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 79
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Mr. Brown chose as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Flor- ence Doolittle, to whom he was married November 3. 1880. She is a native of Appanoose township, and is a daughter of Amzi and Sarah M. (Welch) Doolit- tle, natives of New York and Tennessee respectively. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born two sons: Frank, born June 8. 1883. and John, born October 11. 1888. both with their parents. Mr. Brown gives his political support to the Democratic party and has served as school
director of his township. He has ever been diligent and persevering in all that he has undertaken and through industry and economy is working his way upward, being classed among the progressive ag- riculturists of Hancock county.
BENJAMIN F. THATCHER.
Benjamin F. Thatcher, representing the agricultural interests of Hancock county, was born January 7. 1861, in Adams county, Ohio. His father, like- wise a native of the Buckeye state, was a blacksmith by trade and served as a val- iant soldier during the Civil war, enlist- ing as a member of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment. He died in a southern hos- pital during his service at the front. The mother bore the maiden name of Rowan- na Palmer, and was also born in Adams county, of the Buckeye state. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, four sons and three daughters. of whom our subject is the sixth in or- der of birth.
Benjamin F. Thatcher acquired his ed- ucation in the common schools of his native state and spent his boyhood and youth under the parental roof. For a time after leaving home he lived with a family by the name of Shaffer in Darke county. Ohio, and on attaining his ma- jority, in company with George W. Holines, he went to Kearney, Nebraska. where he was employed in various ways for six years, a part of that time being
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spent on a ranch there. It was during his residence in the west that he was mar- ried, July 13. 1885. to Miss Ella Nelson. who was born in Hancock county, but was then making her home in Buffalo county, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth ( Wade) Nelson, both natives of Illinois, while her pater nal grandfather. George C. Nelson, and the maternal grandparents, Greenberry and Margaret ( Scott) Wade, were born in Kentucky.
Following his marriage Mr. Thatcher remained for several years in the west but in 1802 returned with his family to Hancock county, the journey being made with team and wagon. He arrived in La Harpe township in May of that year and in the following September went to Ottumwa, Iowa, being employed for ser- eral months on the construction of a rail- road there. He then returned home. where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits, leasing land until 1900, subsequent to which time he purchased a tract of fifty-three acres, located on section 30, La Harpe township. There were few im- provements upon the place when he took possession but he has erected good build- ings, set out an orchard, containing apple. peach, plum and cherry trees, has fenced the place, and altogether has an excellent farm property, of which forty acres are devoted to general farming, while the re mainder is fine pasture land, in which are seen good grades of stock, including Po land China hogs and Polled Angus cattle. He also raises poultry, making a specialty of the Plymouth Rock breed, and he finds this branch of his business is proving very profitable.
Unto our subject and his wife Hise been born two Sons andthree daughter . namely: George Dan. w , Was Will May 5. 1880: Milhe May, bom April 10. 1888: Claud C., July 13. 1893. 1.ilk Goldie E. April 28, 1900; and Deneby F ... October 10, 1903. While Mr. The er supports democratic principles he is active in the work of the party preferring to give his undivided time to his bust ness interests. He balls member hip with the Christian ( mon church at l Harpe. Starting out my hie on his own responsibility without capital he his worked his way upward from a humbe financial position and whatever succes le has achieved is due entirely to his own well directed labors and strong purpose.
NOAH MCCORD
Noah McCord represents the rich ag cultural district of Hancock county, where he is carrying on general formin. 00 stock-raising. He is a native son of this county, his natal day beig Lebrunins s 185.1. a son of Jolm W. and Nancy ( Man ifold ) MeCord, both mitives i Leiter see In their family are ir four daughters, of when our she's 4 the seventh in order ci both
Noah McCord acquired his ental ) in the Bradsling disti ; and father's bomle and south assistel lig faller & de op entierof the leme firme e bung Mali his parents utils n rence Seslen
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ber 27, 1877, at which time Miss Frances Long became his wife. She is likewise a native of Hancock county, her birth having here occurred January 6, 1858, a daughter of David and Mildred ( Child- ress) Long, the former a native of Ohio. and the latter born in Fountain Green township, this county. Her father accom- panied his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Long, on the removal to Henderson coun- ty, this state, in the year 1840, and her parents were married in this county, thus becoming early settlers of this portion of the state. The father passed away Oc- tober 22, 1895, while the mother survived until October 14, 1896, when she, too. was called to her final rest, having reached the age of fifty-three years, her birth hay- ing occurred in 1843.
