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 74
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
While growing up he learned the lessons of industry and of good thrifty habits, and these were of even more value to him than the lessons he learned in school. He was twenty-two years of age when the war clouds arose over the country and with his brother Anson B. he enlisted at Homer in Company C of the Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry. They were mustered in June 1, 1861, and soon went to St. Louis, where they received their arms and accouterments from the arsenal. They were next sent to Jeffer- son City, Missouri, took part in the engagements at Lexington and Boone- ville in the attempt to drive General Price out of the state, later were stationed at Rolla in southern Missouri, and then had some skirmishes around Springfield, Missouri. The first big battle was that of Wilson Creek. Mr. Moore was under the command of Captain C. A. Summers, and the general leading his brigade was the noted Sigel. It was at Wilson Creek that General Sigel was deceived by the Rebel troops coming up dressed in Union uniforms and carrying the Union flag. The rebels did not open fire until they were quite near and General Sigel was com- pelled to retreat. After the next winter at Rolla they were again in the field fighting General Price and took part in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, where the Union troops practically sealed the victorics of the campaign, as a result of which the Confederates permanently lost Missouri. In Pea Ridge the forces of which Mr. Moore was a part were nearly sur- rounded by the Confederacy. General Sigel, when told that surrender was imperative, responded, "I never was beaten." Curtis, then his superior
1019
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
in command, insisted upon surrender, but Sigel interposed, "Give me the command and I will whip them. in two hours." Curtis replied, "Take it." Sigel asked, "Put it in black and white." The order was written, Sigel took command, gave the order for battle, and the result is known to every reader of Civil War history. After that Mr. Moore went to Little Rock, Arkansas, and soon afterward was sent to Pittsburg Landing to help out Grant, who was sorely pressed in that great two days engagement. Dur- ing the Tennessee campaign he was at Murfreesboro, in camp for a time at Nashville, also at Knoxville, and then spent the winter at Nashville. General Bragg had massed a great army at Murfreesboro and General Rosecrans, in command of the Federals, moved down upon that point and fought the historic conflict known as Murfreesboro or Stone River. Dur- ing the subsequent months Mr. Moore covered a large part of Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. He was also in the early advance through the heart of the Confederacy towards Atlanta and the heaviest fighting he ever saw in the war was at Chickamauga. He also fought at Missionary Ridge, but before the opening of the Atlanta campaign his term expired and he was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, September 5, 1864.
Returning home to Homer Township, Mr. Moore in 1865 married Sarah A. Hayes. She was born in Homer Township, daughter of Moses and Martha Hayes. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moore rented a farm in Homer Township for two years and then located on land which Mrs. Moore had inherited, situated in section 17. Here they undertook the task of making a permanent home and had behind them strength, courage, hope and industry, so that the future was absolutely unclouded.
At that time their own land and much of Champaign County was a virgin prairie. It was possible to go from their farm to Tuscola without seeing a single tree, while one might make a journey from Homer to Chicago and never encounter a fence. Mr. Moore, aided by his capable wife, has accomplished what he set out to do and has made his particular portion of Champaign County truly to blossom as the rose and meet every test of fruitfulness and beauty ..
To Mr. and Mrs. Moore were born two children, Abraham and Martin V. The son Martin died in infancy. Abraham was educated in district school No. 10 and has always lived at home with his parents and is now active manager of the old farm.
In 1895 the death angel came into the home and took away Mr. Moore's mother, who had lived with him for many years.
Reference to his brother Anson B., who was his companion in arms during the war, has already been made. Anson was one of the brave color guards appointed with five others to guard the color bearer at the battle of Missionary Ridge. These color bearers were always a conspicuous object to the enemy and the musketry fire was usually concentrated upon the standard of colors. In the battle of Missionary Ridge Anson Moore was mortally wounded and his brother Martin saw him only once after he was wounded until he died.
Mr. Moore's other brother, Howard, has lived at the Moore home for · many years. These three brothers, who were deprived of each other's com- panionship in boyhood, are united in later days and have found a great deal of pleasure and mutual aid in each other's company.
Politically Mr. Moore is a Republican, and has sustained the principles by ballot which he fought for as a soldier. In fraternal matters he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his son Abraham is enthusiastic in the work of the local lodge and also in the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen. Throughout his service as a soldier Mr. Moore
.
