USA > Illinois > Cass County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Cass County, Volume II > Part 72
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Mr. and Mrs. Taylor moved into a modern residence of nine rooms, with all the latest improvements, which he had just erected on his farm. This house contains closets, bath, hot and cold water, etc., and is lighted with acety- lene gas, and the farm comprises 492 acres, of which 275 are on the bluff and the rest on Sangamon River bottom. Mr. Taylor is suc- cessfully engaged in grain farming, and is also devoting attention to raising horses, hogs and cattle on an extensive scale.
In religious faith Mr. Taylor is a Presby- terian. Politically he is identified with the Re- publican party. Hc and his wife are highly esteemed wherever their acquaintance extends.
TAYLOR, Robert A .- The Taylor brothers, sons of William Taylor, deceased, of Cass County, Ill., have all become known, especially along the Sangamon River bottom lands, as expert grain farmers and successful breeders of horses, cattle and hogs. The youngest of these, Robert A., has abundantly maintained the reputation of his elder brothers in this respect, and although but slightly over thirty years of age, owns and operates one of the finest grain and stock farms in this section of Illinois. Besides being an enterprising and successful farmer, Mr. Taylor is a man of varied information of a practical nature that makes him an interesting and edify- ing neighbor, and has applied himself to col-
legiate study to such an extent as to become thoroughly versed in literature both ancient and modern, and this gives him an especial prom- inence in a community which appreciates liter- ary acquirements at their true value.
Robert Alexander Taylor is a native of Cass County, having been born in township 18, range 10, April 2, 1882, and of the seven children of William and Mary E. (Horrom) Taylor is the youngest. The father of the family died in the year 1900, and the son had always been a mem- ber of the home group, attending the district schools in early youth. After his preliminary schooling he matriculated in Lincoln College, where he was a pupil five years, graduating in 1905, with the degree of B. L. After completing his education he resumed farming, and now owns 385 acres of the homestead place, 200 acres of which lie on the bluff and are used for pasture. Here he devotes his attention to raising horses, cattle and hogs, besides doing general grain farming. He also owns a 145-acre farm adjoin- ing the home place, 100 acres of which is on the bluff and the rest is bottom land.
On December 31, 1913, Mr. Taylor was mar- ried to Minnie Theivagt, born August 12, 1882, on the Sangamon River bottom, in Cass County, a daughter of William and Belle (Haywood) Theivagt. In religious belief, Mr. Taylor ad- heres to the Presbyterian church. Politically he acts with the Republican party.
THE BEARDSTOWN CONSTRUCTION COM- PANY, of Beardstown, Cass County, Ill., which was started March 1, 1907, was organized for the purpose of doing all kinds of construction work, as well as building. In the few years of its operation its reputation for skill and effi- ciency has spread widely, and the scope of its operations has been extended over many parts of the country. Its projectors were James D. McCarthy and David R. Hughes, of Beardstown, and it was incorporated under its present title, March 3. 1913, the following officers being elected : James D. McCarthy, president ; David R. Hughes, vice-president ; and Guilford M. Humphrey. secretary-treasurer.
A considerable number of buildings, public and private, as well as other structures have been erected by this concern, among which are the notahle specimens at Beardstown below men- tioned : the Myer Hotel, on East Fourth street ; H. M. Schmoldt building, corner Third and State streets : Gem Picture Theatre building ; Princess Theater ; Beardstown State Bank and McCarthy- Hackman building : Elk building ; Chris Ruppel building; Illinois Star building; John Reich building : Sixth Street Lutheran Church ; Central Illinois Public Service building ; Catholic par- sonage : Shultz Hall; D. R. Hughes residence, John Diehl residence, and many other business buildings and residences, and also the cement road leading from Beardstown to Virginia. The territory covered by the company's work is not confined to this section, but extends throughout central United States. It also constructs rein- forced concrete bridges. Near Burlington, Iowa,
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the Des Moines Co. Drainage District No. 1 Pumping plant on the Mississippi River was one of its contracts, and that is considered one of the finest pieces of construction of its kind to be found in the world.
The reputation of the gentlemen composing this company is a sufficient guarantee of the character of its work, and the citizens of Beards- town especially, where the evidences of their skill abound, repose much confidence in them individually. The office quarters of the company are at Nos. 5, 51/2, and 6 Hackman-McCarthy building, and its plant and yards are on Sixth street between the B. & O. R. R. and the C. B. & Q. R. R.
