USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 18
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 18
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 18
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Mr. Horrom was married in 1845, to Mary J. Briar, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of James and Mary (Davis) Briar. Joseph Briar, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, is a brother of hers. Mr. and Mrs. Horrom have seven children living, viz: John H., Matilda J., Mary E., William H., Martha Ellen, Preston W., and Cora Alice. Charles, Addie, Mil- lard and George A. are deceased.
HILANDER AVERY, one of the large land owners of Schuyler county, resides on section 26, Camden township. He first came to the county in 1832, being a native of Franklin county, Ohio, born June 13, 1823. His parents, David and Margaret (Adams) Avcry, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The grandfather of the subject was born in Ireland, but camc. to the United States wlien a boy and for somne time was a sailor. He then farmed and fol-
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lowed the carpenter trade. Some time after his children were settled he emigrated to Illinois, settled in Schuyler county, where he died at the age of eighty-five. His wife also died in Schuyler county. They had ten chil- dren: Stephen, Chancey, Pelatin, Nancy, Maria, Daniel, William, Polly, Betsy and Sarah. The father of the subject was born in New York State, July 1, 1797, and when a boy removed with the family to Ohio, where he worked at the trade of carpenter. He was married in 1821, in Ohio, to Mar- garet Adams, who was born in Franklin county, Ohio. In 1832 he came to Colwell, Illinois, and resided for eight years in Rush- ville, then settled in Woodford county, where he entered some land. He next spent three years in Missouri and on his return went to Camden township, where he owned eighty acres. He died in 1851, aged fifty-five years. His wife died two months later, aged fifty-four. They liad nine children, Matilda, deceased; Rebecca, deceased; Nancy, de- ceased; Sarah Carter, deceased; Elizabeth J., deceased; Charles resides at Industry, Illi- nois, aud Zavin, deceased.
Philander is the second of the family. He came with the family to Illinois and has re- mained a farmer ever since. After his mar- riage he removed to Knoxville, where he re- sided until 1851 and then returned to Schuy- ler county and purchased eighty acres of land in Camden township and has since been a resident of the place. He now owns 700 acres of land and deals largely in live stock. He has always been a good, hard-working man, and is known well and favorably all over the county. He is a Democrat in politics and has always been an ontspoken man. He is uneducated in schools, but has been edu- cated in the great school of experience.
He was married in 1842 to Mrs. Meeks,
nee Bryant. She was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, and married there, coming to Illinois with her husband, Mr. Meeks. She had three children by him: Miria, Columbus and Helen. She bore her second husband two children: Mary Ann, who was drowned in a stream near home when fifteen, and James, who resides in Camden township. Mrs. Avery died, November 16, 1891.
Mr. Avery is a member of Camden Lodge, No. 648, A. F. & A. M. He is worth a good deal of property, which he has unade himself.
James Avery was born in Knox county, Illinois, July 30, 1844. He has always lived with his father, although he owns 120 acres of land himself. He is a Democrat and has been Highway Commissioner and member of the School Board. He is a member of Cam- den Lodge, No. 648, A. F. & A. M. He has worked as a carpenter.
He was married in 1868, to Martha Dixon, daughter of Lawone and Hannah Dixon. Sho was born in Brown county, in 1848. They have one son, La Fayette, born July 3, 1870.
E ENRY M. SCHMOLDT, Beardstown, Illinois .- It is the constitutional privi- lege of every American to aspire to the highest honors within the gift of the people; and when such aspiration is supplemented by progressive and well balanced mentality, backed with integrity, tact and energy, it fol- lows as a law of natural selection that such a man is a leader among his fellow men. It matters not whether his father be a prince of fortune, or au humble mechanic; the law of selection, made natural by the inspired prin- ciples of our constitution, remains the same; for under the beneficent and noble doctrine of a true republican government, mon-
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archial succession is relegated to the repel- lent past, and all inen are born equal-equal in the right of law and privilege, the only aristocrat being the man possessing a wealth of brains. Such a man may have an academic sheepskin learnedly inscribed as an early voucher to his mentality and title to distinc- tion. When such is happily the case the man simply rises the more rapidly, simply obtains an earlier hold upon the confidence and re- spect of his fellow men. The history such a inan makes becomes his own property, so to speak, and not alone an embellishment of the future. His progress has outstripped time, and he lives to read, in accredited form and in the suffrage of approval of his fellow inen, the story of his life. How eminently fitting to a good life is such au honor, and how few men enjoy it! It is one of those few, a mnan who, though still in the morning of his life, lias made a record worthy the pages of liis- tory that this sketch is written.
