USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 18
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 18
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 18
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Our subject was a good manager and was successful. After he married he purchased six hundred acres in Wayne county, on which he lived for a time, later moving to Olney, where he has recently built a beauti- ful home, up-to-date in every detail. For many years he has been extensively engaged in stock raising, being an excellent judge of stock and always keeping many good varie- ties. He is a man of great energy and a hard worker, possessing excellent judgment, conservative in his business transactions. He deserves a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, for he started with only one hundred and twenty acres of raw land and has gradually increased his holdings until he now owns four thousand acres of valuable land in the Yazoo Valley, Missis- sippi, also three thousand acres of timber land, together with lands in Texas and the old homestead in Ohio, which he bought from the heirs.
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the stock having been increased, it being one of the soundest institutions in this part of the state. One of the subject's sons is look- ing after his interests. In 1902 he disposed of his interest in the bank to his partners. Mr. Baughman is still very active but does not handle stock on a very extensive scale at present, which proved to be so profitable during his earlier business career, making a fortune, being easily the richest man in Richland county, and not a dishonest dollar has passed through his hands.
Mr. Baughman was married March 28, 1861, to Gabriella Reeder, who was born in Cincinnati, the daughter of Elijah and Lu- cinda (Smith) Reeder, who were born near Dayton, Ohio, and who came to Richland county in the fall of 1853, settling on a farm in Madison township. In 1871 they moved to Kansas, later to Missouri, and died in Harrison, Arkansas.
leaving one daughter, Ella M., who lives with the subject and wife; Frank graduated from the Olney schools in 1901, then spent three years at the University of Illinois, at Champaign, having stood at the head of his class in chemistry and making an excellent record as a student. During certain experi- mental work he was poisoned by gases from which he died in February, 1907. Carl R., the subject's youngest child, resides at Rich- land, Washington, where he is engaged in the fruit industry. These children are in- dustrious and well situated in reference to this world's affairs.
Mr. Baughman is a Republican, but he is not a politician, not having time to devote much attention to the affairs of his party.
He was appointed by Governor John P. Altgeld one of the trustees of the State Nor- mal University at Carbondale, having been on the financial and building committees. He served as Supervisor of Richland county for one term, during which time bonds were re- funded to the amount of two hundred thou- sand dollars, which redeemed the bonds over which there had been litigaton to the amount of more than three hundred thousand dol- lars.
Our subject and wife are the parents of eight children who grew to maturity and are still living, as follows: Edmund J. resides in Duncan, Mississippi, where he owns a plantation and also manages that of his father, and is a very successful business man; Lucinda married James Wilson, who resides on a farm in Wayne county, where Mr. and Mrs. Baughman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Olney, and liberal subscribers to the same, Mr. Baughman having been one of the principal supporters of the new church building recent- ly erected, which would be a credit to cities much larger than Olney. she died in 1900; Lottie married J. M. Wi- nans, a groceryman of Olney; Harry C. re- sides in Greenville, Mississippi, where he owns and operates an extensive plantation ; William R. resides in Southwestern Texas, being engaged in farming and the land busi- ness ; Ola married George H. Bainum, who In business matters Mr. Baughman is died in Independence, Missouri, in 1904, prompt, energetic, trustworthy. He has a
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good fund of that quality too often lacking in the business world-common sense. Since starting out in life for himself he has been self-reliant and progressive. It is all attributable to the splendid qualities of head and heart of which he is possessed, and which he has most judiciously exercised. And because of his honest and active career no resident in Richland county is more de- serving of honorable mention in this vol- ume.
WILLIAM JASPER YOUNG.
The subject of this biographical review is among the pioneer farmers of Iuka town- ship, Marion county, where he has long maintained his home, being one of the na- tive sons of the county who have done so much to develop Marion in all her phases until she ranks with the leading counties of the great Prairie state, and now in the golden evening of his life this venerable citizen is enjoying the fruits of a well spent life and the esteem of a wide circle of friends. .
