USA > Illinois > Atlas of the State of Illinois, to which are added various general maps, history, statistics and illustrations > Part 50
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In the incipient stages of the Rebellion, Mr. Park took his stand for the Union. He was much harassed by " guerrillas," often lying out in the woods for months together. After the close of the war, he was elected, in an exciting contest, to tbe Senate of Missouri, and was instrumental in securing a rail- road to Parkville. Ho organized and was first l'resident of the Missouri Valley Horticultural Society, and gained the first prize at the Kansas City Exposition for the largest and best collection of fruits, and Wrote several essays on the horticul- ture and meteorology of the Missouri Valley for the State Society. He collected more than 200 new varieties of apples from the South and West, and introduced three valuable long-
kecpors, viz. : The Lawver, Ella Park and Gen. Lyon. He has given liberally to erect and sustain churches, and has re- eently donated one hundred aeres of land and a very large stone building to establish a "College of Christian Workers" at l'arkville, Missouri, to prepare youth for Bible exposition and Sunday school work in the Southwest, under the charge of Rev. J. II. MeAffee and lady. He has now retired to spend the evoning of his days at his first selected home in Illinois.
JOHN McKEE PEEPLES, Banker, Shawneetown, was horn at Shawneetown, Illinois, April 11, 1826 ; son of Robert and Elizabeth Peeples; was an orphan at twelve, without means and almost without friends. Ile was elerk at sixteen, and began business as a merchant, at Shawnectown, at the age of twenty, in partnership with O. Pool and T. S. Ridgway. Since 1864, he has been President of the First National Bank of Shawneetown. Mr. Peeples has heon connected with Chris- tiun work for more than twenty years. Ho is Superintendent of the Sabhuth school and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Shawneetown, member of the Executive Committee of the Sabbath School Association of Illinois, was President of the Association one year, and has now tbe oversight of the Fifth District of Illinois. Married August 27, 1846, to Miss Harriet Docker, and has four children living.
DANIEL PENNOYER, son of Joseph and Anna Pen- noyer, was born in the State of New York, in 1815, and came to Paris, Illinois, and engaged in the mercantile business in 1855. In early life he was drilled in hard labor and practical business babits, without much education in the school seuse of that word. He was married to Mrs. M. E. Smith, daughter of Hon. Judge Trimble, of New York. His business is that of a merchant, at Paris, Edgar County, in which he has been en- gaged for the past twenty-Que years.
THOMAS HARRISON PHILLIPS, the eightb son of John and Leannah Phillips, was born in St. Clair County, Illi- nois, November 23, 1837; married October 1, 1867, to Miss Ellen A. Iluglies. His father dying wben he was at the age oľ' ten, and leaving his mother poor, he spent his time till the age of twenty-seven in working by the month, and visiting Col- orado, Utah and California. Being without education, and having acquired $500, he determined to expend it in going to school. He spent oue year at Sliurtliff College, and then com- menced the study of law, and was admitted to the har in 1867. During the last year of the war, he was Deputy United States Provost Marshal of the Thirteenth Congressional District of Illinois, and is now practieing his profession at Anna, Union County.
MARSHALL MASON POOL, son of Orval and Made- line (Snider) Pool, Banker, Shawneetown, was boru in Shaw- neetown, Illinois, October 9, 1843. He received a common school education. From 1867 to 1871, was engaged in pack- ing pork and dealing in graiu. Wus President of the Gallatin National Bank, Shawneetown, till the bank went into voluntary liquidation in 1874, when he organized a private bauk under the name of M. M. Pool & Co. Ho has been President of the Gallatin County Agricultural Board sineo its organization, in 1872. Served one year in the Union army, and was Cap- tain and Aide-de-Camp on Gen. H. H. Wilson's staff. He has three children, the fruit of' his marriage in April, 1868, to Caroline, daughter of Judge A. M. Grant, of Mount Vernon, Illinois.
