USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, volume II > Part 13
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That Mr. Shultz was a most earnest Christian and a man of the highest principles and of sterling worth is indicated in the fact that at his death his widow received many letters of sympathy and condolence from all parts of 7
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the United States. His death occurred after an illness of only ten days and was most deeply regretted by all who knew him but his memory will be enshrined in the hearts of his friends for years to come and will remain as a blessed bene- diction to those with whom he was brought in contact.
"Were a star quenched on high, For ages would its light Still traveling downward from the sky Shine on our mortal sight.
So when a good man dies, For years beyond our ken The light he leaves behind him lies ยท
Upon the paths of men."
DOCTOR TURPIN.
Doctor Turpin now residing in Oreana, was for many years one of the well known farmers of Whitmore township, where he owned and cultivated two hun- dred acres of good land that constituted a well improved and valuable farm. He dates his residence in Illinois from 1867, and Macon from 1870. His birth occurred in Hendricks county, Indiana, on the 16th of September, 1841. His father, Robison Turpin, was born in Kentucky and was a son of Jacob Turpin. The former spent his youth in his native state and was there married to Miss Rachel George Powell, a native of Kentucky. On their removal to Indiana they settled in Hendricks county where Robison Turpin developed a new farm, be- coming the owner of a large tract of land which he brought under a high state of cultivation. He reared his family upon that place and there spent his last days, being numbered among the enterprising, progressive and highly respected agricul- turists of that community. His family numbered six sons who reached ma- ture years, and two daughters who grew to womanhood and married. Of these, three sons and one daughter are still living, namely: Harvey, a resident of Boone county, Indiana; Jacob Thomas, who owns and cultivates the old home farm in Hendricks county ; Doctor Turpin, of this review; and Mrs. Martha Gorham, who is living in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The youthful days of Doctor Turpin were spent upon the home farm, and he had just attained his majority when in response to the country's call for troops, he enlisted at Indianapolis in 1862, and was a member of Company F, Fifth Indiana Cavalry. With that command he went to the south, the regiment joining the army of the Cumberland with which he participated in a number of lesser engagements and skirmishes in Tennessee and Georgia. Afterward he was with Sherman in the celebrated Atlanta campaign until taken prisoner, when he was sent to Andersonville and later transferred to Florence. The period of his incarceration covered seven months, at the end of which time he was paroled
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and returned home. He was at the barracks at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, through the summer and later was honorably discharged. Following his return home Doctor Turpin engaged in farming and in 1867 removed westward to Illinois, settling first in Sangamon county, where he worked by the month for a year. He then rented land and engaged in farming on his own account in Sangamon county. It was also in that county that he wedded Miss Mary Eliza- beth Ayers, who was born in Owen county, Kentucky, a daughter of Sanford B. Ayers, also a native of the Blue Grass state. He was married in Owen county to Miss Emeline Z. Beatty, a native of Kentucky, and in 1854 they re- moved to Illinois, establishing their home in Sangamon county.
Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Turpin removed to Macon county and he purchased land in Whitmore township, becoming owner of a forty acre tract upon which was a little house. He carefully and systematically developed his fields, and as his labors brought to him good return he added to the prop- erty from time to time until he became the owner of two hundred acres. Upon the place he erected a good residence ; likewise two barns, cribs and outbuildings. He also planted some fruit trees, fenced and tiled the fields and continued farming there with excellent success until 1904, when he removed to Oreana where he erected a good residence which he now owns and occupies.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Turpin have been born four children: Ida May, at home; Clara, the wife of Oliver Gould of Decatur; William Clarence, who carries on the home farm and is married and has one child Elizabeth; and Alice, the wife of Oscar D. Philips of Oreana, by whom she has two daughters, Grace Imogene and Dorothy Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Turpin are members of the Christian church in which he is serving as a trustee. He votes a demo- cratic ticket where national issues are involved, but casts an independent local ballot in support of the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office.
