USA > Illinois > Cass County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Cass County, Volume II > Part 57
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Bartholomew Hofstetter was born at Gois, Switzerland, and emigrated to the United States in young manhood, locating in Cass County when twenty-six years of age. Here he was married to Miss Fannie Hardy, and they continued to make their residence on the family homestead during the remainder of their lives. William C. Hofstetter was reared amid rural surroundings and while assisting his father on the homestead during the summer months se- cured his education in the district schools dur- ing the winter terms. When he laid aside his school books, Mr. Hofstetter concentrated his energies upon tilling the soil until 1903, in that year coming to Virginia and becoming in- terested in business pursuits. Here he engaged in the lumber and grain business, and bought land adjoining the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad tracks, opposite the station, where he has erected large and substantial buildings for the storing and sale of lumber, paints and all kinds of builders' supplies and materials, and has also a large and well-equipped grain elevator. On March 1, 1912, the business was incorporated as the Hofstetter-Carls Lumber Company, with a capital of $10,000, his partners in this enter- prise being his former clerk. A. B. Carls, and Mrs. Mary Hofstetter. his wife, and they con- tinue as the sole stockholders and directors, Mr. Hofstetter being president and manager and Mr. Carls secretary and treasurer. Re- cently the company has purchased the property and coal business formerly owned by C. E. Paul, this property being located across the street from the lumber plant. Mr. Hofstetter
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Oswell Skills
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
nell school. Since his father's demise, he has been conducting the farm, raising grain and hogs. In politics he is a Democrat, but has not aspired to public office. Fraternally he is a member of Chandlerville Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Modern Woodmen of America of Bluff Springs. A sound, sensible man, he stands for progress in his community, and can be depended upon to uphold any measures he believes will work out for the general welfare of the county.
HUESCHEN, John .- Endeavor along agricultural lines if carried on carefully and industriously, results in an old age of ease and comfort. John Hueschen, who is now living retired on his well cultivated farm in Cass County, is one of the best examples of the prosperous farmers of his section. He was born in Prussia, Germany, January 20. 1846, a son of Henry and Anna (Frazee) Hueschen. These parents came from Germany to Beardstown in 1852, where the father worked as an honest laborer.
Growing up in Beardstown, John Hueschen, in boyhood, attended a German private school, but as soon as old enough began working for farmers. When he was thirty years old he com- menced renting land at Arenzville and in its vicinity, and carefully saving his money, seven years later he was able to buy 120 acres of land which comprises his present homestead. Only a portion was improved, but now sixty acres are under cultivation, the remainder being in pasturage with six acres of timberland. Until 1913. MIr. Hueschen operated his property him- self, but then retired, his son-in-law. Alvin Rupple now cultivating it, Mr. Hueschen still living on the farm.
On March 9. 1876, near Meredosia, Ill., by Rev. Theo. Buszin, pastor of the Lutheran church. Mr. Hueschen was united in marriage with Elizabeth Feidler, who was born July 24, 1856, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where her parents died. Mr. and Mrs. Hueschen became the parents of the following children: Theo- dore, Anna and Edwin, who are deceased ; Hulda, who resides with her father; Alvin, who is deceased ; and Della, who was married August 27. 1913, by C. W. Diedrich, of Chandlerville, Ill., to Alvin Rupple, and they have one son, Clarence J. C. Mrs. Hueschen died May 29, 1906, and was buried in Walnut Grove cemetery. Politically Mr. Hueschen is a Democrat and served as a school director for a number of years. In religious faith he is a German Lutheran. Upright, honest and industrious, Mr. Hueschen has been one of the substantial men of Cass County for many years, and stands very well with his neighbors.
HUGHES, Benjamin B .- Many of the successful men of Cass County, Ill., and particularly those belonging to the farming class, entered upon their careers with no capital save ambition and determination, strong hearts and willing hands, and with these have advanced themselves from modest circumstances and obscurity to positions of prominence and financial independence. In
this class is found Benjamin B. Hughes, the owner of a well-cultivated farm in this county, who has been the architect of his own fortune and has builded well. Mr. Hughes was born in Fleming County, Ky., June 30, 18GS, and is a son of Thomas Simpson and Amanda (Hurst) Hughes.
