USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 39
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ROBERT HERRON.
For nearly a half century the man whose name heads this sketch has been identified with the interests of Shelby county. He was born in Lowden county, Virginia, on the 22d of March, 1818. He was the eldest of nine children, six of whom are still living. The parents were William Henry Herron, and Melinda (Combs) Herron, both natives of Virginia. The father was a black- smith by trade, and emigrated to Ohio while Robert was but an infant. In after years Robert assisted his father in the shop, but was never pleased with the work.
The district school was the only one at- tended by our subject, but he made good use of his time while there. Mr. Herron has engaged in various pursuits, the first of which was agri- cultural, in Perry county, Ohio. He afterward engaged in the grocery business in Licken coun- ty. Later, he sold out and established himself in a hotel, which he subsequently sold, and then purchased a saw mill. He finally resumed farm- ing, at which he continued in Ohio, until 1852, when he sold his farm and came to Windsor township, in this county. Thirteen years later. in 1865, Mr. Herron removed to the farm upon which he still lives, 240 acres in section 23. Okaw township.
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In 1837, Mr. Herron was united in marriage to Miss Jane Maddox, of Licken county, Ohio. She was the daughter of Bennett and Elizabeth (Menefee) Maddox, and was born January 20. 1817, in Virginia. The names of the nine chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Herron are as fol- lows: David, Leroy, Melinda, Charles and May Elizabeth, living; Milton, William B., Julia A., John Bennett, deceased. Personal sketches of the first two named may be found below this one.
When Mr. and Mrs. Herron took up their abode in Shelby county, it was not so thickly populated nor extensively cultivated as now. Wild turkeys, deer, and prairie wolves abounded in great numbers, and furnished plenty of sport for Mr. Herron, who thoroughly enjoyed hunt- ing. Those were the days, too. of the plow with wooden mould-obard, reference to which is made elsewhere in this volume, and Mr. Herron used one of them on his farm, together with other crude agricultural implements. The house in which he and his wife live is about eighty years old, and is in a fair state of preservation. One notable fact in connection with the structure, is that the logs of which the side walls are built. are thirty-six feet long. Perhaps no other house in Illinois is built of logs of such length. The house also contains one of the genuine old fire- places built of stone.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Herron are genial, kind- ly-dispositioned people, and have ever enjoyed pretty good health. Even at their advanced age their memory, eyesight and hearing are remark- ably good, Mr. Herron being able to read with- out glasses. He has been a life-long democrat. always upholding the principles and doctrines of that political party. These worthy old people are enjoying their declining years, conscious of lives well lived, and are looking "toward the set- ting of the sun" with no fear or disquietude.
DAVID C. HERRON.
David C. Herron, of whom we write this sketch, was born in the county of Licken, Ohio. April 21, 1840. His parentage may be found in the sketch immediately preceding this one. When twelve years of age he came with his parents to Illinois, driving through with horses in eighteen days. They were ferried across the Wabash river at Terre Haute. The Big Four bridge at that place was just being built. The family ar- rived in Illinois two years ahead of the railroad. and here they found prairie grass so high that a man in a lumber wagon could just see over the top of it. They settled on a farm where Fletcher chapel now stands, in Windsor township.
Mr. Herron's education was received where the great majority of people receive theirs-in the common, district schools. In the years 1862 and 1863 he worked for W. K. Baker, then, re- turning home, remained on the farm of his father until his marriage. which occurred November 14. 1867. Miss Mary E. Quigley was the bride. and the marriage was solemnized on the place where they now reside. Mrs. Herron's parents were James H. and Lydia (Murphy) Quigley, of the counties of Tuscarawas and Belmont. Ohio. respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Herron have been parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The names of the others are as follows : Martin L., who married Miss Effie Richardson. and is now a merchant of Shelbyville: Edward N .. who married Miss Jane Goddard, lives in Shelbyville, and is one of the firm of Herron Brothers : Charles, who died when eighteen years of age : William F. : Della M. : Homer A. ; Mur- phy ; and Bertha E. The first five named are or have been teachers in the schools of Shelby county.
For twenty-three years Mr. and Mrs. Her-
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ron have resided in their present home, and for eighteen years have owned it. Mr. Herron is a member of no secret society, but is a democrat in politics, as was his father before him. Mrs. Herron is a faithful member of the Methodist church, and both she and her husband stand well in the esteem of the community in which they reside.
