USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 40
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Mr. and Mrs. Weakly are members of the United Brethren church, and are faithful in the performance of their religious duties. They are known far and wide for their genial, cordial hos- pitality, and many are they who have found a hearty welcome in the Weakly home.
Four beautiful children have been born to this couple, and all are living to bless the home circle. Their names, in the order of their births. are as follows : £ Bessie, born April 16, 1833; Ruby May, born May 18. 1892: Lloyd, and Mary Hazel. Bessie and Ruby are both in school, and Mr. and Mrs. Weakly are justly proud of the whole four children.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
WILLIAM WHITWORTH.
William Whitworth, who, as a sagacious, skillful farmer, has helped to make Shelby coun- ty a rich, well-developed agricultural centre, has at the same time acquired a valuable property, and not only owns a fine farm within the corpor- ate limits of the city of Moweaqua, but has here a handsome, well-appointed residence, in which he lives in retirement from active business. He is a native of l'erry county, Indiana, born May 25. 1838, a son of Abraham Whitworth, who was born in Virginia in 1807. The father of the lat- ter, also named Abraham, was likewise a native of Virginia, and was the son of an Englishman, who came to this country and settled in the ( )ld Dominion in colonial times, spending the re- mainder of his life there.
The grandfather of our subject went from his native state to Tennessee with his family in 1811, and after a two years' sojourn in the wil- (lerness in that state, he proceeded northward into Breckenridge county, Kentucky, where he in time cleared a farm from the timber, and there closed his early pilgrimage. He married Nancy Board, who was born in Virginia and died in Kentucky.
The father of our subject was scarcely more than a babe when his parents took up their abode in Kentucky, and he grew to a vigorous man- hood under the influences of the rough pioneer life of those days. When he became a young man he too became a pioneer, selecting the more newly settled state of Indiana as the scene of his operations, and he there took unto himself a wife -Miss Martha Gregory-uniting her life with his. She was also a native of Virginia, and was a daughter of Peter and Mary (Dobson) Greg- ory, natives of Virginia,. the latter a daughter of William O. Dobson, also a Virginian. After mar- riage, Mr. Whitworth, who had formerly been a
pilot on a flat-boat that plied on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, commencing life at boating when quite young, turned his attention to farm- ing. In 1861 he came to Illinois, and settled on a tract of land that he bought in Moweaqua township, located four miles east of the village, where he resided until his life was rounded out in death in July, 1864. His wife survived him until the following year, and then she too passed away, dying in the month of December. She was the mother of eight children that were reared to maturity.
The early life of our subject was passed amid the scenes of his birth. He came to Shelby county in 1858, and he began his career here by working out by the day or month. Prudently saving his earnings, in 1864 he invested in 80 acres of good farming land four and one-half miles northwest of the village of Moweaqua and later added to it 40 acres more. He resided on that place several years, devoting his energies to its improvement, and when he left it in 1886 to take up his abode in the city he had placed it under a high state of cultivation and had made of it a well-ordered farm. He came to Moweaqua in the year mentioned, bought property, and in 1890 erected his present commodious residence, which is built after plans drawn by himself and wife, is very conveniently arranged and is an or- nament to the city. He also has a fine farm ad- vantageously located within the limits of this municipality, which contains 64 acres of well- tilled land, and is amply supplied with buildings and everything needful for its successful cultiva- tion.
Mr. Whitworth has been twice married. In 1861 he was wedded to Miss Sarah Lamb, a native of Richland county, Illinois. Their brief, but happy union was closed by her death in 1864. She left two children, Clara and Alice. Clara married William Landram and has two children.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
Alice married James Chance, and has four chil- dren. The present estimable wife of our subject, to whom he was united in marriage in 1865, was formerly Miss Isabella Doyle. She is a native of Macoupin county, this state, and a daughter of E. M. Doyle.
For some time prior to her marriage Mrs. Whitworth had acted as correspondent for news- papers, which training was now to serve her most faithfully. Her husband had been instru- mental in founding a republican paper in Mo- weaqua, which had been unsuccessfully pub- lished and edited by different persons. Mrs. Whitworth saw her opportunity and embraced it : she assumed the management of the paper, and put out her first number on the tith day of Oc- tober, 1894. Since the appearance of this first number the paper has steadily grown in favor among the people of the county, and today is one of the very foremost leading republican or- gans in this section. There is a subscription list of over eight hundred. and the present excellent standing of the paper is due to Mrs. Whitworth's indefatigable efforts and splendid ability. We have found hier a versatile, entertaining lady.
