Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 128

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

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Mr. and Mrs. Renshaw settled on the farm where he was born, aud there his children were also born, they being: Georgia Etta, wife of W. A. McNeal, a farmer of Minuesota, issue. Elmer, Guy, Eruest and Bert; Wiley P., born April 28, 1879, operating the farm with his father; Jessie Elizabeth, born July 11, 1880, mentioned below; Arthur B., born July 17, 1883, is also assisting ou the farm. Mrs. Ren- shaw died September, 27, 1910, aged seventy years and two days. She was one of the ac- tive members of the Methodist Church, and a true, noble-hearted, Christian woman. Kind of heart and gentle of manner, she was loved by all who knew her. During the early days she never complained of hardships, but nobly bore her share, and gave her life to the care of her husband and children. Yet in spite of her many home duties, no one in distress ever found her lacking with sympathy and material help. Since her demise Miss Jessie has bravely shouldered the responsibilities of the house- hold and is trying to make her father and brothers comfortable. She is a charming young lady, a fine housekeeper and possessed of those characteristics which make women loved by their families.

Mr. Renshaw has witnessed inany changes in- the county. His farm contains 170 acres, a part of the farm entered from the Government by his father. He inherits the latter's good judgment with reference to stock and has been very successful in breeding. He makes a specialty of Duroc-Jersey hogs, carrying about 150 head of swine at all times. His stock is registered and of standard breed. Like many of those who have passed through pioneer days, he looks back to those times with regret. Forgetting the discomforts he remembers the merry times when the little log cabin rang with gay langhter and hungry boys and girls de- voured the food set before them. His father was among the first to bring a threshing mna- chine into the county, and he remembers well the excitement over it, although now that old machine would appear very clumsy. In politics

Mr. Reushaw is a Republicau, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. He is still a subscriber to the Illinois State Journal, for many years published by Paul Sel- by, editor of this work for the Munsell Publish- ing Co. of Chicago, to which Mr. Renshaw's father also was a subscriber. He has never sought public office, preferring to devote his time to his private affairs. However, he has always been ready to lend his influence towards secur- ing good government and improvement of exist- ing couditions. For many years he has been a meruber of the Methodist Church, but Miss Jes- sle aud Benjaurin beloug to the Baptist Church.

RHEA, Edwin L .- The agricultural interests of Sangamon County are represented by men whose progressive ideas and advanced methods have placed them in the front ranks, and among them oue who has already attained an enviable success is Edwin L. Rhea, residing on Section 24, New Beriin Township. He was born in Is- land Grove Township, April 3, 1868, being a son of Stepheu Edwin Rhea, a complete history of whom appears elsewhere in this work, Mr. Rhea grew up on the homestead, attending dis- trict school and the schools of New Berlin. Following his inclinatious, Mr. Rhea has de- voted himself to farming, taking charge of his father's property of 125 acres of highly culti- vated land. He has just rebuilt his barns, in- cluding a fiue dairy barn, having entered the dairy business in 1901. His Jersey cows are of the highest breed obtainable and he now has a herd of thirty-five head, selling his product at Jacksonville, where he received the highest market prices. He has disposed of dairy in- terests and kept only his Jersey cattle. He has also made a specialty of breeding the Du- roc Jersey hogs, shipping about 100 head per year. These, too, net him the highest prices, owing to their superior quality. His dairy barn is one of the finest in central Illinois, holding thirty head of cattle, with eighteen milking stations. He has many improved appliances for caring for the milk and is constantly buy- ing new contrivances, for he is a man who be- lieves in progressing. His machinery is oper- ated by an eight-horse-power gas engine, and he takes great pride in his equipment. · His Percheron horses command a ready sale, for his stock is all registered.

For forty-two years Mr. Rhea has been iden- tified with the best agricultural interests of this county, and he is regarded as an authority on everything pertaining to farming or stock- raising. His specialties have been Jersey cat- tie and Duroc-Jersey hogs, and he has shown what can be done with these breeds.

