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 7
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
medieine here. October 14th, 1843, he was married to Miss Catherine P. Carson, who is still living. In the spring of 1846, under the instruction of the late Judge David Davis, of Bloomington, he commeneed the study of law and in November of that year Judges Treat and Purple awarded him a li- eense to practice law. He was appointed local attorney for the Illinois Central rail- road company in 1855, a position he held for many years. During the rebellion he served the township of Urbana as supervisor and had the care of the families of dependent sokliers of the township during their ab- senee in the army. He acted with the whig party until 1859, when upon its deeease he joined the ranks of the democracy, and has in national elections voted steadily with it. In 1862 he was nominated by the democratie party for state senator, but was defeated. His children are Pauline, wife of George W. Curtiss, now residing in Peoria; Ella, who married W. T. Sutton, of East Saginaw, Michigan; Mollie, who married Charles A. Besore, a lumber merchant of this city; Cora, who married G. W. Bort, and Charley, who reside in this city. Mr. Somers was the first resident lawyer in this county and for many years was at the head of the profession. During his later years the lawyers delighted to refer to him as the "Nestor of the Champaign County Bar," an appellation he well deserved. He has met in his legal eontests the greatest lawyers in the country, and was very successful. Such men as Abraham Lincoln, Leonard Swett, O. B. Ficklin and other distinguished law- yers have erossed swords with him with re- sults not to his diseredit. He was associat- d with these men in many cases. His in- fluence over juries was such that he rarely failed to obtain a successful result. The el- aquence aud pathos with which he swayed them, in cases where opportunity offered, won the admiration of those who have be- come famous in the Nation. · His knowledge of the law too. enabled him to maintain his supremacy in the courts before the judges as well as before juries. He introduced Abra- ham Lincoln to the first audience he ever addressed in this county, and was on inti- mate terms with him for many years. Mr. Somers has retired from practice on account of advancing years, but he is enjoying reas- onably good health and evinces the same spirit of inquiry and investigation that made him distinguished among his fellows when in his prime. He is now, as he has always been, an incessant reader and no man is bet- ter posted than he upon the current events of the world. He is comfortably situated and bids fair to enjoy his pleasant surround- ings for many years.
ELVILLE
THOMAS R. LEAL
Was born at Stamford, Delaware eounty, N. Y., July 4, 1829. His father was Dr. J. H. Leal and his mother Mary Me Laurie. They both died while Thomas R. was young. He went to the district school and received a higher education at Hobart academy in Del- aware county, New York. Ilere he was the schoolmate of Jay Gould, who at the time manifested an ability in figures, especially in "addition," which has characterized him in after life; he could readily carry three columns of figures up at a time. Here, also, he was associated with the Turner Brothers, who built the I., B. & W. R'y through this eity, as well as the Anderson Brothers, mil- lionaires now in New York City. These were all orphan boys, who have made their way to immeuse wealth. and distinction in the business world by their own efforts, Mr. læal, although as proficient as Jay Goukt in tigures at that time, has not been as success- ful as he in "addition" during his later lite. As he expresses it, "he was poor then, and has held his own with wonderful success."
Mr. Leal came to this county in 1852, and settled at Urbana. He was married in Jan- nary, 1861, to Emeline Gordon, a native of Oswego, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Leal had four bright and lovely children in 1868, when diphtheria in its most malignant form attacked first one and then another until it had taken to the other shore the entire fam- ily of children that had been so great a source of comfort to the worthy parents for the few years prior thereto. They all died within 21 days in September, 1865. They now have, born since then, four more. named
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
respectively, Mamie, Rosa, Sophie and Grace.
