USA > Illinois > Douglas County > Historical and biographical record of Douglas County, Illinois > Part 25
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hundred and sixty acres, that he gave his grandson. E. C. Remick, is situated four miles north of Newman and is decidedly the most beautiful and attractive country home in this vicinity. Mr. Culbertson has erected a beanti- ful brick business block and it was principally (luie to his efforts that the town of Newman has over six miles of fine concrete sidewalks. He is still hale and hearty, active and straight, and wouldl easily be taken for a man not more than past sixty.
DANIEL A. CONOVER.
D. A. Conover, ex-circuit clerk and record er, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania. on one of the farms where the battle of Gettys-
burg was afterward fought. About 1840 our subject with his parents moved to Owen coun- ty, Indiana ; he was given a thorough school- ing at the Bloomington, Indiana, state univer-
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sity and at twenty years of age he engaged with his brother in the drug business at Bow- ling Green. Clay county, Indiana. After a year he bought his brother's interest and owned the store until 1864. In 1862 he organized Company D. Seventy-First Indiana Volunteer Infantry. . At the battle of Richmond, Kentucky. he was wounded and taken prisoner, but at night with some others escaped. The Seventy- first sustained such loss that the reorganiza- tion was abandoned. The remaining members returned to Terre Haute and there organized the Sixth Indiana Cavalry and Mr. Conover was commissioned major. Owing to disabilities sustained at Richmond he was mustered out at Knoxville, Tennessee, and on returning home he was appointed provost marshal of the sev- enth Indiana district with headquarters at Ter- re llaute : he was appointed inspector of inter- publican ticket for mayor of Terre llante. In 1869 he came to Tuscola where he afterward resided. Hle traveled for eleven years in the in- terests of a Cincinnati hat house until 1880, when he was elected to an office on the Re- publican ticket. On January 24. 1854, he mar- ried Miss Bradshaw N. Elkin, of Bowling Green, Indiana. Major Conover belonged to the Masonic lodge from the age of twenty- one years; was a Knight Templar of Melita Commandery and was circuit clerk and record- er. Mr. Conover was respected in Tuscola up until his death.
DR. C. RUTHERFORD, M. D.
Natural ability, thorough study and long experience have placed Dr. C. Rutherford in
the very front rank of successful professional men of Douglas county. He is a native of Illi- nois and the son of Dr. and Mrs. H. Ruther- ford, of Oakland, Illinois, being born in the present family residence in Oakland. August 14. 1850. After the completion of a common school education he taught school in and near Oakland for three years, during which time he was engaged in the study of medicine. After this he attended lectures and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, the 12th of March, 1877. He returned to Oakland and began the practice of medicine, which he continued until
he came to Newman. September 27. 1877. and has ever since been actively engaged in his chosen profession, building up as he has a large and lucrative practice.
Dr. Rutherford was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. McIntyre on the 22nd of Sep- tember, 1885, and together with his family oc-
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cupies a very neat residence in the south part of the city. To Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford have been born two children, Eugenie, born June 29, 1892, and Florence, born July 8, 1894. He has served on the school board twelve years and was elected the first president under the new organization of seven members, having been re- elected each year since, which is conclusive evi- dence that he serves the people honorably in that capacity.
When the people of Newman desired to convert Newman into a city, he was chosen as the proper man for the mayoralty and was elected. He is a prominent member of the Ma- sonic and K. of P. lodges of this city. His medical skill has been the means of him being selected as a member of the board of pension examiners and also elected county coroner for four years, although his extensive practice kept him for serving as coroner. Dr. Rutherford has always been a great promoter of Newman's interests and in 1890 in partnership with R. Thomas was the designer of the beautiful New- man cemetery. A city full and running over with such men as Dr. Rutherford could not help but advance. "God made the country and man makes the town" as the old saying goes ; and it is a true one. Every town is just what its inhabitants make it, is dead or alive according to the composition of its men. Of course all can not be leaders; some have not the talent, others have not the time. But when the leader arises, then the duty of the ordinary citizen is to follow in the wake of his advancing foot- steps. Dr. Rutherford possesses honest quali- fications and so varied are his gifts that many men naturally seek his companionship for con- sultation. Noble models make noble minds.