THEIVAGT, Claude A., is an enterprising and thrifty young farmer living at Chandlerville, Cass County, Ill., who, by his industry and energy has made himselt quite favorably known in his vicinity, especially as the man who holds the record in his section for raising clover and cloverseed, having had a yield of the latter, in 1913, ot 133 bushels from twenty acres of land. He also makes a specialty of breeding Poland- China hogs, of which he raises a considerable number. His farm is situated in section 34, township 19, range 9, where he has been located ever since he commenced farming on his own responsibility.
Claude A. Theivagt's birthplace was near the city ot Hamburg, Germany, where his life began, March 1, 1876. His father, Jacob Thei- vagt, and his mother, whose maiden name was Metta Peters, both born near Hamburg, came to the United States May 21, 1890. About five weeks afterward the mother died, and her hus- band buried her at Virginia, Ill., remaining in America but seven months longer. He returned to his home in Germany, leaving behind the two sons who had accompanied him here. His occu- pation was that of a laborer. Before coming to America Claude Theivagt had obtained some education in the German schools, and had spent some time on a farm. He continued to do tarm work here by the month in various places, and ultimately bought the tract of eighty acres on which he now lives. This he lias since improved by new building, and on it has carried on tarm- ing and stockraising successfully.
In Cass County, Ill., on March 29, 1904, Mr. Theivagt was united in marriage by Rev. J. H. Morron, with Addie N. Briar, born December 14, 1866, a daughter of Charles and Margaret (Houck) Briar. They have one daughter, Mertis Margaret, born July 10, 1906. Mr. Theivagt is a man of decided character, though pleasant in manner. Politically, he is a Republican. He has served one term of three years as school director, and is serving a second term. His re- ligious connection is with the Cumberland Pres- byterian church.
THOMPSON, Edgar Guthrie .- Amid the farming population of Cass County, Ill., the Thompson family, of which the above named gentleman is a worthy representative, has always occupied
a creditable place. Intelligent, well informed, enterprising and honorable, its members have been considered useful citizens, and through in- dustry and thrift have become prosperous tarm- ers, and ranked as substantial elements of the community. Edgar Guthrie Thompson was born in Arenzville Precinct, Cass County, Ill., Au- gust 3, 1877, and is a son of Robert G. and Tabitha (Craig) Thompson, natives of Morgan County, Ill. After their marriage the parents of Edgar G. Thompson settled on a farm of 320 acres in the vicinity of Arenzville where the father carried on general farming. He was also a cattle feeder to a considerable extent and raised Poland-China hogs on a large scale. On July 1, 1913, he moved to Jacksonville, Ill., leav- ing the supervision of the home place to Noah J., the second son. His children were: Edgar, Noah, Louise (Mrs. Harry Herring) of Jack- sonville, Ill., and Nellie (Mrs. Lynwood Lane) of Pleasant Hill, Mo.
Edgar Thompson attended the district schools in his locality subsequently becoming a pupil for one year in the Virginia High school, and then taking a course in Brown's Business College, at Jacksonville. On completing his studies, Mr. Thompson applied himself to the work of the tarm which he continued until his marriage. He was wedded September 27, 1900, to Anna Treadway, who was born August 23, 1SS2, in Cass County. . Her parents are Henry and Mar- gret (Wilson) Treadway, both natives of Cass County. Following his marriage, Mr. Thomp- son moved to a farm of 21S acres in township 17, Cass County, where he is engaged in general farming, and in addition to this. devotes con- siderable attention to stock feeding and the raising of Poland-China hogs. He has pros- pered in his undertakings and is looked upon as one of the most reliable and promising of the younger agriculturists of his section. In pol- ities Mr. Thompson supports the principles of the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic order at Virginia.
THOMPSON, John H .- The well known and ef- ficient superintendent of the Cass County ( Illi- nois) Poor Farm, situated at Bluff Springs, is the offspring of parents who were early resi- dents of Cass County. Their son. Jolin H., was born in the county April 23, 1863. His father, Robert Thompson, was a native of Virginia, while his mother, Mary Jane (Etchison) Thompson, was born in Kentucky in 1818. The grandparents, James and Lovisa Young, both Kentuckians by birth, located in Cass County in 1822. entering land in Morgan County. The year of Robert Thompson's arrival in the county was 1844. Ile was a young man, working at farming, and after marriage lived at Sand Prairie, in the western part of Beardstown. He died in December. 1900. and his widow lived with one of her sons until her death in April, 1912. She bore her husband the following chil- dren: Willis P., of Rock Falls, Ill .: Sarah (Mrs. George McDonald), of Virginia ; John H .;
-
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George, of Cass County, Ill .; and Martha E., deceased.
