USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, volume II > Part 50
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HARVEY K. LEONARD.
Harvey K. Leonard, a promising young business man of Macon county and agent for the Illinois Traction System at Harristown, was born on a farm in Harristown township, March 17, 1884. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Foster) Leonard, the father a native of Roanoke county, Virginia, and the mother of Adair county, Kentucky. Samuel Leonard came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1850, when he was seventeen years of age, and two years later, at the age of nine years, Elizabeth Foster arrived in the same county with her par- ents. There the young people grew up and after their marriage came to Macon county about 1864 and Mr. Leonard purchased land on sections 12 and 13, Harristown township, becoming the owner in 1880 of a farm of four hundred and ten acres, which he purchased at sixty-five dollars per acre. His wife departed this life in 1906 and he was again married. He was called away in
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1909 and he and the mother of our subject were both buried in Harristown cemetery. They were the parents of six children: George W., now living in Decatur; James G., living on the old homestead; Samuel T., who is the owner of ninety-nine acres of the old homestead; Luther A., now a bookkeeper for the Power & Light Company, of Spokane, Washington; Cotna A., now Mrs. John L. Helphinstine, living on the Leonard homestead; and Harvey K., the subject of this review.
Harvey K. Leonard grew up upon the home farm and attended the district schools, where he was an apt scholar, and evinced a fondness for books which led him to further investigations in the educational field. He was a student at Millikin University for two years, at the end of which time he spent ten weeks at Brown's Business College, in Decatur, and completed his business training at Draughon's Business College of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, graduating with high honors from that institution in the class of 1908. Returning to Decatur, Mr. Leonard entered the freight office of the Illinois Traction system as cashier and at the end of four months was made baggageman for the system, and after nine months of that position he was advanced to the position of agent at Harristown. Mr. Leonard inherited eighty acres of land from the family estate, which he disposed of at one hundred and eighty dollars per acre. He has purchased sixty- three acres at two hundred dollars an acre in Harristown township, which he proposes to improve in the spring of 1911, being a strong believer in the agricul- tural possibilities of this region.
On November 24, 1909, Mr. Leonard was united in marriage to Miss Irene Ellen Joynt, who was born on a farm near Latham, Logan county, this state, July 21, 1888. She is a daughter of John J. and Eliza O. (Whiteside) Joynt, the father a well known farmer of this region.
Mr. Leonard was reared a democrat and cast his first presidential ballot for William Jennings Bryan and still adheres to the democratic party. He and his estimable wife are earnest and consistent members of the Christian church. Although he is quite a young man, he has already made a fair start in the busi- ness world and by his pleasing manner and straightforward methods has won the respect of the entire community.
HENRY J. FLACH.
Henry J. Flach, busily engaged in farming in Illini township, his place being pleasantly located not far from Decatur, was born in Germany on the 18th of September, 1875, and is a son of Andrew and Louisa (Brown) Flach. Some years later the family left their little German home and crossed the Atlantic to the new world, making their way first to St. Louis, while subsequently they removed to Marissa, Illinois. There the father first rented land but as soon as his labors had brought him sufficient capital he purchased a farm, upon which he spent his remaining days. He labored untiringly to develop and improve it and his industry and diligence were manifest in the excellent appearance of his fields. Unto him and his wife were born six children: Fred, who is now living
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in Franklin county, Illinois; Henry J., of this review; August L., a resident of St. Louis; William G., of Franklin county; Andrew R., also of Franklin county ; and Louise J., of Macon county. The parents have passed away, the mother in the year 1901, and the father in 1905.
Henry J. Flach, who was but a young lad when the family came to Illinois, pursued his education in the district schools of St. Clair county, which he at- tended through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he worked upon the farm, doing the chores in early boyhood and later performing such service in the fields as his age and strength permitted. Thus gradually he became familiar with all departments of farm labor and when his school days were over he took up farming in Franklin county with his father and also worked as a farm hand for others.
