USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 52
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 52
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
.
.
436
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
acres of wheat this year, which will yield about twenty bushels per acre. On the third year he grows clover about even. Mr. Rich makes money, making about $1,800 clear of expenses. Hc also has a great deal of fine stock.
Mr. Rich was married to Elizabeth Quinn, in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Rich have four liv- ing children, having buried an infant son. Those living are: Della E., twelve years; Nellie Pearl, ten years; Matthias Benjamin, eight years, and Robert, six years. Their father is giving these children a good educa- tion, and he is a School Director. Mr. Rich has been a very successful man of one of his age, forty. He has made all his money him- self, making a beginning in California when he saved np $1,000.
AMES CRUM, of township 17 north, range 11 west, postoffice Arenzville, Illinois, was born in Clark county, In- diana, September 22, 1806. His parents were Matthias and Margaret (Spangler) Crum, the former born in Montgomery county, Vir- ginia, of German ancestry, and the latter ill Louisville, Kentucky, in the fort there. Her father was killed there by the Indians. They had twelve children, of whoin James was the fourth. Only five of the family are living: Joseph lives at Paxton, Ford county, Illinois, and is a retired farmer; Isaac N. lives in Iowa, a merchant, farmer and preacher; Abraham A. lives in Morgan county, Illinois, fariner and wealthy citizen; John W. owns property in Jacksonville, a widower and well-to-do citizen; Williamn died in Indiana; Christian died at Ashland; David died in Missouri; Samuel died from an accident received in California; Mary
married Leander E. Cobb, killed by a horse in Greene county, Illinois; Elizabeth was the widow of Louis O'Neil, and she died in 1892, of the grippe.
James caine to Cass county in 1830. The next year his father and mother came and took some land ncar that of their son, where both parents died. On coming here Mr. Crum and his brother, Christian, entered 160 acres and bought 240, which they divided equally.
He was married to Christine Ream, Jan- uary 31, 1833. Her parents were Pennsyl- vanians who moved to Ohio, where she was born. They had a large family. David, de- ceased, was tlie eldest; Thomas Jefferson (see biography); James F., a Dakota farmer; Sarah Margaret, wife of Dr. J. F. Wilson, of Tullula, Illinois; Mary Elizabeth, wife of William Howard Thompson, lives in Jackson- ville; Williamn Marcellus resides on a farm near Virginia, Illinois; John went to Iowa and Kansas and returning settled in Chapin, Illinois; Amanda C., wife of William Henry Thompson and now lives in Kansas; Mar- quis L. (see sketch); Charles was killed on the railroad near Keokuk, Iowa, it being a very sad affair; he was a teacher in the high school and left a wife and five children.
Mr. Crum-lost his first wife May 1, 1878. He since married Mrs. Eliza Bean, whose husband died in the army. She had two daughters by her first marriage. Mr. Crum has divided his property liberally between his children: inost of them have received $10,000 and some a greater amount. Mr. Crum still owns a section of land where he lives, besides having extensive interests in personal property. Few men have been as successful as he in the accumulation of wealth. He lias always lived well and endeavored to enjoy life as it came. He is a liberal in re-
437
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
ligious views and a believer in the Christian religion, to the support of which he lias donated liberally out of his means. He has been a life-long Democrat, has voted twice for General Jackson, first in 1828 and again in 1832. Very probably there is not another man in this part of the State that can say as much. He has held various offices of respons- ibility and trust.
The ancestral history indicates that the Crum family have generally been tillers of the soil, of a liardy, long-lived family, usually successful in anything they under- took.
An event transpired September, 1891, which Mr. Crum will never forget, it being the occasion of their eighty-first birthday. The relatives from far and near came and en- joyed the jubilee. Photographers and news- paper reporters were in demand, as over one hundred relatives were present.
Mr. Crum came here poor and was sur- rounded by neighbors who were well-to-do at that time. Since then he has outstripped them all in accumulation of wealth. He has given his children more than $100,000 and still owns about $75,000 worth of property. When eighty years of age Mr. Crum com- peted at the Cass county fair for the old- gentleman's prize for best horseback riding and won it. The prize was a gold-lieaded cane, inscribed: " Presented to James Crum for the best old-gentleman riding, August 6, 1886."
