USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 60
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 60
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 60
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Our subject was united in marriage to Laura Lewella Lamborn, the pleasant and congenial daughter of I. M. and Margaret Lamborn, both natives of Jasper county, Indiana. The subject's wife was born in Indiana, being a native of Jasper county at Rensselaer, November 28, 1882. Her mother is deceased. Mr. Lamborn is living in Tennessee. Mrs. Morris has three brothers and one sister living, all married with the exception of one of the brothers.
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She was educated in the public schools of her native city and her subsequent life has been filled with good deeds to others, being a woman of gracious demeanor and kind hearted to anyone in need.
Two children have been born to our sub- ject and wife, a boy and a girl, namely : Vera L., whose date of birth occurred April 16, 1903; and Billie Morris, Jr., who is four years old, having been born June 20, 1904. They are bright and interesting children, who are receiving ever care and attention possible at the hands of their fond parents.
Our subject is a loyal Democrat in his political affiliations, and while he does not aspire to public office, he takes considerable interest in political matters always casting his vote for whom he deems to be the most honest and best fitted to fill local offices, where the interests of the public must be conserved. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Order, Kinmundy Lodge No. 398, and is junior deacon in the same. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Rosedale Lodge No. 354, at Kinmundy.
THE JENNINGS FAMILY.
This old and well known family has lived so long in America that little of its early history can be learned and it is not posi- tively known from what country the found- ers of the American branch came, though from the name, the nationality is supposed to be English. Sufficient has been learned,
however, to fix the date of immigration to the colonies at a very early period, inasmuch as several generations have been identified with the settlement and development of dif- ferent parts of the United States and for over ninety years various representatives of the family have figured prominently in the history of Marion and other counties of Southern Illinois. Israel Jennings, the first ancestor of whom anything definite is known, is supposed to have been a native of Maryland, where his birth occurred about the year 1774. When a youth he went to Mason county, Kentucky, and settled at Maysville, where about 1799 or 1800 he married Miss Mary Waters, of whose na- tivity or genealogy there is no record. After living in the above state until about 1818, Mr. Jennings moved to Illinois and located six miles southeast of Centralia, the country at that time being almost as nature had made it with only a few sparse settlements long distances apart, the majority of the inhabit- ants consisting of straggling bands of In- dians, whose principal village was near the present site of Walnut Hill. Entering a tract of government land, he at once ad- dressed himself to the task of developing a farm and founding a home in which laud- able undertaking he succeeded admirably, for in due time he became not only the lead- ing farmer and stock raiser of his section of the country but also one of the most en- terprising and public-spirited citizens of Jef- ferson county, to which this part of the state then belonged. It is a matter of inter- est to note that his entry was the second
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purchase of government land in what is now Marion county, and that it was made in 1819, one year after Illinois became a state. Mrs. Jennings departed this life October 30, 1845, the mother of eight children, whose names are as follows: Israel, Jr., who is survived by eleven children; George, de- ceased; Charles Waters, deceased, who had a family of eight children; William W .; Elizabeth, who married William Davidson; America, wife of George Davidson; Mary, married Edward White, and Ann, who be- came the wife of .Rufus P. McElwain. All are deceased. William W. died recently at Alvin, Texas. Mr. Jennings was again married, but the second union was without issue. He died August 7, 1860.
For a number of years Israel Jennings held worthy prestige among the prominent citizens of Marion county and took an ac- tive and influential part in the development of the country. He was a leader in many enterprises for the social and moral ad- vancement of his fellow men, a liberal con- tributor to churches and educational institu- tions and all laudable measures for the good of the community found in him a warm friend and earnest advocate. He early be- came prominent in public affairs and in 1827 was elected to the lower house of the Legislature, being the third representative from Marion county. He was one of the leading Democrats of the county and his in- fluence as a politician, together with valu- able services rendered his party, made him widely known and led to his appointment in 1834 as postmaster at Walnut Hill, which position he held for many years. He was
more than ordinarily successful in business matters and accumulated a handsome for- tune, being at one time the largest land owner in the county and one of the only two men in this part of the state to own slaves. A man of strong character, un- questioned integrity and upright Christian principles, he exerted a wholesome influ- ence on all with whom he mingled and his death, which occurred in the year 1860, re- moved from Marion county one of its lead- ing citizens and prominent men of affairs.
