USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 48
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On December 28, 1886, Mr. Dappert was mar- ried to Mary A. Fulton, born in Christian County, Ill., a daughter of Hiram and Barbara ( Harter) Fulton, natives of Ohio, the family having come to Christian County in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Dap- pert have the following children: Ivan, who is now engaged in concrete construction work at San Mateo, Cal .; John, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, is one of the leading civil engineers of the Utah Power, Heat & Light Company ; Boyd, who has been in charge of the work at Albert Lea, Minn., being assistant to his father, who is chief engineer, and who was recently elected county surveyor of Christian County : Merlin L., who has charge of the outside work of the topographical survey near East St. Louis, Ill., and drainage work in Piatt County, oper- ating from the Taylorville office; Anselmo, who is now studying civil engineering in the Univers- ity of Illinois ; and Lucy and Arlone, who are at- tending the Taylorville High school. In politics Mr. Dappert is a Republican.
DAVIS, Alvin, one of the valued employes of the C. I. & W. Railroad Company, and a prop- erty owner at Roby, Ill., was born near Edge- wood, Ill., May 31, 1875. a son of Alvin Davis. The father came to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1882. and died tlere April 27, 1900. The mother survives and makes her home at Rochester, Ill. Until he was fifteen years old, Alvin Davis, the younger. remained at home, but in that year went to live with a family named Kalb, with whom he remained until he attained his major- ity. Returning to his father's home, then at Rochester, he spent a year, being in the employ of Twist Bros., but left for Springfield, and for seven years was engaged in firing stationary boilers at that point. Later he was sent to Riverton, and from thence to Roby. For a time he operated a farm of 552 acres, but after six years of agricultural life, he in 1910 accepted his present position, and has the honor of being on the safety committee.
On August 21. 1897, he was married in San- gamon County to May Morgan, a daughter of Lewis and Annie Morgan. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two sons, namely : Neil and Clarence, both of whom are at home. Mr. Davis belongs to the Methodist Church. He is a member of the Buckhart Camp No. 7250. M. W. A., and is now councilor of the camp. In politics he is a Re- publican and served as a school director of Mt.
Auburn Township for one year. Live, capable and faithful, he is worthy the confidence reposed in him, and stands very high in his community.
DAVIS, Joel J .- It is not often that a man is honored by election to a position within the gift of the people where he is called upon to handle large amounts of money, without he has proven his reliability and uprightness. When the people of Christian County placed Joel J. Davis in the office of county treasurer they were convinced that no better man could be found, and that the interests of the people were safe in his capable hands. He is a native son of the county, having been born in Taylorville Township, December 28, 1865, a son of William B. and Marie E. (Potts) Davis, natives of Christian and Morgan counties. The father was born in this county, March 4. 1836, and was one of the early farmers of this region, for thirty years prior to his death, which occurred September 3, 1900, living in Taylorville Township. The mother survives and makes her home with Joel J. Davis.
Joel J. Davis was reared much as any healthy farmer boy, attending the district schools in the winter, and working on the farm in the summer. Until 1907 he resided on the farm where he was born, but in that year went to Sharpsburg and lived in practical retirement for six years. In the meanwhile he had rendered such satisfactory service as supervisor, that his fellowcitizens placed his name on the Democratic ticket for county treasurer, and he was elected by a grati- fying majority, in 1914. Following his election, he moved to Taylorville, which has since con- tinued to be his home. Mr. Davis also served Taylorville as collector in 1892, so that his serv- ices to the public have been varied and valuable.
Mr. Davis was married to Minnie E. Mason, who died in 1893, leaving no issue. On August 15. 1914, Mr. Davis was married (second) to Jessie A. Roberts, of Buckhart Township, a daughter of Fred and Ada Roberts, old residents of Christian County. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one child, Ada Marie. In politics Mr. Davis has always been a strong Democrat. He is a Mason in high standing, having taken both the York and Scottish rites, and is now a Thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner. He is a charter member of the Elks, and the Knights of Pythias. being connected with the lodge of the latter order at Edinburg. A man of highest principles, Mr. Davis stands very well in the county, command- ing universal confidence and respect.
