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 6
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EZEKIEL RUCKER.
Ezekiel Rucker is a retired farmer liv- ing at the corner of Scofield and Locust streets in Carthage and although about eighty years of age he keeps his home place in a most neat and attractive condi- tion. He was born in Crittenden, Grant county, Kentucky, in 1827, his parents be- ing Morning and Julia (Reese) Rucker, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father dealt extensively in horses. which he shipped to the New Orleans market. At an early day he removed to Kentucky, where he continued in active business but both he and his wife passed away many years ago, their remains being interred in an Illinois cemetery. Mr. Rucker was a democrat in his political views, and his wife was a member of the Methodist church. In their family were seven children.
E. Rucker of this review is now the only surviving member of the family, and in the year 1837, when a youth of ten summers, he accompanied his parents on their removal from Kentucky to Schuyler county, Illinois. There he acquired his education in one of the old-time subscrip- tion schools, the building being a little log structure with puncheon floor, slab seats and mud and stick chimney. There were no nails used in its construction, even in making the roof and the little room was poorly lighted. The methods of instruction were very primitive, too. butt he succeeded in learning the common branches of learning and afterward took up the cooper's trade in Schuyler county. Later he engaged in farming there on his own account until 1864, when he sold his
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ILINCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
property and removed to Hancock county. settling in Carthage township on a farm of two hundred and twenty acres of arable and productive land. He then carried on general farming and stock-raising until 1884. when he retired from active busi- ness life. U'p to this time he had kept his fields under a very high state of cultiva- tion and added many modern improve- ments to his property and had carried on the work of development until his farm was one of the best in this part of the state. As the years passed, through the sale of his crops he added annually to his income and possessing a comfortable com- petence, removed to the city of Carthage, building a dwelling at the corner of Sco- field and Locust streets.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Rucker chose in early man- hood Miss Pauline De Lashmutt, to whom he was married February 20. 1849. She was born in North Carolina in 1826. a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John De Lashinutt, who located in Rushville, Schuyler county, Illinois, prior to 1837, being among the early settlers of that county, where the father followed farm- ing as a means of livelihood. When called to their final rest he and his wife were buried in Schuyler county. In their family were seven children, the surviving members being Ananias, Thomas, Wil- liam and Frank, all of whom are residents of Kansas; and Mrs. Rucker. Thomas De Lashmutt was a soldier of the Six- teenth Volunteer Infantry throughout the Civil war and was under command of General Sherman. Mr. and Mrs. Rucker have never had any children of their own but out of the goodness of their hearts
have reared two, Adaline and Brown. The latter is the wife of George Elliott, a resi- dent of Missouri, and has seven children. The former became the wife of Thomas Metcalf and is now in California. She separated from her first husband and she has since married Mr. Burlell. She has three children, Willie. Arthur and Stella.
Mr. Rucker is a democrat and has served as school director and as road su- pervisor but has never been very active in politics, preferring that others shall hold office. He was one of the early members of the Masonic lodge jn Hancock county and at all times has been true to the teach- ings of the craft. Although nearly eighty years of age he is very active. He is a man of quiet disposition but has been a great reader and is an intelligent gentle- man, well informed on current events. His success has been acquired entirely through his own efforts and he is now in comfortable circumstances. Ile and his wife have been married for more than fifty-seven years-a remarkable fact -- and they enjoy the respect of friends and neighbors in large measure. Mr. Rucker receives the veneration and esteem which should always be accorded one advanced in years, whose life has been worthily spent.
JAMES E. MORRISON.
