USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 28
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The members of this chapter took government bonds amounting to $25,000 during the different Liberty Loan drives as well as subscribing liberally to the different War activities. It worked with the Red Cross in making War supplies. A service was held in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in the World War, in their honor in November, 1919 and ten trees were planted in the Library yard. Harold Looney, who had served in France, made the address, the schools, boy scouts and citizens assisted the Chapter in this ceremony.
A flag (6x9) was presented to the Vienna Township High School in 1922, by the Daniel Chapman Chapter, for use on the school building. Most of the work done by this Chapter has been referred to in connection with other sub- jects.
There is a membership of twenty-nine with nine resi- dent members.
Plans for marking the site of the first court house in Johnson County which was at Elvira, are complete. The marker will consist of a bronze tablet, properly inscribed, set in native stone.
In 1910, the City purchased three and one half acres of ground which were added to the Fraternal Ceme- tereies (Odd Fellows and Masons) and placed under one management. This arrangement has proved highly satis- factory as the cemetery is exceptionally well cared for with
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J. B. Turley as Superintendent. The location is ideal and it is conceded to be the most beautiful cemetery in this section of the state.
BUSINESS MEN OF VIENNA, 1924
There are at present the following businesses conducted in Vienna: Two banks, First National and Drovers State; three dry goods stores, Pearl Taylor's, C. M. Pickens and A. L. Chester (managed by Mr. and Mrs. Utterbach) ; five groceries, Jackson Bros., who also deal in hardware, R. B. Coyne, Walter Smith, O. W. Fisher and Earl Veach; a furniture, embalming and undertaking establishment con- ducted by Lucas Parker; our two druggists are L. D. Fern and Dr. J. D. Hart; jewelers are Douglas Harris, Larry Newton, also an optician and O. E. Harvick who operates a wholesale jewelry, silver, fine glass and china business ; Paul Taylor Powell runs a modern confectionery store, also does catering, Ernest Winchester runs another up to date confectionery on the east side of the square; there are three restaurants conducted by C. Verhines, Lawrence Hunsaker and Ernest Winchester; four cream stations operated by Oscar Burris, Basil Gray, also Express Agent, J. O. Beach and Ed. Lasley; Ed. Bellemy, feed and grain dealer; Wm. L. Caborn, and Lavador Johnson, poultry and the latter also handles feed and grain; two blacksmith shops, one run by Isaac Bellemy and the other by Mr. Phillips; a meat mar- ket conducted by Joseph McDaniel & Son; Charles Hacker & Son and James Bridges are barbers; Earl Hilburn runs a cleaning and pressing establishment; P. S. Sanders, A. Cantwell and Frank Hacker, painters and paper hangers; we have two garages, the Ford, owned by D. W. Chapman, managed by Jack Hood with Carl Bellemy as mechanic, the Home Motor Co., owned by Carol Cochran and Merideth Parker; T. C. Taylor, Automobile Dealer; a lumber yard operated by C. F. Hilliard ; a publishing and printing house owned by H. T. Briges, F. C. Thomas conducts an Abstract office; A. E. Mckenzie dentist; Jackson's Photographic Studio; Bridges Real Estate Agency; Elam & Upton, Ice and Coal; Vienna Nursery owned by G. E. Galeener; Post Office with J. P. Mathis as P. M .; Ned Huffman and Dave Rosenberg Clothiers; harness, saddles and buggies, Henry Mahl; Sam and Edgar Gillespie, moving and hauling; Abram Parker and Frank Harcker Shoe repairing.