Mr. Leal and wife have been faithful and active members of the Presbyterian church for thirty years. He has been a republican ever since the party has been organized. In Coles county, in Bourbon township, (now a part of Douglas county) Mr. Leal was teach- ing school in the fall of 1856; he was the only republican in the township. He voted for Fremont, while the other vote was di- vided between Fillmore and Buchanan. He taught school in New York and afterwards engaged in same occupation here. He wassu- perintendent of schools from 1857 to 1873, and was member of the state board of education for six years. He organized the first teach- ers' institutes in Champaign, Maeon, Coles, Douglas, Effingham, Ford, Piatt, Vermilion and Iroquois counties, and took a leading position in the educational affairs of his adopted state. When he commenced visit- ing schools there were only two bridges in the county and only forty-eight school houses, twenty-seven of which were log houses. When he retired there were over two hundred school houses, all good, mod- ern ones. He had hard work to introduce blackboards into the schools, frequently put- ting them in at his own expense in order to get the boards of directors to try them. There were no maps, globes or other appa- ratns except at Urbana. When he retired in 1873 he published a pamphlet giving a history of the schools of the county that had thus grown up under his supervision. The suggestions to teachers therein contained are fully abreast of the times to-day, and they have in faet been carried out almost to the letter. To Mr. Leal more than to any other man are we, as a people, indebted for the splendid schools of which this county justly boasts. He was also appointed drain- age commissioner and during his term eol- lected about $27,000.00 on swamp land ac- count that many had charged was sunk in building the court house. He holds the re- ceipts of school treasurers for this large sum, much of which would never have been collected but for his efforts. In 1885 his re- port as sanitary inspector of this city was published in all the metropolitan papers by the State Board of Health as a model report, showing the thorough manner in which Mr. Leal always responded to a call for the pub- lic good.
Mr. Leal, in 1875, commenced farming on a farm he owns near Sidney, in which busi- ness he is still successfully engaged, but the record he has left as the friend of education and as a conscientious and hard worker in its cause, will cause him to be remembered long after he has passed away.
MELVILLE CM
WILLIAM H. SOMERS.
Mr. Somers was one of the pioneers of this county, having, with his parents, removed from his native state, North Carolina, in the fall of 1842, locating in Urbana. Hle here engaged with his brothers, James, John and Joseph, in farming,-his father, Dr. Win- ston Somers, working with them when not called away to visit patients; this happened frequently, and many a time he would be kept away for several days. The doctor was anxious to give his boys a good education and utilized every opportunity so to do. Wil- liam If. was ambitious in that direction and the result was, by working hard in the sum- mer, he enjoyed the high privilege of going to school in the winter. He thus obtained not only a good common school education, but he also attended the M. E. Seminary, at Danville, presided over by Oliver S. Munsell, and got considerable knowledge of Greek, Latin and other higher branches. At the elose of his school days, he, with his father, and his brother James, engaged in the drug busi- ness in Urbana. He was married to Miss Hattie L. Mead, in August, 1856, at Urbana, who died at Beatrice, Nebraska, in June, 1876, mourned, not only by her husband and children, but by hosts of warm friends, made here and in her new home, by her gen- tle disposition and self-sacrifieing labors in life. Of this marriage four children were born to him, viz: Frank M., Julia Mae, Eddie W., (who died in 1867) and Elbert S. lle was married again, in Lincoln, Neb., in 1878, to Miss Sadie S. Hawley, his present wife, who is a native of Ohio, as was also his first wife. Two children have been born
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
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by this marriage, one of whom, the eldest, William H., died in January, 1885; the other, a daughter, is now three and a half years old. In 1856, Fielding L. Scott and Elisha Hark- ness, warm friends of his, surprised him by soliciting him to become a candidate for cir- cuit clerk. He ran and was elected as a re- publican, on the ticket headed by John C. Fremont, under the banner of "Free press, free speech, and free soil." He was reelect- ed in 1860, on the ticket headed by Abraham Lincoln. He made a splendid officer, affa- ble gentlemanly, and at the same time attent- ive to the business of the people. He was then elected as supervisor from Urbana. He had, prior to being elected clerk, studied law with his uncle, W. D. Somers, and at- tended law school in Chicago. He gave up the practice, however, in 1868, and with his father as partner engaged in the banking business in Urbana and subsequently in Leroy, Ill., altogether about five years, until the death of his father, when he closed un the business and in 1872 removed, with his fam- ily, on account of his wife's poor health, to Beatrice, Nebraska, where he has resided for fourteen years. There he engaged in the real estate business until his appoint- ment, in 1881, by president Garfield, to the office of Receiver of the United States land office, at Beatrice. He was succeeded June 16th 1886, by a democrat appointed by presi- dent Cleveland. He was elected to the Ne- braska legislature, in 1875, and served one term. He was also agent for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company for several years, for the sale of their lands in Gage and adjoining counties. For three years he was immigration agent for the coun- ty of Gage, Neb. He was active and suc- eessful in this position and by judicious efforts he was instrumental in inducing large immigration to southeastern Nebraska and in buikling up the city of Beatrice. He wrote the centennial history of Gage county in 1876, as a part of his efforts in advertising the great advantages of the country as pecu- liarly adapted to farming and stock raising. Last month he removed to San Diego, Cali- fornia, where he now owns a large vineyard and fruit ranch, and is engaged in making raisins and growing fruits for market. He has been interested in the temperance work all of his mature life, and has given his best efforts in that cause. Ilis many friends in this county, as well as in Gage county, wish him long life and prosperity in his new home. He well deserves the neat little for- time he has carved out by his own abilities and industry.
