USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 35
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 35
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 35
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Mrs. McLaughlin is a member of the Presbyterian church and a faithful attend- ant upon the same. Mr. Mclaughlin is a Democrat and is serving his second term as Supervisor, giving his constituents entire satisfaction in this capacity.
DAVID HERSHBERGER.
The subject of this sketch was reared to the sturdy discipline of the homestead farm and during all the succeeding years of his life he has not wavered in his allegiance to the great basic art of agriculture. To the public schools he is indebted for the early educational privileges that were afforded him, and he duly availed himself of the same, while he has effectually broadened his knowledge through active association with men and affairs in practical business life. He has become the owner of a fine stock farm and devotes his attention to diversified agriculture with the discrimination, energy and constant watchfulness which inevitably make for definite success and prosperity. He has spent practically all of his life in Marion county.
David Hershberger, living two miles west of Salem, Illinois, was born October 20, 1865, in Crawford county, Ohio, the son of Henry and Catherine (Snavely) Hershber- ger, the former being a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he was born February 14, 1824, and the latter of Leb- anon county, Pennsylvania, both having been reared in the Keystone state. They moved to Crawford county, Ohio, where
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they farmed for several years and then in 1866 moved to Marion county, Illinois, set- tling in Salem township where Henry bought a large tract of land, becoming the owner of about two thousand acres in Ma- rion county. He improved this land and it became very valuable. He died August 29, 1898. He is remembered as a thrifty farmer and a highly respected citizen. Both he and his wife were members of the Ger- man Baptist church, or Dunkards. Jacob Hershberger, grandfather of the subject, was also a native of Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, and the great-grandfather of the subject, Henry Hershberger, was also a native of that place. Henry, the father of the subject, and Catharine Snavely were married February 10, 1848. They were very active in the church and Henry was a preacher for many years, having done a great amount of good in his work. He was a Republican in politics. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, named in order of birth, as follows: Jacob, a promi- nent farmer in Marion county ; Samuel, de- ceased; Mary, widow of John Schanafelt; Elizabeth is the wife of W. J. Martin, a prominent farmer in Marion county ; Anna is the wife of S. A. Schanafelt; Sarah is the wife of C. W. Courson, who lives in Marion county ; John lives in Salem town- ship on a farm; Henry lives in Centralia, Illinois; David, our subject, is the youngest child. The mother of the subject passed to her rest April 14, 1906.
The subject remained at home on his father's farm until he married. He was one
year old when he came to Marion county, he was married December 31, 1888, to Lida Dickens, the daughter of Eli- jah and Elizabeth (Tate) Dickens, both natives of Tennessee, but pioneer settlers of Marion county, Illinois, both now deceased. The subject's wife was born in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hershberger six children have been born as follows: Leland, de- ceased; Walter E., Lottie M., Loren D., Henry R., and Wayne D.
The subject and family are members of the German Baptist church in Salem town- ship, and the subject is a deacon in the church. He is a loyal Republican, having served his township as Highway Commis- sioner in a most acceptable manner. He lives on the old home farm, this together with his own farm constitutes two hundred and eighty acres. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers of Marion county, and always keeps excellent stock. He has a beautiful home which is elegantly fur- nished, and everything about the place is kept in first class order.
MRS. JUDITH SINGER.
Words of praise or periods of encomium could not clearly convey the personal char- acteristics of the noble woman of whom the biographer now essays to write in this con- nection, for only those who have had the good fortune to know her personally can see the true beauty of her character and in-
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dividual traits, which have been the resul- tant, very largely, of a long life of devo- tion to duty, a life filled with good deeds to others and led along worthy planes. Mrs. Singer lives in Tonti township, Marion county, where she successfully manages a fine landed estate, exercising rare sagacity of foresight and business acumen, which always result in definite success, and as a result of her commendable characteristics she enjoys the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances in this community.
