USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 37
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dren born to Uriah and Rebecca (Dening) Car- ruthers, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respect- ively, the father being of Scotch descent. The names of the children we append, as follows : George N., Robert, Lemuel A., who died in the army: John, Julia, now deceased ; William A .. Martha E., Albert I ... Charles, and Mary E. Of these, seven have been school teachers, five were sokliers in the Civil war, and eight are still living, four in Ohio and four in Illinois.
Albert L. received his education in the dis- triet school of his Ohio home, and began teach- ing in 1870, in the township in which he now lives. He was called home, however, by the serious illness of his father and a brother, before the expiration of the first term of school.
In 1871. Miss Elizabeth C. Lakin, daughter of William and Luessa (Packer) Lakin, became the wife of Mr. Carruthers, and they began their wedded life on the old homestead of his father, where they remained until 1884. Four children have been born to bless this union, the names of whom are as follows: Annie B., born in 1871 : Charles L., October, 1874: Bertha L., Novem- ber: 1881. and Ralph B., May, 1885. The first three of these were born in the Ohio home, and the last in Ash Grove township, of this county. Annie is married to John Veech, and resides on a farm in. Ash Grove: Charles married Bertha Crockett, and lives in Big Spring township.
Seventeen years ago Mr. Carruthers removed from Ohio to Illinois, settling on an Ash Grove farm owned by his brother. John. The follow- ing spring he moved onto the farm of one hun- dred acres now owned by him, on Section 26.
Mr. Carruthers is a prominent man in his community, and as superintendent of the County Sunday School association, is well and favorably known throughout the county. The entire fan- ily are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church, Mr. Carruthers uniting with the same thirty years ago, and his wife when she was but ten years of age. He has always been fond of Sunday school work, and has held every posi- tion of a Sunday school worker in the local school in the township and in the county. He is at present on his fourth year as superintend- ent, and is one of the most untiring and zealous workers the association has ever had. From the report of the 23d convention of the association, held in August of this year, we find that Mr. Carruthers has attended five state conventions and fourteen county conventions in Shelby and adjoining counties.
Mr. Carruthers is present school director of his district, is a stockhokler in the Neoga creamery and is one of its board of directors. He is a member of the Court of Honor, and has hekl the office of Chancellor of the same since its organization. He is one of the most promi- nent and influential members of the church to which he belongs. He now holds the position of steward and trustee, and has been class leader ยท for fifteen consecutive years, and recording steward for the past six years. During these six years he has missed but two meetings of the quarterly conference. This all goes to show the esteem and confidence in which Mr. Carruthers is held by those who know him as a thoroughly upright, Christian gentleman. And. indeed, his entire family share with him the respect of a host of friends and acquaintances.
MRS. AMANDA E. DUNLAP.
Mrs. Amanda Dunlap, the subject of this sketch, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio. October the 8th, 1835. She was the daughter of Salmon and Nancy (Barr) Grover. At the death
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of her mother, when Amanda was but four or five years old. she was put out to board and attend school. From childhood until she was twenty years of age, she remained in the home of a Mr. Miller. Then in the fall of 1855 she came by stage to Caswell county, at the request of a friend. a physician, in whose family she re- mained during the winter, coming to Shelby- ville in the spring of the following year. Soon after this she entered the Shelby Academy. where she continued for three terms. afterward teaching for one term.
On the thirtieth day of December. 1861. Miss Grover was joined in marriage to James S. Dunlap, a farmer living near Shelbyville. Be- fore marriage Mr. Dunlap enlisted for service in the 54th Illinois Volunteers, and in 1864 he died in St. Louis, from a disease contracted during service. Mrs. Dunlap did not see her husband but a few times after he marched away soon after his marriage. One child was born to this couple. a boy who died in his fourteenth year.
Mrs. Dunlap has been a member of the Methodist church since she was twenty years of age, and is ever faithful in her attendance on di- vine worship; her parents were christians and she was converted at twelve years of age. She is a kindly disposed person, and wishes it said that if her life has not always seemed what it should have been, it has been caused by her troubles, of which she has had an unusual num- ber throughout her life. For a long time she struggled to own a home which she finally possessed on North Morgan street. This. through ill health, she subsequently lost : it has been her further misfortune to be separated from all her dear ones at the time of their deaths. In connection with a wish of Mrs. Dunlap's we might aptly quote from Miss Havergal's match- less poem. "Compensation :"
"We gaze on the path of another as a far-off mountain scene.