Mr. Whitworth, as we have seen, has be- come one of the prosperous citizens of this county through the exercise of good mental and physical endowment. He is a gentleman of good principles and blameless life, who is justly held in high consideration by his neighbors and associates, and in him the Baptist church has a conscientious, right-living member, his wife also belonging to that church, and identifying herself with its best efforts to elevate the moral status of the community. As a loyal and true-heared citizen should, our subject interests himself in politics, and is a staunch adherent of the republi- can party.
JAS. A. AND MICHAEL MONTGOMERY.
The brothers whose names head this sketch bear a name well known throughout the county. They are two of ten children born into the home of Dr. John and Mariah Barbara (Allen) Mont- gomery.
Mr. Montgomery emigrated to Illinois with his father. Michael, and family, in 1822, and to Park Co., Ind .. in 1824. In 1838 he was married to Mariah Barbara Allen, who was born in Scott county, Va., on the 8th of April. 1818, and moved with her parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Summers) Allen to Fountain Co .. Indiana. about 1826, locating on "Wolf Creek." Noth- ing now remains of the old double log house which they built, but the oldl log church still stands on the homestead, and near it is the oldest cemetery in that county, the first grave being dug for Isaac Allen in 1832. He was a Revolu- tionary soklier, and father of the Thomas Allen mentioned. Mrs. Allen's father was a patriot in the Revolution, as were also two of the broth- ers of Grandfather Michael Montgomery.
From Park county, Indiana. Dr. Montgom- ery brought his family to Westfield. Illinois, in 1859, and in April, 1864, removed to Windsor. this county. He was a self-made man and phy- sician. Three weeks comprised all his school days, but he was a great student and made his medical books his companions. His death oc- curred May 2. 1889, and on December 5th. 1892. his faithful wife followed him to the great un- seen. These Montgomerys trace their ancestry (unwritten) to three brothers, Scotch-Presbyter- ians, who came to this country from the north of Ireland during early colonization days.
JAMES
spent his boyhood days in attending school, and in working about his father's office and on a farm.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
After he had finished his work in the common schools, he further fitted himself for a life of usefulness by pursuing advanced studies in Lin- coln University, Lincoln, Ill., and in the West- minster College, Fulton, Mo. For a period of fourteen years he was a successful teacher in public schools ; for seven years, his labors were confined to his native state, and for a like time to the schools in this county. He taught for three years in the Windsor graded school, two of which he was the principal. He also had charge of the school in Stewardson for two years. He is now serving his second consecutive term as County Superintendent of Schools. In this ca- pacity he has done good work ; and the present excellent corps of teachers throughout the coun- ty are the product of his faithful and careful ad- ministration. The fairness and honesty of his official conduct we have never heard questioned.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Woodman lodges, and both himself and brother are members of the A. F. & A. M. and K. of P. orders. In politics they have both been demo- crats throughout their lives ; but never have they been bitter and narrow partisians.
MICHAEL
had, in addition to a district school training, a course of instruction in the Academy at Wave- land, Ind., and at Westfield, Ill. He also en- gaged in teaching school, which calling he fol- lowed for some years, both here and in his native state. It may be because of his father's profes- sion, Michael early developed a fondness for the drug business. He clerked some time in the store of G. W. Logan, in Windsor, in 1865-'66, and has been identified with the drug trade of that place for more than a third of a century.
Michael has been twice married: First to Miss Orphia MeB. Kinney, of Windsor, in 1875. Two children were born of this marriage, Thur-
man and Ralph; his second marriage occurred in 1894, at which time Mrs. Hattie Grider, nee Odenweller, became his wife. Two children have been born to them; the first, little Ralph, almost three months old, was called to the better land; the other, Helen, nearly three years old, now cheers their home.
In addition to the lodges before named, Michael is also a Knight Templar. For twenty- five years he has been a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Both these brothers are affable, courteous, cultured gentle- men. They stand well in their respective com- munities and throughout the county. Our short acquaintanceship with them has but created the desire to make it life-long.
