USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 1
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
977.351 H14h v. 2
" LINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY
J:
STARK COUNTY ILLINOIS AND ITS PEOPLE
A RECORD OF SETTLEMENT, ORGANIZATION, PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
Chicago THE PIONEER PUBLISHING COMPANY 1916
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LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
JUDGE FRANK THOMAS
977.351 H14h v.2
BIOGRAPHICAL
JUDGE FRANK THOMAS.
Judge Frank Thomas, who is now serving for the second term upon the bench of Stark county, is a native of Wyoming, Illinois, his birth having there occurred September 17, 1848. He is a son of James M. Thomas and a grandson of General Samuel Thomas, the founder of Wyoming, Illinois. The common sehools afforded him his preliminary educational training, after which he attended the North- western University and subsequently entered the University of Mich- igan at Ann Arbor, where he completed the literary eourse and was graduated. Subsequently he spent two years in the study of law there, and at the end of six years passed in the Michigan university he left that institution with the degrees of B. A. and B. L.
Immediately afterward Mr. Thomas returned to his native town and was admitted to the bar in Toulon in September, 1872. He opened a law office in Wyoming and was successful in building up a large prac- tice of a most important character. No dreary novitiate awaited him. He proved his ability in the trial of early cases, which indicated the thoroughness of his preparation and his comprehensive knowledge of law principles. He was attorney for the Rock Island and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Companies for about eighteen years. IIe also served as eity attorney of Wyoming for about twenty years, diseharging his duties with marked ability and thus earefully safe- guarding the interests of the city. His elevation to the bench was the logieal sequence of the splendid reeord which he had made as advocate and counselor and he is now serving for the second term as judge of Stark eounty. His career as a judge is in harmony with that of his reeord as a man and citizen-characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty and by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution.
Judge Thomas was united in marriage in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the 14th of September, 1872, to Miss Anna Walsh, who was there reared and educated. She died, leaving two children, but the son, Harry Thomas, died at the age of eight years. The daughter. Katie, is now the wife of A. R. Seewald, a merchant of Terre Haute, In- diana, and they have a daughter, Fara Frances. Judge Thomas was
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
again married in Wyoming, on the 12th of April, 1882, his second union being with Miss Julia M. Hoover, who was born in Peoria county. They also have two children: Anna L., the wife of Nelson L. Steer, a wholesale grocer of Peoria; and Julia B., attending the Toulon schools.
Judge Thomas is a member of Wyoming Lodge, No. 479, A. F. & A. M., and Wyoming Chapter, No. 133, R. A. M., of which he was high priest for twelve years, and is a loyal adherent of the teachings of the craft. He has long taken an active interest in loeal polities and for a time was identified with the democratic party but for a number of years has supported the republican party. He is a man fearless in the support of his honest convictions yet never bitterly aggressive. He is a student of the great politieal, sociologieal and economic ques- tions of the day and his opinions are the result of careful considera- tion of the policies which he regards as effective forees in good government. His fellow townsmen speak of him in terms of high regard, and his reelection to the bench indicates that publie opinion and the decisions of the higher courts indorse his judicial record.
Judge Thomas is a member of the First Congregational church of Toulon, and is one of the principal workers in the Sunday school of that church. His elass of eighteen young ladies speak in the highest terms of him as a teacher, each one of them showing her appreciation of his work in this position by being truly loyal to him. He is a con- scientious anti-saloon advocate, which is ever in evidence by his work and contributions to that eause.
J. KNOX HALL.
J. Knox IIall, a son of Dr. Thomas and Matilda (Manifold) Hall, is a native of Stark county, having been born in the town of Toulon, April 20, 1848. He was educated in the Toulon public schools and upon leaving school entered the office of the old Stark County News to learn the printer's trade. Later he was associated with W. E. Nixon in the publication of the Stark County Sentinel. Purchasing Mr. Nixon's interest, he continued as sole proprietor, editor and pub- lisher of the Sentinel until 1885, when he was appointed postmaster of Toulon by President Cleveland-the first postmaster in Illinois to be appointed by the new administration. At the elose of his term as postmaster he resumed literary work, in which he is still engaged.
