USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 9
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 9
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 9
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James F. Howell was born in Marion county, this state, March 25, 1840, and he has elected to spend his entire life on his na- tive heath, believing that better opportuni- ties were to be found at home than in other and distant fields of endeavor. He is the son of Jackson D. and Agnes (Gray) How- ell. Grandfather Howell came to Illinois from Tennessee in 1825, settling in this county, having taken up land from the gov- ernment, eighty acres at the time of his con-
ing. He afterward bought one hundred and twenty acres more from the government, a part of which was timbered and a part was on the prairie. He cleared the timber land, this being the part he first purchased, clear- ing and farming the timbered land first. There were not any settlements on the prai- rie at that time, all the settlements there were then being in the timbered lands. The first Monday in May each year was wolf day. All the settlers gathered on that day and made a general drive, often taking large numbers of prairie wolves. There were also large numbers of deer at that time and our subject has helped kill as many as forty or fifty at one time. Grandfather Howell lived on the land he secured from the government during the rest of his life, being known as one of the strongest characters of those pioneer times. He reached the age of eighty-five years, his wife having been called to rest at the age of fifty. There were ten children in this family, all of whom lived to maturity and reared families of their own. The subject's grandfather was the fifth in order of birth. Two of these children lived to be over eighty years of age. The others lived to be about seventy.
The subject's father obtained what little education he could in the district schools of this county ; however, there was but little op- portunity for schooling at that time. He worked on his father's farm until after he reached maturity, then he pre-empted land, and lived on it, finally owning three hundred and sixty acres, mostly prairie land, on which he carried on general farming. He made his home on this land during the rest
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of his life, owning it at the time of his death. He died while on the road home from Cali- reward February 3, 1907, at the age of fornia. His remains were brought to Kin- sixty-six years, after a harmonious and beautiful Christian life. mundy and laid to rest. He was a man of fine personal traits and exercised much in- fluence in the upbuilding of his community. There were ten children in this family, six of whom lived to maturity. Mr. Howell's first wife was called to her rest at the age of forty-one, and he was again married. To this union two children were born, one liv- ing, in 1908. The mother of the subject was born in Tennessee and was brought to Illi- nois by her parents when about six years old.
James F. Howell, our subject, was born about one and one-half miles from where he now lives. The home he owns and oc- cupies is the fourth one in which he has lived since leaving his father's old home- stead. Our subject now owns twenty-six acres of the original purchase by his father from the government. He has always de- voted his time to agricultural pursuits, own- ing at this writing one hundred and six acres of as good farming land as may be found in the county, being kept in a high state of productiveness, general farming be- ing carried on in a manner that stamps the subject as one of the foremost farmers in this locality.
Mr. Howell was married in 1858 to Isabel J. Robb, who was born in the township where she has always lived, being a repre- sentative of a well known and highly re- spected people. Her people came from Ten- nessee, being among the earliest settlers in
this county. Mrs. Howell was called to her
The children born to this union are named in order of birth as follows: Arminda H., born June 18, 1859, is the wife of H. A. Brown, and the mother of eight children: Reufinia E., born February 24, 1861, is the wife of Benjamin Garrett and the mother of five children ; Leander, born April 24, 1863, who became the father of four children, is deceased; Ida M. and Nettie, twins, were born September 23, 1866, the latter dying when four years old, the former becoming the wife of G. C. Warner; Charles H., born January 24. 1869, is married and has three children : Samuel E., born January 12, 1871, is married and has one child; Ellis M., born January 12, 1875, is married; Eva M., born November 14, 1877, became the wife of Lloyd Perrill and is the mother of two chil- dren : James E., born August 5, 1880, is married and has one child. He now lives in Roumania, in the employ of the Standard Oil Company.
The subject has been twice married, hav- ing been united in the bonds of wedlock with his second wife February 20, 1908, his last wife being Martha Anglin, a native of this county, her people having come from Ten- nessee in 1839. The maternal grandfather of the subject's wife came from Ireland and her father's people from Scotland, first set- tling in Alabama, later moving to Tennessee and then to Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
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Minerva Howell, an aunt of the subject by marriage, was born in Tennessee in 1829. Her people were from old Virginia, who lat- er came to Illinois when she was one year old, her father settling in Marion county, later moving to Williamson county, Illinois, where he died when about seventy years old. Mrs. Howell remarried. She became the mother of eleven children, four of whom lived to maturity, two of them living in 1908. Her husband died at the age of seventy-six. He was also born in Tennes- see.
James F. Howell is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in his political relations he affiliates with the Democratic party. The subject's first wife was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
In matters pertaining to the welfare of his township, county and state, Mr. Howell is deeply interested, and his efforts in behalf of the general progress have been far-reaching and beneficial. His name is indelibly asso- ciated with progress in the county of his birth, and among those in whose midst he has always lived he is held in the highest esteem by reason of an upright life and of fidelity to principles which in every land and clime command respect.
