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 62
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Mr. Franks was married December 27, 1895, to Miss Alice M. Trost, and they have become the parents of seven children, as follows: Lyman, who lived but two and one-half years; and Royal M., John Edward, Lyle Harold, Richard Eugene, Frederick Paul and Wayne Trost. Mr. Franks and his family belong to the Lutheran Church.
In politics Mr. Franks has always been a sincere Democrat and at all times loyally supports the party nominees. That he is a man in whom his fellow citizens place implicit confidence may be inferred from the fact that many times he has been elected to important public offices and at the present time is serving as village clerk of Philo and is a member of the village school board and is also assessor of Philo Township.
JAMES THOMPSON, a veteran Union soldier, and long identified with Champaign County as a practical farmer, has known this county through all its stages of progress and transformation for the past sixty-five years.
Mr. Thompson is still a hale and hearty man for all his seventy-five years. He cannot recall all the circumstances of his many birthday anniver- saries, but one of these birthdays is lastingly impressed upon his mind. It was his tenth. On that day, sixty-five years ago, the Thompson family arrived in Champaign County and settled in Homer Township. James Thompson was born in Missouri, October 9, 1842, a son of David and Mary A. (Hechney) Thompson. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Missouri, and in that state they were married. Of their five children James was the oldest.
When the family came to Champaign County in 1852, they located in the new and sparsely settled district of Homer Township, where James attended school and he also had some of the advantages of the public schools of Sidney Township. He had not reached his majority when the great Civil War broke out, and in that time of excitement and strenuous patriotism he determined to do what he could to guard the integrity of the Union. When he was about twenty-two years of age he enlisted in Company I of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry. This was a gallant regiment that did much effective service. He was with the regiment at Little Rock, Arkansas, where the Tenth Illinois Cavalry did a splendid service, foraging, breaking the enemy's line of communications, reconnoitering, and making extended forays into the enemy's country. From Little Rock they went to Camden, and then went south into Texas, later to Shreveport, Louisiana, to Mobile, Alabama, were ordered two different times to New Orleans, were sent to Memphis, were taken up and down the river three times and were almost constantly exposed to the hard work and danger of military life as scouts and aids to the infantry in holding strategical points. Mr. Thompson was with this regiment for nearly two years, and was finally mustered out at New Orleans, and returned to Springfield, Illinois, where he received his honorable discharge.
The war over, he resumed the occupations of peace, and on December 13, 1867, married Miss Ann Busey. Mrs. Thompson is a member of one of Champaign County's most notable families. She was born in Sidney Town- ship, September 8, 1850, a daughter of Fountain J. and Marie L. (Shepard) Busey. Her father was born in Kentucky, and her mother at Darbysville, Ohio. They came to Illinois as young people and were married at Urbana. Mrs. Thompson was one of fifteen children. She received her early educa- tion in the district school of Sidney Township.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thompson remained in Sidney Town- ship and rented a farm, and subsequently moved to Urbana Township, where Mr. Busey had given his daughter a farm, on which they lived and laid the
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foundation of their prosperity for twelve years. Later they went to St. Joseph Township and bought the 160 acres which they still own. This their labors have converted into a splendid farm and country place. They built a commodious home, many other buildings, planted fruit and shade trees, and the entire estate now stands as a monument to their long con- tinued industry.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson may well take pride in their material achieve- ments, but even more in the splendid family of children who have grown up in their home. They are nine in number, named Fred, Burt, Clint, Daisy, Millie, Winnie, Charles, Burley F. and Guy. These children did not lack for educational opportunities and advantages. They attended the public schools of St. Joseph Township and have had other advantages both at home and abroad. The son Fred is now a practical farmer in Somer Township, and by his marriage to Hattie Corey has three daughters, Ruth, Helen and Carrie. Burt, who lives at Weston, Ohio, retired, married Florence Caily Clint, whose home is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, married Lillian Treese, and their five children are Jennie, Dorothy, James, Herbert and Dean Busey. The daughter Daisy is the wife of Burt Tompkins, and their three children are Rhuel, Marie and Leon. Winnie is the wife of Sanford White, of Urbana Township. Charles, a farmer in Stanton Township, married Marie Andre, and has a daughter, Marjorie. Three of the children are still at home assist- ing in the labors of the farm and the management of the household. They are Burley and Guy and Millie.
