USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 74
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In 1853 Mr. Browning was married to Miss Fannie Howell, of St. Clair county. She died the following year, leaving no issue, her only child, Quiney Browning, having died in infancy, two weeks previous to her demise. Ilis second marriage occurred in 1855, when Miss Tabitha Layman, of Benton, became his wife. Eight children were born of this union. The eldest, Florence May, died at the age of four years. The others are: Mrs. Lula B. Ward, Quiney E., Thomas S .. John L., Mrs. F. A. Hickman, Mrs. L. E. Chenault and Miss Nancy Eugenia, all of whom are residents of Benton excepting Mrs. L. E. Chenault.
DR. ELMER LAWRENCE APPLE, for the past ten years engaged in medi- eal practice at Golden Gate, Wayne county, Illinois, has in that time be- come genuinely established in the community. Well and favorably known to the medical profession of Wayne county, and secure in the re- gard of the highly representative clientele which he has won to himself, Dr. Apple is recognized as one of the foremost men of his town and county.
Born in Paoli, Orange county, Indiana, on November 6, 1874, Dr. Apple is the son of William C. and Elizabeth (Lowe) Apple. William Apple, a native of North Carolina, was born there in 1836, and is the son of Ridley C. Apple, a native born German who settled in Indiana in 1846. William Apple and his wife still reside on the Orange county farm which was the home of the family for so many years. Seven children were born to them. Five of that number are now living. They are: William Wal- ter, of California; II. L., living in Youngs Creek, Indiana; %. M., of French Lick Springs, Indiana : Alonzo, of Young's Creek, Indiana, and Elmer L. of this review. Two daughters,-Mary Rosa and Sarah Ellen are deceased. Alonzo and Z. M. are twins, and are both large men, weigh- ing two hundred and forty pounds cach.
Dr. Apple was given good educational advantages, attending the pub- lic schools of Paoli and graduating from the high school of that place in due season, after which he attended the State Normal at Paoli. Follow- ing that he entered the teaching profession and taught school for four years. The work was not suited to him, however, and he felt that he would accomplish more in the medical profession, to which he had ever felt a strong inclination, and in 1895 the young man began the study of medicine in the Hospital College of Medicine at Lonisville, Kentucky. In 1898 he was graduated from that institution, receiving his degree of M. D. after which the ambitious and studious young doctor took a post graduate course in the Chicago Clinical School, completing his work there in 1902. Immediately thereafter Dr. Apple began the active prae- tiee of his profession, loeating in Golden Gate, where he has ever found ample seope for the exercise of his talent and ability, and he has been
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sneeessful in the highest sense of the word. Dr. Apple eonfines his min- istrations to a territory eovering about six square miles, and is one of the" busiest men in the profession to be found in Wayne county.
Dr. Apple is a member of the Wayne county, Illinois State and American Medical Associations. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen and the Or- der of Ben Hur. He is a Methodist in his religious belief, and is an ad- herent to Democratie principles in a politieal way.
In 1900 Dr. Apple was united in marriage with Miss Mamie Hadley, of Wayne county, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hadley. They have one ehild,-Carmen Irene, born in July, 1905.
FRANK COLES, SR., a retired farmer of Albion, is one of the more prominent and influential men of his community and of Edwards county. Since giving up his agricultural operations he has devoted some of his attention to real estate matters, and has acquired a considerable property of a valuable nature in and about Albion, as well as holding an interest in a traet of Mexico land, of more than two thousand aeres. He has been connected with the Albion Journal for several years and is president of the Journal Publishing Company. On the whole, his interests are varied and of a large and expansive nature, so that he is one of the busiest men in Albion. An admirable citizen, possessing all the requisite qualities to fit him for that part, he is regarded as one of the valuable and substantial men of his community, and his best efforts may always be depended up- on in any matters portending to increase or enhance the publie welfare.
