USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 7
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 7
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 7
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first, for he had long ago firmly established a reputation here. He is a member of the Board of Education at Salem. and is County Physician. He was nominated by his party for Coroner in 1908 and his nomination was . regarded by not only the Democrats, but members of other party affiliations as well, to be a most fortunate on. He was elected at the ensuing election by a large majority over his opponent.
The domestic life of Doctor Feltman dates from January 1, 1888, when he was happily married at Salem to Mayme E. Fulks, the refined and accomplished daugh- ter of T. Charles Fulks. She received a fairly good educational training and is a representative of a well known and influ- ential family.
Two interesting children, who, in their youth, give promise of successful and happy future careers, have added cheer and sun- shine to the cozy home of Doctor and Mrs. Feltman. Their names are Blanche and Mabel, nineteen and seventeen years old, respectively, in 1908. They are both apt students and of winsome personalities.
Fraternally our subject is a member of the Masonic Order, the Woodmen and the Independent Order of Foresters, and his daily life would indicate that he believes in carrying out the sublime precepts of each. He is a strict Presbyterian in religious faith. However, he is not a member of any church, although all his family subscribes to the church in Salem.
Doctor Feltman is of a public-spirited na- ture, genial personality, uprightness of prin-
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ciple and habits of industry. He is re- garded by the people of Marion county as one of their ablest and most eminent citizens.
WILLIAM KELL BUNDY.
The life of the early settlers in any com- munity has ever contained much to interest and entertain us. There is something ro- mantic about the ruggedness of their lives and the uncertainties they had to face which holds a fascination for us today. The family of the subject of this sketch were among the earliest inhabitants of the county in which they lived, and the hardworking lives they lived were much more eventful than the life of the average farmer of today.
William K. Bundy was born in section No. I, Centralia township, Marion county, Illinois, on May 4, 1827, and was the son of Frederick and Mary Bundy. His mother, whose maiden name was Wilson, was born in North Carolina, coming from the region of the famous Blue Ridge Mountains. Fred- erick Bundy was the son of Jonathan Bundy, of Tennessee, who came to Marion county, Illinois, as early as 1825 or 1826, settling near Walnut Hill, where he soon afterward died: His wife belonged to a well known family of Tennessee named Dorcas. They had four children, all sons-Robert, John and William, who settled in the vicin- ity of Walnut Hill, and the father of the subject of our sketch, Frederick Bundy, who settled in section No. I, Centralia township.
Frederick Bundy's father-in-law, John Wilson, married in his native state of North Carolina. He was a farmer who on becom- ing attacked with the western fever, went westward to Illinois. There he settled north- east of Salem. On the death of his first wife he married a widow named Jones. Their married years must have been happy ones, for upon a third matrimonial venture he espoused another widow named Kelley. After a long and active life he died on the farm. The children by his first wife num- bered seven. In regular order they were: Mary, Nancy, Jane, Margaret, Samuel, Dorrington, and Sylvester. Mary, the eld- est daughter, was the mother of the subject of our sketch. The children born to John Wilson's second wife numbered three.
Frederick Bundy, living in a different period from ours, had no chance to go to school. His education had to be self-ob- tained. He did not fail to sieze the oppor- tunities which came his way, and so became a remarkably well informed man. At the time the family came to Illinois the journey was made in the old time cumberous team wagons. The family of the mother of our sketch also arrived by means of the same mode of travel.
Centralia township at the time Frederick Bundy settled there in 1826, was as yet in its original wild state. As may be supposed, wild game and beasts of prey of many varie- ties abounded there, particularly wolves. He remembered the howls and blood-cur- dling "ki-yiings" of the timber-wolves, to which he lay awake listening on many a
WILLIAM BUNDY.
