USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 33
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JOHN W. LARIMER.
The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical review is now recognized as one of the leading organizers, promoters and all around business men and representative citizens of Marion county, Illinois, where he was born in what is now
The mother of the subject was known in maidenhood as Sarah Brown, a native of Ohio, who traced her lineage to Scotland. She was a woman of fine traits of char- acter and she passed to her rest in 1861, when the subject of this sketch was nine years old. Mr. and Mrs. Smith Larimer were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, namely: Andrew Jack- son, who was first lieutenant of Company H, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, which was mustered largely in Marion county, and this brave young officer met his death in the great battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864; Wilson S. was a member of the same company, having gone through the war, dying in the spring of 1888; Mrs. Sarah M. Hite, of St. Louis;
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Mrs. Nancy J. Moore, of Salem, Illinois; in politics and as a result of his innate W. F., of Denver, Colorado; John W., our subject; Ann E. Irvin, also living in Den- ver; and Mrs. Kagy, wife of L. M. Kagy, president of the Salem State Bank.
John W. Larimer, our subject, was born on the farm, and when six years old moved with his parents to Salem where he attended school and when fourteen years old went into the court house with J. O. Chance, who was engaged in the abstract business and who afterward became Clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois. Our subject began learn- ing the abstract business at this early age, and in 1870 he was appointed Deputy County Clerk for one year under J. O. Chance, who was then Clerk. Shortly af- terward Mr. Chance and Mr. Larimer formed a partnership in the abstract and real estate business, which partnership con- tinued for about four years, when Mr. Chance was elected Clerk of the Supreme Court, then Mr. Larimer continued the busi- ness himself up to the present time, becom- ing known as one of the ablest, most ac- curate and reliable abstracters in this part of the state and his office is always a busy place.
Our subject was married May 6, 1871, to Rosa Andrews, daughter of Seth S. An- drews, now deceased, formerly a representa- tive citizen of Salem. Three bright and in- teresting children have been born to the sub- ject and wife as follows: Dwight W., who is associated with his father in the abstract business; Sarah Louise and Kathryn.
Mr. Larimer has ever taken an active part
ability and his loyalty to his party's prin- ciples he has been chosen to positions of public trust by his fellow voters, having been elected Town Clerk in 1877. He has also been City Clerk, and he represented the old third ward as Alderman, also was honored by one term as Mayor. He served as a member of the Board of Education for four years, and in 1896 he was a member of the State Board of Equalization, serving four years. This was an elective office and Mr. Larimer carried Marion county by over one thousand votes, which speaks for his popularity in his home county. He received ten more votes than William J. Bryan. He was Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of the Salem Building and Loan Association, having organized this associa- tion of which he has been secretary for twenty-five years in 1908, or ever since its organization. Our subject is also president of the Business Men's Association, and president of the Marion County Agricul- tural Board. Thus we see that our subject has the confidence and good will of the pub- lic who have entrusted him with these vari- ous positions of honor and trust, and that he has conscientiously and ably discharged his duties at all times goes without saying, in fact, no man in the county is more popu- lar than Mr. Larimer, who is regarded as one of the county's most valuable men and one of its foremost citizens.
His business interests have been varied; he is one of the stockholders in the Salem State Bank. He is a prominent Mason, hav-
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ing been through all the offices in both the lodge and the chapter, being a Thirty-second degree member. He is also a member of the Knights Templar. Both Mr. and Mrs. Larimer are members of the Presbyterian church. They reside at Walnut and Church streets in a beautiful modern home which they own.
EDWARD RICHARDSON.
Individual enterprise which is so justly the boast of the American people is strikingly exhibited in the career of the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch. While transmitting to posterity the record of such a life, it is with the hope of instilling into the minds of those who come after the important lesson that honor and station are sure rewards of individual exertion. That the career of such a person besides being treasured in the hearts of relatives and friends, should have its public record also, is peculiarly proper because a knowledge of men whose substantial fame rests upon their attainments and character must exert a wholesome influence upon the rising gener- ation. The life of Mr. Richardson has in- deed been a busy and successful one and the record is eminently worthy of perusal by the student who would learn the intrinsic essence of individuality and its influence in mould- ing public opinion and giving character and stablity to a community.
