USA > Illinois > Cass County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Cass County, Volume II > Part 65
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Mr. Owens is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He served three years as a school director, four years as constable, and has been a justice of the peace since 1904. Since 1907 he has been a school trustee. His public duties also include his service as depnty assessor during 1913 and 1914, so he is a very busy man. He belongs to the Woodman Accident Associa- tion.
PALMER, Martin J., M. D., physician and sur. geon, is recognized as one of the leading men in his profession in Cass County, while at Beards- town his skill and ability are recognized by an appreciative clientele. Dr. Palmer was born at Mansfield, Ohio, November 18, 1860, a son of Dr. John and Rachel B. (Morrison) Palmer, natives of Jefferson Connty, Ohio, and of Pennsylvania, who married in Ohio. Dr. John Palmer practiced medicine at Mansfield and through the surrounding country prior to April, 1865, when he brought his family to Shelbyville, Ill., and bought a farm in Shelby County. There lie farmed for a time and then retired to Beardstown, where his death occurred in August, 1885, his wife surviving until April, 1899. The following children were born to them : Mary, who is deceased ; Irwin H., who died in March, 1913: Anna, who is the widow of Johnson Clark of Devil's Lake, N. D .; Martin J .; Emma, who is deceased, was Mrs. John Shaad; and Lelia, who is of Beardstown.
When he was twenty years old, Martin J. Palmer' entered Drake University, at Des Moines, Iowa, and was graduated therefrom in 18$3, becoming a student in the Eclectic Med- ical Institute, of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was gradnated in 1SSS. In that year he
entered upon a general practice at Arcadia, Morgan County, Ill., continuing there until 1900, when he sold to Dr. Wolf and located at Beards- town, where he has since continued.
On July 14, 1885, Dr. Palmer was married to Ida Hodges, a step-daughter of Ezra and Mary (Debond) Fish. · Mr. and Mrs. Palmer became the parents of two children: Rex. who was born July 17, 18SG. died March 27, 1906, aged eigh- teen years : and Wylla, who was born Febru- ary 27. 1897, and now is a student in the Beardstown High school. Dr. Palmer is a mem- ber of the Congregational church. Elected on the Republican ticket, he served two years as county physician of Cass County. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor, and is popular in all.
PARKER, Charles C .- For about thirty-five years the subject of this sketch, whose home is in Beardstown, Cass County. Ill., has been in charge of trains on the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and is widely known as one of the most safe. attentive, affable and reliable conductors on the road. Both in railroad circles and through the community of which he is a member, Mr. Parker has hosts of friends who admire him for his worthy traits of character, as illustrated in the performance of his daily duties for so long a period, and for the social courtesies and amenities which have made him an estimable neighbor and a steadfast friend.
Charles C. Parker was born in Whitehall, Ill., October 2. 1857, a son of Peter and Almira Aseneth (Wilcox) Parker, the father a native of Syracuse. N. Y., and the mother of Illinois, her birthplace being Exeter, Scott County. Peter Parker was a wheelwright by trade, and in 1850 settled in the town of Sparta, Ill., and followed that occupation. He served during the Civil war in Company K. Fifth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. He was married at Waverly, Ill .. Febru- ary 14, 1855, and continued to work at his trade until the time of his death, October 12, 1911. His wife died in May, 1880. Their children were as follows : Charles C .; Seymour B., of Chicago ; Richard Y., deceased ; George, of Little Rock, Ark. ; and Harry. of Laporte, Ind.
In youth Charles Parker attended the public and high schools at Sparta, Ill., and at the age of twenty-one years, started to work in the train service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road Company at Beardstown. For a year and a half he served as brakeman, when he was promoted to be freight conductor. After being employed in the latter capacity for five years, he was made conductor of a passenger train from St. Louis to Rock Island.
On May 9. 1889. Mr. Parker was united iu marriage with Lovina Hendricker, born in Cass County, Ill., a daughter of Conrad and Minnie (Hackman) Hendricker, of the same county. The grandparents were Frederick and Angeline ( Meyer) Hackman, natives of Germany, and Frederick and Elizabeth (Kuhl) Hendricker, also of German nativity. All were early settlers
Low W. Virgin.
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in Cass County. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have two children, namely : Charles Oscar, of Chicago, born December 21, 1890; and Gilbert Maurice, of Purdue Institute, Lafayette, Ind., born March 18, 1893.
