USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 14
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 14
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 14
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Nicholas Merz by his first wife is the father of five children, of whom four are liv- ing in 1908, and whose births occurred in the following order: Wilfred W., our sub- ject; Nellie, the wife of Richard Ellington, of St. Louis; John L., living in Chicago; Nona died in Chicago, July 8, 1905; Orval Nicholas living in Salem, Illinois. To Nicho- las Merz and his second wife one child was born, Mabel, who is living with her parents in Salem.
These children received a fairly good education and are comfortably located, each giving promise of successful careers.
Wilfred W. Merz was reared in Salem, having attended the city schools where he applied himself in a most assiduous manner, outstripping many less ambitious plodders until he graduated from the high school as salutarian with the class of 1900, having made an excellent record for scholarship.
After leaving school Mr. Merz farmed on his father's place for two years, making agriculture a success. He then left the farm and accepted a clerkship with the mercantile firm of Cutler & Hays in Salem in whose employ he remained for one and one-half years, giving entire satisfaction as a sales- man and by reason of his adaptability for this line of work and his courteous treat- ment of customers did much to increase the firm's popularity and trade.
In 1893 Mr. Merz entered the railroad business with the Baltimore & Ohio, and was assistant agent at Salem during 1893 and 1894. On January 16, 1895, he was ap- pointed agent for the Chicago, Paducah & Memphis Railroad Company at Kell, Illi- nois. This road later passed into the control of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois in 1907, and after about eight months of acceptable service at Kell, Mr. Merz was promoted to the position of agent at Salem for the Chi- cago & Eastern Illinois road, and he has since been their faithful employe at this im- portant post, with the exception of five months as agent at Tuscola, Illinois, from January to June, 1904, and as assistant cash- ier of the Salem State Bank from October, 1904, to October, 1905, which position he held with honor and resigned the same to
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re-enter the railroad service. He is regarded by the company as one of the most conscien- tious and reliable agents in their service. Since the division was established at Salem in 1905, this office has become one of the most important along the company's line.
Mr. Merz was happily married August 24, 1897, to Nettie Kell, daughter of J. M. Kell and wife, a well known family of old Foxville. Mrs. Merz is a representative of one of the oldest families of Marion county, and one of a family'of nine children, seven of whom are yet living, Maudie and Robert dying in infancy. Her father and mother are still living at the time of this writing, the mother being one of ten sisters all of whom are living in 1908, a most remarkable record. Her father, John M. Kell, was a soldier in the Union ranks during the war between the states and was one of a family of twelve children, one of his brothers being killed in the last skirmish of the Civil war after a service of three years. Mrs. Merz's grandfather, on her maternal side, was Robert Wham, a well-to-do pioneer of Marion county who rendered distinguished services as a soldier in the Mexican war. He had a brother, French L., who died in Andersonville prison. Mr. Wham passed away January 10, 1905, at a very old age.
Mr. and Mrs. Merz are the parents of three bright and interesting children who have added cheer to the cozy, modern and nicely furnished home which is so graciously presided over with rare dignity and grace by the subject's wife, the names of their chil-
dren being as follows: Robert W., born July 6, 1898; Helen Louise, born February 6, 1900; Gladys Roberta, born June 6, 1902. The fact that the birth of these children all occurred on the sixth of the month is a singular coincidence.
Mr. and Mrs. Merz own their own beauti- ful home on East Main street. Both are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and are known as among the best members of the congregation with which they have always been popular. The subject has spent his entire life in Salem where he is well and favorably known, having gained and retained undivided respect of all as a result of his sober, industrious and honor- able career. He is always to be found on the right side of all questions looking to the betterment of his community and may well be said to represent Marion county's best citizenship in every particular.
SNIVELY & MONTGOMERY, LIVERYMEN.
