom- 
 law and the compulsory school law gave much mated in 1896, and under the banner of Wil- 
 offence to the German population of the state, liam Jennings Bryan went down to defeat in 
 and. as these laws were regarded as of Repub- the political tidal wave that engulfed the Demo- 
 lican origin, that party was held to a strict ac- cratic party that year. His opponent, John R. 
 countability at the polls in the autumn of 1892. Tanner, was elected by a majority of over one 
 Altgeld was elected governor by a plurality over hundred thousand and was inaugurated govern- 
 Mr. Fifer of thirty-two thousand votes. In or January 11. 1897. Mr. Tanner was a man 
 January, 1893, Mr. Altgeld assumed the duties of strong force of character, and it has keen re- 
 of governor and his administration, though most marked that he little brooked what stood in the 
 vigorous, fell upon times and conditions that way to the consummation of his purposes. In 
 marked his administration with bitter and acri- other words, he was regarded by many as an 
 monious charges and counter-charges between unscrupulous politician. Thai he possessed 
 Mr. Altgeld, the governor of the state of I Hi- nerve, was shown in more than one instance 
 nois. and Grover Cleveland, the then president during his term of office. We might cite his 
 of the United States. Overshadowing all other action in the Virden riots, when he threatened 
 item- of interest, during the administration of to bring the stall' militia against the imported 
 Mr. Altgeld was the strike of the railroad em- miners during the strike troubles of 1897. In
 
 680 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 justice to this peculiar, yet remarkable man. we 
 may sa\ thai no official lias ever done directly 
 or indirectly for organized labor in the state 
 of Illinois, as was done by John R. Tanner. 
 Ilis friends were must extravagant in their 
 praises of 1ms constancy to a friend, while his 
 enemies, even in his own party, heaped upon 
 him the must bitter abuse. The factions into 
 which he split the Republican party yet remain 
 as a legacy of the Tanner regime. Succeeding 
 Governor Tanner is Richard V. Yates, of Jack- 
 sonville. This young man is trie son of the 
 elder Richard Yates, frequently spoken of as 
 the war governor. Young Mr. Yates is also a 
 man of force, though possessed of a disposition 
 to reward only his friends. That he has made a 
 good governor neither Democrats nor Repub- 
 licans will attempt to deny, but his Republican 
 opponents attributed to him the disposition and 
 spirit of a party tyrant. In consequence, many 
 forces were arrayed against him when he sought 
 a re-nomination before a convention of his own 
 party to the office of governor. Never in the 
 history of any state has there been so long pro- 
 tracted struggle over the nomination ior the 
 office of governor in any party. Mr. Yates was 
 at last defeated, bu1 oui of that defeat came 
 victory, for by party manipulation, he was 
 able to dictate the nomination of his friend, 
 .Mr. Deneen. We will say. relative to the ad- 
 ministration of Mr. Yates, that it will take high 
 place along with that of many of its prede- 
 cessors. His effort to defeat graft, his vetoes 
 of measures and appropriations that were in- 
 tended for persona] and private gain on the part 
 of certain promoters ami legislative grafters, 
 ought certainly to endear Governor Yates to 
 the common people, the tax-pavers of the state. 
 The present United States senators both belong 
 to tin 1 Republican party. The senior senator, 
 
 Shelby Cull has served his state in that 
 
 capacity for three terms, ami is regarded among 
 the strong men of the senate. Mr. Cullom be- 
 longs to that type of statesmen that is fast 
 disappearing. Absolutely honest, lie is tin 1 
 more easily imposed upon by the professional 
 politician, ami during the long period of his 
 services as senator, some criticism lias attached 
 in several instances to his position relative to 
 certain measures thai have passed the senate. 
 
 Uncle Shelby, as he is familiarly called, has 
 never been accused, however, of usine his 
 official position to further personal end, and 
 when the long roll is called that contains the 
 honored list of Illinois statesmen, the name of 
 Shelby M. Cullom will Snd a place there. Al- 
 bert J. Hopkins, the junior senator of our state, 
 is not so well known, hut in so far as he has 
 represented us in the upper house of congress, 
 his vote has been with his party on all questions 
 advocated by the federal administration. In 
 this there is strong contrast between Mr. Hop- 
 kins and his predecessor. "Billy" Mason. Sen- 
 ator Mason, it will he remembi red. opposed the 
 administration in its Philippine policy, holding 
 with Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, that no 
 warrant existed in the government of the 
 islands for a violation of the principle "That 
 the right to govern rests upon the consent of 
 the governed," and his speeches in the senate 
 were rather caustic in their arraignment of the 
 administration for its un-American policy. For 
 this challenge to the administration Senator 
 Mason forfeited his seat in the upper branch 
 of congress. While Senator Hoar received 
 from the legislature of Massachusetts the en- 
 dorsement of his state by a re-election to that 
 most august body. It would seem that the 
 conservative New Englander is not so easily 
 disturbed over a difference of opinion that may 
 arise over new and unsolved problems. Let us 
 hope that this spirit of conservatism and fair- 
 ness may became more universal. The present 
 congressman representing the district of which 
 Montgomery county is a part is the Hon. Ben 
 F. Caldwell. He is serving bis third term as 
 a Democrat, yet he is hroad enough, after 
 each ami every election, to remember that he 
 is the representative of all the people of his 
 district. As a senator in the state legislature 
 he was author of what is known as the "gross 
 weight" lull. This measure provides for the 
 weighing of coal at all mines before it is 
 screened, and thus the miner receives payment 
 for the full weight of the coal. Until the pass- 
 age of this hill there was continual friction be- 
 tween the operators on the one side and the 
 miners on the other. The question of the size 
 of the screen, which allowed a separation of 
 the small coal from the lump coal, was con-
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 US1 
 
 tinually obtruding itself between a satisfactory 
 agreement to the parties concerned. This bill 
 before mentioned entirely eliminated this fea- 
 ture of the matter and thereby paved the way 
 tn an agreement between operators and miners 
 that lias been satisfactory and productive of 
 the liesi interests of each. We venture the 
 remark thai in no ether state where the min- 
 ing industry is so large is there less friction 
 between employer and employe. The presenl 
 representative in the state legislature from 
 Montgomery eountj is the Hon. Edward Rice, 
 of Litchfield. That he has served his constitu- 
 ency well is not questioned, yet how little can 
 the representative of a district accomplish for 
 the g 1 of his people, especially if he be- 
 longs to the minority of his party! It is a 
 uotorious fact that under existing conditions 
 we have uo popular government save thai which 
 the speaker and a few committeemen see fit to 
 allow. No discussion of public measures save 
 those reported out of the committees at the 
 dictation of special interest as represented by 
 those who are fortunate enough to be on the 
 '•inside." Tli is condition in the several legis- 
 latures, regardless of party, lias become so 
 prevalent that the people are clamoring for a 
 
 way by winch legislation that is demanded may 
 he accomplished, some states having adopted 
 the Swiss principle of the "initiative and 
 referendum," and in this way they hope to be 
 able to secure lor themselves what the] can not 
 expeel in have by their representatives. We 
 understand that Mr. Rice is favorable to a 
 constitutional amendment providing lor this 
 radically Democratic measure. Such a law 
 would entirely eliminate the possibility of 
 boodling, and the lobbyist, whose purpose at 
 our stale capital is to corrupt legislation at its 
 fountain head, would find such protection 
 thrown about the people's representatives that 
 it would he impossible to secure through cor- 
 ruption the passage of laws detrimental to the 
 public good. We hope the good sense of all 
 our people will require at the hands of our 
 representatives the submission of an amend- 
 ment to our constitution providing for the 
 "initiative and referendum." In conclusion to 
 this article I desire to state that much incor- 
 porated herein has been taken from "Blanch- 
 ard's Notes on the History of the State of Illi- 
 nois. - ' Also some of the data was gathered 
 from ''The Gazeteer of Illinois," published by 
 J. M. Peek, 1834. The Author.
 
 HISTORY OF 
 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 A STORY OF THE EAELY SETTLERS 
 OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 
 That John Hill settled on the Hurricane in 
 the autumn of 1816 or the early spring of 181? 
 is a fact easy to be established. If in the 
 spring of 1817, however, others may contend 
 thai John Hill was not the first settler in 
 Montgomery county. From what we are able 
 to gather we are led to conclude that the first 
 settlement was made by Mr. Hill in the au- 
 tumn of 1816. and that his brother, Henry 
 Hill, with others arrived in the spring of 
 1817. As the story runs, we must chronicle 
 a tradition that one Robert Briggs claimed to 
 have settled in that part of Montgomery coun- 
 ty north of the present city of Litchfield in 
 the year 1816. We have no means by which 
 we ma\ confirm this tradition, nor do we have 
 any desire to deny to Mr. Briggs the honor el' 
 having made the first settlemenl in the coun- 
 ty, hut we will say that there is lack of sulli- 
 cicnt evidence to warrant us in making the 
 statement that his settlement antedated that 
 of John Hill. The Kickapoo Indians occupied 
 the county in various settlements when the 
 first white settlers came to take possession of 
 it. Among those who settled in the south- 
 eastern part of Montgomery county were Jo- 
 seph Williams. Henry Pyatt, William McDa- 
 vid. John ami Henry Hill. Jesse Johnson, 
 Henry Sears. Aanm Casey, Harris Reavis, Jo- 
 seph and Charles Wright. Eastern Whitton, 
 John Kirkpatrick, Henry Rowe, John Russell, 
 David Bradford, .lame-: Curd. John Levi and 
 
 a lew others whose names have been forgotten. 
 In the settlement near Hillsboro, made in 
 1817-18, history records the following: Alex- 
 ander McWillianis. Solomon l'ruitt. John Nor- 
 ton. Roland Shepherd, Jarvis Forehand. Gor- 
 don Crandall, William Clark. David McCoy. 
 Nicholas Lockerman, Hugh Kirkpatrick. Mel- 
 cher Fogleman, William Griffith, Joseph Me- 
 Adams, .lames Street. Luke Steel. John Mc- 
 Phail, -loci Smith. David Kirkpatrick. Jesse 
 Townsend, Jacob Cress, John Butler and 
 Israel Seward. John Nussman, William Braz- 
 zelton, the schoolmaster. At about the same 
 time we li ii. 1 a settlement being made in south- 
 eastern pari of the county near the present vil- 
 lage of Walshville. Among those who sen led 
 here were Nicholas Vbyles, William Stevens. 
 Austin Grisham, James Baker and John Jor- 
 dan. The latter was a Baptist minister, who 
 preached the first sermon in Montgomery 
 county, though thai honor has been claimed 
 for .lames Street, of the Hillsboro settlement, 
 and also lor Henry Sears, of flu 1 Hurricane 
 sell lenient. It. is well to remark that it is re- 
 corded in a previous history of Montgomery 
 county that the Rev. James Street in 1817 
 held a meeting at the house of David McCoy, 
 of the Hillsboro settlement. This authority 
 further states that the Rev. Henry Sears, of 
 Hurricane settlement, was the first resident 
 minister of the county. En 1820 the Hills- 
 boro settlemenl organized a church body and 
 built, in 1821, a rude place of worship, con- 
 structed of lo'js with a dirt floor and puncheon
 
 PAST AND 1'1,'FSKXT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 683 
 
 pews. It was here in the wilderness that we 
 find this uncouth and primitive tabernacle; 
 but who shall say that within its walls wor- 
 shiped a people no! Less God-fearing than their 
 descendants, whose magnificent temples of wor- 
 ship are examples of architecture that would 
 astonish the fathers? I hardly think that in 
 the progress which we have made in material 
 things since our sins met in the forest and 
 their humble places of worship we have made 
 
 a degree of spiritual progress com nsurate 
 
 with our opportunities and our wider knowl- 
 edge of other things. Is it possible that with 
 all our boasted achievements in the physical 
 world there is absolutely no progress in the 
 spiritual ? 
 
 In offering a remark upon this subject I 
 am pleased to say that it is my belief that the 
 perfect work of grace in the human heart has 
 never been improved upon since our Savior 
 walked and talked along the shores of (iali- 
 lee; that while we may embellish our places 
 of worship and make them lit places for the 
 Master's use. yet we must not forget that 
 these do not constitute any part of the king- 
 dom of God, for the Master hath said. "The 
 kingdom of heaven is within you." While we 
 think it perfectly proper and right to build 
 beautiful houses of worship and dedicate them 
 to holy purposes, yet not the house nor its sur- 
 roundings or furnishings can of themselves 
 bring men to Christ, but those who worship 
 there and whose lives are consistent with the 
 teachings of the lowly Nazarene are the ele- 
 ments which persuade men that there is a 
 higher and a more perfect way of life. The 
 desire for the salvation of men is so strong 
 upon every Christian heart that it amounts to 
 a passion approaching thai of our Lord : hence 
 the intense earnestness and often fanatical ef- 
 forts of certain Christian men and women to 
 convert the world in a day. nor can they un- 
 derstand why, in the providences of God. the 
 world moves so slowly toward conviction, 
 toward conversion, toward righteousness. It 
 has been the experience of the writer through 
 several years of religious life that to worry 
 because we can not accomplish in a day what 
 Jesus himself did not accomplish in His time 
 only wastes energy and spirit and render? us 
 
 the more incompetent to perform the service 
 which is ours. Let us, therefore, as Christian 
 men ami women, go forth bearing precious 
 seeds ami the promise that sometime, some- 
 where, we shall gather precious she;i\es. To 
 the old church m the wilderness and to the 
 little schoolhouse on the hillside, doubtless, we 
 are indebted for the strong and sturdy charac- 
 ter of the men and women of that generation 
 that is passing — our fathers and mothers. We 
 have had more advantages than they, better 
 schools, and withal a better environment: but 
 are we better men ami women? We Jtave a 
 higher culture, which gives us, possibly, a 
 keener appreciation of the artistic, and the 
 Inns of beauty might appeal to our sense of 
 form: yet the true and the good found as re- 
 sponsive vibration in the hearts of our fathers 
 am! our mothers as we have ever known. 1 am 
 not pessimistic, neither am I such an optimist 
 as to believe that the law of compensation is 
 not just as exacting in the moral world as in 
 the physical, ami that the moral sense of a 
 people is blunted by the inordinately wild and 
 reckless chase for the material things of the 
 world. This digression from the subject of 
 history I hope will not he without some inter- 
 est to the reader. As old Tubal Cain was the 
 first blacksmith in the world, so Melcher Fogle- 
 man enjoys the distinction of having been the 
 first blacksmith in Montgomery county. An- 
 other colony came from Kentucky and settled 
 near where Fillmore is located. Among those 
 whose names are preserved were James Card, 
 Thomas J. Todd, Henry and Peter TTill and 
 Mark Mason. This was about the year 1820. 
 Tn the same year recruits were made to the 
 settlement at Hillsboro, and among those were 
 Thomas C. Hughes, Hiram Rountree, Daniel 
 Sherer, John Tilson, Daniel Meredith, Thomas 
 Robinson. John Yoakum, John Elder and oth- 
 ers. Possibly the most valuable acquisition to 
 Montgomery county at this time was Hiram 
 Rountree. J mine Rountree, as he was known 
 to the people of Montgomery county for a pe- 
 riod of half a century, was one of the most 
 remarkable men of bis time. In the formation 
 of this county, and during its earlier expe- 
 riences. Judge Rountree directed its affairs in 
 nearly every department of administration.
 
 68 l 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 The earlier records of Montgomery county were 
 all kept by him, and it is a matter ol no 
 little interest to spend an hour looking through 
 the records as kept by Judge Rountree fifty or 
 sixtj years ago. The writer lias heard his 
 father relate the following anecdote relative to 
 Judge Rountree: On the occasion of a visit 
 by a gentleman from one of the eastern state's 
 to this county, in the early "30s. he questioned 
 one of the citizens of Hillsboro as to who was 
 the recording clerk. The answer, Rountree. 
 Who is your probate judge? Again the answer, 
 Rountree. And who is your commissioner? 
 Again the citizen replied, Rountree. The idea 
 that (me man could till all of the offices seemed 
 so ludicrous to the stranger that he exclaimed: 
 "My God, are there no other men capable of 
 filling office in this county?" This story is 
 only told to show the high esteem in which 
 Judge Rountree was held and the absolute 
 faith which the early citizens had in his ability 
 to discharge the duties of the several offices 
 to which they elected him. As Judge Roun- 
 tree occupied so conspicuous a place in the 
 early history of the county. 1 will append the 
 short biographical sketch given in Perrin's 
 "History of Montgomery County," published 
 in 1.882 : "Judge Hiram Rountree was a rul- 
 ing spirit in Hillsboro for many years, exert- 
 ing a greater influence than any man. perhaps, 
 that has ever lived in the place, and deserves 
 more than mere passing notice in these pages. 
 He Mas a native of North Carolina, where he 
 was horn December 22, 1794, but his early life 
 was spent mostly in Kentucky. He was a 
 soldier ol' the war of 1812 under General 
 Shelby, the first governor of Kentucky. He 
 studied law in Rowling Green, and in 1817 
 removed to Edwardsville, Illinois, thence to 
 Fayette county and to the state capital. Vanda- 
 lia, where tor several sessions he was enrolling 
 clerk of the house of representatives. In 1821 
 he removed to Montgomery county, and as cir- 
 cuit clerk organized it. The remainder of his 
 life was spent in the county, and there were 
 few positions of importance that he had not 
 held at some time during his long ami useful 
 career. It is sufficient, however, to remark- 
 here that for forty-eight years in succession he 
 served the county in an official capacity. Ee 
 
 was a zealous member of the Methodist church 
 from the year 1818 to the time of his death, 
 March 5, 1873, and his Christian life is still 
 familiar to many of the older residents of the 
 city and county." It might he well to add 
 that in honor of Judge Rountree one of the 
 townships has been named for him. But so 
 long as Montgomery county preserves her early 
 records there will Lie no occasion to have other 
 reminders to keep for other generations memo-' 
 ries of Hiram Rountree. Montgomery county 
 was organized in 1821 by act of the general 
 assembly, approved February 12 of that year. 
 Its boundaries were as follows: Beginning at 
 the southeast corner of section 24, township 7. 
 north range 2, west of the third parallel 
 meridian, thence west eighteen miles to the 
 southwest corner of section 19, in township 7, 
 range •">. west, and thence south to the south 
 line of said township, thence west to the south- 
 west corner, thence north to the northwest cor- 
 ner of township 12. thence east twenty-four 
 miles to the northeast corner of township 12, 
 north, and range 2. west, thence south to the 
 place of beginning, to he known as Montgom- 
 ery county. Melcher Fogleman. James Street 
 and Joseph Wright were appointed commission- 
 ers to locate the seat of justice for said county. 
 The newly-created county was named in honor 
 of General Montgomery, who fell before Que- 
 bec. The student of history, as he recalls the 
 roll of the several counties of Illinois, discovers 
 that he has a record id' the most illustrious 
 names known to American history. It will be 
 observed that the eastern boundary of our coun- 
 ty extended as far north as our present western 
 boundary, hut in the year 1839, on the forma- 
 tion of Dane county, now called Christian, a 
 large slice was taken out of the northeast cor- 
 ner, leaving it in its present irregular shape. 
 The commissioners appointed to locate the 
 county seat met at the house of Joseph Mc- 
 Adams for the purpose of determining the 
 proper site. Under the act providing for the 
 creation of the county and the selection of a 
 site as county seat, the owner of the land upon 
 which the site was to he located should donate 
 twenty acres for public buildings. After much 
 deliberation the commissioners selected what 
 was known as the McAdams place, which is
 
 PAST AND L'EESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 685 
 
 about three miles southwest of Hillsboro. This 
 town was to be known as Hamilton. It must 
 be kept in mind that the commissioners were 
 not unanimous in the selection of this place 
 as the county scat, for Joseph Wright, the 
 commissioner living in the Hurricane settle- 
 ment, was much opposed to its selection and 
 refused to sign the report as commissioner. 
 Wright drew up a minority report, in which 
 lie set forth the fact that the site so selected 
 was neither the geographical center of i lie coun- 
 ty nor the center of population. So hitter be- 
 came the controversy over the matter that tin 1 
 legislature passed an act in the year is-.'.", creat- 
 ing a new commission to relocate the county 
 seat, and. on this new hoard were appointed 
 Elijah C. Berry. Silas L. Wait and Aaron 
 Armstrong. The new commission met in pur- 
 suance of the provisions of the act creating it 
 and chose the present site of Hillsboro. The 
 following incident is told in connection with 
 the location of the county scat: If was dis- 
 covered, after the location had been made, 
 that the land had not been entered from the 
 government, so it became necessary to find 
 some one who had sufficient money to make the 
 entry, and after a canvass of many of the 
 citizens one Newton Coffey, living down in 
 the Hurricane settlement, was found who had 
 fifty dollars in money — something unusual for 
 an early settler at that time. ~\\r. Coffey was 
 -cut for. and after much persuasion was in- 
 duced to make an entry of the land neeessarv 
 to the location of the county seat. He made a 
 donation of twenty acres for public buildings 
 and laid out the beginning of the present town 
 of Hillsboro. It is a matter of history that the 
 town of Hamilton had really been projected, 
 so far as having been laid out. lots sold, streets 
 and alleys surveyed and all the requirements 
 necessary to the building of a town, hut that 
 no public buildings had been erected. The re- 
 location of the site to Hillsboro seems to have 
 paralyzed any further effort on tin- part of 
 the promoters to build a town at Hamilton. 1 
 have noi been able to -cure information rela- 
 tive to why the earlier county seat was to have 
 been called Hamilton, lmt T surmise that the 
 habit so strong upon the public men of that 
 day to reflect credit upon those whom they 
 
 would especially honor led the first commis- 
 sioners to name their town in honor id' Alex- 
 ander Hamilton, and if 1 might conjecture fur- 
 ther I would say that possibly Joseph Wright 
 was a disciple of Thomas Jefferson and his 
 opposition was as much to the name, and 
 possibly more, than to the fact set forth in 
 his minority report. This suggestion, which 
 is not warranted by the evidence, is only as- 
 sumed by a knowledge of the political acerbi- 
 ties of the times. It has been said that the 
 faithful chroniclers of events will not color 
 the fads id' history by loo much suggestion. 
 Hut in a. study of the times we are often 
 tempted to express an opinion that is war- 
 ranted by attendant circumstances and con- 
 ditions. These circumstances and conditions 
 are unknown to the reader, and consequently he 
 may conclude that the writer presumes too 
 much upon his credulity. It has been an ob- 
 servation, however, that the matter thrown in 
 t,. illume is oftentimes the more faithful part 
 of the story. The first court of Montgomery 
 county was held at the home of Joseph McAd- 
 anis. at what is now known as the old Mi Ad- 
 ams place. The Hon. John Reynolds presided 
 over this first term of the circuit court and 
 Hiram Rountree acted as recorder. The grand 
 jury selected (o serve at this first term of the 
 circuit court were John Seward. James Black. 
 George W. Shipmen, David Bradford, William 
 McDavid, John Beck, James Card. George 
 Davis, Elisha Freemen, Henry Hill, Louis 
 S'cribbner, Hiram Reavis, James Walker. 
 Newton Coffey, Jarvis Forehand. John Yoa- 
 kum, John Elder and Thomas Robinson. The 
 county commissioners' curt was held in the 
 spring of 1821 and consisted of John Beck, 
 John Seward and John McAdams as county 
 commissioners. The county officers who were 
 appointed at this term of court were Hiram 
 Rountree, clerk; John Tilson, treasurer; Joel 
 Wright, sheriff; L. M. Townsend, probate 
 judge; and James Wright and Daniel Mere- 
 dith, first constables of the county. Thus we 
 have by appointment to the various offices 
 probably the most available that could have 
 been selected at this time. Joel Wright, the 
 first sheriff of the county, we learn, was not 
 of the same family as Joseph Wright who was
 
 68G 
 
 ['AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ouc of the firsi commissioners appointed to fix 
 the count} seat, neither the James Wright who 
 was appointed as one of the first constables re- 
 lated tn either of the others. Many of the de- 
 scendants of Joseph Wright are living in Fill- 
 more township near where their ancestor made 
 his settlemenl more than eighty years ago. 
 John Tilson, whose name appears as the first 
 county treasurer, was a man of more than 
 usual ability, and it is said that he Kept the 
 first store at Billsboro as early as 1821 and 
 was appointed as firsi postmaster at the coun- 
 ty seal. Mr. Tilson came to Illinois from 
 Massachusetts and brought with him that 
 spirit for education and general progress that 
 has marked the people of his native state. The 
 moral and educational interests of Hillsboro 
 owe to Mr. Tilson much that has been accom- 
 plished along these lines, as we shall ha\ - 
 
 casion to note m the chapter relating to edu- 
 cational interest-. Mr. Tilson built the first 
 brick dwelling in the county. It was a large 
 two-story dwelling, but, owing to the poor 
 quality of the brick oul of which it was made. 
 
 it has long since I n torn down. It is claimed 
 
 that the first settler upon the site of Hillsboro 
 was our John Nussman, but as lie had not en- 
 tered the lands upon which his cabin stood lie 
 did not derive the benefits that came from the 
 location of the county seat in bis immediate 
 neighborhood. Nussman's cabin was located 
 mar the late A. It. II. Rountree's residence. 
 Nussman. according to the custom of all the 
 earlier settlers, raised a large family of chil- 
 dren. Seme of the descendants of Mr. Nuss- 
 man are yet to be found ill the vicinity of 
 Hillsboro. The Nussman wagon -bop was the 
 first of its kind in the county, and some are 
 yet living who remember the old mechanic who 
 kept in repair the linch-pin wagons and ox- 
 carts, yokes and bows so necessary as a part 
 of flic pioneer home. The first tavernkeeper 
 \\a- .lame.- Rutledge, whose tavern, or inn. was 
 located in the south part of town. James 
 Rutledge was the father of the late Thomas 
 J. Rutledge, once a prominent attorney of the 
 Montgomery county bar, ami also of Dr. H. R. 
 Rutledge, for many years a dentist in Hills- 
 boro ami identified with much of tin' church 
 interests of the (own. Dr. Rutledge has not 
 
 lived in .Montgomery county for Mime years. 
 Joel Wright, who was the firsi sheriff of the 
 county, Ike Mr. Tilson was also an eastern 
 man. He held the office of sheriff from 1821 
 until 1826, anil we are not informed that Joel 
 Wright left any representatives of his family, 
 lor it seems that tradition is silent regarding 
 him; at least we have been unable to discover 
 what became of him. As we have stated that 
 John Tilson erected the first brick bouse in 
 Hillsboro, it might he of interest to further 
 state that David B. Jackson, lather of W. K. 
 Jackson, erected the first frame house in our 
 county scat. Mr. Jackson was one of our 
 early merchants, a tavernkeeper, county sur- 
 veyor, and withal a very useful man in the 
 community. \n IS - .'") John Prentice came to 
 Hillsboro ami opened up the second general 
 store in the village. Mr. Prentice was fairly 
 successful in his venture, and in addition to 
 selling goods succeeded, by dint of energy and 
 economy, to raise quite a family of children. 
 We will have more to say concerning the 
 early settlers of Hillsboro on the chapter set 
 apart especially lor the city of Hillsboro and 
 community. The rugged virtue of the early 
 pioneer settlers is shown by a rather peculiar 
 incident in tin- life of one of their number. 
 Nicholas Lockerman was among the earliest 
 of our settlers, ami he bad brought with him 
 from bis former home a mistress rather than 
 a wife. In other words, there bad been no 
 Legal marriage between Lockerman and the 
 woman who In, re his children and claimed a 
 place of wile in bis home. So indignant were 
 his neighbors at this infraction of the moral 
 law that Lockerman was notified that be must 
 either marry the woman who lived with him 
 as bis wife or move to some other locality. 
 Lockerman chose the former alternative, and. 
 as the story goes, was married by the Rev. 
 James Street nut in the open field where he 
 and bis wife were hoeing corn. To-day. un- 
 der circumstances of such character, men might 
 take refuge under the "common law marriage 
 agreement" and thus avoid pos-ublo scandals 
 such as our fathers could not condone in their 
 time. Wiser, perhaps, in our generation than 
 they, yei have we not lost attachment for that 
 robust sense of virtue that prevailed among
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 687 
 
 the pioneers? The nexl couple married in 
 Montgomery count)' was David McCoy to a 
 Miss Kirkpatrick. The marriage ceremony 
 was performed by the Rev. .lames Street, but 
 the first marriage license ever returned in 
 Montgomery county was that of William II. 
 Brown to Miss Harriett C. Seward by the 
 Rev. T. S'. Townsend. It has been contended 
 that the wife of the Rev. T. S. Townsend 
 taught the Brsl school in 1823, but this honor 
 without doubt belongs to Mr. Brazzleton, whose 
 
 6.rsl scl I session precedes this some two or 
 
 three years. The first physician that ever prac- 
 ticed medicine in the county was Dr. Garner, 
 who had married Martha Kilpatriek. daughter 
 of David Kilpatriek, who had settled aboul two 
 miles west of Hillsboro. Whether Dr. Garner 
 was successful as a practitioner 1 do not know, 
 Km as the man of medicine years ago was com- 
 pelled ie search for his remedies among the 
 herbs of the field ami the roots in the valley 
 we are led to suppose thai Dr. Garner knew 
 them all by name ami was able to dispense 
 them so a- to alleviate the ague-ridden popu- 
 lace. At least no e\ idence of mal-practice ap 
 pears against him in the records. Contempo- 
 rary with Dr. (larnei' was Dr. Boone, one of 
 the early physicians. He was a man of much 
 intelligence, personally very popular and re- 
 lated directly to Daniel Boone, the Kentucky 
 hunter. Dr. Boone commanded a company el' 
 Montgomery county hoys in (he Black Hawk 
 war. and when he had served out his term he 
 re-enlisted a.- surgeon in Captain Kountree's 
 company and served I" the end of the war. 
 Later Dr. Boone removed to Chicago and in 
 die course of years served that city as mayor. 
 The doctor'.- sympathy for the south during 
 the rebellion led him into some trouble. His 
 effort to provide for the comforts of some of 
 Ins old Kentucky friends who were confined as 
 prisoners in Camp Douglas led to his arrest. 
 Later, however, he was released, ne charges 
 having been preferred against him. Under the 
 townships we shall have occasion lo notice in 
 a mere extended manner those who have con- 
 tributed t<> tin' history of these separate sec- 
 tions. For convenience the county was early 
 divided into voting precincts, which hater, un- 
 der the constitution of IS 18. were changed into 
 
 civil townships. These precincts, however, did 
 nol conform to the present civil township, for 
 in some instances the voting precinct was much 
 re extended than the civil township. Mont- 
 gomery county did not adopl township organi- 
 zation until a great majority of the counties 
 throughout the state had taken advantage of 
 this constitutional provision. There is much 
 in township organization to he commended, as 
 it brings the government of local affairs to the 
 immediate direction of the people, the heard 
 of supervisors, in a sense corresponding to the 
 legislative body, or, in other words, bearing 
 the same relation to the county that (he general 
 assembly does to the slate, in so far as provid- 
 ing lo,- public expenditures on improve in- 
 fer the public good. Space will not permit a 
 re\ iew of all the county officials w hose names 
 might he of interest in a work of this kind, 
 ami while it would afford us much pleasure to 
 present that honored roll to readers of out 
 story, yet we must forego that pleasure and 
 content ourselves with casual notice of those 
 \\ ho, from time to time, have c e more promi- 
 nently into notice. Among those who have 
 filled the office of sheriff, ami whose names 
 are well remembered by our older citizens, we 
 find thai ■>( John Fogleman, John Corlew and 
 John MeDavid. We mention these specifically 
 because these octogenarians yet remain with 
 us. John Fogleman resides on In- farm near 
 i he city of Litchfield and is nearly eighty-five 
 ve.-irs old. Uncle John Corlew yet resides on 
 his farm at the good old age of ninety years, 
 while Uncle John MeDavid lives in the suburb 
 of Irving, quite hale and strong for a man of 
 eighty-two. Soon these landmarks of bygone 
 generation will he removed, and only a few 
 years at most will it lie possible to receive at 
 first hand stories of pioneer times. John Fo- 
 gleman is a son of Melcher Fogleman. men- 
 tioned previously in this article, and dohn 
 MeDavid is a son of Dnelo Billy MeDavid. 
 who settled near Coffeen, on McDavid's branch, 
 m the year 1820. Of the elder MeDavid we 
 shall have something more to say when we 
 take up the history id' Fast Fork township. 
 Among the circuit clerks we might mention 
 that Hiram Rountree and Charlie Jenkins were 
 the most conspicuous occupants of thai office,
 
 688 
 
 PAST AXD PRESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 [nil no more efficient clerk of the circuit court 
 has ever occupied the position than tin present 
 incumbent, Duncan C. Best. In the office of 
 county clerk the names of Shirley, Raymond. 
 K.cihly. Hendricks, Seymour and Shoemaker 
 form a list of aide and courteous officials. 
 George Raymond died suddenly and. unex- 
 pectedly. While a Republican in politic-, yet 
 he was elected to the office of county clerk by 
 good majorities. B. A. Hendricks, a very affa- 
 ble gentleman, and dining his first term in 
 office a most efficient clerk, died by his own 
 hand, leaving a testimony in this rash act 
 that wine is a mocker and that strong drink 
 is raging, and lie that is deceived thereby is 
 not wise. At the time of B. A. Hendricks' 
 election to the office of county clerk no young 
 man had brighter prospects than lie. and Ins 
 friends cherished the hope that at some future 
 time, in positions of greater trust than that 
 of count v clerk, he might aspire, and the 
 author well remembers that in private eonver- 
 
 ,;,i he had admitted that he had hopes of 
 
 something greater. In an evil hour the demon 
 of strong drink exerted a mastery over the 
 man and led him captive to his own destruc- 
 tion. These remarks are made out of the 
 kindest feeling for the dead, hut if we find 
 some unpleasant things to chronicle whose 
 narration will sound a warning to others, we 
 shall feel that the story told is not sacriligeous 
 nor is it unkind to the memory id' 'he dead. 
 John Shoemaker, who is serving his second 
 term, is a most faithful servant of the people. 
 I failed to note in my remarks three of out 
 late sheriffs, notably Henry X. Randall, Hen 
 Cassiday and the preseni sheriff, John Miller. 
 Montgomery county has reason to congratulate 
 herself that she ha- been served by a trio of 
 such excellent officials. The long line id' coun- 
 ty judges who deserve mention would form 
 quite a list. From among them we enumerate 
 the following: Lane, Kingsberry, Phillips. 
 Miller, Allen. Cooper and McMurray. In this 
 Montgomery county has been especially favored, 
 for her judges have been men of character, and 
 in no instance can we recall any dereliction 
 to duty. Our state's attorneys have been force- 
 ful prosecutors, and most of them have been 
 promoted to higher positions, notabh Miller 
 
 and Allen to the judgeship and Thomas M. 
 Jett to congress, and in our young and ener- 
 getic present prosecuting attorney we arc well 
 pleased and hope for him a wider sphere of 
 usefulness at no distant day. Mr. Hill en- 
 joys and deserves the confidence of the peo- 
 ple as a public official. The count] treasurer's 
 office has been ably tilled by such men as ••.Inn" 
 Haynes, Columbus Preeland, John Green and 
 Dan Brown, the preseni incumbent, all of 
 whom were mosl excellent men and public 
 servants. Dan Brown, the present treasurer. 
 is the son of Martin Brown, who has lived in 
 llarvel township for many years. Dan is a 
 rugged, stanch young Democrat and a worthy 
 son of Uncle Martin, who has been dubbed 
 •■King of the Irish." We expect greateT things 
 yet from our young friend "Dan." The earliest 
 school commissioner of the county was Butler 
 s'eward and after him we have few names that 
 are remembered until we reach that of Jesse 
 ('. Barrett. This able and efficient county su- 
 perintendent did as much, and possibly more 
 than any other, to elevate the standard of pub- 
 lic instruction in Montgomery county. II is 
 long period of service enabled him to accom- 
 plish certain ends that a short period of years 
 could not have done. Mr. Barretl was rirtu- 
 ally superintendent of the county schools for 
 a period of thirteen year-. During the first 
 four years he was assistani superintendent b 
 Thomas E. Harris, but the direction of the 
 affairs of the office devolved upon him. At the 
 ck.se of Mr. Harris' term. Mr. fiarrett was 
 elected and re-elected si. that he was able to 
 accomplish much good in the system which he 
 had adopted for the management el the district 
 schools. No superintendent of this county 
 ever enjoyed the confidence of the teachers to 
 a greater degree than did .lesse Barrett. This 
 the writer can affirm, because it was In- prov- 
 ince to he one of the profession during Mr. 
 Barrett's administration. Succeeding Mr. 
 Barretl was the writer of this article, and if 
 there was anything commendable in hi- admin- 
 istration, it was the fact that the state course 
 of study was adopted throughout the county 
 during his term of office. A strong corps of 
 teachers lent their support to his administra- 
 tion and whatever of success attaches to it
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 689 
 
 eame by reason of their loyal support. We 
 should like to give a list of the names of those 
 teachers, but space forbids and lest we might 
 
 forget to mention .- i one of the more worthy, 
 
 we must be content to refer to them as a l»»l\ 
 of men and women who honored their profes- 
 sion and the superintendent whose good for- 
 tune it was («> Labor with them. Succeeding 
 to the superintendence was W. II. Groner, of 
 Litchfield. Mr. Groner had been one of the 
 leading teachers of Montgomery county for 
 many years and his election to the superin- 
 tendence was a fitting recognition of the serv- 
 ices which he bad rendered as a teacher in the 
 public schools. Mr. Groner's administration 
 was eminently successful. He saw to it that 
 the state course was applied to all of the 
 schools in so far as it was practical and the 
 system of graduating under the state course 
 that bad been adopted during the previous ad- 
 ministration was carried out and gradually the 
 objections which had been urged against the 
 state course during its early adoption disap- 
 peared. At the rinse of his term Mr. Groner 
 did tint care to stand For re-election and \Y. J. 
 Mr-David, the present incumbent, succeeded 
 
 to il dice of county superintendent .1! schools, 
 
 Mr. McDavid has made a faithful and efficient 
 officer and so far as we are advised, is main- 
 taining the high standard of efficiency in our 
 public schools. His re-election last year evi- 
 dences the esteem in which he is held and the 
 satisfaction of the people with his administra- 
 tion. The men wdio have been signally hon- 
 ored from Montgomery county by election to 
 federal offices present but a short list. No- 
 tably Judge E. Y. Rice, Edward Lane and 
 Thomas M. .left. Judge Rice served this con- 
 gressional district as its representative in the 
 early 70s. Prior to his election he lived in the 
 city of II illsboro, and the old Rice home is one 
 of the landmarks of that city. Situated in a 
 beautiful forest of virgin oaks and elms, it 
 presents rather a pastoral appearance and it 
 was here thai Judge Rice passed the closing 
 years of an eventful and useful life. Although 
 hut a youth at the time. I can well remember 
 the speeches made by Judge Rice in his canvass 
 for congress, and my father's country store 
 being quite a rendezvous for the citizens in 
 
 the south part of the count), one of his dates 
 was sure to include "Traylor's store," and here. 
 from the old porch as a rostrum, it is said that 
 the lion. E. Lam; made his first political 
 speech. James Davis and later his son Robert 
 W. Davis were wont to address the voters of 
 this section from the same rostrum. Edward 
 Lane was next to serve Montgomery county 
 ami the district as representative to congress 
 Mr. Lane was elected to several terms in the 
 popular branch of congress, and during his in- 
 cumbency of that office he won a national repu- 
 tation. .Mr. Lane is an especial friend of \Y 
 • I. Bryan and the soundness of his Democracy 
 has never been questioned. We regard Judge 
 Lane as the ideal lawyer. Hi- life has been 
 one id' struggle ami his indefatigable energy 
 has won for him a competency and to-day lie 
 is reckoned one of the solid financial men 1 
 our county. Thomas M. Jett, the younger 
 of the trio, also served several terms in the 
 national congress. Mr. Jett, by his forceful- 
 ness, won his way to congress while but a 
 young man. and though by the re-districting 
 Mr. Jett was thrown in the same district with 
 lien Caldwell id' Springfield, it is probable 
 that had he cared, he mighl have secured the 
 nomination over that gentleman. That \l 
 Jett has a bright outlook' for the future, his 
 friends are glad to believe. That he is d - 
 serving the people of Montgomery county, re- 
 gardless of party, are five to acknowledgi 
 Mr. Jett, associated with Mr. Kinder, consti- 
 tutes one of tin' strong law firms of the count',. 
 It might be well at this time to consider the 
 topography of the county in general. V 
 every grade of soil is to be found in the county. 
 In the extreme northern part, which in the 
 earlier settlement consisted of wide stretches 
 id' flat boo- lands unsuited to any purpose 
 known to the early settler, ami the south part 
 consists of rolling prairies, which loose them- 
 selves in the hill sections along the creeks. In 
 the eastern part, especially in the south part 
 of Audubon township and southeast Fillmore. 
 111 in li hill land, that is suited only to orchard 
 and grazing purposes. The land in these si 
 lions has a good clay sub-soil, wdiich renders 
 them especially adapted for apple, peach, pear. 
 plum and small fruit growing. In many parts
 
 690 
 
 AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 we find most excellent springs thai provide 
 living water throughout the year. Jn the 
 south pari of East Fork and in much of Gris- 
 hain. Irving, Walshville and South Litchfield 
 are found extensive tracts of whal is known as 
 post-oak flats. These sections, which have 
 been universally regarded as the poorest soil. 
 are under the superior class of cultivation that 
 is being given by some of our German fanners 
 thai they may be made very productive. This 
 grade of soil seems to respond more readily 
 to fertilization than any other. The close and 
 compact nature of this soil makes it aecessarj 
 to use some means by which it may be made 
 more porous. The use of the cow pea and 
 red clover as plant fertilizers are admirably 
 adapted to post-oak soil. -Most ol the hill land 
 is of a reddish- east, and by careful manage- 
 ment i" prevenl washing, is among the most 
 fertile soils of the county. The writer was 
 pleased to observe some upland of tins char- 
 acter, belonging to Jacob Booer, which this 
 year will undoubtedly yield from sixty to 
 eighty bushels of corn per acre. When it is 
 remembered that tins land lias been in culti- 
 vation for a period of seventy-five years, we are 
 lead to conclude that soil does not wear out. 
 hut that by intelligent and careful manage- 
 ment, thai all grades of Montgomery county 
 soils may be made more productive. The 
 virgin timber has almosl disappeared, but much 
 of a younger growth is yet to be found in 
 the south pari of the county. Only a few 
 years ago it was not difficult to find oak. syca 
 more ami cottonwood three feet at least in di- 
 ameter, but to-day one might travel many miles 
 without ever discovering a single representative 
 of the virgin forest. Originally the timber 
 growth of our section consisted of white oak. 
 post oak, black oak, Spanish oak and pin oak. 
 the white and scaly hark hickory, the white 
 and the red elm. the wild cherry, the haek- 
 berrv, the black walnut, and along the stream- 
 many very large sycamore and cottonwood 
 trees. Among the different growths not suited 
 to the use as lumber were the crab apple, 
 prickly ash. black haw. rod haw. mulberry, 
 persimmon, redbud and various other shrub- 
 like trees. If was not difficult thirty years ago 
 for bovs in their jaunts through the forest to 
 
 supply themselves with berries, mils, grapes, 
 plums ami such oilier fruit- a- grew in abun- 
 dance over the hills, and to-day the men and 
 women of forty-five and fifty years old well re- 
 member when, a.- little tots on their wa\ to 
 school, the\ stopped to gather the wild straw- 
 berries in the spring or to gather in the au- 
 tumn the hickory nuts, black haws and per- 
 simmons. We well knew that the wild crab, 
 after it had laid through the winter covered 
 by the leaves, was not had to the taste when all 
 other apples were gone, and you hoys who are 
 older, that chance to read this sketch, will 
 understand what 1 mean by sweet root time. 
 Tin boys in our schools to-day would laugh 
 at the expression, but to the boys of thirty-five 
 and forty years ago. the sweet root was sought 
 after ami much prized by them. Oftentimes. 
 in company with others, we have played hookey 
 at school in the spring when the frosl hid gone 
 out of the ground and sweel root time was at 
 hand. For the information of present day 
 boys, 1 will state that the tap root of the small 
 hickory was the article after which we spent 
 so much time to secure. Quite a good many 
 medicinal shrubs and plants were to be found 
 growing in different parts of the timbered sec- 
 tion of the county. The sassafras, shumaeh. 
 alder, prickly ash, bitter-sweet, red root, sarsa- 
 parilla. yellow root, bone set. black cohosh, gin- 
 seng, sweet ennis and many others with which 
 the local doctor alone was acquainted. The 
 geolog] varies in different parts of the county. 
 In the south part, after passing through the 
 soil, we come to a light colored checked clay 
 formation. This is succeeded by several feet 
 of vellow granular clay, which in turn i- un- 
 derlaid by a bed of sand, which contains a 
 good quality of hard water. Underlying this 
 first bed of sand is a calcareous deposit which 
 undoubtedly gives to the water its lime-like 
 nature. Underneath this lime rock is a blue 
 .lav formation, which varies in depth with lo- 
 cation. This is again succeeded by a bed of 
 quicksand in most parts of the southern sec- 
 tion of the county. The water from wells 
 which tap this second bed of sand is not usual!) 
 of such bard quality as water furnished from 
 ih.' lir-f strata of sand. In different parts of 
 the county we have chalybeate springs, some
 
 PAST AMI PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 691 
 
 containing sulphate of iron, others magnesia 
 and others salts of various kinds. There is 
 but little rock formation near the surface in 
 am part of the county. Near Rocky Ford, on 
 West Shoal, is the most pronounced formation 
 to be found in any part of the county. If we 
 should ever determine to build a system of 
 hard roads, it is apparent that some other 
 substance besides rock would have to be used 
 in the construction, and it lias occurred to the 
 writer thai the greal bods of tire clay under- 
 lying our coal measures might soi lay be 
 
 utilized in making a. species of paving brick 
 suited to this purpose. While but few autos 
 are in use outside the great cities, it has been 
 demonstrated thai as vehicles for carrying pur- 
 poses they are practical machines, and the time 
 is not far distant when these horseless carriages 
 will be owned and operated by some of the 
 wealthiest, farmers. The demand Eor hard 
 roads is uoticeable in almost every section oJ 
 the country, and state conventions have hem 
 called to devise some means by which this de- 
 mand may be satisiied. The great cost at- 
 taching to the construction of hard roads across 
 our wide prairies is an item of expense that 
 looks scary to the average farmer. In the con- 
 struction of gravel roads in the vicinity of 
 Charleston. Illinois. 1 rind that the minimum 
 cost has been in the neighborhood of one thou- 
 sand dollars per mile. 1 have but little Faith 
 however, in the endurance of this class of hard 
 roads, and parties in that neighborhood as- 
 sured me that during the open muddv winter 
 of 1902-3 that these sand-gravel surfaced 
 roads were little better than the well graded 
 dirt road. With an inexhaustible supply of 
 material out of which to make paving brick 
 and millions of tons of cheap coal wherewith 
 to burn them, we are certainly in a position 
 not only to make hard mads, hut to make them 
 of the best quality. Roads that when once 
 constructed will last for hundreds of years. 
 The American people in the matter of road 
 building have been quite unlike the ancient 
 Roman with whom they have so frequently 
 been compared. While the Roman republic 
 took pride in building great highways, and it is 
 to tin- credit of that people that many of these 
 roads are yet in use. the purpose of their con- 
 
 struction hardly justified the building. As the 
 Roman highway provided a means he- the rapid 
 movement id' her armies from one part of the 
 empire to the other, the building of American 
 roads should !"■ for more laudable purposes. 
 Returning to our subject of the geological 
 st i eel ure el' our county, we will notice the coal 
 measures which within recent years ha- proven 
 
 a source of wealth to our | pie. The first 
 
 coal mine operated within our county was at 
 Litchfield, Illinois. The coal vein worked at 
 that time was from three to four feet in thick- 
 lies-. The quality of the coal superior to that 
 which has since been worked in the thicker vein 
 lying somewhat below. The mine at Hillsboro 
 has been in operation some fifteen years and 
 produces a superior quality of coal. This has 
 Keen the most successfully operated coal mine 
 within the county. In the development of this 
 mine the operator.- were very careful not to rob 
 the pillars so as to occasion a "squeeze" in 
 the work. The Kortkamp Brothers were in 
 charge of this mine lor a number of years and 
 the character ami credit of the work belongs 
 I,, them. In strong contrast with the Btills- 
 boro mine is that of the mim- at Coffeen, where, 
 1 am told by expert miners, that all the ad- 
 vantages lav with the mine at Coffeen. A 
 much softer lire clay beneath and less "clod" 
 between the coal and the rock above, ill other 
 words, a better bottom and a belter lop. A 
 vein of coal ranging from seven to eight Eeet 
 in thickness, and superior in quality to any 
 other coal in this section of the state. With 
 all these advantages the management of this 
 shaft, by a few farmer operators, almost wholly 
 ruined the plant and bankrupted themselves. 
 So anxious were the stockholders to sei ore 
 early dividends upon their stock thai immediate 
 robbing of pillars commenced on the opening 
 ,)!' the shaft. An observation would he apt 
 in this connection that the "shoemaker would 
 better stick to his last." The men who as- 
 sumed the management of the Coffeen mine 
 were farmers who had been more than ordina- 
 rily successful in their line. W. S. Barry and 
 James P>. McDavid were both men of ability 
 and each had succeeded in gaining a compe- 
 tency as a Farmer and stock-raiser, but in their 
 management of the Coffeen mine, no more ah-
 
 693 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OE MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 solute failure could have been conceived. Not 
 only did they bankrupt themselves, but many 
 of their friends, who shared with them in the 
 responsibility of their mining venture. The 
 coal industry at Coffeen a1 the present writ- 
 ing is under the direction of successful coal 
 men from Pennsylvania. These operators 
 have been able not only to put the mine on a 
 
 asis of meeting its expenditures, hut must cer- 
 tainly have proven a paying venture, as the 
 company are at the present time arranging to 
 sink a new shaft at this place. The coal mine 
 located at Paisley has been in a measure fairly 
 
 - -st'ul. The coal is of good quality and the 
 
 mine has been kept in good condition. M r. 
 George \V. Paisley, the operator, has found that 
 it. pays well to employ superintendents who 
 know what is best in operating and developing a 
 mine. Tin's mine has the largest, output of any 
 mine in our county. The new mine at Litchfield 
 had somewhat of an experience in its earlier 
 management like that at Coffeen, but fortu- 
 aately for the mine and for the stockholders, 
 the concern was thrown into the hands of a re- 
 ceiver and J. D. Crabbe, one of the most suc- 
 cessful coal operators in Illinois, was made 
 receiver. Under his management, it was soon 
 put on a paying basis and I am informed that 
 very recently it sold at figures considerably 
 
 above the capita] stock. At Ray ml is a coal 
 
 mine of small capacity. The quality of the 
 coal is good, hut the vein is only about three 
 feet in thickness, so that as a commercial mine, 
 
 t can not hope to accomplish very great things. 
 The per diem tonnage of the several mines of 
 Montgomery county is in the neighborhood of 
 throe thousand tons, and the several mines em- 
 ploy in the neighborhood of seven hundred 
 men. Much talk of a new nunc at Nokomis 
 and Donnellson is heard. Prospecting has 
 been made at each place, and vein- of from six 
 to seven feet have been discovered. Quite a 
 number of years ago. when the old Litchfield 
 mine was in operation, the observance of the 
 aci umulat ion of oil in the "sump"' led some 
 parties at Litchfield to make investigations in 
 regard to petroleum deposits. A very heavy 
 black oil was discovered and several wells were 
 sunk, for quite a number of years this oil 
 v.i- sold to the trade for lubricating purposes, 
 
 but for some reason these wells have not been 
 operated for some time. 1 am not in position 
 to say whether the oil deposit did not exist 111 
 sufficient quantity to pay for the operating or 
 whether influences existed that made it more 
 profitable to shut the wells down. The gas 
 llou from a well in the vicinity of Litchfield 
 was reasonably strong, and tor some months 
 alter its discovery exhibited at night quite a 
 spectacular appearance when allowed to burn. 
 Prom what has preceded, 1 am satisfied that in 
 the near future attempts will he made to 
 more fully prospect tor oil and gas within the 
 limits of our county. Several tile and brick 
 factories have been operated in different parts 
 of the count} 7 . A very line quality of brick has 
 been made for many years at Hillsboro, and 
 the brickyards of Marshall and Seymour have 
 furnished brick to build most of the brick 
 structures throughout this section of the coun- 
 try. These yards. I believe, are both now out 
 of use. hut the hriek and tile factory near the 
 coal mine at Eillsboro, anil a similar one at 
 Litchfield, ami another at Ohlman, supply the 
 ever increasing trade in this class of building 
 material. Some years ago it was thought 
 much more expensive to build out of hriek. but 
 tin 1 rapid increase in the value of all grades of 
 lumber has so increased the price of frame 
 building that in the future business houses 
 especially will he erected out of brick, and 
 there will he no excuse for having a lire limit 
 in our villages and towns. It will he only a 
 matter of dollars and cents with the advantage 
 in favor of brick structures. The agricultural 
 products consist of corn, oats, wheat and rye, 
 with timothy and clover hay produced in large 
 quantities. Luring the period of 1875-85 va- 
 lla' great wheat decade, and during some of the 
 years Montgomery county produced a million 
 bushels of wheat. It was no unusual thing for 
 fields of hundreds of acres to average thirty 
 to thirty-five bushels per acre, and as some 
 countries have their golden age. certainly it 
 was at this period that we had a wheat age. 
 The results of the rich harvests of 1879, 1880 
 and 1882 occasioned greater improvements 
 among the Earming classes in the way of nice 
 home.-, good barns, etc.. than all the accumula- 
 tions that hail preceded it. Since 1 S85 clima-
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 693 
 
 tic changes, chintz bugs or Hessian flies have 
 made it almost, impossible to grow a crop of 
 wheat, and our farmers, after many failures, 
 have turned their attention to other crops such 
 as corn, oats and hay. Much of the hill land 
 in the south part of bhe county has been seeded 
 to pasture and stock raising has become one of 
 the essential features of Montgomery county 
 farming. In the northern part of the county, 
 where the soil is deep and black, corn raising 
 is the principal item of agriculture. The 
 north half of our county lies within what is 
 known as the corn belt, while the south half 
 is diversified, fruit growing, stock raising 
 and mining filling up the measure of her in- 
 dustries. In the early history of the state. 
 Montgomery county, with others, saw lit to ex- 
 tend aid i" certain railroads, if they should 
 construct their line across her boundaries, hi 
 this way a county indebtedness of some fifty 
 thousand dollars was assumed by the people. 
 lint tins burden has long ami been lifted and 
 we are free to express the opinion that the 
 voters of forty years ago acted wisely in se- 
 curing the mad. Our county has been most 
 fortunate at. all times in having wise counsel- 
 lors in its financial management. Our neat 
 little court house, which is ample for all our 
 needs, was built out of the funds from the sale 
 of swamp land that had been donated to the 
 county by the genera] government. While 
 some of our sister counties, notably: Macou- 
 pin, to build her magnificent courthouse, al- 
 most bankrupted her | pie. our county must 
 
 consider that theirs has been in a sense a gift 
 from the general government. To this dispo- 
 sition of our swamp land fund, we are indebted 
 to the influence of such farsighted men as 
 Judge Rountree and Judge hi Lane: and when 
 we remember that the present structure was 
 erected under the head of repairs, we are the 
 more indebted to them for inviting criticism 
 
 (which T am inl'ori 1 was given without stint) 
 
 for the courage manifested in securing to the 
 people this lasting tribute to their wisdom. 
 \o county, perhaps, within the state presents 
 a better condition financially and otherwise 
 than does Montgomery county to-day. With 
 not a dollar of public debt, with nil her 
 public buildings in good repair, and with 
 
 a balance in her treasury, surely the 
 county is in a position to look the fu- 
 ture in the face with much hope and 
 wide expectation. We have a county farm, 
 
 where our i v unfortunate ] r are kept, 
 
 and he it said to the credit of the over- 
 seers, Edward Barringer, that m a. spirit of 
 kindness ami much indulgence, he endeavors 
 to make the stay of these unfortunate- as com- 
 fortable as conditions will allow. I miulit here 
 remark that we have been very fortunate in 
 securing the services of keepers of the poor 
 farm for many years, men of broad sympathy, 
 who are not apt to forget that in the whirli- 
 gig id' affairs the man of fortune to-day might 
 become the pauper of to-morrow. These men. 
 acting along the hues of the golden rule, have 
 tried to do unto others as if they were the 
 others. 1 shall mention in this connection 
 John Stobb and ••Ruck" Williamson ami the 
 present incumbent, Mr. Barringer. 
 
