USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, volume II > Part 57
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On the 19th of September, 1853, Dr. Walters was married in Springfield to Miss Melissa J. Ham, the wedding ceremony being performed by Rev. Brad- shaw of that city. Mrs. Walters was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, September 21, 1840, a daughter of John H. Ham, who was born in Frankfort county, Ken- tucky, in 1810, and was a youth of nineteen years when he located in Illinois.
Unto Dr. and Mrs. Walters were born six children, four sons and two daughters: Charles Henry, who was born in Macon county; Frederick W., who was a native of Champaign county, Illinois, and is now deceased; Mar- garet Ellen, who was born in Macon county; Rollo H., who is a native of De- catur; Roy C., also born in this city; and Ellis L., whose birth occurred in Rock- ford, this state.
Dr. Walters was a stanch advocate of the republican party and cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison. He always took an active part in politics so far as his professional duties would permit. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church of Decatur and his life conformed to its teachings. He was a successful man, having accumulated a competency that supplies his family with all the comforts of life. He passed away at his beautiful home, at No. 671 West Prairie avenue, January 20, 1897, and there his widow and children still reside. He possessed a vigorous per- sonality whose broad generous impulses coupled with sound judgment made him beloved to a degree seldom realized in human experience.
WILLIAM H. BLACK.
William H. Black, master in chancery since October, 1903, and one of the prominent workers in the ranks of the republican party in Macon county, was born in Chicago, July 3, 1866, a son of William and Mary (Leslie) Black, both of whom were natives of Scotland, the father having been born in Edinburgh and the mother in Arbroath. The father was a mechanic, serving a regular ap- prenticeship in Scotland. On coming to America he took up his abode in Chi- cago but after a few years removed to Champaign county, Illinois, and pur- chased a farm on which he resided until 1893. He then moved to Champaign and resided there until his death which occurred August 4, 1901. He made the journey to the United States in 1854 with his brother, father and mother, he paying half the passage for the party and his father paying the other half. This spirit of helpfulness toward his family was one of his marked characteristics and friends and neighbors also benefited by his generous spirit and kindly dis- position. Moreover, he was known as an honest, upright citizen, whose word
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was considered as good as his bond. He died August 4, 1901, while his wife passed away in March, 1904.
William H. Black pursued his early education in the public schools and afterward attended Chaddock College at Quincy, Illinois, and the Wesleyan Uni- versity at Bloomington, in which he completed the law course with the class of 1892. Admitted to the bar the same year, he located for practice in Decatur, where he has since followed his profession. Other activities have also claimed his attention and he is widely recognized as one of the prominent leaders of the republican party in this section of the state. For a time he served as chairman of the republican county central committee and his labors in support of the principles in which he believes have been effective and far-reaching. He has also been a leading representative of the Modern Woodmen of America, in behalf of which organization he has delivered many public addresses, taking an active and helpful interest for the good of the society. He acted as state worthy adviser and state lecturer for a time, in which connection he delivered lectures in the western half of New York and in Oklahoma and Indian Territory, when the order was founded in that part of the country. He is likewise a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also of Macon Lodge, No. 8, A. F. & A. M .; Chapter No. 21, R. A. M .; and Beauma- noir Commandery, K. T. He was chosen to his present office in October, 1903, throughi appointment of Judge Johns and has since continued in the position, his services being satisfactory to all who have to do with chancery work.
On the 9th of November, 1903, Mr. Black was married to Miss Anna Louise Crocker, of Maroa, Illinois, a daughter of John H. and Louise (Philbrook) Crocker, pioneers of Macon county, and they have one son, William H., Jr. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and are prominent in the social circles of the city. Mr. Black had but a few hundred dollars when he came to Decatur but has built up a business that has brought him a comfortable competence and his methods have at all times conformed to the strictest busi- ness ethics. In manner he is cordial, approachable and genial, and his unfailing loyalty to any cause which he espouses has gained for him the confidence and warm regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
JOHN MILTON LOWRY.
While long years have passed away since John Milton Lowry was an active factor in the public life and affairs of Macon county, more than passing thought should be given him because of his excellent record as a soldier of the Civil war, because of his progressiveness and reliability in business affairs and because of his promptness and capability in the discharge of the public duties that were entrusted to him. 1
A native of Illinois, John Milton Lowry was born in Clark county, Novem- ber 2, 1825, at which period the county was a pioneer district in which the work of improvement and progress had been scarcely begun, so that he was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of the frontier. He remained in that county until about ten years of age, when his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William
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Lowry, removed with their family to De Witt county, settling near Waynesville, Illinois. John M. Lowry resided in the latter county until about twenty-five years of age and acquired the greater part of his education in that county in at- tendance at the district schools. He lived upon the home farm and the work of tilling the fields and caring for the crops early became familiar to him. He was busy with the tasks incident to the development of the fields save when in school. After he had reached the age of twenty-five years he joined his brother-in-law, Preston Butler, in the conduct of a grocery business, in which he continued for three years, and at the same time conducted the postoffice at East Main street, Decatur.