Edward Richardson, the well known edi- tor of the Olney Democrat, of which he is owner, also publisher of the Olney Review,
both now popular, and one of the influential men of Richland county, Illinois, was born in Lawrence county, this state, October 7, 1867, the son of Thomas H. and Eliza J. Richardson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of North Carolina, both repre- sentatives of old families of sterling char- acter.
The early education of our subject was ob- tained in the public schools of Olney, where he carefully applied himself, evincing an ear- ly liking for literary studies and deciding when a mere boy to devote his life to news- paper work in some form.
The business career proper of Mr. Rich- ardson began October 22, 1891, when he commenced the publication of the Olney Democrat with C. L. V. Tinker, who sold his interest to become city editor of the Vin- cennes Sun. Since that time, twelve years ago, Mr. Richardson has owned and edited the Democrat alone, building up the paper until it now has a wide circulation and its mechanical appearance shows that he has a modern plant, the office being one of the best equipped in this section of the state. The Olney Review was established by our subject early in 1908 and it has been a suc- cessful venture, supplying a long felt want in the field it seeks to serve. These papers have been especially noted for their strong sup- port of all moral questions and they have en- joyed the support of the best citizens. Aside from the political phase of these papers they are designed to vibrate with the public pulse and in addition to the news of the day, their columns teem with much of the best current literature and they are clean, dignified family
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papers as well as popular and influential po- litical organs and their steady growth in public favor bespeak for them futures of still greater promise and usefulness under the able management of Mr. Richardson, who is not only an editorial moulder of pub- lic opinion, but he also makes his influence felt in directing the affairs of the county, be- ing an enterprising, public-spirited citizen with the affairs of his county at heart.
Our subject was united in marriage with Hulda Strathmann, on February 9, 1898. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Strathmann, who became Mrs. Richardson, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, January 17, 1877. Her father is now deceased and her mother is now Mrs. Emma L. Busefink. The subject and wife are the parents of three children, namely: Paul, nine years old in 1909; Martha and Mary, twins, who are five years old.
Mr. Richardson is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and in his political relations he supports the Democratic party. He is a forceful factor in directing thought along those lines which make for the en- lightenment of the public and the highest good of his fellow men.
JOHN H. VAWTER.
Improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of the character of our subject, and he has not only been inter- ested in the work of advancement in indi-
vidual affairs but his influence is felt in up- building the community, where he has al- ways resided. Mr. Vawter has been a very industrious man all his life, striving to keep abreast of the times in every respect, and as a result every mile post of the years he' has passed has found him farther advanced, more prosperous, more sedate and with a larger number of friends than the preceding.
John H. Vawter was born in Salem, Illi- nois, in 1860. His father was Reuben T. Vawter, a native of Tennessee who came to Marion county about 1850, when he was yet a young man, settling in Salem, where he established a tailor shop, having always been a tailor by trade and a first class workman in this line. He lived here and met with worthy success until his death which oc- curred in 1862. The mother of the subject was known in her maidenhood as Eleanor M. Kimball, a native of Tennessee, who was a woman of many beautiful traits, who was called to her rest in 1903. Besides the subject of this sketch Mr. and Mrs. Reuben T. Vawter were the parents of another child, A. K. Vawter, now living in Oklahoma, where he is known as a man of good char- acter and much business ability. The sub- ject's mother's second marriage occurred about 1867, to William Metcalf. John H. Vawter made a splendid record while attending the common schools in Sa- lem. After reaching maturity he went into the coal and teaming business, later entered the produce business, prosper- ing at each of these, but he decided that the hardware business was more to his liking
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and consequently he entered this field in his home town in the spring of 1901. His suc- cess was assured from the first, and his busi- ness has rapidly grown, making it necessary for him to gradually increase his stock, which he has done until at present he has one of the most complete and carefully selected hardware stocks in Marion county. He has been in his present location ever since he en- tered the business and he numbers his cus- tomers from all parts of the county, and owing to his courteous treatment and the excellent quality of goods he handles, to- gether with the fact that they are always sold at reasonable figures, his reputation has been firmly established and gained for him not only hundreds of loyal customers, but at the same time hosts of friends.
