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Mr. Ahrens is a son of John Henry and May Margaretta (Koehler) Ahrens, who had four children: Henry C., born March 1, 1871 and is a carpenter in the Big Four railroad shops at Urbana; Rose Agnes, born December 16, 1874; Mrs. Annie Kruse, of Tolono; and John, who died in New York at the age of six months. The mother also died in New York being over ninety years old.
WILLIAM J. ALEXANDER was born in Ire- land, February 11, 1833, the son of James and Letitia (Marshall) Alexander. His father was a wagon-maker and wheelwright, which trade he followed in County Tyrone, Ireland, until his death, which occurred during the childhood of the subject of this sketch. The latter, with his brother Joseph and his sister, emigrated to America in 1856, landing in New York. From there they went to Chicago and later to Green- field, near Peoria, Ill. Subsequently he worked four years for J. T. Alexander, a relative, who
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
was an extensive landowner, and then formed a partnership with his brother in purchasing land.
William J. Alexander settled in Champaign County in 1872 and now owns 240 acres of land in Section 32, Ayers Township, one sec- tion and fifteen acres in Iowa, and 3,425 acres in Alberta, Western Canada. His home farm is well improved with a good residence, out- buildings, orchard and shade trees, all of which has been accomplished since coming into pos- session. His lands are now rented, but in the past he was an extensive breeder of cattle, horses, hogs, etc. He is Vice-President of the Lyons & Alexander Bank, at Sidell, Ill., and is also a stockholder in two banks in Indian Territory, besides which he owns con- siderable real estate in Chicago. For many years he has been a member of the Christian Church of Sidell, in which he is a trustee.
JAMES HARVEY ALYEA (deceased) was born in Jefferson County, Ind., a son of Gid- eon and Lucille (Grebb) Alyea, and attained his early education in the public schools of that State. In 1884 he came to Illinois locating at Gibson City, where he resided for about eighteen years, having retired from active business life. He was a pioneer merchant and also at one time operated many teams.
At the first call for volunteers in the Civil War in 1861 Mr. Alyea enlisted in Wilder's Battery at Greensburg, and served throughout the entire conflict. At one time he was taken prisoner. He was honorably discharged at Chicago, Ill. He was a member of the G. A. R., and was affiliated with the Masonic Fraternity.
In 1868 Mr. Alyea was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Roberts, a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Malott) Roberts. The follow- ing five children were born to them: Edgar, Clarence, Walter, Gertie and Anna-all liv- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were natives of Kentucky but of Scotch-Irish descent, the name Alyea being Scotch. Mr. Alyea died in Gib- son City, in August, 1884.
JAMES D. ARMSTRONG was born in West Virginia in 1846, the son of Joseph and Martha (McNeil) Armstrong, both natives of Pennsyl- vania. The family moved to Peoria County, Ill., in 1855, where the father engaged in farm- ing. The subject of this sketch was there reared on a farm and received his education
in the public schools of Peoria County. Janu- ary 22, 1891, he moved to Champaign County, where he located on a farm of 320 acres, which is situated about a mile and a half from Bond- ville, Scott Township. In religion Mr. Arm- strong is a Baptist. He was married in 1871 to Catherine Parnell, who was born in Peoria County, where she received her education. To Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have been born the following nine children: Nora, now Mrs. Buck; James E .; Bertha (deceased) ; William E .; Esther; Orpha; Clara; Arthur; George, and Charles.
JAMES NOAH ARMSTRONG, merchant and Justice of the Peace, was born in Cumberland County, Pa., February 7, 1843, and obtained his education at Mechanicsburg High School in his native county. In 1863 he removed to Frank- fort, Ind., where he remained two years, when he moved to LaFayette, Champaign County, Ill. After living there five years, he came to Ur- bana, residing in that city eighteen months. Since then he has lived in Champaign where he engaged in the grocery business. Later, having been appointed a police officer, he acted as merchant and city policeman for about ten years, with headquarters at the First National Bank. He then served as police officer under S. B. Day, but resigned to accept the position of merchant policeman under B. C. Beach. In 1898 he again resigned to engage in the grocery business, and has since followed that line of occupation. He was elected Justice of the Peace, January 11, 1899, during Governor Tan- ner's administration, to fill a vacancy, and in 1900 was reelected and is now acting in that capacity.
In 1864 Mr. Armstrong enlisted at Frankfort, Ind., in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty- fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was dis- charged at close of the war, after five months' service. He was elected as First Sergeant and acted in that capacity until discharged at In- dianapolis, where he was mustered out of the service. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics Mr. Armstrong is a Republican and for a time served as con- stable. He is a member of the Christian Church.
