USA > Illinois > Douglas County > Historical and biographical record of Douglas County, Illinois > Part 21
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well improved land, and has had some ex- perience in office. lle is of good moral char- acter and his friends are many.
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MORRIS L. MOORE.
Morris Logan Moore, son of Abram H. and Mary E. Moore, was born April 28, 1869, at the home of his father, three miles west of Arcola, Illinois, in Bourbon township, and
owns and lives on the old home, consisting of two hundred and ten acres of well improved land. He received his carly training at the common country schools and attended Lee's Academy at Loxa, Illinois, one year, Prof. Lee being one of the eminent educators of his time. Later he attended the normal at Val- paraiso, Indiana, for a period of two years, where he pursued the scientific and teacher's course. After leaving college he taught school for one year and then traveled extensively throughout the west and southwest. He is un- married, has served his township as collector for two years, and is a Royal Arch Mason in high standing. Courteous, quiet, well informed and enterprising, he stands as one of the repre- sentative and successful young business men of the county.
J. PARK MCGEE, M. D.
J. Park McGee, M. D., a prominent and well known citizen of Brushy Fork, and closely identified with the material interests of the county, was born January 5. 1847, in Clark county, Indiana, and is a son of. William Park McGee, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish extraction. He was a saddler by trade, and a son of Rob- ert McGee, who was an early settler in Penn- sylvania. The Park family are a very prom- ment family of Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, and the old homestead still belongs to John Park, of the third generation from Isa- bella Park. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Tamar Tom, was born in the oil regions, on the Allegheny river in Al- legheny county, Pennsylvania. His father was born on the Monongahela river, in Washington county, the same state. The
Doctor's grandmother, Isabella Park Mc- Gee, was a daughter of John Park and sister of Hugh Park. William Park McGee
.
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( father ) learned his trade in Pittsburg, emi- - grated about the year 1820, on a flat-boat to Louisville, Kentucky, but settled across the river in New Charlestown, Clark county, Indi- ana, where he farmed and followed his trade. He died April 27. 1862, and is buried in Owen Creek cemetery.
J. Park McGee was reared in Clark coun- ty and was principally educated in Wabash College, taking an irregular course with the object in view of preparing himself for his profession, remaining in this college three years. Ile subsequently read medicine with Dr. Work, of Charlestown, entered the Eclectic College of Cincinnati and was graduated in 1872. Hle afterward took one course of lec- tures in the Rush Medical College of Chicago, and had a complimentary degree conferred upon him by the faculty of this well-known institution in 1887. He was elected to the Legislature from the Republican district com- posed of Douglas, Coles and Cumberland counties, in 1884. 1888 and 1892. He was elected as a Democrat and at each re-election carried the district by increased majorities. He assisted in passing the bill to legalize dis- secting, and for so doing Rush Medical Col- lege conferred upon him a complimentary de- gree. During the first term he was chairman of the sanitary committee, and member of ap- propriation, education, insurance, revenue and railroads committees. Dr. McGee is one of the pioneer silver men of the state, as pro- claimed in the Chicago platform of 1896, and was a delegate who took a prominent part in the state convention at Springfield in 1895. the first silver state convention ever held. The Doctor located at Brushy Fork in 1874. and has practiced his profession there ever
since. In 1864 he joined Company K. One Hundred Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and served to the expiration of his term of enlist- ment, and he has a certificate of thanks from President Lincoln for services rendered his country. He owns two hundred and fifty acres of land ; is a Knight Templar in Masorry, and has never been married. lle will visit the Paris Fair this year and make a tour of Eu- rope. Dr. McGee's life has been a busy one and during all the years of his residence in the township the time has been fully taken up in what he conceived to be his public and private duty. He is a man of unquestionable integ- rity, honesty in his business transactions, and generous in his disposition, with a wide char- ity for mankind.
CHARLES F. JENNE. -
Charles F. Jenne is one of the most suc- cessful merchants and enterprising business men of Douglas county, res'ding at Arthur. where he and his partner, Fred B. Beckman,
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own and conduct two large stores, one a gen- eral hardware establishment and the other furniture and undertaking. He has resided at Arthur since 1885, and was in business alone until three years ago when he took in his present partner. Since his residence in Arthur he has always given his support to all worthy enterprises calculated to promote the welfare of his town and county, and is valued as a citizen by the entire community.