Mr. Vawter was married in 1883, to Maggie T. Garner, the refined daughter of Albert C. Garner, a well known and highly respected family of Salem, and to this union four interesting children have been born, as follows: Lillian G., whose date of birth oc- curred in 1886; Hattie N., who was born in 1889; Marietta's birth occurred in 1891; and Irene first saw the light of day in 1901.
Mr. Vawter has always taken a conspicu- ous part in public affairs and as a result of his humanitarian impulses his fellow citi- zens have honored him by electing him Mayor of the City of Salem, which respon- sible office he at present (1908) holds, the duties of which he ably performs to the en- tire satisfaction of this vicinity, and during his administration he has done much for the betterment and material progress of
the city, with the result that Salem is one of the cleanest, most inviting and well gov- erned cities in this part of the state. He also served faithfully for four years as Al- derman.
Mr. Vawter is a staunch Democrat and well fortified in his political beliefs, being at all times ready to lend his support to the party's good, and his counsel is often sought and always heeded in local conventions and elections, for the public knows that Mr. Vawter always stands for the best man pos- sible in local offices, and whoever he places the stamp of approval on is sure to be ac- ceptable to the public at large. In his fra- ternal relations, he is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen. Sa- lem is glad to number him as one of her leading merchants and among its representa- tive citizens. The record of his busines ca- reer might be summed up in the terse ex- pression that he is "above want and below envy."
L. B. KEITH.
It is not every man who succeeds in giv- ing his name to a town, but this distinction fell to Peter Keith, who emigrated from Pennsylvania during the first half of the last century and found his way to Noble county, Ohio. He there entered a section of land from the government and by hard work eventually whipped it into the condi- tion of a fairly productive farm. Gradual
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increase of population in the neighborhood led to the demand for a town, which was eventually established on Peter Keith's land and named in his honor. He continued to reside there until his death in 1865. He left a son, P. C. Keith, who was born on the Noble county homestead, became a mer- chant later in life and still resides in the town which bears his family name. He married Susan Coffey, whose parents emi- grated from Scotland to America in 1826 and settled near Caldwell, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their days, the father dying in 1872, and his wife in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Keith had ten children, whose births are thus recorded: Clara Frances, deceased; L. W., deceased; L. B. subject of this sketch; Mary Eliza Groves, of Caldwell, Ohio; Charles, of Keith, Ohio; Asa, of Waterford, Ohio; Edward, of Gree- ley, Iowa; O. W., a merchant at Water- ford, Ohio; W. O., of Detroit, Michigan; Raymond C., of Phoenix, Arizona.
L. B. Keith, who is number three in the above list, was born in Noble county, Ohio, October 12, 1862. He attended school at Keith, and in 1888 he removed to Illinois, locating at Reinard in the county of Wayne. He engaged at once in the mercantile busi- ness, which he prosecuted diligently until his removal to Flora in 1900. At this point he resumed in the same line and so con- tinued for two years. Being appointed City Marshal, he devoted two years of his time to the duties of this office and then accepted the position of lieutenant of police in the service of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad. This he held for one year and in 1904 engaged in the seed and implement business under the firm name of Borders & Keith. In politics he is a red hot Democrat and always at the front when a campaign is in progress. His fraternal relations are with the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Red Men, Modern Woodmen and Maccabees.
In 1892 Mr. Keith married Miss Julia A. Neff, a native of Reinard, and they have three children; Harry, born in 1893, Marie born in 1896, and Eddie Fay, born in 1898. Mrs. Keith departed this life January 9, 1907, and was mourned as a good wife and mother.
JOSEPH A PRATHER.