IRAM EVANS is a native of the Old Dominion, where he was born, in Wash- ington county, November 4, 1810. His father was Robert Evans, an industrious and upright man, a native of the same State, and
was there reared to manhood, and married and there resided until 1811, when he re- · moved to Kentucky, and settled in the fa- mous Rock Castle county, where he contin- ned to reside for several years. He then removed to Woodford county, of the same State, and followed his trade, that of a car- penter, until the year 1853, when he sold out and moved to Missouri, and spent the remainder of his days in Ralls and Monroe counties. His wife, the mother of our sub- ject, was formerly Sarah Peoples, a native of Washington county, Tennessee, who died in Rock Castle county, Kentucky, in 1813, while the family resided there.
After the death of his mother, Hiram Evans went to live with his cousin in Rock Castle county, and resided there until the age of fourteen years. He was then large enough and strong enough to be able to do something for himself, and accordingly joined his father and under his directions commenced to learu the carpenter trade. Thus he continued until the age of twenty years, when he started out on his own responsibility even with the world. He went to Louisville, Kentucky, and secured work at his trade, receiving one dollar and twelve and a half cents per day for his services, working from sunrise to sunset. Thus he continued at hard work for eleven months, when he went to Vicksburg, Missis- sippi, where he found employment at $60 per month and board. He followed the car- penter trade in Mississippi and Kentucky until 1836, when in June of that year he came to Bushnell, Illinois, and has here since resided. Illinois at that time was very wild, and deer and other wild animals roamed over the prairies. Mr. Evans entercd a tract of 200 acres in Henderson and McDonough counties, but did not settle there. He com- menced the business of contracting and build-
438
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
ing, at whichi he continued successfully for many years; but finally turned his attention to loan and general brokerage. His business life was successful throughont, and was char- acterized by industry and lionesty. He is now well-to-do, and for the past few years has lived a retired life, enjoying the fruits of his labor, and well earned reputation.
In 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Carrick, a native of Scott county, Kentucky, and daughter of William and Jennie (Campbell) Carrick. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans were born two children, both of whom died in childhood. Mrs. Evans died in 1849. Mr. Evans has been a useful citizen, and was formerly a Whig, but since the formation of the Republican party has served faithfully in its ranks.
The following interesting incident of early times is related in this vicinity. At that early day little or no attention was paid to the style of dress worn by either women or men. In fact it not uncommonly occurred that when a person attempted to assume a little extra style he was laughed at, if he was not absolutely jeered. On one Sunday a party of civil engineers, nnusnally well dressed and stylish, attended preaching at one of the Cumberland Presbyterian churches. It so happened on that day that the minister preached on the subject of the sinfulness of dress, and was so severe in his remarks that the party of engineers supposed he intended to be personal, and accordingly became very angry. They thereupon determined to have revenge. The following Saturday, provided with a goodly-sized bag of salt, they went to the church and thoroughly filled the corners and crevices of the same with salt, rubbing it thoroughly upon the steps and around the sides of the building. The next morning about the tinie services were to begin, all the
cattle of the neighborhood seemed to have assembled around the church for a picnic. The people gathered and drove away the cows, but no sooner had they gone inside and begun services than the cattle returned ap- parently wilder than ever. It is needless to say that very little real devotion was shown in that church on that Sabbath-day. The engineers had their revenge.
ORNELIUS L. ATEN, proprietor of Browning Roller Mills, was born in Astoria, Fulton county, July 28, 1845, his parents being Richard and Ann (Peter- son) Aten, both natives of Hancock county, West Virginia. He was raised on a farm and continued there until 1888, when he purchased an interest with Mr. Nagel in the Browning Roller Mills. Recently Mr. Nagel has withdrawn and Mr. Aten has become the sole owner of the mills, which are very valuable, being estimated at several thou- sand dollars. These mills have a capacity of seventy-five barrels, and Mr. Aten docs an ex- change business, dealing in grains of all kinds, for which he pays the higliest market price. The products of these mills have such an excellent reputation that it keeps Mr. Aten very busy to fill his orders for flour, meal and feed. In addition to the mill property in Browning, Mr. Aten owns a farm of 140 acres in Astoria, and also at Summum, Fulton county, he owns the Home Roller Mills.
