Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 29

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860

USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 29
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 29
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 29

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JOHN HEDDINS, farmer, was born April 11, 1821, in Dela- ware County, Ohio. His parents are Isaiah and Siloma Heddins. The father was a farmer, a volunteer in the war of 1812, and the son of a Revolutionary soldier. Isaiah died about the year 1865. He and wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother was born and raised in the edge of New York State, married in Ohio, and is now living, at the age of eighty, in Coles County, Ill. These parents had eleven boys and two girls, four ot whom are yet living. John, our subject, was raised on the farm. IIe had fair schooling for those days. He worked for his father until he was twenty-one, being the oldest of the family; obedient and industrious, he wasvery serviceable to his father, who was an invalid. Ile was married April 18, 1842, to Catherine Carpenter, of Delaware County, Ohio. He stayed in Delaware County, and rented for two years, when he bought a good team and wagon, and started for the West. He landed in Cumberland County, September 29, 1844, and has been here ever since. On arriving, $45, one team and wagon, wife and baby, were all his earthly possessions. The team and wagon, valued at $130, he traded for eighty acres of land. He has been adding to that until he now owns 250 acres. He has been very

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successful in business, and is counted among the best farmers in the county. He is a pioneer resident, and few persons in the county are deserving of more respect than he is. Terre Haute, in those days, was the place of market. In 1845, Mr. H. took five dozen of nice young chickens to market. The first dozen he sold for seventy-five cents. He worked all day selling the other four dozen, dribbing the last twenty-four out at the rate of thirty-seven and one-half cents per dozen. On coming home, he told his wife he was disgusted with the chicken peddling business. He has never been there with a chicken since. His children are: Sarah A., Isaiah, Mary J. and Eine- line. The rest died under three years of age. Sarah A. was the wife of James A. Carrell, elsewhere mentioned. Isaiah married Mary A. Fletcher, of this county, December 24, 1876. Their children are: Charles M. and George E. Isaiah, the father, is the only one of his father's children living. He lives with his father on the home place, Section 11, Township 10, Range 9. Mary J. was the wife of Paris G. Carrell, of this county. Her death occurred March 17, 1878, aged twenty-nine years. Her children are: Ida C. and John W. Emeline died at the age of eight years. Thus we see that of a large family, the father and son are all that are left. Mrs. Heddins, the mother, died November 1, 1878, aged fifty-four years. In politics, Mr. H. is a Democrat.

WILLIAM E. LAKE, farmer and teacher, was born in Ben- nington County, Vt., September 27, 1834. His parents are Elisha and Prudence ( Holmes) Lake, the father a native of Rhode Island, the mother of Connecticut. The father was a farmer and teacher, having tanght twenty-one years. He died in 1857, aged fifty-three. He was a member of the legislature of his State for two terms, and took an active part in the affairs of the State. In politics, he was a Democrat. The mother is still living, in Lake County, this State, at the advanced age of seventy-seven. She is a member of the Bap- tist Church. William E. had good school advantages. He landed, with his parents, at Waukegan, III., the day he was twelve years of age. He attended school and worked on the farm with his father until he was twelve years of age. He then entered and attended an academy at Wauconda, Ill. He remained in Lake County until 1857, when he packed his trunk and came to this county, in search of a school. His first school was taught near the town of Neoga. He attended school the summer of 1858, and taught again in the winter of 1858-59. He was married June 3, 1860, to Henrietta Kemper, of this county. Teaching was his occupation the

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following three years. In 1863, he was elected County Superintend- ent of Schools of Cumberland County, on the Democratic ticket. He was re-elected in 1865, and again in 1869, his term expiring in 1873, making ten years of continued service as County Superintend- ent. His majority at cach election was very large, one township, Cottonwood, casting its entire vote for him, irrespective of party, at the first election. In this township he had formerly served as Clerks and was well known to all who favored him with their votes. He continued teaching and farming until 1881, when he was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill the vacancy (caused by a change in the State Constitution ) of County Superintendent of Schools. This term expired December 1, 1882. It will be seen that he has filled the office of County Superintendent for eleven years, and has had much to do with shaping the educational affairs of his county, which speaks well for the appreciation in which he was held by his con- stitueney. He owns eighty acres of land, well improved, and, as a farmer, is classed among the respectable and responsible. To Mr. and Mrs. Lake have been born eight children, viz .: George M., Ida A., Charles H., Lula, Albert, Warren, Hattie, and William M. Warren died at the age of eight months. Ida A. is engaged in teaching her third term, and gives good satisfaction. The rest of the children are living with their parents. Both parents are members of the Uni- versalist Church. Mr. L. is a member of the Masonic Order, being one of the charter members of Prairie City Lodge. No. 578. In pol- itics, he is a Democrat. Mr. L. is still engaged in teaching. He is now teaching in the same district where he taught twenty-three years ago. He has a very pleasant school, and in all his experience as a teacher he never applied for a school, since his first school in 1857.

