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 16
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Mr. Ganson served two terms as justice of the peace at that place, and a member of the county board of supervisors for four years. In the fall of 1873 he was elected county clerk of Mason county, which important office he still holds. It is a work of super- ogation to add that the duties pertaining to these offices, have been faithfully and unostentatiously discharged.
He was married in 1859, October 2d, to Miss Mary Rawalt, and · since installment in his present official position, has made his resi- dence in Havana.
May "Through a long life his hopes and wishes crowned, And bright in cloudless skies his sun go down; May bliss domestic smooth his private path, Give energy to life, and soothe his latest breath."
SAMUEL H. INGERSOLL.
Prominent for many years in the business interests of Forest City and of Mason county, has been the individual whose name heads this sketch. He was born in IS28, in Medina county, Ohio.
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In 1849 he went from Cleveland, Ohio, to California, and remained there until 1855, when he came to Mason county, which has since been his home.
He married in 1859 to Miss Lois A. Van Orman, of Ohio, and their very pleasant home ornaments the side of one of those beau- tiful undulations or prairie swells south of Forest City. His busi- ness has been farming and milling, and his rare judgment and busi- ness tact has made both financial successes. He has been called by his neighbors to serve them at various dates and in various humble but useful home offices, in township and schools; but it has been in continued re-elections and long and efficient service on the county board of supervisors that his judgment and influence have been most useful to the people of Mason county.
Mr. Ingersoll is one of those rare combinations of pleasant, gen- ial sociability, and square, rigid, frank business talent. The orna- mentations that surround their tasteful residence indicate refinement and æsthetie cultivation, the more valuable on account of its rarity. Mr. Ingersoll is the artificer of his own fortune; self-reliant and prudent, consequently successful, illustrating the fact that the shad- ows that cross the pathway of our lives are those we make by standing in our own light."
SAMUEL C. CONWELL, EsQ.
Mr. Conwell has been engaged in the practice of law in Havana for a long term of years, and perhaps as well known throughout our county as any other member of that profession. He was born in the State of Deleware, August 27, 1819. Came west, and located at Havana, in 1840, and has since been a resident thereof. In December, 1841, he married Miss Mary A. Walker, daughter of James Walker, of Walker's Grove, at an early date. He was admitted to the bar, January 27, 1851 ; his license was signed by Judges Treat and Trumbull.
During a residence in Indiana, previous to his removal to Illinois, he was a neighbor to, and also graduated with, Gov. Hendricks, the present Democratic candidate for the Vice-Presidency of the United States. Mr. Conwell is an extensive land owner in this county, and has served as county school commissioner several
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terms. His family consists of four daughters and a son, viz: The wife of J. F. Kelsey, the wife of Fred. Pollitz, merchant of this city, and the wife of W. H. Campbell, Esq., and a daughter at home.
CHARLES CONWELL,
The son above referred to, was born in 1852, in Havana, mar- ried, in 1874, to Miss May Stevens, of this city. Was admitted to the bar, in 1875, at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and is engaged in the practice of law with his father.
JOHN W. HOLZGRÆFE,
Was born in Hanover, Germany, in ISOS. Emigrated to America, in 1836, and to Mason county, in 1839, where he has since resided. He was married, in 1836, has five sons and one daughter, viz: G. William, G. Henry, G. Lewis, G. Brantz and G. Frank, and these five sons are among the successful business men of Havana and vicinity. During his residence in this country, he has been engaged in farming, of which he has made a fine for- tune, and is now enjoying a tour in Europe, re-visiting his youthful home and fatherland.
It is a conceded fact, that the family will weigh more avoirdu- pois than any other family in Mason county, all being of a large size, and of splendid physique.
ROBERT G. RIDER.
Dr. Rider was born March 14, 1831, in Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio. When about five years old, his parents removed to near Logansport, Indiana, where his father died. The mother then removed with the family to Pennsylvania, where the Doctor attended the common schools till the age of fifteen years, when he entered Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, continu- ing there four years. He then commenced reading, in Washing-
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ton, Pennsylvania, continuing there three years. He then attended medical lectures, in the Iowa Medical University, at Keokuk, Iowa. In the spring of 1853 he went south, and settled near Mobile, Ala- bama.