WILLIAM H. CRAIG.
The greater portion of the following sketch was current in the papers at the time our subject was admitted to the bar.
From the Chicago Legal News, of Decem- ber 18th, 1897 :
"The State Board of Law Examiners con- sisted of Judge Wall, of Du Quoin, president ; Mr. Julius Rosenthal, of Chicago, secretary and treasurer ; Judge Branson, of Petersburg, Judge Wright, of Effingham, and Mr. Stearns, of Free- port, all gentlemen of culture and well qualified for the different positions to which they have been assigned.
"The first examination of law students be- fore the State Board of Law Examiners has at- tracted the attention of members of the bench and bar throughout the state. This was the in- auguration of the new rule adopted by the Su- preme Court providing an extra year of study and additional scholastic requirements. The fact that the examiners themselves had promulgated
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CHARLES M. FLEMING.
BIOGRAPHIES.
no rules had a tendency to prevent many appli- cants from applying. When the board was de- clared open for the commencement of the ex- amination at Mt. Vernon on December 7th, 1897. and the roll called, it was found that only six persons had the courage to appear before the board and attempt to take the examination. These were examined on Tuesday and Wednes- day mornings by written and oral examinations. which ended at 1 o'clock Wednesday. The sub- jects upon which the applicants were examined embraced the whole range of subjects prescribed by the new rule of the Supreme Court. The Board of Examiners were in consultation from 2 until I1 o'clock on Wednesday, and from 9 until 10:30 on Thursday. When the applicants had been dismissed and the members of the board had passed upon the papers they found that five out of six had failed to pass the examination in accordance with the new rule of the Supreme Court, and that only one out of the six had suc- ceeded in passing the new ordeal with flying colors, and that one was William H. Craig, of Shelbyville. It is certainly a great honor to Mr. Craig to have passed through this, the first ex- amination under the new rule, successfully, and it can now be said of him that he is the first and only applicant that ever passed the examination of the new board.
"Of course members of the bar and students are more or less interested in knowing the facts relating to the life of Mr. Craig and the studies he has pursued, and how it happened that he was the only one that succeeded. He certainly, out- side of the law, had a very general knowledge of men and things : was strong in mind and body and able to pass the ordeal.
"William H. Craig, the leader of the mighty host of applicants that is bound to follow here- after along this line, was born in Shelbyville, Illi- nois, November 15th, 1863. His father, Dr. Wil-
liam T. Craig, came from Kentucky, and died when William was only nine months old. His mother. Emma McMorris, came from Ohio, and was of Scotch-Irish parentage. After the death of his father, the mother, William and his brother lived on the farm. William attending the country schools until the age of twelve. when he entered the public schools of Shelbyville and graduated from the High school at that place in May, 1880, at the age of 16. In 1881 and 1883. he took a partial course in the Wesleyan Univer- sity at Bloomington. He was a clerk in a drug store one year : in 1884 and 1885. he worked one year in the office of J. W. Lloyd at abstracting ; in 1886-7. he made a complete set of abstract indices of Shelby county, and since that time. with R. L. Garis, has done the principal abstract business in that county. In 1888. he was mar- ried to Pauline Penwell, daughter of Dr. Penwell. In 1892, he commenced studying law evenings and all the time during the day he could devote to it without injuring his business, under Judge T. E. Ames, then County Judge. now Circuit Judge. Mr. Craig read Blackstone, Kent, Story on Contracts, Story's Equity Pleading. Smith and Bishop on Contracts, Gould and Stevens on Pleadings. Bishop's Criminal Law. Greenleaf on Evidence. Underhill on Evidence, Martindale on Conveyances and Abstracts, Chitty's Pleadings and the Statutes of the State.
"Mr Craig will devote his time to probate and chancery practice ; but he will still continue his abstract business, which is a valuable prop- erty.
"The members of the legal profession and business men of Shelbyville speak in the highest terms of Mr. Craig as a gentleman of excellent judgment and the strictest integrity.
"Strictly speaking, Mr. Craig is the only one of his kind. He has passed through an ordeal that no one in the state was ever subjected to be-
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BIOGRAPHIES.
fore. A year had been added to the course and other requirements. He stands alone in his law examination, but it will not be long before he will have hundreds of followers."