LINKANY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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night inside of the rough log-cabin which he had built with his own hands. In time he cleared the land and erected for himself a suitable home, and otherwise much im- proved the property which embraced four hundred acres. For years he carried on an active farming business and raised consid- erable amount of stock. Frederick Bundy was politically a staunch Democrat, and in those days he had to go over to Salem at election times to record his vote. In reli- gious life he was a member of the Christian church. His wife died in February, 1848, and the demise of the inseparable companion of his life's journey was a great loss. He died in the fall of 1849, having, however, married secondly Elizabeth Walker, and leaving a son by that marriage. He had eight children by his first wife, the eldest of which was the subject of this sketch, William K. The others were: Alexander, who married first Margaret Breeze, and afterwards another member of that family, and who is a farmer in Washington; Nancy Jane, deceased, first married James Harper, and afterwards Reuben Alderson; Dorcas married Sydney Harmon, both of whom are dead; Jeanette, who married, also died; John joined the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, Company H, at the outbreak of the Civil war and died while in the service of his country; Robert was also in the Civil war, enlisting in Jefferson county, Illinois, and died of small pox during his term of service; Sallie, another daughter, married Thomas J. Hollowell and lives in Washing- ton with her husband.
The life of William Kell Bundy, the sub- ject of this sketch, has been an adventurous one. In early life he received the limited education afforded at the only available local institutions of learning-the subscription schools. He remained at home doing nec- essary work on the farm until 1847, when at that martial period he enlisted in Company C, No. I, United States army for the Mexi- can war. His military career began by his being sent to Alton, Illinois, and later to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and later par- ticipated in the march across the desert to Santa Fe. He was on the march sixty days, which was a tedious one. Later he took part in the advance upon old Albuquerque, the Mexican capital. Here he remained until 1848, where he did guard duty, and finally marched back. On his return he re- mained with his father superintending the old homestead until the latter's death, at which time he bought forty acres of it, on which he lived for fifteen years. In 1863 he changed to his present abode in section No. 6, Raccoon township. At different times the area of his land increased until he had at one time three hundred and fifty acres; the greater part of which he has since divided among his children. All the improvements on the place have been the fruits of his labor and supervision. He has principally raised stock on the farm, cattle, horses, sheep and hogs, and has also evinced an interest in the fancy and finer breeds.
William K. Bundy married first Eliza- beth, the daughter of Isaac and Sarah Mc- Clelland. Isaac was an early settler in Ma-
5
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rion county, Illinois, near Walnut Hill. He followed the occupation of farmer and stock dealer. On the death of his first wife, Mr. Bundy married a second time on October 20, 1887, Mildred Annie Gaines, of Sumner county, near Nashville, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Henry Gaines. Her mother's own name was Marian Bradley, of Nash- ville, Tennessee. They came to Marion county, Illinois, in 1850, and settled in Ste- venson township. There Henry Gaines and his wife farmed during the remainder of their lives. He died in 1850, and his wife in 1856. They had eight children, of which Mildred Annie, the second wife of William K. Bundy, was the seventh. Of the others, Hazel married C. Tracy ; P. D. is a farmer in Stevenson township; Josephine, the third, is dead; Martha is also dead; Henrietta E., the widow of Sidney Charlton, lives in Odin township; Agnes is still on the farmstead and is single; Z. T. lives in Jefferson county. The second marriage of William K. Bundy has given him the following chil- dren, seven in number. Mary Rebecca, the wife of John French; Sarah Jane, who is Mrs. Robinson, living at Sedalia, Washing- ton; Elizabeth, who married John Lamont, since deceased, lives in Oklahoma; Joseph- ine, who married George West, of Odin township; Isaac M., who is a farmer in Rac- coon township married Sarah Johnson; Fred, who lives at home and is unmarried, went through the Spanish-American war as a member of Company G, Third Regiment U. S. another child, Catherine died young.
Though now in his eighty-second year, William Kell Bundy possesses a mind of un-
usual transparency. He is still well able to review in detail the memories and exploits of a long and varied career.
In politics the subject of our sketch is a life-long follower of the Democracy. His first vote for a presidential candidate was recorded years ago when it went to James K. Polk, who figured in an eventful election. In religion he is a member of the Christian church, in the interests of which he has ever been active. He is now in the mellow period of a long life which has always been at the service of home and country. He has ful- filled the duties of a long life; he is sur- rounded by an affectionate circle of sons and daughters; he has the friendship and good wishes of a host of friends. Is not this as much as any of us can hope for in the even- ing of life.
