USA > Illinois > Champaign County > A Standard history of Champaign County Illinois : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, civic and social development : a chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs, Volume II > Part 10
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J. A. R. Koch. "God's finger touched him and he slept," was the almost universal thought in St. Joseph . Township upon the death of J. A. R. Koch, who died suddenly at the home of his son Frank in the Mayview community August 9, 1917. Mr. Koch was one of the county's prominent, influential, useful and progressive citizens. Every activity in his life was employed directly or indirectly for the general welfare, and his every heart throb was in sympathy with the righteous aspirations and efforts for elevation and improvement among his fellow men.
His was the type of material success of which America is most proud. Hc came to Champaign County over half a century ago, poor and prac- tically friendless, made a competence for himself, provided for others, and wrought a strong impress upon the moral and religious institutions of his community. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 21; 1844, a son of Adam and Mary Ann (Gigher) Koch. His father was a native of Adams County, Pennsylvania, and his mother of the city of Philadelphia. There were seven children, six sons and one daughter, Reuben, Malcolm, Adam, Alfred, Edward, J. A. R. and Mrs. Annetta C. Hudson, all of whom are now deceased. Alfred and Adam gave their lives to the cause of the country during the Civil War, the former dying in a Southern prison and the latter in a Southern hospital. Edward, the oldest son, was drowned. J. A. R. Koch was the youngest of the family and was twelve days old when his father died. His mother was subsequently married twice and she died in Ohio, leaving two sons, Benjamin Oyler and Fred Hulshy, by her other two husbands.
J. A. R. Koch had a strenuous career, beginning when he was between six and seven years of age. At that time he provided for his own support, working on a farm at $2 per month. He had industry and persistence, and through his early experience with hardship and difficulty he retained to the end of his life a sympathy and kindly feeling for the poor and oppressed and in many ways helped them to better lives.
On November 3, 1864, Mr. Koch arrived in St. Joseph Township of
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Champaign County. He had left a sweetheart behind him in the old Buekeye State, and on January 19, 1868, he went baek to reclaim her. When he left Ohio he was poor but too proud to ask the young lady to marry him until he could provide a home. On returning he told her of the splendid State of Illinois and of its many favorable opportunities, and she was glad to exchange her name from Suzanna Foor to Koeh.
Returning to Illinois with his young bride Mr. Koch worked as a farmer, and in February, 1881, settled near Mayview, where he bought his first land for $25 an aere. Later he paid $50 and $85 an aere for other lands, and in the course of time he found himself surrounded with ample prosperity. His home had always an atmosphere of Christian virtue and friendship. For many years Mr. Koch made it a rule to employ principally those who had no home of their own, endeavoring to make them feel that though deprived of home they could find Christian sympathy and kindness which goes so far toward smoothing out the rugged pathway of life. Many have gone in and out from the Koch home carrying the happy remembrance of the parental kindness of these two worthy people.
While in Ohio Mr. Koch was a member of the Evangelical Church. Among the valued possessions brought with him from that state was the letter from his church which he presented to the Methodist Episcopal organ- . ization at Mayview, which then worshiped in a schoolhouse. Being known as a young man of promising industry and of splendid religious faith, he soon found introduction into the hearts and homes of many of the pioneer families. He always kindly recalled the welcome he received in the homes of the Kirkpatricks, the Buseys, and other prominent families, and the friendship he thus formed endured to the end.
Mr. and Mrs. Koeh went about the improvement of their home dili- gently and made it one of the most attractive spots in St. Joseph Township. They were always interested in the work of the community, and while they had no children of their own they found room in their hearts and home for three orphan children, whom they adopted and to whom they gave their own name. Mr. Koch had reared in his home Mary Oyler, daughter of his half brother. One other of his farm hands had lived with him for seven years. Christopher and Elizabeth MeCrughen had died in Champaign County, leaving seven orphan children, and Mr. Koch was appointed guardian for them. He and his wife subsequently adopted two of the . boys, A. F. and J. C., and the daughter, E. J. They legally assumed the Koch name in 1893. Thus a good home was provided for them, and the boys grew up industrious and capable citizens, handling the duties of their father's farm for many years before his death.
