USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 39
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Mr. Anderson was very active in the develop- ment of the local coal fields, and at one time was a member of the board of directors of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. He was also in- strumental in securing for Taylorville various public utilities, and always advocated and sup- ported practical reform measures.
In 1850 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Nan B. Rountree, who died in 1854, a daughter of Judge Hiram Rountree. One daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, but died in early childhood. In 1860 Mr. Ander- son was married (second) to Martha L. Wright, a daughter of Rev. Richard and Martha Randle, natives of Georgia and Virginia, respectively. Mr. Randle was a Methodist minister of con- siderable note. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had the following children : Hiram R., who died at the age of twenty-nine years; Nannie West, who died in infancy ; Frederick William, who was married to Adelia B. Sanders of San Antonio, Tex., who died March 21, 1916, a daughter of George W. and Bertha L. Sanders, they had one daughter, Bertha Louise; Mrs. Grace A. Haw- ley, who is a resident of Taylorville: and Mrs. Charles H. Willems. Charles H. Willems is a portrait painter who is well known in the United States and Europe.
Mr. Anderson was a Royal Arch Mason. From his youth he had been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and frequently served on its benevolent boards. A man of broad out- look. he was generous and charitable, not only in his giving of money, but also in his judgment of men and their actions, and more than once by his support of a man, saved him from failure in business. As a business man his record is un- blemished, and he was equally sincere in his private life. so that in his death Taylorville and the entire section lost one of the best and most representative men Illinois has produced.
ANDREWS. William Edward, one of the schol- arly men of Christian County, and a noted edu- cator, has a prestige that is assured by reason of his long continued success. In 1917 he was
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
appointed for the ninth year as principal of the Pana Township High school, and for the twen- ty-fonrth year as principal of the Taylorville and Pana Township high schools. Both of these schools, under his masterly superinten- dency, have become widely known for their high order of efficiency.
William Edward Andrews was born in Ma- coupin County, Ill. He attended school in his home district, later entering an academy which was conducted for a tinie at Brighton. Ill., by a Dartmouth graduate and ex-principal of the Lynn (Mass.), High school. In 18S1 he entered Blackburn College at Carlinville, Ill., where he was graduated in 1884. Because of his high standing in mathematics, he was made assist- ant in mathematics in the college and for three years after being graduated taught analytical and descriptive geometry and differential and integral calculus, as well as botany and Latin. In 1SS7, he was appointed to the chair of nat- ural science in this institution, and in 1888, having completed the requisite course, the de- gree of master of arts was conferred upon him.
Owing to the rise of state universities and the decline of the small endowed college, Mr. Andrews, in 1894, accepted the offer of the principalship of the Taylorville Township High school. During his long term of years, he has given to this high school a reputation for thor- ough scholarship that brought it great distinc- tion.
In addition to his devotion to educational ad- ministration, he takes a deep interest in nat- ural science. He has an excellent equipment of scientific collections and appliances. From time to time, in order to better perfect him- self for his work he has taken advanced studies during varions summer terms at Har- vard University and in the University of Illi- nois. When he entered public high school work. he at once took the examination for a state life certificate and received the coveted prize upon the first trial. In 1899, after completing a rig- orons course of study, he received the degree of doctor of philosophy conferred by the Illinois Wesleyan University. Mr. Andrews is a pro- lific writer upon educational subjects. Many of the current educational journals contain the products of his ripe experience and wide vision. His advice is sought and taken by many of his associates.
In 1887. he was married to Miss Alberta Taggart of Carlinville, Ill. Their two daugh- ters, Virginia and Alberta, reside at home. Mrs. Andrews is active and highly efficient in public work and she served for several years as director of the Carnegie Library at Taylor- ville. Mr. Andrews was a member of the Tay- lorville Lodge. A. F. & A. M., but is now a inember of the Pana Lodge, and he was also a member of the Taylorville Chapter, R. A. M. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Taylorville and superintendent of the Sun- day School. At Pana, he is an elder and for years was the teacher of the men's organized Bible class. Ever active in the church and
community, he is always seeking for opportu- nity to promote the public welfare in every pos- sible way. Mentally a man of remarkable parts, he is also practical in a marked degree, and his administration of high schools continu- ally demonstrates that he is an excellent execu- tive as well as a profound thinker and learned scholar.