The marriage of Mr. Rhea took place on Feb- ruary 1, 1893, when he was united with Edith Hart, born December 13. 1872, in Morgan Coun- ty, Ill., daughter of Louis and Jane (Donahue) Hart, natives of Vermont and Morgan County, Ill. Both survive, living on a farm near Wa- verly. They were among the pioneers of Mor-

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gan County and the grandfather conducted one of the first taverns, at which stage coach horses were changed iu the long trips made across that County. Mrs. Rhea is one of two children born to her parents, but the other, a brother, Mil- ton, died at the age of seventeen years. Mr. Rhea was his parents' only child. Mr. and Mrs. Rhea have had children as follows: Julia, boru June 1, 1895; Louisa, boru March 6, 1899 ; Edwin L., boru April 24, 1902; and Margaret, born August 28, 1904.

Mrs. Rhea is an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, while Mr. Rhea is con- nected with the Baptist deuominatiou. Both of them belong to the Court of Honor, while he belongs to the Odd Fellows of New Berlin and has been a member of the Modern Wood- men of Anuerica twenty-three years. His political views make him a Democrat, and he has been active in the good work of that party. Being strongly in favor of temperance, he played an important part iu the crusade of 1908. In ad- dition to his farming interests, Mr. Rhea has found time to invent a refrigeration of cans, by meaus of which milk can be shipped in per- fect safety. Kindly, energetic, a good husiness man and a far-sighted farmer, Mr. Rhea is a man of whoin his couuty may well be proud. He has accomplished much in his life, and is looking forwards to doing much more, for he is in the very prime of mauhood and progressive to the utmost. Both he and his wife are pop- ular socially and welcome their many friends to their pleasant home upon the farm where he was born.

RHEA, Stephen Edwin, who owns an excellent property in Island Grove Township which he devotes to farming, is one of the old and hon- ored residents of that part of Sangamon Coun- ty and a son of one of the first settlers there. He was born November 4, 1843, in a log cabin in Island Grove Township, a son of John Rhea. James Rhea, the grandfather of Stephen E. Rhea, was a native of Barren County, Ky., where he was married to Rachel Jolloff, and came to Illinois prior to the great snow which began falling December 28, 1830, killing man and beast alike. Some of the pioneers at- tempted to drive their hogs and other live-stock to St. Louis to provide shelter for them, and but few of these were saved, one pioneer losing his entire drove of 500 animals. James Rhea had settled first in Jefferson County about 1820 or '21 and engaged in farming government land, but later took up freighting and made a trip to Galena. Returning through central Illinois, he was so impressed with the possibilities of San- gamon County that on his return home he gave his Jefferson County land to his eldest son and came to Sangamon. This son, who was a sol- dier during the Black Hawk War, died of sick- ness contracted during his service, and his sword and shoulder straps are now in the pos- session of Stephen E. Rhea. James Rhea came to Sangamon County in time to be one of those

who suffered during the great storm, but with true pioneer grit started all over again, and built a log cabin of hewn logs ou his new property iu Is- land Grove Towuship. This log cabin boasted a huge fire-place in its uorth eud aud doors on the east and west sides, and the logs for the fire were hauled right iuto the cabin by au old ox named Buck. Greased paper formed the meaus by which light was admitted to the cabiu, which was one and one-half stories high and the finest in the section at that time. Mr. Rhea used pioueer methods iu farming his land, but was a faithful, energetic worker, becoming suc- cessful aud possessed of much property. A faithful member of the Baptist Church, he was ever charitably aud hospitably iucliued, aud in his death Saugamou Couuty lost one of its noble pioneers, who was extensively mourned. During the War of 1812 he served under Ad- miral Perry on the Great Lakes. Mr. Rhea was the father of these children: James, Rich- ard, William, John, Thomas, Mrs. Mary Aus- bury aud Mrs. Nancy Foutch.

John Rhea, father of Stephen E. Rhea, was boru July 14, 1811, and was married Novem- ber 14, 1839, to Julia Starks, who was boru June 21, 1823. They had these children : James B., of Midland, Tex. ; Stephen E. ; Mary Anu, deceased, who was the wife of John F. Wilcox, of Arizona ; Thomas, a farmer in Fremont Coun- ty, Iowa ; Johu H. and Abigail, who died iu in- fancy ; and Martha E., widow of J. R. Smith, of Polk County, Mo. John Rhea was born in Barren County, Ky., wheuce he accompanied his parents to Illinois at an early day, becoming one of the leadiug meu of Sangamon County and a leader in the Baptist Church, which was organized in his father's house, and of which he was the first clerk. Mr. Rhea was a great Bible student and an authority on ali matters pertaining to the church, his advice naturally being much sought. Mr. Rhea died June 19, 1883. his wife having passed to her rest April 23, 1879.

