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 3
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James Babcock is indebted to the dis- triet schools of Hancock county for the carly educational privileges he enjoyed. He afterward spent two winters as a
student in Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Burlington, Iowa, and he re- mained upon the old homestead until twenty-eight years of age, assisting in the farm work in its various departments and thus gaining thorough familiarity with the best methods of cultivating the fields.
On the 11th of September, 1877. Mr. Babcock was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rice, who was born in Stark county, Ohio. May 12, 1855. a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Rice, who are men- tioned on another page of this work. For three years following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Babcock lived upon the present site of Stronghurst and subsequently spent nine years upon the old homestead farm of his father. In March. 1889. he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of good land on section II, Durham township, and in 1896 he erected his present modern residence, which is one of the finest and most beautiful homes in the township .. All other improvements upon the place are in keeping and alto- gether his is a model farm property, equipped with the various conveniences and accessories that are known to modern farming in the twentieth century. His fields are under a high state of cultivation and annually return to him good crops and he likewise owns twenty acres of timber land upon the okl home place. On the 5th of July. 1904. he was elected vice president of the Farmers State Exchange Bank of Dallas City and has since been connected with the institution in that ca- pacity. He was one of the organizers of the bank and was elected one of the di- rectors at its first meeting, and has been
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the only vice president who has served. His son Rolla has been cashier from the first and in fact obtained the subscriptions for stock.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock has been blessed with three children: Frank, who was born in Stronghurst in 1878, died at the age of five years. Rolla, born in this county in 1880, attended the Gem City Business College at Quincy. Illinois, and is now cashier in the Farm- ers State Exchange Bank in Dallas City. He married Nellie Quinton. Ina, born in Durham township February 9. 1887. attended the Nauvoo Academy for two years and is now at home with her parents.
Mr. Babcock votes with the democracy but has never been an aspirant for office. preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which, capably controlled. are bringing to him a gratify- ing measure of success, and investigation into his history shows that the methods he has ever followed are in strict con- formity to a high standard of business ethics.
DANIEL T. RAY.
Daniel T. Ray, living near Colusa. is an extensive land owner and enterpris- ing citizen and as one of the representa- tive men of Hancock county well deserves mention in this volume. He was born in Breckinridge county, Kentucky, in 1859. a son of Thomas L. and Mary ( Barr)
Ray. John Barr. an uncle of Mrs. Mary ( Barr ) Ray and her grandfather in the maternal line were soldiers of the Revolu- tionary war.
Thomas L. Ray was born in Breckin- ridge county, Kentucky, in 1827 and was a farmer by occupation. He was mar- ried in his native state to Miss Mary Barr. whose birth occurred in Breckinridge county in 1838. They came to Hancock county. Illinois, in 1865 and settled near Dallas City, while subsequently they re- moved to Pilot Grove township. In 1880 they took up their abode in Dallas town- ship, where Mr. Ray purchased eighty acres of land on section 36. This farm was improved and as time passed he ex- tended its boundaries and added other im- provements, making this a well developed property which returned to him a good income for the care and labor which he bestowed upon it. His study of the po- litical issues and questions of the day led him to give his support to the democracy and his fellow townsmen. recognizing his worth and ability, called him to various local offices. He held membership in the Baptist church, to which his widow also belongs, and his life was characterized by his religious faith. In the family were six children, of whom four are now liv- ing: Daniel T .: Sarah E., who is at home with her mother: Emma E., the wife of George Boyer, of Fort Madison. lowa: and George W .. also at home. One daughter, Mary J., died at the age of two years ; and Anna F., the youngest of the family, died in July, 1890, at the age of fourteen years while visiting her sister in Fort Madison, lowa. That was the year of the father's death. He was
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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEI'
well advanced in years and suffered from paralysis, but the daughter was carried away in the bloom of youth and died when absent from her mother's home. Her death came as an almost unbearable blow to the family, who in one year were bereft of husband and father, daughter and sister.
