USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 28
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In his fraternal relations Mr. Pixley is a member of blue lodge, No. 204, of the Masonie order, and also of the Royal Arch Chapter. No. 154. He and his wife are both members of the Eastern Star. They are members of the Christian church, Mr. Pixley being a mem- ber of the official board. Ile was also a member of the buikling committee that had charge of the ereetion of the new church. This is a splendid edifice, of which a larger city might well be proud.
Mr. and Mrs. Pixley have one of the finest homes in the county.
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It contains every modern comfort and many luxuries, but best of all it harbors a gracious and dignified hostess, and is consequently a eenter for the social life of the community. Mrs. Pixley is a woman of mueh refinement and taste, who enters into her husband's interests with a whole-heartedness and an understanding that is rare. Mr. Pixley has won his success through putting to good use the gifts with which he was endowed by nature. He has a strong character, that is not easily turned from a path he thinks is right, and his varied experiences have given him the power of diseriminating between the false and the true. He has a fidelity of purpose, but with this a kind heartedness that would bring hurt to no one, and so he has won the respect of all, be they friends or enemies. He takes first rank among the prominent men of his loeality, and is a leader in every field in which he has beeome interested, be in business, finance, edu- cation, society or civies.
HENRY F. VOGELPOHL. Among the public officials of Washington county are found many men of foree and capacity who have taken strong . hold on the rugged conditions of life and molded them into successful and useful careers. Prominent in this elass stands Henry F. Vogel- pohl, who holds the responsible position of sheriff, in the discharge of the duties of which office he has gained the respect and confidence of the entire community. Mr. Vogelpohl was born in Covington town- ship, Washington county, Illinois, March 12, 1868, and has here passed his somewhat varied career. His father was William Vogelpohl, a na- tive of Germany, who came to the United States in the blush of young manhood, married soon afterward, and passed his life as a farmer. His wife was Miss Minnie Klosterman, a daughter of Henry Klosterman, a German farmer of Covington township, where Mr. Vogelpohl died in 1876, at thirty-six years of age. The qualities which William Vogelpohl most exhibited were those common to his race,-industry unrestrained, tireless energy and a wise economy. He was the only representative of his family in the New World, and when he died left Henry F .; Annie, who is the wife of Henry Evers, of Covington; and Fred, a resident of Minnesota. The mother of these children is now the wife of Henry Schneider, of Covington.
Henry F. Vogelpohl had merely the advantages of the country school as he passed through childhood, and he established himself on a farm in the Covington locality when he left his mother's roof. When he quit farming a few years sinee he bceame a stock dealer and shipper at Covington, and about this time was appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriff J. M. Winfree, in December, 1902. He received the nomination for sheriff in 1906 against two other candidates, J. B. and William Gorman, consins, but was defeated by the Democratie candidate. When his deputyship ended Mr. Vogelpohl engaged in the livery business in Nashville and continued it until he was chosen sheriff of the county. He entered the contest as a Republican, won the nomination after a brisk fight and was elected by a majority of 779, when the normal Republican majority was some 450 votes. He was installed as the sue- cessor of A. II. Cohlmeyer for a term of four years. While this has been a remarkably law-abiding community, Sheriff Vogelpohl finds that his office plaees sufficient demands upon his time and attention, and he has given an administration that refleets marked credit upon him. He has rendered most efficient service in his important position, and is intrepid and fearless in the discharge of his duties, being feared by the criminal class and honored and esteemed by law-abid- ing eitizens.
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Sheriff Vogelpohl was married (first) in Clay county, Illinois, in 1900, to Miss Lola Gentry, who died March 2, 1901. His second mar- riage took place at New Minden, Illinois, in November, 1903, when Miss Helena Rheinhardt became his wife. Her father was Fred M. Rheinhardt, a German farmer and the issue of the union are Harold, Lewis, Esther and Henry.
RANDOLPH SMITH. prominent in real estate circles in Clay county. and for the past thirty-eight years located in Flora, Illinois, is one of the well-to-do men of Clay county who have achieved large and worthy sueeess as a result of their own efforts, unaided by outside influ- ences of family or fortune. Beginning life as a poor boy, Mr. Smith has been especially fortunate in his business ventures, and now has large investments in stocks and bonds and is one of the big financial men of his district.
