USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 37
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Haslemere Chapter. has been exceedingly blessed up to the present time. The chapter has continuously grown in interest and numbers, and rich in honor and praise. Two of her charter members have become members of the Grand Chapter of the State of Illinois, sister Sarah L. Chamberlain as Grand Electa, and brother N. D. Ricks as Worthy Grand Patron. Haslemere has also organized two other chap- ters, one at Morrisonville, Ill., and one at Edin- burg, Ill. She has been generous in helping to pay for the Eastern Star Home at Macon, Ill., where the aged and friendless may have the sweet quiet of "Home, Peace and Plenty," a shelter in the time of storm. She has ever been loyal to her members in sickness and trouble, proving that "A friend in need is a friend indeed." We are indebted for this sketch to Mrs. Margaret Algerson, formerly Miss Margaret Martin, who was secretary of the order for a long period.
TAYLORVILLE WOMAN'S CLUB.
The Taylorville Woman's Club was organized on January 11, 1898, for the avowed purpose of founding a public library. The first year was given to the study of literature and making plans for the collection of books. The club members contributed books from their own libraries and solicited others from friends who were interested in the club's determination to start a public library. At the end of the first year, it was decided that the club could best live up to its motto, "Not merely for ourselves" if it broadened its horizon. Accordingly, in November, 1898, many new members were added and the club was divided into five departments,
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
namely : Literary, Home Economics, Education- al, Social and Philanthropic. The first act of benevolence was in behalf of our own "boys in blue" when the club made and presented to them forty-eight bed ticks for their use in the Span- ish-American War. In 1899 the library commit- tee presented 700 volumes to the city council and asked for a room to be set apart to be used as a library. Mayor Bach accepted the gift, on be- half of the city. As there was no way of collect- ing taxes for the support of a library that year, tlie club assumed that burden. From January, 1900, until March, 1901, the Woman's Club bore all the expenses of the library. Besides giving personal service, the sum of $418 was given the city treasurer as a library fund. A depart- ment of Civics was next added to the club witir Mrs. Parker chairman. A committee imme- diately prayed the council to prepare the ordi- nance making it a misdemeanor to expectorate upon sidewalks. The ordinance was passed. The same year waste baskets were placed on the four corners of the public square. Packages of seeds were distributed among school children and prizes offered for the best flower beds. The county supervisors were interviewed and a re- quest made that a room on the first fioor of the new courthouse be set aside for the use of the county women and children. This great boon was granted. The room was then furnished by the club and thrown open to out-of-town visitors. The Woman's Club paid the salary of a matron for more than a year, when the county assumed the payment.
In 1904, when the Carnegie library was be- gun, Mrs. Philip Haner, president of the club, laid the first brick, the building committee ex- tending the courtesy to her because of the club's valiant work for the library. At dedication of the library building, the club pre- sented a bust of Wagner, with pedestal. The next undertaking was the placing of a fountain in the courthouse yard, costing the club $253. The club has done many charitable things, in- cluding the sum of $163, which was given at one time to the city missionary, and furnishing and maintaining of a room in St. Vincent's hos- pital. The club has been influential in securing "clean up days" for the city. "Baby week" is observed each year. A "canning club" has been organized for school girls, as well as grownups and the club is paying a supervisor of play for the children at Manners' Park. The club women are actively at work informing them-
selves relative to the prevention of diseases, being especially active in selling Christmas seals for the benefit of the anti-tuberculosis society. Exhibits and lectures have been featured in the interest of civics. Besides con- tributing liberaly in money to the Red Cross society, most of the club women are taking an absorbing interest in relief sewing. The aims of the club have been almost entirely altruistic, but much that is helpful has come to the mem- bers themselves. Every member has been much benefited and broadened mentally.
After nineteen years of service to others, the club has discovered that it can no longer be accommodated in the homes of its members. A home must be provided for this body of ener- getic, useful women. How to start a "club- house" fund had been a problem until Taylor- ville's most versatile and accomplished young citizen, Miss Eugenia Vandeveer, came to the club's assistance and gave a dance recital for the benefit of the new clubhouse on December 29, 1916. Miss Vandeveer gave the people of Taylorville the most artistic production ever staged in the city, presenting the proceeds of $500 to the "clubhouse" fund. The club has had a brilliant career and all its departments are in a flourishing condition.