BENJAMIN M. SMITH.
In studying the interesting life histories of many of the better class of men, and the
ones of unquestioned merit and honor, it will be found that they have been compelled, very largely, to map out their own career and furnish their own motive force in scal- ing the heights of success, and it is such a one that the biographer is pleased to write in the paragraphs that follow.
Benjamin M. Smith, the well known cashier of the Salem State Bank, was born in Central City, Illinois, December 11, 1877, the son of Samuel J. Smith, a native of St. Clair county, Illinois, and a gentleman of many sterling traits who became a man of considerable influence in his community, some of whose commendable characteristics are inherited by his son, our subject. Samuel J. Smith came to Marion county when a young man and was engaged in the milling business of which he made pronounced suc- cess, having been in the county several years when the Civil war began, and he continued in this business during the progress of the Rebellion. He took much interest in public affairs. He was County Treasurer and County Clerk for twenty years and Deputy County Treasurer for four years. During his long official record he conducted the af- fairs that were entrusted to him in a manner that reflected great credit upon his ability and in a way that elicited much favorable comment but no criticism from his con- temporaries and constituents. He was called to his rest April 5, 1906, after an emi- nently successful and useful life.
The subject's grandfather, Benjamin J. Smith, who was a native of the old Pine Tree state (Maine), is remembered as a man of unusual fortitude and courage, hav-
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ing been a composite of the usual elements that go into the makeup of pioneers. He came west in early life and was one of the first settlers of St. Clair county, Illinois, of which county he was at one time Sheriff, one of the best, in fact, that the county ever had. He was an active business man all his life, having been in the commission busi- ness in Chicago for a number of years, where he became well known in the business circles of the city in those days. He was born in 1801, and after a remarkably active career, reaching a venerable age, passed to the silent land when in his ninetieth year.
The mother of the subject was in her maidenhood Mary E. Martin, who was born in Ohio on a farm near Wellsville. She is in many respects a remarkable character, benign, affable and her influence has always been wholesome and uplifting, so that even in the golden evening of her life she is a blessing to those with whom she comes in contact. She is the mother of three chil- dren, namely: Irene, who died in infancy ; Irma, a woman of fine traits; and Benja- min M., our subject.
Thus after a resume of the subject's worthy ancestors we are not surprised that he has achieved unusual distinction in his community, and to him the future evidently has much of good in store.
Benjamin M. Smith attended school in Salem, graduating from the high school where he had made a splendid record for scholarship and deportment. Feeling that he was destined for a business career, and following in the footsteps of his father and
grandfather, he early began preparations to enter the industrial field, and in order to prepare himself more thoroughly took a course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at St. Louis, Missouri, standing in the front rank of his class when he gradu- ated in 1900. Mr. Smith has been actively engaged in business since he was sixteen years old and he showed at that early age that he was destined to the highest success. He seems to be best fitted to the manage- ment of banking institutions, although he turns everything into success that he under- takes. He has been cashier of banks for seven years in 1908. He was cashier of the Haymond State Bank, now the First National Bank at Kinmundy, Illinois, for two years, during which time the business of this institution greatly increased. Then he came to Salem and became associated with the Salem State Bank of which he is a stockholder and director and one of the or- ganizers, in fact, one of the moving spirits of the institution. Mr. Smith was also a director in the bank at Kinmundy and is still a stockholder in the same. Both these institutions recognize his unusual industrial ability and peculiar aptitude for managing the affairs of a banking concern and the of- ficials are not reluctant to give him all due credit for the great work he has done in placing these banks on a firm foundation and making them among the solid and well known institutions of their kind in this part of the state.
Fraternally Mr. Smith belongs to the Masonic Order, Knights Templar; also the
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen and the Eagles, and one would judge from his con- sistent daily life that he believes in carrying out the sublime principles and doctrines of these worthy orders. In politics our subject is a loyal Democrat, but he has not found time to take an active part in political af- fairs. However, he believes in placing the best men possible in local offices and his support can always be depended upon in the advancement of any cause looking to the development and betterment of his com- munity and county.
Mr. Smith has preferred single blessed- ness and has never assumed the responsi- bilities of the married state.
Our subject is a very strong character in every respect and although he is yet quite a young man he has shown by his past excel- lent and praiseworthy record that he is a man of unusual industrial ability and the future will doubtless be replete with honors and success for him.
HON. JAMES CAMERON ALLEN.
An enumeration of the representative citizens of Richland county who have won recognition and success for themselves and at the same time have conferred honor up- on the community would be decidedly in- complete were there failure to make men- tion of the popular gentleman whose name initiates this review, who has long held
worthy prestige in legal and political circles, and has always been distinctively a man of affairs, but is now living retired. He wields a wide influence among those with whom his lot has been cast, ever having the af- fairs of his county at heart and doing what he could to aid in its development.
