USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
Jacob P. Cooper spent his boyhood in Mt. Auburn Township, and attended the schools of his district. When his father died, Jacob P. Cooper inherited eighty acres of the homestead, which with eighty-five acres he had previously purchased, together with ten acres he acquired in later years, he now owns 154 acres in Chris- tian County. ten acres in Sangamon County. and 343 acres in the oil fields of Cowley and Butler counties. Kas., as well as valuable city property at Edinburg.
On November 11, 1880, Mr. Cooper was mar- ried to Miss Emma Frances Baulos. a daughter of Jules P. and Nancy (Laswell) Baulos, natives of Natchitoches. La., who had the fol- lowing children: Sarah V. Richards, Thomas E. Nancy (Laswell) Banlos, the mother of these children, died December 4, 1864. Mrs. Cooper had the following half-brothers and sis- ters: Ann Sanks, Eliza Perrine, Louis Beck and William. They lived in the rural regions of Sangamon County for years. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, the following children were born: Floy, horn August 15. 1881, died March 10. 1899: Cleo born August 19. 1886, died January 29. 1892; and Thomas LaRue, born June 3, 1893. married Callie Wolaver, March 21, 1912. and resides in Springfield, Ill. When the mother of Mr. J. P. Cooper was ten years old her parents came from Maryland to Springfield. Ill., taking up government land in Sangamon County, which they improved. Subsequently they moved to Mt. Auburn Township, Ill., and bought
*
866
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
land in Mt. Auburn Township, where they lived until death claimed them. Mr. Cooper is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Church. He is a stockholder in the Cowley Oil Company of Winfield, Kas., and in the Illinois Film Corporation of Springfield, Ill.
CORMAN, Alexander B., vice president of the Pana National Bank, former mayor of Pana, and a man of more than average ability and acumen is now living in contented retirement after many years of successful business activity. IIe was born at Carlisle, Pa., July 23, 1835, a son of George and Mary (Stouffer) Corman, natives of Pennsylvania. The father hauled goods between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Car- lisle and Harrisburg, before the building of the railroad systems that now carry all the freight for these cities. When the Civil War broke out, he was selected by the Federal government as a responsible man and was given the contract for hauling government supplies, and probably over- exerted himself, as he died during the progress of that conflict at Washington, D. C., in 1864. The mother had died in 1851.
Alexander B. Corman attended the schools of Carlisle for twelve months, and then was bound out to learn the tinner's trade, at which he worked until 1853, a period of two years. The newer field of Illinois then attracted him and he came to this state. spending two years at Macomb, working at his trade, and then, looking for better conditions, he spent ten years travel- ing on foot through the various states, working at his trade wherever he desired, for he was a splendid workman, and saw much of the new western country. During 1857 he was one of the men who was engaged on the government sur- vey of Kansas, and in 1858 he crossed the plains to Pike's Peak, Colo., and then returned to Illi- nois. For 'the succeeding couple of years, he worked at Springfield at various times, but in 1860 came to Pana, and with the exception of eighteen months, has continued to reside here ever since. For a year after coming here, he worked independently as a tinner, and then for J. H. Baldwin and Theodore Morse until 1868. In that year he founded his own business and continued it until 1898, when he sold and has continued to live retired ever since. It is prob- able that he never hired a man who could equal him in workmanship, and he is today one of the most skilled in his line to be found in the county, although so long a time has elapsed since he had occasion to call upon his knowledge of the work.
A staunch Democrat, it was but natural that the people of his party should call upon one they deemed so well qualified to occupy the highest municipal office of Pana, which he did upon sev- eral occasions, being first elected mayor in 1899, during the big industrial strike, and so ably han- dled matters at that time that he was re-elected. In 1912 he was once more elected mayor and served for one term. During his first term he was instrumental in securing the installation of the north water works, and in effecting many other important improvements. When the Pana
National Bank was organized he became a stock- holder and was made a director and vice presi- dent, and continues to hold these offices. For seventeen years he has served as a member of the Pana Board of Education, and is one of the most live and representative advocates of mod- ern education in Christian County.