 Some years ago the city of Litchfield estab- 
 lished her city court and thus gave much re- 
 lief in our circuit court. Colonel Amos Oiler 
 was elected to the judgeship of the city court 
 of Litchfield, lie presided over that court 
 with dignity and fairness and won for himself 
 a reputation of a fearless and upright judge. 
 Judge Oiler was succeeded in office by Paul 
 McWilliams, a young attorney of force and 
 ability. Judge McWilliams, when elected, was 
 the youngest judge officiating in that capacity 
 within the state. Mr. McWilliams has fully 
 met the expectations of his friends, while those 
 who opposed him because of his youth, ac- 
 knowledge their surprise in the soundness of 
 bis decisions and the dignity with which he 
 presides on the bench. Judge McWilliams has 
 increased in popularity with the people ol 
 Litchfield, and a sense of the responsibilities id' 
 the position which he holds has added i decided 
 judicial cast of mind. We believe in Judge 
 McWilliams' future and, in our forecast, place 
 him in a most honored position. We shall now 
 lake up a short sketch of each of the townships 
 in their order, and in doing so we must be brief 
 as we find the space allotted to u- is rapidly 
 being Idled.
 
 lilM 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 HILLSBOEO TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 
 \~ Eillsboro township is the more important 
 in the early settlement of the county, we will 
 give ii first place in the sketches, which we 
 desire to present in these pages. As has been 
 previously stated, the Srs1 settlement within 
 the township was made at Eillsboro in 1817, 
 or nearly ninety years ago. The children horn 
 in that frontier settlemenl within the first dec- 
 ade, if Living to-day, would be aged men and 
 women. Among the early pioneers we have 
 mentioned a goodly number in our article 
 relative to the county in general, but we prom- 
 ised to extend the list when we came to make 
 up the record of the townships and we desire 
 to name in addition to those previously men- 
 tioned, Benjamin Rose, William and Charles 
 Linxwiler, George II. Anderson, Robert Mann, 
 Mark Rutledge, William Knight, John Bos- 
 tick, James Grantham, .lames Wiley, William, 
 John and Charles Cannon. C. B. Blockberger, 
 Solomon Harkey, Joseph Miller. John S. I lay- 
 ward. Charles Holmes, Jacob Wilson, John 
 Slater. Alexander S'cott, Wesley Seymour, John 
 Dickerson, Ira Boone. William Brewer, 
 Thomas Sturvetant, Alfred Durant, John 
 Meisenheimer, Ned Gossage, E. B. Hubble and 
 James Blackmail. While these do not give a 
 complete list of the earlier settlers of Hills- 
 boro, yet the records which I have examined 
 make special note of them. A record of the 
 old Dutch families in New York has enabled 
 some very fertile and resourceful historian to 
 establish class distinctions by reference to this 
 list of first families. We hardly believe that 
 an\ attempt will be made to construct a Four 
 Hundred for Eillsboro out of the references 
 which we make of the pioneer ancestors of the 
 very respected citizens of our county scat. 
 Nevertheless, it will be a matter of pride to be 
 able to number one's ancestry among those 
 
 hardy pioi rs whose energy and industry 
 
 carved out of the wilderness this noble heritage 
 which we possess. I will remark here that in 
 the preparation of this work I have frequently 
 
 1 n asked, •■who constitute the pioneers"? 
 
 This question is somewhat difficult to answer 
 by reason of the fact that many of our indus- 
 tries were rather late in their development, so 
 that a pioneer in agricultural lines might not 
 
 necessarily have belonged to the same decade as 
 a pioneer in some manufacturing industry. 1 
 will instance that the old woolen mills that 
 stood in the south part of town would date 
 as a pioneer institution of its class. I think 
 that we arc -ale in classing all who came to 
 our county in the first two or three decade- of 
 its history as early settlers, or those who came 
 within the period of 1816 to 1850. 1 find in 
 the Gazeteer of Illinois, published in 1834, this 
 reference to the town of Eillsboro: "That it 
 is (he scat of justice of Montgomery county, is 
 situated twenty-eight miles northwest from 
 Vandalia. It has six stores, four taverns, three 
 blacksmiths, three carpenters, one cabinet- 
 maker, two physicians, two tanneries, one shoe- 
 maker, two tailors, .me tinner, a postoffiee, land 
 agency office by John Tilson. Jun., Esq., fifty 
 families and about two hundred and titty in- 
 habitants. It is situated in an elevated region 
 near Middle Fork and Shoal Creek. The 
 Presbyterian society in this place has built a 
 neat brick edifice in the modern style for a 
 house of worship. Hillsboro is a healthy and 
 flourishing town. The principal roads from 
 Vandalia to Springfield and another from Shel- 
 byville to Alton pass through this place." I 
 further note that the vote of Montgomery 
 county, east in 1834, was four hundred and 
 seventy-five, and that the population of the 
 county was four thousand four hundred and 
 thirty-eight. And, again in the table of 
 county officers for the year 1834, that the name 
 of Hiram Rountree alone appears as circuit 
 clerk, probate judge ami magistrate, but in 
 Looking over this table I find that in the more 
 than sixty counties that were organized at 
 that time the same condition appears in eleven 
 other instances, (hat is. where one man seems 
 to hold all the county offices, and in this list 
 is the county of Cook' with R. I. Ham- 
 ilton virtually the public administrator. John 
 Reynolds was the governor of the state at this 
 tone and our United States senators were 
 Elisha K. Kane of Kaskaskia and John M. Rob- 
 inson of Carmi. Tit.' state was divided into 
 but three congressional districts and the newly 
 elected representatives whose terms were to 
 commence are given as follows: the first dis- 
 trict was represented by John Reynolds, Bell-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT! 
 
 695 
 
 villr : the second district by Zadok Casey oi 
 Mount Vernon; and the third district by Wil- 
 liam J,. Min of Springfield. These items oi 
 inti resl given in connection with the settle- 
 ment of Hillsboro are, that the reader ma\ be 
 able to arrive at the more correct conclusion 
 by association with these points in our state 
 history. While the village of Hillsboro con- 
 tained but two hundred and fifty inhabitants in 
 1834, it contained the elements of citizenship 
 that were soon to make it an educational center 
 for the people of this section of the state-, ac- 
 cordingly in 1836 with John Tilson as moving 
 spirit the Hillsboro Academy was projected 
 and Professor Isaac Wetherill. with his wife as 
 associate in the female department, was select- 
 ed to superintend and instruct in this new in- 
 stitution of learning which had sprung up in 
 the wilderness. Professor Edward Wyman 
 and Miss E. F. Hadley wore selected as assis- 
 tants to Professor Wetherill, Miss Hadley, 
 however, having charge of the department of 
 music. To this institution of learning many of 
 the boys and girls who received academic in- 
 struction in our county for the succeeding 
 forty vears are indebted to the "Old Academy." 
 The course of instruction provided was both 
 classical and scientific. In fact, providing a 
 basis for a course in any of the eastern insti- 
 tutions of learning. For many years the pride 
 of Hillsboro was its academy, for it brought a 
 most desirable class to reside here that their 
 children might have the advantages of a higher 
 education. With the inauguration of a 
 "higher" course of instruction in connection 
 with the public schools dates the decline of 
 the smaller academic- and colleges in the west, 
 ami the academy at Hillsboro was no exception, 
 lint was compelled, for lack of patronage, to 
 close it- doors some twenty-five or thirty years 
 ago. We will mention, however, that the old 
 structure was used for high school purposes 
 by the city schools for some few vears later. 
 By way of criticism upon somebody, ami T 
 am at loss to lie able to fix responsi- 
 bility, 1 call attention to the desecration 
 of the old college building, by using it 
 as a. horse barn and pig sty and that in 
 a. most public place, where every passerby 
 who enters Hillsboro bv the Vandalia road 
 
 must view this old building put to shame. 
 far better had the torch beeii applied when 
 the period of its usefulness was over. Then 
 might the students who unci' cherished memo- 
 ries of the ipiamt yet uoble s1 rui t tire, as it 
 stood among the maple trees in the south part 
 of tln> city, >till feel reverence for our Alma 
 Mater. Its massive columns, ".nine- it the ap- 
 pearance of some ancient seat of learning, 
 made us believe that really we had been t" 
 college. The female department or Ladies" 
 High School, which, by the way, was the firsl 
 of its kind in the state, did not prove as suc- 
 cessful as had been anticipated. A few years 
 later the attempt to seggregate the students 
 was abandoned and co-education of the sexes 
 was adopted and proved eminently satisfac- 
 tory. The building formerly used as the fe- 
 male department is now occupied by the Hills- 
 boro Journal as an office and press room. If 
 the academy proper could have been preserved 
 as a museum or Lyceum building, more credit 
 might attach to those responsible lor its re- 
 moval from its ancient grounds and its present 
 desecration. Apart from the city of Hills- 
 boro the home of Joseph McAdams was the 
 most prominent, because of the first courts of 
 the county having I n held there. This place 
 
 is about three miles (o the Southwest of Hills- 
 
 boro. Hut few representatives of Joseph Mc- 
 Adams' family remain in the county, and 
 1 am informed that of the twelve chil- 
 dren of the elder McAdams, not one is 
 living to-day. Alexander McWilliams set- 
 tled ahout four miles west of Hillsboro, 
 ami not a few of his descendants are liv- 
 ing in the county at the present. John Mc- 
 Williams, one 1^1' the early business men of 
 Litchfield, was a son of Alexander McWilliams. 
 William Cannon, who settled in Hillsboro 
 township some four miles south of the city 
 of Hillsboro in the year 1824, has possibly left 
 as many descendants as any of the earlier set- 
 tlers of the county. His sons were '"Chuck." 
 Janus. Sam. Joint ami Martin, all dead hut the 
 last, and all left, several children each. His 
 daughters are Christena Edward-, S'usan Green, 
 Betsey Steven-. Permilla Grisham, Sarah Vick- 
 orv, \orah Edwards, Mamh McCalister and 
 Mariab Huffman and Martha Pence, nil
 
 G96 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 exeepl Mrs. Huffman. "Uncle Billy" Cannon, 
 as he was known, has through these children 
 descendants reaching into the hundreds. About 
 the time of the settlement of William Cannon, 
 his brother-in-law, Horace Mansfield, made a 
 settlement in the same aeighborhood. Mr. 
 Mansfield was the father of the late George 
 Mansfield and of Mrs. John Price, also long 
 since dead. Each of these left several children. 
 among whom is C. C. Mansfield, banker at 
 Donnellson, Illinois. Mrs. Fred Holmes and 
 the Late Frank Mansfield, of Hillsboro, Illi- 
 nois. -Mrs. Price left quite a family of chil- 
 dren, among whom are John, Thomas, Isaac, 
 Joseph, .lames. George and Clement, most of 
 whom have removed to other states, while 
 
 James, i reliant at Donnellson, and Isaac 
 
 and Joseph living mi Farms in Grisham 
 township, are tlii' only ones remaining in the 
 home neighborhood. John Crabtree, Sr.. set- 
 tled not far from the McAdams' settlement, 
 and here built and operated one of the first 
 mills in the country. This antique horse mill 
 later gave way to what was known as the <>ld 
 Pepper mill. This latter was run l>v a water 
 wheel. Init the volume of water being small 
 necessarily made the process of grinding ex- 
 tremely slow, ami it is related that when a 
 grist was brought the patrons would camp in 
 
 the neighborh I for days together until his 
 
 turn was reached. This slow process gave the 
 name Pepperbox to the mill. One of the first 
 -aw mills to be operated in this township was 
 put up by Mr. Blockberger, near the city of 
 Hillsboro. These earlier industries have long 
 since given way to the most modem equip- 
 ment. The Glenn Brothers' flouring mill was 
 fo: mam years one of the besl in tin- section 
 of tin- state, and some of the besl equipped siw 
 mills have cut into boards the virgin forest 
 that covered the larger part of Hillsboro town- 
 ship. When we reflei t t bat much t iniber of 
 superior quality was heaped into pile- of logs 
 that formed the settlers' clearing and reduced 
 in ashes, we are made to fee] that there was 
 wanton destruction of much timber that 
 ought to have been preserved, but the settler 
 was excusable in this, that he found the prairie 
 -od more dillicult lii prepare for cultivation 
 than the soil of the timbered portions of the 
 
 county. Consequently, moving along the lines 
 of leasi resistance, we find all the earlier set- 
 tlements made in the woodland near springs 
 or streams of living water. Many reasons are 
 found why this was the more inviting section 
 for settlement. The "clearing" furnished rails 
 sufficient for the fencing of the little field, and 
 it was not necessary to have a wagon to haul 
 the rails to the line- where the fence was to 
 be built, but these were made near where they 
 were to be used and thus much extra labor 
 avoided. These patches were not cultivated 
 for any number of years for the class of culti- 
 vation -non impoverished the soil, and these 
 fields were turned out as waste and other 
 patches were cleared for tillage. It is a re- 
 markable fact that many of these small fields 
 have since been reclaimed, and by present 
 methods restored to former fertility. It may 
 be of interest to the reader to know that in 
 breaking the soil oftentimes the prong of a 
 forked stick capped by a piece of steel or iron 
 offered the only means of preparing the soil 
 for planting. Somewhat later this gave way 
 to the bull tongue, and this to the bar-share, 
 and this later t<> plows of the presenl form and 
 fashion. There are to be found yel within the 
 county some few examples of the old-fashioned 
 plow-. The wooden mold board, with a lew 
 strips of iron, has been preserved by Daniel 
 Cress, of Fillmore township, and on his farm 
 may be seen many of the implements used by 
 his father fifty or sixty years ago At or near 
 
 the til f the settlement of the Markovs and 
 
 the Brewers, at Hillsboro, the father of Amos 
 and All' Sawyer settled on the farm just east 
 of town, near the Vandalia mad. Mr. Sawyer 
 wa- a valuable acquisition to the neighborhood 
 of Hillsboro. Being an eastern, man and 
 schooled to industry and economy, his example 
 was not lost on hi- neighbors, many of whom 
 bad come from the slave states of the south. 
 Tbe paralyzing effeef of slavery upon the en- 
 ergies of the white race of the south was not 
 so marked as it became later, yet i be easy, 
 happy-go-lucky of the southern settler was no- 
 ticeable even at this time, and so this injection 
 of a little eastern spirit and enterprise was 
 most fortunate for our people. The popula- 
 tion of our county i> largeh made up of a
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY c; 
 
 citizenship of equal parts Yankee and Cava- dren, of whose whereabouts 1 am not informed, 
 lier. The Eormer ingTedienl being of the old Jacob Cress and Helen, his wife, were members 
 Puritan stock and the latter "noble blood" if of the Lutheran church, and Rev. Daniel 
 vim please. Out of this blending of types has Sherer. father of Mrs. Cress, organized the 
 cornea generation of men and women of hardy Evangelical Lutheran church in Eillsboro 
 physique and nobleness of character such as about 1823. Lucretia, the only daughter of 
 is not surpassed in qualities of manhood and Jacob Cress, married a Mr. Blackman ami re- 
 womanhood by any people in the world. Alt' sides at Dixon, Illinois. ILis two suns, Benja- 
 Sawyer was engaged For many years in mer- min ami Joseph, arc in business in the west, 
 chandising in the city of Hillsboro, Inn fur the On the Cress Hill, as you go toward Butler, 
 past several years has given his attention al- live All ami Frank Cress, who arc representa- 
 tnosf wholly to his agricultural interests. Ee tives of Absalom Cress, Sr. Tin- branch of 
 married Ellen, daughter of William Brewer, by the Cress family, which settled near Hillsboro, 
 whom be has reared a very interesting family has done much to promote the general interests 
 of -ons. Dr. Amos Sawyer is among the most of the county. Judge William Brewer, who 
 successful practitioners in the i m. The came to Illinois in L834 ami afterward set- 
 Doctor married a Miss Dent, of Missouri. Shu tied at Hillsboro, in L839, was for mam years 
 is a near relative to the wile of President one of the -"lid financial men of tin- county. 
 Grant. Mi's. Dr. Sawyer is wideh known for Judge Brewer was elected judge of tin 1 probate 
 her work in the Women's Christian Temper- court in L843. He was the first Whig ever 
 ance Union. The Sawyer daughters became elected to office in tin- county, hut so aceepta- 
 Mrs. Mr. Fink ami Mrs. Best. The latter, ble was ho that, he was re-elected in L845 ami 
 after a period of some years in widowhood, again in 1st;. In 1850 he was elected to rep- 
 was married to Justice Jesse .1. Phillips, of resent this district in the stair Legislature. 
 Hillsboro. By Iht first husband she has two He served two tonus in tins capacity am! re- 
 sons and one daughter: Duncan ( '. Best, our fused to become a candidate lor re-election. In 
 present Circuit Clerk, Thomas Best, of the 1853 Judge Brewer was elected to the office 
 United States army, and Miss Amy Host, who of justice of the peace, and it is related that of 
 at the present writing is at home with her the many eases decided in his court, that not 
 mother, hi-, pink left, bv his last wife, two one was ever reversed on an appeal. It is 
 son;- ami one daughter. William, the elder further told that he joined in marriage more 
 son. resides somewhere in the east. Dr. Hugh coivples than any other man within the coun- 
 t'ink practices dentistry in the city of Hills- ty. having muled one hundred ami twenty- 
 boro, ami Julia i- the wife of County Judge seven couples in the happy bonds of wedlock. 
 Mi Murray. Mary Fink, a daughter of Dr. Judge Brewer was very successful in his land 
 1. W. Fink by a previous marriage, is the wife investments, and having unbounded faith in 
 of Henry Cory, who lives on the old Cory the increasing valuation of Illinois lands, he 
 homestead, near the bridge on the Butler road, put all of his available cash into that class of 
 Jacob Cress, who settled near Hillsboro as property, ami when ho died \w> real estate 
 early as 1818, left two sons. Absalom and Ja- holdings were among the largest individual 
 cob. Absalom has been dead for quite a mini- properties ill the county. He left three elnl- 
 ber of rears, and "Uncle .lake." as he was dren: Maw. the wife of S. M. Grubbs, of 
 known, died only a short while ago from inju- Litchfield; Ellen, wife of Alt A. K. Sawyer, 
 ties thai he received in a fall from a wagon, of Hillsboro; and William II.. of Hillsboro, 
 The sons of Jacob Cress are A. A. ('res-, of recenth deceased. Solomon Harkey came to 
 Hillsboro, who. with his son Ed, conducts an Montgomery county, Illinois, ami settled on a 
 extensive real estate business; Samuel Cress, farm near Hillsboro in is:;:;, lie had re- 
 a successful hardware merchant of Sorento, moved from his North Carolina home to llli- 
 Illinois, ami William S., who resides on the nois in 1828 and had worked at his trade, of 
 old homestead. There are several other chil- tanner, for West & McKee, near Edwardsville,
 
 1398 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 for some years. In 1831 he was married to a 
 daughter of Jacob Cress, of Hillsboro, and this 
 possibly accounts For bis settling near (Ins 
 place. Solomon Harkey was a must public 
 spirited num. and many of the enterprises set 
 on foot in Hillsboro owed their origin to his 
 energj and push. As a stock breeder he 
 evinced more interest than any other man in 
 this section of the country. Imported Norman 
 torses and the best breeds of eattle were to 
 be found in Mr. Harkey's stalls and on his 
 farm. Forty years ago. when Montgomery 
 county held its annual fair, Mr. Harkey never 
 failed to carry off some of the best premiums. 
 He belonged to that class of men who, by de- 
 siring the best, added materially to the gem ral 
 average in the best of all classes of stock. Xot 
 alone is Mr. Harkey remembered for what he 
 did to better conditions in agriculture and 
 stock raising, but for the earnestness of his 
 Christian life. It is said thai be was con- 
 verted under the preaching of the Rev. Peter 
 Cartwright in 1830, who was holding a series 
 of meetings in the Methodist church at Ed- 
 wardsville. Colonel Paul Waller, though not 
 
 to In' regarded as a ng the earlier settlers of 
 
 Sillsboro township, deserves mention at least 
 in a work of this kind, because of the many 
 enterprises I hat lie sought to establish in the 
 community. Naturally of an adventurous 
 turn of mind, when the gold fever of 1849 
 swept, over the country, Paul Walter was one 
 of the first to make arrangements to take a 
 party across the plains anil the mountains to 
 Hie new Eldorado in California. He made 
 several trips to the Land of Gold, and inci- 
 dentally secured for himself quite a little for- 
 tune fur that day. He later settled in Hills- 
 boro and built the grain elevator down at tin 1 
 depot and the Walter's stable, now used by the 
 Brown Brothers as an agricultural wareroom. 
 Unlike Mr. Harkey, whose sketch precede- tin-, 
 the sporting nature of Mr. Walter led him to 
 fanej East horses, trotters ami pacer.- being his 
 specialties, and some of the fastest horses be- 
 longing to these classes in our county were 
 owned by Colonel Walter. At the county fairs 
 before mentioned, Colonel Walter was a very 
 familiar figure, ami though many years have 
 gone bv. 1 fancy 1 can see him driving around 
 
 the small ring of the amphitheater, calling out 
 the names of the prize winners in the ililtereut 
 classes of the exhibits at the fair. This honor 
 seemed to he accorded to him by common ion- 
 sent and well did he perform his part. 1 have 
 thought, as I have listened to Colonel Walter 
 discussing the points of excellence in a horse, 
 that surely if any man ever worshipped at the 
 shrine nf superior Imrsellesh ; it was the old 
 Colonel. At the time of his death he was 
 i he owner of Illinois, a stallion that was after- 
 wards sold to George Gould for ten thousand 
 dollars. Colonel Walter left surviving him 
 several children, among whom are Mrs. John 
 R. Challacombe, Miss Sue Walter, George Wal- 
 ter, Scott Walter and Miller, the youngest son. 
 James Clotfelter, one of the few old-timers 
 that remains settled in East Fork township 
 about three miles southeast of Hillsboro, but 
 for quite a good many years he has resided in 
 the city. Mr. Clotfelter, as farmer and stock- 
 raiser, has been wonderfully successful, lie 
 owns quite a huge farm in Hast Pork and 
 Hillsboro townships, and to his credit we may 
 say that possibly he has fed and shipped more 
 fat cattle to market than any other feeder in 
 Montgomery county. While other men were 
 content to (m] cattle through a period of a 
 few years, Mr. Coltfelter has made it a busi- 
 ness for almost half a century. If cattle were 
 high priced. Mr. Coltfelter had some to sell, 
 and if low priced, possibly as many were to 
 
 be found in his £ I lots, but by persistent 
 
 effort in one line of business, lie lias secured 
 a competency, and in his old age may enjoy 
 the comforts which a sufficiency of this world's 
 goods brings. Mr. Clotfelter has reared a very 
 interesting family of children, among whom 
 are the wive- of Thomas M. .Toft, Dr. W. A. 
 Allen. James Brown, Ah Cress and Tom Wil- 
 liamson. Ralph is his only son and takes an 
 interest with his father in stock-raising and 
 feeding. Stokes clotfelter. a. brother of James. 
 was a man of great force of character; not sat- 
 isfied with doing things mi a small scale, he was 
 oftentimes engaged in some mammoth transac- 
 tion requiring the expenditure of thousands 
 of dollars. At one time we find him building 
 the large brick- structure, which bears his name, 
 on Main street, or erecting a handsome dwell-
 
 PAST AM) PEESENT OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 099 
 
 ing, a1 a cosl of fifteen or twenty thousand 
 dollars, and again we find him in Kansas City 
 as one of the mosl extensive buyers for the east- 
 ern markets. No venture seemed too big for 
 Umli' Stokes. These adventurous spirits have 
 then- place iii the upbuilding of everj com- 
 munity, and of their energy and means the 
 community in genera] is usually benefited. We 
 believe this is true of the subject discussed, 
 though in his declining year- financial em- 
 barrassment came upon him, vet the faithful 
 chronicler of men and time will not deny thai 
 his name be preserved with that of his con- 
 temporaries. Another character that we desire 
 to notice is Joseph T. Eccles, who lor many 
 years was one of the mosl energetic ami public- 
 spirited men <>f the county seat. Mr. Eccles 
 was a native of Kentucky, ami came to Van- 
 dalia. Illinois, aboui 1830, where he remained 
 until ahout 1840, when he removed to Hills- 
 boro and engaged in merchandising. Mr. 
 Eccles was a member id' the constitutional con- 
 vention, held at Springfield, 1847, and he 
 nominated Richard Vales, the elder, for gov- 
 ernor in the convention at Decatur, Illinois, 
 [n i860. In polities, Mr. Eccles was originally 
 a Whig, but on the formation of the Repub- 
 lican party, he became identified with it. and in 
 Montgomery county was regarded a- its leading 
 representative. The Glen Brothers, John and 
 James, have done much for Hillsboro, having 
 established the Glen flouring mills, and being 
 for many years the largest buyers of wheat, 
 
 ihc\ i issarily became acquainted with the 
 
 farming community throughout the county. 
 Later they were instrumental in organizing the 
 Montgomery Count} Loan & Trust Company 
 Bank. These boys were of Irish origin, having 
 been hum mi the "Old Sod." They came with 
 their father, Thomas S. Glen, to the United 
 States in Is:;;. James Glen was for many years 
 president of the bank which they bad estab- 
 lished. The brothers own large landed estates 
 near Hillsboro. John F. (Men was captain of 
 a. company in the Civil war, and it was re- 
 ported that lie never had occasion to put a man 
 in the guard bouse. When lie felt it necessary 
 to discipline a soldier, it was done on the spot 
 and the incident was closed at once. These 
 
 brothers enjoy the esteem of all wdio know 
 
 them, ami while they have retired from the 
 duties i>!' active life, their Influence is felt in 
 the social and political life of the commu- 
 nity. It must he a pleasure after years of ac- 
 tivity in business pursuits to be able to retire 
 feeling that we have wronged no man and that 
 the justly earned competency may he enjoyed 
 without reproach oh conscience or hitter re- 
 gret. Judge E. V. Rice, having received no- 
 tice in a. preceding chapter as one of the hon- 
 ored citizens of Montgomery county, came to 
 Hillsboro in 1844. At this time be was a 
 young and rising attorney, having just com- 
 pleted a, course ..I' study with John M. Palmer 
 nf Carlinville. Mr. Rice was elected to the 
 office of recorder of deeds in 1st; and in is is 
 ha was honored with an election to the lower 
 bouse of the legislature. In 1851 he was 
 elected to the office of county judge and from 
 1853 to 1857 received the appointment of 
 master in chancery. In the latter year be was 
 elected to the office of circuit judge and served 
 until 1867, when he resigned to accept a nom- 
 ination to congress from the old Tenth district, 
 lie was a member of the constitutional conven- 
 tion, which prepared the present constitution 
 .if the Mate of Illinois. Judge Rice left the 
 impress of his example upon the bar of Mont- 
 gomery county, and il may he truly said of 
 him thai hi- high character bad much to do 
 with elevating the moral standards which are 
 universall] recognized by the bar of our county. 
 Judge Rice left hut two children, .lames E. Y.. 
 who at present is connected with tin.- Hills- 
 boro Coal Company; and Mrs. Mary Miller, 
 wife of Judge . Vinos Miller, of Hillsboro. 
 Though Judge Mice has been dead for some 
 voars. be is remembered by a wide circle of 
 friend- who will not forget bis genial, kindly 
 nature and pleasing manner. Captain Thomas 
 Phillips was line of the earlier settlers of Hills- 
 boro township. The old Phillips farm, situ- 
 ated west el' Hillsboro, was one of the most 
 improved country places in the county fifty 
 years ago. I laptain Phillip- later in life re- 
 moved in the city of Hillsboro and was much 
 interested in the raising of fine breeds of horses 
 ami cattle. In my search T find that Thomas 
 Phillips was second lieutenant in a company 
 that served under Hiram Rountree as captain
 
 700 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 in the Black Hawk war in L832. I do not find 
 in the records of the war of L832 or of the war 
 with Mexico that Thomas Phillips served as 
 captain of any company. I am led therefore 
 to conclude that the fact of his having been a 
 lieutenant in Rountree's company occasioned 
 his having been called Captain Phillips. I 
 will note in passing that possibly in the day 
 when the muster was in vogue that Mr. Phil- 
 lip-; might have been captain of the militia. It 
 might be of interest to note in this connection 
 that in the period from the formation of the 
 county until about 1840 it was the custom to 
 have muster rolls from three to live times each 
 year. On these occasions all the able-bodied 
 citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty- 
 live were required to attend. These were times 
 when these who were disposed might imbibe 
 freely of I he good old corn juice or whiskey of 
 that, period. We can hardly suppose that much 
 fraud was practiced in that early day in the 
 manufacture of decoctions that to-day are sold 
 over the bar for whiskey, at least some of our 
 citizen- assure me that the art of making whis- 
 key out of poisonous drugs had not come into 
 general use. Speaking further of the family 
 .if Thomas Phillips, we would state that sev- 
 eral of liis sons have been prominently before 
 the people in various ways. His oldest son. 
 Henry Phillips, followed in the footsteps of 
 his father and gave attention to the raising of 
 line -lock. Burrell, who is yet living at Hills- 
 boro, was for many years a buyer and shipper 
 
 of cattle and bops from that market. At 
 
 time Burrell Phillips represented this sena- 
 torial district in the lower house at Spring- 
 field. Mr. Phillips was a popular official and 
 is remembered very kindly by hi- man\ friends 
 throughout the district. Sidney B. Phillips, 
 a third son. was killed at the battle of Shilob. 
 Genera] Jesse J. Phillips, recently deceased. 
 was Montgomery county's most honored citi- 
 zen. Serving through the Civil war. he arose 
 from the rank of captain to that of major 
 general, and it was said by the late Governor 
 Oglesby that Jesse J. Phillips was the greatest 
 soldier in the army of the west. That lie was 
 one of the greatest lawyers in the state does 
 not require other evidence than bis elevation 
 to the supreme bench of the court of the stale 
 
 of Illinois. Be served as chief justice of the 
 state and his decisions while on the supreme 
 bench established many precedents in mat- 
 ters of law that will remain as monuments to 
 his judicial wisdom as long as common law 
 governs courts. This eminent jurist, like many 
 other great men. had his faults, yet an in- 
 dulgent people draw the broad mantel of chan- 
 ty over his frailties and remember him as the 
 incorruptible judge, the great lawyer, the 
 good friend. 
 
 In closing up the list of familiar names that 
 have bad to do with the making of Hillsboro 
 township and city, we will mention those that 
 come readily to mind. We may possibly omit 
 some who have served as faithfully and who 
 deserve to he remembered in these pages as 
 those whose names appear. William C. Miller. 
 engaged in general merchandising; E.Douglas, 
 druggist i Joe Klar, at. the old Rountree cor- 
 ner; and Wash White at the old Sawyer stand : 
 "Farmer" John Clotfelter, who keeps grocer- 
 ies; John Barkley; Duncan Goad; Ed Stubble- 
 field, the druggist; Jim Brown and Frank 
 Brown, hardware and implements; and Logan 
 McDavid, also dealer in hardware, are some 
 of the firms that for several years have been 
 engaged in these various lines of trade in the 
 city of Hillsboro, and we must not omit the 
 young men whose real estate deals have done 
 so much to further the improvement of the 
 countv -eat. Jacob J. Frey i- one of the 
 hustlers whose name ha- been identified with 
 nearly every enterprise connected with the 
 progress of Billsboro within the last ten or 
 fifteen years. Stephen D. Canaday has also 
 done much alone the same lines and is now the 
 nominee of the Democratic party for represen- 
 tative to the state legislature from this dis- 
 trict. Henry Crawford is another one of the 
 boys whose efforts have helped in the progress 
 of the city, and William Abbott, whose name 
 will appeal- in the chapter allotted to the 
 Montgomery county bar, ha- also hern a fac- 
 tor in building up the solid interests of the 
 ciiy and surrounding community. Among the 
 physicians who stand well and whose repnta- 
 tions rest upon services already done, may be 
 mentioned Dr. Will Douglas, Dr. George Clot- 
 felter. Dr. Fields, fir. Sawyer and Dr. Mover.
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 01 
 
 and Dr. S. II. McLean, recently deceased, and 
 the late Dr. I. W. Fink. Among the dentists 
 are Dr. Wynans, Eugh Fink, Dr. Roberts and 
 Dr. Colby. Those who have been commis- 
 sioned as guardians of the peace arc ('. W. 
 Grassel, John Maddox, Alex Cress, whose 
 courts are shunned by Law-breakers, for in the 
 dispensing of justice they have earned the re- 
 spect of all good citizens by strict enforcement 
 of law. While we shall close the narrative of 
 Hillsboro township and city, we do s«> feel- 
 ing thai more of interest remains untold than 
 we have been able to cover in this short story. 
 
 NORTH AND SOUTH LITCHFIELD 
 
 TOWNSHIPS AND THE CITY 
 
 OF LITCHFIELD. 
 
 Much that Ave shall have to say concern- 
 ing the city of Litchfield and the immediate 
 vicinity we owe to the Coolidge papers pre- 
 pared by H. A. Coolidge, of the city of Litch- 
 field, for a previous history of Montgomery 
 county. It is related that in 1818 Robert 
 Briggs, of North Carolina, settled in North 
 Litchfield township, near the present home of 
 Martin Ritchie, and that he had previously 
 lived in Walshville township for a period of 
 two years, bui the land upon which he had set- 
 tled in that township having been entered by 
 another, he was compelled to change his loca- 
 tion, and the narrator further states that Mr. 
 Briggs left his cribs of corn and pushed north 
 a few miles further into what is now North 
 Litchfield township. I think, however, that 
 due allowance should be made in speaking of 
 the cribs of corn left behind by Mr. Briggs 
 When we consider the primitive method of 
 raising corn in 1816-17 a due respect for Mr. 
 Briggs would compel us to state that the con- 
 ditions could not have been such as to have 
 necessitated any considerable loss on the part 
 of Mr. Briggs by leaving behind his corn crop. 
 When Mr. Briggs left Walshville township he 
 conld have had no neighbors of more than one 
 year's acquaintance, for we are satisfied that 
 no settlement was made in the township of 
 Walshville prior to 1817. I think that we 
 
 are safe iu stating that Roberi Briggs and 
 John Mill were in reality about contempo- 
 raeous in sett lenient. 'There must have been 
 sonic "first settler." and that that settler was 
 John Hill or Robert Briggs, which no man 
 living is able to tell. In the year 1817 sev- 
 eral families made settlement in the south- 
 eastern part of South Litchfield township and 
 another settlement was made somewhat later 
 
 in the neighbor!] 1 of Honey Bend, and these 
 
 settlements were the nearest neighbors to Mr. 
 Briggs. The conditions that obtained at this 
 early date would appear to the average citi- 
 zen of to-day as almost incredible. A few- 
 patches of corn, cultivated by the most rude 
 and primitive implements, obtained for the 
 settler a few bushels of corn, out of which 
 he was expected to have his year's bread. The 
 forest, with its game, consisting of deer, tur- 
 keys, squirrels and opossums, furnished his 
 table with meat. What they had of swine 
 was but little better than the wild hops thai 
 are to he found in parts of Arkansas to-day. 
 The idea of feeding corn to hoes was not to 
 he thought of. but they were slaughtered as 
 they came from the mast. The forests were 
 full of nuts, such as hickory nuts, acorns, haws, 
 upon which these semi-wild hogs grew fat. I 
 am told by some of the older citizens that the 
 character of the mast upon which the hogs 
 were fattened could he known by the peculiar 
 flavor of the pork. Water fowl were in 
 abundance during the early spring in the prai- 
 rie lakes and along the streams. The quail 
 and the prairie hen afforded for the settler his 
 most dainty dish, and we have authority for 
 saying that squirrels were only killed to keep 
 them from eating up the settlers' corn. There 
 were very few horses in use as draft animals, 
 and the family that could boast of one riding 
 animal was rather fortunate. For draft pur- 
 poses cattle were used exclusively, and the ox- 
 cart was about the only vehicle noticeable as 
 part of the belongings of an early settlement. 
 Many of the settlers in their removal from 
 flu older states had brought with them cattle. 
 sheep, horses and usually two or three pigs. Tt 
 ma\ lie a matter of interest to relate that one 
 reason why so mam' removals were necessan 
 was that crops sometimes had to he raised i"
 
 ; 1 1-.' 
 
