Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 30

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 30

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lutionary soldiers and sailors. One was com- mander of an American war vessel, and was killed during that war. Through her father, she was descended from English ancestors, who came to this country and settled in New York, in the last century. Daniel H. Morey followed mercantile pursnits in Missouri, Iowa . and Illinois, finally settling at Monmonth, where his children, D. H., Jr., George, Mary E. (Mrs. Clendenin), Etta Adele and Aurelia Lanrist were educated. He was a Royal Arch Mason. He and wife are now deceased.

Mrs. Clendenin was gradnated from Mon- month College, in the class of 1874, with the degree of B. S. She is a lady of literary tastes and of many graces and accomplishments. After her marriage she acted as literary re- view editor of her husband's paper, writing the book notices and reviews. She is also, when her health permits, active in church and he- nevolent work, and finds time from the cares of her family to accomplish, in an nnostenta- tious way, much for the good of humanity. She is an active member of the Congregational Church. There have been born to Mr. and follows : Mrs. Clendenin, five children, as Henry Francis, born October 21, 1879; Eliza- beth, July 29. 1881; George Morey, Jannary 29, 1883; Clarence Rees, July 31 1886; and Marie Etta, October 16, 1890. The first dangh- ter died in infancy. The first named was horn in Keokuk, and the remainder in Springfield.

In 1881, the firm of Smith, Clendenin & Rees sold the Keokuk Constitution and bought the Illinois State Register, the oldest Democratic paper in the State, and removed to Springfield with their families. They took control of the paper June 18, 1881, since which time, Mr. Clendenin has been its editor-in-chief. In 1886, George Smith, Esq., the senior member having died. the firm was changed to a corporation and Mr. Clendenin was made its President. Since removing to Springfield, Mr. Clendenln has taken an active part in the husiness and political affairs of the city and State. He has been a delegate to varions connty and State conventions and was a member of the Demo- cratic State Central and State Executive Com- mittees, for four years from 1884 to 1887, in- clusive, and devoted much time to its political work. In 1886, he was appointed Postmaster at Springfield by President Cleveland and served the people most acceptably in that position for more than a year after the inangnration of Cleveland's Republican successor. The postal affairs of the city were never more efficiently and energetically managed than under Mr. Clendenin's administration and the record of his office stood among the highest at the De- partment in Washington. He was appointed Custodian of the Government hnilding in 1886, at Springfield, by Daniel Manning. Secretary of the Treasury. and had charge of the United States building and grounds until superseded by Secretary Windom, in 1889.

In addition to his professional and political

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

duties Mr. Ciendenin has many other calls upon his time and services. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Grand Army of the Republic and other so- cieties. In the Grand Army of the Republic, he was appointed Aid-de-Camp by Gen. Phillip S. Post, when Department Commander of Illi- nois, and an Aid-de-Camp on the National Staff by Geu. Russeil A. Alger, Commander in Chief of the National Encampment, G. A. R. for 1889 and 1890. Mr. Clendenin was a dele- gate from his congressional district to the National Democratic convention of 1896, which met in Chicago aud nomiuated William J. Bryan for President. A personal friend and admirer of Mr. Bryau, and himself a lifelong Democrat, he gave Mr. Bryan his earnest per- sonal and editorial support in that campaign, and in his two subsequent ones.

It would exceed the limits of this sketch to enumerate all the public matters in which Mr. Clendenin has been active during his resi- dence in Springfield. He was especially active through the State Register in the movements that resulted iu lifting Springfield out of the mud and making it the best paved city in Illi- nois. In every movement for advancing the growth and prosperity of the city, he has taken a lively and so far as is possible, an active, di- rect interest. He was one of the chief pro- moters and a member of the Executive Com- mittee of citizens who inaugurated in Spring- field, and conducted by laborious and tireless efforts to a successful accomplishment, the Centennial celebration of the adoption of the Federal Constitution on April 30, 1889. He, with his associates, has always felt especially proud of the successful results of their efforts. In that celebration some 6,000 children and many adults participated, and it was witnessed by tens of thousands of spectators. Six thou- sand white metal medals prepared expressly for the occasion were distributed to the chil- dren and teachers as they moved in procession, every one carrying a flag under an evergreen arch built across Capitol Avenue. Such a grand spectacle was never before seen in Springfield, if in any other city in America. It was an object lesson in patriotism, which will be remembered hy all who participated in and witnessed it so long as they live. He was appointed hy the City Council a member of the commission to locate/the public library build- ing, now called the Lincoln Library, and to se- lect the architectural design. The building was erected at a cost, with the grounds, of more than $100,000, $75,000 of which was contributed by Andrew Carnegie. He is now and has been a large part of the time since the erection of the building, a member of the Board of Direc- tors of the library.