Scanning the outlined hills, but never the vales between :
How can we judge another? we who can never know
From the juttings above the surface. the depth of the vein below."
WILLIAM H. WOOLARD.
Dr. William H. Woolard was born in Leesburg. Ohio. A. D., 1838. His parents were Thomas and Rebecca (Hiatte) Woolard. Their ancestry was doubtless of English origin. but they were natives of the Buckeye state. Mr. Woolard was by trade a master mechanic, and judging by the distinguishing characteristics of his son, William, these may best be accounted for by the mysterious laws of heredity. Just to what extent one's life may be influenced by the loss of paternal care is a problem beyond reach of human "ken," but that such a loss can do no other than greatly affect the life of any child is a fact too obvious to admit an argument. That the early loss of his father may have developed great resourcefulness and independence in the life and temperament of Dr. Woolard is true. thus proving a blessing to his boyhood days: but. that a life. thus left to its own struggles. might have become still more marked and useful. under the restraining hand and fostering. care of a father. is equally probable.
The education of the one whose life sketch we now pen, was received in the common schools of his native town. His first experience in the industrial world was in a tool-shop near his home village. It may fairly be stated the constant com- panions of his entire life have been books and tools. So fond is he of books that one would think he could never turn his hand to a practical
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thing-a book-worm should be his name-but so fond is he of mechanical pursuits and inventive plans, that when thus engaged, one would never suspect his scholastic tendencies and attain- ments.
After leaving Ohio, Dr. Woolard first located, for a period of about two years, in In- diana, where he worked as a jeweler. He came to this county in the year 1856, driving through from his Indiana home. He was accompanied on this drive by his mother, and they together settled in Big Spring township. In the year 1860, he was married to Miss Melinda Curry, daughter of James and Mary Curry. The mar- riage ceremony was performed in the court house in the city of Shelbyville.
Mr. and Mrs. Woolard are the parents of three children-Jennie, who is the wife of Mr. George De Long, a foreman in the Wabash car shops at Decatur, Illinois; J. Henry, who was until his death this present fall ( 1900) a foreman in the stereotyping department of a Chicago publishing house, and who leaves a wife (for- merly Miss May Warden of Windsor) and two children ; and Mary Annis, whose death occur- red in 1867, when she was but six and one-half years of age.
After his marriage, Mr. Woolard settled in Ash Grove township, and for several years en- gaged in the jeweler's business. In November. 1865, he moved to the village of Windsor where he has since resided. During the period of the Civil war, Mr. Woolard studied medicine, but was discouraged from its practice by local condi- tions, chief among which was the then almost impassible condition of the country roads. In the year 1870. Dr. Woolard purchased the dental business of W. H. Waite, and has ever since con- ducted the same. The fact that the doctor is al- ways busy is a sufficient commentary on the kind
of work he turns out. His mechanical genius has found a considerable scope for employment in his dentistry. Some valuable plans for brac- ing and supporting plate and bridge work are original with him.
During his life, he has found time to perfect and complete several valuable patents. The most of these are applied to the milling industry ; but one of them, a steam dishwasher is of an entirely different nature and of such importance that Mr. Woolard received honorable mention from the World's Fair committee. From his youth up. he has been the adviser of those engaged in mie- chanical and inventive pursuits.
His religious impressions were received largely from the Quakers. He believes in deeds rather than creeds. In politics he has been a life-long democrat, but, on questions of local importance, has ever voted against the saloon, regardless of party. Mr. Woolard has never cared for a public office and has discouraged every offer of one.
His life is a quiet, unostentatious one, but the people of Windsor township recognize in it one of sterling qualities and genuine ability.
HON. DAVID P. KELLER.