The grandparents of Mr. Hughes were John Hughes, of Virginia, and Anthony and Nancy (Staggs) Hurst, natives of Kentucky. The grandparents were all members of early families of the South, and for the greater part the members of these families have been en- gaged in farming. Thomas Simpson Hughes, father of Benjamin B. Hughes, is still a resident of the Blue Grass state, where his wife passed away in 1892, at the age of fifty-seven years. They were the parents of the following chil- dren : Charlotte, who is Mrs. George Helvestine, of Kentucky ; Margaret, who died in childhood ; Robert, a resident of Kentucky ; Eliza, who died as Mrs. George McIntosh ; Malinda, who became Mrs. George Glass, and is now deceased ; Mary, who is the wife of G. M. Shrout ; Seth, who lives in Kentucky, and Benjamin B.
Benjamin B. Hughes secured his education in the public schools of his native neighborhood, and was reared a farmer. At the age of twenty years he drifted to Cass County, Ill., where he secured employment on the farm of Harry Strib- ling, and soon thereafter went to work for I. M. Stribling, near Virginia. Mr. Ilughes was mar- ried March S, 1898, to Miss Emily Millner, born in Cass County, Ill., May 22, 1876, daughter of William B. and Lamira B. (Coleman) Millner, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Metcalf County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have been the parents of four children : Helen Lamira, Irma Ilazel, Benjamin Richard and Frances Elizabeth.
After marriage Mr. Hughes rented 400 acres of land from Mr. Stribling and continued to operate this land with some success until 1910, when he decided to try his fortunes in Carroll County, Mo., and accordingly purchased 160 acres of improved land and moved to that state. In the fall of the same year, however, he decided that Cass County offered better opportunities for success, and accordingly disposed of his Missouri interests and returned to Illinois. Here he purchased 100 acres of improved land in township 17, range 10, and has continued to engage in general farming. In addition to his own land, he operates 253 acres for Mr. Quigg, carries on general farming, and raises large numbers of Duroc-Jersey hogs and a high grade of cattle. Mr. Hughes is known as one of the most progressive farmers of his part of the county and is well entitled to praise, for his success has been entirely of his own making.
Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are members of the Christian church, in which he has served as deacon since 1907. In politics a Republican ; has served as school director and in other ways has rendered his community excellent services. Fraternally, he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, at Virginia, Ill.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
HUGHES, David R., senior member of the reli- able concrete construction firm of Hughes & Mccarthy, of Beardstown, has won his enviable position among the leading men of Cass County through individual effort and natural ability. He was born at Lewistown, Ill., August 6, 1879, a son of David and Gertrude (Dennis) Hughes, and grandson of David Hughes. . The grand- father was of German nativity, and upon his arrival in the United States, located in New Jersey, where his son David was born. Later on in life, the grandfather came to Galesburg, Ill., where he died, and his widow located at Lewistown, Ill. Here the younger David mar- ried, and he became a brick mason and con- tractor, still making his home at that place. He and his wife had the following children : Rollie, who is of Lewistown: David R .; Bethie, who is Mrs. Charles Mustard, of Lewistown; Horace ; Clyde ; Belle, who is Mrs. Dr. H. A. Levett, of Chicago; Julia, who is Mrs. Clarence Weirough of Lewistown, Ill .; and Don, who is also of Lewistown.
David R. Hughes learned the brick mason trade with his father and when twenty years old went to Astoria, Ill., where he became a brick manufacturer, forming a partnership with T. L. Martin. In 1902 the business was sold, and for a year Mr. Hughes worked again at his trade. In 1904, however, he came to Beards- town and established his present concrete con- struction business, and in 1907, took J. D. Mc- Carthy into partnership with him. Both part- ners are men of experience and their contracts are executed faithfully and promptly.
On December 24, 1905, Mr. Hughes was mar- ried to Sadie Thompson, who was born at Lin- coln, Nebr., January 25, 1SS1, a daughter of George and Amanda (Louderback) Thompson, natives of Fulton County, Ill., and of Schuyler County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have one son, Ocie Clifford, who was born August 24, 1907. Mr. Hughes is better informed than a number of men, for he not only took the regu- lar public and high school courses, but taught school for four years, and takes pride in being abreast of the times. Since 1913 he has been a trustee of the Christian church, of which lie is a consistent member, and he is also superin- tendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias.