Henry M. Schmoldt was born in Cass county, Illinois, September 19, 1858. He is the eldest son of Robert G. and Johanna (Blohn) Schmoldt, both natives of Hanover, Germany. Robert G. Schmoldt was the eighth son of Herman Schmoldt, a wealthy land owner in Hanover. The father of Henry M. Schmolt spent a portion of his early life upon the ocean. In 1852 he was married, by the American consul at Hamburg, to Miss Johanna Blohn, of Hanover, after which he emigrated to the United States, locating in New York city. In July of the following year he removed to Beardstown, where with his good wife lie enjoys the fruits of a well- earned competence and good naine.
In 1890, at the retirement of his father from business, Henry M. Schmoldt, in com- pany with his brothers, Adolph E. and Rob- ert W., assumed full control of the exten-
sive business built up by their father, a busi- ness which with the advent of younger blood at the helm has made additional strides in the favor of the public. The boyhood of Henry M. Schmoldt was full of active usefulness and hard work. At the usual age he entered the public school at Beardstown, and to this, the education there obtained, was added a commercial course of study in a business col- lege in St. Louis, Missouri, after which he took a course at Asbury (now Depauw) Uni- versity, Greeucastle, Indiana.
In 1876, he returned to Beardstown and associated himself with his father in the manufacture of cooperage supplies, and has continued in the business ever since, the firm now being Schmoldt Bros. & Company. This firm also deals extensively in lumber and house-furnishing supplies.
Mr. Schmoldt, of whom this sketch is written, is one of the younger war horses in the Republican party, and has widened his strength and wisdom in office by having been repeatedly elected to the office of Mayor of Beardstown, besides having served as Alder- man for several years. He is a hard worker, scrupulous and exact in his dealings with men, and a staunch advocate of the principles of the great party, in whom and through whom he sees the great truths which his party believes have made America what it is. He is, however, more of a statesman tlian a politician; for politicians are not generally given to great scruples in matters of con- science in politics, and Mr. Schinoldt is; but it is the honest, straightforward man that wins a lasting meed of victory in politics as well as in social and business life; and such is the record of Mr. Schmoldt. In the local coun- sels of the Republican party he is an able and welcome adviser.
On May 12, 1880, Mr. Schmoldt was mar-
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ried to Miss Lena Earhardt, of Beardstown, daughter of the late Dr. Fred Earhardt, an old and leading physician of Cass county. They have one child, a daughter, whom they have named Jennie.
Socially, Mr. Schmoldt is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Odd Fellows. Personally he is kind, courteous and affable.
H. OWEN SEELEY is on of the old- est settlers of Schuyler county and re- sides in Rushville. He was born at Thetford, Orange county, Vermont, Decem- ber 15, 1811. His father, Luke Seeley, was born in the saine town October 15, 1792. The grandfather, Sheldon Seeley, was a na- tive of New England and it is supposed was born in Vermont, at least he was one of the pioneers of Thetford where he followed agri- cultural pursuits. At a very early day he went to Ohio, prospecting, but was taken sick while there and died near Sandusky. His wife was Deborah Bowker, a native of New England, who died at Thetford at the age of about ninety years.
Luke Seeley was reared and married in his native State. Upon reaching manhood he en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, which he con- tinued in Vermont until 1818, when he re- moved to Franklin county, New York, and there lived on a farm for about one year. He then inoved to Malone, New York, and en- gaged in merchandising, conducting at the same time a cabinet shop and employing a foreman to carry it on. In 1828 he came to Illinois to look at his piece of land in the mil- itary tract, but then went back to New York in September, 1830, and returned to Illinois with his family. He started on the 12th of
September, and journeyed with a two-horse team to Buffalo, thence by lake to Cleveland, thence by team to Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until the 27th of October, and then with a company of fourteen families made the overerland journey by team to Schuyler county, and after forty days on the road ar- rived at Rushville. He located on land just north of Rushville, but one year later mnoved to the village and started the first nursery in Schuyler county, which he conducted success- fully until his death October 15, 1856. His wife, and the mother of our subject, was for- merly Miss Electa Owen, a native of Milton, Vermont, and the daughter of Elijah Owen. She died in Rushville, May 10, 1834. Both parents were substantial citizens, good neigh- bors, and enjoyed the high esteem of all who knew them.
