USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 38
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 38
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 38
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Politically, Mr. Leeper is a Democrat. He cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden. In 1876, he was elected State's Attorney for Cass county, and filled that position until 1880. He has served as City Attorney three years, and was School Director three years. In 1885 lie was the nominee of his party for member of the House of Representatives. This was the time of the memorable contest whichi finally resulted in the election of John A. Logan to the United States Senate. The Republicans made a still hunt in this cam- paign, and Mr. Leeper was defeated. He
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was re-nominated, however, in 1888, for State Senator, and was elected, serving through two sessions. He was one of the 101 who voted continually for John M. Palmer. Among the various committees on which he served, we mention the following: Special Drainage, Insurance and Judiciary, Highways and Bridges, Judicial Department, Corporations, Canals and Rivers, Labor and Manufactures, Rules, State Charities, License and Miscellaneons, and County and Town- ship organizations. He faithfully performed the duties of his responsible position, his efficient work being recognized and highly appreciated by his constituents. He was re-nominated for Senator in April, 1892.
Fraternally, he is a member of Virginia Lodge, No. 554, A. F. & A. M., and Saxon Lodge, No. 68, I. O. G. T.
ILLIAM K. SHUPE, one of the most intelligent and enterprising agricult- urists of Woodstock township, is a native of the State of Virginia and a son of Peter and Sarah (Wright) Slinpe; the date of his birthi is October 9, 1824. The father was also born in Virginia and emigrated to this county in 1843; later he went to Iowa, and died there in his fifty-fourth year; his wife was born in Virginia and died in Iowa; they had born to them a family of fifteen children, six of whom are now living. The family is of German lineage, the first ancestors in this country emigrating previous to the war of the Revolution. Williamn K. remained at home until he was twenty years of age, and then worked at the cooper's trade several years. He was united in marriage October 19, 1846, to Miss Mary A. Hoffinan, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Joseph and Mary
A. (Myers) Hoffman; her parents removed to this county about 1837, and here passed the rest of their lives; they reared a family of eight children, five of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Shupe are the parents of six chil- dren: Samuel L. is married and has one son; Sarah A. is married and the mother of four children; George H. is married and has eight children; Mary F. is married and the mother of four children; Martha M. is married and has five children; William J. married and his wife died leaving two children.
After his marriage Mr. Shupe settled on the farm he now ocenpies; lie has 120 acres, which he has improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. For inany ycars he lived in a little log cabin, but in 1862 erected liis present comfortable dwelling. He carries on a general farming business, manages all branches with inuch wisdom, and reaps the reward of success.
Peter Shupe, father of William K., was in the war of 1812, and several members of the family participated in the late Civil war. Formerly Mr. Shape was identified with the Democratic party, but now casts his suffrage for the man rather than the party. He has been Assessor for a number of years, and has held other positions of trust and responsi- bility. He has given attention to the matter of public education, and has served on the school board. He is now practically retired from active business pursuits, the care and management of the farm being in the hands of the younger son.
The first years our subject spent in this section of country were fraught with trials and hardships, such only as are possible in a new and undeveloped community. The jour- ney from the East was made overland; the funds of the family being exhausted, they stopped and the sons split 1,000 rails
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to secure money to continue the trip whichi consnmed two months. Mr. Shupe is a self- made man in every sense of the word: he has never received financial aid, and his present property has been accumulated entirely through his own efforts. It was throngh the influence of Mormon preachers that the father was induced to come to the West, and two of his sons pushed their way to Salt Lake, and pitched their tents on the present site of Salt Lake City, July 24, 1847; one of them still lives there, and celebrates the twenty- fourth day of July. Mr. Shupe is a man who is fully posted npon current events, is a wide rcader, and thoroughly loyal to the in- terests of his county and State.
AMES D. MATTHEW was born near the present site of Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio, in 1813, November 24. His father, Simon Matthew, was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and his father, Nathan Matthew, was, as far as is known, born in the same State. The great-grandfather of subject, Edward Matthew, was born in Wales and came to America, settling in Virginia in colonial times. He was a miller by trade, and his son was also a miller, and he erected a mill in Virginia during the Revolutionary war. He resided in Virginia until abont 1817, when he went to Washington county, Indiana, and was a resident there until his death. His son was reared in Virginia and went to Ohio when he was twenty-six years of age. He settled in Franklin county and was one of the first settlers there. He as- sisted in cutting the logs to build the peni- tentiary at Columbus. In 1818 he emigrated to Indiana, settling in Washington county,
which was a heavily timbered country at that time. He rented a tract of timber land ten miles west of Salem, and erected a log house in the wilderness. There were no railroads in the State at that time, and the nearest market was fifty miles away. He lived in Indiana until 1832, and during that time cleared quite a tract of his land. In 1832 he sold that and came to Illinois, settling ten miles southeast of Springfield, wliere lie re- sided until his death. The maiden name of his first wife, the mother of our subject, was Ann Dearderff, born near New Castle, of German ancestry. She died in Sangamon county, after the arrival of the family.