YOUNG WOMEN'S STUDY CLASS.
One of Taylorville's best known educational institutions is the Young Women's Study Class which was organized in September, 1903. Credit for the organization of this class is due largely to Miss Bertha Provine who was the first presi- dent and who has always taken a leading part in the affairs of the society. The twenty young women who met in September, 1903, elected the following officers: Bertha Provine, president ; Zell Plowman, vice president ; Helena Boyd, secretary ; and Maud Hunter, treasurer. The membership is limited to graduates of the Taylorville Township High School and ten undergratuates of that school. The class holds its bi-weekly meetings in the basement of the Taylorville library building which it has fur- nished with loan gifts of pictures, curtains and a fine rug. It has donated outright to the library a bust of Shakespeare, a beautiful "Aurora" and $150 worth of books, including a complete set of Stoddard's lectures. Besides holding several public receptions and showing several picture exhibits, the class has con-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
tributed to the intellectual advancement of Taylorville by bringing such persons as Jane Addams, Opie Reid, and Jane Sherzer here for lectures. The present officers are as follows : President, Maud Hunter ; vice presidents, Eva Long and Ethel Abel,; secretary, Mrs. Henry Burchfield ; treasurer, Bernice Stearns.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
Those who have served Taylorville Township in an official capacity since township organiza- tion was adopted, have been as follows :
ASSESSORS.
T. G. May, 1876; William Richardson, 1877; W. S. Richardson, 1878; Cecil Adams, 1879; Seth Mason, 1880; Gavin Adams, 1881; I. J. Glass, 1882-84; W. S. Richardson, 1885; I. J. Glass, 1886-87 ; Carmi Beltz, 1888-89; Jacob Dex- heimer, 1890; Carmi Beltz, 1891-92; W. H. Kaup, 1893; James R. Hazelett, 1894; Carmi Beltz, 1895-96; J. W. Bedwell, 1897; A. J. Brown, 1898; J. W. Bedwell, 1899; A. J. Brown, 1900; W. W. Purcell, 1901; Joel E. Wade, 1902; James Hunter, 1903; Robert Busby, 1904; John Jeisy, 1905; Edward F. Adams, 1906; Ray W. Bourne, 1907; John T. Jeisy, Jr., 1908; Thos. J. Hill, 1909; Samuel Edmunds, 1910-11; Ed- ward F. Adams, 1912-15; Samuel Daykin, 1916-17.
COLLECTORS.
James C. Morrison, 1866-7; Elijah A. Miller, 1868; James Brooks, 1869; John Knopp, 1870; William H. Kirkwood, 1871; John Knopp, 1872; A. S. Martin, 1873; John Knopp, 1874; A. S. Martin, 1875-77; J. S. Torrey, 1878; James M. Crabb, 1879; William I. Woodruff, 1880-81; F. H. Harrison, 1882-83; I. J. Perkins, 1884; W. K. Nicodemus, 1885; J. R. Sharp, 1886; B. F. Wallace, 1887; Aaron V. Davis, 1888; W. A. Potts, 1889; H. O. Minnis, 1890; Joel J. Davis, 1891; Jolın C. Hunter, 1892; Frank H. Vicker- son, 1893; Scott E. Witmer, 1894; J. E. Mills, 1895; B. F. Lantz, 1896; Herbert C. Chapman, 1897; Jno. T. Anderson, 1898; A. S. Thomas, 1899; Lawson Crichton, Sr., 1900; Henry Lang- ley, 1901; Edward F. Langley, 1902 ; S. S. Stone, 1903; Frank Price, 1904; T. H. Weitzel, 1905; W. S. Osborn, 1906; A. A. Baldridge, 1907; Edwin H. Greenwolt, 1908; James E. Mills, 1909;
Charles Jackson, 1910-11; C. W. Johnson, 1912- 13; John F. Wilson, 1914-15; David Ginger, 1916-17.
CLERKS.
