USA > Illinois > Mason County > Centennial history of Mason County, including a sketch of the early history of Illinois, its physical peculiarities, soils, climate, production, etc. > Part 15
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
fair for very many long years of happiness, and the enjoyment of the good things of the world.
The business abilities of Mr. Schwenk are of a high order. His first official positions were township collector and school treasurer, etc., in Manito township. In 1872 the people of Mason county desiring to place in the office of circuit clerk a man of ability, hon- esty and worth, discussed the subject very closely, and placed Mr. Schwenk in that important office, the duties of which have been discharged with such fidelity that he is a candidate for re-election.
A pleasant family of boys and girls enliven their home, parta- king, like their parents, of special healthfulness peculiar to the de- scendants of that nationality.
DANIEL CLARK.
Mr. Clark was born in Warren county, in ISIS; removed to In- diana in 1827, where he remained seven years, and removed to what is now Mason county, in October, 1834. At that time there were less than twenty families in Mason county, and but two houses in Havana.
(The reader will please see article on Salt Creek Township.)
In 1848 Mr. Clark married Miss Abigail Chase. His principal occupation has been farming. When he located on Salt Creek the country was nearly all in a state of nature, not one thousand acres had yet been entered in Mason county. Mr. Clark has been one of the substantial men of the county, and served a full share in the school and township offices, commissioner of highways, etc.
Though not rich he is possessed of a competency, and feeling that he had done his share to make the world better since his resi- dence in it, he has retired from active labor, and since 1874 his home has been in Mason City.
Twenty years ago the writer lost his way on the Salt Creek bottoms, overtaken by a very dark night. About twelve o'clock we found the home of Mr. Clark, and were glad to receive his kind hospitalities for ourself and team. His kindness to us has since then been a pleasant recollection.
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E. A. WALLACE.
Mr. Wallace was born at Antrim, New Hampshire, June 7, 1843. Graduated at Henniker Academy, Henniker county, N. H., and from Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass., June, 1867: admit- ted to the bar at Boston, Mass., June, 1867; commenced the prac- tice of law Nov. 4th, 1867, at Havana, Illinois, as partner of Hon. Lyman Lacy. Married Dec. 27, 1869, to Miss Gertrude Lightcap, daughter of H. W. Lightcap, then of this city.
It is only necessary further to state that Mr. Wallace is a rising young attorney, of fine abilities, and an extensive and increasing practice.
E. B. HARPHAM.
Dr. Harpham was born in the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1814, and removed to what is now Ohio county, Indiana, in 1819, and from there to Mason county, Illinois, locating at Havana, in November, 1844, or three years after the organization of Mason county. He has since then, and until the past few years, been actively engaged in the practice of medicine, and since 1856 inter- ested in the drug business in Havana. He was county school com- missioner several years and president of the first board of trustees of the town of Havana.
We are handed by Dr. Harpham the original list of the inhabit- ants of Havana, when a canvass was made in 1848, when the peo- ple were called on to vote for or against incorporation, which we shall copy in the history of Havana. He also hands us the original draft of the first ordinance passed by the town trustees after incor- poration, and a list of the subscribers, and the amount subscribed, and the amount paid by each of the subscribers to the Illinois River Railroad, now the P., P. & J. R. R. Since his residence in Mason county his interests have been very prominently identified with the public welfare; being a large property holder, and his experience and business abilities have given his opinions great weight in the community where he resides.
Did space permit we might enlarge to any extent on the inci- dents and experience of Dr. Harpham in the early history of his -22
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practice in this country, but we must forbear. Having by rigid economy accumulated a large fortune, he is now living in its quiet enjoyment, in a fine home, corner of Main street and Broadway. Though well advanced in years, the hand of time has touched him kindly, and he bids fair for great longevity and a ripe old age.
SELAH WHEADON.
Mr. Wheadon was born in Mendon, Monroe county, N. Y., November 29, IS19; emigrated with his father to Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1831, where he resided until 1835, and started for Illinois June 1, of that year. They made the trip by land to Wellsville, on the Ohio river, where they embarked on board a steamer for the then distant city of St. Louis, and re-embarked for the Illinois river and Havana, where they landed June 15, 1835. The financial condi- tion of the family was at this time at low ebb, and without the means to liquidate a hotel bill, the family were rendezvoused in the old log school house, near where the northwest corner of the court house square now is, to remain until he could return from Water- ford with teams to remove them to Lewistown.
