USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 41
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 41
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 41
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
During Mr. Merritt's entire legislative experience, covering a period of twenty-two years, it cannot be shown that he ever cast a vote against the interests of the people. As one of the delegates of the state-at-large, he attended the conventions at St. Louis in
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July, 1892, and at New Orleans in Febru- ary, 1893, in reference to the Nicaragua canal. At the latter place, he made a speech for Illinois before the convention. He was one of the commissioners to locate the In- stitute for the Feeble Minded at Quincy, Illinois (now at Lincoln), also the Asylum for the Incurable Criminal Insane at Ches- ter. For ten successive years he served as Alderman of Salem.
From the above account it will be seen that Mr. Merritt has been one of the most prominent Democrats in Illinois, and he still occupies a foremost position among the leaders of that party. His work in behalf of the people of the state entitles him to a high place in their regard, and his name will be deservedly perpetuated in the annals of the state as a loyal, able and eminent man. From the press of the country he has re- ceived the highest of commendation for his unwearied services in the interests of the people as well as for his great ability.
The State Register said of him that, "The man who wields .the keenest satire is Merritt, of Marion". The Mount Vernon Free Press paid him the following tribute : "He is always awake to the interests of southern Illinois, and no influence, let it come from what source it may, is ever able to swerve him from the path of duty to his constituents and the people generally". An- other paper says of him: "Merritt is a wit, besides he is a good fellow and everybody likes him. He never rises but he commands the attention of the House. He is a Bour- bon of Bourbons". In addition to his other
services, previously mentioned, he was a member of various committees of import- ance. To him belongs the honor of having nominated both William R. Morrison and John M. Palmer for United States Senator.
On the 3d of February, 1862, Mr. Mer- ritt was married to Alice Mckinney, a na- tive of Jefferson county, Illinois, and a daughter of William Mckinney, who was killed in battle in the Civil war. Four daughters and three sons have blessed this union, as follows: Addis D., Frank F., Clara, Harriet, Lottie, Edith and Harold. In religious belief Mrs. Merritt is a devoted member of the Episcopal church.
JOHN M. SCHULTZ.
No man in Marion county is more de- serving of the success he has attained in business and political circles than John M. Schultz, not alone because of the splendid results he has achieved, but also because of the honorable, straightforward business pol- icy he has ever followed.
John M. Schultz, Circuit Clerk, was born in Salem, Illinois, January 30, 1867. He is the son of Ephraim Schultz, a native of Kentucky, who came to Illinois when a young man, first settling in Alma township on a farm. He moved to Salem a short time before the Civil war. and continued to live in this place up to his death about 1895. He was successful farmer and business man and retained the
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well-wishes of those who knew him. David Schultz was the subject's grandfather, a na- tive of Germany. Mrs. Becky Frizzell, who is living in Foster township, an aunt of our subject, has reached the advanced age of ninety years. She is a sister to Ephraim Schultz. The subject's father was twice married, his second wife being the mother of the subject of this sketch. His first wife was a Miss Crawford, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Five children were born to his first wife, two of whom are liv- ing at this writing. The mother of the sub- ject's father was Hannah Hull, who was born in Hull, England. The maiden name of the subject's mother was Kissie Mar- shall, a native of Tennessee, who came to Marion county in an early day. She was called to her rest twenty years ago, in 1888. Eight children were born to the father and mother of the subject, four of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Millie Siefman, of Centralia, Illinois; Mrs. Charles Martin, of Davenport, Iowa; Elizabeth Schultz, who is living in Salem; Joseph. Schultz, de- ceased ; Christian and Mary died in infancy. David and Samuel Schultz, of Salem, Il- linois, who were both in the Twenty-first II- linois Volunteer Infantry, were sons of a former marriage, also John Schultz, who was killed when seventeen years old on the battlefield of Resaca, Georgia. He was in the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. William Schultz, an- other son of the first marriage is de- ceased ; also a daughter, Lydia, who mar- ried George Jennings, of Patoka, this coun- ty, and died several years ago. Hannah
Belle, another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Schultz, and sister of our subject, who became the wife of L. G. Finch, was a teacher in the public schools of Salem for several years. She passed to her rest two years ago, in February, 1906.