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CONCLUSION
Johnson County has had a checkered career. It was set apart with a large area more than a century ago but began to lose its acreage in 1816. Other counties were organized from Johnson County territory until 1843. While there is oil near us, factories surrounding us, railroads crossing us it seems we are left with nothing but the rock strewn hills and virgin soil from which to carve our destiny. The revenue of this county from December 1824 to 1825 was $365.13 and the expenditures of the county for the same time were $379.12. The revenue collected for the year beginning December 1922 was $222,260.21, showing the increase of property. The population in 1820 was 843; 1830, 1,596; 1840, 3,626; 1850, 4,115; 1860, 9,324; 1870, 11,186; 1880, 13,079; 1890, 15,013; 1900, 15,667; 1910, 14,333; 1920,12,000, a net increased of 11,157, in one hun- dred years. Before the Civil War this county was a nest of Democrats, since that event the political sentiment of the county has been decidedly Republican and that is the dom- inant party at present. The first woman suffrage meeting was held here in 1892, Mrs. W. P. Brown of Belknap cir- culated the first petition favoring suffrage and secured forty names. The committee calling this meeting was Mrs. M. A. Jackson, the M. E. minister's wife and Mrs. R. M. Fisher. In less than thirty-five years women have secured almost equal suffrage. One hundred years ago there were no avenues whereby women could earn a living except to do house work. Now women follow any profession or business to which their tastes incline. This is not peculair to John- son County, the same conditions prevail everywhere, but being in "Egypt," one might think that this county had not found her opportunities. We have eight banks, six automo- bile dealers, we need more.physicians as we have only eight in the county in 1924. True, health is much better here than formerly but good physicians are a necessity in any community. As has been stated we are strictly agricultural and horticultural but business is as stable in this county, if not more so than most counties of the state.
This county has automobiles, one hard road, eighteen miles of which is complete, electric lights in town and country, telephone and radio. The only modern device we have not attained is the flying machine. Number of farms in county, 1742, approximate land area 222,720 acres, all farm property $10,216,738-(1920.)
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We have no millionaires, but a great many of the kind of people, Abraham Lincoln said, "God must have loved." The residents of Johnson County are of a migratory dis- position and enjoy travel, and it is a fact that most people who leave here and go into business, especially professions, in other localities attain places of prominence. The reasons ascribed for this are (first) that the people are all Amer- ican, descending from the first settlers of the Colonies; an- other is that the training which they receive here is so varied it enables them to adapt themselves and succeed in whatever undertaking they have chosen.
This county has less foreign population than any other county in the state.
Our courts have short dockets whereas fifty years ago we had from one to three murder cases every circuit court, for this reason we have lost many of our good lawyers.
The description given by Mr. E. D. Rummel in the Community Service Dept., of the "Orange Judd Farmer," is applicable to Johnson County. He said, "I am in the land of hot biscuits and fried chickens, but must add the big red apple. Anna, Illinois and its tributary territory are a splendid exemplification of what Southern Illinois is to be in the future. Apples, peaches and other fruit as good, if not better than any grown elsewhere are profitably grown here by those who apply business like methods. Just why some of our Americans are chasing over the world hunting for beauty spots when they have all at home that they will find anywhere, is not reasonably understood. It is apparent as Northern Illinois men come into "Egypt" that they go away with a new vision of the possibilities of this unde- veloped part of the state. They see rice and cotton grown successfully side by side, in the large river bottoms. They see corn and alfalfa grown which cannot be surpassed. They see fine orchards and cow peas on the uplands, beau- tiful timber and coupled with it all they find rich deposits of minerals, many of them still undiscovered, which will add to the wealth of this section."
And not forgeting the riches nature has lavished upon us, allow us to quote from the proposed Park Areas of Illi- nois, published by the Friends of our native Landscape, "In the neighborhood of Parker and Tunnel Hill are places of rare beauty and scenic interest. The ride on the Big Four Railway from Parker to Vienna, is perhaps the most pic- turesque railway ride in Illinois."
A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
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CARNEGIA LIBRARY, VIENNA
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
New Burnside
Goreville
Parker
Ozark
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Buncombe
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Grantsburg
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MAP OF JOHNSON COUNTY, 1924
cut off
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Proposed
T.
