USA > Illinois > Cass County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Cass County, Volume II > Part 76
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Egbert Wing in boyhood attended the sub- scription school taught by Peter Richard, and stayed with his parents until his marriage, in August, 1854. At that time lie was wedded to Eliza Ann Davis, born in Morgan County, Ill., September 29, 1835. She is a daughter of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Phelps) Davis, natives,
respectively, of Virginia and Kentucky. They had the following children, namely: Virginius, born June 22, 1855, died July 3, 1865; Larcena (Mrs. Kohler), a widow, of Peoria, Ill., born January 16, 1859; Elizabeth (Mrs. J. W. Mil- stead), born May 6, 1862, living in Cass County ; Samuel, born August 23, 1864, who lives with his mother ; Melinda, born December 29, 1867 (Mrs. George Edwin Milstead), living on the home farm; Judson E., born March 23, 1870, died November 6, 1875; and Eliza Cordelia, born April 11, 1874 (Mrs. Charles Eddings), also of Cass County.
After his marriage Mr. Wing bought a farm southwest of Chandlerville, on which he lived until 1SS4. Then he sold it and purchased 120 acres six miles east of Chandlerville. His widow, a most estimable lady, who is sur- rounded by a wide circle of friends, remained on the farm until July, 1910, when she moved to Chandlerville, renting the place to her son- in-law, Edward Milstead. She is a member of the Baptist church.
Samuel Wing always lived with his mother, and farmed the place after his father's death for many years. In 1894 he bought an eighty- acre tarm east of his mother's property, which he now rents. In youth he attended the district and high schools of Chandlerville. In politics he is a Democrat. He has served as assessor of township 19, ranges 8, 9 and 10, since 1910, and he assessed township 18, range 9 from 1902 until 190S. Fraternally Samuel Wing is af- filiated with the M. W. A., Pecan Camp No. 530. His father, Egbert Wing, who was also a Demo- crat in politics, held the office of school director. The various members of the Wing family are highly esteemed wherever their acquaintance extends.
WINKLE, Albert C .- The demand for first class automobile service is constantly increas- ing, and there are a number of well equipped garages to be found throughout Illinois where experts are to be found and supplies secured. Among the leading concerns doing business along this line in Cass County, none stand higher than that operated under the firm name of Beard & Winkle, at Virginia, owners of a garage and dealers in automobile supplies.
Albert C. Winkle, the junior member of the firm, was born at Springfield, Mo., August 26, 1SSS, a son of Ferdinand and Anna (Walken- horf) Winkle. The father is in the meat busi- ness. Mr. Winkle was educated in the public schools of Guthrie, Okla., and became traveling buyer for J. R. Johnston, a hide, fur and wool dealer of Wichita, Kas., continuing with him for four years. In 1910 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and worked for the Overland Sales Company for six months, then went with the Pope Hart- ford garage and spent another six months. His next connection was with the Vonark Brothers garage, but after six months with this concern, in 1912, he came to Virginia, and in 1914, formed a partnership with William W. Beard, for the purpose of operating the Virginia garage. Mr.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Winkle had an experience of two years on a ranch in Oklahoma. He is a man of broad ideas, in politics a Democrat, and fraternally belongs to the Odd Fellows and the auxiliary order of the Rebekah. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.
William W. Beard, the senior member of the firm, was born in Cass County, Ill., September 16, 1862, a son of John C. and Mary A. (Batis) Beard, natives of the state of Virginia, who came to Cass County, Ill., in 1856. They were farming people, and both are now deceased, William W. Beard was educated in the Cass County schools, and assisted his father in oper- ating the homestead until he was eighteen years old, when he took charge of the farm for his mother. Until he was thirty-two years old, he remained at home, he and his brother, Lee, doing the farm work. After marriage he pur- chased what was known as the Jim Allen Davis farm near Virginia, and there resided nntil 1914, when he moved to the connty seat and formed his present partnership. He is an Odd Fellow and a Woodman, and belongs to the Presbyterian church.
