USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 30
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Mr. Whitley's political affiliations have always been with the Re- . publiean party. While a resident of Galatia he served as president of the village board, and one term filled the office of mayor of Harrisburg. In 1900 he was presidential eleetor for his district, and cast one of the votes which elected MeKinley. He was at one time a candidate for nomination for eirenit judge, but was defeated.
Fraternally Mr. Whitley is a Royal Arch Mason, and in his chap- ter has filled the chair of high priest. Religiously he is identified with the Christian Scientists.
In 1886, at Golconda, Illinois, Marion S. Whitley and Miss Alice Thomas, of that place, were united in marriage, and to them have been given three children. namely: Clifford W., a dentist of Harrisburg; Yutha, wife of Carl W. Peterson; and Hannah, a high school student.
ABNER PALMER WOODWORTH. Crawford county, perhaps, owes more of its financial and industrial growth to the life and influence of the late Abner Palmer Woodworth than to any other one individual. He was an important factor in the life of Robinson from 1850 up to the time of his death, and contributed largely toward its advancement during those years.
Mr. Woodworth was born in Palestine, Illinois, on June 20. 1829. and was a son of John Spencer and Elizabeth (Greer) Woodworth. The father was born on a farm near Albany, New York, on Derem- ber 29. 1775. The mother was a native of South Carolina, born there in 1779. and they were united in marriage in Lawrence county, Hli- nois, where he died in 1850, his widow surviving him for several years. John Spencer Woodworth came to Kentucky in 1512. It was about then that he began to hear about the land lying along the Wabash
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river, and the reports were so attractive that he, with about twenty others, eame to Illinois to investigate the condition. Well pleased with the prospeet, they returned to Kentucky and when the Illinois land was opened up in 1814 the party came baek and settled. This party comprised a pioneer group of settlers of Crawford county and they lived there in primitive fashion, log cabins being the prevailing style in architecture. Indians were constantly to be seen on the prairies and wild animals abounded. Mr. Woodworth eventually bought land near the present site of Palestine, on which he lived until the time of his death. Ile was a man of no little prominence in Crawford county and throughout the state in its early days. He was the second sheriff of the county. At that time Crawford county ineluded Chi- eago, which was Mr. Woodworth's apple market, freighting his produee to Chieago by team. He was a prosperous farmer, owning at one time one thousand acres of land, a large portion of which he eleared and brought into a high state of cultivation. The family is one of old Colonial stock, Roswell Woodworth, the grandfather of Abner P. Woodworth, having served in the Revolutionary war, as did also his maternal grandfather. On both sides of the house, prominent men were to be found who played important parts in the early days of our country.
Abner Palmer Woodworth was educated at Hanover College, In- . diana. Ile was well trained in the science of farming on his father's place, to which he gave close attention in his school days. After two years of college training the young man took a position as elerk in a store, and in 1852 he was so well advaneed that he was able to buy a half interest in the business of C. B. Lagow & Company in Robinson. and until 1863 the business of the store was conducted under the firm name of Woodworth & Lagow. In those days theirs was the only store in Robinson. then a straggling village of one hundred inhabitants per- haps. In 1863 they sold the stoek to the firm of Braden & Dorothy and in the same year Mr. Woodworth engaged in the mercantile busi- ness alone, continuing until 1868, at which time he launched a small banking enterprise in connection with his mereantile business, with the firm name of Woodworth Brothers & Company. This was later changed to the Robinson Bank, the change occurring in 1875, and in 1896 was reorganized and incorporated as the First National Bank of Robin- son, with A. P. Woodworth as president, a position which he held at the time of his death. In 1875 Mr. Woodworth gave over his mercan- tile interests entirely, thereafter devoting himself without reserve to the banking business until the reorganization of the bank in 1896.
In addition to his many other enterprises, Mr. Woodworth assisted in the organization of the Paris & Danville Railroad, now known as the "Big Four," and was the founder of the Woodworth Hotel. On reaching his majority he cast his first vote with the Whig party and later helped to organize the Republican party in Crawford county. He always was active in political matters, but never was prevailed upon to hold public offiee. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and was a trustee of that body for many years.