ORVAL POOL (deceased), Banker, Shawneetown, was born in Union County, Kentucky, seven miles east of Shaw- neetown, Illinois, Fobruary 17, 1809. Was the sou of John and Cecelia ( Wilson) Pool, both born near Culpepper Court House, Virginia. Mr. Pool received a good common school education, commeneed saddle and harness husiness in 1929, merchandise in 1813, went into produce business in 1850, becoming the largest dealer in pork and leaf tobaeco in Soutlı- ern Illinois. He retired from business in 1863, and in July, 1871, organized the Gallatin National Bank, of which ho was President at the time of his death, June 30, 1871. Ho was u man of strong will and untiring energy, and was successful in all his speeulations.
CAPT. MONROE JEFFERSON POTTS, of Harrisburg, Saline County, was born in White County, Illinois, March 23, 1841. He is the son of Hosea and Charlotte Potts, was raised on a farm and received a limitod education. Was married March 27, 1867, to Miss Eliza Pine, of Carbondale, Illinois, and has four children, viz. : Harry, Earl, May, Daisy. Ho has followed the avocation of druggist for several years, up to tho present time, and has an extensivo business. He entered the army as private in September, 1861, and was promoted through the varions grades to Adjutant of the regiment, and Captain in 1863, 1864 and 1865 respectively. He was a good soldier, and is an influential citizen.
TILMAN RASER, Esq., of Kinmundy, Marion County, is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Allentown in in that State on the 22d of October, 1830. He was married on the 4th of September. 1861, at Kinmundy, to Miss Marinda Edgar, and has resided there since he came to Illinois, in 1857, engaged in the practice of law. Ile is a successful attorney, and has held several offices of publio trust. Among others, he has been Judge of the County Court of Marion County.
DRAKE HARRIS RENDLEMAN, boru in Rowan County, North Carolina, December, 18, 1801, his parents being Johnson Martin Rendleman and Experience (Harris) Rendleman. In 1827, he moved to Union County, Illinois. April 23, 1829, he was married to Katharine Hunnsaker, by whom he has had Lonisa Amanda, Experience Isabel, Kath- arine Mariab, Naney Jane, Mary Ann, Drake Harris, Caroline, Moses A., Sydnah Susan, Cornelia and Martin Luther. Since his arrival in Illinois, Mr. Rendleman bas carried on tanning and farming, having established a tannery at Jonesboro. He learucd the tanner's trade before he came to Illinois.
J. H. B. RENFRO, Elizabethtown, son of D. N. aud N. H. Renfro, was born in Franklin County, Tennessee, January 2, 1842. He received a good common school education. In In 1861, he enlisted, and, at the battle of Shiloh, received a wound in the right sboulder, which disabled him. In 1864, he was thrown from a wagon, near Atlanta, Georgia, and had his right arm broken. He was discharged from the service in 1865. From 1865 to 1867, he was Treasurer and Assessor of Hardin County, and County Clerk since 1869. He was mar- ried May 15, 1871, to Miss Emeretta L. MeClellan, and has one child, Robert E. Renfro.
JOSEPH W. RENFRO, son of Henry and Mary (Gibbs) Renfro, is a native of Illinois, born February 15, 1843. He enlisted in the service in 1861, and was wounded at the battle of Fort Donelson. August 17, 1862, he was married to Amanda Wood, und August 3, 1870, to Esther McElhaney, his second wife. Three children, living. Two years following his wound, he hobbled on crutches. He then studied medi- eine, under Dr. Covington, of Pulaski County, Illinois, and graduated at the American University, Philadelphia. Iu 1867, he took charge of the County Asylum of Alexander County, Illinois, and was in that position three years, since which he has built up a successful practico at Toledo, in the same county.
JOHN D. RICHESON, merchant, Shawneetown, son of John and Naney N. Richeson, natives of Virginia, was born in Amherst County, Virginia, May 16, 1810. His grand- father, on his mother's side, was David Dickinson, of Virginia, who was Commissary for the troops of that colony during the Revolution ; came West in 1826, located on the Obio and Mis- sissippi Rivers, traded in Virginia and Louisville, Kentucky, and came to Shawneetown in 1837. He contracted for paving the river bank in front of the city, and grading the Shawnee- town & Alton Railroad bed to Equality-11 miles. After several years in Kentucky, in farming and tanning business, be returned and, in 1843, established the mercantile business, which he still continues.