Mr. Armstrong was married in August, 1861, to Sarah J. Maish, a daughter of Frederick and Sarah Maish, by whom he has had nine chil- dren, eight of whom are living: Edward,
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Luther, Anna May, Sadie, Maude, James N., Jr., Lola and Jennie. Frederick was killed while acting as brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad in 1898. The accident was caused by the train breaking in two and while coupling it together his foot caught in a frog on the track and he was drawn under the car when the signal was given the train to move. The sad disaster occurred on a dark and stormy night.
CYRUS ARNOLD, farmer, Champaign Coun- ty, residing on Section 35, Philo Township, is a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., born September 8, 1830. Mr. Arnold comes of an old Colonial family, long identified with Rhode Island, his paternal grandfather being born in Providence, in that State, whence he moved in later life to the Empire State. Peter and Pamelia (Ostrum) Arnold, the parents of Cyrus, were born in New York, and devoted their en- tire lives to farming.
At the age of twenty-one years, Cyrus Arnold left home, removing to Jackson County, Mich., where he found employment in a mercantile concern, with which he remained two years. On February 2, 1853, at Grass Lake, Mich., he was united in marriage to Caroline, daughter of Henry A. and Catherine (Overacker) Francisco, of which union six children have been born, namely: Mary C., wife of John Lock; Emmet F., a stockman in the Black Hills, S. D .; Hor- ace, living at home; Cora, wife of Henry W. Lovenfoss; Caroline P .; and Henry E., who died at the age of nine months.
Mr. Arnold settled in Illinois in 1854, pur- chasing a farm in McHenry County, whence, in the fall of 1856, he moved to Kendall County. In 1867 he bought a farm, in Champaign County, of 160 acres, upon which he still makes his home, in addition to which he owns three other farms, aggregating, in all, 440 acres. His home place is equipped with all modern improve- ments and constitutes one of the most valuable farming properties in Philo Township. Mr. Arnold is liberal and broad-minded, taking a keen interest in the affairs of his county, and exerting an influence for political, material and religious progress, As a Republican he has held many offices, and for years has been a School Director and Justice of the Peace. He is a trustee in the Methodist Episcopal church, and contributes generously towards the sup- port of the church.
FREDERICK ATKINSON was born in Els- ternwick, Yorkshire, England, October 11, 1861, there received a common-school education and in 1896 came to America, locating at Urbana, Ill., where he has since been engaged as gar- dener at the University of Illinois. In 1903 he was appointed Superintendent of the Urbana Cemetery. In his religious views he is affili- ated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Po. litically he supports the principles of the Re- publican party. On August 18, 1885, Mr. Atkin- son was united in marriage to Miss Selina Mowforth, a daughter of Richard Mowforth, and eight children have been born to them: Frank, Ethel, Rebecca, Harriet, Lena, Rhoda, Bessie, and Charles. All the children still live with their parents at Urbana.
ALEXANDER M. AYERS (deceased), one of the pioneer lawyers and Judges of Champaign County, Ill., at one time Postmaster of Urbana, and during the Civil War a faithful supporter of the Union cause, was born in Washington County, Pa., September 28, 1827, and was edu- cated in the early subscription schools, and at Vermilion Institute, Haysville, Ohio. Judge Ayers first embarked upon an independent career as a schoolmaster in Ohio, later en- gaging in teaching in Louisiana, until 1852. He then studied law in Mansfield, Ohio, and, after being admitted to the bar in 1854, he came to Urbana the following year, which re- mained his home continuously until his death in 1900.
Judge Ayers enlisted in the Union Army in 1862, and was commissioned Quartermaster of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry. During a portion of his ser- vice he was Brigade Quartermaster, and later served as Division Quartermaster, being at- tached to the staff of General McCook. After his discharge, June 29, 1865, he returned to Urbana, and was elected County Judge of Champaign County the following fall, serving continuously in that office until 1873. In 1874 he was appointed Postmaster of Urbana, serv- ing until 1878, and thereafter devoted his at- tention exclusively to the practice of law during the balance of his active life.
FREDERICK BAKER (deceased) was born in Germany, September 14, 1839, and received his education in the public schools of his na- tive country. He came to America when he
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863
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
was twenty-one years of age, and three months later, enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, at Chicago, for three years. After being discharged at the close of the war, he engaged in the saloon business. He was a stanch Democrat and was very active in politics, holding the office of Constable for twenty-five years, and serving as night police of Champaign for five years.