DEEREN, James L., one of the leading farmers of Christian County, owner of 100 acres of fine land on section 31, Buckhart Township, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, July 3, 1859, a son of William and Maria (Scott) Deeren, natives of the same county. The father was reared in his native county, where he attended a school held in a log house, and for some time was there engaged in farming, but in 1865 he came to Illinois, buying land near Grove City in Buckhart Township. Later he sold that farm and bought another one of eighty acres, three-
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quarters of a mile west of his first one. Al- though he still owns his farm, he is living re- tired, making his home with his son, James L. The mother died September 12, 1901, aged sixty- eight years. The father is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of the oldest Masons in the county.
James L. Deeren spent his boyhood in Buck- hart Township, and he here attended the public schools, remaining on the farm with his father until 1886, when he was married. For the fol- lowing two years he operated a farm near his father's home, and then moved to the C. I. Lock- wood farm where he remained for two years more. Leaving it, he went on the G. R. Sharp farm, where he stayed until 1891, when he went to Edinburg. There he built a residence and spent two years, but continued his farming. in- vesting later in his present farm of one hun- dred acres to which he moved in 1893, and here he is still living, carrying on general farming.
On September 30, 1886, Mr. Deering was married to Miss Mary Sharp, a daughter of George Riley and Susan (Hanon) Sharp, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Deeren have three children, namely: Esther, born August 2, 1887; Ewart, born November 9 .. 1892; and Elwood, born January 9, 1899. In politics Mr. Deeren is a Republican. He is a Universalist. His resi- dence and farm are models in every respect. and he is accepted as one of the best types oť the prosperous farmer of his period and section.
DEISTER, William H., a retired farmer of Mor- risonville, and a man of some prominence in his community, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., September 6, 1856, a son of William and Mary (Poggenpohl) Deister, both of whom came from Germany where they were born, in the early fifties. The father died in July, 1856, two months before his son was born. The mother was later married (second) to John H. Todd, and they had eight children.
As the family was in moderate circumstances, William H. Deister was forced to early become self supporting and worked on the farm, remain- ing at home until he attained his majority. His stepfather then gave him a team of horses and harness, and for the following five years he worked for himself, and then was able to buy eighty acres of land, for which he paid $25 per acre. To his original purchase he added until he had 480 acres of land when he retired, in 1906, buying then a handsome residence at Morrison- ville, which is admitted to be the best in the city. He retains his farm, which is located in King Township, and he owns stock in the First National Bank of Morrisonville and in the Farmers Ele- vator Company of the same place. Mr. Deister is a splendid example of the self-made man, having made every cent he possesses himself, and in an honorable and upright manner.
On November S, 1882, Mr. Deister was mar- ried (first) to Mary Brockamp of Ricks Town- ship, a daughter of John and Louisa (Lappe) Brockamp, and they have two children, namely :
Lula, who was born August 15, 1883, was mar- ried to Henry Weiekamp of Stonington, and they have four children; and John, who was born March 15, 1887. Mrs. Deister died June 15, 1895. In February, 1897, Mr. Deister was married (second) to Minnie Keller, a daughter of Albert Keller, of German descent, one of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Deister have had two children, namely : William L., who was born November 21, 1898; and Charles A., who was born February 7, 1904.
Mr. Deister belongs to the Roman Catholic Church of Morrisonville, and is very much inter- ested in the work that is being carried on in the parish, having contributed very liberally to fur- ther it, as well as to other religious and char- itable movements. A man widely known and universally respected, Mr. Deister stands for all that is best among the fine people of Christian County.
DETERDING, Gustave A., one of the well-to-do men of Christian County, now living in comfort- able retirement at Taylorville, is held in high esteem by all who have the honor of his ac- quaintance. He was born in Madison County, Ill., November 24, 1848, a son of John W. and Christine ( Scheer) Deterding. When the father, a native of Germany, came to the United States, he located at Richmond, Va., from whence he later went to St. Louis, Mo., and then entered land from the government near Edwardsville, Ill., which property is still in the family. For twenty years he was there engaged in farming, and then moved to Alton, Ill., where he went into a mercantile business, and there died.
After attending the schools of Alton, Gustave A. Deterding entered McKendree College, at Lebanon, Ill. Following his leaving school he was in a dry goods business at Alton until 186S, and then moved to Taylorville, Ill., there con- tinuing his mercantile operations until 1884, at which time he sold and took a trip through the South and West. Since returning to Taylorville lie has lived retired. Mr. Deterding owns con- siderable farm and city property and also land in New Mexico, and his time is pleasantly occu- pied with looking after his interests.