Onr subject, E. H. Owen Seeley, was edu- cated at Malone Academy. One of the friends of the family, Dr. Waterhonse, had lost his only son and he expressed his desire to have our subject go to Burlington, Ver- mont, and study medicine, and to this tlie father assented. It was considered necessary . that he should have a Latin education and ac- cordingly he secured a Latin grammar, Cic- ero's Orations, Ainsworth's Latin and Eng- lish Dictionary, the Iliad of Homer and the Bucolics of Virgil in two volumes; but at this juncture, on the eve of his departure, and after his father had procured him a suit of sheep's-gray clothing, his mother objected to his going, and instead thereof he entered a shop to learn the cabinet trade, but he still had his books that he had purchased, and in 1830, when he came West, lie traded his books for a rifle, as it was evident that lie would have much more use for that instrument of death in the wilds of Illinois than for his classic, Latin works. Soon after his arrival
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here, he bought the lot on the corner east of the court house, and in 1831 began under- taking. The first person he buried was the fourth body consigned to the cemetery at this place. When the cholera swept the town in 1834, taking off thirty persons or more, him - self and one other person conducted all the bur- ials. For many years he was the only fur- niture dealer and undertaker in the city. He continued an active business until 1878, but since then has been mainly retired.
On the 26th of September, 1839, lie mar- ried Catherine A. Haskell, a native of Troy, New York, whose father was Joseph Haskell of New Hampshire. Joseph Haskell was left an orphan at an early age, and upon ar- riving at adult years, went to York State, where he followed blacksmithing. In 1831, accompanied by his wife and family, he came by team to Wheeling, West Virginia, and · then by the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Beardstown. He did not settle on the l and he had previously bought in Schuyler county, but established himself in Rushville, then a little hamlet. He bought the land now occupied by the courthouse and erected thereon a fraine dwelling, in which the mother of Mrs. Seeley taught the first school in the village. Mr. Haskell followed the trade of a inason and resided here until his death, October 2, 1864. The maiden name of his wife was Clarissa Pier. She was born in Poultney, Vermont, March 5, 1792, and died August 10, 1879 in Rushville.
Mr. Seeley has always been a Democrat, and in 1847 and 1848 was Assessor and Treasurer of this county. He visited every house in thic county and made his returns in ninety days. From 1857 to 1861 he served as Postmaster. To himselfand wife were born six children: Charles, Albert, Frank, Dora William L. and Ella. Dora died at the age
of five years. Mrs. Seeley joined theMethodist Church at the age of ten years and has been a consistent member ever since. She has in her possession the manuscript of a history of Rushville written by her mother several years ago.
AMES A. TEEL, a pioneer of Schuyler county, and one the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of the State of Illinois, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1830. His father, Henry P. Teel, was born in New Jersey; and it is thought that the grandfather, John Teel, also was a native of New Jersey. The great-grandfather, Captain John Teel, com- inanded a company in the war of the Revo- lution; he spent his last years in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and was buried with military honors; liis widow came to Illinois and spent her last days here. John Teel served five years in the regular army, and participated in the struggle of 1812; he emigrated from Pennsylvania and spent the last years of his life in Guernsey county; he married Huldah Haines, a native of the Key- stone State; she also died in Guernsey county. Henry P. Teel was a millwright by trade, and followed this vocation in Pennsylvania until 1833, wlien he came to Illinois, accompanied by his wife and two children; the trip was made via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Erie, and thence by team to Rush- ville; here he lived two years, and then re- moved to the Territory of lowa, locating at Fort Madison, where he lived one year; he then came back to Schuyler county, and re- sumed work at his trade. He saved his money, and in 1845 lie purchased a tract of school land on section 16, Rushville town- ship; in connection with his trade he super-
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intended the cultivation of this land, and resided on the farm until his death, which occurred March 21, 1878. He married Mar- tha Ann Mathews, who was born in New Castle, Delaware, November 11, 1811; her father, James Mathews was born on the sea when his parents were emigrating to America; Thomas Mathews, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland, of Scotclı ancestry; after emigrating to America he set- tled in Delaware, but later removed to Penn- sylvania, locating in Washington county; he afterward came to Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his days; he married Margaret Steward, a native of Ireland. James Math- ewe, the maternal grandfather, was a paper- nraker by trade, learning the business at New Castle, Delaware; after his marriage he re- moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and thence to Kansas, where he spent the last days of his life in Cherokee county; he was a thirty-third degree Mason, and his funeral was conducted by that body. Henry P. Teel and wife reared a family of seven children: James A. the subject of this notice, Huldah A., John T., William, Alice, Henry and Cass. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church; Mr. Teel affiliates with the Democratic party.
