USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 74
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 74
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 74
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES -- RICHLAND COUNTY :
chandise. During the first six months of 1883, they sold over one hundred pianos and organs.
THEO. H. JOHNSON, M. D., was born in Springfield, Ohio, on July 22, 1846, and is the third of the five children born to Seth S. and Sarah (Horner) Johnson, natives of Clark and Hamilton counties, Ohio, and of English and Scotch-Irish descent. The father was left an orphan at the age of nine years, and when a mere boy engaged as employe in the dry goods business, and held situa- tions at various points until 1852 or 1853, when he opened on his own account at South Charleston, Ohio, afterwards conducting stores at Selma, Ohio, and Champaign, Ill., and retiring in 1875. Theo. H. Johnson was reared on a farm and in his father's stores until eighteen years of age, when he began the study of anatomy. He entered the Chicago Medical College in the fall of 1867. and gradu- ated with the class of 1869. In 1868 he had been appointed on the house staff of Mercy Hospital, and served until August, 1869, when he came to Olney where he has since been in successful practice. In July, 1881, he was appointed Surgeon for the Illinois Southern Penitentiary, but soon resigned. He has for several years been Sur- geon to a militia regiment, and also United States Pension Examining Surgeon. He was married in 1864, and has one son-Paul, aged six years. He is a K. of P., a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Republican.
JOHN B. & JOHN F. JOLLY are hardware dealers. John B. was born at Albion, Edwards Co., Ill., in August, 1824, being the only child of William and Emily (Dunn) Jolly, natives of England. He was well educated, and after his father's death, was employed as a clerk in the County Clerk's office for a time. He then removed to Grayville, III., where he still resides. He was engaged for many years in merchandising. In about 1849 Mr. Jolly married Elizabeth Ferriman, a native of the Island of Jamaica, but of English descent. One son blessed this union. About fifteen years ago Mr. Jolly retired from active business. In the spring of 1883 he bought a half interest in a hardware store at Olney, but the business is man- aged by his son exclusively. Mr. Jolly, Sr., was for several years President of the Board of Trustees, at Grayville. John F. Jolly was born in Grayville, White Co., Ill., December 2, 1851. He received an excellent education, and in 1870, in company with others engaged in the drug business under the firm name of Jolly, Spring & Hollister. He remained in that business about four years. In 1877 he came to Olney and bought an interest in a hardware store with W. T. Prunty, doing business under the firm name of Prunty & Jolly, until the spring of 1883, when Mr. Prunty retired, and our subject's father took his interest, and the business is now carried on under the name of JJ. B. & J. F. JJolly. They have a fine stock and are doing a good business. Mr. Jolly, Jr., was married, October 20, 1880, to Mary E. Morrison, of this city. He is a Republican, and is an enterprising and prominent business man.
GEORGE KIPP was born on April 13, 1822, in York County,
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Penn. His parents moved to Ashland County, Ohio, when he was about seven years old, and he was reared there on their farm. In October, 1852, he came to Olney Township, where he has since resided. He owns 1723 acres of land-about 130 acres of which are under cultivation. These clearings and improvements Mr. Kipp has made since coming here. He has held the office of Commissioner of Highways six years. He was married, in 1847, to Sarah Wolf, who was born November 6, 1825, in Pennsylvania. They have four chil- dren-John W., Mary E., Martin L. and William E. They lost Benjamin F. in infancy.
A. L. KENT, school teacher, was born September 21, 1845, in Richland County, Ill .; was reared on his father's farm, attended the district schools, and afterwards attended a select school at Olney; later he attended the high school there. Since the age of twenty he has been engaged in teaching in winters and farming summers. He enlisted, in 1864, in the one hundred days' service, and served about six months. Ile was married, in 1870, to Nancy J. Roberts, a native of Kentucky. One daughter blesses this union. His father was one of the earliest settlers in this locality, coming here in about 1844, locating in what is now Madison Township. He died in 1879, aged sixty-four years.