 PAST AXJ) PEESEJSTT OK M< >.\TG< >M KKY COUNTY 
 
 enable the emigranl to have bread sufficient 
 
 tn carry him a little farther in the wilderness, 
 and thus we find many of the settlers coming 
 by way of Ohio and Indiana stopping Cor a 
 season in each of those state- and then push- 
 ing farther west into the Illinois country. It 
 must have appeared to those pioneers who 
 braved the dangers and privations of the early 
 settlement of this state that time would not 
 come within the next hundred years that would 
 see the broad prairie- and the deep forests made 
 into beautiful farms. That the spirit of ad- 
 venture led these men into the wilderness, the 
 charm that surrounds an enterprise in which 
 there is an element of hazard and a certain 
 degree of clanger, seems to have fascinated a 
 class of men who enjoyed the experiences of 
 pioneer life. That good has ultimately come 
 out of what to-day we might .justly character- 
 ize as foolhardiness we must acknowledge ; 
 but as every age has developed a spirit best 
 suited to its peculiar conditions, so the age of 
 settlement within the United State- gave rise 
 to the development of a class of men who 
 found pleasure in the dangers and hardships 
 attendant upon pioneer life. From the time 
 when we find John Smith lifting his voice at 
 Jamestown in his ell'ort to preserve that early 
 settlement of Virginia, that same spirit has 
 made itself manifesl through all these years.. 
 until at last, swallowed up in the general prog- 
 re-, of the age in which we live, the spirit of 
 adventure is now passing as an element in the 
 
 \ nan life. 1 have sometimes been led to 
 
 believe that the pent-up energies of a peo- 
 ple may find expression in adventure, in deeds 
 ol daring and in acts of heroism that might, 
 under other conditions, have developed a class, 
 who. by restraint and an abridgment of the 
 \i Ider 1 iberl ies and prh ileges, would be- 
 come criminals who would despise the present 
 order of thine-. | n f ac t ; it is the opinion of 
 the writer thai many of our criminals, had 
 their energies been properly directed, instead 
 of being notorious as violators of the law they 
 would have occupied positions as forceful lead- 
 er- in Held- of usefulness. Criminals are but 
 the snarls and tangles in the skein of so ial 
 life that evidences a condition in development 
 of • youth (hat requires a wise system of 
 
 education to overcome, 'that we must pro- 
 vide some radical changes in the social and 
 the industrial order, so that the energies of 
 our young folk may he expended along lines 
 of character building and not Leave them ex- 
 posed to such development as of necessity must 
 result from the abnormal conditions that oiv- 
 ern in every avenue of life to-day. Money and 
 the possession of it has become such a 
 dominant, factor in our present economy that 
 every ambition ami aspiration leads to that 
 goal. It has deadened the sense to the desire 
 of excellence in the various professions and 
 vocations of life. The question no longet is. 
 Shall I be able to attain first place or rank- 
 in my profession? hut. overshadowing all. is 
 How much can I make out of it? In other 
 words, by dollars and cents is every success to 
 he measured. Returning again to the settle- 
 ments made. I find that the Wilkinsons, Hur- 
 ley, the Williams, Mathews, Roberts, Locker- 
 man and Thomas Eughes were aboul all who 
 had as yet settled near Litchfield as early as 
 1S2S. The first church that was erected in the 
 tow nship wa- near the present site of Hone] 
 Bend. It was built ol' logs. Here the Bap- 
 tist folk of that earl\ <la\ were wont to as- 
 semble and listen to those long and tiresome* 
 sermons that were popular with the primitive 
 Baptist, even down to our own time. These 
 were a godly people, and while they might 
 indulge in a dram of good old whiskey occa- 
 sionally they were an austere and upright peo- 
 ple. In the neighborhood of Honey Bend was 
 also tlie first Methodist meeting house The 
 founder of the sect m this western wilderness 
 wa- a man by the name of William Williams, 
 and in this settlement there lived one Isaiah 
 Hurley, upon whom the duty of village school- 
 master devolved. That poor Hurley had ex- 
 periences far from pleasant arc matters of tra- 
 dition. It is narrated that on one occasion at 
 Christmastime the big boys rod.' poor Hurley 
 on a rail and ducked him in the branch before 
 n would consent to treat the school to a gal- 
 lon of whiskey. The people who settled along 
 the western part of Montgomery county were 
 nearly all from the southern states. I find it 
 related by Mr. Coolidge that Whiteside, the 
 Indian fighter, paid annual visits to Mr.
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 703 
 
 Briggs, and he states thai Whiteside claimed 
 that a battle with the Indians had been fought 
 some years before in the southeast part of 
 North Litchfield township, and that several 
 Indians had been killed there. IT this inci- 
 dent be true, it occurred prior to any recorded 
 settlement within the limits of the county, 
 Bennett Woods settled on land east of Shoal 
 creek, in North Litchfield township, about 
 L828, and John and .lames Roberts had pre- 
 viously formed a settlement at Eoney Bend. 
 In L829 Thomas ( '. Eughes made settlement 
 en the farm at present owned b] Martin 
 Ritchey and thus became a near neighborto Rob- 
 erl Briggs. In 1830 there might have been 
 six or seven families living in North Litchfield 
 township. The first funeral service held in 
 the township was in 1829 on the occasion of 
 
 the death of Mrs. Bennett W Is, and the first 
 
 marriage of record in thai town-hip was that 
 of Sarah Briggs, eldest daughter of Robert 
 Briggs, to Joshua Martin. James S'treet, the 
 pioneer preacher, possibly delivered the first 
 sermon in that township. In the settlement 
 of Smith Litchfield township we find Melcher 
 Pogleman, John Norton and James Bland ; 
 Spartan Grisham and Theodore Jordan lived 
 with Pogleman; thai in 1824 Melchor Fogle- 
 man removed to the neighborhood of the pep- 
 per mill. or. as it was called, the Clear Spring 
 settlement. In 1820, it is stated, the family 
 of Nicholas Lockerman was the only one liv- 
 ing within the present limits of South Litch- 
 field township; that the population of the 
 county in that year was aboui one hundred. 
 Within the succeeding ten years but six fami- 
 lies had made settlements in Smith Litchfield 
 township, and in addition to others named 
 Simon McAfee and James Renter settled in the 
 eastern part of the township. Anthony Street. 
 brother of James Street, appeared about this 
 time, and bis ability to manufacture gunpowder 
 gave him quite a reputation among the early 
 settlers. There was hardly a settlement that 
 did not have, as one of its accessories, a "dis- 
 till house up the hollow," and it was no dis- 
 credit for any one to engage in the manufac- 
 ture of whiskey, and 1 do not find that any 
 form of beer was brewed excepting from per- 
 simmons. T am told, however, that persimmon 
 
 beer was something like our own "lager," re- 
 quiring large quantities to satisfy the thirst 
 for drink. Not until in the later '30s had 
 orchards appeared, so that hard cider as a bev- 
 erage was al st unknown until about 1840, 
 
 To get their com milled in the early history 
 of the township was no1 the least id' the settlers' 
 troubles. They must either go to mill down 
 to Bdwardsville or else over to old Ripley, in 
 Bond county. To do either, however, required 
 at least a week" or so from home. As has been 
 stated in a previous chapter, the pepper mill 
 over near Billsboro at the Clear Spring settle- 
 ment was built in IS'.' I, but the capacity of 
 this mill made it a source of annoyance, espe- 
 cially to one who had other labors to attend to 
 or business cares that demanded his presence 
 at home. John Crabtree settled in the Clear 
 Spring neighborhood and afterward came into 
 possession of the pepper mill property. Cut- 
 reason for mentioning at this time Mr. Crab- 
 tree's connection with South Litchfield is that 
 the settlement in the eastern part of South 
 Litchfield might properly be regarded as a 
 part of the Clear Spring settlement, and it is 
 rather a difficult matter to keep township lines 
 in mind as we attempt to chronicle events that 
 pertain to the settlements. James Copeland 
 and the Forehands crossed Shoal creek to the 
 bluff southwest of Truitt's ford about 1832. 
 The first schoolhouse built in South Litchfield 
 township was in 1838. near the residence of 
 J. N. McElvain. Tradition reports that John 
 Fogleman taught school in this house in is 13. 
 ft is well to remember that students often at- 
 tended school from several miles distant, and 
 although the schoolhouses were far apart it 
 was no unusual thing for thirty or forty pupils 
 to be enrolled in some of the school- at an 
 early day. While we did not have the five- 
 school system, yet pupils were not debarred 
 from attending school by reason of an inability 
 of parents to pay. As in many other thin"-, 
 the spirit of liberality obtained with reference 
 to school privileges. While the teacher was 
 compensated in various ways for his services, 
 there was no such thing as a fixed salary or 
 stipend upon which he could depend. The 
 school usually extended through September. 
 October ami November, and the tuition was
 
 704 
 
 PAST .VXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 fixed by the teacher at a rate of from one dol- 
 lar and fifty cents to two dollars per term. As 
 money was almost unknown as a medium of 
 exchange, the tuition was payable in corn. 
 pigs, eattle. eoonskins and what nut that might 
 pay onv other obligation. To read, to spell and 
 to "cipher" and to he able to write was thought 
 to fit the individual for any possible position in 
 lite, ami students of the time often excelled 
 in some one of these branches of study. Fair 
 mathematicians were to he found among the 
 students of these early schools. Good readers 
 and spellers were frequent, and ability to write 
 a beautiful oval hand with a quill pen is evi- 
 denced in many of the records that are to lie 
 found in the reports of our county. Other 
 families that came to Litchfield vicinity were 
 the Blaekwelders. the Corlews. the Simpsons 
 and the McWilliamses. John Corlew came to 
 South Litchfield township about the year 1836. 
 Having served as a commissioned officer in the 
 war with Mexico, Mr. Corlew was elected 
 sheriff in 1848 and again in 1852. William 
 Simpson antedated the settlement of Mr. 
 Corlew some years, having made his settle- 
 nient in 1831. Air. Simpson has also been 
 honored by election to county office, having 
 served his county as treasurer. In the decade 
 between 1830 and 1840 the homesteads in 
 South Litchfield township would not have ex- 
 ceeded ten or a dozen at most. John Fogle- 
 man. in 1840. settled on his present home- 
 stead. Mr. Fogleman also served in the ca- 
 pacity of sheriff some forty years ago, and it 
 is remarked at this day that Air. Fogleman re- 
 fused re-election to office on the ground that 
 he did not believe that succession in office is 
 good policy. Air. Fogleman and "Mr. Corlew 
 are vet living at advanced age. These men 
 have been examples id' moderation in all things, 
 They have lived simple lives, honored by all 
 who know them, and doubtless when their 
 names are called each will he able to say, "T 
 have Fought a good fight. T have finished my 
 course. T have kept the faith." In writing of 
 the c'tv of Litchfield T am again indebted to 
 the papers of U. A. Coolidge and to Samuel 
 Kessinger, of the Monitor, for the facts and 
 figures relating to the city. The city of Litch- 
 field is located in both North and South 
 
 Litchfield townships, two-thirds of its terri- 
 tory being in the former and one-third in the 
 latter township. The city is beautifully lo- 
 cated on the undulating prairie as it breaks 
 into the hill lands just wot of Shoal creek. 
 It is about fifty mile- easl of St. Louis and 
 forty-two miles south of Springfield, Illinois. 
 The first settler within the limits of the town 
 was Isaac Weaver, who in 1842 occupied a 
 cabin near the entrance to the public square. 
 In 1835 Evan Stevenson and in 183(1 Joseph 
 (iillespie. in 1838 G. B. Yenowine. Isaac Ross, 
 and in IS4'.» John Waldrop and Ezra Tyler en- 
 tered the land upon which the present city of 
 Litchfield is located. In 1847 Royal Sherer 
 built a cabin on the southeast slope of the 
 mound now owned by W. S. Palmer estate. 
 Sherer being a single man. it does not appear 
 that he ever occupied the cabin which he had 
 built. In 1849 Ezra Tyler settled on the forty 
 acres which he had entered, and A. Hart Pierce 
 built a log house on the mound near where the 
 North school building stands. Pierce and 
 Caleb W. Sap in 1840 hail entered the south- 
 west quarter of section 33. in North Litchfield 
 township, and this afterward became the nu- 
 cleus of the present city of Litchfield, and now 
 I am sure that I will be pardoned if I quote 
 the language of Mr. Coolidge as he sets forth 
 so aptly the beginnings of the city: "In the 
 summer of 1853 residents of the present city 
 were Alfred Blackwelder, near the site of the 
 Weiperf House, burned in 1880; Jacob Sherer. 
 on the mound in the northwestern quarter of 
 the city; his brother, Ralph Sherer. a quarter 
 of a mile east of him; Nelson Cline, near Fred 
 Stahls; A. Hart Piene. on the schoolhouse 
 mound; J. Y. Etter. between Martin Haney's 
 restaurant and the Wabash Railway; 0. M. 
 Roach, in a diminutive room in Cummings & 
 MeWilliams' addition; Ezra Tyler, in the 
 southeast part of town, and J. W. Andrew, on 
 the Davenport estate. The site of the town 
 laid mil for building purposes was a cornfield, 
 and when Simeon Ryder and Hon. Robert 
 Smith, of Alton; Hon. Joseph Gillespie, of Ed- 
 wardsville; Philander C. Huggins, of Bunker 
 Hill ; Josiah Hunt, chief engineer of the Terre 
 Haute & Alton Railway, and John B. Kirk- 
 ham formed a syndicate to purchase the sites
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ; 
 
 of prospective stations along the line of the 
 road then in process of construction they 
 bought out Mr. Cline. They agreed to lay out 
 n. town on the eighty acres owned by Pretlow 
 and Cline, and after reserving the land needed 
 for streets, public squares and railroad uses to 
 reconvey to Pretlow one-half the lots and 
 blocks on his forty-six acres in full payment 
 for the remainder. Mr. Kirkham was- made 
 the agent of the syndicate, but in a few days 
 he was replaced by P. C. Huggins, who retained 
 Ids position through successive purchases of 
 additional land to be laid out in village lots, 
 until B. B. Litchfield, of Brooklyn, New York, 
 became the sole owner of the company's inter- 
 est in the city. The railroad was completed no 
 further than Bunker Hill from the western 
 end when Thomas A. Gray, county surveyor^ 
 in October, 1853, laid out among the standing 
 corn the original plat of the town. Gillespie 
 was also la iil out, and Messrs. R. W. O'Ban- 
 non, T. W. Elliott. H. E. Appleton, James W. 
 JefEeris, J. P. Bayless and W. S. Palmer, of 
 Ridgley, Madison county, having decided to re- 
 move to a point on the proposed road, drew 
 straws to determine whether to locate at (lilies- 
 pie or Litchfield. The fates willed in favor of 
 Litchfield, and accordingly in January, 1854, 
 Mr. O'Bannon bought the east half of the 
 block facing on State street and lying between 
 Ryder and Kirkham streets for one hundred 
 and twenty dollars. Any part of the east 
 front would not he a bargain at that price for 
 a single foot (188?). This was the first pur- 
 chase in the proposed town, and Mr. O'Bannon 
 began at once to arrange to build a store on 
 the southeast corner of his purchase. Mr. 
 Jefferis appears to have been the second pur- 
 chaser and Mr. Appleton and Mr. Palmer 
 must have secured lots soon after. Mr. O'Ban- 
 non obtained lumber for the frame of his store 
 
 in the neighbor!) 1. but the other lumber was 
 
 obtained at Carlinville. His store was com- 
 pleted and occupied April 24, 1854, and Mr, 
 Jefferis had his dwelling, now the south part 
 of the George P>. Litchfield house, nearly ready 
 for his family, but Mr. Elliott, by bringing 
 here the material of his home at Ridgely. 
 managed to get his family placed in it May 
 5, 1854, and thus he was the pioneer settler 
 
 of the town, though his home was antedati I 
 by the Jefferis house. Mr. Jefferis' family 
 came three daw later than Mr. Elliott's, whoso 
 home formerly stood on the ground now eo ■ 
 ered by the Parlor shoe -tore. 'The fourth 
 building was a rude blacksmith shop on Mr. 
 Southworth's comer. \Y. S. Palmer in Ma 
 began the erection of the west half of the build- 
 ing the first door above L. Huffman's bakery. 
 but as Mr. Palmer went to the woods and 
 hewed out the framing timber be did not finish 
 his store until fall. The ihai building erected 
 wa> by Ezra Tyler for a grain warehouse on 
 the site of tin' 0. K. mill. There was not 
 time to build houses, and therefore rude struc- 
 tures and small buildings were carted over the 
 slimy priarie on runners from other points. 
 Thus .1. P. Bayless brought hereon rollers one- 
 half of what had been a blacksmith shop at 
 Hardinsburg. It had no Boor, no door nor 
 window. He placed it on the corner north of 
 E. Burdett's shop and made it do for a home 
 for several years. Up to this time Mr. Tyler 
 supplied meals and lodging to the men who 
 were founding the city. As to roads, the 
 -real highway from Hillsboro to Bunker Hill 
 ran a mile south of town, and the route from 
 Edwardsville by way of S'taunton to TayloT- 
 ville entered the town near its present smith- 
 west corner. The road war- laid 'Hit by -tric- 
 ing a furrow for several miles on one side 
 and then returning with another furrow equi- 
 distant on the opposite side. The road lay 
 between these shallow ditches and marked the 
 route well enough for the (<-w people who were 
 
 c lemned to use it. Mr. Palmer and Mr. 
 
 Mayo, his brother-in-law. put a stock of gen- 
 eral merchandise in the store ju-t built by the 
 former and the east end was also his family 
 residence. By the latter part of 1854 six 
 families had planted themselves here and the 
 town consisted of about a dozen buildings, • ' 
 which one was a wagon shop, one a blacksmith 
 shop and two were stores. Bv November, 1855 
 the number of dwelling houses had increased to 
 eleven, and the town, seen under a Decern!) 
 sky, had an uninviting aspect. The population 
 must have been at least one hundred, for 
 when need conies folk's can be compacted to- 
 gether as close above ground as in it. By
 
 Jill 
 
 PAST AM) PEESENT OF MOXTOOMKKY COUNTY 
 
 October the railroad was opened as far as 
 Clyde and in January the 1'retlow estate was 
 sold by his executor. The sale was held in 
 the store of W. T. Elliott and the day is still 
 widely remembered for the dense rain which 
 prevailed. The embankment for the railroad 
 had formed a dyke across State street and in- 
 terrupted its drainage. A miniature lake was 
 thus formed, and it was the policy of the par- 
 ties owning land just west of the town plat 
 to have the dyke maintained in order to force 
 the location of the passenger station in their 
 vicinity, where, in anticipation of a decision 
 in their favor, a sidetrack had already been 
 graded. Mr. O'Bannon. Mr. Bayless and oth- 
 ers cut this dyke and thus averted the location 
 of the depot a quarter of a mile to the west- 
 ward. The earlier sales of lots on State street 
 has been made at the rate of thirty dollars for 
 sixty-six feet front ; the price in May, 1854, 
 was increased to fifty dollars. There were no 
 apparent natural advantages for the creation 
 of a prosperous town. It was not known that 
 the railroad shops would lie located hen', and 
 Shoal creek presented a serious barrier to com- 
 munication with the country to flu' east, and 
 on the other side the prairie still spread, with 
 here and there a settler, who was toilsomely 
 breaking the virgin soil. The site of the plat 
 had been bought in midsummer, 1853, at 
 eight dollars or ten dollars per acre, and the 
 plat gave two acres to eight lots and the sur- 
 rounding street. At the Pretlow sale one-half 
 the lots were sold by public outcry, and it is 
 instructive to note the purchasers and the 
 prices paid. The terms were one-third down 
 anil the balance in one year. One of the lot-. 
 would to-day sell for three hundred per cent 
 more than the sixty-sis did at that sale, which 
 was at least four times greater than the value 
 of half the townsite before it was laid out. 
 In 1854 "Nigger Dan," from Carlinville, built 
 a hotel, which is now the east part of the 
 Phoenix House. He was able only to enclose 
 the building, and. such as it was. it was the 
 first house of entertainment in the town. The 
 next year E. W. Litchfield supplied the means 
 to finish it. As to "Nigger Pan." T have not 
 been able to learn bis real name or subsequent 
 history. Dr. Gamble was the first physician 
 
 and lived on a half-iioored house west of the 
 Methodist church. Dr. H. H. Hood, who 
 first opened an office at Hardinsburg, was the 
 second one. and had his office at J. M. Mc- 
 YVilliams" store, which was between the Phoe- 
 nix House and the Central Hotel. On No- 
 vember 2 I of this year the railroad was opened 
 to Litchfield and the sale of the 1'retlow prop- 
 i'1't \ following gave such an impetus to the town, 
 which it has not since lost, though panics, fires, 
 war and the removal of the railroad shops have 
 each only given a breathing time to lay wiser 
 plans and build its prosperity on a more stable 
 basis. By the close of this year eight or nine 
 families in addition to the six or seven fami- 
 lies on farm lands when the town was sur- 
 veyed had honies in the city. We can enumerate 
 W. O'Bannon, W. T. Elliott, H. E. Appleton. 
 .lame- Jefferis, J. P. Bayless, W. S. Palmer, 
 "Nigger Dan." G. Evans and a little later T. 
 G. Ivessinger. In the spring of 1855 Messrs. 
 E. W. Litchfield, E. E. Litchfield, E. S. Litch- 
 field. George II. Hull and the three Dix broth- 
 ers and C. 1". Howe came from central or west- 
 ern -New York, all related to E. C. Litchfield. 
 who had become practically the owner of the 
 town site. Several additions to the town were 
 laid out. and James Cummings removed his 
 store and contents from Ardinsburg and placed 
 it just west of the cigar factory on Kyder 
 street. He was the first postmaster. The 
 original plat of the town, which bore the name 
 of Huntsville. was never recorded. It was the 
 purpose to have the name of the postoffiee the 
 same as the name of the town, and as there was 
 a postoffiee called Huntsville in Schuyler coun- 
 ty the name of the town was changed to Litch- 
 field in honor of its virtual proprietor. The 
 railroad being open to Alton. Messrs. E. W. 
 Litchfield and C. F. Howe began the sale of 
 lumber, buying a carload or two at Alton and 
 unloading it where State street crosses the 
 railroad. E. E. Litchfield bought the Tyler 
 -rain warehouse and. removing it to the site 
 of the D. Davis grocery store, converted it 
 into a store and began the sale of dry goods. 
 A year or two later he went out of the dry 
 goods business and became a hardware mer- 
 chant. James and William McPherson erected 
 a flouring or gri-t mill and a residence just
 
 PAST A\l> PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ;o; 
 
 north of the Planet Mills' office. These were 
 the first buildings south of the railroad. In 
 the fall of 1855 ground was broken for the 
 railroad shops. The winter of 1855-56 was 
 an open one, and the tide of immigral ion setting 
 in deep and steady, building went on during the 
 entire season, and a hundred dwellings and 
 other buildings were put up by the close of 
 1856. The passenger station had been com- 
 pleted and the roundhouse with thirteen stalls 
 had been enclosed and the foundation laid for 
 the machine shops. The town had been in- 
 corporated as a village, with R. W. O'Ban- 
 non president of the hoard of trustees. The 
 public houses had increased to four — the Mont- 
 gomery House, now the Phoenix, by A. C. 
 Paxson; the Litchfield House, opposite Wood- 
 man's lumber yard, by Mr. Johnson; the Cen- 
 tral Hotel, by J. Hawkins; and the Palace 
 Hotel, by R. Chism. The Methodist and 
 Presbyterian churches were built, but not quite 
 completed. Hood & Bro. and Dr. Grinstead 
 had drug stores, the first adjoining O'Bannon's 
 store "ii the north and the second in the build- 
 ing now occupied by G. B. Litchfield as a 
 restaurant. Bagby & Corrington had succeed- 
 ed Mc Williams and R. N. Paden in the State 
 street stores south of the public square. 
 O'Bannon & Elliott and Palmer & Jefferis in 
 their own buildings continued to sell dry- 
 goods and clothing, and Henderson, Hull & 
 Hawkins had a store across the street south of 
 Woodman's lumber yard. Til Shore sold stoves 
 and hardware in the Harris building below 
 Brewer & Grubbs' bank, which he had erected 
 in 1855. E. E. Litchfield was in the same 
 line on his comer. James Cummings & Son 
 were merchants in the Cummings building op- 
 posite the Central Eotel; John McGinnis sold 
 clothing where Julius Machler's saloon is now 
 (1882). John P. Bayless had succeeded 
 ■ lame. Cummings in the postoffice. There was 
 but one saloon open, and that for but pari of 
 the time, where Peter Kane dispensed. B. C. 
 Beardsley had begun business in Litchfield's 
 store. There were two physicians. Hood and 
 Grinstead; no lawyer, one schoolmaster and 
 no resident preacher. When the railroad was 
 opened as far east as Litchfield. John P. Bay- 
 less was appointed the first agent and his office 
 
 was among the foundation timbers of the water 
 tank, which stood near the southwest corner 
 of the car works office, it. E. Burton was the 
 painter and photographer; John P. Davis & 
 Bros., the plasterers; William Downey, the 
 bricklayer; while Farrar cV Sinclair kept the 
 livery stable where Griswold's .-table is now. P. 
 
 J. Weipert, harnessmaker ; C. Hoog, I ts and 
 
 shoes; and J. W. Cassiday, tailor, were suffi- 
 cient in their day. Mr. Johnson and his son 
 with saws and bucks cut the fuel for the loco- 
 motives; G. W. Nelson (""Fiddler George") 
 was tin' constable, and L. D. Palmer the jus- 
 tice of the peace. J. L. Eood sold furniture 
 in the Cummings building lor Olcott & Com- 
 pany, of Alton, and W. B. Charles ("<'ap- 
 tain"), having in his old age deserted the river 
 steamer, had a little stock of clothing tor sale 
 in the same building. Carpenters were count- 
 ed by the score and their wages were high. The 
 population had by 1851 increased to six or 
 seven hundred. The earliest, residents were 
 chiefly from the slave states. Kentucky or 
 North Carolina. Messrs. Appleton, Grinstead 
 Mr. Long ami a Mr. Thomas were of English 
 birth, while Messrs. Hoog & Weiperi were Ger- 
 man: a i'twv came from Ohio, and there was a, 
 libera] infusion of persons from the state of 
 \e\\ York, while the Irish brogue was heard 
 on every side. The spring of 1857 opened 
 late, with rain and cold, and the streets were 
 gorged by the depth of black, tenacious mud, 
 ami as for sidewalks there were none. The 
 second block east of State street was a shal- 
 low pond and the water fowl frequented it in 
 the early spring. I (rams ami sewers were un- 
 known and the rainfalls skulked and dodged 
 through grass and rubbish to the head of the 
 water channels which begin a mile or more 
 distant. A few dwellings boasted more than 
 two rooms and people slaved here comforting 
 themselves with the hope of improved future 
 and a release from their narrow surroundings. 
 The railroad had been opened to Terre Haute 
 i In' previous year and Edwin C. Dix had suc- 
 ceeded Mr. Bayless a.- station agent. The 
 previous year several carloads of grain had 
 been shipped to St. Louis in sacks. The vil- 
 lage organization was kept up and E. C. Dix 
 was president of the village board. Some
 
 ".'IS 
 
 AST AND PKESEN' 
 
 ()l 
 
 Mn.XTCOMKKY ('Ol'NTY 
 
 ordinances had been adopted, but were not 
 enforced. The town was the common fight- 
 ing ground for the surrounding country, and 
 groups of bullies would ride into town, fire 
 their courage with whiskey and then gallop 
 through the streets, carrying clubs or weapons. 
 seeking a fight. On such occasions ""Old 
 Shake." foreseeing their purpose, would usual- 
 ly lock his door and disappear for the day 
 under (he pretense of hunting or fishing, 
 though a thinner excuse than fishing could not 
 
 lagined. The first circus tent spiead here 
 
 drew not less than five thousand persons to 
 
 town, ] pie coming as much as forty miles to 
 
 witness the moral horsemanship, to he aston- 
 shed at the wit of the clown and to admire 
 the frisky mules. Still, the religious impres- 
 sions of the performances have uo1 vet been 
 hserved, or, if so. have Failed of a chronicler. 
 though the town i- not wholly ignorant of 
 preachers who thought the noblest passage in 
 the Bible was Job's description of a horse. 
 There have been circuses here since, but not 
 to arouse the excitement as that first one, and 
 men are said to have gone fishing, but no 
 one with so good a. purpose as "Old Shake, 5 
 in- with equally as commendable results as on 
 the occasion of tins first circus at Litchfield." 
 Mr. Coolidge further relates, in regard to the 
 stablishing of manufactures, thai "in 1854 
 James McPherson and William. Ins brother, 
 mill a grain mill ami residence on the site of 
 the Planet Mill, and these were the first build- 
 ings smith of the railroad after the laving out 
 of the town. The mill would be called a 
 humble affair to-day, but it was ample then 
 for all local wants. The next year P. H. 
 Peal! and J. M. McWilliams became the own- 
 ers and added much expensive machinery. 
 McWilliams dying in 1857, the mill fell into 
 the bands of Ezra Tyler, who operated it un- 
 til I860, when he sold it to M. J. Gage. Tie, 
 fullv doubling its >ize and capacity, practically 
 made the mill a new one. In 18(;fl Pest & 
 Sparks purchased if and leased it first to E. 
 A. Cooley and John Pest and then to A. W. 
 Samson. The owners afterward planned to 
 replace the wooden structure by brick mill and 
 the main building was erected, but in 1*70 an 
 evening fire destroyed the mill and the project 
 
 of replacing it was finally abandoned. A sec- 
 ond mill was completed m L860 half a mile 
 up State street by John (J. Peed and James 
 McPherson. In the spring of L863, in some 
 unknown maimer, this was also destroyed by 
 lire. The attempt to connect its destruction 
 with military and political troubles had no 
 sufficient basis. Perhaps some card-playing 
 youths knew more than they told. The mill, 
 however, was not rebuilt. Wesley Pest and 
 David If. Sparks, from Staunton, completed 
 a three hundred barrel mill on the railroad a 
 quarter of a mile west of State street. The 
 mill was twice enlarged and its goods achieved 
 a flattering reputation. It. too. was burned 
 in February, 1879, and arrangements were 
 made to rebuild it in 1881. but when the walls 
 were fairly begun the property was sold to 
 D. L. Wing & Company, who demolished what 
 had been built, and the barren site is to-day 
 the sole memorial of what was one of the best 
 old-style mills in central Illinois. Peter Box- 
 berger in 1868 built a flouring mill on the 
 railroad a quarter of a mile east of State 
 street. Three years later he sold it to Peter 
 McLenan. This was also destroyed by fire, in 
 1873. About this time T. G. Kessinger had 
 a custom mill opposite Pest & Sparks' mill, 
 but it was not kept up long. In 1873 Mr. 
 Boxberger built the flouring mill near the 
 Indianapolis & St. Louis depot. Becoming 
 embarrassed, he formed a partnership with 
 Julius Machler and the firm failed. All the 
 mills used bnrstones and completed the manu- 
 facture of flour in two grindings. Their ca- 
 pacity was limited, and until the opening of 
 ♦ be c.al mines and the introduction of water- 
 works they struggled under great difficulties, 
 h, the spring of 188] D. L. Wing tV Com- 
 pany, of Springfield, Massachusetts, began the 
 erection of the Planei Mill, which, by reason 
 of its capacity and the new system of convert- 
 ing wheat into flour and the character and 
 completeness of its appointments, will bear a 
 short description here. The mill building 
 proper was fifty by one hundred feet and five 
 stories high, exclusive of basement and texa-. 
 The basement contains shafting and main driv- 
 ing pulley, elevators, fan and wheat sink. The 
 main floor contains seven reduction mills aud
 
 PAST AM) I'KKSEXT OF MOXTCOM KKY COUNTY 
 
 709 
 
 nine sets of smooth and corrugated colls, fifteen 
 purifiers, six bolting chests and flour chests. 
 packers and cleaning machine, li may be of 
 interest to know that flour-making consists of 
 about thirty operations. A barrel of Hour is 
 made every two and one-half minutes. The 
 motive power is given by a three hundred 
 horsepower engine. The grain elevator has a 
 capacity of one hundred thousand bushels. 
 There are sis buildings belonging to the mill. 
 and the out and the in business is < qua I to twelve 
 carloads per day. Sixty-five men are em- 
 ployed. The cost of the mill was two hundred 
 thousand dollars. The mill went into operation 
 November, 1881." You will note that tins re- 
 port of Mr. Coolidge in 1882, was just one year 
 after the Planet Mill went into operation. 
 Mr. Wing did noi operate this mill for any 
 great length of time, but sold it to the Koeh- 
 ler Milling Company, of St. Louis. This was 
 
 decidedl} the si extensive milling plant ever 
 
 built in this section of the state, and the city 
 of Litchfield might well feel proud of a mill 
 whose product was exported beyond the seas. 
 Unfortunately, the country was startled a few 
 years ago by a terrific explosion, whose vibra- 
 tions were felt as far east as Vandalia and 
 north ,-is far as Taylorville. People wondered 
 it an earthquake shock hail passed over this 
 section, and the writer well remembers, though 
 eighteen miles away, that the shock was so 
 great that glassware ami china were toppled 
 from their places and no doubt existed in (he 
 minds of any one in this section that we had 
 experienced quite a severe shock from an earth- 
 quake. Not long afterward Ave were apprised, 
 however, (hat the Planet Mill at Litchfield 
 had been destroyed by an explosion. There 
 have been many rumors as to the cause of this 
 explosion. Some have accounted il as a result 
 of accumulating dust in the storage room. It 
 demolished the mill completely, with the ex- 
 ception of |1h> tall -tack thai for several years 
 thereafter stood as a monument of one of the 
 leading industries of tin' city. The mill lias 
 never been rebuilt, and it is the judgment of 
 many that as a financial investment it was 
 not a success. At the time that the Planet 
 Mill was built Montgomery county was a part 
 <>f the creat wheat belt of Illinois, but since 
 
 that time climatic changes have rendered it 
 no longer possible to raise wheat in our coun- 
 ty. Nearly twenty-five years have gone by 
 since then, and in that space of nearly a quar- 
 ter of a, century agricultural products have 
 changed, so that our chief staph' to-day has 
 changed from wheat to Indian corn and timo- 
 thy hay. That our people arc more prosperous 
 since they have left oil' trying to raise wheat 
 is apparent to every observer. Stock-raising is 
 now carried on very extensively. Horses, cat- 
 tle, sheep and swine arc shipped from our 
 county in large numbers, and it is interesting 
 to observe that in the past few years the dairy 
 interests of the county have increased at least 
 a thousandfold, and in addition to this side- 
 line of the farmer he has another from winch 
 he draws profits equally as great. The poultry 
 product, has become of such importance that 
 no well-kept farm is without this department, 
 being carefully and systematically looked after. 
 These two items in the farmer's account are 
 nearly as great, when taken in the aggregate, 
 at the close of the year as were his former, 
 wheat crops, and when we realize that these 
 products are distributed throughout the year 
 they give a more general prosperity to the com- 
 munity than we had under wdiat is known as 
 "the wheat age" of the country- To take care 
 of the enormous wheat crops of lKT'.i, isstj and 
 1882 required the expenditure of all the en- 
 ergy and strength possessed by our farming 
 people during the period of harvest, and. being 
 a country boy of sufficient age to make a 
 "hand" during thai period, I remember the 
 experiences of that time. Most of the wheat 
 was hound by hand, and usually five binders 
 were required to keep the wheat bound ahead 
 of the machine. In cutting a field id' wheat 
 it was customary to divide the distance around 
 tin' field into four stations, and in this way 
 five men wen. necessary to keep the wheal out 
 of the way of the machine. In an early daw 
 when the old hand rake was used, men bound 
 abreast, and it required six or seven men to 
 do the work that the could more easily do 
 by binding in stations. Returning again to the 
 report of Mr. Coolidge, he further says: "The 
 foundry ami machine simps of 11. if. Beech & 
 Company were built in 1857 and operated a-
 
 7111 
 
 AST AND PRESENT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 a separate interest until 1876, when bv sale 
 they were consolidated with the ear works. The 
 original concern for years supplied the railroad 
 repair shops with castings and was largely en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of engines and mill 
 machinery. The concern worked an average 
 of Jiffy men. As early as 1856 ,1 planing mill 
 was running where is now Weigresse's lumber 
 yard. In a few years it was dismantled and 
 in 186? Mr. Weigresse built his sash, door and 
 blind factory, which was discontinued in 1876 
 and the machinery removed. L. Huffman 
 had a brewery where the coal shaft is. and 
 finding the business ruinous, abandoned it. 
 J. E. Gay had a carriage factory, working 
 twenty hands. He had no capital and went 
 into bankruptcy. The railroad shops were re- 
 moved to Mattoon m L870-71 and the spacious 
 buildings stood tenantless and silent. Those 
 who imagined that the permanent welfare of 
 the city depended on retaining the shops be- 
 gan tn look for the signs of decay. The mys- 
 tery of cause and effect is insoluble, but as a 
 sequence the city's gift of fifty thousand dol- 
 lars to the Decatur & East St. Louis Railroad 
 was followed closely by the removal of the 
 shops, and when that decision was made pub- 
 lic the population had sunk to the lowest point 
 touched in twenty years. It was learned that 
 the shops could be obtained on a lung lease for 
 a low sum. They could quickly and cheaply 
 be turned into car works, and the scheme was 
 elaborated to organize a stock company to build 
 railway cars and coaches. Parties from the 
 easi offered to conduct the business if Litch- 
 field would supply the capital. The proposal 
 was declined without (banks. In the winter 
 id" 1871-72 the company was formed and in 
 May the work was begun. A year later a fire 
 from the cupula destroyed the foundry and 
 machine shops. This portion of the works was 
 rebuilt, and in a few years the company's 
 patronizing roads were unable to meet their 
 engagements and the company obtained an ex- 
 tension on its paper and at the appointed dates 
 honored all its obligations. The company was 
 reorganized in 1ST*' with a diminished capital 
 stock, but in effect with enlarged resources, 
 ami has been prosperous. Last year the pay- 
 rntl bore over four hundred names and the 
 
 monthly pay-sheel exceeded nineteen thousand 
 dollars (1882). The coal mine and the car 
 works employed nearly six hundred and fifty 
 men and the monthly wages were thirty thou- 
 sand dollars." At about the same time of the 
 1"-- of the I'lanei .Mill there crept in dissen- 
 sions between the stockholders of the Litch- 
 field (ar Company who resided in the city of 
 Litchfield and those who resided in St. Louis. 
 These dissensions continued to grow until at 
 last they resulted in the removal of the shops 
 to Memphis, Tennessee. Some of the parties 
 living at Litchfield built other shops at Mount 
 Vernon. Illinois, and to these shops many of 
 the laborers who had found employment at 
 Litchfield left, either for Memphis or Mounl 
 Vernon. Following upon the heels of the loss 
 of the Planet Mill, the additional disaster of 
 losing the car shops brought to Litchfield the 
 mosl extreme financial depression that the citj 
 had as yet known. Property values rapidly de- 
 creased, and those having homes, but depend- 
 ent upon their labor, disposed of their prop- 
 erty at whatever figure they could Let. and 
 it is rather remarkable that values continued 
 to depreciate until property could not be 
 rented at any price because there was no em- 
 ployment in which labor might engage for a 
 livelihood. Those who had known the city in 
 
 her more prosperous ti were surprised on 
 
 passing through her suburbs to find by far the 
 greater number of the residence properties va- 
 cant and with doors and windows nailed up to 
 I in \ < 1 1 1 the absolute destruction of the proper- 
 ty by those who were perfectly willing to con- 
 vert these bouse- into fuel or kindling wood. 
 It is reported on good authority that many 
 houses were actually destroyed during this pe- 
 riod. Put Litchfield lias arisen from her 
 lethargy and her embarrassment and to-da\ 
 pn -ints. in striking contrast, a prosperous con- 
 dition and bids lair to accomplish greater 
 things than she has ever done before. Instead 
 of depending upon certain lines of industry 
 that gave employment to so many of her resi- 
 dents, -be has diversified those line- into 
 many smaller concerns, ami thus she is re- 
 lieved of a congested condition that so often 
 occurs when a people is wholly dependent upon 
 a single industry. Her glass works, employing
 
 PAST AX 1) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT!' 
 
 Til 
 
 i n u 1 1 sixty to eighty men; tier machine and re- 
 pair shops, employing a similar number, and 
 her various railroads, giving employment to 
 several hundred of her laborers, and in addi- 
 tion the new Radiator Works that will give 
 employment to many more, have been a means 
 effective in restoring to Litchfield a great de- 
 gree of her former prosperity. Litchfield, 
 with her many railroads, has advantages that 
 must, sooner or later, be recognized h\ manu- 
 facturing interests that seels a Location that will 
 enable them to have a wide distribution from 
 a common center. The tendency of manufac- 
 turing concerns is to get away from the large 
 city, so as to be freed from the annoyances that 
 hamper those engaged in large enterprises that 
 require extended plants in the manufacture of 
 their wares. The price of real estate in the 
 neighborhood of large cities is another ele- 
 ment taken into account when a manufactur- 
 ing establishment of any consequence is to be 
 located. This element alone is driving the 
 factory away from the large city into the 
 smaller towns, where transportation can be 
 had with equal advantage, with less cost in the 
 erection of a plant and less taxation. No small 
 
 cit] in this secti f the middle west can boas! 
 
 of superior advantages over Litchfield. We 
 desire now to call attention to some few of 
 the prominent characters whose efforts have 
 done much in the building up of the city. 
 D. C. Amsdeii. II. II. Beach, James W. 
 .Miens. David Davis, R. W. O'Bannon, D. R, 
 Sparks. Warder Cummings, D. Van Deusen, 
 S. M. Grubbs, J. P. Bayless and Dr. H. II. 
 Hood are names familiar to all who make a 
 study of the history of the city. While others 
 have contributed as much, possibly, as those 
 that we have named, yet these stand out so 
 prominently that to call attention to them 
 can not possibly offend others who are as 
 deserving as these. Quite a list of younger 
 men are to-day making history for Litchfield 
 which shall be read with interest by others in 
 years to come. Among those actively engaged 
 in enterprise in Litchfield may be mentioned 
 Carl Bartling, manager of the Hoffman estate; 
 R. ('line, whose department -tore on State 
 street is one of the largesl establishments in 
 the county, and Taylor's store, consisting of 
 
 d r 3 goods, clothing and ladies' and gents' fur- 
 nishing g Is, is also an extensive affair of 
 
 its kind; Milner's drug store, on the corner, 
 and M. M. Milner, on the other side of the 
 street, with Hood's drug store almosl opposite, 
 each carrying an extensive line of drugs, 
 paints, perfumes, etc., furnish the city and 
 surrounding community with everything needed 
 in the drug line. Many small stocks of mer- 
 chandise are found in various parts of the 
 city, and these do quite an extensive local trade. 
 Hugh Snell, owner and manager of the Litch- 
 field Opera Eouse, also conducts a laundry in 
 the rooms adjacenl to the postoffice. The Wood 
 brothers, Leroy and Tom. do quite an extensive 
 real estate and collecting business. L. F. 
 Wood, the senior member of t he firm, has for 
 many years been connected with various enter- 
 prises of the town. Groner & Taylor also eon- 
 dud a real estate business and contribute their 
 .-hare to the business transactions of the city. 
 We have mentioned Mr. Groner before, as he 
 served the county as superintendent of si hools 
 for a period of four years. Mr. Taylor for 
 quite a number of years resided at Walshville 
 and served that township in various official ca- 
 pacities. Mr. Taylor belongs to that class of 
 men who have done much in the development 
 of the count)' within the last thirty or forty 
 years. Joseph Paisley is another of the young- 
 men of Litchfield who is contributing of his 
 means and energy to rehabilitate the city, doe 
 Paisley is well known for the energy and en- 
 terprise which he manifests in every under- 
 taking to which he puts his hand. He is at 
 present sei retar; of the Mutual Protective 
 League, and to his efforts is due. more largely 
 than that of any other, the success which this 
 fraternal insurance company lias achieved. C. 
 B. Munday, engaged in the grain business, is 
 also an important factor in the city's history. 
 Mr. Munday, in connection with D. 0. Settle- 
 mier, has conducted an extensive grain business 
 along the various lines that concentrate at 
 Litchfield. They do a large export business. 
 and besides their extensive grain investments 
 find time to engage in other profitable lines. 
 We arc infon I that to Mr. Munday Litch- 
 field i- indebted for the reorganization of the 
 old M. M. Martin Bank into the new institution
 
 ; iv 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 which to-day is one of the strongest banking 
 concerns in this section of the state. Hugh 
 Hall, who conducts a cigar parlor just west 
 of the hank, is a young man of force, and 
 doubtless will leave his mark on the develop- 
 m . 'Mi of "New Litchfield." Nathan, the 
 clothier, assisted by "Brownie" May, makes you 
 feel at home when in the city, and thai he will 
 sell you the best quality of goods for the same 
 money of any house in the city we will leave to 
 them to say. Among the physicians who are 
 doing an extensive practice at the present time 
 are Dr. Colt, Dr. Sihler, Dr. Blackwelder, Dr. 
 Williams. Dr. Johnson and Dr. Snell. Dr. Colt 
 has an extensive practice at the St. Francis 
 Hospital, and nothing that we can say here 
 will add to the reputation which he has ac- 
 quired as a physician and surgeon in this com- 
 munity. Dr. Sildcr is also well known as a 
 very successful physiciarj He has an extensive 
 practice and is certainly deserving of the con- 
 fidence which the people repose in him. It is 
 a pleasure for the writer to remark these kindly 
 words about the doctor, as through a period of 
 years he has found him a genial friend and 
 wise counselor. Dr. Blackwelder is a mem- 
 ber of the Blackwelder family which has done 
 so much for the city and surrounding country. 
 He is a son of I'ncle Alfred Blackwelder and 
 a brother to William, David and Monroe Black- 
 welder. Dr. Blackwelder has an extensive prac- 
 tice and is highly esteemed by tin 1 people of 
 Litchfield. Dr. Williams is also regarded as a 
 very successful practitioner, and Dr. Johnson 
 is noted for his scientific research, and I he 
 appliances with winch his office is supplied 
 would do credit to an ordinary sanitarium. In 
 regard to the Blackwelder family I will remark 
 that each of these brothers, William. David and 
 .Monroe, has served his township in the office 
 of supervisor. They are at present all retired 
 from their farms and are living in the city of 
 Litchfield, surrounded with the comforts that 
 ciime to those who. by toil, during the earlier 
 years of life have provided for themselves a 
 competency. It gives me pleasure to chronicle 
 that these are among the sens of one of the pio 
 in cr fathers of the county. Another charac ter 
 that we shall notice is .Tames B. Hutchinson, 
 the nurseryman. Like the Blackwelders, he is 
 
 another son of one of the pioneers and has con- 
 tributed more to the horticultural interests of 
 the' county than any other man. and possibly 
 all others combined. Mr. Hutchinson is grow- 
 ing old with the years, but in spirit he is as 
 young as when 1 remember him in his 
 meridian, and though the rays of the slanting 
 sun are now casting a mellow light across his 
 pathway, and though his day be nearing the 
 close, it. will be a pleasure to think of him as 
 one who planted the trees that others might 
 eat of their fruits. 
 
 ROUNTREE TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Rountree township is composed almost whol- 
 ly of prairie land. The only watercourse of 
 any importance within the township is the 
 .Middle fork of Shoal creek, which flows in a 
 southwesterly direction through the entire 
 township, having its origin in section 1, north- 
 east part of the township, and its outlet in the 
 southwest quarter of section 3".'. Fawn creek. 
 a small stream, flows through the eastern sec- 
 tion of the township. The soil is a rich black 
 learn, and in the more northern pari of the 
 township it belongs to what was once known 
 as swamp land. This class of soil is the most 
 productive that we have in our county. Since 
 these bog lands have been thoroughly tiled and 
 open-drained they are the most fertile to lie 
 found in any country. It is the same class 
 of land that is to be found in what is known 
 as the corn belt of the state. The only hin- 
 
 dranc ■ drawback that can be found to these 
 
 Ihii sections of country is the monotony of 
 scenery and the deep black mud during the 
 rainy seasons of the year. I do not know but 
 that since this section of the country has been 
 thoroughly drained ami the malaria! conditions 
 
 re \cd the health of our population in the 
 
 north part of the county is just as good as we 
 have ii in the hill country of the southern part 
 
 el' Montg ry. Rountree township received 
 
 its name in honor of Judge Hiram Rountree, 
 el' Hillsboro, and in the language of Mr. Barry 
 we may repeat: ■'The name is a fitting tribute 
 to i he memory of that most excellent man who 
 did as much if not more than any other per-
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMEBY COUNTY 
 
 ;i."> 
 
 sou toward the development of the county." It 
 is rather remarkable that John Xusman, who 
 was the first settler in the city of Elillsboro, 
 should have removed to this wild and unin- 
 habited section. It is impossible at this day 
 and in our age to understand the impelling 
 motive that stirred the pioneer to be forever- 
 Lastingly moving on and on. Mr. Xusman. in 
 1830, made a settlement in the south part of 
 the township in section 32. Hon.' he cleared 
 away a small patch and planted it to corn, and 
 some of his descendants relate that from the 
 door of his cabin he could keep his family 
 supplied with all kinds of wild game; that 
 deer were attracted to his home out of curiosity; 
 and that often droves of these timid animals 
 were within gunshot of the house. The wild 
 turkey roosted in great numbers in the trees 
 near by. Neax Mr. Musman's residence was a 
 
 camping place of the Hicka] Indians, who 
 
 annually visited this section for the purpose 
 of hunting. They were friendly to Mr. Xus- 
 man and seemed to take great interest in his 
 family. It is related thai he carried on a con- 
 siderable trade with those red men of the for- 
 est. Mr. Nusman remained on this place until 
 the year 1852, at which time he died. Henry 
 Nusman, at last account, was the owner of hia 
 father's old homestead. John Dryer, in 1833, 
 came from Tennessee and entered a farm ia 
 section 30. Like all other pioneer settlers, he 
 was compelled to undergo many privations. 
 The fact that lie hail pushed out away from 
 other settlements made the building of his 
 
 hi the more difficult. It is reported that 
 
 he lived for some time in a temporary lodge 
 made of poles, fashioned somewhat after the 
 tepee of the Indians. Several years passed by 
 before other settlements were made in this 
 town-hip. hut in 1840 William Eeffley entered 
 a tract, id' land in the south part of the town- 
 ship, which he sold to Wiley Lipe in 1844. In 
 L842 Wilson Carriker made a settlement near- 
 by, and in 1*11 John Riderour and William 
 Tanner located in this settlement. Mr. Tan- 
 ner afterward purchased a tract of land in the 
 northern pan of the township and improved a 
 home on which he lived until Is;-.'. Mr. Bide- 
 noiir improved the farm upon which Martin 
 
 Lingle lives. George Carriker, Alfred Carriker, 
 Allen Lipe ami Noab Lipe were also early set- 
 tlers of Rountree township. The first school 
 ever taught in this township was by Wesley 
 King, who was regarded as one of the ablest 
 teachers in his day. Noah Lipe built the' first 
 schoolhouse erected in Eountree township, for 
 which he received the munificent sum of scv- 
 cniv-live dollars. This house was built in 
 L846 and Wesley King was the teacher through 
 a period of -i\ consecutive years. The firsi 
 marriage of winch we have any record was thai 
 of Peter Cress to Katherine Xusman, which 
 took place in the autumn of 1836. The firsi 
 justice id' the peace was Henry Friedmeyer. 
 who was appointed m the year 1845 and served 
 continuously for a period of twelve years. The 
 first minister to deliver a series of gospel ser- 
 mons within the boundaries of Rountree town- 
 ship was the celebrated eccentric, Peter Cart- 
 wright. Through his efforts an organization 
 was effected in 1843 and maintained its iden- 
 tify until is; I. when it was abandoned by part 
 
 of its mbers uniting with Montgomery 
 
 church and part with Burks chapel. 'Idle old 
 church building ha- long since disappeared, 
 and no trace remains of the first church edifice 
 
 erected ill this lowmdiip. An g those who 
 
 have come into prominence during later years 
 is the late Jacob Weller. The late William IF. 
 Peck, George W. Watson. Maryfield Truitt, 
 Martin Lingle, Henry Warnsing, Fred Heims, 
 I'.. B. Bowles, George Sims, Henn Hitching. 
 William X. Shore and the Englehart brothers. 
 These present a. part of a long list of those 
 who have successfully engaged in agricultural 
 pursuits iii this township. Mr. Truitt served 
 Rountree township for many years on the hoard 
 of supervisors and is a brother to the' late .1. 
 M. Truitt. of llillshoro. lie belongs to one of 
 the pioneer families of Montgomery county. 
 Mr. Truitt is well known and well liked, lie is 
 in the closing years of a life spent in useful- 
 ness, and as the shadows lengthen the satisfac- 
 tion of knowing that his best efforts have been 
 given to what his hands have found to do is 
 reward sufficient for any good man. Henry 
 Warnsing is another notable character of this 
 township, and he is known in all pari- of
 
 714 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Montgomery county. Mr. Warnsing has made 
 quite a reputation as a public cryer at sales 
 in nearl] every township. He has had some 
 little experience in polities, and although a 
 Democrat, lie has been elected to township 
 
 offices in the strongest Republican pre i of 
 
 the county. This evidences the popularity and 
 esteem in winch Mr. Warnsing is held by his 
 neighbors. Noah Lipe and Wiley Lipe were 
 for man] years two of the most prominent 
 figures in the social and industrial life of this 
 township, and each of them has been classed 
 among the forceful, energetic citizens of our 
 county. Each in his day acquired a compe- 
 teni \ and lias left to his children quite an es- 
 tate and the legacy of a good name. George 
 Watson lived near the center of the township 
 and was a son-in-law of "William EL Peck. For 
 many year- Mr. Watson was en jailed in farm- 
 ing on a large scale. He afterward removed to 
 Raymond and thence to Chicago, where, we un- 
 derstand, Mrs. Peek and one of her daughters 
 have since died. George Watson was a good 
 citizen and Montgomery county can ill afford 
 to lose such men. His large interests here, 
 however, may call him hack to spend his declin- 
 ing years among his old friends and neigh- 
 bors. 
 
 AUDUBON TOWNS] 111'. 
 