CKOMybIN
A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
321
FLORY'S CAVE, NEAR TUNNEL HILL
DEVIL'S STAIRWAY, REBMAN PARK, FERN CLYFFE
"Should noble ancestry induce any one to de- mand that the public give him recognition, or to determine that he will give the public something to recognize."
BIOGRAPAY
ALLEN
Honorable W. C. Allen is a native of this county, and a son of John and Sarah Mercer Allen, descending from the West family. His paternal grandfather Nesbit Allen was an early settler of this sec- tion, floating down the Ohio River and landing at Trinity in its palmy days, and before Illinois was a state. He was also one of the earliest educators of this county. His children were John (2), who married Mary Sarah Mercer, 1835. Their children were William Copeland and Malissa. The latter married John Martin, and they left one daughter, a Mrs. Holzhouser. Minerva (2) married Thomas Mercer (see West). Malinda (2) married William and Sarah (2) married Samuel (both see Copeland). Emma (2) married John Elkins. Another daughter married a Mr. Eggleston. W. C. was born 1843 and was raised by his uncle, his parents having died when he was quite young. He enlisted in the Federal Army when a mere youth and served till the close of the Civil War. His experience during these years taught him a great many things and among them, that an education was necessary and he immediately began the task of acquiring one. He was a teacher of the county several years, was elected sheriff in 1878, and a representative of the 51st district to the State Legislature in 1884. He went to Washington, D. C. about 1894 as an employee of the house of Representatives and still resides there. He is a strong republican, a mason and a member of the M. E. Church. He married Francis, (see Calhoun). Mrs. Allen died in 1920.
AXLEY
Robin Axley came here, tradition says, about 1810, floating down the Ohio River on a boat with other immigrants. He was living here in 1814 as he was appointed by the court to lay out a road from Elvira to Willcox' warehouse on the Ohio. He lived in the West Eden neighborhood, and was said to be a man without an enemy, and noted for his charity. (See West)
Pleasant Axley lived here in 1814 and entered land in 1818, which is now owned by Neal and Simms. He was another citizen of the West Eden neighborhood that bore an enviable reputation for good deeds. The citizens of this community were men whose influence and char- acteristics have gone down in history. Although there are few of their descendants living in the locality at the present the names of these pioneers as upright men, are familiar to all the county, and their children have carried their teachings to many localities in many states.
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BAIN
Two of the Bains came to this county very early in its settle- ment. They were of Irish decent, living in North Carolina and tradi- tion says they were born there. They emigrated to Kentucky and later to Illinois. James, who came first was born May 4. 1782 and married Elizabeth Pankey who was born Sept. 28, 1792. They were married Sept. 10, 1807. The children were Patterson, born July 21, 1808, W. B. born Mar. 19, 1810, Malinda, born Dec. 27, 1811; John, born Oct. 13, 1813; Margaret, born Sept. 3, 1815; James J., born Mar. 10, 1817, Robert, born Jan. 5, 1819; Bluett, born Dec. 28, 1821; Isaac, born Nov. 22, 1825; Mary born Nov. 1, 1827; Elizabeth, born Jan. 21, 1830; Martha, born Aug. 21, 1833. This was copied from their family Bible now in the possession of Stewart Sutliff, grandson of James Bain. This is the history of the family as far as it could be traced. Isaac (2) married Elizabeth Mathis. The children were James Robert (3), George (3), John (3), Bluette (2) served in the Mexican and Civil Wars. He married Malinda Hall. The children were Olive (3), Rome (3), Alice (3), Sidney (3), Charles (3), Louzenia (3). Rome (3) married Kiziah Bramlett. Margaret (2) married Mr. Thacker. Their children were Elizabeth (3), who married Porter Bellemy and lives in Pulaski County. Elizabeth (2) married Hiram Sutliff. Their children were James Hiram (3), John Stewart (3). James H. (3) married Mary A. Turner; Fanny (4), married Pleasant Howell. John Stewart (3) married Zurilda Reed. The children, Hiram (4), William (4), Bessie (4), Arthur (4). Hiram (4) married Bertha Arnett. The children were Pauline (5), Haline (5), Eugene (5), Violine (5). William (4) married Georgia Evers. The children were Elizabeth (5), Nadine (5), William (5), Bessie (4) married Roscoe Ferguson. The children were Thomas M. (5), William S. (5), Helen (5), Cretia (5), Bernice (5). This family resides at Moline, Illinois.