In 1861 Mr. Corman was married (first) to Margaret Anderson, of Salem, Ill., and they had three children, namely : Ella May, George W. and A. B., Jr. Mrs. Corman died in 1882. In 1884 Mr. Corman was married (second) to Nan- nie Durland, of Springfield, and they have had five children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being James and Grace. Mrs. Cor- man died August 31, 1915. For some years Mr. ('orman has followed the teachings of Christian Science and finds in this beliet comfort and hap- piness, and he carries his doctrines into his every-day life and impresses others with his ideas and manner of living.
CORZINE, Allen, one of the more advanced farmers of Christian County, whose home place is in Stonington Township although he is a heavy property owner in other portions of the county, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, November 27, 1855. He is a son of Allen and Mary Ann (Warren) Corzine, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The father went first to Ohio from Pennsylvania, and about 1869 located in Assumption Township, Christian County, Ill., where he engaged in farming until his retire- ment, at which time he moved to Assumption, and lived there from 1891 until his death in 1901. The mother is also deceased. The father be- longed to the Presbyterian Church. His political convictions made him a Republican.
Allen Corzine attended the district schools and when he was twenty-one years old he began to be self supporting. For three years he rented land in May Township, and then bought 100 acres, to which he added until he now owns 540 acres, all in Christian County. Mr. Corzine makes a spe- cialty of feeding stock, and has done an immense business in this line. All of the present improve- ments on his properties have been made by him, and they have thereby been greatly increased in value.
On March 12, 1879, Mr. Corzine was married to Janet Adelaide Burdick of May Township, who was born October 12, 1860, and died Decem- ber 24, 1916. She was a daughter of Minor and Rebecca (Boyd) Burdick. Mr. and Mrs. Corzine had the following children: Roy Allen, who married Ada Drake, lives on the home place ; Bertha Mary, who is Mrs. Roy Bloker ; Clarence Glenn, who is in California ; Grace Adelaide, who is Mrs. Chester Peabody ; and Lena Rebecca and Edna Emma. Mr. Corzine is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Corzine in- clines strongly toward the principles of the Re- publican party, although as an intelligent, well informed man, he can think for himself and is somewhat independent politically. For nearly twenty years he has been on the school board, and for some years he was on the board of super-
-
Mary J Payne
Л. Е. Фарли
867
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
visors from his township, being in every way a reliable and representative man.
CORZINE, Warren, now deceased, was for many years one of the leading business men and finan- ciers of Stonington. He was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, January 24, 1857, a son of Allen and Mary Ann (Warren) Corzine. The Amer- ican founder of the family was John Corzine, who came to this country from Holland, served as an officer in the War of 1812, and was killed during that conflict. His son, John Corzine, Jr., at one time owned sixty acres now comprised in that portion of New York City known as Wall Street. His death occurred in 1870. Allen Corzine, son of Jolin Corzine, Jr., was born in Pennsylvania in 1816, but in young manhood went as far west as Guernsey County, Ohio, where lie was married, his wife being of German ancestry, and they continued to live in that sec- tion until 1868, when they came to Christian County, Ill. Upon their arrival, Allen Corzine bought 165 acres of land in Assumption Town- ship, and there lived until his retirement when he moved to Assumption, where his death oc- curred in 1901, four months after the death of his wife, who passed away in April of that year. He was a Republican and a Presbyterian.
Warren Corzine attended the local schools, and assisted his father in performing the farm work. As soon as he became self-supporting he rented a farm in his home district, and then bought a farm near Douglas, Otoe County, Neb., but a year later returned to Christian County, and continued farming until 1888, when he sold his Nebraska property and invested the pro- ceeds at Stonington, being connected for many years with the coal and lumber trade at that point, with remarkable success. He was one of those instrumental in securing an option on tlie coal right for the Christian County Coal Com- pany on 1,200 acres of land, but sold his lumber and coal yard in 1903, and also his mercantile establishment he had conducted for some years. Later, after taking an extended trip through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Canada, Mis- souri, Kansas, Indian Territory and Texas, he became treasurer of the Illinois Grain & Oil Company, which owned 5,500 acres of land in Southeastern Kansas. Mr. Corzine also laid out the Corzine and Boll addition to Stonington. He owned 468 acres of land in Christian County and 320 acres in Missouri.