 The southern part of this township is broken 
 and somewhat rough, but the western and 
 northern portion is prairie land, though some- 
 what undulating. The first settler is said to 
 
 have been Thomas Hill, but near the same t 
 
 Basil 1 1 ill and Joseph Davis located near him. 
 This settlement was made in the central part 
 of the township. The next year -lames Card 
 made a settlement on the mound in n hai has 
 been known for main years as Card's grove. 
 In Is:: I a colony of emigrants from Massachu- 
 setts made a settlement in this township. 
 Among these were Isaac Hinkley, Robert Little, 
 Otis Little and William Tike. These colonists 
 laid out the town of "Old Audubon," ami it is 
 said l>\ some thai the] had Imped in the mak- 
 ing of a new county I" secure the county seat. 
 In this they were disappointed, and the location 
 
 of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad 
 spoiled all their plans and disappointed their 
 hopes. Evidences still remain of this old town, 
 yet for many years no attempt has been made 
 to carry on any business at that place Rich- 
 ard Crow, however, has for many years carried 
 on country merchandising at a point about 
 one mile east of the old townsite. Mr. Crew. 
 new a man of sixty years of age, was born and 
 reared in the neighborhood. He tells me that 
 these energetic eastern people had arranged t<> 
 present a building to the new county for court 
 purposes, ami that they had provided, at the 
 four corners of their intended city, quadrangu- 
 lar tracts of land which were to lie used as 
 public parks. Again we have illustration of 
 "the best laid plans of men and mice gang aft 
 aglea." In the northern part of Audubon it 
 is claimed that Thomas Price made a settle- 
 ment in 1831, and that his sen. John Henry 
 Price, was the first child born in the township. 
 The Virdens made a settlement in North Audu- 
 bon in about 1833. and George Cottingham 
 in is:;.">. and in 1836 he was followed by his 
 brother. William Cottingham, Baily Osborn 
 and William Craig. In 1843 Shipton Estes. 
 William Orear, James Smith and William T. 
 Slater settled in the northeast corner of South 
 Audubon. "I find it stated b] T. J. Riley, 
 in an article on Audubon township, that at an 
 early date a number of wealthy settlers came 
 m from Massachusetts and entered large tracts 
 of land. They built magnificent residences and 
 fanned extensively, but after remaining a short 
 i inn' grew discouraged and sold out. disposing 
 el' their land at a price ranging from thirty 
 cents to sixty cent- per acre. The tine houses 
 built by them partially remain, and though 
 the] have gone very much to decay they still 
 bear signs of their former grandeur. A part 
 of one of these farms is that known at present 
 at the 'Old Blue Farm."- The first school 
 taught in this township was kepi by Charles 
 Turner, and the first church was organized by 
 the Rev. Mr. Huntington, of the Unitarian de- 
 nomination, and a house of worship was built 
 in 1S30. Tin 1 denomination would indicate 
 that it was to accommodate the New England 
 settlers, for Unitarianism was almost wholly
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 715 
 
 unknown among the earlier settlers who came 
 from the south. The first marriage recorded 
 as having taken place in the township was thai 
 of John Slater to .Miss Julia Coy. Hiram 
 Holmes built the first mill and kept the first 
 hotel in Audubon. Tins was at the old town 
 of Audubon. Samuel Patch and M. S. Cush- 
 man were the firsi merchants, while Isaac llink- 
 lev. the postmaster, received the appointment as 
 Laud agent. One of the wealthiest and pos- 
 sibly the largesl landowner of this section of 
 the county was Robert Little, and in looking 
 over an atlas published in ISM. forty years 
 after Mr. Little came from Massachusetts to 
 old Audubon, 1 find that several sections of the 
 besl portions of the township were owned at 
 that time by Mr. Little, hut thirty years have 
 gone by since then, ami Mr. Little, with all 
 those who came with him from his eastern 
 home, have been home by the current of years 
 into the great ocean id' the past, hut many years 
 will pass by before these pioneer spirits will 
 be lost in the depths of forgetfulness. Among 
 those who have contributed later to the develop- 
 ment of the township may he mentioned W. F. 
 Weber, William Blue. Asbery Rhodes. Alfred 
 Brown, Michael Ohlman, Ales Durdy, John 
 Russell. Joseph Whitmore, Hiram Virden, 
 .lames Bass, Guilford Bass, William McNich- 
 ols. Alex Stewart, Palmer Mainline. Elijah 
 Ullom, E. X. Prey. J. M. Elwell, S. C. Wag- 
 ner, J. L. Graden, John Marley, James H. 
 Glasgow, T. J. Pattengale and Hiram Sperry. 
 These form a list that may well '»• called a 
 roll of lienor for Audubon township. Many 
 others should appear in this list, hut we have 
 forgotten through the years that have gone by 
 since visiting Audubon township. In the little 
 town of Ohlman we desire to mention "Eck" 
 Durdy. son of the late Alexander Durdy. who 
 for quite a number of years represented Audu- 
 bon township on the hoard of supervisors. 
 "Eck" succeeded his father al Ohlman 
 in the hay and grain business, and it is re- 
 ported that last year Mr. Ohlman shipped from 
 that point about one thousand carloads ,,f bay. 
 exclusive of Ids grain trade. "Eck" Ohlman. 
 son of Uncle Mike Ohlman. live-- on his father's 
 old homestead. Besides he gives attention to 
 several hundred acres, which he owns indi- 
 
 vidually, that lie adjacent to his father's farm. 
 "Eck" Ohlman is one of the most extensive 
 farmers in Montgomery county, lie is also 
 a breeder of fine cattle and horses. The writer 
 has often enjoyed the hospitalitj <<l' his home, 
 and we can not. say that, in our travels abroad 
 it has ever been our pleasure to Ik' mote royally 
 entertained than we have been at the country 
 place ,,f "Eck" Ohlman. 
 
 NOKOMIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 
 
 In 1840 Blufonl Shaw made the first per- 
 manent, settlement in this township. In 1st:; 
 Hugh Hightower made a settlement in sec- 
 tion 33 and for some years was the only resi- 
 dent in this section of the county, Mr. Shaw 
 having moved to another locality. In is 10 
 Mason Jewett, Samuel Redding, John Nichols 
 and John Ileur\ located near where the present 
 city el N'okoniis stands, and a lew" years later 
 Royal Lee, John Wetmore, William Bonton, 
 Absalom Vanhouser, William Lee ami Andrew 
 Coiner located north of the present city. John 
 Wetmore was the father of Moses Wetmore. the 
 millionaire tobacconist of St. Louis. Missouri. 
 ami when a lad Moses attended the public 
 school in the vicinity of Xokomis. Henry 
 Lohr has the credit of having taught the first 
 school in the township in Is IS. and John Wet- 
 more. before mentio I. was the first justice 
 
 of the peace for that township and J. W. Han- 
 cock its first constable. It is recorded that 
 Constable Hancock and Miss Margaret Merretl 
 were the first couple to he united in marriage 
 in that township. Jacob Haller, who lives on 
 the mound just smith of the city, is one of 
 the mo-i promineni characters living in that 
 section, lie has been unusually successful as 
 a farmer and stock-raiser, and to-day has one 
 of the best appointed farms in Montgomery 
 county, lie i- a son of Henry Haller, who at 
 an early day made a settlement in Easl Fork 
 township. John Beatty was for many years 
 connected with most, oi the public enterprises 
 of the community, and at one time held in 
 his possession the large farm just west of Xoko- 
 mis which until recently was owned by Abra- 
 ham Bourquin. Mr. Beatty some years ago
 
 ; lg 
 
 PAST .VXD PRESENT OF MO.VHIOM KI!Y COI'NTY 
 
 moved to Missouri, and \vc are informed that 
 In' has been dead some two or three years. II. 
 F. Rood is another of the influential men be- 
 longing to that time when Nokomis was being 
 built. He contributed of his means and in- 
 fluence to make Nokomis enterprises success- 
 ful, lie was for some years president of the 
 Nokomis National Bank. Another family to 
 be remembered in Ibis connection is the ('nips. 
 P>. F. Culp was the first cashier of the National 
 Bank. He did not remain in the neighborhood 
 of Nokomis very long, but removed to Ray- 
 mond, where he established a private bank 
 which lie conducted until recently. B. F. Culp 
 was for many years one of the leading citizens 
 of the county, lie is at present living in the 
 state of Washington and is engaged in the 
 banking business in his new home. James 
 Young is another of the early settlers of Noko- 
 mis township and is to be reckoned one of the 
 strong financial men of Nokomis. For some 
 years past Mr. Young lias been living in the 
 city. His large estate is under the direct man- 
 agement of his son William, who lives at the 
 old homestead and the experience of the writer 
 can attest that he and his good wife arc first 
 class entertainers and that William Young is 
 one of the most hospitable and obliging young 
 farmers that we have met in the county. James 
 Young, the pioneer, is a native of Ireland, 
 and has recently visited his native land and 
 in addition made a trip to the continent, vis- 
 iting France. Italy and several other conti- 
 nental nations. Air. Young is one of the most 
 interesting men that we have met and at the 
 age of seventy-eight lie is hale and strong as 
 
 II rdinary man of sixty. John Carsteens is 
 
 one of the older business men of the city. He 
 lias been for many years engaged in operating 
 an elevator at this place. Associated with his 
 son Garrett for many years, they did an exten- 
 sive business. John ('arsleens represented his 
 county in the legislature some few years ago 
 ami it is remarkable that his son Garret! served 
 in the same capacity only a few years later. 
 The older gentleman is living in an elegant 
 home in the city, but Garrett, unfortunately 
 for his family and the community, died when 
 in the very morning of a promising business 
 and political career. Among the business men 
 
 that may he mentioned as at present engaged 
 are Wesley Russell, who carries a large line 
 of dry goods and who. by the way, is a son 
 of one of tl arlier settlers of Fillmore town- 
 ship. Wells and Brown, who have an extensive 
 stock of ready-made clothing and gents' fur- 
 nishing goods. Joe Weinstein. who carries an 
 extensive stock- of ladies' and gents' furnish- 
 ing goods in addition to a full line of dry 
 goods: Todd and Snell, also engaged in a simi- 
 lar line, do an extensive business; Jesse Grif- 
 fin, who carries a large line of hardware in 
 addition to his extensive stock of furniture, 
 and Albert Spannagel, who also carries a sim- 
 ilar stock, and in justice to Mr. Griffin and 
 Mr. Spannagel the- writer wishes to say that 
 in his opinion that no two stocks equal to theirs 
 is to be found in this section of the state. John 
 Crickenberger owns and operates the electric 
 light plant at Nokomis. Tic is also engaged in 
 other lines of business and is to be reckoned 
 among the very substantial men of the city. 
 Nokomis. like other cities of its size, has its 
 share of attorneys at law, notably D. Zopp, 
 Will Todd and George Webster. These lawyers 
 practice in the county courts, circuit courts and 
 the city court of Litchfield. They are each and 
 all first class in their profession and besides are 
 excellent citizens. (Something that we can 
 not say about all lawyers.) J>. Zepp for sev- 
 eral years after coming to Montgomery county 
 was city superintendent of the Hillsboro and 
 Nokomis schools. Since his change of profes- 
 sions, he has resided in Nokomis and has built 
 up a good practice and enjoys a good income 
 therefrom as well as from his real estate hold- 
 ings. Mr. Webster is a genial, whole-soul fel- 
 low, and ipiite popular in his home and the 
 surrounding community. He is a young man 
 of considerable ability and promises to be 
 heard from in business and political circles 
 at a future time. Will Todd is well and favor- 
 ahlv known throughout Montgomery county. 
 At one lime a teacher in our public schools, 
 he aspired to higher things and after a few 
 years spent in the study of law, was admitted 
 to the bar. At present he resides in Nokomis. 
 He is a thorough Democrat and doubtless will 
 receive at the hands of his party the treat- 
 ment which a loyal party man deserves. Will
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMEBTf COUNTY 
 
 Todd is a fine fellow socially, a good lawyer 
 and a true friend. The writer shall be pleased 
 to see Mr. Todd occupying some position of 
 trust and responsibility, for surely he deserves 
 well of the people of Montgomery county. 
 Alfred Griffin conducts one among the largest 
 real estate and loan lines of any man in our 
 county. The years which he lias spent in No- 
 komis building up an extensive trade lias also 
 gained for him a reputation for honesty and fair 
 dealing not surpassed by any business man in 
 this section. The writer having had occasion 
 to know Mr. Griffin in a business way. is not 
 surprised at the success which he has achieved. 
 His habits of exactness in detail and his thor- 
 oughness in attending strictly to every phase 
 of his business inspires a confidence in his pa- 
 trons which loose and negligent habits could 
 never accomplish. Mr. Griffin lives in one of 
 the most elegant homes in the city and is of 
 thai turn of mind to enjoy his surroundings. 
 A. J. Williford, the very efficient ana courteous 
 cashier of the Nokomis National Bank, is a 
 son of Kev. A. J. Williford and a grandson of 
 Jordan Williford. the pioneer. We have no- 
 ticed in our sketch of the Williford family 
 this gentleman, but desired to mention his 
 name in connection with our chapter on the 
 city of Nokomis. Mike Ohlman, at present a 
 resident of Nokomis, was formerly a citizen 
 of Audubon township, hut having grown old. 
 Mr. Ohlman concluded to leave the farm and 
 come to Nokomis. so here at the advanced ape 
 of eighty-five he. in company with hi- wife, 
 is spending the evening hours of ;i Ion- and 
 useful life. It is remarkable that one of Mr. 
 Ohlman's years should he so spry as he is. He 
 walks down town almost every day and few 
 men of sixty years would care to keep pace 
 with him. He has an elegant home near tin 1 
 public school building ami here "Uncle Mike" 
 is glad to meet his many old friends, among 
 whom tin' writer is proud to hi' numbered. 
 Nicholas Bentz is another of the very success- 
 ful business men of the city and Henry Bender 
 and Woltman & Company must not he for- 
 gotten in this narrative. '•Tom" Piddler is 
 not only well known in the vicinity of No- 
 komis. hut as a buyer of horses and mules is 
 well known throughout this section of the state. 
 
 Mr. Bardsock, the miller, and Robert Paddock. 
 the Lumberman, are among the successful busi- 
 ness men of the city. Dr. T. J. Whitten, son 
 of Austin Whitten, the pioneer. Dr. Wilson 
 and Dr. Bovey ami Dr. Strange have each a 
 wide practice in their profession. Dr. Whitten 
 is perhaps more widely known in this section 
 than any other practitioner, lie was for sev- 
 eral years in charge of the Prime Sanatarinm 
 at Jacksonville, Illinois, and is called in con- 
 sultation throughout a wider territory than 
 any other physician and surgeon in southern 
 Illinois. Among the leading hotels favorably 
 known to the t ravelin- men is the Hagee 
 House at Nokomis. other pood hotels are to 
 be found 111 the city, hut the homelike appoint- 
 ments of this hostelry has made it well known 
 to the "boys on the road" and it has been uni- 
 versally praised by them. The proprietor. 
 Eugene Hagee, has died hut recently. His 
 wife will keep the house running, however, hut 
 we shall miss the jolly laugh of our old friend 
 "Gene." That he had his faults his friends 
 acknowledge, hut at the same time hi- many 
 trood traits covered over the defects and we 
 shall remember him as a pood and kind friend. 
 Richard Dill ami George Bliss, whose names 
 have appeared in the chapter on Eillmorc. are 
 -mis of pioneers of Fillmore township and to- 
 day these elderly men are enjoying the fruits 
 of well spent years in the incomes which by 
 toil in earlier years they have gathered. We 
 regret to he compelled to close this narrative, 
 for so much that we should like to include 
 must he omitted that we feel that our work- 
 is hardly half done, ami that the subject de- 
 serves fuller treatment. 
 
 WITT TOWNSHIP AND Till'. TILLAGES 
 OF WITT AND PAISLEY. 
 
 In is:;i James ami David Brown located 
 on east fork of Shoal creek on section 1 " . Wilt 
 township. They did not settle, however, on 
 the same side of the si ream. David making his 
 home on the west side and -lame- on the east. 
 They lived here almost isolated for a period 
 of three years, when Martin Barkey in 1833
 
 PAST .VXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 located on a farm near them. Mr. Harkey had 
 previously lived in the vicinity of Hillsboro. 
 The next tn make settlement in the neighbor- 
 hood was Christopher Armantrout. In 1839 
 Joshua Seckler made a settlement north of 
 Arniantrout and the following year, 1840, M. 
 W. Seckler settled near his brother. While 
 these earlier settlers have passed away, their 
 descendants may be found in the neighborhood 
 ami (n the credit of their fathers, it may be 
 said, that they left surviving them an upright 
 citizenship of which the county and the state 
 may be proud. Nairn's thai will be remem- 
 bered in the history of the township arc the 
 Balsleys, the Carrikers, the Chapmans, the 
 Lohrs, the Hoehns, the Marks, and the Hu- 
 bers. Many of these came from Germany and 
 settled this section of Montgomery county, and 
 lie it said to their credit that not a better citi- 
 zenship can lie found than the German-Ameri- 
 can boys and girls who have come to man- 
 hood and womanhood in Witt town-ship. The 
 village of Witt was laid out in 1869 bj William 
 Wood, who crccicd the lir-i store building in 
 the village. Keys & Bartlett kept the first 
 sleek of general merchandise in this building. 
 The following year Lee Hall put in a small 
 sleek of goods which lie afterward sold to An- 
 tonio Leon. Leon in turn sold to Christian 
 Marks who afterward disposed of the stock to 
 Henry Welker. The Witt postoffiee was estab- 
 lished in 1869 and was kept in Keys & Bart- 
 lett's store. The first physician who located in 
 Witt was Dr. McElrath. In 1867 Nicholas 
 Bentz erected a steam elevator (here. This 
 marks the beginning of a very prosperous little 
 village. Some ten year- ago a coal mine was 
 sunk - just west of Witt on lands belonging to 
 George W. Paislej r , and Mr. Paisley laid out 
 an additional village, hut not as a part of the 
 town of Witt. The first to organize of these 
 villages was the old (own of Witt, ami taking 
 advantage of existing conditions, they included 
 the larger pari of the new village of Paisley. 
 However, this did nol prevent the Paisley peo- 
 ple From securing a separate depot, postoffiee 
 and organizing a separate school district. Con- 
 ditions not altogether favorable to the develop- 
 ment of these separate parts of the village <>f 
 Witt have existed since the organization of that 
 
 town. Recently the Bie Four Railroad Com- 
 pany has cut out separate stations for these 
 places ami has established a depot near the 
 line dividing the town into sections ami it is 
 the impression of sonic that before Long things 
 will be more harmonious and that these people 
 will see the advantage of uniting their efforts 
 in building up as one town. Among the most 
 promineni characters in the village is the Hon. 
 George W. Paisley, who served as state senator 
 from this district. For many years Mr. Pais- 
 ley was one of the leading members of the 
 Montgomery county liar, but later be became 
 more interested in his large farming interests 
 and removed from Hillsboro to the neighbor- 
 hood of Witt. Later he became interested in 
 the Montgomery County Coal Company, and it 
 is due to bis enterprise that the mine was sunk 
 at Paisley. At present be owns a controll- 
 ing interest in the stock of the company be- 
 fore mentioned and is its president and general 
 manager. Mr. Paisley is an unusually force- 
 ful character and in all his enterprises he has 
 been fairly successful and to-day at the age of 
 sixty-six he is one of the active, energetic busi- 
 ness men ol' Montgomery county. Robert Dix- 
 on and Henry Shuping are engaged in the 
 grain business and operate one of the largest 
 elevators in the county. Both are genial, en- 
 terprising D and have succeeded in building 
 
 up an immense trade in their town. Short & 
 Ernst operate an elevator in the west portion 
 of the village or in that part usually known 
 as Paisley. They have likewise a fine trade 
 and are both good business men. Quite a num- 
 ber of general stores are located in the two 
 parts of the village. We have not space, how- 
 ever, to enumerate or to give the attention that 
 they deserve. Rufus Barringer, son of Caleb 
 Barringer, is the present supervisor of the town- 
 ship. He is a livery man and has a good busi- 
 ness. Iir. Charles Lockhart is the only physi- 
 cian in the village, and enjoys a large income 
 from one ol' the mosl lucrative practices of any 
 physician in our county. The doctor deserves 
 all the success which he has received, for no 
 other physician in this section of the state 
 has prepared himself more thoroughly for the 
 practice of his profession than Dr. Lockhart. 
 The present postmaster of the Paisley end of
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 719 
 
 the town is Miss Kate Daly, once a teacher in 
 the public schools of the county. Her people 
 are old residents of Irving township and for- 
 merly came from the Emerald Isle and settled 
 in Illinois near Alton, but afterward removed 
 to Irving township, where Mr. Daly for many 
 years was engaged in fanning, bul like many 
 others, when he fell the weight of years, deemed 
 it best to retire and consequently we find him 
 enjoying a pleasant homo during his declining 
 years in the village of Paisley. The people of 
 these villages do not lack for church privileges 
 and we find several church organizations in 
 thriving condition with houses of worship and 
 regular services everv Sabbath day. 
 
 GRISHAM TOWNSHIP AND THE VIL- 
 LAGE OF DONNELLSON. 
 The firsl settlement made in this township 
 was by Spartan lirisliam aboul the year 1819. 
 lie settled on a farm west of the village of 
 Donnellson and his estate passed into the pos- 
 session of his descendants. Spartan Grisham 
 came to Illinois with Melcher Fogleman and 
 lived with Mr. Fogleman until he set up house- 
 keeping for himself. He was a man of great 
 force of character such as the times demanded, 
 and he was indeed a Spartan in character as 
 well as in name. In the settlement of that 
 section Mr. Grisham was for many years the 
 centra] figure. Next in settlement in this im- 
 mediate neighborhood was Jesse Johnson, who 
 settled just north of the present village of 
 Donnellson, yet to the westward of the town- 
 ship line. lie afterward removed across into 
 East Pork township and made a settlement on 
 the branch near what was afterward known as 
 the Russell place. Thomas Johnson, his son. 
 made a settlement just north of his father 
 Jesse, and lived here until he was quite an old 
 man. He died a U:\v years ago and was buried 
 in the Bear Creek cemetery. Jesse Johnson 
 about 1840 sold his possessions in Illinois and 
 migrated to Iowa, where he lived but a few 
 years and again turned his face westward for 
 the Pacific slope, and in 1850 we find him in 
 far away Oregon. It is related of him that 
 he enjoyed every species of adventure and that 
 
 when he could lieai- his neighbor's axe or his 
 neighbor's wife calling the cows, he thought it 
 time to move. He lived to a good old age 
 and died ami was buried amidst the mountains 
 that girt the wilderness in which he hail made 
 his home. Nathan Irving was another who 
 made his home in that pail of the county em- 
 braced within Grisham township, lie was also 
 a rover, having lived in quite a number of 
 stati's. and hardly had he warmed a new cabin 
 nihil the spirit of adventure pushed him west- 
 ward and we last hear id' him in Missouri. 
 The home of James Street, who settled near 
 the old pepper mill, was just, over the line in 
 Grisham township. He built his cabin at this 
 place in the year 1820 and was the first to 
 preach the gospel in what was known as the 
 Clear Spring settlement, 'this same James 
 Street by holding over the head of Nicholas 
 Lockerman the (ires id' an eternal hell, per- 
 suaded that gentleman to marry the woman 
 who he had kept for several years as his 
 wife. Street was a man of untarnished char- 
 acter and in his day was considered a very 
 able preacher. lie was not a rhetorician nor 
 was he able to express himself in those finished 
 and superb sentences of the classical scholar, 
 vet lie could preach hell and damnation until 
 the sturdy pioneers quaked at the awfulness 
 that awaited the wrong doer. And. gentle 
 reader, would not just a little hit of (hat same 
 kind of gospel accomplish better results than 
 thi' sugar-coated sermonizing to which we are 
 continually treated? Yes, if heaven is to he 
 gained by righteousness in our lives and hell 
 is to he shunned, would it not he well for the 
 clerg\ to dwell with especial emphasis npon 
 the consequences of a life spent in wickedness? 
 William Griffith settled near the central por- 
 tion of the township near the same lime that 
 Mr. Street made his settlement. He was a 
 modest and unassuming man and like many of 
 those whose names arc forgotten, his work was 
 done without ostentation or show. Many of 
 his descendants live in the county and are 
 among its besi citizens. Thomas Edwards came 
 to Illinois from Kentucky in 1826 and im- 
 proved a farm near Bear creek in the north- 
 eastern part of the township. Tt was the same 
 that for a number of vears was owned by the
 
 720 
 
 PAST A X I > PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Late Charles Edwards and is the same now 
 owned by his sons, Jesse, Charles and Edward. 
 Thomas Edwards, the pioneer, was fourth cor- 
 pora] in Captain Rountree's company during 
 the Black Hawk war. Mr. Edwards Left sev- 
 eral sons, among whom were Sidney, Allen, 
 Wesley, Charles and George. Sidney Edwards 
 Located in Bond county near Sorento, where he 
 lived until his death, which occurred some years 
 ago. Allen Edwards and Wesley Edwards were 
 in the Mexican war. Company C, dames C. 
 Mi Adam-, captain. Allen Edwards settled in 
 East Fork after his return Erom the Mexican 
 war and by industry and economy succeeded 
 in acquiring quite a large estate, lie did not 
 Live, however, to enjoy what he had succeeded 
 in gathering, for he died at the early age of 
 forty-eight years. Wesley Edwards, a very 
 genial and pleasant gentleman, lived to be quite 
 an old man. He died but recently and Left quite 
 a family of sons and daughters. Charles Ed- 
 wards, who for many years resided upon and 
 owned the ancestral estate, died hut a few years 
 ago and left surviving him a wife and several 
 children, all of them having arrived at ma- 
 turity. Among his sons are Thomas C. Ed- 
 wards and Walter, very successful business men 
 of Coffeen. William Edwards, the older son, 
 is connected with the postoffice department in 
 the city of St. Louis. The other sons are en- 
 gaged in farming and stock-raising. He has 
 several daughters who are married and reside 
 in this section. George Edwards, the younger 
 son. resides in the village of Donnellson. He 
 has several sons, among whom are Thomas H. 
 Edwards, who lives in Coffeen. and Robert, 
 who ai present resides in Bond county in the 
 vicinity of Greenville. Accompanying Thomas 
 Edwards to Illinois from Kentucky came John 
 Elder, who improved the farm owned by the 
 late John Price. We do not know that any 
 of Elders' descendants remain in this county. 
 Robert McCullough, another of the early pio- 
 neers who settled in this neighborhood, has 
 left the influence of his example in the vicinity 
 where he spent so many years. His grandson, 
 Samuel McCullough, resides near Donnellson. 
 In L827 Clemen! C. Aydelott. a Methodist 
 preacher, Located on the farm now owned by 
 his son, George R. Aydelott. While the Eev. 
 
 Aydelott is remembered by the writer as one of 
 the most devout men, yet we iind that he was 
 not afraid to go to war and his name is to he 
 round upon the roll of privates in Rountree's 
 company to serve in tin.' Black Hawk war. 
 None of the early pioneers could have exer- 
 cised greater moral influence than did Eev. 
 Aydelott. His religious life was an open hook 
 and no one doubted that Clement Aydelott 
 was .111 earnest, sincere Christian man. lie or- 
 ganized the first Methodist church in Grisham 
 township. He died m L865 at the age of sixty 
 years, hut his wife survived him many years 
 and died at the age of over four score. His son 
 George has lone- been one of the most promi- 
 nent citizens of Grisham township and like 
 In- father, he enjoys the confidence and es- 
 teem of all who know him. Clement haws of 
 Coffeen and William Laws of Greenville are 
 greal grandsons of Clement Aydelott by their 
 titer's side, whose mother was an only daugh- 
 ter of (dement Aydelott. George Aydelott has 
 no children and with him one pioneer name 
 will eease to exist. William Young, a brother- 
 in-law of Clement Aydelott, came to Illinois 
 in 1828, accompanied by his brother James. 
 Mr. Young in L830 located on the farm now 
 known as the old Young homestead. Here he 
 lived for fifty years and it was here that he 
 succeeded in laying the foundation of one of 
 the Largest estates ever built up in Montgom- 
 ery county. Mr. Young at one time served his 
 district in the state legislature and refused a 
 re-election because, as he said, "a man with- 
 oul an education has no business in the Legis- 
 lature." While the educational acquirements 
 of Mr. Young were limited, yet for good horse 
 sense he lias had no superior in this se.-tion 
 of the country, and it can he said with credrl 
 not only to Mr. Young and to those who bear 
 bis name, but to the community at Large, that 
 the annals of Montgomery county will show no 
 name in its but"- record of honest and upright 
 characters more loved and more esteemed than 
 that of William Young, very familiarly known 
 as "flu' old Squire." The writer well remem- 
 bers when a boy in assisting Mr. Young in 
 loading some -rain that had been grown on a 
 rented farm that the question of honest di- 
 vision on the part of the renter came up and
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 723 
 
 Mr. Young remarked: "A man may i'ool me, 
 but he can't fool that Old Fellow up yonder." 
 Men would live and raise their families as 
 renin-- of Mr. Young and it has been said 
 thai he never requested the removal of a ten- 
 ant nor did he ever bring suit againsl am man 
 or in any way enter into law againsl Ins neigh- 
 bor. A record certainly to be coveted ami an 
 example that may well he imitated. Squire 
 Young died at his home in Hillsboro only a 
 short while ago at upward of ninety years of 
 age. Other names familiar in the early his- 
 torj of Grisham township are William and 
 Robert Paisley. Jacob Eolbrook, Spartan Jor- 
 dan and William Rogers; and later Tipton Cox, 
 Friah Wilson. Fred Heifers, the Angersleins 
 ami others. James Wilson and Bonaparte 
 Wilson are sons of the late Uriah Wilson and 
 are among the most influential and popular 
 citizens of Grisham township, dame- Wilson 
 has served his township in different official 
 capacities and is the present township super- 
 vise ir. -Bona'" Wilson is extensively engaged 
 in agricultural lines ami recentl] succeeded in 
 procuring several thousand acres of coal leases 
 in his township for a mining syndicate. The 
 Messimore family and the Kessinger family 
 have long been prominently connected with 
 the social and political affairs of Grisham town- 
 ship. The village of Donnellson lies partly in 
 Montgomery and Bond counties. It is also di- 
 vided on tlie Montgomery side by the wot line 
 of East Fork township. Among the business 
 men of the village may he named William 
 Boone, hardware ami agricultural implements; 
 and .lames Price engaged in the same line: 
 Baxter Taylor, general merchandise. Wilson 
 Laws and S. G. Gardner, carrying on similar 
 line-; Fred Krummel, furniture and under- 
 taking: IIenr\ Myatt, engaged in hay and 
 grain trade. Among the physicians are Dr. 
 W. A. Allen and Carey and Son. These have 
 an extensive practice. Among those deserv- 
 ing especial mention at this time is Rev. Wil- 
 liam Young, who for many year? was a resi- 
 dent of East Fork township; but during the 
 past lew years has made his home in the vil- 
 lage of Donnellson. He has been among the 
 forceful men in his community and his influ- 
 ence has alwavs been on the moral side of 
 
 ever) question. He has always believed in the 
 strict enforcement of law anil his opinion upon 
 mallei- demanding legal settlement is often 
 times sought by both parties before an action 
 at law i- taken. His advice and council has 
 possibh averted more suits than thai of any 
 other man m our county. In other words, he 
 might justly he styled '"The Peacemaker." 
 Shelby Young, a brother of William Young of 
 Donnellson, is another unique character of this 
 section. He is not so conservative as his 
 brother William, hut his influence for good 
 has been far reaching and doubtless Shelby 
 Young will lie remembered as well and as 
 kindly as that of any man in tin- vicinity of 
 Donnellson. This hurried survey of the past 
 and present of Grisham township the writer 
 is well aware is too briefly stated to do justice 
 to tin' many noble characters that have come 
 and gone and that are now" engaged in the 
 affairs of flic present. Within the narrow con- 
 tines of Grisham township many scenes of in- 
 terest have been enacted and much of im- 
 portance in the history of Montgomery count; 
 has transpired there, yet, we musl leave untold 
 more perhaps than can he found in this nar- 
 rative and to search out these traditions and 
 chronicle them we leave to the service of an- 
 other. 
 
 WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP. 
 
 About I Si; (here came to the neighborhood 
 of Walshville Nicholas Voiles, Melcher Fogle- 
 man. William Stevens, Elias Baker and his 
 son .lame-. Two or three years later James 
 Jordan. Austin Grisham ami others settlei 
 near. In l^ii J. W. Harrison. Thomas Evans. 
 John Evans and Joseph Evans and in 182S 
 Robert GZirkland made settlement in the same 
 neighborhood. These men were in character 
 and spirit similar to those I hat we have de- 
 scribed in the history of other townships. 
 The} were just as true just as brave as then' 
 contemporaries and in the sections where the} 
 located Ibeir influence has been as marked for 
 good as the influence of pioneers who settled 
 in other parts of the county. It has been
 
 PAST AM) PEESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 claimed by some writers on the earlier history 
 of Montgomery county that .lames Jordan who 
 settled near Walshville, preached the lirst ser- 
 mon ever delivered within the present bound- 
 aries of Montgomery county. We know, how- 
 ever, thai conflicting evidence exists to show 
 
 thai dallies Street might have deserved this 
 
 honor and there is also tradition that one 
 Henry Sears, of Hurricane settlement, deserves 
 that credit. We leave the matter, however, to 
 some more exact and precise historian. We 
 are perfectly willing to leave these questions 
 of minor importance to be ferreted out by 
 someone more interested in minutia than the 
 writer. Ahout the year 1840 John Simpson 
 and John Ming made improvement of the lands 
 upon which the present village of Walshville 
 now stands. These two pioneers have lefl sev- 
 eral descendants in this part of the county. 
 The lirst marriage that ever took place in 
 Walshville township was that of James Jordan 
 to Elizabeth Grisham. This occurred in the 
 year L825. h is related that Peter Cartwright 
 organized a Methodist .lass at the residence 
 of Elias Baker in the year 1824. Probably 
 this was the first Methodist Episcopal class 
 in Montgomery county. Rev. .Tames Jordan 
 had organized a Baptist church at the resi- 
 dence of William Cline, which was later re- 
 organized by the Rev. William Burge in 1836. 
 No church edifice was erected until ten years 
 later. This was a log structure and served the 
 congregation until about 1862 when the organ- 
 ization decide,! to build a new place of worship 
 and located it in the village of Walshville. 
 This building was destroyed by fire in 1866 and 
 in L869 they rebuilt their church, since which 
 time the organization has passed through the 
 varying experiences of prosperous conditions 
 and depressions. In 1850 E. D. Smith opened 
 a country store at what is now the village of 
 Walshville. Some years later he sold his busi- 
 ness to a Mr. Bowers. Bowers in turn sold to 
 Chapman and Kennedy and they to Michael 
 Walsh. In l< s: >-"' Mr. Walsh laid out the vil- 
 lage and named it in honor of himself. The 
 township, however, takes its name from the 
 village. John King built his residence aboui 
 this time and Seymour and Cline built a brick 
 store room and put in a general stock in 1856. 
 
 Shortly alter Cline sold his interest to Eli 
 Deshane, who afterward became sole owner of 
 the stock. Mr. Deshane did quite an extensive 
 business at Walshville and accumulated a very 
 creditable estate by attention to business and 
 the practice of habits of economy. William 
 Kingston tor many years conducted a general 
 merchandise business in the village, and several 
 oilier- whose names are familiar to the people 
 of this section may hi- named. Sanders & 
 Hodges, Blevins & Denny. Hodges & Boyd. 
 Thomas Barlow, Boone Copeland and A. T. 
 Strange, the last named more recently engaged 
 in business. A. T. Strange for the last quar- 
 ter of a century has been very closelj identified 
 with the affairs of Walshville township. As 
 an administrator of large estates and as trustee 
 for panic- left in trust he has had as much and 
 possibly more experience than any other citizen 
 of the township. He was for many years en- 
 gaged in the profession of teaching; later, 
 however, he turned his attention to agricultural 
 pursuits, lie has been identified with organ- 
 izations that have had for their purpose a union 
 of the agricultural classes. He was an active 
 organizer of the Grange and the Farmers 
 Mutual Benefit Association. No man residing 
 in that section of the county enjoys the con- 
 fidence and esteem of the public more than 
 Alex T. Strange. Among the physicians that 
 deserve mention in these pages are the follow- 
 ing: Ambrose Barcroft, John T. Koeu and 
 M. S. Davenport. This trio of very worthy 
 professional characters, each of whom has left 
 his influence for good upon the locality, has 
 moved on to the silent halls of the dead, and 
 while their voices are hushed and while they 
 are no longer able to practice their skill that 
 others may live, yet what they have done is not 
 silent ami the example of their lives is ever 
 living. T. T. Smith, who lives just south of 
 the village, is another id' the deserving citizens 
 of the township ami he has been identified with 
 much that has been done in the moral and 
 social uplift of the community. William Nei- 
 man. who lives near the west line of the town- 
 ship, is a German-American who at different 
 time- has represented his township on the board 
 of supervisors, and along with him may be 
 nai I Harm Reiser, who for a longer period
 
 PAST AMi PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT! 
 
 ?23 
 
 of years served th.it township on the board 
 than any of which we have record. Following 
 Mr. Eeiser comes II. II. Monke, also of Ger- 
 man parentage. This township is largely set- 
 tled along the western and southern pari by 
 thrifty German population and we are glad 
 tn note that no part of Montgomery count} 
 has a tunic enterprising people than VValshville 
 tnu nship. 
 
 The story which we have told is incom- 
 plete, but space will not allow any further nar- 
 rative of this township. 
 
 FILLMORE VILLAGE AND TOWNSHIP. 
 
 We have had occasion to notice a few of the 
 first families of Fillmore township. The first 
 settlement of this township was made in the 
 
 neighbor] I of the old town of Vanburens- 
 
 burg. It was made by John Hill in the au- 
 tumn of ISKI. ami here the succeeding spring 
 others came and made settlemeni near him. 
 These early settlers came from Kentucky, and 
 the year previous to their settlement near the 
 lung they had spent in some other part of the 
 statu. Among this little band were 1 Ian-is 
 Revis, Henry Hill. Levi Casey, Aaron Casey, 
 John Lee, Joseph Wright, Henry Piatt. It is 
 related that these parties built their cabins in 
 a group about a Large spring in that neighbor- 
 hood. It must be remembered that not a few 
 Indians were to be found near this place, and 
 it is well known that the average BZentuckian 
 of that day had no particular love for the red 
 man. Somewhat later this little community 
 was broken up by each of the parties locating 
 mi different claims. Harris Revis made his 
 claim near the southeast corner of the town- 
 ship, where he lived until his death, which oc- 
 curred in 1840. Several of his descendants 
 live in the neighborhood of where this old 
 Revolutionary soldier made hi^ settlement. 
 Adjoining the Revis farm Henry Hill entered 
 a claim, and his grandson and his grand- 
 daughters own the larger part of the old home- 
 stead. John Hill, the first pioneer, entered a 
 farm in the same locality, and it is also in 
 possession of his descendants. Levi Casey set- 
 
 tled on what to-day is known as the Briggs 
 farm, but in 1831 he sold his homestead and 
 moved to Shelby county, where he afterward 
 died. Aaron Casey, a son-in-law of Revis, set- 
 tled on a farm near Samuel Hill, and John 
 Lee entered a tract of land adjoining Revis. 
 Aaron Case} afterward sold his farm to Sam- 
 uel Hill. Joseph Wright, who was one of the 
 
 c missioners appointed by the legislature to 
 
 fix the county seat, made settlement in this 
 community, and Henry Piatt built a home 
 near that of Joseph Wright. The farm set- 
 tled by Joseph Wright passed to his son. Jar- 
 rett Wright, and is yet in the family Among 
 the most prominent pioneers of Fillmore town- 
 ship was Newton Coffey, father of Cleveland 
 Coffey and grandfather of Newton Coffey, who 
 now lives on the old homestead. Newton Cof- 
 fey. Si'., is the same who entered the tract of 
 land where Mills] ion i now stands and after- 
 ward donated twenty acres to the county to be 
 used for public purposes. Mr. Coffey came to 
 Illinois in the fall of 1811 and settled west 
 of the Hurricane about five miles. His near- 
 est neighbors wen' those who were living over 
 near the "burg," but in the spring of 1819 
 several settlers made their way to the neigh- 
 bor] 1 of Mr. Coffey. Among these were 
 
 Easton Whitten, Colbert Blair, John Beck and 
 Stephen White. All these were from Ken- 
 tucky and originally from Virginia. Easton 
 Whitten the next year made his settlement 
 over on Dry Fork, and Beck settled just north 
 of Mr. Coffey, and Stephen 'White and Colbert 
 Blair just west of Mr. Coffey, near Shoal 
 creek. The first mill erected in Fillmore 
 township was in 1825 by John Beck, one of the 
 commissioners appointed to relocate the coun- 
 ty scat, and who selected Hillsboro instead of 
 Hamilton, where the first commissioners had 
 attempted to locate it. John Beck made his 
 settlement not far south of the Yanilalia road, 
 and the old mill, which was a treadmill ope- 
 rated by a yoke of oxen, stood on the George 
 Blackburn place. Benjamin Rose built the 
 next mill operated in the town-hip in 1S38. 
 This was afterward sold to a man by the name 
 of Austin, who did a very flourishing business 
 for several years. The next mill was run by 
 steam and operated by John Hill. It bad but
 
 ;-.'[ 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 one lnilir and the demands of the trade kept it 
 going almost constantly. Harris Wright and 
 James Kirk bought this mill and operated it 
 until 1846. The sawmill first erected was 
 run In hand. It consisted of what was called 
 a whipsaw, and one man stood below and the 
 other above, and in this way the log was ripped 
 into boards. John Fuller in 1840 built a 
 mill in the grove near where lie lives at the 
 present time. (Deceased but a few days ago.) 
 He operated it but for a year or two, when 
 i( was sold and removed from the township. 
 The first school ever taught in Fillmore town- 
 ship was in 1825 by Mr. Hatchett in a little 
 log house that had been used by Aaron Casey 
 as a residence. The succeeding year Benja- 
 min li'obbins followed Mr. Hatchett, and thus 
 from these humble beginnings the excellent 
 school system which we enjoy to-day lias come. 
 The first flame schoolhouse ever built in the 
 township was in 1845 near the little village 
 of Vanburensburg, and it was known as the 
 Easley schoolhouse. In 1821 a burial ground 
 was staked off on Dry fork on an old battle- 
 field, where at one time, many years before, an 
 encounter took place between United Stales 
 troops and a band of hostile Indians The 
 first interment in this cemetery was that of 
 Stephen White, who died in the summer of 
 1821, and the first birth in the township was 
 in 1819, which happy event occurred in the 
 Famih of John Reck, and the first wedding 
 was between John Revis and Patsey Coffey. 
 The ceremony was performed by 'Squire Levi 
 Case} and took place in 1822. The village 
 of Vanburenshurg was laid out by Joshua 
 White in 1S4"?, but prior to this time there 
 had been a postoffice in the neighborhood, and 
 as early as 1837 it is recorded that Benjamin 
 Roberts kept the postoffice at Hurricane. This 
 was the name which this settlement bore 
 through all the earlier years, and the name at- 
 tached to (he postoffice until it was abandoned 
 by the rural route which was established from 
 Fillmore through the Hurricane neighborhood 
 about two years ago. Robert White kept store 
 at tlie "burg" through the same period that 
 Joel C. Traylor kept one ten miles further 
 west. The "burg" had the reputation, during 
 the Civil war and the period immediately pre- 
 
 ceding it, of being a tough place, and there 
 is little doubt that the reputation which it 
 held was justly earned. It must not be 
 thought, however, thai many good people did 
 not live in this vicinity. The years that have 
 passed since then have borne away in their 
 stream the unsavor} characters that made 
 Vanburensburg a place feared by some of the 
 more timid of our people forty years ago. 
 Emery Wright is carrying on quite a pros- 
 perous business in merchandising at tins place. 
 While there is no railroad within several miles 
 of the place, this country store is patronized 
 very widely, and Mr. Wright enjoys an ex- 
 cellent business. Jocie Lynn settled in this 
 neighborhood some time later and acquired 
 quite an estate, which at his death fell to bis 
 sens and daughters, who at present live in 
 Fillmore township. Dr. B. Haynes, a veteran 
 physician, removed from East Fork township 
 to Fillmore some thirty years ago. Besides 
 being very successful in his practice, he has 
 
 1 n very prominent in the political and social 
 
 life of the community. He is still living on 
 his farm and actively engaged in the practice 
 of bis profession, though seventy-six years 
 have left their marks upon him. Prominent 
 among the settlers who came tn the township 
 somewhat later than those mentioned in the 
 earlier history of ihe township are Fred Sny- 
 der. John Fuller. Ed Hurd, Joseph Easley, 
 Tom llai'\c\ and the Blackburn brothers. Most 
 of these canic from Ohio, but were originally 
 from Virginia. Moses Fuller, father of John 
 Fuller, died but a few years ago. after having 
 rounded out a century. Richard Blackburn, 
 the eldest of the brothers, was the first to 
 make Ids home in this section. He bought the 
 property known as the old Bradley tavern and 
 settled in that community about 1838. Wil- 
 liam Blackburn, George Blackburn. Charles 
 Blackburn and Robert Blackburn came about 
 two years later. They settled near one another 
 and Eor many years this was known as the 
 Blackburn settlement. All these brothers suc- 
 ceeded in building for themselves good home- 
 steads. Their descendants own much of the 
 lands formerly entered by their father-. Since 
 the death of Fncle Robert Blackburn, which 
 occurred about one year atro. Harrison Black-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF- MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 burn, oldest son of George Blackbura, is the 
 oldest member of the Blackburn family now 
 living, ilc resides on a farm in East Fork 
 township. Imt. also owns the Tom Earvey farm 
 in Fillmore township. Earrison Blackburn 
 properly belongs to tin- sketch of East Fork 
 township, imt his identity is Linked with the 
 history of Fillmore township more closely. 
 Lafayette Blackburn, only son of Robert 
 Blackburn, lives on the homestead of his 
 father. For many year,- Lafayette Blackburn 
 was engaged in merchandising at Billsboro, 
 and immediately following his removal from 
 Eillsboro to Oregon he was engaged in real 
 estate ventures in that western country. His 
 son ami daughter have been engaged in edu- 
 cational and mining enterprises in the west. 
 Stewart is at. present in Colorado, and Miss 
 Blanche during the past, year has been making 
 her home with her father at the old homestead. 
 There are several members of the Blackburn 
 family living in the neighborhood of Coffeen. 
 
