USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 71
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 71
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 71
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in Switzerland. They immigrated to Richland County in 1852. The father was a shoemaker, and died in Olney. December 15, 1879. Mr. Bohren, in 1865, began learning blacksmithing with the O. & M. R. R., and worked for that company seven years, after which he began business for himself, and has followed it ever since. Febru- ary 2, 1865, he married Rebecca Nuding, daughter of Jacob and Susan (Tobias) Nuding. She was born in Ohio, February 8, 1845. Five children have been born to them, John, George J., Charles F., Lydia and Laura. Mr. Bohren is a member of the A. O. U. W., and the Select Knights, and politically he is a Republican.
WILLIAM BOURELL was born August 12, 1819, in North- umberland County, Penn., and there lived till the age of four- teen, when the family moved to Butler County, Ohio. In 1842 he married Ann E. Schroyer, of Butler County. She died in 1869, aged forty-one years, the mother of five sons-John F., George E., Joseph N., Thornton A. and David W., all born in Ohio. Mr. Bourell's second marriage, in 1871, was to Mrs. Dowens, of Coshoc- ton County, Ohio, formerly Lydia Thompson. Mr. Bourell carried on farming in Ohio till coming to Richland County. He now owns a farm, where he resides, of fifty-two acres, which is improved, with a fine orchard of twenty-five acres. Part of this orchard is eleven years old, and is one of the finest in the county. Last year he sold from this orchard over $1,500 worth of apples. This year he has sold $1,000 worth, and has still on hand about $400 worth, His principal apple is the " Ben Davis," although he raises large quantities of different varieties.
HENRY L. BOWER, born July 14, 1834, in Ashland County, Ohio, is the son of P. P. Bower, who was born in Germany. At the age of seven he came with his father to Richland County, learned the coopers' trade in Olney, and followed this till 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Ninety-Eighth Illinois (Mounted) Infantry, and served till the end of the war ; he then went to Clay City, and worked at the coopers' trade two years ; he then removed to Alton, where he worked two years ; then returned to Olney, and contin- ued at his trade about two years ; since this time he has been en- gaged in farming; also the past three years in the milk business ; He owns ten acres in Section 9, where he now lives. He was mar- ried in 1861 to Caroline Howland, who was born in Ohio, and who died in 1867, aged thirty-two, leaving two sons. His second mar- riage, in 1868, was to Mary E. Edwards, who was born in Edwards County, Illinois. This union is blessed with one son.
HON. WILLIAM BOWER, druggist and cigar manufacturer, was born in Olney, Ill., May 21, 1842, and was the second person born within the limits of the village after it was laid ont. He was the second child born to Philip P. and Mary ( Dundore) Bower, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Pennsyl- vania, but of Swedish and German descent. At the age of twenty years Philip P. Bower emigrated to this country, first settling in Pennsylvania. In 1840 he came to Illinois and settled in what is
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now Olney, where for many years he followed the trade of cabinet- maker, operating at the same time a large farm. In 1856 he en- gaged in merchandising, at Olney, but after many years retired to his farm, where his death occurred in the autumn of 1873, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was one of the most prominent pioneers of Richland County. He and his wife were both members of the Evan- gelical Church,to which church and its schools he was a large contrib- ntor, providing in his will for the building of the present church structure of that denomination, one of the finest in the city. William Bower, our subject, received a fair common school education in his youth. Afterward he attended school at the old log schoolhouse (still standing) of Olney, and finished his education at the Olney Seminary. His mother died in 1856, shortly after which event he left home. and commenced for himself as a teacher. He next com- menced the trade of marble-entter ; after a few months' experience, he engaged as an apprentice at watch-making, but never finished the trade. He then served an apprenticeship of two years at the tinners' trade. In the spring of 1861, he enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Infantry, for three months' service. On his return home he taught a six months' term of school, and in the spring of 1862 he re-enlisted in Company I, Thirty-Eighth Illinois Infantry, and participated in all the engagements of the regiment until October, 1863, when he was taken prisoner, paroled and sent home. He was never exchanged, but after the close of the war received his hon- orable discharge. In the fall of 1863 he engaged in the drug trade, and, by industry and energy, has built up a large business. During the last seven years he has been extensively engaged in the manu- facture of cigars. He is also the agent of the Standard Oil Com- pany, at Olney. He carries a stock of from $12,000 to $15,000 of goods, and his annual sales, in all departments, amount to from $50,000 to $60,000. In 1876 Mr. Bower was nominated by the Dem- ocratic Convention for Representative in the Legislature. This he however declined, and accepted the nomination on the Greenback ticket for the State Senate. Two years later he was again nom- inated for the Legislature by the Democrats of the Forty-Fourth District, and carried the district by a large majority. He was an active member of the Thirty-First General Assembly, where he originated some important measures. On November 29, 1864, Mr. Bower was married to Sarah E. Ridgway, a daughter of Dr. E. W. Ridgway, of Olney. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are still living. Mr. Bower belongs to no church, but is a member of the A. F. &A. M., of the A. O. U. W., and of the G. A. R. ELI BOWYER, M. D., ex-Brevet-Brigadier-General, Postmaster at Olney, Ill., was born in Warren County, Ohio, March 20, 1818, and is the third of nine children born to John and Jane (Shepler) Bowyer, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The Bowyers were of English and German, and the Sheplers of English, Scotch and Irish descent. The Bowyers in America are descended from an old English family who settled
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in Rockbridge County, Va., in the early colonization of that State. John Bowyer received a good common school and academic educa- tion in youth. When only a small lad he removed with his parents to Pennsylvania, and while he was yet a young man, in 1802, the family removed to southwestern Ohio. John finally settled in Warren County, Ohio, where he bought a body of unimproved land, erected a cabin. and subsequently improved a farm. Here he resided until his death. Eli Bowyer, the subject of our sketch, re- ceived the major part of his education at the Harveysburgh Acad- emy, in his native county. On leaving school he commenced life as a teacher, and continued in this avocation for two years. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. J. G. Paulding, of War- ren County, and continued his medical studies for a further period of eighteen months, under the instruction of Prof. Jesse P. Jud- kins, of Cincinnati. He attended lectures primarily at the Wil- loughby University, and finally at the Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1844. He then commenced the practice of his profession at Mason, Warren County, Ohio, where he resided during the following two years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Prairieton, Ind., and was professionally en- gaged in that city for seven years. From Prairieton he removed to Sullivan, in the same State. Here he remained for seven years, when he was again compelled to change his location, on account of failing health. In 1860, he came to Olney, III., where for several months he relinquished the practice of medicine. In 1861 he en- tered the United States Army as Assistant Surgeon of the Eleventh Missouri Infantry, which was composed principally of Illinois vol- unteers. In 1862 he was made Division Surgeon, under Gen. Plum- mer, by order of Gen. Pope. Subsequently he was commissioned Major, then Lieutenant-Colonel, and finally, after the battle of Vicksburg, Colonel of the regiment. He entered upon his duties as a commanding officer without previous military training, but by diligent study, although almost constantly in front of the enemy, he became proficient in the art. In March, 1865, he was brevetted Brigadier-General, by President Johnson, as stated in his commis- sion, " for gallant and meritorious service." He participated in
all the principal battles in which the Army of the Southwest was engaged. Among them were the sieges of Vicksburg, Jackson, New Madrid and Island No. 10, the battles of Corinth, Iuka and Nashville, where he was wounded in the left arm and left leg. He was mustered out with his regiment, in January, 1866, at Saint Louis, Mo. His patriotism, bravery, and ability as a commanding officer, are abundantly attested by his high testimonials from such General officers as L. F. Hubbard, D. W. Magee, John McArthur, A. J.
Smith and J. A. Mower. After the close of the war he returned to Olney, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In 1867 he represented the counties of Clay and Richland in the State Logis- lature. In 1870 he was appointed one of the trustees of the South- ern Normal University, and officiated as president of the Board-
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In December, 1879, he was commissioned postmaster at Olney, which position he still holds. The Doctor was married in October, 1844, to Martha A. Cox, a native of Warren County, Ohio. Two daughters blessed their union, viz. : Mary J. and Emma K. (now Mrs. H. C. Luders of Philadelphia ). The elder daughter, Mary J., was a graduate of the Ohio Female College, but died three years after receiving her degree, from injuries received during a fire at that institution. Both the Doctor and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of Olney Lodge, No. 140, A. F. & A. M., Richland Lodge, No. 180, I. O. O. F., and of the G. A. R. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is one of the representative men, not only of the county, but of the State.