Havana was then known as Ross' ferry. An old block house, for defense against the Indians, stood a little back from the river, where Market street now is, and a few cabins among the black- jacks, formed the town. Mr. Asa Langsford, the only resident of Waterford, sent a team of three or four yoke of oxen, to convey the family to Lewistown. The water was so high on Spoon river and the Illinois bottoms as to swim the oxen in some of the sloughs. He resided on a farm between Waterford and Lewistown from the fall of 1835 until the spring of 1854. He was married at Havana, October 18, 1847, to Francis Howard, who died in 1851. In 1853 he married Mary Howard, who died in 1856. May 2, IS58, he married Cassandra M. McConnell, who died March 7, 1869. December 8, 1870, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Hezlep. He joined the Presbyterian church in Lewistown, in IS41 or '42, and was expelled for heresy in 1851. Attended the Illinois College, in Jacksonville, in 1842 and '43, one term. Had previously studied Latin at home, going four miles on foot to recite. Commenced preaching the universal salvation of all men, October 24, 1851, at
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Matanzas. Taught his first school in Waterford, in 1844, and was the first town clerk of that locality. April 3, 1850, he was elected justice of the peace. In 1852 he taught school in Springfield for a short time as a supply. In April, 1854, he came to Havana, and in December, 1855, commenced book-keeping for Moore, Pratte & Cheek. Organized a Universalist church at Havana, March 1, 1856, of ten members, which soon increased to twenty-three; has since then organized seven or eight others, and held about the same number of religious discussions.
In April, 1857, he commenced clerking in the drugstore of Dr. E. B. Harpham ; was elected trustee of Havana on a temperance ticket in 1857, and was appointed county school commissioner the same year to fill a vacancy.
He was elected supervisor from Salt Creek township, and justice of the peace in 1863; moved to a farm south of Havana in 1864. In 1866, May 2d, he bought the "Volunteer" printing office of W. W. Stout, and began the publication of the "Democratic True Unionist." In 1870 he consolidated. it with the "Ledger," and called it the "Democratic Clarion." This publication still con- tinues in the charge of Mr. Wheadon, an able exponent of the principles of the democratic party, and of which we shall speak at length under another head. The experience of Mr. Wheadon, like all pioneer residents, has been quite various, but his abilities and versatility of talents has been his stay. Fine, natural abilities and a liberal education, and taste for literature, makes him, editor- ially, financially and politically, successful.
J. B. PAUL, M. D.
Dr. Paul was born in Solon, Maine, April 30, 1823. and received his education at an Academy in that State. Was principal in the public schools, in Houston, in 1846-'7; in Calais, in 1847-'S; and in a ward school, in Bangor, Maine, in 1848-'9-'50.
On account of ill health (bronchitis, and apparently incipient phthisic) he emigrated to the west, in 1851. Was principal of the Fourth Ward School, in Peoria, Illinois. from 1851 to '55, during which time his attention was turned to medicine and surgery, as a life business. Came to Mason county, in 1855, and was instrumen-
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tal in bringing order out of chaos in the public schools of Havana, over which he presided during the years 1855-'6-'7.
Having received the degree of M. D., from Rush Medical Col- lege, he opened an office in Havana, the following summer, for the practice of medicine. He was married, in Dexter, Maine, in 1848, to Miss Lovina G. Lawton, and an unusually bright and interest- ing family enliven their pleasant home. Dr. Paul and wife became identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858, and now constitute its strength and stay, The Doctor's experience fur- nishes another illustration of "that where there is a will, there is a way." He left home at the age of sixteen years, with a worldly estate of ninety-three cents. We find him to-day, well-to-do, self educated, and a valuable experience, with medical and literary abil- ities attained to but by few.
WILLIAM A. BARTHOLAMEW,
Was born Sept. 14, 1842, at Zanesville, Ohio. His ancestors were French Huguenots during the religious persecutions of the sixteenth century; left the vine-clad hills of sunny France, and their youthful home, and with an abiding faith in an over-ruling Providence, entrusted themselves and their families to the mercy of the winds, and the waves of the mad Atlantic. With their faces toward the setting sun, they sought and found an Asylum, in happy, free America, where they were free from religious perse- cution. They settled in the State of Maryland. The branch of the family to which our subject belongs, settled at an early day in western Ohio.