On July 23, 1866, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Langerhausen, a daughter of Henry and Johanna (Swallkuchen) Langerhausen, and the following named chil. dren were born to them: an infant (deceased) ; Ida, (Mrs. Al Maguire), who died at the age of twenty-nine years; and Lydia (Mrs. Barney Matheny). Mr. Baker died October 20, 1902.
HORATIO G. BANES, who has been one of the best known and busiest residents of Cham- paign, Ill., for many years, was born in Clark County, Ohio, October 30, 1833. His father and mother, Gabriel H. and Sarah (Mckinnon) Banes, were also natives of Ohio. The elder Banes followed farming on a large scale in Ohio until 1850, when he moved to Champaign County, Ill. He purchased 320 acres of land in Newcomb Township, but two years later, just as he was becoming familiar with his new - surroundings, passed away. In his Ohio home he was among the most prominent and influen- tial citizens. In politics he was an ardent Whig, and religiously, a devout member of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he was an earnest and untiring worker. He was the father of seven children, only two of whom are living: the subject of this sketch and Eleanor, who married Robert Wright, a resident of New- comb Township.
Horatio G. Banes accompanied his parents to Champaign County when he was twelve years old, and remained five years on the home farm, attending the public schools in winter. At the end of this period he began to learn the carpenter's trade. Since finishing his apprenticeship, he has mostly followed carpentering and contracting. During the win- ter season in his later youth he was sometimes employed as a clerk in stores in McLean and Champaign Counties, and in early manhood was appointed a Justice of the Peace to fill a vacancy, afterwards being elected to the same office. For a time he was engaged in building bridges and depots in Champaign
County for the Illinois Central Railroad Com- pany. During the two score years of his labors in Champaign County, he has built numerous houses in Champaign, Urbana and their vicinity.
Mr. Banes was married October 24, 1856, to Eunice L., a daughter of Michael Hormel. Mrs. Banes died September 13, 1867, leaving three children, two of whom died when quite young. The other, Nancy M., married Andrew Hampton, who is connected with postoffice work in Champaign. The second marriage of Mr. Banes, which occurred November 18, 1869, was to Margaret J. Hopkins, a daughter of Harris and Christina (Cherry) Hopkins. Two children, who were the offspring of this union, died in infancy. Mr. Banes' second wife died May 4, 1903, and on May 10, 1904, he was married to his present wife, who was Nancy Morton Young.
In politics Mr. Banes is a pronounced Re- publican. In 1866, he was elected Street Com- missioner for the City of Champaign, and was re-elected for a second term of two years. Af- terwards, he was appointed by Mayor Wilcox to the office of City Marshal, serving in that position two years. Subsequently, he again held the office of Street Commissioner for a like term. He was later elected to the City Council by the Prohibition party, a position which he also filled for two years with much credit to himself. Fraternally he is affiliated with Mahomet Lodge, No. 220, A. F. & A. M., and religiously with the Christian Church, in which he officiates as trustee.
Few citizens of Champaign are regarded with more respect and esteem than is Mr. Banes, who enjoys a wide acquaintance.
CHARLES BARKER was born in 1855, in England, where he received his education in the public schools. His parents were Thomas and Eliza (Crawford) Barker, the former a native of England and the latter of Illinois. The father came to America in 1862, and about 1867, located in Bondville, Ill., where he car- ried on farming and a grain business. Charles Barker, the son, came to the United States in November, 1897, and settled in Bondville, Scott Township, Champaign County, where he engaged in farming, combined with the grain and implement business. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. In 1880 Mr. Barker was married to Ann Wharmby, who
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
was born in England, and received her educa- tion there. The following named children have been born to them: Mary (Mrs. Scroggin), Her- bert, Harriet, Thomas H., George, and John C.
JAMES S. BARNES, farmer and real-estate dealer, Gifford, Champaign County, Ill., was born in Warren County, Ill., July 22, 1856, the son of Theophilus P. and Nancy E. (Cyphers) Barnes, natives of New Jersey. The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Gershom and Mary (Miller) Barnes, who were natives of New Jersey, as were also his maternal grandparents, Paul and Hannah (Campbell) Cyphers. His paternal great-grand- father, Gershom Barnes, was a native of New Jersey also, while his maternal great-grand- father, McDonald Campbell, was born in Scot- land. James S. Barnes, of whom we princi- pally write, grew to manhood on his father's farm, and meanwhile obtained his education in the public schools. Remaining on the parental homestead until twenty-one years of age, he then began his independent career as a farmer in Compromise Township, Champaign County, and has since continued to follow that occupa- tion to which he has since added the real-estate business.
