USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 12
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 12
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 12
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Mr. Maxey was united in marriage in 1880, to Rosa Tully, of Xenia, a native of Clay county. No children have been born to this union.
In his fraternal relations, our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic Fraternity and the Order of Eastern Star. Both he and Mrs. Maxey are members of the Methodist church. In politics he is a Republican and always loyal to its policies. His paper is an important factor in local political affairs. It is on a good footing and the plant is well equipped and modern, having. a cylinder press and gas power. Mr. Maxey owns the building in which the plant is located, and he also owns his residence property. He deserves a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, for his success in the va- rious lines of business he has followed has been won in the face of obstacles and by his unaided efforts.
A. W. SONGER.
Our subject possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution; his close application to business and his excel- lent management have brought to him the
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high degree of prosperity which is today his. Mr. Songer was one of the brave sons of the North who offered his services and his life, if need be, in the suppression of the great rebellion during the dark days of the sixties, which render it fitting that he should be given conspicuous notice in the present historical work.
A. W. Songer, the well known and popu- lar president of the First National Bank of Kinmundy, Illinois, was born in Clay county, this state, November 2, 1832, the son of Frederick and Jane (Helms) Songer, a sterling pioneer family of that locality. Grandfather Songer was a native of Vir- ginia, a fine old southern gentleman. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, eventually moving to Indiana where he spent the balance of his days. His marriage occurred in Virginia and most of his family were born there. He was called from his earthly career when about sixty years old. He was a Lutheran in his religious affilia- tions. Eight children were born to this family, one of them having become a soldier in the Black Hawk war. Grandmother Songer, a woman of many strong attributes, survived her husband until she reached the advanced age of eighty years. Grandfather Helms was also a native of Virginia, who moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and from there to Tennessee, where he worked at his trade of blacksmith. Charles, one of his sons, moved to Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life, having lived many years near Indianapolis. The balance of the family were early settlers in Illinois and
from here scattered to the western states, principally to Nebraska and Texas. One of them was a soldier in the Black Hawk war and another fought in the Mexican war. The Songer family, represented by the great-grandmother of our subject, was from Germany. The great-great-grand- father of the subject died in Germany, his widow coming to America shortly after his death, one of her children dying on the ocean on the way over. She settled in Virginia.
The father of the subject remained in Virginia until he was about twenty-two years old. He received only such education as the public schools afforded at that early day. However, he became a well informed man. He was a carpenter and builder of considerable note. He lived for some time in Indiana, where he was married, later moving to Illinois about 1821, settling in Clay county, where he remained until 1835, when he moved to Marion county, entering about two hundred acres of land from the government which he transformed into a fine farm through his habits of industry and skill as an agriculturist, living on this until 1872, in which year he moved to Kinmundy, where he died at the age of seventy-three years, owning an excellent farm which he left as an estate. He became a man of considerable influence in his community. He was an active and loyal member of the Methodist church as was also his wife. He was a Justice of the Peace for a num- ber of years. For a time he owned and successfully operated a saw and grist mill.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
There were ten children in this family, seven of whom lived to maturity. A brother of our subject, Samuel T., was a soldier in the Civil war, a member of Company G, Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, having served for three years, engaging in all the campaigns and battles of his regi- ment up to the date of his discharge which was at the termination of his enlistment. He is living in 1908 and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he takes a just pride. William F., brother of the subject, was also a soldier, having per- formed conspicuous service in the Mexican war. He was at one time State Representa- tive in Oregon, in which state he still re- sides as also does Samuel T., another brother of the subject, living at Ashland.
A. W. Songer, our subject, received his early education in the common schools of Illinois. Being a diligent student and am- bitious from the start he has become well educated. He remained on the home farm assisting his father with the work about the place during the months that he was not in school until he was twenty-one years old. Learning the carpenter's trade, he followed this for three years, then in 1861, when he felt his patriotic zeal inspired as the result of our national integrity being at stake when the fierce fires of rebellion were rag- ing in the Southland, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer Regi- ment, having been mustered in as second lieutenant and was soon promoted to first lieutenant and consequently served as an officer of that regiment for four years and
five days when he was honorably discharged at the close of the war in 1865, after having taking a conspicuous part in the follow- ing engagements : Perryville, Kentucky ; Stone River, Tennessee; Chickamaugua, having been captured at this battle and was taken to Libby prison, where he remained three months, when he was sent to prison at Macon, Georgia, later to Charleston, South Carolina, thence to Columbia, South Carolina, then to Wilmington, North Caro- lina, where he was exchanged, after having been a prisoner seventeen months and eight days, and thirty days thereafter he was mus- tered out of the service at St. Louis, Mis- souri.
