USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, volume II > Part 25
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Politically Mr. Heminger is a pronounced republican, regarding the principles of the party as most conducive to good government. He has served as commis- sioner of highways and as assessor of his township in Piatt county but has never been an office seeker, preferring to devote his energies to his business affairs and social interests. He holds membership in Cerro Gordo Lodge, No. 246, I. O. O. F., and Cerro Gordo Post, No. 210, G. A. R., of which he has served as com- mander. He and his wife are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church and he is serving as one of its trustees. He is now in the seventy-fourth year of his age-a life of activity, enterprise and of honor. His success has never been won at the sacrifice of others' interests but has come as the result of careful investment and of marked business ability.
MORILLOW CAMERON GLASGOW.
Morillow C. Glasgow, a pioneer farmer now retired, who is a native of this state and has made his home in Macon county for forty-five years past, is now enjoying at his comfortable home in Harristown township well earned rest. He is one of the "fathers" in stock-raising and agriculture in the state of Illinois and by energy, thrift and good judgment accumulated a fortune, owning at one time six hundred and thirty acres of well improved land in Macon and Christian counties.
Mr. Glasgow was born on a farm six miles from Belleville, St. Clair county, Illinois, January 25 1833, a son of James P. and Hester (Baldwin) Glasgow. His father was a native of Kentucky and on coming to Illinois located in St. Clair county after he arrived at maturity. The mother was born in South Carolina and removed to Daviess county, Indiana, with her parents, who were early settlers of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Glasgow were married in Indiana and lived for a num- ber of years in St. Clair county, this state, but at last located in Macon county in April, 1865.
Morillow C. Glasgow was reared in St. Clair county, where he had limited advantages of education in the little log schoolhouse of the neighborhood. He continued with his father until he was twenty-one years of age and then hired out to him by the month to herd cattle in Washington and Monroe counties. In the latter county he became the owner of a farm of eighty-five acres, but he dis- posed of this farm and came with his father to Macon county, where he has since lived.
In 1855, in Monroe county, Mr. Glasgow was united in marriage to Miss Adaline Keagy, and four children were born to them: Izora, who died at the age of twelve years; Isabelle Isadora, now Mrs. Younger Filson, of Decatur, and the mother of five children-Earl, Orpha, Dessie, Charles and Henry: Hester C., now Mrs. Llovd Stanford, of South Wheatland township, this county, and the mother of one child, Lottie B .; and Alice Luella, now Mrs. Thomas Jacobs, of South Wheatland township, and the mother of one child, Floyd G. The wife and mother passed away while the family were residing in Monroe county and Mr. Glasgow was again married, May 5, 1869, in St. Genevieve county, Missouri,
MR. AND MRS. M. C. GLASGOW
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the lady of his choice being Miss Maggie A. Patterson, who was born in St. Fran- cois county, Missouri, June 2, 1848, a daughter of James and Sarah A. (Thomp- son) Patterson. Her father was also a native of St. Francois county and her mother came from Tennessee. Mr. Patterson was a blacksmith by trade and was an industrious and honorable citizen. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Glasgow, Charles Burton, born on the home farm in Harris- town township, was united in marriage to Dora Warburton. He lives on the home farm and has one child, William Carl. Leslie Lloyd, who was married to Hattie Knight, also lives on the home farm and has three sons, Garth, Floyd and Charles. Ethel Fay, who is married to Harry Bedford, lives in Decatur town- ship.
Mr. Glasgow in his earlier years was in sympathy with the democratic party but he has voted the republican ticket ever since the Civil war. He has never held public office, as his attention has been devoted to agricultural and stock- raising interests, in which he has been a leader in his region for many years. In his earlier life he endured many of the hardships so familiar to the pioneers, when there were few roads and fewer bridges, no hotels, railroads, telegraph or telephone; when travelers cooked their own meals upon camp fires and the cloth was woven by the women of the household; and a simplicity of life prevailed of which a later generation can have little conception. Of all this he has been a part and yet, notwithstanding the objections which are made against our present form of living, if he had the power he would not have the world turn back to the conditions of the primitive days. In the evening of a busy life, Mr. Glasgow has the respect of a wide circle of friends, whose earnest wishes are that he may continue to enjoy many years of comfort and happiness.