Born in Marion county, Illinois, on May 31, 1849. Randolph Smith is the son of Willis and Cynthia (Jones) Smith, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter of Tennessee. Willis Smith was a farmer and stock-buyer. He came to Illinois in 1832 and located in Marion county, where he bought a farm, living there until 1849, at which time he went to Missouri. He then started For California, but died on the way to that state. He was tax collector of Marion county in 1847, and during the panie of that year he disposed of much of his property to pay taxes for his neighbors and friends. His death oe- eurred in 1850. He was a son of John R. Smith, a planter, who was born, reared and who died in South Carolina. The maternal grand- father of Randolph Smith, of this review, was born in Tennessee. Ile came to Illinois in 1833 and settled in Marion county, where he died in 1836 after a life of worthy endeavor and accomplishment. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, through which he served with honor and distinction.
Randolph Smith was edueated in Clinton county. Missouri, and in Clay county, Illinois, coming to the latter place in 1868. Hle taught school for one term after finishing school, after which he became con- nected with the eirenit elerk of the county as his deputy. Hle was three years in that position, leaving it to take a elerkship in the First National Bank of Flora of which he became eashier in 1878. and re- mained thus until 1900, when he was elected president of the bank. Six years afterward he took charge of the Breeze Trenton Mining Company, with head offices in St. Louis, Missouri, remaining there until 1910, and for one year (1907) he served as president of the Illi- nois Coal Operators Association, and is still a member of the excou- tive committee of that body. In January, 1911. Mr. Smith formed a partnership with Robert S. Jones and they engaged in the real estate business, with investments as a side issne to the business, and they have condueted a thriving business since that time, with every in- dieation for a brilliant future for the new firm. During the years of Mr. Smith's connection with the First National Bank he was partieu- larly successful. as he has been in all his business ventures, building up a strong and substantial institution. He still retains an interest in the bank and in the coal mining at Breeze, as well as in many an- other enterprise of equally prosperous nature. Mr. Smith is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with the chapter and the Knights Templar. He is past master of Flora lodge. No. 154, and is a most appreciative member of the order. He has been an adherent of the Republican party since 1884, and has done good work for the cause on many oceasions. He is a colonel on the staff of Governor
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Deneen, and served in a like capacity on the staff of Governor Tanner and of Governor Yates. Altogether, Mr. Smith is one of the most in- fluential men of Clay county, as well as one of the wealthiest.
In 1873 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Ximena Hanna, the daughter of William H. Hanna, a lawyer of Clay county. In 1899 she passed away, leaving her husband and four children, the names of the eliildren being as follows: Carroll, a practicing physician in St. Louis; Madora, who became the wife of Franklin A. Bond and live in Chieago; Claude E., in a railroad office in Flora; and Ximena, who married Roy L. Metealfe, of Missoula, Montana. In 1908 Mr. Smith contraeted a second marriage, when Margaret Finty beeame his wife. She was a daughter of John Finty, an early settler of Clay county. She died in 1910. Mrs. Smith was a communieant of the Roman Cath- olie church, while her husband is of the Methodist faith.
ELMER VAN ARSDALL. Talented and capable, possessing tact and excellent judgment, Elmer Van Arsdall has attained high rank among the leading edneators of Southern Illinois, and as county superintend- ent of the public schools of Richland county is an important factor in advaneing the interests and increasing the efficiency of the educational institutions with which he is associated. A native of Illinois, he was born in Edwards county, October 16, 1881, being without doubt of Holland lineage, as his name would indieate, although he has no def- inite knowledge of his paternal ancestry.
His father, William Thomas Van Arsdall, was born and reared in Kentucky, where for several years he was prosperously engaged in agri- eultural pursuits. Losing all of his property during the Civil war, he moved to Missouri, from there coming to Illinois about 1870. Settling in Riehland county, he spent his remaining days in this part of the state, being engaged in farming. He married Mary Ann Day, who was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, of English ancestry. ller father, Alfred Day, a native of England, immigrated to the United States, locating first in West Virginia and later in Ohio, in both of those states following his trade of a glass blower. From Ohio he moved to Illi- nois, where he was employed as a ehef.