ZACHARIAH E, GILL
Was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, May 1st, 1829. His father was Bede Gill and his mother was Eliza Edlin, of Louisville, Ken- tucky. Z. E. Gill came to this county in 1852, and settled at Urbana. He was mar- ried first at Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1853, to Nancy Mariah Porter, (since deceased). His second wife was Hannah C. Wolfe, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, whom he married at Urbana, December 4, 1857. His children are Mrs. Nellie Hogg, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Rudolph Z. Gill, residing at Urbana. He died August 10, 1884, at Urbana. At time of death he had been for twenty-six years a member of the M. E. church, and was a reg- ular attendant at divine service during all those years. In politics Mr. Gill was a dem- ocrat, though he was not much inclined to polities. Ife was left an orphan at the age of fourteen years and thrown upon his own resources; he soon after went to learn the carpenter's trade which he followed for many years in connection with contracting and designing. In boyhood, even, he sought moral associates and amusements, and grew, naturally, into a conscientious, home-loving and kind-hearted man. He built the round house of the I., B. & W. railroad, as well as their freight houses along the line. He was the builder of several of the finest blocks in the city of Urbana. For several years he was also engaged in the hardware business. Ile was correct in his business and social habits, and took a deep interest in the improvement of the city. While a consistent and faithful member of the church
y
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
for so many years, yet he was unassuming in his professions and pointed out the path- way of duty by traveling there through life. llis death, two years ago, was one of the greatest losses this community has bech called upon to bear for many years. Such men as Z. E. Gill are the salt of the earth.
N.M VILLG
THOMSON RHODES WEBBER.
Thomson Rhodes Webber was born in Shelby county, Ky., October 6, 1807. He was of German extraction on his father's side. He was the eldest of a family of 13 children, of whom three surviving reside in this city, viz: William H. Webber, George G. Webber and Mrs. Nancy Munhall. He was twice married. To his first wife, 1 Miss Martha Thompson, of Shelby county. Ky., in 1831. In 1837 his first wife died and he inarried in 1838 Miss Anna B. Carson, of this county, whose death preceded his sev- eral years. lle had three children, Joseph T., Win. B. Webber, a prominent lawyer of this city, and Mrs. Susan Blaydes, by his first wife, and two, surviving, Robert A. Webber, of this city, and James If. Webber, now of Minneapolis, Minn., by his second wife.
Mr. Webber's political influence was iden- tified with the democratic party. He cast his first vote for General Jackson for his second term and on all national questions he was a supporter of democratic principles. He heartily supported the candidacy of Horace Greeley. He enjoyed for many years the confidence and friendship of Abraham Lin- coln and Senator David Davis.
Few men in this country have presided in as many official capacities for so long a term and with the united respect of all who knew him, as Mr. Webber. He was the first post- master in the county and in this city. Up- on the organization of the county he was elected clerk of both courts and continued in that official capacity as county clerk 20 years, and circuit clerk for 27 years. For ' forty years he acted as master in chancery, and was succeeded by M. W. Mathews in August, 1873. And when he retired from each of these offices he did it with the ro- spect and good will of every one.
In 1847 he was elected to represent Ver- milion, Champaign, Piatt and Coles coun- ties in the constitutional convention of that year and in 1863 he represented in a similar convention the counties of Champaign, Piatt, De Witt and Macon. The constitution prepared by the latter convention was re- jected by the people, when put to a vote, and hence the names of its framers did not ro- ceive the perpetuity that they otherwise would have received.
He died at his residence, south of the city, Wednesday, December 14, 1881, in the 25th year of his age.
