USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 35
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In 1898 Mr. Graybill received public honor in being elected member of the Illinois Assem- bly. His interest in educational affairs gave him a place upon the City Board of Education for six years. We have found Mr. Graybill a cour- teous, kindly-disposed, public-spirited man. He is well informed upon general topics of interest and all matters of the day. His versatility is of wide scope : his opinions are firm, and the circle of his influence and friendship is great. In the social life of the city Mr. Graybill and wife figure prominently. Their residence is upon a bold bluff overlooking the river, and here. we are told. a busy man finds his greatest enjoyment in the bosom of his family. It is saying none too much and none too little to state that he ranks among the first citizens of the city and county.
L. ROBERT PAUSCHERT.
The parents of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch were born in Germany, and came to this country before their marriage. The names of the parents are Fred A. and Elizabeth (Schneider) Pauschert. The father came to this city at an early date and has long since been recognized among the substantial, business citi- zens. The faithful and devoted mother died when Robert was but a mere lad.
He was born into this world in the city of St. Louis. March 21st. 1858. and he recalls no other home. His education was received here in the city schools. At an early period in his life he began assisting his father about the store. and has really made the mercantile business his life work.
On the 21st day of September. 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Kate daughter of Jacob F. Maurer. of Rural township. This couple are the parents of four children, one of whom died at the beginning of life's day. The remain- ing three are: Miss Barbara, now in the high school, and Henry and Cora.
In the year 1888. Mr. Pauschert took pos- session of the store in Moulton, which he has since conducted in his own name. We noticed a large stock of general merchandise, and learn that he conducts a lucrative and successful busi- ness. His fitness for positions of responsibility and public weal may be inferred from the fact that for nine consecutive years he has been a member of the Board of Education; has also been City Treasurer, and Alderman. The entire family are devoted members of the Lutheran church, and are held in high esteem by all their friends. Mr. Pauschert is a very pleasant and affable man, and for honesty and integrity there are none who rank higher. His place in the hearts of his town's folk will be increasingly large.
JACOB H. EPLER.
He whose name heads this sketch. was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. September 21st. 1844. His parents. Abraham and Mary (Singer) Epler, were natives of the Keystone state, but they emigrated to Indiana when Jacob
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was but two and one-half years old. The place where they settled was within the present cor- porate limits of the city of Indianapolis. The boyhood of our subject was not unlike that of other farmer boys of those days. Mr. Epler has no recollection of his mother, she having died when he was but three years okl. This unspeak- able loss no man can estimate, and it is difficult to conjecture how greatly, or in what manner, this sad circumstance may have affected the life of him whose biography we now write.
Mr. Epler had a genuinely religious train- ing. His father was a member of the German Evangelical church, and Jacob was trained in the simple and earnest faith of this sect. His only educational advantages were those of the com- mon school. The death of Mr. Epler. Sr., occur- red when Jacob was but fourteen years of age. After the death of his father Jacob went to the home of an uncle at Peru, Ind., where he worked upon a farm for the period of one year. He then returned to the old home-farm, where he labored until his enlistment for service in the Civil war. which occurred on the first day of August, 1861. He united with the 11th Ind. Vol. Infantry.
The service of Mr. Epler was paralleled but by few. He was at the capture of forts Henry and Donelson, and participated in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, Miss. From the latter named place his regiment was sent down to take Mem- phis, but was too late to participate in the en- gagement. He next took part in the battle of Port Gibson, and was also in the struggles at Baker's Creek, Raymond, and Champion Hill. The "Siege of Vicksburg" will ever be fresh in his mind. For forty-seven days he was under fire. Grant had said, "I'll stay till I take the city, if it takes me thirty years," and throughout this most famous siege, our subject was a constant actor. From Vicksburg, he went to Jackson,
Miss., assisting in its recapture. Thence he passed down the river to New Orleans, and from there to the western part of Louisiana, and the eastern borders of Texas where some sharp skirmishing took place.