On the 14th of April, 1910, Mr. Flach was united in marriage to Miss Lois M. Harper, a daughter of Oscar and Julia (Crickman) Harper. They attend the Lutheran church and are well known in the locality where they now reside. The farm which Mr. Flach is operating is only a short distance from Decatur, so that the advantages of city life are easily obtainable and at the same time they can enjoy the freedom and liberty of a rural existence. Mr. Flach has ever worked hard and persistently and whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors.
LOUIS CHODAT, SR.
Among the prominent business men of Decatur may be named Louis Chodat, Sr., the head of the leading book and stationery store of the city, and for twenty years past actively identified with this community. He was born in Moutier, Switzerland, September 18, 1843, and is a son of August and Catharine Chodat, also natives of Switzerland. The father was engaged in merchandising.
The subject of this review received his education in the schools of Moutier and after laying his books aside became an apprentice in a banking house and there continued for twenty-eight years, passing through various positions until he became one of the proprietors of the bank. The institution was first known under the title of Klaye & Derosche, but later the firm was designated as Klaye, Chodat & Company, and also operated a branch bank at Delemont, Switzerland. The business grew to large proportions, but in 1888 the concern suffered great financial losses and Mr. Chodat, now forty-five years of age, found himself al- most penniless. However, he was born of a sturdy stock and possessed a brave heart, feeling confident that somewhere in the world better fortune awaited. In this emergency the land of the stars and stripes presented inducements that Mr. Chodat could find no where else in the world and so he came to America to start all over again in his business career.
He arrived in Decatur in August, 1888, a stranger among strangers, and un- able to speak a word of the English language. Taking advantage of the first opening that presented, he and his son, Louis, Jr., then fourteen years of age, began selling German periodicals and later sold American newspapers on the streets. In 1890 Mr. Chodat opened a little news stand on Merchant street
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and his first day's sales amounted to seventeen cents. Under his energetic man- agement the newspaper sales grew rapidly and he became a general agent for all of the leading papers. Subsequently he established a book store and gave up the newspaper business and is now associated with his sons in one of the most flourishing book and stationery stores in this part of the state. Earlier in his career in Decatur he worked three hundred and sixty-five days each year, but the time has now arrived when he can enjoy himself in comfort and ease, as he has secured a competency. He is the owner of a beautiful home at No. 444 Ewing avenue, which is one of the results of his intelligent business manage- ment.
In 1870 Mr. Chodat was united in marriage to Miss Louise Chodat, who departed this life in April, 1909. Three children were born of this union: Mrs. Minnie Denz, of Decatur; Louis, Jr., and Jean N. Both of the sons are in active partnership with their father and have assisted him from the beginning in his business in this city. They are members of the Decatur Club. Mr. Chodat has prospered in America and he has no reason to regret his selection of Decatur as a home. Here he has made many friends by his excellent business ability, his gentlemanly address and by those qualities of heart and mind that count for most in worthy citizenship.
ISAAC TUGGLE.
A self-educated and self-made man, Isaac Tuggle is today general manager of the C. J. Off farms of Macon county, comprising twenty-two hundred acres in Austin and Illini townships. He has gained recognition as one of the most able and enterprising agriculturists of this part of the state and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for in youth he was denied many of the privileges and advantages which most boys enjoy. He is one of Kentucky's native sons, his birth having occurred in Wayne county on the 17th of October, 1866. His parents were Henry and Julia (Hurt) Tuggle. The father was born in Virginia and afterward became a resident of Kentucky. His parents were Henry and Tempa (Bertram) Tuggle, the former a farmer and preacher, who was born in Germany but was reared in Virginia. Removing from that state, he became one of the first settlers of Kentucky, making the journey to that district with the Boone colony. He settled on the Kentucky river at a place which was called Boonesboro and was active in the pioneer development of that region. He lived there at a time when the Indians were a constant menace to the white settlers and when all the men had to go armed as they per- formed their work in the fields.
Henry Tuggle was but a youth when the family removed from the Old Dominion to Kentucky and there amid all of the wild conditions of frontier life he was reared. He lived in Kentucky for a long period but afterward came to Illinois, being the first of the family to seek a home in this state.