W. T. Evans, 1876; James White, 1877-78 ; J. S. Torrey, 1879; F. H. Harrison, 1880-81; James M. Lydy, 1882-84; George A. Brua, 1885; T. F. Russell, 1886-87; T. E. McCaskill, 1888; C. A. Sattley, 1889; W. D. Rogers, 1890; F. W. Box- meyer, 1891; W. D. Rogers, 1892-94; W. S. Sattley, 1895; John K. Bumgardner, 1896; Ray Bourne, 1897-98; L. E. Martin, 1899; James E. Mills, 1900-08; Robert A. Buckler, 1909-11; James E. Mills, 1912-13; Albert Davis, 1914-15; Jesse Peel, 1916-17.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
George D. Potts, 1876; William Hall, 1877; W. F. Langley, 1878; Nicholas Burch, 1879; H. M. Langley, 1880; W. F. Langley, 1881; Thomas Hogan, 1882; Calvin Thompson, 1883; Charles Cheney, 1884; George Wagoner, 1885; Calvin Thompson, 1886; T. W. Brents, 1887; F. M. Minnis, 1888; Calvin Thompson, 1889; A. S. Hedden, 1890; Charles Cheney, 1891; Jerome Davis, 1892; A. S. Hedden, 1893; John F. War- ner, 1894; O. S. Nash, 1895; James F. Callo- way, 1896; Sidney Warner, 1897; Frank H. Vickerson, 1898; Robert Murphy, 1899; Elijah Pope, 1900; A. M. Alexander, 1901; Robert Murphy, 1902; J. S. Oliver, 1903; W. D. Waller, 1904; Thos. Aymer, deceased during term, Alvin I. Elliott, 1905; Jefferson Norris, 1906; W. D. Waller, 1907; James Jacobs, Jr., 1908 ; Jefferson Norris, 1909; W. D. Waller, 1910; Charles R. Aymer, 1911; George Sanders, 1912; D. A. Ma- son, 1913; Geo. J. Kramer, 1914; J. A. Rucker, 1915; Andrew Flesher, 1916-7.
CONSTABLES.
G. C. Johnson, F. M. Good and L. A. Dodge, 1873; G. W. Long, 1874-76; G. C. Johnson, James J. Williams and W. C. Haines, 1877-78; J. B. Gore, 1879; John Kendall, 1880; Joseph S. Wal- lace, Joseph B. Gore and T. H. Johnson, 1881 ; W. H. McDonald, 1882-83; William Welch, 1884 ; A. S. Thomas, Thos. Langley, T. H. Johnson and Marshall Fuell, 1885-87 ; John Goode, 1888 ; .A. M. Dodderer, Kelsey Sharp, J. R. Bennig- hoff, 1889-91; T. J. Langley, 1892; Kelsey Sharp,
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
Wm. Phillips. T. F. Langley and Walter W. Purcell, 1893-96; Kelsey Sharp, T. J. Langley, Robt. Murphy and B. F. Davis, 1897; Frank Daughtry, 1899-1900: T. J. Langley, A. R. Clark, L. J. Traylor and Frank Daughtry, 1901-04; L. J. Traylor, R. P. Langley, J. F. Van Hoosier and William W. Ives, 1905: Benjamin F. Davis and Benjamin Simpson, 1906-07; William T. Martin, 1908; W. O. Welch, Benjamin Davis, L. J. Traylor and Benjamin Simpson, 1909-12; Dallas Clark, B. F. Davis, L. J. Traylor and W. O. Welch, 1913-15 ; Benjamin Simpson, 1916; J. W. Hoover, Benjamin F. Davis, L. J. Traylor and John Hall, 1917.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
William Singer and Jesse Harmon, 1866-69; M. C. Long, 1870; J. C. McBride, 1871-72 ; James M. Taylor, M. C. Long and William M. Provine, 1873-76; J. N. C. Shumway, M. C. Long and E. Overand, 1877-80; J. N. C. Shumway, James Brooks and E. Overand, 1881-84; E. Overand, James Brooks and J. C. Shumway, 1885-87 ; W. A. Goodrich, 1888: James Brooks, J. B. Abrams and J. B. Colegrove. 1889-90: W. A. Abell, 1891-92; W. A. Abell, James Brooks, F. O. Edler and W. H. Ives, 1893-96; O. B. Hewitt, Wm. E. Handell, F. O. Edler and I. S. Ewing, 1897-1900; W. E. Handel, W. A. Abell, Curtis
E. Abrams and J. B. Gore, 1901-04; W. E. Han- del, W. H. Kaup. J. A. Cheney and E. E. Adams, 1905-08; W. E. Handel, J. E. Wade, J. E. Rog- ers and Edward Reismy, 1909-12; Ed. Reismy, W. E. Handel, J. E. Rogers and W. R. Dex- heimer, 1913; Edwin F. Greenwalt, 1914-16; J. E. Wade, J. H. Forrester, J. C. Henry and O. B. Hewitt, 1917.