NICHOLAS KLINE, Jr., was born in Bavaria, April 23, 1831, and is the youngest of seven children born to Nicholas and Elizabeth A. (Lang) Kline, both natives of Bavaria. Nicholas Kline, Sr., was educated and married in his native land where he was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred December 6, 1851. Nicho- las Kline, Jr., the subject, received a fair education in the common schools of his native land. At the age of fourteen he went to learn the tailors' trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of two years. In 1850, he emigrated to the United States, and followed his trade as a journeyman at New York, Philadelphia, Marietta and Cinein- nati, for several years. Finally, in 1856, he returned to Marietta, Ohio, where he opened a shop and pursued his trade for about eight years, when he was compelled to abandon it on account of failing health. In 1865, he came to Olney Township, Richland Co., III., where he bought a farm and engaged in farming until 1871, when he sold out and came to Olney, where he has ever since resided. At Olney he first engaged in the clothing trade, which he continued for several years. After this he was out of active business for some four years, during which time he returned to Europe on a visit. In the spring of 1883 he engaged in the drug trade, at Olney, at which he is doing a thriving business. He was married, in 1856, to Mary E. Best, a native of Germany. Two children have been born to them, only one of whom, Elizabeth A. (now Mrs. George W. Bower), is living. Mr. Kline is a member of the K. of P. In pol- itics he is independent.
ADEN KNOPH, President First National Bank of Olney, was born in Lawrenceville, Lawrence Co., III., December 18, 1843, and is the only living child of Thompson and Lucinda ( Brunson ) Knoph,
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the former a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, and the latter of Ohio, but of English descent. At the age of ten years Thompson Knoph became a sailor, and advanced through all grades from cabin boy to master of a vessel, and circumnavigated the globe several times. In 1831 or 1832, he came to the United States, first settling in Arkan- sas, where he resided at the time of the trouble in that Territory on the slavery question. From Arkansas he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was married, and afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits. He then moved to Evansville, Ind., where he was engaged in the wholesale grocery trade. In 1837 he settled at Lawrence ville, Ill., where he opened a general store, and was also extensively engaged in pork packing at that time. In 1848, he removed to Gray- ville, Ill., where, in 1852, he met with serious financial reverses, and returned in the same year to Lawrenceville, and in 1859 went to Vincennes, Ind., and in 1861 came to Olney, Ill., where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1867. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Aden Knoph received only a very limited education, his schooling having ended when he attained his ninth year, at which time he went into his father's store. In January, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Ninety-Eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry. This regiment was first assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, but afterwards joined a part of the famous Gen. Wilder's brigade. Mr. Knoph served in all the marches and engagements in which the regiment took part, until the close of the war, and was mustered out of the service with the regiment at Nashville, Tenn., in June, 1865. Soon after his enlistment he was appointed Sergeant Major of the regiment, and in December, 1864, was promoted to Adjutant. On the 2d day of April, 1865, he was severely wounded, at Selma, Ala., in the left thigh. On returning from the army Mr. Knoph went again into his father's store, and remained there until the death of the latter, when he found himself with the care of a widowed step-mother and sev- eral brothers and sisters devolving upon him, which mission he has faithfully executed. In November, 1868, Mr. Knoph was elected Circuit Clerk of Richland County, Ill., and was re-elected twice to the same office in 1872 and 1876. In 1878, he was the Republican candidate for Clerk of the Supreme Court, for the Southern District of Illinois. In January, 1880, he resigned his position as Circuit Clerk, in consequence of failing health, and accepted one as travel- ing salesman for a wholesale dry goods house in Cincinnati, con- tinuing in this until his health was regained. In January, 1882, he was elected President of the First National Bank of Olney, which position he still holds. His business qualifications are of the first order, and his efforts in every undertaking have been invariably crowned with success. He was married, January 1, 1869, to Miss Carliette Morehouse, of Richland County. Three children, one son and two daughters, bless this union. Mr. Knoph and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Knoph belongs to four Masonic bodies of Olney, viz .: A. F. & A. M., R. A. M., R. & S. M.
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and K. T. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican.
