USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 69
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 69
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 69
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Mr. Watts was united in marriage to Mary Patton, November 20, 1895. She is the daughter of T. A. and Lena (Smith) Patton, a well known and influential family of this county.
Mr. Watts' comfortable and cheerful home has been brightened by the presence
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of the following children : William R., Len- years at this writing, 1908. He received his na F., Ruby R., all bright children and mak- ing good grades in the local schools.
Mr. Watts is a genial and most com- panionable gentleman and has many warm and admiring friends among the res- idents of his adopted city as well as in the township where he lived so long, and the high regard in which he is held not only in business but socially indicates the possession of attributes and characteristics that fully entitle him to the respect and consideration of his fellow men.
TRUMAN B. ANDREWS.
Characterized by breadth of wisdom and strong individuality, the achievements of the subject of this sketch but represent the utilization of innate talent in directing ener- gies along lines in which mature judgment and a resourcefulness that hesitates at no opposing circumstances, pave the way and ultimately lead to achievement.
Truman B. Andrews was born in Jeffer- son county, Illinois, September 25, 1852, the son of Seymour and Martha (Hender- son) Andrews, who were the parents of ten children, the subject of this sketch being the third in order of birth. When about four years of age he went to Warren county, 11- linois, with his parents, where he remained until ten years of age, then moved to Cen- tralia, where he has since remained, having been identified with the growth of the com- munity and taking a prominent part in its development for a period of over forty-six in Southern Illinois and customers are al-
schooling in the Centralia common and high schools. Following in the footsteps of his father, he decided to become a merchant, and when he left school he began clerking for his father and later became bookkeeper, with whom he remained assisting in build- ing up a fine trade in the dry goods and clothing business until his father retired about 1890. Truman then went with the firm of G. L. Pittenger, who conducted a grocery store, remaining with the same for four years with his usual success. He then went to work for the Pittenger & Daves Mining and Manufacturing Company, as their assistant secretary in the office work of this extensive enterprise, with which he was identified for six years, giving high class service in every respect. Mr. Andrews then worked in the Centralia Mining and Manufacturing Company, which is operated by the same people as their secretary, re- maining as such for seven years, or until they retired from active business. He con- tinued to work or the firm that succeeded them remaining until he bought an interest in the firm of Gillett & Company, clothiers and gents' furnishers. They manage a big and well stocked store and Mr. Andrews is to be found here daily ready to wait upon his scores of customers who know that they will here receive the most courteous consideration and always receive the full value of their money. The stock is kept well up-to-date and is carefully selected at all seasons. This store is one of the most tastefully arranged and neatly kept of any
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ways pleased to visit it where they are made to feel at ease.
The domestic life of the subject of this sketch dates from December 17, 1874, when he was married to Amanda J. McClelland, daughter of John and Margaret McClelland, of Marion county, a well known and in- fluential family. To this union three in- teresting children have been born, namely : Hallie, Lois and Cinnie. Hallie married Bessie Robinett, of Columbia, this state, and they are the parents of one son, Raymond, born in 1904. Hallie Andrews is firing an engine on the Illinois Central Railroad. Lois is married to L. R. Porter, a blacksmith on the Illinois Central Railroad, of Cen- tralia, and they are the parents of two chil- dren, one boy, Emmett, born in 1905, and one girl, Lorena, who is one year old in 1908. Cinnie, the subject's third child, mar- ried George Green, of Centralia, where he is engaged in the barber business.
In politics our subject is a supporter of Republican issues. He is a member of the Christian church, having been a deacon for a period of fifteen years, and is also a trus- tee of the same. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. No. 397; the Knights of Pythias, No. 26; also a charter member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, having served in many of the chairs of the last two lodges. Mr. An- drews was Township Public School Treas- urer or twenty years, being still in this po- sition. He is greatly interested in educa- tional matters and has always done what he could to further the interests of the local schools. He also faithfully served as Town
Clerk of Centralia for a period of six years. He has also been a member of the Centralia City Fire Department for over twenty-five years, having frequently hazarded his life day and night in order to save property.