John H. Thompson attended the common schools in his yonth and from the age of twenty- one until his marriage, worked on the tarm for his father. In September, 1SS6, he was wedded to Nettie Johnson, born in Morgan County, Ill., and now deceased, who lett one danghter, Bertha, who died at the age of three years. The second marriage of Mr. Thompson was with Maggie Kirkendall, a native of Cass County, Ill., who bore him three children : Dollie Albertine, of Virginia, Ill .; William Bryan, at home; and John, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died in March, 1900. In Angnst, 1900, Mr. Thompson took for his third wife Carrie Davis, a native of Cass County, Ill., whose par- ents, Valentine and Sarah J. (Treadway) Da- vis, were born in the same connty. To Mr. Thompson and his present wife two children have been born: Henry, born October 10, 1902; and Ida Mae, born March 4, 1906.
After his marriage Mr. Thompson carried on farming for two years on his forty acres of land in township 17, then sold to James Cook, and moving to Morgan Connty, rented a farm there for one year. Subsequently he moved to Beardstown and engaged in teaming, having contracted to haul iron for a bridge over the Illinois River at Beardstown. Two years later he moved to Virginia, from which place he con- ducted a 200-acre farm for two years. Then he worked at different tasks until 1897, when he cultivated a farm south of Virginia for some time.
In March, 1901, Mr. Thompson became super- intendent of the Cass County Poor Farm, and has since held that position. He has charge of 190 acres, of which 100 are tillable and ninety in pasture. Since Mr. Thompson assumed the su- pervision, the farm has been on a self-support- ing basis. The place contains a large building for the inmates, of which there is an average of twenty-five yearly ; it is equipped with seven head of working horses, and has a horse barn, a cattle barn, a tool shed, an ice house, a smoke- house, a chicken house and a corn crib. It is provided with a pest house for all contagious diseases. Connected with the place are a three- acre orchard, a fine garden, and land for small fruit. There is a dairy with eight cows, and sixty head of hogs are kept for furnishing meat.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Presbyte- rian church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. ; the I. O. O. F. (all degrees) ; the K. of P'., of Beardstown (all degrees) ; and the B. P. O. E. No. 1007.
THOMPSON, Loren B .- There is no doubt but that the business of farming is going to be one of the utmost importance during many years to come in the United States. The demand for foodstuffs perhaps will increase largely from the battle-scarred fields of foreign countries, while population, rapidly increasing at home, will require more and more of that which can only be produced by the skill, knowledge and
industry of the American farmer. Upon the work and snecess of the agricultorists depend the substantial prosperity of any conntry.
Loren B. Thompson is one of the Cass Connty farmers who has already demonstrated what one scientific agricultnrist can accomplish. He was born at Virginia, Ill., May 27, 1876, a son of Walter M. and Fannie ( Wyatt) Thompson, natives of Cass Connty, Ill., and Kentucky, re- spectively. The maternal grandparents, Wil- liam M. and Nancy J. (Nance) Wyatt, were of Kentucky, while the paternal grandfather, James Thompson, was a native of Ireland. Both the Thompsons and Wyatts were very early settlers of Cass County, III. Members of both families entered land from the government and put it under cultivation. The parents atter their marriage, located at Sngar Grove, near Virginia, where they lived a few years, later bnying 320 acres of land in township 18, range 9. There the father resided, conducting his farm nntil Angnst, 1890, when they moved to Virginia, he embarking in the implement busi- ness in 1893 but later retired, about 1906.
Loren B. Thompson was the only child of his parents, and was given an excellent education, being sent first to the district schools and the high school of Virginia, and then to the Uni- versity of Illinois at Champaign. He also took a conrse at the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Ill. Until 1900 he resided with his parents, but then went to Oregon Point to take charge of Woodland Farm, now consisting ot 590 acres, owned by him and his father. Here he raises horses, cattle, mules, shecp, and hogs, and carries on general farming, his results be- ing such as to justify his methods which are very advanced, many of them having been adopted as the outcome of personal experiments.