Laying a substantial foundation for his future education in the rural schools of his native district, Elmer Van Arsdall was graduated from the Parkersburg high school with the elass of 1901. Then, after teaching school for a time, he attended the Southern Illinois Normal School, at Carbondale, one term, and the State Normal University, at Normal, Illinois, three terms. Resuming then his professional work he taught school successfully until 1908, completing his ninth year as a teacher. In that year he was elected county superintendent of the publie schools of Richland county to fill a vaeaney, a position for which he was eminently qualified by education, training and experience. Fill- ing the office ably and most acceptably to all concerned. Mr. Van Ars- dall had the honor of being re-elected to the same responsible position in 1910, and as he is never content with results that he thinks can be bettered it is needless to say that under his management the schools of the county. eighty-eight in number, are making notable progress along praetieal lines.
Mr. Van Arsdall began life for himself with limited means, in ad- dition to earing for himself supporting his widowed mother, who still lives in Olney, and he is a fine representative of the self-made men of the state. He is a Demoerat in polities; a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and an active and valued member of the Methodist Episcopal ehureh, to which his wife also belongs, and in
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which he is rendering good service as superintendent of the Sunday- school.
Mr .. Van Arsdall married, May 2, 1908, Alta Belle Richards, a daugh- ter of J. J. Richards, an early settler of Richland county, and to them one child has been born, Iloward Van Arsdall, a bright and interesting little fellow, whose birth occurred October 31, 1911.
ELIJAH P. GIBSON, M. D. Since 1904 Dr. Gibson has been identified with Louisville as a practicing physician and surgeon, and he has con- tinued to merit in this city the same high reputation which was his in the other localities that elaimed his attention before settling here. Since his graduation in 1878 he has confined his medical practice to Clay county, Illinois, with the exception of his first two years of ex- perience, which he spent in Indiana, and he is recognized today as the oldest praetieing physician in Clay county. He is regarded as a diag- nostieian of exceptional ability, and his success in his chosen profession has been of a generous nature, proving most conelnsively the wis- dom of the choice he made in early youth.
Dr. Elijah P. Gibson was born in New Providence, Indiana, June 10, 1850, and he is the son of Jesse and Naney (Peyton). The father was a son of William Gibson, a native of North Carolina, who came to Indiana in his young manhood and where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a colonel in the state militia, and was a man of con- siderable position in his time. His son Jesse was born in Indiana in the year 1812, and on reaching his majority embarked upon a farm- ing eareer in Clark county Indiana, where he achieved distinctive sue- eess during the years which he devoted to those interests. In later life he moved to Unionville, lowa, where he passed away. He was a member of the Christian church and was a staunch adherent of the Democratie party. Ilis son, Elijah P., received his early schooling in the schools of Mitehell, following his graduation from which he en- tered the Hospital College of Medicine at Louisville Kentucky. Ile was graduated therefrom on February 26, 1878, and began the prae- tiee of his profession in Mitchell, Indiana, where he remained for two years. Thereafter his entire practice has been confined to Clay county, his identity with that locality beginning in 1880, when he set- tled at Hoosier Prairie. He praetieed in that town until 1904, his ad- vent into Louisville oeeurring then, and here he has made his head- quarters ever sinee. In his college career he gave especial attention to his studies in the disseeting room, prolonging them two years be- yond the requirements, and. as mentioned previously, is known as a specialist in diagnosis. When Dr. Gibson began practice he possessed nothing but his training and his ambition and will to succeed. That these possessions were all sufficient to tide him through the lean years of his career, his later years give ample evidence. His accomplish- ments have been worthy and his name is a synonym for conscientious consideration and honesty in all his dealings with his fellow ereatures.
The Gibson family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. and Dr. Gibson is a member of the Masonie fraternity. He is affiliated with the Chapter. the Knights Templar, and has taken the thirty- second degree in Masonry. Ile was treasurer for a number of years in the blue lodge and has served as high priest of the Chapter. Ile is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations. The Doetor has always been a Republican of strong views, and he has taken a great interest in the success of the party.