Isaac Tuggle attended the country schools but his entire attendance at school would only cover about a year. His opportunities and advantages in youth were extremely limited but real merit and ability will come to the front
ISAAC TUGGLE
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anywhere and in course of years Mr. Tuggle has proven his right to be ranked with the most prominent and representative agriculturists of Macon county. He worked upon his father's farm to the age of twenty-two years and then started out in business for himself, devoting two years to farming in Macon county, after which he left that locality and removed to Sangamon county. He spent five years there and in February, 1889, came to the place where he now resides. In earlier years corn sold for ten cents per bushel and other crops were almost equally low. He at first had but two hundred and forty acres of land but the third year had charge of three hundred and sixty acres. He kept leasing more and more land until he was in charge of seven hundred and thirty acres. Then he took up all of the land belonging to C. J. Off and has been general manager for seventeen years. The C. J. Off Company owns an extensive canning factory in Peoria, and Mr. Off is also widely and promi- nently known as a wholesale groceryman there. In his present position Mr. Tuggle has the management of twenty-two hundred acres of rich and productive farm land. The work of the place is carefully systematized, com- petent help is employed and everything goes along smoothly, owing to the watchfulness and careful direction of Mr. Tuggle. He has raised every year about twenty hundred head of hogs and was formerly engaged in raising cattle but now keeps upon the place only enough cattle for his own use.
Mr. Tuggle has been married twice. He first wedded Amanda Smith and they had one child, Mary, who is now the wife of Ed Wilt and has three chil- dren, Arthur, Lucy and Beulah. For his second wife Mr. Tuggle chose Ida Carson, formerly of Wayne county, Illinois. They have seven children : Vena, who is now the wife of Alva Major and has two children, Mildred and Ida B .; James and Charles, who assist their father in his farming operations; Goldie, at home; Hazel; Marjorie; and Stanley.
The parents are members of the Christian church and are widely and favor- ably known not only in Illini township and Warrensburg but throughout the county. The extent of Mr. Tuggle's business interests has brought him a wide acquaintance and wherever he is known he is held in high esteem by reason of his genuine worth and many admirable traits of character, as well as his ex- cellent business ability. He has learned valuable lessons in the school of ex- perience and is today a practical, enterprising business man, whose efforts are far-reaching in their scope, while their wisdom is demonstrated in the success which has come to him.
LOUIS S. BONSTEEL.
Louis S. Bonsteel, who since 1903 has conducted a general contracting busi- ness in Decatur and has become firmly established as a progressive business man and citizen, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 5, 1863, a son of Dr. T. S. and E. (Greenleaf) Eaton. The father was a native of Massachusetts and a practicing physician of Boston. The ancestry of the family is traced back in direct line to Thomas Eaton, who landed at Boston in 1628. He was a mem- ber of the Plymouth colony and of Puritan stock. There were five Eatons,
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three brothers in one family and two brothers in another, who came with this colony to the new world and their male descendants in America numbered eleven hundred at the time of the Revolution. Members of the family were participants in the Boston tea party and in many events which shaped the colonial and later history of the new world.
