USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 28
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 28
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 28
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Something of the subject's peculiar and unquestioned executive ability is shown from the fact that he was one of the princi- pal organizers in 1903 of the Salem State Bank, one of the most substantial, popular and sound institutions of its kind in south- ern and central Illinois. Mr. Kagy is presi- dent of the same, the duties of which he performs in a manner to gain the unqualified confidence of the public, and the citizens of Salem and Marion county do not hesitate to place their funds at his disposal, knowing that they could not be trusted to safer and more conservative hands. He is also stock- In 1898, during the Spanish-American war, Mr. Kagy was active in organizing a holder in the First National Bank of Kin- mundy, Illinois. He also helped organize company, and was elected captain of the
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same; after much drilling it was ready to go to the front. Later Mr. Kagy was appointed by Gov. John B. Tanner, major of Pitten- ger's Provisional Regiment. Although it was fully ready to go to the front it was not called upon to do so.
Levi M. Kagy was one of the twenty-two men who subscribed twenty-two thousand dollars in order to induce the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad shops to locate in Salem. The public-spirited and energetic disposition of the citizens of this progressive city can be ascertained by the statement that this sum was raised in one night. Mr. Kagy was in San Francisco at the time, but his friends volunteered to vouch for him for eleven hundred dollars, and he promptly paid the full amount upon his return home. Mr. Kagy always practiced law alone until January, 1907, when he took E. B. Van- dervort, of Portsmouth, Ohio, as an as- sociate. They have a splendid and well equipped suite of rooms in the Kagy Build- ing. Mr. Kagy, although interested in many industrial enterprises, gives his time almost exclusively to his law practice which is very large and which requires the major part of his time.
Fraternally our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen. He has occupied the chairs in the local Odd Fel- lows lodge, and is one of the trustees of the I. O. O. F. Old Folks' Home of Illinois, of Mattoon, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Kagy and their oldest son are members of the Presbyterian church.
In politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, with which he has been affiliated from the time of attaining his majority, and he has ever lent his aid in furthering his party's cause, being well fortified in his political convictions, while he is essentially public- spirited and progressive. In all the rela- tions of life he has been found faithful to every trust confided in him and because of his genuine worth, splendid physique, courteous manners and genial disposition he has won and retains the warm regard of all with whom he associates.
SAMUEL F. PHILLIPS.
Among the members of the many families of early settlers who have forged to the front in the realm of public life and in their daily avocations in Marion county, Illinois, few indeed, have reached a higher standing than the subject of this sketch, whose long life has ever been associated with the prog- ress of the county, especially in the township where he resides.
Samuel F. Phillips was born October 20, 1829, in the vicinity of Clarksville, Mont- gomery county, Tennessee. His father,Jona- than Phillips, came of a well known family in the state where he resided, and his moth- er's maiden name was Sarah Fowler, who came of a family equally well connected. Jonathan Phillips' father was Samuel Phil- lips, who, together with his wife, Nancy
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILINOIS.
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MRS. NANCY. PHILLIPS.
S. F. PHILIPS.
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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(Crow) Phillips, born in Virginia, were among the earliest settlers in Tennessee. The elder Phillips was a hardy and industrious farmer and he and his wife lived a long life on their farm in Davidson county, Tennes- see, where they reared a family of eight children; four sons and four daughters. The sons were David, Thomas, George and Jonathan, the father of Samuel F.
Jonathan Phillips spent the early part of his life on his father's farm, and he re- ceived a limited education in the common schools in the neighborhood of his home. When he had reached manhood he married and in 1831 he and his wife drove in the an- tiquated vehicles of the period across the long stretches of country, starting from Montgomery county, Tennessee, finally landing and settled in section I, Centralia township, Marion county, Illinois. At this time he obtained one hundred and sixty acres of government land at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, which farm he added to at different times until he had six hundred acres, becoming a farmer of more than average industry and he succeeded in improving and changing the appearance of the property. Though well known and widely respected in the locality, he never aspired for public patronage. In politics he was first a Whig and on the disappear- ance of the older party became a Democrat. He was a member of the Presbyterian brotherhood in religious life and a sturdy upholder of that belief. As a man and an active farmer, he was well known and
widely esteemed. The date of his birth was in the year 1799, and his death occurred on April 2, 1856. His wife was born July 20, 1806, and died July 10, 1893. Her father, William Fowler, lived in Montgom- ery county, Tennessee, where he died. He had married a Miss Fyke and their union brought forth four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Drury, Richard, Sarah, the mother of the subject of our sketch, and Mary.