Politieally Mr. Hall is a democrat, though he is broad enough to
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
respect the opinions of those who view the political situation from a different standpoint. For four years he was a member of the Toulon city council, at the time the waterworks and sewer system were under construction, and he has always taken a commendable interest in every movement for the improvement of his native eity. In church matters he was formerly a Baptist but now belongs to the Congregational church.
Mr. Hall is a prominent member of the Masonie fraternity, being a member of Toulon Lodge, No. 93, Free and Accepted Masons; Wyoming Chapter, No. 133. Royal Areh Masons; Kewanee Com- mandery, No. 71, Knights Templar; and Mohammed Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystie Shrine, of Peoria.
IIUGHI MALLETT.
Hugh Mallett, who throughout his entire life has engaged in har- ness making, eondueting a profitable and growing business along that line at Bradford, was born in Milo, Bureau county, Illinois, on the 11th of April, 1875, and is a son of James F. and Mary J. ( Haskins) Mallett. The father is also a native of Bureau county, while the mother's birth occurred in 'Tioga county, New York. They were mar- ried in Illinois, however, and are now residents of Lombardville, where they have resided since 1895. The father devoted many years of his life to general farming and is now engaged in stock buying.
Hugh Mallett was educated in Milo and when seventeen years of age began to learn the harness making trade at Lombardville, Illi- nois, being employed there and at Bradford until 1901, when he started in business on his own account. In August, 1915, in association with W. F. Costello and others, he organized the Jim Dandy Collar Com- pany, of which Mr. Mallett is the secretary, while Mr. Costello acts as manager. 'They manufacture a combination collar and pad in one and the establishment now has a capacity of fifteen dozen collars per day and one hundred and twenty-five sets of harness per year. Mr. Mallett has sold over four gross of collars from his harness shop to the farmers of the locality and they have given general satisfaction. He is thoroughly honest and upright in his dealings and is known as "Honest Hugh."
In August, 1906, Mr. Mallett was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Drawyer, and they have become the parents of three children, James, Russell and Madeline. In his political views Mr. Mallett is
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
a republican, well versed on the questions and issues of the day but is not an office seeker. For sixteen years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. His success is due in large measure to the fact that he has always continued in the line in which he embarked as a young tradesman, never dissipating his energies over a broad field but concentrating his efforts upon the business in which he has devel- oped skill and ability.
MRS. RHODA M. JACKSON.
One of the best known residents of La Fayette is Mrs. Rhoda M. Jackson, who is a most active church woman and prominent in other connections. She was born in Fulton county, Illinois, and is a daugh- ter of the Rev. Amos Morey, a native of Maine, who with his parents removed in his childhood days to Ohio, the family home being estab- lished in Huron county, where Mr. Morey was reared to manhood. He there learned the trades of carpenter and cabinet maker and while residing in that loeality he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia HI. Wright, who was born in the state of New York but was reared in Ohio. They removed from Ohio to Illinois, settling in Fulton county, where Mr. Morey worked at his trade but while thus engaged he de- voted all his leisure time to studying for the ministry and at length was ordained in the Methodist church, becoming one of the well known ministers and eirenit riders of Fulton county in early days. Prior to his ordination he had served as a local preacher for many years. In 1857 he came to La Fayette and in his last days as a superannuated minister lived with a daughter on a farm in Knox county.
His daughter Mrs. Jackson was largely reared and edueated in Fulton county and on the 2d of November, 1859, in Abingdon, Knox county, she gave her hand in marriage to Edward L. Jackson. They established their home upon a farm in Knox county, where they re- sided for a number of years, but in 1901 they came to Stark county, settling in La Fayette, where Mr. Jackson lived retired during the remainder of his life, his death oeeurring in the year 1910.
