USA > Illinois > Champaign County > Early history and pioneers of Champaign County : illustrated by one hundred and fifteen superb engravings by Melville : containing biographical sketches of the early settlers, the early history of the county obtained from the most reliable sources and many graphic scenes and incidents from the bright and shady sides of pioneer life > Part 14
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Mr. Sparks and resides in northern Iowa, Clara B., who resides in Elgin, Ill., and Flora, who married Mr. Gring and resides in Somer township. Mrs. Morehouse be- longs to the M. E. church and is a faithful member of the same. Mr. Morehouse was brought up a democrat and east his first vote for James Buchanan for president, in 1856. Ile subsequently voted for Douglas in 1860, for MeLellan in 1864, Seymour in 1868. In 1872 he voted his last democratic ticket in voting for llorace Greeley. Ile became imbued with the idea that the gov- ernment had the power, and that it was its duty, to furnish the money of the people in the shape of greenbacks and not deputize national banks to issue money for it at an enormous profit. He became, in other words. an enthusiastic greenbacker, and it was through his influence and energy that the greenback party got a strong foothold in this county. He is a good reasoner and an easy conversationalist, and being well posted upon the financial history of this and other governments he has ably maintained his po- sition in politics. He voted for Peter Coop- er in 1876, for Weaver in 1880, and for But- ler in 1884, and still elings. to the greenback labor party, confident that he is right and believing that his party has forced the old parties to do many things they would not otherwise have done, which is, doubtless, true. lle has been supervisor of his town- ship from 1860 to 1863, and from 1866 to 1868, both inclusive and was again elected in 1882, and has since served in that capacity, and still holds the position, serving now on his twelfth term. He was one of the most ac- tive and influential members of the board of supervisors in securing the location of the State University at Urbana. He was one of the committee that had the matter in charge and to his efforts are largely dne the success of the enterprise which has been of so much benefit to our county. He is a fair, honest and faithful legislator for the people. Enterprising and publie spirited, he is not picayunish and small like some who seek to make a record of economy, yet he is always to be feared by those who would unjustly get the people's money from the county treasury. Mr. Morehouse was educated in the log cabin school house of the pioneer days, with greased paper and slab seats. Ile lived on that primitive diet of the early days, corn bread and sassafras tea. It was in this kind of an educational institution in Montgomery county, Indiana, that he competed with Hon. Joseph E. MeDonald, of that state, for the best record in the multiplication table, for it was there that they were schoolmates together.
Mr. Morehouse lives with his faithful
helpmeet on a farm in Somer, which they have placed in a high state of improvement, and no where are more hospitable and cour- teous people to be found than at his model home.
MEHLville
ELDER GERARD W. RILEY.
This reverend gentleman and most etli- cient minister of the Gospel was born Sep- tember 2, 1813, in Clermont county, Ohio. His parents were John W. and Sarah (Con- nery) Riley. Shortly after his birth his par- ents removed to Harrison county, Kentucky, but when he was six years of age they re- turned to Clermont county, where he re- mained with them until the summer of 1833. Ile was converted during the winter or spring of 1833 at Bethel, Ohio, under the preaching of Rev. Aaron Sargent and be- came at onee an active member of the church.
In June, 1833, he was married to Miss Bethire McClain, and soon after, accompa- nied by his parents, he came to Illinois and settled at Bloomfield. He and his wife united with the church at Bloomfield, of which his father, who was a Baptist minis- ter, had the pastoral charge. In November, 1836, at the age of twenty-three years, the church gave him license to preach the Gos- pel. For forty-tive years, with untiring in- dustry and righteous enthusiasm, he follow- ed this high calling with a success that, of itself, is a proud monument to his memory.
The country was new, population sparse and settlements distant from each other; this made the labor of his calling very dif- ferent in character from that of the present
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
day. He was regularly ordained to the Gos- pel ministry at the call of the Bloomfield church, August 13, 1838, and became pastor of that church, giving them half his time while the other half was spent at other points. He had only received, at this time the education he could get in the primitive schools of that day, and he soon felt keenly the want of a higher culture and more thor- ough education. In January, 1837, he rode on horseback from Bloomfield to Alton to attend Shurtleff . college, which was then, and is now, conducted by the Baptist denom- ination; but finding the expense too great for his hmited means, he abandoned it and returned home the same month.