-
1020
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
kept a diary and put down all the interesting things that occurred. This diary makes most interesting reading today, and recalls with great vivid- ness the many fearful scenes through which he passed as a soldier and it is also valuable in that it enables the people of the present generation to better understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by those gallant boys of the '60s for the preservation of the Union. Mr. Moore, though more than half a century has passed since the war, possesses a splendid memory and is considered an authority on many old time events of both then and , of later occurrence.
FRED A. MESSMAN. The business interests of Broadlands have an energetic and progressive representative in the person of Fred A. Mess- man, who belongs to the younger generation of men engaged in commercial- enterprises in Champaign County. To a very considerable extent it is this element in any community, especially outside of the large cities, which infuses spirit and zest into the activities of the place. Mr. Mess- man is a pronounced type of this class of tireless workers, and during his comparatively short career has been identified with agriculture, the buying of grain, and the implement and harness business, to which last named he at present gives the greater part of his attention.
Mr. Messman was born in Ayers Township, Champaign County, Illinois, April 7, 1886, a son of Charles and Minnie (Dohme) Messman, natives of Germany, the former of whom came to the United States at the age of fifteen years and the latter as a child. For a number of years Charles Messman was engaged in farming in the vicinity of Sadorus in Sadorus Township, but at present is retired from active operations and a resident of Broadlands, where he is held in high esteem as a substantial citizen. He and his wife have been the parents of the following children : Carl, who is engaged in farming in Homer Township; Albert, a resident of Tolono; Amelia, who is the wife of Robert Smith, of Allerton, Illinois; Henry, whose home is in Douglas County; Louisa, the wife of Herman Struck, of Raymond Township, this county; Fred A., of this notice; and Marie, the wife of Otto Struck, of Raymond Township.
Fred A. Messman was given his education in the country schools and until he was twenty years of age remained on the home farm. At that time he became a renter in Homer Township, where for two years he worked a 200-acre farm and subsequently went to Ayers Township, where he rented 260 acres. At the end of three years he was able to buy an eighty-acre farm in Ayers Township, and to this he has since added by industry and good management until today he is the owner of 360 acres, which land is being worked by renters. After engaging actively in agri- cultural work for some year Mr. Messman became a grain buyer for the Broadlands Grain and Coal Company, although he still retained his farming interests, and in January, 1917, bought a one-half interest in an implement and harness business. He is an exceptionally enterprising young man and thoroughly competent in business transactions. The honesty of his dealings is fully recognized by his fellow townsmen, and although his advent in Broadlands is of recent date, the patronage which he enjoys presages a successful future.
. Mr. Messman was married December 25, 1916, to Miss Ida Marity, a native of Douglas County, Illinois. A Republican in his political adher- ence, Mr. Messman has taken quite an active part in public affairs, having served three years as a member of the town council and being the present assessor of Broadlands. He belongs to the Lutheran Church and has done his full share in supporting worthy and worth while movements.
-
1021
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
ARCHIBALD B. CAMPBELL went through a long and thorough appren- ticeship in business affairs, at first as a railway employe, afterwards as a newspaper editor and publisher, later as postmaster, and for a number of years before his death as a banker at Tolono, where he was one of the effective leaders in business and civic affairs.
Mr. Campbell was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, August 4, 1870, a son of Archibald B. and Christina (Stewart) Campbell. His parents were both natives of the bonny land of Scotland. The father followed the business of contracting for the laying out of estates. He died in the old country in 1872. The year following his death the widowed mother brought her family to America and joined her sister at Tolono, Illinois. She died there October 19, 1916. She was the mother of seven children: Alex- ander A., who died April 26, 1888, was cashier of the Bank of Tolono; Jennie, wife of G. L. Baker, of Champaign; Mary, widow of Robert Leslie, living at Pittsfield, Illinois; John, who died at the age of three years; William S., who died in Tolono in 1896; Peter S., of Urbana; and Archi- bald B.