That Mr. Clendenin is a busy man goes with- out saying. The duties connected with editing a paper of the standing and character of the State Register at the Capital and political cen- ter of the Empire State of the West, are in

themselves exacting To those duties are added his other official and private activities, his co- operation and persoual assistance iu forward- .

ing all public euterprises of a social, charitable and business character, aud an earnest and active participation in the political work of the party. As a writer, his style is vigorous and clear; his articles give evidence of care iu preparation and an earnestuess of purpose that commands for them commcusurate weight and influence. Probably no Democratic paper in the State is so widely quoted by the country press of its party as is the State Register, and certainly none wields a greater influence in the policy of the party to which it belongs.

In his private life, Mr. Clendenin lives quietly and modestly. He is retiring and re- served in dispositiou, domestic in his hahits and spends all the time he can spare from business and public duties with his family in their pleasant home, where he takes delight in the society of his wife and children. Mr. aud Mrs. Clendenin are both members of the Congrega- tional Church, of which he is au official. They occupy a comfortable residence at No. 1009 South Second Street, which Mr. Clendenin built in 1885, and in which they have among their treasures a valuable library. Mr. Clen- denin has never aspired to office or been am- bitious of wealth; his disposition has been to serve his friends, his party aud the public more than himself. With the consciousness of beiug industrious and useful as a jourualist, and hon- est and public-spirited as a citizeu, he pur- sues the even tenor of his way with uo undue anxiety as to wealth or official preferment.

COBERLY, Jobe .- Some men seem able to win friends without effort, their disposition being such as to attract other men to them and hold them fast by bonds of affection. They are to .be found in every walk of life and are an ad- dition to a community, for where they are there are not likely to be dissensions or disturbances of any kind, as they are universal peacemakers. One of the most highly respected residents of Springfield, a man who enjoys the friendship of all with whom he has ever beeu brought in contact, is Jobe Coberly. Mr. Coberly was born in Madison County, Ohio, July 24, 1838, being a son of James and Ellen (Kinney) Coberly. The father was a farmer of Madison County, and he and his wife spent their lives there. They both came of good old pioneer stock, and were universally respected.

Jobe Coberly was brought up in Ohio, re- ceiving a district school education and work- ing on the farm. In 1861, when his country had need of him, Mr. Coberly enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and when his term of service expired he re-enlisted in Com- pany K, One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois In- fantry, serving in the latter for one year and being mustered out in 1865. He participated in a number of the great battles of the war, includ- ing those of Stone River, Murfreesboro, Pea

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

Ridge, Chickamauga, Atlanta, and others of less importance, and never failed to do his fuil duty.

Returning home, he engaged in farming for some years, then went into railroad work. Fi- nally, on account of his age, he was relieved and made flagman for the Wabash Railroad. Many men of his age, with such a record back of them would be content to retire, but Mr. Co- berly is too active, and takes pleasure in the ¿fact that he is just as useful today as he ever was, although in a different capacity. He be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious faith makes him a Catholic and he belongs to the Church of the Immaculate Con- ception of Springfield. In politics he is a Re- publican, loyally supporting the principles of the party Abraham Lincoln helped to found.

In 1878 Mr. Coberiy was married in Cham- paign, Ill., to Elizabeth Porter, daughter of Thomas and Eliza Porter. The parents were natives of Ireland and came to Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Coberly was born. The father was a shoemaker by trade and eventually came to Champaign, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Coberly had two children, the elder of whom is Elmer E. Dur- ing his years of toil Mr. Coberly has been mind- ful of the future, always saving something from his earnings, and now owns his home at No. 1227 East Madison street. In his gentle, kindly way, Mr. Coberly has made himself a general favorite and has gained the esteem and respect of employers and neighbors for his faith- fulness and industrious habits.