Elder Riley learned the cabinet maker's trade and he worked at this at Bloomfield, giving all his leisure time to studying such helps as he could procure until the fall of 1838, when he took his wife in a buggy and drove to Ohio to enter Granville college, still harboring an earnest desire for a col- legiate edneation ; before arrangements were completed he received a call to the church at Falmouth, Kentucky, at which place there was a good school and he thought for a time of accepting it, but his Bloomfield brethren were so earnest in their desire for his labors there that he came back from Ohio and be- came their pastor, and remained there for twelve years. We can form some idea of the immense labor he performed, in these early years, and the gratifying success which attended his ministrations by quoting from a memorandum which he made during his labors there, as follows: "During the whole of my ministry I have traveled on an aver- age about 1200 miles per year-seven years- making 8400 miles, preached 200 sermons per year, or 1400 sermons, fifty of which have been funerals, constructed ninc churches, ordained three ministers, attended nineteen associations and three conventions. I received during the seven years from churches about seventy-five dollars per year. I paid out of this about twenty-five dollars for benevolent purposes; built three good meeting houses."
In the fall of 1848 he removed to Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, and took charge of the church, meantime supplying the Bloom- field church once a month. In the winter of 1858 he closed his labors at Paris, accepted the pastorate of the Baptist church. of Ur- bana, and removed here in January, 1859; he remained as pastor for eleven years, leav- ing it with a membership of nearly three hundred in 1870, to take charge of the church in Champaign, where he undertook the erection of a new meeting house; he raised the funds, superintended the work and la-
bored untiringly till it was completed; at its dedication the church was indebted to him six hundred dollars on salary, all of which, on the day of dedication, he gave to the church. In 1872, having built the church in Champaign, he returned to the Urbana church and preached for them for two years; from here he went to the South Street church, at Indianapolis, Ind., and preached two years, thence again to Paris where he remained until 1879, at which time he came back to Urbana to spend the remainer of his days. Though sixty-six years old he could not be idle and continued to labor, one year at Tolono and afterwards supplying Bour- bon and Fairmount, having an appointment at the latter place the Sabbath following his death, which occurred August 18, 1881, at his home in Urbana.
His widow still survives him and resides in this city. His children are Ninian A., who married Emma D. Porter, and is in the dry goods business here, and Ozias G., who married Frances Busey, and is in the jewel- ry business in Champaign. Five daughters were also born to them, but they died in youth.
Mr. Riley was formerly a Douglas demo- crat, but the war issues coming up he be- came an ardent republican. He was ap- pointed U. S. revenue assessor by President Lincoln in 1863, which office he held until the forepart of Andrew Johnson's term, when he gave way to the democrat that the new president appointed to succeed him.
Though this good man is gone from among us his influence and high example is felt, to- day, and doubtless will be for years to come. Over the entire Bloomfield district the work of Elder Riley is visible. Scarcely a church organization in it but his labors have helped to build up; scarcely a church spire in it but his hand, nerved by the grace of God, has helped to point toward heaven. Count- less christians, almost, have felt the eheer- ing solace of his kindly interest in their eternal welfare, and who shall say how far down the years to come the seed he sowed in the vineyard of his Master shall spring up in the hearts of those that come after him. He was a pure and noble man, whose highest ambition was to benefit his fellow men. Liberal in his charities, generous in his clonations, of time and money, to the cause he served, kind to all with whom he came in contact, affable in demeanor, charitable to- wards the weaknesses of men, warmed by true christian love and upheld by an unfal- tering faith, who shall measure the extent of his usefulness during his long and intensely active life?
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
WILLIAM WALLACE GRAHAM
Was born July 7, 1842, at Huron, Wayne county, N. Y. He came to Urbana at the age of eighteen, in October 1860, to seek his fortune. He looked for it on a farm near Tolono, husking corn during the fall and winter until March 12, 1861, when he began clerking for Ingersoll & Cutcheon, in their dry goods store in Urbana. While this latter occupation was more congenial to his tastes and ideas of life, yet he was destined for other and more serious duties. He was among the first to register his name upon the roll of soldiers that went early in the war to defend the flag, so unrighteously attacked by treason. This occurred in June 1861. He joined the company of Captain Boyden, Co. K., 25th Ill. Reg't, Ill. Vol. Inft'y. He left for the front in August 1861 ; he followed the fortunes of the regiment until October 1862, when he was discharged for disability, the exposure and hardships being too great for the young patriot. He then elerked again for Ingersoll & Cuteheon until the spring of 1863, when he went south with Cuteheon & Griggs and remained with them until May 1864. During the short time he had been in Urbana he had met Miss Nellie Griggs, the daughter of Hon. C. R. Griggs. Ile was stricken with her gentle manners and winning charms and permitted his admiration to ripen into love. The result may be safely guessed. The young lady returned it with interest and the happy and fine looking couple were made one May 19, 1861. He and his young wife soon after located on a farm near Philo and farmed there for two years. He worked on the I., B. & W. R. W. For two years as inspector.
