USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 91
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James Monroe Bean, more familiarly known as Monroe, was born August 14, 1855, in Gallatin county, Illinois, and there was educated in the public schools. Until the removal to Johnson county in 1907, he and his brother Jerome F. were engaged in conducting their father's property, Monroe having charge of 300 acres located in the "bottoms." On October 14, 1906, Monroe Bean purchased eighty acres in Grants- burg township, where he has sinee been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and he now has two head of cattle, five horses and eighty Poland China hogs. He has been very successful in his operations, and is looked upon as one of his community's substantial men.
On November 4, 1878, Mr. Bean was married to Mrs. Leah Amanda (Nelson) Siddels, daughter of Elijah and Elsie Nelson, and they have had a family of eight children, namely: James Franklin, Jerome
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Marshall, Minnie Belle, James Monroe, Jr., Ridgeway. Logan, Byron Nelson and Clyde Lester. The family is connected with the Methodist church and is well and favorably known in Grantsburg township.
Jerome Foster Bean was born on the old homestead farm in Galla- tin county, April 10, 1860. He received a common-school education in the schools located near the home place, which was situated about four- teen miles from old Shawneetown, and as a youth was reared to agri- cultural pursuits. On attaining manhood, Mr. Bean was given charge of 300 aeres of his father's land, known as the "ridge" farm, and this he operated until his father sold out and came to JJohnson county. Since coming to Grantsburg Mr. Bean has accumulated 2440 acres of excellent highly productive land, and here he has carried on farming and stock- raising. He is the owner of eight horses, two jacks and one jennet. five head of cattle and ninety hogs. In the latter he specializes in the Jersey-Duroe breed, and in November, 1911, had the finest bunch of the season in Johnson county, his shipment bringing $560. Like his brother, he has been successful in his chosen vocation, and he has always been in favor of using progressive and up-to-date methods in his work.
In 1889 Mr. Bean was married to Miss Ethel Yost, of Gallatin county, Illinois, daughter of Fletcher Yost, and she died in 1903, having been the mother of seven children ; Mary Jewell, Susan Catherine, Ruth Yost, James Lewis, Jerome David, and two who died in infancy. In 1905, Mr. Bean was married to Mrs. Luella (Nash) Strode, a widow, of St. Louis, Missouri, and daughter of Samuel Nash, and two children have been born to this union, Samuel Burdette and one who died in infancy. Mr. Bean is a member of Cumberland Presbyterian church, and his fraternal connection is with the Masonie Lodge of Ridgeway.
WILLIAM WISEHART. The farmer, after years of strenuous en- deavor, during which he rises early and toils through the long days until after sunset, thoroughly earns the years of rest he takes when he feels that he has accomplished enough to entitle him to such relaxation, and some of the most representative men of Gallatin county belong to the retired class. Ilaving plenty of time on their hands, they are able to probe deeply into eivie matters and look into affairs generally, so that during these years of seeming inactivity they are really most useful, for they are rendering their community a service that cannot be overesti- mated. One of the men whose agricultural operations once assumed proportions of considerable acreage is William Wischart. a retired citizen of Shawneetown, who is widely known and universally respected. Mr. Wischart was born three miles north of Shawneetown. Gallatin county. Illinois, Jannary 7, 1832, and is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Miller) Wisehart, natives of Pennsylvania, and grandson of Michael Wisehart. who came from Germany.
John Wisehart spent his youth in his native state, and then went to Lexington, Kentucky, but after spending two years there came to linois in 1828, crossing the Ohio river at Shawneetown. He took up land three miles from that village, and there died in 1836, when but forty-four years of age, leaving his widow with seven children, of whom Wilham is the only survivor. Mrs. Wischart died on the old farm when eighty-two years of age. The children were: Richmond, who was engaged in farm ing, began to preach at an early day as a minister of the Christian church, and for fifty years was well known in this connection all over Southern Illinois, his death occurring when seventy nine years of age ; Mary, who married James Rice, passed away in Gallatin when forty two years of age. he also being deceased : John, a farmer of Gallatin county. died when sixty-five years of age: Samuel, a farmer and stockman of
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this section, died when fifty years of age; William; Ellen, who married William Byrd, died when fifty years of age; and Hannah, who married Albert De Witt, died at the age of thirty-five years.