James E. Morrison, engaged in general farming and stock-raising near Hamilton. Iris been assistant state veterinary sur- geon since 1800 and is widely known by
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BIOGRAPHICAL RET'IEI'
reason of his official service and his ac- tivity in his private business affairs. He was born in Madison county, Ohio, March 31. 1844, and represents one of the old families of Pennsylvania, in which state his grandfather. Ross Morrison, was born. William R. Morrison, father of our subject, was likewise a native of the Keystone state and having arrived at years of maturity was married at Plains City, Union county, Ohio, to Miss Relief C. Hager. a native of Vermont and a daughter of Amos Hager, also of that state. Mr. and Mrs. William R. Morri- son began their domestic life upon a farm near Plains City, Ohio, where they re- sided until October. 1850, and then started for Illinois, making the journey by wagon. They were nearly four weeks upon the road to Hamilton and they spent the winter in a log cabin about two and a half miles south of this city. In the spring of 1851 they removed to a rented place Jin Wythe township, where they lived for four years, at the end of which time Mr. Morrison bought one hundred acres of land on section 34, Montebello township. It was unimproved save that a small shanty had been built thereon. It was not fenced, however, and he fenced it. dug wells, built barns and generally im- proved the place, making it a good farm. while the fields responded readily to the care and labor he bestowed upon them. His attention was devoted to general agri- cultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred in August. 1880. while his wife passed away in 18go. In their family was a daughter, Mollie, who now the wife of John .A. Price.
James E. Morrison, the elder of the two
children of his father's family, was a little lad of six summers when the trip was made across the country from Ohio to Illinois. He attended the common schools of Montebello township and in the summer months worked in the fields, sharing in all of the labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was eighteen years of age when on the 12th of Au- gust. 1862, he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Eight- eenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Mississippi and he was in all of its battles with the exception of that of Thompson's Hill on the Ist of May, 1863. He sustained several gun-shot wounds, but would remain in the hospital only long enough to have his wounds heal. On the 21st of August, 1865. he received an honorable discharge and with a cred- itable military record returned to his home. He then resumed farming upon his father's place and having assisted the veterinary surgeon of the army. he has since practiced the profession in connec- tion with the occupation of farming and since the year 1900 has been assistant state veterinary surgeon. In 1874 he bought fifty acres of the home farm. whereon he erected a house and barn and he has since added to the property until he now has one hundred acres, while his wife also owns one hundred acres. He carries on general farming and stock- raising, keeping horses, cattle and hogs. and in the development of the fields he uses the latest improved machinery and annually harvests good crops.
On the 15th of April. 1875. Mr. Mor-
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rison was married to Miss Lydia Dar- nell, who was born in Warsaw, Ilinois, February 26, 1856, and attended the com- mon schools. Her parents were Caleb and Mary ( Tremble ) Darnell, both of whom were natives of Kentucky and at an early day became residents of Warsaw. Illinois. In the family were the following children : Bertha, who died in infancy : Mamie: Nellie, the wife of Harry Den- nis, of Hamilton and the mother of ene daughter: Arthur, Fred, William, Ray. Elta and Gwendolyn, all at home. Mr. Morrison casts his ballot for the men and measures of the Republican party and has filled a number of offices, serving twice as collector and also in the positions of constable and school director. He has at tained high rank in Masonry, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery. his affiliation being with the commandery at Keokuk. He is a member of the Christian church and the principles which have permeated his life are those which work for good citizenship and for intellectual and moral progress.
HON. O. F. BERRY.
Hon. O. F. Berry was born at Table Grove, MeDonough county, Illinois, Fcb ruary 10, 1852. He is a son of Lee Berry, a native of Virginia, who, com- ing to Illinois, settled upon a farm in McDonough county, where he resided im til his death. By his first marriage he had two children, but the younger of these. John Berry, was killed while serv-
ing in the navy in the Civil war. The elder, Charles L. Berry, who served in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illi- nois Mounted Infantry until the close of the Civil war, is now a contractor of Wichita, Kansas. After losing his first wife he married Martha McConnell, a na-
tive of Pennsylvania. O. F. Berry is the elder son of the second marriage and his brother. M. P. Berry, is equally well known in Carthage as a lawyer and bank- er. The father died in 1858 and the mother in 1860, their remains being in- terred at Table Grove, Illinois.
O. F. Berry was educated in the com- mon schools in Fountain Green town- ship. Hancock county, and in early life and until he was twenty-one years of age he worked by the month as a farm hand. After his marriage he purchased a small farm and lived upon it one year. In 1875 he came to Carthage and took up the study of law in the office of Mack & Baird, attorneys of this city. Following his admission to the bar he immediately formed a partnership with Judge Thomas C. Sharp. now deceased, and later the firm became Sharp & Berry Brothers. He has practiced continuously in all the courts of Hancock county from that time to the present and has conducted impor- tant litigation in the federal and state courts with gratifying success, winning well earned fame and distinction. He believes in the maxim. "There is no es cellence without labor," and follows it closely. About six years ago his brother. M. P. Berry, retired from the firm and @ F. Berry is practicing as the senior miem- ber of the firm of Berry, Mccrary & Kelly.