James came with his parents to Sangamon county, Illinois, and was nineteen the day he reached there. At that time the capitol of the State was Vandalia, Springfield being but a hamlet, and the nearest market for farın- ers in Sangamon county - was St. Louis or Beardstown. He resided there until 1838, and then came to Cass county. He had visited this section and entcred forty acres of land in 1837, in section 32, township 18, and forty minore acres in section 19 of the same township. In 1838 he built a hewed-log cabin and commenced at once to clear the land. At that tinie deer and other kinds of wild game supplied the table with meat. Wheat sold from thirty to forty cents a bushel, and corn for ten cents a bushel. The wife dressed the children in homespun of her own raising, carding and weaving. He added to his farm until it is now about 365 acres, the greater part improved.'
He was married March 27, 1834, to Dorcas Hamilton, born in Virginia, daughter of Pressley and Snsana Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew have had the following chil- dren: Simon P., Ann, Charles, Jane Ruth, Rodney, Nettie, Henry L. and Lincoln.
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Mr. Matthew was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, as is his wife. He was a Whig and Republican, and was a good and honorable man. He died April 7, 1892, at his home. Thus one of the oldest settlers and a man respected for his sterling integrity has passed away, and the family and large cirele of friends and acquaintances are left mourning. He died a firm believer in tlie Christian religion. His aged wife of fifty- six years, standing, still occupies the old home where they settled in 1838. They celebrated their golden wedding March 27, 1884. They were married in Indiana.
DWIN DYSON is the editor and pro- prietor of the Rushville Times, a weekly paper devoted to the interests of the Democratic party. It is ably edited and well conducted, and reflects great credit upon the management. Mr. Dyson is an American citizen by adoption, his native land being England; lie was born in Lancas- tershire, July 28, 1838, a son of James Dy- son, a native of the same country; there the father was reared and married, his wife's maiden name being Hannah Wilson. He was employed in the cotton-mills until 1841, when accompanied by his wife and four chiil- dren, lic emigrated to America: they sailed from Liverpool and landed at the port of New Orleans after a stormy voyage of nearly three months; they continued their journey to Illinois, and located at Rushville, where Mr. Dyson died a few months later. A few years after her husband's deatlı, Mrs. Dyson married Thomas Hampton, and still lives in Ruslıville. Edwin Dyson was a child of three years when the family arrived in Schuy- ler county, Illinois. Here he was reared and 23
educated, and at the age of sixteen years began to learn the printer's trade. He was first in the office of the Schuyler Democrat, and served there nearly three years; he thien worked in Rushville as a journeyman until 1864, when he went to St. Louis; he was in the office of the Republican of that city for four years. At the end of that time he re- turned to Schuyler county, and purchased thie Rushville Times, which he has since edited. He lias made the Times onc of the leading papers of the military tract, having a circula- tion far above the average of county papers. In connection with the publication of the paper he runs a job printing office which turns out work of a very high class.
Mr. Dyson was married in 1861, to Mary F. Irvin, who was born near Danville, Kcn- tucky, and of this union three children have been born: Jennie L., Orean E. and Howard F. Our subject has been prominently iden- tified with the political movements of the Democratic party in this county aside from his editorship of their organ. He has been County Treasurer two terins, and was a meui- ber of the Board several years, and has served as a delegate to the various county, district and State conventions. He belongs to Rush- ville Lodge, No. 9, A. F. & A. M.
OHN ELLIOTT, a retired farmer, living at the corner of Jackson and Seventh streets in Beardstown, Illinois, was born in county Antrim, Ireland, November, 1820. He came of Scotch ancestry, of a very old family of pure blood, not mixed with Irish by marriage. He is the son of Williamn Elliott of the same place, a farmer and a keeper of a public inn, who lived and died in that county at the age of forty years. His grandfather was
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David Elliott, a farmer of Scotland, wlio dicd when quite old. William Elliott was married to an Antrim lady of Scotch blood, whose name was Mary Thompson. She was the daughter of Robert and Mattie (Richie) Thompson, who were county Antrim farmers, and there Ro- bert Thompson spent his last years, but his wife came with her son at an early day to Virginia, Cass county, Illinois.