He remained in practice until the fall of 1856, when he came to Mason county, and settled where the town of Topeka now stands. In the spring of 1857, he married Harriet M., daughter of Aaron Littell, late of that vicinity.
In the fall of 1862, he recruited Co. K, S5th Vol. Inf., was elected Captain, and soon after promoted to Major, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. He resigned his commission, in Savanah, Georgia, returned home and resumed his profession. In the spring of 1876, he removed to Havana, where he continues the practice of medicine, and the superintendence of a fine farm, south of Forest City.
The medical qualifications of Dr. Rider are of a high order, and a varied experience in his profession to which few men attain. He stands second to none in his profession in Mason county.
HON. MATHEW LANGSTON.
The somewhat eventful history of the present subject compels more than usual brevity. He was born in Rutherford county, Tenn., June 24, 1824, and removed with his parents to Missouri, at an early age, and from Missouri to Illinois, in 1828, and settled in Morgan county. From there he removed to Mason county, in IS50. He was the first justice of the peace in Egypt precinct, now Manito township, clected in 1853, and frequently re-elected thereafter. When township organization was adopted, in 1862, he was elected first supervisor from Manito township.
He was mustered into the United States service, as Captain of Co. A, 85th Ill. Vol. Inf., August 27, 1362, (see roster of that regi- ment, in military department of this work,) where he served cred- itably and acceptably, and resigned, Jan. 11, 1863.
Mr. Langston had also seen military service in the Mexican war for one year, having enlisted at Winchester, Illinois, June 23, 1846, and was in the memorable battle of Buena Vista, where his com- pany suffered severely. Some details of the organization and
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leaving home of the company of Capt. Langston, in 1862, we have been unable to obtain, but were published in the papers of Taze- well county at the time. We refer to some peculiarly happy re- marks by the Captain, on the occasion of a flag presentation to his company.
, He was elected a member of the 27th General Assembly, and and has served as county judge, and all the home offices pertaining to townships, schools and corporations. He removed to Kansas, in October, 1873, and, like all who leave Mason county, he returned to make it his lifelong home, Feb. 24, 1875. This matter of emi- grants from Mason county returning here for a permanent home, has become proverbial. We bid them good-bye, knowing we shall soon hail their return. The manner in which Mr. Langston dis- charged his official duties is best illustrated by his continued and frequent re-election.
The estimation placed on him by his friends is told in the fact of his invariable promotions to higher and more responsible positions. When stubborn, rigid facts in a man's history is flattering to him, then, and then only, is he flattered in this work. This is the case with our subject. The acts of his life are their most eloquent en- comium.
JAMES WALKER
Removed from Dearborn county, Indiana, to Walker's Grove, in 1837, and there raised the family so largely identified with both the early and later interests of Mason county. The family consisted of George N., William W. and Robert; also, the daughters, who are now Mrs. Luther Dearborn, Mrs. S. C. Conwell, Mrs. C. L. Waldron and Mrs. G. A. Blanchard.
James Walker died in Havana, at an advanced age.
George N. Walker, the oldest son, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, September 4, 1816. He engaged in business in Havana in 1844, in merchandise and grain, and some of the most prominent men whose biographies are given in this work, refer to the busi- ness tuition received in an early day, in his employment. In 1839 he married Miss Frances Livingston, who, with him, for these thirty-seven years, shared the vicisitudes and the fortunes of life.
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Their family consists of five sons, the eldest of whom is a promi- nent physician at Forest City-Dr. James Walker, whose abilities have placed him in the front rank of his profession. We have not the data to refer in detail to the other members of this very prom- inent family, but suffice it to say, that the family and the relation- ships thereof, continue now, as they have done since 1837, some of the leading business interests of the county. George N. Walker removed to Peoria in the winter of 1863, as Superintendent of the Illinois River Packet Company, where he still resides, in a general commission business and grain trade.
ALEXANDER STUART.