CRAWFORD S. ERWIN.
No man in Clay county occupies a more enviable position in civic and business af- fairs than the subject of this sketch, who is the well known and popular ex-Circuit Clerk of the county, not alone on account of the success he has achieved, but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever followed both in public and private life. He possesses un- tiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and executes them with alacrity so that he stands today one of the leading representatives of a county widely known for its men of force and business acumen.
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Crawford S. Erwin was born in Hoosier township, Clay county, October 9, 1866, the son of David, the son of William Erwin, a native of Indiana, who was a cabinet maker by trade, having come from Indiana to Illinois in an early day and engaged in the cabinet making business, also in farm- ing. He was called to his rest August 7. 1866, six weeks before our subject was born. William Erwin, the subject's grandfather, was one of the pioneers of Clay county, hav- ing come to America from Scotland, his na- tive country, when a young man. He was the first person buried in the old Hoosier cemetery in Hoosier township. The mother of the subject was known in her maiden- hood as Eliza A. Fitzgerald, whose people were originally from Scotland. She passed to her rest in Hoosier township in the spring of 1890. Five children were born to the subject's parents as follows: Mayberry P., living in Henrietta, Texas; David S., liv- ing in Clay county, Illinois; Joseph, in Hen- rietta, Texas; W. G., who is also a resi- dent of Clay county ; Crawford S., the sub- ject.
Mr. Erwin spent his early life on the farm, attending the country schools during the winter months, and assisting with the work at home in the summer. He was left to be reared by a widowed mother, who was too poor to aid in her son's education, and thus our subject was compelled to begin his fight with the world early in life practically unaided and the admirable way he has suc- ceeded in the face of seemingly insurmount- able obstacles, deserves the commendation. of all. When he was nine years old, the
family moved to Texas, where they remained four years. During this time the children were deprived of the advantages of a good school. Desiring to return to the Illinois home, the family made the trip overland in a wagon, a distance of twelve hundred miles, in the fall and winter of 1880, having reached Hoosier township shortly after Christmas, during the coldest weather that the country had known for years. Craw- ford S. at once entered school at Center, under the Rev. John F. Harmon, now sta- tioned in East St. Louis. Three terms of schocl were attended here by our subject. He was an excellent student, for he had now reached young manhood and he realized that if he succeeded in life, he would be compelled to prepare himself for some of the professions or commercial life, for he was physically unfit to follow the hard-work- ing life of a farmer. He was enabled to gratify his ambition to become an educated man by working out on the farm during the summer months, and with the money he thus secured he entered the Northern In- diana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indi- ana, in which institution he made a splendid record for scholarship.
He decided to become a teacher and be- fore he was eighteen years old had secured his first certificate and had taught his first school, which was a pronounced success. His services were then in great demand for the ensuing ten years which he devoted to teaching in Clay county, becoming generally known as an able educator. Most of that time he taught in only two school districts,
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meanwhile devoting the summer months to farming.
About this time Mr. Erwin secured the appointment of government mail weigher on the Vandalia line, which position he filled so satisfactorily that he was within two years thereafter re-appointed government mail weigher on the main line of the Balti- more & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, op- erating between Cincinnati and St. Louis. His official reports quickly enabled the com- pany to see his ability in this line and he was placed part of his time in the office of the chief clerk to assist in the examination of the reports sent in by his fellow-officers.
Mr. Erwin was called home in 1894 to fill the position of Deputy County Clerk, the duties of which he discharged in such a creditable manner that he became candidate for the office of Circuit Court Clerk in 1896, and was elected, on the Republican ticket, and discharged his duties to the entire sat- isfaction of all concerned and was re-elected in 1900, and again in 1904, his term having expired December 7, 1908. It is the con- census of opinion that he has been the best Circuit Clerk the county has ever had.