Charles F. Jenne was born in Ross county. Ohio, in 1855 and is a son of Henry W. and Mary ( Smith) Jenne, who were natives of Germany. lle was reared and educated in the common schools of Ross county, Ohio. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Miss Sallie J. Warren, a daughter of T. T. Warren, a na- tive of Douglas county. Mr. Jenne is a Mason and takes deep interest in Masonic af- fairs, having served as master of Arthur Lodge, No. 825, for three years.
THOMAS H. RUTHERFORD.
Thomas II. Rutherford, the present super- visor of Newman township, and one of the acknowledged leaders in farming as well as in political affairs of Douglas county, was born at Oakland, Coles county, Illinois, January 16, 1853. He is a son of Dr. Hiram Ruther- ford, settling there in the year 1840, one of the pioneers, and at the time of his death he was one of the oldest physicians in eastern Illinois, and one of the largest land owners as well. He has written much of the early settlers, es- pecially of the eccentric ones of this region.
He has a remarkable memory, and probably knew more of the early history of Douglas and Coles counties than any other man within their bounds.
Ile was born in Cumberland Valley, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1815. ( For further facts pertaining to ancestry, see work of Dr. Eagle, state librarian of Penn- sylvania, on early families of the Cumberland valley.) Dr. Hiram Rutherford, after attend- ing Jefferson University, commenced the prac- tice of medicine at the age of twenty-five years. at Millersburg, Pennsylvania.
Thomas H. Rutherford received his edu- cation in the schools of Oakland, and on Oc- tober 15, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah R. Zimmerman, a daughter of John B. Zimmerman, who settled in Oakland township in 1837. To them have been born four children : Cyrus W., Bessie (deceased ). Iliram B., and Katie. Mr. Rutherford re- sides on his beautiful farm of two hundred
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL.
and forty acres, just north of Newman, and is one of the most influential leaders of the Republican party in the county. He has been school treasurer of township No. 16. range 11. since the spring of 1870. In 1885 he was elected commissioner of highways and held that office until December. 1890, when he re- signed to be appointed supervisor to fill the vacancy of L. E. Root, who was elected county treasurer. He was re-elected supervisor in 1892, also in 1891. and was elected chairman of the board in 1893 and 1894. Hle 's inca: a member of the committee on finance, re- funding of tax and public buildings and grounds. Socially he belongs to the Newman Blue Lodge and is past high priest of the Royal Arch Masons, Newman Chapter, No. 172, and is also a member of Melita Com- mandery. No. 37. Knights Templar; is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen.
Mr. Rutherford is a man of action and business capacity, and whatever cause he es- pouses he generally carries through success- fully, with a vim and carnestness which are in a high degree characteristic qualities of his makeup.
JOSEPH S. WYETII.
Joseph S. Wyeth was for many years previous to his death prominently identified with the affairs of Douglas county. Hle. with his brother, 1 .. J .. and their wives, came to Coles county in 1850 and settled on farms four miles south of Hindsboro, where they re- mained until 1860, when they removed to
Tuscola and engaged in mercantile business. The partnership lasted four years, when it was dissolved. 1 .. J. remaining in the business and Joseph S. locating on a farm in Garrett town- ship where his widow now resides. This was in 1864. (For a very full and complete an- cestry of the Wyeth family see sketch of L. J. Wyeth on another page ).
From the Tuscola Review: "Tuesday morning, at his home in Garrett township.
Joseph S. Wyeth, a pioneer resident and farm- er of Douglas county, departed this life. He was seventy years and two months oldl.
"Deceased was born in Franklin county, Massachusetts. April 15. 1828. In 1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Joanna Hunt in Licking county, Ohio. Mrs. Wyeth and six children survive him, and two children long since preceded their father to the grave. Mr. Wyeth had been in poor health for many years, and the last few years of his life seldom left the home place."
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"At one time he was quite a wealthy man and was a large dealer in live stock, but ow- ing to failing health he was obliged to retire from active life a number of years ago. He leaves his family well provided for. Those who best know him speak of Mr. Wyeth in the highest praise as a citizen, neighbor and Christian man. During his life he followed the bible injunction to 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you,' and he went to the grave honored and respected ly all who knew him.
"Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon at Cartwright church, Rev. Geo. Rippey officiating, and it was one of the largest funerals ever held in Garrett township."