William Wisehart grew up on the old homestead farm and was reared to agricultural pursuits, having charge of the family traet until he was twenty-five years of age, at which time he went to live on a traet of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the original purchase. He eon- tinued to cultivate this land until his retirement in 1905, at which time he had aceumulated 800 acres, in addition to the home place, his total holdings being 960 aeres in six farms, most of which land he rented. For a number of years he was extensively engaged in stoek feeding and raising, having eattle, hogs, sheep, jaeks and horses. A Demoerat in polities, his public life was confined to holding publie school offiees, but he has always taken an interest in anything that pertained to the welfare of his eounty, and was ready at all times to give his influence or finan- eial aid to movements of a progressive or beneficial nature. Although not a member of any special denomination, Mr. Wisehart is a believer in Christianity and supports the ehurehes of all ereeds.
At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Wisehart was married to Miss Sarah Gill, who was also born in the vieinity of Shawneetown, daughter of Henry and Caroline (Thomasson) Gill, who came to Illinois about 1830. Mrs. Wisehart is the only survivor of three children, and she and Mr. Wisehart have had the following children: Laura, the widow of William Mattingly ; Albert, a stockman and farmer near the old home; Anna, who married James Pursey, a well-known miller at Equality ; Marshall, formerly a teacher and attorney and for two years eashier of the City National Bank at Shawneetown ; and Lucy, who married Wil- liam Powell, of MeLeansboro, Illinois. Mrs. William Mattingly, together with her daughter, Carrie Elizabeth (Mattingly ) Woods, and grandson. William Lawrence Woods, live with Mr. and Mrs. Wisehart, and one of the valued possessions of the family is a photograph in which are shown the four generations of the family. During his long and active earcer Mr. Wisehart has seen many changes take place in this part of the state, and he has done his full share in bringing these changes about and in developing his seetion of the county. He can now look back over his active years with a sense of duty well done, and may justly feel that what suecess has come to him is well merited as the results of his own industry and hard labor.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MILLING & ELEVATOR COMPANY. One of the many thriving coneerns in the milling and elevator business of Illinois is the Southern Illinois Milling & Elevator Company. The firm was incorpor- ated under the laws of the state on July 29, 1891, with a capital stoek of $50,000. Its president is Philip H. Eisenmayer, and Willard Wall is its seeretary and treasurer.
They have two elevators, ereeted at a cost of $125,000, one of which has a capacity of 25,000 bushels and the other a capacity of 100,000 bushels. Their milling eapacity is six hundred barrels per day, and their produet finds a ready market in the home and adjacent territories. About twenty-five men are employed in the operations of the mill and eleva- tors, in addition to a foree of from six to eight men regularly employed in the cooperage department.
Sinee its organization, the firm has flourished steadily, and the South- ern Illinois Milling & Elevator Company is recognized today as one of the substantial industries of Murphysboro.
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JOHN HARRIS BARTON. If it be true that death loves a shining mark, the invincible archer found the target he delights in when, on March 15, 1911, his inevitable shaft pierced the armor of the late JJohn Harris Barton, long widely and favorably known as one of the most capable, versatile, independent and resourceful newspaper men in Southern Illi- nois. Ilis life was an open book to the people of Carbondale, among whom he lived and labored so long, and it may seem to some of them an unnecessary task to chronicle it briefly here. But a work of the char- acter of this, which is designed as a perpetual record of what the builders and makers of the city and county have attempted and what they have achieved, would be incomplete without some account of his contributions to the efforts made and the results accomplished.
John H. Barton was born in West Carlisle, Coshocton county, Ohio, on January 2, 1837, and began his education in the distriet schools. Their course of training and instruction was supplemented in his ease by ar. attendance of three years at an excellent academy in West Bedford in his native state. At the age of fifteen years he began to learn the print- ing trade under Joseph Medill, late of the Chicago Tribune, who was at that time editor and publisher of the Democratic-Whig of Coshocton, Ohio. Afterward he passed two years in printing offices in Zanesville, where he acquired a thorough mastery of the trade. During 1558, 1859 and 1860, like many other men of his craft. he wandered from place to place, and worked in many of the large printing offices of the west and south, in some of which he served as superintendent or foreman. The war cloud of sectional strife was then darkening on the horizon, and in October, 1860, Mr. Barton determined to halt on the northern side of the sectional line until after the presidential election of that year.