To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were born three sons, who reached adult age, while two children passed away in early life. Cassimer reached mature years, was married and for some time engaged in business in Dixon. Illinois, but afterward removed to Alabama, where he passed away September 26, 1913. Amos Morey Jackson is now a farmer of
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Oklahoma. The youngest son, Clyde, was married and for some time was a commercial traveler. He resided at Oshkosh, Wiseonsin, where he died in January, 1907.
Mrs. Jackson is now numbered among the old settlers of Stark county. She is a most earnest Christian woman, holding member- ship in La Fayette Methodist Episcopal church and taking a most helpful part in church and Sunday school work. She belongs to the Ladies Aid Society and there is perhaps no one more familiar with the history of the churches in this part of the county. Her entire life has been guided by her Christian belief, which has been manifest in many kindly deeds, her sympathy and her charity. She possesses many sterling traits of character which have gained her the warm regard that causes all to speak of her in terms of affeetion and good- will.
C. J. DEISHER.
C. J. Deisher, who is conducting a general mereantile establish- ment at Lombardville, has made good use of his time, talents and opportunities, ever proving loyal to the interests entrusted to his care and eapable in the management of his business affairs. He was born in Osceola township, this eounty, May 6, 1866, a son of James and Caroline (Woodward) Deisher. The father was born in Ithaca, New York, and when about eighteen years of age eame to the middle west, settling on a farm which he continued to develop and improve until fourteen years prior to his demise, when he engaged in the livery business, eondueting his stables until his death, which oeeurred four years ago. His wife had passed away when their son, C. J., was but five years of age.
Spending his youthful days in his father's home, C. J. Deisher attended the publie schools of Bradford and remained with his father until he reached his majority. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Missouri but after spending a time in that state returned to Lombardville and assumed the management of the elevator there for the firm of Mallett & Code, with whom he continued for twenty-two years, his long eonneetion with that firm standing in ineontrovertible proof of his ability, trustworthiness and fidelity. About three years ago he established a general store in Lombardville and is still conducting the business, meeting with excellent success in his manage- ment of the enterprise. That his trade has now reached large pro-
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
portions is indicated by the fact that he runs two wagons in the country.
On the 5th of January, 1887, Mr. Deisher was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Murray and they have become the parents of four chil- dren: Lloyd, who is engaged in business with his father under the firm style of C. J. Deisher & Son; Blanche, who is the wife of John Bell, proprietor of a store in Milo; Maud, who is a school teacher ; and Ray, at home.
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Deisher exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party. He may truly be called a self- made man and deserves all the credit which that term implies. Through his own efforts he has built up a business of gratifying proportions and in 1915 the sales of the firm of C. J. Deisher & Son amounted to over sixty-five thousand dollars. His plans are carefully formulated and promptly executed. He studies the business situation thoroughly, knows the demands of the trade and through liberal purchases is able to meet the wishes of his patrons. He has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement and along that line he has built up a business of gratifying proportions.
I. M. SPENCER.
I. M. Spencer is to a considerable extent living retired although he still makes his home on his farm on section 11. Elmira township, where he owns two hundred acres of valuable land, and where he has now resided for the long period of seventy-six years. He has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred on the 9th of June, 1840, about a half mile west of his pres- ent residence. There are few citizens of this section of the state who have so long resided here and through three-quarters of a century Mr. Spencer has been a witness of and a participant in the events which have shaped the history of Stark county.
He is a son of Isaac P. and Eunice Clarinda ( Gardiner) Spencer, the former a native of Caledonia county. Vermont, and the latter of Onondaga county, New York. In the spring of 1835 Isaac P. Spen- cer arrived in Peoria county, Illinois, and it was in that county that he was married. The following year he came to Stark county and located a claim, whereon he took up his abode in 1837. He built the first brick house in the neighborhood, his home being on section 10.