Archibald B. Campbell had no recollections of his native land, having been brought to America in early infancy. He grew up at Tolono, attended the grammar and high schools, and in 1887, at the age of seventeen, began earning his own way as a worker for the railroad company. He spent four years in the railroad office, and then in 1891, at the age of twenty-one, took charge of the Tolono Herald, which he leased for three years and then bought the plant. He conducted this weekly journal on a flourishing scale for several years.
July 13, 1897, Mr. Campbell was inducted into the office of postmaster at Tolono and served for over six years, finally retiring in December, 1903. On February 4, 1904, Mr. Campbell had the responsibility and distinction of opening the doors of the Citizens Bank of Tolono. The principal stock- holder of the bank was Mr. Isaac Raymond, who became the first president. Mr. Campbell from the first served as cashier, and the majority of the patrons of the institution associated him almost synonymously with the, bank itself.
September 21, 1893, Mr. Campbell married Bertha F. Skinner, daughter of A. D. and Sarah (Rich) Skinner. Her parents were both born in, Ohio and moved to Champaign County immediately after the war, locat- ing on a farm in Tolono Township. Her father is now living retired at Tolono, his wife having passed away in 1893. There were six children in the Skinner family : Harriet, wife of C. H. Shaffer, of Freeport, Illinois; Alice B., wife of J. B. Behymer, of St. Louis, Missouri; Maude O., wife of E. B. Rogers, of Champaign; Mrs. Campbell; Harry M. and William S., both at Indiana Harbor, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had one daughter, Florence M., who in 1917 graduated from the University of Illinois and is now one of the teachers in the Tolono High School.
Mr. Campbell was an active Republican, was chairman of the township committee and the precinct committee and was formerly town and village clerk, and it was largely through his efforts that a model system of water- works was established at Tolono in 1895. Tolono now has a water sys- tem second in efficiency to no other town of Champaign County. Mr. Campbell was chairman of the Champaign County Bankers Association, served as master of the Tolono Masonic Lodge five terms, was past chan- cellor of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias, was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and attained the Royal Arch Chapter degree in Masonry.
Mr. Campbell passed away August 21, 1917, and he was a citizen who is sadly missed by all who knew him. He was interred in Mount Hope Ceme-
2-32
1022
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
tery. There are left to mourn his death his wife and daughter of Tolono, Illinois.
HARVEY ALLISON is one of the prominent land owners and agricultur- ists in the vicinity of Homer, where he has spent the best part of his active career. Mr. Allison knows farming from A to Z and his capabilities have been developed by long and thorough experience.
He was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, January 16, 1870, a son of James A. and Willmoth (Dunnivan) Allison. His father was born in Indiana and died at Homer July 10, 1899. The mother is a native of Vermilion County and is still living on the old home farm. The parents removed to Champaign County in 1889. They had only two children, the older being Nora, who died January 28, 1892.
Mr. Harvey Allison has always lived at home, prepared for life by an education in the common schools, and gradually took over the manage- ment of the farm and he now owns and operates 500 acres on a systematic plan of efficiency. He has been successful in spite of several serious set- backs as a result of fire. His home was burned in 1903 and in 1913 there was another destructive fire which destroyed his barns and silos. Mr. Allison has named his farm Piety Knob, and as such it is one of the valuable and picturesque parts of the landscape around Homer. He does general farming and considerable stock raising. The only important interruption to his steady career as a farmer was two years spent in the Klondike gold regions of Alaska. That was in 1902-03 and he repre- sented a Chicago concern in the development of Placer mines.
Mr. Allison is a Democrat and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Miss Alta Russell, a native of Vermilion County.
MARION M. RICKETTS, M. D. The leading physician and surgeon of Ivesdale and well known for his ability and service all over southwestern Champaign County is Dr. Marion M. Ricketts, who has enjoyed a success- ful practice there for the past six. years.
Doctor Ricketts was born in Clay County, Illinois, October 20, 1877, a son of Jasper and Hannah (Stanford) Ricketts. His father was born in Ohio and his mother in Illinois. Jasper Ricketts has had an industrious career as an agriculturist and is still living at Pesotum. He moved to Champaign County with his family in 1881. The mother had died in Clay County before the removal to Champaign County. . They had six children : Mrs. Emil Andre, of Eaton, Colorado; Harvey, of Vincent, Iowa; Charles, deceased; Homer, of Eaton, Colorado; Doctor Ricketts; and Lyda, deceased.
