Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 154

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 154

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

was also a farmer and moved to Morgan County at an early day, being one of the pioneers of that locallty. Entering land from the Govern- mient, he became one of the prosperous farmers of the county, dying there after a useful life. Here, too, his wife passed away. They had eleven children, six sons and five daughters, but in addition to Mr. Turner but one survives, Mrs. Alınira McMahon, of Morgan County. John Turner served in the Indian wars, and both grandfathers of Mr. Turner were in the Revoln- tionary War, serving nnder Gen. Washington.

Alfred B. Turner was educated in Morgan County and tanght farming. After he left home he bought forty acres in Morgan Connty, operat- ing this farm until his retirement in 1903, when he settled in Springfield, buying his present residence.

The marriage of Mr. Turner occurred In Mor- gan County, March 13, 1853, to Esther J. Jones, born there February 19, 1837, daughter of Wakeman Jones. He was a descendant of Eng- lish stock and his wife of Scottish stock. They came to America, first settling in Virginla, but soon moved to Tennessee, and later to Morgan County, Ill., where the father engaged in farm- ing. Later he came to Sangamon Connty, where both he and his wife died. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Turner: Henry, of Wa- verly, a shoemaker by trade; Harvey, of Spring- field, and one who died. There are two living grandchildren in the family. Mr. Turner is a Democrat. He belongs to the Baptist Church, while his wife is a Methodist. A most excel- lent man, he has worked hard all his life and is certainly entitied to the rest he now enjoys.

TURNER, William P., a retired farmer living in Springfield, Ill., was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., September 11, 1847. He is a son of Will- iam J. and Charlotte (Temple) Turner, the father born in South Carolina, In 1823, and the mother in Tennessee, in 1825, his parents being natives of Ireland and hers of Germany. Will- iam J. Turner moved from Tennessee to Georgia in 1848 and in 1859 returned to Tennessee, en- tering the army from that State and serving in the Civil War. He was a miller by occupation.

William P. Turner received his education in subscription schools in his native State and was reared on a farm. He has spent most of his active life In farming and has been successful in this line. He accompanled his parents to Cass Connty, Ga., and returned with them to Tennessee, and in 1865 moved to Richland Connty, Ill., where he lived until 1869, and there lıls parents died. In 1881 he engaged in team- ing in Springfield and continued until he re- tired from active life. He is well known as an upright and honest citizen and Is respected by all who have had dealings with him. He owns the home he has occupied for the past thirteen years, at 919 South Thirteenth Street.

Mr. Turner enlisted at Chattanooga, Decein- ber 24, 1863, nnder Alfred F. Beach, In Company A, First Tennessee Light Artillery, and was

discharged at Nashville, August 8, 1865. He spent six months in a hospital and had many narrow escapes. Among the engagements in which he participated were those of Missionary Illdge, Franklin, Huntsville (Ala.), and numer- ous others. He won an excellent record and is a member of the G. A. R.

Mr. Turner was married in Edwards County, Ili., December 16, 1866, to Miss Emily McKinzie, a native of that county, born November 11, 1849, daughter of Daniel and Rhody (Coppley) McKinzie. Her father was born in Virginia, In 1790, and her mother in Giles County, Va., in 1804, and both grandfathers served in the In- dlan wars. Eleven children were born of this union, namely : William E., born In Edwards County, Ill., October 30, 1867; Henry M., in Texas County, Mo., February 6, 1870; Cicero, born in Arkansas, November 10, 1872; Martha C., born In Arkansas, December 27, 1874, died August 10, 1876; Artia M., born in Richland County, Ill., February 19, 1877, dled August 4, 1878; Bertha, born in Richland County, Febru- ary 8, 1879; Lnricca, born in Richland County, July 3, 1881, dled April 19, 1909; Inez, born in Bond County, October 5, 1883, died January 12, 1902; Lizzle, born In Bond Connty, Jannary 27, 1886, died January 15, 1890; Nellle, born in Bond County, September 4, 1888; Ethel, born in Springfield, April 26, 1891. Willlam E. Turner married Della Friend and they reside at Roches- ter, N. Y. Henry M. married Cynthia Gaines and they reside in Springfield and have two children, Clarence and Tessle. Cicero married Pearl Gomes and resides in Springfield, and has three children -- Gerald, Louls, and William. Bertha, wife of Fred Bronson, resides in Spring- field and they have one child, Edgar. Lnricca (deceased), wife of James Henman, left one child, Earl. Inez (deceased), wife of Charles Hnbbar, had one child, Inez. Nellie, wife of Joseph F. Rice, resldes in Springfield, had one child, Joseph F. Jr. Mr. Turner is a Republican in polltles and although he takes an active Inter- est In the public welfare, has never aspired to publlc office. He is a devout member of the Christian Church. He carries insurance in the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