Mrs. Judith Singer was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1838, the daughter of Peter and Lyda (Mildenber- ger) Beisel. The Beisel family came to America from Germany in an early day and settled in Pennsylvania, where they devel- oped farms and made comfortable homes. The parents of our subject always lived on a farm, and when her father died, Grand- father Beisel moved to Illinois, and the mother of the subject was married and came to Illinois in 1867, settling in Marion coun- ty. She was a good woman and her home life was calculated to foster right principles in her children. The father of the subject was a man of many sterling traits of charac- ter, always bearing a good name.
Judith Beisel was given every advantage possible by her parents, and while her early educational training was not extensive, she applied herself in a diligent manner and has since been an avid reader of the best gen- eral literature with the result that she is an entertaining and instructive talker, especial- ly when she elucidates on the pioneer days
and the aftermath of commercial develop- ment of this section of the country.
Our subject was married to Oscar Singer January 2, 1858, the ceremony having been performed in Northumberland county, Pen- sylvania. Mr. Singer was born in Germany on June 18, 1834. He was educated in the Fatherland, and came to the United States with his parents when eighteen years old, where he learned to be a mechanic of no mean ability. He worked at his trade in Centralia, Marion county, Illinois, being re- garded as one of the best men in the insti- tution where he was employed. He later moved to St. Louis, where he went into business on his own account, and in which city he was living when he was called from his earthly labors on November 20, 1882. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Salem, Illinois. He was a good business man, honest and industrious and made friends wherever he went. He was a public spirited man, being a loyal Republican in politics.
Mrs. Singer purchased an eighty acre farm in Tonti township, Marion county, in 1883, and moved thereto soon afterward, having resided there ever since. It is a splen- did place, well managed and highly im- proved in every respect, producing excellent crops from year to year and yielding a com- fortable income for the family. Mrs. Singer's home is one of the most attractive in the community. Good stock of various kinds and a fine variety of poultry are to be seen about the place.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
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Singer. Two boys and three girls are living at this writing, namely: Ida is the wife of Will W. Langridge, who lives in Terre Haute, Indiana; Lillie is the wife of Lewis Parks, who lives on a farm; Ollie travels for an Indianapolis firm; Oscar married Maude Kline and lives on a farm; Rose L. is a bookkeeper at Salem, Illinois. All these children had careful training and all re- ceived a good common school education.
JOHN H. GRAY.
He to whom this sketch is dedicated is a member of one of the oldest and most hon- ored pioneer families of Marion county, Il- linois, and he has personally lived up to the full tension of the primitive days when was here initiated the march of civilization, so that there is particular interest attached to his career, while he stands today as one of the representative citizens of Tonti town- ship, for his life has been one of hard work which has resulted in the development of a good farm which he owns and which yields him a comfortable living.
John H. Gray was born in this county January 14, 1839, and believing that he could succeed as well here as anywhere de- cided to stay in his native community where he would have the added advantage of home associations. He is the son of James and Mariah E. (Nichols) Gray. Both the Gray and Nichols families were born in Tennes- see, being of that hardy pioneer stock that
invades new and unbroken countries and clears the wilderness, developing farms from the virgin land. It was for such purpose that they came to Illinois. The parents of the subject came to Marion county in their youth and were married here, having first . settled in this locality during the Black Hawk war. James D. Gray, our subject's father, moved to Tonti township in 1851. He was a man of many sterling qualities, a good neighbor and citizen, and, as already inti- mated, was industrious and a hard worker. He was also a minister of the Methodist church for many years. His family con- sisted of nine children, three boys and one girl living at this writing, 1908, all fairly well situated in reference to this world's af- fairs.
John H. Gray, our subject, received a lim- ited schooling in his native community. However, he applied himself well and did the best he could under the circumstances. He remained at home, working on his father's place until he reached maturity. He was united in marriage in 1860 to Susan Bal- lance, a member of a well known family. After a brief married life she passed to her rest in 1864. This union resulted in the birth of one child, which died in infancy. In 1866 the subject was again married, his sec- ond wife being Rebecca A. Boring, who is still living, having proven to be a most faith- ful and worthy helpmeet and a woman of gentle disposition. She was born in 1848 and attended the district schools in her maidenhood.