Mr. and Mrs. Craig are the parents of two children : Lewis P., born October 2d, 1889, and Miriam, born December 16th, 1896. Mr. Craig dissolved partnership with Mr. Garis, above men- tioned, on the 22d of March, 1901, and now is the sole manager of the abstract office ; he also writes insurance. Fraternally he is a K. of P. and politically a republican. Mr. Craig is a gen- ial, kindly-disposed, and courteous gentleman to meet, and with his estimable wife moves in Shel- byville's best society.
CONRAD EILER AND SONS.
Conrad, the youngest son of Jacob and Catherine Eiler, was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, September 13th, 1815. These parents were natives of Hesse, Germany, Mr. Eiler coming to Baltimore, Md., shortly after Napoleon's great defeat of the allied armies which opposed him. Before the close of the eighteenth century Mr. Eiler settled in Ohio, where his children were all born. The state of Ohio was then regarded as the far west. Conrad was the youngest child in this frontier home, and was inured to the priva- tions, dangers and hardships incident to rural life in those early days. At the age of fourteen he began serving an apprenticeship to a miller, and after seven years of toil received as a com- pensation one hundred dollars in cash, besides having been given six months schooling. This sum of money, quite a competency for that day, was invested in a farm of 80 acres of land. This farm was subsequently sold for five hundred dol- lars, which transaction was but a prophecy of the business success that was to characterize our
subject in after years. On the 26th day of Aug- ust, 1841, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Anderson, of his own native township. Five children, all sons, were born of this mar- riage. The names of three follow; the other two are subjoined under separate sketches : William, the eldest has never been married. His home is with his father, and he is engaged in farm- management and money-lending. He is the owner of 980 acres of good land. He did valiant service in the Civil war, since which time he has been somewhat broken in health. Lewis was also a soldier. His home is in Shelbyville, where he is engaged in real estate business. He has been twice married ; Miss Julia Sharrock being his first wife, and Miss Zoro Boone his present companion. John R., the husband of Catherine Hanson, is a farmer near Pana, Ill ..
The father of these sons came to Illinois and settled about two miles west of Tower Hill in the year 1849. There he lived until he removed to a farm just south of the village last named, and from thence to the place of his present abode in the south part of the village. Mr. Eiler was converted to God early in life and in a striking manner. The great change came to him in over- powering fulness, while he was at work in the field. For sixty-eight years he has been a de- voted member in the United Brethren church. and, since he was thirty years of age, until de- prived of active strength, he was a licensed local preacher in said denomination.
On the 29th day of June, 1865, he suffered the loss of his wife, and on the 5th day of March, 1896, met with a further misfortune in an acci- dlent which has since made it impossible for him to walk. Mr. Eiler has been a prominent man in his township ; for thirty-five years he served in the capacity of treasurer, and for several terms as supervisor. Since the Civil war he has been an ardent republican. In business he was
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successful, having owned more than 300 acres of land ; but, long since, he has divided all such interests among his successful sons. While one year would number all the days he ever spent in school, he is, notwithstanding, a well informed man. In no other field is his knowledge more ripe than in that of the Holy Scriptures. Since his fall, five years ago, he has read the Bible through each year. He might seem to some on first sight, as old and lonely, but he is neither ; "His youth is renewed like the eagles" and the Unseen Friend is ever with him. His life has been long and useful; and, as the setting sun casts a halo upon the dark clouds, even after its disc has dipped below the horizon, so the setting sun of Conrad Eiler's life, lights up the counten- ances of those with whom he comes in contact. and will continue to glow in the lives of many, even after his chair is vacant.
ASA.
Asa Eiler was born in Tower Hill township. June 13th, 1857. He was reared upon his fath- er's farm and attended the district school. Such good use did he make of the meager privileges he enjoyed. that in early life he was ennabled to begin teaching school, which vocation he fol- lowed from 1876 to 1879. On the 25th day of September, 1878, he was joined in marriage to Miss Eunity J. Corley. One child. Walter () .. was born to them. He afterward married Miss Rhoda Moutooth, of Lakewood. On the ist day of May, 1883. Mr. Eiler lost, by death, his be- loved wife. Subsequently, on the 29th day of Jan., 1885, he was married to Miss Jennie Sun- derman, of Fairfield Co., Ohio. One little girl, Esther by name, was born to them on the 13th day of December, 1889.