On August 18, 1868. Mr. Woodworth was united in marriage with Ellen King at Binghamton, New York. She was a daughter of An- drew King, and was born in Lexington, Kentucky, but later removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lived until her marriage. Mr. King was a member of the firm of King, Corwin & Company, wholesale dry- goods merchants, and in later life removed to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he passed away. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood- worth.
Schauento.
Rev. K.
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REV. KASPER SCHAUERTE. The honored and popular pastor of St. Andrew's church in the city of Murphysboro. Jackson county, is one of the representative members of the Catholic elergy in this diocese. and in his loeal field of endeavor he has accomplished most beneficent work, both along spiritual and temporal lines. He has built up one of the important parishes of this section of the state, is known as a man of high intellectual attainments and as one whose life is conse- crated to the high calling to which he is devoting his abilities and energies.
Father Schanerte was born in the fine old province of Westphalia. Germany, and is a scion of one of the old and honored families of that part of the great empire. The date of his nativity was March 7, 1862. and he is a son of William and Regina ( Matzhanser) Schanerte, who passed their entire lives in the fatherland. Their seven children, four sons and three danghters, are now living, the subject of this review being the first born. William Schauerte was a tailor by trade, but the major part of his aetive career was one of close identification with the great fundamental industry of agriculture. Both he and his wife were most devout and consistent communicants of the Catholic church, in whose faith their children were carefully reared.
He whose name initiates this article was afforded the advantages of the excellent schools of his native land and in 1880, when about eigh- teen years of age, he severed the gracious ties which hound him to home and fatherland and came to America. He located at East St. Louis. Illinois, and in the meanwhile began the work of preparing himself for the priesthood of the great mother church of Christendom. He at- tended Teutopolis College, a Catholic school in Effingham county, Ili- nois, and thereafter completed his philosophical and theological studies in St. Francis Seminary. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1887. He was ordained to the priesthood on the 24th of Inne. 1887. by Archbishop Heiss, and on the 26th of the following month he was appointed substitute to Rev. F. Bergmann, who was then pastor of St. Andrew's church, Murphys- boro. IFere he has since remained, his assignment to the full pastor- ate of this parish having occurred in the same year which marked his assuming connection with the parish. The church has been signally prospered in both spiritnal and material activities under his earnest and effective regime, and the parish now has a representation of two hundred and seventy-five families. Under the administration of Father Schauerte has been erected the beautiful church, fine parish school building, the parish home, as well as the hospital and convent which form important adjunets to the parochial work. Under his direction were also erected the Catholic churches at Carterville and Ava, and he was the dominating force in vitalizing the affairs of these parishes. in which he continues to maintain the deepest interest. not withstanding the many and exacting demands of his home parish, in the work of which he has a valned coadjutor in the person of Rev. Fred Witte.
Father Schanerte is a man of broad and liberal views and marked publie spirit. His genial personality has gained to him the high re- gard of all who know him, and he has the affection and sympathetic co-operation of the members of his parish. He takes an active part in the affairs of the diocese of Belleville, of which his parish is a part. and is chairman of the diocesan board of education as well as of the board of building commissioners. His interest in the educational work of his church has been of the most insistent and benignant type and he is a member of the national educational association of the Catholic church in America. His interest in all that touches the material and
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civic welfare of his home city is deep and active, and is measurably signified by his membership in the Murphysboro Commercial Associa- tion.
HON. WILLIS DUFF PIERCY. Prominent among Jefferson county's most gifted and notable citizens is Hon. Willis Duff Pierey, author, orator, scholar, editor of the Daily and Weekly News of Mt. Vernon, representative from the Forty-sixth district to the Illinois state legis- lature, and Southern Illinois representative of the Charles E. Merrill Company of New York City, publishers of school and college text books. Mr. Piercy is widely and favorably known as a gentleman of high character, as well as unnsual attainments, and his influence in the community has been marked and salutary.