LEROY HERRON.
Leroy Herron, born in Perry county, Ohio, June 13, 1843, is the second son of Robert Her- ron, whose biography precedes this one. It was when he was but eight years old that he was brought by his parents to Illinois, and it was here. in the common schools of Shelby county, that he received his education.
He has ever been an agriculturist, and when he first left home it was to work on a farm in Rural township, when he was twenty-one years old. In 1867 he rented a farm in section 24- of Okaw township, upon which he continued as ten- ant for only one year. He then removed to the farm where he has lived ever since, which is a tract of seventy acres, originally a part of his father's farm. In connection with his farming Mr. Herron has threshed grain throughout his section of the county for twenty-two successive years, and during that time has worn out two threshing machines.
On the 27th of April, 1866, Mr. Herron was happily married to Miss Margaret 1. Tull, of Windsor township, a daughter of Josiah B. and Margaret 1. (Butler) Tull. The union was blessed by the birth of six children, the names of whom we give, as follows: Margaret Janc. who is married to James Mover, a farmer of Okaw township: Ava E., who died when cigh-
teen years of age: William D and Robert J., who are popular teachers of the county; Ger- trude and Barton L., who are at home with their parents.
Leroy Herron is, like his father and broth- ers, a democrat in politics, and is ever active in the support of the principles of the party to which he renders allegience. The entire family is highly respected, and the family circle is a happy one.
D. M. DUDDLESTEN.
The subject of this sketch was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, in the year 1851. His father, Nelson, was a native of Ohio ; his mother, Mar- garet (Markwood), was born in Virginia. The one of whom we write (D. M.) was reared upon a farm, and attended school in his native district, about six miles from Lancaster. When he was nine years of age, his parents emigrated to this state, reaching Shelbyville in October, 1864. They settled on a farm in Prairie township, and here our subject grew to manhood, reared, as other farm boys, to hard work. In the year 1874, he was married to Miss Louisa, daughter of Isaac and Kathrina Triece. Immediately after his marriage he began farming for himself, in which occupation he continued until his removal to Stewardson in 1884. In the place last named, Mr. Duddlesten established a brick and tile manufactory which he still operates. This enter- prise has assumed large proportions ; three kilns are used, and from twenty-eight to thirty-five kilnfuls are turned out each year. Such part of this product as is not consumed in Stewardson, is shipped to the adjacent territory.
Mr. and Mrs. Duddlesten are the parents of six children : Walter, who died in infancy, W.
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SAMUEL H. WEBSTER.
DR. JOHN C. WESTERVELT.
BIOGRAPHIES.
C .. Stella, Blanch, Maude, and John C. This en- tire family are (except the youngest) members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and stand well in the religious and social life of the com- munity in which they reside. Mr. Duddlesten may be regarded as a man. successful in business. and in this respect is an example of the achieve- ments of frugality and honest toil. It is with genuine pleasure that we pen the biography of those, who from the common walks of life, rise to places of business success and prominence : such illustrations but prove the possible, yea certain rewards in store for "those who labor and who wait."
SAMUEL H. WEBSTER.
Samuel Hunter Webster came from that sturdy New England ancestry which formed the bone and sinew of the young republic. Men of spirit, judgment, stern religious convictions and unflinching integrity, they laid the foundations for their country's future greatness.
At the age of twenty-one. his father. Russell B. Webster, set out from the parental fireside at Otis, Mass., to win his fortune. It was before the time of railroads, and the entire journey of over six hundred miles was accomplished on foot. In those days an unbroken wilderness, in- habited by Indians and wild animals, stretched away to the west. but the young man and his comrades possessed hearts of oak, and in due time reached the shore of lake Erie, joining a settlement called Wellington, near Cleveland. It was located in the wild belt of forest known as the Western Reserve, or Fire Lands, a tract of land ceded to Connecticut to indemnify her for towns burned in the war with England. Habita- tions were so scarce that they took turns walking
nine miles to the nearest house each weck to get their bread baked.
Russell Webster walked back to the Bay state for his father and mother, and again in 1824 for his bride. Orpha H. Hunter, bringing his possessions with an ox team. He was a second cousin to Noah Webster of dictionary fame.