In 1873 Mr. Deterding was married to Sarah 1. Davis. of Mt. Auburn, Ill., a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Kipper) Davis, a sketch of the Davis family being given elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Deterding have had three children, namely : Pearl A., who is deceased ; Maude E., who is Mrs. C. G. Ferris, of Taylor- ville ; and Henry D., who is deceased. The Ger- man Lutheran Church holds his membership. In politics he is a Republican, and is a Mason in good standing. Sound, reliable and responsible at all times. he has earned his prosperity and his many friends hold him in the highest esteem.
DeWOLFE, William, who is finding it profitable to combine the handling of grain and feed with his farming operations, is one of the substantial business men of Assumption. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, July 12, 1845, a son of
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Chauncy and Elizabeth (Rhoades) DeWolfe. Chauncy DeWolfe was born in Glenbrook, Com., in 1800, and died in 1877, aged seventy-seven years ; while his wife, who was born at Wood- stock, Va., in 1S19, died in 1895, aged seventy- five years. The DeWolfe first located in New York, but later went to Connecticut. A farmer, Chauncy De Wolfe reared his family of thirteen children on the old homestead, and nine of the children reached maturity. In addition to his farmning, in the early part of his life he taught school, both in Connecticut and in South Caro- lina, and later became a commercial traveler. In 1835 he migrated to Ohio, where he engaged in farming for twenty years. Still later he moved from Delaware County, to Hardin County. Ohio, operated 11,000 acres of land, and engaged in a stock and grain business for five years, but in 1865 went to Kenton, Ohio, and lived there in retirement for a year, but his active spirit would not brook idleness any longer, and he bought a farm east of Kenton, and conducted it for six years. He then sold and came to Illinois, locat- ing on an eighty-acre farm four miles northwest of Assumption, Christian County, where he re- mained until his death, in September, 1877. He was a Democrat, and held numerous county offices while residing.in Ohio.
William DeWolfe spent his boyhood in Ohio, where he attended the public schools and assisted his father in farming. In 1871 he came to Illi- nois and located southwest of Assumption on 160 acres of land, buying it in 1876, and remained on it for thirty years. In 1905 he left his farm and moved to Assumption, where he embarked in a grocery business with his brother Joseph, thus continuing for three years. He then traded his store for some land in Marion County, Ill., and later began handling real estate, but for the past four years has been in a grain and feed business, and also owns and operates a fine farm of 200 acres in Assumption Township. A Democrat, he has been township trustee for several years, a school director for a number of years, and a drainage commissioner for several terms. He and his family belong to the Christian Church.
On March 31, 1876, Mr. DeWolfe was married to Miss Mary C. Cochran, a daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Henry ) Cochran, all natives of Ten- nessee, where the parents were heavy land. owners. After the Civil War, Mr. Cochran came to Illinois looking for land, and bought a farm in Shelby County, and then sent for his family. They continued to reside on this farm until the father's death in 1873. The mother died in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. DeWolfe have had the following children : Bertha E., Charles C., Lucy L., John C., Donald, William, Stella M. and Gene.
DONNER, James W., a retired farmer of Edin- burg, and a man of consequence in the county, bearing a name well known in the pioneer his- tory of the West, was born near Mechanicsburg. Sangamon County, Ill., January 7, 1833, a son of William and Elizabeth (Hunter) Donner. The father was born in Indiana, and the mother in Kentucky.
At an early day the father was brought to Illinois by his parents, who made the trip overland to Sangamon County, and took up land two miles east of Springfield upon which they erected a log house. In 1846 the grandfather started to drive overland to California, with the intention of forming a settlement, but winter overtook the party on the trip, and they were snowed under and the grandparents died from exposure to cold and hunger in the mountains. It was lamentable that they were not able to en- dure the hardships a little longer for the others reached safety five days after the death of the grandparents. This party was a large one and many died on what is now known as Donner's Lake, a body of water named in honor of the grandfather. It is now a large summer resort, one of the show places of California, on the Southern Pacific route in the California moun- tains. After the tragic death of the grand- father, the father operated the homestead, but in 1849 he made the trip overland to California in search of gold, and spent three years pros- pecting. Returning then to Springfield, he spent the remainder of his life upon the homestead, where he died, the mother passing away at the home of her son in Springfield. During the Black Hawk War, the father served in the cam- paign against the Indians. After the formation of the Republican party he espoused its prin- ciples.
