USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, volume II > Part 19
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WILLIAM D. MOMA.
That the life of William D. Moma has been an active one, characterized by unfaltering industry and unremitting energy, is indicated by the fact that he is now living retired, enjoying a goodly competence which has come to him as the logical result of earnest labor and intelligently directed effort. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, on the 30th of September, 1846, a son of John H. and Mary (Benner) Moma. His grandparents on the paternal side came from Germany at an early day, locating in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and in the Old Domin- ion John H. Moma, the father our of subject, was born. Later he went to Ohio, where he was married to Miss Mary Benner, a native of that state, who was also of German ancestry, and continued a resident of that state until March, 1859, when he came to Illinois, taking up his abode in Ford county. A tanner by trade, he followed that pursuit for a number of years in Ohio, his efforts in that direction making him one of the well-to-do business men of the community in which he made his home. Later, however, he met with financial reverses and upon his arrival in Ford county, where he subsequently took up his abode, his possessions consisted of but thirty dollars. Two years later he removed to Piatt county
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where he engaged in farming, and his labors in that field were so successful that he partially retrieved his lost fortune. He passed away in that county from the effects of a paralytic stroke, his death occurring August 4, 1885, at the age of eight-seven years. He had survived his wife for a number of years, her demise occuring on the 11th of August, 1859, when she had reached her fifty- sixth year. In their family were two sons and two daughters, but our subject is the only one now living. His brother, Hugh Milton, was a soldier of the Civil war. He enlisted as a member of the Seventy-second Board of Trade Regiment from Chicago, and met death through exposure after four months' service.
William D. Moma acquired his education in the district schools of Ohio and Illinois, which he attended during the winter months, the summer seasons being devoted to the cultivation of the home farm. He early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the country lad, and thus it was that, when called upon to lay aside his text-books at the age of fourteen years and take charge of his father's farm of eighty acres in Piatt county, he was thoroughly equipped by preliminary training to undertake the responsibilities thus devolving upon him, and for a number of years he operated the old homested in a most satis- factory and profitable manner, making it his place of residence until 1891. In that year he came to Macon county, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Mount Zion township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he at once turned his attention. Later he added another tract of one hundred and sixty-nine acres, making a total of three hundred and twenty-nine acres of fine land, two hundred and forty acres of which are located on section 18, Mount Zion township. This in time became one of the valuable properties of the town- ship, for, recognizing the value of progress as an essential factor in a successful farming enterprise, Mr. Moma instituted many improvements upon his place, where were found all of the modern conveniences and accessories to facilitate farm labor. His fields were brought under an excellent state of cultivation and in connection with general farming he engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of raising and fattening hogs for the market. He became thoroughly acquainted with every phase of agriculture and thus his efforts counted as resultant forces in the conduct of business enterprises, the success of which proved at once gratifying and substantial. In the fall of 1910, feeling that his competency would permit such a step, he retired from active life to take up his abode at Decatur, where he is the owner of some valuable property.
It was on the 26th of March, 1867, that Mr. Moma was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Peoples, who was born in Ohio and at the time of her marriage was residing near Columbus with her parents, who were also natives of that state. Of the seven children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Moma the eldest, Charles F., died in childhood, while two others, a son and daughter, passed away in infancy. The surviving members of the family are : John A., successfully carry- ing on farming; Fanny ; Stella, of Emporia, Kansas; and Burt H., engaged in the cultivation of rice in Arkansas. In 1886, Mrs. Moma passed away and in the following year Mr. Moma was again married, his second union being with Miss Sarah Coakley, of Piatt county, Illinois. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Coakley, were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively, who cast their lot
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with the early settlers of Piatt county, where for many years they have success- fully carried on farming.