Mr. Stuart for near forty years has been a substantial, well to do citizen of Mason county, his home having been here permanently since his first arrival. He was born in county Derry, Ireland, and a model representative of that nationality to whom our country is indebted, to them and their descendants for some of the best minds it has ever afforded in church or State affairs. The date of his birth was in 1815; emigrated to America in 1835, and settled in Mason county in 1837. During his residence here he has most of the time been engaged in a mercantile and grain business. He run the steamer "Navigator" in 1837.
The first boat up the Illinois river was the "Utility," in 1826. He married Miss Gardiner, in 1846, a member of one of the old families of this county. She died in 1856. Mr. Stuart is a large property owner, and has ever been prominently identified with the interests of his home and community, especially in public improve- ments, which have always been advanced by his co-operation and his money.
He was elected justice of the peace in 1843 to 1847, and nearly always a member of the town board since the incorporation of Ha- vana, and was the first town treasurer, and is justice of the peace at the present time. In school and township offices he has had a large share of service. The decisions rendered by him in the capa- city of justice of the peace have been models of impartiality and of fairness, worthy the imitation of others of more pretense.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
Many interesting incidents in the early history of this part of the county could be given in this connection, did space permit, which it does not. Upright, honest and reliable in all the relations of life, is the most candid record we can make of the character of our subject.
JOHN H. SCHULTE.
A native of Hanover, Germany, and came to America at the age of thirty-eight years. He settled in Mason county in 1837. His business was general merchandise in Menard, Mason and Cass counties. On his settlement in Mason county in 1837, he establish- ed what was and is now known as Schulte's Landing, at the Mounds, south of Havana, on the Illinois river. Here he engaged in the grain trade, and was very successful in all his investments and business undertakings. His sons are among the prominent men of the county, one of whom is now deputy county clerk. Du- ring the time he did business at the Landing the shipments ex- ceeded those at Havana. He died Sept. 1845.
JOHN H. DIERKER.
Mr. Dierker is a representative of that nationality to which the United States is indebted for very many thousands of her most prosperous citizens and substantial men of worth and merit, being born in Hanover, Germany, August 15, 1799, and is now conse- quently past his three score years and ten, and nearing the four score. He came to America in 1838, and settled in Mason county, and has since been a resident thereof.
The year succceeding his location here he married Miss Mary C. Heye. They have had four children, two of whom are living, viz: the wife of Lewis Hahn, and the wife of Henry Hahn, sub- stantial farmers of this vicinity. He came to America a poor man, and by his industry, prudence and good management, has become one of the wealthiest men of the county, and has, perhaps, donated more to benevolent and religious enterprises than any citizen of this vicinity.
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. The first we ever heard of him was to hear him spoken of 20 years ago as emphatically the friend of the poor. His wealth has not been obtained by narrow and penurious dealing, but he has ever been noted for.generous open-heartedness, and from him the poor never went empty away. Though his sun is now declining into the western horizon, he enjoys good health, and is quite active for his years. The hand of time has touched him gently. He has long been identified with the German Lutheran Church of Havana, the financial interests of which have been in a most healthful state on account of that relationship. His sense of right is his law, do- ing unto others as he would that they should do unto him. Long may his family, his church, and his acquaintances enjoy his society.
DR. G. W. PARKINS.
The gentleman whose name heads this article, is, we believe, the oldest practitioner in Mason county. He was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, December, 1821, removed to Ohio in 1832, was educated for his profession, and began practice in Springfield, Ohio, and came to Illinois in 1850. Realizing that it was "not good for man to be alone," in the then somewhat primitive region of Illi- nois, he married, in 1853, March 9, to Mrs. R. Maxwell, widow of Gen. George W. Maxwell. The family consists of a son, now a young man of more than usual abilities, who is being educated in Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Parkins are among our well-to-do, substantial people. They reside in a pleasant home, on the south side of the public square, in Havana, "and along the cool sequestered vale of life, they keep the noiseless tenor of their way," highly respected by their numerous friends and acquaintances.
The Doctor is one of the few men who combine common sense, in large proportion, with his medical attainments, in the practice of his profession, and is consequently very successful.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
DR. JOHN S. WALKER.
Dr. Walker was born in Shelbyville, Indiana. His father, Rob- ert Walker, removed to Mason county, Illinois, in 1845, where his family have lived most of the time since.