James W. Donner spent his boyhood in Sanga- mon County, remaining with his father until he was twenty-one years old, when he bought a farm near the homestead, but later sold it and came to Christian County, arriving here in 1880, and bought 160 acres of land in Buckhart Township. This he conducted very successfully until 1906, when he retired and moved to Edinburg where he had bought his present residence. When his country had need of his services, Mr. Donner en- listed for the Civil War, August 6, 1862, in Com- pany H. One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment until June 10, 1864, when he was captured at Guntown. Miss. For eleven months he was kept a prisoner at various points in Georgia, and for six months of this period he was at Anderson- ville, and suffered severely as he had been wounded in the left leg prior to capture. During his period of service he was in the Vicksburg campaign, the two battles of Jackson, Miss., and other smaller engagements. After his release Mr. Donner worked on the first two railroads that entered Springfield, the Wabash and the Chicago and Alton, being engaged as a teamster.
Mr. Donner was married to Miss Elizabeth Snodgrass, a daughter of William and Rachel Snodgrass, natives of Indiana who came to San- gamon County and became farming people. Mr. and Mrs. Donner became the parents of the fol- lowing children : Henry, George, Charles, Nettie, Irvin, Mary Ann, Bertha and Berta (twins), Albert and Dora, all now deceased except George, Charles and Irvin. Mr. Donner was a member of the Edinburg Post, G. A. R., until the death of nearly all of the members caused the post to be
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discontinued and the meetings ceased. In politics Mr. Donner is a Republican.
DORMAN, Martin Luther, a retired physician of Taylorville, living in comfort at No. 221 E. Popular Street, is one of the beloved members of his profession who is gratefully remembered by patients of an older generation. He was born on a farm near Glencoe, Ky., May 1, 1840, a son of Peter and Lucy (Kemper) Dorman.
The father of Dr. Dorman was born in Vir- ginia, and the mother in Owen County, Ky. The former was educated in his native state where he developed into a farmer, but accompanied his parents to central Kentucky in 1818, and there bought land. Peter Dorman died there in 1873. aged seventy years, and his wife died in the same place in 1891, aged seventy-seven years. The grandparents also passed away at that point, the grandfather in 1852 at the age of eighty-two years, and the grandmother in 1869 at the age of ninety-one years. The grandfather, whose name was Mathew Dorman, was a Revolutionary sol- dier under General Hamilton, fought at York- town, and knew General Washington personally. Peter Dorman was a lieutenant under Col. Hum- phrey Marshal, Third Kentucky Regiment, under Gen. Zachary Taylor, during the Mexican War, and was in the battle of Buena Vista. In politics he was a Democrat. His religious faith made him a member of the Baptist Church.
Martin Luther Dorman spent his boyhood near Glencoe, Ky., where he attended the public schools, later going to the high school at Rush- ville, Ind. He was in Kentucky until he enlisted, in 1861. in the Confederate army under General Buckner, and took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Perryville, being then transferred to General Morgan's brigade, and was in that commander's raid through Indiana and Ohio. He was captured while crossing the Ohio River and was imprisoned at Camp Doug- las. On being exchanged, he joined his regiment, and was one of those who, under General Lee, surrendered to General Grant, although at the time the two commanders made arrangements, he was not aware of the fact, but later, under Colonel Hunt, crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and joined General Johnston, and participated in a second surrender, when that commander sur- rendered to General Sherman. After having served the lost cause bravely and conscientiously, he returned to his Kentucky home and assisted his father on the farm for two years, and at the same time studied medicine and attended lec- tures at the University of Kentucky at Louis- ville, from which he was graduated in 1869. Immediately thereafter he moved to Christian County, Ill., locating at Taylorville, and for the subsequent thirty-three years was in an active practice. Since retiring professionally he gives his entire attention to his private affairs. The Baptist Church holds his membership. Fratern- ally he is a Mason in high standing, having joined that fraternity in 1870. For six years Dr. Dor- man served the county as coroner, and was super- visor of Taylorville Township for three terms.
