USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past > Part 25
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He is now serving his twenty-second year as treasurer of Tecumseh Royal Arch Chapter. No. 152, and has started on his forty-fifth year in railroad service, and twenty-fourth year as foreman of the round house and car department at Han. ilton, Illinois.
LUCIEN S. REID.
Lucien S. Reid, whose co-operation can always be counted upon as a helpful factor in everything relating to the welfare of
his city, Is now editor and proprietor of the Dallas City Review, and has been a well known factor in journalistic circle- in this part of the state for a number of years. He was born near Plymouth. in Mcdonough county, Illinois, Novem- ber 12, 1800, his parents being 1. 6 and Cyrena (Doyle ) Reid. The father was born in Covington, Kentucky, in 1813. while the mother's birth occurred near Lexington, that state. I. G. Reid was a successful lawyer and about 1847 set tled in Mcdonough county. Ilmois. where he lived until 1891, when he re- moved to Morrill, Kansas. After a year he returned to Illinois, settling at Colche- ter. Mcdonough county, where he died in the year 1895. lle had for twenty years survived his wife, who passed away in 1875 and was laid to rest in the ceme- tery near Plymouth, while the grave of Mr. Reid was made in Colchester Ile was a democrat in his political views and served for two terms in the Ilinois legis- lature as a representative from his district. He was township supervisor for twenty- two consecutive years and had the respect and unqualified confidence of his fellow townsmen, who recognized his worth and his loyalty to principle. Fraternally he was connected with the Masonic lodge. In the family were five children, of whom three are now living: Lucien S .: Fd ward, who resides at Redlands, Cali fornia : and Harry 1 ... who is in the em- plos of the Santa Fe Railroad Company and lives at Mojave, California. Viter losing his first wife Mr. Reid was married. in 18-8, to Mis Lucy E Landy Why resided near Bandon. MeDonough counts Lucien S. Reid was a student in the
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high school at Plymouth, and afterward attended Knox College, at Galesburg, Illi- nois, subsequent to which time he learned the printer's trade, at which he first worked in Plymouth. He afterward went to Beatrice, Nebraska, subsequently to Omaha, Nebraska, completing his trade with the firm of Rand & McNally in Chicago, Illinois. In 1884 he was in Colchester. Illinois, and in August of that year purchased the Colchester Independ- ent from H. F. Stevens but after a week sold it to Van L. Hampton, with whom he remained until the following March, when he purchased the Blandinsville Re- publican, changing the name of the paper to the Blandinsville Review. He con- tinued its publication until September. 1887. when he took the plant to Dallas City and established the Dallas City Re- view, which is the first paper that ever survived for six months in this place. He has now continued its publication here for almost twenty years and has made it a profitable investment. The Review is a weekly paper, independent in politics and has a large circulation throughout this and Henderson counties so that it is an excellent advertising medium. In the disastrous fire which swept over Dallas City on the 19th of December. 1905. MIr. Reid lost heavily but in place of the old building on Oak street there has been erected a concrete monolithic building. twenty five by fifty-two feet. two stories high, of pleasing architectural design. The lower floor will be devoted to office and editorial rooms, composing and press rooms, while the upper floor is designed and finished for his residence. He has installed modern methods, including a
good cylinder press with power. It is one of the first buildings of this character in this part of Illinois. In connection with the publication of the paper Mr. Reid does all kinds of first class job printing and tablet work. The Review has always been very progressive and has been an influential factor in the upbuilding of Dallas, standing as the champion of every movement or measure calculated to prove of direct benefit to the city. His new office will be equipped with all modern machinery and in the management of his business Mr. Reid is thoroughly progressive and in fact has been the lead- er in the adoption of many new ideas that have been advanced in the world. He owned the first gasoline engine used for motive power in Dallas City and also owned the first gasoline launch in the town. He is practical in his ideas and successful in his undertakings, carrying forward to successful completion what- ever he begins. In connection with his other business interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers State Exchange Bank of which he was one of the organizers.
