Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 141

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

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2 > Part 141

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SHOCKLEY, Uel Hickman (deceased), was a resident of Springfield, Ill., thirty-one years be- fore his death, and was for some time engaged In business in the city. He was born near Co- lumbus, Ohio, July 10, 1825, son of Archibald and Susan (Hill) Shockley, the former a na- tive of Ohio and a farmer by occupation. They were parents of two sons and three daughters. The boyhood of U. H. Shockley was spent ou his father's farm near Columbus, and he re- ccived hls education in the country schools. After leaving school he remained with his father until his marriage, in 1844, and then carried on farming on his own account several years,

but later built up a business as carpenter and contractor, and in this connection erected many houses and other buildings in Sangamon County. He was an energetic and successful business man and took no active part in poll- tles, although he was a Republican after the organization of that party aud stanchly sup- ported its principles. He belonged to no secret organizations of any kind, but was zealous in the work of the church and Sunday School with which he was connected, and after coming to Springfield united with the Second Methodist Episcopal Church. For several years before his death he lived retired from active business af- fairs and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. W. B. Coleman, at 1411 Pasfield Avenue.

June 20, 1844, Mr. Shockley was married to Miss Charity Bowman, who was born at Co- lumbus, Ohio, October 27, 1826, daughter of John and Margaret (Reynolds) Bowman. Chil- dren as follows were born of this marriage: John, September 10, 1854; George, November 13, 1847, and Mary E., November 4, 1862, in Litchfield, 111. Mary E. Shockley was married, December 2, 1891, by Reverend Kulner, of Springfield, to William B. Coleman, who was born in New York city, January 16, 1855, son of Benjamin and Mary Francis (Glennan) Coleman. Mr. Coleman is Check Clerk with the Chicago, Pennsylvania and St. Louis railroad company, and he and his wife own their pleas- ant home in Springfield. They have three chil- dren, as follows: Charles I., born September 17, 1892, with the Court of Honor Insurance Soci- ety; Etta Grace, born August 15, 1894, stenog- rapher for Mr. Reinhart, a wholesale fruit bro- ker ; and Benjamin H., born September 11, 1896, is attending school.

At the Coleman home, Mr. Shockley passed away, July 3, 1905, and his remains were in- terred in Oak Ridge Cemetery. He was a man of excellent character and kindly dispositon, and his loss was widely mourned. He was known and missed in uiany circles and was al- ways active in any movement connected with the good work of the church of which he was a member. His wife is still living and resides with her daughter, at the age of eighty-five years.

SHOUP, Samuel .- Sangamon County will al- ways be a strongly agricultural center, for the fertile lands of this section, under the magnifi- cent climatic conditions, bear so abundantly that there will always be men glad to wrest from the black soil the large returns awaiting their efforts. One of the progressive farmers of this locality is Samuel Shoup, born in Cot- ton Hill Township. Sangamon County, March 23, 1864, a son of Henry and Ruth (Knotts) Shoup, the former born in Ohio, and the latter iu Illinois. The father came with his parents to Cotton Hill Township. and he and his wife were married in Springfield. Following this he bought land. owning at one time 188 acres in Cotton Hill Townshlp. He was a Democrat and

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a consisteut member of the Baptist Church. His wife died in 1906, and he in 1904. There were seven children in the family : Elbert, of Springfield; Sarah, wife of James Milllner, a farmer near Glenarm; Jacob, of Michigan; Elijah, a farmer near New City, Ill .; Leander, of Cotton Hill Township; Samuel; and Lilla, wife of Leonard Lawley, a farmer of Cotton Hill Township.

Samuel Shoup attended Crow Mill School in his native township, at the same time working for his father aud thus gaining a practical knowledge of farm work. Iu 1903 he married and went on a farm of his own. The following year he bought his present farm of thirty-uine acres, which he has placed under a fine state of cultivation. He raises stock of all kinds for the market.

On December 2, 1903, Mr. Shoup married Sally McKee, daughter of James McKee, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shoup : James Henry, born April 17, 1906; Ruth Gene- va, born April 19, 1909, and an infant, de- ceased. Mr. Shoup is a Democrat and has served most acceptably as School Director and Road Commissioner. He is liberal in his relig- ious views. His wife belongs to the Methodist Church. An excellent farmer, a good citizen and successful business man, Mr. Shoup is one of the representative men of Sangamon County, which has been his home all his life.