Four children have been born to the sub-
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ject and wife, three girls and one boy, whose names follow : Susan E., Mattie E., Etta and William A. They have received what schooling that is available in their community and are all interesting children with every prospect for future success.
Mr. Gray in his political affiliations is a loyal Democrat and has taken considerable interest in local political affairs, his support always being on the right side of all ques- tions affecting the public good. He has ably served as Highway Commissioner, giving entire satisfaction in this work, and he is known to all as a man of industry, honesty and integrity, thereby winning and retaining a large circle of friends.
ALLEN COPE.
For nearly half a century the subject of this review was a well known resident of Marion county. He was a man of many talents, having been a successful lawyer for several years prior to 1861, at which time he located upon a farm in Tonti township and turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits. He also became an enthusiastic stu- dent of horticulture and for many years was recognized as one of the leading authorities upon this subject in Southern Illinois, as well as a practical demonstrator of the same. He was one of the first citizens of Marion county to engage in the fruit business upon an extensive and systematic scale, develop- ing one of the largest and most successful
fruit industries in the pioneer history of hor- ticultural pursuits in the county.
Allen Cope was born near New Water- ford, Columbiana county, Ohio, August 4, 1827, where he resided until 1845. For nine years he resided at Salem, Ohio, where he was engaged in a mercantile business. In 1854 he came to Fairfield, Illinois, where he studied and practiced law with Judge Charles Beecher.
Owing to ill health he retired from the law in 1860 and the following year located upon a farm in Tonti township, Marion county, where he developed one of the finest fruit farms in the county. It was here that he passed to his reward, October 24, 1907, at the age of eighty years.
Mr. Cope's career as a horticulturist be- gan with his removal to Marion county. He planted forty acres of apples in the springs of 1861 and 1863, a very large area indeed for that period. It is worthy of note, too, in this connection that he was one of the first to plant largely of the Ben Davis vari- ety. This venture proved successful and as this orchard began to fail he planted again from time to time, and indeed his labors ceased only with the coming of his long rest. Mr. Cope was an active member of the State Horticultural Society and of its subordinate society, the Southern Illinois Horticultural Society.
He was a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, and was born and reared a Quaker.
Originally a Whig in politics and a strong abolitionist, it was but natural that he should
.
int UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
ALLEN COPE.
SARAH A. COPE.
LIBRARY () THE .. .. .. INOIS.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
become a Republican upon the birth of that party, and for many years he was an ardent supporter of its principles and an active worker in the ranks. In late years, how- ever, he espoused the cause of Democracy, believing that the latter party adhered more closely to the principles of Lincoln Repub- licanism. Having been a lawyer of more than ordinary ability and always a student and an observer Mr. Cope wielded no small amount of influence in his community and his opinions upon the leading questions of the day were always treated with great re- spect. He was a man of many sterling qualities, successful in business and influen- tial in his community, and was also known as a public spirited man of the most scrupu- lously honest type.
Mr. Cope was united in marriage at Sa- lem April 16, 1856, with Miss Sarah A. Ray, who was born near London, Madison county, Ohio, June 30, 1834, Mrs. Cope be- ing a daughter of Jesse and Helen (Warner) Ray. The Ray family was of English de- scent, the grandparents on the Ray side be- ing natives of Virginia, who later settled in Madison county, Ohio. The Warners were of Scotch-Irish descent, the great-grandfa- ther of Mrs. Cope having been born in Dub- lin.
Jesse Ray, the father of Mrs. Cope, was one of the well known and highly honored pioneers of Marion county, having secured land from the government near Salem and locating thereon in 1839. He entered seven hundred acres of land in Tonti township, the present Cope home being a portion of the
original grant. Mr. Ray developed and im- proved a good farm and became one of the largest and most successful farmers and stock growers in the county. He moved from the farm to Salem in order to give his children an education, where he operated a hotel and also engaged in merchandising, in the meantime carrying on farming opera- tions. He finally returned to the farm, where he died August 27, 1859. Mr. Ray was one of those patriotic sons who participated in the Mexicon war, having enlisted in 1847. He was with his regiment until the close of hostilities and experienced many hardships and privations in the long and tedious march across the desert to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and back again, every mile of which was covered on foot. He was a man of much sterling worth and influence in his commu- nity and accomplished much for the improve- ment and development of his section of the county.