Mr. Aten is a Republican in politics, has been a Class-leader and Sunday-school Super- intedent for many years, and the whole fam- ily take an active interest in the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school work.
439
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
He was married in Fulton county, Novem- ber 19, 1868, to Susan M. Bryan, of that county. They have nine children, all living: Henry W., Mary Edith, Alta Emeline, Car- rie Samilda, Thomas Richard, Sabina Mabel, Jeanette Ann, Chester Arthur and Walter Wayne. Mary E. is a teacher in the public school and all have enjoyed excellent advan- tages in the public schools.
RANCIS ASBURY CLARK, a promi- nent farmer of section 32, Missouri township, has been a resident of Brown county since 1835. He was born in Logan county, Kentucky, September 11, 1820, and is of Scotch-Irish extraction. His father, Abner Clark, was tlic son of Thomas Clark, who came to this country some time before the Revolutionary war and died at Orange- burg, North Carolina, near the close of that struggle. A copy of his will declares him to liave been a yeoman, and the document attests his strength of character and sterling integ- rity. His widow was left with six children exposed to the ravages of war and the small- pox. She was equal to the emergency. Abner, her youngest son, described her as tall and inuscular, with great strength and unflinching courage. To a British officer who rudely demanded to know her political prin- ciples she replied : "Sir, I am a helpless widow with six children, but I am an American." She seems to have impressed the stamp of her character upon the family, which is distin- guished for simple integrity and resoluteness. The date of her death is unknown, but it must have occurred soon after the death of her husband, for Abner was raised by a Qua- ker family, and further developed those habits of blunt frankness toward which he
had a natural proclivity. In early life he caine to Logan county, Kentucky, where he married Nancy Goram, and might have been rich in slaves had he not resolutely chosen free soil and set his face toward the forest and privations of Illinois. In 1835, bringing Francis A., the subject of this sketch, with him, he came to this county; "Dick," as Fran- cis is still familiar known, drove a four horse team across the fire-swept prairies and bridge- less streams of western Kentucky, and central Illinois to Brown county.
The family, composed of the parents and ten children, settled in Missouri township, and soon succeeded in making a home whence the children went out to feather the nests of their own. In 1843 Francis took his new bride, Eliza, nee Rankin, into the woods of Pea Ridge township, and they set up in a log-house with a work bench for a table and other things in harmony. Industry and economy, inside and outside, soon transformed the wilderness into a beautiful field, and their empty house to a luxurious home, in which were born nine children, seven of whom are still living. The mother was Irish by birth, having come fromn Ireland to Philadelphia in her second year.
In that beautiful city she resided until lier thirteenth year, and acquired the rndiments of education. At this early age she was taken from school and carried to section 36, Pea Ridge township, where, surrounded witlı a waste of almost tractless forests on the one side and a sea of prairie grass on the other, she wept in childishi grief for the scenes and playmates from whom she was forever sepa- rated. She was united in marriage to Mr. Clark July 10, 1843, and the " heart of her husband safely trusted in her, and she did him good and not evil all the days of her life." " Her own works praise her in the gates, and her children rise up and call her blessed."
440
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF OASS,
She died the 15th of February, 1867, leaving her husband with a family of children, some of whom were small, to mourn his bereave- ment. He soon after married Saralı E. Burk, a widow, with one lovely daughter, Alta Vir- ginia, who, in lier nineteenth year when blooming into beautiful womanhood was attacked by fever, to which lier frail constitu- tion succum bed.
Mrs. (Burk) Clark is an estimable lady, and has been a kind mother and faithful wife. Soon after his second marriage Mr. Clark came to his present home two miles and a half northwest from Mount Sterling, a farm which he had purchased some ten years before, and which he has finely improved.