Dr. Eaton, the father of him whose name introduces this review, was born in 1838. After the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army in April, 1862, becoming a surgeon in the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteer infantry. He was killed at the battle of Antietam in September, 1862, four months before the birth of his son Louis. In 1865 the mother became the wife of Dr. A. S. Bonsteel and our subject was christened under his stepfather's name and adopted that name, never knowing his own father. Dr. Bonsteel died at Corry, Pennsylvania, in 1887, the family having removed to that place after the war. The mother is now living there at the age of sixty-seven years. Dr. Bon- steel was a native of the state of New York and came of a family of noble Holland ancestry, the name being originally Von Stahl. Two brothers, Nicholas and Ludwig Von Stahl, crossed the Atlantic to Rhode Island in 1728. Two uncles of Dr. Bonsteel drove overland from Rhode Island to South Dakota with ox teams and prairie schooner in the early '40s, and the town of Bonesteel in that state was named in their honor. In 1876 one of them returned east on a visit, being at the time ninety-seven years of age and on that occasion took his first ride on a railroad train. The family is distinguished for longevity. The youngest member in the family dying a natural death was the grandmother of Louis S. Bonsteel, who passed away at the age of sixty-nine. A number of others had lived to between the ages of ninety and one hundred years. Some well known and distinguished people have been related to the family. Daniel Webster married a sister of Mr. Bonsteel's paternal grandfather; Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell University and at one time governor of New York, was related to the family on the maternal side; the grandmother of Judge Lindsey, judge of the juvenile court of Colorado, was a Greenleaf; and John Greenleaf Whittier, the celebrated New England poet, was a descendant of the Greenleafs who came to Boston from England in 1636.
The mother of Louis S. Bonsteel removed to New York during the Civil war and in 1872 went to Pennsylvania, where the son was educated in the public and high schools and also in Allegheny College of Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he pursued a classical course. After completing his education he was identified with mechanical pursuits in different parts of the country and in 1903 came to Decatur, where he established a general contracting business, in which he has been successful from the beginning. He has erected the Bijou theater, St. Mary's chapel and many of the fine residences of the city and his time is fully occupied by the demands that are made upon it in the conduct of a growing and profitable business. He is greatly interested in the progress of Decatur and his motto is "patronize home industries whenever possible," thus promoting the business development and progress of the community. In 1905 he formed a partnership with H. C. Wire, also a practical mechanic, and the liberal patronage accorded them indicates their high standing in building circles.
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On the 2d of November, 1893, Mr. Bonsteel was married to Miss Alma C. Huskey, of Taylorville, Illinois, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Huskey, now deceased. They were natives of Tennessee and pioneers of this section, where they became interested in farming pursuits but later lived retired. Mr. and Mrs. Bonsteel became the parents of three sons: Richard E., whose birth occurred on the 2d of December, 1895; Philip Courtney, who was born September 23, 1901; and Louis S., whose natal day was May 13, 1904.
Mr. Bonsteel belongs to Ionic Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M .; Macon Chap- ter, No. 21, R. A. M .; and Beaumanoir Commandery, No. 9, K. T .; and to the Modern Woodmen camp; while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. His worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged, while his pro- gressive spirit has led him into important relations with building operations in Decatur. He has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way and in all of his business career he has held to no false standards but has based his principles upon the rules which govern untiring industry and strict and unswerving integrity.
LEANDER N. COPE.
Leander N. Cope, occupying a leading position among the contractors and builders of Decatur, where he has operated as senior partner of the firm of Cope & McDonald, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1851, and in 1857 was brought to Illinois by his parents who settled in Olney. His father, Isaac P. Cope, was born January 2, 1824, and was a descendant of Oliver Cope, the progenitor of the family in America, who came to Pennsylvania with William Penn and was of Quaker faith. Isaac P. Cope followed the occupation of farm- ing as a life work but put aside all business and personal considerations at the time of the Civil war and served for three years and three months as a member of the Twenty-first Illinois Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, at the close of hostilities. His wife was born in 1826, and they are still residents of Olney, where Mr. Cope is now living retired. He holds membership with the Grand Army of the Republic.
Following the removal of the family to Olney, Leander N. Cope entered the public schools of that city and passed through consecutive grades until at the age of sixteen years he put aside his text-books and learned the trade of brick- laying, which he followed until 1872, when he began business on his own account as a brick contractor. He remained in Olney for a decade thereafter and in 1882 came to Decatur, where he continued in the same line of business, joining his brother in a partnership under the firm style of Cope Brothers. This rela- tion was maintained until 1895 and Leander Cope became partner of Frank Jahr, with whom he was associated until 1907. In that year he formed a partnership with Hugh J. McDonald, a practical carpenter, under the firm name of Cope & McDonald. He has been identified with many important building operations in the city. He had the contract for the erection of the Central Church of Christ, built a large addition to St. Mary's Hospital and has been called to other locali-
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ties as a representative of the trade. He built the Ford county courthouse, the jail of Champaign county, the jail and courthouse in Warren county, Indiana, the library building at Watseka, Illinois, a school building at Colfax, Illinois, the Young Women's Christian Association building at Decatur and is now engaged on the construction of the new high school building of Decatur, which is one of the largest high schools of this part of the state. He also built the courthouse at Salem, Illinois and numerous residences and business houses in this and other cities. His work has been of a most important character and his patron- age has constantly increased in volume and importance, indicating his high stand- ing in the field of business which he has chosen as his life work.