William Jasper Young was born in Mar- ion county, Illinois, June 21, 1826, in Cen- tralia township, the son of Edward and Sarah C. (Duncan) Young, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ten- nessee. Edward Young grew up in Vir- ginia, and when he reached maturity he moved to Kentucky, later came to Indiana and prior to 1826 settled in Marion county, Illinois. He was a plasterer and bricklayer,
and he made his home in several different places after coming to Illinois, among them being Alton, St. Louis, Belleville, Centralia and Salem. Later in life he settled on the farm. Edward Young was born June 8, 1803, and died June 9, 1876. He was a sol- dier in the Black Hawk war. He was, early in life, a Democrat, and he cut down the first Whig pole ever erected in Salem. However, he later became a Republican. These children were born to Edward Young and wife, as follows: Lysander Franklin, William Jasper, our subject; Julia Ann, de- ceased; Letta Jane, deceased; James, de- ceased; Harriet, deceased; Edward, living in Minnesota ; Sarah also lives in Minnesota.
Sarah C. Duncan, mother of the subject, was born July 22, 1808, and died November 9, 1886. She was a woman of many beau- tiful traits of character.
The subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm from the time he was old enough to work, and he has followed farm- ing all his life. In 1852 he came to his present farm in Iuka township, Marion county, having bought a part of it from the government or state. At that time the for- ests abounded in much wild game, such as deer, wolves, wild turkey. He has seen many a herd of deer from his cabin door. He cleared up the land and now has a model farm and modern farm buildings, all well kept, and his home is nicely and comfort- ably furnished. A glance over his well tilled and well fenced fields is sufficient to show that he is a man of thrift and rare soundness of judgment. He has in all about
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three hundred acres, but he now rents out the land and is practically retired. He han- dles some good stock of various varieties.
April 13, 1847, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Sarah J. Songer, who was born in Washington county, Indiana, Au- gust 7, 1828, the daughter of Frederick and Jane (Helm) Songer, natives of Virginia, but they came to Washington county, In- diana, when young and married there, and in 1828 came to Clay county, Illinois, where they lived for a time. In 1835 they came to Marion county, settling in Omega town- ship, where they farmed and where they died. They were members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Eleven children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Amanda Elmira died in childhood; Marcus D. married Sarah Bobbett and they have two children, Franklin and Ada; Mary E. is the wife of George Cox, of Salem, Illinois; Emily El- vina is the wife of William Robinson, a farmer living in Iuka township, and she is the mother of two children, Ernest Roy and Flo; Eliza Alice, deceased, was the wife of Perry Cox and she left two children, Wil- liam Jasper and George; Jennie is the wife of Grant Bumgarner, who lives in Texas; Douglas married Irena Buffington and they have two children, Charles and Ruth; Paul married Martha Criffield; Fred married Elva Wooden and they have three children, Pearl, Winafred and Verl; the tenth and eleventh children of the subject died un- named.
dren. He and his good wife are now both more than eighty years old and are remark- ably bright and active people for their years and considering the long years of hard work they both have done. Their happy, pros- perous and harmonious wedded life extends over sixty years of time and they have cele- brated their golden wedding anniversary. They are among the highly respected and prominent citizens of the county and greatly admired and beloved by everyone who knows them. Our subject is a loyal Demo- crat. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Iuka. They have always contributed liberally to church work, also have helped out school work and all kinds of public enterprises. Fraternally Mr. Young has belonged to the Masons since 1863.
Mr. Young was one of the brave and patriotic supporters of the Union who of- fered his services and his life in its defense during the War of the Re- bellion, having enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Eleventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, August 8, 1862, and served in a most gallant manner until the close of the war. He was mustered in at Salem, Illinois, and mustered out in Washington, District of Columbia, and dis- charged at Springfield, Illinois. He was in the Second Brigade, Second Division, Fif- teenth Army Corps, under General John A. Logan. He first did post duty at Columbus, Ohio, awhile, and then, in 1864, joined Sherman in his campaign about Atlanta,
Our subject has three great-grandchil- and was in the first battle of Resaca and in
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the last battle of Shiloh. He also fought at Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta; in fact, he was in all the fighting around At- lanta. The last hard fight he was in was at Atlanta, Georgia. He was taken prisoner in front of Atlanta July 22, 1864, and after being transferred to various prisons in the South for a period of seven months, was finally paroled and later exchanged at Wil- mington, North Carolina.