W. W. PEPPER.
W. W. Pepper, a popular lawyer and a suc- cessful young business man, was born on a farm seven miles south of Newman May 24, 1866, and is the eldest of seven children born to Dudley H. and Nancy Liston Pepper. His fa- ther was a native of Kentucky and resides at Oakland. Mr. Pepper received his early edu-
cation in the public schools of Oakland and afterward took a three-years' course in the University of Illinois in Champaign. After leaving the university he took a two-years' law course at the Northwestern University at Evanston and was graduated with honor in 1893, shortly afterward being admitted to the bar.
On June 28, 1890, Mr. Pepper married Miss Nora Hinds, of Hindsboro. In March, 1894, Mr. Pepper located in Newman and com- menced the practice of law. He became at once deservedly popular and in May, 1895, was
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chosen city attorney, which office he filled with lue honor until the expiration of his time. He was re-elected to the same office, but resigned to look after his other business. It can be truly said of him that he is a man peculiarly after his own style. Ile has no model and seeks after none, save that which is the creation of his own mind. Starting out in life as he did, without means, perseverance and energy consti- inted his only capital. Ile entered his profes- sion with a determination to fully acquaint himself with the law and the rules of practice. This he has done. He has built up and now en- joys an extensive practice in all the courts of Douglas county. His splendid success is due to the fact that he is a ceaseless worker and when once employed he pursues his case until he has thoroughly mastered it in all its de- tails.
OLIVER O. HOCKETT.
Oliver O. Hlockett, one of the younger members of the medical fraternity of Douglas county, and one of the leading men in the social, professional and educational life of New- man, was born in Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, March 2, 1866. He was graduated from the high school of Paris in 1882 and subsequently entered the state university at Champaign, where he remained for three years. He then took up the study of medicine with Dr. M. P. Smith, with whom he remained until he en- tered Chicago Hahnemann College, from which well known institution he was graduated in the class of 1889, and the following year he spent in the Hahnemann hospital. In March,
1890, he came to Newman and opened out in the general practice of medicine, and has suc- ceeded far beyond his expectations. He is skilled and successful, and although having been in Newman but a few years, he enjoys one of the most extensive and lucrative practices in the county. He is a member of the Hahne- mann Medical Society, contributes to the medi- cal journals and keeps himself thoroughly in touch with the advancements being made in his profession. As a diagnostician in his pro- fession, as well as in his judgment of human nature, he would pass muster in any com- munity.
Dr. Hockett is a son of Mahlon and Mary
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( Kimble) Hockett, natives of Vermilion and Edgar counties respectively. His father was a well-to-do carriage manufacturer. who has re- cently retired. During the war of the Rebel- lion he was first lieutenant of the First Missouri Volunteers. His grandfather Kimble walked from Ohio to Edgar county, and died in 1877 worth ninety thousand dollars. In 1895 our
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subject married Miss Luella Gillespie, and has by this marriage one child, named J. Maxwell. Dr. Hockett has a suite of rooms in the Swag- gert building, which is his office, elegantly fitted up, and where he takes care of a large and growing practice, built up by close appli- cation to his work. While in medical college special honors were conferred upon him, and on his entering the great school of active life his thorough education and medical training did him great service in beginning his practice. He is thoroughly equipped with the finest out- fits for use in his specialties that can be had. Socially he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. and in 1881 was a member of Company 11. Eighth Regiment, Illinois State Militia, retir- ing in 1887.
J. W. PIHLLIPS.
Of the many leading and successful busines; men of Tuscola who have fought their way suc- cessfully through life and who have been the architect of their own fortune in the true sense of that term is the subject of this sketch. Hie is a dealer in poultry, produce, fish, etc., and is also interested in the ice business. He founded his present business in Tuscola in 1896, con- structing a building Sox20 feet, and one and one-half stories high. This building burned in August of the following year, and he im- mediately erected on the same site a more com- modious one. 120x30 feet. It is safe to say that Mr. Phillips' poultry business is one of the very largest in the state outside of Chicago. Ile has about twenty-five men traveling and buying poultry and produce throughout the year. For fifteen years previous to his com- 15
ing to Tuscola he was engaged in the same line at Arthur.