JACOB KRAMER was born in Palmyra, Penn., February 8, 1811. He moved to Indiana in about 1840, and engaged as con- tractor, building the macadamized roads from New Albany to Bloomington until the financial crisis in which that State became bankrupt and he lost all. Soon after, he came to Edwards County, Ill. Being a carpenter by trade, he first built a mill for K. Clod- felt. May 31, 1842, he married Miss Abigail Lewis, a native of Clark County, Ind., and born September 15, 1821. She died Feb- ruary 4, 1882, a member of the Methodist Church. After remain- ing twenty-three years in Edwards County, Mr. Kramer, in 1865, came to Olney where he engaged in the hardware business, in which he continued until compelled to abandon it on account of heart dis- ease, which finally resulted in his death which occurred July 10, 1882. While in Edwards County Mr. K. served as Judge of that county, with distinction. He was also one of the first directors of the First National Bankof Olney, and afterwards became president. The last two years of his life were passed in the capacity as director of public schools of Olney. He was considered one of Olney's most successful financiers. In polities he was a Republican. Louis Kramer, the only living child of Jacob and Abigail (Lewis) Kramer, was born in Edwards County, Ill., March 2, 1860. In 1877, he embarked in the lumber business, the firm being Kramer & Hurn. He bids fair to make a successful financier and business man.
JOHN KUSTER, Deputy Circuit Clerk, was born in Berne, Switzerland, on November 20, 1820, and is the second of the eleven children born to Casper and Barbara (Sterchi) Kuster, natives of Switzerland, and of French and German descent. Casper was a cabinet maker and house joiner. He worked at his trade for a time and then joined the Swiss regular army. In 1833, he emigrated with his wife to the United States, and came to Minerva, Stark Co., Ohio, where he followed his trade for three or four years, and then moved to Carroll County, in the same State, and lived there, following his trade until his death in 1839. He and his wife were members of the German Reformed Church. John received a fair education in his native land, but had no further opportunity for attending school after his parents came to America, but, by his exertions, has improved himself and acquired a great deal of practical knowledge of the Eng- lish language. He learned both the stone cutters' and carpenters' trades, in early life. After the death of his father the support of his mother and her five younger children devolved upon him. In 1841 they moved to German Township, in this county, settling near Stringtown. They were very poor, as were almost always new set- tlers. John Kuster engaged here in agricultural pursuits, and in 1846, purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he erected a cabin and improved a farm, adding more land from time to time as he was able to do so, until he owns about 200 acres in all. He has himself erected a good frame dwelling upon this land which is situated in
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-RICHLAND COUNTY:
what is now known as Preston Township. In 1859, he was elected first Township Clerk, of that township, and held that office for nine years. In October, 1863, he was elected Treasurer of Richland County, and soon after removed to Olney, where he has since resided. Mr. Kuster was married, in 1845, to Mary Peebles, a native of Hardin County, Ky. They had two daughters, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Kuster died June 4, 1879, in the communion of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On April 2, 1882, Mr. Kuster was married to Mrs. Sarah A. (Stewart) Whitaker, a native of New England. Mr. Kuster is a member of Olney Lodge, No. 140, A. F. & A. M., Richland Chapter, No. 38, R. A. M., Olney Council, No. 55, R. & S. M., Gorin Commandery, No. 15, K. T., Peoria Consistory, of Scottish Rite Masons; and in politics is a Democrat. He is one of the old settlers and prominent citizens of the county.
WILLIAM T. LAMPTON, M. D., was born in Breckenridge County, Ky., August 27, 1855, and is the third of four children born to Henry T. and Mary C. (Browne) Lampton, both natives of Ken- tucky and of English and Scotch-Irish descent, respectively. Henry T. Lampton was educated and married in his native State. At the age of twenty-five he entered the ministry and has continued in that calling ever since. He was one of the pioneer Baptist ministers of Kentucky. In 1876, he removed to Rockport, Spencer Co., Ind .. where he still resides. He is also a member of the Masonic Frater- nity, having advanced to the Consistory, or thirty-second degree. William T. Lampton, the subject, received a good education at the common schools of his native State, and graduated from the Louis- ville University, in 1878. Some two years before, however, he had commenced the study of medicine, at Rockport, Ind., reading during his vacations. He graduated from the medical department of the Transylvania University, at Louisville, in 1880. In the same year he commenced the practice of his profession at Olney, Ill., where he has had good success. In polities he is a Democrat, and is one of the enterprising young men of the city.