 Ja s. a son of William Blackburn, lives in 
 
 the village and his brother John at the old 
 
 h e. Charles Blackburn left Imt one son, 
 
 who lives somewhere in the west, and besides 
 H. H. Blackburn, George Blackburn, Sr., has 
 a -on. Ezra, living in St. Louis. Richard 
 Blackbura also has a son. George, living some- 
 where in Kansas. A daughter of Richard 
 Blackburn was the wile of Rev. T. W. McDa- 
 vid, whose family we have noticed in the chap- 
 ter on Fast Fork, .lames Kirk came to Fill- 
 more anil settled in the north part of the town- 
 ship near Bost Hill. Flo afterward changed 
 his location to the farm where he lived until 
 a lew years before his death. Mr. Kirk was 
 a very peculiar man. quiet and inoffensive, 
 vet exerting a wide influence, lie was very 
 successful in acquiring a large estate, and at 
 the time of his death was one of the largest 
 landowners in the township. Another family 
 prominent in the settlement of Fillmore town- 
 ship and closely identified with the ('less fam- 
 ily were the Bosts — John Bost, Henry Bost 
 and Martin Bost, sons of Jacob Bost. who 
 came from North Carolina in 1838 and settled 
 on a farm about one mile south of the pres- 
 ent village of Fillmore. His brother Aaron, 
 who accompanied him from the old north 
 
 state, -ell led -. mie w! ia t later on the farm now 
 owned by .John I. Bost. at wdiat is known as 
 Host Hill. Henry Bust, who died some years 
 ago. left surviving him several sons and 
 daughters, among whom is Rufus Bost. who 
 lives at present in Oklahoma: Durley, who 
 lives iu Christian county, and Victor, who is 
 engaged in agriculture and stock-raising un 
 a farm smith of Fillmore. Victor Host has 
 been very successful in a financial way and has 
 earned the reputation of being among that 
 class of our citizens who reflect high credit 
 upon the community by the moral standards 
 which they have adopted. Mr. Bost war- for 
 several years the president of the County Sab- 
 hath School Assoeiat ion. and by his interest 
 he has contributed very largely to the suc- 
 cess that has come from this union of effort. 
 John Bost for many years lived on his father's 
 
 old In stead, but has within the lasl few 
 
 years retired to the village of Fillmore and 
 has given the control of the farm over to his 
 son, John Q. Bost. who lives upon the ances- 
 tral estate. Martin Bost, who has been dead 
 for many years, left surviving him a widow 
 and ten children, among whom are Cyrus, 
 Byron, George and Herbert, all citizens of 
 Fillmore township. Among the daughters of 
 Martin Bost are Dorcas, wife of Dr. John T. 
 Eendrix, of Colleen. Dr. Hendrix until re- 
 cently was engaged in the practice of his pro- 
 fession in the neighborhood of Fillmore. For 
 several years the doctor enjoyed a wide and 
 successful practice in the neighborhood of the 
 village of Fillmore. However, in 1902 the 
 doctor saw fit to change his location, and since 
 that tunc has been residing in Coffeen. About 
 the ti that the Bosts ca from North Caro- 
 lina there came from New Hampshire and set- 
 tled in his neighborhood Joseph Knowles, Al- 
 fred Bliss, the Lanes, the Richmonds and a 
 man by the name of Fairbanks. Alfred Bliss 
 settled on the mound near where George Rich- 
 mond now lives. Like all the earlier settlers, 
 he built for himself a loe house, in which he 
 lived -nine years and raised quite a largo fam- 
 ily of children, several of whom are to-day 
 honored citizen- of the county. Some time 
 
 along in the '50s Alfred Bliss becai :onnect- 
 
 ed with the Methodist Episcopal conference as
 
 72G 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 a local preacher. He afterward was identified 
 
 as an itinerant minister and for several years 
 "rode the circuit." No character in this sec- 
 tion was more widely known than that of 
 Uncle Alfred Bliss. He was among the few 
 
 Methodisl preachers who succ led, by eonorny 
 
 and thrift, in securing a small fortune. Mr. 
 Bliss was a very successful business man. and 
 no one had a keener perception of what con- 
 stituted a good bargaiD than Uncle Alfred. 
 For the last few years of his life he lived with 
 his daughter, Mrs. White, over near Effing- 
 ham. In the division of his estate he gave to 
 his children and grandchildren, by will, an 
 equal inheritance in all his property — that is, 
 the child and the grandchild were made to 
 share alike. At the age of more than four- 
 score years this aged patriarch closed his 
 earthly career. By an active life, tilled with 
 many valuable experiences, lie had earned the 
 
 rest which had I n promised him. and the 
 
 well-spent life is a legacy more enduring, more 
 valuable to his children and grandchildren 
 than any other which he could have given them. 
 Charlie Bliss, sun id' Alfred Bliss, editor of 
 the Montgomery News, will he aoticed in the 
 article given the Montgomery county press. 
 George Bliss, another son, lives at Nokomis 
 and is a retired farmer of considerable means. 
 George Bliss and wife have no children, hut 
 the disposition of Mr. Bliss is such that all 
 the children in his neighborhood call him 
 uncle. They have, however, an adopted 
 daughter in whom they are very much inter- 
 ested. Among the daughters of Alfred Bliss 
 are Mrs. -Tames Moody. Mrs. L. ('. Allen (now 
 deceased). Mrs. Devore (also deceased) and 
 Mrs. While, who lives in Effingham county. 
 Mrs. Moody lives with her son Charles at 
 
 the home of the late .lames M I v. She has 
 
 a ver\ interesting family, consisting of the 
 son. (diaries, and several daughters. L. C. 
 Allen, who married another of the 1'diss girls, 
 has been identified with nearly all the pro- 
 gressive movements in his town and township 
 for many years. He is at present conducting 
 a private hank at Fillmore, and it is consid- 
 ered among the soundest financial institutions 
 in the county. Mr. Allen built the first brick 
 structure In the village and has been one of 
 
 the factors in building up the wade of that 
 town. His son Xed is conducting a hardware 
 store, furniture store, undertaking, and at the 
 same time (anil's a large line of vehicles and 
 agricultural implements. Xed Allen and 
 Anna, his wife, are much interested in the 
 social life of the town. The Methodist Epis- 
 copal church, of which Mrs. Allen is a valued 
 member, owes much to her efforts in building 
 up a Sabbath-school, league work and the 
 financial assistance which she gives to the dif- 
 ferent benevolences of the church. Xed Allen 
 has inherited from his father energy, push and 
 economy and to-day, although under forty years 
 of age, he is one of the financially strong men 
 of Fillmore. Ned is courteous in all his deal- 
 ings and the trade which he has established is 
 evidence of his honesty and fair dealings in 
 business, frank Herron married Jessie Allen, 
 only daughter of L. < '. Allen. At present 
 Frank is cashier in the Allen Bank. Carl Al- 
 len is professor in the Southern Illinois Nor- 
 mal at Carbondale. lie is a rising young man 
 and doubtless will occupy high place in the edu- 
 cational world. Joseph Kuowdes. who settled 
 in Fillmore township in ls:!S. was the father 
 of John Knowles. William Knowles, Joseph 
 Knowles. dr.. and George Knowles. He had 
 three daughters who were married to Alfred 
 Bliss. Gideon Richmond and Martin Bost. 
 Of these William Knowles. John Knowles. 
 Harriet Richmond and Hannah Bust are vet 
 living, hut much advanced in years. (1904.) 
 George Richmond is the oldest son of the 
 late Gideon Richmond and at present he is 
 living on the old homestead. Ernest Rich- 
 mond, a second son. died some years ago. 
 The late J. B. Kane was for many years one 
 of the most prominent figures in Montgomery 
 county. He was associate judge at the time 
 when the present courthouse was built. For 
 many years he kept a stock of general mer- 
 chandise in the north part of the township, 
 lie had quite an extensive trade from the sur- 
 rounding country and his store was a great 
 meeting place for the north Fillmore people. 
 .1. Bowers Lane had much to do in having 
 the village of Fillmore located at its present 
 site and his influence did much in having the 
 contest between Chapman and Fillmore decided
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 727 
 
 in favor of the latter. Ee was an excellent more road on the west side of Shoal creek, 
 business man and lefl to his family < [ n i t < - an He raised a large family of children, who are 
 estate. "Tim" Lane, his eldest son, is among among the honored citizens of this county, 
 the popular business men of Fillmore and con- John and Richard Alexander are among those 
 duels a general store at bis father's old stand, who formed the settlement on Dry fork im- 
 "Torny" Lane lives in Litchfield and is en- mediately south of the present village of Fill- 
 gaged in genera] merchandise. Ora Lane, the more. John Alexander was the father of Mrs. 
 youngest sun. died recently. He had several Thomas Sears who, by the way, was the 
 daughters who are married and are living in mother in turn of Mrs. Isaac Hill, mother el' 
 tlie i lei "hi id i'Iii K id el' Fd I n a i re ; I lis eldest daugh- our 1 1 resent states attorney, L. V. 1 1 ill. Richard 
 ter, however, is the wife of A. A. Cress, of Alexander was among the prominent citizens 
 Ilillslmrii. Muses Cress, father of Pan Cress, id' liis section of the county in his day. His 
 came from North Carolina and settled on a sons Joseph and Samuel were well known and 
 farm near the western boundary of the town- at one time were prominent in Montgomery 
 ship where •"Little Dan" now resides, and it is county politics, dames Alexander, son of Rich- 
 on this farm that I remarked in another chap- aid Alexander by a second wife, is the present 
 ter than many of the old time agricultural circuit clerk of Fayette county. Peter Alex- 
 implements may he seen. Dan Cress has been ander is a son of John Alexander and is well 
 much interested in the growing of Norman and favorably known in Fillmore township, 
 horses and line breeds of cattle, lie has one Mark Mason, father of Henry Mason, settled 
 of the best stock farms in Montgomery county in this neighborhood at about the same time 
 and mi it may he seen some of the best horses with the Alexanders. Henry Mason lives on 
 and cattle. His son Frank is associated with the old Mason home and is among the few old 
 him in the care and management of his estate, settlers, the first native horn of the county. 
 Frank is a young man whose inclinations lead Mark Mason, Jr., is engaged in general mer- 
 him to adopt the vocation of farmer and stock ehandising in the village of Fillmore. He 
 man in preference to that of a profession. maintains the excellent reputation borne by his 
 The writer well remembers Frank Cress as a ancestors and those who patronize his place 
 
 student at scl I much interested in all that of business know well that they will he treated 
 
 pertained to agriculture. Peter Cress who set- fairly. Mr. Mason married Miss Flora Black- 
 tied in the north part of Fillmore township burn, daughter of Harrison Blackburn, of Cof- 
 caiue from North Carolina during the '20s and ' , ' 1 ' 11 - William Snyder and Samuel, his brother, 
 made settlement near Host Hill. The records were sons of Frederick Snyder of pioneer times. 
 show that Peter Cress was a private in I'ouii- Neither of these lived to he old men, but tile 
 tree's company during the Black Hawk war. influence of their lives has been felt in the 
 It is a matter somewhat difficult to discover the community in which they lived. William 
 relationship that existed between Peter Cress, Snyder left several sons, among whom arc 
 Moso> Cress ami Jacob Cress, who were all John W. of Morrisonville, Fred and Ora, who 
 
 early settlers of Montgi try county. There live on the old home, and several daughters who 
 
 came to the county at a much later date Dan- are married and live in this community. Sarn- 
 ie] Cress and his brother Eli. Daniel, fro- nel Snyder also lefl quite a family of children, 
 quently called "Big Dan." settled on a farm among whom are John II. ami Lafayette. 
 near Shoal creek that had previously belonged These hoys, now in the meridian of life, are 
 to Henry Hill. Sr. It was one of the first among the solid ami substantial citizens of 
 settlements in the western part of Fillmore Fillmore township. The several daughters of 
 township. "Big Dan" married lor a second Samuel Snyder are married and reside near the 
 wife a daughter of , lames Kirk, who has been "Id home. John I. ander- i- another of the 
 noticed in this article. \t the present time Mr. Fillmore farmers that deserves a place in this 
 Cress lives on the old .Inn Kirk homestead. narrative. While he came to the township at a 
 Fli C- ISS settled on the Hillshoro and Fill- later date than mam others, vet be has been
 
 ;-.'s 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 very prominently connected with tin 1 political 
 and social life of its people. Ee married a 
 .Miss Hill, sister of Sam Hill and a daughter 
 of Henry Hill, the pioneer. By this marriage 
 Mr. Landers lias several children, among whom 
 are his son Samuel, now city superintendent of 
 the Dallas (Oregon) public school. He is a 
 young man of much promise and will be heard 
 from in his country's history. Edward Lan- 
 ders ami John are fanners, living in Fillmore 
 township. The daughters are all married to 
 some of the best citizens in the community. 
 Uncle John lives on the old home and is happy 
 and contented as he passes down the evening 
 of life. Harris Wright and Elijah belong to 
 the pioneer Wright family. They are both 
 men now in the decline of life, having Eought 
 a good Sght, and they are waiting the call to 
 join the ureal host of relatives and friends 
 that have gone on. Jefferson Wright, son of 
 Elijah Wright, is a prominent business man of 
 Ramsey, [llinois. Stephen White, who died in 
 ls'.'i. left surviving him two sons. Ambrose and 
 James. Ambrose White settled near the west 
 line of Fillmore i<>u nship not Ear from « here 
 New Boston is situated, lie left two sons. Wil- 
 liam and Stephen. William White, the elder 
 sen died a good many years ago and left sur- 
 viving him ha J. White, Ambrose White and 
 Stephen II. White, ha J., the oldest son of 
 William White, is among the eldest school 
 teachers of Montgomery county ami is actively 
 engaged in the work of his profession to-day. 
 Ambrose and Stephen II. are both engaged in 
 farming ami live in the vicinity of Coffeen. 
 Stephen White, second sun of Ambrose White 
 and grandson of Stephen White, the pioneer, 
 lives en a farm south of Coffeen at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-three years and may he 
 reckoned one among the oldest Dative horn in 
 the county. Stephen White has several sons 
 who live on the old ancestral homestead. Docia 
 White, daughter of Ambrose White, was the 
 wife of John Boyd. She left surviving her 
 several children, among whom are William. 
 Stephen, Robert. Curtis and James. These 
 sons live in the neighborhood whore they were 
 raised. Among those who came to Montgom- 
 ery county about the year 1840 was Henry 
 Sellers. George Ohmert and Jo Sherman. 
 
 These settled north of the Vandalia road on 
 what was afterward known as the Hoffman 
 estate. The farm at present is owned by Byron 
 Host. Henry Sellers left surviving him several 
 >ons. among whom are Samuel. Daniel and 
 John. Samuel Seller- lives in the west part 
 of Fillmore township on the top of the hill on 
 the east side of Shoal creek as you go from 
 Coffeen to Fillmore by way of tin 1 Sellers 
 bridge. Uncle Sam is a unique character and 
 enjoys telling a story as well as any man in 
 the township. He is growing old. however, 
 vet for one of liis age he is blessed with sood 
 health. Sam has raised a large family id' chil- 
 dren, all of whom arc grown ami have gone 
 out into the world to build for themselves a for- 
 tune and a name. George M. Ohmert after- 
 ward removed to East Fork township. Among. 
 the children left by George M. ohmert was 
 Jacob Ohmert of Logan county, now dead, and 
 Small, afterward the wife of Joel C. Traylor. 
 She is living at the advanced age of seventy- 
 six vears ami has recent!} removed from the 
 old Traylor homestead to the village of Coffeen. 
 Harriet Allen was also a daughter of George 
 Ohmert. Shi' was the mother of Dr. Allen and 
 George Allen, who have been noticed in the 
 chapter of Fast Fork township. McCager 
 Wright, son of Joseph Wright, the pioneer, im- 
 proved a homestead in the neighborhood of bis 
 father. He died some lew years ago and left 
 surviving him four sons: James. John. Charles 
 and Cook. James and John live in the vicinftj 
 of the old home, while Cook and Oharles live 
 in other sections of the country. George W. 
 Miller lor many years lived on the farm now 
 owned by Tim Livingstone. lie was a very 
 enterprising and energetic citizen and much 
 interested iii the organization of the farm- 
 ing class into societies that would enable 
 them to act in harmony and for their best in- 
 terests, lb' was organizer for the Grange move- 
 ment that swept over the west about thirty 
 years ago. George Miller left surviving him 
 George W. Miller, who lives on a farm in the 
 western part of Fillmore township; David 
 Miller, a carpenter, who resides in the village of 
 Fillmore: William Miller, also of Fillmore and 
 engaged in the same line of work as hi- brother 
 David: Jack Miller, whose whereabouts are un-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ?29 
 
 known to the writer, and several daughters, 
 among whom are Mrs. I'. J. Hill, of Hillsboro, 
 Henry Hill, the pioneer, Left among other chil- 
 dren Henry and Levi, who settled in the neigh- 
 borhood near where ilic present village of Chap- 
 man is located. Levi Hill died some years ago 
 and left several sons who live on and near the 
 old homestead. Henrj Hill. Jr., is at present 
 living with his son-in-law, "Ted" Hicks, on 
 the farm which he improved many years ago. 
 Uncle Henry is nearly eighty yearsold and get- 
 ting quite feeble; however, we see him occasion- 
 ally en the streets of Coffeen. He has one son 
 living a1 Hillsboro and another on a farm near 
 the village of Coffeen. Peter Hill, the oldest 
 son of Henry Hill, is engaged in coal-mining 
 ami Jefferson, the second son. in farming and 
 stock-raising. Another character thai we shall 
 notice in our narrative of Fillmore is Jude 
 Smith, who settled several years ago amidst 
 
 the virgin w Is that covered the hills east 
 
 of Shoal creek and immediately south of Bost 
 Hill. Mr. Smith by years of toil succeeded in 
 clearing away the forest and making for him- 
 self a comfortable home. He has. however, re- 
 cently removed to the village of Fillmore that 
 he may have a lew years of rest, to which he is 
 entitled by reason of labor faithfulh performed. 
 Mr. Smith has succeeded in rearing a family 
 of interesting children, among whom are Delia 
 and Bertha, teachers in the public schools of 
 Montgomery county: and Walter and Milton, 
 both of whom have left the profession of teach- 
 ing for other lines of service. An older daugh- 
 ter is the wife of Archie Sellers, who is re- 
 lated to the Sellers family already noticed in 
 this narrative. About the year 1827 Wooten 
 Harris, accompanied h\ his sons Benjamin and 
 William, emigrated from Hickman county, 
 Tennessee, to Montgomery county, Illinois. 
 The ancestors of Wooten Harris originally came 
 from Wales and settled in Virginia. An older 
 son of Wooten Harris, named Starling, re- 
 mained in North Carolina on the removal of 
 his father from that state to Tennessee. It 
 will he noticed that Wooten Harris originally 
 came from Virginia to North Carolina, thence 
 to Tennessee ami thence to Illinois. Wooten 
 Ilarri-. pioneer, had a brother Zachariah, who 
 came from Humphreys county, Tennessee, to 
 
 Illinois in 1829. lie hail seven son-: Aneil, 
 Benjamin, Zachariah. Pendleton. Jacob, 
 Wooten and Henry. Wooten Hani-, the elder, 
 was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and for 
 several years drew a pension from the govern- 
 ment for services rendered during that great 
 struggle. Benjamin, son of Wooten, settled on 
 a farm since known as the Scribbner home- 
 stead. It lies southwest of the village of 
 Fillmore about one mile ami a half. 
 The sons of Benjamin were Wooten, Joel, 
 Benjamin, Jr., William and John. He 
 had four daughters; Elizabeth, Sarah, Prances 
 ami Mary. Elizabeth was married to Henry 
 Bost; Sarah to J. Bowers Lane; and Mary to 
 Isaiah Toberman. Wooten Harris, sou of Ben- 
 jamin, married Evelyn ('. Woolard in 1853. 
 She was a daughter of the Rev. James Woolard, 
 a pioneer Methodisl preacher; well and favor- 
 ably known to all the earlier settlers through- 
 out this section of the state. Wooten Harris. 
 the xiii of Benjamin, was for many years an in- 
 fluential and esteemed citizen of Hillsboro. 
 He was one id' the founders of the Haskill- 
 Harris Hank ami when that institution failed it 
 brought ruin to Uncle Wooten. yet no one who 
 |.i,-i in thai institution ever blamed Wooten 
 Harris for the failure. Wooten Harris left 
 surviving him two sons. Henry and Bert, the 
 latter, however, died some years ago. The 
 former is nol living in this state nor is his 
 whereabouts known to the writer. John Harris, 
 a son of Benjamin, married Sarah ('. Tober- 
 man in 1857 ami by her he had two sons, Jas- 
 per ami Homer, ami also several daughters. 
 Jasper and Homer are living on farms in this 
 community. William B., son of Wooten Har- 
 ris, the pioneer and who came with his father 
 to Illinois in 1827, died in L875. lie had 
 four sons. Thomas D., William M., Benjamin 
 and Woolen: the latter died without issue. He 
 had also seven daughters: Prances, who mar- 
 ried Li \i Sears; Sarah, wife id' Whitfield Hal- 
 ford; Polly, wife of George Turnbo^ ; Betsey, 
 wife of Prank Scribbner; Kate, wife of Robin 
 Rhodes; and Mahala, the wife of Willis Casey. 
 William M.. son of William B. and grandson 
 of Wooten. the pioneer, lives at Bingham, Illi- 
 nois, ami is at present in a fair state of health 
 For one of his age. He was seventy-sis years
 
 730 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 "I.I in March last. He is the lather of E. Har- 
 ris of Goffeen, Illinois, and also of Nilla, wife 
 of Willis Donaldson, station agent at Fill- 
 more, Illinois. He has other children who live 
 in Oklahoma ami Texas. Isaiah Toberman, 
 who married Mary Harris, daughter of Ben- 
 jamin, is (ho present owner of the old Harris 
 estate, s< jtimes called the Seribbner home- 
 stead. Isaiah Tobennan has I'm- main' years 
 been an active husinoss man in the village of 
 
 Fill re and associated with his smis ho has 
 
 carried on a grain and hay business in Fillmore, 
 Chapman and Coffeen. Although a gentleman 
 of considerable years, he remains active in the 
 business cares of the large trade which he ami 
 his sons have built up. Mr. Toberman for 
 many years was engaged in farming and stock- 
 raising ami during the threshing season he 
 operated a threshing machine for quite a nutn- 
 ber of years. 1 have heard it stated that Isaiah 
 Toberman is the only man in this section who 
 ever made any money out id' running a thresh- 
 ing machine. He tells me. however, that by 
 this means he largely built up his present 
 estate. He is regarded as one of the very sub- 
 stantial citizens of the township. His soil 
 Marion assists him in looking after the Fill- 
 more part of the business and Benjamin until 
 recently had charge of the work' al Chapman, 
 while Walter was in control of the elevator and 
 hay business at Colleen. Ben has recently 
 moved to Coffeen and Walter has removed to 
 St. Louis to look after their large interests 
 in the city trade. Elijah Donaldson, who is at 
 present living in the village of Fillmore, was 
 formerly a resident if Witt township ami served 
 as supervisor for that township several terms. 
 lie also represented this senatorial district in 
 the stale legislature as a Democrat. He was 
 
 nf the famous 1()1 who supported John M. 
 
 Palmer for the Hnited States senate. 1 think, 
 however, that when Palmer deserted the Demo- 
 cratic party in L896 thai Elijah refused to wear 
 his lot badge and relegated it to a place among 
 the antiquities which he expects tn bequeath 
 to his children. Mr. Donaldson is an active 
 Inisiness man and has been unusually success- 
 ful in all his ventures. He is engaged in the 
 real estate business and in looking after his 
 landed property north of the village of Fill- 
 
 'c Elijah Donaldson's father, William, 
 
 came fr Tennessee tn Illinois a few years lie- 
 fore the Civil war and settled a few miles north 
 of the present village of Bingham. Among 
 his sons were Elijah, above mentioned, Presley 
 and James. His daughter Sarah married Dan- 
 iel Griggs, who is at present in business in 
 Fillmore. Aaron Butler, ex-sheriff of Mont- 
 gomery county, is another of the prominent 
 characters of Fillmore township. He was 
 married to Miss Jane Casey and settled north 
 of the present village of Fillmore about the 
 close of the Civil war. Here by industry and 
 frugality he added much to the estate which 
 his wife held from her father, John Casey. Mr. 
 Butler has retired from the farm to a beautiful 
 home in the village of Fillmore. Here he and 
 his wife, after the struggle of raising a family 
 is over, feel that they are entitled to the pleas- 
 ures that a substantial income may furnish. 
 Mr. Butler is a pillar in the Methodist church 
 at Fillmore and has done much to build up the 
 society at that place. Dr. Short and Dr. Hoyt. 
 his son-in-law. are the only physicians resident 
 in the village. Dr. Short has practiced his 
 profession in that community for many years 
 and has not only built up and maintained a 
 widi practice, but at the same time has gath- 
 ered a fair competency for his declining years, 
 and be it said to his credit that no man in 
 Montgomery county has given better opportu- 
 nities to his children to secure collegiate edu- 
 cation than lie. His sons William and Sheri- 
 dan are both practicing physicians, while Wal- 
 ter, after completing a course at the University 
 of Illinois, received an appointment in the 
 United States Army. Bird, bis younger son, 
 we understand, is also preparing himself for a 
 physician at Marion-Sims Medical College. He 
 has two daughters. Lutie and Stella. Lutie is 
 the wife of Dr. Jesse Hoyt, of Fillmore, and 
 Stella is the wife of Walter Toberman. of St. 
 Louis, Missouri. Dr. Hoyt, of Fillmore, is 
 among the leading physicians of this section 
 of the county, and his wife acts as his assistant 
 in the postoffiee. Horatio Prater, son of Asa 
 Prater, lives on his father's old homestead 
 near the center of tlte township. He has held 
 various township offices and is regarded in every 
 way as an exemplary man. His mother was
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ;:u 
 
 the daughter of Harrison Brown, who at one 
 
 time was slier iff of Montgomery county, and a 
 sister of J. C. Brown, who lives near Coffeen. 
 The long roll of reputable and deserving char- 
 acters who have contributed to the history and 
 many who are to-day adding to the materia] 
 progress of Fillmore township we are com- 
 pelled by lack of space to omit from this nar- 
 rative. 
 
 EAST FORK TOWNSHIP AND THE VIL- 
 LAGE OF COFFEEN. 
 
 A long time ago, in the year 1820, William 
 McDavid came from Tennessee and settled in 
 East Fork township near the famous Fox In- 
 dian spring and here for forty-six years he 
 made his home. Children grew up about him 
 and in turn made homes of their own. Mr. 
 McDavid was an eccentric character, a man 
 possessed of far more native ability than the 
 average. It is related that after he had made 
 settlement that occasional visits were made 
 by individual members of the Fox tribe to the 
 vicinity of their former home near the Big 
 spring down as late as the year 1835. T. W. 
 McDavid. the youngest son of Uncle Billy, lives 
 on the old homestead, where he was horn more 
 than seventy years ago. When Mr. McDavid 
 came from Tennessee he was accompanied by 
 Jesse Johnson, his father-in-law, who settled 
 in Grisham township, near where the village of 
 Donnellson now stands. Alter Mr. McDavid, 
 James Card made settlement in East Fork 
 township in 1821 and located on the farm now 
 owned by Daniel Cress. Mr. Card lived for one 
 war at this place when his wife having died, 
 he returned to Ids former home in Kentucky. 
 He came back, however, in is-.':; and settled in 
 the north part of Fast Fork township near the 
 Irving line. He remained here for two years 
 and then removed to Fillmore township. It is 
 remarked of Mr. Card that he was a remarkable 
 man in many respects, daring, intrepid and in- 
 tensely religious. AD. Card made the first 
 overland trip from this section of the county 
 to St. Louis. He had no means to direct his 
 course but a small pockel compass and of neces- 
 sity he was compelled to cut his roads through 
 
 the woodland and to make a fording place 
 across the stream. It required many days' 
 traveling with his slow ox team, but his return 
 trip was fully as difficuH because of being 
 heavih loaded with supplies, which he had pur- 
 chased in St. Louis. Many of Mr. Card's de- 
 scendants yet reside in this county. A settle- 
 ment was formed in the south part of the town- 
 ship in the years between 182] and L826 and 
 among those whose names appear we find as fol- 
 lows: .Joseph Williams, John Kirkpatrick, E. 
 Quinn, Henry Rowe and David Bradford. Wil- 
 liams settled on the farm which was after- 
 ward know n as the Riley Hampton Mound. 
 It is now the home of Rev. Alexander Hamp- 
 ton, a grandson of Joseph Williams. Kirk- 
 patrick located over near where the village of 
 Donnellson stands. The exact location of these 
 other earl) settlers is not known. In 1826 
 Benjamin Rhodes came from Indiana and set- 
 tled on section 8, in the north part of East 
 Fork township. His was the only cabin in this 
 part of tlie township for some years. William 
 P. Linxwiler, a step-son. afterward owned the 
 Rhodes property and later sold it to Joel K. 
 McDavid. In 1824 Jordan Williford came 
 from Tennessee and located on a piece of land 
 near Uncle Billy McDavid's. He lived on this 
 place about three years and then sold out to 
 "Mr. McDavid and moved over on Shoal creek. 
 where he remained until 1856, when he re- 
 moved to Arkansas. Jordan Williford had a 
 large family of children, among whom was 
 Andrew .1. Williford, a minister of the primi- 
 tive Baptist church and well known through- 
 oul this section for a period of many years 
 Oncle Jackie Williford, as he was called, 
 preached at Bethel, just north of where Cof- 
 feen now stands, for a period of nearly half a 
 century. Air. Williford has left several sons, 
 who reside in Montgomery county. Grandsons 
 of the elder Jordan Williford, the pioneer, ami 
 tin' son- of A. J. Williford. the preacher, are 
 James Williford, of Litchfield; Thomas Willi- 
 ford. who lives in Payette county; Hiram Wil- 
 liford, the SCl I teacher, also living in Payette 
 
 county: and A. J. Williford. Jr.. the efficient 
 cashier of the Nokomis National Bank. These 
 men are well known and respected in the 
 neighborhood in which thev were reared, as well
 
 ?32 
 
 PAST AND l'KFSFNT OK MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 as in the localities in whirl) they have estab- 
 lished their I es. Andrew J. Williford, Jr., 
 
 presents an article in tins work under tin.' head 
 of the banks and banking. It? perusal will 
 be of interesl to all who have not studied the 
 Win-kings of thi' national hanking system. Mr. 
 Williford. the cashier, has an elegan! home 
 and most interesting family in the city of 
 Nokomis. Here ho has lived for several years 
 and during this period he has established a 
 reputation in connection with the hank that 
 makes his services of great value to that insti- 
 tution. His success proves that a young man 
 of energj ami industry, coupled with economy. 
 may within a few years provide for himself 
 the things necessary for the comfort and hap- 
 piness of those dependent upon him. Mr. A. 
 J. Williford. Jr.. was married to Mary John- 
 son, a daughter of the late Ben E. Johnson, of 
 Hillsboro. Their union has been blessed with 
 a family of several hoys and mil-. Hiram 
 Williford. the teacher, has hut one son. who 
 has received an appointment as a eadet jn the 
 military academy at West Point. This young 
 man. Forest Williford. has the making of 
 character that some day will command the re- 
 sped and esteem of his fellows. We base this 
 assertion or assumption on the fact that the 
 elements of the pioneer and the preacher have 
 cume down through the generations to find ex- 
 pression in the efforts and achievements of 
 this scion of one of the pioneer families. Two 
 brothers by the name of Mann came to settle 
 in the northern part of East Fork township 
 about the year 1830. One of these was the 
 father of Robert Mann, who for many years was 
 a prominent citizen of Hillsboro. Samuel 
 Ilaller made a settlement some two miles north 
 of where Coffeen is now located. Mr. Ilaller 
 raised a large family of children, man] of 
 whom have been promineni in county and local 
 affairs. Henr] Ealler for many years lived -,r 
 Eillsboro and was engaged in different lines 
 of business at that place, lie died some two or 
 three years ago. Jacob Ilaller. of Nokomis, 
 I, ne ef (he must successful farmers and stock 
 men of the county, is a sun of Henry Haller. 
 Dr. T. P>. Haller, recently deceased, was also a 
 son of this pioneeT settler. Dr. Haller for 
 many years was engaged in the practice of his 
 
 profession at Vandalia and it was here that he 
 built up a large and Lucrative business. Caleb 
 Traylor built the first mill in the township 
 at the place now known as New Boston. This 
 was in the year 1836. lie ami his father. James 
 Traylor. had come frmn Kentucky the year 
 previous. The elder James Traylor was one 
 of the first school teachers within the county 
 and some few of the older citizens remember 
 having attended his school. Caleb Traylor 
 was most unfortunate in the operation of his 
 mill. On one occasion his hand and arm were 
 crushed in some of the machinery and later he 
 fell from some part of the upper story upon 
 some timbers below and broke his neck. This 
 was unfortunate for the family of Mr. Traylor 
 n more ways than simply the loss of his 
 services as bread winner for his Eamily for hav- 
 ing a large family of boys, the advice and 
 council which a father alone can give was 
 [osi lo them at a period when they needed it 
 so much. The second mill built in Fast Fork 
 township was operated l>\ D. M. Williams. It 
 was in the neighborhood of Traylor's store 
 hut built before .loci C. Traylor established his 
 store in that part of the town-hip. This mill 
 was operated for a period of twenty years or 
 more ami was finally sold to Alfred Bliss, of 
 Fillmore, by Joel C. Traylor, who had come 
 into possession of it. The writer has faint 
 remembrance of this "Id mill. For as a child 
 he played with others about the yard at hide 
 and seek among the logs. Fort] years have 
 gone by since the removal of the old mill, yet a 
 o » of the old logs are to he seen lying about 
 in their decay, marking the place of one of the 
 earlier enterprises of the township. The water 
 still Hows from the old spring, vet little trace 
 of the pond that collected it.- waters for the use 
 of the mill is to he found. The burstones that 
 ground the corn into meal were reserved when 
 the mill was -old ami these -tones are to he seen 
 in the yard at the old Traylor homestead. The- 
 first store doing a general merchandise busi- 
 ness was opened by duel t '. Traylor in the 
 south part of the township in 1844. For many 
 years Mr. Traylor gathered the produce from 
 the surrounding country and hauled it over- 
 land to St. Louis, bringing back in return such 
 merchandise as the people at that time re-
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 733 
 
 quired. I'ntil the building of the 1. & St. L. 
 Railroad it was the custom of Mr. Traylor to 
 send down a wagonload of produce every week 
 in the year. To do this it became necessary 
 to have two wagons and while one was on the 
 trip tn tin' city, the other was engaged in gath- 
 ering its load for the succeeding week. Many 
 of the old citizen- of the south pari of the 
 county will remember these weekly visits of his 
 produce wagon. In this way Joel C. Traylor, 
 who having been a cripple from birth and re- 
 quiring the assistance of crutches by which to 
 walk, was possessed of that same spiril as the 
 other pioneer settlers and the thought of ask- 
 ing assistance because of his condition would 
 have stung his pride and he would have re- 
 sented as an insult the charge that he was un- 
 able to make his way as other men in the world. 
 Traylor's stove was a ureal meeting place for 
 the country for miles around on election days, 
 at conventions ami the annual horse show which 
 took place here in the early spring of each 
 year. Here were brought together some of the 
 I. reeds of horses that would sound familiar by 
 name to our readers of that generation. Jim 
 Kirk usually would have at the show his Cop- 
 per Bottom and Stump-a-deler and Tom 
 Whitton with his Diomede (Old Tom Benton) 
 and Uncle Clem Aydelott with Eed Lion, 
 Uncle John Trice with Old Archie. These are 
 a few who would congregate and take much 
 pride in showing the good points of their stock. 
 These were horses of endurance and I doubt 
 that Montgomery county can show a grade of 
 horses superior to those that were bred in the 
 county just prior m the Civil war. While the 
 introduction of our large, beefy Norman and 
 Clydesdale horses have added a spirit of docil- 
 ity, they have at the same time so reduced 
 the endurance that the horse found on the 
 farm to-day is not the equal to those which 
 our fathers bred forty years ago. Among those 
 living in the Traylor settlement were the 
 Roper-, the Wardens, the Neals, Laws. Thack- 
 ers. Hawkins. Aliens. McCaslins, Harrisons, 
 Jones and the Woods. The Ropers removed 
 from this section to Missouri some thirty-five 
 pears ago. Nathan Warden, a carpenter, set- 
 tled near the old mill about the year 1845. He 
 came from Kentucky and was regarded as a 
 
 most quiet and inoffensive citizen. Together 
 with his good wife. Aunt Polly, he lived in 
 this vicinity until about twenty years ago, when 
 he removed to the neighborhood of Walshville. 
 He died here some ten of twelve years ago. 
 Quite a family of boys and girls were raised 
 by Mr. Warden and several of these reside in 
 Montgomery county. His second son, Alfred 
 M. Warden, studied law with Judge E. Lane, 
 of Hillsboro. This young man left the an- 
 cestral h ami settled at Washhurn. Wiscon- 
 sin. We understand thai "All"' has become 
 quite a prominent citizen in his adopted home 
 Having been elected to positions of honor and 
 trust in his county, we are glad to note that a 
 fellow schoolmate is succeeding so well in the 
 world. He is at present judge of the city court 
 of Washburn, Wisconsin. Hugh McCaslin and 
 his brother Graj settled near the line between 
 Bond and Montgomery counties early in the 
 '30s. Hugh's home was over in Montgomery 
 and Gray's just across the line in Bond. 
 Hugh McCaslin lived to the good old age of 
 ninety-three. He left several sons who have 
 been prominently connected with the affairs of 
 the neighborhood and county. Wiley F. Mc- 
 Caslin, the wagonmaker, recently died at the 
 age of eighty-three and Mark McCaslin. his 
 brother, wbo lived in the vicinity of Nokomis, 
 has been dead for several years. Wiley Mc- 
 Caslin leaves a son. William S. McCaslin. who 
 is a business man of Coffeen, and one maiden 
 daughter, Miss Ella, a school teacher, who lives 
 on the old homestead in the Traylor neigh- 
 borhood. William Neal came to this county at 
 the same time that his father-in-laf Uncle 
 Douglas Young made a settlement on Bear 
 creek. William Neal was regarded among his 
 neighbors as a strictly religious and moral 
 character. He was identified with the church 
 work of the neighborhood I'm' many years and 
 assisted in building the Methodist Episcopal 
 church at Edwards Chapel and the Free Meth- 
 odist church at Walnut Grove. X" man in 
 the neighborhood enjoyed the confidence <>f 
 ever} one more than did William Xcal. I I' lie 
 ever had a difference with any of his neigh- 
 bors, there i- no tradition that relates it and 
 in the memory of the writer he stands out in 
 hold relief as the exemplar}' Christian, father
 
 734 
 
 PAST AND l'KK.SKXT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 and neighbor. William Neal and his wife, 
 Sarah, have passed on to that country from 
 which no traveler returns. They Lefl several 
 children and grandchildren, among whom are 
 Allie. who lives in Eillsboro, and Burton, a 
 minister, who resides in St. Paul. .Minnesota. 
 Their oldesl daughter, Ellen, who married 
 Cyrus Bost, died early in life leaving one 
 daughter, Zella. who is our present stenog- 
 rapher. Dona and Frances live at Greenville, 
 Illinois, the latter the wife of Albert Eayden. 
 William Laws, who is ye1 Living at the advanced 
 age of eighty years, made settlement near Wal- 
 nut Grove some sixty years ago. Mr. Laws 
 married a daughter of Gray McCaslin and by 
 her has raised several children, among whom 
 are Thomas G. Laws, the presenl postmaster at 
 Coffeen; C. L. Law-, township treasurer: and 
 Wilson Laws, a merchant of Donnellson; sev- 
 eral other children whose whereabouts are un- 
 known to the writer. Dr. B. Haynes also lived 
 in this community for a number of years and 
 was one of the leading characters in the com- 
 munity. The doetoT had the largesl family of 
 any one in the neighborhood and it was a great 
 pleasureto the boys and girlswhen thetimecame 
 for a party down at the doctor's, for we well 
 knew that it meant a good time, as the doctor 
 never tailed to provide for the entertainment of 
 i he young folks. George Wilson, who settled 
 on the old Davenport place, was another to eon- 
 tribute to the upbuilding of the schools and 
 churches of the neighborhood. Uncle George 
 and Aunt Jane never failed to attend Hie 
 prayer meeting and the Sabbath-school unless 
 by sickness or some unavoidable cause they 
 were prevented. Uncle George is living at 
 Donnellson, enjoying the evening of life as well 
 as ,.ne of his advanced years could expect. 
 Aunt Jane has gone to her reward and if ever 
 it might he said "I know that my Redeemer 
 liveth," none could have left behind an evi- 
 dence of a trust more abiding and assuring 
 than she. John S. Stevens, who had spent his 
 earlier life upon the high sea> and who had 
 visited almost everj quarter of the globe, by 
 chance drifted into Montgomery county. It 
 was here that he met a young widow by tin 1 
 name of Betse] Brown, a daughter, however, 
 of William Cannon, of whom we have before 
 
 spoken at length. The hardy sailor succumbed 
 to the charms of the young widow and in due 
 time they were married and after a few years' 
 residence on Hear creek they came to live in the 
 settlement at Walnut Grove. Here they have 
 raised a large family and here they have ac- 
 quired quite an estate for themselves ami for 
 their children. The elder son. Thomas, died 
 hut a short while ago and left surviving him 
 three sons, who are earnest and industrious 
 young men. John Stevens. Jr.. live- on the 
 farm and has acquired quite a reputation as 
 public auctioneer. Mary is the wife of I. J. 
 Brooks and Eliza is the wife of H. H. Brooks, 
 while Permelia is the widow of Henry Root. 
 Commodore is living on the old homestead and 
 i- regarded as a shrewd business man. Robert 
 Milner settled just west of the Hampton 
 Mound about 1850. Quite a colony came from 
 the eastern part of the state in Edgar county 
 ami made settlement at the same time with 
 Mr. Milner. Among these were the Hawkins, 
 the Gordon, the Tennison and the De-art fam- 
 ilies. Robert Milner was a very excellent citi- 
 zen. He had but two children: Isaac and 
 Jennie. Isaac Milner was married to Emma 
 Frame and together they commenced the 
 building of an estate. Isaac was unusually 
 fortunate in his investments and being a Ear- 
 sighted business man, he promised to become 
 a man of much means, but early in life he was 
 seized with consumption and died almost at 
 the beginning of the race in which so much had 
 been expected. He left a son, Alva, who has 
 since grown to manhood and occupies the 
 homestead of his father. Alva is an energetic 
 fanner and stock man and will accomplish good 
 in the world. Thomas Wood came into this 
 part of the township in the latter part oi the 
 '20s and settled near Sugar Camp branch. He 
 wa- the earliest settler in his immediate neigh- 
 
 borh 1. Captain Peter C. Wood is a son of 
 
 Thomas Wood and is the oldest living person 
 born in East Fork township. Captain Wood is 
 rather a remarkable man in many respects. 
 During his early manhood he spent much of 
 his time in study, preparing for professional 
 life, and has during all the years since been a 
 very wide reader of scientific and literary hooks. 
 Few men in the township have so wide a knowl-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 ;.; I 
 
 edge 01 so practical an education as Captain 
 Wood and his reminiscence of men and earlier 
 times is very interesting to any one who desires 
 a knowledge of the earlier settlement of the 
 country. Captain Wood served as a volunteer 
 through the Civil war and was captain of a 
 company during a greater portion of that time. 
 John W. Young, a son of William Young, who 
 settled near Donnellson in 1830, pushed eastward 
 across the prairie and settled near the home- 
 stead where his widow now resides. John \\ . 
 Young was the must successful stockman in 
 the south part of Bast Fork township. He was 
 Eor several years an extensive buyer of hogs and 
 cattle and shipped by way of Donnellson to St. 
 Louis and Buffalo markets. He was a man 
 whose integrity could not be impeached and 
 who established a reputation for scrupulous 
 honesty in all his dealings with his fellow men. 
 It lias been said of him that a widow or an in- 
 experienced hoy would be treated with the same 
 fairness that he would show to the experienced 
 trader. Mr. Young by his industry and eeon- 
 nini acquired a large body of land in the 
 neighborhood of Donnellson. By exposure, 
 which the character of his business necessitated. 
 lie contracted pneumonia and lived hut a few 
 days thereafter. Mr. Young will long lie re- 
 membered by those who knew him, for he 
 was a faithful friend, a kindly father and a 
 just man. dames W. Johnson, sun of Thomas 
 Johnson and grandson of Jesse Johnson, the 
 pioneer who settled near Donnellson. improved 
 the farm now owned by Shelby Young, .lames 
 Johnson, during the years of his productive 
 manhood, acquired quite a competency, bu1 in 
 an evil moment he was persuaded by designing 
 men to invest very extensively in Chicago real 
 estate. This was in 1892-93, just prior to the 
 Columbian Exposition, a time when real estate 
 sharks spread over the country their nets to 
 catch the unwary. Unfortunately, Mr. John- 
 son in company with other- fell into the scheme 
 that afterward proved his financial ruin. In 
 1903 Mr. Johnson removed to Portland, Ore- 
 gon, there in tin' evening of life to begin over 
 again life's struggle. No picture more sad than 
 this, when through the years of our pro- 
 ductiveness by thrift we have gained a com- 
 petencv for old age to lind that in a moment 
 
 of weakness we have been shorn of all and left 
 exposed to the humiliations of an unsym- 
 pathetic world. It is true that our friends 
 may pity. ye\ even this to the sensitive soul is 
 gall ami bitterness. Cozba Hawkins, with his 
 sons. Aaron. Henry ami Matt, came to East Fork 
 township with the Milners ami others. They 
 were very successful as farmer- and acquired 
 for themselves elegant homes in the south part 
 of the township. The old gentleman and his 
 son Aaron are dead. Matt has removed to Kan- 
 sas and Henry is a citizen of Donnellson. Hen- 
 derson Hawkins, a son of Aaron, lives at the 
 country seat of his uncle Henry, which, by the 
 
 way, is the - ; • a- was settled by Hugh Mc- 
 
 Caslin at least seventy-five years ago. Allen 
 Edwards may he styled the pioneer of tin.' 
 prairies, for he was the lirsl among the hardy 
 spirits who pushed out into the midst of the 
 prairie to establish a home. It required the 
 effort of many years to improve and fence a 
 large body of prairie lands. This is what Mr. 
 Edwards did ami died before he was fifty years 
 old. He left an estate of several hundred acres 
 of land, which is the nucleus of the beautiful 
 farms which his several sons now own as homes. 
 The older of these is William T. Edwards, the 
 present supervisor of East Fork township, 
 while the second. John W., is an extensive land 
 owner living west of Coffeen some three or 
 four miles. Frank Edwards lives in Coffeen 
 and is engaged in the banking business. He 
 lias been very successful in his financial ad- 
 ventures and is regarded as one of the solid 
 men of the community. Samuel Edward- is 
 a farmer and stock-raiser. He is also engaged 
 in the buying and shipping of live stock from 
 Coffeen. The two younger sons, Amos and 
 Allen, Jr., are very successful and are rated 
 among the substantial citizens of the township. 
 R. S. Allen came to Illinois from North Caro- 
 lina in an early day ami was employed by Joel 
 C. Travlor as helper in his store and in the 
 huckstering which he carried on between the 
 people of his neighborhood and St. Louis. Mr. 
 Allen proved himself an efficient a — i.-tant to 
 Mr. Traylor in his work, and while he was win- 
 ning the respect and confidence of Ins employer 
 he also won the regard of Harriet Ohmert, the 
 sister-in-law of Mr. Travlor. lie was married
 
 736 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 to Miss Ohmert and settled within a few rods 
 of the Tfaylor homestead. Here be lived for 
 several years and here were reared his sons, Dr. 
 W. A. Allen, of Donnellson, and (ieorge N. 
 Allen, who lives on a farm some three or four 
 miles west of Coffeen. Robert Allen died some 
 ten years ago, hut his influence in the com- 
 munity in which he lived and with those with 
 whom he had associated will ever remain until 
 those who knew him have followed him into the 
 great beyond. Mr. Allen was of a devout char- 
 acter and the religious bent of his mind in- 
 fluenced others to a consideration of these great 
 subjects. Harriet Allen, the mother and wife, 
 has also laid aside the cares and burdens of 
 life, for she. too. has followed her husband 
 Robert S. Allen into that far country from 
 which they will return no more. Dr. W. A. 
 Allen has practiced his profession in the neigh- 
 borhood of Donnellson for the last quarter of 
 a century. He has arisen by attention to busi- 
 ness tn be recognized as one of the leading 
 phvsicians in this section of the state, and 
 while he has succeeded professionally he has 
 also acquired an extensive estate of some twelve 
 hundred acres of choice land in the neighbor- 
 hood of Donnellson. George N. Allen, the 
 younger of the two brothers, while never a 
 robust man of health, has succeeded in a finan- 
 cial way and has an elegant farm of four hun- 
 dred acres, the larger part of which is rich 
 black soil and for which he has refused quite 
 a little sum of money. Mr. Allen is a director 
 in the Hillsboro National Bank and has in- 
 terests in Arkansas timber lands. Recently 
 he has purchased an elegant residence in the 
 village of Donnellson, to which he will remove 
 in the near future. His suns Orin and Cullen 
 will take charge of the farm and conduct it 
 along the same lines in which their father has 
 been so successful. Tobias Thacker settled 
 near William Laws, having married a daugh- 
 ter of Gray McCaslin and a sister to Mrs. Wil- 
 liam Laws. Tobias Thacker was a sou of 
 Allen Thacker, who lived in the north part of 
 Bond county and who reached the extreme age 
 id' one hundred years. Mr. Tobias Thacker, 
 however, died at the age nf about seventy years. 
 Uncle Tiihe. as we used to call him, was a man 
 noted for the firmness of his character. In- 
 
 deed, it has been said of him thai in some in- 
 stances his firmness amounted to stubbornness, 
 hut withal Mr. Thacker was so sure of being 
 right that hi' was persuaded that the position 
 which he took on any question was necessarily 
 right and needed no defense whatever. Uncle 
 Tobe was a lirm believer in the Presbyterian 
 confession of faith and for many years he was 
 the chief supporter and mainstay of the Pres- 
 byterian church in his neighborhood. There is 
 no doubt in the minds of those who knew him 
 hut that Uncle Tobe earned the plaudit of 
 "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 
 Quite a number of sons and three daughters 
 were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thacker. The 
 oldest of these. Robert Thacker, is a man of 
 exceptional mental power. For several years 
 he was engaged in the profession of school 
 teaching. Imt has since operated a telephone 
 system in the south part of the state and a line 
 of dairies along the Aandalia Railroad. Pres- 
 ton Thacker, a school man. has been engaged in 
 his profession as superintendent of the city 
 schools of Raymond during the past three years. 
 He was a very formidable candidate on the 
 Republican ticket for county superintendent of 
 schools in L902. Although Montgomery county 
 at the time gave to some of the Democratic 
 nominees six or seven hundred majority, yet 
 Mr. Thacker was defeated bythe small minor- 
 ity of sixty-one votes, and it is to his credit 
 that this township, which is his home, although 
 Democratic at the previous election by one 
 hundred and fifty majority, reversed itself and 
 gave to Mr. Thacker a majority of one hundred 
 and twenty-four votes. Preston Thacker is a 
 rising young man and if I might forecast his 
 future I would give to him a prominent place 
 among educators of our state. Gordon Nichols, 
 a very worthy character, came and settled in 
 that part of East Fork township known as 
 Lazy Neck about the year 1850 and by perse- 
 verance and economy be was able to build up 
 quite an estate which he enjoyed until some 
 two years ago. when by an accident he was 
 thrown from a loaded wagon and received in- 
 juries from which he shortly afterward died. 
 Mr. Nichols has left several children in the 
 vicinity of Coffeen. among whom are W. C. 
 Nichols, an only son. Mrs. Frank Edwards,
 
 PAST AND PKHSHNT OF MONTGOMEE1 7 COUNT! 7 
 
 ::;: 
 
 Mrs. Sam White and Mrs. Newton Lyles. In 
 the earlier settlement of the township a I'.nmh 
 of Jones came to East Pork from Smith 
 Carolina and among these were William. Mar- 
 tin P. and Hardin. Ea.eh of these three repre- 
 sentatives of the Jones family have descendants 
 in the neighborhood of Coffeen. Quite a good 
 manv years ago Martin P. Jones was about the 
 only counselor at law in the township and in 
 the absence of James Davis, who was the only 
 lawyer in the county, the word of Martin P. 
 was sufficient in the courts of justice in this 
 section of the county, and much of the law 
 that we bear on the corners of the street in 
 Coffeen to-day has comedown from some of the 
 legal expressions of Uncle Mart. Hardy Jones 
 was not the same type of man as Unele "Mart, 
 for while Martin was hospitable to a fault and 
 would share his last dollar witli a friend. Uncle 
 Hard was as close in a financial sense as the 
 hark on a blackjack. Unele Hani enjoyed his 
 liquor quite as much as did any of the early 
 pioneer-, but sir. "I buy my own liquor for my 
 own use" is a remark attributed to Uncle 
 Hard. While this spirit was not often met 
 with at that early day. we do not find it infre- 
 quent in our own time and I believe that when 
 it comes to a matter of drinking, if the social 
 feature could he eliminated entirely, much less 
 harm would he done. "Ki" Thacker and 
 "Fee" were also early settlers in the western 
 part of Lazy Neck and here they raised to man- 
 hood anil womanhood large families of chil- 
 dren. These two old men yet remain and fre- 
 quently may he seen on the streets of Coffeen. 
 Both are intensely religious in their profes- 
 sions and the example of their lives is felt 
 in the community in which they live. The 
 most prominent family in the settlement of 
 East Fork township was thai of William Mc- 
 David. Flis son "Carroll," W. C. McDavid, 
 who for nearly half a century was a justice of 
 tin' peace, was the first child born in Fast Fork 
 township of white parents, and although Uncle 
 Carroll lived to he over eighty years old, he 
 made hi- home within a short distance of where 
 he was horn. It is said id' Uncle Carroll that 
 during the long period that he was justice of 
 the peace that no case decided by him was 
 ever reversed in the circuit court. In religion 
 
 he was a Cumberland Presbyterian, a man verj 
 firm in his opinions. This feature of his char- 
 acter made him respected of all men and espe- 
 cially fitted him for the office which he held so 
 long and which he so efficiently tilled. In 
 early life \Y. ( '. McDavid was married to a Miss 
 Hunter and to them was horn one son. James 
 S. McDavid, the honored president of our vil- 
 lage hoard. His second wife was Lydia Wilson 
 and she bore to him Joshua. Emily and Logan. 
 The first named lives in Hillsboro and i> dep- 
 uty county clerk. Emily, married to David 
 Xeisler. is living in Colorado and Logan lives 
 mi the family homestead and is engaged in 
 agricultural pursuits. Logan is a graduate of 
 the Missouri Medical College ami stood high 
 in his classes, lie preferred, however, the oc- 
 cupation of the farmer and -lock man rather 
 than that of his profession, lie is by reason 
 of his education and scholarly accomplishments 
 an interesting gentleman. James S. McDavid 
 is identified with the village of ( 'oH'oen in vari- 
 ous wavs since its organization. James S. Mc- 
 David has done much to further the best inter- 
 ests of the community. Like many other-, he 
 became interested in the .-inking of a coal she I 
 at this place and as a result he suffered finan- 
 cial reverses that swept away much of the prop- 
 erty which by industry and economy he had 
 been man\ years in accumulating. lie 
 among those that have contributed to almost 
 ever enterprise that has made Coffeen what 
 it is to-day, and though he has lost much in 
 property he lias not lost that genial spirit 
 which makes and holds to him that class of 
 friends who can appreciate his true worth. 
 Thai he has faults is perfectly natural, for 
 who of us have none? Put we have been able 
 to discover few men among our associate- w 
 were faultless, and it has been m\ observation 
 that force of character and men of large indi- 
 viduality have some very grievous shortcom- 
 ings, hut the wise friend will not condemn be- 
 cause of these peculiar kink- of nature. Mr. 
 McDavid was for several years clerk" at tic 
 shaft, city superintendent of schools and first 
 assistant in the high school, member oi 
 village hoard and president of the same, so that 
 these evidences of the appreciation of hi- good 
 qualities have not been lost upon the ■
 
 :',s 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 munity. T. W. McDavid, the younger sou of 
 William McDavid, the pioneer, Lives on his 
 father's old homestead. Ee is a minister of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian church and has 
 served his people as a faithful and efficient 
 steward through many years. Ho lias raised 
 quite a large family of sons and daughters. 
 His eldest son, Frank, is state senator from the 
 Springfield district in Missouri; his second 
 son. Emmett, is cashier of the National Bank 
 at Raymond; his son, Cook McDavid. has not 
 bei n at home for several years and his where- 
 abouts are unknown to the writer. Lester Mc- 
 David was for several years a teacher in our 
 public schools, but lias lately engaged in farm- 
 ing. Horace McDavid is a student at the 
 Mi liken University. Horace is an exception- 
 ally bright young fellow and doubtless will re- 
 flect credit upon his family ami the com- 
 munity in which he spent his youth. Several 
 daughters in the family arc married. The old- 
 est is the wife of M. B. Traylor, Denver, Colo- 
 rado; the second is married to Lawrence File, 
 of Irving, Illinois : Ella married Eolla Carr 
 and is living in California: while Anna, who 
 had spent some years in teaching, married 
 George Beck and lives on the old Beck home- 
 stead. Minnie and Lena, two unmarried 
 daughters, remain at home with their father. 
 James B. McDavid. one among the most noted 
 characters of East Fork, served his town- 
 ship and the county in official capacity at dif- 
 ferent periods of his life. Uncle Jim. un- 
 fortunately for himself and for his friends, in 
 the closing years of his life allowed himself to 
 he drawn into speculation, which caused him 
 much worry and the loss of his large estate. 
 Uncle Jim was a man of kindly disposition, 
 hut at the same time very desirous of accom- 
 plishing his purposes, and having entered the 
 vortex of speculation he was not satisfied to 
 withdraw so long as he felt confident that he 
 hail a chance of winning. Tn this case again 
 we are able to point a moral, that it is 
 dangerous to change horses while crossing 
 the si ream, and so we find that there is an ele- 
 uieiii of danger always attending any change 
 thai is made late in life from an occupation or 
 profession in which we have achieved success 
 In one of which we arc entirely ignorant. 
 