Mrs. Wyeth, his widow, is a daughter of Elijah Flunt and Rhoda ( Hillyer ) Hunt, who were born respectively in Vermont and Con- necticut and were engaged in agriculture pur- snits. Elijah Hunt, her father, was in the war of 1812. His death occurred February 12, 1873, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Her grandfather, Justin Hillyer, was a Revolutionary soklier. Her grandfather Hunt was a native of Vermont. To Mr. and Mrs. Wyeth were born the following children : Rhoda, wife of W. B. Brenton, of La Salle, Illinois; Franklin L., farmer in Garrett town- ship; Harry L., also a farmer in the same township; Susan, wife of Joseph Gregory, of Garrett township; Luella, wife of William Romine, of Garrett. and Daisy, who is the wife of John Burk, a merchant of Garrett. The farm upon which Mrs. Wyeth resides is owned by her and two of her sons and con- tains three hundred and thirty-seven acres.
WILLIAM T. MOORE.
William T. Moore, generally known as Squire Moore, is a leading citizen and farmer of Arcola township, and is a member of one of the earliest and most prominent families in Douglas county. Ile was born in Parke connty, Indiana, September 5, 1830, and is a son of Jacob Moore, the pioneer of the family in the county, who was a native of Kentucky.
1
'Squire Moore's grandfather. Abraham Moore, and his wife, natives of Virginia, were early settlers in Shelby county, Kentucky, where they spent the remainder of their lives. 'Squire Moore removed with his parents from Parke county to what is now known as the Moore neighborhood when he was but four years old. Ilere he grew to manhood and obtained the advantages of an ordinary school education. In 1856 he was united in mar- riage to Margaret E. Lonthan, who is a daughter of John and Margaret (Carter)
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Louthan, both of whom were born in Fred- erick county. Virginia. she being the youngest of twelve children. John Louthan was born December 11, 1779. and died May 7. 1864. Hle first removed to Edgar county, and in 1844 settled on the Okaw in Bourbon township. where he bought about one thousand acres of land. He was a son of Henry Louthan, who was a native Scotchman. His wife was a daughter of Arthur Carter, who was born in Ireland, and who later emigrated and lived in Virginia.
To Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Moore have been born six children : Sarah M., living at home : Charles A. and Ferdinand. who are prominent farmers in cele county; Laura, who is the widow of Robert Black (see sketch ), and re- Sales in Are. la: M'ce B. and Henry. Mr. Moore has for eighteen years filled the office of justice of the peace, has served three terms as township collector, and two terms as as- SessOr. He owns one hundred and ninety acres, and the oll homestead and one hundred and twenty acres in Coles county. He has been twenty-five years a Mason and a member of the Arcola lodge and chapter, and is also an Odd Fellow. He is well known and popu- lar with all classes of people and is one of the stanch Democrats of the county.
BENJAMIN W. GERE.
Benjamin W. Gere. a talented young law- ver of Arcola, with brilliant prospects in the legal profession, was admitted to practice in the courts of Illinois in February: 1807. after
having read law in the office of Barrick & Cofer, of Arcola.
Mr. Gere was born January 23. 1871, at Bourbon, and is a son of Warren B. and Jen- nie ( Thompson) Gere. Ilis father has been engaged in the grain business all his life and is one of Arcola's highly respected citizens.
Mr. Gere, in partnership with Mr. Albert Snyder, act as agents for fifteen of the leading
fire insurance companies of the country. He has served Arcola most efficiently as city at- torney. In the recent race for county attor- ney Mr. Gere was a candidate and had many friends throughout the county, but the con- ditiens were such that would force the nomi- nation of Mr. Chadwick, so Mr. Gere with- drew: by doing so it will no doubt increase his chances four years hence. He owns prob- ably the second largest law library in the county, and is rapidly forging to the front in his profession. In political opinion he is a stanch Republican and takes an active interest in his party's success.
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JOHN A. REEDER, JR.
John A. Reeder, Jr., who is one of the lead- ing farmers in Bourbon township, was born in Darke county, Ohio, October 3, 1854, and is a son of John A. and Mary B. ( Harter ) Reeder, natives of the same county in Ohio. John A. Reeder removed to Douglas county and located where his son John A. now resides. After com- ing to the county he rented for eight years and then purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land and later became one of the influential citi- zens of Bourbon township. His death occurred in 1892 in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He was also a very successful trader in both real estate and buying and selling live stock. (For further facts of the family see sketch of brother at Garrett.)