Following his marriage our subject rented a farm in McDonough county, to which he took his bride. their home being in Hire township. One year latter he re- moved to another farm, this being lo- cated near La Crosse, and he there con- tinued his farming operations for six years, subsequent to which time he re- moved to La Harpe township, Hancock county, where he operated rented land during the succeeding six years, and through his industry and economy at the end of that time he was enabled to invest in property, becoming possessor, in 1802. of one hundred and sixty acres of land. lying on section 10. This was a partially improved tract but since Mr. McCord has taken up his abode here he has made many modern and substantial improvements. He has added to the original residence so that he now has a modern country home, and has also erected barns and
sheds, has fenced the place with wire fenc- ing, and has set out a good orchard, from which he gathers good crops of fruit in season. In 1902 he added to his original holdings by the purchase of an eighty-acre tract lying on section 9. and in 1905 added a second eighty-acre tract but in the spring of the present year he disposed of eighty acres, so that he now has two hundred and forty acres, and his is one of the finely improved and pro- ductive tracts of this section of the state. In addition to his agricultural pursuits he also engages in the raising of cattle, horses and hogs, and this branch of his business is proving a profitable source of revenue to him.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. McCord have been born four children, of whom two died in infancy. Those who survive are: Mabel, born January 1, 1882, the wife of Roy E. Hancock, engaged in the dray business at La Harpe; and Cleola May, born January 29, 1887, and now the wife of Clarence Ketchum, of La Harpe. The deceased are: Ardie Clark, who was born July 18, 1878, and died June 29, 1880; and Atley Clyde, who was born March 17. 1896. and died October 24, 1898.
Mr. McCord's study of the political questions and issues of the day has led him to give his support to the Democratic party. He held the office of school di- rector for nine years but aside from this has never been active in public affairs. Fraternally he is identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to lodge No. 653. at La Harpe. His integrity and energy have been salient characteristics in his business life and he
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
enjoys the full confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.
JOSEPHE V. MANUSSIER.
Joseph V. Manussier, well-known in Hancock county as a prosperous and prominent resident of Basco, and as a business man, who has controlled and still has important interests, was born in Mar- tigny les Lamarche, France, in 1848, and his parents. Claude and Marguerite ( Poincot ) Manissier, were also natives of that country. the former horn in 1826 and the latter in 1820. The father came to America in 1852 but returned in 1855. However, he once more crossed the It- lantic to the United States in 1850 with his family and remained in this country until 1873. In that year be and his wife re-visited the land of his birth and on March 1. 1861. he settled in the vil- lage of Basco. During the first three years of his residence in America he lived in Ohio, but throughout the remaining time spent in this country he made his home in Basso, where he continued to re- side until his death, which occurred in 1880. In his fraternal relations he was a Mason. His wife came to America in 1859 and made a visit to France with her husband in 1873. She died in 1803 and they lie buried in Basen cemetery ()[ their three children two were born in France. Joseph V. and Charles, the latter now a resident of France. One son. Au- gust, was born in this country and live- in Basco.
Joseph V Manusster acquired hits carly education in france, and came to America with his parents m 1859 He remamel with his father until twenty two years of age and then started ont in hie on his own account, completing his arrangements for having a home of his own by his mar- riage to Miss Ermente Sylvester, who was born in Ohio, in 1855, and is a daughter of Joseph and Pelagie ( Surrey ) Sylvester, who were also naties of France. The father was a wagonmaker by trade and arrived in America in 1852. settling in Ohio. Later he became a resi- dent of Warsaw. Illinois, where he died about 1801. His widow still survives him and has reached the age of eighty three years. She died October 20. 800 They have two daughters, both living. the elder being Eloise. the wife of Juhus han net. of Warsaw.