On November 28, 1894, Mr. Beard was mar- ried to Lizzie Zigelmiser, born in Cass County, and they have one son, Franklin Z., who was born November 2, 1895. He is a graduate of the Virginia High school, and is planning to prepare himself for teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Beard have reared Hattie May Etchison since she was eleven years old. She was born at Vir- ginia, July 25, 1896, and is also preparing to be a teacher.
WITTE, Charles, who, until 1912, was exten- sively and successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising in township 17, range 11, Cass County, Ill., but having acquired a snug compe- tency, has abandoned active pursuits and is now living in retirement, is a native of Westphalia, Germany. He was born in that province May 8, 1855, a son of Fred and Louisa ( Hamburg) Witte, who lived and died in the fatherland. In 1874 Mr. Witte, after acquiring a common school education in the German public schools, left the old conntry and came to the United States, jonrneying by way of New York to Beardstown, Ill., and then worked seven years on farms in the Sangamon river valley, and after- ward started farming for himself, continning seven years more. Then he bought two farms, one of 240 acres and one of 160 acres in town- ship 17, range 11, and erected all the neces- sary buildings, and has made all improvements up-to-date. He has done what tiling was needed, and built the fences required. He continued his farming operations successfully until 1912, rais- ing a good deal of grain and breeding a con- siderable amount of stock from year to year. At that period he withdrew from active labors, and rented the farms to his sons.
On April 7. 1883, Mr. Witte was united in marriage with Minnie Miller, born in Mere- dosia, Ill., a daughter of Frederick Miller,
father mother na- both her and
being
tives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Witte had
children as follows : Louis, on one of his father's farms, Bertha (Mrs. Edward Nate- meyer), of Beardstown, Ill., and Edward, Edith, Albert and Anna, all of whom are at home. The family are members of the German Luth- eran church. In politics Mr. Witte acts with the Republican party. He is looked npon as a model citizen, and is highly respected by all who know him.
WRIGHT, Andrew .- To successfully carry on any line of business requires natural ability and persistent effort and perhaps the reason so many of the Cass Connty farmers are prosperons is because they possess just these qualities. One of them, who, in the days when he was an active farmer, made his name known among the progressive agriculturalists of this region, is Andrew Wright of township 17, range 9, He was born near Belfast, Ireland, August 21, 1843, a son of James and Bertha Ann (McConkey) Wright, both of whom died in Ireland.
Andrew Wright attended the common schools of his native place. In 1865 he came to the United States, landing at Philadelphia, where he remained for four years, during that time being engaged as a teamster. He then came to Morgan Connty, Ill., and lived at Alexander for nine years, carrying on agricultural opera- tions, and following this came to Cass County, renting the farm he now owns. After seven years he bought it, the property comprising 205 acres, all of which he has improved. On this he carried on stock raising and general farm- ing until his retirement in 1910. Since then his son, Joseph A. Wright, has conducted the home- stead.
While living at Alexander, Ill., Mr. Wright married Sarah Baxter, born near Belfast, Ire- land, where her parents died. She came to Morgan County in 18GS, accompanying her brother Henry Baxter. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have had the following children : James W., who is of Vincennes, Ind .; Leonard, who is of Phil- adelphia, Ill .; Thomas H. and Joseph A., both of whom are at home; Nathaniel, who is of Cass Connty ; and Mamie, who is Mrs. Jesse McNiel of Philadelphia, Ill. Mr. Wright is a Presby- terian. In politics he is a Republican, and served many years as district road commis- sioner and as school director, discharging the duties of these offices competently and con- scientiously.