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
His attention. however, has not been confined exclusively to his legal interests, for in 1903 he joined his brother, M. P. Berry, in establishing and opening the Dime Savings Bank, of which he is presi- dent and M. P. Bery is cashier. He is also president and general manager of the Mississippi Valley Telephone Company and was a trustee and attorney for Car- thage College for fifteen or sixteen years.
His political history has become a mat- ter of state record. He was chairman of the republican state convention in 1896 and 1906. He was the first mayor of Carthage, serving for three terms, from 1888 until 1894, and is again the chief executive of the city at this writing. in 1906. In 1888 he was elected to the state senate, wherein he served continu- ously until 1900 and then, after an in- terval of two years, was elected to fill a vacancy and re-elected in 1904. He is president pro tem. of the senate, was act- ing governor from August 27th to Sep- tember 4. 1906, and isone of the recog- nized political leaders of the state. It will be observed that his turn of mind is emi- nently judicial and free from the bias of animosity. Strong and positive in his re- publicanism, his party fealty is not grounded on partisan prejudice and he enjoys the respect and confidence of all his associates, irrespective of party. Of the great issues which divide the two po- litical organizations, with their roots cx- tending down to the very bed rock of the foundations of the republic, he has the true statesman's grasp. Well grounded in the political maxims of the schools, he has also studied the lessons of actual life, arriving at his conclusions as a result of
what may be called his post-graduate studies in the school of affairs. He was general attorney for the insurance de- partment of the state under Governor Tanner's administration. He was special attorney of the Lake Front cases in Chi- cago for Attorney General Hamlin and chairman of the special committee of the senate in 1897 to investigate Chicago po- lice management and justice courts. He was likewise chairman of the senate com- mittee to investigate the Globe Savings Bank and the treasurer of the university school fund under Governor Altgeld's ad- ministration. At the present writing he is receiver of the Peoria National Bank.
On the 5th of March, 1873, Senator Berry was married to Miss Anna R. Barr, of Fountain Green, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1850, a daughter of Da- vid and Jane (Barr) Barr. Her father was a mechanic, who prior to the Civil war removed to Iowa and about 1865 came to Illinois. He enlisted in Iowa as a member of the Union army and served throughout the period of hostili- ties. He followed his trade in Illinois until his death in 1870 and his wife passed away in Carthage in 1902. They were faithful members of the United Presbyterian church. They had five chil- dren, of whom four daughters are living : Elizabeth, who is the widow of John S. Duffy and resides in Carthage; Mary A .. who is the widow of William T. Camp- bell and lives in this city: Nannie J., of Carthage: and Laura, the wife of Wil- liam T. Duffy, of Waverly. Kansas.