C. A. BURKS.
Various important business concerns have felt the stimulus of the energy, sagacity and enterprise of C. A. Burks, who is now largely concentrating his attention upon the track buying grain business. One of the native sons of Illi- nois, he was born in Vermilion county, July 16, 1866. His early education was supplemented by a two years' preparatory course in the Illinois Wesleyan Uni- versity and followed by a two years' English scientific course. Turning his at- tention to the profession of teaching, he became principal of the high school at Bement, Illinois, and for twelve years remained a resident of that city, although he retired from his connection with the schools after two years and purchased the Bement Register, which he published for two years. On selling the paper he purchased the J. C. McCord elevator and lumberyard and conducted a grain, lumber and coal business until 1900.
At that time Mr. Burks came to Decatur and for five years thereafter con- ducted a track buying grain business. He has since been engaged in the land business, handling the Yazoo valley lands, which are among the most fertile in western Mississippi. In the meantime, however, he built up one of the largest
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track buying grain enterprises of the middle west under the style of C. A. Burks & Company. His business furnished an excellent market for the grain producers of central Illinois and the extent of his operations brought him to a most prominent position in the field in which he conducted his interests. In July, 1910, Mr. Burks sold his stock in the United States Brokerage Company and reembarked in the grain business with offices in the Citizens Bank building, De- catur. A man of resourceful business ability and initiative spirit, he readily forms his plans and is determined in their execution. In his vocabulary there is no such word as fail. When one avenue of opportunity seems closed he seeks out another path which leads to the desired goal and he never stops short of the objective point if persistent and honorable effort can overcome difficulties and obstacles. He was the organizer of the United States Brokerage Company and its president for four years, during which period he developed the largest general real-estate, insurance and loan business in this section of the country, handling business of this class all over the United States. He continued in active con- nection therewith until August 1, 1910, when he sold his interest to other mem- bers of the firm, who still continue the business.
On the 6th of June, 1900, Mr. Burks was married to Miss A. Edith Ruby, of Bement, Illinois, and a daughter of Virgil S. Ruby, who for two terms was representative of the Bement district in the state legislature, serving as a mem- ber of the general assembly when John A. Logan was elected to the United States senate. He was born in Vincennes, Knox county, Indiana, in 1834. His grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812. His parents were natives of Kentucky and after living for some years in Indiana removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1843, Virgil S. Ruby there remaining from that year until September, 1877, when he took up his abode in Bement, which was his place of residence until his death, on the 17th of March, 1888. He was one of the most influential citizens of the town and on the republican ticket was chosen representative from the thirtieth senatorial district for two terms and was a candidate for a third term when he passed away. As a legislator he served on numerous important committees, being chairman of the appropriations and agricultural committees through both terms. He was a very highly respected citizen and prominent busi- ness man, who for a long period was connected with the grain trade but in 1884 retired from active business life. He was also a leading member of different Masonic bodies, including Beaumanoir Commandery of Decatur, and his fellow Knight Templars of that organization had charge of his funeral services. His life was characterized by benevolent actions and kindly deeds as well as marked business ability and political prominence, and every movement for the social, intellectual and moral improvement of the community always found him a friend and advocate. He was married in April, 1858, to Miss Mary A. Crane, and their children were William and A. Edith.
The latter, now Mrs. Burks, is one of the society leaders of Decatur and her home is the scene of many attractive social functions. Mr. Burks is promi- nent in the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Macon Lodge, No. 8, A. F. & A. M .; Decatur Chapter, R. A. M .; Beaumanoir Commandery, K. T .; and Mohammed Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Peoria. He is also a member of the Decatur Club, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist
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Episcopal church. The varied interests of his life make his a well balanced character. He is never neglectful of the duties of citizenship or unmindful of his obligations to his fellowmen and yet he stands preeminently forth as one of the leading business men of Decatur, promoting and controlling interests of magnitude, which are a source of development and growth to the communities in which they are located as well as a factor in the attainment of individual success.