WRIGHT, Loren Weir, who is extensively en- gaged in farming and stockraising in Cass County, resides on section 30, township 18, range S., and is one of the representative men of his locality. He was born in Cass County, December S, 1882. a son of John Solomon and Anna Nor- vella (Carver) Wright, the former born May 2, 1852, and the latter Jnne 29, 1862, both na- tives of Cass Connty, They were married by Rev. James Garner. Mrs. Wright was a danghter of Fletcher and Sarah (Howard) Carver, both now deceased, the latter having died December
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
8, 1904, and the former, July 8, 1914, both being buried in the Garner cemetery. The father of Loren Weir Wright was a very thrifty man and was well known, as he bought stock all over the county, and in all his transactions gained the name of being very honest and upright in his dealings. He began his stock operations with no capital but his industry, but when he died, January 13, 1905, he left an estate of 234 acres of land, in addition to stock, one-half of his possessions going to his son and the other half to his widow. His burial was in the Garner cemetery.
Loren Weir Wright attended the country schools and the Virginia High school, following which, the Jacksonville schools, and then went to a college at Springfield, Mo. During all this period he worked in a printing office in his vaca- tions, and then adopted his present line of work for his vocation in life. In addition to his own 117 acres of land, he conducts his mother's 117 acres, and his operations therefore are upon a large scale.
On August 17, 1913, Mr. Wright was married by Rev. J. C. Betton of Arkansas, in Eureka Springs, Ark., to Arzella Josephine Gaskins, born in Arkansas, April 14, 1894, a daughter of Stephen and Molly Victoria (Hatcher) Gaskins, the former born in Indiana, June 27, 1853, and the latter in Kentucky, March 27, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskins were married in Arkansas in 1887, and still reside in that state. Mr. Wright is a very sociable young man, good-natured and genial, and he and his wife are leaders in the social circles of their locality.
WYNNE, Charles H., manager of the Goodell Ice & Fuel Company of Beardstown, and one of the leading business men of Cass County, has long been a vital force of his community. He was born at Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio, April 21, 1874, a son of Silas H. and Sarah Jane (Clifford) Wynne, natives of Pike County, Ohio. These parents have spent their lives in Ohio and been farming people.
Charles H. Wynne attended the common schools of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, and the Ohio State University at Columbus, for two years, and then began his business career as a clerk in a hotel. For thirteen years he was engaged in this line, and then came to Beardstown to be- come bookkeeper for the Beardstown Stave and Lumber Company, remaining with that concern until he was made manager of his present house. His associations with the latter are of such a nature as to reflect credit upon himself and advance the interests of the concern. A Democrat he has always been active in his party both as a directing force and public official, and has served as city treasurer, being in office dur- ing 1911, 1912 and 1913, and is now alderman from his ward, having been elected in 1913 for a term of two years. For the past eight years he has been a Democratic County Central Com- mitteeman. For five years he has been an active member of the Knights of Pythias and for eleven years has belonged to the Court of Honor. Al-
though reared in the Methodist church, he is not a member.
On November 28, 1901, Mr. Wynne was mar- ried to Mary O'Neil, born in Schuyler County, Ill., July 4, 1880, a daughter of John O'Neil, who came from Ireland to the United States, and after first working as a laborer, became a farmer, Mr. and Mrs. Wynne have one child, Mary Winifred, who was born April 27, 1903. Mr. Wynne is a very sociable gentleman, one whose many excellent qualities win him friends wherever he goes. He owns his residence and is regarded as a man of substance in his com- munity.
YAPLE, Matt .-- Since the year 1886, Matt Yaple has been identified with the banking firm of Petefish, Skiles & Company, of Virginia, and prior to this time had had ten years' experience in banking at Virginia, so that his entire career has been passed in the atmosphere of finance. He was born at Chenoa, McLean county, Ill., February 12, 1858, and is a son of Matthew W. and Julia Ann ( Eador) Yaple.
It is a family tradition that the Yaples and Demonds, Dutch Protestants of the Calvinistic sect, originated in that part of Germany near the border-line of France, Alsace-Lorraine, from whence they were forced to flee because of religious persecution to Holland, coming from that country to America. Philip Henry Yaple, the only one of the name to come to this country with his family, arrived prior to the year 1750, one of his brothers having died in a dungeon during the days of the Spanish Inquisition. The name during early times was variously spelled : Japel, Jabel, Yable, Yeaple and finally Yaple in colonial times in this country, although the spelling of the original name was Japel, pronounced Yahple.