Dr. Walker enlisted in the 85th Reg., Ill. Vol., at its first organ- ization, and served about two years. He left the army on account of sickness. After recovery, he studied medicine, at Lexington, Missouri, and attended Medical College, at St. Louis, and gradu- ated at St. Louis Medical College, in the spring of 1869.
He married, in Chicago, in April, 1870. He practiced medi- cine in Forest City, until March, 1873, when he removed to Man- ito, where he has had an extensive and increasing practice in medi- cine and surgery. He is also engaged in the drug business.
His lucrative profession, and close application to business, is making him very successful, financially as well as professionally.
JAMES MONROE RUGGLES,
Was born in Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, and at the age of fifteen, engaged in the printing business. In 1837, he came to Illinois, and continued that business till 1846. Meanwhile, he had studied law, and had been admitted to the bar fin 1844. In 1846, he came from Winchester, Scott county, and settled in the town of Bath, then the county seat of Mason county, and engaged largely in merchandising, which was continued until the beginning of the war, in 1861. From 1846 to 1851, there was a fierce contest rag- ing through the county, over the removal of the county seat from Bath to Havana, and Mr. Ruggles fought the battle for Bath against largely accumulated odds. In 1852, without his knowledge, he was taken up by the Senatorial District Convention, composed of the counties of Sangamon, Menard and Mason, and elected to the Senate, where he served four years, with credit to himself and friends. During this time, Mr. Lincoln was elected to the Lower House, and as a constituent of Mr. Ruggles, solicited his support as a candidate to the United States Senate, which was given with cordiality, in the contest of 1855, which resulted in the election of Lyman Trumbull.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
In the winter of 1856, the disintegration of the old Whig party being in progress, a meeting of the Whigs, and all the elements opposed to the party then in power, was called at the State House, participated in by the most prominent politicians of the old Whig party, and at that meeting a committee, consisting of J. M. Rug- gles, Abraham Lincoln and Ebenezer Peck, was appointed to draft a platform and resolutions. Both the other members of the com- mittee being engaged, that work devolved, exclusively, on Mr. Ruggles, who, unaided, drew up the platform, which was the first declaration of principles upon which the Republican party was founded.
At the state convention the same year a large number of the delegates were instructed for Mr. Ruggles for Lieutenant-Gover- nor, but he declined in favor of a German candidate, to influence the strength of that important element. In 1844 he received the vote of his party for state printer, without his knowledge or solici- tation. In 1850 he began the agitation of the question of an Illi- nois River Railroad, and when elected to the Senate, prepared a charter and had it passed, (see railroad history otherwheres.) and as chief corporator, worked manfully, from one end of the line to the other, until stock was subscribed to complete the organiza- tion and begin the construction. During the existence of that cor- poration he was an active director and manager of the enterprise.
He also projected and located the road from Bath to Havana, now traveled by teams. To him is also due the credit of draining a large scope of country in Havana, Bath and Kilbourn townships, before a desert waste, and now among the most fertile of Mason county.
In July, 1861, Governor Yates tendered him a commission 'as Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the Ist Illinois Cavalry, which he accepted, and went into the service in Missouri, under Gens. Grant and Curtis. He was promoted to Major of the 3d Cavalry, in which regiment he remained until mustered out in 1864. At Pea Ridge he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and was a part of the time in command of the regiment. At the close of the war he was made a Brevet Brigadier-General, for meritorious services.
In 1868 he was appointed by Hon. Charles Turner, Circuit Judge of this judicial district, Master in Chancery for Mason county, which position he held for two years, and resigned. In all these various official positions, aught besides strict official duty Mr.
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Ruggles has not known. His official acts are the seals of his in- tegrity. Possessed of a competency, (a 1,200 acre farm,) he spends his time in leisure and in travel. Of fine literary and æsthetic taste, he enjoys, and is sought by, the best classes of society.
DR. T. T. SCOTT.
Was born at Bushnell, Ill., April, 1845; educated at Rushville, Illinois; came to Mason county in 1874, and engaged in the prac- tice of his profession, having been practicing seven years before his settlement in this county. He married, Dec. 7, 1875, to Miss Ella Campbell. They reside in Bath. Dr. Scott is an efficient and capable member of his profession.