On October 26. 1881, Mr. Corzine was married to Emma Burdick, born in Christian County July 5. 1863, a daughter of Miner and Rebecca (Boyd) Burdick, natives of Stonington, Conn., and Christian County, Ky., respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Corzine became the parents of the following children: Maude F., who is Mrs. J. W. Deibert; Charles W., a prominent and sub- stantial farmer of Southwest Missouri; Jesse M., who was principal of the Stonington High school for some time, took charge of his father's interests at the latter's death December 14, 1907, has since carried them on very successfully and
at the present time is quite extensively in- terested in the coal industry at Decatur, Ill., and is a Mason, having reached the Knight Templar and Shriner degrees; Lula Pearl, who is Mrs. G. E. Lowery; and Edith, who is at home. All the children have had the advantage of college training. Mr. Corzine organized the Water Works and Light Plant, was president of the First National Bank of Stonington, owned many business blocks, and helped organize the Build- ing, Loan and Savings Association of Stoning- ton. The Presbyterian Church held Mr. Cor- zine's membership, and Mrs. Corzine belongs to the Methodist Church. In politics he was a Republican and for many years was on the school board, and a member of the village board. In his death Stonington not only lost a very representative business man, but also an excel- lent citizen who had the public weal close at heart. Mr. Corzine was buried in the Old Ston- ington Cemetery.
COUNCIL, Aquilla M., a retired farmer of Edin- burg who became very prosperous through op- erating Christian County farm land, was born on the Council farm in South Fork Township, April 27, 1843, a sou of Aquilla and Sarah (Melugin) Council. The father was born in North Carolina and the mother in Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee. When still a small boy the father was brought to South Fork Township, Christian County, Ill., the family driving overland. Location was made on the farm still owned by Aquilla M. Council, in South Fork Township. This land was entered by the grandfather from the government, and he added to his farm, upon which he lived and died. The parents spent their lives upon this farm, the father dying in 1852, aged fifty years, but the mother survived and lived to be eighty- six years old.
Aquilla M. Council was reared upon his father's homestead, and he went to the schools of South Fork Township. After the death of his mother he bought out the other heirs, and now owns 333 acres of land. In 1900 Mr. Coun- cil moved to Edinburg, and buying a comfortable residence on Eton street, has since made that his home. During the many years he was en- gaged in agricultural activities in South Fork Township his operations were successful and he is now reaping the results of his industry and good management. In politics he is a Repub- lican ; his fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order, and he belongs to the Christian Church.
On December 25, 1867. Mr. Council was mar- ried to Miss Martha Williams, a daughter of I. B. and Phoebe (Baker) Williams, of Sanga- mon County. Mr. Williams was born in Ohio. and Mrs. Williams was born in Bourbon County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Council have two children, namely : Phoebe Baughman, who lives in South Fork Township, has the following children : Kenneth, Keith, Laverne, Alice. Aline and Ruby ; and William T. who lives on the Council
868
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
homestead, married Ollie Hunsley. Mr. Coun- cil served as supervisor of South Fork Town- ship and also as road commissioner.
During the Civil War Mr. Council gave his country the support of his service, enlisting in August, 1862, in Company D, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Blue- ville, now Edinburg. Among other engagements he participated in the battles of Fort Gibson, Raymond, Black River, the campaign before Vicksburg, following which the command went through Jackson, Miss., on to the Red River and on April 8, 1864, he was captured at Mans- field, La., and taken to the vicinity of Tyler, Tex., and held until the close of the war when he was honorably discharged and returned to South Fork Township.
COX, James W., for many years an honorable and upright citizen of Christian County, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, November 24, 1833, one of a family of twelve children born to his parents, Samuel and Jane ( Baber) Cox. His paternal grandfather was born in New Jersey, married Nancy Mount and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, when that city was only a cluster of log houses. There he lived and witnessed the village develop into a flourishing city, and died at the age of eighty-four years.