This venerable citizen of Raccoon town- ship, Marion county, has been a very active man in the development of this part of the Union, having spent his long life in this and her sister state on the east. He has seen the wonderful growth of the country from its wild prairies, dense forests, inhabited by red men and wild beasts to one of the rich- est and best countries in the world.
Joseph A. Prather was born in Clark county, Indiana, January 31, 1824, the son of Sihon and Elizabeth (Williams) Prather, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia. The subject's father grew up in the Tar Heel state and moved to Clark county, Indiana, where he lived on a farm and where he and his wife both died. He was a Democrat and held the office of
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Justice of the Peace several years. He was a member of the Methodist church, well known and influential. They were the par- ents of the following children : Louisa, de- ceased; Samantha, deceased; Thomas, de- ceased ; John, deceased ; Joseph A., our sub- ject; William, deceased; Margaret lives in Clark county, Indiana. Several children died young.
Joseph A. Prather, our subject, had few opportunities to become educated, however he attended subscription schools for a time and lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Floyd county, Indiana, and in 1844 married Sarah Ann Patrick, a native of Clark county, that state, where she was born December 3, 1827, the daughter of William and Nancy (Harris) Patrick, the former a native of North Caro- lina and the latter of Virginia. They lived and died in Clark county, Indiana, on a farm. There were twelve children in their family as follows : Jeremiah, Rebecca, John, Elizabeth, Mary, William, Solomon, James, Nancy, Lewis, Sarah Ann, and Eliza. They are all deceased except the wife of our sub- ject. Mr. and Mrs. Prather became the par- ents of nine children, three deceased, name- ly: Nancy, who married Roland Warren, lives in Centralia, Illinois, and is the mother of eight children : Margaret, who is now de- ceased, having died January 24. 1908, mar- ried Lewis Patton, having become the moth- er of ten children, one of whom is deceased; John, who married Belle Oldfield, is a farmer and teamster at Centralia, and has for children ; Eliza J., who married Thomas
Shaw, of Centralia township, is the mother of eight children; Emmons R., a farmer in Raccoon township, first married Mollie Gas- ton and later Lillie Blair, of Raccoon town- ship, having had four children by his first wife and two by the second; Etha is the wife of Charles Bundy, of Raccoon township, a full sketch of whom appears in this work; Orville, who is living on part of the old home place in Raccoon township. married, first Laura May, and his second wife was Annie Howard, had three children by each wife; William died at the age of seven years ; George died when two years old.
The subject has fifty-three grandchildren and thirty-four great-grandchildren. After his marriage our subject lived in Floyd county, Indiana, having come to Marion county, Illinois, in 1854. where he pur- chased two hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 29 and 32. He made all the improvements on the place, there having been but very little when he took charge, but being a good manager and a hard worker he soon developed a most excellent farm and established a comfortable home. He carries on general farming. raising all kinds of grain, fruit and stock and making a success of all that he undertakes. He is a Democrat in politics and has held some of the offices in Raccoon township, always taking much interest in the affairs of his township. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church at Walnut Hill. He has always been a hard working man and is still very well preserved for a man of his years, having a good business mind and able
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to manage the many details of his fine farm with profit from year to year. He is a very well read man, keeping well posted on all current topics. As a result of his life of in- dustry, honesty and kindness he has scores of warm friends and if a single enemy he does not know it. Everybody in this part of Marion county knows "Uncle Joe" Pra- ther, as he is familiarly called and every- body respects him very highly.
J. W. SKIPWORTH.
This venerable and highly hnored citi- zen of Centralia is eminently entitled to con- spicuous mention in this history, owing to the fact that he might properly be called a pioneer of this section, having seen and par- ticipated in the development of the same from the early days and the life he has led is one of commendation and worthy of emu- lation by younger generations, for it has been led along lines of usefulness and integ- rity.
J. W. Skipworth was born in Maury county, Tennessee, September 25, 1823, therefore he is at this writing in his eighty- sixth year, hale and hearty as a boy, active and in possession of all his. faculties as if he were many years younger. His parents, Hosea and Cassander (Ward) Skipworth, were both natives of North Carolina, the former having been born in 1776. The pa- ternal grandfather of the subject, Nathan Skipworth, was in the American army at the time of the Revolutionary war for a pe-
riod of six years. Our subject was present at his death. Eight children were born to the parents of the subject, four boys and an equal number of girls. J. W., the youngest of the number, is the only one liv- ing in 1908.