On October 3, 1886, Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Dora B. Lenox, born at Hardin, Ohio, March 29, 1864, the daughter of Hiram and Martha (Davenport) Lenox, and of this union seven children have been born, namely: Lula Belle, Roy Stanley, Alsie May, James Lenox, Birdie Davenport, Frances Mildred and Earl Cyphers. Mrs. Barnes obtained her education in the public schools of Rantoul, Il1. Mr. Barnes is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and in politics affiliates with the Prohibition party. Fraternally he belongs to the order of Good Templars and the Modern Woodmen of America.
THEOPHILUS PHILLIPS BARNES (de- ceased), for many years a prominent busi- ness man and politician of Gifford, Champaign County, Ill., was born in Phillipsburg, Warren County, N. J., August 7, 1816, a son of Gershom and Mary (Miller) Barnes. Besides Theophilus there were two daughters and a son in his father's family, the only surviving members being Sarah Ann Barnes, now ninety-three years old, and Elizabeth Barnes-the former making her home in her declining years with
her bachelor nephew, William D. Barnes. Reu- ben P. Barnes, a younger brother of Theophil- us, learned the miller's trade in his youth near Mount Gilead, Ohio, afterwards engaged in teaching and in later life devoted his attention to farming near Mattoon, Ill. Their father, Gershom Barnes, moved from Phillipsburg, N. J., to Mount Gilead, Ohio, at an early day and in 1854 to Illinois, locating in Warren County, finally removing to Gifford, Champaign County.
About 1835 Theophilus Barnes married Nancy Cyphers, who was born April 21, 1813, and who was the granddaughter of McDonald Campbell. She is also deceased. The chil- dren born of this union were: Christian P., born July 18, 1836; Paul, born August 16, 1838; Gershom, born September 24, 1842; Sumerton, born January 22, 1844; William D., born Sep- tember 22, 1845; Hannah A., born June 20, 1847, now the wife of Edward E. Stribling, of Dillsburg, Ill .; Rueben, who died in infancy; Mary, born April 11, 1851, now the widow of Hiram Lenox, of Crawfordsville, Ind .; Frank- lin Pierce, born April 9, 1853, and James S., born July 22, 1855. Mr. Barnes followed farm- ing on Section 10 in Township 21 North, Range 10 East, after coming to Champaign County. He was formerly a member of the Second Adventist Church. In political senti- ment he was a zealous Democrat, and exerted a strong influence in local affairs, occupying the position at different times of Assessor and Collector and member of the School Board. He came of a prominent family, including among his relatives the well-known railway magnate and financier, Jay Gould, who was his cousin.
WILLIAM RILEY BARRICK, who for sev- enty-five years has lived on Section 31, Crit- tenden Township, Champaign County, was born October 31, 1829. His father, William Bar- rick, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he followed farming, later moving to Illinois prior to the birth of the subject of this sketch. Reared as other boys of those days, William Riley Barrick obtained his schooling during the winter months while working on the farm in summer. When the gold fever broke out in California in 1849, he crossed the plains with an ox-team, staying on the Slope, two years, during which he followed placer-mining with a fair degree of success. He then returned to Illinois where he bought forty acres of land,
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
to which he made additions from time to time. Recently he has given up active work and disposed of his landed interest to his children.
On February 13, 1853, Mr. Barrick was mar- ried to Louisa Williams, daughter of Elijah Williams, a farmer of Douglas County, Ill., and three children were born of this union, namely; James A., John B., and Mary Emory- the latter now being the wife of W. L. Davis, of Frankfort, Ind. Mrs. Barrick died October 27, 1893. Mr. Barrick is a Republican in poli- tics, and has served his Township as School Director, Assessor and Collector. Fraternally he is a Mason, and is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
John B. Barrick, son of William R., was born on the paternal homestead, educated in the public schools, and reared to the vocation of farming, always living with his father. On November 17, 1880, he was married to Mary C. Davis, daughter of John and Catherine (Mar- shall) Davis, and five children have been born to them, of whom four are now living: Glenn L., Harry L., Charles B., and Nellie E. In 1901 John B. Barrick purchased the home place from his father, consisting of 412 acres and constituting in every way a well improved and up-to-date farm. He and his family at- tended the Methodist Episcopal Church. So- cially he is a member of the Masonic Order, and politically supports the principles of the Republican party.