In the fall of 1852 his father came with his family to Montgom- ery county, Illinois, but returned to Ohio the following autumn. In the spring of 1860 he moved with his family to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The spring of 1861 found them again in Ohio, when William A., in his eighteenth year, enlisted under the first call for troops, and was mustered in on the 22d of April, 1861. He re- mamed in the army until 1864, and saw service under Generals Buell, Rosecrans and Sherman, and was in some of the hardest fought battles of the war, and, on his individual merit, made his way from the ranks to Captain.
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He entered the Sophomore class, of 1866, at Wittemberg Col- lege, at Springfield, Ohio, and graduated with the class, in 1869. The third of July, that year, found him in Mason City, Illinois.
That fall he registered himself a law student, with Isaac R. Brown, Esq., of that city. At that time some friends, in Ohio, de- sired him to look after their interests in California. The offer was too tempting to meet with opposition on his part, so Blackstone was laid aside for awhile, and in October, 1870, he was admiring the sublime and the beautiful scenery of the Pacific slope. Stop- ping in Kansas, on his return from California, he became ac- quainted with and married Miss Lillie, daughter of Hon. George H. Strouse, of Pennsylvania.
In September, 1873, he was back in Mason City, and again took up Blackstone, in the office of Mr. Brown. He was admitted to the bar, in June, 1875, and formed a co-partnership with Mr. Brown, for the practice of law, in Mason City. He is personally a man of pleasant address, a fluent speaker and writer, a rising young attorney, with a rapidly increasing practice, and bids fair to become a leading attorney in central Illinois.
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PETER A. THORNBURGH.
Mr. Thornburgh was born in 1815, in the State of Maryland, came west in 1839, and located in Fulton county, and removed to Havana, in 1842. It then contained eight families. Here he en- gaged in blacksmithing, the first permanent shop in the place. About ten years ago he removed about six miles southeast of Ha- vana, and became proprietor of the town of Peterville, where he now resides, and for some years has been engaged in farming.
He was married, in 1842, to Leah, daughter of James Milleson, an aged citizen of Fulton county, who still survives, at eighty- eight years of age. Mr. Thornburgh has served time immemorial in township and school offices, commissioner of highways, etc. He has long been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has all the official positions pertaining thereto. He enjoys good health, and the promise of a long life of usefulness.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
STEPHEN HOLE.
Stephen Hole was born on the site of the present city of Cincin- nati in the year 1796. He was the son of Daniel Hole, a Revolu- tionary soldier. His mother's maiden name was Bedell. In early life Stephen Hole became a citizen of Warren county, Ohio, where he was married to Mary Eddy. While quite young he was a vol- unteer in the war of 1812, and received a land warrant for services in the army, with which he entered eighty acres of land in Mason county. He removed from Warren county, Ohio, to Washington county, Indiana, in 1820. In 1833 his first wife died, leaving six surviving children, viz: James H., Joseph E., Daniel P., Phæbe E., John N. and Mary A.
Soon after this he married Lucinda Mitchell, who survives him, an honored and respected resident of Mason county.
Stephen Hole was an active and enterprising farmer in Indiana for thirty-six years; was elected sheriff of his county several times, was universally respected for his upright character, genial disposi- tion and sound judgment. There were born to him by his second wife six children, that lived to maturity, viz: Thomas A., William H., Sarah E., Louisa M., Robert M. and Kate.
In 1856 he removed to Mason county, Illinois, where several of his children had preceded him. Here he resided until his death, in 1873. He was a man whom to know was to admire.
JAMES H. HOLE.
James H. Hole was born in Warren county, Ohio, in the year 1818. With his father's family he removed to Washington county, Indiana, in IS20; received a good common school education. When seventeen years old, and for several years after, taught the winter school in his neighborhood. In 1837 visited his mother's family, the Eddy's, at Lebanon, Ohio, and clerked in the store for them. In 1840 was married to Mary D. Wible, by whom he had nine children, eight of whom are now living.
In 1846 James H. Hole and family, Joseph E. Hole and wife, and Daniel P. Hole, moved into Salt Creek township, Mason county, Illinois. March 1, 1848, he moved to Havana, and started
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a store in connection with Abram Swing, since deceased, under the firm name of Holt & Swing. This business arrangement only continued a few months, when Mr. Hole sold out to Mr. Swing. Soon after this he was elected justice of the peace. While holding that office he was employed as salesman and book-keeper by Walker & Hancock, who were at this time the largest dealers in merchan- dise, grain, etc., in Mason county.
About the year 1851 he commenced business with his brother Daniel P. This firm did a large business, both in grain and mer- chandise, for seven or eight years, and these brothers were connected in their business relations until the close of the war, in 1865.