James Bain is given as a "settler," under that chapter. His name is frequently found on the records as one of the men prominent in the county and holding responsible positions during its development and must have been a man of some education and ability.
John Bain, Sr., brother to James came a little later, 1820, from Hopkinsville, Ky., and settled on what is now known as the Wiley Marberry farm in Bloomfield township. He operated a horse mill for grinding corn. A grandson, F. B. Thacker, says he heard him say one time when boasting that he could grind thirty bushels of .corn in a day. John Bain, married Martha Brooks, they had Margaret (2), born 1805, Chas. Addison (2), Mary A. (2), born 1812, Sarah (2), born 1814, John Jr. (2) born 1818, Francis (2), born 1819, Elizabeth (2), Mark (2), Margaret (2) married John (see McFatridge). C. A. (2) married Martha Emmerson, they had Henry (3), who died in the
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Civil War; Susana (3), John (3), Abner (3), Mary (3), Charles A. (3), Maranda (3), Leeman (3). Susanna (3) married Henry (see McFatridge; John (3) married Lucy Hamilton, removed to Arkansas; Abner (3) married Martha Slater; removed to the State of Washing- ton many years ago. He reared a family in Spokane, that state. Mary (3) married James Rose, had Edward (4), Anna (4) and Effie (4), they died after reaching adult age leaving no issue. No know- ledge of Leeman (3); Charles A. (3) settled near Samoth, later re-
moved to Lincoln, Ark., he married Mary Reynolds, they had William (4), Thomas S. (4), Clara (4) and Fannie (4). William (4) moved to Muskogee, Okla. Thomas S. (4) married Mamie Morford, removed to Ottumwa, Iowa. Maranda (3) married Frank English. John Bain (2) has been mentioned in business and politics but it would be unfair not to emphasize his modest quiet manner, and his habit of most always being on the right side of every question and firm in his convictions. Men of this character may not make a stir in the world but their influence is far reaching. Mr. Bain was a Republican for many years but in his last days was a Prohibitionists. He began the mercantile business near what is known as Pond, east of Vienna on the Simpson road, moving his store to Vienna in 1846. He ac- cumulated quite a little fortune for his time and community. He was a strong supporter and a member of the Methodist Church. He built the brick residence known as the Bain home on South Fifth St., Vienna, in 1861. His first place of business was a log house about where the residence of W. E. Beal now stands, but the location where he did business the longest is now the vacant lot on the corner of West Main and Fifth St., on the square. He married Winnie Harrell, 1841, she was born 1824, of pioneer stock, Elias Harrell, her father coming here in 1820, also from North Carolina. Mrs. Bain lived an exemplary Christian life, her home was the home of the itinerant M. E. minister. She entertained Peter Cartwright on one of his visits to this section of the state. She was thoughtful and very charitable. She was outspoken in her opinions for right living, and believed that every one should earn an honest one. She died at the ripe old age of 85. Mr. Bain died 1886. Their children were Frances (3), Preston (3), Sidney (3), Medora (3), William B. (3), John C. (3). Frances (3) married Samuel Jackson, who was a native of Tennessee, born 1830, and left an orphan at the age of one year. He was brought to Illinois by his grandparents in 1831, coming in a four horse wagon. They first lived in Sangamon County, later in Union and Pulaski. At the age of 12 he was bound to Dr. Gerry of Vienna with whom he lived until he was 17. He then began business for himself, contracting to ride the mail from Vienna to Shawnee- townee, a distance of sixty miles and almost impassable roads during