Jonathan Phillips and his wife reared six children, James George Washington, died 1856, was a farmer, married Margaret Sugg, and lived at home until his death. Another was Samuel F., the subject of this sketch. William, who married Rebecca Al- len, was a farmer in Centralia township where he died in 1859. Joseph R. died April 2, 1862. Nancy married Isaac Phil- lips and lived at Cobden, Illinois. She, as well as her husband, is dead. John P., a farmer in Centralia township, married three times : first, Vitula Cazy; second, Martha Norfolk; and third, Ida Johnson.
As a boy, Samuel F. Phillips had little chance to go to school. However, he attend- ed the local subscription schools at infre- quent intervals. The circumstances of his youthful schooling did not affect him in after life, for he was always of an observant and intelligent turn of mind and in this way as- similated much useful information. He was of much assistance to his father in im- proving the paternal residence, and he re- mained there in a useful capacity until his
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thirtieth year. In 1859 in Davidson county, Tennessee, he married the daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Chadwell) Phillips, of the same county and name, his wife's first name being Nancy Jane. This Phillips fam- ily had come to Marion county, Illinois, set- tling there in section 12, Centralia township, in 1852. The father spent his life on the farm in his new surroundings where he died; his wife died in Odin, Illinois. The children of the marriage were: Nancy Jane, the wife of Samuel F. Phillips, the subject of this sketch; Martha E., who married Noah Wooters, both deceased; Mary K., who was the wife of James Stroup, both of whom are dead; Minerva T., the wife of Dr. J. J. Fyke, of Odin; Sarah B., the wife of W. D. Farthing, attorney-at-law, at Odin; George died young, at home; William H., druggist at Iuka, Illinois, lives in Centralia township. He married Frances Summer- ville; Samuel D., druggist at Odin, married Jessie Lester; John G. married Laura John- son, and lives in Oklahoma.
Martha B. is the wife of Charley Whit- church, of Centralia township, and the moth- er of three children, Carl, Boyd and Harry. Allie married W. B. Carr, of Raccoon town- ship. Alphia married Joseph L. Hill, of Ewing, Illinois. Samuel T. married Nora Sutherland, of Centralia township, and has two children, Hazel, born October 17, 1905, and Samuel Howard, born March 7, 1907. Samuel T. is a farmer in Centralia township. George Robert, another son, who is at home working with his father, is unmarried.
In the year 1860, Samuel F. Phillips lo- cated on his present property. Since then he has striven to enhance the value of the land. It consists of two hundred and fifty acres. He principally engages in stock raising and does a general farming business.
Samuel F. Phillips is a member of the Missionary Baptist church and is influen- tial in church advancement matters. In politics he gives his support to the Demo- cratic party. The first time he exercised his right to vote he recorded it for Granville Pierce.
Samuel F. Phillips and his wife lead a happy domestic life and have had nine chil- The subject of this sketch has received fitting public recognition. His record as Jus- tice of the Peace is of forty-four years' standing, and he has been a Notary Public for fourteen years. He has been associated with the Board of Trustees of Centralia township for twenty years. For sixteen years he has been Township Assessor. He is also a member of the board of township high school. He is still dren. His sons and daughters are mostly all married and are important factors in the life of the community. William W. is a farmer in Centralia township and is married to Malissa Rial. Sarah E. married John H. McGuire, engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad at Centralia; they have two chil- dren, Tressa and Erma. Etta, the widow of G. W. S. Bell, lives near Centralia. Patra married John F. Guymon, of Cen- in harness, his seventy-nine years weigh tralia, and they have one daughter, Beulah. but lightly upon him, and it is the wish
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of a large circle of friends that he be established the Cunningham & Harter Sav- long spared to his affectionate family, and to the people of his township for whom he has worked so diligently.
