USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 42
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 42
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 42
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In his political views, Mr. Shanafelt was a Democrat, but aside from serving as School Director and Supervisor, never as- pired to public position. He was always in- terested in what made for the advancement of the county and the development of his re- sources, believed in enterprise in all the term implies and had great faith in the future of
Marion county and the progress of its peo- ple. He lived with the greatest good of his fellow men ever in view and reached the ad- vanced age of eighty years, retaining to a marked degree, the possession of his phys- ical and mental powers. On May Ist of the year 1901, he died very suddenly of heart failure, and it goes without the say- ing that his loss was deeply felt and pro- foundly regretted by the large circle of neighbors and friends with whom he had been so long associated. Since his death, his widow has resided on the family home- stead and although nearly eighty years old, she feels few of the infirmities incident to advanced age, having remarkable action, and able to attend to all her household du- ties, besides manifesting a lively interest in the labors of the farm. She has spent her entire life within the geographical lim- its of Marion county and has yet to take her first ride behind a locomotive. Although circumscribed within a narrow area, she is quite intelligent and well informed and keeps in touch with the times on all matters of general and local interest.
William Johnson, father of Mrs. Shana- felt, was taken to Ohio when thirteen years old, and grew to manhood in Licking county. He was reared a farmer and in due time married Miss Rachel McClelland, who bore him four children before he disposed of his interests in Ohio and moved, in 1842, to Marion county, Illinois. He made the jour- ney to his new home by wagon and after purchasing eighty acres of wild prairie land, addressed himself to the labor of improving
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a farm and providing for those dependent upon him. His first dwelling was a hewed log building with a large fire-place for heat- ing and cooking, such modern articles as stoves and carpets being unknown in the pioneer homes of those days and the good wife and mother was obliged to attend to her many duties with but few of the con- veniences now found in the humblest of households.
Mr. Johnson and family lived after the manner of the typical pioneers of the early times and experienced not a few hardships and privations ere the farm was fully devel- oped and capable of producing a comfort- able livelihood. In the course of time, how- ever, he added to his original purchase and became one of the enterprising and well-to- do farmers of his township, besides taking an influential part in the development of the community along other than material lines. He lived to see Marion county grow from a sparsely settled prairie to one of the most enterprising and progressive sections of Southern Illinois, and with strong arm and clear brain, contributed his share to- wards bringing about the many changes that are now apparent. He departed this life at the ripe old age of eighty-one, his wife dying several years later, when seventy- eight years old. A daughter, Mrs. Lavina Ross, lives on the family homestead at the present time and a son by the name of Isaac served in the late Civil war as a mem- ber of the One Hundred and Eleventh Illi- nois Infantry, Mrs. Shanafelt being one of the seven surviving members of the family.
FRANKLIN GILBERT BOGGS.
The subject was born November 30, 1854, on the old Boggs homestead in Rac- coon township, Marion county, the son of James Clark Boggs, who was born in Jef- ferson county, this state, April 3, 1828, and reared, educated and married in Marion county. He married Margaret Hicklin, who was born February 23, 1834, in Lin- coln county, Tennessee. James C. Boggs was the son of Spruce Boggs, who married Martha H. Kell, January 21, 1825. They were of North Carolina. They were mem- bers of the Reformed Presbyterian church, and gave the land on which to build the church, and were active in church work. He was born May 9, 1808. They came to Jefferson county, Illinois, in the early twen- ties and were the first settlers in Rome town- ship, the north part. He got wild land here, and in those days the Indians were quite troublesome and ate most of his crop the first year. There was an abundance of wild game then. He was a hard working, rugged man, and won success despite obstacles, through his agricultural labors. He and his wife died on the place. They were the parents of fourteen children, seven of whom grew to maturity. They are all now de- ceased. Those who grew up were: Thomas, Clark, William, John, Sarah, Joseph and Hugh. The subject's grandfather, William Hicklin, was a native of South Carolina. He married Ann Sloan, of that state. They went to middle Tennessee where they re- mained for a number of years after their