Following his marriage Mr. Mannssier rented land from his father and thereon engaged in farming for five years In 1870 be removed to Basco, and in 1870 became connected with C Cachnes in . Insiness enterprise which they continue for eighteen months. The partnership was then dissolved in 1877 and for ten years thereafter the firm war Dans Manussier, the partner of our subject In ing Lyman Dott. They conductual / gel eral store with good success and 00en Mr. Doty retired the firm Incite mussier & Night, while the successin
Im & Company He tom, Tapetes V Hauser withher from the tenant seling ins interest. andthe the In imes under the firm pare of Dammer
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& Manussier, which was continued for Creek township. He also has twelve acres two years and then became Manussier & Son. An admission of another son to the business has made the firm style of Ma- nussier & Sons. They own and control the only clevator in the village, with a ca- pacity of twenty thousand bushels of grain and they handle both grain and stock. Mr. Manussier is likewise president of the Basco Bank. His business interests have thus been varied as well as important and he is continually enlarging the scope of his activities, each step in his career being a forward one and bringing him a broad- er outlook and greater opportunities. He has accomplished whatever he has under- taken by reason of his force of charac- ter. his unfaltering perseverance and his unflagging industry.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Manussier have been born five children. all born in Bear Creek township, and three are now living. Charles, who married Minnie Tieman, and has a daughter. Vera. is engaged in business with his father. Joseph married Lulu Biggs, by whom he has a daughter, Fairy, and their home is in Basco. Jen- nic, who attended a private school in Chicago, a student of music under Emil Liebling, a famous pianist. is now en- gaged in teaching music in Basco, and likewise has pupils at West Point and at Bentley. In 1890 Mr. Manussier built an elegant home on Main street in Baseo. It is the largest residence in the village and one of the most attractive features. The scene of a cultured society circle, one of its chief charms is its warm-hearted and gracions hospitality. Mr. Manussier also has a fine vineyard and owns one hundred and fifty four acres of ground in Bear
north of Basco where his creamery stands, eighty acres below Warsaw and several lots in Basco. He is largely a self-made man. His wife received fifty dollars from his father as a present and he was given a team of horses by his father. This was all the inheritance which they received and thus they practically started out in life empty-handed. Today Mr. Manussier is one of the prosperous residents of the county, due to his fidelity and enterprise. He has readily recognized and utilized op- portunities, and constantly broadening the scope of his activity, has, through his well directed energy, gained a place among the leading business men of this locality. Never making engagements that he has not filled nor incurring obli- gations that he has not met. he enjoys to the full extent the respect and good will of those with whom he has been associ- ated. In politics he is a democrat and has served as school director, while he and his wife are devout members of the Cath- olic church and their social prominence places them among the leaders in society interests in Basco and this part of the county.
SCOTT G. LIONBERGER.
Scott G. Lionberger, whose farming interests are represented in an excellent tract of land in Fountain Green township, which was the oldl family homestead. was born in Pilot Grove township, this county,
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November 22, 1854. and is the second in order of birth in a family of four chil- dren, whose parents were Hamilton and Eliza ( Bainter ) Lionberger. The father was born in Page county, Virginia. Sep- tember 2, 1817, and the mother, a daugh- ter of John Bainter, was born in Madison county. Ohio, January 24. 1822. Hannl- ton Lionberger came to this county in the spring of 1836 and settled in Pilot Grove township with his parents. He was mar- ried November 23, 1852, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the same township. Two years later he sold that property and bought two hundred and forty-six acres on sec- tion 6. Fountain Green township, about one-half of which was under cultivation while the remainder was covered with timber. He erected some new buildings and also remodeled those that were al- ready there, carrying on the work of im- provement along many lines. He set out many soft maples for shade and put the place in fine shape. He died there .August 6. 1884. and his wife passed away April 20. 1890. In their family were four chil- dren : John, who was born December 2 1. 1853. and died in infancy; Scott (. ; Carlos, of Scotland county, Missouri : and Amelia, the wife of G. W. Schlackett, of Memphis, Missouri.