SUPERVISORS.
W. W. Anderson, 1866-67 ; J. C. Morrison, 1868-71; J. H. Parsons, 1872-73; H. W. Sharp, 1874; Abner Bond, 1875-79; Harry Cheney, 1880; Abner Bond, 1881-83; C. G. Young, 1884-85; B. V. Martin, 1886; James Bourne, 1887; B. V. Martin, 1889; James Bourne, 1890-91; Thomas W. Brentz, 1892; J. C. Hunter, 1893 ; Thomas W. Brentz, 1894; J. C. IIunter, 1895: Thomas W. Brentz, 1896; A. S. Martin, 1897; Joel J. Davis, 1898; A. S. Martin, 1899: Joseph Hale, 1900; A. S. Martin, 1901; Joel J. Davis, 1902; Jerry Lacy, 1903; E. A. Campbell, 1904; Frank M. Martin, 1905: E. A. Campbell, 1906; Frank M. Martin, 1907; Philip Achenbach, 1908; E. A. Campbell, 1909; James E. Sharp, 1910; E. A. Campbell, 1911: Jefferson Norris, 1912; John H. McClughan, 1913; S. C. Mull, 1914; H. E. Bas- ham, 1915; J. A. Rucker, 1916; Jesse Patterson, 1917.
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CHARLES MALHOIT
BIOGRAPHICAL
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE PART OF BIOGRAPHY IN GENERAL HISTORY- CITIZENS OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY AND OUTLINES OF PERSONAL HISTORY-PERSONAL SKETCHES AR- RANGED IN ENCYCLOPEDIC ORDER.
The verdict of mankind has awarded to the Muse of History the highest place among the Classic Nine. The extent of her office, however, appears to be, by many minds, but imperfectly understood. The task of the historian is com- prehensive and exacting. True history reaches beyond the doings of court or camp, beyond the issue of battles or the effects of treaties, and records the trials and the triumphs, the fail- ures and the successes of the men who make history. It is but an imperfect conception of the philosophy of events that fails to accord to portraiture and biography its rightful position as a part-and no unimportant part-of historic narrative. Behind and beneath the activities of outward life the motive power lies out of sight, just as the furnace fires that work the piston and keep the ponderous screw revolving down in the darkness of the hold. So, the impulsive power which shapes the course of communities may be found in the molding influ- ences which form its citizens.
It is no mere idle curiosity that prompts men to wish to learn the private, as well as the public, lives of their fellows. Rather is it true that such desire tends to prove universal broth- erhood; and the interest in personality and biography is not confined to men of any partic- ular caste or vocation.
The list of those to whose lot it falls to play a conspicuous part in the great drama of life, is comparatively short ; yet communities are made up of individuals, and the aggregate of achieve- ment-no less than the sum total of human hap- piness-is made up of the deeds of those men and women whose primary aim, through life, is faithfully to perform the duty that comes near- est to hand. Individual influences upon human affairs will be considered potent or insignifi- cant, according to the standpoint from which it is viewed. To him who, standing upon the sea- shore, notes the ebb and flow of the tides and listens to the sullen roar of the waves, as they
break upon the beach in seething foam, seem- ingly chafing at their limitations, the ocean appears so vast as to need no tributaries. Yet, without the smallest rill that helps to swell the "Father of Waters," the mighty torrent of the Mississippi would be lessened, and the benefi- cent influence of the Gulf Stream diminished. Countless streams, currents and counter cur- rents-sometimes mingling, sometimes counter- acting each other-collectively combine to give motion to the accumulated mass of waters. So is it-and so must it ever be-in the ocean of human action, which is formed by the blending and repulsion of currents of thought, of influ- ence and of life, yet more numerous and more tortuous than those which form the "fountains of the deep." The acts and characters of men, like the several faces that compose a composite picture, are wrought together into a compact or heterogeneous whole. History is condensed bi- ography ; "Biography is History teaching by example."