Mr. Parker in politics acts with the Demo- cratic party. He belongs to the O. R. C., of Beardstown. The entire family is held in high respect by all who know them.
PARKHURST, John I., D. D. S .- In no profes- sion has such progress been made as that of dental surgery, and the men who are engaged in the preservation and replacing of teeth, de -~ serve more than ordinary credit for the results of their labors. There is no excuse today for anyone having decaved teeth, or allowing their mouthis to be in poor condition therefrom, for no community is without one or more skilled and highly trained members of this important profession. One of the men who justly holds the respect and professional confidence of the people of Cass County, as well as of the mem- bers of his own scientific calling, is Dr. J. I. Parkhurst, of Virginia.
John I. Parkhurst was born in New Jersey, August 19, 1852, and when five years old was brought to Havana, Ill., by his parents. There he grew to manhood, attending the grammar and high school, later entering the dental de- partment of the Northwestern University at Chicago, and was graduated therefrom. For the following two years he was engaged in dental practice at Havana, but then came to Virginia, Cass County, and since 1879 has been engaged in a professional work at this point. His office is conveniently located in the Fisher building on the south side of the square. Keep- ing abreast of all discoveries in his profession, Dr. Parkhurst belongs to the local, state and national dental societies. Since about 1SSS he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, being raised at Virginia.
Dr. Parkhurst was married at Virginia to Nannie Berry, a daughter of Keeling and Nancy (Hopkins) Berry. Dr. and Mrs. Parkhurst have had three children, namely: Laird Carl- ton, who is in a grain business in Sangamon County, Ill .; Georgia, who is a teacher in the Virginia High school; and Josephine L., who is a clerk in the Venable's dry goods store at Virginia.
PARRY, Charles W .- Experience has proven that those who have been carefully trained along business lines both theoretically and practically, are the men who best discharge the duties of public life. One of the men who had excellent business experience before assuming such du- ties is Charles W. Parry, deputy county clerk of Cass County, residing at Virginia. He was born at Bluff Springs, June 16, 1SS5, a son of Charles E. and Mary A. (Reichert) Parry.
After attending the public schools of his na- tive place, Mr. Parry entered the Jacksonville Business College, where he took a thorough commercial course. Following this, he entered
the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and for four years was a clerk in the superintendent's office and in the freight office at Beardstown, Ill. Leaving there in December, 1910, he came to Virginia, and is now deputy county clerk. Fraternally, Mr. Parry belongs to tlie Modern Woodmen, and is also a Mason, taking great interest in both orders. He is a young man of ability, and is very popular with the people of Cass County.
PASCHAL, John J., a justice of the peace, and a prosperous agriculturalist of Cass County, is one of the leading men of his community, where his influence is always exerted towards secur- ing progressive action. He was born in Monroe Precinct, Cass County, February 3, 1864, a son of Rev. Jarrett B. and Margaret (Schaeffer) Paschal, natives of Tennessee and Dayton, Ohio, respectively. The paternal grandparents were Isaiah and Agnes Paschal, who were natives of Tennessee and came to Cass County, Ill., at a very early day. The maternal grandfather, John Schaeffer, with his wife, Christena and family, came from Dayton, Ohio, to Cass County during the winter of 1831-2, and bought of David Black the west half of section 11, township 17, range 11, much of the land being in timber. He owned several hundred acres, and when his daughter married, she and her husband settled on some of this property. Here Jarrett B. Paschal died in 1865, his widow surviving him until 1897, when she passed away on her father's old home- stead. The children of these parents were as follows : Malinda J., who became Mrs. Elias Davis of Sunset, Wash .; Mary M., who became Mrs. Charles McNeil of Airdrie, Alberta, Can- ada ; Elizabeth, who became Mrs. J. E. Treadway, of Virginia Precinct; Virginia Agnes, who died in 1909; Luther M., who is of Virginia, Ill. ; Kate Gertrude, who became Mrs. T. D. Richard- son, of Jacksonville, Ill. ; and John J.
John J. Paschal remained at home with his mother and received a district school education before he went to Whipple Academy and the Jacksonville Business College. At the age of twenty-one years, he started teaching school and so continued for twelve years. After the death of his mother he bought the interests of the other heirs in the old home, and on this property he does general farming.