Reared to the occupation of farming. Scott G. Lionberger attended the Kiss ville district school and was also a student in Carthage College for six months. He remained upon the home farm until his marriage, which was celebrated March 25. 18So. Miss Fannie A. Parker becom ing his wife. She was born in Harpers- field. Delaware county, New York, and
the high school at Fountain Green. Her parents were Wilham and Mary ( Young) Parker. Her father was born i Ban bridge, New York. September 5. 1827. and was a son of James and Sarah (Me- Cauley > Parker, while her mother was born in Delaware county, July 12, 1827. a daughter of Hugh and Sarah . Camp- bell ) Young. Mrs. Liumberger's parents came to Fountain Green township in the spring of 1867, and the father purchased eighty acres of land, which he cultivated for some time and then sold. He then removed to Keokuk, lowa, where he died February 14. 1800, while his wife passed away May 23. 1888. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lionberger have been born three children : Harvey Lay, who was born February 1, 188t, and is now in Spokane, Washing- ton: Hubert Earl, who was born Decem her 26, 1883, and is in Fountain Green township: and Mary Frances, born June 5. 1803.
After his marriage Mr. Leonberger be- gan operating the old home place and subsequent to his parents death be pur- chased the interest of the other herr- int the home property. There is now about fifty acres of timber land, while the is mainder is used for pasture land and im general farming. In addition to til: the soil and raising the crops best and play to climatic conditions lere, Le des rome shorthorn cattle. Duros Jeres las and Morgan and Percheron hurses. Jev . high grades of stock upon his plue th branch of his business being an moramo source of revenue to him
In his political views Mr Lederee is a democrat and is conversant wolf shie
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dominant party issues. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and he is a member of the Christian church at La Crosse, in which he has served as a deacon since 1902. He is interested in its work and does all in his power to pro- mote its progress.
LEWIS F. GEORGE.
Lewis F. George is the owner of one of the finest farms in Hancock county and western Illinois. It is situated in Foun- tain Green township, and the beautiful modern residence which stands in its midst is indicative of the spirit of prog- ress which dominates the owner. His stock, too, is of the highest grades and everything about the farm is in keeping therewith and shows Mr. George to be a man of excellent business ability and executive force. .
Born in Fountain Green township. April 19, 1868, he is a son of Henry and Martha ( Balsley ) George. The father was born in Weisenhasel Hesse Cassel. Germany, June 24, 1825, and the mother's birth occurred near Staunton. Angusta county. Virginia. June 22, 1831. The former was a son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Schaffer ) George, and the latter a daughter of Jonathan Balsley. In 1848 Henry George, Jr., came with his parents to America from the fatherland and set- tled in Augusta county, Virginia. where they were farming people and continued to reside until 1867. The father of our
subject then removed with his family to McDonough county, Illinois, where he lived for one year, and then came to Fountain Green township, purchasing eighty acres of land on section 13, then under cultivation, while a house and barn had also been erected. The parents of our subject had been maried in Sherando, Virginia, February 28, 1854. and had lived upon rented farms there until com- ing to Illinois. Mr. George lost heavily through the depreciation of Confederate money at the time of the Civil war and after coming to the west he lived upon a farm upon which his father died. and whereon he and his wife spent their re- maining days, his death occurring March 14. 1899, while his wife passed away Feb- ruary 26, 1904. In their family were four children: Mary. the wife of Man- sel White, of Blandinsville, Illinois ; Mrs. Elenora Virginia White, of La Plata, Missouri; and Emma, the wife of F. S. McElherne, an attorney of Chicago.
Lewis George, the only son, attended the Hickory Grove district school, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his parent's home. When twenty-one years of age he rented a farm in Fountain Green township and continued its operation until the death of his father, when he came into possession of the old home farm of nine- ty-three and a half acres, of which eighty acres lies on section 13, and the remainder on section 23. Fountain Green township. About seventy acres were under cultiva- tion and the remainder in timber and pas- ture. Mr. George has carried on general farming. One year before his marriage he purchased eighty acres on section 14. of the same township, nearly all of which
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was cleared. Upon it stood an old legamy county, New York, Match ") frame house which was built In his wife's grandfather as a school house in the '30s. It was he who also milt the first frame barn in the county. Mr. George and his wife occupied the old frame house until 1893, when he erected a large modern residence, heated with hot water. He has also an appliance for making gas from gasoline, used for both lighting and cooking and he has air pressure system for foreing water to any part of the house. Outside of the cities there is no finer home in Hancock county. and its furnishings are both luxuriant and comfortable without evidences of display. but on the contrary, indicating a refined taste. In 1896 he built a large barn and in 1898 purchased an old church which he converted into a granary. In 1905 he built a cattle shed and he has a large Fair- bank's wagon scale. installed in 1806. 11e has put up a large windmill, and a well over one hundred feet deep supplies the house and stock with water. The farm is most complete in every detail and indi- cates the most modern progress in agri- cultural lines. Mr. George, in connection with the cultivation of the fields, raises Belgium dratt horses, also road horses. shorthorn cattle and Duroe and Poland China hogs. His business interests are also further represented by six rural tele- phone lines which he owns.