Charles Waters Jennings, third son of Israel and Mary Jennings, was born Janu- ary 8, 1802, in Mason county, Kentucky, and accompanied his father to Illinois in 1818, settling within a half mile of the lat- ter and like him becoming a successful tiller of the soil. He was married on December 14, 1826, to Maria Wood Davidson, who bore him the following children: Josephus Waters, deceased, who lived near the home of his father; Harriet married B. F. Mar- shall and died at Salem, Illinois, May 3, 1901; Sarah married Robert D. Noleman, of Centralia, both deceased; Mariah Eliza- beth, deceased, was the wife of the late Judge Silas L. Bryan, of Marion county, and mother of Hon. William Jennings Bry- an; America, deceased, married William C. Stites, then a resident of Marion county ; Nancy, wife of Dr. James A. Davenport, lives in Salem; Docie, now Mrs. A. Van Antwerp, lives at St. Louis, Missouri, and Z. C., who is living near the town of Walnut Hill. Charles W. Jennings died August 18, 1872.
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Charles Waters Jennings was a man of high standing in the community, successful as a farmer and stock raiser, and his char- acter was ever above the suspicion of re- proach. Courteous in his relations with his fellows and the soul of honor in all his dealings, he measured up to a high stand- ard of manhood and citizenship and made the world better by his presence. By good business management he succeeded in amas- sing a sufficiency of this world's goods to place him in easy circumstances, owning at the time of his death one thousand acres of valuable land, the greater part improved, and the source of a liberal income. He was called from earth on August 18, 1872, his wife following him to the grave April 3d, of the year 1885.
Josephus Waters Jennings, the oldest of the family of Charles W. and Maria W. Jennings, was born on the homestead near Walnut Hill, Marion county, October 29, 1827. He was reared under excellent pa- rental influences, received the best educa- tion which the schools during his childhood and youth afforded and while still a young man, engaged in merchandising at Walnut Hill, to which line of trade he devoted his attention with gratifying success until 1856. Disposing of his business that year, he moved to his farm near by and during the encuing forty-four years followed the life of a tiller of the soil in which pursuit he was also successful as his continued advancement bore witness.
Amanda Couch, whom Mr. . Jennings married on the 24th day of November, 1850,
was born in Marion county, Illinois, Janu- ary 8, 1834, being the daughter of Milton and Nancy (Baird) Couch, early residents of the county and representatives of well known and highly esteemed families. Dur- ing the three years following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings lived at Walnut Hill, but at the expiration of that time, changed their residence to a farm in section 26, Centralia township, where Mr. Jennings engaged in agriculture and stock raising on quite an extensive scale and met with finan- cial success commensurate with the energy which he displayed in all of his undertak- ings. He also manifested an active interest in public and political matters and was long one of the leading Democrats and influential politicians of the county, besides achieving much more than local reputation in party circles, throughout the southern part of the state. He served for some years as As- sociate Judge of Marion county, the duties of which position he discharged very accept- ably, also filled the office of Supervisor sev- eral terms, and in 1850 was elected Coroner. During the Civil war he was Deputy Col- lector of internal revenue, later served as Deputy Sheriff and for several years was Justice of the Peace, an office for which his sound sense, well balanced judgment and love of justice peculiarly fitted him. His official career was eminently honorable and he proved an efficient and very popular pub- lic servant, adorning every position to which he was called and fully meeting the high ex- pectations of his fellow citizens.