Mr. Phillips was born in Clay county, Ten- nessee, April 18, 1861, his parents removing when he was quite young to Hawkins county, some fifty-five miles east of Knoxville, in the same state. He is a son of William Phillips.
who was a native of Hawkins county. Tennes- see. William married Miss Emily Phillips ( 10 relation, though bearing the same name ). The father died in 1863, and his mother in 1898. aged seventy-seven years. In February, 1881. Mr. Phillips wedded Miss Nellie M. Fitch, of Coles county, Illinois. They have four chil. dren : Vena, Dona, E. W. and Herald. Mr. Phillips is a member of the Woodmen and Redmen.
MALDEN JONES.
In touching upon the history of Douglas county for the past sixty years, none have been more prominently connected with its growth
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and industrial expansion than the Hon. Maken Jones. He endured all the hardsh's ine dent in the rough pioneer life and has passed through a most honorable and enviable career. He is a native of Lee county, Virginia, and was horn February 8, 1818. When a child he went with his parents to Kentucky, where he was reared and where, at about the age of seven- teen, he entered a store as clerk and remained
three years. In 1840 he came west, making the trip on horseback, settled with his brother, Al- fred, five miles southwest of Arcola, and there engaged in farming and the live stock business. In 1848 he removed to his present locality and. in company with Mr. Gruelle, opened a general store about half a mile north of Bourbon, his store being the only one west of Charleston. He was engaged extensively in buying and selling cattle and horses, and drove them from his home to Wisconsin, which at that time was the only market worthy of the name in the west. They continued at this point about one
year. Mr. Jones then built a store in Bourbon and laid out the town. He continued merchan- chsing here about six years. In 1858 he was elected sheriff of the county of Coles, and re- moved to Charleston. There he resided for three years, returning to Bourbon in 1861. He was elected to the Legislature in 1864 and re- elected in 1866, and was the first member elected from the new county of Douglas. In 1876 he was elected state senator and served four years. He was also a candidate for the senate in 1880, but was defeated by a few votes.
On coming to Coles, now Douglas county, he had but forty dollars and a pony. He How owns fifteen hundred acres of land and the finest residence in the township, which cost over six thousand dollars. He was married in 1880 to Mary, daughter of Isaac Gruelle. who was one of the earliest settlers of this county. Eleven children have blessed this union, nine now living, four sons and five daughters. Ilis wife died June 23. 1895. in her sixty-first year. Amongst Mr. Jones' neigh- bors, when he first settled in the vicinity of Bourbon, might be mentioned the Abbots. Sto- vals, Ellises and the Chandlers. Mr. Jones and Lemuel Chandler, in the 1860 days of okl. were the leading stump speakers and authorities of the day. and being on opposite sides of the important political questions, made the okl brick school house in Bourbon fairly ring with the eloquent pros and cons of political debate. the condiments of which were not a little per- sonal feeling, which, to the knowing ones, lent an added zest to their enjoyment; but, happy to say, old time fixed them with his glitter- ing eye at last and the foolishness of political animosity gracefully gave way to the sober philosophy of increasing years. In a public
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career of about forty-five years. Mr. Jones, while occupying positions of trust and respon- sibility, such as sheriff, representative and state senator, has retained his integrity and, conse- quently, the respect of his fellow citizens. His character has never been assailed and he stands before the world to-day retaining the reputa- tion of an honest and influential man. Mr. Jones is universally respected. He has seen many changes in the county and at the sunset of life still takes an active and influential part in the political, social and industrial life of the day.
ALLAN CAMPBELL.
Allan Campbell, son of John Campbell, died October 13, 1875. Without a sketch and por-
trait of Allan Campbell this book would be very incomplete, as the Campbell family was
among the earliest and most prominent pioneers in Bourbon township. Allan came before his father, and soon after his arrival bought five acres of land just south of Lesterville, at the Bagdad bridge, and ran a ferry here for three years. Allan Campbell was born in Knox coun- ty, Kentucky, in 1809. His grandfather, Allan Campbell, was born in Virginia, and was among the early settlers in Kentucky. His father, John Campbell, removed to Bourbon township soon after his brother. His mother was Lu- cinda Sullivan, also a native of Kentucky.
