USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 59
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 59
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 59
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His first act was to erect a cross on a little hill and kneeling down he and his com- panions sang the "Salve Regina," in honor of the Heavenly Queen. The spot was named "Ste. Marie." In the course of time a church was built and the spiritual wants of the little faithful band were attended to from Vincennes. Later on a resident priest, or rather a missionary, was located at Ste. Marie, with headquarters at that place. The various missions in the surrounding neighborhood such as Mt. Carmel, Flora,
Carlyle and others were attended from here. When the parish had grown to such an extent that two priests were required for all the work, an assistant was sent to Ste. Marie to attend to the outlying missions.
Meanwhile the town of Olney had sprung up on the Baltimore & Ohio line, fifteen miles southwest of Ste. Marie. Some few Catholic families from Ste. Marie moved to the new place. The first priest to visit them was Father Loghren. He came in July, 1859. Services were held in a brick building, the so-called O'Donnell home. This house is still in good condition at 122 West North Avenue. Father Logh- ren attended Olney until June, 1860, when Father Sandrock, pastor of Ste. Marie, took charge until February, 1861. So far no services had been held on Sundays. In February, 1861, Father John Vahey was in- trusted with the Olney mission. Father Vahey was a good organizer. It seems to have been his particular work to visit dif- ferent places with the result of establishing churches. His principal work in Olney was to collect funds for a church building. Father Vahey was originally an Irish law- yer and very fond of debating. He was called away in July, 1861. For the next six months Father Sandrock had no as- sistant. The continuation of the work was left to him. He succeeded in building the church in the fall of the same year. The site was donated by Tom Lilly. The church was erected by the firm of Gadus & Lutz. It was situated on what in now Fair street.
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From January until July, 1862, the Rev. H. J. Koven attended to Olney and was succeeded by Father Thomas Walsh in Oc- tober, 1862. Father Walsh was a fine speci- men of manhood physically and a neat dresser. He left in December, 1862. For the next eighteen months no records of baptisms are found on the books. During this time Father Sandrock was without an assistant and baptisms were conferred at Ste. Marie. He would, however, occasion- ally come to Olney and minister to the spiritual wants of the faithful.
In June, 1864, the Rev. James Harty was assigned to Olney as its first resident pas- tor. He boarded for the greater part with private families notably Frank Gillespie. Father Harty was true to his name, a hearty, genial gentleman, and a good "mixer." He was in consequence well liked by both Catholics and non-Catholics. His health, however, was not robust. He stayed but one year. From July until De- cember, 1865, Father Sandrock again took charge of Olney. In December, 1865, the Rev. Patrick Dee was sent to Olney. He boarded with a family named Hines. He was a young energetic priest. During his administration of the parish two acres of ground were secured in the extreme south- western part of town and set apart for a Catholic cemetery. Father Vahey also or- ganized a private school for Catholic chil- dren with Miss Gillespie as first teacher. Father Vahey went from here to Alton, but soon after died in the St. Vincent hospital at St. Louis.
Rev. A. T. David succeeded him in June, 1868, but remained only until October of the same year. Father David was an elder- ly gentleman. In the fall of 1868 he built an addition to the parsonage, added a steeple to the church and placed bells in the belfry. Messrs. Gallagher and Schilt were the contractors. In January, 1869, Rev. P. Kearney came to Olney and stayed until October of the same year. He was ad- vanced in years.
Next came Father Meckel, who is at present in Alton, Illinois. He had just ar- rived from the old country and was at once assigned to Olney parish. He was pastor from November, 1869, until August, 1874. In 1871 Father Meckel built a school and engaged a private teacher. Heretofore the school had been conducted in the parsonage. He was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Molitor, who is now Rural Dean of the Alton diocese and stationed at Newton, Illinois. Father Molitor was in charge until January, 1877, when Rev. J. W. Merscher was called to Olney. In September, 1884. Rev. F. H. Budde, who is now in Mt. Carmel, took charge of Olney. He stayed until March, 1888. During his time the mission of Stringtown was added to Olney.