ARMITAGE, Clarence E., one of the prosperons farmers of Bear Creek Township, was born on the farm of his father, in Bear Creek Town- ship, July 14, 1881, he being a son of Uriah G. and Eliza (Lovelace) Armitage, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Clar- ence E. Armitage grew up in his native town- ship, and attended its schools. Until 1905 he remained on the homestead, and then moved on his present farm of eighty acres, forty acres of which he now rents, operating the other forty acres as a general farmer and stockraiser.
In 1905 Mr. Armitage was married to Miss Ethel Warehouse of Taylorville, Ill., a daughter of Fred and Harriet (King) Warehouse, natives of Jersey County, Ill., and King Township, Christian County. Mr. and Mrs. Armitage have five children, namely : Cecil, Marion, Verna. Frederick and Clarence. In political faith he is a Democrat. The Methodist Church holds his membership. Having devoted his entire life to farming, Mr. Armitage is able to give his work intelligent attention, and the results must be very gratifying.
ARMITAGE, Robert B., formerly a successful farmer of South Fork Township and a highly esteemed resident of Christian County, was born near Pawnee, Ill., December 23, 1854, a son of George and Frances (Crow) Armitage.
George Armitage was born March 1, 1822, on a farm owned by his father in England. When he was nineteen years old he came to the United States, locating in 1841 in Macoupin Connty, Ill., where he joined an uncle. After a year spent near Harris Point, he went to Zanesville, and began to learn how to tan leather, but on account of ill health was forced to abandon that work. In 1844 he rented a farm of thirty-five acres, and operated it for a year. The following year he was married and bought thirty acres of land in Sangamon County, Ill., to which he kept on adding until he had 300 acres. This he later sold and moved to Christian County, where in 1863 he bought 270 acres of land in Bear Creek Town- ship, adding to his original purchase until he had 360 acres of land. In time he became a large stock farmer and a man of considerable impor- tance. His death occurred February 27, 1901, and that of his wife in October, 1899. George Armitage was a Democrat, and lie served as a school director and road commissioner, and was an efficient officer. Fraternally he was a Mason, and he belonged to the Presbyterian Church. The paternal grandfather of Robert B. Armitage was Thomas Armitage, born in England, who in early life was a farmer, but later became a man- ufacturer. He married Miss Elizabeth Stead, a
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ALEXANDER S. MARTIN
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
daughter of Benjamin Stead, who was foreman in a shoe factory in England. Both grandparents died in England.
Robert B. Armitage attended school in Sanga- mon County, Ill., and in Bear Creek Township, Christian County, and continued his studies at home, remaining with his parents until 1889. In that year he moved on the farm now owned by his widow, which was given to her by her father, and he first added forty acres and later added fifty acres to the eighty acres of the original farm, operating this until his death, January 31, 1903, when he was forty-nine years old. In 1912 the children added eighty more acres and there are now 206 acres in the homestead.
On January 1, 1889, Mr. Armitage was mar- ried to Miss Eliza Jane Creig, a daughter of James and Narcissa (Rape) Creig, of South Fork Township, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Armitage be- came the parents of the following children : Roy Arthur, Bessie M., Ida F., Mary Hazel and Edith, the last named being deceased. Fraternally he belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America and Court of Honor. His political convictions made him a Democrat. For years he was a con- sistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
ARMITAGE, Uriah Granderson, one of the ex- tensive farmer's of Bear Creek Township, was born near Auburn, Sangamon County, Ill., Octo- ber 20, 1848, a son of George and Frances (Crow) Armitage. The father was born in Lancashire, England, and the mother was born in Green County, Ky. When he was nineteen years old the father left England, and came to Harrison Point, Macoupin County, Ill., where he worked for farmers by the month for a number of years. Later he moved to near Auburn, Sangamon County, and bought land which he operated until 1863, in which year he moved to Bear Creek Township, and on November 5, 1863, bought the farm now owned by his son, comprising 240 acres. Here he spent the remainder of his life, dying February 25, 1891, aged eighty-two years. The mother died October 14, 1899, aged eighty- one years. The mother left Kentucky with her parents when two years old, and they located near Auburn, Sangamon County, one and one- quarter miles northeast of Auburn, where the father entered land. This he improved and lived on the remainder of his life.
Uriah Granderson Armitage spent his boy- hood in Sangamon County, but when fourteen years old was brought to his present farm where he remained until his marriage and then moved on an adjoining eighty acres, on which he built a residence and made other improvements. After the death of his father he inherited a part of the old homestead and bought the inter- ests of the other heirs so that he now has the entire property, and carries on general farming, stockraising and dairying. Mr. Armitage is also a stockholder in the Morrisonville Elevator.