On the 17th of February, 1852, Mr. Lowry was united in marriage to Miss Martha M. Pugh, a daughter of Colonel I. C. Pugh, of Decatur, and unto them have been born four children, of whom all are yet living, while all are still resi- dents of Macon county with the exception of William I., who is located in Springfield, Illinois. Elvira E. became the wife of Perry B. Vance, who owns and cultivates a farm of two hundred acres of good land in Macon county. They have three sons: Guy P., Claude L. and Clarke E. Vance. William I. is unmarried and is a printer by trade; Mary A. is at home with her mother; Silas T. is married and resides in Decatur, where he is connected with the fire depart- ment, being stationed at engine house No. I. He has three children: Isaac M., Jessie M. and Marjorie E.
Following his marriage Mr. Lowry devoted his time to bookkeeping and mercantile business until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he responded to the country's call for troops and spent three years at the front as a member of Company A, Eighth Regiment of Illinois Infantry. He participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing and other important engagements that were features in the success that finally crowned the Union arms. In his later years he became a member of the Grand Army post of Decatur and thus maintained pleasant re- lations with those who were his comrades when the country needed the military aid of her loyal sons. He also belonged to the Masonic lodge at Decatur and was quite prominent in public affairs, at all times supporting the projects and measures which he deemed of worth and value to the community.
Mr. Lowry was several times called to public office, serving as justice of the peace for eight years, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. He was also constable for four years and in that office, as in every other position to which he was called, proved most loyal, prompt and faithful. In politics he was a stanch republican from the organization of the party and did all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success because of his firm belief in its principles. He held membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church of Decatur, gave generously to its support and did all in his power to promote the spread of the gospel. He died on the 8th of April, 1887, at his home on North Church street, and his remains were interred in Greenwood cemetery. While almost a quarter of a century has since passed away, he is yet remembered by many who knew him and who learned to esteem and value him highly because of his many sterling traits of character. He was ever reliable in business, pro- gressive in citizenship, loyal in military service and devoted to his family and friends.
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Mr. Lowry still survives her husband and makes her home at No. 726 North Main street. She is one of the oldest among the pioneer women of the city. She attended school in Decatur at the old courthouse where Abraham Lincoln first practiced law. This building is now standing in Fairview park of Decatur, being there maintained because of its historic interest. Mrs. Lowry was a student there in 1836 when a Mr. Gobel was the teacher. She had been brought to the county in 1832 and has remained here throughout the ensuing years. Her father was a soldier in the Black Hawk war in 1832, also of the Mexican war from 1846 until 1847 and later became a colonel in the Civil war. Mrs. Lowry relates many interesting incidents of the early days when Decatur was a village with little commercial or industrial importance. She has ever been deeply interested in what has been accomplished as the years have gone by and is authority concerning many events which have left their impress upon the history of Macon county.
DECATUR COFFIN COMPANY.
The business of the Decatur Coffin Company was begun by a partnership consisting of T. T. Roberts and R. P. Lytle in September, 1872, with a capital not exceeding ten thousand dollars, except what was borrowed. The first build- ing erected was thirty-six by eighty, with a lean-to for the engine room and dry house. In May, 1873, the firm was joined by O. Z. Greene, who put in two thousand five hundred dollars in money and added a credit of six thousand dol- lars. At this time the firm name was changed to Roberts, Lytle & Company. In 1875 R. P. Lytle secured the postmastership of Decatur, which paid a good salary, and Roberts and Greene purchased his interests, and the firm name was changed to Roberts, Greene & Company. In 1880 the firm was joined by S. R. Gher, who added to the capital of the business eight thousand dollars, and after two years, he not liking the business, Roberts & Greene purchased his interest for twelve thousand dollars cash. The business continued under the firm name of Roberts, Greene & Company until 1882, when it was converted into a stock company, under the corporate name of the Decatur Coffin Company, with a capital of eighty thousand dollars. Roberts and Greene subscribed for this stock in equal shares, with the exception of two shares taken by K. H. Roby, Sr., the attorney for the company. O. Z. Greene was elected president of the company and T. T. Roberts, secretary-treasurer. These men retained their offices until the death of Mr. Greene in 1909. In the meantime they had adopted a policy of interesting men who would help build up the business, among them being C. R. Murphy, G. E. Moeller, C. H. Logan, W. E. Murray, W. D. Kunkle, J. E. Pierce and Charles Walser, and others, several of whom afterward went into other good businesses. G. E. Moeller, C. R. Murphy and C. H. Logan still re- main as officers of the company at this time. At the death of O. Z. Greene in 1909 T. T. Roberts was elected president of the company; C. R. Murphy, vice president ; and G. E. Moeller, secretary-treasurer.
