Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II, Part 40

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Martin, Charles A. (Charles Aesop), 1857- 4n
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 720


USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 40


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William T. Bandy. His death occurred at the Taylorville Hospital in 1907 when he was forty- seven years old. The mother died in 1905 at the age of forty years. Fraternally he was a


840


HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY


member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he was a Republican, while in relig- ious matters he was a Methodist.


William T. Bandy was reared and educated in Piatt County, Ill., and learned farming under his father's instruction. Coming to Taylorville Township with his father, he remained with him, until the latter's death, when he came into possession of his present property, and has been very successful in his conduct of it.


In 1910 Mr. Bandy was married to Miss Net- tie Wolf, a daughter of George F. and Marinda (Cole) Wolf of Christian County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf reside west of Edinburg, where they are engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Bandy have three children, namely : Bernard M., Eliza- beth D. and Marcella L.


BARKER, William Sherman, a prosperous farmer of Pana Township, and one of the sub- stantial men of Christian County, was born in Randolph County, Ill., October 30, 1864. a son of LaFayette and Felicity (Leavett) Barker. The parents were born near Kaskaskia, Ill., and were farming people, who came to Christian County in 1869, where the father died at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother at the age of seventy-four years.


In 1896 William Sherman Barker moved on the farm on which he now resides, and has de- veloped a fine dairy business, his butter being his chief feature. He has customers whom he has supplied for years, who depend upon him all the year around, and has customers at pres- ent that have been taking butter for over twenty years. He erected the first silo in Pana Town- ship, and for the past few years has been growing sorghum with satisfactory results. His chief hobby is good horses and he takes quite an interest in hogs, poultry, fruit and berries, and is a genius in keeping and taking care of all kinds of machinery used on the farm. Hav- ing been educated in the local schools of the county, he is interested in the schools and gives them a cordial support.


In the spring of 1890, Mr. Barker was mar- ried to Anna .M. Hume of Christian County, a daughter of James W. Hume, and was one of two children, there being another daughter in addition to her. Mr. Barker, on the contrary, came of a large family, having three sisters and five brothers. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Barker are as follows: Bertina Marie, who was born August 10, 1896, is at home; Dewey, who was born March 14, 1898, is on the farm; Mildred Travonia, who was born February 6, 1900, is at home; Vola Fern, who was born June 28, 1901; William Sherman, Jr., who was born March 13, 1903: Bonnie Bessie, who was born September 20, 1905: Evelyn Vivien, who was born March 18, 1907 ; and Lola Lucille, who was born May 15, 1909.


BARNES, Albert G., formerly a prominent fig- ure in the business life of Taylorville, where he operated as a banker and merchant, but now de- ceased, not only succeeded in business life, but


gave great prestige to his community through his various enterprises. He was born at Harrisburg, Pa., September 4, 1835, a son of Daniel and Mar- guerite A. (Richardson) Barnes. The parents were born and were married in Pennsylvania. The father was a book binder, and at various times completed contracts for much of the state work in his line. Later on in life he became a general merchant in Pennsylvania. In 1848 he moved to Springfield, Ill., and for about eighteen months was employed there in a store, then went to Jacksonville, Ill., and for eighteen months more was in the same line of business there. For the subsequent six years he was a general mer- chant at Decatur, Ill., and then moved to Taylor- ville where he conducted a general store until his death in 1868, at the age of eighty years. The father was a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he was first a Whig, and later assisted in organizing the Republican party in Illinois. Upon coming to Taylorville he built a business block on the corner of Washington and Main streets where he had his store. The mother died in December, 1870, at the home of her son Charles G., at Taylorville, Ill., when seventy- two years old.


Albert G. Barnes was reared at Springfield, Jacksonville and Decatur, and attended the pub- lic schools. In 1855 he came to Taylorville and embarked in a clothing business, later developing this into a general mercantile establishment. In 1871 William Chamberlain, formerly with John B. Farwell of Chicago, became a partner of Mr. Barnes, the firm operating under the name of Chamberlain & Barnes. After the death of Mr. Chamberlain, his widow and Mr. Barnes sold the business to Slatton Bros., of Taylorville. In 1867 Mr. Barnes was instrumental in securing the organizing of the Christian County Bank, of which he was made president, being associated in this undertaking with Col. John Williams of Springfield. The following year Colonel Williams retired. and the bank became known as the A. G. Barnes Bank, Mr. Barnes continuing presi- dent until 1900, when it was re-organized as the Farmers National Bank, with Mr. Barnes as president, which office he held until his death in 1904. Mr. Barnes was a Knight Templar Mason, and was a member of the Eastern Star. The Presbyterian Church held his membership, and profited by his liberality. A tenor singer of some power he gave his services to the church choir and delighted many with his fine voice. In politics he was a Republican.