JAMES M. BARTHOLOW, physician and sur- geon, was born in Urichsville, Ohio, February 18, 1847. His family removed to New Phila- delphia, Ohio, shortly after his birth, and there the subject of this sketch passed the first nine years of his life. About 1854 he went with his parents to. Bloomington, Ill., and thereafter lived in different parts of the State to which the elder Bartholow was called as a Methodist minister. Mr. Bartholow attended the public schools as a boy and entered Wes- leyan University at Bloomington, Ill., in 1860. In 1862 he left that institution to join the Union Army, enlisting in the Sixty-eighth Reg- iment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His term of service having expired, he reenlisted for three years in the Ninety-fourth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, in which he served until 1865, when he was transferred to the Thirty-seventh Regiment, with which he remained until the close of the war, being mustered out at Gal-
veston, Texas, in 1866. During the latter year he matriculated in Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, where, in 1870, he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He began the prac- tice of his profession near Lincoln, Ill., and re- mained there until 1869, when he removed to Philo, Champaign County, where for twenty- . seven years he covered a broad field of professional work. He became known through- out the county not only as a successful
practitioner, but also as man of affairs and public-spirited citizen. chivalric de- votion to his profession was a distinguishing characteristic during those years, and rich as well as poor commended his true worth and counsel both as a friend and as physician. Having been successful financially, tiring from practice in Philo, he moved to Urbana, where he has continued his professional labors as counsellor and advisor.
Dr. Bartholow is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society, the Central Illinois Med- ical Society, and the Champaign County Med- ical Society. Since 1896 he has been United States Pension Examiner at Urbana, and has become identified with agricultural interests as a farm owner and stock raiser. From the time he became a citizen of Champaign County, he has been actively interested in the welfare of the Republican party, but has declined politi- cal preferment. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Church. He married in 1867, Miss Florence Ford, of Mason City, Ill. Their children are Rev. Dr. Otto Bartholow, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Mrs. Hortense B. Robeson, wife of F. K. Robeson, of Champaign.
JAMES BARTLEY was born June 2, 1817, in Jackson Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, a son of Jacob and Sarah (West) Bartley, both parents being of German descent. He came to Illinois in the fall of 1830 with his parents, who had ten children, James being now the only surviving member of the family. He married Miss Mary Matilda Gibbins, a native of Ken- tucky, and seven children were born to them: William, Henry, Mary, John, Sarah Amanda, James M. and Jacob, of whom Mary, Sarah Amanda, and James still survive. Mrs. Bartley died May 29, 1875. Mr. Bartley's second wife was Malinda, the widow of Stephen Boyd, and a daughter of Hiram Rankin. She died in 1879. He was again married, his third wife being
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Mary (Hardman) Patterson, the widow of Wil- liam Patterson, by whom she had one son, William E. She died September 15, 1904.
In his religious belief Mr. Bartley is affiliated
JAMES BARTLEY.
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In poli- tics he was formerly a Whig, later becoming a Republican when that party was organized. His first vote was cast for William Henry Har- rison.
HENRY BEHRENS, proprietor of Oak Cafe, Champaign, Ill., was born in Ford County, Ill., in 1865, and was educated in the public schools of his native State. At an early age he be- came interested in mercantile pursuits, and soon established a dry-goods emporium at Kan- kakee, Ill., where, for a period of twenty years, he did a flourishing business. In the year 1890, he was married to Rickey Kraffe, a na- tive of Germany, and of this union three chil- dren have been born: Clara, Harry and Mar- guerite. Mr. Behrens removed from Kankakee to Champaign, where he opened the Oak Cafe. He belongs to the Eagle fraternity.
GEORGE FITCH BEARDSLEY was born May 26, 1827, in Milford Township, Knox County,
Ohio, where he obtained his education in the public and county schools. He was school teacher and farmer in his native county until November, 1867, since which time he has been in the real estate, loan, and insurance business at Champaign. He enlisted in the hundred-day service during the Civil War and held the rank of Orderly Sergeant, in Company B, Forty-sec- ond Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He has served as Alderman of Champaign for fourteen years and for seven years has been a member of the Board of Education, of which he was President for three years. He built the handsome Beards- ley Hotel, one of the finest hostelries in Cen- tral Illinois, and has done much in advancing the interests of Champaign, having erected many residences and business houses. Mr. and Mrs. Beardsley celebrated their golden wedding
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