In March, 1888, the Rev. J. B. Schnelten was commissioned to the congregation at Olney, which he faithfully held until No- vember, 1906. In 1893 Father Schnelten moved the church building to the corner of East Chestnut and South Elliott streets. The property consisted of three lots and was bought of the Dowling estate and is
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favorably situated. A new parsonage was also built in connection with the old church. In 1906 Father Schnelten resigned the pas- torate on account of ill-health. He retired to Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois. Father Schnelten was very well liked by all who knew him. He was very genial and gentlemanly in his character and diplomatic in his ways. His successor is the present incumbent, the Rev. J. B. Henken.
The Rev. John B. Henken was born Sep- tember 4, 1870, near Germantown, Clinton county, Illinois, of German parents. He received his early education in country schools. At the age of sixteen he began to study Latin, and in the year 1888 entered the Franciscan College at Teutopolis, Illi- nois. The next year found him in Quincy, where he finished his classical studies. In 1893 he took up theological studies at the St. Francis Seminary near Milwaukee, Wis- consin. He was ordained priest June 16, 1895. His charge was as assistant at the Belleville cathedral where he stayed one year. For the following twelve months he acted as substitute for different priests in the diocese, viz: Four months at Ridgway, six months at Damiansville, six weeks at New Baden, six weeks at Centralia. In 1897 he was sent to Rosiclare, Illinois, as the first pastor of that congregation. Here he remained six years when he was trans- ferred to Sandoval, Illinois. Here he stayed three years, but through all that time he was in poor health owing to a siege of typhoid fever. In 1906 his bishop asked him to take charge of Olney. During his
stay here Father Henken has succeeded in erecting a two-story, brick building which now serves the manifold purpose of school, church and sisters' dwelling. The school was opened January I, 1908,-with a roster of forty-five. In the fall of the same year four Ursuline sisters from Paolo, Kansas, took charge of the school which now has about seventy pupils. In February, 1908, the furniture was moved from the old church building to the second story of the new school building which for the present serves the purpose of a church. The con- gregation now numbers eighty-five fam- ilies. The parish is well organized, having different societies which look to various needs of church and parsonage. The old church building serves as a hall for enter- tainments. All in all the parish is prosper- ing and bids fair to become one of the fore- most in this section of the country.
ANDREW M. PEDDICORD.
The life record of this venerable citizen of Patoka township is one of interest and in- struction, for it has been active, always so modulated as to be of the greatest service to those whom it touched. He has lived to see the transformation of a great country from the primeval forests and the wild prairies and he has performed well his part in this great work.
Andrew M. Peddicord was born May 9, 1822, in Mason county, Kentucky, where
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he lived in 1851, when he came to Jackson- L., was born November 22, 1855; Ora An- ville, Illinois, having farmed sixteen miles na, born March 20, 1858, married Charles Tillman, and they live in Springfield; Clay- brook B. was born October 31, 1860, and died in infancy ; Charles M. was born Sep- tember 26, 1862, and is deceased; John Henry was born May 21, 1865, married Ulga Friar, and they have three children. He is engaged in the livery business at Vernon. from Jacksonville, paying only two dollars per acre for rent of land, the first cash rent ever paid for land in that part of the county. He was at the first state fair ever held in Jacksonville. A few years later he came to Marion county for the purpose of engaging in farming. He first landed in Salem and bought wild land here, which he improved.
Our subject is the son of Andrew and Delilia (Eaton) Peddicord, being one of fourteen children born to them, consisting of seven boys and an equal number of girls. They were said to be the healthiest and finest looking family in Kentucky. The sub- ject's father was born in Mason county, Kentucky, and the subject's mother was born in Harrison county, the Blue Grass state, both being representatives from large families.