On June 24, 1902, Mr. Paschal was married to Alice Hinchee, who was born at Philadelphia, Ill., a daughter of James Monroe and Mary E. (Clark) Hinchee, natives of Sangamon County and Cass County, Ill., respectively. The grand- parents were William and Margaret (Ray) Hinchee, of Illinois, and William and Elizabeth (Wammack) Clark, of Tennessee and Illinois, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Paschal have had two children : Lois Nadine, who was born May 20, 1905; and Glenroie, who was born September 20. 1908. Mr. Paschal belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church, while his wife is a member of the Christian church. He is a Democrat and has been an election judge and has served as a · justice of the peace continuously since 1902. He
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
has also been precinct committeeman for three terms, and clerk of the school board for six years. For many years he has been either superintendent or assistant superintendent of the Union Sunday schools, and is much interested in religious work.
PAUL, Charles Edward .- The various activities which have attracted the attention and bene- fitted by the exertions of Charles Edward Paul, have stamped him as one of the energetic, pro- gressive and capable business men of Cass County. Farming and merchandising have both been mediums through which he has gained suc- cess, and while he is now somewhat retired, he still owns large interests, and also he has found the time and had the inclination to serve his community in official capacities and to engage actively in fraternal and social life. Mr. Paul was born October 19, 1857, in Cass County, Ill., and is a son of Jacob Miller Paul.
The district schools of Cass County furnished Mr. Paul with his educational training, and, being reared to agricultural pursuits, he early adopted the vocation of farming and was suc- cessful in the accumulation of a handsome prop- erty of 100 acres, located in the vicinity of Vir- ginia, the greater part of which is now rented out. During a period of twenty-five years he has been superintendent of a prosperous coal business at Virginia, which for twenty-five years has been located at the station of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, but he has recently disposed of his interests therein, having decided to retire from business life. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and has served his community as treasurer for one term and as alderman of Virginia for two terms, or four years. In fraternal affairs he has taken a prominent part, being a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, treasurer of the local lodge of Masons for six years, and a member of the Odd Fellows for a period of thirty-five years, having passing through all the chairs and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the state. For thirty years he has been a member of the Christian church, in the work of which he has taken an active part, and during the past twenty years has served as deacon.
Mr. Paul was married in 1878 to Miss Addie M. Dean. daughter of James Dean, and to this union there have been born three children : Stella, who is now Mrs. Fred Fisher, of Vir- ginia : Harry E., who is engaged in the hard- ware and plumbing business at Carey. Ohio; and Nellie L ... who is the wife of Edgar W. Bishop, of Independence, Iowa.
PETEFISH, Louis A. Few citizens of Cass County have been more prominently or helpfully identified with the business, agricultural and financial interests of this flourishing section of Illinois than has Louis A. Petefish, now residing at Virginia. a citizen who has at all times shown a commendable desire to advance the welfare of his community. He has spent practically his entire life within the borders of Cass County,
where he was born July 22, 1860, a son of Samuel H. and Nancy M. ( Hudson) Petefish.
The Petefish family has long been identified with Cass County, and its members now own about 1,400 acres of valuable land here. Chris- tian Petefish. the grandfather of Louis A., came to this county in 1833 and built a small log cabin, taking up his residence among the pioneers. Later he purchased 195 acres, and built a commodious home, and here continued to reside until the time of his death. the farm having since been increased to 520 acres.
Louis A. Petefish attended the public schools of Cass County and the Gem City Business School, following which he was employed in a grocery store for six months and then turned his attention to farming. Subsequently he entered the private bank of Petefish. Skiles & Company, of which his father was one of the founders. and continued therein until the elder man's death in 1902. since which time the insti- tution has been reorganized as a state bank, with a capital of $60,000. Mr. Conover was its first president. and was succeeded by Mr. Skiles, who, in turn, was succeeded by Louis A. Petefish. He held the presidency until his resignation in September, 1913, at that time moving to Spring- field. He was a director of the Mount Sterling Bank of Brown County until 1913, his father having been one of the founders of that bank as well as the bank at Rushville, and is still a director in the bank of Petefish, Skiles & Com- pany. at Virginia. Now the greater part of his attention is given to the management of his other interests, which include numerous farms and other valuable properties. Mr. Petefish is a Blue Lodge and Chapter Mason, and has held a number of offices in that order. is connected with the Odd Fellows. and is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen. His religious connec- tion is with the Presbyterian church.
On October 22. 1885. Mr. Petefishi was married to Miss Carrie L. Stribling. daughter of Isaac Milton and Maria (Carr) Stribling, and they have one daugliter. Maria S., living at home.