Ile secured remunerative employment at Cairo, and a few months later went from that city to Anna, where he took employment under A. II. Marschalk in the publication of the Union Democrat. But his stay in Anna was brief. Sterner duties than any pertaining to the font and the case required his attention. The war cloud broke, and the gov- ernor of the state issued a call for volunteers to aid in preserving the completeness and integrity of the Union. Mr. Barton had considerable knowledge of military affairs, and he at once responded to the call by recruiting a company in Union and Jackson counties, which, on May I !. 1861, was mustered into the service of the United States as Company I. Eighteenth Ilinois Infantry, of which he was in partial command as first lieutenant.
On November 17, 1861, he resigned this position to accept on the fol- lowing day a lieutenancy in the secret service, offered him by General Grant on the recommendation of General JJohn A. Met'lernand. He wns assigned to duty in Cairo, and there he remained until July 1. 1-65. when he was mustered out of the army. His ruling passion for jour. nalism was strong with him, however, even during his military hife While living in Cairo he was associated for a time with M B Harrell on the Cairo Gazelle, and afterward founded the Cairo Party Vous, which he eventually sold to a stock company.
Mr. Barton was accustomed to date the beginning of his real news. paper life with the day when he and his brother, David L. Barton, por chased the New Era and removed to Carbondale This was on September 12. 1866, and inside of one year the paper had secured a wide direnle tion and risen to great influence in the political affairs of the county Gien. eral John A. Logan was its friend. and his friendship was a great bul wark of strength and of pronounced advantage in many ways Through him Mr. Barton came into acquaintance and close touch with all the leading Republicans of Illinois of that period
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In 1872 the position of postmaster of Carbondale was offered to him. and when he decided to accept it he sold the New Era to Rev. Andrew Luce, who rebaptized it as the Carbondale Observer, and conducted it to its ruin, running it hard up on the shoals of bankruptcy in less than two years. The discredited sheet was then passed from hand to hand until 1883, when it again became the property of the man who had made it strong and influential, and he once more breathed into it the breath of vigorous and productive life.
Mr. Barton's term as postmaster expired in 1876, and as he had not found the duties of the position congenial, he did not apply for re-ap- pointment. On his recommendation Captain Simeon Walker became his successor, and he experienced great relief in freedom from the cares and responsibilities of official life. For two years thereafter he worked as a journeyman printer in Sedalia, Missouri, and Indianapolis, Indiana. while waiting for another newspaper opening in Carbondale. This came on January 1, 1878, when the Carbondale Free Press was established. With his strong hand on the hehn and his clear head directing the course of its problematieal voyage on the uncertain sea of journalism the paper very soon regained the patronage and power that had been transferred to Mr. Luce five years before and frittered away and lost by that gen- tleman.
In April, 1892, Mr. Barton's health broke down, and he sold the business of the Free Press to W. II. Hubbard, who had entered the journalistie field a few months previous. Then, on January 1, 1893, the Southern Illinois Herald, which had been living a precarious life for six months, was purchased by new owners, and by them Mr. Barton was em- ployed as editor and business manager. In November, 1894, he became its editor and proprietor, and he remained in charge of it, wrote its editorials and directed its policy until August, 1910, when he sold the plant and retired altogether from the domain of journalism. In the meantime, from 1896 to 1900, he was state expert printer, but during this period continued to edit and publish his paper.
As an editor and writer Mr. Barton was forceful, plain and some- times even blunt. But he was never evasive or equivocal, nor did he ever try to hide or soften the truth with the flowers of rhetoric. He was a man of strong convietions and outspoken in the expression of them- trenchant to the utmost keenness when occasion required it, but over- flowing with genuine human kindness at all other times. While a Re- publican in political faith, he was not always in full accord with his party, and he always fought corruption in high places fearlessly and unmereifully, no matter what party was guilty of it, or who was its beneficiary.
As a citizen he was progressive, and at all times an earnest and aetive supporter of everything that would contribute to the welfare and pros- perity of Carbondale and Jackson county. Not only did he nse his in- fluence as an editor and the power of his paper on the side of all worthy projects for the improvement of this locality, but he contributed liberally of his means to help them along. The fraternal life of the community appealed strongly to him as replete with benefits in many ways, and he gave it attention and service as a member of Shekinah Lodge, No. 241, Carbondale, from October 11, 1866, when he was raised to the degree of Master Mason before its altar, until his death, serving it as worshipful master two terms. He also belonged to Reynolds Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and to John T. Lawrence Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in Carbondale.
