USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 33
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Of the living, Lillie A. was born near Funkstown, in 1854. At the age of twenty-one she was married to Joseph Murphy They now reside at Philadelphia, where Mr. Murphy is en- gaged in photography. Nettie C. Cook was born while her parents lived in Funkstown, in 1856. She, also, was married the year she reach- ed her majority, to Col. E. E. South, who is general agent of the Big Four Route at Terre Haute, where they live. Ellsworth, the only living son, was born in 1862. His name is well known, he being possessed of a voice of rare sweetness and power, and having traveled through many states as a member of a noted minstrel troupe. He is now associated with his father in the hotel business as the genial and popular manager of the New Neal.
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Mr. Cook's first removal from Funkstown was in 1851, to the country near the village,
where he remained four years, then returning to town where he engaged in the shoe-making busi- ness until 1862. For the two succeeding years, he "kept tavern" in Funkstown, where he pro- vided food for man and fodder for beast. His next removal was to Boonesborough, Md., in 1864, when he formed a partnership in a res- taurant and saloon, which he continued until January, 1865. In the spring of that year, Mr. Cook moved his family to Shelbyville, and was employed for a year as book-keeper and sales- man by his brother and William Thornton, who then conducted an extensive lumber business on the site upon which the Neal House now stands. In 1866, Mr. Thornton dropped out of the firm and his interests were taken by Mr. Cook. This partnership existed for eight years, when he be- gan speculating in eggs and shipping them to the city, which he continued for four years. In the summer of 1878, he began keeping hotel in the building sometimes called the Old Neal, but then known as the Ellington House. In the fall of 1884, he sold out his hotel interests, and in the following spring bought and moved onto a farm three-fourths of a mile north of Shelby- ville, which he still owns and to which he added eighty acres in the fall of 1899.
In May of 1890, he returned to town and again engaged in the hotel business, purchas- ing the Neal House which he still owns.
Like many another of the "fathers," Mr. Cook passed through a good many struggles and reverses in the early days ; but with indomi- table will and courage he has met and sur- mounted the obstacles, won a comfortable com- petency for himself and family, and is still hale and hearty, giving credence to the expression that "man is not old at seventy."
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MEMORIAL-EDITH. COOK.
"She is not dead-the child of our affection- But gone unto that school
Where she no longer needs our poor protection, And Christ himself doth rule.
"In that great cloister's stillness and seclusion. By guardian angles led,
Safe from temptation, safe from sin's pollution, She lives, whom we call dead.
"Day after day, we think what she is doing In those bright realms of air ;
Year after year, her tender steps pursuing Behold her grown more fair.
"Thus do we walk with her, and keep unbroken The bond which nature gives.
Thinking that our remembrance, though un- spoken,
May reach her where she lives." -Longfellow.
It is not a pleasure to write a memorial biography, but it becomes more nearly so when we are permitted to write about a person of suchi rare graces and beautiful character as were pos- sessed by Miss Edith Cook, the subject of this memoir.
Miss Cook was the youngest daughter of George P. and Mary Cook, being born in Shel- byville in September, 1867. Her life was almost exclusively passed in her birthplace, where she was beloved by all who knew her as a happy- hearted, sweet-voiced girl. Her childhood and youth were characterized by a cheerful, sunny disposition, which won for Miss Edith a warm place in the hearts of her school-mates, teachers and friends. As she grew into womanhood, she developed a most pure and noble character. The promises of the maiden were fulfilled in the woman : and a bright though veiled future lay before her. when
Like a swift fleeting meteor, a flast flying cloud.
A flash of the lightning. a break of the wave. She passed from this life to her rest in the grave.
At about seven o'clock in the evening of the 5th of August. 1897. Miss Cook ordered out her conveyance for a drive about the city. She was accompanied by Mrs. Lantz. a particular friend. After a ride of half an hour, or such a matter, the two returned and Mrs. Lantz alighted at her home. As Miss Edith turned to drive home, in some manner the horse, being a spirited one, was frightened and almost immediately be- came unmanageable. With frightful rapidity it ran in a homeward direction, and, at the inter- section of South First and Washington streets. made a quick turn. Within a few feet of her own home, Miss Cook was thrown from the ve- hicle with terrible violence, her head striking the embankment of the street with crushing force. Tender hands quickly lifted the bruised and bleeding form and gently carried it to a room in the hotel. The skull was fractured, the right armı dislocated and the whole side was bruised and mangled. Every effort of the attending phy- sicians to save the precious life was fruitless. Consciousness had taken its flight, nor did it re- turn until the departure of the spirit at eleven o'clock in the evening. A beautiful life had gone out-a soul had returned to God.