On August 28, 1861, Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Henrietta Branson, a daughter of Benja- min and Mary (Thompson) Branson, natives of Kentucky who moved from Kentucky to Sanga- mon County, Ill., where Mr. Branson engaged in farming and stockraising for a number of years, but later located at Taylorville, after a short stay at Jacksonville. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bran- son died at Taylorville. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes became the parents of five children, as follows : Benjamin L .. Albert F., Mary Henrietta Banks, Clara Mae Adams, and William Edwin. In the death of Mr. Barnes, Taylorville lost one of its


No Mebluskup & Family


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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY


most useful men and business circles a valued adjunct.


BARRETT, Charles P., junior member of the firm of W. H. Barrett and Bro., of Owaneco, is one of the prosperous business men of Chris- tian County. He was born on his father's farm in Locust Township, February 11, 1872, a son ot Andrew and Margaret (Kinney) Barrett, natives of Ireland, who came to Locust Town- ship about 1868. Here they lived until they retired in the fall of 1892. She died May 18, 1904, when seventy years old, and he died April 18, 1906, when seventy-three years old. They had ten children, as follows: Charlotte, who died when two years old; George F .; Eliza J., who is the wife of A. P. Simpson, oť Rosa- mond Township; William Henry, who resides at Owaneco; Albert H., who is a farmer of Locust Township ; Adelaide, who is the wife of E. E. McVicker, of Johnson Township; John E., who is a farmer of Lake County, Iowa ; Maggie, who is the wife of J. S. Eaton, of Owaneco; Mattie, who is the wife of C. E. Denton of Billings, Okla .; and Charles P.


Charles P. Barrett was reared and educated in Locust Township, and he later attended the commercial department of the Kentucky Uni- versity. Following his graduation he took a position as stenographer and bookkeeper at Louisville, Ky., where he remained from April, 1893, to February, 1900. In that month and year he went to Princeton, Ind., to become bookkeeper in a flouring mill, remaining there until November, 1903, when he returned to Owaneco, and became associated with his brother William H., in their present firm. They have a large trade and are looked up to and respected as they deserve to be.


Charles P. Barrett was married at Princeton, Ind., to Miss Annie Liles, who was born October 30, 1880, in Kentucky, and they have a son, Charles P., Jr., born Sept. 9, 1913. Mr. Barrett owns 180 acres of land in Locust Township which he rents to a tenant. A man of sterling integrity, and uprightness of character, he has firmly established himself in the confidence of his fellow citizens, and his success is well merited.


BARRETT, William Henry, senior member of the firm of W. H. Barrett & Bro .. is one of the leading men of Owaneco. and his house stands for honorable dealing and fair prices. He was born in Bureau County. Ill., December 19, 1858, a son of Andrew and Margaret (Kenney) Bar- rett, natives of Ireland, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work.


When he was about ten years old Mr. Bar- rett's parents came to Christian County, and here he was reared attending the schools of Locust Township. In 1SSO he went to Millersville. Ill .. and for two years was in the employ of W. W. Denton, and then came to Owaneco and was engaged in grain buying from 1882 to 1889 for Price & Wilkinson. In the latter year he em- barked in business for himself buying grain and


hogs, remaining alone until 1893 when he formed a partnership with his brother George F., which continued until the latter's business was bought by Charles P., and the firm has since operated under the name of W. H. Barrett & Bro., and the elevator they operate was built by them in 1905. They deal in grain, hay, coal, grass seed and agricultural implements.


Mr. Barrett was married in Locust Township December 30, 1886, to Josephine Winters, born in Illinois, a daughter of F. M. Winters. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett have four children as follows: Vera, who is the wife of Robert Evans ; Beatrice, who is the wife of G. M. Long; Francis and Mar- cella. A man of prominence, Mr. Barrett has been township clerk, village trustee and election commissioner. He was one of the members of the first board of trustees of Owaneco, and from then on has taken a lively interest in the prog- ress of the village. In a political sense he is a Republican, but he is broadminded enough to' look always toward the election of good men to office. Much of the building activity in Owan- eco has been backed by Mr. Barrett and he is the leading spirit in advancing the place in every way.


