USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 41
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BERRY, Robert E., a substantial retired farmer and desirable citizen of Edinburg, was born near Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1823, a son of George D. and Elizabeth Berry. The parents were born in the same place as their son, and were there married. When the father came to Illinois he located in Gallatin County, leaving it later for Texas. The mother died in Illinois.
Robert E. Berry early became self support- ing and worked in southern Illinois about two years, and later in Sangamon and Christian counties. Not only did lie do farm work, but as he was very apt in the use of tools, he was engaged in building operations, and also cut down trees and made pumps out of logs. When he was eighteen years old he secured a position with Timothy Driscol, of Sangamon County, on his farm in Cotton Hill Township, and in 1851 he bought his employer's farm, and conducted it
until 1857, when he bought another farm that included the site of the postoffice and railroad station of what was Berry, Ill., and the land was bought from him for this purpose, he becom- ing the first postmaster. Subsequently he lived one and one-half miles east of the South Fork log schoolhouse. He remembers the excitement attending the meetings held by Abraham Lin- coln, John Webber, Preston Breckinridge and with others he signed the pledge against using intoxicants. In 1881 he moved to Edinburg, and opened a general store that he conducted for about five years, and for about twenty years he was a justice of the peace. He still owns about 315 acres of land, as well as several city blocks and lots in Edinburg.
On September 8, 1850, Mr. Berry was married to Elizabeth Ann Stokes, who died not long afterward. They had one daughter, Amanda M., who died, aged six years. On October 8, 1856. Mr. Berry was married (second) to Sophia Bar- ger, who died March 10, 1877. Mr. Barry was married (third) to Iva N. Winslow, on February 7. 1878, who died November 22, 1902. By his second marriage, Mr. Berry had seven children, namely : William W., Benjamin F .; Frances M., a twin of Benjamin F., who died June 1, 1864; Emory D .; Mrs. Dr. Powell, and Charles E., who died July 31, 1914; Laura E., who died February 7, 1877. By his third marriage he had two children, namely; Arthur L., and Mrs. H. L. Richardson. Arthur L. Berry was married in 1904 to Miss Hester Whitehead, a daughter of John T. and Nellie Whitehead, natives of Edin- burg and Crawfordsville, Ill. A. L. Berry and his wife have two children, namely : Mabyn L., and Robert E.
Mr. Berry has seen many changes in his long life. It is interesting to note among other things that he can recall, the relative importance of land and manufactured articles in the early days. Mr. Berry was once offered forty acres of land for one of the pumps he had made by hand.
BEYERS, Frank A., a farmer of more than ordinary success in his operations, owns and operates a fine farm on section 30, Pana Town- ship. He was born in Scioto County, Ohio, June 16, 1858, a son of John and Serena (Shep- pard) Beyers. The father was born in Ger- many but came to the United States when twen- ty-four years old, locating in Ohio, where for eleven years he worked at the Franklin Fur- nace, and then bought a farm where he re- mained for two years. Trading his farm for another one in Illinois, he came here. The parents had six sons and one daughter. The latter was accidentally drowned.
In 1882 the father gave Frank A. Beyers eighty acres of his present farm, to which he later added one hundred and twenty-one acres, and his property admittedly has some of the best soil to be found in the state, and on it he is carrying on general farming with desirable results.
On November 8, 1882, Mr. Beyers was mar-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
ried to Minna Gudehus who was born in Eliza- bethtown, Ky., she being one in a family of eleven children. The Gudehus family came from Kentucky to Pana, Ill., in 1862.
Mr. and Mrs. Beyers have six children, as fol- lows: Sarah, who was born August 26, 1883, was married to Frank Lehn, a farmer of Oconee, Shelby County, Ill .; William Lewis, who was horn August 12, 1884, was married to Rose Cummerford, is a farmer and has two chil- dren; Frank E., who was born November 24, 1891, was married to Clara Cummerford, and is a farmer; Paul LeRoy, who was born August 25, 1896, is on the homestead ; Lawrence Fred- erick, who was born October 21, 1900; and Ray- mond Joseph, who was born June 20, 1905. Mr. Beyers is a Catholic. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and he has served as a school director. Live, enterprising, and a man of experience, his advice is sought by those who seek to profit by his knowledge of agricultural matters, and he stands well in his community.
BEYERS, Henry, for many years was one of the leading farmers of Pana Township, and a man of high standing in his community. He was born at Ironton, Ohio, December 12, 1851, a son of John and Sarah (Sheplierd) Beyers, and one of a family of seven sons and one daughter. The daughter and two of the sons are now deceased, as are both of the parents, the father passing away in 1897, and the mother in 1906.
