USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 27
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 27
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 27
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THE BRYAN FAMILY.
(By Mrs. Anna Torrence.)
In giving the genealogy of the Bryan family, who have long been considered among the most noted and highly esteemed of Marion county, Illinois, there are some characteristics which the reader will at once note as being particularly strong and plainly marked throughout the entire line- age. First, as a family whose veracity is never questioned; second, they are noted for being strictly honest in every detail of social,
political and business life; third, those who are Christians are very devoted, believing emphatically in a prayer hearing and prayer answering God, believing that He guides man in every right act of life. The pub- lishers of this work are glad to be able to give their readers an insight into the life records of this remarkable family and can state with all authenticity that the sketches contained herein are to be relied upon.
William Bryan, the great-grandfather of Hon. William J. Bryan, was born in Eng- land and was married there, having come to America before the Revolutionary war, set- tling in Culpeper county, Virginia. Five children were born to them, namely: James, John, Aquilla, Francis and Elizabeth. James moved to Barren county, Kentucky. Aquilla went to Ohio. One of the girls mar- ried a man named Baldwin. Nothing fur- ther is known of these families at present.
John Bryan, the second son and grand- father of Hon. William J. Bryan, was born in 1790. In 1807 he married Nancy Lillard, a representative of one of the finest old southern families of Virginia, and she is re- membered as a very refined and cultured woman, endowed with more than ordinary intelligence. In 1828 they moved to Cobal county, Virginia, and lived there two years. From there they moved to Mason county, Virginia, where they lived and passed to their rest and where they lie buried. To them ten children were born. The oldest, William W., was born in 1808. He mar- ried Emily Smith and about 1838 moved to Lincoln county, Missouri, near Troy. They
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were the parents of four children, namely : William Hamilton, John J., Callie and Vir- ginia. William W. Bryan reached an old age and died a few years ago, his wife fol- lowing him to the other shore only a few months later. William H. Bryan is an honored and respected citizen of Troy, Mis- souri, and he has a nice Christian family. Callie and Virginia are noble Christian women. John J. is deceased. John J. Bryan, Sr., died in early manhood. Howard died in infancy. Jane, the oldest daughter, married Joseph Cheney, a wealthy hat man- ufacturer of Gallipolis, Ohio. She was left a widow with six small children whom she reared to be useful women and men. Their names were: Robert, Mary, Russell, Linna, Harriet and Emma. She spent the last few years of her life at various places, wherever she preferred to stay, spending seven years with the family of Judge Silas L. Bryan. The last three years of her life she lived with Mrs. Mollie Webster, one of her nieces, whom she comforted in her early widow- hood. She was the idolized aunt around whom all the nieces and nephews clustered, who regarded her as an earthly saint. She was never heard to utter an unkind word against any of God's creations. The night she was called from earth she praised God aloud with every shortening breath.
Nancy Bryan married George Baltzell and moved to Walnut Hill, Illinois, where she died. Two sons were born to them, Silas L. and Russell B. Both are active business men, the former living at Ham- mond, Louisiana, and the latter at Cen-
tralia, Illinois. Nancy is described as a very handsome woman, refined and cul- tured. To her early training, motherly care and prayers, Judge Silas L. Bryan owed much of his success in life.
Martha Bryan married Homer Smith, of Gallipolis, Ohio, and moved to Illinois. She was left a widow with two small girls, Jane and Mary. She was called from earth before the girls were grown. Jane made her home with Russell Bryan and Mary with Judge Bryan's family. Jane was a suc- cessful school teacher for several years. The mother was a very devoted Christian and always had family prayers and is today a sainted mother. The youngest daughter, Mary, now Mrs. Mollie Webster, has been a widow several years. She manages a large farm very successfully, and she is a great temperance and church worker. She has been county president of the White Ribbon Army for a number of years and is also treasurer of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in the Twenty-first Con- gressional District of Illinois. It was she who taught Hon. William J. Bryan his little infant prayers. She taught and trained him in his first boyhood speeches. When he was in Salem once visiting his old home they re- viewed some of the scenes and incidents of their interesting childhood days.
Dr. Robert Bryan was killed in a steam- boat explosion.