On December 20. 1877. Mr. Armitage was married to Miss Eliza Lovelace, of Bear Creek Township, who was born in Missouri, a daughter
of Asa and Martha Jane (Chastain) Lovelace. The father was born in Indiana but came to Clay County, Ill., and thence went to Missouri and then in 1867, located in Bear Creek Township, Christian County, but he died in Fayette County. The mother died in Bear Creek Township. Mr. and Mrs. Armitage have two children, namely : Clarence, born July 14, 1881, who is on his father's eighty-acre farm, married Ethel Ware- ham, and they have five children, Cecil, Marion, Vonna, Frederick and Clarence; and Homer, born May 19, 1891, is at home. Mr. Armitage is an Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias. His political views make him a Democrat, while he is a Methodist in his religious faith.
ARMSTRONG, David C., manager of the Mt. Auburn and Osbornville Grain Company, is one of the substantial business men of Mt. Auburn. He was born in Sangamon County, Ill., April 1, 1852, a son of William and Statia (Fickland) Armstrong, natives of North Carolina and Ken- tucky, respectively. The parents came to Illi- nois in 1837, moving to Mt. Auburn in 1865, where they died.
David C. Armstrong was educated in the country schools of Sangamon County, and until he attained his majority he worked on his father's farm, and continued farming for him- self until 1894, but in that year went to Decatur, Ill., where for two years he was an efficient member of the police force. In 1900 he re- turned to agricultural labor and so continued until 1913, when he came to Mt. Auburn and took charge of the elevators owned by his pres- ent company, in which he is a stockholder. Since he became its general manager this com- pany has developed into one of the most exten- sive grain concerns in Christian County. Mr. Armstrong owns 160 acres in Mosquito Town- ship.
On December 28, 1876, Mr. Armstrong was married in Mt. Auburn to Mary C. Angus, born in Christian County, February 1, 1860. They became the parents of three children : one who died in infancy ; Ruby B., who married Virgil Davidson, has one son, Clifford; and William Clyde, who operates his father's farm. Mr. Armstrong is a Republican and was tax collector of Mosquito Township and also was school treasurer for twelve years. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. A live business man, he has developed his com- pany until its standing is one in which he may well take pride, and its location at Mt. Auburn is one of the assets of the place.
ATHERTON, Marshal Bertrand, one of the substantial business men of Pana, conveniently located at No. 37 South Locust Street, is carry- ing on a large grocery establishment. He was born in Washington County, Ill., August 12, 1863, a son of John Ward and Julia A. (Shedd) Ather- ton. The father was born in Cavendish, Vt., September 2, 1830, and was a farmer who came to Illinois in 1856, and settled near Brimfield, in Peoria County, where he continued his farm-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
ing for four years. He then went to Washing- ton County, Ill., where he bought 160 acres of land from the railroad, and engaged there in farming until his death which occurred March 4, 1896. IJe experienced many of the hard- ships incident to his time and locality, and be- came a man of fine character and prominent in the councils of his neighborhood, serving as township trustee and as a member of the school board. The Methodist Church held his mem- bership. In politics he was a Democrat, and he was an Odd Fellow. The mother was born at Mt. Holly, Vt., May 10, 1835, and is now living on the old home place in Washington County, near Hoyleton. She is a Methodist. "Aunt Lizzie" Akin, a well known war nurse during the Civil War, and afterwards just as prominent as a church worker of the Second Baptist Church of Chicago, was a sister of John Ward Atherton. She was one of the pioneers of Peoria County, and the first church in that neighborhood was organized in her home. John Ward Atherton and his wife had the following children : Frank S. who was a shoe merchant of Chicago is deceased; Lizzie who died in infancy ; Mattie B. who married A. B. McCoy a real estate dealer of Washington. Ind .; Mary Ellen who married Prof. L. W. Ragland of Waverly. Ill .; Anna J. who is unmarried, lives on the home place : Cora Alta who married Dr. Walter Burgess of Pana, Ill .; and Clarence Ward who is a farmer of Clinton County, Ill.