CODY, John, a representative and successful farmer of Capital Township, Sangamon County, Ill., is a man of intelligence and industry and conducts his work in a modern, scientific man- ner. He is a native of the county, born in New Berlin Township, August 17, 1872, son of Thomas and Johanna (Morrisey) Cody, both natives of Ireland, the former born in Limerick. Thomas Cody came to America in boyhood and located in Sangamon County at the age of four- teen years. He settled on a farm in New Ber- lin Township, where he and his wife still re- side. They were parents of seven daughters and three sons, all of whom survive. They are well-known and highly respected in their com- munity and have met with fair success.

John Cody was educated in the public schools of New Berlin and made the most of his op- portunities in this line. After leaving school he worked on his father's farm and later worked on his own acount in New Berlin Township. He came to his present place in 1907 and rents 300 acres of good farming land.

Mr. Cody was married in New Berlin, Janu- ary 16, 1910, to Barbara E. Lee, born Novem- ber 29, 1877, daughter of Morris and Emeline (Campbell) Lee, the former born in Ireland and the latter in Loami Township, Sangamon County. Mr. Lee came to Sangamon County in 1864. He and his wife had fifteen children, of whom eleven (eight daughters and three sons)

are still living. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cody, namely : Thomas J., John ·M., Robert E., Joseph W., Maurice and Bar- bara A., all at home.

Mr. Cody is popular among his many ac- quaintances for his friendly, genial manner, his sterling integrity, and his fine conversational powers. He is a man of great enterprise and ability, and has shown good business judgment in the conduct of his affairs. He and his wife are members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. In politics he votes for the men and measures he thinks are for the best interests of all the people, and takes an active interest in public affairs and issues.

COE, John C .- Farming as an occupation is proving so successful that those who have been engaged in this line of activity ali their lives have no reason to complain of the results. Sangamon County has no more substantial men than those whose wealth has been accummulated through tiling the soil, for the land there has been generous, not only yielding excellent crops, but increasing in value until its possession to- day spells money in no inconsiderable amount. One of the prosperous farmers of the county is John C. Coe, of Rochester. He was born in Loudoun County, Va., January 5, 1825, being a son of Horatio and Catherine (Grubb) Coe. Both parents were born in the same county as their son, the date of the mother's birth being 1789, and she died September 2, 1836. The fa- ther, who was born January 24, 1784, died in Virginia, July 24, 1841, and was buried at Eb- enezer Church.

John C. Coe came from Loudoun County, Va., to Illinois in 1842, arriving in Sangamon County, April 28th. At that time he was only seven- teen years of age, and sought a new home where he could grow up with the country. April 1, 1849, in company with Thomas Rucker, Abra- ham Ciark and Henry Sims, he went to Cali- fornia in a prairie schooner drawn by four yoke of oxen. He remained there until the spring of 1851, then returned to Sangamon County. His trip across the plains took six months and was full of thrilling events. He went into partner- ship with a man, built a saw mill and also bought 125 acres of land. Beginning as a farm hand, he saved his money until he was able to buy land, to which he added from time to time, until now he owns 320 acres north of Rochester in the township of that name and twenty acres in the village, in addition to his home. His education was meager, but he has added to his knowledge by observation and is now very well- informed, possessing good common sense and a clear perception of values.

The military history of the family is not. gen- erally known, aside from the fact that Horatio Coe served as a soldier in the War of 1812, but in times of peace the Coes have been valuable additions to any community in which they have located.

Mr. Coe was married in Rochester Township,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

by Rev. Wliliam Johnston, on August 11, 1853, to Charity Grubb, daughter of Richard and Charity (Morrison) Grubb, of Loudoun County, Va., born October 1, 1820. She died September 20, 190S, and her remains are laid to rest in the beautiful Rochester Cemetery. She came to this state November 5, 1851, with her brother Ebenezer and sister Jane. Two children were born of this marriage: Richard H., born Febru- ary 21, 1855. Theodore Curtis L., born July 13, 1859, died June 14, 1870. Richard H. Coe is now improving a farm in North Dakota, but his family reside in Rochester. He married September 19, 1879, Lucy Deuchfield of Eng- iand. She died March 21, 1886. They had four children, two living, John E. and Philip. He. married in 1880, Sabina Vigal of Kentucky, and by this union there were five children : Charity, Richard, Sam'l William McK., Theodora L. and Jeannetta. John E. Coe married Linnie Eiiza- beth Cowper of Winchester, Ill., and they have one child, Lucy. Philip Coe married Maud Haines. Mrs. Coe was a lady of lovely Chris- tian character, whose gentie nature endeared her to ail who knew her. Her loss is deeply felt by her family, who continue to mourn her and miss her kindly ministrations. The Metho- dist Church of Rochester held her membership and Mr. Coe also belongs to that denomination, contributing of his means towards its support. All his life Mr. Coe has been a Republican, learning from the great Lincoln himself. While he has never been willing to go before the pub- lic for office, he has done his duty as a pri- vate citizen and is much interested in his home town. His property has been carefully accu -. mulated through many sacrifices and hard work. Industry and thrift were his watchwords from boyhood up and his success shows what can be accomplished by a determined, hard-working young man. He has witnessed many changes since he came here nearly sixty years ago. Sangamon County is a different place from what it was in 1842. and he has ably borne his part in making it what it is today. He has ad- vocated good schools, the establishment and maintenance of churches, building of roads, and the development of the natural resources of the county. The influence of such a man is certainly for good, and his fellow citizens ap- preciate his worth at its true value, as they show whenever occasion offers.

