USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, volume II > Part 73
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He was one of the oldest member of Macon Lodge, No. 8, A. F. & A. M., and he also belonged to Decatur Club. He would never consent to hold public office save that of a member of the park board from 1892 until 1899. He took a great interest in the parks and much of their present beauty is due to his ef- forts. He was throughout his life an intense lover of flowers. Their cultiva- tion was his recreation, their beauty ever a source of keen delight. In the little home to which he brought his bride he cultivated a window garden and when it was possible to make other arrangements he built a bay window on the south side of his house and filled it with flowers. At length he built a conservatory-
the first private conservatory in this part of the state. There Mr. Burrows spent his leisure hours for five years, in which time he learned much about the cultiva- tion of plants and flowers. In 1880 to secure proper temperature he built an- other greenhouse back of his residence and in this way was able to grow roses, carnations, chrysanthemums and palms, and was very successful in his cultiva- tion of all kinds of plants and flowers. As it became possible he began the culti- vation of rare plants until his assortment was as varied as could be found any- where in this state. He understood the plants from a scientific standpoint and, moreover, had the deepest love for them. It was not infrequent that he would take a plant that someone else had abandoned and bring it to a healthful and blossoming condition. Moreover he was most generous with his flowers and plants and the blossoms were constantly seen in the sickrooms, not only of his friends but in the homes of rich and poor alike where he believed that they would add to happiness and cheer. Nor was his taste for the beautiful confined to flowers, for he was largely a connoisseur in music, in art and in literature. His pictures were always of the best and while he did not seek to have the largest library, his was composed of the choicest books.
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Another phase of Mr. Burrows' character that made him extremely popular was his pronounced social traits. No one had keener appreciation for the good qualities in others. He enjoyed to the full the companionship of his friends and held friendship inviolable. His home was for many years the center of the social life of Decatur and in the period following the Civil war, when many early en- tertainments were given by the town people in the nature of theatricals, cantatas and tableaux, Mr. Burrows was always a leading figure in such and displayed rare ability as an actor. It is said that his rendition of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice has never been excelled in Decatur either by amateurs or professionals. He had an almost inexhaustible fund of humor and no one could more quickly see the ridiculous side of anything.
The death of Mr. Burrows occurred on the 16th of October, 1910. He was almost eighty years of age but in appearance seemed much younger and his active interest in the affairs of the present continued to his demise. Unlike so many of the aged, his thoughts were not retrospective. He was a believer in progress and his own life exemplified that spirit. At the time of his death one of the local papers in an account of his life said: "Mr. Burrows came here from Phil- adelphia in 1852, a handsome, polished, courtly gentleman. Illinois was new at that time and things were raw. The inhabitants were trying to wrest a living from the soil and without drainage, without roads, without markets it was a perpetual struggle. The polished young easterner settled down among them and stayed here. He never lost one whit of his polish, he never relinquished an iota of his courtesy. He was successful in a business way but what is of even more importance was his social value to the town. For many years, for, indeed, a period of nearly half a century, his house was one of the social centers. He quickly took position as the social leader and through all his life here, until the last dozen years, he was the most active social factor. The death of Lowber Burrows is the ending of a cycle, the closing of an era. The passing of a man so conspicuous for so long a period in the business and social life of a com- munity means much more than that another has joined the great majority. It really means the ending of one important epoch. The Decatur of the past sixty years has gone forever. The Decatur of the future will be quite a different thing. No one man will ever bear the same relation to the Decatur of the future that Lowber Burrows bore to the Decatur of the past."
CLYDE C. YOUNG.