WILLIAM R. McCANDLISH, farmer and tile manufacturer, was born April 8, 1847, in Perry County, Ohio. His parents are Will- iam B. and Rebecca (Ross) MeCandlish, both natives of Ohio. The father was farmer and the cabinet-maker of the county. His death occurred in 1849. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a Democrat. The mother died in 1875, at the age of fifty-five. These parents had five children: Jane, James A., Nancy, George and William. They are all living. JJames A. was the first Republican Sheriff ever elected in this county. He served three terms. William R. was engaged in his youthful days attending school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer. He came West in 1866. He followed shipping poultry at first. Later, shipping stock East engaged his attention. He began farming twelve

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years ago, and it has been attended with very fair success. He now owns 130 acres, 120 of which is improved land. He is classed among the responsible, well-to-do farmers of the county. April, 1883, he engaged in the tile business. He now owns one of the three tile factories in the county. He has a lot of good, first-class tile ready for sale. His business outlook is very flattering. He was married April 8, 1873, to Emma Holsapple, of this county, a native of Indiana. Their children are, Le Roy, Minnie B., Owen R., Luke A. and Edna C. Le Roy died December 1, 1876, aged two years. Mrs. McCandlish is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. McCandlish is a member of the Masonic Order, and politically a Republican.

BAXTER W. McPHERSON was born in Allegheny County, Penn., June 21, 1851. His parents are Wright and Catherine MePher- son, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Delaware. These parents had eight children, all of whom are now living and married. They celebrated their golden wedding, October 28, 1883. These parents are now living in Neoga Township, this county, and are hav- ing as good health as could be expected in those of their age. The father is a farmer. His sons Isaac and George served in the late war. The mother is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Baxter W. came with his parents to this county in 1865, and helped his father improve a farm of 156 acres. He met with an accident at the age of eighteen, by which he lost his leg. He was cutting corn in Montgom- ery County, and cut his knee with the corn-knife. It began bleeding about eight hours after, and great pain was caused therefrom. He came on the train the next day with his brother-in-law, J. F. Smith, to Mattoon, and remained there a week under care of Dr. Morris. He then came home and was suffering terribly. He was attended then by Dr. Richardson and brother; later, Drs. Mason and Byers were called in. Twenty days after the accident, November 10, 1869, his right leg was amputated six inches below the body. They began at six o'clock in the evening to give him chloroform, and it was near eleven o'clock the next day before the work was completed. He was so reduced in flesh, and so weak, they had to use the greatest care. He began going about, the middle of the following January. He sat up in bed on New Year's day, at the infair of his brother Isaac. In the spring he bought a team, hired a hand, and farmed thirty acres of corn and twenty of oats. He has farmed several seasons since that, by him- self, using the sulky plow. He was very successful in farming. He attended school, and later the Normal School, and has taught every winter and three summers, from 1871 until 1881. Ile attended the

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Normal School and academy several terms during that time. He had good success as a teacher, as hundreds who are his pupils and patrons can testify. His services as teacher are in good demand even yet. He has been engaged in the insurance business the past five years, and has had very good success at that also. Mr. McPherson, notwith- standing his crippled condition, is a man of wonderful activity, and has the eternal grit and gimp to make a success of any business he undertakes. He is reckoned among the good, responsible, and well- to-do citizens of the county. He represents the following first-class insurance companies, viz .: The Phoenix, of Brooklyn, The Rockford, of Rockford, The American, of Chicago, The Boston Underwriters', and the Fire Association of London. He does a good business, and is worthy of the patronage of his community, being in every way respon- sible. He was married February 20, 1876, to Annette Jones, of this county. Two children, Clara and Mercy, have blessed this union. Clara died October 1, 1882, aged six years. She was a most promising child, being able to read intelligently in the advance readers. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. MePherson is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics a Democrat.