Though no land is richer in opportunities or offers greater advantages to its citizens than America, success is not to be attained through desire, but must be persistently sought. In this country "labor is king," and the man who resolutely sets to work to `accomplish a given purpose is certain of success if he has but the qualities of perse- verance, untiring energy and practical com- mon sense. William A. Montgomery, the
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well known liveryman of Olney, Illinois, through his diligence and persistent efforts, has attained definite success and has won the respect of all who know him through his fair dealing with the public.
William A. Montgomery was born in Ol- ney, Richland county, October 22, 1860, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Brillhart) Mont- gomery, natives of Virginia and Pennsyl- vania, respectively, who came to Richland county in an early day. Thomas came with his parents when a small boy. The fam- ily entered land in Edwards county, where Thomas was reared, assisting with the work of improving a farm in the wilderness. When only sixteen years old, he began car- rying the mail from Fairfield to Mt. Car- mel, and he had charge of the route from Olney to Grayville, for years. He also op- erated a stage. He later became a pros- perous farmer in Richland county.
The Brillharts were pioneers in Richland county and became influential in their com- munity. The parents of the subject of this sketch died in Richland county, the father at the age of seventy-eight and the mother when sixty-eight years old. They were people of many sterling and praiseworthy traits, and were hard workers all their lives.
William A. Montgomery was reared on a farm in Edwards county, and received his education in the country schools of Edwards and Richland counties. He remained at home during the lifetime of his parents, working on the farm until the spring of 1903, when he came to Olney and engaged in the livery business, which he is still con-
ducting with great success, giving the pub- lic entire satisfaction and handling an ex- cellent grade of horses and vehicles. The firm is known as Snively & Montgomery. They began business in their present loca- tion in 1906, building a modern and con- venient brick barn which was completed in June of that year. The building is sixty- eight by one hundred and ten feet and is one of the most complete and best equipped in Olney or any of the surrounding towns. They keep an average of twenty head of driving stock, also a considerable number of boarding stock.
In politics Mr. Montgomery is a Demo- crat and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, No. 926, of Olney.
Edmund C. Snively, partner of Mr. Mont- gomery, was born in Madison township, Richland county, and what has been said of the former regarding untiring persistence and application to business is equally ap- plicable to him, and they make a strong combination in their special line. The date of Mr. Snively's birth was December 26, 1872. He is the son of Amos B. and Sa- rah E. (Parker) Snively, residents of Mad- ison township. Mr. Snively was reared on a farm and was educated in the country schools and at the Southern Normal at Car- bondale for one year. He received a good education for he applied himself well to his books and successfully taught school for one term. He worked on a farm, in a saw-mill and operated a threshing machine for sev- eral seasons. In 1904 he came to Olney,
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and became a member of Snively & Mont- gomery, and has continued in the same ever since.
Mr. Snively was united in marriage on June 12, 1907, to Laura D. Yelch, a native of Olney township, the daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Swallen) Yelch, the former now deceased and the latter is a resident of Olney. In politics Mr. Snively is a Demo- crat, and in his fraternal relations he be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Olney.
Fair dealing has been the watchword of this firm and as a result they have built up an extensive patronage, which is still grow- ing. Both Messrs. Snively and Montgom- ery are regarded as among the substantial citizens of Olney, and are well spoken of by all who know them.
GEORGE B. SIMCOX.
The subject stands as the exponent of one of the extensive noteworthy enterprises of the city, where he maintains a real estate business, which is pre-eminent in the honorable bearing and careful methods em- ployed, and in the discriminating delicacy of treatment which the nature of the business renders expedient, and he has thus retained as his own the respect and confidence of the community, even as has his noble father, the latter having likewise assumed a position of priority in the business and social life of
Marion county, where he still resides at an advanced age.