Having returned to New Orleans, Mr. Epler re-enlisted in the service of his country, but this time as a veteran : Dec. 23rd, 1863, being the date. In the following March, he obtained a furlough and visited his friends at home. It was while home on this furlough that Mr. Epler first had trouble with his eyes. After the expiration of his furlough, he returned to New Orleans, and in a very short time was transferred to the de- partment of the Shenandoah. He then took part in the battle of Halltown, and the battle of Win- chester, which engagement proved to be his last. In this battle he was shot through the right knee. and laid where he fell, cold, wet, and blood- soaked, all through the night. In the morning he was picked up, and carried to a field hos- pital; from thence he was sent to the Saterlee hospital, Philadelphia. He was kept a close pa- tient in this institution for the period of six months, at the end of which time he was dis- charged, being, then, totally blind. That one terrible night on the battle-field further weakened the failing eyes of our hero, and resulted in their total destruction ; but by loss of limbs and eyes and lives was the Union saved. Who shall say the price was too great? Such a claim is never made by those who endured the hardship and suffering.
Mr. Epler was engaged in the grocery busi- ness, after the war, until he came with a brother- in-law to the state of Illinois, in the fall of 1867. The gentleman in question, settled on a farm in Douglas county, and shortly thereafter died. Our subject then conducted the farm and stock-rais- ing business of his widowed sister during a
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period of thirteen years. It was during this in- terval that he was converted to God. His con- version was a clear and radical one, and he at once sought and found membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which denomina- tion he has ever remained an active and devoted communicant. After his conversion he became intimately associated and acquainted with Rev. A. L. Plowman, a young preacher who was fit- ting himself for the itinerant ministry. Mr. Epler's thirst for knowledge was great : and he persuaded Mr. Plowman to allow him to join with him in the pursuit of his studies ; this was agreed to, Plowman, of course, furnishing eyes for both. They thus worked in study together for four years.
Our subject has an excellent memory, and no mean knowledge of the Word of God and the doctrines and tenets of the church. He has found opportunity to use his talent in supplying the Toledo, Greenup, and Marshall circuits, each for one year. His labors in the evangelistic line have been abundant through his ministry, souls in large numbers have been "born again."
On the roth day of April. 1884, the wed- ding bells rang for Jacob H. Epler, and Miss Mollie V .. daughter of James H. and Margaret (Crockett) Johnston. The grandfather of the bride was one of Shelby county's first pioneers ; while her mother was of the Davey Crockett. and also of the Gen. Thornton line. Four chil- dren were born of this marriage: Beulah and Helen K., who died in infancy ; and Grace Eddy and Lloyd Johnston.
The failure of Mrs. Epler's health caused her to be in the south for two years ; her husband was with her one of these years, viz., in 1891. This couple are highly respected in the city where they now reside. When the new and handsome Methodist church was built, Mr. Epler
inaugurated the movement which resulted in the placing of the large memorial G. A. R. window in the south front. In politics he has ever been a republican, and like nearly all who wore the blue, he is very firm in his political beliefs.
His life-work has been performed under great difficulties, but he has wrought well. We cannot say he is blind, for he sees "great light." He is journeying to the land of perfect day ; and the day of his death will be to him the morning of the rising of the sun.
DR. JESSE A. BOWMAN.
The unquestioned leader among the den- tists of Shelby county is the one whose name heads this sketch. In the year 1891, he originat- ed the painless method of extracting and filling teeth, which he has since practiced ; this, with courteous, gentlemanly manners, has exalted him to the first rank. He was born near Rock- port. Illinois, Dec. 27th, 1863 ; and after the death of his father and mother (McEwen by name) was adopted into the home of Dr. Jas. Bowman of this city. By his foster parents, he was reared as carefully as though he had been their own son. After his graduation from the Indianapolis Den- tal college in 1884, he formed a partnership with his adoptive father, which was broken by the death of the latter in A. D. 1885. Since the date just mentioned Jesse has conducted the business alone, and with a constantly increasing success and widening practice. He is gifted in the musi- cal .line, and has done efficient work in a quar- tet well known throughout Illinois.
He is the manager of two branch dental offices, located at Pana and Mattoon, respec- tively.
His marriage with Miss Anna, daughter of
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Charles Reiss, of Shelbyville, was solemnized on the 30th day of June, 1886. Four children have been born of this union : Fred Homer, Oct. 2nd, 1887: Carl Randolph, Feb. 14th, 1889; George Arthur, May 29th, 1890; Floy Elisabeth, Nov. 30th, 1891.
