USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 32
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BIOGRAPHIES.
resident of Mattoon : Matilda Julia, born Janu- ary 30, 1864. is now the wife of Daniel Krile. of Richland : Henry D. was born on the 5th of May in the years previous to that in which the family removed to Shelby county. He was first married to Anna Wengerlein, who was born in Chicago, July 20, 1862, and died in Stewardson, January 26, 1894. To her was born one child, Martha E., November 25, 1890. The second marriage of Henry U'lmer occurred in Steward- son, on April 18, 1895, when he was united to Minnie Dwensing, who was born in Mattoon, February 15, 1873. Three bright children have been born of this union ; Harold H., January 20. 1896; Alfred A., October 16, 1897 : and Carl C., January 12, 1900. Mr. Ulmer is in business :n Stewardson. Sarah Caroline Ulmer, was born in Strasburg. December 17. 1866, and died in Effingham, Illinois, February 15, 1898: William C., born July 11, 1868, is now a resident of Stras- burg : Charles P., born August 28. 1870 is a car- penter by trade ; Emma L., born June 21, 1873. is a resident of Prairie township, the wife of Hermann Wangerlein : Thomas David was born March 28, 1867, is married and resides in Prairie : Mike Ben was born November 24. 1877, and (lied in 1889, at the age of twelve years ; the youngest of these sixteen children is Martin Louis, whose birth occurred June 6. 1880, and who is an industrious young man, who remains at home, looking after the affairs of his mother.
Mrs. Ulmer was born November 7. 1873. in ()ld Baltimore. She was ever a faithful help- meet to her husband, with whom she lived in holy wedlock for forty-four years, and a kind. indulgent mother; and now, in her deelining years she enjoys the love and confidence of her numorous descendents and of the entire com- munity of which she is a member.
JAMES WESLEY LOVINS.
James Wesley Lovins was one of Shelby county's early settlers. He came here in the fall of 1830. driving through, in a two-wheel cart, from Tennessee. He was born in North Carolina on the 29th day of January. 1807. The remote ancestry of Mr. Lovins was doubtless of Irish origin. His parents were Hugh and Elizabeth (Forrest) Lovins. When Mr. Lovins began his journey to Illinois, he had with him, as a maxi- muni of available resources, the sum of eighteen dollars in silver coin. This sum must have be- come nearly, if not quite. exhausted on the jour- ney. Shortly after his arrival here, he suffered the loss of his only horse which fell from a bluff and was killed. On one occasion he was notified of a letter in waiting for him at the post office. on which there was due twenty-five cents. Hav- ing no money with which to pay the postage. he was obliged to delay his reception of the letter until he could split one hundred rails, for which labor he received the necessary sum. These in- cidents serve to show the privations of the carly settlers, and some of the obstacles and trials which they constantly encountered.
During his youth, Mr. Lovins spent his days on a farm in Tennessee. He took for a wife Miss Miriam Siler, who with their two first born children, came with him, in the cart, from their southern home. They settled near Young's Bridge in what is now Moultrie county. After- wards, they moved to a place adjacent to the New Liberty church, for which structure they donated the site. From this place they never removed. Mr. Lovins was the father of eight children. whose names we sub-join in the order of their birth : James Wesley. Benjamin. Andrew. Aaron. John W., Alfred B .. Wesley C .. and Robert Bracken.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
Mr. Lovins was considered a successful business man. He was not in any sense of the word a politician, and never sought or held a public office; yet, notwithstanding, he was in- tensely interested in good government. In early life be became personally acquainted with An- drew Jackson, and for some time after coming to Illinois, he too, was dubbed "Old Hickory." He may be styled, politically, a Jacksonian demo- crat. Mr. Lovins was one of the orignial mem- bers of the Church of Christ, before mentioned, and until his death remained a faithful member of the same. Mrs. Lovins passed from earth January 23rd, 1846. Not until forty-seven years had elapsed did Mr. Lovins join his wife in the spirit world. His death occurred on the 4th of September. 1893; and this man who had often journeyed miles on horseback to attend "meet- ing." was borne on angel wings into the great "temple not made with hands."
BENJAMIN HARRISON LOVIN'S.