The religious belief of Mr. Moma is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, while fraternally he is connected with Ionic Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M. In politics his views accord with the principles of the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have never held attraction for him, as he has preferred to concentrate his energies upon his private business interests. He is interested, however, as all true American citizens should be, in those projects which have a bearing upon the progress and improvement of the community, and he has ever been interested in the growth and development of his adopted country. His has been an active and useful life, in which he has been accorded due recognition of earnest effort and honest endeavor, and the rest which he now enjoys is well earned and truly merited.
J. WALTER HODGE.
J. Walter Hodge, a well known and prosperous agriculturist residing on sec- tion 4, Mount Zion township, was born in that township on the 10th of April, 1866, his parents being Henry D. M. and Elizabeth (Adams) Hodge. The paternal grandparents, Henry J. and Penelope (Traughber) Hodge, were na- tives of North Carolina and Tennessee respectively. They removed to Sanga- mon county, Illinois, in 1830 and the following year he took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Macon county, locating on an unimproved tract of two hundred and sixty acres, part of which was timber and part prairie land. The grandfather passed away in 1838, when a young man of twenty-five years, being long survived by his wife, who was called to her final rest in 1884 at the age of sixty-six years.
Henry D. M. Hodge, the father of our subject, was the only child born unto his parents, his birth occurring in Mount Zion township, this county, on the 12th of November, 1837. On the 3d of November, 1859, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Adams, who was born in Cass county, Missouri, in 1841, her parents being Henry and Sarah Adams, natives of Kentucky. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war Henry D. M. Hodge was compelled to return to Decatur, as his sympathies were with the Union and if he had remained in the south he would have been obliged to join the Confederate army. He considered himself fortu- nate in that he was able to escape with a mule team and a couple of pennies. After returning to the old home farm in Macon county he once more became identified with general agricultural pursuits here and tilled the soil sucessfully until 1887, since which time he has lived in honorable retirement at Decatur. He is widely and favorably known throughout the community, enjoying the warm regard and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. His wife passed away in January, 1899. Two sons and one daughter yet survive.
J. Walter Hodge attended the public schools during the period of his boy- hood and youth and also pursued a course of study in Brown's Commercial Col- lege. After putting aside his text-books he returned to his father's farm and
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has resided thereon continuously since. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of finely improved land and also manages his father's place of two hundred and sixty acres. His labors as an agriculturist have been attended with a gratifying measure of success and he has long been numbered among the sub- stantial and representative citizens of the community. During the past season his wheat yielded thirty-three bushels an acre and he sold it for one dollar per bushel.
On the 22d of March, 1889, Mr. Hodge was united in marriage to Miss Hat- tie Meisenhelter, of Decatur, her parents being Aaron and Angeline (Motter) Meisenhelter, natives of York county, Pennsylvania. They took up their abode among the early settlers of this county, the father becoming well known in De- catur and acting as a police officer. He passed away in 1877, while his wife was called to her final rest ten years later. They were the parents of three daughters and two sons. Our subject and his wife have the following children . Irene Gertrude, Lucile, Orlan Ray, Beulah, George Walter and Charles Willis. Their first born, a son, died in infancy.
Mr. Hodge is a republican in politics and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to several positions of public trust. He served as commissioner of highways for one term, acted as justice of the peace for a similar period and has been school director for fifteen years. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Brethren church. Having resided in Macon county from his birth to the present time, he has a wide acquaintance here and the many sterling traits of character which he has displayed have gained for him an enviable place in public regard. The Hodge family has been con- tinuously identified with the agricultural interests of this county for eight dec- ades, and he whose name introduces this review is now carrying on the work begun by his grandfather and continued by his father.
JOSEPHUS VEST.