ENOS E. PENNYPACKER.
Enos E. Pennypacker, who has been successfully engaged in the butchering business at Macon for the past three decades, was born in Montgomery county, Pennyslvania, on the 13th of February, 1845. His parents, Oliver and Rachel (DeFrain) Pennypacker, were born in the years 1823 and 1824 respectively and spent their entire lives in the Keystone state. The father was the youngest in a family of six children, while the mother was the fourth in order of birth in a family of similar size. Oliver Pennypacker was a harness maker by trade and worked at that occupation until 1852, when he embarked in the butchering business, conducting a successful enterprise of that character throughout the remainder of his life. His demise occurred in June, 1890, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1892.
Enos E. Pennypacker, who was the eldest of four children, spent the first thirty-one years of his life in his native state and obtained his education in its public schools. Under the direction of his father he learned the butchering business in early life and has been identified therewith throughout his entire business career. In 1876, he came to Illinois, first locating in Taylorville, Chris- tian county, while subsequently he took up his abode at Moweaqua. He arrived in Macon on the 21st of March, 1880, and has since been connected with the business interests of that town as the proprietor of a meat market, having built up a large and profitable trade. He owns an attractive residence in Macon and has long been numbered among the substantial and respected citizens of the community.
On the 14th of October, 1866, Mr. Pennypacker was united in marriage to Miss Jane E. Carmack, whose birth occurred on the 9th of May, 1844, her parents being Jacob and Anna Carmack, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Pennypacker was the youngest in a family of four children and by her marriage has become the mother of six, the record of whom is as follows: Ella Irene, whose natal day was February 23, 1868, is the wife of Charles Kerns, of Illiopolis, Sangamon county, by whom she has four children. Emma C., who was born April 13, 1870, gave her hand in marriage to Otto Hill, of Macon, and is the mother of two children. Webster C., born July 24, 1871, wedded Miss Maud Murphy, of Macon county, and makes his home in Decatur. The young couple have two children. Preston S., whose birth occurred January 26, 1875, married Miss Nellie Atterbury, of Macon, and now resides in Oreana, this county. He is
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the father of four children. Earla Golda, born August 29, 1880, wedded Henry W. Willoughby, of Macon, and now makes her home in Springfield. Her children are two in number. William T., who was born March 20, 1884, wedded Miss Mamie Clark, of Decatur, by whom he has one child. They now reside in Macon.
Politically Mr. Pennypacker is a stanch advocate of the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. His wife is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he also attends its services. He enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance in the com- munity, having won the kindly regard and esteem of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.
WILLIAM MASON AUSTIN.
Among the substantial farmers and stock-raisers of Macon county should be named William Mason Austin, the owner of a well improved farm of eighty acres in Harristown township. He is a native of this county, born April 1, 1873, on a farm in Blue Mound township, about a mile north of the village of Boody, his parents being William C. and Ellen (Kasson) Austin. The father was born in Blue Mound township, January I, 1843, and was a son of Squire William A. and Eleanor (Wornick) Austin. Squire William A. Austin was a native of Virginia and inherited many of the charcteristics peculiar to the old Virginia gentleman. He removed to Tennessee and later came to Macon county in the movement which tended toward Illinois for many years from the southern states. He arrived in this county some time before 1830 and settled in Blue Mound township, where he passed the remainder of his life, serving for many years as justice of the peace and being recognized as one of the leading men in his part of the county. He was a stanch democrat and was always known as a man of the highest integrity and honor. William C. Austin, the father of our subject, received his education in the common schools and in many respects followed in the footsteps of his honored father. He served as justice of the peace with great acceptance and also filled other positions of public responsibility. He departed this life in March, 1909, but the mother of our subject is still living.
