USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 37
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In 1889 Dr. Brown was married to Geneva Whiteaker, a daughter of Captain Mark and Elizabeth (Denton) Whiteaker, of Vienna. and they have two children: Essie, who is twenty-one years old, and Charles R., thirteen years of age. More extended mention of Captain and Mrs. Whiteaker, both of whom belong to the old families of South- ern Illinois, appears on other pages.
Dr. Brown is a man who may be said to have chosen well. Pos- sessed of a kind, sympathetic nature, a keen sense of discrimination, a natural taste for the various branches of the medieal profession, he has made a signal suecess.
CAPTAIN MARK WHITEAKER, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Johnson county and a veteran of the Civil war, now retired after a busy life devoted to agriculture and public service. is the scion of one of the oldest. families of Southern Illinois. His birth occurred on the 28th day of March, 1833. on a farm in the southwestern corner
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of Williamson county, his parents being Hall and Elvira (Hall) Whiteaker, natives of Tennessee. Hall Whiteaker was the son of Mark Whiteaker, who came to Southern Illinois among the earliest pioneers, but who lost his life shortly after his arrival, in 1818.
Mark Whiteaker was reared upon the farm. receiving a practical training in its many departments and receiving his introduction to the "Three R's" behind a desk in the district school-room. He enlisted in Company G, of the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment, Ilinois Volunteer Infantry, at the outbreak of the Civil war. Ile took the initiative in the organization of the company in Johnson county and received the rank of captain. He was in service nearly one year, but was mustered out in June, 1863, on account of disability. He served in and around Memphis and did seont duty in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. In May 1862, he went to Vicksburg, but soon returned to Memphis and was quartered at Fort Pickering. Two brothers, Will- iam II. and John A., were in the same regiment and engaged in Gen- eral Forrest's raid.
Captain Whiteaker was not the first of his family to come to the defense of the country in its hour of need, his maternal grandfather, John Dameron, having served in the Revolutionary war. John Dam- eron, who was English by birth, was one of the first pioneers of Burn- side township. Johnson county.
When Captain Whiteaker was twenty-five years of age he purchased forty acres of land in Burnside township, one mile west of New Burn- side. Not long afterward he bought twenty acres more and later one hundred and twenty, making in all a good sized farm of one. hundred and eighty aeres. Upon this he resided from his marriage in 1860 until 1882. In that year he was elected sheriff, and rented a farm one mile north of Vienna and lived there during his term of sheriff, which lasted until 1886. He then bought the one hundred and sixty aere farm which he had been renting and upon this made his residence until 1902, when he sold it and bought forty acres in Bloom- field township, where he lived until 1907. With the competence won by many years of diligence and thrift, he decided to retire from the more strenuous duties of life, and disposing of his farm land, removed to Vienna, where he now lives, secure in the high regard of all who know him.
Captain Whiteaker has made a good record as a publie official. always serving with credit to himself and profit to his constituents. Ile was a county commissioner, or member of the county court. from 1864 to 1868: he served a four year term as constable of Burnside township: was twelve years justice of the peace in the same township and held the same office in Vienna township for four years. For the past two years he has been police magistrate. In all the length and breadth of Johnson county it is safe to say no one is better or more favorably known than this venerable and publie-spirited citizen. He has ever given heart and hand to the men and measure of the Republi- can party and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fra- ternally he is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Captain Whiteaker was happily married October 21, 1860. to Eliza- beth Deaton, daughter of William and Martha Deaton, natives of Ala- bama, who located in Southern Illinois at an early date
Captain and Mrs. Whiteaker became the parents of eleven children. two of whom died when young and the following being an enumeration of the number: Arista An (MeElroy ): Martha Elvira Burris ; Geneva A. (Brown) : Dr. Ilall Whiteaker, Ir .: William J. : Thomas
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H., who lost his life on the Illinois Central Railroad; Charles Franklin, deceased ; Elizabeth (Mathis) ; and Daisy Gertrude (Compton.)
HARL L. GEE, M. D. In thirteen years devoted to the practice of medicine in southern Illinois Dr. Gee has made rapid strides in the profession of his choice, and is openly recognized as one of the leaders in that profession in this section of the state. As a physician Dr. Gee enjoys the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of patrons, drawing his clientele from all walks in life; while as a man his position is no less secure in the hearts of all who have come in contact with him.