HON. D. W. HOLSTLAW.
Few names in Marion county are as wide- ly known and as highly honored as the one which appears at the head of this review. For many years as a farmer, banker and prominent business man, D. W. Holstlaw has ranked and also occupies a conspicuous place in business and state. On both sides of his family Mr. Holstlaw springs from sturdy antecedents and he has every reason to be proud of his forbears. His father, Daniel S. Holstlaw, was a stock dealer and farmer, being a native of Kentucky and widely known and highly esteemed citizen. He became a resident of this county about 1830, settling in Stevenson township, where in due time he accumulated a large and val- uable estate and achieved much more than local reputation as breeder and dealer in live stock, besides attaining an honorable standing as a public spirited citizen and en- terprising man of affairs. Daniel S. Holst- law did much to promote the material prog- ress of the section of country in which he lived, and was equally interested in the so- cial and moral advancement of the commu- nity, doing all within his power to benefit his neighbors and fellow citizens, and leav- ing to them the memory of a useful life and an honorable name when called from the
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scenes of his labors and triumphs on the fifth day of December, 1905. The maiden name of Mrs. Daniel Holstlaw was Ruth Wade Middleton. She was born in Ten- nessee and is still living on the old family homestead in Stevenson township, where, surrounded by relatives and friends, she is passing the evening of a well spent life with nothing in the future to fear or in the past to regret. The family of this estimable cou- ple consisted of eleven children, all of whom are living. A more extended mention of this family will be found upon another page of this volume.
Daniel W. Holstlaw was born February 5, 1849, at the family home in Stevenson township, and there spent the years of his childhood and youth, learning at an early age the lessons of industry, economy and self-reliance, which had much to do in form- ing a well rounded character and fitting him for the subsequent duties of life. When old enough to be of service he helped with the labors of the field and in due time be- came a valuable assistant to his father in the latter's live stock interests and other business, proving faithful to his various duties and worthy of the trust reposed in his integrity and honor. Meanwhile as op- portunities permitted he attended the com- mon schools of the neighborhood, but by reason of his services being required at home his education was somewhat limited. In after years, however, he made up very large- ly for this deficiency by a wide range of reading and careful observation, but more especially by his relations with his fellow
men in various business capacities, thus be- coming the possessor of a fund of valuable practical knowledge, which could not have been obtained from schools or colleges.
Mr. Holstlaw spent his minority under the parental roof, in the cultivation of the farm and otherwise looking after his par- ents, but in the year 1870 he severed his home ties to accept a clerkship in a mer- cantile house in the town of Iuka. After serving in the capacity of clerk until becom- ing an efficient salesman and acquiring a knowledge of the business he formed a part- nership with James W. Humphries, and dur- ing the two years ensuing the firm conduct- ed a thriving trade and forged rapidly to the front, among the leading merchants of the town. At the expiration of the period noted Mr. Holstlaw purchased his partner's inter- est and adding very materially to the stock, soon built up a large and lucrative patron- age, and it was not long until he became one of the most successful business men of the county, a reputation he sustained during the thirty odd years which he devoted to mer- cantile life. Meantime he saw a favorable opening at Iuka for the banking business, and in compliance with the suggestions of many of his fellow townsmen and others as well as consulting his own inclinations, he finally established a bank in his store, which soon formed a valuable adjunct to the business interests of the town and surround- ing country. After conducting the two lines of business jointly until 1907, he disposed of his mercantile interests, and since that time has devoted his entire attention to bank-
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ing, establishing in Iuka the Holstlaw Bank, which is now one of the most successful and popular institutions of the kind, not only in Marion county, but in the southern part of the state. The growth of the bank in public favor has more than met the high ex- pectations of Mr. Holstlaw and others in- terested in its success, the patronage, which takes a wide range, being liberal, but all that could reasonably be desired, and the solidity of the institution beyond the shadow of a doubt.