SHROYER, Abel, an enterprising and repre- sentative citizen of Capital Township, Sangamou County, conducts a blacksmith shop and owns six acres of land. He was born at Troy, Mlami County, Ohio, August 14, 1843, son of John B. and Mary A. (Sullivan) Shroyer, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Maryland. The father was a farmer by occupation and for many years lived in Ohio, but in 1SSO came to Illinois. Settling in Girard County, he bought a farm there, and later moved to Macoupin County. He died in 1896 and his widow now lives on the old home place in Macoupin County, with her son, Eber Shroyer, having reached the age of ninety-four years (1910). There were eight children born to John B. Shroyer and his wife, of whom seven now survive.

In the early boyhood Abel Shroyer attended the country schools of his native county, and he was reared to agricultural pursuits. In youth he learned the trade of blacksmith, in Carlisle, Ohio, and afterward worked at this trade in Tippecanoe. Later he worked fifteen years at his trade in Peru, Ind. He came to Sangamon County In 1898 and has since continued to work at his trade near the city, in 1904 purchasing six acres of land where his present business is located, and where he has built up a good trade. He is conscleutious and painstaking in the work he turns out and has the confidence of his pa- trons. He carries on farming to a small extent, and is fairly successful in that line of endeavor

as well. He owns a pleasant home and has many friends in the community.

Mr. Shroyer was married, in Girard, Ill., in 1875, to Frances Doty, who was born in Ma- coupin County. Her parents were from the East and were early settlers of Macoupin County, where both died. Three daughters aud one son were born of this union: Theodore, a brakeman on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, lives in Girard, Ill .; Etta, wife of Charles Clark, a contractor living at El Paso, Tex .; Gussie, wife of Samuel Weaver, clerk for Swift & Com- pany, and living in Chicago; Stella, living iu Bloomington, Ill. Mr. Shroyer has two grand- children.

Mr. Shroyer is a member of the Dunkard Church and his wife is a Presbyterian. Both are much interested in church work and every worthy object meets with their ready approval and support. Mr. Shroyer is a Democrat in politics. He is an industrious, hard-working man, fond of home aud family, and makes the most of his opportunities for advancement in life. He and his wife have reared a family of children who are a credit to them.

SHUMATE, Hiram H., retired farmuer, River- ton, Sangamon County, is one of the few re- maining citizens of his part of the State who are distinguished as having personally known Abraham Lincoln during the active years in Illinois of that distinguished, martyred and uni- versally lanueuted President. Mr. Shumate was born in Andrew Couuty, Mo., April 3, 1849, a son of Hiram and Eliza Jane (Beachamu) Shumate, natives of Kentucky. His father, a blacksmith, came quite early to Illinois, locat- ing first in Macoupin Couuty, whence, after some years, the family removed to Missouri, where the elder Mr. Shumate farined and worked at his trade till 1849, when he set out for California in quest of gold, dying en route. His widow survived him until March 10, 1857, when she died in Calhoun County, Ill. Of their five sons four are living: Hiram H. Shumate; Joshua B. Shumate, of Havensville, Kan .; Jo- seph M. Shumate, of Frankfort. Marshall County, Kau .; and William H. Shumate, of Eskridge, Kan. Joshua B. is a mail carrier ; Joseph M. is an insurance agent. and William H. is a minister of the Christian Church.

Mr. Shumate came to Sangamon County, in 1853. when he was about four years old, and his education was secured there. He gave the active years of his life to farming and was so employed until a few years ago, when he moved to Riverton to live in retirement from active life. However, his experience since has demon- strated that idleness is no rest for a man who has long beeu busy. Tiring of having nothing to do, five years ago he assumed the position and duties of janitor of the public school build- ings of the village. He was President of the local Board of Education one term and has been a member of the Board three years.

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There is another chapter of Mr. Shumate's life which must not be overlooked. Wheu the Civil War began he went to the front as Cap- tain's boy, with Captaiu Davis, of Company H, Seventy-third Regiment, Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and was on duty with that organizatiou until after the battle of Stone River. Return- ing home, he enlisted in Company E, One Hun- dred aud Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, which was stationed at Rock Island on guard duty. He was discharged at Springfield, ill., September 12, 1864. January 3, 1865, he re-enlisted for three years or during the war in Compauy C, Thirteenth Regiment, Uuited States Infantry. in which regiment he served against Indians of the West, taking part in many excit- ing engagements and skirmishes, aud having many ardnous, dangerous and interesting ex- perlences. He was finally mustered out in Da- kota, Jannary 2, 1868. His four brothers also did duty as soldiers under the stars and stripes In the War of the States. He is prominent as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Red Man, a Methodist and a Republican.