Doctor Ricketts was four years of age when the family came to Cham- paign County and grew up on his father's farm, at the same time wisely improving the advantages offered in the local schools. His active career began at the age of sixteen, when he hired out to work as a farm hand, taught school one year, took the normal course in Austin College at Effingham, Illinois, and after that was one of the successful and popular teachers of Champaign County for twelve years. Thus Doctor Ricketts from his own earnings paid for his professional preparation. In May, 1911, he graduated from the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery and in his last year in college he had considerable practical experience in hos- pital work. After getting his degree Doctor Ricketts located at Ivesdale, and has enjoyed an increasing appreciation of his able services in the pro- fession.
May 18, 1905, he married Elma Pundt, of Tuscola, Illinois. They are
1023
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
the parents of two sons, Frederick J., born March 8, 1912; and Marion M., Jr., born October 5, 1916. Doctor Ricketts is a Republican, is affiliated with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are active in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN W. BROWN. From a twentieth century point of view it may be difficult to fill out a picture of comfortable living in Champaign County in the primitive days when even no railroads reached this section, bringing news, commodities and visitors from the outside world, but it must be remembered that life is more complex now, that horizons arc wider, demands greater and expectations higher. Undoubtedly those whose lot it was to carve out the pioneer path here and elsewhere ultimately found happiness and contentment despite the dangers and deprivations. Among the settlers of an early day in Homer Township, Champaign County, was John Brown, for many years an honored resident of this part of the county and the father of John W. Brown, one of the substantial men and leading farmers.
John W. Brown was born in Homer Township, Champaign County, Illinois, February 2, 1877. His parents were John and Jane (Stafford) Brown. The father was a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. When they came to the county many parts of it were practically unsettled. John Brown devoted all his active years to developing his land in Homer Township and accumulated 214 acres, a fine property on which all the rest of his life was spent, his death occurring March 23, 1913. He had sur- vived his wife since 1884. They were the parents of eight children, namely : Ellen, who is the wife of John T. Palmer, of Homer, Illinois; Austin C., who is deceased; Belle, who is the wife of B. E. Lynch, of Sidney, Illinois; Frank, who is deceased ; a daughter who died in infancy ; John W .; Josephine, who is the wife of Minford Brown, of Goshen, Indiana ; and another daughter who died in infancy.
The public schools in Homer Township afforded John W. Brown his education and his present farm has been his home all his life. Of the homestead he owns seventy-eight acres but his agricultural operations cover 146 acres, all of the land being devoted to general farming. He works his land carefully and intelligently and is numbered with the most successful farmers in the township.
Mr. Brown was married August 9, 1899, to Miss Emma George, who was born in Champaign County and is a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Coddington) George, both of whom were born in Illinois and the father died here January 26, 1890. He was a well known farmer. The mother of Mrs. Brown resides at Homer. Mr. and Mrs. George had five children, namely: Nora, who is deceased; Walter, who lives in Sidney Township; Gertrude, who is the wife of Clement Sanders, of Sidney; Emma, who is the wife of John W. Brown; and Benjamin, who lives at Homer. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have no children. In politics he has always been affili- ated with the Republican party. These old families are widely known and are representative people of the county.
JAMES A. CREAMER; one of the business leaders of Tolono, has lived in this locality all his life, began his career as a farmer and still owns a large amount of Illinois soil, though most of his time and energies are taken up with local business affairs at Tolono.
Mr. Creamer was born in Tolono Township, February 25, 1870, a son of Ephraim C. and Sarah (Espy) Creamer, his father a native of New Jersey and his mother of Ripley, Ohio. His mother's father was killed by a stroke of lightning about forty-eight years ago. Ephraim Creamer
1024
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
came to Champaign County about 1857, locating on a farm in Tolono Township and followed farming for a great many years but is now living retired in Tolono. Through his efforts he accumulated a considerable for- tune in land. He and his wife had nine children: Mary, deceased ; James A .; Edward, who died in 1897, being a graduate of the law depart- ment of Wesleyan University at Bloomington; Howard, deceased; Etta, wife of F. E. Williamson, of Urbana; Estella, wife of W. W. Hill, of Tolono; Lyda, wife of Albert McBratney, of Tuscola; William C., who lives on the old home farm ; and Charles F., of Tolono Township.