On the 16th of January, 1887. Mr. Reid was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Roberts, who was born in Col- chester, Illinois. June 20. 1865. a daugh- ter of Edward and Susanna ( Bayless) Roberts, the former a native of Wales. and the latter of England. Her father was engineer of the works of the Quincy Coal Company, at Colchester, Illinois, for a long period but both he and his wife have now passed away, and were laid to rest in the cemetery at Colchester. In their family were five children, of whom four are living : Lennie, the wife of John
ILINCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Jones, who resides in Cambridge, Ohio; added lustre to an umtarnished family Sarah, the wife of Thomas Moss, also of Cambridge; Mrs. Eliza Tandy, the widow of W. W. Tandy and a resident of Colchester: and Mrs. Reid. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reid has been born a daugh- ter. Velna, who was born in Dallas City. March 14. 1892, and is now a student in the Dallas City high school. In addition to his business property Mr. Reid owns several vacant lots in Dallas City. In polities he is a democrat and in 1800 and 1801 served as mayor of Dallas City. proving a capable executive officer, whose efforts in behalf of public progress were effective and far-reaching. He is a Ma- son and also a member of Hancock Lodge. No. 56. Knights of Pythias, of which he is the present chancellor, while his wife is a devoted member of the Congregational church. A man of strong convictions, he is practical in his ideas, yet determined in his course. He possesses a genial, social disposition, appreciative of the worth and work of others and has ready recogni- tion for all movements or enterprises of general benefit to the community. Both he and his wife have scores of warm friends, and during the years of their resi- dence in Dallas City have long occupied a prominent position in social circles here.
HENRY GILLHAM.
Henry Gillham is a worthy representa- tive of a prominent pioneer family of Hancock county and his own record has
name. He was born in Campbell county. Kentucky, January 3. 1827, and is a soll of Robert and Elizabeth ( Walker) Call ham, the former a native of the Blue Grass state, and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. Robert Gillham devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits, and on the tith of April. 1837, arrived at War- san. Illinois. Soon afterward he pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Walker township, for which he paid the government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place and he built a hitle log cabin, in which he lived in true pin- neer style, enjoying much happiness there. at the same time sharing in the hardships and privations incident to the establish- ment of a home on the frontier. The plows of that day had wooden mold boards and the sickle and seythe were leading features of the farm machinery. Mr. Gillbam of this review has driven ox teams before a plow turning a twenty- four inch furrow, and he has broken more land than any other man of the county. thus contributing in large measure toward the agricultural development and improve- ment of this part of the state. His father was a democrat in his political allegiance and in matters of citizenship relating to the community was progressive and en- terprising. He died and was buried in Missouri but the mother was laid to rest in Walker township. Of their family of eleven children five are vet living : Henry: America, the wife of Hiram Cobel, of California : Cynthia A. the wife of Jason March, of California : Sarah F .
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the wife of William Dooley, of Missouri ; and E. D. Gillham, of Warsaw.
Henry Gillham, brought to Illinois when Hancock county was still a pioneer district, was educated in a little log build- ing in Walker township, where school was conducted on the subscription plan. His advantages were necessarily limited be- cause of the condition of the school sys- tem at that period. His training at farm labor, however, was not meager and he early took his place in the fields, working from early dawn until after sunset in order to open up a new farm on which the family had located and further continued its development. He remained with his parents until he had reached his majority.
