USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 6
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 6
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 6
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The subject's father married the second time, his last wife being Martha Boczkie- wicz, and by this union five children were born as follows: Piety Smith, now de- ceased, who lived in Hamilton county, Illi- nois; W. G., Jr., who is living in Hamilton county; F. O., who is also a resident of Hamilton county ; John V., is a Baptist min- ister, living at Galitia, Saline county, Illi- nois; Priscilla died at the age of ten years.
T. W. Williams, our subject, was raised on the farm and attended the common
schools where he diligently applied himself and received a fairly good education. After he reached maturity he bought and sold live stock, making this business a success from the start, having much natural ability as a trader. He lived on the farm for twenty- five years. He also made a marked success later dealing in live stock and grain, becom- ing widely known not only as a man of unusual industry but also of scrupulous honesty.
Having taken a lively interest in politics and becoming well known throughout the county he was sought out by his political friends for positions of public trust, having first served as Deputy Sheriff in 1890 of Ma- rion county for a period of two years, with the greatest satisfaction to all concerned and reflecting much credit upon his innate ability as an official. In 1893 he became Deputy Circuit Clerk, in which capacity he ably served for five years. Mr. Williams was postmaster at Kinmundy, Illinois, in 1885, during Cleveland's first administration. He had previously been living on his farm, but he then moved to Kinmundy and from that town to Salem in 1900 for the purpose of assuming the duties of Deputy Sheriff. In all of his official career not the shadow of suspicion of wrong has rested upon him, and he has given uniform satisfaction to all con- cerned in whatever place he has filled. He was the Democratic nominee for Sheriff in 1894, but was defeated by a Republican can- didate.
Mr. Williams' early life was devoted very largely to school teaching, having won a
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
lasting reputation throughout Marion known family of that place. There have been no children by this union.
county as an able instructor and his services were always in great demand. He followed this line of work from the time he was twenty-one until he was forty years old, having taught not only in Marion but also Hamilton and Saline counties. He has given his time to the duties of the office of .Justice of the Peace, to which he was elected in 1900. - He is also engaged in the hotel business, being the present proprietor of the Williams House, which he has managed for ten years. Owing to the courteous treat- ment and excellent accommodations which the traveling public finds at this house, it has a liberal patronage and has become well known to those finding it convenient to stop at a well kept hostelry.
The domestic life of Mr. Williams began when he was united in marriage with Juliet Boczkiewicz on March 27, 1859. She was a representative of a highly respected and well known family of this county. By this union the following interesting children have been born: Henrietta, the wife of George M. Hargrove, of Fayette county, Il- linois; Annetta, deceased; Alfe, the wife of W. W. Newis, of Salem; W. W., of Cen- tralia, this state; Walter, of Ashland, Cass county, Illinois; T. S., of Salem.
These children have received good edu- cations and careful home training which is clearly reflected in their lives.
Mrs. Williams was called to her rest in 1881, and Mr. Williams was married again in 1884 to Nannie L. Williams, a daughter of T. C. Williams, of Kinmundy, a well
Fraternally Mr. Williams is affiliated with the Masonic order, having belonged to this lodge since he was twenty-five years old. He is a member of the Baptist church, and judging from his sober, upright, well ordered daily life one would conclude that he believes in carrying out the sublime pre- cepts and doctrines embraced in both the lodge and the church to which he belongs. Mr. Williams is a man of striking personal- ity, portly with a proper poise of dignity to his military bearing which makes him a con- spicuous figure wherever he goes. He is a pleasant man to meet, always kind, affable, well mannered and congenial; these com- mendable traits coupled with his industry and genuine worth make him a favorite in Marion county and wherever he is known, and he justly merits the high esteem of which he is the recipient. .
JAMES B. LEWIS.