The children. of Mr. and Mrs. Jennings,
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nine in number, are as follows: Mary R., in that undertaking is found in the case of who married I. N. Baldridge, of Walnut our subject, who is not only a successful farmer as that term is understood but has also made a specialty of breeding Poland- China hogs, Mr. Fisher being a standard authority in this remunerative industry. Hill; Charles E., who is noticed at some length further on; Frank E., of Centralia; Daisy, deceased, who married O. V. Kell, also of that city ; Hon. William S. Jennings, ex-Governor of Florida; Mrs. Nannie D. Alexander W. Fisher was born in Marion county, Illinois, on the 16th of Janu- ary, 1870, the son of E. A. and Susan (Louis) Fisher, both of whom are among the county's substantial and highly respected citizens. They are members of the Metho- dist denomination and were the parents of a robust family of eleven children, of whom Alexander was the eight in order of birth. This family circle was one typical of its kind, the tie of kindred fellowship being strong, and the fireside brightened with the light of domestic happiness and harmony. Stover, Mrs. Eva Shaw and Thomas J. are three living at Walnut Hill, and Mrs. Eliza- beth Wheeler, whose home is in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mr. Jennings was a man of pro- found religious convictions and in early life united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he continued a faithful and con- sistent member to the end of his days. He died November 20, 1890, in the full assur- ance of a triumphant resurrection. His widow, who lives on the old homestead, has reached the age of seventy-six and retains to a remarkable degree the possession of her Our subject received his early education in the Kagy district school, but farm life was also an instrument in his trainings, develop- ing in him that sturdy independence and wholesome self-reliance that has character- ized his subsequent career. powers, both mental and physical. She is one of a family of six children, three are living. Robert Couch, whose home is at Marissa, Illinois, and Porter, who resides at the town of Sparta, this state. Milton Couch, the father, was a son of James and Elizabeth Couch, the former a native of North Carolina and among the early pio- neers of southern Illinois.
ALEXANDER W. FISHER.
An illustration of skill as a farmer as well as the ability to concentrate efforts along some special line until success is achieved
On August 6, 1890, Mr. Fisher was mar- ried to Nannie H. Stevens, daughter of Le Roy and Mary Stevens, resident of this county. She is the youngest of five chil- dren , is a woman of excellent tastes and refined judgment, and is proving to be a most excellent mother. In this latter ca- pacity she has adorned the home with four children, all of whom show the results of uplifting parental influence and affection. The children are: Georgia B., born Octo- ber 27, 1891; Milton E., born January 9,
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1894; Clarence S., born February 16, 1895, and Mamie M., born March 12, 1896; Clar- ence S. died March 31, 1895.
Mr. Fisher owns and operates a farm of seventy acres, all under cultivation. It im- presses the visitor at once as bearing the marks of thrift and industry and shows economy in its management. The Fisher homestead is one where neighbors and friends find at all times a hearty welcome, and is surrounded with an atmosphere of friendliness and sociability.
Mr. Fisher takes an active interest in the general affairs of the community and affili- ates with the Democratic party, but has never aspired to political prominence. He is satisfied to discharge his obligations as a citizen by lending his support at the bal- lot box to such men as will discharge their official duties with the utmost conscientious- ness and integrity.
CHARLES EDGAR JENNINGS.
The subject of this sketch has not only gained recognition and prestige as a promi- nent and successful member of the Marion county bar, but has also kept in touch with all that relates to the material progress and general prosperity of his home city, being known as one of the enterprising and pub- lic-spirited citizens of Salem, having con- tributed both by influence and tangible aid to all legitimate projects which have tended to conserve the best interests of the com-
munity. In the legal circles of Souther Illinois, his reputation is second none of his contemporaries, indeed ther are few lawyers in the state whose succes has been so continuous and uninterrupted c who have achieved as high distinction i their profession. Endowed by nature wit in active and brilliant mind which has bee cultivated and strengthened by much stud and discipline, he has made rapid progres in his chosen calling and today he stand admittedly at the head of the bar in the fiel to which the major part of his practice i confined, besides yielding a commandin influence among the leaders of his profes sion in other parts of the state.