Allan Campbell first married Miss Mary Ann Hoots, who was a daughter of David Hoots, of a German family. Of this marriage there are three children living, all residing in Bourbon township: Hiram, John H. and , the wife of. William Warmsley. His first wife died, and onFebruary 13, 1851, he wedded Miss Mary Fleming, who still survives him. She was born in Parke county, Indiana, and was a daughter of Stephen and Jane ( Kerr) Fleming. Her father was born in Fleming county. Kentucky, and her mother in Pennsylvania. Her grandfather. Stephen Fleming, was a native of Scotland, and her grandfather. Thomas Kerr, was a native of Ireland. To Allan Campbell and Mary Flem- ing Campbell were born three sons and one daughter, now living: Joseph .A .. James H .. AAnnette, who is the wife of Albert Ellers, of Garrett township, and Stephen S. At the time of Mr. Allan's death he owned about thirty-five hundred acres of land. At that time it was divided up between the widow and the children Mrs. Campbell receiving nine hundred and twenty acres, all in Bourbon township. which she still owns. She resides on the okdl
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Campbell homestead, two miles south of Lester- ville. She is in her seventy-fourth year, and is a devout member of the Presbyterain church.
T. W. SWIGART.
T. W. Swigart, the leading harness dealer and one of the most successful business men in Newman and Douglas county, was born in Car- roll county, Maryland. in sight of Westminis- ter. July 3. 1831, and was a son of Joseph Swi- gart. When nine years of age T. W. Swigart removed with his parents to Seneca county, Ohio, where he spent a large portion of his life on a farm. From the years 1848 to 1851 he devoted his time to learning the trade of har-
nessmaker at Bellfontaine, Ohio. He was a young man of good habits and of splendid me- chanical turn of mind; he learned the trade thoroughly and soon became a first-class work- man. In the year 1852 he removed to Attica,
Indiana, where he resided and worked at his trade successfully up to the year 1870, when he went to Princeton, Illinois. There he met Miss Sarah Jane Martin, who, in 1871, became his wife. In the same year he came to Danville, Illinois, where he followed his trade until the month of February. 1873, when he came to Newman and succeeded Speelman & Ogden in the harness business. During his residence in Newman he has become one of the most suc- cessful business men in the city and has accum- ulated quite a lot of property. In politics he is thoroughly independent and there is very little of hypocrisy in his nature. He is thor- oughly candid and outspoken in his convictions. He has served three terms as president of the town board. He has also been a member of the board of health and director of the Building & Loan Association. He is a Mason and mem- ber of the Knights of Honor. In his business relations with the public he is unimpeachable and supplies the people for miles around with the most improved style of harness. He is a clever gentleman and respected by most every lxxly.
EDWARD W. CALVIN.
Edward W. Calvin, the leading druggist and owner of both livery stables of Newman, was born in Wayne county. Illinois, December 21. 1860. He is a son of Dr. J. W. Calvin, who was born in Kentucky in 1829, and he the son of Hiram Calvin, who was a native of Virginia. His father was a graduate of Rush Medical College. He married Sarah Brown, of New Buffalo, Michigan, whose
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death occurred some twenty years ago. He has practiced at various places, was at Newman one year and is at present in active and success- ful practice at Toledo, Ohio.
E. W. Calvin has for several years exten- sively engaged in buying and selling horses and has been remarkably successful in all busi- ness enterprises in which he has been interested. In June, 1897, he opened out in the drug busi- ness and keeps on hands one of the most com- plete assortments of drugs found in a first-class drug store.
In 1889 he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Smith, of Vermilion county. They have one child, Okal McCrea. Mrs. Calvin is a daughter of Michael Smith, who was born in Vermilion county, Illinois. Her mother was Mary Ann Snapp. She was a daughter of George Snapp, a native of Richmond, Virginia, He was a carriagemaker by trade and after working some time at his trade in Richmond he removed to Georgetown, Vermilion county. He was in the war of 1812. Mrs. Calvin's
grandfather, Joseph Smith, was a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and later removed to Vermilion county, where he resided until his death. In about 1890 Mrs. Calvin started her present millinery store in Newman and carries a stock as large and varied as can be found in many towns of from ten thousand to fifteen thousand people. Edward W. Calvin has made a success of every business venture he has ever undertaken. He takes an active interest in po- litical and social affairs and is public spirited and interests himself in everything that helps Newman and Douglas county.
JACOB R. MOORE.