On the following Sabbath, the funeral ser- vices, which were of a peculiarly pathetic charac- ter, in that the whole city mourned for her who had been loved by the young and the old alike, were held in the Presbyterian church, and all that was mortal of Miss Cook was tenderly laid away in the "silent city of the dead." Concern- ing these services, we quote from a newspaper clipping published the following day: "As the funeral party entered the church, where the de-
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ceased was wont to attend, the organ gave fortli a solemn, mournul requiem, the casket was placed in a veritable bower of flowers and the quartet sang "Beyond the smiling and the weep- ing." Following the reading of the scripture and a prayer. Miss Maude Trower sang "One sweet- ly solemn thought." a mournful monody that brought tears to all eyes. It rended the heart. and we question if ever an audience more truly felt the truth of the closing lines: 'For I am nearer home today, perhaps than now I think." "
This glowing tribute was paid to the mem- ory of Miss Edith by one who knew her well : "She was a ray of sunshine, always happy, bright and cheerful, and her sweet winsomeness and her joyous, tender, happy heart charmed all with whom she came in contact and cheered and brightened many a saddened and clouded life. Bright and witty, an excellent conversationalist and with a keen sense of humor she was the life of every gathering she graced with her presence. She was a friend of all ; even the little lads of the street received her kindly smile. Beautiful of face and character in the life with us-thrice more beautiful in the life beyond."
But all our polished words and well-wrought sentences fail in faithfully portraying her lovely character. We mourn for her who is gone, but like balm to our wounded spirit come these com- forting lines :
"Let us be patient ! These severe afflictions Not from the ground arise. But oftentimes celestial benedictions Assume this dark disguise.
"We see but dimly through the mists and vapors ;
Amid these earthly damps. What seems to us but sad, funereal tapers May be heaven's distant lamps.
"There is no death! What seems so is trans- ition :
This life of mortal breath Is but a suburb of the life elysian, Whose portal we call death."
ROBERT REEVE.
The best of all that we call American is of English birth or extraction. From the English we inherit our best blood, our noblest patriot- isin, our most splendid genius. The gentleman concerning whom we write this biography was brought by his widowed mother to Montreal, Canada, when he was scarcely six months of age. lle was born near the city of Norwich, Eng., in .A. 1). 1834. The names of his parents were Benjamin and Hannah (Sherman) Reeve. After a short stay in Canada, Mrs. Reeve removed to Buffalo, New York, and in this city Robert spent his boyhood days. He worked at various odd jobs, in order to somewhat help in bearing the expense of his support, and received his only educational training in the city last named, be- fore he was fourteen years of age. At this time in his life he began railroading, carrying water for a grayel train crew, on the Northwestern road. He gradually won the confidence of his superiors until he finally became a fireman and then an engineer. He made a phenomenal record on the Big Four line; on this road he fired a locomotive for seven years without losing a single day. He afterwards ran the engine which hauled the dirt for filling in the hollow. east of where the Shelbyville depot now stands. and which was previously spanned by a huge trestle-work.
In the year 1864, he began work for S. H. Webster & Co., and assisted them in the grain
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business. He continued with this firm till the year 1880. These long periods of service on the part of our subject are in striking contrast to the frequent changes made by many employes, and speaks well for his enterprise and faithfulness. Before quitting the employ of Mr. Webster, he erected the scales and stock yards, which are his present place of business. To give some idea of the volume of business transacted at these yards, we quote the following figures. In the year 1900, Mr. Reeve handled 158 car-loads of hogs for Mr. John Freyburger ; the number of head being 111,083, and their aggregate weight 2.329,927 pounds. He also shipped :
Horses-67 cars-1370 head. Cattle-7 cars-144 head. Sheep-3 cars-419 head.
This makes a grand total of 279 car-loads and 113,016 animals. When we consider this vast amount of business we can see the place of responsibility and trust which Mr. Reeve oc- cupies.
In 1860, Mr. Reeve was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Davis, a native of Ohio. To them have been born eight children, three of whom died in infancy. « The names of the five living ones we subjoin in the order of their birth : Martha. John, Sarah, Thomas, Robert: Thomas is engaged with his father in conducting the stock-yards. Mr. Reeve is an ardent Republi- can in politics ; he cast his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln when he was first a candidate for the presidency.