COE, Samuel Jacob (deceased) .- Much that is best in a man is not appreciated until death has taken him from the midst of his friends and relatives. Then it is that deeds of kind- ness and acts of charity are discovered and his true worth comes to light. One of the men who heid the high esteem of his fellowmen wher- ever he lived, was the late Samuel Jacob Coe, formerly of Rochester Township, Sangamon County. where he was engaged in farming for a number of years. Mr. Coe was born in Lou- doun County, Va., September 14, 1827, being a son of Horatio and Catherine (Grubb) Coe, the

former born January 24, 1784, died Juiy 24, 1841, and the latter January 11, 1789, died Sep- tember 5, 1836, and both were natives of Lou- doun County. The father was a farmer. S. J. Coe with five brothers and one sister came to Sangamon County April 28, 1842, arriving in the county on April 28th. Settlement was made in Mechanicsburg Township, where Samuel Jacob Coe remained until 1850, when he went west to Idaho. For the next twenty-five years he was interested in various enterprises there, farm- ing, conducting a livery and feed stabie, and hoiding stock in tbe Idaho Gold Mining Com- pany, with a mine in the vicinity of Kelton, Idaho.

In 1878, Mr. Coe returned and, going to Lou- doun County, Va., there married, October 16, 1878, Mary M. Grubb, born in that county July 30, 1833, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Smith) Grubb. The Grubb family is an old and honored one in Virginia where her parents iived and died, having reared a large family of children to do them credit. Mrs. Coe had four sisters and five brothers, of whom Mr. Mabery Smith Grubb is living near Mechanicsburg; Vir- ginia E. Grubb and Mrs. Rose Thompson near Hillsboro, Loudoun County, Va .; and all the others except Mrs. Coe have, passed away.

After his marriage Mr. Coe returned to San- gamon County and located four miles east of Mechanicsburg, operating a farm in that local- ity until 1893, when he retired from active busi- ness and settled down in Rochester, where he lived until his demise. This sad event oc- curred January ' 19, 1910, at his home, and his widow and a brother, John Coe, of Rochester, low in his eighty-fifth year, were ieft to mourn his ioss. The funeral services were heid in the Methodist Church of Rochester, January 21, 1910, being conducted by Rev. Wright and Rev. Hartman. The address was very touching and a large crowd gathered to pay the iast honors to a man so universally respected and es- teemed.

In early life, Mr. Coe was a stanch Repub- lican, but in his later years he voted the Pro- hibition ticket. Business cares occupied him to the exclusion of public matters, and aside from being interested in good government and moral uplift, he did not participate in them. Frater- nal matters did not interest him, and be de- voted his leisure time to his home and his church. While a resident of Mechanicsburg, he united with the Methodist Church, in 1884, and continued faithfui to its creed until his death. Mrs. Coe is also a member of that church and one of its most earnest workers.

Mrs. Coe resides in a pleasant bome in Ro- chester, which her husband's care provided for her ; she also owns some rich farm land in San- gamon County and additional property in Ro- chester. She is a lady whose many excelient traits of character have endeared to her neigh- bors and church associates, and she occupies a prominent place in her community. Mr. Coe was a man of few pretensions, who aimed to

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

do his full duty as he saw it, and to guide his life according to the Golden Rule, leaving be- hind him the record of a biameless life, a stainless honor. and many friends who knew aud appreciated him at his true worth.