In 1863 Mr. Barton was united in marriage with Miss Joanna Meagher. They became the parents of six children, David, John Logan, Flora,
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Eugene, Josie and Richard. David lives in Washington, D. C. John Logan is a resident of Winona, Mississippi. Flora died about eighteen years ago, in 1893. Josie, the wife of F. C. Goodnow, has her home at Salem, Illinois, and Eugene and Richard are in the Philippines. The father died, as has been stated, on March 15, 1911, after an acute illness of only three days, although he had long been in failing health. His remains were laid to rest in Oakland cemetery with every testimonial of esteem the community could bestow upon him, and amid manifesta- tions of universal grief.
WILLIAM N. ATHERTON is a representative of one of the pioncer fam- ilies of Pulaski county, Illinois, which was first established in Illinois about 1814, or nearly a century ago. He is the son of Charles M. Ath- erton and the grandson of Samuel N. Atherton, the former of whom is said to have been the first white child born in Southern Illinois, and the latter of whom was the founder of the family in this state.
Samuel N. Atherton, who came of Vermont stock, migrated to Illinois from Muhlenbergh county, Kentucky, and first located at America. but made his first permanent settlement at JJonesboro, I'nion county. There he took up land and engaged in farming, which was his life pur- suit, but he subsequently removed to the locality three miles east of Vil- laridge. Pulaski county, and died there about 1839. Ile was buried at the old Shiloh church, while the remains of his wife, who was Mary Big- gerstaff, repose in the Redden cemetery east of Villaridge. Their chil- dren were : Rhoda, who married William Lanham and died at Centralia, Illinois; Ennice, who became the wife of John Lanham and died near Pulaski: William H., who was a farmer and was treasurer of Pulaski county at the time of his death : Charles M., the father of our subject : Rice O., who was a farmer and died east of Villaridge: Elizabeth, who married Elijah Shepherd and passed away at Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Samuel M., who died near the old Villaridge community ; and Merady T., the most of whose life was passed in Pulaski county but who died at Vienna.
Charles M. Atherton, the father of our subject. received a very limited education and lived a private life. He was married in the Villaridge community to Eliza JJ. Rolen, an orphan girl whose father was James Rolen. a Virginian. She had a half-brother. Thomas Rolen, and a half- sister, Malinda Rolen. Charles M. and Eliza .I. (Rolen) Atherton be- came the parents of seven children, namely : William N. : Sarah Ellen. who died young; Martha J., who married John F. Snell and died near Pulaski, Illinois; John H., a life-long resident of Pulaski county ; Em- marilla, who married JJ. Frank Parker and resides near Villaridge; Jas- per E., who died in Sewanee, Oklahoma ; and Elizabeth, now Mrs JJohn Hurst. of Jacksonville, Ilinois. The mother died in Isss and the father's demise occurred July 21. 1910.
William N. Atherton secured such educational advantages as were offered in the public schools of his locality, and by personal experience is familiar with the old order of school facilities such as the log house, the slab benches and the glazed windows, yet many happy recollections eenter around those old associations and in a measure compensate for what was missed in the way of education. He took up the favorite por- suit of his forebears, that of farming, and has devoted his whole life to it in a modest way.
He was married at Villaridge on August 7. Istil to Sarah A Stranger. & daughter of William Stringer, who came to Ilinois from Kentu ky and whose wife was Mary A. Elmore, of Mabama Mr and Mrs Ather ton began their wedded life near Villaridge, where they resided until
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their removal, in 1898, to their present farm adjoining the townsite of Pulaski. Their eldest child to grow to maturity was William Webster Atherton, who died in 1905, leaving a wife and child. They have one daughter, Sarah Ellen, who is now Mrs. O. O. Lewis and resides at Pulaski, Illinois.
Mr. Atherton comes from a family of Whigs and his father and his descendants all became Republicans. Our subject cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president and for Richard Yates as governor of Illinois, and has voted for every Republican candidate for president since that time. His father cast his first vote for William Henry Harri- son for president. Mr. Atherton was elected mayor of Pulaski in 1906, but served a part of the term only, when he resigned. He was a stanch Union man during the Civil war and had decided to enlist in the Eighty- first Illinois Infantry, but an attack of measles prevented his doing so. The church affiliations of Mr. Atherton are with the Baptist denom- ination.