BARRET, Zach Wood, a farmer of Edinburg, and a man of prominence in the county, was born in Mt. Auburn Township, this county, Oct- ober 23, 1871, a son of Daniel T. and Maria E. (McKenzie) Barret. The father was born at Greensburg, Ky., September 1, 1839, and the mother was born in Mt. Auburn Township, Christian County, February 8, 1837. When a young man the father left Kentucky and on coming to Illinois, located near Macon Station, in Macon County, where he operated land for a number of years, but subsequently moved to Mt. Auburn Township, Christian County, and bought land, adding to his original purchase until he owned 200 acres. There he spent the remainder of his life, dying July 27, 1892, aged sixty-two years. The mother died on the farm December 5, 1885. The mother's parents were natives of Ohio who came to Illinois at an early day, locat- ing in Mt. Auburn Township, and here they lived for a number of years. The maternal grand- father died at Grove City, Ill., December 29, 1891, to which he had moved upon his retire- ment. The maternal grandmother died at Edin- burg, April 8, 1907.


Zach W. Barret spent his boyhood in Mt. Au- burn Township and attended its schools. After the death of his father, he bought out the other heirs, and became the owner of the old home- stead of 120 acres, and he also owns twenty acres of land near Decatur, Ill. His farm near Decatur is operated for dairy purposes. Addi- tionally he owns a comfortable residence in Edin- burg.


On October 27, 1892, Mr. Barret was married to Miss Nettie Jones, born May 2, 1874, a daugh- ter of Thomas J. and Frances D. (Phillip) Jones, natives of Macoupin County, Ill. The grandparents came to Illinois in an early day, from Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Barret have


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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY


one child, Alberta Lee, who was born November 4, 1895. She was graduated from the Decatur High school in the class of 1914 and later attended Lombard College, at Galesburg, Ill., being a member of the graduating class of June, 1917. In politics Mr. Barret is a Demo- crat. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masons and Modern Woodmen. Both he and wife belong to the Eastern Star and Mrs. Bar- ret also to the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Barret is a man of sound principles and broad ideas and he has forged ahead and his prosperity is well deserved.


BARTLETT, Lewis F., a retired farmer of Mt. Auburn and owner of 600 acres of fine land in Mosquito and Mt. Auburn townships, is one of the wealthy men of Christian County. He was born in Mississippi, December 22, 1849, a son of Elijah and Marcella Bartlett. When he was two years old, Mr. Bartlett had the misfortune to lose his father, and the widowed mother brought him to Illinois about 1856. She was married (second) to Peleg Hooper and Mr. Bartlett re- sided with his mother and stepfather until he was twenty-two years old, when he went to Kan- sas, there taking up a land claim on which he spent a year. He then traded it for Illinois land upon which he settled as a farmer. In addition to general farming, he carried on an extensive stock business for many years, remain- ing actively engaged along both lines until 1905. when he retired to Mt. Auburn, which has since continued his home, and he has invested quite extensively in Mt. Auburn town property.


Mr. Bartlett was married at Decatur, Ill., to Sarah M. Cannon, of Christian County. Mrs. Bartlett is a consistent member of the Christian Church. A Mason in good standing, Mr. Bartlett is active in the local lodge of his order. Having spent so many years in the county, he remembers conditions which were distinctively pioneer. At one time when traveling from Grove City, seven deer jumped up before him, and he saw deer at other tinies in the vicinity of Mt. Auburn, and elsewhere throughout the county. To the present generation it seems difficult to realize that in the comparatively short time that has elapsed the country should have made such rapid pro- gress, but it has been because of men of Mr. Bartlett's calibre. It is well for those who are benefitting through the work of their elders, to realize that civilization and improvement are never developed without sacrifice and effort, and that they owe a very considerable debt to those who smoothed the way. No citizen of Christian County stands higher than Mr. Bartlett.


BATES. William Henry, one of the leading farmers of Bear Creek Township, is conveniently located on section 33, where he owns eighty-five acres. He was born in Jersey County, Ill., near Jerseyville, August 17, 1854. a son of Benjamin Bates. The father was born in New Jersey and the mother in Ohio ; they were married in Jersey County, Ill. When he was a small boy the father left Ohio and was brought to Jersey


County, Ill., by his parents, who died there. The father made several changes until he finally located in Jersey County permanently, and there died. The mother died July 25, 1900, in Oklahoma at the home of her son, Benjamin.


William Henry Bates spent his boyhood in King Township, where he attended the schools of the neighborhood. After attaining to man's estate, he first rented land, and then in 1892 bought his present farm. In addition he oper- ates other land, and is very successful in his operations.