Born March 25, 1874, in Jefferson county, Harl L. Gee is the son of Isaac G. Gee, M. D., and the great-grandson of John Sandford Gee, an early pioneer of Jefferson county. JJohn Sandford Gee was born on Janu- ary 10, 1777, in Virginia. Ile married Susan Tudor in 1798, and, cross- ing the mountains in 1803, they settled in Metealf county, where he entered land from the government and engaged in farming, his oper- ations in that line being rewarded with a fair degree of success. He also conducted a surveying business as a further means of livelihood, and was regarded as one of the important pioneers of his time in that seetion of the country. He left one son, William Gee, born October 16, 1810, in the old Kentucky home, who in his early manhood married Malinda Billingsby, the marriage occurring in 1837. They were the parents of five sons. They were: John A., now of Tamaroa, Illinois; I. G., the father of Dr. Harl L. Gee; W. S., of Tarkio, Missouri ; M. D., of Mountain Grove, Missouri; and Henry M., now deceased. In October, 1852, William Gee moved to Illinois and settled in Perry county. In 1883 he went to Nebraska, but returned to Illinois in 1886. He and his wife were members of the old Paradise Baptist ehnreh in Perry county for more than forty-eight years, and in dying left the noble heritage of beautiful lives well spent in the care and nurture of a family of sons who have reflected eredit on a good old name.
Isaae G. Gee, the father of Dr. Harl L. Gee, was born in Simpson connty, Kentucky, September 19, 1841, and when his parents moved to Illinois he was eleven years of age. He worked on the home farm as a boy and as he advanced in years taught in the district schools while in his 'teens. His ambition to enter the medieal profession was deep-seated, and no slight difficulties were sufficient to deter him from his long cherished purpose. He entered the Eclectie Medieal Institute of Cincinnati and was graduated from that institution in 1865, begin- ning the practice of medicine at Fitzgerald, in Jefferson county. In 1892 Dr. Gee settled in Mount Vernon, since when he has retired from the activities of professional life and lives in the quiet of a semi-retired life. He has many business interests which demand his attention and which constitute a sufficient ocenpation for a man of his years. Dr. Gee is a director of the Third National Bank, president of the Walton- ville Bank and a stockholder in the Mount Vernon Car Manufacturing Company. He has been president of the Royal Building & Loan Com- pany, and has served as alderman and supervisor of Mount Vernon township. He is a member of the First Baptist church of Mount Ver- non and is a member of the blue lodge, Royal Arch and Knights Temp- lar in Masonry.
On December 26, 1867, Dr. Gee was married to Elzina J., daughter of .J. J. Fitzgerald, a native of Indiana. Five children have been born to them: James William, deceased ; John Stanton, deceased; Harl L., of Mount Vernon; Earl, who died at the age of six years; and Knox, cashier of Waltonville Bank.
Dr. Harl L. Gee was educated in the Mount Vernon publie schools
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and in Shurtleff College. He later entered the medical department of the Northwestern University at Chicago in the fall of 1894, studying there for three years. He then matriculated in the Washington Uni- versity of St. Louis, graduating therefrom in 1898, with his medical degree of M. D. Dr. Gee began the practice of medicine in Mount Ver- non, and is fast forging to the front in the ranks of his profession in Southern Illinois. Ilis consulting room is a part of the finely ap- pointed suite of rooms maintained by six prominent physicians of Mount Vernon, and known as the Hospital Consultation Rooms. For over thirteen years Dr. Gee has been intimately associated with Dr. Moss Maxey of the Egyptian Hospital, in both a professional and fra- ternal way, through which time the association has endured withont a rupture. Dr. Gee is a member of the Jefferson County, Illinois State and American Medical Associations, and is active and prominent in all three. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights Templar, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Baptist church, in which religious denomination his fore- bears held membership for many previous generations.
On November 2, 1899, Dr. Gee was united in marriage with Nebraska Evans, daughter of George W. Evans, who conducted a private bank in Mount Vernon for many years, which was finally merged with the Third National Bank by purchase. Dr. and Mrs. Gee have one child, Martha Evans, now five years of age.