GEORGE W. YOUNG. It is always most gratifying to the biographer and student of human nature to come in close touch with the history of a man who, in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties, has plodded persistently on and eventually, through his determination and energy, made of success not an accident but a logical result. Judge George W. Young, who maintains his home at Marion, Illinois, is strictly a self-made man and as such a perusal of his career offers both lesson and incentive. He has been eminently successful as an attorney of recognized ability, has held a multitude of important publie positions, and has ever mani- fested a deep and sincere interest in the good of the Republican party, of whose principles he has long been a zealous and aetive exponent.
Judge George W. Young was born in Williamson county, Illinois, December 1, 1844, and both of his parents died when he was a mere in- fant. After his parents' demise the subject of this review became a member of the family of George W. Binkley, who was engaged in farm- ing on an estate four miles north of Marion. Mr. Binkley died when the Judge was fourteen years of age and he was then bound by indenture to the widow, Mrs. Maria Binkley. When fifteen years of age Judge Young left his home and went sonth, stopping for a time at Cairo, Illi- nois, where he enlisted as deck sweeper on a steamboat plying between St. Louis and New Orleans. Subsequently he became a cabin boy and Texas tender, occupying the latter positions until the winter of 1861, when he went ashore at Columbus, Kentucky, there hiring out to work on a farm at five dollars a month.
Prior to the death of Mr. Binkley, the young George had learned to read and write by attending the neighboring subscription schools. IIe was a resident of Kentucky at the time of the inception of the Civil war, and as the storm of secession and disunion swept over that state it be- came necessary for everyone to take sides. Judge Young cast his lot with the cause of the Union and was mustered into serviee in July, 1862, as a private in Company L, Eighth Kentucky Cavalry. under the com. mand of Colonel James M. Shackleford. Judge Young served in the above regiment until September, 1863, when he was sent to western Ken- tucky, where he recruited a company of men in Graves, Ballard and Car- lisle counties, himself becoming lieutenant of Company E, Thirtieth Kentucky Cavalry, Colonel F. N. Alexander commanding. At the battle of Saltville, Virginia, October 6, 1864, the eaptain of Company E was severely wounded and rendered unable for duty. This placed Lieuten- ant Young in command of the company and, the second lieutenant being absent on detached serviee, the Judge was the only commissioned officer
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with the company, which he continued to command until the close of the war, in June, 1865. Judge Young was mustered out of service as captain of his company.
Judge Young returned to Williamson county, Illinois, in July, 1565, and immediately turned his attention to procuring a higher education. For eight months he was a pupil in the district school at Spillerton. kept by Matthew I. Wroton, and in 1866-7 he attended the City I'niversity at St. Louis, Missouri. In the winter of 1868-9 he attended the law de- partment of the University of Chicago, and subsequently he was a student in the Benton Law Institute, conducted by the late JJudge Andrew D. Duff. Ile received his license to practice law in Illinois March 3. 1569. but at that time was too poor to open a law office. He was deputy asses- sor of the county in 1869, taught school during the winter of 1-69-70. and eventually opened a law office for general practice in the city of Marion, in July, 1870; his law partner at that time was Judge L. D. Ilartwell.
Soon after the close of the Civil war Judge Young became interested in polities. Under the system of voting prior to 1865 it had been cus- tomary to place the names of all the candidates for office on one ballot and the voter was supposed to serateh off the names of the men he did not wish to vote for. The returned Union soldiers, under the direction of the late Jesse Bishop, stimulated by the influence of the late General Jolın A. Logan, determined to put before the people a straight Repub- lican tieket. Accordingly, on the 30th of September, 1865, a eauens of Republicans was called by Jesse Bishop to meet in the back room of the drug store of Isaac M. Lewis, the purpose being to nominate candidates for the various county offices, the same to be voted for at the coming November election. There were thirteen Republicans present at that caneus. Judge Young, although not twenty-one years old, was invited to attend and he acted as secretary. The caucus nominated a full county ticket and this was the first straight Republican ticket ever put before the people of Williamson county ; at the November election every candi- date was elected.
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