USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 55
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 55
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 55
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one son. John, who is employed on the II- linois Central Railroad, lives in Clinton, Illinois. Mrs. Hargrave was one of a fam- ily of three children. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Our subject has always taken a great in- terest in the affairs of his children. and has spared no pains in assisting them in life's struggle.
Mr. Hargrave is a man of com- manding personal appearance, easy in disposition, courteous in manner, and possessing a large social nature and is regarded by all his neighbors as a most excellent citizen. He believes in good government and honorable citizen- ship. He was raised by Methodist parents and consequently is a believer in the funda- mental principles of Christianity. In his political relations he is a stanch Republican.
CHARLES EDWARD PALMER.
Having been born and reared in Noble township, Richland county, Illinois, and since reaching manhood's estate identified with some of the most important business interests of that community, it is not strange that Charles Edward Palmer should be widely and favorably known within the confines of the territory in question. His career has been marked with success at al- most every turn, and he certainly is an ex- ample worthy of emulation by the young
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men of today, who would embark upon the sea of commercialism. Perseverance coup- led with energy and brains has placed him in an enviable position in the business world.
Charles Edward Palmer was born in Noble township, October 14, 1859. His father was James F. Palmer, born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1829, while the mother was Maria C. Danbury, also a na- tive of the Buckeye state, having been born there in 1833. Their deaths were not far apart, the husband passing away in 1893, and the wife and mother two years later. The father of the subject was a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincin- nati, and in 1856, rode horseback from Ohio to his future home in Noble township. His wife followed a year afterwards on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, which had just been completed. The grand- father of the subject was a soldier in the War of 1812; his paternal grandmother was a niece of the Revolutionary General Stark, while his uncle, Jacob A. Palmer, did valiant service throughout the Civil war.
Mr. Palmer was educated in the public schools, and when quite young began to read law. Later he entered the insurance business, and also took part in politics, final- ly being elected Supervisor of Noble town- ship. While discharging the duties of this office he was instrumental in having the county board appoint an expert accountant to check up the accounts of the county offi- cers. He eventually became an expert ac-
countant himself, and investigated the books of other counties, serving in that ca- pacity for eight years. In 1899 he con- ceived and organized the mercantile firm of Palmer & Company, and this concern has forged to the front with remarkable rapid- ity, carrying an immense stock of dry goods, furniture, stoves, hardware and ag- ricultural implements. In connection with this concern the firm operates a concrete block factory, and an evaporator. Mr. Palmer is the president and general man- ager of the establishment, and is also vice- president of the bank of Noble. He was wedded in 1882 to Mollie U. Philhower, and this alliance resulted in the birth of two children, one of whom died when quite young. The other, Beulah May Palmer, became the wife of a prominent contractor of Olney, Illinois.
Mr. Palmer is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, Red Man, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has for years been more or less prominent in politics, be- ing an adherent of the Independent party. When the Spanish-American war broke out he raised a company, and was made cap- tain thereof. They reported to Colonel Pittenger, at Centralia, and the company, although placed on the list, was never called out.
The wife of the subject was the child of Ira B. and Adeline (Smith) Philhower, of Clermont county, Ohio, who removed to Il- linois in 1854, and purchased a farm in Noble township. Mr. Philhower was for eight years station agent at Iuka, Illinois.
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At the end of that time he returned to Noble township, and worked as a miller, after which he became a merchant. He was a member of the Methodist church, and for years served on the School Board.
BARTLETT Y. WATKINS.
A great essay written once said that "when one has given the best that is in him to a work, he experiences a feeling of sat- isfaction." While this statement may seem rather broad yet a greater truth than this was never spoken. Whether one is success- ful or not in what one undertakes if he realizes that nothing on his part has been left undone, he should have no regrets. This does not mean that the unsuccessful person feels just as good over defeat as the suc- cessful over victory. When one does his best and is successful he has a double rea- son to be happy. To this class belongs Mr. Watkins, for he did his best and has suc- ceeded.