On September 12, 1905, Mr. Thompson was married to Jennie Fern Sharp, born in Mason City, Ill., June 24, 1884, a daughter of Royal William and Anna M. (Burnham ) Sharp, na- tives of Lockport, N. Y., and Mason County, Ill., respectively. The paternal grandparents, Wil- liam and Sarah Ann Sharp, were natives of New York state. Mrs. Thompson's father was a dentist by profession. She was educated in the public and high schools of Mason City, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson became the parents of two children: L. B., who was born December 23, 1909: and Frances Vaunel, who was born April 10, 1913. Since 1909, Mr. Thompson has been a steward in the Methodist church to which he belongs. He is a Democrat, and has been a school director since 1907.
THORNBORROW, John A., D. V. S .- Since the recognition of the fact that horses and other stock suffer from serions ailments which re- quire as careful doctoring as human beings, the profession of a veterinary surgeon has increased in importance, and many of those engaged in this line of work rank high as successful med- ical men. One of the best known veterinaries of Cass County is Dr. John A. Thornborrow, of Virginia, who was born at Jacksonville, Morgan
.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
County, Ill., February 11, 1873, a son of John and Eliza (Travis) Thornborrow, the former born at Kirbylongsdale, England, and the lat- ter at Oldham, England. They married after coming to the United States, and spent the greater part of their married life in Morgan County. John Thornborrow died in 1891, while his wife passed away in 1903.
John A. Thornborrow was thoroughly edu- cated, as he not only attended the public and high schools of his native place, but also took a course at Brown's Business College, from which he was graduated in 1891; then began studying veterinary surgery, and was graduated from the Chicago Veterinary College in 1893. For the following five months, he worked at Jacksonville, and then came to Virginia, arriv- ing in this city in December, 1893, where he has since resided. In October, 1913, Dr. Thorn- borrow embarked in an auto garage business, and now not only operates an auto livery, but has large storage accommodation, and addition- ally deals in accessories and does all kinds of repairing.
On April 28, 1900. Dr. Thornborrow married Margaret Musch, a daughter of John and Mar- garet (Schaaf) Musch who were born in Mor- gan County, Ill. Dr. and Mrs. Thornborrow have three living children : Margaret, Frank and John, the two elder attending the public school, and Elizabeth, who died in 1911, aged five years.
TIBBS, Charles W .- In proportion to extent and population, few counties in Illinois have con- tributed more to the general prosperity of the state than that which furnishes the scene of the biographical narratives composing this volume, and among those of its citizens entitled to credit- able mention is Charles W. Tibbs, who is located near Oakford, Cass County, his farm lying in section 33, township 19, range S, and comprising 260 acres of excellent land, Oakford being the postoffice address. Here, in addition to general farming, he is engaged in the raising of stock, in which he has met with a reasonable measure of success. He was born in Menard County, Ill., November 19, 1868, and is a son of George W. and Adelia ( Boosa) Tibbs. The father was a native of Menard County, born in 1824. The mother was born in Germany, and at the age of eight years accompanied her parents to the United States, they settling in Sangamon County, Illinois.
In boyhood Charles W. Tibbs spent some time in attendance at the district school of his neigh- borhood, and subsequently applied himself dili- gently to the work of the home farm. On April 21, 1891. Mr. Tibbs was married in Cass County, Ill., to Mary Webbake, a native of that county. Her father and mother were Germans by birth, the name of the latter being Elizabeth Deighty, the date of whose birth was April 4, 1839. In early life they emigrated to the United States, settled in Illinois and engaged in farming. Nine children resulted from the union of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Tibbs, eight of whom are living
and at home, and one dead. The names of these children are as follows: Elizabeth, John Wil- liam, Charles Antona, Clara Marie, Henry George, Joseph William, Anna Elizabeth, Thomas Franklin, all living, and Francis Adelia, deceased. In politics Charles W. Tibbs is affiliated with the Democratic party, although he has mingled but little in party affairs. In religious belief he is a Catholic. He is of a quiet disposition and undemonstrative in deportment, but quite sociable in his intercourse with neigh- bors and friends.
TRAUT, Frank J., civil engineer and senior member of the firm of Traut & Osner, is a man whose efforts have been ably directed towards the reclamation of swamp lands and the pro- vision of means for the proper disposition of sewerage. His success has been remarkable and he has brought to his work not only experience and scientific knowledge, but a thorough appre- ciation of its importance and dignity. He was born at Erie, Pa., December 7, 1865, a son of Valentine and Margaret (Geeck) Traut, natives of Germany. They became acquainted after arrival in the United States and were married at Erie, Pa., January 28, 1863. The father was a carpenter, who, in 1SS3, moved to Denver, Colo., where he alternated working at his trade and operating a ranch. His death occurred there April 10, 1913, when he was eighty-one years old. The mother died in August, 190S, aged seventy-one years.