In matters of politics Mr. Thompson is stanchly aligned with the Demo- cratic party. He believes that President Wilson is the man of the hour and has faith in his steady hand and calm judgment as the great resource for bringing the country out of its present time of trial and stress. Mr. Thomp- son filled many of those positions indicative of public esteem and has been school director fifteen years, road commissioner and in other local posts of responsibility. The six sons are all members of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, while Fred is also an Odd Fellow and Woodman. Fred Thompson has served two terms as supervisor of Somer Township. The three daughters are all members of the Eastern Star. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson also have one great-grandchild, June Elizabeth Merchimer, daughter of Ruth Thompson, now Mrs. Ruth Merchimer. Mrs. Merchimer was graduated in music from the University of Illinois.
Mrs. Thompson, as member of one of Champaign County's oldest families, has some interesting family heirlooms. One is the mirror used by her Grandfather Busey, in Kentucky, when he first went to housekeeping. Her Grandmother Shepard came from Germany, and brought with her three sets of silver spoons, and these have since been distributed among friends and relatives. Mrs. Thompson also has a quilt pieced by her Grandmother Busey, in Kentucky, from linen woven by herself.
On Friday, September 8, 1917, the entire family of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson returned home to celebrate the mother's birthday, she being then sixty-seven years of age. This was a very great pleasure to both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.
ELMER A. RUSH has been individually carrying the burdens of agri- culture in Champaign County for many years. Business has prospered under his hand and he has enjoyed many of the good things of life, includ- ing a good home and the riches of esteem paid him by his fellow citizens.
Mr. Rush was born in Philo Township of this county September 30, 1877, a son of William and Florence A. (Keeble) Rush. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Vermont. William Rush came to Illinois when a young man and after a brief residence in Marshall
D.S. Coons Hemma Coons
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County removed to Champaign County and was engaged in farming in Crittenden Township until his death in August, 1910. The mother died in 1912. They were the parents of nine children: Elsie, who died in infancy ; May, living at Philo; Bertha, who died in infancy; Viola F., wife of H. W. Fiscus, of Philo; Elmer A., Eva E., who lives with her brother Elmer ; William A., Hubert and Sheridan, all deceased.
Elmer A. Rush received his education in the district schools of Cham- paign County. His earlier experiences were as a farmer and for a time he was in the drug business at Philo. In 1906 he began his career as a renter, having at first eighty acres for two years in Crittenden Town- ship, following which he had 160 acres in Philo Township, and his subse- quent farm enterprise has been conducted in Sidney Township, where he has the active management of 240 acres in section 7. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising. His home is on Rural Route No. 11 out of Urbana.
On February 18, 1903, Mr. Rush married Miss Blanche Minich, a native of Champaign County. Their only child, Wilma Eileen, was born in 1915 and died in infancy. While living in Philo Township Mr. Rush served as trustee of the local schools. He is a Republican, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOSEPH E. LOWERY, M. D. As a competent physician and surgeon Doctor Lowery has been known in Champaign County for a number of years. He began practice over thirty years ago, his early experience in the profession being in the State of Iowa.
Doctor Lowery is a native of Stark County, Ohio, where he was born November 13, 1861. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Simmons) Lowery, were natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and school teacher. In 1869 the family located in McLean County, Illinois, and in 1882 went to Greene County, Iowa, where Joseph Lowery died in 1888 and his wife 1893. They were the parents of eight children : Frances, Wesley W. and Warren W., all deceased; Walter W., a farmer at Oxford, Nebraska; Nancy, wife of William Fleetwood, of Nebraska; Alice, wife of Dr. A. C. All- bright, of Danville, Illinois; Joseph E .; and Minnie Florence, deccased.