Samuel Hunter Webster, the subject of this sketch, first saw the light at Wellington, Ohio. September 25. 1825. He was one of the first children born in that region, and was the eldest of a family of seven boys and one girl. The sister. Mary Lorette Webster, and a brother. David Philander Webster, died in infancy, and Eldad Bidwell Webster reached the age of twenty-nine. Three of the brothers bore arms in the Civil war. Edward Fairfield Webster en- listed in the Second Ohio infantry, and gained a lieutenancy. Since then he has been a leading member of the Horr-Warner company. in his native town. Milton Leander Webster enlisted in the 14th Ilinois cavalry which chose him cap- tain. He was wounded in the service, and died at Castalia, lowa. in 1900. Philander Russell Webster raised a company for the 143rd Illinois infantry, going into the fieldl as captain. At the close of the war he entered the firm of S. Il. Webster & Co. He was elected mayor of Shel- byville for one term, dying in 1884. With the tide of gold-seekers which swept over the plains in 1858. William Wilcox Webster went to Colo- rado, where for over thirty years, he was exten- sively interested in mining and cattle raising. He was the first Lieutenant-Governor of the Centennial state. His present home is Pasadena. California.
Samuel Hunter Webster, schooled to toil and privation, very carly learned the lesson of self-reliance. When but a boy of nine he sold two yokes of oxen at Detroit to General Cass.
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lle declined to take the general's check because he did not know him. After obtaining a con- mon school education, he entered a select school conducted by Professor Hall, of Oberlin. He taught for two years and embarked at the age of twenty in the business of shipping fruit, butter and cheese to ports on lake Michigan. After filling the post of assistant postmaster at Well- ington under his father, he went to Cleveland and engaged in the wholesale notion business, de- livering his goods personally by wagon. His territory embraced a large strip of northern Ohio, and this period was enlivened with many thrilling experiences.
In 1856 he married Lucy An Jagger, the eldest daughter of Elmmus 14. and Hannah M. Jagger at Bath, Summit county, Ohio, and in the same year came to Shelbyville and estab- lished the firm of Webster & Jagger, which sold general merchandise and implements, and bought live stock and grain. At that time Shel- byville was a mere village. During that year the Terre Haute and Alton railroad had been com- pleted, and the station located at Moulton. . 1 box car constituted the station at Mattoon, and Windsor was not even thought of. He continued in business on the same spot for thirty-one years. In 1864 the firm was changed to S. H. Webster & Co .. including Philander R. Webster and Hor- ace I .. Martin. Mr. Martin retired in 1872 to edit the "Union," and in 1887 Charles M. and Leverett S. Webster succeeded to the business as Webster Bros.
In politics Mr. Webster has been a life-long republican. Ile has ever taken an earnest and active interest in politics, contributing liberally of both time and means for his party's support. Fle cast his first vote for General Taylor. In 1878 he was appointed postmaster at Shelbyville by
President Hayes to succeed Cyrus Hall, and by President Arthur for a second term.
To him were born five children, Charles Manley Webster. Leverett Samuel Webster, Mary Lorette Webster, Ada Estelle Webster, and Lucy Belle Webster, the latter dying when but a few months old. The first daughter, Mary Lorette, was married to Dr. J. C. Westervelt. Charles Manley, the eklest son, was wedded to Miss Clara Cairns, and Ada Estelle became the wife of Mills E. Norton, of Winsted, Conn.
Mr. Webster has always been regarded as a a broad-minded, liberal-hearted, public-spirited citizen, and enjoys the deepest respect of all who know him. AAlways the first in every good work, he considered no sacrifice too great for the good of the community, and the needy and unfortunate could at all times count upon his generous syn- pathy and support. Shelbyville has never had a better friend than he. His good nature is phe- nomenal, and his love of humor profound. Few men are better versed in contemporary history, and none take a livelier interest in current events the world over. In the ripe years of age, he can look back with pride upon a life of usefulness and tireless activity worthy of the highest meed of praise.
JOHN CAIRNS.