In October, 1849, was celebrated the marriage of Henry Gillham and Miss Mary Jane Ewing, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, September 8. 1828, a daughter of Jackson and Catherine (Turner) Ewing, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of John P. Ewing. The young couple began their domestic life upon his father's farm in Walker township, where they remained for three years and then removed to a farm of forty acres else- where in the township. Mr. Gillham purchased this property and resided there for cleven and a half years. In 1873 he bought one hundred and forty-three acres of land on section 10. Walker town- ship, and has since made his home there- on. He has added to and improved the house until he now has a fine residence and he has also built a substantial barn and two good wood-houses. His atten- tion has been given to general farming and the years have brought him good
crops, and as time has passed he has prospered. In addition to the home place he also owns fifty-five acres of good land on section II. Moreover, he and his es- timable wife have reared a family of ten children, of whom seven are now living : Mary Frances is at home with her parents. Melvina Angeline is the wife of John L. Brew. lives near Carthage and has three children ; Lewis Brew, who married Clara Van Valer and has one child, Hazel May; Ida Brew, the wife of Edward Newman, who lives in Carthage and by whom she has two children, Lee and Lloyd; and Eli Brew, who lives in Nebraska, is married and has one daughter. Elizabeth Pearl. Elizabeth A. Gillham, the third member of the family, is the widow of William Atkinson, and has one child, Arlie Ann. Sarah Gillham is the wife of Charles Thompson, of Chili township, and has three children : Henry, who married Liz- zie Herbert, by whom he has one child. and lives in Colorado: Ira, who married Nellie Hill and lives near Bowen, Illinois ; and Horace Elmer. Jane Glllham is the wife of William Henry Smith, living near Bowen, Illinois, and they have four chil- dren. Dee, Fannie, Nona and Niti Ellen. John Gillham married Tena Wenhamer. lives in Nebraska and has seven children, Walter, Charles, George, Eddie. Jessie. Clara and Addie. Roscoe, who resides at West Point. Illinois, married Martha Rampley and has four children. Mabel, Lcla. Vera and Harold. Ellen is the wife of Arthur Randall, of Nebraska, and has three children, Ruth L., Earl and Loy.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Gillham hold mem- bership in the Christian church in the work of which they are deeply interested.
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while to its support they contribute gen- erously according to their means. Mr. Gillham is a democrat and served con- tinuously as school director from the age of twenty-one years until 1900, when he refused to fill the office longer. Ile is truly a self-made man. for, after paying the minister and for the license at the time of his marriage he had remaining only two dollars and a quarter. With this the young couple started out in life to- gether. They possessed stout hearts. however, and willing hands, and their ambition and united efforts have consti- tuted the secret of their success. They have done well as the years have passed by and now have many comforts in life. At the same time they have found oppor- tunity to do many kindnesses and to ex- tend hospitality to many friends. In the fifty-seven years of their married life no one has ever been turned from their door hungry or empty-handed. Both represent prominent ohl families of the county but it is their sterling personal worth that has so closely endeared them to those with whom they have come in contact.
JOEL WILLIS BRIDGES.
Joel Willis Bridges, who has charge of the steam pump for the Toledo. Peoria & Western, the Wabash railroads at Ilamil- ton, was born in Carroll county, Teme- see. August 7, 1840, his parents being William A. and Louisa Neel ( Riding ) Bridges. He was the second of a family
of three sons and in his early youth at tended the subscription school of Ten nessee for a short time. He afterward accompanied his parents on their removal to Jackson county, Ilinois, and two years later the family settled at Augusta, Han- cock county. This was in 1854. Mr. Bridges of this review started out to earn his own living when sixteen years of age, working by the month as a farm hand. He was employed at one place for three years and in 1869 he entered the railroad service in the round house at Hamilton, where he continued for a year. Later he worked on the farm and in 1870 he secured the position of engine-wiper. Later he engaged in firing for three years and three months, at the end of which time he was appointed engineer, running an engine for about eighteen months. About that time his health failed and he went into the roundhouse as watchman. In 1881 he was assigned the task of run- ning the steam engine for the Toledo, Peoria & Western and Wabash railroads at Hamilton and he has since acted in that capacity. He owns several houses and lots in Hamilton, having made judicious investment of his earnings in real estate and his property interests bring him a good return.
On the 5th of January. 1868. Mr. Bridges was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Ann Garwood, who was born in Jasper county, Illinois, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Richards) Garwood. The father was a native of Ohio and the mother of Tennessee. Her death oc- curred March 2. 1905. and two children were left to mourn her loss: William Thomas, now an engineer on the Toledo.
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Peoria & Western Railroad, residing in Peoria, Illinois ; and Lottie Charlotte, who is a stenographer and bookkeeper in the Parker Company department store of Hamilton and makes her home with her father. There were two other children : Charles Wesley, who died in September, 1877, at the age of three years ; and James Elbert. who died December 6, 1894, at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. Bridges started out in life with very few advantages, educational or otherwise, but has made the most of his opportunities and has worked earnestly and energetical- ly and, as stated, he has made judicious use of his funds. thus becoming the owner of considerable desirable property in Hamilton. He has been a resident of Hancock county for a half century. He holds membership in the Christian church and gives his political allegiance to the democracy. He has served as school di- rector, as alderman from the first ward from 1896 until 1904 and has been again elected on his own platform, a fact which indicates that he has given able service as one of the "city fathers." Fraternally he is connected with Black Hawk Lodge. No. 238, of the Masons, having taken the degrees of the Blue lodge, chapter and of the Eastern Star.