David P. Keller, of Moweaqua, was born near Lancaster, Ohio, July roth, 1834. He is clearly of German extraction, the ancestry on both sides having come from the Kaiser's realm. His parents were Daniel and Susan (Ruffner) Keller. The father was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1797: he went to Ohio with his parents in 1802 and settled in what was then the great wilderness of the northwest. Strangely, he never removed from the place
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where their first cabin was built, and died there in the ninetieth year of his life. It was into this frontier-home that David and ten other children were born. Only four of the family still live : our subject and three of his sisters. The mother was a native of Shenandoah county, Virginia : she was born in the year 1800, and in 1806 was taken by her parents into Ohio. She lived and died the faithful, hard-working. old-time mother. In addition to the meagre training furnished by the district school of that early day, David spent two years in the Otterbein University at Wester- ville, Ohio. Here he acquired much of the useful knowledge which has marked its approval upon his subsequent life. For a period of five years he engaged in teaching school, which fur- ther increased his mental calibre and developed self-reliant manhood. On the 20th day of Sep- tember, 1859, he wedded Miss Rebecca MeFar- land, a resident of his own locality. For about five years they engaged in farming in Ohio, and in November, 1864, moved to Shelby county. Illi- nois. Five children, all living, have blessed their union : Grace. now Mrs. C. A. Hight, of Dalton City : Mr. Hight is engaged in banking and grain business with Mr. Keller : Walter S., a resident of Des Moines, Ia., is engaged in the handling. of farm implements. He took for a wife Miss Josie Freeland : Addie (Mrs. Harry Bartlett), of Milwaukee. Wis., whose husband works in the rolling mills : Augustus R., who took for a wife Miss Sadie Warren, and who resides on a farm of his own near Macon ; and Julia, the wife of Mr. George Doughty, of Moweaqua.
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In February of 1869. Mr. Keller moved into Macon county, on a farm where for a period of twenty-six years he prospered as a farmer and stock-raiser : a part of this farm he still owns. In this manner he became a well-known man in two counties, and it is probable that few men
have such a wide local acquaintanceship. In 1802 Mr. Keller made his first banking venture. when he became associated with his son-in-law in said business in Dalton City before mentioned. Subsequently they added the buying of grain to tl:cir enterprise and now manage two large ele- vators. Mr. Keller moved to Moweaqua in March, 1895. Prior to his coming, and one year after his banking project at Dalton, he formed a partnership for a like concern to operate in Mo- weaqua. The other members of the firm were W. C. Miller and J. W. Brown.
After two years Mr. Miller retired from the partnership and the business was then conducted by the remaining two. After a time Mr. Ralph Avars became associated as a partner : and. still later, early in 1900. Mr. Brown dropped out. and then the institution conducted its operations under the name of Keller, Avars & Co. On April ist, of the present year. ( 1901) Mr. AAvars retired from the concern and the banking busi- ness is now conducted under the proprietorship and ownership of Mr. Keller and wife. Mr. Keller has incidentally. for more than thirty years, acted in the capacity of an auctioneer. He has doubtless conducted more than five hun- dred sales. In politics he is a staunch republi- can. During his residence in Macon county he was a continual office-holder. He has filled all the township positions of honor and trust, and twice by the suffrages of his friends and fellow- citizens was he elevated to the place of member of the Assembly. He served his constituency to their satisfaction in the 36th and 37th General Assemblies of the State of Illinois. Mr. Keller and his wife are faithful members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. The manliness and in- tegrity of our subject we have never heard ques- tioned. He is a pleasant, versatile, courteous
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gentleman with whom it is a pleasure to meet. His life and character may well offer a field for emulation.
WALTER H. SILVER.
The gentleman concerning whom this sketch is written is the present mayor of Shelby- ville. In the capacity of city clerk, he served this municipality for ten years. He has also served upon the board of supervisors; which facts testify, that in the eyes of the public, he is a man of merit and fitness for positions of re- sponsibility and trust. He was born in Cassopo- lis, Michigan, on the 17th of May, 1857. His father, Jedediah H., was a native of New Hamp- shire, and his mother, Julia (Mead) Silver, was indigenous of New York. These parents of our subject came to Michigan at an early day, while they were children. In March of 1858 they came to Shelbyville, Illinois. Mr. Silver was a brick and stone mason by trade, but after coming here, he began farming in Ridge township. For two terms he served as sheriff of the county.