John A. Reeder was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Corbett in 1881. She is a daughter of Michael Corbett, of Arthur, who was born in Ireland in 1827. emigrated to this country in 1846 and was for five years en- ployed on Mississippi river steamboats, after which he located in Sangamon county and pur- chased fifty acres of land, paying ten dollars per acre. After working and improving it for two years he sold it for fifty dollars per acre. He then came toDouglas county, where he pur- chased land for nine dollars per acre, part of which he afterward sokl for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. In 1858 he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth York, of Sangamon coun- ty. Mr. Corbett is living a retired life at Ar- . thur.
To Mr. and Mrs. Reeder have been born five children : Harry, aged sixteen years; Bertha, fifteen ; George, thirteen; Fred, eleven, and Katie. He owns ninety acres of land,
which is a part of the old homestead, and de- servedly ranks as one of the reputable citizens of the county.
DANIEL W. REED.
Daniel W. Reed, the popular and accommo- dating deputy county clerk, was born in Tus- cola, March 11, 1864. He is a son of John T. and Annie ( Walters) Reed, who were natives of Pennsylvania. John T. Reed was reared 10. manhood in Pennsylvania, where he learned the tailor's trade, at which he worked in his young- er days, and in 1862 came to Illinois and set- tled on a farm in Tuscola township.
Daniel W. Reed grew to maturity on the farm and was engaged in school teaching for seven years, having been principally educated at the Danville, Indiana, Normal School. For two years Mr. Reed served efficiently and ac- ceptably to the citizens of Tuscola on the city police force. In 1887 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Alice Price, and to their mar- riage have been born two lovely children : Lu- cile and Louise. Mr. Reed is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Woodmen. In political opinion he has always been a con- sistent Republican and an effective worker in the ranks of his party. As an officer he is al- most universally liked by the people throughout Douglas county.
ROBERT E. MILLIGAN.
Robert E. Milligan, the accommodating and gentlemanly liveryman of Tuscola, who succeeded Dr. Ramsey to his business in 1897.
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was born in Lawrence county, Illinois, Novem- ber 24. 1856. He was reared to manhood on a farm in his native county and is a son of
David Milligan, who was also born in Law- rence county and who was a son of John Mil- ligan, who emigrated from Scotland in the early days and later became an early settler in Lawrence county. Robert E. Milligan's mother. Elvira Gront, was a daughter of Nay- ham Grout, a native of Vermont.
Robert E. Milligan, like many other snc- cessful men, has made his own way through life unaided. His rule of life has ever been one of strict integrity, and whatever he does he does well. In manner he is pleasant and genial, easily making friends and holding them.
In 1879 our subject was united in marriage to Miss Mary Butler, of Lawrence county, Illi- nois. They have one child, a daughter. Ger- trude. Mr. Milligan and wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JAMES 1. RICHMAN.
James .A. Richman is one of the best known farmers in Douglas county, and owns one of the finest and best improved farms and most beautiful homes in the county. His farm is situated in the northern part of Camargo township, and his residence is three-quarters of a mile west of Villa Grove.
Mr. Richman was born near Camargo, Illi- nois, September 13. 1844, and is the third son of David Richman. He grew to manhood on his father's farm near Camargo, and in 1864 volunteered in the Civil war and was a mem- ber of Company G. One Hundred and Thirty- fifth Regiment. In 1865 Mr. Richman was mustered out of the service and returned to his former home, and in November of the same year was married to Miss Sarah Williams, who is a daughter of John Williams, a native of Kentucky. The latter was a volunteer in the
Union army, and died while in the service in 1862. To Mr. and Mrs. Richman have been born six children, five of whom are living :
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Franklin and Charlie, both engaged in farm- ing; Hattie, wife of Dr. Gilmore, of Villa Grove; Gny, a telegraph operator in Tuscola, and John, at home. An infant daughter died in January, 1875.
In 1869 Mr. Richman bought one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which the home- stead now stands, and in April of the same year he moved upon it. By hard labor and shrewd management Mr. Richman was enabled from time to time to buy more land, and now he has equipped one of the largest and best stock farms in the county, he having devoted much of his time to the raising of cattle and hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Richman are members of the M. E. church at Villa Grove, and are always among the first to give for the aid of the poor and needy. Mr. Richman has always been a strong supporter of the Democratic party.