DAVID MICHAEL, farmer, was born January 8, 1818, in Davie County, N. C. His parents are David and Eva B. (Shut) Michael, both natives of North Carolina, and of German descent. The father was a farmer and died in 1862, at the age of seventy-two. He was a private in the war of 1812. Both parents were members of the Baptist Church. The mother died in 1866, at the age of seventy-six. They came from North Carolina to Tennessee; there they remained several years, thence to Indiana, later to Illinois, where they arrived nearly sixty years ago. They landed in Coles, and later moved to Cumberland County. They were among the early settlers of Coles County. In politics he was a Whig, later a Republican who favored a vigorous prosecution of the war. They had eleven children, only seven of whom are now living. David, the fifth of the children, came with his parents to Illinois at the age of ten years. Schools were of the subscription kind in those days, and his father being a poor man, it is easy to see that his school advantages were what would be called very poor in these days of free schools. On arriving, his father had one dollar in money, one cart, a yoke of small cattle, and bed cloth ing as much as could be carried under a man's arm. His father on arriving, worked for one half bushel of corn a day, and his son received a peck. David has cradled grain all day for thirty-seven and a half cents, and at other times has bound after a cradle an entire day for

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the same amount. The father bought forty acres of land and paid for it largely in making rails at twenty cents per hundred. He entered forty acres.in Cumberland after selling his forty acres in Coles County. David, our subject, was married in 1842, to Lucy Alexander, of Ken- tucky. They had twenty children, only six of whom are now living, viz .: David A., Barbara E., Charles W., Martha J., Isaac A. and Mary L. The mother died November 9, 1876, at the age of fifty. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. M.'s second marriage was to Mary Oakley, of Kentucky. She had five children by a former husband, Pleasant Oakley. She died April 27, 1879. His third marriage occurred December 27, 1879, to Jane Hays, of this county, but a native of Ohio. She had two children by a former hus- band, William Hays. James M. and Catharine F. are their names. Mr. M. has been reasonably successful in business, having raised a large family, and now owning 320 acres of land, the most of which is well- improved. He is classed among the wealthy, substantial and respon- sible farmers of the county. Politically he is a Republican.

FRANCIS MILLER, farmer, was born December 12, 1827, in Greene County, Ind. His parents are Wyatt and Mary (Bland) Miller, the father a native of Kentucky, the mother of North Carolina. The father died in 1876, aged aboutsixty. He was a farmer, a member of the Baptist Church, and politically a Whig, later a Republican. The mother died in 1846, aged forty-six. They had seven children, six now living. Our subject attended school some in the log cabin of other days, by going several miles. He was married in 1851 to Nancy Mock, of Greene County, Ind. Her parents are David and Elizabeth Mock, natives of North Carolina. David's father was Captain in the Revolu- tionary war. Mr. M. and wife remained in Indiana until 1853, when they came to the farm on which they now live in Section 9, Township 10, Range 8. He bought eighty acres on coming, and has been adding until he now owns 260 acres, all of which is improved land except what is in timber. He has been very successful in business; has a nice home and surroundings which indicate taste, prosperity and happiness. He is classed among the best farmers of his county. To Mr. and Mrs. Mil- ler are born five children; William D., JJohn L., Calvin C., Cedorah and Owen C. William D. died in 1857, aged about six years. John L. died in 1881, aged 25 years. He was married January, 1878, to Casandra Gillman, of this county. He left two children, Ada and Lewis. Calvin C. died about the year 1859, aged two years. Mrs. M. is a member of the Baptist, Mr. M. of the Universalist Church. He is a member of the Masonic order, also of the Republican party.

