USA > Illinois > Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 28
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The birth of Judge Garver took place at Pecatonica, Ill., November 16, 1843, and he died at Rockford, November 27, 1001. He was a son of John Garver, who was born in Pennsyl- vania and later came to Illinois, locating at Pecatonica. Growing up in his native place, John Cormany Garver attended the local schools, but even in boyhood showed such ability that he was encouraged by his teachers to pursue his studies beyond their jurisdiction, and entered Mendota College, then presided over by the Rev. S. F. Breckenridge, D. D. From there he went to Wittenberg College, entering the sophomore class, and was graduated therefrom in 1867. For nearly a year he was one of the preceptors in the State University of Illinois, but his ambition did not lie in this direction, and he went to Springfield, where he began the study of law under General J. War- ren Keifer. Within a couple of years he was
qualified to begin the practice of his profession, and on returning home, in 1870, he was ad- mitted to the bar. From then on Mr. Garver was in the public eye, and was selected for many offices of distinction, for the people recog- nized his special fitness for those which enabled him to use his legal knowledge in the discharge of his duties. In 1872, he was elected state's attorney, and re-elected four years later. Winnebago County never had before so fear- less a prosecutor as Judge Garver. While giv- ing every one a fair deal, he was relentless in prosecuting the malefactors whose crimes brought them within his jurisdiction, and his able and scholarly manner of presenting his cases for the State, as well as his forcible presentation of evidence, secured many convic- tions which might have been lost had it not been for his ability. Following the expiration of his services in this office. Judge Garver en- tered upon a general practice, and met with more than ordinary success, for he was very learned in the law; had an intellect of great exactness and clearness, a sound and instructed judgment, and wonderful tenacity of purpose. Hle excelled both in the preparation of a case and in its conduct, convincing court and jury not so much by eloquence, although a good speaker, as by perspicuity of statement and en- tire candor of manner. In consultation his judgment was as valuable as any of his ablest associates, and he was often called upon, and his practice grew until it was very large and
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lucrative. In 1895, a vacancy occurring on the Circuit Bench, Mr. Garver was elected to fill it, ,and he still held that office at the time of his demise. The same traits of character which made him so able a lawyer, influenced his career on the bench, and he left behind him a record any of his associates may well envy. His death resulted from a combination of dis- orders, as he was in ill health for some time, but the final end came somewhat suddenly, and was a distinct shock to the community. His funeral was one of the most largely at- tended of any celebrated at Rockford, the Revs. H. M. Bannen and R. H. Pooley officiating, the Masonic fraternity being in charge, as he was a thirty-second degree Mason. He belonged to other orders, and held all in high esteem, ap- preciating their fraternal character and brotherly love.
Judge Garver married Miss Sarah A. Segur, born April 6, 1850, daughter of John and Jane (Trowbridge) Segur. Mr. Segur was born in Granby, Conn., July 6, 1829, and his parents were natives of the same State. Mrs. Segur died in Rockford, September 7, 1900, but he survives, and although eighty-three years old, is as active as a man of fifty. Judge and Mrs. Garver became the parents of six children : Laura May, Lewis Cormany, Earl and Pearl (twins), the latter dying in infancy, and Eva and Howell Segur, both residing at home.
A beautiful tribute to Judge Garver's memory was paid by an old friend and former school- mate, Rev. George W. Crofts, of Beatrice, Neb., who wrote the following upon hearing of his death :
JOHN C. GARVER
"A leaf, O Garver, I would lay Wet with a single tear,
That brightly shines in memory's ray, Upon thy bier.
"O loyal, true and upright friend,
I grieve thy sudden fall.
That thy great life has found the end That comes to all.
"Yet thou hast left a record bright That death can never claim,
That like a star of whitest light Will speak thy fame.
"Thy goodness and thy purity, Thy manhood and thy power, Can never sink beneath time's sea In one short hour.
"These things eternal shall live on For them there is no tomb;
They flourish when all else is gone, And sweetly bloom.
"And yet, O Garver, all too soon Thy earthly sun has set,
And left us in thy life's high noon In deep regret."