EUGENE M. DARE. A man of energy and ability, with an aptitude for work, Eugene M. Dare is a worthy representative of the successful business men of Bonnie, where he is favorably known as cashier of the Bonnie Bank, which was organized in 1910 by Mount Vernon and Bon- nie capitalists, the local men having been Isaac Hicks, A. N. Hicks, T. M. Hughey, JJ. U. Crosno and Eugene M. Dare. J. H. Crosno was the first president of the institution, and was succeeded by Albert Watson, who is now serving in that capacity. The other men interested in the founding of the bank were Louis Pavey, of the Home National Bank, Dr. J. T. Whitlock, Burrell Hawkins, circuit clerk and recorded. all of Mount Vernon, and Dan G. Fitzgerald, cashier of the Ewing Bank. The Bonnie Bank is in a most excellent condition, its business having doubled within the past year. In 1911 the stockholders erected the modernly equipped building in which the bank is now housed, the cost amounting to $3,000.00, one of its important features being a fireproof vault, which is greatly appreciated by the home people and by the rural population. The bank is patronized by every business man in Bonnie. and by all the farmers in the surrounding country, it being of great benefit and much convenience to the community.
A son of Thomas W. Dare, Eugene M. Dare was born Angust 21. 1873, on a farm in Jefferson county, Illinois. His grandfather, JJohn Dare, came from Tennessee to Illinois in pioneer days with his father, John Dare, and filed on government land in Jefferson county. He was exceedingly prosperous as an agriculturist, at one time being the largest landholder in Elk Prairie township, where he settled with his brothers. Hubbard and James. Hubbard Dare was active in public affairs, and it is said was the first Republican voter of that township.
Thomas W. Dare was born on the home farm in JJefferson county. and early selected farming as his life occupation. He acquired title to much land, and carried on general farming with undisputed success for many years, but is now living retired from active pursuits, his home being in Bonnie. He was born in 1846, and although young when the Civil war broke out enlisted as a soldier in Company D. Ilinois Vohin-
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teer Infantry, in which he served faithfully ninety days. He married Avaline Boswell, a daughter of Isaac Boswell, of Jefferson county. She died in 1896, leaving three children, namely : Eugene M .; Guy, of Bon- nie; and Mrs. Margaret Shelton, of Watsonville. He married for his second wife Affy R. Mason, and of this union two children have been born, but only one is living, Ernest Dare.
Gleaning his first knowledge of the common branches of study in the district schools, Eugene M. Dare subsequently attended the Southern Illinois Normal University and the Mount Vernon Business College. When but twenty years old he embarked in educational work, and for twelve years taught school, spending four years of the time as a teacher in Bonnie, the remaining eight years being passed in three other schools. Mr. Dare was afterwards tie and lumber inspector for the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Company for a year, and the ensuing four years was engaged in farming. In April, 1910, he accepted his present position as cashier of the Bonnie Bank, and is filling the office in a very acceptable manner. Mr. Dare also conduets an insurance business, and is financially interested in the Bonnie Creamery Company, ineor- porated.
Mr. Dare married, November 12, 1895, Lucy Puckett, daughter of Thomas Puckett, and of their union seven children have been born, but only two are living. Jewell, born June 18, 1907, and Eugene M., Jr., born February 5, 1911. Fraternally Mr. Dare is a member of Allen Lodge, No. 904, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bonnie.
HENRY L. DAVIS, M. D. The multiplicity of experiences of Dr. Davis which interspersed the years covered by his medical training from an especially interesting attribute to his life, and in divers ways add to his many qualifications as a competent practicing physician and surgeon. His two years of army service as a nurse in the Philippines after a brief medical course was wonderfully rich in life's experienees, and serves as a most valuable adjunct to his regular medieal training. Since his degree was awarded to him in 1906 Dr. Davis has been active in the practice of his profession, and in the years which have elapsed since then he has accomplished much from a humanitarian point of view, as well as winning to himself a pleasing reputation in a professional way.