Doctor Lowery spent most of his early life on his father's farm in
McLean County, Illinois. Besides the advantages of the country schools he attended the high school at Lexington, Illinois, and subsequently took up the study of medicine in the State University of Iowa City. He was graduated M. D. from Drake University at Des Moines in 1885, and the following year he practiced at Waukee and another year at Rippy, Iowa.
Returning to Illinois, Doctor Lowery practiced five years in McLean County, and after that was identified with a growing professional business at Foosland in Champaign County. In 1902 he removed to Homer, where he has had a large general practice as a physician and surgeon for the past fifteen years. Doctor Lowery is a good business man, and is the owner of two drug stores in Danville, his son Joseph being active manager of these stores. Doctor Lowery is a Republican in politics.
September 12, 1889, he married Georgia Leake, a native of Blooming- ton, Illinois. Their only child is Joseph C., of Danville.
JACOB S. COONS. For nearly sixty years Jacob S. Coons has been a resident of Champaign County. He knew the county when it was wild prairie and swamp, and knows it as one of the garden spots of the world. He came here in the flush of young manhood, with little more than his native thrift and industry, and has found all those rewards which satisfy
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the ambitious man in material well being, family, home and community esteem.
Mr. Coons was born in Tompkins County, New York, eight miles from the University City of Ithaca, a son of William and Christina (Smith) Coons. His father was also a native of New York State and his mother of Virginia. Jacob was the second in a family of six children, all of whom were educated in the public schools of New York and of the state of Ohio. Jacob was a small child when the family removed to Ohio.
After reaching young manhood he went back to his native state, remain- ing there six years, and in 1858 came to Illinois. He settled in St. Joseph Township and found work with a farmer.
Mr. Coons married for his first wife Sarah Cowden, a native of Illinois. After her death he married Angela Cox. She was the mother of two chil- dren. Addie L. is now Mrs. Nelden, living in Oklahoma City and the mother of one child, Hazel Armstrong. Arthur Clement, the second child of this union, is a successful farmer, now occupying his father's old home- stead in St. Joseph Township. He married Ollie Deer of Sidney, and they have four children, Ethel, Gilbert, Nora and Jacob S.
For his third wife Mr. Coons married Emma Z. Crowell, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of John and Diantha (Jennison) Crowell. She was only two years of age when the family came to Illinois, and as one of eight children she grew up and received her education in the public schools of Champaign County. Mr. and Mrs. Coons had two children, Edith and Walter. They were well educated in the local schools and the high school at St. Joseph. Edith also took a course in Brown's Business College at Champaign and is now the wife of Charles Morris, a farmer in St. Joseph Township. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have three children, Charles, Jacob and June Emeline.
When Mr. Coons came to Champaign County the land comprising the "Flats" in Compromise Township were all a vast stretch of wild prairie. He bought for his first purchase forty acres of this land and applied his youth and energy to its development and cultivation. Years brought himn increasing success and he finally bought 160 acres in St. Joseph Township and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until about fifteen years ago, when he and his wife removed to the village of St. Joseph, leaving the farm in the hands of his son Arthur. The other son, Walter, is still at home and a barber at St. Joseph.
Mr. and Mrs. Coons are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at St. Joseph, and have been among its most liberal supporters for thirty-five years. In politics they are both strongly of the Republican doc- trine and believe that party is the best equipped to insure the permanent prosperity and integrity of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Coons maintain a most hospitable home, and throughout their careers they have endeavored to instill the principles of true American citizenship in their children. Mr. Coons had two brothers, William and John, who were soldiers during the Civil War, and William died while in the service of his country. Mr. Coons has always practiced the Golden Rule, and in his declining years he has the pleasing retrospect of the past and looks forward to the future confidently and without fear.