LOUIS LAMET.
Louis Lamet. one of the able members of the Hancock county bar living in War- saw, who with comprehensive knowledge
of the principles of jurisprudence to- gether with unfaltering devotion to his clients' interests, has gained a large prac- tice, was born December 28, 1874, in the city which is yet his home. His parents were Julian and Eloise (Sylvester) Lamet. At the usual age the son entered the public schools, passing through suc- cessive grades until he had completed the high school course. He afterward en- gaged in teaching in the district schools of the county for three winter terms and then ambitious for further intellectual training. he entered the University of Illi- nois and was graduated from the law de- partment on the 12th of June, 1901. About a year after he entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Carthage but soon returned to his native town and entered into partnership with Mr. Plantz, an association which has since been maintained. The firm occupy a prominent place at the Hancock county bar. In the trial of cases Mr. Lamet pre- pares his cause with great thoroughness and care and in the courtroom is found strong in argument, logical in his deduc- tions and correct in his application of the legal principles.
On the ioth of January. 1905. was celebrated the marriage of Louis Lamet and Miss Amice Magdalena Lemaire, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Le- maire. They now have one son, Leon. Politically Mr. Lamet is a democrat, firm in support of the party and thoroughly conversant with the issues which divide the two great national political organiza- tions. He was appointed to the office of city attorney in 1905 and is now acting in that capacity. In 19oz he became a
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member of the Modern Woodmen camp. in which he has held the office of con- sul. Prompted by laudable ambition he has made for himself a creditable name in legal circles and as a citizen is recognized as one who has given tangible support to many movements for the general good and whose influence for public progress is far-reaching and beneficial.
MARCELLUS T. CHENOWETH.
Marcellus T. Chenoweth, who is en- gaged in merchandising at Hickory Ridge, is a native of Virginia, his birth having occurred near Beverley in Ran- dolph county, on October 3. 1842. His parents were A. W. and Hannah ( Tag- gart ) Chenoweth, the former born in Randolph county and the latter in Monroe county, Virginia, the years of their na- tivity being 18to and 1822 respectively. A. W. Chenoweth was a carpenter by trade, and in the year 1852 removed with his family from the Okl Dominion to Hancock county, Illinois, living for several years in Warsaw, after which he located in Walker township in 1857. . \t the time of the Civil war he joinedl the Seventh Missouri Cavalry and served until disabled in 1804. He participated in the battle of Lone Jack, Ozark Moun tain and other engagements in that section of the country. The family numbered seven children. of whom three are now living : M. T. : Sarah, the wie of Mired Lomax, of Warsaw, Ilinois; and Vir
ginia, the wife of John Rigg, of Spring- field, this state. The father died October 31. 1865, and the mother in June. 1887. their remains being interred in Walker township.
M. T. Chenoweth began his education at St. Mary's, Virginia. afterward con- timed his studies in Ohio, in Warsaw. Illinois and in Bloomfield, lowa. Ile en- listed in 1864 in the Twenty-eighth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry as a member of Company E. and served until the 31st of October. 1805, the day his father died. He was on active duty near the southern portion of the Mississippi river and was present at the capture of Mobile. He had an uncle. William Chenoweth, who was a soldier in the Confederate army in the Civil war, while his great-grand- father. John Chenoweth, was a soklier of the Revolution. Following his return home Ml. T. Chenoweth remained with his mother until after his sisters were married.
In 1871 Mr. Chenoweth wedded Miss Mary Isabella Rankin, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, in 1844. a daugh- ter of James and Sarah (Laughh) Rankin, natives of Kentucky, whence they came to Illinois in January. 18.3.1. They lived in Adams county until 1818 and then settled upon a farm in Walker township. Hancock county. The father died in 1804. and the mother, long si- viving him, departed this life m 18og. Both were buried in Adams county In their family were seven children but only two are living : William Rankin, a Test dent of Breckenridge. Ilmois: and Mrs Chenoweth.