TWIGG, Obadiah (deceased), who for many years lived in Sangamon County, Ill., was born near Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, and lived In his native State until after his marrlage. He was well known as a veteran of the Civil War and had won a large circle of close friends. Mr. Twigg was a son of Jesse and May (Burns) Twigg, the former born in Germany and the latter near Columbus, Ohio. The father was a tanner in his native country, came to the United States in young manhood, and continned his trade all his life.

The education of Obadiah Twigg was secured in the conntry schools near his birthplace, where his early years were spent. He enlisted In Thir- ty-sixth Ohio Regiment for service in the Civil War and was wounded at the Battle of Atlanta.

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He was married in 1868, to Miss Catherine Mull, born near Chambersburg, Pa., April 11, 1839. They were married at Columbus and soon after- wards moved to Sangamon County, where Mr. Twigg was engaged In various occupations nntll abont a year before his death, which occurred October 28, 1897. His remains were interred in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield. At the time of his death he was residing at 1326 North Sixth Street, Springfield, where his widow now lives, and she is the owner of this house. He left no family except his widow to mourn his loss, but was sincerely missed by those who knew him.

Mr. Twigg was a most industrious and hard- working man and won the respect of his fel- lows by his sterling worth and strict integrity. He never cared to take an active part in politi- cal affairs and belonged to no fraternal orders. However, he was a life-long Republican and in religious views was a life-long Methodist. He was sick for a year or more previous to his death.

TYNDALE, Sharon, ' (Vol. I, p. 532.)

VANCIL, Burke, was born on a farm near Mo- desto, in the northern part of Macoupin County, Ill., on March 28, 1863. The family is of Penn- sylvanla Dutch (or Holland) origin, the ma- ternal ancestry being of Irish descent. The name was originally "Wenzel," afterwards "Wen- sel," and finally "Vancil." A well preserved family record shows that John Wensel and Maria Brerathin were married on May 17, 1768, and that to them were born eleven children, of whom Tobias was the first, and the great-grandfather of Burke Vancil. He was born February 13, 1769. Edmund C. Vancil, his son, was born in Virginia in 1799, and died in Macoupln County, December 31, 1891. Imrl B. Vancil, father of Burke Vancil, was born in Union County, Ill., October 15, 1825, and died in Macoupln County, Ill., March 23. 1907. He left surviving him Ellzabeth S. (Rice) Vancil, his wife, who now resides in Modesto, Ill., and four children-Burke Vancil, of Springfield; Effie, wife of George F. Jordan, of Carlinville, Ill .; Ollie, wife of Lewis Rinaker, of Chicago, and Ida, wife of Leonard G. Brown, of Modesto.

Edmund C. Vancil, the grandfather, was taken to Muhlenberg County; Ky., by his father, Tobias Vancil, in 1801, who at a later date settled on the Mud River in Logan County, Ky. There- after, Edmund C. Vancil located In Jackson County, Ill. . There he met Mary Byars, who was born in Kentucky in 1804, and had accompanied her father to Jackson County in 1808. In 1827, Edmund C. Vancil left Jackson County and in the same winter located in Macoupin County, north of Virden; in the following spring, he settled in North Palmyra Township, near the present town of Modesto, which was then a part of Greene County. He possessed a cash capital of $100.00 and entered 80 acres of land in sec- tion 4. There have been but two conveyances

of the property since the patent was obtained from the United States, and then only from fa- ther to son, the property remaining in the fam- ily. The old home still stands as It did when occupied by Edmund C. Vancil and Mary Byars Vancil. Here they spent nearly all of their more than sixty-five years of wedded life. Here the wife died In 1889, aged eighty-seven years, he surviving nntil December 31, 1891, when in his ninety-third year. For many years this was one of the finest homes in that part of the state. Most of the Inmber used in its building was ob- tained from the native woods nearby. Very lit- tle sawed lumber was used, and this was gotten ont by hand. The home is now owned by Burke Vancll.