THOMAS S. RIDGWAY was boru on a farm in White County, Illinois, August 30, 1829, as the son of John Ridg- way. In 1832, Mr. Ridgway, Sr., removed to Shawncetown
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with his family, but died a short time after. Thomas Ridgway worked in Mr. MeCracken's printing offico for some time, meanwhile studying hard. In 1839, ho became a storo boy at E. II. Gatewood's ; in 1845, a junior partner of O. Pool & Co. In 1850, the firm changed to Peeples & Ridgway, and their business amounted often to a million dollars annually. The mercantile business of Pecples & Ridgway olosed in 1865, and they opened the First National Bank of Shawneetown. Mr. Ridgway was elected Stato Treasurer in 1874, and the wealth of his bondsmen, in total, was five million dollars, a sure testi- mony to his honesty and business talents.
REV. WILLIAM CARROL ROPER was born in John- son County, Illinois, October 13, 1826. Till the age of forty- five, he followed farming exclusively. May 6, 1849, he was married to Miss Malissa Henderson, by whom he has had uine children. August 15, 1861, lie enlisted in the volunteer army, continuing till July, 1862; reënlisted March 8, 1865, and as Fourthi Sergeant served till the elose of the war. Having professed religiou and joined the Methodist Church in 1843, he became class-leader, ete., and in 1856 was licensed to preach, and ordained in the fall of 1868. During his devoted services as a minister, in which be has gathered hundreds into the church, be has, like St. Paul, supported himself chiefly by the labor of his own hands.
ROBERT BINGHAM RUTHERFORD, son of Robert and Margaret Rutherford, the former a Presbyterian clergy- man, was born in Brown County, Ohio, October 20, 1832. His educational advantages consisted of attendance at tbe eom- mon schools, two years in the academy at Sullivan, Illinois, and one year at Knox College, Galesburg. During thirteen years, he was engaged in mercantile business, practiced law fifteen years, and of late a general exchange and money loauing busi- ness. He was recruiting officer during the late war. He was married, March 24, 1852, to Miss Ann Matilda MeFadden, and is the father of seven children by this union.
AMAZIAH MORGAN SERGEANT, Postmaster, Shaw- nectown, was born in Rush County, Indiana, April 22, 1829 ; son of Thomas and Isabella Sergeant. Raised on a farm, he was educated at the common schools, and followed farming and school teaching till 1857, then contracting and building till 1864, when he removed to Clay County, Illinois, and retired from business. In 1870, he was appointed to take the census of Clay County. In 1871, he was appointed United States Mail Agent, and continued in that capacity till October, 1875. Oc- tober 16, he was commissioned Postmaster of Shawneetown, and confirmed by the Senate, January 7, 1876.
JOSEPH SHETLER, son of Sebastian and Mary J. Shet- ler, natives of Germany, was horn in Maikammer Reihnpfalz, Bavaria, June 15, 1833. He obtained an excellent education, and is well versed in German, Latin and English. He emi- grated from Germany in 1854, settled on a farm in Hardin County, Illinois, which he managed with great success till 1866, when he founded the town of Shetlerville, investing largely in dry goods and produce, and securing a post office and roads in various directions. His enterprises were largo and husiness heavy. In 1875, his store and effects were destroyed by fire, but he soon rebuilt, and is carrying on as large a husi- ness as ever. He is very energetic as a business man.