As the executive head and practical man- ager of the bank, Mr. Holstlaw exemplifies the sound judgment, wise discretion and rare foresight which have ever characterized his business dealing, while his familiarity with financial matters enables him to conduct the institution in the broad though wisely con- servative spirit which bespeaks its continu- ous growth and solidity. The bank building is an elegant modern structure, erected espe- cially adapted for the purpose and amply equipped with all the appliances necessary to the successful prosecution of the business, the safe, furniture and other fixtures being of the latest and most approved patterns and calculated to satisfy the taste of the most critical and exacting. Mr. Holstlaw is also a stockholder and director of the Salem Na- tional Bank and also the bank at St. Peter.
In addition to his long and eminently suc- cessful career in business, Mr. Holstlaw has for many years been one of the leading poli- ticians of Marion county, his activity in po- litical circles, however, being by no means confined to local affairs, but state wide in
its influence. He is firm and unchanging in his allegiance to Democratic principles and mid all vicissitudes in which the party has been subject during the last two decades, he has never wavered in his loyalty, nor when necessary hesitated to make sacrifices for its success. Judicious in counsel and an untiring worker, he has been a standard bearer in a number of campaigns and it was not until recently that he consented to serve his party in a public capacity, although fre- quently importuned and solicited by his many friends to accept the offices for which by native training he is eminently fitted. In the year 1908 he was elected to the upper house of the General Assembly, and although but fairly entering upon his official duties he has already made his influence felt among his brother Senators, and bids fair to ren- der his constituency and the state valuable service and earn an honorable record among the distinguished legislators of the common- wealth.
On January 3, 1875, Mr. Holstlaw and Clara R. Stevenson were united in the holy bonds of wedlock, a union blessed with two children, the older a son, Herschel D., and the younger a daughter, who answers to the name of Florence E.
Herschel D. Holstlaw, whose birth oc- curred on December 20, 1875, was educated in the home schools and Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, and since beginning life for himself has been associated with his father, being at this time cashier of the Holstlaw Bank and a man of fine business ability. He was married October 3, 1900,
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to Louise Tully, of Xenia, Illinois, whose parents, Joseph E. and Fannie (Paine) Tully, still live in that town, the father being a banker and merchant, and one of the old- est of three children. Mrs. Holstlaw is the oldest of three children born to these parents, her two brothers, Joseph M. and William Paine Tully, being residents of Xenia, and associated with their father in merchandising and banking. Florence E., the subject's second child, married Albert E. Kelly, of North Vernon, Indiana, but now a resident of Iuka, Illinois, where he is engaged in the mercantile trade at the old Holstlaw stand.
Mr. Holstlaw's activity in business to- gether with his superior methods and hon- orable dealing has resulted greatly to his financial advantage and he is now one of the wealthy and reliable men of Marion county, being in independent circumstances, with more than a sufficiency of this world's goods to render his future free from care and anxiety. Additional to his mercantile, banking and other interests at Iuka, he owns several valuable farms in various parts of the county and is also quite extensively in- terested in live stock, being one of the larg- est breeders and raisers of fine cattle in this part of the state, these and his other hold- ings indicating the energy and capacity of a mind peculiarly endowed for large and im- portant enterprises.
Clara R. Stevenson, who became the wife of Hon. D. W. Holstlaw, as stated in a pre- ceding paragraph, is a native of Stevenson 38
township and a daughter of Hon. Samuel E. Stevenson, in whose honor the township was named. Mr. Stevenson was born in Ohio August 9, 1819, and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Kagy, was also a native of Ohio. The Stevensons were among the pioneer settlers of Fairfield coun- ty, Ohio, and it was there that Samuel E. spent his youth, beginning to earn his own living at the early age of six years. Later he received eight dollars per month for his services as a farm laborer, and by industry and strict economy succeeded in saving in four years the sum of one hundred dollars, his expenses for clothing during that time amounting to only forty dollars. Going on horseback to Illinois, he invested his savings in cattle, which he drove to Ohio and sold at a liberal profit, the venture proving so suc- cessful that he decided to continue the busi- ness. During the several years following he made a number of trips to and from Illi- nois , buying cattle and disposing of them at handsome figures, and in this way laid the foundation of what subsequently became an ample fortune. After his marriage to Miss Kagy, which took place in Marion county, Illinois, in 1848, he located in what is now Stevenson township, where he en- tered a large tract of land and engaged in farming and stock raising, devoting especial attention to the breeding of cattle, in which he met with the most gratifying success. Later he became interested in public affairs and in due time rose to a position of consid- erable influence among his fellow citizens,
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who in recognition of valuable political serv- Aaron Warner, of Stevenson township, ices elected him in 1866 to the lower house of the Legislature.