Bartlett Y. Watkins was born near Ashe- ville, North Carolina, July 20. 1842. His parents were good old Southern people. The father, James G. Watkins, was born in North Carolina, while the mother, Mary D. (Patterson) Watkins, was a native of Vir- ginia. To this union were born eight chil- dren of whom Bartlett was the oldest. On his mother's side he was of Irish and Ger- man descent, while on his father's side his ancestors were English and Welsh.
When Bartlett was ten years old the fam- ily came north to live in Richland county, Illinois. Here the father died November 9, 1872, and the mother died eleven years later in Christian county, Illinois.
The family being poor it was necessary for Bartlett to leave school with just a com- mon school education, but this he made the most of. After leaving school he began working on the farm which occupation he has followed all his life. At the age of twenty-two years he was married to Eliza- beth Lawless, daughter of Hiram and Cath- arine (Holden) Lawless, who had moved to Richland county from Highland county. Ohio.
To Mr. and Mrs. Watkins were born twelve children. Five boys and three girls are living, four of the children dying in in- fancy. The other eight are all living in Richland county, with the exception of Laura, wife of James R. Brown, a mechanic living at Evansville. Indiana. Nancy Jane is the wife of Ed. Stage, a farmer of Noble township: Lora, the other daughter, is the wife of Parker Bolby, a farmer of Olney township.
The boys are all married; Olis, with his family, is living on the home farm which he cultivates ; Commodore D. and Edmond T .. farmers, live in Noble township. Wil- liam F., the only son who has not followed the occupation of the father. is a machinist living at Olney; Oliver B., is also a ma- chinist at Olney.
Mr. Watkins was a member of Company E. of the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry in the
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War of the Rebellion. He saw little active service, however, for he was discharged on November 27, 1862, because of his physical condition. He returned to Richland county and November 22, 1864, the marriage of which we have already spoken took place. In 1887 Mr. Watkins, by hard, honest labor had accumulated enough to buy a comfortable little home, a farm of one hun- dred and four acres.
He farmed in a general way and was quite successful. During his long life he never allied himself with any church, but his wife was a member of the Christian church, and he attended the Blaine church with her.
Politically Mr. Watkins was a Demo- crat, but having never aspired to office, he took no active part in politics.
CAPT. WILLIAM T. JOHNSON.
There can be no greater honor or privi- lege than to conscientiously serve one's coun- try during its days of peril. It requires something more than patriotic zeal for a inan to forsake home, business, the pleasures of social or public life and voluntarily as- sume the hardships of the camp and the field, much less risk one's life in the brunt of battle, and the younger generation of to- day are apt to not give the respect due the brave "boys in blue" who saved the nation's integrity and who did so much for them. The subject of this sketch is one of those
whose name is to be found on the scroll of honor in this connection.
Capt. William T. Johnson was born in Scott county, Indiana, October 29, 1841, the son of Stephen and Levina (Williams) Johnson, the former having been born in Lexington, Indiana, in 1815 when Lexing- ton was the county seat of Scott county. The subject's paternal grandfather secured land in Scott county just as the Indians were leaving there. Elijah English also secured land nearby at the same time, which land is owned at present by Capt. W. E. English, of Indianapolis. The father of the subject was a cabinetmaker, a preacher and a farm- er, and quite a prominent man of that time. He was a great admirer of Millard Fillmore. He turned to the Republican party late in life, but never sought political office. He was called to his rest in 1870. Levina Wil- liams Johnson, mother of our subject, was born in the memorable year of 1812. Her uncle was an Indian fighter for many years and was with Lewis and Clark in their raid through Indiana. Her uncle's name appears on a monument in the West where the last raid was made on the Indians in the battle of Tippecanoe. She had four brothers and four sisters. The parents of the subject mar- ried in 1835. Eight children were born to them, all living at this writing, namely : Sarah, William T., our subject; Caroline, John and David, twins; Martha, Mary and James.
The subject's paternal grandfather was a "minute man" under Washington.