FREDERICK LANDENBERGER was born in Germany, April 7, 1850, and is the second of six children born to George F. and Mary M. (Streich) Landenberger, both natives of Germany. George F. Landenberger was a turner and cabinet maker by trade. In 1854 he emigrated with his wife and family to the United States, first settling at Circleville, Ohio, where he remained until 1859, when he came to Olney, III., where he still resides. Frederick Lan- denberger, the subject of our sketch, received a good common school education in youth. At the age of thirteen he commenced to learn telegraphy, and was employed at that business until 1868. He was then appointed bill clerk in the office of the O. & M. R. R., at East Saint Louis, where he remained until 1872. He then returned to Olney, Ill., where he went into the grocery and provision trade, at which he has since been doing an extensive business. He is also en- gaged in buying and shipping all kinds of country produce and grain. His averageannual sales amount to from $40,000 to $50,000.
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He is also extensively engaged in the ice and wood business. Mr. Landenberger now owns real estate, business and residence prop- erty, in Olney, and farms in the country, worth from $25,000 to $30,000, in addition to personal property. He was married, April 8, 1877, to Lucinda E. Hendershot, a native of Ohio. Three children have blessed their union, all of whom are living. Mrs. Landen- berger is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Landen- berger is independent. He is one of the prominent business men in the city and county.
LEWIS A. LEVERING was born September 28, 1826, in Salem, N. C. Hle is the son of Charles J. and Ruth M. (Rea) Lev- ering ; the former born in Pennsylvania, the latter a native of Ire- land. His father had received a thoroughly classical education, and was teacher in the Nathereth Hall, Pennsylvania, several years. After carrying on the merchant tailoring business several years, he removed to Indiana, and held the office of postmaster ; he also was engaged in book-keeping, in all about twenty years ; he died in 1878, in Hope, Ind., aged eighty-three years. At the age of twenty- one the subject of this sketch removed to Edwards County, Ill., and carried on the carpenter trade about six years ; in 1854 he came to Olney, and continued the carpenter trade ; two years later he moved his family here, where they have since resided. He contin- ued the carpenter trade till 1864, since which time he has been en- gaged in gardening on four acres which he owns, and on which he resides. He enlisted in 1862 in Company B, Ninety-Eighth Illi- nois (Mounted) Infantry, served about seven months, and was hon- orably discharged on account of physical disability. He was mar- ried, in 1848, to Sophia T. Houser; she was born November 17, 1828, in Salem, N. C. Ten children blessed this union, of whom four sons and three daughters are living.
AARON LOESER clothing, was born in Germany, March 28,1838, and is the fourth in a family of eight children born to Lazarus and Bettey(Moses ) Loeser, natives of Germany. Lazarus Loeser was reared in his native land, and there married. He was engaged in the grain and live stock business until his death, which took place in 1858. Aaron received a good common school and academic education in Germany. At the age of twenty-eight he engaged in the distilling business, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, and was so employed for six- teen years. In 1880 he emigrated to the United States, and was em- ployed in a clothing store for one year, and in 1881 he came to Ol- ney, and opened a clothing store. Since then he has been doing an extensive business. He carries a large and well-selected stock of clothing, hats, caps and gents' furnishing goods, amounting to some $10,000. His average annual sales amount to $16,000 or $17,000. Mr. Loeser was married in 1865 to Rosette Speier, of Germany. Six children have been born to this union, four of whom are living. Mr. Loeser is very enterprising, and as a general thing succeeds in all his undertakings.
NORMAN A. LOUGH, attorney, was born in Denver Town-
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ship, in this county, on October 10, 1852, and is the only surviving child of four who were born to Robert C. and Mary A. (Cortrecht) Lough, natives of the " Old Dominion " and of New York, and of German-Scotch and English-Scotch descent, respectively. Rob- ert C. came to Denver Township, where he entered and bought some 200 acres of wild land, which he improved, and upon which he con- structed a log cabin. He still resides upon the place, but has added to the original land until it comprises some 500 or 600 acres, a part of which he has lately sold. From early life he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a member of the Masonic Fraternity. Mrs. Lough died in 1868, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Norman A. was educated at the com- mon schools of Richland County, and afterwards attended college at Lebanon, Ill., three years, completing the courses in Science and Latin. Until his seventeenth year he was employed most of the time upon the home farm. In 1874 he entered the law office of Judge Horace Hayward, of Olney, and in September, 1876, was ad- mitted to the bar, since which time he has been practicing his pro- fession here. For the past two years Mr. Lough has been engaged in the harness as well as the law business. In 1877 he was elected City Attorney for the city of Olney, and was re-elected in 1879. He was married January 9, 1877, to Allie Conklin. They have been given one son, Clarence R. They belong to the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Lough is a member of the K. of P., is a Repub- lican, and a very enterprising citizen.