ROBERT THOMAS SHIPLEY was born January G, 1822, in Granger County, East Tennessee. With ordinary school advantages, his boyhood was devoted to learning the carpenter's trade with his father. He has been twice married, July 27, 1847, to Ann Rebecca Gore, and April 19, 1859, to Mrs. C. M. Donehew. By his first wife he has two children, James and George ; by his second, Franeis and Addie. James exhibiting a fine taste for cabinet-work, Mr. Shipley resolved to give him all the advantages in his power in that direction. He is now engaged in the manufacture and sale of all kinds of furniture ut Jonesboro, Illinois. Mr. Shipley has been Deputy Sheriff of Union County, and served as First Lieutenant in the late war.
S. PRESTON SIIORT was born on the eastern shore of Maryland in 1819. His parents were James and Martha L. Short. Most of his education was acquired hy personal applica- tion after he was twouty years of age. He has been three times married ; first, in 1840, to Ruth Corm; second, in 1858, to Sophens Brown ; and third, in 1864, to Mary J. Hattine. Ho has one son, William E., who died at Corinth, Mississippi, during the war. Mr. Short read medicine and graduated in 1846, and was with Gen. Scott, in 1847, from the time of his landing at Vera Cruz till the armistice at Chapultepec. He thien returned to Ohio and commenced tho practico of dentis- try, which he lias continued twenty-five years. IIc now resides at Metropolis, Illinois.
HENRY J. STALKER, M. D., was born at Rotterdam, Schenectady County, New York, August 11, 1838. He is the son of Joseph and Mary (McChesney) Stalker, and moved to Green Lake County, Wisconsin, 1846. At the age of twenty- Que, he entered the Junior Class of Lawrence University, at Appleton, Wisconsin, and spent the second term. Following this, he olerked in the wholesale drug store of Post & Badeau, 192 Lake street, Chicago, and, in 1866, started a retail drug store of bis own at Lime Springs, Iowa. March 10, 1874, he received the degree of M. D. at the Chicago Medical College, and moved to Cairo, April 1st, where he has since been en- gaged in a successful practice. He was married March 1, 1866, and has three children.
JACOB STRAWN was born in Sommerset County, Penn- sylvania, May 30, 1800, and received a good country educa- tion. He removed with his parents, in 1817, to Licking County, Ohio, and eame, iu 1831, to Morgan County, Illinois, settling on a large farm. Hero he worked and planned, day aud night, till he held the power of the eattlo market in his hand. The sale of his vast herds increased continually his large fortune, while his fields measured some 15,000 acres of fertile lands. Mr. Strawn was married twice-first to Mathilda Green, with whom he had seven children, and who died in 1831 ; and then, in 1832, to Pliche Gates, by whom he liad six children. He died August 23, 1865.
ALMON BROWN STROWGER, son of Samuel and Jane Strowger, was born in Pennfield, Monroe County, New York, October 19, 1839; married February 1, 1865, to Risatha M. Clark, of Rochester, N. Y .; entered the army in the fall of 1861, and remained three years. Soon after marriage, be entered the profession of tenehing, and has been popular as a teacher at the head of several prominent schools in New York, Ohio and Illinois. He is now Principal of the High School at Auna, and is a prominent and influential church member and Sunday school worker.
HENRY JEFFERSON SWINDLER, of Magnolia, Put nam County, was born in Brownsville, Fayette County, Penn- sylvania, September 2, 1821. His parents were Silas and Sarah Swindler. When Henry was 4 years and 6 months old, his father died, leaving seven destitute and comparatively help- less children. They emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, in Septemher, 1826, and were scattered like chaff before tho wind, all being put out to earn their own living as best they could. From the age of 7 to 17 Henry lahored on a farm, and had very limited advantages for education. February 29, 1844, he married Miss Eliza C. Lafetra. Four children have been the fruit of their union, viz. : Emoline Josephine, Eugene Harrison, Mary Alico and Rollin Lafetra; the first died when an infant. During seven years Mr. Swindler worked at a me- ebanical occupation, and followed this period by teaching for a while; was in mercantile husiness six years in Warren County, Ohio; camo to Illinois in September, 1853, and settled on the farm where he now resides, in March, 1854. He has made farmuing a successful business, and lias persistently refused to accept office, preferring to give his time and attention to his individual affairs, although he has at times been compelled to take part in township husiness. At ono time there was placed in Mr. Swindler's hands $23,000 of township funds for invest- ment, and all the security the citizens required was his own
personal receipt-showing that, although he is a Swindler by name, he is not one in practice. All through his life he has sought to unite energy, industry and economy, having eaten very little idle hread since the age of 7 years.