The birth of Mr. Piercy occurred April 28, 1874, in Hamilton county, Illinois, his father being Dr. Sherwood Piercy, a native of Jef- ferson county and a son of Anderson Piercy of North Carolina, who came as one of the pioneers to Jefferson county and helped pave the way for subsequent civilization. Dr. Piercy practiced medicine in Ham- ilton county and then in Jefferson county, the period of his career as a practitioner covering thirty-four years of signal usefulness. He died March 21, 1906, at the age of sixty-nine. He was always actively inter- ested in Democratie politics ; was a life-long Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Mary Mangrum, who survives and makes her home with her son, the subject of this review, and with her daughters. These worthy people reared a family of five children to maturity, namely: Mrs. M. N. Corn, Carlinville, Illinois ; Mrs. J. C. Jones, of Birch Tree, Missouri; the subject; Mrs. Clarence E. Danner, of Jefferson county ; and Mrs. (Dr.) R. R. Smith, of Mt. Vernon.
Mr. Piercy received his early education in the common schools of his native county and then entered Ewing College, where he pursued his studies from 1891 to 1892. Some years later he matriculated in MeKendree College, at Lebanon, Illinois, where he was a student from 1896 to 1901, in the latter year receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He and his wife went through college together, after they were married, Mr. Piercy saving the money for their education from his salary as country teacher. Mrs. Piercy received her degree of Bachelor of Arts in the year following that of her husband (1902). Mr. Pierey had pre- viously been engaged in educational work, his first work as an instructor being in the common schools of Jefferson county (three years), and one year in the Mt. Vernon high school. In the fall of 1901 he went to Greenville, Illinois, as superintendent of the city schools and served in that capacity until the spring of 1903. In the ensuing fall he entered Harvard University, and in the spring of 1904 was granted the degree of Master of Arts from that institution in the department of English. Pre- viously, while teaching school in Jefferson county, he had read law and had passed the bar examinations, being admitted to the bar in 1895. He served as private secretary to Congressman M. D. Foster of the Twenty-third distriet of Illinois, from March 4, 1907, to March 4, 1909, and resided in Washington, D. C., during the winter of 1907-08. His connection with the Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company, of New York City, had dated from a time several years previous and he had represented this concern for some three years. In 1908, upon his re- turn from the national capital, he again became associated with the Merrill Company and still retains his connection with it in the capacity of representative for Southern Illinois.
The fact that Mr. Piercy had gained the confidence and admiration of the community in which he is best known is by no means difficult of
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explanation, and nothing could have been more appropriate than his election, in the fall of 1910, as representative from the Forty-sixth dis- triet to the lower house of the state assembly. He is now serving his first term and has given "a taste of his quality," which has abundantly proved the wisdom of his constituents and which makes subsequent politieal preferment a logieal outcome. He was by no means a figure- head at Springfield in one of the most important sessions of the assem- bly, matching swords with Lee O'Neil Browne in the arena of debate, to the discomfiture of that politician. He was instrumental in killing Browne's "Libel Bill," working strenuously and speaking effectively against a measure which he believed pernicious in the extreme. In fact, he was eredited by the St. Louis Republic and several other journals as having himself dealt the death blow to the bill. Ilis address against the bill was published throughout the United States and made for him more than a state-wide reputation in a day. In April, 1912, the Deil- oerats of the Forty-sixth senatorial distriet, comprising the counties of Jefferson, Wayne, Richland and Jasper, nominated Mr. Pierey as their candidate for state senator, withont opposition.
He became connected with the Daily News as editor in January, 1910, and is a creditable representative of the Fourth Estate. This sheet is owned and published by a stock company. Dr. Walter Watson being president and J. J. Baker, secretary, treasurer and general man- ager. It was established in 1871 as a weekly and in 1891 a daily edition was inaugurated, the circulation being at the present time 2,800. It is the official Democratic organ of Jefferson county and is an effective one, and it is the only Democratie paper in the county. The daily paper is an eight page, six column sheet, and the weekly is the same size. It is not only remarkably newsy, but stands an enlightened moulder of public opinion, its editorials being uniformly well conceived.