His life has been well spent, and for over forty years he has lived in Macon county enjoying and meriting to the fullest extent the confidence, good will and honor of his fellowmen. He has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs, but has always been loyal to the best interests of the com- munity and to the standards of high and honorable manhood. Such a person has distinct value as a factor in the citizenship of the community in which he resides.
B. HILTON CASSELL.
Among the men prominently operating in real-estate circles is B. Hilton Cas- sell, and his efforts are an element in the substantial growth and development in the city. When Decatur contained only a few hundred inhabitants he started upon life's journey here, the date of his birth being March 20, 1846. His par- ents were Berry H. and Louise M. (Shultz) Cassell, natives of East Hanover, Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. They were pioneer people of Macon county, arriving when Decatur had not yet emerged from villagehood and gave but little evidence of future growth and development. The father was a tinner
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by trade and carried on that business for several years, after which he turned his attention to the hardware business, becoming the junior partner in the firm of Prather & Cassell, their store being upon the present site of the Morehouse & Wells building which is now being erected. From time to time he extended the scope of his activities and became a prominent factor in the substantial growth of the city. In 1856 he was in the hotel business as a member of the firm of Cassell, Stroh & Henderson, the hostelry being known as the Cassell House, which stood on the present site of the St. Nicholas. His varied business activities and his prominence in other directions made him well known throughout this section of the state. A tract of land which he purchased at the east end of the city at an early day is now built up almost solidly with residences. He also purchased eight acres of land known as Cassell Hill, a tract almost circular in form, and on this he erected a beautiful residence now owned and occupied by B. Hilton Cassell and designated throughout the city as Cassell's Castle. The death of Mr. Cassell occurred October 12, 1904. His wife had passed away October 21, 1903.
Mr. Cassell was reared in Decatur, attended the public schools and after his marriage removed to a farm in Decatur township, which remained his place of abode until 1901. He is still the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land, to the cultivation and development of which he devoted a number of years, trans- forming it into one of the valuable and highly productive properties of this re- gion. In 1901 he removed into his father's old home which is now his resi- dence. He also owns about twenty houses in Decatur which he leases, and as a speculative builder he has become well know, erecting various dwellings for the purpose of sale. His intention is to divide the old homestead, consisting of eight acres, into building lots and make it one of the ideal residence districts of the city.
In 1872 Mr. Cassell was married to Miss Fannie W. Harrison, of Ohio, and unto them have been born three sons: Louis B., now engaged in the practice of law; Fred R., who follows farming; and Otto D., who is engaged in the real- estate business. Mrs. Cassell is a daughter of Matthew and Lydia (Plummer) Harrison, both natives of Ohio, where the father died. He was a farmer by occupation. After his death Mrs. Harrison came to Macon county, Illinois, and here she passed away in October, 1898. In their family were fourteen children, seven of whom are living at the present time. Two sons died in An- dersonville prison during the Civil war.
Mr. Cassell is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Macon Lodge, No. 8, A. F. & A. M., Macon Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M .; Decatur Council, No. 12, R. & S. M .; Beaumonoir Commandery, No. 9, K. T .; Peoria Consistory, S. P. R. S .; Decatur Chapter, No. III, O. E. S .; Mecca Shrine, No. 15; and the White Shrine of Jerusalem, and his wife is also a member of the Eastern Star and the White Shrine.
Mr. Cassell was born in the house which stood on the site of the Linn & Scruggs dry goods store, in a long building which had been used for a wagon and paint shop. His father had a little tin shop in the east end of the building, the family occupying the west end. Decatur at that time had less then a thousand
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population. He has, therefore, witnessed its growth to a city of thirty-five thousand-one of the most progressive and enterprising in Illinois. He has not only maintained a deep interest in what has been accomplished but has also borne his share in the work of development, his cooperation being a tangible factor in various movements for the general good. He is today one of Decatur's most popular and prominent residents and a well spent life is in- dicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.
JACOB M. LEHMAN.