Frank J. Traut spent his boyhood with his parents, and attended the public schools of Erie, P'a., and Denver, Colo., and also the Denver University. When eighteen years old, he entered the engineering department for railroad con- struction. After five years in this business in the western states, he then went with an- other engineering company, and was employed as a civil engineer at New York City, Cleveland, Ohio. Washington, D. C., St. Louis, Mo., Chicago, Ill., Kansas City, Mo., Denver, Colo., and Omaha, Neb. He superintended two miles of digging on the Chicago Drainage Canal and in February, 1.95. came to Beardstown for the purpose of purifying and reclaiming Illinois bottom lands. Among other things in connection with his work, he built the levee and dug interior drainage ditches, and superintended the entire work. This was the first drainage district along the Illinois River, and proved so successful, that Mr. Traut has been called upon to render expert service in computing the cost of construction of similar projects ever since, in many cases superintend- ing their construction. In 1905. he entered into a partnership for drainage construction operat- ing under the caption of the Federal Contracting Company, a corporation which dissolved in 1913. Immediately thereafter, Mr. Traut and William Osner, of Chicago, formed the present firm of Traut & Osner, for the purpose of dredging and draining swamp land and doing all kinds of reclamation work, and have already made their name stand for the highest degree of efficiency.
Mr. Traut was married May 28, 1890, at
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Cleveland, Ohio, to Henrietta Miller, born at Erie, Pa., a daughter of John and Elizabeth Miller, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Traut have one son, Francis Harry, who was born June 18, 1898. Mr. Traut is a Catholic in religious faith. Politically he is a Democrat, while fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus of Beardstown, Ill., and the Elks, No. 1007, of the same place.
TREADWAY, Jacob E., whose life has been spent in agricultural work, is one of the respected men of Cass County, and his actions as a man and resident of Virginia Precinct merit the con- fidence in which he is held by his associates. He was born in Virginia Precinct December 20, 1850, a son of William T. and Mary (McHenry) Treadway, natives of Hamilton County, Ohio, and of Westmoreland County, Pa., respectively, and a grandson of Edward and Elizabeth (An- derson) Treadway, natives of Maryland, and Jacob and Margaret (Moffett) McHenry, na- tives of Pennsylvania. In 1829 the paternal grandparents came to Cass County, the mater- nal grandparents following in 1835.
On October 24, 1878, Jacob E. Treadway was married to Christina Elizabeth Paschal by Rev. D. Jolly, of Virginia, Ill. She was born in Cass County, Ill., May 4, 1853, a daughter of Jerret and Margaret (Schaeffer) Paschal, the latter of whom was born in Ohio. The family born to Mr. and Mrs. Treadway is as follows: Lola Grace, who is Mrs. T. Virgil Davis of Cass County ; one child died in infancy ; and Ray- mond L., who married Blanche Suffern, born at Virginia, a daughter of Samuel R. and Char- lotte (Underwood) Suffern, natives of Cass County. Raymond L. Treadway and wife are the parents of a daughter, Christina Elizabeth, who was born May 29, 1907.
After his marriage, Mr. Treadway moved to a farm adjoining his father's home farm of 110 acres, which he had bought prior to his wed- ding. On this lie built the necessary structures and has all of the property under a high state of cultivation, and in addition to his homestead, he owns twenty-five and one-half acres a short distance from the home farm, on which his son, Raymond L., is now living. In addition, Mr. Treadway has three and one-halt acres of tim- ber. Since striking out for himself, Mr. Tread- way has carried on general farming, and raises horses, cattle and hogs, having become some- what of an expert in his several lines. The Presbyterian church holds his membership, and he has been a presiding elder in the same for a number of years. His political views make him a Democrat, and he served his township as road commissioner for six terms.
TREADWAY, James, was the son of John Norris and Rebecca (Mckean) Treadway, born March 31. 1832, in Monroe Precinct, near Beardstown, Illinois. In 1844, known as the "year of the high water," he came with his parents and brothers, Thomas, Edward, Wil- liam, John, Henry, Lewis and Martin, to Beards-
town, all of whom are deceased, except William, now eighty-six years of age, residing in Little Rock, Ark. He worked, when a small boy, in the John Eiler brick yard, located on Third and Edwards streets, at 614c per day, purchasing for his mother with his first earnings, a set of the "old blue willow-ware" cups and saucers.
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