In the winter of 1844-45, Edmund C. Vancil and his son, Imri B. Vancil, went to Texas for the purpose of entering or buying land, believ- ing- that they would find a better prospect than could be found in the nndeveloped prairies of Illinois. They soon returned, however, satisfied to remain in Illinois. Prlor to this time Pro- fessor Turner, of Illinois College at Jackson- ville, Ill., had experimented somewhat with vari- ous thorny trees and plants in an effort to pro- duce a successful hedge fence. While In Texas, Mr. Vancil and his son saw the "Osage Orange" or "Bois d'Arc," a native tree of that part of the country and obtained some seed which they brought to Illinois. From this small handful of seed was propagated and developed by Pro- fessor Turner the first osage hedge fence, which, in later years and prior to the introduction of the wire fence, came into general use through- out this and adjoining states.

Imri B. Vancil was one of the extensive farmers, prominent and substantial citizens of North Palmyra township, Macoupin County, where he owned and operated an estate of 1,160 acres of land. He was given excellent educa- tional opportunities by his father, and attended school in Jacksonville, spending two years in the Illinois College. In the winter of 1847-48 he attended medical lectures in Cincinnati. Af- ter his return, he operated a saw mill in Pal- myra township until 1850, when he joined the great exodus to California with a four mnle team, reaching Sacramento after a three months' journey from St. Joseph, Mo., on August 13, 1850. At first he engaged in minlng, but later turned his attention to trade and remained in the state for two years, returning via Nicaragna, Gulf of Mexico and New York. His father then gave him a farm of 240 acres and on this he resided until he retired to the town of Modesto, where he resided until his death. He took an active part In politics and was the first supervisor of North Palmyra township, an office he held for seven years, serving through the famous "Court House Fight," then he resigned, but at a later date was prevailed upon to agaln assume its duties and he served three years longer. He also served several years as Township Treas- nrer and for some years was one of the School Trustees. In all these offices he had an intelll-

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gent conception of thelr duties and performed them falthfully. On April 4, 1860, Mr. Vancil married Elizabeth S. Rice, a daughter of Thomas B. Rice, who came to Iilinois from Virginia in 1836 and was long a prominent citizen of Me- dora, Ill.

The boyhood of Burke Vancil was spent upon his father's Macoupin County farm, where he learned to till the soil and the foundation of his character was laid by a good mother. From this country home he went to Blackburn University, at Carlinville, Ill., from which he was graduated In 1886. He came to Springfield In November, 1887, and began the study of law in the office of Orendorff & Patton. In 1889, the degree of LL. B. was conferred upon him by the Illinois Wesleyan University, of Bloomington, Ill. Fol- lowing his admission to the bar in May, 1889, Mr. Vancii became the junior member of the firm of Dikis & Vancil, of Springfield, but in May, 1890, the year foliowing the forming of the partnership, Hugh F. Dikis dled, and since then Mr. Vancil has continued alone. His office as- sociate at the present time is Judge Charles P. Kane. Mr. Vancil is a member of the bar of the District Court, the Circuit Court, the Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of this State. In addition to his law practice and farming interests, Mr. Vancll is connected with severai business enter- prises in Springfield.

Mr. Vancil has never aspired to public office, preferring to exert his influence as a private in- dividual. Politically, he is a Democrat. In April, 1910, however, he was elected by an over- whelining vote of Democrats and Republicans to the office of Assessor, becoming an unwilling can- didate for the office only the day before the primary election. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity in all its branches, including the Commandery and Consistory. He is also a mem- ber of the B. P. O. Elks, the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. His religious connections are with the Presbyterian Church. Socially he is a member of the Iliini Country Club of Springfield. Mr. Vancil is an excellent lawyer, able and learned. His wide legal knowledge has been ripened by experience and he pursues his profession quietly. enthusiastically and in- dustriously. bringing to it the highest intellec- tual qualities of character, which give him an enviable reputation and earn for him his con- spicuous success.

On September 30, 1891, Mr. Vancil was united in marriage, at Carlinville, Ill., with Mary E. Steldley, of that place. They have no children. Mrs. Vancil comes from an old and highly es- teemed family which resided for many years at the suburban home just west of Cariinville. She was the daughter of John S. Steidley and Sarah Elizabeth (Wright) Steidiey, both of whom are deceased. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Vancil were William Wright and Sarah B. Wright, well known residents of Carlinville, and

for many years prominentiy connected with business interests of that vicinity. She has four brothers, William A. Steldley, residing in Denver, Colo., Solomon F. Steidley, residing in Carlinville, James B. Steidley, residing in Kan- sas City, Kan., and Alex. B. Steidley, residing in Oakland, Calif. Her sisters are Laura Ro- sella, now deceased, wife of Xerxes X. Crum; Florence I., wife of H. F. Valentine, now de- ceased, and Harriet G., wife of Judge Robert B. Shirley. Mrs. Valentine and Mrs. Shiriey both reside in Cariinville. Mrs. Vancll is a member of several religious and social organizations in Springfield and bas a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. She is a member of the Presby- terian Church and the Illini Country Ciub. Mr. and Mrs. Vancil have travelled extensively in the west, visiting all the principal points of in- terest, including the Yosemite Valley, Grand Canyon in Arizona, Yellowstone National Park, etc. They were in the great San Francisco earthquake and fire on April 18, 1906, and for many days thereafter were believed to have been lost. They now reside at number 225 East Jack- son Street, where they have lived since 1893.