Mrs. Cope was five years old when she came with her parents to Marion county. She attended the country schools and later went to Salem with the family, where she received a liberal education, having applied herself in a most assiduous manner to her studies. After her marriage with Mr. Cope, as above indicated, she resided in Fairfield, this state, for a few years, where her hus- band was engaged in the successful practice of his profession. Since locating on the farm in Tonti township in 1861, Mrs. Cope has continued to make this place her home, where her children have also been reared. Their names are as follows : Laura Isbell and
20
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7
Lenora are both deceased; Walter Lincoln and William Abraham were twins, the lat- ter dying in infancy.
Walter L. Cope, the only surviving child, was born May 27, 1864. He received a common school education and also attended the University of Illinois at Champaign for three years. June 6, 1888, he was married to Miss Anna Vaughan, of Odin township, Marion county, and seven children have been born to them, as follows: Allen, Bessie, Lo- rin, Leila, Howard and Margaret, all of whom are living. One child, Raymond, died in infancy. Walter Cope is a member of the Masonic Order at Salem and his wife affiliates with the Order of the Eastern Star at that place.
The Cope home is one of the finest coun- try houses in Marion county, being commo- dious, comfortable and having modern im- provements and conveniences. The house is heated with hot air. A system of water works has been installed, together with baths, etc. The furnishings are up-to-date and tastefully arranged, and this beautiful home is presided over with rare grace and dignity by the Mesdames Cope, who often show their unstinted hospitality in enter- taining their numerous friends.
HENRY C. BOTHWELL.
This family name was familiar among the early settlers of three states and its members figured both in Ohio and Illinois
during the pioneer period. James Both- well, the founder, was a Pennsylvanian, who migrated into Ohio at an early day, settled on a farm purchased from the gov- ernment, reared a family and ended his earthly career about 1863. His son, James K. Bothwell, was born in Vinton county, Ohio, near McArthur, during the first quar- ter of the nineteenth century and removed to Illinois in 1840, settling at old Maysville, then the county seat of Clay. He was a cabinet maker by trade, but afterward en- gaged in the mercantile business. In 1863, he removed his store to Clay City and con- tinued in business until 1887, when he re- tired to his farm of seventy acres, within the corporate limits of the town. At this homestead he passed peacefully away, May 24, 1899, in the eighty-first year of his age. He married Mary A. Brissenden, who was born near Albion, in Edwards county. Il- linois, her parents being of English stock. She died July 16, 1898, at the age of sev- enty-seven years. This pioneer couple had seven children, of whom four are living, the complete list being as follows: Henry C., subject of this sketch; J. Homer, an attor- ney at Sedalia, Missouri; Florence: Camil- la, deceased, and William, who died when ten years old: James K., in the loan and in. surance business at Seattle, Washington and Frank, deceased.
Henry C. Bothwell, the oldest child, was born in old Maysville, April 1I, 1847. He was reared in Clay City, where he attended the local schools. During the years 1863- 64, he was a student at McKendree College
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
in Lebanon, Illinois, afterwards attended Nelson's Commercial College at Cincinnati, à Woodman. Ohio, and then accepted a clerkship in his father's store. Holding this position and later as a partner, he spent the years from 1865 to 1886 in this line of business. In the year last mentioned he became a can- didate on the Republican ticket for Treas- urer of the county, and was elected. In 1894 he was re-elected to the same office, and served during the four following years. After retiring he devoted some time.to the abstract business, continuing in this line until 1899, when he was made Chief Clerk of the Joliet Penitentiary, which position he held two and a half years. Returning to Clay City he formed a partnership under the firm name of Bothwell & Gill, and this business engaged his attention until 1907, when he received the appointment of post master at Clay City. This was no new ex- perience, as he had previously served as postmaster for sixteen consecutive years, while in the mercantile business. Besides this, he had served as Tax Collector of Clay City township a number of times and was county collector for eight years. He was always popular and successful both in his business pursuits and official holdings, be- ing regarded as one of the prominent and influential men of the county. His fra- teral relations are extensive and conspicu- ous, especially in the Masonic Order. He is a member of Blue Lodge No. 488. at Clay City, Chapter at Flora, Commandery at Olney and the Shrine at Medina Temple
in Chicago. He is also an Odd Fellow and
In 1869 Mr. Bothwell married Mary C. Myers, who was born near Wilmington, Ohio. They lost four children in infancy, but have three living, to-wit: Lucy, E. L., who is practicing law at St. Joseph, Mis- souri, and Ada, a teacher in the Hillsboro (Illinois) high school.