Stephen Edwin Rhea was born iu the original log cabin on the Rhea homestead, but when he was still a small boy his father erected a more commodious abode. He well remembers the trials and tribulations of pioneer days, as he was rocked in a cradle made of a hollowed log, worked as a lad at the hard, uuremitting toil of the sugar camp, and was compelled to use a second-hand corn dropper, by which he was supposed to drop straight, like the present check row drops so that the corn may be ploughed both ways, an invention then un- dreamed of. His education was secured in the district schools of his day and he was reared to the life of a farmer, remaining at home un- til he was twenty-one years old. He was mar- ried November 2, 1865, to Lucy A. Wilcox, who was born March 9, 1846, in Island Grove Town- ship, a daughter of Joshua and Matilda (Car- ruthers) Wilcox, early pioneers of Illinois, who now lie buried in the Moore burial ground. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Rhea, Ed-

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win L., a sketch of whose life will be found in another part of this work. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rhea speut four years in Iowa, and at the end of that time returned to the old homestead, of which he took charge. Event- ually he purchased the interest of the other heirs of the property, which he has since de- veloped into one of the finest farms in his part ot Sangamon County: Mr. Rhea united with the Baptist Church when fifteeu years of age and his wife joined that denomination after their marriage. Fraternally he is a Mason, having joiued that organization wheu about twenty- two years old, and he is also a member of New Berlin Camp of Modern Woodmen. He is a Democrat in politics, but of late years lias been giving his vote to the man whom he thinks best qualified to fill the office, and he has always been a toe to liquor interests. For two years he represented Berlin Township on the Board of Supervisors, and on two different occasions has been foreman of the Sangamon County Grand Jury.

Personally Mr. Rhea is a pleasant, sociable gentleman, and his strict integrity in all walks of life have gained the confidence of all who have come into contact with him, while his fund of experience and reminiscence of early days in the county make him an excellent com- panion.

RHODES, Clarence M .- Sangamon County, Ill., has the reputation of turning out good men young. The citizens of the county, and espe- cially of Springfield, are quick to recognize a good man and to gauge his true worth, and they made no mistake when they chose Clar- ence M. Rhodes to take up the heavy responsi- bilities incidental to the office of Coroner. Mr. Rhodes is a native of the county, born at Rochester, December 1, 1872, a son of W. H. and Mary Rhodes.

The education of Mr. Rhodes was secured in the public schools of Sangamon County, and until the last four years, he resided on a farm. He served for three years as Assessor of Salis- bury Township, and from 1906, until 1908, served as Riding Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Charles Werner. In 1908, he was nominated by the Democratic party for the office of Cor- oner of Sangamon County and the majority he received at the ensuing election, proved his popularity. He is a faithful, conscientious pub- lic official and in every capacity in which he has served has proven himself the right man for the place. Although his political career has just begun, he has shown the people that he can be relied upon to performn his duties fully and ably, and just as the people are quick to rec- ognize and appreciate a good man, just so are they loath to let a good man go. Mr. Rhodes does not need to fully rely upon his friends in the Democratic organization, for he is one of those rare politicians who have friends in every party. He belongs to the Masons, the Wood- men. Redmen and the Independent Order of

Odd Fellows, in all of which he is immensely popular, and he can depend upon the stanch friendship and support of the majority of the members of the fifty-three labor organizations throughout the county. He is the owner of valuable farming property in Sangamon County and in Texas,

In 1897 Mr. Rhodes married Ethel Hodgen, at Petersburg, Ill., and they have one son, Glenn. The family residence is at No. 209 North State Street.

RICH, Benjamin .- Perhaps no country has con- tributed more generously to the best citizen- ship of the United States than has England. Certainly no higher type can be found in the country than representatives of that older civil- ization, those sturdy, substantial qualities are shown in their reverence for the law, the found- ing of homes, their enlightened attitude toward education, their support of religion aud their almost universal acquirement of financial inde- pendeuce.

Benjamin Rich, the present Recorder of San- gamon County, Ill., was born at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, March 18, 1854. His par- ents were John and Eliza (Bush) Rich, na- tives of England, where the former was en- gaged in farming. In 1861 the father brought his family to America and they settled at Johns- town, Pa., whence they came to Springfield in 1873.