HUNT, Daniel .- For nearly twenty-six years a locomotive engineer in the train service of the I. C. R. R. Company, and bearing the record of being one of the safest and most reliable engineers running on that road. is Daniel Hunt, of Beardstown. Cass County, Ill., who was born in St. Louis, Mo., Angust 31. 1878. In a certain sense he inherits his adaptability to such a task, his father having been an experienced and skill- ful man in this line of work, and the' son having been reared to some extent in railroad surroundings. He is of Irish descent. His father, James Hunt, was a native of County Clare, Ireland, and his mother, Rosa (Curley) Hunt, came from the same county. The grand-
parents were James and Mary Hunt and James and Mary (Burns) Curley. The last named emigrated in 1843 to the United States and located in New York. where she was married. The husband was a boatman on the Mississippi River. The parents of Daniel Hunt were mar- ried in East St. Louis, Ill., and James Hunt worked as an engineer on different railroads, being there so employed on the C., B. & Q. Railroad until 1SSS, when he was transferred to Beardstown, Ill., where he died in April, 1903, while still serving as engineer. His widow is still a resident of Beardstown, where she is much respected and has numerous friends. The children of James and Rosa (Curley) Hunt were : Daniel : William, of Canton. Ohio, a railroad man on the W. & L. L. Railroad ; Charles and James, of Beardstown, machinists ; Frank, who is a coppersmith, lives at Beards- town ; Edna, who is a resident of Canton, Ohio ; Marie, who lives at Schenectady, N. Y .; and Joseph and Nan, both at home.
In early youth Daniel Hunt attended the public school. and at intervals afterwards availed himself of whatever opportunities were afforded for self culture. so that he may be called a well informed man .. At the age of twelve years he began to work as caller for train crews on the Illinois Central Railroad, becoming a fire- man five years later. Four years after this lie was promoted to be an engineer and has since continuously held that position .. He has never married, but always has made his home with his mother. In politics Mr. Hunt follows the fortunes of the Democratic party. He is affili- ated with the B. P. O. E., No. 1007 ; the K. of C., No. 556; and the B. of L. E., No. 665. all of Beardstown. Among railroad men. as well as by all others who know his manly qualities, Mr. Hunt's fine traits of character have at- tracted to him a wide circle of friends.
HUNT, Joseph .- One of the pioneers of Cass County whose name is recorded among those who advanced the locality in every way, than whom none stood higher, was the late Joseph Hunt. Ile was born in Kentucky. September 19. 1824, when but an infant was taken to Indiana by his parents, John R. and Anna (Davis) Hunt, and there grew up. John R. Hunt and his wife were natives of Kentucky, he born in 1802, and died in 1877. a son of Maseach Hunt, a Revolutionary soldier, who served under General Wayne. John R. Hunt is Imried in the cemetery at New Lebanon, Sullivan County. Indiana. as is his father.
Joseph Hunt served as a soldier during the Civil war, enlisting in August. 1862, and par- ticipated in the siege of Vicksburg. under General Grant. His honorable discharge was given him in Angust. 1865, from Company D, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry. When he was twenty-five years old, he had come to Cass County. Il .. and here, on January 3. 1551. he married Durinda B. Freeman, born January 3. 1$25. in Wilson County. Tenn .. a daughter of Littleberry
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Freeman, born February 22, 1787, and his wife Elizabeth (Young) Freeman, born August 20, 1783, both natives of North Carolina, who came in 1829, to Cass County, Ill., where Mr. Freeman entered a tract of land adjoining the city of Virginia. Like many others he had some early land troubles. Soon after settling, while cut- ting some timber on government land, his claim was disputed, but he quickly secured the neces- sary money to enter the claim, went to Spring- field and thus settled the dispute by obtaining lawful possession of it. His holdings were large, and he divided his land among his chil- dren, Mrs. Hunt obtaining sixty-six and two- third acres as her share. In her childhood she was carried to school through the timber by the teacher a distance of three miles. There Mr. and Mrs. Hunt located, and there he died, Jan- uary 28, 1894. They had two children, Henry, who is on the home farm ; and Ida, who is Mrs. John Drinkwater of Cass County, has three children, Ralph, Joseph and Catherine.
Henry Hunt attended the schools of his dis- trict, and remained with his parents until 1SS0, when he went to Leadville, Colo., where he worked in the silver mines for three years. He also conducted a hotel at Evergreen Lake, Colo., as a summer resort, but after seven years re-' turned to the old home and is now personally conducting the farm. On March 17, 1SS6, Mr. Hunt married Clara Grant, born at Jackson- ville, Ill., August 25. 1855, a daughter of Dr. Henry D. and Huldah M. (Gardner) Grant, natives of New York and Vermont, respectively. The father was a physician and died in Illinois in 1SS4, the mother surviving him until 1SS6. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Hunt, John M. and Clarissa ( Wooster) Grant, and the ma- ternal grandparents, Daniel and Rebecca R. (Ray) Gardner, of Vermont, were all pioneers of Illinois. Mrs. Hunt's grandfather, John M. Grant, was a first cousin to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the eighteenth president of the United States. The Gardner family came of Puritan stock, while the Grants were of Scotch ances- try. Mrs. Hunt was educated in the common and high schools of Jacksonville, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have one child, Bernice Grant, who was born at Evergreen Lake, Colo., August 19, 1890. Mr. Hunt belongs to the Methodist church. In politics he is a Republican. His standing is such that he is justly numbered among the substantial men of Cass County.