William Mason Austin grew to manhood on the home farm and received a good education in the district schools, so that at twenty years of age he became a school teacher. After one year, however, he saw the importance of further training in order to guide safely the minds of the young and he became a student at the State Normal School, at Normal, Illinois, where he continued at intervals for several terms. His teaching was limited to about seven years, in the course of which time he acquired an enviable reputation as a first class teacher, a thorough disciplinarian and one who could have made a pronounced success as a pedagogue had he chosen to continue in that line. His love for the farm drew him to agricultural pursuits in preference to the school room and in the fall of 1901 he bought a farm of eighty acres, upon which he has lived since 1902, paying at the time of the purchase one hundred and ten dollars per acre. The
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farm has very largely advanced in value and he has remodeled the buildings and made many improvements.
On March 30, 1899, Mr. Austin was united in marriage in Wheatland town- ship to Miss Minnie Kater, who was born in that township, a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Sasenburg) Kater who were natives, of Germany and came to this country about 1868, first locating in Illini township, this county, and later in Wheatland township. There Mr. Kater attained success in farming and became the owner of a farm of three hundred and forty acres. He was a man of influence in his locality and served as road commissioner. In religious belief he was a Lutheran and in his daily life he attempted to put into practice the teachings of that church. He was called to his reward August 1, 1908, and his faithful companion passed away January 21, 1909. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Austin : Helen May, born May 25, 1901 ; and Ruth Mar- guerite, born September 14, 1909.
Mr. Austin was reared as a democrat, but his study of politics has led him into broader views and he is now independent, voting according to the conditions and needs which are changing from year to year and are seldom the same in all parts of the country. He is greatly interested in the improvement of the county and for six years has acted as highway commissioner, during which time he has graveled three miles of roadway, put in one hundred feet of bridge work and several concrete arches and about three-quarters of a mile of con- crete sidewalk in Harristown. His wife and himself are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is serving as steward. By industry and a life free from reproach Mr. Austin has gained an honorable place in the minds and hearts of the people of the community and in a striking degree has he exemplified the great truth that peace, prosperity and happiness are within the reach of everyone who will rightfully apply himself and never yield to discouragement.
I. J. CARR.
Macon county can truthfully boast of well equipped farmers who were born in this county, have passed all their lives here and are now successfully demon- strating their ability in the line of agriculture or live-stock raising. Among this number may be named I. J. Carr, who is operating three hundred and twenty- five acres of land on sections 10 and 15, South Macon township. Mr. Carr was born May 26, 1871, and is a son of N. A. and Melissa J. (Rettinghouse) Carr. The father was born in St. Clair county, this state, March 29, 1838, but since 1865 and has been a resident of Macon county. He has devoted his active life to the farming interests and ten years ago retired from active work and is now living in Decatur. Mrs. Carr was also a native of St. Clair county. She was born July II, 1840, and was called away in Febuary, 1910, at Decatur, after a long life of usefullness. She was the mother of ten children, of whom the subject was the sixth in order of birth.
I. J. Carr was educated in the public schools and as a boy grew up on the farm and became thoroughly familiar with all the details of farm life. At
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seventeen years of age, desiring to see something of the great world that lay beyond the horizon, he went to Texas, where he lived for four years and was identified with the farming industry. Returning to Illinois, he began for himself upon his father's property in this county and later took up his residence at his present home upon his father's estate, where he is engaged principally in feeding live stock for the market, raising only enough hay and grain for this purpose. He has attained general recognition as one of the responsible stock feeders of this part of the county. He is also owner of a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of irrigated land in a highly promising district near Ordway, Colorado.
In 1896, Mr. Carr was united in marriage to Miss Hattie R. Sanner, a daughter of Edward B. and Naomi (Pierson) Sanner, of Shelby county, Illinois. She is the third of a family of nine children and was born March 20, 1871. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Carr: Lawrence H., born November 24, 1896; Eunice H., July 20, 1898; Chauncey C., May 5, 1901 ; and Ruth D., November 1, 1903.