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DAVID F. RANDOLPH, farmer, was born January 30, 1830, in Shelby County, Ind. His parents are Samuel and Nancy (Hill) Randolph, both natives of Virginia. The father was farmer, doctor and minister. Both parents were members of the Baptist Church. In [medicine he was a regular practitioner of the Botanic School. He died in 1865, at the age of seventy years. In politics he was a Den- ocrat. The mother died in 1852, at the age of about fifty-seven. These parents had twelve children, only four of whom are now liv- ing. David F., our subject, had moderately good school advantages. He averaged about a month at school during the winter, and worked on the farm during the summer. At the age of twenty-two he went with his parents from Shelby to Owen County, Ind., and settled on a farm. He worked for his father until his marriage, which occurred September 22, 1853, to Martha A. Vaughn, of Owen County, Ind' These parents have had eleven children-Isabel, Rebecca A., Mary A., John, Thomas, Samuel, Uriah, Elizabeth M., Nancy, Louisa and Lucinda. Samuel died June 25, 1870, at the age of seven. Mary A. died in April, 1878, at the age of twenty-two. She was the wife of John Pritchett, of this county. Her child's name is Martha A. Isa- bel is the wife of Abraham Icenogle, of this county. Their children are Joseph D., John C., James T., and William W. Rebecca A. is the wife of John Sparks. Martha J., their child, died in infancy. Mr. R. came to this county in 1856, and settled on the farm where he now resides. When he came he brought $1,000, which was largely invested in land. He now owns more than 300 acres, after having given more than 100 to the children. It will be seen that Mr. R. has raised a large family, and has been very successful in business. He is beautifully situated in a large brick house, two miles southwest from Johnstown. His surroundings indicate prosperity and a comfortable, happy home. In politics Mr. R. is a Greenbacker. SAMUEL P. REED, farmer, was born March 18, 1824, in Fay- ette County, Ind. His parents are Samnel and Hannah (Long) Reed, both natives of Virginia. The father died August 11, 1872, at the age of about seventy-eight. The mother died in 1855. She was a member of the Baptist Church. These parents had nine children, four of whom are now living. Samuel P., our subject, was raised on the farm, had poor school advantages, came with his parents to Illi_ nois in 1836, and has been living on the farm where he now resides ever since; is consequently one of the old, respected and responsible early settlers of the county. Few men are better known for honesty and fair dealing than is Mr. Reed. He has been very successful in bus-

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iness, now owning nearly 800 acres of land. He was married October 30, 1853, to Emily Gill, of this State. Their children are James M., elsewhere mentioned, Commodore .P., Thomas J., Ada D., William F., Varina D., Rosa C., Sterling P., Minnie Z. and Rono R. Rosa C. died in1879, aged eleven years. Minnie Z. died in 1878, aged three months. The other members of the family live with their parents on the home farm.

JAMES M. REED, farmer, was born April 6, 1855, in Cumber- land County, Ill. His parents were Samuel P. and Emily Reed, elsewhere mentioned. His minor years were spent at home on his father's farm. He attended school in winter and worked on the farm in summer, and later attended Stockton Academy, in Coles County. He thus procured an education which fitted him for teach- ing. He attended school under the instruction of Supt. W. E. Lake, elsewhere mentioned. Owing to an immense amount of work at home he never taught. He is very handy with carpenter tools, and makes a good hand at rough carpentering. He began working for himself on arriving at his majority. His residence is a nice one, which he put up himself, in the suburbs of Janesville. He has been engaged at spare times during the past five years in studying veter- inary surgery, and has attained a fair proficiency in that science, and has calls quite frequently which bring his acquired knowledge and skill into useful and profitable practice. He has the nucleus of a fine library, treating largely on the diseases and handling of stock, and other important topics. He farms extensively, and at present has some forty acres of wheat which bids fair to give a plentiful yield. He has been elected one of the three directors in district No. 6, the public school of which is located in Janesville, and the new building now in the process of erection speaks well for the good taste, intelligence and public spirit of the Board, the people of Janes- ville and all concerned. Mr. R. was elected Commissioner of High- ways more than three years ago. He is one of six who is negotiating for a bridge across the Embarrass River, between Cottonwood and Union townships. This enterprise will be a great convenience to both townships. In the latter as in the former enterprise he is acknowledged to be the right man in the right place. No man of his years in either township, perhaps, has a better record for filling his positions of trust and responsibility than has Mr. R. He was married in March, 1880, to Rosa L. Johnston, of this county. Her father was from Scotland, and died about the year 1860. Her mother is still living in Effingham, the wife of Lorenzo Gloyd. To Mr. and

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Mrs. R. has been born one child-Harry Earl. The mother is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father, like his grand- father, belongs to the "do rights." In politics he is a Democrat.