THOMAS D. B. STUCKER is one of the honored citizens of Fisher, Illinois. His home has been in Champaign County for the past thirty- six years. His life deserves honor and respect for two reasons: First, because of the good and honest work he has done as a private citizen, and second, as an old soldier who helped to save the nation during the dark days from 1861 to 1865. Mr. Stucker, whose ancestry originally was
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German, was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, July 13, 1844. He was the fifth in a family of fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters, born to Jeptha and Elizabeth (Bowman) Stucker. Five of these children are still living. Jeptha Stucker was born in the Blue Grass State of Ken- tucky, June 22, 1805, and he died in Bartholomew County, Indiana, in 1890, when in his eighty-sixth year. On leaving Kentucky he first settled in Jefferson County, Indiana, where he married. Possessing a good education, he taught school and for thirty-seven years was justice of the peace in Bartholomew County. He also served as county assessor. He and his wife, who also died in Bartholomew County, were active members of the Baptist Church. His main occupation was farming and he possessed a well improved place of ninety-three acres situated seven miles from Columbus, Indiana. That farm is still owned and occupied by one of his sons. His wife was born in Indiana, October 31, 1812, and died June 28, 1886. She was reared in Indiana, and her children remember her as a kind hearted and loving mother. Through her mother she was also descended from German stock. Both Jeptha and wife are now at rest in St. John's Cemetery in Bartholomew County.
Thomas D. B. Stucker grew up on the old home farm in Indiana, was educated in the common schools, and attended school when they were supported on the subscription plan. Mr. Stucker well recalls the old log cabin building where he learned some of his first lessons. It was heated by a wide fireplace, and the pupils sat on seats made of split logs, and in the absence of individual desks for the pupils there was a broad board set at an incline on pins driven into the wall, at which the older scholars would stand and write out their copy with the old goose quill pen.
At the age of eighteen Mr. Stucker began making his own way in the world as a wage earner. He made thirteen dollars a month for hard work on a farm, and he worked from sunup to sundown. From the farm he went to work in a tannery at Columbus, Indiana, and put in nine years in that business. His final occupation was as a carpenter and joiner, and that trade he followed in Indiana and also in Champaign County until his retirement from active life.
When he was about twenty years of age Mr. Stucker enlisted at Colum- bus, Indiana, January 5, 1864, in Company A of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Infantry, under Captain Henry Winters and Colonel Will A. Adams. This regiment was assigned to duty under General "Pap" Thomas, and his field of action was principally in Tennessee and Georgia. He participated in one of the most bitterly fought and glorious campaigns of the war, that hundred days of almost continuous fighting leading up to the siege and fall of Atlanta. He was present at the battle of Spring Place and Buzzard's Roost in Georgia and in the many other engagements preceding the taking of Atlanta. But through all his exposure to risk and hardship he was never wounded and never taken prisoner. Mr. Stucker was mustered out of service at Macon, Georgia, January 21, 1866, and received his final discharge at the same date.
After the war he returned home and put on the civilian garb and was soon busied with those duties of private life which engaged him for nearly half a century. On January 5, 1865, before he had finished his war record, Mr. Stucker married Miss Nancy Jane Schrougham. To these worthy parents were born five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom are still living. Caroline, the oldest, is the wife of M. G. Barn- hart, who is in the real estate business at Flanagan, Illinois. Mr. Barn- hart is well educated and was formerly principal of schools. They have two children, both of whom are married. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart are members of the Christian Church. Will S. Stucker, the oldest son, is a
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resident of Fisher and a teamster. He married Miss Nora Hanna, and they have four children. He is a member of the Christian Church. Nettie, the third child, married J. E. Alder, who is a lumber dealer at Plainfield, Illinois. They have two children, and the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Eva is the wife of !I. I. Dowse, an agriculturist living near Nevada, Missouri. They have four children. Eugene B., the youngest of the family, is 'a resident of Fisher, Illinois, and married Miss Kate Wiggins. They belong to the Christian Church.