HUNTER, Edward Trevor, cashier of the Beards- town State Bank, is connected with one of the sound financial institutions of Cass County, and one which he has helped to bring to its present stable condition. This bank was organized March 29, 1910, by H. W. Hackman, E. H. Kinney, and E. T. Hunter, with a capital of $50,000 and $10,000 surplus fully paid up. The bank was opened for business December 19, 1910, with the following officers in charge : Charles F. Johnsou, president ; H. W. Hackman, vice president : E. H. Kinney, cashier ; E. T. Hunter, assistant cashier. In October, 1913,
Mr. Kinney resigned and E. T. Hunter was appointed his successor. The present bank building was erected in 1910 by Vice President H. W. Hackman, and is one of, if not the most substantial and modern buildings in the city.
Edward Trevor Hunter was born on a farm near Pana, in Christian County, Ill., June 26, 1867, of Scotch-Irish descent. His parents were among the pioneer settlers of Illinois, coming to this country overland with a company of twelve or fifteen other families from Ohio in 1S53. The colony settled in Christian County and in honor of their native state called the settle- ment Buckeye Prairie. Edward T. Hunter was educated in the district schools and when twenty-one years of age left the farm and en- tered the employ of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Company in the capacity of station agent. In 190S he left the railroad service to become manager of a wholesale grocery owned by H. M. Schmoldt of Beardstown, Ill. There he remained until the bauk above mentioned was organized. Since then he has devoted his time to the bank's interests.
In October, 1897, Mr. Hunter was married to Mayme S. Hendricker, a daughter of Conrad and Minnie ( Hackman) Hendricker. They are affiliated with the Methodist church, Mr. Hun- ter having, served as secretary of the official board since 1910. In politics he is a Republican and has been secretary of the county central committee of his party a number of times, dele- gate to the state conventions from this county, and was appointed by Governor Yates as a member of the State Board of Public Charities. He is a member of Ark Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F .; Tonguewa tribe No. 393, I. O. R. M., and Jack- sonville Post No. 9, T. P. A.
HUTCHES, Sylvester E., now living retired, spent many useful and busy years as an agri- culturist of Cass County. He was born in Me- nard County, Ill., February 17, 1849, a son of Matthew L. and Sallie (Edwards) Hutches, na- tives of New York state. They were early set- tlers of Menard County, coming there about 1830. settling on a farm, but some years later came to Cass County, locating in the Sangamon River bottom. The mother died at Jacksonville, Ill., in 1864, while the father died at Chapin, Morgan County, Ill., in the same year.
Sylvester E. Hutches was the youngest of the five children born to his parents, and attended the schools of his district, remaining at home until the death of the parents. He then worked for others until 1869, and in that year moved to his father's homestead in Morgan County. When he married, he located on eighty acres of land, fifty acres of which are cultivated, the remainder being in pasture and timber, in town- ship 18, range 9. This he conducted until 1913, when he retired and rented the property to his wife's brother.
On March 11, 1874, Mr. Hutches was married by Rev. Charles Elder, at Havana, Ill., to Eliza- beth A. Wilson, born in Cass County, Ill., De- cember 6, 1857, a daughter of Calvin and Sallie
Les Sailes
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Ann (Taylor) Wilson, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky. They married in Menard County, Ill., and located in Cass County, where both died. Mr. and Mrs. Hutches have had one daughter, Lelia M., who married Otto Gephart, of Chandlerville, and they have: Inez, Altha, Edward and Elinor. Mr. Hutches has been a trustee of the Christian church since 1894. In politics he is a Democrat, and served as a trus- tee of schools many years, and also as road commissioner. The Odd Fellows of Chandler- ville hold his membership.