His business life, which was " about cattle " rather than farming, though he did and had done much of the latter, has been one of almost uninterrupted success. Beginning while yet a boy by buying a heifer he con- tinued until he became the largest stock dealer of the county and rarely handled either cattle, sheep, hogs, or horses without realizing fair profits. Careful trading with apprecia- tion of values made liim a handsome fortune, which he has carefully and equitably distrib- uted by gift or will to his wife and children. In character he is a man affable in manner, sound in judgment, resolute in purpose, sincerely honest and reliable, proud that his paper is always at par. This quality, con- nected with large descretion and shrewd busi- ness instincts, is the key to his success in what he has undertaken. He never tried to succeed by being sharp, though he might have gained temporary advantage by shrewd- ness, but by being square.
In politics he has been anti-slavery from the first, believes in inoderate tariff and to- day tends to the principle of prohibition as a means of dealing with the liquor-traffic.
In theology lie is a Cumberland Presby- terian, but has never been identified with that church or any other. His children are like himself, prosperous, and are gathered round about him: Alexander H., well-known in the county, lives two miles northwest of the county seat; Catherine M. McMurry, his eldest daughter, just outside the corporation; William A. West, of town, one and a half miles; Abner and E. E. are members of the faculty of Chaddock College, Quincy, Illinois; Lydia McDonald, the youngest daughter, with her husband resides in section 36, Pea Ridge township, while Benjamin F. is still on the homestead. Few men sitting in the twilight of life have greater reasons for grati- tude tlian Mr. Clark.
EORGE W. ZIMMERMAN was born in Pike county, Illinois, August 5, 1837. He was the son of George and Mariah (Lutz) Zimmerman, of German de- scent. They came to America when young, and to Illinois in 1837, aud settled in Pike county and built a frame house on a bit of wild land. He is still living on his farm as is also his wife.
Mr. George Zimmerman remained at home until married, in 1859, and helped his father on the farm. He received a fair business education in a neighboring school. After his marriage he rented a farm in this county, of his mother-in-law. He remained here for two or three years and then bought 100 acres, on which there were no improvements. He built a small frauie house and lived in it for fifteen years, and then built a good farm house, in which he still lives. He has added to his farm until now he has 300 acres, while all he had to start with was one pair of horses.
441
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
He has held local offices. He voted first for Stephen A. Donglas on the Democratic ticket. When the Greenback movement started he took an active part in it, and still advocates its principles. He was a delegate to the State convention at Danville. He was made a delegate to the People's party Congressional convention at Roodhouse, as for several years he has been giving close and careful attention to their inoveinents. He was elected from Roodhouse in the spring of 1892, to the national convention held at Omalıa, July 4, 1892. Mr. Zimmerman is a very important man in politics in this part of the county. He has faith in his convic- tions and is not afraid to express them upon all occasions. He is president of the Alli- ance in this township.
He was married in 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Winters, born in Calhoun county, Illinois, a danghter of Peter and Willmina (Shaffer) Winters, who also caine from Germany and died on the old farm in Brown county. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman have three children, William P., George H. and Nettie, all mar- ried. Mr. Zimmerman and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.
R. CHARLES N. IRWIN, a resident of Mount Sterling, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, August 30, 1827. His father, John M. C. Irwin, was born in the same county, and his father, William Irwin, was born in Virginia, although his father was born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry. He came to America in Colonial times and settled in Virginia, where he spent the remainder of his days. His son, William, was reared in Virginia, and after
marriage emigrated to Kentucky with his family. The removal was made with pack horses. He located in Fayette county, which was at that time very sparsely settled. When about to trade some horses for some land tlie horses were stolen from him by the Indians, who were numerons and sometimes hostile. He purchased a tract of land eight miles from Lexington, on the Lexington and Frankfort road. There was a fort in the neighborhood, where the people used to repair for safety. He improved his farın with hard labor, and resided there until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Catharine McClay. She was born in Penn- sylvania, of pure Scotch ancestry. She died on the farm in Fayette county. Their son, John, followed agricultural pursnits, and spent his entire life in his native county. He died in 1857. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Nonrse, born in Mercer county, Kentucky. Her father, William Nourse, was born in England, where his parents spent their entire lives. He came to America in Colonial times, and was one of the pioneers of Mercer county, Kentucky, where he spent his last years. Mrs. Irwin died on the home farm in Fayette county. She was the second wife of her husband and reared three of her five children, Martha, Charles N. and George.