The official and private life of Mr. Er- win has ever been an open book to all, for it has been led along conservative lines, honest and without blemish, lacking the faintest shadow or suspicion of evil. His donations to charitable purposes and to his needy neighbors and fellow citizens since his residence in Louisville have amounted to several hundred dollars. He has always been ready to assist in aiding any worthy cause. It has been his custom for a number
of years at Christmas time to gather to- gether provisions, and quietly boxing them up himself and employing a teamster to deliver the same to the unfortunate and needy in his community. So unostentatious has this charity been bestowed that the do- nor is known to but few of his beneficiaries to this day.
Mr. Erwin was united in marriage De- cember 12, 1886, to Sarah Belle Conley, (laughter of W. A. Conley, of Hoosier town- ship. She was born and reared in Clay county, and is a woman of beautiful per- sonal attributes. The following children have been born of this union: May, whose age in 1908 is twenty years; Jennie is eighteen years old; Wilbur Esta is fifteen years old; Crawford Leslie is eleven; Le- land is seven and Kenneth is four.
Upon his retirement from office, Mr. Er- win entered the real estate and abstract busi- ness in December, 1908. He is thoroughly familiar with abstracting, having followed this while in office. He also owns a farm in Louisville township, and one in Bible Grove township, and also a half interest in a farm in Hoosier township, and another tract of land in Arkansas. He is also in- terested in stock raising and stock trading.
Mr. Erwin's land is well improved and ranks well with any in the county, and he al- ways keeps a good grade of stock. He is inter- ested in the concrete business, manufactur- ing concrete blocks and other forms of con- crete work, the firm name being Clark & Erwin.
Our subject is Public Administrator of Clay county. In his fraternal relations he
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belongs to the Masonic Order, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. He was secretary of the local Masonic lodge, at Louisville, No. 196, for ten consecutive years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has always been a loyal Republican, born and bred in the principles of that party; but the most partisan Democrat was ever treated with the same courtesy by him as the most pronounced Republican. During his term in office Mr. Erwin has never been too busy to accommodate anyone seeking in- formation on any subject whether pertaining to the matters of the office of Circuit Clerk or legal advice on any foreign subject, and no one ever went away from him wrongly advised, or feeling that what he had obtained had been grudgingly given. Hundreds of people in Clay county, having no regular attorney to attend to their legal business, and wishing an agreement, a contract, or an affidavit drawn up, have found our sub- ject ever willing to assist as best he could.
Mr. and Mrs. Erwin have a beautiful home, where hospitality and good cheer are ever unstintingly dispersed to their many friends and admirers.
J. T. JONES, M. D.
The physician who would succeed in his profession must possess many qualities of head and heart not included in the curricu- lum of the schools and colleges he may
have attended. In analyzing the career of the successful practitioner of the healing art it will invariably be found true that a broad-minded sympathy with the sick and suffering and an honest, earnest desire to aid his afflicted fellow men have gone hand in hand with skill and able judgment. The gentleman to whom this brief tribute is given fortunately embodies these necessary qualifications in a marked degree and by energy and application to his professional duties is building up an enviable reputation and drawing to himself a large and re- munerative practice, being recognized as one of the leading physicians of this locality and a man of honor and integrity at all times.
Dr. J. T. Jones was born in Foster town- ship, Marion county, Illinois, August 26, 1861, and "his sober wishes never learned to stray," consequently he has preferred to remain on his native prairie rather than seek uncertain fortunes elsewhere. His father is Eli W. Jones, a native of the same township and county. Grandfather James Jones was an early pioneer of Marion county and a man of many sterling qualities which have outcropped in our subject to a marked de- gree. He was a Southerner of the finest type. His residence was used in an early day for the purpose of holding church ser- vices, he being an active and ardent Metho- dist. He is living at this writing, 1908, in Foster township on a fine farm where he has become influential and widely known. He was Circuit Clerk from 1872 to 1876. He makes his home at present in Vernon. He was a soldier in Company H, Twenty-
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sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and he served through the war, having marched with Sherman to the sea and lost a leg in the final battle at Bentonville, North Carolina, the last battle fought by Sherman. He was in many hard fought battles of the Army of the Tennessee, being in the Fif- teenth Army Corps, and in all he took part in about thirty engagements. After the war he returned to his farm. The maiden name of the mother of the subject was Mary Ryman, a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was Dr. J. R. Ryman, who was an early Methodist minister, later becoming a physician. He came to Marion county when a young man, and was at one time Circuit Clerk of the county and also School Commissioner, being one of the founders of the Western Christian Advocate at St. Louis, Missouri. He died about 1877. The mother of the subject is living at this writing. Three children were born to these parents, our subject being the only one now living. The subject's maternal grandmother was Martha Dickens, a daughter of Samuel Dickens, a pioneer Baptist minister.