In business our subject is prompt and active. His success is many ways is notable. What he is and has is largely the result of his own effort. He has the reputation of being straight-forward and honest. His word is never discounted and he is respected by all. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reeve are members of the Moulton M. E. church.
COLONEL H. M. SCARBOROUGH.
He of whom we write this sketch was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey. Sept. 4th. 1834. He is the second child of Isaac and Eliza (Case) Scarborough, and is of Scotch descent : these parents were devout members of the Pres- byterian church. Hiram spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm. and there laid the foun- dations for a life of labor and success. His edu- cational privileges were limited to those of the common schools of his native county.
At the age of seventeen he learned the car- penter's trade. and at the age of twenty-two, in June. 1856, he came to this city and continued working at his trade until he began clerking in the dry goods store of J. B. Vosburgh.
Mr. Scarborough is of a patriotic temper- ament, and his country's call for men was re- sponded to by his volunteering for service in the 54th Illinois, November, 1861. He saw much active service : participating in the siege of Vicks- burg, capture of Little Rock, Ark .. and numerous skirmishes, etc.
His success as a soldier may be inferred from the fact that he held five commissions : Second Lieutenant. First Lieutenant, Captain. Major and Lieutenant Colonel. He distinguish- ed himself in each of these positions as is evi- denced by the fact of his continued promotions. He was not mustered out of service until Nov .. 1865. We account it an honor to be acquainted with a man who saw four years of active cam- paign in the Civil war.
In Jan .. 1866, Mr. Scarborough again took up the duties of private citizenship, and purchas- ed a stock of dry goods in the room which he now occupies. The practical training of the farm and carpenter's bench, together with the exact- ness and discipline of military service have made
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him eminently successful in the mercantile line. It has been said in our hearing that at an earlier date, when Mr. Scarborough gave more of his personal attention to his store than he has done in these more recent years of business calls and cares, that he could have entered his store in the blackest midnight, and put his hand upon any desired article or piece of goods. His business has been increased until it embraces a large and well selected stock of general merchandise.
On the 12th day of September. 1871. Mr. Hiram Scarborough and Miss Isabel Middles- worth were united in marriage. The name "Mid- (llesworth" is too well known to all persons in Shelby county to need any comment. The bride" is the daughter of Abram, who is president of the First National bank. To Mr. and Mrs. Scarborough have been born four children. Three of these only lived a short time, passing to the upper home when childhood's morning was hardly begun. Charles, a bright and highly esteemed young man was born in this city June. 19th, 1877. He was graduated from the High school here, and spent one year in Hanover col- lege ; but at the end of this time, to the disap- pointment of his friends no less than himself, he was obliged through ill-health, to abandon his course, and is now seeking strength in the moun- tains of New Mexico.
When sixteen years of age, Mr. Scarborough united with the Baptist church, but on coming here. he found no church of that denomination. and, not being so great a sectarian that he could not worship with other believers, he affiliated himself with the Presbyterian church. It is not saying too much to state that he and his estim- able wife are regarded as pillars in the church of our Lord Jesus.
In financial circles our subject has held such positions of responsibility and trust as the vice-
presidency of the First National bank and the Citizens' Loan association. In politics he is a staunch republican. He bears the reputation of being a public-spirited, honest, respected citizen. He is known by all, and each day greets scores of friends from his place of business, where hehas been actively engaged for more than thirty-five years.
LILLY AND DUNSCOMB.
The young gentlemen whose names head this biographical survey are the proprietors of the Windsor Gazette. The paper in question is a spicy, neat sheet, which weekly visits between eight and nine hundred of Shelby's homes, This paper which was established in 1878 is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Hugh S. Lilly, son of Europe A. and Nancy ( Wright) Lilly, natives of Kentucky, was born in Sullivan, Illinois, August 9th, 1866. Hugh's mother was the daughter of a captain in the Civil war and the granddaughter of a Revolu- tionary patriot.