The first seven years of Benjamin Rich's Ilfe. were spent in his native land, where he began his education, enjoying good advantages for se- curing an education after the family located at Johnstown. When the family located in Spring- field the young man began working in the roll- ing mills, where he remained until 1882, then engaged in dairy business, which he continued until 1896, when he was first nominated for his present office. He was elected in the fall of that year and has been re-elected three times since, so that he is now serving his fourth term. An ardent Republican, he has pulled through these successive elections, while the bulk of his ticket has been defeated in most of them. He is a warm friend of organized labor and carries a large vote among the laboring classes. The people fully realze that he has given thein most faithful service and, follow- ing the general rule which is an admirable fea- ture of Sangamon County politics, they have re- warded him by retaining him in office, so that the prospects are that Mr. Rich may confidently ex- pect to be renominated and elected to his pres- ent office in 1912. He filled several public offices before assuming his present one, as he served five successive years as President of the Village Board of Ridgely, two years as Tax Collector of Springfield Township, four years as Supervisor of Springfield Township (being Chairman of the County Board one year), and also as a member of the board of School Dis- strict No. 48, at Ridgely. Though his life has been a busy one. he has found time to give

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considerable time and attention to the educa- tional needs of his community. He is con- sidered a most efficient public official and is correspondingly popular. Personally Mr. Rich possesses those sterling qualities and courtcous manners which attract and cement friendship.

Mr. Rich was married in November, 1878, at Springfield, Ill., to Miss Annie Mowrey, a daugh- ter of Isaac Mowery, who formerly was a resi- dent of Johnstown, Pa. To this nnion six children have been born, two sons and four daughters, namely : Florence A., Alice, Lulu, Mollie, Benjamin and Ray. Mr. Rich has pros- pered in his private undertakings through his good judgment and business foresight. He has acquired some valuable property, part of it in Sangamon County, and also owns some land in Texas and North Dakota. He is a Director of the Citizens' Loan Association and in the Springfield City Savings & Loan Association. Fraternally he is affiliated with Springfield Lodge No. 4. A. F. & A. M .; Springfield Chap- ter No. 1, R. A. M .; Elwood Commandery. K. T .; Springfield Lodge No. 465. I. O. O. F .; Per- cival Lodge No. 262, K. P .; the M. W. A., and is a charter member of Capital Tent No. 1, K. O. T. M.

RICHARD, Frank, was born in Germany, in April, 1828. His parents spent their entire lives in Germany, where the father carried on farming in a small way, but was not able to do much for his children in the way of starting them in life. Frank, however, was soon able to provide for himself, after his school days were over, when he learned the excellent trade of shoemaker.

In 1853 Frank Richard left Germany, and by slow means finally reached the United States. Being equipped with his trade, for which there is always a demand, he easily fonnd work at the bench. He landed at the port of New York and from there came directly to Springfield and has lived in this section ever since. He worked at his trade until his health failed, then turned his attention to farming, his wife owning an excellent farm on the outskirts of the city, and he has also done considerable gardening.

· At Springfield, Ill., on December 15, 1857, Mr. Richard was married to Miss Catherine Schwartz, who was born in Lauderback, Ger- many, March 26, 1834, a daughter of Michael and Margaret Schwartz. Her parents spent their entire lives in Germany, Mrs. Richard be- ing brought to America when young by her uncle, Conrad Locke. The latter was a shoe- maker by trade. Mrs. Richard was the young- est of her parents' family. Mr. and Mrs. Richard have had nine children and have six- teen grandchildren. The oldest daughter, Mary, is the wife of Martin Schimmitz, and they live at Springfield ; Mrs. Amelia Casey also is a resi- dent of Springfield; Frank : Elizabeth, wife of Thos. Taylor, living on the old farm, having bought the same ; August, Louis, Katherine, Julia . and Sophia are all deceased. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard who reached maturity

all married and established homes of their own, and in addition to the sixteen grandchildren who have been taught according to the good old German way, to give obedience and respect to their grandparents, there are two great-grand- children. Mr. Richard is a member of the Ro- man Catholic Church, but Mrs. Richard belongs to the German Lutheran Church, of Spring- field.

RICHARDSON, Clara Belle .- Springfield, as the capital city, is a center of social life, as well as of political interest, and is consequently the home of some of the most charming and graci- ous ladies in the State. One who is prominent alike in social and church circles, is Mrs. Clara Belle Richardson. She was born in Carlisle, Sullivan County, Ind., October 18, 1850, and is a daughter of the late Squire M. Patterson and his wife, Mary M. (Bemfeil) Patterson. The former was born in Vincennes, Ind., October 16, 1812, while the latter was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 14, 1820. Mr. Patterson was a bookkeeper.