Charles Edgar Jennings, second child an oldest son of Josephus Waters and Amand (Couch) Jennings, is a native of Mario county, Illinois, and dates his birth fror January 7, 1855. After receiving a pre liminary education in the public schools, l entered Irvington Illinois Agricultural Co. lege, where he took a scientific course an from which he graduated June 16, 187! with an honorable record as a diligent an critical student. He taught one term in th public schools, prior to his collegiate course and after graduating took charge of th school at Walnut Hill, which he had attend ed in his childhood and youth, meeting with encouraging success as an instructo and disciplinarian and fully satisfying bot pupils and patrons.
Having decided to make the legal profes sion his life work, Mr. Jennings in 187 became a student of the Union College o
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Law, Chicago, Department of North Wes- tern University, where he prosecuted his studies and received his degree on June 5, 1878, the diploma from this institution be- ing his passport to admission to the bar by the Supreme Court without further exam- ination. This court being in session at Mount Vernon the month of his graduation, he presented his diploma and was duly ad- mitted to practice, following which he formed a partnership with the late Judge Bryan of Salem, which lasted until the death of the latter in 1880 and which in the meantime became known as one of the strongest and most successful legal firms not only in Marion county, but in Southern Illinois. His license to practice which bears the date of June II, 1878, was signed by Hon. Sidney Breese, the distinguished pio- neer jurist of Illinois, this being among the last official acts in the long and eminently honorable career of this eminent man.
Mr. Jennings was Master in Chancery from 1885 to 1889, resigning the position the latter year to assume his duties as State's Attorney to which office he was elected in 1888 and the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public for a period of twelve years. A pronounced Democrat, he has long been a power in local politics and to him as much as any one man is due the success of his party, in a number of cam- paigns to say nothing of his influence in con- tributing to the triumph of the district, state and national tickets. As stated in the begin- ning Mr. Jennings has kept in close touch
with enterprises and measures, having for their object the material progress and social, intellectual and moral advancement of the city in which he resides. He served a number of years on the local school board, part of the time as president of the body and dur- ing his incumbency, labored earnestly to promote an interest in educational matters and advance the standard of the schools of the city in which laudable endeavor his suc- cess was most gratifying. Believing knowl- edge when properly disseminated, to be for the perpetuity of the state and the happiness and best interests of the people, he has been untiring in his efforts in behalf of institu- tions of learning, especially those of the higher grades, and his advice to young peo- ple has been to take advantage of the oppor- tunities which the high school, the college and the university present in the way of pre- paring for the duties of life and the obliga- tions of citizenship.
Since the death of Judge Bryan, Mr. Jen- nings has been alone in the practice of law and as already indicated he is now one of the leaders of the bar of Southern Illinois, with a large and lucrative professional busi- ness in the courts of his own and neigh- boring counties. The keynote of his charac- ter seems to be an intense and absolute fix- ety of purpose, a dominating resolve to rise and make his influence felt and in the court as well as the public arena, he has not been content to occupy a second place. He moves in only one direction and that is forward and the success and eminent standing al- ready achieved bespeak still greater ad-
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vancement in his profession and higher hon- ors in years to come.
Mr. Jennings has been twice married, the first time on May 5, 1880, to Daisy Martin, youngest child of Gen. James S. Martin, of Salem, the union resulting in the birth of two children; Hazel, and a son that died in infancy. Mrs. Jennings died July 12, 1894, and on June 10th of the year 1903, Mr. Jennings entered the marriage relation with Maude Cunningham, daughter of M. R. Cunningham, of Salem.
Fraternally, Mr. Jennings is a Mason of high degree, having passed all the chairs in the local lodge to which he belongs, be- sides representing it at different times in the Grand Lodge. He has spent his entire life within the bounds of his native county, has labored hard to reach the high place in professional circles which he now occupies, and in the true sense of the term, he is a self-made man and as such is certainly en- titled to the universal esteem in which he is held and the high honors with which his career has been crowned.
GEORGE S. FYFE.