 .lames B. McDavid died hut a few years ago 
 ami his vast estate was swallowed up in the 
 settlement of claims that had been made to 
 further his financial ventures into which he 
 had been led in his old nge. Another character 
 that we desire to notice at this time, who for 
 many years was one of the most prominent 
 in this seel ion of the state, is Joshua H. Wil- 
 son, lie was one of tile most extensive stock- 
 raisers, buyers and shippers to he found in 
 southern Illinois, lie belonged to a class that 
 existed in this country about thirty or forty 
 years ago. Barney Hunter, of Bond county, 
 and Jacob Strong, of "Morgan county, were his 
 contemporaries and belonged to the same class 
 as Mr. Wilson. At the time of his death, which 
 occurred some thirty years ago. he owned nearly 
 three thousand acres of land, hundreds of cat- 
 tle, mules and horses, and the sale of his per- 
 sonal effects is remembered to this day as the 
 largest public sale ever held in Montgomery 
 county. .Tosh Wilson was one of nature's 
 noblemen, ami like all men of large enter- 
 prises he was generous, sympathetic and kind. 
 It is related of him that he furnished teams to 
 those who might want to engage in farming 
 hut had not the means to buy. He supplied 
 poor families throughout the section with 
 milch cows, only stipulating that they should 
 he careful not to kill the calf with the churn 
 stick, and if it were a question as to whom 
 more acts of charity might lie credited, I 
 doubt not that the name of Josh Wilson would 
 lead lhal of any other in all this section. Mr. 
 Wilson left surviving him two sons and one 
 daughter. The elder son. William H. Wilson, 
 is living on his father'- old homestead. Thomas 
 H. Wilson, the second son. died some few years 
 ago ami leli behind him three children, a wife 
 and a good name. The daughter. Mattie Wil- 
 son, is now the wife of James B. Barringer of 
 Hillsboro, who, by the way, is a grandson of 
 William McDavid of pioneer fame. Harrison 
 Brown, another of the early settlers and a 
 neighbor of Josh Wilson, was at one time 
 sheriff of Montgomery county. On the old 
 Brown homestead lives J. C. Brown, familiarly 
 known as Jack Brown. Jack is an excellent 
 farmer and has succeeded in farming ami stock- 
 raising. For several years he has been engaged
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ;:;:i 
 
 in breeding shun horn cattle and one of the 
 besl herds is to be found on his farm. Daniel 
 Sellers and Boone [saacs were also earlj set- 
 tlers alnng the Vandalia road in East Fork 
 township. Both of these old settlers have 
 passed away but have lef 1 many children sur- 
 \ i\ i ng them who are residents of di f- 
 ferent parts of the county. Jus1 before 
 the In-raking oui of the late Civil war, Leonard 
 Fath, a German who had settled in Missouri and 
 engaged in blacksmithing and farming, removed 
 to Illinois and bought an extensive tract of land 
 in the north part of the township. Be had sev- 
 eral -mis who grew to manhood and became 
 prominent in the political and social Life of 
 the county. His son. Leonard Fath. Jr., was 
 elected and re-elected to the office of sheriff 
 and his son, John Fath, served the county as 
 circuit clerk through a term of four years. 
 John Fath has purchased property in CofEeen 
 and will soon become a resideni of the village. 
 
 A ng others whose names were familiar thirty 
 
 years ago might be mentioned Joel Holmes, 
 Ruben Lewey, Dave Lewey, John Lewey and 
 Wesle] Edwards. These formed part of a set- 
 i lenient near Allen Edwards' estate. Long 
 pears age one Fountain Whitledge settled the 
 farm on which the present village of Coffeeu 
 is located. For some reason unknown he com- 
 mitted suicide and left his wife and children 
 in possession of quite an estate. His son John, 
 who lives in Hillsboro and is identified with 
 much of the county's history, not caring to con- 
 duet agricultural enterprises, sold his father's 
 estate to G. F. Coffeen and here comes into 
 the history of East Fork one of the most unique 
 and forceful men who has ever resided in this 
 section. When the 1. & St. L. road was build- 
 ing, G. F. < toffeen. then a young man, had con- 
 tracts for building certain parts of the mail. 
 After the completion of the road, Mr. ( loffeen 
 drifted into Montgi ry county. Here he en- 
 gaged in farming and stock raising and no man 
 though! more of a good horse than did Gus 
 Coffeen. Mr. Coffeen represented his district 
 in the state legislature in 1860. Tn 1880, 
 when the location of the Toledo. Si. Louis & 
 Kansas City Railroad was being fixed through 
 this section. Mr. Coffeen was successful in hav- 
 ing it located across his farm, and hv his in- 
 
 fluence he secured the location of the depot 
 and siding at this place. It was also due to his 
 energy and influence that the coal mine which 
 has been everything to the town was located at 
 tins place. Yet, Mr. CofEeen was more fortu- 
 nate than the other stockholders in the Coffeen 
 Coal and Copper Company, lie sold out his 
 interests in thai concern for five thousand dol- 
 lars and was the onl\ one of the original stock- 
 holders who made anything out of the venture 
 while several of them lost not only what they 
 put in hut thousands of dollars in addition. 
 < ; ust ;i \ us Coffeen, in whose honor the village is 
 named, in general appearance was a magnificent 
 specimen of manhood, about -i\ fret in height, 
 broad shouldered and weighing two hundred and 
 twenty-five pounds. The intelligent expression 
 of his face and bis physical hearing would at- 
 traej attention in any group of men. He was 
 naturally a leader among his fellows. A par- 
 tisan Demoi i ; 1 1 In stood for many years as a 
 leader of that party in the community. An in- 
 cident which he enjoyed relating occurred while 
 he was serving on the claims committee in the 
 state legislature. The famous W'anhvell gun 
 claim was before the committee. That at Leas! 
 one-half of the claim was "padded" was evident 
 to all the members of the committee. The 
 claimant- had secured just one-half the com- 
 mune favorable to the allowance of the claim 
 and it required an additional vote to report it 
 out favorably from the committee. The agent 
 for the Wardwells offered Mr. Coffeen twenty 
 thousand dollars to make a favorable report, 
 which, he it said to his credit, he indignantly 
 refused. He states, however, that the claim 
 was allowed at the succeeding session of the 
 legislature. It is evident that in this case some 
 one was found in the next legislature willing 
 to take tin' bribe, ami it is further evident that 
 the people were not protected against bribe 
 givers forty years ago. nor are they protected 
 against (hat favor-seeking class to-day, and 
 only the adoption of a constitutional amend- 
 ment providing for "The Initiative and Refer- 
 endum" will prevent this whole-ale jobbing in 
 special privileges by our state legislatures. W. 
 S'. Barry, son of John Barry, of Hillsboro 
 township, was for many years a prominent 
 farmer and stock man. but unfortunately he
 
 : u 
 
 PAS'l' AND I'h'FSKNT OF MONT<i< )M K1!V COFNTY 
 
 eeame interested in the Cofieen Coal and Cop- 
 per Company and was circled the lirst president 
 iif that concern. Like many others that had 
 to do with the Coffeen Coal Company, his ex- 
 perience cost him very heavily. Mr. Barry has 
 always borne the reputation of being an up- 
 right and honorable man and the misfortunes 
 which came upon him in his old age are much 
 to he regretted, hut being of an ambitious spirit, 
 it is to be hoped that out of the tangles of the 
 company's business .Mr. Barry will be able to 
 come off with a sufficiency to provide for his 
 declining wars. Donald McLean, a Scotch- 
 man, settled in East Fork township about 1840 
 and secured for himself and his children several 
 hundred acres of the best land in the town- 
 ship. Among those sons are John. Duncan. 
 Xeil and Thomas. All of these men live on 
 farms and are engaged in agriculture and stock 
 raising. John and Duncan McLean both lost 
 heavilv in the collapse of the Coffeen Coal and 
 Copper Company, but with the accustomed 
 spirit and energy of the Scotch blood, they have 
 -one to work with will and will soon recover 
 rom the losses which thej sustained. Henry 
 Ludewick. who lives on the mound, is another 
 early settler of the township. In his declining 
 cars he enjoys the comforts of an elegant 
 home and all that a competency may firing. 
 His wife, however, has been an invalid for sev- 
 eral years. Wood, an only son, is a very sue- 
 i ssfu] stock raiser and £ ler. Calvin Pais- 
 ley, who lives m the north part of the township, 
 
 is t our best citizens and most successful 
 
 inner-: and the Funks, who live west of Mr. 
 Paisley, are a German family who have acquired 
 , uiie an estate by energy, thrift and economy. 
 i Itto Funk, the oldesl son, is a musician of more 
 than local reputation. After completing his 
 -Indies in this country, he was for several years 
 a -indent in Germany. We predict for him a 
 brilliant future. Mr. Robert Funk, another 
 -en. is among the successful business men of 
 Irvine. Early in the settlement of the wide 
 i mi re thai -i retches eastward from Hillshoro 
 there came two brothers, John and Abner Short, 
 and they succeeded in changing much of the 
 wild prairie into beautiful farms. Both of 
 these pioneers have passed away, but their sons 
 are honored citizens of the county. John C. 
 
 Short, son of Abner Short, is one of the in- 
 fluential citizens of the township. He has a 
 very interesting family, and it has been a mat- 
 ter of interest with .Mr. Short to give his chil- 
 dren an education as thorough as our schools 
 would provide and in this way his home has 
 become a center of refinement. James Short, 
 son of John Short, is living at Paisley, Illinois, 
 and is engaged in the gram and hay trade. Mr. 
 James Short is among the prominent citizens 
 of his section and personally we esteem him 
 among our especial friends. William Frame, 
 an early settler of the county, was also a pio- 
 neer of the prairies and like most of those who 
 left the skirts of timber and pushed out into 
 the "blue stem" wilderness, has been richly re- 
 warded for the privations which they for sev- 
 eral years endured. Uncle Billy Frame has 
 several children, who are at present among our 
 best citizens. Amos and George live on farms 
 in this township and Mary, his daughter, is the 
 wife of Samuel Edwards, of Coffeen. Howard 
 Young and Jacob Young are sons of William 
 Young, the pioneer and brothers of John W. 
 Young, whom we have mentioned in this con- 
 nection. These men are among the substantial 
 and solid citizens of the township. They enjoy 
 the reputation for integrity and uprightness 
 bequeathed to them as a legacy from their 
 father. Howard Cress is another of our young 
 men. who is establishing for himself a reputa- 
 tion among his fellow men that is without flaw 
 or blemish. He is a nephew of Joseph P. Price 
 and lives on an adjoining farm. Mr. Cress is 
 related to the Fillmore branch of the Cress fam- 
 ily. Joseph P. Price, who lives in the extreme 
 northeastern part of the township, is a man 
 of more than ordinary ability. He has served 
 his township in various official capacities and 
 lias also been a member of the state legislature 
 from this senatorial district. Mr. Price lias a 
 beautiful farm well stocked and well kept and 
 though In- friends have tried to persuade him 
 to move from the farm to the town, he has ver\ 
 wisely refused to accede to their wishes. He is 
 a Democratic partisan ami at present is com- 
 mittee-man for his township. Mr. Price is a 
 gentleman of great force of character and he 
 is an acquisition that any community might 
 feel proud to have. Another character living in
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY ((HXTV 
 
 741 
 
 the rural section of the south part, of East Fork 
 we must not fail to mention is Jacob Boohcr, 
 living on the farm where bis Eathei settled early 
 in the '20s, and is among the oldesl native born 
 of the township. He has succeeded financially, 
 socially, and otherwise in his neighborhood, He 
 has served the township as supervisor and in 
 other minor capacities. His older In-other, 
 Thomas Booher, lives near him at the advanced 
 age of eighty-two and is possibly the oldest 
 native born except John Fogleman and John T. 
 McDavid, in the county. In passing, we de- 
 sire to notice a few of the more prominent busi- 
 ness men of Coffeen as it presents a record to- 
 day. We have Dr. Cook, the veteran physician 
 of the community, still active in the practice of 
 bis profession after torn years of service, and 
 J)r. Entrekin, who also enjoys a large and 
 lucrative practice. Dr. Entrekin has lived in 
 Coffeen about fifteen years and is highly es- 
 teemed as a physician and public citizen. We 
 have also Dr. Turney, who has lately located 
 
 among us. He e< s well recommended and 
 
 we extend to him a hearty welcome and wish for 
 him a prosperous future. W. F. Pfertner & 
 
 C pany, <>. A. Edwards, Sidney Hilton. Fred 
 
 Morse. Sam Walker. Oliver Edwards, Fiken & 
 Company and Earry Hickman include those 
 doing a general merchandise and grocery busi- 
 ness. ('. A. Traylor carries on the only hard- 
 ware establishmenl in town and Roberl McGuire 
 and Al Mathews do a restaurant business and 
 Robert [sley at the brick and John Barringer 
 at the Morgan Eouse provide good things bo eal 
 Eor all who may come this way. Charles Lewey 
 provides us with the besl pork and steak and 
 Clem Laws sells to the farmer harness, saddles 
 and bridles and vehicles of all kinds. Jo 
 Myers, the optician and jeweler, will sell yon a 
 watch, will fix your eye,, or do anything else 
 for yon in his line. Taylor Phipps, the barber, 
 and Bud Jones, in the same line, are here to 
 cut your hair and give you an easy shave. Ella 
 Daly and Nellie Barkley each keep an eleganl 
 line of millinery. We have two banks which 
 will receive notice in the chapter on bank.- and 
 banking. Our real estate men are the Edwards 
 Brothers. Homer Roberts and L. R. Traylor. 
 These will sell you anything from a town lot to 
 a ranch in Texas. E. Harris, our furniture 
 
 dealer and undertaker, does an extensive busi- 
 ness. He is a licensed embalmer and in his 
 preparation of tin. dead for burial has no su- 
 perior in tin- section of the state. We are well 
 provided with three livery men, who furnish the 
 best turn-outs for little money. Mr. ( 'undiff, 
 Mr. Fleming ami Mr. Bunton are all courteous 
 gentlemen and supply Coffeen with everything 
 needed in the livery line. The Toberman 
 Brothers operate the grain elevator and buy hay. 
 timothy and clover seed ami all oilier products 
 that, come in their line. Jake Sherer and Jo 
 Chumley each do a good business at black- 
 smithing. John Elam owns and operates the 
 dairy at. this place, lie pays out several thou- 
 sand dollar- to the farmers of this section an- 
 nually for milk. We have four churches in 
 the village. Possibly the Methodist Episcopal 
 people have the largest following. The Five 
 Methodists have a prosperous society here and 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian church is in fair 
 condition, although they have no regular pastor 
 at present. Rev. Charles Koehler is the present 
 Methodist Episcopal pastor and Rev. J. C. Sills 
 officiates in the same capacity for the Free 
 Methodist people. The Catholic society, which 
 has I n established as an organization for sev- 
 eral year.-, has not as vet built themselves a 
 house of worship, but hold their services in the 
 hall of the Howell Building. They have no 
 resident pastor, hut are supplied by the priest 
 at New Douglas. 
 
 HARVEL TOWNSHIP AND THE VIL- 
 LAGE OF HARVEL. 
 
 This is the smallest civil township in the 
 county, consisting of but one half of a con- 
 gressional township. Formerly Harvel town- 
 ship comprised both Pitman and Harvel in its 
 territory, but in 1878 on petition the township 
 was divided and its present boundaries fixed. 
 This township is possibly the only one in the 
 county that reports no waste land. No settle- 
 ments were made in tins section until 1854 
 when Herman Pogenpohl, a German^ made a 
 
 settle lit in section 30. Following him 
 
 came C. Coureier who settled near Mr. Po-
 
 i I-.' 
 
 PAST AND PKKSKXT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 genpohl. This gentleman, however, was a 
 Frenchman and after living some ten years 
 in the neighborhood, sold his farm to Joseph 
 Vincent. We learn that Mr. Courcier removed 
 from Illinois tn Texas and that he has accu- 
 mulated quite a fortune in the Lone Star state. 
 Nicholas Eankinson is another who made his 
 settlement in 1854 north of Mr. Pogenpohl. 
 Descendants of Mr. Hankinson still live near 
 the village of Harvel. In is:,:, William F. 
 Jordan, A. C. Jordan and ('. EL .Ionian made 
 settlements in this prairie country. Jea& 
 Baptiste Millett, a Frenchman, also made a 
 settlement in Harvel at about this time. Be 
 sold out soon thereafter to William Bockewitz. 
 John Munsterman in the summer of is:,:, set- 
 tled the farm in the northern part of the 
 township, which he afterward sold to Conrad 
 Weller. B. Tulpin, a Frenchman, is another 
 of the early pioneers of Harvel township. 
 Mr. 'rnl], in afterward engaged id ousmess 
 ventures in the village of Harvel. The vil- 
 lage of Harvel sprang up soon after the com- 
 pletion of the Wabash road and derived its 
 name from John Harvel who made the loca- 
 tion of the village. William Vansandt kept 
 the lirst general assortment of merchandise 
 and lie was followed shortly afterward by B. 
 Tulpin previously mentioned. The Harvel 
 postoffice was established in 1870 with George 
 Vansandi as postmaster. In 1873 Ira Nelson 
 ami 0. 0. Settlemeyer built the first elevator. 
 — ami in 1876 Henry Xiehaus built a much 
 larger one. This passed into other hands a few 
 j-ears later and several changes have been made 
 in tin' ownership since they were first erected. 
 limn Bennett was the lirst physician to lo- 
 cate in Harvel. William Adams has been for 
 many years in the elevator and milling busi- 
 ness at this place and W. W. Whitlow also was 
 engaged for several years in shipping grain 
 and hay from thai point. J. -I. Care} lor sev- 
 eral terms supervisor of Harvel township, is 
 another of the business men who have suc- 
 
 c led in their enterprises in that village. 
 
 While owning a valuable farm east of town. 
 Mr. Care} carried on an extensive trade in 
 lumber. Mr. Carey is the father of Mrs. A. 
 X. Banes of Hillsboro. Tt will he remembered 
 thai Mr. Banes is an efficient deputy in the 
 
 county clerk's office at Hillsboro. W. W. Whit- 
 low, whose name appears above, was for sev- 
 eral years a member of the hoard of super- 
 visors from this township ami it was the priv- 
 ilege of the writer to serve with him, and we 
 
 are pleased to acknowledge that he was o: f 
 
 the most capable men of that board. Martin 
 Brown and John Young are characters that 
 belong to the history of this township. Martin 
 Brown is the father of our present county 
 treasurer, Dan Brown, ami Uncle Martin has 
 long been known as a political factor in his 
 low 1 1 -hip. He has reared quite a family of . hil- 
 dren who are residents of Montgomery county 
 and who honor in character and service their 
 parents. John Young is of German stock and 
 has served In- township in the capacity of a-^ses- 
 sor through more years perhaps than any other 
 similar township officer in the county. Much 
 might he said of those who have contributed 
 to the building up of the magnificent homes of 
 this township, of those who settled in this bog 
 like section of Montgomery county and who 
 
 by toil and the expenditure of much m - 
 
 succeeded in draining these marsh lands and 
 securing to cultivation the richest section of 
 our county. We are told, however, that the 
 history of a people begins when the actors 
 have passed from the scenes of their activity 
 and a- man} remain who were participants in 
 the settlement of tin- section of our county, 
 the story is the more briefh told. 
 
 Tn\\ XSlliP ok BOIS D'AEC AND THE 
 VILLAGE ok FAEMEESVILLE. 
 
 This township is one of the most fertile in 
 the county. The soil belongs to thai class 
 of lands described as black loam soil. In no 
 section of the state Jo we find more fertile -oil 
 than in Bois d'Aiv. Montgomer} county. One 
 of the lirst settlers in this territory was John 
 Henderson in 1825. lie was followed shortly 
 after by a Mr. Hendershot ami these two fam- 
 ilies were the sole inhabitants of this section 
 for a number of year-. In IS: 1 ,:, a settlement 
 was made at Macoupin's Point by a man 
 named Woods. Here he built a tavern which 
 was a favorite stopping place for travelers
 
 PAST AND PKESENT OF MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 ; t3 
 
 making the journey from Springfield to flills- 
 boro. A postoffice was established here soon 
 after and kept h\ Mr. Woods. Louis Sedentop 
 is the present owner of the old Wood home- 
 stead. In 1850 Louis 11. and Samuel If. 
 Thomas in making a prospecting trip through 
 this section, were so favorably impressed with 
 the character of the soil that they determined 
 to make their homes in tins section. In L852 
 they located claims which toda^ are known as 
 the Louis Thomas and Samuel Thomas home- 
 steads. Samuel R. Thomas has been dead for 
 several years, but by his enterprise and in- 
 dustry he secured for Ins family quite a large 
 area of these very rich lands. His family re- 
 tain the greater part of what the father gath- 
 ered. Louis II. Thomas, at one time the 
 owner of nearly three sections of this soil, is 
 one of Montgomery county's very best citizens. 
 Unfortunately for Mr. Thomas, within recenl 
 years he was drawn into a railroad speculation 
 that cost him the larger part of this immense 
 estate. Mr. Thomas has been a friend to the 
 deserving of his township and his neighbors 
 relate many incidents illustrating his gener- 
 osity to those who sought his aid. When a 
 
 a I man has financial reverses, it should not 
 
 lake the name of failure, for no man of this 
 character can fail. He may lose his material 
 possessions, lmt he may retain his character, 
 which i c . after all. the only possession whose 
 value is not measured by gold. The "Gold 
 Standard" may be the highest known among 
 nations, but it is inadequate in measuring the 
 value of character. Yon mak ask how then shall 
 we estimate such an elusive thing? By com- 
 parison this physical world and all the stars 
 that stud the sky can not purchase faultless 
 character, but men and women may have it for 
 
 t 
 
 the living. Absalom Clark came with the 
 Thomas Brothers and entered the north half 
 of seel ion 7 and the south half of section 8. 
 This he converted into one of the best farms of 
 our county. Among those that wo desire to 
 name are Prior Witt. "William Smith. Joseph 
 Smith. Anthony Almond, John Ward. Frank 
 Dunkley, Mark Risley, Hiram Young, George 
 Rice, Kan ford flow. Peter Christopher, Albert 
 Clayton, John Trice. .lames Woodward. Wil- 
 liam Garrison. Eenn Weston, Henrv Hathaway. 
 
 William ting, George and Cornelius Lyman 
 and Michael Simason. These are perhaps a 
 majority of the names of those who made early 
 settlement in Bois d'Arc township. Some of 
 them are yel living and are glad to relate their 
 experiences in settling up this prairie country. 
 Quite a colony id' [rish settlers located near the 
 line separating Hand and Hois d'Arc town- 
 ships ami are to-day among the wealthier 
 citizens id' our county. At the time when 
 they made these settlements, this land was 
 covered for the greater portion of tin 1 year 
 in stretches of lakes and tall water grass, ami 
 I have thought that possibly these Irish emi- 
 grants «ere reminded by the condition of the 
 land of the bog lands of their native country, 
 and that in reality they selected this section 
 from choice. The village of Farmersville 
 sprang up on the new railroad that had been 
 built by D. L. Wing & Company from Peoria 
 to Litchfield, which road is now a part of the 
 Illinois Central, situated in a territory some- 
 what removed from other centers of trade. 
 Farmersville has made rapid growth and to- 
 day boasts of several hundred inhabitants. 
 Louis Sedentop. who lives at the old Woods 
 homestead, has contributed very largely to the 
 building of this little town and much the larger 
 part of the present village plat has been made 
 on his lands. A. J. Witt has contributed also 
 in additions to the village. John Ball, the 
 banker, has given assitance in various ways to 
 the upbuilding of this little city. Among the 
 industries located here is a brick and tile fac- 
 tory which does an extensive business. The 
 elevator operated by Nobbe & Son does a large 
 business in grain and hay. They also keep a 
 lumberyard in connection with their grain 
 business. Several stocks of general merchan- 
 dise that do credit to a village of this size have 
 a wide trade throughout an extensive farming 
 section. Lee Paul, cashier of the Farmersville 
 Bank, is anion,!; the young enterprising busi- 
 ness men of Farmersville. and William McLean, 
 who owns an elegant homestead just west of the 
 village, is another who lias served his township 
 faithfully and well. John Newport, who rep- 
 resented this township for several years on the 
 hoard of supervisors, has exerted a wide influ- 
 ence for good in that township. T T nele John
 
 ; 1 1 
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 is now a very old man and has within the last 
 few years resided in tin' village of Farmersville. 
 Here lie is spending the evening of life as 
 pleasantly as the infirmities of age will allow. 
 Finishing the chapter we feel some little sat- 
 isfaction in knowing that during a recital of 
 these fey facts, we have in a sense visited some 
 of our old friends in Bois d'Arc township, that 
 the names of some whose friendship we prize 
 just as much may chance to be omitted here 
 results from the lapse of memory and not be- 
 cause of anv desire to neglect. 
 
 PITMAN TOWNSHIP AND THE VIL- 
 LAGE OF WAGGONER. 
 
 This township was originally a part of Har- 
 vel, but for the accommodation of its citizens, 
 the township of Harvel was divided and the 
 west part was named in honor id' Joseph Pit- 
 man. This township is almost wholly within 
 tin' black soil belt of the county. The first 
 settler of this township was Henry Denton, 
 who entered a piece of land in the year L822. 
 lie lived mi this homestead until 1830, when 
 he died and his was the first burial of which 
 we have any record in this township. John 
 ETaynes was another early settler of this sec- 
 tion. He came some years later than Denton. 
 llenn and Green Haynes, sons of John Eaynes. 
 were living in the neighborhood of the olrt 
 homestead at last accounts. John Eaynes was 
 a brother of Dr. Baxter Haynes, who i- living 
 at an advanced age in Fillmore township. 
 John L. Rogers in L829 made a settlement in 
 tin' southwest part of the township. Here he 
 built a mill ami operated it for some years. 
 Mr. Rogers died in 1852 and left surviving him 
 three sons and two daughters. These are 
 among the honored citizens of the country. At 
 last accounts the son- were located in differ- 
 ent sections of the state id' Illinois. That three 
 families by the name of Rogers settled in the 
 western part of Montgomery county, makes it 
 somewhat difficult to omit tangles in their 
 genealogy. Tin 1 daughters of John 1,. Rogers, 
 if we are not in error, were the Misses Jennie 
 ami Mollv, who were for several years teachers 
 
 in the public schools in the city of Litchfield. 
 ttni' id' these. Miss .Molly lingers, is now the 
 wife of a physician and resides in the city of 
 Charleston. At last account Miss Jennie Rog- 
 ers was engaged in school work in East St. 
 Louis. Theodore Rogers, son of John L. Rog- 
 er-, became prominent as a Methodist divine 
 and the writer does not know whether he is liv- 
 ing at present or not. Davis Bagby came to 
 this section with his father-in-law. Miller 
 Woods, in is.")-.', and located in the southwest 
 corner of the township. Both were men of 
 excellent reputation ami each did his part in 
 the struggle to subdue the wilderness. Bagby 
 was a soldier id' the war of 1812 ami seems to 
 have won distinction during that memorable 
 struggle. The records are silent with refer- 
 ence to Miller Woods, hut we gather it that 
 
 Ic die, I quite a g I many years ago, hut David 
 
 Bagbj lived until 1865, when, worn with the 
 cans of a long and eventful career, he closed 
 his earthly account, and we are informed by 
 those who remember him. that he was a most 
 excellent gentleman and good neighbor. D. G. 
 Whitehorn was another of the earlier settlers 
 of Pitman township, locating a homestead on 
 section 18 in 1831. He married a daughter of 
 the David Bagbv previously mentioned. Miss 
 Katherine Bagby, 1834. This was the first 
 marriage ceremony performed in this part of 
 the country. Another early settler was George 
 Waggoner, lie came to Illinois from Ken- 
 tucky about 1830, and settled on section 29. 
 Mr. Waggoner died in 1864, and left surviving 
 him several children. In 1833 Frederick Ham- 
 ilton settled in the western part of the town- 
 ship. He did not remain in this neighborhood 
 for anv great length of time, but removed to 
 the south part of the county and many of his 
 descendants reside in that neighborhood. Fred 
 Hamilton, however, made several trips to Kan- 
 sas prior to the Civil war and died in that 
 state. His sister was an aunt by marriage to 
 the writer of this article. T notice in a pre- 
 vious history of this county it is stated that 
 Fred Hamilton died in Zanesville township in 
 L835. This is. however, an error, and T am not 
 surprise.! that these mistakes often creep in be 
 as careful as we may. Retween the years of 1837 
 ami is in Zadok Leach. William King, Tazewell
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTC 
 
 ; 15 
 
 Brown, Flower Husband, William Hamilton 
 and L. ('. Richards came from the south and 
 settled in this section. Each of these were 
 valuable accessions to the neighborhood and in 
 marly every case some representative of these 
 families remain. .Most of these pioneers were 
 laid to rest in the old burying ground at Sul- 
 phur Spring. Many of their graves are un- 
 marked and the story of their lives must re- 
 main a simple tradition. The first school in 
 Pitman was kept by William Mclver, in 1854, 
 in a little school house built by the united ef- 
 fort of the earlier settlers. Pitman township, 
 however, four years later enjoyed the privilege 
 of having a public school, which was kept b\ 
 William King. The first justice of the peace 
 was John L. Rogers, elected in 1840. The 
 church history of this township, like that of 
 the others mentioned, was of a primitive char- 
 acter, hut the religious fervor of the pioneers 
 was just as intense and the devotion of her peo- 
 ple was just as sincere as was found in the 
 other settlements. The village of Waggoner 
 situated two miles from the south line and 
 two and a half from the west line of Pitman 
 township, is a thriving little village. Sur- 
 rounded by an enterprising citizenship Wag- 
 goner hids fair to become quite a little town in 
 the near future. Among (hose who have been 
 prominent in the affairs of this township the 
 pasi few years we may name Horace G. Wag- 
 g i'. Henry and John Waggoner, Felix Rich- 
 ardson, J. W. White. ('. H. .Ionian. Charles 
 Gillman, S. F. Brubaker, C. IF Burton, who 
 foi' man}" years was school treasurer of his 
 township ami Charle] Treadway, once among 
 
 the mi. st Successful teachers of this sect lull of 
 
 the county. I'elix 6. Richardson, whose name 
 appears above, has for several years served his 
 township as a member of the hoard of super- 
 visors. Mr. Richardson is one of the public 
 spirited influential men of Pitman township. 
 The late Horace Waggoner was another of the 
 forceful characters of thai section. Unfortu- 
 nately he had arrived scarcely at his meridian 
 when the grim messenger called him from the 
 affairs of life, .lames White is another who 
 through the struggles and privations gathered 
 for himself an estate ample for all the needs of 
 ape. Mr. White lias also passed into the be- 
 
 yond, hut he has left several children who are 
 among the best citizens of our county. 
 Frank DeWitt, the political heavyweight of the 
 Democratic parly in Montgomery county, lives 
 in Pitman township. While Mr. DeWitt tips 
 the scales at over three hundred pounds of 
 avordupois, he has a heart proportionately large 
 and a generosity as ample as any man of his 
 means could possibly be. Tins gentleman is 
 well known throughout the country, having 
 been mixed up in some of the political wind 
 -tonus that sweep over our county every four 
 years. While Mr. DeWitt has not succeeded 
 in knocking the political persimmon, it does 
 not follow, however, thai he would not make 
 an acceptable county official. 
 
 ZANESVILLE TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Tins township is undulating in part and 
 level in part. It is drained by tributaries of 
 the west fork of Shoal creek and Macoupin 
 creek. Robert Palmer is supposed to have been 
 the first settler within the limits of this town- 
 ship, at bast we find it recorded that he had 
 established an inn near the site of Old Zanes- 
 ville as early as 1824. Tradition speaks of 
 Robert Palmer as an all around hard character. 
 Many robberies having been com mil led in his 
 locality, suspicion soon attached to him. His 
 tavern was stopping place for a gang of thieves 
 and gamblers and soon became noted in this 
 western country as a dangerous place for one to 
 stop who had money. It was no uncommon 
 thing in an early <la\ for the traveler to dis- 
 appear to be heard of no more ami doubtless 
 Palmer and his gang were quite as notorious 
 as the Benders, who operated some years ago 
 along the Kansas frontier. Palmer, finding 
 that he was under suspicion, disappeared rather 
 mysteriously. Later, it is reported, that he was 
 hanged afterward for complicity in a brutal 
 murder in the state of Iowa. Conditions were 
 -ueh in the immediate neighborhood of the 
 Palmer tavern that few permanent settlements 
 were made while he remained in that section. 
 We find that in 1828 George Brewer entered 
 the land on which the village of Old Zanesville 
 was located and that he laid out a part of his
 
 ; n; 
 
 PAST WD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 land in town Lots. Be secured the Location of 
 a postoffiee at this place and called it Leesburg 
 in honor of a wholesale merchant in St. Louis, 
 in whose name the laud was entered. Mr. 
 Brewer built a commodious store building and 
 piil in a stock of general merchandise. Other 
 parties were attracted 1>\ the opportunities 
 which seemed to present themselves in the 
 
 neighborh I of Leesburg. By 1830 there had 
 
 been accessions to the town and surrounding 
 community thai warranted the organization 
 of a school and the building of a place of wor- 
 ship. So rapidly did this frontier burg im- 
 prove that in 1835 it lacked but few in popu- 
 lation of being as large as Hillsboro. While 
 this settlement at Leesburg; was being made, 
 several pioneers had entered the southwest cor- 
 ner of the township and had made a settlement 
 there. Among those wliose names have been 
 kept were Isaac Bailey, James Crawford. 
 Thomas and Zebedee Williams. Somewhat 
 later Robert Allen settled near them and fol- 
 lowing Mr. Allen was Beatty Burk, George 
 Burroughs, D. V. Schumway and Oliver Chas- 
 tme. About 1840 a settlement was made near 
 the head waters of Shoal creek and among these 
 we find Walker Williams. Elgin Smith, Jeffer- 
 son Parrott and Moses Martin. Another party 
 settled in close proximity to the village of Lees- 
 burg. Among those are Joseph Vignos, Dr. 
 (aldwell and Spence Smitherman. Dr. Cald- 
 well was one of the earliest physicians of this 
 section and at last accounts, the doctor was liv- 
 ing in retirement at the village of Waggoner. 
 The writer remembers him as a resident, of the 
 old village of Zanesville, about twelve years ago. 
 The doctor was very entertaining and enjoyed 
 reciting the experiences of pioneer times. 
 Spence Smitherman was engaged in farming 
 and stock-raising. He took especial pride in 
 breeding a class of traveling horses and some 
 of the Inst roadsters that were sold from this 
 county went from the Smitherman farm. He 
 also operated a flouring mill in the village of 
 Old Zanesville (formerly called Leesburg). 
 The Jacksonville and Vandalia stage-coach 
 lines passed through Leesburg and the state 
 road leading from Carlinville to Taylorville in- 
 tersected the old Vandalia road at this place. 
 In 1838 Edward Crawford erected the first 
 
 horse mill in the township. This primitive 
 concern was operated almost day and night to 
 supply the settlements adjacent with bread stuff. 
 In 1869 a company consisting of Messrs. Sharp, 
 Johnson ami Berry erected and equipped the 
 Zanesville flouring mill. It is reported that 
 i he first cosi of this mill was sixteen thousand 
 dollars. At its completion it was the largest 
 ami nio>t complete null in Montgomery county, 
 having a capacity of one hundred barrels of 
 flour per day. For three or four years this mill 
 did an extensive business and paid large divi- 
 dend to its owners, but m ls;:i. when the finan- 
 cial crash came and a panic seized the people, 
 this enterprise, like many others, became seri- 
 ously involved. Sharp and Berry, who had be- 
 come sole owners, disposed of the mill to Spence 
 Smitherman and Clark Sinclaire, who for rea- 
 sons best known to themselves, never attempted 
 to operate it. At the first election held in this 
 precinct which, al that time, 1835, included 
 the entire northwest part of the county. George 
 Brewer and .lames Crawford were elected jus- 
 tices of the peace Stephen Crawford, son of 
 James Crawford, horn in 1831, on the night of 
 the 13th of November, was the first child horn 
 in the township. It is recorded that the great 
 metoric shower, known as the falling stars, oc- 
 curred on this date. Certainly James Craw- 
 ford, tin' pioneer, would ha\ icasion to re- 
 
 inber the event. The first school teacher was 
 
 one Henry Mayor, hut the exact ti is not 
 
 recorded. The schools of this township were 
 not different from those in other earl] settle- 
 ments in the county. Usually some vacated 
 cabin was appropriated and made to serve as 
 a school room. In other cases we find that the 
 settlers came together at some point near the 
 center of the settlement and built a log cabin 
 for school purposes. In many instances these 
 rude structures were not provided with other 
 than a dirt floor and a log sawed out of the 
 easl or south side served as a window to admit 
 light. At the west or north was built a large 
 open tire place with a stick chimney daubed 
 with mud. ami in these primitive academies 
 our fathers and mothers, the sons and daughters 
 of the pioneers of Montgomery county learned 
 to read, to cipher and to write. Elder James 
 Street, id' Clear Spring settlement, preached at
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 TIT 
 
 the residence of Jacob Baker as early as L830. 
 and a Baptist organization was effected in that 
 neighborhood soon after. Other denomina- 
 tions have bad their organizations, have built 
 ejnirehes and each in its time lias flourished, 
 but the building up of surrounding villages 
 and towns along our railroads has interfered 
 ut\ seriously with the maintenance of church 
 organization in rural communities and Zanes- 
 ville township is no1 an exception to these con- 
 ditions. While we do not desire to bar the 
 progress or stay the immutable law of change, 
 yet to travel throughout the country districts 
 in any part of our state, the decay of the rural 
 church is so noticeable as to bring a feeling of 
 sadness over one whose early life knew only the 
 sacredness of the country church. To-day these 
 tenantless houses standing so near the burial 
 places of our fathers keep silent watch as they 
 crumble into decay over the last resting place 
 of our pioneer dead. If there is aughi that can 
 stay the mad rush of the present generation in 
 its scramble for wealth, it might be for each 
 to walk alone through the deserted graveyards 
 which may be found in many parts of the coun- 
 try where slabs of marble, green with lichens 
 that almost obliterate the letters carved on the 
 face, tells in few words the name of the worthy 
 dead who lies beneath. To reflect upon the 
 end of the struggle which has no purpose higher 
 than dollars might well afford to listen to the 
 teachings that come from those silent graves. 
 Tn 1869 the village of Zanesville had four large 
 general stores, one grocery, three blacksmith 
 shops, two wagon shops, two hotels, one cooper 
 shop and two saloons. The latter always a 
 eurso to any people. Three physicians hung 
 out their signs in this busy little burg, George 
 Mayfield. J. W. Wheeler and G. W. Caldwell. 
 Dr. Mayfield was among the earlier physicians 
 of the town. In an altercation with a man by 
 the name of Hardy, Mayfield was killed. Tn 
 the trial it was proven that Mayfield was the 
 aggressor and Hardy was acquitted on the 
 ground nf self-defense. Another record of 
 murder belongs to Zanesville township. Tn 
 1853 Andrew Nash, in a drunken brawl, killed 
 Peter Lookerman. Nash, escaping from the 
 country, was afterward apprehended in Arkan- 
 sas, brought hack and placed in jail at Carlin- 
 
 ville. lie was tried ami condemned to he hung. 
 Ih- friends circulated a petition to he pre- 
 sented to the governor to have his sentence 
 commuted to life imprisonment, fearing that 
 the governor might grant the petition, a mob 
 of Lockerman's friends appeared before the jail 
 in Carlinville at night and so frightened Nash 
 that he committed suicide by hanging himself 
 in his cell. Among those who are to-day fore- 
 most in the affairs of Zanesville township are 
 George W. .Martin, who owns a wry line farm 
 ii the southeastern part of the township. 0. K. 
 Rummons, who lives in the neighborhood of 
 Old Zanesville. and Oscar B. Cane, his neighbor, 
 a iv both farmers who contribute to the pro- 
 gressive spirit of the community. R. A. Bar- 
 nett, who lives in tin 1 southwestern part of the 
 township, has also been a leading character in 
 his immediate section. Among those, whose 
 names were familiar a few years ago. was Dan 
 P. Rogers, Perry Martin, .lames Duff. Joseph 
 Vignos, Spenee Smitherman and many others 
 whose accounts are closed but whose works are 
 living still. At present there is no postoffiee 
 within the limits of the township unless it be 
 at Barnett, where a portion of the village lies 
 within Zanesville. Three railroads, the Wa- 
 bash, crossing the southeast corner, the Illinois 
 Central, dividing the township almost into two 
 parts from north to south, and the Burlington, 
 which touches the southwest comer, have proven 
 of but little immediate value to Zanesville 
 township, as no station of importance has been 
 located therein. 
 
 RAYMOND TOWNSHIP AND THE VIL- 
 LAGE OF RAYMOND. 
 