An honorable retirement in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil is the fitting crown of long years of earnest, indefatigable labor. Such has been vouchsafed to Mr. Vest, who for a considerable period was numbered among the leading contractors of Decatur but has now put aside business cares to enjoy a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He was born March 23, 1843, in Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, his parents being Henry and Elizabeth (Palmer) Vest. They were natives of Virginia but in early life removed to Ohio, where the father conducted business as a contractor and farmer. He was of Scotch and French ancestry and was born in 1811, his life record covering the intervening years to 1884. His wife, who was born in 1810, passed away in 1877. The family came to Decatur in 1851 and the father here engaged in hauling merchandise by wagon from Springfield to Decatur. He also con- structed a mile and a half of Illinois Central Railroad near the old depot and always worked with determination to support his family.
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Josephus Vest is entirely a self-educated as well as a self-made man, for he had the opportunity of attending school but three weeks. However, in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons and day by day has picked up knowledge which has made him not only a practical business man but one of wide and liberal views upon important questions of the day. In the spring of 1853 the family drove overland from Decatur to Texas, with the in- tention of making that state their home, but found it a most uncivilized country in which the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun, and after a short stay they returned to Decatur. The trip was a perilous and dan- gerous one. They were often compelled to stop and make a road before they could drive on and had to make roads so they could cross streams and creeks. In the Indian territory Mr. Vest noticed that the Indian chief owned black slaves and some of the negroes were engaged to ferry the party across the river. In Texas the ranchers largely lived in houses made of four posts, which were driven into the ground and covered with a straw roof. The Vest family had the mis- fortune to lose their horses, which died, so that they were obliged to return with oxen. In 1857 they drove across the country with ox-teams to Pike's Peak, Colorado, purchasing supplies and outfitting at Kansas city and proceeding thence to their destination. On their arrival at Kansas City they found five hundred drivers in camp, moving for Mexico. The Vest party took six months' supplies, as the father intended to mine gold. When they drove south through the Indian territory they disposed of their merchandise and thence returned to Decatur. Subsequently the family removed to Independence, Kansas, with the intention of staying there but only remained for four months and again returned to Decatur, at which time Mr. Vest established a contracting and building busi- ness. In this he was successful, being closely identfied with building operations until about three years ago, when he retired. His close application and inde- fatigable energy constituted the salient features in his gratifying success. As the years passed on he made for himself a place among the leading contractors of the city and at length accumulated the handsome competence that now en- ables him to live retired.
In the spring of 1862 Mr. Vest enlisted in the Illinois guard for three months to guard Confederate prisoners. After a month's service Captain King, of Com- pany A, son-in-law of Governor Yates, reorganized the two companies on guard duty into one. At the close of his first term Mr. Vest reenlisted in the Sixty- eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served during the Potomac river cam- paign. He was then mustered out at Springfield and returned to Decatur to again engage in business.
On the 4th of September, 1864, occurred the marriage of Mr. Vest and Miss Hannah Gethard, of Decatur, a daughter of Richard and Phoebe (Corson) Gethard, who were natives of Cincinnati, Ohio, and became early settlers of Sangamon county, Illinois, where they followed farming. Six children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Vest: Arthur O., who died in infancy; William, who was born April 11, 1868; Charles, who was born October 8, 1870; Frank, who was born in August 8, 1873; Ella, the wife of W. Shelley, of Springfield, Illinois; and Gertrude, the wife of O. M. Rose, a resident of Decatur.
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In his political views Mr. Vest has long been a stalwart advocate of repub- lican principles and his religious faith is that of the Universalist church. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintains pleasant re- lations with his old army comrades. In all matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal to his country today as when he followed the old flag upon the battle- fields of the south. Fidelity to duty has ever been one of his marked charac- teristics and has given him place among the substantial and worthy citizens of Decatur.
ALLEN W. BRODESS.
Allen W. Brodess is now living retired, for he has more than passed the Psalmist's span of life of three score years and ten. He was formerly asso- ciated with the grocery business but in 1908 put aside active commercial cares to enjoy a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He was born in Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, December 27, 1835, a son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Bishop) Brodess, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. The father, who was born October 17, 1810, died in 1885 and the mother, whose birth occurred in 1813, passed away in 1880. The grandparents of Mr. Brodess were natives of Virginia, whence they removed to Ohio.