Mr. Young has always been a man of in- dustry and he has honestly made what he has, having been a hard worker and a good manager. He has led a life of which no one might be ashamed in any way, for it has been one of sobriety and filled with good deeds.
HIRAM ORR.
Now that the summertime of life has ended and the autumn winds of old age have come, the subject of this review can look backward over a career that has been well spent, resulting in good to those whom it touched and has brought comfort to him- self.
Hiram Orr was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 16, 1828, the son of Zach- ariah and Mary (Dusthimer) Orr, early settlers of the Buckeye state, where it is ยท snpposed they were born. Zachariah was a farmer, a Democrat, and a member of the Baptist church. He passed away in Lick- ing county, Ohio, in 1891, his wife having -died there at an earlier date. Six children
were born to them, namely: Robert, living in Licking county, Ohio; Hiram, our sub- ject ; Sarah, deceased; John, who is living in Kansas, a retired farmer; Cyrus, de- ceased; Eliza, also deceased. Zachariah was married a second time. When he died he had accumulated quite a competency, having been a very successful farmer.
Our subject remained at his parental home, assisting with the work about the place and attending the old pioneer schools in cabins with puncheon floors and seats and windows where greased paper was used for panes, until he was twenty-one years old. He has since added very much to the rudiments of education he gained there by systematic home reading and study, and close observation. When of age Mr. Orr decided to devote his life work to farming and consequently bought a farm in his na- tive county, having managed it in a most successful manner until October 1, 1868, when he moved to Marion county, Illinois, believing that still greater advantages ex- isted here on the less crowded western prairies than in the East and where land was much cheaper, having sold his Ohio farm at good figures.
Mr. Orr purchased two hundred and sev- enty-four acres of land in Stevenson town- ship on which he continuously lived, bring- ing it up to a high state of improvement, in fact, making it one of the "show" farms of this locality, the fields being well fenced and well drained and kept in first class pro- ductive condition through the careful rota- tion of crops and the application of home
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fertilizers, and on this place may always be found large numbers of all kinds of live stock of the best grade, Mr. Orr having ever taken a great interest in stock of vari- ous kinds. A modern, substantial and nice- ly furnished residence is owned by Mr. Orr and good barns and outbuildings in gen- eral are found about the place. Mr. Orr at present rents most of his land, but still over- sees it, keeping it up to the high standard of former years.
In 1849 our subject was united in mar- riage with Mary Basom, who was born in Perry county, Ohio, about 1830, the daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Emery, natives of New England. Three children were born to this union, namely: Frances, who is the wife of Peter M. Mechling, a farmer living in Perry county, Ohio. They are the parents of four children, namely : Hiram Orvil, Bertha, Frank and Fred, the last two twins; Martha, the second child of our subject, is the wife of Marion Tolliver Stevenson, who is living in Alma township, Marion county, this state, and are the par- ents of these children, Edgar, Mabel, Orin, Roy, Edna, Claud and Lloyd. Edith, the subject's third child, is the wife of John P. Brubaker, who is also living in Alma town- ship, being the mother of two children, Ha- zel and Ada.
These children received all the home training possible and were given good edu- cations, each being well situated in life.
Mr. Orr is a staunch Democrat in his political affiliation, although he has never
taken a very active part in public affairs. He ably filled the position of School Director and his support is always to be depended upon in any issue having for its object the betterment of the community in any way. The subject and wife are kind, hos- pitable and good natured, making all who enter their home feel like they were among friends.
RICHARD J. HOLSTLAW.
Among the best known and highly re- spected families of Marion county is found the one bearing the name that forms the caption of this article. Richard J. Holstlaw was born in this county on the 3d of April, 1837. He still lives on the farm where he was born and during this span of life he has witnessed most wonderful changes in the progress and development of the country.