Few men in Marion county occupy as prominent position in public and political affairs as the well known and deservedly popular gentleman whose name introduces this article. His has indeed been a busy and successful life and the record is eminently worthy of perusal by the student who would learn the intrinsic essence of individuality and its influence in moulding opinion and giving character and stability to a commu- nity.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
James B. Lewis, editor and publisher of The Marion County Democrat, and one of the leading journalists of southern Illinois, is a native of Nicholas county, Kentucky, where his birth occurred on the 14th day of November, 1852. His father, O. M. Lewis, who was born and reared to manhood in the state of New York, migrated about 1835 to Ohio where he spent the ensuing ten years, and at the expiration of that time removed to Kentucky where he made his home until his death in the year 1862. O. M. Lewis was a man of fine mind and superior intel- lectual atainments, having enjoyed excellent educational advantages in his native state, graduating when a young man from Alfred Center College. After finishing his educa- tion he engaged in teaching, which profes- sion he followed with marked success in Carlisle and Maysville, Kentucky, until the breaking out of the war with Mexico, when he resigned his position and entering the army served throughout that struggle while still in his minority. Later when the na- tional sky became overcast with the ominous clouds of approaching Civil war he was among the first men of Nicholas county to tender his services to the national govern- ment, enlisting in 1861 in Company H, Eighteenth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, in which he soon rose to the position of cap- tain, and as such served with a brilliant record until August, 1862, when he was killed while bravely leading his men in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky. This was one of the bloodiest of the war, the Eight- eenth Kentucky, a veteran regiment, losing
two-thirds of its men, while the losses of several other regiments were almost if not quite as great. Mr. Lewis is said to have been the most popular man in his regiment, and was almost idolized by his own com- pany, during his entire period of service. The Grand Army Post at Carlisle, Ken- tucky, where he enlisted, is called the O. M. Lewis Post in his honor. Although a man of scholarly tastes and habits, and for many years devoted to his books and studies he inherited the martial instinct also being descended from fighting stock on the ma- ternal side, his mother having been a Law- ton, a relative of the late General Lawton, one of America's most distinguished heroes, who lost his life in the Philippines. O. M. Lewis was born on August 30, 1824, mar- ried in 1850 to Elizabeth Mann, of Nicholas county, Kentucky, and became the father of eight children, only three now survive, namely: Mrs. Louisa L. Davidson, of Pa- toka, Illinois, James B., of this review and Mrs. Anna J. Burns who lives in Fresno, California. In September following her husband's death, 1863, Mrs. Lewis, with her three children, moved to Marion county, Il- linois, and located about two miles east of Patoka, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which had been purchased by Mr. Lewis some years previously. In 1865 she became the wife of George Binnion, of Mar- ion county, who was also a soldier during the war of the Rebellion and the son of Francis Binnion, the second marriage result- ing in the birth of two sons, Daniel H., and Frank. At the time of his death, which
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
occurred in the month of July, 1907, at the remarkable age of one hundred and seven years, Francis Binnion was the oldest man in Marion county, if not in the state.
James B. Lewis spent his childhood in the state of his birth, and when eleven years old was brought by his mother to Marion county, Illinois, with the subsequent history and progress of which his life has been very closely interwoven. At the proper age he entered the public schools of Patoka, where he pursued his studies until completing the common and high school branches, the training thus received was in Milton, Wis- consin, where he earned an honorable record as a close and painstaking student. On quit- ting college he turned his attention to teach- ing, but after devoting several years to this field of work and finding it not altogether to his liking he discontinued it and took up the study of medicine. After a course of read- ing under the direction of competent local talent he entered the Eclectic Medical Insti- tute at Cincinnati, where he continued his studies and researches until receiving his de- gree in the year 1878, following which he opened an office in Patoka and in due time built up an extensive practice which proved as successful financially as professionally, and which earned for him an honorable reputation among the leading physicians and surgeons of Marion and neighboring coun- ties.
Dr. Lewis brought to his chosen calling a mind well disciplined by intellectual and professional training, and it was not long until his practice took a very wide range,
embracing not only the town and a large area of adjacent country, but not infre- quently were his services sought at other and remote points for treatment of difficult and critical cases in which a high degree of ef- ficiency and skill were required. He con- tinued his professional business with encour- aging success until the fall of 1884 when he was elected Clerk of the Marion Circuit Court, and the better to attend to his official functions here moved within a short time to Salem where he has since resided. Doctor Lewis discharged the duties of the clerkship with credit to himself and to the satisfac- tion of the people, and during his incum- bency of four years won the esteem and confidence of all who had business to trans- act in his office, proving a most capable, ju- dicious and obliging public servant. In February, 1889, shortly after the expiration of his official term he established "The Mar- ion County Democrat," which he has since conducted, and which under his able busi- ness and editorial management is now one of the best and most influential local papers in the southern part of the state, in many respects comparing favorably with the more pretentious sheets of the larger metropolitan centers. The political creed of The Demo- crat is indicated by its title, and as a party organ it has had much to do in moulding opinion, formulating policies and directing public affairs, the doctor being an elegant and forceful writer, a courteous but fearless antagonist and in discussing the leading questions and issues of the day he wields a trenchant pen and makes his influence felt
-
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
not only on these but on all other matters which the enterprising journalist is supposed to bring to the attention of the public.
The Democrat office is well equipped with the latest modern machinery and appliances for first class work in the art preservative, and in its mechanical make up the paper is fully abreast of the times, all that constitutes a first class newspaper being systematically arranged and a model of neatness and typo- graphical art. Aside from its political phase it is designed to vibrate with the public pulse and in addition to the news of the day, its columns teem with much of the best current literature and it has also became the medium through which the productions of a number of rising local writers are given publicity.