Silas L. Bryan, father of Hon. William J. Bryan, was born in Culpeper Court House, Virginia, in 1822. He came to Illi- nois in 1842, where he lived, died and was
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buried. He worked on a farm at nine dollars to the care of her family. She was truly "a a month, saving his money to defray his ex- penses at McKendree College. During the winter while at college he would chop wood on Saturdays to help pay expenses. Many of his colleagues made fun of him, but in after years many of them, came to borrow money of him and to seek his legal advice. He was a man of sterling qualities, the kind that always make for success when rightly and persistently applied. He was a very devout Christian, always had family prayers, and he promised the Lord if He would prosper him to get through college he would pray three times a day the rest of his life. This promise he faithfully kept, praying morn- ing and evening at his home, and at noon wherever he happened to be. He would drop on his knees and ask God's blessings. He was a member of the Marion county bar for a period of thirty years, a member of the State Senate for eight years, and for twelve years was Circuit Judge of this judicial district. He was a member of the convention that framed the present state constitution of Illinois. He was a man of unusual tact, shrewdness, soundness of judgment and force of character, and it was from him that Hon. William J. Bryan in- herited his gift of oratory and his brilliant intellect. He imbued the boy with lofty ideals and taught him by example and pre- cept how to make a grand and noble man.
Silas L. Bryan married Mariah Elizabeth Jennings, a woman of many praiseworthy traits and a devoted Christian wife and mother. She gave the best part of her life
mother in Israel." To this union were born nine children, namely: John H., Virginia, William J., Russell, Harry, Frances, Charles, Nancy and Mary. John and Vir- ginia died within six weeks of each other when young. William J. was born March 17, 1860. He was taught at home until ten years of age, after which he attended the public schools for five years, during which time he gave evidence of being a most pre- cocious child and one to whom the future augured great things. He afterward at- tended college at Jacksonville, Illinois, where he made a brilliant record for both scholarship and deportment. He then studied law in Chicago in the office of Ly- man Trumbull, making rapid progress from the first. He was admitted to the bar and successfully practiced for some time, finally entering the political arena, since which time his career has been too meteoric to need reviewing here, since his record is well known to all, and is given in detail in an- other part of this volume. Russell Bryan died in early manhood. Frances has a nice comfortable home in Shaw, Mississippi, and is a jolly, whole-souled woman, loved by everyone. Charles is a very successful busi- ness man in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nancy is a quiet, refined and modest girl. She was at one time William J.'s private secretary. Mary, the youngest of the family, became a successful school teacher. She has winning ways and is a great favorite. Russell Bryan, the youngest brother of Judge Bryan, came to Salem in 1841. He was
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familiarly known to all as "Uncle Russ," being well known throughout the county. He was endowed with a wonderful memory. Often when dates or records of events seemed obscure he was referred to, and sel- dom failed to give the correct names, dates or places desired. He had stock scales in Sa- lem for thirty years, or since 1878, and his weights were never questioned. He never went in debt for anything, and he never had a law suit, and as a result of his upright life he was honored and respected by all who knew him. He married Amanda L. Tully, who was always a very bright and active woman, a fine financier and business woman of unusual ability and acumen. Twelve children have been born to this union as follows: Anna E., Alice J., John E., Lewis O., Andrew R., Mark T., Silas L., Rosa A. The ninth in order of birth died in infancy. Minnie M. was next in order; then Emma A. and Adis M. Anna chose the teacher's profession when quite young. She success- fully taught for twenty-four years, and after she became a widow and had reached the meridian of life attended one of the state normals and graduated therefrom, since which time she taught in a normal train- ing school in Chicago and later in Salem. Alice J. is a very domestic woman, and her's is one of the coziest homes in Salem. She is a natural artist and at one time was quite a cultured singer. John E. is a prosperous lawyer in Salem. He was a school teacher for many years, and has served as Master in Chancery for eight years. He is noted for his honor and integrity. (A fuller
sketch of John E. Bryan appears elsewhere in this volume. ) Lewis O. is a lawyer at Van Buren, Arkansas, and is quite wealthy. He is noted for his true philanthropy and is the poor man's friend. Andrew R. lives in Salem and is highly esteemed by all who know him. Mark T. died when six years old. Silas L. died in infancy. Rosa A. lives a mile from Van Buren, Arkansas, on a fine fruit farm. She is a woman of thrift and has a bright, interesting family. Min- nie M. is a resident of Indianapolis. Emma A. resides in Centralia, this county. Adis M. is in the real estate business at Van Buren, Arkansas, and has become noted as a politician.