James A. Teel was four years of age when his parents came to Schuyler county to reside; settlers were few, and wild game abounded. At Fort Madison also the Indians were nu- inerous, Black Hawk and Keokuk being prominent chiefs, well remembered by Mr. Teel. He attended the pioneer schools of Schuyler county, which were tanght in log school houses, furnished in primitive style; the seats were made of slabs with wooden pins for legs, and the desks for the older scholars were constructed after the same pat- tern; the pens were made by the teacher
from goose-quills. Cooking was done by a fire-place, and the children were clothed in home-spun of the mother's own weaving. James A. resided with his parents until he was nineteen, and then, in 1849, lie emigrated to California, joining the great throng that pressed to the gold fields of that State; he was one of a company of sixty who made the journey overland with ox teams, walking the entire distance. He arrived at Biddle's Bar out of funds; he soon found employment in the mines, and worked two days and a half at $9 per day : he then began mining on his own account, and remained there until 1851, when he returned to his home via the Nicaragua route and New York. In 1853 he made another trip across the plains, spent a few inonths in the golden State, and returned by way of the Isthmus. He engaged in farm- ing in Rushville township, and soon turned his attention to the breeding of fine cattle. In 1856 lie located on a farm which he still owns on section 2, Rushville township; this tract consists of 570 acres, and is improved with good substantial buildings; Mr. Teel lived there until March, 1891, when lie re- moved to the farm where he now resides, one mile north of the courthouse; he owns nearly 1,200 acres of land, all in Rushville and Buena Vista townships.
He was married July 29, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Smith, a native of Rushville town- ship, born December 24, 1834, a daughter of Jonathan and Nancy (Skiles) Smith (see sketch of William Wood). Mr. and Mrs. Teel have four children living: Herschiel V., Neosho May, Marshall E. and Walter H .: the oldest child, Everett L., was born July 14, 1866; he was graduated from the law department of the State University, Madison, Wisconsin, in the class of 1890, and his death occurred in October, of the same year.
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In early days Mr. Teel belonged to the Whig party, but for many years past has affiliated with the Democratic party. He has served as collector of Rushville township, and has been a member of the county Board of Supervisors. He is a stock-holder in the Schuyler County Agricultural Society, and has made an exhibit at the second fair held in the county, receiving two silver spoons as premiunis; his herd of short-horns has been seen at many county fairs in Illinois since that time, and has been awarded sweep-stakes and other prizes on different occasions. Mr. Teel is a stock-holder in the Schuyler Hotel Company, and also in the Bank of Schuyler County. He is a inan of superior business qualifications, and his judgment in all mat- ters pertaining to agriculture is highly es teemed throughout the county and State.