In 1867 Dr. Dorman was married to Mary A. Shelton, who died in 1878 at Taylorville, aged thirty-four years, a daughter of Austin and Emma (Callender) Shelton, of New Liberty, Ky., where they were heavy landowners. Dr. and Mrs. Dorman had three children, namely : Eva ; Galen, who lives in Idaho; and Benjamin R. On April 18, 1880, Dr. Dorman married (second) Susanna Phillips, a daughter of Richard and Susanna (Bowler) Phillips, of Taylorville, and they became the parents of the following chil- dren: Charles C., who died in 1908; Archie V., who is an attorney of El Paso, Tex. ; Roman, who lives at Greenwood, Miss .; Dean S., who lives in Montana ; Frank, who is an attorney at Green- wood, Miss .; and James H. and Fannie F., who are at home.
DOWNS, James Hiram, who was a retired farmer and stockman and for many years a prominent agriculturalist of Christian County, resided at Assumption, where he was highly re- spected. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, May 4, 1837, a son of Electious and Mary A. (Stiffler) Downs. The father was born in Virginia, October 13, 1803, and the mother was born at Sharpsburg, Washington County, Md., October 26, 1800, and her mother, bearing the same name, lived to be 104 years old. The father was educated in Maryland, to which state his parents took him when he was a mere child, but they later moved to Delaware County, Ohio, where the grandfather operated land until the family's removal to Shelby County, Ill. There the grandfather, Daniel Downs, died at the home of his son, Electious, in Ridge Township, Shelby County.
After their marriage, the parents of James Hiram Downs, lived at Hagerstown, Md .. for a time, the father doing teaming with six horses, hauling grain for a Mr. Buckwalter to Balti- more, until removal was made to Delaware County, Ohio. In 1845 they settled in Ridge Township, Shelby County, Ill., and lived for many years, assisting in the development of that section and passing through the pioneer period. Upon their arrival they rented land ten miles west of Shelbyville, but later on took up government land, improved it, and built a double house on it of logs, which was quite a mansion for those days. At that time there was plenty of wild game as well as rattle- snakes, and the prairie grass was five feet high, so there were many conditions with which the pioneers had to contend. In the early days the father had to take his grain to Springfield, and his hogs to St. Louis, Mo., and often on these trips, had to camp in the snow. They prospered, though in spite of difficulties, and prior to his death, which occurred August 18, 1873, the fa- ther had replaced the log house with one of frame, which was much more comfortable. The mother died July 29, 1881. They were the owners of over 200 acres of land.
James Hiram Downs was reared in Delaware and Shelby counties, and from the time he was eight years old has been a resident of Illinois.
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He attended the little subscription school of his neighborhood, held in a log house, during the three coldest months of the year, and the re- maining nine worked on the farm. In this school they used old planks nailed to the wall for blackboards, and had wooden slabs for seats. He remained on his father's farm until he was about twenty-two years old, and then bought 100 acres of land from his father, and here he built a frame house, eighteen feet square, and oper- ated his farm, and land adjoining for eleven years. He then bought a farm of 100 acres ad- joining his homestead, his father's homestead and a farm which was owned by his father-in- law, subsequently selling this last farm, but continuing to operate the other land until 1901, when he retired. In the early days he did his plowing with a wooden board plow, but later used a shovel plow, drawn by five yoke of oxen. His corn he planted with an axe. It took four days to go to Springfield and return, it being the nearest market. The family raised flax. made their thread, and cotton goods, sheared the sheep, carded and spun the wool, and wove the woolen cloth, from which their outside garments were made. Deer and other wild game were plentiful, and Mr. Downs saw as many as twenty-four head of deer at a time, killed two wild geese with a single shot more than once, and had prairie chicken whenever he cared to go after them. Wolves infested the prairies, and had to be exterminated. In addition to his land, he owned a quarter interest in a coal shaft at Taylorville, and an eighth interest in one at Stonington. He also owned stock in lum- ber lands, mines and a railroad in southern Mis- souri, was a stockholder of the Farmers Bank of Taylorville, and a director and vice president of the Silver Creek Splint Black Coal Company. He was a Democrat and has served as road com- missioner. The Christian Church had in him a generous member.
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