Elizabeth Bryan, the judge's youngest sister, married George Baltzell, and they live at Deer Ridge, St. Louis county, Mis- souri. She is the mother of the following children, namely: Anna, Albert, Florence, Edwin. The last named died while in col- lege. They are influential and highly re- spected in their community.
Thus it is no wonder that this family should become so useful and influential and should be leaders of society in its various phases, when we consider how they have kept the even tenor of their way, how they were reared in "the fear and admonition of the Lord," and how they have kept the faith of their worthy ancestors, maintaining in all the relations of life that strict in- tegrity and loyalty of principle to lofty ideals and honorable records in private, commercial, professional and public life. The influence for good to humanity and
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the amelioration of the human race of such a noble family is too far-reaching and in- scrutable to be measured or contemplated with any degree of accuracy. Truly such characters are as "a shining light which grows more and more unto the perfect day," purifying, refining, strengthening and en- couraging the wayworn traveler on life's rugged steeps, teaching the less courageous that he who would ascend to the heights of life where the purer atmosphere that in- spires the souls of men may be breathed, must be true, loyal, ambitious, energetic, honorable and of indomitable energy
THE CUNNINGHAM FAMILY.
The name of Cunningham has long been an honored one in Clay county, Illinois, where for several generations have lived most worthy representatives of the family, who were, and are, always to be found associated with every movement which promised an addition to the community's wealth and ma- terial advancement. Especially is this true of the late John M. Cunningham, for many years a valued and honored citizen of Flora, and his son, Charles S., the prominent busi- ness man and present head of the city govern- ment. The family is of Scotch origin and descends from an old and honored one of Vir- ginia, where was born Benjamin F. Cun- ningham, who, when a young man, made his way westward and settled in Clay county, becoming one of its earliest pioneers. He
first located in the southern part of the county along Cottonwood creek and there engaged in the milling industry. His equipment was crude and his labor arduous, but by sturdy industry he succeeded. Later he came to Flora and engaged in the banking business under the firm name of the Cunningham and Harter Savings Bank. It was one of the pioneer institutions of the locality. This business he conducted with much ability un- til withn a year of his death which occurred in 1876. He possessed many rare and excel- lent traits of character, and abounding in- dustry and was much honored and es- teemed. Among his children was John M.
John Minor Cunningham was born near Flora, March 24, 1844, and was there reared and grew to manhood. He acquired such an education as the community afforded which was broadened in later life by reading, association, contact and native intelligence. He was associated with his father for some time in various enterprises, finally embark- ing in the jewelry business which he con- ducted profitably for many years. He was directly and indirectly connected with vari- ous other enterprises, ever putting his shoul- der to the wheel of progress, and was deeply interested in the growth and advancement of his native county, and in all that per- tained to its welfare.
Mr. Cunningham first married on January I, 1866, Jennie E. Hawkins, whose early death occurred on September 24, 1874. To this union three children were born, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are Charles S., and Clyde L., the latter a resident
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of Julesburg, Colorado. The mother of these, whose death was sincerely mourned, was of Scotch ancestry, her mother and grandmother having emigrated from Scot- land.
On February 3, 1876, Mr. Cunningham again married, the lady being Mary Eliza- beth Finch, a direct descendant of Sir Hene- age Finch, who was born in Kent, England, in 1621, and whose eldest son, Heneage, was first Earl of Nottingham and was Lord Chancellor of England. Mrs. Cunningham was born September 25, 1854, and was the first white child born in Flora. To this marriage there came children as follows: Fremont, who died in infancy; Nelle, born September 29, 1875, and married Jerry J. Bowman, October 22, 1902, and Max F., born April 14, 1883.