Hugh was reared to the duties of a clerk in a book store, which was managed by his father. and early acquired a taste for literature. He was graduated from the Sullivan High school in 1883. In the summer of 1886 he began learning the printer's trade, working on the Sullivan Prog- ress. Prior to this time he had frequently con- tributed articles to the local papers. For one year, under Cleveland's administration, he served as deputy postmaster in his native town, after which he accepted a lucrative position as book- keeper. His love for printing was deeply seated in his nature; and in Jan., 1891, he became the associate editor of the Sullivan News. In the winter of 1893 he was clerk of committees in
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state senate, and in the following summer was city reporter and labor editor of the St. Louis Daily Star-Sayings ; he was agent when in St. Louis for several trade journals. In 1894 he formed the partnership with Mr. Dunscomb which resulted in the purchase of the paper afore- named.
Mr. Lilly was united in marriage with Miss Mabel, daughter of Jacob and Sarepta (Walden) Smysor of Windsor. They are the parents of two boys who are the pride of their home.
Mr. Lilly is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge, of the Eastern Star, of the Modern Wood- men, and of the Modern Americans. He holds the position of president in the last named order. and is junior warden of the Royal Arch Masons at Sullivan. He is also devoted to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a member, and in this organization has done good work as Sun- day school superintendent, president of Epworth League, and teacher in the Sunday school. Mr. Lilly is a young man whose other excellencies are crowned with a deep devotion to his home.
Like his partner in business Mr. Dunscomb is a native of Moultrie county. He is the son of John H. and Jane (Mitchell) Dunscomb, and was born in A. D. 1869. His father was the editor of the Moultrie County News, and hence George spent many of his leisure boyhood hours in and about his father's office. He received his educa- tional training in the High school at home, and in his father's printing establishment learned the art of practical printing. On the 15th day of May, 1895, he was married to Miss Rosa Baker, of Sullivan. They are the parents of two chil- dren : Joseph H. and George Baker. Mr. Duns- comb is a member of the F. & A. M. and the Modern Woodmen lodges.
We can state of these two young men : They are enterprising, interested in all that is good, courteous, and representative citizens. Their paper is non-partisan in politics, and is recog- nized as one of the leading sheets in the county. We predict for these young gentlemen a success- ful and increasingly bright future, and can only regret that there are not more young men who are worthy of equally honorable mention.
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NOAH A. TRIECE.
On the 28th of March, 1865. the home of Isaac and Katharine (Huffer) Triece was glad- dlened by the birth of the son whose name heads this sketch. The home thus gladdened was quickly turned to one of mourning. for the mother died when her babe was but one week old. How greatly the life of the child has been affected by the loss of his mother is wholly in- calculable : there is but One who knows.
Noah was kindly reared by his aunt. Mrs. A. Dannenbarger, of this city. At the age of six- teen he began an apprenticeship with Mr. B. P. Dearing ; prior to which, he had the educational advantages afforded by the city schools. When his majority was reached he was the master of a comnion school education and a good trade ; a better record than is made by many who have care of parents, and are the pampered and petted children of wealth.
September 8th. 1886, Mr. Triece was united in marriage to Miss Anna, daughter of J. H. and Eliza Hite. of Shelbyville. They are the parents of three children : Grace, Harry and a little one who died in infancy.
On the first day of Jan., 1898. Mr. Triece severed his business relations with Mr. Dearing. for whom he had worked so long, and launched
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in a merchant tailoring business for himself. Ilis venture is proving to be an increasing success. He is establishing a reputation for good work and honest dealing which is certain to fructify in material gain. The writer speaks of courteous, prompt, and Christian treatment as his own ex- perience in dealing with this young man.
Both Mr. Triece and his wife are members of the Christian church, and are faithful and de- voted to their religious duties ; he is also a men- ber of the order of the K. P. The parents of Mr. Triece were natives of Ohio, but he is a son of Shelby county ; he was born and has ever lived within its bounds. We prophesy that those traits of character which have been the source of his success thus far, will eventually ripen into broad- er influence and greater achievements.
JOEL L. HUDSON AND SON, ANDREW I.
The parents of Mr. J. L. Hudson, David and Sarah (Dotson), were natives of North Caro- lina, and came to this county on New Year's day. 1830. At this time Joel was three years of age. The journey was made by team, and the trip oc- cupied a period of forty days. Like many another boy of that early day, he received but little training save in the school of life on the farm at home.
In the year. 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Priscilla Dotson, and began farming upon land in Section 14, Shelbyville township. He suffered the loss of his girl-wife inside two years from the time of his marriage. He has since been twice married, viz : to Clarissa J. Val- entine and Emma J. Lowry, respectively. He is the father of nineteen children. For a period of twenty-five years he lived upon a farm in Sec- tion 12. of the township before named, and which
farm he still owns. He has improved seven farms in the immediate vicinity where he now resides, and, before dividing among his children did own four hundred and sixty acres of good land. In early life he became identified with the Separate Baptist church, and to this day is a devout believer in the Nazarene. His politics have ever been of the democratic persuasion. His life has been a success, and now in the failing strength of his declining years he holds the re- spect of those who have known him.