This family circle is well received in the best social life of the city. The doctor is l'ast Chancellor of the K, l'. lodge, is also a Mason (Capt. of the Host), and County Chancellor of the Court of Honor. Both himself and wife are members of the Lutheran church. The future evidently holds in store for the doctor an impor- tant place in the financial, as well as social and professional life of the county.
PIERCY COOPER.
The fact that "blood is thicker than water" has few more striking proofs than is found in the manner in which we regard those citizens of our country who are of English birth. We regard and class as "immigrants" those who come to us from all other lands, but those who come from our Mother Country we more frequently style "Our English Cousins." We are too proud of blood which is of Anglo-Saxon mixture to re- fer to England's sons and daughters who come to our shores in that vulgar sounding term "immi- grant." Piercy Cooper was born in Fimber. Yorkshire, Eng., Dec. 12th, 1854. His parents were Mason and Jane (Holtby) Cooper, and be- longed to the country-folk of their shire, They lived in a country village in the simple manner common to English rural life. Here our subject was reared : here he learned his first lessons in life.
Unfortunately for him, his boyhood was at a period prior to the time when the law made a certain amount of schooling compulsory ; hence
he acquired almost no educational training in youth. When eighteen years of age, he entered the government service and acted on the con- stabulary force of Yorkshire for a period of seven years. In 1875 he was married to Miss Jane, daughter of Thomas and Lois Wilson. The ceremony was solemnized in Walkington, Eng. The only child born to this couple was William B., who died at the age of three and one-half years ; his little grave is in the home-land beyond the sea, but the memory of the babe-life, which these parents enjoyed for so brief a time, lingers in their hearts with as beautifying a touch as the after-glow cast by the setting sun upon the dark clouds. Mr. Cooper and wife came to Cham- paign county in the year 1880, and engaged in farming. Here they purchased a farm, after a two year's sojourn on rented property, which farm they still own.
In 1885 Mr. Cooper moved within the bounds of Shelby county, where he has since resided, in the interests of the Sidell Grain and Elevator company ; his present residence is on West Main street, Shelbyville. From his office here he has oversight of the company's inter- ests at Clarksburg and Middlesworth, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper set many childless homes a worthy example in formally adopting in his infancy one who is now named Homer Hunt Cooper, Homer could not have been reared more tenderly ; his needs are all anticipated and supplied. He is a bright boy of thirteen years who is now in his first year in the High school. In March of 1900. he had the pleasure of visiting England with his parents ; many excellent photos, which denote skill in amateur photography are now treasured by the family ; these are the product of Homer's kodak. We learn that this youth has the fur- ther promise of an extended trip through Europe when he shall have finished his course in school.
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In the visit before mentioned, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper werc permitted to see his mother and her (Mrs. Cooper's) father, besides numerous other relatives and old-time acquaintances. The en- tire family are members of the M. E. church and are devoted to the same. Wherever they have lived Mr. Cooper has made use of his musi- cal talent by singing in the church choir, and it is of rare occurrence for him to miss a Lord's day service. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge, and in politics is a staunch prohibition- ist ; he became naturalized at the earliest possi- ble moment, and what we decm far better, com- pletely Americanized. The educational dearth of his early days, has been in part repaired by night school work in this country and by an insatiate desire to learn. At present we find him a fairly well-informed, genial, substantial. re- spected citizen whom we account it a pleasure to know.
ALFRED S. WILLIAMS.
Alfred S., son of Paul and Lydia (Miller) Williams, was born in the city of Philadelphia on the 23rd day of January. 1839. He suffered the loss of his father at an'early age, and thus became largely dependent upon his own efforts. He received a common school education in his native city, and when fourteen years of age went to Carlisle barracks with Captain A. Burford. He thus formed a taste for military service which a few years later gave to our country a valiant defender. At the time the war broke out he was again in Philadelphia, but he went to the front in the private service of Colonel Owens of the 24th Pa. In 1863 Mr. Williams enlisted in the cause of his country and helped raise a regi- ment : of this regiment he was orderly sergeant.
He was honorably mustered out of service, three years and two months later.