John Elliott canie of a large family, grew up in his native county, learned the tailor trade and afterward with his mother and brothers, in 1841, came to America and joined other brothers in Connecticut. In 1845 the mother and son came on to Cass connty. Some worked the farin, and others followed their trade. The mother made her hom with her children until her death, which oc- curred in 1877, aged eighty-fonr. She was a noble-hearted woman and had done much to liclp and enconrage her children. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a great student of Scotch history and literature, a fine reader of the Scotch dialect and a writer of some local repute. She also composed some music, which has been considered very fine. She is remembered as a noble, gener- ous woman.
He lived for some years in Beardstown, working at his trade and with the money he made and saved, with his brother, David, he bonght 160 acres of land near Virginia, later sold it and then purchased the 160 acres that becaine his liome until his retirement. His farm, the scene of his labors, lies near the city of Beardstown. The land is highly improved, and has good buildings, and as he now enjoys tlie comforts of life he can remember that they have been obtained by his own efforts.
He was married the first time in Connecti- cut, to Margaret Frey of Ireland, who canie to the United States in 1841, and after forty-
eiglit years of married life left a bereaved husband, in 1890. The living children are: William W., of San Francisco, California; Thomas F., of Jewell connty, Kansas; George W. of Holliday, Kansas; Robert S. of St. Lonis, Missouri; Lucy A., wife of John Thompson, of Jewell connty, Kansas; and David H., now running his father's farm. Mr. Elliott was married a second time in this county, to Mrs. Ann E. Johnson, formerly, Hiles. She was born in New Jersey, December 12, 1823. She and her first husband came to Maconpin county in 1856, and he died there.
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Elliott is a Re- publican in politics and was a Whig.
ILLIAM McKEE, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Schuyler county, was born in Craw- ford county, Indiana, January 22, 1813, a son of William McKee, who was a native of Ken- tncky. The paternal grandfather, James Mc- Kee, emigrated to Kentucky during the war of the Revolution, and thence removed to In- diana, where he passed the remainder of his days. William McKee, Sr., was reared in the Blue-grass State, and there was married; he removed to Indiana when it was yet a Terri- tory, and was a pioneer of Crawford connty. He purchased land and made it his home until 1826, when, accompanied by his wife and ten children, he removed to Illinois. The journey was made by teams, which was not devoid of interest. Mr. McKee had visited this section the year previous, making the trip on horseback; lie purchased a land war- rant which called for 160 acres; paying there- for $100; on his return to Indiana he stopped at Springfield and cleared liis title at the
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Government office. It was, indeed, a conrage- ons heart that looked at such a future calmly ; the country was thinly settled, the poles of the Indian wigwams still stood in the ground, market towns were far distant and provisions were high. Mr. McKee erected a double log cabin, nsing wooden pegs instead of nails; the door was constructed of puncheons, and was furnished with the historic latch-string.
James Vance built the first horse-mill operated with a rawhide band. This was built when the subject of this sketch came to the county. Calvin Hobart built one in . the fall of 1836, then William McKee, father of our subject, built a horsc-mill in 1828, it being the third in that section of the country. People came to the mill from as far northi as Rock Island.
Mrs. McKee manufactured cloth from the flax and cotton that her husband raised, with which to clothe the family. Mrs. Mc- Kee's maiden name was Cassie Frakes; she was a native of Pennsylvania, and a danghter of Henry and Hannah Frakes; her death occurred at the house of her daughter, which is situated close to the old home farm.
The subject of this sketch was thirteen years and four months old when he came to Illinois; on the journey he drove a four- horse team with a jerk line. Hc has a vivid recollection of many of the experiences which fall only to the lot of the pioneer. He re- mained in this State until 1839, and .then started on a missionary tour among the In- dians in the far West; he crossed the plains to Oregon, and spent one year among the savages; at the end of twelve months he re- turned to Illinois and resumed farming, con- tinuing this occupation until 1847; then he again crossed the plains to Oregon, and dur- ing that year the Indians attacked the mis- sion twenty-five miles from Walla Walla and
murdered Dr. Whitman and others; he · volunteered to assist in subdning the red- skins, and was six months in the service. He was in Oregon nntil 1849, and then went to California; he was suffering from ill-health, and his funds were limited compared with the extremely high price of provisions, flour selling as high as $2.50 a pound. In 1852 he returned to his home and located on the old homestead which he now occupies.