The genial gentleman who is the superin- tendent of Shelby county's greatest mine, is a native of Avershire, Scotland, having been born there on the 30th day of May. 1865. His parents were John and AAgnes (Leighton) Cairns. . \t the age of twelve years our subject suffered the loss of his mother, and one year later he began work in the iron mines of his native shire. His only educational opportunities were limited to
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the common school : indeed. his education is of the practical type, obtained in the school of life. When sixteen years of age, he, with his father, left the land of his birth, and came to Coal City, Illinois. For three years he worked in the mines there, and thence removed to the state of Iowa.
From Iowa he went to Colorado where for seven years he continued in the one work of his life. While in the west he was made overseer of a mine, and gradually developed a fitness for, and knowledge of all kinds of mining. From the mines of the great Rockies he came here to Mo- weaqua, where ever since he has been in charge of the mine. Mr. Cairns has been twice married ; first to Miss Kate Gibson, of Iowa. The mar- riage took place in 1866 : two children who died in infancy were born to them. After the loss of his girl-wife he was subsequently married on the 4th day of .April, 1898. to Miss Mary Gibson, a sister of his former wife. There is one child in the home-Master Karl Cairns, born on the 25th day of January, 1899.
In 1900 Mr. Cairns bult a fine residence on Walnut street where he now resides. Politically he is a republican ; fraternally an Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father of our subject died here in Moweaqua in the year 1896. The possible achievements of manly toil and honest living are clearly exemplified in the life of Mr. Cairns. His present place of eminence and trust is the result of his own persistent and wisely-directed efforts.
JOHN ANGLIN.
John Anglin, the present (1901) democratic nominee for mayor of Shelbyville, was born in Pana, Illinois, September 5th, 1856. His parents
were Zephaniah and Mary (Igo) Anglin, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Mr. Anglin, Sr .. was a wagon-maker by trade, but of him John has no remembrance : the father died when our subject was less than three months of age. The home being one in which wealth was un- known, John was obliged, at an early period in his life, to begin wage-earning. He did jobs of all kinds, thus lightening the financial burdens which rested so heavily upon his mother, and, at the age of thirteen, began caring for the family. It is needless to state that his days in school were few, yet, withal, his life has not been a failure. Before he was twenty-one years of age he rented a farm, and thus conducted a business for himself : subsequently he has been engaged in contracting. in carrying on a saw mill. and in the ice and cold storage business which he still conducts. On Christmas day, 1880, he was mar- ried to Nancy Fisher, a resident of this county. They are the parents of ten children, four of whom died in infancy or early childhood. The names of the others we subjoin : Lewis H., who is traveling salesman for the broom factory ; John F., Daisy Naomi, David Z .. Roy and Orville.
Mr. Anglin is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Modern Woodman lodges ; he has also been a member of the city council for two terms, and street commissioner for two years. He is now branching out in a new line of work, and is, with the Boys Bros .. the owner of the new broom fac- tory. Mr. Anglin is the business manager for the new concern. It is to start with an output of thirty dozen brooms per day, and increase its ca- pacity as rapidly as business conditions may warrant. Mr. Anglin is a pleasant man to meet and he must enjoy the esteem of his fellow- townsmen in order to be named for such a posi- tion as mayor of the city. He has ever voted with the democratic party.
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JAMES D. COCHRAN.
James Cochran, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war ; he served under Generals Marion and Morgan and received a severe wound in the battle of Cow- pens. He came with his son, John, Jr., to this county in the year 1825, and settled in what is now Ash Grove township-it was then known as "Cochran's Grove." He died at the age of ninety-two years, and so far as is known, he is the only Revolutionary soldier who lies buried in Shelby county. John, Jr., was a native of Ken- tucky, and, after coming here, took for his wife Sarah Bateman, a young woman born in the Ter- ritory of Illinois. Their marriage was the first ever solemnized in this county, May 3d, 1827, was the date. To John and wife were born nine children, only two of whom are living. Mr. Cochran was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. James of whom we write was the third child in his father's family ; he grew up as did other boys of that period, without much mental training, but was inured to physical toil and hardship. With some degree of pride he asserts that an uncle, Daniel Price, was one of the commissioners chosen to select the site for the seat of Shelby county. In addition to his work on the farm he learned the trade of a carpenter, and through- out his life has done some work in that line. November 28th, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A. 54th Ill. Vol., and not until October 15th. 1865, did he receive his discharge. His place was that of a corporal throughout his period of service ; much of the time he was employed in scouting and skirmishing under Gen. Steele.