When any good man dies, deep regret is naturally felt that one whose example and liv- ing always tended towards a betterment of con- ditions should be taken away, but when death comes to a citizen of distinction whose place in the world cannot be easily filled, then the sorrow seems more deplorable. As the friends of Judge Garver followed his mortal remains to their last resting place in Rockford Cemetery, on November 30. 1901, they realized the frailty of human tenure, and the impossibility of over- coming nature's law, no matter how highly cherished the loved one may be. Judge Garver's work here was accomplished. What he did was written upon the records of a higher court than any he presided over. The verdict in his case was reached, not only, however, by a divine tribunal, but by one composed of his associates, those who passed useful, happy hours in his company, and recognized his true worth as a man, a citizen and a jurist.
DORICE DWIGHT SHUMWAY.
An acute, cool-headed man of business may command respect because of his great capacities in managing vast enterprises and his power to change circumstances and conditions to suit his will, and may have, as chosen associates, others of like calibre and similar power and interests,
but. in order to secure the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen, he must have other qualities, and yet others of still tenderer fiber, to win personal affection. How rich, in this light, was the late Dorice Dwight Shumway, who, for so long a time was prominently identi-
John @ Sauver .
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tied with affairs of the most vital interest in different sections of Illinois and particularly at Taylorville and Springfield. In control of im- portant concerns for years, he proved his sagacity and foresight beyond question, but at the same time his interest in everything cal- culated to help others less fortunately situated was shown by his practical sympathy and ready generosity.
Dorice Dwight Shumway was born December 19, 1845, on a farm in Christian County, Ill., about four miles east of Taylorville, and died in Saint John's Hospital, at Springfield, from paralysis, January 20, 1014. He was the second son and third child of D. D. and Emily 1. (Rountree) Shumway. Two of his brothers, Hiram P. and J. N. C. Shumway, now deceased, were members of the Illinois State Senate. A sister, Mrs. D. T. Moore, is also deceased. The surviving members of the family are: A. F. Shumway, of Taylorville; Mrs. George Weber. of Chicago; and Mrs. J. C. Tureman, of Naper- ville, Ill.
During Mr. Shumway's boyhood the family moved to Taylorville and he continued at school for a time and later had two years' academie training at Hillsboro, and still later, in the winter of 1860-61, attended the Normal school at Normal, Ill., ill health causing his return then to his home. His business career, however, may be said to have commenced when he was but twelve years of age, when he became a clerk in the general store of W. W. Anderson, at Taylorville, and assisted in the postoffice, remaining until 1859. In the winter of 1864 and 1865 he taught a country school near Clarksdale. In 1866 he embarked in business on his own account, forming a partnership with his uncle, A. H. H. Rountree, in a mercantile enterprise at Hillsboro, which connection was - maintained until January 1. 1869, when Mr. Shumway sold his interest to his partner and returned to Taylorville to become a partner of his father in the firm of Shumway & Sons. The death of his father, in the spring of 1870, necessitated the closing out of this general store business, and during the following summer, with his brother, the late H. P. Shumway, he con- piled the first set of abstract books ever made in Christian County, these books being still in use in the abstract office at Taylorville.
In 1871 Mr. Shumway formed a partnership with W. W. Anderson, in the banking business. under the firm name of W. W. Anderson &
Company, and in 1874 they opened a branch bank at Pana, Ill., under the style of Anderson & Shumway. One year later this was trans- ferred to Hayward & Schuyler of Pana. On his return to Taylorville, Mr. Shumway again assumed the management of his banking house and continued in charge until 1882. subse- quently going also into the grocery business, in which line he continued until 1889. In 1887, when the Taylorville Coal Company was organ- ized. Mr. Shumway hecame one of the stock- holders and the secretary of the company, a position he filled until February, 1890, when he was made general manager, and held that posi- tion until the organization of the Springfield Coal Company, which company bought the mines at Taylorville, Riverton and Springfield. He was made vice president and treasurer of the combination, which is one of the most important industries of this section, giving employment to about 1,500 men. He was additionally inter- ested in enterprises of great worth to county and community. He was president and the largest stockholder in the Christian County Implement Company and vice president of the First National Bank of Taylorville, from 1504 until his death. He was one of the chief organizers of the Citizens Gas, Light and Fuel Company, and the Taylorville Electric Com- pany. These two companies he afterward con- solidated under the name of Taylorville Gas & Electric Co., and became its president. In the year 1005 he built the large building now occu- pied by the Taylorville Mercantile Company, which company he also organized and of which he was president, this being the first depart- ment store in Taylorville.