Jacob M. Lehman, now deceased, who was a highly respected member of the farming community of Hickory Point township, Macon county, was born in Ohio, in September, 1838. He was a son of Henry Lehman, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who moved to Ohio, where he was married, and came to Illinois in 1843, first settling in Decatur. He became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in the county and moved to the farm about 1858, and there he died twenty years later, in 1878. The mother of our subject was before her marriage Mary Cushner. She was a native of Maryland and was born in 1818 and died in this county two years before her husband was called away. There were ten children in their family, two of whom are now living : Mrs. Bixler, of Decatur; and Mary.
The subject of our review came to Illinois with his parents and was educated in the public schools, working upon the farm as he grew up and becoming thor- oughly familiar with its operations. He was still at home at the time of the Civil war and was one of the valiant young men who went forth under the stars and stripes to defend the Union. He enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Volunteers and served with the highest credit to himself and his regiment for three years. At the close of his period of service he was honorably discharged and returned to the home farm, continuing there until 1873, when he began farming upon his own account. In 1874 he bought the present homestead of the family, which is located in Hickory Point township and consists of one hundred and ten acres, with a handsome residence and all the improvements of a modern farm. He also acquired eighty acres of land in the northern part of the county and became recognized as one of the enterprising and successful farmers of his region.
Politically Mr. Lehman supported the principles of the republican party for a number of years but later changed his allegiance to the democratic party as best representing the ideals of a free people. He was a man of good discern- ment, a wise manager and one who was devotedly attached to his wife and chil- dren. His death, July 21, 1902, caused general regret throughout the region where he was well known and much esteemed for his noble qualities.
In 1873 occurred the marriage of Jacob M. Lehman and Miss Catherine Weaver, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Seiler) Weaver, who were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Illinois in 1850 and settled in Macon county. Here the head of the family bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which
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he began operations and evinced such an ability as an agriculturist and stock- raiser that at the time of his death, in 1905, at the age of eighty-two years, he was the owner of about twenty-five hundred acres of land in Macon, Shelby and Piatt counties. Mrs. Weaver was born in 1825 and departed this life in the same year as her beloved husband. They were the parents of five children : Al- fred and Charles, both of Decatur; Nancy, now Mrs. Keister, of Decatur; Cathe- rine, herein mentioned; and Mrs. Susan Crossman, of Harristown, this county. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lehman was blessed by the arrival of seven children, all of whom are now living: Ruth, the wife of Dr. Albert Mowry, of Chicago, and the mother of one child, Marian; Alfred, who married Irene Stone, of Macon county, and is the father of two children, Ralph and Ruth; Charles, who married Maude Cox, of Piatt county, this state, and has three children, Owen, Gladys and Lola; Jacob, who married Nellie Cress, now deceased, who was the mother of one child, Merle, also deceased; Bertram, who is living with his brother in Piatt county; Ivah, who married Charles Lyman and is the mother of two children, Maxine and Rhonette; and John, who is living at home. Mrs. Leh- man is now living on the family homestead and is accorded the respect of friends and acquaintance and the love of her children, to whom she has been, indeed, a true and self-sacrificing mother.
DAVID STEWART.
A successful farmer of Macon county is David Stewart who all his life has been identified with this immediate vicinity. He represents a well known pio- neer family which settled in this region at an early day and assisted in the great work of breaking the soil for the peaceful communities that are to be seen on every hand. Mr. Stewart was born December 6, 1859, and is a son of Angus L. and Mary (Krone) Stewart, the former of whom was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1820, and died in this county February II, 1904. There were only a few houses in Decatur when the father arrived in Macon county and dur- ing his life he was a witness of the great change by means of which the wilder- ness was transformed into beautiful farms. He was a carpenter and after work- ing for a time at his trade in Decatur he acquired a claim for a tract of one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, later receiving a deed for the same from the gov- ernment. After taking up his residence upon the farm he increased its area by the addition of twenty-two acres and at the time of his death was the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and eighty-two acres. The last seven years of his life were passed at Oreana, Illinois, where he lived retired. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania and was born in 1832, departing this life after many years of usefulness in January, 1905. A review of the Krone family appears in another part of this work. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, six of whom are now living: David, our subject; Robert and Samuel, of Macon county; Frank, of Kansas; Nettie, now Mrs. V. W. Benton, of Macon county ; and Mary, also of Macon county.