Philip Henry Yaple settled on the Susque- hanna River, near the town of Wyoming, Pa .. then little better than a wilderness, where he carried on the vocation of clock-maker until the year 1878, when. during the Revolutionary war and the Wyoming massacre, his house was burned by the Indians, perhaps assisted by the Tories. The family escaped, however, having been warned by a friendly Indian, and made their way to Virginia. As told by a negro boy, who had been left behind, the Indians took down the last large clock which had been made by Mr. Yaple, and, breaking it to pieces, used it to start the fire which destroyed the pioneer home. Later the family returned to Pennsylvania, and there Philip Henry Yaple continued to spend the remainder of his life, surviving to the remarkable age of 108 years. He was the father of Adam. Harry and Mary, by his first marriage, and by his last wife, of Jacob, Nicholas, John. Christian and Philip. Of these, Jacob Yaple was a Revolutionary soldier and the founder of Ithaca, N. Y.
Christian Yaple, son of Philip Henry, was the father of Jane Ann, Mary, Catherine, Capt. Jacob, John, Eleanor, Rachel, William, David, Henry, Christian, Jr., Cornelius and Anson.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Christian, Jr., son of Christian, was the father of Matthew W., Ira, Sarah Eliza and Emery, and of these, Matthew W. was the father of Matt Yaple of this review. The Yaple family have always been patriotic citizens of America, having fought in the Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Civil war, and five brothers fought side by side during the winning of American independence, the only record of its kind in the history of the country. The men bearing this name have also been prominent in public lite, several having served in Congress, while they have always been well represented in the pro- fessions and in business and financial affairs.
Matthew W. Yaple, father of Matt Yaple, was born at West Green, Erie County, Pa., May 19, 1833. and in his youth learned the trade of carpenter. He was twenty years of age when he migrated to Illinois, and at the time of the death of his wife, in 1864, went to the West. During the past thirteen years he has been a resident of California, where he is now living, hale and hearty, at the age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Yaple was born in Cass County, Ill., January 16, 1836.
Matt Yaple was about five years old when his mother died and at that time he went to live with his guardian, J. A. Petefish, on whose farm he resided until attaining the age of thirteen years. In 1871 he moved to Virginia, and that city has continued to be his home to the present time. Mr. Yaple's education was secured in the public schools, and during his last year at the Virginia High school he was employed in the Centennial National Bank of Virginia, as book- keeper, and remained with that institution for
ten years. In the year 1SS6 he became a mem- ber of the private banking house of Petefish, Skiles & Company, and in 1902, when that firm incorporated under the banking laws of Illinois, he was elected cashier of the bank, a position which he has held to the present time. He bears an excellent reputation in banking circles, and is accounted an astute, conservative and far- seeing financier, whose well known personal in- tegrity has done much to instil confidence in the people of this locality and to attract busi- ness to the institution with which he is con- nected. While he has not sought preferment in public life, he has always been interested in helping to advance enterprises for the welfare of the city. He is a charter member of the lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he was the first clerk, in 1SSS. His political belief in that of the Democratic party, while his religious affiliation is with the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Mr. Yaple was married at Virginia, Ill., May 31, 1883, to Miss Hattie L. Skiles, who was born near Virginia, March 7, 1862, a daughter of Ignatius and Mary Jane (Thompson) Skiles, the former born in Ohio, August 10, 1827, and the latter in Cass county, Ill., January 19. 1833. Mr. Skiles was an active business man, farmer and stockman, accumulated considerable prop- erty, and died in his forty-sixth year. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Yaple : Ignatius S., born December 21, 1SS5, assistant cashier of the bank of Petefish, Skiles & Company ; and George S., born January S, 1890, who is secre- tary of the boys' division of the Young Men's Christian Association at Newark, N. J.
DISPOSAL
AUTHORIZED BY THE TRUS EES
HIST
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N.
CAL
OCT
1961
SOCIETY
23
HECKMAN BINDERY INC.
OCT 88 N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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