GEORGE LUTZ, undertaker, was born in Hesse Darmstadt. Germany, November 16, 1823, and is the youngest of five children born to John and Margaret (Shaffer) Lutz, of German ancestry. John Lutz was educated in Germany, and there chose his wife, Mar- garet. He was a shoemaker by trade, and followed this for many years. In 1832 he emigrated to the United States, went to Pitts- burg, Penn., and followed his vocation for four years. In 1836 he came to Lancaster, Wabash County, in this State, and again followed his trade, farming at the same time. Here his death occurred, in October, 1844. He and his wife belonged to the Lutheran Church. George was educated at the schools of his native land, and also re- ceived some instruction in this country. At the age of nine years
he went as errand-boy in a store in Pittsburg. When thirteen, his parents took him to Illinois, and here he was employed on his father's farm until his twenty-first year. He then farmed independ- ently for one year, and in 1845 he engaged in the carpenters' trade, at which he was occupied for many years. In August, 1846, Mr. Lutz came to Olney, and in 1856, in company with H. Hayward, erected a furniture factory, under the firm name of Lutz & Hay- ward. Mr. Lutz did not, however, abandon his trade, but still worked at carpentering to some extent. In the fall of 1865 he gave up both the manufactory and trade, engaging in the under- taking and furniture business until 1876, when he discontinued the trade in furniture, and is engaged now in the picture and undertaking
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trade, and is doing a good business. In 1847 or 1848, he was elected on the school board at Olney, and held this position for eight years. He was also Town Trustee for several years, and was elected Alder- man immediately after the granting of the town charter. He is now serving his third term as one of the Board of Supervisors, and in 1860 he was the first Republican candidate for Sheriff of Richland County. In November, 1844, he married Winnifred Reynolds, of Wabash County, Ill. To them have been given seven children, but they have lost four of them. Both Mr. Lutz and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to the four Masonic bodies of Olney: A. F. & A. M., R. A. M., R. & S. M. and K. T. In the last named he has been for many years S. B. He is an old settler, and a stanch Republican in politics.
MAJOR JAMES T. MCGINNISS was born in Pennsylvania, and is a son of JJoseph R and Elizabeth (Sterling) McGinniss, the former a native of Allegheny County, Penn., the latter a native of New York. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the First Ohio Volun- teers, and was called to the defence of Washington, D. C., and was also engaged in the action at Vienna, and the first battle of Bull Run. In June, 1862, he enrolled in the Eighty-Fourth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, in which he rose to the rank of Sergeant, but was soon after discharged. In September, 1862, he was commissioned Sce- ond Lieutenant in the One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Ohio In- fantry, and was sent to Ohio on recruiting duty, afterward he ac- companied his regiment to Franklin, Tenn. In April, 1863, he was promoted to First Lientenant ; was engaged in the defence of Franklin, Tenn., the pursuit of the rebel, Gen. Van Dorn, the ac- tions of Thompson's Station and Triune, the advance on Tulla- homa, the battle of Chickamauga (where he was twice wounded), the actions of Rossville, the later operations about Chattanooga, and the actions of Bryon's Ferry and Orchard Knob (where he was again wounded). He also participated in the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge, the East Tennessee campaign, the pursuit of Gen. Longstreet into Virginia, the actions of Dalton and Rocky Face Ridge, the battle of Resaca, the actions of Adairsville and Cass- ville, and the battles of New Hope Church and Dallas, where he was twice wounded. In July, 1864, he was commissioned as Cap- tain and Brevet-Major of United States Volunteers, for gallant and meritorious services at the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Dallas. In October, 1864, he was appointed Recorder of an Examining Board, upon which he served until in December of the same year. After the close of the civil war, he returned to his home with his parents in Olney. In February, 1866, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of the Thirteenth United States Infantry, and in the same month was promoted to be First Lieuten- ant in the same regiment, and was stationed at Fort Columbus, New York harbor, till the following June, when he rejoined his reg- iment at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. In July of the same year, he was appointed Adjutant of the First Battalion of his regiment, serv-
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