George B. Simcox was born in Kentucky in 1864, the son of W. K. Simcox, now living at Patoka, Illinois, a native of Penn- sylvania, who migrated from the old Key- stone state to Illinois in 1866, locating at Patoka, where he has since resided. He was in the mercantile business of which he made a success, but he is now living retired, hav- ing reached the advanced age of eighty- three, and his good wife that of seventy-eight. They are held in high esteem in their neighborhood where their latter years have been so honorably and happily spent. Twelve children were born to them, seven of whom are still living. They are: Anna M., the widow of Dr. T. N. Livesay, and she makes her home near Patoka ; Rob- ert A., of Patoka; John L., also of Patoka; Bettie, the wife of Dr. W. W. Murfin, of Patoka; Mary A., the wife of A. T. Eaglin, of Henton, Oklahoma; Joseph W., of Pa- toka; George B., whose name appears at the head of this review.
Mr. Simcox spent his boyhood in Patoka, Illinois, where he received a common school education, having applied himself closely to his books. When about eighteen years old he went to railroading and was subsequently in the employ of various roads. Longing for more varied experiences than could be gained at home, he went to the Southwest and his rise in the railroad business was rapid there owing to his natural ability, carefulness and personal address, conse- quently he soon became conductor on the
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Mexican National Railroad in Old Mexico, holding this responsible position to the satis- faction of the superior officials when only twenty-one years old.
After following the railroad business for ten years he returned to Salem, Illinois, in 1895, and has been in Marion county ever since. He first launched in the mercantile business in Patoka, where he was doing nicely and building up an excellent ยท trade, when he lost heavily by fire after two years in this line. Then he went into the real estate and newspaper business at Patoka, in which he made a success and became known as the moulder of public thought and opin- ion. Being thus able and popular with his fellow voters, he was soon slated for local political offices, and held every township office in that township. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1902 and served with great credit for a period of four years. In- deed, all his duties in an official capacity were attended to with the greatest alacrity and good judgment. He was nominated by the Democrats in 1906 as a candidate for sheriff, but was defeated.
In 1906 Mr. Simcox went into the hard- ware business in Salem, in which he re- mained for eight months, when he sold out to C. W. Vensell, and since then he has been interested in the real estate business, making a specialty of city lots and booming special sales, and his efforts have been crowned with gratifying success, for he has the confidence of the public and conducts his business along safe and conservative lines.
Mr. Simcox was united in marriage May 24, 1896, to Florence Wasem, of Patoka, the cultured and refined daughter of Jacob E. Wasem, a well known citizen of Patoka. Two bright and interesting children have been born to this union, namely: Maude Ellen, whose date of birth occurred August 13, 1897, and Minnie May, who was born November 24, 1903.
Our subject in his fraternal relations be- longs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Centralia Lodge No. 493; also the Marion Lodge No. 525, Knights of Pythias; also the Modern Woodmen of America No. 761, of Patoka. He also be- longs to the Order of Railway Telegraphers.
Our subject has always taken a great in- terest in political matters and public affairs, and he was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee during two campaigns, and he is now a member of the County Ex- ecutive Democratic Committee of Marion county. In public office he has been found most loyal to the public good, and in his business affairs he is ever straight-forward and trustworthy.
ROBERT MARTIN.
It is signally consonant that in this work be incorporated at least a brief resume of the life and labors of Mr. Martin, who has long been one of the influential citizens of Marion county, and through whose loyal efforts the city of Salem and surrounding
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locality have reaped lasting benefits, for his exceptional administrative capacity has been directed along lines calculated to be for the general good. A man of forceful individu- ality and marked initiative power, he has been well equipped for leadership, while his probity of character and his genial personal- ity have gained for him uniform esteem and friendship in the city where he has so long made his home, and of which he is regarded by all classes as one of its most distinguished citizens in connection with the business world.