A native of Edwards county, Mr. Coles was born on a farm near Grayville on February 3, 1845. He is a son of William H. Coles and Rachael (Garrison) Coles. The father was born in Liverpool, England, in 1799, and emigrated to America in 1818, and was a member of the first eolony to settle near Grayville. There he passed his life as a farmer, living quietly on his farm near Grayville until the time of his death, which event occurred in 1852. He was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Standustreet) Coles of Liverpool, England, the parents of both of whom were merchants and property holders in Liverpool. The Coles heirs claim title to three important business blocks in that eity. Rachael Garrison, the wife of William Coles, was born in the year 1806, in South Carolina and came to White county, Illinois, in 1809, with her parents. Her father, James Garrison, was one of the pioneers of Illinois and here Mrs. Coles spent the remainder of her life. She lived to be ninety-four years old, dying in 1899, and could well remember when this part of the state was a wilderness and inhabited by Indians and wild beasts. Mr. and Mrs. Coles reared nine children of the ten born to them and of that number four are vet living: William S., a resident of White county; Joseph G., on a farm near Grayville; Frank and Mrs. Mary J. Seott. Those deceased are James F., Henry S., Albert G., Ann and John W.
The son, Frank, attended the distriet schools and worked on his father's farm, and between the ages of twenty-three and twenty-seven he employed his winters by teaching in the country sehools. When he was twenty-seven years old he settled down to farm life in earnest and tilled his farm of 160 aeres with all energy and persistence until 1883, when he removed to Albion. He still owns a fine farm of 240 acres of river bot- tom land, a particularly fertile and valnable tract, and he has a small farm of twelve aeres near to the city. He recently disposed of a farm of sixty-four aeres. Farm lands have been particularly attraetive to him and he has earried on a steady trade in that line for years, buying and selling and gradually adding to his private holdings when he found something unusually attractive to him. He owns a fine orchard ten miles
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south of Houston, Texas, which he visits every winter. IIe also holds a considerable quantity of residence and business property in Albion.
From 1885 to 1902 Mr. Coles was engaged in the furniture business in Albion, in company with N. E. Smith; he still retains a half interest in the business block in which the store is located. Ilis realty business, together with the interest he has in the Albion Journal and in the pub- lishing business of which he is president, gives him ample duties to oe- eupy all his time, and despite his advaneing years, he is one of the most active men in his community. Mr. Coles is a Republican in his political views, and has ever been prominent and active in politics in his county and in Southern Illinois. He is regarded in his seetion of the state as the "Old Wheelhorse" of the party, and has for years been chairman of the Republican County Committee. He has done his share in the service of his county, and was in the office of assessor for four years, from 1890 to 1894. He was appointed public administrator by Governor Dineen in 1911. Mr. Coles is a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Coles has been twice married. In 1871 he married Sarah E. Em- erson, daughter of Sanford Emerson. She died in 1897, leaving four children. Eva, the eldest, is married to George W. Smith of Virginia, Illinois, and has three children : Venita, Marlin and Elston: Frederick is now deceased ; Mrs. Kate Sax lives in Arkansas, and the fourth born is Constance Quindry. In 1899 Mr. Coles married Sarah M. Ilodgson, daughter of John Hodgson of Albion.
EDWARD A. SCHROEDER. It is a faet patent to all that the United States ean boast of no better or more law-abiding elass of citizens than the great number of Germans who have found homes within her borders, and the immediate descendants of these staunch, liberty-loving citizens. Of the latter designation is that excellent young citizen, Edward A. Sehroeder, attorney-at-law. He has entered upon a career as a legist which bids fair to be successful and it is his aim carefully and consist- ently to observe and enforee its ethics and best traditions. Mr. Schroe- der is one of Edwards county's native sons, his birth having occurred on a farm in French Creek precinet on January 27, 1883, he being a son of Frederick A. Schroeder. The father was a native of Germany and emi- grated from that country in boyhood with his parents, John G. Sehroeder and his wife. Frederick A. Schroeder was for many years a useful and public spirited citizen of this seetion. His birth occurred November 13, 1835, in the Fatherland, and his death in this locality on December 4, 1910, but his memory as one who was aligned with all good causes and held the publie welfare above personal interest, will long remain green. He was one of the most snecessful farmers of the county and at his demise owned some four hundred acres of valuable land. His wife, previous to her marriage, Louisa Negley, was likewise of German parentage and their union was blessed by the birth of the following ten children : Mary R .; J. George, residing in Wabash county; Frank W.,; David F., deceased ; Frederick A .: Charles G .; one who died in infancy ; Edward A .; Laura F .; and Alma L.
