USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 55
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 55
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 55
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In 1845 lie first purchased forty acres of land, and has since increased his possessions until he has now 240 acres here, and 200 acres in an adjoining township. He has im- proved the land very much, and has erected excellent buildings.
Mr. and Mrs. Carls are members of the Lutheran Church, and are regarded as very excellent citizens. Mr. Carls is a Republi- can in politics. He and his wife have ten children, two deceased. Lizzie was the wife
of Charles Meyer, but died in the prime of life, and Henry died when two years old. The living children are: William, a farmer in Morgan county, married to Anna Hagener; Mary, wife of William Talkemeyer, of this township; Lena married Gustaff Anoldi, a farmer in this county ; Anna married William Uush, a farmer in Morgan county; Harmon, a farmer in Cass county, married Katie Uush; Tilda married William Jockisch, a farmer in Morgan county; George, farmer in this county, married Dora Linker; and Carrie married William Lovecamp, a farmer in Cass county. They are among the best of our German citi- zens, and arc highly respected by all who know them.
IRAM M. BACON of Huntsville set- tled in Schuyler county- in 1863. He was born in Hancock county, August 12, 1836. He was a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Brevard) Bacon, natives of South and North Carolina. Mr. Bacon, Sr., came West in an early day, and first went to Missouri and then to Illinois and settled in Hancock county in 1835, being one of the pioneers of Angusta. He was a merchant at an early day at Pulaski, later entered land and engaged in farming. He had over 1,000 acres of land. His deatlı occurred in 1860, aged sixty-five years. His wife survived him some twenty years, and was over eighty years old when she died. They had nine children: Alvin G .; Robert; Lamira, deceased; Lois E., deceased; Benjamin F., deceased; Margaret C., Hiram, William H. and Mary E.
He was reared on a farm in Pulaski, and followed farming as his occupation. In 1863 he settled in Birmingham, and has since resided there, and at Huntsville. He fol-
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lowed farming until 1885, then engaged in business at Huntsville, which he continued three years. Since which time he has not been engaged in active business. He owns 180 acres of land.
He was married at Huntsville in 1861, to Miss Emily Louisa Everson, a daughter of Nathan and Cynthia (Cooley) Everson, of New York State. She was born in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have one dauglı- ter, Hila L., married to David E. McCreevy, of Huntsville. They are Methodists in re- ligion, and Mr. Bacon is an ardent Republi- can in politics. He and his wife are valuable members of society.
ILLIAM TALKEMEYER is a suc- cessful farmer of Arenzville, now liv- ing on his own fine farm, section 23, township 17, range 12. He was born near Arenzville, this county, in 1849. He grew up and obtained all the education possible in the common school. His father, William Talkemeyer, was a native of Prussia, Germany, and was the first member of his family to come to this country. He came some time in the '30s, landing in New Orleans, and was engaged as a Mississippi boatman. Later he came to Beardstown and engaged in farm- ing, purchasing his first land in Arenzville. ' About 1855 he purchased a good farm, the same now occupiedby our subject. Here Mr. and Mrs. Talkemeyer, Sr., lived and worked hard, and by honest, economical living, man- aged to obtain 240 acres. Here they spent their last years, Mr. Talkemeyer dying in 1878, aged seventy, and his wife about 1850, when our subject was only a year old. She was a Miss Duvall, who was born and reared in Germany, but came to the United States
when a young woman. She and her husband were both members of the Lutheran Church, and he had been a Republican.
William was one of four children: himself and a Mrs. Lizzie Crone, of this county, are all that are now living.
He was married, near Arenzville, to Miss Mary Carles, who was born, reared and edu- cated in Cass county, and was the daughter of J. Henry Carles (see biography). Mrs. Talkemeyer is a fine woman, and has proved herself a good wife and inother, and is very highly respected throughout the community. They have five children; one, George, having died when young; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Bill Smith, a farmer in Morgan county; Lucy, William Henry, H. Robert and Harry are at home.
The political faith of Mr. Talkemeyer is Republican, and he and his wife are highly regarded members of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Talkemeyer's present farm consists of 600 acres, very well improved and watered by Indian and Bear creeks. He has been very successful, and has everything in first-class order around him.