November 19, 1874, Mr. Sirumate married, at Curran, Ill., Miss Lonisa Drennan, born near Curran, the daughter of a farmer. She lived until July 21, 190S, and bore him children, of whom Herinan, now living with his father, is the only survivor. Mr. Shumate owns a fine home and considerable other valuable property at Riverton. He is a quan of education, amla- billty and much force of character, who has made and retains numerous warm personal friends. His life has spanned the modern de- velopment of Sangamon County, and he has wit- nessed many changes all around him and helped to bring about some of the most important ones.

Mr. Shumate has also been Justice of the Peace and Notary Public for twenty-two years. He has heard hundreds of cases during this time and many appeals have been taken from his judgment to the County and Circuit Courts, but he has never had a decision reversed.

SHUMWAY, Hiram P. (Vol. I, p. 480.)

SIDENER, George P., Jr. (deceased) .- The men who were able to look ahead and foresee the values which would be attached to farming land in Sangamon Couuty, reaped' large harvests, for the property they secured at nominal prices now are held for amounts that in those days would have appeared impossible. However. these values are but the legitimate results of concentrated effort on the part of the farmers to develop and inuprove not only their farms. but the more congested sections, and now they and theirs are profiting manyfold. One of the most advanced and prosperous farmers of his time was the iate George P. Sidener. Jr .. who for years operated a farm in the vichity of Rochester. He was born in Bourbon County, Ky., December 10. 1833, being a sou of George P. Sidener, who was also a farmer, and a na-

tive of Kentucky, who spent his life in his home state.

George I'. Sidener, Jr., grew up in his native city, receiving au excellent education. His in- clinations led him to adopt farming, but he felt he could not make the progress he de- sired in Kentucky, so he moved to Sangamon County, Ill., abont half a century ago, locating on a farm near the South Fork, where he reuted forty acres of laud. Later he purchased a fanu near Rochester, Ill., where he passed the remainder of his life. His death occurred on the home farm, December 30, 1900, and his remains rest in the Rochester cemetery.

On February 9, 1858, Mr. Sidener was united in marriage in Rochester, Ill., with Hannah R. Elder, born in Rochester, July 1, 1841, daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Clinkenbierd) Elder, natives of Kentney and Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Sideuer became the parents of the following children : Phoebe Ann, born December 29, 1858, deceased; Charles L., born July 24, 1SC0; Ada Amelia, born January 29, 1862; James G., born May 14, 1864; Flora A., born Jne 14, 1867 ; Edward Benjamin, boru November 14, 1868; William A., born February 20, 1873, and Fred E., born December 26, 1877.

Mr. Sidener, while not a politician in any sense of the word, took an active interest in local affairs, casting his influence with the Re- publican party. The Christian Church held his membership, and he was liberal in his contribu- tions to It, attending service in Rochester. Af- ter his death his widow, renting the farm, moved to Springfield where she now resides at No. 101 East North Grand avenue. She is a lady well known in the city, and universally respected. Mrs. Sidener owns the home farm near Roches- ter. Mr. Sidener lived out a quiet, uneventful Ilfe, honorably and well. Whatever came to him to do he did honestly, and always tried to give the other man a fair deal. Although a decade inas elapsed since iils demise, his memory is tenderly cherished, and honored in the county where he spent the greater part of his life.

SIDENER, Richard Allen, a prominent and well-known business man of Springfield, Ill .. was born in Garrard County, Ky., August 20, 1849, son of George P. and Anua (Smith) Side- ner, both born in Lancaster, Garrard County, where they lived until 1857, then moved to a farm near Breckenridge, Sangaruon County, Ill .. and three years later purchased a farm near Springfield, where the father died in 1867 and the mother in 1868. The parents of George P. Sidener and those of his wife were all natives of Kentucky. He drove a Government team at Camp Butler during the Civil War.

The education of Richard A. Sidener was ac- quired in a little log school-house east of the city of Springfield, and he remained on his father's farm until he was fifteen years of age. He then followed agricultural pursuits until he was thirty. then for three years followed . the

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occupation of contract painting. He subse- quently took up the tiling business in Sanga- mon Connty and vleinity, and has been very suc- cesstul. He has built up a good business and is one of the representative business men ot Springfield. He is a self-made man in every respect and has made the most of his opportu- nities for improvement and advancement. He has spent most of his life in Sangamon County, where he has become well known and highly respected.