Robert Martin was born in Estilville, now known as Gate City, Scott county, Virginia, April II, 1839, the son of John S. Martin, also a native of Virginia, and a man of rec- ognized ability, being the representative of a fine old Southern family, noted for its high ideals and unqualified hospitality, his ancestry being Scotch-Irish. John S. Mar- tin was County Clerk for a period of twenty years or more, and he held many other county offices, including a judgeship, and he won universal praise for the able manner in which he discharged his every duty to the public. He was called from his earthly labors in 1865 while living at Alma, this county. The mother of the subject was a Stewart before her marriage, a woman of rare mental equipoise and culture; she passed to her rest soon after the family came to Illinois in 1846.
also attended the Southern Illinois Female College at Salem, which institution ceased to exist soon after the war. He gained a liberal education which has stood him in such good hand during his long and emi- nently active and successful business career. Our subject was one of those loyal sons of the North, who, when the tocsin of war sounded calling loyal sons to defend the old flag, offered his services, enlisting in Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, one of the fa- mous regiments of the state, which was or- ganized at Salem. Mr. Martin was then twenty-one years old. The company left Salem and went to Columbus, Kentucky, and from there to Paducah, that state, later to Pulaski, Tennessee, and from there marched to Chattanooga, where it united with Sherman's army and remained with the same through its historic march to the sea, and also its strenuous campaigns, having participated in the battles at Atlanta and many other notable engagements. After re- maining with him until the close of the war, he took part in the grand review at Wash- ington City, after a very commendable ser- vice of three years. He was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, where he came soon after the review in Washington.
After his career in the army, Mr. Martin launched in the grocery business at Salem, in which he remained for one year, when he Our subject spent his early boyhood on his parental farm at Alma, having been only five years old when the family came here. sold out and went into the more lucrative grain and lumber business, in which he has been engaged for a period of forty-one years He attended school at Alma and Salem. He during which time an enormous volume of
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business has passed through his hands, and he has become widely known as one of the leading men in these lines in Southern Illi- nois, being recognized by the leading dealers throughout this and adjoining states as well as remote parts of the country as a man of the highest business integrity and acumen. He is still conducting a large lumber yard, and carries on a very extensive and thriving business, numbering his customers by the thousands, not only from Salem and vicin- ity, but throughout the county and to remote parts of the country. He owns a beautiful, modern and well furnished residence in one of the most desirable portions of Salem.
Our subject was happily married in 1867 to Alice Scott, a native of Vincennes, In- diana, a woman of affable personality and rare refinement, the daughter of a highly respected and influential family. Three children have been born to this union, one of whom has passed away. They are: Mabel Dora, the wife of W. H. Farsons, of Salem; C. C. Martin, of Salem, and John Lewis Martin, formerly of Salem, now de- ceased.
These children received every possible at- tention from their parents, being given good educations and careful home training.
Mr. Martin assisted in the organization and became one of the first directors and stockholders in the Salem State Bank. He is also a director of the Salem Building and Loan Association, and his sound judgment and able advice is always carefully weighed by the other members of these organizations in their deliberations, for Mr. Martin has a reputation among local business men for
remarkable foresight into all business propo- sitions. Having always been interested in educational affairs, he served as a member and also as president of the School Board of Salem for several years, but he is not at present connected with the board, but during the time that he was the schools of Salem were greatly strengthened.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Martin is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen. He has been a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist church since he was thirteen years old.
CHARLES T. KELL.
This enterprising farmer and representa- tive citizen is a native of Marion county, Illi- nois, and belongs to one of the old and high- ly esteemed pioneer families of Haines town- ship, where his parents, Thomas and Mary (Luke) Kell, settled in an early day and bore an active and influential part in the devel- opment and growth of the community (see sketch of William Kell). Charles T. was born a short distance west of the village of Kell, September 18, 1854, from which date to the present time his life has been very closely identified with Haines township, and as stated above, he now holds worthy pres. tige among the leading agriculturists and public spirited men of the section of country honored by his citizenship.
Reared in close touch with nature in the healthful outdoor life of the farm, he early acquired a vigorous physique and an inde- pendence of mind characteristic of the sturdy
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MR AND MRS. C. T. KELL.