SAAC MEATS was born in England, in 1836, December 9, in Herefordshire, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Lawford) Meats. Isaac, Sr., was born in 1812 and was a farmer. Marrying in 1842, he turned his face for the United States, sailing from Liver- pool. . Landing in New York he went from there to Chicago, and from there to the Mis- sissippi river, down which he sailed until he came to St. Louis and landed at Griggsville. The trip from Liverpool to New York took five weeks. Mr. Meats brought his wife and four children with hini aud five more were
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added to the family after arrival in this country. Mr. Meats first rented in Elkhorn township until 1863 and thien bought ninety acres in Hancock county, where he lived un- til 1868, and then sold out and inoved to Woodford county, Kansas, and bought 300 acres of land partly improved. He later sold that and traveled in California for a month or two, then went to Benton county, Oregon, and bought a small farm, where he lived in retirement until his deatlı, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife was born in the same place as he, and slie still lives in Benton county, Oregon, with her son, Will- iam. Mr. and Mrs. Meats, Sr., were mem- hers of the Methodist Episcopal Church for years. Mr. Meats was an old-line Whig and later a Republican. Hc first voted the Re- publican ticket for John C. Freniont.
Isaac C. Meats, Jr., lived at home until he was twenty-six years old, working on the farm. He cnlisted in 1861, September 5, in Company I, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry. He was mustered out November 24, 1865, at Vicksburg. Mr. Meats receives a pension for injuries received which confined him in a hospital and from which he has never re- covered. Part of the time Mr. Meats served in special detached service. After he was discharged at Fort Butler, in 1865, he re- turned home and spent the winter visiting. In the next spring he went to Hancock and resided there for two years, and in 1869 moved to his present farm and rented for several years. He was so well satisficd with the land that he bought 185 acres, known as the old Winslow farm. Here he lias lived ever since. Hc has been a Com- missioner for six years, succeeding Mr. Mc- Donald. He has also held various other of- fices, among which was Trustec for several years.
He was married, March 4, 1866, to Mar- tha Ingram, born in Pike county, April 17, 1842, a daughter of Henry and Paulina (Kingston) Ingram. The former was born in Smith county, Tennessee, December 1, 1815. He came with his parents to Illinois and settled in Pike county, in 1856; from there he moved to Brown county and bought a farm in Elkhorn township, of 200 acres. Here he died, January 7, 1890. He was a son of John and Rachel Ingram, also of Tennessee, who came here in 1850 and died when very old people. Mrs. Meats was one of six children. The family were all me- chanics.
Mr. and Mrs. Meats had eight children, Mary E. residing in Hancock county; George is at home; Fred J. is also at home; Jessie, deceased; Nellie; Francis; Dollie and Ralplı.
Mr. Meats is a member of the G. A. R. of Versailles. The family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Meats is a member of the I. O. O. F., Irene Lodge, No. 72, at Versailles, and has held different offices in the order. He is a Democrat in politics and voted for S. A. Douglas. He and his wife are highly respected members of the township in which they live.
HEODORE SCHAAR, dealer in guns and manufacturer of adjustable screens of his own patent, doing business in Beardstown, Illinois, was born in the Prov- ince of Posen in Prussia, where he grew up and was educated. From the time he was a small boy, he began to be educated in his native language, and also in that of Latin, French and English in the college of his native town, graduating from it when he was seventeen years of age. He is the son
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of Carl Schaar, also a native of Posen, who spent his life there and died when an old man. He was a skilled musician and a inanufacturer of all kinds of musical instru- ments, being so known in his native country. He had taught his children the art of inusic, and onr subject has been a successful and skilled teacher on different instruments. His mother, whose maiden name was Willhel- mina Borkenhagen, lived and died in her Prus- sian home, having been a good wife and mother.
Theodore was the first of the family to coinc to this country, but he has since been joined by his brother, Charles, now a music dealer on State street, Chicago. He came to this city in 1861 and has since beeu a resi- dent of the place. His adjustable screens are sold extensively to the trade and he employs somne eight or ten men all the time. This business was established two years ago and has been built up successfully. He is one of the leading public-spirited inen of Beards, town, holding the office of Alderman, with which he has before been honored. He is a member of the Board of Equalization of the Twelfth Congressional district, and he has filled that office with credit to himself and ac- ceptably to his constituents. He has taken an active part in local politics, having been a delegate to the Congressional and county con- ventions. He returned to his native land in 1871, and came back to Beardstown after a pleasant visit.