I. M. SPENCER AND FAMILY
UNDARA
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Osceola township. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improve- ment made upon his land, and he faced all of the hardships and priva- tions of pioneer life in attempting to establish himself in this locality. While upon his first tract of land he also operated a brick kiln and he made the bricks which were used in the ereetion of the first briek house in Elmira township, built in 1842. His son afterward razed that house and upon the site erected his present residence. The father occupied the old home until his death, which occurred in 1884, and throughout the entire period of his residence in this county followed the occupation of farming. The work of development seemed scarcely begun at the time of his arrival. The forests were uncut and on the prairies grew the native grasses starred with millions of wild flowers in June, while in the winter seasons the entire countryside was covered with an unbroken sheet of snow. Comparatively few roads had been laid out and the greater part of the land was still in possession of the government, so that the family shared in all of the different phases of pioneer life and later development. The mother passed away in 1873 and was laid to rest in the Osceola eemetery.
I. M. Spencer pursued his early education in a little log school building ereeted in the midst of the timber, and later he had the benefit of a few terms' instruction in a school at Galesburg. He early began assisting in the work of the fields and was thus busily engaged until the outbreak of the Civil war. He watched with interest the progress of events which eulminated in the attack on Fort Sumter and his patriotie spirit was at once aroused. On the 17th of June, 1861, he offered his services to the government and joined the boys in blue of Company B, Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, to serve for three years, or during the war. He enlisted as a private and. pos- sessing musieal talent, was called upon to serve as fifer and bugler, being chief bugler of his regiment during the last two years of his service, which was terminated on the 9th of July, 1864, when he re- eeived his honorable discharge. He took part in every engagement with his regiment, ineluding the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga. Missionary Ridge, Resaca and others.
With a most ereditable military record Mr. Spencer returned to his home, having given valuable aid to the country in defending the Union. He had been reared to farm life and resumed agricultural pursuits but soon afterward went into a store at Osceola, where he remained for twelve years. This was one of the first stores of the town and the building occupied was one which had been erected by his father. At the end of his mereantile experience Mr. Spencer resumed farming, in which he continued until 1903, since which time
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
he has lived retired to a greater or less extent, although he still occu- pies the old homestead, where he owns two hundred acres of valuable land that returns to him a gratifying annual income.
Mr. Spencer was married in 1871 to Miss Rose Franklin. and they have three children: Ralph, who is on a farm near his father's place: Dana, living in Santa Rosa, California: and Raymond, of Kewanee, Illinois.
In politics, Mr. Spencer has long been an earnest and stalwart republican, and he has served as tax collector, for several terms as school director and for many years as school trustee. His wife is a member of the Baptist church, and he attends religious services at different churches in his home locality. He belongs to the Grand Army post at Osceola, of which he is now commander, and he has nearly always attended the state and national encampments, finding great pleasure in this association with his old army comrades. He is a well read man, always keeping in touch with modern thought and progress and well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day. His life at all times has been active, upright and honorable, and there is no one more deserving of mention in this volume than this honored pioneer settler and war veteran.
A. J. ADAMS.
A. J. Adams, who holds the responsible position of cashier of the National Bank of Wyoming, was born in Penn township. Stark county. on the 5th of April, 1878. His father, Robert A. Adams, was a son of John Adams and was a farmer by occupation. He was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Earhart, who is still living at Castleton. They were the parents of five children, of whom only two survive: A. J .: and Harry F., who resides upon the home farm.
A. J. Adams was reared under the parental roof and had the usual experiences of the farm boy, early gaining training in agri- cultural work and in habits of industry and thrift. He was given excellent educational opportunities as after attending the country schools he entered Knox College and still later took a course in the Gem City Business College, from which he was graduated in 1898. Entering the business world, he secured a position in a store at Castle- ton and later turned his attention to banking, serving for two years as manager of the Scott-Wrigley & Walters branch bank at Castle- ton. Later he came to Wyoming as assistant cashier of the National
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Bank and after serving in that capacity was made cashier. For seven years he has directed the policy of the institution and its prosperity testifies to his knowledge of business conditions, his sound judgment and his familiarity with banking routine.