Mr. Carr holds membership in Macon Lodge, No. 467, A. F. & A. M., and is an earnest believer in the principles of brotherhood, which are the foundation of that organization. Politically he is allied with the democratic party but he has never sought public office as his energies are most applied to his duties on the farm, where his chief interest centers. In his wife he has found a de- lightful companion and a worthy assistant in every undertaking for the welfare of the neighborhood, their home being a center of social influence for friends and acquaintances who are here always accorded a cordial greeting.
ALEXANDER CHAPMAN TRAUGHBER.
Alexander Chapman Traughber, who has resided in Macon county through- out his entire life, covering a period of almost three-fourths of a century, has lived in honorable retirement since 1903, having won a handsome competence through the careful conduct of his agricultural interests in former years. He is one of the county's well known, respected and most properous citizens and owns eight hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land.
His birth occurred in Mount Zion township on the 3d of April, 1834, his parents being Henry and Nancy (Smith) Traughber, who were natives of Tennessee and Kentucky respectively. The father came of German lineage, while the mother was of Irish descent. They came here about 1828, Henry Traughber being the second man to take out a marriage license in Shelby county, of which Macon county was at that time a part. He was a brick mason by trade and assisted in the erection of the first courthouse in Shelby county. Subse- quently he abandoned that occupation in order that he might devote his attention to general agricultural pursuits, locating on a tract of prairie and timber land which is now the home of our subject. In the lob cabin which he erected there- on all of his children were born. Alert, enterprising and energetic, he prospered in his farming interests as the years passed by and accumulated four hundred and forty acres of valuable land. For many years prior to his death he lived
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retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest. When he passed away in 1892 at the age of ninety years, the community mourned the loss of one of its most esteemed and honored early settlers. His wife was called to her final rest in the fall of 1864, when she was fifty-five years old.
Alexander Chapman Traughber attended the district schools, until eighteen years of age and when not busy with his text-books assisted his father in the operation of the home farm, which has remained his place of abode from his birth to the present time. In 1855 he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, first renting a portion of his father's farm. By dint of untiring in- dustry and unremitting energy he accumulated the capital which enabled him to buy a tract of three hundred and twenty acres, while later he extended the boundaries of his farm by an additional purchase of five hundred and twenty acres, so that his place now comprises eight hundred and forty acres. The property is highly improved in every particular, lacking none of the equipments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. In connection with the tilling of the soil he was also engaged in stock-raising, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income. In 1903 he put aside the active work of the fields, having since enjoyed the rest which he so richly merits. As before stated, he still makes his home on the farm where his birth occurred but during the winter months resides in Los Angeles, California.
On the IIth of December, 1856, Mr. Traughber was united in marriage to Miss Virginia C. Whitehouse, of Mount Zion township. She was born in Virginia on the 2d of January, 1839, her parents being George and Nancy (McCall) Whitehouse. The former, a prosperous agriculturist, died when his daughter Virginia was still but an infant, while the latter passed away in 1876 at the age of seventy-five years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Traughber have been born four children, as follows: George M., whose birth occurred on the 4th of June, 1865; Judd, whose natal day was May 14, 1868; William Burt, who was born September 15, 1871; and Flaudia May, who was born June 6, 1874.
Mr. Traughber is a republican in politics and a Presbyterian in religious faith. Having lived in this country for almost seventy-five years, he enjoys an extensive acquaintance within its borders and is largely familiar with the various stages of its growth and development, relating in an interesting manner many incidents and experiences of pioneer days.
LEONA F. BOWMAN.
Leona F. Bowman, the county superintendent of schools, was born near Oakley, Macon county, December 31, 1873, a daughter of Andrew and Emma Lena (Manecke) Bowman, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Coming to Macon county in 1867, they settled on a farm near Oakley, but are now residents of Decatur. Their daughter, Leona F. Bowman, was educated in the rural schools and the normal school, and began teaching at the age of seventeen years at a salary of thirty dollars per month. That her ability was manifest during that period is indicated by the fact that in the second year she was given fifty
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