Although the character of the immigrants that come to America today seems to be changing, yet there is not a single doubt but that in years past some of the most sturdy, energetic and progressive people liv- ing upon our soil were the ones that come to us from foreign lands. They have brought to us not only the spirit of thrift and en-
durance, but have contributed to the loyal American spirit to a degree which can hardly be overestimated. Among the many worthy of mention in this connection we refer to Mr. and Mrs. George S. Fyfe, of Alma, Illinois. Mr. Fife was born at Dun- dee, Scotland, January 20, 1820, and his life experiences have been most interesting and varied. He became a machinist by trade, serving as an apprentice in his native town, at the end of which period he went to London, and there followed his trade for two years, but not being fully satisfied with the confinement incident to the work in which he was engaged, he kept alert for an opportunity for a wider experience and this came to him, when he enlisted in the Turkish navy as an engineer. His father, George Fyfe, was a sea captain before him and the son seemed to inherit the father's spirit for a life of travel and adventure. He remained in the Turkish navy for three years and during this time and thereafter he traveled in many countries, spending considerable time in Palestine and Egypt, sailing up the Nile from Alexandria to Cairo, where Moses was born, and where Paul wrote his speech to the Philistines. Here he saw the noble Egyptian obelisk, that famous shaft of stone that lay for centuries prostrate upon the sands, but which was later, at great expense, taken to New York and set up once more to mark the path of the sun by day and at night to point again to the same glittering stars that have studded the clear Egyptian skies since the daybreak of time. Here, also, he stood under the shadows of the pyramids, those wonders of ages past that
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have been the marvel of mankind through- out all history.
Mr. Fyfe also had a brother who was a sea captain, now deceased, and another whose home was in Melbourne, Australia.
After coming to America, Mr. Fyfe spent some time in Boston, and it was here that he was married to Miss Hutchinson Spinks, on February 5, 1852. Miss Spinks is also of Scotch descent, having emigrated to America from her native land when sailing vessels were the ones most used for cross- ing the broad Atlantic. Ten children were born to this union.
When Mr. Fyfe came west he bought mostly prairie land from the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad. Mr. Fyfe now has a fine farm to show for his energy and application. Both he and his wife have used good judg- ment in their work, and Mrs. Fyfe, though seventy-seven years old, has never worn glasses. They belong to the Baptist church, although their parents before them were Scotch Presbyterians. Mr. Fyfe affiliates with the Republican party and through his calm judgment and broad minded experi- ence has done much to advance the cause of good citizenship in the community.
HENRY F. KELCHNER.
When we state in an initiative way that the honored subject of this sketch has re- sided for fifty-six years in Marion county, having devoted his attention to agricultural
pursuits during that time, the significance of the statement is evident in that it must necessarily imply that he is one of the pros- perous farmers of the community.
Henry F. Kelchner was born in Pennsyl- vania, September 23, 1828, the son of David and Elizabeth (Follmer) Kelchner, who were the parents of four children: Henry, our subject being the second in order of birth. He has one brother and two sisters. Our subject attended the common schools in his native community in the Keystone state, where he received a fairly good edu- cation, assisting his father with the work about the place. As already indicated he came to Illinois in 1852, arriving here in the month of June and after working at whatever he could secure that was honor- able and remunerative, he married on Jan- uary II, 1855, Lucy C. Lovell, and to this union these children were born: Robert B., who married Belle Ritter, and to whom one daughter was born; Eugene married Hattie Samuels, living in Tazewell county, this state, and they are the parents of one daughter; Ida married George Asher and they have seven children; Katie married G. E. Brandeberry, and is the mother of one son; Harvey F. married Clara Millican, the daughter of Filmore and Maggie (Porter) Millican.
Henry F. Kelchner was one of the sturdy and patriotic sons of the North who be- lieved it his duty to do what he could in suppressing the great rebellion, consequent- ly he enlisted at Springfield, Illinois, in September, 1861, in Company K, Thirty-
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third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Hovey and Charles E. Lippencott, as captain. His first battle was at Freder- icksburg and he took part in many other battles and skirmishes in which this regi- ment was engaged, always conducting him- self as a brave soldier. He was, mustered out in Springfield in September, 1864, and as a reward for his faithful services he is remembered by his government with a pen- sion of twenty dollars per month.
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