DR. MILES H. ALDERSON.
Was born in Hart county, Kentucky, September 19, 1841; next to the youngest of a family of fourteen children; had limited educa- tional advantages before the age of sixteen years. He began the study of medicine in Barren county, Ky., under a competent preceptor, and in 1866 entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Graduated in 1867, and settled in Mason county, Illinois. In 1868 the Kentucky School of Medicine con- ferred his degree. Dr. Alderson now resides in Bath, and is a very successful practitioner, combining excellent judgment with medical skill and ability.
RUBEN HENNINGER.
Among the early settlers the gentleman named above was con- spicuous, and the Henninger family have held no second position in their influence in the community from then to the present time. Ruben Henninger was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in ISO1, and is seventy-five years old this centennial year. He mar- ried in 1823 to Susan Boyer; had ten children, eight of whom are living and residents of Mason county. They are, Angeline, wife
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of S. Frankinfield, of Havana; Frank and John, wealthy farmers, east of Havana; Amanda, wife of B. F. Howell (see biography); Ruben A. and Daniel, also able farmers; Cyrus, now deceased; Susan, wife of C. C. Fager, of Havana; Jane, deceased; Sarah, wife of George Shaneberg, an able farmer; and all substantial and prosperous.
He removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1832, and to Illinois in 1842, to Mason county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming practically, and, consequently, successfully in all his under- takings and investments. He was married a second time to Mrs. Fager, in IS48. She is the mother, by a former marriage, of Messrs. John F., Harry A. and C. C. Fager, substantial citizens of Havana. These children and their numerous grand-children and several great-grand-children, all in this county, form one of the most interesting families it has been our fortune to record, and com- prise an amount of health, vigor, enterprise, wealth and prosperity that falls to the lot of few. The old gentleman has spent three- fourths of the century our government has existed as a citizen thereof, and his numerous descendants are the substantial represen- tives of the greatest industry pertaining to our country, to-wit: the agricultural.
MARK A. SMITH.
Second son of Amos Smith, Sr., was born August II, ISII, in Hancock, Addison county, Vermont ; was married October 15, 1837, to Eliza A. Wait; September 12, IS39, started with his family from their native home in the Green Mountains, for the grand old prairies and beautiful groves and rivers of Central Illi- nois, and landed at Moscow on the 15th of October, making the journey in five weeks, via. New York and Erie canal, Lake Erie, the Ohio canal from Cleveland to the Ohio river, then by steamer to St. Louis, and up the Illinois river to destination. Their oldest child was taken sick during the journey, and died Dec. 12th, IS39. At the time of landing at Moscow, his earthly wealth and entire fortune, aside from his own strong arm and will, consisted of thirty- seven cents, in silver comfortable clothing, and a very few house- hold goods. Dependent on him was the nursing and care of a wife and sick child. When landed, the family and goods were left on
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the bank of the river, and he went to explore the town, and for a team. The town consisted of two log cabins, very open; two sacks of corn were in the loft of one of them, and the squirrels were performing their morning gymnasium exercises on the roof. These were the only inhabitants that could be found. He traveled about six miles to a Mr. Abbey's, procured a team and returned about three o'clock for his family and goods, who, like good sol- diers, had held their position on the river bank, during his six hours' absence. Arrived at Mr. Abbey's, three families were domiciled in one room till more cabins could be built.
The next two years were spent in the diversified employments of earning a living, earning a team, and shaking with the ague, principally the latter, which engaged a large share of the attention of the early settlers. At the end of two years he "squatted" on a 1 quarter section of land, three-fourths of a mile south of the present site of Sny Carte, and began improving it, and at the end of an- other two years borrowed a hundred dollars and purchased from government eighty acres of the land. He retained the money bor- rowed for nine years, when the interest (12 per cent.) amounted to one hundred and eight dollars. At the end of that period he own- ed six hundred acres of land in the vicinity, and had one hundred and sixty in cultivation.
In 1852 he was elected one of the justices of the peace in Lynch- burgh precinct, which office he filled with great acceptance for four years, and, though strongly solicited to be a candidate for re- election, he declined that honor.
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