William T. Johnson was educated in the
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public schools of his native community. However, his schooling was somewhat lim- ited. He worked about the home place un- til the time he enlisted in the army. He came to Marion county, Illinois, in 1870, to engage in farming and has lived in Patoka township ever since. He was for several years in the dairy and stock raising business, having made a pronounced success of what- ever he undertook, being a man of great in- dustry and rare soundness of judgment. He always kept his farm in first class condition and it was well tilled and produced excel- lent crops. For the past eleven years Mr. Johnson has lived in quiet retirement in a beautiful and comfortable home in Vernon.
Mr. Johnson was first married to Saman- tha Gray in the year 1866. There are no liv- ing children from this union. Mr. John- son's second wife was Addie Gray, daugh- ter of Thomas and Amanda (Carroll) Gray. Amanda Carroll was a distant relative of Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The second wife of Mr. Johnson was the fifth child in a family of twelve. One girl and one boy have been born to the subject and wife : Tina, who married Warren Murfin; Biness, the son, is single and living at home.
As intimated above our subject was one of the gallat defenders of the flag during the dark days of the sixties, having enlisted in 1861 in Company C, Thirty-Eighth Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel Schribner, and was sent at once to General Sherman's command. Walter Q. Gresham was in line with the subject as a
private at the organization of the regiment. He engaged in a skirmish lasting thirty days before the battle of Stone River, in which great battle our subject was wounded. At the battle of Chickamauga our subject was under the command of Colonel Thomas in the One Hundred and Forty-Ninth Regi- ment. He was captured at Chickamauga and sent to Libby prison for six months, but he was one of the six men who dug out of that prison and escaped. Twenty men made the effort, but the others failed. They worked in relays of five men and tunnelled under the wall from the basement of the old ware- house where they were confined. They had nothing but an old chisel to work with. Those who escaped were, beside our sub- ject, Charles Vaughn, Thomas A. Morrison, Alex Lorington, T. McVey and D. Laporte. They spent seventeen days and nights dig- ging their way to freedom. The subject was thirty-six days and nights getting back to the Union lines. He remained in hiding during the day and traveled at night. He came out of the army in October, 1865, a captain and acting adjutant at the time. He is said by his comrades to have been a most gallant soldier and never flinched from duty.
Our subject was captain of Company D, in Pittinger's Provisional Regiment, dur- ing the Spanish-American war.
The above is a record of which anyone should be proud. Captain Johnson has been Justice of the Peace since living in Vernon and his court has been a popular one, his decisions being fair on all matters submitted to him. He is a loyal Republican and is
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known to all classes for his honesty, in- tegrity, public spirit and good natured per- sonality, which makes him one of the most highly esteemed men in Patoka township.
JOHN WILLIAM PFLAUM.
Inheriting the thrifty and frugal habits of a sturdy German father and mother, who many years ago left the shores of the Fa- therland to seek their fortune in the new world, it is little wonder that the subject of this sketch has won his spurs in the battle of life. The people of Noble township, Richland county, Illinois, have known him as boy and man, and as his dealings with his fellow beings have always been honor- able they repose in him the most implicit confidence, as his election to township offices on different occasions would amply demonstrate.
John William Pflaum .was born in Meigs county, Ohio, March 31, 1855, his parents being Valentine and Elizabeth (Hartman) Pflaum, both of them having been born in Baden, Germany. Shortly after their mar- riage in 1851 they came to this country, and settled in Meigs county, Ohio, from which place they removed to Noble town- ship in 1873. being in the eighteenth year of his age. Mr. Pflaum began purchasing land in small tracts until he had accumulated nine hundred acres, the greater portion of which he eventually had under a high state of cultivation.
The subject of this sketch was married to Cordelia Rexrout in 1886. She was born in Russell county, Kentucky, August 12, 1867. Their children are Bertha, wife of Alfred Woods, who lives on a farm with her husband near the home of her parents; Ralph, Flossie and Raymond. Ralph and Flossie are twins, and the latter is married to a prosperous farmer of the neighborhood by the name of John Ireland, while Raymond and Eva live at the home of their parents. All of the members of the family, except Ralph, are members of the Church of Christ, and take a great deal of interest in the affairs of their denomina- tion. When he attained his majority the subject of this sketch cast his lot with the Republican party, and he remains stead- fast to the same. He has for some years been a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Pflaum takes great pride in the appearance of his well cultivated farm of one hundred and fifty acres, from which he raises abundant crops. He is a public spirited citizen in every sense of the word, and takes an active interest in the affairs of Noble township. He has twice held office, having been Collector and Road Su- pervisor.