 Raymond township was named in honor of 
 Thomas Raymond, at one time vice-president 
 
 of the Wabash Railroad. This township is 
 somewhat diversified in the character of its 
 soil and with reference to its surface. The 
 «r-i fork of Shoal creek, with it.- tributaries, 
 flow through this township in its western half. 
 Therefore we liml the hill section of Raymond 
 township in its western part. The northern 
 ami eastern part, comprising the larger division
 
 748 
 
 AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY rol'XTY 
 
 of the township, consists of a deep rich black 
 soil. It ranks as one of the most fertile and 
 productive townships in the county. Land val- 
 ues in this township in the black soil sections 
 have doubled within the last ten years, or, in 
 other words, advancing from ti ft v dollars |irr 
 aciv in 3:894 to one hundred dollars per acre 
 in L904. Men of money who do in>t care to 
 enter the maelstrom of speculation find that 
 under existing conditions these lands return 
 an income of five per cent annually on an in- 
 vestment nf one hundred dollars per acre. The 
 certainty of an income and the security of the in- 
 vestment places these lands as valuable and as 
 secure an investment as government bonds. To 
 be sure men who seek to increase then- capital 
 at least by a hundred per cent ever; two or 
 three years are qo1 tempted to make invest- 
 ments in Illinois real estate. We can not hope 
 in see an advance in farm lands within the next 
 ten years such as has been within the period 
 jusi past, nor could we hope should farm prod- 
 ucts decrease one-half in present average val- 
 ues, that lands would maintain their present 
 prices. It was Russell Sage who said that 
 "five per cent and no hazard are gilt edge in- 
 vestments." Therefore, so long as real estate 
 will pay an average of five per cent on the in- 
 vestment, the careful and discreet investor will 
 seek such holdings. The undulating lands 
 which lie adjacent to the water courses are not 
 so valuable as are the flat black lands. Yet, 
 there i- a vast difference in the management of 
 these different classes of soil. We have no- 
 ticed that among our must successful farmers 
 we End main who lane grown wealtbv on un- 
 dulating land- where the soil is light gra\ or 
 even chalk-like (post oak). The farmer on 
 our gray lands who depends upon grain raising 
 can not hope to grow rich, but we know quite 
 a good many men of means who by stock-rais- 
 ing and fruit growing, and who have depended 
 largely upon dairy and poultry raising to ac- 
 quire considerable moneys in bank and if we 
 were to search out the men of large means in 
 Montgomery county to-day, the larger half by 
 far would fall south of a middle line drawn 
 east and west through our countv. The first 
 permanenl settler in Raymond township was 
 Butler Seward, who located at what has been 
 
 known as Seward's Point, on the farm now 
 owned by Samuel Miller and formerly owned 
 by Elias .Miller. Mathew Mitchell was the next 
 to locate and his settlement is where Fred 
 Mondhink now resides. David Sherer pur- 
 chased the improvements that had been made b) 
 Mr. Mitchell and the latter moved to another 
 locality, .lames Baker made a settlement at 
 which is now known as the Oscar Seward home- 
 stead and Robert Conyer settled the farm now 
 known as the John Cass place. Mr. Cass pur- 
 chased the Conyer homestead in 1833 on which 
 he lived until his death. Mr. Cass has many 
 relatives and lineal descendants remaining in 
 that section of the countv. It might be well 
 to state that 1 find one record that claims the 
 first settlement of Raymond township to have 
 been made in 182? by William Wilson and that 
 Mathew Mitchell purchased the improvements 
 which he had made. Oscar Seward, son of 
 Butler Seward, purchased the Baker improve- 
 ments about the year is:;;,. These were lo- 
 cated immediately south of his father's home- 
 stead at Seward's Point. Oscar Seward was a 
 very remarkable man and the writer remembers 
 many incidents that might be recorded to show 
 the hospitality and generous spirit of Mr. 
 Seward. It is related of Mr. Seward that in 
 1860 when Abraham Lincoln had received the 
 nomination for presidency that Mr. Seward. 
 in company with other leading Republican cit- 
 izens of Montgomery countv. made a pilgrim- 
 age to Springfield to pay their respects to Mr. 
 Lincoln, and that on their return Mr. Seward 
 very generously entertained the entire company. 
 It may not be out of place to relate a circum- 
 stance in which the writer in connection with 
 several of bis neighbors were made the recip- 
 ients of Mr. Seward's hospitality. It will be 
 remembered that in issi (be southern part of 
 Montgomery countv suffered a complete failure 
 because of the drouth of that vear and the fol- 
 lowing winter. L881-82, was very open ami wet 
 and we were compelled to haul corn from the 
 northern part of the county over the almost 
 impassable highways. Some half dozen of our 
 party had returned by night fall as far as Oscar 
 Seward's. We were invited by Mr. Seward to 
 pass the night at his place. On the next morn- 
 ing, however, be refused absolutely to be rec-
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF M0XT0OMFKY COFXTY 
 
 ,49 
 
 ompensed for our night's Lodging, saying thai 
 he was glad to be able to do so small a favor for 
 his friends in the smith part of the county, that 
 some ila\ the lurk might change and we could 
 return the favor to linn or sonic one else. 
 Oscar Seward has been dead some years and 
 lefl several children surviving him. These and 
 their children do well to honor the memory of 
 their lather and grandfather, Oscar Seward. 
 At the Butler Seward home during the earlier 
 period of the county, a public house known as 
 Seward's Point was kept. It was a regular 
 changing place for the stage coach of early 
 times and here such men as I lunulas and Lin- 
 coln, whose renown was to cover the land, would 
 step on then' regular visits from Springfield 
 
 tu V lalia. Some (rw years ago the writer 
 
 paid a \isit to Elias W. Miller, and on return- 
 ing Mi-. Miller said: "Tonight you will occupy 
 the room in which Abraham Lincoln and Ste- 
 phen A. Douglas have often slept." However, 
 as Mi-. Miller came into the room and sat chat- 
 ting with me until 2:00 o'clock in the morning, 
 1 was net disturbed by the shades of these ureal 
 men in my visions nor dreams. In speaking of 
 Elias W. Miller 1 wish to say that for power 
 of penetration and intellectual alertness thai I 
 have met few men who were to be considered 
 his equal. Had Mr. Miller received educa- 
 tional advantages in his youth and scl led 
 
 himself in the law, he would have I n a diplo- 
 mat worthy to represent any cause at any court. 
 Another character who came later upon the 
 scene was Thomas Jefferson Scott. He resided 
 on a farm near Mr. Miller, and on several oc- 
 casions he represented his township en tile 
 hoard of supervisors. Mr. Scott has been 
 dead some years. 1 nit lie left surviving him his 
 good wife and several sons and daughters. 
 These form part of the ureal body of energetic 
 young citizenship of the county. Edward 
 Grimes, who owns a beautiful homestead about 
 two miles east of the village of Raymond, is 
 one of the most prominent citizens of thai 
 township. M r. Grimes is very much interested in 
 everything pertaining to farm life and work. 
 He has 1 n a member of the state hoard of ag- 
 riculture and much interested in the success of 
 onr annual state fair. But few homes in 
 Montgomery county are more attractive and 
 
 systematically arranged than thai of Edward 
 Grimes of Raymond. Uriah Hartwick for 
 mam years a promienl figure in the business 
 and political circles of Raymond, was well 
 
 known throng] i Montgomery county. He 
 
 si rved his township several terms as a member 
 of the hoard of supervisors, lie died very un- 
 expectedly to his friends some two years ago, 
 Fred Mondhink, during the period of his youth 
 ami early manhood, was compelled to struggle 
 hard to gain a footing in the world. For sev- 
 eral years Fred worked by the month for Oscar 
 Seward and later bought him a home which 
 formed the nucleus of his present goodly es- 
 tate. Fred is not only engaged in farming and 
 stockraising, hut is an extensive feeder and 
 shipper, lie ranks as one of the solid citizens 
 of Raymond township. Mr. Samuel Miller, the 
 present owner of the Elias Miller homestead, 
 is one of the few who have engaged in the ship- 
 ment of hogs and cattle to so watch the mar- 
 kets and time his shipments as to be able to 
 more than "break even" in his hazardous busi- 
 ness. Mr. Miller in his line has been very 
 successful and to-day as a result of his watch- 
 fulness and care, enjoys a large estate. Wil- 
 liam Bowles, ex-sheriff of Montgomery county, 
 was another of the forceful characters that be- 
 longed to the same (dass as Oscar Seward. He 
 was a very prominent citizen of the county in 
 bis day. being elected as sheriff at a time when 
 the county was strongly Democratic, gives 
 proof of his popularity among the people. 
 Among the children which he left we may men- 
 tion his son. familiarly known as "Bud" 
 Bowles. This gentleman lias inherited the 
 good qualities of his father and few men in his 
 locality enjoy the confidence and esteem of their 
 neighbors more than "Bud" Bowles. Henry 
 Hitchings, son of John W. Hitchings, the pio- 
 neer, is another son of the soil who has ac- 
 quired a competency and who may during the 
 declining wars enjoy the fruits of his industry 
 and frugality. His father, John W. Hitchings, 
 was for many years one of the leading teach- 
 ers of the county and few of i he men and 
 women of middle aged life who spent their 
 school years in that section hut remember the 
 old school master. John Kidd, until recently 
 a citizen of Raymond township and the villagi
 
 750 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 of Raymond, but who has removed to Litchfield, districl in the state Legislature. Eis other 
 
 was for many years a prominent character in sons are engaged in different lines of business 
 
 the affairs of Raymond township. Mr. Kidd's in various parts of the country. We wish to 
 
 narrative belongs to the history of Raymond remark here thai Robert Pepperdine was the 
 
 township and although he is in. longer a citi- father of George Pepperdine, the brilliant 
 
 zen here, we give him this space to which we young attorney who left Montgomery county 
 
 believe he is entitled. Dr. P. J. Sermon was some few years ago and located in Missouri. 
 
 for many years a practitioner in the aeighbor- William and John Guthrie, who own farms 
 
 hood of Raymond, but he is now too advanced in north of the village, have also been helpful iu 
 
 years to further practice his profession. He is. the general progress of the township and the 
 
 however, anion- the honored and well reapected Chapmans are also names familiar to the peo- 
 
 pioneer citizens of the village. John II. Mil- pie of that township, Judge Chapman having 
 
 lor. until within the last few years engaged in been associated with Judge E. Lane at the 
 
 agricultural pursuits, lived some three miles ti I' the building of our present county 
 
 east of Raymond, on a well apportioned farm, courthouse. Hezekiah Moore is one of the 
 In 1892 Mr. Miller moved to the village of wealthy citizens of the village and has done 
 Raymond ami engaged in the hardware and much to build up the various interests of the 
 Eurniture business, lie sold hi- farming in- town. The coal mine at that place we under- 
 terests ami lias given over the control of bis stand was due to his efforts ami that be was 
 hardware and furniture trade to his sons, Clif- among the heaviest subscribers to its stock, 
 ford E. and George A. Hi- younger son. Lem- Mr. Moore is also one of the mainstays of the 
 uel, is at present living in Hunnewell, Missouri, Methodist Episcopal church in Ins town, 
 and his older son. Jesse, is a photographer in Another character that we wish to notice is (be 
 si. Louis, Missouri. His only daughter is the "Only" John Green. This gentleman estab- 
 wife of (». A. Edwards, of Coffeen. Mr. Mil- Lished the first banking institution in the vil- 
 ler is anion-' the substantial men of Raymond lage ami he has been engaged in various lines 
 township. Another well known character of of merchandising at this place, lie served his 
 Raymond township is Dorman Crane, 'be am- county as treasurer. 1890-94, and is well known 
 tioneer. For several years he lived with bis to almost every citizen within its limits, lie is 
 brother Needham Crane, about two miles south- a jolly, genial fellow ami to know him mean- to 
 east of the village of Raymond. Within the clasp him a,- a friend. 1 ». W. Star is another 
 last few years, however. Mr. Crane has been a financial pillar of the village of Raymond and 
 resident of Butler Grove township. Dr. Prank we understand that he is among the heavy stock- 
 Hicks, son-in-law of Oscar Seward, was for a holders in the National Bank recently estab- 
 aumber of years a prominent physician of Kay- lished there. Mr. Star is a man who appre- 
 mond. lie has retired from the practice of ln j ciates bis friends and the writer is glad to he 
 profession and is at present engaged in looking numbered among them. 
 alter bis farming interests. Among the busi- 
 in'-> men of Raymond we may mention Jacob 
 Culler, Charles Sherer. Joseph Kessi n-er. 
 
 Charles Schwartz. W. I.. Seymour and quite a ERVING TOWNSHIP AND THE VILLAGE 
 
 list of others that we ,a n not at present eall to OF IRVING 
 
 mind. Among those who deserve to he remem- Tliis township begins its history with a set- 
 
 bered in this article are the late William Peck (dement made in 1826 at what was known as 
 
 ami Robert Pepperdine. .1. I >. Parrott is an- h,,. Bostick settlement. Ezra Bostick had 
 
 other, who. at last accounts, was yet among formerly located m the settlement near Don- 
 
 the living, but infirm ami feeble through the nellson, but two years later in company with 
 
 experiences of four score years. Mr. Parrott his sons-in-law. William ami duel Knight, they 
 
 had several sons, among whom is Walter II.. formed a settlement about (wo and one-half 
 
 •who at one time represented this senatorial miles northeast of Hillsboro, in section -29.
 
 PAST A.ND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 751 
 
 [rving township. Mr. Bostick was an old [rving township in L829 and reared a Large 
 
 revolutionary soldier and i1 is related of him family of children, among whom we may 
 
 thai he had been engaged in many of the hard mention J. Milton, Harvey, George and John 
 
 battles foughl between the patriot troops and and other sons and daughters whose aames the 
 
 the king's regulars; thai he was severely writer does no1 recall. J. Milton Kelley lias 
 
 wounded in one of these engagements and thai for many years been one of the mosl prominenl 
 
 he never recovered fully from his wound. You men of [rving township. He was engaged in 
 
 will note thai we have mentioned thr if the farming and stock-raising until the lasl few 
 
 old Revolutionary heroes who made their way years, when he sold his farm and moved to the 
 to the western country to find homes for their village of [rving. Much of his attention has 
 children. Joel Knight, who accompanied Mr. been given to buying and shipping stock. We 
 Bostick to Illinois, was a Cumberland Presby- believe, however, thai Mr. Kelley has recently 
 terian preacher, and in an early day he trav- retired from active business. His influence 
 eled from one settlement I" another preaching oh Iho community has been for its betterment, 
 in private homes and when the weather would and Mr. Kelley may rest secure in knowing 
 permit, in the groves, "which were God's first that the reputation formed through the pro- 
 temples." The writei well remembers tins ductive years of his life is fixed in the good 
 saintly old man and i1 affords pleasure to re- will of his fellow men. Harvey Kelley is re- 
 flect mi the life and character of such men as garded as rather eccentric, bu1 his peculiarities 
 the Rev. Joel Knight. In L877,a1 the close of amount to a species of genius. He has for 
 a long life, this aged servant of our Chrisl de- some years been experimenting in the culture 
 parted this .life. He moved out of this earthly of ginseng, and I am informed thai the ex- 
 tabernacle into the mansion which bis Lord bad periment has been very profitable and thai he 
 g 0n e to prepare for bun. We may forgel bis has realized severa] thousand dollars from the 
 figure and form and hiswords alike be Los1 in sale of (Ins valuable article of commerce. John 
 forgetfulness, bul his influence shall live on Kelley is a very successful merchanl in the vil- 
 ;n i,l ,,n through ila' lives of the generation that [age of [rving, and Ins reputation I'm- fair deal- 
 come after him until the end. Mark and mg has established I'm- bun a wide and desir- 
 James Rutlidge settled in [rving township near able trade. In L830 John Christian and John 
 the western boundary lino in 1826. James Grantham both made their appearance in Irv 
 Rutlidge remained in Iho neighborhood until ing township— the former, a Baptist, and the 
 
 I,,, death, lmt Marl, Rutlidge ved to Hills- latter, a Methodisl preacher, so thai wo may 
 
 bom township in L827 and boughl a farm on suppose an offset in the building up of these 
 
 which ho lived until 1858, when he moved to two denominations by the acquisition of these 
 
 the city of Hillsboro. where bo died abonl Ion settlers. I am free In confess, however, Had 
 
 years later. In 1S9S John Lipo. a native of it is my belief thai sectarianism did nol goi 
 
 Germany, settled in the northern pari of the era its adherents so pronouncedly as it <]>«>- ti 
 
 township ami began to build for himself and day. and I have sometimes thoughi thai too 
 
 family a home. Mr. Lipe with oibor Gorman mucb sectarianism and the spiril of Christ are 
 
 families had migrated from North Carolina not in exact accord, and l«> this cause T believe 
 
 to Illinois and infused our early settlers with we may attribute an influence weakening to 
 
 Hi,, spirit of thrifl so characteristic of the Ger- the Christian work. We do not know whal be- 
 
 nians. John Lipe died many years ago. hot came of Rev. John Christian, hut one of his 
 
 bis wife survived him until L881, and it is sons was the father of William Y. Christian, 
 
 reported by G. X- Barry, a former historian deceased, and John C. Christian, who lives in 
 
 of the township, that over four hundred do- the vicinity of Coffeen. One of the family 
 
 scendants and relatives attended the burial married Nancy Valentine, of Bond county, but 
 
 services of Mrs. John Lipe. Possibly there is he lived only a. few years thereafter. His 
 
 no other instance that parallels it in the bis- widow. Nancy Christian, was married later to 
 torv of the slate, .lames Kelley settled in Harrison Brown, and by him she was the
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 mother of several children. John C. Christian, 
 of Coffeen, is the Eather of Arthur Christian 
 an.l Melville Christian, both of the village of 
 Coffeen. John Grantham died in 1842 and 
 1. ft three sons surviving him. These have done 
 their part in contributing to the religious and 
 social conditions of the community, and the 
 Grantham family has an honored place in the 
 annals of Montgomery county. The first mill 
 built in living township was in 1831 and was 
 about three and a hall' miles southwest "I' the 
 village of Irving, on the Hillsboro road. It 
 was erected by James Paden, who. alter operat- 
 ing it for eight or ten years, sold it to Ezekiel 
 Grantham., who remodeled it and kept it in ope- 
 ration for many years. Many sawmills and 
 gristmills have been operated in the vil- 
 lage of Irving ami within the township, but 
 only those that are matters of history will be 
 noticed here. The first sehoolhouse erected in 
 Irving township was in 182? and the first 
 pedagogue was Joseph Mclntyre. Mr. Mcln- 
 tyre, we are told, was an old man of seventy- 
 five years, but that hi- muscles were like sea- 
 soned oak. and when we remember that in the 
 schools of pioneer time the work of school- 
 teaching was an athletic business and required 
 more muscle than brains, we are not surprised 
 to find this aged Eercules the most popular 
 teacher anywhere to he found. John Grantham 
 was another of the earlier teachers, and this 
 pioneer preacher made his pulpit in the Hope- 
 well church a place for dispensing knowledge 
 as well as spiritual blessing, for he was also 
 the Methodist pastor of the Eopewell congre- 
 gation. The firs! public school of the town- 
 ship was taught by William F. King in 1848- 
 49, and the writer remembers that it was his 
 pleasure i" visil a school taught by Mr. King 
 in 1890, and while an -Id man he regarded him 
 as one of the energetic, enterprising teachers 
 of Montgomery county. We believe that this 
 was Mr. King's last term, for he died some two 
 or three years thereafter. If the man or wom- 
 an who, having spenl half a century in the 
 
 -. n f school tea. lung, does not deserve in 
 
 old days the care and comfort of the state 
 as much as they who go to battle, then pub- 
 lic service in the schoolroom is not appreciated 
 as it should he. In ether words, the writer 
 
 wishes te he understood as favoring a service 
 pension for wornout teachers after they have 
 given the most productive years of their lives 
 m school well, for it is well known that the 
 teacher in our public schools is not sufficiently 
 paid, that by economy and frugal living he 
 may acquire a sufficiency to maintain him in 
 his declining years: that the teacher who gives 
 the best of his life in time and energj is as 
 deserving a- the patriot who, for a few years 
 or months, goes to the front in the defense of 
 his country. The first church organized in 
 the township was the Hopewell Methodist 
 Episcopal church, in 1829. Rev. Benson and 
 Rev. Bastian, two itinerant preachers, made 
 this organization. A building was erected in 
 1830 mi Locust Fork, m the western part of 
 
 the township, and na 1 Hopewell. In 1856 
 
 the organization was moved to a place north- 
 east of the village of Irving, about one mile, 
 and in 1868 it was decided by the congregation 
 to move the church into the town of Irving. 
 The Cumberland Presbyterians, under the di- 
 rection of Rev. Joel Knight, organized a so- 
 ciety in 1830, and for many years Mr. Knight 
 was the resident pastor. In 1866 a reorganiza- 
 tion of the church was made, and in the follow- 
 ing year a place of worship was built in the 
 village of Irving. There is also a flourishing 
 Lutheran organization in tin- township. As 
 far back a- 1842 Daniel Trimper, a Lutheran 
 minister, effected an organization of the Lu- 
 theran adherents in tin- section. These wen 
 largely Germans or of German parentage who 
 had come from North Carolina sonic years be- 
 fore. In 1858 the lr\ m- Lutheran church 
 was established, with Rev. Isaac Short as firs! 
 pastor. In 1856 the Christian church of Irv- 
 ine' was organized by Elders J. G. Ward and 
 J. M. Taulbee. A reorganization took place, 
 however, in 1876. We may say that the moral 
 influences of the Christian people of Irving. 
 regardless of denomination, has been such that 
 their little city has always maintained, a high 
 moral standard. Irving as a village has main- 
 tained a temperance hoard through nearly all 
 of it- history, and the years are few indeed 
 which record the presence of saloons at that 
 place. The first business bouse in the village 
 of Irvine was built bv William Berry and T. G.
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTS 
 
 ;:,:; 
 
 Black in 1846. The first dwelling was built 
 by J. M. Taulbee, and in 1856 the town plat 
 was made by Messrs. Huggins and Rider. 
 Huggins and Rider sold their interests the fol- 
 lowing war to Roberi W. Davis and Madison 
 Berry. The firsl school taught in the village 
 was li\ a Mr. Frink, in the old Hopewell meet- 
 ing bouse, which had been moved into the town. 
 Dr. J. 11. Spears was the first physician to 
 Locate in the village. Since that time, how- 
 ever, it would require a long list of name- to 
 record the different physicians who have prac- 
 ticed medicine in Irving. Among those who 
 have contributed to the progress of the town- 
 ship and of the village we ma\ name Isaac 
 Lewey, J. B. Cromer, John McDavid, Milton 
 Berry, Charles MeKinney, R. V. 1'arkhill, 
 John Wiley. Sam Wiley. Noah Taylor. II. J. 
 Huestis, Jacob Lyerly, George File, Marvin 
 Thumb, Marshall Wynn, Henry Latham, 
 Samuel Bartlett, .lames Morain and a host of 
 others that we can not at present call to mind. 
 Isaac Lewey was among the earlier settlers of 
 tin township, and by industry and frugality 
 succeeded in acquiring quite an estate. Mr. 
 Leuc\ has been dead some few years, but his 
 wife survives him and is living at present in 
 the village of Irving at an advanced age. Mr. 
 Lewey had but one son, George, who died some 
 twenty years ago. Mrs. Jacob Bone and Mrs. 
 I!. V. 1'arkhill. two of his daughters, reside in 
 the village of Irving. J. B. Cromer was for 
 many years a resident minister of the Lutheran 
 congregation. His widow lived for some years 
 on a farm not far from the village and his 
 daughters were teachers in the public schools of 
 the county. His son George ha- been located 
 in one i.l' the western states tor quite a good 
 many years. John McDavid, Sr., is a -on 
 of William McDavid, the pioneer, and has 
 been worthy the name which lie hears. John 
 
 McDavid was sheriff of Montg cry county 
 
 some time near the close of the war or not 
 long thereafter. John McDavid did not settle 
 in the immediate neighborhood of McDavid's 
 Point, hut. made his home in the northern 
 part of East Fork township. His first wife 
 was a. daughter of the pioneer preacher, Joel 
 Knight, and by her lie had several sons, among 
 whom are William J., our present county su- 
 
 perintendent; John T.. Jr., a grain and stock- 
 buyer of Irving; Joel K., banker and lawyer 
 of the city of Hillsboro; Augustus, who lives 
 on a farm in Irving township; and Logan, who 
 is at present engaged in hardware business in 
 Hillsboro. Alter the death of his first wife 
 Mr. McDavid was married to Malindy Snell, 
 by whom he has one son, Frank, assistant 
 cashier in the Montgomery County Loan & 
 Trust Company Hank in Hillsboro. Mr. McDa- 
 vid. at the age of eighty-two, is hale and strong 
 for one so advanced in life. He has been one 
 of the aggressive spirits of the time, but with 
 that aggression has also been coupled the spirit 
 of progress. He has acquired a very large es- 
 tate, winch recently lie has shared with his sons. 
 That his life has been a benefit to the age none 
 may doubt, for while there has been seemingly 
 a bent toward selfishness there has also been 
 the moral example winch bis life has manifest- 
 ed to the world. Milton Berry is a descend- 
 ant of Madison Berry, one of the pioneers of 
 the county, and is esteemed as one of the most 
 efficient business men in the village of Irving. 
 
 At present lie Is cashier of tile ll'Vlllg Ihlllk. 
 
 Socially and morally .Mr. Berry is regarded in 
 bis home town as a model gentleman, and our 
 acquaintance with him verifies statements of 
 ibis kind, which we have often heard made re- 
 garding him. Charles MeKinney is another of 
 the pushing, energetic characters that have con- 
 tributed largely to the upbuilding of the busi- 
 ness interests of I rung. Commencing a poor 
 boy, Mr. MeKinney, at the meridian of life, has 
 accumulated a nice little estate. He has an 
 interesting family, in which he takes great 
 pride. In Christian work Mr. MeKinney has 
 been a leader since his early manhood, and with 
 him precept has become example, ami his life 
 may he read a- an open hook, for no one in the 
 village of [rving doubts tin rnesi and up- 
 right Christian life of Charles B. MeKinney. 
 lie is engaged in general merchandising and 
 ha- established a trade lliat ought to please 
 any village merchant. Henry Latham also 
 contributed of his energy to the general uplift 
 of the community. As a dealer in hardware 
 he built up a good business, hut. desiring a 
 wider Meld, he divided bis interest at Irving 
 with Mr. Tony Ludewick and put in a large
 
 .".I 
 
 'AST AM» PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 stock of implements and hardware at the 
 county seat. Dr. K. V. Parkhill is president 
 
 ill the Irving Bank, and he has extensive real 
 estate holdings in the vicinity of Irving. Dr. 
 I'arkliill has a wide and Lucrative practice and 
 enjoys the reputation of being a very success- 
 ful physician. His wife is a daughter of the 
 late Isaac Lewey and by him she has inherited 
 a considerable estate. Mrs. Parkhill is a 
 leader in the social envies of her town. John 
 Wiley and Sam Wiley were both early settlers 
 in this section of the county. Sam Wiley has 
 been dead for several years, but Uncle John 
 Wiley is still living at the advanced age of 
 eighty-two. H. J. Huestis, who built the first 
 brick store building in the village in 1856, is 
 still living and at last account was the school 
 treasurer of I rung township. Mr. Huestis 
 has filled this position for a greater number 
 of years than has any other treasurer in any 
 township in the county. Jacob Lyerly. father 
 uf Aaron and Richard Lyerly, was also a. fac- 
 tor in developing the agricultural interests of 
 this part of the county. George File, son of 
 Jacob File, the pioneer, improved a farm east 
 of the village of Irving about two miles. Here 
 he raised to manhood several sons, among 
 whom is Lawrence, a successful hardware mer- 
 chant in the village, and who is a son-in-law 
 of Rev. T. W. McDavid, of Coffeen. Marshall 
 Wynn, for many years a very successful school- 
 master and withal a very progressive and force- 
 ful teacher, laid aside the birch and engaged 
 in business enterprises to the financial inter- 
 ests of Mr. Wynn. hut 1 am compelled to say 
 that, in an educational sense the schools of 
 Montgomery county were much the loser. It 
 has been a pleasure to engage with Mr. Wynn 
 in the discussion of many pedagogic problems, 
 and we acknowledge bis prowess in such en- 
 counters. Samuel Bartlett died several years 
 ago. but. having been among the leading citi- 
 zens of Irving through a period of many years, 
 it is well to remember him here. Mr. Bartlett 
 left residing in the neighborhood of Irving 
 many descendants, and among the business 
 men of the comity we may mention Henry 
 Bartlett, who is the largest dealer in poultry 
 products of any firm in this section. Daniel 
 Stump, who lives on a farm near Irving, is 
 
 one of the business characters we must not fail 
 to notice. For several years -Mr. Stump was 
 manager of the large estate of George W. 
 Paisley, but recently he has held a position in 
 ci i i nm with the Montgomery Coal Com- 
 pany at. Paisley. Dr. Fullerton is another 
 citizen who deserves to he remembered in these 
 pages, lie has quite an extensive practice and 
 is regarded as one of the leading physicians of 
 the county. Arthur Kine'ade, the druggist, is 
 one of Irving's financial pillars. He is a son- 
 in-law of the late William Brewer, and his 
 wife was a granddaughter of the late Judge 
 Brewer, the pioneer. Mr. Kincade is one of 
 the large landowners of Montgomery county. 
 He is a young man and has an opportunity to 
 accomplish much good by the means which has 
 come into his possession. Mr. Kincade's wife 
 died about two years ago without issue, and 
 with her ended the William Brewer line of 
 the pioneer's family. A. K. Vandever, who 
 is the present proprietor and editor of the 
 Irving Times, will be noticed in our chapter on 
 the Montgomery county press. 
 
 BUTLER GROVE TOWNSHIP AND THE 
 VILLAGE OF BUTLER. 
 
 When Butler Grove township was surveyed 
 in 1819 it included one settler, who belonged, 
 as we have shown before, to the Hillsboro settle- 
 ment. Tins settler was Jacob Cress, who in 
 1818 entered a. farm in section 34. Mr. Cress 
 came originally from North Carolina. It is 
 well to note here that in coming across the 
 prairies the early emigrants were compelled 
 to follow Indian trails or buffalo paths in 
 their journey. It. is related of Mr. Cress that 
 he made this trip during the warmer months 
 of the year and that lie found the Hies in such 
 immense swarms that he could not travel by 
 daw ami that it was only during the night 
 and when the stars were shining that he could 
 proceed on bis journey. Mr. Cress brought 
 with him much live stock from his native state. 
 and we find in a previous narrative the state- 
 ment that to keep his hogs from being lost 
 he supplied each with a little hell. Tn 1865 
 Jacob Cress, the pioneer, crossed to that other
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 755 
 
 country, having completed bis course and hav- 
 ing faithfully performed the service of a long 
 and eventful life he might well enter into the 
 joys which are prepared for those who have 
 "fought the good fight." We have noticed at 
 some length Jacob Cress, of Hillsboro town- 
 ship, who was the son of Jacob Cress, the pio- 
 neer. The next to locate in this township was 
 Israel Seward, of Hamilton county, Ohio. In 
 L819 .Mr. Seward pitched his tent on what is 
 known to us as Seward's hill. Mr. Seward was 
 the first school commissioner of the county 
 and when teachers made their reports directly 
 to the count] commissioner. As the state had 
 provided a small allowance for each child en- 
 rolled, it was neeessan to make tins report to 
 the school commissioner and receive this pit- 
 tance in addition to the subscription fee paid 
 by the parent. To the reader I would suggesl 
 that when visiting the county seat he will find 
 one of these old schedules, kept in 183? b\ 
 Alexander Buie in East Fork township. On 
 this schedule you will find the names of the 
 Whittens, the Cresses, the Barringers and many 
 others which were familiar to all the older set- 
 tlers. The writer, to preserve tins document, 
 had it framed in 1892. and it lianas in the 
 
 c n superintendent's office as a souvenir of 
 
 other days. Mr. Seward left many descendants 
 in the neighborhood of the village of Butler. 
 Butler Seward, who was a brother to Israel 
 Seward, made his settlement in Seward's Grove 
 in 1829, and doubtless it is from this fact that 
 the township derives its present name. Butler 
 Seward, however, afterward removed northward 
 to what was known as Seward's Point. This 
 is located in Raymond township. In 1823 
 Obadiah Ware came from New Hampshire ami 
 settled a paid, of section 15, and here he built 
 one of the most pleasanl and attractive home- 
 in the county. I'pon this farm he resided for 
 over half a century. William A. Young, who 
 married a daughter of Mr. Ware, is the owner 
 of the old homestead. Mr. Ware had other 
 children: Mrs. Harris, wife of the late Thomas 
 E. Harris; Elizabeth Westcott; and Henry 
 Ware. A brother of Obadiah Ware was also 
 an early settler of this township. His name 
 was Benjamin, and. like his brothers, was one 
 of the quiet, unassuming, though successful, 
 
 farmers of Butler Grove. Justice Ware is a 
 son of Benjamin Ware and succeeded to his 
 father's estate. Ware's Grove, in Butler Grove 
 township, receives its name from the Ware 
 brothers, Obadiah and Benjamin. The wife 
 of Obadiah Ware was a Miss Electa Post, of 
 Addison county. Vermont. She died, however, 
 in 1858, and Mr. Ware died in September, 
 L876. David Ware'- father, 1 am informed, 
 never came to this stale, but David Ware was 
 tor many years among the most prominent- 
 citizens of his township. lie lived northeast 
 of Ware's Grove and much of his large estate 
 included the black, heavy soil lying north and 
 east of the mound. Lyman Ware. John Ware 
 and other sons of David Ware are among the 
 best citizens of our county. William II. Cass 
 settled in tins town-hip on section 5 in 1824. 
 Mr. Cass left several children, among whom is 
 William ('ass. one of the largest landowners of 
 the township, but who. some years ago, moved 
 to the village of Raymond. The first mill 
 built in the township was in 1825. It was a 
 horsemill, so called because the power was sup- 
 plied by horses. This was built by Jacob Cress. 
 Sr. It was the only mil] within a radius of 
 many miles, the nearest being Fogleman's i •< • ; >- 
 per mill. This mill was operated in this way 
 for a period of twenty years and was finally 
 remodeled into a steam mill. Mr. Seward 
 erected a mill about one mile south of the pres- 
 ent village of Butler in 1839. This venture, 
 being upon rather a, large scale, did not pros- 
 per, ami Mr. Seward soon found himself in 
 financial embarrassment. Mr. Seward was not 
 the man to let a. matter of this kind discouragi 
 him. and when the gold fever of 1849 swept 
 over the country Mr. Seward, in company with 
 others, made l he overland journey to that west- 
 ern country, and there, in the "new Eldorado," 
 he amassed considerable fortune, and he it 
 saiil to his credit he returned to Illinois and 
 paid all his outstanding obligations, lie dis- 
 posed of the idd mill which had been his un- 
 doing, ami once more stood among his fellow 
 men free from the obligations that had. in a 
 
 asure, clouded his former good name. My 
 
 informal ion in regard to this Seward does not 
 reveal hi.- relationship to Israel Seward and 
 Butler Seward. Captain Thomas Phillips
 
 ;.m; 
 
 'AST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 made improvements in this township at an early 
 date. Tin' farm is at present owned by John 
 Grassell. Thomas A. Gray was another early 
 settler of this township, and among those who 
 
 at one time held Large estates mm lie mentioned 
 Solomon Harkey, of Eillsboro; Henry Welge, 
 John and William Turner, D.G. Burris, George 
 Grassell, Muses Berry, Orlando Mack, James 
 M. (icss, William Watson, John Clinesmith, 
 Joseph Stickle, A. H. 11. Rountree, Absalom 
 Cress. Charles W. .Jenkins. James Doyle, 
 Isaac Doyle, E. M. Hodges. Roberi Bryce, 
 William W. Keele and James M. Punten- 
 ney. Many of these estates, however, have 
 changed owners within the past leu years. 
 Charles W. Jenkins, at one time the 
 efficient circuit clerk of Montgomery coun- 
 ty, owned an estate immediately south of the 
 village of Butler, and here his widow resides 
 on the old homestead. An only son, Roto, 
 manages the estate. A daughter, Camilla, who 
 resides with her mother, was for a period of 
 several years one of the leading teachers of the 
 county. Moses Berry, one of the successful 
 farmers and stockmen of the county, lives on 
 a well-apportioned farm about one mile north 
 of the village. Uncle Moses i.- a familiar figure 
 in the little town, and though an octogenarian 
 he is frequently seen at the county seat. He 
 has for many years been connected with the 
 school board of the Butler district, ami to his 
 interest the Butler schools owe much of the 
 superior standing which the) enjoy among the 
 schools of our county. On a farm adjacent to 
 Mr. Berry lives Jesse Barrett, ex-county super- 
 intendent of Montgomery county. We have 
 alluded to Mr. Barreti in our article on the 
 county in general. W. A. Young, who lives 
 on the old Obadiah Ware estate, is not to he 
 regarded as limited in his work ami reputation 
 to the narrow confines of his township. Mr. 
 Young .-lands among the best known horticul- 
 turists of the state, and for many years he 
 has been a member of the hoard id' agriculture. 
 Ai the Paris Exposition and also at Buffalo 
 Mr. Young secured lirst prizes for fruit grown 
 on his Butler Grove farm. Isaac and James 
 Doyle, who settled in the northern part of the 
 township, were gentlemen of the highest order. 
 Thev were among thai class of farmers whose 
 
 homes were kept in excellent condition and the 
 ueatness winch everything showed about their 
 
 farms at once proclai) 1 them men of pro- 
 
 gressive ideas and habits of thrift — two quali- 
 ties absolutely necessary to develop the highest 
 character in any branch of industrial life. The 
 writer i- glad to have been able to know these 
 gentlemen among his true friends, and though 
 they are no more numbered among the living 
 it is a pleasure to reflect upon their good quali- 
 ties as citizens and as friends. Robert Bryce, 
 for thirty years and more township treasurer 
 of the schools of that township, has become 
 the trusted friend of the succeeding count)' 
 superintendents of schools who have served in 
 thai capacity during the long period of years 
 in which Uncle Robert has made his annual 
 report to that office. Robert Bryce is a native 
 of Scotland and is a typical character of that 
 rugged country. It is a pleasure to converse 
 with him about the Scottish poets and states- 
 men. Ih' is familiar with the location of all 
 the scene- described in Scott's "Lady of the 
 Lake" and by Robert Burns, whose poems are 
 as familial- in America as in his native land. 
 The\ describe no quiet vale or mountain crag 
 that Uncle Robert has not seen, for in his 
 boyhood as a guide he pointed out each spot 
 made famous in the song and story that tell 
 of Scottish life. Orlando Mack was another 
 of the earlier settlers of Butler Grove town- 
 ship. Ih' came to this county in 1840 and, be- 
 ing a millwright, he assisted in building and 
 equipping many of the water nulls that were 
 found in Montgomery county fiftv or sixty 
 years ago. Orlando Mack left three daughters 
 surviving him: Elizabeth, wife of William 
 Nimmons; Myra, wife of George Walcott; and 
 Ella. Oscar Mack came to this count) from New 
 Hampshire with his father. Calvin Mack, about 
 1830 and settled on a farm in section 9, But- 
 ler Grove township. Calvin Mack died in 1845 
 and left Oscar Mack, then a lad of fifteen years 
 of age, to assist his mother in the direction of 
 the affairs of the farm and caring for the 
 younger members of the family. Dexter Mack 
 is the youngest of a family of six children left 
 by Calvin Mack. At last accounts he was liv- 
 ing on a farm about four miles north of Hills- 
 boro. i (sear Mack died some vears nso and
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 r.57 
 
 lefl surviving him Calvin 11., an only son, and 
 several daughters, ('alia Mark, as be is called, 
 ranks among our energetic and enterprising 
 voung farmers. Ee lives on the estate formerly 
 owned by his father. I >. C. Burris, who mar- 
 ried Roselma, a sister of Oscar Mack, was an- 
 other of those who have contributed much 
 toward the development of Butler Grove. He 
 succeeded in acquiring a Large homestead in 
 the northwestern part of the township. He 
 died smile years ago ami this estate has been 
 divided among his children. George W. Brown, 
 father of George W. Brown, Jr., came to Mont- 
 gomery county in 1838. In 184] he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Sarah A. Jenkins, daughter of 
 Stroud and Rebecca Jenkins. The oldest son 
 is George W., Jr.. of Butler, Illinois, lie has 
 been engaged in the village in various lines of 
 business during the past thirty years. At one 
 time he owned and operated the elevator and 
 mills at that place. For the past few years he 
 has been engaged in general merchandising. 
 Hi- sons, James and Frank, conduct a large 
 hardware ami implement business in the city 
 of Hillsboro. S'eott Hoes ami Charlie are en- 
 gaged in general merchandising in the village 
 of Butler ami they have, by strict business 
 principles, built up a very large trade. They 
 have a very extensive general stock, which en- 
 ables them to supply their patrons with any- 
 thing thai can he found in any well-arranged 
 creneral stock anywhere. Frank McWilliams 
 operates the elevator at this place lor Munday 
 & Settlemeyer. Frank is of the pioneer Mc- 
 Williams stock, ami his upright, business-like 
 methods have won fur him many frii ads in his 
 neighborhood. William Elliman, who lives 
 in the vicinity id' the village, is another of 
 the leading citizens of this township. Mi'- 
 Elliman has been engaged in tanning ami 
 stock-raising. He is interested, however, in 
 whatever contributes to the bettermeni of the 
 community. James Ward, who moved from 
 Urn- d'Arc to Butler Grove township about 
 twelve years ago, ranks as one of tin' first real 
 estate men of the county, ami h\ his atten- 
 tion to his large farming interests and to his 
 land deals he has become one of the financial 
 strong men of Butler Grove township. We may 
 sav for Mr. Ward that bis estate has been built 
 
 up from a beginning so small that it was not. 
 appreciable, and. though he enjoys a position 
 of affluence to-day, no man can say that .lames 
 Ward acquired any of his holdings by deception 
 or indirection, lie is another whose latchstring 
 is always out and the hospitality of his ele- 
 gant home lie is every ready to extend with a 
 friend. In closing I must not forget to men- 
 tion my good friend, dames Sammons. Like 
 Mr. Ward, the reputation of Mr. Sammons is 
 not circumscribed, tor he is known by cattle- 
 men throughout this entire section of the state. 
 Possibly Mr. Sammons is the largest shipper 
 of fat cattle in Montgomery county. This 
 closes our narrative of Butler Grove township, 
 and we hope to preserve in these pages the 
 names id' sonic of the worthy citizens, living 
 and dead, who have contributed to the progress 
 and development of our county. 
 
 THE I'h'FSS ()F MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 Realizing the importance that attaches to the 
 press in everything that contributes to the 
 well being of the community, we had promised 
 to give a chapter in tin- volume exclusively to 
 the press of the county. In pursuance of this 
 idea we sent imitations to each of the editors 
 of our county publications requesting that they 
 furnish us with data concerning the history of 
 each newspaper Inning a circulation among our 
 people. I am sorry to be compelled to give 
 only such facts as have come to me through 
 outside sources, as but two among our several 
 editors have responded to our invitation. Nev- 
 ertheless we shall do the best that we can in 
 the face of the fact that we have but little 
 exact data at hand. The first newspaper pub- 
 lished in Montgomery county was issued in 
 1838. II was called tin 1 Prairie Beacon and 
 was edited by Aaron Clapp in Hillsboro. After 
 a period of eighteen months, during which 
 there was continual financial embarrassment, 
 Mr. Clapp suspended publication. We are told 
 that the enterprise was unpopular by reason 
 of its neutrality on all questions in which it 
 should have been positive. An attempt to 
 carrv water on both shoulders resulted in over-
 
 758 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 turning the pail. We have this condition of 
 affairs just the same to-day as was experienced 
 fifty years ago. A man or a newspaper must 
 stand for something. IF he attempts to stand 
 for everything, sooner or lain- he stands for 
 nothing. In 1850 Frank and Cyrus Gilmore 
 established tin- Prairie .Mirror, a Whig sheet 
 politically, but advocating some of the doctrines 
 taught by Douglas. In 1851 the Messrs. Gil- 
 more sold the Prairie Mirror to William K. 
 Jackson, who made Mr. C. D. Dickerson editor 
 and foreman. This gentleman was tainted 
 with the "Know Nothing" doctrine that swept 
 over the country at this time, lie purchased 
 the plant from Mr. Jackson in 1854 and con- 
 tinued as proprietor and editor until L856, 
 when he changed the name to Montgomery 
 County Herald. Shortly afterward he sold 
 the Herald to Mr. .lames Blackman, dr.. who 
 conducted it as a "Know Nothing" paper until 
 1858, when he sold the Herald to John W. 
 Mitchell and Frank H. Gilmore. who conducted 
 it as an independent paper until the commence- 
 ment of the campaign of 1860. at which time 
 Davis. Turner and Company bought it and 
 commenced its publication as a Democratic 
 paper during the campaign. Frank Gilmore 
 repurchased the plant and continued it as a 
 Democratic sheet until 18.62, when he sold 
 the outfit to Mr. E. J. Ellis, a refugee from 
 Missouri. Mr. Ellis in turn sold the concern 
 to Ed L. Reynolds and Wilbur F. Stoddard. 
 In 1865 E. J. ('. Alexander came in posse 
 of the plant and changed the name to the 
 Hillsboro Democrat, which name it retained 
 through the several years of ownership of Mr. 
 Alexander, who sold his interests to the late 
 Ben 1-1. Johnson, who conducted it as a Demo- 
 cratic organ during a period of several years, 
 when mi (lie death of Mr. Johnson, his son 
 Emmet assumed editorship. The name has 
 been changed since the purchase of the publi- 
 cation by Mr. Pdiss to the Montgomery News 
 and under this heading it is known throughout 
 southern and central Illinois. The present 
 editors. C. W. F.liss and son. Clinton, are pub- 
 lishing one of the best country newspapers in 
 the state. In politics it is Democratic, but not 
 partisan to the extent of being offensive. The 
 forecasts published in tin- news have attracted 
 
 attention as matters of wit and sarcasm. Mr. 
 Bliss has a style peculiarly his own and many 
 of his pungent paragraphs are extensively 
 quoted by publications in all parts of the coun- 
 try. Clinton Bliss, junior editor of the News. 
 has won considerable reputation as a writer of 
 stories for children. The Montgomery News 
 has a very wide circulation and its popularity 
 extends wherever it is read. The News Letter 
 of Hillsboro was established by C. E. and Emma 
 T. Bangs and was conducted by them as a 
 Republican organ during the life time of the 
 late Charles L. Bangs. Charles Truitt became 
 proprietor and editor, which position he held 
 until associated with B. F. Boyd. Mr. Boyd 
 afterward purchased the interest of Mr. Truitt 
 and was for some years sole proprietor and 
 editor of the Journal, which name the publi- 
 cation now bore. On the appointment of Mr. 
 Boyd as postmaster in Hillsboro. he sold the 
 Journal to Josiah Bixler, who is its present 
 proprietor, editor and owner. "Mr. Bixler has 
 made the Journal a very excellent paper. It 
 is Bepublican in politics, but in its editorials 
 it. is clean and perfectly free from everything 
 that may be considered questionable in charac- 
 ter. The Journal has an extensive circulation 
 and finds its way into most of the leading 
 homes of Republican families and those of 
 many Democrats within the county. Mr. Bix- 
 ler. the editor, was for several years city super- 
 intendent of public schools of Hillsboro. He 
 is a scholarly gentleman and wide awake to 
 all that pertains to the interest of his city 
 and his county. In 1867 E. J. C. Alexander 
 sold to B. S. Hood, of Litchfield, the Monitor, 
 a Republican organ, which Mr. Hood removed 
 to Litchfield and published for a season at 
 that place. Taylor and Kimball, of Bellville, 
 purchased the plant from Mr. Hood and in 
 turn sold it to Messrs. Coolidge i\- Litchfield. 
 The former gentleman was the salaried editor 
 of the Independent. This was in the latter 
 part of the \ear of 1871. The office was re- 
 moved to Empire Hall, where it remained un- 
 til autumn of 1874. About this time Mr. 
 Litchfield sold his interest to Mr. Coolidge. 
 The latter gentleman remained in control until 
 1876, when he associated with him F. O. Mar- 
 tin as partner. In 1878 the concern was sold
 
 PAST .VXD PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ,59 
 
 to Charles Walker and B. S. Hood. Shortly 
 after Mr. Hood became sole proprietor and con- 
 tinued in that relation until 188] when J. G. 
 Campbell became a partner. The Monitor 
 established its reputation as a newsy publica- 
 tion under the management of B. S. Hood, but 
 by far the ablesl writer on its editorial staff 
 was the late 11. A. Coolidge. A1 present the 
 Monitor is owned by Samuel Eessinger and he 
 is also editor in chief and in addition to the 
 publication of his paper as a weekly, he also 
 issues the Daily News. The Monitor is one 
 of the leading Republican papers in this sec- 
 tion of the state. It lias a wide circulation and 
 is ably edited. Mr. Kessinger being a gentle- 
 man of education ami ability, has by his enter- 
 prise built up one of the best paying newspaper 
 plants in this section of the country. The 
 Litchfield Herald, a Democratic organ, grew 
 out of the necessities of the party to have an 
 advocate in the metropolis of the county. As- 
 sociated in the earlier management of the en- 
 terprise was the late Fred Beeman. After 
 Mr. Beeman's time conns Kelley and Cornelius 
 and in some way Walter S. Parrott was con- 
 nected with its earlier management, but in 
 what manner, the writer has forgotten. Later 
 Robert P. Bolton and Mr. Kelley became sole 
 proprietors of the concern. Later Mr. Kelley 
 sold his interest to J. C. Wilson, who in turn 
 resold to Mr. Bolton, since which time Mr. 
 Bolton has been sole proprietor and editor. 
 Under bis able management the Herald has 
 secured a wide circulation and much valuable 
 patronage. Mr. Bolton is a thorough gentle- 
 man and lias maintained for his paper under 
 all circumstances the highest standard in its 
 moral tone. He is a ready and versatile writer 
 and his editorials would do credit to a metro- 
 politan paper. Some twenty years ag ' more 
 
 C. E. Cook and Walter S. Parrott established 
 a printing office in the village of Raymond. 
 Here they issued a weekly publication. This 
 was the beginning of the present plant owned 
 bv J. W. Potts. He lias been the proprietor 
 and editor of the Raymond Independent for 
 several years and the success of the Independent 
 in a financial way lias been almost unprece- 
 dented in the county. His paper carries the 
 largest line of local ads of any similar publica- 
 tion in our comity, and the only criticism that 
 
 can he passed by any one as to the independent 
 is that its reading matter is limited because 
 of the space given to advertisements. With 
 all. Mr. Potts makes bis paper an attractive 
 little sheet and it serves as a medium to push 
 all the best interests of Raymond. Joseph \V 
 Potts is a forceful and energetic newspaper 
 man and in a wider Held would soon make his 
 influence felt among men in his class. The 
 [rving Tunes, edited by Aaron EL Vandever, 
 contains a weekly report of the doings and un- 
 doings of the little village of Irving. Mr. Van- 
 dever being an ex-teacher tries to make his 
 newspaper not only a digesl of the week s 
 news, hut nearly always contains some observa- 
 tion of a character to educate and elevate its 
 readers. Considering the limited territory in 
 which his publication must derive its support, 
 Mr. Vandever has succeeded extremely well. 
 This gentleman comes of pioneer stock, hut his 
 ancestry belongs to Christian county rather 
 than lo Montgomery, lie is a nephew of the 
 late Judge Vandever of Taylorviile. Some two 
 or three years ago Harry Dean, a lad of eight- 
 een or twenty summers, established a little pa- 
 per in Paisley and called it the Search Light. 
 The enterprise, not receiving sufficient patron- 
 age, was sold to Mr. Toy of Fillmore. This in 
 turn after a publication of a short while sold 
 its subscription to the Montgomery Democrat, 
 of Coffeen, Illinois. As early as 1868 Nokomis 
 could boast of a newspaper. This was devoted 
 largely to the land interests of the county and 
 had a free circulation. In 1871 Pickett and 
 White c meneed the publication of the Ga- 
 zette, hul the expenses of the concern wore too 
 great ami il was sold to meet the incumbrances 
 against it. In 1873 A. H. Draper commenced 
 the publication of the Bulletin, which was con- 
 tinued through a period of several years. Dur- 
 ing this period, however, it had several pub- 
 lishers. In 1877 E. M. llulhert commenced 
 the publication of the Free Press and in 1878 
 it was consolidated with the Gazette and has 
 Icon known ever since as the Free Press-Ga- 
 zette, Mr. F. M. Hulbert, editor and publisher. 
 II. M. Graden published a paper called the 
 Atlas hut not receiving much support, it sus- 
 pended in 1881. In connection with the Free 
 Press-Gazette Mr. F. M. Hulbert began the 
 publication of the Deutscb Amerikaner. This
 
 760 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 was the firs1 German paper ever published in 
 this section of the state. Mr. Hulbert sold 
 his newspaper interests to Joseph Wilde, who 
 for several years was sole editor and publisher. 
 Mr. Wilde has since aboui L900 associated with 
 him Mr. Henry Webster. Mr. Wilde, being 
 a man of considerable means, lias always been 
 able tn supply his printing oilier with the very 
 hest materials and Ins papers have received a 
 wide patronage. His job printing is perhaps 
 
 as large as that of any other plant in the c - 
 
 tv. His German paper has a circulation cov- 
 ering several counties in tins part of the slate. 
 Mr. Wilde is a Large contributor to all public 
 enterprises connected with the city of Nokomis 
 and he takes a delight in conserving the moral 
 interests of his town. His wife is a daughter 
 of "Uncle" Mike Ohlman ami has inherited 
 from her parents the same cordial and hospi- 
 table spirit which they always manifest. Hen- 
 ry Webster, formerly engaged in agriculture 
 hut recently associated with Mr. Wilde in his 
 newspaper enterprises, is one of the genteel, 
 up-to-date, business men of Nokomis. His late 
 wife was a Miss Mat tie Forehand and it was 
 the privilege of the writer to spend a few 
 months of his school life associated with her 
 as a student at the old Hillsboro Academy. 
 He remembers her as one of the brightest and 
 best students in that institution. Her dispo- 
 sition was one of calm and dignified reserve, 
 hut at the same time a brilliant conversation- 
 alist and pleasant entertainer. She was the 
 mother of two sons in whom she took great 
 pride. She lived to see them complete their 
 education and enter upon the purpose of life. 
 Henry Webster socially and morally makes his 
 influence felt in the community in which he 
 lives. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church and takes greal interest in the 
 Sabbath-school, Epworth League and the other 
 church work. The Nokomis Progress, W. P. 
 Hagthrop, editor ami publisher, is a newsy 
 little sheet. In politics it is Democratic, of 
 the William J. Bryan brand. However, he car- 
 ried the Parker ticket at the mast head of the 
 Progress. In addition to the weekly issue 
 Mr. Hagthrop publishes a monthly magazine 
 which is devoted to educational interests and 
 to 1 1n* cultivation of the taste for better lit. ra- 
 
 tine. The magazine also devotes considerable 
 space to the social life of Nokomis. All in 
 all. the Progress is worthy the support and 
 patronage of Nokomis people. Some ten years 
 ago Frank Bolt established a paper at Coffeen 
 and called it the Enterprise. He published 
 it for several months and sold to John W. 
 Whitlock. who after an experience of a little 
 while, sold to Lot Pennington and after Pen- 
 nington came 0. A. Jewett. who was really the 
 first newspaper man to make a success of the 
 business in the village. After a time Mr. 
 Jewett sold the Mercury, as the paper was now 
 known, to William H. McCracken and Walter 
 Roberts. Later, however, Mr. Roberts bought 
 McCracken's interest and has operated the 
 plant ever since. Under the name of the 
 Montgomery Democrat Mr. Roberts has suc- 
 ceeded in building up one of the best newspa- 
 pers in the county. He has a large cylinder 
 press and gets out one of the cleanest little 
 papers to he found anywhere. Mr. Roberts 
 is a clear, forceful writer, and nothing of an 
 offensive character ever appears in his column. 
 The paper represents the Democratic side of 
 public questions, yet it is always open to any 
 investigation that will lead to the establish- 
 ment of truth. The Montgomery Democrat 
 has an extensive patronage in this part of the 
 county and the merchants of Coffeen who pat- 
 ronize its columns contribute to the support 
 of a very worthy enterprise. Walter E. Rob- 
 erts is a young man about thirty years old. 
 Some years ago he married Miss Lillie Mc- 
 Giffin, of his home town. They have a very 
 bright little girl in whom they take especial 
 pride. We have given in this brief article a 
 mere survey of what is being done by the press 
 in Montgomery county. We hope, however, 
 that our friends, the editors, will take ■'inten- 
 tion" for "deed," and remember that we ap- 
 preciate in advance their kindly criticisms. 
 