Joseph Schultz, a brother of the subject's father, was captain in the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was afterward Sheriff of Marion county, also postmaster of Salem and Revenue Col- lector. David Schultz, another brother of Ephraim Schultz, was wagon master in the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volun- teer Infantry.
John M. Schultz, our subject, spent his boyhood days in Salem, attending the local schools in which he made a splendid record, receiving a fairly good education.
Mr. Schultz was an industrious lad and soon cast about for the best way in which to direct his life work. He decided to be a mechanic. He is always a very busy man, for his work is satisfactorily done and his business has steadily grown, owing to the fair treatment he accords his customers. Fraternally he is a member of the Wood- men. He is a loyal Democrat, and was nominated and triumphantly elected Circuit Clerk in 1908, his election being regarded as a most fortunate one by his many friends. Mr. Schultz has remained unmarried. His sister, Elizabeth, keeps house for him. He is well known in Marion county, being in- terested in whatever has tended to promote the interests of the county in any way. He is accurate, persistent and painstaking in his business affairs.
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H. N. WOODWARD.
The subject of this sketch is a man of courage, self-reliance and of the utmost in- tegrity of purpose, as a result of which he has, during his entire life stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and friends and is therefore deserving of a place in this book.
H. N. Woodward was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, in 1855, the son of Abner M. and Silvia (Scogin) Woodward. His paternal grandfather was born in New Jersey. He moved to Ohio and devoted his life to farming. Like all his people, he was a Quaker in his religious affiliations. Grand- mother Scogin was born in Kentucky, and lived to be eighty-two years old, rearing a large family of fifteen children. She was twice married. Grandfather Scrogin was born in November in the memorable year in our country's history-1812.
The father of the subject of this sketch was born in Ohio and received his early ed- ucation in the public schools there and after that he received an academic education. He left Ohio before he was twenty-one years of age and went with his mother to Iowa, and settled on a farm near Burlington, where he remained for some time. He later went South about the close of the war to the Polk plantation, for the purpose of managing negroes under the Freemen's Bu- reau, and from there he went to Mississippi, later spending two years in Tennessee, hav- ing spent one year in Mississippi in a very responsible position, which was filled to the
entire satisfaction of the Bureau. They gave him fine letters commending his course and the results of his work while there. He then bought a farm in Marion county, Illinois, in 1866, and farmed with much suc- cess for a period of thirteen years. He then formed a partnership with Colonel Morri- son, in Odin, for carrying on a grain busi- ness which partnership continued for a period of eight years, when he bought out Colonel Morrison's interests and Mr. Wood- ward retained his interest until his death.
In 1886 the Odin Coal Company was put in operation, and Mr. Woodward financed the corporation. He was secretary and later treasurer of the same and always a director, having remained such until his death which occurred in 1890. He was a loyal Mason. The mother of the subject is living in 1908, at the age of eighty years. She is a fine old lady with many beautiful attributes. There are six children in this family, four of whom lived to maturity.
H. N. Woodward, our subject, first at- tended the public schools in Marion county, but thirsting for higher learning he entered the University of Illinois, where he made a splendid record for scholarship. After leav- ing college he decided to continue the work which he knew the most about-farming, and he followed this until he was twenty- seven years old. He went into the grain and hay business by purchasing Colonel Morrison's business. He was successful in this from the first, more so, in fact, than at farming ; however, every year he devoted to farm work added to his competence, for he
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was a careful and conservative manager. He has enlarged his latter line of business until he now carries on a general merchandising establishment. In 1902 the same was in- corporated since which time Mr. Woodward has been president and is the largest stock- holder, being the active manager, under whose able direction the business has in- creased to a satisfactory state and is rap- idly growing.