With good technical training to supplement the practical experience which he received under the direction of his father during the period of his boyhood and youth, Clyde C. Young is now operating the old homestead farm according to progressive and up-to-date methods, the utilization of which is bringing him substantial and gratifying success. Born in Christian county, Illinois, on the 9th of January, 1875, he is a son of B. F. and Sabila F. (Schrantz) Young, natives of Ohio. The former was born in 1835 in Canton, Ohio, and in 1866 came to Illinois, locating in Christian county, where he carried on farming for
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a number of years. He is now living retired, however, making his home in Stewardson, Illinois. In 1868 he wedded Sabila F. Schrantz and unto them were bore two children. The elder, Orres E., was born in 1871, and is now married, making his home in Detroit, Michigan.
The second son, Clyde C. Young, received his preliminary training in the public schools of Illinois and later attended the University of Illinois, where he pursued a course in natural science. He then profited by a year's study in the Northwestern College of Pharmacy at Chicago and after leaving that insti- tution was employed in the drug business for about six years. At the end of that time, in 1899, he was married, and, returning to agricultural pursuits, began his domestic life upon his father's farm, which is still his place of residence. The farm is a well developed property of two hundred and forty acres located on sections 11 and 14, South Macon township, and the excellent condition of the fields and the neat appearance of the place speak for well directed effort and intelligently applied labor on the part of Mr. Young. Indeed, enterprise and progress might well be termed the salient elements in his life, and the success which is now his is a strong argument in favor of practical experience, rein- forced by thorough technical training.
In 1899 Mr. Young wedded Miss Alice Lewis, who was born in 1877 and is the eldest of a family of five children, her parents being James S. and Jane (Burris) Lewis, natives of Sangamon county, Illinois.
Mr. Young is well known and prominent in fraternal circles, holding mem- bership in Decatur Lodge, No. 189, K. P., and also in Decatur Lodge, No. 401, B. P. O. E. Interested as all American citizens should be, in the political situation of the country, he has thoroughly informed himself concerning the questions and issues of the day and gives stalwart support to the republican party. He is now serving his second term as school director but aside from that office he has never held nor sought political preferment, choosing rather to devote his time and attention to the management of his personal interests. Comparatively a young man in years, he is still imbued with the spirit of energy and ambition which usually attends a man during the early years of his business career, and the position to which these elements have already brought him in the path to prosperity augurs well for a bright future.
ELROY COTTINGHAM.
Elroy Cottingham is one of the energetic and enterprising farmers of South Wheatland township, Macon county. He lives on a highly improved place of four hundred acres on section 15 and is recognized as an up-to-date agriculturist and stock-raiser, who is thoroughly posted as to practical farming operations and competent to solve almost any problem that may arise in his chosen calling. He was born in Clay county, Illinois, March 1, 1864, and is a son of George and Martha (Hurlock) Cottingham. The father of our subject was born in Noblesville, Indiana, and came to Illinois in the early '60s and settled in Clay county but later moved to Jasper county, where he departed this life in 1892 at
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the age of fifty-six years. He was an educated man and for a number of years taught school, later directing his attention to farming. He was a man of excellent mental resources, a good teacher and a successful farmer. The mother was born in Indiana in 1837 and is now, at seventy-three years of age, living with her children, where she receives the loving attentions which are due to a mother who never hesitated at any sacrifice to promote the welfare and happiness of her family. There were nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cottingham, our subject being the third in order of birth.
Elroy Cottingham grew to manhood upon the home farm and was educated in the common schools, beginning his business career by working for wages .. In 1893 he commenced farming on his own account and in 1902 he removed to his present residence, which is the Murphy estate, and here engages in general farming, also raises live stock for the market and has conducted his operations with a good judgment that from year to year has produced very satisfactory returns.
In 1898 Mr. Cottingham was united in marriage to Miss Vinnie Metcalf, a daughter of Fenton and Mary (Whitson) Metcalf, natives of Indiana. She was the sixth in a family of ten children and was born July 14, 1871. Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cottingham : Grace, born April 8, 1901 ; Edith, June 15, 1903; and Florence, February 15, 1910.