Mr. Stevenson was one of the leading Democrats of his day in Marion county and achieved a wide reputation throughout the state as an able and adroit politician. He filled worthily a number of positions of honor and trust, won the esteem of the people ir- respective of party alignment and became one of the most popular men of his time in Southern Illinois. In connection with farm- ing and stock raising he held large interests in the Sandoval coal mines and was also a heavy stockholder in the Salem National Bank and appeared to succeed in all of the enterprises to which he devoted his atten- tion. He not only gave his children the best educational advantages the country af- forded, but also provided liberally for their material welfare by giving each a good start when they left home to begin life for them- selves. He was long a sincere member of the Baptist church, as was also his wife, and spared no pains in instructing his children in the truths of religion and the necessity of moral conduct as the only basis of a true and successful life. Mrs. Stevenson died in 1876 and her husband in the year 1899, the loss of both being greatly deplored and pro- foundly mourned by their many friends in Marion and other counties of Southern Il- linois.
where she now resides; Edgar, for some years one of the leading teachers of Marion county and a young man of noble aims and high ideals, who departed this life Novem- ber, 1878, in the prime of his physical and mental powers. He began school work at the age of eighteen, soon attained an hon- orable standing as an educator, and at the time of his death was considered one of the finest and most accomplished instructors in this part of the state. Homer R., the fifth in order of birth, married Clara Humphries and devotes his attention to farming, in which his success has been very gratifying. Van C., who married Ella Brunton, lives on the old family homestead and is also a suc- cessful tiller of the soil; Frank M., the sev- enth of the family, was graduated from Illi- nois College in 1886, and the year following was killed by lightning. He, too, was a young man of intelligence and culture and his untimely death terminated what prom- ised to be a useful and honorable career. Anna, who married Frank Boynton, of Sa- lem, is deceased, and Maggie, the youngest of the family, is the wife of W. E. Irvin, and lives in Salem.
THOMAS M. LANE.
The children of Samuel E. and Elizabeth The honorable gentleman whose name ap- Stevenson, nine in number, were as follows: pears above is entitled to wear the badge Clara B., wife of Hon. D. W. Holstlaw; Marion T., a farmer and stock dealer of Marion county ; Joanna, widow of the late
indicating that he is one of the brave "boys in blue," and while some casual thinker might not attach much importance to this
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fact, those who rightly consider the matter know that no greater badge of honor could be conferred upon a man.
Thomas M. Lane was born in Madison county, Ohio, August 19, 1844, the son of Hooper and Margaret (Martin) Lane, who were the parents of four children, our sub- ject being the oldest in order of birth. Hoop- er Lane was born in Ohio, as was also his wife.
The early education of the subject of this sketch was gained in Washington county, Iowa, where he was reared on a farm and labored hard as a boy and young man until 1861, when on June 15th of that year, being unable to resist the call of his government for help in its hour of need, he enlisted in the Tenth Iowa Infantry, under Colonel Parsell, of Keokuk, Iowa, and was mustered into the service of the United States Sep- tember 28, 1861. He was in Company D, under Captain Berry, of Boone county, Iowa. He remained with this company un- til 1863, taking part in all its engagements, when he re-enlisted at Huntsville, Alabama, and was transferred to Company E of the same regiment as a veteran, April 1, 1864, by Captain York, under Captain Shepherd and Colonel Strong. Our subject made a most gallant soldier, having fought in twen- ty-eight battles and skirmishes. He was dis- charged August 15, 1865, at Little Rock, Arkansas, by Adjt. Gen. N. B. Baker.