Mr. Koch built a nice house and barn on the corner of his farm for his son Frank, and built also another one like it on his farm three and a half miles southeast of the old home for the other son J. C. Koch. A. F. Koeh married Eva R. Smith, and they have three children, Raymond H., Elva Marie and J. A. R., Jr. He does a large business in raising Holstein eattle, and his "Black and White Dairy Farm" is widely known. His dairy products are shipped to Champaign.
The other son, J. C. Koch, has also inherited and is owner of a part of the Koch homestead in St. Joseph Township. He married Susie Alt, and their four children are Clifton A., Genevieve A., Frances A. and Clarence D.
Nearly ten years before his own death Mr. Koeh was called upon to mourn the passing of his beloved wife on December 3, 1907. She was a woman of many virtues, kindly, sympathetic and charitable, and had been in sympathy with her husband in their love for orphan children. In faet so many fatherless and motherless and friendless found shelter in their
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home that it was often called "The Orphans' Home." The Koch home- stead was the abode of hospitality in the best sense of the word, and it is said that no needy person ever applied for help there who went away empty handed.
The late Mr. Koch was a public spirited citizen, and for thirty-six years served as a school director. He endeavored to secure the best of instruction for the children of the community. He was a personal friend of many of the best citizens of Champaign County, including the late Judge Cunningham and Colonel Busey.
His name is especially associated with the Mayview Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which the funeral services were held preceding his inter- ment in Mount Olive Cemetery. He was instrumental in building that church and was for many years a trustee and a member of its building committee. Many of his old neighbors said that Mayview would never have another church when the old one passed out of use. Mr. Koch assumed individually the responsibility for getting the congregation in a new home, and when he first proposed building he was told that it might be possible to build a house of worship but it would always be burdened with a heavy debt. He himself headed a subscription paper with a gen- erous sum and then started around and found many loyal hearts to respond, so that as a result the church was dedicated not only free of debt but with more than $100 in the treasury. On the day of dedication the bishop who presided stated that never before in his experience had a country com- munity accomplished a building program so successfully. Today this church stands as a monument to the enterprise and liberality of the late Mr. Koch.
DAVID BAILEY. In the latter part of 1854 or the early part of 1855 Mr. Bailey moved to Monticello, Illinois. After a short sojourn there he came to Urbana, and in March or April, 1856, moved to Champaign, where for a number of years, in connection with W. B. Bailey, he conducted a small country store in a frame building that he erected on the site now occupied by the Robeson Department Store.
David Bailey was one of the thirteen men who founded the First National Bank of Champaign, in 1865. Application for organization was made to the government in January, 1865, and certificate was issued in April, 1865. The thirteen men signing up were in the following order :. J. S. Wright, J. H. Thomas, W. M. Way, Hamilton J. Jefferson, B. F. Harris, J. S. Beasley, David Bailey, Daniel Gardner, W. C. Barrett, Simeon H. Busey, S. P. Percival, J. G. Clark and A. E. Harmon. Each took fifty shares, making a capital of sixty-five thousand dollars. David Bailey disposed of his interest in the bank some time in the '70s.
In 1882 he, with other men, founded the Champaign National Bank. The nine men signing the organization certificate and present at the organization were: Edward Bailey, 110 shares; Wm. S. Maxwell, 100 shares; Jas. C. Miller, 150 sharcs; Bernard Kelley, 40 shares; David Bailcy, 60 shares; Isaac S. Raymond, 10 shares; Geo. F. Beardsley, 10 shares ; Francis T. Walker, 10 shares; James B. Mckinley, 10 sharcs. ' In this bank he held his holdings until his death. During his residence in Champaign, Mr. Bailey was several times elected a member of the Board of County Supervisors of Champaign County ; also served as school trustee. He was a public spirited citizen, contributed liberally, yet wisely, to every worthy enterprise, whether secular or religious. His giving was not osten- tatious, but it may be said that among his gifts was a lot now occupied by the Baptist parsonage, he being a member of that society, and the ground now occupied by the city building.