Mr. Adams was married in 1900 to Miss Delilah Miller, a native of Iowa, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Arline. Mr. Adams is a republican in his political belief and keeps well informed as to the questions and issues before the people. The principles which guide his life are found in the teachings of the Congregational church, and he is always ready to aid movements seeking the moral advance- ment of his community. He is recognized as a leader in local banking cireles and personally he has gained the warm friendship of those who have been closely associated with him.
JAMES A. NOWLAN.
James A. Nowlan was born in Toulon on the 12th of April, 1873. a son of James and Nellie A. (Plummer) Nowlan, the former a son of Michael and Franees ( Kearney) Nowlan, natives respectively of Carlow and Wexford counties, Ireland. James Nowlan, father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Grafton, Massachusetts. on the 6th of February, 1837, and in 1840 accompanied his parents and the other children on their removal west, the family loeating in Goshen township. Stark county, Illinois. He became a resident of Toulon in early manhood and resided there for many years, or until his death in 1900. His wife survives and is still living in that city.
James A. Nowlan was graduated from the local high school with the elass of 1890 and seven years later, in partnership with Charles E. Nixon, purchased the Stark County News. They published the paper together until 1904, when Mr. Nowlan bought his partner's interests, becoming sole proprietor of the journal. He has since been alone in business and has adhered to the highest standards of journal- ism. The typographieal work of the paper is of a high order, the news columns give complete and reliable accounts of happenings of general interest. and the editorial page is devoted to the upbuilding of the interests of Toulon and Stark county. Mr. Nowlan has proved not only an exeellent editor but also a man of keen business insight and enterprise. and the paper has returned him a good profit. On the Ist of January, 1915, he purchased The Galva Standard, and a year
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
later bought The Galva News, combining the two publieations under the latter name.
Mr. Nowlan was married on the 15th of April, 1904, to Miss Cora De M. Townsend. of Wyoming, Illinois, a daughter of William J. and Jane E. Townsend. To this union have been born five children, three sons and two daughters.
Mr. Nowlan is a stanch advocate of republican principles and personally and through his papers has been an influential factor in republiean suecess in this section of the state. He has served as alder- man, as city treasurer and has held other minor offices, at all times proving a capable and conscientious publie servant. He is associated with the blue lodge and other bodies of the Masonic order and in his daily life exemplifies the spirit of fraternity which is at the basis of that organization.
C. G. THURSTON.
C. G. Thurston, who was born upon the farm which he is now operating on seetion 33, Penn township, has proved very efficient as an agrieulturist and stock raiser and has gained a gratifying meas- ure of suceess. His natal day was the 17th of March, 1878, and he is a son of Daniel S. and Clarinda (McKinnis) Thurston. The father was born in Tioga county, New York, but beeame an early settler of Stark county, Illinois, where he developed a traet of raw prairie land into a highly improved farm. He died in this county presumably on the 17th of November, 1896. IIe was a demoerat in politics and served as supervisor and school director. His wife, who was a native of Ohio, passed away in December, 1912, and both were buried in Pleasant Valley cemetery.
C. G. Thurston attended the common schools and was also a stu- dent in the high school at Wyoming, Illinois, thus receiving a thorough education. He has devoted his life to farming and now owns sixty- five aeres of the old homestead and operates two hundred and forty aeres. Ile is breeding Duroc-Jersey hogs in addition to raising the usual erops and both branches of his business are profitable. About eight years ago he became the local representative for the Oxweld Acetylene Company and in the intervening time he has installed a number of lighting plants in residenees in his loeality.
Mr. Thurston supports the republican party and is now filling the office of sehool director. He is a member of the Methodist Prot-
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
estant church and fraternally is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America at Castleton and the Odd Fellows at Wyoming. He realizes that enterprise and progressiveness are necessary to succeed in farming as well as in other fields of activity and has based his sue- cess upon the sure foundation of industry and good judgment.
CHARLES P. DEWEY.
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