Mr. Holstlaw is descended from those hardy pioneers that crossed the mountains into Kentucky and Tennessee, blazing the way through the wilderness, opening up for colonization and occupancy the rich hunting grounds south of the Ohio. This tide of immigrants gradually worked its way westward and northward, crossing the Ohio into Indiana and Illinois and blending here with the settlers coming from Pennsylvania, New York and New England.
Our subject's father, Daniel S. Holstlaw, was born near Glasgow, Kentucky, in 1813, toward the close of the second war with
R. J. HOLSTLAW.
Ut THE . 1 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
England. The treaty at the conclusion of this war stimulated the westward movement and when Daniel was eight years old he came to Paoli, Indiana, with his parents. His mother, Ruth (Middleton) Holstlaw, a native of Tennessee, was the eleventh of fourteen children and came to Marion county, Illinois, in 1833. At the age of nineteen years, Daniel Holstlaw left the Hoosier state and immigrated to Marion county, Illinois. Here he entered a claim and also purchased some land, paying seven dollars per acre. At this time the country was still in its primitive state, and the six children, of whom our subject was the sec- ond, became quite familiar with early day methods of getting along.
Among other things that Mr. Holstlaw relates are his school experiences. The ex- pense of paying for an instructor was met on the subscription plan, and all the neigh- bors joined in to obtain the privilege of a schooling for their children. Wild game of all kinds still abounded in the forests and furnished part of the food for the settlers. One morning Mr. Holstlaw counted thirty- seven deer-after a night when the prairie was on fire, when they could be seen clearly -to say nothing of other game, so abundant then, but so rarely seen now. When we re- flect over to the fact that such a span of years has witnessed so great a contrast be- tween the present conditions and those of that day, it seems almost a fiction. Yet one needs but to ponder over the wonderful changes of the last decade to convince him
that we are even now already in the shadow of what will come tomorrow. While now the traction engine pulls the series of break- ing plows rapidly through the sod, Mr. Holstlaw recalls the time when he followed the four yoke of patient oxen that com- posedly drew through the virgin soil the hand-made plow of hickory wood. Today the hay-loader puts the sweet-scented prod- uct of the meadow on the wagon and at the driver's feet, while then the dogwood fork, whittled by hand, was the only tool avail- able. Fur and hides were hauled to St. Louis, seventy-five miles away, and court was held in a log structure at the county seat of Salem.
We shall now turn our attention to the domestic relations of our subject. In 1863 he was joined in marriage to Mary (Gag- ger) Barry. This union, though happy, was destined to be brief, for ere long the young wife was called hence, followed soon after by her infant child. On July 18, 1869, Mr. Holstlaw took as his second wife Ra- chel Barry, this union resulting in the birth of the following children: Effie I., who became the wife of Louis Barksdale; the son is Forrest D., the second daughter of the family, Carrie A., has become the wife of Walter K. Shook.
In his political affiliations Mr. Holstlaw has adhered to the Democratic party, and he is a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He and his wife are well known in the entire community as ex- emplary and worthy citizens.
II
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HENRY SPRING.
This biographical memoir has to do with a character of unusual force and eminence, for Henry Spring, whose life chapter has been closed by the fate that awaits us all, was for a long lapse of years one of the prominent citizens of Richland county, hav- ing come to this section in pioneer times, and he assisted in every way possible in bringing about the transformation of the county from the wild condition found by the first settlers to its later day progress and improvement. While he carried on a special line of business in such a manner as to gain a comfortable competence for himself, he also belonged to that class of representative citizens who promote the public welfare while advancing individual success. There were in him sterling traits which com- manded uniform confidence and regard, and his memory is today honored by all who knew him, and is enshrined in the hearts of his many friends.