Allen W. Brodess pursued his education in the public schools and afterward entered business life in connection with merchandising. He became traveling salesman for a wholesale and retail dry goods and grocery house and on remov- ing to Illinois established his home in Christian county, where he remained until the 15th of April, 1875, when he removed to Decatur. Here he has since made his home, covering a period of more than thirty-five years. He established a retail grocery business in this city and successfully conducted it for about a third of a century, when he sold out and retired. He had long since won recognition as a well known and prominent citizen here. In the conduct of his store he proved energetic and discriminating, his sound judgment and close application to business constituting the basis of his success.
On the 6th of May, 1856, Mr. Brodess was married to Miss Elizabeth H. Mckenzie, a native of Ross county, Ohio, where their marriage was celebrated. Her parents were Daniel and Anna (Sadler) Mckenzie. Her father followed both merchandising and farming until his life's labors were terminated by death in 1850. His wife survived him for only a brief period, passing away in 1851. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brodess are: Althea M., the wife of George Chris- topher, owner of a rice plantation at Jennings, Louisiana; and Clinton M., who was born November 25, 1861, and is a successful and progressive merchant of of Decatur. Mrs. Brodess is very proud of her grandson, the Rev. Arthur A. Heinlein, the son of her daughter by her first marriage. Mrs. Brodess reared this grandson until he studied for the ministry. He is now an ordained preacher of the Methodist church and is doing excellent work in his chosen field. He was born September 21, 1881, and is a graduate of the Wesleyan college at Bloom- ington, Illinois, and of the Garrett Theological College at Evanston. He was
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married in May, 1910, to Miss Jess Lee Fisher, of Atwood, Illinois, a young lady of ability who will undoubtedly prove of much assistance to him in his work.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Brodess' sympathies were all with the Union cause and in 1864 he enlisted in the Seventy-third Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. Later he was transferred to the Forty-fourth Illinois Regiment, with which he was mustered out at Springfield in 1865. While a resident of Christian county he held the office of justice of the peace and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, winning him golden opinions from all sorts of people. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and gives his political allegiance to the re- publican party. His life has been actuated by high and honorable principles, in keeping with his professions as a member of the Methodist church, to which he has belonged since 1855.
There has never been a death in the Brodess family. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brodess are members of the Old Settlers' Association and are among the most higly esteemed people of the county. In their old Ohio home they attended the same school and were friends from childhood. Mrs. Brodess met with a severe accident about two years ago, being injured by a street car which started up suddenly. Her left limb was fractured and she is now compelled to walk with crutches. She is, however, of a happy disposition and bears this misfortune without complaining. Mr. Brodess drove from Ohio to Illinois in a covered wagon. It required sixteen days to make the trip in that manner and there were no railroads at the time. From pioneer days he has been identified with the development and progress of this part of the state and has borne his share in the work of development and upbuilding.
WILLIAM F. TIMMONS.
William F. Timmons, one of the prosperous young farmers of Macon county, living on section 26, South Macon township, has been engaged in farming in this county for four years and in that time has demonstrated his ability to maintain a high standing as an agriculturist and stock-raiser. He is a native of the Buckeye state and was born in Pickaway county, March 21, 1880. He is a son of William Scott and Kathryn Timmons, both of whom were born in Ohio. The family came to Illinois in February, 1886, and settled in Douglas county, but later moved to Piatt county, where the father and mother are now living upon a farm.
The subject of this review is the second of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Timmons. He was educated in the common schools and con- tinued upon his father's farm until he was twenty-two years of age. He then began to learn telegraphy, starting in November, 1902, and in one year from that time he was employed in the telegraph department of the Big Four Railroad, later going to the Chicago & Eastern Illinois road, where he remained a short time, then returning to the Peoria division of the Big Four Railroad and finally becoming identfied with the Illinois Central, where he
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continued until 1906. He was faithful and efficient in his work and prompt in the discharge of his duties, receiving the commendation of officers higher in rank in the the telegraph department.