On the 22d of November, 1876, Mr. Cope was married to Miss Martha Gaskin, of Bridgeport, Illinois, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gaskin, who were natives of Ohio. Her father was a miller and died in 1860. The family came Illinois during the period of the Civil war and Mrs. Gaskin remained in this state until her death in 1901. Four children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Cope : George E., born October 5, 1879; Jesse B., November 22, 1881; Roy E., March 15, 1885; and Edith.
In his political views Mr. Cope has always been a republican since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise and for one term he represented the third ward on the board of city aldermen but has always preferred to leave office hold- ing to others, feeling that his business affairs fully occupy his time and attention. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Decatur and to the Sons of Veterans, and in those organizations has many friends. He resides at No. 646 West Macon street, where he owns a good home, and he and his wife are well known in the city, where they have many friends. Mr. Cope has resided here continuously since 1882, or for a period of more than twenty-eight years, and has made for himself a most creditable name and position in building circles, his labors proving not only an element of personal success but also a feature in the substantial improvement of the city.
CHARLES C. NYE.
Charles C. Nye, a highly respected and representative farmer, is living on the Mora Ritchie farm about four miles south of Warrensburg, where he has one hundred and sixty-five acres of land highly cultivated and splendidly im- proved according to the most modern agricultural methods. Almost his entire life has been spent in Macon county, although he was born upon a farm near Stockton in San Joaquin county, California. His parents were Jones and Lucy (Lynch) Nye. The father was born in the year 1832 and was living in Wooster, Ohio, when he started for California. He was one of the '49ers that went across the plains, being at the time but seventeen years of age. He experi- enced the usual hardships and privations incident to the long journey across the prairies of the Mississippi valley and the arid plains and mountain ranges farther west. He remained a resident of California for a number of years and in 1859 Lucy Lynch also went to the Pacific coast, traveling by the Fort
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Leavenworth route. They were married in that state and continued residents of California until 1865, when they returned by way of the Panama route to New York. Subsequently they took up their abode in Illinois and are now living with their son Charles.
While born in the far west, Charles C. Nye has spent the greater part of his life in Macon county and has made farming his chief occupation. In his youthful days he attended the common schools and later went to the State Uni- versity at Champaign, pursuing a course in the classics. His education com- pleted, he took up farming again and in tilling the soil and in caring for the crops he has displayed good business ability and unfaltering energy. His methods are practical and also progressive. He quickly adopts any new idea which his judgment sanctions as of value in promoting the work of the farm and he now has a well developed property, on which are substantial buildings, while the latest improved machinery is used to facilitate the work of the fields.
In 1883 Mr. Nye was united in marriage to Miss Fannie L. Knapp, a daugh- ter of Charles and Nancy J. (Parks) Knapp. They are the parents of four chil- dren : Frances Catherine, who supplemented her public-school education by two years' study of art in Millikin University; Charles Arthur, who is a graduate of the State University of Illinois; and Linn Jones, who is attending the Decatur high school; and Ralph, who died in infancy.
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are very - prominent in all church work. Mr. Nye likewise belongs to the Masonic lodge and has served on the school board. He is interested in all that has bearing upon the welfare and upbuilding of the community and the advancement of its best interests and gives hearty support to any movement for the general good. He has a wide acquaintance in this county, where he has so long resided and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present is an indication that his life has ever been an honorable and upright one.
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