Walter was reared upon the farm and re- ceived his education in the common schools of the county. When 18 years of age, he began clerking here in the city. October 19th, 1882, he was wedded to Miss May Jolly, of Shelbyville ; the names of her parents being John S. and Catherine (Vickers) Jolly. Three children have been born of this marriage-Catherine, Gleun and Verne. The children are all attending the city schools. Mr. Silver conducted a grocery business for himself for a period of three years, in the room now occupied by the Herron Bros. He sold his stock of groceries, and purchased the stock of dry goods owned by Wm. Wright. After continuing in this enterprise for a brief
time, he sold out this stock, and went west. Not finding a business opening to suit his inclinations at the time, Mr. Silver returned from the west and worked in a brick-yard for a period of two years. He then became manager for the poultry firm of Arthur Jordan & Co. From this engage- ment he accepted a position with the First National bank, with which institution he con- tinued for a period of four years. At the end of this time he re-entered the employ of the Jor- dan company, and still has charge of their busi- ness. During the past fall and winter the amount of shipping done from this branch estab- lishment has been enormous. Mr. Silver has ever been a democrat in politics, and is a mem- ber of the K. of P., Redmen, Woodmen, and S. . M. R. A. fraternal and insurance orders. We have found Mr. Silver to be a pleasant and cour- teous gentleman, and the positions of trust lie has held in the city, speak more eloquently in his favor than any encomiums from our pen. The father, whose name has been so favorably known throughout the county, is suffering under the withering touch of paralysis. In his enfeebled decline, he is being tenderly cared for by his sons.
GEORGE HILER.
Though not a resident of Richland town- ship for very many years, Mr. George T. Hiler, of whom we write has become one of the most prominent and substantial farmers of his neigh- borhood and township, and it is with pleasure that we write his name in this chapter on "Prominent Men."
Mr. Hiler was born in Park county, Indiana, February, 19, 1860. His father, a native of Vir- ginia, was Jacob Hiler, while the maiden name of
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H. M. SCARBOROUGH.
DAVID RICHARDSON.
BIOGRAPHIES.
his mother, a native of Indiana, was Jane Kibby. Mrs. Hiler died when George was but two years of age, and the death of his father followed ten years later. Being left alone in the world at this tender age, and with but little inherited sub- stance, he was practically reared by a half-sister, now Mrs. Minerva Warrens. A common dis- trict school was the only one George attended. but such good use did he make of his opportuni- ties that he acquired an education therefrom, a little above the ordinary.
In September, 1874. he came with the sister above referred to, to Champaign county, Illinois, and afterward entered the employ of a farmer in the county, thus commencing his agricultural career, by working by the month for a period of five years.
The crowning event of Mr. Hiler's life came to him in 1884, when, on the 28th day of Febru- ary, he led as a blushing bride to the altar, Miss Sarah E. Griffith, a daughter of George and Mar- garet (Dollar) Griffith, natives of Indiana, and Coles county, Illinois, respectively. Miss Griffith was one of the most attractive and intel- lectual young women of her neighborhood, and George was voted a fortunate young man by the other young gallants of their acquaintance. Mrs. Hiler has preserved to the present time, her charm of manner and disposition, and is a bright. vivacious woman who makes the home pleasant and happy for the family. as well as for the "sometime" guest.
Five children, who are the pride of the parents, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiler. Their names are as follows: Walter R., Lillie M .. both born in Champaign county ; Robert E., Estella E .. and Georgia M., born in their Shelby county home.
After their marrige Mr. and Mrs. Hiler began housekeeping on a rented farm in Cham-
paign county, where they remained two years, and then bought a farm in Raymond township of the same county. On this farm they remained six years, then coming to Ash Grove township of this county. and buying a farm, which they sold the same year. From thence they removed to Findlay, where they purchased a farm, but within a year's time sold it again. It was then they bought the farm upon which they now re- side. 161 acres in Section 7. of Richland town- ship, and which they have found to be quite a satisfactory investment. The farm is all well- improved, drained and tiled, and the soil is very fertile, and under the skillful supervision of Mr. Hiler, is very productive. From it Mr. Hiler sold about $2.400 worth of produce in 1899.
Mr. Hiler has served his neighborhood as school director, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are honored and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are both beloved for their hospitality and courteous geniality.
DAVID F. RICHARDSON.
David F. Richardson was born at Grove- port. Ohio, in the year 1838. His father. Marcus C., was a native of Virginia, and his mother. Jane (Ramsey), a native of Ohio. Their ancestry was of English stock. some of whom came to this country in its early days. Mr. Richardson. Sr .. was a farmer by occupation, and emigrated from his Ohio home stopping several times on the way and arriving in Shelby county in the great westward movement of 1849. After settling here he became favorably known to all, and was twice honored by being chosen sheriff of the county.