After the war Mr. Songer returned to his home in Illinois and worked at his trade for a time. He then came to Kinmundy and entered into the milling business in which he continued with the most gratifying results until 1907, becoming known throughout the locality as one of the leading men in this line of business. He sold his mill and de- voted his attention to the banking business in which he has been eminently successful. He had been connected with the State Bank of Kinmundy for some time, becoming president of the same. It was consolidated with the First National Bank, becoming the First National on August 26, 1906, the date of the consolidation, since which time Mr. Songer has been president. This is one of the solidest and most popular institutions of its kind in this part of the state and its prestige was greatly strengthened when Mr. Songer became its head for the public at
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once realized that their funds would be en- tirely safe in his hands owing to his con- servatism, coupled with his peculiar business sagacity, and since then the business of the First National has grown steadily.
The domestic life of our subject dates from 1868, when he was united in marriage with Margaret C. Nelm, of Cairo, Illinois, the daughter of Norflett and Lydia (Dick- ens) Nelm. Her paternal ancestor, Dick- ens, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, which rendered the wife of our subject eligible to the Order of Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. The grand- father of the subject's wife was a Bap- tist minister. Her father was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. One of her brothers, N. B. Nelm, was a soldier in the Civil war, having served until the close of the war.
Three children have been born to the sub- ject and wife as follows: Mary E., born December 25, 1871, is the wife of J. T. Brown, of Marion county; Frederick is married and living in Kinmundy. Neither of them have children of their own. The third child of the subject and wife died in infancy.
Mrs. Songer was called to her rest Sep- tember 9, 1907, after a most happy and har- monious married life and one that was beautified by Christian character and many kind and charitable deeds which made her beloved by all who knew her. She was a loyal member of the Methodist church, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of which order Mary E. (Songer) Brown was also a member.
Mr. Songer, as might be expected, is a consistent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Post 255, known as the Hix Post. He is now commander of the same. In politics he is a Republican and is well grounded in his political beliefs, his influ- ence always being felt for the good of his party and in support of the best men pos- sible for local offices. He has never aspired to positions of trust and emolument at the hands of his fellow voters. However, he has been Alderman of the city of Kinmundy several times. His efforts have proven of the greatest benefit to his fellow men of Marion county as well as to himself.
CHRISTIAN HASLER.
It is a well authenticated fact that suc- cess comes not as the caprice of chance, but as the legitimate result of well applied en- ergy, unflagging determination and perse- verance in a course of action once decided upon by the individual. Only those who diligently seek the goddess Fortuna, find her-she never was known to smile upon the idler and the dreamer. The subject of this sketch clearly understood this fact early in life when he was casting about for a le- gitimate and promising line to follow, and in tracing his life history it is plainly seen that the prosperity he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities, and it is also his personal worth which has gained for him the good standing among his fellow citizens of Richland county.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Christian Hasler, the well known harness and saddle manufacturer, and dealer in hides, fertilizers, etc., of Olney, Illinois, is a citizen of the United States by adoption only, being one of that thrifty class from the little Republic of Switzerland, who has done so much toward promoting our insti- tutions, for he was born in the Canton of Berne, September 20, 1845, the son of Peter and Margaret (Von Alman) Hasler, also natives of that place. The father was a small farmer and gardener and died when the subject was a child. The Von Almans were also farmers. The mother came to the United States and brought a family of five children with her, having come direct to Olney, Illinois, in 1857. She passed to her rest here in 1865. Our subject was twelve years old when he came to Olney. He worked on a farm in the summer and attended school in the winter. He had lim- ited opportunities to attend school, but he gained a fairly good foundation for an edu- cation which he has since added to by home study and contact with the business world.
Mr. Hasler early decided to learn the har- ness business and in the fall of 1863 he was apprenticed to a harness maker at Clare- mont, where he worked faithfully until the spring of 1865, when he felt it his duty to no longer repress the feeling that he should stand by the Union in its hour of sore trial, consequently he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and served until the close of the war in a most gallant manner, having been mustered out at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in September, 1865. He did duty at Nash-
ville, Tullahoma, and Murfreeboro, having been on guard duty the major part of the time on the railroads.
After the war Mr. Hasler returned to Claremont township, and finished learning his trade, and in 1867, he opened a harness shop in Olney, which he has conducted con- tinuously since that time. It is among the oldest established businesses in Olney, and the oldest in this line in the county. It has become generally known throughout the lo- cality and his trade has been lively from the first, numbering his customers by the hundreds all over the county. He has not only made a comfortable living from his shop from year to year, but has been en- abled to lay by a competency for his old age.