In the year of his enlistment he was mar- ried to Miss Mariah Johnson of St. Louis, on the 16th day of March. She was the daughter of Kittie and Pinden Johnson. Three children were born of this marriage, all of whom died in in- fancy. Mr. Williams, after the death of his first wife, was subsequently married in 1869 to Ellen J. Johnson, also of St. Louis. To this couple have been born the following named children :
Alfred, Jr., born 1871, deceased in 1888: Thomas Franklin, born 1874: James Paul, born 1875: Charles C., born 1879. deccased in 1881 : Keziah dying in infancy.
In Aug. 1869, Mr. Williams came to Illinois. and began barbering at Greenville. Subsequently he conducted a shop for himself in these citics : Mason, Murfreesboro, Mattoon, Windsor and Shelbyville ; he came to the city last named in 1874.
The winter in which he came here he was instrumental in founding the A. M. E. church, in which organization he has ever since been a steward, trustee, and local preacher. In poli- tics he has ever voted the Republican ticket. Mr. Williams has a first-class place of business on South Morgan street, and is an "A No. 1" ton- sorial artist. We have ever found him to be genial, sociable, and obliging. We understand that he owns a large collection of books and keeps himself well posted on all current ques- tions ; he is respected by all.
DR. GEORGE S. BOLT.
The excellent practitioner whose name heads this biographical survey, is the son of C. L. and Martha (Paine) Bolt. He was born in Ram-
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sey, Illinois, in the year 1861. It way be that the times in which he was born were a prophecy of the struggle that was to characterize his early life and educational efforts. His father was a farmer, and could only do for his son what was common to the rural life of that day; he sent him to the district school. The progress in such institutions is of necessity slow, but in the coun- try schools of our land as noble aspirations as ever animated a human breast have been born. By hard labor and frugality, George was able to enter the High school at Vandalia when he was sixteen years of age. He then began teach- ing a country school, and thus paved his way to still higher achievements. At the age of twenty he matriculated with the Missouri Medical col- lege, in St. Louis ; he was graduated from this institution in 1883. He at once located in the village of Herrick, this county, and began the practice of his chosen profession. This venture has proven so satisfactory to the doctor, himself. and to his constituency that he has never seen fit to remove to other fields. Dr. Bolt is a man who keeps abreast of the times ; he spares neither time nor means, being determined to be able to recognize and successfully treat all forms of dis- cases. He has taken a post-graduate course in the Chicago Opthalmic college, studying the eye. car, nose, and throat, graduating from the same in 1888. Two years prior to this, he was mar- ried to Miss Ella Whittington. This couple are the parents of two children : One, Bonner, who died in infancy, and Welling, now four years of age. The doctor is a member of the A. F. & A. M., K. of P., Modern Woodmen, and Court of Honor lodges. He has also been Mayor of his village for several terms. He is the owner of considerable valuable land and stands well in the financial, professional, and social circles of the entire county. His present excellent standing is
a living example of the achievements of manly effort, frugality and thrift.
DR. JOHN C. WESTERVELT.
The subject of this sketch is the son of James L. and Mary (Connelly) Westervelt, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. He may be said to be of German-Irish descent ; his birth-place is in Franklin county, Ohio, and the day of his birth was June 7th, 1855. His carly life was spent upon his father's farm and in the country schools of his native district. In early young manhood he spent some time in a High school, after which he engaged in school teaching. He was graduated from the Bennett Eclectic Medical college in 1877, and the follow- ing year, from the Hahnamann Medical college. He began his professional practice in Shelbyville in the year 1878, on the first day of March.
July 27th, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of Samuel H. Webster. (Mr. Webster's sketch appears elsewhere in this volume). To this couple have been born three children : Grace L., born Oct. 22nd, 1884, and who is now a graduate from the city schools ; Leverett C., born March 10th, 1887, now a pupil in the High school; and Floyd C., born April 11th, 1891.
Besides conducting his professional business the doctor is a member of the firm of Root & Westervelt, and carries on a large traffic in hay. grain and coal. He is a member of various fra- ternal and insurance orders, and with his family, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which organization he has a place upon the of- ficial board. During the last five years he has been chairman of the Republican Central Com- mittee, which fact is a sufficient commentary on
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the doctor's political views. He was in '95 and '96 the mayor of the city and is now (April 1901) the republican nominee for the same office.