In 1854 Mr. Hole was elected sheriff, which office he filled cred- itably. He was a candidate for a member of the constitutional convention of 1862, but was defeated. In 1862 he commenced buying corn for the government contractor. He continued in this business until the close of the war, in 1865, buying an immense amount of grain.
In 1865 he and his son Henry F. became connected in business, and in 1867 his son-in-law, Thomas Jones, was added to the firm. From 1867 to 1870 they carried on the merchandise, grain and milling business. In September, 1871, James H. Hole died, regret- ted by all good men who knew him. For more than twenty years he had been a leader in every public enterprise for the benefit of Mason county.
He was a director of the Illinois River Railroad Company (now P., P. and J.) while it was being built; was one of the board of directors that selected the beautiful site and built the old school house. His voice and means were always on the side of morals, education and advancement. He made the first republican speech ever made in Mason county. Gentlemanly, cordial and generous, he died poor. None of the vast amounts of money he had handled remained unto the end.
His widow, Mrs. Mary D. Hole, with the three youngest chil- dren, reside on a farm in Thayer county, Nebraska. The oldest son, Henry F. Hole, is a book-keeper at Fairbury, Nebraska. The oldest daughter, Mrs. M. Jones, wife of Thomas Jones, resides at Lincoln, Nebraska. The second daughter, Mrs. Pollie Keith, has just returned from Assam, India, with her husband, the Rev. Thos. J. Keith, where, for the past five years, they have been suc- cessful missionaries of the American Baptist Missionary Union.
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The third daughter is Mrs. Hattie Whitaker, wife of Capt. S. Whitaker, of Havana. The fourth daughter, Miss Clara, an ac- complished teacher, has just finished her second year as principal of the school at Belvidere, Nebraska.
JOSEPH E. HOLE.
Joseph Eddy Hole was born in Washington county, Indiana, about 1821; received a good common school education; was re- markable for his steady character, good habits and keen mind.
He was married in 1846 to Miss Clotilda Green. Immediately after his marriage he removed to Mason county, Illinois, residing for a year or more on a farm owned by Daniel Clark, (an uncle by marriage.) He soon acquired a half section of land about two miles south of the present site of Mason City. He was elected justice of the peace. He was a man noted for his correct decisions, and among his neighbors was highly respected. He died in 1855, leaving a widow and three children, all now living. The oldest child is now Mrs. E. Everest, residing with her husband and her mother on a part of the land owned by Mr. Hole at the time of his decease.
DANIEL P. HOLE.
Daniel P. Hole was born in Washington county, Indiana; came to Mason county in 1846. His first enterprise was making brick in the Salt Creek bottom. Afterwards returned to Indiana for several years, and was employed by his father, Stephen Hole, in a large steam saw-mill. About 1851, returning to Illinois, he en- gaged in business at Havana with his brother, James H., under the firm name of J. H. & D. P. Hole. This relation continued, in one way and another, until 1865. After which, for several years, Mr. Hole conducted a very successful merhandise business on his own account. May he live until the next centennial, as much respected as he has been in the past. He was married to Miss Dollie Taylor. The fruit of this union is three children.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
JOHN N. HOLE.
John Newton Hole was born in Washington county, Indiana; came to Havana about 1852. Afterwards returned to Indiana, and again to Mason county after the death of his brother, Joseph E. Hole. He settled his brother's estate, and continued a store on his place for some time. Was engaged in farming for several years. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. K, S5th Illinois Volunteers, and was elected Orderly Sergeant. Took part in the battle of Perryville, Ky., but his health failing, he was discharged from the service. In 1863 he commenced buying grain at Bath, where he resided until 1873. He was in active business there all the time, and was highly respected for his uprightness, sound judgment, and general ex- emplary character. Married in 1864 to Miss Jennie Lester; has one child, Miss Emma, now eleven years old. In the fall of 1873 he removed to Belvidere, Nebraska. There, as might be expected, he is quite popular with all classes.
THOMAS A. HOLE.
Thomas Alexander Hole was born in Washington county, Indiana; removed with his father to Mason county in 1856. Mar- ried the same year to Miss Eliza Snyder, by whom he has three children living. Engaged in farming, he has not been brought so prominently before the public as some other men, yet is much re- spected for his modest manners and unobtrusive ways. There would be fewer failures in business and less complaint of the times being out of joint if more men were like Tom Hole.
WILLIAM H. HOLE.