Mr. McKec was married in 1853, to Sarah C. Wilmot, a native of Stenben county, New York. Mrs. McKee was educated in the pioneer schools and at the age of twenty be- gan to teach. Only one of the directors who examined her could read and write; she re- ceived for her services the magnificent sum of $2.50 a week- Mr. and Mrs. McKee are the parents of five daughters: Amanda, wife of Henry Hite, dicd in February, 1882, leav- ing an infant son, Archie M., who is being reared by his grandparents; Mary C., died in infancy; Ida S., wife of Samuel D. Wheel- house, died in April, 1880; Bertha, wife of Cyrus L. DeWitt; and Meta, who died in October, 1889, aged fourteen years.
Politically Mr. McKee affiliates with the Democratic party, although in former times he was a Whig. He is a man of wide ex- perience, having passed through all the phases of life on the frontier. He has always been loyal to the interests of Schuyler county, and has the eutire confidence and respect of his fellow-men.
ACOB RITCHEY, an honored pioneer, resides on section 12, Buena Vista town- ship, and was born in Dayton, Mont- gomery county, Ohio, on December 5, 1821. When but two years of age his mother died,
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and five years later he had thic misfortune to lose his father. There were six children, five sons and one daughter. The oldest, John, died in Schuyler county, Illinois; George F. died in Rushville, in the same State; Charles is now residing in Rushville; Willian G. died in Schuyler county; Susan married Jasper Patton, and died in Ohio; our subject was next in birth to the youngest, and on her death-bed his mother gave him to her brother, Jacob Sawyer, with whom he re- inained five years. He tlien accompanied his brother George to Illinois, living with him until he grew to manliood. He attended school but little, as his time was engaged in hard work on the farmn. When twenty years of age he was hired by a widow to work her farın on shares, which he did for one year. Later, his brother George married the widow, and our subject rented his brother's former farm, which he tilled until 1845, when he rented eighty acres of William McKee, which he cultivated for himself. While thius eu- gaged, le met Clara Ann, daughter of the owner of this land, and their acquaintance ripening into mutual affection, tlicy were married in 1849, when his father-in-law pre- sented to him the eighty acres he had been tilling, and on which he and his wife still reside. He has made substantial improve- ments on his land, in the way of buildings, having a comfortable home and barns for his graiu and stock, besides other modern appli- ances, to facilitate the sowing, harvesting and garnering the products of the farm. Besides this eighty acres, which is under a good state of cultivation, he has purchased 167 acres more in Rushville township, which he is also farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Ritchey have seven children: William Thomas, residing in Rushville town- ship; Charles R., residing in Camden town-
ship; James, residing in Huntsville township; Georgia Ann, living at hiomne; Susan C., wife of F. E. Moore; living in Cowley county, Kansas; Amanda and Mary, living at liome.
Mr. Ritchey is a member of the Republi- can party, but takes no active part in politics other than desiring the advancement and welfare of the community. He is not a mem- ber of any civic or religious society, but is lib- eral in his views. He is a thoroughly honest and industrious man, a good neighbor, kind husband and indulgent father, and enjoys the esteem of the community and the affection of his family and friends.
HARLES A. SCHAEFFER, County Superintendent of Schools of Cass county, is thoroughly identified with the educational interests of this county, and is as popular as he is well known. A résumé of his life is herewith presented.