James A. Richman is a member of the old and prominent Richman family which enjoys the distinction of being the oklest settled family in the county, his grandfather, John A. Richman, having been the oldest resident in the county at the time of his death. He located here over three-quarters of a century ago, the first permanent white settler in the district now embraced in Douglas county, The Richmans are of English and German (lescent. David Richman was born in Green- brier county. West Virginia, October 25, 1816. When in his eleventh year his family left Vir- ginia. John A. Richman, his father, had a large family of children and wanted more land, hence his removal from Virginia to Illinois. The cattle, sheep and horses could not be sold at home, and so were driven to their western destination. Arriving in Vermilion county, 13
Illinois, they settled on the head of the Little Vermilion river. Here they lived on rented land, and raised two crops. In company with one Moses Bradshow, Mr. Richman's father visited the Embarrass timber on a bee hunt. In eight or ten days they got three or four bar- rels of honey. Mr. Richman was so well pleased with the land in the neighborhood of where they encamped that he resolved to re- move to that country and take up some of the wild land there. The family left Vermilion county in May following and settled on the Embarrass timber one-half mile west of Cam- argo. There was not another family of whites living in the present limits of the county at the time. There were no settlers north of Charleston. For a year they remained the only family in the county. In about eighteen months after their arrival they had a neighbor in Isaac Moss, who settled abont a mile east of the present town of Camargo. The In- dians were in the neighborhood for about three years after their arrival. Bridgeport now oc- cupies the site of their old village. They came in the fall and remained over winter, and in the spring journeyed further north, where they spent the summer. The first som- mer the Richmans lived in a rough camp built of logs split in two. They commenced farm- ing by trying to break the prairie. "but found their teams too weak for this, and so began work in the timber. They kept at work, clear- ing, breaking and planting, till the 10th of July, when they succeeded in putting fourteen acres in with corn. They then began work at building a house. The logs were hewn out. and part on the ground, when several mem- bers of the family were taken down with the ague, seven out of eleven, and for several
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months were able to do nothing whatever. Their house was not put up in consequence till the succeeding summer. This house may still be seen in a good state of preservation, just north of the railroad and half a mile west of Camargo. For many years the family en- dured the hardships and inconveniences of pio- neer life. Their pork was sold for one dollar and a half to two dollars a hundred, but they saved a little money even at these prices and in- vested it in land, till finally the amount reached seven hundred acres.
.At the age of twenty-three David Rich- man was married to Ruth Haines, a native of Ohio. To them were born seven children : John, George. James, Samuel, William, Tay- lor and David, of whom John. George and David are deceased. Mr. Richman's life was full of hardships and exposure. In 1832 he contracted a severe cold, which settled upon his lungs and soon resulted in his death.
OLIVER T. HUNT.
First Lieutenant Oliver T. Ilunt ( known as Captain), a retired farmer of Tuscola, Illi- nois, and a well known and highly respected citizen of the county, is a native of Randolph county. Indiana, and was born within eight miles to Winchester, the county seat, June 13, 1832. He is a son of Miles Hunt, who mar- ried Mary L. Botkin; they were natives re- spectively of Fleming county, Kentucky, and Knox county, Tennessee. Bazil Hunt (grand- father) was born in England. Four brothers of the Hunt family came from England in
about the year .1779 or 1780. One was killed in the Revolutionary war; one settled in Mary- land: one in Virginia, and Bazil, the grand- father of the subject, settled in Fleming coun- ty, Kentucky, and moved in an early day to Indiana, where he died, leaving a family and widow. Miles Hunt. his youngest son, laid out and platted the village of Huntsville, ex- pecting at some future time it would become the county seat. His family were eleven in number, seven boys and four girls. . All the
children married when of age and settled as follows: Three of the girls, Malinda Keever. Rachel Stevenson and Caroline Okerson, were all married in Randolph county, Indiana, and moved to Nodaway county, Missouri, with their husbands. Also John C. Hunt, who married Emma Lane in Atchison county, Mis- souri, and is an attorney of no mean standing in Rockport, the county seat of Atchison coun- ty. William Tipton Hunt was married on the same date as was our subject, to Celestine Baum, daughter of Charles Baum, of Vermil-
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