Mrs. Stucker was born in Indiana September 6, 1846, a daughter of William and Mary E. (Pierce) Schrougham. She was educated in her native state. Mr. and Mrs. Stucker have traveled the journey of life together, sharing in its pleasures and sorrows, its hardships and successes, for fifty-two years, more than half a century. Their golden wedding anni- versary was celebrated in January, 1915, in the presence of their children and their many friends in Champaign County. Mrs. Stucker has nobly stood by the side of her husband all these years, and besides the diligence with which she has attended to the duties of her household has been invaluable to him in the way of counsel and advice. Both are active members of the Christian Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Stucker have some possessions in their home which are of more than ordinary interest. One is a copy of the New York Herald published under date of April 15, 1865, and containing the news of the assassination of President Lincoln. Another is a copy of the Daily Citizen, published at Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 2, 1863, just two days before the fall of that great stronghold of the Confederacy. Throughout the South during the Civil War as it progressed newspapers found it more and more difficult to get a supply of print paper, and this particular copy was printed on the reverse side of some figured wall paper. Mr. Stucker has the Democratic ticket of 1864, containing the name of General George B. McClellan for President. Probably one of the oldest Bibles in Champaign County is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Stucker. It was pub- lished in 1802, and is therefore a hundred and fifteen years old. Mr. Stucker has a $5 bill of the noted "wildcat" money issued by the Bank of Illinois in 1859. He also has a Confederate $10 bill.
Mr. Stucker is an honored member of Lodge No. 704 of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows at Fisher, has passed all the chairs in the local lodge and has been a delegate to the grand lodge. He and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Stucker is also a very active member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has been commander of Van Wert Post No. 300 at Fisher, was adjutant of the post, and has attended the Grand Encampments at St. Louis, Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Louisville, Kentucky. The Van Wert Post now numbers about fifteen survivors of the great war.
Mr. and Mrs. Stucker have done their work in life well, have enjoyed the happiness of family and friends, and none in that section deserves more the love and esteem paid them.
FRANK MILLER was until his recent death one of the enterprising farm managers of Champaign County and had under his adequate direc- tion and control one of the largest individual farms in the entire county. It is the extensive Matis farm of 510 acres, situated in section 10 of Cham- paign Township. The home is on Rural Route No. 1 out of Champaign. During the six years he had charge of this estate he demonstrated his capacity for handling a big farming proposition on progressive lines and in a manner profitable to himself and to the owners of the land. Besides general farming he made something of a specialty of breeding and raising
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thoroughbred Hereford cattle, English shire horses, and Duroc Jersey hogs. The finest animals of these types in eastern Illinois were found on his place.
Mr. Miller was a native of Champaign County, where he was born February 23, 1870, a son of Daniel and Mary (Potts) Miller. Both his father and mother were born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his father came to Champaign County in the early '60s. He was one of the sturdy and progressive farmers of this county, and lived here until his death in 1897. The mother passed away November 30, 1915. They had eight children : Susan, William H. and Minnie, all deccased ; Charles, of Mendota, Illinois; George, deceased; Frank; Catherine, wife of M. M. Wheatley, of Seymour; and Alice, wife of John Bevins, of Champaign.
Mr. Frank Miller had the life of the average farmer boy, attended the district schools, and he early assumed the responsibilities of caring for his widowed mother and his two younger sisters on the farm. On leaving the old home place here moved to Champaign and for about fifteen years was engaged in teaming and the livery business. He retired from that line in 1911 to take the management of the present place above mentioned.
Mr. Miller was married December 10, 1905, to Miss Mary E. Simeral, a native of Cumberland County, Illinois. Two children were born to their union : Daniel Ross, born July 5, 1907; and William Henry, born March 12, 1910. Mr. Miller besides the heavy responsibilities he carried in the management of his farm was serving as highway commissioner at the time of his death. He was a Republican and was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Miller passed away September 13, 1917, and his remains were interred in Mount Hope Cemetery; he was buried under the auspices of the I. O. O. F., his lodge being in Champaign. Mr. Miller was a gentle- man of the highest ideals, his friends were many and his funeral was one of the largest held in Champaign Township. Mrs. Miller is a lady who has the love and respect of all who know her. She and her two little sons, Daniel Ross and William Henry, are left to mourn the loss of husband and father.
GROVER C. KIRBY learned his business as a farmer and stockman when a boy in Champaign County, and having added to knowledge and experience the other qualities of industry and prudence, he has been getting steadily ahead in the world since he began his independent career.
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