David was reared upon the farm, and re- ceived his education in the country schools.
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When he was twenty-one years of age, he left home and began clerking in a store at Mattoon ; after a few months, however, he returned to farming, in which occupation he continued until 1861, when he volunteered in Co. 11, of the 7th Illinois cavalry. While in the service, he parti- cipated in the battles of New Madrid, Corinthi, Farmington, Miss., and numerous skirmishes. For some time he acted under an appointment by Major Nelson as commissary for refugees. Hle was honorably discharged from service in Feb- quary of 1863.
On the 20th day of April, 1865, the wedding bells were rung for David F. Richardson and Belle Venters. The bride was the daughter of George Venters, a resident of this county. Four children, all of whom are living, were born of this union : Mary E., now Mrs. Martin Herron, of Shelbyville : Minnie J., now Mrs. Otto Storm, of Richland township: Elizabeth, now Mrs. M. F. Storm, of Strasburg and Marcus L., who is at home.
For a period of thirteen years, Mr. Richard- son was engaged in mercantile business in Wind- so1. Right of these years he was town clerk. After moving to Shelbyville, he was deputy sheriff of the county for a period of six years.
Mr. Richardson was the owner of above eleven hundred acres of land on which there were valuable coal deposits, but has recently soll three hundred and eighty-three acres. For some years he has engaged in the raising of thorough- bred stock-Poll Angus cattle, Duroc Jersey sv me, and Shropshire sheep. For the third time he is now a resident of Shelbyville, and lives in a comfortable home of his own on North Broad- way. He has been a life-long democrat, yet has ever held men above party. He is a member of the A. F and A. M. lodge. Mr. Richardson bears
a reputation for honesty, thrift, integrity and public-spiritedness. lle is one of Shelby coun- ty's good citizens.
DR. FRANKLIN P. BIVINS.
The subject of this review has ever lived in Shelby county ; his birth taking place in Rose township July 30th, 1853. Ilis father, William R., was a native of Tennessee, having been born near the city of Nashville ; he came with his par- ents to Illinois when about four years of age. During the greater part of his life he was en- gaged in rural pursuits, though, for a period of eighteen years he conducted a grocery store m Shelbyville. He was a "forty-niner," and made the overland trip to the far western gold fields, driving through with an ox team. An exciting experience while crossing the Platte river, in which one of his party was drowned, ever lin- gered among Mr. Bivin's vivid recollections ; he was somewhat profited by the trip. His death occurred in his seventy-third year.
Frusan (Warren) Bivins, the mother of the doctor, was the daughter of Peter Warren, a captain in the Mexican war. She was indigenous to Illinois. Franklin was reared upon a farmi, and if his boyhood was at all exceptional it was in the amount of work he performed. In addi- tion to district school training, the doctor, by walking to and from Shelbyville cach day, man- aged to spend some time in the High school. For a period of three years in his young man- hood he engaged in clerking, but desisted through ill health. In 1878 he entered the Miami Medical college and also the office of Dr. Thos. L. Catherwood ; three years later he was graduated with high honors, securing a general rank of ninety-eight per cent in all his studies,
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and being chosen valedictorian of his class which was quite an honor.
Through the influence of Dr. Catherwood. most probably, he began his professional career in this city. That "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country" is usually the case, yet Dr. Bivins has come to rank among the first and best practitoners in the county. In the month of October, 1881, he was joined in mar- riage to Miss Clara B. Scovil, of Shelbyville. To them were born three children-Juanita M., Mabel C., and Warren S. The death of Mrs. Bivins occurred in September, 1891. The chil- dren are all living and in school, and reside with their father in his home on North Broadway. Besides his professional work, the doctor is en- gaged in real estate business with his brother, H. L., and is the owner of considerable valuable property. He was reared by staunch Methodist parents ; in the Methodist Episcopal church he- takes an active part, showing particular interest in the work of the Epworth League and Sunday school. He has held municipal positions of pub- lic honor and trust ; we have found him to be a gentleman of uniform courtesy, with a vivacious, social temperament, and we gladly reckon him among our friends. His practice has been wide and successful, which fact stamps its own ap- proval upon the doctor's work.
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