Mr. and Mrs. Berry became the par- ents of five children, one born in Fountain Green and four in Carthage. Of this
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HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
number three died in infancy, while two American Revolution. He has been pros- lived to be fourteen years of age and all perous in his business affairs, yet there is no man in Carthage who respects wealth for wealth's sake as little as he does. Ilis means, however, have enabled him to be a generous contributor to many charities and good works and he never fails to lend a helping hand when solic- ited to do so. Hle belongs to that public- spirited, useful and helpful type of men whose ambitions and desires are centered and directed in those channels through which flow the greatest and most perma- nent good to the greatest number. He is naturally of a quiet and retiring dis- position and has not been an active seeker for the glamor of publicity, but his rare aptitude and ability in achieving results make him constantly sought and often bring him into a prominence from which he would naturally shrink were less de- sirable ends in view. are buried in Moss Ridge cemetery. They now have an adopted daughter. Lenore. who at the age of twelve years is attend- ing the high school of Carthage. In 1897 Mr. Berry built his beautiful modern res- idence ou Walnut street. He also owns much other property in the city and county. He himself built eleven of the new houses that were erected in Carthage in 1905 and he has built and sold alto- gether thirty homes. In connection with his other interests the firm of which he is a member is conducting a real estate business. Mr. Berry is a Royal Arch Mason and is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his wife are members of the Presby- terian church and he was chairman of the building committee at the time of the erection of the two new churches that have been built in the last five years, the former one having been destroyed by fire. He has been again and again chosen trus- tee of the church and has long served as superintednent of the Sunday-school. He takes a most active and helpinl part in church work, contributing generously of HENRY C. BYLER. his means to its support and giving free- ly of his time and attention to further its Henry C. Byler, a representative farmer of Durham, his native township. was born August 30. 1855, his parents being David and Matikla Catherine ( Cun- ningham) Byler. The father, a native of Tennessee, was a son of John and Sarah ( Hayworth ) Byler and was born Novem- ber 6. 1819. His life record covered more than the psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten. as he passed away development and extend the scope of its activities. He is frequently called upon to make addresses to the Men's League and his labors have been of direct and im- mediate serviceableness in the church work. His wife has been treasurer of the missionary society for many years. She also belongs to the Woman's Club and to the society of the Daughters of the +
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
on the 2d of April. 1894, when in the sev- enty-fifth year of his age. He lived a suc- cessful farmer in Adams county, Illinois, from 1836 until 1851. In the spring of 1851 he purchased the homestead at Dur- ham Centre now occupied by his widow and removed to Hancock county, where he resided until his demise. The place comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 9. Durham township. Prospering in his undertakings, so that his financial resources increased, he bought more land from time to time until he became the owner of twelve hundred acres of as fine land as can be found in Illinois. He thus won a place among the substantial residents of the state and his life record was indeed commendable, as his success came as the legitimate result of carefully directed effort and honorable dealing. For over thirty-one years he was a member in good standing of Dallas City lodge No. 235. A. F. & A. M .. and filled nearly all of its offices. His early political support was given the republican party but he afterward joined the ranks of the democracy. For more than a half century he was a member of the old school Baptist church, which he joined in Adams county in 1840. He held all of the lead- ing offices in the church and he donated a part of his home farm as a church site and erected thereon a nice frame structure to be used as a house of worship by the Bap- tist denomination. This was in 1881 and the buikling is still put to its original use. He was very liberal. the poor and needy finding in him a warm friend. while in many other ways be displayed his gen- erity. His fellow townsmen gave evi- dence of their appreciation of his worth
and ability by electing him to many posi- tions of public trust. For over fourteen years he served as county supervisor. For the long period of thirty years he held the office of justice of the peace and for twenty-eight years was township treasurer. He was ever faithful to the trust reposed in him and his long contin- uance in office indicated the implicit con- fidence given him by those who knew him. He was a man honored and respected by all and was most highly esteemed where he was best known. His wife, Matilda C. Byler, died April 12. 1857, and was buried in Durham cemetery, the subject of this review being at that time only two years of age. She was his second wife and there were born to this union four chil- dren, of whom Henry C .. is the youngest. The others are: Gracie Jane, who became the wife of Calvin Stiles and died in La Harpe in September, 1899: and Joseph and George W., both deceased.
Henry C. Byler, the only surviving member of this family, was educated in the district schools of Durham township and remained at home until twenty-one years of age, after which he engaged in farming on his own account on his father's land for nine years. He was mar- ried at the age of twenty-one to Miss Em- ma J. Toof, who was born in Durham township. October 20. 1859, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary ( Atherton ) Toof. The father was born in Franklin county. Vermont, February 29. 1820. and the mother in Ohio. July 24. 1823. Her death occurred in 1877. At an early day they became residents of Hancock county. settling on a farm, and in their family were seven children : Henry, living in Nc-
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braska: Ella, the wife of John Heisler. L., living in the same township: Arthur who is represented elsewhere in this and Samuel L., who are resident farmers work: Daniel, of Nebraska: Emma J .. of that township; Mary. the wife of IT. now Mrs. Ramsay, of Dallas City: John W .. of California : Kate, the wife of Wil- liam Phipps, of Oklahoma ; and Clara, the wife of David Shain, of California.