In 1870 he formed a copartnership with M. Lowenstern in the dry goods business, and was engaged in same business nearly all the time until 1580, when he went to Norwalk. Ohio, as a paymaster and contractor of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railroad. In this position he was very snecessful and ac- cumulated a comfortable fortune. In May, 1584, he resigned the office to open a coal mine at Sherodsville, Carroll Co., Ohio, where he is now mining five hundred tons of the dusky diamonds daily.
The children surviving are: Maud E. and King R., both at home with their parents at Norwalk, Ohio. He is a radical republican in polities and votes the ticket just as it is printed. Mr. Graham is a successful business man and gives his best energies to it, but he enjoys a hunt and a few days of recreation ammally. He tells a story admirably and is a royal entertainer at his always hospitable home where he is ably seconded by his ac- complished wife.
MELVILLE CHI
JUDGE JOSEPH W. SIM.
This well known lawyer, jurist and old settler of Urbana, was born November Ist, 1831, near Mount Vernon, Knox county, (.
The Sims are of Scotch descent and were decended from the Bruce's, of Scotland and having taken part in the Stuart cause, which was lost, they came to this country as ref- ngees, about the time of the revolutionary war, their large estates in Scotland having been confiscated. The three brothers settled in the colonies,
Colonel Joseph Sim fonght with LaFay- ette and General Greene in the revolution-
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
ary war, and afterwards settled in what is now Frederick county, Maryland. Anthony Sim, son of Col. Joseph Sim, settled in Frederick county, Maryland. at the same time. He left two sons, JJoseph W. and Thomas Sim. Joseph removed to Ohio in the spring of 1831 and settled in Knox conn- ty, near Mt. Vernon. Ho was the father of Judge Joseph W. Sim, the subject of this sketch and of five other sons and five daughters; four sons are dead and one dangnter. A daughter of Col. Joseph Sim was the mother of John Nelson, once chief justice of the United States supreme court and minister to France.
Judge Sim's parents, Joseph W. and Kit- turah (Mercer) Sim, came to this county in the spring of 1854 and settled on the farm now owned by Isaac Downs, one and a half miles east of this city. Joseph W., the sub- ject of this sketch, had preceded them, ar- riving here in November, 1553, and settling at Urbana. Ile had, at his old home, in his boyhood, received a good education by working on the farm, upon which he was raised and going to school in the winter. This, with one school year spent at the Fredericktown (Ohio) Academy was the op- portunity he improved to secure an educa- tion. Later, he taught school in winter and farmed in summer.
Upon arrival at Urbana, in the fall of 1853, he became the principal of the Urbana school for one term. In the spring of 1854 he commenced the study of law, entering the office of Col. W. N. Coler at that time practicing law in Urbana; he studied for two years and was then examined by a com- mittee consisting of IIon. O. L. Davis, Hon. Leonard Swett and Ward Il. Lamon. The late Ex-Senator and Ex-Supreme Court Judge David Davis was then cirenit judge and he recommended the young man to the supreme court of this state for admission to the bar to practice law. Ile was admitted, and at once formed a partnership with Col. W. N. Coler, under the firm name of Coler & Sim, winch continued for about two years when J. C. Sheldon was admitted to the firm and the name was then Color, Sim & Sheldon. In 1858 Mr. Sim withdrew from the firm and practiced law alone about a year, when Hon. J. O. Cunningham propos- ed a partnership which was accepted, he having just graduated from a law college at Cleveland, O. The firm was known as Sim & Cunningham. Ile continued thus to practice with good success nuitil 1866 or 7, the continement began to tell upon his health ; he accordingly withdrew from the practice and engaged in farming, having prior there- to purchased the farm now owned by E. A.