Mr. Eiler lives in a fine residence of his own in the village of Tower Hill, and with his wife is the owner of four hundred forty acres of good
land. He is a member of the Modern Wood- men. He knows but one political faith : he is a republican. In the year 1872 he was con- verted to God and united with the church. For sixteen consecutive years he has been an elder in the Presbyterian church of his village. Mr. Eiler and wife are highly respected : they are known and recognized as people of worth, and are worthy representatives of the name Eiler which is so widely known throughout the county.
THOMAS C.
Pickaway county, Ohio, was the birthplace of Thomas C. Eiler, and September 13th. 1848. was the date. He came to Illinois with his par- ents and lived upon a farm, attending the district school until he was nineteen years of age. He was characterized by an intense love for books and at last entered the Westfield College, where he completed the Normal and Scientific courses of study, thus fitting himself for the profession of teaching, in which he became a recognized suc- cess. For three years he was principal of his home schools, and afterward taught at Assump- tion and Vermillion, Illinois. During the sum- mers he engaged in institute work. On the 9th clay of Sept .. 1876, he was joined in marriage with Miss Beulah L .. daughter of Robert and Margaret Pugh, who were pioneers in Shelby county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Eiler five children have been born : William R., who died at the age of seven : Charles R .. now a student in Westfield College : Mary O., who will be graduated, this year, from the Shelbyville High school ; Dwight MI., and Thomas V. Believing that there is no better place than the country districts in which children may spend their early years. Mr. Eiler. in the year 1885 moved upon a farm two miles northwest of Tower Hill. and engaged in general
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farming and stock-raising. In this line he was eminently successful. After a lapse of eighteen years of farm management he found himself the owner of over six hundred acres of good land, which was well improved and stocked. Mr. Eiler is now a resident of Shelbyville, having moved into the city to afford his children better educa- tional advantages. He is, with his brother Lewis, doing a flourishing real estate business.
He is a member of the United Brethren church and is devoted to the Master's cause. For two years he served as President of the Shelby County Sunday School association, doing much effective work in that line. In politics Mr. Eiler is an ardent prohibitionist, and is the present county chairman for said party. As is true of his aged father and excellent brothers, Thomas P'. Eiler ranks among Shelby county's useful and respected citizens.
WILLIAM H. RAGAN.
The roster of Shelby county's prominent men must needs contain the name of Honorable William H. Ragan, the present law partner of Judge Anthony Thornton.
Mr. Ragan was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, September 30, 1851, the son of James W. and Ellen (Springer) Ragan. Mr. Ragan served his country during the Mexican and Civil wars, and was wounded at Haine's Bluff, in 1862, and the result of this wound caused his death in 1886. In 1867 William H. came with his parents to Clark county, Ill., and the following year they re- moved to this county. His first school education was received in Holland township. In the spring of 1869 he entered the Shelbyville public schools, and in 1870-71 taught his first school, it being the Walker school of Windsor township.
Mr. Ragan began to read law with Hamlin
& Holloway in 1882. Before this, however, through the kindness of Moulton & Chafee, he obtained law books, and read while teaching his first schools. In 1884 he was admitted to the practice of law at the Bar. Subsequently taking a two years' course in the law department of the Northwestern University, graduating therefrom in 1886. After this graduation he formed a co- partnership with William C. Kelley, continuing the same until 1892. His next partnership was with ex-Supreme Judge AAnthony Thornton, and this continues to the present time.
In boyhood Mr. Ragan was one of those lads who are carly thrust out upon the world to do battle for themselves. After his fourteenth year he had no home, until he made one for him- self in later life, and was compelled to work his own way from that time.
On the ist of July, 1877, Mr. Ragan was married to Miss Mary C. Gallagher, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Gallagher, both deceased. Three children were the issue of this marriage : Elza M., a participant in the Spanish-American war. and now serving in the 22d U. S. Infantry in the Philippines ; Maude A., a beautiful young lady, possessing rare talent in the line of vocal and instrumental music ; and Jennie, who died in her infancy. A subsequent marriage of Mr. Ragan was to Addie MI. Roessler, daughter of David Roessler, and grand-daughter of the late Captain Roessler, belonging to one of the best- known German families in the county.
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