After living in Durham Centre on his father's farm for nine years Mr. Byler re- ceived as a gift from his father one hun- dred and sixty acres of good land on sec- tion 33. Durham township. There was a house upon this place, which he has since improved, making it a comfortable mod- ern residence. He has also added many other equipments and improvements to the farm and he has now a valuable prop- erty of one hundred and forty acres which is under a high state of cultivation. At one time. following his second marriage. he engaged in the hardware business in Dallas City for two years.
On the 13th day of July. 1899. Mr. By- ler was married to Mrs. Anna E. Hamil- ton, who was born in Pontoosue town- ship. June 16, 1867, and is a daughter of F. C. and Nancy ( McAuley) Little, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York. Both came to Illinois in 1829 and they were nineteen years of age at the time of their marriage. Mr. Little was a farmer by occupation, thus providing for the support of his family. In his political views he was an earnest republican and held a number of township offices. ITis wife died at the old home in Pontoosuc township in 1877 and the father is still living upon that place. In their family were eleven children, of whom eight yet survice. namely : Melissa. the wife of J. A. Lamb, of Pontoosue township : Martin
Il. Longshic, of Pontoosue township: Mrs. Byler: Flora. the wife of Robert AAlston, living near Hamilton, Illinois ; and Frank G., of Dallas City. In early womanhood Anna E. Little gave her hand in marriage to Thomas B. Hamilton, who was born in MeDonough county, Illinois, in 1864, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hamilton, of Blandinsville, both of whom are now deceased. Their only child was Thomas B. Hamilton, a most respected and worthy citizen of Hancock county. who died in 1897 and was buried in Pon- toosuc township. He left three children who are now living with Mr. and Mrs. Byler, namely: Mabel G., born July 18. 1888: Otis F., born AAugust 16. 1890: and Anna Irene, March 7, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Byler are now the parents of one child. Velna G., born July 7, 1903. By his first marriage Mr. Byler had four children. Frank L .. the eldest, born Sep- tember 24, 1878, and now living in Dur- ham township, married Miss Georgiana B. Lamb and they have three children. Vera. Naysee and an infant son. Ressa . V. Byler, who attended the high school of Dallas City and is a graduate of the high school of Aurora. Nebraska, of the class of 1902. makes her home in Ne- braska but is now engaged in teaching in the high school of Dallas City. Joseph I .. born September 30, 1887, died May 4. 1801. Versel, born July 5. 1804, is a student in Dallas City high school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Byler hold membership in the Baptist church and he is a member of Burnside Lodge 385. A. F. & A. M. of
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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEIT
Burnside. He also belongs to the Mod- ern Woodmen camp, while his political allegiance is given to the democracy. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs. He is recognized in the community as a good neighbor and as an enterprising in- dustrious man, who has made a creditable record in his business life and who en- joys the respect and esteem of many friends. .
JACOB REISELT.
Jacob Reiselt, whose position in public regard and affection is indicated by the fact that to his many friends he is known as Uncle Jake, resides on a farm in Dur- ham township near La Harpe and is classed with the prominent and repre- sentative residents of the community. He was born in Germany, March 1, 1829. His parents. Jacob and Anna (Sponer) Reiselt, were also natives of that coun- « try and in the year 1842 came to America. landing at New York, after a voyage of thirty-nine days made on the ship Oneida. They settled in Franklin county. Ohio, near Columbus, taking up their abode upon a farm there in the month of August. Six months later the father purchased a farm of forty-two acres in Hamilton township. Franklin county, where he car- ried on farming for many years or throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in October, 1885. His wife survived until 1890 and was then laid to
rest by his side in Walnut Hill church cemetery in Ohio. Mr. Reiselt had served for six years in the German army in his native country. Emigrating to America he became a loyal son of his adopted coun- try and as the years passed by his care- fully conducted business interests brought to him a gratifying measure of success. Unto him and his wife were born seven sons and five daughters and of their fam- ily four sons and three daughters are yet living, namely : Henry, living in Oakland, Ohio; Waltham, of Columbus, Ohio; Jacob, of this review ; Lewis, of Nebras- ka: Bina. the wife of Charles Kale, of Columbus, Ohio; Elizabeth, the wife of John Gates, also of Columbus; and Mary, the wife of John Claud, living near Ohio's capital city.
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