In brief The Democrat is a clean and dig- nified and interesting family paper as well as a popular and influential political organ, and its steady growth in public favor be- speaks for it a future of still greater prom- ise and usefulness. Not only as an editorial moulder of opinion does Mr. Lewis make his influence felt in directing the affairs of his town and county, but as an enterprising public spirited citizen, with the welfare of the community at heart, he has ever been interested in whatever makes for the benefit of his fellow men, encouraging to the extent of his ability all worthy measures and takes the lead in movements having for their ob- ject the social, intellectual and moral ad- vancement of those with whom he mingles.
On the 12th day of September, 1877, Mr. Lewis was united in the bonds of wedlock
with Mona I. Quoyle, daughter of Capt. T. H. and Rebecca Quoyle, of Salem, the mar- riage being blessed with six children, four of whom are living, the other two dying in infancy. Anna L., the oldest of the family, is the wife of E. H. Barenfauger, a con- tractor of Salem. Orin M., the second in order of birth is associated with his father in The Democrat office and has achieved honorable repute as an enterprising and capable newspaper man. Before entering the field of journalism he served four years in the United States navy, having visited nearly every country of the old and new world, and completely encircled the globe while with the squadron under the command of Robley D. Evans or "Fighting Bob," one of the most distinguished admir- als of his time. Thomas O., the second son, is a locomotive fireman at the Chicago & Eastern Illinois yards in Salem, while Owen W., the youngest of the number is also con- nected with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railway, holding the position of store keeper at Salem. In his fraternal relations Mr. Lewis is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, belonging to the lodges of those organiza- tions in Salem and manifesting a lively in- terest in their deliberations. While not actively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession he is fully abreast of the times on all matters relating to medical science, being a close and diligent student and an untiring investigator, and by keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought maintains not only his interest in the healing art, but the
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
honorable position to which he attained while devoting his entire time and attention to the ills of suffering humanity.
During the entire period of his residence in Salem as a physician, public official, edi- tor, as the center of his family circle and as a citizen he has made good his title to the honored name inherited from his ancestors, besides adding to its luster by a strict adherence to duty in every relation to which he has been called.
FRANK A. ROGERS.
In touching upon the life history of the subject of this sketch the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extrava- gant praise, yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts, which have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life-a life characterized by per- severance, energy, broad charity and well defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon Mr. Rogers by the people who have known him so long and well.
Frank A. Rogers, the present popular County Treasurer of Marion county, was born in Omega, this county, April 1, 1871, and while still a young man has left the in- delible imprint of his strong personality upon the locality where he has spent his life. The father of the subject was William A. Rogers, a native of Tennessee, who came to this county in 1854. He was engaged all
his life in agricultural pursuits, and he was a man of great influence in his community, and was Supervisor of his township for fif- teen years, also Justice of the Peace for twenty years, and he was chairman of the County Board at the time of his death, Feb- ruary 24, 1891. The subject's mother was Rebecca Chapman in her maidenhood. She was born in Omega township, this county, November 25, 1846, and is still living in 1908 on the old homestead. She is a woman of refinement and gracious personality which has won hosts of friends. To Mr. and Mrs. William A. Rogers the following children were born: Leva, who died in infancy; the second in order of birth was our subject ; Luther A., living at Welling- ton, Kansas; Giles N., of Iuka, Illinois; Daniel C., deceased; Leo Delbert, of Poca- hontas, Iowa; Paul, of Omega township.
The subject's father was twice married. His first wife was Minerva Jane Craig.
Frank A. Rogers lived at home until he was twenty-one years old, assisting with the work about the farm until he had acquired sufficient education to begin teaching. Be- ing an ambitious lad he always applied him- self diligently to his text-books and conse- quently outstripped most of the common plodders that made up the roll of contem- poraneous school-fellows in his neighbor- hood, and he has since greatly added to his early foundation in educational matters by coming in contact with the world and by sys- tematic home study. But few men are to be met with in the state of Illinois who are any better informed on current topics of a gen-
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
eral nature than Mr. Rogers, for he has al- ways been a close student of the trend of events, politically, scientifically and in other leading issues. He followed teaching for a period of seventeen years in Marion county, during which time he established an envied reputation as an instructor and his services were in great demand. He was not only popular for his superior text-book learning, but his kind and pleasing personality, his peculiar insight in the characters of his pu- pils, which made it easy for him to control and properly direct each pupil, made him popular with all classes of people.
Mr. Rogers always took a deep interest in political movements, being a stanch advo- cate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, with which he has been affiliated from the time of attaining his ma- jority, and he has ever lent his aid in fur- thering the party's cause and is well forti- fied in his political convictions, while he is essentially public-spirited and progressive. Being animated with the laudable ambition for political preferment and his general popularity having been long ago well estab- lished, it is not strange that his fellow citi- zens singled him out for offices of public trust, and he held the office of Supervisor of Omega township for two terms. He was also chairman of the County Board and County Board of Review in 1903. He was nomi- nated for County Treasurer on the Demo- cratic ticket August 4, 1906, by a majority of eight hundred and was easily elected over a strong opponent the following November, and is serving the duties of the office with
great credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, not only his constituents but members of other parties as well, being generally regarded as one of the best officials the county has ever had, especially in the Treasurer's office. The subject has made his home in Salem since December, following the election.