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marriage, and they went later to Randolph county, Illinois, and then to Marion county, settling in Raccoon township, where they secured wild land in section 27, having got eighty acres of government land, which they developed into a good farm, and on which they died. They were the parents of four children, John, Margaret, Betsy J. became the wife of T. B. Parkinson, of Raccoon township, this county; Florida A. lives in Raccoon township, the widow of Benjamin Cook. The subject's father received only a limited education. However, he was self- learned. When a young man he taught school. He was reared on his father's old homestead and lived at home until he was twenty-one years old, after which he was at different places for awhile. When he bought eighty acres of land in section 34, Raccoon township, on which he made his home until in April, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, Eightieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was in several engagements, among which was the great battle of Stone River. In fording the river there the troops had to wade the water up to their arm pits. The subject's father was very warm at the time, and the cold water caused him to take a severe cold, which resulted in his death on April 6, 1863. He was buried in the Na- tional cemetery at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. His wife remained on the place until her death, September 3, 1893. They were mem- bers of the Reformed Presbyterian church. Mr. Boggs was a Justice of the Peace and a Republican in politics. Mr. and Mrs. James
Clark Boggs were the parents of four chil- dren, namely: William, who died single at the age of nineteen ; Franklin Gilbert, our subject ; Mary A., the wife of E. R. Davis, who now lives on the old Boggs place in Raccoon township; Florida married Joseph C. Telford, a farmer in Raccoon township.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the home schools and lived at home until he reached the age of twenty-four years. He was united in marriage December 6, 1877, to Emma Norfleet, who was born in Tennessee, the daughter of Benjamin F. and Josephine (Hamlett) Norfleet, who now live in Raccoon township, and whose sketch appears in full in this work. Three sons have been born to the subject and wife, as follows: Vivian O., was born December 25, 1878. He is in the mercantile business in Mounds and Dongola, Illinois, making his home in the latter town. He married Anna May Eimer, of Bellville, Illinois, and they have one son, Leland. Vivian O. was a stenographer and teacher previous to going into the mercantile business. He attended school at Carbondale, Illinois, and took a business course at Centralia. He is a bright young business man. Victor, the subject's sdneco child, was born September 30, 1880. He attended school at Carbondale, Illinois, and at the University of Valparaiso, Indi- ana, where he made a brilliant record for scholarship. He is a graduate in pharmacy. He is now in St. Louis, engaged in carpen- try and building, also real estate. He buys lots and builds on them for investment pur-
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poses. He married Iva Wyatt on Septem- ber 24, 1908. Earl, the subject's youngest son, was born August 22, 1887. He is a farmer and carpenter at Fruti, Colorado, where he is doing well. He attended the Centralia schools.
After 1877 the subject located on his pres- ent farm in section 34, Raccoon township, where he purchased forty acres. It was a new place, but the subject was a hard worker and soon developed a fine farm, well improved in every respect, and his home is one of the finest in Raccoon township. He does most all his own carpenter work, being naturally a skilled workman. He also owns one hundred and thirty-one acres of well improved and very productive land in sec- tions 27, 34 and 35, in this township. He has a very valuable orchard. He raises fine fruits of all varieties, and he used to raise a great many strawberries. No small part of Mr. Boggs' income is derived from his live stock. He always keeps a good grade, his Duroc and Jersey hogs being especially well bred. He has also been extensively engaged in the poultry business for the past seventeen years, raising mostly Barred Plymouth Rock chickens. He carries on a general farming, and his place shows thrift, good management and industry, being all in all one of the most desirable farms in the town- ship.
Mr. Boggs is a stanch Republican and a faithful member of the United Presbyterian church. He is well read on modern topics, and he makes all his friends and acquaint- ances feel at home when they visit him.
JUDGE JOHN R. BONNEY.