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The company has always been in sympathy and accord with its employes and has never had a strike. They have always been the first to adopt new devices that would improve conditions, and ten years ago installed the Webster vacuum system of heating their buildings which reduced the cost of heating two-thirds. They were also the first in Decatur to equip their plant with an automatic sprinkler system for fire protection, reducing the cost of insurance three-fourths. Later they put in a system of circulating pure air in all rooms where employes have to work. This system changes the air every three minutes protects the health of their em- ployes, and enables them to do more and better work and with less loss of time occasioned by sickness.
The founders of this business have been foremost in their benefactions, contributing to various institutions of the city between 1892 and 1902 over thirty-seven thousand dollars, principally to churches, the James Millikin Uni- versity and the Young Men's Christian Association. Two years ago they gave eight thousand dollars to the Young Women's Christian Association, and in the early effort to secure a hospital subscribed nine thousand dollars. This com- pany has never advertised its business locally, as the business is not one that appeals to the general public.
J. A. RONEY.
J. A. Roney, for over twenty years past a resident of Decatur and at the present time proprietor of the elevator at Wyckles, Harristown township, was born on a farm near. Sullivan, Illinois, August 13, 1844. He is a son of James and Mary 'Ann (Oxley) Roney. The father having been called away when our subject was an infant, the mother was latter married to her husband's brother, John Roney. They removed to Todds Point, Shelby county, Illinois, where the subject of this review grew to manhood. He received a fair com- mon-school education and remained at home until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he was married and began living upon a farm which he and his sister owned and which was inherited from their father. This farm comprised about three hundred acres, but after a year's experience the place was disposed of and our subject purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the locality where Dalton City now stands, paying about forty dollars an acre. At the close of ten years he entered the grain mercantile business at Dalton City, where he had charge of a dump instead of an elevator and was in partnership with a Mr. Freeland. There he continued for eight years, in the meantime having sold his farm. His next venture was in the hardware busi- ness at Dalton City for five years.
In 1887 Mr. Roney removed to Decatur, where two years later he pur- chased an interest in the hardware firm of Lytle & Eckels. In 1890 he sold out and for nine years, until 1900, was identified with business interests at Hervey City. Since 1900 he has been owner of the elevator at Wyckles, which has a capacity of about ten thousand bushels and has yielded to him handsome re- turns upon the investment.
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On the 9th of March, 1865, in Moultrie county, Mr. Roney was united in marriage to Miss Emma T. Freeland, who was born in North Carolina, Au- gust 6, 1843, a daughter of John J. and Mary (Craig) Freeland. She removed with her parents to Moultrie county when she was about thirteen years of age and there was educated in the public schools and grew to womanhood. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Roney. John S., born Sep- tember 28, 1866, is a grain dealer of Dalton City. He married Miss Josie Reeder, and they have four children, Mabel, Leta, Fay and John Kenneth. Ella was married to Wilbur Gibson, a real-estate dealer, and lives in Guthrie, Oklahoma. They have one son, Vernon. Ralph T., born on the 7th of May, 1884, was a student of the University of Illinois and later entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but was obliged to give up the study of medicine on account of trouble with his eyes. He is now living at home.
Mr. Roney is an independent republican, being a man who studies closely the character of the candidate before casting his vote. He and the other mem- bers of the family are identified with the Presbyterian church, of which he was elder while at Dalton City. He is greatly interested in the study of the Bible and has devoted considerable time as a teacher in the Sunday school. Frater- nally he holds membership in Chevalier Bayard Lodge, No. 189, K. P. He has many friends in central Illinois, whom he has made by honorable business deal- ings and by the exercise of genial social qualities, with which he is abundantly blessed.
ED REESER.
Ed Reeser, engaged in general farming on section 17, Friends Creek town- ship, is an extremely busy man with his farming and stock-raising interests, owning and cultivating one hundred acres of rich and productive land in the home place, together with another tract of sixty acres. He recognizes the fact that diligence and determination are important elements in success and he therefore employs them in the attainment of that prosperity which is the legiti- mate goal of all honest endeavor. He has lived in Macon county since 1881, arriving here when a young man of twenty years. His birth occurred in York county, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1861, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Good) Reeser, both of whom were born and reared in the Keystone state. Following their marriage they took up their abode there, the father becoming a farmer of York county, where he reared his family and spent his life. He had eleven children, eight sons and three daughters.
Ed. Reeser, the youngest of the family, was reared upon the old homestead farm in Pennsylvania, attended the common schools and through the periods of vacation worked in the fields. He continued with his father until he was grown and in 1881 came west to join a brother, who at that time was in Argenta, Macon county. Here he engaged with his brother in the manufacture of tile, continuing in business for five years. Throughout the period of his residence
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in this county he has been numbered among the enterprising and progressive business men, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes.