It is both interesting and instructive to rise above the generalization of history and trace, in the personality and careers of the men from whom it sprang, the principles and influences, the impulses and ambitions, the labors, strug- gles and triumphs that engross their lives.
Here are recorded the careers and achieve- ments of pioneers who, "when the fullness of time had come," came from widely separated sources, some from beyond the sea, impelled by divers motives, little conscious of the import of their acts, and but dimly anticipating the har- vest which would spring from the sowing. They built their primitive homes, toiling for a present subsistence while laying the foundations of pri- vate fortunes and future advancement.
Most of these have passed away, but not before they beheld a development of business and population surpassing the wildest dreams of fancy or expectation. A few yet remain whose years have passed the allotted three-score and ten, and who love to recount, among the cherished memories of their lives, their remi- niscences of early days.
[ The following items of personal and family his- tory, having been arranged in encyclopedic (or alpha- betlcal) order as to names of the individual subjects. no special index to this part of the work will be found necessary. ]
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
ABELL, James H., member of the banking firm of John B. Colegrave & Company, and a retired farmer, now living at Taylorville, is one of the representative men of Christian County. He was born in Bond County, Ill., May 10, 1840, a son of John R. and Julia Ann (Barger) Abell. The father was born in Adair County, Ky., September 12, 1805, while the mother was born in Virginia, October 15, 1812. A sketeh of these parents appears elsewhere in this work.
James H. Abell went to the public schools of Loami, Ill., until he was twelve years old, at which time he went to live on a farm thirteen miles southeast of Springfield, and tarmed and taught school until January, 1867, when he came to Taylorville. At that time he embarked in a retail grocery business and conducted it un- successfully, as he says, on account of the credit system, not having accumulated over $2,000 in
twelve years, until 1880, when he went on a farm ten miles west of Taylorville. Another change took him to a farm three miles west of Assump- tion, and he continued farming this property until 1896, when he returned to Taylorville, and this city has since continued to be his home. Until the organization of the banking house of John B. Colegrave & Company he lived retired, but at that time he took a quarter interest in it, and still holds it. About twenty years ago he invested in 800 acres of land in Fayette County, Il., that he still owns, and he also owns a half section of land three miles west of Assumption.
On March 27, 1862, Mr. Abell was married to Elizabeth Breckenridge, a daughter of Pres- ton Breckenridge, one of the earliest settlers of Sangamon County, Ill. She was a twin sister to Mary, born Jan. 13, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Abell became the parents of the following children: Emma J., who was born September 12, 1863, is Mrs. John S. Rishton, of Hillyard, a suburb of Spokane, Wash. ; Arthur, who was born August 7. 1865, now lives at Assumption and is inter- ested in lumber yards at Mitehell and Abell, married Jessie Little; John P., who was born April 23, 1867, died at Taylorville, February 24, 1875; Henry E., who was born January 2, 1872, died February 27, 1875, both of scarlet fever ; James Elbert, who was born June 28, 1876, is now living at Taylorville, married Jane Turner. a daughter of J. R. Turner, a resident of Taylor- ville ; Mary Ethel, who was born September 27, 1879, lives at home; Nellie Graee, who was born October 13, 1881, died January 28, 1901; and Harry B., who was born April 19, 1884, lives on his father's farm west of Assumption. The grandchildren in the family are: Arthur Rish- ton, who is twenty years old; Riley, Fred and Hugh, sons of James E. ; and Wayne and Louise, children of Arthur. The family attend the Pres- byterian and Christian churches. Mr. Abell be- longs to the conservative branch of the Demo- cratic party. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Abell, Jeremiah Abell, was a Presbyterian min- ister, born in Virginia. About 1828 he came to Illinois, and lived in Montgomery County, dying at Macomb, aged eighty-five years. The grand-
mother died at Macomb about 1852, aged ninety- five years.