CARSON P. R. RODGERS, merchant, farmer and postmaster, was born November 1, 1840, in Coles County, Ill. His parents are Isaac W. and Susannah (Porter) Rodgers, the former a native of Tennessee, the latter of North Carolina. Both parents were members of the C. P. Church. The father was a farmer. He died in 1870, at the age of sixty. In politics he was an Abolitionist, belonging to that party when it only numbered three or four in the county. He was a Republican, after the organization of that party. The mother died in 1846, at the age of thirty-three. These parents had four children. Carson and Anna E. (now the wife of J. W. Carr, of Neoga Township), are the only children living. Carson had such school advantages as were to be found in the public schools of the coun- try districts. Farming has been his occupation almost all his life. He taught four schools with fair success and satisfaction to his employ- ers. Ile was married, October 30, 1866, to Catharine W. Richie, of Coles County, Ill., though a native of Kentucky. Her father was Alexander Richie, a merchant of Charleston, Ill., well and favorably known in that community. To Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers were born two children, Henry M. and Violet, both of whom died in infancy. The mother died April 14, 1869. She was a member of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Rodgers was next married to Martha J. Veatch, of Cumberland County, Ill. Their marriage occurred March 8, 1874. Their children are Isaac W., Kate W., Florence L., who was the first child born in the town of Janesville, Ill. Her birth dates February 22, 1880. Her death occurred April 18, 1882. Mr. R. began for himself in 1866, when he was first married. Until his marriage he had worked in the interests of his father. He con- tinued in the farming business as a specialty until 1877, when he began merchandising in a general store at Farmington, Ill. The stock was removed to Janesville in 1879, the firm being C. P. Rod- gers & Co .. and W. M. and R. H. Osborn made partners. Later the firm name was changed to W. M. & C. P. Rodgers, the latter being Postmaster of Janesville as well. This was the first store in the town. They now carry the largest stock of dry goods and groceries, perhaps, of any firm in this part of the two counties. The indica- tions are they are doing a safe and increasing business, which is gained largely by strict attention to business and fair dealing. Mr. R. is numbered among the responsible, well-to-do citizens of the

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county. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in poli- ties, a Republican. His wife, Mrs. M. J. Rodgers, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WALLACE M. RODGERS, merchant, Janesville, III., was born March 1, 1847, in Coles County, Ill. His parents are JJohn W. and Lovisa (Balch) Rodgers. His father was a native of Kentucky, was a good, honest, well-to-do farmer; in politics a Whig, later a Republican. His death occurred May 8, 1864, aged sixty-six years. The mother died December 15, 1879, aged seventy-two. Both par- ents were members of the C. P. Church. They had nine children, five of whom are now living. Wallace M. worked on the farm, clerked and taught school until he was about the age of twenty-five. As a teacher he was quite successful, having an increase of wages every new term, which may be considered substantial evidence of good success. He clerked with several different parties, and entered as partner with the last,-R. H. Osborn, of Campbell, Ill. The store was at Johnstown, Ill., Mr. O. leaving the entire business with his partner, Mr. R., which speaks well for the confidence placed in the honesty and integrity of the latter. This partnership lasted more than ten years, the firm name being W. M. Rodgers & Co. Mr. R. built the house and engaged in the store in which he is now partner, styled W. M. & C. P. Rodgers, elsewhere mentioned. Mr. R. has been very successful in business and is classed among the responsible and respected citizens of the county. Mr. Rodgers sold the first goods in this town. He was married August 30, 1873, to Mary E. D. Bovell, born June 18, 1851; daughter of James G. and Eliza (Dryden ) Bovell, of Coles County, both being natives of Ten- nessee. The father of the latter was one of the first settlers in this country. Three children are born to Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Rodgers: Gertrude L., Laurence B., and Edith C. Gertrude L. died August 7, 1882, at the age of five years. Laurence B. died August 29, 1881, at the age of fourteen months. Edith C. is living, at the age of eight months. Politically, Mr. R. is a Republican.

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Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 29

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 860

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860