In considering the life and character of such a man there always arises a curiosity to know his religious belief. From one who was familiar with his life we learn that he was never guilty of deriding those who pro- fessed religion. He believed in and prac- ticed the principles of Christianity; enter- tained the highest respect for the opinions of ministers of the gospel and other advo- cates of the Christian religion. But he thought every man had a right to worship God in his own way, and that a person could be religious without having his name in- scribed as a member upon any church rec- ord.
True it is that, regardless of the frailties of the human family, Mr. Webber lived an exemplary life. He possessed such a quiet dignity of manner and kindness of heart that made friends of acquaintances, and even the little barefooted and brown-faced boy was the recipient of his daily smile and greeting. He will live long in the mnemo- ires of those who survive him.
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
MELV
LLE DU
EBENEEZER WARREN PARKER
Was born October 28, 1813, at Princeton, Massachusetts. His father was Ebeneezer Parker and his mother was Miss Hanmah Myrichs. Mr. Parker came to this county April 14, 1856, and settled upon the farm in Philo township now occupied by him. He was married in 1840 at Holden, Mass., to Miss Chloe A. Parmenter, who was born in 1816, and is still living. She was highly ed- ucated and has a well-stored mind, being yet, as she has always been, a great reader and vigorous thinker. She has a literary turn of mind and is familiar with the princi- pal authors of this as well as of the old world. Their children are: Ebeneezer Cal- vin, born at Worcester, Mass., a banker and physician at Philo, Ill .; Mary Adeline, who married Paschal P. Parkman, now deceased, and Louise, a young lady, residing at home with her parents. Mr. Parker united with the Presbyterian church in 1833, at Worcest- er, Mass. He was in his earlier years of manhood an old line whig and was a radical abolitionist from the first of slavery agita- tion in this country, and naturally joined the ranks of the republican party under the ban- ner of Fremont and Lincoln, and he is to- day as strong in the republican faith as ever. Ile was a republican from principle, as he never sought office of any kind. He has led a quiet life on the farm ever since arriving in Illinois. He and his accomplished part- ner live on the old home place that they have splendidly improved by their joint la- bors. They gave their children a liberal ed-
ucation and fitted them well in every way for the solemn duties of life. He gave his own name and that of his father to his eldest son in order to hand it down as a sort of family mark of distinction. There is an old watch in the family which belonged to his grandfather, which he has handed down to his eldest son, Doctor Parker, to be disposed of in the same manner by him. When he settled in the wild prairie where his beauti- ful home now stands there was only one house between him and Urbana. Domestic and retiring in his habits he has never sought notoriety, but quietly pursues through life the even tenor of his way, exerting never- theless a wholesome and salutary influence upon the community, by his strict business integrity and kindly disposition.
MELVILLE CHI
JOHN ROGERSON
Was born December 18, 1832, at Perth, Prov- ince of Ontario, Canada. William Rogerson, his father, was born December 2, 1806, at Dumfrieshire, Scotland. His mother, Sarah Sinclair Adamson, was born December 3, 1814, at Quebec, Canada, and was also Scotch. In July, 1855, William Rogerson came from Duncan City, Michigan, located in Cham- paign, and engaged in lumber, grain and general merchandise business. Ilis son John was employed as his chief clerk. In the spring of 1856, John went to the village of Sadorus and engaged in the mercantile and grain business, in partnership with W. C. Wilson, under the firm name of Rogerson & Wilson. In August, 1856, John's father died and he retired from the firm and went to
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Champaign to close up his father's business. In 1857, he returned to Sadorus, and with his brother Andrew B., again engaged in same business. In 1862 his brother. Andrew B. enlisted in the 20th Ill. regiment and went to the war. John remained in business at Sadorus until 1872, when he removed into Colfax township. one and a half miles north of Sadorus, on a farm, upon which he still resides. He has three brothers and three sisters living, viz: Andrew B., at Washing- ton, D. C., a elerk in Department of Interior, for past seventeen years, William D., resid- ing in Council Bluffs, lowa, George S., at Jacksonville, Ill., Mrs. Daniel Bradley, of Champaign, Mrs. Andrew Rupel, and Miss Christiana Rogerson, at Jacksonville, III. Andrew B. had right eye shot out at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22. 