USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 66
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 66
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 66
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The pleasant and comfortable home of Mr. and Mrs. Davis has been brightened by the birth of the following children: Thomas M., who married L. Myrtle Denny, living at Cliffs, Washington ; Ralph R., who married Edith Pease, and who is living in Springfield, Idaho; John June is assistant State Entomologist at Urbana, Illinois; Harley A. is in the Art Institute at Chicago, Illinois; Reba C. is now (1908) at home and is attending high school at Centralia.
John L. Davis, our subject, is a member
of the Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 201 ; the Royal Arch Chapter No. 93; Council No. 28; Commandery No. 23; Oriental Consistory of Chicago. He also belongs to the Order of Railway Conduc- tors, Centralia Division, No. 112.
In politics Mr. Davis is a Republican and takes a great interest in local affairs, always desiring good men in the county offices and lending his aid in placing them.
In religious matters Mr. Davis is identi- fied with the Baptist church, as is also his wife and children.
He has been frequently called upon to serve the public in some official capacity, and has very ably held the office of Alder- man for one term and has been on the Board of Education for three terms, during which time the interests of the city and the schools were carefully considered by Mr. Davis and much good accomplished by his suggestions, which were usually followed out. He has filled all the chairs of the lodges of his mem- bership to the Consistory, and is now treas- urer in all these four lodges of which he is a very loyal member. He has been secretary of the railroad division of the lodge of Rail- road Conductors since 1890, and also was its first secretary, from 1884 to 1886. He was also chief conductor from 1886 to 1888.
LUCIAN O. WILSON.
Among the popular citizens of Centralia, Marion county, Illinois, is the gentleman
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whose name appears at the head of this sketch, the well known assistant postmas- ter, who was born in New Albany, Indiana, July 12, 1866, the son of Oliver O. and Maggie E. (Mathews) Wilson. His father's family consisted of three children, our subject being the second child and only son. His parents were both natives of Indi- ana. Oliver O. Wilson was superintendent of the Indiana Reformatory. He is now de- ceased, as is also his wife, who passed away March 30, 1900. Our subject was five years old at the time of his father's death.
The early education of the subject of this sketch was gained in the public schools, where he applied himself as best he could and gained a fairly good education. He went to work in the Nail Mill of Centralia, working for two years as a nail cutter, and was later employed by F. D. Rexford, of the Centralia House, and worked there for a period of seventeen years, having given entire satisfaction in each of these lines, be- ing industrious and quick to gain a knowl- edge of the business. He was clerk and general utility man in the latter's employ. He then went to Boone, Iowa, and managed the Cole Hotel for one and one-half years, selling out and returning to Centralia in March, 1903, where he was appointed as- sistant postmaster under E. L. Welton. He has very creditably and satisfactorily filled this position to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Nellie Surles September 11, 1900.
One daughter brightens the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Wilson, bearing the name of Helen Lucile, whose date of birth occurred March 14, 1903.
Mr. Wilson in his fraternal relations is a member of Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, No. 201; also the Centralia Chap- ter No. 93; and Council No. 28, Cyrene Commandery No. 23. He also belongs to the Oriental Consistory, of Chicago, also a member of the Mystic Shrine, of Madina Temple, Chicago. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, No. 26, of Centralia.
In his political relations Mr. Wilson is a loyal Republican. His mother was a mem- br of the Christian, but he and his wife wor- ship in the Baptist church. Mr. Wilson was at one time a member of the Centralia Vol- unteer Fire Department.
Our subject has by pluck, energy and enterprise, controlled by correct principles and founded upon strict integrity and honor, attained to a position meriting the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens, which they freely accord.
A. C. BARNES.
The prominence of the subject of this sketch in connection with the professional and civic affairs of Marion county is such that he is regarded as one of its representa- tive citizens, having for a number of years been one of the leading business men of the thriving city of Centralia, and ever showing
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
by his fealty to high principles and his ac- tivity in promoting the affairs of the county that he merits the confidence of all.