VANCIL, William M., a retired farmer of Springfield, is well known and honored as a veteran of the Civil War and as a useful and public-spirited citizen. He belongs to one of the pioneer families of Sangamon County and was born there in 1840, a son of James and Martha A. (Gatton) Vancil, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Kentucky. James Vancii was a merchant in early life and became one of the early settlers of Sangamon County. He first located on government land near Auburn and later purchased land nearby on Sugar Creek, where he operated a farm until 1861. He then sold out and moved to Virden, Ill., where he conducted a store until his death. He and his wife had seven sons and one daugh- ter, namely : Mary E., wife of George W. Young, of Springfield; Charies, the oldest son, living near Auburn ; Harvey, living near Taylorville, Christian County, and others who are now de- ceased. The grandfather served through the War of 1812.

Mr. Vancil was educated in the country school near 'Auburn and was reared to farm work, which he iater followed all his active iife. He worked for his father until the time of the Civil War and enlisted in Company G One Hundred Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, under command of Col. John I. Rinaker. He served three years, was wounded once, and at Trenton. Tenn., was captured, after which he was held prisoner for some time. He partici- pated In many leading battles, among them being those at Nashville, Mobile and Vicksburg, Tupelo, Blakely, Parker's Cross Roads, Mont- gomery (Ala.), and many others. He was dis- charged at Camp Butler, near Springfield, in August, 1865, having been mustered out at Mo- blle, Ala., July 15, 1865, and returned to his

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

farming. He stlli has the gun he carried in service and has reasou to be proud of his record as a soldier.

Mr. Vancil remained on his father's farm for many years and in 1896 retired from farm work, since which time he has lived at 1716 South Seventeenth Street, Springfield, where he owus a comfortable home. He was successful as a farmer and was an industrious and able busi- ness manager. He is a prominent member of Stephenson Post G. A. R., and a member of the Methodist Church. He is affiliated with the Prohibition party and interested in everything pertaining to the general welfare. He is un- married. He enjoys the regard and respect of a large number of friends and acquaintances.

VANDAWALKER, Charles, a retired engineer living in Springfield was for thirty years em- ployed by the Wabash Railroad Company, but since 1894 has lived retired from ac- tive Ilfe. He was born in Marcy, N. Y. July 25, 1831, son of Ephralm and Eva (Dil- lenbeck ) Vandawaiker, natives of New York, where they spent their entire lives. They lived on a farm and Charles Vandawalker received his education in the public schools of his native place. He then worked on his father's farm for several years, then moved to Michigan and for eight years carried on farming in Monroe County, that State. He moved from Michigan to Springfield and spent a short time farming in Sangamon county, but about 1864 entered the employ of the railroad company, first in the ca- pacity of fireman, and for twenty-five years was employed as engineer. He won the confidence and esteem of his employers and associates and was sober and industrious in his habits.

Mr. Vandawalker was married, in Monroe County, Mich., to Miss Anna Dentel, born In Sax- ony, Germany, May 13, 1837. She came with her parents to America and the famlly were early settlers of Monroe County, where the father and mother died. Nine children were born to Mr. Vandawalker and his wife, namely: Ephraim, Charles and Mamle, deceased ; Ada, wife of Day- ton Webster, in the employ of the Springfield Consolidated Street Railway Company; Eliza- beth, wife of William Friedinger, In the employ of the Illinois Watch Company; Emma, wife of Albert Fields, a jeweler of Portland, Ore .; Es- ther, wife of Walter Page, a merchant of Den- ver, Colo .; Anna, wife of Desmond Stewart, of the firm of Stewart & Patterson, plumbers, of Springfield ; John, a merchant. Charles Vanda- walker has seventeen grandchildren and one . great-grandchild.

Mr. Vandawalker and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, of Springfield; in politics he is a Republican, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonlc Order. He is well known In railroad circles and is universally respected. He owns a comfortable home at 1121 South Eighth Street.