On the 12th day of November, after his dis- charge from the army, he was joined in marriage with Miss Anna L. Hull, of Windsor township. She with her father, Peter by name, came from Pennsylvania, in 1854. Three children blessed this union: John W., a resident of St. Elmo,
in the employ of the C. & E. I. railroad : Sarah M., who passed from earth at the age of twenty- two, in the very flower of her young woman- hood ; and James F., a fireman on the road above named. Since the war Mr. Cochran has been broken in health and has busied himself with such employment as he has been able to perform. For many years himself and wife have been de- voted members of the Christian church. Their end is drawing on, but they are making toward a peaceful heaven ; their lives have been long. and we have yet to hear them ill-spoken of. Surely they have not lived in vain.
JOHN C. CALVERT.
The name Calvert will ever be remembered in the history of Shelby county. William, the father of the one of whom we write, was the second male white child born within the county's limits ; the date of his birth being March 8th, 1827. Mr. Calvert lived until February, 1889. and was familiar with the entire history and de- velopment of the county. The mother of our subject was Martha E. Marts, born May 29th, 1832, in Sullivan county, Indiana. John was reared upon his father's farm in Ridge township, having been born there May 27th, 1833. He at- tended the district school, but through close ap- plication to his books received rather more than the education commonly furnished by such insti- tutions. For a period of eighteen years he worked the home farm and was so successful in the management of this that in 1889 he pur- chased the farm in Ridge township-Section 11 -which he still owns. September 13th, 1874, he was joined in marriage to Miss Lydia, daughter of Josiah Gardner of this county. This couple are the parents of seven children, four of whom died in infancy. The living are: John C., who assists his father in the management of the farm ; Sidney C., and Cora M. Mr. Calvert moved to
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Shelbyville in 1890 and engaged in the grocery business for a period of four years ; ill health caused him to return to his farm. The esteem in which he is held by the community in which he lives may be inferred from the official posi- tions which he has held, viz : Supervisor for two terms, Collector for two years. and Town Clerk for one year. Himself and wife are members of the Christian church : he is also a member of some fraternal and insurance organizations. A leading citizen of the township said to the writer. "I consider John Calvert as one of our very best men."
CYRUS S. WEAKLY.
Thirty-four years ago the 19th of April. 1900, the one of whom we pen this sketch, Cyrus S. Weakly was born, in Ridge township, on the farm of his father, A. P. Weakly, of whom a biographical sketch appears on another page of this volume. His boyhood days passed much as do those of most boys-full of pleasures and little duties in the school and in the home. yet uneventful withal. He profited well by the in- struction received in the district schools, and ac- quired a good, ordinary education. He was ever interested in farming, however, so did not pur- sue his studies beyond the common schools, but early began the tilling of the soil.
On the first of May following his twenty- first birthday, Mr. Weakly was united in mar- riage to Miss Clara Moll, of Obed, who was born January 8th, 1867. She was the daughter of Daniel Moll. a native of Pennsylvania, but one of the early pioneers of Shelby county. The maid- en name of Mrs. Moll was Caroline Wolf, a na- tive of Ohio.
For six months after his marriage Mr. Weakly lived upon his father's farm, renting and
working for himself 80 acres of it. This is the farm which his brother, Elmer, now works. In the fall of 1887, they removed to Obed, where they now live, settling upon a farm owned by the father of Mrs. Weakly. This farm was an ex- tensive one, containing about three hundred ten acres. Upon this farm, in 1890, Mr. Weakly began the feeding of stock and has found it a very profitable and lucrative business. He con- ducts the enterprise systematically, and gets out of it the greatest profit obtainable. He is now feeding eighty-one head of cattle, and two hun- dred hogs : and he has purchased twelve thou- sand bushels of corn for this winter's feeding.
Mr. Weakly is a republican in politics, but has never sought any political office. He is, however, serving as the present school director of the district in which he lives. He is of a modest disposition, and yet is one of the most public-spirited men of his section of the county- always ready and even eager to aid by his in- fluence and means any enterprise which is for the public good. He is a stockholder in the County Telephone company, and is in connection with the outside world by having a 'phone in his farm residence.
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