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On the 15th day of March. A. D. 1830. Ben- jamin H. Lovins was born into a humble home in Bedford county, Tennessee. His ancestry may be traced by reading the preceding biographical sketch of James W. Lov- ins. The life of Mr. Lovins is almost en- tirely contemporary with the history of Shelby county. He recalls very vividly the days when boys were sent away with a small grist, to a far distant mill : such journeys being made on horse- back. When he returned from such trip, he found three fine deer hung up at home. His father had killed the three deer during his ab- sence. From the result of this day's sport we may draw a fair inference as to the abundance of game in this early day. Ilogs and other live
- stock were marketed at Terre Haute, being driven through in large droves. Most farm pro- duce found its market in St. Louis, and it was from that distant point most family supplies were hauled. As may be surmised, Mr. Lovins re- ceived only a little book training, but his busi- ness and industrial education were in advance of the ordinary. In the year 1851, Mr. Lovins was united in marriage to Miss Mary Grider, a daughter of Eller Tobias Grider who, for many years, was one of Shelby's early circuit preachers. Miss Grider, at the time of her marriage, was twenty years of age, having been born in Put- nami county, Indiana. . A. D. 1832. To this couple were born the following named children : Elizabeth M .. Tobias W .. Belle, Susan, Peter W .. Jacob .A., and Charles W. Three of the daugh- ters and two of the sons are already deceased- Elizabeth (Miller), Tobias, and Jacob being the only living ones. Mrs. Lovins bade her husband and children a last farewell on the 21st day of March. 1873. and her "spirit returned to God."
In January, 1877, Mr. Lovins took a sec- ond helpmeet in the person of Sarah E. Tur- rentine, who still lives to cheer his declining years. In half a century, he has not moved his residence one-half of a mile. Mr. Lovins has ever supported the national democratic ticket. but in local matters has always been an inde- pendent. His religious and home life can scarcely receive too high a commendation. His greatest thought has ever been to please His Maker and "care for those of his own house- hold." For more than forty years he has been an official member of the church at Sand Creek. He has reached the great boundary of life which is set at "three score years and ten." but is still hale and hearty. Truly "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if he be found in the way of righteousness."
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JAMES A. BABB.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
TOBIAS W. LOVINS.
Tobias W. Lovins, the subject of this sketch, was born in Windsor township, three and one-half miles northwest of the village of Wind- sor, on November 25, 1855. He is the eldest son of B. H. and Mary (Grider) Lovins, who still live on the old homestead, in a residence near that of their son. Mr. Lovins spent his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm, re- ceiving a common school education in the ad- jacent schools. He was ever fond of farm life. and early gave evidence of his adaptability to successfully carry on that work. At the age of 27 years, he was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Wallace, of Windsor, a daughter of William and Miranda (Bruce) Wallace. Four children were born to them, namely: Foy Otto, Elsie Fay. Mabel Florence and Mary Bertha, all of whom are living ; and the eldest, Foy, is attending the State University at Champaign. Honor is due the man, who, not having had college training himself, still recognizes the worth of it and gladly gives to his children the advantages of such an education.
In 1890 Mr. Lovins associated himself with his father, in the hardware and implement busi- ness under the firm name of B. H. & T. W. Lov- ins, which business was conducted in the village of Windsor. It was while living in the village that Mr. Lovins suffered the loss of his beloved wife, who died on the 10th of January, 1891, and was laid to rest in the home cemetery. In 1895. the hardware business was disposed of to William Storm, who now conducts it, and Mr. Lovins returned to the farm where he still resides. In the year following he constructed what is un- questionably the most beautiful and substantial frame dwelling to be found on any of the farms in the county of Shelby. The neatness and gen-
eral appearance of the residence are attractive to the eye as one nears it. The interior furnishings and appointments are suggestive of great com- fort and even luxury and the whole indicates that Mr. Lovins is possessed of native refinement and good taste.
Rural life has ever been productive of sturdy and unimpeachable character, and in the de- velopment of this principle. Mr. Lovins is 110 exception. Sharing with him the esteem and good will of the entire community and township in which they live, is his present wife, to whom he was married in 1899, and who was Margaret Baldwin. daughter of John and Rachel ( Davis) Scroggin, of Windsor.
JACOB A. LOVINS.