Charles was reared in his native State, re- ceiving his early education there. In 1846 he came to Illinois, settling in Jacksonville, where he remained a short time and then came on to Mount Sterling, and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Witty. He attended lectures at Jefferson Medical Col- lege in Philadelphia, and in June, 1850, commenced practice in Monnt Sterling, which he continued until 1862, when he entered the United States army as Assistant Surgeon of the Third Illinois Cavalry, joining the regi-
442
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
ment at Helena, Arkansas. They were with Sherman at the first attack on Vicksburg, and at the battle of Arkansas Post, in Grant's command at the battle of Milliken's Bend. Soon after this the regiment was detailed to do garrison duty on the Memphis & Charles- ton railroad, guarding different points. During that time the regiment made frequent raids into Mississippi. He continued with the regiment until he was honorably dis- charged in 1864. He then became Assistant Surgeon in the Provost Marshal's office of the Ninth Illinois District. Upon the resig- nation of Dr. Worthington as Surgeon, he was appointed his successor, continuing in this office until the close of the war.
In 1865 lie bought an interest in the drug and hardware store of Dr. Stone, Dr. Burch being his partner. One year later Dr. Burchı sold his interest to George Irwin. In 1877 Martin O'Neil purchased the interest of George Irwin, and the firm becaine Irwin & O'Neil, and have so continued until the pres- ent time. They carry a full line of drugs, agricultural implements, hardware, etc. Since the Doctor engaged in the drug business he has abstained from practice as much as possi- ble. He is frequently called in consultation, besides being called in by former patrons.
He was married in 1851 to Isabella C. Dunlap, born in Fayette county, Kentucky. Her father, Rev. Latin W. Dunlap, was a native of New Jersey, but resided some years in Fayette county, Kentucky, from whence le came to Mount Sterling, and was the pio- neer Presbyterian preacher here. He organ- ized the first Presbyterian society here, where he was a resident until his death in 1889.
Dr. and Mrs. Irwin have one child, Nellie R. Their only son, Charles D., died in 1890. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which the Doctor is an Elder, and has been
for many years. He is an ardent worker and takes a prominent part in the Sunday-school. He formerly was a Whig, and has been a Re- publican ever since the commencement of the Civil war.
ENRY GARM, of the firm of Garm & Son, was born in Altenburg, Germany, in 1830. He was but a small child when his parents landed in New York city. From there they proceeded to Washington city, but had not been there long when the father, John Garm, was killed by a horse on the roads of the county. He had been a liard- working man and his family felt his loss in a great degree. After some time Mrs. Garm left Washington city and proceeded westward and settled in Beardstown, Illinois, where she resided until the day of her death, at the age of sixty-three. She, like her husband, was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Garm first engaged in farming when le came to Beardstown. The country was very new and uncultivated. After twelve years spent in farming he went into town, and in company with John H. Harris, now president of the First National Bank of Beardstown, purchased a large stationary saw- mill and for six years manufactured lumber, also engaged in the pine lumber trade with Mr. C. Hagener. He then sold his milling plant and engaged in the ice business with Captain George W. Goodell; after two years Mr. Garm organized a grain and transporta- tion company and carried on an extensive trade in shipping grain to St. Louis, that he purchased in Beardstown and vicinity. This business lasted for four years, and then Mr. Garın entered the merchant tailoring
443
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
business with his two sons. Robert H. at- tends to all the financial part of the business as well as being chief salesman, and John T. does the cutting. Mr. Garın is also inter- ested in other local enterprises. He was one of the promoters of the First State Bank, and and is now vice-president and director, as well as an extensive stockholder. This bank was organized in 1889, and was the first bank chartered under the State law providing for the organization of State banks. He is a stockholder as well as a director in the Elec- tric Light Company, is also a director of the Mutual Loan & Saving Association. When the wagon bridge was built across the Illinois river he took an active part in this improve- ment.
He has been an active politician and tlie Democratic party has rewarded him in many offices for his zeal and work in the interests of the party. He was twice elected County Commissioner, and is now serving a four- year term as County Treasurer, and he is also the County Assessor of Cass connty. It has not been in county offices alone that he has served his party, but he has been extremely useful in the City Council for two terms. As he is one of the leading Democrats in the county, he has been chosen delegate to the State and local conventions a number of times.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.