On May 19, 1886. Dr. Gibson married Miss Jeneie Burton, the daughter of E. Burton, of Mitehell, Indiana. Ile was a native of North
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Carolina, who came to Indiana in his young days, there passing the remainder of his life. Four children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Gib- son : Paul W., a student in college at Lebanon, Illinois; Catherine, in the parental home and attending school in Louisville; Burton P. and Nellie Jeneie, also at home attending sehool. The family reside in the fine old homestead which was once the property of ex-governor John R. Tanner.
ADEN KNOPH. One of Richland county's most prominent and sue- eessful business men, Aden Knoph has served for thirty years as president of the First National Bank of Olney, during which time he has become widely recognized as one of the most able and suceessful financiers of Southern Illinois. A native of Lawrenee county, Illinois, he was born at Lawreneeville December 18, 1843, of Danish aneestry.
llis father, Thompson Knoph, spent his early life in Denmark, his birth having oeeurred at Copenhagen, September 4, 1801. Immigrat- ing to America in 1831 he lived for a short time in Arkansas, and afterwards, in company with a Mr. Bishop, was engaged in the whole- sale grocery business at Evansville, Indiana, until 1840 or 1841. Com- ing from there to Illinois, he embarked in the mercantile and pork packing business at Lawrenceville, for a number of years being very successful in his operations. Subsequently reverses occurred, and he lost mueh of his wealth on pork, having been at the time of his death, August 22, 1867, a comparatively poor man. He was a Republican in polities, and east his vote for John C. Fremont for president. He married Lucinda Brunson, a native of Ohio. Both were held in high esteem throughout the community, and both were valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Brought up in Lawrenceville, Aden Knoph there acquired a good knowledge of the three "R's," although he never attended sehool after ten years of age, being forced to work for a living after his father beeame bankrupt. Entering his father's store, he continued with him until the breaking ont of the Civil war, after which he was elerk in the store of his father at Vineennes, Indiana. Coming to Olney, Illinois, two years later, Mr. Knoph enlisted in Company G, Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry which became a part of the famous Wilder's Brigade. Joining the Army of the Cumberland, he fought in all the principal battles participated in by his eommand, serving until the close of the confliet, during the last eight months of the time serving as adjutant of his regiment. In the carly spring of 1865, at the engagement in Selma, Alabama, he was severely wounded, and having been taken on an ambulance to Maeon, Georgia, remained there until the war was ended.
Returning, to Olney, Illinois, July 7, 1865, Mr. Knoph had a great desire to fit himself for the legal profession, but was foreed to aban- don the idea on account of his exceedingly limited means. He elerked, therefore, in a store for two years, when, in 1868, he was elected elerk of the eireuit court, a position to which he was re-elected for the next two terms on the Republican tieket, each time carrying Richland county, notwithstanding the county had normally a Democratie ma- jority of from two hundred to five hundred votes.
Entering the eommereial field in 1880, Mr. Knoph traveled for a wholesale house of Cincinnati for two years, when, in 1882, he was elected president of the First National Bank of Olney, a position which he has sinee held. This bank is one of the strong financial in- stitutions of Richland county, having a capital of $50,000; surplus profits of $35,000; and deposits amounting to $500,000. Mr. Knoph is
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one of the more wealthy men of Richland county, in addition to hold- ing title to city property of value being the owner of a large farm and a highly productive apple orchard. He has been successful in busi- ness, meeting with far more prosperity than the average man, and is highly esteemed as a man of worth and ability. During the Spanish- American war he raised a regiment in ten days, and was elected colonel, but was never ealled to the front.
Politieally Mr. Knoph has been chairman of the Republican een- tral committee for a year. In 1904 he was a candidate for the office of state treasurer, but failed to seeure the nomination. Sinee its or- ganization, he has been secretary of Wilder's Brigade, to which he belonged when in the army. For upwards of forty years Mr. Knoph has belonged to the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, be- ing a member of lodge, chapter, eouneil and commandery, as a Knight Templar being past eminent commander.