PHELPS, John William, who is one of the oldest citizens of Cass County, Ill., in period of residence, is one of its best and most favorably known citizens. His entire life of more than seventy-two years has been spent in Cass County, with the exception of the three years devoted to the service of his country in the field during the war for the Union. In that great struggle he served throughout his full term, sealing his devotion to the common cause by the shedding of his blood. Since the war he has devoted his time to the cultivation of the soil in the vicinity of Chandlerville. Cass County, and has met with success in his labors.
John William Phelps was born three miles east of the city of Virginia. Ill .. August 17, 1842, a son of Young and Cynthia (Cheek) Phelps, na- tives of Logan County. Ky. The parents came to Illinois when young, and after their marriage, settled in Cass County, where they remained about ten years, moving then to Mason County,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Ill., which they made their home for a time. Returning to Cass County, Young Phelps pur- chased a farm near Chandlerville, on which he died March 10, 1878, his widow passing away April 24, 1883. Their children were as follows : Chandler, of Chandlerville; Charles, Cynthia Ann and Melinda, all deceased; Eliza (Mrs. Taylor), who died in Nebraska ; and Alice (Mrs. William Patterson), a widow, now of Bath, Ill.
.In his youth John W. Phelps attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and re- mained at home until the time of his enlist- ment for the Civil war. On August 21, 1861, he entered Company K, Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Springfield, and was as- signed to the western army. In November, 1861, Mr, Phelps was wounded in the right leg, above the knee, by a gunshot at Black Well Station, 011 Black River, which necessitated his being sent home for three months, Returning to his regi- ment he completed his term of service and was in all the battles trom St. Louis to New Orleans, being engaged in the siege of Vicksburg, at Corinth, Natchez, and the others. From New Orleans he was sent by ship to New York, in charge of prisoners, en route for Blackwell's Island, and after this duty was over, he was sent to Springfield, Ill., and was honorably dis- charged, October 11, 1864.
Two years after his return home, Mr. Phelps was married, on April 24, 1866, to Mary E. Briggs, who was born in township 18, range 9, Cass County, August 19, 1849, a daughter of Charles K. and Susan Caroline ( Haynes) Briggs, the father a native of Rhode Island and the mother of North Carolina. Following his mar- riage, Mr. Phelps rented a farm near Chandler- ville for a few years, and subsequently rented another, which he cultivated until November 10, 1884. Then he bought 120 acres from his father- in-law's estate, to which his wife added eighty acres of land she had inherited, making 200 acres of rolling land on the rich bottoms near Chand- lerville. Here Mr. Phelps has since carried on farming and stockraising, his labors meeting with snecess. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps have had the following children: Lydia (Mrs. Charles Whitenack), of Broken Arrow, Okla., who has one child, Claude; John, who died at the age of five years; Lucy E. (Mrs. William Cook), of Chandlerville, who has two children, William and Walter ; Anna, who died in infancy ; Walter, who married Delia Watkins, has three children, Percy, Florence and Mildred; Wallace O., who married Eva May Watkins, has three children, Howard O., John R., and Hazel M .; and Lora (Mrs. Howard Murphy), of Cass County, who has had three children, Hazel, deceased, Helen and Harlan.
Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are highly esteemed by their neighbors and have many friends. In politics, Mr. Phelps is a Republican and has served the public as a school director. He be- longs to Downing Post, G. A. R., at Virginia, Ill.
PHELPS, Walter W .- The livery business is an inviting field of work in a rural district to 22
one who is an expert in deciding on the points and conditions of horses, careful and economical in the details of management and pays strict attention to his affairs. Such a man is Walter W. Phelps, who purchased the Haywood Livery, at No. 121 East Second street, corner of Jeffer- son street, in Beardstown, on February 8, 1913. Later he rented this and occupies the place be- longing to William Morrison where he does heavy and light livery business, feeding, etc. He keeps three cabs for hire and works 14 head of good horses.
Mr. Phelps was born in Beardstown, on East Sixth street, on May 19th, 1884, and is a son of William H. and Elizabeth ( Webber) Phelps. His father was born in North Carolina and the birth of his mother occurred in New York. Walter received his early school training in the Beardstown public schools and afterwards, for two years, was engaged in the button trade, his specialty being the manufacture of pearl buttons. In this line he employed a number of hands, running seven machines. He sold the concern to Fletcher & Tiemeyer, who are now conduct- ing it at the foot of Clay street, in Beardstown.