William Harmon Hole was born in Washington county, Ind .; removed with his father to Mason county in 1856. A farmer by nature, he has always followed it. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. K, S5th regiment Illinois Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. Went with the regiment through to the sea on Sherman's historic march. Always with his company, his tall form and broad -23
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breast must have been a fair mark for rebel bullets, yet he came home unscarred. He was married in 1865 to Miss Becca Dieffen- bacher. Several children bless this happy union.
Miss Phebe Ellen Hole resides with her widowed step-mother, on the old homestead, four miles from Havana.
Miss Mary Ann Hole occupies her residence in Havana.
Miss Sarah E. Hole married James Covington, and bore him several children, two of whom, Will and Stephen, are now living. Mrs. Covington died in 1869.
Miss Lou. M. Hole was married in 1862 [to Robert Lofton. After Mr. Lofton's return from the army, he removed with his family to Livingston county, Illinois. Afterwards to Ford county, where he died in 1875, leaving Mrs. Lofton and several children to survive him. Mrs. Lofton has recently removed to the old place in Mason county.
Miss Kate Hole married Capt. S. Whitaker, but died in 1870, much regreted.
Robert M. Hole died in 1856, aged seventeen years.
NO. CHILDREN. GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
Stephen Hole 12 children
James H. Hole S children . .. H. F. Hole. 5 children
Jos. E. Hole 3 children . . . . Mrs. Jones. .2 children
D. P. Hole. 3 children .. .Mrs. Keith I child.
T. A. Hole 3 children
W. H. Hole. 3 children .... Mrs. Whitaker. .. I child.
Mrs. Covington 2 children . ... Mrs. Everest. 2 children
Mrs. Lofton 5 children .... C. C. Hole. I child.
John N. Hole I 39+1=40+ 12=52
ALMOND JONES.
The subject of this sketch is a well-to-do, unostentatious farmer, residing in the vicinity of the well-known locality of McHarry's mill. Prominent among his neighbors are Peter Ringhouse,
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Aaron Pollard, Pollard Anno and Charles Howell. The McHar- ry mill site before referred to, was entered and improved by Julius Jones, the father of Almond, and some years deceased, and sold to MeHarry about the year 1846.
It is the purpose of this personal sketch to note the prominent characteristics of the individuals to which they refer, and to hand down to the future, those who now stand prominent as citizens of our county, and representative men. To describe the character of the individual whose name is at the head of these notes, our first impress is set forth briefly in three words, to-wit: an honest man. Comment would be useless verbiage, superfluous and unmeaning. We will close this brief note by a quotation addressed to the sub- ject of these remarks, ziz:
"Pardon the freedom I have taken, And if impertinent I've been, Impute it not, good sir, to one Whose heart ne'er wronged you, But to his utmost would befriend Aught that belonged to you."
ISAAC R. BROWN, EsQ.
Mr. Brown was born in Burlington county, N. J., Sept. 1842. His paternal ancestry came from Scotland; his mother's family is of English extraction, and came to America with William Penn. In 1856 Mr. Brown came with his parents to Tazewell county, Illinois, and from thence, in the spring of 1864, to Mason county.
He enlisted in the Union army during the war of the rebellion, and as a soldier acquitted himself with credit. When the Goddess of Peace had spread her wings over our undivided Union, and our citizen soldiers laid aside the habiliments of war, to don those of peace and home, we find Mr. Brown a student of the laws of the country in whose service he had been on the tented field. He read law with Hon. Charles Turner, of Pekin, Illinois, and was admit- ted to . the bar in November, 1867. He then located at Mason City, where he has since resided. -
Mr. Brown is another instance, so frequently met with in this country, where the way to advancement is open and free to all; of a self-made man, with no other resources but his own indomitable ·
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energies and persevering will, to aid his naturally fine legal mind, he has established an enviable reputation. There are few young attorneys in Central Illinois who have made a fairer record.
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WILLIAM M. GANSON.
It is with diffidence that we attempt to lay before a reading, intelligent public, the character of a gentleman whose native mod- esty and worth shrinks from notoriety, and whose tastes and inclin- ations lead him only in the line of duty, public or private, in what- ever position he may be called to fill. Such is the case, however, with the subject of this sketch; and such is the model we would , present, worthy of the imitation of all. He was born in Cham- paign county, Ohio, October 22, IS3S; came to Illinois in 1858, and permanently located in Mason county, in the vicinity of Mani- to, in 1859, and engaged in farming, and in the purchase of grain at the town of Manito.
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