Young Edward received his early educational discipline in the public schools and desiring to obtain a more thorough academie training he he- came a student in the Southern Collegiate Institute, from which he was graduated in JJune, 1907. He then matriculated in the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington where he took a course preparatory to law and received a well earned degree in June, 1910, being admitted to the bar in that same month. Thus thoroughly reinforced in a theoretical way, he proceeded to Albion, where he proudly displayed his professional shingle and entered upon an active practice of the law. In politics he is Vol. 2-32
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a staneh Republican and is one of the most prominent of the younger men in political affairs. In evidence of his prominence in the community is the fact that he was a candidate for states attorney of Edwards county in the spring of 1912, and in many ways he has gained the confidenee of the people. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Phi Alpha Delta, a law fraternity. One item in an interesting an- eestral history is the fact that his grandfather was a soldier in the Prussian army in the wars against Napoleon and participated in many notable engagements. Mr. Schroeder has not yet joined the ranks of the Benediets.
PETER C. WALTERS. A young lawyer who is making his mark in this section of the state is Peter C. Walters, county judge and one of the standard-bearers of the Republican party. He was formerly engaged in educational work and ean look baek over a number of years in that field. Sinee his admission to the bar in 1908, he has given ample proof of the fact that he possesses all the requisite qualities of the able lawyer, among these a careful preparation, a thorough appreciation of the absolute ethies of life and of the underlying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges.
Judge Walters is one of the good citizens the Hoosier state has given to Southern Illinois, his birth having occurred in Dearborn county, In- diana, January 29, 1881. His young eyes first opened to the rural sur- roundings of his father's farm, and the biographer is sometimes tempted to believe that the most powerful "Open Sesame" to success is to be born a farmer's son. At any rate, Judge Walters is on the safe side in the matter. His father, John Walters, born in 1842, is now residing in Pos- eyville, Indiana. He is a native of Germany, having at the age of nine years severed old associations in the Fatherland to eross the ocean with his father, Andrew Walters. They located first at Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, where they became familiar with the English language and American ways and subsequently emigrated to the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, later going on to Harrison, Indiana. The grandfather died at San Antonio, Texas, in 1896, having made his home at that point during his later years. The father, a farmer by occupation, resided in Dearborn eounty until 1882, when his son was about a year old and then removed to a farm west of Grayville where he remained until March, 1909. He then sold his fine farm and settled in Poseyville, Indiana. He took as his wife Catherine Altherr, a native of Ohio, and of German-American par- entage, but the good wife and mother died when her son Peter C. was a lad eight years of age. This union was blessed with ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The ones living to maturity are as follows : John T., of Ferguson, Missouri ; George W., of Chicago; A. H., of Posey- ville, Indiana ; Franeis J., of Hamilton, Ohio; Mary E .; Rose ( Weath- erly ) of Poseyville, Indiana; and Peter C.
Judge Walters received his preliminary education in the common schools and in 1897 was graduated from the Grayville high school. He then took a year's course in the Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbondale, attending four terms and after a period of years as an educator he entered the law department of the University of Illinois and received his degree in 1908. In 1899, at the age of eighteen years, he be- gan teaching school and taught at first for four terms in the country schools. Following that he taught one year in the grammar department of the Grayville schools and then was for four years principal of the Browns schools. From 1906 to 1907 he was principal of the Carmi High school and in every community he was known as an able and enlightened edueator. However, he was ambitious to become identified with the legal
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fraternity and during the later part of his pedagogical work, he devoted all his spare time to the study of law, thus forming a substantial prepa- ration for his collegiate work. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1908, and success has attended him from the first. It was in Gray township that he held his first political office, being twice elected town elerk of that township on the Republican ticket, the first time in 1907 and again 1908 and by his faithfulness and efficiency laying the foundation for future political preferment. In 1909 he removed to Edwards county and in that same year was first appointed and then elected justice of the peace of French Creek precinet and in 1910 was nominated without opposition to the office of county judge. In November of that year he was elected for a term of four years. Ile has proved the man for the place, meeting grave questions with valor and ability and he is known to be devoted to the principles of his party and ready to do all in his power to proclaim its ideas and support its candidates. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Judge Walters was married April 8, 1909, Ethel Farnsworth, of Mt. Carmel, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Farnsworth, becoming his wife. A son, Richard Farnsworth, died sixteen days after birth. Judge Wal- ters and his wife are popular and estimable young people and hold an assured place in the hearts of the people of Edwards county.