Mr. Hasler was united in marriage in 1869 to Susan Bohren, a native of Berne, Switzerland, who came to the United States with her father, Christian Bohren, when six years old, locating in Olney. Her father was a carpenter and died here. Her mother died in Switzerland and Mr. Bohren remar- ried in the United States. Nine children have been born to the subject and wfe, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Sue ; Robert, who is in the harness business in Vandalia ; Laura, the wife of E. S. Hoog, who resides in Chicago; Rosilla; Ellen is the wife of J. W. Mayhood, of Chicago; Charles Edward.
Mr. Hasler always handles a good grade of material and the work he turns out is high- class. He has a carefully selected stock and never loses a customer as a result of handling inferior goods or unfair treatment.
In politics our subject is a Bryan Demo-
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crat. He served as Supervisor on the County Board for two terms, from the third ward, which is strongly Republican ; this fact shows that the subject is popular and well liked in his own neghborhood. He was the only Dem- ocrat ever elected from that ward to that po- sition. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and Chapter, also the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed church and no members of that congregation stand higher in general favor than they, for they are re- garded as scrupulously honest, kind and wor- thy citizens in every respect, numbering their friends by the score.
JAMES HENRY KIMBERLIN.
Upon the roll of representative citizens and prominent and influential business men of Marion county consistently appears the name which initiates this paragraph. He has been a resident of Salem for many years, during which time he has gradually won his way into the affections of the people, for he possesses those sterling qualities of char- acter which commend themselves to persons of intelligence and the highest morality, so it is no cause for wonder that he has achieved so high a position in the general estimation of all who have come in touch with him. For many years he was a pro- fessional man, gaining wide popularity in this manner, but he is now rendering effici- ent service at the Salem post-office.
James Henry Kimberlin was born in Richland county, Illinois, January 18, 1860, the son of W. O. Kimberlin, a native of In- diana, having been born February 2, 1826, near Scottsburg, Scott county. He left In- diana and came to Richland county, Illinois, in 1856, settling on a farm where he be- came known as one of the progressive agri- culturists of that community and made a comfortable living until the year 1884, when he was called from his earthly labors by the "grim reaper". His widow, who was Hannah E. Reed, born near Salem, Wash- ington county, Indiana, October 31, 1825, a woman of many praiseworthy traits, is living on the old homestead there at this writing (1908), being eighty-three years old, yet able to do her own house work. Her long life has been one of self-sacrifice for the good of her family and others so that now in her serene old age she can look back over the years without cause for regret. The father of our subject was a soldier in the Union ranks during the great Civil war, having been a member of Company F, Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was with Grant at Vicksburg and was in many other important battles. He was in the hospital service for some time, also did general duty at New Orleans, having re- mained in the service up to January 12, 1866, when he was discharged at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and arrived home Febru- ary 2d, following which was his fortieth birthday. He had two brothers killed in battle during this war. Their names were Daniel and Jacob. Another brother, Isaac
RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
M., went through the service in the Seventh and Eleventh Missouri Volunteer Infantry, having been a member of Company G. Dr. H. L. Kimberlin, another brother of the subject's father, who is now living at Mitchell, Indiana, was a Government Re- porter on Governor Morton's staff.
The paternal grandfather of the subject was Jacob Kimberlin, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who came to Indiana when a young · man. He devoted his life to farming and died about 1871. He was well known about Greenfield, where he operated a toll gate, subsequent to the war. The subject's ma- ternal grandfather was Joseph Reed, of Scotch-English ancestry.
Eight children were born to the parents of the subject, only two of whom are now living. George W., the subject's only living brother, is living at Noble, Richland county, with his mother on the old farm. Among the papers held by the Kimberlins is the original land grant by the government for their old homestead made to Joseph Reed and signed by President Franklin Pierce.
James Henry Kimberlin, our subject, spent his boyhood on the parental farm in Richland county where he performed his part of the work about the place from year to year after he reached the age when he could be of valuable service to his father. He attended the neighboring schools in the meantime where he applied himself in a manner which insured a good education. After leaving school and working at vari- ous minor employments for several years he finally accepted a position as commercial
traveler which he followed with marked success for three and one-half years, giving entire ·satisfaction to his employers, when, much to their regret he was compelled to tender his resignation on account of tem- porary ill health. After this our subject took up the study of ophthalmology, which he decided should be his life work, conse- quently he made rapid progress in this work, having attended the Northern Illinois Col- lege of Ophthalmology at Chicago, from which institution he graduated with high honors with the degree of Fellow of Optics in 1892. He at once began practice and his success was instantaneous, having prac- ticed at Olney, Shelbyville and Salem, hav- ing established his business in the last named city in 1900, since which time he has been a resident of this city. His work in this line was always considered first class and he achieved wide popularity in the same.
Mr. Kimberlin was, however, induced to give up his profession to become deputy post-master of this city, which position he is filling to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned, showing that he has rare executive as well professional ability.