 WAR HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 In our investigation and research we find 
 Inn lour names of Revolutionary soldiers who 
 made their wav to the state of [llinois to find
 
 PAST AM) PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 761 
 
 a home in the closing years of their lives. 
 Anion-- these was Harris Revice, whose daugh- 
 ter married Joseph Wright. she being the 
 mother of Harris Wright and Elijah Wright, 
 yet living, and "Yank" Wright, deceased. 
 W'ooten Harris was another, father of William 
 1!. and Benjamin Harris and grandfather of 
 William Harris, of Bingham, and the late 
 Wooten Harris, of Hillsboro. Ezra Bostick, 
 t'ather-in-law of duel Knight, and great grand- 
 father of W. J. McDavid, our present county 
 superintendent. The fourth was an old Uncle 
 John Owens, who settled on a farm near that 
 made by Xewton Coffey, the pioneer. He was 
 father-in-law of the late Samuel Bartlett, of 
 [rving. In the war of 1812 might be enu- 
 merated several who came and settled in this 
 county after our second war with England: 
 William McDavid, John Harrison. Sr., Thomas 
 Allison, .lames Mann. William Allen. Elijah 
 Davis and doubtless others whose names we 
 have failed to secure. In the war of 1832 in 
 Levi D. Boone's company, Second Regiment 
 Whiteside's Brigade I find this list: Levi D. 
 Boone, captain; James G. Hinman, first lieu- 
 tenant: and Absalom Cress, second lieutenant; 
 sergeants, C. G. Blockberger, M. H. Walker. 
 Israel Fogleman and William McDavid; cor- 
 porals, John Prater, A. T. Williams, Cleveland 
 S. Coffey and Xewton Street; privates, James 
 Brown, Samuel L. Briggs. Harrison Brown. 
 Colbart Blaire, IT. C. Bennett. Peter Cress, G. 
 W. Canins, John Crabbtree, George E. Duff. 
 Michael Fannin. William Griffith, James Grish- 
 am, Johnson Hampton, James Hawkins. Benja- 
 min Holbrook, Joshua Hunt, Samuel Ishmael. 
 William Jordan. Artishua If. Knapp, Ephriam 
 Killpatrick, Stephen Killingworth, George E. 
 Ludewiek. Roberl A. Long. John K. McWil- 
 hanis. Thomas J. Mansfield, William Mayfield, 
 Barnabus Michael, Samuel Peacock, Eli Robb, 
 James M. Rutledge, William Roberts, William 
 D. Shurley, Daniel Steele. Curtis Scrubener, 
 Thomas Jefferson Todd, McKinzie Turner 
 James I',. Williams, Easton Whitton, Benjamin 
 R. Williams and James Young. These men 
 were mustered out of the service at the mouth 
 of Fox river on the Illinois river May 28, 1832, 
 two hundred and ten miles distant from the 
 place of enrollment. Hiram Rountree's com- 
 
 pany. Second Regiment, Third Brigade, organ- 
 ized Ma\ 31, 1832, and mustered out id' the 
 .service August Hi. 1832. Hiram Rountree, 
 captain; John Kjrkpatrick, first lieutenant; 
 Thomas Phillips, second lieutenant ; sergeants 
 Andrew K. Gray, John Stone. Samuel Jackson, 
 David B. Star; corporals, Spartan Grisham, 
 Malalri Smith, Thomas McAdams, Thomas Ed- 
 wards; privates, Clement Aydlott, John Brown. 
 John Briggs, Joseph Burke, James M. Berry. 
 Levi W. Booher, Cleveland Coffey, David Cope- 
 land, John Corlew, James Cardwell, John Dun- 
 can, Thomas Earley, Thomas Evans, Almond 
 Forehand, William Griffith, Thomas Cray, 
 Alexander R. Cray, John Hart, George Tlar- 
 key, John M. Holmes, William Harkey, Thomas 
 W. Heady, Thomas C. Hughes, John Hannah, 
 Alfred Johnson, William Jones. Jesse Johnson. 
 Thomas Johnson. James Lockerman, John K. 
 Long, John McCurey, Malcolm McPhail, David 
 T. McCullough, Horace Mansfield. Axrin Mc- 
 Culloch, Robert McCulloch, John M. McWil- 
 liams, William McDavid. Samuel Paisley, 
 Thomas Potter, James Toller. Jacob Rhodes. 
 Willis Rose. Luke S. Steel. Thomas Sturde- 
 vant. Zjchedee Shirley. John Slater, William M. 
 Tenis, James Wilson. David M. Williams, Wil- 
 liam S. Williams, Joseph W. Wilson, Thomas 
 Wood, Thomas Williford. William lTmng. 
 These two companies form the roll of those 
 who served in the Black Hawk war. Several 
 of these have died within the last few years 
 and only a fortnight ago John Corlew. the 
 only survivor, answered the last roll call and 
 has gone to join his comrades on the other side. 
 In the Mexican war Company C Third Regi- 
 men, was commanded by Colonel Ferris For- 
 mat! and discharged from service Ma\ 21, 
 1847; James C. McAdams, captain; first lieu- 
 tenant, Thomas'Rose; second lieutenants. John 
 Burke and John Corlew; sergeants, James M. 
 Williford. Miles Morris and Jesse J. McDavid; 
 corporals, William Stephenson, Benjamin 
 Blockberger, Charles II. Rutlidge; lifers. Jo- 
 seph Mapes, James F. Withers] i : privates, 
 
 Claybom Acres, J. P>. Anderson. William R. 
 Boyd, John Bodkin. J. Q. Bennett, Nelson Ben- 
 nett. Benson Card. Ransom Corlew. John 
 Craig, Lafayette Cardwell. Roberl W. Davis. 
 William A. Edwards, Mark W. Edwards, John-
 
 762 
 
 PAST AND PEESENT OF MONTGOMEEY COUNTY 
 
 son A. Frost, John Fuller, Jackson Finney, 
 .lames B. Gamer, David Ural'. Thomas Gun- 
 ter, II. IS. Grubbs, Stephen Harmon, Aehiles 
 Harmon, Wilburn Isaacs. B. R. Ishmal. Wil- 
 liam Kingston, John Kuntz, Jacob Lyerle, John 
 
 T. I mis. John M. Lingle, Thomas McWil- 
 
 liams, Joseph McPhail, .lames McPhail, Thom- 
 as Mapes, Joseph Penter, John Pruitt, Major 
 Pruitt, George W. Rose, A. B. Star. Wilej B. 
 Smith, J. M. Scott, John Turrentine, A. B. 
 Thomas. William II. Varner, Joseph G. Wright, 
 Thomas F. Wright, .lames S. Williams. Jarrett 
 Wright, J. C. Wilson. .lames B. McDavid, J. 
 M. Quellman; privates discharged on sergeant's 
 certificate: Isaa'C .1. Bishop, William I'. Collier. 
 Martin A. Cress, .loel N. Fogleman, Edwin E. 
 Grubbs, Samuel P. King, Isaac Lewey, William 
 B. MeCaslin, Thomas A. Norman, Eli Peacock, 
 William Seymour, .lames Walker; those who 
 died in the service: Robert Williamson, Elija 
 Isaacs. William IT. Barnett, Moses Barringer, 
 William C. Burke, George Bryant, Levi Card, 
 John J. Coleman, John C. Gastain, Henry Hill. 
 William S. Halford, Ezra P. Knight, E. G. 
 Lazenby, Charles W. Lynch, Alex. W. Pierson, 
 Franklin Boner and John A. Williams. Those 
 who died in the service were located at Mata- 
 moris ami Camargo ami T find thai but one. 
 Levi Card, died of wounds. These he receivedin 
 the battle of Corgordo, but his death took [dace 
 at Galapa. I had intended to give a list of 
 those who entered the service of the late Civil 
 war from this county, hnt T find that it is hardly- 
 necessary at this time as it requires hut little 
 effort to liml in the adjutant general's report of 
 Illinois a complete roster of all the names of 
 those who entered the service from this county 
 ami 1 would advise those who desire in interest 
 themselves in looking over thai honored list to 
 secure the report which 1 have mentioned and 
 there you will liml a complete record of their 
 services, the time spent in hospitals, those who 
 died (iii the battle-field or those who died from 
 tin' effects of wounds received in battle, those 
 who succumbed to disease and also whether 
 the\ were deserters ot whether they received an 
 honorable discharge. I feel that 1 have given 
 all that is required at this time concerning our 
 war historv. 
 
 BANKS <)F MONTGOMEEY COUNTY. 
 
 Banks are essential to the business interests 
 of a community and Montgomery county is no 
 exception to the riih'. Early in the history of 
 Eillsboro Robert W. Davis organized a private 
 banking concern with hut small capital. This 
 institution later received an addition ami was 
 known as the Ilaskill. Davis & Company Bank 
 of Hillshoro. In 1862 a branch was extended 
 to the city of Litchfield. This banking venture 
 seems to have been profitable during it- earlier 
 vears. About five years thereafter the Litch- 
 field branch became known as the Haskill. Sey- 
 mour & Company Bank. Mr. Seymour having 
 purchased the interest of Mr. Davis. Mr. Har- 
 ris became identified with the Hillshoro end 
 of the concern and that hank was afterward 
 known as the Haskill-Harri< & Company Bank 
 of Hillshoro. ilr. Harris having purchased the 
 interests of Mr. Davis. About the year 1869 
 Mr. Ilaskill removed to Alton ami Judge Brew- 
 er of Hillshoro hecame identified with the Litch- 
 field hank and the linn name was changed to 
 Brewer. Seymour & Company with S. M. 
 Grubbs as cashier. For a period of several years 
 this hank continued under this management. 
 Later, however, Mr. Seymour retired and Mr. 
 Grubbs hecame the associate of Mr. Brewer and 
 the firm name was changed I" Brewer & Grubbs 
 Bank, city of Litchfield. This institution has 
 been one of the soundest hanking concerns in 
 this section of the state. Later it has been 
 changed into a national hank. S. M. Grubbs, 
 president, Eli Miller, cashier. At the present 
 time the deposits of this institution are the 
 largest of any banking house in our county. 
 The Hillshoro hank, known as the Farmers- 
 Mechanics Bank, failed in L878 and three vears 
 later it was followed by the failure of the Has- 
 kill-Harris Bank, which had been considered a 
 very solvent institution, though the failure 
 of two banking concerns in so short a time in 
 the city of Eillsboro did not destroy the faith 
 of the business men in that town in hanking 
 concerns if properly conducted. The failure of 
 the Farmers Mechanics Bank was indeed a 
 great misfortune as it cast a shadow over the 
 reputation of its promoter, the late A. H. H. 
 Rountree, only son of Judge Ebuntree, the 
 pioneer. Many theories have been advanced as
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 763 
 
 to lli<' cause of this failure, but nothing satis- 
 factory seems to have been uncovered. That 
 tbr country had just passed through a most 
 severe panic and that possibly the depreciation 
 in the value of securities held by the bank re- 
 sulted in losses that finally compelled the sus.- 
 pension as late as L878. Those who knew Aaron 
 Rountree have never been Full)' able to bring 
 themselves to that point where they could be- 
 lieve him guilty of deliberate peculation. Mr. 
 Rountree died shortly afterward and it is the 
 opinion of his very warm friends that his death 
 was directly the result of the bank's failure. 
 That he could not return to those who in con- 
 fidence had trusted their moneys to him so 
 crushed his spirit that lie sunk beneath the 
 weight id' this reverse, paying the extreme pen- 
 alty of his misfortune, his life was made the 
 forfeit and what more can a man give than this? 
 The failure of the Haskill-Harris Bank was 
 traceable to the effort which tin 1 hank made to 
 finance certain enterprises in the city of llills- 
 boro. These enterprises proved non-productive 
 and shrinkage in value in an extent that meant 
 to the bank almost complete less of its advances, 
 forced a suspension in 1881. In the city of 
 Litchfield as early as 1860 John W. Haggart 
 opened a private bank in Beardsley's jewelry 
 store. Ha vine- hut little capital, he soon closed 
 his accounts and abandoned the business. 
 Nathan Kenyon under a special charter or- 
 ganized the Litchfield Bank and witli a paid 
 up capital of twenty thousand dollars opened 
 for business in 1870. Half the stock of this 
 institution was held in Brockfort, New York. 
 and half by citizens of Litchfield. This insti- 
 tution did not prove a financial success and 
 Konvon sold his stock to Litchfield parties and 
 retired. The stockholders reorganied the busi- 
 ness under the firm name of Beech, Davis & 
 Company, of which D. Davis became manager 
 and D. Van Deusen was made cashier. Tor 
 many years this banking institution has been 
 one of the strongest of the county. It was 
 changed to the M. M. Martin & Company Bank, 
 under which name it flourished until 1902, when 
 it was reorganized. The moving spirits in the 
 organization of the new banking concern was 
 0. B. Munday and D. 0. Settlemeyer. The 
 Martin interests were purchased by a company 
 
 consisting of several wealthy citizen- of Litch- 
 field ami a certain trust company of St. Louis, 
 Missouri. It is a state hank and is organized 
 with a capital slock of one hundred thousand 
 dollars. 1 •. (i. Settlemeyer is president ami 
 
 Charles E. Morgan cashier. This is • of the 
 
 strongest statebanking institutions in this sec- 
 tion of Illinois, having at present total assets 
 exceeding four hundred thousand dollars. The 
 Eillsboro National Hank was organized some 
 fifteen years ago with Charles A. Ramsey, presi- 
 dent, ami Luther Beck as cashier. Since its 
 organization its history has 1 n one of con- 
 tinued prosperity. It has a capital stock of six- 
 ty thousand dollars and besides paying large 
 dividends on its stock it has accumulated a 
 surplus of forty thousand dollars. Stock in this 
 concern has recently sold at. two hundred per 
 cent par value. Some three years ago Mr. Beck 
 resigned his position as cashier to take charge 
 of a banking house in Kansas, and Edward 
 Miller was promoted from assistant cashier to 
 tin 1 position vacated by Mr. Beck. In this im- 
 portant and responsible place Mr. Miller has 
 proven his fitness and at present is regarded as 
 one of the hest posted and most thoroughly in- 
 formed in matters of banking of our many ef- 
 ficient cashiers. C. A. Ramsey is well known 
 throughout banking circles in this section of the 
 state and his opinion is sought by banking in- 
 terests in the adoption of new and untried 
 theories relative to the business of hanking. All 
 i lie concerns at present engaged in business in 
 
 Monti: TV county are considered absolutely 
 
 safe and but little sympathy is felt for him 
 who loses sums of money by trying to bide it 
 away in secrei place about, his home instead of 
 placing it in a bank. 
 
 The Glen Brothers organized under a state 
 charter soon after the failure of the Haskill- 
 Harris Bank, the Montgomery County Loan & 
 Trust Company Bank of Hillsboro. Asso- 
 ciated with the Messrs. Glen were some of the 
 financially strong men of that city. This bank 
 at once inspired confidence among the business 
 interests of the country and it was not long un- 
 til the farmers and stock men began to patron- 
 ize this institution. James Glen was for many 
 years president of the bank and .Tames Black- 
 burn was ils cashier. Succeeding Mr. Black-
 
 76 I 
 
 PAST AND PKESENT uF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 burn came Eli .Miller and following him James 
 B. Barringer assumed the duties of thai very 
 important position. Under the wise manage- 
 ment that has governed this banking house, it 
 
 has been signally successful. It has paid hand- 
 
 so] lividends to its stockholders and at the 
 
 same time it lias strengthened its credit and in- 
 creased the value of its stock by the accumula- 
 tion of a good surplus. Joel K. McDavid suc- 
 ceeded James Glen as president of this hank 
 some few years ago and the interests of the con- 
 cern have not lost by the change. We regret 
 that wo have not been furnished with a state- 
 ment giving the actual condition of this hank. 
 bid we are in position to give this assurance 
 that it is among the safest hanking houses in 
 central Illinois. 
 
 The private hank of John Ball was or- 
 ganized under the name of the Farmersville 
 Bank several years ago and being the only hank- 
 ing institution at that time in the northern part 
 of the county, it received a wide patronage. The 
 sterling integrity of John Ball gave the hank 
 immediate standing among financial concerns 
 throughout the country. It is one of the strong- 
 est private banks in this section of the state 
 and the deposits are among the largest of any 
 bank in our county. Another hanking institu- 
 tion is located at Waggoner and while we are 
 not personally acquainted with the management, 
 we have the assurance from parties living in 
 that vicinity that the hank is a safe and con- 
 servative concern Inning good patronage among 
 the farmers and husincss men of that section. 
 The private hank located at Irving enjoys a 
 very g I patronage and its stockholders re- 
 ceive dividends that satisfy the most exacting. 
 Milton Berry is the very gentlemanly cashier of 
 this bank and Dr. R. V. Parkhill is its presi- 
 dent. We are not in position to give the amount 
 of stock nor the deposits which tins bank car- 
 ries. Bliss & Allen organized the Fillmore 
 Bank about fifteen years ago and from its in- 
 ception it has been well patronized. L. ( '. 
 Allen is the president and Frank Herron is 
 cashier of this institution. This bank, being 
 located at considerable distance from Eillsboro 
 anil Nokomis, has become a place id' deposit for 
 a wide territory, and the reputation of Mr. Al- 
 len as a safe and conservative husincss man 
 
 established confidence in this lank immediately 
 after its establishment. Thit bank carries a 
 
 very large deposit and it is a g the best 
 
 paying hanking houses in the county. In 1900 
 C. F. Edwards established the Bank of Coffeen 
 at that place ami at ahoui the same time A. 
 Studebaker and George W. Buffer put in the 
 American Exchange Bank in the same town. 
 While there has been a division of the hanking 
 husincss, yet both of these institutions have 
 paid the promoter.- large dividends on the -lock 
 held l.\ them. The Bank of Coffeen has at the 
 present time a very fair deposit ami is regarded 
 as a sound institution. Since last January Wil- 
 liam T. Edwards has been president and ('. F. 
 Edwards cashier of this hank. Arrangements 
 are being perfected to convert the Bank of Cof- 
 feen into a national bank, beginning operation 
 January 1. too."). Mr. A. Studebaker, proprie- 
 tor of the American Exchange Bank, conducts 
 a. loan and exchange husincss and his careful, 
 prudent methods have secured for him a very 
 nice husincss. In Bin-. 1 ('. ( '. Mansfield estab- 
 lished a private hank in the village of Don- 
 nellson and at once it became a paying institu- 
 tion through the patronage of the husincss men 
 and farmers in that community. Thus it will 
 lie seen that the private banking concerns of 
 Montgomery county, although numerous, are 
 all doing a thriving husincss. We account for 
 this through the fact that for the past several 
 years the business interests of our county have 
 been very prosperous and from an agricultural 
 point of view no county in the state has fared 
 better. The diversified character of the farm- 
 ing interests of Montgomery county gives to it 
 a continuous and generous income throughout 
 i he year, which was not the case during the 
 wheat age of the county. About eighteen or 
 twi'iii\ years ago John Green established a 
 private hank in the village of Raymond ami a 
 few years thereafter he sold his business to B. 
 F. Culp, who so managed the affair as to secure 
 a \or\ strong line of deposits and a wide patron- 
 age. Mr. Culp, however, sold out his private 
 banking concern to a party of gentlemen in 
 1902, who established the Raymond National 
 Bank with William 11. Cass as president and 
 James I-".. McDavid as cashier. This banking 
 house is another of the strong banking con-
 
 PAST AND PKESENT ()!•' MONTGOMEKY COUNTY 
 
 ;ii."> 
 
 cerns of our county. Approximating the de- 
 posits of the several banks of Montgomery coun- 
 ty, we should place them on a reasonable esti- 
 mate ;it one million five hundred thousand 
 dollars, and my personal experience within the 
 Last few months enables me to state that loans 
 can be secured on good collateral at from one 
 to one and one-half per cent lower rates of in- 
 terest than can be secured on the same class of 
 collateral in counties lying wholly within the 
 com licit, and where the land is selling at from 
 a hundred ami twenty-five dollars to a hundred 
 ami seventy-five dollars per acre. But few 
 banks in the county pay interest on time de- 
 posits and the practice is not looked upon by the 
 more conservative element as being in harmony 
 with the best banking rules. However, we 
 would state that some of the strongest hanks in 
 this section pay a small rate of interest to time 
 depositors. A. J. Williford, cashier of the 
 Nokomis National Panic, has at our request fur- 
 nished us with an article discussing the several 
 phases of national banking. In connection with 
 hi- article he presents a statement of the No- 
 komis National Bank. 
 
 NATIONAL BANKS. 
 
 B1 A. J. WILLIFORD. 
 
 The national hank act was horn of the sore 
 need nf the government in time of war, and like 
 many another matter that is the fruit of neces- 
 sity, has thoroughly proved its usefulness. 
 When, after nearly two years of hitter warfare 
 between the armies of the north and south, the 
 necessity for a large increase in the fighting 
 forces in the north, with all that that implies, 
 was made apparent; when the unwelcome fact 
 of the unpreparedness of the Federal govern- 
 ment fur war was plainly manifest; when the 
 credit of the nation was so impaired that it 
 could no longer find a market for its bonds; 
 when f\-i-ry expedient known under such con- 
 ditions had been resorted to and failed to meet 
 the requirements; when the officers of govern- 
 ment were brought at last face t,. face with the 
 appalling fact that money, lots of monev, must 
 
 he had. then the great war secretary. Chase, 
 who had seen tins situation coming, placed he- 
 fore congress a plan which he bad devised for 
 the chartering, not of a national hank, hut of 
 a system of national hanks by the Federal gov- 
 ernment, each hank to he purely a local affair 
 and entirely independent in itself, subject only 
 to the regulation and supervision of the na- 
 tional government. His plan embodied the two 
 essentia] needs of government — that each hank 
 should l>e compelled to buj government bonds to 
 the amount of twenty-five per cent of their 
 capital, ami might issue circulating notes up to 
 ninety per cent of the value of the bonds. 
 
 Capitalists were slow, at first, to take advan- 
 tage of this law. hut gradually it found favor 
 and the government at Washington emitted a 
 sigh of relief. The national hanks organized 
 could, and did. provide a market for govern- 
 ment bonds, not only for circulation purposes, 
 hut for investment also. Although there have 
 icon many amendments, the law is to-day sub- 
 stantially the same as originally conceived. < hie 
 of the latest amendments authorizes the or- 
 ganization of hanks with twenty-five thousand 
 dollars capital, fifty thousand dollars having 
 been the minimum heretofore. 
 
 One provision worthy of note is that out of 
 the net profits of each hank ten per cent of such 
 profits must be placed in a surplus fund until 
 the surplus amounts to twenty per cent of the 
 capital stock. This is for the purpose of meet- 
 ing any losses that may occur from loans or in- 
 vestments that prove to he partly or wholly un- 
 collectible, without impairing the capital of the 
 hank. 
 
 There are restrictions that tend to make the 
 national hanking system one of the best in the 
 world. National hanks are forbidden to lend 
 more than ten per cent of their capital to ;m\ 
 one person or Brm. They can not fie up their 
 funds in real estate loans, which are usually for 
 long time. They are subject to examination 
 without notice by an official examiner appointed 
 by tin' comptroller of the currency as often as 
 comptroller may require it. not ]<>s< than once 
 each year. For some years past this has been 
 done twice annually. They must publish -worn 
 
 reports of tl xact condition of the hank at 
 
 least five times annuallv. when called for hv the
 
 0(> 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OV MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 comptroller, such publication being in a news- 
 paper published in the county in which the bank 
 is located. They must at all times have at least 
 fifteen per cent of the amount of their deposits 
 in cash, either in their own vault or in the 
 vaults of reserve agents (other national banks 
 in reserve cities), approved by the comptroller. 
 As a matter of fad must national banks keep 
 thirty, forty, sometimes fifty per ceni on hand 
 and with reserve agents. 
 
 Each national bank must redeem the circu- 
 lating note- of any other national bank as well 
 as its own. and the treasurer of the United 
 States must redeem them all. For this pur- 
 pose each national bank must keep on deposit 
 with the treasurer an amount equal to five per 
 cenl "f its circulating notes. 
 
 All the expenses of the bureau having charge 
 of national banks — the comptroller of the cur- 
 rency — as W<? H as the salaries of the examiners, 
 express charges on currency, etc., are paid by 
 the hanks, in part by a tax on their circulation 
 and in part direct. When yon add to all this 
 that provision of the law that each stockholder 
 in a national hank is liable to depositors not 
 only for the full amount of the stock they own. 
 hut an e.ptal amount in addition, you have as 
 much safety for those doing business with them 
 as seems possible to have, or as is required. 
 
 It may interest the general reader to see 
 the manner in which National hanks are re- 
 quired to publish reports of their condition that 
 th«' public may know from time to time just 
 how their affairs stand, so I have included an 
 exact copy of the official report of the Nokomis 
 National Bank, of Nokomis. Qinois, made to 
 the comptroller of the currency by his order. 
 showing the condition of this hank at the close 
 of business September 6, 1904. 
 
 BANK REPORT. 
 
 Report of the condition of the Nokomis Na- 
 tional Bank, at Nokomis, in the State of Illi- 
 nois, at the close of business, Sept. 6th, 1004: 
 
 RESOUI'.i I 3. 
 
 Loans and discounts $300,295.01 
 
 Overdrafts, secured and unsecured. 4,012.71 
 U. S. Bonds to secure circulation. . 100,000.00 
 Premiums on U. S. bonds 2,000.00 
 
 Bonds, securities, etc 43,400.00 
 
 Banking house, furniture and fix- 
 tures 7,500.00 
 
 Due from National Banks (not re- 
 serve agents) 3,662.01 
 
 Due from State Banks and Bankers 320.61 
 
 Due from approved reserve agents. 137,662.20 
 
 Checks and ofher cash items 261.59 
 
 Notes of other National Banks 1.000.00 
 
 Fractional paper currency, nickels 
 
 and cts 392.92 
 
 Lawful Money Reserve in Hank. Viz.: 
 
 Specie $ 9,345.05 
 
 Legal tender notes. 14,860.00 21.205.05 
 
 Redemption fund with U. S. Treas- 
 urer (5 per cent of circulation) 5.000.00 
 
 Total $020,612.10 
 
 LIABILITIES. 
 
 Capital stock paid in $100,000.00 
 
 Surplus fund 30,000.00 
 
 Undivided profits, less expenses and 
 
 taxes paid 3.613.53 
 
 National Bank notes outstanding. . 100,000.00 
 Individual deposits subject to check 163,438. <i2 
 
 Demand certificates of deposit 109,859.95 
 
 Time certificates of deposit 132.700.00 
 
 Total $629,612.10 
 
 State oe Illinois. ) 
 
 ss. 
 County of Montgomery, ) 
 
 I. A. .1. Williford, Cashier of the above 
 named bank, do solemnly swear that the above 
 statement is true to the best of my knowledge 
 and belief. A. .T. Williford, Cashier. 
 
 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 8th 
 day of September, 1004. 
 
 D. II. /i it. \\P. 
 
 Correct — Attest : 
 
 1,1 o. SlPPEL, 
 
 (ito. Taylor. 
 N. Si \oi :;. 
 
 Directors. 
 
 It requires but slight knowledge of book- 
 keeping to analyze these reports thus enabling 
 the interested public, not only to perceive the
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNT! 
 
 . 6 . 
 
 condition of the bank at that time, but, if 
 noted regularly, to follow its progress, whether 
 improving or declining in usefulness. 
 
 Perhaps the most beneficial effects brought 
 aboui by the national bank acl which was fell 
 I > \ the public was the elimination of the ten 
 thousand differani varieties of the old state 
 bank notes, whose value was problematical from 
 day to day. and which, to enable the holders to 
 know their value, required the help of the 
 ■ l.i i I \ publication of the "Bank Note Reporter" 
 without which no hank could do business safely. 
 and even with which they were always in grave 
 doubt as to what the next day would bring 
 forth. By placing a tax on these state bank 
 noie- much heavier than that imposed on the 
 national currency the state notes were grad- 
 ually retired until those hanks which were sol- 
 vent had redeemed all their issue, while those 
 which were insolvent went into bankruptcy. 
 
 A careful study of the law creating and con- 
 trolling national hanks, and a just comprehen- 
 sion of the beneficial results of this act viewed 
 in the light of the history of their accomplish- 
 ments in the last forty-two years, will enable 
 an] one to appreciate the far sighted wisdom 
 of Salmon I'. Chase, the congress which passed 
 the lav. and President Lincoln who signed the 
 bill February 25, L862. 
 
 The Eillsboro National Bank began its cor- 
 porate existence September 15 and opened its 
 doors for business ISTovember 6, 1882, with a 
 capital stock of fifty thousand dollars and the 
 following list of stockholders, namely: Wil- 
 liam Brewer, William II. Brewer, Edward Lane, 
 Samuel R. Thomas, John .7. McLean. Charles 
 A. Ramsey, George M. Raymond, Thomas C. 
 Kirkland, Thomas E. Harris. Eenry Pried- 
 meyer, (diaries II. Messimore, George W. 
 Brown Jr.. Charles 0. Brown. William Watson 
 and Moses Berry. Of these fifteen original 
 stockholders only five now have any holdings 
 in the hank, six having died and four having 
 disposed of their stock. William H. Brewer. E. 
 Lane, George M. Raymond. George W. Brown 
 Jr.. Thomas E. Harris and Charles A. Ram- 
 sey constituted the first board of directors. 
 Charles A. Ramsey was chosen president : Wil- 
 liam II. Brewer, vice-president, and (Jeorge 
 
 M. Raymond, cashier. Judge Lane and Mr. 
 Ramsey alone remain of the original board of 
 directors, and Mr. Ramsey has the sole distinc- 
 tion of serving continually the same position 
 from the organization until this date. Judge 
 Lane having resigned during his term of service 
 in congress. 
 
 in the twenty-two years since its organization 
 the Eillsboro National Bank has hail three 
 cashiers. George M. Raymond, from September 
 lo. L882, to his death in July. 1884 ; Luther 
 M. Beck, from October 1. 1884, to June 15. 
 1902, when he resigned to go to another field, 
 ami E. J. Miller, who hail previously acted as 
 bookkeeper and assistant cashier, from June 15, 
 1902, to the present time. In 1894 the capital 
 stock was increased to $60,000 and ten more 
 stockholders added, six of whom still have their 
 names on the stock hooks. In 1S93 the build- 
 ing now accupied by them was erected. The 
 board of directors as at present constituted 
 are: Judge E. Lane. Judge George R. Cooper, 
 W. M. Abbot, George N. Allen, E. M. Stubble- 
 field, C. W. Bliss and C. A. Ramsey. 
 
 As evidence of the conservative ami careful 
 policy pursued by its officers it may be stated 
 that iii the twenty-two years of its corporate 
 existence this institution has found it neees- 
 -ar\ to charge oil' as had debts only $236 or less 
 than eleven dollar- per annum. It may be of 
 interest to the public, as showing the growth 
 of this bank as well as indicating the material 
 prosperity of the surrounding country, to pre- 
 sent side by side a summary of the first state- 
 ment of condition made by the Eillsboro Na- 
 tional Bank upon call of the comptroller of 
 the currency December 30, 1*82, and the last 
 one made September 6, 1904: 
 
 Resources. Dec.30, L882. Sept.6, 1904. 
 
 Leans and discounts. .$16,788.70 $246,406.12 
 LT. S. bonds to secure 
 
 circulation 25,000.00 60,000.00 
 
 Other -locks and bonds 20,465.27 
 Premiums paid mi I T . 
 
 S. bonds 468.75 
 
 Real i stale, furniture 
 
 and fixture- 4,557.61 11,025.00 
 
 Expenses 641.37 756.24
 
 768 PAST A\l» PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 
 
 ( lash "ii hand and with Surplus and undivided 
 
 other banks 49,333.80 87,966.31 profits 41S.!>!» 44,465.06 
 
 National bank notes 
 
 $96,760.23 $426,612.94 outstanding 22,500.00 60,000.00 
 
 Deposits 28,198.24 262,147.88 
 
 Liabilities. . 
 
 Capital stock paid in. $45,643.00 $60,000.00 $96,760.-.':: $426,612.94
 
 INDEX 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL 
 
 Adams. \V. W 318 
 
 Allen, i ■> orge N 5S 
 
 Allen, N. I! 329 
 
 Allen, R. B '66 
 
 Ulen, Dr. William A 014 
 
 Anderson, John W 15 
 
 Attebery, David P 488 
 
 Attebery, William J 344 
 
 Attebery, William M 344 
 
 Atterbury, J. H S3 
 
 Anil, William 54 
 
 Baker, J. M SOS 
 
 Bandy, J. P m 
 
 Banes, A. N 452 
 
 Barnard, Robert P or, 7 
 
 Barringer, R. M 11" 
 
 Barry, Amos S 519 
 
 Barry. A. Sumner 356 
 
 Bartling, C. F 71 
 
 Bartling, Henry W '.II 
 
 Bass, Guilford 521 
 
 Bateman, George W 178 
 
 Ileal. John K Ill 
 
 Bechtel, Harvey 596 
 
 Beck. Airs. Mary E G2I3 
 
 Bennett. Dr. R. F !72 
 
 Berry, M. E 154 
 
 II, i i \ , Muses 470 
 
 Bivens, William R 464 
 
 Bixler, Josiah 365 
 
 Black. W. A 330 
 
 Blackburn, Jabez I 12 
 
 Blackburn, J. R 322 
 
 Blackburn. W. H. II 203 
 
 Blackwelder, William R 34 
 
 Bliss. C. W 8 
 
 Bone, Janus S 528 
 
 II, >st. C. A 231 
 
 Bost, Daniel 299 
 
 Bost, J. J 339 
 
 Bost, Y. A .",04 
 
 Bot( W. F 620 
 
 Boyd, William A 608 
 
 Bremer, J. II 220 
 
 Briggs, Pleasant 476 
 
 Brown, Charles L .",47 
 
 Brown, Daniel F 395 
 
 Brown, F. II 541 
 
 Brow ii, I leorge \V., Jr 123 
 
 Brov, n. lames P 140 
 
 Bryce, Robert 196 
 
 Bumann, Theodore 213 
 
 Burns. II, witt C I. a 
 
 Buscher, M. J mo 
 
 Butler. A. G 649 
 
 ( aldwell, Dr. tl. W 131 
 
 Canaday, E. F 73 
 
 Canaday, Stephen I) 502 
 
 Carey, J. J 68 
 
 Carroll. Rev. P. F 500 
 
 Carter. W. D 112 
 
 Casselberry, W. II 275 
 
 Cave, Singleton D 176 
 
 Chacey, E. C 601 
 
 Challacombe, J. R 9S 
 
 Chamberlin, John W 64 
 
 Chamberlin, I.. M 620 
 
 Chapman, J. R 
 
 Christie, William 534 
 
 i line, I.. W 640 
 
 Clotfelter, J- M 541 
 
 Clotfelt". James W 260 
 
 i olby, Hi- 'i i' 333 
 
 Collins. G. W 643 
 
 Cook, Dr. William II oo 
 
 t looper, ' it orge R 24 
 
 Corlew, J. M 390 
 
 Counton, W illiam 137 
 
 i rabtree, J. C 22 1 
 
 Cratty, Samuel 1 28 
 
 Crawford, J. E 383 
 
 i ress, Alex A 138 
 
 t .. ss, I 'aim I Jr 482 
 
 i i. ss. Eli in; 
 
 Cress, Henry 217 
 
 Cress, II. A ">27 
 
 Cress, W. S ' 52 
 
 Crickenberger, J. II 121 
 
 Cun, lin, Hiram C IBS 
 
 Curry, W. L 147 
 
 Davis, David 650 
 
 Doerr, A. T .'".1 
 
 Donaldson. E. II 560 
 
 Doyle, Lemuel 477 
 
 Doyle, L. Thomas SO 
 
 Driskell, J. W 
 
 Driskell, Marshall 210 
 
 Durdy. Alex C 437 
 
 Edwards, C. I'' 36 
 
 I Kinds. T II 600 
 
 Eldred, S. W 84 
 
 Ellington, A. 1 509 
 
 Elliot, Columbus Ill 
 
 Elwell, J. M 77 
 
 Ins,.,. Zachariah 339 
 
 Entrekin. Dr. F. M INI 
 
 Fath, John 129 
 
 Fellner, George C 429 
 
 Fesser, George W 609 
 
 Fisher. Albert 284 
 
 I it i t ri. II. Cyrus "'12 
 
 Fooks, Georgi 1 52 
 
 Frame, W. A 108 
 
 Frey, Jacob J 510 
 
 In. I.e. William 151 
 
 Friedmeyer, Henry 188 
 
 Funk, Otto 397 
 
 ' lains, 17 E 288 
 
 Gamlin, William To 
 
 Gates, J. J 12" 
 
 Gees, Anton ( 398 
 
 I,, i Lull, S. E 1112 
 
 ( lillnian. Charles 152 
 
 i. Ii.. ii. John F 303 
 
 Goby, A. W 171 
 
 lin, W. C 662 
 
 Gragg, William 19 
 
 Grantham, .1. Robert 403 
 
 Grassel, John C 489 
 
 Gray, W. A 501 
 
 Greene, J. F. M 490 
 
 Gr.eenw I. August 600 
 
 Greenv, 1, William 509 
 
 Griffin, Jesse S 35 
 
 t irimes, Edward 132 
 
 Grimes, Walter M 170 
 
 Grubbs, S. M 7 
 
 Grubbs, W. S 658 
 
 Ilaaki. i Ml 349 
 
 Ilaake, Solomon 212 
 
 Hackney, Ji iseph 466 
 
 Hall, Hugh 414 
 
 Mailer. Jacob ism 
 
 Ilallcr, Jacob E 445 
 
 Hampton, J. A 40 
 
 Harris, E 435 
 
 Hawkins, II. C 031 
 
 Ilaynes. Dr. Baxter 200 
 
 llaynes, Henry 522 
 
 Herman. Dr. I'. J "> I 
 
 Hess, E. B 553 
 
 Hill. C. II 565 
 
 Hill, T. J 573 
 
 Hill, L. V 59 
 
 Hill. Edward 636 
 
 Hitchings, II. II 287 
 
 Holmes, M. D 019 
 
 Hood, Harold 151 
 
 Hood, lir. II. II 569 
 
 Hope. J. C 586 
 
 Howell. A. M 169 
 
 Hoyt, Hi. J. M 385 
 
 Huffer, George W 21 7 
 
 Husband, R. T 101 
 
 Flussey, L. A 585 
 
 Jenkins, Charles W 30' 
 
 Johnson, Dr. C. W 238 
 
 Jones, F. M 013 
 
 Jones, Joel 127 
 
 Kastien, 11. 1' 65£ 
 
 Kendall, J. D 97 
 
 Kennedy. R. W 107 
 
 Kessinger, S. W 640 
 
 Killpatrick, J. S 385 
 
 Kimball. Dr. Z. V lis 
 
 Kinu. S. A 177 
 
 Kintz, Urban E 352 
 
 Kirkland, T. C 20 
 
 Kirkpatrick. J. W 241 
 
 lam. Edward 12 
 
 Lane, T. 1 92 
 
 Laws, Charles L 378 
 
 Lewey, Albert R 418 
 
 I.ewey. ('. A 321 
 
 I . vey, C, C :!'■ 
 
 Lewey, I lliver 276 
 
 Lewey, William A 14" 
 
 I. melc. R. Forest 255 
 
 I ipi . C, F 568 
 
 Lipe. Kpluaim D 572 
 
 Lipe, J. J 31S 
 
 Lockhart, l". Charles. H 437 
 
 Loucks, John II 614
 
 ;o 
 
 PAST AND 
 
 ESENT OF MONTGOMEEY COUNTS 
 
 ytc( .ilium, John '" ' 
 
 VtcDavid, Joel K 5 <" 
 
 McEwen, A; F '"' 
 
 McKinney, C. B 23 * 
 
 McLean. William H " 
 
 McMurray, M. J 
 
 McPheron, R. A =12 
 
 McPherson, Lewis 639 
 
 McWilliams, Robert 602 
 
 Mack. Calvin H ; " 
 
 Mast, Charles "1 
 
 Masterson, Rev. Thomas 1*» 
 
 Meriwether, S. A _'■" 
 
 Mey, Louis H 58S 
 
 Miller. Amos ,,,:? 
 
 Miller, John H 386 
 
 Milner, Isaac A 4S 
 
 Milner, W. A 51 
 
 Mitchell, Joseph ''"' 
 
 Mondhink, Fred i;l4 
 
 Moody. J. S 1™ 
 
 Morgan, Charles F. '■ >!l 
 
 Morse, Ferdinand :;s4 
 
 Moyer, Dr. M. T 1r ' 4 
 
 Neece. William ° 14 
 
 Neisler, D. W 33 
 
 ' Nelch, B. F 128 
 
 Neuhaus, Henry ~ 09 
 
 Newsome, William E - )S1 
 
 ft, Frank W 60S 
 
 Nobbe, Charles H 3n 
 
 Nobbe, Henry 308 
 
 O'Bannon. S. E V 2 
 
 Oiler, Amos "'■' 
 
 Oiler. David S 5S0 
 
 oiler. P. C ;' 
 
 Oiler, George F. Go4 
 
 Osborn, James R 3 ^ 6 
 
 I isborn h --'' W 4o1 
 
 Osborn, Joshua 209 
 
 Paden, Albert M 35 ° 
 
 Paden, R. C ■ r>02 
 
 Paisley, G. W n 39 
 
 Partlow, George A 361 
 
 Paul, Lee M fi7 
 
 Phillips. Jesse J 10 ° 
 
 Poland. C. H 204 
 
 Pope, Daniel 163 
 
 Polts. R. J 4ul 
 
 Potts. W. B 35 ° 
 
 Pray, E. N 457 
 
 Price. J. T 124 
 
 Ou.otley, Wililam T 222 
 
 Rachow, Fred A :;nl 
 
 Rainey. George W 
 
 Rainey, William F 4 ^' 4 
 
 Ramsi i. Charles A 78 
 
 Rhine. R. A '~'~' 1 
 
 Rhodes, W. M 34 ° 
 
 ,r \ 199 
 
 Rice. L. A 
 
 Rice, ,udge E. Y '■"•' 
 
 Rue. R. J 436 
 
 Richards, E. C ' ' ' 
 
 Richmond, G. A 233 
 
 Ripley. James H S1T 
 
 Ritchie, John W '■' ' 4 
 
 Rives. Zeno \ 
 
 Roberts, J. II '' 
 
 Robertson, M. 1 ' ' 
 
 Robinson. S. T ] " ' 
 
 Rohlfing, Ben i;: " 
 
 Romine, W. Scott 4 ^' ; 
 
 Russell, John 2o6 
 
 Sammons, Abner 4I ' 4 
 
 Sawyer, F. M rj ' 
 
 Scheffel, Frank J 417 
 
 Scherer, David V [\'[ 
 
 Schluckebier, W. F 
 
 Scluaut. Leopold I ' 1,1 
 
 Sedentop. Louis :;ml 
 
 Seward. George T 11T 
 
 Seymour. W. L 
 
 Shindler, John T 2 59 
 
 Shoemaker, John M n 
 
 Shoemaker, Samuel ; ' ' | 
 
 Shoemaker, William 36S 
 
 Short, Dr. II. S "I 
 
 Short. John C 
 
 Sims. George 
 
 Sims. William 63 
 
 Smith, W. C ''" 
 
 Sorrell, Mrs. Mary E T-' ; 
 
 Sperry, II. B * 81 
 
 Spinner, Frank 
 
 Spinner, George " ; ' 
 
 Spinner, Joseph '' ,:: 
 
 Spinner. Louis 661 
 
 St. Francis Hospital "65 
 
 Stauder, Philip 175 
 
 Stevens. Riley 23 
 
 Strange, Dr. Algy F 4S ~ 
 
 Strange, A. T 248 
 
 Stuttle, Harry C ■ 
 
 Thomas. L. H 520 
 
 Thorp, W. T 4 ™ 
 
 Thumb, Marvin 291 
 
 Tiffin, C. H 397 
 
 Toberman, Isaiah 157 
 
 Coberman, M. I' ls - 
 
 Toberman, W. II S9S 
 
 Tolle, Charles A 6 1° 
 
 iraylor, Joel C 438 
 
 Truitt, Dr. E. B 
 
 Turner, John B :; '"» 
 
 Updike. P. B 28 
 
 Van 1 ter.sen. Dclos 160 
 
 \'andever, A. K - ' s 
 
 Van Hooser, William *S 
 
 \ awl er, William 887 
 
 \, nicker, James 87 
 
 Waggoner, Horace G L9S 
 
 Waggoner, II. Q la9 
 
 Waggoner, J. M 
 
 Ware. Arthur 425 
 
 Ware, David, Jr « 4 
 
 Ware. David S 1<> 4 
 
 Ware. Henry 409 
 
 Ware. J. II 535 
 
 Ware, Lyman 43 ° 
 
 Warnsing, II. II Ii0 
 
 Washburn, S. E 622 
 
 Weaver, A. F I 1 - 8 
 
 \\ , hi r, I uke C 188 
 
 Welge. Louis 138 
 
 Weller, Daniel 371 
 
 Westcott, T. K 299 
 
 White. W. A 159 
 
 Whitmore, Joseph 5S3 
 
 Whitten, F. W «S 
 
 \\ hut. ii. Dr. T. J 16 
 
 Wiegand, Conrad 5* 8 
 
 Wiley, Lewis A 3S9 
 
 Wiley, W. H 539 
 
 \\ ilson, Dr. G. S 550 
 
 Wilson, John G 502 
 
 Wilson. William H 593 
 
 Wilton. Harry "-'"' 
 
 Wilton, R. 1 281 
 
 Witherspoon, Charles H -113 
 
 Wolters, Louis 334 
 
 W, .Iters. Robert 39G 
 
 Wood, Lerov F 453 
 
 Wood, P. C 123 
 
 Wood, T. H 22s 
 
 Wright, Emery 3 ~ 4 
 
 Vcskc. W. J 37S 
 
 Young, F. H 533 
 
 Young, William A 44 
 
 Zuber. C. D 6S1 
 
 County 
 
 [ntroduction 
 
 Illinois 
 
 Story of Early Settlers of Montgomery 
 
 Hillsboro Township and City 
 
 North and South I iti hfii Id I ownshipi 
 
 Litchfield 
 
 Rountree Township 
 
 Audubon Township 
 
 Nokomis City and Township 
 
 Witt Township and Villages of Witt and Paisle) 
 Grisham Township and Village ol Donnellson. .. 
 
 Walshville Township 
 
 Fillmore Village and Township 
 
 HISTORICAL 
 
 By JACOB L. TRAYLOR 
 
 East Fork Township and Village ol Coffeen 
 
 Harvel Township and Village of Harvel .... 
 
 Township of Bois d'Arc and Village of Farmersvtlle. 
 
 Pitman 
 
 669 
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 694 
 
 1 City of 
 
 lot 
 1 12 
 1 1-1 
 
 : 15 
 
 7 7 
 719 
 
 721 
 753 
 
 731 
 
 741 
 
 : 12 
 
 Township and Village of Waggoner ~_*^ 
 
 Zancsville Township -" 
 
 Raymond Township and Village of Raymond 
 
 Irving Township and Village of Irving 
 
 Butler .Gr.oe Township and Village of Butler 
 
 Press of Montgomery County 
 
 War History of Montgomery County 
 
 Banks of Montgomery County ^^ 
 
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 747 
 
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 757 
 
 ,.„l 
 
 762
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA 
 
 977 382T69P C001 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. I 
 
 3 0112 025398113