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some seasons of the year. This was quite an undertaking for a seventeen year old boy. He put in a crop for a Mrs. Vanderbilt of Pulaski County, one year and received $30.00 for it, part cash. He went to Mississippi and worked at anything he could find to do, sometimes receiving 25c per day, when on the farm he would start to mill at three o'clock in the morning and be obliged to wait most all day for his grinding, parching corn for his dinner. On the spread- ing of cholera in the south, he decided to return to Vienna, Johnson County. He worked as a salesman in Vienna, Jonesboro and Anna was also a traveling salesman for a firm in St. Louis. In 1859 he returned to Vienna with a capital of $2,000 and went into business for himself in the building opposite the Perkins Hatel, on the west. where Caborn's poultry house is now located. He formed a partner- ship with John Bain in 1861, which continued till Mr. Bain's death. He was a successful business man, a progressive and influential citi- zen and always ready to contribut to any forward movement for the betterment of the community. He married first Martha Gillespie who died soon after, leaving one son, Samuel, who resides in Los Angeles, Calif. He married second Francis P. Bain. The children were Arthur G. (4), Cora (4), Harry (4), Winnifred (4), John B. (4) Walter (4), William G. (4). Arthur G. (4) married May (see Copeland) and lives in Houston, Texas. Cora (4) married W. C. (see Simpson), Walter (4) married Ethel Gilbert, lives in Pope County. Wm. G. (4) married Edna Balance, they have William (5), Julia (5). Harry and W. G. Jackson are prominent business men of Vienna, having conducted a grocery and hardware store on the corner of Vine and 5th Sts. for a number of years. John B. (4) has been engaged in the banking business for several years in Jonesboro and Anna. Winnifred lives with her mother. Preston (3) married Helen Burnett. The children were Winnifred (4), Maragret (4), George (4), James (4), John (4). Most of this family reside at Texas City, Ill. Sidney A. (3) married O. A. Harker. The children were George (4) and attorney of Los Angeles, Calif. Bert (4), business man of Puryer, Tenn. Winnifred (4) married Frances Hewitt, a druggist of Carbondale, Ill., The children were Frances (5), Winnifred (5), Mary Ann (5). Medora (3) married Walter Warder. The children were Walter (4), Winnifred (4).
W. B. (3) married Charlotte Pancost of Lincoln, Neb. The chil- dren were June (4), who is the widow of Lee Hazen and resides in Chicago, Ill. Verner (4) enlisted in the World War and died in 1919 as a result of flu contracted during service. John C. (3) lives in the old home in Vienna. Sarah (2) married Joel (see Thacker) Francis (2) married Wesley (see Reynolds). Elizabeth (2) married Wiley Fairless. The children were James (3), Wiley (3) of this coun-
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ty. Mary (2) married Walton (see Gore), Mark (2) married Matildah. The children were John (3), Mary (3), Charles (3). John (3) reared a family in Union County. Mary (3) married Mr. Howell, Charles (3) and one other son moved west.
At a family gathering in 1898 at F. B. Thacker's there were four sisters present, members of the Bain family. Mrs. McFatridge, 93, Mrs. Gore, 86, Mrs. Thacker, 84 and Mrs. Reynolds 80. Their parents came to this county in 1820.