IRELAND, Charles, one of the best known and most popular and reliable passenger conductors on the Springfield Division of the O. & M. Rail- road, now the B. & O., was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, June 3, 1857. His parents were Alphonso C. and Sarah Jane ( Butler) Ireland, the former born in Philadelphia, Pa., and the latter in Petersburg, Va. They were married in Ohio, where the father was a member of the firm of Welsh, Ireland & Company, conducting the foun- dry and machine works which turned out the first portable engine ever made. Alphonso C. Ireland continued in that business until some time in the sixties, when he sold his interest and went into the hardware and stove business. In 1873 he retired and spent the remainder of his life in Ohio, dying in 1895. His widow died in 1902. They had eight children, five of whom are living, as follows: Anna M., widow of C. M. Stanton, formerly superintendent of the O. & M. Railroad, and later, general manager of the I. S. E. Railroad, now the C. B. & Q. Rail- road ; William W., of Chillicothe, Ohio; Nellie C. (Mrs. Thomas T. Cahill), of Chillicothe, Ohio: Alphonso C., of Long Beach, Cal .; and Charles.
The paternal grandfather, Alphonso C. Ire- land, born in Philadelphia, belonged to a car- penters' union holding its meetings in the hall where the first United States congress held its sessions, and his picture still hangs on the wall. Mr. Ireland's mother was a descendant of Governor Vauglm, one of the Colonial gov- ernors of Virginia.
In his youthful years Charles Ireland at- tended the district schools in Ohio, and on August 1, 1873, began to learn the trade of loco- motive building at Chillicothe. In 1878 he worked for some time at Vincennes, Ind., and then entered the train service as brakeman and baggage-master. He was promoted to be passen- ger conductor July 6, 1SS3, and by his own re- quest, was transferred from the main line to the Springfield Division, June 1, 1SS9. Since then he has resided in Beardstown, his run being from Beardstown to Flora.
On October 16, 1SS4, Mr. Ireland was united in marriage with Nellie Hammer, daughter of Franklin and Margaret A. (Lee) Hammer, the former of Virginia, the latter, of Illinois, born in Cass County. In his later lite, Franklin Hammer was engaged in the hardware business with John J. Beatty, who still carries it on with his son. Mr. and Mrs. Ireland have two chil-
dren, namely : Charles, who lives in Chicago, and Margaret A., who is at home. The religious connection ot Mr. Ireland is with the Congrega- tional church. In politics he is a Democrat. He is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., belong- ing to the Chapter and Commandery; the M. W. A., Muscontin Camp, of Beardstown ; and the O. R. C.
Mr. Ireland and his family have many friends. As for himself, the record he has made for effi- ciency and reliability in fulfilling the important duties of his highly responsible position in the railroad passenger service, enables him to com- mand the respect and esteem of all who know and appreciate the sterling qualities essential to fit a man for such a place.
ISHMAEL, Robert .- Among the oldest farmers in period of residence who are still owning and operating farms of any considerable extent in the vicinity of Oakford, Cass County, Ill., is Robert Ishmael, the greater part of whose life has been spent in the labor of cultivating the tract on which he lives. The farm is comprised of 210 acres, situated in seetion 20, township 19, range S, and Oakford is the name of the postal station by which Mr. Ishmael may be reached in correspondence.
Mr. Ishmael was born in Cass County July 12, 1847. He is a son of William and Polly (Lynn) Ishmael, both natives of Kentucky, where his father followed the occupation of a farmer. In his boyhood days he had slender opportunity for improving his mind, and at- tended the district school of his neighborhood very briefly, as nearly all of his time was de- voted to assisting his father in the work on the home farm. So slight was his schooling that, although he learned a little reading and writing from his teacher, he allowed it to slip from his memory through lack of practice, and now can neither read nor write.
Mr. Ishmael has been six times married, hav- ing been five times left a widower. Four chil- dren have resulted from these successive mar- riages, born in the following order : Tilton, July 8, 1877 ; Robert, March 24, 1886; Howard E., September 2, 1908; and Eula, June 15, 1913. The last two are the offspring of the sixth marriage. The maiden name of Mr. Ishmael's last wife, to whom he was wedded in Cass County, Ill., February 16, 1908, was Emma Skagg, born in Menard County, Ill., a daughter of James and Ellen (Haynes) Skagg, both na- tives of Cass County.
Mr. Ishmael is an industrions and prudent farmer. The first steam threshing machine in the neighborhood of Oakford was introduced by him and was used for the purpose of operating a sawmill and cornsheller. In politics he is a Democrat. He has taken no very active part in local political affairs, but has served as a school trustee. His religious connection is with the Baptist church. He is a man of very socia- ble disposition and is well liked among his neighbors and the people of the township.
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