WALTER S. ROTHROCK. It is safe to say that no citizen is better known in Edwards county than Walter S. Rothrock, who is serving as sheriff of this county. He is one of the good citizens of Edwards county who have paid it the highest compliment within their power by electing to remain permanently within its borders and is now efficiently serving its interests in one of the most important publie capacities. He has proved an able man in the office and is as popular with the law-abiding as he is feared by those whose business takes them out of the straight and narrow path. He answers to a dual calling, being also collector.
Mr. Rothrock was born in West Salem, Edwards county, the date of his nativity being October 22, 1861. He is a son of Samuel A. Rothrock, who located in Edwards county in 1840, being brought here as a small lad, his birth having occurred in Winston, North Carolina, in 1834. His father, Joel Rothrock, located on a farm near West Salem. In this county the father of Walter S. Rothrock passed the remainder of his life and followed the trade of a blacksmith until 1876, from that time in the livery and hotel business until his death in June. 1909. Hle was a good eitizen and a veteran of the Civil war, having for about ten months of the great conflict between the states served as a sergeant of Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Regiment. Previous to en. listing he was enrolling and drafting officer. He married Margaret Wal- ser, a native of North Carolina who came to Edwards county in 1834 with her parents when she was only three years of age. She died in Edwards county in 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Rothrock were born seven sons and daughters, four of whom are living at the present time. They are as follows: Walter S., of this review; Addio M. Steele, of Chicago; Ilarry Joel, of West Salem ; and Maurice B., of Springfield, Ilinois.
Walter S. Rothrock was edneated in the West Salem schools and after bidding adieu to his desk in the village school room he entered his father's blacksmith shop and under the tutelage of that gentleman gained a thorough training in his trade. However, he did not make it his own trade, and in 1882 he embarked in the hotel and livery business in West Salem and was thus engaged until the fall of 1910. the date of his election. His hostelry was ever popular and well-managed and the memory of Mr. Rothrock in the role of "mine host" is a pleasant one,
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for he possesses not only business ability, but a desire to give the guest beneath his roof the best of accommodation. In 1910, as mentioned, he was elected to the offices of sheriff and collector and in these capacities has served well the interests of his constituents, to his own credit and the honor and profit of the people. He previously served as constable of West Salem. Ilis election lost him as a citizen of West Salem, for it was necessary for him to remove to Albion. He is a tried and true Republi- can and his loyalty to what its admirers term "the Grand Old Party" has never been found wanting. Sheriff Rothrock is a popular lodge man, holding membership in the ancient and august Masonic order, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Rothrock was married October 14, 1894, Miss Julia Clodfelder, of West Salem, daughter of B. F. Clodfelder, a well-known citizen of that place, becoming his wife. They have a trio of children, as follows : Margaret Elizabeth, Lucille, and Walter S., Jr. All are held in confi- dence and high regard and are among the popular and helpful members of the community.
DR. WALTER A. WHEELER. No science presents a wider field for never-ceasing study, marvelous skill and delicate artistry than that of dentistry and Dr. Walter A. Wheeler is one who fulfills not only its re- quirements, but its splendid possibilities successfully. Born and reared here, his loyalty is of particularly high order and he has achieved the highest success of good citizenship, possessing the spirit of civic altruism and the keen recognition of individual obligation to the public weal. Dr. Wheeler was born in the vicinity of Albion, August 10, 1872, the son of John Wheeler, who was born in 1830 and passed away in 1875. He was a native of Wabash county and of English descent, his father having been born in the Mother Country. Dr. Wheeler's father was reared amid the rural surroundings of his father's homestead farm and was a wheel- wright by trade. IIe took as his wife Isabella Schofield, who is living at the age of seventy-seven years and who is likewise of English parentage. This admirable lady makes her home with Dr. Wheeler, who is the youngest of a family of four children. Carrie resides at Chicago ; Samuel is a citizen of Mt. Carmel ; and Alfred is located at Trinidad, Colorado.