JOHN C. BROCKMAN was born in Germany, January 31, 1830, and is the fifth of ten children born to Peter and Anna (Gies- chen ) Brockman, both natives of Germany. Peter Brockman was educated and married in Germany, where in early youth he learned the carpenters' trade, and followed the same all his life. John C. Brockman, our subject, received a fair education in the common schools of Hanover, Germany. In early life he learned the carpen- ters' trade with his father. In 1848 he emigrated to the United States, first settling at Saint Louis, Mo., where he followed his trade for some eighteen months. He was then employed as a salesman in a drug, and then in a grocery store, for about three years. In 1855 he started a confectionery of his own, in Saint Louis, and con- tinued in that business for one year. In 1856 he removed to New- ton, Jasper Co., Ill., where he was engaged in the drug and grocery trade for some six years. During the war he was engaged in the sutler business, principally with the Army of the Cumber- land. After his return he came to Olney, Ill., where he, in company with Mr. David Scott and Mr. Theodore Schifferstine, engaged in general merchandising, under the firm name of Scott, Schifferstine & Co. After about seven years, Mr. Schifferstine retired, since which time the business has been conducted under the firm name of Scott & Brockman. They carry a large and well-selected stock of dry goods, hats and caps, boots and shoes, clothing, groceries provisions and queensware, and are doing an extensive business. Mr. Brockman was for one term County Treasurer of Jasper County, Ill., and is at present a member of the Board of Supervisors of Richland County. He was married in 1854, to Johanna Gren- inger, a native of Switzerland. Five children have blessed their union, only three of whom are yet living. Mr. Brockman's family are of the Catholic faith. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. In politics he is a Republican, and is one of the prominent and lead- ing business men of the city and county.
JUDGE R. S. CANBY was born in Greene County, Ohio, September 30, 1808, and is the son of Joseph and Lydia (Pedrick) Canby, the former a native of Loudoun County, Va., and born in May, 1781, and a prominent physician, who died in Logan County, Ohio, in February, 1843. His wife was a native of New Jersey,
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born in 1787, and died in Lebanon, Ohio. Our subject received a larger part of his education at Oxford, Butler County, Ohio. In 1829 he engaged in the mercantile business at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and while thus engaged, read law with Mr. B. Stanton. In 1840, he began the practice of law ; in 1845 he was elected to the Leg- islature ; in 1846, he was elected from the Twelfth Congressional District of Ohio as a member of Congress. After filling this hon- orable position, he moved on 1,000 acres, and engaged in farming for a number of years. He afterward removed to Bellefontaine, to educate his children. In March, 1863, he moved to Olney, Ill., where he again resumed law. June, 1867, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, which office he creditably filled for six years, after which he resumed law, which he continued until 1882, since which time he has lived retired. March 16, 1835, he married Eliza Simpson, of Chillicothe, Ohio ; she died in Jannary, 1867. Judge Canby was a Whig, before the organization of the Republican party, since which time he has been a Republican. He is highly esteemed, and a most worthy citizen, and is a member of the Swe- denborg Church.
ALVIN CLEM, of the firm of A.& J. Clem, tile manufacturers, was born August 15, 1849, in Delaware County, Ind., and is the son of Joel and Magdaline (Kessler) Clem. His father was born in Pennsylvania, reared in Ohio, and he worked at the millwright and other kinds of business. In 1853 the family removed to Rich- land County, settled on what was known as the Harmon Farm ; there the father died, in 1858, aged fifty-four years ; the mother died in 1877, aged sixty-four years. Alvin owns forty acres in Sec- tion 9, where he now resides, which is improved, with a very com- fortable house, barn, and other ontbuildings. He, with his brother Josiah, commenced the manufacture of tile, in 1883. He was mar- ried in 1870, to Catharine Fentz, who was born in Germany. Jo- siah owns sixty acres where this factory is located. He was married in 1868, to Alice Banks, of Vermont. They have two children, one son and one daughter.