Daniel Ray, whose name introduces this record, was educated in the district schools of Dallas township and to some extent in Pilot Grove township. He re- mained with his father upon the home farm until the latter's death and then took charge of the property for his mother. He is still manager of the farm, which is carefully conducted by him, his business ability and enterprise enabling him to make it a source of profit. In his youth he became thoroughly familiar with the best methods of carrying on farm work and in later years he has not only superin- tended his agricultural interests but has also made judicious investments in land and is now the owner of considerable valuable farm property, owning one hun- (Ired and sixty acres in North Dakota. Hle has followed in his father's political footsteps and votes with the democracy. He has served as road commissioner and as a member of the school board and he witholds his support from no movement or measure that is calculated to prove of general good. In his social relations he is a Woodman. Almost his entire life has been passed in this county, for in carly boyhood he was brought to Illinois by his parents and in the intervening years he has made a record which is most com- mendable both in his business relations and private life. He is an honest, up-
right. energetic man, who stands high in the community and in his business life he is making a creditable record and is highly respected by all.
A. W. O'HARRA.
Apollos W. O'Harra needs no intro- duction to the readers of this volume, for few men have a wider acquaintance in Hancock county, by reason of his pro- fessional and business connections and his activity in support of many plans and movements for the public good. While undoubtedly he is not without that honor- able ambition which is so powerful and useful an incentive to activity in public affairs he has ever regarded the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts and by the faithful and conscientious per- formance of each day's duty as it has come to him he has found inspiration and encouragement for the labors of the suc- ceeding day. He has thus won public confidence and his ability in the line of his chosen profession has given him pres- tige at a bar which has claimed many notable members.
Mr. O'Harra was born on a farm near Camp Point in Adams county, Illinois. February 22, 1857. his parents being Jef- ferson and Pauline ( Robertson ) O'Harra. The father was a native of Indiana, born June 4. 1833, and the mother's birth oc- curred in Adams county, Illinois, May 9. 1838. Jefferson O'Harra devoted his at-
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ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
tention to general agricultural pursuits until 1866 and at the age of fifteen years he went to Adams county, Illinois. In 1860 he removed to Hancock county. where he engaged in the tilling of the soil until 1866, when he moved to Bentley and became proprietor of a general store which he conducted for thirty-two years. In 1809 he removed to Carthage, thinking to retire from active business life. but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he could not content himself without some occupation, so that for the past five years he has acted as manager of the mortgage department in the office of his son. A. W. O'Harra. He votes with the democracy and has served as township supervisor and as a member of the school board. but is without polit- ical ambitions. A member of the Odd Fellows Society. he has passed all of the chairs in the local lodge and has several times been representative to the grand lodge. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist church and he has held most of the church offices. They re- side in Carthage and are greatly esteemed in the city which is their home. Unto them were born five sons and four daugh- ters, of whom six are now living, namely : .A. W., of this review: Dr. William G. O'Harra, a practicing physician of Chi- cago; Mary E .. the wife of George E. Burner, a farmer residing in Rock Creek township; Professor C. C. O'Harra, pro- fessor of geology and mineralogy in the state school of mines at Rapid City, South Dakota : Rev. M. L. O'Harra, a Methodist minister, who is now pastor of the Col- lege church at Abingdon, Illinois: and Ira J., a successful lawyer at Macomb.