JOHN BOWER.
Prominent among the men of Noble township. Richland county, who have at- tained a competence through their individ-
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ual efforts is John Bower, fruit grower and came to Olney township from Clermont farmer. Despite his years, for he is near- county, Ohio, with her parents when a ing the sixty-ninth milestone, Mr. Bower . little girl. Five children were the fruits of is an active man, and gives close personal this union, two of them dying in infancy. Of the survivors Bessie is a teacher at Cerro Gordo, Piatt county, Illinois, while Hazel and Paul are at home. attention to his business. He has spent al- most a half a century in the community in which he now resides, and holds a high place in the estimation of his neighbors, who know him as a man of probity and in- tegrity. He is of German parentage.
Mr. Bower was born in Ross coun- ty, Ohio, April 10, 1840, and came to Richland county, Illinois, in March, 1865. His parents, Robert and Geneva Bower, were born in Germany. For seven years the father of the subject served in the Ger- man army, and was with Blucher in the famous battles of Leipsic and Waterloo. He was wounded twice in these engage- ments, receiving a sabre thrust and a bullet in the leg. He was the father of eleven children, John being the tenth in the order or birth.
John Bower was married twice, his first wife being Catherine Martin, daughter of Joseph Martin, of Clermont county, Ohio. This alliance was contracted January 21. 1864, and as a result thereof the following children were born: Clara, died in infancy ; Flora is a missionary in Forida; Louis J., a resident of British Columbia; Ella is in St. Louis; Charles lives with his parents. Mr. Bower's first wife died May 9, 1880. It was two years later when the subject took unto himself a second help-mate in the person of Jemima Hammet, daughter of William and Rebecca Hammet, who
In his early youth Mr. Bower attended the country schools, and when he had com- pleted his course there, evinced such a great desire to continue his studies that one of his brothers loaned him sufficient money to enable him to attend college in Missouri, where he remained for some time. The subject learned the trade of stone cutting, but finally abandoned the business for fruit growing and farming. His orchard of for- ty acres is conceded to be one of the finest and most productive in Noble township, and besides this he owns a well cultivated lands in Noble. Preston and Olney town- ships, consisting in all of about two hun- dred and forty-six acres. It will be seen from this that Mr. Bower is well supplied with this world's good which are the fruits of a life of industry.
Mr. Bower is not a member of any re- ligious denomination or fraternal organiza- tion, but he is a man of unimpeachable character, who has done much toward ad- vancing the business interests of Noble township, being always ready and willing to contribute his share toward insuring the success of any project that has for its pur- pose the weal and welfare of that section of Richland county. Mr. Bower is a Dem- ocrat, but in his political belief is neither
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"hide-bound" nor partisan, always giving his franchise to men whom he believes will best subserve the interests of the people.
ELBRIDGE ROBINSON.
The life of the subject of this sketch has not been of an unusual character, nothing strange or tragic about it, but rather the antithesis, quiet and unostentatious, a life that has resulted in no harm to those who have come under the influence of the sub- ject. He is one of the "boys in blue", to whom all honor is due.
Elbridge Robinson was born in Morgan county, Ohio, January 7, 1844, on a farm. He came to Marion county after the war. Mr. Robinson is the son of Israel and Mar- garet (Warne) Robinson, the former hav- ing been born March 3, 1804, in Brook county, West Virginia, who came to Ohio when six years old, a pioneer of the woods. He became a public man and served one term in the Legislature. He was a Whig. Is- rael Robinson was one of eleven children, a prominent man in his locality. He died in 1872. The mother of the subject was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1812, being a member of a family consisting of twelve children, six girls and an equal num- ber of boys. The parents of the subject married December 31, 1829. Our subject is the only one of six children living.