Andrew 1. was born October 27th, 1855 : his mother being the second wife of his father. He was reared as a farm-lad, and like his father had but little chance for school-training. In the year 1877 he became the husband of Miss Vir- ginia Wilhelni of his native township. They are the parents of eight children, all of whom are liv- ing. In addition to his farm business, Mr. Hud- son has been connected with a grain and mer- chandise business at Middlesworth, and has also done a large amount of threshing. He has been honored by being chosen, for eight consecutive years, supervisor of his township, and during the present term is chairman of the board. Mr. Hudson has the reputation of being a man with good common sense ; he is an excellent judge of stock, and has a thorough knowledge of grain of all kinds. As a business man he is a success, and he bears a name which in all the county is the synonym of reliability and honesty. He is a member of the 1. (). (). F. and like his father has been a life-long democrat.
WILLIAM O. WALLACE.
The subject of this sketch is a son of Shelby county, being born here in the year 1856. His father. John H. was a native of Kentucky, and
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DR. GEORGE S. BOLT.
DR. THOMAS L. CATHERWOOD.
BIOGRAPHIES.
his mother, Martha (Clark), was indigenous of Illinois. Mr. Wallace spent his boyhood and youth upon the farm, and there became familiar with those trials of labor and frugality which have won for him success in these more recent years. From the common schools at home, he went to the Lees Academy at Knoxville, and from there to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He used the medium of school teaching to assist in finaneing his educational plans, and began as a country pedagogue, when but sixteen years of age. So stringent were his financial re- sources that when he reached the city of Shelby- ville, after his graduation in the year 1884, he had but thirty-five cents in his pocket.
It was in the city named and at the time aforesaid that he entered upon his chosen profes- sion of law. In the line of his profession he has not been without honors, for he has been city attorney for a period of four years, and also state's attorney for eight consecutive years.
In the year 1888. Mr. Wallace was united in marriage to Miss May, daughter of G. W. and Margaret Bolinger. Three children have been born of this union: Lew, Margaret, and Wil- liam (). The many excellencies of Mrs. Wal- lace, both as a maiden and a mother, have been frequently mentioned in the writer's hearing, and it is with genuine delight we refer to the home- life of a busy man as a scene of domestic felicity and beauty. It is a current mistake to think only of the achievements of men, and forgot the rul- ing power of "the hand that rocks the cradle."
Mr. Wallace is a member of the F. & A. M. and Knight Templar lodges. In politics he is a democrat, though not an intense or bitter parti- san. Success in a business way is the result of his enterprise : he, at the present time, being the owner of nearly two thousand acres of land. We learn that he is a man of public spirit, and have
found him kindly and courteously interested in the affairs of the county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are members of the First M. E. church.
DR. THOMAS L. CATHERWOOD.
Prominent among the leading and best- known physicians in Shelby county, is Thomas 1 .. Catherwood. The doctor's father was a native of Ireland, and came to America with his parents when but a mere lad. His name was Thomas K. The doctor's mother was Margaret (Smith) Catherwood, a native of Virginia : she lived to be 94 years of age. At the time our subject was born, which occurred on the 5th day of July, 1827. his parents were residents of Abingdon. Va., but in the year 1829, they emigrated to Car- lisle, Ind. He spent his boyhood days in the common school and about his father's shop- his father was a saddler and collar-maker. At the age of sixteen years he entered the office of Doctors Murphy and Helms in his resident town. having at this early age determined to make medicine his life-study. For four years he was identified with this office. but during two school years of this period he attended the state univer- sity at Bloomington, Ind. In this institution he pursued a scientific course, and read medicine between the semesters. After leaving the office of the doctors afore named, he attended medical lectures in Louisville, Ky., and, finally on the 13th day of April, 1847, began the practice of his pro- fession at Middletown, Vigo county, Indiana. In this year the doctor was wedded to Miss Mary Akin, of Carlisle. Ind. Two children were born of this union-one of these died in infancy, and the other, widow of the well-known Dr. A. P. Hoxsey, is a resident of the city of Shelbyville. This girl-wife of the doctor's died in the year
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