The subject's happy and harmonious do- mestic life dates from September 25, 1892, when he was united in marriage to Lillie M. Kagy, who was born April 7, 1875, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William B. Kagy, a well known, highly respected and influ- ential family of Marion county. Mrs. Rogers is a highly cultured and accom- plished lady of pleasing manner and many commendable attributes of mind and heart and she presides over their comfortable and cozy home with grace and dignity and she is popular among the best class of Marion county's estimable women.
The following bright and interesting chil- dren have come into the home of our subject and wife, thereby adding cheer and sunshine to the family circle: Herschell, born June 28, 1894; Hazel, born October 5, 1897; Ver- non V., born April 15, 1902, surviving only till October 4th, the same year; Rolla, who was born August 5, 1904.
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are both held in high esteem for their friendly manners, wholesome domestic life and upright public lives which have resulted in winning and retaining the friendship of all who know them.
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
CARLOS A. FELTMAN, M. D.
He whose name initiates this paragraph is a representative of one of the old and honored families of Marion county, Illinois, where he has lived from the time of his birth and where he has gained personal prestige and success in one of the most noble and exacting of all vocations to which a man may devote himself, being engaged in the practice of his profession at Salem and con- trolling a large business as physician and surgeon, while he has gained precedence by reason of his devotion to his profession and his marked ability as an exponent of ad- vanced and practical medical science, at the same time establishing a record of honor.
Dr. Carlos A. Feltman was born in Salem, Illinois, September 11, 1856, the son of Charles Feltman, a man of much sterling worth and influence in his community who was born in Strausburg, Germany, and was one of the earliest German settlers in Marion county, Illinois. He was a successful baker for many years and later was engaged in the mercantile business at which he was equally successful, having built up an ex- cellent trade with the surrounding country districts. He spent nearly his entire life in Salem and passed to his reward in 1875. The subject's mother, who was a woman of many admirable attributes, was known in her maidenhood as Mary Appel. She was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, and she passed to her rest in 1888. The parents of the subject were married in St. Louis, Missouri. They received a fairly
good education and were people of refine- ment and high character, having reared their children, of whom there were eight in num- ber, in a wholesome atmosphere which modified and deeply influenced their subse- quent careers. Following are the names of their children: Emil, deceased; Ellen, who married R. E. Fletcher and who died in Grand Junction, Colorado; H. C., deceased, was a prominent attorney at law and was grand scribe of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at the time of his death; Wil- liam W. is deceased; the next in order of birth was Carlos A., our subject; Lenora, deceased; C. E., who is with the Eli Walker Dry Goods Company, of St. Louis, Mis- souri; R. B., who is in the mercantile busi- ness at Grand Junction, Colorado.
Doctor Feltman remained a member of the home circle until he reached manhood, having attended the common schools in Salem until he finished the prescribed course. Being a diligent student he made excellent grades and received a good education. He went into newspaper work, believing that journalism offered peculiar attractions. He worked as a printer for three years. In the meantime he felt that his calling was in another direction, the more praiseworthy art of medicine, consequently he began studying during spare moments and finally entered the Louisville Medical College at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained one term, after which he attended the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, from which he graduated with high honor in 1882 in the same class with Dr. M. D.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Foster, the present Congressman from this district. Our subject showed from the time he first entered medical college that he had a peculiar aptitude and unusual talents for this line of endeavor and his subsequent life, which has been remarkably successful, shows that he would have made a grave mistake had he adopted any other profes- sion as a life work.
Doctor Feltman returned to his native community after graduation, beginning practice at Salem. His success was in- stantaneous and his ability became so gen- erally known that he was selcted to the im- portant post of United States Indian Physi- cian at Fort Apache, Arizona, during Presi- dent Cleveland's first administration. He was eminently successful in this new field, but he finally desired to return to his native state, and in 1888 began practice at Beards- town, Illinois, which he carried on with the greatest success for a period of fourteen years, building up a very large practice and becoming City Health Officer, also a mem- ber of the Board of Education. He was also Secretary of the Pension Board under Cleveland's second administration, also Cor- oner of Cass county from 1896 to 1900; later County Physician of Cass county. Af- ter filling all these positions to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, showing pro- nounced innate executive ability as well as superior medical skill, in 1900, greatly to the regret of his large patronage, Doctor Feltman moved away from Beardstown, lo- cating at his old home. in Salem. Useless to say that his practice was large from the
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