For two terms Mr. Shumway found time to serve as a member of the city council of Taylor- ville, and largely through his efforts the city secured its present admirable system of water works. Straightforward, honest and energetic. he not only assumed responsibilities for the publie welfare but delighted in carrying them to an end. During the time of his affiliation . with the Springfield Coal Mining Company. he continued to maintain his home at Taylorville. where he did much to add to the business stability and also the appearance in the way of property improving. Of recent years, he also took great interest in the improvement of his farms.
Mr. Shumway was married September 25, 1877, at Salem, Ill., to Miss Mary I. Finley,
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who was born in White County, and was a daughter of Dr. W. M. and Lucy ( Watson) Finley, a pioneer family of southern Illinois. Three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shum- way : Glenn Finley, Hiram MeLin and Dorice Dwight.
In the domestic circle Mr. Shumway was at his best, a tender husband and loving father. Notwithstanding his multitudinous business re- sponsibilities, he always found time to give
attention to the home circle and enjoyed their companionship at all times, taking his family with him when he visited the Panama Canal. He was naturally of a cheerful, even jovial dis- position and enjoyed fraternal relationships. for many years being a Mason and was a charter member of the local lodge of Elks. It would be impossible to name all of his charities, but a noted one was the annual dinner he gave to the poor of his city.
WILLIAM BARRY.
William Barry, founder of the Chicago His- torical Society, was born at Boston, Mass., Jan- uary 10, 1805, son of William and Esther (Stet- son) Barry. After preparing for college he entered Brown University (Providence, R. I.), from which he graduated in 1822. He studied for the legal profession but later entered the ministry, and became pastor of a Congregational church at Lowell, Mass. He was married in 1835 to Elizabeth Willard who died in 1853. In 1844 he traveled in Europe, and in 1853 came to Chicago, which was his place of residence for the remainder of his life. Dr. Barry was keenly interested in history, and soon after coming to Chicago began the collection of valuable his-
torical publications and documents pertaining to this state. On the 9th of June, 1856, the Chicago Historical Society was organized under the leadership of Dr. Barry who became its secre- tary, in which position he remained for twelve years. It was in Dr. Barry's room at the Chi- cago Historical Society that Mr. Lincoln ob- tained the materials for bis memorable address at Cooper Institute, New York, in 1860. Dr. Barry died in Chicago, January 16, 1885. "He was one of the most accomplished scholars. of the West, and in his death Chicago lost a dis- tinguished representative of Puritan blood and culture."
HENRY H. HURLBUT.
Henry H. Hurlbut, historian and critic, was born at Westhampton, Mass., April 22, 1813, son of Jonathan and Persis (Smith) Hurlbut. He was descended from a long line of colonial an- cestors, the first of whom arrived in America in 1635 and settled in Connecticut. He was mar- ried to Mrs. Elizabeth (Sykes) Graves, Decem- ber 3, 1857. For many years he was the cashier of a bank at Oswego, N. Y. In later years he gave bis time to research work in American his- tory and genealogy, and formed a library of rare and valuable books on these subjects, and
became a member of the Chicago Historical Society in 1880. ITe died in Chicago April 21, 1590. Mr. Hurlbut was the author of a volume entitled "Chicago Antiquities," and a "Geneal- ogy of the Hurlbut Family." As a critic of historical writings his work is of great value, and his volume of "Antiquities" largely con- sists of comments upon the writings of Chicago historians, with numerous corrections of dates and facts, which he had investigated with pains- taking thoroughness.
ANDREW JAMES HODGES.