On the 7th of January, 1887, Mr. Reeser was married on the farm where he now resides to Miss Mary C. Williams, a native of Friends Creek township and a daughter of Jackson Williams, who was one of the early settlers of Ma- con county, coming to this state from Ohio. Following his marriage Mr. Reeser purchased one of the Williams farms of one hundred acres and with characteristic energy began its further development. He has brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and has added many modern equipments, so that the farm is lacking in none of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. He has erected a modern frame residence, a good barn and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and the farm presents a very neat and attractive appearance. He raises considerable grain and also raises stock, making a specialty of pure blooded and high grade cattle and horses. In addition to his home place he has a farm of sixty acres near by and this he also cultivates and improves.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reeser have been born three children: Opal, the wife of Arthur Hendrik, a resident farmer of Friends Creek township, by whom she has one child, Mabel; Herbert A., who aids his father in carrying on the home farm; and Irene, who completes the family.
In his political views Mr. Reeser has been a lifelong democrat and has served as a delegate to county conventions. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability and of his progressive citizenship, have chosen him to the of- fice of highway commissioner, while for fifteen years he has been retained in the office of township school trustee and is now a member of the school board. His wife belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Argenta, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained a high degree, be- longing to the lodge at Argenta; Monticello Chapter, R. A. M .; Decatur Com- mandery, K. T. and the Mystic Shrine at Peoria. He was formerly connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows but is not in active relations with the society at the present time. He is recognized throughout the community as a good business man and citizen. He keeps his buildings in excellent re- pair and the farm presents a very neat and attractive appearance, indicative of the careful management and enterprising spirit of the owner, who for twenty- nine years has been classed with the representative and valued citizens of Macon county.
GUSTAVUS JOHNSON.
A life of well directed activity covering a period of connection with agri- cultural interests and later with the wholesale grocery and bakery business brought Gustavus Johnson to a position of prominence among the enterprising and prosperous men of Decatur, where his worth was widely acknowledged. He had no special advantages when he started out in life but he possessed de- termination and energy and as the years passed on he overcame all the difficul-
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ties and obstacles that barred his path and worked his way steadily upward to a place of prominence and prosperity. A native of Kentucky, he was born near Hopkinsville, Christian county, on the 16th of October, 1841. He represented one of the old families of that locality. His daughter, Willetta, became the wife of Fred A. Tuttle, who is now a traveling salesman residing in Decatur. They had twin sons: Gustavus Claude, who is on a plantation at Port Gibson, Mississippi; and Henry Clyde, a successful practicing physician now residing in Quincy, Illinois.
Gustavus Johnson was educated in his native county and there remained for about twenty-two years. Subsequent to the outbreak of the Civil war he came to Illinois, settling at Taylorville, Christian county, where he resided for about ten years. His ability and worth as a citizen were recognized there and he was called to public office, serving as sheriff for two years and for four years as deputy sheriff. He also filled the position of constable.
On the 13th of February, 1872, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Maxwell, of Taylorville, Illinois, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Maxwell. Her father was a very prosperous farmer of Christian county, widely known as a successful breeder of and dealer in fine stock. The Maxwell family included two daughters, the sister of Mrs. Johnson being Eleanora, who was married in Taylorville in 1867 to Dr. L. H. Clark and later removed to Decatur, where they became widely known.
After removing from the farm to the city Mr. Johnson engaged in the whole- sale grocery business in Decatur and later conducted a very successful and ex- tensive business as a wholesale and retail baker. He always held to high stand- ards in the character of service rendered to the public, in the line of goods car- ried and in the personnel of the house. His energy enabled him to overcome many difficulties and obstacles and gradually he worked his way upward until he stood with that class of men who are regarded as Macon county's most sub- stantial and successful citizens. About three years prior to his death, however, he retired from active business and spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest.
Mr. Johnson was entitled to wear the Grand Army button from the fact that he served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, enlisting about 1862. It was after the close of the war that he came to Decatur. Here he held membership in the Grand Army post, and thus maintained pleasant re- lations with the boys in blue. He was a believer in the teachings and doctrines of the Congregational church and died in that faith July 30, 1910, passing away in the home which his widow now occupies and which had been their place of residence for about twelve years. He always gave much credit to his wife for his success in life, acknowledging his indebtedness to her encouragement, faith- fulness and helpfulness. Theirs was an ideal marriage relation, their love and confidence increasing as the years went by. Mr. Johnson also held friendship inviolable and never allowed his success in any way to affect his friendly rela- tions with those whom he had known in his less prosperous days. He remained a resident of this county for about twenty-seven years and genuine personal worth gained him high regard among his fellowmen. Justice and truth found embodiment in his life and he stood as the stalwart defender of whatever he
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