ABELL, John Berry, one of Christian County's most substantial men and one whose long resi- denee in Taylorville brought him a very large measure of regard from those who knew him, departed this life on November 26, 1916. His passing occasioned widespread sorrow. The following is a review of his lite among us. John Berry Abel was born at Loami, Ill., August 26, 1850, a son of Dr. John R. and Julia Ann (Bar- ger) Abell. The parents were natives of Adair County, Ky., and of the state of Virginia, re- spectively. The father was one of the earlier practieing physicians of eentral Illinois, coming to Sangamon County in 1828, and after having married there, removed to Bond County, Ill. He returned to Sangamon County in 1847 and remained at Loami until 1852, in which year he settled on a farm near Breckenridge. In 1869 he removed to Taylorville and identified him- self with merchandising for some years. Here he died May 11, 1881.
John B. Abell was nineteen years old when the family eame to make their home in Christian County. For some time he was elerk in his fath- er's grocery store, later becoming a partner in the groeery firm of J. H. Abell and Brother. This association continued for a few years when John sold his interest and connected himself at sub- sequent periods with the agricultural firms of J. B. Hateh and Company, and Barton and Post of this eity. He later travelled for the firm of Kingman and Company, of Keokuk, Iowa, in the sale of farm machinery. After some time at this employment he determined to devote his time to the superintendenee of his extensive farms in Christian and Sangamon counties ; and, with that in mind, established his permanent home in Taylorville. During the later years of his life he had been practically retired.
Mr. Abell was married, on September 5, 1889, to Miss Margaret Sarah Patton, of Springfield, Ill. Their marriage was blessed with one daugh- ter. Margaret. Mrs. Abell died June 4, 1894; and those of us who knew her have yet in our minds a very elear memory of the worth and sweetness of her nature.
In his fraternal connections, Mr. Abell was a Master Mason in Mound Lodge No. 122, A. F. & A. M., and was a member of the Eastern Star. He also belonged to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He was baptized in the Christian Church. He was a man of firm eonvietions, con- scientious to a degree. and of warm geniality among his friends. The qualities of the man himself and the extent of his identifieation with the material development of Christian County endow his memory with deep and tender thoughts.
ABRAMS, F. H., one of the most progressive farmers and stockmen of Rosemond Township, owns and operates a fine rural property. He was born at Naples, Seott County, Ill., January
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
21, 1867, a son of Stephen A. and Mary (Sul- laris) Abrams. The parents had the follow- ing children: an unnamed infant; James B .; William H .; F. H .; and Curtis E. The father was a farmer.
F. H. Abrams grew up on his father's farm, and attended the local schools. On November 6, 1889, he was married to Minnie Rule, whose family came to Edgar County, from Ross County, Ohio, in 1869, when she was four years old. After eight years spent in Illinois, they went to Indiana, for two years, then re- turned to Christian County, and located near Mt. Auburn, and there Mrs. Abrams was reared and educated. After renting land for some time, Mr. Abrams bought a farm on Buckeye Prairie, and then his present farm. He built his present eight-room, steam heated, modern residence, which compares favorably with any one in the cities of the county. His present homestead comprises 200 acres on sections 15 and 22. Rosemond Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Abrams have had two sons, namely : A. L., who was born July 28, 1890, and on August 2, 1900, when he was ten years old, he was kicked by a horse and died on August 8, 1900. This lad was very bright and gave great promise of developing into a fine man. Young as he was he delighted his father by displaying a taste for agricultural matters, especially stock raising, and many were the plans laid for his future, that were blasted by his pitiful death. The other son, Rule F., was born September 10, 1903, has also a taste for his father's calling, and is developing into a manly youth. Mr. and Mrs. Abrams at- tend the Methodist Episcopal Church. In poli- tics he is a member of the Republican party. His fraternal affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen of America. Aggressive, alert and modern, Mr. Abrams has accumulated a hand- some competency and all through his own ef- forts, as he began with nothing but his natural ability and willingness to work and save. He is not only successful, but popular as well, and stands very high with his neighbors.
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