He was married in 1870, to Miss Johanna Kulhen. She was born in Posen and was there reared and educated. She and her brother Fred, a farmer in Colorado, are the only members of the family now living in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Schaar have two children: Clara, wife of W. T. Quirk, now a train dispatcher of Jacksonville, on the Jack-
sonville Southeastern railroad. Mrs. Quirk was educated in music in a conservatory in Chicago, and was a teacher nntil her mar- riage. Martha, a recent graduate of the high school at Beardstown, is the other danghter. Mrs. Schaar and the children are members of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Schaar has stood by the Democratic party, in whose ranks he has been a leader ever since he came to the United States.
JON. LEWIS D. ERWIN, formerly of the Illinois State Legislature, now liv- ing in retirement in Rushville, was born in Plattsburg, New York, July 1, 1815. His parents were Cornelius M. and Lucinda (Fair- tan) Erwin, both natives of Vermont, the former having been born in Fairhaven, Rut- land connty, and the latter being a daughter of James Fairman, a man of some promni- nence in his State.
David Erwin, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of New- ark, New Jersey, and was an able soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was with General Washington at the second crossing of the Delaware river and at the retaking of Tren- ton. He afterward went from his native town to Fairhaven, Vermont, where he estab- lished a nail factory. In 1804, he removed to Franklin county, New York, engaging in the lumber business near Westville, and there spent the rest of his days. His wife, formerly Catherine Munson, and a native of New Jersey, also died in Franklin county.
Cornelins M. Erwin removed with his par- ents to New York State, and was engaged with his father in the Inmber business in Franklin county. He was a resident of Plattsburg until the breaking ont of the war
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of 1812, when he entered the service and was assigned to the Quartermaster's Depart- ment. In 1830 he removed to Ohio, then the frontier of civilization, locating in Birming- ham, where he operated a sawinill, the coun- try abounding with excellent timber. Four years later he went to Toledo, then a mere village, where he worked at blacksmithing for a short time, later engaging in the gro- cery business, in which latter occupation he continued until his death in March, 1837. His devoted wife died in Birmingliam, Ohio, in August, 1833. They were the parents of six children: Catherine, David, Eliza, Lewis D., George W. and Phoebe.
Lewis D., whose name heads this bio- grapy, remained with his father, assisting him at the forge until he was twenty-one years of age, when he commenced life on his own account, engaging in clerking. He re- sided in the Buckeye State until 1839, when he removed to Illinois, inaking the journey by team, through a wild and sparsely settled country. He secured a position as clerk in Erie, then a small town on the Illinois river, in Schuyler county, which was quite a tliriv- ing little center. In 1841 he purchased his land in Schuyler county, near Littleton, on which he engaged in farming. Ten years later, he came to Ruslıville, which has ever since been his home.
Mr. Erwin was married in 1843, to Elvira Wells, an estimable lady, and a danghter of Charles and Elizabeth Wells. They had eleven children: David D .; Catherine; Ma- tilda; Eliza; Elizabeth L .; Emma; Lewis D., born in 1859 and died in 1887; George L .; Anna C .; Sophie B .; and Edward, who died in infancy. In 1875 the family was called upon to mourn the loss of the devoted wife'and inother, who liad subordinated her interests to their welfare. Slie was a woman
of rare Christian character, and much es- teemed in her community.
The subject of this sketch cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren, ever since which time he has supported the principles of the Democracy. Being a leading man his constituents have conferred npon him various offices of trust and honor, the duties of which have been discharged with ability and fidelity. In 1844 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, and in 1850 was elected Sheriff. In 1852, lie was made Circuit Clerk, to whichi position he was re-elected in 1854. In 1846 he was elected a member of the Illinois State Legis- lature, his efforts in that body receiving uni- versal commendation, as shown by his re- election to the same position in the years of 1856, 1858 and 1860, thus serving five ses- sions, including the extra session at the breaking out of the war.
Such universal endorsement makes further encomiums on his character and qualifica- tions unnecessary, as they are so plainly in- dicated that " he who runs may read."