James A. Creamer finished his education with the Tolono High School. He lived at home until twenty-seven, and then took charge of the home- stead of 414 acres. After working that for a time he bought eighty acres, sold it and purchased 160 acres east of Tuscola, and finally sold that and is now owner of 867 acres in White County, Illinois.
In 1908 Mr. Creamer engaged in business at Tolono as a grain mer- chant with A. H. Edwards. After a year he took over the elevator, of which he is now sole proprietor. The elevator has a capacity of 40,000 bushels and it is the center of a flourishing grain trade. Mr. Creamer also owns the local garage and has the agency for the Overland, Hudson, Studebaker and Ford cars. With Mr. J. A. Hines as a partner he conducts an undertaking establishment. All his affairs have prospered and he is rightly considered one of the leading men of Tolono.
On February 18, 1897, Mr. Creamer married . Miss Mattie Moore, of Pesotum. They have two children: Carl M., born May 1, 1901; and Helen Alma, born April 28, 1903. Mr. Creamer is a Republican in poli- tics. He is a member of the Masonic Order and an active Presbyterian, having served as superintendent of the Sunday school three years.
SOLOMON MANTLE. Of the families whose lives of integrity and indus- try have identified them permanently with the best interests of Champaign County, one that deserves special mention is that of Solomon Mantle, who now lives with his family in Rantoul, and from that village still superin- tends his extensive farming interests.
Mr. Mantle is a son of Isaac and Mary J. (Kuder) Mantle. Mary Kuder's father was born in Pennsylvania. Isaac Mantle, a native of Ohio, came to Illinois when a young man, lived for a number of years in Cham- paign County and afterwards moved to Vermilion County. Solomon Man- tle had grown to young manhood before they removed to Vermilion County. Isaac Mantle and wife had eight children, four sons and four daughters, all of whom were educated in the district schools. Their names were John, George, Charles, Solomon, Mary J., Francis M., Lizzie and Alice, two of whom died in youth.
Solomon Mantle was twenty-seven years of age when his father's death occurred. He then assumed the active responsibilities of looking after his widowed mother and his two sisters. Through the remaining years of his mother's life he provided and tenderly cared for her and repaid by filial devotion the love and care she had given him and all her children when they were young. It was a sad day in the Mantle home on September 3, 1898, when the beloved mother, after a busy life of industry and toil, was claimed by death. The loneliness of the home was keenly felt by those left behind, since when a mother dies the light of a home goes out.
Mr. Solomon Mantle was forty-three years of age when, on October 6, 1898, he married Miss Alice Shumate, daughter of George and Sarah Shumate, both natives of Illinois and reared in the state. Mr. and Mrs. Shumate still live in Champaign County. They had seven sons and three daughters: Harry, John N., George, Scott, Elmer, Ira, Oliver, Alice, Elsie
4
S. mantle and Family
1025
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
and Ella. The Shumate children acquired their early training in the dis- trict schools of Champaign County. Mr. and Mrs. Shumate are devoted members of the Christian Church.
After his· marriage Solomon Mantle and wife settled down on the Mantle homestead, which he actively managed. In the course of time there came into their home a little daughter to gladden them by the sunshine of her presence. She was born March 22, 1900. . After attending the · Kuder district school one year, her parents moved to Rantoul in order to give her the better advantages of the schools there. She was of studious nature and was graduated with the highest honors from the eighth grade or grammar school. As a reward for her excellence in her studies she was given a free scholarship in a normal course. She was pronounced the best scholar in the eighth grade in the Rantoul school, and during the year 1916 ranked No. 1 in every month except two in the year. Those two months she was hindered in her studics on account of illness. At the present writing she is in the first grade of the high school. Besides her literary studies she has taken instrumental music, is a capable performer on the violin, and is still taking lessons in music from Miss Ida Little. She is a member of the High School Orchestra, the orchestra of the Methodist Episcopal Church and also a member of the church choir, pos- scssing a beautiful and well cultured voice. Mr. and Mrs. Mantle, realizing the advantages of a good education, have endeavored to give their daughter every encouragement in the development of her talents.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.