Mr. Cunningham was a member of Flora Lodge No. 204, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Order of the Eastern Star No. 105. Royal Arch Chapter No. 154, and of Grand Commandery No. 14, Knights Templar. He was much attached to these orders and highly prized the associations there enjoyed. He attended the Knights Templar conclaves at Boston, Louisville and Denver. At his death the funeral auspices were conducted by Gorin Commandery No. 14, of Olney. He and his wife were for many years regular attend- ants and liberal contributors of the First Presbyterian church of Flora and of whose board of trustees he was an honored mem- ber. At the death of Mr. Cunningham, which occurred suddenly and unexpectedly March 13, 1906, fitting and appropriate reso-
lutions were adopted by the various commer- cial, religious and fraternal units with which he was connected, and from these we quote the following :. "From among us there has been taken a loving husband, a kind and in- dulgent father, a faithful friend, a genial companion, a successful business man and honored citizen and one whose place can not be filled."
At a special meeting of the directors of the Flora National Bank, of which he was a director from January, 1893, to his death, suitable resolutions were drawn and spread upon the minutes. In part these resolutions said: "His counsels were always wise and at all meetings he took a prominent part. We feel our great loss and will miss the sound advice which he was ever ready and compe- tent to give, and his good judgment in all matters pertaining to the bank." Resolutions of like character were adopted by the Ma- sonic and other bodies.
Of Mr. Cunningham on old friend has written : "A grand life indeed was that of John Minor Cunningham, a life set to the Golden Rule, to kind acts and ways, helpful at needed times, a friend to his fellowman, assisting, if it were a loss to him, aiding, if the sacrifice fell on him, and in an active business career covering many years he was ever fair and just in his dealings. He was associated with Flora from its infant state, aided in its growth, assisted in the introduc- tion of its schools, churches and public in- stitutions. He was foremost in establishing business in Flora, co-operating with the best interests of the city 'and its rural districts,
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daring and bold in the advocacy of social tages. Aside from his official duties and his order, sober living, good government and fair and honest transactions of business."
Charles S. Cunningham, son of John M., was born in Flora, March 27, 1870, and, like his father, has lived there all of his life. He attended the public schools, afterwards en- tering the jewelry store of his father. He long ago mastered every detail of the busi- ness and conducts perhaps the leading estab- lishment in that line of trade in Southern Illinois.
Mr. Cunningham married in 1890, Eva L., daughter of John Jackson, of Allegan, Michi- gan. To this union two sons have been born, Rexford J., and Charles J. He has figured somewhat conspicuously in the politi- cal affairs of Flora and was first elected City Treasurer, in which capacity he served two years; he was then Alderman for two years and in the spring of 1907 he was elected Mayor of Flora and has given the city an economical, efficient and thoroughly moral administration, taking the same care and interest in public affairs as he does in those of purely personal nature. Mr. Cunning- ham, it may be here stated, has not sought for or accepted office because of the honor that might be attached thereto, but has been actuated solely by a desire to lend the best efforts that is in him toward the maintenance of law and order and the growth and ad- vancement of the city and its commercial, moral and material worth. He has been es- pecially vigorous in the enforcement of lo- cal option laws and is earnestly advocating a system of water and other municipal advan-
personal affairs, Mr. Cunningham is also prominently connected with various other enterprises, being a director and vice-presi- dent of the First National Bank of Flora, a director of the Breese-Trenton Coal and Mining Company and of the Friend Tele- phone company of Flora. He is a Repub- lican in politics ; fraternally he is a member of the Flora Lodge No. 204, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Ben-Hur lodge. He is a member of the Illinois State Historical So- ciety of Springfield, and both he and Mrs. Cunningham are members of the Methodist church of Flora. Mr. Cunningham appears entirely capable of emulating the example of his worthy progenitors and is closely follow- ing in their footsteps. He possesses an un- blemished character, a strict integrity, an in- telligent appreciation of his responsibilities and a faculty of accomplishment. He fully realizes that these traits of character have described through the blood of his ancestry and to whatever heights he may be destined to ascend, his most valued possession, his greatest pride shall ever be that priceless her- itage of his forefathers-an honored name.
LEVI MONROE KAGY.