In no branch of activity has there been more progress than in that of farming. When the pioneers of Illinois settled on their claims ob- tained from the government all their agri- cultural work was done by hand or with the assistance of horse power. The remarkable products of mechanical genius that are now considered absolutely necessary bad not been thought of, except in the dreams of the men
who were to place their forerunners upon an unappreciative market. Today thanks to the brains and persistent experiments of these in- ventors, much of the drudgery of farm work has been eliminated and the farmer can operate his land without sacrificing bodily comfort and health in the process. These implements of to- day were not produced at a moment's notice by any manner of means, but were brought
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forth through stress and agony. Fortunes were sacrificed, and lives offered up in their ultimate perfection. The first machines were but crude affairs, but from these have been developed the powerful implements that seem to be almost perfect in every respect. In reviewing the his- tury of the development of agricultural imple- ments, it is necessary to take into careful con- rideratlon the record of the life of one of the men who bore so important a part in it here in Ilinols, namely Andrew James Hodges, now de- tvased, who for many years honored Peoria by taalhuis that city his place of residence.
Mr. Hodges was born at Norton, Mass., Octo- 1+r 31, 1515, a son of Leonard and Hannah ( Peck ). Hodges, both natives of Massachusetts. The father was a farmer and carpenter, and he taught his son his own trade. Reared on the farm that was his birthplace, Andrew James Hodges was early impressed with the need for mechanical assistance in the work, and his knowledge of the carpenter trade led him to boyish experiments. His educational training was confined to that obtained in the public schools of his locality, and when he was twenty years old he went to Boston, where he worked at his trade, and later to Delavan, Ill., where he arrived in 1837. There he did some very valuable work as a contractor and builder, and remained in that place until 184S, when he located at Peoria. During all these years he was experimenting and endeavoring to embody some of his ideas in practical form, and in 1.64, he purchased the Berker & Hawley works at Pekin, Ill., which later were consolidated with the plant at Pekin, and he conducted the businesss under the style of A. J. Hodges & Co. until 1590, at which time he sold his interests to the Acme Harvester Company. During the period that he was in charge of his powerful company, he became the leading producer of agricultural implements of his kind in the state, manufacturing the Haines Illinois Harvester, which he developed from the original wooden machine; and the Hodges Steel Header which is still used extensively in the United States and South America. Although some years have
passed since Mr. Hodges withdrew from the con- cern his energy and keen foresight had built to such large proportions, the results remain and his machines are still in wide use.
On August 1, 1844, Mr. Hodges was united in marriage with Sarah E. Grant of Delavan, Ill., born in 1821, a lady who survives him, and is wonderfully preserved, both physically and men- tally. She reads and sews without glasses, and her recollections of earlier days are not only remarkable, but very interesting. She is a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Hubbard) Grant of Providence, R. I. Mr. Grant was an inventor and manufacturer and after a success- ful career as a business man, retired to a farm in the vicinity of Delavan, Ill., and it was there that Mr. and Mrs. Hodges were married. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges became the parents of the following children : Anna Elvira, who was Mrs. Henry Welber, is now deceased ; Mittie May, who is Mrs. Edward Arnold of Providence, R. I .; and Jennie Grant and Charles Andrew, both of whom are at home. Mrs. Hodges still resides in the home Mr. Hodges' care provided for her, when he built it thirty years ago. It is a very spacious and comfortable residence, and in it Mr. Hodges died October 0, 1900, when he was almost eighty-five years old. He was an Odd Fellow fraternally, and held to the Universalist faith in religious matters, having adopted it sixty-five years prior to his demise. In politics he was a Republican from the time of the or- ganization of the party to his death, but never would accept office. A man of uncommon ability, kindly disposition and broad sympathies, be knew how to win the approval of men and earn and retain their friendship. His interest in Peoria and its development was warm, and he ever contributed generously towards the ad- vancement of those measures which appealed to him as being worthy of furtherance. Al- though an aged man at the time of his death, he was missed, and the people of Peoria recog- nized that one of the city's most honored citi- zens and generous supporters had passed to his last reward.
WILLIAM W. ANDERSON.
There are, unquestionably, men of natural force found in every prosperous community, who, by reason of their inherent ability, by the use of their brains and the soundness of their judgment, attain distinction and acquire
authority. They are men who industriously work for an end and in helping themselves add to the sum of comfort and happiness for all about them. These quiet, resourceful men are the dependence of the whole social fabric,
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for their efforts not only bring into being the substantial industries that support commerce, but conduct them along the safe and sane channels which assure public prosperity and general contentment. They may be men of versatile gifts and talents of a high order in many directions, but it is in their soundness, their vitality and their steadiness that they are such important factors in the world's work. A heavy loss is experienced when a man of this type is removed from any community and Chris- tian County sustained this loss when William W. Anderson, long one of Taylorville's most esteemed citizens passed off the stage of life.