Mr. Peddicord was united in marriage on August 29, 1845, to Mary Foley, born September 29, 1829, the daughter of Daniel and Mildred (Mastison) Foley, the former having been born in Virginia and the latter in Kentucky. Ten children have been born to our subject and wife as follows: Daniel E., born May 18, 1848, married Katherine Weeks and they are living in Decatur, Il- saw the great Commoner when he was only linois; William M., born November 27. 1851, married Mary Tune; they are living in Vernon and are the parents of six chil- dren, two children being deceased; Mollie L. married E. Robinson; James L., born January 1, 1854, married Belle Mann, they have one son and live near Odin; Martha
Mr. Peddicord was one of those brave sons of the great Prairie state, who offered his assistance in saving the nation's integ- rity during the dark days of the sixties, hav- ing enlisted in Company G, Seventh Illinois Cavalry in 1865, and served with credit until the close of the war.
Our subject is a great lover of horses and he has always kept some good ones about him. His place used to be stocked with very fine ones. He was said to have been the finest horseman in Marion county in his younger days. He had the reputation of bringing more good stock to Marion county than any other man. He was a well known character in his younger days, and is today possibly the best known man in the county. He was a loyal friend of Judge Bryan, father of William J. Bryan. Our subject three days old. Mr. Peddicord has been a man of thrift, unusual business ability and foresight and he laid up an ample compe- tence to insure his old age free from want. He has been living in quiet retirement for the past ten years. He has been a stanch Mason, having been identified with the or-
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der in Mason county, Kentucky. He is a the part of others just entering upon their good Democrat, but notwithstanding his struggles with the world. Such thoughts are prompted by a study of the life record of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article who has long been one of the prominent figures in Richland county whose interests he has ever had at heart and sought to promulgate. ability and popularity he never took much interest in politics. Our subject has been a very able bodied man in his day, strong, of fine appearance and much endurance, but now his great weight of years is telling on him and his eyesight and hearing have failed considerably. He is an uncle of A. M. Ped- dicord in Carrigan township, a well known man whose sketch appears in full in this work.
Mr. Peddicord has a comfortable home in Vernon. He gets a pension of twenty dol- lars a month. He has numerous friends who are always glad to pay him the respect due a man of his years and who has led a useful and influential life.
HON. THOMAS TIPPIT.
Illinois has been especially honored in the character and career of her public and professional men. In every county there are to be found rising above their fellows, individuals born to leadership, men who dominate not alone by superior intelligence and natural endowment, but by force of character which minimizes discourage- ments and dares great undertakings. Such men are by no means rare in the great Prairie state and it is always profitable to study their lives, weigh their motives and. hold up their achievements as incentives to greater activity and higher excellence on
Hon. Thomas Tippit was born in Olney, Illinois, June 6, 1851, and he has been con- tented to spend his life in his native com- munity. He is the son of Matthew L. and Sarah (Ellingsworth) Tippit, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Ohio. Grandfather Tippit was a native of Vir- ginia. He moved to Tennessee and in 1820 came to Illinois and located about six- teen miles south of Olney, in what is now Edwards county at a point now known as Samsville. He was among the early pio- neers in that wild country, but he did not live long after coming to this state. Matthew, the oldest of the two sons and one daughter, was only about six years old when his father died. The family experi- enced many hardships in their struggle for existence. Matthew, by hard work assisted his mother in rearing the family. caring for his crippled brother and sister. He had no educational advantages other than what he acquired himself by home study. The family located in what is now Rich- land county prior to the settling of Olney. They took up land, a portion of which is now within the corporate limits of Olney. Matthew bought and sold much land in the county and eventually became well-to-do.
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In 1849 he went to California, having been one of that famous band who crossed the plains with an ox team. He remained in that state two years and was successful in mining. After returning to Richland county he carried on extensive farming and stock raising for years and died on the place adjoining Olney at the age of fifty- five years, in 1871. His wife passed away in 1903, at the advanced age of eighty-six. They were the parents of seven children, five boys and two girls, the subject of this sketch being the sixth in order of birth.