CHARLES S. CUNNINGHAM.
The subject of this sketch occupies a prominent place in the esteem of the people of Flora and Clay county, and is universal- ly respected and as a business man fair dealing is his watchward in all his trans- actions. He is optimistic, looking on the bright side of life and never complains at the rough places in the road, knowing that life is a battle in which no victories are won by the slothful, but that the prize is to the vigilant and the strong of heart.
Charles S. Cunningham, the present pop- ular Mayor of Flora, Illinois, was born in this city, March 27, 1870, the son of John M. Cunningham, who was a native of Clay county. He was the founder of the jewelry business now conducted by our subject, which he carried on successfully until 1896, when our subject bought the business. In March of that year John M. Cunningham was called from his earthly labors. B. F. Cunningham, grandfather of the subject, was a native of Virginia, who came to Clay county when a young man and was one of the first settlers, having first located in the southern part of Clay county, called Cotton- wood creek, and there engaged in the mill- ing business. Later he came to Flora and
ings Bank, which he conducted until about 1875. He died in 1876. The Cunningham family is of Scotch origin. The mother of the subject was Jennie Hawkins, whose people were also of Scotch descent, her mother and grandmother having emigrated from that country. Mrs. John M. Cun- ningham passed to her rest about 1875. Three children constituted this family, one of whom died in infancy; the subject's brother, Clyde L. Cunningham, lives in Julesburg, Colorado.
Charles S. Cunningham has spent all of his life in Flora, where he attended the pub- lic schools and received a good education. He went to work when eighteen years old in his father's jewelry store, and has been identified with the same ever since. He long ago mastered every detail of the busi- ness and is one of the leading jewelers of this part of the state, having a mod- ern and nicely furnished store, and an ex- cellent and carefully selected stock.
Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage in 1890 to Eva L. Jackson, the daughter of John Jackson, of Allegan, Michigan, and to this union two sons have been born, Rex- ford J. and Charles J., whose ages at this writing are fifteen and twelve, respectively. They are attending school and making ex- cellent progress in their studies.
Mr. Cunningham has figured somewhat conspicuously in the political affairs of Flora, and was first elected City Treasurer in which capacity he ably served for two years. He was then Alderman for two
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years, and in the spring of 1907, he was elected Mayor of Flora, and he has given the city a very economical administration, managing its affairs with as much care as he does his individual business. He has been vigorous in his fight against illegal liquor selling, the saloons having been voted out when he was elected. In many ways he has benefited the community in a last- ing and material way. At the present time plans and specifications are making for a system of water works, and Mayor Cun- ningham is very much interested in secur- ing this for the city.
The subject has won definite success in the financial world through his close appli- cation to business and his honorable metli- ods. He is a director and vice-president in the First National Bank, also a director in the Breese-Trenton Coal Mining Company, the head offices of the company being in St. Louis. He is also a director in the Friend Telephone Company, of Flora. Fraterally he is a member of the Flora Lodge No. 204, of Masons, also the Ben Hur and the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Methodist church as is also Mrs. Cunningham. Mayor Cunningham is a member of the Illinois State Historical Society of Springfield, and in politics he is a Republican, always taking an active in- terest in his party's affairs. His fearless- ness in the discharge of his duties and his appreciation of the responsibilities that de- volve upon him are such as to make him a most acceptable incumbent of the Mayor's office, and his worth is widely acknowl-
edged, while his record as a business man has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and trust of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
J. E. BRYAN.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has long enjoyed prestige as a lead- ing citizen of the community in which he resides, and as an official against whose record no word of suspicion was ever uttered he has been for years an important factor in the history of Marion county, Illinois. His prominence in the community is the di- rect and legitimate result of genuine merit and ability, and in every relation, whether in the humble sphere of private citizenship or as a trusted public official, his many ex- cellencies of character and the able and im- partial manner in which he discharged his- every duty won for him an enviable repu- tation as an enterprising and representative self-made man. He was for some time a prominent figure at the local bar, but desir- ing the more prosaic routine of the abstrac- ter, he abandoned the legal profession and. has for many years successfully conducted an abstract office in Salem, being known throughout the county in this line of work.