LIBRANI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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son of the soil, and while still quite young he became familiar with the varied duties of agriculture and learned to appreciate the honor and dignity which belong to those who earn their bread by the sweat of the brow. At the proper age he entered the schools of the neighborhood, which he attended at in- tervals until acquiring a practical knowledge of the subjects taught, the meanwhile assist - ing his father on the family homestead and contributing his full share to its cultivation,
After remaining with his parents until at- taining his majority, Charles T. entered into partnership with his brother, John M. Kell. by purchasing a half interest in a saw and grist mill at Foxville, and during the ensu- ing ten years devoted his attention to the manufacture of flour and lumber, meeting with encouraging success in the enterprise and becoming widely known as a wide- awake and thoroughly honorable and reli- able business man. Disposing of his interest in the mill at the expiration of the period in- dicated, he located on his present home farm in Haines township, adjoining the town of Kell on the south, having previously become the possessor of another tract consisting of one hundred and twenty acres in another part of the same township, both of which places he has brought to a high state of cul- tivation and otherwise improved. At the time the railroad was constructed he sold twenty acres, which is now a part of the village of Kell.
As a farmer, Mr. Kell easily ranks with the most enterprising and successful men of his calling in Marion county, being progres-
sive in his methods and using the latest mod- ern implements and machinery and by judi- cious rotation of crops he seldom fails to realize abundant returns from the time and labor devoted to his fields. He also pays considerable attention to the raising of live stock, which he finds quite profitable, and his domestic animals, including horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs, are among the finest breeds obtainable, and from their sale no small share of his liberal income is derived.
Mr. Kell has not been sparing of his means in the matter of improvement, and the beautifying and rendering attractive his home, the large two-story house with its many modern conveniences, being among the most desirable country residences in the township, while his commodious barn, out- buildings, wells, fences and other evidences of prosperity compare favorably with the best in his part of the country. He keeps in close touch with the advancement in agri- cultural science, and fully abreast of the times in reducing the same to practical tests, being progressive in all the term implies, and believes in the latest and most approved methods of modern farming.
In his political faith Mr. Kell is a Repub- lican, and while interested in the success of his party, he has never been a politician, much less an office seeker or aspirant for leadership. In religion he subscribes to the Missionary Baptist creed, and for a number of years his name has adorned the records of that church, having held the office of dea- con five years in the local congregation, to which himself and entire family belong, be-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
sides being otherwise interested in religious and benevolent work. He is superintendent of the Sunday school which he attends, has long been an influential leader in this depart- ment of religious endeavor, and with his wife has been instrumental in arousing an in- terest among the young people of the neigh- borhood and leading not a few of them to the higher life.
Mr. Kell was married in the year 1881 to Rebecca C. Purdue, of Haines township, daughter of Richard and Caroline (Har- mon) Purdue, early settlers of Marion coun- ty and among the highly respected people of their locality (see history of the Purdue family). Mr. and Mrs. Kell have four chil- dren, the oldest of whom, a daughter by the name of Iva May, is the wife of R. A. Jef- fries, of Haines township, and the mother of one child, Trevor Jeffries. The other chil- dren, two daughters and one son, are still under the parental roof, their names in order of birth being as follows: Myrtle, Ellis and Ethel. Mr. Kell has taken great interest in the rearing and educating of his children and they in turn have responded to his every effort in their behalf. The children all re- ceived liberal educational advantages in the public schools and also at Ewing Baptist College at Ewing, Ill. Ethel graduated at the age of seventeen from that institution in instrumental music. The family is one of the best known and most highly esteemed in the county and the name which is an old and honorable one has long been synonymous for noble manhood and womanhood and a high order of citizenship.
HENRY HORD.
Aside from his connections with the civic affairs of Clay county, the subject of this sketch has long been an influential factor in the general business and industrial interests of the county during his entire life, which has been spent here, everything calculated to advance the community, materially or otherwise, receiving his support and hearty co-operation. He is unwavering in his al- legiance to what he believes is right, and upholds his honest convictions at the sacri- fice, if necessary, of every other interest. Conscientious in the discharge of his duties of citizenship, he is a valued member of the body politic, and his aim has ever been to shape his life according to the highest stand- ard of excellence, therefore he has won the esteem and confidence of all who know him.
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