1864. John Rogerson was married September 4, 1856, at Chicago, Ill., to Miss Jacqualine Margueritte Cart Can- tine, third eldest daughter of John J. C. Can- tine, of Washington, D. C. Her father's parents were from France. The children of this marriage, thirteen in number, were Ruth Caroline, Sarah Sinelair, William, John J. C., Andrew B., John James Adam- son, Jaequaline M. C., Mary Julia, George S., Fannie McArthur, Daniel Bradley, Rob- ert Burns, and Mark Lewis Cantine. The second, fourth, seventh, ninth and thirteenth, above named, are dead. Andrew B., resides in Decatur, Ill .; the remainder reside at home with their parents. His church affilia- tions have been Episcopalian. He has been an ardent democrat all his mature life, cast- ing his first vote for James Buchanan, for president, in 1856. He has been member of the democratic county central committee for past ten years, and chairman of Colfax township for twelve years. Mr. Rogerson is one of the leading democrats of this eoun- ty, and his advice is always sought as to the policy of the party in all matters of impor- tance. He was postmaster at Sadorus, from 1857 to 1861, railroad agent there 1856 to 1871, town elerk, Sadorus township, 1860 to 1864, justice of the peace, 1862 to 1872, in Sadorus township, and from 1875 to 1877 in Colfax township; he was assessor of Colfax 1876 to 1881, and supervisor 1877 to 1885. In 1882 the democratic convention nominated him for sheriff of Champaign county, but was defeated by J. C. Ware, republican. Mr. Rogerson made a splendid record as an able servant of the people, on the board of super- visors. He was the leading member of the judiciary committee for eight years; was on swamp lands committee for six years and was four years its chairman ; stationery com- mittee three years, chairman two years; fees and salaries two years, one year ils
chairman. In 1878-9 and 80, he was sent by board to Springfield to represent this county before state board of equalization, and en- deavored to get Champaign county in a low- er classification which he finally succeeded in doing, thus saving a large sum of money to the tax-payers on state tax. In 1881 the board sent him to Washington. D. C., to make a list of swamp lands of the county from the records in land office. It was due to his labors that the county procured sever- al thousand dollars in cash indemnity from United States government and from errone- ous tax sales of swamp lands belonging to the county and there will yet be a large sum received by the county from new selections of swamp lands made in 1882-3 by him and Isaac Hitt, state agent. Mr. Rogerson has been faithful in every trust reposed in him, both public and private, and he richly de- serves the high regard in which he is held by all who have the honor of his acquaint- ance.
.
MELVILLE PM
S. BARCLAY RADEBAUGHI.
The subject of this brief sketch is a pro- duet of the Keystone state; he was born in Bedford county, and is the son of Peter and Eliza Radebaugh, natives of the same state. His father was a farmer by occupation. Barclay was reared upon the farm and re- eeived a good education in the public schools of his native state. His parents moved to Fayette county, Pennsylvania in 1856, and remained until in March, 1861, when they eame west and settled in Urbana. After their arrival here Barclay engaged in the
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
dry goods trade. It was not, however con- genial business and he abandoned it in 1862. He then accepted a position as clerk in the office of Capt. William Fithian, of Danville, who was provost marshal for the 7th con- gressional distriet. Prior to coming west he had determined to adopt the law as his pro- fession, and with that idea in view com- menced the study; his coming west and the war interrupted his studies and they were not resumed until 1864. Ile then entered the office of W. D. Somers, then the "Mee- ca" of law students, and continued until his admission to the bar in 1865. He commenced the practice and continued it with gratifying success until August 4, 1885, when he took charge of the post office, a position he was appointed to by President Cleveland. He was city attorney for five terms, and was vigilant and efficient as an officer. Politic- ally he was a republican until 1876, when he advocated the claims of Samuel J. Tilden, and has sinee that time been an ardent and active supporter of the democratic party. In religious faith he is a member of the Bap- tist church. He was united in marriage March 22, 1868, to Miss Olive L. Gere, daugh- ter of James S. Gere, an old settler and prominent citizen of Urbana in by-gone days. The result of that union are the fol- lowing named children: Otis B., Grace E., Olive I., Clarence G., Addie M., Fred M. and Earl A., the last named and youngest died last summer.
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