When he was sixteen years old, Henry Beyers came to Christian County, and worked for his father on his farm until he was thirty-one years old, at which time he began farming on his own account and so continued on the same place until his death, which occurred May 29, 1907. He is buried in the Calvary Cemetery.
In 1882 Mr. Beyers was married to Mary Endris, of southern Indiana, a daughter of Adam John Endris, and they became the parents of four children, as follows : Cecelia Serena, who was born January 24, 1884, is the wife of George Gudehus, and has five children, Olive, Mary, Cecelia, Victor and Margaret, and lives at Pana, Ill .; Herman Ludwig, who was born October 21, 1887, is a carpenter and builder of Pana. He married Sarah Shanks and has four children, Henry, Harold and Dorothy and an in- fant son ; Arthur Edward, who was born January 27, 1890, conducts the old homestead and was married to Gertrude Kastelliner, of Indiana, and has two children, Lloyd Albert and an infant daughter; and Henry Clement, who was born May 26. 1897, is a graduate of the Pana Town- ship High school and also of the Michigan Automobile school. Mr. Beyers was a member of the Catholic Church. In politics he was a Democrat, serving as a school director for sev- eral years. In every respect he was a good citizen, and lived up to his obligations, and according to high principles. Mrs. Beyers sur- vives.
BEYERS, Joseph D., one of the heavy land- owners of Christian County, and a man whose
experiments have proven of value to his asso- ciates, is engaged in farming in Pana Town- ship. He was born in Scioto County, Ohio, March 26, 1856, a son of John and Sarah (Shep- hard) Beyers. The parents, who are both de- ceased, were of German descent, and had seven sons and one daughter.
Coming from Ohio to Illinois in young man- hood, Joseph D. Beyers located on what was known as the old Beyers homestead. He fea- tures wheat, during 1915 raising 2,850 bushels, but has also marketed as high as 5,000 bushels of corn, which was his crop during 1915. While he owns 305 acres of land in section 18, Pana Township, Mrs. Beyers owns eighty acres in Oconee Township, Shelby County. Believing in utilizing modern improvements and machin- ery, Mr. Beyers does his plowing with a trac- tion engine, and his other operations are carried on accordingly.
On May 1, 1883, Mr. Beyers was married to Wilhemina Eckholt, of Bloomington, Ill., a daughter of John Eckholt. Mr. and Mrs. Beyers have the following children: Elizabeth, who was born January 30, 1884, married Michael Kuhn, lives at Pana, and has two sons and two daughters; John William, who was born Feb- ruary 15, 1886, is a farmer of North Dakota ; Bernard, who was born March 18, 18SS, is a traction expert and lives on the homestead ; Clara, who was born November 25. 1894, lives at home; Willford, who was born February 18, 1898, is on the homestead; Loretta, who was born April 30, 1901; Leo E., who was born May 8, 1903 ; and Francis, who was born September 19, 1907. These children have all been edu- cated in the home schools. Mr. Beyers is a Catholic, belonging to St. Patrick's Church. In politics he is a Democrat. His methods and ex- periments result in an advance in agricultural standing, and his example is followed by a num- ber of his neighbors who realize that he is farm- ing in a modern and scientific manner.
Some of Mr. Beyers' recollections of pioneer days are so interesting that they are given here- with. When he was a boy in Ohio, grain was cut with cradles and sickles and threshed with hand flails, there being no threshing machines. When his father bought the first mowing machine and the first reaper in that part of the state, great excitement prevailed. Oxen were used to a great extent for hauling. they being shod like horses, only two shoes were put on each foot, and they were drawn up in a sling while the shoes were being put on. As many as twelve yoke of oxen were sometimes used to draw wagons from twenty-five to thirty feet in length and six to seven feet in depth, in which coal was transported a long distance. His father kept the landing at Franklin Iron Furnace, on the Ohio River and delivered the freight from the steamboat landing up the river to the Franklin Furnace and used to hitch a team of horses and a yoke of oxen to a load of freight, the horses being in front and the oxen in the rear. Over- coats were not then made, and the boots were heavy and hard on the feet. Pop corn had never
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
been heard of in those days. His family went nine miles to church over a sand ridge called Dogwood Ridge to a place called Lick Run. Dur- ing the Civil War, he often saw boatloads of sol- diers going past on the Ohio River, and when the Confederate General Morgan returned to Kentucky from his sensational raid, his men were a day in passing Mr. Beyer's father's home.