Dr. Wheeler was educated in the common schools and subsequently entered the Southern Collegiate Institute, at that time known as the Al- bion Normal University. In the meantime he determined upon his ca- reer and began his preparation for dentistry in the Indiana Dental Uni- versity from which he received his degree in 1903, standing at the head of a class of over sixty members. In Albion he hung up his professional shingle and in the ensuing years has built up a lucrative and constantly growing practice.
On June 16, 1910, Dr. Wheeler entered the ranks of the Benedicts, the young woman to become his wife and the mistress of his household being Sarah E. Hodgson, daughter of Charles Hodgson, who was en- gaged in the milling business in this place up to the time of his death, which occurred on March 30, 1912. Their union has been blessed by the birth of a son, Julian Carl. Both Dr. and Mrs. Wheeler are aligned with the best interests of Albion and popular members of society. They are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the doctor is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of Albion.
The doctor's honored father, the late John Wheeler, was a veteran of the Civil war, his enlistment taking place in April, 1861, when onr gallant ship of state was first threatened with destruction on the rugged rocks of disunion. He was a member of Company B, of the Sixty-third Illinois Infantry and he served until the last of the conflict, being mus-
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tered out at Washington after the Grand Review in June, 1865. He was in many battles, marched with Sherman to the sea and participated in the Atlanta campaign.
ALLEN E. WALKER, Albion and Edwards county possess no more popular young citizen than Allen E. Walker, circuit clerk and recorder. By profession an educator, he has a record in that field which greatly commends him and his services in a publie capacity have redounded to his own credit and to the honor and profit of the people. He is one of the leading Republicans of this part of the state and his support of the men and measures put forth by the Grand Old Party is regarded as a val- uable asset. Mr. Walker is interested in the success of good government and is an exponent of the progressive spirit and strong initiative ability which have caused Albion to forge so rapidly forward of late. He is native to this county, his eyes having first opened to the light of day on a farm in the southern part, on December 15, 1881. His father, Thomas J. Walker, was born in England in 1836 and came to America with his father, also named Thomas Walker, in 1841. Both the father and the grandfather of Allen E. Walker were farmers. Thomas J. Walker served almost throughout the entire course of the great conflict between the states, enlisting in Company B, of the Eighteenth Illinois Regiment on May 28, 1861, and being discharged February 28, 1864. He held the rank of ser- geant and participated in a number of the most important battles, among them Shiloh. Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Brit- tain's Lane. He married Elizabeth Kendall, like himself a native of England, her birth having occurred aeross the sea in 1843. She was brought to America when a child by her parents. Allen E. Walker is one of seven children born to these estimable citizens, as follows: Wil- liam, an agriculturist ; Edward, engaged in agriculture in the vicinity of Browns; Mary (Speneer) residing on a farm near Grayville; George, whose homestead farm is situated not far from Albion; Fred, in busi- ness at Grayville: Clyde, located at Whittier, California ; and Allen E.
Mr. Walker gained his first draughts at the fountain of knowledge in the public schools of Edwards county and desiring to obtain a higher education, matriculated in the Southern Collegiate Institute, and followed his studies there with a course in the Normal College at Charleston. Meantime he devoted vacation time to farming and is very familiar with the many secrets of seed-time and harvest. In 1903 he began teaching. being employed as instructor in the common sehools for some two years, and following that with two years as instructor in the grammar depart- ment of the Grayville school. He was then elected principal of the public schools of Browns. In the summer of 1908 he became a candidate for circuit elerk on the Republican ticket and was elected in the fall of that year for a term of four years and has given a favorable "taste of his quality." As mentioned, he is a leader in Republican party counsels and for the past two and one-half years has been chairman of the Republican county committee.
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