VAN DA WALKER, John Leonard .- Among the younger business men of Springfield is John Leonard Van Da Walker, formerly of the Hum- mer Manufacturing Company, but now holding a responsible position with the Illinols Watch Company, having sold his business in January, 1912. He is an expert mechanic, who has always had a natural taste for mechanics and inventions. The firm with which he was re- cently connected had been in existence since Aprii, 1910, and had established a good trade and reputation. Mr. Van Da Walker was born in Springfield July 6, 1875, son of Charles H. and Anna Barbara (Dentel) Van Da Walker, the former born in Utica, N, Y., and the latter in Saxe-Coburg, Germany. The father is a re- tired locomotive engineer and lives at No. 1121 South Eighth Street, Springfield. He and hls wife were married at Lulu, Mich., June 12, 1859, and came direct to Springfield, where they re- mained three years, and there had one son born. They then lived about five years in Ida, Mich., where they became parents of two daughters, then returned to Springfield and settled at their present home, where In June, 1909, they cele- brate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. On his return to Springfield Mr. Van Da Walker began working for the Wabash Railroad Company, and reached the position of engineer, in which he spent twenty-five years, then retired from active life. He and his wife had three sons and six daughters. Two sons and a daughter are de- ceased and others are married and have families.

The Van Da Walkers originally came from Holland and settled in New York, becoming iden- tified with its early history. Many of them stiil reside in that State. The Dentei family came from thrifty and prosperous German farmer stock. The parents of Mrs. Van Da Walker came to America in a sailing vessel, spending fourteen weeks on the voyage, the boat being overtaken by heavy storms. They lost thelr course and did not expect to be able to reach land before they perished, but finally drifted safely to harbor.

John Leonard Van Da Walker graduated from the common schools of Springfield and spent one year in the high school, attending the latter at night. He completed a course in mechanical drawing and nearly finished one in mechanical engineering through the International Corre- spondence School, of Scranton, Pa. He made rapid progress in these studies and was also pro- ficient in music. Upon leaving school, he became an apprentice in the machine shops of the Wabash Railroad Company and remalned in their employ nine and one-half years, then worked eight and one-half years as tool, die and model maker for the Illinols Watch Com- pany. In October, 1905, he moved to Denver, Colo., to become a partner in the Thompson Bal- ance Company, but three years later returned to Springfield, ou account of his wife's health,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

and again began working for the Illinois Watch Company, which he continued until identifying himself with the Hummer Manufacturing Com- pany, later becoming sole proprietor. The firm was manufacturing small, high-ciass machinery and tools, such as dies, models, etc. Mr. Van Da Walker is a man of excellent habits, has never been addicted to the use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages or drugs of any kind, and in his dally life endeavors to live up to the Ideal man and be true to his Maker. He Is honest and rellable in his dealings with his feilow men, and his rela- tions with his associates are mutually pleasant and agreeable.

Mr. Van Da Walker was married In Spring- field, August 25, 1897, to Martha Jane Rankin, who was born October 9, 1875, daughter of John H. and Adelaide (Smith) Rankin, her father a native of Piqua. O., and her mother of Bain- bridge, N. Y. Mrs. Van Da Walker graduated from high school in Springfield in 1894, after which she worked three years as expert book- keeper. Her father was an army photographer during the Civil War and took pictures of Gen- erals Grant, Logan, Lee and other leading offi- cers who participated in the war, besides many scenes of warfare. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. Van Da Walker and wife, namely : Adelalde Anna, born October 11, 1906, and John L., Jr., December 22, 1909.

Both Mr. Van Da Walker and his wife are now members of the United Brethren Church. He entered the Sunday School of the old First Methodist Episcopal Church at Monroe and Fifth Streets, which was located on the present site of the Franklin Life Building, and helped In a smali way, as he felt able, toward the build- ing of the new edifice at Fifth and Capitol Ave- nue, remaining a member until removing to Den- ver In 1905. In Denver, he and his wife attended the Third Congregational Church. In national politics, he is generally an adherent of the Re- publican party, but is always opposed to the saloon and is the frlend af good government, using his Influence to promote the best interests of the people. In fraternal circles he is well known, being affiliated with Capital Tent No. 1, Knights of the Maccabees of the World, to which he has belonged fifteen years; for six years has been a member of Springfield Tent No. 222 Royal League. and has held all the of- fices thereln. He was a member of Smith's Springfield Zouaves, a local organization, now disbanded.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 154

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