M. B. Atherton attended the district schools of his native county, and the Southern Illinois Normal School at Carbondale, being at the latter institution for two years. He then taught school in Washington County for three years, when he was made telegrapher on the Illinois Southern Railroad, and held that position for six years. For the subsequent two years he was engaged in farming in Washington County, and then embarked in a grocery business at Pana with his father-in-law. The two remained to- gether until 1912 when Mr. Atherton bought his partner's interest and has since continued alone. Mr. Atherton has served as treasurer of the school board of Irvington Township in Washington County, being elected on the Demo- cratic ticket. He is a Master Mason, a Modern Woodman of America, and member of the Royal Arcanum and the Commercial Club. The Metho- dist Church holds his membership.
On December 28, 1899, Mr. Atherton was mar- ried at Pana, Ill., to Miss Calla Orr, a daughter of John and Martha (Jones) Orr. She was born in Pana, January S, 1877. Her father was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, and her mother was born in Shelby County, Ill., and both are now living in Pana. They are Methodists. Mr. and Mrs. Atherton have two children, namely : Martha J. who was born at Pana. November 28. 1899, is attending the Pana High school; and Everett B. who was born at Pana. November 4, 1908, is attending the graded schools of Pana. The handsome family residence at No. 207 South Spruce Street is owned by Mr. Atherton who bought it some years ago.
AUGHINBAUGH, William H., now practically retired and residing at Pana, is a heavy land- owner, in Shelby County, and a man whose busi- ness experience has been wide and varied and in different sections. He was born in Baltimore, Md., March 3, 1843, a son of John and Catherine (Fisher) Aughinbaugh, natives of York, Pa., and Baltimore, Md. They came to Illinois in 1856, locating at Hillsboro, where the father was a merchant for a time, but later became principal of the Stanton school at Macoupin. He then became interested in dealing in horses, and bought and sold them for the government, being connected with the quartermaster's department at St. Louis, Mo., during the Civil War. Return- ing to Hillsboro, he resumed his mercantile busi- ness, and was also editor and proprietor of the Hillsboro Herald for four years. He died at Oconee, Ill., October 17, 1895. The mother died in 1862. The father was a Universalist in re- ligious faith, and the mother a Presbyterian. In politics the father was a Democrat. They had seven children, namely: Amelia, Anna. William H., Levi, Catherine, Jolin and Susan.
William II. Aughinbaugh attended school at Stanton, Ill., and in the state of Alabama, and then for nine years was in a dry goods business at Stanton, Ill. During the Civil War, from 1863 up to 1866, he was connected with govern- ment work in the quartermaster's department. when he resumed mercantile operations at Stan- ton and Hillsboro, so continuing until 1876. In that year he went into a drug business at Oconee, Shelby County, Ill., and was thus en- gaged until 1904, when he moved to Pana, and has since lived practically retired. In politics he is a Democrat, and for eight years served Oconee as mayor, was postmaster and deputy for twelve years, was a justice of the peace there for sixteen years, and supervisor for twelve years, and since coming to Pana he has been a justice of the peace for twelve years. In all these offices he has displayed unusual fairness and capability. He owns 420 acres of land in Shelby County and is a man of ample means.
On January 25, 1877, Mr. Aughinbaugh was married to Mary Wilmot, of Oconee, a daughter of A. B. Wilmot, proprietor of the leading hotel of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Aughinbaugh have one daughter, Bertha J., who is at home. their son, Arthur J., who was a dentist in a western state having died December 10, 1914. In relig- ious faith he is a Methodist. A Mason in good standing Mr. Aughinbaugh has risen to high place in that fraternity. For sixteen years he was master of the lodge at Oconee, and is past high priest of the chapter at Pana. While living at Oconee he was trustee of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and has held that position at Pana for eleven years.
AUGUR, Charles A., who owns and operates 230 acres of valuable farming land in Mt. Auburn and Mosquito townships, belongs to an old and honorable family of Christian County, and lives up to the standards of his people. He is a native
MRS. JOSEPH A. MCARTHUR
JOSEPH A. MCARTHUR
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
son of the township, having been born in it July 8, 1883, a son of John Augur.
John Augur was a man who believed in rear- ing his children sensibly, so his sons were taught farming from childhood, and he had the satisfac- tion of seeing them develop into intelligent agri- culturists. Charles A. Augur went to the schools in his district, and remained at home assisting his father until 1906, when he estab- lished himself on a farm of his own. In ad- dition to his farm, he owns stock in the Farmers Elevator Company of Mt. Auburn.