Mr. Pierey was married April 3. 1895, to Miss Enlalia Whitson, of Jefferson county, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Whitson and their charming and cultured home is shared by a daughter, Helen Whitson. aged eight years.
Mr. Pierey is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Knights of Pythias. It is as an orator and platform speaker, perhaps, that Mr. Piercy is best known, and has been "niek- named" "the Silver-tongued Orator of Egypt." He is the author of a number of publications, such as "Death and Its Sorrow," published by the Neale Publishing Company. (N. Y., 1908) : "Great Inventions and Discoveries," intended as supplementary reading or library book for school children, and published by the Charles E. Merrill Company of New York. For the past five years he has been a member of the Mt. Vernon township high school board of education and he has served as a member of the city publie library board. In whatever capacity he has served his fellow men it has been with eredit to himself and honor and profit to the people.
MARION N. DRONE. In naming those who have been identified with the business and financial interests of Gallatin county, mention should be made of Marion N. Drone, eashier of the First National Bank of Ridg- way, and a native of that place, who has devoted his aetive business career to banking and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen. Mr. Drone was born in Ridgway. December 9. 1885, and is a son of Alexander and Mary E. (Vilter) Drone, and a grandson of Joseph Drone. The latter came to Ilinois from Ohio and settled two miles south of Ridgway, where he spent his life in agricultural pursuits.
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Alexander Drone was born in Ohio, and as a young man started out on his own account by purchasing cheap land in this county. At first he met with a number of minor disappointments, and soon it seemed that he would fail disastrously, as within the space of a year his wife died and he lost his house and barn by fire. However, he made a fresh start, remaining single for seven years, and during that time had re- covered his losses and started himself on the highroad to success. For many years he was engaged in farming and stockraising at the edge of the village of Ridgway, where he owned 1,200 acres of land, and his fine roadsters and jacks were exhibited at a number of fairs, where they took numerous prizes. In 1909 he was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, which was capitalized at $25,000, a new building erected for it and it now has $50,000 deposits and a surplus of $2.100. For the past eight years Mr. Drone has resided in Evansville, and now holds an official position with the Henneberger Iee and Cold Storage Company of Princeton, Indiana, and Mt. Carmel, Illinois. A self- made man in all that the word implies, Mr. Drone rose to his high posi- tion through his own ability, and his success in life should serve as an example to the aspiring youth of today and to show that a man may attain a comfortable competeney and seeure the esteem of his fellows through his own industry and integrity, and not through inherited ad- vantages. He was very fond of out-of-door sports, and was never so happy as when off on an outing with his rod or gun. In political mat- ters Mr. Drone was a Demoerat, but he was never an office seeker, while in his religious views he was a life long member of St. Joseph's Catho- lie church. Of his children, six still survive, namely : Marion N., En- eretia, Vincent P., Leonard, Madeline and Philip Alexander.
Marion N. Drone received his education in the publie schools and Jasper College. Jasper, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1904, at that time becoming bookkeeper of the Commercial Bank of Evans- ville. Subsequently he held a like position with the Mercantile National Bank, and rose to the position of receiving teller, but at the time of the organization of the First National Bank of Ridgway, in 1909, he came here as cashier of this institution, a position which he has held to the present time. Mr. Drone inherits his father's ability as a finan- cier and business man, and his pleasant personality has made him many friends among the bank's depositors, as it also has among his business associates. Also, like his father. he has been fond of out-of-door exer- eises, and is an expert at the game of tennis.
On July 14 ,1908, Mr. Drone was united in marriage with Miss Etta Mary Zipp, of Evansville. They are members of St. Joseph's Catholie church. and Mr. Drone is a member of the Knights of Columbus and is financial secretary of the local lodge.