On December 9, 1883, Mr. Bates was married at Palmer, Ill .. to Miss Viola Deardorff, of Cot- ton Hill Township, Sangamon County, who was born October 20, 1861, a daughter of William II. and Sarah B. (Ham) Deardorff, natives of Cot- ton Hill Township and Ohio, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Bates became the parents of five chil- dren as follows: Cora, who was born December 15, 1884, married John Gifford, and they have two daughters-Opal and Velma ; Roy, who was born August 19, 1886, died at the age of eighteen vears, January 1, 1905, and was buried in the Palmer Cemetery ; Fay, who was born March 23, 1890, married Otis L. Mayberry, issue-Viola, Leroy, who died in infancy and is buried in the Carter Cemetery, Dryfork, Va., and Helen Marie, born in Indianapolis, Ind., November 19, 1917; Pearl, who was born January 25, 1892, died in infancy, September 25, 1892, and is buried in the Palmer Cemetery; and Cecil, who was born March 26, 1896, married Lola Sarginson. In pol- itics Mr. Bates is a Democrat and has been a school director and road commissioner and capa- ble in both offices for many years. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Bates belongs to the Royal Neighbors. His home is a fine one and his farm is consid- ered as one of the most valuable in the town- ship.


BATES, Zura F., who for many years was one of the substantial farmers of Locust Township, was born in Sangamon County, Ill., January 12, 1836, a son of Oliver and Charity (Buckman) Bates, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively. In 1833 they came to Illinois, and this state continued to be their home until death claimed them, the father passing away in April, 1865, and the mother in March, 1873.


During his boyhood. Zura F. Bates attended the schools in his district, and helped his father with the farm work, and after he attained man- hood, he remained with his father until he was thirty-three years old. At that time he hired a farm in Locust Township consisting of 300 acres of land, to which he added until he has 342 acres, all of which was in prime condition, well tiled and improved. During the years he lived in this township he developed into one of its most representative men, and the Democrats of this district elected him to represent it on the county board of supervisors for six or seven years. For years he was a member of the Owan- eco Lodge No. 623, A. F. & A. M.


Mr. Bates was married October 13, 1868, to


Jannes Ane Ebay


me Eelion


Susan


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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY


Mrs. Joanna S. Ellis, a daughter of J. H. and Catherine Murray, of Ohio, and they became the parents of the following children: Roxanna, Mrs. L. G. Grundy, of Taylorville; Marie, Mrs. C. S. Simmons, of Wimbledon, N. D .; Josephine, Mrs. D. B. Schrantz, of Helena, Ark .; Z. F. Bates, of Owaneco; Oliver C .; Hattie E., who married G. E. Ritacher, of New Holland, Ill .; Harry E., who lives with his mother and brother, Oliver C., on the farm; Charles C., who died at the age of twenty years; and Eliza- beth A., who died at the age of one year. Mr. Bates died September 21, 1906, and Locust Town- ship and Christian County suffered thereby a loss, for he was a good citizen, an upright man and faithful friend. The Masonic lodge had charge of the funeral, and interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Taylorville. Mrs. Bates is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


BAUGHMAN, Sherman E., who was one of the leading business men of Taylorville, witlı inter- ests many and varied, was perhaps best known as a miller and implement dealer. He was born in Summit County, Ohio, April 2, 1840, a son of David and Elizabeth (Blocker) Baughman. natives of Allentown. Lehigh County, Pa., and Ohio, respectively. The Baughman family is of old Maryland stock. The father was a farmer in Summit County, Ohio, to which section he came in 1828 when it was all a wilderness, and he continued an active farmer to within a year of his death which occurred December 25, 1891. The mother died in 1902.


Sherman E. Baughman attended school in the little red schoolhouse thirteen miles north of Cleveland, in a rural district, at a time when there was not a railroad anywhere near. He remembered reading descriptions of railroads in his geography, and also of the excitement pre- vailing when many of the older men of his com- munity went to California during the latter part of 1849. and the early fifties. Until 1864 he was employed on the homestead, but in the following year he came to Illinois and bought land in Buck- hart Township, Christian County, moving to his farm in February of the following year, shipping all his farm implements, stock and household goods by rail. The old stage coach line that used to connect with Pittsburgh, Pa., ran right by his old Ohio home. For three years following his arrival in Buckhart Township, he was en- gaged in farming, and then, having freed him- self from debt, he sold and bought another farm in Stonington Township. This he put in first class order, fencing and draining the fields and continued to operate the property until 1881 when he moved to Taylorville and went into an agricultural implement business. continuing it until 1900. He took his sons into the business with him, giving each one $1.000 for a start in life. Branches were established at Mt. Auburn, Stonington and Palmer, but these have since been sold. This business has been developed to large proportions and has been a great success. In 1911 Mr. Baughman with his two sons bought the mill owned by Wilkinson, and named it the