Thomas Tippit was born in a log cabin north of Olney. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools, assiduously applying himself to his studies and took advantage of what oppor- tunities he had, and attended high, school in Olney. When the subject's father died he took charge of the farm and he has con- tinued farming ever since, at present own- ing one hundred acres of highly improved land. all within the corporate limits of Ol- ney, also owns land in Wayne county. For years he has been extensively engaged in the stock business, paying particular atten- tion to horses, of which he is regarded as an excellent judge. Until 1890 he bred draft horses of a fine quality, but in that year he discontinued draft horses and be- gan breeding roadsters and trotters. He now has from twenty-five to thirty head almost all the time. They attract much at- tention, being of a high grade and well kept. His first horse to gain special prom- ise was "Redbrook." registered and sired
by good masters. "Favorite Prince," with a record of 2-22 1-4, in Indiana and Illi- nois, gained some prominence and is now nineteen years old in 1908. "Royal Prince" is generally regarded as one of the best horses ever in this part of the state. Mr. Tippit has also bought many good horses, having raced them in a number of states. The subject is known as one of the leading horsemen of the state. He has a beautiful, commodious and modern residence, with well kept lawn and grounds. He also has large and convenient barns and outbuild- ings, in fact, everything about the place shows prosperity, good taste and careful management.
In politics Mr. Tippit is a Democrat. He was Circuit Clerk by appointment to fill a vacancy and so faithfully did he perform his duties that he was elected three terms, having served over twelve years in all. He served as Master in Chancery from 1892 to 1896. In 1894 he was elected to represent his district in the state Legislature, having been re-elected in 1898, 1902, 1904. Dur- ing his tenure of this important office he served his constituents in a most acceptable manner, showing that he possessed rare in- sight into the workings of the body politic, was conservative, careful and calculating, just as if he had been managing his own business, and his counsel was often sought and followed with gratifying results while he was a member of that body. Many things were accomplished by him in this capacity that resulted in incalculable good not only to the people of his own section
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of the state but throughout the common- wealth. One of the most important acts of our subject was securing the adoption of a resolution providing for the submittal of the vote of the Legislature to elect a United States Senator by direct vote of the people. He was candidate for Speaker of the House in 1901 and was defeated by only two votes. In 1905 he was one of the four in his party for candidate for Speaker of the House, being elected and became by reason of his candidacy the minority leader at that session of his party. He was always active and among the leaders of his party. In 1908 he was also the candidate of his party for election to the Legislature, and was successful in this race.
Mr. Tippit was married in 1877 to Eva Leaf, a native of Richland county, the tal- ented daughter of George and Nancy (Moore) Leaf, natives of Ohio, who came to Richland county in 1854.
The home of the subject and wife has been blessed by the birth of three boys and one girl, namely: George M., who is living in Oklahoma; Mabel, the wife of H. C. Horrall, of Bridgeport, Illinois; Albert V. is living at home; Thomas, Jr., is living in Birmingham, Alabama.
Mr. Tippit is a Mason in his fraternal relations, also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights Templar and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, having been past commander and held other stations of the former.
just estimate of Mr. Tippit's character or to fix his proper standing in the community. Beginning life in moderate circumstances, he has not only gained an honorable posi- tion in the business world, but has also lived to become a power in the political af- fairs of the state and one of the most influ- ential men in the development of his com- munity. Interested in all that tends to benefit his fellows, materially, educational- ly and morally, his influence has always been exerted in the right direction and from what he has accomplished along the lines to which his talents have been directed it is clearly demonstrated that the world has gained by his presence.
AMEL LUCAS.
The subject of this sketch, who is one of the well known farmers of Foster township, is a scion of one of the sterling French fam- ilies whose presence in America has always been most desirable, for it is a well known fact that the French people are thrifty, en- ergetic and intellectual wherever found, therefore they always contribute much to the development of any country, and the subject's people were not unlike the rest of the immigrants from that country.