On the 7th of June. 1893. Mr. George was married to Miss Nellie B. White, who was born in Warsaw, Ilinois, January 15. 1867, and was educated in the public and high schools there. Her parents were William Harrison and Eunice F. ( Beebe ) White. the former born in \-
1817, a son of Jaiy and Lucinda White while Eunice 1. Beebe was born March 30, 1827. in Cattaraugus county, New York, a daughter of Jabez and Sophia \ ( White) Beebe. Jabez Beche was born m January, 1799. and died in 1871 Viter the death of his first wife le mar- ried her sister. Martha Watte He came to this township m 1832. among its call- liest settlers and gave to it the name of Fountain Green. He was the owner of the land whereon the village now stand- and also owned tracts for miles around Jary White came with of teams from New York in 1835 and settled in the same locality, where he lived umil his death William H. White first married Irene 1. Foy. a native of New York, who the April 27. 1851. They had two children -one who did in infancy, the other. Emory B White, of Clarion, Iowa The mother of Mrs. George died December ;. Scott, of Muscatine, Iowa; Henry C. vi Spokane, Washington: Mr. George; and Lucy M. the wife of Wesley Engel, of Brighton, Iowa.
Unto Mr and Mrs. George have been horn two children : Philip karl, born De cember S. 1808: and Martha Ruth. Vi- vember 20, 1900. The parents are hberal contributors to the Christian church, of which Mr George has been a trustee stille 1903. He votes the republican ticket and in the spring of town was derted road commissioner for a two years team Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of Fountain Green and the Odd Fellow. of Blandingville Well known in the county where his en
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tire life has been passed he is thoroughly in touch with the most modern methods of farming and his business experience and sound judgment are elements in a success which places him in the foremost rank among the representatives of agri- culture in Hancock county.
HENRY BRICKER.
Henry Bricker, who since the age of fourteen years has been dependent upon his own resources so that the success which he has achieved and enjoyed has come as the merited reward of his earnest labor and perseverance, is now living in Montebello township, where he owns a good farming property on section 34. He is one of Hancock county's native sons, for he was born in the old historic town of Warsaw, November 23, 1865. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Het- rick) Bricker, both of whom were na- tives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. They became residents of Warsaw carly in 1864, in which year they crossed the Atlantic from the fatherland to the new world, hoping in this country to secure a more substantial pecuniary reward for la- bor than could be obtained in their native land. Mr. Bricker purchased thirty acres of land, whereon he engaged in general gardening, in raising grapes and in the manufacture of wine. At a later date he sold that property and purchased a resi- dence in Warsaw, where he now makes his home. His wife, however. passed
away in 1892. In their family were four children, namely: Henry, of this review ; Annie, the wife of C. A. Wegenhenkel, of Wythe township; Otto, of Lura, Mis- souri; and Amelia, the wife of J. D. Pig- gott.
Henry Bricker was a student of the public schools of Warsaw in his early boyhood days, and at the age of fourteen started out to earn his own living, be- ginning work in this vicinity in the em- ploy of Owen Pence, of Keokuk, and A. I .. Miller, of Hamilton, who were pro- prietors of a dairy. From that time aft- erward Mr. Bricker has provided for his own support, and following his marriage he took up his abode upon a farm of eighty acres in Prairie township. The only improvements upon the farm were a small house, which was surrounded by a fence. In later years Mr. Bricker made additions to and remodeled the house. built a barn, fenced his place and other- wise improved it, transforming it into a good property. After two years he sold that property and bought seventy-seven acres on section 34, Montebello township. He has a good set of farm buildings and his residence stands well back from the road with a fine lawn in front. adorned with shade trees. It shows every evidence of care and improvement, and Mr. Bricker is numbered among the progressive agri- culturists who keep in touch with modern ideas of farm life in all his work. The fields are devoted to the cereals best adapt- ed to soil and climate and he also raises Durham cows and Poland China hogs.
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