A. C. Barnes was born at Richview, Illi- nois, ten miles south of Centralia, Febru- ary 13, 1853, the son of J. W. and Nancy (Johnson) Barnes, the former having been born in Gallatin, Tennessee, July 2, 1818. He was left an orphan at the age of five years and when twelve years of age he was bound out to a saddle maker for a period of four years, at the end of which time he purchased a horse, saddle and bridle and rode to Mt. Vernon, this state, where he called upon William Thorne, the first saddle maker in Mt. Vernon, who refused to give him a job because he was too young, his age then being eighteen years. But nothing daunted, he purchased the material with which to make a saddle which he accord- ingly did and presented it to Mr. Thorne, who hired the boy for three years. This was in 1836.
Two years later J. W. Barnes was mar- ried to Nancy Johnson. He soon thereafter moved to a farm near old Shiloh, later moving to Washington county, where he farmed and lived comfortably until 1888 when he moved to Centralia, where he passed to his rest September 17, 1905, after a successful business career in Centralia. having purchased the L. C. Demmick har- ness shop in this city in 1888, having stood just south of the old National Bank. His son, A. C., our subject, bought his business. He was living with his son when he died. Nancy Johnson was born in 1813 in Ken-
tucky. Her father was an itinerant Metho- dist Episcopal preacher, who came to Illi- nois in 1818 and settled on a farm at Shiloh church, where he farmed and preached and where both he and his good wife passed to the silent land. Four chil- 'dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Barns, as follows: L. R., who married Laura Robinson, daughter of Elder J. A. and Eliza Robinson, and they became the parents of six children, one of whom is liv- ing. L. R. Barnes was in the famous One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the war between the states, under the late Gen. James S. Martin, of Salem, having gone out in 1862 and was discharged at the close of the war, having been in the grand review at Washington City. Louise, the second child of the par- ents of our subject, married a Mr. Under- wood and is now living in Oklahoma, be- ing the mother of four living children, one child deceased. John T., the third child of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Barnes, enlisted in the Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry un- der Colonel Anderson, at Mt. Vernon, and he re-enlisted in 1863. He came home on a furlough. Rejoining his regiment, he re- mained at the front until the close of the war when he was mustered out. He mar- ried and in 1885 removed to Wichita county, Kansas, where he located on three hundred and twenty acres of land. He has a family of four girls and one boy. He now lives at Leota, Kansas.
Our subject, A. C. Barnes, came to Cen- tralia in 1891 with his father. He had re-
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ceived a good education in the district schools of Washington county, Illinois, hav- ing left school at the age of sixteen years and went to work for himself. Being a loyal Republican and having taken an inter- est in political affairs from early manhood, his friends elected him Sheriff of Marion county in 1904 and he served with much credit. When his term had expired he re- turned to business. In 1902 he was elected Treasurer of the city of Centralia for two years and served in a most acceptable man- ner in this capacity. Mr. Barnes has an ex- cellent business in the harness and repair trade, his shop being well equipped and he has become widely known throughout the county.
Mr. Barnes married Susan M. Gunn, daughter of J. C. and Caroline Gunn, of Richview, the ceremony that made them one having been performed at Kinmundy, this county, July 20, 1880. He was first mar- ried in 1873 to Sarah Anderson, a native of Ohio, and she died at the birth of James, their only son, who was born October 18, 1878. He is now living at Lafayette, In- diana, being in the printing business as a linotype expert. He married Lottie Had- den, of Kinmundy, and they have three chil- dren, two boys and one girl.
Our subject ably served for a period of five years on the Board of Education in Kansas, where he lived for several years, and while on the board just mentioned they built two elegant school-houses.
Fraternally Mr. Barnes is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Centralia, having originally joined that or- der at Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1886. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, having joined Lodge No. 26, in Centralia in 1893. He became a Mason in Salem in 1896, and joined the Modern Woodmen of America in 1897. He follows the example of his people by worshiping with the Metho- dist denomination.
Our subject is a man of unusual imposing physique, possessing great physical strength and endurance. He also has a strong mind and the power of concentration, is congenial and makes friends readily which he always retains.
JACOB D. BREEZE.
Dependant very largely upon his own re- sources from early youth, the subject of this sketch has attained to no insignificant suc- cess, and though he may have, like many another business man, met with some mis- fortune and encountered many obstacles he has pressed steadily forward, ever willing to work for the end which he has in view. He has become one of the leading mer- chants of Centralia, Illinois, and he has built up a business that is known through- out the county.