CAPTAIN JOIIN S. COCIIENNOUR, district agent and ad- juster of Rockford Insurance Company, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, December 7, 1840, and is the oldest of seven chil- dren born to Daniel and Harriet A. (Smalley) Cochennour, natives of Pennsylvania and Ashland County, Ohio, and of German and Scotch descent. Daniel had a fair education in his native State, being a schoolmate of Thad Stevens. He learned the tailors' trade. In 1841 he moved to what is now Bonpas Township, in this county, and farmed and worked at his trade for a number of years. He afterward moved to Claremont, and followed the mercantile and stock raising trades until his death in 1876. He was in the com- munion of the Catholic Church until some years before death, when he united with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The education of John S. was limited to the log schoolhouse of Illi- nois, and he assisted upon the home farm until April 14, 1861,
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when he entered the United States Army, enrolling in Company I, Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served three months, engaging in one battle, Charleston, Mo. He re-enlisted on Decem- ber 24, 1861, in Company H, Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until February 17, 1865, when he was discharged at. Cincinnati on account of a wound received at Jonesborough, on the Georgian campaign, and from which he lost his left leg. HIc rose to the rank of Captain, passing through most of the inter- mediate grades. He was made Captain in the latter part of 1863. On his return from the army he was immediately made Collector of Olney, receiving all the votes but eleven. He served one year, and has since been employed in various trading pursuits. For the past two years Capt. Cochennour has been employed as district and adjusting agent for the Rockford Insurance Company. In 1874 he, with an assistant, captured and imprisoned a gang of seven of the worst desperadoes that ever infested southern Illi- nois. Our Captain was married, in March, 1864. to Caroline C., a daughter of Sylvester and Elizabeth Utterback, of this place. One son and a daughter bless this marriage. Ho belongs to the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R.
WILLIAM R. COMBS was born April 5, 1826, in Phila- delphia. In 1831 his parents removed to what is now Vinton County, Ohio ; there he was reared on his father's farm. In the fall of 1841 they came to Richland County, and settled in Preston Township. In 1855 his father removed to Missouri, where he died at the age of eighty-one. The subject of this sketch, in 1847, bought fifty-six acres in German Township ; this he improved, and afterwards sold. January 6, 1855, he returned to Olney, and with the excep- tion of having spent four years in north Missouri, has resided here ever since. Mr. Combs has been eight years Constable and Deputy Sheriff. He enlisted, May 14, 1864, in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-Sixth Illinois Infantry, and served his term of enlist- ment of one hundred days. He was married, November 23, 1848, to Sarah M. Chancy, who was born September 8, 1829, in Olney Township, Richland Co., Ill. They had nine children, five of whom are living, Benjamin F., William I., Cynthia E. (wife of Theo. Cotchell, of Mercer County, Mo.), Charles L. and Emma L. (now attending school). They are members of the Baptist Church.
B. F. COMBS, master carpenter for the O. & M. Railway, was born September 9, 1849, in German Township, Richland County. At about the age of thirteen he commenced to learn the carpenters' trade with his father, who had been carrying on this business. In about 1870, he secured employment with the O. & M. Railway, and for the past six years has been foreman of the pile-driver and construction gang. He was married September 12, 1880, to Eliza, daughter of Elbert Sands. She was born in Lawrence County, IN. Her parents removed to New York City when she was about three years old, and there she was reared and received a collegiate education. This mar- riage is blessed with one daughter. Mr. Combs enlisted, in 1864, in
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Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-Sixth Illinois Infantry, as drummer, and served his term of enlistment-one hundred days.
JAMES R. DALES, hotel proprietor, was born in Livingston County, N. Y., August 30, 1824, and is the fifth of seven children born to Hugh and Margaret ( Blakeley) Dales, both natives of New York and of Irish ancestry. Hugh received a fair education and married in his native State, and early in life moved to Livingston County, N. Y., where he was one of the first settlers. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1859. He and wife were members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He was a soldier during the war of 1812. James R. had the advantages of good common schooling and academic instruction in New York. Ile assisted his father upon the farm work until his twenty-sixth year. He then went to Cuylerville and engaged in merchandising there for many years, and where he was Justice of the Peace, also, for some time. In 1861 he went to Fulton County, Ind., and followed agri- cultural pursuits for four years, and was a Trustee in that county. In 1866, Mr. Dales went to Enfield, White Co., Ill., lived there three years and during two-thirds of the time kept a hotel. In 1869, he went to Fairfield, Wayne County, also kept a hotel for sev- eral years; in 1877, came to Olney, and has since resided here, and followed the same business. He is now proprietor of the Commer- cial Hotel, one of the best on the O. & M. Railway. Mr. Dales has been twice married. On November 2, 1848, he wedded Susan A. Scott, a union blessed by six children, of whom four daughters and one son are living. Mrs. Dales departed this life on August 17, 1881, and April 18, 1883, Mr. Dales was united to Olive D. (Cole) Fraser, a native of Oswego County, N. Y. Our subject has been many years Justice of the Peace in Fairfield, and for over thirty years a Presbyterian, and is much interested in Sunday-school mat- ters, having had a Bible class in Olney ever since he has lived here. He has helped organize three churches.