James Cameron Allen was born in Shel- by county, Kentucky, January 29, 1822, the son of Benjamin and Margaret (Youel) Allen, natives of Augusta county, Virginia, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch descent. Grandfather John Allen was born in Ireland on the famous Shannon river, and when about twenty years old he came to America alone and settled in New Jersey. where he married and later moved to Rock- bridge county, Virginia, and engaged in farming, where he lived and died. Grand- father William Youel, was born in Scotland and came to America when young, located in Augusta county, Virginia, on a farm and became an extensive stock raiser for that time. He served in the Revolutionary war, being slightly wounded at the battle of Cowpens. After the British army had been driven away, he picked up a large powder horn, which had been used by an English soldier. It was given to one of his sons, and became a valuable historical relic. Our subject used the same when a boy, while squirrel hunting. Grandfather Youel died in Virginia, at an advanced age, after rear- ing a large family. The father of our sub- ject was a farmer and when young learned the trade of cycle maker. He kept a set of blacksmith tools as long as he lived. Short-
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ly after his marriage he emigrated to Shelby of law, in which he made rapid progress, county, Kentucky, having made the trip on and was licensed to practice two years later, in 1843. He located at Sullivan, Indiana, then the new county-seat, but was a small village in the woods. Here he practiced with much success attending his efforts until 1847. He held the office of Prosecuting At- torney for one term of two years, and was one of the leading young attorneys of that lo- cality. He then located at Palestine, Illinois. where he followed his profession for a period of twenty-nine years, becoming known as one of the ablest attorneys in the county, and having a very extensive clientele. He then located in Olney, in November, 1876, and he has since lived at this place, having built up a very large practice. He retired in 1907. horseback, carrying all his earthly posses- sions on one pack horse. This was in 1803, when the country was covered with primeval woods and overrun by Indians. In 1830 he came to Parke county, Indiana, and located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, having bought part of the land from the man who had entered it and which had on it a small cabin and a few acres which had been cleared. He improved the place and developed a good farm, which he later sold and retired. He died in Parke county, in 1849, his wife having died in 1832. They were people of much sterling worth, typical pioneers. To them were born ten children, of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth, all now deceased except the subject and one sister, Elvina, who is living in West Liberty, Iowa.
The subject was eight years old when the family came to Indiana. He remained at home until he was eighteen years old, help- ing clear the farm and assisting in the work about the place, in the meantime attending the country subscription schools during the winter months. When eighteen years old he went to Rockville, Indiana, and entered the County Seminary, from which he grad- uated three years later, having carefully ap- plied himself and making a splendid rec- ord. Being out of money at that time, he returned home and rented his father's farm for one season, having realized two hundred and eighty dollars as his share. With this he went to Rockville and began the study
While living in Crawford county, Illinois, he was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature in 1850, on the Democratic ticket and served with great credit. Such a splendid record did he make that he was nominated and triumphantly elected two years later to Congress from his district, at that time, the Fifth district, and was re- elected in 1854, serving two terms, making his influence felt in that body where his counsel was always respectfully listened to, and often followed with gratifying results. During his first term the Kansas and Ne- braska fight was up. During the second term the defeat for slavery for Kansas was accomplished. His voice was heard in the debates of those strenuous times.
In 1856 Mr. Allen was not a candidate for re-election, but he became Clerk of the House during that session of Congress. In
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March, 1860, he came home and in that year five years, is deceased; Frances is the wife was the Democratic candidate for Governor of John T. Ratcliff, of Olney; Caroline is living at home keeping house for her father ; James H. resides in Robinson, Illinois; Frederick W. is deceased; William Y. is living at home; Margaret is also a member of the home circle. The second wife of our subject, a woman of many beautiful at- tributes, passed away in 1901. Mr. Allen has long been a pillar in the Presbyterian church, having been the ruling elder 'in the same since 1850. of Illinois, against Yates. He made a splendid race and the election showed that he was a popular man throughout the state, notwithstanding his defeat. In April, 1861, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, and in the fall of 1863 resigned as Judge to accept the place of Congressman-at-large, to which he had been elected in 1862. He was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by Samuel Moulton. During his terms in Congress he witnessed stirring times for it was while the Civil war was in progress.
Returning home Mr. Allen practiced law until 1873, when he was re-elected Judge of the Circuit Court, and after the passage of the law establishing appellate courts, he was appointed by the Supreme Court as Ap- pellate Judge, occupying both positions un- til 1879. He then engaged in practice until his retirement in 1907, having liked the practice better than being on the bench. He has been United States Commissioner since 1896, for Southern and Eastern Illinois.