Jacob Alfred Lovins, the second son of B. H. and Mary Lovins, was born March 3. 1867. on the old homestead three and one-half miles northwest of the village of Windsor, in the town- ship bearing the same nanie.
In his early youth, Mr. Lovins manifested a naturally studious disposition, and by close ap- plication to study in the schools of the township in which he lived, he acquired a common school education a little above the ordinary : and at the early age of 17 years, without even a High school training, he became fitted for teaching, in which profession he then engaged. After three years of successful work in the school room, he , yielded to the attractiveness of agricultural pur- suits and returned to the farm to engage in the same, and ever since has given his undivided at- tention to the work of scientific farming and stock feeding. It is a thoroughly established principle of Mr. Lovins, that the farmer should be amongst the best informed men. and it is not
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simply a theory with him, for he has put this be- lief into every day practice, keeping himself well informed by the reading of books and papers on agriculture and along other lines of interest, as well. As a natural consequence of this, coupled with unremitting toil, he has one of the very best farms of the county. He is on the govern- ment mail route, and receives daily mail at the farnı.
Believing in the well founded doctrine which has obtained since the inception of mankind, that "It is not good that man should be alone," on March 15. 1887. Mr. Lovins was united in marriage to Miss Louise J. Fleming, daughter of Capt. John A. P. and Louise (l'etitt) Fleming. Mrs. Lovins was born in Little Rock, Ark .. June 21, 1866, but in infancy was left alone by the death of her parents. She was taken into the family of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Dawdy, with whom she lived until her marriage. She received a good common school and college education, having taken a thorough course in the Jackson- ville Female college.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lovins were born six beautiful children, the second of whom, Don, died in infancy : the others, viz .: Lena, Benja- min Wirt, Nellie, Winifred and Elizabeth, live to bless and make glad the home circle.
In young manhood, Mr. Lovins became a member of the Church of Christ at Sand Creek, and has continued in the faithful and conscien- tious performance of his religious duties, each Lord's Day finding him at the place of worship. In politics he has always voted with the Demo- crats on the National ticket, but in local poli- tical affairs he is very liberal, believing in voting for the best man for the office, irrespective of party affiliations. Unlike many men, he is in politics from principle and not for personal gain. and consequently has never sought, nor ac-
cepted, any public office ; neither has he any political aspirations along that line.
Mr. Lovins occupies a comfortable home near his birthplace, and, with his wife, enjoys an enviable reputation amongst their wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
GEORGE W. BOLINGER.
There is one thing in the wide universe that is really valuable, and that is character. By this is meant a confidence in the bosoms of those who know you, that you have the power, the capacity and the disposition to confer happiness upon others. Other things may be deemed for- tuitous ; they may come and go; but character is that which lives and abides, and is admired long after its possessor has left the earth.
There can be no truer illustration of such a character, than that of George Washington Bol- inger, of whom we write this memorial biogra- phy, and which fully measures up to this high standard. We write of a man well-known in Shelbyville for a number of years, whose charac- ter was unimpeachable and is still admired, though "its possessor has left the earth." On the 16th of February, 1900, occurred the death of this man whose life had been an eventful one. yet peaceful and serene withal; replete with early struggles and adversities, yet crowned with later successes and victories ; hedged round about by almost insurmountable obstacles, yet. by earnest endeavor and indomitable courage. fraught with noble achievements.
Mr. Bolinger was born in Sharpsburg. Maryland, A. D. 1839. His parents were John G. and Mary Bolinger: the death of the latter occurring when George was but ten years of age, and this bereavement was the cause of sending
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him out into the world to do battle for himself. How nobly he did battle. is shown by his later years. He had but a few years of common sehool education, yet from his inherent powers of perception and observation, and his general reading, together with the knowledge which is best gained by practical application of business methods, he became a well-educated and inform- ed man. At the tender age of twelve years, he was apprenticed to a harness-maker. for the beggarly pittance of twenty-five dollars and board per year. He was compelled to work at night as well as by day, in order to earn suffi- cient money with which to purchase suitable clothing. Some time afterward, he moved from Sharpsburg to Hagerstown, in the same state, and engaged there in making saddlery and har- ness.