Mr. Schaeffer was born in what is now Bluff Spring precinct, Cass county, Illinois, May 24, 1855. His father, Calvin S. Schaef- fer, was born in Monroe precinct, same county, son of Phillip Schaeffer, a native of Ohio. Phillip Schaeffer's father, John Schaef- fer, was, it is supposed, a native of Pennsyl- vania, and the family are descended from German ancestry. John Schaeffer removed to Oliio at an early day and was one of the pioneer settlers of that State. He continued his way westward in 1818 and took up his abode in Cass county, Illinois, where he passed his life. He and his worthy cont- panion reared six sons and six daughters. Phillip Schaeffer was reared and married in in Ohio, and moved from there to Illinois, becoming one of the first settlers of what is now Monroe precinct, Cass county. Here
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he entered a tract of Government land and on it crected a cabin whichi served as the family home for a number of years. Subse- quently lie built a frame dwelling. At that time Beardstown, Jacksonville and Spring- field were the principal markets in this part of the country. There were no gristmills in this vicinity, and on his farm he erected a mill that lie operated by liorse power. People came for many miles to get their corn ground here. On this place he made his home until the time of his death, in 1854. The maiden name of his wife was Highly Carver. She was born in Ohio, of Englishi descent. Her death occurred at the home place in 1880. The names of their six children are Wash- ington, Valentine W., Calvin S., Cyrus J., Martlia A. and Elizabeth. Calvin S. was reared on the farm and remained with his parents until his marriage, soon after which he moved to Petersburg and was engaged in farming there for a time. He then came back to Monroe Precinct and leased a part of his father's cstate, bnilt a log house, and lived there about ten years. From there he moved to his present farm, which includes a part of his father-in-law's homestead in Hick- ory precinct. His wife was before lier mar- riage Miss Mary Schafer, she being a daugh- ter of Christopher and Rachel (Emcrick) Shafer. Calvin S. Schaeffer and his wife rearcd six children, viz .: Charles A .; George W .; Winters L .; William D .; Rachel A .; and Jennie.
Charles A. Schaeffer received his carly education in the district schools, afterward attending the Virginia High School and the State Normal School at Normal, Illinois. At the age of twenty-two he commenced teaching, and taught and attended school for nine years. On the thirty-first anniversary of his birth he received the nomination for
County Superintendent of Schools, and was elected at the ensuing election. Four years later lie was nominated by acclamation, and elected by a largely increased majority. In November, 1890, he bought an interest in the Virginia Enquirer, in company with his cousin, William A. S. Schaeffer (since de- ceased), and soon afterward bought the re- maining interest. He was then sole pro- prictor of this paper until September, 1891, at which time he sold the entire interest in said paper to F. E. Downing.
Mr. Schaeffer was married, in 1882, to Nellie M. Garner, a native of Oregon pre- cinct, Cass county, Illinois, a daughter of William S. and Nancy M. (Crews) Garner. Two children liave been born to them: Ledru G. and Edna Belle.
Mr. Schaeffer's political views are in har- mony with Democratic principles. He cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden. Frater- nally, he is associated with Virginia Lodge, No. 544, A. F. & A. M .; Saxon Lodge, No. 68, I. O. O. 'F .; and Virginia Camp, M. W. A.
IRAM BENNETT BAXTER, an intel- ligent and progressive farmer and stock- raiser of township 17-9, near Ashland, Illinois, was born and reared in Jefferson county, Indiana.
His parents were William and Jane (Kerr) Baxter, both natives of Ohio, his father hav- ing been born in Dayton. His father's father was a native of Ireland, who came to America and settled in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, where he married a German lady, named Rebecca Riddle. Mr. Baxter's ma- ternal grandfather was Josiah Kerr, a native of Scotland. Thus he is of Irish, German
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and Scotch ancestry, three of the most intel - ligent and progressive nationalities on the face of the earth, and he would be a sad renegade were he not likewise constituted. His parents had ten sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth. James Riddle, the, eldest brother, is an attorney of Bloomfield Greene county, Indiana; Josiah Kerr is a retired physician of Sharpsville, Indiana; Daniel Thomas, a mechanic, died in early manhood, leaving a wife and two children. all now deceased; Oliver H. P. was one of the first white settlers in Pueblo, Colorado, where he engaged in mining and speculating in cattle, in which occupations he has been very successful, having accumulated a fortune of great wealth. He is now retired from active business, and spends inost of his time in traveling, has been twice to Europe, and last summer was in Alaska. William Alex- ander died in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1877; the next in order is the subject of this sketch; George W. is a resident of Indianapolis, In- diana; Hayden Hayes is in the cattle bnsi- ness, ncar Pueblo, Colorado; Edward Arthur is in the livery and undertaking business in Sangamon county, Illinois; Leonidas Napo- leon is farming the old Indiana homestead; Havanna Siloam married Robert Williams, a merchant of Madison, Indiana; Irena Hazel- tine died in early childhood. In 1854 the family were called upon to mourn the loss of the devoted wife and mother, whose life had been one of self-abnegation and subservience to her family's welfare. The father afterward married her sister, and to this union one son, Virgil, was born, who died in 1861. The father died in August, 1861, and was interred by the side of his first wife, near the old home in Indiana. He was a prominent man in his community and was very popular among
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