BILYEU, Josiah, a very successful farmer of Prairieton Township, owns a fine farm of 160 acres situated on Section 10. He was born onl the old J. S. Bilyeu farm in this township, Feb- ruary 22, 1859, a son of J. S. and Malinda ( Work- man) Bilyeu. The parents were early settlers of Prairieton Township, where the father entered land from the government, and on it he and his wife lived the rest of their lives. To his original farm he further added until he had 700 acres of land. He was prominent in the township as a Democrat, being elected to a number of offices. The Christian Church held his member- ship. He was the father of fifteen children, namely : John H., who is a farmer of Kansas; Mary, who is the wife of David Workman; Stephen, who is deceased; Josiah; Peter, Martha, Elizabeth, and George, all of whom are deceased; Hiram, who is a farmer of Prairie- ton Township; Edward, who is a farmer of Prairieton Township; Lydia, who is the wife of William Workman; Isaac, who is living on the homestead ; and three who died in infancy.
Josiah Bilyeu grew up on his father's home- stead, and attended the district schools, remain- ing at home until his marriage which occurred October 17, 1900, when he was united with Mary E. Lawrence. She was born on the farm now occupied by J. H. Lawrence, in Prairieton Town- ship, May 29, 1875, a daughter of A. B. and Nancy (Bilyeu) Lawrence, and lived at home until her marriage. A. B. Lawrence was born in New Jersey, and was the only one of his family to come to Illinois, he reaching this state when he was nineteen years old. At first he worked for the farmers of Prairieton Town- ship by the month, but after his marriage at the age of twenty-one years, he rented and then bought land. After a season spent in Texas, he returned to Christian County, and is now living in retirement. His wife was born in Sangamon County, Ill., a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Workman) Bilyeu. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence had seven children: George, who died at the age of two years; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Henry Zeigler of Decatur, Ill. : Hannah, who is the widow of Clem Scribner, lives at Moweaqua, Ill. ; Essie, who is deceased, was the wife of Jerry McNeil, of Prairieton Township: Mrs. Bilyeu; Camilla, who is de- ceased, was the wife of Sydney Morton of Prairieton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Bilyeu located on their present farm after their mar- riage, and here Mr. Bilyeu raises thoroughbred cattle, specializing on shorthorn. Mr. and Mrs. Bilyeu have had four children, namely: Harold J., Halden B., Camilla. and Leona, the last two being now deceased. He belongs to the Chris-
tian Church of Moweaqua, and politically is a Democrat.
BILYEU, Isaac, one of the enterprising farmers of Prairieton Township, owns 160 acres of val- uable land, and breeds Short Horn cattle, Clys- dale horses, and a good grade of other stock. He was born on the farm he now owns, Sep- tember 18, 1879, a son of J. S. and Malinda (Workman) Bilyeu. J. S. Bilyeu was born in Miller County, Mo., January 21, 1834, and died January 1, 1915. The mother was born in Illinois, in 1836, a daughter of Stephen Work- man. She was married January 22, 1854, and died March 21, 1913. Early in their married life the parents came to Christian County, where the father became quite prominent, hold- ing a number of township offices, being elected on the Democratic ticket, and he was a mem- ber of the Christian Church. He and his wife had seven children who are now living, the other eight having died : John H., J., who lives in Kansas; Mary A., who is the wife of David Workman; Josiah, who is a farmer of Prairie- ton Township; Lydia, who is the wife of Wil- liam Workman of Prairieton Township; Ed- mond, who is a farmer of Prairieton Township; Hiram, who is also a farmer of Prairieton Township; and Isaac.
Isaac Bilyeu was reared upon his present farm and attended the local schools, and the Eureka College and Brown's Business College at Decatur, Ill. Returning home he engaged in farming and has followed that line of endeavor ever since with very gratifying results. Mr. Bilyeu was married to Maude M. Gorden, a daughter of John M. Gorden of Prairieton Township. She was born in this township and attended its schools. Mr. and Mrs. Bilyeu have three children, namely : Herschell G., who was born November 15, 1906; Bernice A., who was born October 22, 1908; and Ramona W., who was born July 20, 1911. The family belong to the Christian Church at Moweaqua, Ill. Mr. Bilyeu also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and in political faith, is a Democrat. His party nominated him for township clerk and he was elected by an excellent majority, and served very acceptably in that office.
BOADEN, William, a highly respected retired farmer who is living at Edinburg, after a life of strenuous endeavor, was born in Devonshire, England, November 13, 1850, a son of William and Ann (Bryant) Boaden. The parents were born in Devonshire, England, where the father spent his life engaged in farming, dying at the age of eighty-eight years and three months. The mother died in 1899, aged seventy-eight years.