Captain Ward, the father of our subject's mother, owned and operated a merchant sailing vessel on the Atlantic ocean from Wilmington, Delaware, to Liverpool ,Eng- land. This was before the days of the Revo- lution.
Hosea Skipworth, the subject's father left Tennessee and came to Illinois because he was opposed to slavery and the seceding of the Southern states from the Union.
Our subject was five years old when his parents moved to Lebanon, Illinois, settling on a farm. Hosea Skipworth died at Leb- anon in 1832, his widow having survived until 1846, having died two miles south of Centralia, Marion county. Our subject's education was obtained at Centralia. He lived in that vicinity until he was sixty years old, when he moved to Centralia in 1873. He followed farming, trading and stock shipping. Our subject saw Centralia grow from a wilderness which abounded in wolves, deer, wild cats and some bear, when there were no houses except cabins in the woods, from one-half to three miles apart. The country round about was open prairie. Most of the residents of this community lived on wild meats during the winter, such as deer, prairie chicken, quail, wild turkey and squirrels. Often as many as one thou- sand prairie chickens were seen in one flock. Deer was more plentiful than cattle is now.
J. W. SKIPWORTH.
LIKHANI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOI.
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The wolves killed the sheep and pigs. The bridges were all built by the nieghbors, being constructed of heavy logs.
The subject recalls the campaign of James K. Polk for President, when the wagons throughout the country were decorated with polk-berry stain and those taking part in the parades and rallies used polk-stalks for canes. The market post for all trade was sixty-five miles away, St. Louis. The hogs were fattened for the most part on wild nuts or mast. It was then the custom for several neighbors to place their hogs in one drove and drive them to St. Louis for mar- ket. Mr. Skipworth says that the amuse- ments in those days consisted principally in shooting-matches, dances or "hoedowns," also horse races. The first choice of a beef was its hide, tallow and horns; meat was the second choice. July 4th always called for a big barbecue of beeves, mutton or pork, cooked in large trenches. The Dec- laration of Independence was always read, the drum and fife were very popular and the orator of the day was in evidence. Dur-' ing election times the candidates furnished kegs of whisky, which was poured into buckets, by which sat a tin cup, and each one helped himself. The bucket always bore the name of the candidate. Where the railroad yard is now located in Centralia our subject says, he once saw a thousand wild geese and as many ducks in the water. The swampy place was filled with cinders and made solid.
It was 1835 when our subject came to passed away.
Marion county, through which no railroad
was built until 1854. Coal mines were then unknown and government land and "squat- ter sovereignty" were the conditions prevail- ing here. Not one man in twenty owned his land. It was the cheaper not to own land, for then there were no taxes to pay. The first land sold for one dollar and twen- ty-five cents per acre, then two dollars and fifty cents per acre. When the Vandalia Railroad came through in 1852 the farmers bid in all their land; then came the specu- lators. This land now sells for one hun- dred dollars per acre.
Mr. Skipworth was married to Martha Crabtree, daughter of William and Mary Crabtree, who lived in Jefferson county, lat- er moved to Southwest Missouri. They were the parents of four children, the subject's wife being next to the youngest in order of birth. The date of the subject's wedding was January 3, 1841. The subject's wife had three brothers in the Mexican war. Four children were born to our subject and his first wife, namely: Julian, deceased; John H., deceased; Ellen, living; Virenda, de- ceased. The first wife of the subject passed away April 4, 1854, and on May 29, 1855, Mr. Skipworth was married to Nellie Hos- kins. Eight children have been born to this union, namely : Louisa, who married Phillip Straus, living in Chicago; Charles, who died in 1875; Rhoda married Edward Root, liv- ing in Chicago, and they are the parents of one son, Charles. The other five children of the subject and his last wife have all
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