J. E. Bryan was born two and one-half miles north of Salem, July 4, 1851, the son of A. R. Bryan, a native of Virginia and a fine old southern gentleman, who came to. Illinois when a boy. He was a tanner by
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trade and after a busy, successful and hon- life right here at home. He attended the orable career passed to his rest in 1901. He lived first at Shawneetown, then at Mt. Vernon, later at Walnut Hill, then at Salem, where he spent the balance of his life. The mother of the subject was Amanda Tully,
common schools at Salem, applying himself most diligently to his text books and at the age of twenty began to read law, making rapid progress from the first, and in 1876 he was admitted to practice, his success be- whose people came from Tennessee and were . ing instantaneous and he soon became widely known as an able practitioner in all the local courts; but after twenty years of arduous work at the bar, during which time he built up an extensive business and won the unqualified confidence and esteem of a large clientele and of his brothers in the legal profession, he abandoned the law and opened an abstract office in Salem since since which time he has devoted his time and attention to this business with gratify- ing success as indicated above. In his fra- ternal relations Mr. Bryan is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
among the first settlers in Marion county, having come here when the prairies were overrun by red men and wild beasts, but they were people of sterling qualities and surmounted every obstacle, winning a com- fortable home as a result of their habits of industry and economy. The maternal grandfather of the subject was the first Sheriff of Marion county. This family con- sisted of twelve children, nine of whom are living in 1908, namely: Mrs. Anna Tor- rence, who resides on the old homestead, where the mother of the subject was born, in Salem; Mrs. Alice J. Kite, who is also living at the old homestead in Salem; J. E., our subject ; Lewis O., living in Van Buren, Arkansas; Andrew R., of Salem; Mrs. Rosa Kagy, living in Arkansas; Mrs. Minnie Fisher, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Mrs. Emma Shepherd, of Centralia, Illinois; Ad- is, living at Van Buren, Arkansas. The mother of the subject, who was a woman of many praiseworthy traits, passed to her rest several years ago. Mr. Bryan's father, A. R. Bryan, was a brother of Silas Bryan, father of W. J. Bryan.
J. E. Bryan was reared in Salem, and he preferred to risk his fortunes in his native community rather than see uncertain success in other fields, consequently he has spent his
Mr. Bryan was married in 1876 to Jo- sephine W. Pace, a native of Salem and the accomplished representative of an old and highly respected family. No children have been born to this union.
Something of the confidence which the people of Salem repose in our subject will be gained when we learn that he has been School Treasurer of Salem township for over thirty years at the time of this writing, 1908. He has devoted much attention to the development of the local public school system with the result that much has been accomplished toward making the Salem schools equal to any in the country. Mr. Bryan was also Master in Chancery for Marion county for a period of eight years,
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which responsible position he filled with great credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction to all concerned. In business he has always been successful and is at present one of the stockholders of the Salem State Bank. He has ever had the welfare of his community at heart and has always been found willing to devote his time to any movement looking to the development of the public weal, and as a result of his genuine worth, his pleasing demeanor, integrity of principal and honesty of purpose, he is to- day recognized as one of Marion county's foremost citizens.
MICHAEL E. RAPP.