To present the leading facts in the life of one of Clay county's busy men of affairs and throw light upon some of his more pro- nounced characteristics is the task in hand in placing before the reader the following biographical review of Judge John R. Bon- ney, who has, while yet in the prime of vig- orous manhood, won a conspicuous place in the legal world of this locality, who, for many years has stood in the front rank in his profession in a county well known for its splendid array of legal talent. He long ago succeeded in impressing his strong per- sonality upon the community in which he now lives, and where for a quarter of a cen- tury he has been a forceful factor in di- recting and controlling important move- ments looking to the development of Clay county, whose interests he has ever had at heart, and where he has labored for the general good while advancing his own in- terests, which he has done in such a man- ner as to win the hearty commendation of all who know him.
John R. Bonney was born on a farm in Monroe county, Illinois, April 27, 1848, the son of Philip C. Bonney, a native of Cum- berland county, Maine, who came West in 1840, settling at Waterloo, Monroe county, Illinois. The subject's father was a mem- ber of Company A, Thirty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was commanded by Gen. John A. Logan. He was through all the Vicksburg campaign and partici- pated in many battles. He died in Jackson
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county, Illinois, in 1863, from the effects of exposure while in the service, having lived only three days after he returned home from the army.
Thomas Bonney, the subject's grand- father, was born in England. The mother of the judge was Mary Fisher in her maid- enhood, whose people were from Tennessee. She lived to the advanced age of eighty- seven years, having died in Louisville, Il- linois, May 12, 1908. The judge's parents were people of much sterling worth and reared their children in a wholesome home atmosphere which has had a marked effect upon their subsequent lives. The names of their eight children follow: Marshall and DeGrass both died in infancy; Lyman died in 1887; John R. was the fourth child in order of birth; Rowland died in 1875; Wil- liam died in 1905; Samuel died when three years old; Olive is the wife of A. L. Bar- nett, Sheriff of Searcy county, Arkansas.
Judge Bonney received a good common school education, despite the fact that op- portunities for being educated in the early days were limited, yet he was an ambitious youth and applied himself as best he could to whatever books that fell into his hands. His business and professional career briefly stated, is as follows:
He was one of the men of Illinois to offer his services in behalf of the Union during the Rebellion, having enlisted in 1865, and served until the close of the war. Return- ing home he began blacksmithing, at which he worked with success from 1866 to 1873. Being still desirous of gaining a higher ed-
ucation, he then entered Shurtliff College, Upper Alton, Illinois, in 1873, in which he remained for two years, making rapid progress, after which he began teaching in Clay county, having taught during 1876 and 1877, in a manner that won much fa- vorable comment from all sources. He was Justice of the Peace and Township Treas- urer of Hoosier township from 1881 until 1898. Having made rapid strides in the study of law, he was admitted to the bar in 1896, and in a short time had a good legal business. He was elected County Judge on November 8, 1898, and served with much credit and entire satisfaction to his constit- uents until his term expired December I, 1902. Having given such splendid service in this office, he was re-elected in 1902 and served four more years, retiring in Decem- ber, 1906. During these eight years many cases of great importance were handled by him with the usual dispatch and clearness in analysis, also fairness to all concerned. He will, no doubt, be remembered as one of the ablest jurists the county has ever had.
Judge Bonney was married November 7, 1869, to Samantha Erwin, the representa- tive of a well known family. She was called to her rest November 26, 1888. Six chil- dren were born to this union, namely: Laura, the wife of J. H. Chandler, of Clay county ; Etta is the wife of George W. Mc- Glashon, of Louisville, Illinois; Lillian is the wife of E. G. Johnson, of Mill Shoals, Illinois, where he is agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad Company;
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Roscoe lives at Monta Vista, Colorado, in the government service; Maude is employed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company in St. Louis; Jessie is living at home.
The Judge again married, on November 7, 1890, his second wife being Jennie Wolfe. One child has been born to this union, Harold, who is ten years old in 1908. Mrs. Bonney is a woman of many commendable traits.
Our subject is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a Republican in politics, having long been active in his party's affairs. The keynote of his charac- ter are progress and patriotism, for, as al- ready intimated throughout his career he has labored for the improvement of every line of business or public interest with which he has been associated.
JUDGE A. N. TOLLIVER.