ANDREW DARLING was born at Berwickshire, in the parish of Preston, Scotland, in November, 1820, and came to this country with his father's family in 1825. In 1847, he came to Olney and opened a store on Main Street. Here he entered into a partnership with William Newell, which continued until 1852. At this time the O. & M. Railroad was in process of construction, and in connec- tion with Joseph Harmon he took a contract upon the road, which continued for two years: In connection with and following upon this, he engaged in the sale of real estate: and on the completion of the road, took charge of the Olney House in partnership with Alfred Kitchell. February 20, 1850, he married a daughter of Hon. JJames M. McLean. She died in 1861. Mr. Darling was a large contributor to the building of the Presbyterian Church of Olney, and to the support of the ministry. On the breaking out of the war he received an appointment in the Provost Marshal's office, which place he held until the office was abolished. In 1866, the First National Bank of Olney was organized, largely through his instrumentality, and he
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was appointed cashier, which office he held till his death, which occurred April 28, 1874. In 1866 he was married to Ada Clubb, daughter of Canada Clubb, one of the pioneers of Illinois. In 1873 Mr. Darling joined the Congregational Church. Mr. Darling pos- sessed, to a remarkable degree, a power of attaching to himself very warm friends.
GEORGE P. DAVIS, Township Constable and general collect- or, was born in Blount County, Tenn., March 5, 1837, and is the second in a family of ten children (all living) born to John and Martha (Maxwell) Davis, both natives of Tennessee, and of Scotch and Irish descent respectively. The grandfather of our subject, John Davis, Sr., was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, and was the last pen- sioner of that war at Knoxville, Tenn. His death occurred in Jan- uary, 1859, in his one hundred and fifth year. John Davis, Jr., is a carpenter by trade, and followed the same in connection with farm- ing, in Tennessee, until 1878 or 1879, when he removed to Hopkins- ville, Ky., where he still resides. He was Major in the Tennessee State Militia for several years. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. George P. Davis, the subject, received a fair edu- cation at the subscription schools of his native State, and was em- ployed on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years old. In March, 1862, he was conscripted for service in the rebel army, but being a Union man he joined a company of refugees and came north, arriving at Newton, III., June 14, 1862. The next year he com- menced teaching, and taught for some four years in Jasper County. He was then engaged in agricultural pursuits in the same county for some three years. In 1869 he removed to Claremont, Richland Co., Ill., where in the following year he was elected Constable. In the spring of 1872 he came to Olney, and in the following spring he was elected Constable, which office he has held ever since. In the fall of 1878, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Richland County, and held that office until the fall of 1882. He was married March 26, 1863, to Margaret A. Maxwell, a native of Boone County, Ind. Six children have been born to them, four of whom are living. Mr. Davis belongs to no church, but is a member of Olney Lodge, No. 140, A. F. & A. M., and also of Olney Lodge, No. 76, 1. O. U. W., and of the Olney Lodge of Select Knights A. O. U. W. In politics Mr. Davis is a Democrat, and is one of the enterprising and prom- inent citizens of the city and county.
SYLVESTER J. ECKENRODE was born in Franklin County, Penn., April 24, 1838, the oldest of four children born to Conrad and Catharine A. (Cain) Eckenrode, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and English descent respectively. Conrad Eckenrode in early life learned the millers' trade, following it until 1848, when he engaged in farming, which he continued until his death which occurred in 1863. Sylvester J. Eckenrode, the subject, received a common school education in youth, and was employed on his fath- er's farm until he was twenty years old. He then learned the brick masons' trade, which he followed for about four years. In October,
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