In Hagerstown, Mr. Bolinger met Miss Margaret S. Staley, whom he wedded in 1860. Miss Staley's parents were Warfield and Mary Staley, the father being the owner and operator of an extensive tanyard. Five children were born to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bolinger. all of whom are living and now reside in the city of Shelbyville. These are Mary E., who is the wife of W. O). Wallace. State's Attorney, George C .. Charles E., Jesse W., and Frank C. Bolin- ger, a biographical sketch of whom follows this.
Immediately after their marriage, Mr. Bol- inger brought his young bride to Springfield. Illinois, where he established himself in the har- ness business. After several years of successful dealing in this line, he engaged for two years in the dry goods business, and then, for twenty consecutive years, dealt extensively in stoves, tin and hardware. In 1886, he removed to She !- byville, where he engaged with F. J. Fraker in a general merchandise store. For three years
this partnership continued. whereupon Mr. Bolinger moved into a 'store of his own, and was assisted in the couduct of the business by hree sons. This enterprise by his wonderful perspica- city and perseverance, grew to be the largest and most successful general business ever eon- (lucted in the county. Mr. Bolinger knew every detail of his business ; he bought his own stock ; he understood thoroughly the successful and un- successful points in the make-up of each of his employees. Those who have been in his employ remember him kindly for his word of appreeia- tion, never left unsaid when it was merited.
Of Mr. Bolinger, it has been said: "(n the street, in his home or at his place of busi- ness, he had a smile and a hearty hand-shake for any and all-rich or poor, great or small. And when he sold a spool of thread to a child. it was done with as much grace as though he were selling a fifty-dollar dress to the wife of a millionaire. Numerous were his generous and charitable daily deeds which the world knows nothing of. Time and again men have gone to Mr. Bolinger and told him their families needed bread, and he cheerfully loaded a sack of flour upon the poor man's shoulder and put the price of it into the till from his own pocket. And when this same poor man came around again he wasn't treated like a pauper ; but, clasping his hand warmly, this noble-hearted merchant would look upon him as a brother and consider him a man "for a' that!" Such is the reputation of this prince among men, who has left a vacancy in society and church and business circles which is, indeed, difficult to fill. Mr. Bolinger was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church all of his life-time. and in his death. the First church of Shelbyville lost an earnest. faithful Christian worker, who, with his youthful spirit. ever delighted to associate with, and work
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among and for, the young people, being diligent in the prosecution of any cause which had for its object the uplifting of his fellow men.
Mr. Bolinger was a kind and tender hus- band of the loved wife who survives him, and an indulgent father, yet ever faithful to his ideals in the training of his children; and a man of whom hundreds speak with reverence, and are glad to call him "friend."
GEORGE W. BOLINGER'S SONS.
George W. Bolinger, while passing along the rugged hill of life, remembered that there were children growing up about him ; and he was not so aborbed in the cares and pursuits of his generation that he forgot the next. So he took great care in rearing the superstructure of his character, that its influence might rest upon his four manly sons, inspiring them to diligence and activity in business, inculcating in them the prin- ciples of a righteous life.
The sons of George W. and Margaret S. Bolinger are George C., born in 1863: Charles E .. in 1871 ; Jesse W., in 1873, and Frank C .. in 1883. The boys were all born in Springfield, Illinois, where the parents lived for more than a score of years. Their education in the com- mon branches, was received in the schools of Springfield and Shelbyville, while they have each taken a course in Business college, to give them a thorough business training, and qualify them to intelligently and successfully carry on the magnificent mercantile business established by the father. As they grew old enough, cach, in succession, engaged in business with his father, and the practical training which they received from seeing his business ideas and methods put into use, and worked out to a favorable issue.
has been of no inconsiderable value to them in their conduct of the business since his death. They own, and conduct a thriving trade in, four big stores; one Clothing, one Dry Goods, one Carpets, Cloaks and Ladies' Suits, and one Grocery; making in all one large Department store, in an excellent location on Main street, of Shelbyville. Jesse W. is manager and does the buying for the clothing department : Charles E. sustains a like relation to the dry goods, car- pets and shoe department ; while Frank C., with an assistant, conducts the grocery. George C. is the genial, general manager and capable finan- cier of the entire enterprise.