Jacob D. Breeze was born September 27, 1868, in Washington county, Illinois, the son of David and Eliza (Baldwin) Breeze. There were fourteen children , in their family, eight of whom are living in 1908,
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
our subject being the eighth in order of a liberla patronage, their trade extending to birth; of those living seven are boys and all parts of the county, for they handle an up-to-date and carefully selected stock at all times, and their prices are always right. Here all customers are accorded the most courteous treatment by the managers and their efficient employes. This store has a floor space of one hundred and sixty by forty feet. one a girl. David Breeze was born in Jef- ferson county, Illinois, in 1844, and died when fifty-two years old, after a busy and useful life. The subject's mother is still living in Jefferson county on the old home place and, although advanced in years, en- joys fairly good health. She was born in Washington county, this state.
Jacob D. Breeze received his early edu- cation in the common schools of his native community and remained at home until he reached maturity.
Mr. Breeze was united in marriage with Ida V. Walker on October 22, 1885. She was the daughter of G. W. and Esther (Breeze) Walker, being the fourth child in a family consisting of five children. To our subject and wife two children have been born, both bright and interesting, namely : Jewell, whose date of birth is recorded as May 30, 1897; and Lottie, who was born October 2, 1899. Both are attending the public schools in Centralia.
After leaving school at the age of eight- een years, our subject went to work on a farm in that neighborhood in Jefferson county and made a success of this line of work, but believing that the city of- fered greater inducements to him, he came to Centralia and began the livery, feed and sale business, and for five years made this a marked success in every respect when he sold out and started in the implement and harness business, which he has since conducted, the firm name being Breeze & Watts. They enjoy
In politics our subject is a Republican and always takes a great interest in political af- fairs, lending what assistance he can in placing the best men possible in local offices. Mr. Breeze follows the precepts of his par- ents and is a faithful member of the Chris- tian church. He is always on the right side of all public questions.
FOWLER BROTHERS.
One of the most extensive, modern and systematically managed plumbing concerns in Southern Illinois is that conducted by the firm of Fowler Brothers at Centralia, be- ing worthy successors of their father, Reu- ben G. Fowler.
This firm's place of business fronts on South Locust street and South Second street. They carry a full and complete line of plumbing supplies, heating, electrical and gas fixtures and supplies, also fire clay and fire brick. They have two neat show and display rooms. All the latest, complete, automatic machinery, run by electric dyna- mos for heating, lighting and plumbing, are to be found here. They also carry a full
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line of nickel-plated plumbing supplies. An extensive business is carried on and is being constantly enlarged and extended to meet the growing demands of the trade of South- ern Illinois and adjoining states.
Harry A. Fowler married Mattie Adams, of Centralia, and they are the parents of one little girl, who bears the pretty name, Marjorie.
John R. Fowler, the younger member of the firm, was educated in the Centralia city schools, and began when quite young to learn his father's trade of plumbing. He is a practical and up-to-date artist in his work as well as a good business man. He has a state certificate, awarded to him in 1902 for his thoroughness and proficiency in his chosen occupation. Harry and John Fowler are both members of the National Plumbers and Steam Fitters Association, and are also graduates in this line of the International Correspondance School, of Scranton, Penn- sylvania, and they are keeping pace with twentieth century methods. They have a good business and enjoy the entire confi- dence of their many friends and patrons in Marion county and throughout this part of the state.
ELMER E. COPPLE.
In the development of Marion county the subject of this biography has borne an im- portant part, for he has long been identified with the farming and business life of the lo- cality, and while advancing his own interests
he has not been neglectful of his duty to his fellow citizens, therefore he is accorded a full measure of esteem by all who know him.