A. W. O'Harra was a student in Car- thage College and afterward engaged in teaching for four years in the public schools of Bentley, Illinois. He took up the study of law in the office under the direction of the firm of Draper & Sco- field in Carthage and was admitted to the bar January 5. 1880. He began the prac- tice of law alone with an office on the west side of the public square and after two years admitted Frank H. Graves, now a leading attorney of Spokane, Wash- ington, to a partnership. They were as- sociated for two years, or until Mr. Graves' removal from the city, when Mr. O'Harra entered into partnership with C. J. and T. J. Scofield, brothers, a rela- tionship which was maintained for a few months, when the former was elected cir- cuit judge. T. J. Scofield and Mr O'Harra" continued in practice together for seventeen years. the firm originally be- ing Scofield. O'Harra & Scofield and later O'Harra & Scofield. In 1891 they ad- mitted William H. Hartzell to a partner- ship and he continued with the firm until 1896. In 1890 O'llarra & Scofield opened a law office in Quincy, Illinois, the latter removing to that city to look after the business there and after a year Colonel W. W. Berry became a member of the firm, the partnership thus continuing un- til the death of Colonel Berry. All this time Mr. O'Harra continued his residence in Carthage, having charge of the office here. On the Ist of January. 1807, W. HI. Hartzell retired from the firm in this city and during the fall of the same year Judge C. J. Scofield, having retired from the bench, again became a partner and the old firm style of Scofield, O'Harra &
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIENT'
Scofield was resumed, the connection be- ing continued until the Ist of March, 1899, when it was dissolved. Judge Sco- field still practices in Carthage, while T. J. Scofield is one of the prominent law- yers of Chicago. Mr. O'Harra practices in all of the courts and is now located in an office on Main street, where he has one of the finest law libraries of the city. It is the theory of the law that the counsel who practice are to aid the court in the administration of justice and this Mr. O'Harra has endeavored to do. He is careful to conform his practice to a high standard of professional ethics and never seeks to lead the court astray in a mat- ter of fact or law, nor does he endeavor to withhold from it a knowledge of any fact appearing in the record. He treats the court with the studied courtesy which is its due and indulges in no malicious criticism because it arrives at a conclu- sion. in the decision of a case, different from that which he hoped to hear. Calm. dignified, self-controlled, free from pas- sion or prejudice, he gives to his client the service of great talent, unwearied in- dustry and broad learning, but he never forgets that there are certain things due to the court. to his own self-respect and above all to justice and a righteous ad- ministration of the law which neither the zeal of an advocate nor the pleasure of success permits him to disregard. He has achieved distinction as an able lawyer of his district and he deserves it.
In connection with his law office Mr. O'Harra maintains a money loaning de- partment, making loans on farms and thus placing about five hundred thousand dollars per year. Ile is moreover a di-
rector in the Hancock County National Bank, a director in the State Bank of Au- gusta, and has been a director of the Car- thage Building & Loan Association since its organization in May, 1885. He is likewise a director in the Carthage Elec- tric Light & Power Company and a di- rector in the Plumb Brothers Brick & Tile Company and several other industrial cor- porations. He has made judicious invest- ments in real estate, owning some unim- proved property in Carthage together with the Shoreham Hotel and his own resi- dence. He likewise has farms in Hancock county and has thus placed his money in the safest of all investments-real estate. His strict integrity, business conservatism and judgment have always been so uni- versally recognized that he has enjoyed public confidence to an enviable degree and naturally this has brought him a lu- crative clientage.
Aside from what he has done for the city through the line of his business and professional activity Mr. O'Harra has given many hours to public service and Carthage has benefited by his efforts in her behalf. He has always been a stanch democrat and for four years, from 1886 until 1890, served as mayor of the city. giving a public spirited and businesslike administration. He was also president of the school board for a number of years and for fifteen years has been a member of the board of trustees of Carthage Col- lege. His co-operation can be counted upon for every measure and movement that promises to advance the general wel- fare and while working toward high ideals he uses practical methods.
On the 14th of October. 1880. Mr.