It is a pleasurable experience to meet and talk with any of these young men, and note the culture and refinement, and inherent sterling qualities which come alone from early parental training in a Christian home. All of the boys are connected with the church, as members of excellent repute and extensive influence. Charles belongs to the Baptist denomination, while the others are affiliated with the First M. E. church.
George and Charles are both married, oc- cupying comfortable homes in the city. To Mr. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bolinger has been born one child. Jesse and Frank still reside under the parental roof, and are the companions of their mother's widowhood.
The business. in which George W. Bolin- ger's Sons are engaged, considering these times of close competition, has been wonderfully suc- cessful. It is quite probable, however, it has not made the money piled up by old line men. hav- ing for its motto, "Big Sales and Small Profits ;" still, selling for cash, its sales have reached amounts never before equalled by any firm in Shelbyville. The widely known and approved business methods of these men, draw trade to
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GEORGE P. COOK.
ANDREW HUDSON.
BIOGRAPHIES.
their store from many miles around, and in this way other merchants of the city are profited. Everything purchased by them is paid in spot cash, thus securing goods at rock-bottom prices. which enables them to compete with any store in the county. Those who deal at their stores, are sure of receiving good goods, and at the lowest market prices.
The boys have enhanced each others social. domestic and commercial welfare, by remain- ing together, believing that "In union there is strength."
The outlook for future prosperity for these young men, is bright, and we prophesy for them a continuance of the esteem and confidence in which they are now held by their host of friends and customers.
GEORGE P. COOK.
Since the spring of 1865. George P'. Cook. proprietor of the New Neal and subject of this review, has been closely identified with the in- terests of Shelbyville. He was born in Funks- town in the county of Washington. Maryland. on the 18th day of January. 1830. He was the son of John Cook, a native of Pennsylvania. but who moved to Funkstown about 1823. and was a blacksmith by trade, at which he labored until his death in 1857. The maiden name of his mother was Hannah Huffman, whom death re- moved when George was but seventeen years of age.
Mr. Cook has a very vivid recollection of a great cholera epidemic which swept through his native town when he was but three years old. A large number of the brightest and best fell under the cruel hand of the destroyer, many dying even upon the streets. He also remembers
with great distinctness the destroying by fire of a large factory in this same year, the burning of which he watched from the window of his home, and which made a deep impression on his childish mind. He was a boy in the verf fullest sense of that term, and so entered without reserve into the sports, the amusements and mis- chiefs of "boydom." As has been the case with other boys, so it was with him, that his mischiev- ous propensities often interfered with proper study and preparation of school lessons; and though many years have passed, Mr. Cook re- members very well the condign punishments in- flicted by the Master because of these short- comings and the mischievous pranks. As is well known, there were no free schools nor educa- tional privileges in the days when Mr. Cook was a boy, but each pupil had to pay to the teacher a certain sum each week ; and it was during the last few months of his school days, when obliged to earn and pay his own tuition fee, that he re- ceived the greater part of his book-learning.
It is said that for every person there is a trio of events-birth, marriage. death-and that around these hover all the other incidents of one's life. When the century was half gone. there came to Mr. Cook the second of these, and on the 2nd of October, 1850, he led to the altar Miss Mary M. Carson, daughter of George and Matilda Carson, of Hagerstown, Maryland. Of very few who were married in the year in which Mr. and Mrs. Cook were, can it be said that they lived together until the close of the cen- tury. But so it is with this couple, for on ()cto- ber 2nd, 1900, they reached the fiftieth milestone of wedded life and celebrated their golden wed- ding. It was one of the most pleasing social events which Shelbyville society has participated in for many a day. Three hundred invitations had been sent out to relatives and friends and
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most of these responded. so that the Neal House, beautifully yet tastefully decorated, fairly teemed with happy mirth and genial company. Mr. and Mrs. Cook, though with silvered hair, still looked the blushing bride and bridegroom of fifty years ago as they received the hearty words of esteem and congratulations of the guests, many of whom had known them for several de- cades and who wish for them still many years of conjugal felicity.
Seven children have been born to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cook, only three of whom are living. Three of the four deceased ones were given to earth but a little while-just long enough to have entwined about their infant lives the heartstrings of the parents, which were soon ruthlessly sundered. The memorial biogra- phy of the other, Edith, follows this one.
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