Elmer E. Copple was born January 9, 1862, on the old Copple homestead in Cen- tralia township, this county, the son of Eli Copple, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. However, it is not amiss here to state that the father of the subject was born January 8, 1820, in Clark county, Illinois, the son of David Copple, a native of Germany, who married Lavina Huckleberry first and later Permelia King. They came to Marion county, Illinois, in 1832 and settled in section 32, Centralia township, where they entered wild land and set about improving it like the rest of the pioneers of that time, and they lived and died at this place. He had only a limited opportunity to attend school in the old log school-houses. Although self-learned he be- came an excellent speller and scholar. He was a large farmer, stock dealer and breeder. In 1874 he went to Europe and imported some French Norman horses. He never aspired to office although an active Republican. He started in life in a small way, but worked hard and was very suc- cessful. He was a member of the Metho- dist church.
He first married Martha Flannagan, of Jefferson county, Illinois, who died in 1850. and his second wife was Sarah Dolson. The following five children were born to Eli Copple and his first wife: Arminda, who married W. A. Dolson, of Fullerton, Ne-
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
braska ; Loretta, who married A. J. Hardley, of Irvington, Illinois; three children died in infancy. Seven children were born to Eli Copple and his second wife, namely: Charles, a farmer in Nebraska; Mary mar- ried Joseph Baldridge, and she died in 1899; Julia married H. S. Baldridge, who lives in Seattle, Washington; Willis, a farmer in Centralia township, Marion county, who married a Miss Patton; Elmer E., our subject; Robert, a farmer in Cen- tralia township, who married Lillian Ethel Leonard; Ada is the wife of T. S. Kell, who now lives on the old Copple homestead with Mrs. Copple.
The subject of this sketch lived at home and attended the neighboring schools. He married September 9, 1883, to Ida A. Bald- ridge, of Jefferson county, Illinois, who was born in Grand Prairie township, the daugh- ter of Thomas and Mary (Williams) Bald- ridge, the former a native of Jefferson county, Illinois, and the latter of Virginia. She died in 1870, and Mr. Baldridge was again married, his second wife being Miss M. E. Allen, of Jefferson county, this state. It was in that county that he spent his life on a farm, dying there in 1904. His second wife died in February, 1908.
Four children have been born to the sub- ject and wife, as follows: M. Allen, who married Nellie Root Carpenter, of Cen- tralia, and who are the parents of two chil- dren, Lola and Vera; Ralph Roy, who is living at home, is a graduate of the Cen- tralia high school; Dwight and Ruth are the youngest children.
In 1883 our subject located on his present place in Centralia township. It was then a new place and Mr. Copple has made all the improvements on it, bringing it up to any place in the township. He is regarded as a good farmer and an excellent judge of stock and his farm is carefully managed, yielding excellent harvests of all kinds from year to year. His home place consists of two hundred and forty acres, thirty acres of which are in peaches, apples and pears. This is a most valuable orchard, consisting of a fine variety of excellent fruit, and since Mr. Copple is something of an expert horticulturist, no small part of his income is derived from this source. He carries on a general farming. His dwelling is a most convenient and substantial one, and his barns and out buildings are of the best.
ELI COPPLE.
The subject of this sketch, who has passed to his rest, is well remembered by the peo- ple of Marion county, where he so long la- bored not only for his own advancement but also for that of the community at large, therefore, it is with pleasure that we give a record of his honorable career in this book, believing that it will be an inspira- tion to the younger generation who per- use it.
Eli Copple was born January 8, 1820, in Washington county, Indiana, the son of Da- vid Copple, who was born in Germany and
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when a young man came to America with his parents, locating with them in North Carolina. Later they came to Clark county, Indiana, where the parents died. David Copple grew to manhood in Clark county, Indiana, where he married Lavina Huckle- berry, of German-Irish extract. David
Copple and wife located in Washington county, Indiana, in 1818, and fourteen years later they came to Marion county, Illinois, where they both died in Centralia township. He was considered one of the valued and leading citizens of the community in which he lived. They were the parents of twelve children, all but one of whom grew to ma- turity, namely: James lived in Centralia township and was twice married, first to Jane Wells and second to Emily Huckle- berry; Elizabeth married Jacob Breeze; Angeline married Henry Bingaman, and they are living in Crete, Nebraska; Eli, our subject ; Christiana married M. P. Hester, of Centralia township, and they are both de- ceased; Samuel is deceased; John Harvey is also deceased; Edmund is a farmer living in Grand Prairie, Illinois; Julia married Marion Roper, who is now deceased, but she is living in Grand Prairie; David, now de- ceased, was a farmer living in Centralia township; Pollie A. is living in Kansas, hav- ing married David Roper, who is deceased.