Under the new regime, Doctor Westervelt is President of the Shelby County Fair associa- tion, and with his capable and financially able co-laborers, is sparing no pains to give the people of this region genuine recreation of an elevating character which will be unexcelled in the state of Illinois.
As a practitioner the doctor stands well ; his practice has been extensive and satisfactory ; as a citizen his standing may be inferred from the positions of trust he has been selected to fill : as a social factor, himself and family are in the very front rank. We can only add, we have found him a courteous, affable gentleman, with a large degree of public spirit and interest.
T. H. GRAHAM.
For three consecutive terms the gentleman whose name heads this article has been Circuit Clerk. When he recently vacated his position to give place to the present ineumbent we heard it said, "No man in the Shelby County Court House ever kept his books more neatly or cor- rectly." Mr. Graham's popularity and place in the hearts of Shelby voters is best attested by his long and continuous term of public service. His father, Martillas Graham, was born just above Terre Haute. on the 25th day of January, 1811 ; he died in Shelbyville in 1851. He conducted a wool-carding business. The mother of our sub- ject was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, on the 4th of December, 1813 : she died in this city. March 4th, 1900. Her maiden name was Phan- anda Williams.
Mr. Graham has two sisters, Mrs. Sarah
Patton, of Olympia. Washington. and Mrs. Martha Brown, of Shelbyville. T. H. was born on the twentieth day of April. A. D. 1839. in Coles county, about twenty miles north from the city last mentioned. He came here with his parents when but a small child : and here he re- ceived his education, having in addition to the common school. training in the "Old Academy." In 1856-'57 he served as deputy in the county clerk's office. Three years later. viz .. in the winter of '59-60. he went to the state of Kan- sas. One year later finds him in the Rocky Mountains, and one year later still he is back in Kansas where he enlists in the 12th Kansas infantry for service in the Civil war. For two years and ten months he served his country in her defense.
In the year 1866 he was Deputy Assessor of Douglas county, and in the succeeding year lie conducted a newspaper at Leroy, Kansas. In the fall of 1868 he returned to Shelbyville. and has since remained here. For two years of this period he was in the office of Attorney General Hamlin, and for three years he served as Deputy County Clerk. Concerning a man who has served through a period of fifteen consecutive years in a public capacity, and whose official regime has never been questioned, no ecomium from our pen can add to his praise. It may be true and doubtless is that the popularity of T. H. Gra- ham will not be fully known until his familiar figure is missed from the halls of Shelby County Court House.
WILLIAM E. M'CORMICK.
The present Clerk of the Circuit Court in this county is the gentleman concerning whom this sketch is written. His father and mother.
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Edward and Jane McCormick, came to this country from Ireland, when William E. was but three years of age. They settled on a farmi in Tower Hill township; the father died in the year 1892. William was born April ist. 1859. in Galway county, Ireland, but as he came here at so early an age, he recalls no other home. Ilis boyhood and youth were such as is common to country-life. After becoming somewhat ad- vanced in his studies, he entered the High school at Tower Hill, and from thence he entered the Central Normal college at Danville. After fitting himself for teaching, Mr. McCormick taught for a period of eighteen years in schools of this county ; he was principal for three years both in Tower Hill and in Windsor. While engaged in teaching a district school in his home township. he for several years conducted a farm. In A. D. 1884 he was married to Miss Malinda Milliken of l'ana : eight years later he suffered the loss of this early helpmeet. Miss Emma' B. Shaw, of Windsor, became his wife in 1894; to them have been born two children-Eulala and Lula Mac. Mr. McCormick has been honored by being chosen as supervisor, town clerk and assessor in his township. He has ever been identified with the cause of democracy and white firm in his tenacity to party principles, he yet holds men above party. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows and Knights of Pythias lodges, and with his wife a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. McCormick is a pleasant gentle- mian to meet, and one who seems interested in the public weal. It is useless for us to pen en- comiums concerning a man whose almost entire life has been lived within one single county, and who has, by the franchise of the people. been elevated to such a position as he occupies ; this is a eulogy in itself. Mr. McCormick is the only one of his father's children now living, and he.
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