OHN K. CLARK, a well-to-do and promi- nent farmer, living on sections 31 and 32, Township 18, Range 11, Cass county, Illinois, where he owns a fine farm, well iin- proved and well supplied with farm buildings, of abont 400 acres, lying in the Sangamon valley, near Bluff Springs, was born in this county, in what is now Monroe precinct, in 1828. He is the oldest man in Cass county that was born here. The family later camne to what is now Bluff Springs precinct in 1846, and here the parents afterward lived. Prior to coming to Bluff Springs they had lived for a time in Morgan county, Illinois, and also in Schuyler county, later in Henry county, Iowa, and there the father, Thomas, struck the first stake of what is now Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Some time after this his attention was called to a beautiful spring located about three miles east of Mount
Pleasant, and during his four years' sojourn in Henry county, lowa, when it was all new ground, unbroken, he remained there. Later he sold and returned to Illinois, and in 1840 located in Cass county, where he became a prominent citizeu and spent his remaining days there, dying in the vicinity of Bluff Springs, in 1852. He was sixty-seven years of age at his death. He was a good, well- known citizen of this connty. He was born in Kentucky, and was the son of Thomas Clark, Sr., who was born in London, England, and caine to America when a young inan, set- tling in Kentucky, in Barren county, and there lived for some years as a prominent pioneer. He was married, and while yet in middle life was attacked by the Indians and murdered, and his honse burned down. The mother died a natural death in Kentucky when quite an old woman. Thomas Clark, Jr., had followed his brother, William M., to Illinois, the latter coming here in the early '20s and settling in Morgan county. He is now dead. Thomas Clark was married in Ken- tucky to a lady of that State, Julia Ann King, of Scotch-Irish stock. She labored with her husband in building a home in those early days in Illinois. She died some fourteen years after her husband, and was abont seventy- six years old. She was a Methodist.
John is the eldest son of four yet living children. His sister, Mrs. Mary Loosley, is the eldest, being a widow and now lives with him. Another brother, Owen W., was a teacher for many years in the public schools and taught peninanship in twenty-sevell States, and also in the Dominion of Canada. He is single, as is onr subject. Another sis- ter is Martha, wife of Judge D. N. Walker, of Virginia. Two brothers and three sisters, now dead. Rev. William Clark, the older, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
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Conference, and preached the gospel for forty years. Thomas was a well-to-do farmer and owned a fine farm near Bluff Springs, where his widow, two sons and a daughter, still re- side. Cynthia, the oldest daughter, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and lived a consistent Christian life, and died at the age of seventy-two. Rebecca and Jane were also members of the Methodist Church. They died younger.
John Clark is one of the prominent men of the county and takes an active part in local inatters. He is a Democrat, a live, good fel- low who enjoys life as it comes. He started Bluff Springs, built the first house and store, old the first merchandisc, and was Post- master of the place. This was about 1872. His brother Owen was also Postmaster for some time, and both brothers were teachers.
HOMAS W. SCOTT, M. D., Rushville, Illinois, is a son of Thomas W. and Catherine (Fitzgerald) Scott, whose his- tory is fully given in another biographical sketch in this work. He was born in Scott county, Kentucky, April 18, 1848, and was but a child when his parents came to Illinois. Here he grew to manliood; he attended the commnon schools, and also enjoyed the oppor- tunities afforded in the academy at Mon- mouth, Illinois. He assisted his father in the farm work, and thus gained an intelligent comprehension of agriculture as a science.
In 1881 he began the study of medicine at Mount Vernon, Missouri, under the pre- ceptorship of Dr. G. L. Knapp; he subse- quently attended lectures at the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, and was graduated with the degree of M. D. in March, 1884. He immediately located at Mt. Vernon, Mis-
souri, and the following year removed to Rushville. He is a close student of his pro- fession and the science of medicine, and is fully abreast of the times upon all subjects pertaining thereto. The July (1892) session of the Board of County Supervisors appointed him County Physician.
In addition to his professional duties the Doctor finds time for horticultural pursuits, and is very successful; he also raises poultry, breeding the best grades. He owns a farm east of Rushville, which is cultivated uuder his supervision.
Politically he is identified with the Demo- cratic party, although he gives little atten- tion to politics beyond exercising his right of suffrage. He is an honored member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of great energy and enterprise, and in all the walks of life has earned the success and meritcd the prosperity that has attended him.
UKE W. CLARK, M. D., has been a close student of his profession for many years, and long ago won an enviable reputation as a skillful practitioner. He was born in Pike county, Ohio, September 6, 1841. His father, Ebenezer Clark, was a native of the State of New York, and was there reared and married, his wife's ınaiden naine being Julia A. Wilcox, also of the Ein- pire State. His early life was spent amid rural scenes, in closest touch with Nature, who is always a wise and gentle teacher. He attended the common schools, and in his youth began the study of botany and medi- cine; there was not a tree or plant in the State of Illinois with which he was not as familiar as with the members of his own household. Hc emigrated to Ohio, and there
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