Eli Copple was reared in Centralia town- ship, Marion county, Illinois, and was among the successful farmers of that vicin- ity, having come with his parents to this county when twelve years of age and lo- cated on what is known as the Seven-Mile-
Prairie. He was reared among the wild scenes of the frontier and developed thereby a sturdy manhood. He was first married in 1840 to Martha Flannagan, a native of Jef- ferson county, Illinois, who died in 1850. Two children, who grew to maturity, were born to them. Arminda married William Dolson, who is living in Fullerton, Nebras- ka; Loretta married A. J. Hartley, of Irv- ington, Illinois. The subject of this sketch married a second time, his last wife being Sarah Dolson, daughter of Allen and Mary Louisa (White) Dolson, the wedding occur- ring in February, 1851. Mr. Dolson was a native of New York, near Albany, on the Hudson river. His wife was born in Geor- gia. Allen Dolson was the son of Peter and Rachael (Quinby) Dolson, both natives of New York: Mr. Dolson was a farmer. Al- len Dolson came west when a boy alone, go- ing to the Platt river country, Nebraska, having lived among the Indians for a time. He descended the Missouri river in a canoe to St. Louis, later to Carlyle, Illinois, and then went to Grand Prairie, Jefferson coun- ty, Illinois, where he devoted his life to farming. He entered government land. He came to Marion county, where he and his wife both died. The following children were born to them: Sarah, the subject's wife; Robert, Elizabeth, Melville, all de- ceased; Mary is living in Kansas; Christina, deceased; William, living in Nebraska; Harvey is living in Kansas. The subject and his second wife were the parents of seven children, namely: Charles, a farmer living in Fullerton, Nebraska, was first mar-
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ried to Lucy Jackson, second to Sarah Aver- ill; Mary married Joseph Baldridge, and she is now deceased; Julia is the wife of Harvey Baldridge and they are living in Seattle, Washington; Willis is living in Cen- tralia township on a farm, having married Henrietta Patton; Elmer, living in Centralia township; Robert, living on a farm in Cen- tralia township, married Lillian Ethel Leon- ard; Ada May married T. S. Kell and they are living with the subject's mother on the old home place, the parents of one son, Cecil Edward.
After a very active and useful life, re- plete with success and honor, Eli Copple passed to his reward August 14, 1905.
Our subject started in life under none too favorable circumstances, but his father gave him one hundred and sixty acres of wild land and he worked hard and became suc- cessful. He was thrifty and a good man- ager, and at one time owned as much as two thousand acres. He carried on a gen- eral farming and stock raising business and was eminently successful in both, becoming known as one of the leading citizens of Ma- rion county. In 1874 he made a trip to France and imported a large number of Nor- man horses of a very fine quality. Besides raising some fine horses he always raised many good cattle, hogs and sheep. He was an organizer and leading member of the Farmers' Club of Marion county.
The subject cast his first vote for Wil- liam Henry Harrison and since that time was a loyal Republican. He was a faith- ful member of the Methodist Episcopal
church and a liberal subscriber of the same. He erected his first substantial and commo- dious brick home in 1872 and he and his noble and faithful wife made all the im- provements about the place. No man in the county was better or more favorably known than he and everyone remembers him as a very polite and kindly gentleman, as well as a very able business man, and therefore his influence for good in the coun- ty was very great.
. COL. NAPOLEON B. MORRISON.
The life of the subject of this biography has not been altogether devoid of the spec- tacular, but has been entirely free from os- tentation, and he has never forced himself on public attention, yet his fellow citizens recognize in this venerable character a man of genuine worth, whose every duty has been discharged with commendable fidelity and whose influence has always been exer- cised for the good of his kind. He has trav- eled extensively and come in contact with the world in such a way as to quicken his perception, enlarge his mental vision and give him ideas of men and things such as he could not have obtained by spending his life in one locality, and as a result of his altogether consistent career he has won the esteem of all who know him.
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