After the war Mr. Lane returned to Wash- ington county, Iowa, where he remained for two years and devoted his time to farming. He then turned his attention to railroading
in 1867, in the fall of that year beginning work on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad at East St. Louis. From there he went to North Missouri, where he was employed on the Wabash Railroad for two years. He then went to the Rock Island Railroad, run- ning as a brakeman from Davenport to Des Moines. He was also switchman and final- ly conductor for the Hannibal Railroad, from St. Joseph to Hannibal, Missouri. He then went to the Missouri Pacific Railroad, running from St. Louis to Chamoise, Mis- souri. Mr. Lane then was employed by the C. B. & U. P., a branch of the Missouri Pa- cific Railroad; later he went to the Illinois Cental Railroad as yard crew conductor, which position he held for eight years in the East St. Louis yards. While thus employed our subject had the misfortune to lose his right hand on October 14, 1897. When he recovered from this injury he was placed on the detective force of this road, in which capacity he remained until 1900, when he resigned and came to Clinton county, where he bought a fruit farm, which business he followed for two years, when he sold out and came to Centralia, where, on February 19, 1902, he formed a partnership and launched in the real estate business, later purchasing his partner's interest and be- came sole manager of the "Home Real Es- tate Company," of Centralia, and he now enjoys a good, thriving business.
Mr. Lane became widely known during his railroading days, giving the various companies for which he worked entire satis- faction, being regarded by them as one of
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the most trusted and efficient employes, al- Cabe, who was of Scotch-Irish blood, lived ways at his post and conscientious in his work, so that he was always highly recom- mended for his services. He enjoys the full confidence of his numerous friends. His long and wide experience in army and rail- road life has made him a reader of men and a most appreciative neighbor. He votes the Republican ticket, having first voted for Abraham Lincoln at Savannah, Georgia. He was reared by pious Methodist parents. Our subject is unassuming and open hearted and honest to the core.
BURDEN PULLEN.
As a member of one of the pioneer fami- lies of this country, Mr. Pullen calls for recognition in a compilation of the province assigned to the one at hand, and it is a pleas- ure to enter this review of his upright and successful career, for he has ever been faith- ful in the performance of whatever duty he found to be his, without thought of reward or praise from his fellow men.
Burden Pullen was born in Mercer coun- ty, New Jersey, June 8, 1833, the son of James B. and Sarah (McCabe) Pullen. Grandfather Pullen, who was of English descent, lived in New Jersey and died at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. He de- voted his life to agricultural pursuits and reared to maturity a family of nine children. His noble life companion was a faithful member of the church. Grandfather Mc-
on a farm, and both he and his wife lived to advanced ages, rearing a large famliy. The father of the subject was reared in New Jersey, and being poor, his parents could not give him the school advantages that he de- sired. However, he made the best use pos- sible of what he had, and after leaving school learned the cooper's trade, although he never worked at it to any extent. He left New Jer- sey in 1839 and settled in Middletown, Ohio, going into the fruit and nursery business and developing into a well known and prom- inent horticulturist, the study of which he had begun before leaving New Jersey, and devoted his life to that business with pro- nounced success. He died at the age of sixty-five years, having been survived by a widow until she reached eighty-six. They were members of the Baptist church and their family consisted of nine children.
The early education of the subject of this sketch was obtained in the district schools of Ohio, where he diligently applied him- self. Desiring to receive a higher educa- tion, he later entered Franklin College in Indiana, but on account of sickness was obliged to leave before finishing the course he had hoped to take. He worked on his father's fruit farm and was with him as an associate in the business until 1856, when he came to Centralia, Illinois, then being twen- ty-three years old. He opened a nursery, becoming a horticulturist of more than lo- cal note. He bought the place where he now resides in 1857. The place consisted of seventy acres and all of it was used as a nur-
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sery and fruit farm. Much of his land is now laid out in city lots and has been sold. He closed the nursery branch and gradually worked all into the horticulture line, which he made a great success.
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