William Boaden left England May 17, 1871, for the United States, via Quebec, Windsor, On- tario, Canada. Passing over into this country to Detroit. Mich., he made his way to Chicago. From there he came to Springfield, Ill., and thence to South Fork Township, Christian County. Here he worked on farms by the month for six years, and then in 1877, began renting
Jannes following
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
land in South Fork Township, being thus en- gaged in farming rented land until 1879, when he went to Bear Creek Township, and there in 1883, he bought 280 acres of land, on which he moved in 1884. After operating this farm for twenty-two years, in 1906 he retired to Edin- burg, and has since made it his home. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, while religiously he is an Episcopalian.
In 1879 Mr. Boaden was married to Miss Sina Sanders, a daughter of William and Elinor (Peek) Sanders of Pawnee, Sangamon County, Ill., the former of whom was born in Sanga- inon County, and the latter in Kentucky. For some years Mr. Sanders operated forty acres of land near Pawnee, Ill., and then sold and bought 280 acres in South Fork Township, where . he died at the age of forty-eight years. The mother survives and makes her home at Taylor- ville. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Boa- (len was a native of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Boaden have three children, namely : Manford, Frank and Earl. Mrs. Boaden's grandfather, Elijah Sanders owned the land now occupied by the city of Springfield at one time, when St. Louis was the nearest market, and very primi- tive pioneer conditions prevailed. The Sanders family is a very old one in this part of the state and its representatives stand high in pub- lic estimation.
BOLL, Lawrence Jacob, a prosperous farmer of Stonington Township, was born in Macon County, Ill., March 7, 1875, a son of Philip Boll, the birth of whom occurred in Germany, Feb- ruary 27, 1840. The mother was born at Ma- comb, Ill., October 2. 1845. The father came to the United States in 1854, locating at Lincoln, Ill., and farmed in that vicinity until 1860, when he moved to Macon County, and continued farming until 1877, when in that year he took up his residence on section 5, Stonington Town- ship.
Until he was nineteen years old Lawrence Boll attended the public schools, and worked for his father until he rented land owned by him. He continues to conduct his father's prop- erty and is very successful in his work. A Democrat in politics he has held several offices, having been a school director during 1910 and 1911, and road commissioner during 1914. The Holy Trinity Catholic Church holds his mem- bership.
On January 15, 1900, Mr. Boll was married to Elizabeth May, a daughter of Adam and Bernadine May, the former born December 6, 1839, and the latter January 9, 1836. Mr. May resides at Taylorsville, but Mrs. May died in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Boll have had the fol- lowing children: Vincent Lawrence, who was born September 14, 1903; Marie Katherine, who was born October 31, 1905; Thelma Frances, who was born April 14, 1907; and John Adam, who was born May 1, 1915: also one child who died in infancy. Mr. Boll is a wide awake farmer and keeps his property in a model con-
dition. Recognized as an authority upon mat- ters pertaining to his calling his advice is often sought by his neighbors.
BOTTRELL, Clarence, now engaged in general farming on section 6, Mosquito Township, is one of the substantial farmers of Christian County, and one who stands very high in pub- lic opinion. He was born in Cass County, Ill., October 18, 1870, a son of Daniel Bottrell. The family came to Christian County at an early date, the father investing in considerable land in Mosquito Township. The son farms at pres- ent 361 acres, of which he owns 116 acres, the balance being still owned by the father. It was on this farm, that Clarence Bottrell grew to manhood, and has spent his life ; during his boy- hood he attended the public schools of his dis- trict.
On January 30, 1901, he was married to Agnes Long, born February 4, 1876, in Chris- tian County, Ill. and they have the following children : Fred W., born Nov. 21, 1901; Roy J., born March 1, 1904; Agnes M., born July 19, 1906; Hubert and Herbert (twins) born Febru- ary 27, 1909; Helen, born August 3, 1911; and Orville, born August 27, 1914, all of whom are at home. In politics he is a Democrat and is now holding the office of school director. In addition to his land, he owns stock in the Mount Auburn Bank and the Mount Auburn Elevator Company. A man of the highest possible char- acter, he is interested in the development of his locality, and is a splendid type of the self- reliant younger generation of this county. Mrs. Bottrell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
BOTTRELL, Harry S., a prosperous farmer of Section 22, Mt. Auburn Township, owns and operates eighty acres of as fine land as can be found in Christian County. He was born in Mosquito Township, September 5, 1877, a son of Sampson and Elizabeth (Dunn) Bottrell.