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Mr. Bailey gave up his residence in Champaign about 1877, and after traveling for a season, finally located in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he remained until after the death of his wife in 1879. Subsequently he lived for a short time in New York City, and then returned to the home of his boyhood in New Hampshire, where he spent most of his time, though frequently visiting his old home and friends in Champaign.
On the 22nd day of March, 1882, he married Miss Harriet Hazelton, of Methuen, Massachusetts. Two weeks later he followed her remains to the tomb. He was then married to his third wife, November 1, 1886, she being Mrs. Mary B. Ewings, who survives him.
In Champaign, in 1897, he had erected a new residence on the site occupied by the old home into which he had moved in 1856. The new home had just been completed and occupied by him when he was called from this life December 17, 1897, it being his intention to spend the closing days of his life in the city to which he had contributed so much toward the upbuilding.
Mr. Bailey was a man of magnificent physical presence, and it may be truly said that he carried within his breast a soul worthy of so splendid a habitation. He sought no man's praise, satisfied to have the approval of his own conscience, and he was immovable in his adherence to justice and right. Once his duty was made plain, nothing could swerve him from it. Yet under a stern exterior beat a great, big, kind heart, as those who knew him best can testify.
He was a manly man, and that means much. His character was developed in pioneer days, and while his early opportunity for acquiring an education was very limited, yet. by extensive reading, observation and travel, he became a well informed and polished gentleman. The life and labors of such as he have made possible the greatest comfort and beauty in the world at present. His heart beat warm for the oppressed and dis- tressed, and his purse opened probably with as great frequency as any other in Champaign to alleviate the suffering of his fellowmen. Yet it was done so modestly that only in rare instances did any but the beneficiary know of his beneficence.
David Bailey was born in Salem, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, August 2, 1814, of poor yet honest parents. His father was a farmer and a shoemaker. There were nine children in this New England home- three sons and six daughters. The children attended district school about three months in the winter season. David had no further scholastic. train- ing. When a boy of twelve years he was put out to work for a neighbor to help lift a debt that was pressing his father.
After spending a number of years on a farm, the subject of this sketch entered a country store at Haverhill, Massachusetts, as a clerk, but did not long remain there on account of poor health. He soon drifted to Boston, or, rather, to Charleston, just across the Charles River from Boston, where for a time he occupied a position as clerk in the state penitentiary.
Late in the '30s he decided to come West, and came to Danville, Illinois, making the trip by canal and stage coach. At Danville he secured a clerkship in a general country store. While there he became acquainted with Miss Hannah Finley, to whom he was married on February 9, 1841, and to this union were born five children, three sons, who survived their father, namely, Edward, David and Ozias, and two daughters, Abiah, who was the oldest of the family and died in early childhood, and Susan Bailey Slayden, who died at Waco, Texas, some years before her father.
After spending some time in Danville, Mr. Bailey went to Bloomfield, Edgar County, Illinois. There he accepted a position on salary, but later,
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having saved a little money, he formed a partnership with his brother Ozias (who had recently come West) under the firm name of O. & D. Bailey.
The Bailey peddling wagon soon became well known throughout the section between the Wabash and Sangamon rivers. The brothers also operated a small pork packing establishment at Clinton, Indiana, shipping their product by flat boat to New Orleans.
While on one of these trips Mr. Bailey first met Abraham Lincoln, also J. S. Wright, who was afterwards the first cashier of the First National Bank of Champaign.
CAPTAIN EDWARD BAILEY is president of the Champaign National Bank, an institution which has become noted as one of the most conserva- tive in the United States and as a leader among the great banking institu- tions of Illinois. He was one of its founders.
He was born at Bloomfield, Edgar County, Illinois, September 8, 1843, a son of David and Hannah (Finley) Bailey, concerning whom mention is made on other pages. His early education was obtained in subscription schools at Bloomfield.
In the last part of 1854 or early in 1855 his parents moved to Monti- cello, Illinois, thence to Urbana, Illinois, and in the spring of 1856 to Champaign, where he attended the public schools. In 1858 and 1859 he was a student at Atkinson Academy, Atkinson, New Hampshire. In the fall of 1860 he entered Douglas University in Chicago. This was the nucleus of the old Chicago University, which still later was founded and chartered as the University of Chicago.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861 an independent military company was formed in this school. As a member of that company Edward Bailey learned the regulation drill and became very proficient therein. When Stephen A. Douglas died this company had the position of honor in the funeral procession and at the grave.