JAMES R. RICHARDSON.
One of the sterling citizens of Marion county is he whose name initiates this para- graph, being engaged in farming in Tonti township. As a result of his industry, in- tegrity and genuine worth he is held in high esteem by the people of this vicinity, mainly as a result of his principal life work-the noble profession of teaching.
James R. Richardson, the son of John and Sarah A. (Chandler) Richardson, was born in Williamson county, Illinois, at Bolton, December 19, 1841. The Richardson fam- ily are of Irish descent. John Richardson was born in Licking county, Ohio, and he was eight years old when his parents died. He was reared by a family named Decker, a farmer at Groveport, Ohio. He received his educational training in the public schools in the Buckeye state, which was somewhat limited, owing to the primitive condition of the public schools of that early day. He was a man of no extraordinary ability but he was a hard worker and succeeded in
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making a comfortable living. He came to Illinois about 1838, settling near Peoria, where he remained a few years. He moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, and thence to Williamson county and later he came to Marion county in 1853, buying a farm in Tonti township, where he lived until his death in March, 1856.
The Chandler family came from Penn- sylvania. The father of Sarah A., our sub- ject's mother, came to Ohio and engaged in farming, but not on an extensive scale. The mother of the subject was educated in the public schools of Franklin county. She was a woman of many estimable qualities. Eleven children were born to this couple, ten girls and one boy. Sarah A. was mar- ried to John Richardson about 1838, and she passed to her rest in 1870. Mr. Rich- ardson. was a large land owner in Marion county, this state, and he was regarded as a man of many sterling qualities.
James R. Richardson, our subject, was the second child in a family of eight chil- dren. He remained under the parental roof tree until he was seventeen years old. He received his education in the district schools and later at Salem. He was an ambitious lad from the start and outstripped most of his contemporaries. After finishing the public school course, he was not satisfied with the amount of text-book training he had received and consequently entered the State Normal School at Bloomington, Il- linois, where he made a splendid record for scholarship, and where he graduated in the class of 1871, with high honors.
After leaving school Mr. Richardson at once began to teach, first in the county schools, having soon become principal, and he was principal in several places. Becoming known as an able instructor, his services were in great demand. He was principal of the schools at Woodson, Franklin, Stan- ford, Morton and Marseilles, all in Illinois, and he also taught a year in Kansas. He gave the greatest possible satisfaction as an instructor, being well grounded in the texts then included in the public school curricu- lums, and he was very popular with his pu- pils, owing to his friendliness and kindness. His teaching extended over a period of twenty-six years during which time his reputation extended not only to adjoining counties but he attracted the attention of the ablest educators of the state, receiving much laudable comment on his work in the school room.
Mr. Richardson could not restrain the wave of patriotism that pervaded his whole being when, in the dark days of the sixties, our national integrity was threatened, and, believing that it was his duty to sever home ties, leave the school room and offer his ser- vices in defense of the flag, he accordingly enlisted in Company G, Twenty-first Il- linois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the regiment assigned to Grant's army during the first part of the war. He was in the great battle of Stone River and the still bloodier conflict of Chickamauga, and many other smaller engagements. He was taken prisoner at Chickamauga, and was in -prison at Richmond and Danville for six months.
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