James W. Cox grew to manhood on his father's Ohio tarm. On March 8, 1855, he was married to Sarah Lucinda Orr, and they moved to Knox County, III. There Mr. Cox engaged in farming until 1862 when he came to Pana Township, Christian County, where he bought 360 acres located near the present city of Pana. In 1871 he moved to Pana and conducted an agricultural implement business for ten years, after which time he devoted his entire attention to his farm until his death, July 11, 1910, at his residence on the corner of Second and Maple streets, Pana. Mrs. Cox had died July 7, 1895. The only child of their marriage died at the age of three years. James W. Cox was one of the sturdy, successful pioneers of Christian County, a reliable, de- pendable man in every life emergency. In poli- ties he was a Republican. Religiously he was an active and prominent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church at Pana.
On November 26, 1896, Mr. Cox was married to Dr. Ella B. Rutledge, a daughter of James Edward and Caroline M. (Gorsline) Rutledge. Her paternal grandfather, Thomas Rutledge, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and was a grad- uate of Glasgow University. His grandfather, commander of the Scottish regiments in Ireland for many years, removed his family to that country and from Ireland one of his sons emi- grated to America and settled at Charleston in South Carolina. He was the father of John and Edward Rutledge of Revolutionary fame. The Gorslines were of the French nobility and fied to America as refugees in the time of the French Revolution.
Ella Rutledge Cox was graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in 1889. After tak- ing some special work in diseases of the ear, nose
and throat, she engaged in active practice for three years in Columbus, Ohio, returning then to the suburbs of Cincinnati and continuing there in practice until her marriage. Since coming to Pana she has practiced only among her inti- mate friends, preferring to devote a large part of her time to the study of the Scriptures, which she reads in the original Greek and Hebrew. Be- ing undenominational, Dr. Rutledge holds fast to her liberty to believe all the Word of God. She atlirms that the Scriptures teach that the wages ot sin is death not torment; that the Lord Jesus gave his life and the race in him for Adam's life and the race in him, therefore the redemption is as wide as the human race. In our Lord's own words, "The hour is coming when all that are in their graves shall hear His voice and come forth : they that have done good unto the resur- rection of life, they that have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment." (Greek, Krisis. John 5, 28-29.) Those who have done good are those who have passed their trial and been approved in this life: those who have done ill, those who will receive their trial during Christ's reign. They will be taught the way of righteousness until the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2, 14; Isaiah 11:9). It was an earthly paradise man lost, not a heavenly. Christ will come to restore that which was lost, perfect human life and conditions. This restitution of all things was spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began. The Lord spoke through Iszekiel, saying, "Behold, oh my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out ot your graves and bring you into the land of Israel and ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves and shall put my spirit in you and ye shall live and I shall place you in your own land." ( Ezekiel 37, 13-14. ) Isaiah spoke of the new earth conditions, when the earth would bring forth its increase and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. The Lord promised Abraham that he would give him the land of Canaan for an everlasting pos- session (Genesis 17; Acts 7), and he died not having received a foot of it. God's promises can- not fail, Abraham, like Daniel, will rise from the tomb and receive all that God has promised. Our Lord said that the establishment of His kingdom would be preceded by a time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation and never again shall be. Daniel said "In the days of these kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed ; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever." Our Lord said they would see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the holy prophets in the kingdom. (Luke 13 : 28-29.) They will be the human agents used by God to establish his rule on the earth. The millions brought forth from the tomb will be taught the way of righteousness and compelled to walk therein. The kingdom authority will proceed from Jerusalem. Micah (Micah 4, 1-3) said, "In the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be es-
Harlen A Payne & Hifi
869
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
tablished in the top of the mountains and it Dr. George G. Rutledge, botlı of Ohio, and one sister, Maria Rutledge, who is in full harmony with her religious belief. Dr. Cox is widely known in Christian County. Her unusual in- tellectual acquirements are universally acknowl- shall be exalted above the hills and people shall flow into it. Many nations shall come and say 'Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his . edged, her opinions respected and her personality paths for from Zion shall go forth the law and enerished by a wide circle of sincere friends. the word of the law from Jerusalem and he shall judge among many people and rebuke strong nations afar off, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." These may live forever but those who refuse to submit to the Divine arrangements of that time, will be cut off in a second death, from which there is no resurrection. Isaiah (Isaiah 65, 20) said, "As a child he shall die at a hun- dred years but he that dieth at a hundred years shall die a sinner accursed."