Mr. Sidener was married, in Taylorville, III., to Luella Utterbach, who was born in Clay Connty, Ill., October 22, 1869, daughter of B. W. and Floretta (Mitehell) Utterbach, both na- tives of Clay County, where they spent most of their ilves. The Utterbach family moved to Springfield about 1SSO and are now living there. Mrs. Sidener was one of six children, of whom four survive. Her grandparents were natlves of Illinois and Virginia.

Thirteen children were born to Mr. Sidener and his wife, of whom seven survive: William F., born in Taylorville, Ill., August 21, 1887, marrled Alice Hoepfner, who was born 111 Springfield, May 17, 1891, and they have one child, Wilma May, born in El Paso, Tex., No- vember 9, 1909, and they now reside in Spring- field ; Robert Ailen, born October 6, 1889, is un- married and lives at home; Floretta, born De- cember 18, 1892, married Carl Langston, a na- tive of Menard County, and they had one child, Nellie May, deceased. and now live in Spring- field; Sylvester, born October 13, 1894. died in 1895; Ora June, born June 4, 1897, died March 21. 1902; Bertha Leona, born In Springfield, May 22, 1900; Nina Luella, born January 18, 1902; Richard Earl, born May 20. 1905; Harvey Ray and Margaret May, twins, born April 13, 1908, are deceased; Elfreda, born August 14, 1910; and two others deceased.

Mr. Sidener had married (first), in Garnett, Anderson County, Kan., in 1872, Sarah HIII, a native of Shelby County. Ill., whose parents were natives of Illinois, where their entire Ilves were spent. Mrs. Sidener died May 18, 1878, having had two cilldren. Ida Pearl and Nellie May, both born in Sangamon County. 1da Pearl inarried D. S. Fischer. of Springfield, where they reside, and they had six children: Everts. Charlie, James, Irval, Florence (deceased). and Orval Harold. Nellie May Sidener married Or- val Clarry, of Christian County, where they now reside, and they became the parents of two children, Muriel, born in Christian County, and Giula, deceased.

Mr. Sidener has many friends in Sangamon County, where the most of his life has been spent, and he enjoys an excellent reputation in business circles. He is a Methodist in religlous belief and in polltics is a Republcan.

SIEBERT, Gustav A .- A live. energetic young man of Springfield, who has devoted his ener- gies to the bullding up of large business enter- prises for others. is Gustav A. Siebert. This young man, who is so well and favorably known

to everyone in the city and the large territory contignous to it, was born in Altamont, Effing- ham County, Ill., May 30, 1878, a son of William Slebert.

After a boyhood spent In Altamont, where he attended the parish school of the neighborhood, as well as the public schools, when only thilr- teen years old, Mr. Siebert commenced working for farmers. IIe learned wany valnable les- sons of industry and economy, but was uot sat- isfied with his outlook, and in 1895 came to Springfield to engage with his brother as a clerk. Almost immediately his value was rec- ognized by his employer, who depended upon him more and more during the succeeding years. Perhaps no other man in his position is better qualified to serve the people than he, for he understands every detail of the business and the needs of the customers.

On December 10, 1904, occurred the marriage of Mr. Siebert, in Springfield, when he was united with Sophia Bieseuthal, who was born in Sangamon County, a daughter of Frederick and Sophia (Kuhn) Blesenthal, farming people of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Siebert have no children. In religious faith Mr. Siebert is a Lutheran and he is one of the loyal supporters of hls church. In politics he is a Republican and his party places implicit trust in him. Hon- orable, hard-working and conscientious, Mr. Sle- bert is a young man who deserves the confi- dence he has always inspired. He owns his pleasant home, located at No. 1125 South Spring. Street.

SIMON, Prof. John S., weli known in educa- tional circles, has been connected with Concordia College, of Springfield, for the past twenty-three years, and educational work for fifty-one years, and is regarded with reverence and respect by ail the pupils who have come under his super- vision and instruction, although many of them are now far from the scene of their former stud- ies. Prof. Simon was born at Augsburg, Ger- many, on March 5, 1832, a son of John S. and Sabine (Kuehlreuter) Slmou, both of German . birth. The father was a merchant and con- ducted a store at Augsburg, where both parents died. They had four sons and two daughters and the only one of the family now surviving is the subject of this sketch.