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('Harra was married to Miss Eliza J. old home place in Harmony township ; Burner, who was born in Hancock county, Eliza J., now Mrs. O'Harra : and Olive. who resides with her sister. Mrs. O'llarra. October 25. 1856, and is a daughter of Isaac S. and Jane .A. ( Lionberger ) Bur- Unto Mr. and Mrs. O'Harra have been born five children. all born in Carthage. but the eldest died in infancy. Clifton Junius, born May 23. 1884, was gradu- ated from the high school of Carthage in 1902, completed the course in Carthage College in 1906 and intends to become a member of the bar. Edith May, born May 22, 1886, is a graduate of the acad emy. a preparatory department of Car- thage College, and is now a semfor in the more advanced institution. Gladys June, born June 8, 1890. is a junior in the high school. Roswell Burner. born March 30, 1892, is a student in the Car- thage High Schools. In 1892. Mr. O'Harra built an elegant residence at the corner of Main and Washington streets. He is a man of domestic tastes, devoted to his family and finding his greatest hap- piness at his own fireside. He has, more- over. great reverence for aged people and the most thorough respect for all things which tend to uplift mankind and develop an upright character. His home is noted for its gracious and almost limitless hos- pitaltiy, Mrs. O'Harra taking great pleas- ure with him in the entertainment of their many friends. Mr. O'Harra is an Odd Fellow. has passed all of the chairs in the local lodge and has several times been representative to the grand lodge. His wife has also filled all of the offices in the Rebekah lodge and has for several years been its representative to the Re- bekah assembly. She is treasurer of the Woman's Club of Carthage, president of the Public Library Association and for ner. both of whom were natives of Page county, Virginia, the former born Marchi 21. 1817, and the latter April 21. 1820. Mr. Burner was a farmer by occupation and in 1837 came to Hancock county. traveling all the way on horseback. Ile settled in Harmony township and rented a log cabin, in which he lived for a few years, when he purchased land and built a log cabin, living in true pioneer style upon the frontier of the ever receding west and aiding in changing its pioneer conditions into those of an advanced and enlightened civilization. He voted with the democracy and held several local of- fices and was recognized as a local party leader, his influence carrying weight in the councils of the party. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Baptist church, in which he served as dea- con. He lived upon farms in Harmony township for fifty years and died sudden- ly November 3. 1886, at the home of Dr. Carlton, to whom he had gone for med ical attendance. He was invited by Dr. Carlton, an old-time friend. to remain to dinner and passed away at the table. His wife survived until October 31. 1890. and both lie buried in Harmony cene- tery. In their family were ten children. of whom seven are yet living. as fol- lows: Amanda E., the widow of Samuel F. Ramsey, of Harmony township: Am- brose C., and George S .. of the same township : Fannie A .. the wife of Henry Harter, of Sabetha. Kansas: Alice B., the wife of Philip L. Dailey, living on the
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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEI'
several years was president of the Floral Guild. Mr. O'Harra started in life with limited means, teaching school in order to provide the funds necessary to enable him to study law and at the time of their marriage he and his wife had but very limited possessions. He purchased his first law library with borrowed money and he has inherited nothing, but has accu- mulated all by his industry, supplemented by ambition and the development of his native powers and talents. It is true that his chief life work has been that of a remarkably successful lawyer but the range of his activities and the scope of his influence have reached far beyond this special field. He belongs to that class of men who wield a power which is all the more potent from the fact that it is moral rather than political and is exer- cised for the public weal rather than for personal ends.
EDWARD CHERRILL.
Edward Cherrill. president of the Ex- change Bank at Carthage, was born in London, England, June 17, 1838, a son of Adolphus and Elizabeth (Wood) Cherrill, who were likewise natives of London, born in 1808 and 1813 respect- ively. The father came to America in 1838, bringing with him his wife and two children, first locating in Jackson- ville. Illinois. They had spent six weeks on the water as passengers on an old-time sailing vessel. He had been brought up
in a silk warehouse, where were employed fifty-two young men known as Bradbury's Pack, and while living in England ac- quired a classical education as a prepara- tion for a profession. He moreover pos- sessed considerable artistic skill and when a young man and even later in life did creditable work painting in water colors. He was always a great reader and a man of scholarly attainments, and he likewise enjoyed outdoor life. He was married on the 15th of December. 1835. in St. George's church, in Hanover Square, London, to Miss Elizabeth Wood, who had spent her girlhood days in that city, had acquired her education in the schools there, and had been received into the Episcopal church at an early age. Two children were born unto them ere they emigrated to America. On coming to Hancock county in 1842 they built a house on a farm near Augusta, where they lived for several years in true pioneer style. In 1847. they removed to Carthage, Mr. Cherrill turning his attention to mer- chandising, which he followed in partner- ship with Mr. Sholl for many years. He was thus closely associated with the business development of the city. With events that marked the history of the city and county he was closely associated, taking an active part in the Mormon war and in other incidents of those early times. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and he served one term as county treasurer of Hancock county. His life was made up of good deeds and he left to his family a record of which his children and grandchildrn have every reason to be proud. His character was such as commanded the respect of the
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entire community. He recognized and called forth the good in others and in his own life displayed those sterling traits which work for good citizenship. He passed away in 1877. and was laid to rest in the Carthage cemetery. Mrs. Cherrill is still living in Carthage, at the advanced age of ninety-two and possesses her men- tal and physical faculties to a remarkable degree and has looked after her own household and other affairs until the past year. While devoted to her family she has always found time to perform many acts of kindness and charity and is great- ly beloved by her own children and the entire community. She is a most enter- taining and companionable lady, relating many interesting reminiscences of pioneer life and of the early days in Hancock county.