In the collection of material for the bio- graphical department of this publication there has been a constant aim to use a wise discrimination in regard to the selection of
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subjects and to exclude none worthy of rep- resentation within its pages. Here will be found mention of worthy citizens of all vo- cations, and at this juncture we are per- mitted to offer a resume of the career of one of the substantial and highly esteemed, in fact, one of the leaders of the industrial world of this section of the state, where he has long maintained his home and where he has attained a high degree of success in his chosen field of labor and enterprise.
Levi Monroe Kagy, the popular and well known president of the Salem State Bank, of Salem, Marion county, Illinois, was born near Tiffin, Senaca county, Ohio, December 15, 1855, the son of David Kagy, also a native of Seneca county, who came to Marion county, Illinois, in the year 1859. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits which he made successful and at the time became a man of much influence in his com- munity and well known as a scrupulously honest and public-spirited citizen. He was called from his earthly labors February 8, 1887, after a very active and useful life. The mother of the subject was known in her maidenhood as Sarah Milley. She is a woman of many estimable traits and is the recipient of the admiration and esteem of a large coterie of friends and acquaintances in the vicinity where she is still living in 1908 on the old homestead where she and her worthy life companion settled nearly a half century ago. To Mr. and Mrs. David Kagy were born only two children, Alice A. a woman of fine attributes, who is making her home with her mother; and Levi Mon-
roe, our subject. The parents spared no pains in giving these children every pos- sible care and advantage and the wholesome environment of their home life is clearly re- flected in the lives of the subject and his sister.
Our subject lived on the parental farm until he was twenty-five years old and as- sisted his father with the farm work, giving him all his earnings up to the time of his maturity, and it was while thus engaged in the free outdoor life of the farm that he acquired many qualities of mind and body that have assisted very materially in his sub- sequent success in life. He attended the neighborhood schools where he applied him- self in a most assiduous manner, outstrip- ping many of his classmates, and therefore gained a broad and deep mental foundation which has since been greatly developed by systematic home study and contact with the world. After receiving what education he could in the home schools Mr. Kagy taught several terms of school in a most praise- worthy manner, teaching in the winter months and farming in the summer, having possesed not only a clear and well defined text-book training, but also the tact to deal with his pupils in a manner to gain the best results, at the same time winning their good will and lasting friendship.
After reaching young manhood, Mr. Kagy decided that his true life work lay along a different course than that of farm- ing and school teaching, so he accordingly began to save his earnings in order to de- fray the expense of a course in Union Col-
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lege of Law at Chicago, now the North- western University, and he graduated from that institution with high honors on June 14, 1883, after having made a brilliant rec- ord in the same for scholarship and de- portment.
He at once began practice at Salem, where his success was instantaneous, and with the exception of one year spent on the farm after his father's death, he has been in Salem ever since where he is now recog- nized as one of the most potent factors in her civic, industrial and social life. Mr. Kagy practices with uniform success in county, state and federal courts, and his ser- vices are in constant demand in cases re- quiring superior ingenuity and apt ability. His untiring energy, indefatigable research and persistency have made him successful where less courageous characters would have quailed and been submerged.
the Haymond State Bank of Kinmundy, and afterwards was instrumental in merging this institution with the First National Bank of that city. Mr. Kagy was appointed Master in Chancery of Marion county in 1889, and afterwards twice re-appointed. He has served as president of the Salem School Board and declined re-election. In all these public capacities he displayed unusual adroitness in handling the affairs entrusted to him.
Mr. Kagy's happy and harmonious do- mestic life dates from May 18, 1887, when he was united in marriage to Alice Larimer, the youngest daughter of the late Smith Larimer, an ex-Treasurer of Marion county, an influential and highly respected citizen. Mrs. Kagy is a cultured and highly accom- plished woman of many estimable attributes and possessing a gracious and pleasing per- sonality which makes her popular among a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and she presides over the modern, cozy, elegantly furnished and beautifully appoint- ed home of the subject and family with modest grace and dignity. Into this model home two bright and interesting children add sunshine and cheerfulness. They are: John Larimer, who was born February 22, 1888, now a student, in 1908, in the Uni- versity of Illinois, where he is making a splendid record; and Leigh Monroe, who was born March 15, 1901 ; a girl died in in- fancy.
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