ARCUS WHETSTONE was born in Adams county, Illinois, March 6, 1838, son of Abija and Lucinda (Brunton) Whetstone, the former born in 1804, in Ohio, near Cincinnati, following farming when a young man. His father ran a distillery near Cincinnati, where lie died. Abija was married in 1832 and then moved to Indiana, where he worked on a farm for twenty-four years. In 1834 he sold out and came to Illinois and rented in Adams county and later bought wild land on which stood a log cabin, where they lived until three years later, when he built a frame house. He lived there until 1853 and then came to this county
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for three years, returning to Adains at the end of that time. He bought the farm where Marcus now lives, in 1850. He died in Mis- souri, at the home of a daughter, aged eighty- one years. His father, Nathan, was in the war of 1812. Subject's mother was born in Pennsylvania and came with her parents to Ohio at an early date, and later to Indiana. In 1834 she came to Illinois and settled in McDonough county, later, moved to near Quincy where her mother died, aged eighty years, her father dying at her home, aged ninety years. Mrs. Whetstone is still living with her oldest child in Augusta, Illinois. She and her husband liad eleven children, seven yet living. All are farmers as far as known, although one of her brothers is a school teacher, having followed that profes- sion all his life, and one of her daughters fol- lows the same profession. Marcus' people came overland to this State with teams and four yoke of oxen. Mr. Whetstone, Sr., had but very little cash when he came to Illinois, but he was industrious and soon had his farm paid for. He and his wife were church going people and active in any good work, he being instrumental in building several churches and schoolhouses. He started with eighty acres of land, but kept buying more until at his death he had nearly 1,300 acres. He was a good, hard-working man.
Marcus remained at home until twenty years of age, working on the farm, driving oxen and attending the district school in the winter. When he was nine years old he broke prairie and has been one of the hardest- working inen in this county. When he had reached the age of twenty he rented the farm on which he now lives, from his father. There were no improvements but the house which was built in 1854. He originally had 160 acres which his father gave him, and he
has added to this farm until he has 740 acres of as finc land as there is in central Illinois. He has made numerous improvements on this land.
He was married in 1863, to Clara Tare, who was born in Schuyler county, daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Buck) Tare, natives of Ohio, who came to Illinois in 1834, and died in this county. Mrs. Whetstone was one of eight children, seven yet living. Her family were generally farmers, except a few wlio were mechanics.
Mr. and Mrs. Whetstone have had eight children, four living, Mary E., married to W. E. Melvin and they have three children: Mattie F., Hattie E. and James G. at home. They are all well educated and graduated from the Augusta and Bushnell schools. Mr. Whetstone cast his first vote for S. A. Doug- las and his next one for Abraham Lincoln, He is a Republican and his family were of the Democratic faith, being old-line Andrew Jackson inen. He has filled the office of Supervisor for nine years and has also held other offices, among which are Justice of the Peace and Assessor, the former for eight years and the latter for three. He also has been a School Director. Both Mr. and Mrs. Whet- stone are attendants at the Methodist Church, of which she is a member. The family are among the most respected and honored in the county, and the entire family are upright in their dealings, commanding the respect of all who know them.
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HOMAS W. WATTS, the oldest and leading merchant of Huntsville, is numbered among the pioneers of 1838. He was born in Scott county, Kentucky, No- vember 5, 1834. His father, Simeon Watts,
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was also a native of Scott connty, being born in 1806. He was a farmer, and in 1829 married Harriet D. Scott, and resided in Ken- tucky until 1838, when he removed to Illi- nois and settled on a farm near Rushville, where he purchased land, and resided there about five years, and then removed to Brown county and settled on a farm, four miles north of Mt. Sterling, where he pursued farm- ing until 1878, when he removed to Hunts- ville, where he passed his remaining years and died in 1886. His wife died in Hunts- ville in 1890. They had nine children, of whom eight grew up. Mary Smith resides in Huntsville township; John F. also resides there; Horace W. resides in Greensburg, Kansas; Simeon was a member of the Chris- tian Church and liis wife was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He was a poor inan when he left Kentucky, but be- came a successful farmer in Illinois. He had a well improved farin of 240 acres and dealt considerably in real estate.