After the death of his father, our subject was director and treasurer of the Odin Coal Company, which position he ably retained for a period of twelve years. He is at pres- ent connected with the Marion County Coal Company, of Junction City, a corporation. Mr. Woodward was a director in the same, but is not at present. In all his business deal- ings he has been regarded by every one as a man of unusual tact and shrewdness and ever fair and honest. Success seems to at- tend his efforts in whatever line he under- takes.
Mr. Woodward was united in marriage in 1883 with Agnes Ferguson, daughter of William and Eliza (Hildreth) Ferguson, natives of Ohio, where they lived on a farm. Five children have been born to the subject and wife, named in order of birth as follows: Grace, born in 1884, is living at home with her parents; Lucile, the second child, was born in 1886, is single and living at home; Nelson was born in 1888, and is deceased; having died in 1890; Edwin was born in 1893, and is attending high school in 1908; Agnes, who was born in 1897, is also a pu- pil in the Odin schools.
Mr. Woodward, in his fraternal relations, is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Woodmen. In politics he is a Repub- lican, taking considerable interest in the af- fairs of his party, especially in reference to the local officials. Both he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist church. The former takes a great interest in educa- tional matters. He is known as a man of industry and frugality. He has a beautiful home at Odin.
FRED W. SCHILT.
The subject of this sketch is one of the progressive agriculturists of Richland, whose fine farm ranks with the best in this locality, having been improved by Mr. Schilt to its present high state of excellency by years of patient toil and skillful man- agement. His success has been won entire- ly along lines of old and time-tried max- ims, "honesty is the best policy," and "there is no excellence without labor."
Fred W. Schilt was born in the township where he now resides, March 1, 1868, the son of Christian and Barbara (Schilt). Schilt, natives of Canton Bern, Switzer- land, who came to the United States with their parents. John Schilt, the subject's pa- ternal grandfather, also emigrated to the United States, bringing his wife and chil- dren in 1852, and settled in Claremont township, Richland county. He improved a good farm on which he lived until his
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death. Christian was a young man when the family came to this country. He soon afterward bought a farm in Preston town- ship which he improved and he married here. He had a brother in the Civil war. He remained on his farm in Preston town- ship until his death, May 12, 1889, at the age of sixty-two years. His widow is still living on the old homestead. Of nine chil- dren born to them, six are living in 1908, our subject having been the seventh in or- der of birth.
Fred W. Schilt was reared on a farm in Preston township and received a common school education, having remained at home assisting with the work on the place until he was twenty-one years old. He then bought a farm of ninety acres in German township, where he soon located and where he lived and prospered for twelve years, during which time he bought forty-five acres more. In the fall of 1902 he became a candidate for County Treasurer on the Democratic ticket and was subsequently elected. This resulted in his removal to Olney, where he carried on the duties of this office in a manner that reflects much credit on his native ability and careful busi- ness methods. When his term of four years expired his successor found the affairs of this office in a most excellent shape. He had previously served in a praiseworthy manner as Supervisor for two terms of two years each, having been chairman of the County Board for one term. After retiring from the Treasurer's office he resided in Ol- ney for one year, and in 1907 located on
his present fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Preston township, about four and one-half miles north of Olney, which he had recently bought. It is one of the best farms in the township, well fenced, well drained, and on it stand a commodious dwelling and convenient outbuildings, in- cluding a large barn, recently erected. Gen- eral farming is carried on and much atten- tention is given to stock raising, especially cattle and hogs, the latter of the Berkshire breed, of which Mr. Schilt always has some fine specimens to show. He has an orchard of sixteen acres of carefully selected trees, which bear a good quality of fruit.
Mr. Schilt was united in marriage Au- gust 25, 1889, to Anna Jorris, a native of Poland, Indiana, daughter of Peter and Al- etta (Mermon) Jorris, natives of Germany, having been born near the Rhine river, who came to the United States when young, married here and settled in Wisconsin, later lived in Indiana and Illinois. Mrs. Schilt's father died in Poland, Indiana, October 25, 1891, and his wife died in 1898.
Mr. and Mrs. Schilt are the parents of four children, namely: Verna May, Chris- tian Franklin Jorris; Esther Magdalena and Paul Frederick Foster.