Ora Home Milling Company of Taylorville, when he took possession in June, 1911. This company docs a general milling business and manufac- tures all kinds of flour, including buckwheat, but the specialties are the Ora Home and Star Home brands of flour and very popular. The above are brands of hard wheat flour. Several soft wheat brands are, the Golden Crown and Try Me. Over 100,000 bushels of wheat are han- dled annually, and none but the best grades of wheat are used. A very large feed trade is also handled, and the company ships an immense amount of hay, so that all in all, Mr. Baughman and his sons became very important factors in the milling industry in this locality. In ad- dition to his other business transactions, in 1868 Mr. Baughman bought eighty acres of Illinois Central railroad land for $10 per acre, which he broke, fenced and tiled, and then sold to Henry Decker, in 1895, for $93.75 per acre without buildings. In addition he owned all of Section 7, Stonington Township.


On November 20. 1862, Mr. Baughman was married (first) to Eliza Seiberling, who died in 1885, leaving the following children : Rhoda Ann Anson, who died in 1892. Hattie Rosetta, Samuel Sherman, Katie Elizabeth, Carrie Eliza and Warren W. In 1899 Mr. Baughman was married (second) to Maranda Ellen Tarrant. and they have one daughter, Brilliant Pearl. Mr. Baugh- man was a member of the Reformed Church. After about three months of illness, Mr. Baugh- man passed away, on September 8, 1916.


BENEPE, Seth, one of the successful farmers of Assumption Township, owns and operates a fine farm on Section 36, one mile north and a little east of the city of Assumption. He was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 18, 1845, a son of Seth and Sarah (Howe) Benepe. Seth Benepe was born in the same county as his son, and there his father, who was a physician of some note and a native of Geneva, Switzer- land, had located. He was of French origin, and his wife was of Welsh descent. Sarah Howe Benepe was born in the same Ohio county as her husband and son. Her father was of Englishi descent and her mother of Pennsylvania Dutch origin. Seth Benepe, Sr., and Sarah Howe were reared in their native county, where they were married and lived there until 1851, when they came to Illinois, in wagons, and settled near Owaneco, a portion of their farm being now included in the town. Here they lived until the spring of 1867, when they sold and came to Assumption Township, and the elder Seth Benepe bought a half section of land, which he improved and lived on until he moved to Assumption. In 1873 he went to Nebraska, where he died in 1908, when aged ninety-one years and two months. Seth and Sarah (Howe) Benepe had nine children, three of whom died in infancy, and three later on in life, three only now sur- viving, they being as follows: Seth ; Frank. who lives at Bozeman. Mont .; and Anna, who is the widow of Oliver McDaniel, of Chicago, Ill. Seth Benepe was a Mason, and he and his wife be-


844


HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY


longed to the Christian Church. In politics he was a Republican and he served as a magistrate in Locust Township for a few years.


Seth Benepe, Jr., attended the Owaneco schools, and took a course at Eureka College, Eureka, Ill. Until 1868 he remained at home, and then went to Oconee, Shelby County, Ill., where he was in a hardware business until 1869. Selling out there he then came to Assump- tion, and in the spring of 1870 moved on his present farm where he has since resided, being engaged in raising a good grade of stock, and general farming.


On May 17, 1868, he was married to Anna L. Edwards, a daughter of Nathan Edwards. Mrs. Benepe was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, and losing her mother when she was quite young, she was reared by others, and came with the family of William Johnson to Owaneco. Her deatlı occurred October 24, 1911, she having borne her husband ten children, of whom nine reached maturity, namely: Sadie, who lives in Chicago ; William, who is with his father; Harry, who lives at Bozeman, Mont .; Frank, who also lives at Bozeman, Mont .; Edith, who is the wife of Charles Follett, lives at Maywood, Ill .; Daisy Clark, who lives in Chicago, Ill .; Ariel, who is the wife of Charles Miller, lives at Charleston, Ill .; Agatha, who is the wife of Cameron Over- bagh, lives in Chicago, Ill .; and Garth, who is on the homestead. The family belong to the Chris- tian Church in which Mr. Benepe has served as a member of the official board. Although independent in his political views, as a reliable citizen he has been chosen for office and he has served three different terms as a justice of the peace, and as school director for many years. He is now in his sixth year as secretary of the Assumption Mutual Fire Insurance Company. His 160 acres of land are in prime condition and very valuable, the increase having come partly from the natural advance in land prices, but largely from the improvements he has put upon his property for he is an excellent farmer and good manager, and his premises show that he takes a pride in his surroundings.




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