Mr. Knoph married July 1. 1869, Carliette Morehouse, whose father, Othniel Morehouse, was born in that part of Lawrence county, Illinois, that is now included within the boundaries of Richland county. Mr. and Mrs. Knoph have two children living, namely: Edward, of Freeport, Illinois, a railroad eonduetor: and Maude, wife of E. P. Coehennour, a railway conductor, living at Pratt. Kansas. Both Mr. and Mrs. Knoph are trustworthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
STEVEN C. LEWIS, An able and influential member of the Illinois bar, Steven C. Lewis has long enjoyed a substantial law practice, and now, as county judge of Richland county, is fast building up an en- viable reputation as a wise and impartial dispenser of justice. A son of the late William Lewis, he was born September 12, 1862, in Law- renee county, Illinois, of pioneer stock. His paternal grandfather. Joseph Lewis, migrated from North Carolina to Illinois in an early period of its settlement, and having taken up land from the govern- ment improved a good homestead. on which he spent his remaining days.
Born in North Carolina, William Lewis was but a child when he eame with his parents to Lawrence county, Illinois. He was brought up on the home farm, and continued the pursuit of agriculture during his entire life, being quite successful in his operations. A man of ster- ling integrity, he was held in high respect throughout the community. Ile was a Demoerat in his political views, but he was not an office seeker. He married Mary Gaddy, who was born in Tennessee, and came to Illinois with her parents in childhood. Her father, James Gaddy. served as a soldier in the Black Hawk war. Migrating from Tennessee to Illinois, he took up a tract of government land in Lawrence county. and having improved a good farm was thereafter engaged in tilling the soil until his death.
Receiving his early education in the public schools of Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois, Steven C. Lewis began working on the home farm. His tastes and ambitions, however, as is natural to a man of his mental calibre, turned towards a professional life, and he began to read law under Judge Hugh Fields. Having concluded his studies under the instruction of Judge Frank C. Meserve. Mr. Lewis was ad- mitted to the bar in 1892, and immediately began the practice of his chosen profession at Sumner, Ilinois, where he met with such encour- aging success that he continued there sixteen years. Coming to Olney, Illinois, in 1908, Mr. Lewis immediately became prominent not only in professional circles, but in public affairs, within a year being elected eity attorney. In 1911 he was nominated for county judge on the Re-
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publican ticket, and notwithstanding that the county is a Democratic stronghold was elected by a good majority, his vote at the polls be- speaking his popularity with all classes of people, regardless of party affiliations. Judge Lewis is admitted to practice in all the courts, and has a large and remunerative patronage. Starting in life as a farmer's lad, he has gradually climbed the ladder of success, and through his own efforts has become exceedingly prosperous, in addition to having a val- uable practice being the owner of two highly improved farms and city property of value. Fraternally the Judge is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Sumner Lodge, No. 364, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons ; of Chapter No. 35, Royal Arch Masons; and of Gorin Commandery, No. 14, Knights Templar.
Judge Lewis married, in 1880, Elizabeth Wright, a daughter of Rev. James B. Wright, a preacher in the Christian church, who as a pioneer of Lawrence county entered land from the government, and on the farm which he improved spent his remaining years. The Judge and Mrs. Lewis are the parents of five children, namely : Callie, wife of F. W. Westall, a dry goods merchant in Sumner, Illinois; Olive M., a school teacher, who is highly educated, and in addition to having trav- eled extensively in the United States will spend the summer of 1912 in Europe ; Ethel D., a teacher in the Bridgeport, Illinois, high school ; O. E., a lawyer, in partnership with his father, is prominent in frater- nal circles, being a Mason and a leading member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and Lawrence D., who is attending school. Judge Lewis and his family are members of the Christian church, and in their every day life exemplify its teachings.
WILLIAM H. HART. In the ranks of the legal profession in Frank- lin county it is safe to say that no name is better or more widely known that that of William H. Hart, former county judge and now conduct- ing a most successful partnership with Walter W. Williams, the same constituting a combination of professional ability second to none here- about. Extensive as his practice may be. Mr. Hart's interests are by no means limited to it, for he is identified in an important manner with the coal commerce, his legal associate also being with him in this en- terprise, which is known as the Hart-Williams Coal Company, Mr. Hart holding the offices of sceretary and treasurer.
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