The subject in his fraternal relations is a member of the Moodern Woodmen of America at Dundas. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed church in Preston township, the former being a deacon in the same, having served several years as such. In manner Mr. Schilt is cordial. in disposition. genial: in tempera-
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ment, kindly, and his many sterling traits have won for him the warm friendship of those with whom he has been brought into contact.
JOHN SEILER.
Switzerland is a small country, but no foreign nation has sent to the United States a larger number of law-abiding and indus- drious citizens in proportion to its size. They are almost without exception, pro- gressive, honorable, thrifty and among our best citizens. The subject of this sketch, one of Preston township's substantial farm- ers, is a worthy representative of this type, having spent many years in Richland coun- ty, during which he has not only benefited himself, but also those with whom he has come in contact.
John Seiler was born in Bern, Switzer- land, September 12, 1833, the son of Wil- liam and Anna Seiler, also natives of Switzerland, where they were reared and where they married. They emigrated to the United States in 1851, crossing the At- lantic in an old sailing vessel, encountering a severe storm on the way which delayed them and they were seven weeks making the voyage. The lives of all on board were imperiled, the waves having washed over the vessel, and the baggage was thrown from one side to the other of the ship and members of the Seiler family narrowly es- caped being injured by coming in contact with the baggage, etc. Many times the
passengers thought that it was impossible to save the ship, but it finally arrived at New Orleans on Christmas day, 1851. The Seilers soon afterward took a boat up the Mississippi and Wabash rivers to Vin- cennes, Indiana. The first week in Jan- uary they secured a four horse team to car- ry their effects to Richland county, where William Seiler bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Preston township, on which the family located. The trip from Vincennes was a very difficult one, the roads being poor and very muddy. The older members of the family walked to their destination. It cost one thousand dollars to bring the family to this country under the most trying conditions and poor con- veniences in transportation. The land on which the Seilers located was prairie, a few acres of which had been broken, and on it stood a log house and' stable. These im- provements had been made by the predeces- sor of Mr. Seiler, the former having lived on it two years. The new comers at nice began work on the place and improved it, building a comfortable home and making a good living. William Seiler did not live long after coming to the United States, having died on his farm at the age of fifty- seven years. His wife survived until she reached the age of seventy. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity, John being the fourth in order of birth. One son, Peter Seiler, served in the Civil war a short time before the close, and continued in the regular army for three years.
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John ;Seiler, our subject, was reared in his native land, in which he remained un- til he was nineteen years old and there re- ceived a good common school education. He came to the United States with his par- ents and continued to reside on the home- stead after his father's death for several years. In the meantime he began buying land, at first securing fifteen acres which is a part of the present farm. He later add- ed to the same and built a good frame house on the place on which he located in 1861. Here he has continued to live ever since, having prospered from the first as a result of his good management. At one time he owned five hundred acres in Rich- land and Jasper counties, but in late years he has sold much of it to his children, now owning two hundred and sixty acres. His is one of the model farms of Richland county. He has been enabled to live well all these years and to give his children a good start in life. He is now living in re- tirement from the active working of his lands.
Mr. Seiler was united in marriage No- vember 22, 1855, to Mary Zerbe, a native of Stark county, Ohio, the daughter of Amos and Susanna (Klingman) Zerbe, the former a native of Maine, and the latter of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Her fa- ther came to Ohio when a small boy and was reared in Stark county, where he was ANDREW SHANAFELT. married and in 1848 he came to Richland county, settling in Preston township. He Among the well known citizens of Ma- rion county who have finished their labors later returned to Ohio, but died in Preston township at the age of seventy years. His and gone to their reward, the name of An-
widow survived for several years and died in Richland county when seventy-five years old.
Mr. and Mrs. John Seiler are the parents of twelve children, namely: John, who died at the age of seven years; Susan, Anna, Christian, Peter, Elizabeth, Mary, Rosetta, Henry Amos, Emma Louisa, William Charles, Ernest Wesley. They have been educated in the home schools.