BALLANCE
George Ballance began his business career as a teacher, later taking up law, and has been a local attorney of this county many year. He is a descendant of Hall and Elvira Whiteaker, his mother being Ginsey (2), who married J. H. Ballence. They lived near New Burnside, raising their family there. The children were George W. (3), of Vienna, who married Julia Burton. The chilren were Edna (4), (see Bain); Irene (4) married C. L. Baker, resides at Decatur, Ill. Helen (4) married I. C. Maurer of Collinsville, Ill. and has one son. Sarah (3), the second child of Ginsey, married W. A. Wood, The child was Ballance (4), who is a physician. They reside in St. Louis. Thomas (3) is a first class farmer near New Burnside, married Winifred Lauderdale and has four children. Dr. John W. (3), is a physician of Marion, Ill. R. A. (3) is also a physician, re- siding in Oklahoma. Dr. M. W. (3) is a dentist of Marion, Ill. Earl (3) ,the youngest is a business man of Springfield, Ill. The mother, Mrs. Ballance was a chater member of the Burnside M. E. Church and Stone Fort Eastern Star Chapter, No. 31. She died in 1909.
BEAUMAN
D. F. Beauman was born in Canada, 1827 of French parentage. He came to Vermont when a young man and in 1853 he came west and engaged in the work of helping to build the Illinois Central Rail- road. He was stationed at Ullin and Anna, Ill. In 1861 he married Carrie daughter of John Corgan, of Anna. Mr. Beauman engaged in the mercantile business in Lick Creek, a settlement near Buncombe, for some time, but later came to Johnson County and settled near Tunnel Hill, 1873, where he continued his mercantile business, and began to open up the Maple Grove Stock Farm, where he later moved and devoted his entire time to the farm. He was a pioneer in this county in raising fine cattle, his herds took many premiums and were of the Short Horn breed. He added fruit culture to his farming industry, exemplifing what could be done on the Ozark ridge and laid the foundation of the now famous Beauman Orchard. The children were Mrs. Birdie Dinwiddie (2), of Stockton, Calif .; Louie (2) was a civil engineer and held some high postions in railroad circles in the
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west. He married Kitty Woodruff. The children were Louie (3), who lost his life while in training in the Aviation Corps during the World War. The father immediately enlisted, went to France and . served until the signing of the Armistice. He died soon after the close of the war. Their daughter, Carrie (3) is the wife of Mr. LaFevra of Houston, Tex. Francis (3), the youngest resides with her mother in Berkeley, Calif. Frank (2), was a business man of Paw- huskie, Okla., died 1924. He married Theresa Maness. The children were Avis (3), Harry (2) died in young manhood. John (2) died while serving in the Spanish American War as a member of the Signal Corps and is buried at Arlington Cemetery, Virginia, where his nephew, Louie, is also buried. Guy (2) is one of our foremost orchardist, and resides on the farm. He married Cora Seitz, and has william (3). Maud (2) is the widow of D. R. A. Hale and resides at Centralia, Ill. Her children are Joe (3), Caroline (3) and Robert (3). Madge (2), wife of Dr. H. O. Williams of Centralia; Carrie (2) married first Robert Porter, who died, leaving Robert (3). She married second J. M. Brown, of this county. Clara (2) married George Trammell, cashier of the First State Bank, of Mound City, Ill.
BELLEMY
Benjamin F. Bellemy was a resident of Vienna before the Civil War or about that time. He served as School Trustee in 1864. He came here from Tennessee and raised a large family of boys. Dave the oldest served in the Civil War, was a miller here for many years but removed to Hillerman on the Ohio. He married Mary Haneline and Edward Bellemy, the Feed and Grain merchant of Vienna is their son. Jesse Porter married Elizabeth Reed; three children. Porter married Elizabeth Thacker (see James Bain). Isaac married Martlia Lentz. The children are Mrs. Rose Grant, Frank and Walter. John married Alice Hogg, their daughter, Mary, married James Bridges, of Vienna. John and family have moved out of the county. William married Belle Hand. He has Mary and Arista. Alfred married Sarah Stublefield and they had Carl who married Norma Ragains and has Mertice, Robert, Virgil and Beatrice. Alfred married second Fanny Stublefield. Ann, the only daughter of this family, married Benjamin Holcombe they had several children, one of whom, Katy, married Wallar Wallace. Uncle Ben, as he was known repaired watches and clocks for this community for many years. He was a mason and a faithful member of the Christian church.
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