Doctor Jones spent his boyhood on his father's farm, attending the country schools at Fosterburg, and when the family came to Salem in 1872 he attended school in in Salem in 1872 he attended school in Salem from 1872 to 1878, graduating from the high school here in 1878 with high honor. After leaving school he clerked one year in a store at Vernon, but believing that his true calling lay along medical lines rather than the mercantile, he began the
study of medicine, making rapid progress from the first. He entered the St. Louis Medical College in 1880 from which he graduated in March, 1884, having made a brilliant record for scholarship. He lo- cated first at Warsaw, Missouri, practicing there with eminent success until 1889, when, much to the regret of his many friends and patients, he left that town and came to Ver- non, Illinois, where he remained, building up a lucrative practice, until 1907, in which year he came to Salem, having moved his family here a year previous. Doctor Jones took a post-graduate course in the medical department of the University of St. Louis in 1906. He has been very successful in his practice in Marion county, having a large business at present and he is often called to other localities on serious and important cases where his superior medical advice is sought by local practitioners whose skill has been baffled, and his counsels are always followed by gratifying results.
The domestic life of our subject dates from April 25, 1891, when he was united in marriage with Carrie E. Bennett, who was born and reared in Salem, the accom- plished and refined daughter of J. J. Ben- nett, an early pioneer of Marion county and was the first president of the Salem Na- tional Bank, which position he held until within a few years of his death. Mary Oglesby was the maiden name of the sub- ject's mother, who was the first girl baby born in Salem. Her great-grandfather, Mark Tully, entered land on which the city of Salem is built. He gave the site where
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the court house stands. This family was through careful preparation during long one of the best known in the early history of the county.
Our subject and wife have two children, a bright boy and a winsome girl, the former, Don Paul, having been born January 28, 1892, and the latter, Nellie, was born May 22, 1895.
Doctor Jones has been thrifty and has accumulated a fair competence as a result of his well directed energies. He owns a valuable and highly improved farm in Fos- ter township, and has numerous real estate holdings in Marion county. He is a member of the county, state and national medical associations, and he belongs to the Masonic Fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen, the Sons of Vet- erans and the Yeomen.
The home of Dr. and Mrs. Jones is modern, cozy, nicely furnished and is pre- sided over with rare grace and dignity by the latter who is often hostess to warm friends who hold her in high esteem. This worthy couple is regarded by all classes as meriting the confidence and regard which are unqualifiedly proffered to them.
O. A. JAMES.
The subject of this sketch is not the example of a man whom the. inscrutable caprice of fortune or fate has suddenly placed in a conspicuous position in the busi- ness world but he has attained to the same
years of toil and endeavor, for he realized early in his career that success comes to the deserving, and that to be deserving, one must be industrious and persistent, so he forged ahead, surmounting obstacles that would have daunted and diverted the course of less courageous spirits.
O. A. James, the popular and efficient assistant cashier of the Salem State Bank, who has, while yet a young man, left the indelible imprint of his personality upon the people with whom he has come in con- tact, was born in Salem, Illinois, in 1879.
He is the son of Joshua L. James, a native of Middle Tennessee and the representative of a fine old Southern family. He came to Il- linois in 1853, settling in Williamson county, where he lived for twenty-five years, having been reasonably prosperous during that time and becoming known as a hard worker and a man of the best habits. He then came to Marion county, settling near Alma, where he also remained a quarter of a century, de- veloping a good farm and making a com- fortable living by reason of his habits of industry and economy. Desiring to spend the remaining years of his life in the city and enjoy a respite from his arduous agri- cultural pursuits, Mr. James moved to Salem in 1902 and he has since made his home here.
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