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The subject of this review grew up as a farm boy and received his education in the district school.' After laying aside his books he assisted his father in con- ducting the farm for several years and at twenty-one years of age he rented land in the neighborhood, upon which he lived for eleven years. At the end of this time he removed to the northwestern part of the county where he farmed for two years, then returned to this region and in 1897 took up his residence on the old homestead which is owned by heirs of the family, our subject having acquired the share of one of his brothers. Here he conducts general farming and has at- tained a goodly measure of success.
On February 23, 1882, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Emma Lowery, a daughter of John D. and Frances (Harris) Lowery, natives of New York city, who came to Illinois at an early day and settled in Fayette county. There were five children in the family, three of whom are living: Emma, herein mentioned; Stella, and Dora. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart was bright- ened by the arrival of one child, Alta, who was married to Forest Pope. They now live on the home farm and have been the parents of four children, three of whom are living: David, Goldie and Bonnie.
Mr. Stewart has been a lifelong adherent of the democratic party and al- though he has never been an office seeker, he has served with general acceptance as commissioner of highways. Fraternally he holds membership in the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America, all of Forsyth, Illinois. In his various responsibilities and duties, whether public or private, Mr. Stewart has at all times been actuated by a con- sistent desire to advance the general interest. In his work he has been ably as- sisted by his estimable wife who is in all respects a worthy helpmate to her life companion.
LAFAYETTE GULICK.
Lafayette Gulick, a well known farmer of Macon county now living retired after many years of successful operations in agriculture and stock-raising, was born in this county, August 2, 1849. He is the son of Levi and Harriet (Miler) Gulick, the former a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. The father came to Illinois in the early days and entered nearly seven hundred acres of government land in Hickory Point and Decatur townships and became one of the substantial farmers of the county. In 1853 he made a visit to his old home in Virginia on horseback and on his return was taken sick with cholera and died at Logansport, Indiana. In this county he was well known as a general farmer and stock-raiser and also as a buyer of hogs, having engaged very largely in that business at the time when it was customary to drive hogs to the St. Louis market. He was also a large feeder of live-stock. The mother was again mar- ried after the death of the father and became the wife of John Sawyer. She died in this county in 1892. By her first husband she had four children: Julia, had three children: Anna, now Mrs. Hornsbarger; Alice, who died in 1880; and Frank and Mary E., all deceased; and Lafayette. By her second husband she Edwin.
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Lafayette Gulick was reared upon the home farm and educated in the public schools. After becoming thoroughly acquainted with farming in its various phases, he commenced cultivating a tract of eighty acres which his father gave him. Later he purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoining, so he had a farm of two hundred and forty acres, and this property he brought to a high state of cultivation, making it one of the most productive farms in the locality. After conducting the farm for twenty years Mr. Gulick erected a handsome residence on the old Barber place, on the Bloomington pike, southeast of the old home and there he has lived retired since 1905, being now the fortunate owner of six hundred and forty acres of land, comprising several farms in Hickory Point township, and one of its most responsible citizens.
On September 22, 1870, Mr. Gulick was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Montgomery, a daughter of William F. and Amelia (Suver) Montgomery, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. The parents came to Illinois previous to the Civil war and were identified with farming interests. There were seven children in their family: Rachel, who became Mrs. Hays but is now deceased; Samuel, a resident of Decatur; Mary, who became Mrs. Hanks, of Hickory township; Amelia, now living with Mrs. Hanks; Frank and Patrick H., of Decatur; and Martha A., wife of our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Gulick four children have been born: Nellie, who was born in 1872 and died in 1892; Frank, who married a Miss McMahan, whose parents were living on one of his father's farm, and has two children, Bernice and Frank; Bernard M., who mar- ried Miss Louisa Love, the daughter of a farmer in the same neighborhood; Fred L., who married a Miss Grace Pope, whose parents were living on one of his father's farms, and has one child, Evelyn.