On October 10, 1906, Charles A. Augur was married at Edinburg, Ill., to Alice Williams who was born in Sangamon County, Ill., Decem- ber 20, 1881, a daughter of Chester Williams of Edinburg. Mr. and Mrs. Augur have four chil- dren, namely : Margaret E., Harold W., Leah A. and Roberta L. In politics Mr. Augur is a Democrat. Although interested in the success of his party, he has never come before the public for preferment, his time being taken up with his private affairs. His personal standing and commercial rating in his community are excel- lent, and he is popular with all who know him.
AUGUR, Jesse A., owner of 290 acres of land in Mt. Auburn Township, is one of the pro- gressive young farmers of Christian County, and one of the men who are pushing this township to the front in agricultural matters. He was born in Mt. Auburn Township, March 13, 18SS, a son of John Augur.
Jesse A. Augur was reared under the same conditions which still prevail in this county, alternating attendance at the district schools, with industrious habits about the homestead, during which period he learned farming and grew to like it as a calling, so that he naturally turned toward it for his life work. His farm is a fine one, well cultivated, his improvements are modern, and he sets a good example to the neighboring farmers as to the' best methods of working land at a profit.
On November 24, 1914, Mr. Augur was united in marriage with Wilhelmina Wurl, a daughter of Ernest Wurl. Mr. and Mrs. Augur have no children. The Christian Church holds Mr. Augur's membership. In politics he is a Demo- crat, but his time has been so occupied that he has not gone into public life. Earnest, hard working and honorable, he deserves the position he has earned among his fellow citizens.
which was later rebuilt by his son, Andrew L. Augur. The latter was a prominent Democrat, who served on the county board of supervisors for two terms, and was a school trustee for thirty-three years.
John William Augur attended the schools of Mosquito Township, completing his studies at the Illinois State Normal school. Returning home he began operating his father's homestead, and by the time he was twenty-six years old he had saved sufficient money to buy 160 acres of land west of Mt. Auburn, which he has conducted ever since. For five years he was at Illiopolis, Ill., where he was president of the Illiopolis Farmers State Bank, and on returning to his farm, he retained the presidency of this bank for two years more, going once a week to Illiop- olis to attend to its affairs, but then retired from the institution. In February, 1915, he left the farm and settled in Mt. Auburn where he erected one of the finest residences in the village, or county, but retains the ownership of his land, amounting to 1,306 acres in Christian County. He is a stockholder and was president of the First National Bank of Mt. Auburn for two years.
While living in Mosquito Township, Mr. Augur was married on November 9, 1880, to Sarah E. Elliott, a daughter of William H. Elliott of Christian County, and they have three children : Nellie E., who was married to James B. Parish of Mt. Auburn Township; Charles A., who was married to Alice Williams, has four children, Margaret E., Harold W., Leah A. and Roberta ; and Jesse A., who was married to Amy W. Wurl. Mr. Augur in politics is a Prohibitionist and was road commissioner at one time. The Christian Church holds his membership, and for many years he has been an elder, in which office he has conducted seventy-three funerals. He and his wife have supported a mission at Tokyo, Japan, under W. D. Cunningham, for eight years, and they have contributed toward the mainte- nance of the Johnson Bible College at Kimberlin Heights, Tenn. Fraternally Mr. Augur is a Mason.
BANDY, William T., a prosperous farmer of section 11, Taylorville Township, is recognized as one of the successful modern agriculturalists of Christian County. He was born in Piatt County, Ill., May 20, 1SS9, a son of George L. and Louisa (Curry) Bandy. The father was born in Virginia in 1860, and the mother was born in Indiana in 1865. In 1884 the father came to Illinois, locating in Piatt County, where for a period he rented land, and then bought a farm in Goose Creek Township on which he lived for two years. He then sold his farm, and bought a farm in Taylorville Township. Subsequently he sold that, and purchased the
AUGUR, John William, a retired farmer of Mt. Auburn, and one of the leading men of Christian County, deserves more than passing mention in a history of the importance of this work. He was born near Mt. Auburn, this county, on the old Augur homestead, February 2, 1854, a son of Andrew L. and Emily (Sharp) Augur, natives of Connecticut and Ohio, who came to Christian . seventy-two acre farm now occupied by his son, County November 30, 1839. The paternal grand- father entered land in Mosquito Township, and this same property now belongs to John William Augur. On it the grandfather built a residence
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