In politics Mr. Seiler is a Republican, but has never taken a very active part in his party's affairs. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Preston township.
Since coming to this county Mr. Seiler has lived to see great changes, towns and villages have sprung up and fertile farms have been developed from the wild prairie and the wilderness, and marked progress has been made along educational, social and moral lines. What has been accomplished for the substantial benefit and material im- provement of the county has been of much interest to our subject and the active co- operation which he has given to measures for the general good is worthy of notice in the reckoning of what has been accom- plished here.
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drew Shanafelt is deserving of especial no- tice. He was a pioneer himself and the son of a pioneer. He was one of the sterling yeo- men, whose labors and self-sacrifice made possible the advanced state of civilization and enlightenment for which southern Illi- nois has long been noted.
Andrew Shanafelt was born August 5, 1821, in Licking county, Ohio, where his parents, Peter and Catherine (Cover) Shan- afelt, settled in a very early day, making the journey from their native state of Pennsyl- vania by means of a sled and experiencing many hardships and suffering on the way. Peter Shanafelt purchased a tract of heavily timbered land which by dint of hard work he finally succeeded in clearing and reduc- ing to cultivation and on which he died, shortly after becoming situated so as to live comfortably. His wife, who survived him a number of years and for some time prior to her death, which occurred in Marion county, Illinois, at the age of seventy-seven, made her home with her children. The fam- ily of Peter and Catherine Shanafelt con- sisted of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, the subject of this sketch being the youngest of the number. Both parents were of German extraction and representa- tives of old families which immigrated to the United States in an early day and set- tled in Pennsylvania, where numerous de- scendants still live.
Andrew Shanafelt was reared on the home farm in Ohio, early learned by prac- tical experience, the true meaning of hard work and grew up strong and vigorous and
well able to cope with the difficulties and discouragements which life had in store for him. After remaining in his native county until 1847, he disposed of his holdings there and came to Marion county, Illinois, where for some time he labored as a farm hand, subsequently renting a farm near the vil- lage of Odin. On March 22, 1849, he was united in marriage with Katherine Johnson, of Licking county, Ohio, and two years fol- lowing that event, purchased forty acres of land near Odin, on which he lived and pros- pered until the summer of 1856, when he sold the place and bought one hundred and twenty acres, which he made his home to the end of his days and on which his widow still resides.
Mr. Shanafelt labored long and diligently to reduce the latter place to cultivation and make it profitable, the land being about half timber and half prairie, on which no im- provements of any kind had been previously attempted. He addressed himself resolutely to his task, however, and after working for a number of years and experiencing many hardships and privations, finally suc- ceeded in developing a fine farm and placing himself in independent circumstances. Methodical in directing his labors and emi- nently progressive in his methods of cul- tivating the soil, he became widely known as a model farmer while in business matters his sound judgment and wise forethought enabled him to take advantage of unfavor- able conditions and mould them to suit his purposes. As a citizen he ranked high and was ever public spirited in matters relating
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to the material improvement of the county and the moral progress of those about him. Few men in the community were as much esteemed or showed themselves more wor- thy of the regard of the people of the com- munity and throughout a long and emi- nently useful life he discharged his every duty as he would answer to his conscience and his God.
Mrs. Shanafelt, who is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years, is a daughter of William and Rachel (McClel- land) Johnson, the former a native of Mary- land, the latter of Licking county, Ohio. She shared her husband's fortunes and vicis- situdes, encouraged him by her wise counsel and judicious advice and being in every sense of the word a helpmeet, contributed not a little to the success which he achieved. Ten children were born to this couple, three of whom are deceased, viz: Elizabeth, Wil- liam and Isaac; those surviving are Adam, a farmer of Salem township; Rachel, wife of T. M. Branch, of Salem township; Mary, who married John R. Branch, of Marion county ; Susanna, now Mrs. Riley Farthing, of Salem; Martha J., wife of Frank Young, also of Salem; Samuel and David, prosper- ous farmers of the township of Salem.
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