Mr. Cottingham is an adherent of the republican party and, although he has not been an aspirant for political honors, he has for the last four years served most acceptably as member of the school board of his district. He and his wife are esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in their lives have attempted to put into effect the teachings of the Great Book which they have found to be a constant solace and an inspiration for the duties which have arisen from day to day.
WILLIAM S. SMITH.
William S. Smith, who for the last eight years has been living retired at Niantic, and who, during a large part of a long life, was actively identified with the farming interests of Macon county, is a native of Kentucky, born in Nicholas county, December 4, 1835, and is a son of William S. and Elizabeth (Henderson) Smith. The father departed this life a short time before the birth of our subject, leaving a widow and three children. The mother was again married and about 1840 the family came to Shelby county, Illinois, and settled upon a farm.
It was in the midst of pioneer conditions that William S. Smith grew up, and he possessed little advantages of school education, as his stepfather kept him hard at work, giving him little opportunity for attendance at the neighboring schoolhouse. However, our subject gained a great deal of practical education in the affairs of the farm, so that at eighteen years of age he branched out for himself, finally purchasing a farm of one hundred acres in Dora township, Moultrie county, for which he gave his note. He prospered and in the spring
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of 1888 came to Macon county, where he purchased a promising farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres, which he developed with great assiduity, but finally traded it for his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Harristown township, which was then valued at one hundred and ten dollars per acre. In 1902 Mr. Smith erected a handsome residence in Niantic, to which he removed, and here he is spending his declining years, enjoying the fruits of many years of self-denial and rightly directed application, during which time he not only advanced his own interests, but greatly promoted the interests of others.
In December, 1863, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E. Bushart, of Moultrie county, by whom he had eight children, one of these being Alvah R. Smith, whose record appears elsewhere in this work. After the death of his first wife Mr. Smith was a second time married, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Caroline Smith, the widow of his brother, and she has proven to him a faithful and loving companion. He is identified with the republican party and, although he has never sought official preferment, he has held several minor political offices, in which he displayed the same interest that he has exhibited in his own affairs. He and his wife are active members of the Christian church and firm believers in the inspiration of the gospel. They have many friends in Macon county, where they are widely and favorably known. The success of Mr. Smith is due to his industry, economy and clear judgment and also to his acknowledged integrity and exemplary life.
D. J. PHILLIPS.
'Among the self-made residents of Macon county, Illinois, who owe their present prosperity entirely to their own well directed efforts in agricultural lines, is numbered D. J. Phillips, who carries on general farming and stock- raising in Pleasant View township. A native of Ohio, he was born in Chilli- cothe, Ross county, on the 12th of January, 1852, and is a son of John T. and Mary (Walters) Phillips, the former born in Virginia in October, 1827, and the latter in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The father, who carried on general farming for a number of years, is yet living and makes his home near Decatur, Illinois. The mother passed away on the 16th of September, 1883, and was laid to rest in Salem cemetery. Her two brothers, John and Captain James D. Walters, were veterans of the Civil war, the former enlisting from Memphis, Tennessee, as a member of the cavalry and the latter from Illinois as a member of the artillery. In the family of John T. and Mary Phillips were six children, as follows: D. J., of this review; Louis, of Oklahoma; Charles and W. L., residing near Decatur; Adam, making his home in Decatur; and Oliver, of St. Louis.
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During the period of his boyhood and youth D. J. Phillips attended the Cross Roads and the Elwin schools, near Decatur, in the pursuit of an education and later for four years was engaged in teaching in those institutions. The periods of vacation were spent as a farm hand, for his training in agricultural lines had by no means been neglected, early becoming familiar with all the tasks
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that fall to the lot of the country lad. In 1882, deciding to devote his entire time and attention to farming, he purchased thirty-seven acres of land near Decatur, which he operated for some time. He then leased that place and rented a larger farm near Boody for five years, after which he returned to his own farm, remaining thereupon for two years. He then came to Pleasant View township in 1893, where he has since rented one hundred and twenty acres of land from Mr. Groniger. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising, and his enterprising spirit, close application and businesslike methods are salient features in winning him a degree of prosperity which is most creditable.