HON. RICHARD WELLINGTON TOWNSHEND, son of Samuel H. and Catharine O. Townshend, was horn in Prince George County, Maryland, April 30, 1840; edueated in Wash- ington, D. C., whero he was a page in the House of Repre- sentatives in 1857-8, and moved to Illinois in March, 1858. In that year he elerked in the Post Office at Cairo; in 1859 and 1860, taught school ; in 1857, he hegan the study of law at Washington, D. C .; was licensed to practice while studying under Hon. S. S. Marshall, at McLeanshoro, Illinois ; in 1862, was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Hamilton County, serving from 1863 to 1868, when be was was elected State's Attorney for the Twelfth Circuit, and moved to Shawneetown in 1873, where he has since practiced law.
HON. LYMAN TRUMBULL was born in Connecticut, October 12, 1813; received his primary education at one of the best academics in the State, teaching school at 16 and taking charge of an academy at the age of 20, at Greenville, Georgia, where he studied law and was admitted to the har in 1837. He then removed to Belleville, Illinois; in 1840, was elected to the Legislature; in 1841, was appointed Secretary of State; in 1848, elected Judge of the Supreme Court; reelected in 1852; in 1854, elected to Congress, and, hefore taking his seat, was elected United States Senator for the term of six years-from 1855 to 1861-and was Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. Since then, twice elected to the United States Senate-in 1861 and 1867. He has gained a national reputation as a statesman, Since 1863, Senator Trumbull has resided in Chicago, and is engaged in the prac- tiee of law.
OAKS TURNER, son of Alvan and Boridell Turner, was horn at Hehron, Oxford County, Maine, January 29, 1808. His mother died when he was 9 years old. At 15 he was ap- prenticed to Joshua Parsons, remaining till he was 21. He received, in hoyhood, the advantages of tho common schools, January 29, 1840, he was married to Rebecca, daughter of Harry Butler, of Stark County, Illinois, and has five children. Mr. Turner came to Putnam County in 1834; in 1836, was appointed County Clerk ; soon after, Deputy Cireuit Clerk ; thien Deputy Recorder ; was elected County Treasurer in 1843; member of the Constitutional Convention in 1847; served in the county offices, by appointment and election, ahout twelve years, and since retiring has been engaged in farming.
LA FAYETTE TWITCHELL, son of Moses and Lydia (Harris) Twitchell, was horn at Twitchell's Mills, then in Pike County, Illinois, February 26, 1829. He was early left an orphan. In 1849, ho went to California, via the plains, and worked in the mines till 1852. While there, he was a mem- ber of the "Experimental Water Company," consisting of eleven men, who constructed a ditch, eight miles in length, to facilitate mining, at the "Yankee Hill Diggings," tho first ex- ample of the kind in Southern California. In 1859, he went to Piko's Peak, and spent till August, 1861, in an unsuccessful search after gold. He served as First Lieutenant, and after- ward as Captain, in the war of the Rebellion. In 1872, he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court for Hardin County, and still holds that office.
LEONIDAS WALKER, ESQ .- Born in Butler, Pennsyl- vania, May 2, 1842, and educated at Washington Institute in that place. He is the son of Nathaniel and Sarah M. Walker. On the 4th of April, 1871, he married Miss Annie Carpenter, and has two children-Chester and Alice. His profession is that of attorney and counselor at law, to which he chiefly de- votes his time, although he has heen ealled hy his fellow-eiti- zons to fill several important offices. He has heen County Superintendent of Schools, and has served acceptably in the General Assembly of the State.