Henry Spring was born near Sheffield, England, December 2, 1806, the son of Thomas and Margaret (Bishop) Spring, also natives of England. Thomas Spring was a professional landscape gardener. He was the father of five sons, namely : Sidney, Archibald, Henry, John and George. The family emigrated to America in 1819, the father dying in Pennsylvania on the over- land trip to Illinois. The mother and chil- dren located on a farm in Edwards county, near Albion, this state. Henry and John remained on the farm during the lifetime
of their mother. Henry Spring, our sub- ject, was thirteen years old when he came to Illinois, and where he received most of his education in the subscription schools. However, he began his education in England. The mother was highly educated and taught at home. Henry was in business a short time near Evansville, Indiana, later return- ing to Edwards county, where he married in January, 1842. He came to Olney and was the second merchant to engage in busi- ness. His store was located in a small room belonging to T. W. Lilley, being a part of his residence. He was a typical pioneer and had a country stock of goods which he bought on credit, which proved to be the foundation of a later fortune. In the fall of 1842 he built a frame building at the corner of Main and Fair streets, with living rooms in the rear. About 1855 he sold out to P. P. Bower. In 1856 he built a brick building at the southwest corner of Main and Boone streets, and about 1859 again engaged in the merchandise business. The ground on which the building stands was bought from the government by T. W. Lilley, transferred to John Allen and then to the subject of this sketch, and is still owned by his family. In 1848 he built a two-story frame building for a residence at the southeast corner of Main and Fair streets, which was very pretentious for those days. In 1866 he retired from the mercantile business and in the store build- ing now owned by his sons, plans for the organization of the First National Bank were consummated in December, 1865, he being one of the instigators and the leading
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spirit in the enterprise, and Mr. Spring was made its first president, which position he held with great credit to his ability for a pe- riod of twenty years, with the exception of one year. In the same store room in 1883 plans were formulated for the organization of the Olney National Bank, and our sub- ject having severed his connection with the First National Bank, became president and principal stockholder of the new bank, re- maining at the head of the same for six years. He became known as a man of the strictest integrity, his word being as good as his bond, and those dealing with him were required as much. His life was de- voted to his family, for he avoided society, not caring for any public display, and he be- longed to no secret orders and was affiliated with no church, neither had he any political aspirations except to vote the Republican ticket, having originally been a Whig. He was a very successful business man, being conservative, careful and exercised various English traits of character, and he accumu- lated an honest fortune. He was a patriotic man and served in the Black Hawk war.
After a long, honorable and successful career, Henry Spring was called from his labors August 20, 1890, being nearly eighty-four years old, having been active and in possession of all his faculties up to within a few years prior to his death. He was a man of great strength and vitality in his prime.
Henry Spring was united in mariage De- cember 31, 1841, to Caroline Russell Mount, a native of Nantuckett Island, the
daughter of Freeman Marshall and Mary Ann (Russell) Mount, natives of Massa- chusetts.
Twelve children were born to the subject and wife, four of whom died in infancy. The eight living children are as follows: Mary, who was the first white child born in what is now the town of Olney, having been born November 22, 1842; she married Thomas W. Scott, who was in partnership with her father in 1865. He is now Attor- ney General of Illinois. Florence is the second living child, and is the wife of John H. Senseman, cashier of the Olney bank ; Edward M., is a business man in Olney ; Caroline M. is living at home; Elizabeth is the wife of Medford Powell, of Olney ; Laura is a member of the family circle; Harry B. is in business in Olney: Kate L. is the wife of Doctor Watkins, of Olney.
Mrs. Spring, a woman of gracious per- sonality, survived her husband until June 20, 1904, when she passed to her rest, being past eighty-three years of age.
Edward M. Spring, son of our subject. was born in Olney, Illinois, July 30, 1852, being reared in Olney, where he received his education in the public schools. He also attended Asbury College, now DePauw University, but he did not graduate from that institution, however, he made a splen- did record for scholarship. When eighteen years of age he went to Kansas, where he spent two years. In 1872 he engaged in the seed and produce business, and has success- fully continued in the same ever since, be- ing in the store room formerly built and oc-
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cupied by his father. James G. Hollister was his partner for sixteen years, and in 1888 the firm became Spring Brothers, which is still the name of the firm. A very large business has been built up and a good trade is carried on throughout this locality.
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