Mr. Kimberlin was united in marriage to Eva Myers, November 19, 1903, the daugh- ter of the late Theodore Myers, of Iuka, Illi- nois, and the accomplished representative of a well known family. One child, a bright and interesting lad, bearing the name of James Henry Kimberlin, Jr., was born to the subject and wife May 4, 1905.
Mrs. Kimberlin is one of a family of five children. One child died after reaching ma-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
turity. Theodore Myers was a farmer, and was a soldier in the Civil war.
In his political affiliations our subject is a strong Republican, and he is a well informed man on political and all current questions. He is a Protestant in his religious belief. He is recognized as a man of sterling integrity and of strong convictions as to all matters affecting the best interests of the community and is always found on the right side of every moral issue.
WILLIAM GILLHAM WILSON.
The subject of this sketch occupies today a prominent position in the professional world of Marion and adjoining counties and he deserves all the more credit for this from the fact that he started out in life practically empty handed, therefore has been the archi- tect of his own fortunes, relying almost sole- ly upon his own resources for the start which he had and for the success which he has achieved. In an analyzation of his char- acter we find many elements worthy of con- mendation and emulation. He did not seek for fortune's favors, but set out to win then by honest work, and the success which ever crowns earnest, honest toil is today his, and he easily stands in the front rank of attor- neys in this locality, which has long been noted for its high legal talent, and while yet a young man, vigorous and in the zenith of his mental and physical powers, he is rap- idly winning his way to a position of much credit and significance in the great common- wealth which he can claim as his native land ;
and while winning his way gradually up the steeps to individual success he has not neglected his duties to his fellow citizens, but has benefited very materially the com- munity is which he lives in many ways, thereby winning and retaining the well mcr- ited esteen of all classes.
William G. Wilson was born in Madison county, Illinois, in 1872, the son of John C. and Elizabeth (Gillham) Wilson. The Wil- son family has long been prominent and in- . fluential in that part of the state. Grand- father John Wilson was born in Pennsyl- vania, but came to Pike county, Ohio, set- tling on a farm, later coming to Marion county, Illinois, in 1846, taking up one thou- sand and eight hundred acres of land on the prairie, which he developed until it became very valuable, still holding it at the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-nine. Both Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The latter is supposed to have come from Ken- tucky. They were the parents of a large family. Mr. Wilson was Justice of the Peace for some time.
John C. Wilson, father of the subject, was born in Pike county, Ohio, and there re- ceived his early education in a log school- house of pioneer days. Leaving the Buck- eye state he came to Illinois, settling in Ma- rion county in 1852, entering land from the government. He had about seven hundred acres of good prairie land, which he devel- oped into a valuable farm and which is now known as the John C. Wilson farm. Here our subject's father lived until his death,
RES OF W.C. Wilson. Kanmunay Il.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
which occurred at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a man of many sterling traits of character and bore an excellent reputa- tion. Both he and his faithful life companion were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Grandfather Gillham came from the At- lantic coast country and settled in Madison county, Illinois, during the earliest epoch of the pioneer days, before the state was ad- mitted to the Union, and when wild beasts and red men roamed the hills and prairies. He remained there until his death. In that locality the subject's mother was reared and was married there in the early sixties. She came to Marion county. The father was twice married, the name of his first wife being Hults. Eight children were born to this union. She passed to her rest in the fifties. The subject's mother was John C. Wilson's second wife, who bore him seven children, four of whom lived to maturity. The mother is living in 1908, at the age of seventy-four years. She is a woman of many fine personal traits and beautiful Christian character.
William G. Wilson, our subject, first at- tended the district schools in Marion coun- ty, working on his father's farm in the mean- time. Being ambitious and a diligent stu- dent, he received a good common school ed- ucation. Leaving the public schools when nineteen years old he entered Austin College at Effingham, Illinois, where he made a bril- liant record for scholarship, standing high in his class.
After leaving school he taught school for 8
five years, devoting five years also to teach- ing in Champaign county, this state, where he became widely known as an able instruc- tor and where his services were in great de- mand. But, believing that his true life work lay along other channels, he began the study of law with Schaefer & Rhodes, of Cham- paign, under whose instruction he made rapid progress. He was then admitted to practice at Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Mr. Wil- son then began practice at Kinmundy, be- ing remarkably successful from the first, and it was plain to be seen that an attorney of unusual sagacity and innate ability had risen to command the attention of that part of the state. He has remained in practice at this place since that time with the most gratify- ing results, having frequently been called to other localities on important cases. He is cool and calculating, never erring in his le- gal proceedings, whether handling a civil or criminal suit, and he stands high in the esti- mation not only of the public but the legal profession throughout this part of Illinois.
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