Thomas was reared and educated in Illi- nois. He was raised a farmer, but in 1859 he engaged as a clerk in a store in Rushville, where he stayed tive years. He then went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he loaned money and also operated a shingle and latlı mill, and while thus engaged lost one finger of his right hand. He then went to Mt. Pleasant, Brown county, Illinois, where he became a merchant, but in 1866 he resumed liis bnsi- ness in Huntsville, where he has since con- tinued. His brother, Horace, was his partner for some ten years in a large general store. He owns eighty acres of land near Hunts- ville, also 320 acres in Hall county, Ne- braska, 160 in Kiowa county, Kansas, and 160 in Grant county, Kansas. He also is the owner of good property in Huntsville at Wood river, Nevada, at Ford City and Hunt-
ington, Indiana, most of which is well im- proved, and he has made all of this himself.
He was married in 1859 to Nancy A., daughter of Isaiah and Mary (McCarl) Lew- ton, who were pioneers of Huntsville town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Watts have five children: William O., Secretary of the Building and Loan Association of Huntington, Indiana; Laura Snyder of Caldwell, Kansas; Fred L., at home; Salena Denny, of Augusta, Illinois, and Frank, still at home. In politics Mr. Watts is a Democrat and has held local office, but only takes enough interest in polities to perform duty as a citizen. His business re- quires all his time. He is a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a very successful man in every way.
AULIN CAMPBELL, a successful farmer and truck raiser, was born in Gloucester county, New Jersey, Octo- ber 14, 1849. His father, David, was a native of New Jersey, who was the son of Thomas, who was born, lived and died in the same State. He was a successful farmer and he had built up a large property and had given his children all a farm together, and the place was known as Campbelltown. David grew up in his native State and became a promi- nent inan in a local way. He was successful in life as a farmer, truck grower and lumber man, furnishing lumber to house builders in that community. He gave liberally toward the upbuilding of the Methodist Church and was Steward in it for many years. He died at his home about twelve years ago. His wife had been Ann E. Nelson. Her ancestry was similar to that of her husband's and she lived and died at her home, her death occurring in
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1870. She was a good wife and mother and was devoted to the Methodist Church.
Paulin is one of six children and grew up in his father's business. When twenty-one years of age he came to Illinois and has since lived in Cass county. Mr. Campbell makes a specialty of sweet potatoes. He owns a good farm of 120 acres, in section 7, town- ship 18, range 11. He has been in the count y since 1872, has lived on his farm since 1880, and lias owned it since 1882.
He was married in this county, to Miss Jen- nie Johnson, born near Brighton, Illinois. She was educated chiefly in New Jersey. Her father was Samuel Johnson, who grew up a farmer in New Jersey, and soon after his marriage to Ann E. Hiles, who came to Illinois and settled on a farm near Brighton. Hc there engaged in farming, but was ac- cidentally killed while pressing hay. His wife is yet living, the wife of Jolin Elliott.
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are prominent young people, the parents of one bright boy of eleven, nanied Roy.
RANS H. D. KRUSE was born in East Friesland, Germany, in 1821. His father, Dierk Kruse, son of George Krnse, was born in the same place. The father of the present subject learned the trade of millwright and followed it in his native land. He bought several important mills-ites erected mills and set them in successful opera- tion, and sold them. In 1835, he came to America, in the Virginia, a ship sailing from Bremen, bringing with him his sons, Frans H. D. and Sunke M., and landed in New York, July 4.
From there he went to Albany, by way of the Hudson river, thence across to Schencc-
tady, and by Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to Cleveland and from there by land and the Ohio river to Cincinnati. He afterward went West into Illinois to Beardstown, and a few months afterward bought a mill on Sugar creek, ten miles east of Rushville. Six months later he sold the mill and bouglit a small farm two and one half iniles east of Rushville and turned his attention to farming. Here he resided for eight years, when he re- turned to the old country. Some years after- ward he returned to America and settled in Texas, remaining there five years. He after- ward came to Illinois and bought a farm in McDonough county. This farm was ex- changed for a farm five miles southwest of Rushville in Woodstock township, where he lived until his death in 1860.
The mother of the subject of this sketch was Hiske J. Miller. She was a native of the same country as her husband, and spent her entire life there. She had five children, all of whom grew to inanhood, the present subject being the youngest, who was in his fourteenth year when he came to Illinois with his father. The country was but sparsely settled at that time, and some of the land was still owned by the Government. Frans assisted his father at the inill and afterward in cleaning ont thic farm. As the land was heavily timbered they were able to build a small frame house on it. In 1843 he bought the farm of his father and has had his residence here ever since. Good, substantial buildings have since been erected upon it, and the farm is in a high state of cultivation.
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