Mr. and Mrs. Cherrill were the parents of six children. Emily became the wife of Francis M. Corby, and for some time they lived in Chicago but both are now deceased. At one time Mr. Corby was county clerk of Hancock county. Ed- ward is the second of the family. Mary became the wife of Dr. J. K. Bonde, of Carthage, but both are now deceased. the Doctor having passed away in Washing- ton, D. C. Rose C. is the deceased wife of H. E. Griswold, of Atlantic. lowa. Ellen married Colonel James B. Cahill. who was lieutenant colonel of the Six- teenth Illinois Infantry. They were at one time residents of Carthage but both are now deceased. The Colonel was in- ternal revenue collector at Warsaw and Quincy, acting as collector for the district in the latter place A. N. Cherrill makes his home in Carthage. Grace Amelia
died when a young lady, of malarial fever which she contracted on a camping trip in Missouri.
Edward Cherrill was educated in the subscription schools of Hancock county. He lived in Carthage but owing to the pioneer condition of the country and the fact that the public-school system had not yet been organized, he was sent to a country school called Hickory Flat. where. however, he was under the in- struction of a very competent teacher. Soon after leaving school he received the appointment as deputy county clerk under Claiborne Winston, and subsequently he attended Illinois College and the State University of Indiana. After leaving college he went to St. Louis, Missouri. where he was employed in the counting house of Doan. King & Company and afterwards with J. W. Booth & Sons until 1864. when he returned to Carthage. Here he became identified with banking interests of the city as cashier of the Hancock National Bank, which position he occupied for ten years. The bank was originally established by his brother- in-law, Mr. Corby and Mr. Ferris. . \t a later date Mr. Cherrill was cashier of the Union Bank in Quincy for three years but in 1876 returned to Carthage. where, in connection with his father-in- law. Jacob Sholl. he established the bank- ing house of Cherrill. Sholl & Company. known as the Exchange Bank of Carth- age. The house remains virtually the same although Mr. Sholl is now de- ceased. A. N. Cherrill. a brother of our subject. entered the institution soon after it was established and is still connected with it. Edward Cherrill being now presi-
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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEI'
dent of the institution. Throughout periods of general financial stress or gen- eral prosperity this bank has continued on the even tenor of its way with an un- assailable reputation. following a safe, conservative policy which has inspired public confidence and secured a liberal patronage.
On the 10th of June, 1869, Mr. Cherrill was married to Miss Susan Agnes Sholl, who was born in Winchester. Ohio. Her father, Jacob Sholl, was a native of Penn- sylvania, and her mother. Mrs. Maria Sholl. of Ohio. In the year 1854 he came to Carthage and was engaged in merchandising before he became identi- fied with the banking interests. His po- litical allegiance was given to the repub- lican party but he was without aspiration for office. In the family were four chil- dren. three of whom are now living : Alexander, who was a captain in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Regi- ment in the Civil war and is now residing in Quincy, Illinois : Jacob Mack, of Carth- age, who is a National bank examiner ; Mrs. Cherrill. One brother. David Sholl, who was the third of the family. was killed in a skirmish at Thompson's Hill during the Civil war. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sholl have passed away and their graves were made in Moss Ridge cemetery.
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