On the 18th of September, 1884, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Mary Downey, who was born in Macon, Illinois, February 10, 1862, a daughter of John and Mary (Coleman) Downey. The father, who was born in Ireland about 1800, came to America in the same year that the Wabash Railroad was built and passed away in 1886, his remains being interred in Macon, where he had located as a young man. His wife, also a native of Ireland, where her birth occurred in 1823, died in 1892 and was likewise buried in Macon. Their family consisted of five children, but only Mrs. Phillips is now living. She has proven herself a true helpmate and has done much toward advancing her husband's interests. She is an extensive chicken-raiser, in which direction she is meeting with gratifying success, and her efforts therein are proving an important feature of the farm.
The religious faith of Mr. Phillips is indicated by his membership in the Catholic church, while in fraternal circles he is identified with the Woodmen camp. He gives his political support to the democratic party and for several years was collector of the township. In public office and in private life alike he has ever displayed those qualities which speak for good citizenship, and he enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellowmen. He and his wife occupy a prominent place in the community in which they reside and are popular with their many friends because of their generous, kindly nature and the warm hospitality of their home.
JAMES G. LEONARD.
Among the prosperous young farmers of Macon township is James G. Leon- ard, who is the owner of one hundred and forty-seven acres of the Leonard homestead and the home place in Harristown township, Macon county. He has spent his life upon a farm and was born near Illiopolis, Sangamon county, Illinois, October 2, 1876. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth S. (Foster) Leonard and was quite young when the family removed to Macon county. He was educated in the district schools and as he grew up he became acquainted with the varied operations of the farm, including not only the plowing and planting and gathering in the harvest, but also the raising and marketing of live stock, in which, from his boyhood, he has always taken a keen interest. He became a successful farmer and stock-raiser and in addition to his regular farming operations, he is the owner of two steam threshing outfits which he has managed so well that they have proven excellent paying investments.
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On December 22, 1900, Mr. Leonard was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Moore, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of Hayden Moore. She came to Illinois with her parents in her girlhood, the family locating near Auburn, San- gamon county. She became acquainted with her future husband at the home of John Leonard, near Illiopolis. After residing on the home farm for four years, Mr. Leonard and his wife took up their residence on another farm, and in 1906 bought sixty-three acres on section 14, Harristown township, at one hundred and twenty-eight dollars an acre. At the time of the settlement of the Leonard estate he sold this land to his brother, H. K. Leonard, at two hundred dollars per acre. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard: Dora, Myrtle, Edgar and Lawrence. The parents are both members of the Christian church. Mr. Leonard has always voted with the democratic party but has never been a seeker for political honors. He is now serving as road commissioner of his district. He is a man of energy and determination and is the fortunate possessor of an abundance of good common sense which he applies in the various details of his business. He has never been afraid of work and seeks labor rather than recreation and thus finds an outlet for his energy in what is useful rather than ornamental. Financially he is independent and he has many friends who recognize his sterling worth and are interested in his continued prosperity.
OTTO HERMAN TIETZE.
Otto Herman Tietze, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 22, South Macon township, and one of the highly respected farmers of Macon county, belongs to stanch Teutonic ancestry. He was born in Berlin, Germany, May 29, 1861, and is a son of Herman and Mary Tietze, also natives of Germany. The father learned the weaver's trade in the old country but, desiring more favorable conditions for himself and family, came to America in 1866 and located in Illinois. He is now living with the subject of this review and has reached the venerable age of four score and five years. The mother was called away at the age of forty-five, in 1871.