In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Sixty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was elected first lieutenant by the company. After serving out that enlistment he returned home and at the request of his parents attended commercial school. He also clerked in a dry goods store owned by his father and W. B. Bailey. In 1864 Edward Bailey enlisted in his country's service again, this time as a member of Company B, One Hun- dred Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The company elected him captain, and in that capacity he served out the enlistment.
At the conclusion of his army service he clerked in a dry goods store in Champaign and later held a similar position at Ridgefarm, Vermilion County. Afterwards he was clerk for the firm of Richards & Brother in Champaign, in which business he had a small interest.
In 1868 he was married to Josephine S. Richards, who had come to Champaign with her parents from the State of Maine. To this union three children were born: Fred Sumner Bailey, who is vice president of the Champaign National Bank ; Josephine Belle Bailey; and Ange Bailey.
In the fall of 1879 Mr. Bailey, Mr. W. S. Maxwell and Mr. James C. Miller organized the private banking company of Bailey, Maxwell & Miller. In 1882 they applied for authority to organize the Champaign National Bank, with capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. In this they were joined by six other stockholders, all of whom were present at the organization of the bank. A board of directors was elected and when the board organized Edward Bailey was elected president and has been president ever since, a period of thirty-five years, making him one of the senior bank presidents in the state.
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L. FORNEY WINGARD is a successful lawyer at Champaign, has been in active practice over fifteen years, and besides his accumulation of profes- sional interests he has identified himself in a public spirited way with the work of the community.
His family have lived in Champaign County for a great many years. Mr. Wingard was born at Champaign June 3, 1875, a son of Benjamin F. and Mary C. (Forney) Wingard. His father was born in Indiana, son of David Wingard, who came to Champaign County in 1859. Both the father and grandfather were in the jewelry business at Champaign. Mr. Wingard's mother was born in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, and is still living in Champaign County. There were three children: Anna, at home with her parents ; L. Forney ; and Roy, a traveling salesman.
L. Forney Wingard was graduated in 1893 from the Champaign High School, and then took the regular academic course in the University of Illinois, where he graduated A. B. in 1898. For his law course he entered the Northwesteru University Law School in Chicago, and began active practice in 1901. He is director and assistant attorney of the First State Trust and Banking Company at Urbana, Illinois.
For seven years Mr. Wingard served as secretary of the Champaign Board of Education. In 1915 he was elected alderman from the fifth ward, and was one of the last board of aldermen until the commission form of government was put into effect. Mr. Wingard, who is unmarried, is affil- iated with the Masonic Order, being a Knight Templar and Shriner, a member of the Sons of Veterans through his father's service as a Union soldier, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Churchi.
WILLIAM STONESTREET, who for for many years was identified with the agricultural enterprise of Kerr Township, was head of one of the most industrious and honored families in that section of Champaign County, and the name is one that is spoken with the greatest respect and esteem, due to the many worthy virtues manifest in their home and lives.
Mr. Stonestreet was a native of Kerr Township, a son of Adam and Nancy (Stonestreet) Stonestreet. His parents were both natives of West Virginia and were among the pioneer settlers of Champaign County, arriv- ing in 1853.
The late William Stonestreet married Mary E. Clifton. She was born in Champaign County, next to the youngest in a family of eight children of Jackson and Jane (Allsop) Clifton. Mrs. Stonestreet was educated in district school No. 9, the Obenchain schoolhouse.
After their marriage Mr. Stonestreet began his career on land belong- ing to his mother, and which he subsequently inherited. He and his wife had industry and enthusiasm and gradually their efforts were crowned with pleasing success.
Into their home were born six children, two of whom died in infancy. The other four are named Andrew Adam, Ira Elmer, Emma Jane and Charles Gilbert. The children have received the best of advantages in the local schools, known as the Stonestreet school, while Gilbert is now a student in the high school at Penfield. Miss Emma took besides her lit- erary instruction piano lessons from Miss Alice Gordon.