As a boy, John S. Simon attended the public schools of his native place, and afterward en- tered college there, preparing himself for the profession of teaching, which he has followed all his life since. IIe began teaching in Ger- many, and In 1852, was sent by the German Commission to erect a Teacher Seminary in Saginaw, Mich. One year later he was called to Monroe, Mich., where he lived and labored twenty-eight years in a parochial school with great success. In 1SS1, he was called to Con- cordia College, where he has taught both English and German and has made a specialty of the sub- jects of general history, geography, grammar, bible lilstory, pedagogy and literature. He

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also lectures in mission work and music. On account of the illness of his wife, Prof. Simon was compelled to resign in 1904, from active teaching, but is still a member of the faculty, and for the past twenty years has had charge of the financial affairs of the institution and synod. He is a member of the German Lutheran Trinity Church, and for the past thirty years has held various church offices. He is also Secretary of the Springfield Hospital.

Prof. Simon was married at Monroe, Mich., in April, 1865, to Catherine Anweiler, a native of Monroe, Mich., born December 1, 1839, of Ger- man parents. Her father engaged in farming after coming to America, owuing a big farm near Monroe, and both parents died in Mich- igan. Mrs. Simon died June 26, 1905. Ten children were born to her and her husband, of whom seven now survive: John, a merchant and owner of a farm, of Arcadia, Mich .; Will- iam, a druggist of Cairo, Ill .; Henry, proprietor of a hotel at Detroit, Mich .; Edward, M. D., practicing in Cairo; Julia, wife of Fred Yazell of Springfield; Bertha, wife of Anton Piper living with her father, her husband being em- ployed in the Wabash shops; Hedwig, wife of William Vose, her husband being superintendent of a mine. Mr. Simon has a nice home at 1000 South Eleventh street, and has many friends in the city, county and state. He is very proud of his children and twelve grandchildren.

While residing in Monroe, Mich., Mr. Simon was drafted into the army, during the Civil War, but the people of the congregation in- duced him not to serve, for they felt they needed his services in the schools there, and so he continued teaching in compliance with their

wishes. Not only has he given his life to teaching, but he has written a number of books on educational matters, which have proven very valuable to the profession. Among them may be mentioned "Paed. Schulkunde," Lehrplan for academies, Lehrplan for parochial schools, Lehr- plan for one class schools, and others. In these books he displays a wonderful acquaintance with · his subjects, and is regarded as an authority on pedagogy and kindred matters. For more than half a century was Professor Simon active in educational work, and many of his scholars are now engaged in mission work, not only in dif- ferent parts of this country, but also in Canada, in South America, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand aud other parts of the world.

SIMPSON, James Wickliff, one of the old and honored citizens of Pleasant Plains, Sangamon County, Ill., was for fifty years engaged in the blacksmith business and is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his years of labor. He was born in the shadow of the old Court House, in Springfield. September S, 1836, a son of Jor- dan and Clarissa (Sayre) Simpson.

Jordan Simpson was born July 19. 1808, in Fayette County. Ky., and'his wife October 31, 1816. in Cape May County, N. J. He came to Sangamon County in 1883, and there met Miss

Sayre, their marriage occurring October 27, 1835. He was a wool carder and weaver by trade and after coming to Sangamon County went to work in a little carding mill in Tallula, coutinuing to work at his trade until within a few years of his death. He and his wife were devout Christian people, being consistent mem- bers of the Christian Church and constant at- tendants of its service. Both were buried near Pleasant Plains. In politics he was a strong Democrat, but would never accept any political office. He passed to his reward December 23, 1872, his wife surviving him uutil May 17, 1897. To them were born nine children: James W .; one who died in infancy; Isaac N., who en- listed in 1861 in Company G, Tenth Illinois Cav- alry, served three years, was honorably dis- charged, returned home and died February 24, 1866; William J., born April 24, 1841, a well- to-do resident of Chicago, married (first) Alice Buchanan and (second) Victoria Penn; Cather- ine B., born August 18, 1842, married Benjamin Watts, December 2, 1864, and resides at Spring- field ; Mary M., born April 6, 1848, married November 20, 1867, Morris Hillyard. and re- sides near Climax, Greenwood County, Kan. ; Jennie J., born October 25, 1850, married in 1869, David Gibson, a resident of Springfield ; Julia A., born March 5, 1863, married Wiley Johnson, a resident of St. Joseph, Mo .; and Lucy M., born August 25, 1857. the widow of W. M. Smith, is residing in Chicago.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 141

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