The happy and harmonious domestic life of our subject began January 22, 1845, when he was married to Ellen Kitchell, a native of Palestine, Illinois, the representa- tive of an influential family of that place. To this union three children were born, who died in infancy. The subject's first wife was called to her rest in 1853 and in 1857 he married Julia Kitchell, cousin of his first wife, by whom seven children were born, namely : Harry, who was court reporter for
Thus standing out distinctly as one of the central figures of the judiciary of the great commonwealth of Illinois is the name of Hon. James Cameron Allen. Long prominent in legal circles and equally prom- inent in public matters beyond the confines of his own jurisdiction, with a reputation in one of the most exacting professions that has won him a name for distinguished ser- vices second to none of his contemporaries, there is today no more prominent or honored figure in the southern part of the state which he has long dignified with his citizenship. Achieving success in the courts at an age when most young men are just entering up- on the 'formative period of their lives, wear- ing the judicial ermine with becoming dig- nity and bringing to every case submitted to him a clearness of perception and ready power of analysis characteristic of the learned jurist, his name and work for half a century have been allied with legal insti- tutions, public enterprises and political in- terests of the state in such a way as to earn him recognition as one 'of the distinguished
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citizens in a community noted for the high order of its, legal talent. A high purpose and an unconquerable will, vigorous men- tal powers, diligent study and devotion to duty are some of the means by which he has made himself eminently useful. He is honored and esteemed by all who know him for his life of honor and usefulness, his in- tegrity, kindness and genial manners and the good he has accomplished for his state cannot be adequately expressed.
JOHN C. MARTIN.
The subject of this sketch is a native son of Marion county, Illinois, and a represen- tative of one of its sterling and honored families. He is known as a young man of fine intellectuality and marked business acumen. He is cashier of the Salem Na- tional Bank, one of the most substantial in- stitutions of its kind in this part of the state.
John C. Martin was born in Salem April 29, 1880, the son of B. E. Martin, Sr., a sketch of whom appears upon another page of this volume.
Our subject attended the schools of Salem in his early youth where he applied himself in a most assiduous manner, having made excellent records for scholarship and general deportment, and as a result of his well ap- plied time to his text-books he received a good education which has subsequently been broadened and deepened by contact with the world and systematic home study. After
finishing the prescribed course in the home schools he spent two years at Jacksonville, Illinois, one year at the Jacksonville College, and one at Brown's Business College, hav- ing stood high in his classes in each.
At the early age of twenty-eight years, a period when most men are just launching into a career or tentatively investigating the world that lies before them in order to test their potential powers, Mr. Martin had al- ready shown that he is a man of marked ex- ecutive and business ability. He assumed the responsible and exacting position of cashier of the Salem National Bank in April 1907, whose duties he is faithfully perform- ing to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned. He is a stockholder in this institu- tion, which is popular with all classes of business men in Salem and throughout Mar- ion county, where it has long maintained a firm reputation for soundness owing to its careful management and the unquestioned integrity and scrupulously honest characters of the gentlemen who have it under control.
Fraternally Mr. Martin is a loyal mem- ber of the Masonic Order, the Woodmen and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. The daily life of the subject would indicate that he believes in carrying out the noble precepts of these praiseworthy orders.
HON. HARVEY D. MCCOLLUM.
Clay county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divi- sions of the southern part of Illinois, justly
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claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to con- serve consecutive development and marked advancement in the material upbuilding of this section. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs in official capacity, and in this connection the subject of this re- view demands representation, as he is serv- ing the locality faithfully and well in a po- sition of distinct trust and responsibility, be- ing the Representative in the State Legisla- ture, having been elected to the Lower House in the fall of 1908, among the youngest members of that body; but while the young- est, he is far from the least important. On the contrary he is an active, vigilant and potent factor in that honored body. He has achieved a brilliant record at the bar, while yet a young man, and to such as he the future augurs much in the way of success and honor.
Harvey D. McCollum was born in Louis- ville, Clay county, Illinois, March 13, 1879, and he early decided to try his fortune with his own people, rather than seek uncertain fortune in other fields, as so many of his early companions have done. He is the son of James C. McCollum, also a native of Clay county, now residing in Louisville, retired, being one of the founders of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Louisville, and who is now one of its directors. James C. McCol- lum, grandfather of the subject, was a na- tive of Kentucky, and the subject's great- grandfather, Alexander McCollum, was one of the six men killed at the battle of New
Orleans in the War of 1812, this battle hav- ing been fought in 1815, and his name is mentioned in President Roosevelt's history of naval battles. Members of the McCollum family were among the early settlers of Clay county and they have been prominently iden- tified with its history ever since the pioneer days, having always taken a leading part in the development of the community in every way. Robert McCollum, uncle of the sub- ject of this sketch, has lived in this county for a period of seventy-five years, is one of the oldest living pioneers of the county.
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