William W. Anderson was born in Henderson County, Ky., October 27, 1825, and died at Tay- lorville, December 11, 1893. He was of Scotch- Irish ancestry and of Revolutionary stock. His forefathers settled early in the Virginia colony and many of the family took part in military affairs, the grandfathers serving in the war of Independence, and his father, George II. An- derson, fighting under General Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. In Tennessee. George H. Anderson was married to Nancy Mann and soon afterward they moved to Henderson County, Ky., and from there, in 1830, to Illi- nois, settling two miles east of Ilillsboro, in Montgomery County. George H. Anderson died at the age of sixty-one years. Of the twelve children born to his parents, William W. was the sixth in order of birth.
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A child of five years when his parents settled in the wilds of Montgomery County, William W. Anderson saw much of pioneer life and ex- perienced many of its disadvantages. School opportunities were not easily available in his boyhood but he attended sessions in the first log schoolhouse erected in the county. When seventeen years of age he went to work on the farm of Judge Hiram Rountree, of Hillsboro. and remained in his employ for eight years, later assisting in Judge Rountree's store, when the latter was attending to his duties as circuit clerk of the county. In 1851 Mr. Anderson came to Christian County and took charge of a farm situated four miles east of Taylorville, removing to the town three years later and there becoming a salesman in the store of Shumway & Cheney. In 1854 Mr. Cheney died and his brother-in-law, Albert Sattley, took over his interests, and in turn, was succeeded by the firm of Shumway & Anderson. This partner- ship continued for two years, when Mr. Ander-
son became sole owner. His character as a merchant and his ability as a financier, made his business career one of marked success. Prior to 1871 he relinquished the management of this mercantile enterprise and in this year founded the bank of W. W. Anderson & Co., his partner being D. D. Shumway, an associa- tion which continued for twelve years, Mr. Shumway then retiring. The late Hiram An- derson, Mr. Anderson's eldest son, then became a member of the banking firm. The history of the bank, yet one of the sound, conservative business houses of Taylorville, may be given here. On November 1. 1886, the bank was in- corporated as the First National Bank of Tay- lorville, with a capitalization of $75,000, Wil- liam W. Anderson becoming president and con- tinuing in this relation until his death. At that time his son, Frederick W. Anderson, who had been cashier, was made president and so con. tinues, Edwin R. Wright becoming cashier. In 1906, under the presidency of Frederick W. Anderson, the capitalization was raised to $100.000, at which time the surplus was $25,000, with undivided profits of $25,000. In 1911 the capitalization was increased to $200,000, while the surplus is $100,000. Not only as an honor- able merchant and able financier was Mr. An- derson prominent in Christian County. He had many interests and was an important factor in the development of the local coal fields and was the owner and improver of much valuable real estate at Taylorville. He was notably public spirited and early recognized the necessities of ample transportation facilities, at one time ac- cepting a position on the directing board of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and later, he was largely instrumental in securing public utilities at Taylorville, which now enjoys a modern water works system. Mr. Anderson was presi- dent of the first electric lighting and steam heating company at Taylorville. As president of the board of supervisors for a number of years, he advocated practical reforms and im- provements which proved of vast benefit to this part of Christian County. He was a man of wide vision and, although he did not live to see all his hopes for his eity and county fully real- ized, he was able to feel gratified with what his efforts had accomplished.
In 1850 Mr. Anderson was 'married to Miss Nan B. Rountree, who died in 1854, without issue. She was a daughter of Judge Hiram Rountree. His second marriage, in 1860, was
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to Martha I. Wright, a daughter of Rev. Rich- ard and Martha Randle, natives of Georgia and of Virginia, respectively. Rev. Richard Randle was a Methodist minister and his circuit ex- tended from Belleville to Peoria. It is re- membered of him that he was not only a doc- tor of souls, but also, to some extent, a prac- titioner of medicine, and very often his services in both capacities were needed sorely. To the second marriage of Mr. Anderson the follow- Ing children were born : Hiram R., who died at the age of twenty-nine years; Nannie West, who died in infancy; Frederick William, who married Adelia B. Sanders, of San Antonio,
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