COE, Wiliiam (deceased) .- When William Coe reached Sangamon County, he found it very different from what It is today. Then there were few good roads; the land was in a wild state; heavy timber bordered the water courses, and there was no Indication of the wealth which was to deveiop here. Like so many others, he came with his mind bent upon securing cheap land and developing conditions that would make the com- munity he selected a good home for his family. Little by little, he cleared off his iand, cut down the trees, built suitable shelters for his family and stock, and then, turning his atten- tion to other matters, aided in establishing a church and school. As time went on, he gained in power, and when he died, was one of the leaders of the Republican party in his town- ship and one of the prosperous farmers of Mechanicsburg. He was born in Loudouu County, Va., May 22, 1817. being a son of Ho- ratio and Catherine (Gruhb) Coe, both natives of Loudoun County, he was born January 24, 1784, and she January 11. 1789. His death oc- curred July 24, 1841, while she passed away in 1836. He was a soldier of the War of 1812.

The education of William Coe was obtained in Virginia and he was reared to the life of a farmer but when he came to Sangamon County in 1842, he found very different conditions there from those which prevailed in his native State. Mr. Coe bonght land and owned about 425 acres at one time, and his widow now owns a large acreage two miles south of Mechanicsburg, as well as her comfortable residence in the village of Rochester.

The marriage of Mr. Coe took place in Spring- field, November 2, 1851, to Elizabeth J. Kimes, born in Sangamon County, northeast of Spring- field, February 26, 1834, a daughter of Louis and Sarah (Short) Kimes, natives of Tennes- see. Mr. and Mrs. Coe had children as follows : Mrs. Edward Humphrey, who lives ou a farm in Oklahoma, issue, four iiving children,-Flora, Lura, Edwin and Curtis ; Charlotte E. Sprinkle lives on a farm near Edinburg, Christian Coun- ty, issne, three children,-James M., Norvilla G. and Rosco; George, a farmer living on the home place, south of Mechanicsburg, marrled Viola Lahue, issue, seven children,-Lena M., Elvin. Myrtle. William D., Samuei C., Ursula and Ruth ; Ellen E. Barhee lives on a farm in Christian County, issue, three children,-Ethel, Horatlo and Edith : Altha Lahue, a widow, living at Decatur, Ill., issue, five children,-Esteila, Earl, Elmer. Olive and Minnie; William E. is a farmer of Sangamon County living east of Mechanicsburg, issue, six children,-Verna, Ber- tha, Elizabeth, William, Earl and Ralph ; Ann. deceased, was the wife of Edwin Robins, of Mechanicsburg, issue, four children,-Roy, May,

Jennie and Olive; Horatio J., deceased, issue, two children,-Clara and Albert, who reside in Decatur; Elizabethi, deceased, was the wife of Jacob Bullock, issue, two children, of whom one, Peari, now survives; one child died in infancy. Of the children left by Mrs. Ann Robins, two arc married : May married John Williams and has one child, and Jennie married a Mr. Brue- becker, issne, two children.

Although prominent as a Republican, Mr. Coe was never willing to allow his name to be used on the ticket, believing he could do more good as a private citizen than as a public offi- cial, but he was always ready and willing to exert lis influence in favor of good government and moral uplift. The United Brethren Church of Mechanicsburg held his membership. Mr. Coe passed away at his residence, two and one- fourth miles from Mechanicsburg, Angust 9, 1892. His funeral was largely attended, for his many friends sought to pay a last honor to one for whom they had so long entertained such deep respect. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Mechanicsburg.

Mrs. Coe removed to Rochester, where she purchased a residence, and since then has lived in that village, enjoying the comforts her hus- hand's lahor had secured for her. She Is a lady of kindly disposition, who has many friends there and thoroughout the county. In the early days she proved herself a friend indeed to those in trouble. Whenever there was sickness or death in a honschold Mrs. Coe was one of the first to arrive, to offer sympathy and materiai help. Her life has been spent in caring for her husband and children, and she is proud of them and the record her husband made as a true, honorable, upright, Christian man, agaiust whom none cau honestly speak a word of censure. To look back upon a life that has so little to regret, one imust have lived well, and Mrs. Coe has few mistakes to remember. Her children and friends rise up aud proclaim her blessed, and she wears a crown of true womanhood. Mrs. Coe has had ten children, twenty-eight grand- children, and thirteen great-grandchildren.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 30

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