Michael E. Rapp was born in Wurtenburg, Germany, April 3, 1843, the son of Leon- hart and Margaret (Eberhardt) Rapp, both natives of Germany, where they were mar- ried and where they lived on a farm until 1853, when they emigrated to the United States, having come across the Atlantic ill a sailing vessel, the voyage requiring fifty days. They did not encounter many storms on the way, but the slow passage was caused by the absence of winds. They landed in New York, where they remained a few days when they went to Buffalo, touching at Al- bany, Philadelphia and other points on the way, having been three days making the trip. The parents of the subject settled at Buffalo and remained there until their death, the father dying about 1891, at the age of
nearly seventy-five years, having been sur- vived by his widow for about two years, she dying in 1893, having reached the age of seventy-five. Both are buried in the city cemetery there. They were the parents of five children, only two of whom grew to ma- turity, three having died in childhood, the subject being the oldest in order of birth. He remained with his parents until he was about twelve years of age, when he came to Ohio to live with an uncle who was engaged in the smelting business where he remained for nearly two years, when he came to Indiana, and later returned to Buffalo, New York, where he undertook to learn the brass fin- ishing business, but he remained at this for only about two years, when hard times caused the shop to practically close down. The subject then went back to Indiana, working on a farm in Vanderburg county by the month until the war broke out, when he en- listed and on August 18, 1862, was mustered into service at Indianapolis, Company E. Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Captain Eslinger. The subject was at once sent south and im- mediately marched to the front, joining the regiment just after the battle of Shiloh. From that time on he was in all the engage- ments of his regiment, but was never cap- tured or wounded, however, he had many "close calls" from both. Some of the prin- cipal battles in which he fought in a most gallant manner, according to his comrades, were: Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chicka- mauga, Missionary Ridge. The regiment was later sent to Knoxville to re-enforce
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Burnside, where they remained during the winter of 1863 and 1864, having suffered greatly from cold weather and exposure, and lack of clothing. In the following summer the subject took part in every en- gagement from Tunnel Hill to Atlanta, Georgia, and endured many great hard- ships and privations. He was mustered out of service at the close of the war, June 25, 1865, having been honorably discharged.
Mr. Rapp then returned to Indiana and on November 24, 1868, was united in marriage with Catherine Frye, in Evansville. She was born in Posey county, Indiana, December 24, 1848, the daughter of Michael and Charlotte (Stauff) Frye, both natives of Wurtenburg, Germany, where they married. They came to the United States about 1840, landing in New York, but soon came on to Indiana, set- tling in Posey county on a farm in the midst of the wilderness where they experienced many hardships in clearing the land and de- veloping a home for themselves and family. They remained there the rest of their lives, their home having been in Parker township. The mother of Mrs. Rapp died in August, 1850, at the age of thirty-two years, the father having survived several years, later remarrying. They were the parents of six children, four of whom grew to maturity, Mrs. Rapp being the youngest of the number. Mr. Frye's death occurred February 16, 1861, at the age of fifty-one years. He was buried in the St. Peter cemetery and his wife in the Methodist cemetery of the old Brick church, Parker township. Mrs. Rapp re- mained at home with her parents until her
father's death when the home was broken up and she went to work out for herself, which she continued to do until her marriage with the subject. Her education was obtained in the German schools of Posey county, but she never learned to read or write English, for she was not permitted to attend school long in those early days. The same was true with our subject who attended school for a time in Germany before he came to the United States. He also went to school a short time in Buffalo, New York, learning to read and write German, but received only a meagre English education.
When our subject and his wife were mar- ried they lived in Evansville, where Mr. Rapp worked as a stationary engineer until he moved to Illinois in March, 1876, when they settled in Richland county, in Denver township, near the Clay county line on d farm where they lived for about two years, when they moved to the place where they now live.
Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rapp, nine of whom have grown to maturity, one having died in childhood. They are: George M., Edward Frederick, de- ceased ; Michael, deceased ; John Henry, Car- oline, Catherine, Daniel W., Margaret, Eve Charlotte and Mary E. George M., who mar- ried Celia Ruppert, resides on a farm in Den- ver township. Catherine is the wife of Wal- ter Coffee, residing in Stonington, Christian county, Illinois. The other children are all single and make their home with their par- ents on the farm.
Mr. Rapp has served on the County Board
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as Supervisor in Denver township for two years, and an unexpired term of Township Clerk, also served as School Trustee for a period of nine years. His son held the office of Township Clerk at the time of his death. Mr. Rapp has always been a Republican. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- Public. Mr. and Mrs. Rapp and some of their children are members of the Methodist church in Denver township, having long taken an active part in church work, the sub- ject having been a steward in the church for several years, which office he now very creditably holds.
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