Jacob Rice Moore, who recently died. was one of the best known and most generally respected farmers in the county. His illness lingered and lasted for two long years before death relieved him. There were probably but few people in the neighborhood of Arcola and its surroundings who were aware that Mr. Moore at the time of his death was one of the oldest residents of the county. He was born within sight of the place on which he died and the same section of rich Illinois soil which claims the honor of his birth witnessed his rise to manhood and his gradual advance- ment to comparative old age. For sixty-two years he lived and thrived on the same farm where his birth occurred, when Douglas county was unheard of and the old prairie state was a wilderness of a few scattering hamlets. Be- fore Arcola was a dot on the map he was liv- ing on the farm where he died and he wit-
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nesed the swamp lands of the county mature mto the richest and one of the most fertile counties on the continent. He was one of those quiet, unassuming men who let the great world fight its battles while he built a beauti- ful home for his wife and interesting children. Ile was careful and economical and what he earned he saved. Through this method of economy, his land interests broadened out and
1
he became one of the successful men in the business affairs of the community. It is said of Mr. Moore that during his entire life he was never absent from his home more than a period of thirty days at the most.
Jacob R. Moore was born September 18. 1836, and died June 2. 1899, aged sixty-two years, eight months and fourteen days. Ile was married to Mary W. Bacon, of Bourbon, December 31. 1862. To them were born seven children, whose names are as follows : Richard. George B., Rice J., Anna M., Wade 11., Emma B. S., and Leonore Moore. As a neighbor. Mr. Moore was always ready to lend
a helping hand and passed through the trials incident to the life of early settlers in what was then the far west. For years he was one of the directors of the First National Bank of Arcola. Ile helped to build Bethel church, and lent valuable aid in organizing the congregation during the fall of 1883. although not an active member: he and his wife became members October 4, 1884, and in June. 1800, he was raised to the dignity of eller. Mr. Moore was a man of strong. positive character and unswerving dignity, and in his death the com- munity in which he had so long resided lost a kind neighbor and a good c'tizen, and the church with which he had been so closely identified, one of its strongest stays and most helpful members.
Capt. Rice J. Moore, a son, volunteered in the Illinois National Guard, March 31. 1894; saw field service in Chicago, in July. 1894: appointed corporal July 10. 1895: appointed quartermaster sergeant March 15. 1807: commissioned second lieutenant Fourth Infantry, Illinois Volunteers, May 20. 1898: detached from Fourth Regiment July 25. 1898. and assigned to Engineer Corps of the Ser- enth Army Corps in 1898. He resigned his commission in the army November 9. 1898. and returned to the farm.
GEORGE W. BROCK.
George W. Brock, one of the reliable and representative farmers of Newman township. residing within the corporate limits of the city of Newman, was born twelve miles south-
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west of Crawfordsville, Indiana, September 8, 1846. llis father, Seth Brock, was a native of Warren county, Ohio. He was a carpenter by trade and farmed also, owning farms in
Wayne and Montgomery counties; he later removed to Mason county, Illinois. He was a strong pro-slavery man, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; was born in 1813 and died in 1873. He wedded Mary A. Palmer, who was a daughter of Jesse Pal- mer, a native of North Carolina, but who be- came one of the early settlers of Indiana. Elijah Brock ( grandfather ) was born in Ohio.
George W. Brock was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. At the age of sixteen years, on account of a severe spell of sickness, he lost the use of his right side. He married at Camp Butler, Miss Ma- linda Vanhook, daughter of Thomas and Matilda (Mann) Vanhook, and the result of this union was one child living. AAda Lucy, aged fifteen years, and three dead : Phillip L., Harry C. and Ethel Ellen. Mrs. Brock,
who was a most estimable woman, died Feb- ruary 16, 1899. She was a devoted member of the Christian church at Newman and her loss was deeply felt in church circles.
Mr. Brock owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Newman township, and three acres inside the corporate limits of Newm'un. He is one of the useful citizens of Newmru township, careful and prompt in business, aud at his home courteous and hospitable.
FRANCIS A. MCCARTY.
Francis .A. McCarty was one of the most remarkably successful business men who ever resided in Douglas county. Ile was born in Schuyler county, New York. April 23, 1837.
and died at his home in Filson, May 14, 1899. - He was a son of John and Laura ( Frost ) Mc- Carty, natives of New England.
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