Mr. Gulick ever since arriving at man's estate has been a supporter of the democratic party but he has never sought official honors, as his principal inter- est has been centered in his family and his farms. The success that has attended his life work has been due to industry and sound judgment, the latter element being the leading feature of his character. He and his estimable wife now en- joy in peace and prosperity the results of their well directed labors, and it is scarcely necessary to add that they are greatly esteemed by their neighbors and by the many friends they have made in this part of the county.
LEWIS HARDY CLARK, M. D.
Sixth in direct descent from noted colonial ancestry, with a long line of prominent American progenitors on both sides of the house, Dr. Lewis H. Clark, of Decatur, occupies a unique place in the genealogical records of citizens now living in Illinois. The Revolutionary patriot, Nathaniel Clark, was a member of this family and the name Clark in many states of the Union attests the virility of the early stock, which has been transmitted from generation to gen- eration, almost unimpaired, from worthy forebears.
The subject of this review is a native of Christian county, Illinois, and is a son of Dr. Joseph H. and Lydia D. (Hardy) Clark. The father was born
DR. LEWIS H. CLARK
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in Christian county, Kentucky, April 6, 1819, and was a practicing physician from 1855 to the time of his decease in 1880. He was married to Lydia D. Hardy, also of Christian county, Kentucky, in 1840, and the couple removed to Christian county, Illinois, in 1844. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Taylorville, where he built up a practice which extended over a wide range of country. He served as captain in the Fifth Missouri Battalion for six months during the summer of 1862, the battalion later being merged into Company B of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry. The Doctor was an old line democrat and in religious views a Universalist. He was a self-made man of striking person- ality and in the earlier years of his active life was a school teacher, meanwhile studying medicine and becoming a practitioner of the eclectic school. His body reposes in an old cemetery in Christian county, Illinois. His wife died in Butler, Bates county, Missouri, at the age of seventy-eight years, in 1902, and was there buried. In the family were eleven children, five sons and six daugh- ters, and six of the number grew to maturity and reared families.
Tracing the ancestry in regular ascent we have James C., father of Joseph H. Clark and grandfather of Lewis Hardy Clark. He was born in Barren county, Kentucky, on June 13, 1791, but lived for a number of years in Christian county, Kentucky, where he was well known as a farmer and an old time esquire. He served in the war of 1812 and was at one time a member of the Kentucky legis- lature. He was married in his native state to Miss Hannah Henderson. They reared a family of eleven children and removed to Christian county, Illinois, where the head of the family departed this life in 1874, his remains being buried on the land which he had located upon when it was a wilderness. In the same graveyard lies his wife, the partner of his joys and sorrows and one of the representative pioneer women who risked their lives in accompanying their husbands to new homes amidst the uncertainties of the frontier. Grandfather Clark may truly be regarded as one of the makers of history in Illinois. His cabin door opened freely to every hungry traveler and the stranger was made to feel at home under the shelter of that humble roof. Wild animals abounded along the great streams and on the great prairies, and meat was plentiful dur- ing the greater part of the year. The first preaching services of the neighbor- hood were held at the home of this patriarch. He lived to see the country trans- formed into growing fields of grain and many hamlets develop into prosperous towns and cities. The great-grandfather of Lewis Hardy Clark, was Bolin Clark, who served in the Revolution under General Nathaniel Greene, and later took up his home in Kentucky, then the principal region of attraction for many. settlers who felt crowded in the more thickly populated states east of the Alle- ghanies. The descendants of many of these old eastern families afterward caught the same feeling of restlessness and were among the founders of Illi- nois, Missouri, Iowa and other great states. On the maternal side the sub- ject of this review may point with pride to his grandfather Hardy, who was a famous Indian fighter and served as captain of a brave company of rangers who assisted in freeing the border of its greatest peril. Nathaniel Henderson, of the paternal branch, was an early settler of Tennessee and was the prime mover in having the state set off from North Carolina, of which it was originally a part.
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