WALKER W. MCCREERY. A name that looms up large in the history of Franklin county and Benton is that of Mr. Walker W. MeCreery. whose activities and interests entitle him to a place in the forefront of the list of leading citizens of this part of the state. Mr. MeCreery was born on October 10, 1858. becoming one of the fourth generation of his family in this state, the first member of which, John McCreery, migrated to Southern Illinois in 1787. Ile was a man of sturdy cour- age to thus push his way to the frontier beyond civilization, and his young wife who accompanied him must have possessed the same qual- ity in large degree. It is stated that when the young couple journeyed from their Kentucky home to become the first white settlers in Gallatin county. now Saline county, they had but one horse to ride and they took turns in mounting it, and accomplishing the long, dangerous trip
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by slow stages, albeit with final snecess. Indians were their only neigh- bors for a time, but they proved to be friendly and the hardy young set- tler and his wife were never molested by them in any way. He became a trader and a farmer and accumulated a large fortune for that day. His was the distinction also of being the first Squire in the county of which he was the first settler.
Next in line came Alexander MeCreery, son of John, who came to Illinois with his father: the third generation was headed by J. W. Me- Creery, son of Alexander, born January 10, 1821, who in turn became the father Walker W. MeCreery. of this sketch. J. W. MeCreery married Mary E. Pace, who was born in 1824, the daughter of Joel Pace, an early settler of Jefferson county, who built the first brick house in that section and was one of the most prominent citizens there. He filled the office of clerk of court for a number of years and was also eirenit elerk at one time. Mr. MeCreery was an agriculturist and lived on and cultivated the same farm all his life. He was a man who took a leading part in public affairs and was widely known, having been a member of the county board of supervisors for many years and post- master at Cave Post Office for forty years and until that office was abandoned. Ile was of Republican political faith. His business affairs were carefully conducted and at the time of his death, on January 7. 1892, he was well fixed financially. His wife survived him many years and died in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. McCreery were both devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church. were people of high moral princi- ples and their passing was mourned by a large circle of friends who held them in the highest respect and esteem.
Walker W. MeCreery received his education in the common schools of Franklin county. but these were of the best class, with superior teachers, and when he ceased his studies he was possessed of more than the average learning. Ile had spent his life as a boy and young man on the farm, but in starting out on an independent business career chose to engage in livery work and made his initial venture in that business at Thompsonville. In 1886 he located at Benton, conducting a livery stable for a time and later engaging in the lumber business, at first with J. T. Chenault. but subsequently buying out the latter's interest and becoming sole owner of the business. Flattering success was his and by judicious investment and the exercise of excellent business Fore- sight he was able to accumulate large financial interests. He retired from the lumber business and erected the MeCreery Block, an exten- sive property in which is located the MeCreery Hotel, the postoffice, a drug store and a large number of fine up-to-date offices. Mr. MeCreery conducted the hotel that bears his name for one year, but has since leased it to other parties. In 1909 he further added to his already large holdings by purchasing the Benton Flour Mills, a large plant with capacity for producing one hundred and twenty-tive barrels per day. and the product of these mills is shipped not only to all points in Hli- nois, but enters into interstate commerce extensively. Besides his city properties Mr. MeCreery has some valuable farm holdings and is, al- together, rated as one of the wealthiest men of this section. He has lately made some large investments near Rosewood. New Mexico, and will probably spend the winters there. His success is but the natural result of the exereise of the superior business talents he possesses in the conduet of his commercial and industrial operations. A man of great capacities, he produces large and important results in whatever line of endeavor he elects to devote his time and attention.
On June 6, 1883, occurred the marriage of Mr. Metreery and Miss Lizzie Swain, daughter of John F. Swain, a merchant of Charleston.
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Mississippi. Five children have been born of this union, Kate, William N .. W. W .. Jr., Vashti and John Alexander. All of the members of the family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and are important factors in the moral and religious uplift of the community, as well as influential members of leading social circles. Mr. McCreery belongs to several fraternal orders, including the Masonic, being a past master of Benton Lodge, No. 64, and is also first chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias.
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