It is with a great degree of satisfaction to the biographer when he averts to the life of one who has made a success in any voca- tion requiring definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life whether it be one of prosaic endeavor or radical ac- complishment, abounds in valuable lesson and incentive to those who have become dis- couraged in the fight for recognition or to the youth whose future is undetermined. For a number of years the subject of this sketch has directed his efforts toward the goal of success in Clay county, and by pa- tient continuance has won.
A. N. Tolliver, the well known County Judge of Clay county, Illinois, is a native of the same, having been born October 12, 1870, the son of John H. Tolliver, who was a native of Lawrence county, Indiana, and who came to Clay county, Illinois, when a young man. He has spent most of his life engaged in farming, but he has been in the drug business at Ingraham, this state, for many years. Isom Tolliver, the judge's grandfather, was also a native of Indiana, who came to Clay county, Illinois, being among the first settlers here. He died in 1874. The judge's mother was Margaret Sanchner, whose people were from Tennes- see .. She passed to her rest in November, 1905. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John H. Tolliver, as follows: A. N., the subject ; Fred D., living in Hoosier township: Dora S., of Hoosier township; Mrs. Minnie O'Dell, living in the same community; Myrtle ; Mrs. Cora Erwin, of Hoosier township: Claud, deceased.
A. N. Tolliver spent his boyhood days on the parental farm in Hoosier township, where he developed a sturdy manhood. He attended the country schools during the winter months, applying himself in a most assiduous manner and becoming well edu- cated. Deciding to take up the teacher's profession, he had no trouble in finding an opportunity and for a period of ten years taught in an able manner, becoming known as one of the popular educators of the county, but believing that the law was his proper calling, he began the study of the same while teaching, and he was admitted
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to the bar in Clay county in 1902, soon be- ginning practice. Successful from the first, he soon built up an excellent business, be- coming active in political affairs, it was not long until the party leaders singled him out for public office. He was the choice of the Republican party for the nomination of County Judge, and he was triumphantly elected to this office in 1906, and is now serving in that capacity in a manner that stamps him as an able jurist, thoroughly versed in the law and fair and unbiased in his decisions. His term is for four years, and before it is half gone he has shown that his constituents made no mistake in select- ing him for the place. He had held various minor township offices prior to his election to the judgeship, and his services were al- ways characterized by a strict fidelity to duty. He was principal and superinten- dent of the Louisville schools from 1898 to 1901.
Judge Tolliver was united in marriage, June 15, 1892, with Elizabeth A. Bryan, daughter of Josiah Bryan, of Hoosier town- ship, and to this union five children have been born as follows: Zola A., Flossie E., Lowell S., Elizabeth and Bryan. They are attending the local schools.
The judge devotes his entire time to the duties of his office and to the practice of his profession. His clients come from all over this locality and he handles some very important cases, always with satisfaction to his clients. In his fraternal relations, he belongs to the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen and the Tribe of
Ben Hur. He has occupied the chairs in the Masonic fraternity, and is secretary of the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Baptist church.
Mrs. Tolliver was called to her rest De- cember 10, 1905.
Judge Tolliver takes an abiding interest in the progress and improvement of the schools in Clay county and, in fact, all mat- ters that pertain to the development of the community. He belongs to the class of substantial citizens whose lives do not show any meteoric effects, but who by their sup- port of the moral, political and social status for the general good, promote the real wel- fare of their respective communities, and are therefore deserving of honorable men- tion on the pages of history.
EDGAR F. BRUBAKER.
The subject of this sketch, Edgar F. Bru- baker, is a man who is an important fac- tor in the farming and mercantile business in the county in which he lives. The son of one of the pioneer residents of Marion county, a man who held a record as a large farmer and merchant, and as a church worker and a prominent citizen, entitled him by birth to a place in the life of the community. He has, however, had the ad- vantages of a present-day education, and his trained brain and industrious habits have brought him success in life.