Elbridge Robinson spent his early life on a farm. His education was secured in the
common school and at Roos College at Sha- ron, Ohio. When only sixteen years old he obtained a certificate to teach, and success- fully taught school both before and after the war. His services were in great demand for he gained quite a reputation as an able educator.
As already intimated, Mr. Robinson was one of the brave sons of the North who of- fered his life in defense of his country, hav- ing enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, in August, 1862, under the command of Colonel Ball, a judge at Zanesville, Ohio, and he served until the close of the war with much credit. He was wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, which wound did not heal until after the close of the war. He was in the battles of Milroy's Defeat in June, 1863, Locust Grove in November, 1863, also fought at the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania, and several other en- gagements, some of his comrades having been killed in every battle. He was all through the strenuous Wilderness cam- paign. He has a congressional medal of honor for heroic service, having saved a fallen comrade from being captured by the Confederates. The unfortunate man was Price Worthington of Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-second Regiment, the same as that of our subject. Mr. Robinson rushed back in the face of the enemy's fire through their lines and saved Mr. Worth- ington. After his return he was warmly congratulated by the officers and men for his heroic deed. He was then only nineteen
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years old. He is remembered by his gov- acres of valuable land in a high state of cul- ernment by a pension.
Mr. Robinson was united in marriage on March 3, 1870, to Moretta Reichert and to this union the following children were born : Fora, born February 21, 1872, married Mamie Smith; they are living in Vernon, and are the parents of two children; Lewis was born April 12, 1874, and died January 13, 1898; Harry was born October 21, 1877. The subject's first wife died in 1877. He was again married, his second wife be- ing Martha L. Peddicord, the daughter of A. M. and Mary Peddicord. No children were born to this union. But a little child, Bertrice Reynolds, whose parents and fam- ily had just moved to the village in very destitute circumstances with mother sick, the little six months' old Bertrice was found by Mrs. Robinson while on one of her visits of charity in an out building with scarcely any clothing or attention. Her sympathetic nature prompted her to carry the little waif to her home and assume the duties of mother. By proper consent she has ever since remained with her new found parents to scatter sunshine in their home, and with her affectionate disposition and loving words cheer their declining years down life's shaded pathway.
The life of our subject has been spent on a farm and in the mercantile business, both of which he made a pronounced success of, and was enabled to lay up an ample compe- tence for his old age which he is spending in comfort and peace in quiet retirement. He is the owner of four hundred and fifteen
tivation and highly improved, being one of the model farms in Patoka township. He has a substantial and well furnished home, an excellent barn and convenient out build- ings, and he always keeps good stock of various kinds. He lives in Vernon at this writing.
Mr. Robinson has always been a Repub- lican, however, he has never aspired to po- sitions of public trust, preferring to lead a quiet life and devote his time to his individ- ual business. He is a great reader, keeping posted on all current events. He is a deep thinker, has an excellent memory and is a very interesting conversationalist. He is held in high esteem by all who know him.
JOHN O. HENRY.
Mr. Henry is identified with the financial, commercial and social life of Richland county, having succeeded in building up a prosperous banking business. He has been entrusted by his fellow citizens with the office of Mayor of Noble, Illinois, and dur- ing his term performed the duties of office with dignity and credit. He has been re- turned as Supervisor of Noble township at two succeeding elections. And this is but a chapter from the life of a man of thirty- five years of age.
John O. Henry is the son of Mason and Lucy Henry. On his father's side he comes of sturdy Irish pioneer stock, his grand-
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father's parents being natives of Cork county, Ireland. His father, a native of Il- linois, removed to Lawrenceburg, Missouri, and there, in 1845, Mr. Henry was born. In his sixth year he came with his family to Noble, Illinois, which has been his home ever since, and where in company with his four brothers and two sisters he laid the foundation of his education. Upon leaving school he entered business life where his strenuous efforts and affable manner soon brought him to the forefront.
The year 1902 marked an important epoch in the life of Mr. Henry. In that year he married Bessie Shannon, prominent in Noble society circles, whose father, Wil- liam Shannon, had the distinction of serv- ing his country all through the Civil war.
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