At the close of Christ's reign every creature in heaven and earth will be in harmony with God and earth be transformed into a paradise. Then Ile will deliver up the kingdom to the Father that God may be all in all. John saw in a vision that blessed time when he said "Every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying 'Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him who sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever.'" During this Gospel age, since the deatlı and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, the Father has placed in His hands the work of preparing and proving a people, even as many as our God shall call for the heavenly portion of the king- dom. (Hebrews 3, 1; I Corinthians 1, 26-31.) These when proven faithful will be made spirit beings like their Lord. These are living stones being built up a spiritual house, a holy temple in the Lord, Christ Jesus being the chief corner stone. These are called to be heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8 : 11.) They are called by the Father. Our Lord said, "No man can come unto Me except the Father which has sent Me draw him." (John 6, 44.) These were redeemed from among men, the first fruits unto God and the Lamb. (Revelations 14, 4.) They will have part in the first resurrection and reign with Christ a thousand years. (Revelations 20, 6.) The world will go up the highway of holi- ness from death to perfect human life. The called of God now give up their restitution hopes for the privilege of walking the narrow way of faithfulness and obedience unto deatlı (Matthew 7, 14) and will receive the crown of life, Im- mortality. (James 1. 12.) It was for these that our Lord said, "I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am ye may be also. (John 14, 2-3.) When the reign of Christ is finished and the kingdom delivered to the Father (I Corinthians 15, 24-28) in the ages to come wherein dwelletli righteousness (II Peter 3, 13) they will dwell with Christ forever.
Dr. Cox has two brothers, Dr. R. Rutledge and
CRAIG, James, one of the older agriculturalists of Christian County, has long been a successful farmer of South Fork Township. He was born near Glasgow, Scotland, January 1, 1833, a son of William and Mary ( McLaughlin) Craig. Leav- ing Scotland with a younger brother, Robert, James Craig spent some time in Essex County, N. Y., where he alternated working on a farm with attending school. Later he spent one sea- son in Vermont. When he was twenty-two years old he came to Sangamon County, Ill., and for a year was employed by Robert North at a wage of $14 per month. For the succeeding two years he conducted a farm in South Fork Township, Christian County, for Jacob May. After another year, spent in operating a sawmill near Edin- burg, in Buckhart Township, Mr. Craig leased a farm in Sangamon County from Robert Bell, but left it in three years to work in Cotton Hill Township, Sangamon County, for different far- mers. On returning to Christian County, he bought 320 acres of land in South Fork Township from George Trailer, and has added to his hold- ings until he now has 760 acres of land. He has given each one of his children a farm as they be- came of age. His success is all the more remark- able because he had to start out on borrowed capital. In 1896 he bought a residence at Tay- lorville and lived in it for two years when he re- turned to his farm, and here he continues to re- side with his son Jacob operating this property for him.
On December 23, 1863. Mr. Craig was married to Narcissa Rape, who died May 5, 1908, a daugh- ter of Jacob and Patsy (Thornton) Rape. Mr. Rape was in the battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, serving under General Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Craig became the parents of six children, namely : William; Mrs. Jane Armitage, of South Fork Township; Mrs. Minnie Keeper, of Missouri; Mrs. Ida Ensminger, who died in 1906; Jacob and James A. Jacob Craig was mar- ried to Carrie Achenbach, a daughter of Peter Achenbach of Taylorville. They have two chil- dren, namely : Lillian and Maurice. Mr. Craig belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.