Mr. Phelps is unmarried and lives with his mother. His father was engaged in farming until he settled in Beardstown, and was retired from active life at the time of his death. The mother's residence is now at No. 605 Humboldt street. Mr. Phelps is an industrious and honor- able young man. He is well liked among his neighbors and acquaintances, and bids fair to enjoy a prosperous future.
PHILLIPS, Hon. Henry, formerly county judge of Cass County, and a lawyer of much more than ordinary ability, occupies a very high position among the members of his profession, although for some years he has not been in active prac- tice, owing to ill health. During the days when he participated in the jurisprudence of his sec- tion, there was not a more forceful advocate to be found in the state than he, and his tri- umphs are matters of history. He was born in Halifax, N. S., September 17, 1836, a son of Michael Phillips, a native of Ireland. Judge Phillips had the misfortune to lose his mother at his birth. When still in infancy his father, who was a shoemaker by trade, moved to New York City, where he lived until 1842, at whichi time he went to Rochester, N. Y., and after three years located in Orleans County, N. Y., where Ilenry received his early educational training in the public schools. The youth later attended Yates Academy, and when sixteen years old be- gan teaching school.
In 1853 Henry Phillips came to Hardin County, Ill., where for six months he taught school. and for six months more taught school at Pittsfield, Pike County, Ill. Still later he went to Adams County and became a preacher. so continuing for two years. Being attracted then to Cass County he located at Virginia, and taught school during the winter months until the fall of 1860. when he was elected circuit clerk of the county, serving eight years. He then came to Beards-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
town, which was then the connty seat, and be- gan the practice of law, taking Garland Pollard as a partner, this connection continning until the death of Mr. Pollard. In 1890 he was elected connty judge of Cass Connty and served as such for eight years. Failing health then demanded that he retire, and in 1913 he gave up his practice. Judge Phillips served as Grand Master of the Odd Fellows for a year, and was made a Mason at Virginia, Ill. In politics he has always been a Democrat.
Judge Phillips was married to Adeline Pollard, a native of Vermont, who died February 2, 1877, and they had the following children : Henry G., who is deceased ; Jennie, who is Mrs. Parker, a widow residing in Chicago ; and Mary and Grace, both of whom are deceased. On October 18, 1877, Judge Phillips was married to Emma E. Burrows, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, a daugh- ter of James H. and Nancy (Lynchard) Bur- rows. Judge and Mrs. Phillips have had the following children : Henry, who died in in- fancy; Edward O., who is in the employ of the Chicago Tribune; Charles, who is an engineer in the United States Navy ; James, who is of Goldfield, Nev. ; and Robert B., who is a resident of San Francisco, Cal.
PHYSANT, Mads Lorensen .- The Danes make good citizens wherever found, and in Cass Connty they have always been welcomed for they are known to be industrions and thrifty, makers of homes and supporters of high stand- ards of living. One of the men who comes from . that far-away northern conntry is Mads Loren- sen Physant, who lives on section 2, township 18, range 9. He was born in Denmark, Sep- tember 25. 1867, a son of Hans Jochnmsen and Matte Christina (Schmidt) Physant, the former born in Denmark, May 21, 1835, and the latter in the same conntry, July 30, 1837. The father was excused from rendering the regular army service as he hired a substitute, feeling that his widowed mother needed him, for he was her only son. He became a farmer and prosperons man in his native land.
Mads L. Physant was educated in the common schools of Denmark, and learned to be a farmer. The law of Denmark requires military service and he served twenty months, from Jannary 30, 1886, to October 3, 1SS7, in the Danisli cavalry in Arhus' Third Dragoon Regiment. In 1SSS he made the trip to America by himself, and for five years after his arrival in the United States worked for farmers in Menard County, Ill. He then rented land which he farmed until 1903, when he came to Cass County, and bought 100 acres of land and a sawmill and cut his own timber profitably. He then invested in 355 acres which he also cleared. Retaining his love for his native land, he has made five trips back to it, and on the last one he married, on Sep- tember 20, 1912, Abblina Schmidt, born in Den- mark June 5, 1885, a danghter of John and Anna (Bennetsen) Schmidt. They have a daughter, Anna Christina, born in Cass Connty, April 5, 1914. In politics Mr. Physant is a Re-
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