Mrs. Richardson was educated in Terre Haute, Ind., and Mattoon, Ill., and remained at home nntil her marriage, on April 19, 1871, to James C. Richardson. Fonr children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson : Gertrude, born February 11, 1872; Mark P., born November 9, 1874; Frank G., born July 14, 1876, and Earl A., born September 29, 1878.

For many years Mrs. Richardson has been one of the earnest and effective workers in the Congregational Church, of which she is a mem- ber, and many of the present excellent condi- tions are dne to her influence and support. She belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star and the W. C. T. U. Her efforts in behalf of the latter organization have been marked with snc- cess, and she is welcomed in any gathering of her co-workers. Earnest and kind-hearted, de- voted to the good work she believes in so thor- oughly, Mrs. Richardson has been for years an important factor in Springfield life, and her in- finence has resulted in a remarkable moral np- lift.

RICHARDSON, Thomas B., proprietor of the Riverton livery and feed stables, and one of the best known men in all the country round about that enterprising town, was born in Sangamon County, Ill., January 14, 1851, a son of Thomas and Janet (Wilson) Richardson, natives of Dnndec, Scotland. His father was a florist and was employed as such in his native land, as well as at New Haven, Conn., where he located on coming to the United States. In 1843 he ar- rived, with his family, at Springfield, Ill., with a capital of only five dollars. He lived there abont a year and in that time helped to lay out the square including the old State House and the present Court House. Later he located in Clear Lake Township, Sangamon County, where he purchased 100 acres of land, and fifty-five acres. 215 altogether, on which he

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lived and farmed till 1862, when he moved a mile further west, where he also became the owner of 240 acres. There he lived uutil he died, when he was the owner of more than 700 acres of good Illinois land. He had five sons and three daughters, and of those eight chil- dren seveu are living : William, the eldest, is a farmer In Clear Lake Township, Sangamon County, ou his father's original home place; James, a retired farmer, lives in Rochester, Ill .; Jaue is the widow of the late John W. Beaumont, of St. Louis, Mo., and lives iu that city ; Elizabeth, who married Erwin Johnson, of Springfield, Ill., is dead; Mary married John W. Nord, now a retired farmer living at Edin- burg. Christian Couuty, Ill. The subject of this sketch was next in order of nativity; John D. lives on the farm on which his parents passed their declining years and passed away. James served In the Civil War as a member of Com- pany I, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regi- ment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and his sis- ter Jane presented a flag to the regiment on its departure for the seat of war.

Mr. Richardson was educated in publle schools near his boyhood home and helped on the home farmu during all the years of his youth and early manhood. In 1879, when he was twenty- eight years old, he moved to Christian Couuty, Ill., and lived with one of his sisters uutil 1880, when he weut to Colorado to prospect for min- eral wealth. After a brief residence in Lead- ville he returned to Sangamon County and re- sumed farming, and was so employed till 1896, when he took up his residence in Riverton and engaged in teaming. In 1907 he bought the livery and feed stables which he has since op- erated with great success. As a Democrat he was elected assessor of taxes in Riverton, an office which he filled with much credit during a period of three years. He is a member of Lake Camp No. 33, Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, of Riverton, and is helpfully identified with the Christlan Church.

April 14, 1884, at Springfield, Ill., Mr. Rich- ardson married Miss Laura Dickerson, born at Rochester, Ill., February 8, 1864, a daughter of John Dickerson, a native of Virginia, who set- tled in Sangamon County at a comparatively early date, was for many years a farmer in Cooper Township, and is now living in retire- went with his son Todd in Cotton Hill Town- ship, his wife having died. Mrs. Richardson's only sister. Mrs. Addie Olive. wife of Wm. Olive, lives in Riverton, Ill. To Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have been born seven children, three of whom survive : Janet, Helen and Thom- as, all of whom are members of their parents' home circle. Mr. Richardson owns the River- ton livery and feed stables. a home iu that village. 100 acres of farm land in Clear Lake Township and 180 acres of coal rights near Riverton. He is a man of public spirit, who has the welfare of the community at heart, a patriotic citizen and a leader in his community.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 128

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774