Shaw and Fred Pell, one half mile south of Urbana. lle continued farming and stock raising until the fall of 1873, when he was elected judge of the county court of Cham- paign county, in which position he ably served the people for one term of four years but declined to be a candidate for renomina- tion, and entered again into the active prac- tice of the law, in which he is still engaged. Ilis long experience at the bar and upon the bench, together with his studious habits and good reasoning faculties, make him a safe counselor in the business affairs of those who contemplate submitting their claims to the courts.
Judge Sim was mayor of the city for two terms, from June 1864 to June 1866, during which time he negotiated and consummated the building of the Urbana street railroad.
lle was married June 25, 1857, at Urbana, to Sarah A., daughter of the late Col. M. W. Busey (whose portrait and biography ap- pears elsewhere) ; she is still living and has borne him the following children: Cora A., who married John A. McClurg and resides in Urbana; Kitturah E., Mary E. and Anna, who reside at home.
Judge Sim has for many years been a con- sistent member of the M. E. church, in which faith he is rearing his family.
Politically, Judge Sim was in his early manhood a whig and was in his youth imbu- ed with abolition ideas. He cast his first vote for Gen. Winfield Scott. At about the time of his arrival in this county the late Senator Stephen A. Douglas introduced in congress his great state sovereignty ideas in the dis- enssion of the famous Kansas-Nebraska bill. The young man of whom we write took a deep interest in the proceedings of that con- gress, joined and heartily supported the re- publican party then formed. In the cam- paign of 1856 he was a pronounced Fremont man and canvassed the county for the re- publiean ticket, laboring earnestly for its success. He has been an unswerving re- publican ever since.
He has a beautiful home on Green street in thiscity, to which he retires from business cares and enjoys its comforts surrounded by an interesting family who are diligent in making it attractive and pleasant for him.
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
VILLE CHI
JOHN M. SPENCER
Was born in Alleghany county, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1827. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Asa A. Spencer. At the age of ten years John M., came with his parents to Tracy, Ohio, and afterwards in the fall of 1859, he removed to this county and settled in Crittenden town- ship, where his lite work was done. He was married at Tracy, Ohio, November 25, 1855, to Cyrena Merry, who is still living and resides on the old home place with their children, James C., and Sheridan Spencer, who are both grown to man's estate. He was con- verted and joined the M. E. church in 1857. He followed blacksmithing in Ohio, before coming west for about ten years. When he came here he brought with him twenty cows and made cheese for several years together with his farming operations. Later he en- gaged extensively in feeding and shipping cattle, which he found profitable.
He used to chase the deer over the prairie on horseback; he frequently swam the Embarrass river to go to church, Ile was an uncompromising republican; he held the office of supervisor for Crittenden during the year 1864, but he did not seek office; he was always, however, to be relied upon to do good, honest work for the party of his choice. He was afflicted with paralysis for over seven years prior to his death, which oc- curred at his home, September 22, 1885. He was a man of decided views and strong convictions, but he was charitable towards those holding different opinions, and by his courteous treatment of all, won the love and respect of all who knew him. He was a faithful laborer in his church and was an
untiring worker in the cause of Sunday schools. He believed that the children who were imbued with religions ideas would more certainly find the fold than those whose early impressions were made by more worldly teachings. His deeds on earth were prompted by a pure heart and guided by a well balanced mind. He will long be re- membered by the people of Crittenden town- ship for his many virtues and acts of kind- ness.
MEL VILL8
FRANCIS MARTIN SNYDER.
This old settler, printer and journalist, was born November 19th, 1834, at Honesdale, Wayne county, Pa. His father was Dr. Jacob F. Snyder, well known to the old settlers of Urbana and vicimty. His mother was Miss Asenath H. Strong. His father died March 23rd, 1862, and his mother, January 26th, 1880.
Frank. M. Snyder came with his father and family, October 17th, 1850, from Terre Hante, Indiana, to make their future home: he had, in February 1850, begun to learn the printer's trade. When W. N. Coler and H. K. Davis started the Urbana Union, Mr. Snyder was employed, and set the first type for a newspaper, in Urbana. He has fol- lowed the business as journeyman, editor or publisher, almost continuously ever since, Ile edited and published the Urbana Repub- lican (afterward merged into the CHAM- PAIGN COUNTY HERALD) for ten years. Later, he published the Bulletin from April 1st, 1879 to April 1st, 1880. Mr. Snyder met with many disasters in the newspaper busi- ness; in 1871, his office was consumed by
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
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tire; in 1874, he suffered great loss by fire, and in 1878 he was burned ont the third time; he arose cach time from the ashes and continued to publish a newspaper all the same. In 1882 he took a position as com- positor, on the HERALD and holds the posi- tion now.