On January 26, 1905, Mr. Timmons took unto himself a life companion, the lady of his choice being Miss Leta Giles, a daughter of Sard and Margaret (Davis) Giles, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Timmons was born in this state, Feburary II, 1887. In 1906, Mr. Timmons began farming one and one-half miles south of Decatur, but in the spring of 1907 moved to the home which he now occupies and which is owned by his father-in-law, and here he is well established in his vocation as a farmer. Mr. Timmons is socially identified with Deland Lodge, No. 740, I. O. O. F .; Beacon Lodge, No. 434, K. P., both of Decatur; and is also a member of the Order of Railway Tele- graphers. Since arriving at maturity he has been an adherent of the republican party, believing that the best interests of the entire country are subserved by the party of protection. As a patriotic citizen Mr. Timmons assists all enterprises that give evidence of advancing the public good and thus adding to the general prosperity. His home is always open to friends and here they may expect a cordial greeting, as it is doubtful whether a more hospitable home is to be found in Macon county than that which is presided over by Mr. and Mrs. Timmons.
J. EDWARD BERING.
The horoscope of time has told off eighty-one years since J. Edward Bering started upon life's journey. It is a period in which remarkable changes have occurred-in which labor, invention and science have wrought marvelous re- sults, completely revolutionizing the methods of living and trade. Mr. Bering has been active in the work of general development, his labors counting for much where progress has conserved the best interests of various communities. He has been a pioneer in the development of the oil fields of Pennsylvania and the coal fields of Illinois, and later became closely associated with the manufac- turing interests of Decatur.
He was born in Doylestown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1829, while his parents, James and Unity C. (White) Bering, were natives of South Carolina and Pennsylvania, respectively. On the 29th of May, 1823, the father sailed from Charleston to Philadelphia, reaching the latter city on the 5th of June. On the 30th of April, 1824, he became a first lieutenant in a regiment of Pennsylvania militia. On the 26th of January, 1826, in Philadelphia, he was united in marriage to Miss Unity C. White and they began their domestic life in Bucks county. They removed from Doylestown to Philadelphia, when their son Edward was but three or four years of age, making their home on Eighth street, between Market and Chestnut streets, and afterward on Ninth, east of Market. The father there engaged in the hosiery business for many years, when the substantial success which he had achieved permitted him to retire and spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of the rest which he had truly earned and richly merited. He died at Haddington, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1864,
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I. Eder. Bering.
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and his grave was made in the Radnor churchyard. Their children were: Mary Levina, the deceased wife of Lowber Burrows; James Edward; and Ida, who died at the age of fourteen months, September 11, 1898.
James Edward Bering acquired his early education under the instruction of a private teacher in Philadelphia and afterward attended a grammar school and later the high school, from which he was graduated on the completion of the regular course. On the 6th of March, 1848, he left Philadelphia for the town of Summit, in the Allegheny mountains to join an engineering corps under George W. Leuffer, and located the famous Horseshoe Bend on the Pennsylvania Railroad, superintending the construction of the road around this notable curve, which has been regarded as one of the most remarkable pieces of railroad engineering accomplished in the east. He has been connected with civil engineering on a great number of railroads, including the Pennsylvania, Sunbury & Erie, Bald Eagle Valley, Allegheny Valley, Pekin, Lincoln & De- catur and many others, but retiring from that field of labor, turned his atten- tion to manufacturing interests. On the Ist of December, 1876, a company was formed under the firm name of Chambers, Bering & Quinlan, which firm still continues business. They were the first manufacturers of check rowers in the United States, but they did not confine their operations to that one line, extending the scope of their business to include hay loaders, rakes, etc. This is today one of the leading productive industries of Decatur, their constantly developing business having reached extensive proportions.
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