Otto H. Tietze was the youngest of four children and grew up in the parental home, receiving his education in the public schools. 'A'fter laying his books aside he began working for wages, continuing until nineteen years of age, since which time he has farmed for himself. By diligence and economy he acquired the capital with which he purchased eighty acres of land in 1891, forming a portion of the farm which he now owns, and in 1904 purchased eighty acres adjoining. He has devoted his attention to general farming and stock-raising, and his labors have been from year to year rewarded, so that at the present time he is one of the most successful agriculturists in one of the most prosperous farming districts of the state.
Mr. Tietze has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Emma Rich- ardson, to whom he was united in 1884, a daughter of William and Mary Richardson, the former a native of England and the latter of Illinois. Mrs. Tietze died leaving two children, the elder of whom, Stella Mary, was born in
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July, 1887, and became the wife of Homer Whittaker. They are now living in Macon county and are the parents of two children. William, the second child, was born in June, 1889, and was married January 30, 1910, to Viola Cook, a daughter of Charles and Kate Cook, of Macon county. They are also living in this county. Mr. Tietze was a second time married in 1901, selecting as his wife Miss Lillian Ellis, a daughter of James and Mary Ellis, who were born in Indiana and came to this state in the early days. Mr. Ellis served three years and six months in the Civil war, enlisting in Company B, Eightieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and participating in many of the great battles of the Rebel- lion, among which were those of Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga. He was with Sherman's army in its march to the sea, and as a soldier, nobly performed his duty. He and his estimable wife are now living in Windsor, Illinois. They are the parents of seven children, Mrs. Tietze having been born May 18, 1871. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tietze: Roeder E., born July 12, 1902; and James O., born December 10, 1907. Mrs. Tietze received a good education and was a teacher for one year in the Macon high school and for eleven years in the township schools, attaining an enviable reputation in the calling. One of her brothers taught for six years and three of her sisters were also teachers, each of them having four years' experience in the schoolroom. The members of the family are now all married except one brother and one sister.
Mr. Tietze is allied to the democratic party and votes for its candidates in national elections, but in local affairs is independent. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Macon, of which he is trustee. Mrs. Tietze is an active worker in the Home Missionary Society and is also an esteemed member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Tietze has found in his wife an intelligent and sympathetic companion, who has been to him an invaluable assistant in all deserving undertakings. Nature endowed the subject of this review with the qualities of character that count for most in the attain- ment of a worthy manhood and he has secured the confidence and respect of all who know him. A plain, straightforward man, his object in life has been to do good according to his opportunities and in this object he has indeed succeeded.
EDWARD B. COMBS.
When determination, hard work and careful management form the basis upon which any business enterprise is founded the result is almost absolutely certain, and it is to these qualities that Edward B. Combs attributes the fact that today he ranks among Macon county's most successful and substantial agriculturists. Born in Greene county, Indiana, on the 24th of July, 1852, he is the second son of J. J. and Sarah (Whittaker) Combs. The father was born in North Carolina in 1825 and the mother in Ohio in 1835, and at an early day they took up their abode in Greene county, Indiana. At the time of their arrival that region was a wild, unsettled district, with few evidences of modern civilization. The nearest town was Vincennes, a small village about
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sixty-five miles distant, to which they were compelled to drive in order to pur- chase groceries and other necessities of life. That remained their home until 1861, when they removed still further west, locating in Christian county, Illi- nois, where they resided for four years. At the expiration of that period they took up their home in Macon county and here Mr. Combs was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1899, when the success which had attended his efforts made it possible for him to retire from active business, and he became a resi- dent of Macon, where he was living at the time of his death, on the IIth of February, 1909. In the early days he had purchased considerable property at from a dollar and a quarter to thirty dollars per acre, being at the time of his death the owner of nine hundred and eighty acres-land which increased in value with the passing of the years and the rapid settlement of the country, making him one of the wealthy landowners of his section. His widow, who survives him, makes her home in Macon and is well known among a large circle of warm friends. She is a faithful and devoted member of the Baptist church, the teachings of which have ever proved the guiding influence of her life.
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