lle was married June 2tst, 1860, to Miss Clara Goodspeed, who is still living and has borne him the following children: Frank S., married and residing in Cham- paign; Charles L., now pressman in the IlERALD office; George N., (deceased) ; Anneita Louise, Anna May, Callie Asenath, Edward and Fred Grant; all those living, except Frank S., reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Snyder was reared a democrat and cast his first vote for James Buchanan and his second for Stephen A Douglas, in 1860; he remained a democrat until 1562, when the war issues came and he left his home and the democratic party at the same time and entered the army in Co. B, 7th Regiment ill. Vol. Infty, in July, and served three years. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Jackson, Mobile, and other minor engagements in which his gal- lant regiment took part. He did a soldier's duty for his country and returned home in October, 1865, somewhat broken down in health, but continued his former pursuits, surmounting difficulties and disasters, as before recited, that would have discouraged a man with less determination and courage than he possessed. Rev. David Gay was his successor in the publication of the Re- publican, having been his partner from June until September 1978.
Mr. Snyder is now serving his second term as town clerk of Urbana township, a posi- tion he is well fitted to fill.
He is a member of the Baptist church and is one of the deacons of the church, in this city, and is also its clerk.
lle is prominent in Odd Fellowship, and has passed the chairs in both the Subordin- ate Lodge and in the Encampment. He has been secretary of the Lodge No. 139, and scribe of Encampment No. 93, also adju- tant of Post 129, G. A. R., many years, and the records he has kept speak for him as a careful, painstaking and correct offieer. A conscientious christian, a bright and true Odd Fellow, an industrious and competent workman in his chosen calling, a staunch republican, a good citizen and neighbor, he has the confidence and respect of the entire community.
MELVILLE CHI
WILLIAM H. JAQUES.
Mr. Jaques was born February 8th, 1820. in Geanga county, Ohio, then known as New Connecticut or Western Reserve. But little is known of his father, Henry Jaques, who was born in the city of New York, in 1789, of French parentage, and was appren- ticed to a shoemaker in Hartford, Connecti- cut, in 1803. He married Elizabeth Porter, in 1814, and settled in Munson, Geauga county, Ohio, in 1819, and built a "log cabin" in the midst of a dense forest. He died in February, 1829, leaving a widow and family of seven small children, four of whom are still living, the mother having died in 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. W. H. Jaques, the subject of this sketeh, settled in Joliet, Illinois, in 1845, and worked at his trade, (a practical tinner). He mar- ried Eliza P. Dunham, in 1846. Two chi !- dren, a son and daughter, were the fruits of this union. J. HI. Jaques, the son, is still living and resides in Tolono, in this county, with whom his father, William II., makes his home, his wife and danghter hav- ing died in Joliet, in 1852. When the gold fever was raging, Mr. Jaques beeame in- fected and crossed the plains in 1850, and worked with varying success in the hill sides and gulches, mountain tops and valleys, river banks and river beds, for two years; he returned to Joliet in July 1852 having ae- cumulated little money but a great deal of experience. He came to Urbana in October, 1852 and established the first stove store and tin shop; he manufactured the first tin ware ever made in Champaign county. ile ex- hibited tinware of his own make at the first
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
fair ever held in the county. He was mar- ried to Sarah A. Whipple in February, 1854; she died May 1st, 1857. He then sold out his business to Sutton Brothers and in 1859 returned with his mother and children to Ohio. He enlisted in 1862, as a private in 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He returned to Champaign county, m 1866, located in Tolo- no, and engaged in the sale of hardware, stoves, agricultural implements, and in the manufacture of tinware. Mr. Jaques has never sought or held any office, but was a whig of the Clay and Webster stamp. He believed then as he does now that it was the duty of the government to levy a tariff with a view of protecting home industries. He early imbibed a hatred of American slavery and when the republican party was organized to check its progress he eagerly joined its ranks, and is to-day as he himself expresses it, a "dyed in the wool" republican, because that party advocates his ideas of protection to American labor, and meets his views up- on other questions as well. Mr. Jaques can always be relied upon in business matters as well as politics. You always know where to find him. Quiet in his demeanor, charit- able where there is any just claim, truthful, honorable, and reliable, he is a good type of the successful business men of the west.
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