Growing up in his native township, Harry S. Bottrell attended its schools, and remained at home until 1899 and worked on various farms until 1900 when he began farming for himself, and has developed a valuable property. In addi- tion to his farm, he owns stock in the Mt. Auburn Farmers Elevator and Grain Company.
On March 13, 1900, Mr. Bottrell was married to Ella Greer, a daughter of John A. Greer, and they have had four children, namely : Howard G., born February 25, 1901; Vernon S., born January 29, 1906; one who died in infancy, November 30, 1903, and Donald Harry, who was . born April 7, 1917. Howard G. Bottrell made the best grade and received the Normal School scholarship from his district, ranking third in the county from the eighth grade. Mr. Bottrell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican. Sound, reliable and hardworking, Mr. Bottrell stands well with his associates, and is a man of comfort- able means.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
BOWLES, Albert, one of the progressive farmers of Locust Township, lives at Owaneco, and is regarded as a valuable addition to this community. He was born near Jacksonville, Ill., August 26, 1858, a son of James M. and Delilalı (Hoel) Bowles, natives of Wheeling, W. Va., and Ohio, respectively. The parents came to Morgan County, Ill .. about 1856, and lived there until the close of the Civil War, when they removed to Christian County, locat- ing about twelve miles west of Taylorville, where the father died in September, 1907, when seventy- six years old. The mother survives. For two years prior to the Civil War, the father car- ried the mail between Springfield and Virginia, Ill. He and his wife had five sons and one daughter, Albert Bowles being the third child in order of birth.
From the time he was eight years old Albert Bowles was reared in Christian County, and has made it his home with the exception of three and one-half years he spent in Kansas. His life has been devoted to farming and stock rais- ing, and now owns 240 acres of land in Locust Township. In 1906 he located at Owaneco, but still continues to operate his farmi. He is a man who has always taken an active part in public affairs, and has been very active in the work of the Methodist Church, of which he is a valued member.
On February 22, 1883, Mr. Bowles was mar- ried to Miss Catherine J. Maguire who was born in Pike County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Bowles have a daughter, Effa C., who is the wife of Ralph Leach, and they have one child, Myron Albert. In addition to their own daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Bowles have reared a boy and two girls. For many years Mr. Bowles has been a school director, but otherwise has not de- sired public preferment. Starting out in life with nothing, he has made all he possesses through his own efforts. Fraternally he is a Mason, and stands high in that order.
BOYD, James M., was formerly an agricultur- alist of Christian County and later in life re- sided at Palmer, and he is remembered as an excellent citizen and upright man. He was born in Christian County, Ky., November 5, 1838, a son of Alfred and Zella (McCormick) Boyd. The father was born in North Carolina in 1809, but later went to Kentucky, from whence he came to Christian County in 1839, locating in Bear Creek Township on government land which he entered at $1.25 per acre. Here he was married, and he and his wife spent their lives upon this property until his accidental death, being killed by a railroad train at Palmer, No- vember 13, 1880. He was seventy-one years old. The mother who was born July 7, 1814, died July 9, 1877. The father was a Republican and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
James M. Boyd spent his boyhood in Bear Creek Township, and attended its schools. After his marriage lie built a residence on a portion of his father's farm, but soon afterwards, on July 26, 1861, enlisted for service in the Civil War
in Company G, Forty-first Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and served for three years, being mus- tered out in August, 1864. He took part in the battle of Shiloh, the campaign at Vicksburg, and was wounded at the battle of Jackson. Coming back after his honorable discharge, he operated his land until he sold it in 1883, and then went to South Dakota, where he took up government land which he improved and lived upon for eight years. Selling it he returned to Christian County and located at Palmer, where lie built a residence, and there died in March, 1904. He was an Odd Fellow, a Republican, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
On April 4, 1861, he was married to Miss Martha Leigh of Bear Creek Township, a daugh- ter of E. T. and Mary (Hill) Leigh, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The father came from Virginia to Madison County, Ill., and after three years there sold his farm and came to Bear Creek Township, this county, where he was married. When she was eighteen years old the mother came to Christian County with her parents who located in Bear Creek Township, and all died in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd became the parents of the following chil- dren : Charles N., who is in South Dakota ; Alice Boyd, who is in Nebraska; Joseph, who is in South Dakota ; Lilly, who married W. Boyd ; Edgar, who is at Springfield, Ill .; Clara Yates, who is at home ; Ira Boyd, who is at Springfield ; and Eliza Stella Nash, who is at St. Louis, Mo.
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