Henry L. Davis, M. D., was born on December 11, 1878, in Anna, Union county, Illinois. He is the son of Stephen M. Davis, born 1843, and who died in 1899, a native of Union county, Illinois, and the son of Reverend Levi Davis, also a native of Union county. For sixty years Reverend Levi Davis was an able expounder of the faith of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church in Southern Illinois, and when he passed away he left the rich and undying heritage of a life of well spent endeavor in a worthy cause, and of good he was able to do among the people for whom he labored no reasonable estimate can be made. He was the son of Thomas Davis, who immigrated from Wales, and represented a family which, since its foundation. has been known by its good works.
Stephen M. Davis, the son of Rev. Levi Davis and grandson of Thomas Davis, who founded the family in America, married Amanda Day, a native of Cumberland county. Tennessee, who moved to Union county, Illinois, when she was ten years of age, in company with her brother, Henry Day, in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of ten children, of whom three sons and five daughters are now living. They are: William, II .. a practicing physician of Castle, Oklahoma ; Virgil B., an attorney of note in Indianapolis: Etta H., in Okemah, Oklahoma : Henry L., of Mount Vernon ; Mrs. Alice HI. Williams, living in St. Louis, Missouri; Lulu May, who died at the tender age of two
George & Meyer
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years; Mrs. Cora B. Davis, living in Murphysboro; Martha E., of the same place; Mrs. Ennice A. Hnek, living in Iola, Kansas; and Stephen M .. who died in infancy.
Henry L. Davis was educated in the common schools of I'nion county. the Dexter, Missouri, high school and the Illinois Normal University at Carbondale. On May 28, 1898, when he was but twenty years of age, he enlisted in Company 1 of the Sixteenth United States Infantry for service in the Spanish-American war. He was sent with his regiment to Santiago de Cuba, where they were in service one month and returned to Montauk Point, New York. From there they were sent to Huntsville, Alabama, and discharged under the art of Congress of 1899. On his return home he attended the Southern Illinois Normal during the winter and spring term which ended in July of 1900. He then enlisted in the hospital corps of the United States Army, his former experience in the army having been sufficient to whet his appetite for larger accomplish- ments, and was sent to Manila, where he served two years as a nurse. and returned to his home in Angust, 1902, after having eireumnavigated the globe in the two years of his absence. His taste for foreign travel appeased, the young man once more entered the medical department of St. Louis University in the fall of 1902, and was graduated therefrom in May, 1906, receiving his degree of M. D. Dr. Davis immediately began the practice of medicine in Carbondale, remaining there until August 1. 1907. Ile next located in llerrin, where he remained from August 10, 1907, until September 10. 1908. The place did not meet with his ex- pectations and he next settled in Oakland, Coles county, where he re- mained until Angust 10, 1910. It was then that he located in Mount Vernon, which it would seem is the ideal spot for him, and where he already commands a wide and constantly growing practice, and is prominent in both a social and professional way.
Dr. Davis is a member of the Spanish War Veterans, and among the fraternal societies he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. He is a member of the Baptist church.
On October 24, 1907, Dr. Davis was married to Miss Tallie Link. of Ewing, Illinois, daughter of William J. Link. One child, Theodore. born October 24, 1908, has come to them.
GEORGE LEON MEYER. The substantial and enterprising citizens of Greenville have no better representative than George Leon Meyer, who stands high among the keen, energetic and progressive business men of the city. A son of the late Conrad Arthur Meyer. he was born Febru- ary 7, 1865, in the city of Saint Louis, coming from German and French ancestry.
Born near Strasburg, Germany, in 1835. Conrad Arthur Meyer was seized with the wanderlust when young, and at the age of twelve years left home to see something of Europe, traveling through different parts of the country. Returning to his native town, he pictured life in Amer- ica in such glowing colors to his parents that he induced them to come to America with him. Crossing the ocean in 1848, they located in Texas just after the close of the Mexican war, and soon afterward took up a homestead claim in San Antonio, where General Winfield Scott. with whom they afterwards became well acquainted. was then stationed. and where they found Mr. Conrad Arthur Meyer's unele. Encas Meyer, who had served as a general in the army during the Mexican war. The par- ents suffered all the hardships of frontier life. in addition having such trouble with the Indians and Mexicans, who stole their horses and stock. that they became discouraged and migrated with their family to New
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Orleans. From there they proceeded up the river to Saint Louis, where they resided many years.