Amel Lucas was born in Southern France on January 16, 1842, the son of Pascale and Louisa Lucas, both natives of Sonti, France, the former being a farmer and came to America in 1855 on a sailing vessel which was thirty days in making the voyage, hav-
From the foregoing brief outline of a busy career, it is not difficult to arrive at a ing landed in New York City. He went-
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from there to Taylor county, West Virginia, and purchased a farm of eighty acres. It was partly improved. He lived on this place until 1871 when he sold out and moved to Grafton, West Virginia, where he conducted a hotel until his death in August, 1892. His wife died in August, 1904. They were members of the Catholic church. He was a man who started in life in a small way and by hard work and good manage- ment he became well situated before his death. Eight children were born to the sub- ject's parents, namely; Marie, Frank and Mary Ann, all three deceased; Amel, our subject; Victor, who is living in Taylor county, West Virginia, on a farm; John, who is living at the same place, is a butcher ; Albert is an engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Grafton, West Virginia, having been an engineer on this road for the past thirty years, in 1908; Louisa is living in Grafton, West Virginia.
Our subject had only a limited education. However, he attended the common schools for several terms. He lived at home until he was twenty years old and worked at teaming for several years. He saved his money and in 1872 came to Marion county, Illinois, and located in Carrigan township, where he secured one hundred and twenty acres of land on which he lived, making a success at farming for ten years, when he sold out and moved to Foster township. where he got two hundred acres at first and being thrifty and a good manager, he added to this until now he has a very fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres. It was known as the old Lee place. The subject
built a comfortable, substantial and commo- dious home, also a convenient barn and in many ways improved the place, making it equal to any in this township; everything about the place shows thrift and prosperity. He carries on general farming with that discretion and foresight that always insures success. He is also considered an excellent judge of live stock and devotes much of his time to stock raising, no small part of his income being derived from this source. No more up-to-date farm is to be found within the borders of Marion county, and no better farmer than Mr. Lucas lives in this locality.
Our subject was happily married March 15, 1870, to Sarah E. Osborne, of Mononga- hela county, West Virginia. She is the re- fined and affable daughter of Richard and Elinore (Britt) Osborne. They formerly lived in Pennsylvania, then came to West Virginia and lived there the remainder of their lives. Mr. Osborne was a wheel- wright, wagon maker and carpenter. He died in 1881 and his wife passed to her rest in 1851. Mrs. Lucas was their only child. They were known as influential and highly respected people in their community.
To the subject and wife eight children have been born, namely: Theodore Britt, who runs teams and a dray at Cement, Oklahoma; Frank is a farmer in Foster township; Lou married E. Lynch, of Foster township; Mollie is the wife of Isaac Walk- er, of Patoka township; Annie is the wife of Otis Davidson, of Tonti township; Os- borne, Magnes and Millicent are all living at home.
Mr. Lucas served very creditably as a
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member of the local school board of Foster citizen of Marion county, Illinois, to a brief township for a period of twenty years, dur- synopsis of whose life and character the following paragraphs are devoted, and while yet a young man has shown himself to be able to successfully compete with all classes of men in the business world. ing which the cause of education in this township received an impetus which had never before been known. He has held other minor offices, always with credit. He is a loyal Democrat.
Mr. Lucas deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in the business world, having started life a poor man, and he has gained a position of ease and prominence in his community through his own unaided ef- forts, by hard work, good management and sound common sense which always brings tangible results when properly exercised. Because his industry, his honesty of pur- pose and his public-spirit and his loyalty to all movements looking to the good of the locality where he lives, he is highly respected by all who know him.
IRA C. MORRIS.
It is a pleasure to investigate the ca- reer of a successful, self-made man. Pe- culiar honor attaches to that individual who, beginning the great struggle of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavor- able environment, removes one by one the obstacles from his pathway to success and by the force of his own individuality suc- ceeds in forging his way to the front and winning for himself a position of esteem and influence among his fellow men. Such is the record, briefly stated, of the popular
Ira C. Morris was born in Marion county, May 5, 1883, the second son of William and Elizabeth Morris, whose family consisted of six children.
Our subject attended the public schools in his native community where he diligently ap- plied himself and where he made much headway in his studies. He also went one term to Alma College in Marion county. After leaving school he decided that the life of the farmer offered the greatest ad- vantages for a man of his temperament, con- sequently he soon entered this work and has devoted his time and undivided attention to it ever since with the result that he is today one of the most progressive and sub- stantial of the younger farmers of Kin- mundy township, where he owns a fine and highly productive farm of sixty-seven acres.
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