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HORACE WARDNER, M. D .- Born in Perry County, N. Y., August 25, 1829 ; commenced at the age of sixteen to work through a college course of education, supporting himself by his own exertions; studied medicine with Dr. W. Bailey, Almoud, N. Y., Prof. A. B. Palmer and Dr. L. Miller, Chi- engo; graduated at Rush Medical College in 1856, and spent one year at the Mercy Hospital. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Delia Louise Rockwood, of Wisconsin. In 1859, hecame Demoustrator of Anatomy; in 1861, Surgeon in the Twelfth Illinois ; in 1862, Brigade Surgeon and Medical Director of Division under Gen. U. S. Grant; in October, 1862, ordered to the charge of Mouud City Hospital, till it was abandoned in 1865; in August, 1866, put in charge of medical affairs at Cairo, and resumed practice, which he still continues. Also chief officer of St. Mary's Infirmary, which he assisted iu founding.
MRS. DELIA LOUISE WARDNER was born in Canton, N. Y., July 6, 1832. Her father, Cephas Rockwood, was an adopted son of Gov. Leland, of Virginia ; her mother was, in maidenhood, Miss Louisa Foote, daughter of Chauncey Foote, one of the first settlers of New York. She was educated at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin ; has through life heen an ardent lover of literature; was with her husband almost during the entire civil war, ministering to tho sick and wounded soldiers, and cheering all hy her genial preseuce. In the fall of 1875, Mrs. Wardner was appointed, by Mrs. Gov. Beveridge, Vice President of the Woman's Centennial Associa- tion of the State of Illinois, for the Eighteenth Congressional District.
WILSON WEATHERSBEE, Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, is a teneher hy profession ; was horn in Amitt County, Mississippi, on the 1st of April, 1849, and is the son of John and Frances Weathersbee. Having completed his education in a collegiate course, aud entered upon his profession, he was married on the 1st of April, 1874 (his hirthday), to Miss Samantha S. Launius. This union has been blessed with one daughter-Luey Ellen. Mr. Weathershee stands well in his profession as a teacher.
ANDREW J. WEBBER, son of Henry and Mary Jane (Rhine) Webher, horn in Saline County, Illinois, September 11, 1845. He attended school principally at Gallatia, Saline County, where he received a fair English education, and after- ward attended Commercial College at Chieago. Returning home in August, 1866, he engaged in mercantile husiness, which he still continues. Mr. Webber was married March 20, 1876, to Miss Annie J. Wehber, of Rolla, Missouri. He is a zealous member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' Orders, hav- ing attained to the Tenth or "Select Master's" degree in tho former, and to the Ninth, or " Royal Purple," in the latter. He has served as J. W. in the Masonic Fraternity, and at this writing is Treasurer of Gallatia Lodge, No. 684, A., F. & A. M., Gallatia, Illinois.
HIRAM PITTS WHITE, one of the carly settlers of Illinois, was born in Norton, Massachusetts, on the 21st of April, 1800. He was the son of Zehulon and Prudonce (Pitts) White. In his boyhood he received a common school education. On the 20th of May, 1820, he was married to
Mary Carpenter, by whom he had two sons-Hiram Willard and Henry Lewis. Mr. White came West in 1833, and settled on a farm within ono milo of Hennepin, Putnam County, where he resided till his death, which occurred April 21, 1870. One of the first members of the M. E. Church of the place, his cabin was used for religious services, long hefore a house of worship was erected.
JOHN HARRIS WILSON, of Harrisburg, Saline County, was horn in Alleghany County, Peunsylvania, October 5th, 1825. Robert and Eleanor Wilson, his parents, had only moderate means at their commaud ; nevertheless ho managod to acquire the first rules of the three "R's," aud to huild on that a good and sound general education. He married, Octo- ber 5th, 1848, Jane Christy, with whom ho had ten chil- dren. Mr. Wilson lived, with his family, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, up to 1868, and then romoved to Saline County, Illinois, where, in a short time, he hecame one of the most pros- perous, as also one of its most respected farmers. He is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, and was elected as County Com- missioner in the last election.
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