On arriving in Saint Louis Conrad Arthur Meyer embarked in the drug business on his own account and began to read medicine, although he never completed his medical studies. Subsequently forming a partner- ship with Mr. Samuels, he opened a clothing store, which he conducted with good results. During the Civil war Mr. Meyer was a sutler in Gen- eral Grant's army, and after the war moved with his family to Vicksburg, where he and his partner were engaged in mercantile pursuits until burned out. Returning to Saint Louis, the firm there resumed busi- ness, and carried it on successfully until another fire destroyed their stock. Coming then to Greenville, Illinois, Conrad A. Meyer opened a small store, but later bought land not far from the city limits, and was there engaged in farming until his death, July 30, 1897. He was a stead- fast Republican in polities, and a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons. Both he and his wife were reared in the Christian faith, but gave up their church associations during their later years.
While living in Saint Louis, Missouri, Conrad A. Meyer wooed and won Catherine Ravold, to whom he was married August 6, 1861. She was a daughter of Nicholas Ravold, a silk weaver, who spent his en- tire life in France. She came to America in 1856, in early woman- hood, and for a time taught music in St. Louis and also elerked in her brother's store. She survived her husband, dying on the home farm, near Greenville, June 14, 1898. Five children were born of their union, namely : Emil, deceased; Emily, wife of John White; George Leon, the special subject of this biographical record; Elvere, wife of James Vaughn ; and Walter, deceased.
Brought up on the home farm in Bond county, George Leon Meyer obtained the rudiments of his education in the distriet schools, and subsequently worked his way through the Greenville high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1884. He afterwards con- tinned his studies at Greenville College, where he received the degree of Commercial Law in 1890. Mr. Meyer subsequently took a three years' law course at the Illinois Wesleyan University, in Blooming- ton, Illinois, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1897, and in May, 1897, was admitted to the bar at Springfield, Illi- nois. For twelve years, while he was engaged in the study of law, . Mr. Meyer tanght school to pay his expenses, having served as prin- cipal of schools at Reno, Van Burensburg, Bingham, Irving, Marissa and Litchfield, all in Illinois.
Just after his admission to the bar Mr. Meyer was called home on account of the serious illness of his father, and subsequently had charge of the home farm until after the death of his mother, in 1898. He then opened a law office in Greenville, Illinois, and has sinee been ae- tively and prosperously engaged in the practice of his profession, and has also built up a good business in real estate dealing and money loan- ing. In 1904 he was elected state's attorney, and for four years filled the office ably and acceptably.
Mr. Meyer is a leading member of the Republican party, and fre- quently attends the state conventions as a delegate. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a bachelor. heart and fancy free.
Mr. Meyer is a distant relative of George L. Von Meyer, ex-Post Master General, and later Secretary of the Navy. Mr. George Leon Meyer has a bit of literary taste and is the author of a song, the words and music of which were his own composition and was sung with ef-
.
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fect during the 1896 William MeKinley campaign. He is also the com- poser of several poems, one of which, his favorite, is entitled "Wash- ington," and is here given :
WASHINGTON. I In February, thirty-two, When earth put on her robe of white; Was born at dawn, the child of truth, Who made principle prevail o'er might.
=
The air was keen, the heavens were bright, O'er Virginia's West Moreland hills; An unseen Power awoke the light, To make transpire to him who wills.
All nature seemed in worship bent, The winds kept peace, and angels sung To honor him whom God had sent, This noble being, Washington.
IV
In rural home so niee to charm, Grew this boy's nature, as the sun; With mother's counsel, wise and warm, Which moulded thoughts of Washington.
In his brief rules of behavior, He showed decorum in his youth ; Was in honor like his Savior. For George always would tell the truth.
VI
Trials taught him to master self, Before he commanded others ; He always watched to find himself Blameless ere he censured brothers.
VII
He taught all men strength in defeat. To show merey in victory ; His disposition frank and meck. Disproved their best planned story. VIH
A man ummaliced much was he, And filled with courage to do right ; That, when the hired foe's soul did fee, He grasped his hand in Christian rite.
IX
Who had LaFayette help us quick ? Whose justice made the British run? Who made Cornwallis grow so sick ? It was the force of Washington.
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No crown wore he. the King to play, No child gave Providenee this one; Good will, all won gave he away, For America was his son.
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