It was after a career of years of strenuous and successful labor that Mr. Stonestreet passed away August 27, 1909, after a brief illness. He was a man who commanded and enjoyed the high respect of the com- munity wherein he long resided and was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After his death Mrs. Stonestreet, left alone, coutinucd the responsibilities of the old farm, and has shown unusual executive ability in the management of the farm as well as the home. She has
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devoted herself to the rearing of her children and already sees the fruits of her instruction and the lessons she lias endeavored to impress upon them. Her older sons have already assumed the management of the farm and the well kept condition of the place indicates their ability and industry. Sinee the death of her husband Mrs. Stonestreet has been able to buy forty acres additional land and now has a very complete and well equipped farm of eighty aeres, worked by her sons. The family also farm 120 acres of rented land. Mrs. Stonestreet believes in enjoying the good things of life and owns a car in which she and her family find much recreation in tours about the county and in visiting their many friends. Mrs. Stoncstreet descrves the greatest credit for what she has accomplished. She bravely faced the duties of life and has proved herself one of the noblest of Amer- ican women. Politically she is a staneh Republican, having grown up in the atmosphere of that party. She is active as a member and supporter of the Penfield Methodist Episcopal Church and her children are attendants of the Sunday sehool. Each year finds her in greater eomfort, since her sons and her daughter are gradually relieving her of many of the heavy responsibilities in connection with the farm. Her daughter Miss Emma is a cultured girl who does much to assist in the home work. Her sons, as they grow to manhood, have manifested a lively interest in home duties and have proved a comfort to their mother and a eredit to themselves and the community.
ENGLISH BROTHERS. Former students of the University of Illinois, where both were thoroughly trained in the technieal branches of their profession, the English Brothers, Richard Caleb and Edward Carey, Jr., have for the past sixteen years been general contractors and structural engineers at Champaign, with offices in the Lincoln Building, they have developed a splendid prestige and reputation and their elientage constitutes a business that is one of the largest and most valuable of its kind in this section of the state.
Of the two brothers Richard Caleb English, the older, was born March 1, 1873, at Jonesboro in Union County, Illinois, while Edward Carey, Jr., was born November 19, 1876, at Anna, in Union County, Illinois. Their parents were Edward Carey and Marga Ann (Hartline) English, the former a native of St. Johns, Newfoundland, and the latter of Union County, Illinois. Both parents are now deeeased. The Hartline family came from Rowan County, North Carolina, and have been residents of the State of Illinois since 1798.
It was in 1898 that the English brothers eame to Champaign County as students in the University of Illinois. Edward C. was graduated in 1902. In the previous year they had engaged in business together as general contractors and builders, and with maturing experience they have extended their work to cover a large field and they have an immense amount of capital and equipment and a perfected organization for carrying out the most involved contract of construction. Both are practical engineers and have fully deserved their success.
Politically they are aetive democrats and in fraternal affairs are members of the Benevolent and Proteetive Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, the Country Club and the Rotary Club. They and their families are members of the Holy Cross Catholic Church. Richard C. English married Miss Agnes M. Hughes, a native of Deland, Illinois. Their three children are Mary, Richard and Edward. Edward C. English married Harriet Whitney Aylmer, a native of St. Louis. They also have three children, Edward, Aylmer and Susan.
One of the most important pieces of work recently completed by English
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Brothers is the Aviation Field, Rantoul, Illinois. This contract for the United States of America was taken May 28, 1917, and completed in six weeks at a total expenditure of $750,000. In the words of Howard Coffin, chairman of the National Board of Production of the United States of America Aviation Board, "In the erection and completion of Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, all records in government contracts have been broken."
EDWARD V. MORE. Of the families of Champaign County whose indus- try and activities of life have contributed materially to the prosperity and upbuilding of the community one of the most highly respected is that which bears the name of More, and which has a worthy representative in Edward V. More of Rantoul. Mr. More, who is engaged in the fire insur- ance business at this time and whose energies have taken him into other fields of endeavor during a long and uniformly successful career, was born in St. Joseph County, Michigan, and is a son of James R. and Louisa M. (Lee) More, natives of the county of Delaware, New York. The paternal grandfather was Henry More, a native of the Empire State.
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