Edgar F. Brubaker, a twin brother of
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Edwin M. Brubaker, was born in Alma Kagy, on April 3, 1888. No children township, on October 6, 1859, and was the son of Eli Brubaker and Mary Warner, his wife. His father, who was born December II, 1818, and who died July 10, 1907, was universally known and respected in the com- munity. He was one of the pioneers of Ma- rion county, where he made a name for him- self. He helped to establish a Presbyterian church in Stevenson township, and was an active, conscientious, and untiring religious worker. For over forty years he held the position of superintendent of Sunday schools, after which he was elected hono- rary superintendent for the remainder of his life. He was noted and known through- out the county as a raiser and breeder of Durham cattle. His farm at one time com- prised fourteen hundred acres of as good land as there was in the county. For many years he turned his attention to the mer- cantile business in an extensive way in Sa- lem. He was a life-long Democrat and one of the most popular and important men in his section of the county. His family con- sisted of seven children. They were: Isaac B., who married Dolly Kagy, and has one child; Christian M., who married Wood- son Cheely and has eight children; Anna B., who married Shannon Kagy, has five children; William A. married Marindy Van Gilder, and has five children; Edwin M., the twin brother of the subject of our sketch, married Catherine Byers and has two chil- dren; and Logan E. married Rachel Kagy and has two children.
Edgar F. Brubaker married Mariette
have been born to them. In his youth he was educated at the common schools, afterwards attending Lincoln University, where he took a scientific course. Like his father before him, he started ex- tensively in the farming business and with much success until about eleven years ago, when he decided to go into the mercantile business in Brubaker. His venture along mercantile lines was an assured success, and his business has a turnover now of about twenty thousand dollars. In addition to his large mercantile interests, Edgar F. Bru- baker still holds about four hundred acres of land and is a breeder or Polled-Angus cattle on an extensive scale, the Polled-An- gus herd which he now has on his farm being of a remarkably good quality. In the past he has been quite a large raiser of sheep and has the reputation of being a shrewd and experienced agriculturalist.
In politics Edgar F. Brubaker is a Demo- crat. In the political life of his township he has been as active as his business inter- ests could permit him to be. He has served a term as Road Supervisor, and twice as a Justice of the Peace. His reputation along agricultural lines gained him the distinc- tion of servingt on the Board of Agricul- ture at the State Fair at the time of its be- ing held at Peoria, Illinois. In the social and religious life of the township and county, the names of Edgar F. and Mrs. Brubaker are well to the fore. Their names have rarely been absent from social and religious functions in the neighborhood. As .
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a citizen and a representative business man, the subject of our sketch is admired and respected. He has all the qualities which go to the making of the desirable and conscien- tious member of the community.
JOHN W. THOMASON.
Mr. Thomason is known as a man of high attainments and practical ability as a lawyer, and as one who has achieved suc- cess in his profession because he has worked for it persistently and in channels of honest endeavor. His prestige at the bar of Clay county stands in evidence of his ability and likewise serves as a voucher for intrinsic worth of character. He has used his intel- lect to the best purpose, has directed his energies along legitimate courses, and his career has been based upon the wise as- sumption that nothing save industry, perse- verance, sturdy integrity and fidelity to duty will lead to success.
John W. Thomason was born in Blair township, Clay county, July 5, 1874, the son of William B. Thomason, who was a native of Indiana. He came to Bible Grove township when a boy, where he settled on a farm and continued to live in this county until his death, about 1878, when only about twenty-eight years old. Allan Thomason was the subject's grandfather, a native of North Carolina, who emigrated to Kentucky and then to Indiana, residing on a farm in Washington county. He was
a soldier in the Mexican war. The sub- ject's mother was known in her maiden- hood as Caroline Kellums, whose people were natives of Indiana, she having been born in Greene county, that state. She was called to her rest in 1900, when living at Iola, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. William B. Thomason were the parents of three chil- dren, only two of whom are living at this writing, Walter L. Thomason living at Madison, Illinois, and John W.
Mr. Thomason spent his early life on the farm. His father was called to his reward when John W. was four years old, and the inother and son lived with the latter's ma- ternal grandfather. The mother remarried when John W. was eight years old. His step-father was J. W. Fender, of Iola, Il- linois, by which union six children were born.
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