Following his marriage Mr Chenoweth
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located in Warsaw, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned under the direction of his father. He was thus identified with building op- erations until 1884. when he removed to Breckenridge, where he purchased a store, becoming proprietor of the leading mer- cantile establishment of the village. He has bought two stores since locating here and has combined them. He now has a large and well equipped establishment, carrying a carefully selected line of gen- eral goods and he has secured a liberal patronage which is well merited.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chenoweth was born a daughter, Claudia, who died at the age of nine years, and was buried in the family lot in Walker township. Her death was the greatest sorrow that has ever come to her parents. Mrs. Cheno- weth is a member of the Christian church and is an estimable lady. Mr. Cheno- weth, active in business and progressive in citizenship, is regarded as one of the valued residents of this part of the county. In politics he is a republican and for eighteen years he served as postmaster. or until the rural free delivery route was established. He owns three acres of land and lives in Hickory Ridge, and he has remodeled and repaired both his store and house and is now comfortably situated in life. An analyzation of his record shows that his prosperity is the legitimate out- come of carnest labor and persistent pur- pose and that he is entirely a self-made man. He is now conducting a good and paying business and all acknowledge that the success which he is enjoying is well merited, and all his friends are glad when Fortune favors him.
HIRAM B. KINKADE.
Hiram B. Kinkade, who follows farming near Hamilton, was born in St. Albans township, Hancock county, on the 3d of February, 1858, and attended the district schools, while spending his boy- hood days under the parental roof. . His paternal grandparents were George W. and Elizabeth ( Trainer) Kinkade, both of whom were natives of Virginia. They became early settlers of Hancock county, but in the meantime had resided in Hardin county, Kentucky, where occurred the birth of Lorenzo D. Kinkade, father of our subject. He married Miss Harriet Stewart, who was born in Wabash county. Indiana, a daughter of Cornelius and Sarah ( Bullard) Stewart, who were like- wise pioneer residents of this county. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Kinkade was celebrated at the residence of his wife's father about 1840 and they afterward removed to St. Clair county, Illinois, and subsequently lived in Adams county, Illinois, for a time. At a later date they went to Missouri, taking up their abode near Kirksville and in 1856 they came to Hancock county, Mr. Kink- ade purchasing forty acres of unimproved timber land. He cleared and cultivated the tract, making many modern improve- ments upon it and there resided until 1872, when he sold that place to his son. He afterward lived with his children up to the time of his death, which occurred January 16, 1879. when he was fifty-five years of age. His widow still survives and makes her home with her children in this county, and she is honored by all who know her.
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Hiram B. Kinkade was the seventh in order of birth in a family of six sons and five daughters. He was reared upon the old home farm and resided with his parents until his father's death, after which his mother lived with him until he reached the age of twenty-seven years. lle began his business career upon rented farms in this locality and in 1896 he pur- chased eight acres of land in the Oak- wood addition to Hamilton. Upon this tract was a small brick house, which he has since rebuilt. He also has put up barns and a tenant house and has given much attention to horticultural pursuits, planting about sixty apple trees and the same number of peach trees. He also has pear and phun trees, grapes and other fruit upon his place and is meeting with excellent success in the raising of fruit. having thoroughly informed himself con- cerning the best methods of producing the various fruits, to which he gives his time and attention.
On the 28th of December. 1886 Mr. Kinkade was married in Emporia, Kan- sas, to Miss Emma Samsel, who was born in Ogle county, Hlinois, March 28, 1866. her parents being Ephraim and Tracy ( Rohrer) Samsel, who were natives of Washington county. Maryland. Her grandparents were Jacob and Susan ( Whip) Samsel, natives of Maryland. and John and Susan (Poffenbarger ) Rohrer. Her parents were members of the Christian church.
In his political views Mr. Kinkade is a democrat and in 1903 and food was a member of the city council of Hamilton. Hle belongs to Montebello lodge. No. 097, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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